Hi! Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! Sorry there has been such a long wait for this update- my life got in the way! Hopefully I will be able to spend much more time on this during the summer!


--Chapter 7--

"Well that was… interesting," Charlie said, dumbfounded and Harry giggled at the expression on his face.

"I'll say," he snorted.

Charlie shook his head. "I'll never understand that man. Are you okay?" he asked concernedly. Harry shrugged one shoulder and gave him a wry smile.

"Me too." Charlie smiled. "Come on I'll go get Madame Pomfrey." He steered Harry back to the bed and helped him climb in. he smoothed the covers over his muscled legs and shifted the pillows so that Harry was resting comfortably against the headboard, then he turned to fetch the mediwitch.

An hour later, after much prodding of Harry's person, Madame Pomfrey finally returned to her office at the end of the ward. She had given Harry more restorative potions as well as ones to combat his morning sickness and other normal pregnancy potions to help the growth of the baby, both physically and magically.

Harry groaned and slumped back into the bed while Charlie, laughing, squeezed into the small space next to him on the Infirmary bed and took his hand in both of his.

"Hush now," Charlie admonished, "It wasn't that bad."

Harry sighed and turned to look at his lover. "How would you like being stripped down and inspected like some petty criminal?"

"Harry, stop moaning-"

"I'm not moaning," Harry snapped and Charlie raised an eyebrow at him.

"It was for your own good and you know it, no matter how undignified it was." Harry sighed again and looked away. After a few moments, he nodded.

"Come on, you need some sleep," Charlie said gently. He started to climb out of the bed, but a hand on his wrist stopped him. He turned to look into Harry's earnest green eyes.

"I'm sorry…stay?" Harry quietly pleaded. Charlie smiled and received a tentative one in return as he slid between the sheets, ignoring his clothes and pulling Harry into his arms, his dark head resting comfortably on his hard chest. It wasn't long before they were both asleep.

--

Some time later, they were woken by noise, again, in the usually quiet hospital wing. Charlie turned to look down at Harry who was still lying with his head resting over Charlie's heart and rolled his eyes at him. Harry snorted and pulled himself into a sitting position next to his lover. Charlie wrapped his left arm around his shoulders and pulled him in for a tender kiss, pouring his love for the younger man into the intimate caressing of his lips.

The sound of voices at the entrance to the ward brought them back to themselves and they reluctantly ended the kiss. Charlie placed his free hand on Harry's stomach and Harry sighed in happiness and snuggled into Charlie's side.

The infirmary door opened and they were both surprised to see a large group of their friends and family being led in by a smiling Dumbledore who simply pointed to the bed they were in, winked at Harry and left.

The crowd swarmed immediately around them, calling out questions and shouting to them in a chaotic manner. Hands pulled at Harry's body as people worriedly searched for visible ailments in order to quench their worry for him. Harry had no time to work out who had said what before someone else was interrupting them. The noise and the closeness of their bodies was oppressive and Harry could feel himself starting to panic.

"Hey!" Charlie shouted out, silencing the group, "Calm down and let him breathe for Merlin's sake. He's in here for a reason, you know, the last thing he needs is you lot stressing him out. Now why don't you all take a step back and give us a chance to explain and then you can ask any questions you might still have. Okay?" They all nodded feebly looking suitably chastised and moved back obediently. Charlie released a long breath and slumped back. He realised that in his anger he had let go of Harry and he quickly pulled him back into his arms. Harry went gratefully.

Now that everyone was calm again, Harry had the chance to see who was there. All of the other Weasleys, bar Percy, were there as well as Hermione, Neville, Lee, Lupin, Tonks, Dean and Seamus. And they were all looking expectantly at him.

"Would it…be okay if…I spoke to you all separately?" Harry questioned tentatively.

"Of course, Harry," Hermione spoke up loudly, though she was frowning, worried, "Just say who you want first and everyone else can wait outside."

Harry turned to look at Charlie who's brow was furrowed in thought and waited for him to answer that one.

"How about…Hermione and all Weasley kids?" he asked Harry who smiled and nodded. There was a small commotion as they complied with this request. Harry was surprised that no one protested at being left out but he assumed they were all too concerned to question him. Bill conjured chairs for them all and soon they were sat in a line at the foot of the bed. Harry thought they looked like a jury.

