Could You Love Me?

Author: TheSiner
Title: Could you love me?
Genre: Angst, Romance, Drama and some attempted humour :)
Pairings: Harry/Lucius; Draco/?; Severus/?(mentioned)
Word Count: ~ 140,000
Summary: HP/LM, slash, mpreg. Lucius forces Harry to marry him. Things get bad and then they get better. This is a story about two different people from different worlds trying to make it work. Complete.
Rating: For some sex, but there’s not that much of it.
Disclaimer: These characters are not my own and belong to J.K. Rowling and affiliates. I am not making any money.
Warnings: slash, mpreg - a boy having a baby, OOC (kind of), non-canon, not betaedited, dubious consent, A/U – it is the same old Wizarding world though. And there is angst and emotional suffering.
Setting:– after Harry’s fifth year. Lucius doesn’t get caught at the Ministry.
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The Fifth Part – BACK AT HOGWARTS

24. New faces and old faces

However, Defence Against the Dark Arts went differently…

Harry sat down on his usual chair between Ron and Hermione as politely as possible turning down his other classmates who also wanted to sit next to the most famous Gryffindor after Godric himself – The-Boy-Who-Defeated-You-Know-Who. Luckily, there were only two seats available and they were reserved for the said boy’s best friends and everyone new that.

Harry sighed; all the attention he was getting was making the shy boy highly uncomfortable. He did not want to be rude to all the people who wanted autographs or to talk to him or even made some inappropriate suggestions once in a while, but all the attention was wearing him out.

Harry was pulled out of his reverie when the classroom door opened with a bit of a squeak.

“Calm down young people and take your seats,” a deep, masculine voice ordered and the class instantly grew silent.

Harry turned around and his eyes locked on a pair of amber-brown ones that instantly reminded him of Remus Lupin. The boy had not seen the new DADA teacher yet, because the man had been absent during breakfast. However the boy recognized him immediately, well, maybe not recognized… but who else could the man be if not the DADA instructor?

The wizard was older than any of the students were and acted like a teacher and what else could he be doing in the DADA classroom if he was not the new DADA teacher? Harry instantly wondered if he would be any good and would he try to hurt him in one way or another… it wouldn’t be the first time…

Then the brown-eyed man stopped right in the front of his desk: “Mr. Potter, how delightful. I have heard a lot about you, I must admit. But then, who hasn’t?”

The new teacher had really unusual light brown eyes and honey brown, slightly curly hair. His features were chiselled and a bit sharp, but the face was handsome. The man was well built too, so Harry decided that Professor Rasputin was truly good looking. The girls probably liked him as much as Lockhart, but he was not as blond and disgustingly, sugary, sweetly beautiful and certainly dressed with more taste – the wizard obviously preferred earth tones, which really suited him.

The boy felt his cheeks heating up. When had he started checking out men? Older men, who were his Professors?

A hand was extended in Harry’s direction: “I am pleased to meet you in person. Finally. My name is Maxim Rasputin; I will be honoured to be your Defence teacher this year. I have heard you are very gifted in this particular art.”
A slight accent was noticeable when the wizard spoke, but since Harry had not been outside Britain a lot, he did not know where the man came from.

Harry felt his cheeks turning deep crimson as he rose from his seat to shake hands with the man properly; he hadn’t wanted to draw attention, but obviously there was nothing he could do about it lately and the best he could do was avoid making a scene.

“Ehe…hi?” Harry extended his hand trying to smile and hide his embarrassment. Well, but he had no idea what was coming…
Maxim Rasputin gently took hold of his student’s palm and lifted it up to his lips. Harry was too startled to do anything about it. Damn! The professor kissed his hand!

The class grew silent. Really silent. Then there came a couple of catcalls – definitely from the slytherin side of the room. After initial silence, some of the girls giggled and started whispering.

Maxim Rasputin obviously ignored the way his behaviour had affected his class and the poor Boy-Who-Lived: “I have to admit that I am impressed, Mr. Potter.” The wizard continued smiling at Harry warmly.

“Thanks,” Harry muttered, still quite dumbfounded by the awkward situation. Impressed with what? Why the hell professor Rasputin had kissed his hand! As if, Harry was some kind of lady. Ok, he was married to a man, but that did not make him female! Ok, he was pregnant, but that also did not turn him into a girl. That kind of behaviour had been really uncalled for. What was the man playing at?

Maybe Harry should say something, make a protest?

“Sit down mate,” Ron pulled his best friends arm. Harry dropped on the bench; he hadn’t noticed that Rasputin had already taken his place at the teacher’s desk, getting ready to start the lesson. Harry glanced at Ron and then at Hermione, who both shrugged.

“Today we are going to talk about numbing hexes,” the professor began.

Harry was so deep in thought and did not notice someone glaring at him.

***

The last lesson that day had been Transfiguration. It had been hard at first. None of the classes so far had required much wandwork; even Defence Against the Dark Arts had been only theoretical. Rasputin had promised that they would practice next time though.

For months, since Voldemort’s demise, Harry had been reluctant to use powerful magic. He had been really afraid that it would get out of hand and might hurt someone. However, the fear had slowly subsided and the boy had started to believe that unless he became very angry or distraught, it would be fine. Even handling the powerful spells transfiguration required.

In the end of the lesson, he had been able to let out a relieved breath. He had managed to turn his pillow into a perfect goose.

Harry sighed and carelessly stuffed his books in his backpack. He was feeling drained. The young wizard had noticed that he got tired more easily these days. No surprise there, Doctor Tanabe had warned him about it already. Harry was not that far along, but apparently a male pregnancy was hard on carrier’s body; it was not just an empty talk. He often felt a need to take naps.

Suddenly someone tapped his shoulder, a boy handed him a note. Harry groaned inwardly, seeing the unmasked admiration on child’s face. Would they ever stop this nonsense? Would they ever allow him to feel normal?

He longed to be back in Malfoy Manor away from prying eyes and whispers behind his back. However, it was better not to dwell on that thought too much… He unfolded the note.

Come to my office after your classes
AD


“Hey, guys, the Headmaster wants to see me,” Harry informed Ron, Hermione, and other Gryffindors who were waiting for him. “And, no, you don’t need to walk me there,” and with that he set off for the Headmaster’s office.

***

Harry had not thought much of what was waiting for him in the Headmaster’s office. Or rather, who.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Remus Lupin were already waiting for him.
Colour drained from Harry’s face. He was not ready to see those people so soon. Remus had betrayed his trust and the Weasleys had made a decision for Harry without consulting him. He abruptly turned around fully intending to get out of the room before he said anything he would regret later. And he had a lot he wanted to say to those people and nothing of it was complimentary.

“Harry, wait…” Remus called after him pleadingly.

The dark-haired boy sighed. Running away was not the right thing to do either. He had to stay and prove them that he was not broken or something and maybe, maybe he could convince them, that he didn’t need them to blackmail Lucius.

Harry turned around to face the three of his least favourite people at the moment.


“Why are you here?” The question was a harsh, whispered demand.

“Harry!” Mrs. Weasley looked utterly confused. “Aren’t you glad to see us?”

Harry studied the people in front of him. Molly looked so pained by his behaviour. He was angry with his foster family right now, but Mrs. Weasley has always meant only well. He was quite angry with Remus, but still, Harry could not hate the werewolf who had probably doing only what he thought was the best for his best friend’s son.

Nevertheless, people wrecking others lives with their well meaning was nothing new.

“Yes, Mrs. Weasley, I am glad,” the boy forced a strained smile on his face.

“Oh, Harry, we missed you so much!” The red-haired woman exclaimed and hugged her foster son. “How are you, dear?”

“Fine, I guess,” he grumbled. But, no, what was he saying, that was not the truth. He loved those people, they were his family, but still, he could not simply let everything go.

“Well, no, I am not completely fine! Why did you do it?” Harry slumped down in one of the comfortable chairs in the Headmaster’s office.

“What, my dear? What did we do?” Molly was apparently oblivious.

