Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter... but I'm borrowing him from Draco... J.K. Rowling owns them both...
Note: Hello, I am DrarryTLA and this is my story.
...CHAPTER 8...
Need You To Need Me
Draco
"Follow me, Draco," Sirius said as they flooed into the Three Broomsticks. "I need to visit an old friend..."
"Who?" Draco asked as he obediently followed behind the animagus. The two Malfoys and Sirius had eaten a large feast the night before and Draco had longed to have Harry celebrating with them... Harry would have been thrilled to learn that a male wizard could get pregnant. Draco knew how much the Gryffindor had wanted a large family.
"Phineas Hupghart," Sirius answered with a dark chuckle.
"Phineas Hupghart?" Draco asked in shock. "You're friends with the Phineas Hupghart?"
Sirius laughed and lead Draco through the streets of Diagon Alley. He turned suddenly on the corner of Gringotts Circle and Knockturn Alley. The streets of Knockturn Alley were dark and dreary, nothing like the happy and brightly-colored streets of Diagon Alley. Draco frowned as they walked deeper and deeper into the darkest shopping district in the whole Wizarding world. The streets were deserted with only rats and other unmentionable creatures flitting around for morsels of food.
Finally, Sirius stopped next to a poorly kept shoppe with rotting wood nailed over the windows and a molded mat at the foot of the chained up door. "Here we are," the animagus said brightly. Draco looked at the shoppe in disdain. How could anyone work in there? "Now, if I know Finny, he wouldn't have changed the password..." Sirius said as he pulled out his wand. "He and I were the only ones who knew it, you see," he added proudly. He then pointed his firewood wand at the chains on the door and whispered a few words in a language Draco was sure had been made up by Sirius and Phineas. The chains fell away from the door and Sirius clapped his hands together proudly.
"Is he still here?" Draco asked as Sirius opened the door.
"I'm sure," Sirius said matter-of-factly. "He wouldn't have left without sending word... Though, of course, he could be at work..."
"Doesn't he work here?" Draco inquired once they had stepped inside. It was pitch black. Draco couldn't see even see his hand when he put it in front of his face.
"Goodness no," Sirius laughed. "This is where the old dog lives!"
"He lives here?" Draco asked incredulously. "How dreadful!" he frowned. Then he was nearly blinded as Sirius turned on the lights... "Wow," Draco said once he stopped seeing spots.
"I know," Sirius said as he walked forward a few steps. "Finny sure knows how to decorate..."
The two were standing in one of the finest foyers Draco had ever seen, it could even rival Malfoy Manor's... The entire space was welcoming with small, golden angels hanging from the ceiling and a lush purple carpet beneath their feet. Next to the door stood a fine mohagany table with an umbrella holder and coatrack attached. On the opposite wall stood a floor-to-ceiling mirror that went all the way down the hallway and stopped next to a door. It was the only other door in the foyer. Sirius walked over to it. "This way, Draco," he instructed.
Draco followed and ran his pale fingers over the white walls. He could feel strong feelings of welcome and warmth emanating from all around him. This certainly wasn't the house he had imagined when he first heard about the infamous Phineas Hupghart...
"Sirius, are there two Phineas Hupgharts?" he asked as Sirius disappeared through the door.
"No," he heard before Sirius screamed. Draco ran forward with his wand drawn and was just about to utter a powerful stinging hex when Sirius was thrown back into the foyer... and he was laughing.
"What in the bloody hell!" Draco exclaimed as he put his wand away. "Sirius, what happened? I nearly hexed you into an oblivion!"
"Sorry, Draco," Sirius said in a high-pitched voice. It sounded as though he had been tagged with a helium hex. Draco laughed at the immasculate tone...
Then a shadow was cast over Sirius when a tall hooded figure emerged from the door. Sirius laughed harder... "Who the hell are you?" a deep voice asked as the hooded figure turned towards Draco. Draco couldn't make out his face.
"I am Draco Malfoy," Draco replied with a sneer. "Who the hell are you?"
"The one and only Phineas Hupghart," the hooded figure answered with a bow. The he raised a thick dragon-hide wand at the still laughing animagus. "Why did you bring a stranger into my house?" he asked angrily.
"We need your help, my friend," Sirius replied in the high voice.
