Disclaimers et al in chapter 1
Chapter 3 - Let's Give 'em Something to Talk About
After Lucius and Draco were gone, Severus looked at the headmaster. "I can't believe you said practically nothing to Lucius about this absurd plan of his," he snarled.
"Severus, you know as well as I that nothing I could say at the time would have dissuaded Lucius Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
"I don't want to marry Malfoy much less have his baby," Harry said. "Malfoy Senior will carry out his threat if I say no, won't he?"
"Most assuredly, Potter," Severus said. "He is not one for making idle threats... or empty promises."
"Which means he'll turn Wormtail over if I do go through with this," Harry said.
"Harry, I want you to think hard before you make your decision," Dumbledore said. "Sirius would never ask or want this of you."
"Which is why, if I do decide to do this, no one in this room will tell Sirius or Remus about any of this," Harry said. "Sirius would just get himself killed going after Malfoy."
"Severus, if Harry decides to do this, will you make the necessary potions for him?" Dumbledore asked.
"If he agrees, I will have no choice," Severus said. "Lucius has been suspicious for some time of where my... loyalties truly lie. If I don't cooperate, he will voice those suspicions. Depending on Voldemort's mood at the time...." He shrugged.
"People will find out, Harry, even if we say nothing," Dumbledore said. "We can hide the pregnancy with a concealing charm but I have no doubt it will get out."
"I wouldn't put it past Lucius to leak it to the Daily Prophet," Severus muttered.
"I know," Harry said, ignoring the potions master. "It wouldn't be the first time people gossiped about me." He shrugged. "May I be excused, sir?"
"Certainly," Dumbledore said. Harry started to leave when the headmaster stopped him. "Harry, will you be able to give up your child to be raised by Lucius Malfoy?" he asked. "Could you do something like that."
"Let's hope we don't have to find out," Harry said then walked out the door.
"He's going to do it, isn't he?" Severus said, looking at the door.
"Most probably," Dumbledore said.
Severus looked at the headmaster. "Do you know what Lucius is planning?" he asked.
"I have no gift for divination."
"Never stopped you before." Severus shook his head. "Will life ever give that child a break?"
"Something tells me our Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, Jr. will be more than enough to keep Lucius on his toes."
Draco knew better than to question his father about most things... he really did. There were times, however, when one's curiosity overruled one's good sense. Draco was sure being told with whom he would be bonding and having a child qualified as one of those times.
"Father, what are you planning?" he asked.
This could go either way. Draco could be punished for his insolence or be told what was actually going on. Lucius chose a third option.
"Right now, it doesn't concern you," Lucius told his son. "When the time is right, I'll tell you everything."
*It's my life!* Draco screamed in his head. *Of course it fucking concerns me!* Aloud he said, "as you wish, Father."
"Don't worry, Draco," Lucius said. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Everything will work out for the best." With that, he bid Draco goodbye and walked out of the school.
Interlude - Dragon Tears
A pale figure sat in the northern tower watching the stars. He was currently damning his father to the lower regions of hell.
Draco knew it wasn't entirely his father's fault... ninety-nine and nine-tenth's percent but not entirely. He could have objected, if not in Dumbledore's office then when he and his father were alone. His father, of course, would not have taken that at all well. Draco shuddered to think what his father would have done to make him agree. He sighed. He'd agreed when Dumbledore asked simply because he had no choice.
Not that Draco considered marrying Harry to be a bad thing. It was certainly a better fate than marrying Pansy, for Merlin's sake. That's who his mother had wanted him to marry. That particular idea had died when his mother had.
What most people didn't know, including Harry himself, was that Draco didn't hate him, hadn't really since the beginning of their fifth year. Was it love? Probably not, at least, not yet. Was it enough to build a relationship on? Draco had seen worse foundations in marriages.
Could he and Harry fall in love? Now that was the thousand galleon question. Anything was possible. Of course, Harry believing Draco was probably in on it didn't help anything.
