Author: enchanted nightingale
BetaReader: pussycatadamah
Disclaimer:The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.
Chapter 10 - Number Thirty Six, Rose Garden Street
"You are unusually jumpy," Luna commented. The witch was carrying a stack of papers to Harry's desk as she said this. It gained the green eyed wizard's attention and Harry absently noticed that she was wearing turnip earrings again only this pair could change colours. He blinked and decided to pass this by as another Luna oddity.
"Sorry," Harry replied. "Just that... today is important."
"Every day is," the witch said in a wistful voice.
"Today more so for me," the wizard insisted. He had requested an early leave awhile back for that day. Lucius was getting his appointment at the Healer's office and Harry wanted to be there. This was not an ordinary day because it concerned his unborn baby.
Luna blinked her eyes slowly. "Mmm, is it today the day you go to the doctor?"
Harry smiled and nodded. "Yes."
"Don't worry about it," the witch offered.
"If you say so," Harry replied. He stared at the stack she had placed on his desk. "Are all these for today?"
"No, but they do need to be sorted by the end of the week," Luna replied.
Harry picked the top paper up. It was an invoice about books they had recovered from Atlantis. The green eyed wizard grimaced. He would need to cross reference all this with the books in the secure archives and he hated going down there, where it was too quiet for his taste. Madam Xyza was quite busy these days with the influx of books and she would not be any help either. The stack of papers was then followed by a vial the GnaritasAlchemicalSolution and Harry gave an audible groan of distaste.
"Again? This is the third vial this week!" Harry complained. "My brain is on overload."
"Occlude," Luna offered.
"I am," Harry replied. "It does not help much." He sighed as he picked the vial up. "What's in this?"
"The Atlantian Archiving System," the blonde witch said. "There's no language, just numerals and codes."
Harry glared at the vial. "Did you take this one?"
"I did not," the former Ravenclaw gleefully answered making Harry glare her. "Drink up!"
"You enjoy my plight too much," Harry muttered but took the potion anyway after he took one last look at the clock.
"Luna."
They two Unspeakable's both turned to see the resident Necromancer poke his head inside their office. Harry with some difficulty as the potion took hold of him.
"Sebastian," the witch greeted the man.
"I need you at the Veil Room," Sebastian said in a monotonous voice. "Unless you are busy in which case..."
"I'm not busy," Luna cut the other wizard off. She walked out and Harry absently heard them talking about Heliopaths again, the little experiment the Department of Mysteries had done back in the eighties; and the blonde witch had somehow known about despite the fact that it was hushed up. When information started bombarding Harry's brain he blacked out.
Harry was hurrying in the corridors. He had a headache after taking the blasted potion and sorting files for four hours. Being an Unspeakable was the least glamorous job on the planet in his opinion, barring a mission outside the office and the last time that happened for Harry was four months ago. He had changed at his office this time and he was heading for the nearest Apparation point since the Malfoy's had cut off their Floo connection after the war ended and someone had attempted to get revenge by breaking in using the fireplace access. He had wanted to ask Lucius why he was not reinstating it but it slipped his mind. He was in the Atrium when a voice, a very familiar voice called out his name. He nearly did not recognise her at first.
"Harry! Harry!"
The green eyed wizard stopped short. When he turned around the first thing he saw was not so bushy brown hair as Hermione had finally tamed the mane. She looked like she was glowing in happiness and at the same time she seemed worn out. Only she could accomplish this dichotomy so well and had done so since their school years. Suddenly the green eyed wizard felt nostalgic.
"Hermione," Harry smiled at the witch.
She smiled back and made to hug him. He hugged back though he felt awkward doing this. How long had it been, he wondered again, since the last time they had spoken or seen each other outside the hallways of the Ministry? For him not to recall when! It was too long. He noticed a pregnant belly on her and almost did a double take.
"I see you and Ron have been busy," Harry commented.