Phineas chuckled deeply and touched his wand to Sirius's forhead. "I cannot take you seriously with that voice," he said as he helped Sirius stand. "I still can't believe you stepped into my trap."
"I did it on purpose," Sirius said dusting himself off. "Now, old friend," he said clapping Phineas's shoulder, "how about we conjur up some drinks and continue our discussion in the study?" Phineas nodded and led the way through the door. "Come, Draco," Sirius said motioning for the blonde to follow, "The party is about to begin."
Harry
"Harry!" Hermione called as she burst into the room Ron and Harry were sharing. "Ron!" She ran over to Ron's bed and pulled off his blanket. He simply rolled over and kept sleeping. "Alright, Ronald," Hermione sighed as she pulled out her wand. "Aquus olim," she whispered. A stream of cold water came from the end of her wand and snaked over Ron's body before Hermione released it.
Ron was drenched. He jumped up angrily and began yelling. "What the bloody fuck?!" He stood up and glared at the laughing Hermione. "Bloody hell... Bugger fuck!" He stormed from the room and grabbed some clothes as he left.
"Was that really necessary?" Harry asked with a yawn as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He picked up his glasses and then smiled at his laughing friend. "It was funny, I'll give you that. Did he really say 'bugger fuck'?"
"He did," Hermione laughed as she pulled a small notebook from the pocket of her jeans. Connected to the bright pink notebook was a baby blue pen. She flipped the book open and wrote something down. "He says the most peculiar things when he's mad," she laughed. Then she flipped to another page of her notebook. "Remeber when he said 'fuck wanker'?"
"Yeah, it was when that spider fell on him during Potions our third year," Harry said laughing. "Remember when he fell off his broom at Quidditch practice last year? What did he say... 'bugger nugget'?" Hermione flipped a few pages of her notebook and nodded with a laugh. "He is such a weirdo," Harry said as he stood from the bed. He slowly reached his arms above his head and stretched. The thin material of his navy blue t-shirt rose up at the action and revealed part of his stomach. Hermione smiled when she saw the small bump.
"Just think, Harry," Hermione said as she walked over to gently touch her friend's stomach, "next month the bump will be bigger and we'll finally be able to know if you're having a boy or girl!" She smiled brightly and pulled her hand away. "This is so exciting!"
"I know," Harry said as he went over to his wardrobe. He smiled as he thought about learning the baby's sex. "What do you want it to be?" he asked as he picked out his clothes for the day.
"I want it to be a girl, but would be just as happy if you had a strapping young lad," Hermione said as she plopped down on Ron's bed.
"What do you think the baby will look like?" Harry asked as he carried his clothes with him to his bed. He would wait for Ron to get back from the bathroom before going to change. And he couldn't very well leave Hermione all alone.
"Well," Hermione started with a laugh, "You should be asking Fred and George what I think the baby will look like."
"Fred and George?" Harry asked suspiciously. "Why?"
"It appears as though they're taking up bets and such about whether the baby will be a boy or girl, and whether the baby will take after you or Draco," Hermione answered.
"Well, that's amusing," Harry chuckled. "Who all have they got bets from? They haven't told anyone have they?"
"Of course not," Hermione said quickly to ease her friend's worry. She smiled. "They bet, I bet, Ron bet, Mr. and Mrs. Weasely, Ginny, Bill, Snape, Blaise is going to ask for your permission later and Sirius said he'd be by the shop later today to place his."
"That many people?" Harry asked in shock. He smiled, "Is the one pregnant allowed to bet?"
"Oh, I'm sure Fred and George can fit you in," Hermione laughed.
"Why are you so cheerful this morning?" Ron glared as he walked back into the room with fresh, dry clothes. He was wearing faded jeans and a baby blue, long-sleeved shirt that made his eyes pop. Hermione blushed slightly, hiding it expertly behind her long hair.
"I came to tell you and Harry that we'll be going to Diagon Alley to pick up a few things for your mum," Hermione said standing. "She'll be staying home with your nephew and Ginny is with Neville and his grandmother today. Meet downstairs once you've finished dressing," she ordered.
"Can you believe what she did to me?" Ron asked as Harry made his way to the door of their room.
"No Ron," Harry laughed. "She's so evil... I'm going to the loo," he added as he left. Ron was mumbling under his breath the whole time.
