Chapter 33
-0-
-0-
-0-
Harry laid back in the chaise on the back veranda, enjoying the intermittent breeze. Thank Merlin for cooling charms! The weather itself wasn't really that hot, but at almost eight-and-a-half months along, he was always hot... and swelled... and tired... and hungry... and extremely happy. He and Severus had been bonded for about five months now. He couldn't believe it had been that long already!
Despite having the bonding moved sooner, it had been an elegant, tasteful, warm family affair. Cissa would not have had it any other way--and she always got her way. It had been a private event--family and close friends only. And, as a special gift from Albus and a rare ritual he performed ahead of time, Harry's parents, Severus' mother, and Davidh, were all able to cross from the other realm and be present. No amount of threats, conjoling, or bribery with fine sugary confections, would persuade the old Headmaster to tell what price he'd had to pay in exchange for their presence. All he would say was it was more than worth it and not of any great consequence to him, after all.
Seeing Lily and James again, had seemed to do the trick with Sirius, and the over- protective godfather, holding his newborn daughter, wept openly, as he and Remus introduced them to the newest little Marauder, Cassiopea Andromeda Emelyne Lupin-Black. Cassie was a beauty already, and James warned his friends they'd best keep a close eye on her, which caused both men to growl.
And Cassie hadn't been the only new addition. It seemed there was a new set of Weasley twins to follow in their fathers' footsteps. Hermione had given birth not quite two months befor the wedding to identical daughters. Fred and George had been ecstatic, even moreso than Molly, and that was saying something!
Harry had been a nervous wreck before the ceremony. It seemed silly, looking back on it now, but at the time it wasn't. He'd been fine until that morning, after he'd stepped out of the shower, and stood in front of the mirror. It seemed his baby belly had popped out over-night, causing him concern about the robes that had been fitted the week before for the last time. His ankles and feet were swelled and his shoes wouldn't fit, and his face was puffy--evidently a reaction to the berries he'd eaten the day before. Then his hair wouldn't cooperate. Even though it was long now, past his waist, the hair around his face still had a mind of it's own at times. His magic was wonky so he couldn't cast a decent Detangling Spell, and the brush was tangled in his hair. He hadn't been able to find the gift he'd gotten for Severus. Finally he'd just given up, sat in the middle of his bed, wrapped in a towel, and began to sob. Why would Severus want to marry someone who was such a muddled mess anyway?
Thank Merlin, for good friends, because it was at that point, Ron and Neville had arrived. Walking into the room, they both took one look at their friend, and went to work. One of the house elves promptly appeared with some of Harry's favorite herbal tea, laced with a light Calming Draught, and some biscuits, while Ron and Neville got Harry into a house robe, wiped his eyes and nose, and took care of his hair. While he sipped and nibbled, Neville gave him the 'you are special' speech Harry had given him in Second Year, and every Year after till they'd graduated, while Ron cast spells on Harry's hair. Ten minutes later, he looked into two magical mirrors to see his hair detangled, smooth, and neatly plaited down his back, a gold band securing it at the bottom. Ron grinned wide when Harry smiled at him.
'Knew getting stuck doing Ginny's hair all those years, had to pay off some time!' He'd said.
When they finally helped him into the embroidered white robes, they just fit over the swell of the baby, and he began to fret again. That was when he felt it. She'd moved--really moved! It had only been light flutters before, but this time he could really feel her. Tears filled his eyes anew and he gasped, as he spread his hands over his belly and felt her move again. He'd grabbed Ron's hand, then Neville's, placing them over his belly so they could feel too, as he beamed at them with a watery smile.
Just then, Lucius entered the room, holding a wrapped box; one suspiciously about the size of the gift he'd been looking for. It seemed Cissa had taken it upon herself to have one of the elves retrieve the box from his rooms the night before so she could wrap it for him. One less thing for him to do. But she'd been called upon to take care of a last-minute faux pa by the caterer and the box wasn't returned to his room.
Hence, his adoptive father's presence in his rooms. Lucius gaze softened when he saw his adopted son, and after setting the gift carefully on a nearby table, he crossed the room and wrapped Harry in a warm embrace, kissed both his cheeks, told him how handsome he looked, how proud he was of how he's rallied from everything. Whispering that he loved him, before releasing him, Lucius was gone before it even registered what he'd said.
