Embracing the Real Us

Author Note: Sorry for the delay, it took awhile to get it good enough to post. Thanks to my ever faithful reviewers, I love hearing from you!

The next chapter should be up this evening, keep a look out.
~Morrigan


Disclaimer: As always, see chapter one.


Surprise, Surprise

Monday morning at breakfast as the owls flew in carrying that day’s edition of the Daily Profit many dozens of pairs of eyes turned to stare at one of the newest Slytherins. Harry was busily eating his breakfast when he heard Hermione gasp across the table. He looked up from his kippers to see her angrily reading the front cover of the paper, over her shoulder Layla was also glaring at the page. To his left, Draco too was furiously flipping through it, but what for Harry couldn’t tell.

“Guys, what’s going on?” Harry said as he glanced up to see just about the whole of the hall staring at him.

“Only that blasted wretch Rita Skeeter would write something like this.” Hermione growled. Harry gulped, knowing all to well what Skeeter’s favorite topic was.

“Guys, what has she done?”

“Love, I think we might have a problem.” Draco said and closed his paper, giving Harry an unobstructed view of the front cover. There was a photo of Harry, where he was shown getting up from the resorting and walking towards Draco, with the headline: HARRY POTTER IN WITH THE SLYTHERINS. While the title really didn’t suggest anything awful, Harry continued to read the article. His eyes got wider and his face got redder as his eyes moved down the columns. She said he was gay and sleeping with Voldemort? She said that his new attitude was because he was joining the dark side? She said that her source, one Ron Weasley had the inside scoop. Harry was furious by the time he finished the article. He could not believe she would publish such rubbish. He looked at his friends, and his boyfriend and they too were furious.

Harry looked over at the Gryffindor table where Ron was sitting smugly, bragging about how he knew it all along, but was too devoted to Harry to say anything before. But how, now, he felt it was his right as a fighter for the side of the light to expose Harry for what he truly was. Ron made the mistake of looking over at the Slytherin table, his face paled when he saw more than eight pairs of eyes flashing in anger and glaring at him.

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That afternoon, after classes were over, Harry and Draco were sitting in the Slytherin common room surrounded by the rest of the sixth years.

“I’ve always heard that revenge is a dish best served cold.” Harry said looking over the bunch. “I think that we should leave them be, entirely, do not speak to them, do not insult them. The Gryffindors will no longer exist to us. We will lure them into a sense of security, and then, when they think that we are going to do nothing, we will get them.”

“They won’t know what hit them.” Draco said. “Ron Weasley will regret ever being born by the time we’re finished.”

“Remember, not a word, or a glare, nothing. Let them wonder.” Harry said before standing, and thus ending the meeting. Draco stood and the two teens left the common room to talk to James and Severus.

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The weeks following passed by uneventfully, that is until one morning, in the second week of December, when Draco awoke to find he was alone in the room. He looked around briefly before hearing what sounded like retching coming from the bathroom. The blonde got up from the bed and found Harry kneeling over the toilet, his forehead covered in sweat.

“What’s wrong love?” Draco asked quietly. Harry looked up.

“Just don’t feel right.” Harry said before vomiting again. Then the brunette stood and brushed his teeth, shaking slightly. Draco moved closer and started rubbing Harry’s back.

“We all get sick sometimes.” Draco soothed.

“Yea, I guess I’m just used to getting injured, you know, I can handle being sore and cut up. But throwing up, that’s something new.” Harry laughed.

“Come on then, we need to get something back in that stomach.” Draco led the other boy back into the bedroom.

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Harry was in the middle of Potions the next time a bout of nausea overtook him. He and Hermione had been in the middle of their assignment when Harry rushed from the room and barely made it to the bathroom before spilling what little breakfast he’d had into the toilet. Severus had looked to Draco, concerned.

“He’s not feeling well.” Draco replied.

“Miss Granger, seeing as how your potion is ruined, go and see to him and the two of you can redo it after class.” Severus said and she ran out of the room. Draco watched her leave, worried about his boyfriend.

