Sirius scooped up his daughter as his son looked down at the papers in his hand. They all watched him desperate for some sign of what the papers said. He had not spoken since calling after Lucius. Draco disappeared moments ago after his father.
George looked at Harry. "I told him to stop. I said you needed him. He told me he had no place here."
Harry looked up in tears. "He left. He left me."
The others in the room were confused as was Draco who returned as his father had fled. Lucius loved Harry to death and there was no way out of the contract. He must have misunderstood something.
Remus knelt down next to his son. "You know he loves you and that baby. He'll come back. He is not about to abandon you."
Harry showed the papers. "He signed over half his fortune to me, nullifying the Erastes obligations. He even broke my apprenticeship. He's gone."
They looked at the papers in shock. There was a not from the attorney. Lord Malfoy had decided that since on his death his fortune would be divided between his two children anyways, he signed over half his fortune to Harry for the care of the baby, and with it all legal rights to the child.
Draco was shocked. "The contract. Even if dad signed over half the fortune to you he was entitled to joint custody of the baby."
Remus shook his head. "Your father signer over rights to give full custody of the baby to Harry. He broke the apprenticeship claiming Harry could not serve it."
The second note stipulated that since Harry when he was pregnant could not be part of the practical side of DADA, he could no longer continue to serve as apprentice. His things would be moved back to the dorms immediately.
Draco could not believe his father would do this and fled from the house before telling George alone though. "I am going to knock some sense into that man I swear."
George squeezed his shoulder. "I hope for Harry's sake you can. This pregnancy was going to be hard enough without your dad pulling this stunt on him."
They managed to coax Harry out of the nursery as Lara went down again and into the library but he seemed in a state of total shock and they were scared. He had been shaken enough when he found out he was pregnant but this was worse.
Harry looked at his belly. "I can't do this. I can't do this alone. I can't raise a baby on my own. I'm still in school. I can't. I don't need his blasted money. I need him."
They couldn't even point out the money would come in handy for Harry had come into the full Potter inheritance when he came of age and the money would have been enough to support him and the baby in comfort for decades if he never worked.
Remus sat with him. "Your dad and I are here. The Weasleys are here. Draco is not about to abandon his little sister or brother."
Sirius agreed. "You and that little one will have so much love. When school is over you'll come live here with us and we'll help you raise that little one."
He knew they loved him and he knew they meant it but he had to return to school. They would not be there for the morning sickness and for the cravings and the back aches and all that. He had no idea how to do that in dorms. And the baby was due mid May. He had six weeks of school left. A nursery?
Sirius understood his son's fears. "I don't know cub. We'll talk with the headmaster. We will get you into perhaps the old head 's apartments or something."
A voice they had not expected came from the door. "He can move into my extra bedroom."
They all looked up in surprise at Severus who they realized Draco must have contacted when looking for his dad. He was close to Remus and had bee growing closer with Harry the last year but none of them expected this.
Severus came over. "I don't know what Lucius is playing at but I'll have the elves put your things in my spare room. The office can be made a nursery with time."
Harry looked at him as if he expected the man to laugh. "You'd really allow me and eventually my child to live with you? Why?"
Reminding Harry he had told him before that he considered him nearly family because of Draco and Remus, he wanted to do right by Harry. Harry needed to finish school and he needed some care while he was pregnant. Severus was not known for his bed side manner but he swore he'd do what he could for Harry and the baby.
Remus sent a grateful smile at Severus. "And you know a house elf can be trained for when the baby comes. I am sure Dobby would be honoured."
Severus agreed. "He served as nanny to Draco when he was a baby. He knows how to care for them and we all know he'd do anything for you."
Over whelmed with everything Harry knew their words were meant to be a comfort but he was just unable to process any of it. He had been scared enough about having a baby this young. Everyone including Lucius had sworn the man would stand beside him and now he had walked out on Harry and the baby.
Harry was fighting the tears. "He swore to me he'd be with me if I had a baby. He swore he wanted to marry me. How can he just walk out on me? On his baby?"
