Disclaimer: I alas do not own Harry Potter I wish I did but I don't. All I own is this computer I'm working on and a few other items in this room of mine.
A/N: If I say I'm sorry a hounded time well you people promise not to kill me? I'm sorry this took so long but my beater only just had the time to do this so she says sorry as do I and we both hope you like this delayed chapter as much as we had fun checking it and doing it.
Now then I haven't decided on what sex the baby is yet but I should by the time I get around to that in the next story of this as there is only one chapter left in this one after this chapter, and there is some bad news people I haven't even really started on part two of Rise of the Dragon Lords yet only that its called Ice and Madness, After the next chapter I'll be starting to post the next part in Dark Allies my first fic and hope many of you well keep reading my work until then fell free to review and tell me what you think I should make the baby.
Chapter 20: Shock.
/ Telepathic /
05 April 1997 14:45 PM A.D
Madam Pomfrey looked from the door through which Molly and Silvenestri had so recently departed to Minerva and sighed. She only hoped that the pair would be able to reach Tonks before she found Harry or the newly discovered soon to be baby would be minus a father before the young man even knew he was to be a father. Considering the general draconic appearance of the young woman on her exit Madam Pomfrey wondered if even the redoubtable Molly Weasley and a dragon might be enough to save Harry.
"I think you should go and find Albus, Minerva. We might need the help in calming her down and besides he will need to know about this."
The Professor nodded and sighed. "I would have thought they both would have been sensible enough to take precautions. Tonks at lease should have known better."
Madam Pomfrey snorted softly and looked at the potion bottle with narrowed eyes. "I need to have a talk to a few people. It seems that certain type of potion or potions are not as effective as they should be. You can be sure I will be investigating this and I only hope that others have not been using the batch."
Minerva hurried from the hospital ward and the nurse sighed as she looked around. She could only hope that they would find and rescue Harry or run Tonks to ground and thus prevent the addition of another patent to her ward at the moment.
'Mr. Potter has been doing rather well this year. It would be a shame for him to end up in here this close to the end of the year.' She thought and exited the ward moving quickly down a side hall. She had patients to attend.
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Professor Lupin rested his hands on the desk and smiled, well aware that everyone in the class was too occupied by their projects to notice. He liked the more senior classes as the students were mature enough to know the value of the subject matter and were generally prepared to do their own research and complete their projects and refer to their teacher only when they actually needed help. He had set this lesson aside for them to work at completing their projects as they were so near to finishing for the year and after the battle he was well content to enjoy a quieter routine.
During the last two months he, like other staff members at Hogwarts had been researching and then teaching as much information as they could find on those who in antiquity had been named Dragon Lords. This included information on the Greater Dragons and what made them different from the Lesser Dragons though some of the student body still seemed incapable of determining the differences in draconic relationship and abilities.
"But a dragon is a dragon" were words he was heartily fed up with hearing. At least the senior classes seemed to have grasped many of the subtleties as well as the more glaringly obvious differences that gave the varied draconic species their unique characteristics.
Of course it would have been a great deal easier simply to bring Harry into the classes and explain what a Dragon Lord was to the students but where was the good in doing it the easy way? Research and projects by the students would hammer more through their brains than a simple lecture from what amounted to a living legend. Some people despite what had occurred would always see Harry as the boy-who-lived and not as the rather dangerous individual he had grown to be.
Oh yes, the Boy Who Lived was dangerous enough but a Dragon Lord was something else again. Hopefully the projects being completed now would demonstrate that to many of the students and they would develop a natural caution without segregating Harry. They needed to warn everyone on the dangers of Dragon Lords but they needed people to see the human face of the legend and Harry thus far had acted more human like than the Lords of the past had been shown in the legends that had survived to the present day.
The most popular question amid the first and second year students had become could anyone become a Dragon Lord. The thought of hundreds of children running around emulating the figures of legend was enough to cause even a werewolf to cower in fear. While more intelligent questions had come from the older students Lupin had decided to set all of his students, regardless of their year the project to discover as much information as they could on the enigmatic but feared figures of legend and their mounts. It would be interesting to see the final results and just who had dug deeper than the popular legends.
Through the last two months Harry had largely been a good sport about the students who seemed to consider him to be the easy fix for their projects. During the first days of the project given by Lupin to his classes Harry had been inundated by those expecting him to simply give them the answers they needed. It had not taken long for Harry to express his own view on what was and was not appropriate research.
At this time Harry was reading a book on Dragon Lords written sometime in the 14th century and ignoring the looks of those who had been disappointed by his refusal to answer their questions yet again. Every lesson was the same, someone tried to get him to tell them some details they were perfectly capable of looking up themselves in the wonders of Hogwarts library. To his absolute disgust Professor Lupin had not let him off the project. While he was the real thing the Professor had decided it would do him the world of good to research what was fact and fiction and Lupin had added that he needed to see for himself why the Dragon Lords had gained so fearsome a reputation through the ages.
There were a few students Harry did help, those being the members of his Dragon Host though Hermione rarely asked him any details. She was keen on gaining as much information as possible from the library and finishing the project and then doing a comparison project with the information she learned from Harry. It was so typically a Hermione thing to do that Harry had simply shaken his head the first day he realized she was essentially working on two projects instead of one.
He was finding the book to be rather short on facts and long on supposition as in detailed flowery script it described the bloodthirsty rampage of the Dragon Lords and their beasts. In the midst of the general silence broken by the occasional rustle of clothing or turning of a page the sudden interruption was like a sudden dousing in cold water. The entire class started as the door flew open and Harry looked up from his book wondering why such drivel had ever been written to see Tonks storm through the door. At least he thought it was Tonks as there was something decidedly wrong with her face.
"I don't know what you've done Harry but I think you better run." Hermione whispered.
With a puzzled look at Hermione Harry glanced back as Professor Lupin closed his book and turned to see who it was who had disturbed his class. The fiery gleam in her eyes and almost reptilian look to her face caused him to stand, drawing her attention away from scanning his class. He had no idea what was going on but Tonks knew appropriate protocols for interrupting class and appearing in such an unseemly manner just was not done.
