Hey, Everyone! It's nice to see you all! I hope you like this next chapter! See you at the end for an AN!
******** ******** Chapter 14 ******** ********
Their return to Hogwarts became yet another media event. Harry and Draco arrived at the gates to the school to find a tent and several aurors waiting for them as well as the Malfoys and Harry's friends. They were surrounded on sight and escorted through the throng of reporters to the tent where Madam Pomphrey would perform the spell to confirm the pregnancy.
"Thank you, Father." Draco smirked at the man who'd sired him.
"For what, may I ask..." The elder blond raised an eyebrow.
"For the honeymoon we wouldn't have gotten if it wasn't for your meddling." Harry smirked as he helped Draco get up on the medical bed that was there.
Lucius was gaping uncouthly at them when Madam Pomphrey joined the group.
"Just say 'you're welcome' and be done, Luce." Narcissa smirked and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lucius gritted his teeth and said, "You're welcome."
Narcissa discreetly winked at Harry who nodded as he suppressed his mirth.
"If you are pregnant, Mr. Malfoy, the spell will create a cloud of pale pink or pale blue. If you aren't we will see a white cloud." She told them as she waved her wand and spoke an incantation.
They waited and watched as a wisp of cloud began to take form above the blond's belly. Harry grinned seeing the pale pink color.
Narcissa dabbed at her eyes as they teared up. "A girl!"
Suddenly, the wisp changed to a pastel shade of blue.
"No, it's a boy!" Ron crowed.
Hermione and Lucius frowned.
Finally the cloud settled on a lavender color.
Harry stared at the cloud for a moment. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
Lucius seemed to be hiding a smirk. "Twins..."
"Yes, Harry; you and Draco are having twins. One is a girl and the other is a boy. When the pregnancy potion is mixed with a lust potion it sometimes results in a multiple birth." The medi-witch said.
Draco turned and glared at his father. "So this is all your fault!"
Lucius rolled his eyes. "Draco, relax. You have Harry, and your mother and I will help, as well."
"Yes, I'm sure we'll see you changing nappies every day, Father." Draco rolled his eyes.
"We'll help too, Harry!" Hermione beamed at them.
Harry shook his head. "You guys will be busy enough with your own little bundle, soon."
The Minister walked in just then and saw the purple cloud. "Talk about working fast, Harry! You and Draco are the first parents of all the couples that married in the last month. Not only that, but you have two babies on the way! Congratulations, my young friends!"
Harry thanked Kingsley and asked what was supposed to happen now.
"The reporters outside all know that you missed several days of classes and have just now returned, Harry. You can tell them whatever story you want and we'll all stick to it." McGonagall told him gently.
"They know?" Draco's eyes widened.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy." She answered.
"Malfoy-Potter." Draco interrupted quietly.
Harry worked hard to keep from grinning widely when he heard this. Draco wanted to combine their names? He'd known that the blond would never relinquish the Malfoy name, but hoped beyond hope that he would one day want to be a Potter. The only thing that made him happier was the news of their children.
Lucius was silent but Harry could tell he was surprised by his son's declaration.
Her eyebrow lifted but she accepted the correction. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy-Potter...Rumors have spread far beyond the walls of Hogwarts as to why you and Harry disappeared for the last week."
"Let's tell them the truth." Harry said smirking at Draco.
Draco gaped at him. "You think we should tell those reporters out there that my father, Lucius Malfoy - former right hand man of Lord Voldemort drugged Harry Potter's husband with a pregnancy/lust potion which compelled the Savior to ignore his studies for the sole purpose of fucking his new husband into the nearest mattress as many as five times in one day?"
Ron's face turned bright red while Hermione giggled; McGonagall just closed her eyes and shook her head. Kingsley chuckled silently. Narcissa blushed and cleared her throat, but Lucius' expression was beyond description as he choked.
