How Do "You" Like It?

Chapter Fifteen: Hols

The train pulled up to the station and many students hurried to meet their parents. Draco and Harry had said their goodbyes at the castle, vowing to call over Christmas and keep each other informed as to their progress. They had no idea if they had been successful, and planned to tell their parents and god-parents about it when the holidays were nearly over. It would be a gift, of sorts.
Harry could still feel the touch of Draco's lips from where he had unexpectedly kissed him behind the door to the castle entrance, then rushed off with a face tinted more pink than Harry thought possible for the pale faced boy. He looked dazed even now, and when Hermione caught up with him, he was smiling goofily to himself.
"Harry, Mrs. Weasley is here to pick you up. They are taking you to the Black Family House, to spend time with Sirius. Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine. What was that about Sirius?" he said.
"He's staying in his old house. It's untractable, so you have to go with someone who can find it. It isn't safe for him to come and get you. Come on. This will be the greatest Christmas, ever." Hermione said, pushing him toward the waiting redhaired family. "I'm going with my parents, but I'll be there for Christmas, okay?" she added.
"That's great. I'll get you a present." he promised and she smiled and patted his arm.
"I'd like that. I'll get you something, too." Her smile was conspiratory and Harry was sure his present would be best left unopened until he had talked to Sirius.
When the house opened up in front of him, Harry couldn't help but stare in amazement. He knew that by now he should have been less awed by what magic could do, but he was a simple boy and sure it would be a long time before the excitement wore thin. The Weasley's led him and Ron and Ginny to the door, Fred and George following behind with Charlie and their luggage. The older Weasley's were home for the holidays and Charlie had offered to help with the task of bringing home the students. Fred joked with his brother, while George seemed restrained around the more robust Weasley offspring. Harry wondered if Charlie had some secret that he was holding over George's head to keep him in line.
Inside of the house, Harry was scooped up by the overzealous hug from his godfather, and Sirius nearly carried him into the parlour to have a good look at him and get the latest reports on his schooling.
"Tell me everything. I know your home for two weeks, but I need to hear so much, and that isn't long when there are so many peole coming over. Remus will be here and Dumbledore is coming for Christmas. Hermione's family is invited and of course the whole Weasley clan is here." Sirius hadn't stopped talking for long enough to let Harry get out one word. "Tell me."
"I am doing better in potions." Harry began, when there was a second of silence. "Passing my charms with good grades, and I think divination is a farce."
"Oh, really. Well, that is good. And outside of scholastic events, how about that?" Sirius asked.
"Gryffindor is ahead in Quidditch. We beat Hufflepuff just last week." Harry continued. "I caught the snitch before they had scored even once."
"Good, good." Sirius coaxed.
"Professor Snape hasn't given me any more points off, all month. I think he's been busy with something else. Maybe he's got a secret lover, somewhere. That's what Dra- That's the rumor." Harry corrected.
"Draco Malfoy, you meant to say. That's what he thinks?" Sirius guessed. "So, how are the Malfoy's adapting to the light?"
"Just great. Mr. Malfoy has been teaching classes and I am taking one. It's about blood lines and why they have always been preserved. It's very interesting, though I still think it's rubbish." Harry hedged.
"Yes, and his son? Anything new there?" Sirius asked.
"Maybe. Look, Sirius. I'm really tired. Can we talk about this later? I promise, I'll tell you everything, but I just want to take a nap, okay?"
Sirius sighed and shook his head. He stood and pulled Harry up by his hand. "Later, you promised. Now, go and get some rest. I'll call you for dinner."
Harry climbed the stairs to the room that Ron stood in front of. He smiled at his best friend, letting Ron open the door and lead the way inside. There were three beds, all sturdy but run down, made up with quilts that had to have come from the burrow. He noted that his trunk, as well as Ron's, were set near the wall and that his owl was perched in her cage, looking like she'd like to go for a bit of a fly. He opened the cage door and the window and let the owl out, before turning to where Ron stood near one of the beds.
"I think I need to tell my parents about the spell, Harry. Will you help me?" Ron asked. Harry sat on one of the other beds and looked down, thoughtfully. His fingers laced and unlaced, and he felt a tightening in his tummy.
"Ron, I know this means a lot to you, but can you wait? Just until Christmas, okay?" Harry asked.
"Christmas? But, then Mione will be here. I can't tell them with her here. I need time for them to get over the whole thing. You understand, right?"
Harry sighed, looked up and smiled wanly. "Okay, but not until this Saturday, okay? I have my own piece of news for Sirius, and that has to come first. Promise?"
"Great! I'll wait till Saturday, then we can go see Mom and Dad, tell them all about this thing, and how Malfoy Sr. is now on our side. They'll be thrilled!" Ron excitement was contagious and Harry started to feel a little more courageous.

