66Chapter One
Harry frowned a little as he watched Draco Malfoy dodging into the bathroom on the Sixth Floor. He would admit that he was a little obsessed with Malfoy, trying to work out what was going on with him, trying to work out what was going on with him, what he was planning, what he was up to. Something massive was weighing on the blond, and Harry couldn't help but keep looking towards him, his mind going over and over what was going on with him.
With Voldemort having been defeated last year Harry was sure it wasn't anything to do with him or the Death Eaters who had all faded away to try and hide themselves again. They were all trying to hide themselves away and work out what their lives were going to be now without Voldemort's potential return giving them hope.
Harry hesitated for a moment as the door of the bathroom closed, leaning against the wall he fought back and forth with himself about what he was going to do now. He knew what he wanted to do, he wanted to go into the bathroom after Malfoy and try and work out what was going on with him, he didn't have long to do it, they were all due to leave tomorrow afternoon for the end of term, and the end of their school careers, and he didn't know when he would see Malfoy again.
That really made the choice for him, and he moved away from the wall and moved quickly down the hallway to the bathroom.
He wasn't expecting to find Draco bent over the sink sobbing.
He froze in the doorway but as Draco's blue eyes turned to him and Harry took in the tear filled blue eyes, tear streaks down his pale face, and the horrified look on his face he quickly stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind himself, locking the door which he guessed Draco had been too upset to think to do.
"Get out," Draco sniffed, scrubbing at his face to try and get rid of his tears, clearly trying to sound his normal demanding self, but it came out as more of a plea.
"I…what is wrong? Are you ok?" Harry said awkwardly.
"Get out!" Draco cried.
"I…Malfoy…Draco I am worried, something has been off since Christmas with you. Are you…I just want to…I want to…I just want to help," Harry said honestly and watched as Draco's face crumbled and he started sobbing again.
Harry hesitated for a second and then crossed the space between them, unsure about whether Draco would accept his comfort, but unable to stop himself as whatever sorrow and stress and pain that he had noted Draco was carrying seemed to catch up with him all at once.
Draco tensed for a moment when Harry wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly, but then he just seemed to go boneless as he started crying even harder, gripping onto the back of Harry's robes and clinging onto him as though he were the only thing keeping Draco together right now.
Harry wasn't sure how long they stood there with Harry keeping Draco standing as he hugged the other tightly and said comforting words and made comforting sounds, rubbing his back and just allowing Draco to get out what it sounded like he had been keeping inside of himself for a long time now. Finally, as Draco's sobs eased Harry quickly transfigured a chair for Draco and lowered him into it.
Draco sniffed and wiped his face as he stared at the floor, utterly embarrassed as the tears that had overwhelmed him slowed down and he realised that he had just sobbed into Harry Potter's shoulder after a few kind words from the other. And now he had dropped him into a seat, at least he hadn't put him on the floor, and had walked away from him, probably horrified by what had happened.
He started when a hand gripped his chin.
"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!" Harry's green eyes were earnest as he crouched down in front of Draco, and then to the blond's shock, he reached up and gently wiped Draco's burning face with some wet towels that he had clearly left Draco to get. After he wiped away the tears and snot that was covering Draco's face without even blinking, Harry pressed some cooled towels to Draco's face to cool it off as well. "Here," Harry reached beside himself and pressed a glass of water into Draco's hand.
Realising how thirsty he was Draco gulped back the water, and then murmured thanks when Harry topped the glass back up with a spell.
"Sorry," Draco muttered staring down at the glass in his hands.
"You don't have to apologise. I…can I do anything to help?" Harry asked, transfiguring a chair for himself, and sat in front of Draco.
"Always the hero," Draco snorted, but there was no bite to it, it just sounded tired. "There is nothing that can be done to help," he said quietly, not realising how defeated he sounded.
"What is going on? You have not been right for months now," Harry said concerned.
"You said that earlier, I've been careful that no one else knows, how did you…" Draco frowned a little looking up at Harry.
"I guess, I have been watching you, I noticed something wasn't right and I guess watched you more," Harry said and then grimaced realising how that sounded.
"I just…my life is…I can't…I don't know what…I don't know what I am going to do," Draco felt his eyes burning again with the threat of tears despite feeling as though he had to have cried out every single tear that he had.
"What is going on?" Harry asked gently.
"I…I'm…" Draco licked his lips.
"I swear on my magic I won't tell anyone what you share with me," Harry uttered the vow and stunned blue eyes flashed onto Harry.
"Why did you do that?" Draco asked confused.
"You sound like you really need to share with someone what is going on, and you can trust now that there will be no consequence in telling me. If I can help you I will,"
"Why though, you hate me,"
"I don't hate you," Harry shook his head. "We have fought with each other, and we have had a schoolyard rivalry. But I don't want to see you suffer the way that you are, especially if you feel as hopeless as you sound,"
"I'm…I…I haven't said it out loud," Draco laughed mirthlessly scrubbing his face.
"We have time, it isn't like anyone will think that the two of us are missing and put two and two together and think we're sitting together in the sixth-floor bathroom," Harry smiled a little.
"Are you trying to make me feel better?" Draco managed to smile just a little.
"Badly, but yes," Harry snorted.
"I'm pregnant," Draco blurted out.
"Not what I was expecting," Harry said as his eyebrows practically hit his hairline, and then he nodded clearly trying to get his thoughts together as anxious blue eyes watched him. "How far along are you?"
