Harry Potter and The Beloved Incubus (BP4)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,698
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
41
Views:
21,698
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Voice of the Past
Chapter Number/Total: 19/40
Chapter Title: Voice of the Past
Words: 4436 Words
Harry and Draco arrived in the entrance hall of the Manor from Diagon Alley. It wasn't as far as the Hog's Head, so Harry didn't feel too bad after the Apparation. He hurriedly gave his cloak to the elf that appeared to take it and then stepped across the hall, pausing at the entry way. "Want to get Ron and Hermione now?" he asked Draco, looking over his shoulder.
Draco nodded, holding the box tightly and his heart beating fast.
Harry nodded too and continued out the door. At times like these, having such a huge place annoyed him. Ron and Hermione could have been anywhere. After looking in a few rooms, he called a house-elf to tell him where they were and hurriedly made his way to the main sitting room where Ron and Hermione were sitting with Charlie and the twins.
It took a few minutes to get Ron and Hermione away from the room without seeming suspicious, but they were finally all heading up to Harry and Draco's suite with the trunk, anxious to get it open.
Draco sat on the sofa and placed the box in front of them on a table. It was an old wooden box held together with wrought iron bands which had rusted a bit. It was dusty, the grime was smudged where Draco had held onto it. He waited for Harry to start the explanation to the others.
"What is it?" Ron asked, sitting next to Draco to get a closer look.
"It's from Dumbledore," said Harry.
Ron and Hermione both looked at him quickly.
"From Dumbledore?" said Hermione. "I thought you said you really were at Gringotts ...."
"We were," said Harry. "This is from Draco's trust vault." He patted the top of the box, resisting the urge to flip it open.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why would anything from Dumbledore be inside Draco's anything?"
Draco raised an eyebrow at the wording but let it go. "This box was placed in the vault sometime between my first and second birthdays by Severus Snape," he explained. "He told us that Dumbledore gave it to him to put there."
"How would that have anything to do with Harry?" Hermione asked. "And what went on with Snape the other day? You said you would tell us and still haven't."
"Snape told us to go and get this out of Draco's vault," Harry explained. "He said ... that I'm supposed to go back ... to the night Voldemort killed my parents."
Ron's eyes widened and he looked confused.
"What?" said Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, back to that night."
"But why?" she asked, looking even more confused.
"He told us that it had something to do with Horcruxes and that he couldn't give us details," Draco huffed. "That it would make sense afterwards."
"But how will you know what to do?" asked Ron. "What if you go there and mess something up?"
"I'm guessing that the answer to that is in this box," said Harry, patting the box again.
Hermione and Ron looked expectantly at him for a few seconds.
"Well, open it!" said Hermione impatiently.
Draco looked at Harry for confirmation. "Do you want me to?" he asked.
Harry took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's see what's inside," he answered, playing with the end of his sleeve nervously.
Draco licked his lips and opened the lid. There was a parchment case and a silk bag with something inside that Draco could feel was magical. He picked up the parchment case and saw that it was addressed to Harry Potter.
Harry, Ron and Hermione leaned in and looked inside as well.
"There's a letter," Hermione said.
"Open it," Ron pushed, staring at Harry.
Draco nodded but didn't pick up the bag inside. He thought it better to read the letter first. He handed it to Harry.
Harry uncorked one end of the tube and pulled the rolled up parchment out. It was old but thick and rolled tight. Harry saw that it was a letter addressed to him.
To, Harry Potter:
If you are reading this now, I assume that you and Draco Malfoy are together. I write this not long after leaving you, against my better judgement, with your Aunt Petunia Dursley and her family. You told me I needed to do that to protect you. It was one of the more difficult tasks I have ever had to do.
I am immensely saddened by the loss of Lily and James and, yet, heartened by the man you will grow into and the partner you have at your side. My best wishes go to you both and your child.
Now to what this letter is supposed to be about: enclosed is the Timekey you instructed me to leave. It functions like a Portkey only in time rather than in space. This means that you must be at the location you want to appear in before you activate it. It will take you to October 31st, 1981 and return you 12 hours later. You told me that the date you left on was February 13th, 1998. You must be in Godric's Hollow on that date.
Remember compassion for all those who were there that terrible All Hallows Eve. It was love that saved you then and it is love that will save you now.
Yours, Albus Dumbledore.
Harry's hands shook slightly as he lowered the letter and stared at the space in front of him. He passed it to Draco silently, wondering if he was going to cry or not.
Draco read the letter aloud to the others, again overwhelmed by that feeling of destiny.
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, eyes welling up. Ron stared at Draco with his mouth hanging open a bit.
"So this is - this is real?" Hermione said in a higher-than-usual voice.
"It has to be," said Harry quietly.
"Dumbledore knew I would be with Harry," Draco whispered, "because he met us together back then."
"This is - wow," said Ron, slumping back against the sofa. "Wow."
"We have to go to Godric's Hollow then," Harry said to Draco, finding it immensely strange that he had been wanting to go there since Dumbledore's funeral.
"Yes," Draco said quietly, "in three days."
"Just you and Draco?" asked Hermione, still teary-eyed.
"I think so," said Harry.
"Snape said that it was Harry, pregnant like he is now, and a taller man in a cloak whom he assumed to be me. But Dumbledore mentions me by name," Draco said. "There's also the fact that this was left in my vault."
