The Bonds That Tie
Despite all the bad in Harry's younger years before turning into a vampire, there was suddenly a lot of good. Yes, Harry had met Ron and Hermione his first year at Hogwarts, only eleven years old. The three of them became best friends and basically dubbed the Golden Trio by everyone because it was always them getting to the bottom of whatever was happening that year. After being turned into a vampire, and people learned; the one who was there for Harry ended up being Draco, and the Malfoy's took Harry in when the teenager's life was falling apart. Harry made allies out of enemies, but then also enemies who had once been allies. Harry somehow found his soulmate, the battles, the drama. And still, everything worked out fine. Harry was now happily mated to Severus Prince, since the potions master basically refused to carry Snape anymore and was only using it for school this one last year. On top of all that, Harry gained back all the friends he thought he lost when it came out he was a vampire, Harry and Severus got over their differences so much that that it couldn't be argued they were meant to be in each other's lives and that Severus let Harry change him into a vampire. The two of them adopted a child who lost her parents, and now, the icing on the cake to ring in the new year, Severus was pregnant with his and Harry's first child.
There was so much to celebrate after the reveal, everyone seemed excited and the party went on until about 1 am on January first. Harry did let everyone stay the night who attended, though his and Severus's night did not end because they spent hours making love once Lilium was asleep in her bed. Just as Severus first told Harry, having him so close helped the nausea immensely, so he wasn't bothered by feeling sick when they were pressed skin to skin. It was more than celebrating the new child, but their anniversary too. One year since the bonding that started rough and led them to now. On Sunday, the 4th of January, everyone would return to Hogwarts because the holiday would be over. That was fine. The next one would be Easter in March or April. Then the end of the term in Mid-June. Harry could not wait. Today was January 2nd, and it was about 1:00 pm. Sanguini was supposed to be coming over to enlighten Harry and Severus on vampire pregnancy and birth. Harry might know everything regarding his abilities and powers, and even how the coven operated, but he hadn't known about this topic because it had originally been said they'd wait until after both left Hogwarts.
Harry and Severus were sitting in the main room with everyone else living there, just waiting. Lilium was coloring with her art things, Harry bought them for her and it was by far one of her favorite things to play with.
"Have you told Minerva yet?" Lucius asked.
"We felt it was best to wait. If we tell her now, and she has questions, I won't have answers for her." Harry stated.
"Who figured it out first? Harry, or you, Severus?" Remus inquired.
"Harry did, with help from Sanguini." Severus informed.
"How did it come to be something you considered Harry?" Tonks questioned.
"Severus telling me he was tired, weak, and hungry were the first indicators something was up. I know we get tired, but it's usually after using too much energy or having been injured. Hunger didn't make sense because it wasn't nearly time for another feeding. Then later on, he told he felt nauseous." Harry shrugged. "I might have known sooner if ya hadn't been so stubborn and just let me ask Sanguini before the party started." He reminded his husband.
"I thought it was nothing." Severus mumbled.
"You knew something wasn't right, Sev. Don't even go there…" Harry folded his arms. "Regardless, when Severus took Lily to the bathroom, I contacted San through our link and asked him. He's the one who told me it might be pregnancy, but very early on since I hadn't picked up on the scent yet. San told me to get close to Severus, that's when I smelled it and heard the heartbeat when my ear was pressed to his stomach."
"So, like…When did this happen? I thought you said you always use the protective charms?" Pansy wondered.
"I typically do when there's time to prepare for them, but the night this happened was one where we just jumped one another and it was on a full moon. Sanguini says that probably played a role too." Harry said. "This happened the night before we came home for holiday break. 19th of December."
"Then…Wouldn't he be only two weeks along. That's very early to know for sure…" Bellatrix stated.
Sanguini appeared in the room as Harry rose to his feet to give his creator a light bow. "My lord," Harry greeted. Draco followed suit, and then Severus.
"Rise, child," Sanguini told Harry, who stood straight once more and then Draco and Severus did the same. "And yes, Bellatrix. Typically, it would be too early to tell if Severus were mortal, and also a woman. But this is a male vampire pregnancy; it differs from normal."
