Could You Love Me?

T
Author: TheSiner
Title: Could you love me?
Genre: Angst, Romance, Drama and some attempted humour :)
Pairings: Harry/Lucius; Draco/?; Severus/?(mentioned)
Word Count: ~ 150,000
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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SEVENTH PART – THE MALFOY FAMILY

31. Arriving


Lucius called a house elf and ordered to take Harry’s trunk to his room. Harry was sitting on the sofa next to Draco, looking a bit awkward. Was it his son’s presence that was bothering the boy? Or simply the sudden change? Didn’t matter. Harry would get comfortable in the Manor again.

“Did you have breakfast already?” Lucius inquired.

“Um, no, we were unwrapping the presents and didn’t get to breakfast,” Harry admitted. Honestly, he had completely forgotten about food and it was early still.

“Yes, presents, I have my own for you,” Lucius drawled. “But first you should have something to eat. How inconsiderate from people who claim to care of you.”

Harry groaned: “Don’t start, please. I know how little love there is lost between the Malfoys and the Weasleys, but they are my family too. What they tried to do was awful, but Mrs. Weasley, she’s…” Harry couldn’t think of a good excuse for the woman yet. It was still raw. He still hadn’t forgiven and it would be some time, before he would forget. “They care for me and they are important to me. Why can’t you simply be civil to each other?”

“Our families have been hostile since ever, I imagine there was some kind of family feud, that no one remembers anymore,” Lucius explained grimacing. “We are too different.”

“They are poor, plain and blood traitors and causing us trouble on every opportunity, we have absolutely nothing in common,” Draco recited.

Harry looked as if he wanted to say something nasty, but Lucius was first: “Lets not talk about something like that now. It is time to have something to eat.”

Harry really wanted to object that the Weasleys and the Malfoys had something in common - him, but then decided to leave it be for now. He had just returned home and didn’t want to start the day with a major row and one that would not lead to anything. But he swore that they would return to the subject…

While they were having breakfast, Harry kept sneaking glances at his husband and could feel Lucius doing the same only in a more subtle manner. Right, the man didn’t want to be caught doing something so unmalfoish as ogling ones... well, yes, there was that. Who exactly Harry was to Lucius? Harry felt a hot wave wash over his body. The way the older man was looking at him…

“Maybe I should leave you both alone?” Draco teased when he noticed the exchange.

“Don’t get too cheeky, my son,” Lucius berated hiding his enbaracment. “With another heir on the way I will have no qualms about disowning you.”

“Then I will ask Weasleys to adopt me. If they took in someone like Potter…”

“Shut up, Malfoy,” Harry grumbled without being very upset, more by a habit, he knew, that Draco was just teasing him.

“If you are finished,” Lucius changed the topic. “Then I would like to show you your present.”

“Oh! Yeah, I guess I am finished then,” Harry was eager to escape the amused looks, Draco was giving them. It was a tad disturbing.

“Then shall we?” Lucius stood up, helped Harry with his chair, and guided the younger wizard out of the dining room towards the stairs to the second floor with his hand on the small of Harry’s back.

They stopped by the door to Harry’s room, which Lucius opened for him. The boy looked around the anteroom, but still didn’t see anything that could possibly be his present.

“It is there,” Lucius led Harry to the door to the studio, which was connected to his rooms. Harry had used it for studying, but not often, since he had preferred to read in his bedroom or even anteroom or sit in the library with Lucius – the study was too formal.

Then Lucius opened the door and let Harry in.

“Wow,” the boy breathed out. He had not expected what he saw. “This is so… incredible, it is amazing, perfect!”

Both men were standing by the door of the most beautiful baby-room Harry had ever seen. It had been done in light blue with some darker accents. The wallpaper was sky with a pretty realistic looking sun shining in the middle of it (not as brightly as the real one though) and white, fluffy clouds coursing lazily around the room and some birds hovering over the tops of the trees that could be seen a bit above the floor.

There was also a very nice beige sofa and a rocking chair and the most beautiful crib Harry had ever seen. White, with gossamer curtains that were sparkled in the rays of son due to the golden threads that were waved into the delicate material. Not mentioning all the toys… and even a Rocking-unicorn – so white and adorable…

The green wyes sparkled with joy and maybe a bit of tears. Harry could imagine a tiny baby lying there, among all the loveliness. He was really glad that he was going to have all of this for his little one. He imagined that he had it all once at the Godric’s Hollow, not that he could remember. Not that he could check – the house was completely destroyed, the same way his happy childhood had been.

“It is gorgeous!” Harry beamed and flung his arms around his husband’s neck. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Then he suddenly became too aware how close he was to the other man, he blushed and tried to take his hands back, but Lucius simply didn’t let him, instead he secured Harry’s arms where they were putting his own on the top of the boy’s wrists.

“I think we already talked about this once, you don’t have to be so shy. On the contrary,” Lucius leaned forward and gently kissed Harry’s forehead.

“I just don’t know,” Harry freed himself of the embrace and turned away. “It’s strange…”

Harry didn’t quite understand his feelings. He had hated Lucius Malfoy for everything, for forcing him into the marriage, for forcing him into his bed that one time and just for the fact that he was Lucius Malfoy. He had even thought that the man was evil. But now he didn’t believe that, not anymore.

Lucius was different. Lucius had his façade, the face he showed to strangers. But that was not the real Lucius Malfoy. The man behind that façade was as strong and domineering as he seemed to be. But that man was also gentle and caring and very… Harry didn’t know the word, there probably was one. Hermione probably knew it, but Harry didn’t. It was just that there was something in Lucius that beckoned Harry closer that made him blush when the man looked at him. that made him weak in the knees.

Harry needed his husband. It was hard to explain, but the boy didn’t even consider parting with Lucius. He had forgiven Lucius and become used to having him around and he missed the man when they were separated. Then he had realized how much he had missed Lucius, which had led to their make out session the last time on the Hogsmeade weekend.

But Lucius was so much older than him and he was so sophisticated. Harry felt like a little, silly child next to the man and he could not imagine, why someone like Lucius Malfoy would want him for other reasons than him being The-Boy-Who-Lived, the perfect trophy husband.

Why would Lucius want to be with him? Take him places and give him nice things? Lucius had wanted Harry for who he was for the wizarding world, that was undeniable, wasn’t it? And it left bad taste in Harry’s mouth. But what else someone like Lucius Malfoy would want him for? There was the baby, but that was about all, wasn’t it?

What if Lucius was simply going along with everything, humouring Harry who was acting like a little fool with his clinginess and awkward signs of affection?

Oh, God… a strangled noise escaped Harry’s throat… what if…

Suddenly strong arms wrapped around Harry from behind, pulling him back against Lucius’ strong chest: “It doesn’t have to be strange, my dear husband. It is the most natural thing, no need to be so shy.” The man leaned over Harry and nudged the shell of his ear with his nose.

Harry giggled. And squirmed when he felt wet lips nipping on his earlobe.

“It tickles!” The boy exclaimed. He felt wonderfully enveloped in Lucius arms.

The older man smirked. Harry had no idea how alluring his innocence and juvenile behaviour was to him.
“You will get used to me and my kisses,” he promised.

Lucius kissed the boy on his neck to make a point and delighted in feeling the youth tremble in his arms.

Harry had to bite his lip to keep a moan from escaping past him as his husbands lips went for simply touching to sucking on the tender skin of his neck.

Then Lucius loosened his grip: “As much as I would like to do other things at the moment, we need to talk. There is something I need to tell you,” Lucius also didn’t want to push Harry, to force something on him. He was going to wait until the boy was ready.

“Let’s go, sit down. I am afraid that you will not like it.”

They walked out in the anteroom and sat on the sofa there. Lucius put his hand over Harry’s that lay between them on the sofa.

