Harry was worried about Draco. He thought everything was going well since Draco stopped doubling over in pain every evening until Harry plastered his body to him. It had obviously been the sex the bond wanted, and Harry couldn't complain about that; the sex had been magnificent—while it lasted. Now all Draco did was throw up. He couldn't keep any food down and was beginning to lose weight.
"You need to take him to see a Healer," Hermione told Harry when she came to visit, bringing tea. "Two weeks of constant vomiting isn't normal."
"You're right, Hermione. Will you help me to convince him to go? He probably won't want to, and he's really stubborn."
"Sounds like someone else I know," Hermione teased, following Harry into the bedroom where Draco was sat at the window looking out. Despite the frequent cleaning charms, the room was stuffy and close.
"Sorry," Draco said listlessly, and Hermione just shook her head.
"Don't be ridiculous. Here, I brewed you some special tea for nausea."
Draco took it from her. "Thank you."
"Draco," Harry began, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "I want to take you to St Mungo's. This has gone on too long."
To Harry's surprise, Draco nodded. "All right."
"You'll go?"
"Yes," Draco set the tea cup on the window sill. "At first I thought this had to do with the bond, but now I don't think so. Something's really wrong with me."
Anxiety gripped Harry's stomach, but he put on his confident face. "Everything will be okay. Let's just get you to the hospital. Hermione, will you come with us?" He looked to his friend, needing her moral support. She smiled and nodded.
"Of course I will."
Thankfully, St Mungo's was not crowded. Harry was disturbed at how weak Draco had become—he had to be supported between Harry and Hermione until they could find a seat for him and then drooped in the chair, resting his head on Harry's shoulder. When they finally got Draco in to see a mediwitch, she took one look at him and cast a rehydration spell.
"I need to know everything that's been going on," she ordered.
Harry told Healer Filbert absolutely everything he could think of about the bond and everything else he knew about Draco. She was a stout woman with a crooked nose and a bit of a mustache, and she obviously suffered no fools, drilling Harry with ruthless intensity, all the while being gentle and kind to her patient. Harry found himself liking her very much, and he could tell Hermione felt the same, although even she seemed a bit cowed by her.
"I know a bit about bonds, and this isn't the way they work," Healer Filbert stated, reinforcing Harry's worst fear—Draco was really sick. "Why have you waited two weeks to come to me?"
"We thought it would go away," Harry replied weakly and got a beady-eyed stare in return.
Tapping her wand against her chin, the mediwitch contemplated for a moment. When Draco groaned, she absently stroked his arm. "There, there, love. We'll figure this out."
Harry clutched his hands behind his back, trying to keep out of the way. Draco looked so forlorn laying on the examining table, his long blond hair loose and sticking to his sweaty face. He looked even worse than he had when they arrived, and Harry wanted to go to him, but Healer Filbert had made it clear he was to stay out of the way. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried looks.
After a few moments, the mediwitch went to her bookcase and took down a large tome. Sitting at her desk and blowing the dust off it, she opened the book and began looking through it, every so often grunting and nodding her head.
"Interesting," she said. "Very interesting." She stood and approached Draco again. Wand raised, she did a complicated series of swirls over his supine body, the air filling with colourful traces of magic.
Harry glanced at Hermione, who kept her eyes glued to the process, lips parted.
"Oh, my. My, my, my," the mediwitch said after a moment when the swirls began to glow. "Yes, there's no doubt about it."
"What? No doubt about what?" Harry stepped forward.
The mediwitch looked at him as though she'd forgotten he was there.
"Why, your husband is pregnant, Mr Potter. You're going to have a baby!"
Harry heard Hermione's gasp, but didn't remember anything else until he looked up into Hermione's kind, excited eyes from the perspective of the floor.
"What happened?" He rubbed his head.
"You fainted," Hermione laughed.
"I did not!" Harry sat up and looked around. "Where's Draco?"
"They've taken him to a room. Healer Filbert says he has to stay here until they get him sorted out. You'd better go up and see him; he was pretty upset when you keeled over." She smiled fondly. "I think he likes you, Harry."
Harry coloured.
"And I think you might like him a little bit, too," Hermione added, obviously unable to keep from teasing him when he's down.
"Did she really tell me Draco's pregnant?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, a grin spreading over her pretty face. She helped Harry to his feet.
"I've heard it can happen with some pureblood wizards, and Healer Filbert thinks the bond prompted it."
"But we'd only…we'd only consummated it just before he got sick!"
Hermione shrugged. "Wizard pregnancies work differently, Harry. Isn't this great? You're going to be a daddy!"
Harry swayed, and Hermione grabbed him by his upper arms. "Oh, no. No more fainting for you. Let's go see Draco before he pitches a fit."
They went off to find Draco's room, and when they did, Harry was happy to see his husband already looking a bit better.
"He's been given lots of fluids and an anti-nausea potion," a nurse told them with a smile before exiting the room.
