Hey everyone! Ok, for those of you who care...my health problems amounted to ovarian cysts which turned out to be benign! Everyone scream with me... 'Yahooooooo!'
I'm well healed from the procedures that it took to figure this out but now I think I'm experiencing the symptom carpal tunnel. More on that as it develops...
Now back to our regularly scheduled programs...
******** ******** Chapter 38 ******** ********
"Draco, please answer me?" Harry was beside himself with guilt at misjudging his husband. He loved the blond but he'd truly thought that if something like this second pregnancy letter had come to Draco, he'd hide it to push forward in his studies.
"I don't know how." Draco didn't look up from his book.
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you." Harry said softly as he approached.
"You've little reason to, I suppose…" Draco whispered when he felt Harry's hand on his shoulder. "But it doesn't feel good! You said I wouldn't get another punishment unless it happened again, but I have neither neglected my health nor lied to you since last month and yet you still consider me suspect."
"C'mon, Draco," Harry squeezed his husband's shoulder lightly. "If they sent you a letter like that, would you take the potion again and postpone your training or would you destroy the letter?"
"I'd hate it…and I'd moan and complain about it…but I'd do it. I'd take the potion." Draco felt a tear roll down his cheek as he stood and turned around to face Harry. "I'd do it because being pregnant was an amazing experience and, even though it was just a dream last month, being separated from you and our babies isn't something I'd risk happening… ever."
Seeing nothing but the truth in Draco's grey eyes, Harry bit his lip. "I'll never doubt you again, Dragon. I swear… Won't you please forgive me?"
Draco sighed as he buried his face in Harry's chest and let the brunette hold him tightly. "I can never stay angry with you…no matter how I try." Harry's body heat surrounded him, soothing most of his doubts. "I do forgive you, prat… but I want to negotiate a different method of punishment."
Harry took a breath before asking what Draco meant.
"I've been thinking about it and…" The blond stepped back and bit his lip. "The way you took me over your knee for a spanking was humiliating and I felt like a child, Harry."
"I'm glad you didn't like it, Draco. You weren't supposed to like it." Harry frowned. "It was a punishment."
"I've been punished before, Harry…it never felt that way." Draco shook his head sadly and tugged Harry down to sit with him on the bench. "I accept that I need to be punished sometimes. I accept that you will be the one to punish me – as my Dominant husband…but please, Harry – allow me some input as to what I can and cannot take."
Harry just sat for a moment, thinking about this request. It wasn't unreasonable and Harry had just offended the man so some recompense was owed him. Finally he nodded. "So what do you suggest?"
Draco restrained his relief, "I'll continue to accept a spanking if you wish, Harry, but allow me the dignity of choosing the position and counting the strikes myself…please?"
Harry nodded again to show his acceptance. "That is acceptable to me. Show me the position you'd prefer."
Draco thought for a moment and stood up. He went to the end of his desk and bent at the hip while placing his hands on either side. "This would work, and the back of the couch in the sitting room is just about this height as well."
Harry stood and walked around Draco. He could see the appeal this position had for the blond. His ass was at the right height for Harry's hand and it did show slightly more dignity then being sprawled across Harry's lap. It showed that, rather then being a child that couldn't control himself, Draco chose to accept the consequences of his actions. Harry felt Draco's respect for him that he'd addressed the issue without simply rebelling. "Alright, Draco…I accept your suggestions. The next time you need disciplinary action, you will take this position over the back of the couch in the sitting room and count twenty strikes of my hand." As he said this Harry ran a hand down Draco's back and squeezed his bottom.
Draco squeaked in surprise before turning to glare ruefully at his husband. He was glad the serious nature of the conversation had ended but that didn't mean it should turn that playful, not yet at least. He grudgingly let Harry hug him again.
After a few moments, Harry backed away to see his husband's face. "I've volunteered to write to the Minister about this and Hermione and Ron have asked us to join the Weasleys at the Burrow tomorrow night."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I suppose we could, if you really want to."
"You know Lyra and Caelum love playing with all the Weasley kids." Harry grinned.
"I know…" The blond chuckled. "And I would hate to be the one standing in their way."
"Dinki will call you in a bit for dinner, love." Harry said with a quick kiss to his husband's forehead.
"Don't…" Draco protested refusing to relinquish Harry's embrace. "I don't want to be alone yet."
Harry relished Draco's openness, however reluctant it might be. He tightened his arms. "Take a break. Join me and the babies. They'll love seeing you more."
Feeling Harry's closeness, Draco took a moment to savor it. "Maybe I do want to be alone…alone with you."
