A/N:Sorry for the little cliffy, that was totally unplanned, I swear on Voldemort's nose. But hey, who am I to argue with my muse? I can proudly say that I am done with exams and all that other rubbish. Congratulations to me, right?
You have all been super awesome in reviewing and in your patience. I haven't had the time to properly express my gratitude, but the many thanks are for everyone who has ever reviewed, favourited, followed and actually taken time to read the story. THANK YOUs for everyone. (Yes, that means you)
And now everyone has to feed my muse a biscuit...
Chapter 33
Instead of returning to the Manor, Harry had decided to stay in the Ministry. Molly's second trial was about to begin, Kingsley having sped things up with his influence as the Minister. The hearing was closed and anyone who had no business there weren't allowed in. Arthur and Harry had both business there and the younger wizard wanted to make sure that Molly would be leaving that courtroom in shackles and straight to Azkaban. Last time, there had been a Healer vouching for her insanity and they had all thought that a mental hospital would be the best possible option. Arthur had been disillusioned and he had had some hope for the mother of his children. Now things were drastically different, Molly could have been responsible for killing someone else's child. Any child of Harry's was family in Arthur's mind, never mind the fact that Lucius too was in the equation.
None of the Weasley children were present, no one wanted to see Molly after what she had done. She was there alone, a far greater punishment in Arthur's mind. Harry had kept his word and a new charge had been added to Molly's list of crimes. Upon reading through the charges, the witch in charge of the Wizengamot had simply raised her brow as if questioning the accusation. Kingsley had explained and it seemed that he had been right; crimes against children, even still in the womb, were highly frowned upon. The witch herself had promised to do her best in making sure that Molly Prewett could never harm anyone again.
The Wizengamot was gathered in the lower level dungeon and Kingsley leaned in to speak to Harry "All members of the Wizengamot are under oath, meaning that anything that gets said during trials and in this courtroom will be completely confidential. The Aurors here today are all under the same oath, I saw to it personally. The news of Lord Malfoy's pregnancy will not leave this room."
" We don't want this to end up being front page news. I have no duty to the Wizarding community, my life doesn't have to be public knowledge." Harry said.
Seeing the side door open, Harry knew that they will bringing Molly out. They didn't want to prosecute her behind her back, so she was being brought into the court to hear the charges and face those accusing her.
Molly looked defeated, there was no fire in her mad eyes. It was as if she had come to understand her fate. Or perhaps she hoped to get away with it. They waited until Molly was seated, her seat flanked by two Aurors. Her magic was also bound in case she managed to use wandless magic.
" Molly Aurelia Prewett, you have been charged with breaking out from the Mental Ward of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where you were placed under a court order sanctioned by the Wizengamot. At the time, you unlawfully took hold of a wand which did not belong to you and attacked a member of the hospital's staff. Furthermore, you have been charged with casting a dark curse, which led to the hospitalization of Severus Tobias Snape. Due to the nature of the curse, Severus Snape suffered potentially lethal injuries which could have led to his death. How do you plead?" the witch read out the charges.
The redheaded witch snarled " No one asked him to get in the way."
" Please answer the question." said the woman in plum-coloured robes.
Molly spat out " Alright, yes... I did it."
The other witch continued " In addition to the previous charges, you have also been charged with attempted murder."
" You can't prove it. Who's to say that I meant that curse for Malfoy." Molly taunted.
" Well, it would seem that you just did. No names were mentioned." a wizard from the left stand said.
Molly started spluttering and stuttered " I...I mean..."
" Did you or did you not plan to use that curse on Lucius Malfoy?" asked the same wizard.
" So what if I did? He's evil and deserved it. I was only thinking about my children, I don't want them to be exposed to his wretched ways. Everybody knows what he did during the war. He has poisoned Harry's mind. But I see him for who he really is. He's a filthy Death Eater, who changed sides as soon as his precious master discarded him like a two-bit whore." Molly kept ranting.
A voice behind Molly spat " That's enough! I won't allow you to speak ill of Lucius. Who do you think you are? Is your deluded sense of justice really this far gone? By insulting Lucius, you insult me."
Harry stepped forward and continued " Did you really think that you would get away with cursing him, in front of your children? How dare you assume that what you think is right, meant to be followed by the rest of us?"
Leaning close, Harry's eyes blazed and he gritted out " When I'm through with you, you will regret every insult, every mean look you threw their way and I promise you that you will sorely regret the day you tried to kill the man I love."
Someone cleared their throat " Mr Potter, please take your seat. Your anger is understandable, but we will need to proceed with the hearing."
Harry went back to his seat, the hard glint in his green eyes making Molly gulp.
" How do you plead to the charge of attempted murder?" the witch asked.
Sneering, Molly said " I did it with the utmost pleasure."
" It has been brought to our attention that there is another charge that you are on trial for. Do you know what the maximum penalty for inflicting harm on a child is?" the witch from the Wizengamot asked.
Molly asked " What are you talking about? I have done no such thing."
" Our laws clearly state that the penalty for such crime is imprisonment for up to twenty years. More, if intent is proven."
Harry watched as the redhead whipped her head around in confusion. The Head of the Wizengamot spoke with a harsh tone " You tried to curse Lucius Malfoy with a dark and potentially deadly curse. You already admitted to it. Due to Severus Snape's heroic actions, an unborn life was spared. Had your plan succeeded, you would be on trial for actual murder. Make no mistake, Mrs Prewett, you will be trialled under the same law."
" But I didn't hurt any children?" Molly paled, still not understanding what was being said.
" You attempted to curse a pregnant wizard. In the eyes of the law, it is considered a serious crime. Whether you had previous knowledge of it is neither here nor there." said the witch from the council, a disgusted look in her eyes.
Pieces fell into place and Molly screeched " He's what? I don't believe you, this is a lie. He can't be pregnant..."
