Chapter 17

Harry sat silently in his shared rooms, trying to quell the anxiousness that had been stuck to him since the morning before, hindering his ability to eat, sleep, or talk to anyone. The dark haired boy sighed, leaning back against the leg of the couch, looking back up at the ceiling, spelled blue to have a calming effect on the two that were to be living in tight quarters. Standing, the teen sighed tiredly, pacing the common room, his steps heavy as he pondered his new predicament.

The slytherin prince would be making his way up soon to settle in the adjoining room, probably bringing with him his slytherin cohorts and their snarky comments. The negotiations earlier that summer, had left both parties tired from the stress all trying to help ease the load on the young blonde, the weight already showing on his small frame. The last few months had been a petite mort for Harry, namely because of the blonde's rapid weight loss due to the morning sickness, his small frame had showing every bone when the morning sickness had subsided. Snape hadn't taken that well, especially with Harry so close to the blonde, the dark haired man had been protective, almost wolfish in nature, but held himself in check when Draco was around.

The negotiations were murder, at least for Harry. He hadn't understood a word the elder Malfoy had demanded, his thoughts focused solely on the conversation that Draco and he had had so long ago it seems now. The young blonde had voiced their requests, stunning the adults with the assurance in his voice, how he met their eyes as he told them his demand. They had agreed, from the surprise or because they were afraid of a tantrum, Harry would never know.

The portal opened, revealing the blonde, his trunk following behind him. Those steel grey eyes stared into his briefly, before the emerald eyed boy turned away, looking at the smaller boy's robes, his eyes falling on to the swell of his stomach. He reached forward slightly, before pulling himself back, restraining himself from touching the growing swell, his heart clenching as he remembered who had touched that stomach as he wanted to.

Draco had become a spy for Dumbledore. He didn't want to, but his parents urged him to, telling him he could garner information that they weren't even privileged to hear of. The blonde was taken into the dark lord's bed again, forgiven for he carried the child of the man, or thing, that ruled the night.

"Potter?"

Harry was waken from his thoughts, staring at the smaller boy, managing a smile as he looked at the slytherin.

"Yeah?"

"I'm seeing the dark lord tonight, also, my friends will be accompanying me back." explained the blonde, seating himself on the sofa, a sigh escaping his throat as the weight was taken off his legs.

Harry smiled, kneeling in front of the blonde, carefully taking off the blonde's boots he had taken to wearing. He untied the laces, slipping the leather off his foot, chuckling as he heard the sigh of relief. The blonde sighed, slouching elegantly against the couch, examining the Gryffindor through his lashes, a small smirk on his face. The brunette took one foot in his hand, massaging the appendage, a small pleased smile creasing his face as he listened to the blonde moan.

"Merlin, when you do that I want to kiss you." said the blonde, arching up his breathes deeping as he relaxed further.

"I'll take you up on that when you haven't been around death eaters none stop. The stories make me sick." commented the taller of the two, a grimace briefly gracing his features, before being replaced with a smile.

"You do know that only reason we seem attracted to each other is because I need a sexual release every once in a while, and you just happen to be the only person here." said the blonde, rubbing growing stomach.

"Uh-huh," said the dark boy, rolling his eyes as he worked the second foot."That's exactly why you crawl into my bed when you get back from the little escapades with Voldy."

"You chase away the nightmares." said Draco, withdrawing his feet from the large, warm hands, curling them under his body, his voice far-away, and pained." I...I..I can't sleep otherwise, and I can't take a dreamless sleep potion. Even though your part of the nightmares," he continued, seeming to shrink in on himself. " I feel at ease with you. It's probably a psychological thing because you're the savior of the wizarding world, and all that shite."

Harry just stared at the blonde, stunned into silence by the admission, a small, slow smile spreading across his face as he looked at the blonde, feeling his discomfort. He drew himself up on to the couch next to the blonde, takeing him in his arms, kissing his forehead, and laying back against the armrest, pulling a blanket around the two of them.

"We have to figure out names." said Harry, changing the subject, smiling as he felt the blonde relax against him, laying his head onto the broad chest.

"I like Artemis." offered the blonde.

"What if it is a boy?"

"That's a boy name."

"But wasn't some goddess name that?"

"One woman doesn't change how I feel about that name. Besides, if it is a girl, then we have a name already picked that would work."

"I bet you weren't named before you left the womb." said Harry, running his fingers through the blonde's soft hair, breathing in the sharp scent of cloves.

"No, but I had a name by the end of that week."

"Why can't we just name the baby when we see it?"

"Because we would end up with a child named Harry."

"Oh," said the dark haired boy, stopping in his stroking,"good point. Oh, before I forget."

"What!" Draco said, his voice sharpening, shutting his eyes as he snuggled closer to Harry.

"When did we get chummy?"

"When we decided it wasn't good for my health to duel you while pregnant."

