A Heart So Ravenous (Sequel to A Love So Belated)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
36,865
Reviews:
326
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
36,865
Reviews:
326
Recommended:
1
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.
Chapter 22: Mother Knows Best
Chapter Number/Total: 22/44
Chapter Title: Mother Knows Best
Words: 2500 Words
Draco kissed Harry goodbye for the day and then closed the door, resting against it. It was beginning to be difficult to hide what was happening from his lover. He had to work hard in the mornings and evenings when Harry was home to appear to be as normal as possible. He got up with Harry, had breakfast with him and then talked about the potions he would make for the day. Harry didn't seem to notice that he hadn't actually made any potions in a while. Because he was so busy with Auror training, he never looked in the lab anymore.
Draco took a minute to collect himself, the fatigue hitting him hard when he no longer had his focus directed upon his lover. He pushed off from the door and staggered to the sitting room, where he fell gratefully onto the sofa. The room was still spinning as he lay there. Most of the time, he couldn't even manage to read much because of the dizziness.
Some days the only thing Draco managed to do while Harry was gone was get to the fireplace for those calls. He pulled his shirt up right then and laid his long, thin fingers against the growing bulge of his abdomen. He was worried. He was only four months along and he felt so drained that he couldn't imagine how he would cope with another five. He had read everything he could on pregnancy. He seemed to have every symptom at its worst level. And there was no one he could go to to ask about this. They still hadn't even told his mother what they were doing.
He closed his eyes and settled down to sleep. Kreacher was under orders to get him just before it became time for Harry's next Floo call.
***
"Draco," came a voice sounding urgent, impatient and worried. "Draco, wake up." There was a shaking as whomever the person was grasped his arm.
Draco blinked and tried to focus. "Time for the Floo?" he asked in confusion before he recognised the voice. "Mother?"
Narcissa was hovering over him, peering into his face with wide blue eyes. She was apparently paying no mind at all to Kreacher behind her.
"Master Draco is not to be bothered, Mrs. Malfoy. Master Draco is too busy."
"Oh, quiet up," she snapped, taking Draco's face in her hand. "Are you ill?" she asked him, the gentle note returning to her tone.
"No," Draco said, struggling to sit up. "Just taking a nap."
Her eyes strayed down to where Draco's shirt was pulled up before they moved back to his face. "Then why have you got that elf saying you're busy in the lab? He was quite insistent on my not entering."
Draco pulled his shirt down and managed to sit up. "I just don't usually like visitors," he said. He rubbed his face and tried to ignore the way the room seemed to be shifting again. "I wasn't expecting you."
Narcissa looked suspicious. "You haven't been to see me in ages. I was getting worried."
"Mrs. Malfoy," came Kreacher's voice. He was clearly determined to follow orders.
She shot him a glare.
"Kreacher, it's okay. Bring my Mother and me tea," Draco said.
Kreacher sighed and nodded, shaking his head as he left the room, muttering to himself.
"Why haven't you been to the Manor?" Narcissa asked. "And you look pale."
"Have a seat, Mother," he said, gesturing to a chair beside the sofa.
She narrowed her eyes, but took the seat. "You must be forgetting with whom you are dealing," she said. "Avoiding answers as you change the subject will not work on me, Draco Desiderio Malfoy."
Draco huffed. "I'm just being polite, as you taught me," he said. Then sighed. "I'm tired. I am not avoiding you."
"Oh, you're just tired?" Narcissa repeated, crossing her legs and arching her eyebrows. "For no reason at all?"
"I didn't say that," Draco snapped defensively. "I didn't say no reason, just that I am. I sometimes lose track of time with Harry gone so much."
"Don't you take that tone with me," Narcissa snapped right back. "I have every right to be here. You haven't shown up in weeks. I'm your mother, and I'm worried, and the excuse you give me is that you've been tired? And if you have a reason for it, then would you please enlighten me?"
Draco sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His head was full of fuzz. "I'm sorry, Mother," he said. "I have been ...." He trailed off, unable to figure out how to explain this. Every time he'd thought of what he might say, he had done better than this, and it still had been difficult.
