Choices

And then it was three

Draco was walking back after work, glad to be out of the bus and going back home, he really needed to look into what muggles did to drive cars, then he wouldn't need to endure the crowded vehicle. Walking distractedly and lost in his thoughts he almost didn't see the commotion at the Rees' house, with Iwan preparing the car for what seemed a long trip and Mrs Rees looking distressed.

"Something wrong?" he asked, half curious, half concerned, having gotten to know and care for the family that helped them so much.

"Oh, David!" Mrs Rees jumped a little, clutching her shawl "Didn't hear you, dear," she sighed "Benjamin had an accident so we're leaving to be by his side"

"An accident? Is he injured?" Draco frowned, he might not like or care about the man but knew Mrs Rees would not find peace otherwise.

"Nah!" came Iwan's shout from the car, letting out a loud laughter "The bloody idiot hurt his foot after trying to ride a horse with no experience, but Gwen shouldn't have to take care of Daisy plus the house alone so we're going" and then he continued packing.

Draco smiled and shook his head, content it wasn't something more worrisome.

"Oh no! We'll have to miss Harry's party" the older woman exclaimed in distress, remembering the day "We even had the present ready!"

"Not to worry," Draco comforted her "We'll be okay"

"I feel so sorry, it will only be the three of you"

Draco smiled.

"It's when we work best"

Harry's dark-haired head peeked from the coffee table, his green eyes observing his target and noticing no new movement he crawled to the other side, spying again to see how far he could go this time. He quickly sneaked to the closest side of the couch.

Draco smirked when he felt the child climb onto the couch and pretend to sit calmly in the space next to him, looking up when he thought Draco could not see him. "Want to help me?" the blond finally asked Harry, putting some of his papers on the side so the kid would have more space.

At his question, Harry beamed and gleefully sat on his lap so he would be able to see everything his father did. Content with a well-executed plan.

"Spoiled" Draco joked, smiling even if the position made his work more difficult.

"Are you still working?" Ginny asked from the kitchen, opening the cabinets and checking if she had all the ingredients for the party the next day.

"Just some numbers that were filed wrong, Anthony tends to relegate those to me" he replied, using Harry's head as a chin rest.

"Wasn't his name Todd?" Ginny tried to glance at the two, her heart warming when she saw them.

Draco glanced somewhere in front of him, trying to remember his co-worker's name but finding nothing but blank, the man was just forgettable in his head so he just answered with "Maybe!"

Ginny burst up laughing then.

"What's this?" Harry asked, pointing nowhere in specific on the paper.

Draco looked at the child "Well, it's a..." he began before searching for easier words to explain his job "A list, this one says how much money was made this month"

"Made?" he asked again

"Yes, they received it" Draco tried to explain more, unsure how much the boy would be able to understand "They have something and people give them money for that something"

The child still looked perplexed and Draco didn't know what else to say, thankfully for him, Ginny arrived with cookies, successfully distracting Harry from the original question and he mouthed a thank you to which she smirked.

"Say, Harry," she sat down next to the two and pointed at one of the numbers on the paper "Do you know what number is this?"

With half a cookie still in his mouth the child looked at where Ginny was indicating, trying to remember what his mother had told him about numbers, not finding anything he looked unsure up at her again.

Ginny smiled and told him "It's how old you'll be tomorrow"

Harry's eyes sparkled as he realized what number he'd been asked "Thlee!"

"Exactly!" she messed up his hair "You're getting really big, huh"

"And we" Draco added, smiling at the two "Have been here almost two years"

"It's been a long time" Ginny agreed, sitting cozied up by their side.

When Harry woke up the next day the smell of his favorite breakfast was the first to hit him, following the alluring scent he tried to dash towards the kitchen but was unable to as magic kept him from going down the stairs, he would've pouted, kept from his food on that early morning, but he didn't need to as his father arrived to help him.

His mother smiled at him while he ran to the chair, swinging his legs as he waited, still in his pyjamas. She kissed his head and put down the food for him so he could finally enjoy his meal, in between bites he excitedly told his parents about his dream, involving aliens like the ones on the telly.

After his breakfast, he watched enthralled as his parents decorated the house in a mix of magic and regular actions, too young to know how unusual they were, just happy to observe the world around him.

His father explained that Mrs Rees, that Harry quite liked as she was always nice and smelled of cherries, wouldn't be at the party but she left his gift beforehand, and while disappointing, Harry's thoughts were quickly occupied by the alien toy the older woman had bought him, his mother reminding him that he was to thank her next time they saw Mrs Rees.

His lunch was just as nice as before, although by now he was mostly looking forward to the cake, and after some more time to play, his mother said he couldn't eat cake so soon after lunch, it was finally time for his favorite moment of birthdays.

The curtains were closed so the room would be darker as they brought the cake towards him, only the candles illuminating their kitchen, singing while putting it before him.

He smiled at the two at his side, then he looked at the flames again, dancing when he breathed too close.

"Make a wish, Harry," his mother said even if Harry couldn't quite see her face.

The boy closed his eyes, trying to think what he could possibly want.

It was completely dark in the room after he blew out the candles but he wasn't scared, his parents were next to him, cheering him.

It was Harry's first memory.