"How are you?" Harry asked, approaching the bed where Draco lay propped up.
"I feel more human than I have in days," Draco answered. "Harry, is it true? Can I really be—pregnant?"
"Evidently so," Harry replied.
Draco moaned. "What is Father going to say?"
"Who cares what he has to say?" Harry replied sharply, and Draco looked up at him in surprise, grey eyes huge.
"If he dares say anything that upsets you, he'll wish he hadn't," Harry continued fiercely. "Now get some rest, Draco." He softened his voice. "You're carrying our child." He reached out and smoothed Draco's hair back from his face.
Draco remained in St Mungo's for a week, as he was in the final phase of growing the internal organs he needed for the pregnancy. Harry found himself at loose ends without his new husband at home with him. It was crazy how, in such a short amount of time, Harry had become so accustomed to having Draco there. The bed felt empty; the dinner table felt empty; the entire house felt empty. Even Kreacher seemed even more surly than usual, and Harry hadn't thought that possible.
Harry sat for long hours in the newly decorated living room, talking to Lucy and pondering on how Draco had made the room so inviting and pleasing to the eye in just one short day. He kept noticing little things, such as how Draco had had Harry's name engraved on the mantle and how he'd completed the book series for him, and wondered what it all meant that Draco had taken the time and care to do these things. Did their bond drive him to try to please Harry in these small ways?
When Harry was finally able to bring Draco home, Draco managed to keep food down without throwing it right back up. He had colour back in his cheeks, and as each day passed, he regained more and more of his energy.
Harry was happy when the day came that Draco picked up the catalogues again and began work on Harry's study. He was even happier when Harry got up the nerve to kiss Draco and Draco responded with an impressive erection. Harry fucked Draco over the desk that day, and then again in bed that night. It seemed their sex life had resumed with a vengeance.
At Draco's first scheduled appointment with Healer Filbert, she asked if they were having intercourse.
"Yes," Harry glanced at Draco, who blushed in a way that made Harry hard. "I hope that's okay."
Healer Filbert chuckled. "It's fine. In fact, it's actually a good thing. With your bond, the more you touch, particularly sexually, the more healthy your relationship. As Draco enters his second trimester, he'll become a bit randy. You'll notice he might initiate intercourse often. Give it to him whenever he wants."
If Harry thought Draco had been blushing before, his cheeks absolutely flamed red at the Healer's words.
Soon after that appointment, Draco took to having hot flashes; and therefore wore his thinnest robes about the house with nothing at all underneath. As randy as Healer Filbert predicted, Draco kept himself lubed and ready—-sometimes even waylaying Harry in the hallway for a quick fuck, arms against the wall, robes yanked up. Harry wasn't complaining; he was more than willing, and somehow physically able to keep up with Draco's needs.
Draco even surprised Harry at the bookshop a few times, bringing him his lunch and staying for a quick shag in the back room. At some point, these interludes turned into Harry closing the shop for lunch and the two of them having leisurely sex on the sofa, magically expanded to accommodate them.
Usually lunch ran quite long.
As Draco's stomach began to swell into a small bump that reminded Harry that there was a little being growing inside him that was a part of them both, Harry decided he quite liked holding onto it while he plowed Draco from behind. He particularly enjoyed doing this in the shower, with the water trickling down Draco's pale body and Harry's other hand soapy and jerking Draco off. The sounds Draco made during these interludes—-soft whimpering groans and satisfied sighs that often held Harry's name—- inflamed Harry, made him feel powerful and virile—that a strong, beautiful man such as Draco could shatter beneath him, could carry his child inside him. It was both mind-boggling and humbling at once.
During all this time, Harry and Draco didn't discuss their feelings or the bond, but rather just took things on a day to day basis. Draco had a lot to adjust to with his body constantly changing, and Harry simply tried his best to help him through it. They kept to themselves, few of their friends knowing about the pregnancy.
When Draco was six months along, Pansy Parkinson returned from a year's sabbatical in Thailand, and Harry and Draco decided it was time to have the dinner party they'd been meaning to have in reciprocation for Hermione's.
Draco sat down to make the guest list.
They would invite Hermione and Blaise, who were now seeing one another; Ron and Luna, who'd recently become engaged; Pansy—and Draco tried to think of a sixth guest to even it out.
"How about Neville?" Harry suggested.
"I hardly think Longbottom is Pansy's type," Draco replied.
"Why not? Sometimes opposites attract," Harry said, thinking that Draco looked fetching the way the white button-down shirt stretched over his expanded belly. Draco was embarrassed about his pregnant belly, but Harry couldn't stop staring at it.
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I can't think of anyone else…unless maybe Seamus Finnigan?"
"I believe he's involved with someone," Harry said. "I'll invite Neville. He and Pansy don't have to be a couple; they only have to eat."
