Title: Boy-Who-Lived: Father-To-Be

Author: SweetMercy

Rating: M

Warnings: mpreg, slash, has naughty swear words!

Pairings: RL/HP but has references to others

Chapter 14: The Miracle that is Life

"Lethifold. A very rare, very dark creature found mainly in tropical climates. It looks like a sort of black cloak, perhaps half an inch thick - thicker if it has recently killed and digested its victim. Strongly resembling a shadow at times, it glides along the ground at night, hunting its prey. Since it generally attacks while the victim is sleeping, its victims rarely have a chance to use any magic against it and save themselves. Even if they were awake it is immensely difficult to kill one as no one knows how to kill them."

"Professor?" said Seamus, his hand in the air. "Doesn't the Patronus spell kill it?"

"That is only a rumour," said Professor Lupin to the class. "No one has ever survived an attack from the Lethifold and the man who claims to have done so also claims to have been abducted by Merpeople and been forced fed Flobberworms. Now, I want you all to turn to page 183 and make notes."

Harry flicked to the right page of Creatures of the Dark Side: An In-depth Guide to Protection Against the Deadly. An entire page was taken up by a moving photograph of a Lethifold. Indeed, it did greatly resemble a shadow; the only giveaway was the fact that it was gliding downwards from the wall and across the floor and, from an angle, you could see the thickness of it.

They were in Defence Against the Dark Arts and had been studying Dark Creatures each week. So far they had gone into detail about Nundu's – possibly the most dangerous creature in the world. It resembles a leopard and moves very stealthily across land, spreading disease through its breath, and eliminating entire villages in one go – and Quintaped's – a highly dangerous, five legged, carnivorous beast that lives in North Scotland. Many of the class had been startled to hear that it lived so near to Hogwarts.

Harry watched the Lethifold glide gracefully over the page. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the person who had taken the picture.

"Professor?" said Hermione's voice and Remus looked up from his desk.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Is there any particular reason why we're learning how to defend ourselves against these creatures?"

Remus smiled as if he had expected her to ask that all week.

"Of course," he said. "It is suspected that Voldemort is using them."

Almost everyone in the class flinched at the name and a general mummer broke out amongst them.

"He's going to use them against us?" asked someone from Ravenclaw.

"How do you know?" asked a Hufflepuff.

"We have our sources," said Remus and by 'sources' Harry knew he meant the Order.

"But how can he control something like a Quintaped?" asked Ron. "How come they don't just turn around and eat him?"

"The same reason the Dementor's don't turn on him," replied Remus. "He's the master of persuasion. As long as he gives them what they want then they'll follow his every command."

"Let me get this straight," said Seamus. "You-know-who has an army of Death Eaters, Dementor's, Quintapeds, Nundus, and Lethifolds?"

"Don't forget the Inferi and Giants," said Dean.

"So what happens when the war reaches breaking point and he sets all of these on us?" asked Ron, worried.

"Well that's the whole purpose of this lesson isn't it?" said Remus, "To learn how to protect yourselves from them."

"Well, yeah, ok, fair do's," said Seamus. "But you said some of them need at least a hundred wizards working together to bring them down, and some haven't even got a known weakness. What if the school is attacked by Lethifolds? What then, eh?"

"Well," said Remus, smiling at the slightly panicky class, "If you would have read the page I told you to read you would have found out that Lethifolds are…"

"Afraid of light," said Hermione. "They only come out at night, so if you keep a light on when you go to bed they won't come anywhere near you. Light doesn't kill them but it keeps them away. So if you keep the common room light on there is no way they will be able to pass through it to get you in your beds."

"Spot on," smiled Remus. "10 points to Gryffindor."

"Oh," said Seamus, calming down. "Well that makes sense. What about the Inferi? They're afraid of light and fire aren't they?"

"Yup," said Remus. "So all you need there is the 'Incendio' spell. There's no need to worry, we're going to go over all the creatures we have studied at the end of the month so we're all certain of how to frighten them off or kill them."

