Wonny: Erm, I don't know what to say. Er, Read and Review? Nya?

Getting Paranoid

Draco awoke feeling like he had the day he found out he was expecting: sick and dizzy. He managed to lean over the side of the bed and be sick into a trash bin set conveniently at that spot. Wiping his mouth, he realized that someone was holding back his long, blonde hair. Looking back, he found Harry taking his hands away.

"What're you doing 'ere?" Draco muttered.

"I brought you here." Harry said coolly. "You passed out, remember?" Draco did remember. He shuddered.

"Thank-you." The silver-eyed boy whispered.

"Ah, young Mister Malfoy; so glad of you to join us in the conscious state." Madame Promfry pulled back the curtains, "Off, Potter; this is private." She shooed the Gryffindor out of the curtained area. She then cast the Silencio Charm on the curtains and turned back. Draco gulped. He had the feeling that this wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Ow, ow, ow..." Draco frowned, sitting down gently on his bed. Erin rolled her eyes.

"All she did was stick her hand up your-"

Draco gave her a withering look, and she realized what she'd been about to say. "You're right; owch." She resumed her human form and flopped down on the bed beside him. She watched him for a minute before opening her mouth again.

"You know, I did promise to tell you why the baby would feed off your magic." She watched amusedly as Draco eyed her with renewed interest.

"Well, why would it?" He asked, impatiently.

"Well, why wouldn't it is really the correct question. I mean, when you give it some thought, don't you think that if the right nutrients weren't available, it would turn to the other source of energy?" She paused.

"I suppose." Draco reasoned. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

Erin raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it obvious? If you don't eat, it will turn to your magic to continue to grow. That's why it is so very important not to skip meals while you're pregnant. Once your magic's gone, both of you could kiss your lives good-bye. Simple, eh?" She chuckled. "Bit on the blonde side, aren't you?"

"What?"

"American joke; didn't think you'd get it. Forget about it." She got to her feet and rooted through a drawer in her bedside table. She pulled out, finally, a photo album. It looked silky, and closer inspection revealed a velvety surface. She brought the book back and sat down next to Draco again.

"What's in there?" Draco asked. He leaned over, eyeing the book with curiosity.

"This is my album. It's full of pictures of my home and two of my very special Japanese friends. They were the one's I was telling you about. They were in a situation just like yours." The red-head flipped open the photo album. She kept flipping until she got to a picture of a teenager with black hair and brown eyes. He waved and smiled at the two of them. "That's Satoshi: he and I met over the Sky-net. He wrote to me and told me, one day, that he and this boy he really liked were in a bit of a tight spot. He wanted my help, and he sent money to America so I could stay with him." She smiled sadly at Satoshi's face. "I'll never forget the time I spent there; how jealous my friends were."

Draco looked across the page at the photo of another teenaged boy. This one had wavy brown hair and emerald green eyes. 'Like Potter's...'

"Who's that?"

Erin, who had been staring off into space, shook her head and glanced down at the picture. The boy gave a sneer and held up the V-victory fingers. "That's Shigeru, Satoshi's boyfriend. He's the father. Nice guy, but he was a little vulgar at points." She turned the page. This one showed a Japanese style home. Cherry blossom trees waved in the wind. Satoshi and Shigeru were holding each other fondly. Once and a while, they would lean over and kiss each other. It was a good photo. "That's where I stayed. Pretty, huh?" She then snapped the book shut and handed it to him. "You can look at it. If you want to know something, just ask."

With that, the animangus guard bounced onto her own bed and was, in seconds, fast asleep. Draco flipped through her photos, looking at each in turn. At the start of every month, there would be a picture of the boy named Satoshi with his shirt up, exposing his belly. Every month, his belly got bigger. He would smile and laugh at the photographer's expression once and a while as well. Draco stopped when he reached a photo dated 8-14-05. He gazed at it, smiling a little.

Satoshi was in a hospital bed, with the boy Shigeru at his side, both were making over a small infant in a bundle nestled in Satoshi's arms. Both looked tired, but extremely pleased and proud. Draco shut the book and lay it by his bedside table, crawling under the covers and drawing the curtains around him. He wondered what he would feel like when his own child was born. 'Sore,' he decided, 'sore and tired.'

He was just about to drift off when the door to his room opened.

"Draco?" someone called.

Draco gave a muffled "What?" and waited.

"It's me; Harry. Snape wanted to make sure you got the potion he left for you."

Draco sighed. "I didn't see one." He groaned.

Harry crossed the room and pulled back the curtains. Draco frowned disgustedly.

"It's right here. Take it before you drift off." Harry stuffed potion into Draco's hands. Draco took a quick swig and lay back down.

"There, happy?" Draco narrowed his eyes. "Now do you mind, Potter?"

Harry stared at him reproachfully. "I'm going. G'night." He stood and walked away briskly. He hoped Draco would apologize, but the Slytherin said nothing. He sighed sadly. "Sleep well."