Draco sighed and scratched Neville's name onto the paper with a quill before beginning on the menu.
On the night of the party, Draco felt heavy and sluggish. No matter what some of the books said, being a pregnant wizard wasn't easy. The bigger the baby grew, the less room Draco had inside of him for his normal internal organs. He could no longer sleep on his back and breathe deeply, and no matter how much Harry looked at him with adoring eyes, Draco knew it was only because of the baby, and he felt like a blob. On the most recent appointment they had with Healer Filbert they'd hoped to find out the gender of the baby, but the foetus had been curled up and they couldn't tell. Harry in particular had been very disappointed.
Whether or not Draco's own feelings came from the bond, he wasn't sure; but he did know that he felt very strongly for Harry now, particularly since Draco carried Harry's child. That knowledge frightened him more than he was willing to admit to himself. Having feelings—positive feelings— for Harry Potter was not something he'd ever thought he'd experience. The fact that Draco strongly suspected that the bulk of Harry's feelings for Draco were directed at the baby he carried made Draco feel sensitive, vulnerable, and more than a bit miserable. The moment Harry found out Draco was the receptacle for Potter spawn, it seemed Draco could do no wrong in Harry's eyes, and Draco kept reminding himself of that fact every time Harry turned those adoring green eyes on him. It wouldn't do to delude himself; once the baby arrived, Harry was sure to ignore Draco unless he wanted to fuck.
Finally, the night of the party arrived, and Kreacher out-did himself preparing the dinner Draco asked for. Draco wasn't sure if he was imagining it or not, but the old house-elf seemed to be softening a bit now that they expected a baby. He certainly kept a large supply of the ice cream bars Draco favoured in the freezer.
Ron and Luna arrived first, Luna absolutely beaming with happiness on the arm of the Weasel. She was too good for Ron, in Draco's opinion, but there was no accounting to taste.
When Harry took their guests' coats into the other room and Luna excused herself to go to the loo, Ron turned to Draco, eyes sweeping over his pregnant form, and said, "Well, I suppose Harry's really yours now that you're knocked up. He dumped my sister when he found out she couldn't have kids, you know. He always did want a family, and now I guess he's getting one, even if it is from the likes of you."
Harry reappeared at that moment, brows raised, looking between Ron and Draco, Draco realized his mouth had dropped open and he shut it.
"What?" Harry asked.
Ron just shrugged and requested to see the nursery, which effectively took Harry's mind off everything else.
Pansy came out of the Floo and immediately swooped in to hug Draco.
"Oh, my! Don't you look darling pregnant?" she gushed. "I've missed you so much! Although you seem sad, angel, what is it?" She cradled Draco's face between her hands. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
Draco hugged her again a little too tightly. "Of course, don't be silly. I'm just full of pregnancy hormones. You look lovely, Pansy."
"Do you really think so?" Pansy twirled for him. "I bought this dress just this morning for the occasion. So where is Potter? I won't believe you're really bonded until I see it for myself. Your father must have been cracked when he thought this up."
"A bit," Draco said, mind still on Ron's words, which had hurt more than Draco would ever admit. And they shouldn't bother him; after all, they only underlined what Draco already knew.
"I mean, to make you Potter's broodmare…"
"Pansy! Stop it."
"I'm sorry, Draco, this can't be easy." She put a hand on his arm. "It must be awful being married to such a boring do-gooder, particularly after all those years of bad blood between you."
Draco shook his head. "Don't talk about him like that," he snapped, surprising himself as much as Pansy.
"What? Oh, the bond won't let you hear negative things about him?" Pansy surmised.
Draco put a hand on his pregnant belly and frowned. "I can hear things about him; I just don't want to. He's my husband, Pansy."
"You can't tell me you like being married to him!" Pansy's expression was almost comically shocked.
"I can, and I am," Draco said, realising it was true. "I'm just not so sure the feeling is mutual, though Harry's ecstatic about the baby. Come, I'll fix you one of those awful fruity drinks you like."
He could feel Pansy staring into his back as they walked to the dining room.
"Well, he's crazy if he doesn't feel the same, Draco," Pansy said after a moment, coming around as Draco hoped she would. "You're absolutely perfect in every way, and he's lucky to have you."
Draco smiled at her and began making her drink.
Luna entered the room, a vapid smile on her face. "Hello, Pansy," she greeted the other woman. "Draco, your plants in the powder room need watering."
Draco nodded, accustomed to her ways. "Okay."
"How are you feeling?" Luna asked, eyes wide and guileless as always.
"I'm doing well, Luna, thank you. Can I fix you a drink?"
"Some wine would be lovely, thanks. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"They couldn't tell. Perhaps we'll find out during the next appointment."
Luna and Pansy began to chat and Hermione and Blaise arrived through the Floo.
When Harry and Ron came back downstairs, Neville was just stepping into the dining room.