" Let's get down to business, shall we... You've admitted to all of the crimes you have been charged with. We have eyewitness testimonies from Misters Weasley and Potter, also from Andromeda Tonks who gladly gave her statement. In addition, an Auror collected the memories from Severus Snape. This council agreed with the Minister's proposal to place you in St. Mungo's, yet we have seen proof of our grave error. The mental illness you suffer from is not an excuse to evade punishment. There is to be no voting, seeing as the members of this council have already decided beforehand. After what we have seen and heard here today, and after reading through the witness testimonies, it is quite clear that you are a danger to not only your own children but to the entire Wizarding community. It is this council's decision that Molly Aurelia Prewett will spend the rest of her remaining days in Azkaban. " explained the witch.
" You can't put me there! I only did what was right, can't you see it?" Molly pleaded.
" This verdict cannot be overruled. You will be escorted to Azkaban no later than tonight." said the witch.
The men and women in the council all had stone-like faces. No one felt pity for the redheaded witch, sprouting bile. It was almost surreal how her moods changed. One minute she was pleading and begging, and the next she snarled like she had rabies " I bet it's that bat's, why else would he save that bastard. Always ready to bend over for the Malfoys. I should have killed that Death Eater spawn when I had the chance."
" I will not tolerate you insulting Lucius Malfoy. Ever since the war ended, he has done nothing wrong. Your ignorance and unwillingness to stop meddling in other people's business has led you to this point. Be grateful that Minister Shacklebolt decided to dispose of the Dementor's Kiss, because I would have gladly sentenced you to it. You have not only torn your own family apart, but you tried to do the same with Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy. Now you have the rest of your life to think about your actions and the possible consequences had you succeeded. I am appalled by your actions, let alone your views. Magical children, no matter who sired them, are considered precious. Not only to the community, but foremost to their parents. I have three sons and I have never met a mother who didn't value her children. You are not worthy to be called a mother. This hearing is adjourned, the prisoner is to be taken to her cell in Azkaban." the witch passionately said and then stood.
Molly didn't utter another word as she was hauled to her feet. Throwing Harry one last glance, Molly was finally on her own. No one was on her side, they had all left her alone. Her children weren't there and her former husband looked at her with pity. Harry's eyes were cruel, there was something almost carnal flashing between the green orbs. But Harry's expression also showed protectiveness and victory. Molly realised that Harry Potter looked like a lion protecting his cubs; a father protecting his child. Every single word Molly had said played in her head, over and over again until she understood them. This was the boy she had once loved like a son, but that was a long time ago. Before her sanity had started slipping. Now all she saw was an enemy; someone who she feared and hated all the same.
X
Eyeing his father with a hawk-like expression, Draco watched as Lucius picked up the teddy and placed it with the rest of his old toys.
" Actually I was thinking of letting your brother or sister have them. I'm sure you wouldn't mind." Lucius said with an even, yet amused tone.
Draco blinked, and then did it again. He repeated it a few more times before allowing his voice to come out.
" Are you saying what I think you are? You mean... You knocked up Potter, already?" Draco gaped at the elder blonde.
Lucius remained silent and allowed Draco to fall back into his rant " I'm going to be a brother. I never thought I'd get to be a brother, I mean it was really unlikely before... but of course, it's bloody Potter, he wants dozens of kids. Like a Quidditch team or something... Does this mean he won't go back to Hogwarts? Maybe he'll lend me his broom... Merlin, I'm having a sibling."
" Are you quite done?" the elder Malfoy asked.
Draco stopped and almost blushed, having caught off guard.
Lucius started to explain " I'm glad you like the idea of a sibling. I know you've always wanted a brother or a sister, you begged me to get you a sibling when you were little. You threw a hour-long tantrum when I told you I couldn't just buy you one from Diagon Alley."
" I don't remember that." the younger blonde admitted.
" You were no older than four." Lucius pointed out.
Draco shrugged and Lucius continued " And it's actually the other way around."
" What do you mean?" the younger one asked with confusion in his eyes.
The elder Malfoy gave his son a pointed look and raised his eyebrow at Draco's thick-headedness. Draco broke the staring contest when his eyes drifted downwards. Wide-eyed, he looked up at his father and waved his hand hastily over the elder blonde's form.
" You mean...you can't be serious, Father." the teen snorted disbelievingly.
But the expression didn't change on the blonde's face and Draco looked positively ashen when he all but squeaked out " You are serious... Merlin, that's... fucking hell. Potter knocked you up!"
" I raised you to be far more articulate than that, Draco." Lucius tutted.
Draco gaped with his gobsmacked expression " My sibling is in there, you're the 'mum'. Honestly, can't you remember any bloody charms?"
When Draco suddenly started laughing, Lucius felt a bit alarmed. The boy was honest to god cackling, he looked like he had just snapped. Wiping a lone tear, Draco took deep breaths and said " Forgive me, Father... It was very undignified of me."
" I can understand the amusement." Lucius said.
Draco replied in all honesty " Sorry, it's just... I never imagined you letting Potter bugger you, but I've heard it a few times too many. But this... this I never would have believed. It's the same as picturing Severus wearing pink or Ron Weasley being blonde. I never told you this, but when I was little, I wished that you had been my mother instead of Narcissa. I never felt close to her like I did with you, my magic is the very proof of that. I guess the only thing that we didn't have was the bond a child has with the bearer. I even thought that maybe if we had that, you'd love me more. I was young and stupid, I know that now. But she always made a point in telling me that you couldn't love me properly because I came from her womb. You hated Narcissa and I foolishly thought that since I was a part of her, you couldn't see me as your son. "
" Draco, it didn't matter to me. You could have come from anyone's womb, I would have still loved you. You're my son, my blood and my magic. You're right, the only thing we didn't have was the bond, but it didn't make me love you any less. You will always be my son, my firstborn." said Lucius, heart constricting upon hearing his son say such things.
The younger blonde sighed " I know that now, but I didn't back then."
" I didn't expect this to happen, Draco. I will admit that casting the charm wasn't my priority at the time and Harry hadn't used it before. Though it came as a surprise, we're still happy about it. Did I imagine myself in this position? Of course not. I think we both know I'm hardly mother material, while Harry is. But it happened and I can't undo it. I've come to terms with it, at least I did my best. I told Harry last night, you can imagine his reaction. Your aunt and Severus both know as well." Lucius told Draco.
" That's why he jumped in front of you, isn't it?" the teen asked.
Lucius nodded briefly and said " Yes, that's why he did what he did."
