AN: The birthing class thing is inspired by true events. I'm a father of three, and joined my wife for birthing classes when our eldest was on the way, and I was in a room with nine women and three men, including myself. I was so disgusted. If you're having a kid fellas, man the fuck up and be a part of the process. Every thing you contribute, no matter how inconsequential, will mean the world to both the mother and child.
Chapter 42
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted as Minerva beamed down at a nervous looking Schrodinger. The hall erupted in applause, and he jumped down and walked over to his new table. He was met with a table full of enthusiastic students all welcoming him and congratulating him on his sorting. He looked up and at the back of the room amongst the sea of parents and smiled when he caught Zorin's eyes. She was standing there, bawling her eyes out next to an equally affected Harry, Seras, Rip and to his surprise Integra.
The interior of the Great Hall had been expanded significantly to accommodate parents who now, for the first time in hundreds of years, were invited to witness their children being sorted. Harry had recommended it to Minerva and she agreed immediately. They wanted parents to be more involved with all things Hogwarts, and were now encouraged to attend the Sorting, and quidditch matches and were expected to meet with teachers in person if there are issues with their children. These were things Minerva had begged Dumbledore for dozens of times, and was always denied thanks both to Dumbledore's incompetence, and that of the board of governors.
Schrodinger had been one of the first sorted, given his last name was Blitz, but the small size of his incoming class meant that a few minutes later the sorting was complete, and students were saying goodbye to their parents and guardians. Zorin and Rip were a wreck, almost unwilling to let Schrodinger out of the group hug he found himself in, to his relief Harry and Seras were marginally more calm about it. When Harry hugged Schrodinger, the latter felt a parchment being placed into his pocket.
"Is that..." Schrodinger said.
"Shh!" Harry said, grinning at him.
"Remember the words?" Harry asked. Schrodinger nodded enthusiastically.
"I know I don't have to tell you not to use it for harm. Make sure you don't get caught though. Minerva still thinks this is buried in one of my trunks." Harry whispered.
"Thanks dad!" Schrodinger said, hugging him once again.
"We all love you so much, kiddo." Harry said. With a monumental effort, the parents all pried themselves away, leaving Hogwarts through the massive front gates. Harry's party lingered so that they could use Harry's portal. After extensive testing and examination they had been deemed safe for use by pregnant women. Harry lead them down the halls, levitating Integra up the stairs. Despite being halfway through her own pregnancy, Seras' vampiric nature helped her preserve her energy levels and mobility. Zorin was still not yet showing.
"This brings back a lot of memories. Most of them good." Harry said. He spun around when Integra screamed.
"Integra, it's ok. Sorry. Sir Nicholas, Integra is a muggle, she's not used to ghosts." Harry explained.
"Oh forgive me, madam. I only wished to greet Harry." Nicholas said.
"I-it's ok... I just need a moment." Integra said.
"Harry, conjure her a seat." Nicholas said. Harry nodded and did so. Nicholas looked on, concerned as Harry waved his wand around.
"Elevated heart rate, and the baby's not happy but everything's still ok." Harry said
"I'm glad to hear it. I sincerely apologize for the fright young lady." Nicholas said.
"It's quite alright, I apologize for screaming like that... oh, oh dear." Integra said, looking deeply concerned.
"What is it, is it the baby?" Seras said.
"No.." Integra said.
"Is it Peeves? Don't worry he's harmless." Harry said.
"Worse than that..." Integra said. Harry looked behind him and struggled not to laugh.
"You three. Medical wing. Now." Poppy Pomfrey said pointing at the ladies.
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Several moments later, Integra, Zorin and Seras were resting in the most comfortable beds they'd ever been in while Harry assisted Pomfrey in running her diagnostics.
"I'm sure I'm fine Poppy, it was just a OOOF" Integra said before Pomfrey stuffed a thermometer into her mouth.
"Don't resist. She can smell your fear." Harry said, cringing as the mediwitch's hand collided with the back of his head.
"Thank you, Poppy." Seras said, grinning at him.
"It's surreal being here bringing someone else and not being dragged here unconscious." Harry said.
"Don't get me started, you." Poppy said, waving her wand over Zorin.
"We'll get you signed up for birthing classes soon, Zorin. You'll be able to meet Chloe!" Harry said, changing the subject.
"Does that mean I have to join your sex cult?" Zorin asked with a grin.
"HIS WHAT?!" Poppy shrieked.
"Now you get to tell her the story." Harry said, grinning at Zorin. She rolled her eyes and explained it. She shook her head, laughing as she told it and made her way to Integra. She waved her wand over Integra and her expression tightened.
"Dear when was your last examination?" Poppy asked.
"Monday, last week, why?" Integra asked.
"Would you mind if I take a peek? I need to confirm something." Poppy said.
"Is everything okay?" Integra asked, getting nervous.
"I believe so but I need to be sure." Poppy said.
"That's fine I guess." Integra said. Harry walked over and hugged her before stepping aside so that Poppy could draw the privacy curtain. Harry walked over to Seras and hopped up on the bed, sitting next to her, and Zorin made her way over leaning against the other side of the bed.
