Togetherness

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A special thank you to Tarallynne Moon for the spectacular beta work.

Chapter 17 The Babies are Coming, The Babies are Coming

Draco lay on the bed, panting and sweating. “Harry that was fantastic, only one problem love. I think you better get us both cleaned up and to Poppy, and fast. I think your son wants out now.” Harry sat there in total shock. Had he hurt Draco or the baby? Oh gods, what should he do? Don’t Panic, think. Draco said clean them up. Oh gods, they just had mind-blowing sex and Draco went into labor. Had he been too ardent, were they ok? Don’t Panic.

Harry took another deep breath. “Draco, are you okay? Let me get my wand to clean us up. Can you make the infirmary or do you want Poppy to come here? What should I do?” Harry jumped off the bed and tried searching for his wand. All he was able to do was walk in circles.

“Harry.” No response. “HARRY” Harry stopped and looked at Draco. “Harry, here is your wand, right where you left it, under the pillow.” He handed it out to Harry who took it and just looked at it. Draco sighed and reached for his own. “Hang on Potter, I’ll do it for you.” With a flick of his wand Draco had them both cleaned and dressed. “Harry, listen to me.” Harry was still standing in the floor muttering to himself. Draco just shook his head. “HARRY JAMES POTTER! LISTEN TO ME!” Harry’s head snapped up and all his attention was now focused on Draco.

“Harry, come help me stand up.” Harry walked over and went to pick Draco up. “No silly, just help me st you you don’t need to carry me.” Draco slid his feet to the floor. “Now Harry, we are going to walk to the infirmary and we are stopping twice on the way. One to tell Hermione and the other for my Father and Severus. Let’s go, husband mine. We’re having a baby.” Draco started towards the door and turned to see Harry just standing there. “Harrrryyyy” That snapped him out of it. Harry wrapped his arm around Draco and started for the door.

They got out the door in time for another pain to hit Draco, double him over, and send him to the floor. Draco stayed there gasping. “Get my Father, hurry Harry” Harry ran for the Potion Master’s. He began banging on the door furiously and yelling, “Lucius, Lucius open the door, hurry”

The door flew open to a disheveled Lucius and Severus. “What is your excuse this time Harry? It’s beginning to be a habit I can live without.” Harry just looked at them and pointed “Draco, floor, baby, NOW”

Good thing Lucius and Severus were used to dealing with codes. They realized immediately what was happening and went running in the direction of the suite. They found Draco sitting in the floor panting heavily and shaking. Draco looked up and saw the three running to him. He had tears flowing down his face, “Daddy, make it stop. Make it stop.” Draco cried harder. Lucius bent down to his son and placed a hand on his stomach. It was time, no denying that from the hardness and the contractions rippling across the skin. “SShhh my Dragon, soon it won’t hurt and you will have your son to hold. Harry help me get him up. Draco, it might hurt, but the walking will help. Come on son.” Harry went to the other side of Draco and placed an arm around him and the other under his arm. He looked at Lucius who nodded and mouthed ‘Now’. They lifted Draco to his feet and Harry held on for dear life.

“OK Draco, let’s walk.” The four men began the journey to the infirmary. They passed two men heading towards the dungeons. Harry looked at them and realized who it was, “Charlie, Bill. Go see to Hermione, Draco just went into labor and I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet. Thanks guys.” The two red heads broke out into a run, knowing if Draco had gone into labor, Mione wouldn’t be far off, especially with twins. They were astounded that she had gone this far without going into labor already.

As the four men walked to the infirmary, things were beginning to stir within Hermione’s quarters. Charlie and Bill had just arrived to hear Hermione groan loudly and then curse. They used the password and went into the rooms. Hermione was standing in the middle of a puddle and was mad. “Damn, I think my water just broke and labor is starting and I had plans for today. Damn it.” She looked at the two men in her life. “Guys, can you take me to the infirmary?” Each man took a side and ushered her to the door. They made it through the door when a pain hit her and would have dropped her to the floor if they hadn’t been supporting her. “Damn, that hurt. It’s not supposed to be like this for ages yet.” ‘Mione was in a state. The pains she was having weren’t supposed to be until later in the process. She figured she had another 6 hours at least, but these pains were too intense to last that long. “We better hurry, guys.” Bill and Charlie looked at each other. Should one pick her up and carry her, or let her walk. “Let me walk you two. If it gets that bad, then you can carry me.” She started off for the infirmary again.

