One of Your Fathers Chapter 4
Tutle: One of Your Fathers, Part 4: Taking Shape
Author: silver_ariel (formerly AprilLily)
Pairing: Harry and Draco, of course.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash, mpreg (male pregnancy for those of you who didn't know--I didn't know until this series), lots of fluffiness (I'm not nearly as gifted with the snark as girlsigh is... ;D), bizarre food combinations...You have been warned!
Summary: Harry's four months along now, and he decides to tackle decorating the nursery. He also attempts to reconnect with Hermione.
Author's Note: Thanks to dacro and primavera8180 for reviewing it for me. You guys are amazing! Oh, I'm not really happy with the title; if anyone comes up with something better, let me know. Anyway, now, it's actress_krissie's turn... *passes the pregnant Harry baton to her*
Dacro's notes: This chapter has been transfered to my journal for public access, and has a few edits from when it was originally posted. To read the original comments click here!.
Draco walked through the front door of their house to find Harry fast asleep on the living room sofa, surrounded by paint swatches and wallpaper samples. Harry had been planning the nursery for a week now, buoyed by the surge of energy that had accompanied his second trimester. Harry was nearly at the end of his fourth month now. Draco was certainly relieved that his husband had progressed past the stage of morning sickness, and Harry’s mood swings had become much less extreme lately. The odd cravings, unfortunately, continued with no sign that they would ever disappear.
Draco set the bags containing spicy Thai noodles, Stilton cheese, and pickled eggs on the hall table, and then hung his cloak in the closet and removed his shoes. He still couldn’t believe that Harry had asked for pickled eggs; why in the world he would want such a disgusting lowbrow pub snack was beyond him, but Harry had begged for them. And he loved to give Harry everything he wanted.
Draco quickly transferred his bizarre groceries to the kitchen and then walked into the living room, where his heart skipped a beat. Harry was so incredibly beautiful, and Draco loved to watch him sleep. Quietly, he knelt down in front of the sofa and began picking the paint swatches off Harry, gently touching his swelling abdomen. Harry was showing more than most did at four months, because he was carrying twins. Draco had been pleasantly surprised to find that he loved the changes in Harry’s body. He had always adored Harry’s lean muscular physique, but to see his body softening and becoming rounder was incredible to watch. It still amazed Draco sometimes that his daughters, his and Harry’s twin daughters were growing inside Harry. It was more than he could ever ask for.
Harry snored softly, and Draco let his eyes caress his husband’s face, his messy black hair, the infamous scar, the plump lips that he so loved to kiss, and he felt that he had never loved Harry any more than he did at this very moment. He didn’t want to disturb Harry; he knew that this upswing in energy would be temporary and that Harry would soon find sleeping much more difficult, but he was overwhelmed with the urge to be closer to Harry. Gently, he lowered his head to Harry’s stomach, pressing his ear over Harry’s navel. He closed his eyes and listened.
At their last trip to the mediwizard, Harry and Draco had heard their daughters’ heartbeats. That soft “fffth-fffth” had been the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard, and he focused intently, wanting to hear it again. Over the low whooshing sound that was Harry’s breathing, he could almost hear it, if he listened very carefully. Trying not to make any noise, he held his breath and pressed his ear in more firmly, straining to find the tiny sound.
It only took him a moment to find it, and his breath left him in a soft gasp as emotion pounded through him. He opened his eyes when he felt fingers running through his hair, and found Harry smiling at him, his green eyes sleepy but amused.
“Hi,” Draco whispered, smiling at his husband. He made no attempt to lift his head, content to stay exactly where he was.
“Hi,” Harry whispered back, still gazing at him lovingly. He continued to run his fingers through Draco’s hair, and Draco closed his eyes again at the touch. “Listening to them, love?” Harry asked softly.
“Yes. They’re incredible.”
“I know. I felt them moving today.”
Draco’s eyes shot open. “Really?”
