Disclaimer: Neither Acherona nor trulywicked have any claim on Harry Potter or any characters or locations thereof.

Warnings: Angst, lots of it, Male Pregnancy, mental torture, infant in peril, boys in love, friendships broken and new friends gained. Disregards canon in so many ways.

MOCKINGBIRD

Chapter Two.

It was late afternoon and Draco was sitting in his favorite tree watching Harry Potter. It had grown to be a habit of late, watching Potter. He didn't even try to get to know the other snakes even after being in their house for a solid three months, two since the Weasel had shown his true, quite foul, colors. Instead Potter seemed to content himself with the Lovegood girl and occasional visits from Granger though those were stilted and stiff and the bushy haired Gryffindor was always rushed as if on a timetable. It was like she'd made a schedule and slotted 'Time with Harry' in a rigid little box. Not only ridiculous but not any real definition of friendship Draco could recognize. Longbottom he'd seen catching Harry's eye from time to time and sending him an apologetic smile before ducking his head once more and avoiding his former dorm-mates, especially among the current. If Draco surmised correctly then Longbottom was trying not to rock his boat but still wanted to show Potter some support though it wasn't much worth speaking about. Lovegood though, for all her flighty dreaming, remained the single solid, steady presence beside Harry.

Every afternoon she and Potter would come out by the lake, Lovegood would toss the squid sausages while both of them would ramble. It was the only time these days he ever saw Potter smile.

Harry leaned against the trunk of an old gnarly tree, watching Luna feed the giant squid and talk nonsense with the huge lake monster. This time with Luna it was the one time during the day he could relax, word had apparently spread and now Harry was either met with smirks or pitying looks where ever he went in school. He felt wind up and tired all the time, not once in his battles with Voldemort had he felt this bad. If it hadn't been for Luna Harry would have packed up and left, exams be damned.

Luna kept up her inane chatter knowing it brought comfort to her friend. She wasn't given to wishing ill on anyone but if there was anyone she wished would get attacked by real Nargles it was Ron Weasley. She liked every other Weasley family member but Ron truly was a weasel and not even the cute kind. She tossed the last of the sausages in and went to sit next to Harry. "You look peaked Harry; you're not suffering from a spinglesnort infestation are you?" She put her hand on his brow, testing his temperature.

"No infestation, spinglesnort or otherwise." Harry smiled, grabbed the hand on his forehead, squeezing it gently. "I'm fine Luna, just a bit tired, even with silencing spells Theodore Nott snores like a full on thunderstorm." He reached up and stroked a lock of pale blonde hair behind her ear. "I promise I am well, nothing to worry about."

"But I do worry," she took his hand and studied his palm and the lines crossing it, "You were my first friend and you're still my most precious one and I hate seeing you treated so badly."

"I have you don't I? Who needs anyone else when they have luminous Luna's friendship?" Harry smiled but he was aware that it was a strained smile. It had been two months but it wasn't getting any easier. No matter how much Harry tried not to care he missed his friends and how the way it used to be.

"But an orchid needs more than moonlight to grow, it needs sunshine and water and bark to sink its roots into." She squeezed his hand, her finger tracing one odd little line on his palm that hadn't been there the last time she'd studied it.

"I don't know Luna, maybe the night and the darkness is where I belong after all." He closed his hand around hers and turned it so that he could place a kiss on her knuckles. "Come on now, it's time to get back to the castle, homework waits for no one." That was probably the only upside to everything that had happened. Harry's grades were way up and he did well in all of his classes, surprisingly even potions. Since there was an odd number of students he was mostly left alone instead of pairing up with someone and as it was now Harry was just as happy to be on his own. He got up from his place on the ground and reached out to help Luna up when the world twisted and turned around him and he had to sit down again and close his eyes.

"Harry!" Luna supported him, all the dreamy air about her gone as she cupped his face in her hands, taking note of the cold and clammy feel of his skin, "Tell me what you feel? Don't try to soften it either."

"Dizzy, tired...weak." Harry blinked rapidly to try and turn the world straight again. "I'm sure I only need a dreamless sleep draught and a good night's sleep and I'll be right as rain again."

"No Harry, I want you to see Madam Pomfrey. I know you hate the hospital wing but we should make sure you're not sick and get her opinion before you take any potions." She pet his hair gently. "Please? For me?"

