It's My Life
The months flew by since Harry proposed to Draco in front of everyone still at Potter Manor, which had been Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Arthur, Molly, Fabian, and Gideon Weasley. Also Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Lily and James Potter. Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, Severus, Neville, Luna, Frank, Alice, Xenophilius, and Pandora. It had come as a shocker that Harry had been readily prepared to ask for Draco's hand in marriage. Harry said he planned for after graduation, but Harry had the ring ready since the beginning of June and was actually going to ask Draco on the man's birthday.
But then they had the fight about Draco being distant, which had been his fear to tell Harry he was pregnant. The rest of that day was just talking and relaxing; it was well deserved. The Weasley's returned to the Burrow the next day. Same with the Longbottom's and Lovegood's all going to their homes. Harry's and Draco's Slytherin friends all went home with their parents. Hermione, of course, returned to her home too.
The Malfoy's were staying at Potter Manor until their home was fixed because the death eaters did a number on it, plus the entire warding needed to be redone. It still wasn't finished, even now in November, five months later. Remus, Sirius, and Peter all left the manor and moved into Grimmauld. Harry, of course, gave it back to his godfather and his Black family vaults. Harry was still lord, but Harry gave everything back to Sirius.
Harry's birthday had passed, he was officially seventeen now. The new school year had started and Harry was still teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, Severus was on Potions. Minerva decided to remain the Transfiguration teacher. Harry was still leading the Order of the Phoenix, but it wasn't really needing to be active at the moment with Voldemort gone. Tonks and Moody returned to their work as Aurors.
Harry took care of getting all the people who had been dead, like his parents, Sirius, Peter, Pandora Lovegood, Fabian and Gideon Weasley back to legal life. Harry went through the records department at the Ministry for it, and released a press conference about the situation where he possessed all three Deathly Hallows and summoned Death to release him from having a master, but Death gave back to Harry for the gift.
James Potter was now working as an Auror again, so were the Longbottom's. Lily remained an at-home wife, so did Narcissa, but Lucius, who didn't need to work, actually took work in the Ministry, working under Kingsley who was made Minister of Magic because Cornelius Fudge was imprisoned and the guy who replaced him, Rufus Scrimgeour, got killed when Voldemort launched his final attack.
All the death eaters were locked up and the ones who changed sides last minute were let off prison time by doing community service for the ministry. Remus and Tonks were also finally a thing, well, they had been already. The two are married now. Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour got married in August, already starting their lives together in Shell Cottage, which had been an Order safehouse during the war. Harry also gave his parents back the main Potter vault while he still had his one that continued to build with investments from being a silent partner to Fred and George Weasley's business in Diagon Alley, and also the fact Harry worked as a teacher.
Harry did still have the Black shares, and Sirius insisted Harry keep the second largest Black vault. Draco's pregnancy was going fine, though he was terribly uncomfortable for basically eight months. However, Draco got Harry's private tutoring in taking his NEWTs early, so Draco was now a graduate as of October and fully moved into living with Harry in the main suite. Harry had already converted the sitting room into a nursery for the baby.
Harry did talk with Minerva and it was worked out that Harry could come for his classes, but didn't have to be present for meals and Harry had to stay until at least 7:00 pm for any students who might need help. Harry could go home on the weekends, and obviously through the holidays and summer. Harry just needed to be available for staff meetings.
Draco was also free to come visit Harry during free periods too. Everything else was basic living and planning the wedding of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter-Snape-Prince-Black. That's what the two were doing right now with their families, of course, Remus, Peter, Sirius and Severus too. It was about 8:00 pm.
"Harry, I'm sorry…I love you, dearly, but I'm not taking all your last names." Draco said.
"And I'm not adding yours to mine for the simple fact that I have four already." Harry chuckled.
"Well, just go with what Harry was born as, boys. Harry keeps his names and you take his, since he asked you to marry him. Just be Draco Malfoy-Potter." Severus suggested.
"It does let you keep your place as Malfoy heir, but add in your married status too." Lucius added.
"He's right. I actually, legally, use Black-Malfoy." Narcissa nodded.
"I changed mine to just Potter when I married," Lily shrugged.
"Tonks keeps both names. Tonks-Lupin." Remus stated. "Also, Harry…We wanted to ask you something…"
"What's up?" Harry questioned his uncle.
