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Author's Note:

Well, it's finally here, the chapter that I believe we've all been waiting for! I'm SUPER-HAPPY! :)

Anyway, enough from me. Let's get to that baby! Harry will be relieved I'm thinking!

Enjoy! :)

Also, this is the first chapter with Remus Lupin in it, so, that's another bonus! :)

This chapter is Fondly Dedicated to my Aunt Jan, because she loves frogs, so the Hagrid/frog paragraph was written for her! :)

~Sweet-Hearted SilverEars~

Chapter 50 An Expected And Unexpected Arrival

Harry sat next to Draco on the train the next morning.

Lucius, Narcissa and Severus has seen them off at the station, as Snape would be staying with them for a few more hours before Apparating to Hogsmeade and catching on of the carriages up to the school. In the case of Draco's mother with hugs and smiles, Lucius and Severus with more reserved, but still warm farewells. Harry smiled as he remembered both men patting the top of his head and kissing his forehead briefly as he snuggled closer to his husband and laid his dark haired head on his shoulder.

He closed his green eyes then, so he didn't see Ron and Dani watching them in amusement from where they sat on the bench seat opposite them holding hands. After a while longer the soothing motion of the train relaxed him even further, lulling him into much needed sleep after he had been up and down all night. He only disturbed Draco's rest a couple of times to Harry's secret relief, not wanting to make Draco worry about how uncomfortable he was now, his body aching and heavy with their daughter.

Thankfully, Harry woke again about a half hour before they arrived at Hogsmeade, as Draco wouldn't have wanted to wake him. The four of them moved to a thestral pulled carriage, Draco casting a cushion charm for Harry's comfort in the rocking, sometimes jolting carriage. They passed through the gates before they closed behind them since theirs was the last carriage in the line, the four of them disembarking and climbing up the steps to the castle together.

Draco slid his arm around Harry's waist affectionately then, surprised when the dark haired man flinched and stiffened the second they all entered Hogwarts, looking up at the blonde with a half smile, half grimace now. "Draco.. I don't think we're going to make it to our last sorting, or the opening feast. My water just broke.."

Draco had only a second to register this statement, catching Harry in his arms when he started to fall, his legs transforming into his other form's greenish-gold scaled tail beneath his robes as Draco scooped him up into his protecting arms carefully. He held him close against his body bridal style as he started to walk to their rooms quickly with Ron and Dani following after them worriedly.

"Ron, go and get Madam Pomfrey, please?" Draco asked as he walked with Harry in his arms. "Dani, would you help me for a moment? Then, you can both get to the feast. Harry wants privacy for this. We've already spoken on the subject."

"Yes," Ron said in reply, hurrying off in search of the school's nurse. "Of course."

Dani followed Draco inside, watching him lay Harry down on their bed tenderly, taking the bag that the blonde handed to him in confusion. "There's a small blow up pool in there," Draco explained to him quickly. "I need you to pull it out and unshrink it, then fill it up with air and water. Can you do that?"

"I'm on it."

Draco smiled at him briefly in thanks, then turned back to Harry and started to remove his robes and shirt, stripping him down to bare skin and fin before lifting him up into his arms again when the aqua-colored pool was ready and full of cool water that Dani had conjured with his Mer-Magic. He lowered the slightly panting Gryffindor down into the water carefully, relieved when Harry seemed to relax a little within the water's soothing embrace, laying back against the side of the pool and closing his eyes to rest and conserve his strength for when he'd really need it.

"Dani?" Draco asked him. "Would you mind cleaning up the water and stuff in the entry way before joining Ron at the feast? I'd do it, but Harry shouldn't be left alone in this state. He'll probably need me for something."

"Of course I don't mind. You belong with your husband. Especially now. I can handle it in a snap."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. We'll be back later to see you. All three of you." "I'm sure you will."

Madam Pomfrey arrived ten minutes later.

She was obviously out of breath, but all professional as she set her bag down nearby and started to look Harry over, examining him where he lay reclining in the pool. "I apologize for the delay in my arrival. I had only just finished treating Hagrid when Mr. Weasley arrived to tell me about Mr. Pott- Um, I mean, Mr. Malfoy. Apologies. I should be quite used to the name change by now."

"You're probably just frazzled right now," Draco stated as he watched her face while she examined Harry thoroughly.

"Yes, perhaps you're right."

"Is Hagrid alright?.." Harry asked with obvious concern despite his own predicament.

