With plans for Teddy's small party suddenly well and truly in motion, and Saeko and Sirius having somehow seized complete control of almost every practical detail, Harry found himself with surprisingly little left to do.
He had, of course, forbidden them from making or buying the cake.
Absolutely forbidden it.
That had been non-negotiable.
He was making his son's first birthday cake himself, and nothing was going to change his mind. Everything else they could fuss over as much as they liked. He would smile, nod, hand over vetoes when necessary, and let them continue steamrolling one another in the name of party planning.
The cake, though?
The cake was his.
He had already spoken to everyone else through the mirror.
Grimbok had promised they would all take the time to meet at the cottage so they could enlarge the mirror properly and fit everyone in together.
His goblin friend had gone a little hoarse in the middle of reminiscing about seeing Teddy for the first time, and Harry's throat had tightened so quickly that he'd had to turn his face away from the mirror so he couldn't see his eyes.
"He was so small," Grimbok had said, his voice gruff in a way that Harry was lucky enough to recognise as emotional. "Such a little thing. Barely bigger than both my hands put together."
Harry had made a strangled little noise and immediately snapped, far more hoarsely than he intended, "Oh, shut up."
Grimbok chortled at him.
"There now," he'd said smugly, baring his teeth. "It is normal for mothers to cry about their children growing up."
And because the gods hated Harry personally, Tazgira had overheard that and launched into an entirely unhelpful tangent about how she had cried all night the day before Vrak and Morg were gifted their first weapons.
"All night I cried," she said. "And Grimbok had the audacity to tell me I was being dramatic."
"You were howling like a banshee!"
"They were getting weapons," Tazgira had snapped. "My babies! You stop teasing poor Harrison! He's right to be emotional for the little pup."
Harry had buried his face in one hand and refused to admit that it wasn't just Teddy growing up that was making him emotional lately, because absolutely no one needed to know that he had also nearly teared up over ridiculous, tiny things.
Even Shikaku bringing him handpicked flowers, something the man now did at least twice a week ever since that first bouquet, made something helpless and soft fill his chest until he thought he might actually combust from sheer affection.
And, unhelpfully, from lust.
Merlin, he had been horny these days.
Truly and absurdly and relentlessly horny.
He would wake up wanting his mate.
He would go to sleep wanting his mate.
He would be trying to make lunch and suddenly the memory of Shikaku's hands or the roughness of his voice or the way his beard scraped against his skin would go through him like lightning.
Which was probably how he had ended up face down on Shikaku's desk at work.
"Ah!" Harry moaned deeply, biting into his own hand to keep himself from making too much noise.
There was a scroll half-unrolled somewhere to his left, its neat writing long since forgotten under the chaos of bodies and the brutal, thud of Shikaku's hips driving into him.
One of Shikaku's large hands smoothed down his spine in a surprisingly tender line, soothing him even as the next thrust punched a strangled curse from Harry's throat. Then both hands were on his hips, and Shikaku swore as he gave one particularly deep thrust that dragged right against Harry's prostate.
Harry arched helplessly with a muffled yell, the hand in his mouth falling away as his entire body clenched around the cock inside him.
"Fuck," Shikaku breathed, his voice gone rough with strain. "Sssh, sweetheart—ugh— you promised you could be quiet for me…"
Harry only whined, because that was unfair, deeply unfair, when Shikaku was clearly doing this on purpose now.
One broad hand slid from his hip, dragged up his front, and closed gently but possessively around his throat.
Harry moaned instantly at the pressure and pressed back into it with a needy little sound, all thought bleeding out of him. He could feel Shikaku's rough beard scratching his shoulder as the man bent close, still fucking into him, still breathing those deep ruined sounds into his ear while filthy, praise-laced words spilled from his mouth.
"Look at you," Shikaku murmured. "Falling apart on my desk. So fucking good for me…"
Harry gasped and tried to bite down on another loud moan, only for Shikaku's hand to slide up fully and cover his mouth.
The reason for it became obvious immediately.
Shikaku's pace changed.
Faster.
Harder.
Every thrust suddenly honed with vicious purpose, driving right against that spot over and over and over again until Harry couldn't help it, couldn't stop the desperate moans and broken pleas that kept trying to tear themselves out of him. The only thing keeping the ninja in the building from hearing them was the rough hand covering his mouth.
Shikaku's other hand reached down between them and closed around Harry's leaking cock, giving it a few harsh, practiced tugs.
That was all it took.
Harry let go with a muffled scream against Shikaku's palm, his whole body locking around the thick cock still pounding into him. He came so hard his vision blurred, clenching desperately as pleasure tore through him.
Shikaku groaned his name, let go of Harry's mouth, and grabbed his hips with both hands instead. He drove into him relentlessly for a few more thrusts, chasing his own end with short, savage movements before he finally broke with a loud, wrecked groan and pushed in deep one last time, painting his insides with his seed.
Harry could only whine and purr at the sensation, body going lax while his hole fluttered around the thick length still filling him.
He clenched with a needy little sound when Shikaku began to pull out. A high, wounded whine escaping him at the sudden emptiness, his body already mourning the loss as warmth leaked slowly down his thighs.
"Sweetheart," Shikaku murmured, breath still ragged.
