Changing Minds in Hard Times

Draco had refused to go back to the bedroom after the testing. He insisted they should discuss the situation with people who might have ideas to fix it. While Harry agreed privately, he knew he had a point when he argued that they should rest for a while before falling headfirst into planning.



But Draco would hear none of it, and that was why they were now sitting in a large sitting room surrounded by Order members and close friends. The room was courtesy of the Room of Requirement, and had filled in record time; so much even, that Harry was sure that the room had stretched somewhat to accommodate everyone who wanted in. With the exception of Moody and his current guards.



Draco waited until everyone was settled, and then stood and used his wand, which Harry had handed back to him several days before, to cast Sonorus on himself to speak over the voices of the assembled group.



“It seems that the plan we originally hoped for has been successful.” He stopped as voices rose up, murmuring general words of relief. “However,” he continued, “It seems that Voldemort’s plan succeeded also.”



Molly Weasley’s voice spoke out, her worry and confusion evident. “Whatever can you mean?”



Draco eyed the Weasley matriarch for a moment before explaining. “I am pregnant with twins. One is Harry’s. The other is the Dark Lord’s.”



People were shaking their heads, expressing disgust, fear and outrage. “How could this happen!?” a voice cried out. “There has to be some way to kill that bastard’s demon spawn!” yelled another. “But the chances of conceiving from two fathers is practically impossible!” sounded a third voice.



“It’s the truth,” Ron’s voice boomed out over the crowd. “Hermione and I were in the room at the time the spells were performed. We both saw the lights of the children’s power. One was green and silver. The other was red and silver.” Everyone’s eyes seemed to move to Hermione, as if Ron’s word in this were not enough. She nodded that it was true.



Dumbledore stood up and made his way over to the couch which the blond stood near, and the brunette sat, uncharacteristically silent. He laid his hand on Draco’s shoulder, momentarily forgetting that this was a young man who had experienced horrors inflicted on his body. He was reminded as Draco flinched away from him. “Don’t touch me!” he snarled, anger flashing in his eyes. Just below his anger was fear, the old man could plainly see.



“My apologies Draco, I did momentarily forget.”



Draco nodded and tried to shake himself out of the mental state he was currently in. It wouldn’t do for him to crumble in fear just because someone touched him and triggered the memories. He had to be stronger then that.



“I daresay there might be some way to abort the unwanted child while keeping the other…”



The blonds head moved in dismissal of that idea. “One of the spells Voldemort placed on me was an old protective spell turned dark. Originally it was meant to aid pregnant women who were at great risk of losing children they had conceived. In the form Voldemort used, it is meant to bind the new life to my magic, so that the children cannot be lost without my own life becoming forfeit.”



Dumbledore’s normal sparkle left his eyes at that. He could see that Voldemort had planned that spell to be more then just a protection for his own possible children. The Dark Lord had left himself another way out of the prophecy. Had Draco not conceived his child, he would be able to, with one well placed spell, displace Draco’s magical womb and kill both Harry’s child – the weapon – and Draco, which would effectively leave Harry with no possible way to recreate his previous weapon. It was an evil, calculated, malicious plan. It was clearly just like Voldemort.



One of the Order members Draco didn’t know stood up. “Now, just for a minute, consider my point. If Draco would willingly submit to having Harry’s child removed from his magical womb and placed in a surrogate, and then agreed to take Voldemort’s spawn into death with him…”



“NEVER!” Harry’s voice yelled out, effective and earsplitting even without Sonorus cast on himself. “How DARE you even suggest such a thing. Draco is my mate. I have claimed him. I accepted the bond! Do you realize that I have tied part of my very soul into Draco’s life-force? Did you, even for a moment, think of what that might do to me, or to end your precious fight for good? Draco will not be submitting himself for death, Voldemort’s child or no. We need a plan to deal with the situation we have now. And I don’t want to hear any more suggestions about killing off Draco OR the child that isn’t mine. You all understand?” Harry’s wand was leveled on the crowd threateningly as his eyes scanned for any sign of decent. He found none.



Slowly he lowered his wand, feeling Draco’s arm coming to rest around his back, giving him both support and strength. Several moments of silence passed, before Draco spoke again.



“So, any ideas?”