DOGWOOD

Harry was roused awake by the sunlight in his face. His entire body was stiff and he realized he was on the floor. With great effort Harry pushed himself up into a seated position and nearly screamed when he found a blackened body lying next to him. Harry backed away in fear as he tried to swallow the urge to throw up as the smell of burnt flesh filled his nostrils. But when Harry tried to stand he really did scream.

It looked as though there were a basketball under Dudley's old shirt. Harry lifted the hem of his shirt and found his stomach distended and covered in blotchy bruises. Reverently, Harry traced a bruise with his finger as the encounter of Harry from another world began to flood into his mind.

The emotion that Harry had shown for this baby made Harry's hands shake. How on earth could he have said yes? He was in no position to be a father. But how on earth could he have said no? This child was half him – it didn't matter who the other half was. This baby would be his family, he would love and care for it and it would grow to love him too. They could be happy.

It was all Harry had ever wanted.

But there was a lot to sort out. Namely, that his Voldemort was still alive and Harry was still in school. Hell, he couldn't even leave the Dursley's and he'd be damned if he would be raising a child in this hell hole he'd grown up in. No, he'd need to write to Dumbledore and find somewhere safe to raise this child. Not to mention he needed to get rid of the body that was lying on the floor.

Harry managed to get on all fours to crawl to the desk to stand, but stopped when his hand brushed the photograph on the floor. Harry and Voldemort were dancing happily – happier than either of them in this world had ever been, he'd wager. It was such an off-putting sight to see himself dancing with the man who had tried to kill him so many times.

Harry tucked the photograph into his pocket and reached the desk to pull himself up. Having such a large stomach made it almost impossible to get up on his own and when he did manage to stand his entire center of gravity was off. It was a task in itself just to get seated at the desk so that he could write Dumbledore and Harry nearly died at the thought of all Hogwarts' stairs.

In the letter Harry didn't reveal much. Only that it was an emergency and that he needed Dumbledore to come immediately because something had happened. Hedwig, of course, had puffed out her chest when Harry had told her how important it was that Professor Dumbledore receive the letter as soon as possible. She had taken to the morning skies and had disappeared from view only seconds later.

Just as Harry was shutting his window a rap at the door came before the familiar sound of the locks on his bedroom door being slid open. "Aunt Petunia!" Harry cried in alarm and looked around for anything to hold the door.

"Time to get up boy," she called as she continued to unlock his door. "Dudley is having friends over for tea today, so you get to go to the park."

He grabbed his desk chair and wedged it underneath the handle. He couldn't let his aunt see his pregnant stomach. She could hardly tolerate the "m" word, there was no telling what she'd do if she saw her nephew pregnant. "I'm sick Aunt Petunia, terrible – super contagious magical disease. You can't come in here – better yet you should probably take everyone out today. Professor Dumbledore is coming to pick me up soon to take me to the hospital but I'm not sure when."

There was no response but Harry could hear her cursing furiously under her breath as she walked back down the hall to her bedroom. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he relaxed against the door. He hadn't even noticed that his arms were holding his stomach until he felt the sting as he accidentally bumped a bruise. As he looked down at the enormous baby bump he felt all the surprise and fascination that he had felt upon waking wash over him again.

He was going to have a baby. An unexpected miracle that had hit him out of nowhere but a miracle nonetheless. Merlin, were Ron and Hermione going to freak. Not to mention Sirius, the poor man would probably have a stroke. Harry smiled to himself as he tried to picture the humorous faces of his friends' reactions.

Petunia and Dudley never came home so Harry allowed himself to eat whatever he wanted. After all, nobody was there to stop him and he would be leaving that night. So Harry devoured Dudley's ice cream and Uncle Vernon's apple pie. He even made himself a gourmet sandwich with all the trimmings and had some chips. The only time he had ever eaten better was within the walls of Hogwarts.

There was no word from Professor Dumbledore for hours. Harry spent most of that time channel surfing on the television while he absentmindedly ran a finger over the curve of his belly. That there was a human being growing inside never stopped blowing him away. Every time Harry thought he was comfortable with the idea he would once again look down, mesmerized by the sight.