Hermione looked at her belly and back at her childhood friend. "Busy is not quite the word I would use. Lucky on the other hand..."
"Yes, I heard the Auror course got tougher and they are all training for the past few months with their counterparts in other countries. Where was he sent?"
"Brazil," Hermione sighed.
Harry grinned. "Really? And while the cat's away..."
The witch looked affronted but her eyes shined with mirth. "Are you insinuating I'm the cat?"
"Nah, I'm saying you are the mouse, my dear."
Hermione scoffed. "I wish. The paperwork I have to deal with alone leaves me hardly any time to finish up my work, much less do mousy things in my private time." She lost her grin then as she let her eyes roam all over Harry. "How are you?" she finally asked. "You stepped by my office a while back..." She looked rather guilty at that.
"Yes, your assistant mentioned the word 'Goblins' and I did not stick around," Harry recalled.
"I've missed you," Hermione told him. Her eyes lit up. "Do you have time now? I'm done early. We could go for coffee..."
Harry winced feeling guilty about what he was about to do. He regretted this but the timing just was not right.
"Sorry I can't..."
"Come on! It's been ages..." the witch pleaded.
"No, I really can't," Harry insisted. "I've got a previous engagement scheduled for today and I absolutely can't miss it." There really was no way he was going to miss the healer's appointment with Lucius no matter who his best friends used to be. This was about his child. Something warm made Harry's heart flutter inside.
"How about lunch then? Friday? At the Burrow," the witch tried again. "I have that day off and Molly's cooking. Most of the family is going to be there. Ask Andromeda and Teddy to come along. We have not met in too long a time."
Harry bit his lip, recalling the stack of papers on his desk and the fact that he was barred from using Portkeys to complete paperwork despite having access to them (a rule that applied to all Unspeakable's). Seeing the ambivalence on the raven headed man's face Hermione deflated.
"I can't make any promises," Harry told her. "I'll tell Andy so at least she and Teddy can come but... I don't know. And now I really need to go." He could not stand up Lucius, not for something as important as going to the healer.
"Of course," Hermione sighed with regret. "See you around?"
Harry nodded and walked away in a hurry, leaving behind a frowning witch.
Lucius was staring at his mirror again, nothing in his reflection betraying his condition. One of the house elves was gathering up the towels from his bath a few feet away. The blond had been alarmed to realise that the blasted creatures had felt the change in his body and knew that he was carrying before Lucius himself found out. They had been even more submissive than usual to his whims and extra attentive of his nutrition. He recalled the same thing happening when Narcissa was expecting Draco; it seemed that they liked taking care of children.
"Master!"
The wizard turned around.
"Harry Potter is at the door for you," the creature announced.
"Tell him I will be right there," Lucius said. Then he gave one last glance at the hallway mirror and went to meet with the green eyed wizard.
He was waiting in the hall, by the entrance door for Lucius. He was dressed impeccably and looked a bit nervous. The blond wizard could also tell the younger male was worn out.
"Are you certain you wish to be there?" Lucius asked after pleasantries were exchanged.
"Do I look that bad?"
The older wizard had no idea how to answer that.
Harry winced. "Sorry, but things were rough at work today, cataloguing ancient books is not much fun, especially when half of them have added protection. I swear a couple could actually cast pain curses to whoever touched them." Harry had found out the hard way just how the Atlantian's protected their books. "But I will be fine," the green eyed wizard insisted.
"If you are certain..."
"I am, unless you don't want me to be there..."
Lucius was quick to cut him off. "I would appreciate it as stated before."
Harry nodded. "Good. Shall we then?"
Rose Garden Street was not far from the ministry of magic, situated in a magical alley, the biggest in London, where magical apartment buildings were scattered among Muggle's and only wards hid the wizarding street. Harry had not been there much though he knew that Percy Weasley had purchased an apartment there. Harry ordered the taxi to slow down. The green eyed wizard had opted they travel via Magi-Taxi, a taxi much like the Knight Bus that Harry had decided to create by funding the Muggleborn with (Jenny Wilkinson) who came up with the idea. The profit it brought was quite a lot, considering they had set up shop in France and later China. There were currently twenty Magi-Taxis in the UK and they had stolen the thunder from the Knight Bus who most wizard and witches dreaded to use.