" That wench could have caused you to miscarry. She could have killed my sibling. I hope she rots in Azkaban for this." Draco said anger seeping into his voice, making it cold and harsh.
Lucius's tone matched Draco's when he said " She will, I assure. Harry will make sure she does."
Looking unsure, Draco asked " So there's really a baby... You're really pregnant?"
" Unless Andromeda likes to humour herself at my expense, yes I am." Lucius chuckled lightly.
Draco frowned and asked " Was she the one to confirm it? She mentioned that she studied to be a Healer."
" And she is quite good at it, I must say. She made the discovery and later gave me a check up. Everything is as it should be, but there is still a long way to go." the elder blonde said.
Running the information through his mind, Draco said " I certainly didn't expect it, but I'm happy for you. We never had it quite the way we would have both liked, but you can make some of the mistakes right. You will make a great father or mother to my sibling, it's different this time around. I wish I could have had that with you, but I'm glad I still have you and I don't regret anything I did to keep you by my side. It doesn't really matter who gives birth, I'm just happy that I get to be someone's big brother. "
Lucius already hated the hormones. Blinking back the waterworks, he pulled Draco into an embrace " I don't regret anything I did to keep you safe. It might not be the same but we have a bond between us. I might not have carried you, but you are the most important person in my life. Never forget that."
" Can I get to call you mum from now on?" the younger blonde teased.
Lucius sighed and said " Suddenly, everyone's a comedian."
Unwrapping himself from the hug, Draco smirked " Bill owes me twenty Galleons."
" For what?" Lucius asked.
Draco grinned and said " We bet on whether I would be getting a sibling by the end of this year or next year. I won, because Harry got you pregnant and it will be born before Yule. I'll have to thank Harry for that later."
" I hope you won't be getting any ideas about making me a grandfather." Lucius warned.
Draco said " Bill and I are still young, besides I don't want to get fat."
" I'll get fat." the elder Malfoy said distastefully.
The younger wizard said hurriedly, trying to smooth things over "Well, it's not permanent...I'm sure Harry won't mind, he's half-blind anyway."
" I'm this close to hexing you." Lucius said with intent.
Draco gulped and said " How about we have lunch together in the sunroom?"
" I thought you were having lunch with Bill?" Lucius inquired.
The younger blonde said " I'm sure Bill will understand."
" You could invite him over." the man pointed out.
Draco smirked " He does owe me money and I would really like to rub it in."
X
News of what had happened at the Burrow with Molly spread like wildfire around Hogwarts. Finnigan had a big mouth and it did not take long for the entire student body to learn about the incident. The professors were all appalled to hear about Molly's attack. Thus, McGonagall had decided to excuse the Weasley children, Hermione and both Draco and Harry from classes. She knew that the redheads needed each other at the moment and wanted to give them a few days with their family.
Ginny and Ron were mostly sticking together, they were the youngest of the Weasley clan and had always been close. Ron refused to talk about Molly and everyone respected his decision. Bill and Charlie were old enough to understand that the woman who had given birth to them was a criminal. Both knew that she won't be walking out of the courtroom. They had already accepted the fact that she would most likely spend the rest of her life in prison. To Fred and George, Harry was like a brother. The green-eyed teen was probably the only one who understood them completely and without questioning anything. To know that their own mother had tried to hurt Harry made then sick to their stomachs. Out of all the Weasley children, the twins were probably the ones who liked the Malfoys most. Aside from Bill of course who was permanently attached to the younger blonde. They both knew what both Malfoys had done for their family, for each other. The twins respected Lucius for holding his son above everyone else and for defecting the war. Ginny liked the Malfoys as well, but she was still a bit apprehensive about the whole diary incident. She understood that Lucius hadn't known what it really was, but he had still been willing to sacrifice a young girl to achieve his goals. But the man was a Slytherin and it was painfully obvious how much he cared for Harry, so Ginny had given them her blessing.
The redheads were all gathered into the kitchen. No one had wanted to go to court to see Molly's trial. Ron didn't acknowledge Molly as his mother anymore, Ginny was afraid she would hex Molly and the twins were on Harry's team until the very end. Bill had gone over to Malfoy Manor some time ago to have lunch with the two blondes. Charlie and Percy, who had gotten time off from the Ministry, sat in the far end of the table. Percy had once been a true mummy's boy, but now he felt shame over his mother's actions. The lanky redhead had hoped to see Molly get better, but that was never going to happen
From the Floo, Arthur stepped out. He was followed by Harry, who tumbled out of the fireplace.
" When are you going to learn how to use the Floo?" Ginny asked with laughter.
Harry adjusted his glasses and said " Most likely never."
From the table, Percy asked " How did it go?"
Arthur sighed and took of his jacket, he said " Your mother was sentenced to Azkaban. Due to contributing factors, the Wizengamot decided to give her a life sentence."
Charlie asked " She will spend the rest of her days in prison?"
Arthur nodded and said " Yes, your mother will spend the rest of her life in Azkaban."
Angry, Ron said " Don't call her our mother, she doesn't deserve to be called that."
"I know you're angry, son..." the redheaded started to speak, but was cut off by the same teen, who said " I'm not angry, I'm bloody furious. You know, I'm glad they locked her up, that way she can't hurt anyone anymore. "
Charlie tried to speak " Ron, she's still our mum."
" She stopped being my mum the day she disowned Bill. She stopped being my mum when she hurt Harry and she sure as hell wasn't my mum when she tried to kill Draco's dad." the redhead stated heatedly and got up from his seat. With nothing more to add, Ron stalked out of the kitchen.
Arthur wanted to go after his son, but Fred said " No, dad... let him cool off a bit. I know how he feels because I feel the same. "
"I'm not sorry she's going to Azkaban, I'm really not. She may be the woman who gave birth to you and raised you, but I couldn't let her get away with what she did." Harry said.
Ginny sighed " Harry, no one blames you for wanting to see her in Azkaban. We all understand your reasons. I wish there was something I could do to help her, but there isn't and I've accepted it. You're right, she did give birth to us and she raised us, but I agree with Ron. She stopped being our mother when she did all those horrible things. She will always be in my heart, I won't stop loving her. But I love the mother she was, the way I remember her from my childhood. Molly wasn't a bad mother to us."