“Well, if something bad had happened, it is not going away just because I don’t know about it, so, go ahead, tell me.” Harry reasoned, he was already thinking of several worse case scenarios.

“There was an article in The Daily Prophet. By Rita Skeeter, unsurprisingly,” Lucius watched his husband’s face screw up with worry, his teeth latch on the plump lower lip. “Someone from St. Mungo's was very kind and informed her that I’ve been buying certain potions from them. Potions usually used by pregnant witches. She drew the conclusions and they were accurate. She speculated about you being pregnant., every witch and wizard who red The Prophet today has accepted it as the most believable version, knowing the Wizarding world.”

Harry paled: “Oh, shit…”

Lucius didn’t comment on Harry’s language, even if he felt an urge. He wished he had been more careful and had Severus make all of Harry’s potions. Bus he hadn’t wanted to treat his friend as his personal Potion’s master. Salazar knew, the man was forced to make enough pepper-up and other dull potions that were beneath a Master every year.

Besides, he didn’t want Severus to think, that they were friends only because Lucius needed something of the man. Severus might or might not think that, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Lucius stifled a sigh: “I am afraid it is true. I understand that you are not pleased, but it had to happen sooner or later…”

“But I wanted it to happen later! Much later! How about never?” Harry exclaimed.

Lucius reached out and put his palm against the side of Harry’s head, running his fingers through the dark locks soothingly.

“Harry, you are pregnant, you are showing already,” Lucius tried to reason. “With every passing day it is becoming more and more noticeable.”

“I know, but…” the boy brushed his sleeve over his eyes that were starting to tear up.

“Shh, don’t be such a child…” Lucius instantly regretted what he had said. People did not like to be called children. Especially those, who were.

“I am not a child! I am a freak…” Harry completely ignored the insult. His head was full of other thoughts.

“What does that mean?” Lucius didn’t like the sound of it.

“It means I am abnormal and I don’t want to be abnormal, I want to be like everyone else! I don’t want to be a freak!” there was a hysterical note to Harry’s voice.

“Of course, you are not like everyone else,” no one would doubt that. “ ‘Freak’? I don’t like that word. It implies that there is something wrong with you and that is not true. Abnormal? That is much better. Are you aware, that ‘abnormal’ means ‘much greater than the normal’? You are very special, Harry. More beautiful than many, more powerful than the most. Richer than most. What is wrong with that?”

“I don’t want to be a powerful wizard! I want to be left alone!”

“You will never be left alone, Harry. Even those fools, who call themselves wizards and witches are not blind enough not to see, how special you are. I am well aware, what it is like. I am a Malfoy. We are one of the richest families in the Wizarding world. No, actually now we are the richest family, after you brought us the Black and the Potter fortunes. It comes with certain notoriety and there is nothing one can do about that. You have to learn to live with it. You learn to keep a distance, to protect your loved ones, to ignore certain occurrences, like vile rumours and jealousy. You ward your home,” Lucius took the younger wizard’s hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly.

“They will be writing about me again,” Harry whimpered as if the thought was truly hurting him.

“Yes, they will,” Lucius confirmed grimly. “And it would be not the first time, nor the last.”

“I wish I were someone else,” the boy grumbled.

“But you are not someone else. You are Harry Potter-Black-Malfoy. And you are pregnant. There is nothing you can do about that, so you will have to endure the attention. Let them talk; they always talk. But they can’t hurt you. People, who are close to you will know the truth. It is not going to affect you more than that. I will make sure of it.”

A small, crooked smile appeared on Harry’s face: “You will take care of me?”

“Yes, I will,” Lucius promised without any hesitation.

Harry’s smile broadened and he looked at his husband from under his long eyelashes, once again, teeth pulled on his lower lip as if Harry wanted to say or do something.

Lucius had a suspicion that he knew what the boy wanted only didn’t know how to ask for it. He took an initiative and pulled the Harry closer.

“I missed you,” he whispered. “Did you miss me too?”
He didn’t wait for Harry to answer, Merlin, but Lucius wanted to… “Come here…”

Harry, as impatient as Lucius the man pull himself closer, he was close to trembling with anticipation. Gently, tentatively Lucius let his tongue follow the curve of the boy’s mouth, he was growing impatient, he wanted more, Lucius wanted to deepen the kiss, to…

Suddenly Harry cried out and recoiled.

“What happened? What is wrong? Are you in pain? Talk to me Harry!”

“No! No pain, I am fine just it… it… he…” the boy stuttered. “He… she… the baby moved! It moved Lucius! The brat kicked me!” Harry laughed out. Oh, Merlin, it was amazing, so sudden, but amazing as well, the weirdest thing he has ever felt.

The older wizard sighed in relief: “One day you will surprise or scare me to death, one day Mr. Potter-Malfoy. All the excitement from being bounded to a… did it? Really?”

Harry nodded grinning maniacally.

Lucius was not sure if he should laugh r cry in frustration. Why did his heirs kept interrupting every time he had a chance of getting closer to Harry. The man stifled a sigh. The baby. It was mowing already.

Harry was beaming at his stomach the boy’s hands were under his jumper. Lucius wished he could replace them with his own… Which was not such a bad idea…

“Can I...?”

The boy nodded again, starting to lift up his jumper.

32. Settling in

Lucius found the next days the strangest in his life. His family was far from a regular one, after all. That of course had been his own choice; he had brought everything upon himself by marrying the Gryffindor who was also his son’s school rival and The-Boy-Who-Lived and many more things that Lucius himself was not.

Lucius discovered that only now he had started to get to know the young wizard whom he had married. The Harry Potter he had known before he had gone back to the Hogwarts was not the same who had returned from the school.

In a way, that was a good thing. Before leaving Harry had been very vulnerable, fragile. He had been scared of everything and had depended on Lucius in everything. Harry had lost his courage, he had not been himself and Lucius had not even noticed, because he had not known Harry before the marriage.

Lucius had not minded long after that Harry. He liked to be in charge. He enjoyed being the shoulder to lean on, the caregiver and the protector. However, if he thought about that thoroughly, he had to admit that it liking things the way they had been was selfish. Of course, Lucius Malfoy was a rather selfish man, but not with his family and people who really mattered.

While somewhat meek and placid his husband had been easily manageable, Lucius had to admit that he wanted the boy to be well more than he wanted him to be easy. He had become attached to Harry and cared for him a great deal, no doubt there. Lucius couldn’t have been more obvious abut his affections.

As a man who had always had everything, Lucius liked challenge. What could be more challenging for a Slytherin than a Gryffindor husband?

It had been three days since Harry had returned to the Manor and those days had been quite interesting.

Lucius had to accept that his husband and son were not going to communicate like normal people would and every meal they had together would be accompanied by mild bickering. Lucius didn’t expect the boys getting tired of it any time soon. However, apparently they had established certain boundaries that were not to be crossed. Therefore, the teasing and biting didn’t lead to hexing and was moreamusing than anything.

Lucius also spent a lot of time with Harry. They talked, took long walks in the gardens, Lucius spelling snow off the path, played chess, swam in the pool.

And they kissed.

Lucius kissed Harry standing among snowy trees, pressing the boy’s lithe form against him under the pretence of saving them from cold. Didn’t matter that they were wizards and could cast as many warming charms as they wished.

Lucius couldn’t deny himself kissing Harry after the boy had just gotten out of the pool all glistening wet. Like a house elf Lucius hurried to offer his husband a towel just to have a reason to close the distance between them, to touch Harry.

There was thrill in all of it. It was as if they were doing something forbidden, as if they could be caught any moment. Well, there was a good chance that they would run into Draco and that would be embarrassing, but otherwise, Lucius couldn’t quite figure out, why kissing his own husband in his own home seemed so much like tasting a forbidden fruit.

But it did and the man found it damn exiting.

