Harry Potter and the Womb of Requirement NOW CODED

29

The Ten took it easy over the next couple of days, then Hermione called them all together them all in her room one night after dinner. She had retrieved the sterile phials from the lab and handed her fellow bondees a short rack-ful each.

{These and their contents must only be touched by that individual and their bond-mate only}. Ron stated the obvious, {Erm, they’re empty}. Hermione swatted him on the arm, {Idiot, it’s for you folk to, erm, fill them. With body fluids. All of them}. Harry realised that they were now at the ‘not-pretty’ stage as she laid out exactly what she wanted, {Sweat, eccrine and apocrine. Tears, snot, saliva, blood, semen and menses. Oh and two or three drops each of urine. I need these by the end of July, so us ladies have time to go through a full cycle}. They all showed various expressions of disgust, sends coming at her of the, {Eeew, do we really need piss?}, to, {We’ve actually got to drink this?} variety. Hermione laughed aloud. {If you think this is weird, wait ‘til the Ritual. I told you there was work ahead}.

They reluctantly took the phials from her as she doled them out. {You must label them with your full name and date of birth, seal them, then give them back to me as soon as they are completed. Oh, and, erm, essences must not be mixed, just pure essence from each of you}. They all glanced amongst themselves then back at Hermione, who was staring off into the middle distance, her thinking cap on, a small frown between her brows. Despite the mild revulsion at the task they had been sent, they all knew in that moment, that this was the real thing. Magic of this order had never in all recorded History been performed, save by four people over a thousand years ago, who had got it horribly wrong. The mood was sombre.

Hermione snapped back to herself seeing the sea of raised faces around her, {Merlin, guys, I hope I know what I’m doing, here}. Draco couldn’t help it, he laughed, as did the others as they caught on.

The six left to continue their training, leaving the four alone. Hermione relaxed, scrubbing at her face with her hands. Ginny wound an arm around her, {Are you okay, Missy?}. Hermione raised her head, {Boys, there’s some other things I need from you, that I did not discuss tonight}. They all paid attention. {As we are your army, then I will also need a few drops of your, erm, milk, Draco, if you are feeding Cariad yourself, also a few drops of her blood, urine and saliva. Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt her, and I’ll ask Madam Pomfrey to withdraw the blood for us}.

Draco wasn’t at all happy about this, {Why do we need to involve her, if a baby wasn’t present at the Founder’s Ritual?}. Hermione smiled slightly, {That was the first major cock-up in the Ritual. They tried to do the Warrior’s Bond with two incompletely bonded Magi. I’m not sure which of Godric or Rowena couldn’t produce a child, but my money’s on Godric, because of what I think Salazar did at the Ritual. He figured a Mage and an Elemental who could produce a child would be more powerful than two Magi who could never complete the Bond}. Her send drifted off, and she once more felt the weight of the responsibility incumbent upon her.

They all let her think for awhile, then Harry sent a tentative, {‘Mione, what do you think happened that night?. The missing chapter is a bit vague}. She returned to them, her send hard, her eyes cold, {I think he either attempted to, or he actually raped Rowena. The ritual was a complete disaster, and Salazar was banished. He tried a greedy grab for power at the most sensitive part of the Ritual and it all messed up}. There were tears in her eyes, her chest rising and falling quickly, she was plainly struggling with her next words. Ginny tightened her hold around her Missy. Hermione took a deep breath, restoring self-control, {Boys, promise me one thing}, they both nodded, {If, at any time during, erm, this part of the proceedings, I utter the word ‘shoebox’, then whatever you may be doing with me stops. Dead. Right there}. They murmured their assent into her mind and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Draco sent, {That sounds like a ‘safe’ word to me}. She turned burning amber flecked eyes on him, {It is}. The boys backed off. Harry glanced at Ginny, her head was lowered and she was smirking at the boys’ awkwardness. Hermione sensed the atmosphere and softened her expression, {This is a ritual, chaps and I am the Fulcrum, The one, about whom, the whole Ritual turns. I am the Link between yourselves and your Warriors and I will lead the whole night. So what I say, goes}. Draco could feel a flush rising up his neck and felt a strange thrill run through him.

