Disclaimer: I do not own them.
Wrote this today and thought I would post it before I went to work so I didn't forget to do it when I get home in the morning.
Epilogue
Draco blinked against the light that dazzled his eyes, and fought against the weight in his muscles. He frowned and glanced around the stark white room that he found himself in, confused. He vaguely remembered running through woods, and a bright flash, and his daughter, and Harry.
A choked sob rose in his throat. Harry was dead, had been for over ten years, he wasn't coming back, no matter what, they didn't have a daughter together and they most likely never would. The past couple of days had all been a dream and this was most likely St. Mungo's where they had taken him when he collapsed from extreme grief or stress or that sniffle he had last month and hadn't gone away like he thought he had.
He buried his face in his hands and tried to quell the rising tears. It wasn't becoming of a Malfoy or the top Auror in the department. He had to be strong, for Hermione, for Fleur, for himself. If he allowed something that he had been living with for a decade make him crumble than he was useless and-
"Draco, are you alright?" A slightly panicked voice from the doorway had him looking up in shock. A man with long, shaggy black hair and emerald green eyes was hurrying into the room, a frown stretched across the tan face.
"Harry? It wasn't a dream?" He asked, fighting the sudden urge to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't still sleeping.
Harry winced and sat on the edge of the bed, looking contrite, "No, it was all real, every last bit of it."
"Then what happened in the forest… Are you alright?" Draco lunged forward, touching Harry's chest where the spell had gotten him.
The other man chuckled and caught his hand, kissing the knuckles gently. Draco blushed at the touch but didn't pull his hand away. "I'm fine. 'Mione healed me as soon as she could."
"Is she alright?" Harry nodded at the question.
"She's with Lillith, Fleur is ecstatic to play with a child."
They fell into uncomfortable silence at this point, Draco not sure what to say and Harry looking at their hands.
"I'm sorry," Harry finally blurted out, letting go of Draco and running his hands through his hair.
"For what?" The blonde asked, frowning.
"For everything," He muttered, hanging his head, hair hiding his face, "Hermione told me, and it's all my fault that for the past ten years you haven't even tried to get over what happened."
"Correction, I haven't wanted to, and it's a good thing I haven't, you prat." Draco huffed and rearranged his pillows so he could sit up comfortably. Harry was watching him, still frowning.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that if I had moved on this would be a very awkward conversation." He pointed out and Harry nodded, the corner's of his lips turning up slightly.
"I still feel bad." He muttered.
"Then tell me what happened ten years ago." Draco urged and Harry looked at him, biting his lip.
"I only remember a little bit…" He said and Draco snorted.
"More than me, obviously."
"The same thing that happened this time."
"And what happened this time?" Draco demanded, irritation coloring his words.
"Can you promise to listen until I'm done?" Harry looked at him from under his bangs and Draco melted at the vulnerable look in the green orbs.
"Fine." He agreed ungraciously and was rewarded with a brilliant smile in return.
"The ring I gave you for Christmas that year, this ring, it was specifically made for you," Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a half-melted ring, "The maker used a bit of my wand and magical cores to link it to me, so that if you were ever in the path of a spell that might kill you, I would be brought to you're side to protect you. That's what I think happened during the Final Battle. I barely remember it either."
Draco was silent for a breath, making sure that Harry had finished his little speech before speaking up.
"So you became a martyr for me?" He sneered and Harry nodded, obviously not proud of himself, "I don't know if I should call just call you an idiot or slap you and call you an idiot."
"I'm sorry." The raven haired man muttered.
"You had better be, because of you I spent ten years, a decade thinking you were dead. The whole wizarding world did."
Harry nodded.
"You could have died this time, or what if you hadn't remembered-which I'm going to want the story about that as well- and ended up actually dieing this time? You're daughter was there. She could have been traumatized."
"You were there as well, I'm sure you would have protected you're daughter, Draco." Harry stood up and went to look out the window.
Draco blinked, "So she is really mine?" He asked.
"Yes, she really is."
There was a pause. "How did that man get his hands on our daughter?"
"He told the nurse I had watching her that I had asked him to get her. He had apparated back into the building long enough to find out if I knew or not, and to get something to use as a portkey." He rubbed a hand against his face.
"I hope you killed him." Draco muttered unmercifully, crossing his arms and pouting.
"No. but now he can't sleep without nightmares about what I could have done to him." Harry's laugh was humorless and Draco's pout turned into a worried look, but he knew not to push the other man.
"And what about Catilin and Lavender?"
"Catilin is going to see a therapist and Lavender is happy that her friend is back."
"I see…"
They fell into an uncomfortable silence again and this time it was Draco who broke it.
"What about Lillith, is she alright?" Harry turned and grinned at him, moving closer to the bed again.
"She's doing fine. Her nightmares are getting better, and she's having the time of her life learning about the Wizarding World," He chuckled, "I think we have a Ravenclaw for a daughter."
"As long as she's not a Hufflepuff…"
Harry shook his head chuckling again.
"How long have I been here?" Draco suddenly asked, realizing he wasn't even sure what day is was.
"Two days. The Healers weren't sure when you were going to wake up." Harry admitted, sitting back down.
"I see…"
"I'm glad you're awake though." He admitted quietly with a shy smile.
Draco grinned and grabbed one of Harry's hands, "So am I, because I'm not letting you go again."
"I'm not going anywhere for a long time, Draco. I have reporters to scare." He smiled cheekily and Draco pulled him into a hug, arms trembling.
"Good."
Fin
It feels weird to actually have finished a story… Especially after so long. Sorry I couldn't make it longer, although I might write a follow up story…
And is making a Facebook Page for my penname so ya'll can yell at me about this pretentious of me?