"As you know, Tonks and I are having a baby…We wanted to know if you wanted to be the godfather?" Remus questioned.
"Really? Me?" Harry asked.
"Yes, you," Tonks chuckled.
"I'd be honored." Harry smiled.
"Welcome to the godfather club, Harry," Sirius chuckled.
"Who did you choose as godmother?" Lily wondered.
"Hermione Granger. We know that if anything happens to us, Harry and Hermione would be able to work together to keep our child safe and provided for." Tonks informed lightly.
"Should have seen her excitement when we asked at the wedding." Remus chuckled some. "We would have asked you too, but you've been busy with your own arrival coming soon and work."
"How much longer, Draco?" Narcissa asked. "I'm anxious to meet my grandbaby."
"Don't rush it, mother…Sweet Merlin." Draco groaned. "I swear, Potter…If we ever have kids again, you're the one getting pregnant this time." He muttered. "You will feel my pain. Feel my pain, I say!"
"Yes, beloved," Harry chuckled. "And he's thirty-four weeks today, Narcissa. So I'd say six weeks if we stay on the expected due date for December 18th."
"Whipped," Sirius and Remus snickered.
"Shut up, Uncle Snuffles and Uncle Moony." Harry remarked.
"I hate that nickname. You're lucky I love you, brat…No one else is allowed." Sirius mumbled as Harry smirked.
"And here I thought only I called him a brat," Severus laughed some. It was good to see this side of Severus. "What's the plan for when Draco gives birth, Harry? All set up with Minerva?" Severus questioned.
"Mhm. I meant to tell you before, I spoke to her earlier about it. I'll be taking a leave of absence when Draco goes into labor and probably staying on it for a couple weeks afterward to help him out, though I'm sure Grammy Narcissa and Grammy Lily will be trying to soak up all the time they can," Harry chuckled.
"When Draco goes into labor, you're taking my place as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and Minerva has Horace on standby for Potions. I'd say this will be for about a month, then I'll return and keep the same schedule I have now of coming home for meals, nights, holidays, and weekends." He informed. "Oh, and Minerva will be temporarily taking over Gryffindor's head of house position again, until I'm back."
"Looks like everything is taken care of," James said.
"And you two are still planning to get married in March?" Lucius inquired.
"Yes, the first. It makes two years for us dating. It's a Sunday, probably around 4:00 pm right here in the backyard of Potter Manor." Harry informed.
"I thought we agreed on Hogwarts, the whole start of the new chapter where we started us?" Draco blinked.
"We changed it, love. Remember? Keep out the reporters. It is kind of the wedding of the century. The world's savior going off the market for good. I'll not have our wedding be interrupted by the press. It's not the public's business. We're keeping it a private affair right here where they can't find us. You brought it up to me a couple weeks ago, remember?" Harry smiled.
"Ooh yeah, I did." Draco nodded. "Bloody pregnancy brain. Also, will you tell your spawn to settle down. It listens to you." He huffed.
Harry rubbed his betrothed's belly and kissed it. "Be nice to daddy, little one."
"Finally…" Draco relaxed. "I might go take a nap…I didn't sleep much last night, couldn't get comfortable." He yawned.
"Want me to walk you upstairs?" Harry asked. "And why nap? Babe, it's like 9:30 pm…Just go to bed. I'll join you in a bit. I got about forty more papers to grade for my fourth years."
"I think I can manage on my own." Draco told him. "But help me up." Harry stood and pulled Draco to his feet carefully. "Don't take forever…I like sleeping against you. Baby behaves when nestled between us."
"I promise I'll be in bed by 11, love." Harry gave him a light kiss.
"Okay. Love you." Draco said.
"Love you too." Harry sent his soon to be husband off. "Call me if you need me."
"Night everyone!" Draco waved as he headed out of the room.
"Good night, Draco!" The rest called.
Harry chuckled as he summoned his work bag to him and then a folding table to set his ink and quill on. Harry got through five sheets easily, still talking with the others in between his grading. Meanwhile, Draco was just about to the top of the stairs when he felt sharp pain rip through him. Instinctively, he put a hand on his swollen belly and tried to soothe the baby to rest a bit more until he got to bed. Such was not Draco's luck as he took another step and the pain hit again; he panted and keeled over before feeling his water break.