"Hello, everybody," Harry greeted them, and Draco took a moment to admire how his husband looked beneath the soft lights of the candelabra, the moss green of his jumper bringing out the colour of his eyes.
"Neville!" Harry clapped Neville on the back. "Good to see you."
"How are you doing, Harry?" Neville smiled. "I heard about you and Draco." He turned and shook Draco's hand. "I must say, I was a little surprised."
"I suppose with our history, you had to be," Harry laughed. "Draco's father insisted on a bond between us as repayment for the life debt of my keeping them from the Dementor's Kiss."
As Harry continued talking, Draco moved away from the conversation, disliking the reminder that he and Harry weren't a normal sort of couple. If he were honest with himself, he was a bit jealous of Luna and Ron. No matter how misplaced Luna's feelings must be for her to be marrying a git like Ron, their engagement had come out of love and choice rather than magic and force as his and Harry's had done. And the two of them seemed happy together, snuggled up on the sofa as they were like mated kneazles.
And then Harry pulled Draco back, hand finding Draco's swollen stomach, chatting excitedly about the baby, and Draco felt like an incubator for a science project. The more Harry talked to his friends about the baby, the more miserable Draco got, even though Draco himself was excited about the new life growing inside him—part him, part Harry.
But Harry's enthusiasm and love for the baby was what Draco had begun to want for himself. Theirs was a loveless marriage, at least real love, and Draco now yearned for more. He'd had feelings forced upon him by a bond, and so had Potter, and it wasn't fair, dammit! As Draco watched Blaise and Hermione's newfound love bloom before his eyes, a melancholy fell over him that he couldn't shake.
By the time the last guest left, Draco was despondent, and he locked himself in the bathroom.
"Draco, what is it?" Harry finally knocked on the door. "Are you ill?"
Of course, Draco thought, he's worried about the baby.
"Don't worry, Potter," Draco gasped in pain, because although it had been a while since Draco had addressed his husband by his surname, the bond evidently still didn't like it, "your spawn is quite safe in its incubator." The last bit came out through gritted teeth as Draco gripped the edge of the sink and rode the wave of agonising punishment he got at not having corrected his error.
"Draco, open the door," Harry ordered, voice steely.
Draco ignored him, staring at himself in the mirror. His long hair hung disheveled about his face and his grey eyes looked back at him, wide and sad. "You ought to be ashamed to be a Malfoy," he growled at himself.
A moment later, Harry had the door open.
"Have you ever heard of privacy?" Draco asked tonelessly over his shoulder.
"Not when we're talking about my child," Harry answered.
"I said the baby was fine! Leave me alone!" Draco meant to yell, but to his mortified horror, it came out more of a gut-wrenching sob.
"Draco," Harry's voice softened, and he took Draco by the hand, tugging him around. Draco suddenly wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in Harry's arms, but the idea of being manipulated by the bond angered him further. He pushed past Harry into the bedroom.
"This bond is ruining our lives!" he growled, sitting on the edge of the bed and toeing off his shoes while Harry stood at the bathroom door staring. "We can't think for ourselves anymore, you realize that? A year ago, we hated one another, and now we fuck like bunnies and I'm knocked up with your baby!"
Draco angrily wiped the tears from his face. "I have these…these thoughts! I want your attention, of all things!" He laughed mirthlessly. "How crazy is that? The bond turned you away from the woman you love, and I can't stand it! We're puppets, Potter—ooff!" he doubled up in pain.
Harry was there in an instant.
"Draco, say my name," he remonstrated, and when Draco didn't, Harry ordered loudly, "Draco, say it!"
"H-harry," Draco mumbled, and the pain let go.
"You are a stubborn git," Harry murmured into Draco's temple, pulling him close.
"Takes one to know one," Draco sighed, body trembling in reaction to his tirade and the punishment of the bond. The baby did a somersault, and Draco gasped, straightening up.
"What is it?" Harry asked nervously.
Draco took Harry's hand and set it on his stomach, waiting. A moment later, and the baby did it again.
"Merlin's wand, that was amazing!" Harry's eyes grew wide with wonder, and Draco couldn't help but smile.
"Draco," Harry said after a moment, "if it helps, I'm feeling all those things, too. And even if it is the bond manipulating us, well, it's not so bad, is it?"
Draco had to admit it wasn't. Harry slipped his shoes off and unbuttoned Draco's shirt, and the two of them inched up on the bed to lie side by side, Harry's hand over Draco's stomach.
"And the bond did not take me from the woman I love. I was going to break things off with Ginny anyway."
Draco looked at Harry. "You were?"
"Yes. I wasn't happy."
The baby moved again.
"It feels like you have a big fish in there," Harry said into Draco's ear.
"Yeah," Draco agreed. "It is like that." He turned his head and looked into Harry's eyes, and then Harry kissed him, tongue sweeping into Draco's mouth. It was a sweet kiss, not a prelude to sex, and Draco found himself trailing his fingers down Harry's face, stroking his ear with his thumb, feelings so tender they threatened to bring tears again.