There was a silence as everyone went back to reading their text books and then a scratching of quills as they began to make notes. Harry thought that the Lethifolds sounded like Dementor's souls. They certainly looked like they would belong to a Dementor. He made a mental note to try the Patronus charm on them if he ever met one. Then he wondered if he would be able to get away from it if the spell really didn't work.

"Sir?" Harry looked up to see Seamus with his hand in the air again.

"Yes Seamus?"

"You know how it goes all misty when Dementor's breed?"

"Yes…"

"Well, how do Dementor's breed?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Lavender. "Are they male and female?"

"Ewwwwww," said Justin from Hufflepuff. "Do they have sex?"

"Oh, that's disgusting," laughed Dean, cringing his face up. "Imagine what there dic…er, I mean, there things look like," he corrected himself, looking up at the Professor.

"They'll be all wrinkly and…dead," said Ron.

"You can just imagine it!" Seamus snickered. "Dementor's buggering each other in bed."

"Eww, imagine the noises they would make!" laughed Ron.

"They might suck each other off for a bit of foreplay!" laughed Dean. "Dementor's are well known for their 'sucking' after all!"

"I have such a disgusting image in my head right now," said Harry, cringing. Everybody laughed.

"You know what," said Remus looking amusedly around at the class. "How about we finish the lesson 10 minutes early? And whoever can find out how Dementor's breed by next lesson gets 10 points each."

The class cheered.

The next two weeks went by really fast. There was now only one week until Harry was due to give birth and he was growing more nervous by the minute despite the many reassurances he was receiving from teachers and class mates alike.

The whole Defence class had been awarded 10 points each, giving 80 to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, 50 to Slytherin and 30 to Hufflepuff. Dementor's, it turned out, actually bred by feeding. The more they fed, the stronger they grew and strong Dementor's are able to split themselves into two over a 24 hour period, therefore creating double the amount of Dementors.

Quidditch practice was now more frequent as the match was in two days time and everybody in the castle was looking forward to the chance to let off steam and cheer for their house; (Hufflepuff would be cheering for both teams, and Slytherin wouldn't be cheering for nobody).

Harry was coming to the end of his birthing classes and Ginny had taken it upon herself to make sure that Harry practiced his breathing exercises in his free time. As she kept reminding him, giving birth to three babies in a row was going to take a hell of a lot of strength and he needed to be prepared for the long haul.

The only thing that remained now was to decide where Harry was going to stay after the birth.

Harry and Dumbledore had sat around for ages discussing whether or not he should stay at Hogwarts with the babies or go home to Grimmauld Place.

Obviously Grimmauld Place would be preferable since it would be quiet and Sirius would be there to help out, but Harry really wanted to stay at Hogwarts. His friends would all be here, Remus would be here, and school was here. Not that he wanted to go to classes and such, but he really didn't want to get behind in his work, especially in his N.E.W.T year. Ron could bring him his homework and they could help him get through it and understand the new work that had been set in his absence.

Dumbledore said that if Harry really had his heart set on staying at Hogwarts then he would obviously have to have his own room, preferably sound proof so that the other students weren't kept awake at night. He would also need to get a nanny to look after the triplets when Harry decided to go back to school.

Besides, Hogwarts was the safest place in the world.

In the end it was decided that Harry could stay at Hogwarts in his own room.

Harry's new room (which he wasn't allowed to sleep in until the babies arrived) was situated in Gryffindor Tower. A cupboard in the common room had been greatly enlarged and divided into 4 rooms; a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a living room/mini kitchen. Even though it was quite comfortable, Harry was glad that it was only for a year; he didn't want his class mates thinking he was getting special treatment.

So, after a slightly action-packed week, Harry was glad that the weekend was almost here.

"Just think," said Ron as they made their way down the dungeon stairs that led to Potions, "One more week to go and they'll be three little babies around here. That ought to liven up the place."

