The Harm in Trying

Author's Note: I'm feeling quite pleased with myself at the moment. Ten chapters in ten days. Who would have thought I could stick to a schedule.

Part 10

"Not so bad? He just left!" Harry was incredulous as he flopped back into his chair. "And I still don't know anything."

"Well," Hermione said. "He didn't hex you, or try to kill you or the baby. And he didn't try to steal it, either."

"He didn't believe me, either. He probably thinks I'm a golddigger."

"He knows you're telling the truth now. And hopefully Healer Stoli will inform him that there's no way you could have prevented it."

Harry sighed and stared at his stomach. He wondered what was going to happen to him and his baby. What did Malfoys do with illegitimate children? He had to be prepared.

Hermione grasped for something to discuss. "Do you want to talk about what's going to happen to your body over the next few weeks?"

"No offence, Hermione, but I don't really want to talk to you about it." Harry crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why not?" Hermione asked. "You're not the only pregnant one in the room."

Harry blanched. She was right. "I'm so sorry, I keep forgetting."

"It's okay. It'll be easier to remember when my stomach's as big as a watermelon."

"Well, my belly's not going to be far behind. If mine keeps on like a normal pregnancy."

"I don't see any reason why it shouldn't," Hermione said. "All the usual spells have worked so far, and you have all the right parts."

"For my sanity, I need it to progress normally," Harry spoke to his magic sternly.

"Anyway," Hermione said. "At least when our kids are born they'll have each other to play with."

"Do you know whether yours is a boy or a girl?" Harry asked, curious.

"No," Hermione responded with a smile and a shake of her head. "Call me old fashioned, but I want to be surprised when he or she is born."

"I bet you're tired of that question," Harry commented.

"You will be too, before long," she responded, then grinned. "But you won't hear it from me because I already know."

"What?" Harry asked, surprised. Why hadn't she mentioned he could find out?

Suddenly someone apparated into the room. Harry and Hermione had their wands on the intruder before they even saw who it was. When they did, they lowered them albeit grudingly. It was Draco Malfoy.

"Sorry," he apologised. "I needed to take care of a couple of things." Then he ignored Hermione, turned to Harry and sank down on one knee before him, revealing an elaborate diamond and emerald ring in a ring box. "Harry James Potter, will you marry me?"

Harry was dumbfounded, and turned to Hermione to see if she was seeing what he was seeing. Judging by the goggled expression on her face, she was.

"What makes you think it's okay to just waltz in here and ask me to marry you?" Harry said, finally, crinkling his nose. He was upset and thrilled at the same time. But mostly, he didn't understand. "What about your fiancée?"

"I called that off." Draco maintained his position.

"What about your mother?"

"She'll understand," he said, offhand.

Harry didn't like the sound of that. "What about the fact that I'm a half-blood?"

Draco winced. "You're a wizard, that's all that really matters. Malfoys have married Potters before."

"Is it just because I'm pregnant?" Harry asked.

"Not entirely," Draco admitted. "But don't tell my mother."

Well, they weren't exactly on speaking terms. And after this stunt, they weren't likely to become so. "What about you?" he asked, finally. "Do you love me at all?"

"I've always admired you," he stated, and Harry knew that whatever came next would be the truth. "And we both know I find you very attractive. If you weren't pregnant I wouldn't be proposing right now, but I'd still feel the same. Politically you'd be an asset to the Malfoy family. I like talking to you, and the sex is great." He seemed to have forgotten that Hermione was in the room and she blushed. "I might not be in love with you right now, but if you give me a chance, there's a very good chance that I will fall madly in love with you, Harry Potter. If you show me what love is."

Harry had thought he'd be ready to answer after hearing if Draco did or did not love him. But now he wasn't so sure. "What happens if I say no?"

Draco swallowed, unwilling to answer. "I don't want that to influence your decision. Pretend that nothing bad will happen."

Harry frowned. "But that means whatever it is will make me say yes."

Draco nodded. "If I know you as well as I think I do, it will."

"I'm not going to say yes until you tell me exactly why you're proposing now. And that includes telling me about whatever's going to happen if I say no."

Sighing, Draco answered the question, knowing that there was no way that he could force Harry Potter to marry him. "In my family, if a child is conceived out of wedlock, the parents must marry before the child is born. If they will not, or cannot, except in the case of the non-Malfoy parent, the Malfoy in question is immediately excommunicated from the family, and all of their offspring are never acknowledged. It was instigated years ago to stop inheritance squabbles."

"Oh," said Harry. Harry already knew that there was no way Malfoy would survive by himself, and Malfoy knew that he knew. But he hadn't wanted to tell Harry so that Harry could make up his own mind. Unless that was his ploy, Malfoy did know Harry better than most people. But did Malfoy deserve that life? And he was the father of Harry's baby, whether they liked it or not. Likely, Malfoy wouldn't want to associate with Harry after this if he said no.