They kissed for a long time, Harry stroking Draco's long hair, tangling his fingers in it.
"I love your hair," Harry sighed when they parted. "It's so blond, and I love it long like this." He brought a strand to his nose and sniffed it. "It smells so good. What is that stuff you use on it?"
"A cleansing potion I brew myself," Draco answered, pleased at the compliment. "It's a mixture of herbs from Mother's garden."
"Your hair's so white," Harry said, studying him, "but your eyelashes are tipped in gold." His eyes swept over Draco, and Draco shivered. "The hair around your cock has that same gold in it."
Draco looked at Harry and smirked a little. Harry's fingers found Draco's flies without the two of them breaking eye contact, and Draco arched at the feel of Harry's fingers on him. Harry leaned down to kiss Draco's lips as he stroked him, Draco letting out the occasional moan into Harry's mouth.
"Ahh…Harry," Draco reached up to grip Harry's shoulder as sensation built, the feel of Harry's tongue in his mouth and Harry's hand on his cock overloading Draco's system. A moment later and his body jerked, Harry gently pumping Draco and kissing him through the waves of pleasure.
When Draco was himself again, he invited Harry to strip off and straddle Draco's chest Propping his head on pillows, Draco took Harry's erect cock in his hand and sucked and licked it with pleasure, occasionally casting coy glances up at Harry, who looked down at him with something akin to reverence. Draco rather liked this submissive stance with Harry appearing to dominate him, although they both knew Draco held all the power in this, just as he held Harry's balls in the palm of his hand, kneading them as he pleasured Harry with his mouth.
When Harry groaned and grabbed a handful of Draco's long hair, Draco smiled and sucked harder, wringing a cry of pleasure from Harry's lips.
"Oh, fuck, Draco…"
Draco took Harry all the way to the root, swallowing the tip, and Harry's nuts drew tight in Draco's palm. So far down his throat Draco had Harry's cock, that Draco didn't even taste Harry's release.
As they fell asleep in each other's arms, Draco thought perhaps the bond wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Draco lay on the examination table holding Harry's hand, and Harry squeezed it reassuringly. It was his eighth month, and so far it had been impossible to see the baby's gender, but Harry hoped that this time they would. As Healer Filbert cast a spell above Draco's mid-section and the image appeared of the baby contentedly sucking its thumb, both he and Draco sighed in disappointment to see its legs drawn up again.
"It doesn't have a lot of room in there," Healer Filbert said. "It happens a lot in male pregnancies due to males not having hips to speak of."
Resigned to remaining in the dark on the baby's sex, Harry looked at other details of their child. The vision wasn't very clear, but he could tell the baby had hair.
"It sucks his thumb a lot," Draco noted. "Must take after you, Harry."
Harry mussed Draco's hair, knowing how much he hated that. "Git," he said fondly. "Does everything look good, Healer Filbert?"
"Everything looks excellent, Mr Potter...Mr Malfoy-Potter could go into labour anytime now. Male pregnancy due dates are difficult to determine as there are not the usual signs, but this baby looks to be term-size now. We'll just have to wait and see. Best to pack a bag and be prepared."
At lunch after the appointment, Draco looked at Harry determinedly, and Harry knew what he was going to say.
"Our child will not be born without a name," Draco pointed a fork at Harry. "We will decide today."
Harry made a face. "It's so hard!"
"That's what she said," Draco replied, and Harry laughed. They'd picked that up from a Muggle TV show, Harry having bought a telly a few weeks previous, and every time Draco said it in his posh voice, it tickled Harry no end. Kreacher had taken to watching soap operas during the day while ironing.
"How about Scutum if it's a boy?" Draco suggested.
Harry shook his head. "Reminds me of scrotum."
"You have a point," Draco said, taking a bite of his salad.
"Are you sure you want a constellation name?" Harry asked just to rile Draco up.
"We agreed!"
Harry grinned, and Draco gave him the two fingers.
"Musca?"
"Mucus."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Harry!"
"I'm sorry, but that's what I think of!"
"Cancer."
"That is a Muggle disease."
"Carina for a girl."
Harry paused. "Now that I like."
Draco perked up. "Really? Brilliant! We have the girl's name!"
Harry couldn't help but smile at Draco's enthusiasm. His heart flipped in his chest Draco looked wonderful pregnant. With every month that passed, he grew more…soft, somehow. Sweet. Lovely. Harry had to chuckle inwardly at that—Draco would hate the description.
"Now for the boy's name." Draco took a sip of water, and Harry suddenly just wanted to kiss him.
"What?" Draco asked, catching Harry staring.
"Nothing," Harry thought a moment. "Let's see…boy's constellation names."
"In Ursa Major. It has to be in Ursa Major," Draco reminded him.
