Authors Note: Sorry for the late update but I've been rather busy.
Now thanks to Rori Potter, daithi4377, MsAwesome2u, ilovebooks12345678910, .3 and Andrea Cuadra for the reviews and to everyone who supports this story by favouring it or following it. Thanks for the support guys!
Baby on board
Chapter five
The next few days are mostly uneventful apart from Draco getting annoyed with Harry's lack of interested in the wedding. Draco does notice though that Harry reads about the other binding rituals and how they work. Harry's interest temporarily even makes him consider a permanent one because of the nicer ritual but quickly goes back to grumble about Harry's saviour syndrome and plans to stick with their muggle wedding to protect Harry. It still is the one that is easiest to divorce when harry gets fed up with him. And Draco is still sure that it will eventually come to it.
Part of the students return home with the train on the 23rd to spend the holidays with their family but while most Slytherins leave, most of the other houses stay for the wedding. Draco leaves by floo to spend one night with his mother at his Aunt's home because it's supposed to be bad luck to see each other for the last 24 hours before the wedding.
Harry uses that time to read more about the different rituals, just in case Draco changes his mind in the last minute and so he knows what to do after the war. He quickly got through most during the last few weeks already but the everlasting one quickly captured his interest and he wants to read more about it.
The first thing he finds out about it is, that it seems possible to distinguish which of the original couple is getting remarried. Simply because one of the four souls is always reluctant. Apparently that one always doubts that the feelings of his partner will last.
Harry sighs since it sounds rather familiar. He's still reading about the couples when a familiar voice says, "Here you are! Ron is looking for you. He wants to play some Quidditch with you and some of the other guy's."
"Maybe later," Harry mumbles lost in his reading on how the couple's that have used the everlasting bond have felt before getting remarried. How they felt drawn to the other though on occasion there was more of a rivalry at first and jealousy when the other was too busy or even fighting with someone else.
"Everlasting ritual?" Hermione asks after looking over his shoulder. "You two aren't doing that, are you? I thought you'd do a muggle one!"
"Yeah, we are." Harry sighs sounding upset while he explains "Draco doesn't want a magical one, but he did mention that there are others and that purebloods would usually use those. But like I said, he thought a muggle one would be what I'd want and doesn't want Voldemort knowing that I'd do a magical one for him. You know, to avoid getting more of a target on himself and most of all our child."
"Why are you reading about that one then?" Hermione wonders. It should be the least likely one considering their age and that they did start their relationship as a purely physical one and she still is not convinced that at least one of them might mostly want this because of the baby. They certainly would wait with a wedding if Draco weren't pregnant!
"He said we could renew our marriage with one of those once the war is over if I wanted. So I thought I might already to read up on them. Ever read it? This one I mean." Harry asks.
"Not in detail. I just read that it exists but is rarely used." Hermione replies. She had only started to read about it when she saw the ring on Draco's finger for the first time. She quickly had come to the conclusion that Draco would try to get Harry to do a binding ritual that could be broken but that Harry would prefer a, for him, more traditional muggle wedding. She had been glad to hear that Harry apparently had won and they planned for a muggle wedding.
Harry just passes the book to her to read which she does. While she reads Harry wonders what she'll make of it once she finished reading it. She quickly starts to frown while reading and a while later she looks at Harry "Your obsession grew."
"It's strange Hermione, but when he explained the different bindings, he did mention that one. He didn't sound like he'll ever even consider to do it. But the second he mentioned it, I wished he would. I really didn't know what it's like. I mean I have no idea if I even really love him because I have no idea what it feels like. But all that stuff from the book, that was the reason I don't really want a muggle wedding anymore. He said that in theory, they'd still work. I have to know though. But he insists to wait with a magical one."
"Is it really like this? According to this, you would do absolutely everything for your bond mate." Hermione points out.
"Even risk my life or kill someone to protect him." Harry nods. "I'm not even sure why but when I found out what Voldemort had done to Draco, when I saw him try to hurt himself and then cry. Hermione, I've never felt that hurt! It was worse than watching Cedric die. I know it shouldn't be and trust me that with Cedric was terrible but nothing compared to seeing Draco that hurt! I just couldn't bear to see him cry. He's supposed to have that fire in his eyes that he gets when we fight. But never tears, I would have done anything for him at that moment just to make him smile again."
Hermione just keeps frowning "What about him? He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would do everything for you."
"Why do you think he doesn't want a permanent bonding?" Harry asks "He's worried that I'd regret it. The other day he wanted to call off the whole wedding, thinking I only do it because he's pregnant and would regret it eventually. He still wanted to marry me but he was worried about me and instantly wanted to call it off for my sake even though I never even hinted that I's want it. I had to beg him to not stop it for some silly idea like that."
