Harrigan strolled quietly through Malfoy Manor, leaving behind him the conversation between his husband, Abraxas, and young Lucius on some political topic. While Harrigan enjoyed politics and the Wizengamot somewhat, it did get rather dull after the first couple of hours. There were certainly a few major battles left, but Harrigan felt safe leaving the topic alone for a while, instead searching out the recent graduates.

He found Sirius, James, Regulus, and Remus in a small sitting room on the second floor, adjacent to the suite set aside for the Heir and his new Consort. Sirius had settled in well to his new life over the past six months, clearly enjoying normal life after the finish of his school career on the 1st of June, graduating students being allowed to leave before the end of the actual term.

In Sirius' arms as he sat and talked to his friends was a small bundle wrapped in a very soft silver and blue blanket, a truly tiny hand visible over the edge of the fabric. The babe was five days old, born a full two weeks early just a few days after Sirius had graduated. Despite his early arrival, the littlest Malfoy heir was healthy and strong, doted on by his entire family. Abandoning the usual route with godparents this little boy had two godfathers, James and Severus had both been surprised but honored with the position.

Sirius had promised to let his spouse name the baby, so the little one was officially Draco Lucius Malfoy. The first name had pleased his grandsire Orion but not so much Sirius, who thought his family tradition was overly used. As a compromise Sirius had been firm in adding Lucius as the middle name, wanting to honor his beloved husband. Lucius had conceded the point with admirable grace (he had wanted to name the babe Draco Sirius).

Harrigan walked into the room and sat next to his stepson, wriggling his fingers and getting a small chuckle from Sirius, who obligingly handed over little Draco, who was surprisingly heavy for all that he'd weighed only six and a half pounds at birth. The little boy had pale hair which was getting paler by the day and at the moment the typical bright cornflower blue eyes of a newborn. Draco was capable of being quite demanding, but at the moment he was content to sleep in Harrigan's arms, bright eyes fluttering closed and his small fist wrapped tightly around the edge of his blanket.

Harrigan stared quietly at Draco, mind wandering as he held the comfortable weight of the little babe in his arms. He could not have hoped for a better result from the meeting with the Board of Governors, they had voted unanimously to remove Albus Dumbledore from the school. Along with three Aurors, the Board had gone to Hogwarts and quietly but firmly informed the former Headmaster that he had a week to vacate the premises or risk losing his retirement stipend from the Board entirely.

Originally they had thought to remove the stipend anyway, but some of the Board had reasonably pointed out that the man was going to be annoyed enough at losing his job if they took the stipend away as well he was more likely to cause trouble for the school later on down the road or even immediately, what's to say he wouldn't curse one of the positions like the Defense position seemed to be?

Jumping on the mentioned position, Harrigan had politely suggested that some restructuring was needed for the school and the faculty as well. Binns, for example, had the lowest rate of passing students in the entire history of the faculty, even when alive. Not to mention the ghost was a dismal teacher, making what could be a very interesting subject a school-wide 'nap time'.

The newly installed Sybil Trelawney as well. How the woman had gotten the position of Divination was beyond Harrigan, but really the whole class needed to be revamped or removed entirely, with tutoring offered through the Education Department to those who showed beyond normal talent for one of the arcane gifts.

Something physical besides Quidditch wouldn't go amiss either, it would even tie in with Defense. After all, how could one expect to survive a duel with an opponent if they were badly out of shape, or if their opponent used a weapon, like magically-enhanced swords or daggers? Some of the Board had sneered at him originally for mentioning the idea, but they had been more thoughtful at the end, after all, it was known that some preferred to use physical weapons aside from their magic.

And so the changes began. Minerva McGonagall had been passed over as Headmistress, much to her ruffled offense. The fiery Scot maintained a high level of respect amongst the Board, but part of Harrigan's review of the school pointed out that she was not the best nor most approachable Head in the school, preferring to maintain a professional attitude towards students.

Instead, Filius Flitwick was approached. The diminutive but clever Charms teacher was a very good Head, installing a level of trust with his students and maintaining an 'open door, closed mouth' policy unless it was a matter that affected the student's health or the school at large. He was firm, taking no nonsense from students and not favoring one House over another.

Filius had been very surprised to be approached with the position of Headmaster, but after some consideration had taken the job, admitting that his teaching road was reaching an end, he was getting on in years after all. He seemed genuinely pleased and excited about the changes coming to Hogwarts starting with the very next term, eagerly assisting the Board and their hired experts whenever possible.

The points system had been done away with entirely, now the still in place House Cup was based on academics, with a very small contributing amount from the school Quidditch games. The Houses themselves had been changed just slightly, more on the scheduling level so that each House had classes with the other three in each year, not just a couple or even one other. A new student position was added as well, the Mediator.

Harrigan had suggested this to the Board very early on in his term teaching at the school, it had been met with more enthusiasm than he had expected from such a radical idea. He had noticed that often when the Prefects and even the Head Boy and Girl had gotten involved in a student argument, the students with the higher responsibility and standing had usually wavered towards supporting their own House, even if they were in fact in the wrong.

To answer this entered the Mediator. Chosen from the sixth year students, the Mediator was a student that had shown over the course of their education to be far more impartial than most others, able to look at a situation with an unprejudiced eye. If students felt that their argument had not been settled fairly by a Prefect or Head Boy/Girl, they could request the presence of the Mediator. The whole argument would be suspended if the Mediator was in classes, then at the first available free moment, the Mediator would listen to all sides of the disagreement and decide in favor of the correct group, not favoring their own House or even a friend's.

