Chapter 26

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or NCIS or any of their characters. I do however own this story, I wrote it and I do NOT give permission for anyone to post it anywhere else. If you want to share it post a link.

-o0o-

"Hello Hadrian, and this must be Tim. Pleased to meet you. Hadrian said you had some questions for me?" Healer Roberts greeted them.

"First can you tell me about the baby. Are you sure it's all right, will my magic being blocked affect the baby?" Tim said.

"Let me cast the monitoring spells to confirm what's happened in the last week and then I'll be able to tell you more" the healer said smiling.

Tim watched fascinated as the healer cast spells on his lover receiving back various lights and information, none of which made any sense to Tim. "The baby is developing well as expected and Hadrian is doing well too. Are you feeling better Hadrian?"

"Yes I am. The nausea potions are helping and since Tim arrived home and we talked things have been good" Hadrian said cheerfully.

"I do not think the binding on your magic will harm the baby in any way but I have consulted with my colleagues and none of them have had a case such as yours. Usually it is two wizards in a committed relationship who choose to have this spell cast" The healer said.

"Is there a way to tell?" Tim asked.

"I'm not sure it's ever been done" Healer Roberts said consideringly.

"Can you test levels of magic in a liquid?" Hadrian asked, like testing the strength of an enchantment?"

"Yes why?" the healer asked.

"Well, Tim can't use his magic but the block didn't change his magical core. For me to fall pregnant his magic must also have been in his semen. Is it possible to test his semen and see if it has the same level of magic in it as yours or mine?"

"I'll compare it to mine, you have far more magic than most people" the healer replied, he handed Tim a plastic cup and pointed him in the direction of the bathroom.

Tim blushed and disappeared.

"I take it everything went well when you told him then?" the healer asked Hadrian.

"Eventually" Hadrian replied. "He walked out and went for a walk to think and ended up being called in on a case and was shot and spent two nights in hospital without anyone telling me where he was or if he was okay. And then my three-year-old godson's grandmother passed away and I took custody of him as well. But it's all sorted out now. We've bought a house and we're moving in a couple of weeks."

"Is your godson well?" the healer asked.

"He seems to be coping okay, his hair's been blue a lot more than normal but it's brighter than it was" Hadrian replied.

"His hair is blue?" the healer asked.

"He's a metamorphmagus" Hadrian explained, he doesn't have a lot of control yet so his hair mostly mirrors his emotions unless he's copying someone, blue means sad and dull colours mean feeling flat and depressed."

"Can he change other things?" Roberts asked.

"His hair eyes and skin tone for now. His mother could totally change to become anyone she wanted but Andi said she didn't start changing her body shape until she was eight or nine" Hadrian said. "His father was a werewolf, is there anything I should know about bringing up the child of a werewolf. We couldn't find anything about it in Britain because it was considered illegal for a werewolf to marry and Andi couldn't really ask about it the prejudice against werewolves is so bad that the healers at St Mungo's refuse to treat them. I know the children in the packs all change but I don't know if they were born to change or they've been bitten."

"I don't know Hadrian. I've never had a werewolf as a patient, even here they have some difficulties and tend to go to their own clinics but I'll look into it for you" the healer replied making a note.

"Thank you" Hadrian replied gratefully. "I would appreciate it if you didn't mention his name. I don't want him discriminated against if I can avoid it."

"You haven't told me his name" Healer Roberts replied amused.

"Tim returned and handed over the sample. I think I should compare them while they're fresh I don't know what waiting would do to the detectable magic. I'll return in a few minutes" the healer said leaving the room.

"Everything okay?" Tim asked Hadrian.

"Fine. I was telling Healer Roberts about Teddy. He's going to ask a colleague that works at one of the werewolf clinics about what to expect with the child of a werewolf. Andi really couldn't ask for fear they'd make him register as a werewolf himself, then he couldn't have gone to Hogwarts or been treated in St Mungo's" Hadrian explained. "The laws aren't as strict here and discrimination against a werewolf other than during the full moon is illegal. I don't know how much of it still happens though."

