The Contract

Chapter Forty-Eight – Multi-Births





Draco refused to leave the hospital wing. Harry had a private room, Albus had a cradle, and Poppy could take care of him. The goblins had a much smaller place to guard and as such, did not have to worry as much about what could happen to the ones they were to protect. So, Draco lived in the infirmary, feeding the baby, nurturing the ones still inside, and loving Harry. Professor McGonagall transfigured the wall to reveal the outside, snow and ice, but at least he could see something more than stone walls. The Goblins still protected the entry into the room. Although there were a few people that they did not growl at as the time went by.



And still Harry slept.



Draco celebrated a small Christmas in Harry’s room while the rest of the Wizarding world set about correcting the mistakes that they’d allow to happen. Packages were sent by the dozen by strangers and friends sat, untouched, in the quarters they had shared before their lives were separated by tragedy. They would be sorted later and sent to Grimmauld Place.



The only exception was a bassinet sent from Aberforth with the name ALBUS carved into the headboard. This was sitting near the ‘window’ and was where the baby slept. Draco perused magazines looking for the perfect furniture for their home they would create when Harry woke. Marking each picture carefully, he alternated between the catalogs and a journal he kept of the time he waited for Harry. Remus, as he lived in Hogsmeade, spent hours on end with Draco and Albus. Bringing the baby clothes and Draco catalogues of baby things.



Draco ignored the catalogues. He would make no additional decisions regarding the babies until Harry woke.



And still Harry slept.



Albus seemed to be progressing as a normal human child. The parent who claimed him would ignore his ‘birth’, only seven weeks or so ahead of the twins. Draco fell in love with the baby and ignored the circumstances that brought him to this life. The blue eyes twinkled continuously when he was awake, and only cried when he could not see or hear Draco when he woke.



The baby slept through the night. Waking early to eat and watch the world around him. Draco talked to him without baby talk, goo-ing or coo-ing. He held him lovingly. He watched over him between naps. And Draco found as the time for the births came closer, he slept more.



Draco watched as Healers came from St. Mungo’s to do therapy with Harry. Draco learned what to do, and between the visits, and around his belly, he worked Harry’s legs and arms; stretching and pulling to insure the muscles did not atrophy. He also learned to bathe Harry. It was all he could do not to, again, ride the cock that would rise when touched by the blonde.



On a few occasions, Draco actually turned Harry on his side and lay at an angle until he could wrap his lips around the hard appendage. Sucking the cock until it was spent. Draco always came just after Harry and slept through the next few hours.



Between bathing the man he loved and taking care of Albus, read over the documents and some letters that had been allowed through. Molly and his mum, along with the others that they trusted, were screening the mail and packages sent. They steadily worked their way through the gifts in the quarters and forwarded most to Grimmauld Place. Some were forwarded to the special division of the Ministry as the packages were cursed.



They would go through them together, later. What they couldn’t use would be donated, Draco decided, to magical and Muggle orphanages which were in need. When he’d decided this, he sent an owl to Remus to ask for him to find out where the orphanages were and how many magical children were currently housed without parents. Once the answer came, he would know how much money to set aside per year for the homes and children.





New Year’s Day brought owls bearing the news that Harry James Potter had been granted his full inheritance; monetarily and his status. A week later, Garen brought Lily and James’ Wills and audit of their accounts, both magical and Muggle. Draco read these in detail, knowing that when Harry woke, he would want his questions answered.





As it turns out, Lily Evans, younger sister of Petunia Evans Dursley, did not share the same mum as her sister. Her mother, Carianna, was an only child and direct descendent of Rowena Ravenclaw, and was the only heir to the Ravenclaw fortune. Lily’s father, Mr. Thomas Evans, lived life as a wealthy businessman from Kent, turned out to be a Wizard who loved everything Muggle and hailed for his work with Albus Dumbledore on the famed Lycanthropy serum. Evans was a descendent of Helga Hufflepuff.



Friends and family came and went. The blonde by and large, ignored homework. Part of the reckoning regarding Harry by the Wizengamut was to immediately rescind the law stating that Harry could do anything to lose his inheritance. None of it mattered though, as Harry remained in his suspended world.



December turned to January without progress of Harry’s situation. January came to a close and Draco knew he was going to have the babies soon. He slept more and when awake, order bassinets for the babies. The linens, a fine pastel yellow, were sent for each basinet.







The last day of January was bright with snow. Draco felt the babies become very still and his belly harden. He slept through the night, knowing that very soon, he would have the babies to hold. He also swore to Merlin that he would not have these babies until Harry was awake.



He could only hope he could hold on that long.



Harry got another blow that night, just in case it helped.



Draco made his way into the main room of the Hospital Wing to see Poppy and summon the Healer for the births.



**** **** ****



:: Sometimes he could feel Draco lay beside him and his body screamed to hold him properly.



:: Sometimes he could feel the babies kick his hip while Draco was close.



:: Sometimes he could hear the words Draco whispered in his ear.



:: Sometimes he needed to use the loo.



:: Sometimes he thought he could hear a baby cry.



:: Sometimes he had long conversations with Draco, answering the questions he was asked and waited for more, but no one else knew that he was answering questions.



And still he lay in this bed, his body healing and his mind only in constant communication with the Mistress. Otherwise, he was sure he would spiral into oblivion.







: Harry Potter.



:: Mistress?



: Yes. It is time you wake.



:: I can’t.



: But you must. Your human is in pain and needs you.



