If Only He Had Listened...

Disclaimer: I no own, so you no sue. I don’t own any characters or settings from the Harry Potter books. Those belong to J. K. Rowling. I would be so very happy if she’d allow me the use of one or two… or three of them, but I know she won’t so don’t try anything. Thank you, that is all. -dpa06-

A/N: So I was going to make this a short story, kinda like my other two. However, I don’t think I can make too much of it. So, yeah. It’s a one-shot now. Yeah. That works for me. If you don’t like it, stop reading. Or don’t read at all. Or continue reading, complain about it, send me flames. My response will be: all flames are put in a jar and will be used when I take over the world. Because I will one day. I just have to learn who all I want to keep around. *crickets* I mean… *clears throat* Obliviate! All you need to know is that I’m an awesome authoress and that this is an awesome fic that you want to read and WILL NOT flame at the end. Also, you want to leave a review. I know you do. And so do you. Because I just told you that you do. Yeah. On with the fic now…

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Draco’s Point of View

His world shattered around him. It wasn’t… It couldn’t be… No. Way. He wouldn’t accept it. But there was the proof, right in front of him. He was hugging him! His best friend! Okay, maybe he was overreacting. Harry liked to hug; he was just an affectionate man. It was one of the many things that drew Draco to him. Maybe- The shred of hope he had built up inside himself shattered once more. He had kissed his cheek. Harry had made it very clear to him that a kiss was very important to him; that he didn’t just kiss for the fun of it. It didn’t matter if it was a kiss on the cheek or a full blown, open-mouth kiss.

Rather than stand there and watch the… horror, before him, Draco dropped the velvet box where he stood, turned on his heel, and left the school. He walked to the edge of the Hogwarts wards, took one last look at the place where he’d gotten to know Harry, and apparated out, never wanting to be seen again.

Harry’s Point of View

He paced nervously in the Great Hall, waiting for his two-year boyfriend. He’d been asked by owl to meet him there, but he was nowhere to be found. Whatever Draco needed to speak to him about must have been important. Harry needed to speak to Draco as well. Unbidden, his hand slipped to his still-flat stomach. He thought about how this would change him, how this would change them. “Harry?”

Harry jumped slightly and turned. “Dra- Blaise? What are you doing here? Have you seen Draco?”

“No,” Blaise answered. “Is everything okay? You seem edgy.”

“I am. Draco asked me to meet him here, to talk about something. I, too, have something to tell him.” Once more, his hand covered the plane of his stomach.

“I knew it!” Blaise whispered. “I knew you’d been acting funny! Are you sure? For how long? How far along are you? Are you okay? Is there anything I can do? Should you be standing up? Do you-?”

“Blaise! Blaise, stop!” Harry said, laughing. “Calm down. I will answer you questions one at a time. Yes, I am sure. For two days now. I am two months along. I am fine. No, there isn’t anything you can do. I am perfectly capable of standing by myself. Madame Pomfrey confirmed it two days ago. I need to tell Draco.”

“Harry, that’s great!” Blaise grabbed Harry and pulled him toward him in a hug. Harry returned it, utterly ecstatic now that someone else knew. Blaise set him down and Harry put one hand on his stomach again. They both smiled before Harry stood on his tip-toes and kissed Blaise’s cheek. Suddenly, there was a slight thud on the ground. Both looked over toward the main entrance to the Great Hall only to see Draco’s back and a little black box lying on the ground. Slowly, Harry walked over to the box, picked it up, and opened it. Inside sat two silver rings: both slightly thick silver banded with an emerald and a ruby on each.

“Draco!” he called out, running after him. “Draco, wait! It’s not what you think!” But he was gone by the time he got outside. He sank down to his knees in the Entry Hall and started crying. A few moments later, Blaise kneeled before him and pried the box from his hands. He looked inside, sucked in a sharp breath, and then looked down at his friend. “H-he thought I w-was ch-cheating on h-him!” he bawled.

“Harry,” Blaise soothed, pulling the distraught young man into his arms, “it will be okay. All you have to do is explain to him what’s going on. He’ll understand, I promise. Nothing is going to happen as long as you explain what happened. You must-”

There was a bright flash and a small snap. The pair looked up to see Colin Creevy standing over them with his camera in hand and a big smile on his face. “I knew it!” he pronounced loudly, snapping another picture. “Everyone else said that I was wrong, but I wasn’t!” Another two pictures of the stunned pair. “There was no way Draco and Harry could be an item for very long. There was too much of history there. But did anyone listen to me? Nope! I said that Blaise and Harry would get together and they all laughed. Well, I’ll be the last one laughing now!” He flashed another picture before turning and running off to tell the news and develop the pictures.

“Colin wait!” Harry called after him, but the younger Gryffindor just kept on running. “Oh Merlin! Now everyone’s going to think I’ve broken up with Draco and that you’ve proposed to me! What are we gonna do? What’s Draco going to think? Oh sweet Merlin, he doesn’t know about the baby! He thinks I was with you, and even if I told him now he’d think the baby was yours! What am I gonna do Blaise? Where will I go? What do I do for a job? What-?”