Harry nodded. "It must be only us then, because Dumbledore would have mentioned you two in the letter if you were there. Snape as well."
"Snape was there?" Ron asked. "That night?"
"That's what he said," Harry answered.
"And he knows Harry is pregnant. Said he has been waiting for it, actually." Draco sighed.
"Well, why didn't anyone tell you about all this?" said Ron, eyes wide.
"They couldn't," said Hermione quietly. "It could have messed up what was supposed to happen."
Draco nodded. "Supposed to happen," he repeated, feeling in shock still about that.
All four of them were silent for a few minutes.
"This is ... a lot ... to take in," Harry said finally.
"Indeed," Draco said, staring now at the bag in the box. He reached shaking fingers for it.
Harry watched as Draco pulled the bag out, feeling almost heavier with all of this new information.
Draco held the bag carefully by the edge, opening the draw-string with shaky fingers and looking in. "Merde'," he cursed when he saw what was inside.
"What?" Harry, Ron and Hermione all asked quickly in unison. Ron leaned over towards Draco to get a look and Harry stepped forward, taking a seat on Draco's other side.
Draco upended the bag into the box so the contents lay on the bottom without him touching it. It was a pendant. A gold chain with a small shield shape. The image of a lion conquering a dragon in white on yellow gold.
Harry's mouth dropped open and his hand automatically came up to touch his own necklace through his robe. He turned his head and looked at Draco. "It's my ..." he said, trailing off.
"Yes, it is," Draco said quietly. "And there is only one of those. I had it custom made as your wedding present. But this one has been sitting in this box since you and I were still in nappies."
"Merlin," said Ron.
"Merlin, indeed," Harry said so quietly it was almost a whisper.
"So, I guess you will give him the one you are wearing now," Draco said in that shocked, quiet voice.
"Yeah ... I ... yeah, I guess," Harry said, pulling his necklace out and fingering the pendant.
"I can see the enchantment on the one in the box," Draco said. "Other than that, they look the same."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, they look exactly the same," he said quietly.
Draco was watching Harry. His entire life had been leading up to this. He wasn't sure whether to be angry over never having a choice or pleased that he was doing what he was meant to do.
Harry let out a quiet sigh. "So, we wait then," he said. "And then ... we do this." He was a bit in awe and terrified as well. It was really sinking in that he was going to go and watch the night that had turned his life into what it was. It was a very legitimate thing to be terrified of.
"Put it away for now," Draco said, holding the bag out for Harry to put the Timekey back.
He picked the necklace up and placed it back inside the bag and then sat there, unsure of what to say.
"This is for a Horcrux?" Hermione said.
"I don't know," Harry answered. "I don't know anything except what's been said to me."
"Snape said that he thought we might find a clue about the next one there," Draco said, reaching a hand to stroke Harry's dark hair.
Hermione nodded and bit her lip. "Harry ...." she began, but she didn't finish what she had been about to say.
"This is good then, right?" Harry asked, looking up at Draco. "This is what we needed. We had to have some sort of lead."
Draco looked at Hermione, a question in his eyes, but didn't say anything to her. "It is what happened, so it is what must happen," he said. "It may answer questions you need answers to." He threaded his fingers through Harry's hair soothingly.
Harry nodded. "I have a lot of questions," he said quietly.
"I suppose it might be hard ...." Hermione said, biting her lip again. "Harry ... it'll be just like in third year. You will only be able to do what it is you have to do. Nothing else."
"I - I know," Harry said, nodding again.
"Yes, Severus brought that up too," Draco said to Hermione. He wondered about the reference to third year.
"If anything goes wrong ... you could alter our entire world. You ... can't save your parents. You absolutely cannot," Hermione continued seriously.
"I know," Harry said, and it was a little sharp this time.
"Hermione," Draco said, reaching his other hand to rest on Harry's belly, calling her attention to it, "we know that. We understand what we risk if we do."
She sighed quietly and gave a tiny nod.
"I'm tired," Harry said after another minute of silence had passed as he stared at the floor. "I think I'm going to take a nap."
Ron and Hermione didn't say anything, just nodded, staring at him sadly. He didn't want their pity. If it had to be done, it had to be done.
"I'll be there in a minute," Draco said, indicating Harry should go to the bedroom.
Harry nodded again, feeling like all he was doing was nodding, and got to his feet, heading into their bedroom.
Draco looked after him and then turned to their friends. "I am worried about him," he said.
"I am too," Hermione admitted quietly.
Ron stared between both Hermione and Draco worriedly.
"Pregnancy can be difficult for a grown woman whose body and mind are ready for it," Draco said.
"He hasn't been acting much like himself lately," Hermione said. "And he's getting big so quickly. I've never seen anything like it."
"I have read everything I can find on pregnancy, and while his symptoms are normal, they are progressing faster than usual," Draco said. "I think the baby is growing quicker."
"Is that safe?" Hermione asked worriedly. "Can he handle that? Will the baby be all right?"
Draco took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. He was scared and he couldn't admit it to Harry. "I don't know. There is nothing in the books that help me here," he answered, his voice quavering.
"This has never happened before," Hermione said, looking even more scared and worried. "I read as many books as I could find, too, and there hasn't been a single thing on male pregnancy. Harry's the first. Anything could happen."
