School had just broken up and Severus was planning on a holiday for the three of them when he had some news from Draco who they had been meeting up with once a week since Harry had been released from St Brutus'.
They arranged to meet in a restaurant with a big field decide it so Harry could bring his beloved football and after eating Severus and Andi could talk with the Carters and the three boys could play outside, the meal was strained and both the Carters and Draco seemed pretty distracted, it was left up to Harry and Tommy to keep the banter going with the rest of the table which they did pretty well and after Severus read Harry the menu they ordered their food.
"Can we go play before lunch; the waiter said it was going to be a while." Harry asked hopefully.
"Go on then I will send Andi to get you when lunch arrives." Severus told him and waved the three boys off to run off some energy.
"Whats going on?" Severus asked when the boys were out or earshot.
"We had news on Draco's mother" Mrs Carter told him solemnly and Andi grabbed Severus' hand under the table.
"It appears as though she took her own life" Mr Carter told them. "Draco's solicitor has been ordered to send him to his godfathers and they sent a letter to him but he hasn't replied so it's all a bit up in the air at the moment, we are happy for him to stay but we thought this was only going to be temporary, as did Draco but now he has no family left and seems to think his Godfather won't want him, said something about having other commitments. What can be more important than Draco though?" Mr Carter asked.
The question hung in the air.
Outside the boys were having a similar conversation Tommy was happy entertaining himself on the climbing frame and Draco and Harry sat on the swings. "What's up?" Harry asked noticing Draco's glum mood.
"They found my mother, seems she offed herself and left instruction for me to be placed with my Godfather." Draco told him seemingly angry.
"That sounds good though, you'll have somewhere to live forever" Harry ventured.
"Yea but I don't think my Godfather will want to take me in" Draco grouched before jumping off the swing and grabbing Harrys ball.
"Let's play" Draco shouted trying to act normally.
The conversation was tense over lunch and even Harry and Tommy were quiet, they agreed to meet up next week at a country park and the two families went their separate ways.
"Dad can I ask you something?" Harry asked from the back seat immediately shocking both adults when Harry called him Dad.
"What is it Harry? I need to ask you something after but you can go first." Severus asked casually.
"Could Draco come to live with us if his godfather doesn't want him?" Harry asked.
"Onto my question then" Severus was immediately interrupted by Harry "not fair you didn't answer mine" he all but shouted. Severus continued "would you mind if Draco came to live with us?"
Andi decided to reveal what she knew, she was fuming that Severus hadn't told anyone when Draco was at St Brutus' and hadn't taken the boy in straight away she really was struggling to understand the man.
"It seems as though Sev is Draco's Godfather" she told Harry with attitude meant for Severus himself.
"That's so cool" Harry shouted excitedly "why didn't you say anything earlier! So does that mean he can live with us, he can stay in the guest bedroom, if we start decorating it today and go shopping for all of the stuff to go in it he could move in next Saturday." Harry chattered excitedly.
"Why doesn't he already live with us though, I mean like when he first left St Brutus' why didn't he go with you?" Harry asked.
Severus took a breath and steadied himself as he drove. "You were more important, you still are."
Harry and Andi immediately thought about the situation and could see Severus' point of view, Draco's mother was expected to come back yet Harry had no one.
"Thank you" Harry whispered.
"No problem Harry, you are very special to me, so is Andi and so is Draco, if social services agree which think they probably will, I would like to bring the three most important people in my life together but if either of you have any doubts I'll ask them to keep Draco with the Carters" Severus said.
"No doubts here!" Harry called from the back.
"Only doubt is if social services will allow us to have both of them, you know what Harry's folder says" Andi warned when Harry put his MP3 player and headphones on.
"Harrys folder says no one younger, Draco is almost a year older and the two are best friends." Severus said confidently. "Plus I know some people in high places" Severus said slyly.
After a few minutes pause Severus started smiling and laughing at the wheel. Harry even took his headphones off. "What's funny?" Harry asked thinking he'd been left out of a joke then looking at Andi who was just as confused.
"I'm a Dad" Severus grinned. "You called me Dad, I have a son!" Severus exclaimed and as Harry blushed at his slip he looked at Harry through the rear view mirror. "I don't think I've ever been this happy" Severus told him.
As they arrived home Harry toed off his shoes and ran up the stairs to get the best spot on the sofa and take control of the remote. Severus and Andi followed at a slower pace joining him on the sofa, with his arm over Andi's shoulder and his other arm around Harry's shoulder the family watched an afternoon film, Severus wondered how his life had suddenly turned out this well it seemed as though all of the heart ache he had struggled through all his life was suddenly worth it.