Harry grinned widely. “Oh, yeah. They were quite the active little girls today. I think they’re going to be gymnasts.”
“They’re not moving now, though,” Draco said a bit disappointedly. He hadn’t been able to feel them move yet.
“No, I think they’re asleep,” Harry replied softly, still running his fingers through Draco’s hair. “We had quite a busy day today, so they’re tired.”
Draco smiled. Harry always talked like he knew what the girls were feeling, and he liked to think that he did. “So, what did you do, then?”
“Well, we ordered their cribs, the mahogany ones you liked, and we looked at clothes.” Harry had taken to saying “we” when referring to himself, making an effort to include his daughters in everything he did. Draco thought it was sweet.
“Just looked at clothes?” Draco asked suspiciously. He lifted his head up and cast his eyes around the room, and sure enough, there were several bags from Wizarding Baby lying in a chair next to the fireplace. He smirked at Harry, trying not to laugh. “Those girls are going to have more clothes than I do, and that’s saying something!”
Harry grinned sheepishly. “Well, it certainly won’t do for Draco Malfoy’s daughters to be unfashionable, now would it?”
“No, it certainly won’t,” Draco laughed. “And I take it you went to the paint store, as well,” he said, pointing to the various paint swatches and wallpaper samples scattered around Harry. “Come to any decisions?”
Harry sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the sofa, and reached for the paint swatches that were littering the coffee table. “I can’t decide between this light purple and this yellow. What do you think?”
Draco looked at the swatches. One was a soft lilac colour, and the other was a light yellow that reminded him of buttercups. “Staying away from pink?”
Harry grimaced. “Merlin, yes! I don’t want to have to spend hours in a pink room. Would you?”
“No, I don’t think so. I like the lilac. And I think we should accent it with this white.”
Smiling, Harry said, “That’s perfect!” He took the swatches from Draco and put them together, looking at the adjoining colours carefully.
Draco was captivated by the excitement in Harry’s eyes and he suddenly had to kiss his husband. Smiling devilishly, he pulled the paint swatches out of Harry’s hands and shuffled forward so he was kneeling between Harry’s thighs. Harry grinned knowingly and leaned forward until their noses touched.
“Have I mentioned tonight, Harry,” Draco said softly as he wrapped one arm around Harry’s waist and ran the other through silky black hair, “that I am incredibly and eternally in love with you?”
Harry pretended to look thoughtful. “No, I don’t think I’ve heard that since you got home tonight…”
Draco silenced his husband with a gentle kiss, first just a brushing of their lips, then a soft caressing of tongues. “I am,” he mumbled against Harry’s lips, “I do, forever.”
Harry moaned softly and pulled Draco closer to him, deepening the kiss. “I love you too,” he said as he took a breath.
Their kiss was just starting to become more passionate when it was interrupted by a gurgle in Harry’s stomach. Draco grinned and rested his forehead on Harry’s chin, enjoying the sensations that their kiss had sent surging through him. Joining their hands together, fingers interlocking, he stood up, saying, “Come on, love; time to eat. I didn’t go to a grocery, a restaurant, and a pub for nothing.”
Harry rose to his feet and gave Draco one last peck on the nose. “Good, I’m starving.”
They walked into the kitchen hand-in-hand, and Draco warmed up the food with a wave of his wand. Harry sat down at the table while Draco leant against the counter, watching Harry dive into his meal.
“I’m thinking about asking Hermione to help us decorate the nursery,” Harry said a few minutes later as he dipped a fork into Thai noodles, following it with a bite of the bleu cheese. “Do you think that might get her talking to us again?”
Draco was observing his husband with an amused but partially disgusted face, and he didn’t say anything for a moment as Harry stuffed another bite of noodles into his mouth and dripped sauce down his chin. After a second, he blinked and handed Harry a napkin.
Harry grinned sheepishly as he wiped his chin. “Thanks.”