'I have no idea what this is about but whoever she is upset with had better be able to outrun her.' Her head snapped around at his movement and Lupin felt his hackles rise at the look directed at him but let it not be said that Lupin himself was a coward. 'I've only ever seen Tonks this upset once before and that was when she learned Sirius had died.'
"Is there something we can do for you Tonks?"
Tonks smiled a particular toothy smile. "No, nothing you can help me with, Professor. I just came to kill Harry." Her wand was out and in her hand and aimed at Harry in the same breath and the first binding charm on her lips.
Harry's eyes met those of Tonks and he saw a silent promise that he was about to hurt a great deal in a very short time. He had been about to laugh at Hermione's comment but all thoughts of amusement fled and he dived out of his chair and bolted to slide into the shelter of Professor Lupin's desk. Behind him Hermione was just as quick to throw herself out of her seat and out of the blast zone as two spells rocketed in. The student seated on the other side of Harry's former position was not so quick on the uptake and was knocked out cold when the spells intended to hit Harry caught him in their area of effect.
"What! What did I do this time?" Harry scrambled on hands and knees around the desk, parking himself in the relative safety of the professors slender form certain that Tonks would not target him with the professor between them. "If I'm going to die today I'd at least like to know why?"
Harry peered around Lupin and looked up at the Professor hoping he might shed some light on the situation but Lupin seemed inordinately amused by the entire situation and offered no enlightenment.
'Hmmm it can't be the fight from a few months ago. After all she has already chewed me out for that one. Every day for the first month! What have I done now?'
Professor Lupin resisted the urge to snigger more than a little amused that here was Harry, the third most powerful person in the Wizarding world and he was cowering from his girlfriend in a bad mood. The thought sobered him rather quickly when he realized that Harry had seen fit to place him between the love birds as though expecting him to offer some form of immunity to the young lady's ire.
Bad mistake.
Bad position to be in.
He might well be a werewolf but he was not a stupid werewolf.
'James was never able to handle Lily when she got really worked up either. He usually left me to placate her. I never wondered then why I was the one left to handle her but I think I will not be the default mediator to this generation. Harry faces down Voldemort so lets see how well he can handle Tonks in full rant.'
Harry gasped as the Professor neatly sidestepped and hastily crab crawled himself back to the relative protection of the Professors legs. Lupin tutted softly and glanced warily at Tonks half expecting another round of spells to be targeting him.
He was in time to see salvation in the form of Molly and Silvenestri rush through the doorway. Molly threw her arms around the enraged woman's shoulders, holding her arms to her side and effectively muzzling the spells at least for the moment.
Silvenestri grasped Tonks around the waist, trying to moderate the force of her grip, mindful of the fact that though she could be mistaken for a very young human female she was considerably stronger than a full grown human male.
"Control Nymphadora! Remember an Auror must always have control!" Mrs. Weasley panted.
"Tonks! Tonks, please. Calm down. You will injure some one other than Harry before you actually hit him and you know it." Silvenestri jumped up and down in her agitation, her arms around the woman she thought of as a big sister.
Lupin glanced at his class to find Hermione and a couple of other students leaning over the poor unfortunate victim of Tonks' attack. The boy was still unconscious and Tonks was struggling against the restraints and muttering some dark threats that positively chilled his blood.
Molly gasped at one particular threat, thinking that she really did not need to see Harry's insides walking around and wondering if a reversing curse could actually be used in such a fashion.
"Dear, it's not so bad. We need to talk and you must calm yourself. Let us take you back to the infirmary and we can have a civilized conversation."
Harry cowered behind the professor, peering out from behind his knees and watching with wide worried eyes as for almost a full minute Tonks resisted Molly and Silvenestri. He looked on in horror as suddenly the anger seemed to dissolve and Tonks, in her normal form crumpled into a heap on the floor and started to cry. With a sigh Molly gathered the wand from her unresisting grasp and Silvenestri threw her arms around the shaking shoulders now that she could reach them.
"What's going on?" Harry whispered.
Tonks cried harder and Harry looked at the Professor in utter confusion. He had no idea what was happening and while he had run in terror from an irate draconic looking Tonks he just felt helpless and utterly useless to do anything now that the immediate danger was past and she was a sobbing heap on the floor. Girls and crying in combination utterly defeated Harry.
"Perhaps you had best comfort her, Harry?" Lupin whispered.
"But… what did I do?" He hesitated before he crawled out from behind the professor and flinched as Tonks upped the level of her wailing and hit the floor with her fist. Mindful that a new bout of temper might be on the way Harry stepped strategically back behind his teacher.
"I have no idea, Harry but I would suggest that you ask her."
For a moment a look of utter terror crossed his face. She had flattened one of his classmates but it should have been him down on the floor now and he really was not of a mind to have her correct her mistake but at Molly's frown and Lupin's nudge he took a hesitant step away from the professor and then another toward the sobbing girl.
A groan from the background drew all eyes and the unconscious boy stirred and Hermione left him to the care of the other students just as Madam Pomfrey appeared in the doorway. The school nurse surveyed the classroom for a moment and motioned to the two boys kneeling beside the still groggy student.
"Take him to the infirmary." She watched Harry nervously approach Tonks, even going so far as to tentatively lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Tonks?"
'I see she has not informed him of impending parent hood. Ah well, it will be around the school soon enough.' When Tonks only cried harder and ignored Harry Madam Pomfrey tutted and nudged Harry out of her way and knelt beside the young woman.
"There now, Dear. Come along with me back to the infirmary and allow me to finish the tests. When I'm done you can come back and try to kill Mr. Potter again… and no doubt do a better job of it than you have thus far. I'll even allow you to injure him a little and send him my way again. Nothing we can't handle Dear. Up you get."
Madam Pomfrey ignored the people watching, focusing on Tonks and led the still sobbing woman from the room, her arms locked comfortingly around her shoulders. A very confused Molly and Silvenestri watched them go and Harry just blinked, totally lost by the situation. Professor Lupin looked grave and the rest of the class looked confused.
"Silvenestri… Mrs. Weasley? Do you know why she wanted to kill me? Do you know what I did?" Harry looked between the two hoping for some answers.
Molly and Silvenestri looked from Tonks who seemed to have stopped crying though she looked dazed and moved only under the direction of the nurse to Harry and Molly sighed, shaking her head slowly.