"No…No, no, no, no…" Draco whispered. He was still six weeks from his due date, he couldn't be going into labor now. Draco whimpered as he held the railing of the staircase and tried to breathe calmly. Draco eased himself down on the stairs, but in a safe place. He needed his fiancé. "HARRY!"
Harry was just getting through another ten papers when he heard Draco yell out for him. The problem with that was it wasn't the normal one of Draco wanting something to curb a craving; this was panic and fear. Harry moved from his place as fast as his feet would carry him to get up the stairs and find Draco the way he was. "Dray? What's wrong?"
"Wa-Water broke…" Draco winced. It wasn't long until the rest came and saw the scene of Harry helping Draco up slowly, then lifting the man into his arms.
"Ssh. I've got you." He soothed his lover. "Dad," Harry said.
"Yes?" Severus and James both replied.
"Right, forgot about that. Severus, go to Hogwarts and get Poppy. We're gonna need her, and if you'd let Minerva know that she might wanna call Slughorn…I would greatly appreciate it." Harry informed.
"What's going on?" Narcissa asked.
"His water broke, he's going into labor…" Harry said as he turned to carry Draco the rest of the way upstairs and bring him right into their bedroom.
"B-But he's so early…" Narcissa panicked as Lily was beside her to offer comfort.
"It will be alright. This isn't a muggle child, Narcissa…It's got a far better off chance born early than a muggle would." Lily assured.
Harry got Draco on the bed gently, already setting up the pillows for him to be reclined. "Ssh, I've got you. I'm not going anywhere…" Harry promised lovingly as he sat next to Draco and kissed his forehead.
"P-Promise?" Draco asked.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now than next to you as we welcome our child into the world," Harry smiled. "We're gonna be parents."
"We're gonna be parents…" Draco nodded. "Don't want anyone else here but you."
"I'll make them stay outside and wait for news." Harry assured.
"Harry?" Came Severus's voice from the fireplace in the room. "Poppy says to bring him here."
Harry looked at Draco for a moment. "I don't think the baby is gonna wait that long. I feel everything she said I would, I think the baby's head is between my legs…" Draco told him.
"Can I check?" Harry asked him. Draco nodded as Harry moved to gently pull Draco's sweats down and off, then looking between his legs. "Dad, tell her we can't get there. Baby is already coming out. I see the top of its head." Harry called to the fireplace.
"We're coming through." Severus informed.
It was a moment later when the fireplace flared and Severus walked through with Poppy. Severus moved right along to leave the room and make sure the door was closed.
"It would seem that your baby is anxious to make an appearance," Poppy informed lightly as she was cleaning her hands and moving to take Harry's spot and he went over to stand next to Draco, allowing the man to grab hold of his hand.
"H-Hurts…" Draco whimpered.
"Hold my hand, squeeze as hard as you like. Yell at me. Take it all out on me, love. I don't mind." Harry told him.
"You better not bloody mind! You did this to me!" Draco yelled at Harry.
"Yes, yes I did. I won't apologize, it's all gonna be worth it." Harry told him.
"I hate you!" Draco scolded.
"I love you too." Harry replied softly.
"No, your baby does not want to wait. We're going right into this, Mr. Malfoy…There's no time for pain relief, unfortunately. You're going to feel everything. When I tell you to, I want you to push. When I tell you to stop, stop pushing." Poppy instructed. Draco managed a nod to her, squeezing Harry's hand tightly. "Alright…Push." Poppy said.
Draco did what he was told, but he did feel everything and screamed out. Harry tried to console his lover, but it was of little help; he couldn't do anything but be there for his fiancé. The pushing went on for another ten minutes before the baby was out fully and in Poppy's arms, wailing loudly. Draco flopped back, breathing hard.
"Oh, what a set of lungs on this one." Poppy laughed some as she worked to clean the child and wrap it up for warmth. "You have a beautiful little boy, gentleman…" She informed.
"Hear that, love…A boy." Harry told Draco, kissing his forehead lovingly.
"I-Is he…Okay? B-Born early…" Draco asked.
"Perfect, Draco. Good color, breathing fine, good size and weight too," Poppy informed after laying the infant down on the bed to perform a diagnostic exam. "Oh, and he has your eyes, Harry…Draco's complexion and nose…Mix of your hair."
"I-I want to hold him." Draco tried to adjust, but whimpered again. "I-I thought it was supposed to stop hurting after the baby came out…"
"It is," Poppy frowned as she gave the child to Harry. "Can you manage with one arm?"
