Harry sat tiredly beside the bedside of one of his oldest friends in a state of disbelief. Hermione looked small, pale, and sickly as she laid unconscious in the bed, the starch white sheets drawn up to her shoulders, all Harry could see of her was her face, surrounded by a halo of messy springing dark curls. If she didn't look so unwell, he might believe her to be just asleep.
"Draco, what's wrong with her," he asked, looking up at the blonde man. Draco had long since turned his life around, becoming a spy during the final year of the war against Voldemort. Without his vital information and help, Harry was certain they'd have ended up losing far more people than they had, Draco had saved Tonks, Remus and Fred during the Final Battle as well as countless others. In the years since the war, their childhood rivalries had given way to friendship though they still had moments of house pride and lively debates usually when Quidditch was involved.
"We don't know Harry," Draco responded quietly, shifting uncomfortably, Harry frowned at him.
"What aren't you telling me", he asked his friend.
"Oh I wish a different healer was doing this," the blonde said, steeling himself.
"Get on with it," Harry spoke firmly, whatever it was they'd find a way to fix it.
"Hermione's pregnant," Draco spoke quietly.
"But she isn't dating anyone," Harry spoke automatically.
"You don't have to be in a relationship to get pregnant," Draco spoke irritated.
"I know that, but Hermione isn't like that, she doesn't do casual sex, all her relationships have been meaningful, and she hasn't so much as mentioned been attracted to anyone in at least two years," he spoke, feeling flabbergasted.
"I imagine she wouldn't considering who the father is," Draco grimaced.
"Was she attacked," he asked worriedly, wondering if Hermione had been the victim of a rapist, surely, she'd come to him for help, he was the Head of the Auror Department after all.
"We don't think so, but Harry you are going to have to brace yourself, this case is most unusual," Draco commented.
"Please just tell me", he asked, whatever it was he could take it.
"The father is Sirius Black," Draco responded.
"That isn't possible, he's dead," Harry whispered, he was sure his face was as ghostly as Hermione's.
"The other Unspeakables found her in the Death Chamber with the archway, she's been experimenting on it for over a year, messing with the Veil. Harry, they didn't find her alone," Draco commented.
"I don't understand," he spoke feeling flummoxed, surely Draco wasn't saying what he thought he was.
"Sirius is alive," Draco spoke quietly.
"What, I, how," he asked, not really believing it.
"I think the only person who can answer that is Hermione," Draco whispered.
"Where is he," he asked, rising to his feet, he had to see him to believe it.
"He's unconscious and getting examined, as far as we can so far tell, he is as well as he was before he fell into the Veil," his friend said.
"I want to see him," he said, Draco nodded and gestured for him to follow him, he led him to the room next door to Hermione's. Harry's knees buckled at the sight of his godfather on a bed, his chest rising and falling evenly as though he was simply asleep.
"Are we sure it's him," he asked quietly, not quite believing his eyes.
"We are certain," Draco responded.
"We need security, this can't get out, not until we know the full picture," he spoke quietly, running a hand through his hair uneasily.
"We've already closed off the ward, only essential staff are on it and they are the only two patients on it," Draco told him.
"Good," Harry breathed.
"How far along is Hermione," he asked quietly.
"Three months," Draco commented.
"So Sirius has been back for three months," he asked.
"We don't know, the Unspeakables are looking through her office for clues on what she was researching, we hope she has documented everything that has led to this point, but for now all we know is that she was found naked in a ritual circle, with Sirius on the floor in front of the Veil" Draco responded.
"Merlin, what was she doing," he whispered more to himself than Draco.
"We had to contact you not only in your role as Head Auror but also because you are both of their Next of Kin," Draco spoke.
"Of course," Harry nodded, feeling not for the first time as though everything in the world was on his shoulders.