"It wasn't what I was expecting either," Draco snorted. "I am nearly seven months,"
"You're wearing glamours?" Harry asked, looking at Draco's flat stomach.
"Yes, they're tiring but it was the only way that I could hide it. My mother and father will be furious, they will make me give the baby away and they will either marry me off to someone right away and make me swear a ton of vows to control me, or they will lock me away in the manor until they can get control of me, none of the people that I know, none of my friends will help me because it just isn't done and…" Draco stopped his ramble and looked down at his hands.
"And?" Harry urged.
"I want to keep the baby," Draco admitted, tears filling his eyes again.
"The other dad?" Harry asked carefully.
"Just one stupid night, too much drink at a Yule ball, I have known him as an acquaintance for a while through the Pureblood social circle, he would go right to my parents if I told him, and he would want nothing to do with a baby conceived without a bond, his parents would disown him, even if it is a Malfoy baby," Draco sighed.
"Ok," Harry nodded looking thoughtful.
"Potter?" Draco frowned when he didn't say anything for a few long moments and sat staring at the floor.
"We finish school tomorrow,"
"I'm aware of that, that is why I was having the breakdown in here," Draco waved around him a little hysterically.
"I am planning on going to the house Sirius left me, it will only be me there, it is a large house, and there is plenty of space. If you wanted…"
"Are you…do you mean…" Draco's eyes widened as it sank in what Harry was saying to him.
"You need somewhere safe to go, especially somewhere where you can be safe and calm for the last couple of months of your pregnancy, and then afterwards once the baby is here. I have more than enough money to be able to help you," Harry nodded.
"I can't hide forever," Draco felt his hope deflating, "and I can't keep a baby in a house all the time,"
"Draco, you're smart, you have the top grades in our year just under Hermione. Once you are ready, which there won't be a time limit on this by the way, you can go to a college or university, get a good career, and work out how to get around your family," Harry shook his head.
"I…" Draco took a breath and looked at Harry, "why? Why are you doing this?"
"Because you don't deserve to be in this situation, and your baby doesn't either. I know what it means to feel as though you don't have control of your life, that you don't have any choice in your life. I also know…I know what it was to be an unwanted child dropped on people, your baby deserves better than that when they have a parent who wants them,"
"What do you mean?" Draco frowned a little, Harry's throat felt as though it locked up though and he glanced down to the tiled floor. "I swear on my magic I won't tell anyone what you share with me,"
Harry looked back up surprised and smiled a little when he saw the expression on Draco's face.
"I was sent to live with my mum's family, they hated me, hated magic, they made my life hell. I was treated worse than a House Elf," Harry told him. "You don't deserve this, and if I can help, I will,"
"I…thought that it was hopeless, that I was going to have to tell them and lose my baby," Draco choked as realisation hit him that he could take this chance, that he had an option. "Thank you," he felt tears burning and spilling over again, this time relief washing through him as it felt as though the exhaustion he had constantly been feeling caught up with him as well.
"All we need to work out then is the best way to get you away," Harry said firmly, reaching up to gently wipe Draco's face of its tears again.
"I…" Draco tried to get his brain working again, pushing past the exhaustion and relief.
"Polyjuice?" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Involves someone else, too risky," Draco shook his head.
"Ok, right hang on, step back, when would be the best time to get you out?" Harry asked.
"From the train," Draco said after a moment's thought.
"Ok…we can't apparate from the train because of the wards on it until it actually pulls into Kingscross and stops,"
"That would be too short notice," Draco shook his head.
"Definitely. Ok…" Harry thought for a moment before Draco could practically see a light bulb going off over his head. "I have a way, but it is going to take trust from you,"
"In for a knut, in for a galleon," Draco said, taking a breath.
"Ok, here is my plan,"
Draco waited nervously throughout the train journey, making sure not to allow it to show on his face, not checking his watch every couple of seconds the way that he desperately wanted to, counting down the seconds until finally, it was time. He said the excuse that he had come up with during his sleepless night, he said it with all the confidence that he would normally of, and walked out with the few important items that he intended to take with him shrunk down in his pockets, everything else would be staying in his trunk sitting on the luggage rack in the carriage along with the others.
He walked through the train, despite his sleepless night feeling a little stronger than he had for a while considering Harry, who had become Harry in his mind at some point over the course of the night, had taken over the glamours covering Draco to give his magic a rest. That had been the real leap of faith for Draco, trusting Harry to cast the spells on him and maintain them, it would have been a way that Harry could have revealed his secret without breaking his vow, simply by releasing the magic on the glamours but at the same time he had realised that trusting Harry was really his only chance now.
He hadn't released the glamours and Draco was feeling the beginnings of relief settling into his stomach the closer he got to the front carriage and so to getting away even as his heart thundered in his chest and he felt as though his breathing was coming a little too quick.
He stepped into the carriage, no one's eyes anywhere near him as the notice me not charm he had cast on himself did its job. He found the trolley lady humming to herself and swaying side to side with her back to him, and Harry standing waiting for him.
"I might have been a little over-enthusiastic with the confundus," Harry winced a little looking guiltily at the trolley lady. "Ready?"
"Yes," Draco nodded nervously.
"It is going to be ok, we're going to get you there in a few moments and then you can relax," Harry gripped Draco's arm gently.
"I just feel like something is going to go wrong at the last moment," Draco admitted in a small voice.