“What?! You are asking me, what?” Suddenly it was a lot easier to yell at them.

“Last time I checked, you were blackmailing my husband and I was forced to leave my home, because you threatened to sue him! Why! Why did you do it? Why do people always say that they care about me, but only make my life more miserable?!”

“But, Harry,” Remus stepped in. “Isn’t it what you wanted from the start? We saw a chance to set you free.”

“No… yes, but don’t you understand? Didn’t you listen to a word I said when you visited me at the Manor? When did I ask you to interfere? I think I did quite the opposite. I sent you an owl, I pleaded with you to leave everything be. To leave me be.”

Remus had a decency to look a bit chastised.

“I never wanted to marry Lucius, but it happened. I have accepted it. I am fine with it now. It was getting better and then you came and ruined everything! Listen, I changed my mind. I think not everything is so bad. The marriage is not bad after all. I love living in the Manor and I understand Lucius better now. It is too late.”

“Oh, Harry, Ok, is not enough… it’s not too late,” Molly pleaded. “You don’t have to put up with it anymore; there was nothing we could do until now. Finally we have something to hold against Malfoy…”

“No! No! No!” Harry sprang to his feet yelling making all the adults in the room shudder as his outburst released a fair amount of wild magic, making the windows in the headmaster’s office shudder.

“It is not only him, who you are hurting! You threatened to tell strangers things about me, about me!” The boy couldn’t believe that people who claimed to care about hi didn’t know, how much Harry would hate that. More publicity, more details about his personal life. Photos, someone finding out bout the baby… he shuddered…

“No…” Harry exhaled falling back in the chair, hiding his face in his palms. “Please just leave me alone. And leave him alone. It is easier that way. He is trying to make up to me and… he’s not that bad.”

Remus, Arthur and Molly exchanged worried glances.

“Harry, I understand that you have been through a lot,” Molly approached the boy and put her arms on his shoulders. “Don’t worry, we are going to help you, everything’s going to be all right…”

She talked with him as if he was a small child or someone who was delusional or insane. Harry felt despair clench in his stomach. They thought he was unstable, that Lucius had done something to him…which was not completely wrong, but still… He had to sit there and listen to people who were his only family talking to him as if he was three years old or mentally deficient or both.

He pulled away, out of Molly’s arms, doing his best to ignore hurt he saw in her eyes.

“Harry,” Arthur said in a tone that was mocking the boy with its tenderness. “We have arrange for someone you will be able to talk to. Once a week, or more often, if you wish. It might help you.”

Harry didn’t understand, what he was talking about at first. Talk to someone? Merlin! It hit him like a bludger in the gut then. They had arranged counselling for him! Harry wanted to protest. He did not need a shrink! However seeing grim faces, he decided that there was no need to humiliate himself further. It was all clear to them.

Even Remus was obviously certain that Lucius had brainwashed Harry. It made Harry feel especially disappointed. People never thought that he could make his own decisions, did they?

The only thing he was grateful for was that Remus had not revealed his most sacred secret, his pregnancy. He didn’t know everyone to know yet. Who could tell what their reaction would be? He didn’t believe that they would do anything to hurt the baby, however, he believed that they would try even harder to keep him away from Lucius Malfoy.

Harry Potter-Malfoy was numbly sitting there and listening to everything, he was told. He felt ill and tired and desperately missed the calming presence of Malfoy Manor and its Master.

When all the talking was done with, Harry just stood up and left for the Great Hall without looking back or accepting embraces, he had been offered. He knew they meant well, but for once in his life, the boy was not feeling any guilt for hurting well-meaning people. They had hurt him, after all. He was not going to forgive them, before they started listening to him, because no one deserved forgiveness before they admitted to their mistakes. Right?

***

The famous Gryffindor trio was on the way to their dorms after having lunch. Thoughts were spinning in Harry’s head, he felt so trapped in this situation, in this castle he once had called home. It was the first time he wanted to be somewhere else so badly. Apparently, even the best things in the whole wide world could become hated if they were forced on you.

“Oh, Harry, you look so tired,” Hermione fussed. “You have dark circles under your eyes. Did you sleep well? Maybe you should see Madame Pomfrey?”

“No,” Harry winced, even thinking about letting the bossy mediwitch near him. “I am just tired. It is a bit too much lately, I guess. Besides, doctor Tanabe is coming on Sunday to check on me.”

“Well if you say so…” the girl was not convinced at all.

“Leave him alone, Hermione,” Ron stood up for his best mate. Out of men’s solidarity.

“Harry’s pregnant, Ronald,” the witch snapped back.

It was redheads’ time to wince: “Don’t Hermione.”

For him it was still hard to accept the fact that his best mate was having a baby.

“Ron…” both boys recognised ‘the lecture mode’ from the first word.

Successfully toning out his friends, who were (to his immense relief) engrossed in each other, busy with his own musings and falling back a bit, Harry did not notice a certain Slytherin approaching them.

“Potter,” Draco’s voice startled the other boy.

“Malfoy! You almost scared the soul out of me! Never do that again!” Harry shouted back.

“Oh, I am so sorry,” the blonde deadpanned “Jumpy, aren’t we? Have a lot to hide?”

“What are you on about?” Could it be that he knew about Harry’s condition? "Stop beating around the bush, I am not in the mood. What do you want?”

“Oh, I want a lot of things. How about…you – never been born?” Draco sneered.

Harry groaned inwardly wishing he could hex the arrogant git and wipe that cocky smirk off his face. “Sorry, can’t help you with that,” he ground out through gritted teeth. He could not risk a hexing match… if only because he was deadly tired.

“Surely not. Then maybe you could try to remember that you are married and stop acting as a common whore? You definitely are enjoying the attention – all those people all over you. You allow a professor to kiss you in front of the class and look at you like that!”

“Of course, one can’t expect you to know what a family honour is… Or what a decent family is… Of course not, your parents are dead, right?” The blonde sneered.

Harry immediately reached for his wand and Malfoy mimicked his action.

“Stop this instant!” Hermione shouted running towards them, she and Ron had finally noticed that Harry hadn’t followed them.
“Ron! Do something! Ron!” The girl stood in front of Harry and the red-head followed her suit guarding hid pregnant friend against the possible attack without a second thought. Whatever Malfoy would dish out they could take. He was not so sure about Harry.

“Wow!” Draco smirked lowering his wand almost playfully. “Nice little lapdogs you’ve got here Potty. They are better than Crabbe and Goyle. Tell me your secret; are you paying them for protection with a piece of your golden Gryffindor ass?”

Hermione had to restrain Harry: “Calm down, please, he is not worth it. Harry! Breathe!”

Harry was so angry that he could not even speak.

“Shut up Malfoy! It is not Harry’s fault that people won’t leave him alone! Gits like you! And it is you who is the one without any honour! You and your father child-molester!” Ron spat.

That made Draco to raise his wand again: “You are dead Weas…”

“What is going on here?” A cold and sharp voice cut through the tension. The teenagers froze. Severus Snape was famous for having that effect on his students.

“Weasley here,” Draco was quick to explain. “Was insulting my family.”

“Is that true Mr. Weasley?”

“Yes, but…” Ron’s face was reddening.

“Malfoy was the one who started this, Professor!” Hermione exclaimed indignantly with a passion of someone who couldn’t stand injustice. It was understandable, since The Potions Master cared too little for it.

“And Mr. Weasley was prone to finish whatever that ‘it’ was, I am quite sure. Ten points from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Week of detention for Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy,” Snape specified glancing at Harry who was pale and half leaning on Hermione. The anger had receded with the remains of his energy.

Disbelief was written all over Draco’s face: “But professor…”

“Is a week not enough, Mr. Malfoy?” Snape inquired shutting the arrogant blonde off completely. “I thought though. Now return to your dorms. Especially you, Potter.”

Snape watched the retreating students with mild amusement. Seeing the astonishment on his student’s faces made robbing his house of some points well worth it.

***

“Wow,” was the first thing Ron said when they had turned around the corner. “I can’t believe it! Did Snape actually punish Malfoy?”