" I'd like to remember her the way she was when I first met her, overbearing and fussy, but still loving. I'd like to remember the Molly I met when I was eleven." the green-eyed wizard told the family.
"I'm kind of glad that it's finally over, knowing that she can't hurt Harry and both the Malfoys anymore." Charlie said.
Arthur tried to smile when he said " It's nearly lunchtime. Harry, will you be staying?"
" Actually, I should be getting back to the Manor." Harry said.
" Of course, Lucius would like to know about the trial." Arthur said understandingly.
The green-eyed wizard said, addressing the whole family " You are all invited over for supper and I won't take no for an answer. I want to spend time with my family. I won't even bother asking Lucius, so you will all have to come to the Manor, let's say 7 o'clock."
" I never imagined seeing a Malfoy willingly enter my house. But now I've seen two." Arthur said.
Harry snorted " It took some persuading on my part."
" Threatened to cut him off?" teased George.
" No, but I have the best puppy-eyes. Remus usually won't last a minute and Lucius... well, he doesn't need much to give in." Harry chuckled.
Ginny said " I'll need you to teach me, Harry."
" Bill says that Draco has the best ' I-will-never-have-sex-with-you-again' glare when he's angry." Charlie said with amusement.
" Is that a Malfoy trait then, Harry?" George laughed.
The dark-haired wizard said " Wouldn't you like to know."
Fred eyed his twin and the Harry, both looked to be in a teasing mood.
" Am I missing something here?" Fred asked.
Harry smirked and asked " I don't know, should there be something?"
Looking to George, the twin said " Harry's just being a prat."
" Anyway, I should get going. Remember, supper at 7 o'clock." Harry said to the group.
" We'll be there." said Arthur as Harry threw the powder into the Floo.
X
A knock on the door snapped Ron out of his thoughts. He sighed and said " Dad, can we please not talk about it right now?"
But it wasn't Arthur who answered " How about with me?"
Ron turned to see his brother Percy standing in the doorway. Percy was the most unlikely person he had expected to see at the moment.
" May I come in?" he asked.
Ron shrugged and the taller redhead stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
" I don't want to talk about her, so if that's why you're here..." Ron said offhandedly.
Percy said " If you don't want to talk about her then we won't. But I do understand why you're angry."
" That's hard to believe. You always sided with her." Ron snorted disbelievingly.
" I'm the first person to admit that I was a mummy's boy. I took me a while to realise that I didn't really have a backbone when I was younger. You all thought that I was overly ambitious and a self-important brat, but I think she coddled me too much. Bill and Charlie were closer in age and they got on best. I never did fit in with them. Fred and George are close and I never much understood them when I was growing up. I'm not trying to put the blame on them, but I wouldn't have clung to mum like I did if I had gotten along with them better." Percy explained.
Ron said " You were always so serious and kept to yourself."
" I liked to study. I think I would have been much more suited for Ravenclaw. Maybe it sounds silly, but I never quite felt like I belonged. When I went to work in the Ministry, I felt like it was something I could be good at. Everyone was good at something and I wanted the same for me. But somewhere along the way I got blinded by the power and I feel so stupid admitting it now." the older wizard said.
" You really were an idiot, a right ponce." the younger wizard said.
" I know and I'm sorry for missing out on my family." Percy said.
Ron said " You're here now. That's what's important, Perce."
" I know you said that you don't want to talk about her, but keeping it inside can't be good for you. I'm sure you'd rather talk to Bill or Charlie than to me, but I'm a really good listener. I had to hear Fudge's ramblings all the time." the lanky redhead said.
The younger redhead thought about the offer and said " Fine."
" I'm mad too, Ron. Do you think I'm not disappointed, hurt by what she has become? Bill is my brother too, and though I may not be as close to him as you, it still hurt to hear our mother say such things about him. We all hoped that perhaps she could get better, but at the same time we knew that she wouldn't. It's not wrong to feel let down by her. You have every right to hate her, be mad at her and even disown her as your mother. It's okay to feel hurt, Ron." Percy said, his tone surprisingly gentle and lacking the haughtiness.
Ron huffed " I'm not hurt, I'm bloody mad. How could she do something like this? Where did she take the right to hurt others?"
" She's ill, her mind isn't allowing her to think straight." the man said.
" That doesn't make it okay." Ron snapped.
Percy sighed " No it doesn't, I never said it did. But that woman who attacked professor Snape and did all those things to Dad isn't the same woman who raised us. Mum's gone, she doesn't exist anymore, because mentally there isn't much left of her. "
" She's still the same woman who disowned Bill." Ron said.
Percy told his younger brother " That may be so, but we all have flaws. I don't want you to bottle it all up, Ron. Sooner or later it will start eating you up."
" I never quite understood what it must have been like for Harry, growing up without his parents. We might not have had much, but we still had a mum and a dad. I know it's not the same, but now I know what it's like to not have a mother. I grew up with one, but she's gone now. I hate her for what she's done. I hate what she did to Dad all those years ago and I hate her for trying to take away Harry's chance to be happy. I hate her for leaving us motherless and I can never forgive her for hurting this family. And I'm mad at myself for hating her, because she is my mother and it hurts." Ron confessed to his brother.
Percy said " You can hate her, Ron."
" But I don't want to. Deep down I know that she's not herself and I know that the woman who used to knit me those horrible jumpers for Christmas is gone. But they're still one and the same. I just don't know how I should feel." Ron explained.
" None of us do and we're all trying to make the best of it. You don't have to choose between hating her or loving her, you can do both. Hate the woman who she has become and hate what she did, but love the woman who used to make us those horrible jumpers for Christmas. We all loved Mum in our own way and that's why it's so hard to know that she'll be in Azkaban for the rest of her life." Percy said.
Ron let out a heavy sigh and told his brother with a smirk " You're a good brother, Perce."
" I didn't start out as one, but I've learned from the best." the redheaded wizard said.
X
Brushing off the soot from the Floo, Harry set out to find Lucius. As he was about to climb the stairs, a familiar drawl said " Well, if it isn't the hero of the day.