"I'm not so sure about the 'liven up' bit," said Harry, one hand on his stomach. "They're going to be nightmares aren't they? I mean, all they do is eat, sleep, and poo."

"Just like you then," Ron laughed and he ducked out of the way as Harry swung for him.

The lesson was just the same as always, and they had to work in total silence. Snape had them making a rather difficult potion that required a lot of concentration, time, and skill, which was, Snape managed to point out, something that Harry was very limited in. Just to try and spite the man, Harry paid no attention to him and followed the ingredients word for word, re-reading it three times before actually doing it.

"He talks about Potions as if it's some sort of life form," Ron complained as he dropped his ingredients onto his desk. "It's just a bloody cocktail."

Harry laughed and turned back to his cauldron as Snape swept passed them. No doubt he was trying to find fault with Harry's potion but Harry didn't give him the satisfaction.

"Add the fang of an Ashwinder, stir clockwise 7 times, then anti-clockwise 3 times. Then add the treacle of a Glumbumble and stir 15 times anti-clockwise. Potion should now be a thick, silver substance."

Harry looked down into his cauldron and was pleased to find that he was actually doing it right, despite Snapes jeering remarks he had managed to catch floating towards him across the room.

"Add one hair of a Mooncalf, leave for 10 seconds then stir clockwise 5 times. Add 17ml of cold water and stir anti-clockwise for 3 minutes. Potion should then be pure white."

Harry looked hopefully down at his potion and tried to suppress a smile. So far, so good. He turned back to his book.

"Add Dittany to the potion and leave for 2 minutes. Stir anti-clockwise 6 times then clockwise 9 times. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Potion should now be a light, milky green colour."

Harry smiled to himself before looking around the classroom. Hermione's potion was, thankfully, the same colour as his. Ron's was too dark a green and Ernie Macmillan's was, to Snape's immense amusement, bright pink.

Harry looked over at the clock - 30 more seconds to go until he could move onto the next stage. He was really looking forward to seeing Snape's face when he handed in the perfect controlling potion.

"Now add the root of Mellowsweat and stir anti-clockwise 7 times. Add a tablespoon of Acromantula blood and stir anti…shit!"

Harry dropped the tablespoon of blood into the bubbling cauldron and clasped his hands over his belly. The whole class had turned to look at him when he had shouted out, some of them sniggering. Snape glared at him.

"I beg your pardon, Potter?" he snapped.

But Harry paid him no attention. Thanking Merlin that he was stood behind his desk, he looked down at the floor. A small puddle of water lay between his feet.

"10 points from Gryffindor for using absurd language in my classroom," sneered Snape who seemed to take the fact that Harry was looking at the floor as some sort of shame Harry must be feeling.

Harry hands had begun to shake. He was still staring at the small puddle of water and could feel the beginnings of a sharp pain in his lower stomach (which might have had more to do with nerves than the babies). His waters had just broken and he was in the middle of a crowded Potions classroom with his least favourite teacher. Great.

"Are you listening to me Potter?"

Harry slowly looked up and found the whole class still staring at him. His potion had turned dark purple and was starting to bubble dangerously.

"Another 10 points from Gryffindor for making this abysmal potion," said Snape and the Slytherins cheered.

"Harry," he heard Hermione whisper from behind him. "Are you alright?"

"A further 10 point deduction for talking in my class Miss Granger," said Snape's voice almost silkily as he wandered off over to inspect the Slytherins potions. "You are supposed to be working in silence."

But Hermione didn't listen to him. Harry had just doubled up over his desk, his breathing uneven. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were looking over at him with concern.

"Harry?" Hermione came over to him and stopped dead. "He's going into labour!" she shouted at Snape. "He's going into labour a week early! We need to get him to the Hospital!"

"20 points from Gryffindor for shouting out," said Snape, looking over at her with annoyance.

"But he's going into labour you idiot!" she yelled at him.

"Another 20 points for insulting a teacher," he smiled and the Slytherins snickered. The rest of the class, however, were protesting.