Hermione rolled her eyes: “No professor will allow fighting in the halls, especially with a pregnant student involved. It was deserved.”

“Yes, but it was Malfoy! He has never punished Malfoy before,” Ron noted.

“Well,” Hermione mused. “Maybe he has. Maybe we just do not know about it. I don’t think that Professor Snape would ignore serious rule breaking even if it was his own house.”

“Not bloody likely,” Ron snorted.

“It is because of me,” Harry stated matter-of-factly lying down on his bed. He was so very tired. “Snape wanted to make it clear that Draco will not get away with hexing me.”

“Probably,” Hermione agreed.

“Well,” Harry drawled. “I am not going to complain.”

Ron groaned: “Yeah, you have no reason to, you don’t have a detention. Probably just because you are pregnant. I am happy for you mate, but it’s not fair!”

“You are welcome to get married and have a baby anytime, Ron,” Harry gave his best friend a cheeky grin. “Maybe I can ask Lucius, he could set you up with one of his friends or something, rich, older pure bloods. I bet your Mom can’t wait to get her hands on a grandchild or two…”

Hermione chuckled hiding behind her hand.

Ron paled: “Eww… no thank you mate. You know, I am starting to feel happy about that detention.”

Harry smiled despite the bitterness he felt Ron probably didn’t realize it, but he had showed what exactly he thought about his marriage and pregnancy. He had to forgive his friend, he understood, but… there was still a ‘but’… but it stung. That was the problem.

Once again, he wanted to be at the Manor with his husband who was the other person who was as happy for the baby as Harry himself.

***’
25. Meetings

The adults had decided that Harry would have a consultation with a mind healer every Saturday, at least. Like he would ask for someone to poke around his head more often. The idea was ridiculous. The boy was angry. He did not want a stranger to interrogate him. There were things he had never told anyone and he wanted it to stay that way.

However, as it happened very often in his life, The-Boy-Who-Lived was not given a chance to decide for himself.

However, the boy had been surprised to discover that they sent him to the office of the DADA professor. Harry knew whom the office belonged, because it was the same one where he had visited Remus Lupin when the werewolf had taken the position during Harry’s third year.

Harry knocked on the door and it opened itself. He stepped inside.

Professor Rasputin was sitting at the desk with a quill in his hand, probably grading homework. Harry frowned. He did not know what to make of it. Since the spectacle on his first day back, the DADA professor had not been his favourite person.

“Good evening, Mr. Potter. I see you are surprised to see me here,” the man smiled warmly.

“Yes,” the boy admitted. “Everyone wants me to see some shrink. McGonagall, I mean, professor McGonagall sent me here. I don’t understand what it has to do with you.” Maybe Harry had been a bit rude, but the Defence teacher was not exactly someone who put him at ease.

Rasputin stood up and walked around the table. He approached the teenage wizard and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. Harry shuddered, but the older wizard appeared not to notice that. Instead, he guided the boy to the sofa on the other side of the spacious room: “Sit down, please, Mr Potter, Harry. I will take a liberty to use your given name, since we will become quite close.”
The man paused significantly. “And I have everything to do with your therapy sessions, because, I will be the ‘shrink’ as you called it. Must be a muggle term… You see, I am a qualified mind healer, I successfully studied wizard psychology.”

That was a surprise for Harry. And not a pleasant one: “But you are my professor.”

“Yes, I am,” he sat down next to the boy. “But I am a professional mind healer as well. What we will talk here will never leave this room. You can trust that. You can trust me,” the man smiled reassuringly.

But Harry did not. He didn’t trust the professor at all. Quite the contrary. And they wanted him to speak openly with this man. It was not going to happen. Ever.

“I can see that it is hard for you to accept this, Harry. You don’t always tell your friends and people who care what is bothering you, do you?”

The boy just shrugged. He did not want to admit anything.

“You will have to speak to me, I can’t help you otherwise,” the man put a hand on boy’s knee trying to be reassuring, Harry assumed. The boy moved his leg, making the hand to fall off.

“Listen, professor,” Harry looked at the man crossly. “I never said I wanted help. Some people, who think that they know better, decided that I needed to talk to someone. I am not here voluntary. They can force me to come and sit there, but they can’t make me talk. I mean no disrespect, but I don’t want to talk to you. ”

Harry was much bolder than usually when he was talking to his professors, but this was just too much. He needed to protest somehow. They could punish him if they wanted, but he was not going to lie down and take it.

Rasputin sighed: “Harry, I am disappointed. What have I done to displease you? Are you still upset because of my behaviour when we first met? I must apologize, really. I didn’t realize that I made you uncomfortable… I admit, I was playing a bit there, you were sitting there with such a serious expression on your face…”

“No,” the boy instantly felt sorry for being so mean. “I don’t mean it like that. It is just… People who claim to love me… they think that I do not know what I want and that I am being manipulated or… I don’t know for sure what their problem is, but they are treating me as if I was a child, but I am not…”

Rasputin suddenly looked compassionate and understanding: “Of course you are not. I understand that you are upset. People sometimes forget that you have experienced a lot and probably you are more mature than most of your peers…”

Harry just nodded. It was true.

“But you must understand that sometimes people are irrational and unintentionally hurt the ones they love…”

“Yes,” Harry agreed. “That’s why I can’t really hate them. I know that they mean well… but it’s so hard. It is making me so angry.”

“I know,” Rasputin nodded empathetically.

Harry decided that maybe the man was not evil after all. Rasputin served the boy some chamomile tea and oatmeal cookies and listened to him with understanding. For the first time Harry could talk to someone who did not blush, go pale or look at him reproachfully when he spoke about certain topics.

When he finally left the DADA office, Harry realised that against all odds, he was feeling better.

***

It was the last week of November. Harry was four months pregnant. It meant that he probably had only a month or two, before his condition became obvious. He was very lean, which meant that the slight bump in the centre of his midsection was pretty obvious. It looked weird, not like he was getting fat, more as if there was something, growing out of his body, or as if he had had a very good meal or swallowed some foreign object. Which a baby probably was for his otherwise very male body.

That was about the only obvious change. Doctor Tanabe had told Harry that presence of oestrogen had increased in his body, not by much, since he didn’t have any real female organs, but still. It was like a bit of phantom reaction, his body started to produce the hormone, because it thought Harry should have some, since he was pregnant.

It didn’t change Harry’s appearance, making it more feminine, because the boy had never grown a beard to start with and his features had never lost the softness of adolescence. The mediwizard had considered a possibility that Harry might have had increased level of oestrogen to start with and that might enabled his pregnancy. Bu they didn’t know for sure and it didn’t change anything now anyway.

The boy was worried about it all; he did not want anyone to notice. He didn’t want one more reason for people to poke fingers at him. His life was a mess already. He was aware that people were sending him letters and presents, congratulations and threats. Hogwarts’ house elves still worked hard to keep it all away from him or the boy would be buried in a pile of parchment.

Harry could imagine what would happen if everything came out or rather – when everything would come out… the thought sent shudder down his spine.

At the moment, however, the boy had other worries. It had been a month since he was forced to come back to Hogwarts. That meant he hadn’t seen Lucius for a month. They exchanged letters. Quite frequently them actually and Lucius sent him a lot of presents.

Their correspondence had been noticed and gained a lot of weird looks from all kind of people. Hermione was apparently uncomfortable and curious, even if she tried to hide it. It was obvious to Harry that that the girl didn’t understand Harry, but she didn’t want to cause any conflicts or she just wasn’t sure what to think yet and was trying to come to some conclusion before voicing her opinion.

Ron however was openly disturbed. He obviously didn’t want to think about Harry and Lucius Malfoy in the same room even. Everything reminding him about their marriage freaked the redhead out.

And then there was Malfoy junior who apparently recognized the owl, which brought Harry mail. Therefore, it was obvious to him that his father was showering his young husband with gifts and other signs of affection. Judging by the blonde’s glares, he was not happy. Harry had no idea what exactly riled the Slytherin, probably just the fact that he was not the centre of his father’s attention anymore.

