Harry Potter and The White Queen (BP3)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,216
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,216
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
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.
Not a Cat
Chapter Number/Total: 34/49
Chapter Title: Not a Cat
Words: 3726 Words
Harry was sitting on a sofa, flipping through The Half-Blood Prince's Potion book instead of doing research on Ravenclaw's brooch. He didn't think that there was really anything else they could find out about the brooch in Malfoy Manor, and he was still curious about what Lupin had said about his mother and the similarities between those things and the things in the Potions book. He hadn't yet finished talking to Draco about what he had been talking about before the Manor had seemingly taken over Draco's sex drive, nor had he mentioned anything to Ron and Hermione - he had hardly spoken at all to Ron today, or yesterday. Ron was sort of avoiding eye-contact with both Harry and Draco.
Harry sighed, snapping the book shut. "Do any of you honestly believe we're going to find anything else here?" he asked.
Draco startled when Harry snapped the book, frowning at him. He huffed, but shook his head.
"Well, where do we look?" asked Hermione.
"It's not a matter of looking for it and just simply finding something," Harry said. "We probably need to go back to Snape again." He made a face at that, but actually thought it might prove to be an interesting visit if they did go. Perhaps he could slip a few questions in about his mother - or maybe he would just ask him flat out.
Draco nodded, his finger still holding his place in the book he had been reading. He had no idea how to find the brooch but the historical research had led to some interesting points about the magics of Hogwarts and other magical architectural sites. There was even a small section on the Malfoy Manor.
"Not only do we need to go for Horcruxes, but he might be able to tell me things about my mum too if this book is really his and the spells she did and the ones in here really are related," Harry said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry. "What are you talking about?" she asked.
Harry sighed. It's now or never, he thought. "Draco and I think the Prince was Snape," he said, holding up the book still in his hand.
"Think?" Draco huffed. "It's his mother's last name and his handwriting."
"Well, okay, we're pretty sure it is," Harry corrected.
"Snape?" asked Ron.
Harry made another face and nodded.
"How did you figure that out?" asked Hermione.
Harry sighed again. "You were right," he said with a small huff. "Well - sort of."
Draco picked up the Wizarding Families Lineage book that was laying next to him. He had checked on Snape's but had been doing some of his own research for the Manor issue. He opened a page he had a bookmark in.
"Severus Snape was born January 9th, 1958, to Eileen Prince, the girl you saw in that article, and Tobias Snape, a Muggle," Draco read, adding his own side commentary.
Hermione grinned and then turned to Harry with raised eyebrows. "Told you," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes slightly "Well, you thought she was the Prince, so you weren't completely right."
"Closer than you," Hermione said, still looking a bit smug.
Draco snorted at the juvenile argument. "The point is that we know this is his work. And that it sounds similar to work that Lily Potter was working on at the same time," he said.
Hermione looked curious. "How do you know that?" she asked.
"Lupin told us the other day," said Harry. "Well, he told us a bit about my mum's work. He also told us that my parents were Unspeakables."
Hermione looked very interested now. "They worked in the Department of Mysteries?"
Harry nodded. "Lupin said some of the spells my mum invented while working there came in real handy for the Order, but they sounded similar to the spells in the Prince's - or well, Snape's - Potion book."
"Spells that did what is usually done with potions," Draco added. "Like this one," he said, pointing to the spell he and Harry had tried.
Hermione got to her feet to look over Harry's shoulder at the book.
"And Slughorn told me that my mum was really good at Potions," said Harry. "And we know Snape was."
"And Severus actually mentioned Lily Evans to me," Draco said. "Mentioned her excellence in potions."
Harry nodded, but then frowned. "Did he say Lily Evans?" he asked.
"Yes," Draco said. "Why?"
"That's just odd," said Harry, still frowning. "My mum would've already been Potter long before Snape ever said anything to you about her."
Draco was quiet for a moment. "I think he was talking about when they were at Hogwarts," he said quietly. "I had the impression they had been friends."
"Yeah, you said that already," said Harry. "But I still have trouble believing it."
Draco shrugged. "Why? Because he didn't like your father? Or you?"
"You didn't see what I saw," Harry said. "You must not remember a word I said to you yesterday."
Draco frowned at him. "Because it's clear that if a person insults the other and doesn't get along with them, they will never become friends?" Draco drawled, raising both eyebrows.
Harry stared at Draco for a moment. "We're different," he said finally, but he knew it was a half-arsed, lame attempt at a counter statement.