By Friday afternoon, Harry's excitement, as well as courage, was long lost. How does a bloke tell his godfather that he might be carrying the baby of an ex-death eater's son? He decided that the direct approach would be best. He found Sirius on the balcony of his room, on the highest floor of the house, petting Buckbeak and looking at the sky. He walked out, stood just out of sight and lost his last vestiges of courage.
"I know you're there. Come on out, Harry." Sirius said.
Harry sighed loudly as he stepped onto the balcony and up to his godfather. "Sirius, I promised we'd talk. Sit down, please." Sirius lowered onto an outdoor chair and looked up with a serious expression, showing his godson that he was ready to hear whatever Harry had to tell him. "I didn't wait, Sirius. Draco and I have already tried for conception. We both tried it, so at least one of us will probably be pregnant. Are you angry?"
"Angry? Harry, I'm livid. I asked you to wait, to talk to me before you did anything. I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into, before you became wizarding's first unwed pregnant father. But, I'm also happy. I knew when you didn't call me back that you were still your father's son. James would have done just what you did, in your shoes. So, if you are carrying a little Malfoy, what do you think about naming it after your old godfather? Or maybe my little brother, huh?" Sirius asked and Harry chuckled with him.
"I don't know. Do you think that Lucius will be alright with another kid named after a constellation?" Harry suggested. "And what if it's a girl?"
"Bite your tongue! No godson of mine would dare give me a namesake that wasn't all boy." Sirius' jokes had Harry laughing so hard, his side got a stitch and he had to hold it with his hand. "Harry, I'm so proud of you and I know your parents would be, as well. Take care, though. We mustn't let anything happen to the little one, now must we?" Harry became sober quite quickly and nodded to his godfather.
"I'll be careful, Sirius. For me, for you, for Draco and for the baby, if there is one." He said and hugged his only remaining family. "Oh, and Ron wants to explain Hermione's curse to everyone tomorrow. Will you help us out, a little?"
"Didn't I just warn you to avoid dangerous situation, Harry?" Sirius reminded him. "Oh, alright. I'll be here."

Molly just stood with her mouth open, like a carp sucking water for air, but Arthur was all questions. "So, the body produces a new womb, and it is completely functional?"
"Presumably so, Sir. No one has been able to prove that part, yet." Harry told him.
"But, Malfoy believes it is. That's very interesting. He joined the light, just because we have a muggleborn who can do this? I'll bet Hermione is beside herself with pride." Arthur said. Molly finally found her voice and jumped in.
"Ronald, why didn't you tell us immediately? And how could you allow that death eater to wave his wand over you? I ought to curse you myself. Next time, you owl us before you do anything so risky. Do you hear me?" Molly snapped.
"Now, dear. Ron is old enough to make his own decisions. Aren't you son?" Arthur soothed.
"Yes, sir!" Ron agreed, but his mother's glare stopped him from any further comment.
"Molly, the boys are growing up. Just be happy that the cure was available. Ron made an adult decision, and I for one, think he was very responsible in how he did it. I can say that I am beginning to appreciate just how grown up Harry and Ron have become." Sirius added to the attempts made by her husband and son. A noise stopped their discussion as Charlie, Fred and George rushed into the kitchen.
"Hey, what's going on?" Fred asked and George nodded with his brother.
"Yeah, this room is full of residual seriousness. What are we missing?" Charlie asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down determinedly.
"Oh, great!" Ron pushed away from the table and crossed to the door. "If they find out, I'm doomed."
"Is this about your night of sexual magnificence?" George asked, causing every one, except Ron, Fred and Harry to look his way. "Okay, so it's not."
"This is gonna be good. Tell us everything, Georgie." Charlie pulled out the chair next to him and motioned his brother to sit. Fred chose a chair across the table and joined them.
"About a month ago, Ron and Hermione disappeared for most of a day. They turned up later, quite exhausted and spouting something about cures having side effects and overwhelming sex. We just put two and two together." George summed up.
"I'm surprised you could count that high." Ron snarked.
"After that, Ron was quite popular, until Hermione started marking her territory in front of every female in the school." Fred added to his brother's explanation. "Her and Ronald have been inseparable, ever since. Except for this trip, of course."
"So, there is some cure, that makes for a night of outstanding pleasure. That's no side effect, that's a blessing!" Charlie chanted.
"Not if you're the one who can't walk for three days because of it, or the one who is so tired and exhausted you can't even manage to eat a complete meal for two days." Ron grumbled.
"What was that?" Molly said, before turning on her elder children. "Enough of that. You three leave your brother alone. We'll sort this all out, and you just keep it to yourselves, mind you."
"Yeah, this whole thing may be a turning point in the war." Arthur added as Molly shooed the others from the room. Harry and Sirius shared a look and a sigh.