She continued in a softer vein, {We’re all going to have major issues here. We’re all too young for this. There will be lots of awkwardness. After all, it’s not every group of schoolfriends who get to see each other naked, cavorting in a woodland glade by night, now, is it?}, she suddenly howled with laughter, burying her reddening face in her hands, {What the fuck are we letting ourselves in for?}.

The other three agreed, and followed her into peals of embarrassed mirth. Draco sent, {Where will Cariad be during all of this?}. {With us, of course, but she’ll be outside the Circle. If you decide to feed her yourself, then there’s a little Potion I can knock together, that you take and pass her in your milk, which is totally harmless, to you and her, but it will make sure she sleeps through the Working}. Draco nodded his assent, and she made a mental note to order the materials as soon as possible. Harry allowed himself a grin at his incredible friend, ‘knock together’ indeed, but he quietly supposed if she had the power to give him a shot at child-bearing, then a mere baby-sedative could be counted as a ‘little Potion’.

He flashed back to their first ever Potions lesson. Snape making his speech about ‘putting a stopper in Death’. Only Hermione had gone one better, she had put a stopper in Life. He sent, so they could all hear, {‘Mione, whatever you say, we do, we will follow you all the way in this, and help in any way we can}.

The coldness left her face and she smiled, closing her eyes, {Thanks Harry. I’ve got a bit of a Potion in mind for the Night which will relax us. Not a Magical thing, but an ancient Indian recipe, basically pot and brandy and warm milk, plus a few spices}, she giggled, {I’d better make that in your kitchen. I don’t think Snape would approve, somehow}. At that, she dug into her nightstand, fishing out the makings, rolling and lighting one. She needed to relax, taking a few deep drags and passed it to her Girlie. That one did the rounds. She rolled another, keeping hold of it, {I need to get seriously smashed, chaps}, she lay on her back and toked thoughtfully. The boys took the hint and made a tactful exit, leaving the girls alone.

Giggling and falling against each other, they made their way upstairs, Draco sent, {Ye gods, Harry. This Potion, if it’s made with this isn’t just to relax us, is it?. It’s a friggin’ aphrodisiac}. In silent reply, Harry held his Dragon and they kissed, long and deep, before stumbling into their rooms. {Trust my ‘Mione, she may profess to ignorance, but somewhere in the back of that amazing brain of hers, she’s got this all worked out. Think of it, Dragon, all ten of us high as kites doing this Ritual. That’s why she hasn’t told us specifics. She’ll let her instincts guide her, they’ve never failed her, or us, yet}. Draco looked at his beloved through slightly reddened eyes, his concerns plain, {I’m still not happy at the idea of seeing you with someone else, Harry}. {I know. Me either, but I think we have to just get beyond that. We mustn’t let her down. We must all be strong. This is a Warrior’s Bond and we must put petty teenaged angst behind us, start to behave like the co-warriors we will be. Although, when it comes to it...}, his send trailed. Draco held his Harry tight, {.....It’s still going to be him or me}.

Draco found himself with nothing to say to this. The thought of his Harry dead, killed, filled him with fear and he wound an arm round his belly. Draco knew that Harry had been worrying about the confrontation to come, usually when Harry thought his lover to be deeply asleep, but he knew. {This time, my love, you will have help, you can draw on us all. I think this is why the other six’s powers are elevated in the Bond of Requirement. We know they are learning joined spells, so you can call on all of us when the time comes. Just open us all up, and rip the Magic out, whatever you need, Harry, just take it, it’s yours as the Ipsissimus}. Draco bowed his head.

