Ch. 20:Yeah, If You're Pregnant

"Close your eyes."

"Draco..."

"Close your eyes now," Draco said sternly, poking Harry in the middle of the chest.

Harry wrinkled his nose and grumbled, "Fine, but I don't see how it's going to help. I'm hopeless at this, I hope you realize. I don't need to be able to read Braille."

Draco slammed the book down in Harry's lap. "You may not, but I want you to. I want you to be able to run your fingertips over my skin and tell me what my goose bumps spell."

"But..." Harry groaned, "But that's unrealistic. What are the chances that your goose bumps will spell anything?"

Draco crossed his arms and pulled his very best pout. "I was trying to be romantic and there you go being all... literal. I would just like you to be able to see like I see."

Harry stared down at the book in his lap and sighed. "Fine, but I'm not making any promises. You can try to teach me all you want."

"Good," Draco said and gently cupped Harry's cheek, his fingers tingling as Harry's stubble tickled them. "Now, do you know your last name and my last name?"

"Obviously," Harry said, gathering the charm hanging around his neck and gently running his thumb over the letters. "So I'll be okay as long as your sentences consist only of the words 'Malfoy' and 'Potter'."

"I seriously doubt that," Draco said. "It's really not that hard. I haven't been at this for that long and I've read three books. It's not hard."

Harry sighed and looked over to Hedwig's old perch, where the sleek black owl now sat, its head tucked under its wing. "Just rub it in a little more. Draco, I can't do it. Now, let's name my owl."

"Yes you can," Draco said softly. "And I've already named your owl."

Harry flipped onto his back and said, "Oh. Were you going to inform me of my own owl's name? Did you name him something stupid?"

"No," Draco said defensively. "His name is Pip."

"Pip?" Harry questioned. "Why Pip? It sounds familiar."

Draco shrugged. "Well, you hadn't named him and I was reading this really horrible book called 'Great Expectations' at the time. There's a character in that book named Pip who reminds me of you."

"Why?" Harry said earnestly. "Is he a wickedly intelligent and outrageously handsome wizard like myself?"

Draco snorted and returned Harry's hand to the Braille book. "No, his is just taken from near poverty and beatings to become something great. Plus, he falls for someone who is superior to him in class, intelligence, and beauty. Just like you, I'd say. Now, back to the Braille."

Harry huffed. "You are in no way more intelligent than me. Class, perhaps, under YOUR standards, but beauty? Well, I must say you ARE prettier than me, but only because you're a girl."

Draco shook his head. "You are deliberately trying to bait me, but it's not working. Study your Braille. Hermione learned from that book, you should be able to."

"Fine," snapped Harry.

"Hateful arse," Draco muttered and rose from the bed. "Whilst you are doing that I'm going to go down and have a little chat with Remus about my course work for next term. I'm rather curious as to what Dumbledore has planned."

Harry whined but didn't argue. "Fine. Leave me here all alone to study."

"I was planning on it," Draco quipped. "And you aren't alone, Pip's here."

Harry sniffed and the Slytherin only laughed. "I'll be back in a moment, love. You had better be able to recognize at least a few letters by the time I get back."

"I'm not promising anything," Harry called to Draco as he exited the bedroom, Desti-cane in tow.

Draco took a few steps before saying, slowly and clearly, "Take me to Remus."

The cane gently tugged Draco's hand in the right direction and he followed. Judging by the map his mind had constructed whilst he had been staying in Grimmauld Place, Remus was in the library, or possibly the Potions room that Severus had vacated when he left.

As he passed the first door, the one that led to the Potions lab, Draco was relieved to find that it indeed was the library that Remus was visiting.

A raised hand confirmed that the door was open and Draco strode in, tapping his cane around until he found a chair. He plopped down into it and sighed. "Hi Remus."

Remus chuckled and said, "You're not much for sneaking, are you? Mind, you've never been that good in that department. I'm sure I caught you sneaking around Hogwarts a number of times when I taught. Can't imagine you trying to sneak now, constantly tapping that cane around."

Draco shrugged and laid the cane at his feet. "Don't have to worry about sneaking here, unless I want to surprise someone. Am I to assume you are reading, since you're in the library?"