He gave her a half hearted glare. "You know I can't refuse when you ask me like that." Harry sighed. "Fine, we'll go see Poppy but I reserve the right to rub your cute little nose in it when she confirms that nothing is wrong." He stood up again, taking it slower this time until he was sure his legs would actually carry him.

She looped her arm through his to help support him so it just looked like friends walking through the halls and started leading him toward the infirmary.

Draco slipped out of his tree and began following them silently, disillusioning himself and slipping along after them. He didn't know why but his heart had leaped up into his throat when Potter had wobbled and he'd nearly jumped out of the tree to check on him, would have if Lovegood hadn't been there. What in the name of Merlin had prompted that reaction?

Harry was relieved to notice that there weren't many people out and about in the halls so late in the afternoon. Those who weren't in class were busy studying or enjoying their time off, Harry really didn't care what they were up to, he was only thankful he didn't have to deal with them and their looks.

It was almost strange walking the familiar corridor to the infirmary, since Harry hadn't even bothered to try out for Quidditch after the re-sorting and Voldemort was dead and gone there hadn't been a reason for him to go to Poppy. Harry didn't think there was a reason now either but he couldn't say no to the only person who treated him like before and stood by him. He pressed the heel of his hand to his stomach as they knocked on the door and stepped inside Poppy's domain. Even though he didn't really have an appetite these days, his stomach still felt bloated and upset.

Draco managed to slip in just behind them before the door closed and hid in a curtained alcove beside Potter's 'official' bed to listen in. He freely admitted to himself about being insatiably curious about what had Potter looking like hell and nearly falling on his face. He also took pride in the fact that he was sneaking around to discover what was going on and listened raptly as Pomfrey came out, heaved a sigh and set about examining Potter after getting a brief explanation. He nodded at the general diagnostic spells she cast and then his brows lifted when she cast another, highly specialized diagnostic spell and Potter's lower abdomen glowed a soft white before turning a pastel blue.

Poppy tapped her wand against her palm and debated on how to tell the young man in front of her what the spell had just revealed. "Mr. Potter did you take the advanced sexual education class in sixth year or did you, like most other muggle raised students, choose to forgo it?"

"I didn't take it." Harry watched Poppy closely, knowing something was up but not knowing what it was. "My mind was on other things back then and the advanced sexual education class seemed like a waste of time to be honest."

"I understand but one of the subjects in that class is rather pertinent to your condition." She summoned a book and opened it to a particular page before handing it to him, "You see Harry in the wizarding world the reason we are not biased against alternate sexuality is because wizards are able to conceive and carry a baby to term should they be sufficiently powerful and you are the most powerful wizard our world has seen since the days of the founders." She let him look at the book and would allow him to come to the conclusion on his own.

Luna hopped up to sit on the bed next to Harry, her hand resting on his shoulder to offer silent comfort as his mind worked.

Harry stared at the page of the book without seeing anything, the letters only floated in front of him as his brain struggled to take in what Poppy was telling him. He couldn't be pregnant...He just couldn't. Men didn't get pregnant; it was against the laws of nature, that's what Harry had always been taught. Not to mention that, no child should come into being from what had happened between him and Ron. A child should come from love. Harry had never been in love with Ron but ever since school started he had felt as if his best friend was slipping away. When he'd had some alcohol in his bloodstream he had clung to Ron with everything he had and apparently this was his punishment.

"I can't be pregnant." Harry turned pleading eyes on Poppy, hoping she would agree with him even though he knew better.

The woman met his eyes, wishing she could tell him otherwise but it wouldn't help him in the slightest, "I'm sorry Harry but you are pregnant. I know that this is far, far from an ideal situation but you have options."

Luna's arm slipped around his shoulders and she squeezed him comfortingly.

Without thinking about it his hand splayed out over his lower abdomen even as he leaned against Luna, trying to soak up some of her strength. "Options?" Harry needed to hear them though he figured he already knew what those options were.

"You can carry to term and either keep it or give it up for adoption. There is also a magical procedure that can transfer it from you to a woman, it would still be yours genetically but legally it would be hers and that option requires the erm sire to sign over his parental rights. And you could abort the fetus." Poppy didn't use the term baby so as not to create an emotional connection to the baby before he made his decision.

Honestly none of the options seemed very tempting. Harry didn't know if he was ready to have a child, with the fucked up childhood he'd had he would probably be a crap parent. Adoption...Well again his thoughts went back to his own childhood, what if his baby went to people like the Dursleys? People who didn't love it. Also Harry didn't know how that would work...With the blood adoption he'd gone through with Sirius' blood after the war. The child he was carrying was the next Black heir. Harry already knew he would never be able to do the magical transference thingie, knowing his child was carried and born to someone else...No, he couldn't handle that and he didn't think he's be able to terminate it either. Harry just didn't know what to do.