"No we don't. All we know is that she went to have her check up and then came running out of the room looking like she wanted to kill."
Silvenestri looked up at Harry and narrowed her eyes. /On another note I want to fly again Harry. Please? Can I go up tomorrow? I do so want to fly again. /
Harry blinked uncertain for a moment if this was all some bad dream. Tonks was out for his blood then dissolved into a sobbing mass, something Tonks never did and now Silvenestri wanted to fly? He looked at Lupin who was watching all with quiet speculation, wanting to ask him for permission to follow Tonks and find out what was happening.
/Fly? You… You want to fly? I have… Fine. Fine, you can go up tomorrow I suppose but only if you stay within the school grounds and only for an hour no more. No straining that wing. /
"Professor…?" he threw a glance toward the door and looked back at Lupin.
"Yes, go. Settle the young lady down and yes, you too Miss Granger."
Molly sighed. "I had better find Albus. We may need him to help if Tonks decides now is a good time to practice grievous bodily harm after all."
The werewolf watched as the group departed and turned his eyes back to the gaping students and with a sigh he wondered if any of them would get any more work done.
"Well now. You have all just been treated to the spectacle of the survival instinct of a Dragon Lord. I suggest you remember the lesson and get back to your work."
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Harry and Hermione with Silvenestri between them arrived in the main hallway leading to the hospital in time to witness the arrival of Professor Dumbledore from another hallway. The dignified old man looked grave and his eyes no longer twinkled in that well known fashion they had come to expect.
"Ah Harry. Molly and Minerva have informed me that Tonks is trying to kill you so I thought I'd come and give you a hand."
Harry looked relieved certain that Tonks would be calm in the face of the Headmaster's presence. He moved to join Dumbledore and the Professor had just reached a hand out to motion at the doors to open when the doors flew open and slammed against the walls. Madam Pomfrey rushed through the gap and motioned imperiously at the doors which just as quickly and noisily slammed shut. Her usually neatly ordered bun was now a mass of disordered wisps of hair but with the doors firmly closed and magically sealed behind her she quickly restored order to her appearance.
"Well this will be interesting. So far it's worse than when Lily Potter was pregnant." She mumbled and leaned in close to the doors, listening for a moment.
The nurse winced at the muted sound of cursing and screaming and then the loud clang of something metal hitting stone and she sighed, thinking of the joys ahead. 'She is going to be fun in a few more months when her hormones really take off. Mood swings will be given new meaning with this one. I wonder if Harry can survive the next few months?' She thought to herself and then smiled. 'I wonder if he will survive to the birth?'
Dumbledore considered the nurse for a moment, exchanged a look with Harry and then walked up to Madam Pomfrey and listened through the door. A white eyebrow arched dramatically after a moment of listening to some of the threats Tonks was screaming about Harry and his manhood and rending every male limb from limb and saving other women the hassles of dealing with the male of the species.
"Oh. Albus." Madam Pomfrey straightened when she realized she was not alone. "I never saw you there."
The headmaster's raised eyebrow lowered into a frown at the continuing tirade from within the hospital particularly to the comment "Getting me like this!" Putting two and two together and coming up with a definite four Dumbledore motioned Harry close to him, slipped his wand out and pointed it at the door.
"Mr. Potter I do believe this is your problem and you are going to need to deal with it on your own. No don't look so worried, My Boy, we are here to support you. Go ahead and I wish you the very best of luck and don't worry at all about the funeral. I'll take care of the arrangements personally." With a bright smile the professor flicked the wand, the doors opened and he pushed Harry through, flicking the wand again and causing the doors to slam shut and lock behind Harry.
"Professor! Harry!" Hermione rushed to the doors only to have Professor Dumbledore's chuckle stop her and he patter her shoulder gently.
"It's alright, My Dear. You'll see."
Harry looked in stunned amazement at the room around him and at the irate woman just letting fly with a metal tray at the closest wall. The reverberation of metal against stone seemed to free his legs from their stasis and he backed hastily to put some distance between himself and Tonks, which, he realized the next instant was a mistake. Tonks had not noticed his sudden arrival until he moved but now those furious eyes were centered on him and there was an unholy light in them that chilled him to the core.
Outside the doors Hermione wrung her hands together, aware that somehow Dumbledore knew what was going on and that Madame Pomfrey was making no move to enter the ward and rescue Harry from whatever Tonks was going to do to him. The Headmaster smiled cheerfully at her and using the tip of his wand he inscribed a circle in one of the doors and Hermione found she was looking into the ward through the circle.
"Harry." Tonks fairly purred and Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Ah… Hi, Dear. What's the matter?" Harry pressed his back to the door unaware that in the hallway outside Dumbledore tutted and shunted the viewing circle to the other door so they could see past him.
Tonks was seated on one of the beds and her head had been resting in her hands as though she had had trouble lifting it but there was no such trouble now. The ward was a shambles, broken crockery scattered everywhere and dented metal bowls, basins and bins were on display. One or two broken pieces of furniture also cluttered the usually orderly and neat ward. Resting between her feet Harry could see a weird sculpture that he thought might once have been a tray before it had been bent and twisted like a pretzel into that unrecognizable shape. An unrecognizable but never-the-less disturbing looking sculpture.
"Dear? Don't you 'Dear' me, Harry James Potter."
Harry gasped as he stared at her and swallowed. Tonks looked at him with the exact same shade eyes and hair as his mother. Indeed at this moment she struck an uncanny resemblance to Lilly Potter.
'Damn, don't look at me like that. It's scary. Uncanny. It's like being scolded by my mother.' Harry resisted the urge to move. He suspected that if he so much as twitched he would be targeted for the same sort of abuse the walls of the ward had so recently suffered. 'That reminds me. I'm going to have to talk with mum some time soon. I've been a bit busy and it's been a few months.'
Hermione flinched when Tonks called Harry by his full name and Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey nodded slightly, hardly surprised. Tonks had never before called Harry by his full name unless he was in the worst trouble imaginable and Hermione had never heard her say it with such chilling overtones. Beside her Dumbledore solemnly brought his right hand up to touch his eyebrow in a salute to the man who was about to die. Madam Pomfrey giggled like a girl and Hermione, wide eyed with amazement could only stare.