Kreacher showed up and placed their tea on the table with a tray. There was a flower – taken from a planter in the kitchen – placed next to Narcissa's cup. He bowed deeply to her, and then to Draco before leaving the room that way.
Narcissa rolled her eyes and sighed, automatically reaching to make both cups.
Draco felt he could make a better go at it with some tea. He waited until she handed him his cup and saucer, sipping gratefully.
"Now what exactly is wrong?" Narcissa asked, sounding calmer but still exasperated.
"Well, wrong isn't really the word," Draco began. "I mean, there are problems but I'm not exactly sick." He grimaced at the mess he was making of this. He closed his eyes and tried again. "You know I have been ... experimenting with new potions, right?"
Narcissa sat straighter, her eyes intent. "Yes," she said.
"I have been looking at various types that use the same principles as Polyjuice but with different results," he said. "I got the idea of using one of them to solve a personal problem."
"What personal problem? What did it do?" she asked, sounding alarmed again.
"I know that you and Father were upset, not just because of who Harry is, but the fact that my being with him means no grandchildren," he said. "And then I found out that Harry wanted children too ...."
Narcissa's eyes widened very much and she sat straighter than ever. "What?" she said, and her eyes moved to Draco's belly again.
"There are these fish that can change gender. If there are only male fish in the environment, some of them will change to female. I found out about them and it gave me the idea that I could use the sympathetic magic from one to possibly create a potion ... well, a potion that could turn a man into a woman, temporarily."
Narcissa's expression was unchanging. "And you used that?" she asked, her mouth falling open.
Draco blushed then, not meeting her eyes, but nodded. "It worked," he said softly.
She was completely still for several moments. "You mean to tell me," she said quietly, "that you – my son – are carrying a child at this very moment?"
He raised his eyes to hers again. "Yes," he said, voice clear, but with a hint of pride.
She blinked a few times, her mouth still open and her posture still very stiff. "But you – But you're ... how?" she spluttered. "This is not a joke you're playing on me, is it? Because if so, I do not appreciate it."
Draco held out his hand to her.
She reached and took it, and one look in her eyes made it obvious that she didn't really think he was joking.
He leaned back and pulled up his shirt with his other hand, then laid her hand on his belly, pressing it against the small bulge. His eyes never left hers as he did.
She released a trembling part-gasp, shaking her head. "This is-" she whispered, "this is too .... This is unbelievable."
Draco smiled slightly. "You will be a grandmother," he said.
She put her free hand to her mouth, looking like she didn't know what to think. "And you ... you wanted this?" she whispered. "You did this?"
"Yes, I did," Draco said, face serious again. "I want everyone I love to be happy. You get a grandchild, Father gets an heir, and Harry gets a family. It works."
She lifted her eyes from Draco's belly to his face. "And it is what you want as well?"
"Yes," he said softly, blushing. "I mean, I'm not going to be able to have the career I thought I would have. But I did always want to have at least one child."
She blinked a few more times. "Harry knows?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "He's looking forward to being a father too."
"A father," she whispered, reaching to lay a palm against Draco's cheek. "My child is going to be a father?"
Draco smiled then, leaning into his mother's touch. "I want this so much," he admitted.
She pulled him into a gentle hug, but then squeezed a bit. "Oh, Draco," she whispered. "I don't know what to do with you half the time." But she sounded ... happy. Shocked, yes, but the joy was there.
"I know," he said, hugging her back.
She leant back, grasping his shoulders. "I admit, I never thought my son would be the one to deliver a baby, but if that's the way I get a grandchild to spoil rotten," she sighed, "then that's the way."
Draco felt some of the tension in him release. He had hoped his mother would be happy, but there was always a chance he had been wrong. "So, I conceived on my birthday," he admitted. "That means I am due in late February or early March."
She took a deep breath and nodded. "And have you been taking care of yourself?" she asked. "I was very ill with you and on bed rest for much of the pregnancy."
"Really?" Draco asked. "You never told me that."