Harry cupped Draco’s jaw, lifting his head, looking deep into his eyes, {Never bow to me, Dragon. Please. My Magic may turn out to be the stronger, but you are my mate, my equal, and I will never think of you any other way}. Draco blinked back tears as he tipped his head and possessed his Lion’s mouth with his own, both lying back on their big bed, taking each other, owning each other.

xxxxxxx

Over the next several days, various members of the Ten sidled up to Hermione, discreetly handing over sealed bottles. Mainly the boys. She knew the girls would take longer, but this was built into her timetable. The Potion base was already built. The essence phials, she stored in the fridge in the lab for now. As instructed, each was carefully labelled.

The Magi’s bonding Potion was also just about done.

July was progressing. Clear and hot. Draco passed his eight month mark and was feeling like the side of a house, though in truth, he hadn’t put much weight on himself, it all going on in front. He found himself often out of breath and overheated due the heat of the child inside him. Just lately he had been experiencing false contractions. When the first one hit him, in the middle of the night, he’d panicked, until Madam Pomfrey reassured him that these ‘Braxton-Hicks’ contractions were just a sign that his body was preparing itself for the birth.

One day, a few days before the End of term Ball, there was a great deal of activity on the floor below Draco and Harry. Draco was lying with his feet up on the sofa, but Harry ventured below to investigate. He was rebuffed by Hermione, who shooed him away, grinning.

After dinner that night, which the boys took in their rooms, Hermione sent them an invitation to attend a little get together in Hermione and Ginny’s room. Draco rolled off the couch, feeling little twinges everywhere, knuckling his aching back. Harry kneaded his lover’s shoulders, then massaged down either side of Draco’s spine. Draco arched into the loving touches, feeling some relief. They kissed and went downstairs.

They entered the girls’ room, Ginny letting them in, to be greeted by a sea of faces, and a mound of parcels in the middle of the room. It was exactly as Hermione had predicted. There seemed to be a present from just about everyone in school. Draco felt his eyes fill, as someone budged up and let him hog the sofa. Hermione was grinning fit to bust. Draco looked around, The DA were here as well as the Ten. Then he spotted his two original henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, a neatly wrapped parcel between them. {What is this all about, guys?}, Harry sent into the room as Butterbeers were handed out, Ginny playing hostess.

{Harry, Draco, several members of the school have made or bought things for the baby. All this is for her. Go on. Check it out}, Hermione rose, and plucking a selection of parcels from the top of the stack, she pressed them into Draco’s hands. In awe, he began to unwrap them. {‘Mione, do you have a spare bit of parchment and a quill, babe?}. She puzzled, but provided them. As Draco and Harry unwrapped each thing, Draco made a careful note of gift and sender. A beautiful hand-knitted coat from a third-year Hufflepuff girl. What surely had to be an heirloom silver and ivory teething ring from a fourth year Ravenclaw boy. Draco was more gobsmacked the further he made his way down the pile. Harry helped, adding to the list, reading out each gift tag aloud. Draco was trembling, feeling all the goodwill pouring his way, he bit his top lip hard trying to stop tears, but they disobeyed him, falling anyway. Harry held him, {This is incredible, isn’t it, my love?}. Draco was undone, but ploughed on. A hand-crocheted blanket, made of individual squares, various soft toys. As they reached the bottom of the pile, then one by one, the people in the room came and proffered their own gifts.

Crabbe and Goyle had made a tiny rocking chair. Draco leapt up and hugged the pair of them. The girls in the DA had made a cot or cradle bumper out of soft stuff, covered in white calico, embroidered with a magnificent Dragon and Lion. The boys went into the bathroom and produced a handmade changing station that could have the top shelf removed to reveal the bath. Draco’s tears were pouring down his face as Ron and Blaise produced their handmade cradle. Harry glanced around the room, there was nary a dry eye to be seen, including his own.

