Areas of Expertise

-- The boys *finally* seem to be over their screwing phase, and I can now get on with the story. At this point, we were meant to be writing about March, but so much shagging has been done that we're only in November and things are going fairly pear shaped with our lovely couple! SP



Chapter Seventeen –



“You see what power is – holding someone else’s fear in your hand and showing it to them!” Amy Tan



***



‘Chapter Three: Symptons of a Wizard Pregnancy.



Once the Gero potion has been administered (see chapter two) and intercourse has taken place, the following symptoms will denote that the coupling has been a success:



- Intense morning sickness

- An altered magical signature (the presence of the child)

- An aversion to potions given for menstrual problems

- Enhanced lust for the father of the child

- Violent mood swings



A pregnant wizard will suffer from all of these signs to some degree. Morning sickness will usually last a month; the magical signature will continue to alter during the pregnancy until two distinct consciousnesses are discernible; aversion to certain potions will last the entirety of the pregnancy; increased lust for the father will usually last for a month; and violent mood swings continue throughout, but are most intense in the first and final months.



Research undertaken by Fertilius Brown suggests that in the second pregnancy symptoms are less marked, and continue to decrease in intensity with each subsequent child. Indeed, by Brown’s fifth pregnancy, he scarcely suffered with morning sickness at all.’



“Ow!” Harry muttered as he read the final paragraph. “Five kids!” He considered the problem of five pregnancies (and five births). He flicked through until he found the section on births.



‘Chapter Twelve: Birth



In the final weeks prior to the birth, the wizard will have an increased sensitivity to the moods of those around him. As well as this, his stomach will begin preparing itself for the birth. The skin across the womb will begin to thin – usually in a line down the stomach – to allow the child to exit the body. Despite this, no wizard can fully give birth, and Libero Potion is needed to free the baby.



Some wizards claim that taking Gero potion every day during the final weeks enables the skin to thin more rapidly and with less pain.’



“Pain?” Harry didn’t like the sound of that.



He got up from the table he was at in the library and went in search of a potions book to help him understand what the Libero potion did.



He returned, lugging a heavy tome and sat down. Draco Malfoy sat opposite, grey eyes alive with malice.



“Should you be carrying that heavy book in your condition?” he queried.



Shit!Shit!shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit!



“What, Malfoy? You’re making less sense than usual, and that’s saying something.” Harry spat back.



“So, who got the pleasure of parting your dimpled thighs and buggering you?” Malfoy asked, voice almost casual.



“That’s truly disgusting.” Harry commented, forcing down the anger that was only too ready to surface.



Malfoy glanced down at the still open book in front of Harry’s seat. “You really have no idea how to keep things a secret, do you? Reading a book about wizard pregnancies in the school LIBRARY. Merlin, how have you survived this long?”



“Malfoy,” the Gryffindor said quietly, “I’m going to tell you this now, so you can stop bothering me. I’m not pregnant. I have no idea what your problem is, and I don’t much care. Just leave me alone.”



“Suuuuuuurrre,” the blond drawled, “you’re sleeping away from the other Gryffindorks because you’re special. You’re sleeping down in the dungeon with the only man who could conceivably have fucked you because you like his company. And I bet you’re reading this book for a friend. Try another one, Potter.”



“Malfoy, you have a sick mind.” Harry shook his head. “I do not sleep with other men, and definitely not teachers! I reckon you’re going on about this cos you’ve not been laid.”



Draco laughed harshly. “Not been laid? Potter, you really are an innocent! I’ve been fucking since third year – and, unlike you, someone else has been there!”



Harry, anger bubbling to the surface, didn’t notice Snape’s approach.



Where Harry was sitting, Draco was hidden by some bookcases, so the Gryffindor appeared to be alone.



“Harry,” Snape whispered, still half a dozen paces away, “what are you doing here? You know how dangerous it is for you to be alone, away from me or your friends. You should … oh.” He spotted Draco and ground to a halt.



“Suuuuuuuurrre, Potter,” Draco drawled again, “Snape didn’t bugger you and get you pregnant.” He stood up, nodded to the teacher and walked away, saying, “Such interesting news. I wonder who hasn’t been told it, yet.”



“Shit!” Snape exploded, and, ignoring Madam Pince’s disapproving stare, he spun on his heel and strode after the Slytherin student. He grabbed Draco roughly by the arm and hustled him away. Severus threw a glance over his shoulder, indicating that Harry should follow.



Sighing, Harry closed the book he had been reading and put it back on the shelf. Then he picked up his school bag and followed the potions master along the corridors.



“Harry, mate, you ok?” It was Ron, looking a little tentative. A week had passed since their fight, and outwardly nothing was wrong; they had made up and were fine, but the trio knew some thing had changed forever. It was inevitable, considering the huge change that had happened in Harry’s life.



The dark haired boy said dully, “Draco’s found out.”



“Oh, shit, that’s bad!” Ron groaned. He looked about him, as if seeking inspiration. “Let me find ‘Mione, k? We’ll meet you down in your rooms as soon as we can.”



“Thanks Ron.” Harry said, and watched the red head race away, muttering Hermione’s timetable to himself.



Harry walked listlessly down the stairs. He had no desire to be with Draco Malfoy and somehow convince him not to tell the world about the child. He slowed down, hoping to get there late enough that Snape had dealt with it entirely.



He dragged his feet as he went along the dungeons corridor, until finally he was faced with the entrance to Snape’s rooms. Usually he couldn’t wait to go in, now he was apprehensive.



“… Don’t imagine this is an idle threat, Draco, it isn’t. I will tell the Dark Lord about the baby, not you. You will make no mention as to whom the father is to anyone. You will not write to anyone, nor floo them, nor do anything to communicate Harry’s secret. Is that clear?” Snape paused, then went on, “In return, I will keep your secret.”



He turned as he heard the painting slide closed. “Harry!” the relief in his voice was obvious. “You were right behind me. What happened?”



Feeling a little guilty about using his friend as a scape goat, Harry nevertheless said, “I got stopped by Ron.”



Snape nodded, a little distracted still. “Mr Malfoy and myself have come to an agreement. I will inform the Dark Lord about your condition at our next meeting, and Draco will keep the truth to himself.”



Harry felt sick. “Voldemort will know? But it’s been less than two months! I can’t have the threat of him hanging over my head for the next seven, Severus, I can’t.”



Draco raised an exquisitely sculpted eyebrow at Harry’s use of the potions master’s first name, but made no comment.



“I’m sorry,” Snape said. “I had hoped to keep it a secret longer, but if Draco knows and Voldemort finds out from him by accident, I’ll be killed.”



The Gryffindor chewed his lower lip. “Tell him.” He said. “I’m safe here. It’s not like he can send someone to kill me, is it? Who’s he going to send? A child?” Harry grinned at the idiocy of the suggestion, but the two Slytherins looked uncomfortable.



--Big BIG cookie to whoever works out Draco's secret! SP