"I wasn't just talking about you. Was I, Hermione? Ron?" he said with a smile.
Hermione and Ron both nodded.
"He has a point, Harry," said Hermione. "Ron and I have become friends with Draco, not his significant others. Why couldn't Snape and your mum have been friends?"
Harry sighed. "Well, I guess they could have been, but I still don't believe it without proof."
Draco shook his head and rolled his eyes, but didn't actually comment on his defensive response.
Hermione sighed. "Well, not that it isn't interesting, because it is, but why is any of this important?"
Harry shrugged. "Because I'd like to know and ..." he paused for a moment, "Snape was the one who passed the information about the prophecy to Voldemort. Dumbledore said the reason he trusted Snape was because of the remorse he showed after my parents were killed. I'd like to know if that's true."
Draco watched his husband, considering what he was saying. "So, is this still about whether or not to trust Snape? Or is this about wanting to understand your parents and what happened to them?" he asked.
Harry sighed again, not really sure about what he wanted to know exactly. "With all the things Snape's done to me over the years, all the things he's said about my father." He paused again. "I want to know if he truly feels regret for sending Voldemort to kill them."
"I thought it was Pettigrew who betrayed your parents?" Draco asked.
"He did," said Harry bitterly, "but Snape overheard the prophecy as it was being told to Dumbledore when he was in the Hog's Head. He ran to Voldemort and told him. It led Voldemort straight to my mum and dad."
"So you think he knew it would lead to them?" Draco said, frowning and thinking about his godfather.
"I don't know," Harry said quietly. "It leads me to believe that he was my mother's friend even less."
"Severus is ... complicated," Draco said. "I don't know if things are ever that simple to anyone in Slytherin. You can be friends and you can still hold other loyalties."
Harry huffed quietly. "There is no excuse for handing a friend over to Voldemort," he said, looking at his hands.
"I didn't say there was," Draco said, wincing at his memory of his own recent experience with his old friends.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, it doesn't matter - not right now anyway," he said finally. "We need a Horcrux. And how are you doing with your research, Draco?"
Draco scowled and reached for another book. "I found an old sketch of the founders in this book," he said opening it to the place he had marked. "It shows her wearing a brooch like the one Severus showed us."
Harry nodded. "Okay, so we know that it was hers, but that's not what I was talking about," he said. "I meant with the Manor. I know there's not really anything more on Horcruxes here."
Draco huffed, setting yet another book aside, and picking up the original one he had been reading. In the discussion, he had set it down without marking his place, so now he had to find it again. Finally, he located the passage on the Manor. "This is a book on traditional wizarding architecture. Or more specifically, on the magic that makes places like Hogwarts and the Malfoy Manor more than just buildings," he said.
Hermione and Ron looked confused, but Harry didn't stop to explain to them.
"What is it if it's more?" he asked.
"Hogwarts moves on it's own and has lots of odd behaviours for a building, right?" Draco said, trying to lead them where he wanted them to go.
"Yeah," said Harry slowly.
"The Room of Requirement has to somehow know what a person needs and then provide it, right?" he asked again.
Harry nodded. "Mmhm."
"Essentially, you have a building that acts independently and, as least on some level, thinks," he said.
"So the Manor thinks then?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione was looking at them strangely. "I have no idea what you two are on about, but Hogwarts can think - on some level, like Draco said. If the Manor has magic like Hogwarts, then it would be much the same."
"The theory is that enough magic can be put into a building over time that it ceases to be a thing and essentially becomes a magical creature of sorts. The Malfoy Manor has generations of blood and lineage magic in it," Draco said.
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said slowly, "makes sense. But I still don't know what it was trying to make us do. I suppose that requires more research?"
"Yes," Draco sighed, "because we have to know what types of functions the Manor's ancestral magic was directed to do. Beside carry on the Malfoy lineage."
Harry nodded and was silent for a few moments as he began gathering notes and papers up, but then he really thought about what Draco had just said and he froze, eyes growing wide. "Draco," he said very slowly and quietly, "think. What did the Manor make us do?"
Draco blushed, rolling his eyes at his husband. "Do you really want me to discuss this here?" he asked.
Harry had forgotten for a moment that Ron and Hermione were even in the room. He looked up at their confused faces and then back to Draco. "Perhaps we shouldn't, but do you get my point?"
"Well, he did see it," Draco said, laughing.
Harry rolled his eyes and blushed. He didn't want to look at Ron's face right then. He just kept looking at Draco. "Okay, take what the Manor was making us do, and what you just said one of its purposes is." His eyes had gone wide again.