"There's that sarcasm I love." Harry chuckled at the blond. "Of course that's not what we'll tell them, Draco …but that's not what really happened, either, is it, love?" He winked and went on, holding Draco's hand to his heart. "We'll tell them how we were so distracted by our new relationship - our budding romance...if you will." He kissed Draco's hand. "...and that we knew we wouldn't be able to concentrate on classes until we met all of our deadlines for the new law."
The blond stared at his husband for a moment and then let out an undignified giggle. "You belong in Slytherin."
Lucius rolled his eyes. "I agree, Harry...the truth is best."
"So the Headmistress," Kingsley volunteered. "And the ministry granted you permission for a short leave of absence from school."
Harry grinned at him. "Good, now let's go out there and finish this nonsense."
The Minister led the group out onto the stage. "Here they are, Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy-Potter."
"Harry, where have you been for the last week?"
"How are you and Draco getting on?"
"Is it true the Malfoys kidnapped you?"
"Why weren't you in school, Harry?"
Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. "No, the Malfoys did NOT kidnap me! My husband and I were a bit distracted by our new relationship, that's all... and we knew that we wouldn't be able to concentrate on our classes until we met all of the deadlines for the new law."
"They applied to the Headmistress and the Ministry for a short leave of absence from Hogwarts." Kingsley told them.
"It was granted and we've had quite a romantic week in Hogsmeade. We're getting along swimmingly. In fact, we are returning now with the news that my husband and I are indeed pregnant." Draco smiled.
After a silent pause, the reporters began to clamor at them again.
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Yes, what sex is our Savior's child?"
"Is it a multiple or a single birth?"
"When is the baby due?"
"Will you have the baby here, at the Manor, or at St. Mungo's?"
Harry raised his hands. "Can everyone please calm down? We can only answer you one at a time."
"First of all, we're having twins; a girl and a boy. They are due in August, so they'll be born in either the hospital or whatever house we decide to call home." Draco told them.
"Have you thought of any names?"
Harry looked in disbelief at the man who'd asked that. "We only just got confirmation of the pregnancy! There's been no discussion of names as of yet and when there is, our families will be told first. That's all for now, folks."
He turned from the crowd and began the trek up to the school with the rest of their group following them.
Madam Pomphrey caught up with Harry and Draco quickly and informed them of the things Draco would need for the length of his pregnancy. "There are vitamin potions and stomach calming draughts. He'll start the morning sickness soon if he gets it at all. Most men are lucky enough to escape that part of pregnancy while almost all women must endure it."
"Alright, Madam Pomphrey; can you supply them or should I have the Malfoys order them from their healer?" Harry asked thoughtfully.
"I have a supplier, Mr. Potter. The new instructor for Potions will be making most of them and you eighth year students will learn how to brew them since it's not one of the potions on the dangerous list. We'll have enough for all of the pregnant young men and women in residence." The medi-witch replied. "I'll have the vitamin potions sent in daily doses with the house elves and you can ask for the stomach calming draughts as needed."
"Is there anything else we need to know, Madam?" Draco asked.
"Well…" She thought for a moment and recalled that both boys played Quidditch. "I don't know if you knew this but there is to be no flying until the pregnancy is over, Mr. Malfoy-Potter. Oh, and the Headmistress has ordered all the elves to be of service. So if you have any cravings, just ask an elf to fetch it for you."
"So, in other words: no Quidditch. I understand; thank you so much, Madam Pomphrey." Draco smiled at the woman even though he was disappointed to lose his flying privileges for the next nine months.
"You are most welcome, young man." She said as they came up on Hagrid's hut.
"Draco, I want to tell Hagrid we're back. You don't have to come if you don't want to, but you are welcome to join me." Harry said, facing his husband as the medi-witch kept going.
"I'm a bit tired from the walk, Harry, and I don't want to fall asleep in there." Draco assured him as his parents came closer. "So I'll meet you in the apartment."
"Alright, but please ask someone walk with you. I've heard that pregnant people get dizzy spells and such; I don't want you getting hurt." Harry told him. "Maybe I should walk you up and then come back to visit with Hagrid another time…"
"Have no fear, Harry," Narcissa smiled softly. "Lucius and I wanted to visit with him after the public statement was given anyway. We'll accompany him to the apartment and help him settle back in."