Harry was at a loss as to how to react. It was quite obvious that he was in serious trouble and a pissed off Tonks was something he did not want to deal with. He would happily face a hundred Voldemort's than have to face his lover's wrath.
Discretion was undoubtedly the better part of valor but for Harry there was no retreat. The doors were magically sealed behind him and he could not take the suspense much longer.
"What did I do to deserve this sort of treatment Tonks?" Harry winced as the words left his mouth. He had not meant to say that and he certainly had not meant to say it in that injured tone. He knew injured innocence was like waving a flag in front of an irate bull with Tonks in this mood.
Everyone on the other side of the door closed their eyes and Hermione groaned as they waited for Tonks to react.
"Oh, Harry, you fool. You and I are going to have a nice long sit down and talk about how you should talk to a young woman when she is upset." Hermione whispered knowing the explosion was imminent by the widening of Tonks' eyes.
Beside her Dumbledore grinned like a maniac and nodded to her happily watching the drama unfolding in the ward.
"What did you do?" Tonks whispered. "What did you do?" she repeated, this time louder and in a soft sweet voice.
"Bad mistake, Potter." Madam Pomfrey sighed.
Hermione sucked in a breath and pressed closer to the magical circle not wanting to miss a second of what was to come even as she told herself she really did not want to witness this. This was private, between Tonks and Harry alone but she could not drag herself away from the viewing circle. Curiosity was eating her alive.
"What did you do, Harry my love? I'll tell YOU WHAT YOU DID HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Tonks' voice grew louder with each word. "WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS GET ME PREGNANT! PREGNANT, POTTER! THAT'S WHAT YOU DID!" Tonks screamed.
Molly gasped, watching and listening from the background and Silvenestri blinked, wondering what all the fuss was and moved to the older woman. "Mrs. Weasley? What's pregnant?"
Madam Pomfrey sniggered at the innocence of the question and supported Hermione who seemed to have jelly for legs. The nurse hummed softly to herself knowing that the worst was now over… if, of course, Harry didn't make a stupid mistake, she amended. Dumbledore rocked back on his heels and nodded slowly having suspected as much though his eyes did widen at the thought of the future.
'Oh joy. A potential new Dragon Lord on the way and this child is an heir to the Black's as well as the Potter's… Wonderful. Just wonderful. I am so looking forward to another Harry Potter in this school in a few years time…' an evil smile lurked at the vision of another Potter causing chaos and mayhem in Hogwarts and Dumbledore sighed softly. 'On second thoughts maybe an early retirement is in order.' A swish of his wand altered the angle through which they viewed the room and he studied Harry with great interest. 'Hmm. Harry that shade of white just is not your colour, My Boy.'
Harry had slid down the face of the door and stared at Tonks. There was no denying the utter shock this news gave him or the fact that he did not know how to respond. His mouth worked as though he was talking but no sound escaped him and Tonks simply glared at him, silent and waiting.
"But… But… Potions… Always used…" He was expected to say something but nothing sensible seemed to be forthcoming and so he snapped his mouth shut. 'How could she be pregnant? We always used potions every time we slept together. I don't understand. How did this happen?'
He retained enough sense to keep the thought in his private mind, away from the part of his mind that he shared with Silvenestri. The last thing he wanted to do was have to explain the biological functions that led to pregnancy to a dragon child. Surely there was someone else out there both capable and willing to explain to her the birds and the bees.
Tonks was watching him with eyes bright with emotion though there was an utter lack of expression on her face. He could not decide what he saw in her eyes but it offered him no clue as to how he should react to her announcement. He knew he was going to end up looking as warped and twisted as that tray that now emulated modern Muggle sculpture.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry." Tonks hissed softly and slid from the bed. "The great Harry Potter is sorry? The Dragon Lord extraordinaire is sorry!"
She paced toward Harry and it was the slinking gliding pace of a feral cat approaching its prey but instead of pouncing on him and rending him limb from limb Tonks crouched down next to Harry and simply looked at him. Something in her eyes shifted after a moment Harry was uncertain if he should flinch, run or wait for the blow to fall.
"Do you know what happens to an Auror when she falls pregnant?"
Harry drew a deeper breath and shook his head. No, he had no idea what the repercussions for this might be considering the line of work Tonks was engaged in. In all too many ways Harry was still very ignorant of the Wizarding world.
"I'm going to be forced to take the next few years off work until the child is old enough to either go to school or to be home schooled by the father if he isn't an Auror. If he is an Auror… If he is…" Tonks shivered slightly and pushed the thought away. Harry wanted to be an Auror at one stage but now he was something else entirely.
"Tonks?" Harry whispered.
"I will be expected to be an Auror, Harry, my attention and thoughts on my job and not on my child. I… An Auror is to dedicate herself to her work, not to… It is an expensive business raising children and employing someone to do the raising for you. I have been drawing an Auror's pay for a little over a year as I only finished training last year. Because of the dedication required to be an Auror most of us only begin to think about having children after six years of careful saving. Six years of scrimping and scraping and searching for the best person to leave our children with. Someone we can dare to trust. It's a dangerous line of work and we need to make certain if the worst happens there is enough security for our children to be cared for."
Harry stared at Tonks and the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over her pale cheeks. 'Oh god the water works are going to come back if I don't do something quick. I know I don't know as much about the Wizarding world as most people but I'm not a complete bastard. How can she think I'll not help? I hate myself for making her cry but I've only just learned I'm to be… I'm to be… a... a…She's pregnant? I need to think. I'm to be a father… Do stop crying Tonks. Just give me a minute to think. I'm underage but… Yes, surely that's possible.'
Very gently and carefully in case Tonks mistook his actions and decked him he brought his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Gently and then more firmly he rocked her and touched his lips to her head.
"Tonks you don't have to do this alone, you know. I'm here. I can support you and this child. I'm… I'm considered to be underage I know even though I don't think of myself as being this young. I still think of myself as the age I was before I came back from the past… Oh, I know that's not relevant to this but Tonks, you are not alone in this. My parents left me more than enough money to get through school and for years after that. It's all there and it's got to be used some time."
Tonks seemed to be very still and he was uncertain if that was good or not. Finally with a sniff and knuckling a tear from her cheek she looked up at Harry. "You mean that I can use your money for our child?"