“Harry! Calm down!” Blaise interrupted with a slight shake to Harry’s shoulders. “Just go along with it for now. At tomorrow’s graduation, just talk to Draco. He’ll understand. He loves you and you love him. I know. Just, take a deep breath and we’ll get through this. Let Colin spread his rumors and go live your life with Draco. Who knows? Maybe this is a good thing. If they think you’re with me now, they won’t be focusing on you and Draco anymore.”

Harry sniffled and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his black robe. “Are you sure?”

“Positive mate. Now put your ring on. Draco would be ecstatic if he saw you with it on.”

“But if everyone thinks you proposed to me, they’re going to wonder why I’m wearing a ring and you’re not.”

“Then I’ll just have to wear Draco’s for now, won’t I?” He reached into the box, pulled out both rings, and slid them onto Harry’s and his left ring fingers respectively, watching as they magically changed sizes to fit the wearer. “Come, I think an audience awaits. Try to be calm through the questioning and be as vague as possible when forced to answer. If it gets too bad for you, seek shelter in the Slytherin dorms. You still have the password right?”

“Of course. I was just there last night.”

Blaise laughed. “Yes, we all know. Two words Harry: Silencing. Charms.”

“One word Blaise: Voyeurism. Pervert.”

“That’s two words!”

“I’m gonna show you just why Voldemort feared me if you don’t get out of my sight!” Harry threatened playfully.

“Yes, your majesty,” Blaise answered with a deep bow before scampering off to pack his belongings.

Normal Point of View

During Harry’s fifth year, Harry had begun to fall in and out of depression. His visions from Voldemort had been getting worse and worse as time went on until the only time he could be free of the pain was when he was fighting with someone about something, or causing himself more pain in some other way. It was toward the end of the year, shortly after Sirius had fallen through the veil, that Draco Malfoy became an important part of Harry’s life. No longer was he the boy-who-lived-to-make-Harry’s-life-slightly-less-miserable-than-Voldemort, he was now Harry’s saviour. What better way to not feel pain than when your mind is so overloaded with pleasure that pain doesn’t exist?

Draco had found Harry sulking around outside near the lake one day and went to tease him. When he didn’t get a rise out the Gryffindor, he moved on to more hurtful things: his parents, his friends, his godfather. That last one got Harry to ball his fists and turn to face the Slytherin. Harry began to say things back to Draco, and soon Draco had had enough. He pulled his fist back and punched Harry square in the face. Harry’s head jerked back, but he didn’t do anything in retaliation. As a stream of blood ran from his nose, he looked Draco in the eyes and silently asked him to do it again. That look caused Draco to rear back in shock.

Harry began to rant about all the things he was suffering from, all the things that hurt him. He couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop. He didn’t care who he was telling; Ron and Hermione were so concerned about saying something wrong around him that they had practically stopped talking to him altogether. Dumbledore didn’t try to do anything else with him, and all of his teachers had given up. Well, Snape still hated him. Now more than ever if the pensieve incident was anything to go by. Harry ranted about that too. Suddenly, he wasn’t ranting anymore and a pair of soft lips and strong hands held him in their grasps.

A second or two later, he was returning the kiss. They pulled apart and Harry stormed off to the Gryffindor common room. That night, Draco had found Harry in the hallway after curfew. They stumbled into the Transfiguration classroom and snogged for a few hours. Three nights later, Harry was begging for Draco to take him. From that moment on, they became lovers. It took a little while for the relationship to move past mindless shagging and into something akin to love, but eventually it did. Now the boys were inseparable.

Summer came, and they were split up. But the two-month hiatus from one another quickly came to an end and soon they were back together. Christmas came around, and was celebrated normally. And abnormally. Harry was port keyed from the Great Hall at lunchtime December 23rd to an unknown place. Everyone panicked. Severus and Draco knew where he was by dinner that night: the Dark Lord had him. By dinner December 25th, the Dark Lord was gone. Severus and Draco returned, an unconscious Harry in Draco’s arms, with an awesome story to tell. While Harry was being tortured and force-fed Veratiserum, Voldemort asked question after question about the Order, Dumbledore, Hogwarts, etc. Harry didn’t answer a single thing.

So he began to threaten the boy. First it was with his life, but Harry didn’t really care about that. Then it was his friends’ lives. Harry was slower to taunt Voldemort after that, but it still would not loosen his tongue. When Voldemort unknowingly came across the information that Harry and Draco were friends, he treated it as a way for Draco to get information. However, Harry had threatened to kill every last person who ever even thought about laying a hand on his boyfriend. That peaked Voldemort’s interest, and he found the Gryffindor was involved with one of his most loyal servants’ child. He called Lucius forward and let the blonde Death Eater torture the boy.