-o0o-

Healer Roberts returned beaming. "The tests I've just done indicate that the binding on your magic doesn't have any affect at all on your semen. In fact, you would have been a fairly strong wizard.

"Is there a way to undo the block?" Tim asked.

"Unfortunately not" Healer Roberts answered.

"Is there any work being done on ways to remove the blocks without causing damage?" Tim asked.

"It's not removing the block that's impossible. It's easy enough to remove in the first couple of months after its placed but after that the build-up of magic makes it impossible to control. The sudden release after so many years would kill you" the healer said gently. "They have started reapproaching parents a year after they blocked the child's magic and asking them to reconsider but after a couple of years removing the blocks risked killing the child or damaging all their magical channels which would cause severe and debilitating pain every time they tried to use their magic anyway. Even if I could safely remove the blocks on your magic you would have difficulties with accidental magic after it being blocked for so long which would make it difficult to live and work in mundane society.

"Then why does the government keep a registry of people who've had their magic blocked if it can't be undone?" Tim asked. "Am I somehow less trustworthy because I had magic even if it has been blocked, or more likely to go insane or something because of the block?"

"It's not you they're keeping track of Tim" healer Roberts replied. "Our ministry keeps track of parents that choose to bind their children's magic, the children's records are mostly kept by default though its useful in cases like this. Though it would be useful if magic ever becomes public knowledge to know which people would respond well to magical healing. What our government wants to do is to make sure that people who are willing to bind someone's magic for their own beliefs or convenience never get into a position in the government where they're officially told about magic. We want to make sure they cannot try to legislate that all mundane born witches and wizards have their magic bound.

Tim burst out laughing. He laughed until tears rolled down his face. Hadrian watched him worriedly as he tried to hold him in his seat.

"My dad was one if the youngest admirals in the fleet. Normally he should have been considered for promotion years ago, in fact he made admiral a couple of months before the new SecNav. I just found it funny that he probably blocked my magic because he planned for me to join the Navy and not only could it be the reason I didn't but it halted his career as well" Tim explained once he'd caught his breath.

Hadrian grinned.

"Tim told me you suffered from debilitating seasickness which affected your work" Healer said. "Would you like me to see if there's anything I can do?"

"I've tried just about everything" Tim replied. "The wrist bands help a little, as does ginger tablets if I take them early enough. Other than that I've a prescription for Maxalon which once I've started throwing up needs to be injected.

The healer cast several diagnosis spells and then a healing spell at each of Tim's ears. "I can't promise that will totally solve the problem but it should help. You might need to come back and have me respell your ears every three or four years if you notice your seasickness getting worse again."

"Thank you so much" Tim said smiling.

"Let me know whether it works and if not we can try something else. A stomach soother potion might have more effect than mundane medicine" the healer said. "You can reschedule your next appointment for four weeks from now Hadrian, everything's going well. Come back in sooner if you have any concerns."

-o0o-

Tim and Hadrian spent as much time as they could with Teddy who was adjusting rather well to living with his godfather though demonstrated quite a few episodes of shyness, not being used to seeing many people as his grandmother received few visitors and hadn't been well enough to leave her home often. Tim couldn't believe he'd fallen for the little boy as quickly as he had and Teddy seemed to like him too. Teddy was so polite and intelligent and so enthusiastic about everything they did with him. It was easy to see he adored Hades and Tim was touched by the child's willingness to accept him as part of their and lack of jealousy when it came to sharing his godfather with Tim. There were times he was upset about his grandmother and became a bit clingy and whiny but really he was acclimatizing amazingly well. Tollie was an invaluable help especially as Hadrian seemed to be spending more hours at work for some reason. (Healer Roberts had banned Hadrian from using his time turner for the remainder of the pregnancy and Hadrian hadn't got around to telling Tim about it yet.)