The silence in the room was so unnatural for the group of people within it, that it would be instantly obvious to any new arrivals that something serious was going on. Harry took a deep breath, clutching tightly to Charlie's hand for comfort, who squeezed back. Knowing he needed to set them at ease, Harry plunged forward into an explanation.

"I know you've all been worried and so firstly I want you to know that I'm fine: I'm not ill, dying or insane, though it may have been touch and go for a while there on the last one," he said with a small smile. There was a collective sigh of relief in the room and the tension eased dramatically.

"You've always been crazy, Harry mate," Fred said brightly.

George nodded. "Yeah, a right nutcase."

"Surprised they let you run around," Ginny chipped in.

"There's no knowing what you might do," the twins chorused and everyone laughed, though Hermione was eyeing her friend curiously.

"You said 'firstly'," she pointed out and Harry couldn't help but smile at her perceptiveness. "What else do you have to tell us then?"

Once again all eyes were on the couple in the bed and Harry turned pleading eyes on Charlie, silently begging him to explain. Charlie was, as usual, helpless to resist.

"You're right, of course, Hermione," he said lightly, "We have more to tell you. Harry hasn't been sick just because of stress, there is another reason. It's going to be a bit of a shock," he cast a wary glance at Ron, "But hopefully you will feel the same way as us."

Bill huffed. "Well out with it!"

"Harry's pregnant."

There was only stunned silence.

"Is it yours?"

"Ron!" Hermione shrieked and Ron winced at the pain it caused his ear drums. "How can you ask such a callous question?"

"I just wondered," he grumbled.

"It's okay, Ron," Harry said with a chuckle. "I knew you would ask or say something like that. Yes the baby is Charlie's; it would not be possible with anyone else."

"Oh." Ron wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Are you going to be okay with this, Ron?" Harry quietly asked. Ron's head snapped up to where his best friend was fiddling nervously with the bed linen, eyes downcast, then to where his brother was smiling lovingly at the top of his dark head, before resting on their entwined hands.

"Of course I am you daft git!" He grinned at Harry, who grinned back. Harry then turned to his other best friend.

"'Mione?"

She bit her lip. "I'm just worried. You're both so young. Is this really what you want?"

"With all our hearts," Charlie answered. She sighed but smiled and nodded.

"Bill? Ginny?"

"I'm going to be an auntie!" she squealed before promptly bursting into giggles. Harry looked at her with bewildered amusement and turned to Charlie with raised eyebrows. Charlie just laughed and shrugged.

Bill cleared his throat. "I'm happy for you both," he said gruffly and Harry was surprised to see that his eyes were glassy but smiled at him. Bill nodded back, smiling as well.

Finally: "What about you two?" Charlie asked the twins.

"I think it's wonderful," announced George, beaming.

Fred scowled at his twin, "I think it's an outrage."

Everyone was shocked at the unusual display of venom from the twin but George's smile simply grew bigger at this statement. "Don't worry about him," he stage-whispered, "He's just sore because he lost 20 Galleons."

"You had a bet on that I would get pregnant?" Harry asked, astounded.

"Of course," George said smugly, "We saw children in the near future for you and our dear brother."

"Then why did Fred bet against it?" A puzzled Ron asked.

"I didn't. I just bet that Charlie would be the one up the duff." Everyone broke out into raucous laughter, though Ron looked a little green and Harry a little red.

"I'm so glad you guys are happy for us. It means a lot," Charlie said and Harry nodded. They all just smiled.

"That's what family is for," Ginny said.

--

Half an hour later, Hermione and the Weasley kids left the hospital wing, with promises not to tell anyone the 

news until Harry and Charlie had told the other people who were waiting. Also, they made sure to fetch the next people that the couple wanted to see: the parents. Mr and Mrs Weasley, Remus and Tonks made a sombre procession into the ward. They were all clearly nervous and expecting the worst and there was an ominous silence as they seated themselves in front of their son and adoptive godson.

"Okay, you all look absolutely terrified of what I'm about to say," Harry chuckled, a little hysterically. In truth, he was terrified: What were they going to say? He couldn't bare for any of them to be disgusted or upset with him. He needed their support on this.

"Well I admit I am slightly apprehensive," Remus said slowly. He was searching their faces for any clues to how they were feeling, but both of them were stellar in their blank gazes.

"Indeed," Mrs Weasley said, primly, "We are all very worried, dear." The other three nodded.

Harry sighed. "It's okay. No need to panic. I'm fine."