Lucius had never been denied anything. He had been able to have everything he had wanted, when he wanted it. now, however, he was the one who denied himself Harry. Lucius was aware that if he played his cards right, he could have Harry in all the ways he wanted. All the teasing was driving him somewhat crazy. It was a sweet torture.

However, he knew that Harry was not ready.

Lucius was aware that he had to be glad and grateful that his young husband had suddenly became attracted to him. Considering everything that had happened between them, it was a miracle that Harry was not running from him screaming.

Even if he had not showed it, Lucius had been very surprised when he had met Harry on the Hogsmeade weekend and the boy had practically jumped on him. That had been a great surprise. Much more than Lucius had ever hoped for.

There was no doubt. Lucius had been very attracted to the boy when he had seen Harry for the first time on their wedding day. Naturally, after everything happened he had been suppressing all the lustful feelings towards his husband. He had tried to take care of the boy to the best of his ability hoping that he would be forgiven at least to a certain extent and Harry wouldn’t want to leave him taking their child with him. Besides, Lucius had been feeling guilty.

Lucius had been allowed to look as much as he wanted. He hadn’t dared to touch. Now Harry had broken that rule himself. It was obvious that he wanted to be touched. However, the fact that the boy let Lucius kiss him didn’t mean that he was ready to go further.

It was quite pleasant, but all the kissing and touching was making Lucius crave for more. He new exactly what he wanted, since he had tried it once, but he knew that if he would go too far – it could ruin everything between them. Therefore, Lucius did what he had to do. He pushed Harry away, pecked him on the forehead and sent the boy to bed. Alone.

***

Severus Snape was an antisocial, unpleasant misanthrope. At least he tried to be. At least he had tried to be. For about fifteen years he had been a Death Eater spy and that particular way of behaving had suited his purposes. He could be as secretive and unpleasant as he wished. The less friends and family there were, the less people he was forced to lie to.

Severus had also discovered that the mask he had been wearing suited him well. He truly disliked most of the people. With passion sometimes.

As a antisocial, unpleasant misanthrope Severus Snape was supposed to detest Christmas. It would be fitting. Right?

Ha! Wrong. Severus didn’t detest Christmas. He simply couldn’t. No matter, how much the Potions Master wished he could frown at all the foolishness that were associated with yuletide, he COULD NOT.

All the garish decorations, unhealthy, sugary foods, squealing children and red-faced, tipsy adults and hypocritical sentimentality. Severus couldn’t detest it the way he wanted. And who was to blame? No one else, but the Malfoys, of course.

When something didn’t go as it was supposed in Severus’ life it was usually because of Potter (didn’t matter which), Dumbledore or Malfoy (didn’t matter which).

This time it was because of Lucius Malfoy, who had done everything to the best of his ability to make it impossible for Severus to hate Christmas. The Manor was always nicely decorated – in moderation and with good taste. There were no mistletoes, no jolly reindeers, no Father Christmases anywhere. The Christmas dinner was something he was really looking forward since not only the food was exceptionally good, but Lucius always managed to procure some kind of rare vintage wine or a bottle of something Severus had never even heard of.

He was even looking forward for his Christmas present, because it was usually a book as rare as valuable and he got up early every boxing day like a little boy to eagerly wait for the owl, anxious to get his hands on the rare intellectual treat.

Of course, everything came for a price. With the book Severus Snape received also an invitation to the yearly New Years party, which he couldn’t refuse, if he accepted the book.

Those Malfoys!

For some reason Lucius thought it was his mission to improve Severus’ life. In other words – meddle. To make him more sociable. Ghrr!

But, well, at least Lucius would hardly invite the major annoyance of Severus’ life to his party. On opposite of Albus Dumbledore, who certainly would. Severus would not be forced to spend the evening trying to escape the silly creature. So unbelievably persistent. The Potions Master couldn’t fathom, what would anyone see in him, why would anyone deem him worthy of pursuing. He was not one for romance.

No, Severus Snape absolutely refused to consider any possibilities…

***


Two days before New Year’s Eve two blond Slytherins and a dark-haired Gryffindor were hawing breakfast together as usually. Lucius had decided that it was time to inform his beloved husband about their plans for the 31st of December.

“Harry, there is something I need to tell you,” Lucius spoke up.

“I don’t like the sound of it,” the boy mumbled. “I will not like it, right?”

“You are not going to like it just because you are not a normal person, Potter, your broom is a couple of twigs short,” Draco snorted.

“You are one to talk Malfoy!”

“You should call me Draco, you know, otherwise I am not sure who you are talking to,”

“Believe me Draco you will know when I will be talking to you, maybe I let my wand to express my feelings towards you?”

“You both can’t talk like normal people, can you?” Lucius interrupted both teenagers.

“No,” they answered in unison. At least they could agree on something.

“Well, what I wanted to you know,” the older blonde looked at Harry. “Was that we are going to have the traditional New Years’ party.”

“Oh,” Harry was not sure if he was into parties. Well, he liked the idea of small ones, where only his friends and the family were invited, but he had a suspicion that he didn’t knew, who were Lucius’ friends. “How many people?”

“One-Two hundreds,”

“What?” Harry gaped.

“Probably more this year, since father is married to you now,” Draco smirked. “Some people usually turn down our invitation, because they think we are too… dark? Or something. Besides they will be anxious to see The-Brat-Who-Lived-Against-All-Odds.”

“So I am the main attraction?” Harry was getting upset.

“The entire Wizarding world is very interested in you, Harry,” Lucius stated. “You are becoming more and more famous. Especially now. There is no way around it.”

It was true. Since Skeeter had published her speculative article, people were going crazy. The number of owls they received every day had increased tenfold. Lucius had been forced to assign one of the kitchen elves to help Posty. He had sent an official statement to The Daily Prophet the next day after the Skeeter’s article, confirming that Harry was pregnant, to stop the rumours. He was well aware that the next article would have been speculating about Harry’s child’s ‘real’ parentage and so on.

Harry, however, looked miserable: “I don’t want to come to a party with two hundred people who will be staring at me and asking me autographs.”

“If you will be hiding, that will start rumours,” Lucius was prepared for this kind of conversation He hadn’t expected anything else from Harry. “Besides you will have to get used to that kind of situations.”

“Who are those people you have invited?” Harry demanded the answer not looking even close to convinced.

“Only worthy people. Pure bloods from old families, some of father’s business associates, Ministry workers,” Draco listed.

“Nobody I know and like, right?” The boy huffed. “If I have to come, then you will have to invite some people I know too.”

Draco secretly decided that Harry had started to think like a real Malfoy and a bit like a Slytherin. Certainly not a good thing, because it would make him harder to manipulate. Not that Draco had been planning to take an advantage of his father’s husband… alright, he had been planning to do exactly that. The blonde pouted, but no one paid him any attention.

“Like who?” Lucius narrowed his eyes.

“Let me think… the Weasleys for example, Hermione maybe and Neville. Or Luna and Remus oh, if you invite Remus. People from the Order, Tonks maybe,” he looked at Draco. “She is your cousin by the way. Her mother is Andromeda Black.”

“You want me to invite a werewolf, a disowned, disgraced family member, a muggleborn and people with whom we have a family feud to our house? And Merlin knows, who else,”

“They are my friends,” Harry’s tone was defensive.

“You have very… inappropriate friends,” Lucius frowned. He’s been making concessions ever since he had found out about Harry’s pregnancy. If he invited Harry’s friends to his house, that would be another one. And that was not even the point. The problem was, that Lucius was still quite upset with the Weasleys and the werewolf for what they had done and couldn’t watch Harry forgiving them so easily.

Harry didn’t agree, if one could judge by the thin line his mouth had become.

“My friends are much better than all those pompous pure bloods and corrupt Ministry workers who just want to see The-Boy-Who-Lived! They like me for who I am. I am sure that they really like me.” Harry took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “You like it, don’t you?” He sounded accusing.