Harry chuckled upon feeling Draco's lips brush his earlobe. "Here…?"
The blond grinned. Harry had been true to his word never refusing his husband's advances and Draco never let an opportunity pass. "Yes…right here…over the desk?" His voice sounded soft and breathy.
"You want to me to bend you over your desk and fuck you?" Quite amused, Harry kissed Draco hard on the mouth. "I'll never understand it. You just love being overpowered in your own territory."
Draco moaned as the edge of his desk bit into the back of his thighs. "Only you…Only you can overpower me like this, Harry!"
"Good. That's just as it should be…husband." The brunette grinned as he leaned into his lover, casting a spell that suddenly completely unfastened Draco's clothing.
Draco looked down in shock. "How did you…?"
"I read it in a book." Harry shook with laughter. "Maybe I'll teach it to you later." He proceeded to lower Draco's trousers to his ankles before manhandling the other man into position. Pressing down so Draco's chest touched the cool desk surface; he bent over his husband and whispered into his ear. "Move and I'll spank you."
The blond's eyes fluttered closed even as he felt his nipples harden to tight nubs, but he did remain still.
Harry didn't waste time summoning lube. He used a spell to clean and lubricate Draco's ass and then took Draco's hands in his. "Place your hands next to your head."
"No. Hold them at my back, Harry…or bind them…Oh Harry, please bind them!" Draco felt himself grow harder as Harry moved his wand and cast Incarcerous. Harry's hands ran lightly over his buttocks and thighs, making Draco shiver with anticipation. He moaned as Harry's fingers found his hole and probed deeply. "In me, Harry! I need you inside me!"
"Such a bossy little bottom, you are…" After a quick caress to Draco's cock, Harry gave into the blond's urging and spread the soft white globes of Draco's ass. The slick hole shimmered in the light and Harry smiled as he finally undid his trousers. He pressed the head of his cock to the other man's glistening hole and groaned as he sank deeply into his husband.
"Salazar, yes! By the gods, Harry! More!" Draco whined and pleaded but Harry smiled taking his time.
"I love this, Dragon. I love that I can work you up so much that you'll beg and plead for more." Harry withdrew from Draco's body only to sink back in a moment later. He pressed Draco's bound hands against his back and whispered, "Don't forget…you asked for this, my dragon."
Draco whimpered as Harry began to pound his hips against the desk. He moaned with every stroke and tightened his anus once in a while to keep Harry guessing. Soon enough Harry gave up his teasing thrusts and pulled Draco up against his chest. He licked the light bruise at the juncture of Draco's neck and shoulder, "It seems I haven't marked you in a while…"
Draco's eyes shone a lovely shade of molten silver as he realized Harry's fetish was making an appearance, "Oh gods, Harry…" His neck was especially sensitive there because of Harry's love of love bites and one of his favorite nicknames for his husband was inspired by the same habit.
The brunette didn't even try to hide his glee as his lips fastened on the spot. His tongue swept the area repeatedly as the blond writhed. His teeth bit in slightly as he suckled the skin. Harry even brought his arms up and around the bound man that was quivering in his embrace.
Draco whined but lay still, allowing it to happen. His cock throbbed and begged for attention so he gave it a voice, "Let me come, Harry, please? Please, please, please – let me?"
Harry said nothing as he reached around to find his lover's cock.
Draco's cry when Harry's warm hand cradled his organ was a beautiful thing. He sounded tortured and yet somehow joyous at the same time. "I need it! I need it! Yes – Harry, please?!"
"Come…" Harry told his lustful lover even as he began to thrust again.
The word was whispered harshly into Draco's ear but still he obeyed, releasing into Harry's hand even as he clamped down on Harry's organ dragging Harry quickly after and soon he was holding Draco up instead of down.
Self-conscious now, Draco's smirk was ruined by a tinge of pink on his cheeks. "That was…"
"Hot. Yeah…I love when you come up with fun ideas for us to try." Harry's eyes sparkled as a smile tugged his lips. He quickly banished the rope from Draco's wrists and closed his trousers. "I also love when you let me indulge my fetish."
"You vampire!" Draco accused, touching the spot as Harry cast the cleaning spells. "You know I like it too…" He whispered cuddling into Harry once he was clean and dressed again. "Let's go see our children."
They spent the rest of the day playing with Lyra and Caelum who were learning to say larger words. They'd finally learned 'Daddy' and the most recent discovery was the names of the colors. They could already say blue, red, green, and purple. Well it came out as 'boo', 'wed', 'geen' or 'gween' and 'poo-pull' but it was semi-understandable so they agreed to keep working on it. The twins could also say short phrases along with 'yes' or 'no'.