"That was not as unpleasant as I thought it would be," Lucius commented when they left the car. Unlike its Muggle counterparts it was bright pink with white stripes on the sides and the logo of a wand shooting green sparks on the two front doors.
"I should hope not," Harry commented. "I did fund the business."
Lucius was pleasantly surprised. "You did?"
"Well, I thought it was about time the magical community got introduced to the modern world."
"Ambitious."
"I had good marketing and a great product," Harry commented, making Lucius' lips twitch.
The two of them faced Number Thirty Six, Rose Garden Street. It was a building three storeys tall, in salmon pink and white bricks with a small garden in the front, just a couple of bushes and a lemon tree. It was a nice building Harry decided. The sign, made of cherry wood, announced that Healer Marlan Keash had his practice here. Lucius went first and rang the doorbell, Harry loitering just behind him.
A young girl answered the door, no older than eight, with mocha coloured skin, pigtails and a nice orange dress. She seemed to recognise Lucius and the blond wizard actually smiled at the girl.
"Hello Cara," he greeted the child. "Are you supposed to open the door?"
Cara blushed. "No," she whispered and looked behind her to see her father shaking his head.
"Lucius."
"Marlan."
Harry studied the Healer, who was shorter than him, a bit plump, with jolly features and quite similar to his daughter. His brown eyes were laughing. He was dressed in slacks and a shirt, no robes in sight. It was not what Harry had expected of Lucius' Healer.
"Come in, don't just stand there. And Cara, what have we talked about you answering doors?"
The girl pouted. "I'm not supposed to," she said.
"Go join your dad in the kitchen," Healer Keash instructed and the girl let out a sigh before marching off and down the hall. "Please come in," he then told the two wizards.
Harry finally chuckled. "This is so familiar," he commented. "I'm happy Teddy cannot reach doors yet. Though he did unlock the doors once, accidental magic. He wanted to go to the park while it was raining."
The older men offered commiserating looks. Then the healer stepped forward and led them to his office. It was the first door after the sitting room. It was an actual house, Harry realised.
"I want my patients to be comfortable," Marlan commented when he saw the realisation in Harry's face. "Considering everything, I think the least I can offer is privacy and comfort."
The office held a large desk, luxurious armchairs in front of it and a bookcase fully populated. Then there was a curtain, sectioning off part of the room; Harry figured it was the examination room. All in all it looked not all that dissimilar to a Muggle doctor's office if one ignored the blatantly magical paintings of wildlife and the fact that this healer specialised in male pregnancies.
"When Lucius first approached me I was honestly surprised. He wanted confirmation more than anything. We have had two meetings and he did inform me that another father was in the picture, something of a relief. It is a pleasure to finally meet you mister..."
"Potter, Harry Potter."
"I thought you looked familiar," the healer commented.
The Healer eyed Harry and then Lucius again. Their identities were not the only shocking thing about the unlikely pair that was going to father a child. The age difference was also a factor, not to mention the fact that as far as he knew they had been enemies during the civil war the Dark Lord had brought to the country. Still, Healer Marlan Keash was nothing if not professional.
"What do you know about male pregnancies?" the man asked Harry.
"Not many things,' Harry admitted. "I know that the case between me and Lucius is not normal. Basically it was magical intervention that helped him conceive."
"And that's what you should always remember," Marlan commented. "May I call you Harry?"
"Certainly," the green eyed wizard replied.
"Well then, Harry, as Magic brought this pregnancy about, magic is sustaining it. The womb, the energy needed for the pregnancy, are sustained by magic. Usually this means that magic ensures the baby will be brought to term, nine to ten months after a baby has been conceived," the Healer explained. "The pregnancy cannot be terminated."
