Harry smiled at the mediwizard as she invited him to sit. Her consultation office was a serene room, that allowed no sound in, from the busy waiting room outside, or out. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." He said.
"Of course, Mister Potter." She said accepting the cup of tea. "Now, how can I help you?" She asked. Harry smiled.
"You're aware of my request for absolute privacy and confidentiality beyond your professional oath?" She nodded professionally.
"Absolutely Mister Potter. If it was anyone else – I would refuse – but as you're the one requesting it, I am ready to take an unbreakable vow." She said, and for once, Harry didn't mind the stupid pedestal people put him on. "Do you have someone else to be the caster? Otherwise, I can summon one of my colleagues to assist us."
Harry nodded and soon another mediwizard joined them and Harry stretched out his hand to the doctor. "You swear that you will treat the patient I want you to treat without revealing anything about the person, their condition, their treatment."
The mediwizard hesitated, confused, probably not having expected that this was about anyone else other than Harry. That being said the golden ropes of magic were already swirling around their joined arms. She seemed to decide she was still interested in helping him and replied to confirm it.
"I swear."
OOoOoOo
Draco waited in front of the fireplace, sitting on the couch and bouncing his leg up and down as he watched the wood crackle. He'd been nervously waiting for Potter to return for close to half an hour. He hated having to just sit around and wait, but in this house he felt safe.
A new crackle drew his attention.
Draco looked up as the fireplace roared green and one of the mediwizards stepped out, followed closely by Potter, who nodded at him. The lady looked at him with evident surprise in her face and looked between him and Potter and back once more.
"Mister Malfoy, are you, my patient?" She asked with a smile that formed once the surprise faded away from her expression.
"Yes, Malfoy, the oath is complete, you can speak freely. I'll be in the kitchen getting some tea ready." He said and walked out.
Draco watched him go and looked at the doctor uncertain. She seemed unfazed by his mistrust and sat down on the chaise across from him.
"Now tell me, how can I help?" She said.
"I'm with child." He said. She stared for a few seconds and nodded.
"I see. How far along?"
"Coming up to three months." Draco said.
"Is... Mister Potter the father?" She asked and Draco laughed out loud but quickly covered his mouth at the unrefined response and cleared his throat. "I mean, uh, no. The father is Alfred Davis." He said.
"Who is your regular mediwizard for your conception?" She asked, reaching out for his hand, which Draco allowed as she felt for his pulse.
"You're the first doctor to assess me since I conceived." He said.
"Alright, but before?" She asked.
"Before?"
She took out her wand and slowly went from head to toe, scanning him, avoiding his naval. Draco stayed very still and quiet as she did so.
"Hmm..." She frowned. "Your pressure is leaning on the high side, we'll keep an eye on that." She wrote something down and looked back up. "Yes, before. To conceive."
"I'm... confused." He answered.
"You did see a mediwizard to get your body ready for conception, correct?" she said as if it was so obvious. Draco stared at her, her question adding no further clarity whatsoever to his confusion. She looked at him for a long time, a frown forming once more. "Mister Draco, when was the last time you saw a mediwizard?" She asked.
"I went when I was feeling sick, a week after I... was intimate with that man."
"And before that?"
Draco shrugged. "I haven't had to see anyone for years."
"Is this pregnancy a surprise to you?" She asked. Draco released a breath nodding.
"It was... quite the shock... I had to leave my home, Potter is teaching me how to live in the muggle world." He mumbled, his shoulders drooping. He looked up at her once more, and her frown was still there. "What's wrong? Is the child safe?" He asked.
She sat up straight and opened her mouth when Potter called that he was bringing tea. "May I ask, are you and mister Potter in a relationship?" She said and Draco bristled up in outrage that she would even ask that after what he explained – but then again – she probably read all the salacious non-sense written in the Daily Prophet, and that made his defences jump to full height as he calmed his expression, not allowing any emotion to reveal what he was feeling within.