Draco smirked. “I suspect she’ll warm up to you all right, but I think it will take her a while to forgive me.”
“Well, you did condemn her next born child to green hair, Draco.”
Draco rolled his eyes. “I know. But it serves her right for messing with our private lives.”
Harry gave him a stern look. “I think she’s suffered enough. She’s had two months to be distraught over it. Besides, I think that this is the best thing that ever happened to us. Don’t you?”
Draco caved, groaning inwardly to himself. “Yes, Harry. I am grateful every day that we are having children. I’m so in love with them, and you…oh, all right. You get her over here and I’ll take off the curse.”
Harry’s smile nearly split his face, and Draco’s heart melted again. “I never was one to reverse my curses, Harry, until I met you, that is,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “Your Gryffindor nobility must have rubbed off on me somehow, because I’m finding that I’m doing the right thing all the time now.”
Harry gulped down the last of his noodles and stood from his chair. Smirking slyly, he walked around the table and stepped up to Draco, sliding his fingers into blonde hair. “I won’t tell if you won’t,” he whispered, his lips brushing against Draco’s cheek. “Thank you, love. I’d like to ask her to be the girls’ godmother, and I can only do that if she’s still our friend.”
“I think she’d make an excellent godmother, Harry,” Draco said as he slid his hand up Harry’s back and into that perpetually messy hair. “Who do you want for the godfather? “Ron?”
“I thought I’d let you choose the godfather.” Harry nuzzled his face into Draco’s neck.
He thought for a moment, running the list of his closest friends over in his mind. Draco would like to ask Severus, who was his own godfather, but he knew that Snape would not want the job. He’d finally quit teaching once the war was over because he was sick of dealing with the kids, and he no longer needed to be at Hogwarts to act as a spy. Draco’s other friends were all Harry’s friends. His old Slytherin pals had all joined the Death Eaters and were all either dead or in Azkaban. When he really thought about it, he wanted someone who would love his children and take care of them should anything happen to him or Harry. He knew that Ron would be perfect. He and Ron might still trade verbal barbs every now and then, but he knew that Ron was a good person and a good friend that he could trust his daughters with. “Ron it is, then,” he said firmly to Harry.
Harry detached himself from Draco’s neck and looked at him in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I don’t know of anyone else that I would trust to love our daughters as much as we do, even if it is the Weasel.” He said this just to get Harry riled up.
Harry gave him a look of mock indignation and pinched him in the ribs. Draco laughed and squeezed Harry’s arse.
“Thanks, love,” Harry said with a genuine grin.
Draco smiled and kissed his lover gently on the lips. Harry leant back a bit and hooked his fingers into Draco’s belt loops, pulling him closer. Green eyes dark with desire, Harry said in a low voice, “You know, Draco, the mediwizard said that we can still have sex, as long as we’re gentle…”
Draco grinned and nibbled on Harry’s bottom lip. “I guess that means that you get to top, then, doesn’t it?”
Harry’s eyes widened as he flushed. He immediately leaned in and began running his tongue down Draco’s throat, sucking on the hollow where his collarbones met.
Draco moaned at the tingling pleasure Harry was giving him and pressed their hips together. “I think we should make a stop in the bathroom to brush our teeth, first, though,” he said breathily as Harry’s hands were finding their way down the back of his trousers. “You might like the combination of Thai and bleu cheese, but…”
Harry stood up straight and grinned sheepishly. He took Draco’s hands and began pulling him into the bedroom. “What are we waiting for, then?”
***
The next morning Harry slept in late. It was a Saturday, so he didn’t have to work. He rolled over and reached for Draco, only to find he was alone in the bed. Stretching with a yawn, he pulled on a pair of pyjama bottoms and padded out to the living room in search of his husband.
Draco was sitting on the sofa sipping a cup of coffee, looking at all the clothes Harry had bought the previous day. Harry couldn’t help but smile at the sight. He had little jumpers and dresses and onesies strewn all over himself and the sofa, and was currently holding a tiny pair of shoes in his hand, looking at them with awe. He then put them down and began rubbing a fuzzy blue blanket with the gentlest smile on his face.