When he was again questioned, and threatened with Draco’s death this time, Harry would only repeat that Draco would be the cause of Voldemort’s downfall and that soon, very soon, the world would be rid of the pestilence known as ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’. Voldemort didn’t take too kindly to this and stepped up the torturing. Eventually, Harry broke through the binds that kept him in place and kicked arse. First the Death Eaters on duty fell to his wand, which was kept nearby for some unknown reason, although Harry wasn’t complaining. Then Wormtail fell and was placed in a containment spell so his mind could be filtered and Sirius proven innocent, even though he was no longer alive. Harry went in search of Voldemort then, and found Severus kneeling at his feet to ‘report on Dumbledore’.

“That’ll have to wait, professor,” Harry snarled, pushing the man out of the way as he advanced on the Dark Lord. “I am really sick and tired of you trying to kill me. It gets old after a while, ya know? You couldn’t beat me as a baby, you couldn’t beat me as a teenager, you won’t be able to kill me as an adult. I wasn’t even fully trained those first times you came against me! I’m still not! And yet, you never win. I have to kill you now because you’re an annoying thorn in my side. And because you threatened Draco. You see, I can’t have that happening. So while I Petrificus Totalus your arse and Sectumsempra you, I think I will imagine all the different ways to kill you.”

The spells were unexpected and the Dark Lord, and Snape for that matter, wasn’t ready for them. So a scream was ripped from Voldemort’s mouth at the cutting spell. “Oh shut up Tom,” Harry muttered in a bored tone. “Silencio. Now then, how to kill you? Professor Snape? You wouldn’t happen to have that potion on you, would you? You see Tom,” he began, “Snape is a spy in your ranks. He’s been spying on you for me. And Draco too, kind of, since he’s not official. We came up with a potion that will bind your soul to your body so I can kill you and you won’t come back. Thank you professor.”

Harry took the offered potion from his professor and threw it at the Dark Lord, causing the glass to shatter and coat the (man? Maybe…) in the potion. A silent scream was ripped from Voldemort’s throat since the silencing spell was still in effect. “Good-bye Tom, for the final time. Incendio.” The body burst into flames. The pair just sat and watched as the cloth, flesh, and bones were melted away. “Well, now that that’s done.” Harry fell over in a dead faint, just barely being caught by his professor.

“Bloody Hell Potter. You never do anything simple, do you?” Snape grumbled, laying his student on the ground slowly and taking his mask off.

“Sev!” a voice called out. “Sev, is he okay? What happened? Is he alive? Did they hurt him? I just got here. What is that? Who cares? What about Harry? He’s alive, right? They didn’t hurt him? If they did I’ll kill them all. The prophecy may have been for Harry, but I’ll kill Voldemort if he hurt him. Is he okay? What happened? He is alive, isn’t he?”

“Draco shut up for a moment so I can talk!” Snape roared, effectively silencing the teen. “That is Voldemort. Or was rather. Potter has just killed him. And several Death Eaters I do believe. Now would be a good time to go warn Pomfrey that Potter will, once more, be a resident of hers. For quite some time I do believe.” Slowly, Snape gathered Harry in his arms and carried him outside the wards before apparating to Hogsmeade where he used The Three Broomsticks’s fireplace and floo connection to floo into the infirmary where Draco and Madame Pomfrey stood waiting.

“Set him down there Severus,” she sighed, and immediately began working. “Calming Draught and Dreamless Sleep I believe will cover it,” she said after a few moments of silence.

“Of course, Poppy.”

“What? Why?” Draco asked. “He’s already passed out. He doesn’t need either,” Draco said as his godfather went to a potions cabinet and retrieved two vials. “There’s no need to choke him! He’s already unconscious so he won’t-” He was cut off as Severus tilted his head back and forced the Calming Draught down his throat only to have it followed shortly after with the Dreamless Sleep. “Damn you… Sev…” Draco too went out like a light. Both he and Harry awoke the next morning.

Harry was fine, Draco was fine, it was the day after Christmas, and Voldemort was gone. What else was needed? A good shag from his boyfriend was all Harry wanted. And he got one. The holidays ended and school began once more in January. Everyone was so excited that Voldemort was finally gone. Parties were held nearly every weekend in the dorms, the Room of Requirement, the Great Hall. Eventually, their sixth year ended. Harry was worried Dumbledore would make him go back to the Dursleys’, but his fears were in vain. He ended up, weirdly enough, spending the summer with at Hogwarts in Snape’s rooms.

Draco came and went throughout the two months, and they shopped together in Diagon Alley for their seventh year school supplies. And then, once school started, it was much like the second part of their sixth year. Classes were held and homework was done… sometimes. Gryffindor won the House and Quidditch Cups. But the day before graduation, Draco walked out of Harry’s life. All because of a misunderstanding. Knowing how important everything that was going on was, Blaise stepped up. He comforted Harry and got him through the night. When they couldn’t find Draco the next day at graduation, he kept the Gryffindor calm once more.

“Eventually he’ll have to accept his diploma from Dumbledore, Harry,” he explained. “You’ll see him then, keep an eye on him, and then explain to him when this is over.” Harry planned on doing just that, except that Draco’s name was never called.