And then, there was Potter, who was less graceful and tripped on the edge of the carpet, sending the tray, teapot, tea cups and cookies flying. Draco used his seeker reflexes and with a swish of his wand, the items were frozen mid-air. He sighed and shook his head at Potter who looked at them sheepishly and smiled at the doctor. "No - we are not together. We're just friends. I'll be right out." He grabbed the items Draco was holding in the air and put them back onto the tray, before placing the tray on the table.
"That... is quite unfortunate." She said sadly, which made them both turn their attention to her. "Mister... Malfoy, what I have to say might be hard to hear, but it might mean you can regain your position back in your household, as your pregnancy is not being publicized, so it might remain a secret yet."
"I'm... confused. Also, why is it unfortunate?" Draco asked. The doctor sat up and her compassionate expression made Draco's heart race.
"I should go." Potter said making his way out.
"Stop. You know something." Draco ordered glaring at Potter, who looked like he knew part of what was coming. Of course, that's why he insisted Draco be seen by a mediwizard. "You. Sit. Now."
"Malfoy, I..." Potter looked at him directly in the eyes, the guilt and uncertainty glowing in his green eyes before he finally sighed and sat down on the opposite end of the couch, as far away as possible from the two of them. Draco turned to the doctor and signalled with his hand for her to continue.
"Mister Malfoy, it is impossible that you did not know you would be in this position, it takes months of specific potions being drank in specific dates, with a mediwizard checking your magical core and physical transformations regularly for three months before intercourse is advised." Draco stared at her blankly, his mind reeling. She took advantage of his silence and continued. "If you are unaware, then the person that put you in this state must have been feeding you the potions regularly, and monitoring your changes just as often, without you even knowing it was happening."
Draco shook his head, his mouth feeling dry. "No... No, Alfred Davis wasn't... isn't a mediwizard he's... he's from a magical textiles empire family. He's... he's not..." Draco felt sick and out of breath at the same time. He frowned remembering, three months before he slept with him... they saw each other regularly after the first month of meeting, often they would meet over tea, they would hold hands over the table, always chaperoned, even if they were in public spaces. To have a chaperone signalled to the other families that he was seriously beginning the process for marriage. It was tradition... he told Davis that.
"Of course, my darling, any tradition important to you I'll uphold it." He smiled, kissing the back of his hand, which had made Draco uncomfortable, getting treated like a woman, but at least he would abide by his traditions.
"I'll ask my mother." He said but Davis stopped him.
"And I'll ask my assistant, Mrs. Clair Filou. She's of good standing and actually studied in France, Beauxbatons. Her husband works as one of my father's top executives for the Davis Fabrics' branches here in England." He said, pointing to the assistant he kept around him who smiled faintly but continued standing to the side like a servant.
Draco saw no reason to object. Gradually most of the meetings took place at Davis' place, chaperoned by Mrs. Filou. Until the one time, three months ago, when she wasn't there, and Davis convinced him to give away something Draco wouldn't ever get back. And unfortunately, none of this would be happening if he simply had waited until the wedding night.
"How... how would the person check? A mediwizard, what kind of thing would they do to check?" He heard Potter ask and he would say thank you later, when he could find his voice again.
"Unfortunately, it's quite simple. Someone just needs to point their wand at you and assess you like I just did, Mister Malfoy. They could do it while your back was turned or in your sleep. Let me reiterate, it is illegal for a non-registered mediwizard, who has not taken their hypocratic oath, to perform medical magic on someone else. Furthermore, registered or not, it is illegal to perform medical magic on another individual without their consent. Even if we don't agree with their thought process, if the person has capacity, and makes a decision to refuse treatment, even if was an unwise decision in our professional opinion, it is still illegal for anyone to perform medical magic on someone without their consent." She said very clearly but that didn't help Draco feel any better.
"I will have to report to the aurors about this, but as my oath with you mister Potter, dictates, I will not give any identifying details." She leaned over, she was empathetic, kind, but direct to the point and Draco knew the worst was yet to come from her. "Furthermore, this is a very complicated process. Once your child is conceived within your magical womb, which the potions generate, you need a constant supply of the father's energy to strengthen your body enough to carry the child to term."
