Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.
A/N 1: "Normal speech"-'Thoughts'-songs/incantations
A/N 2: The chapter has been edited
Part Four:
Hogwarts Grounds:
Pansy watched the pregnant pair by the lake. They were having a picnic of some sort it would seem. They looked rather good together. Potter had darker colours and a much lighter attitude while Draco was fair haired and well collected. It was honestly a perfect match.
Looking back at the three weeks that went by since 'The Announcement' was made she found that she truly missed Draco. Never mind the nagging and the constant flirting; she truly missed Draco as a friend. They had grown up together, learned to read and write together, sorted in the same House. She could see every mistake she made by listening to her mother's nagging. It was her that wanted her daughter married into the Malfoy family, her that wanted the money and the prestige. Pansy never minded. She liked Draco well enough. She was glad that her parents did not have her betrothed or anything like that; her father was distrustful of such contracts. She knew that there were not many pure-blooded heirs and those that existed were not very good looking, or nice people. Contrary to the rather popular belief that all Slytherin's were dark, Pansy was among the misunderstood. She never wanted to join the Death Eaters, another limit to her list of potential husbands, or even dates. She never hated Muggleborns that much and she could not stand the sight of blood, not even in Potions.
Draco Malfoy had always been the best choice. Why marry a monster when you could marry your best friend? Now it pained her to realize that she had not been a good friend at all. She really wanted to make up for her mistake. Her mother would not become a problem. She had already made contact with her father and he would back her up; he cared more about his daughter's happiness than prestige and money, he had enough of his own.
Making up her mind, she moved forward, stopping only when she stood in front of the pair.
Two pairs of eyes locked on her. Strangely, neither of them seemed angry at her, or wary, just plain curious.
"Pansy." Draco spoke to her first.
She absently noticed that the blond moved slightly in front of his dark haired lover in a protective gesture. She felt even worse for behaving like a jerk.
"Hey Draco, Potter," she said hesitantly.
They both nodded.
"What are you doing here?" Draco demanded.
Pansy blinked. "Um, actually I wanted to talk to you. Both of you."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't be so rude," he whispered to his lover.
Draco glared him but never said anything to him or Pansy.
"I actually wanted to apologize to you Draco as I haven't exactly been a friend in a long time," she confessed, her eyes downcast. "I know that I have been unbearable at best, even a little psychotic."
"Got that right!" Draco muttered sulkily.
Pansy blushed.
Harry elbowed Draco on the arm. "Behave!" he hissed in Draco's ear.
Pansy stifled a giggle. They sure looked cute together.
"And you know how my mother is," Pansy went on.
Draco cringed. He did remember the elder Parkinson. That blasted woman was after him all the time. He remembered her nagging his mother about a betrothal contract and always having him and Pansy thrown in together, whether it would be parties or social events. He remembered How Pansy had started crying during their fourth year when her mother told her that she would go with rags if she dared go with that boy from Durmstrang.
"Forget about it," Draco told her.
"Are we still friends?" Pansy asked.
Draco gave her a brilliant smile. "You have always been like a sister to me Pans. An annoying but cute sister which I'll always love."
"Stop it! The hormones are driving me crazy!" Harry told them. They noticed then that he had tears in his eyes.
"Sorry!" Draco was sheepish.
"Thank you Draco." She took a step back. "Congratulations on the babies to both of you." She eyed Harry straight in the eye.
The Gryffindor nodded in acceptance. She gave them a final, kind smile and turned to leave.
"Would you like to sit with us?" Harry asked. "We have plenty of food, as long as you don't touch the éclairs, Draco might kill you."
Pansy smiled at Draco indignant "Hey!" and nodded.
"Thank you Potter, I might just do that."
"It's Harry for friends."
Harry and Draco's Rooms:
Draco snuggled the pillow Harry used to sleep as he waited for the other teen to come out of the shower.
"You could have just let me join you," Draco said in a voice loud enough for Harry to hear in the other room.
Chuckling could be heard through the door.
"Stop laughing at me," Draco ordered.
The door opened and Harry walked out dressed in just his bath robe. Draco sat up and took in the sight.
"Couldn't you come out with a tiny towel and dripping with water?" he asked Harry.
The Gryffindor just laughed at him. "You have a really dirty mind Draco."
The blond looked affronted. "No, I'm just horny. I could have joined you in the shower but you decided to be a jerk."