"But Harry, it doesn't work that way. Didn't they teach you about that in Muggle school?" Draco teased.
Harry huffed and rolled his eyes. "I know it doesn't work that way," he said.
"What exactly did the Manor make you do?" Hermione asked slowly.
"Exactly what it sounds like," said Harry, blushing anew.
Hermione didn't blush, just looked confused. "The Manor is trying to make you have ...?"
Harry nodded.
"It wants you to have a baby? But you're both male."
Draco blushed again. "The Manor's magic has been pushing us together more than is even usual for us," he said, without looking at Hermione or Ron. "The wedding was an example of that."
Harry flushed brighter and nodded. "But it doesn't make any sense," he said. "We can't have children. Why would it do that?"
"Like I said before," Draco shrugged, "I was surprised it accepted you as a partner for a Blood Marriage Rite. That is usually a breeding pair."
"Well, I don't have a hidden vagina!" Harry said sounding a little hysterical. "I don't understand."
Hermione was looking at them both with knitted brows. "It is strange," she said. "The both of you have had weird things happen with your magic since you got together."
"Since we got together?" Draco was sounding a bit tense now, too. "From the stories I hear," he continued, "Harry's magic has always had a wild side."
"Well, yes, it has," said Hermione. "But since you've got together it's been ... much stranger."
"I am still here," Harry said, wringing his hands.
"No one said you weren't," said Hermione, seeming far too calm to Harry. "Think about it," she continued. "Doesn't it seem like his magic has gotten stronger or something? You said the Manor usually only accepts breeding pairs. Maybe it accepted him because his magic is stronger - different."
"I understand how the binding promise happened," Draco said. "Harry has very powerful wild magic. When he gets upset or emotional or ... well, it intensifies, changes shape."
"Wasn't it like that when you both did Great Rite?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, the Manor's magics flared when Harry's did and the next thing we knew ...." Draco trailed off again, remembering.
Hermione just stared at him.
"So, wait, what?" Harry asked, voice higher and sounding nervous.
"What did I say that you didn't understand?" Draco frowned.
"I know what happened that night. What I want to know is what does this mean?" Harry asked quickly. "Can I get ... can you ... ?" He couldn't even say it.
Draco's face went through so many expressions that it would be funny under other circumstances - wide eyed, scowling, confused, and finally worried. He opened and closed his mouth several times then gave up and buried his face in his hands.
Harry didn't know what to say or do. His heart was beating quickly and he suddenly felt the need to get to his feet and pace.
Hermione was still staring, looking more thoughtful than anything else and Ron was bug-eyed and his face was bright red.
Draco was trying not to hyperventilate or be sick. He took long deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
Hermione cleared her throat oddly. "In case this is a possibility," she said, "I suppose you might want to ... erm ... look into ... protection or something."
Harry's eyes widened further and he stared at her as if she were some very strange creature.
Draco grimaced, his voice a bit high as he said, "If the fact that neither of us is female isn't a barrier to this magic, what would be?"
Hermione winced. "Well, I suppose you're right," she said with a quick look at Harry.
Harry let out a very strange sound. "Oh, Merlin," he said.
"Let's try to be rational about this," Draco said, his voice quavering a bit. "I have felt the Manor's magics flare significantly on three occasions. First, after Lucius died and we did the Great Rite. Second, at the end of the wedding ceremony. And, third, yesterday. But yesterday was different."
"What happened yesterday?" Hermione asked.
Harry closed his eyes. He'd been the one fucked yesterday. He nearly fell over.
Draco's face and ears coloured again. He nearly whispered, "The first two times the manor had Harry ... top. But yesterday, it pushed me to."
Harry's breath quickened. "What's that mean?" he asked, half the syllables squeaks, half whispers.
"Repeatedly and for a long time," Draco added, not able to keep some amusement out of his voice when he heard Harry.
Harry nearly fell again and had to sit down. He did on the floor, face going very pale.
Draco slid off the couch, to sit on the floor with Harry. "Breathe, Harry," he said, taking his hand.
Harry tried to take deep breaths, but he couldn't, they were shallow. He just stared straight ahead, face still pale.
Draco felt almost guilty that if one of them was pregnant, it was probably Harry. Almost. Mostly, he felt relieved and excited. But he didn't think that Harry would want to hear that right now. So he just held his hand and waited.
Harry swallowed and closed his eyes. He was silent for a long time. "Do you think I'm ...." he finally whispered so quietly, he wasn't sure if he was heard. He couldn't look at Draco.