None of them had any answers for him or words they could think to comfort him with. Even Sirius, who had never liked the man, had believed better of him. Even he believed that Lucius would never abandon either Harry or his own child.
Severus handed Remus a bottle of calming potion which they coaxed Harry to drink. "Come on cub, this isn't good for you or the baby. You need to calm."
The emotions and the draught mixed were making him drift off but he clung to his dad. "Why? Why?'
Shifting his sleeping son so he could carry him to bed, Remus wished he had answers for his son but he only had questions himself. It was killing him that his son was in such pain. He was seventeen and pregnant, and the man who had been professing his undying love for a year now, had just walked out on him.
He turned to Severus who came in as he tucked Harry in. "Thank you. It kills me we aren't at school with him. And what about Lucius?"
Severus shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised if he resigns from teaching at Hogwarts. Perhaps you or Sirius should if he does, offer to take over for a year."
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For hours Lucius had been going through the motions. He had returned to school long enough to have Harry's things packed and his own. He was sending his resignation. He was sure one of Harry's dads would be willing to take over for him so they could beat school for Harry and the baby. He had gone to the office, to some of his companies, any where he thought no one would immediately look for him.
He eventually stood in the door of the old nursery. "I always wanted a new baby in here. I wanted pink and dolls."
He had not been expecting a response but he got one. "Then why the hell did you just walk out on the father of your child? For that matter your child?"
He turned to see his son in the doorway from the master suite and realized Draco had probably been there for hours. He had known his father would return her eventually and had stayed. Lucius had never seen his son so livid before. Not even when he walked in on Harry and him having sex.
Lucius stared at his son."It isn't that simple Draco. I am doing what is best for Harry and the baby."
Draco slapped his father. "What is best? I knew you were a lot of things but a coward? How could you abandon Harry? Abandon your own baby?"
Never in his life had he ever thought his son would smack him but right now Draco looked like he'd do more. There was something about Harry which brought out his son's mother bear side. They had become more then friends, brothers, since the war and Lucius should have expected this.
Lucius shook his head. "Harry doesn't love me. He'd have married me to keep his baby. I won't do that to him. I won't force him to marry me."
Draco sneered. "So instead you abandon him. Instead you walk out on your seventeen year old pregnant lover. A man you once claimed you'd marry any day."
His own words when Harry fainted the firs time rung through his head. He had told Harry he wanted his children. He had told Harry in Barbuda not to worry but that if he was pregnant he would be there. He would love and care for Harry and their baby.
Lucius looked down at his own copy. "You have your half of the fortune still when I die. His baby was entitled to the rest. The baby and Harry are cared for."
Draco grabbed him. "Do you think either of us care about the money? Harry is in school. His dads aren't there. What he is going to raise the baby in a dorm room?"
Trying to explain to his son he had resigned and that he was sure one of Harry's dads would take the job and if not that they would likely move him into a guest apartment with a nursery for the baby, he hoped to calm him. He had to admit he had not really considered that far.
Draco paced. "He needs someone there to help with morning sickness, to help calm his fears, to help him through labour. He needs you father."
Lucius shook his head. "I will not force him to marry me. I will not force him to be with me. Besides I have already done it. It can not be changed."
For the second time that day he got a response from someone he was not expecting for it seemed his son had been busy in the hours since he was gone. Draco was not the only person to enter the nursery through that door.
John stood and tossed the papers at him. "Do you really think I'd let you do something as foolishly moronic as that? You don't know me well if you did."
Lucius stared at the copies. "You never filed them? They were never filed legally with the bank or the ministry?"
Shaking his head John explained he decided he'd risk loosing his biggest client and be a friend instead. He had decided to hold on to the paper work for a while and see if his foolish friend came to his bloody senses. Draco had come to him to find out if there were any ways to reverse them and he had told Draco.
Draco picked up the papers. "Take them to Harry. Burn them. Tell him you made a foolish mistake. Propose to him. Take care of that little baby."