"It isn't going to," Harry said so firmly that it was as though some of his confidence seeped into Draco just a little.
He took a deep breath, and then a second and nodded. Harry cast a notice me not net spell over the two of them and then turned to open the carriage door. It slammed against the side of the train but the sound of the train moving was more than loud enough not to alert anyone, Harry then picked up his firebolt from where it was sitting propped up against the side of the carriage and lowered it so Draco could just walk over it, and then he lifted his leg over the broom and lifted it into place.
"Ok?" Harry asked.
"I think this might be easier if you drop the glamour on me, so I can see where my stomach is sitting," Draco said nervously after a moment.
"Ok," Harry murmured under his breath and released the glamour on Draco. The blond let out a breath at the sight of his swollen stomach. "Draco?" Harry asked, concerned looking over his shoulder.
"I'm ready," Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist.
"One, two, three," Harry counted and then took off through the open carriage door, the two of them quickly got control of the broom as the wind hit them, Harry using his legs and hands, Draco using his legs, the two of them were skilled and within a minute they were landing safely, and Harry moved quickly to wrap his arm around Draco even as his eyes drifted down to Draco's stomach, seeing it for the first time before he apparated them out.
They appeared in Grimmauld Place, and the two of them let out a breath as soon as they settled behind the wards of the House, feeling them sealing around them. Draco took another breath, and then embarrassingly his knees went from under him. Moving quickly Harry wrapped his arms back around his waist and gently led him over to the sofa.
He helped Draco ease down onto it and then moved to lift his legs up onto it as well, Draco blinked at him when a pillow and blanket were summoned into the room and Harry grabbed them, then he placed the pillow carefully behind Draco's head and placed the blanket over him, moving to shove the coffee table so that it was sitting next to Draco.
"Kreature?" Harry called and the House Elf popped into the room with a tray. "Perfect, thank you for getting everything ready,"
"Of course Master," The elf gave a toothy smile before placing the tray on the table and popped out again.
"Ok, there are drinks and some food here for you, if there is anything else that you want or need just call for Kreature and he will get it for you. I will be back in a few hours, make yourself comfortable," Harry said concerned.
"I will, I think I am going to sleep, to be honest," Draco yawned, settling back against the pillow.
"I will see you soon," Harry said again, before with one last concerned look apparated out of the house after grabbing his broom.
He appeared about a mile away from where he had apparated out of with Draco, casting a notice me not spell again he honed in on the tracking charm he had placed on the train, relieved that it wasn't too far away as he had hoped.
Hopping onto his Firebolt he took off, going at full speed he was quickly able to catch up with the train considering he wasn't forced to stick to the railway track and could just aim straight at the train. Flying into the open carriage door was a little more than dicey and it was only with a fair bit of skill and a difficult maneuver that he was able to get himself through the door.
Covering all of his tracks in the carriage he lifted the spell from the still swaying trolley lady.
"Oh….hello dearie!" she smiled.
"Could I get everything that is left on the trolley please?" Harry smiled.
"Haha, ending your last year as you started your first! Of course, here," The lady laughed and waved her wand, loading everything into bags for Harry.
"Thank you, here," Harry smiled, handing over the coins for the sweets.
"Oh, there is too much here," the lady frowned at the coins in her hand.
"No there isn't, thank you," Harry smiled at her a little guiltily and hurried away.
"Harry, where have you been?" Hermione asked looking up from where she and Ron had been playing tonsil hockey.
"I'm surprised you even noticed I was gone!" Harry teased walking into the carriage.
"I'm not sure that they did," Neville grimaced looking away from where he and Ginny were playing exploding snap.
"They definitely didn't," Luna laughed.
"I brought us some treats," Harry said before emptying the bag onto one of the seats.
"Mate!" Ron laughed.
Harry glanced to the side as the others eagerly dug into the sweets as he let out a little breath, and found Luna's eyes on him, an amused expression on her face. She didn't know what he had been doing exactly, but she knew he had been up to something. He poked her gently in the forehead before turning to try and enjoy the last part of the trip as much as he could, even with part of his mind on Draco and hoping that he was ok.
"Master Harry," Kreacher popped into the entry as soon as Harry apparated in from Kings Cross, he had had to stay a little longer than he had wanted to getting hugs and congratulations from everyone for completing his schooling, and as lovely as it had been, he had just wanted to get back to Draco and make sure that he was ok after everything that had happened.
"Kreature, how is he?" Harry asked, dropping his trunk onto the floor.
"Master Draco is being eating a good amount and drinking a good amount, and he has been being sleeping since," Kreature told him.
"Thank you Kreature. Did you get the room ready for him?" Harry asked.
"Yes Master," Kreature nodded.
"Thank you," Harry patted his shoulder and then hurried up the stairs. He quietly walked into the living room and found Draco fast asleep on the sofa, moving to the armchair in the corner he stripped his robes off and dropped them to the side before dropping down into it and breathing out a small sigh of relief at finally being back, relaxing back into it.
He looked at the figure on the sofa and stifled a snort, unable to believe that he was in this situation, that this was real, but looking at Draco lying there fast asleep, the swelling of his stomach clear underneath the blanket.
His head had been spinning since he had walked away from Draco the night before, but he didn't regret the choice that he had made or the offer that he had made. Thankfully Hermione and Ron were planning a holiday in a week to get away from everything and have a bit of time travelling, and he had spoken about wanting to do the house up but needing to do it himself. Draco would have the privacy he needed here.