"...Thank-you. Night."

Harry stopped and smiled into the dark room. "Welcome." Then he left.

Draco felt rested after waking up, a first since he'd been pregnant. He immediately started taking it all the time. Unfortunately, the sleep was the only thing the potion improved. At the end of two months, Draco's ankles were so swollen and sore that it became unbearable to walk. He was nauseous all the time, and that was a really big problem where classes were concerned. He thought at one point that he was going to miscarry because of severe pain in his stomach, and that got his emotions in turmoil. And, as if that weren't enough, he began to notice that his pants were getting tighter around his belly then he liked. Things were just not going smoothly for Draco.

Erin kept her yellow eyes upon him night and day. There were even times when he would wake up and find her luminous eyes staring at him. It caused him on more then one occasion to scream and chuck the nearest object at her, and that would usually be the lamp. She had, currently, a bandage on her tail, and would scowl at Draco, dare he meet her eyes.

Worst of all was the growing paranoia. Draco feared more then he usually did. He hated potions, which used to be his favorite class. Come off it, though; some of those concoctions could be deadly for the baby. Snape seemed to be treading on the thin line between safe and not-safe. To Draco, anyways.

But the thing, or person, he feared most was the person who was the other parent. Draco just didn't trust Harry. He had he feeling deep down in his gut that if Harry got pissed like he had that one night that he would react the same way. Draco was afraid, though, not only for himself, but for his growing child. He could not afford to be raped again. If he lost this child, Draco felt that surely he would lose his mind. Slowly, Draco began to avoid Potter altogether.

At first, he would only talk with him briefly. Then he would just smile at whatever Harry said. Finally, he started avoiding the raven-haired teen. Whenever Harry and his friends walked down a corridor, Draco darted into another full of Slytherins. He was beginning to wish he had some sort of map that would tell him where Harry was and where he was going. The farther he was from the other boy, the better. Erin said nothing, but she did sigh occasionally and shake her black furred head. After all, what could she say? Draco was carrying the baby and it was his choice if he wanted to de-connect himself from its father.

When Draco started toting around his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, again, Harry finally decided to pull him to the side.

The green-eyed teen waited until Draco came out of the Potions classroom before confronting him. Draco took one look at the other and turned back to the burly body guards, waiting patiently for them. They, however, were busy with several boils that were sprouting from their faces. Harry praised Ron for the jinx, then touched Draco's shoulder.

The blonde started. "What?"

Harry pulled at his robes gently. "Can I speak with you in private for a moment?"

Draco paled. "No, I-I have homework. Lots. Sorry." He turned to flee when Harry grabbed his arm.

"Would you quit it? You act like I'm some kind of killer."

"Get off! I don't want to go anywhere with you!"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Why not?"

"I don't trust you! LET GO OR I'LL FRY YOU, POTTER!" Draco's eyes turned white, as they had a couple of months ago. He wrenched his arm from Harry's grasp and fled down the hallway. Pansy stopped him to ask what was wrong, but he growled at her and kept going. Erin clung on for dear life.

When Draco finally slowed down, he'd come to the edge of the lake. He remembered Potter being down here with him and massaging his ankles. Waking up next to him. Draco groaned and collapsed onto the soft, December grass. He couldn't roll over onto his belly; it was rather sensitive. He stared at the gray, depressing sky for a moment. He absentmindedly placed his hand over his stomach. After what seemed like forever, but was only five minutes, he sat up and put his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled. Erin watched and then rubbed herself against him.

"He-he's supposed to help me," Draco whimpered from somewhere in his slim fingers, "but I just- I just don't feel like he's-"

Erin sat on his shoulders, keeping a constant purr while she spoke. "It's mood swings. You'll get over it, my friend."

"I just can't help but think that he'll do something else to me... I hate it!" Draco wept bitterly. "Damn it. GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!" He clutched his blonde hair in exasperation. "Why can't I live a damn normal life? Fuck, my father's a Death-Eater, my mother's a Veela, I'm pregnant, and the father is Harry Potter. I seriously don't think this could get any-"

"Worse?"

Draco and Erin looked up. Draco groaned and put his head back in his hands. "Damn you, Potter, can't you just fuck-off?" Draco cried exasperatedly.

Harry frowned. "Well, I think I have a right to follow you, seeing you are carrying-"

"Don't say it; whatever you do, just don't say that..." Draco muttered.

Harry stared. "What in the Hell has gotten into you? What are you, paranoid?"

Draco growled. "Paranoid? Of course not! The only reason I'm not going to go anywhere with you is the very same reason that led to me getting knocked-up! Can you blame me? Well, I suppose since that reason concerns you, you could blame me..." Draco met the Gryffindor's eyes. "And you would, wouldn't you, you sick bastard." He turned away and glared into space. Harry just stood there, feeling hurt and confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you and the way you raped me, you git! If you don't get it, then shove-off; I want to be alone. Doubt that's possible, now." He gave Erin a withering look, which she hissed at.