Malfoy was as bad as ever. He apparently hated Harry. The fact that Snape kept pairing them up in Potions didn’t help much. Well, the good part was that Harry had stopped having stupid accidents; the content of cauldron had not yet exploded in his face. But Harry still didn’t feel very grateful. After all the verbal abuse, he had to endure. He hated the prat. And then there was a fact that Malfoy junior reminded Harry of his father. There were only a vague resemblance, but it was enough to remind Harry what he was missing.

The truth was that he was missing his husband a lot. The longing grew with every day. Besides his feelings had changed. At first he had wanted to return to the Manor and Lucius, because, the boy had to admit it, he had been scared of the Wizarding world, scared of everything. Now Harry missed his husband because he… he just missed the man, Lucius.

He missed their talks; he missed discussing the books he had read, their shared breakfasts and walks. Harry missed being able to look at his husbands handsome face and perfect hair, he missed Lucius’s specific, very manly smell when he was around and seeing him sitting by his bed in the morning, when Harry woke up.

It was very strange. Truly baffling that he had become so attached to someone whom he had initially hated. But there was no helping it, the way Lucius had treated Harry since they had found out about the baby had made the boy feel so good, that he wanted to return to all of it. Besides it had never been the real Lucius, Harry had despised. He had just gotten to know the real Lucius Malfoy.

Tomorrow was a Hogsmeade weekend and Harry knew what exactly he wanted to do with his time.

The boy found Hermione in the library, sitting alone, pouring over some kind of thick, dusty tome that had something to do with Transfiguration. As he had expected, Ron was nowhere in the sight. It was the library after all.

The bushy-haired girl looked up and noticed her friend standing in front of her. She beamed as if he had just made her day: “Harry! You have decided to study! I am proud of you!”

The teenager grimaced, he didn’t want to disappoint her, but he had not come to study: “Sorry, Hermione, I have something else on my mind.”

She sighed: “Well, I was hoping. But you boys never change! You should think about your grades, it is important. Think about your future!”

“Why would I worry? I already married money,” the boy stated seriously, but his lips quirked.

“Not funny,” Hermione shot him a reproachful look.

Harry sat down smiling calmly: “It is true in a way. But I didn’t come to talk about that. I need something from you. Like a favour.”

“Ok, what is the matter,” she suddenly looked overenthusiastic. Harry didn’t ask for help often, the boy was too used to relying only on himself. She was happy that he could do something for her best friend.

“I want to see him,” Harry whispered, not daring to meet Hermione’s eyes.

“See who? Do you mean… you-know-who?” Hermione on the contrary was scrutinizing Harry.

The boy grimaced. You-know-who?

“Sorry,”

“It’s alright. But, yes,” the boy sighed. “I want to meet Lucius. I know, what you think, I know that you do not like him and… you probably think something… I don’t know what you think… but I want to meet him on the Hogsmeade weekend, I already sent an owl to the Manor, I am waiting for Lucius’ answer.”

Harry looked at Hermione expectantly, waiting for her reply.

“What do you want me to say?” Hermione gave him a weak, somewhat sad smile.
“I can’t say that I am surprised, not that. It’s just that your marriage and husband, it is all so strange and unreal, your condition,” she glanced at Harry’s belly. “It is confusing. Everything. You and Lucius Malfoy… I saw the ceremony, you getting married, but it is still so surreal. And that you don’t hate him, but want to see him. Well, that’s something I still need to get used to, Harry.”

The boy looked up at the ceiling as if looking for answers there and sighed when he found none.

Hermione looked at her best friend with concern in her eyes: “Harry, I want to ask you something. Don’t answer if you don’t want to, but I have to ask. How do you feel about Malfoy, honestly?”

The dark-haired boy rubbed his forehead, he had to think before he answered: “I am not completely sure, Hermione. It is not that simple. My feelings, I mean. I hated him at first, even feared him, I was so angry and confused and so sorry for myself. I was cursing my damn fate for doing that to me.”

“I don’t know anymore. I am used to him, having him around. One thing I know for sure, I feel very safe when he is there. It is as if nothing can reach me and hurt me while I am with Lucius in the Manor. I feel like I need him. The more I think about him, the more I miss him. At first, I just didn’t want to return to Hogwarts, but now I want to be here, but I still miss him. It is very pleasant to be around him. We got off on the wrong foot, but he treats me like a prince now.”

Hermione’s brown eyes were sad: “Oh, Harry, it is not good, to depend on anyone like that. It is not healthy. If you had told me that, you loved him it would have been different, but now I am worried, because it is as if you depend on him, as if you are using him and the Manor to hide from your problems. It is not right.”

Love? Harry didn’t dare to think about love. There was something indecent, it seemed to be wrong to think about his husband and love, it scared him, he had not dared to think about it. Once in a while maybe his thoughts wandered to silver grey eyes, silky, blonde hair and he had to admit that there was something breathtaking about Lucius Malfoy. Something very tempting and something pulled him to his husband. But what was it?

The question was hard. He was not sure if he wanted to answer that yet.

“I still want to see Lucius. I need to see him,” the boy insisted. “Maybe I wish I could hide away from the world and al of my adoring fans. But not just that. It is not only about depending on him anymore; I really miss Lucius as a person, not as someone who I believe would help me to hide for everything I don’t want to face. He is not only my husband, he is also the fa… well, you know, what he is,” Harry glanced down at his stomach. Still, they could be easily overheard here. “No one has right to separate us. No one!”

Yes, Hermione made face, that was also part of it. Mrs. Weasley should have known better, by forbidding Harry to see Lucius they were pushing the boy into his direction. He was a teenager and a Gryffindor.

“Listen,” Harry sounded frustrated. “He is my husband. I am married to him. I have a right to see him. Still, they deny him the right to visit me! I am old enough to get rid of Voldemort, but not old enough to decide what to do with my life! Everyone wants to control me! You know the Weasleys and Remus and McGonagall and probably the rest of the Order also know about it, not to mention Dumbledore – they are worse than Lucius! They know me for long time, but they don’t trust my decisions, they don’t want to let me live my life! Lucius was a bastard, he hurt me badly. I forgave him. It is the past. I want to leave it in the past. He doesn’t want to control me anymore. He is trying. The time we spent together in the Manor and going out – it was great.”

“You are too forgiving,” Hermione stated.

“Oh, yeah?” Harry’s eyes flashed angrily. “What choice do I have? You want me not to be forgiving? Then maybe I should not forgive Dumbledore about my fucked up childhood with the family from the Hell? And this whole Wizarding world – it always spits in my face! They say that I am insane, they write all kind of disgusting things about me and they are the most bigoted crowd I have ever seen! Look how they treat the magical creatures! And the Ministry… If I were not forgiving I would never had done anything for them!” He finally sighed trying to calm down. “Lucius is not the worst. He took something from me, but at least he gave something in return…”

Hermione was looking at the table, thinking and massaging her temples, tiredly. Harry probably had a point. At least nothing was so simple. Finally, she sighed: “Fine, Harry, I guess I should trust your judgment. And even if I don’t like it, sometimes I should do things for you, just because you are asking me.”

Harry rewarded her with a radiant smile and instantly felt better about her decision. Besides, there was something exciting about arranging a secret date. She was a girl after all!

***

On the Friday Harry was asked to come to McGonagall’s office. He had a bad feeling about it and was proved right. The Head of his house had a gall to declare that it wasn’t safe for him to leave the School. Even if his guardian had allowed Harry to go, she couldn’t, because she was responsible for his safety and couldn’t grant it under current circumstances.

Harry didn’t even reply, he turned around and left the room without another word banging the door loudly. She could give him as much detentions for that as she wanted. He couldn’t bring himself to care.

It was bullshit! They didn’t want him to see Lucius that was it! Couldn’t she at least be honest about it? Harry was furious. He stormed through Hogwarts to the owlery leaving a surge of wild magic and cracked windows on his way. He had to warn Lucius that it would be harder to get out of the Castle, since he had been officially forbidden to leave.

