27117-Family
A week later, all four new mothers resumed their studies with full rigour. They were all adamant to not let the fact that they were now mothers affect their grades. The house-elves helped as much as they could and the girls tried to breast-feed the babies between lessons. When this wasn't possible, a house-elf would bring the needy baby to his mother even during lessons. The school robes were good enough to keep it all private, not showing any more skin to others than normally acceptable.
With magical healing, it only took a few more days before the new mothers were feeling perfectly well, so well that they were ready and eager to resume their sexual activity, this time with contraceptive measures in place.
Harry felt in heaven. After recuperating from the shock of becoming a father of five almost at once, he started enjoying his role. He tried to spend some time with each baby, even more than he paid individual attention to their mothers, although none complained.
Headmistress McGonagall also made sure that all the grandparents had a way to visit their new grandchildren. That was no problem for the Greengrass, of course. Xeno asked to stay at the castle until Luna graduated, to enable him to spend more time with the babies and help Luna. Her apartment was adjusted to have another room for him. The Grangers had a temporary Floo connection set at their house and were given necklaces to overcome the muggle-repelling wards of Hogwarts, allowing them to visit at will.
Harry was most surprised that similar arrangements were made for another person. "Aunt Petunia? What are you doing here?" he asked the first time he saw her.
"After your headmistress informed me, I thought how much Lily would have liked to be here for you and your wife, and I felt I needed to come in her place. Your headmistress made all the necessary arrangements."
"What did she tell you?" Harry asked. He felt quite worried about his aunt's reaction at learning that he had four more children from other women.
She smiled reassuringly at him. "She told me about the special circumstances that made you help three more young ladies. I thought that you might need help to cope with five babies. May I see them?"
\/\/\/
Being so busy as a father, as a student and as Head Boy, not to mention some politics that he found himself involved in, it seemed like no time at all passed before he had to sit for the NEWTs. After studying with the girls, he wasn't surprised that he felt quite confident in the exams. He felt that he did them well, and the results which arrived a few days later proved him right. Hermione kept the top position, as expected, but he was a very close second, with "his" other three girls just behind him.
He couldn't remember much of the Graduation ceremony, although he had a large part in organizing it and certainly took his part in the celebration. With four young women striving for his attention, along with Aunt Petunia, who wouldn't miss the occasion, and Mrs. Granger, who also insisted on dancing with him, he soon lost any semblance of coherence. It got even worse when he returned to the lodging, where five babies wanted their parents' attention. He still thought it was a fabulous evening.
He kept thinking that way the next morning, when he woke up with four naked women in bed, but once he satisfied them, they all needed to turn more serious.
"We now need to leave school and start living as adults," Harry noted the obvious. "Where do you want to live and what should we do with our lives?"
"We already have a home," Hermione said, as if reminding him. "We've already made it suitable for our needs. We should move there first. In time, we may find another place more suitable, but right now we're fine with that."
Harry agreed wholeheartedly. He also noticed that the other girls nodded their agreement. Hermione had some more to say. "I don't know what everybody thinks, but after we get some rest, I intend to catch up with my Muggle studies, so that I can attend university. I still need to decide what I want to study there. I think I'd also like to gain mastery in a few magical fields, but a bit later."
Harry could see Luna's and Daphne's eyes sparkle when Hermione mentioned studies. Susan didn't seem to mind, just like him. He doubted if their opinions would even count, seeing the three studious girls so enthusiastic.
They couldn't dwell on that. Five hungry babies were waiting for them. After feeding the babies and having breakfast, they got dressed casually, with what the elves had left on their beds, since everything else was already packed. Although the elves were willing to take them home, they decided to travel like the rest of their classmates, enjoying their last time on the Hogwarts Express.
With five babies in cribs, along with their five parents, the train compartment turned really crowded. This didn't deter some of their friends from joining them. Neville came with Hannah and Ginny also wanted to join them. Hermione took her wand and cast a spell to enlarge the compartment, making it comfortable for a few more people, without changing its outer dimensions.
Shortly after starting their trip, the compartment's door opened and Draco came in. He smiled at the occupants and turned to Harry. "Would you mind if I join you for the ride? I'd like to discuss some ideas we may like to push through the Wizengamot in the near future."
Harry nodded his agreement and Draco sat down on the facing bench. He first looked at the babies, who were currently sleeping despite the noisy company. His face mellowed as his gaze went from one baby to another. "I should also find myself someone to build a family with. It's my duty to continue the Malfoy line, you know, being the last."
Harry tried a shot in the dark. "Are you sure? Don't you have any other family members?"
