I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.  I've got about 11 chapters completed and am very near to finishing it up so no worries it won't be finished.

I'm glad you liked it.  The next chapter is queued... but somewhat bittersweet in tone.  Just a couple more left, including an epilogue.

I'm glad you liked it.  The next chapter is queued... but somewhat bittersweet in tone.  Just a couple more left, including an epilogue.

I always figured that if a child was frightened enough, they could surpress their own magic. Allie's childhood may get touched upon in the Snapshots sequel I've set up with the story, although there aren't any more traces of ex-Mrs. Malfoy in this one really.

I always figured that if a child was frightened enough, they could surpress their own magic. Allie's childhood may get touched upon in the Snapshots sequel I've set up with the story, although there aren't any more traces of ex-Mrs. Malfoy in this one really.

Hehe. I kinda feel sorry for the bully, in a way. He'll still be in Hogwarts when Allie starts... and she's an honorary Weasley. Can you even begin to imagine how dangerous picking on her might be to someone's health when there are a dozen or so cousins about? :)

Hehe. I kinda feel sorry for the bully, in a way. He'll still be in Hogwarts when Allie starts... and she's an honorary Weasley. Can you even begin to imagine how dangerous picking on her might be to someone's health when there are a dozen or so cousins about? :)

You know, I never incorporated it into the story, but in my notes, he'd gotten a BSL tutor (I figure with Harry's fortune, he could import one if he had to go that far). Severus had recruited him to move back home while Richard was still in NICU, since he figured Harry would need family much closer than an intercontinental portkey away, being a single father.

You know, I never incorporated it into the story, but in my notes, he'd gotten a BSL tutor (I figure with Harry's fortune, he could import one if he had to go that far). Severus had recruited him to move back home while Richard was still in NICU, since he figured Harry would need family much closer than an intercontinental portkey away, being a single father.

It's not something I cover in specific detail in the story, but this version of the wizarding world doesn't have the homophobia issues that would lead to the children being shocked.  I hint at it here and there (like Draco advising Harry to meet with The Quibbler to release the story of his marriage to the press to avoid false stories about him being heartbroken over Ginny), but it just wasn't something I went into great detail.  And to look at it from the couple-professor angle (regardless of gender), the students are used to this Hogwarts being family friendly since a good number of the professors are married with spouses and children in residence (such as Remus/Tonks, Severus/Andromeda, Millicent/Charlie).

It's not something I cover in specific detail in the story, but this version of the wizarding world doesn't have the homophobia issues that would lead to the children being shocked.  I hint at it here and there (like Draco advising Harry to meet with The Quibbler to release the story of his marriage to the press to avoid false stories about him being heartbroken over Ginny), but it just wasn't something I went into great detail.  And to look at it from the couple-professor angle (regardless of gender), the students are used to this Hogwarts being family friendly since a good number of the professors are married with spouses and children in residence (such as Remus/Tonks, Severus/Andromeda, Millicent/Charlie).

Glad you enjoyed it!  And thanks for the rec. 

Glad you enjoyed it!  And thanks for the rec. 

That's how I see it.  That sort of near-loss is enough to change even the sternest of characters, I think.  Chapter 11 will actually have Lucius show up, with a wee dash of Narcissa too.

That's how I see it.  That sort of near-loss is enough to change even the sternest of characters, I think.  Chapter 11 will actually have Lucius show up, with a wee dash of Narcissa too.

Thanks!  I wanted to keep it sweet.  This was one of my favorite chapters of the whole story actually.

Thanks!  I wanted to keep it sweet.  This was one of my favorite chapters of the whole story actually.

I'm glad you're enjoying it, even with the slash element.  When I originally posted this on FF, I did have some grumbles that the story had no lemons.  But the idea that had plagued me for ages for this wasn't about the guys' bedroom antics, but rather about building a family after heartbreaking loss.  Hopefully that'll continue to shine through. ;)

I'm glad you're enjoying it, even with the slash element.  When I originally posted this on FF, I did have some grumbles that the story had no lemons.  But the idea that had plagued me for ages for this wasn't about the guys' bedroom antics, but rather about building a family after heartbreaking loss.  Hopefully that'll continue to shine through. ;)

lol  I am trying to keep 2 chapters in the queue at all times, so that readers aren't kept waiting.  It is complete, so no worries about WiP tottering out.  And yes, I had a Yay moment myself when they finally agreed this was the proper chapter for them to snog.

lol  I am trying to keep 2 chapters in the queue at all times, so that readers aren't kept waiting.  It is complete, so no worries about WiP tottering out.  And yes, I had a Yay moment myself when they finally agreed this was the proper chapter for them to snog.

It's sort of a mix on the speed for me (as the author).  Granted, it's only been two months since Harry returned to Britain, but they're next door to each other and sharing a nanny, so I figure they're spending more time than average for coworkers around each other.  I sort of drew on watching old schoolmates of my own getting into relationships in later life.  Seems like they move fairly swiftly since they don't need as much "get to know you time".  I always saw Draco and Harry as being quite stalkerish on each other, so it was just a matter of catching up on the decade absence.

It's sort of a mix on the speed for me (as the author).  Granted, it's only been two months since Harry returned to Britain, but they're next door to each other and sharing a nanny, so I figure they're spending more time than average for coworkers around each other.  I sort of drew on watching old schoolmates of my own getting into relationships in later life.  Seems like they move fairly swiftly since they don't need as much "get to know you time".  I always saw Draco and Harry as being quite stalkerish on each other, so it was just a matter of catching up on the decade absence.