Lucius was still not certain. "And if he says no? I don't want him to be in a marriage he doesn't want. I will not force him."
Both men were exasperated. John had tried to explain he could give half the money to Harry in trust for the baby even without severing ties. Draco agreed. Give Harry the option. Let Harry choose marriage or the money.
Draco tried again. "But if he chooses the money still be there. Move Harry into his bedroom for real and have the school add a nursery. Be there for him and the baby."
John agreed. "You never know you might bond over the baby. You do seem to make half decent looking ones. The baby might win his heart for you in the end."
They made sense and Lucius knew it. He had been a foolish asshole to believe it had to be marriage or nothing else. He hadn't needed to abandon Harry. He loved Harry and had sworn he'd wait years for Harry to agree to marry him. Now he had just walked out on his very scared pregnant lover and his child.
Lucius took a ring out of his pocket. "I was going to propose, before I did this. But after this he is never going to say yes. Or want me near his child."
Draco stopped him. "Marriage you might be right. But he wants a dad for that baby. He is scared and alone. He needs you. You need to go to him father, please."
Knowing his son was right he had to go. He needed to make Harry understand he had been confused. He would give him the option. He'd allow Harry to decide whether to marry him or take the money. He'd make Harry know Lucius would be there either way. If Harry chose freedom he'd take his son's advice on rooms.
Lucius headed for the doors. "I will go there now. I will convince him to marry me or give me a chance to be there for the baby. I haven't resigned yet."
Draco followed his dad. "Have Harry's things sent back where they belong. They were in that room anyways. Stop forcing him and for once give him a choice."
He had forced Harry into the contract and promised he would never make the same mistake again. In his attempt to not force Harry he had done just that. He had taken from Harry the right to choose marriage with him or freedom.
When they arrived at Grimmauld Remus met them."You damned well better be here to make this up to my son or moon or no moon, I will tear you apart."
Lucius showed him the papers and the ring. "My lawyer never filed them. I will give Harry a choice. If he chooses not to marry me, I will be there for the baby."
It was not Remus who answered but Sirius from the stairs. "It is about time you came to your senses. For some damned reason our son seems to need you."
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George had heard Lucius come in and speaking to the dads and headed for Harry's room. No one had seen him in some hours but after the calming draught they assumed he'd be out for a while. He found the room empty and was about to go and look for Harry when he noticed a note.
He read the note. "Oh Merlin. No Harry."
He raced down the hall and down the stairs almost running over Lucius who had been starting to head up them. He steered the man back down and he handed the note he had found to Lucius and explained.
He looked at the others. "I went to find Harry and I found his room empty and that on his bed."
Lucius was pale. "He has gone to the hospital. Oh no."
They all looked confused and comprehension was not dawning on most of them but slowly as they took in his words and saw the reactions of both men who had red the note, they knew.
Dads
I can't do this. I want a baby, I do. But I can't do this alone. I know Sev has offered me a place to stay but I can't be a single father. I can't do this alone. I don't want to do this but I can't have this baby by myself. Please forgive me. One day please forgive me. I have gone to St Mungo's to terminate the pregnancy. I can't do this without him.
Harry
Lucius went for the door. "I have to stop him. It can't be too late. I have to stop him."
They all followed. They knew he was right. Harry would never forgive himself. They would have understood him terminating. They would have no been upset as they believed it his choice. But Harry would never live with himself. If he took his baby's life he'd never forgive himself. The guilt would eat him alive.
At the hospital they got to the maternity wing and Lucius demanded information. "What exam room in Harry Potter in?"
The healer shook her head. "Sorry sir I..."
Lucius grabbed her. "That is my child. You will tell me what room he is in or I will sue this hospital for every penny it is worth."
The healer pointed them down the hall and they all raced down it praying to what ever God there was above that they were not too late. Harry was scared, confused and in pain. He didn't want an abortion. Lucius would never forgive himself if he drove the man he loved to terminate his pregnancy out of fear.
He burst into the room and saw Harry on an exam table. "Harry?"