“I like what?” Lucius was torn. He had gotten into habit to give his husband everything he wanted, but he started to wonder if that had been the right thing to do.

“That I am the fucking Boy-Who-Lived!”

“Of course I do,” he wondered where that was going. “It improves the reputation of our family.”

“You are just like everyone else! You want me only because of that stupid title,” Harry accused springing to his feet.

“No, I don’t want you just because of your title. I admit that I wouldn’t have married you if you were just some Harry Potter…”

“Thank you! That’s all I needed to know!” The boy shouted on top of his lungs.

Lucius flinched watching the dining room door open before Harry and then shut with a bang, seemingly on itself as the boy stormed out. Impressive wandless magic.

Lucius muttered a curse, which was quite uncommon, but he really felt like the situation allowed that.

“Smooth, very smooth, father,” Draco commented and Lucius had almost irresistible desire to throw something at his son. Something like an especially nasty hex.

He confined himself to a glare and followed his husband.

***

Harry had just lied down or rather fallen on his bed and started sobbing when he heard the bedroom door opening. The damn bastard hadn’t even knocked!

“Go away!” Harry cried out. “Go away, I hate you!”

“Oh, no,” Lucius sounded angry. “I am not going anywhere, before making you to see reason.” The man sat on the bed, grabbed Harry by his shoulder and spun him around. The boy looked at him lying on his back with his eyes wide and tearful.

“Let me go!” Harry’s voice quivered, but squirming and thrashing didn’t do him any good since Lucius was holding him securely by his shoulders.

“No, I will never let you go. Now listen to me,” Lucius ordered sternly. “I married you because you were The-Boy-Who-Lived. Do you really want me to deny it and lie to you? I am a Slytherin. If there is something I want – I take it and I am not used to contemplate on ‘why-s’ and ‘if-s’ or at least most of them doesn’t matter. I wanted you, mostly because I could have you. I admit that you were something like a trophy for me. A very lovely trophy as I found out.”

Harry glared at his husband furiously.

“But do you really think that your title is what I value the most in you?” Lucius continued. “I have noticed long time ago that you are more than that and I have been honest about that. You are not just a beautiful thing either; you are nothing I expected you to be, you are much more. You are smart and powerful and ridiculously kind and forgiving, which I can’t complain about, since I have benefited of that particular trait again.”

“If I will hear something as stupid as today coming out of your mouth again, I will put you over my knees and give you a good spanking. Unless you like that kind of thing, no point in a punishment if one enjoys it,” Lucius smirked as Harry’s face turned crimson.

Then he let go of the boy’s shoulders and brushed some of the mussed dark locks off Harry’s forehead: “Have you calmed down a bit?”

Harry nodded and left out a deep breath.

“You are overemotional,” Lucius kept playing with his husband’s hair. “And you can invite Weasleys and your other friends. If you must. I don’t like it of course, I don’t like them... but you probably will not like the people I am going to invite. Just make sure that they leave after the party is over.”

That brought a smile on Harry’s face.

“Thank you! I guess I got a bit… sorry…”

“Yes, you did,” Lucius agreed and smiled at the boy to show that he had already forgotten and forgiven everything. He leaned down and kissed Harry soundly.

33. Domestic Bliss

Draco had invaded Harry’s rooms to play a game of exploding snap. The Slytherin had claimed that he was bored out of his mind. When Harry had asked why he didn’t floo his friends or something, Draco had explained that he wanted to relax and in Slytherin or with Slytherins it was not really possible. All the mind games and power struggles were tiring, one had to watch their every word and everyone else, but with a clueless Gryffindor for a company, there were no such worries.

“Clueless!” Harry had cried out, offended. “If you came here to call me stupid, get out!”

Draco rolled his eyes: “Don’t pout, Potter. It was a compliment. You are not stupid or at least I didn’t exactly say you are…” the blonde smirked. “I meant that you are not scheming all the time and at the moment I find that convenient. In your presence I don’t have to scheme as well and that is a good thing. Scheming is tiring. Calm down. Will you?”

Harry snorted. He was learning to ignore half of the things that came out of Draco’s big mouth. It was the only way to get along with him.

“Father told me,” Draco continued the conversation in a seemingly casual manner, which did not fit the gleam in his eyes. “That my brother has been a bit unruly lately.”

“Brother? What if it’s a girl?” There was a definite challenge in Harry’s tone.

“I am just trying to be optimistic here, we are all men in this family, can you imagine if it’s a girl in there,” Draco pointed at Harry’s belly. “And not for the reasons you probably think. I am not saying that I have anything against girls, when I will obliviate all the memories I have of Parkinson out of myhead, I will have nothing against them,” that made Harry chuckle. “But I am being practical. How would we, three men, now what to do with a girl? Think, Potter!”

Harry had to agree grudgingly. The only girl he knew well was Hermione. And he doubted that she was the most typical representative of the species. Girls like Lavender or Parvati he avoided at all costs. Or Pansy Parkinson. They were just scary. They smelled like flower-shops, had long nails that looked like they were bleeding and could be used to peel one’s skin off and they were gossiping all the time.

Harry shuddered.

“But you are the one who is going to be a mommy here, just don’t come to me, when she asks you to plait her hair, play tea party or wants to plate your hair,” the blonde made a wry face, his distaste obvious.

Harry had to agree, that it didn’t sound good: “How do you know that girls do those… things.”

“Oh, I found out the hard way,” Draco shuddered. “I know Pansy and Millicent since we were toddlers. Used to have play dates with them. Believe me, there is more than hair-wrecking. While little girls are adorable from afar, you don’t want one.”

Harry didn’t know why he had to ask, but he did.

“Do you miss your mother, Draco?”

The Slytherin was quiet for some time. Harry was afraid that he would get slapped or worse – hexed.

“Well,” Draco finally spoke up. “I think I do miss my mother in a way. But I don’t miss Narcissa particularly. I miss having a mother. I never really did. If you will tell anyone, I will kill you, but, I spent a lot of time thinking what it would be like if she were different. A real mother. Pointless, but still…”

“Father has hushed it all up, but my mother was… is as crazy as Bellatrix only she always hid it better. I am afraid that it possibly runs in the Black blood, madness I mean. When my father married her, one couldn’t tell, but after she had me, Narcissa went completely off the rock. After she almost strangled me when I didn’t stop crying, Lucius didn’t let her near me again. Not that she was interested. Lucius kept her busy with shopping and parties and her friends. Then the Dark Lord came back. She was not involved much during his first raise, but Narcissa was angry about Bellatrix’s being locked up in Azkaban and bored. While father tried to figure how to get out, Narcissa got more and more involved with Him. she was among the Death eaters who refused to accept that he was gone, who fought against the Aurors and… I haven’t been to visit her in Azkaban. Father has. He says, she’s gone. Insane. That’s it. I simply don’t think about it too much.”

“I shouldn’t have asked,”

“You are family, you had right to know,”

Harry wanted to say he was sorry, but did not think that Draco would really appreciate something coming that close to pity. But he had never seen Draco’s eyes look so sad, so defeated.

“I sometimes think what it would be like if my parents were alive,” Harry admitted instead. A bit of soul baring for soul baring seemed fair.

“You are a Gryffindor, you are allowed to be sentimental,” Draco smiled sadly.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your Gryffindorkish tendencies,” Harry teased.

“Thank you very much,” Draco smirked. “I could always call you ‘mommy’.”

Harry gaped at the blond: “You just didn’t say that aloud? But you did. Eww, don’t you dare! If you do I will put you over my knee as I am entitled if you acknowledge my parental rights.”

Draco looked impressed: “How Slytherin of you, but now play attention to the game,” Draco ignored him. “It’s no fun, if you let me win all the time.”

“You wish!”

***


The last day of December came fast. Harry was nervous for more than one reason.