Harry looked Draco over again and thought that he had not seen the blond looking so relaxed ever, but he still looked tired, exhausted really, and Harry was concerned for him and the baby for what the pressure had done.
He felt more than a little disgusted at Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy, which was saying something considering his opinions on them weren't that high anyway, but the fact that Draco had been so scared that he had had to go through all this, that his only choice had been spilling his secrets to his schoolyard rival and taking shelter in his house because of what they would do. Their only winning feature had been that they seemed to care for Draco, but apparently, the damage that a teenage pregnancy would do to their image would win out over their son and grandchild.
Checking his watch Harry stood and moved to lift Draco from the sofa, carefully settling him in his arms before moving to take him upstairs, absolutely terrified the whole way that he would bang Draco's head off of something. Thankfully he didn't and he walked into the room that Kreature had prepared for Draco right next to his own, and he placed his Malfoy housemate down on the bed, considering a moment before transfiguring his school shirt and trousers into pyjamas so that he could be a little more comfortable.
Stepping back Harry couldn't help his eyes moving to Draco's stomach again, the swell of it shocking to see, the knowledge that Draco's baby was in there filling Harry with a small sense of awe. Everything that he had gone through to protect the small being inside of him awed Harry in itself.
"I read in a book last night that you're able to hear voices and all that now, I guess a lot of the voices you have heard haven't been the best, and you have to have sensed how scared your daddy is, but I promise you, you and he are safe now, you're going to be just fine, and you're going to have my help for as long as you need it. So rest up, ok? Come out safe and healthy for your daddy because I can already tell that he loves you very much," Harry said softly, feeling a little foolish, but feeling better after saying it.
He tugged the covers over Draco and tucked them around him before turning and scribbling a quick note for Draco, leaving it on the bedside cabinet where the blond should see it on waking, before leaving the room and shutting the door behind himself, hurrying away to floo out for the meeting he had organised.
A bright blue eye cracked open as a tear slipped free from it while Draco looked at the just closed door. Sobs rocked through his body again and he curled on his side, wrapping his arms around his stomach as he cried out more of the fear, frustration, hurt, anger, and loneliness that he had been feeling.
"He's right, I do love you, so so much, and I think we're going to be ok, I think we're finally going to be ok," Draco managed to say to his stomach once he had calmed down, stroking his hand over it he smiled happily at the little kick he felt against his hand, the small movements and kicks from his baby had been one of the things that had seen him through this horrible time, reminding him why he was doing this.
Reaching out he picked up the letter that Harry had left for him as he ran his other hand over his face to wipe away the tears.
Draco,
I hope it is ok with you that I carried you upstairs, I wanted you to be a little more comfortable on a bed to rest, and it looks like you need a little more rest. I have had to pop out, I am looking into a couple of things to help you, but I promise no one will find out about you or the baby, and I will speak to you about them before anything is put into place, I just want to look into a couple of options for you, and the people that I am speaking to I trust completely.
Again, call Kreature if you need anything at all, he will get it for you right away, and if you need me send him to get me and I will be back right away. This room is yours, so please make yourself at home and settle in, I won't come into the room without your permission, it is completely yours. I should be home by 8 at the latest
Harry
Draco smiled a little at the letter. Things were awkward, this was not the rescue that he had imagined would come along for him when he had prayed to Mother Magic, but as always she moved in mysterious ways, and he found himself safe in the way he had asked for, and not only that but Harry was looking into something to help him.
Draco was so tired that his brain couldn't even try and come up with what it was that Harry could be looking into for him, but then until yesterday, he had been growing more and more certain that his situation was completely hopeless. He pulled the covers back up around him as he lay back down, tucking the note under his pillow, and barely moments after he had gotten himself comfortable again he found himself dropping back off to sleep.
Harry stared into the blue eyes staring at him, narrowed and suspicious, boring into him and trying to break him down, get him to crack as well as clearly showing the displeasure of their owner.
"Don't look at me like that!" Harry finally said.
"I will look at you like this!" Fleur huffed.
"Always thinking the worst of me!"
"Because it is normally worse than I am thinking!"
"Rude!"
"I don't even want to know what you have gotten yourself into this time, do I?" Fleur sighed pinching the bridge of her nose, mainly because she was far too classy to roll her eyes.
"No," Harry admitted cheerfully.
"See! Worse!" Fleur groaned.
"Is everything ok with your food?" The waiter asked concerned seeing that their plates didn't seem to have been touched.
"Just perfect, thank you!" Bill said through a mouthful of food waving the waiter off before turning back to watch his wife and Harry as though viewing a particularly riveting tennis match.
"Is someone likely to die? Something going to be blown up? Somewhere going to be blown up? War going to start? Or anything exceedingly dangerous?" Fleur asked with a put upon tone.
"Or any banks going to be broken into?" Bill added.
"No, no, no, no, no and that was only once and for good reason, no," Harry listed off. "I am helping someone, but I need some information,"
"Harry, honestly, you can not help every stray that you come across," Fleur said gently as she started cutting her food up.
"I know," Harry smiled a little at what Draco's reaction would be to being called a stray, "but I had to help this time. The situation could be dangerous for them if anyone finds out, and I have made vows not to reveal anything. But I am going to need vows from you guys that what I ask you will stay completely between us,"
"How dangerous could this be for them?" Bill sat up, the mirth washing away from his face.