"Tell me everything I need to know, San…" Harry asked as he took a seat next to Severus. Sanguini sat close to them and Draco returned to being with his other friends.
"How's Lilium doing?" Sanguini inquired.
"Good, I think she's out of the shy phase finally. Maybe with new people, but everyone she knows and sees every day, totally fine." Harry smiled.
"Wonderful to hear." Sanguini replied. "Now…Given this pregnancy is from two vampires, I tell you now that it will not last nine months as a human's does. Vampire pregnancy between males only lasts four months. For every one of the four months, this child's growth will be that of two months. Meaning from conception on the 19th of December to January 19th, one month, this child will grow as if it's been two months for a human. Very rapid development." He explained. "I suspect you will likely give birth, Severus, in the middle of April. There have been times, the children come earlier and this is the case of twins, or later. Similar to that of a woman going early or late in her pregnancy."
"And what of the development after birth?" Severus asked.
"Vampire children age quickly, born from two vampires; this child will reach maturity by ten years old, just like Lilium, but the rate will be faster. Say for every one year of life, the child will appear growing as if it's been three years. Making the child appear eighteen by the time it's just six." Sanguini said.
"That fast?" Draco stared with widened eyes.
"Incredible speed." Sanguini nodded.
"Have we figured out Lily's rate of growth yet?" Harry wondered.
"Not yet. It's too sporadic to pinpoint how she'll grow over the years. And it's only theory that she reaches maturity by the time she's ten. We don't actually know, but we're certain that while the aging is quick now; it will slow eventually." Sanguini informed.
"What am I to expect with Severus being pregnant? Standard symptoms?" Harry questioned.
"Typically," Sanguini replied. "It can vary, as it does with women. All pregnancies are different. The standard will be fatigue, nausea, hunger. Your body may maintain some of the humanity mindset and you could find yourself with mood swings and aching back. Possible sensitivity, likely arousal. Those are standard for male pregnancy vampire we've gathered over the years."
"I assume blood is the food source?" Severus pushed.
"Yes, and more than you drink now. What's your schedule?" Sanguini inquired.
"Once a week." Harry responded.
"That will need to change to three times a week while pregnant." Sanguini remarked. "Any less and you face what that girl did, endangering both you and baby."
"Girl?" Severus asked.
"He's referring to Ginny, the fact she never would have carried a child between us to term. And if she managed by drinking blood, the fact she's human and not compatible with me, would kill her in birth." Harry explained. "What he's saying is that while we're matched as soulmates, you will need more blood than normal to ensure the child gets what it needs as well as your own needs. Or it will take from you and weaken you, and you could still be at risk of dying in birth because you'll be drained from the inside."
"Understood," Severus said. "We'll have to work that out with Minerva, as right now, we're only set to go out on the weekends to feed."
"I'm sure she'll understand." Harry assured. "Anything else, Sang? How will birthing go?"
"That will be different. Given the anatomy of the male body, it would be impossible left alone to push a child out. Therefore…It can be done two ways. One is to simple cut open the stomach and remove the child in standard cesarean birth. The second is to take a potion that will more or less alter your anatomy to that of a females to push the baby out come time. The potion is taken during the last month, and it works to monitor when the baby will come to alter the anatomy when the time comes that you enter labor to pushing the baby out. After birth, everything returns to normal over a few hours. Though, I've been told while everything returns to normal state, still quite sore for a bit." Sanguini told them. "It's entirely your choice, Severus."
"What have the others chosen?" Severus asked.
"Most go with the cutting open because it's a simple wave of the hand to heal the injury. Those who have chosen to push out their children deal with soreness afterward and pain potions don't work." Sanguini offered.
"Whatever you wanna do, Sev," Harry told his mate.
"Without the pushing method, how would I know when I was going into labor?" Severus looked at Sanguini.
"Just as in normal female birth, you'd get contractions that start our far apart and get closer together until seemingly constant. There's also the water breaking, which would feel like you've peed yourself. Sorry for the forwardness, but I'm not one to…Lessen the blow of reality." Sanguini chuckled.
