The Black Line Continues

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Thank yous: Argaildax, Little Black Poko-chan, EsScaper, ShyQuill, ozumas girl, iamtherealmaverick, Moonglaze, Wilting Rose 08, Goddess of Gorgeousness, rikkiairora, mizukimarr910, Anastasia Snape, S.c.ou.s.er.4.li.f.e, orlin, im no muggle, crescomellonnin, Andromeda Malfoy-Potter, Hannio, YamikiofAnime, Shinigami, Aia Angle, Makalani Astral, and frk-werewolf.

EsScaper: I'm glad you like it, if you don't normally read mpreg!

rikkiairora: No, no, I think you misunderstood me. Lucius will be injured this chapter, not the last one.

Ai Angel: No, there will be no DM/HP slash, mainly because I don't like Harry and I think Draco deserves better. I also don't want everyone to be gay.

Sorry for the delay!

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Chapter 9: Holiday Check Up

Remus Lupin was just over seven months pregnant now and he had never felt better. He was feeling happy, healthy and in love, his baby was growing well and he was going to find out the sex of his and Sirius's soon to be born child today. It was also Christmas which had always put him in good spirits when he and Sirius had been together. Not to mention the fact that James was back and doing much better than he had been, despite his misery over Harry; he was also eating more now because Molly Weasley had turned up again and felt the need to force it to him. Sirius was much happier now as well, the idea of becoming a father within the next couple of months was doing him some good.

Sirius was leaning against the workbench in the kitchen of Twelve Grimmauld Place where Molly was making them lunch, the day of Remus's check up with Madame Pomfrey, "Rem, don't you think you should rest a little?"

Remus gazed at his lover with slightly wide eyes, "No…why, should I? I don't feel the need too." It was then that the doorbell rang. "Oh, that should be Poppy!" he rushed off out of the kitchen as fast as his pregnant body would move.

Sirius chewed his bottom lip lightly, "As much as I love him, he's starting to scare me a little bit." James snorted in amusement.

Molly glanced at the dark haired man out the corners of her eyes, "Its sweet really, I haven't seen Remus this happy in quite a long time."

Sirius smiled, "I hope it stays this way then," he said before heading out of the kitchen to join Remus for his baby check up. He headed upstairs to his and Remus's bedroom where the pregnant werewolf and the Hogwarts matron already were.

Remus was on the bed; his pregnant tummy exposed as Madame Pomfrey sat on the edge of the bed next to him examining him. "So um…how exactly do men give birth?"

"You sound nervous, you aren't having doubts, are you?" replied Poppy curiously.

Remus shook his head and glanced at Sirius before he looked back to the medi-witch, "No, it'd be a bit pointless now, I can't exactly back out. But I just…I'm ignorant to the workings of it and…yeah…"

Poppy smiled as she took her wand out of her medical bag, "Obviously, it will be different to a female labour as men do not have the correct attachments," Sirius smirked and sat down next to Remus. "The only way for a man to deliver a baby is through a Caesarean Section, which will be done by myself when you are ready to have this baby."

Remus nodded hesitantly, he didn't like the sound of that but he knew now that it was the only way, "Will it be painful?"

Poppy shook her head, "As this will be a scheduled caesarean, I will give you the wizarding equivalent of a regional anaesthetic which will keep you pain free during the procedure and for a few hours afterwards. After that I will prescribe you some daily pain relief for afterwards for a couple of weeks." Remus nodded, he knew he was gripping Sirius's hand quite tightly right now but he didn't care, he was a little worried. "Don't worry, Remus, it is perfectly safe. I have done it many times before."

Sirius stroked the back of Remus's hand with his thumb, despite the discomfort he was feeling, "Wh-what will happen if he has the baby a few days before a full moon? I mean…that would worsen the recovery, wouldn't it?"

"That is a possibility, yes," replied Poppy seriously, she waved her wand over Remus's swelled abdomen. "If that does happen to be the case then I will be wanting to keep you in the infirmary afterwards, Remus, so I can keep an eye on you. But judging by the lunar charts and your perceived due date, I don't think we are going to have that problem."

"Oh good…"

Poppy nodded, "You and the baby are both doing absolutely fine, Remus, I don't foresee you having any problems with remainder of your pregnancy. Now, would the two of you like to know your baby's gender?"

Remus looked up at Sirius, "Do we?"

Sirius gazed at Remus's pregnant belly for a few moments before looking back into the brown eyes he loved so much, "I do."

Remus smiled a little before looking back to Poppy, "Yes, we do want to know."

"Very well," Poppy held the tip of her wand over Remus's belly and muttered a charm. "This won't take a moment, there should be a glow – pink for a girl or blue for a boy."

Remus and Sirius had their eyes fixed on the werewolf's stomach as it starting glowing from Madame Pomfrey's charm. Remus smiled and looked up at Sirius, "I guess you're going to be getting your little princess."