After a nice dinner with his family, Harry watched Draco play with their children while he let his thoughts drift.
Draco spoke to them as if they were little people instead of babies. It was one of the things they'd decided on a long time ago because Harry hadn't liked the way Professor Umbridge acted toward himself and the other students. They still used small and inexplicit words but there was no high pitched voice and no condescension even though the twins were only ten months old rather than years older.
Harry watched as Draco held Lyra's little hands and encouraged her to 'walk to Papa'. He cooperated and held his hands out to his princess. "It's ok, sweetheart. Daddy's got you. Walk to me."
Cautiously Lyra's little foot inched forward. Draco held her steady as she brought her other foot to meet the first. Then she plopped down on her bottom and pouted. She held her hands out to Harry and demanded, "No Papa. You come."
Draco gasped as Harry's eyebrows rose. "Lyra Zinnia, that's not nice! Is that the way you speak to your Papa?"
Her little lip trembled. "Peas?"
Harry bit his own and desperately wanted to go scoop her up but he resisted. "Lyra, how do you ask Papa to come get you? Show me."
Tears formed in her beautiful green eyes as she whimpered.
Draco seemed reluctant to leave her there but Harry motioned for him to do just that.
"Lyra, when you want me to come to you, I want you to say 'please come, Papa'. Can you do that?" Harry asked without moving.
She nodded and held her hands out again so Harry hurried to pick her up.
"Can you say those words for me, Lyra?" Harry asked as he comforted the baby, bringing her back to the couch with him.
"Woowds." She said softly as she buried her face in Harry's shoulder.
"Say 'please'." Harry instructed her.
"Peas." Lyra said lifting her head.
Vaguely, Harry heard Caelum echo her. "Now, say 'come'."
"Come, Papa." Lyra blinked up at Harry.
"Come." Caelum had crawled over to Harry's feet from Draco's side of the room and he lifted his hand to tug Harry's trousers.
"Good. That was very good, my darlings. Now let's put them together. Say 'please come, Papa'." Harry reached down just as Caelum pulled himself up to stand next to Harry's knee and carded though the strawberry blond locks.
"Peas come, Papa." The twins said, almost at once.
"That was wonderful!" Harry told them. "You know what? It works for Daddy too. Ask Daddy to come here."
"Peas come, Daddy?" Caelum asked as he reached out a hand in Draco's direction.
Draco smiled and came over to join them. "That was perfect, my sweetlings." He lightly patted his daughter's head while allowing his son to grasp his fingers.
"I need your help with something when they're asleep, love." Harry murmured as Draco brought Caelum up to sit on his lap.
"The letter to Kingsley?" Draco asked knowingly.
Harry nodded and twirled a bit of Lyra's hair between his fingers. "Politics aren't my forte. I don't know how to address it with the finesse I know you would have."
"You did fine in the month before we got married. You're probably just out of practice." Draco smiled again. He knew just how to help. "You write the letter. I'll look it over and make any necessary changes, alright?"
Harry nodded back with a grin. He was so glad things were working out this way. He felt that Draco truly loved and understood him and Harry was making the effort to reciprocate. Together they could make a brilliant life and it was already happening…now if they could find a way to get the ministry to lay off of their fellow citizens!
"Kingsley is willing to meet tomorrow afternoon. He didn't say so but I think the letter impressed him." Harry smiled at Hermione and Ron. "If it was up to me, I would've just come right out with it, but Draco made me see that this time we needed subtlety instead."
Hearing Harry's praise from across the room, Draco looked over and smiled. He had been discussing the difficulties of raising twins with George and Ginny while Harry informed the rest of what was going on with the ministry.
"Yes, the traditional Gryffindor method is to charge right in but sometimes it's necessary to become sly and cunning. I can admit that." Hermione snickered as soon as she saw the blond's satisfied face. She got up and walked over. "Hi…I want to thank you for helping Harry with this."
"It doesn't really affect me and Harry so you didn't think I would." Draco snorted lightly. "That's what you meant isn't it?"
"I'm sorry." She had the grace to look as guilty as she felt. "I guess, in this case, I'm a little guilty of the old clichéd house prejudices."
"It's been over a year and a half since Harry and I were married and I've been acting like a Hufflepuff." Draco joked. "I need to exercise my Slytherin muscles and Ravenclaw wit."
