I'll Be Home For Christmas

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Vix--It's not so crazy to be up at 1:30 a.m. reading stories. After all, I'm up at 5:30 a.m. posting this!

A special thanks to karisma for your very kind words.

As always, reviews are very much encouraged, and very much appreciated! And now, for your perusal, the next installment. Like it, hate it, let me know! :)


This chapter is dedicated to Skipperdee....



Terror Realised

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Severus reined in his scowl and tried to keep the menace out of his voice as he said, "Need I say, I would appreciate you not mentioning this to Harry."


He looked about disdainfully. There was baby paraphernalia lying about all over. Woolly blankets, nappies, a veritable mountain of stuffed toys. And in the middle of the living room sat a baby crib. And they had only ONE baby! It was the nappies. They terrified Severus. Changing babies' nappies was NOT something he was looking forward to. Especially not girl babies. He shuddered and looked away.


"No problem, Severus," Ron Weasley said with amusement
.

Severus sighed, thinking he had better get used to the amusement of others when it came to this. "And, not a word to your mother, please."


"No problem, Severus," Ron repeated, "it's our little secret. Now, how do you want to start? You want to try feeding him?"


"No," Severus said hastily, "I think the one step at a time approach is best....and erm....don't go very far," he added sheepishly.


Ron couldn't help snickering then, enjoying probably the only time in his life he would actually have the upper hand over his former Potions Master. "Okay, well how about we start out with you just holding him? I'll show you the proper way, and you can just get used to doing that."


"Very well," Severus said warily, "that would be acceptable."


"Erm....maybe you'd better sit down," Ron said, noting the other man's nervousness.


Severus took a seat at the table and took a deep breath, willing his trembling hands to be still.


"Alright," Ron said, "the thing to remember is relax. Babies can tell if you're tense, even when they're this young. But, you don't want to relax so much that you drop them..." He saw the look of terror cross Severus' face and said hastily, ".....which you won't. Just a firm but relaxed grip is what you need. I'll just put him in your arms,.... rest his head in the crook of your elbow,.... your forearm along his back,... the other alongside that....hold him close to your chest....and there you are.."


Suddenly, Severus was holding a baby.


"See?" Ron said, "nothing to ....."


Little Hugo began to squall, and Severus tried quickly handing him back, but Ron stepped away. "Nope...you're doing fine. Just relax, and hold him a little tighter...that's it..."


The baby quieted, but Severus looked at it warily, as if expecting it to explode at any second.


"Severus," Ron said, "he won't break. You need to stop being so tense. They can sense that, and that makes them cry."


"Of course," Severus said doubtfully, and tried to relax.


Ron went about making tea for them, and then sat on the other side of the table, watching Severus over the rim of his cup. "You can...erm...let go of him with one hand and drink your tea. He won't fall, and he won't break."


Severus could hear the amusement in his voice and cocked a brow. Tentatively he loosed one arm and picked up his tea cup.


Ron straightened his face, biting back the snicker that threatened to burst forth, cleared his throat and asked, "So, how's Harry doing? I don't get to see him too much with the baby and his job, and we didn't really get a chance to talk at the hospital."


"He is well," Severus said, "he is currently craving a variety of appalling food combinations, and there is still some morning sickness, not surprising given what he eats," Severus snorted disgustedly, "but other than that, he is well."


"So, he's okay with having the babies?" Ron asked, "he didn't go completely off his nut when he found out?"


Severus lifted a brow and said, "Well, he was surprised, but then having been raised in the Muggle world, he didn't know he could get pregnant. I thought he'd told you this?"


"Right," Ron agreed, "but I meant the actual giving birth part. He's alright with it then? You too?"


"Why wouldn't we be?" Severus asked. "Obviously the babies must be born. He is under Poppy Pomfrey's care, and we both trust her. She has put Harry back together numerous times before. I am sure the small surgery it will require is well within her capabilities."


"Surgery?' Ron asked, a concerned frown forming on his face, "is that because it's twins?"


Now it was Severus' turn to be surprised, and he felt a scowl crease his face.


"How else would he be giving birth, Ronald?" he asked reasonably, "he is a man, after all." In case you hadn't noticed, he thought to himself, trying to keep his annoyance in rein. He looked over at the other man, and his scowl deepened. He was looking back with an expression of open mouthed disbelief.


Ron, aware he was gaping, closed his mouth, then cleared his throat. "Erm...Severus," he said carefully, "erm...you don't...you don't really know much about wizard pregnancy, do you?"


"What are you implying?" Severus scowled, not quite ready to admit the truth of it.


"Yeah, maybe you'd better give me the baby now," Ron said, getting up and taking his son back. He returned to his seat across the table and said, "Didn't your dad..."


"My father was a Muggle," Severus snapped shortly, "get to the point please."


Now it was Severus' turn to stare open mouthed as Ron spoke. He stood abruptly when he finished and said hastily, "I must go speak to Poppy. Not a word of this to Harry!" and rushed off to the floo.


Ron stood there watching the green flames die down again, and a part of him couldn't help feeling rather chuffed that he'd known something even the formidible Potions Master hadn't.