"Would that be ... bad?" Draco asked cautiously.
"I don't know," Harry said, terrified. How was he supposed to feel about possibly being bloody pregnant? He trembled and leaned into Draco.
Ron and Hermione still didn't say anything.
Draco put his arms around Harry and pulled him close. "I love you," he said. Meanwhile, he was trying to think of how someone would test for something like this. He closed his eyes and focused on Harry's magical energy, the feeling that was Harry. He began rubbing comforting circles on Harry's back and then down until he came to the base of his spine. He took several deep breaths and focused on the magical energy he felt there.
Harry didn't know what Draco was doing, but it did comfort him. He pressed his face into his neck, wishing the world would stop spinning.
Draco's heart sped up when he felt a flicker of something different. Slowly, he slid his arm around Harry. It would seem like he was just holding him close, but his hand was now on Harry's belly. He stopped moving when he felt that different magical pulse again. He nearly stopped breathing as he sat there feeling a different magical signature than his husband's.
Hermione was staring at Draco like she knew what he was doing. She raised a questioning eyebrow at him, frowning slightly.
Draco's eyes were still closed and his heart was beating madly inside his chest. He smiled. It was unbelievable, but his husband was carrying another life inside of his body.
Harry trembled again and clutched Draco tighter. He still didn't know what to say. All he could do was hold on.
Draco began to rock Harry, trying to comfort the frightened man. "I love you, Harry," he whispered. "I will be there, by your side, no matter what."
Harry tensed at those words but nodded, his face still pressed into Draco's neck. He tried to pull himself together, but it was very hard to do.
"It wouldn't be so bad, would it?" Draco whispered. "We said we wanted a family." He kissed the part of Harry's face he could reach.
"It's not that," Harry whispered, tears forming in his eyes before he even knew what they were coming from.
"What is it then, love?" Draco whispered, kissing and stroking Harry's hair with his silver hand.
"What about - Voldemort?" Harry gasped, finding himself almost unable to breathe. "What about H - Horcruxes?"
"All the more reason to defeat him," Draco said. "We can find a way."
Harry squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He didn't even know why he was crying already. He didn't even know if anyone was pregnant, but he nodded to Draco - or against him really.
"And like the Horcruxes," Draco said, looking up at Hermione and Ron, "no one but us can know. Not until it is safe."
Ron and Hermione both nodded, looking serious.
"Is he ...?" Hermione mouthed.
Draco met her eyes and nodded.
She brought her hand up to her mouth slowly.
Ron was staring between them, wide-eyed.
"Harry, do you understand? We will need to protect this secret," Draco said, kissing his face again.
Harry was a little bit confused. He brought his face back just the tiniest bit and stared up at Draco, silently asking him if he knew.
Draco's eyes were soft and he smiled down at Harry. "I suppose we need to find a cat now," he said quietly.
Harry let out a small breath and his eyes filled with new tears and he was torn in so many different ways all at once, he felt like a million pieces. "Oh, Draco," he sobbed, hugging him again and just holding him tight. "Draco."
"Shh, love," Draco soothed. "Your magic is the most powerful I have ever heard of, Harry. Trust it."
Harry sat and hugged Draco and cried until there was a big wet spot on his shirt, his mind reeling. He finally stopped, although he had no idea how long it had been and gently sat up straighter, wiping at his eyes and nose.
Draco pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him. His right hand still rested on Harry's waist and he used his silver hand to smooth the hair back from those green eyes.
"So, I am?" Harry asked, sounding stuffed up, but oddly calm now.
Draco lifted his hand, taking Harry's and laying it on his belly, just above his naval. "Here," he said quietly.
Harry closed his eyes and his face was expressionless for a few moments, but then he smiled a very, very tiny smile.
"Just a tiny spark of magic right now," Draco said, "but a strong one."
Harry let out a strange laugh that sounded almost like a sob. "I don't even know what to say," he whispered, not taking his hand from his belly.
"Are you ... okay?" Draco asked, thinking he understood but still wanting to hear it from him.
Harry sighed quietly and nodded. "Yes, I think so," he said.
"Good," Draco said, placing his hand over Harry's on his belly and smiling. He leaned in and kissed him gently.
Harry smiled that small smile against Draco's lips.
Hermione got up from her chair and walked over to Ron, pulling him up and leading him out of the room with her.
Draco's tongue slid against his lover's lips, his silver hand at the back of his head.
Harry leaned into Draco, his eyes falling shut again. "I love you," he whispered.