After all the names had been read, and all the students had their diplomas, Dumbledore stood to say, “I am sorry to announce that one Mr. Draco Malfoy could not attend today’s festivities. His diploma has been owled to his home and we wish him luck and success in life. Congratulations Class of 1998!” While all the other graduated students cheered, hugged their friends, kissed their boyfriends or girlfriends, Harry sat in his chair with a completely white face. Blaise quickly made his way to the Gryffindor and pulled him into a hug.

“It’s okay, Harry,” he soothed. “It will be okay. I know where he lives. Come on. We can go, right now, to his house and talk to him. We need to get this cleared up and quickly. Come on, I can apparate.” Blaise pulled a shocked Harry along behind him and apparated to Malfoy Manor. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Mrs. Malfoy. “Hello Narcissa,” Blaise began. “May we come in?”

“Good afternoon Blaise. Please, please come in.” She held the door open and Blaise entered, still dragging a stunned Harry Potter behind him. “In case you don’t know, there’s no time to explain. We must speak with Draco right now. It is an emergency Mrs. Malfoy.”

“I’m sorry Blaise, but Draco’s not here.” She didn’t get to say another word as Harry’s knees gave out under him and he began to wail most piteously. “What the, what is wrong with him?” she asked over his sobs.

“Damn it!” Blaise swore. “I said I didn’t have time to explain and apparently you don’t know. Do you know where Draco is? Or where he could be?”

“He came home yesterday afternoon and said he was leaving for a property. He didn’t say which, just packed two bags and apparated out. What in Merlin’s name is wrong with him? Oh my- Is that Harry Potter? What is wrong with him Blaise?”

“No time. I have to go. Come on Harry,” Blaise said, lifting Harry to his feet. Harry couldn’t hold himself up though, so Blaise threw one of Harry’s arms over his own shoulders and apparated to his own home. “You have to listen to me, Harry,” he said outside his front door. Harry continued crying, although his sobs weren’t as loud as they were inside Malfoy Manor. “Damn it Potter shut up and listen to me for a moment!” Harry stopped sobbing, but continued to sniffle and gasp a little. “I told you you’d have to pretend to be my fiancé for a little while. Do you think you could pretend to be my husband?

“We’d get married so your child wouldn’t be shunned or looked down upon. You have to have this child in this world; there’s no way you could explain to a muggle what was going on. We’d be married in name only. There are plenty of rooms here for you to have your own and still be close to me. No one would suspect a thing. You’re already pregnant so no one will question us. You would take my name, and I would provide for you and your child. Will you accept these terms? Can you do this Harry? I know you love him, but something’s going on in his head right now and if we’re to do this it needs to be done now. We’ll keep it simple and quiet. How’s that sound?”

“Why?” Harry whispered. “Why would you give up your life for me? Who knows who you’re supposed to be with? You won’t be able to date or anything! Why would you give up a chance at forever just to keep me from being embarrassed because D-draco left me? I can’t let you do this Blaise, I just can’t.”

“Harry, I am offering this. You’re not asking for me to do it. I want to. You are my friend. And Draco, dumbass that he is being right now, is too. I would do anything for either of you. And I want to do this. Please, let me help. I can at least learn how to act when I do meet that someone, yeah? And it will give you time as well. There’s only one thing I ask from you concerning this child.”

Harry looked up, fear in his tearful eyes. “What? What could you possibly want Blaise?” he whispered.

“Calm down Harry,” Blaise soothed. “I just want you to tell him about Draco at every possible second. I want him to have no doubts that his other daddy is Draco Malfoy, arrogant and stubbourn prick of Slytherin.”

Fresh tears sprang into Harry’s eyes as he threw his arms around Blaise’s shoulders. “Of course, Blaise,” he said. “Of course I will.”

“Come on then. We need to tell my family. They’ll be shocked. And we can get married tomorrow. That way it stays quiet and we can be alone. We can go to another of my properties for our ‘honeymoon’. Everyone will expect it, but for us it will just be time for us to get used to one another and come up with some sort of routine. Okay?” Harry nodded. “Just be yourself and everything will be okay.” Harry nodded again and they went inside.

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“I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss your spouse,” the bonding wizard intoned. Blaise and Harry shared a brief, modest kiss before they turned to Blaise’s parents. “Congratulations Misters Zabini. I hope you have a wonderful life together.” Blaise turned and thanked the bonding wizard as Harry was hugged by his mother-in-law.

“Well now, where are you two lovebirds off to?” Mrs. Zabini asked with a large smile. There were still tears in her eyes. It’s not everyday that your only son gets married to Harry Potter.

“Leave them alone, dear,” Mr. Zabini chided gently, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“It’s okay father,” Blaise responded with a smile as he placed his left arm around Harry’s waist. “Harry and I are off to one of the properties. We don’t think going somewhere public is a good idea. We want to keep this quiet until we’re ready to tell everyone. I believe I’ll show Harry around the château in France, if that’s okay? And may I ask for a few weeks alone?” They both blushed, Harry a little more than Blaise. “It is our honeymoon after all.”