Harry sighed softly and smiled. Nodded emphatically at her and brushed hair from her face.
"It is our baby, isn't it? Ours. Yours and mine. I love you. I'm not old enough to marry in this time yet but we might as well be married with how close we are. I hope when I am considered old enough you will marry me. As far as I am concerned the gold is as much yours as it is mine besides this child is as much mine as it is yours. It's our baby and we share that responsibility."
Harry stood and offered her a hand as she got to her feet and then led her over to the bed she had been sitting on. He sighed softly as he settled there and hugged Tonks. He had the distinct feeling that he was going to get reamed for what had happened by a great many people when the word circulated.
On the other side of the doors Dumbledore cast the counter spell to dismiss the see through charm on the door and turned. Minerva had arrived and was helping Molly up from the floor and Hermione was looking wide eyed and much as he would assume someone would look who had been run over by a bus and found themselves still standing. It was not often he was treated to the sight of Hermione Granger absolutely flabbergasted. Madam Pomfrey looked satisfied and was putting the finishing touches to restoring her hair to its usual order and Silvenestri was looking at Molly with a confused expression.
"But what is pregnant?" The little girl insisted.
"Excuse me." Dumbledore drew their attention and lightly caressed the child's silver tresses. "We are a little pushed for time at the moment Silvenestri but a full explanation will be forthcoming, I assure you. For now I want all of you to give a wizards oath not to tell anyone about this. For the moment and until we can no longer hide the fact any more. When it is obvious that Tonks is pregnant I will do what I can to keep the questions down to a minimum and I suggest you deny knowing who the father of the child is. For your safety and particularly for the child's safety that must remain secret."
'Well that won't be long.' Hermione thought. 'The whole school knows Harry and Tonks have been sleeping together.'
Dumbledore knew from the look on the adult's faces that they were beginning to think of the consequences and he did not doubt it would not take long for Hermione to understand the dangers involved. 'We can't allow the Ministry of Magic or Voldemort to find out about this. The Minister would want the child to keep some measure of control over Harry, while Voldemort would use the child to taunt Harry and then kill it. He would have Harry in a rage when next they fight believing that would make it easier to best him and he may be right.'
Molly nodded and he knew she understood only too well the dangers that would follow this yet to be born child. Minerva was tight lipped and he doubted he had ever seen her so serious and from the expression on Hermione's face he knew she was beginning to understand. Satisfied Dumbledore turned to Madam Pomfrey and motioned to the doors.
"For the moment list the father as unknown in your report to the Ministry. Assure her that she will not be alone and that we will be here for her. Ladies." He inclined his head to them and made his way slowly through the wide hallways and corridors of Hogwarts. He had much to think on not the least of which was the chaos that could erupt at the birth of what might be the first Dragon Lord born in over 3000 years. And there were no Greater Dragons left other than a dragon child who had come through time.
Madam Pomfrey released the lock on the door and entered the ward with Hermione, Molly and Silvenestri. Madam Pomfrey nodded briefly to Harry and informed Tonks she would be needed to help fill out the medical report for the Ministry and first Hermione and the Molly offered congratulations to Harry and Tonks. Molly was of a mind to scold Harry furiously about this but she knew he had been alone for so long and he had lost Sirius and so could not bring herself to take him to task. At least not at this exact moment.
'There is always tomorrow.' She thought.
Tonks wiped at her red eyes and Madam Pomfrey offered her a cold compress to help reduce the swelling and the Auror sighed softly, a little hitch in her breath betraying her emotional turmoil.
"Thanks all of you for being so supportive. I… I really needed that. Molly you have had seven children. Could you… could you tell me how long it will be before I can eat breakfast without throwing it up a few minutes later?" Tonks said looking at Molly while Silvenestri seated herself on Harry's lap and Hermione settled at the foot of the bed.
Molly sighed softly and smiled at Tonks and glanced at Harry who was talking to Silvenestri in low whispers. For the moment the dragon child held his attention and she hoped he was thinking hard about explaining the birds and bees to her. That was something Molly really did not wish to have to do though she had a sneaking suspicion it just might fall to her.
"How long have you been suffering morning sickness?" From the corner of her eye she saw Silvenestri nod to Harry's comment and then turned her attention fully to Tonks.
"Madam Pomfrey says I am two months along and I must have started my morning sickness about a week after I became pregnant so a little less that two mouths." Tonks decided and then smiled when Silvenestri jumped up on to her lap and with a beaming smile lowered her head down to Tonks still flat belly.
"We are all different and morning sickness varies but I would think it should ease off any time now, though Ginny did give me an extra few weeks longer than the boys did." Molly replied with a gentle smile as she watched what Silvenestri was doing. It brought back memories of her pregnancies and she considered herself a grandparent to this baby and woe betide anyone who said otherwise.
Tonks nodded and hoped that Molly was right. She really hated mornings just now. Hermione, she realized was sitting quietly to one side, watching them but a little apart. "Your quite, anything wrong?"
Hermione watched as Tonks gently caressed the silver hair of the dragon child and she started as just for an instant she thought she saw a glint of light glowing in the child's eyes. Looking closer she relaxed as Silvenestri blinked innocently at her, hugging Tonks around the waist and smiling.
"Hermione?"
"Oh sorry. I was being practical and wondering what this was going to do to the trip to Norway?" Hermione leaned closer to Tonks and reached out to run her fingers through Silvenestri's hair. The child gifted her with a sleepy smile.
"It will not make a whit of difference. We still have to go and I'm still coming with you. I will be taking things easier than the rest of you, that's all." Tonks replied with a smile and turned to Harry. "Thought about what you are going to do if it's a boy or a girl?"
Watching them Molly decided that Harry was still somewhat shocked by the entire 'I'm going to be a father' thing. She was going to need to have a quiet word with both of them to make certain they understood the dangers that the baby might face after birth both from Voldemort and the Ministry though she was sure Dumbledore would speak to them. They would not be able to warn them enough about what might come.