They arrived at the infirmary to hear Draco screaming in pain and fright. “Harry James Potter, if you ever blue light special me again I swear you won’t be able to have sex for the rest of your life. I’ll hex it to hell and back and it’ll only be a memory. Why can’t you be having this pain, not me? You’re used to pain, I’m not. Harry, Harry.” Harry stood by Draco with a concerned look on his face. He bent over to Draco and kissed his lips. “If I could bear the pain for you dearest, I would. I love you and I never want to see you hurt.” Draco gave him a scathing look. “Next time, its you giving birth not me. Why did you do this to me? And you planned on dying so I’d have to do this alone. Damn it Harry, you are never touching my arse again. I don’t care how great a fuck you are. ARRGGHHH!!”

Harry turned and could see Lucius smiling at hid Sed Severus just shaking his head. “Poppy, hurry, he can’t take this pain, you have to help him!” Harry was frantic now; he didn’t want to see Draco go through this and was glad Draco didn’t have a wand with him. Some fears were not irrational at times like this. Harry looked back to Lucius, “Lucius, call your healer, please. Draco needs help.”

Poppy came over and began an exam of Draco. She looked at Harry and Lucius. “Lucius, call your healer. I’m going to need help.” Lucius straightened up and looked at the serious look on Poppy’s face and made a run to the floo. He was back in seconds with his healer behind him.

The healer, Paul, looked at Draco and spoke in a quiet voice. “Draco, do you remember me? I’ve seen you since you were little. We’ll get your baby here safely, don’t worry. Now, let me have a look at everything. Gentlemen, everyone but the fathers out to the waiting room. We’ll let you know.”

The others left but Lucius kept looking back over his shoulder at his son. Severus pulled him to the waiting room and tried to calm him. “Lucius, settle down. It will do no good if you are upset like this. We are going to need you soon too.”

That last phrase caught Lucius attention as the doors banged open and two Weasleys came escorting Hermione through the door. “Poppy, Poppy, it’s Hermione and its’ started!” Poppy looked at her and headed straight for her. “How long dear?” Hermione looked up from a pained face. “Just before Harry and Draco got here I think.”

Poppy shook her head. “This is going to be busy day and night I think. It’s also the full moon. Severus, dear, did you get the potion to Lupin?” Severus looked at her with a blank stare for a minute and nodded.

Poppy got Hermione settled and changed and left the men holding a hand each, talking calmly to her. If nothing else, their medical training as Aurors would come in helpful. Poppy hurried to Draco and Paul. She looked at Harry and pulled a vial out of her pocket. “Drink this Harry, you’ll need it.” Harry uncorked it and drank it straight down. He blinked twice, blew out a breath and shook his head. “Good stuff, Poppy. I remember Pepper-up now.” Poppy just smiled at him. Harry leaned over Draco and kissed him again. “Have I told you in the last five minutes I love you?” He placed his hand in Draco’s and waited. The next pain hit and Harry thought his hand was crushed. Draco only ged sed some more. “Paul, how much longer?” Draco was growling now and wanted the baby out. Paul looked to Harry and Draco.

“Draco, did you ever discuss or research how to birth this baby?” Draco’s eyes crossed as he tried to focus on Paul. “Kinda slipped through. That’s what I was going to read this week. Options? And Hurry please?”
Paul looked at his young charge and felt old. “We can do it a couple of ways. I can examine you to see if the birth canal is formed and it can be natural. Or we can do the surgery to remove the baby. Preferred method is natural, if it can be done. Poppy have you examined him for the canal?” Poppy looked at Paul. “Not for two weeks but everythins ins in place.”