Turning to face Draco, Harry noted " You sound awfully pleased with yourself."
"You see, I just had the most enlightening chat with my father." Draco said.
When Harry failed to say anything, the blonde continued " I ought to kick your arse, Potter."
" What did I do?" Harry asked.
" Got my father pregnant, you dolt." said Draco.
The dark-haired teen replied " I don't see how that's a bad thing, Draco."
" While I am immensely pleased about having a sibling and becoming a brother, I bloody well didn't think that my father would be the one having it." the blonde hissed.
Harry pointed out " Neither did I."
" If my father starts acting like a witch on her period, I will skin you alive and chop off your balls." Draco said menacingly.
" Fair enough." Harry said.
Draco's expression changed back into a relaxed one and he smirked " On a lighter note, I do have to thank you for winning me twenty Galleons. I never thought I would be thanking you for buggering my father, but stranger things have happened. Now, if you'll excuse me I'll go and collect my money."
" I'm not really sure what you're talking about, but you're welcome. Is Lucius upstairs?" the teen inquired.
" We had lunch in the sunroom. Second corridor to the left, you can't miss it. It's a big room made of glass." Draco said.
Before Draco could walk off, Harry said " Oh, before I forget. The Weasleys are coming over for supper."
" It's your funeral, Potter." the blonde said and walked off, leaving Harry to wonder what the blonde had meant.
X
Upon entering the sunroom, the teen caught himself smiling. His blonde lover was sitting in one of the loveseats with a book in his lap. The man seemed engrossed with the reading at hand and didn't even notice Harry come in. The green-eyed teen didn't know whether Lucius was still mad with him or not. He hadn't meant to make the blonde upset, but Harry had felt that telling Draco was such an personal moment between father and son. He thought that him being there would just make it more awkward.
" How long are you going to stand there?" the blonde's voice asked.
Harry replied "I'm just admiring the view."
Lucius put the book on the table and waited for Harry to move from the doorway. The ten dragged his feet and sighed " I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to sound as if I didn't want to tell Draco. I just didn't want to intrude and make it uncomfortable."
The blonde reached out a hand to Harry which the teen took. Pulling him onto the loveseat, Lucius said "It is I who should be apologizing. I wanted to tell him together, but I didn't think how uncomfortable it would have made you. I didn't mean to sound snappish and act distant with you."
" Apology accepted. I just ran into Draco and he seems rather pleased." Harry said.
" The prospect of being a big brother appeals to him, but he was quite inarticulate after I told him that I'm the 'mother' of his sibling." Lucius chuckled.
Harry said " He probably thought that I'd be the mum, it's seems to be the general opinion."
"He's happy nonetheless." the blonde said.
The dark-haired teen told the blonde " I invited the Weasleys over for supper, I hope you don't mind. I thought that we could announce the newest member of our distended family."
" You want to tell a table full of Weasleys that I'm pregnant?" Lucius questioned.
" That's my ingenious plan. Arthur already knows, I told him. And so does Kingsley." Harry said sheepishly.
Lucius raised an eyebrow and asked "My, my... did you really use such a Slytherin tactic?"
" Of course I did. That's actually what sealed her fate." the teen said.
" Did they send her to Azkaban?" Lucius asked.
Harry gave a brief nod and said " Kingsley said that she would most likely get twenty or so years and then she would get out. They would have just allowed her to walk free. So I told Kingsley to add another charge. The Wizengamot didn't even vote on it, they just sent her to Azkaban for life. I don't feel bad for using our baby in order to get her the right punishment. She did this to herself and can only blame her own crazy mind."
" It's over, you made sure she can't hurt us anymore." Lucius said with relief.
Changing the topic, Harry asked " What are you reading?"
The blonde picked the book up again and said " It's the book Andromeda gave me. I'm preparing myself."
" Anything interesting?" the teen asked.
Lucius said sardonically " The book describes the joys of pregnancy rather vividly."
" But it will be worth it." Harry said.
The blonde snorted " Says the one who isn't actually going through it all."
" What do you think it will be? A boy or a girl." Harry asked.
The blonde shrugged slightly and said " The Malfoy line seems to prefer boys, but it's not a rule. I needed Draco to be a boy because he is my heir. Pure-blood are rather stiff about it, the heir being a wizard rather than a witch. I already have a heir and Draco will take over the Malfoy lordship in the future. This baby is your heir, the one who inherits the Potter lordship and the Black lordship if you wish them to have it."
" But what if it's a girl?" the teen asked.
Lucius explained " Harry, we don't have to follow the pure-blood tradition. If it's a girl, she can become Lady Potter in the future. I can't find a single reason why a woman can't inherit the lordship."
" So if we have a girl, she can be the Potter heir. I don't really have a preference as longs as he or she is healthy and happy." Harry said.
" I've always wanted a daughter." Lucius told the teen.
Harry chuckled " She would have you wrapped around her finger."
" Just like you have me wrapped around your finger." Lucius teased.
Picking up the book from the blonde's grasp, Harry asked " Does the book say anything else, something Andy forgot to mention?"
" According to the book, I will have a higher sex drive during the pregnancy." the blonde said lewdly.
Harry chuckled " You've finally found something to use as an excuse to keep me in bed all day long."
" You did say that you would cater to my every need." Lucius said.
The dark-haired teen closed the book and placed it out of the way. Nestling closer to the blonde, Harry said " You will have my undying attention. I thought about sending a letter to McGonagall. I want to sort out the logistical issues of my schooling as soon as possible. As much as I would like to keep attending Hogwarts and finish it with the rest of my friends, you and the baby are now my top priority and if that means no more Hogwarts for me then so be it."
" I'm not sure whether the Headmistress would allow me to room with you in the castle." Lucius said.
Harry stated " Trust me, she won't. I live in a dormitory full of horny teenage boys. It would be like adding fuel to the fire."
" I remember what the Slytherin dormitory was like in my Seventh Year. Girls sneaked in all the time and we hosted quite the number of infamous parties in the dungeons. If your friends are anything like I remember it from my youth then I'd rather not move in with you." the blonde said with amusement.