This was going to be his first public appearance after the Wizarding world had found out that he was pregnant. Oh, if he ever got his hands on Skeeter…! The young man was worried about their reaction. What would people say? What would his friends say? Many of them hadn’t known. Bah… he knew that there had to be some kind of response to the news about his pregnancy already, but Harry was allowed to read only the mail sent by his friends.

Lucius had announced that he would break his wand sooner than allow Harry to upset himself by reading the nonsense ‘imbecilic nonentities’ came up with. ‘The Daily Prophet’ was unavailable to him as well. Of course! They were most likely spinning tales about his baby being conceived with help of the dark magic and who knew what else!

Harry had glared and fumed at everyone before admitting (But only to himself) that it was probably better if he didn’t know and nothing the press said was worth knowing anyway, but he just didn’t like to be patronised. A part of him was relieved that he didn’t have to deal with any responses though, even the positive ones. Especially the positive ones.

Maybe Harry just didn’t want to see how delighted the wizards were about the fact that their Hero, The-Boy-Who-Lived had done something extraordinary again. It was grating.

The less his ‘condition’ was mentioned, the better. It was not a safe topic. Depending on Harry’s mood though.

When Draco suggested that they would probably print a special series of singing cards with smiling toddlers or frolicking unicorns the blonde found that Harry had a very good aim and semolina pudding didn’t feel good on one’s face and his father was not going to take Draco’s side against his angry husband.

Harry knew that he was being very emotional lately and even irrationally at times, but that was not all. He didn’t really understand what was happening, but it was as if the teenager was waking up from some sort of daze or a dream he had been seeing since the confrontation with Voldemort had happened. Harry could feel his confidence and his strength returning with full force and it was great.

But the fact that he would have to face about two hundred people and have them staring at him – The-Boy-Who-Lived, The-Boy-Who-Married-Notorious-Lucius-Malfoy and The-boy-Who-Got-Pregnant – made him feel extremely nervous and self-conscious.

Would they ask stupid questions? Want to have his autograph like some of his schoolmates? Harry hoped that they wouldn’t try to touch his growing belly as it sometimes happened with the scar. That could certainly make him scream bloody murder and go for his wand and ‘The Prophet’ would politely imply that he was barking mad the next day and he would get more fan or hate mail which he was not allowed to read, because Lucius Malfoy was being a patronising, overprotective ass…

Harry banged his head against the table. He had gotten worked up again. One would think he was getting off on it. And he wasn’t. Harry was not a drama queen. After getting to know Draco Malfoy, he new, what one was like.

However, the point was that Harry was nervous about the ball. To put it lightly.

And then there would be all those people Lucius had invited. Ministry workers, purebloods, rich prats and snobs… Harry had no illusions; He knew what kind of people the Malfoys were chummy with, if the boy was honest to himself, he knew what kind of people the Malfoys were themselves.

Only that they were also much more. They were much more than just rich, snobbish, bigoted pure bloods.

That was one of Harry’s excuses, the other was the baby and the third could possibly be the obligation, since he was married… Yes, but the bottom line probably was that Harry felt like he should be making excuses to something or someone for willingly staying at the Manor, starting to like Draco (at least the masochistic part of himself kind of liked the brat) and wanting to kiss Lucius.

He was so confused most of the time. This life, it just could not be real, could not be his. Harry had some kind of feelings for Lucius, but they were very controversial. Lucius was gorgeous, no one in their right mind would deny it, maybe except Ron, Hermione would grudgingly agree, Harry would bet his wand on that. Yes, Harry wanted to kiss the man. However, he also craved sardines, marmite and ketchup with his oatmeal and he did not care a damn that Malfoys didn’t use ‘such an awful plebeian muggle concoction’.

The bottom line was that apparently the cravings which were cause by his pregnancy were not sensible. Oh, and he had read a couple of those pregnancy books which told him that in addiction to numerous freakish things that would be happening to his body and mind, Harry would probably become hornier than usual once in a while. Then there the fact that being a teenager was already supposed to make him hornier than usual. And in addition he had not had those urges for ages, because Harry had other things on his mind and now it was like he was being attacked with full force by rampant hormones.

So, supposedly Harry’s body had tricked him into wanting make out with Lucius not caring about sensibility and a part of him was screaming that it was wrong… that was the part, which had woken up recently, which wanted to rebel, to fight something! And another part of him craved Lucius on an entirely different level. Harry remembered how his husband had treated him after his breakdown, how safe he had felt, how card for and cherished, the way Lucius had seemingly guessed his every need, including those Harry hadn’t known he had.

Such a bloody mess…

And now the party; like he needed to feel any more on the edge! Right…

To make things bearable Harry had invited everyone he knew. But only the Weasleys, Hermione and Remus with Tonks were coming. The rest of his Gryffindor friends had claimed that they had other plans already. Harry hoped it was true and they were not simply scared to come to the Malfoy manor. He would have understood if that was the case, but Harry would have liked them tell the truth. Only Hagrid had openly admitted that he would feel very much out of place mingling with ‘those moneyed, snobby folks’. And the half-giant was probably right. Not that Harry himself belonged.

Well, at least he wouldn’t be completely alone. Harry was glad that the Weasleys were coming after everything that had happened between them. In fact, they had been very eager to be there for him. they wanted to protect him despite everything. Not that they had put it like that, but Harry could read between lines. That was heart-warming and Harry had already forgiven them for forcing him to leave the Manor. They hadn’t had right to do that, but maybe it had not been such a bad thing in the end.

Harry had been forced to stop hiding before it had become a habit. He started to see that Lucius and Arthur and Molly had completely different idea about the right way to treat children and family members. The Weasleys were strict and believed in restrictions, in making their children to do the right thing, in making sure they followed rules.

Lucius believed in indulging his family’s every whim, even if it meant spoiling them, even if what they asked for was going to harm them. Harry couldn’t always trust the man with restricting him. Lucius was not about to set boundaries, rules. Besides, the Malfoys had very different morale from the Weasleys. They were the kind of people who would start the dinner with the dessert, drink champagne for breakfast, give their daughter tips on seducing this older wizard she liked so much, who happened to be her professor…

On the other hand, since Lucius gave him so much, in fact, everything Harry could want, the boy had started to develop a strong sense of not wanting to disappoint the man, to embarrass him. In a subtle way, Lucius always let him know, what he would like Harry to do, for example, to be as presentable as possible. No pressure, but Harry found himself complying anyway, because he wanted to please the man.

He could see that it was the same with Draco. The blonde became exuberant when Lucius complimented his good marks and while the man didn’t say anything, Harry wished his own were better.

Merlin, bit he was used to different relationships, to more straightforward approach. All the undertones and subtle insinuations were confusing the hell out of him.

But Harry got his revenge.

Watching his ‘dear husband’ trying to control his expression when Harry announced who of his friends were going to come had made him feel malicious amusement. And after exchanging matching smirks with Draco the boy almost choked on his strawberry cheesecake when he suddenly realised that he might fit in ‘the family’ better than he was willing to admit.

Harry looked at in the mirror one more time, then he looked at his fancy dress robes which were lied out on his bed waiting for him expectantly and sighed. He didn’t want to do this. Really, really didn’t.

He had been given The Talk. Meaning, that both Lucius and Draco had tried to explain the code of conduct during ‘The Ball’. In Harry’s case, it meant to ignore all the nasty things some people said and not loose his temper, but just keep smiling like some simpleton. Well, easier said than done… probably. But he was going to give it a try.

Appearances was one thing the Malfoys did care about.

***

Harry was standing in front of the mirror and admiring his belly – inhaling and exhaling, trying to stick it out as far as possible and pull it in. It was still fine, not too prominent, but obvious enough. At least while he had some clothes on. Not for long probably. He was expecting his baby bump to swell out like a balloon every day now.