Christmas morning was beautiful, crystal clear and a layer of newly fallen snow on the ground. The house on Grimmauld Place looked fresher than it had in decades and everyone was feeling more refreshed. Sirius woke the boys, banging on the door and throwing it open. "Hermione and her family are here, Remus is on his way and Dumbledore sends his apologies. Seems there was some emergency. But, it's Christmas. Everyone up!" he called pulling the covers from both boys and throwing them off onto chairs. He left the two, confused and chilled as he took the stairs and repeated this for the other Weasley boys.
Ron and Harry dressed and found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen with Hermione's parents, drinking tea and talking. They grabbed some muffins and scurried away when they heard the words: curse and pregnant. Hermione was in the parlor, looking at the pile of presents that nearly dwarfed the huge tree at its center. "Morning." Ron said, touching her shoulder and turning her for a peck on the cheek.
"Morning yourself, Ronald." she returned, kissing him quickly on the lips. "Morning Harry, Happy Christmas!" she sent to the other boy.
"Happy Christmas, Mione. I got your present. It's in my trunk." Harry offered, kissing her so quickly it barely felt like he had touched her cheek. Ron smiled goofily. Harry pulled away before Hermione could return the kiss, feeling foolish for not wanting to have her lips touch where Draco's had, over a week before. He smiled politely and they all turned to look at the tree.
"I got you a present, too. We could open it later, in private if you like. Ron's, too. They are both, personal." Hermione elaborated. "When we go up to change for dinner, I'll bring them." she smiled encouragingly.
"Sounds good. So, how have you been?" Harry asked. She nodded, shook her head, then giggled. "All that, huh? Okay. So, I'm gonna go see what Fred and George are doing, and leave you two alone." and with that, Harry slipped from the parlor and headed for the stairs.
"Are Mom and Dad around?" George called down to him as he reached the landing.
"In the kitchen. Why?" he asked.
"We wanted to bring down our presents, and they can't see them yet." Fred added.
"Just get going." Charlie said from behind them.
"Yeah, there won't be a better time." Bill added from the rear.
Harry moved aside, letting the twins through with a stack of boxes, a large framed painting and some crates of tools. The other two Weasley's followed, a few small gifts in their hands. They smiled at Harry as they passed, winking toward the two that were burdened with the most cumbersome items.
"They've been at this for months. Big surprise, lots of planning. Should be a real great day." Bill said as Charlie chuckled next to him.
"Come on, Harry. Let's go get the folks." Charlie said, taking Harry by the arm and heading for the kitchen. Before they got there, he stopped and looked behind them, checking for anyone following. "I had a question for you, Harry. Something you said yesterday, it caught my ear. Are you planning on testing that new organ of yours?" he asked.
"What makes you think that, Charlie?" Harry hedged.
"You told Sirius there were no new developments on your experiment. Hogwarts doesn't allow wizards to experiment outside of school when they are underage. So, if you are experimenting, it would be something to do with the curse, and you have that curse, don't you?" Harry blushed without thinking and Charlie laughed heartily. "You are. That's rich."
"Promise to keep it secret, okay Charlie? I don't want anyone to know until we've been checked. We already tried, and we're late for our . . . time. It's probably nothing, or maybe we succeeded. Don't jinx it, okay?" Harry begged.
"I'm looking for a payoff here. I'll keep your secret, and later, we'll talk." Charlie said with a wink. He turned again and headed for the kitchen. "Hey, time for presents old people!"
"Charlie, you've been hanging around your brothers too much. Come on, let's go see what has the boys so excited." Molly said, bustling the other couple and Sirius out of the kitchen. Harry noticed that his godfather was dressed up in some of his best wizarding clothes, like he was trying to impress some one. He smiled at the thought.
The day was filled with love and family, presents and surprises.
Harry got Hermione a dress, made to fit her magically, sizing itself to her no matter how much she grew. He loved the color, yellow like the buttercups his aunt grew in her garden. She got him a baby blanket, pure white but magically spelled to change color depending on the baby he carried. It didn't work, but when he showed it to Sirius, his godfater told him it wasn't set to change until the baby was five months along, and not to expect too much, as it was specific magic, that may not conform to Hermione's curse.
Ron got new quidditch gear, the first new supplies he'd ever gotten for school. Ginny got several new dresses and some jewelry from her eldest brothers. Everyone got a new Weasley made jumper.
The big surprise was the gift that Fred and George got for their parents. After selling the rights to three of their special inventions, they had used the money to have a new home built in the land near the burrow. It had been started already, was modern and had many of the conveniences their old house did not. There were more rooms, all larger, and the kitchen was bigger than the one in Grimmauld Place. They put up a model that had been built, scaled down like a doll house, in the middle of the parlor. Molly was speechless for the first time in her adult life.
Ron had surprised both Harry and Hermione, giving them their gifts in the room later that evening. To Harry he gave a book on baby care and to Hermione he gave a ring that had been his great Aunt Tessie's. It was gold with a red ruby set in its center. "I think this means were going steady, is that about right?" He asked and she slid the ring onto her finger and wrapped her arms around his neck, while she cried her eyes out onto his t-shirt. Harry smiled even as he shook his head silently.
He didn't know how Ron had figured out about his, and Draco's, attempt, but at least he didn't have to go through the embarrassment of telling him. And, since Ron knew, Harry had another person for support, when he told the staff of the school. He hoped.