"Do I...Do I have to decide now?" Harry asked, wincing when he realized he would have to speak to Ron. He did not look forward to that conversation.

"Of course not." Poppy moved to get a set of fourteen potions and some pamphlets for the eighteen year old. "You can take as much time to think things over as you need Harry. Until you make your decision though I want you to take one of these potions each morning. Come see me for more when they run out. Also you need to eat more regularly and sleep at least eight hours each day."

Taking the pamphlets Harry nodded quietly. The food he could do something about but he was worried about the sleeping. He hadn't been able to sleep very well before this and he didn't think his rest would become more restful now that he did know what was growing inside him. "I'll do my best Poppy." It was the best he could offer.

The medi-witch gave him a reassuring smile, "Then you're free to go for now. Miss Lovegood help look after him will you?"

"Of course. The last thing we want is for the Nargles to start swarming around him." Luna nudged Harry off the bed and towards the door.

Draco moved out of the curtained alcove and dogged the two's steps as they left the infirmary. Once out of the hospital wing he stopped following them and headed for the Slytherin common room. He wasn't about to tell the snakes that Potter was up the duff but he was going to impress upon them that it was important that they make sure no one harmed him physically. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the brunette thorn in his side. First he was betrayed by his friend and now he was pregnant. He was beginning to think that fate had it out for Harry Potter.

Harry stopped at the entrance to the Slytherin common room and enveloped Luna in a tight hug. "Thank you for being you." He held on to her tightly. "Looked as if you were right, there is an infestation going on inside me after all." He gave her a weak smile and released her, hiding the pamphlets and potions under his robes so that the Slytherins wouldn't see them. "See you tomorrow, sleep tight." He smiled again and hurried inside and up to his dorm room where he crawled into bed, closing the drapes tightly and spelling his bed silent, no sounds coming in and no sounds leaving. Harry curled into a ball and closed his eyes, trying desperately to figure out where to go from here.

Draco had left the common room after Potter's return to fetch himself some pomegranate arils and was now walking back with a bowlful, that he knew Pansy would demand he share. He reached the entrance to the common room and paused to see Granger's kneazle-cat mix pacing in front of it and meowing its fool head off before clawing at the entrance determinedly. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your mistress?"

The cat looked up at him, meowed plaintively then pawed at the entrance to the common room again.

"Want inside do you?" He rolled his eyes at himself, talking to a cat. "Fine I'll take you to Potter, he can deal with you." He picked up the cat, entered the common room, still holding his bowl of treats, and went to the dorms. He pulled Potter's bed curtains back and paused at the sight of him curled up in the bed and considered leaving him be but wallowing never did anyone any good, and really it wasn't in his nature to let things lie. He walked over and dropped the cat onto Potter's bed beside the brunette's head. "Potter next time Granger's companion decides he's bored with her kindly direct it away from us, it was setting up a racket to wake the dead outside the common room."

Harry didn't have it in him to glare at Malfoy so instead he ignored him and turned his attention to the large orange cat. It actually surprised him that Malfoy had even let Crookshanks in but he was grateful that he had. "Hi Crookshanks, what are you doing here?" He ran his hand over soft, warm fur and scratched the cat hybrid behind its ear. "I've missed you." Harry fought down the lump in his throat. Having Crookshanks there brought back memories of long evenings planning, talking and studying in front of the huge roaring fireplace in the Gryffindor common room with Crookshanks purring, perched on a lap and being blissed out from petting.

Draco cleared his throat as the cat butt its head against Potter's chin, already purring up a storm, "Well should you choose to cease wallowing in misery in here and instead choose to wallow in the seat beside the window, depressing the mermaids, do bring the furry monster as I've no desire to find any of my belongings falling victim to feline claws."

"Where I wallow is my business isn't it?" Harry shot back but uncurled his limbs and picked up Crookshanks carrying him over to the padded bench by the large window in their dorm room, looking out into the shimmering water. It was weird how Malfoy could still get under his skin like no other just by opening his mouth. Harry didn't know what to think about it, Malfoy was much calmer this year but he was still a git. Shuddering Harry picked up his petting of Crookshanks and stared out at nothing. He didn't really like the Black Lake after the second task during the tournament but the movement of the water was soothing.