After some quiet thought, Harry sat down beside Draco, who flinched. "That's what's bothering you?"

Draco rolled his silver-colored eyes. "No, I just threw it out there to confuse you. Yes that's what's bothering me! Are you that naive?"

"Insulting me isn't helping."

Draco threw his hands up. "I give up!"

"Look, if that's all that's bothering you, I'll give you my word that it won't happen again."

Draco stared at the other teen. "Your word?" Draco gave a weak laugh. "That's it? I don't think you realize how much trouble your mistake that night caused. Let me explain for you: I'm pregnant with your child. You. The Boy-Who-Lived. Now, I know that you know what my father is, correct?"

Harry nodded. "A Death-Eater, yeah."

"Yes, he is. Now, Death-Eaters support and obey who now? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, yes?"

"Yes, yes, I'm not a complete idiot, you know."

Draco ignored him. "Now, knowing that, can you picture what would happen if The Dark Lord found out that I'm carrying your baby? His Nemeses child? THE PERSON HE'S SUPPOSED TO KILL! Now do you get the picture!" Draco felt tears trickle down his cheeks again. "I'm going to get fucking killed carrying this baby..." Again, the Slytherin put his head down into his knees. "And it's all because someone didn't like what I had to say about them..." Soft sobs came from the broken Draco.

Erin mewled softly and rubbed against Draco's knee. She gave Harry a look that said "Say something.", and resumed her rubbing.

Harry hesitated. Everything Draco said was true; that it was Harry's stupid mistake; that it was most likely going to kill Draco, by being murdered or otherwise. But thinking of Voldemort going after his child got Harry to wake up and see, finally, how much damage that one tiny mistake had blossomed into. What hurt worst was that Draco blamed himself because of what he'd been feeling. Harry knew it wasn't Draco's fault. If anything, it was Harry's fault.

The Gryffindor reached over and placed a hand on Draco's back.

"It wasn't-isn't- your fault."

Draco looked up from his hands. "W-what?"

"I said it's not your fault. You seemed like you were blaming yourself. This is my fault, and I'm going to make sure that nothing happens to you. Voldemort is going to have to go through me first." Harry gazed at the other, eyes giving off a sense of seriousness.

Draco laughed weakly, wiping his eyes. "That's very noble of you, but being the hero isn't going to work, this time. Do you really think The Dark Lord will hesitate to kill you to get to me? Excuse me; the baby? Just because you're supposed to fight him in the end doesn't mean he'll run away when you step in front of me." Draco leaned on one of his arms, staring at Harry inquisitively. "You're serious, though, aren't you?" The Slytherin chuckled. "Who'd have thought..."

"Thought what?"

"That Harry Potter would offer to protect his worst enemy; well, second, next to the Dark Lord." Draco shook his head. "Un-bloody-believable."

Harry thought for a moment.

"Third."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Third worst enemy. Snape's my second."

Draco grinned. "Excuse me, then."

Erin the cat yawned. "What time is it?"

"Emmm..." Harry frowned. "Dunno." He looked to Draco, who sighed and pulled up his sleeve and looked at his Star-trigemy reader. (A/N that's a watch like the one Dumbledore wore during the first book.)

"It is..." the blonde grinned, grabbing his bag, "Time for you both to start wearing a watch." He laughed as both the cat and the Gryffindor chased after him. "A little touchy, aren't we?" He called over his shoulder as he ran. The laugh died in his throat when a tight, curling pain blossomed in the pit of his stomach.

Draco stopped dead in his tracks, wrapping an arm around his waist. He fell to his knees and brought the other up around the first. He was dimly aware of feet approaching. Draco groaned, wincing.

"Oh, like we're going to fall for that one." Harry knelt down and started tickling the Slytherin's sides. Erin jumped onto the blonde's back and brushed her whiskers against the nape of his neck.

"Ow, Potter...bloody cat-girl, fuck-off, the pair of you! Ah! Dammit, it hurts, stop!" Draco gritted his teeth and managed to glare at the black-haired boy, who stopped his assault. Seeing Harry cease made Erin stop her teasing as well. Harry placed a hand on Draco's back.

"You alright?"

Draco hissed at a particularly large wave of pain. "No, I am bloody not alright!" It felt terrible; like someone was crushing his whole abdomen. He became vaguely aware of someone stretching his right arm over their shoulders and hoisting him to his feet. A warm ball of fur curled up on his other shoulder, a light, rumbling purr sending jitters down his spine. By his right, he heard someone tell him that they were going to take him to Madame Promfry. From his left, a female's voice hissed that he should lie down in his room. The arguing was just too much. Draco closed his eyes and knew no more.