Reborn

Chapter Twenty-One

Harry was silent for a moment. "I see," he said calmly. "Thank you, Ably. That'll be fine, then." Ably tugged on his ear one more time and disappeared. Harry stared out the large windows at the tree just across the stone path. "Well, Maia, we have to go call your father, it seems," he said in a low voice.

Harry stalked to the sitting room and laid Maia down in her cradle. He then moved quickly to the fireplace and threw a handful of Floo powder into the glowing embers. A flash and green flames sprung up in earnest. Harry stuck his head in and was made even angrier when he could feel the push on his shoulders. Apparently, Draco had locked down the fireplace so that he couldn't Floo out of the house. Which meant that he had also locked the doors and probably the windows, the slimy Slytherin!

Gritting his teeth, Harry shouted, "Ministry of Magic, fifth level, Department of International Magical Cooperation, International Magical Office of Law, Draco Malfoy."

Another flash and a woman with greying brown hair and small bifocals appeared. "Hello, may I ask who is calling please."

"Harry Potter-Malfoy. I'd like to speak to Draco Malfoy."

"Ah. Yes." The woman appeared to be looking at something. "I'm sorry. Mr. Malfoy is away at the moment, if you care to leave--"

"I don't mean to be rude," Harry bit out. "But do you really want me to come down there? I want to speak to Draco Malfoy now, please."

"I understand your request," the lady said officiously, "but you must understand that Mr. Malfoy is a very busy man and--" The woman looked away from a moment and seemed to be listening to someone else. Her eyes widened and she turned back to Harry with a nervous smile. "Oh, Mr. Potter. I mean, Mr. Potter-Malfoy. I am so sorry. You definitely do not need to come down here, I'm sure. I was mistaken. Mr. Malfoy will, of course, be right with you. Hold, please."

Harry watched the head disappear and really hoped that this wasn't a snow job and he'd be left waiting forever. But no, in the next minute, Draco appeared.

"Harry, I hope you have a good reason to be calling me and threatening my staff."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "And I hope you have an excellent reason as to why you've left orders for my house arrest!"

Draco stared at Harry for a moment. "So you really did try to leave," he said.

"I don't think I could possibly get in any trouble or annoy your father if I take our daughter for a bloody walk!"

"A walk? That was all?"

"Of course! What did you think I was going to do? Run away and try to murder your father?"

Draco watched him quietly.

"Merlin! You did think I was going to do that!" Harry was aghast and his mouth dropped open in shock.

"Well, I didn't think you'd go after my father," Draco said.

Harry's eyes narrowed again. "But you did think I'd run away?"

Silver eyes skitted away for a moment and then back. "Well, I figured I gave you enough reason to, yeah?"

Harry heaved a sigh. "I never even thought of leaving you, Draco. I'm not a coward, you know."

"I know. But I also know that there has been a lot of strife right now and I would not have been surprised to come home and find you gone."

Harry desperately wanted to touch Draco at that moment. He put his hand out but was blocked by the lock. Draco saw and held out his own hand and Harry grasped it, bringing it to his face. "Stupid twit," he said affectionately. "I don't want to leave you. There's a lot going on and we have been fighting, but I'm not going anywhere."