:: I can’t wake.



: You can do this. We have shared our magic. We can do anything. Your human needs you.



:: Draco?



: And the other ones.



:: Other ones?



: Your little humans. They are coming into the light and need you with them.



: Children?



::Yes. Your human is not doing well. He bleeds too much. You must return to him. Your time with me is done. Return to him.



: DRACO!!!!!! He screamed.



The Mistress pushed her magic into the healed man. Forcing her essence into his mind to help him wake from the long sleep. His eyes fluttered for a moment.



His ears woke to the sound of a begging man’s voice.



His heart leapt at the sound of Draco.



His legs, unsteady, unsure, weak, and barely able to carry him out of bed and the door, were forced on by the Mistress’ magic to do their job.



His hand turned the doorknob.



His arm pulled the door back.



His mouth, tasting as though the entire British Army had trampled across his tongue, was ignored as his lips broke into a smile at the sight in front of him.



His eyes took in the man about to give birth.



His heart took in the whole scene. Draco Malfoy, naked, was bent over the edge of a bed, his hand splayed, white knuckled on the mattress. There was blood running down his thighs. His face, red from straining was tear stained, repeating over and over, “Not until he is here. I refuse. I don’t care. They can wait until he is here.”



The Healer from St. Mungo’s was sitting behind him on a stool, while a couple of medi-witches and wizards were waiting behind them. Molly, Narcissa, and Remus stood off to the side waiting.



Harry felt a hand on his arm. “Come on Potter.” Snape snarled. When Harry opened his mouth to ask a question, he found a wand pointed at him. A quick flick of the wrist and the ugly taste left replaced by peppermint. “Your breath was horrible. Now come along, you must help with this.” He then pulled the still awkward Harry toward Draco.



“No! Not until he is here. The Mistress promised me that he would be here for this.”



“Draco Lucius Malfoy!” The healer yelled back at him. “The babies are coming! Push!”



“I’m here.” Said Harry with an almost exhausted tone from the short walk. “Do it Draco, you can do this. Bring my babies into the world.”



Seating himself in front of Draco, Severus and Sirius on either side to prevent him from falling back, Draco put his head on Harry’s shoulders and pushed with all his might. He wrapped his arms around Harry’s shoulders. Harry smiled as he felt his love tense.



A sob left the man’s mouth even as the head of the first baby, a girl, appeared. From somewhere behind them, they heard, “Wonderful, once more and the baby will be here.”



Whispering in his ear how proud he was of Draco, he felt the blonde man’s body tense once again as he pushed with all his might. A moment later, he felt the same tense body relax completely. Harry was exhausted, but a Pepper Up potion later, and he was ready for the next round of holding Draco.



The Healer showed Harry the baby just before handing her off to a medi-wizard to walked to the side and found herself followed closely by Molly Weasley and an armed goblin. Narcissa and another goblin moved into the queue, standing to the side waiting for the next one. No one would take their children.



The process was repeated. The final push gave way to another girl. Yelling in relief, Draco’s breath ragged from exhaustion, Harry held him close. Draco’s head on Harry’s shoulder, even as another contraction hit. “That should be the afterbirth Draco. Just one more… Oh my.”



“OH MY??? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? OH MY WHAT???” Draco demanded, leaving Harry’s ears ringing from the volume.



“Push dear, that’s it. Harry, rub his back a bit, that’s it. Come along Draco, push, bear down…”



Groaning, Draco pushed. He could feel the head of another baby coming. “I’m a dog. That’s what I am. I am giving birth to a LITTER OF PUPPIES!” He exclaimed. “NEVER AGAIN POTTER. YOU DO THIS NEXT TIME. OF ALL THE IDIOT THINGS TO DO. THREE CHILDREN AT ONCE?”



The Healer had the third and final child in her arms. Standing, she made to move away from Draco to take the baby to be cleaned. A goblin came into view with a staff raised. They heard a gruff, “Put that baby down.” Just before the staff swung and hit the knees of the Healer. The woman stumbled and was caught by Remus.



Taking the baby, Remus told the goblin that he was safe and to accompany them to clean up the child. The little goblin eyed the healer warily as he followed Remus, mumbling, "...shouldn't have tried to take this child...didn't know her...can't let anyone hurt the babies..."



Panting a bit against the pain of her knees, she returned her care towards Draco. With a pained, “Congratulations, you have two girls and a boy. From what I can tell the girls will be identical.” She healed and cleaned him a bit before allowing him to crawl up onto the bed.



She then asked Poppy to heal her own fresh wounds that the protector inflicted.



Ignoring the healer, and panting from the sensitive healing, Draco curled against him. “Harry… we need to…talk…there are four babies…long story… two… boys… two… girls…”



Kissing his forehead, Harry smiled. “Sleep for a bit love. I’ll watch over them.” Harry assumed the man was delusional, but was smart enough not to say anything.



Once Draco was asleep, Sirius helped Harry to stand. Severus gave him a second Pepper Up potion and he felt better. A Strengthing Potion later, and he could actually hold the babies.



The first one placed in his arms was much bigger than the other, but still an infant, had twinkling blue eyes. Rather reminded him of a bird he once knew.





***Author’s Note***



They are all going to hunt me down and hurt me for posting this. I did not get approval. I did not get even one of them to tell me -- YES IT'S A GO!



{{{ohhhh this is going to be bad....}}}}}



Oh no... I should not have done this.... {{{hiding in the basement}}}