"I don't need a babysitter, you know." Draco grumbled.
"I know, Dragon, but it's just to be safe." Harry whispered as he kissed the blond on the cheek.
Draco watched Harry go into the half-giant's hut and sighed. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Harry's concern comforted him. Maybe this relationship would turn to love…eventually…but until then he felt safe and content and even cared for. He turned to his parents and was surprised to see the way they were looking at him. "What?"
Lucius looked at his son and shook his head lightly as he led the way up the path.
"Is he really being good to you, Dragon?" His mother asked hooking an arm through his.
"You've no idea, Mother; he's so sweet and gentle. The consummation was…he didn't just go to bed with me, Mother. He didn't just 'consummate the marriage'. He made love to me…He didn't care that I was virginal, in fact I think he rather liked it." Draco whispered to her.
"But did he take advantage of it to cause you pain?" His father asked pointedly.
"No, Father. Oh, I have more than an inkling as to his temper but since the day we got the letter, he's been nothing but caring and protective…" Draco told them.
"I heard from Severus Snape's portrait that you had a bruise the morning after the wedding." Lucius narrowed his eyes at his son. "And – Why has he needed to be protective?"
"The bruise in question was on my neck; it was just a love-bite. I quite enjoyed getting it and it's been healed for days. As for Harry's protectiveness – some of my friends were merely not receptive to the idea of my marrying him." Draco said offhand. "Most of my former friends have been staying away and his friends have gotten even more supportive than usual."
"I see...You should retain your own friends, son." Lucius began to lecture as they walked through the large doors of the castle. "What if the Ministry allows these forced marriages to be dissolved someday? Do you really want to be stuck out in the world with no friends?"
Draco sighed. "Harry and I have already discussed this, Father. We won't be dissolving this marriage no matter what the Ministry decides."
Lucius gaped at his son. "I see...Well, then I am happy the two of you are getting on so well."
"Go on, Draco. Tell us more about how Harry is with you." Narcissa prodded.
"He dances well – I don't know when he learned or who taught him, but you must've seen him dancing with me at the ball…" He spoke softly. "During the last few lust filled days and nights he's been so understanding and I don't want to be crass but we are quite intense in the bedroom."
"Oh, my darling Dragon!" Narcissa gasped.
"And during the potion…?" Lucius asked hesitantly.
Draco met his father's gaze. "It hurt terribly, Father…I won't lie to you. It was worse than taking the Dark Mark."
The older man flinched at the mention of the tattoo on their left arms. "But how did he behave?"
"He held me…" Draco smiled affectionately. "He held me and stroked my hair…like Mummy used to when I was upset…and he didn't say a word while I sobbed into his chest…and when the pain had faded…A year or more ago, I would've expected him to mock or berate me for… but he didn't. He comforted me and…"
"Yes?" Lucius prompted.
"He made me forget that I'd ever been in pain." Draco grimaced when he heard the awe in his own voice.
"You're falling in love with him." His mother observed as they came upon the painting that guarded Draco and Harry's apartment.
"Perhaps..." Draco gazed down at his belly. He gave the password to the man in the painting and let his parents follow him in. A house elf was placing a vial labeled 'prenatal vitamins' on the coffee table, so Draco told it to stop and hand the vial to him instead. As he swallowed the potion, he made a decision. He would conjure a spelled rose for his husband this evening to see Harry's feelings. He didn't want to make himself that vulnerable if Harry didn't feel the same way, after all.
The rest of the visit was very relaxing. He simply lay back on a cushioned chaise while the school elf unpacked for him and spoke with his parents until he felt fatigued. His parents seemed mollified by the answers he gave to their questions and as soon as he yawned, they left him to rest.
Ok, the next chapter will be out on Wednesday, guys and gals, so don't miss it! Thank you all for continuing to read and review! I LOVE reading them!
Lori