Harry sees Hermione eye the book and then sigh. "What if you're right? And what if a muggle one won't work either? It's a theory it should work but it was never attempted."
"I know he read how all the bindings work. This one included." Harry replies.
"But will he do it?" Hermione wonders.
"I hope so." Harry sighs and takes the book back to continue reading about the magical ritual. "If the muggle one won't work, I'll certainly try it. And if it does work, I'll insist on a magical one when Voldemort is gone. Draco is right though, it is safer for him if Voldemort doesn't know how much he means to me. And for the baby too of course."
"I guess you want to read some more, so I'll let Ron know that you'll meet him in an hour on the field." Hermione sighs. "I'm sure you'll know how to do that ritual by then. And I think a little distraction will do you good."
"Okay." Harry smiles. "And thanks, Hermione."
The rest of the day is uneventful apart from Harry's whining about him missing his fiancé.
The next day Hermione waits before Dumbledore's office for Draco to arrive. Once he and his mother walk out to go to Draco's rooms and prepare for the wedding Draco frowns saying, "Tell Potter that I don't need constant supervision."
"I'd rather not. I don't want Harry to know that I'm here." Hermione sighs "But I really need to talk to you in privet, before the wedding."
"Come along then," Draco replies rolling his eyes. He leads Hermione along with his mother to his privet rooms where he first shows his mother the bathroom so she can get ready while he talks to Hermione. "I'm all ears he says sitting on the couch and gesturing for her to have a seat too and wonders what excuse for escorting him she'll have.
"I talked to Harry after you left." Hermione starts. "It was about the wedding."
"It was his choice to marry me so if he gets cold feet, he just has to tell me." Draco defends himself before Hermione can go on. Certain that Ron and Hermione finally managed to talk him out of it.
"Oh, believe me, his feet are far from cold." Hermione sighs "But do you know why he didn't particularly want a muggle one?"
"Because he respects my traditions?" Draco shrugs.
"Nope." Hermione sighs again. "You mentioned that a muggle wedding would probably work even if you two had done an everlasting bonding in a past life and he's sure that is the case."
Draco stares. "He what? Is he stupid? He doesn't even love me." He pauses since Hermione isn't supposed to know that part and tries to safe himself adding "Well not that much anyway. He didn't even say anything along those lines before I got pregnant and we wouldn't get married if I weren't pregnant. How can he think that we had an everlasting bond in a past life? He didn't love me until recently. Didn't even think about me like that until I kissed him!"
"Do you love him enough?" Hermione frowns worriedly "Or are you just marrying him because of the baby?"
This time it's Draco who sighs and decides to be honest. If Harry hears of it, he'll probably just applaud his performance rather than believe it. Even though it's the truth. "You might not believe me, but I love him since I saw him in Diagonally before our first year. He had his robes fitted when I came in there and he just looked so lost in all that black fabric. Just a tiny thing, skinny and pale with huge green eyes that looked so nervous when I came in. I fell for him right away. He didn't seem to care much for my attempt to impress him and left. I barely had heard his voice at all. I also didn't know who he was at the time. When I found out he had already befriended Weasley, I was so jealous. My attempt to show that I'm better than his little red-headed friend didn't go over too well either and from then I couldn't get any attention from him unless I picked on one of the golden trio. But I've always loved him and felt like I needed his attention. I would have done anything for that."
Hermione just watches him with a frown. "With that polyjuice person, how far did it go with the guy and did you really think it was Harry?"
Draco watches her critical eyes and decides to go with what he assumed would have happened. "Pretty far, I thought it be the closest I'd get to the real thing but I have to admit that I wanted to have it again so badly afterwards that I pretended to not believe that other guy so I could kiss Harry, the real one this time."
"You do realise that it is possible that Harry is right, don't you?" Hermione points out.
"It would be if he'd love me as much." Draco sighs disbelieving.
"You might doubt it, but I don't doubt his feelings for you. And he's dead set on doing the everlasting binding ritual if the assumption that a muggle wedding works is wrong and your wedding won't work." Hermione warns the blond. "It would hurt him very much if you don't go along. Please, don't let it come to that."
"It won't because the wedding will work as planned." Draco insists.
"What if it doesn't?" Hermione asks.
"There is no magic involved so I see no way for it to not work. But if I'm wrong, I'll go along to show him that he must be bonded with someone else in that case. Because he sure as hell is not that much in love with me." Draco calmly replies.