"Do you think we'll be able to go back to the Headquarters for Christmas?" said Ron at lunchtime the same day of Remus's check up. "Ow!"

Hermione had just kicked him under the table, "Watch what you say, Ronald. But yeah, I think it would be fun. I wonder how Remus and the baby are."

Harry was scowling at his lunch, he had been all right today until Ron had just mentioned Twelve Grimmauld Place, "Speak for yourself, I'm not going back there."

Hermione and Ron glanced at each other, identical frowns on their faces. They both knew of Harry seeing James Potter when he flooed Sirius a month ago, of course, they didn't really understand how Harry felt but they both felt he was being quite unreasonable about this.

"Harry," started Hermione timidly. "Don't you think you should at least give them a chance to explain?" Harry glared at her. "Or you could ask Dumbledore…there must be a very good reason why they didn't tell you right from the off."

"I don't care," replied Harry putting his knife and fork. "Sirius said he would stop lying to me or hiding the truth, and he's gone and done it again. I don't care what his or anyone else's reasons are for keeping my dad's life a secret from me." With that he stood up and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Ron sighed, "Well that went well."

"No kidding," replied Hermione a frown still set firmly on her face. "But still, I think Harry needs to find out, and even if he doesn't want to go back for Christmas we should bound and gag him, and drag him there." Ron had his eyebrows raised in amusement. "What? I think he deserves a little bit of happiness, don't you? If that involves meeting his father then so be it."

Ron couldn't deny it, he knew Hermione was right but he didn't know how they would be able to talk Harry into going back to his godfather's house for Christmas.

………

It was the evening before the students of Hogwarts could go home for Christmas, and Harry found himself sitting in Dumbledore's office with his godfather.

"I am sure you know why you are here, Harry," said Dumbledore regarding the sixteen year old over the top of his half moon glasses, his expression one of the utmost seriousness.

Harry sat in front of the Headmaster's desk, his arms folded and a dirty look on his face, "Yeah, because no one bothered to tell me my father is alive. Were you ever going to?"

"Harry," scolded Sirius, no matter how upset Harry was feeling he had no right to talk to the Headmaster like that.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly, "Harry, we have only known of James being alive for a few months ourselves. The reason you were not informed sooner than you found out is because James is still very fragile, emotionally, mentally and physically. He has been through a lot over the last fifteen years, we felt it would be best for him to recover a lot more before the two of you were introduced."

"Why is he like that though?" asked Harry quietly, he still didn't want to believe what he was being told. He would have preferred knowing right from the start.

Sirius and Dumbledore shared a tired look, and then Sirius launched into telling Harry everything that James had shared with Remus and himself. About his capture, his time being tortured and held by the remaining Death Eaters, about Malfoy senior and Snape saving him, and about his recovery so far.

Meanwhile back at the Order Headquarters Remus and James were down in the kitchen, trying to waste away time until Sirius came back to report on how Harry took all the truth about his dad.

"James, don't worry too much," said Remus as soothingly as he could. "I'm sure he'll understand once Dumbledore and Sirius have talked to him."

James leaned back in his chair and started nervously twisting his hands in his lap, "I hope you're right…I hope he comes here tomorrow, but I'm worried…"

"I don't blame you, I think I would be worried as well," replied Remus as he nursed his cup of tea. "Anyway-" he was cut off by the doorbell ringing. "That could be Sirius…"

"Why would he ring the doorbell?"

Remus got to his feet, his pregnancy was still concealed because he preferred looking like that, mainly because he was starting to think he looked fat. "He doesn't have to, being the owner of this place, but knowing him he's probably forgotten how to get in or something."

James nodded in agreement about Sirius, he sighed and gazed at the mantle shelf above the fireplace after Remus had gone. Now that he was feeling much better he just wanted to see his son, to talk to him, and to apologise for not being there for him all this time. It would be Christmas soon; he hadn't spent one with Harry since his son five months old…

"James!"

James was snapped out of his thoughts, Remus sounded alarmed. He got to his feet; maybe there was something wrong with the baby… But by the time he got up the kitchen stairs and to the entrance hall, he found that there was nothing wrong with Remus or the baby. On the other hand, there appeared to be something very wrong with Lucius who was lying unconscious on the floor with Remus crouched down next to him.

"Oh god… What happened?"

Remus shook his head, "I don't know, I opened the door and he stumbled in…and collapsed… James, floo Hogwarts, get Dumbledore and Poppy Pomfrey."

James nodded but he stayed standing where he was, his eyes fixed on the blond on the floor, he had barely registered what Remus had said to him.

"James. Go!"

To Be Continued…

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A/N: I'm cruel, I know. Another two parter, I am so sorry. But at least I've updated, and I hope it makes up for my lack of updating recently. If not, then I offer you cookies!

Next Chapter: A continuation of this one. What happened to Lucius? Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny turn up at the HQ for Christmas. James and Harry meet. Sirius and Remus discuss names for their daughter.