A/N: Sara: Neither of them is dominant nor submissive. They are equal with each other, which menas it goes both ways. :) Harry was slipped a male pregnancy potion by a secret someone who cannot be named at this time, which made him highly fertile. Draco did not receive the potion, which is why he did not get pregnant.
Fred: Very well, I'll add that in to the summary.
For the rest of you, I usually respond personally, but it's easier if you all sign in so I can directly message you. :) And now, on to the story.
Laughter startled them both. Draco and Madame Pomfrey turned to see Harry laughing. "You guys are hilarious," he chuckled, gasping for breath. "Nice acting…did you come up with that one, Draco?"
Slowly, the smile on his face faded, as both Draco and Madame Pomfrey shared an incredulous look. "Harry-" Draco began.
"You're not joking, are you?" Draco sighed, and shook his head. Harry paled, and crossed his arms over his stomach, in a semi-protective guesture.
"I can't be…that's impossible. I can't be…pregnant." He whispered the final word, as if it was a curse.
"Actually, it is possible," Madame Pomfrey said quietly. "If a wizard takes a fertility potion, he becomes extremely fertile, and able to become pregnant for a week."
"But I didn't take a fertility potion…"
"That you know of," Draco finished for him. Harry's eyes shot up to meet his husband's, and he paled at the knowing expression on Draco's face. "My father did this," he whispered. "He must have drugged your food somehow…there's no other explanation."
"There's another spy in our midst," Harry whispered. Draco nodded slowly.
"There must be."
Pomfrey looked confused, but ignored it. "Harry, now that you are pregnant, many things are going to have to change," she said gently.
"How so? And how does that explain why I was so sick earlier?"
Madame Pomfrey sighed, and motioned to them to follow her into her office. She closed the door and threw up a Silencing charm, before sitting behind her desk, allowing the two boys to sit by each other on a small loveseat she had in the small room.
"Harry, your illness only further proves your pregnancy. I suspect it is what women call 'morning sickness'. Heard of it?" A tentative nod from both young men. "Don't worry, it should only last for a few more weeks. Although, it's a good thing. Morning sickness means the baby is healthy."
Alright, that was good…as weird as the whole situation was, and as potentially disastrous…Harry found himself glad about the whole thing. He and Draco were going to have a baby…the idea both terrified and thrilled him.
Draco sensed the mixed emotions, and began to feel the same way himself. Even though his father could potentially hurt their child…it was their child. He and Harry would have a family…it made him all warm and fuzzy inside, in a way that would have made him want to puke if it weren't so pleasant.
"Anyways, other things you'll experience as the baby grows include mood swings, craving, and swelling of the ankles and feet. You'll definitely feel discomfort at times, but hopefully Draco and your friends can help make it easier on you, Harry. Your back is going to be sore from all the extra weight, and you'll find yourself needing to use the loo a lot more often."
Okay…not fun. Harry grimaced. "What else?" he asked wryly. Madame Pomfrey's features grew serious.
"The thing that makes wizard pregnancies so rare," she began slowly, "is the danger that is presented to both parent and child. First of all, it is very likely that the baby will be born premature, though hopefully, with potions and such, we can put off the birth as long as possible. Miscarriage is also a very real possibility right now. You must be as careful as possible if you want this baby to survive." She studied the two. Both were pale, as each considered the possibilities. A reassuring smile spread across her face. "I'm sure you'll be fine…I'm just letting you know what could happen. You're a Viatacatre...you should be stronger than most wizards. You've got everything going for you."
"Is that all that could happen?" Harry asked in a small voice, seemingly not hearing her reassurances. She shook her head.
"No. Many things could go wrong. We'll just make sure they don't. What I am most concerned about is you, Harry. Your body is already forming a temporary womb around the baby, thanks to the potion, giving it the protection and nourishment that all babies have when inside the mother. When the time comes for you to give birth, well, that's when things are most dangerous for you.
"See, as the eighth month rolls around, your body begins to search for a way to expel the baby from your body. But, as you lack the…necessary parts for birthing, it must be via Cesarean section. We'll have to surgically remove the baby, and the temporary womb. The danger lies in your body itself. You will experience contractions as the body tries to do the normal birthing process. Should you go into contractions early, and we be unable to perform the operation in time, it could push the baby into a location that could make it impossible to extract the child, and it could prove fatal for both you and the baby, as internal organs could be damaged." Draco's hand tightened painfully around Harry's fingers.
"We can't let that happen," he whispered.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head. "Merlin forbid," she agreed. "We will do everything in our power to make this a successful pregnancy. Starting with your habits, Harry, and even some of yours, Draco."
"I'll do what I need to," Harry murmured.
"Good, that's what we need." Madame Pomfrey tapped her fingers on the desk lightly. "Harry, Draco, I know you've both had dark pasts, and I will not pry. But listen to me. You must let go of your past. Do not allow any negativity to wear on you. Harry, stress is bad for you. Guessing by your conversation several minutes ago, something is going on that is potentially stressful. Allow your husband to take care of whatever it is. Draco, if you need to hide things from Harry, it might be best, especially if you know it will stress him out. No, Harry, it is necessary," she said, raising her voice to cut off Harry's protests. "Harry, if you want this to be a successful pregnancy, stress is the last thing you need," she said softly. "I want you to be relaxed, and have a positive attitude. Try to laugh or be happy as often as possible. Don't think about negative things. I'll talk with a few of your teachers in private, as well as Dumbledore, and see if we can get you some leniency on homework." Harry scowled.
"Great. More of my private life to be spread around," he grumbled.
"Harry, many people will be happy for you, and will be rooting for a safe pregnancy," the Mediwitch assured him. "Your supporters will be there for you. And you have your friends. I think you'll find allies in unlikely places as well."
