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 16: Let the Truth be Told

Harry woke up early the next morning. In the early evening yesterday, he had been woken up by Healer Neeson who had informed him that he was ready to be moved to a different, more comfortable room. Harry was very grateful for the change of scenery and had taken the chance to go and have a shower as he hadn't had a proper wash for 2 days. He had crawled back into his new bed feeling nicely refreshed, welcoming the soft, clean sheets on his skin.

This room seemed to be bigger than the last one, though Harry suspected that was because of the fact that loads of machines weren't taking up the space. There was a lovely, light blue sofa and armchair surrounding a pine coffee table to the left, almost like a mini-sitting area, and opposite was a door that led to the bathroom. The room he was in had a window over near the sitting area and Harry could see the autumn sun leaking in, splashing light all over the wall. There was an armchair right next to Harry's bed and next to that was where the babies had been placed in their plastic cots so he was able to keep an eye on them.

Harry stretched lazily across his bed and looked over at Remus who was asleep in the armchair next to Harry. His mouth was slightly open and a faint snoring was coming from him. He laughed quietly at the sight.

Harry just lay there watching him peacefully, feeling content and at peace with the world for the first time in ages. The morning sun fell across Remus' face and blended beautifully with his features, turning the grey hairs to golden straw. Harry noticed that he looked a lot healthier than he normally did. In fact, he had never seen the man look so healthy. He always, more or less, looked exhausted and the lines on his face usually showed that. But here, looking at him, he seemed the picture of health. He had wonderful colour in his cheeks and his skin seemed to glow with life.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Harry jumped slightly and sat up. He hadn't seen the eyelids flutter open and he now found himself staring beautiful pools of gold. Remus looked up at him with a curious smile.

"I was just thinking of how attractive you look," Harry whispered with a smile. Remus smiled shyly but raised an eyebrow all the same.

"You do," smiled Harry. "You always look beautiful. But it's just…I can't remember the last time I saw you look so…stunning, yet…natural. I can't describe it. You look so well, so at ease; so healthy, so..."

"So happy?" Remus suggested. "It's because I'm with you."

"Now you're just being romantic," Harry blushed but his heart was fluttering.

"Maybe," Remus smiled, "But I'm also being truthful. I haven't felt like this in a long time. It's like something has changed within me yet I'm the same person. I can't explain it. But it feels like a physical change, not just an emotional one."

Harry lay his head back down on his pillow and turned to look at Remus again, contemplating. He thought he knew what Remus was trying to say but he didn't know why Remus would feel like that. It was probably because he was happy; they were in love and were going to take care of the babies together and have a family; they were happy. He noticed Remus was looking down at him and he smiled.

"You love me?" Harry asked playfully.

"I adore you," whispered Remus.

"You promise you'll be with me forever?" asked Harry in the cutest voice he could manage.

"I promise," smiled Remus.

"Until death do us part?"

"Until death parts us."

"And you'll give me kisses everyday?"

"I'll give you lots of kisses everyday."

"And when I get my gorgeous shape back you'll tie me up and spank me?"

"And I will tie…hey!"

"You have to promise me Remus," Harry pouted, using the best puppy dog eyes he could muster whilst trying to stop himself from laughing.

"And I'll tie you up and spank you," Remus sighed, failing to hide a chuckle.

"And when you do, you'll call me the King of Kinkiness?"

"All hail the King of Kinkiness," Remus exaggerated.

"See?" Harry smiled innocently. "That wasn't too hard was it?"

"Not too hard at all," he smirked. "Although, I can think of something else that's pretty hard right now."

"Remus!" Harry gasped in mock shock. "Not in front of the children."

"This coming from the guy who just told me to call him Mr Kinky?"

"The King of Kinkiness, thank you very much Remus."

Remus laughed. "You are adorable," he said, stroking a hand through Harry's hair.

"I know," smiled Harry. "And you love me for it."

"God help me, I do," he muttered before ducking out of the way of Harry's arm.