"True enough but really Potter you should get off the bloody cross, someone needs the wood." He slipped out of the dorm.

"I hate to admit it but the git is right, just don't let him know I said that." Harry whispered into Crookshanks fur. Okay so life was crap but since when was that a surprise when it came to him? He had struggled through before and would do so this time as well. When even Draco Malfoy called you out on basically pouting then something was definitely very wrong. It was time to take charge of his life again and Harry would start by cornering and talking to Ron tomorrow. As unpleasant as it would be, waiting wouldn't make it easier.

OoOoOoOoO

Ron followed the almost dangerously curved, sultry brunette Ravenclaw who'd come up and whispered in his ear that she wanted to speak to him privately, with a sexy little emphasis on the privately. He didn't recognize her but with her delicious body, gorgeous face, beautifully curled hair, and the amber eyes she was like his fantasy come true. He couldn't wait to get her alone in the empty classroom she was stepping into and get his hands on those luscious curves. He stepped into the room and his jaw dropped when he saw Harry standing beside the bombshell. Then the fantastic body and looks melted away and revealed Luna Lovegood with her usual dreamy smile, though he could swear it held a smug edge. "The bloody hell is this?"

"I need to talk to you Ron and this was the only way I could make that happen since you don't have the guts to face me alone after what you did." Harry thanked Luna for her help and turned to his former best friend again. "Something has happened, something bigger then the both of us."

Ron sneered, making him look quite a bit like a rat instead of a weasel, "Oh really? And what's that Potter? Another Dark Lord coming after you and everyone around you? Get your new house to help you out. I told you I don't want anything more to do with you."

"Well too bad for you." Harry said, too annoyed to try and sugar coat anything. "I'm pregnant so a rather large part of you is inside me at the moment whether we like it or not."

Luna had to admit to a petty enjoyment when she saw the redhead's eyes nearly pop right out of his skull, unfortunately he ruined that by opening his mouth.

"I- you- wh-wha- like hell you're up the duff from me!" Ron's face flushed red. "I don't know who's spawn you're carrying Potter but you won't go pinning it on me!"

Harry's eyes flashed and he stepped closer to Ron, reminding the two people in the room that he was the one who had danced with the darkest lord and the one who had come out of that dance. "Listen to me you spineless little shit. After what you did, what you have done so many times during the years...Do you really think I would tell you that you're the father if you weren't? Like I don't wish that it was anyone but you. As much as you despise me...Do I lie? Have I lied to you before? This is real, I don't like it any more than you do but it's the truth and it's real."

Ron paled now at the reminder of the battle flash in Harry's eyes and took a half-step back from the brunette before setting his feet. "Well I don't want any part of it! Do what you want with the bastard, have it or get rid of it for all I care."

"I will hold you to that Ronald Billius Weasley. You're gonna have to sign it in magic and in blood...This child will be mine and I hope to God he won't inherit even one of your traits. I can see why Wormtail was so happy with you, you are two of a kind and I am glad to be done with you." Harry looked at Ron with nothing but contempt, shoving the hurt down to be dealt with later.

The redhead snorted and lifted a shoulder, "Whatever. Just send the papers whenever you get them, the sooner the better."

Luna almost gave in to her very, very rare temper and hexed Ron for being so uncaring and foul but the impulse was replaced by curiosity when a cool voice drawled from the doorway.

"For once Weasley you've said something intelligent. Indeed the sooner Potter is completely shed of you the better. I am quite honestly astounded that you've survived this long without finding yourself at his wand point." Draco leaned against the doorjamb and eyed Ron with an icy disdain. He'd heard Weasley shouting from down the hall and he was surprised to find that yes, the Weasel could be even more disgusting to him than he was before. Potter was still an annoyance but to hear someone reject their child, to just shrug off the responsibilities created along with a child, it infuriated him. The Weasel's attitude went against everything Draco had been taught to value from the cradle. In his world family and bloodline were sacred, no exceptions.

Green eyes widened in surprise and then Harry almost groaned. Great! So Malfoy had heard what they were talking about, no chance to keep it a secret after this then. He could only imagine the ridicule he would suffer after this, maybe Malfoy could even make a new batch of charming badges to pass out. Still Malfoy hadn't gotten on Ron's side, that was something. If he was truthful Malfoy hadn't been that bad all year but it felt as if Harry wore his emotions on the outside and he just waited for everyone to tear him down.

