As soon as everything calmed down Blaise went to see Harry. Draco had told him all that happened, Sirius and Isabella had taken care of Truth while Draco stayed with Harry in the hospital.
Hope had come to the next morning and was thrilled with her cast, all but demanding that Draco and Harry sign it. She ate ice-cream and demanded to see Truth so Harry flooed Isabella and got her to bring Sirius and Truth down.
So Harry, Draco, Isabella and Sirius sat in the ward watching Hope and Truth chatter on amongst themselves.
Blaise came in, frowning when he saw Draco there, and brought Harry into the corridor to talk.
"This is going to be a black mark on your account." Blaise warned, after asking after Hope's health.
Harry watched his two baby girls sitting together, Truth struggling to spell her name on Hope's cast.
"I want to testify."
"What?" Blaise asked, hoping he meant what he hoped.
"I want to tell the whole truth about the girls." Harry's eyes glanced at Blaise with a shimmering hope. "That'll guarantee I get them right?"
"Definitely, except they may want a blood test, you know it see whether or not Ruth is the father."
"What difference would it make? He raped me, he doesn't deserve the girls!" Harry hissed.
"Yes but if he is the father than he can go on and still be able to get some money from you but if he isn't then he'll get nothing." Blaise pushed.
"What if he isn't the father?" Harry asked fear edging his tone. "Then what am I suppose to do?"
"So you want your daughters' other father to be a rapist?"
"No I…" Harry's eyes drifted to Draco. "I just don't know what I'll say to them. They want Draco to be their father but Draco wants to marry Pansy, I will not let him have to choose between blood and love."
"Draco doesn't love Pansy!" Blaise stressed. "He's only marrying her because you weren't here! Now he thinks you moved onto Ruth."
Harry looked at him. "It doesn't matter. I'm telling about…what happened and then I'm going back to Australia and taking the girls."
"Harry, they'll want the girls to testify now as well because of the accident."
"OK then." Harry rubbed his neck.
"You'll need to think about what you'll say." Blaise went on.
"I want to take Veritaserum." Harry said.
"Are you sure?" Blaise asked carefully.
"Yes." He left Blaise and went back into the room.
Isabella knew something was wrong when Harry entered the room with a moody expression on his face. She didn't say anything as he sat beside Sirius, away from Draco, and barely spoke a word.
DMHP
At around lunch Draco decided it was all clear for him to go.
"But Mr Draco!" Hope whined, pouting as Draco hugged the twins' goodbye.
"I'll come back and see you both soon." Draco promised, hugging them again.
"You better." Truth warned.
Harry stood up and the two just stood awkwardly. "Uh thanks, for everything." Harry smiled timidly at the taller man and Draco smiled back.
"No problem. Well I'll see you all later then. Bye Sirius, Isabella." The two waved goodbye.
When he had left Harry sat back down heavily.
"Daddy." Hope whined. "When can I use my leg again?"
Harry looked up. "The Healers said tomorrow."
Hope looked crossly at the cast. "I want my leg back!"
Truth looked up from the colouring book Isabella had brought her and threw a crayon at the cast.
"What was that for?" Hope pouted as the orange crayon missed and landed in her lap.
Truth shrugged. "Orange is a scary colour."
Isabella had stood up and grabbed Harry's arm pulling him from the room. Once they were in the hallway she demanded him to tell her about Blaise's visit.
"He said that the girls are going to have to speak now." Harry sighed, slumping against the wall. "He said the accident is going to shift the case in Ruth's favour."
Isabella sat down. "I can't imagine life without the twins."
"I believe it would be peaceful and relaxing." Harry smiled weakly.
Isabella shook her head. "What are you going to do?"
"Tell them what happened." Harry said, looking at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.
Isabella looked up sharply. "Why?"
"It is the only way that I'll be able to keep the girls." Harry argued gently. "Other wise they'll definitely be his."
"But Harry…" Isabella stood and came close to the younger man so only she would hear him. "Draco will know the truth."
"It doesn't matter." Harry muttered. "All that matters now is that you, Sirius, the twins and I are in Australia by the end of the week and away from here for good."
He pushed past her and headed for the rest room down the hall leaving Isabella cursing behind him.
DMHP
When Draco got home Pansy was waiting.
"Draky!" She squealed, running to hug him but he dodged away from her. "Where were you? I was so worried!" She whined.