-o0o-

Tim and Hadrian took Teddy with them to look at the house again once Quincy said it would be safe. It had been over a week since they'd seen the house though Quincy had tried to keep him up to date with pictures and involved them with picking curtain and furnishing fabrics and plants for the garden.

The new wrought iron gates opened automatically as Tim Approached them and they proceeded up the now perfectly smooth gravel drive. The garden looked immaculate, and the windows were so clean they sparkled. Quincy met them as they got out of the car. "The houses is finisheds unless you haves somethings new for Quincy. I hopes you likes it" he told them excitedly.

The interior was warm and welcoming, though the entrance was slightly formal it was more than offset by the ballroom being turned into an indoor rumpus room and children's play area and the lounge though large was filled with delightfully comfortable armchairs as well as a couch easily long enough for Tim to lie comfortably on. Everywhere they went the woodwork and furniture gleamed with cleanliness and it lacked only the finishing touches, family photos, children's drawings and clutter to make it a family home instead of a showpiece. "It's exactly what I imagined a home to feel" Hadrian said delightedly. "It feels as much my home as your flat does."

"It does feel like home already" Tim agreed slightly surprised. They were unknowingly reacting to the quality of the protection wards which made them feel safe and relaxed even though they didn't live there yet. Teddy also loved the large spaces and the shiny wooden floors running around excitedly.

The only hitch came when Teddy found his room set up in exactly the same décor as his room and Andromeda's had been and his current room in Hadrian's flat was. "No no no stay wif Harry" he declared before bursting into tears. "Teddy stay wif Hawwy, Teddy be good boy, stay wif Hawwy" he sobbed heartbrokenly.

"Oh Teddy of course you're staying with me. This is our new home. This is your room and right across the hall is Tim's and my room" Hadrian said scooping him up and taking him across to the master bedroom suite. "See this is Harry's room and Tim's room."

"Hawwy and Tim room?" Teddy said suspiciously, the room didn't look like Harry's room in his flat or Tim's room in the flat downstairs.

"Yes Teddy, we'll be right across the hall if you need us, and Tollie will be here to look after you too. This is our house now, we need to go and get all our stuff and move in, then you'll have all this space to play in and we can play outside too" Tim told him as he joined Hadrian in trying to calm the distraught child.

Hadrian smiled at his lover. "Thanks" he mouthed silently.

"Tollie started popping in with Tim and Hadrian's bed and bedding and soon the room looked a lot like a larger version of Tim's bedroom in his apartment. Tim and Hadrian had chosen new bedding to decorate their room but both shrugged knowing that the little boy's peace of mind was more important at the moment and they could easily redecorate in a month or so once everyone was settled in. Teddy looked around as the room became more familiar his sobs slowly subsiding. "Hawwy and Tim's room" he agreed recognising their belongings. "Hawwy and Tim stay here wiff Teddy."

Tollie had got a team of the Potter elves to help and all Tim and Hadrian's belongings were transported to their new house within the hour and most of them put into their correct place by the end of the day.

"Wow I never thought moving could be so easy" Tim said impressed. "How did Tollie accomplish all this?"

"She had a lot of help" Hadrian replied having caught glimpses of several other elves throughout the day.

-o0o-

"We should get married" Tim suggested as he sat in their new kitchen watching Hadrian make dinner.

"Is that an idea or a proposal?" Hadrian asked amused and slightly relieved. He'd been trying to get the courage to bring up the subject.

Tim blushed hurriedly apologised. "Sorry, I guess it totally sucked as a proposal, so let's call it an idea and we can discuss it then I can propose properly if you want me to."

Hadrian laughed then sobered as he considered the idea. "Is this because of the baby or did you actually want to marry me before you found out?" He asked uncertainly.

"I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you but there didn't seem to be any hurry to make it official" Tim began. "I guess I'm a little old fashioned, it's going to be hard enough for Teddy and the baby to have two dads instead of a mom. Of course if you want to wait that's fine too."