"I have to trust that the Ancestral Magic of the Manor and Harry's magic wouldn't have done this to him if it wouldn't work," Draco said, but he was still trembling a bit as he said it.
Hermione moved to the spot on the couch that Harry had vacated and placed a gentle hand on Draco's back. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm sure everything will be fine. You're right, it couldn't have done this to him without it being able to work."
Draco was startled, but grateful for her kindness. He turned worried grey eyes to her. "He keeps asking me what happens next. But I don't know the answers. Like how ..." he swallowed thickly, "does the baby come out."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again, obviously trying to think of what to say. "Well ..." she began slowly, "vaginal births aren't always the only option for a woman. Sometimes the baby has to be removed ...."
"Cut out," Draco whispered. "I read that. There was something about when the baby grows in another part besides the womb. That it can damage the … host’s … internal organs. They usually cut the baby out before it is even ready."
"Maybe that's why the baby is growing so fast," Hermione said, looking frightened from Draco's words. "Perhaps the magic could tell that his body wouldn't be able to carry a baby to term ... all the way through the nine months."
Draco thought about that a minute, nodding. "Possibly, and I think it has some type of magical protection around it that takes the place of the womb," he said. "But that still doesn't answer the question. Am I going to have to ...?"
"Cut the baby out?" Hermione said, wincing.
Ron's ears were red but he was staring at Hermione and Draco intently.
Draco nodded, not sure he could even say it.
"I can't imagine that it could come out any other way," Hermione said slowly. "There is no other way that I can see."
Draco winced, closing his eyes. He knew this already, but hearing Hermione say it made it more real.
Hermione swallowed. "I don't know what you're ... going to tell him," she said, wincing again. "But I don't know what he was expecting."
"I think he wants me to tell him everything is going to be fine," Draco said, "and so that's what I do."
Hermione nodded. "I think, for right now, that is probably what's best for him. And for all we know ... everything will be fine."
Draco nodded. "Well, I should be with him," he said quietly, getting up.
Hermione sighed. "Yes, you should be," she said, getting to her feet as well. She stared up at Draco. "I know that I'm Harry's best friend," she gave a small smile, "but I like to think we're friends now too. I know things have got to get ... hard and I just want you to know I'm here."
"Thank you, Hermione," Draco said, and turned, "and you too, Ron. I do consider you my friends."
"No problem, mate," said Ron, giving a small smile like Hermione's.
"I guess we'll let you get to your husband," Hermione said gently.
Draco said goodnight and went to the bedroom to find Harry.
***
Harry was lying on the bed, still clothed, and staring up at that "H." He turned his head when Draco entered the room and smiled softly at him.
Draco lifted his arms to rest against the frame above him and stared down at the beautiful man in his bed. It still made his heart speed up just to think about it - such a dream come true and here he was.
"What are you thinking?" Harry whispered, reaching a hand out to run his fingers along the outside fabric of Draco's robes.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "That you look good in my bed." He smirked.
Harry smiled. "Even with this belly?" he asked teasingly.
Draco grinned, blushing furiously as he nodded.
Harry raised an eyebrow now. "And you're blushing why?" he said.
Draco's breathing had sped up and he rolled his eyes. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes before lying down beside Harry, facing him.
Harry rolled on his side as well and sighed, reaching out for Draco's hair now.
"Does it bother you that you turn me on like this?" Draco asked quietly.
"What, pregnant?" Harry asked, raising both eyebrows.
Draco nodded, grinning. He reached his hand out to lie on Harry's belly, stroking him.
"Well, I think I would be more bothered if you thought I looked disgusting," Harry said with a small laugh.
"The man I have wanted for so long is my husband and is carrying our child," Draco said, his voice awed. "How could that be anything other than exciting?"
Harry smiled. "I don't know," he said quietly.
Draco took a deep breath. "I love your body. I loved it at eleven, and I loved it last year, and I love it now, but I don't think what makes me feel this way is about the way you look. It is something about you," he said in a kind of breathy speech, wondering if any of it made sense.
Harry smiled again. "Well, I certainly don't know what it is."
"Do you think that ... if it was reversed, you would still be attracted to me?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Harry said without hesitation. "I think I'd be attracted to you if all your teeth fell out and you smelled weird." He laughed a little.
"So, there it is," Draco said, pushing Harry's shirt up so he could run his hand directly over the skin of his belly, fingers teasing the hair below his bellybutton.
Harry smiled widely and sighed. "There what is?" he said.
"We are both attracted to each other and will be no matter what," Draco laughed, "so get used to it, Potter."
Harry smirked. "Oh, but Malfoy, I think I already am," he said.
"Prove it," Draco challenged, smirking.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, grinning.
"I can take whatever you can dish out, Potter," Draco drawled.
Harry grinned wider still and rolled so that he was over top of Draco on hands and knees. "Last chance," he said, leaning close to Draco's face with eyes gone dark and half-lidded.
Draco laughed, Harry's belly pressing against his own. "Oh, I am so scared," he crooned in a mocking tone, even as his heart sped up.
Harry smiled gently before pressing his cheek to Draco's to whisper in his ear. "You needn't be," he said, sliding a hand down to cup Draco's crotch.
Draco hissed, arching into that touch. "Ride me," he whispered.