"There was never an issue like this," Harry said.
"Then you do not need to hear the talk about responsibilities and the like?"
Harry shook his head.
"Well, one less burden for me," the Healer admitted. "Lucius said you were supportive but I needed to know myself as the Carrier and the baby are my responsibility for as long as the pregnancy lasts."
"I appreciate it," the younger wizard commented, feeling a bit glad the man was taking it seriously.
"As you have met Cara, my daughter, I should also go ahead and say that I gave birth to her, so I am not just preaching, I have been through a pregnancy myself," Marlan admitted.
Harry blinked. Lucius hardly reacted, obviously knowing this.
"Shall we start about what a pregnant wizard needs now?" Marlan went on to say.
Harry nodded. "Yes, of course."
"I have explained some of it to Lucius. Just because Magic is aiding along the pregnancy does not mean you should not be careful. The strain it puts on a wizard's body and magical core is serious and things could get dangerous during the birthing progress should the wizard not be careful," the healer lectured in a no nonsense tone. He lifted a hand and started counting with his fingers. "First, a balanced, healthy diet. No excess in sugar, fatty foods, no alcohol whatsoever, no smoking, no abusing potions. That means no Dreamless SleepPotion, any sleeping potions and the like."
Harry and Lucius both nodded.
"Number two," the Healer declared. "No use of excessive magic, Dark or otherwise."
The list continued and he even had it written down and handed a copy to each wizard.
3. No strenuous activity (horse or Hippogriff or Pegasus riding, flying on broomsticks, duelling, fencing and other kinds of weapon use and martial arts).
4. No use of Floo Network, Portkeys, Apparation.
5. No contact with curse objects.
6. No intake of appearance altering potions (Polyjuice and the like).
7. No shifting to Animagus form (or altering your appearance for Metamorphmagi).
8. No lifting heavy weights.
9. Make sure you get enough sleep, exercise properly.
10. No dieting.
11. Do not forget to take vitamins and nutrient supplements when given to you by the healer.
"To name but a few," the Healer stated.
"I am a grown man," Lucius commented. "I can follow rules," he bit back a scowl at this. The Healer had already given him a list. It was unlikely he lost the list or forgot about everything the man had instructed him on.
"Humour me," Marlan told Lucius. Then he turned to Harry. "Everything clear to you Harry?"
"Yes," the green eyed wizard replied. "How about the Knight Bus?"
The Healer blinked. "I really should add that. But those taxis are fine."
Harry smiled. "Good to know."
"Now," the Healer stood. "How about I examine you now Lucius?"
"Of course."
"And Harry, are you coming?" Marlan asked.
"He is," Lucius stated.
The examining that followed was a mixture of magical and Muggle ways. Lucius had to strip out of his clothes for it and Harry found himself drinking in the sight of the blond wizard almost in the nude (only a small robe like garment gave the man some modesty). He had noticed that night just how handsome the man was. The vision of the blond on his knees in front of him had never really left Harry's mind, nor had their passionate night together. The green eyed wizard did not know whether to accuse his practically nonexistent social and sexual life or blame the older wizard entirely, but that had been the best sex Harry had ever had. Lucius looked up, catching Harry staring at his exposed chest. He offered a small smirk that had Harry struggling to keep a blush down. The younger wizard realised then that he recalled everything about that night but had forgotten just how cocky the blond could be and how that arrogance got to Harry every time. The raven haired wizard did not like it that at the least his body was attracted to arrogant males.
Harry tried and managed to push all indecent thoughts away from the forefront of his mind and focused on observing how Marlan was examining the wizard who carried his child. Marlan took a blood sample first, stowing it away in a vial. Then he started casting spells over Lucius. Some, the younger wizard recognised. They took his temperature, showed whether the blood was flowing correctly, the heart was working. Then Marlan cast similar spells over Lucius' belly. Harry was startled to realise that the Healer actually got readings back. He had not realised he had been holding his breath or that he had approached the examining table Lucius was occupying, much less that the blond wizard himself looked like he was holding his own breath.