"I guess we'll see what will happen then," Hermione replies and gets up to leave. "But you shouldn't doubt either his determination nor his feelings for you. I get why you do. He himself said that he isn't sure about his own feelings, which is ridicules considering what he assumes, but I know him enough to be sure that he does love you. He loves you more than you could possibly imagine." After that, she just leaves Draco to his thoughts and to get ready for his wedding.
A few hours later, once he is ready with his bath, body lotion, outfit, and has his hair spelt to perfection, Draco is not fretting and most certainly not pacing around nervously. No, he's just moving because he doesn't feel like standing around bored and sitting down would wrinkle his dress robes. And of course, he's only pulling on the sleeves of his dress robe because the seamstress made them half an inch too short but he is not fretting.
"Draco darling," his mother sighs. "Stop fretting and calm down you look quite handsome and no one sees that you're starting to show in that beautiful robe you're wearing. What has you so nervous anyway?"
"I'm not fretting, mother," Draco grumbles not for the first time. "I just don't get what's taking him so long."
"I'm sure he'll be ready any second and the wedding can start soon." Narcissa sighs also starting to get nervous. "I must admit though that your soon to be husband is rather rude to keep everyone waiting."
"It's just fifteen minutes mother," Draco complains. "And you don't know the reason for the delay." Draco stands quiet for about half a second before he is nervous behaviour continuous. "I don't care how punctual or in this case unpunctual he is, as long as that is all."
"What else could it be?" Narcissa asks. "I doubt he's going to stand you up on your wedding day just because he got cold feet. He is a Gryffindor after all."
"It wouldn't be cold feet mother." Draco sighs "And he won't just stand me up. It's Harry Potter we're talking about. He isn't afraid of anything."
"See? No reason to worry then." Narcissa says hoping her son will calm. What she doesn't know is that Draco worries that Harry had a bit too much fun without him last night, something Hermione might not have heard off. Maybe Ron and some Gryffindor guys threw a wild party somewhere, possibly the Room of Requirement, to celebrate Harry's last day of freedom. And during said stag party with probably a lot of alcohol, he let his hair lose for once and at least tried sleeping with a girl in his drunken state. Just to know what he is about to give up. Draco knows perfectly well that there are only two reasons for this wedding. One the baby and the other the fact that Draco didn't screw up in bed and managed to keep him satisfied. If Harry did find someone better, someone who could give him a family too and whom he'll love, like the she-weasel and Ron probably had tried to set them up to get Harry into his family and away from evil little Malfoy. Well, let's just say Harry wouldn't just be a no show. He'd at least tell Draco. However, Draco also knows how insatiable Harry can get in bed. They might not be done, which is why Harry hasn't shown himself to tell Draco that of course he'll still support him and the baby financially as well as emotionally and he'd be there for babysitting and everything else Draco might need but that a marriage between them just couldn't work. Which Draco had told him at the start! And he certainly will give him an I told you so!
Draco feels sick at the thought of his Harry being with some girl right this very moment and what they probably are doing. No matter which one.
At that moment someone knocks on the door. Draco quickly opens the door, still terrified that it's Harry who finally made it out of bed to tell Draco the wedding is off. Seeing that it's Hermione he's more worried that she couldn't find him yet. What if Voldemort had found a way to get him? Maybe one of the Slytherins had used Harry's drunken state from that party that Ron certainly tried to throw to get Harry away from evil Malfoy?
"Please tell me you don't care what Harry's hair looks like. We are trying to tame it for an hour because he wants to look perfect for you and fears you'll change your mind if he doesn't make an effort." Hermione begs desperately.
Draco smiles happily, his relieve is too great to be mad at that ridiculous reason that caused his worries and says, "Of course I don't care. But do tell him that mother and I both find it extremely rude of him to keep everyone, myself included, waiting so he better forgets about his birds-nest-hair and gets his cute ass to the alter."
"Gladly." Hermione sighs relieved "Just give me five minutes to get back and drag him there."
"See." Draco's mother said once the door is closed "No reason to fret."
"And I told you, I wasn't fretting." Draco points out. "I just didn't want to wrinkle my robes or stand around and the sleeves certainly are a bit too short. That is all."
"Of course, darling." Narcissa grins knowingly. "I'm sure that was all. Now let's go. I think your fiancé's friend had enough time to drag the birds-nest's cute butt out."
Draco blushes slightly but after one deep breath, during which he prayed that the muggle wedding will work as planned, he goes towards the great hall which he had checked to be decorated according to his plans.
Nervously he stands in front of the door and waits for the music to start. Walking down the aisle to where Harry waits he feels like fainting and regrets that he had planed the way that long. Once Draco reaches him, Harry nervously smiles at him and Draco is reminded of the nervous eleven-year-old in Madam Malkin. Harry takes his hand and squeezes it reassuringly. They both smile and forget about their nerves for the moment, lost in the eyes of the other.