Harry only whimpered harder.
Shikaku's expression softened and he gently turned him around, handling him like something precious, and lifted him up enough to settle him on his back on the desk instead.
Harry was too satisfied to do more than purr and lay limply.
Shikaku bent over him, kissing up his stomach, licking away traces of Harry's own release from his skin before nipping at his throat and finally claiming his mouth.
Harry moaned softly into the kiss.
The taste of himself on Shikaku's tongue should not have made his spent cock twitch, but it did, and he let out another weak, needy whine as he reached for him, trying to pull him closer.
Shikaku only chuckled against his lips and pressed their foreheads together, muttering sweet things under his breath while Harry lay there boneless.
"Always so beautiful," he murmured, thumb brushing his cheek.
Harry could only hum in response and rub his nose up along Shikaku's throat with a sleepy purr.
"Did I fuck the voice out of you, sweetheart?" Shikaku asked teasingly, the corner of his mouth curving.
Harry flushed instantly and nipped at the man's throat in retaliation.
Shikaku huffed a quiet laugh.
But the teasing pulled Harry back toward himself and away from his wolfish instinct. He pressed his face into Shikaku's shoulder and sighed.
He had been trying to understand himself better these last few weeks and found precious little answers.
He had started reading all the books with mentions of animagi in them. The problem was that none of them were especially helpful. Yes, the animal could sometimes take over the human mind. Yes, instincts could sharpen. Yes, long-term animagi often reported moments of blurred thought where they reacted more creature than person.
But it was usually connected to singular events of uncontrolled anger, extreme fear, or protectiveness. Most authors insisted it faded unless the animagus deliberately indulged the animal psyche over and over until the line between selves began to thin.
Sirius had only shrugged when Harry asked.
Sometimes, his godfather had admitted, he did let the dog mind take over on purpose because it made life easier, but he had no idea if his wolf amplified his bearer instincts.
So very helpful.
Which was why Harry had decided he was moving onto the bearer manuals next.
He had read one proper manual and a journal once, but had only skimmed the rest after finding out that bearing children was no longer in the cards for him. It had seemed pointless then. Why drown in knowledge about a future body-state you would never reach?
Stupid of him really.
What if bearers went into some kind of heat the older they got? What if his body was trying to get him with pup before he got too old? He vaguely remembered thinking this before. It would certainly explain the sudden hot flushes, the waves of emotion, the impossible need for his mate, the way his skin sometimes felt too tight for his body when he went too long without Shikaku's scent.
And there were those instincts were again...
Harry sighed into Shikaku's shoulder as the man picked him up and sat back down in his office chair, holding him close.
Shikaku only chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, letting Harry bury his face against his throat and aggressively inhale his scent. It calmed the frantic edge of his nerves almost at once.
"You feel better today?" Shikaku asked quietly, thumb rubbing over Harry's stomach in slow circles.
"Mmmm," Harry said, still half-draped over him. "It must have been something I ate."
He remembered all too well the miserable indignity of leaning over the toilet that morning and being sick for no reason he could identify.
"I still wish you'd go see Tsunade," he said, worry threading through his voice. "I've never seen you so sick before."
Harry shook his head where it rested on his shoulder.
"It was just a bug," he insisted. "Shibi said that little Shino had come down with something." He lifted his head enough to look at Shikaku properly, seeing the doubt in his face and softening at once. He leaned up and pressed their lips together slowly. "Besides, I feel better now…"
His fingers traced the line of Shikaku's jaw as he smiled against his mouth.
"How could I not feel better now that I'm with you?" he whispered lovingly.
He watched with helpless affection as pink spread slowly over Shikaku's nose and ears, as the corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly, as the man looked both smug and shy and completely unfairly handsome all at once.
Merlin, his mate was truly beautiful.
Shikaku, clearly seeing someething disgustingly smitten in Harry's expression, turned his face away and muttered, "troublesome." But he also pulled Harry closer.
Harry was far too amused not to kiss his pink cheek.
"Do you have much work to do tonight?" he asked lightly.
A whole host of emotions crossed the man's face in a quick, unreadable flicker. Thoughtfulness. Hesitation. Something like dread. Then determination.
Harry frowned slightly.
Shikaku let out a slow breath and whispered, "put one of those silencing spells up?"
He shot him a curious look but flicked his wrist and sent the spell. The moment it snapped fully into place, he felt suddenly and absurdly naughty remembering that they had very much forgone the charm during their sudden lovemaking.
Shikaku smirked faintly as if he could read that exact thought on his face.
Then he grew serious.
"I wanted to ask you if I could use your compound for a meeting," he said.
"You're welcome to," Harry said at once, confused. "Of course you are. I could set up the library, or one of the empty houses if you need somewhere more private. I don't mind." He tilted his head. "What sort of meeting?"
Shikaku sent him a soft, grateful smile first, but then winced.
That alone made Harry pay closer attention.
"If you're willing," Shikaku said slowly, "I need you to invite Fugaku over personally to the compound under the guise of Sasuke coming for a playdate."
Ah.
That explained it.
Harry went very still in his lap, thinking.
He knew exactly why Shikaku was hesitating.
Harry hated using their sons in any sort of scheming.