One day, Harry's kid would ask where his father was - or his mother, if Harry raised him normally - and what would Harry say? "Sorry kid, I wasn't sure if your father was lying to me, and he admitted he didn't love me, so I let him be disinherited from his family. He's probably a prostitute if he's alive at all"? It was the last thought that really tipped Harry over the edge. He did love Draco, even if Draco didn't return that love, and Harry couldn't stand the thought of someone else putting a finger on Draco.

"Yes, Draco," he said finally. "I will marry you."

Draco smiled brilliantly, and that almost made it worth it. Hermione applauded as though it was the most romantic proposal she'd ever seen.

"But you promise that you'll try to fall in love with me," Harry said.

"I promise," Draco said solemnly.

"And even if you never do, and even if I'm old and fat, you won't sleep with someone else. From now on the only person you'll have sex with is me."

"Done," Draco said, sliding the ring onto Harry's ring finger, then sealing the deal with a quick kiss. "I haven't slept with anyone else since that first blow job."

Harry was surprised. "But what about that man in the park?"

"I was going to," Draco admitted. "But I couldn't get you out of my head. I'm in lust with you, Harry Potter."

Harry laughed and returned the kiss that had been given before. It wasn't perfect, but for now, it was a hell of a lot better than okay.

"Oh, Granger," Draco said, as though only just noticing that she was there. He slipped an envelope from his pocket and placed it on her desk. "I hope you're free tonight. My fiancé and I would love it if you came to our engagement party."

"What?" Harry went pale.

"Relax, Harry," Draco said, taking his hands in his. "No one will say a word against you."

They probably wouldn't. Purebloods and their rules. "But," Harry protested. "You haven't even told your mother yet."

"There are a lot of people I haven't told," Draco stated. "That's what engagement parties are for."

Harry gave him a look. "You can't lump your mother in with a bunch of people you hardly know."

"Don't worry, I've already uninvited all of the witch's family. The wards won't let them in."

Harry paled as he thought of all those people who'd been uninvited.

"You know, Draco," Hermione said. "I don't think that's really making him feel any better."

"Better he finds out sooner than later."

"Be that as it may," Hermione acknowledged. "I do have another appointment right now, and if I'm going to finish work in time to make it to your soiree I really need to see to them."

"Is it a muggle?" Draco asked.

Hermione frowned. "It's not any of your business."

"Besides," Harry said. "I didn't think you minded muggles anymore."

"Not the men," Draco smirked. "But the women do leave something to be desired."

"Hey!" Harry smacked him lightly on the arm. "You promised."

"That I did," Draco nodded, then kissed Harry on the nose. "But you didn't say anything about thinking about them."

Harry bit his lip, knowing that he couldn't stop Draco from thinking about other people, but wishing he could all the same. "I know," he said quietly.

"It's okay, babe," Draco teased, enveloping him in a full-body embrace, like the prelude to a slow dance. "You always come first."

Harry relaxed, then smirked as he caught the innuendo. "That's funny, because I don't remember it happening so far."

Draco flashed him a bright smile. "It will."

And with that, they were gone, leaving Hermione with more than just a smile on her face.

x X X x

Harry and Draco apparated into Malfoy Manor still locked in a tight embrace.

Narcissa Malfoy was waiting for them, a very displeased look on her face at the sight of them. Harry could just imagine how Elizabeth Bennet felt when Lady Catherine accused her of being engaged to Darcy. "Draco, I hope you have a very good explanation for-"

Draco cut her off when he realised that Harry was trying to run away. He took Harry's hand in his and stepped forward as though he had all the right in the world. "Excuse me, mother. I haven't yet introduced you. May I present my fiancé, Harry Potter." He made sure to expose the heirloom ring currently sitting on Harry's finger.

At that, Narcissa surprised Harry by smiling wider than he'd thought her face could go, and clasping her hands together. The smile even seemed to be directed at him. "I knew that if anyone would find a way, it would be you."

"So, you're not upset?" Harry clarified.

"Of course not," Narcissa smiled. "I want Draco to be happy."

Harry was suspicious. "Then why does he have to be engaged at all?"

The look on Narcissa's face was suddenly wistful. "I also want grandchildren." She then left the topic behind, dumbfounding Harry once again. "So tell me, how you did it, darlings. That ring would never have fit onto his finger if it wasn't a Malfoy-agreeable relationship."

"He's pregnant," Draco stated.

Narcissa smiled as though it was a delightful thing. "Did you know that-?"

Harry interrupted her quickly, not wanting her to go into the details. "Yes, I know the story. You and Lucius were so in love with one another than Draco came into the world before you could organise a wedding."

