The Age of Innocence is Over
By Phoebe Halliwell
Chapter twenty one
With two new babies on the way and a new house to prepare and make baby safe two months flew by. Harry was beginning to feel majorily uncomfortable and most of the time he stayed in bed, his stomach so big that it was just plain uncomfortable to move. This was made especially bad by the fact that the babies were insisting on play time and that mainly involved them kicking each other.
Another major problem that Harry complained bitterly about was the fact that his ankles and feet seemed to be swollen constantly; he had had to rest for over half the day and still found himself exhausted by the evening. Harry had enjoyed being pregnant for about a month, he had had those happy feeling's but now he just wanted the babies out and the pregnancy over with. He missed sex with Draco.
Despite knowing that the risk of miscarriage was over sex was awkward between them because of Harry's huge stomach; however whenever Draco made Harry orgasm the babies seemed to back flip with pleasure.
It was an odd sensation but not one that Harry would miss in favour of having Draco enter him, to make love to him without anything getting in the way. However Draco and Poppy had reminded him that he was only half way if he went to term, Poppy also said that it was unlikely that he would go to term.
Draco wanted to use Harry's birthday that was soon approaching to cheer him up, an engagement ring was out of the question, he thought that jewellery was far too samey, however he couldn't quite figure out what he could give the boy. He had even considered asking his father who had moved back into Malfoy Manor with his mother and begun the repair works on it a month ago.
He had had no more suggestions than his own brain, Narcissa however was a little more creative but not much, she just said "Make him relax, make him feel HHHHHspecial, pamper him." These wise words had sparked off an idea in Draco's mind and with Harry bed ridden it gave Draco the perfect opportunity to prepare this surprise for him.
When the day came Harry awoke to an empty bed but one showered in rose petals, a breakfast tray was sat on his bedside table supporting toast, crumpets and a birthday card. Harry opened the card first, there was no special note or anything inside, Draco's italic hand had written Happy eighteenth Birthday, all my love Draco. Xxx
The few words that were written meant so much to the very pregnant Harry who then moved on to the food which was gone in a matter of moments, it was just as he was finishing his last mouthful that Draco appeared at the threshold of the door.
He was wearing nothing but a fluffy white bathrobe and he was holding one for Harry, Draco helped his boyfriend up and undressed him, slipping the bathrobe on and then leading him to the bathroom where candles were lit and a bath had been run that had a thick layer of fluffy bubbles that smelt faintly of strawberries. Draco had arranged everything perfectly; there were a pile of strawberries in the corner and lemonade.
Harry stood in awe of it all, admiring each and every detail that Draco had arranged to perfection, "It would have been champagne but I didn't think that that would be the best idea with the little ones and all." Draco said.
"It's wonderful" Harry said kissing Draco, even this was getting hard now, "Thank you; no one has ever fussed over me like this."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Draco said sweetly as he disrobed them both, and he helped Harry climb in, the blonde sat behind Harry and began to massage his back and feed him strawberries while sipping lemonade from champagne glasses.
Draco spent the rest of the day spoiling his boyfriend, after the bath Draco took Harry into the living room where he had employed a group of witches and wizards to come in and pamper him with manicures and foot massages and Draco had even employed a tailor to make him some nice maternity clothes as Harry was getting depressed wearing his huge t-shirts and ladies nightwear, not even Dudley's shirts would fit him now.
That evening Lucius and Narcissa were due round for dinner, Narcissa was bringing a house elf to do all the cooking of course, heaven forbid that she would be asked to cook herself.
For the first time in two months Harry found himself fully relaxed and completely at ease, he had no idea what he had done to deserve Draco but he was so glad that he was here.
By the time that Narcissa and Lucius arrived Harry was fully relaxed and wearing one of his new maternity robes. He couldn't have been happier at that particular moment; he could have even forgotten for one night that Lucius had very biased views when it came to his grandchildren.
The one thing that Harry had dreaded about his birthday was of whether Draco would propose to him again. He didn't want to get married yet, he was pretty low and the day that Draco had given him as a present had been perfect, it hadn't been a marriage proposal and an argument.
Narcissa and Lucius were fashionably late and when they did arrive they received a tour of the newly decorated house and especially the nursery that had been decorated in a neutral yellow with wooden cribs that's bars came off to become toddler beds. Harry had also placed two mosses baskets in his and Draco's room for the early years.
They had purchased a double buggy and two rockers and highchairs. Draco told his parents how their next move was to get a car and car seats and then Draco was going to get a job at the Ministry of Magic.
Lucius, Harry could tell, was disappointed that they hadn't decided to get engaged; however he said nothing and neither did anyone else. They had brought a present over to Harry as well, something they didn't reveal until after dinner, they had their house elf bring it in after he had made coffee.