"Always yours," Draco whispered back.
Chapter Title: Not a Cat
Words: 3726 Words
Harry was sitting on a sofa, flipping through The Half-Blood Prince's Potion book instead of doing research on Ravenclaw's brooch. He didn't think that there was really anything else they could find out about the brooch in Malfoy Manor, and he was still curious about what Lupin had said about his mother and the similarities between those things and the things in the Potions book. He hadn't yet finished talking to Draco about what he had been talking about before the Manor had seemingly taken over Draco's sex drive, nor had he mentioned anything to Ron and Hermione - he had hardly spoken at all to Ron today, or yesterday. Ron was sort of avoiding eye-contact with both Harry and Draco.
Harry sighed, snapping the book shut. "Do any of you honestly believe we're going to find anything else here?" he asked.
Draco startled when Harry snapped the book, frowning at him. He huffed, but shook his head.
"Well, where do we look?" asked Hermione.
"It's not a matter of looking for it and just simply finding something," Harry said. "We probably need to go back to Snape again." He made a face at that, but actually thought it might prove to be an interesting visit if they did go. Perhaps he could slip a few questions in about his mother - or maybe he would just ask him flat out.
Draco nodded, his finger still holding his place in the book he had been reading. He had no idea how to find the brooch but the historical research had led to some interesting points about the magics of Hogwarts and other magical architectural sites. There was even a small section on the Malfoy Manor.
"Not only do we need to go for Horcruxes, but he might be able to tell me things about my mum too if this book is really his and the spells she did and the ones in here really are related," Harry said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry. "What are you talking about?" she asked.
Harry sighed. It's now or never, he thought. "Draco and I think the Prince was Snape," he said, holding up the book still in his hand.
"Think?" Draco huffed. "It's his mother's last name and his handwriting."
"Well, okay, we're pretty sure it is," Harry corrected.
"Snape?" asked Ron.
Harry made another face and nodded.
"How did you figure that out?" asked Hermione.
Harry sighed again. "You were right," he said with a small huff. "Well - sort of."
Draco picked up the Wizarding Families Lineage book that was laying next to him. He had checked on Snape's but had been doing some of his own research for the Manor issue. He opened a page he had a bookmark in.
"Severus Snape was born January 9th, 1958, to Eileen Prince, the girl you saw in that article, and Tobias Snape, a Muggle," Draco read, adding his own side commentary.
Hermione grinned and then turned to Harry with raised eyebrows. "Told you," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes slightly "Well, you thought she was the Prince, so you weren't completely right."
"Closer than you," Hermione said, still looking a bit smug.
Draco snorted at the juvenile argument. "The point is that we know this is his work. And that it sounds similar to work that Lily Potter was working on at the same time," he said.
Hermione looked curious. "How do you know that?" she asked.
"Lupin told us the other day," said Harry. "Well, he told us a bit about my mum's work. He also told us that my parents were Unspeakables."
Hermione looked very interested now. "They worked in the Department of Mysteries?"
Harry nodded. "Lupin said some of the spells my mum invented while working there came in real handy for the Order, but they sounded similar to the spells in the Prince's - or well, Snape's - Potion book."
"Spells that did what is usually done with potions," Draco added. "Like this one," he said, pointing to the spell he and Harry had tried.
Hermione got to her feet to look over Harry's shoulder at the book.
"And Slughorn told me that my mum was really good at Potions," said Harry. "And we know Snape was."
"And Severus actually mentioned Lily Evans to me," Draco said. "Mentioned her excellence in potions."
Harry nodded, but then frowned. "Did he say Lily Evans?" he asked.
"Yes," Draco said. "Why?"
"That's just odd," said Harry, still frowning. "My mum would've already been Potter long before Snape ever said anything to you about her."
Draco was quiet for a moment. "I think he was talking about when they were at Hogwarts," he said quietly. "I had the impression they had been friends."
"Yeah, you said that already," said Harry. "But I still have trouble believing it."
Draco shrugged. "Why? Because he didn't like your father? Or you?"
"You didn't see what I saw," Harry said. "You must not remember a word I said to you yesterday."
Draco frowned at him. "Because it's clear that if a person insults the other and doesn't get along with them, they will never become friends?" Draco drawled, raising both eyebrows.
Harry stared at Draco for a moment. "We're different," he said finally, but he knew it was a half-arsed, lame attempt at a counter statement.
"I wasn't just talking about you. Was I, Hermione? Ron?" he said with a smile.
Hermione and Ron both nodded.
