The Bonds That Tie
The celebration was going well, everyone was having a good time. Having started it off with a movie definitely gave a lot of the pure bloods a new perspective on muggle history, the things they had to go through and couldn't escape. Such as the sinking of the Titanic. Magic folk could have simply apparated away, or fixed the ship itself. Harry sensed new respect for those who had felt muggles were inferior beings. It was now the mixed feeling that while the magical world was definitely better off, there was understanding for the muggles. Of course, that wasn't Harry's goal when he played the movie; it was simply just because his best friend asked to see the movie and he figured why not. Currently, it was about 9:00 pm and still three hours to go until 1998 began. Much like other parties, the students were all for enjoying the music, laughing, and dancing while the older adults just watched and talked among themselves. Lilium was between wanting Harry and Severus, but having fun. Harry was still keeping a watch on his mate because the man looked like something was wrong, but also trying to not give anything away to others. It was still odd to Harry that Severus would feel tired, weak, and had wanted to feed ahead of the set schedule. Draco was fine, so it was only affecting Severus. Harry didn't feel anything through the bond to say something was wrong, but he could see Severus's face and saw past what everyone else could.
Harry was debating to pull Severus aside to ask if he was okay, but that might make a fuss with everyone. Harry knew Severus didn't want that, to have others worrying over him. Regardless, Harry wasn't doing anything yet, just watching and he'd act if he felt necessary to.
"So, Harry…What's your plan for after leaving Hogwarts?" Neville inquired.
"Well, I'm probably going to into full time work with Sanguini and the coven." Harry responded. "I've already proven my status learning everything he could teach me, and he wants me as his second in command. Eventually, take over his place as it's leader." The vampire added calmly. "No idea when, but he's mentioned that's usually how it goes when a master/elder has a sired child. In this case, created me."
"Sounds fun. But you won't like…Become an auror or anything?" Ron wondered.
"I'd like to think I've spent more than enough of my life chasing down dark wizards. Voldemort, Dumbledore…I'd go as far to say Umbridge too." Harry shrugged. "No, I likely won't take any wizarding careers. I might work with the ministry to reach goals I believe in, but other than that, I'll be doing coven work."
"What about you, Draco? Or even Severus?" Hermione asked.
"My godfather and I are considering to go into the potions business together." Draco said. "Ingredients, brewing, selling them all."
"Is Tom going to take over Defense Against the Dark arts when Severus leaves end of this year?" Luna questioned.
"I suspect he might." Harry replied. "It depends on McGonagall's decision and if Tom is off his parole by start of the new term. Right now, he only works there as Sev's assistant as part of his community service."
"What's all this about a vacation you're going on after graduation?" Dean chuckled.
"Ah," Harry smiled. "Severus and I are going to France to meet his mother and her husband. I guess she's been hiding out there since the first wizarding war, Severus asked Lucius to put her there so she'd be safe."
"Does she know that Severus is a vampire? That you two have adopted a child?" Dean questioned.
"Severus has told her that he's a vampire and mated, but not that we've adopted Lilium. His mother, apparently, likes surprises, so she'll find out when we get there." Harry informed lightly. "There's a small chance that she moves back to Britain, when the danger passes."
"What danger?" Fred and George asked.
"Just a strong feeling that we're not out of the woods yet and something big is going to happen soon." Harry mentioned. "Something always happens to me at the end of every school year, and while I know it won't be Tom this time; it doesn't mean there aren't plenty others out there who don't agree with how things played out last year. But I'm honestly leaning towards an encounter with Dumbledore. I very much doubt that man is one to just lay down and take the defeat when he believes so strongly that I am meant to die to save the world." He explained.
"But…Dumbledore is in Azkaban. No one has ever escaped from there, and he's shackled with the enchanted cuffs." Hannah said gently.
"If Sirius could escape by going into his animagus form and slipping through the bars, I'm sure someone as powerful as Albus could escape too. Those cuffs block his powers, not others and if Dumbledore has enough loyal followers who believe in his vision; I'm sure he can get someone to help him out." Harry remarked. "Sadly, Azkaban is not an impenetrable prison. Sirius could break out without help, and with Tom's assistance, he could break out his followers. It can be done with the right plan, so I'm not sold on the idea that we've seen the last of Albus Dumbledore. I know I said I rather see him suffer, but to be completely honest, I don't think we're rid of him until he's dead."
"So you expect there will still be a final battle at the end of the school year and it will come down to you and Dumbledore?" Luna tilted her head.
"It's merely theory, but yes…I believe something along those lines will occur." Harry nodded.
"You know we'll all fight beside you," Hermione promised.