Dumbledore is the one leading the ceremony and gives a speech about how they overcame their animosity and prejudices that used to keep them apart. How their love grew and how both now lookout for the other in these hard times they are facing. During all of that, both just look at the other and Harry moves his thumb over the back of Draco's hand and suddenly, Draco doesn't doubt that Harry loves him. The way Harry looks at him like he's the only one in the room, that dopey smile, the spark in his eyes. Draco feels silly for his worries before. This definitely is the right thing to do and he'll do whatever it takes to make Harry happy and to keep him satisfied in their marriage.
In the end, Draco is so lost in Harry's eyes he nearly misses Dumbledore's question if he wants to marry Harry. Only Harry's hand squeezing his and his grin alert him that something is wrong. The silence and how everyone looks at him show what he has to do. Draco is very happy that he has planned this so thoroughly that he knows what he has to do even though he spaced out and didn't hear the question and just says "I do!"
He doesn't worry at all that Harry won't say the same but still smiles happily when he does once Dumbledore had asked him the same thing Draco had not heard when he had been asked. They exchange rings and then Harry kisses Draco gently and lovingly. After the kiss on the lips Harry also gently kisses his cheek before he whispers, "You look stunning."
Draco smiles with a slight blush and says "You too, and just so you know, I love it when your hair looks like we just got out of bed, and didn't sleep at all. At least not the eyes closed and dreaming kind of sleep."
"But I like it when you are unable to keep your eyes open because you are so lost in pleasure!" Harry grins, "And it most certainly feels like a dream come true every time we do that!" Harry grins and just kisses him again and pulls him even closer to himself.
They kiss long enough that Ron interrupts saying "I know you two are inseparable, we all got it! But unless one of you used glue for lip-gloss, you should take a break so we can start eating."
Both blush and stops the kissing, though not for long. The elves move the chairs and spell in the prepared round tables so everyone can sit for dinner and as soon as it is served, they kiss each other between bites and occasionally Harry even feeds his husband. Once even the newlyweds managed to finish eating, even with their almost constant kissing, they open the dance floor. During the first two seconds of their first dance, Draco already regrets that he didn't think to give Harry a few dance lessons. The regret is forgotten when Harry starts to kiss him while swaying to the music. Something that Draco certainly won't call dancing. But at least is becomes instantly very satisfying despite the fact that his feet soon hurt from Harry's feet that occasionally step on his toes!
Harry has never danced this much though only with Draco and he keeps kissing him while dancing. Though it probably doesn't say much considering that until his wedding he danced once and never again. Draco dances even more than him. Once he even dances with Blaize Zabini who is the only Slytherin there and the rest of the house think it's to spy on them. He does promise Draco not to mention how dopey both grin at each other and claim that the romantic Puffs just saw things not there and the rest of the female population of Hogwarts got infected with it.
Narcissa isn't the only grown-up there though. Ron's parents are also present and Remus is there too, along with a big shaggy dog, something that does slightly worry Harry due to the risk to Sirius' safety but how was Harry to stop him when Sirius never warned him and it's not like he can argue with him now when others are there and Sirius could only bark in reply.
At some point, Harry watches Draco dance with Remus and sees Severus not too far but standing alone in a corner looking rather sour. With a sigh, Harry decides to walk over with a drink to offer to him. He is his father after all and Harry does notice that the man does worry for him a lot and so far he had always protected Harry, despite his very sour disposition. Something Harry does understand since he saw his memories of James picking on him.
Harry just holds out the drink saying "I believe you were invited as a guest, not to watch the students in an attempt to take points for God knows what."
"Some of us teachers will have to ensure that there will be some semblance of order in this craziness," Severus replies. "And I very much doubt you'd want Dumbledore or your head of house taking that responsibility."
"You are Draco's head of house and godfather if I'm not mistaken." Harry grins "On top of that have you saved my ass more often than I like to count."
They stand next to each other for a moment, both unsure of what to say until Harry sees Dumbledore dance with McGonagall. "I know Dumbledore very well you know."
"And why do you tell me this?" Severus asks trying, and succeeding better than he likes, to sound bored.
"I can see his hand getting worse rather than better, on top of that, he wasn't surprised that Draco was ordered to kill him at all. He isn't one to just twaddle his thumb and wait for death after such a slow working curse. And he certainly wouldn't let a so far innocent student kill him just because Voldemort ordered him to." Harry insists. "I want you to know that, no matter what will happen or how Dumbledore will die, I'll trust you. I might not say it to anyone just in case Voldemort starts to mistrust you again. But I think after everything you did, despite everyone's doubts, you deserve some trust. Though with you being a spy I bet I know what Dumbledore plans and that neither of us will like the end of that plan."
