All too soon, the Christmas holidays were over and the New Year had begun, and brought hundreds of students back to the castle with it.

Hermione had resigned herself to the fact that official adoptive parents were pretty thin on the ground and Harry and Draco were (amazingly) her best option. She was surprised with how quickly that became normal in her mind - she wasn't a big believer in fate, but this really felt like it was meant to be.

And in fairness, the boys were proving themselves to be committed to their roles. They took Hermione (under cover of the Invisibility Cloak) to every one of her medical appointments in Hogsmeade without fail and waited diligently outside to support her each time she was done.

The three of them had become a four since Ron had returned, much to his irritation, but that had soon become normal as well, and Ron was even becoming quite close to Malfoy after seeing how good he was with Hermione.

"It's a big sacrifice you're making, mate," Ron told Draco one night over a drink in the Common Room. The other two were coming up late from an evening Astronomy class, so Ron and Draco had a fair bit of space to themselves, and Ron was determined to fill the awkward silence.

"Some people would say you're throwing your life away at fifteen."

"I know they would," Draco nodded earnestly. "But really, Harry and I don't see it that way. It's what we want, even if that sounds ridiculous! We'll make it work."

"You always do in the end," Ron agreed with a wry smile. "God knows how you'll both do it, but I actually believe you. And I can't think of a better couple to raise Hermione's baby."

There was a slightly wistful look on Ron's face which Draco knew all too well. It was clear to him that the redhead had been in love with Hermione for some time now, and he felt bad for him. Now wasn't exactly a good time for him to shoot his shot with her.

Just then, the portrait swung open and the objects of both boys' affections came laughing through to the Common Room.

As Ron and Hermione swiftly became engaged in their own conversation, Draco turned to Harry. "Good mood?" he noted sarcastically, as the other boy flopped down into the chair beside him.

"Just full of the joys of spring," Harry replied cheerfully, causing Draco to roll his eyes.

"Potter, it's January."

"Ooh, look at me, I'm Draco Malfoy and I know which months correlate to which seasons," Harry mocked him with a massive grin. "Do you hear yourself?"

"Fine, if you're going to be a little twerp then maybe I won't invite you out with me tomorrow morning," Draco huffed.

Harry's attention was immediately secured. "Tomorrow morning? What are we doing tomorrow?"

"I thought we might splash my father's Galleons around a little," Draco smirked. "Now he's going to be a grandfather and all, the least he could do is purchase some gifts for the baby."

Harry looked shocked. "You're not going to tell him?!"

"No, of course not," Draco laughed. "Do I have a death wish?! No. I just thought a shopping trip would be nice since tomorrow is Saturday and we have no plans so far. Baby is coming in three months after all, we need to get prepared."

There was almost nothing more exciting that Draco could have possibly suggested, and Harry woke up the next morning with his heart racing. Going shopping for baby stuff with Draco felt like a dream!

The boys showered, dressed and ate quickly, before donning the Invisibility Cloak to slip out of the school gates. They weren't technically allowed to go at their age without permission or supervision, but as Harry pointed out, how could McGonnagal stop them if she couldn't see them?

It was a bleak morning, and cold too, but the boys were in very good moods. They struck up a conversation about baby names on the walk into the village, which was rapidly becoming quite competitive.

"I just always thought Scorpius was a good name for a boy," Draco was insisting. "It carries on the theme of constellation names in my family, and has a sort of power about it!"

"Anyone called Scorpius," Harry informed him, "Is bound to be a slimy little toad. We don't want him turning out how you did in First Year."

"Heyyy!" Draco shoved him, and Harry shoved jovially back. "I suppose you've got a better idea then, have you, Potter?"

"I was thinking Lily for a girl and James for a boy," Harry replied, and Draco paused.

How do you tell your orphan boyfriend you don't want to name your kids after his dead parents without sounding like a dick?

"Those might be good middle names," Draco conceded slowly. "But it seems a bit of a heavy choice for a first name, if that makes sense. Being named after their famous dead grandparents is a bit of a legacy, I don't want so much pressure on them."

Harry nodded. It was a fair point, and middle names would do. "But not Scorpius James," he told Draco. He thought for a second, and then, "I wonder if we should use Viktor for a middle name if it's a boy, you know."

"No," came Draco's instant reply. "Viktor won't be his dad, really. We will. Viktor's just a toss-piece who will probably never see or acknowledge him. He doesn't deserve to be in the name."

"Fine, definitely not Viktor then. Agreed. And not Hermione for a girl, either?"

"I think it'd be best if we didn't," Draco said. "She clearly wants as little reminder that it's hers as possible."

By now they were in Hogsmeade centre and had long cast off the Cloak so as to get some money out from the bank.

The boys didn't know exactly how many of these secret trips to Hogsmeade they could manage without being caught, so the plan for the day was to get as much stuff as they could, so then they would have less to worry about in the future.

Harry took some Galleons out for himself too, although secretly he really liked the idea of Lucius's money being unwittingly spent on Harry and Draco's baby stuff, and suspected Draco liked it too. It was a good subtle "Fuck you" to his dad.

The first item Harry picked up when they entered the maternity shop on the high street was a tiny white blanket with a red and yellow lion embroidered on each corner - instantly he was fixated, and in full parent mode.

The boys wandered round loading a basket with bottles, blankets, plush stuffed animals and anything else that took their fancy, before heading onto the more expensive shops in town for the clothes.

By the time they were finished for the day and had returned to Hogwarts with their shopping, Harry and Draco were equally exhausted, and no closer to finding a baby name.

"Arcturus?" Draco suggested, pouring himself and Harry a glass of red wine and reclining into his chair. "That's a constellation. Or Antares?"

Harry made a face. "Your parents were pushing it with 'Draco'," he informed him. "Are you trying to raise the biggest ponce in the entire wizarding world?"

"It's family tradition!" Draco protested.

"Yeah, so's serving Voldemort in your family, apparently, but I'm guessing you're not so keen on following that particular tradition, are you darling?"

"I might," Draco glared. "He might be more grateful for my presence than you are. Might treat me better."

"I'm not going to address that comment as a matter of principles," Harry said, but he was fighting off a smile. "You're awful, Draco Malfoy."

"I'm awful? Ooh, are we fourteen again?" Draco smirked, delighted. "Do you want to call me a ferret? Push me up against the wall because of how much you hate me?"

"Yeah, I do, actually."

Harry hated how excited he always was at the chance to act like he hated Draco; in a way he almost missed the aggression of it all.

It had certainly been very erotic, although he realised he perhaps glamourised that time too much and forgot the actual frustration and anguish it had caused him.

Still, the night they first got together had been one to remember - and in fact, one that Harry very much liked to remember sometimes when he was alone.

He sighed, letting his mind drift back to that night two years ago, and feeling his body sink into the sofa beneath him.

He wished his self of two years ago, the boy completely and utterly obsessed with Draco Malfoy, could see him with Draco now. The two of them, relaxing together in the Gryffindor Common Room after a long day shopping for their baby.

He hoped his younger self would be excited for him.
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a/n: so far this is a lot more slow burn than i planned which is actually good i reckon, and there's lots to happen once the baby is born but i'm still setting the scene i guess - hopefully you're enjoying it🥰

what do you guys think hermione is having/ want her to have, a boy or a girl? i think i know but lmk what you think would be cute anyway, you could change my mind 👶👶

have a lovely week 🤍🤍✌️

~ paradisedraco