"Severus, I-I think it's coming" Harry whimpered, clinging to the professors arm as if his life depended on it. Could it have decided to come at a worse time?

Snape's eyes widened as he collected the boy in his arms. He needed to get him to St Margo's as soon as possible, he couldn't afford to be worried about anything else right now.

"Here Harry, take this" Snape whispered softly, snatching a blanket from the boy's bed before wrapping it around his compromised body.

"W-What the hell is going on?!" Vernon growled, frustrated by the fact that he was being so blatantly ignored in his own home.

Snape sunk his teeth into his lip, trying to refrain from yelling at the muggle before him. The man may have been Harry's uncle but right now he only stood in his way.

"Please move aside" Snape commanded, gathering the boy in his arms as he prepared to charge past the muggle.

"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on!" Vernon stepped closer to the potions professor.

"Fine. You want answers?" Snape began, his eyes turning to the blonde wizard, laying in heap.

"He is an evil wizard, one I would suggest you remove from your house before he becomes conscious once more"

Vernon tried to disguise the flash of fear that danced across his eyes. It was a pointless task, after all, not much escaped Snape's eyes.

"But how?"

"Drag him outside and leave him on the street"

"What?"

"I don't care what you do Mr Dursley, just get out of my way" Snape muttered before trying to push past the man once more.

"And Harry? He's not, he's not, pregnant? Is he?" Vernon screwed up his face as he gripped the professors cloak in an effort to stop him, his eyes remaining locked on the boy's swollen stomach.

Snape sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he rose to his feet.

"Yes"

The man's eyes widened in disbelief.

"B-but how did this happen?"

"I believe you would have received sex education in school, even back in your day, Mr Dursley"

"B-but, he's a boy! How is this even possible!?" the man was becoming hysterical as he flailed his arms around, trying to ascertain if this was actually happening.

"You seem to be forgetting a key factor in this"

"What's that?"

"Your nephew is a wizard, Mr Dursley" Snape stepped toward the man, trying to pressure him to move aside once more.

"T-then, who is the, the father?" Vernon stuttered as he struggled to collect his thoughts.

"Me" Snape stated, the delight emanating through his voice as he pushed past the muggle.

Snape didn't bother to turn around as a loud thud emanated from the room. He knew the man had likely passed out from pure shock, either way, he had to stay focused, Harry needed him now.

"When did the contractions start?" Madame Pomphrey questioned the potions professor as she gathered a range of medicines

"About an hour ago" Snape confirmed as the nurse shoved a vial in to his hands.

"What are you doing here at St Margo's?" Snape questioned the nurse, watching as she piled a heap of potions onto a trolley.

"I placed a spell on Harry, one that would advise me the moment he goes into labour"

"If that were the case, then why did you need to ask me when the contractions started?"

"It was the first time I had ever cast such a spell, I wasn't entirely sure it would work. Besides, I wouldn't miss the birth of this child for the world" she smiled as she wheeled the trolley towards her patient.

"Hold this while I administer the single most important potion" she commanded as she thrusted the vial into the professors fingers.

"What potion is that?"

"One that will enable Harry to develop a temporary vagina"

Harry's eyes widened as a vial was forced to his lips. Unprotected sex suddenly seemed like such a bad idea, what had past Harry been thinking?!

His body laid back on the hospital bed, the pain tearing through his abdomen with unrelenting force. It had only been an hour and the pain was only getting worse, how much longer would this go on for?

The young wizard tried to hold back a cry of agony, as another contraction gripped at his body, forcing him to wiggle around, as if doing so would relieve the pain.

It wasn't working.

"Harry take this" Madame Pomphrey ordered, as a vial was forced to his lips once again.

The wizard clenched his mouth shut, the pain paralysing his body as he begged for it to subside.

"Come now Harry, this will never end if you don't take this at once" the nurse insisted as she gripped the boy's chin, forcing his lips open.

Harry coughed uncontrollably as the fluid was forced down his throat.

"Harry" Snape whispered as he collected the boy's hand within his own.

"Severus" Harry whispered as sweat dripped down his forehead, he couldn't recall a time in his life when he had been in this much pain. He hadn't even come close to this as he struggled to summon words.

"Now Harry dear, Professor Snape will give you another potion. This one will help to relieve the pain you are currently experiencing" she reassured the boy

The professor nodded to the nurse before pushing the vial to Harry's lips.

"Drink this Harry, it will make you feel better" Severus reassured as poured the fluid down the young wizards throat.