“Harry?” She asked, entering the bathroom. She found him leaning against the wall. He looked up at her as she approached.

“Before you ask, no, I’m not alright, and no this is not the first time it’s happened. The day before yesterday I was in and out of the bathroom all night.” Harry whispered. She knelt down beside him and put her hand on his shoulder.

“Come on then. Let’s go see Madam Pomfrey.” She whispered. “I think I know what’s going on.”

“Yea, I know, that’s the problem.” Harry said and the two walked slowly to the hospital wing. He hesitated outside the doors as Hermione opened them. “I really should have known you know?”

“Well, Harry, you have your fathers now. Draco will most certainly be here for you, as will Layla, and you know I’m going to be sticking around for awhile.” Hermione smiled as Harry moved slowly into the large room. Madam Pomfrey looked up as they entered.

“Ah yes, I was wondering when you would hurt yourself, come on then.” She smiled. Harry looked up at the woman.

“I haven’t injured myself; I need you to check something.” Harry said quietly.

“Harry’s been a bit nauseas as of late. He had to leave Potions to use the bathroom.”

“And considering my dad…”

“I see.” Madam Pomfrey interrupted. “Alright then, Harry. Just lie down here and I’ll take a look.” He got on the bed and Pomfrey took out her wand. She began by casting a spell over his heart making his heartbeat audible, it pounded in his chest. Then she moved the wand down his body, his heartbeat fading away, until she reached his lower abdomen where another heartbeat erupted in fast little beats.

“As always, this shit happens to me.” Harry muttered angrily as Pomfrey cast more spells and took notes as to the results.

“Alright Harry, you can sit up now. You’re about six weeks along, you’re going to have to come in once a week for checkups and I have some morning sickness potions that should help. Now Harry, I want you to know that you don’t have to do this, we can abort it right now and no one has to know, but it’s up to you.” Harry’s head jerked up at the word.

“I would never.” He growled.

“I know dear. But it’s my job to give you all the options. Now, I suggest you read up on male pregnancies and talk to your dad about it. I’ll just go fetch you some potions for this week.” The older woman headed back to her office and Harry sat staring at his hands.

“How could I have been so stupid?” Harry gasped finally.

“You weren’t stupid Harry, it’s not a common thing this. Because your dad has the gene, he must have passed it on to you. You weren’t to know.” Hermione said as she climbed onto the bed and put her arm around him.

“Hermione, how can I be pregnant if there’s a good chance that I’m going to die when we finally get to battle him, and then there’s the old fool to think about as well, what if he finds out?” Harry growled. He refused to panic, but slowly his emotions were getting the better of him.

“Hey now, the only person in this room that’s going to die is me. Don’t you worry, we’re going to figure everything out and it’s all going to be fine.” She laughed.

“Don’t say anything to anyone, ok?”

“Of course, after the brilliant way you’ve been hiding my secret, how could I refuse?” Harry smiled and leaned into his best friend. Pomfrey returned and handed him a bag of the shrunken potions.

“I expect to see you next week Harry.” She said before squeezing his shoulder and walking back to her office. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

“Harry, just think of what Draco’s going to do when he finds out.” Hermione giggled. Harry thought of just how the blonde would react. Harry laughed at the thought of just how much Draco was going to lose it and overdo it when he found out.

“See, it’s going to be alright. Besides, you know how girls love babies, Layla and I are going to throw you the best baby shower ever!” Harry laughed more as they made their way back to the Potions classroom. Harry’s smile faded when he looked at his father.

“Feeling better Harry?” The man asked, concern filling his voice.

“Much, alright, let’s get this potion done; I’m sorry I screwed it up ‘Mione.”

“It’s fine, you and I can do it in ten minutes, c’mon.” They got to work and soon had it finished and turned in. Hermione then left for lunch while Harry stayed.

“What’s the matter Harry?” Severus asked.

“Where’s dad?”

“James!” His father yelled out. The other man came into the classroom and looked at his son.