Harry had stuck to orange juice as too much caffeine wasn't good for the babies. Their present to Harry was a golden Labrador puppy that came with a large pink gift bow on her collar.
Harry was astounded, at his request Draco picked him up and handed the puppy to him, "It's adorable," Harry said cooing her.
"She doesn't have a name yet so feel free to name her whatever you want." Narcissa said smiling, she was so happy that Harry had received the gift well.
"What do you think Draco, what should we call her?" Harry asked his boyfriend who was grinning purely because Harry was happy.
"How about Belle" Draco suggested.
"Yeah, I like it, Belle it is." Harry said putting the puppy down as best as he could. "Thank you so much, she is a much appreciated addition to our household." He said grinning happily.
"Your welcome dear, now on the subject of names I was wondering if you've thought of names for the little ones." Narcissa asked.
"They will of course be Malfoy's and will need strong names to represent the strong magic that they come from." Lucius said or more explained to Harry.
"Well actually we are going to double barrel their surnames to Potter-Malfoy, but other than that we haven't really discussed it." Draco said.
Lucius didn't look happy about this but then again his son was letting him down an awful lot recently and he was beginning to get used to it.
"They have a fair point Draco, we should start discussing names." Harry said rubbing his swollen belly with love, Lucius cast a glance at Draco and saw something in his eyes, something that he couldn't quite identify and yet knew so well. However he said nothing.
By the time that they left that evening Harry and Draco had decided on two names, Callie for their baby girl and Darius for their baby boy.
A month on and they reached August, Harry was now six and a half months into his pregnancy, to say that he was irritable was an understatement. The only company he had nowadays was Belle as Draco, as he had said he would, had got a job at the ministry of magic as a lawyer defending those on trial for petty crimes.
His job was pretty much twenty four hours, he worked eight until six every day and brought his work home with him, Harry already felt like a house wife and they weren't even married.
It was to be towards the end of the seventh month that Harry's waters broke, it had been around eleven in the morning and Draco was long gone and not due back for a long while. Not really thinking clearly but knowing that he had to get to Poppy or get Poppy to come to him, he floo called her at Hogwarts.
Harry was in labour all day in the infirmary at Hogwarts, Draco had had to work late on that particular day and when he arrived home at half past nine that evening he was a father of two healthy babies. He had missed their birth but as soon as he had found the house empty he had apparated straight to Hogwarts.
When he did finally arrive he was demanding to know why no one had told him that his boyfriend had gone into labour, his first concern was of course Harry, he immediately by his side despite the fact that he was fast asleep. He didn't even ask about the twins, it was as if he had no concern for them, he was acting as if Harry had had another quidditch accident rather than having just giving birth.
An hour later and Draco fire called his parents and let them know, he told them that there was no point in rushing over to see them as Harry was still fast asleep. It was only then, after he had finished his conversation with his parents did he see his children. Both fast asleep, a little premature but perfectly healthy, perfect little angels.
It was as Draco was looking at them that Harry awoke, he said nothing, he just watched the blonde, any one would have thought that he would have been admiring them but he wasn't, he was looking at them accusingly, as if they had done something wrong. Harry didn't see this, or refused to see this, he had to believe that Callie and Darius were loved by him and by Draco.
"Aren't they perfect," He said startling Draco a little.
"Yes, they are." Draco said in agreement, he did think that they were beautiful, but he couldn't help but think that his father wasn't going to be pleased. Darius looked more like Harry than him, he had wisps of dark hair and brilliant green eyes, it was Callie that had the trace of blonde hair and the soft blue eyes that Narcissa could take claim to.
They were completely helpless and innocent, depending solely on Harry and Draco for survival, something that hung in Draco's mind to remind him of the commitment that he had made to Harry and to their relationship.
He was eighteen had two children, a house, a job and a serious relationship, there was a constant nag in the back of his mind that he wanted to live, to have fun, to be a teenager without any worries but he would never have that again, this was supposed to have been the happiest day of his life and instead he couldn't help but want to cry.
"Draco, can you do me a favour and go and make sure Belle is alright, I'm just going to feed these two and go back to sleep, you should rest too, Poppy says she wants to keep us in for a couple of days just to make sure that we're all okay and then she's going to send us home." Harry said interrupting Draco from his thoughts.
"Of course, anything for you." Draco replied going to kiss Harry on the forehead, he was glad of the excuse to get away, he needed to think, this morning it had just been him and Harry and now it was him, Harry plus two others, two babies that would need a lot of attention. In his subtle rush to go and talk to Pansy, who he was sure would accommodate him as he unburdened his troubles he didn't stop to give the twins a kiss or even say goodbye to them.
Okay, what do you think, I'm sorry if you think that I rushed this chapter, even I think that I rushed this chapter a little. Either way there wasn't much that could happen while Harry was pregnant so please forgive me and review.