"No life threatening, but it could affect the rest of their lives," Harry answered as best he could.
"Harry," Fleur groaned. "Whatever is discussed between us at this meal will stay between the three of us, I swear on my magic," she said, shaking her blond head at him as Bill repeated the vow.
"Thank you, and I promise it won't stay secret forever," Harry smiled at them. "The first thing I need to know is, can you recommend any private healers that would be sealed by patient healer confidentiality?" He asked as he tucked into his cooling meal himself.
"The fact that the first thing you ask about is a healer isn't really comforting Harry," Bill said.
"No one is hurt, but the person I am helping needs a healer to check on them because of a health condition that they have, and it needs to be confidential," Harry thought a pregnancy could be defined as a health condition in the broadest of terms.
"Right," Fleur dragged the word out disbelievingly, huffing amused when Harry stuck his tongue out at her. "Yes, you can, here,"
She pulled the piece of parchment and ballpoint pen that he had brought with him over to herself and scribbled down a few names.
"These are the practices that I looked at when I moved over here, they all have good reputations," Fleur said once she finished.
"Thank you, can you recommend any good lawyers?"
"This is getting more and more concerning," Bill snorted but tugged the parchment to himself and scribbled down a few names, "these are some different ones that I have worked for through Gringotts, they're all very private and good lawyers, you need to ask them if they have a lawyer working for them that specialises in…whatever it is you are looking to hire and lawyer for, some of them might not be able to help you because they don't have anyone that covers what you need,"
"Thank you," Harry smiled. "That is all for now,"
"Oh good, no questions about world dominion?" Bill chuckled.
"I will pay for your meals if you stop griping!" Harry huffed.
They ate the rest of their meal just talking about more normal things, though the secret and what it was Harry was doing hovered around them a little, they were able to enjoy themselves though, and at the end of the meal Bill and Fleur both practically shouted at him that they were paying for his meal as a gift for finishing school when he tried to insist otherwise. They left the restaurant and stood outside, Bill and Fleur hugging him tightly.
"As much as we teased and grumbled, you know that if you need anything you just have to come to us right?" Fleur said stepping back but keeping her warm grip on his arm.
"I know," Harry smiled hugging her again. "Thank you guys for helping me even when I am being super dodgy,"
"You're always super dodgy," Bill grinned wrapping his arms around Harry from behind and squeezing him in a bear hug. "Night Harry,"
"Night, thank you," Harry smiled before they all apparated home.
Draco walked down the stairs and then along the hallway that Kreature had directed him to until he could see bright sunlight shining through the open door in front of him. Feeling a little uncertain he hesitated at the end of the corridor before pulling his courage together and walking forward, as he stepped through into the kitchen it was in time to hear Harry ending a floo conversation, the solid green flames telling him that it was a voice only call.
"Thank you very much for your time and help,"
"Not at all, we hope to hear from you soon, if you have any further queries please don't hesitate to get in touch. I hope you have a lovely day Sir," the voice said through the call and then the flames returned to normal.
"Draco, how are you feeling?" Harry smiled when he turned and found Draco standing there uncertainly, he motioned him into the room, pulling out a chair at the little round dining table for him.
"Still tired, which is mad because I think I have slept for nearly 24 hours now," Draco said as he walked over and sat down.
"Just short of, but considering all the stress you have been through it isn't really a surprise," Harry shook his head before heading to the kitchen side and picked up two plates that were under stasis charms. "I was going to come and wake you in a little bit so that you could have something to eat," he said as he placed one of the plates in front of Draco and the other onto his own setting.
Draco flushed when his stomach let out a loud gurgle at the smell of the food, the reason he had been pulled from sleep.
"Thank you, this looks lovely, did Kreature make it?" Draco asked as Harry settled opposite him.
"No, he only makes meals every now and then, he is getting a little older and it is getting harder for him to do," Harry admitted. "I am sorry about the state of the place," he added with a grimace waving his hand around them.
"I take it you are redecorating? Either that or you have been raided," Draco said.
"Definitely redecorating. It was my plan anyway for this summer, but it will give us privacy here, I told the others that I want to do it myself, that it feels right, so there will be very little traffic through here," Harry promised.
"Thank you," Draco smiled. "My Great Aunt would have a fit knowing that you were ripping this place apart,"
"Good," Harry grinned.
"It is satisfying to know," Draco chuckled.
"I have sorted through a few things while you have been sleeping," Harry said and Draco paused in eating to look at him curiously. "I am really sorry if I overstepped anywhere, I am a little worried now that I may have been a bit overenthusiastic," he added with a small grimace.
"The fact that anyone but me is enthusiastic in any way is nice, to be honest," Draco admitted softly.
"Well…right…ok," Harry didn't seem to know what to say to that, but before Draco could think of anything to say he launched into an explanation, "ok, so I went to get a few bits, completely under disguise, I got a load of books on pregnancy, male pregnancy and babies, I don't know how much you know or anything so I figured the more information the better, and I definitely can use a read of the baby ones considering Remus and Tonks have named me godfather of their son. I also got a small selection of paternity clothes for you, I know you weren't able to bring much with you, and they probably aren't going to be anywhere near the quality that you are used to wearing, but I figured for now it is better than nothing. I also picked up a few catalogues from some baby stores for you. I have been in touch with a few private healers and discussed their home visits and confidentiality oaths and availability and have narrowed it down to these three that seem the best but can have someone out in the next few days to check on you and the baby, if you want you can talk to all seven yourself though,"
Draco looked from the bags of shopping sitting in the corner that Harry had indicated to and then to the list that Harry and pushed towards him, three names, all with some notes written under each name about what they offered.