“Of course!” Mrs. Zabini gushed. “Of course of course, you two just relax and enjoy yourselves. Do owl before you come back so we can have the place looking nice and be home. You know how hectic things tend to get when you least expect them to.” Harry’s face fell.

“Yes. We do,” Blaise answered. “Well, we’re off. I brought our bags and a portkey with us so off we go.”

“Wouldn’t apparating be much faster?” Mrs. Zabini asked.

“We reset the wards, remember? Harry doesn’t have Zabini blood so he wouldn’t be able to get in,” Mr. Zabini answered for his son and son-in-law. “Go on boys. And welcome to the family Harry. We’re happy you decided to become a part of it. I’m sure we’ll all get along very well together.”

“Thank you, Mr. Za- father.” He’d been asked to refer to them as mother and father, if he was comfortable with it. It would take some time, but he’d manage. “I’m ready whenever you are Blaise, dear.” He wrapped his arms around Blaise’s waist, then touched the portkey to activate it. The hook behind his naval nearly had him cutting off Blaise’s air supply. When they landed in the front room in one of the Zabini residences, Harry let go and said one word: “Bathroom!”

“Right there,” Blaise said, pointing as Harry ran toward it. Immediately the sounds of retching were heard. Blaise set the bags down and followed his fri- husband to see if there was anything he could do. Once Harry was sitting up again and drinking small sips of water, Blaise said, “I guess a tour of the house is off for now then.” Harry managed a weak smile before getting help with getting off the floor and walking to his new bedroom. “I’ll be right next door, okay? If you need anything I’ll be right here. Call for me or for- Oh! I forgot to introduce Kipper. Kipper!” A small crack and a shy house elf appeared. “Kipper, this is Harry Potter Zabini, my husband. He’s pregnant and I want you to care for him, okay? We’ll be getting a mediwitch or -wizard soon to help with the more specific things, but until then anything he needs you get for him, okay?”

“Yes, Master Blaise.”

“Thank you Kipper,” Harry whispered. The house elf looked wide eyed at the man on the bed, blushed bright red, and disappeared in a hurry. “She’s sweet.”

“She’s never been thanked before. I think you shocked her. Well, you just rest. I’m going to go unpack my things and begin cooking dinner. What would you like?”

“You cook? I don’t believe it.”

“My mum made sure I’d be able to sustain myself in case anything ever happened to me. You’d be surprised what all I can do. What sounds good, Harry?”

“Turkey. And dressing. And chocolate éclairs. With orange juice. And some blocks of cheese.”

A blank look crossed Blaise’s face. “And let the cravings begin.” He walked out of the room to begin the dinner Harry had requested while Harry fell asleep. His dreams were plagued with Draco leaving him over and over again in many different scenarios and for different reasons. He didn’t know it, but he tossed and turned something fierce. When Blaise came in two hours later to wake him, he saw Harry sweating profusely, kicking his legs out, twitching his arms, and whimpering. When he went to wake him up, Harry jumped away from him and landed on the floor beside the bed with a thud! “Harry! Are you okay?”

“Wha… what? Where am I?”

“You’re in your rooms in our home remember Harry? Do you remember everything?”

Harry’s eyes remained wide for a moment before tears began to appear. He blinked once and lay his head on the bed before him, silently crying now. “He really did leave me,” he moaned. Blaise hurried to the other side of the bed and wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor in comfort. Eventually, he had some of their dinner brought to them via house elf. They ate in silence that night before Harry drifted off into another fitful sleep.

The next morning, Harry walked passed one of the sitting rooms, still in his pajamas, and yawned loudly. “Blaise? Are you in the kitchen?” he called out. Five sets of eyes watched him pass the sitting room, one of them in amusement.

“No, I’m in the sitting room. Come join me for a moment?” Blaise answered.

“Why are you in the sitting room? I’m hungry. Do we have any fried ham?” Harry walked into the room. “Blaise, are you- Am I interrupting something?” He looked around at the three women, one man, and Blaise as if their faces alone would give him the answers he sought.

“I’ll fry some ham soon for you, but first I want you to meet four of the finest mediwitches and -wizard around. In order, they are Doctors Mitchsens, Johansen, Whittier, and Rhodes. They are here to apply to be your caretaker. I know these four will be as discrete as possible when it comes to your care. Would you like to say hello?”

“Bloody hell Blaise! You could have told me you were going to be doing this today! I would have at least come down dressed! Grr!” Harry stomped away, quietly cursing the man he called husband. “And I still want my fried ham!” he called out once he reached his rooms again.

Blaise merely laughed once the door slammed. “Ah, mood swings as well. It has been an amazing two months so far,” he commented vaguely. “So if we shall continue? You all have great credentials, and I believe you are excellent in your field and will maintain secrecy. However, as much as he needs those, I want someone who will be able to connect with Harry. He can be a handful, and this is his first pregnancy so he will be scared. It will be a hard thing to go through for him and I want to make sure it’s as easy as possible. What do you have to say to that?”

