The next morning, Harkin woke up to Draco shifting in his sleep causing the textbook to fall to the ground, and Harkin looked up at Draco to see him tossing and turning in his sleep. She sat up suddenly at the realization that he was having a nightmare, and she started trying to shake him awake. "Dray. Draco, wake up, my dragon. It is just a dream, whatever is happening is just a dream. Draco!" Harkin shouted the last word, and she didn't get any sort of realization out of Draco at all, he just kept tossing and turning. Harkin climbed out of bed, and nearly fell on her face as she lost her balance. She quickly grabbed a nightgown before hurrying back over to Draco. When she reached him, he was screaming, "No, Father, don't not her, not them. Hurt me." Harkin stood there shocked by what his nightmare was about, but she quickly snapped out of her stupor, and she took Draco's hand in hers and placed it on her small baby bump. She tried to focus her energy and the babies' energy towards Draco, to make his subconscious notice them, that they were alright, and soon he jolted upright in bed, nearly taking Harkin out in the process. She ended up on her butt just trying to avoid the swing of his arms with a small groan, which caught Draco's attention.
"Raven?" Draco questioned as he quickly moved to swoop her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He muttered over and over until Harkin started giggling. "Har?" he whispered.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Draco. I fell over because I am a klutz, and this hasn't really improved my balance." Harkin chuckled as she gestured to her baby bump.
"Raven," Draco whispered as he pulled her into a tighter hug. "We should get ready for the day." Draco stated putting off the conversation they should have.
"No, you are going to talk to me. What was your dream about?" Harkin questioned as she made herself a little more unmovable, but not so much so that Draco couldn't move her if he actually tried.
"I don't want to think about it." Draco whispered. "I don't want to think about you like…that." Draco stuttered.
"Okay, then can I talk about it if you don't want to?" Harkin questioned as she made Draco look her in the eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"You did scream a little bit out, so from that small bit I can take a decent guess as to what the dream was about." Harkin stated as she just stared him down.
"Oh, I'm sorry I woke you." He whispered.
"Don't be. I also want to remind you that together we are the most powerful couple in the wizarding world, but even individually we are just as powerful. As long as you are conscious your father would never be able to touch me or the twin. Do you understand?" Harkin stated, and she stared him straight in the eyes until the realization dawned on him.
"I would be powerful enough to protect you, even when we aren't close enough to touch." Draco stated, and Harkin smiled as there was a knock on the bedroom door. "Come in." Draco stated as he stood up with Harkin in his arms as he spun her around making her laugh as she held on as tight as she could. Severus opened the door to find Draco shirtless spinning Harkin around, and he smiled a little bit. Severus doesn't remember a time when Draco has so freely had fun, let alone laugh like that, and that prospect alone made Severus happy. "Morning, Uncle Sev." Draco laughed.
"Good morning, Draco, Harkin." Severus nodded. "Would you mind getting ready for the day, so we can be on our way to breakfast?" Severus questioned, and Draco carefully let Harkin down as to not make her nightgown ride up. Harkin carefully made sure her feet were under her before she started walking towards their closet. Draco stood there and waited for her to come out and head to the bathroom before walking over to the closet himself.
"I didn't want to start something I shouldn't. Especially with you here." Draco confessed when he walked back out in his uniform.
"You aren't going to shower this morning; don't you always shower in the morning?" Severus questioned as he tried to trying to remember his godson's habits.
"Usually, but we kind of took a quick bath last night." Draco explained, and Harkin came out of the bathroom in her school uniform as well.
"Ready to go?" Severus asked, and Harkin nodded in response. "Okay, did you want to stop at the hospital wing to get some bruise-healing paste?"
"Yes, please." Harkin stated with a small sigh, and Draco grabbed their bags before they started walking out of the room. They walked back down to the hospital wing, and when they walked inside Madam Pomfrey was attending to a redhead at the end of the room, which made Harkin stop dead in her tracks. Ron had glanced up at the sound of the door opening, and he immediately glanced away at seeing Harkin and Draco. Draco had a confused look on his face, which Harkin saw, and she realized that Draco didn't do this to him, but if Draco didn't who did. The answer was given as they got closer and heard Ginny screaming at him from across the room, which made Harkin blush with laughter. The sound that escaped Harkin's lips made Ginny shut up as she glanced up and saw the group coming towards them.
