It's My Life
Draco had known he was pregnant, he hadn't doubted Severus's ability to perform the diagnostic exam. Draco knew he was pregnant when he arrived at the infirmary. But somehow hearing it from Madam Pomfrey herself made it all the more real to him that he was carrying a live baby in his belly. His baby. His and Harry's baby. The only thing Draco didn't know was how this happened. It should be impossible otherwise all gay couples, male and female could have children of their own over adoption.
"How?" Draco asked finally.
"How? Mr. Malfoy, I would think a boy of your age and status would know how sex and baby-making work." Poppy stated gently.
"I believe he wants to know how it's possible for him, Poppy. As you well know, Draco is a boy and so is his lover, Harry. It shouldn't be possible for two males to make a baby the normal way. Even more so, there's no potions or spells either." Severus stated to her.
"I assure you it is very possible, Severus." Poppy told him, surprising both Severus and Draco. "It's just not well known as most have the same predisposed notion that it is not possible."
"Could you explain, please?" Draco hoped.
"You are correct, there are no spells or potions to allow for partners of the same gender to create a child. However…Magic is still a key factor in the process, as is the sex itself." Poppy began. "And while it's possible, it is still rare. Certain requirements have to be met for this event to take place. For one, there must be love for one another. Secondly, it has to be desired. And third, both partners have to be magically compatible."
"Could you elaborate on those last two?" Severus inquired.
"Magical compatibility means that the two involved have to have magic that compliments one another. Balances. For instance…Harry has that ability to power up and use his magic as a both a defense and offensive manifestation? The compatibility is Draco's presence, his magical ability is able to provide an anchor or covering so that Harry doesn't lose control. It also means that Draco is one of the only people that would be able to get Harry to relax." The medi-witch explained.
"The same would go for Harry to Draco. This also represents magical ability within itself. Strength, power level. You two would have to be on the same level of power otherwise this child would not survive." Poppy explained. "Same sex pregnancy has been rumored, and very few cases reported, that it only happens with someone powerful."
The woman began again. "In this situation, Draco…As you have fallen pregnant, it's because Harry is a powerful wizard. But you've been able to conceive because your magic is strong enough to allow your body to carry the baby. In this case, you might not be as powerful as Harry himself, but your magic is still compatible with his and there is also your loving one another factor."
"What's the other part? Has to be desired?" Draco asked gently.
"At some point during sex, you both wanted this. You both wanted to have a child of your own between you two and so magic has allowed it." Poppy stated. "And then the magical compatibility comes into play there, allowing it to happen. So to speak lightly; you both got what you wanted. Your wish was granted and it was your own magic, yours and Harry's, that made it happen."
"Why isn't this well known, but you know of it?" Severus wondered.
"Almost all healers are made aware of the possibility of same-sex pregnancy. But it's so rare that most forget. And again, most couples already have the preset notion that a child between them isn't possible. Therefore the desired portion is not there. There is also, as I mentioned, a love factor. A strong love. Then magical compatibility. All three are essential to the process." Poppy revealed.
"Is it the same as female pregnancy? Nine months?" Severus questioned.
"Yes, but it is known that not all pregnancies go to term either. Some women give birth early, or late. Definitely early with twins." Poppy nodded.
"And because I lack a certain female part, how is the baby delivered?" Draco decided to ask.
"Magic will take care of that, child. You won't have it now, but for birth…You'd find yourself delivering the baby like a woman does and pushing it out. There is also the chance that if that doesn't take place as complications can always arise…The baby can be cut out in what muggles call a Cesarean Birth, or C-Section. It's where the healer would make a cut about here," She showed Draco on his stomach. "And pull the baby out, then heal the wound as if nothing happened. Not even a scar."
"Dear Merlin…I'm actually pregnant." Draco let it sink in fully. "Uncle Sev…What am I gonna do?"
"Should probably start by telling the other father, godson…" Severus remarked.
"That's not what I mean!" Draco snapped. "I am still in school. I still have another year left…Mother and father will be furious."
"I don't think your parents will be too upset, Draco. It was an actual accident, you didn't know. Poppy admitted to that, not many know this can happen." Severus said.
"It had to be desired, it's part of the apparent ritual for this…" Draco sighed. "The last time Harry and I had sex was right before the train ride home for Easter holiday, it was on the 28th of March…In his room. We'd been talking about the future after Voldemort was gone. If we're still together…Maybe get married, have kids…Harry said he wanted them, wanted a big family."
The blond closed his eyes tightly now. "I wanted kids too. It was desired by both, and you know there's love involved. Magic compatibility, all my friends have seen me be able to calm Harry down when he's angry. Mom and dad won't look at this as an accident, you know how they are…No matter how much has changed in the past two years." He sniffled a bit.
"But you're still their son and they'll eventually come around. Or maybe they just won't care." Severus offered. "You don't know, Draco. Not about how they'll react nor the fact this was even possible. Trust me, it'll be okay." He added softly.