Draco
"So you want me to keep my contacts on the lookout for your crazy bitch cousin?" Phineas asked as he took another sip of his butterbeer.
"She's just a crazy bitch," Sirius said. "She is no family of mine."
"Nor mine," Draco added angrily. He pushed his untouched Butterbeer aside. (The drink had always been too sweet for his liking.) "What can we do once we've found them?" he asked. "I found out yesterday that they had been staying just outside of London with an illegal portkey they can use to get wherever they want."
"I'll send some of my guys over there this afternoon," Phineas said. Draco was beginning to like the mysterious hooded man, but wanted to see his face. He had heard so many stories of the terrifying Phineas Hupghart. Was this really the man who had been locked in Azkaban four times before he turned twenty-one? Was this really the man who had supposedly killed an entire village full of Aurors on his own?
"I can feel your curiosity from here, Draco Malfoy," Phineas laughed. "I am Phineas Hupghart, the accused... I may be a dark creature, but I never wronged a life that didn't deserve it... That village had been infected by a terrible plague that can only be summoned by dark magic and it can only be cured by death." He laughed again. "And Azkaban, don't get me started on that poor excuse of a prison... No wonder your mother and aunt were able to escape without the help of the Dark Lord." Then two pale hands reached up to grasp his hood. "Azkaban is heaven compared to everything I've been through. I can assure you that each time I was sent to Azkaban I was released long before my time was up.... Would you like to know why?"
Sirius smiled at his friend's dramatics, but decided to let him have his fun. Draco leaned forward in his chair and waited for Phineas to continue.
Phineas slowly pulled down his hood....
Draco saw... purple hair? "Is your hair purple?" he asked Phineas.
"It is... Do you like it?" Phineas laughed. Sirius laughed as well.
"Is that why they let you out of Azkaban?" Draco asked incredulously. "Because of that abomination? What in the bloody hell inspired you to make your hair that ungodly shade?"
"I knew you'd like it," Phineas grinned as his hair suddenly faded to silver. "But seriously... They let me leave because the Dementor's kiss has no effect on me... One would think that after five-hundred years of it not working they would get it through their thick skulls."
"Five-hundred years?" Draco asked. He looked back at Phineas's silver hair, his pale skin, his odd accent, and finally his swirling red eyes. "You're a Shayd, aren't you?" he asked.
"This one is smart, Sirius," Phineas said proudly. "I am a Shayd."
"So how old are you?" Draco asked next.
"In your years, or mine?" Phineas asked.
"Both," Draco replied curiuosly.
"In your years I an exactly six-hundred and thirty-seven years old," Phineas replied without missing a beat. "In a Shayd's years I am thirty."
"Thirty?"
"For every one-hundred years that pass in the human realm, only five years pass in the Shayd realm. Because I am of my world, and not of yours, I will age as any other Shayd would. For the first fifteen years of our lives we age as a human would, but after that we only age five years for every one-hundred," Phineas explained. "I was around two-hundred and ten when I was first sent to Azkaban."
"And you want to help us get rid of my mum and aunt?" Draco asked next. With a powerful ally like a Shayd, he would be able to get rid of his mother sooner. The sooner, the better... and the faster he would be able to have Harry in his arms again.
"Anything for an old friend," Phineas smiled. "I would surely like to meet this Lucius you can't stop thinking about," he said to Sirius. "Your thoughts are washing over me like waves... I might drown," he teased.
"Shut the hell up," Sirius laughed with blush. "I'm going to be a dad, in case you were curious."
"That is excellent news, my friend..." Phineas smiled. Then he frowned as he looked over at Draco. "And you are not the only one," he said. His eyes were becoming milky white. He closed them tightly... Sirius stood and knelt beside his friend. "I think it wise that the two of you leave for a while," Phineas said. His accent was even more pronounced. Sirius nodded immediately and stood.
"Come, Draco," he said as he tugged on Draco's robes. "Phineas knows what we want... I shall call on you later, Finny," he smiled. Phineas only waved his hand and pulled his hood back up.
Draco followed Sirius back out the way they had come in, waiting to get back onto the dark street before asking, "What just happened to him? Why were his eyes turning white? What did he mean?"