As Sirius, Regulus, and their friends heard about the changes coming to the school through the paper or tidbits from the older adults they commented on them, usually favorably. Regulus looked actually very curious and excited to return to school for his final year, not quite as morose as he had been recently considering he would have to leave his brother and new boyfriend behind. Regulus and James had signed into a formal courting contract, James presenting Regulus with a very masculine but impressively beautiful ring that had been in his family for a long time.

Bellatrix and Remus seemed content with a far more informal relationship, getting slowly and steadily closer as they bonded over dates and small, private outings. Remus had still asked Orion for permission, amusing Harrigan's husband immensely, though gaining his respect as well. Bellatrix may not be heir to any of the Black or Rosier estates, but she still had her family names behind her and a considerable dowry, though the young woman was actually unaware that Orion had considerably boosted his niece's paltry sum from her father.

Harrigan came out of his musings as Lucius walked into the room and approached where Sirius and Harrigan were sitting. Harrigan stood, reluctantly handing over the sleepy warmth of Draco to the proud young father, leaving the small room with a wave that few of the chatting teenagers noticed. Amused, he walked slowly through the Manor, seeking out his husband.

He found Orion outside on the back veranda, leaning against the wrought-iron railing and staring quietly out into the massive riot of carefully arranged color that was the Malfoy gardens. The older man didn't notice his approach until Harrigan's body cast a shadow over his arms. He turned his head, a smile crossing his lips at the sight of Harrigan. Orion reached out a hand to Harrigan, who took it and allowed the older, taller man to pull him close, framing his shorter body against the railing with Orion's breath tickling the back of his neck.

Amused, he huffed out a short laugh and mock-glared at his husband over his right shoulder. Orion was smirking, clearly enjoying this little moment where he could smugly point out his superior height yet again. Really, it wasn't Harrigan's fault that Orion was taller than normal, he was a perfectly respectable 6'! Orion leaned forward and caught his lips in a kiss, passionate as usual but restrained, since they were still technically in plain sight.

Once Harrigan got both his breath and senses back after the kiss a warm, genuinely pleased smile crossed his lips, prompting a slightly quizzical response from his older husband. "I know you enjoy our kisses, Harrigan, but tell me what prompts that little smile of yours?"

"Can I not just be generally happy with life?" Harrigan teased back, breaking free of his husband's arms and stepping down onto the immaculate lawn.

Orion pursued with an amused smile of his own, long legs bringing him easily back into reach of Harrigan, whose pale green eyes glittered with a range of pleasant emotions. One skilled in reading such emotions as Orion could easily see happiness, contentment, love, and a delight that puzzled the man slightly.

"Certainly, but your evasive answers are pointing at something specific, you know."

Harrigan shook his head with exasperated fondness, tilting his head to the side as he said, "How is it I can never hide anything from you for very long, Orion?"

"Maybe because you never truly try to hide anything from me?" Orion suggested, "Or perhaps my love for you and yours for me makes us an open book to each other?"

"I rather prefer the second," Harrigan smirked.

"You would," Orion retorted. "I hope the first, it will make guessing things much easier in my life with you."

"You find me unpredictable then?" Harrigan asked a false air of puzzlement in his voice.

Orion rolled his eyes, not something he did often. Truly he enjoyed the light banter with his husband, Harrigan was quick-witted and very clever. Orion had a feeling he would not get bored very often in his life anymore, Harrigan was not the most predictable of creatures.

"That false air does not become you, husband mine."

Harrigan huffed in mock offense, a traitorous smile crossing his lips gave him away, however. "Oh fine, I can be slightly unpredictable. You can't tell me you don't enjoy it, however."

"I do enjoy it, keeping on my toes around you keeps me in shape," Orion smirked, to the laughter of his husband.

"Fine, your persistence has won me over, as usual. Ask and I shall answer."

"What has made you so unusually bubbly, my love?" Orion replied, watching as Harrigan about grumbled under his breath at the word 'bubbly'.

"Well," Harrigan replied slowly, taking his time. "I have been contemplating our future. The removal of that old fool from Hogwarts is half our goal, the extended family of former students are all doing well. I also have an unlimited supply of teasing material for Abraxas with how much he dotes on little Draco."

Orion snorted at the last, knowing it was only the truth. Abraxas was very involved with his little grandson, not that Orion was any less involved. Generally, he let the two parents handle the little boy, however, offering a tidbit or so of advice and when truly bored and annoyed with his paperwork, a bit of babysitting as well, at least for a couple of hours so the young parents could take a break.

"That is not the extent of it, however," Harrigan continued. "I am also wondering what you are going to be like in about seven months when a Healer places your third child into your arms."

Harrigan was studying his face, clearly waiting for his reaction. At first, Orion didn't seem to realize what Harrigan had said, caught up in a few amusing memories of Abraxas hovering over little Draco. However, his husband's words slowly penetrated his thoughts, their meaning chasing hot on the heels.

Orion froze, his eyes lighting up with a wild range of emotion as he stared at his husband, needing confirmation of his words. Harrigan's smile widened and he dipped his head in a small nod. It took Orion only a moment longer to react, moving a pace forward and actually picking Harrigan off the ground to the younger man's laughter.

They spun in almost a full circle before Orion reluctantly settled Harrigan back on his feet, seizing his husband's lips in a searing kiss. Framing Harrigan's face with his hands Orion murmured, "I love you, husband mine."

Harrigan simply smiled, his expression answer enough.