That didn’t mean he would be ready for it.

The robes sat on him well. They were fancier than anything he had ever had. The trousers were snug, they fit him perfectly which meant that his was probably going to be the only time he wore them, because his figure would never be like it was at this stage of pregnancy. The robe he wore over the trousers hid the fact that Harry’s figure wasn’t as perfect as his long and slim legs implied.

However, it was not just the cut what made those robes so fancy. The material was dark green, soft and smooth, thick enough to be appropriate for the season, but not too thick and in no way heavy. The robe was embroidered with elaborate pattern of some kind of twining plants, but since the thread was in the same colour, as the robe, it didn’t look overdone, it just gave the robe a texture and shine. Harry quite liked it. He was lucky that the Malfoys had a really good sense of style and didn’t try to show off their wealth by covering themselves in layers of gold and gems the way some wizards did.

Then there was a tap on the door.

“Come in,” Harry called out quitting his antics.

It was Lucius.

“You look very nice,” the blonde wizard complimented.

“Thanks,” Harry beamed. The praise made him feel kind of warm inside. Then his expression grew serious as the boy remembered why his husband was there. “Do I have to?” Harry whined.

“Yes, you do,” Lucius tried to look sorry as he reached out and gently caressed the boy’s cheek with the back of his hand. The man just couldn’t help it – Harry looked so cute and radiant in his fancy robes which made his unusual eyes stand out even more than usually.

“Besides, your friends will be disappointed, if they won’t meet you tonight,” the older wizard added.

Harry narrowed his eyes: “If you try to play me, Mr. Malfoy, then do it properly. I am not as dumb as you think. Mentioning my friends won’t get you anywhere.”

Lucius chuckled genuinely amused, Merlin, but Harry was wonderful!

“Yes, that was lame, wasn’t it?” He admitted.

“Mhhm,” Harry agreed.

“Excuse the lack of subtlety on my part,” Lucius bowed and extended his arm. “Shall we?”

In response, the boy grumbled something under his nose, but took his husbands hand anyway. Maybe it was not going to be that bad.

34. Happy New Year

The first fifteen minutes or so, Harry, Lucius and Draco spent at the front door welcoming the guests who had decency to show up on time – as Harry grumpily put it.

There were a lot of important people flowing in through the main door of the Manor. Harry didn’t know most of them, but as embarrassing as it was, they all knew him. Why wasn’t Harry surprised? The only one whom The-Boy-Who-Lived recognized was Rufus Scrimgeour, the lion-like Minister of magic who had came with his wife, a woman of average height, very pale and skinny reminding the boy of his aunt. Her dress robes seemed to be too heavy for her, it looked like the witch was going to sag under the weight any moment. Scrimgeour shook Lucius’ hand and greeted him politely, but at Harry he was looking down with obvious distaste.

Their dislike was mutual since not long before Harry had defeated Voldemort and Scrimgeour was appointed as minister. He had wanted to form some kind of alliance wit Harry to reassure the wizards and witches of Britain that everything was going to be fine and dandy and of course boost the Minister’s popularity… Harry had refused without a second thought, unwilling to be a pawn in someone else’s game. Besides after Voldemort had been destroyed the boy had refused to share the details of their confrontation with him or anyone else in fact. Only Albus Dumbledore knew everything.

It was no wonder that Scrimgeour was not happy with Harry. And the fact that the brat was untouchable made him even sourer. But not sour enough to risk clashing with Albus Dumbledore, the secret organisation known as Order, his electorate who just adored their adolescent ‘Saviour’. And on top of that Potter had gotten himself a husband who couldn’t fool with Malfoy charm those who knew him – upsetting the man would not be wise.

The boy was grateful that he didn’t have to shake hands with anybody. Purebloods were not big on shaking hands. It could be dangerous if the person whose hand one took had ill intentions. As the host, Lucius was showing that he was confident enough in his own house to risk touching his guests. However, allowing anyone, but his closest friends to touch his pregnant spouse – that was out of question. Everybody understood it.

Draco had been very helpful, he had explained some intricacies of the pureblood etiquette. While they were greeting the guests, he kept quietly telling the boy who was who.

Like there was Dirk Cresswell (Head of Goblin Liaison Office) and Cuthbert Mockridge who also worked there. Draco had later explained Harry that those wizards were important since the goblins were important for everyone who had money in the Wizarding world.

He had previously seen Gawain Robards, current Head of Aurors, but hadn’t met him personally, but the man was very composed and even wasn’t looking at Harry’s scar all that much unlike some of the other guests.

One of the strangest guests was an old, fat man, Horace Slughorn, who, surprisingly for Harry, was a Potions Master and had taught potions at Hogwarts many years ago and was always invited to Malfoy House since he had been the head of Slytherin and taught Lucius’ father and Lucius as well. The man had been very pleasant, complimented (or rather flattered) both Lucius and Draco and even told Harry how remarkable and promising young man he was and to the boy’s surprise revealed that he had known Lily Evans and she had been one of his favourite students.

Talking about Potion Masters, Snape also made an appearance, only a lot later, sneaked in, avoiding the attention. The lucky bastard! Harry whished he could have done the same!

There were way too many people present who were giving Harry creeps. Like Mrs. Zabini, Blaise Zabini’s mother. She had come with her latest husband – a little, dry-boned wizard who was so very bald that the top of his head was shining in the light of the crystal chandeliers. Draco told Harry that the woman was changing them (husbands) every five years or so and her distinctive beauty was not completely natural. There were rumours about dark rituals and potions, but the no one knew for sure and the Wizarding world loved gossiping too much, so everything that had been said about Mrs. Zabini could be or not be true.

And then there were the Rookwoods who had been Voldemort’s supporters, no doubt about it, but now were ‘reformed’. ‘Reformed my ass!’ Harry thought and furiously glared at his husband who had a gall to invite former death eaters into his house. Lucius ignored him completely and Harry didn’t want to cause a scene, but he was not happy at all. Far from it. Especially seeing the way they sneered congratulating Harry with his ‘miraculous pregnancy’. Such an achievement for someone like him… so young. Ha! Maybe he was being paranoid, but…

Then there were most of the Slytherins, Draco’s friends, and their parents, at least the ones who hadn’t joined the war and fought on the Voldemort’s side. Harry assumed that many of them just hadn’t had time to, because Voldemort had fallen sooner than anyone had expected and if there had been more time they had been the ones who tried to off him. It was obvious by the glares and sneers that were sent Harry’s direction when they thought none of the Malfoys was looking.

But no one could prove anything now and the Ministry probably didn’t even want to, knowing them. And just for thinking evil thoughts they didn’t send anyone to Azkaban.

Many of wizards and witches, whom he was introduced to, Harry had never heard of, but from Draco’s whispering on his ear, he gathered that they were all important business contacts. No wonder that the Malfoy family had plenty of those. There were even some foreigners; some were obviously from India, France and somewhere in the Eastern Europe. One thing Harry was sure of – there were more than two hundred guests and he didn’t even try remembering their names and faces. He wondered how Lucius and Draco could keep in mind all of it.

If Draco was right then many of those people had showed up because Harry was there. So Lucius had married him to increase Malfoys’ social standing. But the boy didn’t really want to think about that.

When the Weasleys and Hermione came through the door Harry smiled with all his heart for the first time that evening, everyone had come, even Percy, the traitor (as his younger brothers called him when Molly couldn’t hear) was there. Harry suspected that the real reason why he had come was that there were almost too many influential wizards and witches who could aid his career. He must be feeling like a kid in a candy shop. Not for a moment Harry believed that Percy was there because of him or his family. But Molly was obviously happy, so, whatever…

Harry was amused to watch Lucius struggling to be polite and shake hands with Arthur Weasley, maybe for the first time in their lives – one could see from their expressions how ‘much’ they both were enjoying it. Molly wasn’t bothered at all, she enveloped Harry in one of her motherly hugs minding his stomach and smiled at him as warmly as ever, the boy was glad that she obviously had forgiven him for all the arguing and shouting and the trouble. He had forgiven her as well. Not forgotten yet, but certainly was on his way there.