"I don't care if I have to insult bloody Merlin himself," Hermione yelled. "Harry's in labour!" Snape was clearly enjoying this.

"I'll go and get Dumbledore," said Ron and he shot out of the classroom.

By now everybody had abandoned their potions and there were multi-coloured sparks flying everywhere. Hermione flung one of Harry's arms around her shoulder and, with the help of some of the Ravenclaws, heaved Harry out of the classroom.

"Back to work" Snape demanded, but it was only the Slytherins who listened to him. Malfoy, however, was watching Harry intently.

Out in the corridor Harry leaned against the cold, stone wall, Hermione at his side helping him with his breathing. The pain was getting worse and worse and if he didn't lie down soon he was sure he would collapse. He didn't like to admit it to himself, but he was scared.

Hurried footsteps were heard and Ron came running towards them, closely followed by Dumbledore, his purple and gold robes flapping out behind him. Dumbledore reached him and held out a hand. He was holding a rusty kettle which Harry guessed was a port key to take him to the Hospital. He reached out a shaky finger and touched it, not letting go of Hermione.

The next thing he knew he was standing in a busy reception area and there was a great deal of commotion going on around him. A wheel chair was pushed towards him and he sat down, tears streaming from his eyes as the pain grew; it actually wasn't so much as pain, it was more the suddenness and confusion that had fallen on him that was making him emotional. He wasn't due to give birth for another week so the fact that his waters had just broken had really caught him off guard. He was terrified; it was all happening sooner than expected and he felt overwhelmed.

"Remus," he gasped, "I want Remus!"

"I'll go back and get him," said Ron at once and he saw him vanish on the spot.

"I'll wait here for Ron and Remus," said Dumbledore. If he found it strange that Harry had asked for Remus and not his Godfather he didn't say.

Three long, agonizing, hours later and Harry was still crying in pain, his contractions becoming more and more frequent.

Sirius, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs Weasley were all sitting around in the waiting room. Already they had had to get rid of some reporters who had bustled in, trying to get the latest on Harry's condition. Sirius was pacing up and down and Mrs Weasley was biting her nails nervously. She kept shooting glances over at the double doors as if she was fighting the urge to run through them.

"Why is Remus in there with him?" she asked. "Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the man, nothing at all. But, well, I never got the impression that they were that close."

"Yeah," said Sirius, stopping his pacing and looking around at them. "Why is Moony in there with him?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer but before he had the chance to say anything, Hermione spoke up.

"Remus was passing in the corridor when we brought Harry out of lesson," she said automatically. "Harry saw him, grabbed hold of him, and refused to let go." Ron nodded in agreement.

Dumbledore looked at them and Hermione stared back at him, a silent plea in her eyes, willing him not to say anything. With a slightly pacing.

"I wish they'd let us know what's going on in there," he said, looking over at the doors as if they had personally offended him by refusing him entry.

"He's been in there for over three hours," said Hermione. "I'm sure it won't be long now."

"I can't…I can't do this," Harry breathed heavily, teeth clenched, tears staining his flushed cheeks. "I haven't even started pushing yet and I'm already out of breath."

Remus placed a kiss to Harry's knuckles on the hand which he was grasping. He didn't know what to say. For the passed three hours Harry had been lying in this bed, turning from side to side, crying out in pain. Beads of sweat glistened on his brow and Remus lifted his free hand to damp a cool cloth along the boy's forehead. Harry was already out of breath from struggling to cope with the painful contractions and he had yet to deliver three babies. Although he didn't show it, Remus Lupin was worried.

"You'll be alright," he said as he stroked a hand through Harry's hair. "Everything will be alright. You can do this. I'm here for you."

Harry cried out and bit into his bottom lip. The boy was crying his eyes out. It really was heartbreaking to see. Such a strong, courageous boy reduced to complete self doubt in the space of just nine months.