Harry considered the question for a couple of minutes before looking up with a smile. "If it's a boy then we hope we can find a dragon Silvenestri is willing to mate with before he turns 16. He will need to establish a bond with a dragon or it is very likely that he will go rogue. Don't look so worried, Tonks. We can try to establish a bond with a lesser dragon." Harry made a face at this and everyone clearly saw that he didn't like the idea of his son having a lesser dragon as a partner. "If it's a girl she will most likely have all of your powers but girl or boy I expect both will be able to speak Parseltongue." He smiled at Tonks.
Tonks and Molly exchanged looks and Molly sighed. Men. That was not what Tonks had meant and Molly knew it well but she could see that Tonks was willing to accept what Harry said. Sometimes you just had to make allowances for the male of the species.
"Hermione I know it's a bit early yet but I would like it if you would agree to be the babies Godmother when she is born?" Tonks gave Hermione a rather nervous look hoping that she would understand and agree with the request.
Hermione beamed at Tonks but before she could reply Molly sniggered and pointed at Harry who looked as though he had been eating a lemon.
"She? It's a she? You already know it's a girl?" Harry could not hide the fact he was hoping for a boy.
"Yes SHE. At least until she is born it's a she not a he." Tonks primly informed him looking rather pleased with herself and the others chuckle at the look on Harry's face. "Hermione?"
"I would be honoured to be HER godmother." Hermione could not resist teasing Harry but turned serious immediately after. "Who are you going to name the godfather?"
Tonks looked at Harry then at Molly and sighed. "I don't know who would be best. Most of my old friends are either dead or are working for you-know-who." She looked down at her lap and hugged Silvenestri tightly.
Harry's sighed. Thus far his training had succeeded only in getting the younger members of his Host used to hearing the name without flinching but he was still working on them. He would have them saying the name without reacting fearfully eventually.
"You can say Voldemort, Tonks. There's nothing wrong about saying the name." Harry encouraged her gently then ducked as one of the pillow Tonks had been leaning on when it came flying at him. "What was that for?" He summing the pillow back to his hand with the tracing of simple rune and then handed it over to Tonks.
"For saying that name, what else? You know I am still getting use to the idea of saying it. Now do you know who we should name godfather?" Tonks said putting the pillow back under her back.
"I'm not sure. There's Ron of course and Neville and I rather like Charlie. Can you imagine Hagrid if we asked him? I really have no idea but we have time to think about it. Hermione how would you like to be the only godparent to our child for the moment?"
Hermione smiled at Harry "I wouldn't mind at all but…" She sighed. Now was probably not the time but she felt that someone sometime must make the first mention of how dangerous the times were. "What happens if you both…Well…" She trailed off.
Harry sighed softly and moved around the bed to sit behind Tonks and draw her to lean against him. He slipped his arms around her and squeezed gently, knowing what it was that Hermione felt needed to be said. She was right too, he knew. It had to be considered.
'I real don't want to bring this up but they both play major rolls in this war and if they should… should both of them die what happens to the baby? If she is born before it comes to a showdown?' Hermione thought to herself quietly feeling guilt for even thinking it.
Harry reached to gently squeeze Hermione's hand and reassure her that he understood and smiled at Tonks. "You are her Godmother. I ask that you take custody of her Hermione and perhaps Mrs. Weasley would help?"
Tonks smiled at both Hermione and Molly and nodded, clearly agreeing with Harry's idea. Gently she squeezed Silvenestri's hand as the child looked up at her and nodded.
Molly nodded at the three heads that turned to her, Harry, Tonks and Hermione who looked a little frightened at the prospect of becoming a foster mother. "I would be honored to help care for the little one. I'll always be there when and if I am needed. Now then, we have plenty of time to talk about this. Come along now. We had better go and eat. Madam Pomfrey can Tonks leave?"
All heads turned to the small office at the head of the ward where Madam Pomfrey had gone to fill out the forms the Auror's would need to add to Tonks' file. The nurse looked out of her office and nodded and waved them all toward the door and then went back to work as Harry moved around the bed to lift Silvenestri from Tonks' knee then led the way out of the hospital and toward the great hall. The little silver haired girl bounced alone happily, delighted that she would have a playmate in a few mouths time.
/ You will not be playing with the baby for a few years Little Miss. Human babies don't grow as you do. / Harry sent to her and Silvenestri pouted back at him. Noticing the looks and the pout everyone laughed amused by the facial expressions though no one could hear the silent fight going on between the two.
The students of Hogwarts were just taking their seats in the hall but Harry managed to secure enough seats for everyone that come with him from the hospital wing. Tonks was sat on his left, Hermione to his right and Molly was on the other side of the table with Silvenestri settled next to her. Plates were filled with much amusement as Silvenestri suddenly found a plate of raw meat before her and the dragon grinned and looked ready to dive into the bloody mess. A soft "Manners dear" from Molly saw Silvenestri scowl and with a sigh tuck into the meat using a fork. No one commented and everyone tried to look anywhere but at the sweet little girl and her plate piled high with raw meat.
The meal had barely started when Ron walked up slipped onto the seat beside Tonks. He tried to ignore his mothers enquiring look and at his discomfort Molly sighed and focused her attention on her meal, giving them some privacy.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked looking at Harry and Hermione in particular. He looked nervous but it was obvious that he wanted to sort out the mess he had made of things with Hermione and Harry.
Harry arched an eyebrow and looked pointedly at the seat Ron was sitting on. "Not at all have a seat." He grinned and the four of them chuckled before eating a few bites and waiting for Ron to make the first move.
"Harry, Hermione. I… I wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry about how I've behaved over the last couple of months. I'm… I've been… Oh I don't bloody know how to do this. I'm sorry okay? I'd have loved to go with you guys to Norway but if you are willing I'd hope you will let me keep an eye on things down here for you while you are gone." Ron glared furiously at his plate while he waited for one of them to speak.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances and then grins followed by a nod from Hermione and Harry turned back to Ron. "I have been waiting for you to say something of that nature for over a month now. Forgiven but if you hurt Hermione again I will feel duty bound to hurt you, understand?"
Ron grinned something resembling the old grin no one had seen from him for months now. "Yeah. Understood. Thanks."
"So how long before you can have your bags packed?" Harry grinned. At Ron's startled look everyone at the table laughed. "Well? Are you coming to Norway or not?"
"I… You bet! I'd love to go."