“I have something to tell you both.” Harry said quietly. The two men looked on their son with concern. “Dad, it looks like when you had me, you gave me a very interesting trait, one I wish I’d known about six weeks ago.” James gasped as he realized what his son was telling him.

“Are you-?”

“Oh yea.” Harry interrupted. Severus looked from one to the other, confused. James pulled his son into a tight hug.

“It’s going to be just fine Harry.”

“What’s going on?” Severus cried, frustrated.

“We’re going to be grandparents.” James said to his lover. Severus’s eyes grew wide and then he too hugged their son. The three stood together for a time before, a teary eyed, Harry pulled away.

“You’re not upset?” He asked. James and Severus looked at each other.

“Harry. Of course your father and I wish that you were older and perhaps married, but how can we be upset? We are the ones who should have told you that it was possible for this to happen.”

“Have you told Draco?” Severus asked.

“Not yet, after Hermione met me in the bathroom, we went to Madam Pomfrey and then came back here.”

“I suggest you do so.” Severus said sternly. Harry looked up at him nervously. “You’re not afraid of anything Harry, and yet you’re afraid of your boyfriend.” Harry smiled meekly.

“Ironic I know.” With that Harry stood and headed out to grab a quick lunch.

“How are you feeling?” Draco asked when he sat.

“Better, Pomfrey gave me some potions in case it comes back, said it should keep me from being violently ill.” Harry laughed. Draco smiled and Hermione kicked Harry under the table. He sent her a sharp glare and Layla looked confused.

“What’s going on?” She whispered into Hermione’s ear.

“I’ll tell you later.” The brunette whispered back. Harry glared at her again before tucking into his lunch.

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That afternoon after all his classes were done, Harry decided to skip dinner and go for a walk. He marched right out the front door and began to make his way towards Hagrid’s when he broke out in a run, heading straight into the Forbidden Forest. He ran through the trees, his arms and legs getting scraped by branches every few feet. He tripped once and nearly fell, but got back up and kept running. He ran without thinking until his legs gave out under him. He toppled to the ground, sweaty and trying to catch his breath.

“COME ON!!!!” He screamed to no one. He knelt shaking on the ground. The anger boiled up inside him until the ground began trembling beneath him and the branches in the trees started swaying madly.

Up in the castle, all could feel the tremors in the Great Hall, wondering where it was coming from. Hermione, Layla, and Draco immediately stopped eating and ran from the Great Hall. James and Severus soon followed, as did Remus and Sirius. They ran from the castle in search of the dark haired boy. But they had no idea just how far he had gone.

“I swear to you baby, I’m going to make damn sure that the world you’re born into is far better than the one in which you were conceived.” Harry was furious that even if he made it to the delivery without facing Voldemort that once he did, Draco and their child would be left without him. Harry paced the forest, his power moving trees out of his way. Harry’s thoughts were interrupted when a vision hit him hard. He was writhing against the base of a tree, watching Voldemort creep up on him, unable to do a thing.

The dark lord stepped up to Harry and smiled evilly down on him. Harry could feel him literally standing over him, realizing that his vision was really happening to him. Voldemort then knelt down on one knee next to the writhing boy.

“Don’t worry Harry. I’m just here to get you ready for me.” Then he proceeded to cast spells on the teen. When he saw the baby in the boy, and the bubble surrounding it, his eyes grew wide.

“What have you been up to?” He said before casting his last spell and rendering the boy unconscious.

When the trembling stopped, the group searching for Harry immediately began to panic. Draco went racing towards the forest, certain that his love was there. He ran where his heart led him, and it led him right to Harry.

“Harry!” He cried and fell to his knees next to the teen. “Talk to me Harry, what’s wrong?” He whispered as he took the brunette’s head into his lap. James and Severus found him like that a half an hour later, sobbing. James levitated his son and immediately rushed to the hospital wing while Severus carried Draco. Hermione and Layla watched James come out of the forest and then Severus and both girls immediately broke into tears.

“Why does everything have to happen to Harry?” Hermione cried.