"Harry, oh merlin. How are you?" Ginny asked as she ran up and wrapped her arms around Harkin. When Ginny pulled away, she took Harkin's face between her hands to look at the bruise on her face. "It looks better than it should, but I am sure Draco did something to help with it last night." Ginny stated, and Harkin blushed a little bit.
"Yes, he helped with the pain and swelling last night, but we came in to get some bruise-healing paste." Harkin stated as she turned a little more towards Madam Pomfrey than Ginny.
"Of course, dear." Madam Pomfrey stated, and then turned back to Ron. "You don't move, I am not done with you yet." She scolded before turning and heading into her office.
"What did you do to your brother?" Harkin whispered to Ginny.
"You have to ask. What is my specialty, Har?" Ginny grinned, and Harkin busted out laughing. "He deserved it after I found out that he punched you in the face, and then you let him off the hook for it." Ginny scolded.
"He didn't need that, it would only just make him angrier, and then he would never actually get over whatever it is that he is angry about. He needed to see that I am still his friend if that is what he wants. Though it is going to be different this time, he can't get away with his old shit this time." Harkin stated as she glared at Ron, before turning her attention back to Ginny. "But I am fine, at least I will be when I get this bruise to go away." Harkin smiled as Madam Pomfrey reentered the room with the paste in hand, and she handed it to Harkin without a beat. Harkin smiled at her and whispered, "Thank you."
"Anything for you, dear. Just let me know and I will help as much as I can. Alright?" Madam Pomfrey smiled back at her, and Harkin smiled slightly bigger.
"Thank you." She whispered again, and then she turned and took Draco's hand. The couple then headed out of the hospital wing and down to the great hall for breakfast with Severus on their tail. As soon as they reached the great hall, Draco immediately pulled Harkin over to the Slytherin table to apply the paste for her black eye, and everyone immediately started asking questions, which made Harkin smile. The Gryffindors never do that, your close friends like Ron and Hermione and eventually Ginny did, but not everyone at the table practically. Harkin just smiled and said that it was nothing, which upset Draco, and he ended up telling them the story anyway. The Slytherin table was in a small uproar about the whole thing, until Ginny walked up with Ron a small distance behind her, and the entire table was in silence as they waited for Harkin to react.
"What's going on, Gin?" Harkin asked as she glanced at her brother practically hiding behind her, and Ginny laughed a little at the look.
"Ronald would like to apologize, but he would like to have a real conversation with you not in the middle of the great hall where everyone can hear. I am here to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid, and you can bring Draco if you wish." Ginny stated, and Harkin nodded as she stood carefully, and Draco quickly beat her upright to help her stand, so she didn't fall over. The couple nodded as they were upright, and Ginny smiled as she turned and started shuffling her brother out of the great hall. Harkin saw Draco glance over his shoulder at Severus, and she nodded in acknowledgement, letting Draco know that she was alright with Severus trailing them. This all around seemed weird to Harkin, she knew her friends and she wasn't sure she knew how to process what might possibly be going on right now.
They followed Ginny and Ron out into the corridor, and then they made a turn to head upstairs, and this through up red flags for Harkin, and she stopped immediately. "No." Harkin stated, and Draco stopped as well. Initially because Harkin did, but then to turn towards Ron. "Did you place the Imperius curse on your sister, Ron?" Harkin asked as she finally saw the glazed over eyes that Ginny's eyes shouldn't be, and Harkin pulled her wand out of her pocket as did Draco.
"How could you even tell? She was completely Ginny like." Ron stated.
"You have never seen the effects of the Imperius curse up close, Ron. I have, and too many times for my liking. Their eyes have a sort of glazy haze to them, Ron. What is the point of this? You didn't need to do this to your sister to get me to talk to you. So, obviously that isn't what your plan is, so please just talk to me. What I said yesterday and this morning, I meant it. I would still like to have my best friend back. Things would have to be slightly different, but what is going on?" Harkin tried as she did her best to coax her best friend back out.
"You don't get it, that is exactly what I am trying to do as well. I just want my best friend back, but I know that can't happen as long as he is around." Ron stated and he flourished his wand at Draco, which Harkin and Draco both easily produced a shielding charm to deflect it.