The green-eyed teen said " Ever since our relationship became public knowledge, I've been bombarded with questions about what we do in the bedroom or whether you really are a Slytherin sex-god. I go to school with people whose parents went to Hogwarts with you. You have quite the reputation."
Lucius grinned seductively " I admit I was rather promiscuous. But I was also very careful about the people who I allowed into my bed. I can assure you that most of the student body did not end up in there. Most of my so-called reputation is simply made up by love-struck witches and wizards, to whom I didn't pay attention to."
" I know you're more experienced, but I can't complain. Besides, it was ages ago." Harry said.
" You make it sound as if I'm ancient." Lucius said with sulkiness.
Harry sighed and brought the blonde closer for a soft kiss. He said " I didn't mean to imply that you were. You're not old, Lucius. Compared to me, you are more experienced in life and have the maturity that I sometimes lack. Age is just a number, it doesn't really matter in the Wizarding World. You're like a fine wine, that only gets better with age."
" I could get used to your flattery." Lucius said smugly.
" Your ego needs stroking every once in a while." the teen said.
The older wizard said "That's not the only thing that needs stroking."
" Are you trying to get into my pants, Mr Malfoy?" Harry asked with a smirk.
Lucius purred " Is it working?"
" Maybe." the teen said.
Towering over the younger wizard, Lucius pushed the teen flat on his back. The position was uncomfortable because the loveseat wasn't meant for that kind of activity, but they made do. Edging his knee between Harry's legs, Lucius asked with mock-innocence " Is that for me?"
With a groan, Harry said " It's always for you."
Putting more pressure on the teen's crotch, the blonde's hand trickled down Harry's chest and stopped just above his belt. A low moan escaped the younger wizard and he told the blonde " We should lock the door. I don't want to give Draco another reason to hex me."
" I could lock it, but it will still be made of glass." Lucius chuckled.
Harry snorted " Okay, bedroom it is then."
Lucius stood and said sinfully " Last one there gets tied to the bed."
X
By the end of the day, Harry had extended the dinner invitation to Andromeda and Remus as well. Hermione was already coming with Fred as she was a member of the Weasley family and Harry's unofficial sister. Telling everyone would be like ripping a muggle Band-Aid; quick and relatively painless. After his incredibly satisfying encounter with the blonde, Harry had left the said blonde in bed while he himself went to write a letter McGonagall. But phrasing his questions had proved to be more difficult than he had previously thought. In the end, he had simple asked to speak with the witch privately and that he would explain everything then. Penning a letter to Remus, the teen asked the wolf to come over. The Slytherin professor was still in St. Mungo's, though doing better than the day before. Severus was already annoying the Healers and it looked as if the man was getting out early. However, he wasn't allowed to return to his job just yet.
The house-elves had set the table for the dinner guests and even Harry had to admit that the pesky little creatures loved their job to no end. One of the elves had taken a great liking in Andromeda, always making sure the witch had everything she wanted or needed. It amused Harry, but annoyed Lucius who grumbled about it for a few good hours.
As if on cue, Andromeda stepped out of the green flames. She gracefully dusted herself off and smiled upon seeing Harry.
" Hello, dear." the witch greeted the teen and swept him into a hug.
Harry always liked how motherly Andromeda acted with him and said " I know it was on such short notice. Glad you could come, Andy."
" Of course. I wouldn't want to miss the look on Arthur's face." the witch chuckled.
The dark-haired wizard said apologetically " Arthur already knows, I told him before Molly's trial."
" How could you take away a witch's entertainment?" the woman sighed dramatically.
" You will get to see the faces of everyone else, I promise." Harry said.
Andromeda smiled but then asked seriously " Is it true what Dora said about Molly?"
" She will spend the rest of her life in Azkaban." Harry told the witch.
With a stare that made Andy look more like Sirius, the witch said " I can't say that I'm not pleased. She deserved it for what she tried to do. Lucius is a part of my family and so is the little one. No one harms by family."
" You know, Sirius was one of the few who always tried to tell me the truth about things. He was very protective over me as well. I'm sure he would be happy to know that his favourite cousin is looking out for me and my family." Harry said.
" Sirius would have made a good father one day, but he was a life-long bachelor. Sometime after his escape from Azkaban, he sent me a letter. He wanted to give you a home with someone who loved you. Sirius was close to your father and he wanted to be the best godfather for you. It is a tragedy that you had such a limited time with him. Things might have been quite different for you had you lived with my cousin." Andromeda said to Harry.
The green-eyed wizard said " I can picture the lecture he would have given me about getting involved with Lucius. Sirius wasn't overly fond of him to put it mildly. But he would have eventually caved in and wished me all the best. I'd like to think that I have his blessing."
" You are right, Sirius hated everything Malfoy related. But his dislike was based on what he thought he knew about them, not on what he personally knew. In his childish petulance, Sirius envied Lucius. He was the black sheep of our family aside from me. He didn't belong but I think he sometimes wanted to. Knowing my cousin, I'm sure he would have tried to hex Lucius for seducing you. In the eyes of a parent, a child can do no wrong and to Sirius you were his child. That mutt had his temper and his pride but he would have accepted your choice because he knew what it's like to have no choice given to you at all." explained to witch.
Harry smiled sadly and said " I wish he could be here now. He would have wanted to see me become a dad myself. He used to tell me how proud my dad was and how much I changed him. I thought that Sirius would be there when I become a dad, when I get to hold my child for the first time."
Andromeda placed a loving hand on the teen's shoulder and said " Wherever he is, I'm sure he knows you're happy."
The moment was broken by Draco who said " Where are the redheads?"
" I told them to come at 7." Harry said.
The blonde moved to kiss his aunt's cheek and asked " Here to enjoy the show?"
The witch smirked and said the teen with a low voice " I see you have been informed."
" Yes, I'm aware of my upcoming duties as a big brother. Though, I'm not entirely sure why Harry thinks this is a good idea." Draco said.
The witch said " Arthur already knows."
" So does Bill, I had the immense pleasure of seeing his dumbfounded expression and then make him twenty Galleons poorer." the blonde said.
Harry, who had disappeared from the room, reappeared again and said " Bill's in the foyer with the rest of the family."