Hermione smiled. "I guess the only way to match your Gryffindor husband is to adopt some of the other house traits."
The blond nodded. "Yes, Harry's not a politician so he doesn't know how to subtly negotiate the twists and turns. He did alright during those few months before the wedding but now…? He's out of practice and it shows…to me at least."
"I also think that Harry being the dominant one in your marriage has done some good for him. He seems more at ease with…" Hermione broke off with a blush.
"Control?" Draco smirked. He was surprised the she would bring up such a topic. "Since the beginning of the war, Harry seems to have become more decisive and…well, inspiring. With me, he just…"
"It's alright. You don't have to go on. I know how he is." Hermione laid a hand on Draco's arm.
"Do you?" Draco asked softly. "He was kind and careful enough while we courted, that month. When we married I had to remind him that he could be more assertive with certain issues. Now? Well…" His pale skin flushed pink with slight discomfiture. "Now he probably wouldn't hesitate to walk over and whisper a demand to meet him in the bedroom right here in front of everyone."
"See?" Hermione giggled nervously and glanced in her friend's direction. "I told you it was good for him."
Draco shook his head with a shocked chuckle as she stood again and walked off while he rejoined the conversation with Ginny, George and their spouses.
Molly served dinner with help from Dinki who always accompanied her Masters and helped out where needed.
Harry was happy that Hermione rarely voiced objections anymore. She had gotten used to seeing and dealing with the happily bonded elf that lived in service to his family. Seeing Draco deep in discussion with George, Ginny and Hermione a little while ago had pleased the brunette greatly and he couldn't wait to show his appreciation for his husband's behavior.
Dessert was dished out quickly and devoured in a pace that was just as rapid.
Once all bellies had been filled, Harry found a path to Draco's side. He whispered into the blond's ear. "Molly has asked if we'll stay the night but I'd really like to get you alone."
Draco's eyes found Hermione's face and he blushed when she met his gaze. "Why don't we just slip into our room for a quick tryst while the others are occupied? Dinki can be our eyes on the children while we're…busy."
Harry smiled. "Good idea. Meet me in there."
Draco's eyelids fluttered closed as he nodded. When he opened them again, Draco bit his lip and smirked at Harry's friend as he made his way to the bedroom they'd been given. He disrobed before silencing and warding the room against anyone except Harry entering before deciding to surprise his husband.
Harry's expression was a sight when he saw a naked Draco kneeling at the foot of their bed. He removed his clothes and stood in front of the blond. "I know you're still not overly fond of this place and this family, Draco but you behave so brilliantly when we're here…And this is a wonderful surprise – this submission when I didn't demand or even request it. Thank you, love."
"You're welcome, Harry." Draco looked up at him. "You said that you wanted to get me alone…what did you intend with that if not my submission?"
"I thought I might give you pleasure rather than you pleasuring me…" Harry grinned as Draco leaned to press the side of his face against Harry's thigh. "I was impressed by your behavior and want to reward you for it."
Having expected something like that, the blond lifted himself up and nuzzled his husband's balls. "It pleases me to please you, Harry. Won't you let me?"
Harry's eyes closed as he nodded and soon he felt Draco's mouth close over his cock. He gave into the sensations and began to stroke his lover's hair. The warmth and wetness soon became too much and Harry gripped Draco's braid as he emptied himself into the blond's mouth.
Draco was happily panting as Harry withdrew and knelt beside him.
"God, Dragon!" Harry whispered as he leaned in to take possession of husband's mouth. "You are so amazing. Let me do something for you. What can I…?"
Draco was shaking his head. "I've wanted that for hours, Harry…to come in here with you and suck you dry. Let me go back out there and socialize with them knowing I've made you happy. I'll be hard and waiting for my full pleasure. I want it that way."
"I'll get Ron and Mione to watch Lyra for the night and I know Charlie and Gus would love to have Caelum visit with Corry." Harry's eyes darkened with desire. If he allowed Draco to do this, he knew the blond would be frantic for a good hard fuck when they returned to the room. "When we come back in here, I'll expect you to let me have you…my way."
"Yes, Harry." Draco already felt the aches Harry would give him later.
The pair went back out and mingled for a few hours before returning to their room for the night. Once alone, Harry thoroughly enjoyed his husband's lean and pliant body before joining the blond in exhausted slumber.
He and Draco had gotten home hours ago so they could settle the children before the Minister arrived. The floo flashed green and Harry could hear Kreacher's voice as he greeted their guest.
Harry smiled as his friend entered the room. "Kingsley! How've you been?"