"Awwww, Remusy, look. Look at his ickle fingers and toes! He's so sweet. Yes he is, yes he is."

"Harry, please, where's your dignity?"

Harry laughed and threw a pillow at Remus' head. For the passed half an hour Harry had been cooing over the babies and he just couldn't get enough of them.

He was now a lot more confident about holding them and as soon as one of them looked like it was about to cry he would pick it up and cuddle it. Remus had to admit that watching Harry with them was one of the cutest things he had ever witnessed. But hearing Harry talk 'baby talk' was driving him slightly insane.

"They're like ickle cutey puppy dogs, aren't they Remus?"

"As long as you don't start feeding them dog food then yes, I suppose they are," he said, then added, "Apart from the fact that they don't have tails, or dog ears, or wet noses, or four paws, or fur, or…"

"Yes, Professor, I get it," said Harry.

"You know," said Remus, sitting back down with Joshua in his arms, "They're nothing like puppy dogs."

"They're still cute," said Harry. He picked up Skylar who had looked like she was just about to cry for attention and rocked her gently back and forth.

"I didn't say they weren't," said Remus who was now preparing Joshua's feed with one hand.

"But you said they weren't like puppy dogs," said Harry.

"That's because they're not," said Remus matter-of-factly.

"But puppy dogs are cute, and if you're saying that they aren't like puppy dogs then that's sort of implying that they aren't cute because puppy dogs are cute."

"Harry," said Remus. "Shut up." Harry stuck his tongue out.

Later that afternoon, Dumbledore stopped by for a visit. Remus had (reluctantly) stepped out for a bite to eat and some fresh air leaving Harry alone babies, who had conveniently decided that they should have a competition to see who could cry the loudest (Leanna could cry for England.) Harry was only just getting Skylar to nod off when the door opened and Dumbledore popped his head in.

"Having trouble?" he asked, eyes twinkling as he sat down.

"That's the second time today Leanna has started crying and set the other two off," said Harry.

"Leanna? You've named them?" asked Dumbledore happily.

"Yeah," said Harry, kicking himself mentally for not thinking.

"So?" said Dumbledore looking at Harry expectantly.

"So?" asked Harry, very well aware of what Dumbledore wanted to know.

"What have you called them?"

Harry looked up from the baby to Headmaster. There was something playing about the old mans face that Harry found slightly suspicious. Hermione was right, he thought, Dumbledore knows.

"I guessed the other day," said Dumbledore, obviously reading his thoughts. "I should have noticed sooner how close you and Remus had become, but I overlooked it. Am I right in guessing that he could be the father?"

"Yes Sir," Harry muttered, bowing his head and preparing for the onslaught. He was in for it now.

"I see," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "And am I right in assuming that you and Remus are now in an intimate relationship?"

Harry nodded. When Dumbledore didn't say anything after a while Harry looked up hopefully, yet nervously.

"You're not going to fire him are you? I'm not going to be expelled am I?"

Dumbledore looked mildly surprised. "My dear boy, why would I do that?"

"Because," said Harry, bewildered, "Because it's illegal. The age of consent in the wizarding world is 17 and I slept with a teacher when I was 16."

"True," said Dumbledore nodding, "But what the Ministry doesn't know won't do any harm."

"But," said Harry, surprised by Dumbledore's reaction, "But you're the Headmaster. He's a teacher, I'm a student."

"Yes, that is the case," he said. "But you're also Remus Lupin and Harry Potter."

When Harry looked puzzled he continued. "I have never seen either of you this happy before," he explained. "After everything you have both been through I'd say it's about time you both found the happiness you both deserve. You make each other so cheerful; surely you have noticed the change in Remus? Even the wolf in him is happy with the way things are. Trust me when I say I do not want to be the one who breaks this new found happiness you both seem to have found with each other apart."

"But…but shouldn't you be telling me that I should have someone my own age?"