They were all quiet for a moment before Dr. Mitchsens spoke up. “I believe that a doctor who knows about male pregnancies would be best, of course. You and your husband will need the best of care and state-of-the-art of everything. I, personally, would tell the both of you everything straight up: care, warnings, news for the better or worse. I would not keep anything out, despite how small I think it is. If at all possible, I would cater to your every whim when it comes to your husband’s care,” he concluded.

“Thank you Dr. Mitchsens. Dr. Johansen?”

“I agree with Dr. Mitchsens. Top of the line for everything, and anything you desire for your husband. A male pregnancy is harder than a female one, I won’t lie. However, anything you think is needed I will do my best to get. If I can make it easier on either of you, I will. I’ve worked extensively with these kinds of cases and I believe that a hands-on approach is best when dealing with someone as emotional as your husband. I would tell you everything that related to this pregnancy, and then Harry if you advised it. Adding stress to a pregnancy is never a good thing to do.”

“Thank you Dr. Johansen,” Blaise said, nodding at the now smiling witch. “Dr. Whittier, what do you think?”

She was silent for a few moments, thinking of her response. “If it is his first pregnancy, I would talk to you about everything there is involving a male pregnancy: the first few months, the cravings, the mood swings, everything including the actual birth. There are many possibilities for things to turn south, and I would want you able to cope with them and calm your husband down until a medical professional could arrive. I, personally, have been working in this field for several years and will maintain the utmost secrecy, at your discretion of course.” She flashed a smile.

“Thank you Dr. Whittier. Dr. Rhodes? What is your response?”

She didn’t hesitate for a second. “It’s none of your business.” The three other doctors gasped at her audacity while Blaise just smiled and sat back. “This is Harry’s pregnancy, and I know there’s something out of the norm going on here. I believe that you are married, but… and I’m sorry if I overstep my bounds, but you have always called him Harry. You don’t have any pet names for him. You mentioned you were married within the last week, but his pregnancy is two months along now. If I were to become Harry’s mediwitch, I would talk to him about everything. If he wished you present, so be it. If there was something he did not want you to know, I would not tell you. Unless it was life threatening. I am not asking that you tell me what’s going on; it’s none of my business. I am here to take care of Harry and his baby.”

The other three doctors looked on with mixed expressions of horror at her answer and glee that she would be the first to go with an answer like that. Blaise merely continued smirking. “Harry? Would you come down here for a second? I wish to introduce you properly to the four applicants I have selected.”

“Go to hell Blaise!” Harry shouted back.

“Really Harry, that’s no way answer your doting husband.”

“I said go to hell ‘doting husband’!” he called back, obviously saying the last two words in a sarcastic manner. “I want nothing to do with them! They’re all the same anyways: I want to help the Harry Potter. I don’t want any of them and I don’t want you!”

Blaise chuckled. There was silence for a few moments before Blaise rose to his feet. “Would you all care to follow me please? I have some ham to fry for Harry’s cravings.” He didn’t wait for any answers, merely walked away. The four immediately followed him into the large kitchen. The house elves there greeted them and got any drinks they asked for, as well as the ham from the freezer Blaise asked for. Blaise used a thawing spell to thaw the ham, and then began to fry strips for Harry. He worked in silence for a few moments.

“Do you… Do you always let your husband talk to you in such a manner, Mr. Zabini?” Dr. Mitchsens asked.

“Sir, are you married?”

“Yes, Mr. Zabini. Mrs. Mitchsens and I are very happy together.”

“Have you ever had children?” The doctor nodded. “Then you understand. No matter what I say to him right now will be wrong, and it will upset him terribly. Simply put, this ham will be a peace offering in which I can give him what he wants before asking him not to talk to me like he did. I am not his servant; I am his husband.” The doctors merely nodded in understanding and agreement. “Would any of you like some ham?” He held out a plate with some on it in offering to the four doctors. All but Dr. Rhodes took some. “Dr. Rhodes?”

“That is Harry’s ham, not mine. I would ask Harry if I were allowed some of his ham,” she answered.

Blaise smiled. “Of course. I do believe- Oof!” Blaise’s response was cut off when Harry practically tackled him.

“I’m sorry!” he sobbed into Blaise’s chest. “I didn’t mean to yell at you! That was horrible of me! And then you go and make the ham that I wanted even after I was horrible to you. And you asked me to come down to meet the doctors and I yelled at you some more. I’m sorry Blaise, really I am. Do you believe me Blaise? Please believe me, because I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad or anything like that.” He buried his face in Blaise’s chest, then whispered, “Please don’t leave me Blaise.” No one but Blaise heard it.

Blaise simply wrapped his arms around Harry and whispered, “It’s okay Harry. Just eat the ham and then I will tell you about the doctors so you may pick which one you like best.”

Harry sniffled and looked up. “I’m going to pick the doctor? Why not you?”

“Because they will be your doctor Harry, not mine. I simply allow them to live in the house and pay them. I want you to be comfortable with the doctor because they will be around everyday eventually. The time will come when the doctor will stay with us, either here or back at Zabini Manor.”