Then it was time to go. The ceremony was everything he hoped for and much more than he'd dreamed of. Severus wore the same white embroidered robes, with his hair also plaited down his back. He looked quite handsome. The dark eyes had lit up, when he'd seen him, and surprisingly, they lingered affectionately on the very obvious baby swell, as did everyone else's gaze it seemed as he walked to join Severus at the altar. An extremely ancient-looking witch, a High Priestess, performed the bonding. One of the few still alive that performed this particular bonding ritual for Pureblood Families, in conjunction with the Blood-Bonding between Sebastian and himself.
Severus had froze when Davidh's spirit appeared, just as Sebastian joined them at the small altar. The man's eyes filled with tears and he began to tremble, as his gaze locked on the shade of his First Bonded. Noone, except maybe for Albus and maybe Lucius, had ever seen him like this. Poor Sebastian, so happy to see his Da again, but at the same time, worried about the odd behavior of his Papa. That was until Davidh floated forward, stroked a transparent hand down, first Severus' cheek, then Sebastian's, before guiding Sebastian's hand into Harry's, and guiding Severus' hand to rest over them. It was his way of giving his permission and blessing the bondings.
When he rejoined the other spirits, Severus finally came to himself again and nodded to the High Priestess to continue. Everything went quite smoothly after that, the magic surrounding them as a new family, strong and bright, with an additional fine stream of color, that could only be the baby's. The celebration afterward had been joyous to say the least, with much music and dancing, exceptional food, and wine, meade, and spirits that flowed freely. Harry was only allowed the one mandatory glass of meade, then it was fruit juices or tea for the rest of the evening. He hadn't been able to abide pumpkin juice at all during the pregnancy.
He blushed hotly, fanning himself, as he remembered the bonding night. They'd retired well before the festivities had broken up, as custom dicated, and they could hear the revelers quite clearly. It was expected for the guests to make much fuss and noise when the couple left for the bonding bed. Even though those attending knew he was already with child ( and would keep the secret to their graves), they still yelled encouragement and a few slightly obscene
suggestions, after the door closed and Locking Charms clicked into place. Merry music swelled in the background, but soon became a distant hum along with the voices, as Severus made passionate love to him, repeatedly. If he hadn't already been with child, he would have been by the following morning; and most likely with twins!
Lucius and Narcissa had insisted they stay at the Manor. She'd had the entire wing of the Third Floor, nearest to the Observatory, redone for them. It even had a small kitchenettle now, so Harry wouldn't have to go downstairs if he wasn't feeling up to it. In his condition, the Healers had forbid him to travel, so a regular honeymoon had been out of the question. So, Lucius and Narcissa had planned several day outings to different local restaurants, museums, theatres, and other activities he and Severus had enjoyed in the past. Anything that didn't required Apparition orFlooing, both of which were forbidden after the fourth month. Severus promised him a long honeymoon away, sometime after the baby was born and old enough to be left with her grandparents for a little while. Everything after that had settled into a comfortable and secure routine, one that gave him a warm fuzzy feeling still.
The only bump in the road had been when the news had hit the Prophet that Draco, who'd been dutifully fulfilling the requirements of his post-Azkaban probationary program, had experienced an emotional break and attacked one of his roommates from the halfway house. Sadly, Lucius and Narcissa didn't receive notification until right before the Prophet had hit circulation the next morning. It seemed Draco had learned of Severus and his bonding, and that he was with child. The fact that the news hadn't been well-received, was an understatement. He'd attacked the man who'd shared the news, not realizing how it would affect the former Malfoy heir. The victim's condition had been touch and go for a while, leaving the Healers to wonder how a wizard with a bound wand could have inflicted so much damage with basically his bare hands. He shuddered as he remembered visiting the man in St. Mungo's, with his parents and Severus. They'd arranged to pay all of the man's medical expenses, until he could return to the halfway house and his job.
It seemed the Black Familial Madness that Draco suffered from had worsened, triggered by an emotional blow he could not handle. Lucius had insisted the Healers find treatment for his son, as he tried to console his weeping wife. A clinic in Switzerland was using a new controversial treatment--a combination of Muggle and Wizarding healing--and having a promising percentage of success. Lucius told the Healer to make the arrangements immediately and wired the clinic a Gringott's voucher--enough to cover Draco's treatment for two years.