"I would never do that," said Dumbledore a little shocked. "You may be 17, but mentally you are so much older. Everybody your own age hasn't been through the things you have. Not many of them would understand, therefore you couldn't possibly be happy with them."

"But what if it gets out?" asked Harry thinking of Malfoy. "Wouldn't you be in trouble for letting us be together?"

"That is a risk I am more than willing to take," he said. "But I have to ask you something; what does Malfoy have to do with any of this?"

Harry cursed himself for letting his thoughts stray to him.

"Nothing," he muttered, but then he had a thought. What if Dumbledore already knew everything? He could have seen it in his mind after all. What if he was disappointed in Harry for not telling him sooner? Or for continuing to lie to him about certain things?

"Sir? Do you know who the others are? Have you seen it in my mind?"

"I never use Legimency when I can help it," he told him. "In conversations like these it just sort of happens. But I would never go into your mind purposefully unless it was absolutely necessary. I can, however, sense your feelings without even trying. You're worried. Care to tell me why? I might be able to help."

So he didn't know about Sirius, Malfoy, and Dean then. Harry sighed deeply. For some reason he felt that things would be a lot easier to deal with if he told Dumbledore the truth and he was glad that it was Dumbledore who had asked for Harry to tell him, not the other way around. He didn't think he had the courage to do it unless the old man asked. He knew it was a risk, but hadn't Dumbledore proven time and time again that he could be trusted? Praying for no interruptions, he took a deep breath. He was just going to tell him and get it over with as soon as possible.

"I slept with Sirius," he whispered. "Then Remus, then Malfoy, and then Dean. I'm pretty sure the babies aren't Deans. Obviously I don't want them to be Malfoy's. But what if they're Sirius'? I don't want to be the one who breaks their friendship apart. And what if Remus finds out that I slept with Sirius? He already knows about Malfoy and Dean. And that's another thing; Malfoy! He somehow knows about Sirius and Remus and he's threatened to tell everyone and I don't know what to do. I'm scared of losing Remus if he finds out about Sirius and I'm scared of breaking those two up, and if Malfoy says something then they'll know and they'll hate me."

Harry was that he sounded hysterical but it couldn't be helped. He had just given birth, he was allowed to get emotional; his hormones were flying all over the place after all – something that he wouldn't be missing once his body settled back to its normal self again.

"That's a lot of information to get at once," he said. He was quiet for a moment or two, probably thinking of what to say. "Ok, first things first. I can't do anything about Malfoy, but I'm sure he has enough sense to not tell anyone you and Remus are seeing each other and if he does then we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it. Secondly," he continued, "I'm sure Remus and Sirius will always be friends. They've been through too much together to fall apart now and they are both mature enough to sort their problems out. Thirdly, if Remus finds out he will not leave you; he loves you too much to hurt you. And lastly," said Dumbledore, "I think you need to tell him."

"What?"

"Remus needs to know," he said kindly, but seriously. "You can't keep lying to him about it. Chances are one of them is the father and what then? It's going to become pretty obvious to them, especially if Sirius is the father and wants to be involved. And you and Remus being together is going to raise some questions sooner or later. And if none of them is the father, they're bound to talk to each other about what happened. Harry, it's going to come out one way or another. Yes, Remus is going to be angry at first but I'm sure if you two talk things through he'll get over it."

Harry went slowly over everything he had just said but found no gaps. He was right, of course. They would both find out about each other, and what then?

"What do I do?" stammered Harry. "Who do I tell first? When do I tell them?"

"That Harry," he said, "Is up to you."

Harry sat there, staring at the baby in his arms who was still awake but, thankfully, not crying. She was kicking her little legs slowly and balling her little hands into small fists. Not for the first time the sense of unreality washed over him like a tidal wave. He knew what lay in front of him, knew what he had to do. He knew what was coming and wanted desperately to avoid it. But he also knew that it was something that just had to happen and one way or another he would have to deal with it.

"Remus, good to see you."

