February 19, 1999
A few weeks had passed since Severus and Harry talked in the headmaster's office and it was agreed that they'd continue to meet for the sake of both of their energy being present for the development of the baby. Severus had to miss the appointment on the 5th of February due to being called to handle something, but Harry met up with him later on to update the book and fill him in. Still, no one knew Severus was the father except those who learned when Harry ended up in the infirmary.
And there was still no plan if people found out that Severus was the person Harry slept with in a bar. Only a few knew the whole story, and it was agreed that no one who did know would discuss it openly to avoid more questions being asked. The papers had all just printed that Harry had a one-night stand and was now pregnant. They were also trying to call out to see if anyone would step forward as the person Harry slept with. The teenager really did hate his life in the spotlight.
Ginny, for once, had been avoiding Harry and while that should be a good thing, it made him very uneasy. The way she behaved when his one-night stand and pregnancy came out. She was not going to give up and he worried not for him, but the baby. Severus would not keep calm if something happened to him or the baby because of her, and he'd already told Harry that he would not be able to keep calm. So Harry prayed the girl left him alone, or Severus would react and everyone would know.
Today was Friday, and time for another one of Harry's check-ups. The teenager was making his way to the infirmary to meet Draco for the appointment, but detoured to the headmaster's office to let him know. Harry couldn't remember if he'd told Severus about the one today or not. Getting to the statue, Harry saw the book and put his name down, along with a message.
3pm appt. -HP
Then he walked away knowing the message sent up to Severus. Harry made it to the infirmary and headed for the private area Draco set up for these.
"Hey, Harry." Draco smiled. "No Severus?"
"I sent him a message about it, so we can give it a few extra minutes." Harry replied.
"Alright, I'm going to go take care of a few more things." Draco put a hand on Harry's shoulder and then Draco wandered off to do whatever it was he planned to do.
Harry reclined on the bed, hands on his belly and rubbing it a bit. "Hopefully your other father can come this time…" Harry said gently. "But I know he's busy, so I don't blame him."
Harry and Severus had tried to spend time together, just to talk about the baby or themselves on a more personal level than what they had been to one another. The headmaster and Harry used the room of requirement to meet, keep things on neutral territory. It was always set up quite homey for them, like a studio flat with no kitchen or bedroom.
The two would meet up and have a meal together, and Severus would transfer his energy at least two times a week by touching Harry's belly. There were no snide remarks or jabs, just talking and some laughter. It was kept light. Severus also helped Harry get more comfortable, and it was just really nice.
Harry yawned and closed his eyes, beginning to drift off. Three raps on the door caused the teen to wake up more. "Come in." Harry called. The door opened to reveal Severus. "Hey, Severus," The teenager greeted tiredly.
Closing the door behind him, Severus moved to the side of the exam bed. "Hello, Harry. Thank you for letting me know about the appointment," He took a seat in the chair. "I'm sorry I missed the last one."
"It's okay. I know you're busy as headmaster," Harry replied.
"You don't sound like your usual self. Is everything alright?" Severus inquired.
"Just tired. The castle is big and all my classes are in different places, so all I do is walk around from breakfast to the last class…Then usually library or common room and dorm to get assignments done." The teen revealed. "I was going to take a nap, but Draco let me know he had an opening to see me so I made the journey here."
"How do you two communicate?" Severus wondered.
"Hm? Oh, we're using a two way journal. Very small," Harry pulled the object out of his pocket and showed Severus.
"I had considered something like this for us to communicate as well, but I couldn't find anything that small." Severus admitted.
"These are custom," Harry informed. "Only about five pages of parchment, folded to make ten. Hermione charmed them for Draco and me. Protean Charm, with both notebooks as the master so we can communicate back and forth." He explained. "I write something in mine, it goes to him. Vice-versa."
"That's genius." Severus smiled.
Harry tried to shift a bit, and hissed. "Well, that's Hermione for you. Brightest witch of our age…"
"Are you alright?" The headmaster inquired.
"The farther along I get, the more positions I find I'm uncomfortable sitting in…More recently, don't like laying on my back." Harry told him. "I'm almost seven months…Couple more weeks."
"Can I do anything to help make you more comfortable?" The man hoped.
"Transfigure the bed into something I can recline in?...I can't because it takes too much magic and Draco told me to try and conserve my energy the best I can." Harry mentioned.