Narcissa nodded. "Yes, pregnancy was ... very difficult," she said.
"I took a Fertility Potion," Draco said, blushing again.
"It wasn't ... conceiving that was the problem," Narcissa said quietly. "I couldn't seem to carry. You might've had a brother or sister, but ...." She sighed and shook her head, obviously remembering. "But then I got you and I couldn't have wanted a more perfect little boy." She smiled again, leaning forward to kiss his forehead.
Well, that was a question answered. He nodded, smiling again at her affection. "So this being so sick, it might not be because I am ... male?" he asked.
She frowned now. "Have you been very sick?" she asked.
He nodded. "The books said the morning sickness usually goes away after three months. But I'm always sick and always tired."
"I've not heard of anyone male being pregnant before," she said, still frowning. "So I don't know what the problem could be. Perhaps ... seeing a healer would be wise. I have to assume you haven't."
Draco shook his head emphatically. "It would be all over the Daily Prophet the next day," he complained. "We still get hate mail as it is. We haven't told anyone."
"You should see my healer," she said. "Private practise. She's very expensive, but nothing would get out. She helped me with you."
"I would like that," Draco said, suddenly feeling such relief and gratitude that he nearly wept with it. That was another symptom he thought was the pregnancy. He seemed so much more emotional.
Narcissa smiled, hugging Draco again. "Good," she said. "I'll contact her for you."
"Don't tell Harry that I have been sick," he said. "I don't want him to worry."
When she'd pulled back again, she looked stern. "How does he not know if you've been so tired?"
Draco flushed again, looking down. "I sleep when he's gone and then I can be awake when he's home."
She shook her head. "You shouldn't exert yourself to make him feel better or to hide things."
Draco arched an eyebrow. "Tell me you never kept anything like this from Father," he said in a disbelieving voice.
Narcissa arched an eyebrow to match. "Just because I did it doesn't mean it's appropriate for you to do the same."
He laughed, shaking his head. "He has too much to worry about with Auror training," he explained.
She huffed. "I still think it's silly of him to have got that job," she said. "He should be here, and now I think so even more."
"He wants what most men want," Draco said, shrugging, "and I want him to have what he wants."
She made another small huffing noise. "Well, I suppose," she said. "Promise me you won't stay away so long again. Especially now that you're here alone so often. I could come and help you pick out a room for the nursery." Her eyes sparkled with obvious pleasure at the thought.
"I would like that," he said, nodding. "And maybe you could help me re-decorate this place. I think a baby needs a home that feels brighter."
She looked around herself. "Yes," she said. "Aunt Walburga never had much taste."
They spent some time talking, making plans, and Draco felt much better. He wanted so much to be a family and that meant having his mother as a part of it.
He had lost track of the day and was startled when it was time for Harry's first Floo call.
Kreacher entered into the sitting room. "Master Harry is wondering where you is," he said to Draco.
Draco jumped and got up too fast. The room spun for a moment and he grasped the back of the chair to keep from falling. "Tell him I will be right there," he said.
Kreacher nodded and hurried as fast as his old legs could carry him.
Narcissa stood as well and took hold of Draco's arm. "Are you all right?" she asked, worry lines on her forehead.
"Like I said," he gasped, "I get dizzy." He let her help him down to the kitchen and then knelt by the fireplace. "Hi, love," he said to Harry's face in the flames.
"Hi," Harry responded, relieved to see Draco as always. He looked around him. "Oh, is your mum there?" he asked. "I didn't know you would have anyone over."
"Neither did I," Draco said, grinning larger than he had in a while. "But it is nice to have her visit."
Harry smiled. "Hello, Mrs. Malfoy," he said.
"Hello," she said from where she had taken a seat at the table.
Harry turned his attention back on Draco. "Are you okay today?" he asked as usual.
Draco glanced at his mother but nodded. "Fine," he said. "A little tired. How's class?"
"Good today," Harry answered. "Just had Branson, and Stemp blew up his desk." He snorted.