Paul looked to Harry and Draco. Harry spoke up. “Can you give him anything for the pain if he wants it natural?” Paul looked at them as Draco screamed again and tried to push. “Draco, stop pushing. Let me check.” Paul moved into position. “Harry, Draco, we don’t have enough time for anything to work on the pain. This baby is almost here now.” Paul got busy adjusting Draco and telling him what to do and when to do it. After much more cursing and pushing, Paul had in his hands the newest member of the Malfoy-Potter family. “Gentlemen, I present you with a perfect little boy. All appendages and bits and pieces accounted for.” He handed the baby to Poppy who cleaned him up in a hurry and wrapped him in a blanket and laid him on Draco’s chest.

Harry leaned down and kissed them both. “Welcome to the famiittlittle one. We’ve waited a long time to meet you.”

“Thank you Draco for being my and and giving me a son.” The peace around them was shattered by a loud female yell. “Damn you both. What did you do to me?” Harry and Draco turned their heads to see ‘Mione practically choke holding the Weasley men. Harry smirked at Draco, “Better them than us.” Draco looked at Harry and frowned. “Those are our children you are talking about. I know what she’s feeling. Get your arse over there now and don’t you dare kiss her like you do me.” Draco pulled him down a k a kiss Harry wouldn’t soon forget. Harry kissed his son and walked over to Hermione.

“Hermione, what can I do to help you?’ The other men looked at him and shook their heads “Wrong question mate.” Hermione looked him straight in the eye with malice “It could be your fucking ass on this table in pain and I’d be happy” she growled at him. Harry backed up a bit. “Poppy, Paul when you have a minute, I think Hermione needs you too.” Paul looked up at the clock. He’d been here for five hours already and was only up to births number two and three. Oh yes, long day indeed. Paul finished making sure Draco was okay and Poppy placed the baby in a bassinet next to his bed and told him to rest.

They bustled over to Hermione where Paul looked at her. “Miss Granger, do you want me to help or Poppy?” Mione lunged up on the bed and between panting said “I don’t care as long au mau make it stop and get them out NOW!” Poppy motioned for Paul to proceed while she stood at Hermione’s neck talking to her, trying to calm her down. Paul finished the exam. “Hermione, you’re not quite ready yet, it feels like you’ve got another hour or so to go, judging from the exam. What do you want me to do?” Hermione looked wide-eyed. “An hour or so? Another freaking hour of this pain? How about if you do the pain and I’ll tell you when. Sadistic bastards, all men. Nng bng but ungrateful, knock-you-up, leave-you-in-pain fuckwads. I wish you all had to go through this. Aarrrgghhh. Harry, you are so going to wish you had died when I’m done with you instead of knocking me up through Draco. Silly ass prat. Where’s Snarkle? I’ll show him what pain is. Mastermind, my ass.” Harry tried to back away but Charlie grabbed a hold of him. “You can have my seat for a while Harry, I need to check on something.”

Harry sat down and took Hermione’s hand in his. “You are like my sister, ‘Mione and I don’t want to see you suffer like this. I wish I could do this for you, but right now, I can’t. Please remember the babies Hermione.” ‘Mione looked at him “Like I could bloody well forget what’s trying to come out of me, you great ass.” Harry turned to Poppy for help; Poppy just shrugged her shoulders and looked at the clock. According to Paul, it would really start in about 10 minutes. Poppy pulled Harry away for a minute and explained her idea. Harry was game for anything about now. Poppy returned and handed Harry a package.