" Excellent, Draco will show them some hospitality and lead them into the dining room." Andy said.
Draco asked " Why? They already know where the dining room is. They're the Weasley after all."
" Mind your manners, Draco. Now off you go." Andromeda wasn't having any of Draco's excuses.
The blonde scoffed and walked off, leaving Harry with Andromeda. The latter asked " Where's Lucius?"
The teen said " Hopefully not in bed anymore."
" Was he feeling unwell?" the witch asked with concern lacing her voice.
Rubbing his neck, Harry said with a faint blush " Not exactly... We were otherwise occupied."
Andromeda chuckled lightly and said " That particular shade of pink doesn't quite suit you, Harry. I suggest you make sure my son-in-law is clothed and ready for supper."
With a nod, Harry left the room in favour of going upstairs. The blonde was indeed dressed and ready for supper, but Harry couldn't help to notice the almost imaginary pout Lucius wore.
" Everyone's here, except for Remus." Harry informed the blonde.
With a slight sneer the man said " I can't believe you're making me sit with the Weasleys when you tell them you managed to knock me up."
" It won't be that bad." Harry tried to tell the man.
Lucius clenched his jaw and said " I can tolerate Severus and even Andromeda making fun of me, but I will not tolerate one of your redheads making crude comments."
" I promise that they won't make fun of you. I will hex them if they do, family or not. I will defend your honour, love. Now come on, let's have a nice family get-together." Harry said.
After a passing moment, the blonde got up and took Harry's offered hand. The brooding look remained, but beggars can't be choosers thought the teen as they walked down the stairs.
X
Supper started out well, Remus arriving with a slight lateness. Andromeda, who had seated herself next to her nephew, asked " Have you heard anything new on Severus?"
The blonde teen said " They're letting him out tomorrow, but he won't be teaching for another week or so. He needs to take his potions and just take it easy."
"I'm sure he could use a break from his students." Andromeda said with a smile.
Remus piped in and said " I will be taking over his DADA classes until his return.
" You were our favourite DADA professor, Remus." Hermione said.
" Yeah, but Snape's pretty okay too." Ron said after swallowing his mouthful.
Harry asked " Are you willingly admitting that Severus Snape is a good teacher."
" Once you get to know him, he's okay." the redhead said.
Ginny laughed and said " Who was it told me that he almost pissed his pants when he first met Professor Snape?"
" I was eleven and he has a very mean glare." Ron said.
Bill chuckled and came to Ron's rescue " Ron's right, it is a deathly glare. I still call him Professor Snape, because he makes me feel like I'm still in school whenever he gives me one of his looks."
" A bunch of brave Gryffindors you make. Sev hates idiocy and he doesn't tolerate ignorance. He doesn't have a problem with you as long as you have a good head on your shoulder and aren't completely useless with a wand." Draco said.
Ron pointed out " Or if you're a Slytherin."
" And good in Potions." said Ginny.
Fred chuckled and said " Or a Malfoy."
" Alright, I get it. But I can't help it if I'm extraordinarily talented." Draco smirked.
Harry asked the blonde teen " Can your ego be any more inflated?"
" I'm still growing, so it might get bigger over time. Just ask my father." Draco said.
Lucius raised an eyebrow and said " I'm not sure what you're referring to."
" Harry, can I borrow some of the house-elves, 'cause this is the single most delicious thing I have ever tasted." Ron said between bites.
Harry said " You will just have to come over more often."
" Wicked." said Ron and took another bite.
George said with a grin " I'm afraid they would all starve to death if it wasn't for me and Fred."
" You can cook?" asked Draco.
Fred said " Had to learn after we moved out."
" You should taste some of the things they can make." Hermione said.
" That bad?" asked Harry with laughter.
Hermione rolled her eyes and said " No, absolutely mouth-watering."
" But my chocolate tart is still the best, right?" asked Harry.
The witch said " The best."
Lucius leaned in and whispered into the teen's ear " Maybe you could make it for me, I'll even use your body as a plate."
The green-eyed teen bit his lower lip to avoid the moan that wanted to escape him. The blonde continued " I have a very talented tongue, as I'm sure you already know."
" Neither of us knows where the kitchen is." the teen said.
Lucius said offhandedly " Ask one of the house-elves."
" If we get through this dinner, I'll indulge your dream of eating chocolate of me." Harry hisses lowly.
The blonde smirked innocently and said " I'll hold you to it."
Turning his attention back on the dinner table, Harry noticed Remus looking at him funnily. The man, who was sitting a few seats from the green-eyed wizard, tapped his finger against his ear. With a smile, he watched Harry blush. The full moon was tomorrow and the man's senses were keener than ever. He had heard the conversation between his pseudo-godson and Lucius, like he could smell the pregnancy on the blonde.
X
During supper, Harry had decided to gather the redheads into one of the sitting rooms. It was more relaxed and a much better option than telling everyone over the clattering of the silverware. The elves had set up some tea in the sitting room and Harry led everyone into the room.
" I just noticed... it's the same sitting room dad told us about divorcing mum." Ginny said with a hint of sadness.
" I didn't realise." Harry said.
Ginny smiled and said " It's okay, Harry."
Lucius, who was sharing a loveseat with Harry, gave the teen's hand a reassuring squeeze. Harry cleared his throat and addressed the room full of people " Actually I had another reason for inviting all of you over. You are my family and always will be my family, not matter what has happened."
" You'll always be our little brother." Fred said and George nodding along.
Harry said " Well, how would you feel about becoming uncles?"
" Uncles?" George asked.
Somewhere in the back, Ginny gasped and all but squealed " Merlin, I'm going to be aunt Ginny."
Fred grinned " Wicked."
George added " Totally wicked."
" Another generation of pranksters for us to train." Fred said.
The other twin asked " Can Slytherins make good pranksters?"
" I reckon they make the best ones." Fred said and high-fived his twin.
Ron asked " What's going on? What are these two talking about?"
Draco tried his best to hold back the laughter as Ron looked confused. The dark-haired wizard said " Well, Ron...I'm going to be a dad. We're expecting."
" A baby?" the redhead gaped.
The younger blonde said with sarcasm " No, a train."