"Right. Of course. Caelum?"
Draco thought about that. "Caelum. Caelum." He wrinkled his forehead, and Harry had the sudden thought Draco looked adorable.
"You know, Harry, I rather like it!" He smiled brightly, and Harry's heart flipped again. He was beginning to wonder if the bond could possibly be responsible for what he felt for Draco, but he hadn't said anything to Draco about it yet. The man was a mess of hormones and to be honest, Draco wasn't the only one with insecurities. Harry wasn't very keen on professing his love when Draco only felt for him what the bond forced him to.
Harry had noticed a big difference in sex since the night of their dinner party and Draco's subsequent meltdown. It was more like love-making now, with each coming together more gentle and caring and less frenzied and hurried. They never spoke of it, but Harry felt a strengthening of the bond every time it happened. And with that strengthening came a growth in his feelings for Draco. Still, Harry couldn't accept that everything he felt was due to the bond, just as there was no way that his love for their baby would have anything to do with the bond.
"I received a letter this morning," Draco said. "We were in too much of a hurry for me to mention it before."
Harry thought about why they were in a hurry—the luscious sex they'd had after they'd awakened, with Draco riding Harry slowly, the morning sun streaming in their bedroom window lighting Draco's hair as it fell over his shoulders, the swell of their baby between them. Draco had looked beautiful, and Harry hadn't been able to take his eyes off him. They'd had to rush afterward so as not to be late for their appointment with Healer Filbert.
"Who from?" Harry asked, finishing his sandwich.
"My parents. They're back from their trip."
Harry took the blue cloth napkin from his lap and wiped off his hands, setting it on the table.
"Oh. Did you write them back?"
"No time," Draco said. "What do you want to do? Shall we pay them a visit?" The corners of his mouth quirked up in a mischievous smile. "I'd say they'll be plenty surprised to see me in my current state, wouldn't you?"
Harry nodded, rather relishing the thought. "Fine, then. I'll go take care of the check." He got up and left the table, deciding to detour into the men's loo on the way back. When he returned, Harry was surprised to see Ginny standing at their table gesticulating wildly as her voice rose in anger.
"I can't believe you're going to have a baby! It's like a slap in the face! If it weren't for your kind, I could have my own children. Harry and I would still be together, and we'd be happy…he's only with you because he's a good person and didn't want you to die. You're pure evil, Draco Malfoy!"
Several patrons were already staring at the scene, open-mouthed. Draco got to his feet and wore the closed-off expression Harry was familiar with indicating how upset he was. His hand was splayed protectively over his stomach. Angry that Ginny was acting this way, particularly in public, Harry moved forward, maneuvering his way around tables to get to them.
"I hate you!" Ginny screeched, launching herself at Draco, as Draco side-stepped Ginny, and she hit the table with her hip, knocking the dishes to the floor. Ginny grabbed one of those dishes and threw it at Draco, hitting him in the chest.
"Ginny!" Harry yelled, horrified.
"Oh, why don't you take up for him!" Ginny yelled sarcastically from her position on the floor. She scrambled to her feet, chest heaving and face red.
"You could have hurt the baby!" Harry grabbed her by the arm, none too gently.
"He's ruined our lives, Harry! Can't you see that? I've waited for you to come back to me—to see that all this is crazy! He's got you under some kind of a spell—this bond his evil family chose!"
Draco had moved back against the wall, and Harry glanced up at him.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked quietly, and Draco nodded.
"Stop talking to him! Stop asking if he's all right! I'm the one hurting here!" Ginny jerked Harry by the arm and pulled him around to face her. "I'm the victim in this situation, Harry! You and I both are." She once again launched herself at Draco, nails ready to scratch his face.
Draco grabbed her wrists to hold her off.
"Let go of me!" Ginny struggled. "Let go, you bastard!"
Harry pulled Ginny away, and she collapsed on him, the fight seeming to go out of her all at once, and sobbed, sagging onto his shoulder. "I just want you to love me again, Harry. I just want it to be the way it was before."
Harry stroked her hair and shushed her. He hadn't realised that Ginny still hadn't come to grips with the fact that Harry truly wasn't available anymore. He'd only seen her a time or two since the night of Hermione's dinner party, and evidently no one had mentioned Draco's pregnancy to her in all this time.
"Let's get her out of here," Harry said calmly, and Draco led the way.
As soon as they got outside, Draco said, "I'm going to go home. My presence isn't helping things."
Harry nodded, knowing this was true. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Really."
"Okay, then…I'll see you in a bit."
Harry led Ginny to a bench and sat her down.
"Ginny, you have to get over thinking that we'll ever be together again," Harry told her gently when she'd calmed a little. "We aren't going to be."
"All this time…I thought you'd come back. And he's carrying your baby! Harry, how could you?" Ginny's mascara ran down her wet face.