Even harmless scheming where their son would never know he was being used as a convenient excusse.
His protective instincts rose instantly anyway, before he forced himself to stop and actually think.
Why would Shikaku want Fugaku at his compound instead of the Nara one?
He certainly did not want a casual tea.
Shikaku did not much like the Uchiha head, mostly because of his nearly comical irritation at Fugaku's attempts to get Harry and Shisui together. Something Harry had only fully understood when Fugaku had practically thrown his nephew at him under the flimsiest possible excuse the other day, while the poor confused boy puffed up under every compliment his uncle threw his way with absolutely no understanding that he was being used as marriage bait.
Harry had actually found it rather flattering when he realised.
Shikaku, on the other hand, practically frothed at the mouth whenever it happened and Fugaku seemed to completely miss the fact that they were together, even with Shikaku practically plastering himself over his back in front of the man.
Still, Harry knew Fugaku wasn't being malicious about it. The man wanted stability for Shisui, who had apparently rejected any conversation about marriage to a woman with increasing vehemence, and Harry was probably the only gay, unattached—or so he thought—clan head Fugaku knew.
Even better was that Harry already had an heir.
In his eyes, Harry was likely the best possible candidate where his nephew might be happy.
But this?
No.
Shikaku did not want tea with Fugaku.
Which left only one other reason.
Harry searched his face for a long second, reading the seriousness there, and then asked quietly, "Should I perhaps invite Ino and Inoichi over? I think Tsunade will clear her schedule as well. She has a soft spot for all those kids, though Tenzo isn't in the village at the moment."
He felt Shikaku relax at once.
The older man smiled and pressed a thankful kiss to Harry's temple. "I'm sure Inoichi and Tsunade would love to come oversee the playdate. I'll invite Choza."
Harry snorted softly at that phrasing.
"I'm sure the invitation would be more welcome from you anyway," Shikaku added with dry amusement. "Fugaku would hardly accept one from me…"
Harry laughed under his breath.
"I don't know," he said. "If Shisui hadn't left for that mission so suddenly, I'm sure he would have been eager to bring him along…"
Shikaku narrowed his eyes and pinched his thigh in retaliation.
Harry yelped. "Rude."
"Troublesome minx," Shikaku muttered.
Still smiling, Harry let his fingers drift absentmindedly along the back of Shikaku's neck as he thought ahead.
"When should I set up the playdate?" he asked. "Teddy's birthday is on Sunday, so not then…"
Shikaku hummed.
"The day after?" he suggested. "Let the puppy play with the big kids. Shikamaru loves showing him off anyway."
Harry laughed at that because it was painfully true.
"Our boys are growing up so fast…"
Shikaku looked down at him with such softness. Then, because he was a cruel man, he asked teasingly, "are you going to cry on me again?"
Harry flushed immediately.
"It's not my fault!" he protested. "Teddy was just a tiny little baby and now he's going to be one. One, Shikaku!"
Shikaku laughed loudly.
Harry smacked him in the chest.
The man made an exaggerated wounded sound and immediately caught Harry's hand.
"That hurt, you know," Shikaku said solemnly. "Maybe you should kiss it all better."
Harry wanted very badly to hold onto his grudge.
Unfortunately, he also liked this game.
So he looked up through his lashes and asked in a voice far too innocent to be believed, "where does it hurt?"
Then he leaned in and kissed a spot nowhere near where he had actually hit him.
"Here?" he asked sweetly.
He felt Shikaku's breathing change almost at once.
"Lower," Shikaku whispered hoarsely.
Harry smiled to himself and kissed lower, still very much missing the mark on purpose.
"Here?"
Shikaku's eyes darkened visibly.
"Lower…"
Harry let himself slide from Shikaku's lap entirely, twisting in one smooth movement until he was knelt between the man's spread legs. He pressed a deliberate kiss right above Shikaku's belly button and looked up.
"Here?" he asked, more devious now.
Shikaku's breath went ragged.
"Lower…"
Harry's breath ghosted the twitching cock before him, but he bypassed it entirely and bent instead to kiss the hard muscle of Shikaku's thigh.
"Here?" he asked again.
Shikaku swore softly and spread his legs wider. His eyes were half-lidded now, full of dark heat, and one hand came down to curl into Harry's loose hair with a firm, guiding grip.
He drew Harry closer until the now fully hard cock brushed against his lips.
Harry looked up through lust-heavy eyes and murmured, "Here? Are you sur—ah!"
His teasing broke off into a moan as Shikaku's grip in his hair tightened in exactly the way he liked, forcing his mouth to brush fully against the leaking head.
Harry was very glad Shikaku had let him try this again not long after that awkward, humiliating, wonderful first time. Because he had discovered after some practice, some choking, a lot of praise, and several deeply educational demonstrations, that he was actually rather good at it now that he had learned not to gag.
He enjoyed it even more now that he knew exactly what it did to Shikaku.
Smirking faintly to himself, he let his mouth fall open and took the leaking head into his mouth with a soft pop.
Shikaku sucked in a sharp breath.
Harry moaned around him immediately, the sound vibrating through the length on purpose as he swallowed him down inch by inch. His tongue wrapped around the thick, veined ridges, tracing the shape of him while he let more and more of that hot, heavy weight slide over his tongue.