"I... what are you saying? I... I have to go back to Davis?" He whispered, he saw the doctor become blurry, tears forming, which was preferable to the nausea he was feeling.
"I'm afraid... without Alfred Davis's energy, your child is already very weak... as well as your own magical core." Draco blinked looking down. "Your child will not last long. It's a miracle it's still holding on having had no energy whatsoever from its progenitor." She said. "I know this is hard to hear but... termination is the only other option. This way, you could go back to your family, with the proper care, I'll make sure you're recovered before you go back."
Draco shook his head. "No..." He said shaking his head some more. If he found Davis... "I could find Davis... I'll... for my... for..." He put his hand down on his stomach. He tried to think, he had to think clearly, he couldn't lose focus. "What... how would he give me his energy." Draco asked as clearly as he could.
"Intercourse is the easiest way." Draco stood and threw up in the nearest vase. "But, not the only way, absolutely not. I wouldn't even advise returning to this person though, considering how he has done this to you in this despicable and very illegal way."
"I still accepted lying with him." Draco forced out. "This is my fault."
"This isn't your fault." Potter said. The way he said it made Draco want to believe it.
"Mister Potter is right. Going back to him is also not advised. The energy must be willingly given and taken." She said. "You can't trust them. Your magical core will block you from accepting the energy now that you know of the betrayal. I've seen it myself and there's evidence in literature to support this." The doctor came to his side, vanished the mess with a wave of her wand and helped him back to the couch, offering him a calming draught. Draco took it and his heart slowly settled, his anxiety dampening. "It almost would have been better that you and mister Potter had been in a relationship, that way-"
"What?" Both of them said in unison and the doctor looked at them both, considering her words carefully. Draco remember what she said before.
"Wait... you asked me if I was with Potter, why?" He asked. Draco looked at Potter and must have looked as shellshocked as Potter. Draco sobered up wiping the remaining tears away. "Potter can give me energy? Other than how... you specified before?" He asked.
"Yes... there are ways, a new partner can share their energy, through means other than intercourse, but it's usually a partner as this creates a link between the partner and the child. Essentially mister Potter would be sustaining, nurturing, and assisting the child to grow. As much as you are carrying the child and nurturing them with your blood, mister Malfoy, the partner would be nurturing them with their magic, and helping you sustain the magic required to grow the child to term, birth them, and have both survive at the end." She explained. "Mister Potter's magic will also overwrite any genetic influence from Alfred Davis. It would be mister Potter's name that would need to be registered in the birth scroll as his father, meaning the child would receive all legal rights and protections as if you had sired them yourself."
"And if I don't, the child would die." The doctor nodded.
Draco didn't dare look at Potter right now. He knew what the Potter would do, hollier-than-thou Potter, offering himself as sacrifice when any innocent was in danger. He didn't want Potter to do this.
"I'll do it." Potter said and Draco closed his eyes. He closed his eyes because he was completely powerless to stop this. He couldn't refuse Potter. This was his only chance. He wouldn't go back to Davis, much less if his grubby, filthy energy might not even work to save the child.
The doctor looked hesitant, looking at both of them. "Lets... lets pause for one second. If you were to agree it will take me twenty-four hours to prepare what I need to solidify the connection between you two. You have that time to think about it. If not, I can assist you, mister Malfoy, to progressing the termination before you get any weaker. I know this is a very heavy burden to consider within a day, both outcomes. Please really think about this." She said and gave Draco some energy potions and nutrition to replenish what the child had been taking from him.
He nodded and Potter must have done the same as one second later, the fire roared and in a flash of green they were both left on their own.
The silence stretched and Draco tried to think of something to say. He opened his mouth, released a gasp to see if words would follow but quickly closed it, as he realized no words would come. He glanced at Potter, saw him try the same and close his mouth in the same way. Draco tried again and Potter followed – making them look like two fish trying to breathe out of water. They stopped trying and stared at each other and Draco couldn't control the laughter that ensued, which cause Potter to burst out laughing as well.