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"Poppy!" Severus shouted upon stepping out of the infirmary floo, "Poppy!"


The medi-witch came running out of her office, a startled expression on her face. "Severus?! Is it Harry? Is he alright?"


"He's fine!" Severus assured her, and matched the scowl she threw at him, following her into her office. He sat at in the chair she gestured at and launched directly into his reason for frightening her without apology. "Poppy, is it true that in order for Harry to give birth to the babies, his male genitals will transfigure into female?"


She looked at him angrily and said, "Of course it's true. How else would they be born? You didn't know this? You haven't told Harry?!"


"I haven't told Harry?" Severus blurted indignantly, "why haven't you told him?! You are the medi-witch!"


"He never asked me, and so I assumed you had told him!" she replied just as indignantly, "although I don't know why I'm surprised, seeing as how you didn't see fit to tell him he could become pregnant in the first place," she added.


"I told you I knew very little about wizard pregnancy!" Severus snapped angrily.


"One would assume that if you knew a wizard could get pregnant, you would know how one gave birth!" she said, her anger matching his, "how could you know one without knowing the other?!"


"Apparently it never occurred to Albus to impart that little tidbit of information to me," Severus said grimly, "perhaps he thought I would never find someone who thought me worthy of the requirement of the bond. Or perhaps he thought I wouldn't live long enough."


"Stop it," Poppy admonished sharply, "the important thing is that you have, and Harry must be told. I suggest you bring him here when he arrives back from the Ministry, and we will have a talk with him. I'll explain it to you both then."


"Very well," Severus said, rising to leave.


"Severus," Poppy called after him, "who did tell you?"


"Ronald Weasley," Severus snapped shortly as he strode out, missing the expression of amused surprise on her face.

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'I want to talk with you about the babies' birth," Poppy said calmly to Harry after he and Severus had returned.


"Okay," Harry said, and smiled at Severus. Severus gave a small smile back, wondering how Harry was going to take this. He mentally prepared himself for Harry to, as Weasley had said, "go completely off his nut"."


"Now, I've told you, you're experiencing pregnancy just as a woman does," Poppy began, "you've experienced the morning sickness..."


"And the cravings," Harry laughed, looking towards Severus again, "put him off his lunch a couple of times."


Poppy smiled indulgently and said, "Yes, well, the morning sickness should pass soon, although you may still experience the cravings. Soon you'll begin to show as well, to look pregnant, and you'll need bigger clothing. Madam Malkin should be able to help you there. You wouldn't be the first pregnant wizard she's clothed."


Harry nodded, a small frown on his face. He was both looking forward to being able to see the babies growing, and dreading it wondering what other people's reaction would be. He'd had enough of being stared at when he was in school. He was a bit worried about how he'd look and what Severus would think as well.


"So then, as you're experiencing pregnancy as a woman would, so you will be giving birth as a woman would," Poppy said gently, and waited for Harry's reaction.


"But....I don't have the right...equipment," Harry said, clearly confused.


"And that is what I wish to talk with you about," Poppy said with a reassuring smile. "You don't have the right equipment now but your body will amend that when the time comes for the babies to be born."


Harry looked at her for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I...I don't get it. How...what do you mean?"


"Harry," Poppy said, glancing at Severus, "your magic and Severus' together created the bond, the bond created the means for your body to conceive, and so it will to give birth. When the babies are ready to be born, your body, that is, your male genitals, will recede and transfigure into female genitals, which will allow you to give birth to your babies."


"What?!" Harry screeched in alarm, "you mean I'm going to turn into a woman?!?" He turned wild green eyes on Severus, a look of panicked disbelief on his face.


"Harry," Severus said evenly, "calm down. It isn't good for the babies..."


"Calm down? Calm down?!" Harry howled, "that's easy for you to say, isn't it! You're not the one turning into a woman, are you?! You knew about this? Or did you just "forget" like you "forgot" about telling me I could get pregnant in the first place?! That's a hell of a thing to let slip your mind, Severus! Course, it isn't happening to you, is it?!"


Before Severus could say anything in his defense, Poppy broke in.


"Harry!," she said firmly, "Harry, it's only temporary, until you give birth and your body recovers, and then everything will be back to normal. You're not turning into a woman, you're still a man, and will stay a man."


"Except for when I have girl's bits and then I'm a woman!" Harry wailed, his breath coming in short pants. He couldn't believe this! He'd thought that Poppy would wave her wand and by some magical means he'd have his little girls. He hadn't thought he'd be a girl himself!


"Drink this," Poppy ordered, shoving a vial at him, "now. It's a Calming Draught. It won't do you or the babies any good for you to hyperventilate yourself."


He snatched it out of her hand and threw it back, glaring at his husband, until he could feel the effects of the potion. Some of his anger abated, but the disbelief and shock remained although on a somewhat lesser level.


"I did not know this before speaking to Poppy," Severus said quietly, "and I was just as surprised as you are to find out."


"Oh, I'm far beyond surprised, Severus," Harry said grimly. He tried to wrap his mind around what he'd just been told, but was finding it rather difficult. His bits were going to disappear?? Transfigure into......


Harry didn't think his imagination extended that far.