As Harry tried again to even out his breathing, Remus heard the door click open and looked over to see Healer Neeson coming in. Instead of her usual lime-green robes, she was dressed all in white, her long, red hair tied back under a cap.

"How are we doing?" she asked kindly, coming over to the bed.

"I'm having the time of my life," Harry managed to grunt out before stifling another scream.

"His contractions are getting closer," Remus told her.

She snapped a glove on to her hand and lifted the sheet that was covering Harry's legs and waist. Despite the situation, Remus had to hide a laugh when he saw the look of indignation and shock on Harry's face.

"What the hell are you doing women?" Harry hissed.

"9cm's," she muttered, withdrawing her hands. "Almost time Mr Potter."

"I have no energy to push three babies out of my arse right now, thank you very much!" he snapped.

But the Healer had left the room. Harry turned, blurry eyed, to Remus. Somehow, for some strange, unknown reason, he felt he could talk himself out of the situation he was currently stuck in.

"I don't want to do this Remus," he told him and Remus saw that Harry looked extremely panicked.

"If I could push them out for you I would," said Remus comfortingly, damping his forehead with cold water again.

"What will happen if I can't push them out?" Harry asked after another agonizing scream which he had tried to keep in.

"Well it's not going to come to that, is it?" said Remus, at the same time wondering what would happen if Harry couldn't actually do this. But before he could wonder anymore, the door had opened again and Healer Neeson came in, followed by two others dressed in white; a man and a woman.

The male Healer went over to the machine that was wired into Harry's arm and wrote something down on the board he was holding. The female Healer wheeled over a tray, which was full of sharp objects Harry wished he hadn't seen, to Healer Neeson, who was now sat down on a stool at the end of the bed.

"It's time Harry," said Healer Neeson and Harry moaned and shook his head but he didn't have time to say anything as he swallowed another scream. "I need you to drink this potion for me."

The male Healer next to Harry handed him a goblet of a white, smoky substance. With the help of Remus he managed to swallow it. He noticed that it didn't taste as bad as he had thought it would on first glance. It was cold and tasted like crushed ice with a hint of vanilla. Then he noticed he was paying more attention to the bloody potion than the matter at hand.

"That potion will help make it easier Harry," said Healer Neeson. "But it can only do so much. You have to do the rest."

As she spoke, Harry could feel the liquid-ice flooding through his veins and into his belly. A horrible burning sensation erupted in the pit of his stomach and he screwed his eyes tight shut.

"I need you to push for me Harry," she said and Harry's eyes filled with fresh tears. Reality was starting in sink in; he really, truly, couldn't get out of this.

He took a deep breath and pushed with all his might, fighting a scream in the back of his throat. He clamped his free hand around Remus and knew he was digging his nails into the man but he couldn't help it. The scream escaped his throat and he gasped for breath.

"That was good," the Healer encouraged. "I need another one."

Harry took another deep breath and sat up, pushing with everything he had. He relaxed a bit then tried again and again and again, feeling himself becoming light-headed from straining himself, until finally…

"Congratulations," the Healer smiled. "Your first born is a baby boy."

Harry lay back, catching his breath and staring at the baby boy, wrapped in a soft, baby-blue blanket, that the Healer was holding up for him to see.

"That's my baby?" Harry whispered softly.

"That's your baby," Remus smiled and Harry noticed that he had tears in his eyes as well. Harry smiled up at him.

"That's our baby," he said and he turned back to look at the bundle in the Healer's arms but not before receiving a kiss from the older man.

He couldn't believe that he had just pushed that out of his body. How could such a beautiful thing cause so much pain? But as he looked into its tiny face, at its nose and mouth, he found that he didn't care what he had to go through if, at the end of it all, he would have three of those beautiful, innocent, creatures.

Harry felt the pain renewing itself and took another deep breath. He hoped to God that he would be able to do this.