Harry’s heart nearly melted and he had to fight off a tear. He knew that Draco was as excited about the twins as he was, but he really loved it when his husband showed it so openly. “Baby stuff is so soft, isn’t it, love?” Harry asked from where he was leaning on the doorframe.
Draco looked up and grinned, looking only slightly embarrassed. “Morning, Angel,” he said. “Yes, it is. I must admit, your taste has improved dramatically since school.”
“Har-har. It’s practically impossible to buy any baby stuff that isn’t cute,” Harry pouted. He walked over to Draco and kissed him on the forehead. Draco pulled him down to kiss him on the lips.
“I made you some tea, love,” Draco said. “It’s in the kitchen.”
“Thanks,” Harry replied and wandered sleepily into the kitchen in search of the tea. When he returned to the living room, steaming cup in his hand, Draco was putting the clothing lovingly back into the bags.
“I’m going to floo-call Hermione and see if I can get her to come over today,” he said after taking a sip.
“Well, I’d better make myself scarce, then,” Draco replied. “You’ll have a much better chance if she thinks I’m not here. I’ll just put these in the nursery.” He picked up the bags of baby clothes and walked into the hall.
Harry smiled, took another sip of his tea, and then went to the fireplace. He knelt down on the cushion they kept for floo-calling, tossed in a pinch of floo powder, and said loudly, “Weasley-Granger.”
He felt slightly nauseous as his head spun around in the fireplace, but a moment later he was looking up into Hermione’s living room.
“Hermione?” he called, willing his stomach to stop feeling queasy.
She walked into view a moment later with Jacob on her hip. “Harry!” she gasped in surprise. She sat down and put Jacob on a blanket beside her, and looked at him rather aloofly.
“Hi, ‘mione,” he grinned. “Haven’t talked to you in a while.”
She sniffed. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”
Inwardly Harry groaned. She was still angry. “Listen, I’m sorry, Hermione. Draco is too. We miss you.”
She frowned, but Harry could tell that she was waffling. “Harry…”
“We’re decorating the nursery, and I would really appreciate your help. You’ve been pregnant; you’ve nursed and changed nappies and everything. It would mean so much to me if you would give me some pointers.”
She was almost smiling.
“And I’ve gotten some really adorable baby clothes and toys; you just have to see them! Please, will you come over?”
“What about Draco?” she said hesitantly.
“He’s agreed to remove the hex, Hermione. He’s sorry. Please come.”
“Oh, all right,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “When?”
“Anytime today is fine.”
“Give me about an hour to get Jacob fed, and then I’ll come over. It’s time that Ron spent some quality time alone with his son, anyway.”
Harry smiled broadly. “Thanks, ‘mione!”
An hour later, she arrived in their fireplace, brushing the soot off her robes. Harry immediately engulfed her in a large hug. He really had missed her.
“Oof, Harry!” she gasped as she was squeezed tightly. He was delighted when she hugged him back. When she stepped back from him, she glanced down at his stomach. “You’re showing!” she gasped delightedly.
“Yeah,” Harry couldn’t help but give a wide, goofy grin. “I’m almost to my fifth month now. I have to wear pants with elastic waists. Maternity clothes for witches might have gotten trendy, but clothes for wizards who are pregnant are still just so…unattractive.” He was thinking of Dudley’s old cast-offs that he’d had to wear all through school. He refused to wear big baggy clothes ever again.
Hermione nodded understandingly and then glanced at him hesitantly, her cinnamon eyes hopeful but anxious. “Can I?”
“Of course!” Harry took her hand and placed it over his navel.
Hermione held her breath as she felt Harry’s belly. “Wow, twin girls. Isn’t it amazing?” she asked softly.
“It’s wonderful,” Harry replied.