Harry closed his eyes in pleasure at those words. "Anything," he whispered, performing the spell to strip them both.
Draco groaned as Harry's magic swept over them and they were suddenly skin to skin.
Harry brought his mouth to Draco's, already open for him, and slid both hands along his jaw as he let his body down to rest gently on top of his husband's.
Harry straddling him with his belly pressed against Draco's was odd and hot in a new way. He really was crazy about this man and probably pretty kinky to feel this way. His hands came up to Harry's sides and he opened his mouth, slipping his tongue against Harry's.
Harry moaned quietly at the always amazingly wonderful feel of Draco's hands on him. He pressed their groins together as he sucked on Draco's tongue and licked it with his own.
Draco had been half-hard already, but as Harry rubbed their cocks together, he felt his erection pulse against his lovers.
Harry gasped at the sensation and moved one hand to begin preparing himself, wanting Draco inside him. He performed the Lube Spell with as little effort as he had to remove their clothes and pressed his fingers gently inside. The feeling of them was nothing, nothing to what Draco would feel like.
Draco watched hungrily as he saw Harry reaching back. His hands slid down over his lover's hips and thighs.
Harry gasped again as Draco touched him, moving his fingers faster so that he could have the man beneath him. He covered Draco's mouth with his own again as he lifted up slightly to grasp Draco's cock with his slick fingers, loving the feel of it in his hand.
Draco moaned into Harry's mouth, trembling as his lover's hand grasped his cock. He dug his fingers into the other man's thighs, shivering with anticipation.
"I have you and I've still never wanted anything so much," Harry whispered as he began to slide down against Draco's cock.
"Yesss!" Draco gasped as he felt himself enclosed in Harry's heat. "Yours, always yours," he whispered.
Harry raised up to get a better angle and closed his eyes, his expression one of the most extreme pleasure. "Merlin, yes, always," he said.
Draco looked up at the man astride him. "So beautiful," he purred. "My cock inside you."
"Everything inside me," Harry whispered, his throat exposed as he threw his head back gently. And he was being truthful. His whole life was inside him: Draco, and the child he already loved, both the things that mattered most to him in the world.
Draco slid his hands up Harry's thighs and hips. His left stayed on his hip, but the right continued until it rested on the swell of Harry's belly. "Ride me, love," Draco encouraged, thrusting up with his hips.
Harry cried out as Draco thrust into him. "Yes," he gasped, moving his hips with Draco's movements. "Draco, yes."
Draco felt Harry push up, sliding up his cock, and then that amazing drop back, sliding in again. He moaned, running his hand in circles down the flesh of Harry's belly.
One of Harry's hands joined Draco's on his stomach as he used the other to brace himself on Draco's chest, sliding on his cock and crying out even louder.
There was something amazingly erotic in the way Harry's belly trapped his cock between it and Draco's stomach, sliding against their skin as he fucked him. Draco was trembling, feeling the magic of Harry's arousal and the pulse under his hand.
"Oh, Draco, oh fuck!" Harry shouted, sweating now. He was gasping and trembling, his arse clenching around Draco's cock.
"Gods, yes." Draco's voice cracked as his body's release brought him. He thrust up, shouting incoherently.
Harry's nails dug into Draco's skin as his orgasm was ripped from him, flooding his body with hot pleasure.
Hot and sweet magic filled Draco, his cock inside and his body under Harry, shuddering as he rode the wave of Harry's orgasm.
Harry sat panting atop Draco, his legs bent at the knees on either side of him and his head thrown back again. He let out one insanely happy laugh as he found himself staring up at that 'H' again.
Draco laughed too, but he wasn't sure why they were laughing. He was caught up in the joy of the man he loved and that happy pulse of magic under his hand.
Harry slowly let his head fall forward again to stare at Draco. He smiled satedly at him, breathing still heavy. "If I loved you any more than I already do, I think I would explode with it," he said.
"I think you just did." Draco ginned up at him.
Harry's laughter at first was moderate, but then he was laughing like mad again and he didn't even know why. He was laughing so hard there were tears running down his face. Perhaps he just needed to cry, and it felt so good to just let go.
Draco ran hands up his lover's sides and around his back, encouraging him to curl against him. He understand the need for release better than most.
Harry lowered his body and pressed against Draco, actually crying now, the tears that he had thought would come finally catching up with him.
Holding Harry, Draco rolled them gently sideways so Harry could relax and press against him without putting too much pressure on his belly. "Yes, love," Draco soothed, "I'm here. By your side. Always."
Those words comforted Harry more than he could ever express with words of his own. They were like an anchor. Draco would always be here, would always be here to hold Harry and to love him and to listen and to just be ... Draco. Just Draco, his Draco, his husband and the father of his child, the man he would always love even if he had no teeth. Harry's own thought brought a sob that was half a laugh and he clutched Draco tighter.
Draco rested his forehead against Harry's, holding him and murmuring soothing words. He didn't look for an explanation, feeling he understood how confused Harry had to be at this point.
The tears finally subsided and Harry had nearly cried himself to sleep. His swollen eyes drooped as he fought to keep them open.
"Rest, love," Draco purred, "I am right here."
"Right here," Harry murmured, his eyes falling shut as his breathing began to even out.
Draco lay for a long while, watching Harry sleep and petting that pulsing light inside his belly. Draco was seventeen, already married, and soon he would be a father. He felt large with both the privilege and the responsibility of it all.