When the head of Shikaku's cock finally nudged the back of his throat, Harry's eyes fluttered shut.
Merlin.
Shikaku sounded blissed out already, breath ragged, hand in Harry's hair flexing as he fought not to push too much.
Harry could not have that.
He started bobbing his head in a steady rhythm, swallowed around the cock, and tightened his throat with another low, filthy moan.
That did it.
He felt the exact moment Shikaku's restraint snapped.
The hand in his hair tightened.
His hips shifted.
And then he was fucking into Harry's throat in slow, short thrusts, muttering wrecked praise the entire time.
"Look at you," Shikaku breathed. "So fucking beautiful with my cock down your throat… kami… those lips…"
Harry's own arousal pulsed between his thighs and he whined in the back of his throat. He worked him harder, one hand braced on Shikaku's thigh while the other stroked what he couldn't take, taking greedy pleasure in the way the man above him unravelled more and more.
Shikaku always rambled when he came apart like this.
Harry loved it.
"Fuck—so lucky," Shikaku was muttering now, half-coherent with pleasure. "So fucking lucky to have you. Love you so much. Beautiful, beautiful—"
Victory lit through Harry when he heard the edge in his voice.
A few more precise swallows, another deep take, another deliberate tightening of his throat, and Shikaku came with a loud yell.
The warning tug came in Harry's hair, Shikaku trying to pull him off before it hit, but he only held more firmly to his thighs and took him deeper one last time. He choked only slightly when his mate's seed coated his tongue and throat.
He pumped him empty with a soft moan around the cock.
When he finally pulled off, a thin trail slipped from the corner of his mouth before he swallowed one last time.
Shikaku looked absolutely wrecked.
Pupils blown wide, breathing harsh, hand still tangled in Harry's hair.
Harry barely had time to feel smug before Shikaku's rough thumb dragged through the trail at the corner of his mouth and then pushed into his lips. Harry teased it with his tongue and sucked gently, which earned a helpless groan from the man above him.
"Fuck, Hari," Shikaku breathed, voice ruined. "I don't think I can go again."
Harry only smiled beatifically, nuzzled his thigh, and looked up with mischievous eyes.
"Don't worry, my love," he murmured, purring low. "You don't have to do a thing."
Shikaku gave a tired, suspicious little huff.
Then yelped.
Harry had grabbed him by the arms and pulled him down.
A moment later Shikaku was off the chair entirely and on the floor with a solid thud, blinking up bewildered at the ceiling.
Before he could recover, Harry straddled him quickly, grinning down as he leaned in and pressed a firm kiss to his lips.
"You just have to lie there," Harry whispered against his mouth, eyes shining. "And let me do all the work."
Despite his earlier protests, Shikaku's expression melted into a lazy, dark smirk. He let himself go lax beneath him, long limbs spreading comfortably, clearly deciding that if his younger lover wanted to take what he needed then Shikaku was in no hurry to deny him.
His neediness these days was exceptional.
Almost alarming, if Shikaku were the sort of man to complain about being desperately wanted by the most beautiful creature he had ever known.
Which he was not.
Not even slightly.
So he settled back against the floor of his office, one arm thrown over his eyes for a moment in theatrical surrender before he let it fall away again and looked up at Harry properly.
He looked gorgeous.
Flushed.
Hair mussed and half-falling from where it had been gathered back.
Lips red and swollen.
Eyes bright with some mingling of smugness, lust, and that strange soft wildness that had only sharpened over the last month.
"Comfortable?" Harry asked sweetly.
Shikaku gave him a slow once-over. "Perfectly."
"Good."
Harry bent and kissed him again, slower this time, letting his tongue drift lazily against Shikaku's mouth while one of his hands wandered over his chest. He seemed in no rush now, which somehow made the whole thing worse. Or better. Definitely better, for him.
One hand slid lower.
Further.
Shikaku hissed softly when Harry's fingers wrapped around his half-soft, sensitive cock.
"Oh?" Harry murmured, feigning innocence. "Still sensitive?"
"Mhmm," Shikaku said. "And you know it minx."
Harry smiled against his mouth.
Then shifted his weight, settling more deliberately over his hips.
Shikaku let out a slow breath.
Kami.
His minx really was going to make him just lie there and take whatever he wanted, wasn't he?
Harry sat back a little and ran his palms up Shikaku's chest as if memorising him all over again. Then he leaned down and pressed lingering kisses along his jaw, his throat, the hollow beneath his ear, all while purring softly.
It should not have been possible for Harry to make him hard again so soon.
And yet.
Shikaku glanced down and swore under his breath when he saw himself thickening once more.
Harry followed his gaze and looked absurdly pleased.
"There we are," he crooned. "Knew you still had another in you."
Shikaku barked a short laugh.
Harry grinned.
Then he leaned down and kissed him senseless for a while longer.
By the time Harry finally shifted his hips just enough to grind deliberately over Shikaku's cock, both of them were breathing harder again.
"See?" Harry whispered against his mouth. "You don't have to do a thing."
Shikaku's hands twitched at his sides.
He had every intention of keeping that promise.
Really.
But then Harry moved again, friction hot and slow and utterly deliscious, and Shikaku had to curl both hands into fists against the floor just to keep from grabbing him outright.