"Yes, of course. Somehow, though I have no idea how, nor do I want to, the foolish man managed to get a hold of an illegal three-eyed, fire breathing giant bullfrog. Blasted creature nearly managed to burn down his entire hut with him and that dog inside it. Professor Dumbledore and the other teachers are out looking for the creature so that they can contain it and get it out of here before it hurts anyone else. Godric forbid one of you students. Anyway, I'm sure that he's feeling a lot better then you are right now. Does it hurt?"

"Yes, though not terribly yet since it just started not that long ago."

"Right. Well, nevertheless, I shall see what I can do to make you more comfortable."

"Thank you," Draco and Harry said at the same time, grinning at each other briefly.

An hour later Draco had had to cast a silencing charm over the room so that Harry's loud, bloodcurdling screams wouldn't disturb anyone, holding his left hand in his where he knelt by the pool at his husband's side. He winced, but didn't make a sound when Harry squeezed his hand tightly in his with every scream as he pushed when Madam Pomfrey told him to do so in-between breathing.

The nurse had spelled the water back out of her way in the pool so that it covered the top half of Harry's greenish gold fin, but not the lower tail section, leaving only a small layer of water beneath it there so that his scales wouldn't dry out and make him uncomfortable. Or at least, more uncomfortable then he already was.

All three of them were surprised when there came a knock at the door. Draco let go of Harry's hand reluctantly to go answer it, opening the door to see Remus Lupin unexpectedly standing there in the torch-lit stone corridor.

"Professor Lupin," Draco stated in surprise where he stood in the partially open doorway. "I assume that you are here to see Harry?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. I am."

"Please, call me Draco. We are family now."

Lupin seemed taken aback by his words, but he nodded, saying calmly, "Only if you call me Remus."

"Alright. Remus."

"Draco."

"I do not wish to be thought rude, Remus," Draco said truthfully. "But this isn't exactly the best time for a visit. Maybe you could come back tomorrow for a while? Harry is sort of.. indisposed at the moment."

"Draco!" Harry screamed from inside the room just then. "I don't care who it is, get back in here! I need you, my love!"

Draco turned away from Remus quickly and without further comment at Harry's call, leaving the door open as he returned to kneel at his Mate's side by the pool. He took his left hand in his once more as Remus came into the room with obvious hesitance, shutting the door behind himself when Harry screamed again and arched his back in the pool, his thrashing tail causing ripples to form and swirl across the surface of the water.

"May I ask what exactly is going on here?" Remus spoke up during Harry's next pause in pushing, watching the brunette breathing heavily where he lay half-submerged in the pool of water.

"Harry's in labor," Draco explained, never taking his eyes off his husband's flushed, sweaty face as he answered him.

"And if my estimations are correct," Madam Pomfrey spoke up then, "You'll both be holding your daughter very soon. Push, Harry, okay? One more should do it."

Harry nodded tiredly, stiffening the muscles in his strong tail once again, screaming instinctively as he pushed down with all his strength. A strangled cry escaped him as he finally expelled the babe from the slick birth canal on the back of his tail. He slumped back in Draco's arms then, smiling up at him in his embrace, accepting the gorgeous blonde's gentle, chaste kiss upon his lips as Madam Pomfrey scooped up their child and carried her across to the small table and bathing tub that Draco had prepared for her arrival.

"I love you, Draco.." Harry whispered softly, lifting his right hand up to touch Draco's left cheek with obvious tenderness in his green eyes as they looked into familiar, but no less beloved gray orbs.

"I love you more, my Harry.." Draco replied, lifting his left hand up to cover Harry's right where it rested on his face.

"Mmm.. That's not possible, my heart."

"I won't argue with you, sweetheart," Draco said with a smile, brushing the limp, sweaty hair back from the Gryffindor's face with his other hand thoughtfully. "Especially not about something so silly. We love each other, and we love our daughter. That's all that matters. I'm so happy right now."

"So am I."

Draco vanished the water in Harry's pool; healing him as best he could before replacing it with fresh like Dani had shone him before heading to the feast. He then removed the spell block so that it could flow over his entire tail, causing Harry to sigh quietly in relief in response. Madam Pomfrey brought the baby over to them wrapped in a soft, light purple blanket that the couple had purchased for their baby months ago for this moment as she handed her to Harry carefully. She was clearly pleased by the way that the brunette held her close against his bare chest, cradling her small head tenderly, his green eyes lighting up with a different kind of love then the love that he felt for Draco. But one that was no less strong in it's intensity.