“Ooh! Does that mean you’re thinking of us staying here? Because I like it here,” Harry said in between bites of fried ham. “This is really good Blaise. Is there anymore?”

“A whole plateful minus three pieces and the one you just ate.”

“Minus three pieces? Did you eat some?”

“No, I offered some to the doctors,” he said, motioning to the four sitting on barstools on the other side of the counter, “and Mitchsens, Whittier, and Johansen took a piece. Rhodes declined saying it was your ham and not mine to give.” Harry stared wide-eyed for a moment then turned to the doctors. He looked back at Blaise. “Mitchsens,” he said pointing to the male doctor. “Whittier and Johansen,” he continued, pointing to the next two doctors. “And finally Rhodes. This is Harry Zabini.”

Harry weakly waved a hand at them then looked at Dr. Rhodes. “Thank you. Thank you for not taking the ham.” He took another three pieces and left the room quietly. After a moment, he called out, “Dr. Whittier, may I speak with you please?” Dr. Whittier looked at Blaise and then went in search of the young, pregnant wizard. When she found him, he sat in front of him as motioned. “Do you know who I am?”

“Yes sir. You are Harry Zabini, Blaise Zabini’s husband.”

“True, but do you know who I was before I married Blaise?”

“Well, of course. You are Harry Potter.”

Harry nodded. “Why are you here?” He watched the witch as he ate another piece of ham.

“I was asked if I could be discrete with a male pregnancy case. I accepted and was told to come here at ten o’clock this morning. Your husband told me the situation: you were married recently and are now pregnant and he wishes for a mediwitch or -wizard who will be able to work with you and at some point, live within in the house. He asked for credentials as well as capability.”

“Very good, very good. Why do you want this job?”

The question startled the witch. “Why do I want the job, Mr. Zabini? Because I am one of the foremost experts in male pregnancy and I believe that, under my care, everything will run smoothly for your first child.”

Harry nodded and stood to dismiss the woman back to the kitchens. “Dr. Mitchsens?” Harry called next.

The male doctor walked into the room and immediately seized Harry’s hand, pumping it furiously. “Mr. Potter, I mean Mr. Zabini it is a pleasure to meet you. I just want you to know that any care you receive from me will be the best this field has to offer. I’ve been working with male pregnancies for nearly twenty years, and my own wife has had four children in the past twenty years.”

“Yes… well,” Harry said, pulling his hand away from the doctor who was still shaking it. “Please, sit. I wanted to ask you just a few questions. Do you know who I am?”

“Of course. Who doesn’t? You’re Harry Potter.”

Harry nodded. “Why are you here?”

“I was asked because of my expertise to oversee a male pregnancy, but that I’d have to be picked from a small group of candidates.”

“Of course, of course. Why do you want this job?”

“I was asked, firstly. The stipulations Mr. Zabini has placed on the accepting doctor will meet my requests quite nicely. And a chance to help Harry Potter? No one in their right mind would pass that up.”

“Thank you, Doctor Mitchsens,” Harry dismissed as he stood. His hand was, once again, seized and pumped furiously. “Dr. Rhodes? Would you please join me?” Moments later, Dr. Rhodes stood at the doorway. “Please, sit down. And have a piece of ham.” She smiled and took the seat and ham that was offered. “Firstly, thank you for not taking the ham once again. I can’t explain why it means so much to me, just know that it does. Now, on with my questions. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes.”

“Who am I?” he asked after a few seconds of silence.

“You are Harry Zabini by name.”

Harry arched an eyebrow. “And what does that mean?”

“It mean’s you were just recently married, so your name has changed.”

“I see.” Harry smiled softly. “And who was I before I changed my name?”

“You’re still the same person, Mr. Zabini. Only your name changed.”

Harry nodded again. “What was my name before I was married?”

“Harry James Potter.”

“And how do you know my middle name?”

“Who doesn’t know your middle name?” the witch countered.

“Touché. Why are you here?”

“To take care of a pregnant wizard.”

“Why do you want this job?”

“To take care of the pregnant wizard, of you.”

“Would you please elaborate?”

“I am a doctor who specializes in male pregnancies. I was asked this morning around seven o’clock, when my shift ended, if I would like to be a personal doctor for a hush hush male pregnancy case. Of course I was intrigued. I accepted and was asked to be here, at this house, by ten o’clock. I went home, took a shower and changed my clothes, then came here. I was third to arrive, only to be followed by Dr. Mitchsens. Mr. Zabini told us that he had been married within the last week and that you were pregnant. He referred to you as Harry at all times. He mentioned the cravings you’d been having and that things were rather hectic in your life so stress would be a problem. He gave us some scenarios and asked for the answers we’d give.”

“Okay,” Harry said slowly. “Why do you want this job?”

“Because this is my job. I am a specialist in male pregnancies. This is a case of male pregnancy. Therefore, it is my job to be here if you so wish me to.”

“What about Blaise?”

