A Christmas Wish

Chapter 3 “Harry’s Christmas wish”

Harry spent all his free time over the next couple of weeks going through the manor library and going out to book stores buying any and all books he needed. He had taken to carrying his kittens with him every where he went as to not miss their feeding time in his quest for knowledge. Once he was sure he had as much information as he needed he was finally ready to make his Christmas wish come true.

It was now Christmas Eve as he made his way through to the streets to St. Mungo’s. When he made his way in to the hospital Harry noticed it was crowded due to a lot of Holiday related accidents and spells gone awry. Harry held his basket with the kittens inside, closer and tightened his grip so he wouldn’t lose them as he made his way through the hospital to the department he needed.

“Welcome to Morgana’s Maternity. May I help you?”

“Yes I’m Harrison black I have an appointment at 11.”

“Yes Mr. Black. Healer Jenson will be with you in a moment. Please fill out these forms.” Harry was nervous as he filled out the questionnaire, because some of the questions were embarrassing. By the time he finished and was called in to the exam room he was bushing like crazy.

Harry sat nervously on the table with his kitten in the basket on the chair next to him. He wrapped his arms around himself in order to fight off the chill. ‘Why do all doctor offices have to be so cold?’ Harry thought to himself as he tried in vain to close the back of his open gown which exposed his pale arse to the cold. He really wanted this so he would endure the cold. This was all for his Christmas wish.

“Good afternoon Mr. Black I’m Healer Jenson. What can I do for you today?” The Healer entered the room with a smile. She was young and had soft caring smile as she read over his chart. She had long red hair it reminded him of the picture of his mum when she was at school.

“I want to have a baby.”

“Very well then, have you discussed this with your partner? This is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly without the other partner’s knowledge.”

“I don’t have partner.” Harry said softly looking sadly at his kittens. “I live alone with my cats and owls. I don’t think have a boyfriend anytime soon if ever.”

“I must say I’m confused. You’re a handsome young man not even 21 yet. Why do you want a baby? Wouldn’t you like to go out with people your own age and look for Mr. Right or even just live the single life for a while? Having a baby is a lot of work and responsibility. Once you have the baby there is no going back they will be your life.”

“I understand, but I want some to love and care for that hopefully will one day return that love. They will love me because I love them not because of I come from a wealthy pure-blooded family.” It was close to the truth he could get without saying ‘I’m Harry Potter and I don’t want hero worship!’ “I don’t have any real friends and I don’t care too much for the single life as you put it. There is no Mr. Right for me and I don’t want to spend my life chasing after a dream. I just want a quite life and where the only excitement is baby proofing the house because my child is taking their first steps. Please I understand your concerns, but I really want to have a baby.”

The Healer smiled sadly at the young wizard before her. She could see how lonely and desperate he was. Truthfully she should be sending him to a mind healer for all his angst but that wasn’t her business, helping people have babies were. If having a baby to love would heal his lonely heart, who was she to deny him. “Alright Mr. Black let me do an exam and we’ll see what we can do for you.”

“Thank you.” Harry sighed in relief. He had been worried that she wouldn’t help him. If she did then he would have to give up to his fate of a lonely life. St. Mungo’s was the only Hospital that handled Male pregnancies and artificial insemination.

“Well Mr. Black we can’t let you carry a baby just yet.” The healer said as she finished the exam and read the test results. “You’re underweight and you have a vitamin deficiency, also the symptoms of an on coming cold.” Harry’s face fell and his heart sank but the healer smiled. “Don’t worry Mr. Black. I’m going to prescribe you some nutrient potions and some pepper-up potion for you to take. That should get rid of your cold before it becomes the flu that has been going around. I want you to start eating more even if it’s just a little bit. You need to get your weight up so you can carry the baby without the baby draining you’re energy and magic. If you can gain a stone or two by March then you can carry a Christmas baby.”

“Thank you! I’ll get the potions right away!!”

“Good, make sure you make appointment for two weeks from today after the New Year. I want to make sure your cold doesn’t come back and you are starting to gain weight. You can get dressed then you’re free to go.”

“Ok I will. Thank you again.” Harry smiled as the Healer left. He dressed quickly and soon with the basket of kittens in hand he headed out stopping by the front desk to set up his appointment. He was about to leave when he thought about the potions he needed to get. Professor Snape told him to never buy or take store bought potions as they were unreliable. He also told him never to brew his own as he was completely inept at potions and would likely poison himself. He didn’t want to tell Snape and Moony about the baby till he was pregnant so if asked for these potions they would get suspicious. Harry then thought this was a hospital they had to get reliable potions somewhere.

“Excuse me but where can I get these potions?” Harry asked after returning back to the receptionist.

“We have a Potions lab downstairs to the left of the lobby.”