Ron spun with a snarl at Malfoy, "What are you doing here ferret?! So help me if you spread this around and ruin my name I'll turn you into a slug!"

Draco scoffed and pushed off the doorjamb and took a few steps into the room, "Oh I don't need to do anything to ruin your name Weasel, you do that perfectly well on your own. I have no reason to spread anything around, wasted effort and all that. By the way, weren't you leaving? Your presence here does lend a rather nasty hint to the air."

Luna watched as the redhead shoved past Draco and out of the room and then she studied the blond who was looking intently at Harry. There wasn't anything malicious in the air around the blond nor did he have his old look of near hatred on his countenance. "What brings you here Mr. Malfoy?"

"Well I heard a rather loud bellow and decided to investigate," Draco lifted a casual shoulder, his eyes still locked on Potter.

"Hmm, investigate or stick that pointy nose where it doesn't belong?" Harry's voice wasn't accusing or angry though, if anything it was somewhat amused. "Thank you for getting rid of Ron." Harry's mind was already on things he needed to do and he had no idea how to go about doing them. He needed to find someone to draw up the papers where Ron denounced himself as parent to their child. This baby was going to be the heir to both the Potter and the Black name with all that came with it. He would become very rich one day and if there was anything Ron Weasley liked it was money...Harry needed to protect both himself and his child from Ron finding a way to take advantage of that.

Suddenly he paled when he realized that he was already thinking about both his and his child's future. It seemed he had already decided what to do, he couldn't give his baby up and he certainly couldn't terminate it. Merlin...He already loved the life inside him, for good or bad it would be the two of them from here on out.

Draco smirked, deliberately ignoring the paler tone to Potter's skin, "Yes well any chance I can find to prove the brainlessness of the Weasel is to be seized with alacrity." He sobered and considered briefly before speaking his next words, "If you like Potter, I can recommend a skilled barrister and get you an audience with him."

Harry's brows disappeared underneath his bangs in surprise and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if Malfoy was about to finish the job his dark lord had started but he didn't. The truth was that Harry needed all the help he could get and it was time to live as he preached and let the past go. Ron Weasley was a pureblood, no matter how dirty he acted and Harry needed to have the law on his side. "Thank you Malfoy, I'd appreciate it." He kept his tone neutral.

"Yes well you are a Slytherin now and I certainly have no desire to see the Weasel get his greedy hands on anything of the Black family." He tugged a sleeve straight and heaved a put upon sigh, "so I suppose I shall offer myself up as your tutor in pureblood politics. I still don't like you but as my mother and by extension I are connected to the Black house I'll not see you ruin centuries of reputation due to ignorance."

"I thank you for your sacrifice cousin dear." Harry snorted but strangely enough he felt better than he had since school started. There was no pity or pretence with Malfoy, it was refreshing. "Thank you for being a martyr in the fight against ignorance and half blood stupidity...I may even manage to get you a diploma or a plaque to honor your great work for the cause. And just so we're clear...I still don't like you either."

"Good, we know where we stand then. We'll work together towards a common goal though we can't stand each other."

Luna smiled at the blond man, "Did you know that you have glitterflies round your head?"

Draco lifted his brow, "I am not even going to pretend I know what that means but I'm not stupid enough to assume it means nothing. You, Lovegood have mastered speaking in code better than most people I know of." He'd never had anything against the dreamy girl, aside from the whispers about her she'd never even blipped on his rader before he'd started watching Potter. As he'd never had anything against her and he was a sneaky little bastard, he knew about speaking in code and using terms no one else knew simply to confuse them. He gathered somewhat, that she'd just called him a liar.

"Luna is better than most people in everything she is and does." Harry agreed fondly. "Well you know where to find me when it's time to start our lessons, it's not like I can hide from you since we're sleeping in the same room." Harry smiled but sobered quickly. "One down and one to go...I need to go tell a wolf he'll be an honorary Grandparent before he hears it from someone else." Another talk Harry did not look forward to in the least.

Draco nodded shortly, "See you later this evening then Potter. I'll have a floo secured to speak with the barrister." He gave Luna a brief bow and swept out much like his godfather.

Luna stepped closer to Harry and gave him a hug, "Do you want me to come with you Harry?"

"Merlin yes, if you have the time." Harry turned pleading eyes on Luna. They both knew that under the politeness and calm Remus had one heck of a temper.

To Be Continued…