"That wasn't my fault." defended Harry, pouting but not moving, his thumb rubbing little circles on the stretched skin of the blonde's pale stomach.

"Attacking me wasn't the answer. We really need to work on your temper. Besides, I was right, that Weasley chit is a whore."

"I don't see why you have to call her that."

'It's true, and when have I ever said anything that wasn't the truth?"

"I distinctly remember many lies coming from your lips when we were children."

"Those were all true. I don't see what the prob---"

"Do you want to get married?"

"Well, that was sudden!"

"So? We might as well."

"Who said? My fathers aren't married by Ministry regulations, but married by our society standards, that's all that matters to me."

"Don't you want better for our child?"

"Don't give me that! My parents are perfectly happy with their arrangement, and I'm satisfied with ours."

"Why don't you want to marry me?"

"I may let you kiss, fondle, and satisfy needs with me, but I know you don't love me."

"Do you love me?"

"What I love doesn't matter, Potter. Right now the world's at stake and we are talking like old women."

"Do you love me?"

"Potter, stop acting childish."

"Do you love me?'

"I find you endearing." sighed the blonde.

"Do you love me?"

"Maybe."

"I love you, at least, I think."

"When you win the war, we'll talk about this, hmm? Something to look forward to, yes?"

Harry smiled at the blonde, pressing a kiss onto his forehead, groaning as the small one climbed over him, standing to his feet, stretching. Emerald eyes watched appreciatively, those honest orbs raking over his frame as he stripped out of his normal clothes, walking around the apartment naked. The small blonde entered his room, coming out moments later in a white tunic and black pants, ruby studs in his delicate lobes.

"You'll be fine going to dinner with Lupin and Black this evening, won't you?" asked the blonde, running a comb through his hair, lifting an eyebrow at the tall boy.

"I'll be fine, " said Harry, embracing the blonde from behind. "Take care of yourself."

"Potter please, if I didn't know how to take care of myself, I'd be dead." the slytherin commented lightly, easily shrugging out of the hug.

The blonde walked over to the fire, his silver eyes staring into the light, his countenance darkened, as he took a handful of the floo powder, throwing it into the fire, then himself in after it.

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Remus lay snuggled on the couch, nestled in a sea of limbs and blankets, drowsing in the sated afterglow of Sirius and his love making. Sirius lay beneath the werewolf, running his fingers through the dirty blonde hair, sighing contentedly as he felt the small drifting in and out of conciousness. The animagus hummed, tracing patterns in his mate's growing belly, a smile forming on his lips as he felt the baby move under his hand.

"Do you know it it is a boy or girl, yet?" asked the animagus, nuzzling his nose into the honey colored hair.

Remus groaned,trying to hold on to that little warm place of sleep, before opening his amber eyes in defeat. Sighing, he looked at his lover, wiping his eyes tiredly."Not yet. Why?"

"Just asking." said Sirius, taking the werewolf's chin in hand, his thumb gently rubbing the corner of his mouth.

Remus smiled sleepily, laying his head back onto the broad chest beneath him, throwing one arm of the taut stomach of his mate before sliding back into drowsing.

"Is Harry coming for dinner?" questioned Sirius, trying to keep his mate awake.

Remus sighed once again, nuzzling his face into the nape of his husband's neck, conveying the want of sleep rather than speech."Yes."

"Oh, okay, good."

"Hush now, I'm tired, you wore me out."

"Really?"

"Mmm." he affirmed, sinking lower into sleep. The werewolf reached up, bringing his mate down, silencing him with a kiss. "Now, hush."

Sirius sighed, pulling the blankets up higher around them, snuggling deeper into the warmth of his mate, allowing himself to sleep, if only for a little while.

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Dark robed bodies knelt before the dias, their hoods covering their faces, masking their eyes from the view of the dark lord, trembling as they listened to his steps. Their eyes watched his movements, looking for any sign that he would curse them, looking for any type of sign from the others, hoping the dark lord was in a good mood that day.

Voldemort smiled sinisterly, his crimson eyes striking against his pale skin, his peppered hair, the way his hands stroked his wand, the muscles of his chest rippling as he gripped his wand. He walked around the dias, his eyes watching the door to the chamber, excitement coursing through his blood as he waited for his courtesan.

The heavy oaken doors opened, revealing the small boy, his cloak draped around his body, and cascading to the floor in rivers of black silk. The small blonde walked easily through the mass of bodies to kneel in front of the dark lord, his eyes downcast as he waited for his cue. The older man smiled down at him, offering his hand to the pregnant boy helping him to his feet. Pulling the smaller body against his, he gave a feral growl of ecstasy at the feel of the boy against him, that beautiful baby bulge curving against him. And he smiled as he ravaged the boy's mouth, taking, taking, taking, feeling the pure soul drifting in and out of darkness, feeling the consciousness of it, knowing he was its poison.