She withdrew her hand and got a pained look on her face. “Harry, I…uh…”
“It’s okay, Hermione, I forgave you a while ago. Let’s talk about it later. Come see all the stuff we’ve got for the girls!” he said excitedly and pulled her towards the nursery.
They sat in the nursery for several hours, cooing over all the adorable clothes and toys. Harry showed her the colours he and Draco had selected, and she told him all about changing nappies and feeding and bottles and burping. She had some very good suggestions about where to put the cribs, changing tables, and rocking chairs.
Once they returned to the living room, Draco was waiting for them on the sofa, tea ready on the coffee table. Hermione stiffened when she saw him.
“Draco,” she said coolly.
“Hermione,” Draco replied in the same tone. “Please sit down and have some tea.” She sat rather rigidly in the chair next to the fireplace.
Sensing the tension in the room, Harry began pouring the tea with a meaningful look at Draco.
“Hermione,” Draco began, “I know that you had good intentions when you gave Harry that potion, and considering that having children is the best thing that ever happened to us, save when we got married, I think I’d like to remove that hex I put on you.”
Hermione nodded at him, and said to Harry as he handed her a cup of tea, “I know I should have told you what the potion was, Harry, and I’m sorry I tricked you into getting pregnant. But I really am happy for you,” she added quickly, looking at them both pleadingly.
“So you won’t be interfering in our private lives like that any more?” Draco asked sternly.
“No. No more mysterious potions or anything else devious, I promise.”
“Good.” Draco smiled. “You can baby-sit for us instead.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Harry cut her off.
“You were the one to get me pregnant, after all,” he said with a chuckle as he leant on the mantelpiece. “It’s only fair for you to help take care of what you created. You’ll be their godmother, too, so…”
Hermione gave a surprised yelp. “You want me to be their godmother?!”
“Yes, Hermione,” Draco replied with a grin sliding onto his face. “In fact, we’d be honoured.”
Harry had to stifle a laugh as his best friend was speechless for a moment. Hermione was rarely unable to speak, and Harry had really enjoyed surprising her.
She jumped to her feet and gave Harry a huge hug. He could see Draco smirking at them through her bushy hair. She then let go of him and walked over to Draco. Before the blonde could say a word, she’d pulled him to his feet and embraced him as well.
Stepping back, she said, “No, I’m honoured. Thank you so much, Harry, Draco.”
Draco smiled and pulled out his wand. Pointing it at her, he said “Finite Incantatum. There you go, ‘mione, now your next child will probably be another Weasley redhead, poor kid.”
She gave Draco a playful slap on the shoulder as he ducked, smirking. Harry grinned broadly, incredibly pleased to have this rift mended.
Hermione sat back down with a huge smile on her face. “So tell me Harry, how’ve you been doing?”
“Much better now that I’ve hit my second trimester. I rarely get nauseous anymore.”
“Have you felt them move yet?”
Harry grinned happily as he thought about the little flutter he felt in his abdomen when the girls moved. “Yes! It’s so amazing!”
She nodded knowingly. “Well, now that you can feel them, perhaps it’s time to name them,” she suggested. “Have you decided on anything yet?”
Draco and Harry both shook their heads.
“Well, then, as my first official act as godmother, I’d like to suggest that you use your mothers’ names, at least as the girls’ middle names. I think it would be a nice way to honour them.”
Harry looked up at Draco hopefully. He could see Draco looking thoughtful. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “What do you think?”
Draco smiled. “I think it’s brilliant.”
~*~
Links to all chapters
Author: silver_ariel (formerly AprilLily)
Pairing: Harry and Draco, of course.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash, mpreg (male pregnancy for those of you who didn't know--I didn't know until this series), lots of fluffiness (I'm not nearly as gifted with the snark as girlsigh is... ;D), bizarre food combinations...You have been warned!
Summary: Harry's four months along now, and he decides to tackle decorating the nursery. He also attempts to reconnect with Hermione.