"I can do that for you," Severus pulled his wand and flicked it at the exam table, shifting it to a more comfortable lounge-like chair. Ensuring there were also good pillows to help. "How's that?"
"Oh, much better…" Harry relaxed. "I could fall asleep here, I almost was when you came."
"My apologies for waking you. Where's Draco? Have I missed the appointment?" The man questioned.
Harry shook his head. "He's just handling a couple of things in the main part of the infirmary. We knew it might take you a minute to get here."
"Harry, it's me. Has Severus arrived, or do you want to continue without him?" Draco asked, opening the door a crack and walking in. "I retract that last statement." He chuckled. "How do you feel?"
"We share a dorm, Dray…You already know the answer to that. Tired. Answer hasn't changed in two months." The pregnant teen remarked sarcastically.
"You know I have to ask to keep this updated," He held up the folder. "And track if things are changing we need to be watching for...So, I ask again. How are you feeling, besides tired?" Draco smiled.
"Morning sickness isn't as bad since we began the transfers with Severus. Still draining to use so much magic in classes, and hurts my back and feet and walking around the castle five days a week." Harry told him.
Draco jotted the notes down before pulling his wand out. "I told you having Severus around would take some of the strain off you. Which is why you aren't fully exhausted anymore and that attributed to how sick you always felt." The blonde informed. "However, you are almost seven months pregnant, Harry…I can't do anything about feeling drained because you are still pregnant and in the final months."
"For the back and feet pain…I can only suggest icing both for fifteen to twenty minutes. Let it warm up again, then ice again. On and off three or four times at night or during free periods." Draco added. "That's how the three trimesters work. During one, you're exhausted and sick. Adjusting to being pregnant. In two, you start to feel better again, and then in three, you basically feel like you did in one."
Draco got started on checking Harry's vitals, measuring his belly and whatnot. Severus sat quietly and watched, waiting for the moment to see things live with his child in Harry's womb. Finally, Draco waved his wand in an intricate pattern, tapping it to Harry's now bare belly, and bringing up that image to reveal the baby to them.
"Is that our-," Severus paused as Harry nodded.
"That's our baby,"
"I know Harry doesn't want to know the sex yet, but do you, Uncle Severus? I can whisper it to you." Draco inquired.
"No, it's fine. I don't mind waiting, it's only a few more months." Severus replied. "It's incredible…"
Draco chuckled while he began to run the other checks while Severus and Harry enjoyed the look at their baby. "You two had enough looking so I can cancel the spell?" He asked after finishing filling out the sheet in the folder.
"I suppose so," Severus said as Harry nodded to him. Draco cut the spell and tucked his wand away, then set the folder down on the desk beside him. Severus asked the castle to make this room for Draco to have an office, but also doubled it to be a private room for Harry. It was fully warded against break-ins and eavesdroppers.
"So, how does everything look?" Harry asked. "Baby turn head down yet?"
"The baby will usually turn down between twenty-eight and thirty weeks, so should be soon with you being twenty-five today." Draco informed.
"What's wrong? You're not doing that thing where you smile wide after an appointment, nor did you lead off with everything being fine…" Harry mentioned softly, hands already on his belly with concern.
"For one, stop stressing. It won't help any, Harry." Draco stated as Harry nodded and took a few calming breaths. "Secondly, you are my patient even though the baby is yours and Severus's. I won't disclose anything with him here without your consent."
"It's fine. He's allowed to know anything regarding the baby." Harry consented.
Draco took a seat in his chair. "I would never normally suggest this, but given the circumstances…It's medically necessary." He paused. "You two need to be together more often, and closer." Harry and Severus blinked at him a few times.
"We're already together twice a week." Severus stated.
"But it's not enough to balance out between what the baby gets from you and what it gets from Harry." Draco stated. "In regular, muggle pregnancy, the baby gets everything it needs from the mother. Okay, that is how it is for muggles. This is a wizarding pregnancy, but not much differently, the baby gets mostly everything from their carrier, which is Harry. Following so far?"
Severus nodded. "So aside from the two times a week you and Harry get together for the transfers, the baby takes from Harry. And this is a growing child who has only had Harry for five months basically. Twice a week is not enough for the baby to be taking from both of you." Draco explained. "Your situation is unique because you are not a couple. You had sex the one time, and that was it."