"All I need is your undying love and support." Harry told them. "It's the power I have the dark lord knows not. From that prophecy. My ability to love my family, and friends, is what makes me so strong. Dumbledore doesn't have that. I told him he didn't, so he would never be stronger than me. In this, power does not go to who knows more. It's who has more to fight for, who has more to lose if they lose. I have too many people I love and care for that I refuse to lose. Dumbledore does not. The only family he has left is his brother, Aberforth, and from what I understand; they aren't close." He explained. "Aberforth blames Albus for the death of their sister, Arianna during the times where Albus and Gellert Grindelwald were friends."
"Harry, you know far too much for your own good…" Pansy chuckled.
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Harry grinned. "You have to know your enemy to beat them. Albus only believes I'm meant to die to stop the dark lord, who he thinks is Voldemort. And maybe that is true…I defeated Voldemort, by saving Tom Riddle, now Gaunt. When I repaired his soul, Voldemort was destroyed. Rather, helped repair it. Tom mended his soul on his own with remorse for his actions. Dumbledore, on the other hand, doesn't feel bad about what he's done; he believes it's for the greater good. Something that Gellert also believed in when he was a dark wizard trying to rise above the muggles. Gellert's intentioned were understood, but he went about his vision the wrong way. Albus has ventured down the same path, falling back on the greater good line." He continued. "Before, I tried to defend his actions as making some wrong choices and maybe he could be shown a different way, but it's just plain and simple that he's doing this of his own free will. For power."
"Weren't Dumbledore and Grindelwald friends?" Draco asked.
"That, and also lovers." Harry said.
"Oh my god, what?" A few gasped.
"Yeah. Dumbledore has some skeletons in his mind closet." Harry chuckled. "Gellert and Albus were friends, met in Godric's Hollow when they were teenagers. Gellert is Bathilda Bagshot's great nephew, and Gellert went to live with her after getting expelled from Durmstrang at sixteen. The two were best friends, and in love. Made a promise to never fight one another. Not sure on the specifics of how it all broke down, but they were a thing way back. Then something happened where they stopped being lovers and friends, ended up fighting and Dumbledore is the one who defeated him, locked him up in that Austria prison back in 1945."
"Yes, Nurmengard Castle. Originally built by Grindelwald himself to use as a base and prison for his enemies…" Severus nodded, having overheard. "It's a magical prison, like Azkaban, but aside the magical protections on it, there are no guards." He added. "I believe it's only resident currently is Grindelwald himself."
"That's gotta be lonely…." Theodore mentioned.
"Probably." Ron stated.
Harry looked to his mate again, he didn't look okay. In fact, he was looking worse and Harry was worried for him. Severus, at the moment, was holding Lilium in his lap. Harry caught the potions master's eyes, asking silently if he was okay and the reply was easy to see. Severus was unsure, and to Harry, that was a no. Harry relaxed himself and thought of Severus to open their mind link.
'Talk to me, love. What bothers you?' Harry asked.
'I don't know, Harry…I just don't feel as I normally do.' Severus replied calmly.
'Have your symptoms changed any from before?' The young vampire inquired.
'Still tired. Not feeling weak since the blood, but unfortunately, there's some nausea. I haven't tried potions to quell it as I don't know how well they'd work for me as a vampire.' His mate responded.
'I can still summon Sanguini, Sev. I'm sure he could shed some light, or perhaps has something to help. You feeling ill shouldn't be possible.' Harry stated.
'Don't bother him, Harry. It's fine. I probably just need to rest. I will when the party ends.' Severus offered to get Harry to stop worrying.
'Why don't you try a potion, Severus? I know they don't affect me any, but they might for you. San has said it's different for all vampires.' Harry suggested.
'Okay,' The man agreed.
"Papa, can you take me to the bathroom?" Lilium asked.
"Of course," Severus smiled. Despite the child's appeared age and brain function; she still acted like a child and often needed help. In the middle of the night, she never usually had to go. But during the day, and usually at Hogwarts, someone would always accompany her. "Be right back." This worked for Severus because he could try a potion for the nausea. Severus carried Lilium out of the room and went right towards the master suite and Lilium's room. The child went right to the bathroom to do her business while Severus went into his bedroom storage and found a stomach soother. The man took it down and gave it a few moments; usually it was instant relief, but if potions didn't work on him then it wouldn't take effect at all. However, not only did the potion not help; it made things worse. Severus found himself instantly rushing to the bathroom inside his and Harry's room to throw up twice.
Outside the room, in the main space where the party was being held; Harry just couldn't get it out of his mind. Something was wrong with his mate; he felt it. Harry sighed as he focused on contacting Sanguini.
'Sang, you there? I need to talk to you, but can't get to you right now.' Harry said.
'What troubles you, child?' Sanguini replied.