“What about him? Is he pregnant as well? Excuse me for being frank, Harry, but I am a male pregnancy doctor, which means I work with wizards who are pregnant. While Blaise meets half those requirements, it is you who fits all of them. I am here to treat and care for you, not for Blaise. And I’ve told him that. It’s not him I’m worried about or for; it’s you. Should anything happen to Blaise, I can help him until a different doctor arrives. It is you I will be treating though.”

“Very well Dr. Rhodes,” Harry said, standing and offering his hand to shake. “Thank you. Please, rejoin the others and Blaise in the kitchen. Dr. Johansen?” The last doctor walked in with a smile on her face. “Please, sit down. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, Mr. Zabini.”

“Do you know who I was?”

“Excuse me?”

“Before I was Mr. Zabini, Blaise’s husband, who was I?”

“I assume you are referring to Harry Potter?”

“Yes. Why are you here?”

“I was asked to come here because of my work in this field. I have only been working with male pregnancies for the last four years, but the work I have done has been my life. I have always gotten along well enough with my patients and have always offered the best care. Anything you or your husband want, I will try my hardest to get.”

“Why do you want this job?”

“Because I was asked. Because it will be a challenge. I was told that I am not to tell anyone anything about what goes on in this house, or any other that concerns you. Simply because you are Harry Potter this is a high priority case. My care will be silent, but the best.”

“Thank you Dr. Johansen.” Harry stood and led her back to the kitchens. “Blaise, may I speak with you?” Blaise wiped his hand on a towel, took some more ham off the burner, and excused himself. Harry led him to a room off the kitchens and put up a silencing charm. “I don’t want Dr. Mitchsens in this house. In fact, I want his memory erased of this ever happening. I don’t like him. He’s here because I am… was Harry Potter. He only wants this job for bragging right and I don’t believe he’ll remain quiet about this.”

“Okay. I agree completely. His answers to me were pompous and he was late when he arrived. Only a few minutes, but it didn’t even seem to faze him. He thinks he’s the best simply because you’re Harry Potter. Never forget that Harry, you are first and foremost Harry Potter. You will always be you. You are only a Zabini by name.”

“That’s what Dr. Rhodes said,” Harry continued with a smile. “I like her. She’s sassy, but she gets down to business. And to hell what anyone else thinks. She wants to help me because it is her job to help me. Dr. Whittier is almost the same as Mitchsens, just not as pompous. She believes that her care would be the best and that you would like her simply because of her credentials. Everything was about you, though. I was your husband, and her care would greatly be appreciated by you. Dr. Rhodes said that it was I and not you that was pregnant so who cares about you?”

Blaise laughed. “That’s practically what she told me. I agree. What about Johansen?”

“She’s too unsure of herself for a case this big. I don’t mean to sound full of myself, but I think she’d break under the pressure of keeping quiet about Harry Potter’s baby. She’d be a great doctor under any other circumstances, but not these. It’s too much for her.”

“So you like Dr. Rhodes then?”

“I do. Which do you like Blaise? Despite what you keep saying, you’ll have to deal with them as well.”

“I agree with you, I like Dr. Rhodes. She has spunk and isn’t afraid to show it.”

“Then you will hire Dr. Rhodes?”

“If you wish.”

“Thank you Blaise.” Harry hugged Blaise and then went to get some more ham. After two pieces, he turned to the doctors. “I have made my decision. The other three will have their memories wiped of this experience so nothing will come of it. Do you all agree to these terms?” The four doctors nodded. “I believe that Dr. Rhodes would be best suited for myself, and I thank you all for coming today. Please, follow Blaise to the door so that he may erase your memories. Dr. Rhodes, if you would follow me please.”

Blaise led the other three doctors away and performed the memory charms so they would not remember this morning and then sent them on their ways. Harry took Dr. Rhodes to his personal chambers and sat her down on a couch there. “I wish to tell you my situation. Blaise knows all of this, so feel free to speak with him about anything. Blaise and I are married, and that is it. Neither of us love each other, neither of us ever thought of marrying the other before two days ago. This is not Blaise’s child. We just graduated from Hogwarts not even four days ago. I am in love with Draco Malfoy, and this is his child.

“I was telling Blaise the good news of my pregnancy when Draco came in and misinterpreted our hugging. He was going to propose to me.” Harry paused to gather his wits about him. “We can’t find him now. All we know is that he is at one of the Malfoy properties and doesn’t wish to be found. So, to save me from embarrassment and ridicule, Blaise offered to marry me and take the child as his own as long as I told my son about Draco all the time. We were married yesterday and came here for our ‘honeymoon’. Blaise sleeps just down the hall and respects my privacy. We became friends because of my dating Draco.”

There was silence for a few moments. “That is quite the tale Harry. However, that doesn’t change my standings on anything I have said.”

Tears that were in Harry’s eyes began to fall now. “Thank you, Dr. Rhodes.”

“Please, call me Theresa.”

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A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed that first part. Draco can be so stupid sometimes... -dpa06