Chapter Title: Voice of the Past
Words: 4436 Words
Harry and Draco arrived in the entrance hall of the Manor from Diagon Alley. It wasn't as far as the Hog's Head, so Harry didn't feel too bad after the Apparation. He hurriedly gave his cloak to the elf that appeared to take it and then stepped across the hall, pausing at the entry way. "Want to get Ron and Hermione now?" he asked Draco, looking over his shoulder.
Draco nodded, holding the box tightly and his heart beating fast.
Harry nodded too and continued out the door. At times like these, having such a huge place annoyed him. Ron and Hermione could have been anywhere. After looking in a few rooms, he called a house-elf to tell him where they were and hurriedly made his way to the main sitting room where Ron and Hermione were sitting with Charlie and the twins.
It took a few minutes to get Ron and Hermione away from the room without seeming suspicious, but they were finally all heading up to Harry and Draco's suite with the trunk, anxious to get it open.
Draco sat on the sofa and placed the box in front of them on a table. It was an old wooden box held together with wrought iron bands which had rusted a bit. It was dusty, the grime was smudged where Draco had held onto it. He waited for Harry to start the explanation to the others.
"What is it?" Ron asked, sitting next to Draco to get a closer look.
"It's from Dumbledore," said Harry.
Ron and Hermione both looked at him quickly.
"From Dumbledore?" said Hermione. "I thought you said you really were at Gringotts ...."
"We were," said Harry. "This is from Draco's trust vault." He patted the top of the box, resisting the urge to flip it open.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why would anything from Dumbledore be inside Draco's anything?"
Draco raised an eyebrow at the wording but let it go. "This box was placed in the vault sometime between my first and second birthdays by Severus Snape," he explained. "He told us that Dumbledore gave it to him to put there."
"How would that have anything to do with Harry?" Hermione asked. "And what went on with Snape the other day? You said you would tell us and still haven't."
"Snape told us to go and get this out of Draco's vault," Harry explained. "He said ... that I'm supposed to go back ... to the night Voldemort killed my parents."
Ron's eyes widened and he looked confused.
"What?" said Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, back to that night."
"But why?" she asked, looking even more confused.
"He told us that it had something to do with Horcruxes and that he couldn't give us details," Draco huffed. "That it would make sense afterwards."
"But how will you know what to do?" asked Ron. "What if you go there and mess something up?"
"I'm guessing that the answer to that is in this box," said Harry, patting the box again.
Hermione and Ron looked expectantly at him for a few seconds.
"Well, open it!" said Hermione impatiently.
Draco looked at Harry for confirmation. "Do you want me to?" he asked.
Harry took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's see what's inside," he answered, playing with the end of his sleeve nervously.
Draco licked his lips and opened the lid. There was a parchment case and a silk bag with something inside that Draco could feel was magical. He picked up the parchment case and saw that it was addressed to Harry Potter.
Harry, Ron and Hermione leaned in and looked inside as well.
"There's a letter," Hermione said.
"Open it," Ron pushed, staring at Harry.
Draco nodded but didn't pick up the bag inside. He thought it better to read the letter first. He handed it to Harry.
Harry uncorked one end of the tube and pulled the rolled up parchment out. It was old but thick and rolled tight. Harry saw that it was a letter addressed to him.
To, Harry Potter:
If you are reading this now, I assume that you and Draco Malfoy are together. I write this not long after leaving you, against my better judgement, with your Aunt Petunia Dursley and her family. You told me I needed to do that to protect you. It was one of the more difficult tasks I have ever had to do.
I am immensely saddened by the loss of Lily and James and, yet, heartened by the man you will grow into and the partner you have at your side. My best wishes go to you both and your child.
Now to what this letter is supposed to be about: enclosed is the Timekey you instructed me to leave. It functions like a Portkey only in time rather than in space. This means that you must be at the location you want to appear in before you activate it. It will take you to October 31st, 1981 and return you 12 hours later. You told me that the date you left on was February 13th, 1998. You must be in Godric's Hollow on that date.
Remember compassion for all those who were there that terrible All Hallows Eve. It was love that saved you then and it is love that will save you now.
Yours, Albus Dumbledore.
Harry's hands shook slightly as he lowered the letter and stared at the space in front of him. He passed it to Draco silently, wondering if he was going to cry or not.
Draco read the letter aloud to the others, again overwhelmed by that feeling of destiny.
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, eyes welling up. Ron stared at Draco with his mouth hanging open a bit.
"So this is - this is real?" Hermione said in a higher-than-usual voice.
"It has to be," said Harry quietly.
"Dumbledore knew I would be with Harry," Draco whispered, "because he met us together back then."
"This is - wow," said Ron, slumping back against the sofa. "Wow."
"We have to go to Godric's Hollow then," Harry said to Draco, finding it immensely strange that he had been wanting to go there since Dumbledore's funeral.
"Yes," Draco said quietly, "in three days."
"Just you and Draco?" asked Hermione, still teary-eyed.
"I think so," said Harry.
"Snape said that it was Harry, pregnant like he is now, and a taller man in a cloak whom he assumed to be me. But Dumbledore mentions me by name," Draco said. "There's also the fact that this was left in my vault."