"Anything else?" Draco asked, successfully averting any more grumbles on Harry's part.
"Yes. Harry, you're frightfully underweight for your age and height. Luckily, you've got plenty of muscle to make up for it, but if you don't start putting on weight, you're going to deteriorate, and the baby won't get the nutrients it needs, meaning a miscarriage, or at best a severely underdeveloped baby. That means you need to eat. And not just junk food. I need you to eat healthy food, and lots of it."
"I don't want to be fat," Harry whimpered. Draco knew why, and he leaned over, kissing his husband's cheek.
"You could never be fat," he whispered in his ear. "Don't worry. I will always love you; you will never be like them. You're not fat, and you won't be fat. Do it for the baby…for me."
It seemed to calm Harry, and Madame Pomfrey gave Draco an approving look.
"Also, you need plenty of sleep and water. Both will help you as well as the baby. Light exercise will be fine, as long as you're able to move around anyways. It will strengthen the both of you."
"I heard singing or talking to the baby can help," Draco suggested. She laughed.
"A myth, but we don't know for sure. Who knows, maybe singing to the baby will help it to recognize your voices when it's born, or help form the bond between parents and child. It won't hurt, so go ahead and do so.
"Now, Draco. I need you to go above and beyond these next few months. Look after your husband, even if he doesn't want it. If it stresses him out, don't disagree with him. Just go along with it, as long as it isn't damaging. Do whatever it takes to keep Harry from overexerting himself." Draco nodded.
"It's only for nine months," he said with a laugh, noting Harry's deepening scowl at the idea of being waited on.
Madame Pomfrey frowned. "I thought you knew," she said, puzzled.
"Knew what?" Harry asked. "I didn't even know wizards could get pregnant!"
"Male pregnancies only last five months," she answered. "That's why underdevelopment is such a major concern. It's because it's an unnatural thing, a 'forced pregnancy' if you will. You'll start to show signs in about a week, and progress from there will be rapid."
"Well, at least there's one good thing," Harry laughed wryly. "I get to skip out on four months of bloatedness."
•••
"Pregnant?" shrieked Hermione and Pansy simultaneously. Harry winced.
"Yeah," he murmured, rubbing his ears. "Sheesh. I don't think I heard you that time. Want to be a little louder?"
Pansy smacked his shoulder lightly, then clasped a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry…it didn't hurt the baby, did it?" she asked in a near-whisper. Harry gave her a look.
"I'm not that fragile," he muttered.
"Oh, Harry, I'm so happy for you!" Hermione cried, giving him a tight, but gentle squeeze. "I can't believe you're going to have a baby…a baby!"
"I definitely did not see this one coming," Blaise agreed from where he was sitting on the edge of the couch in the Room of Requirement, moving to flop across the areas where Pansy and Hermione had previously been sitting. They gave him withering looks, but he ignored them, stretching out luxuriously. "Could have given us a little warning, couldn't you, mate?"
"Actually…this wasn't planned," Draco said slowly, glancing at Harry, who nodded. "We think my father is out for revenge…and that we have another spy here at Hogwarts." Blaise sat up quickly, as Pansy and Hermione's gaze snapped up.
"Not another one," Blaise groaned.
"We'll have to keep an eye out for them," Pansy said dangerously. "There is no way they are getting to you two this time."
Harry smiled at her. "At least we have you three on alert. It'll help us. A lot. It means a lot to me that you guys are willing to do so much for us…"
"Think nothing of it, Harry," Blaise said, waving him off. "You made Draco happy, and you've proven yourself a good friend. Not to mention you kept You-Know-Who from getting his claws on us…I think we owe you more than we could ever repay."
Harry smiled up at Draco. "You trusted me, and let me have Draco…I'd say we're even."
•••
"He is what?" Severus Snape stared incredulously at his godson, who had an arm around his Inima protectively.
"Pregnant," Draco repeated.
Severus turned to look between the two. Harry shifted nervously under the black scrutiny, but to his credit, kept his gaze locked on Severus'. Draco stared back, daring Severus to say anything against Harry. "Well, congratulations," Severus said drily, turning back to the paperwork he was interrupted from. "But why are you telling me?"
"Well, first, because you are my godfather, and at the moment, the closest thing I have to family," Draco said quietly, causing a pang of guilt for being so rotten to run through the professor. "Secondly, because we need your help." Draco took a deep breath. "This pregnancy was not planned. Someone slipped Harry a pregnancy potion in his food. I have reason to believe that this person is working with my father, against Harry and myself. My father has sent letters confirming my suspicions that he wants revenge for what Harry and I did, and the roles we played in his humiliation and the fall of his master. I suspect that he will strike at the places we are weakest. Now that Harry is pregnant, he is weaker than usual. If my father does not strike now, he will soon, perhaps at our child even." Draco's eyes burned with a fierce desire to protect, one that Severus could relate to. He had felt much the same way when he'd learned of the Dark lord's plan to target Lily…
He wouldn't let the same pain befall Draco again. Never again. Not if he could help it. "Let me guess," Severus interrupted. "You wish my protection." Draco and Harry nodded slowly. "Very well. I will aid you where I can. Starting with strengthening potions for you, Mr. Potter." Draco gave him a look, and Severus sighed. "H-Harry. I will brew potions for you, Harry."
Harry glanced at a seemingly innocent Draco, before turning back to the scowling Potions professor. "A-alright," he murmured, confused. "Are they to help the baby?"
"And yourself," Severus answered, standing and going to his private stores. "I have the necessary ingredients, so come here first thing tomorrow morning, and we will start with the first round of potions."
Peachy, Harry thought with a grimace.