"I appreciate the forwardness," Severus admitted. "Do I have to decide right now?"
"No, of course not. We'll just need to know before the last month," Sanguini replied. "Any healer would know how to handle the cutting method, but the human healers also get quite blown away by vampire pregnancy…So if you prefer to avoid questions and just get on with it, Harry can contact me when labor starts and I'll send one of ours to either Hogwarts, or Harry's home. Which brings me to my next point," He paused. "No apparition, no portkeys. Vampire apparating is fine, but I'm assuming Harry hasn't taught you yet, so you'd have to go with him."
"Got it. Anything else?" Harry wondered.
"I'd avoid brewing. Not that the fumes would be dangerous, but the smell will send your nausea off like you won't believe and the last thing you'll want to be doing is puking blood when it's your source of food and energy." Sanguini said. "Also, you'll need to stop taking that potion that lets you eat normal food. It won't hurt you or the baby, but it's just better to be using only blood for the duration of the pregnancy. No animal blood, not even as a snack. You're going to want human blood, warmed. And you know what I'm gonna say…"
"Virgin blood." Harry nodded.
"Very good," Sanguini praised. "Other than what I've given you, there's nothing else to know. It's pretty simple. And if you have any trouble at all, you can summon me, child. You know that." He reassured.
"I do know and appreciate that, San," Harry stated.
"Am I allowed to announce this to the coven?" Sanguini asked.
"Alright with you, Sev? Harry looked to his mate and the man nodded. "Go for it. But random drop-ins. If everyone wants to meet the baby, and Sev has it by Easter holiday, we'll stop by the base."
"I'll relay the message," Sanguini promised. "I'll be on my way then, unless you have other questions?"
"I may not work as the potions master for Hogwarts anymore, but I do teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Is my magic use for classes going to hurt or affect the baby?" Severus asked.
"I would attempt to keep the usage light. Using too much will affect your energy stores, make you hungry and that hunger counts for two, possibly three, if twins. You're far more susceptible to entering a bloodrage than others for the time being. I would advise to keep the spells taught to being nothing over OWL level, and definitely not repeated use." Sanguini mentioned. "I also wouldn't push the magic use when feeling tired, weak, or hungry. That means you're already in no state to be using extra."
"Right then." Severus nodded. Sanguini stood and vanished from sight. "I suppose we're going to need to work that out with Minerva, Harry…Nothing above OWL level, I have sixth and seventh years to teach." Severus looked to his mate.
"We'll figure it out. Tom could always take over the physical portion of spell casting to teach demonstrations." Harry offered.
"I can do that, but one of the taught spells is the patronus charm, Harry, and I cannot perform that spell." Tom interjected.
"Not everyone can learn it either." Severus added as Remus nodded in agreement.
"Everyone in the army learned it under Harry's teaching," Remus remarked now. "I can't say on the new and improved army, but all those who were taught during Harry's fifth year learned it and could perform the corporeal…"
"And I haven't attempted to teach it to any of the new members yet…We haven't needed to mobilize the army for anything, it was rebuilt and added to on the off chance of there being an all-out war that Dumbledore led." Harry said calmly.
"Well, wait…If Harry can teach it, then…Maybe McGonagall would let him handle the lessons for the seventh years. I mean, he's a seventh year himself so if he had a free period for the other class of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?" Pansy suggested.
"It's…A stretch, but I suppose it's an idea if nothing else." Severus looked at Harry. "If you're up for something like that."
"I mean, I did teach it to thirty-five students, who ranged in their ages. I learned it at thirteen…" Harry shrugged. "But like Tom said, not everyone can."
"It's been rumored that people who have dark intentions can't cast it," Tonks said.
"Or those who have no happy memories to use." Narcissa added in.
"It's not just about using a happy memory," Harry remarked. "It has to be a happy and powerful memory."
"Happy and powerful?" Blaise questioned.
Harry nodded. "Has to be your happiest memory, the one that makes you feel the happiest you've ever been."
"What do you use?" Severus asked.