"Not me, my mate, though.' Harry paused. 'He seems to be displaying what I'd call human illness, but I know that isn't possible as a vampire unless he took in tainted blood. We're always careful during hunts, and the last he had was from the stock you sent.'
'His symptoms, my young one?' Sanguini inquired.
'Tired, and nauseous. Around 3:00 pm, he threw up twice. Mentioned feeling weak, but also hungry. It's ahead of his normal feeding schedule. I did give him blood, just a goblet and he said it helped. I just…I don't know what's wrong and thought you might have some insight.' Harry told his creator. 'I've even told him to try a stomach soother potion, wasn't sure if it would work for him or not.'
'This might be personal, but when is the last time you two had sex?' Sanguini asked.
'I'd say that was the full moon, night before holiday vacation started. We were still at Hogwarts. I think the 19th of December.' Harry responded.
'Was it protected?' Sanguini pushed.
'I…' Harry stopped. He couldn't remember. Did he use the charm that night? It was kind of a spur of the moment thing for them, it went fast, but lasted a while. Was…Sanguini trying to insinuate Severus might be pregnant? 'I don't remember. It was kind of a jump in event…Are you asking me this as a possibility he's pregnant?'
'There's always the chance, Harry. If you didn't use the protection charms to prevent it, and on a full moon to boot? The male pregnancy is already a phenomenon on its own, but a vampire one? Then throw in the fool moon's power? Yes, Harry, it's extremely possible based on everything you've said. Severus seems to be displaying early symptoms, like a woman would. Nausea, hunger, fatigue, even the weakness. Severus can absolutely carry a baby to term because you two are compatible in everything as soulmates, but male pregnancy still has its own challenges.' Sanguini explained.
'How do I find out for sure? I can't smell pregnancy on him.' Harry wondered.
'You'd have to get very close, Harry. It's only been about two weeks since conception and normally a woman doesn't know until she's missed her monthly cycle and they go off the date of a woman's last period for the calculations of fertility, conception, implantation. A male pregnancy is different, and a vampire male pregnancy goes a great deal faster. I will explain more once it's confirmed. For now, find out. Get close to his stomach and get a good whiff, even put your ear to him, see if you can hear the heartbeat. Most muggle woman can't even find out if they're pregnant until a missed period and at best with home testing, a week early. If Severus is pregnant, even at two weeks since conception; you should be able to pick it up in very close vicinity. It won't register to him, not yet.' Sanguini said.
'Alright, I'll find out and let you know. Thanks…' Harry told his creator.
The link closed as Harry was about to excuse himself to find his mate when Severus returned with Lilium skipping along next to him while he walked; holding his hand. It was a cute scene. Severus sat down as Lilium ran over to Harry and he instantly picked her up.
"Hello, Princess," Harry kissed her cheek and she hugged him around the neck.
"Daddy, I got to tell you something." Lilium said.
"What's that my little love?" Harry inquired.
Lilium leaned close and covered her mouth as she whispered to him, "I think Papa is sick. After I went to the bathroom, he was in yours and his room. I heard him throwing up."
Not what Harry wanted to hear, but now that he had an idea of what might be going on; it didn't seem so odd anymore. Harry smiled at his daughter and gave her a light, reassuring hug. "Don't worry. I think Papa is going to be fine."
"Can I go sit with him again?" Lilium asked.
"Of course, baby girl. I'll walk you over. I need to talk to Papa anyway. How about you sit with Auntie Bella, and Grammy Cissy for a few minutes, okay?" Harry suggested.
"Okay, Daddy." Lilium was put down and walked next to Harry.
As they approached the older adults, Lilium rushed off to sit with her grandmother and great aunt while Harry went to Severus, pulling the male to his feet. "Um…Where are we going?" Severus asked.
"Just the other room for a few moments. I need to talk to you." Harry held the man's hand as they exited the room. The two went right into the master suite and Harry made sure the charms were up so no one could listen in. Nobody except maybe Draco could with the music going anyway.
"What's up?" Severus asked his mate.
"First off, you told me you were fine and our daughter just ratted you out and told me she thinks you're sick because she heard you puking after she got out of the bathroom." Harry stated. "I told you this didn't seem right, you displaying symptoms of sickness and to let me contact Sanguini."
"Harry, it's alright…I don't want to disrupt the whole party over nothing." Severus told him.
"You and our daughter come first in my life, Severus. I'd be the same way with Lilium, and you know you would too. And if something were wrong with me, you'd argue contacting Sanguini as well. Don't even try to tell me that you wouldn't." Harry remarked. "It's just a New Year's celebration, Sev. Nothing major in our eternal existence. There will be other get togethers in the years to come. If something is wrong with you, I will gladly send everyone else home to make sure you're okay. Now…Why didn't you reveal to me you threw up again?"