Finally, Marlan pulled away. "Everything seems to be in order," he finally announced, "Both with you Lucius and the little one growing inside are healthy enough. The blood results will tell me more; I will have them ready in two hours by the way. It's too early to find anything out. I have done the standard spells to tell me how well the foetus is developing. I will be able to cast the spell about predicting the gender after the fourth month."
"Narcissa did another test," Lucius commented.
"For dysplasia,(A)" Marlan commented. "Which you don't need to worry as magic is taking care of that. There has never been a case birthing children with deformities after the insemination took place during one of the Sabbats." He paused a bit and decided to amend his earlier words, "Unless of course you have creature blood in you, and Troll blood or Hag blood in you, which you obviously don't have," he quickly added when he saw Lucius scowl. "You can dress now. I will owl you the blood results." He turned to Harry. "I'm happy to see you Harry. I hope you come on the next appointment, two weeks from now."
Harry glanced at Lucius who seemed to be expecting his answer. "I will," he promised.
"I'll leave you to get ready. Will you see yourselves out? I need to start processing the blood."
"Of course," Harry said and then he thanked the Healer.
Lucius put his clothes back on, his mind busy contemplating the day he had had so far. Seeing Harry had actually turned up for the healer's appointment was a relief. He had not realised he had been nervous or worried and now he suddenly felt a bit better. Still, this bothered him. Being uncertain and vulnerable was not something he liked. Then again, seeing the way the younger wizard had looked at his naked chest had definitely sparked his arrogance and boosted his confidence. He knew he was a handsome wizard by general consensus, but having it confirmed in such a way felt good, more than good in fact.
Harry gave him the privacy he needed to dress after Marlan finished up his examination. The young Unspeakable had been surprised to see the Healer he had picked. It was true, that Lucius would normally have not associated himself with a jolly man like that Healer Marlan Keash, but the man was also the best at what he did. Wizards came even from France and Spain to consult him on male pregnancies and Lucius Malfoy should and would have the best. It helped that the man had not batted an eyelash at seeing him at his doorstep the first time. He recognised Lucius immediately; he knew why he was there, despite being a married man, married to a witch at that. He had been supportive and informative without being condescending or bossy like most healers and the discretion had been phenomenal. Another bonus was that the Healer hardly reacted to learning Harry Potter was the actual father, sure they took oaths before being sworn as Healers but they were humans too, they had feelings and emotions. Apparently this one was a Healer first, and if there was one thing Lucius appreciated to people he was paying, it was professionalism.
Then the younger wizard's voice cut through the silence; just when Lucius was dressed again. "Do you have anywhere to be?"
Lucius looked up. "Not really. Draco and Narcissa won't be back until the end of the week. Why?"
The green eyed wizard shrugged when he came under scrutiny from the blond wizard. "Are you hungry?"
The Malfoy's lips quirked. "Why, are you asking me out Mister Potter?" he teased the younger wizard.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, I was thinking late lunch, early dinner. I have not eaten anything since breakfast and that was almost ten hours ago."
"Andromeda is right, you really can't take care of yourself," Lucius muttered. "Where to?" he readily asked.
"Depends what we would like to eat," Harry replied. "Fish, meat, Italian?"
"Fish," Lucius insisted.
"One more thing, it has to be out in the Muggle world."
The blond scowled. "Yes, I figured that one. It better be of top quality Potter."
"You know, you Malfoy's are wearing on my nerves. Now I know from where Draco got the arrogance.
"Watch it!"
Harry smiled. "It will be top quality, I promise."
End of chapter
Beta's Bit
(A) Dysplasia from the Greek. This is a term used in pathology to refer to an abnormality of development. There is a more complete explanation in Wikipedia but in essence any malformation that can occur is called Dysplasia.