Still, he was going to have a Hogsmeade weekend. Sure, he would skip Honeydukes and Zonko’s, but that was not the most important part anyway. If he knew something, then how to sneak around he knew very well.

***


Harry was delighted to have Hermione on his side. She was a formidable witch and a valuable ally after all. And Ron was ready to do almost anything for her. Hermione was going to talk to her boyfriend. They couldn’t afford him ruining their plan.

The fact that he was not allowed to leave the castle made everything more complicated, but it was not the first time. Hermione had been surprised that Harry was not allowed to leave.

She had explained, that The Head of the House was not supposed to forbid him leaving, if his guardian had allowed it and the guardian was Lucius. So in theory Harry could just ignore McGonagall.

Hermione didn’t like Lucius Malfoy or the fact that Harry was getting closer to the man, but she felt that the way the Weasleys and McGonagall were handling the situation was not right. The witch had always idolised her and honestly was a bit disappointed.

Harry’s head was spinning. If they caught him, there was a risk, a chance that they carried out their threats. And then there was a chance that he could still convince them to leave it as it was. And there was a chance that he would not get caught. It was worth it. He was going to take a chance.

***

In the end, the plan had been simple. Harry had walked out next to Ron and Hermione under his invisibility cloak. Then they escorted him to the ‘Pigeon’s Milk’ and the boy met Lucius there.

Ron had not been happy at first. He did not like Malfoy one bit; however, he had grudgingly agreed to go along with it, since Harry asked him so nicely and Hermione approved.

After less than half an hour Harry was standing in front of ‘Pigeon’s Milk’. He almost tripped over the Invisibility cloak hurrying upstairs where he knew was the room where Lucius usually met his son.

Harry knocked on the door and then walked in without waiting for permission and almost tore the cloak off himself.

A goofy grin appeared on the boy’s beautiful face when he saw his husband. Lucius was sitting on a chair by the table looking regal and handsome. He stood up instantly when he saw the younger wizard.

Harry did not waste more time; he ran to the blonde man and almost jumped on him, entwining his arms around Lucius’s strong neck. Then Harry surprised them both – he stood on his tiptoes and pressed his lips to his husband’s cheek.

When the boy pulled back, his eyes were as wide as saucers. He hadn’t planned to pounce on the man like that.

Lucius’s lips quirked. “I missed you too,” he reached out and caressed boy’s cheek with his thumb. “And do you really think I would mind?” They both knew that Lucius had meant the kiss.

Harry’s cheeks flushed. Then he looked up in his husband’s eyes, which were lit up with some indeterminable emotion. Harry was drowning in the grey pools and chewing on his lower lip. He was not sure what to say or do.

“Harry,” Lucius said gently running his fingers through the young wizard’s incredibly soft hair. “You never cease to surprise me, precious,” Harry’s cheeks only darkened hearing the endearment. Lucius only smiled inwardly. The boy was so endearing, so beautiful, truly precious…

“Harry I want you to know, that you are allowed to touch me as much as you want. I will not mind. You can kiss me if you want, anytime you want,”

The boy gasped and looked at the blonde man. Did he want to? Lucius fingers were doing some kind of magic, the way they were raking through his hair.

Then he suddenly felt a surge of daring. Harry screwed his eyes shut, stood up on tiptoe again and pecked Lucius’s lips.

The touch was so tender and fleeting, it was like being touched by a wing of a butterfly, it was so sweet, but hardly enough. Lucius felt an irresistible desire to follow those soft, plump, shy lips. But he had to be careful, it wouldn’t do to scare off his petite butterfly.

“Harry, have you ever kissed someone? Before me?”

The boy opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again and shook his head. It was kind of ridiculous, but despite being married and pregnant, he was feeling terribly inexperienced.

The older wizard looked surprised for a moment. Was it possible that there was a sixteen-years-old who had never been kissed? If it was a less appealing and famous sixteen-years-old, then maybe.

The man had a hard time keeping a predatory smirk off his face.

“I had no idea, Harry…” he felt an urge to apologize for the way he had treated Harry, but didn’t. Lucius had a feeling that reminding the boy of their unfortunate past now would do more harm than good.

The man leaned down, placing his lips right next to the shell of Harry’s ear.

“May I teach you Harry,” he purred.

Harry felt the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. The feeling was similar to flying on his broom, but not exactly. His heart was beating like mad. Merlin, he was excited, a bit nervous, but excited nevertheless.

That moment soft lips replaced breath on his ear, Harry discovered that he was ticklish there and giggled. Lucius didn’t mind. His lips continued pecking their way towards Harry’s mouth. When they had reached the target, he started gently sucking onto Harry’s lower lip.
Lucius’ arms holding the boy around waist pulled him a bit closer. Harry liked it, he felt warm and safe and a bit light-headed.

Lucius kept nibbling on Harry’s lips. It was the most tender kiss the man had ever delivered, just lips on lips and nothing more. No matter, how desperately Lucius wanted to crush their bodies together and taste Harry’s sweet, little mouth… Merlin, they had to stop. As pleasant, as it was Harry was not ready.

Whatever force had thrown the boy into Lucius’ arms, the man was not going to make the little one regret it.

Therefore, Lucius did the right thing and pulled away: “Originally I was planning on devouring some food. Or at least start with devouring the food.” He teased.

Harry blushed to the roots of his hair.

Lucius guided his young husband to the table, which was already overloaded with all kind of treats. Harry even recognized some of his favourites as he sat down. He was feeling a bit shy after their… snogging session? Would it be appropriate to call it that? Oh, God, what was he thinking!

Lucius noticed his young husband’s mood and decided not to let him to pull back: “What would you like to start with?” The blonde stood up, ready to serve Harry his food. That was something a courteous pureblood did for someone he cared for very deeply. Usually his mother or beloved.

Harry chewed on his lower lip. How was he supposed to choose when there was so much on the table?

“I hope you don’t expect me to eat all of this?”

“You have to eat for two…”

“Exactly,” Harry grinned. “For two, not for five. I am not having triplets.”

Lucius returned the smile: “I don’t get to spoil you too often now.” He started to serve Harry a bit of everything.

“Really? And what about all those presents I get every week?”

Lucius shrugged: “Those are not presents. Just little somethings I pick up during my business trips.”

Harry’s eyes widened “Little somethings? Now I see where Malfoy, err, I mean, Draco is coming from.”

Lucius chuckled: “Not completely, the big mouth and his caustic tongue is Narcissa’s fault.”

Harry picked up his glass and made a sip to hide his unease when Malfoy junior’s ‘tongue’ was mentioned. He knew better than anyone about it, but he didn’t want to bring it up with the man. Draco was his son after all. Harry was not going to complain about him.

He started eating. The food was good, but the company even better. Lucius was a master of small talk, he skilfully moved from a topic to topic and even managed to inquire about Harry’s studies without allowing the conversation to get dull.

Harry relaxed more and more until he was ready to voice his complaint about the fact that he had to see a shrink. Then he admitted that the man was not so bad. Lucius privately decided that it might not be such a bad idea.

Harry also made a complaint about Snape who was pairing him with Draco in Potions.

“Aha,” Lucius smirked. “But you have no idea what kind of letters Draco keeps sending me. He is complaining about the same thing, in more colourful manner of course. If it makes you feel better, he is probably more upset than you are. My son is used to things going his way.”
Lucius decided not to mention other things concerning Harry that Draco had implied in his letters, he was sure that the boy was being jealous and vindictive.

“It’s somewhat cold comfort to me,” Harry winced. “I am not one of those people who don’t mind suffering as long as someone is having it worse.”

“Of course, my little sweet Gryffindor,” Lucius teased and Harry stuck out his tongue at the man.

After finishing the meal, they mowed to sit on the sofa that apparently also belonged to the fancy dining room and was more comfortable and made it possible for them to sit next to each other. Without touching though. Harry had o idea, if he wanted to touch Lucius and how to initiate such thing. Lucius didn’t dare to presume. But there was tea and gingersnaps. It was nice to sit like that.