Draco chuckled. "I take it blowing up the desk wasn't part of the plan," he prompted.
"No," Harry began. "We were supposed to be doing Banishing Charms ...."
Chapter Title: Mother Knows Best
Words: 2500 Words
Draco kissed Harry goodbye for the day and then closed the door, resting against it. It was beginning to be difficult to hide what was happening from his lover. He had to work hard in the mornings and evenings when Harry was home to appear to be as normal as possible. He got up with Harry, had breakfast with him and then talked about the potions he would make for the day. Harry didn't seem to notice that he hadn't actually made any potions in a while. Because he was so busy with Auror training, he never looked in the lab anymore.
Draco took a minute to collect himself, the fatigue hitting him hard when he no longer had his focus directed upon his lover. He pushed off from the door and staggered to the sitting room, where he fell gratefully onto the sofa. The room was still spinning as he lay there. Most of the time, he couldn't even manage to read much because of the dizziness.
Some days the only thing Draco managed to do while Harry was gone was get to the fireplace for those calls. He pulled his shirt up right then and laid his long, thin fingers against the growing bulge of his abdomen. He was worried. He was only four months along and he felt so drained that he couldn't imagine how he would cope with another five. He had read everything he could on pregnancy. He seemed to have every symptom at its worst level. And there was no one he could go to to ask about this. They still hadn't even told his mother what they were doing.
He closed his eyes and settled down to sleep. Kreacher was under orders to get him just before it became time for Harry's next Floo call.
***
"Draco," came a voice sounding urgent, impatient and worried. "Draco, wake up." There was a shaking as whomever the person was grasped his arm.
Draco blinked and tried to focus. "Time for the Floo?" he asked in confusion before he recognised the voice. "Mother?"
Narcissa was hovering over him, peering into his face with wide blue eyes. She was apparently paying no mind at all to Kreacher behind her.
"Master Draco is not to be bothered, Mrs. Malfoy. Master Draco is too busy."
"Oh, quiet up," she snapped, taking Draco's face in her hand. "Are you ill?" she asked him, the gentle note returning to her tone.
"No," Draco said, struggling to sit up. "Just taking a nap."
Her eyes strayed down to where Draco's shirt was pulled up before they moved back to his face. "Then why have you got that elf saying you're busy in the lab? He was quite insistent on my not entering."
Draco pulled his shirt down and managed to sit up. "I just don't usually like visitors," he said. He rubbed his face and tried to ignore the way the room seemed to be shifting again. "I wasn't expecting you."
Narcissa looked suspicious. "You haven't been to see me in ages. I was getting worried."
"Mrs. Malfoy," came Kreacher's voice. He was clearly determined to follow orders.
She shot him a glare.
"Kreacher, it's okay. Bring my Mother and me tea," Draco said.
Kreacher sighed and nodded, shaking his head as he left the room, muttering to himself.
"Why haven't you been to the Manor?" Narcissa asked. "And you look pale."
"Have a seat, Mother," he said, gesturing to a chair beside the sofa.
She narrowed her eyes, but took the seat. "You must be forgetting with whom you are dealing," she said. "Avoiding answers as you change the subject will not work on me, Draco Desiderio Malfoy."
Draco huffed. "I'm just being polite, as you taught me," he said. Then sighed. "I'm tired. I am not avoiding you."
"Oh, you're just tired?" Narcissa repeated, crossing her legs and arching her eyebrows. "For no reason at all?"
"I didn't say that," Draco snapped defensively. "I didn't say no reason, just that I am. I sometimes lose track of time with Harry gone so much."
"Don't you take that tone with me," Narcissa snapped right back. "I have every right to be here. You haven't shown up in weeks. I'm your mother, and I'm worried, and the excuse you give me is that you've been tired? And if you have a reason for it, then would you please enlighten me?"
Draco sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. His head was full of fuzz. "I'm sorry, Mother," he said. "I have been ...." He trailed off, unable to figure out how to explain this. Every time he'd thought of what he might say, he had done better than this, and it still had been difficult.
