Chapter six

Charlie placed Harry on the bed, Poppy pulled curtains around him then started her examination. She started with his head, since he's already had his ears injured, then she slowly moved down his body before standing up suddenly. She looked from Harry to Charlie then back to Harry.

'What, do you know what's wrong, something to do with his head injury?' Charlie asked anxiously.

'No, nothing to do with that, but I can't say until I speak with Harry, this is personal and he might not want anyone to know.'

'Poppy, Harry is my partner, we're together, so please tell me.'

'You are,' Poppy nodded, 'Alright, I never knew about you two. Well Charlie, you're going to be a father.'

'What?! Charlie shouted, 'You're kidding.'

'No, Harry's pregnant, two months along.'

'Hmmm,' Harry groaned softly, then opened his eyes.

'Harry, it's Madame Pomfrey, do you know where you are?'

Harry looked from the matron to around the room, blinked then looked back, 'Yeah, hospital, what am I doing in here?'

'You fainted Harry, I carried you up here,' Charlie said.

Harry stared at Charlie who didn't look happy, in fact to Harry he thought Charlie looked angry.

'Okay, I've never fainted before, so why did I this time?'

'If you weren't expecting this, then it might come as a shock.'

'My deafness, it's permanent, isn't it?'

'This is not about that Harry, you're pregnant.'

Harry sat there staring for a minute, 'I'm sure I read your lips wrong, because that's impossible, I'm a bloke, not a woman, so can you say it again a bit slower.'

'Harry, gay men can get pregnant, didn't you know that?'

'Pregnant, you're serious?' Harry looked down at his stomach then looked up at Charlie, who still looked upset, 'Did you know this could happen?'

'Yes, but it never occurred to me that you didn't know. I used the potion to stop myself falling, I thought since we only got together, it was too soon to think about that.'

'Oh,' Harry said softly then looked away as he pushed himself up. Even though Harry couldn't hear Charlie's voice, he could tell by his stance that he wasn't happy about this, 'So Madame Pomfrey, do I need anything?'

'Yes, you will need a course of potions right through the pregnancy,' Poppy looked from Harry to Charlie, 'If you want to keep the baby that is?'

'Of course I do, it's part of me,' Harry swung his legs off the bed, stood up and felt dizzy and fell back on the bed, 'I'm dizzy.'

'Yes, that can happen, I'll get you some potions, stay sitting until you have them,' she looked at both men again then left.

Harry kept staring down but he knew Charlie was there, watching him. If he said anything Harry had no idea, but he knew Charlie wouldn't since he wasn't looking at him. It seems Charlie didn't want a baby, well he did.

Charlie reached out and lifted Harry's head, 'Don't you think this is a bit soon?'

'Does it matter, a baby is already inside me, so soon or not, we have a child on the way,' Harry jerked his head so Charlie let him go.

Poppy came back, 'Here, this will help with your dizziness, the others are for you and the child,' she handed Harry four potions, 'Now though, a few cautions, no duelling, no flying and if you need to practice spells, then you can't have any aimed at you. If you feel dizzy at all, sit straight away so you don't fall.'

'Thanks and the dizziness has passed, can I go now?'

'Yes, but you will need check-ups every two weeks.'

'I'll be back to see you, thanks Madame Pomfrey,' Harry stood up again, waited, 'I'm fine now,' he stepped out from the curtains and saw his friend, Professor McGonagall and Kingsley, 'I'm fine.'

'Fine, if you're fine why did you faint? You've never fainted,' Hermione said.

Harry chewed his lip but saw Charlie watching him, 'It seems I'm pregnant,' Harry stared up at Charlie, then hurried from the hospital and headed straight up to Gryffindor tower and into his dorm room. He sat on the bed and pulled the curtains around him.

Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Seamus and Dean all ran into the dorm room and saw Harry's bed curtains closed, then Charlie walked in.

'Give us a few minutes.'

'Sure Charlie,' Ron said looking concerned.

Charlie waited until they all left, then closed the door. He stood staring at the curtain and was just about to open them when he heard Harry's quiet voice.

'He might not want you, but I do, I'll be your daddy, I'll work it out somehow,' Harry sniffed trying to stop the tears, but they just started to fall. He felt the slight breeze on his back and knew someone had opened his curtains which made him sniff again but tried to quiet his cries.

Charlie sighed then walked around the bed and knelt down, 'I didn't say I don't want the baby Harry, I just said it was too soon. I'm in shock here love.'