Harry decided that the time spent with Lucius had worked as a stress relief. He hadn’t felt so relaxed for ages. The time they had spent apart had drawn them closer. The awareness, that they did not have much time to spend together and the delight they felt made them ignore all the bad blood, which had been between them. It was like a silent agreement between the both men – the present was more important than the past.

Harry felt as if that the last month had changed something, had taken away the edge of their relationship. Harry had realized that he was attracted to his husband.

“What are you thinking about?” Lucius asked, noticing how his husband was looking at him intently.

Harry lowered his eyes with a shy smile, his fingers playing with the hem of his dark blue sweater: “Stuff.”

“Stuff?”

“Yeah…”

For a moment, the older man struggled with urge to correct Harry’s speech, the way he usually did with Draco. To be honest, Harry’s maners were somewhat lacking, Lucius had to remind himself that the boy was still a teenager (which he didn’t want to think about) and not a pureblood. Besides Harry was refreshingly true. He was not playing any games or hiding behind false smiles. There was something charming about the boy’s ill breeding.

“I guess, I should return,” Harry sighed and Lucius felt really satisfied that apparently, he didn’t want to part yet.

“Unfortunatelly,” the older wizard agreed. “But, Harry, don’t worry about verything too much. You like being at Hogwarts, don’t you?”

Harry nodded.

“Try enjoying it then. The situation will change and soon we will be free to do as we wish, trust me.”

The boy nodded again, but Lucius saw his lips trembling.

“What are you worried about?”

“The baby,” Harry admitted quietly.

Then Lucius finally dared to reach out and put his palm over Harry’s smaller hand that was lying between them on the sofa: “Harry, by the time the baby will be ready, you will be home. Trust me. I promise you that.”

Lucius Malfoy was so confident. Harry’s lips trembled in an insecure smile.

“It will be alright, Harry,” the older man reassured him once more and the boy nodded.

“Is the little one bothering you?” Lucius decided to change the topic.

“Sometimes, a bit. He’s growing though,” Harry admitted with a wider smile.

“Could I possibly…” Lucius reached out, but then pulled back his hand.

“You’d like to…”

“It’s alright, harry, if it bothers you too much…”

“Oh, no, no…” Harry was a Gryffindor, of course he wouldn’t admit that Lucius touching him would make him uncomfortable. And after all, it was Lucius’ baby as well.
“I guess you can… feel it a bit,” the boy pulled up his sweater.

Lucius scooted a bit closer and put his hand over Harry’s tummy. If he hadn’t known that there was supposed to be a baby, he wouldn’t have noticed anything. But he did know. The slight bump there was his child. Amazing.

Lucius was feeling so thrilled, so grateful. He leaned down and kissed Harry on his temple.

Then Harry had to go.

***

26. Perfect day or not really


Harry knew that he was grinning like an idiot when he returned to the castle.

Ron and Hermione were sitting in the boy’s dorm on the redhead’s bed and no one else had come back yet.

“Hi, Ron, Hermione!” Harry beamed at his friends.

“Harrrry…” Ron groaned.

“What?” The boy looked baffled.

“You are too happy,” Hermione explained not lifting her gaze from the book she was reading – “The Greatest Witches of the Last Century”.

“And?” Harry kind of did not get it.

“You go to meet Lucius Malfoy and then come back with that bigsmile plastered all over your face, it’s creepy, mate,” Ron explained grimacing.

Harry shrugged and kept smiling: “Sorry.” However, the boy did not look sorry at all. He lied down on the bed, which had been his when he had been still living with the other boys and stretched yawning lazily.

“I had very good time,” he sighed absentmindedly rubbing his stomach – exactly were his husband’s hand had been not so long ago.

“No details, please,” Ron grumbled.

That made the other two Gryffindor laugh.

Hermione went to Harry and sat on the bed next to the boy.

“You know,” she started wistfully. “If he can make you to smile like that... I can’t really mind.” Hermione reached out and brushed Harry’s hair away from his forehead.

“Thanks, Herm,” Harry whispered. He closed his eyes, but the smile was still on his lips.

***

Later that night Ron had woken Harry up. Like every Saturday, he was having a session with Professor Rasputin. Harry groaned inwardly.

It was not that he minded the professor. Well at least not anymore, the guy was fine as long as one ignored his manners, which were somewhat strange. Harry had already forgiven that kiss on the hand when he had first met the DADA professor. It had obviously been a joke of sorts. Harry decided that his and Rasputin’s sense of humour simply didn’t match.

His quirks didn’t make the professor a bad person.

However just because he didn’t hate Rasputin, it didn’t mean that Harry wanted to talk to him. The day had been so perfect and Harry did not want something to spoil it. If he went to bed right now, nothing would happen and no one could take the perfect day from him. It made sense, didn’t it?

Nevertheless, despite his reluctance after half an hour, he was sitting on the couch next to Professor Rasputin.

“How was your day?”

“Boring,” Harry lied, trying to look unhappy.

“Why?”

Harry decided that if they wanted him to talk to a shrink then he could use it as a chance to complain about them: “I was not allowed to go to Hogsmeade, under an excuse that it was too dangerous. It was nothing more than a stupid excuse; they thought that I will meet Lucius.”

“It must be disappointing that people treat you like that,” Rasputin looked at the boy sympathetically.

“You can’t imagine,” Harry sighed. “I got rid of Voldemort and they think that Hogsmeade is dangerous. One moment they expect so much from me, but later they treat me as a stupid child…”

“People are unfair to you,” Rasputin put a hand on boy’s shoulder. “I am sorry for that.”

Harry looked surprised: “Shouldn’t you be telling me how… something is wrong with me? I mean that what Weasleys think and McGonagall and Remus, and they are the ones who made me to come here and to talk to you.”

The older wizard smiled. He reached out and took hold of one of Harry’s hands: “My dear Harry, I am a professional and it will be unethical to do that. I am not here to convince you of something. I am here to help you work out some things for yourself, to understand some things about yourself and your life. That is it. Just because I was asked to talk to you by someone doesn’t mean that I am going to try manipulating you for them.”

Harry nodded. And smiled. At least there was someone else on his side. It was good to know.

***

Harry left Rasputin’s office in a good mood. His day was still fine. He smiled and instantly berated himself. He had to tone down all that crazy grinning and stop acting like a fool. Otherwise, someone was bound to notice, wonder, and talk. But at the moment, he could not help it.

Harry was not just walking, he was almost flying down the hall, when he turned around the corner and bumped into Draco Malfoy. When Harry realized who was blocking the hallway, he knew that the perfect day would be ruined after all.

Still the Gryffindor tried to salvage some of it: “Please step aside, Malfoy.”

The blonde just sneered: “Not happy to see me ‘step-daddy’?”

Harry made a face: “I am not your… yuk, don’t call me that, ever. It’s, it’s just wrong… disgusting.”

“Yes, you are right, it is disgusting. My father made a mistake marrying someone like you,” the blonde agreed looking at the dark-hired boy as if he was one of the maggots they used in Potions.
“And do you know what else is disgusting? The fact that you are coming out of Rasputin’s office, smiling as if you had just been thoroughly fucked!”

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He could not believe his ears. Malfoy had finally lost it, that much was obvious. Then he shook his head.
“You are out of your mind, he is my Professor and I am married and I… step aside, Malfoy, I am not going to listen to this nonsense!”

“That’s were you are wrong!” Draco sneered maliciously and drew his wand. “Do you think I haven’t noticed the way he is looking at you?” The blonde pushed his wand under Harry’s chin. “And to think that once I felt sorry for you and for what I said to you and defended you to my father! You are a just a little, dirty slut!”

The dark-hired boy couldn’t see where all this nonsense came from: “It’s just… it’s not true!”

“So what were you doing in his office this late?” Draco demanded. He was incredibly angry.

“None of your business,” Harry spat and pushed the blonde back.

Draco raised his wand. Enough was enough. Damn the consequences. He was going to hex the little whore black and blue!