"Well, then you don't get it, Ronald. Draco and I are one you can't hurt him without hurting me. Got it. I am pregnant with his children, and we are going to get married over Easter break. Draco and I are not easily split able, now, or ever, Ronald; we are forever entwined. Now, if that is the only thing that is preventing us from being friends again, then stop this before you do something you will either regret or can't come back from, please, Ron." Harkin pleaded, and she made a mistake in lowering her defences and her wand, which Ron took to his advantage and cast a spell at them. Harkin froze as she wasn't expecting him to fire on her, she thought she almost got through to him. Soon, Draco was in front of her instead of behind her, only not casting a shielding spell, just shielding her with himself. Her eyes widened in horror as Draco coughed up a little blood in her face. "Draco," she whispered in shock. "Draco!" she shouted as he crumpled in her arms, taking her down with him, because she doesn't have the strength to hold him up. "Severus, please. Help!" Harkin screamed, and Severus came running around the corner and some of the students from the Great hall started running in. They started flocking around Draco and Harkin, and Severus started casting healing spells on Draco.
Though, suddenly, the temperature dropped in the room, and Severus glanced up to see Harkin standing up right. "Harkin, no, don't do this. We don't know what could happen with the babies." Severus tried, but Harkin wasn't listening to the outside world at this point her eyes were only on Ron Weasley.
"Sev, I don't care. If Draco isn't here, I won't be able to carry them to term, or keep myself alive anyway. Ron will finally understand what happens when you try and tear us apart." Harkin stated, and she pulled out her wand and stepped around Severus and Draco towards Ron. "You wanted your best friend back, that was the wrong way to do it. Even if you were aiming for me, bad move, Ronald. Now set your sister free because I don't want to hurt her." Harkin stated as she lifted her wand.
"Are you going to fight me?" Ron questioned. "You don' have it in you. I have known you for years, Harry, and you never want to purposely hurt someone even if they are your enemy." Ron stated as he took a shy step backwards.
"Then you should have thought about that before you fired that spell at me. I will not tolerate anyone, not even you, harming my family. A family that I once thought you were a part of. Now, release Ginny, so I can duel you properly." Harkin stated with a fierceness that Ron had never heard in their voice before, male or female. He flicked his wand in his sister's direction and the spell was released, and Ginny started stalking towards him, when she saw Harkin with her wand out and an incredibly angry look on her face. She glanced around to see if she had hurt anyone, and she saw Draco on the ground bleeding, and she gasped. What did her stupid big brother do?
"Ginny please don't interfere; I don't want to hurt you." Harkin stated, and Ginny actually took a couple steps towards Draco and Severus before running down the stairs completely. "Thank you." Harkin whispered, and she softened a little. "Ready for a real duel, Ronald. We've never dueled before so this will be interesting." Harkin smirked, and Ron took a shy step in her direction, so they were on level ground. Ron nodded a quick nod before firing off a handful of spells, all of which, Harkin easily deflected and practically absorbed. Ron stared in shock for a moment at the sight, and Harkin smirked, she didn't know that was a thing. Harkin then did the same, sending of a flourish of non-lethal spells in Ron's direction; she could send them off just a little quicker than Ron's skill of being able to deflect, and he fell. Harkin then just turned and started walking back over to Draco, but then felt a small prick in her side. She reached down, and when she pulled her hand back there was a small trail of blood running down her side. "Sev," she whispered, before she collapsed, and Severus caught her.
"Mr. Nott, Mr. Zabini, please grab, Mr. Malfoy very carefully, and follow me up to the hospital wing please. Minerva, can you take care of Mr. Weasley?" Severus asked as the Head of House finally made it through the crowd of students.
"What happened, Severus?" she questioned.
"Mr. Weasley attacked Harkin and Draco, and he injured both of them I need to get them up to the hospital wing." Severus stated, and upon seeing the blood on both Draco and Harkin, not to mention the blood on Severus' hands, she just nodded before casting a stupefy on Ron and dragging him up to her office. Severus made his way as quickly and carefully up the staircase to the hospital wing, and Poppy was already waiting for them with Melody in tow.
"Severus, what is going on?" Melody questioned as she helped him with Harkin.