Author's Note: Thanks to dacro and primavera8180 for reviewing it for me. You guys are amazing! Oh, I'm not really happy with the title; if anyone comes up with something better, let me know. Anyway, now, it's actress_krissie's turn... *passes the pregnant Harry baton to her*
Dacro's notes: This chapter has been transfered to my journal for public access, and has a few edits from when it was originally posted. To read the original comments click here!.
Draco walked through the front door of their house to find Harry fast asleep on the living room sofa, surrounded by paint swatches and wallpaper samples. Harry had been planning the nursery for a week now, buoyed by the surge of energy that had accompanied his second trimester. Harry was nearly at the end of his fourth month now. Draco was certainly relieved that his husband had progressed past the stage of morning sickness, and Harry’s mood swings had become much less extreme lately. The odd cravings, unfortunately, continued with no sign that they would ever disappear.
Draco set the bags containing spicy Thai noodles, Stilton cheese, and pickled eggs on the hall table, and then hung his cloak in the closet and removed his shoes. He still couldn’t believe that Harry had asked for pickled eggs; why in the world he would want such a disgusting lowbrow pub snack was beyond him, but Harry had begged for them. And he loved to give Harry everything he wanted.
Draco quickly transferred his bizarre groceries to the kitchen and then walked into the living room, where his heart skipped a beat. Harry was so incredibly beautiful, and Draco loved to watch him sleep. Quietly, he knelt down in front of the sofa and began picking the paint swatches off Harry, gently touching his swelling abdomen. Harry was showing more than most did at four months, because he was carrying twins. Draco had been pleasantly surprised to find that he loved the changes in Harry’s body. He had always adored Harry’s lean muscular physique, but to see his body softening and becoming rounder was incredible to watch. It still amazed Draco sometimes that his daughters, his and Harry’s twin daughters were growing inside Harry. It was more than he could ever ask for.
Harry snored softly, and Draco let his eyes caress his husband’s face, his messy black hair, the infamous scar, the plump lips that he so loved to kiss, and he felt that he had never loved Harry any more than he did at this very moment. He didn’t want to disturb Harry; he knew that this upswing in energy would be temporary and that Harry would soon find sleeping much more difficult, but he was overwhelmed with the urge to be closer to Harry. Gently, he lowered his head to Harry’s stomach, pressing his ear over Harry’s navel. He closed his eyes and listened.
At their last trip to the mediwizard, Harry and Draco had heard their daughters’ heartbeats. That soft “fffth-fffth” had been the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard, and he focused intently, wanting to hear it again. Over the low whooshing sound that was Harry’s breathing, he could almost hear it, if he listened very carefully. Trying not to make any noise, he held his breath and pressed his ear in more firmly, straining to find the tiny sound.
It only took him a moment to find it, and his breath left him in a soft gasp as emotion pounded through him. He opened his eyes when he felt fingers running through his hair, and found Harry smiling at him, his green eyes sleepy but amused.
“Hi,” Draco whispered, smiling at his husband. He made no attempt to lift his head, content to stay exactly where he was.
“Hi,” Harry whispered back, still gazing at him lovingly. He continued to run his fingers through Draco’s hair, and Draco closed his eyes again at the touch. “Listening to them, love?” Harry asked softly.
“Yes. They’re incredible.”
“I know. I felt them moving today.”
Draco’s eyes shot open. “Really?”
Harry grinned widely. “Oh, yeah. They were quite the active little girls today. I think they’re going to be gymnasts.”
“They’re not moving now, though,” Draco said a bit disappointedly. He hadn’t been able to feel them move yet.
“No, I think they’re asleep,” Harry replied softly, still running his fingers through Draco’s hair. “We had quite a busy day today, so they’re tired.”
Draco smiled. Harry always talked like he knew what the girls were feeling, and he liked to think that he did. “So, what did you do, then?”