"You could always try to take your NEWTs early," Poppy suggested. "When you get farther along, you will find yourself more tired. Male pregnancies tend to take a harder toll than normal ones do. I don't advise brewing after six months either. The fumes can be dangerous to the baby. You're okay for the moment because it's early and magic is protecting you, but that will wane as you get further into the pregnancy because of how tired you become and it will exhaust you to use magic at the rate necessary to make it through your seventh year."
"And if I can't pass them early?" Draco asked.
"I suppose you'll just have to return to Hogwarts after the baby is born to repeat seventh year." Poppy offered. "I'm sure Minerva will be open to the idea."
"Anything else he should know?" Severus pushed lightly.
"He can use stomach soothers twice a day for the nausea and pain potions up to level three. Nothing higher. Everything else, not safe for the baby. Watch your eating, don't overdo your portion sizes, but definitely eat if you feel hungry. Small things throughout the day, drink water. No alcohol. Avoid stress. Try not to let your emotions get the better of you…" Poppy stated gently.
"Those mood swings and your magic output would equate to Mr. Potter-Snape-Black's ability to power up. The difference is the ability to control it." She added. "I cannot do anything about frequent bathroom use, food cravings. I've been told they can get odd. And if you feel like anything is wrong, you're advised to see a healer. I can stay on as yours, if you like." Poppy informed.
"That's fine…I prefer someone I'm used to." Draco nodded slowly. "I should probably tell Harry, shouldn't I?"
"It would be wrong of you not to, Draco." Severus nodded. "Don't be so nervous. Harry loves you and I'm sure that while this will come as a shock; he'll be over the moon."
"I will soon…" Draco replied. "I just…Need time to sit with it."
"Take whatever time you need, but remember that you're already two months in, Draco…And you already said Harry was suspicious of your distance." Severus reminded. "He has a right to know and I really don't think it would go over well if he happened to find out another way."
"I know he loves me, and would probably be happy…But we're still in the middle of a war and you know how stressed he is already…" Draco mentioned, then looked at his godfather. "How would he find out?"
"Draco, as soon as you told me your few symptoms, pregnancy ran through my mind and I was right. Harry's by no means stupid, godson. If he's already suspicious of your distance, don't you think he's gonna start pushing for answers? Hiding things from him is going to make him upset, make him think you don't trust him." Severus advised gently. "And I don't want to see you two fight over lack of communication and trust, then break up. I am his father, and I don't like keeping secrets from him."
Draco didn't want to ruin Harry's relationship with Severus. "I am also your godfather, and I don't want to force you to reveal something before you're ready to. I'm just…Advising you the best I can to help. I will not tell Harry if he asks me what's wrong with you, but understand that if it comes out another way, Draco, on top of him also figuring out I knew as well…It will hurt him quite a bit that his boyfriend, father of his child, and also his adoptive father kept such a big secret from him. He has a right, godson, to know about this." The man informed.
The blonde looked down softly. "You're a thin boy, Draco, and you'll show around the time you hit three months. I'm certain that unless you plan to stop having sex with Harry, he'll notice a growing belly when you're lying stark nude in his bed with him." The potions master revealed. "Please do not hide this for too long. Harry knows you were here tonight, he knows you're not feeling well. If he finds out you're pregnant later on and you reveal how far along, he'll put the pieces together that you probably found out today, as well that I was with you."
"I won't take long to tell him. It's just…Busy now with exams coming up." Draco said. "Can I just get a stomach soother, and then go back to my dorm to rest?"
"Of course," Poppy nodded as she meandered off to grab a potion for him. Once she returned, Draco took the potion and stood up slowly. "I'd like to see you again next month, just to monitor progress. We'll set it for before the term ends and students leave for the summer."
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Draco responded.
With that, Draco and Severus left. "Can you get back to the dorm on your own? I need to go see that student Harry's holding for me." Severus asked.
"I can manage." Draco nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Sev, for tonight. I'll see you at dinner." The teenager walked off. Severus went off to the third floor to collect the third year student who caused trouble in Harry's class.
. . .
"Harry?" Severus asked when he got to Harry's classroom.
"Up in the office." Harry informed. Severus made his way up and found his son working at his desk, then the student sitting at a single desk in Harry's office space, writing lines of I will not release dangerous gasses in Professor Potter's classroom again. "Professor Snape," Harry replied. "I may have started a mini detention while waiting for you." He added.
"The act was done during your class, I'd expect no less of you to issue a punishment." Severus stated. "Though, how did this happen after class hours?"
"I've been holding an after class help session for those who could use some help to get their grades up before exams. Minerva thought it a lovely idea, so I've held it Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It's a mix of all years and I work with them so they get the help and understanding they need of something they didn't in class."
"That is wise." Severus nodded. "And Mr. Hemlock here decided to disturb your session?"
"He'd already been here for the help, or so I thought, but while I was busy helping a first year, he decided to toss this potion up in the air," Harry handed the broken vial to his father. "Then had it burst open over everyone. I got everyone shielded and then saw gas spreading. I was able to keep it together in a ball and neutralize it safely. But it could have been very dangerous had I not acted so quickly."