Harry nodded. "It must be only us then, because Dumbledore would have mentioned you two in the letter if you were there. Snape as well."
"Snape was there?" Ron asked. "That night?"
"That's what he said," Harry answered.
"And he knows Harry is pregnant. Said he has been waiting for it, actually." Draco sighed.
"Well, why didn't anyone tell you about all this?" said Ron, eyes wide.
"They couldn't," said Hermione quietly. "It could have messed up what was supposed to happen."
Draco nodded. "Supposed to happen," he repeated, feeling in shock still about that.
All four of them were silent for a few minutes.
"This is ... a lot ... to take in," Harry said finally.
"Indeed," Draco said, staring now at the bag in the box. He reached shaking fingers for it.
Harry watched as Draco pulled the bag out, feeling almost heavier with all of this new information.
Draco held the bag carefully by the edge, opening the draw-string with shaky fingers and looking in. "Merde'," he cursed when he saw what was inside.
"What?" Harry, Ron and Hermione all asked quickly in unison. Ron leaned over towards Draco to get a look and Harry stepped forward, taking a seat on Draco's other side.
Draco upended the bag into the box so the contents lay on the bottom without him touching it. It was a pendant. A gold chain with a small shield shape. The image of a lion conquering a dragon in white on yellow gold.
Harry's mouth dropped open and his hand automatically came up to touch his own necklace through his robe. He turned his head and looked at Draco. "It's my ..." he said, trailing off.
"Yes, it is," Draco said quietly. "And there is only one of those. I had it custom made as your wedding present. But this one has been sitting in this box since you and I were still in nappies."
"Merlin," said Ron.
"Merlin, indeed," Harry said so quietly it was almost a whisper.
"So, I guess you will give him the one you are wearing now," Draco said in that shocked, quiet voice.
"Yeah ... I ... yeah, I guess," Harry said, pulling his necklace out and fingering the pendant.
"I can see the enchantment on the one in the box," Draco said. "Other than that, they look the same."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, they look exactly the same," he said quietly.
Draco was watching Harry. His entire life had been leading up to this. He wasn't sure whether to be angry over never having a choice or pleased that he was doing what he was meant to do.
Harry let out a quiet sigh. "So, we wait then," he said. "And then ... we do this." He was a bit in awe and terrified as well. It was really sinking in that he was going to go and watch the night that had turned his life into what it was. It was a very legitimate thing to be terrified of.
"Put it away for now," Draco said, holding the bag out for Harry to put the Timekey back.
He picked the necklace up and placed it back inside the bag and then sat there, unsure of what to say.
"This is for a Horcrux?" Hermione said.
"I don't know," Harry answered. "I don't know anything except what's been said to me."
"Snape said that he thought we might find a clue about the next one there," Draco said, reaching a hand to stroke Harry's dark hair.
Hermione nodded and bit her lip. "Harry ...." she began, but she didn't finish what she had been about to say.
"This is good then, right?" Harry asked, looking up at Draco. "This is what we needed. We had to have some sort of lead."
Draco looked at Hermione, a question in his eyes, but didn't say anything to her. "It is what happened, so it is what must happen," he said. "It may answer questions you need answers to." He threaded his fingers through Harry's hair soothingly.
Harry nodded. "I have a lot of questions," he said quietly.
"I suppose it might be hard ...." Hermione said, biting her lip again. "Harry ... it'll be just like in third year. You will only be able to do what it is you have to do. Nothing else."
"I - I know," Harry said, nodding again.
"Yes, Severus brought that up too," Draco said to Hermione. He wondered about the reference to third year.
"If anything goes wrong ... you could alter our entire world. You ... can't save your parents. You absolutely cannot," Hermione continued seriously.
"I know," Harry said, and it was a little sharp this time.
"Hermione," Draco said, reaching his other hand to rest on Harry's belly, calling her attention to it, "we know that. We understand what we risk if we do."
She sighed quietly and gave a tiny nod.
"I'm tired," Harry said after another minute of silence had passed as he stared at the floor. "I think I'm going to take a nap."
Ron and Hermione didn't say anything, just nodded, staring at him sadly. He didn't want their pity. If it had to be done, it had to be done.
"I'll be there in a minute," Draco said, indicating Harry should go to the bedroom.
Harry nodded again, feeling like all he was doing was nodding, and got to his feet, heading into their bedroom.
Draco looked after him and then turned to their friends. "I am worried about him," he said.
"I am too," Hermione admitted quietly.
Ron stared between both Hermione and Draco worriedly.
"Pregnancy can be difficult for a grown woman whose body and mind are ready for it," Draco said.
"He hasn't been acting much like himself lately," Hermione said. "And he's getting big so quickly. I've never seen anything like it."
"I have read everything I can find on pregnancy, and while his symptoms are normal, they are progressing faster than usual," Draco said. "I think the baby is growing quicker."
"Is that safe?" Hermione asked worriedly. "Can he handle that? Will the baby be all right?"
Draco took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. He was scared and he couldn't admit it to Harry. "I don't know. There is nothing in the books that help me here," he answered, his voice quavering.
"This has never happened before," Hermione said, looking even more scared and worried. "I read as many books as I could find, too, and there hasn't been a single thing on male pregnancy. Harry's the first. Anything could happen."