Harry's head snapped back up and he saw that Remus was back with a cup of coffee. Harry hastily cleared his head of all thoughts of what he and Dumbledore had just been talking about and forced a convincing smile on his face.

"You to Albus," Remus smiled as he sat down in his armchair.

"Harry was just about to tell me what you have named your beautiful children," Dumbledore beamed. Remus choked on his drink at Dumbledore's use of 'your'.

"Don't worry my dear boy," said Dumbledore. "Harry has been kind enough to enlighten me about your relationship, and I must say I am very pleased for you both."

"You are?" asked Remus, obviously taken aback.

"Naturally," nodded Dumbledore. "So, Harry?" he turned to face him. "What are the children's names?"

Harry sat on his bed reading The Evening Prophet for any news about Voldemort. He hadn't heard anything in a long time but he wasn't troubled over it right now. Quite a few articles had appeared in the Prophet over the last few days, however, reporting that Harry had gone into labour a week early in the middle of his Potions class, that he had arrived at the hospital, that a few reporters had been thrown (literally) out of the waiting room by 'the 'innocent' Mr Sirius Black, The Chosen One's Godfather', that Harry had given birth on the evening of the 24th October, and that no one at the Hospital was shedding any light on the sex and name of the baby (obviously it hadn't been leaked that it was triplets yet), but did say that Harry was in a good condition.

He sighed, folded up the newspaper, and placed it to one side. Now was not the time to be distracted; he had much more important things on his mind – like telling Remus the truth for instance.

Like it or not, Dumbledore was right. One way or another, Sirius and Remus were going to find out about each other; it was inevitable, just like Titanic hitting the iceberg, just like Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader – everyone knew it was going to happen – these kinds of things followed a pattern; it was meant to happen, it was going to happen, and there would be consequences.

But how to tell Remus? He couldn't just drop it into conversation could he? Oh, by the way Remus darling, I slept with your best friend and he could be the daddy of the children we're going to raise together.

He supposed he could just…not tell him. But then it would still get out wouldn't it? Their relationship couldn't remain secret forever and the identity of the children's other parent would be public knowledge sooner or later, and then what? Leave it to Sirius to inform Remus of what had happened between them? Remus would hate him for it.

Maybe he could make a deal with Sirius. Maybe he could convince him not to tell him? But then Sirius might be angry with Remus for sleeping with Harry. After all, he was disappointed in himself for doing it.

The door clicked open and Harry didn't look up. He knew it was Remus coming through the door. He heard it close, with a slight snap, and watched Remus' feet approach the bed. When Remus sat down without saying anything, Harry looked up.

The first thing he registered was that Remus did not look happy. He gaze was fixed, somewhat determinedly, on the opposite wall. Judging by his hard features he was biting the inside of his cheek or lip to stop himself from saying anything. The golden eyes that had recently been filled with joy and happiness were now cold and full of hurt. Harry gulped.

"What's wrong?" he finally asked, hoping he didn't sound nervous or scared or even guilty.

Remus sniffed in sarcastic amusement, but didn't say anything.

"Remus, are you alright? Has something happened?"

"Listen to you," scoffed Remus and Harry flinched at the sharpness in his voice, "Asking all the questions when I'm the one who needs the answers."

Harry didn't say anything to this; truthfully, he didn't know what to say to that. Obviously, thought Harry, something has happened to upset him and he's taking it out on me. But then, why was he being so cold towards him? When it became apparent that Remus wasn't going to elaborate on his words, Harry decided to speak up again.

"If I've done something to offend you then I'm sor…"

"Offend me?" he snapped and for the first time since he had entered the room he looked at Harry who fought the urge to back away. "Offend me? If that's what you want to call sleeping with Sirius then yes, you have offended me!"

Harry was aware that he had gasped at this revelation and he hated himself for it. Not for the first time, he felt his world crashing in around him. This is not happening, Harry told himself, this can't be happening. But it was. He just wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

Harry's mind immediately jumped to Malfoy. It was him, he had told Remus. He certainly had the motive and he would have had the opportunity as well; Remus had been at Hogwarts this afternoon, marking some work. He could have told him then. Oh, he was going to murder him!