“Thank you.” He smiled and headed toward the lobby. How could he not have noticed the sign that said ‘Potions Lab’? Of course it would be in the lobby that way patients can get their potions and go home. He was so excited he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings. Snape wouldn’t be happy to hear that, but how could he not be happy today? He was on his way to making his wish come true. If fact he was so lost in his happiness he didn’t notice someone coming out of the lab as he was going in and there was no way to avoid the collision.

“OoF!” Harry slammed into the taller wizard but as he was so light weighted he fell backwards on his arse dropping his basket.

“I’m so sorry sir. I wasn’t paying attention.” Harry gave a clumsy chuckle as he made to get up.

“That’s nothing new Potter you always were a clumsy Gryffindor.” Harry froze as he was picking up his basket. There was only one man that could say his name with that much malice. Harry stood up with his basket in hand and came face to face with none other than the Slytherin Prince himself. ‘Draco Malfoy’

“Excuse me sir, but I think you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is Harrison Black.” Harry kept his voice calm and was glad of the stay put charm on his hair he didn’t want Malfoy to see his eye and torment him about it. ‘Shit, five seconds with Malfoy and I feel like I’m back at Hogwarts.’

“Come off it Potter. Unlike the mass readers of the Daily Prophet, I actually have a brain. I know that the story they ran was pure rubbish.” Draco smirked. Inside he was happy beyond belief. The one person that kept him on his toes and the one who ever gave him a challenge was here before him. ‘It seems our fates were always intertwined.’ Draco thought as he watched Harry blush with anger or embarrassment he couldn’t tell.

“You are wrong I am Harrison Black. Now please let me pass I need to fill this prescription and get home.” Harry growled out as he waved the potion list at Malfoy as he was getting annoyed with the Blonde.

“Well let’s see what we can do about that.” The former Slytherin smiled as took the list from the smaller man. Harry couldn’t believe this man; he was more arrogant and annoying than he had been in school. “This should be easy to fill, follow me.” Malfoy turned and headed back in to the potions lab taking Harry’s list with him.

“Oi! Malfoy!” Harry shouted as he ran after the tall blond who stole his list.

“Oh so you do know me.” Draco smirked with laughter in his eyes.

“Yes I know you’re a Slytherin Prat! Now give me my list!” The former Gryffindor hissed as he followed Draco past the line of patients waiting for potion pick-up.

“Hey Draco! I thought you were going on your lunch break?” called one of the other potion masters.

“I am! I just have a personal patient to attend to.” He replied as he led a blushing Harry past the counter to the back where his personal lab and office was.

“Have a seat Potter.”

“Quit calling me that I keep telling you my name is Black.”

“Yes I know. Not too original though.” The Slytherin waved off the Gryffindor as he went to his personal potion supply.

“I really don’t give a rat’s arse what you think Malfoy. Can I have my potions? I really need to get home.”

“So what’s in the basket? You look like you are going on a picnic, but that’s impossible with all snow we’ve been having these pass few days.”

“My kittens are in the basket and they are sleeping. They are too young to be left alone and they need to be fed soon.” The Gryffindor glared at the Slytherin

“Really? Let me see them.” Draco wandered back over to Harry with potions in hand and tried to peek in the basket.

“Fine, then will you give me my potions?”

“Sure.” Malfoy smiled. He always wanted a pet but they weren’t allowed at the manor and his owl was kept in the Owlery behind the manor. Harry reluctantly pulled the blanket back to reveal the sleeping kittens.

“Can I have my potions now?”

“So what brings you to St. Mungo’s?” Draco asked as he petted tiny Belle completely ignoring Harry’s request for his potions. Harry wanted to pull his kittens away and hex the prat.

“I wasn’t feeling well the healer said it was the start of a cold and it was because I was under weight.” Harry replied as he placed the blanket back over the kittens keeping them warm and away from his school time rival.

“I could have told you that in first year. You’ve always been skinny as a broom. Well here are your potions. Make sure you take them on a full stomach. You know Potter…” Malfoy waved off Harry’s sputtering protests about his name as they walked back through the lab to the lobby. “Black, I know, anyways as I was saying we should have lunch sometime soon and catch up on old times.”

He could not believe what he was hearing. Malfoy had finally gone off his rocker he couldn’t be serious. Harry couldn’t help, but gap at the former Slytherin as he was led out of the hospital to busy streets of London, but he was quickly brought out of his shock by annoying prat. “Black, what do you say to lunch next week if you’re free, that is?”

“Sure Malfoy we can sit and talk about the 7 years of Hogwarts we had together. Where we were never at a lost for words on how we felt for one another over lunch. Then we can recall all the friendly quidditch games we played where I kicked your arse over coffee as well.”

“Great! I’ll owl you, see you next week.” Malfoy grinned as he apparated away.

“Malfoy! You arrogant bastard!! That was sarcasm!!” the Gryffindor would have continued his rant, but it was pointless to yell at the empty space and his kittens were hungry, so in the end he just apparated home.