He paused. "Because you two are not a couple, you're doing bare minimum. You meet twice a week and that's it. It's not enough to sustain the baby, which then affects Harry. In couples, partners share the joy of pregnancy. Always around one another, constant presence. Not all the time, but at least every day. They kiss, they hug, they make love…And in that, the baby gets the balance from both parents."
"Are you suggesting we become a couple and start having sex?" Severus inquired.
"It would be ideal if there was more physical contact between you two. Because having a closer relationship would allow your magics to get used to one another. It's clearly compatible to have made a baby. However, I understand, again, that your situation is different. But if we don't want anything to damage the child's development, magic and physical, then you two need to be closer so the baby can get what it needs." Draco said.
"How often?" Harry asked.
"Every day, if you want honesty. Every day of physical contact would help. Multiple times a day would be better, but I know there is worry of people learning who the other father is and that's why you don't meet a lot. Every meet would eventually get noticed. But yes, right now I'm saying that at least once a day for an hour is needed, maybe sharing a bed too." Draco informed.
"But we're not allowed to do that, even if we wanted to, godson. As long as Harry is a student here, while I may not be his teacher; I am still the school's headmaster. It's against the rules. I could be arrested if anyone found out there was an unprofessional relationship between the headmaster and a student." Severus reminded.
"I understand that, but this is what is necessary for a healthy baby." Draco repeated. "No one has to know. Find one time, every day, for an hour or so to just sit close on a couch. Be touching in some way. Perhaps on the weekends, Harry can spend the night. I'm the one he shares a dorm with, so no one would ask questions why he isn't in his bed."
"And what do we do if someone does find out?" Severus pushed.
"I'll confer with my father on the matter, but I do not believe there will be many issues once the situation is explained. It was a one-night stand when you were both disguised as someone else to avoid trouble. Neither of you knew who the other was, so you didn't know you were wizards." Draco remarked. "Harry ended up pregnant, but it happened off campus and the reason you're so close now is because the baby needs it."
"Any healer would confirm if it gets argued I'm just an intern. Madam Pomfrey checked through the file, I did everything she would have." Draco added. "And if you did get arrested, the file, with Harry's consent would be submitted evidence to prove the development of the core required the often physical contact between you two."
"But for now, how about we don't worry about it and just do what needs to be done?" The blonde looked at them. "I'm not ordering you to get cozy, start dating and having sex. Do not take it that way. Of course, that's entirely your decision…But you do need to be closer, more frequently, than you are now."
"Alright, alright…" Severus sighed. "We'll set aside an hour a day, once a day for the sake of balancing the magic the baby needs from both of us. And…What if we set aside Friday and Saturday nights so that you can stay in my quarters with me?" He suggested. Harry arched a brow. "Nothing sexual, just close."
"Would that work?" Harry looked at Draco.
"I think that would be more than enough." Draco nodded. "But we'd have to try it and see at the next appointment for sure."
"For the sake of the baby, I will agree to those terms." Harry nodded. "Was there anything else?"
"After your next appointment, which will be at the end of February, beginning of March…We'll move to once a week check-ups until the end of the pregnancy." Draco informed as Harry nodded again. "You mentioned before that traversing the castle for classes is too much?"
"It's becoming too much on my back and legs, plus getting winded easily." Harry admitted.
"Your blood pressure is higher than I'd like. I want to put you on moderate bed rest, and hope it goes back to normal." Draco stated.
"Bed rest means I can't go to class, Draco." Harry reminded.
"I understand that, Harry…But I told you that this is already a high-risk pregnancy, and we have added issues of you being unable to take the magic drain for the baby's development, and also practical practice in classes. And now high blood pressure. It can lead to still-birth or early labor." Draco told him. "These next few months are going to be tough, Harry…We have to do something. Your body can't handle the strain of everything it's doing, we have to cut down somewhere until it stabilizes."
"Hang on now…" Severus paused and looked at Draco. "You said moderate, but not full or strict…What does moderate entail, Draco?"
"I want to pull Harry from classes he doesn't need to attend because he excels in them. Like…Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry basically taught that class to all years when he was fifteen. He's advanced enough that he could self-study from his bed or desk." Draco informed. "His friends could bring him the assignments to do."
"I could work that with his teachers. What classes does he not need to be in?" Severus wondered as both of them looked at Harry.