To Draco she didn't look too worried. Her hair looked like it had been styled minutes ago, her fingernails were manicured and she was wearing new robes.
"Funny…" Draco muttered bitterly. "I need firewhisky." He announced, making his way to his study.
Inside he closed and locked the door before settling in his chair behind his desk and burrowing his face in his hands.
All he could think of was that kiss. Having his lips against Harry's, it felt so right, so sweet, and so absolutely perfect! He hadn't tasted that sweet tang for nearly five years. Then he saw Ruth and remembered what he had said, Harry had moved on it seemed, decided that everything he had before he left wasn't worth hanging around for.
Draco looked sideways at the wall.
If only Harry hadn't left he could be here, with him and not in a hospital with another man's daughter.
He had an odd fondness for the twins, but every time he saw Ruth he could just picture him touching Harry and his blood boiled and his mind went red with rage. He had always been possessive of the ex-Gryffindor, even before the two had gotten together, and just knowing Harry was with someone that wasn't him…he couldn't bear it.
He shoved a heavy book off his desk with more force than necessary and was pleased when it thumbed on the carpet.
When he let himself calm he got up and fetched the book, as he picked it up a note slipped from the pages.
He picked it up between his thumb and finger and looked it over. He knew this note, it was the scrap piece of parchment he was writing down the speech he was going to use to ask Harry to marry him.
He opened it up and almost winced as he read over what he had written when he was sure Harry would always be there.
There are so many things that should stop us, that makes everything wrong but ever since that first kiss we shared I don't care about that! I want only you and no one else, you're my heart, my soul, my mind and my only, I love you more than anything and in return I only want you to answer my question, Harry James Potter, will you marry me?
"Draco?" Blaise called through the wooden door.
"Wait a second." Draco stuffed the letter into his desk drawer and quickly opened the door.
Blaise looked annoyed. "Why the hell did you go?" He asked.
Draco only glared. "Harry and the girls needed me."
"No you needed Potter." Blaise sneered. "Draco, you are in the jury and your infatuation with Potter is clouding your judgement."
"Oh so you're now saying that Harry is the evil in all of this?"
"No, he's innocent, just…Do me a favour and quit the jury and don't get caught up in this." Blaise hissed.
"Why? What's going to happen?" Draco asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.
"Nothing, just promise me Draco you will quit, hand in your resignation immediately!"
"I will if you tell me what is going to happen." Draco crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Oh for once Draco don't be so stubborn! Trust me; you do not want to be there tomorrow!" Draco didn't budge. "Fine, but I warned you."
Blaise stormed out, leaving his blond friend behind.
DMHP
The next day, after Hope was released from hospital, cast gone, Harry and Isabella were struggling to dress over curious twins.
"So why aren't we going to the Weasels?" Hope asked, as Isabella helped her into her dark blue dress.
"Because they smell?" Truth asked, Harry doing up the ribbon on the back of her matching purple dress.
"The Weasley's do not smell Truth." Harry snapped, tension and anxiety building.
"Sorry." Truth whimpered, using her 'please-don't-hurt-me-I-love-you' look that, as always, worked on Harry.
Harry sighed. "Daddy and Aunt Izzie are taking the both of you with us because Mr Zabini wants to ask you some questions."
"Why do we have to go to him?" Truth demanded. "Why doesn't he just come here?"
"Because he needs certain people present." Harry explained, a flash of Draco flickered in his mind and guilt and fear became good friends with his tension and anxiety.
"I want a present!" Hope squealed.
"If you are good and answer Mr Zabini truthfully, with no little games, then we'll get you presents." Harry promised, helping Truth into her sandals.
"OK." Truth grinned, Hope nodding along with her twin.
"Good girls." Harry smiled, kissing their cheeks. "Now let's go. Sirius come on!"
Sirius appeared wearing a nice pair of robes. "What do ya think?" He asked, doing a little twirl.
The girls grinned and twirled along with him, Truth doing too much twirling she fell onto her butt.
They flooed to the ministry and Blaise met them at the fireplace.
"Hi Mr Zabenana!" Hope grinned.
"Hello girls." Blaise gave them a tight smile. "Harry I need to talk with you."
"I'll take the girls." Isabella promised. She and Sirius carried the twins into the stands.
"What's up?" Harry asked.