"Stop being so dramatic! You were practically asleep on your feet by the time we left the grounds. Did you have a nice time?" Harry dropped the robe off his shoulders and went to find a pair of pyjama bottoms to wear. As he did that Draco was eyeing his backside almost hungrily.
"Stop, that, I can feel your eyes," Harry ordered.
"Spoilsport," Draco muttered. "But to answer your question, yes, I had a great time. It had been a while since Pansy and I talked in such a good atmosphere. It is different since I didn't have to worry that she would jump me."
"Point," Harry agreed.
Draco yawned and Harry got under the covers. Immediately the blond curled against him.
"Tired?" Harry asked.
"Hm, sleepy."
"Then sleep. We can talk in the morning."
"Hm…"
The Gryffindor smiled when soon he heard Draco's soft snores.
The following months passed in peace for the two teens. Harry started hanging out with more of Draco's friends, Blaise and Pansy being permanent members in their group nowadays. Ron had been a bit cold when it came to speaking or hanging out with the Slytherin's, but there were no harsh words exchanged, not when Draco and Harry were within earshot.
So the time was peaceful and once again they focused on their studies and the upcoming final exams for the year.
Ministry of Magic, Auror Department:
Moody was sprawled on a chair panting heavily.
"Are you okay?" Kingsley asked the older wizard.
"Fine!" Moody growled. "Do you want to know what I found?"
Tonks, Kingsley and the other two Aurors on the case, Madie Browncap and George Carlston, also part of the Order, took their seats after placing privacy spells around them.
"We can start," Kingsley announced.
Tonks, who's hair was a warm lilac colour, took the seat closest to the oldest Auror in the room while Kinglsey sat on Moody's other hand.
"I got the samples to the guy I told you and he told me that around Yule holidays a teenage girl came to see him. He said he did not bother since she also bought other ingredients that had nothing to do with the 'Maternus Exilery' potion," Mad-Eye told them.
"Do we have a clue about who the girl is?" Tonks asked.
"No. But I do have a memory," Moody smirked, producing a vial with a sparkling fog. "I'm going to show this to Albus as well. The girl is just the right age to attend Hogwarts."
"He won't like it," Tonks sang, but not real because she felt sorry for the girl. "Are we going to contact Lucius Malfoy?"
Moody smirked. "We want the girl to live long enough for a trial, don't we?"
Silence met his words.
"Don't we?" Moody repeated, not really angry. He felt angry about what happened to the Potter boy. He would back Lucius Malfoy whatever that Slytherin bastard did to the little tramp. In a way it was fortunate Harry ended up with Malfoy junior. Not that he would tell anyone his thoughts and reasons for them. He still did not trust Malfoy but he would admit (after torture and Veritaserum) that the two young men were better off together.
"Oh, fine," Tonks said sullenly.
Gryffindor Dormitory:
Hermione was buried in the piles of books surrounding her. She had gotten an entire table for herself and not one of her housemates approached her, save for the youngest male Weasley.
"What are you doing, Mione? We don't have an essay, do we?" he sounded horrified at the prospect. He had made plans to hang around and homework was not on his list.
"Hm? The books you mean? No, not homework, I'm just checking something out."
Ron frowned. "What about?"
"Harry. I wanted to know about male pregnancies and such."
"Oh."
"Did you know that male wizards have been recorded pregnant as a result of freak, magical accidents," Hermione said excitedly.
"Ah, no. Not really," Ron admitted.
"Harry and Draco are not the only case," Hermione went on. "In 1237 a male wizard was impregnated when he polyjuiced himself into a woman for about ten years to be with a Muggle man he loved. Then in 1589 another male wizard got pregnant from a potions accident which was a base that led to the creation of potions such 'Maternus Exilery' and most modern fertility potions. Again in…"
"Oh, Mione! Slow down! I get it," Ron cut in. "But why are you looking through those files? We know how Harry got pregnant and the rest is up to the Aurors."
"Madame Pomfrey suggested I did. She never covered male pregnancies in her training and wanted to learn how the babies and the…parent that bore them fared after the birth," the girl explained.
Ron realized what she was hinting and grew anxious. "There's no danger for Harry, is there?"
"No Ron, relax. I found that the pregnancies are not all that different. The magic of their body will form a cavity for the baby to grow that won't obstruct the rest of the body's functions."
"Good," Ron breathed out loudly in relief. "You had me worried for a while there."
"Sorry. Oh, was there something you wanted?" Hermione asked.
"Ah, actually yes." Saying that, Ron started to fidget. "Did you…I mean, Hogsmeade…" He stopped talking, took a breath and started again. "Would you like to go out with me?"