"I have to trust that the Ancestral Magic of the Manor and Harry's magic wouldn't have done this to him if it wouldn't work," Draco said, but he was still trembling a bit as he said it.
Hermione moved to the spot on the couch that Harry had vacated and placed a gentle hand on Draco's back. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm sure everything will be fine. You're right, it couldn't have done this to him without it being able to work."
Draco was startled, but grateful for her kindness. He turned worried grey eyes to her. "He keeps asking me what happens next. But I don't know the answers. Like how ..." he swallowed thickly, "does the baby come out."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again, obviously trying to think of what to say. "Well ..." she began slowly, "vaginal births aren't always the only option for a woman. Sometimes the baby has to be removed ...."
"Cut out," Draco whispered. "I read that. There was something about when the baby grows in another part besides the womb. That it can damage the … host’s … internal organs. They usually cut the baby out before it is even ready."
"Maybe that's why the baby is growing so fast," Hermione said, looking frightened from Draco's words. "Perhaps the magic could tell that his body wouldn't be able to carry a baby to term ... all the way through the nine months."
Draco thought about that a minute, nodding. "Possibly, and I think it has some type of magical protection around it that takes the place of the womb," he said. "But that still doesn't answer the question. Am I going to have to ...?"
"Cut the baby out?" Hermione said, wincing.
Ron's ears were red but he was staring at Hermione and Draco intently.
Draco nodded, not sure he could even say it.
"I can't imagine that it could come out any other way," Hermione said slowly. "There is no other way that I can see."
Draco winced, closing his eyes. He knew this already, but hearing Hermione say it made it more real.
Hermione swallowed. "I don't know what you're ... going to tell him," she said, wincing again. "But I don't know what he was expecting."
"I think he wants me to tell him everything is going to be fine," Draco said, "and so that's what I do."
Hermione nodded. "I think, for right now, that is probably what's best for him. And for all we know ... everything will be fine."
Draco nodded. "Well, I should be with him," he said quietly, getting up.
Hermione sighed. "Yes, you should be," she said, getting to her feet as well. She stared up at Draco. "I know that I'm Harry's best friend," she gave a small smile, "but I like to think we're friends now too. I know things have got to get ... hard and I just want you to know I'm here."
"Thank you, Hermione," Draco said, and turned, "and you too, Ron. I do consider you my friends."
"No problem, mate," said Ron, giving a small smile like Hermione's.
"I guess we'll let you get to your husband," Hermione said gently.
Draco said goodnight and went to the bedroom to find Harry.
***
Harry was lying on the bed, still clothed, and staring up at that "H." He turned his head when Draco entered the room and smiled softly at him.
Draco lifted his arms to rest against the frame above him and stared down at the beautiful man in his bed. It still made his heart speed up just to think about it - such a dream come true and here he was.
"What are you thinking?" Harry whispered, reaching a hand out to run his fingers along the outside fabric of Draco's robes.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "That you look good in my bed." He smirked.
Harry smiled. "Even with this belly?" he asked teasingly.
Draco grinned, blushing furiously as he nodded.
Harry raised an eyebrow now. "And you're blushing why?" he said.
Draco's breathing had sped up and he rolled his eyes. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes before lying down beside Harry, facing him.
Harry rolled on his side as well and sighed, reaching out for Draco's hair now.
"Does it bother you that you turn me on like this?" Draco asked quietly.
"What, pregnant?" Harry asked, raising both eyebrows.
Draco nodded, grinning. He reached his hand out to lie on Harry's belly, stroking him.
"Well, I think I would be more bothered if you thought I looked disgusting," Harry said with a small laugh.
"The man I have wanted for so long is my husband and is carrying our child," Draco said, his voice awed. "How could that be anything other than exciting?"
Harry smiled. "I don't know," he said quietly.
Draco took a deep breath. "I love your body. I loved it at eleven, and I loved it last year, and I love it now, but I don't think what makes me feel this way is about the way you look. It is something about you," he said in a kind of breathy speech, wondering if any of it made sense.
Harry smiled again. "Well, I certainly don't know what it is."
"Do you think that ... if it was reversed, you would still be attracted to me?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Harry said without hesitation. "I think I'd be attracted to you if all your teeth fell out and you smelled weird." He laughed a little.
"So, there it is," Draco said, pushing Harry's shirt up so he could run his hand directly over the skin of his belly, fingers teasing the hair below his bellybutton.
Harry smiled widely and sighed. "There what is?" he said.
"We are both attracted to each other and will be no matter what," Draco laughed, "so get used to it, Potter."
Harry smirked. "Oh, but Malfoy, I think I already am," he said.
"Prove it," Draco challenged, smirking.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, grinning.
"I can take whatever you can dish out, Potter," Draco drawled.
Harry grinned wider still and rolled so that he was over top of Draco on hands and knees. "Last chance," he said, leaning close to Draco's face with eyes gone dark and half-lidded.
Draco laughed, Harry's belly pressing against his own. "Oh, I am so scared," he crooned in a mocking tone, even as his heart sped up.
Harry smiled gently before pressing his cheek to Draco's to whisper in his ear. "You needn't be," he said, sliding a hand down to cup Draco's crotch.
Draco hissed, arching into that touch. "Ride me," he whispered.
Harry closed his eyes in pleasure at those words. "Anything," he whispered, performing the spell to strip them both.