"God Harry, couldn't you have told us that earlier, it would have saved us all that lip-biting!" Tonks' outraged, but still relieved, face sent Harry into a fit of giggles. There was a short, incredulous, pause as everyone watched the dark-haired boy roll about in laughter before they all joined him. They laughed for almost five full minutes, until there were tears running down their reddened faces.

"I feel much better now," Arthur said brightly as he dabbed at the tears on his face with a pocket handkerchief.

"Me too," his wife replied.

"So, what is it that you have to tell us, Harry?" Remus asked seriously.

Charlie spoke up. "We're aren't sure how you are going to react. But first understand that we have talked about this seriously and we are both content to let this take its' course." There were nods all around.

"I'm pregnant."

"I'm sorry?" Arthur's shocked voice was unusually high and his face, a picture of disbelief, mirrored those of the other three.

"I'm having a baby: Charlie's baby. In about seven months," Harry said in almost a whisper, before burrowing his face into his lover's chest to avoid the inevitable anger. The silence in the room lasted an eternity and Charlie made sure not to look anywhere other than Harry while they came to terms with the news. He jumped at his mother's excited squeal.

"Grandbabies?" she shrieked and he nodded nervously. She let out another squeal before pouncing. Charlie had no chance to protect Harry before she was placing kisses all over his bespectacled face and then on Charlie's own face.

"Oh how lovely! I can't tell you how long I've waited for one of my children to give me grandbabies! Always wanting careers and other such nonsense. They never listen when I say that children and marriage are all that's important and that after that they can worry about trivial things like jobs! But of course they pay no attention to me, do they? Oh, but I know you're ever so young, Harry. Mind you I was only a few years older than you when I was pregnant with Bill. Oh, it was such a magical time! There's nothing in the world like pregnancy, you know. I shall tell you all about my six times if you like, just so you know what to expect. Though I expect it will be different - what with you having man bits! Oh, you two must be so in love! How lucky you are to have found each other. Of course I have my Arthur so I know all about it. Our brood is all from pure love! Oh, this is such happy news! To think when I first got here I thought you were dying! Good heavens we have so much to do! We need baby things; I can give you lots of things that belonged to my boys of course. Unless it's a girl, then I'm sure I can find some of Ginny's things from when she was a babe. And we have to pick out names and decide where you're going to go after graduation, maybe get a place for yourselves, eh? Not that I wouldn't mind having you at the Burrow but you young ones like your space I imagine. Well of course you do, you're having a baby! Goodness knows how much love making you two do if you've managed to make a little one!"

"Oh my God, Mum, STOP!" Charlie shouted, ending his mother's huge babbling speech. He felt that he knew far more about his mother than he was comfortable with now. One look at Harry's stricken face told him that he was equally horrified.

Harry was startled out of his Mrs Weasley induced daze by the hysterical laughter of Mr Weasley, Remus and Tonks.

"Oh dear, Molly," Arthur gasped between giggles, "I think you've scarred the boys for life." This caused another shriek of laughter from Tonks and a snort from Remus. Mrs Weasley huffed, reigning in her excitement and sat back down next to her husband. When he continued to laugh she cuffed him round the side of the head.

"So… I'm guessing by that reaction you're okay about this?" Charlie said with a laugh.

"Of course, son," Mrs Weasley said softly, an understanding in her eyes, "I'm not mad. All I would have asked for is that you were married first, but some things just happen that way." She smiled at them both warmly and Harry sighed in relief.

"Dad?"

Mr Weasley smiled and nodded, taking his wife's hand in his own.

Harry turned to the other couple, "What about you two?"

"We are delighted for you, Harry. You are very young, that is true, but I believe you would make a wonderful father. As would you, Charlie," Remus said kindly. Harry's eyes welled and he climbed out of bed to give the older man, the last link to his parents and his godfather, a warm hug. It was returned fiercely and a telltale sniff indicated to Harry that he was not the only one feeling emotional. He pulled away after a few moments and grinned at his friend. Tonks stepped in between them to pull Harry into another hug. She whispered in his ear a simple, "Love you Hazza," before stepping away.

Warm arms wrapped around Harry's middle and he leaned back against Charlie's warm chest, closing his eyes in bliss, high on the acceptance of his loved ones.

"We'll just leave you to it," Mrs Weasley said softly. Harry opened his eyes and nodded. They all exchanged hugs and kisses and firm handshakes and promises to write, before once again, Harry and Charlie were alone in the hospital wing.


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