Towards the end of the meal Ron moved around Tonks and Harry to have a word with Hermione and he watched as his mother came around the table to take the place he had just left. "Darn. Looks like I lost my seat. Hermione, I know it was my fault what happened. I just want you to know I want to be friends and I'm sorry."
"I want to be friends too." Hermione returned and motioned to the vacant seat next to Silvenestri. "You can always take your mothers seat."
Molly ignored what was going on with the others and leaned close to whisper to Tonks. "You have to eat more, dear including a wider variety or vegetables and fruits. You are eating for two now so no augments. Not a great deal more but substantially more for the little one." She finished off her admonishment by placing a chicken leg and some carrots on the plate.
"You're trying to make me fat." Tonks returned with a pout before sighing and eating.
Harry shook his head and chuckled at the comment and told her in a whisper that he would love her no matter how she looked.
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The next morning found Harry seated in the stands of the Quidditch pitch dressed in full armour and with his cloak wrapped around him. He gave a deep sigh and gazed around him at the early morning sunlight and the empty stands before looking at the red leather diary in his lap.
'She is so going to kill me. It makes no difference that she doesn't have a physical form. Somehow she is still going to kill me.'
And he hadn't had a decent breakfast yet either. Sighing he knew there was no use putting off the inevitable and indeed that could make it worse. With a shiver of dread Harry opened the book.
Staring at a blank page would not accomplish anything either he muttered and with a sigh that clearly stated he was expecting to die both quickly and horribly he picked up the quill next to him, dipped the nib in ink, gulped and wrote as quickly as he possibly could.
'Himumguesswhatyourgoingtobecomeagrandmother.'
He slammed the cover shut and groaned, hiding his face with his hands. "I'm dead, stick a fork in me for I'm done."
After a few minutes in which he gathered his courage together Harry gingerly opened the book once again just enough to see his mother's reaction was in big bold letters.
'WHAT!'
'Hmm. Well, I think she took it better than I thought she would.' He decided. "There could have been something nasty waiting for me on the page."
Opening the book he dipped the quill in ink once more and settled down to converse with his mother, hoping that she would listen and not inundate him with comments ranging from curses to hexes.
'It's true Mum, I just found out yesterday. Tonks is pregnant and I'm going to become a father.' he paused with the quill held over the page and then sighed. He really needed to know Lily was not angry with him. 'You are happy for me right Mum?'
He stared at the page, waiting for his mother's words to appear and hoping that she would be happy for him. He had been alone for a long time and the more he thought of having a child of his own the more certain he was that it was the best thing that could possibly happen to him. With Tonks and their baby he would not be alone anymore. He would have a family.
'Of course I'm happy for you dear. I was surprised though. I had thought I would have a few more years ahead of me before becoming a grandmother that's all. How is Tonks taking the news?' The words flowed onto the pace and accompanying them was a warm and loving sensation. The feeling Harry got from the book was that his mother had accepted the news and really was happy for him.
'She wanted to kill me at first but we are over that now. I think she loves the idea of having a baby. Say mum do you happen to know if twins runs in the family? I sort of want a boy and Tonks says it's a girl and… I… Just so I can warn Tonks if it does end up being twins.' Harry wrote.
A feeling of amusement came from the book and the words flowed, dancing into being quickly and neatly. 'No twins on my side of the family, I'm afraid dear. From memory I think your father's mother told me once that there would be the odd set of twins born every so many generations, but your grandfather was a twin so Tonks should be safe. Sorry dear, you probably will not end up with a pigeon pair. It's probably just as well considering you were a bit difficult to convince it was a good thing to be born. Then again most Potter's require a bit of an effort to give birth to or so James said after I had you. I hate to think what Tonks would be like having two Potters at once. You might have to run and hide out for a bit.'
He grinned at the book and wrote quickly. 'Thanks for the warning. I better get going. Silvenestri is going for her first flight since her wing was wounded a couple of months ago. Don't worry, I'll come back later and tell you everything that's happened. Talk to you soon, ok mum?' Harry waited just long enough to see Lilly's 'Okay. I had better hear from you soon young man.' appear on the page before he shut the book.
For a few minutes he had been aware of the sound of voices drawing nearer and he knew the Dragon Host was arriving to witness Silvenestri's return to the air but when he looked up from the diary he stared and then chuckled. Streaming down toward the Quidditch pitch was what seemed like most of the school, students and professors included. As he watched the stands began to fill and with a sigh Harry got to his feet and descended the stand and walked across the grounds to where Silvenestri and the Host were walking. The little girl walked with a happy spring in her step and a beaming smile.
"It's nice to see you're looking forward to your maiden flight, Silvenestri." Harry said to the little girl at his side and looked around. Seeing Tonks approaching he headed across the field and greeted her with a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Of course I'm looking forward to it. Two months I've been stuck on the ground. I still can't believe you made me stay grounded for that long." Silvenestri huffed and the gathering members of the Dragon Host laughed at how the little girl poked her tongue at him.
"We needed to make sure your wings had healed. No sense in damaging you even more because of impatience. Well then, first things first. Lets go over into the middle of the field and you can change forms. I'll have a look at those wing joins and check out the other injuries and then and only then will I decide if you can fly or not." Harry said.
Silvenestri ignored the filling stands and marked out into the centre of the pitch and in front of everyone transformed. A concerted 'Aaahhhh!' swept the stadium.
Albus from his place in the Professors box had to admit that Silvenestri looked much better. Gone was the dragon that was grey with fatigue and bloody, battered and burned. This gleaming silver creature before him looked glorious in the morning sun.
'It will be good to see her in flight without fighting.' He thought. 'She will be very graceful. She has a neat little body and good breadth of wing. Not much in the way of scars now. That's pleasing to see.'
Harry walked up to the now fully healed Silver Dragon and began a detailed examination of the wing joints and other areas that had been severely burned and then proceeded to examine the places where the dragons claws had gouged in the fight.
"Hmmm everything looks alright, but I don't want you in the air for long. Do you hear me, Young Lady? Twice around the stadium so I can judge flexibility in the wings and if I signal you its okay you can fly longer. An hour max. No more until we build up your stamina."