"Shayds are difficult creatures to understand," Sirius said as he and Draco headed back to Diagon Alley. "Each one has their own unique gift that sets them apart from their bretheren. Finny, however, has about six. You just witnessed him having a vision. It's pretty scary if you see the whole process. He was able to control himself today, but there was more than one occasion while we were neighbors in Azkaban when he could not." Sirius shivered, "I had nightmares a few times after that." Then he brightened up considerably. "I need to stop by the Weasely's shop and drop something off... You are free to go somewhere else if you'd like."
"I need to talk to the twins as well," Draco answered. Maybe they had more news about Harry, even though Draco had seen him only yesterday...
Harry
"Hello, Harry!" the twins exclaimed as they saw Harry, Hermione, and their younger brother walk in. "Hermione!" they said happily. They walked over and hugged Hermione and Harry. Then they glanced over at Ron. "Little brother," they nodded.
"What brings you to our humble abode?" Fred asked as he wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Are you customers or fans?" George asked wrapping his arm around Hermione's waist. No one missed how Ron's eyes narrowed.
"Neither," Harry said brightly. "We're betters today," he said pulling a small money satchel from his blank pants.
"Oh, well then, right this way!" Fred and George said together. They ushered Harry and Hermione into the back storage room. Ron followed behind sulking.
In the back of the storage room there was a bright red curtain hanging from the ceiling. Fred and George pulled apart the curtain and let their guests walk in before them. Their private office was decorated with a rainbow of colors and had flying trinkets all over the place. There were two desks, one that spelled out Fred and one that spelled out George. Harry smiled at this. Between the two desks there was a giant, muggle dry-erase board hanging on the wall. There were weird formulas and drawings all over it in various colors.
Fred pulled out his wand and tapped the board twice on the top and three times on the bottom. The board changed from being white to turning baby blue and pink. On the pink side there were three names: Ginny, Bill, and Arthur. On the blue side there were five names: Fred, George, Ron, Severus, and Mrs. Weasley. Next to each name there was a small number and letter. Ron's name had a ten and a capital G next to it. Harry assumed that it meant that he had bet ten Galleons.
"Where's your name, Hermione?" Harry asked when he saw that her name wasn't on the pink or blue side.
"Hermione dearest had to be the oddball," Fred laughed. George laughed too and pointed to the bottom of the board. In the middle of the board Hermione had written her name. She was on the pink and blue side.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked. "The baby can't be both, Hermione," he laughed.
"I think you'll have twins," Hermione said simply. "One will be a girl and one will be a boy."
"You can't be serious?" Harry said in shock. He placed a hand on his stomach. "Two?" he choked out. "I never thought about that..." He began breathing hard. "Two babies? Two?" He closed his eyes for a second and swayed on his feet. Fred laughed and quickly steadied him.
"Alright, Harry, I think you need to sit down for a minute," George teased. "You can place your bet once you're feeling better. Fred, take him upstairs and lay him down."
"Aye, captain," Fred laughed as he pulled Harry along. "This way, Harry," he smiled.
"Two babies?" Harry mumbled as he allowed Fred to lead him away. "I think I might faint..."
"Wait til we get upstairs," Fred laughed.
Draco
"We'll be in and out," Sirius said as he pulled open the door to Fred and George's shop. It wasn't very crowded and only George came out to greet them.
"Hello, our most respected guest," George said as he bowed to Sirius.
Sirius laughed. "Where is Fred?"
"He wasn't feeling too well and went upstairs for a quick lie down," George exclaimed. Then he smiled over at Draco. "Hello, my lord," he laughed. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm here with Sirius but I do have a few questions for you," Draco said with a smile... but his smile quickly dropped, however, when Ron and Hermione walked in from the back room. The two stopped short of joining George and smiled awkwardly at Draco.
"Hey, Malfoy," Hermione said brightly.
"Hermione," Draco said nodding. He smiled at her then. "What are you two doing here?" he asked though the only person he was concerned about was Harry.
"Ummmm," Ron started.
"We're on a date," Hermione said brightly as she grabbed Ron's hand in hers. Ron blushed a bright shade of crimson and looked at anything but Draco.
"Well, its about time," Draco said with a chuckle. Hermione could tell that he wasn't as happy as he was acting. "Did you ask him or did he finally ask you?"