What really got Harry excited was that his stomach was so large. He was pretty sure that this meant the baby was almost ready to be born – which gave way to a whole slew of new questions that Harry was eagerly looking forward to asking Madam Pomfrey all about it. He hoped she'd be able to tell him whether the baby was a boy or girl and how much longer he or she needed until they were ready to come out.

Just as Harry was trying to decide whether or not he preferred a boy or a girl, a column of fire erupted in his living room and Harry tightened the blanket he had curled up in. When the fire dissipated, Professor Dumbledore stood in magenta robes with orange stars on them and held Fawkes on his arm. The headmaster's wand was brandished and ready for a fight, but when he saw Harry sitting down on the sofa with no apparent danger or destruction his normally twinkling blue eyes grew frosty. "Harry, my boy," Dumbledore tucked his wand away and with a soft nudge Fawkes disappeared in a flash of fire, "What has happened? I hope I need not remind you that with Lord Voldemort's return I am very busy."

Harry didn't answer, he didn't honestly know how to say it. He didn't want the professor to be alarmed as Harry knew he'd be if this had happened to someone else. "Sir," Harry started slowly as he squeezed the blanket tighter and pushed himself off the couch. "I know this is shocking at first so – just don't freak out."

When Harry let the blanket fall, Professor Dumbledore's eyes went wide in disbelief. Harry almost immediately understood that his baby wasn't normal, even in the wizarding world. Professor Dumbledore came closer eyeing the bump under Harry's baggy shirt warily. "How did this happen," he asked in a grave whisper Harry had never heard him use before. "When did this happen? Who did this Harry?"

"I mean technically Voldemort and I did," Harry laughed slightly at the thought of his other self and Voldemort together. But Professor Dumbledore reared back and looked at Harry in horror. "No, no," Harry cried when he realized Professor Dumbledore wasn't understanding. "I mean not me – me, last night when I was finished with my chores I came up to my room and there was me! Well, another me anyways – I think it might have been some kind of alternate universe or a different world, because I think he was older than me – hard to tell now.

"Anyways," Harry continued nervously as he tried to stop his hands from shaking, "The main point is that there was this other me who turned out to actually be me from some other world and he was pregnant! But he was also dying – some really nasty curse I've never seen, he's upstairs in my bedroom if you want to see – we really need someone to clean that up – but anyways, before he died…he well, I don't know how he did it but it knocked me out and when I woke up I was the pregnant one and he was – well, dead, sir."

All of that Harry had rapidly spoken in one breath as his heart pounded furiously in his chest. He felt a weight lifted off his shoulders now that he had gotten that off his chest but Professor Dumbledore's eyes were glaciers now and when Harry realized this, his heart sank. "This – other Harry – he was with Voldemort? The child is theirs?"

Harry nodded, "Apparently his Voldemort had been killed and he was cursed with something awful and he didn't want their baby to be an orphan." Harry rubbed his stomach soothingly for reassurance as Professor Dumbledore stared. "He said something about a soul piece in our scars and how Voldemort and I were bonded, see?" Harry held out the photograph for Professor Dumbledore to see.

Dumbledore took the photo with an ashen complexion and a deep frown that made Harry nervous. Harry watched his headmaster take in the twirling couple with an almost frightened feeling. He had never seen his Professor look so angry before. "Anyways, that Harry is dead now. But I was hoping I could come to the Burrow now? Since the muggles would flip if they saw this," Harry waved a hand over his protruding belly. "and I'd really like Madam Pomfrey to check it out."

Dumbledore stood, his violently colored robes swaying as he did so. "Before we go Harry, I would like to examine the corpse if you don't mind."

Harry groaned and sat back down, "Sure it's upstairs in my room but I don't think I could get myself back up there right now. Will you bring down Hedwig's cage for me? The rest of my stuff is locked in the cupboard underneath the stairs."

"Of course," Professor Dumbledore acquiesced and left Harry in the living room. It wasn't until he was gone that Harry realized the temperature had dropped several degrees because of his professor – and when he had left the temperature had returned to normal.