Harry willingly accepted, a whimper escaping his lips as the potion began to take effect almost instantly.

"Harry" Snape whispered before collecting the young wizards hand in his fingers once more.

The boy turned to face him, the effort involved in even such a small movement was great. He was exhausted already, how would he cope with the next few hours?

His eyes locked with Snape's as he struggled to keep them open.

"I love you" Severus whispered as he planted kiss to Harry's hand. The action drew a smile to Harry's lips as he felt the onset of another contraction starting.

Harry allowed his head to fall against the damp pillow. He had been in labour for so long he could hardly recall a time when he wasn't marred in agony. His body ached with exhaustion as another wave of contractions clutched at his abdomen.

"How are you doing Harry?"

The young wizard gritted his teeth, trying not to get agitated by the woman's question as he wished the torture would subside. Harry simply groaned as his lips refused to summon words. Madam Pomphrey trotted from his bedside before positioning herself between the young wizard's legs. She pried his shaking knees apart in an effort to gain a better view.

"Right well, you are six centimetres dilated, still got a ways to go I'm afraid." She shook her head, as if disapproving of the boy's current condition. Harry gritted his teeth, not feeling at all consoled by the woman's words, only irritated by the fact he was powerless to do anything to ease his current predicament. He was growing weary from the constant prodding and perpetually violating but necessary actions of the nurses.

Harry closed his eyes. He needed so desperately to rest, only the hospital staff refused to grant him such a reprieve. He had to remain conscious, it was dangerous to allow sleep to consume his body.

"W-where is Severus?" He whimpered as he nestled his head into the soft pillow beneath his head.

"Right here Harry." The professor answered him without hesitation, grasping his sweaty hand tightly within his own. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to reassure the man that everything would be alright. Only, he wasn't so convinced. He should be further than six centimetres by now. He couldn't help but worry, he had never anticipated that his life would ever work out like this. He was so lucky to have Harry at his side now and always. The sight of him in all this pain was destroying his heart. He had never seen the boy so exhausted and absent life.

The echo of faint footsteps approached him but he refused to turn away from Harry. His suspicions were soon confirmed as Madam Pomphrey leaned in close to him, her lips mere inches from his ear.

"Severus, may I have a word?" Her words were barely above a whisper.

The dark haired professor nodded, an awful sense of foreboding loomed in his heart as he rose from his seat next to Harry.

"I'm afraid we have tried every known potion, yet nothing is working."

Severus nodded, realising as much for himself.

"We may need to operate."

Severus nodded, it was a fate he had anticipated but prayed wouldn't be so.

"You are not allowed into the operating room I'm afraid."

Snape tried to disguise the disappointment in his eyes but suspected he had failed as he watched the nurse wave her arms at several nearby nurses, prompting them to prepare the boy for theatre.

"You just wait here."

He likened her words to torture. How was he supposed to just sit here and wait while Harry suffered through this hell of a pain by himself?

He had no choice.

Snape refused to sit down, he wouldn't allow himself to be comfortable, not while Harry was denied the right. His heart pounded, watching as the young wizard was wheeled away before finally disappearing from sight. Snape stood there, paralysed as he fought the urge to chase after him. He needed to calm down, he was ordinarily very good at that, or at least hiding it from the rest of the world. He paced across the hard wooden floor, making his way toward a large bay window. He needed to think, although he felt as though his thoughts were a very dangerous place to linger as his eyes ran across the unassuming landscape. Huge rolling hills greeted his eyes, their tops littered with trees and tall green grass. It was serene, picturesque and should have calmed his nerves, only it didn't. Nothing could.

Harry clawed at the sheets under his fingers. This was his worst fear, something going wrong. No one had said anything to him about what was going to happen, though he had a fear idea as an assortment of surgical knifes were placed carefully on an small tray. He didn't want to look, the sight would be too terrifying. He took a deep breath before feeling a cool breeze dance across his skin. He suspected he knew why but prayed it wasn't so. He peeked his eyes open, the sight of his bare flesh greeted him. He was naked in front of everyone. A nurse pried his legs apart, inspecting the one part of him that he wished they wouldn't. He'd certainly left his dignity at the door, that much was obvious. He wanted to cover himself up but had nothing available to him, besides, it would likely just get pulled off of him anyway.

A tall blonde man entered the room, his white coat dangled from his slender frame as he veered dangerously close to Harry's bedside.

"Mr Potter?"

Harry watched dubiously as the man stood next to him, he seemed vaguely familiar yet he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly it was about him.