"Hari," he warned.
Harry only smiled and kissed his throat.
"Just let me take care of you."
And because he loved him, because he trusted him, because he would have handed him his own heart if he had asked sweetly enough, Shikaku let himself relax fully beneath him.
Yes, his younger lover had been exceptionally needy lately.
Who was he to deny him this? Shikaku thought as Harry's mouth drifted lower again.
~
Harry walked away from Inoichi's flower shop with a bounce in his step.
The man had been all too eager and knowing, when Harry had insisted that he come on Monday with Ino.
"Oh?" Inoichi had asked, leaning one elbow against the counter with that utterly shameless grin of his. "And here I thought your little playdates were only for the children."
Harry had rolled his eyes, smiling. "Shikaku would enjoy spending the day with his friends I think," he'd said, voice far too innocent to fool anyone.
Inoichi had actually barked out a laugh at that.
"Friends," he'd repeated, dragging the word out with wicked amusement. "Ah, yes. You and I both know how very close my dear friend Shikaku is with Fugaku."
Harry had snorted, unable to help it, and by the time they'd both started giggling over the idea of Shikaku and Fugaku having a playdate, Ino had appeared from the back room to stare between them with open suspicion.
"What's so funny?" she had demanded, hands on her hips.
"Your father's dreadful jokes," Harry had replied dryly.
Inoichi had clutched his chest in mock offense. "Hari!"
And then Ino had narrowed her eyes and muttered, "You're both being weird."
The memory made Harry smile again now as he wandered down the street.
He had been feeling much better today.
His magic had settled somewhat now that he hadn't had anything large to cast for a while. He still needed to ward the academy and the evacuation sites, of course, but the Hokage had told him to do it in his own time.
He liked to think, too, that the time he spent with Shikaku was also a factor in why he felt so good.
It was difficult to feel entirely miserable when half his evenings ended with his hands all over him and his mornings began tangled in warm blankets and sleepy kisses and their sons trying to wedge themselves between them for cuddles.
He truly thought it was the same thing poor Shino had come down with.
A bug. Some stupid, lingering little illness that simply refused to leave him alone properly. The poor boy was apparently still sick and under strict isolation because of his kikaichu, which meant he wouldn't be able to make it to the playdate.
A high, shrill cry from above pulled him from his thoughts and his smile softened at once.
Nox and Rigel were dancing together.
It had become a common enough sight over Konoha by now that the villagers no longer fled for cover, but it still made people stop and stare every time. Even now several civilians had paused in the road, heads tilted back, mouths parting in quiet awe as Nox danced through the pale sky while Rigel darted after her in delight.
Harry's heart warmed.
He sent affection and pride through the bond he shared with Nox, and at once got an excited flutter back from her, accompanied by a fierce, pleased little buzz of happiness from his fainter bond with Rigel.
Harry laughed softly under his breath and resumed walking.
By the time he turned the next corner he had already decided he was entirely too tired to continue all the way home by foot. He pulled his veil over himself, and with one last glance around the quiet street, he apparated silently back into his compound.
Then he was bracing one hand against the wall and losing whatever dinner he had scoffed down earlier that day.
He heaved once more, stomach clenching painfully, and then stood there panting with one hand pressed against the stone as his whole body shuddered.
"Ugh," he groaned miserably, rubbing at his stomach.
He had really hoped this bug would have left already.
He really, really did not want to pass anything on to the children before Teddy's birthday tomorrow. It had to be perfect.
He took a few careful breaths, cast a freshening charm over himself, then vanished the sick with a grimace and pushed away from the wall.
By the time he made it through the house doors, he wanted to whine a little when he saw his sweet boys charging toward him at full speed with cries of, "Mama!" and "Mom!"
He wanted to drop to his knees and scoop them both up and bury his face in their hair and breathe them in until the ache in his chest settled.
Instead, he caught them both with his magic before they could reach him and lifted them gently into the air.
Both boys let out startled giggles as they floated helplessly a foot or two off the floor, their little limbs flailing in delight while Harry directed them back over toward Saeko.
"Hari, welcome home," Saeko said from where she sat with her tea, not looking remotely surprised by this display. "Did you finish your errands?"
"I did," he said. "Ino, Sasuke, and Chouji are all set to come play day after tomorrow."
That, at least, immediately distracted Shikamaru from trying to wriggle toward him.
His whole face lit up.
"Really?" he asked, floating a little lopsidedly in his excitement.
"Really," Harry said fondly.
He could tell, from Saeko's untroubled expression, that she had no idea about the true motives behind Shikaku wanting all the fathers over tomorrow, and Harry intended to keep it that way. He was not about to get her involved in anything Danzo related.
The moment the novelty of floating wore off, Teddy began whining and reaching out for him, little hands opening and closing desperately.
Harry nearly whined right with him.
"Saeko," he said instead, voice a little softer than usual, "can I ask you to watch them tonight? I still seem to have the bug I caught off Shino. I don't want to get them both sick before the party."
Shikamaru's brows pulled together at once, all joy gone in a rush of worry.
"Are you okay?" Shikamaru asked, immediately trying to twist free of the invisible hold. "Do you want me to get Dad to come home? He can take care of you!"