Ron looked up from the floor, red hair all on end, as he heard feet running passed them. He found that they belonged to three Healers, all dressed in white, who were hurrying passed urgently. He heard one of them shout something and he distinctly heard the words 'Potter', 'baby girl', and 'stopped breathing.'

He looked around worriedly at the others and it was apparent that they had heard it too.

"What's happening?" Sirius demanded. "What's wrong?"

But before he could do anything, the Healers had disappeared through the double doors. Molly burst into tears.

"How can this be happening?" she sobbed. "That boy's had enough heartache in his life. Why did this have to happen?"

"I'm sure it'll be alright," said Hermione shakily. "St Mungo's does have the best Healers after all."

"Please, you can't let my baby die!" Harry screamed, but as he had just spent the last half an hour pushing and screaming and crying and pushing a bit more, he hardly had any breath left to talk let alone scream.

He tried to push himself up in the bed so he could see over the Healer's hunched shoulders but he didn't have the strength at all. All he could see through the gaps of bodies was a pink blanket. They were all talking urgently to one another, pressing in around the tiny body.

"My baby can't die," Harry sobbed, tears leaking down on to his pillow. "She can't die. She can't. I've carried her for 9 months, I'm not losing her now!"

The second birth had gone well, although it had greatly tired Harry. When it had been time to start pushing the last baby out, his body had given in; had just plain down-right refused to push anymore. He had tried with all his might to push but his body was having none of it. Healer Neeson had had to use some of the equipment on the tray in order to rescue the baby from Harry's body but it had taken too long and somewhere along the line the baby had stopped breathing.

"Please," he sobbed weakly, "You have to save her. I'll do anything." Remus was by his side, tears in his eyes as well, and Harry was still holding on to him for dear life. He had never seen Remus cry like this, really cry. Harry could tell he was trying to be strong for Harry but his defences had shattered some moments ago.

"I can't lose her Remus," he cried. "She's our baby daughter."

A cry broke free and Harry looked over at the group of Healers. The cry was unmistakably a baby's cry and right now it was the sweetest sound Harry had ever heard in his entire life.

"Well done team," said Healer Neeson's voice and Harry heard a collective sigh and a gentle applause. He looked up, heart beating frantically and came face to face with his new baby girl. She was still crying but Harry couldn't hear it anymore. All he was aware of was the fact that the daughter he had almost lost was alive and within arms reach.

A/N: I know I should be all happy and jolly that I've posted the (slightly angsty) birth chapter but I have had such a bad day today. Loads of my friends got together and didn't even ask if I wanted to come! And I haven't got a clue what I'm supposed to have done wrong. They all just got together and left me out. Well, me and my best friend; she didn't go either. We must have done something but I honestly don't know what. We're the ones who always try and include everyone when we make plans, we're the ones they all come and talk to if they're pissed off with someone else, and yet they leave us out! I mean, I'm the one who pretends like everything is ok with me, I never worry the rest of them with my promblems, I always put on a brave face when somethings got me down because I don't want to bring the rest of them down. But, on the rare occasion that I do need their help with something they start to complain that I want attention! I hate my friends! Argh! I'm probably over reacting but it's just been such a crappy day.

But moving on from that little rant...thank you so much for all the reviews; they really keep me going and give me the inspiration to write. I always look forward to reading them, you guys are the best!

Again, sorry about the rant. I would delete it but I'd get the urge to write it all out again. lol. I feel better saying it anyways.

About the Father: Some of you have said that the father could be two or three people, each baby having a different one. Whilst I'm not against the idea, I don't think it would work for this, sorry. But thank you all the same for your imput.

Sophie Malfoy: lol, glad you're still here then!

Remusgrl: Yes, I do have yahoo. BUT my computer doesn't seem to like msn, aim, and yahoo so none of them work anymore, lol. I haven't checked my emails for AGES. It just isn't fair at all. Anyways…I DO have an account on mugglenet! (LOL, that is the only way I can talk to people online now-a-days). I'm loveslupin. Look me up and send me an owl message thingy ma bob if you're on there as well if you want.