“Talk to you later,” he whispered and the woman nodded, letting other members of her large family greet Harry as cordially as she had.

It was not necessary for all the Weasley sons to shake hands with Lucius; it was considered enough if the head of the family shook hands with the host. Additional exchanges depended on the individuals, their goodwill, their personal relationship and so on.
Naturally all of the other Weasleys avoided Lucius, greeted Harry and (what Harry found a bit strange) Charlie somehow managed to shake hands with Draco.

But then the it was over. Lucius had explained that they were not required to greet guests for longer because of Harry’s ‘delicate condition’. He could not be expected to stand by the door for hours. Well, it turned out that there were advantages if one was up the duff after all.

Harry looked around as he was led further into the ballroom under his husband’s arm. It was decorated lavishly with floating fairy lights, candles, garlands. He noted that the domineering colours were green and silver, except the fairy lights, which were in all colours imaginable. But what really fascinated him were the gigantic ice-sculptures which were not just magnificent, but also moving. There was a unicorn, a dragon and to Harry’s delight a hippogriff who were all standing on the platforms, crystal clear and glistening as they made small motions which didn’t made them appear more alive, but more eye-catching certainly.

An orchestra of animated instruments was playing cheerful music. No one was dancing yet; wizards and witches were enjoying their drinks, small, but exclusive snacks that offered themselves on charmed floating trays and greeting each other. Harry was aware that he and Lucius were supposed to open the dances and that already was putting him into a flutter. He was not much of a dancer. Besides there were so many people and when they would danced they would be all looking at him.

Harry clutched Lucius’s arm tighter to keep himself from fleeing.

“Is something bothering you?” Lucius inquired impassively looking down at the dark-haired boy, wearing his usual ‘public face’.

Harry shrugged: “Nothing you don’t know about already.”

“You will be fine,” the older wizard soothed. Lucius’s hand had glided down from Harry’s shoulder to his lower back where it was soothingly running circles, alleviating some of the tension the boy had started to fell in his back recently. He was carrying extra weight around after all.
The boy just sighed. He couldn’t stand crowds and nothing was going to change that.

“Good evening Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter. Your parties are getting more remarkable every year, my friend,” a tall wizard with longish chestnut brown hair and light green eyes addressed Lucius.

“Bernard Brass, it’s my pleasure to introduce my husband….”

And so it went. Endless introductions and small talk. Besides they all knew he was pregnant and everyone was congratulating Lucius and the nicer guests congratulated Harry too. It almost seemed like some of those people not only disliked him, but viewed the boy as some kind of exotic creature Lucius Malfoy had obtained or a pretty trinket hanging off his husband’s robes. Some talked as if he was not even present and there was nothing Harry could tell them without being nasty or rude, so he just tried to pretend that he really wasn’t there and held his tongue. But of course they were still staring at his scar and at his belly.

In the end, Harry was almost relieved when it was time to start dancing and Lucius led Harry to the dance floor and skilfully guided them both through the first dance. Harry decided that dancing was not that bad if someone else was leading. It felt good to let Lucius’ strong arms hold him and carry over the dance floor. For a moment Harry managed to forget that a couple hundred pairs of eyes were on them an almost enjoy it.

After dancing, the boy managed to get away from socialising and talk to the Weasleys, Hermione, Remus, and Tonks. They were obviously sticking together. Everyone was there except the twins and Charlie. Harry apologized that he could not spend more time with them and if they were not very comfortable.

“Oh, don’t worry, kid,” Tonks beamed at him. “We get free food and booze and can always poke fun at the rich people,” she let hair grow long and blond obviously imitating Lucius.

“Nymphadora!” Molly looked at the young witch sternly and Tonks immediately changed hair back to the regular bubble gum pink, but didn’t look sorry at all. Then her expression suddenly changed as if she had noticed something or someone. Her eyes glazed over and smile became dreamy.

“Oh… erm… will you excuse me for a moment…” and the young witch disappeared in the crowd.

Bill groaned.

Molly made a displeased sound: “Nymphadora’s behaviour is unbecoming to a young lady.”

“Don’t be so hard on her, Molly,” Remus gave her a placating smile. “I think she has chosen the right tactics.”

“To embarrass herself…” Bill added.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had no idea what they were talking about.

Tonks was soon forgotten when ron spotted a witch who was wearing something that looked like a huge, stuffed bird on her head and laughed out and was the next who Molly berated, because his mouth was still full with whatever the red-head had been chewing on.

“Thank you for inviting us. It’s actually very interesting to be here Harry,” Hermione smiled. “All those wizards and witches, they are so…”

“Yeah, I know,” Harry nodded thoughtfully. All of those wizards and witches were so very wizarding. Harry and Hermione who had grown up in the muggle world sometimes still felt like trespassers, strangers who didn’t quite understand this world even if they had been admitted there. No matter how much Hermione read, there were things one couldn’t learn.

Harry had noticed some very strange garments worn by the guests, symbols on their robes, crests; phrases and gestures they exchanged seemed to have some special, hidden meaning. It was a bit disconcerting that there were things going on, probably important things, but Harry was so unaware of them.

That moment Lucius approached them, he made apologies for interrupting, but he needed Harry at his side. The boy had been on his feet for a couple of hours and he was getting a bit tired and irritated.

“More socialising?” He asked giving Lucius a wry look.

“Yes, Harry,” the older wizard was unrelenting.

The boy just sighed. One more thing that was irritating him was Lucius’ public face. Was it that necessary to walk around looking like the man had a broomstick up his ass? For some reason Harry found it really annoying tonight. He wished he could wipe that haughty expression off the man’s face… but whatever.

“Don’t worry, Harry,” Lucius said using a much kinder tone of voice. “You are doing all right.”

The boy snorted. Well, yeah, he knew that he was doing all right. So far he had been smiling, nodding and answering with ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when he was asked something. Harry had ignored all the veiled insults, which had been easier, since Draco had warned that trying to insult each other while technically still being polite was the way those people communicated. (And, where was Draco, by the way?) And it was helping that Lucius answered everyone the same way even if Harry kept silence.

Then they were approached a group of three wizards. Lucius back instantly straightened and face was schooled back into the imitation of marble statue.

“Lucius Malfoy,” one of the older men greeted and then glanced at Harry.

So far, Harry has been cataloguing the ways people looked at him. Some were merely curious and somewhat fascinated they eyes straying from his forehead, where the famous scar was hidden under his hair, to his belly.
Others looked at him with veiled disdain and dislike. Some of the guests appeared to be having hard time deciding between antipathy and curiosity. And to Harry’s surprise if he looked very closely, the boy could indicate caution as well.

Were they thinking that he went around killing bad wizards or something?

This man and his companions were quite obviously one of those who felt superior to anyone who was not a pureblood as themselves. Harry started to recognise the type.

“My congratulations Mr. Malfoy,” Valour Starling an elderly wizard in steel grey robes that matched the colour of his eyes perfectly was the first who spoke up. “Another heir was not the result anyone expected from your marriage.”

“Thank you, Valour,” Lucius replied with an air of benevolence, intentionally taking the man’s words as a compliment, even if they were not meant as that. “I was pleasantly surprised as well.”

“Really?” Another of the group raised an eyebrow. “That is interesting, Lucius. I didn’t expect you eagerly splitting the Malfoy fortune in half.”

Lucius smirked: “That will not be necessary. My second heir will be inheriting my husband’s name, in fact both of them, which are Potter and Black. And of course everything that comes with them.” With that, he meant the money.

“Ah, of course,” the man looked sour at that.