"Harry I…" Draco said and hunched in his seat a little when tears burned his eyes again, it was like now he had allowed himself to cry he couldn't stop! "I can't afford to pay you back, for any of this, I don't have any money except for a few galleons in my pouch, I definitely can't afford a private healer," he said so quietly Harry barely heard him.
"Well, two things on that, the first and foremost being whatever you need right now I can more than afford to buy for you, and if you want then everything can come from the Black vaults so that we can stick one finger up to all those Blacks and Sirius would definitely have loved it, and technically that money should be yours as well. As to paying me back, I have more than enough money, if you can't that is fine. If it makes you feel more comfortable we can agree that when you are earning enough money, or have enough money of your own you can pay me back,"
"I…I can't do that…you're already doing so much," Draco shook his head.
"And I don't mind, and I don't mind doing more," Harry said firmly. "I also have a small plan for the money side of things as well. I got a name of a few solicitors, you should be able to claim at least some of the Malfoy money as the only heir to support you and the baby, though it might take some time, so I thought if you hire a lawyer they can start looking into this for you and see what you're entitled to, even if it is just enough to make you comfortable until you are ready for a job it is better than nothing, these are the names I got of some really good solicitors, and I narrowed it down to these four who specialise in family and inheritance law,"
Draco blinked at him, and then promptly burst into tears again.
"I'm so sorry," Draco apologised as Harry came around the table and offered him a few tissues.
"It's ok, I can't even imagine how strong you have had to be the last seven months, now that you're somewhere safe and can relax I am definitely not going to judge you for getting it out now," Harry shook his head.
"I…thank you, for being so kind and helping me, and for just…everything," Draco sniffed dabbing his eyes.
"You and the baby deserve somewhere safe to be, and all this stuff is stuff you need, I really don't mind," Harry assured him.
"I'm just…thank you," Draco managed to stop crying and smiled at Harry. "Thank you for looking into healers, I hadn't thought it was something that I would be able to do,"
"I want to make sure that you and the baby are healthy and ok, especially with the amount of stress that you have been through, we can find someone that you like, arrange home visits, and go from there," Harry squeezed his hand before sitting down.
"You have thought of so many things, I don't even know what to say," Draco shook his head looking again at the shopping bags.
"Do you want to look through them?" Harry asked, collecting their empty plates and dropping them into the sink.
"Yes please," Draco smiled a little.
"Here we go," Harry levitated the bags over to Draco as he rustled around in the pantry and then pulled out two large slices of cake.
"How many bookstores did you go to?" Draco stared into a couple of the bags.
"...a few," Harry grinned sheepishly, placing the cakes onto the table and two spoons.
"This is amazing, thank you!" Draco started pulling some books out and leafing through them, feeling the slight panic that he had been feeling in needing to look after a baby easing inside of him. "What," he turned to look properly into the bag when he reached in blindly and his fingers brushed something soft.
"I couldn't resist," Harry said sheepishly as Draco pulled the item out of the bag.
"It is so adorable, thank you!" Draco beamed looking at the snake cuddly toy that Harry had spotted.
"You're welcome," Harry smiled relieved.
Harry looked up from the book he was reading when he heard a little snore and smiled a little seeing the Malfoy this way. They had moved to the living room with the books that Harry had bought, though Draco had taken the clothing to his bedroom and changed into some of the paternity clothes that Harry had bought him so that he could be more comfortable.
They had been reading for a little while just sitting together in the room, which was a more than a little odd in itself, Harry had moved to cover him with a blanket before settling back into the chair again. It was strange just being in a room together with none of the snaps and snipes that they would normally pass between them, but at the same time not.
There was something so much more important than their schoolyard rivalry now, so much more important, the baby Draco was carrying had ensured that they jumped over their years of bickering, anytime old habits started even forming in Harry's mind the image of Draco sobbing in that bathroom pushed to the front, the fear and resignation in him and thinking about what he had been through in the last seven months reminded Harry that they weren't children and this was more important.
He checked the time and closed his book and stood to go and get a little bit of work done in the house, he paused on the way out the door and then hurried back for him to scribble a quick letter to Draco letting him know where he was before moving to change and get started.
He was halfway through stripping the wallpaper off of the walls, he probably would have been a lot more through it if random pieces of the wallpaper didn't try and strangle him and cut him, he was just wrestling a piece into a binbag when Draco stepped into the doorway rubbing his eye tiredly.
"Are you…ok?" Draco asked baffled as he took in what was happening in front of him.
"Fine, just this fucking house…oo sorry!" Harry covered his mouth and then growled when the wallpaper attacked him again, managing to wrestle it into the bag.
"Why are you apologising?" Draco asked bemused.
"The baby can hear," Harry motioned to Draco's stomach.
"I don't think you need to worry about that right now even though they can hear," Draco laughed rubbing his hand over his belly.
"It feels wrong knowing that they can hear," Harry admitted sheepishly. "Is everything ok?" he asked concerned hurrying forward when Draco winced and rubbed a different part of his stomach.
"It's fine, the baby just kicked," Draco chuckled.