Harry's whole expression softened.
"Oh, my sweet boy," he murmured, lowering both children gently to the floor now that they were no longer trying to launch themselves bodily into his arms. "It's only for tonight. I'm going to go to the Keep and brew a specific purging potion, that's all. I just don't want you both to get sick." He gave them a little smile. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't already."
Saeko, dear woman that she was, immediately rose and tried to fuss over him. She reached toward his forehead, then for his wrist, then made an annoyed little sound when Harry kept her away softly with a puff of air before she could make proper contact.
"Hari—"
"It's fine," he said, still smiling gently despite the way his stomach rolled again. "I'm fine. I just don't want to risk it."
And then Teddy started crying.
Actually crying.
His little face crumpled and he held both arms out toward Harry, tears already gathering in his eyes as he let otu wounded, snuffling whines.
He crouched just enough to be closer and said very softly, "I'm sorry, my little wolf. Mama will be home soon, okay?"
Teddy only sniffled harder, then he turned and went to Shikamaru instead.
Shikamaru scooped him up at once, settling Teddy against his chest. The boy looked deeply pleased that his baby brother had gone to him and not their grandmother for comfort.
Harry and Saeko could only stand there and coo helplessly at the sight of Teddy snuffling into Shikamaru's neck, thumb already finding its way into his mouth as the tears dried almost at once.
Shikamaru chuffed quietly and began rocking him back and forth.
He could have stayed there all night just watching his boys.
Instead, he made himself turn away and headed toward the Keep gateway with a sigh, not even daring to apparate.
By the time he reached the potions lab in the castle, he was tired.
Before he had even set down the ingredients he heard the familiar voice from the portrait on the wall.
"About time," Ignotus remarked grandly. "I was beginning to suspect you intended to neglect brewing altogether in favour of being thoroughly domesticated."
Harry snorted softly.
"And hello to you too grandfather," he said, already reaching for his scales and knives.
Ignotus kept Harry company as he brewed, lounging in his frame and talking his ear off about the boys.
"Such intelligent children," Ignotus declared, sounding deeply satisfied. "Young Shikamaru in particular. That one has a sharp mind. And the elves brought young Teddy and his dragon into the castle the other day. Extraordinary thing, that bond." His eyes glittered. "Quite breathtaking. Your magic must have truly changed something within the dragons."
Harry looked up from the cauldron, where the potion had just begun to shift from murky grey toward the deep ugly green he wanted.
"With Nox and Altair I can understand it," he admitted. "They see me as their mother. Lyra too, to some extent." He added a handful of powdered root and stirred precisely three times clockwise. "But I truthfully think the magic of the Keep lands is somehow evolving them. Have you seen how big and fast they grow here compared to the cove?"
Ignotus hummed thoughtfully.
"That theory may have some merit," he admitted after a moment. "The land is purely magical after all. Perhaps it has affected the other beasts too?" Then he sighed with theatrical melancholy. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to roam freely once more."
Harry snorted.
"You could always ask the elves to shrink your frame and take you on an adventure," he said.
Harry laughed as the image hit him.
Tilly or Kreacher carrying Ignotus' portrait grumpily across the grounds while he complained or narrated or demanded to see this shrub and that creature.
Ignotus only watched him with a small, private smile. He could see right through Harry in moments like this, his precious grandson was finally, finally happy in ways he had not been for most of his life.
Only took seventeen years, Ignotus thought grumpily.
Yes, his grandson still mourned his old life.
His dear sister especially. He would probably go on mourning all of them in some quiet place inside himself forever.
But he had made a family of his own here.
A man he loved.
Two intelligent sons.
A whole mess of found family.
And if he and Salazar managed to come up with a way to give Shikaku even just a sliver of magic—
That thought stayed carefully hidden.
It was a project known only to the two of them for now. There was no point getting anyone's hopes up, not when the whole thing was still half theory and research.
Ignotus remembered too well the devastated but accepting look on Harry's face when he had first realised that coming to this world had meant giving up any possibility of bearing children in the way his body had been made for.
And now that he had chosen his life mate, even should young Barty offer his services, it would only be met with violent internal rebellion from Harry's instincts. The boy loved too fiercely and too singularly for that.
It was a sad day indeed when Ignotus knew more about bearers than his own grandson. Regretting not broaching the topic once more for a moment but not wanting his grandsons mood to sadden again.
His thoughts broke when Harry finally straightened and said, "Right. That's the last step."
He bottled the potion carefully.
The thick green liquid settled into the glass with a slosh that made Harry grimace. He put stasis on every bottle but one and eyed the remaining dose with complete distaste.
Perhaps, you should go bathe before taking it and go to bed," Ignotus suggested. "The effects are not easy."
Harry made a face. "Wonderful."
Ignotus, annoyingly, was proven right almost immediately.
Not long after he swallowed the potion, sharp pains lanced through Harry's stomach so viciously that he doubled over against the edge of his bed. His magic reacted violently with it, flaring and shifting in ugly little bursts through his bpdy. He swallowed hard against the sudden surge of nausea, thought wildly for a moment that he might simply throw the whole potion back up.
How was this supposed to be suitable for both children and adults? It was supposed to purge any illness out of the body within hours, not claw out his insides.