Draco shrugged. "I know that my father had an older brother who'd been cast out of the family. I have no idea where he might be now, if he's even alive. Dad didn't tell me much, but I suspect that he tried to get rid of that 'blood traitor' brother, knowing how he thought and acted."
"What would you do if you found him?" Harry asked.
"I'd reinstate him into the family, first, and apologize for all he'd suffered due to my father. From the little I found out, he used to be quite a nice person, one I would like to know. He may even help me move the Malfoy line into the light."
Hermione couldn't keep out of it. "Your uncle is alive and well, although he'd suffered quite a lot due to your father. He'd lost his wife and his unborn child and had been badly injured, Still, he may be willing to help you if you're serious about this."
"You know him? Uncle Astrum is alive? Can I see him?" Draco seemed as eager as a small boy.
Harry was still uncertain. Despite Draco's cooperation in the political arena and his seemingly changed attitude, he was still very cautious with his blond ex-rival. "I'm not sure if he'd like his whereabouts known. Your family's record concerning him is not encouraging."
Draco grimaced. "I can't blame him. My dad took the family teachings to the extreme. I dread to think how he would have treated me now, when I'm distancing myself from all that he taught me, finding it unacceptable." He turned introspective for a moment, and then brightened. "Well, I assume that you know how to contact him. Please tell him that I'd really like to meet him and I'd appreciate any help he can give me in moving the Malfoy family into the light. I'm going to reinstate him into the family as soon as I return home. I believe he will be able to tell when this happens."
"What do you mean?", Hermione asked suspiciously.
Draco tried to explain. "You two may not be aware of it, but when one grows up in an old magical family, one absorbs quite a bit of the family magic. When cast out, that magic is ripped away from that person, and when reinstated, it returns. One is bound to notice the changes in one's magic. You must also know that one can be cast out of the family only once. One reinstated into the family cannot be cast out again. I think that's a kind of protection against whimsical behaviour by the head of the house."
Harry considered his words and then nodded. "We'll try to inform your uncle. The rest will be up to him and to you."
Draco seemed really moved. "Thank you very much. I can't even express how glad I am for a chance to repair some of the wrongs done by my father. I..." He seemed to be lost for words. He just turned to Harry and hugged him for a moment, before letting go and trying to regain control of his feelings.
Only Luna looked like this kind of behaviour was expected. All others looked very surprised but still refrained from commenting, not knowing how Draco would react. This public display of emotions was certainly not something anybody expected of him, even after he started changing his ways.
Draco spent some time discussing political issues with Harry, both trying to think of the best ways to move forward some new egalitarian laws. Despite the victory of the light, the wizengamot still included too many old-liners who were difficult to persuade to support anything not strictly traditional.
Draco left after a while. Luna looked at Daphne and told her, "You should get ready to become family with Draco. He has his eyes on your sister, and she seems to like the idea."
Daphne shrugged it off. "Two years ago, I would have fought the idea with all that I got, but now… Draco has changed tremendously for the better. He's not my type, I admit, but I can now understand what Astoria finds in him. With his new attitude, he may even turn a very good husband for her."
Luna smiled. "He will."
\/\/\/
Harry's thoughts drifted back to John, now identified as Astrum. The man deserved to regain his status in the magical world and in his birth family, even if he would never come back to Britain. And then, gaining back the Family Magic, maybe Astrum would decide to help change the British Magical world in ways that would assure that nobody would ever have to suffer the way he had. At least Draco seemed to want reconciliation with his uncle. Yes, Harry decided, he would write to John, inform him of the changes and let him decide on the next step. That would be for the best.
Harry looked at the sleeping babies and their mothers and felt content as he had never felt before. He felt like his life changed completely as soon as he had confessed his love to Hermione. With her at his side, he could bravely face the future and whatever it would bring. He was sure he would have difficulties to overcome, many political fights, and then – the normal family life that is never quite smooth.
He grabbed Hermione's hand and looked at the other three young women surrounding him. Yes, he could feel their love as he responded with love. They were his family now. He'd do anything for his family and he felt that he would always be able to count on the support and love from his family. It was the first time he consciously felt this way. He was sure it was not the last.
A.N.
Some readers comment unfavorably about Draco redeemed. In this story, at least, he changes his ways, distancing himself from his past errors and realigning himself with Harry. I consider it a very significant change. In canon, one can see some initial changes in Draco, starting sixth year. I only did the next step in this story.
Besides, as a Slytherin, he should know to leave behind ideas that prove detrimental and move to support ideas that would benefit him, whether they would help the rest of the magical society or not. Aligning himself with the man who conquered seems the right way, under these circumstances.