"Oh, can I…sorry," Harry held his hand out and then shook his head realising what he was asking.
"You want to feel the baby?" Draco asked something brightening on his face that made Harry nod. "Here," he reached out and took Harry's hand where it was hovering between them and placed it on his stomach, moving it around his stomach a little until there was a little kick under Harry's hand.
"Oh wow, that is slightly weird and so amazing!" Harry laughed. "Hello!" He said to Draco's stomach making the blond smile.
"I thought something was wrong the first time I felt them move," Draco admitted with a laugh.
"Do you want to know what you're having?" Harry asked moving his hand just a little with the baby and grinning when they kicked again.
"I have thought about it, yes I do, I would like to know so I can get exactly what I need for them, especially because you're being generous in helping," Draco said.
"You don't need to worry about that if you want it to be a surprise," Harry shook his head looking up from Draco's stomach.
"I would like to know, the buying is just a plus," Draco smiled.
"Are you hoping for one or the other?" Harry asked.
"No, as long as they're healthy, that is all that I care about," Draco smiled down at his stomach.
"The Healer will be here in 2 days to put your mind at rest," Harry assured him.
"Thank you, that is my main worry I want to get settled, then I can just focus on getting them here," Draco rubbed his stomach as Harry removed his hand.
"Well, one thing that we can do is get some food for the two of you now," Harry said looking at the clock.
"I think we agree with that," Draco laughed as his stomach grumbled.
"Are you having any cravings?" Harry asked curiously as he led the way down the stairs.
"Mint choc chip ice cream and chocolate cake," Draco said. "I have tried not to be too obvious with it while eating as much of it as I can get away with,"
"At least it isn't anything weird, Fleur wanted pancakes with honey and mayo on," Harry said.
"I think I just threw up a little in my mouth," Draco grimaced. "Which was an issue in itself,"
"Huh?" Harry asked as he took a bowl out of the pantry and spooned the stew into two bowls and tapped them to heat them up.
"Feeling sick, I was able to hide the morning sickness easily enough by being up before the others because luckily it was just first thing in the morning, but certain smells would make me want to throw up," Draco said as Harry brought the bowls over.
"Was there anything in particular that made you feel sick?" Harry asked.
"Eggs, certain potions ingredients, Severus and Blaise's aftershaves," Draco grimaced.
"I caught you leaning away from Snape a couple of times, that makes sense now," Harry laughed walking back over with some drinks for them.
"I wanted to throw up so bad, I had to hold my breath around him, and just avoided sitting next to Blaise," Draco snorted.
"Is there anything else that you have had to deal with?" Harry asked curiously.
"The peeing," Draco groaned. "Trying to hide and disguise how often I needed to pee, especially when the baby kept kicking my bladder,"
"That is part of what caught my attention, that you kept having to leave lessons, I definitely didn't put it down to pregnancy," Harry chuckled.
"I think I went through every excuse in the book, especially after Professor Flitwick sent me to Madame Pomphrey thinking I had a water infection," Draco groaned.
"No," Harry blinked.
"Yes, I totally panicked. I told them that I had been getting bored in class and had been making up needing to go to the toilet," Draco said before taking a mouthful of stew. "You made this?"
"Yes, I knocked it together earlier when you were napping before attacking the drawing room, and it attacked me," Harry rolled his eyes.
"It is really good!" Draco said enthusiastically before spooning a few more mouthfuls into his mouth.
"Thank you," Harry smiled pleased. "I enjoy cooking,"
"It is so good," Draco hummed.
"Is there anything else that you don't like eating? Pregnancy or just don't like?"
"I really am not a fan of onions right now, it gives me such bad heartburn, and I don't like many things with tomato in it,"
"Brilliant I will remember that for cooking,"
"It's nice, being able to talk about it, tell someone about it, I hadn't even said that I was pregnant until you the other day," Draco said after a moment.
"I'm more than happy to talk to you about it," Harry smiled.
"You said that you're a godfather?" Draco asked.
"Yes, Remus and Tonks had a little boy 3 weeks ago, Teddy. They have brought him to Hogwarts a few times to see me, benefits of being the Boy-Who-Survived-Twice," Harry admitted a little self-deprecating.
"We both know that I would have milked it for all it was worth and then triple from there if I had had that chance, getting to spend time with your Godson seems like a more than fair way to use your influence," Draco smiled shaking his head.
"Here, this is him," Harry summoned some photos from upstairs and passed them over to Draco.
"He's a metamorphagus?" Draco grinned after flicking through the first couple of pictures.
"Yeah, like Tonks, he's so cute," Harry beamed.
"He is," Draco smiled. "You look really happy," he paused on a picture of Harry holding what looked like a very newborn Teddy, looking in awe at the baby.
"I am, he's perfect, it is such an honour that they asked me as well," Harry beamed. "Though Andromeda isn't very happy with me,"
"My aunt Andromeda? Why?" Draco asked looking up from the photos.
"I forgot that she is your aunt, Teddy will be like your second cousin, right?" Harry blinked.
"What?" Draco asked confused.
"Oh, fuc…fudge, Tonks is Nymphodora, she hates being called that though, and goes by Tonks, Andromeda is Teddy's grandmother,"
"Andromeda's daughter married a werewolf?" Draco said incredulously, and then before Harry could say the defensive thing that was on the tip of his tongue Draco threw his head back and let out a laugh that came from the heart. "Oh, Merlin!"