Harry went to Hermione and opened the package. “Here ‘Mione, bite on this. This was what the old American Indians and the Pilgrims used to help through childbirth.” He went behind her head and placed the piece of thick leather at her mouth and she clamped on for dear life. Another pain racked her body and she bit down again but they could still hear her groan. Harry let her squeeze on his hand and was wondering if he would ever be able to hold the babies at this rate. Hermione’s body contracted again and she sat up. Harry eased behind here to help support her as she brought his babies into the world. Harry looked around and yelled “PAUL!!” Bill was already there and willing to help. “‘Mione honey, hold on. Don’t push just yet. Let Paul check something.” Paul came bustling over and examined Hermione again. “Ah, ok love, the next time you feel like pushing, give it everything you’ve got.” That was all Hermione had to hear. A pain hit and she was pushing hard. She fell limp against Harry and panted hard. She spit the leather out and looked at Harry. “This better be worth it. You better be the best father in this world, Harry James, or I’ll make sure you are never a father again.” A pain hit again and the process started all over. After the third huge push, she could feel the baby sliding from her body. “Ahhh, about time. Which one is it?” Poppy took the baby from Paul and said, “It’s a beautiful little girl, Hermione.” Hermione began crying and Harry was wiping her face and leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for my daughter. Let’s have Draco’s son now.” Hermione gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. The next pain ripped through her. “That does it, I am never having another baby, I don’t care who the fucking father is. He can have it.” Several intense pains and a lot of pushing ensued. Hermione was lying back against Harry. “Harry, I can’t. I can’t do it. Too Tired.” Harry brushed her hair back and kissed a temple. “Come on, ‘Mione. You can do this. We know you can. We know you’re tired. on ‘on ‘Mione. One more push and we can think of leaving you to rest, but you have to get our son out first. I’m right here, we can do this.” Harry wished he could offer her strength to get through this. As he thought on this, a white light enveloped the two and Hermione perked up some.

Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione, kissed her temple again and said “OK ‘Mione, lets get that baby here. Next pain, push for all you’re worth.” The pain hit and she began pushing like Harry said. This baby was taking its sweet time and it was annoying her now. “Paul, why won’t the baby come? I want him out!”

A pain hit again and she pushed harder than ever, grunting the whole way. Paul looked up at them, “Sometimes, ‘Mione, they just don’t want to leave. You have to push them out of the nest. I can see the head crowning and it’s just a matter of another push or two, sweetheart. You can do this.” Hermione laid back panting and gasping for air. “DRACO MALFOY, THIS SON OF YOURS IS A PAIN IN MY-“ Harry didn’t let her finish the statement, he pushed the leather back in her mouth. He could see another contraction rolling across her taught skin. “Push Hermione, Push.” Hermione was too tired to listen to instructions and just let her body take control. Finally, she felt the baby slip from her into the waitingds ods of the doctor. “We have a handsome little boy here if anyone wants to know.” Paul was happy to make the announcement. He had no sooner finished saying that then Hermione yelled again at the need to push. Paul grabbed a basin and turned around. “Go ahead Hermione, it’s the afterbirth and has to come out. Its not another baby.” Paul looked down to the emerging substance and did a double take. It was red and messy, but it wasn’t the afterbirth. “Um, Hermione, I think somebody made a mistake. Keep pushing love, it is another baby.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN, ANOTHER BABY? I was having two- twins, not three- triplets. Can’t anybody count past two? Aarrghh.” Bill had been watching the proceedings and looked around, Charlie was no where to be seen. Bill took one look at the baby coming and knew it belonged to him or Charlie and since he was there first and Charlie wasn’t, he’d claim it. He looked at Hermione and went up and kissed her on the lips. “C’mon love, you’re having my baby, we can do this.” Hermione stared in horror at what she heard. She was having a Weasley? Oh gods, fate was a fickle bitch and screwed around with her life. Hermione got determined and kept pushing. In no time this baby was out and the urge to push again hit. “Oh gods, somebody tell me it’s the afterbirth for sure this time and I’m not a damn baby factory.” Hermione was exhausted. Paul confirmed for her it was the afterbirth and she began xingxing. Before Poppy and Paul could clean her up and start the healing, Hermione was asleep and she deserved it.

Harry scooted out from under her back and gently laid her on the bed. He kissed her forehead, “Thank you for my children Hermione. You are the best friend a guy could ever have.” He knew she didn’t hear him, but he would willingly repeat it to her later.

Harry turned to look around the infirmary. This was the first time he had ever been so active in this room. Usually he was lying on one of the beds and people were fussing at him. Now all he could hear was the steady breathing of the babies as they lay in bassinets. He looked to his and Draco and Hermione’s children and at the Weasley baby lying together. It was a combination of features to see in the children and he was awe-struck.