Draco groaned as Harry's magic swept over them and they were suddenly skin to skin.
Harry brought his mouth to Draco's, already open for him, and slid both hands along his jaw as he let his body down to rest gently on top of his husband's.
Harry straddling him with his belly pressed against Draco's was odd and hot in a new way. He really was crazy about this man and probably pretty kinky to feel this way. His hands came up to Harry's sides and he opened his mouth, slipping his tongue against Harry's.
Harry moaned quietly at the always amazingly wonderful feel of Draco's hands on him. He pressed their groins together as he sucked on Draco's tongue and licked it with his own.
Draco had been half-hard already, but as Harry rubbed their cocks together, he felt his erection pulse against his lovers.
Harry gasped at the sensation and moved one hand to begin preparing himself, wanting Draco inside him. He performed the Lube Spell with as little effort as he had to remove their clothes and pressed his fingers gently inside. The feeling of them was nothing, nothing to what Draco would feel like.
Draco watched hungrily as he saw Harry reaching back. His hands slid down over his lover's hips and thighs.
Harry gasped again as Draco touched him, moving his fingers faster so that he could have the man beneath him. He covered Draco's mouth with his own again as he lifted up slightly to grasp Draco's cock with his slick fingers, loving the feel of it in his hand.
Draco moaned into Harry's mouth, trembling as his lover's hand grasped his cock. He dug his fingers into the other man's thighs, shivering with anticipation.
"I have you and I've still never wanted anything so much," Harry whispered as he began to slide down against Draco's cock.
"Yesss!" Draco gasped as he felt himself enclosed in Harry's heat. "Yours, always yours," he whispered.
Harry raised up to get a better angle and closed his eyes, his expression one of the most extreme pleasure. "Merlin, yes, always," he said.
Draco looked up at the man astride him. "So beautiful," he purred. "My cock inside you."
"Everything inside me," Harry whispered, his throat exposed as he threw his head back gently. And he was being truthful. His whole life was inside him: Draco, and the child he already loved, both the things that mattered most to him in the world.
Draco slid his hands up Harry's thighs and hips. His left stayed on his hip, but the right continued until it rested on the swell of Harry's belly. "Ride me, love," Draco encouraged, thrusting up with his hips.
Harry cried out as Draco thrust into him. "Yes," he gasped, moving his hips with Draco's movements. "Draco, yes."
Draco felt Harry push up, sliding up his cock, and then that amazing drop back, sliding in again. He moaned, running his hand in circles down the flesh of Harry's belly.
One of Harry's hands joined Draco's on his stomach as he used the other to brace himself on Draco's chest, sliding on his cock and crying out even louder.
There was something amazingly erotic in the way Harry's belly trapped his cock between it and Draco's stomach, sliding against their skin as he fucked him. Draco was trembling, feeling the magic of Harry's arousal and the pulse under his hand.
"Oh, Draco, oh fuck!" Harry shouted, sweating now. He was gasping and trembling, his arse clenching around Draco's cock.
"Gods, yes." Draco's voice cracked as his body's release brought him. He thrust up, shouting incoherently.
Harry's nails dug into Draco's skin as his orgasm was ripped from him, flooding his body with hot pleasure.
Hot and sweet magic filled Draco, his cock inside and his body under Harry, shuddering as he rode the wave of Harry's orgasm.
Harry sat panting atop Draco, his legs bent at the knees on either side of him and his head thrown back again. He let out one insanely happy laugh as he found himself staring up at that 'H' again.
Draco laughed too, but he wasn't sure why they were laughing. He was caught up in the joy of the man he loved and that happy pulse of magic under his hand.
Harry slowly let his head fall forward again to stare at Draco. He smiled satedly at him, breathing still heavy. "If I loved you any more than I already do, I think I would explode with it," he said.
"I think you just did." Draco ginned up at him.
Harry's laughter at first was moderate, but then he was laughing like mad again and he didn't even know why. He was laughing so hard there were tears running down his face. Perhaps he just needed to cry, and it felt so good to just let go.
Draco ran hands up his lover's sides and around his back, encouraging him to curl against him. He understand the need for release better than most.
Harry lowered his body and pressed against Draco, actually crying now, the tears that he had thought would come finally catching up with him.
Holding Harry, Draco rolled them gently sideways so Harry could relax and press against him without putting too much pressure on his belly. "Yes, love," Draco soothed, "I'm here. By your side. Always."
Those words comforted Harry more than he could ever express with words of his own. They were like an anchor. Draco would always be here, would always be here to hold Harry and to love him and to listen and to just be ... Draco. Just Draco, his Draco, his husband and the father of his child, the man he would always love even if he had no teeth. Harry's own thought brought a sob that was half a laugh and he clutched Draco tighter.
Draco rested his forehead against Harry's, holding him and murmuring soothing words. He didn't look for an explanation, feeling he understood how confused Harry had to be at this point.
The tears finally subsided and Harry had nearly cried himself to sleep. His swollen eyes drooped as he fought to keep them open.
"Rest, love," Draco purred, "I am right here."
"Right here," Harry murmured, his eyes falling shut as his breathing began to even out.
Draco lay for a long while, watching Harry sleep and petting that pulsing light inside his belly. Draco was seventeen, already married, and soon he would be a father. He felt large with both the privilege and the responsibility of it all.