“No! Malfoy, stop!” The fear was evident in Harry’s voice. Where had he put his own wand… Merlin, he could not allow Draco to curse him!

“Well, well, well” Draco gloated. “Potter is begging me not to hex him. Did all that taking up the ass have turned you into a girl? But you know, what? While I like your begging, I don’t care!” The blond wizard pointed his wand a hex on the tip of his tongue.

“Please, don’t do it,” tears suddenly gathered in Harry’s eyes as he was standing with both arms over his stomach. Draco only smirked.

“Malfoy, no, please, I’m pregnant!” Harry finally shouted and sunk on his knees, tears freely streaming down his cheeks. “You… you could kill it…with… with a minor hex… or hurt, or cripple… oh, God,” Harry could not remember when he had felt this scared.

“What?” Malfoy had frozen, his brain hadn’t caught up with Potter’s words yet.

“I am pregnant, you little prick,” Harry whimpered. “And you just threatened to kill your brother or sister.”
Harry had been too careless, who knows what hex Malfoy had wanted to cast at him? Knowing the Slytherin, it could have been something really bad…

“It’s not possible,” the blonde denied.

“Surviving Arvada Kedavra is not possible,” the boy noted ironically whipping his eyes with one of his sleeves. He was calming down already, which was not surprising, considerin all the ups and downs, Harry was experiencing lately.

“Who is the father?” Draco’s voice was toneless.

“Are you fucking serious?” Harry glared at the other boy. “You really have gall to ask? I don’t know what is wrong with you and why do you think I am sleeping around with our professors, but you know, what? I don’t care. I am pregnant for God’s sake! I don’t care if you believe me or not.”

Harry could not imagine how one could have relationship with someone else while carrying other man’s child. It was so… blasphemous?

“Now I understand,” the blond breathed out.

Draco was probably just thinking aloud, but Harry still asked: “What?”

“Snape ordered me to baby-sit you during the Potions,” Draco answered. “Now I understand, why.”

“Good for you, Malfoy.” Harry started getting back to his feet; suddenly he was feeling very tired and weak: “Can I go now?” He demanded testily.

Draco just stepped aside without even opening his mouth. Good.

Harry could see that Malfoy still had not recovered from shock. Not everyday you found out that your school rival was going to give birth to your brother or sister. But he couldn’t care less about the spoiled. It really was close to curfew and he had to get back to his room.

***

Potter was long gone, but Draco was still standing in the middle of the hall. He didn’t have to worry about the curfew, because the blonde was one of the prefects this year. Still, that was not the reason why he was not hurrying anywhere. The truth was that Draco was too stunned to move.

Damn it!

He had dismissed the thought of Potter lying, having some elaborate plot or playing at something as ridiculous straight away. Potter did not have it in him. That only left one possibility – he was telling the truth.

The Wonder Boy was pregnant? Draco had to admit that Potter was not a very ordinary person, but pregnant? He needed a drink. Something very strong. It was good that he had sneaked in a bottle of vine when he had returned from Hogsmeade.

Draco had been very annoyed since Potter had returned. The couple of months without the Golden Boy had been very nice. He had ruled the school, not only the Slytherin. Draco had been the most popular; everyone had watched him and talked about his exploits. That had been until Potter had returned. The-Boy-Who-Killed-You-Know-Who – there was no chance to compete with that.

And Snape was suddenly on Potter’s side. He had given Draco detentions. Come on! Draco was not only Slytherin, but also Snape’s godson! And his father was not angry with Potter anymore. Obviously. He sent the brat presents almost every day and the Draco would bet his broom that Potter received better presents than he did. It all irked Draco to no end.

And then there was Rasputin.

Draco had liked the man from the start. He was extremely good looking, dressed nice, had manners, was funny and quite good as a teacher. Until Potter came into the picture. The Slytherin didn’t like how Rasputin treated his father’s husband. All the attention, smiles, touching which were meant to appear unintentional and innocent.

Could have fooled everyone, except Draco. He knew what to look for. Being no saint and a natural flirt, the teenager had a very good intuition about such matters. He could sense it when someone was having naughty thoughts. Maybe it was one of his special talents. Draco Malfoy always new who around him was interested in whom and which couple was sneaking off to spend some quality time in Astronomy Tower.

He gave Potter a warning. The first time when they almost got into a fight. Draco did not mean it, not really. He had just decided to jell at the stupid Gryffindor beforehand to prevent anything and to warn… he had tried to be subtle in his own way… obviously it had been a silly idea. Gryffindors didn’t know anything about subtlety.

However, Draco had thought that there was no reason to worry too much, because obviously Potter was completely ignorant of people around him and had no idea how many of them were looking at him the wrong way or making subtle advances. He just brushed them off and slipped back into whatever world he was drifting in.

Draco had thought that Potter was way too innocent to even notice Rasputin’s advances. But then he saw the boy coming out of the Professor’s office. Draco had instantly thought the worst - that Potter was cheating on his father with the damn lecher.

That was obviously not the case. Whatever Potter had needed from the Professor had not been sex. Draco shouldn’t judge by himself, which he had done.

Potter was different, he was quite innocent when it came to relationships, and Draco knew it, since as Golden Boy’s rival he had been watching the other boy quite a lot and made it his business to know these things. Know your enemy and all that rot.

Potter was not lying about his pregnancy. Draco was sure. Something that extraordinary had to be truth. Now when he knew, he remembered all kind of little details, proofs. Like Weasley and Granger watching the Boy-Who-Lived like hawks, talks about Potter quitting Quidditch, Snape’s behaviour, Potter rubbing his stomach in a very particular, caring way…

Involuntary Draco’s lips quirked recalling Potter drifting off in the History, looking at something in his lap with such tenderness… Morgana’s petticoat! When Draco thought about it, Potter was being so bloody obvious!

Then he grinned. He was going to have a brother, or a sister.

Still. Even if Potter had no interest in Maxim Rasputin, it did not mean that Rasputin had no interest in Potter. Draco decided to watch the man closely from now. He had a bad feeling about it. He had to look after Potter from now.

Damn it. He was going to be the big brother. Finally.

He was still going to open that bottle of vine. Only to celebrate. Life was good.

27. Surprises

Two weeks flew by very fast. Harry was busy doing his homework. He had to finish some extra assignments since he had missed a lot of school. Otherwise, he was actually having a good time. The boy had to agree that maybe, just maybe, he had tried to hide from the Wizarding world in the Malfoy Manor and it had not been the right thing to do.

But it was understandable, wasn’t it? That world had hurt and disappointed him so much that he had been afraid. They were too noisy, too overbearing.

However, it turned out that the Headmaster was also good at keeping fans and reporters out of Harry’s life. The only ones he had to deal with were his schoolmates, but in most cases, the novelty had worn off in a couple of weeks. Harry was happy to spend time with his friends and he had always loved Hogwarts. Yes, it was not that bad.

Still, one thing had not changed – he cared for Lucius. Harry still missed his husband, wished he could see him. He was not desperate anymore, the young wizard didn’t want to hide behind his husband’s back, time and distance had cured him from that, but Harry was… he thought he was a bit taken with the man… he spent Binns lextures daydreaming about silver blond hair and stormy grey eyes and lips on his lips… Merlin, what was wrong with him?

Harry sipped his pumpkin juice and chewed on a liquorice wand from the box of selected sweets sent by Lucius just twenty minutes ago. It was Saturday and he was in no hurry. Doctor Tanabe was coming later to check on him, but that was only later.

Then somebody cleared his throat behind his back. Harry absentmindedly turned around and saw Draco Malfoy standing in the front of the Gryffindor table. It was unexpected. God, but he hoped the Slytherin Prince was not here to pick up another fight. He had kind of avoided Harry since the last one. Probably trying to come to terms with the fact that someone he hated was going to give birth to his sibling. Harry almost felt for him. Almost.

“Potter,” the Slytherin greeted with a polite bow. “I would like to talk to you. Could we?”