"I will be the doctor delivering you baby today, or rather, performing your caesarean."

"Caesarean?"

"Yes, I'm afraid your body isn't coping too well with the birth. It looks as though the only way to get it out, is to cut it out."

Harry sat there stunned, he figured it would be inevitable but the idea still horrified him no end.

"I believe you know my cousin."

"Who would that be?"

"Draco Malfoy."

Harry felt his body seized up at the man's words. It would be just his luck that a relative of his rival would be the one to see him in this rather vulnerable condition. He tried to force a smile to his lips, not wishing to appear perplexed by the doctor's words.

The blonde man collected a scalpel from the nearby tray. He held it up to the light, as if mesmerised by the blades sharp edges.

"Right, let us begin."

What was taking so long?

Snape gritted his teeth as he stared out of the large window into the expanse beneath him. The sight of green rolling hills and the myriad of trees that littered the countryside did little to comfort him. His eyes darted toward the door that Harry had been wheeled out through only moments earlier. Something wasn't right. If he were to have a cesarean, as Snape suspected he would have to have, then it still should have been done by now.

No matter how much he tried to reassure himself that everything would be alright, he still couldn't deny the nausea welling in the pit of his stomach.

Something was wrong, very wrong indeed.

"Is it done Draco?" Voldemort leaned forward in his seat, Nagini slithered between his feet, as though attempting to gain a more suitable vantage point. The eyes of the snake echoed with malice as they followed him like prey. It was as though the creature could sense the doubt lingering within the blonde boy's heart. He always hated the snake, and the shrieking shack for that matter. He could pinpoint it to that one memory where he was attacked by that invisible force.

Yet another reason to hate Weasley and that mudblood.

"Yes my lord." The blonde wizard bowed slightly as he deliberately avoided eye contact with the infamous dark wizard.

"Good. You never told me your cousin was a nurse at St Mungo's." Voldemort smiled, though the act seemed far from sincere.

"It never came up in conversation." Draco mumbled, his eyes drilling holes in the wood beneath his feet, as if it were the most interesting object he had ever beheld.

"It shan't be long now Draco and I will have this child in my possession."

"What do you intend to do with it?" Draco dared to ask, instinctively stepping away from the evil wizard as the words left his lips.

"Now now Draco, don't be so rude. What the Dark lord wants to do with it is his business and doesn't concern us." Lucius interrupted, though Draco suspected his words were only spouted forth to gain Voldemort's favour.

Yet, Draco seemed to be the only one concerned. It was a foreign sensation to him, yet he knew Potter was the only way to defeat the dark lord. He resented the power the evil wizard held over him, his family and the rest of the world. Though, he wouldn't dare voice such opinions to anyone around him, doing so would only cost him his life. Why did his father have to get involved with the Dark Lord in the first place? He was the one he truly blamed for their current predicament, and the rest of the world's.

Voldemort offered the blonde wizard a chuckle but nothing more, though his eyes gave away more than any words ever could.

"Your doing the right thing." Lucius whispered as he guided his son away from Voldemort.

Despite what his father told him, Draco still couldn't shake the gnawing sensation that tore at his stomach. This was a new life they were talking about. And why did he have to arrange it? Was it because he had easier, more direct access to Potter? Or was it because the Dark Lord wanted to punish him for something? Or perhaps it was all to test his loyalty. Either way, he still couldn't determine which wizard Voldemort wanted to punish more, Potter or Snape. In the end it wouldn't matter, if this half hitched plan were even remotely successful, it would hurt both men equally.

Two birds with one stone.

Harry sunk his fingertips into his sheets as Draco Malfoy's cousin veered in for another swoop. He suspected the man was up to something, only he didn't have the brain power to figure it out. The dark haired wizard closed his eyes as another wave of fatigue washed over him. He just wanted this whole process to be over. Another contraction seized his abdomen, when were they going to start the surgery? Surely there was a spell they could use that didn't involve cutting him open. He wished Snape was here, he would know what to do. Why had they barred him from the delivery room anyway?

It only added fuel to the fire that something was not right.

"It's time." Malfoy offered as he withdrew a clear vile from his white coat pocket. It had contained within it, a green potion, one Harry suspected wasn't a medicine typically prescribed to every patient in his position.

He suspected the liquid was made solely for him.

The blonde wizard wasted no time popping the wooden cork from the vial before drawing towards Harry's lips.

"Swallow this, it will help with the pain."