Lavender laid a parcel across Draco’s lap, {You’ll be having a naming ceremony for her?}, she stepped back. With trembling fingers, Draco undid the parcel lifting the robe out, fine silk gauze underskirts, overlaid with the finest white cut-work, scattered with tiny seed pearls. Neville next, {My own humble attempts at needlework}, Draco unwrapped an exquisitely made winter coat, with a fake fur collar and cuffs, holding it up, amazed. Pansy proffered a handmade Teddy Bear with a goofy grin on it’s face, that made Draco laugh. Hermione and Ginny contributed transport. A pram, that would, in due course become a buggy, then a buggy for two. Hermione knew that, if his Sight was genuine, Harry would take his Potion soon. Also a long length of cloth, a side-sling that African women wore, to carry their babies,

Draco and Harry made no secret of how moved they were, as one by one, they unwrapped their gifts. Ginny handed out real beer this time, handing Draco a pumpkin juice. He sent a general and sincere thanks into the room. Everyone picked it up, save for his two ex-henchmen. He found their channels and thanked them personally, watching their faces pale as they cautiously sent, {Don’t mention it mate. Glad to see you’re doing all right. It’s cool that Snape’s not such a git either, what’ve you been doing to him?}.

Draco shrugged, {It’s not me, it’s Hermione}. {What?, the mudblood?}. Draco turned a heated glare in their direction, fury in his send, {Never let me hear you call her that again}, he hissed mentally. Crabbe and Goyle recoiled, stung to silence. Harry felt the spike of anger in his lover. Draco’s housemates apologised as Harry sent, {Are you okay, love?}. Draco leaned into his side, {I’m just suffering for past sins, lover}. He felt the rest of their future army bristle around him. His house-mates clearly having no idea, looking truly awed at the power ranged around the room, feeling the glares visited upon them.

Crabbe held his hands out, palms outwards, {Hey, no trouble, just a slip of the tongue. C’mon, dude, you were the one that always hated her, after all. I think she’s a bit of all right, meself}.

Draco breathed deep and the atmosphere softened to convivial once more, {Sorry, guys, but I don’t like that sort of talk any more, okay?}, he felt their mental nods as they forgave him.

Ginny sent a knowing glance her lover’s way, quirking an eyebrow. Hermione flicked a gaze over the assembled company, sent to Harry, {Can we borrow your sounds?}, and he disappeared through the door. Ginny reached into her bedside cabinet, producing a small box stuffed with one-skinners that she’d rolled earlier, offering them out, pausing to flick a lighter for each joint taken. Soon the room was filled with the pungent smoke. Harry returned with the radio, plugging it in, finding a channel that seemed to suit, accepted a blunt from his Elemental and proceeded to get smashed along with the rest of the room.

The room quickly became giggly, the Patel twins pronouncing the grass better than anything they had ever encountered at home (Birmingham), {And we’ve got loads of Jamaicans in our area who would love to get their mitts on weed this good}, they sent as one.

Eventually, after several dances and lots of hilarity, the party broke up, folk leaving in dribs and drabs. Draco rose as Crabbe and Goyle made to leave. He knew how hard it had been for them to come tonight, but after the initial difficulty, they’d been fine. Goyle was already through the door, when Crabbe grasped Draco’s face and kissed him on the mouth in farewell, a sliver of tongue snaking out. He backed away several steps, blowing Draco a kiss as he left.

Harry felt that, {What was all that about, lover?}. Draco was stunned, {Whoo, no idea, but I think I just ran into a bit of a you-Ron thing, like when we got together}.

Harry laughed and held his Dragon, {You mean Crabbe’s been carrying a torch for you?}. Draco blushed deep pink, shrugging, {Looks that way from here}, Draco shrugged as a huge smile lit his eyes. He leaned into his Lion’s kiss.

Eventually, it was just the four. Various folk had helped stack the gifts neatly, promising help to move everything tomorrow. The boys kissed their Elemental and her Second and wobbled their way to bed.

Ginny surveyed the wreckage of their room and giggled. Hermione tipped her backwards onto their bed, Magically extinguishing lights. The mess could wait ‘til morning, this couldn’t. She devoured her lover far into the night, both fuelled by more of those little spliffs. They still had the boys’ radio, feeling music wash through them, their dancing got dirtier, hotter, as each stripped the other, and made love until the dawn came up.