Damn you to hell, Father.
Chapter 3 - Let's Give 'em Something to Talk About
After Lucius and Draco were gone, Severus looked at the headmaster. "I can't believe you said practically nothing to Lucius about this absurd plan of his," he snarled.
"Severus, you know as well as I that nothing I could say at the time would have dissuaded Lucius Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
"I don't want to marry Malfoy much less have his baby," Harry said. "Malfoy Senior will carry out his threat if I say no, won't he?"
"Most assuredly, Potter," Severus said. "He is not one for making idle threats... or empty promises."
"Which means he'll turn Wormtail over if I do go through with this," Harry said.
"Harry, I want you to think hard before you make your decision," Dumbledore said. "Sirius would never ask or want this of you."
"Which is why, if I do decide to do this, no one in this room will tell Sirius or Remus about any of this," Harry said. "Sirius would just get himself killed going after Malfoy."
"Severus, if Harry decides to do this, will you make the necessary potions for him?" Dumbledore asked.
"If he agrees, I will have no choice," Severus said. "Lucius has been suspicious for some time of where my... loyalties truly lie. If I don't cooperate, he will voice those suspicions. Depending on Voldemort's mood at the time...." He shrugged.
"People will find out, Harry, even if we say nothing," Dumbledore said. "We can hide the pregnancy with a concealing charm but I have no doubt it will get out."
"I wouldn't put it past Lucius to leak it to the Daily Prophet," Severus muttered.
"I know," Harry said, ignoring the potions master. "It wouldn't be the first time people gossiped about me." He shrugged. "May I be excused, sir?"
"Certainly," Dumbledore said. Harry started to leave when the headmaster stopped him. "Harry, will you be able to give up your child to be raised by Lucius Malfoy?" he asked. "Could you do something like that."
"Let's hope we don't have to find out," Harry said then walked out the door.
"He's going to do it, isn't he?" Severus said, looking at the door.
"Most probably," Dumbledore said.
Severus looked at the headmaster. "Do you know what Lucius is planning?" he asked.
"I have no gift for divination."
"Never stopped you before." Severus shook his head. "Will life ever give that child a break?"
"Something tells me our Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, Jr. will be more than enough to keep Lucius on his toes."
Draco knew better than to question his father about most things... he really did. There were times, however, when one's curiosity overruled one's good sense. Draco was sure being told with whom he would be bonding and having a child qualified as one of those times.
"Father, what are you planning?" he asked.
This could go either way. Draco could be punished for his insolence or be told what was actually going on. Lucius chose a third option.
"Right now, it doesn't concern you," Lucius told his son. "When the time is right, I'll tell you everything."
*It's my life!* Draco screamed in his head. *Of course it fucking concerns me!* Aloud he said, "as you wish, Father."
"Don't worry, Draco," Lucius said. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Everything will work out for the best." With that, he bid Draco goodbye and walked out of the school.
Interlude - Dragon Tears
A pale figure sat in the northern tower watching the stars. He was currently damning his father to the lower regions of hell.
Draco knew it wasn't entirely his father's fault... ninety-nine and nine-tenth's percent but not entirely. He could have objected, if not in Dumbledore's office then when he and his father were alone. His father, of course, would not have taken that at all well. Draco shuddered to think what his father would have done to make him agree. He sighed. He'd agreed when Dumbledore asked simply because he had no choice.
Not that Draco considered marrying Harry to be a bad thing. It was certainly a better fate than marrying Pansy, for Merlin's sake. That's who his mother had wanted him to marry. That particular idea had died when his mother had.
What most people didn't know, including Harry himself, was that Draco didn't hate him, hadn't really since the beginning of their fifth year. Was it love? Probably not, at least, not yet. Was it enough to build a relationship on? Draco had seen worse foundations in marriages.
Could he and Harry fall in love? Now that was the thousand galleon question. Anything was possible. Of course, Harry believing Draco was probably in on it didn't help anything.
Damn you to hell, Father.