When Professor Dumbledore returned, his face had lost all of its natural color. "Are you okay, Professor?" Harry asked hesitantly. "I know it's a lot to take in but I just want to forget all about the dead me and take care of it."

This seemed to help cheer the headmaster up and he nodded – still looking as if he'd seen a ghost. "Don't worry Harry, Madam Pomfrey will examine you soon and we'll make a plan. You will be safe, I promise you." At that Harry smiled and stood as he watched Professor Dumbledore take out his wand and gave it a small wave. His trunk came sailing into the living room and parked itself right under Hedwig's cage. "Now before we leave I need to tell you that the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is located at Number 12, Grimmauld Place."

"The Order of the Phoenix?" Harry asked in confusion. He had never heard of such an order before.

Professor Dumbledore smiled down at Harry and nodded. "Yes, but I'll let your friends fill you in on all that you have missed. For now, take my arm and let us be off."

For a split second, the rage that Harry had been battling all summer flared to life at the reminder of how they had all kept him in the dark. He remembered Dumbledore's unanswered letters, Ron and Hermione's promises to Dumbledore to not tell him anything, and Sirius' wishes that he forget Voldemort for the summer. The rage would have consumed him if the thought of Apparition hadn't drowned him in worry.

"Is it safe?" Harry asked motioning to Professor Dumbledore's arm. "I mean now that I'm – you know…"

"Of course," Professor Dumbledore assured him. "You are not in the slightest danger Harry."

Harry grasped Professor Dumbledore's arm with a smile at his mentor. He felt safe now that Dumbledore was here. He knew his professor would help him hide away from Voldemort like he had helped Harry's parents. With a small pop the pair disappeared from Private Drive.

When Harry landed he couldn't hold back the nausea and he wretched all over some muggle's bushes. All of the food he had just eaten had come hurling back up and by the time Harry was done his throat burned and his eyes watered. "That was awful," he rasped hoarsely as he tried to regain his composure.

"It gets better my boy," Professor Dumbledore promised with a small smile. "Now, let us get inside. It is not safe out here."

Before Harry could ask where Number Twelve was, Numbers Eleven and Thirteen began to move. Much to Harry's surprise the townhomes began to slide laterally and instead of leaving a gaping hole between them, Number Twelve – Grimmauld Place – appeared. Harry couldn't stop his gaping and he turned to Professor Dumbledore with a bright smile – only to find that his Headmaster was already on the front stoop.

With a frown and a tendril of anxiety, Harry hurried to catch up. His rotund stomach made it difficult to move very fast and Harry was trying not to realize that this meant no Quidditch. Professor Dumbledore barely waited for Harry as they entered the house but he did give pause to say, "Be very quiet Harry, those curtains you see on the far wall cover a portrait of Sirius Black's –"

At that moment a girl with shockingly pink hair came down the stairs and tripped over a troll's leg umbrella holder causing a loud thud. The curtains came snapping open and Harry watched with wide eyes as plump brunette lady with Sirius' grey eyes began to move. "FILTHY BLOODTRAITORS! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! YOU LOATHESOME, FILTHY, DEGRADED –"

The portrait of the shouting woman never got to finish because Remus Lupin and Sirius Black came hurling out of a doorway and began to pull her red velvet curtains closed with great force. Harry smiled as he watched Sirius and Lupin high five each other before turning to the newest guests. "Harry!" They exclaimed happily, both with bright happy smiles that Harry treasured. No one ever smiled at him like that and he cherished Sirius all the more for it.

"Sirius! Professor Lupin!" Harry stepped clear of the headmaster, ready for a hug from his godfather that Harry had missed desperately.

However, once Harry was clear of Professor Dumbledore and his swollen belly came into view everyone skidded to a halt. Even the pink haired girl who had been making her way to another hallway stopped and stared with eyes as wide as saucers. "What happened? What did those muggles do to you?" Sirius asked with murder in his eyes. He came rushing towards Harry and instinctively, Harry put his hands around his child protectively.

