Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!

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Harriet was frightened.

Harriet was vulnerable.

For once, Draco was eager to be the hero.

Draco tenderly cradled Harriet's belly as she cupped his handsome face. Daringly, he deepened their kiss, groaning against her when she welcomed him readily by parting her lips, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth.

Under Draco's intoxicating affection, Harriet dropped her guard for a moment and revelled in the feeling of lying in her alpha's arms, safe and secure.

Protected.

Loved.

A dry moan of self-restraint escaped Draco's throat as he resisted the urge to shred Harriet's thin nightgown from her body and admire her changed form.

How lovely it would be to just part her thighs and…..

No.

Draco reeled in his fantasies, although from the way Harriet melted in his arms and happily returned his kiss, it was probable that the omega would have gladly accepted his advances.

The healer hadn't given instructions on the matter mentioned specifically, but in Harriet's current, weakened condition, Draco knew that making love was most likely not a good idea.

That didn't matter. Sharing a kiss with his beloved after months of bitter parting was incredible enough. Draco felt like he may actually have a chance of breaking through the icy walls around Harriet's stubborn heart.

To tease her further though, Draco pulled back from their kiss and whispered against her lips, "Don't you want to be here with me, my darling~?"

A smirk danced across his face as Harriet let out an exasperated sigh and he dared to plant sweet kisses along her jawline.

"Why not stay with your alpha and let me love you~?" Draco asked in a husky growl, kissing his way down to Harriet's bare throat, "You can nest right here in our bed…..then we can welcome this baby together~."

Harriet sighed again as Draco's lips touched her skin one last time. She managed to profoundly ruin the moment as she breathed, "I've already signed the papers, Draco."

Draco instantly pulled back. His grey eyes were narrowed in rage as he hissed, "Damn it, Potter! Why are you being so obstinate?!"

Harriet moved as quickly as she could to crawl out of his lap while she scowled and retorted, "I'm not being obstinate! I'm being rational! I told you….I've already signed the papers! The adoption has been arranged!"

"You think I don't already know that?!" Draco thundered, "That's why I'm pursuing this paternity test to stop it! I will get my child, Potter! Whether you end this foolishness and give them to me, or I win them back through the ridiculous muggle court system, or I steal them in the dead of night from whatever family 'adopts' them, I will have my son or daughter! I have just as much responsibility to them as you do, though I doubt you'll admit that…..You know, I thought Gryfinndors were supposed to be brave?"

Harriet looked angry and sad all at once and Draco frowned as she placed her hands on her belly.

"Why are you battling me so extensively?" Draco asked, "Are you that ashamed of mating with a Malfoy?"

"I'm not your mate." Harriet said quietly.

"Your body certainly disagrees." Draco said with a hint of a purr in his smooth voice.

Despite Harriet's outward resistance, Draco saw the subtle flush that graced her cheeks as she thought about the passionate moment they had just shared.

"Look, Potter…...if you don't want to be with me, that's fine." Draco murmured.

Harriet began, "Draco, I-"

"-But," Draco interrupted, "I have as many rights as you do to that baby. When I prove I'm the father, the court will turn them over to me. If everything else fails, then I'll bide my time for the next eighteen years and approach them as an adult. No child of mine is not going to realize they're a Malfoy."

"What don't you understand, Draco?! I don't want them to have anything to do with the wizarding world!" Harriet cried, "I don't want them to have to live through the ugliness that we have!"

Draco narrowed his eyes at Harriet incredulously, "Potter, the war is over. You do know that, don't you?"

"It's not the war, Draco!" Harriet retorted, "It's everything! My family, your family! The implications….I….I think it would be better if the child was raised to be blissfully unaware."

"The chances of my son or daughter being born a squib are very low." Draco said seriously, "When they're young, if they grow up in a muggle family, their talents will be frightening and confusing. Have you forgotten that even in a muggle household, the Hogwarts letter will still come, right?"

Harriet frowned sullenly at Draco.

Draco crossed his arms and shrugged, "So your plan to protect our little one involves keeping them frightened and confused until they're eleven, only for them to inevitably learn they're adopted, which will probably spur them to resent us both and come looking for us?"

Harriet stayed silent and looked away.

"Potter," Draco said quietly, "Please, make this simple for everyone. All you're doing is causing pain and chaos. I thought heroes didn't like pain and chaos?"

"What do you want from me, Draco?" Harriet spat.

From the sunlight that streamed in through his bedroom's large window, Draco saw the single tear that slowly trickled down Harriet's cheek.

"Rescind this adoption. Tell them you've changed your mind. I spoke with the muggle attorney I hired and he verified that as the birth mother, you're still within your legal rights to do so. That will end all these unnecessary court battles." Draco explained.

When Harriet failed to speak, Draco went on, "If you won't let me have you, will you at least allow me to care for my son or daughter? You can leave the moment they're born and neither of us will ever contact you again. You have my word. I won't even tell them about you at all, if you wish. If we pass you on the street, we won't look your way. "

Harriet sniffed and glanced at Draco hesitantly.

Draco's grey eyes were uncharacteristically soft as he added, "Malfoy manor is safe and secluded. Don't go back to that dingy little flat of yours, Potter. Stay here and let me take care of you two. I can hire as much staff as we need. I guarantee, you'll want for nothing. It's really not bad, you know, living like a Malfoy."

"I can't leave my flat, the lease isn't up yet." Harriet said with a sigh, "Besides, what am I supposed to tell my friends?"