Remus grinned. "Yes, I suppose you are. I'm actually working on some Defense Against the Dark Arts for you. I found some really interesting Dark detection stuff that will help you, especially since you're... blind. I'm also trying to look back over some of my old notes from Seventh Year in all the other subjects, just in case... other Professors... will be unable or unwilling to come and teach you. I think I'll be adequate enough, at any rate."

Draco crossed his legs, pulling down the t-shirt that Harry assured repeatedly wasn't a Gryffindor shirt, but more than likely was. "The fact that you kept your notes from Seventh Year is proof enough in my book. It will probably be easier if you were to teach me anyway, given the circumstances."

"I thought so too," Remus agreed. "It would be rather unsafe to Floo professors in and out of here all the time. Observant people might eventually catch on."

Draco nodded once, picking at the near non-existent scabs on his neck. He had hardly forgotten the dream that he had had and awoken with a sliced throat, even if it had taken place quite a while ago. Since birth the blonde had taken a long time to heal, something as minor as a scraped knee leaving a scar. His fair complexion did nothing to help this.

"Is that from..." Remus began, but Draco only nodded. "Harry told me about it, and about Voldemort telling you your blindness was temporary."

Draco lowered his eyes and nodded again.

Remus scratched the back of his neck. "Don't give up, Draco. Sever… Professor Snape will find a way to help you. He's good with the potion sort of research."

"I don't want him to help me," Draco grumbled. "He's an arse and I don't want him to help me."

"Draco," Remus said in a weary tone, but the Slytherin interrupted him.

"No. He's stupid. I don't want someone that stupid making a potion that I have to take. It's a bad idea."

Remus let out a slow breath. "I think it's safe to say that his potion-making skills aren't suffering much. This stupidity is a bit different, I'm afraid."

"Don't care," Draco huffed. He grabbed his cane, stood quickly and said, "I'm going to go gather some food and take it back to Harry. I'll talk to you later, alright?"

"Okay," Remus said and returned to the books in his lap. "Be careful with all the food, I just cleaned the floors."

"I appreciate the confidence," Draco said huffily and left the library, giving the cane instructions and allowing it to lead him to the kitchen.

He opened the fridge and began running his hands over the varying jars and jugs, settling on a scattering. He loaded up his arms and started back to the bedroom, muttering "Ah, the cleverness of me."

Upon dumping their lunch onto the bed and grinning madly, Harry just laughed.

"D… Draco," he gasped through peals of laughter, "What is this?"

"Lunch," Draco said triumphantly. "Why? Oh Merlin, what did I grab?"

Harry caught his breath. "We seem to be having a nutritious meal of pickles, mayonnaise, olives, and a jar that has been in there for ages. We assumed it was one of Sirius' concoctions. Draco, love, I appreciate the gesture, but I think we should go back down and I'll fix us something to eat."

Draco stuck out his tongue. "If you insist, but I thought that pickles and mayonnaise sounded good at the time."

Harry gathered the cold jars into his arms and said, "Of course, if you are pregnant. Let's go."

"Wait, how far have you gotten with the Braille?"

Harry was silent. Finally he said, "I… I can read two words."

"Really?" Draco said excitedly. "Which ones?"

Harry bit his lip and said, "Um… Malfoy and Potter."

"Arse! You didn't even try, did you?" Draco said and slapped Harry's arm, almost causing him to drop the jars.

"I… I did, but I got sidetracked and took a shower," Harry said sheepishly. "Now I'm all clean. You can't complain about that."

Draco crossed his arms and started down the hallway and down the stairs, back to the kitchen. There was a loud knock on the front door as he passed, and he jumped. "Door! Someone's at the door! Harry, who comes to the front door?"

Harry rushed to the kitchen and deposited the various pickled goods in the arms onto the counter. He could only think of one person who came through the front door. "Draco, you should probably…"

"Who is it, Harry?" Draco said quickly. "Do you know?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "I know who it is."

"Who?"

The knock sounded again, and Harry wrapped his hand around the doorknob.

"It's Oliver."

Thanks to brionyjae for the beta!