Harry was more than surprised. The blonde had not bothered him for two weeks and now he wanted to talk and was asking nicely?

“What do you want to talk about?” The boy eyed Malfoy with suspicion.

“This is not the right place to explain, we could meet later in the library,” Draco proposed.

“Sod off Malfoy,” Ron stepped in. “You don’t have anything to talk about.”

Harry almost groaned in annoyance – he could make his own decisions, he did not need Ron to do it for him.

Draco turned towards the freckled Gryffindor: “Do I have to remind you Weasley that I and Potter are related now. It opens a plenty of topics to discuss.”

“We know about all your topics already,” the redhead spat.

“I can assure you, you don’t know anything, Weasley,” Draco replied haughtily. “So, Potter, are you coming or you must get permission from Weasley and mud… Granger?”

Harry sighed: “Sure, I’ll just finish my breakfast.”

Harry assumed that it must be something important if Malfoy was talking to him. And there was no way around it, they were related now and if the obnoxious brat needed something… well, Harry was not going to give him anything or do things for the blonde, but he certainly could at least hear the Slytherin out. It didn’t appear that Malfoy was planning to attack him or something. He wouldn’t arrange the meeting publicly if that were the case. One Harry had to give Draco – he was not stupid.

Draco nodded: “And finish your pumpkin juice, fluids are good for you.” With that, the blonde turned around and left.

Harry gaped. Did Draco Prick Malfoy just showed interest in his eating habits? Ron and Hermione also had noticed and looked equally taken aback.

***
When Harry entered the library, he decided that Malfoy had picked the time well, because it was almost empty. Even the most book-loving Ravenclaws were not there so early on Saturday morning.

There he was sitting by one of the tables in the far corner, hands neatly folded in front of him, no wand in sight. Like an angel. Yeah, right.

Harry walked over and slumped down on one of the chairs: “Hi, Malfoy, so, what do you want.”

Draco frowned at complete lack of grace and manners the Gryffindor was displaying. He almost sighed. If this was a proper Malfoy spouse, then he was a flying pig. He stood up and bowed the way a proper pureblood was supposed to.

“First of all I think I should apologize for my previous behaviour, I endangered your child’s health. That was something I shouldn’t have done,” Draco declared seriously with the right amount of respect.

Harry arched his eyebrows. Malfoy apologizing? To him? Wow! He looked at the blonde; it must be very hard to apologize to one’s rival: “Oh, about that… yes, I guess it’s Ok. You didn’t know.”

Draco almost groaned inwardly: “Damn, Potter, you are such a Gryffindor. One day your recklessness and forgiving nature will get you into deep trouble.”

“What did you want me to do then? I said I forgave you, wasn’t it what you wanted?” Harry huffed suddenly feeling edgy.

“I didn’t want you to do anything, but I asked you for a favour, if you were smarter you would ask for something back or at least make me squirm before forgiving me. You are careless, clueless, gullible and too good to everyone. It’s dangerous… but whatever; I didn’t come here to talk about flaws of your character, wouldn’t want to spend all day in the library,”

Harry rolled his eyes. He had not needed a lecture on how to take advantage of others.

“Speaking of the reason why I am here, Potter,” Draco went on. “I wanted to talk to you to ask if I could accompany you to the Yule Ball.”

“What…!” Harry spluttered.

Draco only smirked: “Close your mouth Potter and say, ‘yes’ already, I have a Transfiguration essay to write, some of us care about or marks.” Transfiguration was not one of Draco’s favourite subjects, since McGonagall hated his guts and never cut him any slack.

“But, but… did you really… why?”

“It is very simple,” Draco started explaining. “My father can’t take you to the Yule Ball for obvious reasons we won’t discuss at the moment, so it is my duty to take his place since I am his oldest son.”

Harry frowned: “I don’t know Malfoy. We are not on good terms and people usually go to the ball with someone they like.”

“You mean gryffindors, slytherins go with ones they are supposed to go with,” Malfoy corrected.

“But do you really think you have a choice? Whom will you go with? Don’t tell me you are going to ask a girl? Or a boy? It will be all over The Prophet next day insinuating that you are cheating on my father.”

“You probably plan to trail after Weasley and Granger like their puppy all night long. It is not as if I care, but they are mowing too slowly already. With you sitting between them, those two will never get to any snogging. Besides if I will be there to watch you then all kind of idiots won’t get any stupid ideas about you.”

“What ideas?”

“Honestly, Potter, you are daft. Haven’t you noticed how some people are looking at you? You are living in your little la-la world and not noticing anything around you. This place is a Zoo, even worth,” Draco admonished.

“You are exaggerating Malfoy,” Harry objected sounding slightly uncertain though.

“Whatever. Still, we should go together. Father would be happy knowing that we are getting along better,”

“Are we?” Harry raised a dark eyebrow.

“We should,” the blonde shrugged.

“Why do want to get along with me? You hate me!” Harry protested. “And you are not being very nice even right now,” that was true. Draco was not being downright nasty as usually, so this was an improvement, but he was nowhere near nice.

“Nice? Potter, who do you think I am? In fact I am being very nice, by my standards,” Harry could believe that, just that those standards seemed to be pretty low.

“And… I don’t hate you Potter. You irritate me. I did not like father’s idea of marrying you, for many reasons. But then it turns out that you are good for something after all,” Draco crossed arms over his chest and suddenly found a nearby bookshelf very interesting, looking like he was admitting something he did not exactly want to admit.

“Good for what?” Harry sounded suspicious. That compliment had sounded weird.

“The baby, of course,” Malfoy tried not to show it, but his eyes lit up. “I am going to have a little brother or sister.”

Harry shot the other boy an incredulous look, and then sniggered.

“What?” Draco did not understand what was so funny.

“Oh, that’s rich! It turns the high and mighty Draco Malfoy had always wanted a little brother or sister to play with,” Harry snickered. “It is kind of funny.”

The blonde looked affronted: “Stop laughing about me. And what is wrong with that?”

“Oh, nothing,” Harry smiled. “It is kind of sweet though.”

Draco did not like the remark, but ignored it since he saw a chance there: “So, we are going together?”

The other teen sighed: “I guess so.”

Harry had agreed. Still, he almost wanted to take it back when he saw the self-satisfied smirk all over Malfoy’s face.

***

TBC


***


Review Responses: Thanks everyone who were not lazy and reviewed and even gave me some good ideas. Just because the story is already written and finished doesn’t mean that I am not changing a couple of things before I post, so, I still like to hear from you.

You know, what, I was surprised when so many of you got annoyed with Ron and Hermione. I was not planning to show them in a bad light or something. I think they were both pretty much in-character. Oh, right, but R&H in-character are annoying! I wanted to throttle them when I was reading the Hallows!

Extraho: Thank you very much. Just keep reading.

R: Hm, Draco certainly is redeemable. And Dumbledore is someone who believes in sacrifices and sees mostly the big picture. Sure, he is happy to see Harry positively affecting Lucius and something like that. And I bet he adores little, cute babies.

Riley: You are probably right about mojitos, but come on, that is one of the most popular cocktails in the world. The reason I used it was that a couple of Spanish dudes introduced me to it.

ArchNemesis: Yes, I was trying to post the story once already and under the same name, but then I decided to finish and improve it. But I love Draco too much to simply kill him. Instead, I am going to… no, that would be telling. Wait and you’ll see.

Greycat: Love you too. But only platonically.

Persons
Maxim Rasputin - The new DADA professor. Has unusually light brown eyes, honey brown, slightly curly hair. Handsome. Strange accent...
Unanswered questions
Why is Harry longing for Lucius – I think it is simple, people are trying to separate them and as often with teenagers, it is only pushing him into Lucius’ direction. I am not sure if they are not getting close too fast, still, but this might explain.
Timetable
1.-2. Week of November – Harry starts the therapy with Professor Rasputin
The last Saturday of November – Harry meets Lucius
2. Week of December – Draco asks Harry to the ball
3. Week of December – the ball and after that everyone is leaving for Christmas.