'You looked angry, why didn't you tell me this could happen?'

'I figured you knew.'

'Well I didn't,' Harry snapped, 'But I want this baby, our baby,' Harry put his hands down on his stomach then looked down, 'I never knew this could happen, but I want this baby so much,' Harry's voice was soft.

Charlie sighed, then lifted Harry's head, 'We'll work this out, but how are you going to be with a baby when you can't hear? You won't hear them cry.'

'I'm sure there's some type of spell or charm that will alert me to the sound.'

'I'll let Kingsley and Minerva know I can't stay on. Are you going to stay here or go to class?'

'Why bother with classes, I'm going to have a baby, it's not like I'll be working. But you don't look happy that you have to give up this job, so don't, you stay, floo home on weekends,' Harry shrugged.

'I couldn't do that, I'll work on something else. You're friends want to see you.'

'Tell them I want to be alone.'

'Okay,' Charlie sighed again then stood up and move away from the bed but left the curtain closed around Harry and heard him talking again.

'He doesn't really want this, why did I let myself fall in love with him, I knew it'd end badly, it always does. But I want you so much, I will love you no matter what even if he doesn't.'

Charlie sighs left the room, 'He said he wants to be alone, so give him some time. Why don't all of you head to your next class?'

'He's really pregnant?' Hermione asked softly.

'Yes, seems he didn't know that could happen. I have to go,' Charlie said softly then walked away.

'Charlie doesn't seem happy that he's going to be a father,' Neville said.

'No, he doesn't so that's probably why Harry wants to be alone.' Hermione said.

'Charlie is the one that has never wanted to settle down with marriage and kids, it never interested him,' Ginny said.

'Well he's about to have a child, so he's going to have to,' Hermione said and she couldn't help how hard her voice was, 'I'm going to talk to Harry,' she walked into the room closing the door then knelt down so Harry could see her. She took one of his hands from his stomach, but put one of hers on his stomach then gave Harry a smile, their hands joined as they lay over Harry's stomach, 'You're going to be a daddy.'

Harry nodded, 'Yeah, I am, Charlie doesn't want this, want the baby. Now he can't take the job, Kingsley wanted him to stay on. He looked angry and upset about it.'

'Maybe he just needs some time Harry, please don't jump to anything, give him a chance to get used to this.'

'I'm used to it already and I want my baby,' Harry sniffed again then before he knew it he was crying and Hermione sat beside him and put her head down on his shoulder, trying to comfort him but until he looked at her, she couldn't say anything. She wondered if Charlie would come around or if Harry will end up a single parent. She hoped that wasn't the case, but if he did, she would be there to help him in any way she could.

Over the next few days, Harry never left the dorm room unless it was to use the bathroom. He had Kreacher bring his meals and even though he didn't feel like eating, he did for the baby. He hadn't seen Charlie once since they found out and knew their relationship was over. One thing Harry knew though, he would love his baby, but could he let the Weasley's see his child even if Charlie didn't want to, Harry wasn't sure. It would hurt too much if he was there and saw him ignore their child.

All he's friends tried to get Harry to leave the room, but he wouldn't and he also wouldn't talk and most times he pulled the curtains around his bed to let everyone know he wanted to be alone.

More days passed and still Harry never left the room and he still hadn't seen Charlie. He woke up the following morning and knew he needed to go for his cheek up. But as he opened his eyes, he realised something that surprised him, but it also excited him. He hurried to shower, dress and practically ran up to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey put curtains around the bed then started her examination.

'Everything seems fine Harry, but since you are two and half months along, I can tell you the sex of the child if you wish.'

'Yes, I would love to know what I'm having.'

'A boy, and you are both healthy.'

'James,' Harry ran his fingers over his stomach, 'Madame Pomfrey there's a couple of things, first, I don't want you telling Charlie anything. It seems he doesn't want the baby, so from now on this is my child.'

'As you are my patient, I have to accept this is your decision to make.'

'Good, but I'm shocked right now, I can hear, it's all fuzzy, but I definitely can hear.'

'Oh Harry, that's wonderful, let me check,' she moved her wand over each of Harry's ears then smiled, 'Yes, they are healing. I'd say you will have your normal hearing back within a few days.'

'Okay, thanks, but can you keep that to yourself as well, just until I tell you? I want to wait until it's fully back.'