Kreacher showed up and placed their tea on the table with a tray. There was a flower – taken from a planter in the kitchen – placed next to Narcissa's cup. He bowed deeply to her, and then to Draco before leaving the room that way.
Narcissa rolled her eyes and sighed, automatically reaching to make both cups.
Draco felt he could make a better go at it with some tea. He waited until she handed him his cup and saucer, sipping gratefully.
"Now what exactly is wrong?" Narcissa asked, sounding calmer but still exasperated.
"Well, wrong isn't really the word," Draco began. "I mean, there are problems but I'm not exactly sick." He grimaced at the mess he was making of this. He closed his eyes and tried again. "You know I have been ... experimenting with new potions, right?"
Narcissa sat straighter, her eyes intent. "Yes," she said.
"I have been looking at various types that use the same principles as Polyjuice but with different results," he said. "I got the idea of using one of them to solve a personal problem."
"What personal problem? What did it do?" she asked, sounding alarmed again.
"I know that you and Father were upset, not just because of who Harry is, but the fact that my being with him means no grandchildren," he said. "And then I found out that Harry wanted children too ...."
Narcissa's eyes widened very much and she sat straighter than ever. "What?" she said, and her eyes moved to Draco's belly again.
"There are these fish that can change gender. If there are only male fish in the environment, some of them will change to female. I found out about them and it gave me the idea that I could use the sympathetic magic from one to possibly create a potion ... well, a potion that could turn a man into a woman, temporarily."
Narcissa's expression was unchanging. "And you used that?" she asked, her mouth falling open.
Draco blushed then, not meeting her eyes, but nodded. "It worked," he said softly.
She was completely still for several moments. "You mean to tell me," she said quietly, "that you – my son – are carrying a child at this very moment?"
He raised his eyes to hers again. "Yes," he said, voice clear, but with a hint of pride.
She blinked a few times, her mouth still open and her posture still very stiff. "But you – But you're ... how?" she spluttered. "This is not a joke you're playing on me, is it? Because if so, I do not appreciate it."
Draco held out his hand to her.
She reached and took it, and one look in her eyes made it obvious that she didn't really think he was joking.
He leaned back and pulled up his shirt with his other hand, then laid her hand on his belly, pressing it against the small bulge. His eyes never left hers as he did.
She released a trembling part-gasp, shaking her head. "This is-" she whispered, "this is too .... This is unbelievable."
Draco smiled slightly. "You will be a grandmother," he said.
She put her free hand to her mouth, looking like she didn't know what to think. "And you ... you wanted this?" she whispered. "You did this?"
"Yes, I did," Draco said, face serious again. "I want everyone I love to be happy. You get a grandchild, Father gets an heir, and Harry gets a family. It works."
She lifted her eyes from Draco's belly to his face. "And it is what you want as well?"
"Yes," he said softly, blushing. "I mean, I'm not going to be able to have the career I thought I would have. But I did always want to have at least one child."
She blinked a few more times. "Harry knows?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "He's looking forward to being a father too."
"A father," she whispered, reaching to lay a palm against Draco's cheek. "My child is going to be a father?"
Draco smiled then, leaning into his mother's touch. "I want this so much," he admitted.
She pulled him into a gentle hug, but then squeezed a bit. "Oh, Draco," she whispered. "I don't know what to do with you half the time." But she sounded ... happy. Shocked, yes, but the joy was there.
"I know," he said, hugging her back.
She leant back, grasping his shoulders. "I admit, I never thought my son would be the one to deliver a baby, but if that's the way I get a grandchild to spoil rotten," she sighed, "then that's the way."
Draco felt some of the tension in him release. He had hoped his mother would be happy, but there was always a chance he had been wrong. "So, I conceived on my birthday," he admitted. "That means I am due in late February or early March."
She took a deep breath and nodded. "And have you been taking care of yourself?" she asked. "I was very ill with you and on bed rest for much of the pregnancy."
"Really?" Draco asked. "You never told me that."
Narcissa nodded. "Yes, pregnancy was ... very difficult," she said.