For Teddy, he thought to himself through gritted teeth. I'm doing this for Teddy…
He spent the night tossing and turning in miserable half-sleep. Sweat soaked through his sheets. His stomach cramped so badly that more than once he curled around himself with a low, wounded whine, magic fluttering uselessly around him in agitated little waves.
At some point he started keening softly for Shikaku without even meaning to, body and magic both reaching for his mate across the distance and finding nothing but empty air because the man was too far away.
His magic kept straining anyway.
At last, somewhere between one cramp and the next, he fell into an uneasy sleep.
~
The effects of the potion had thankfully eased off by the time he woke up.
Not completely, but he didn't throw up again that morning.
It could have been the nausea potion one of the elves had forced down his throat sometime in the night, but regardless of the reason, he wouldn't be passing any bugs onto his boys any time soon.
Thank Merlin.
He stayed still for a long moment after waking, one hand laid over his stomach, breathing in the quiet of his room.
Today was Teddy's birthday.
His baby's first birthday.
And Harry had no intention of wasting a single moment of it.
He pushed himself upright carefully, wincing only a little at the lingering tenderness in his body. The apparition back home was uncomfortable, the magic pulling at him in a way that made his stomach lurch briefly.
The house was quiet, far too early for anyone to be up just yet.
Body still a bit tender from the purge, Harry ignored the slight lingering discomfort and set about making the birthday cake.
It became two cakes.
He found himself making a smaller cake just for Teddy.
Chocolate-covered and meant for destruction.
Because his puppy was absolutely going to make a mess the moment he got his hands on it.
Still, that did not stop him from spending far too long decorating both.
He piped cream with careful precision. He arranged the larger cake until it looked almost too lovely to cut into, all soft colours and careful swirls and little decorative dragon accents that looked like Rigel.
Going to place the cakes in the fridge, he noticed all the food preparation Saeko had clearly done for the party.
Tupperware upon tupperware across every available shelf and surface. He stared at it all with deep appreciation, then with immediate temptation.
Were those her pork buns?
Harry leaned down slightly, eyes narrowing with dangerous longing as he peered through the clear lid.
They were.
With a pained sigh, he stepped away and went instead to make breakfast for everyone.
Only then did he allow himself to go and wake the birthday boy.
With a small smile curled at his mouth, Harry bounced lightly down the corridor toward Teddy's room, only to find it empty.
He checked Shikamaru's room next.
Empty too.
That only made him snort affectionately and head toward his own bedroom already feeling their sleepy signatures clustered together.
Shikaku was asleep on his back, one arm flung slightly out from his side, broad chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. Teddy was sprawled over him, drooling contentedly onto his chest, his hair lazily flicking between pink and blue in his sleep. And beside them, Shikamaru had starfished completely across half the bed, mouth wide open, one little hand clenched firmly around a fistful of Shikaku's shirt.
Harry sat on the edge of the bed without a word just watching them and his whole body finally relaxed.
He reached out and stroked one finger down Shikamaru's nose.
The boy scrunched his face up immediately.
Harry smiled.
"Maru," he whispered, very softly. "It's time to wake up, my love."
Shikamaru made a low, sleepy sound and blinked one eye open.
"Mom?" he mumbled.
He leaned down and gathered the sleepy boy into a cuddle as carefully as he could without disturbing the other two. Shikamaru went limp against him, still warm and heavy with sleep, stretching all his limbs out with a groggy little groan.
"You all 'ine now?" he asked, voice blurred with sleep.
"I'm all fine now, little fawn," he murmured, kissing his hair.
Shikamaru nodded against his chest and muttered, "Missed you."
Then, apparently satisfied, he started to melt right back toward sleep.
Harry huffed a fond laugh and rubbed his back.
"Oh no, you don't," he whispered. "It's time to wake up."
Shikamaru whined immediately and shook his head into Harry's chest. "No."
Harry smiled wickedly.
"If you wake up now," he whispered, "you can help wake your father."
That stopped the whining.
Shikamaru pulled back slowly, eyes narrowing in suspicion even as another enormous yawn overtook him. Then he sighed and muttered, "troublesome."
Harry nearly laughed aloud.
Instead, he turned to wake Shikaku, only to find the man already awake.
Shikaku was watching them both with such a soft, sleep-heavy look on his face that Harry nearly forgot what he was doing. His eyes were still half-lidded, his hair a dark mess across the pillow, and the expression he wore was so unguarded.
Shikamaru noticed too and giggled immediately.
Harry smiled and teased him, "Well, it seems your job is done already."
Shikamaru grinned and scooted back enough to look at his father properly.
Harry let him go and bent down to press a soft kiss to Shikaku's lips.
"Good morning," he whispered.
"Morning," Shikaku muttered back, still sleep-heavy and rough, then tried to pull Harry down properly.
Harry laughed softly and resisted.
"Mother told me you went to brew a potion to purge whatever you caught," Shikaku murmured, voice still sleepy but concerned. "You feel okay now?"
Harry hummed and kissed him again lightly.
"I should have done it earlier. I shouldn't be contagious anymore," he said. "Even if I still feel a bit nauseous. But that's probably just from the potion. Don't worry too much."