Severus stares shocked and Harry grins cheekily and adds. "I know my potions skills suggested otherwise but I'm not really a dunderhead."
"Could have fooled me." Severus grins.
"Must be a first. You're not fooled easily." Harry replies. "Now enjoy the party, after all, you are a godfather of one of the couples and I'm sure Draco would love to dance with you."
"Considering that I can't distract him from the fact that I dance as badly as you in the same fashion you do, I doubt it," Severus replies and frowns. Wondering for the first time how much the Goblins knew and told Harry.
"I'd be very upset if you do, but a nice chat with an intelligent man about potions might do the trick too." Harry laughs "He keeps complaining about our child possibly inheriting my brain dysfunction. But either way, do try to enjoy yourself."
Harry walks over to Draco who just finished his dance with Remus and gives him a gentle kiss whispering "If he dances with you, let it slip that the Goblins know a lot about how I got the Prince inheritance which I passed on to him."
"You want him to know?" Draco asks.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Harry replies "And I fooled him into thinking that I figured out Dumbledore's plan."
"You, fooling a Slytherin?" Draco asks with a grin "Does that mean you found a cell in your brain that is actually functioning? Isn't it lonely in there?"
Harry just chuckles "Not if you kiss me silly. Then it stops working right away."
"Well if that is the case," Draco says and both kiss yet again.
They just stopped kissing when Severus shows up saying. "I'm afraid Draco that your husband had the ridiculous idea that you might actually enjoy a dance with your godfather. Care to prove him wrong."
"While he must be used to be proven wrong," Draco grins, "I think it might be different this time."
"You should hold up your assessment until you know just how deplorable my dancing skips are." Severus points out.
"Can't be worse than my husband's." Draco laughs.
"But he can distract you in a way I rather not attempt," Severus says leading Draco to the dance floor.
Harry watches them closely until Zabini addresses him "You should be careful around Professor Snape."
"Of course. Anyone with a single functioning brain cell should be careful of him." Harry points out. "Both Dumbledore and Voldemort trust him, which means he's fooling one of the greatest wizards. Which one I believe remains to be seen. He is a very good spy. Both sides have people doubting him, just like both sides have people trusting him. Why do you think I'm watching this closely while he dances with my husband."
"Maybe he'll stop spying and sacrifices his position to kill them," Blaze warns.
"He's not to sacrifice it to get me, but to kill my husband and unborn child even though we both know he can't be sure that I don't see this as an obligation and might be glad to be rid of the burden?" Harry asks grinning "I told you, I know Voldemort. Professor Snape won't harm Draco unless he won't be found out. That much I am sure of."
"And yet you are watching like a hawk." Blaze replies thoughtful and upset that Harry isn't more careful and heads his warning.
"O course I watch them. He might try to talk Draco into switching sides again! I don't believe he'd succeed but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry." Harry says and sees Draco whisper something to Severus Snap before said man looks surprised towards Harry who just smiles at him. "But Draco might try a similar thing to ensure that he is on our side when the time comes, though Professor Snape might just behave like it works to fool us so we'll stay on our guard. With everyone we doubt. Either way, I'll make sure that my family is safe."
The song ends and Draco hugs his godfather before he walks over to Blaize saying "Sorry to interrupt but I think I'm brave enough for one more dance with my husband while I still feel my feet, something I'm sure he'll finally succeed to change with another dance."
"Are you trying to say that I can't dance?" Harry asks fainting outrage.
"Clearly, which is why no one wants to dance with you!" Draco replies carelessly but with a mischievous grin that proves that he doesn't mean to hurt his husband's feelings.
"If I'm that unsatisfactory on the dancefloor," Harry grins, "Why do you want to dance with me?"
"I said you can't dance." Draco grins "But apparently you have found another way to keep me very satisfied indeed."
"So you don't want to dance, you just want to kiss." Harry grins and gives him a kiss whispering, "You could have my lips without the dancing!"
"You're still going to take dance lessons as soon as I can get that organised." Draco insists but then allows his husband to distract him from thinking about dance lessons or possible teachers for those.
Authors Note: Finally, they are married. Now all that is left is find out what that baby will be, the name and of course what will Voldemort do? Will he come after Draco or will he all for their plan to let it seem like they marry only because of the baby? And how will Harry defeat him? Will they ever renew their wedding with a magical binding and if yes, will it work?