"I tried to convince Draco to resign before he had to hear what you want to say but he won't; now he's even more curious." Blaise rubbed his forehead in distress.
"It's going to kill him." Harry muttered.
"Exactly!" Blaise sighed. "I just…isn't there some way that we could make sure he doesn't hear?"
"Unless someone curses him deaf, I can't think of anything…" Harry was interrupted by the calling of his name. "Albus?" He grinned, seeing his old professor.
"Harry my boy, how are you?" Albus smiled as he joined the two.
"I could be better." Harry sighed.
"Uh yes…" Albus nodded.
"What are you doing here?" Blaise asked. "I thought you detested any form of trial now days."
"Well I came down here with one of my students, Constance Ruth, her father called her down to testify." Dumbledore explained, gesturing to the girl behind him.
She smiled timidly at Harry whose heart went out for her; imagine having to be related to Ruth, and then he thought of his daughters.
"Hello." Harry smiled at her.
"The trial is starting." Blaise warned him.
"Right, it was good to see you Albus and to meet you Constance." Harry nodded, following Blaise to their table.
"Order!" McKenzie ordered, silencing the court. "Now the court is back in session, Mr Zabini would like to start."
"Thank you." Blaise stood. "I would like to call forth both Miss Hope and Truth Potter."
Isabella stood and with Sirius' help got the twins into the stand. Once they were seated Hope crossed her arms stubbornly.
"I'm not saying anything until someone tells me what is happening." Some people chuckled at the cuteness of the blonde twin.
"Hope, I promise this won't take long." Blaise prompted.
"Well then you'll have lots of time to explain what's going on." Truth interfered cheerfully.
Harry bit his to stop from smiling at the pair.
Blaise turned on Harry. "Harry could you do something?"
Harry got up and approached the two, bending down so he was at their level.
"Daddy, what's going on?" Hope demanded.
"Hey look Hope, Mr Draco is here!" Truth yelled, waving happily at Draco.
"Truth, Hope, can you do something for me please?" Harry asked, catching their attention.
"OK." Truth nodded, trusting her daddy completely.
"Can the two of you please answer Mr Zabini's questions truthfully and without fuss, for me please?" Harry asked.
"OK Daddy." Hope sighed. "But not if he's being nosy!" She glared at Blaise who rolled his eyes.
"OK." Harry smiled. "Thank you girls." He took his seat and nodded for Blaise to continue.
"OK girls, when I ask you this next question you have to answer, 'I do' OK?"
"I do!" Truth yelled.
Blaise sucked in his breath. "Do both of you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
"I do." Hope nodded.
"My name is Truth…" Truth smiled proudly.
"Girls, how would you describe your father?" Blaise asked, ignoring Truth.
"OOOH me first!" Truth called, waving her hand. "Ummm I love Daddy, he's great! He always lets us get ice-cream and hang out with Mr Draco and always lets us watch cartoons in the morning but doesn't let us watch 'grown-up' movies." Truth pouted at this. "And he doesn't let us have ice-cream for dessert or stay up past eight or let us cook by ourself."
"Yea and he brought us these necklaces!" Hope squealed, showing the diamond H. "And he let us keep Joey and let him sleep in our room, but not on the bed, but he does anyway. He always makes us brush twice a day; I really don't see the point! They get dirty anyway."
"Has your dad ever done anything like…hurt you or made you do something bad?" Blaise asked.
"He hasn't hurt us." Hope explained. "He just sends us to our room or makes us apologize."
"Yea and the only bad thing he's made us do is spend time with the Weasel kids." Truth made a face. "He doesn't let us lie or anything, he says it's bad."
"So you would say your dad is a good man, wouldn't do anything bad?"
"No way!" Hope giggled. "Have you met him? The only bad thing I've ever seen him do was lie to Aunty Izzie once when Joey ripped up the sheets and he said it was mice!"
Harry smiled winced when he felt Isabella's hot glare on his back.
"Are you unhappy being with your Dad?" Blaise asked, continuing on.
"No." The twins said together.
"I have no further questions." Blaise nodded.
Isabella and Sirius came forwards to collect the two who waved at Harry and Draco as they were taken back into the stands.
"Would you like to call forth any other witnesses?" McKenzie asked as he finished writing something down.
"Yes, just one more, I would like to call forwards Harry Potter again."