"I'm pretty advanced in Charms, Defense, History of Magic. I'm already doing Arithmancy with Hermione, but taking the advanced level class, and I self-study Ancient Runes. I'm taking Care of Magical Creatures. And Astronomy too, but I could study that on my own, I guess." Harry stated.
"And I'm pulling you from Potions. You're getting into the dangerous brews, might as well leave now. Study them on your own, ask questions if you hit something you don't understand and you can practice after the baby is born." Draco said.
"So that leaves actually going to Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Magical Creatures. Right?" Draco questioned.
"I suppose it does." The teenager agreed.
"So we leave him in the four classes he needs to be there for to get the most learning, and he self-studies everything else? Getting the work from friends?" Severus inquired. "What else for bed rest?"
"The on and off again icing of his back and legs to keep the pain down, and elevated feet should take down the swelling. No lifting anything, not even with magic. There is still a strain on how much magic used to lift heavier things. Ah, and no more apparating. As little floo travel as possible. I basically want you in bed as much as possible, no straining yourself." Draco stated.
"For how long?" Harry sighed.
"Why don't we set it until your next appointment? I will decide from there if anything else needs to change." Draco said.
"Okay, whatever we have to do to make sure the baby is okay…" Harry agreed. "I should probably put my healer sessions on hold then…"
"That is entirely your decision." Draco told him. "So since it's Friday, why don't you head back to the dorm and pack things for tonight and tomorrow night to stay with Severus?" He suggested. "Severus and I can discuss things with your teachers about the new arrangements."
"Alright," Harry nodded as he went to get up, though he struggled.
"Here, let me help you," Severus moved to bring Harry up slowly and then off the transfigured lounge couch.
"Thank you." The teenager steadied himself.
"I'm going to adjust the wards on the guard to the Headmaster's Tower to automatically allow you entry, so you don't have to keep putting your name in the book." Severus informed.
"Okay," Harry then exited the room to leave the infirmary and head to his dorm.
"Consult with your father about this. I do not want to take the chance of it getting out and ending up arrested. It would stress Harry and keep us separated, neither of which would be good." Severus told his godson.
"I'll send him word by owl by dinner. Are you and Harry going to be okay for this?" Draco inquired.
"We will be fine. He knows I do not hate him, and I have apologized for the past before the Dark Lord returned. We're getting along, and having civil conversation." Severus said. "Is this being close thing the only way to balance the magic output for the baby?"
"It is the most effective way given how much time there has not been your assistance, Uncle Sev. Yes, right now, I'd say it's the only way. If you two do this the remainder of the pregnancy, with the weekly check-ups, I believe it will be just enough time to ensure the baby is as it should be when it's born." Draco said. "Why?"
"I just don't want to make Harry uncomfortable. He's said before when we discussed me touching his belly that he wasn't, but this is a different level. I don't want us to grow apart." Severus informed.
"What are you worried about, Severus? Be honest." Draco sighed.
"Even though we were disguised, Draco…And didn't realize who we were to each other, there was a connection between us. I don't know how to explain it besides that. Obviously, despite the past and that we didn't know who we were to one another, there was…Attraction, an admittance to wanting to meet up to repeat the evening." Severus confessed.
"Are you saying you like him? As in…A crush or like-like?" Draco inquired.
"I am too old for crushes and teenage like-like, Draco." Severus scoffed. "But I suppose…Yes, I believe we could term it as that for the sake of whatever. I don't want this to push him away, have it feel forced just for the baby."
"Severus, just go with the flow. I am sure whatever you feel, Harry probably does too and is just afraid you won't feel the same. It's likely mutual if what you are saying about a connection and repeating the night is correct." Draco stated. "You two will have to be close for this magic sharing for the baby, but everything else…That's between you two."
"He's going to be with you every day for an hour, Severus. And overnight two nights a week. Maybe do dinner together? Get to know one another outside of what you've been. Just be careful that no one catches on until we have father's legal advice. And watch that girl…She's been quiet, but Harry admitted to me that it's making him more nervous that she's up to something." Draco remarked.
Severus nodded. "I won't let her hurt Harry, or our child. You can bet on that."
Draco smiled. "I don't have to bet on it, Severus. I know how much you love Harry."
"No one said anything about love!" Severus glared.
"No one needed to." Draco winked and left the office as Severus stood there, blinking in surprise.