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Back in their quarters, Harry was pacing and chewing his bottom lip in consternation.


"Harry," Severus sighed, catching hold of Harry's arm on his next pass and pulling him down to sit on the couch with him. "It will be alright. It isn't a permanent change."


"I don't want it to change at all!" Harry wailed, "I'm quite fond of my meat and two veg!" He sat forward, elbows on knees, and forked his fingers through his already messy hair. "Bloody hell, Sev! My bits are going to disappear! That's bad enough, but...to have...to have them change into woman's...how is that going to be alright?!"


"Harry," Severus said, pulling him back and wrapping his arms around him, "I know that you're upset...."


"Wouldn't you be?!" Harry howled indignantly, "I thought...I mean...we're wizards! We can do magic! I thought Poppy would just...you know...wave her wand, maybe give me a potion, like she does when I get injured! You were wrong, Sev, I am the wife!"


"Don't be silly, Harry," Severus said firmly, and tucked Harry's head under his chin. "You are not a woman, nor will you turn into a woman. Poppy said, it's only a temporary change, until the babies are born, and you recover from the birth. You'll get your "meat and two veg", as you so charmingly put it, back."


"Right," Harry sneered disdainfully, "it's not yours going away, is it?"


"Harry," Severus repeated reasonably, "Poppy told you, it's only temporary. Everything will come back to normal."


"Yeah, but...how long will that take?" Harry asked fretfully, his voice muffled, "and...what if...what if...you know how things happen to me! What if they don't come back!"


"Of course they will," Severus said, tightening his arms around Harry. He tried to keep his voice soothing and confident.


Harry swallowed hard and, hating how small his voice sounded, how girly, asked, "If...if something happened...and...and they didn't ...come back, and I had to stay that way. A woman...would you...would you..."


"Nothing is going to happen," Severus said comfortingly.


"Just..in case it does," Harry said pleadingly, "you'll still..."


Smiling down into his young husband's hair, Severus kissed his head and said, "I assure you, Harry, there is nothing that could change my love for you."

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He was draped in a lacy shawl over a flowery dress, high heels and a large summer hat on his head, ready to sit down and take tea with his "guests."


Then he was standing in front of the long mirror of the wardrobe, preening no less, as his companions suggested various pieces of jewellry for him to try, and different handbags to go with his outfit.


Giggling, from the direction of his knees, and he looked down at his "companions".


"Daddy," an emerald-eyed, black -haired little girl had laughed, "you're a pretty witch!"


An exact replica giggled and said, "Here, Daddy, wear this sparkly pink cape!"


"I know, I know!" they both chimed, jumping up and down, alternately tugging on his dress and clapping their hands, "let's plait your hair!

Severus sat bolt upright in bed with a gasp, his eyes wide in terror. After a few moments, his breathing began to calm as he realised he'd had a dream.


Nightmare he amended, and shook his head to try and rid himself of the horrifying images.


Oh Merlin, he thought weakly, little girls! That's what they did! They had tea parties and they wanted to play dress up, and style one another's hair and played with dolls!


He covered his eyes with his hands and shuddered, deciding he needed a good stiff drink before he'd be getting anymore sleep. Quietly, so as not to wake Harry, who had still been upset before falling asleep, Severus grabbed his wand and eased himself out of their bed.


He spelled the fireplace full of roaring flames, grabbed a glass and a bottle of brandy, and settled into his favourite chair, burrowing his feet into the white fur carpet Harry was so inordinately fond of. He took a long sip of his brandy and stared into the fire, a heavy sigh escaping him as he thought over the events of the day.


He had thought that any nightmares would have been over the startling revelations of Ronald Weasley and Poppy Pomfrey, exacerbated by Harry's anxiety of what was in store for him when their babies were born, yet they had not.


Instead, it was his own anxieties, brought on by his visit to Ronald Weasley and his son. He'd thought it over carefully before humbling himself enough to be able to discuss the matter with his former student. Although he had accepted that he was to be a father, and had acknowledged that he did want his children, it still made the prospect no less frightening. Seeing Ron's ease in handling his own newborn son had annoyed Severus to no end, made him envious, and had stirred up his own feelings of inadequacy. He was also still mindful of his and Harry's row after the hospital visit. He knew that disaster had put doubts into Harry's mind about Severus' suitablility as a father, as well as reinforcing his own doubts about himself.


He had, therefore, swallowed his pride and firecalled the youngest Weasley son, and asked his help, and they had decided that Severus would visit a few times a week. Hermione had returned to her work at the Ministry on a part-time basis already, so it would just be Severus, Ron, and little Hugo, with the idea being that Severus could accustom himself to dealing with a baby. A nerve wracking experience as it was, but seeing all the baby items strewn about had magnified Severus' nervousness. Particularly the nappies. He sighed again, supposing he'd better resign himself to the fact that sooner or later he would have to deal with those as well, and then another terrifying thought occurred to him.


Oh dear Merlin! After nappies came toilet training! How in the world was he supposed to train girls to use a toilet?? Certainly not by example! And then....his eyes widened....menstruation!!


Severus closed his eyes and felt like whimpering.


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