"Got him." Harry nodded as he held the baby in his arm, and it calmed against him. Harry found himself smiling, but worried for Draco. "What's wrong with Draco?"
"You two are gonna have your hands full. I just figured out why he went early…It's twins." Poppy stated as she finished checking Draco. "Better find your energy, Mr. Malfoy, we're not done here. Not yet."
"Use mine, Dray…" Harry focused his magic to power up carefully, but send it to his soon to be husband. "I'm right here, love." Harry promised.
Draco held his hand still and waited for Poppy to give the order for him to push. When it came, Draco was screaming again. Harry was glad he put up the silencing charm, it saved the people waiting in the hallway the noise and worry. Surely, Narcissa would have rushed in if she thought something was wrong.
This time, the pushing took longer, about twenty minutes and Poppy had to reach up to help guide the baby down properly. Finally, another cry was heard as Draco finally laid back on the pillow to relax and catch his breath, but he was exhausted. Harry still sent him energy because he knew Draco wanted to be awake to see the babies.
"And we have a girl!" Poppy announced proudly. "She's precious…" She matron beamed while cleaning her off and repeating the spell. "They are both perfect, boys. Little under the normal weight, but that's from being born early. Lungs fine, breathing great…I'd say this is one of the better deliveries I've ever been part of. I'm honored you allowed me to be part." Poppy said. "This one has both your eyes, a lovely silvery green and blonde hair. Oh, definitely that Malfoy blonde."
Harry and Draco had to laugh a little at that comment. "Draco is okay?" Harry asked.
"He might be a bit sore, but a pain potion for the next couple days will do the trick. Other than that, perfect. I'm just going to clean him up and get the paperwork ready. I brought it with me." Poppy said.
"I want to hold them, Harry…" Draco hoped.
"One at a time for tonight, dear…Tomorrow, I expect you can adjust more to hold the both." Poppy said gently as she handed Draco the daughter and stepped back to let Harry get closer to Draco with the son.
"Thank you, Poppy…" Harry bowed his head. "Would you mind getting a picture?" He summoned the camera over to her. Poppy nodded as she let the family get together and she snapped the photograph for them.
It wasn't much longer that Poppy left them the documents and left the room though the fireplace, saying she'd be back tomorrow to get the documents and check Draco and the babies. Harry brought in the bassinet, which was plenty big enough for both babies, for now. Draco rested, but not asleep, as Harry got the kids changed up and then fed before both were sleeping and Harry put them in the bassinet closest to Draco.
"We make cute kids…" Draco chuckled.
"Don't get any ideas. We're gonna have our hands full with these two for a couple years." Harry teased. "Should we let the others see them before we go to bed?"
"Better or they'll break the door down." Draco nodded. "Just have them be quiet."
Harry nodded as he went to the bedroom door and opened it. "We're going to be going to bed, but you can come in to see. Just ssh." Harry informed the group while stepping aside to let them file in slowly and quietly. Harry slightly turned the bassinet so they could see the babies laying side by side, hands connected while sleeping peacefully.
"Twins?!" Lily and Narcissa whispered in shock.
"Shocking, right?" Harry chuckled. "One boy, one girl…" He added. "That's why Draco went into labor early, according to Poppy."
"How delightful…" Lucius nodded with James and Severus.
"How are you feeling, godson?" Severus asked.
"Sore." Draco said. "But happy."
"Can he have a pain potion?" Severus asked Harry, who nodded and Severus pulled it from his pocket.
"What have you named them?" Sirius asked.
"You'll find out tomorrow when everyone else does." Harry informed. "Now, out…It's been a night. Draco's exhausted…" He informed. "I promise we'll bring them down tomorrow for you to admire and hold. And dad, Minerva already gave permission for a set list of people to leave school grounds to come for the naming, this was set up for when Draco gave birth, which has happened. I'm sure you can guess who was picked. I'll alert everyone else."
"I'll escort them with me." Severus promised. "Come along, let's leave the new family to rest." He ushered the others out. Narcissa and Lily both gave their son's hugs and kisses first, then finally left. Lucius hugged Harry and Draco, likewise Severus and James did the same. Remus and Sirius followed suit.
Harry and Draco got themselves comfortable and shared a kiss while admiring their babies and picking the names before finally drifting off to sleep.