"It was just nausea until I tried taking the stomach soother. I figured the puking was just my body's rejection to the potion," Severus stated.
"But you're still not feeling well, are you?" Harry questioned. "Don't lie to me…You promised."
"No, I don't…" Severus admitted. "If you want to contact Sanguini, can we just wait until tomorrow to do it? Everyone's having a good time. I don't want to make a fuss over nothing." He hoped.
"Unfortunately, darling, I've already contacted him." Harry remarked.
Severus sighs. "When's he coming?"
"Don't sigh because I care, Severus. I will not gamble with your life. And he isn't coming, yet." Harry moved closer to his mate. "There's a theory he wants me to test."
"What's the theory?" Severus blinked.
"Just ssh." Harry pressed his body to his mate's and closed his eyes to listen closely, shifting downward more as if inspecting Severus. The man was confused, but stayed quiet. Harry finally got low enough to be level with Severus's belly, taking in a deep inhale of the man's scent. It was different, just as Sanguini suggested it would be. Severus was pregnant; he carried the same scent Tonks did. Harry could hear the baby's heartbeat too. Harry finally stood up and smiled.
"Find what you were testing?" Severus inquired.
"Mmhm," Harry gave the man a kiss. "It's early, which is why you haven't picked up on it yet…But, love, you're pregnant."
Severus's eyes widened. "I-I'm what?"
"Pregnant, Sev. You're carrying our baby inside your stomach." Harry told him. "Remember I told you that it doesn't go the same way a woman's does. I know the last time we had sex was two weeks ago, but it was also on a full moon. If you were a woman, this wouldn't even be possible to find out, at best, until a week before a missed period. At that point, a woman is marked at four weeks pregnant." He mentioned. "Sanguini said the pregnancy will be quicker than a human's, but didn't go into detail because he wanted me to find out first. In another week or two, love, you'll probably be able to pick up on the scent around you being changed and hear the heartbeat."
"I-I'm truly pregnant, Harry?" Severus asked.
"You are, my mate…" Harry nodded. "I know it's not an ideal time, but we'll figure it out and work with Sanguini to determine how to plan this. Are you alright with it? I know it's not what we planned, but…The last time we had sex, we just got right into it. I never cast the protection charms. I apologize for that…"
"It's…Shocking, but I'm not upset, Harry…" Severus said as Harry hugged him. "I'm sorry I tried to push things off as nothing."
"It's fine, love. It's perfectly fine. We'll do this as we do everything else…Together." Harry promised.
"Together." Severus agreed. "Should we go tell everyone?"
"Definitely." Harry smiled, giving the man another kiss before they exited the room and returned to the main.
"Everything okay, you two?" Lucius asked.
"Perfect." Harry informed.
"Is Papa okay?" Lilium walked over and Harry lifted her into his arms.
"Lilium mentioned Severus not feeling well, so we were worried…" Narcissa mentioned. "I thought it wasn't possible for vampires to get sick?"
"Not with normal sicknesses, no…But actually, bad blood can cause some adverse reactions. We usually avoid those because my rings warn me of danger if we're about to feed from muggles who aren't safe." Harry stated.
"So what's wrong with Uncle Sev then?" Draco inquired.
Harry whispered something to Lilium as she gasped and beamed. "Really, Daddy?!" Harry nodded. "Papa, does Daddy mean it?"
"Would we ever lie to you?" Severus asked.
"How come she gets to know?" Draco mumbled.
"Tell 'em," Harry told Lilium.
"I'm gonna be a big sister!" Lilium announced.
"Oh my god! Harry, Severus…Is it true?" Narcissa stood up quickly.
Harry nodded. "I swear it's the truth, Mother. Sev's pregnant."
Narcissa let out a very undignified squeal of excitement as she hugged Harry and Severus together. "Oh, how wonderful!"
"Congratulations, my son…And friend, who is technically also my son in law…" Lucius rose to give Harry a hug, and shake Severus's hand. Draco was next to hug Harry and Severus.
"A great way to end one year and bring in the next." Bellatrix stated.
"Seems we have more to celebrate tonight." Tom joined in.
"I've just let Sang know, he said he'll come over on the 2nd to give us a rundown of things. He doesn't want to interrupt tomorrow for us." Harry told Severus.
"Sounds good to me, it's right before we return to school and you know we'll have to tell Minerva." Severus reminded.
"I'm sure she'll love the idea of a baby Potter/Prince to ogle over." Harry chuckled.
"I know I said I couldn't be happier, but I am…" Severus said to Harry. "I love you."
"I love you too." Harry replied.