Shikaku only muttered, "It's my job to worry…"
The words sent a wave of warmth through him, and he pressed another kiss to his sleepy mate.
He reached out and stroked Teddy's snoring, onesie-covered back, then gently pried the baby off Shikaku's chest and into his own arms. With a flick of of his hand he summoned the bottle he'd left on the nightstand.
"Teddy," Harry whispered, rubbing his son's curls gently. "Come on, my little wolf. It's time to wake up, birthday boy…"
Teddy yawned so widely his whole face scrunched with it, then he let out the most pitiful little whine.
"Mama noooo…"
Harry laughed at how alike he was to his brother and tickled his nose. "Come on, my love…"
Teddy opened his eyes with a tragic pout.
"Noo, Mama," he complained again, much grumpier now.
At that, Shikaku reached out and hauled both of them back against his chest, laughing quietly. At the same time, he grabbed Shikamaru too, who immediately started squirming when Shikaku tickled his side enough to make him yelp.
"Dad, stop it!"
Teddy lifted his head, seized a fistful of Shikaku's beard.
And told him off.
"No, Dada!"
All three of them froze.
Harry stared.
Shikaku stared.
Then Shikamaru scrambled to his knees at once and prodded Teddy enthusiastically, looking at his frozen father with such a grin.
"Say it again!" he whispered loudly.
Teddy giggled and pulled on Shikaku's beard once more.
"DADA NO!" he declared proudly.
Harry looked at Shikaku cautiously, almost afraid to breathe, only to find the man blinking rapidly. His eyes were suspiciously red as he stared down at Teddy.
"That's right, puppy," Shikaku said, voice rougher than usual. "I'm your dad."
Then he flicked the quickest, most hopeful look imaginable toward Harry, as if begging him not to dispute it.
As if Harry would ever dream of it.
His heart felt so full it might split.
He only smiled softly, pried Teddy's fingers gently out of Shikaku's beard, and placed the baby fully into Shikaku's arms.
"Do you want Dada to give you your bottle this morning?" Harry asked Teddy gently.
Shikaku's breath hitched.
Teddy, meanwhile, only cooed and made grabby hands, chanting, "Dada! Dada! Bot Bot!"
This moment alone, Harry thought wildly, could probably power his patronus for centuries.
The four of them sat there together. Shikamaru happily making faces at Teddy while the baby laughed around the bottle Shikaku now held for him, Shikaku completely smitten as he looked down at the child in his arms, their child.
Harry could only sigh happily and press his cheek to Shikaku's shoulder.
The day only got better from there.
He took Teddy on a dragon ride with Nox after breakfast, Rigel flying closely and chirping at Teddy who squealed and tried to reach out to touch him.
And by evening the house was full.
The enlarged mirror had been set carefully beside the large portrait, just as Harry had planned, and every available surface seemed to hold food, drink, plates, and balloons.
Tsunade and Sirius were both tipsy.
Shizune and Barty had more or less been forced into the thankless role of corralling them both. Poor Barty wondering why he had agreed to live among these people, but striking up a quick friendship with Shizune.
Saeko, was chatting away with Grimbok and Tazgira through the mirror as if speaking to goblins was the most natural thing in the world.
Theo, Blaise, and Neville were all crowded close enough to the mirror that their faces kept overlapping as they took turns cooing over Teddy and Shikamaru.
"Look at him!" Theo was saying for perhaps the seventh time. "He's so big!"
"No, turn him—turn him—there! Merlin, they're so adorable." Blaise said, sounding emotional and delighted.
Neville just smiled in that soft way of his and said, "Happy birthday, Teddy."
The enlarged portrait had proven a blessing too, fitting in as many ancestors as possible. Salazar looking on with a smirk and some dry remarks. Dorea and Charlus were half-weeping over the baby, and Ignotus was batting off everyone else who tried to steal his spot in the front.
Teddy was beaming in Harry's lap.
Absolutely glowing with all the attention.
Shikaku knelt in front of them holding the lit cake while everyone started singing.
"Happy birthday to you…"
The sound filled the room, everyone's voices overlapping.
Teddy kicked his little legs in delight, eyes wide as he looked around at every face turned toward him.
"Happy birthday to you…"
He loved the noise and the clapping and the attention and the way every person seemed to be smiling right at him.
"Happy birthday dear Teddy…"
By the time they reached his name, Teddy was trying to sing too, babbling loudly over them with a wide grin.
Then the song ended.
Everyone leaned in.
"Go on, pup," Sirius urged.
"Blow it out, darling!" Saeko said.
"Make your magic wish!" Blaise added.
Teddy puffed his cheeks.
Then he blew with everything he had, spitting everywhere.
The candle went out either way.
The whole room erupted into cheers.
Teddy squealed with laughter.
And then, before anyone could stop him, he smashed his entire face straight into the small chocolate-covered cake and took a giant bite, Shikaku quick enough to snatch the candle away. Then he clapped his now cake-covered hands together in delight, spraying crumbs everywhere as the whole room broke into fresh laughter.
Teddy looked up at him with a chocolate-covered grin and offered him a fistful of mangled cake.
Harry just laughed and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, ignoring the tears stinging suddenly at his eyes.
"Happy birthday, my little wolf."