'If you want, I won't tell anyone. But are you sure you and Charlie can't work this out?'

'I haven't seen him since that day, so no, it seems he doesn't want to see me anymore, he likes his fun and casual life,' Harry sat up and swung his legs off the bed, 'Thanks again and I'll see you in two weeks.'

'Not so fast Harry, potions, you have to take these right through the pregnancy.'

'Oh, right, I forgot,' Harry took the three potions before standing up, 'Okay, and I'm not looking forward to drinking those for another six and a half months.'

'No, I expect not, now rest.'

'Yes ma'am,' Harry grinned then headed back to Gryffindor tower thinking about his hearing, then an idea came to him, but he needed to wait just a couple more days before he could put his plan into action.

Hermione visited Harry all the time, Ron and the others did but they seemed to notice that Harry felt a bit awkward with them. Ron figured it was because of Charlie. He had tried to talk to his brother, but he refused all attempts. Ron and Ginny even waited until after dinner, but Charlie hurried away from them and just refuses to speak to anyone about this.

When Harry woke and realised his hearing was back completely, he knew today was the day he would find out what he needed. He showered, dressed then sat back on his bed to wait the day out. When it go close to the end of classes, put his cloak over himself and quietly left Gryffindor tower. He knew that Charlie would still be teaching, so he snuck into his rooms, put his note on the table then stood over in the corner still under his cloak and he waited. He needed to know for sure what Charlie thought. Within fifteen minutes Charlie stepped into his room and went straight to a cupboard and poured a large drink of Firewhiskey, knocking the whole thing back before pouring another. Then he saw the note sitting on the table and picked it up.

'I found out the sex of our child, but since you don't want to be part of it, then you won't know what I'm having. I will be the child's father, a single father, you can have your job and your fun casual life and sex with a dozen blokes if you want. But from this moment on, this is my child, not yours. You threw me away and you threw our child away, so from now on, we're nothing to each other.'

Charlie growled, 'No, blimey Harry,' Charlie sat down and put his head in his hands, 'I don't know what to do, I'm not ready to be a parent, I can't, I'm not ready. This job, something I never told anyone, being a teacher was always my dream, I never thought I'd ever get the chance, but I did. If I give this up, I'll never have it. Oh fuck, why now, it was too soon. We need more time to just be us,' Charlie ran his fingers through his hair before getting up and pouring another drink then slowly made his way into the bedroom.

Harry sighed then left the room and headed back to Gryffindor tower. He sat on his bed thinking about Charlie's reaction and what he had said. After a while, he made a decision. He wrote a long letter and left it on his bed, then sealed the room. He packed all his stuff, shrunk it and put it inside his pocket then unsealed the room but kept the curtains around his bed. He didn't want anyone to realise he was gone until the last minute. He went up to Professor McGonagall's office, knocked and heard her call to come in.

'Harry, are you okay, no one has seen you since that day?'

'I'm fine Professor, but I've decided to leave. There's no use staying, I don't need my classes anymore and Charlie wants nothing to do with the baby, so I might as well get settled into my home.'

'If you gave him more time Harry, I'm sure this was a shock to him.'

'Maybe, but it was a shock to me, and I know I want my child. But there's something else, but can you keep this between us?'

'Of course.'

'I got my hearing back a few days ago, so I left a note for Charlie, hid under my cloak and waited to see what his reaction was. He still kept saying it was too soon and he didn't want to give up his dream job, he wasn't ready to be a parent. I got to see and hear it all, he doesn't want the baby, he wants his fun life like he has for years. So can you allow me to leave please?'

'Yes, of course, but do your friends know?'

'No, but I left a letter on my bed, I'm sure Hermione will find it. Oh, Madame Pomfrey knows I got my hearing back, I asked her not to say anything until I was ready I also asked her not to tell Charlie anything about the baby,' Harry looked down at his stomach, 'James, his name is James.'

'A son, I'm happy for you Harry, I wish I could tell you that everything will work out, but I can't.'

'It's just my life Professor, nothing ever seems to work out. But this is something I do want, a family, my child, my son.'

'Alright, I'll open the floo which will lead you to atrium at the ministry.'

'Thanks,' Harry waited until she changed the enchantments, 'I wish things were different, but thanks, for everything,' he stepped into the fireplace, looked back at Minerva McGonagall, gave her a small smile, threw the floo powder and vanished in a flash of green flames.