Andromeda shot Draco a look and the blonde immediately backed down.
Hermione, the same as Ginny, said with a huge smile " Aunt Hermione sounds mighty fine to me."
Launching herself at Harry, Ginny said " I can't believe you're going to be a dad... Wow, you're having a baby."
Harry grimaced slightly and said " Actually... You see, the thing is."
"What Harry is miserably failing to say is that he isn't the one pregnant, I am." Lucius said calmly.
Ginny glanced from Harry to Lucius and then did again. She was about to say something, but snapped her mouth shut. After a few seconds of silence, the girl nudged the dark-haired teen out of her way and draped herself over the blonde .Ginny said " Oh Merlin, congratulations... I'm going to be an aunt."
A collective sigh was heard and Harry said awkwardly " Surprise."
Hermione hugged Harry and said " I'm so happy for you. This is what you have always wanted; a family of your own."
" I know and I'm thrilled." said Harry.
The twins pulled the dark-haired wizard into a bear hug and Fred said " Georgie and I reckon we'd make excellent babysitters."
The other twin said " We'll teach them all sorts of wicked stuff."
The green-eyed teen said " Don't even think about it."
Ron, who hadn't said anything about the announcement, came up to Harry. The redhead said " You never have it easy, mate."
" What do you mean?" asked the other teen.
Ron asked in a low voice " Can you honestly say that you can handle a hormonal, very easily pissed of Malfoy? Mate, Charlie said pregnant people are worse than some of the dragons he works with. Imagine what it would be like if it's a Malfoy?"
Harry burst out laughing and said "I'm sure I'll live, Ron."
" Better you than me, mate. At least we didn't lose our Quidditch captain and star Seeker." Ron said with relief.
" But you're okay with this, right?" Harry asked the redhead.
Ron gave Harry a lopsided grin and said " You'll make a brilliant dad, mate. If you're happy, I'm happy."
" From the look of it, I'd say Ginny is already planning the baby's first birthday." Harry said.
X
Arthur approached the elder Malfoy and said with a smile " Harry told me this morning. Congratulations, Lucius."
Shaking the offered hand, the blonde said "Thank you."
" I'm sorry for what Molly tried to do." Arthur sighed.
Lucius told the man " She acted alone, you could not have known what she had planned. I don't hold you responsible in any way and neither does Harry. She is the only one to blame."
Looking around, Arthur said " Everyone seems happy and excited."
" They do." Lucius mused as he glanced over to Harry and the flock of Weasleys gathered around him.
Arthur said knowingly " All witches seem to go starry-eyed once a baby is mentioned."
" Your daughter in particular." the blonde said.
The redhead said " She loves Harry very much, as a sister of course."
Lucius said apologetically " I owe her an apology for involuntarily putting her life in danger. I had no idea what the diary could do and what it would unleash. I was adamant in achieving my goals and discrediting you, at the time I didn't particularly care about her. In truth, I didn't care about a lot of things. "
" She won't forgive you for your sake, but she'll do it for Harry's." Arthur told the man.
Before the blonde could reply, Remus appeared next to Arthur. The redhead said " I'll leave you two to talk."
Seeing the redhead leave, Remus said " I guess congratulations are in order."
Lucius asked " Are you going to lecture me in Charms?"
" No, I imagine Severus already did." Remus said.
The blonde said pointedly " You didn't seem surprised."
" I knew beforehand. I'm a creature and my senses are heightened before the full moon and during that time, especially my sense of smell. Severus confirmed my suspicions when I asked him in St. Mungo's." the werewolf explained.
Lucius said " Speaking of Severus, I plan to invite him to spend the next week in the Manor. He needs his rest and I need some intelligent company after Draco and Harry return to Hogwarts. I can handle him in his bad-temperedness."
" Hogwarts may not be the right place for him to recover, I think it might be a good idea for him to stay here. But are you sure Harry will go back to the castle? I may not be an expert on magical pregnancies, but I do know that you will need Harry's magic. More so later on." Remus said.
The blonde wizard sighed " Andromeda said the same. Harry sent a letter to the Headmistress in order to work out a solution for our predicament."
" Minerva is a smart witch and she cares a great deal for Harry. I'm sure she will come up with a reasonable way to deal with this." said the werewolf.
X
A rusty brown owl swept into the Headmistress Office from the opened window. The owl dropped the letter in front of the old witch and hooted.
Adjusting her reading glasses, Minerva shooed the bird away from the piles of parchment on her desk. Inspecting the envelope, the witch murmured to herself " Now why would Harry write to me..."
Reading the written lines, Minerva frowned and sighed " I'll never have an easy year with you, will I?"
Penning her response on the back of the letter, Minerva held it out for the bird who obediently took it from the woman. Watching the owl take off, the witch removed her glasses and said to no one particular " What have you gotten yourself into now, Harry?"
From one of the paintings, a voice asked " Has something happened to young Harry?"
Turning to the painting, Minerva said " I'm not sure, Albus. I will know soon enough."
" Has there been any news on Molly Weasley?" the former Headmaster asked.
" Gossipmongers, the lot of you. Her trial was supposed to be this afternoon. That is all I know." the witch said.
Albus said " Terribly business with Molly."
Minerva said with an accusing tone " She, the same as you, believed in the greater good and decided to act on it."
" I have failed many in my life. I had the chance to help a young boy who came to me in need but instead, I turned him away. I failed to aid Severus and I sacrificed him for the greater cause. And I betrayed Harry by using him, whether I wanted to admit it to myself or not." the old wizard said sorrowfully.
The witch told the old man " Harry may never truly forgive you, but he is putting the past behind him. He is happy and free to live his life as he himself wishes to live it. He is no longer a boy, but a man."
" I wholeheartedly agree, my dear Minerva." the man said with defeat.
Minerva said " Despite the layers of pure-blood supremacy and years in Voldemort's service, Lucius Malfoy has the potential to be a good man and an admirable father. I have come to see that and you would do well to remember that, Albus. Now, I have a school to run and papers to mark."
The former Headmaster accepted the dismissal and left the woman to her work. Minerva was right and Albus knew it, but accepting one's mistakes was easier said than done.