Harry instinctively pulled away, unsure of whether to trust this relative of Draco's or not. Though, he wasn't exactly in a position to refuse.

"Now now Mr Potter, its for your own good you know."

Draco made his way up a snow encrusted path towards Hogsmead. He was torn between apparating to St Mungos, or simply walking away from this situation entirely. He couldn't understand why this dilemma was getting to him so badly.

Since when did he care about what happened to Potter?

Since when did he struggle with moral dilemmas?

Maybe what he truly craved above all else was not Potter, or Hogwarts or even his family for that matter.

But his freedom.

He had spent his whole life serving the Dark Lord's every whim, his entire family had, along with other noble wizarding families. Yet none of it satisfied him. He craved desperately to lead his own life, one where he was free to do what he pleased without having to consider how Voldemort would feel about it.

Draco closed his eyes as miniature snowflakes began falling against his blonde eyelashes. He prayed the Dark Lord wouldn't detect his next course of action as he finally made up his mind.

Dumbledore began down the long, seemingly distorted corridors of one of the few places he couldn't stand. Madam Pomfrey had told him Harry was in labour and therefore, in very real danger. If Tom Riddle were to try anything, now would seem the most opportune time.

Loud footsteps behind him summoned his attention and he turned around to investigate the commotion. None other than Draco Malfoy was standing by a side entrance to the hospital. His arrival could be anything but a coincidence.

Dumbledore continued to watch as the blonde boy darted his eyes behind him as if afraid someone was following him.

"Draco my boy, just what brings you here on this cold winter's afternoon?" Dumbledore smiled down at the young wizard, though his betrayed that he knew the answer to that question already. The blonde wizard looked taken aback, as if expecting anyone but his headmaster to be standing before him.

"Just needed a walk. What's it to you anyway?" Draco skewed up his face as he attempted to drive the old man away, hoping for once that he would mind his own business.

"To the hospital? That's seems a rather odd destination for a stroll, don't you think?" A knowing smile tugged at his lips as he pretended to adjust his glasses.

Draco's eyes darted across the wooden floor, as if trying to summon his brain to come up with a believable reason, one that didn't give away the truth. Coming here had been a mistake, how foolish of him. His chances of getting caught were far too high and that was a risk he couldn't afford to take. If the Dark Lord found out he was here, then he would only know all too well why. Draco gritted his teeth as he felt Dumbledore lean in closer towards him. He fought the urge to step back, to escape before anyone else had the chance to recognize him.

"Your a good boy Draco, a good boy who has inherited a rather unfortunately lot in life."

Draco sunk his teeth into his bottom lip, he couldn't deny the truth in the old man's words, though he wouldn't dare confess that to him.

"It can't be easy to spend all your time and energy trying to please your family when deep down inside you don't agree with what they are doing."

"What's it to you?" Draco began, his bark began to break as he realized the man had penetrated straight through his defenses.

"I have faith in you Draco, faith that you will do what is right."

"Don't act like you know me." Draco spat, forcing himself to turn away from the old man before beginning down the corridor once more. If he was going to do this he had to be quick.

"You will find a comforting face in the room four doors down."

Draco pretended not to hear the man's words, though his feet said otherwise as they trailed in the man directions. He turned into the room without hesitation, finding within it an large empty space, minus a few beds. His eyes ran over the scene once more, only this time taking in the tall dark figure standing before a large bay window.

Professor Snape.

So that's who Dumbledore had been referring to.

"Professor." Draco began, his voice lacking its usual confident aura despite his attempts to appear unphased by the impending situation.

"Malfoy? What is it? What are you doing here?" Severus folded his arms across his chest as he stepped toward the blonde wizard, unable to resist the urge to look down upon his somewhat disheveled form.

"There is something you should know." Draco spat out, fearing that if he did not, the words would likely never leave his lips.

"And what might that be?" Snape's mannerisms remained cold and distant as he tried to determine the boy's true motive.

"Potter is in danger."

Severus's eyes widened at the the boy's words, yet they were of little surprise. They acted rather as a confirmation of what he had already suspected.

"Is that so?"

"He's about to receive a potentially lethal dose of a potion from my cousin."

"W-what? How do you know this?"

"The Dark Lord is behind it." Draco mumbled, as if hoping the words wouldn't reach Snape's ears, yet he felt as though he owed the man an answer.

Severus instantly stormed from the room, his robes billowing out behind him as he strode straight for the forbidden room.

Draco stood frozen, unsure of whether to follow his potions professor, or whether to run while he still had the chance.