Of the three Hufflepuffs to be afflicted by Hermoine's curse, Justin alone had taken the cure. Ernie McMillan was more scared of the cure than the curse, and that left only the second oldest wizard to have been cursed. Cedric Diggory was home for the holidays when his time came around and he was actually relieved by that fact. As an only child, Cedric had a private bathroom and bedroom. In fact, privacy was respected diligently by his father. Cedric managed these five days without any problems for the first time in the three months since the curse had been initiated.
By the time he was boarding the train for school again, Cedric had decided that he'd tell his father as soon has he was home again. After his NEWT's. He was walking the aisle, heading for the compartment he shared with three others from his house, when he overheard the conversation coming from one of the compartments filled with Slytherins. "So, if they can figure it out, then Malfoy will be able to have a little freak baby. I think it's sick." one of the chasers from the quidditch team said and he was answered by another.
"I don't know. I think it's cool. Think about it, Warrington. No girly stuff to deal with. I wouldn't mind finding a sexy guy to have babies for me." Adrian Pucey said. "Get my dad off of my case, at least. Can you find out who else has this 'rag disease'?"
Cedric backed up, leaning against the corridor and taking a deep breath. He knew that Pucey was gay, but this was a new development. The Slytherin chaser had already come on to Cedric in third year, and he was persistent. Sure he was cute, as Slytherins went, but Cedric wasn't ready to become a baby machine for Adrian Pucey's family. He had standards, after all. He didn't mind so much the idea of having a baby, but not with just anyone.
Maybe his dad would have to wait on his revelation.


Another teaser? Maybe.

Is this still interesting, or have I lost you all? Lemons coming, patience will out!

Love you all, Anna