Harry now paused and glanced at the student. "He's yet to tell me why, but I know that while this potion can be brewed by students…It's not in the curriculum because of the dangers. The only way this could have been retrieved is in your stores because you use it as an example when it's taught about."
"Indeed one of mine." Severus agreed. "Well, we'll be having a long discussion in my office over your detention time with me. I expect you to come at 8:00, Mr. Hemlock." The boy nodded. "Off you go to the dorms." The boy quickly rushed out with his things. "You're alright, aren't you? You didn't inhale any?" Harry hadn't even looked up after the child left.
"No." Harry assured.
Severus took notice of Harry's tone. "Harry?" Severus asked.
"Yes, Dad?" Harry responded gently, not looking up and still working.
"I know that tone, my son," Severus stated. "You're frustrated, but all too calm with short answers. Something is on your mind." Harry sighed. "Talk to me."
"I don't know. Maybe I'm just overthinking the situation…But I feel like Draco and I are falling apart." Harry admitted. "He seems so distant, but he says he's fine."
"Well, he's been feeling under the weather. That's why he came to me earlier and I took him to the infirmary to be checked out." Severus said.
"Is he alright?" Harry inquired. "He was sick a couple months ago too. Complained of fatigue and nausea Mid-April. Since then, I've barely seen him other than when he's been in my class, or during meals."
"Nothing he won't recover from," Severus stated. "He's back in his dorm, resting now until dinner."
"But that only explains today, not the last couple months…He comes to spend some time here before curfew, but always ends up not staying the night. He's never in the mood anymore, not that it's a huge deal, but seems off because he usually starts it with me…Then there is never wanting to spend the night." Harry closed his eyes. "It just feels like something isn't right and he won't talk to me. I've asked if there's something going on, or wrong…He just says he's fine and not to worry which is making me worry more."
"Maybe he's just…Focusing on his final exams, son?" Severus offered. "It's a NEWT year, and so is the next. You know from experience that it's a great deal harder than the five years you had before OWLs." He tried to deter Harry's worry. But it was clear that Harry was suspicious and leaning towards Draco being distant and them falling apart. It was usually a first step towards that dreaded we need to talk before a break up. Oh, Severus really hoped that Draco told Harry soon.
"I thought about that too, but it's still off, Dad. Draco is ridiculously smart and never struggles in classes. His grades were as good as mine…I don't see him stressed about school. It just…It doesn't make sense and I can't figure it out…I know. I feel like there's something big happening and I can't figure out what." Harry sighed.
"Give him some time, Harry…Whatever may be wrong, I'm sure he'll tell you eventually. Maybe he just needs time to sit with it…You, of all people, should understand needing time to yourself to sit with things." Severus offered. "Listen…Just give him a hug and kiss, tell him you love him and that he can confide in you anything. That you're here for him. Sometimes that's all it takes for someone to open up. Maybe he feels right now that you wouldn't understand or afraid of how you'll react. So be patient and let him come to you."
"Okay," Harry nodded. "Thanks, Dad…But you don't know, right? He hasn't come to you with there being a problem?"
"Son…Even if he did, do you really think I could break his trust by revealing it to you? It's not even a teacher-student thing, but I am his godfather. If he came to me with a problem and no one else, I know that means he doesn't want it being told by me." Severus stated.
Harry stared at him. That wasn't no, it was deflection. So he does know something…And it has to do with why he felt he needed to escort Draco to the infirmary. "I know, Dad. I just wondered if you knew he was okay or not. I'd never ask you to tell me, I just want something to settle the anxiety with." He replied.
"He's alright, other than feeling a bit under the weather, Harry. He came to me earlier to let me know he wasn't feeling well and I suggested he go to the infirmary. I went with him because he was exhausted and felt weak. That's all I know, son. I didn't even go with him into the infirmary, just dropped him off and came here. He contacted me in the halls from the pocket mirror to tell me he was sick, but would recover, and was going to be resting in his dorm." Severus said.
"I guess that puts me at some ease." Harry nodded.
"Good boy," Severus ruffled his hair and then put a kiss on the top of it. "See you at dinner." The man walked out leaving Harry to his work.
Something was definitely going on. Too many things didn't add up. Draco had been ridiculously pulling away from Harry ever since the 10th of April when he admitted to not feeling well and was going to go back to his dorm to rest and hope he wasn't getting sick. Harry took notice of Draco's frequent bathroom trips when talking to other teachers during free periods, but Severus never usually joined so Harry hadn't gotten to ask him about it.
Draco always looked tired and Harry picked up on their friends being worried for him too. There were times Draco looked like he might throw up, but Harry had never seen it. Then there was the fact Draco would shy away from sex, and not want to stay over. The last time was just last week during their anniversary celebration. They went by the month just because, and the 1st of May marked one year and two months they'd been dating.
No, something wasn't right and Harry was going to figure it out while giving Draco his time. But if by a certain point Harry felt like Draco was just hiding something; Harry would confront him. It sounded harsh, but was it fair to be keeping secrets like this? No, it wasn't. Harry had always been honest and open with Draco. Harry was getting to the bottom of his boyfriend's distance, one way or another.