Silvenestri arched her neck, looking over her shoulder at Harry and gave a short snort before she hopped in a comical manner to gain some distance from him before she unfolded her wings to their full length. Harry watched critically as the dragon's legs bent and tensed and her wings quivered with expectation and then she leapt in a mighty heave to ensure she had enough clear air for the all important down stroke of her wings.
"Ooooooohhh! Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" The sighs resounded around the Quidditch pitch as the dragon beat steadily higher until she was above the pitch and then circling and every head was straining to keep her in sight as she circled.
/ Hey don't go too far. Let me check first. / Harry sent to her via their link as he walked over to Tonks' and enfolded her into a hug, settling with her held to his side and she rested her head on his shoulder.
Tonks smiled widely as she watched the beauty of the Silver Dragons flight and she could see how carefree and happy the dragon was to be airborne again. Silvenestri bellowed, her head held high but she circled, coming in low over the pitch and snaked her head around at Harry before beating strongly to gain height again.
"Let her go Harry. She's having fun." She nudged Harry and caught the look on his face as he watched the high flying dragon.
"She's okay. I was worried about the wing healing but Charlie knows his dragons it seems. Don't you tell her he said she could try a test flight a couple of weeks ago. I just wanted to make certain she was healed."
Harry grinned at Tonks' look and sent a message to Silvenestri to have fun but to remain in the school grounds at all times and reminded her he set a time limit. Again the dragon roared and arced into a turn and the spectators craned their necks to watch as the Dragon beat toward the castle and then began to weave her way happily around the many turrets and towers of the castle.
Dumbledore grinned in delight to see her enjoying free flight as the students began to applaud the antics of the dragon.
'By Merlin she is beautiful in flight.' he thought before looking down at Harry in time to see him give a smiling Tonks a hug and deep kiss. He was not the only one who saw and he knew within a couple of hours their relationship would be confirmed and known to the entire school. "They have hidden it long enough I think. I'm happy enough to allow them to show how they feel openly. We will need to do what we can to help them. " He noted the nods of the professors who were sharing the box with him and he also noted the one professor who scowled. Snape looked far from amused.
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Silvenestri's return to flight had been a great success and was the talk of dinner at Hogwarts that night. Dumbledore was content to allow the students to begin to think of Silvenestri as their mascot as it was far preferable to having them panic every time the child walked into a room.
Near the end of dinner he rose to his feet and clapped his hands for attention. He congratulated Silvenestri on her return to the air and then looked to Harry and Tonks. "Would Harry Potter and Nymphadora Tonks please see me in my office before retiring this evening. The rest of you, enjoy the remainder of the feast, go about you work and studies and good night." He left the hall a few minutes later and Minerva followed him.
Harry and Tonks exchanged looks but could only shrug as neither had any idea what the Professor could want with them. Both were well aware that they had been receiving pointed looks from many of the students. Some of the girls were positively glaring at Tonks and the way Harry treated her and some of the boys were scowling at Harry for much the same reason. Both knew that their relationship was far from secret after the morning and both had shrugged off the looks but they hoped things would settle down in a day or two.
"You know some times I feel like ripping their heads off for looking at us like that. Then I remember that that is the Dragon Lord side of me talking and not my more human side." Harry whispered to Tonks as they left the Great Hall as he wrapped an arm around Tonks' shoulders.
Professor Lupin's project had shown him why Dragon Lords were so feared by the modern day wizard and he was determined not to fall to the draconic anger that had overcome so many of the old Lords.
"Join the club. So, do Dragon Lord's lovers get to share those tendencies or is it just me?" Tonks smiled at the suddenly serious look on Harry's face as he tried to remember what he had been told about Dragon Lords and their mates. "Joking, Silly."
It was not a long walk to Dumbledore office and on entering they found Minerva and Dumbledore sipping freshly brewed tea.
"Now Harry. Minerva and I have been wondering what you two have planed to do about this trip to Norway and the child? We need to modify arrangements where necessary. Sit down, sit down." Dumbledore offered them all a sherbet lemon.
Harry looked at Minerva who poured tea for them and then at Tonks who nodded encouragingly before answering. "No need to make too many changes. We need to add Ron to the team and that will be just about all that needs changing."
Dumbledore looked to Tonks who nodded her agreement. "I am aware that I need to be more careful than I usually am and we should be back long before the baby is any where near due."
"Very well. Harry might I recommend that before you leave you have your account at Gringotts made accessible by Tonks in the event that something happen to you? It is always best to think worst case scenario and be pleasantly surprised when nothing untoward eventuates. Tonks will have much less trouble if all of this is seen to before your trip."
Harry nodded. "Yes, Professor, I should have thought of that."
At Harry's request Dumbledore produced paper and quill and Harry wrote a note to the management at the wizard bank informing the goblins there that Tonks was to have access to his vault and to send him another key as soon as possible. Dumbledore sealed the letter and promised to have it delivered the next day.
After discussing the journey to Norway in greater detail Harry noted Tonks yawn and discovered that he was feeling tired himself. It was getting late and he sighed softly, meeting Dumbledore's gaze. "Is that all for the moment, Professor? I have a test tomorrow."
Dumbledore nodded, wished them both a good nights sleep and watch as there left. Minerva said her own goodbyes not long after and Dumbledore found himself alone in his office, the paintings of the former headmasters snoring softly in the background.
"I hope they are successful on this job for all our sakes." He said to the empty room.
In a room a below Dumbledore's office Rowena stood within her mirror room. She had been watching the meeting in the office and lingered after Harry and Tonks had departed. Hearing the Headmasters words she nodded and waved her hand at the mirror nearest her. A landscape made up of a massive ice burg surrounded by smaller drifting plates of ice was revealed to her. More and more ice was revealed as the picture moved until it looked like she looked upon an ice forest.
"But will they be able to get the city back?" She sighed watching the waves being whipped up by a rising wind come crashing into the cliff face.
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Thanks to the following reviewers:
Yasmine Lupin, Story-long, XFate, Rkhiara, old-crow, Rowena Gryffindor 2, Akalon, The-Resident, Jeff-fur-ee, lordvitiris, kupchoi, kaos, danielc, blah29, kat, Blue Werewolf Boy, Cycla, Azuresky123, Uber Noob, Silverscale, anon, Wytil, anti-thule, Rocky235, Dagger1211, APS, Zesuit.