“Tell me Hermione.” Layla urged. Hermione turned to her girlfriend.

“Harry is destined to kill Voldemort, we all know that, but the likelihood that Harry will survive that fight is very small.”

“I know that.”

“What you don’t know, is that Harry inherited a special gene from his dad. Now, Harry’s pregnant Layla, and who knows if he’s going to see that baby born.” Hermione cried. Layla broke out in a new set of tears and the two girls raced off to find Sirius and Remus.

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As soon as Harry was in a hospital bed, Draco camped himself out next to the boy. Nothing was moving him from his spot. As Madam Pomfrey checked Harry over Draco was there, watching. Pomfrey turned to James.

“Does he know?” She whispered indicating Draco. James shook his head.

“Is everything alright Pomfrey?” She shrugged slightly and shook her head.

“He’s exhausted, I don’t know what he was doing out there, but there have been numerous spells cast on him, the person who did it made sure I wouldn’t know what they were, and Harry has put up a ward to protect it.” James looked shocked.

“What are you saying exactly?” Severus asked.

“He’s made a ward, a sort of bubble, surrounding it, protecting it, and I think you know what from.” The three adults looked down on Harry as the rest rushed inside.

“Is he ok?” Hermione screeched.

“We don’t know.” Pomfrey said quietly. James and Severus sat on the bed next to Harry’s with Remus and Sirius on the one behind Draco. Hermione and Layla pulled up chairs at the end of the bed and the group proceeded to stay there the entire night.

When the morning came and Harry did not wake, Severus and Remus exited sadly having to teach and Hermione and Layla left slowly to attend their classes. But Sirius, James and Draco refused to leave. Draco kept fingering Harry’s snake tattoo and his own, remembering the day they figured out they had matching tattoos.

~Flashback~
Harry and Draco were walking through Hogsmeade one weekend with Layla and Hermione when they felt the familiar chill of dementors lurking nearby. Harry had unconsciously grabbed hold of Draco’s hand when the blonde looked down he’d noticed that they each had the snake wrapped around their wrists. His eyes widened a bit and once the feeling of cold and unhappiness left they continued walking down the street, holding each other’s hands.

“I love the tattoo Harry.” Draco whispered so as not to alert the girls.

“What?”

“Your snake, I love it, although, I must say I prefer it in green.” Draco replied before holding up their hands in front of the brunette’s face. Harry gasped and then smiled brightly laughing.

“I guess great minds think alike.” The brunette whispered.

“I think you did it just to impress me actually.” Draco sniffed.

“I didn’t even know you had tattoos let alone a snake wrapped around your wrist!” Harry cried desperately. Draco just laughed as they continued on.

~End Flashback~

Finally, Draco couldn’t take it anymore and crawled into bed with Harry. He lay there with his head on the other boy’s chest crying until he fell asleep. James took Sirius and left the wing, understanding that Draco needed some time alone. Pomfrey made her rounds an hour later and smiled sadly when she saw them.

“If life were fair then this poor child wouldn’t have so many burdens on his shoulders. He could live like a teenager should.” She sighed before moving on and working on some paperwork.

She was at her desk writing furiously when out of the corner of her eye she noticed the light change. It went from a pale yellow to a pink. She quickly stood, scared that something was wrong and ran from the room only to stop dead when she saw the red and pink mists swirling wildly around the sleeping youths. The sight before her was breathtaking. She ran and floo called Harry’s fathers to come and see.

The two men rushed into the hospital wing and stopped dead when they saw their son and Draco.

“What is it Poppy?” Severus whispered.

“They’ve bonded.” She whispered back.

“What do you mean they’ve bonded?” James looked scared.

“I mean that their souls have bonded. They are soul mates, just like the two of you.” James and Severus looked at each other.

“How do you know that?”

“I haven’t seen if this happens with the two of you, but I know soul mates when I see them. Now that those two boys have bonded, Harry had better tell Draco about the baby.” The two men looked surprised for a moment and then watched the two teens for a time before heading back down to bed.