"That is a good question, Mel, one I do not have at this moment. Poppy, can you stabilize Mr. Malfoy, please. We are going to need him in as good of condition as possible to even think about saving Harkin and the twins." Severus stated, and Madam Pomfrey immediately hurried over to Draco and started casting spells on him to stabilize and heal him, while Melody and Severus did everything, they could to help Harkin and the twins. Severus started casting healing charms on Harkin while Melody started checking on the twins and trying to stabilize the magic Harkin had webbed around the twins. Melody was actually surprised at the amount a magic she had webbed around them to protect them at all cost; she had such strong magic around them that nothing could probably get at these two babies until they were ready to come out.
Melody sighed in relief that she didn't know that she was holding in, and Severus looked up at her in confusion. "Harkin has a strong magical cocoon wrapped around the babies; this means that nothing can harm them unless something extremely bad happens to Harkin. Even unconscious she is pushing most of her magical energy towards the babies. It explains why she is so drained all the time. She doesn't want anything to happen to them, so her body is making sure that nothing can happen to them. Whether she is doing this consciously or not I am not sure, but it was probably triggered by Bellatrix and the building incident. But the interesting thing about this is that the babies seem to be developing slightly faster than normal, so she might also be unintentionally helping the growth of the twins because of the amount of magical energy that she is pushing towards them." Melody stated quite fascinated, and Severus stared at her in shock.
"So, she is progressing the growth of the twins, while she is protecting them?" Severus questioned.
"Yes, I suspect that this will move up her delivery date by quite a bit, but we won't know until it gets closer to the date. I am definitely going to have to keep a closer eye on her and the progression of their growth." Melody stated, and then she lowered her voice. "These two babies will be extremely powerful, Sev, so powerful that they might be the next…" Melody cut off, but Severus knew what she was going to say: Dark Lord. Severus hoped not. With the amount of love and smothering that these two children will have, he hoped that they wouldn't be anywhere near what the Dark Lord was capable of.
Suddenly the doors to the hospital wing burst open and Narcissa was strutting down the corridor straight for her son. "What happened? This school is supposed to be one of the safest places in the wizarding world and my son and his fiancé have been attack twice in the same week." Narcissa insisted.
"This time it was another student, who is awaiting for the results of them hopefully waking before his punishment is delivered. Not to mention his parents, who will most likely be furious with him quite like his younger sister is right now." Severus stated, and Narcissa looked up from Draco at that.
"Who?" she asked, and then Draco groaned.
"Ron Weasley." Narcissa looked down at him, and she saw his eyes staring up at her.
"Draco." She whispered before pulling him into a hug, and he groaned at the sudden jostling.
"Mum, still in pain. Please, let me go." Draco muttered, and Narcissa gently placed him back on the bed. "Where is Harkin? Is she alright?' Draco questioned as he looked around and then saw her lying on the bed next to him, and the amount of blood that was on Severus' hands. "No," Draco whispered as he was off of his bed and over to the one next to his in a flash. "I stepped in the way; how did this happen?" Draco asked as he looked up at Severus for answers.
"She was furious and all she saw was the blood. She dueled Ronald, and she won. The imbecile then fired a spell at her back as she walked away from doing more harm to him like she wanted." Severus stated, and he saw the fury in Draco's eyes.
"Coward. That is what he is. He knew he could never beat her in a fair fight, so as she decided to be a good person, he stabbed her in the back." Draco stated through grit teeth, and Severus knew that he had to defuse this before Draco did something stupid.
"Draco, he will be dealt with, I assure you of that, but right now Harkin needs you, and you can't go running after revenge and help her. You are what is keeping her as stable as she is. We need you to keep doing that. Do this for her, Draco." Severus stated as he reached up to make Draco look down at her, see how pale she was, feel the instability of her magic. "She needs you, and the twins need you, Draco." Severus finished, and Draco practically collapsed next to her bed in soft sobs.
"I'm sorry, raven, that I wasn't there to protect you. Please, come back to me." Draco whispered as he brushed the hair out of her face and leaned his forehead against hers, and as the tears from him dripped down onto her, there were small lights as each one hit her face for a brief moment before the dissolved into her skin. Everyone in the room just stared in awe as the light grew around them, and Harkin's vitals stabilized completely.