"I took a Fertility Potion," Draco said, blushing again.
"It wasn't ... conceiving that was the problem," Narcissa said quietly. "I couldn't seem to carry. You might've had a brother or sister, but ...." She sighed and shook her head, obviously remembering. "But then I got you and I couldn't have wanted a more perfect little boy." She smiled again, leaning forward to kiss his forehead.
Well, that was a question answered. He nodded, smiling again at her affection. "So this being so sick, it might not be because I am ... male?" he asked.
She frowned now. "Have you been very sick?" she asked.
He nodded. "The books said the morning sickness usually goes away after three months. But I'm always sick and always tired."
"I've not heard of anyone male being pregnant before," she said, still frowning. "So I don't know what the problem could be. Perhaps ... seeing a healer would be wise. I have to assume you haven't."
Draco shook his head emphatically. "It would be all over the Daily Prophet the next day," he complained. "We still get hate mail as it is. We haven't told anyone."
"You should see my healer," she said. "Private practise. She's very expensive, but nothing would get out. She helped me with you."
"I would like that," Draco said, suddenly feeling such relief and gratitude that he nearly wept with it. That was another symptom he thought was the pregnancy. He seemed so much more emotional.
Narcissa smiled, hugging Draco again. "Good," she said. "I'll contact her for you."
"Don't tell Harry that I have been sick," he said. "I don't want him to worry."
When she'd pulled back again, she looked stern. "How does he not know if you've been so tired?"
Draco flushed again, looking down. "I sleep when he's gone and then I can be awake when he's home."
She shook her head. "You shouldn't exert yourself to make him feel better or to hide things."
Draco arched an eyebrow. "Tell me you never kept anything like this from Father," he said in a disbelieving voice.
Narcissa arched an eyebrow to match. "Just because I did it doesn't mean it's appropriate for you to do the same."
He laughed, shaking his head. "He has too much to worry about with Auror training," he explained.
She huffed. "I still think it's silly of him to have got that job," she said. "He should be here, and now I think so even more."
"He wants what most men want," Draco said, shrugging, "and I want him to have what he wants."
She made another small huffing noise. "Well, I suppose," she said. "Promise me you won't stay away so long again. Especially now that you're here alone so often. I could come and help you pick out a room for the nursery." Her eyes sparkled with obvious pleasure at the thought.
"I would like that," he said, nodding. "And maybe you could help me re-decorate this place. I think a baby needs a home that feels brighter."
She looked around herself. "Yes," she said. "Aunt Walburga never had much taste."
They spent some time talking, making plans, and Draco felt much better. He wanted so much to be a family and that meant having his mother as a part of it.
He had lost track of the day and was startled when it was time for Harry's first Floo call.
Kreacher entered into the sitting room. "Master Harry is wondering where you is," he said to Draco.
Draco jumped and got up too fast. The room spun for a moment and he grasped the back of the chair to keep from falling. "Tell him I will be right there," he said.
Kreacher nodded and hurried as fast as his old legs could carry him.
Narcissa stood as well and took hold of Draco's arm. "Are you all right?" she asked, worry lines on her forehead.
"Like I said," he gasped, "I get dizzy." He let her help him down to the kitchen and then knelt by the fireplace. "Hi, love," he said to Harry's face in the flames.
"Hi," Harry responded, relieved to see Draco as always. He looked around him. "Oh, is your mum there?" he asked. "I didn't know you would have anyone over."
"Neither did I," Draco said, grinning larger than he had in a while. "But it is nice to have her visit."
Harry smiled. "Hello, Mrs. Malfoy," he said.
"Hello," she said from where she had taken a seat at the table.
Harry turned his attention back on Draco. "Are you okay today?" he asked as usual.
Draco glanced at his mother but nodded. "Fine," he said. "A little tired. How's class?"
"Good today," Harry answered. "Just had Branson, and Stemp blew up his desk." He snorted.
Draco chuckled. "I take it blowing up the desk wasn't part of the plan," he prompted.
"No," Harry began. "We were supposed to be doing Banishing Charms ...."