"Let's just say I forced it on him," Hermione laughed.
Before anyone could say anything the door opened. Oliver Wood walked in wearing a Gryffindor red turtleneck sweater and gold travel cloak. "If you'll excuse me," George said as he brushed past Draco and Sirius to meet the Quidditch star at the door.
No one noticed the small beetle that had flown in behind Oliver...
Harry
"Alright now, Harry?" Fred asked with a laugh as he plopped down onto the bed Harry was resting on. He and his brother kept spare rooms above the shoppe just in case they ended up staying late. They practically lived in the shoppe anyway, but beds were nice to have when they were especially tired.
Harry was propped up against a few pillows and was laying his head on the headboard. He smiled without lifting his head. "I'm fine... I just never thought about having two babies..." He chuckled. "Wow."
"Well, you gave me a right ol' fright down there," Fred said as he poked Harry's chest. "You should have seen the look on your face," he teased. "It was pretty priceless."
"Shut up," Harry said as he grabbed a pillow from behind him and threw it at Fred.
Fred put up his hand to block his face from the pillow and grabbed it. He threw it on the floor and pounced on Harry, trapping him in a gentle headlock. Harry laughed and tried to get free. "Oh, no you don't," Fred laughed. "Just because you're pregnant, doesn't mean you can get away with everything."
"I'm so scared," Harry laughed mockingly.
Fred laughed and ruffled Harry's already unruly hair. "Two babies would be so much more fun than one," he smiled thoughtfully.
"I don't know if we'll be able to handle one right now," Harry whispered. Fred released him from the headlock and pulled him close for a hug.
"Everything will be fine, you'll see," Fred said as he patted Harry's back soothingly. Harry pulled away and smiled at the red-head... He hoped Fred was right.
"What is that?" Fred asked suddenly as he stood from the bed. He pointed over at the open window and Harry followed the gesture with his eyes. "It looks like some kind of bug." Fred moved closer to the uninvited guest.
Harry paled when he saw the turqouise beetle resting on the window-sill. He jumped up and rushed over to close the window. The beetle was too fast for him and flew away just as Harry reached it. "That bitch!" Harry growled as he slammed his fists against the frame.
"Who?" Fred asked as he walked over to Harry.
"That beetle wasn't a beetle... it was an animagus," Harry seethed. "And I'll give you three gueses as to who it was."
Realization struck Fred right after Harry said that. "Rita Skeeter, damn her! How much do you think she heard?"
"Everything important," Harry said as he slid down the wall and wrapped his arms around his knees. "And I'd be willing to bet that she'll be trying to get a story out as early as next week... She wouldn't miss the chance to be the first reporter to tell the world about Harry Potter being pregnant..." Fred frowned and wished he had squished the beetle when he first saw it.
Rita Skeeter had been dishonorably kicked out of every respectable paper or magazine she had tried to work for since Harry's fourth year. Hermione had done a right good job of threatening the reporter witch and she had soon took to drinking as much Firewhiskey she coujld afford.
"She must have seen me talking with Blaise at the Three Broomsticks yesterday," Harry said as he stood back up and dusted himself off. "I need Hermione," he said. Fred nodded and led Harry back downstairs.
Downstairs
George led Oliver over to the small group of gamblers and introduced him to Draco. As Draco and Oliver were reaquainted, George could feel Fred and Harry passing through the wards set up throughout the shop. "I think I'll go see how Fred is doing," he said as he turned to go meet Fred and Harry before they came in. George wasn't sure how Harry would react to seeing Draco, he needed to warn him. As he passed Hermione she shared a worried look with him.
"Draco, have you seen the new Weasley Wizard Weezes?" Ron asked as he too caught on to where George was actually going. Draco nodded his head no. "They're bloody brilliant. Sirius, I'm sure Mr. Malfoy would find them enjoyable as well." He knew the animagus would not be able to resist new pranks.
"Oh, well then," Sirius laughed. "Lead the way!" Ron smiled and navigated his way through the chaotic shop with Draco, Sirius, and Oliver following.
When the boys disappeared with Ron, Hermione ran after George. She found him with Fred and Harry in the back hallway that opened up behind the counter. The first thing she noticed was that Harry had a dark gleam in his emerald eyes. He was angry. "What's happened?" Hermione asked.