His daughter lay there, with her head covered in a shocking mass of black hair. Harry looked at Draco’s son and smiled, It was his son too and nobody or nothing would change that. His second born son lay there with frizzy hair, matching his birth mother’s while the blonde hair screamed Malfoy at anyone who looked. The little Weasley ran true to his family’s birthmarks of red hair and had the “Hermione frizz”. Harry looked over to Draco who was watching him. Harry picked up their children in the bassinets and walked over to Draco. “We have a family Draco, I love you so very much. Our sons and daughter.” Harry kissed Draco again and picked up his other son and placed him in Draco’s arms. “Good thing you know how to use gel Draco.” Harry smiled at Draco and there was no malice or meanness in the saying. Draco looked at his son and grinned back at Harry. “I had hoped to never see it again. Maybe its just shocked for the moment after the traumatic entry?” Draco was hopeful. Harry was skeptical. “I can’t wait to see what color their eyes finally turn. It should be interesting. I have to get together with Paul and Poppy and the Weasleys. There’s something funny going on and I need to figure it out. I’ll let you know. Get some rest now while our angels are sleeping. We need to rest when they do, so we are ready for everything.” Harry kissed Draco slowly and lingeringly making promises with his lips that he would do his best to fulfill. Harry broke away and headed for the others in the room.

He noticed that Severus and Lucius were pacing back and forth and Severus was rubbing his stomach. Harry got closer to Paul and Poppy. “Excuse me, but I think it’s Severus’ turn.” All heads turned and watched Severus pace and rub his stomach.

“Severus, why didn’t’ you say something?” Poppy questioned him gently. Severus just looked at her. “Poppy this is nothing compared to what I endured at the Dark Lord’s hands. Besides, we had to see to the youngsters.” Severus stopped pacing and reached out for Lucius and began panting. “Beow wow would be good.” Everyone broke into action. Harry helped Lucius get Severus over to the bed and slid in to support Severus while Lucius stood by his side holding his hand.

A pain ripped through Severus as the doctor went to make the first exam. “Severus, you’ve been holding out on us. How long?” Paul was concerned. Severus looked at the man with the strange hand near his arse. Severus groaned again and rubbed his stomach. “Since Miss Granger” he managed to choke out. Paul and Poppy shook their heads. Poppy went to conjure another bassinets. Severus looked at Lucius and then to Draco. Draco was sleeping peacefully. “Lucius, I’m too bloody old for this. I can’t have a baby.” Lucius patted and stroked his hand. “Severus, my love, it’s a little too late for that. Our baby is almost here. Just listen and do as Paul tells you. You’ve been doing fine all this time. You can do it.” Harry supported Severus. “Okay, Uncle Severus, you can do this for all of us.”

Severus growled back at Harry. “You only thought you were dying. Here we are on the edge of it and you keep saying, ‘You can do this’. I’d like to see your ass up here sometime. PAUL, PAIN!”

Paul looked at Severus again. “You keep surprising me, Severus. It won’t be long; the baby’readready started out. Next pain, push down.” Severus panted until the next contraction hit and he began bearing down. Two more tries and they all heard the cries of the newest born, just before midnight. “Severus, Lucius, it’s a beauty of a blonde little girl you have. Congratulations.” Lucius leaned over and kissed Severus while Harry still had him upright. “Thank you for my daughter.” Harry slid out from behind Severus and kissed him on the forehead. “Wonderful job Uncle Severus. I’ll let Draco know.”

Harry moved back towards Draco and their family and yawned. How did they all do it? Harry shifted another bed next to Draco and lay down as close as possible. Poppy saw what he was trying and just tsk’d tsk’d at him. “Mr. Potter, get up for a minute.” Harry stood while Poppy moved the bed back. She turned to the bed Draco lay in and said an enlarging spell. Harry smiled his thanks and lay down again. Poppy shook her head again and flicked her wrist and he was resting in pajamas again. Harry brought his arms around Draco and spooned into his back. He kissed his neck, whispered in to his ear anothI LoI Love You” and fell asleep.

Peace and quiet were last heard that night as everyone settled in after a long day. When morning came, peace and quiet were no more than memories. There were five babies that needed attention and three very sore birth parents to take care of. Harry was a busy man again.


A/N The Epilogue should be ready Tuesday. Thanks for reading, leave me a review or comment or vote!