"Sirius – it's not what you think –" Harry tried to explain but he was cut off as Professor Dumbledore stepped forward. "I should think that a cup of tea is in order. Sirius would you gather Molly and Arthur please. Remus, would you be so kind as to call Madam Pomfrey from Hogwarts? Ah, Tonks, perhaps I could speak to you in private please."

Harry looked to his headmaster curiously, "Harry you're friends are upstairs. I'm sure they would love to catch up with you while we prepare for you." Harry nodded and slowly began climbing the stairs as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

"Professor – how is it possible – is he really?" he could hear Tonks whisper frightfully as Harry reached the top step.

He supposed his child was one of a kind in this world and that it would take some getting used to, but he didn't like how awful she had made his child seem or how she felt the need to whisper behind his back. But, Harry tried to tell himself, his best friends were somewhere up here and they would reassure him. "Ron?" Harry called quietly so as to not reawaken the awful portrait downstairs. "Hermione?"

Hermione's bushy head popped out so suddenly that Harry nearly leapt out of the air. "Hermione, Merlin you scared me."

She opened her mouth to respond but all words seemed to fail her as her eyes zeroed in on Harry's protruding stomach. With eyes the size of saucers she said, "Harry what on earth has happened?" She came out of the room fully with Ginny Weasley on her heels who skidded to a stop in the doorway. They both just stared.

"It's kind of a long story," Harry said with grin, "Where's Ron? He'll want to hear this too."

Ginny ran off almost at once to retrieve her brother without a word and returned only a few seconds later with Ron, Fred, and George in tow. The room went dead silent as all of his friends were staring at his stomach in bewilderment. As awkward as it was to be stared at, Harry realized with great relief that the anger and resentment he had harbored for his friends had all but died away. It didn't matter that they had been together all summer or that that they had purposefully kept him away – because they weren't his family, no matter how hard he had tried to make them. This baby was his family now and it was all he needed.

"Harry what's happened?" Hermione was the first to break the silence and Harry's thoughts. She looked ashen and scared, as if Harry's stomach would suddenly grow a fanged mouth and try to eat her.

Ron on the other hand, looked as if he were going to be sick. His face was green as he stared at Harry's stomach in horror. "Guys," Harry tried to bring their attention to him and away from his baby bump. "What do you know about other worlds?"

As always Hermione was the first speak up. "Do you mean like Jigger's Theory of the Multiverse? Karl Jigger proposed that there are infinite other worlds that lie in parallel with our own. He theorized that there could be hundreds – if not infinite – worlds that could technically seem to mirror our own or could be the exact opposite. Oh Harry, what's happened? Dumbledore left an Order meeting with hardly a word to anyone and now that you're back you're – well, are you pregnant?"

"Of course, he's not pregnant don't be stupid," Ginny spat lividly as she glared at Hermione. "It's obviously some kind of curse. Did you run into You-Know-Who?"

"Actually," Harry replied as he wrapped his arms around his baby, "Hermione was right. I am pregnant."

"But Harry," Hermione insisted as the twins high fived each other, "men can't be pregnant. Not even in the wizarding world – they just don't have the reproductive parts."

"I really don't know how much of it I understand Hermione," said Harry with a queasy feeling that he wouldn't be able to satisfy her questions. He still didn't understand everything. "All I know is that yesterday I went into my bedroom and there was another me lying on the ground. He was cursed – it looked like someone had spilled ink all over his skin and he was very, very pregnant. He said that he and Voldemort were bonded and that someone had killed his Voldemort. Apparently he didn't want to leave their child an orphan and then there's this bright flash of white light. Next thing I know, I'm waking up and I'm the one who's heavily pregnant and the other Harry is dead – his entire body taken over by the curse."

The five teens stared at Harry with open mouthed shock. It was Ginny who spoke first – her face had lost all color and there was terror in her brown eyes. "That's – that's – his?"

"I know," Harry tried to grasp her hand but she yanked it away so hard that Ginny fell over backwards. "Listen I know how it sounds but you have to remember – the baby is half me too. It's mine, my family – I'll raise it right don't worry. Hermione, Ron, you two can help smother it with love. It will need godparents, right?"