"Quite busy, Harry, but I always have time for you." The older man grinned and shook Harry's hand before sitting on the couch. "How are Draco and the little ones?"
"I'm well, sir." Draco said as he walked in to join them. He smiled softly and took a seat next to his husband. "And our children are healthy and growing like weeds."
"Wonderful! This is fantastic news, boys. I am happy to hear it." Kingsley's face was alight with joy. "And how are you two getting on? Everything is alright there?"
"Yes, Kingsley, we get along swimmingly." Harry held Draco's hand in his.
"I gather you did not ask me here for a social visit…" The dark skinned man shrewdly prodded the conversation along.
Harry nodded. "As much as we enjoy your visits, you are correct. This isn't meant to be a social one. Ron and Hermione just got a letter from the ministry."
"I see." Kingsley sighed as he stood and began to wander the room.
"Kingsley…what's going on? Why is this issue so important to the wizengamot?" Harry asked as gently as possible.
"I don't know how to answer your questions, Harry." The older man sighed again, this time sounding exhausted. "I didn't approve or disapprove of this order. I wasn't given the option. The Department of Marriage and Families has control of the Marriage Law and the results of that Law."
"But there has to be a way to get them to treat the men and women involved as people instead of livestock that can breed for them." Harry glared at the floor so Kingsley wouldn't misinterpret his feelings. "It was wrong of them to make that law, you know. They imposed their will on our private lives. They forced marriage and children on people too young to see or protest it in the wake of a war. All of us lost something in that war, whether it was a loved one or our innocence or even our lives…and after losing so much already we were given a choice of losing our freedom in one of two ways: go to Azkaban or get married."
"Eighteen is the age when you're supposed to be free to make mistakes and find ways to fix them without making even more mistakes." Draco added. "It's the age when kids are free to leave the confines of one school but enter into the school of life so they can be taught those lessons that can't be learned from a textbook."
"I understand that, boys, but one of those lessons is that the government is a powerful body that can't ignore certain issues. Our world isn't able to easily replenish our numbers to the extent that they were lost in the war and this law was the only way the wizengamot saw to do that." Kingsley rationalized.
"Well what's done is done in regards to that…but why can they not let us have control back, Kingsley?" Harry asked still confused. "They commanded us to marry and have one child each and we've done it, so I don't see why the wizengamot can't let us go on with our lives. Surely at this point we should be allowed to choose the number of children we will have."
"Why not give us that much freedom, sir?" Draco asked with a slight shrug.
"It's not that simple, Draco." Kingsley shook his head. "The ministry tries to be democratic but then we come up against things like Prophecies and creatures and issues like this war. When Voldemort returned, Wizarding society made up only a fifth of the entire world population and by the time his rampage was over…well I'm afraid that number has gone down much too far."
Harry sighed. "I don't see how a crop of babies will do much of anything to help that."
"I just don't see why people can't choose to have more children when they want. Padma Boot wants to have another pregnancy even though she gave birth to twins just under a year ago but her sister wants to wait a little while so she can get further in her divination studies. They've written to the ministry but the Department of Marriage and Families said that Padma is entitled to do as she pleases in that regard but Parvati Goyle is still expected to report a pregnancy by July." Draco kept his voice calm and clear as he spoke to the minister.
"Birthing twins is more difficult on a woman's…erm a person's body than the birth of a single child. Parvati Goyle is very likely to have finished healing by now and so is ready for a new pregnancy. Carriers of twins might not be back on their natural cycles yet and it takes men longer to heal from a pregnancy than women. It's simply not healthy to place extra burdens on those who have already contributed to the repopulation effort." Kingsley sat back down and looked directly at Harry. "There are exceptions being made for health reasons. Oliver Wood's husband isn't well enough to have more children. They've been given a letter of exclusion from any new demands to produce children. Astoria Greengrass' wife has a letter from her healer that she's not to become pregnant for a period of no less than two years and so they too have been given a letter of exclusion for that period of time."
Harry grimaced. He couldn't see that they had a leg to stand on here. The ministry wasn't being inhumane about the issue. Yes, it was each person's right to decide what happened within their own body but the magical world did need an infusion of new members so what could be done? "Thanks for coming by, Kingsley. I'll talk to Mione and Ron as well as Parvati if necessary."
"Good man, Harry." The minister said with a tired smile. "Now where are those little tykes?"
Harry called for Dinki to bring the children and the whole group had a nice visit until Kingsley had to return to his office for the rest of the work day.
Thanks for sticking with me! See you again soon with a new chapter!