“Well, we ordered their cribs, the mahogany ones you liked, and we looked at clothes.” Harry had taken to saying “we” when referring to himself, making an effort to include his daughters in everything he did. Draco thought it was sweet.
“Just looked at clothes?” Draco asked suspiciously. He lifted his head up and cast his eyes around the room, and sure enough, there were several bags from Wizarding Baby lying in a chair next to the fireplace. He smirked at Harry, trying not to laugh. “Those girls are going to have more clothes than I do, and that’s saying something!”
Harry grinned sheepishly. “Well, it certainly won’t do for Draco Malfoy’s daughters to be unfashionable, now would it?”
“No, it certainly won’t,” Draco laughed. “And I take it you went to the paint store, as well,” he said, pointing to the various paint swatches and wallpaper samples scattered around Harry. “Come to any decisions?”
Harry sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the sofa, and reached for the paint swatches that were littering the coffee table. “I can’t decide between this light purple and this yellow. What do you think?”
Draco looked at the swatches. One was a soft lilac colour, and the other was a light yellow that reminded him of buttercups. “Staying away from pink?”
Harry grimaced. “Merlin, yes! I don’t want to have to spend hours in a pink room. Would you?”
“No, I don’t think so. I like the lilac. And I think we should accent it with this white.”
Smiling, Harry said, “That’s perfect!” He took the swatches from Draco and put them together, looking at the adjoining colours carefully.
Draco was captivated by the excitement in Harry’s eyes and he suddenly had to kiss his husband. Smiling devilishly, he pulled the paint swatches out of Harry’s hands and shuffled forward so he was kneeling between Harry’s thighs. Harry grinned knowingly and leaned forward until their noses touched.
“Have I mentioned tonight, Harry,” Draco said softly as he wrapped one arm around Harry’s waist and ran the other through silky black hair, “that I am incredibly and eternally in love with you?”
Harry pretended to look thoughtful. “No, I don’t think I’ve heard that since you got home tonight…”
Draco silenced his husband with a gentle kiss, first just a brushing of their lips, then a soft caressing of tongues. “I am,” he mumbled against Harry’s lips, “I do, forever.”
Harry moaned softly and pulled Draco closer to him, deepening the kiss. “I love you too,” he said as he took a breath.
Their kiss was just starting to become more passionate when it was interrupted by a gurgle in Harry’s stomach. Draco grinned and rested his forehead on Harry’s chin, enjoying the sensations that their kiss had sent surging through him. Joining their hands together, fingers interlocking, he stood up, saying, “Come on, love; time to eat. I didn’t go to a grocery, a restaurant, and a pub for nothing.”
Harry rose to his feet and gave Draco one last peck on the nose. “Good, I’m starving.”
They walked into the kitchen hand-in-hand, and Draco warmed up the food with a wave of his wand. Harry sat down at the table while Draco leant against the counter, watching Harry dive into his meal.
“I’m thinking about asking Hermione to help us decorate the nursery,” Harry said a few minutes later as he dipped a fork into Thai noodles, following it with a bite of the bleu cheese. “Do you think that might get her talking to us again?”
Draco was observing his husband with an amused but partially disgusted face, and he didn’t say anything for a moment as Harry stuffed another bite of noodles into his mouth and dripped sauce down his chin. After a second, he blinked and handed Harry a napkin.
Harry grinned sheepishly as he wiped his chin. “Thanks.”
Draco smirked. “I suspect she’ll warm up to you all right, but I think it will take her a while to forgive me.”
“Well, you did condemn her next born child to green hair, Draco.”
Draco rolled his eyes. “I know. But it serves her right for messing with our private lives.”
Harry gave him a stern look. “I think she’s suffered enough. She’s had two months to be distraught over it. Besides, I think that this is the best thing that ever happened to us. Don’t you?”
Draco caved, groaning inwardly to himself. “Yes, Harry. I am grateful every day that we are having children. I’m so in love with them, and you…oh, all right. You get her over here and I’ll take off the curse.”