"How…when…"

"I ran into him at Hogwarts," said Remus angrily. "He said he needed to talk to me. Said he'd done something stupid and needed a friends support."

"Friends support?" he asked, and then it clicked. "Sirius? Sirius told you?"

Why couldn't Voldemort just walk through the door and blow him up on the spot? He really didn't want to listen to this. He couldn't bear to see Remus like this.

"Yes, Sirius told me! He told me everything! He told me and you didn't!"

"I was going to tell you Remus," he cried. "I was going to tell you tonight."

"Well I think you left it a bit too late Harry!" he snapped at him. He pushed himself to his feet and walked across the room, fuming. He turned so he could see Harry and there was fire in his eyes.

"My best friend," he said as if trying to make it sink in. "My best friend could be the father of your children, our children. You slept with my best friend!"

"It's not like I cheated on you or anything," Harry shouted. "It happened before you!"

"Yeah," he shouted back fiercely, "So I heard! You lost your fucking virginity to him; to your Godfather!"

"Oh, don't be so hypocritical!" Harry shouted, regretting it already but he wasn't able to stop himself. "You slept with an under aged student!"

"HOW DARE YOU?" he yelled. "How dare you turn this around on me!"

"Then don't scream at me for sleeping with my Godfather!" Harry yelled back.

"Oh, this isn't about him being your bloody Godfather anymore Potter," he growled, venom flooding through every word. "This is about you sleeping with my best friend and not telling me!"

"I've already said I was going to tell you!" Harry shouted angrily. "Besides, I don't see how this is any different from me sleeping with Malfoy or Dean?"

"Because I lived with Sirius for 7 years!" he yelled, and for the first time since he had known him, Harry was scared of him; scared of the fact that he was a werewolf and all too aware of the fact that he had angered him.

"We slept in the same room, we ate at the same table, we learnt in the same classes. We grew up together! We even slept together for crying out loud! He was your first and he was my first as well! He's my best friend!"

"I'm sorry ok?" he cried. "I never meant to hurt you."

"Well congratulations Harry, you failed," he said dramatically. "How would you feel if you finally met someone who you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? Who you were madly in love with? You think you have the prefect person to share everything with, then you find out that they slept with your best friend first. It's not a good feeling Harry, believe me."

"We can get over this," sniffed Harry desperately. "We can work something out." But Remus didn't seem to hear him, or if he did he didn't pay any attention.

"You sleep with him and then you come to me? What the hell are you trying to achieve Harry? We're in a fucking relationship, bringing up these children together! Do you really think I want to be bringing up Sirius' children? Do you think I want to live with a constant reminder that my best friend got you pregnant?"

"You said it didn't matter whose they were!" he cried, tears splashing down his pain stricken face.

"Well it bloody well does now!" he screamed. "I will not raise Sirius' children!"

"They might not be his," said Harry, praying that they weren't.

"It doesn't matter either way," he muttered hatefully. Harry's heart stopped. You could almost feel the tension in the room; the hatred boiling between them. The painful silence was shattered by the sounds of three crying babies who had obviously been woken up by all the noise, but Harry ignored them.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked quietly.

"What do you think I mean?" And with that, Remus stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut, leaving a very shaken, very hurt, and a very hysterical Harry behind.

A/N: Thank you for reviewing! Please feel free to review again!

In the Next Chapter: The father is revealed! (finally)

bookworm51485: lol, it was supposed to be his, well, wee, but I suppose it does look like that doesn't it? lol. Yeah, I don't know much about DNA tests and I'd done so mcuh research about the pregnancy I couldn't bring myself to do more. Thank you for pointing it out!

Shadow Vampiress: I know. You said 'Nicole' was your middle name when I asked for name suggestions and it just seemed to fit. :-) Hey, my first names Katie as well! lol, but no offence taken.