Draco watched them both, obviously riveted as his husband examined their newborn daughter lovingly. Her hair was golden blonde, straight and longer then usual on a new babe, though not quite reaching her neck, and soft as expensive silk to the touch. Her small eyes were an exact match to Draco's gorgeous gray color, her delicate, alabaster skin flushed with blood from the exertion of her wailing during her first bath. Though now she was calm, quiet and obviously happy where she lay in Harry's arms, staring up into his face with a wide, baby smile.

"She's so beautiful.." Harry murmured, his eyes never leaving her tiny face as he spoke, kissing her little forehead while Madam Pomfrey healed him further and then withdrew from the room quietly with a slight smile. "Our baby.. Our daughter. Have you ever seen anything so perfect?.."

"Only you, sweet Harry."

Despite his exhausted state Harry blushed becomingly at his mate's compliment, his green eyes shifting then from his husband to Remus when the older man spoke quietly.

"What will you call her?"

"Her name is Cassiopeia Carina Pisces Malfoy-Potter," Harry answered him firmly with an impish smile. "Even Draco didn't know that until now. I wanted it to be a surprise."

Draco was looking awestruck as he whispered the name that Harry has just said to himself repeatedly.

"Judging from his expression, you've seceded," Remus Lupin said in obvious amusement, then his expression became more serious as he continued to speak. "That's a bit of a mouthful for such a tiny little one. However beautiful she is."

"It's Cassie," Harry said softly in reply as he looked down into their now sleeping newborn daughter's face with loving green eyes. "Our Cassie.."

"May I hold her?.." Draco asked him quietly, though he did look a little nervous about the prospect.

"Of course you can, love. Better to do it now then later when she'll wake and want fed. But would you mind moving us to the bed first?.. I think that I would like to sleep now while I can before she'll need me."

"Of course, pet," Draco said with a smile.

The blonde drained the pool, drying Harry off with a spell. Remus turned away politely when he lifted the slim, naked Gryffindor up into his arms carefully after his tail had changed back to bare legs and feet, laying him down in the bed beneath the covers tenderly. He then took their baby carefully when Harry held her out to him with a tired smile.

"When you're done holding her, just lay her in the cradle," Harry said sleepily, his eyes already closing. "I'll feed her after she wakes up. I'm sorry, Mooney, but we'll have to talk later. I'm just so.. worn out.."

"Of course, Harry. It's perfectly understandable. I'll be back later to see you. All of you."

"Sleep well, my own," Draco whispered, bending down carefully with their daughter in his arms to kiss Harry's forehead lovingly. "I love you, Harry."

"Love you, too, Dray.."

The Next Day

"Anyway, that's the whole story," Harry finished with a smile. The Gryffindor was lying in bed, tucked beneath the covers with a sleeping Cassie held securely in his arms, having just fed her before Lupin's arrival. "Or at least, our part in it."

"Yes, I see," Remus said with a nod where he sat in a chair at the foot of the bed. Draco sat just beside the bed in another chair, holding Harry's left hand in his so that he was touching his mate and their daughter both. "Though, I am surprised that James and Lilly never spoke of this to me and Sirius."

"About that," Draco spoke up then, squeezing Harry's hand in his gently with a smile, earning a sleepy, contented one from his lover in return. "I suspect that they didn't know about it. If the Mer gene skipped over Harry's father, and grandfather, or maybe even back further then that in the line, then they wouldn't necessarily know about its presence in the family's history. It is just a hypothesis, of course, since I haven't seen Harry's historical and family documents yet, but I think that Harry might be the first one in his line that it's actually asserted it's presence within since his Grandmother Arailia. She is a Pure Mer, but the birth rate for them is low, and if the gene takes this long to produce just one babe, then I can see why. Who knows if Cassie will carry the gene like Harry does, or merely pass it on to her future children?"

"Ahh, Dray!" Harry protested quickly. "She was only born yesterday. Don't put those images in my head! Besides, I.. I do want to have more then one baby, eventually… I.. I love babies. And, being pregnant wasn't bad, either, except for the sickness. ..And being fat and uncomfortable near the end.."

Draco burst out laughing, clutching at his right side with it, Harry's wide-eyed look in response just making him laugh even harder.