"He has a point, Harry," said Hermione. "Ron and I have become friends with Draco, not his significant others. Why couldn't Snape and your mum have been friends?"
Harry sighed. "Well, I guess they could have been, but I still don't believe it without proof."
Draco shook his head and rolled his eyes, but didn't actually comment on his defensive response.
Hermione sighed. "Well, not that it isn't interesting, because it is, but why is any of this important?"
Harry shrugged. "Because I'd like to know and ..." he paused for a moment, "Snape was the one who passed the information about the prophecy to Voldemort. Dumbledore said the reason he trusted Snape was because of the remorse he showed after my parents were killed. I'd like to know if that's true."
Draco watched his husband, considering what he was saying. "So, is this still about whether or not to trust Snape? Or is this about wanting to understand your parents and what happened to them?" he asked.
Harry sighed again, not really sure about what he wanted to know exactly. "With all the things Snape's done to me over the years, all the things he's said about my father." He paused again. "I want to know if he truly feels regret for sending Voldemort to kill them."
"I thought it was Pettigrew who betrayed your parents?" Draco asked.
"He did," said Harry bitterly, "but Snape overheard the prophecy as it was being told to Dumbledore when he was in the Hog's Head. He ran to Voldemort and told him. It led Voldemort straight to my mum and dad."
"So you think he knew it would lead to them?" Draco said, frowning and thinking about his godfather.
"I don't know," Harry said quietly. "It leads me to believe that he was my mother's friend even less."
"Severus is ... complicated," Draco said. "I don't know if things are ever that simple to anyone in Slytherin. You can be friends and you can still hold other loyalties."
Harry huffed quietly. "There is no excuse for handing a friend over to Voldemort," he said, looking at his hands.
"I didn't say there was," Draco said, wincing at his memory of his own recent experience with his old friends.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, it doesn't matter - not right now anyway," he said finally. "We need a Horcrux. And how are you doing with your research, Draco?"
Draco scowled and reached for another book. "I found an old sketch of the founders in this book," he said opening it to the place he had marked. "It shows her wearing a brooch like the one Severus showed us."
Harry nodded. "Okay, so we know that it was hers, but that's not what I was talking about," he said. "I meant with the Manor. I know there's not really anything more on Horcruxes here."
Draco huffed, setting yet another book aside, and picking up the original one he had been reading. In the discussion, he had set it down without marking his place, so now he had to find it again. Finally, he located the passage on the Manor. "This is a book on traditional wizarding architecture. Or more specifically, on the magic that makes places like Hogwarts and the Malfoy Manor more than just buildings," he said.
Hermione and Ron looked confused, but Harry didn't stop to explain to them.
"What is it if it's more?" he asked.
"Hogwarts moves on it's own and has lots of odd behaviours for a building, right?" Draco said, trying to lead them where he wanted them to go.
"Yeah," said Harry slowly.
"The Room of Requirement has to somehow know what a person needs and then provide it, right?" he asked again.
Harry nodded. "Mmhm."
"Essentially, you have a building that acts independently and, as least on some level, thinks," he said.
"So the Manor thinks then?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione was looking at them strangely. "I have no idea what you two are on about, but Hogwarts can think - on some level, like Draco said. If the Manor has magic like Hogwarts, then it would be much the same."
"The theory is that enough magic can be put into a building over time that it ceases to be a thing and essentially becomes a magical creature of sorts. The Malfoy Manor has generations of blood and lineage magic in it," Draco said.
Harry nodded. "Okay," he said slowly, "makes sense. But I still don't know what it was trying to make us do. I suppose that requires more research?"
"Yes," Draco sighed, "because we have to know what types of functions the Manor's ancestral magic was directed to do. Beside carry on the Malfoy lineage."
Harry nodded and was silent for a few moments as he began gathering notes and papers up, but then he really thought about what Draco had just said and he froze, eyes growing wide. "Draco," he said very slowly and quietly, "think. What did the Manor make us do?"
Draco blushed, rolling his eyes at his husband. "Do you really want me to discuss this here?" he asked.
Harry had forgotten for a moment that Ron and Hermione were even in the room. He looked up at their confused faces and then back to Draco. "Perhaps we shouldn't, but do you get my point?"
"Well, he did see it," Draco said, laughing.
Harry rolled his eyes and blushed. He didn't want to look at Ron's face right then. He just kept looking at Draco. "Okay, take what the Manor was making us do, and what you just said one of its purposes is." His eyes had gone wide again.