Harry's eyes darkened to a murderous forest green when he answered. "Rita Skeeter..." was all he could manange to say before an odd sensation settled in his stomach. He grimaced and covered his stomach with his hands.
Hermione was immediately alarmed. "What is it?" She placed her hands over Harry's.
"I'm fine," Harry said as he tried to remove Hermione's hands.
"You don't look fine," Fred and George said together. Fred stood from where he sat on the stairs that led up to the bedrooms and gently pushed Harry down to sit.
"Fine," Harry admitted... "I'm probably just really stressed... Rita isn't helping matters," he said with another grimace as his stomach felt strange again. He tilted his head back and groaned. "Why can't anything ever just go right? Why must everything be so complicated?"
Hermione laughed at him then though her warm brown eyes were still worried. "Let's go back to the Burrow. We'll floo Severus and get him to make you a really strong calming drought."
"That sounds favorable... Which one of you will find Rita?" Harry asked as he stood and allowed Hermione to grab his arm.
"I'll do it," Fred and George said together.
Harry laughed. "Make a bet for me," he laughed as he handed over his money satchel.
"Sirius'll want to bet too! He'll want to see you as well," Hermione added.
Draco
Draco quickly walked away from the hall entrance when he heard Hermione walking towards him. He was out of her sight when she ran back to fetch Sirius. Why did Harry want Rita? Why didn't Hermione and Ron tell him they were here with Harry?
But he knew the answer... Harry might have settled to live life without Draco... But Draco could not live without him... One look and it would destroy any chance Harry had to be rid of Draco. Draco wouldn't be able to leave again. Yesterday was even more painful than when Harry said he didn't love him anymore. His father's owl could not have come at a better time.
"Draco, you're free to go whenever you wish!" Sirius called loudly when he emerged from the depths of the shop with Hermione and Ron and Oliver. "I'll be back in a moment should you chose to stay!"
Draco didn't reply. Instead he went back out the shop's front door and apparated out of the shop. He needed to make a quick stop before returning home. He was now looking for three women...
Harry
"Pup! I've got excellent news!" Sirius yelled as he wrapped Harry in a large hug. Harry happily hugged back and didn't let go when Sirius did. The animagus laughed and wrapped his arms back around his godson. "I'm going to be a dad!"
"Lucius is pregnant?" Hermione questioned with a bright smile. Sirius nodded with stars in his eyes. "So you two are together?" Sirius nodded again. "Well, it looks like I've won another bet," Hermione said smugly. "Pay up," she said holding a hand out to Ron and Harry.
"You can't be serious!" Ron exclaimed. "You're joking right? Like earlier when you told everyone we were on a date?"
Hermione's eyes darkened and she turned her body to Ron. "I'm not joking now and I wasn't joking then," she said lowly. Harry smiled when he saw the determined gleam in her eyes and on her face.
"What are y-" Ron started to ask until he was interrupted with Hermione throwing herself on him and kissing him fiercely.
When she pulled away Hermione was blushing. "You are so obtuse, Ron," she said with a smile.
"I-I... Umm..." Ron could form no complete thoughts. His pale face had become a dark crimson.
Harry laughed and hugged Sirius tighter. "I'm happy for you. Now you'll have children and grandchildren!"
"Thanks, pup," Sirius laughed. "Alright, Ron, calm down," he said when he noticed Ron had appeared to quit breathing. He released Harry when Ron's face turned a darker shade. He slapped the teen's back. "Breathe, man!"
When Sirius hit his back Ron blurted, "I love you!" Hermione blushed and jumped on Ron again.
The small room broke into loud applause, catcalls, and whistling.
Harry no longer felt bad, but one of Snape's potions would still be helpful...
Draco
"I'm looking for Rita Skeeter," Draco informed Phineas as the front door of his house was cracked open. Draco could no light coming from the inside. The Shayd was well hidden from view. Draco assumed he was still suffering from the first time he had visited. "Can you help me?"
He heard a dark chuckle. "Gladly." The door was closed without any other answer.
DrarryTLA
YAY! I updated! It's a pretty decent length and I already know what's gonna happen in the next chapter! PLEASE review! (I proofread not... Ignore mistakes!)
Thanks for reading!