The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter Fourteen - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

~ Godric's Hollow ~

Harry heard Draco humming a catchy tune. Harry was sure he'd heard it before, he just couldn't place it. He quietly got up, placed the book he'd been reading back on the bookshelf and crept up to the kitchen door. Draco was cooking dinner (Ron and Hermione were coming to dinner) and he started softly singing the song.

"I'm gonna take this moment, and make it last forever. I'm gonna give my heart away and pray we stay together," Draco sang lightly.

Harry pushed open the door to the kitchen, walked in and leant against the bench, crossing his arms and smirked at Draco.

"Nice song. Haven't I heard it somewhere before?" he asked amused to see Draco using a spatula as a microphone.

"It's Evergreen," he said, as if Harry should already know this. "You know, by Will Young. I've only been playing the CD everyday this week."

"Oh, that guy who won that TV show?" Harry asked, showing his ignorance.

"Yes. He's gay, you know. Seriously hot too," Draco informed him.

"Really?" Harry asked with a grin. "Should I be worried, my dragon?"

Draco laughed delightedly. "Oh please! Like I'd leave you for a muggle pop star! Hmmm, he does have a great arse though!"

Harry swept his husband into his arms and planted wet kisses all over his face.

"You are so silly sometimes, but I love you," Harry said, laughing along with Draco.

Later that evening...

"Hi Hermione, Ron. I'm glad you could make it," Harry said as he kissed Hermione on the cheek and shook Ron's hand. He ushered them inside the house and took their coats from them.

"Hi guys," Draco called from the kitchen. Hermione wandered through the hall to greet him.

"Draco, why are you cooking the muggle way?" she asked, looking amazed. Hermione sat down at the already set table, careful not disturb Draco's table setting.

"It's very soothing," Draco explained with a smile as he deftly sliced some strawberries. "Dinner's almost ready. I'm just finishing off the dessert now."

"Thanks Ron, you didn't have to do that," Harry was saying as he and Ron entered the kitchen.

"Ron brought a bottle of wine to go with dinner," Harry informed Draco as he rummaged through a drawer for a bottle opener.

"Thanks Ron, that's very nice of you. I hope it's white wine because we're having fish," Draco said, smiling at his former enemy.

"It is. Hey Harry, I heard there's going to be an opening on the Puddlemere United team soon but for a Chaser. Do you ever regret not joining them when you had the chance after we graduated?" Ron asked as he sat down at the table beside his wife.

"Nah, I love teaching at Hogwarts," Harry said as he wrapped his arms around his husband from behind and kissed his cheek. "Besides, it means I get to see my gorgeous husband every single day, rather than travelling around with the team for months on end."

Draco beamed as Harry ruffled his hair and then poured the wine. Draco served the meal and the four of them sat down together.

"This is delicious," Hermione enthused.

"Thanks," Draco said happily.

"So have either of you given any thought to what we were talking about at your anniversary party?" Hermione asked.

"What were we talking about?" Harry asked, confusion wrinkling his brow. Draco looked mutinous but remained silent.

"You remember, Harry," Hermione said in her annoying Hermione way. "That article about gay people having kids."

"Drop it, Mione," Draco said warningly.

"Why Draco? Give me one good reason," she challenged him as Ron and Harry looked on worriedly.

"We can't have a child, I'm still a goddamn child myself!" Draco exclaimed angrily.

"Draco-" Hermione started to say.

"If you want a child so badly, you have one!" Draco retorted.

"Draco, you're being rude," Harry whispered in Draco's ear.

"I'm being rude? She's the one trying to force us into something we're not ready for!" Draco protested loudly.

Hermione looked upset. "I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean-"

"It's okay, Hermione," Harry said quietly.

"No it's not okay," Draco said, pushing back his chair and stalking out of the room.

"I'm sorry guys," Harry said as he got up to follow Draco into the living room.

Harry stared at Draco's back as the blonde man stared blankly out the window.

"You would be a wonderful father," Harry said simply.

"How the fuck do you know?" came the harsh reply.

"I know because I know how your father treated you and I know how he treated your mother. You don't treat me like that. You are kind and gentle and loving towards me, quite unlike the sadistic way your father treated your mother. You look after me when I'm sick and you hold me after a nightmare and kiss away my tears. You have so much love to give, why not share that love with another person?" Harry said ardently.

"I love you and I trust you," Harry continued, "You believe me when I say that don't you?"

Draco nodded.

"Then why won't you believe me when I say you will be a great dad?" Harry asked.

"Because...because I'm afraid," Draco almost whispered.

Harry gathered his husband in his arms. Draco sank back into Harry's arms gratefully.

"What are you afraid of, love?" Harry asked softly in his ear.

"I'm afraid that one day I might hurt you and the child. How do we know that I won't turn into my father?" Draco said.

"If you were going to turn into your father, I think you would have done it by now, don't you?" Harry replied reasonably. "You've had enough opportunities to hurt me if you really wanted to and you didn't."

"You've already given me so much time but do you think you could give me a little bit more?" Draco asked softly.

"Of course!" Harry exclaimed. "I don't want to push you into anything you don't feel ready for and Hermione doesn't either."

"I know," Draco said dolefully. "I should go apologise to her."

Harry and Draco both returned to the table and sat down.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Hermione," Draco said contritely, offering Ron and Hermione a small, tight smile.

"No, I'm sorry Draco. I won't mention it again," Hermione said kindly.

The four of them settled down into a free and easy conversation that purposely steered clear of any serious issues.

"Hey, did you hear that Charlie asked Justin to move in with him?" Ron asked.

"What did Justin say?" Draco asked, always eager for gossip.

"He said he'd have to think about it. Charlie was shattered. I think Justin's just scared that it's all moving too fast," Ron said, inadvertently reminding Draco that he wasn't the only one in the world with problems.

"They'll work it out though," Hermione, the voice of reason said, "They adore each other."

Draco reached out under the table and grasped Harry's hand. He squeezed gently and Harry smiled at him. He got the message - they would work this out, just as they had worked out everything else.

After all, they adored each other.