"I'll break the lease, don't worry about that……..Tell everyone you're going on holiday abroad and you're not sure when you'll be back." Draco shrugged.

Harriet shifted on the bed and Draco boldly moved closer, seeing the apprehension about what to do next clearly in her green eyes.

"You may not admit you're mine, Potter, but please…..let me care for you?" Draco asked gently.

It was going to happen again.

Draco watched as Harriet leaned in closer to him.

They were going to kiss once more.

When their lips barely met, a loud, intrusive growl erupted from the pit of Harriet's belly and Draco pulled away.

Harriet looked mortified but Draco was instantly vigilant.

"You two are hungry." Draco announced.

"No, really, it's alright. I don't eat very much." Harriet replied, placing a hand on her bump as she tried to quiet her growling stomach.

"That's all about to change, Potter." Draco said confidently as he rose from the bed, "Your alpha's in charge now. What would you like to eat?"

Harriet looked at Draco standing in front of her, handsome, strong, commanding…... It made her heart flutter in her chest.

"I…..I don't know." Harriet stammered.

"Then I'll bring you everything." Draco said nonchalantly as he walked out the door of his bedroom towards the kitchen.

Harriet thought Draco was exaggerating but a very short while later, she sat in front of him on the bed, happily eating off of the many silver platters the house elves had brought into the room, all of which were piled with arrays of different dishes.

Behind her, Draco kept his hands protectively splayed around Harriet's belly, watching proudly as she ate with zeal.

Gently, Draco rubbed the omega's swollen womb until he felt a small jab land against his palm. His breath caught in his throat, but Harriet seemed too busy eating to notice.

Once she was satisfied with her meal, the subtle groan of relief that echoed from Harriet's throat caused Draco to smirk in triumph.

Harriet spoke in a happily defeated tone of voices she sighed, "...I'll rescind the adoption."

Draco's smirk widened.

To reward his obedient omega, he affectionately kissed her exposed shoulder which her thin nightgown failed to cover.

Harriet was his, would be his.

Draco had succeeded in winning his baby.

Now all he had to do was win her love.

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The next three days were busy for the expectant parents.

Harriet contacted her lawyer and officially submitted her request to retract the adoption. Though processing the paperwork would take some time, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Harriet's request would be granted. The Roberts family harbored no hard feelings towards the young couple and wished them all the best, assuming they were intent on raising their child together.

Draco and Harriet said nothing about their tumultuous situation.

Since the matter of the looming adoption was all but handled, Draco focused on his next most important task, helping his pregnant omega settle into life at Malfoy manor while he saw to her care.

Lucius and Narcissa were away on a business trip, so that gave Draco and Harriet an important amount of privacy in those first few days of their temporary cohabitation.

Draco had written his parents a letter updating them on the situation, detailing how he had saved his child from adoption by a muggle family and that Harriet was staying in the manor as he doted on her.

In his haste, drunk on his own gains, Draco had neglected to mention in his letter to Lucius and Narcissa the intricacies of his complicated relationship with Harriet.

Unfortunately for Draco, Lucius and Narcissa assumed the best……...

Draco hired a nurse from St. Mungo's to come and check on his darling twice a day.

He diligently read baby book after baby book in an attempt to understand how best to look after Harriet and his unborn.

Draco hovered over his expectant guest, monitoring her intake of water and the quality of her nutrition.

His efforts were not unrewarded.

A week later, Harriet felt and looked much better.

Draco had sent for all of her things so she would have what she needed and feel more comfortable in her new surroundings.

He had even given up his room to Harriet, allowing her to sleep in his bed while he slept in a guest room after he saw how naturally she cuddled into the sheets that smelled so nicely of him.

Draco didn't want Harriet to feel forced or pressured. He was trying to be considerate by giving her space.

That was harder for Draco than Harriet understood.

Every night, while Harriet snoozed in her cozy little nest composed of Draco's scent, he laid awake on the opposite end of the hallway, wishing that he could hold her close instead of a pillow.

His torment was short-lived.

Later in the first week of Harriet's stay at Malfoy manor, Draco woke to a loud scream.

He immediately sat bolt upright in bed and threw the covers off of himself. With his eyes wide, Draco dashed down the hallway and threw open the door to his bedroom.

"Potter! What's wrong?!" Draco demanded, seeing Harriet huddled in bed with tears pouring down her cheeks, "What's the matter?! Are you in pain?!"

"No!" Harriet cried, "I…...I……"

Draco frowned and walked over, assuming his omega had a bad dream.

He had read nightmares were common for pregnant women.

"There, there, Potter…...there, there, I'm here….alpha's here~." Draco whispered soothingly to Harriet as he walked over and wrapped his arms comfortingly around her.

Draco's grey eyes widened when she pulled him down in the bed with her, though he did nothing to protest.

Harriet nuzzled into the crook of his neck and Draco whispered softly to her, as he stroked her hair gently until her eyes fluttered and she fell back asleep.

At some point, Draco did make a weak attempt to leave, but Harriet's hand clutched onto his nightshirt even as she slept.

A proud grin spread across Draco's pale face as he pulled the covers over them both and let Harriet stay nestled against him while he closed his eyes as well.

She would most likely be angry in the morning.

Draco knew that, but to him, it would be worth it.

So much time!

He had until dawn to live out the fantasy of holding Harriet close, stroking her belly, and pretending that they were a real couple.

Yes, he had been correct.

It was much lovelier to hold Harriet than it was to hold his pillow and dream of her instead~.