"You really want to be a family with us?" Hadrian asked with tears in his eyes.

"Yes Hades. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be a family. While this isn't exactly the order I would've liked to do things being able to have a baby of our own that's both of ours is a dream come true. I thought I was giving up the chance to have a family to be with you and I was prepared to do that."

"You didn't think I wanted children?" Hadrian asked.

"I thought it would be ten years or more before you even thought seriously about it" Tim replied. "You're still in high school hanging out with teenagers. I thought you'd want to go to college then establish a career."

"I went back to high school because Hogwarts only teaches magical subjects and if I'm going to live in the regular world I need a non-magical education" Hadrian replied. "I haven't been in mainstream education since I was ten."

"That's got to suck" Tim said sympathetically. "Will you graduate this year?"

"Yeah they put me into 10th grade and I'm nearly finished though I'm still struggling with American history and politics. Knowing all about the goblin rebellions and what efforts we've tried to take to remove the corruption form the British Ministry of Magic isn't too helpful" Hadrian replied. "Graduating isn't that important to me though, I already have a career I love and more money than I can spend in a lifetime. I just didn't want you to think I was ignorant."

"Of course I don't think you're ignorant, your insights when we talk about cases have been very useful. I think you must be a great agent" Tim said automatically before his brain caught up with the other things Hadrian had said. "Goblins?" he asked warily.

"They run the wizarding bank" Hadrian replied.

"I don't think I want to know" Tim replied.

"It's a lot more secure than a muggle bank mostly because the entire goblin race is armed and pulling a weapon on any of them will earn you an instant death and attempted theft could get you fed to a dragon" Hadrian said.

Tim laughed, then realised Hades was serious.

"If you're serious about wanting to marry me and being ready for that, then I'd like to be married before the baby's born. Wizarding inheritance laws can be tricky if we're not and I'd hate for him or her to have to go to court to keep what's rightfully theirs. Not only that the other contenders are pure blood bigots who supported the other side in the war. If hate for my family's money to be used to push through laws that discriminate against muggleborns and half bloods" Hadrian said. "I've been trying to find a way to bring the subject up without making you feel pressured."

Tim smiled. "I'd like to be married" he said. "Are there any differences between a wizard marriage and a normal marriage? Massachusetts is the only state that allows two men to marry here in the US at present."

"Gay marriage has been legal in all of the North American wizarding world for decades so we could have a wizarding marriage here at home and a mundane commitment ceremony if you wanted, or I think my family actually owns a house in Boston. That is in Massachusetts, right?"

"Yes" Tim laughed. "So tell me what's involved in a wizarding marriage."

"We'll I've only been to one wizard wedding and I've never been to a muggle wedding so I'm not entirely sure. I know there wasn't any divorce in the British wizarding world and if you vow to be faithful then you can't change your mind about that but I'm not sure if that was because all marriage vows were magically enforced or there was a special ceremony to commit your magic or if it was just the law. I'll have to look into it."

"Do we need a magical marriage for our children to inherit?" Tim asked. "And if so can we have a magical marriage with my magic bound?"

"I don't know. I'll have to talk to Healer Roberts and my manager at Gringotts" Hadrian said acioing a pen and paper to write down their questions.

-o0o-

Hadrian took Tim to the magical shopping centre to add him to his vault access and get some information about marriage in the wizarding world. Tim was slightly disappointed at first that other than the objects for sale it looked like any other suburban shopping mall.

"One day I'll take you to Diagonal Alley in London, it has the medieval feel you're looking for" Hadrian promised. "Remember be polite to the goblins and be careful not to show your teeth, even when you smile."

Tim slapped his lips shut as they entered the bank and his eyes went wide at the sight of the surly little creatures.

"Good morning. I would like to speak with an account manager about British inheritance law" Hadrian said politely but firmly.

"We don't have time for British issues, go to your own branch" the goblin snapped.