"Ginny, Draco and I are married. It's…" he was going to say natural for us to have a baby, but that would have been too cruel, considering that she couldn't. "It's time you forgot about me," he said instead.
"You're under a spell," Ginny sniffled. "Why can't you see that?" She shook her head miserably. "It's probably not even your child."
Harry sat up straight at that, annoyed. "Stop being ridiculous. It is my child, and we're married and happy. Whether or not the bond started my feelings doesn't matter—the fact is, I have feelings for Draco, and I love our child. I'm not ever leaving them. Things weren't that good for you and me anyway, Ginny. I know now I'm more attracted to men than women." He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. "Even if the bond somehow dissolved and Draco and I weren't together, I wouldn't come back to you. It's time you accepted that."
Ginny's eyes widened and then filled with fresh tears, her face crumpling. Harry held her for a long time until she finally pushed him away and stood.
"I'm sorry," Harry said weakly, getting to his feet.
"Don't, Harry," Ginny fished a tissue out of her purse and blew her nose. "You're happy with your Death Eater husband and his baby, and I don't need your pity." Her face purpled. "I'm worth a hundred Draco Malfoys, and some day you'll see that."
Harry's face hardened and his next words, although quiet, were filled with steely determination. "I'll always care about you, but you'd better listen closely. If you ever try to hurt Draco or our baby again, you'll be answering to me."
Ginny's nostrils flared, and she turned swiftly and Disapparated.
When Harry arrived home, he found Draco in the bedroom. Harry immediately had to laugh, because Draco had changed out of his robes and wore a pair of sweatpants and one of Dudley's old shirts that Harry hadn't realised he even still had.
Draco raised a brow. "What? I thought perhaps Father would appreciate this attire. What do you think?"
Harry laughed harder, still a bit rattled from the scene with Ginny. "It's perfect," he finally said.
"I sent Lucy with a note to my parents and got an immediate response. They're expecting us."
Harry took a step forward. "Are you all right? That was a pretty nasty scene at the restaurant."
Draco nodded. "Fine."
"Draco," Harry ran his hand down Draco's arm and felt him shiver.
"I'm sure your ex-lover is having a difficult time dealing with all this," Draco said, continuing to survey his form in the full-length mirror.
"That doesn't excuse the way she attacked you," Harry pointed out.
Draco turned shuttered grey eyes on Harry then. "Ready to go?"
With a sigh and the thought that perhaps they could talk about it later, Harry nodded.
Malfoy Manor was lit up like a Christmas tree, every window aglow in the growing darkness as Draco and Harry approached the house from where they'd Apparated just outside the Wards.
Harry was a bit surprised when Draco took his hand as they climbed the steps to the porch, but he wrapped his fingers through Draco's and watched as Draco opened the door.
Tetchy came out of the kitchen to meet them.
"Mr and Mrs Malfoy are in the sitting room," the house-elf said, leading the way.
"Mother, Father," Draco greeted them, letting go Harry's hand as soon as they entered. Harry nodded at both of Draco's parents, but decided to let Draco take the lead on how things would go.
"So nice of you to return from your sojourn in France," Draco said, "I was beginning to think you'd miss your grandchild's arrival."
Narcissa and Lucius stood, and Harry had to hide a smile at the look on Lucius' face as he took in Draco's condition.
"You're pregnant!" Lucius gasped.
"Very observant of you, Father," Draco drawled.
Narcissa added, "And wearing Muggle clothing!"
"Well, you see, Mother, nothing else fits at the moment. I rather like it, actually. Very comfortable."
Narcissa looked like she'd swallowed her tongue.
There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Draco's mother seemed to regain her composure.
"Come in and sit. Tetchy made tea."
Once they were all seated and served, Lucius continued to stare at Draco as though he were something unusually odd, and Narcissa took up the conversation.
"We went away, darling, because we wanted to give you some time to get used to the bond without our interference."
"Kind of you," Draco replied sarcastically.
Harry cleared his throat. "It would have been helpful to know exactly what kind of marriage bond it was—it certainly would have saved Draco some pain."
Narcissa looked at Lucius.
"There would have been no pain if you acted as you should have, Draco," Lucius told him. "It's why I chose this particular bond; so that you would be cooperative on your wedding night."
Draco glared at his father. "A bit of time to get used to one another before forcing us to touch intimately would have been nice."
"Bah," Lucius waved his hand scornfully. "You've known one another since you were eleven. I knew you would be stubborn, so this pushed things along. You get along well now, am I right?"
Draco sank back in his chair. "Yes."
"Then there's no problem."
"I wouldn't call days of torture no problem, Mr Malfoy," Harry spoke up, tired of the man's attitude.
"Days? You mean to say you didn't consummate on your wedding night?" Lucius asked, stunned.
"No," Harry answered. Draco turned his face away.
Lucius shook his head slowly. "Well, if you had, there would have been no pain to speak of. The bond is designed to bring you together."