Hermione smiled. "I'd like that."
Clapping was heard and the two only then noticed their housemates. Seamus was beaming at them and Neville was also clapping. Several were cat calling and whistling at them.
"Took you long enough," Ginny teased her brother.
Ron blushed beat red and Ginny winked at Hermione.
Dumbledore's Office:
The stoic headmaster was seated across the Auror, his blue eyes tired and filled with sadness. In front of him was his Pensieve; the image of the Gryffindor girl that had bought the potion ingredients still showing in the silvery surface.
"I'm sorry Albus," Moody growled not sounding the least bit sorry. Relieved was more like it. He had wanted to make sure the Potter boy was safe, not to mention getting Malfoy off his neck..
"Thank you Alastor."
"What will you do?"
"The Ministry has already given me permission and Aurors can come and arrest her. I'll have Minerva contact the parents."
Moody nodded.
"When are you going to tell Malfoy?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Now I believe. It does concern his son."
"Just save the memory for me," Moody told him with a sinister smirk.
4,5th Month of Pregnancy:
Harry sniffed the air of the hallway. Then he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Harry?" Hermione asked from his left. "Is there something wrong?"
The green eyed teen opened his orbs and turned to face her. "Not really. I just thought I smelled plums."
"Huh?" Ron gaped at him.
Hermione chuckled.
"What?" Harry demanded, getting defensive.
His two best friends had noticed that his usual short temper had become even shorter, much to everyone's horror. Draco seemed to be the only one to enjoy his lover's outbursts since they showed a rather Slytherin side of Harry, according to the blond in any case. Also, Blaise and Hermione had caught the pair heatedly making out in a corridor.
'A step away from having sex is more like it,' Hermione remembered.
Snape avoided Harry like the plague since Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy both told him to keep his distance or stop baiting the Gryffindor. The man had a knack for getting on Harry's nerves and he was not very good at keeping his temper, so he chose the easiest route.
"Come on. We'll be late for Charms," Hermione settled on telling them.
Ron shrugged but Harry had an odd look on his face.
"Hey there!" Pansy came their way, followed by a spaced out Draco and a chuckling Blaise.
"What's wrong with Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"He…" Pansy could not go on due to her laughter.
"Do you people smell watermelons?" Draco asked them.
Hermione and Pansy burst out laughing while the boys stood there staring at them.
Malfoy Manor:
Lucius stared at the fire in his study pensively. That was how Narcissa found him.
"Lucius?" she asked.
He lifted his head to look at her properly. "Is there something you want?"
"You ignored the house elves that came to notify you and dinner is ready," she softly told him. "What's wrong?"
"I want to visit Draco," He told her.
"What's keeping you?" Narcissa wondered.
"The topic I want to discuss with him. And Potter."
The blonde woman elegantly took the seat opposite his and looked at him expectantly.
"I've been thinking and realized that Draco is not likely to part from Potter. I think it would be best if those two bonded."
"Lucius, that is wonderful," Narcissa said excitedly.
"Yes, it would be quite the event," he agreed.
"And it would make them both so happy," Narcissa said with a smile.
Lucius was willing to bet she was already making plans for the day. "It would also be necessary for the status of the children. I have no doubts that Potter will acknowledge the child Draco carries and vice versa, but it would be better for them to be married. But what worries me most is the fact that Draco must have an heir. My family name can only be carried through him. And Potter as the last surviving male has the same obligation. It makes for a big conundrum".
Narcissa actually smiled. "You worry too much, dear husband."
"And you too little Narcissa."
"I have faith in the boys. Who is to say that Draco's not carrying a boy?"
"Both of them refuse to perform the spell which can tell us the gender," he muttered.
"You were like them once upon a time," Narcissa reminded him.
He just glared his wife. "Playing the devil's advocate now Cissa?"
His wife shook her head and stood. She carefully approached him and knelt at his side in a fluid motion.
"Lucius, they are expecting, which is a miracle on its own. Let's wait for them to deliver, see what happens. Afterwards, and once they are out of school who can say they cannot try again?"
He pondered over it. "I hate it when you make sense. And when you make me realize it is permanent."
She laughed. "I know you do." and then she added in a stern voice. "And young Harry Potter is a fine young man."
Lucius chose to divert the situation to another point. He really did not want to seriously argue with his wife. Certainly not over Potter. "So who is going to talk to them about bonding?"