When he had asked Severus, Lucius, and Cissa to take him to see Draco that same day--since he was leaving for Switzerland the following day--they had gaped at him in shock, then all flatly refused, making several good arguments why he shouldn't. But it was something he'd felt he needed to do. He hadn't had any contact with Draco since the beating, but Lucius and Narcissa had kept in touch with their firstborn, and visited with him, when he allowed it. Azkaban had taken quite a bit out of him and his anger quickly dissipated. He'd wanted to see the blond, be in the same room with him, stare into those eyes to see if they were still cold and if they still made him afraid.
He'd made his arguments, surprisingly logical, and eventually they gave in. He hadn't had a nightmare in almost a year, and the flinch reflex had dimished to almost non-existence. Of course they'd acquiesced on one condition, that he didn't go alone. There was the baby's safety to think of. They spoke with the Healers and determined Narcissa would be the best choice to accompany him, since she was the least likely to upset Draco. Severus and Lucius would be waiting outside, with the Healers, and if anything happened, he and Cissa were to leave the room immediately.
It wasn't what any of them expected. He'd been sitting in a chair by the window, wrapped in a thick robe, over his hospital pajamas, his long pale blond hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Narcissa had entered first and began speaking to him, but he barely acknowledged her presence. When Harry finally walked around into his field of vision, Draco stared at him, studied him, silently, for quite a while, before leaning forward, reaching out and laying his palm against the six-month swell of the baby.
'A baby--finally. A little Malfoy?' Draco'd whispered, his eyes moving up to look at him.
He'd nodded slowly and answered. 'She's a Potter --and a Snape too. A strong healthy girl.'
Draco had looked to his mother and asked, 'Not mine?'
She had shook her head, sadly. Draco began to weep, uncontrollably at that, shuddering and convulsing in his chair as he pulled fistfuls of his hair, and Narcissa quickly escorted him from the room as Healers entered to try to calm Draco. As they waited outside, they could hear the weeping turn to wailing, followed first by the sounds of a struggle, then quiet. He'd had to be sedated and restrained. He'd been quite sad about that. This Draco was a shadow of the mean-spirited man who had tormented him and he'd felt sad for him.
Draco was gone the next day, still restrained, weeping and hysterical. Narcissa had finally figured out what would calm Draco so he could be treated--a doll; a baby doll, one that looked like Draco did as a baby. It did the trick, went with Draco everywhere, and he treated it as if it were a real baby and his own child. Once they were sure he would cooperate, they'd returned home a fortnight later, both pale and exhausted-looking, with dark circles under their eyes. Severus immediately summoned the Healer and supplied a fresh batch of healing potions.
The twins, Sasha and Zoe' had grown by leaps and bounds and had celebrated their fourth birthday. They were Sebastian's constant shadows, and he didn't seem to mind, now that he was almost six years old himself. He'd told Severus one day that he had to practice for when baby Celyn came. Of course, with Hermione's twins, in a few years he'd have three more following him around. Hopefully, he would still feel the same way.
As he shifted, looking for a more comfortable position, he decided that his daughter was growing by leaps and bounds these days. He felt huge, and speculated that watching him walk these days most likely conjured visions of a huge waddling duck, though he knew noone dared say so.
He longed to see his feet again--and his cock. Hell, he'd be happy to be able to wank again. Everything was a struggle. He tried not to get too frustrated and angry, but sometimes, well... At least most of the time, someone was there to help ease things for him, and Severus gave incredible foot and back rubs with those long fingers of his. And when he was feeling frisky, well Severus was more than willing to take care of that for him too.
As a matter of fact, Severus had doted on him and continued to do so, when he was home, and a small group of house elves had been given the sole task of taking care of all his needs and wants, when Severus could not be home. Siri and Remi visited often, bringing Cassie over for him to spoil. Gred and Forge brought over the twins for visits since Hermione had gone back to work. They told him, she'd be pregnant again before the end of the year, with dual winks. He'd laughed at that.
The breezes wafted over him again as he sipped his iced water, bringing a bit of dust with it, tickling his nose, and he sneezed.
"Oh, Bugger!" He frowned, as he tried to sit up. "Now I have to pee again! Primrose!"
Tbc...