Glad to be turning out a Drarry that's enjoyable! ;)  When I started writing this, it was because there simply aren't a lot of family-oriented Drarry fics.  Lots of action or angst or bed-romping, but few content family pieces.  So I've tried to keep the focus on them as fathers and as they knit into a family unit together.

Glad to be turning out a Drarry that's enjoyable! ;)  When I started writing this, it was because there simply aren't a lot of family-oriented Drarry fics.  Lots of action or angst or bed-romping, but few content family pieces.  So I've tried to keep the focus on them as fathers and as they knit into a family unit together.

They are very sweet.  It's a fine line between that tenderness and going utterly OOC with both guys, but at the same time, part of my reasoning for setting it 10+ years after the war's end was so that they both had time to grow up and move far beyond any childhood resentments toward each other. As for Barbie, that's part of how she crept in here.  My youngest child (and only daughter) has gotten old enough that Barbie has now invaded with drawers-full of accessories.  Although with older brothers, Barbie (and her Disney princess look-alikes) often are carrying guns and swarming Lego castles against trolls and other monsters.  lol

They are very sweet.  It's a fine line between that tenderness and going utterly OOC with both guys, but at the same time, part of my reasoning for setting it 10+ years after the war's end was so that they both had time to grow up and move far beyond any childhood resentments toward each other. As for Barbie, that's part of how she crept in here.  My youngest child (and only daughter) has gotten old enough that Barbie has now invaded with drawers-full of accessories.  Although with older brothers, Barbie (and her Disney princess look-alikes) often are carrying guns and swarming Lego castles against trolls and other monsters.  lol

Glad you're enjoying each chapter - and thanks for the faithful reviews. :)

Glad you're enjoying each chapter - and thanks for the faithful reviews. :)

I think his instinct was more damage, but with both kids watching, he had to behave himself.  It was very hard to resist temptation for him to use some creative curses of the sort he'd have heard from Hermione over the years though!

I think his instinct was more damage, but with both kids watching, he had to behave himself.  It was very hard to resist temptation for him to use some creative curses of the sort he'd have heard from Hermione over the years though!

I agree that the medical care should have been a lot more.  I am not a Dumbledore fan in the least, because he overlooked multiple abusive situations either because he didn't like the child personally or because it suited his Greater Good.  I always found calling him a Light wizard to be a misnomer, because while he might not have been trying to take over the world, he certainly did extensive and lasting damage by his neglect of his job as first professor (Tom Riddle's home situation) and later Headmaster (Severus and Harry's abusive homes).  I don't get into it much in this story, but my newer one has a bit of bashing on the subject.

I agree that the medical care should have been a lot more.  I am not a Dumbledore fan in the least, because he overlooked multiple abusive situations either because he didn't like the child personally or because it suited his Greater Good.  I always found calling him a Light wizard to be a misnomer, because while he might not have been trying to take over the world, he certainly did extensive and lasting damage by his neglect of his job as first professor (Tom Riddle's home situation) and later Headmaster (Severus and Harry's abusive homes).  I don't get into it much in this story, but my newer one has a bit of bashing on the subject.

I tried to keep the scene lower key to avoid triggering any unhappy RL memories for readers.  I don't think I have it in me to write anything graphic about a child being harmed.  As for Allie's mother, Draco will explain a bit about his arranged marriage and its demise in Chapter 9.

I tried to keep the scene lower key to avoid triggering any unhappy RL memories for readers.  I don't think I have it in me to write anything graphic about a child being harmed.  As for Allie's mother, Draco will explain a bit about his arranged marriage and its demise in Chapter 9.

Ever since I started reading HP fanfic, I wanted to write a mature Draco/Harry blended family fic.  It was obvious that Harry would be a devoted father, after growing up the way he did, but I think a lot of writers miss the fact that when all the cards were down, family counted most for Malfoys too.  I like my Draco to have a lot more of Narcissa's fierce familial devotion and less of Lucius' former insane ambition and racism.  I can't see him going through what he did in the war without growing up a lot, you know?  And the story about how Draco became a widower will be somewhat explained in Chapter 9.

Ever since I started reading HP fanfic, I wanted to write a mature Draco/Harry blended family fic.  It was obvious that Harry would be a devoted father, after growing up the way he did, but I think a lot of writers miss the fact that when all the cards were down, family counted most for Malfoys too.  I like my Draco to have a lot more of Narcissa's fierce familial devotion and less of Lucius' former insane ambition and racism.  I can't see him going through what he did in the war without growing up a lot, you know?  And the story about how Draco became a widower will be somewhat explained in Chapter 9.

I'm glad you're enjoying it!  Grown up Harry and Draco are my favorite of this pairing, especially if one or both has children already to add to the dynamic.

I'm glad you're enjoying it!  Grown up Harry and Draco are my favorite of this pairing, especially if one or both has children already to add to the dynamic.

Originally, this would have been revealed in Chapter 6, but I somehow mixed up two chapters here so the details come up in Chapter 7 (currently in queue).  You're in the right ballpark.

Originally, this would have been revealed in Chapter 6, but I somehow mixed up two chapters here so the details come up in Chapter 7 (currently in queue).  You're in the right ballpark.