"Perhaps it should be I that talk to them. You'll only end up angry at Harry or make the poor boys scared."
"I would not."
She gently kissed him on the lips.
"I know you dear husband," she reminded him.
"When are you planning to tell them?" Lucius asked.
"I have already booked lunch with them this Sunday. I plan on talking to them then."
Sunday
'The Three Broomsticks'
Draco cut the tender meat almost reverently. Narcissa watched him with amusement.
"We're quite the sight, aren't we?" Harry told her.
"You are, which is why you everyone thinks you are so cute," she told him.
Harry blushed.
"Mother, first of all, we are men, we cannot me cute. Then, you know Harry by now," Draco cut in. "He blushes faster than the Weasley's."
"I do not," Harry replied calmly.
"How about that time you dozed off during transfiguration and after you woke up all the girls were watching you, making cute sounds and telling you how 'adorable' you looked," Draco reminded him before taking a large bite of his pumpkin pie.
Harry blushed harder. That day he had been very embarrassing, especially when McGonagall joined in on the fun. The cat Animagus was not angry at the Gryffindor for falling asleep. Hermione had later said that it was perhaps the only time in the history of the school that McGonagall did not take points and give detention to someone who dared sleep in her class. Instead the professor had transfigured his parchment to a fluffy pillow to 'avoid cramping his neck', she had claimed. He was offered fluffy pillows in every class for the rest of the week both by students and some of the teachers.
"It was a onetime thing," Harry grumbled.
"Sure," Draco slurred.
"Draco, play nice," Narcissa scolded her son softly. She did not want to deal with a hormonal pregnant boy so she put a stop before her son said something stupid or inappropriate and angered the Gryffindor.
"So, mother, what is the occasion for this outing?" Draco asked.
"Your father and I have pondered this for a long time Draco," Narcissa began.
"And?" the blond teen interrupted.
"Just eat your meal and listen to your mother," the witch scolded. That made Harry hide a smile.
"Fine!" Draco muttered.
"As I was saying, we are worried. While both you and Harry seem to be doing fine, both with the pregnancy and your relationship, we think it is not enough."
The young men frowned.
"Mother, where exactly are you going with this?"
"Have you considered getting bonded?" Narcissa inquired.
Both teens just stared at her.
"Obviously not," she answered her question.
"Um, actually we have," Harry spoke up. "We mentioned it when discussing how the children might inherit us."
"And?" Narcissa prompted.
"We never got anywhere, mother. We are happy as things are. For now at least."
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy. Getting bonded is too early for us," Harry told her.
"How so? It would provide safety to the children since family magic is protective from nature and Lucius and I could protect you better Harry, as well as Sirius where Draco is concerned. He may be my cousin but our familial bonds have slackened over the years. We will need that magic to keep the children hidden from the Dark Lord or any other who might wish to harm them," Narcissa told them.
The teens pondered over her argument. She was right of course, but what they both feared was that they were too young and had too much on their respective plates as it was.
It was dessert when Draco approached the subject.
"What do you see when you look at us, mother?"
"What do you mean by that, Draco?" Narcissa asked her son.
"When you see me and Harry together, what do you think about us as a couple."
Narcissa offered a kind smile. "You worry you might get separated."
Both teens nodded
"We only recently started to really understand each other," Harry told her. "We grew up in entirely different environments, have different notions about almost everything, we still argue at least twice a day…It's just, I don't know…I really would not like to end up getting divorced after two or ten years."
"Do you love my son mister Potter?" Narcissa inquired seriously.
"More than anything. Not just because of the babies," the Gryffindor clarified. "I like Draco, not Draco Malfoy or the Slytherin Draco that was my rival. He's the one I miss when he leaves my side." He gave a little shrug. "Sappy, but I really love him."
"Draco, what do you feel about Harry?" Narcissa asked in the same tone.
"He's obnoxious and overprotective and gentle and nice," the blond recited with a small smile. "He's such a dense head at times, too trusting for his own good, but at the same time he trusts me, listens to me…" Draco's cheeks tinted. "One night I had to sleep in the infirmary but I couldn't. you weren't there Harry."
The green eyed teen nodded and softly kissed his Slytherin lover.
Narcissa smiled at both of them when they parted.
"Is mid June good enough for you to bond?" she asked.
The couple stared her in shock before they nodded, smiles slowly forming.
"Let's enjoy our desserts, shall we?" the woman asked them with a beautiful smile.
A/N: And a huge 'Thank you' for your reviews.