"But Harry, it doesn't work that way. Didn't they teach you about that in Muggle school?" Draco teased.
Harry huffed and rolled his eyes. "I know it doesn't work that way," he said.
"What exactly did the Manor make you do?" Hermione asked slowly.
"Exactly what it sounds like," said Harry, blushing anew.
Hermione didn't blush, just looked confused. "The Manor is trying to make you have ...?"
Harry nodded.
"It wants you to have a baby? But you're both male."
Draco blushed again. "The Manor's magic has been pushing us together more than is even usual for us," he said, without looking at Hermione or Ron. "The wedding was an example of that."
Harry flushed brighter and nodded. "But it doesn't make any sense," he said. "We can't have children. Why would it do that?"
"Like I said before," Draco shrugged, "I was surprised it accepted you as a partner for a Blood Marriage Rite. That is usually a breeding pair."
"Well, I don't have a hidden vagina!" Harry said sounding a little hysterical. "I don't understand."
Hermione was looking at them both with knitted brows. "It is strange," she said. "The both of you have had weird things happen with your magic since you got together."
"Since we got together?" Draco was sounding a bit tense now, too. "From the stories I hear," he continued, "Harry's magic has always had a wild side."
"Well, yes, it has," said Hermione. "But since you've got together it's been ... much stranger."
"I am still here," Harry said, wringing his hands.
"No one said you weren't," said Hermione, seeming far too calm to Harry. "Think about it," she continued. "Doesn't it seem like his magic has gotten stronger or something? You said the Manor usually only accepts breeding pairs. Maybe it accepted him because his magic is stronger - different."
"I understand how the binding promise happened," Draco said. "Harry has very powerful wild magic. When he gets upset or emotional or ... well, it intensifies, changes shape."
"Wasn't it like that when you both did Great Rite?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, the Manor's magics flared when Harry's did and the next thing we knew ...." Draco trailed off again, remembering.
Hermione just stared at him.
"So, wait, what?" Harry asked, voice higher and sounding nervous.
"What did I say that you didn't understand?" Draco frowned.
"I know what happened that night. What I want to know is what does this mean?" Harry asked quickly. "Can I get ... can you ... ?" He couldn't even say it.
Draco's face went through so many expressions that it would be funny under other circumstances - wide eyed, scowling, confused, and finally worried. He opened and closed his mouth several times then gave up and buried his face in his hands.
Harry didn't know what to say or do. His heart was beating quickly and he suddenly felt the need to get to his feet and pace.
Hermione was still staring, looking more thoughtful than anything else and Ron was bug-eyed and his face was bright red.
Draco was trying not to hyperventilate or be sick. He took long deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
Hermione cleared her throat oddly. "In case this is a possibility," she said, "I suppose you might want to ... erm ... look into ... protection or something."
Harry's eyes widened further and he stared at her as if she were some very strange creature.
Draco grimaced, his voice a bit high as he said, "If the fact that neither of us is female isn't a barrier to this magic, what would be?"
Hermione winced. "Well, I suppose you're right," she said with a quick look at Harry.
Harry let out a very strange sound. "Oh, Merlin," he said.
"Let's try to be rational about this," Draco said, his voice quavering a bit. "I have felt the Manor's magics flare significantly on three occasions. First, after Lucius died and we did the Great Rite. Second, at the end of the wedding ceremony. And, third, yesterday. But yesterday was different."
"What happened yesterday?" Hermione asked.
Harry closed his eyes. He'd been the one fucked yesterday. He nearly fell over.
Draco's face and ears coloured again. He nearly whispered, "The first two times the manor had Harry ... top. But yesterday, it pushed me to."
Harry's breath quickened. "What's that mean?" he asked, half the syllables squeaks, half whispers.
"Repeatedly and for a long time," Draco added, not able to keep some amusement out of his voice when he heard Harry.
Harry nearly fell again and had to sit down. He did on the floor, face going very pale.
Draco slid off the couch, to sit on the floor with Harry. "Breathe, Harry," he said, taking his hand.
Harry tried to take deep breaths, but he couldn't, they were shallow. He just stared straight ahead, face still pale.
Draco felt almost guilty that if one of them was pregnant, it was probably Harry. Almost. Mostly, he felt relieved and excited. But he didn't think that Harry would want to hear that right now. So he just held his hand and waited.
Harry swallowed and closed his eyes. He was silent for a long time. "Do you think I'm ...." he finally whispered so quietly, he wasn't sure if he was heard. He couldn't look at Draco.