"My vaults were moved here" Hadrian replied may I speak with my manager, perhaps he'll be motivated to find the information I need or I'll move all my holdings into the mundane banking system"

"Name" the goblin demanded scowling.

"Hadrian James Potter Black Evander Peveral Gryffindor Slytherin" Hadrian said firmly.

The goblin spoke in his own language for a moment and must have received an answer for he said much more respectfully. "Your manager will see you now. Follow Bonegrinder."

"Are they like this in England too?" Tim asked quietly. "If so I don't understand why you trust them with your money?"

"Goblins are honest and honourable far beyond most humans and money kept in the wizarding world is taxed at a much lower rate" Hadrian replied. "They're just not the friendliest of people and in their culture wasting time is considered more rude than skipping the pleasantries and getting straight to the point."

The account manager was able to tell them the answer they were looking for. The House of Potter, Evander and Peveral will accept heirs from a mundane marriage that has been registered with a wizard government or Gringotts. The house of Black, Gryffindor and Slytherin require magical marriage vows. The house of Black will not recognise any heirs from a marriage to a muggle or squib regardless of the vows" he reported.

"That's fine Tim's not a muggle, what about muggle born?" Hadrian asked.

"So long as they have magic to hold the vows" the goblin replied.

"Tim's magic was bound when his parents refused to let him attend a magical school. Will that be a problem for the vows?" Hadrian asked.

The goblin frowned and rumaged in a drawer, hold this and vow to tell me the truth for the next five minutes" he said thrusting what looked like a short stick in Tim's direction.

Tim if you do this be very careful that everything you say afterwards is the absolute truth, don't guess without saying you're guessing because you're not sure or try to prevaricate at all" Hadrian warned urgently. "It might be better not to say anything at all but remember that gestures are a form of communication too."

Tim took the stick and made the promise. A dull flash of white surrounded him for a moment.

"He can make the vows" the account manager stated. "Anything else?"

"I'd like to visit my vaults is it safe for Tim to accompany me?" Hadrian asked.

"So long as he remains in your presence" the goblin said dismissively. "Tell Bonegrinder to take you to the vaults. I trust you have your keys."

"Thankyou" Hadrian said pulling Tim hurriedly out the door where they were met by Bonegrinder.

They spent the rest of the morning looking through the old books and things in the vault. Hadrian called Quincy to send an elf to bring some bookshelves so they could start to organise the contents.

"I'se can but library trunks will bes better Master Hadrian. They's protect the bookses better" the elf said subserviently.

Time spent discussing the renovation of the house had taught him that the master valued unsolicited opinions but a lifetime of training still made him hesitant at times.

"Is there any way other than opening them all to tell if any of these are library trunks?"

Quincy scanned them with his magic.

"That one, that one and that one be" he said bringing them over to Hadrian and Tim. He then sorted the rest of the trunks into two piles. "They's have bookses but not be library trunkses" he said gesturing to the smaller pile.

Hadrian grinned. "Thank you Quincy. Great job you've saved us a lot of time searching." Even better the library trunks had a search feature so Hadrian was able to ask it for books on marriage laws and ceremonies.

A/N: Thank you to tat5934, julschristine975, xDarklightx, TobyDR, Bella216, Almonda, Merlenyn, acherongoddess, Locket1, Maben00, Village-Mystic, DS2010, serenityselena, Silvermane1, Gracie15Trowa, Kourtney Uzu Yato, charm13insomnia, lilly-flower15, buterflypuss, gabrieljuarezl, mayawene, Rori Potter, Dedicated4reading, T-Loki, Lady Ashlynne, Pearl17, BunnyButtons, CharityLynn02, kenbotkt, Fasala, Glossette, ice123, Fountainwind, animeaddict15, Beletharatowen, Fee-der-Nacht, strfire, Krizz, KateLucyMathews, swathy, Novakane, rene3037769, danoc and tanjagronforspalmroth for your support.