“But Lucius,” Starling again. “It is a well known fact that young Draco has more Black blood in him than any offspring of Mr. Potters ever will. Wouldn’t it be only fair if…” The implications were clear. Any child of Harry’s could never compare to a pureblooded heir.

“Dear friend,” Lucius tone held only slight warning. “Any heir of mine will certainly be more than capable to carry on the Black name.”

Harry didn’t like the conversation at all. He could do with his inheritance as he wished and Sirius would have wanted him to leave it to his grand-godson, that’s for sure. He hadn’t cared of the Black bloodline one bit.

However the other wizards looked respectful and happy with Lucius’ retort. Had it been some kind of a test? Were they checking if Lucius Malfoy could still hold his own?

Weirdoes.

“So, Lucius, considering your and Mr. Potter-Black-Malfoy’s positions in our society and the uniqueness of his pregnancy, can we expect a public birthing?” Starling inquired. “There hasn’t been one in a while.”

What? Harry was not sure that he had heard correctly. Public, what? He looked at Lucius questioningly.

Starling hurried to explain: “You were raised by muggles, weren’t you, Mr. Potter-Black-Malfoy?” It was said with such fake pity that Harry was afraid his face started turning red with anger.

“You see Mr. Potter, proper families in our world are still practicing the customs of our noble ancestors no matter how all the newcomers and those who call themselves ‘progressive’ are trying to shake the foundations of our society,” Harry decided that at the moment the man reminded him of Hermione in her ‘lecture mode’.

“Public birthing is customary in our circles, even if not required these days to insure the legitimacy of the heir and insure that there had been no deceit. Besides, considering that there hadn’t been a male pregnancy for long time it would be inconsiderate to rob the wizards and witches who deserve the honours of witnessing such an unusual event and manifestation of the greatness of magic. ”

Harry’s mouth was hanging open. Hell! His jaw was about to hit the floor!

“We will consider it,” Lucius replied politely.

What? Consider, what exactly?

“No!” Harry exclaimed making some wizards and witches to turn their heads and look at him. “No way in Hell,” he repeated.

Lucius put a hand on Harry’s shoulder and looked at their companions: “Harry is not used to our ways yet. We will discus it later.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed, lips thinned and he shook of his husband’s hand.

“There is nothing to consider! That’s barbaric! Giving birth of other people! What next?”

“Please calm down,” Lucius tried, but the younger man was not in the mood. He yanked wand out from somewhere inside his sleeve and murmured a spell which created a transparent dome around him and Lucius forcing the three man they had been talking to spring back in surprise.

“You know what! I have had enough! I have been paraded around here like some kind of trophy, which is exactly what I had always hated the most! I have been insulted all night long and have been forced to keep smiling like some dumb doll! It’s the way you communicate? Well, I don’t care! It’s not the way I talk to people and I am not going to let them talk to me like that. I guess I know why Draco is the way he is, no wonder that he can’t talk like a normal person. If you think that I will allow any child of mine to become like him… Forget about it!”

“And now they want to watch me giving birth! Moreover, you are saying that we will consider it! Going to sell tickets too? I m not going to let anyone to make a freak show out of me! If you want to make a spectacle you can do it yourself.”

Lucius was about to say something, when Harry suddenly leaned forward hand shooting towards his belly and he groaned.

Lucius’ anger instantly switched to worry and he stepped forward.

“Don’t touch me!” Harry spat. “We have had enough of this. Have fun!”

And then the dome of power surrounding them vanished and the dark-haired boy stomped away. The crowd parted in his way. No one had actually heard what had been said, but the people had seen the whole interaction and the fact that Harry was yelling had been obvious. Besides the air around the boy was crackling with something that couldn’t be anything else, but magic. Pure power.

Harry’s eyes were almost blazing greener than ever as he was making his way past the wizards and witches some of whom were looking at him as if they saw him for the first time. It was not that they haven’t seen him, but that they had missed a lot. Most of them had seen the boy as someone who the light wizards, muggleborns and muggle-lovers were trying to turn in some kind of icon to make themselves feel better. Every nation needed its heroes.

A lot of the wizards and witches who had assembled at Malfoys’ that night were those who had supported The Dark Lord at least in the beginning of his campaign if not in the end. Therefore, their view of Harry Potter had not been favourable even if some had been curious. When they met the boy, what they saw made them easy to believe what they had wanted to believe.

The fact that Sirius Black had made the little half-blood his heir was really annoying them. For that reason, the pureblood society had cheered when Lucius had married the boy and returned the Black heritage to them. It would be appropriate for Draco Malfoy and his progeny to get their birthright back.

Potter’s pregnancy had been a shock to the most, even if no one admitted to such things in their circles. Everyone had arrived tonight, hoping to investigate.

Harry Potter seemed week and docile, easily controlled by his husband, nothing special at all. They had come to conclusion that The-boy-Who-Lived really had been simply Dumbledore’s tool who Lucius Malfoy had cleverly appropriated.

But after the display for the first time many of them had to admit that there was something more about the boy than met the eye and Harry Potter had more than just a pretty face.

The room seemed to be in a stupor.

Good for Lucius Malfoy, because most guests did not notice the expression on his face. Some would have found it funny – not what Lucius was usually aiming for.

TBC

*

Alright, I managed to get the chapter out in six days, instead of a week. Sorry, but that is all I can do, because even if the chapters are written, there is so much I am changing and it takes time.

Review Responses: Thank you everyone, who was so kind and reviewed. Those, who don’t like the story, are not obliged, but those who do… don’t you dare to ignore the author!

Dani: Draco needed an excuse to be nice to Harry, he subconsciously has wanted it all along.

Demonwings2121: Thank you! I could try writing a story where everything would go smoothly, there would be no trouble, no drama, no suspense and everyone would be happy all the time. Bt who would read anything like that?
But I have red a couple of stories that were like that. One was where Harry liked wearing a lot of women’s clothes. Kinky. But I still think that it would be much better if there was some drama as well. They just travelled, got married, had a baby and lived happily ever after. Boring!

Iyoung: I am glad that I have convinced someone of what a great pairing this is. I am really trying to promote Harry/Lucius. Sadly, there are not so many good stories with this pairing. There are a couple very good ones, then there are some mediocre (I actually would put mine there) and too many awful ones. I have found a couple of very nice Lucius/Charlie and Lucius/Bill stories. Like
Ancient Days and Blessed Curse by isis3469@yahoo.com
I would like more people to write about Lucius, so I wouldn’t be forced to do tht myself.

Natalie: You will have your answer about Draco in the next chapter.

Rokkis: Well, I think that Lucius was as bad as Draco once, but he has gotten older and smarter.
About Snape – I thought about it and you probably noticed that the matter is addressed in this chapter, shortly. Well, the thing is that Snape is not working for Harry or Lucius. It sometimes annoys me that every author makes Snape to slave every time Harry needs a potion. While he is at the school, it’s alright. But he was not.
I thought that Lucius would be smart enough not to ask something as usual as these potions from a Master. It would be like going to a very good restaurant and ordering fries with ketchup.

Ithilwn: I am having a lot of fun with Draco.
And I really couldn’t allow Lucius to snog Harry in front of his son. Sorry.

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Persons
Malfoy guests – the old fashioned pure blood traditionalists, rich people. They are different from those Harry had been around who are basically the school children, some teachers and the Order members. They are like a secret society with their own traditions etc. they usually don’t mingle with muggleborns and those who are poor or too modern or like muggles.
Gawain Robards – Head of the Auror Office after Rufus Scrimgeour
Dirk Cresswell – Head of the Goblin Liaison Office
Valour Starling - OC

Unanswered questions
“We have had enough of this. Have fun!”- with ‘we’ Harry means him and the baby.
Time table
31st December – Malfoy’s New Year’s Ball
Harry is five months along and the baby moves for the first time