"It tortured Draco when he called me by my last name," Harry told him sternly.
"Again, it's just to reinforce intimacy. Very simple, really. If you acted as a married couple should have, there would be no problem at all. After a year, the pain stops altogether no matter how you act. If Draco really wants to call you Potter then, he may do so."
"Anything else we should know?" Harry asked dryly.
"Really, Mr Potter, I don't know why you are so put out. I wanted Draco to be as cooperative as possible; that's why I chose this particular bond. It only pushed him toward you."
"Only?" Draco asked coolly, head turning toward his father so he could fix his cold gaze upon him. "I was in torturous pain unless someone who had been my enemy for years granted me the embarrassing favour of allowing me to press my naked body to his."
Lucius winced at the crass statement, and Narcissa looked down at her hands.
"What?" Draco asked. "Does that unsettle you? Imagine how it felt to be there?" Draco's voice rose, and he stood with difficulty. Harry stood after him, putting a hand on his arm, not liking the red tinge that sprung to Draco's cheeks, a sure sign his blood pressure was rising.
"Draco, calm down and sit."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Draco turned on Harry, pushing his arm away. "Everyone's always telling me what to do! Father, you, the bond! I'm not a person anymore, just a…a puppet!"
"Draco," Lucius said, "don't be dramatic."
Draco turned on him. "I have a right to be dramatic! This is your fault! It wasn't enough that you repaid the life debt by giving me away. You used a bond that forced me into intimacy! A bond that forces feelings on me that I never asked for! A bond that makes me crave and love a man whom I once loathed! How do you think that makes me feel?"
Harry was torn between wanting to try to calm Draco and wanting to applaud him. His mind had also snagged on the words crave and love. Draco craved and loved him? His heart soared.
"And now I'm bearing his child? I didn't even know I could do that! He'll never be rid of us. You forced Harry to take me on, even though he didn't want me and would have much rather accepted a simple thank you for saving our lives." Draco's chest heaved with emotion, but he kept his tears in check. Harry felt sure Draco did not want to cry in front of his father.
"Draco," Narcissa walked around the table towards her son, "calm yourself. Think of the baby."
Lucius stared at Draco, an odd look on his patrician face.
"Sit, darling," Narcissa tugged Draco over to the sofa. Harry settled on Draco's other side, taking his hand in his and squeezing it.
"Do you know how it feels having someone only care about me because of a magical bond?" Draco asked in a low voice, still staring at his father.
Silence hung in the room for long moments. Harry tried to think of something to say.
Undoubtedly some of his feelings for Draco were his own, but Draco wouldn't believe that. Right now Harry just wanted Draco to settle down.
Lucius finally came to sit in the chair across from Draco.
"Son," he began in a surprisingly soft tone. "Look me in the eye."
When Draco reluctantly did, Lucius continued. "I may not be the best father, but I've never lied to you. This bond does not forge feelings between its recipients. It forces them together for consummation, yes. It forces them to address one another familiarly, yes. It forces others to treat them as a married couple in their presence, and it allows for fertility. But it does not and cannot change the feelings and emotions of the two people involved. If you have feelings for Harry, they are all your own. And vice versa."
Harry bit his lip and looked at Draco, who had gone very pale. Harry placed his other hand over their joined hands, watching Draco's face.
"Now," Lucius said, standing up, "we'll leave you two alone for a bit. Then we'd like to hear about our grandchild. Come, Narcissa." He held out his hand to her, and the two exited the room, Narcissa with a small smile playing over her face.
Harry scooted closer to Draco on the sofa.
"This isn't such a surprise to me, you know," he said, and Draco looked at him, eyes wide.
"What? How do you mean?"
Harry shrugged, smiling. "I've suspected I was in love with you for a while now. All this—" he waved his free hand between them, "can't come from a bond."
Draco's face looked absolutely radiant at that moment.
"You mean you…you…you…"
Harry laughed, and Draco finally smiled.
Harry leaned in and kissed Draco gently on the mouth, loving the soft feel of his lips and the warmth of his tongue as it slipped out to meet his.
"Thank Merlin," Draco breathed.
Harry kept kissing Draco, unable to get enough. He pressed in, tongue exploring inside Draco's mouth, as Draco made enticing little noises of encouragement.
"We'd better call your parents in and talk to them," Harry finally said, reluctantly pulling back.
Draco nodded.
Harry reached down to adjust himself before getting off the sofa.
They didn't arrive home until very late, Narcissa being particularly adamant about hearing every detail about the pregnancy so far.
Harry could tell Draco was knackered, and helped him out of the Muggle clothing.
"Do you really love me, Harry?" Draco's voice came out of the darkness sometime after they'd gone to bed.
"Yes, Draco, I really do," Harry replied with feeling. He reached up and touched Draco's face.
"I love you, too," Draco said, kissing Harry's fingers, and Harry smiled.