Narcissa tittered, gleefully. "That's precisely how I would put it."

Draco looked at them curiously. "How did you know that?" he asked Harry. "I didn't even know that."

Harry laughed. "Let's just say that your mother was probably right to bar my house elf from the Manor."

Draco nodded. "So," he began. "Is that the way you're going to tell our son?"

"Son?" Harry questioned. "How do you know? It could be a girl."

Draco looked at him surprised and shook his head. "The Fertilis spell that Stoli cast confirms it. That's why your stomach glowed blue."

"Oh," Harry said, a little disappointed that he couldn't be surprised like Hermione.

"Come along, dear," Narcissa said, taking Harry's hand. "We need to get you ready for the party. We can't have anyone wondering why we're letting you into the family."

Harry was not looking forward to this, but Draco had conveniently disappeared before Harry could beg him for help.

x X X x

Getting ready was just as bad as Harry had thought it would be. The beautician that Narcissa had hired didn't seem to have any experience working with men at all. She removed hair from places where Harry was sure a little was fine (to him stubble proved that you could grow hair), and proceeded to apply makeup without a hint of warning. His hair was cut and covered in something he'd never heard of before that made it too shiny, though Harry had to admit that it did get it to sit neatly. The worst part was that they'd pushed the hair off his forehead so that his scar showed prominently. When he complained all he got was, "Wear it proudly, dear. It means you're alive."

When they'd finished with him, Harry was absolutely certain that he was going to be a laughing stock. He'd ended up in charcoal black and silver robes, which were fine, but they went over a ridiculously turquoise shirt. They'd placed an elaborate pearl and turquoise necklace around his neck, and he had a silver and pure black onyx cuff on his right arm, even though it was completely hidden by his robes. On the other hand, the boots he could get used to. They were the most comfortable shoes he'd ever worn and though it was a cliché, walking on air was the best way to describe the feeling.

To cap the whole thing off, was the comment Narcissa had made when she saw his completed look.

"Adorable," she proclaimed, clasping her hands together and beaming.

Harry didn't want to look adorable. He wanted to look impressive. He wanted to not make a fool of himself amongst Draco's friends and family. As the preparations went on, Harry thought this seemed less and less likely.

And Harry was worried that he hadn't seen Draco since they'd first arrived at the manor. His logical side said that Draco was getting ready, just like he was. The less logical, completely irrational side of him said that now that Draco had what he wanted (his fortune secured and to sleep with a man, to boot), he wouldn't want to see Harry very often at all. And as it often went with fear, his irrational side was winning.

x X X x

The party soon started, but Harry had to wait before it began for him. Narcissa had insisted that he wait in an anteroom until all the guests had arrived. Harry had thought that this would give him a minute or two alone with Draco before having to face the family, but he was nowhere to be found.

Finally, about twenty minutes after the party had officially started, Draco came in to get Harry. Petulantly, Harry noticed that he didn't have to wear a stupid necklace. Draco had on similar black and silver robes, with a more periwinkle blue shirt underneath, that made Harry just want to lock the door behind him and never leave the room again.

"Are you ready?" Draco asked.

"What does it look like?" Harry retorted, opening his arms wide to better show his fiancé. He was put out that he'd had to wait so long by himself.

"It looks like you're terrified," remarked Draco.

Harry frowned. "Great."

"You can't go in there like that," Draco said, not at all comfortingly.

"Tell me something to make me feel better," Harry demanded.

"You look amazing," Draco said with genuine feeling.

Harry was pleased, but it wasn't enough to soothe him. "Better than that." Harry thought a moment. "Tell me that even if I wasn't pregnant you would have rather married me than your ex-fiancee. Tell me that you didn't propose to her the way you proposed to me."

"That's ridiculous," stated Draco.

Harry's face fell. It was ridiculous, wasn't it? Draco would never like him that way, no matter what he had promised. Harry was beginning to think that he could not trust a single word of what Draco said before he'd placed the ring on Harry's finger.

"Of course I would rather marry you," Draco continued. "Why would I want to marry some dumb witch I've never met before? She's practically a child; she has no idea what the war was like. She wasn't even in Hogwarts when it happened. And I didn't propose to her, my mother wrote her father a letter. I've still never met her."

"Thank you," Harry said, kissing his fiance. "I'm ready now."

Draco came closer and put his arms around Harry. "The trick is to pretend that you belong, even if you don't feel as though you do." He pressed a kiss to Harry's cheek. "And you do belong here because I belong here."

Harry wasn't entirely convinced, but let Draco take his hand. Time to show the world.

x X X x

A/N: Don't you hate it when a story is finished and you still have heaps of questions? Avoid that with this story by asking any niggling questions now.