"Those are meant to be kept private to the caster…" Sirius chuckled. "No one knows what Harry uses, but it's powerful to produce the shields he does. Corporeal, non-corporeal. Rather impressive, pup."
"Don't be so sure of yourself, Padfoot," Remus grinned. "I know what Harry uses."
"Oh, what!?" Sirius gasped. "Why does Remus get to know?"
"Because he's the one who taught me how to do it. We were just talking, and he told me I didn't have to share if I didn't want to." Harry smiled. "I don't tell anyone cause no one has ever asked."
"We're asking now," Theodore laughed.
"Severus, I'm curious what you use. You didn't exactly have a happy childhood…" Tom asked.
"I've always used the memories of me and Lily," Severus revealed. "She was my first friend, I wasn't really happy until I met her."
"Impressive, actually." Bellatrix shrugged.
"The death eaters were never able to learn it." Lucius claimed.
"I also believe it would be dangerous for them, rumored, of course." Tom added.
"I don't believe that's true. Your death eaters have been fundamentally evil since believing your ideals…There's no positivity in your actions or beliefs, that interferes with the charm. You've given all that up, it might not be so out there you could do it now." Harry mentioned. "In fact, I'll retract my previous statement that it doesn't just have to work on a happy, strong memory…"
"Harry, it's entirely necessary to use that…" Remus sighed.
"No, Remus…It's not." Harry shook his head. "If you recall…I don't use a memory, just the thing that made me feel the happiest I've ever been."
"That's not what you told me." Remus reminded.
"Yes, I did. You just interpreted it wrong," Harry rolled his eyes. "I told you, quoting; I was thinking about him, and mum. Seeing their faces. They were talking to me. Just talking. That's the memory I chose. I don't even know if it's real, but it's the best I have." He repeated. "Wasn't a memory because it never actually happened, Remus. My parents have been dead for sixteen years. I was just a baby." Harry said. "It was only a dream."
"So…How did you dream of them if you didn't remember them?" Sirius asked.
"In first year, I came across a mirror in an empty classroom. It was late, I was out of bed after hours. I'd used my cloak to sneak into the restricted section of the library, trying to find information on Nicholas Flamel and the Sorcerer's Stone. I'd been running to hide from Sev, Quirrell, and Filch, who had discovered my lantern. I hid in the room, found the mirror and as I got closer to it, I saw two people standing on either side of me. I realized right away they were my parents, I look just like my dad. I must have sat in front of it for hours, several nights in a row until Dumbledore found me. Wasn't even mad I was out of bed, explained that the Mirror of Erised showed nothing more or less than the deepest desires of the heart. Mine was to see my parents." Harry explained. "Dumbledore said it would be moved the next day, something about people wasting away in front of it wanting what they couldn't have. Not dwelling on dreams."
"Mirror of Erised? Odd name." Pansy shrugged.
"Erised spelled backwards is Desire. Mirror of Desire." Harry translated. "The next time I saw the mirror was when Ron, Hermione, and I went after the stone. Ron got hurt in the giant chess game set up as a protection, and Hermione stayed with him while I went on to deal with Quirrell, rather, Voldemort attached to the back of his head cause he didn't have a body yet." Harry informed.
"I never asked…But I'm curious. How did you get the stone?" Tom inquired.
"Only a person who wanted to find the stone, but not use it, would find it." Harry repeated. "It's what Dumbledore told me."
"So your memory to cast the charm is your parents?" Draco asked.
"Happiest I felt, at the time." Harry nodded. "I've got other happy ones now, just as powerful."
"I can agree to that." Severus held Harry's hand.
"Harry…When you cast the charm to save yourself and Sirius during that time-traveling, did you still use that memory?" Remus inquired.
"Why do you ask?" Harry looked at him.
"Because when I taught you that charm, it took you a while to come up with it and I find it hard to believe that in a moment of fear to lose Sirius to the Dementor's Kiss, you just pulled that happiness out of nowhere." Remus stated. "So did you use that memory?"
"No." Harry admitted.
"What did you use then?" Draco asked.
"Fear itself."