"Dear, have you noticed any irregular discharge?" Poppy asked.
"No... Poppy is everything alright?" Integra asked.
"Yes, of course. It's just that you've lost your mucous plug." Poppy said.
"So that means..." Integra started.
"Any day now." Poppy said.
"Harry! Call Imogene!" Integra shouted.
"Already on it!" Harry said, giddily writing her name on his compact. Moments later her face appeared in the mirror.
"Hello Harry, is everything alright?" Imogene asked.
"Integra's lost her mucous plug." Harry said.
"Ok, that's totally fine. We're at 38 weeks, she could go into labor now or next week and either would be completely fine. Remember what we talked about. Make sure someone is with her at all times, get her go bag ready, and if possible she should begin her maternity leave now." Imogene said.
"Understood, we'll keep you posted." Harry said, closing the compact. Poppy had barely had a chance to open the curtain before Harry bolted over and took Integra into his arms. They both looked deliriously happy. The two vampires joined them seconds later. Poppy washed her hands and walked over to a cabinet, withdrawing two potion vials. She returned and handed them to Integra.
"The Green one is an extremely mild pain reliever. It will have absolutely no effect on the baby but will take the edge off long enough for you to get to a hospital where they can provide the good stuff." Poppy said with a grin.
"The pink one is for topical use after the baby is born. It will help kick start healing and soothe any external soreness. Congratulations, dears, I'm so excited for you!" Poppy said
"Thank you!" Integra said. Poppy examined Seras and Zorin next, she estimated that Seras was at the human equivalent of 32 weeks along, which means that hers would be coming along within the next two weeks as well. It was agreed, since they both would be delivering close to each to her, and because Harry wanted to be there for both of them and the babies, that Integra would be joining Seras and he at Potter Manor. The elves and already set up cribs in two adjacent bedrooms and installed a door between them so Harry could run between either room to change diapers, help feed and spend time with both without any fuss.
Zorin was still very early into her pregnancy but both mother and child were healthy and thriving. She and Rip had agreed to allow Poppy to closely observe her pregnancy and document it because there had been few dhampirs born in the UK over the last centuries, and with the discriminatory legislation lifted they were likely to see more human/vampire couples having babies.
Poppy summoned a house elf, and requested caffeine-free tea for everyone, and they chatted for a while, mostly reminiscing on Harry's misadventures, as well as Poppy's excitement about bringing student magical physicians in. She was also looking forward to when they started bringing in muggle physicians. She held multiple degrees in medical science that she'd earned through correspondence, but never got a chance to do a residency, and never held a license in the muggle world. Harry begged off to go speak with Minerva when they were told that the feast was over, leaving Poppy with the women.
"I'm very impressed with that young man right now." Poppy said.
"You should have seen him at the birthing classes. He was the only man there, so he volunteered to help everyone. He even helped demonstrate the birthing bed they had there." Integra said with a grin.
"He was really the only man there?" Poppy asked. Zorin nodded sadly.
"There was one woman whose partner left her when she found out she was pregnant." Zorin said.
"That bastard." Poppy said.
"I'm not going to ask Harry if he's looking for the guy, because I would be compelled to try to stop him if I knew." Rip said.
"She seems like such a nice girl. Oh Harry told us her baby is magical." Zorin said.
"He offered to help her either avoid the magical world or prepare for it depending on what they want to do. Apparently her birth parents were magical." Integra added.
"Did you catch a name?" Poppy asked.
"Chloe Doge, I think." Seras said. Poppy grimaced.
"That bastard." She said for the second time.
"What do you mean?" Integra asked.
"Timothy Doge. His grandfather was a good man. He was in the Order of the Phoenix and helped protect Harry on multiple occasions. Timothy on the other hand... He felt like the world owed him. I delivered poor Chloe, and when he and Chloe's mother found out she was a squib they immediately dumped her on the doorstep of a muggle police station. If you see her again, please let her know that I would love to meet her, she should know that her great grandfather was a good man." Poppy said.
"We'll pass that along." Seras promised.
"And I need you ladies to do me a favor. I know you're aware of his... past. I'm ashamed I only found out about it after he left Hogwarts. He is disturbingly adept at hiding the fact that he is exhausted or in pain, and between pulling the wizarding world's head out of its ass, hunting Millennium and being the best father/fiancee I've seen since Ron Weasley, I fear he's wearing himself thin." Poppy said.
"We know, we've got a system." Seras said. Poppy raised an eyebrow.
"They're subtle but there are signs we've come to recognize. He'll get a bit pale, or his responses to Alucard's nonsense will slow. Sometimes it's a simple as being indecisive about what to eat for breakfast. When that happens, one of us will have a "needy emotional" day, and basically force him to sit with us, or one of us will have a "nightmare" and we'll ask him to sleep with us. I mean that literally by the way." Integra said
"Alucard's even in on it. When he suspects Harry is running on fumes, he'll start prodding him and measuring his responses, and let us know." Seras said.
"The king of vampires checks up on Harry?" Poppy asked, genuinely surprised. Zorin grinned.
"Aside from Integra, Harry is Alucard's best friend." Zorin said.