"You ok?" Harry asked a little baffled and a little concerned.
"Oh Merlin, the Black ancestors are going to be rolling in their graves and I love it! Andromeda married a muggle and her daughter one upped her and married a werewolf! I can not wait for Mother to find out, she will be apocalyptic!" Draco said through his laughter. "And he is perfectly adorable which just makes it even better, and both have the coveted metamorphagus gene! There hasn't been in the family for five generations until Nymph…Tonks," Draco told him.
"Shows you need to shake up the blood every now and then," Harry said and then grimaced when he realised how that could be taken, but Draco had a small sad smile on his face before he looked back at the pictures.
"It does, Granger put that question in my head from First Year, she didn't match with what my parents had told me about mud… muggle-borns polluting and diluting magical blood, what they said about them being weak. Granger would be able to wipe the floor with Pansy, Daphne, and Millicent without breaking a sweat. I thought it, but…"
"If you have had something drilled into your head from a young age, and it is something that your parents fervently believe in, then it is something that is very hard to unthink for yourself, even when faced with the evidence. We were kids, you were regurgitating what you had been told. The difference is now you're a fully qualified Wizard, you're about to become a dad, you need to think and make choices for yourself,"
"It doesn't take away from the horrible things that I have said and done though,"
"No it doesn't," Harry nodded, "but if you acknowledge that it was horrible and you actually learn what the truth is, forgiveness might be as difficult to find as you might expect,"
"I doubt Granger would be incredibly forgiving, and rightly so," Draco grimaced.
"You would be surprised," Harry smiled. "We're sitting here, getting on right now aren't we,"
"That is because you can't resist a damsel in distress…or well…the male version…erm Lad at a Loss," Draco chuckled.
"Or it could be that I saw you had changed," Harry said while laughing at the term.
"I guess we will see," Draco sighed.
"When you're ready, I think if we talk to Andromeda and Tonks you will have support, Andromeda has been in your shoes," Harry said, and then seeing Draco was clearly reaching the limit of this conversation. "You should be able to get to see Teddy, I have been able to beat Andromeda to claim some babysitting,"
"That is why she is annoyed with you?" Draco smiled.
"Yup! Tonks joked that we're going to end up arm wrestling for each babysitting duty,"
"I can see why,"
"He's so adorable!" Harry enthused as he collected their bowls and placed them into the sink to wash and then filled two bowls and brought them over to the table.
"But…how?" Draco looked up from the big bowl of mint choc chip ice cream.
"Kreature ran out and got it for me," Harry said.
"Fuck!" Draco sniffed grabbing for some napkins as tears filled his eyes again.
"Master Draco?" Kreacher popped into Draco's room.
"Hello," Draco struggled to sit up on his bed where he was waking from a nap.
"Master Harry is being apologising, but he is being asking if you could could help him, the room has attacked him,"
"The room has…" Draco wiggled to the edge of the bed. "Can you take me to him,"
"Thank you!" Kreature squeaked and popped them both into what looked like a library, except the thing that took his attention was the massive pile of books in the middle of the room that had a hand sticking out of it.
"Harry?" Draco asked.
"Hello," The word was muffled and the hand waved. "I hate this house sometimes,"
Draco snorted and then cast a few different spells until finally the books lifted off of Harry.
"Thank you," Harry groaned dropping fully down onto the floor spread eagle.
"Are you ok?" Draco asked concerned hurrying over to him.
"The house is trying to kill me," Harry whined.
"If it makes you feel better I am pretty sure that it isn't personal, I think that house would attack pretty much anyone that doesn't have Black blood in it right now," Draco rested his hands on his knees to look down at Harry.
"At least I don't have to worry about the house hurting you or the baby," Harry said before sitting up with a grunt.
"I could help comb through the place for the curses that have been put over things here if you want?" Draco offered.
"That would be amazing, I am fed up with the house attacking me," Harry whined.
"I would be more than happy to help out, it is something that I can do to help you," Draco said as Harry stood.
"Thank you," Harry smiled at him and then turned to nudge a couple of things upright that had been knocked over by the book attack. Draco paused for a second, he had been expecting Harry to protest him needing to help, but then he realised that he was allowing Draco to participate and help the way that he could while he was here, not arguing it because Draco needed to be able to give something back, and he recognised that.
"I didn't realise that there was a library here," Draco looked around.
"Me either, I managed to force the door and found all this, before the books attacked me," Harry said looking around, "there are probably some interesting books in here,"
"And probably some dangerous ones," Draco hummed.
"They can go on the bonfire," Harry grinned over his shoulder.
"Can I help with the fire?" Draco laughed.
"Harry?" Draco asked nervously.
"Yes, is everything ok?" Harry turned around from the counter.
"The healer is coming today," Draco said, biting his lip.
"Yes," Harry said, turning fully.
"Will you stay in the appointment, I'm sorry to ask but I don't want to do it alone and…"
"Draco, I would be more than happy to stay in the appointment with you," Harry walked across and sat next to Draco at the table, taking his hand and squeezing it.
"Thank you," Draco breathed out. "I just don't want to do it alone,"
"You don't have to," Harry squeezed his hand again.
"I'm nervous," Draco admitted.
"I am sure that it will be fine, and anything that could potentially come up you are more than strong enough to deal with, and you won't have to do it alone," Harry assured him.
Draco nodded, taking a deep breath, and rested his hand on his stomach.