"I'm sorry, I... it's not funny but..." Draco tried to regain composure but the more they tried the more they laughed seeing each other's futile attempts to stop.
Draco felt tears of laughter that he wiped away, and slowly they were able to calm down and a comfortable silence settled once more.
oOoOoOo
Harry wiped his own tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes, triggered by their bout of spontaneous laughter. He saw Malfoy's smile slowly turned bitter as he stared at the flames of the fireplace.
"I'm..." Malfoy paused for a moment. "I'm so sorry... I am... as much as it disgusts me to admit it... very ashamed." He said, touching his stomach. The nervous laughter from before really seemed to help Malfoy relax and open up. His eyes filled with grief, probably thinking of the child that he could lose within twenty-four hours. "I wanted to run away, but if I'd done that, we both would have died." He said.
Harry shuddered as it seemed to be a trend with wizard purebloods that ran away to live amongst the muggles like ignorant newborns themselves.
Alfred Davis. That man... the anger roared under his veins. Why would that man do something so vile when Draco was already going to marry him? Why break the law, humiliate and abuse Malfoy like this? If he hadn't done this, they would be married presently. Without putting Malfoy in this position. Why go to these lengths?
"It is not your fault." Harry said looking at Malfoy's sad expression and his anger faded, feeling an urge to get closer. "I meant what I said... I'll do it." He said. Malfoy looked up at him.
"We can write a new contract... any doubts you have, we can discuss all terms and conditions." Draco insisted and Harry chuckled.
"You would be a very good business man." He joked the desperation in Draco's eyes made Harry shake his head and sigh. "If it would make you feel better. We can write a contract." He said and saw Malfoy's shoulders relax and actually sigh with relief. "But rushing a contract is not a good idea. We only have twenty-four hours."
"Agreed." Malfoy nodded. "I trust your integrity, that you will sign after we start." Harry was genuinely flattered that Draco, with his mistrust – and fairly justified – would somehow not apply to him.
"Coming from you, I'm honoured."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Potter." He slouched back and grabbed the cookies that had been left ignored until now. Harry smiled faintly, seeing him return back to normal and more energised following the doctor's potions. He poured him a cup of tea and passed the cup to the blonde who looked at the cup and accepted it, taking a sip and sighing softly.
They were both clearly still thinking about a lot as they sat in silence, finishing the cookies and tea and when it was all finished they still sat in silence, deep in thought.
By ten, they headed up to their rooms and Harry watched him enter his room. "Goodnight, Malfoy." Harry said and the blonde stopped, turning to look at him and nodded with a tired smile and made Harry's heart jump in his chest like many other times he'd tried to ignore. Oh boy.
"Goodnight, Potter." And they both closed the door to their rooms.
Harry turned to look at the fireplace in his own room, nicely lit by Kreacher, who had regained as much energy as Malfoy had lost, seemingly overjoyed at having a descendant of the house of Black not just living here, but carrying a child within. He still obeyed Harry, but he happily waited on Malfoy who tried to do things on his own, whenever Kreacher would let him. In turn, with Harry 'caring for master Draco', as Kreacher put it, the house-elf was all the more attentive to the rooms. The house in general, beyond the renovations, was also brightening up due to Kreacher's attentions.
Harry got undressed, putting on some pjama trousers and getting into bed, trying to quiet his mind. As he lay there, thinking about this past year, these past weeks, Draco's baby, he reminded himself that if he went through with it, it would be his child as well. His name on the birth scroll. His energy sustaining both Draco and the child.
His heart skipped a beat, feeling a joy he'd felt a year ago when he thought Ginny might have been pregnant. Tears came to his eyes and he sobbed, part of him wondering what the hell the fates were thinking presenting this opportunity to him, and cursing them for hurting Malfoy the way they were. As much as the blonde idiot annoyed him before, and still did, Harry cared for him. He'd become an endearing friend and Harry wanted to protect him.
He fell into a pleasant dream where he stood by as he watched Draco sucking the life out of Davis by wringing his neck with his bare hands.