"Would that be ... bad?" Draco asked cautiously.
"I don't know," Harry said, terrified. How was he supposed to feel about possibly being bloody pregnant? He trembled and leaned into Draco.
Ron and Hermione still didn't say anything.
Draco put his arms around Harry and pulled him close. "I love you," he said. Meanwhile, he was trying to think of how someone would test for something like this. He closed his eyes and focused on Harry's magical energy, the feeling that was Harry. He began rubbing comforting circles on Harry's back and then down until he came to the base of his spine. He took several deep breaths and focused on the magical energy he felt there.
Harry didn't know what Draco was doing, but it did comfort him. He pressed his face into his neck, wishing the world would stop spinning.
Draco's heart sped up when he felt a flicker of something different. Slowly, he slid his arm around Harry. It would seem like he was just holding him close, but his hand was now on Harry's belly. He stopped moving when he felt that different magical pulse again. He nearly stopped breathing as he sat there feeling a different magical signature than his husband's.
Hermione was staring at Draco like she knew what he was doing. She raised a questioning eyebrow at him, frowning slightly.
Draco's eyes were still closed and his heart was beating madly inside his chest. He smiled. It was unbelievable, but his husband was carrying another life inside of his body.
Harry trembled again and clutched Draco tighter. He still didn't know what to say. All he could do was hold on.
Draco began to rock Harry, trying to comfort the frightened man. "I love you, Harry," he whispered. "I will be there, by your side, no matter what."
Harry tensed at those words but nodded, his face still pressed into Draco's neck. He tried to pull himself together, but it was very hard to do.
"It wouldn't be so bad, would it?" Draco whispered. "We said we wanted a family." He kissed the part of Harry's face he could reach.
"It's not that," Harry whispered, tears forming in his eyes before he even knew what they were coming from.
"What is it then, love?" Draco whispered, kissing and stroking Harry's hair with his silver hand.
"What about - Voldemort?" Harry gasped, finding himself almost unable to breathe. "What about H - Horcruxes?"
"All the more reason to defeat him," Draco said. "We can find a way."
Harry squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He didn't even know why he was crying already. He didn't even know if anyone was pregnant, but he nodded to Draco - or against him really.
"And like the Horcruxes," Draco said, looking up at Hermione and Ron, "no one but us can know. Not until it is safe."
Ron and Hermione both nodded, looking serious.
"Is he ...?" Hermione mouthed.
Draco met her eyes and nodded.
She brought her hand up to her mouth slowly.
Ron was staring between them, wide-eyed.
"Harry, do you understand? We will need to protect this secret," Draco said, kissing his face again.
Harry was a little bit confused. He brought his face back just the tiniest bit and stared up at Draco, silently asking him if he knew.
Draco's eyes were soft and he smiled down at Harry. "I suppose we need to find a cat now," he said quietly.
Harry let out a small breath and his eyes filled with new tears and he was torn in so many different ways all at once, he felt like a million pieces. "Oh, Draco," he sobbed, hugging him again and just holding him tight. "Draco."
"Shh, love," Draco soothed. "Your magic is the most powerful I have ever heard of, Harry. Trust it."
Harry sat and hugged Draco and cried until there was a big wet spot on his shirt, his mind reeling. He finally stopped, although he had no idea how long it had been and gently sat up straighter, wiping at his eyes and nose.
Draco pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him. His right hand still rested on Harry's waist and he used his silver hand to smooth the hair back from those green eyes.
"So, I am?" Harry asked, sounding stuffed up, but oddly calm now.
Draco lifted his hand, taking Harry's and laying it on his belly, just above his naval. "Here," he said quietly.
Harry closed his eyes and his face was expressionless for a few moments, but then he smiled a very, very tiny smile.
"Just a tiny spark of magic right now," Draco said, "but a strong one."
Harry let out a strange laugh that sounded almost like a sob. "I don't even know what to say," he whispered, not taking his hand from his belly.
"Are you ... okay?" Draco asked, thinking he understood but still wanting to hear it from him.
Harry sighed quietly and nodded. "Yes, I think so," he said.
"Good," Draco said, placing his hand over Harry's on his belly and smiling. He leaned in and kissed him gently.
Harry smiled that small smile against Draco's lips.
Hermione got up from her chair and walked over to Ron, pulling him up and leading him out of the room with her.
Draco's tongue slid against his lover's lips, his silver hand at the back of his head.
Harry leaned into Draco, his eyes falling shut again. "I love you," he whispered.
"Always yours," Draco whispered back.