The Contract

Chapter Forty four - Understanding and Returns



The day was to be spent learning what Dumbledore had done since his victory against Grindelwald. Molly checked Ron and Ginny out of school early and brought them to Grimmauld Place for the day to see Harry. By the time they got home, Hermione was sitting on the couch talking to Harry.



Ron was in shock, “Hermione? How did you get here so fast?”



“I’m seventeen, and when you left, it was either go to Hogsmeade alone for the day, or come here. I asked a few friends about it, and they thought a Grimmauld visit sounded better than a Hogsmeade visit. So, I did. I just apparated here instead of using a Portkey.” She said rather proudly. “There are a few others on their way as well. I heard Pansy say she was leaving too. Something about…” she fell over onto Harry in hysterics, “her mother’s maid had left without notice…”



They all laughed at that, settling in to sort the mail that was now piled and spilling into another room. The front door bell rang and when Harry answered it, he found almost every seventh year student. As they passed by one by one, each carrying a bag of mail, he said hello. “Hello Neville. Dean. Seamus? Wow. Lavender, Padma.” He started to shut the door when he heard a few more cracks of apparition. Each of these also were carrying a bag of mail. “Hello Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Hannah,” who stopped the line and kissed him on the cheek before entering. Looking gobsmacked as Ernie McMillan walked in. “Hey Ernie! Boot. Pavarti. Lisa. Susan.” Who was finally at the last of the line and she kissed his cheek as well. Each had been sent with a sack of mail that had arrived at the school since the papers were published that morning.



The group settled into the living room and Molly was bringing up drinks with the help of the older Weasleys. It took the better part of the afternoon to sort through enough to know that the Wizarding World would not allow Harry to go through this treatment without retribution. Some were pledges of votes in the upcoming elections. Some were Solicitors offering their services if he chose to sue the powers that be.



There were a few that accused him of lying, but they were so overwhelmingly in the minority, that Harry ignored them. Through lunch, they talked and after dinner, everyone except Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron left to go back to school. It was then that they speculated on Dumbledore’s reaction and began to work on strategies.



Fred and George returned with the news that neither of the accused men had been seen in and the castle had not allowed anyone in the office to check on them. “Which, I might add, put a damper on our festivities we had planned.” Gred said with a smile. Harry always thought Forge or Gred when he couldn’t tell them apart.



Just before nine in the evening, the decision was made to call a press conference and have Harry interviewed. They also decided that Draco would not be there as the pregnancy had begun to show an amazing amount in the past three days. Harry consulted Hermione regarding what day it actually was as so much had happened.



“Harry James Potter! How can you not know what day it is?”



“Hmmm… let me think on this for a minute… Friday morning, I was in a normal classroom with a collar around my neck that seems to have been dampening my magic. I literally destroyed part of Hogwart’s, which should not be able to happen. Friday night I spent with Draco, Saturday, I spent fixing the classroom and sharing my magic with Hogwart's.” Hermione gasped. “That same Saturday I apologized to Snape and the Headmaster for my actions, and got a blow from Draco. From that night on, I haven’t left the quarters until there was danger and then I came to this hell hole. At some point, I have gone to the hospital with Draco, watched him leave with a woman he thought to be dead to go with a Goblin to ‘I don’t know where’, purged this house of filth, including that fucking portrait, slept with Draco and found out that my entire life was centered around a crazy old man whom I loved and trusted. Now throw in some long sleep times, no windows to speak of, spectacular sex, finding out that Draco is pregnant and going to have my children – not one but two – a few temper tantrums, missing school administrators, oh, and finding out that my Godfather is ALIVE and has spent weeks with me without revealing himself, but hey, I did reveal a room behind the old bat’s portrait! How the hell would I know what day it is?”



The group at large stood and stared at him. Without an answer, Harry stomped past her and Ron to go upstairs. When he entered his room, Draco stood in the center of the floor completely naked. “Hello Harry. Garen brought me about ten minutes ago. I figured you would be along eventually.”



When Draco opened his arms, Harry was gratefully accepted into them. Whispering, Draco said, “Love? It’s Tuesday or maybe Wednesday by my recognizing. I don’t know it for a fact though. Is it important?”



Pulling back to kiss the man, he lovingly showed him that no, it wasn’t important in the big scheme of things. The kiss was broken by a knock on the door. Rolling his eyes, he pulled away. Through the door, he said, “Yes?”



Hermione’s voice answered, “Harry, open up. We need to talk.”



“Not tonight. I’m done. Anything you need to say can wait until…” He turned to look at Draco, spectacular, beautiful, and still naked in the moonlight streaming through the clean window. “When?” He asked him.



“Now, lets get it over with. I’ll get dressed if there is anything big enough to fit me.”



Concentrating, Harry waved his hand just a bit and Draco found himself dressed in a robe made of what felt like silk. The light gray matched his eyes and made him look nearly twice the size he was already. But before he could say anything, Harry opened the door and illuminated the room.



“Harry, look Mate…” Ron began, but his voice faltered when he saw Draco. Pushing past the brunette, he stalked to the blonde. “Where, in seven hells have you been?”



Crossing his arms to rest across the top of his belly, Draco answered, “Why Weasley, I didn’t know you cared.” The classic Malfoy smirk firmly in place.



“Don’t you give me that you pregnant ferret! You know good and well that I give a damn about you! You didn’t tell us you were pregnant. Is there a reason you had to keep that information to yourself?” Ron was half yelling, obviously hurt, and demanding answers.



Harry grabbed his arm and spun him around. “Don’t talk to him that way! What’s wrong with you?”



Ron spluttered as Hermione watched the exchange. “I’ll just have you stay out of this.” Pulling his arm away, he turned again to the smirking blonde. “And you, Draco Malfoy, you better know this. I DO give a damn about you and those babies. That arrogant idiot is my best friend and he LOVES you. That would make me care anyway. But given that we spent two weeks in the Burrow listening to you whine, before you gave my family a Million Galleons, bought me a new broom, AND a new trunk, let alone the new clothes, which,” he leaned close to Draco’s ear and gave a dramatic stage whisper that still managed to float across the room, “I look bloody fantastic in;” he pulled back and winked at the blonde, “I think I have every reason to care about you. Now, give us a hug!”



And enveloping Draco in his long, lanky arms, he hugged the smaller blonde, belly and all.



Harry watched the exchange, ready to hex Ron to the ‘seven hells’ he had just mentioned, when he realized that Ron and Draco were friends. Ron hadn’t really explained why they had gotten along that morning, or why Ron had escorted him into the Great Hall to speak to Snape. The pieces clicked into place though, and when they did, Harry felt a rush of adoration and gratitude for his friend.



When Harry’s mind slowed again after the puzzle war, he turned to Hermione, who was no longer standing there. Instead she had crossed the room and was arm in arm with Draco. Ron was kneeling on the floor touching the distended belly that held his babies. They kicked at Ron’s voice as Harry realized that he was talking to him, introducing himself. “I’m your godfather, Ron Weasley. I promise to always take care of you if you need me to.” He pledged.



Draco’s eyes met Harry’s and they both knew that this would be so. Their children would never experience their horrid childhoods. The pledge made by this oversized Weasley would insure that.



“Ron, please get up and stop making them kick me. It bloody well hurts!” Draco finally said.



Ron looked up, “Not until you promise…”



Harry added, “Of course you will be their godfather, who else would it be?”



Hermione cleared her throat. Draco rolled his eyes at her. “Are you going to marry this bloke someday?” Ron and Hermione both blushed. “Well then I suppose you’ll have to do as godmother.” He hadn’t needed to ask Harry, he knew what that response was going to be. Pulling away, he waddled to the bed and sat on the side.



Looking to the group of Gryffindors, he noticed that there were several adults in the doorway listening to everything they had said. “Alright you lot. Come in, come in. Harry, I swear this to you, these children are not going to be Gryffindors, no matter how many of them surround them during their lives.” He actually continued muttering, “…can’t believe a Weasley and a Muggleborn are going to be godparents to the wealthiest children to be born in our world. Actually, when one realizes it, they will be the richest in either of our worlds…. not a bad thing, I suppose.”



The group was looking at him. “Draco, I love you.” Harry said happily.



“Oh Sodding hell, I assume you want a response?” Harry laughed at him. “Damned hormones… yes, I bloody well love you too. Happy?”



“Yes!” Harry said. Turning to everyone else, he asked the question that needed to be asked, “Why are you all here?”



“You kinda got angry downstairs and said a lot of things we didn’t expect to hear.” Hermione said, standing to the side of Ron. “I wanted to tell you that from what you said, you thought it was only last Friday that you destroyed the classroom. It wasn’t three or even four days ago, it was ten plus. Christmas hols start in two days time.”



“How’s that possible?” Draco asked.



“We sort of assume that it is the sleep you mentioned. You probably just slept longer than you thought you had. Regained strength and all.”



Looking to Draco, Harry asked, “Did we sleep over a week? Wouldn’t we have to go to the loo?”



“Depends on the magic at work, I would think. But it makes sense, I suppose. We seal ourselves into the room at the castle, everything done, we sleep. You needed healing, and the babies needed your already depleted magic. Yea, I suppose it is realistic.” Draco decided.



“If we are that close to the hols, I want the press conference the morning of the release. Just after breakfast in the Great Hall. Molly, will you ask Professor McGonagall if it is okay?”



“Of course Harry dear.” She said coming fully into the room. Arthur, the older Weasley men, Sirius, Tonks, Remus, and Shacklebolt followed.



Remus piped in, “I’ll do it. It’s a good excuse to see Severus.” With a quick hug to Harry, a clap on Draco’s shoulder, he left the room annoyingly happy.



The group spoke a few minutes longer before Arthur cleared out the room. Before he closed the door, he suggested a silencing spell with a grin.



When Harry removed their clothes with a wave of his hand, he was pleased with his life. Of course, that was before Draco asked him what ‘Press Conference’ was he planning and what would he be wearing?



Sleep came with unrest for the first time since they had wrapped their arms around each other. Draco was angry that Harry would not give him details, his belly hurt from the babies, and he was hard as hell.



It wasn’t until Harry wrapped his lips around this throbbing appendage for the blow of a lifetime that Draco was able to find some measure of rest.



Yawning, without returning the ‘favor’ Harry granted him, he talked Harry through a rather spectacular wank as Harry stroked himself to completion, whispering in his ear promises of one day. Sleep was much better after Harry cleaned himself with a wave of his hand.