Harry’s smile nearly split his face, and Draco’s heart melted again. “I never was one to reverse my curses, Harry, until I met you, that is,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “Your Gryffindor nobility must have rubbed off on me somehow, because I’m finding that I’m doing the right thing all the time now.”
Harry gulped down the last of his noodles and stood from his chair. Smirking slyly, he walked around the table and stepped up to Draco, sliding his fingers into blonde hair. “I won’t tell if you won’t,” he whispered, his lips brushing against Draco’s cheek. “Thank you, love. I’d like to ask her to be the girls’ godmother, and I can only do that if she’s still our friend.”
“I think she’d make an excellent godmother, Harry,” Draco said as he slid his hand up Harry’s back and into that perpetually messy hair. “Who do you want for the godfather? “Ron?”
“I thought I’d let you choose the godfather.” Harry nuzzled his face into Draco’s neck.
He thought for a moment, running the list of his closest friends over in his mind. Draco would like to ask Severus, who was his own godfather, but he knew that Snape would not want the job. He’d finally quit teaching once the war was over because he was sick of dealing with the kids, and he no longer needed to be at Hogwarts to act as a spy. Draco’s other friends were all Harry’s friends. His old Slytherin pals had all joined the Death Eaters and were all either dead or in Azkaban. When he really thought about it, he wanted someone who would love his children and take care of them should anything happen to him or Harry. He knew that Ron would be perfect. He and Ron might still trade verbal barbs every now and then, but he knew that Ron was a good person and a good friend that he could trust his daughters with. “Ron it is, then,” he said firmly to Harry.
Harry detached himself from Draco’s neck and looked at him in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I don’t know of anyone else that I would trust to love our daughters as much as we do, even if it is the Weasel.” He said this just to get Harry riled up.
Harry gave him a look of mock indignation and pinched him in the ribs. Draco laughed and squeezed Harry’s arse.
“Thanks, love,” Harry said with a genuine grin.
Draco smiled and kissed his lover gently on the lips. Harry leant back a bit and hooked his fingers into Draco’s belt loops, pulling him closer. Green eyes dark with desire, Harry said in a low voice, “You know, Draco, the mediwizard said that we can still have sex, as long as we’re gentle…”
Draco grinned and nibbled on Harry’s bottom lip. “I guess that means that you get to top, then, doesn’t it?”
Harry’s eyes widened as he flushed. He immediately leaned in and began running his tongue down Draco’s throat, sucking on the hollow where his collarbones met.
Draco moaned at the tingling pleasure Harry was giving him and pressed their hips together. “I think we should make a stop in the bathroom to brush our teeth, first, though,” he said breathily as Harry’s hands were finding their way down the back of his trousers. “You might like the combination of Thai and bleu cheese, but…”
Harry stood up straight and grinned sheepishly. He took Draco’s hands and began pulling him into the bedroom. “What are we waiting for, then?”
***
The next morning Harry slept in late. It was a Saturday, so he didn’t have to work. He rolled over and reached for Draco, only to find he was alone in the bed. Stretching with a yawn, he pulled on a pair of pyjama bottoms and padded out to the living room in search of his husband.
Draco was sitting on the sofa sipping a cup of coffee, looking at all the clothes Harry had bought the previous day. Harry couldn’t help but smile at the sight. He had little jumpers and dresses and onesies strewn all over himself and the sofa, and was currently holding a tiny pair of shoes in his hand, looking at them with awe. He then put them down and began rubbing a fuzzy blue blanket with the gentlest smile on his face.
Harry’s heart nearly melted and he had to fight off a tear. He knew that Draco was as excited about the twins as he was, but he really loved it when his husband showed it so openly. “Baby stuff is so soft, isn’t it, love?” Harry asked from where he was leaning on the doorframe.
Draco looked up and grinned, looking only slightly embarrassed. “Morning, Angel,” he said. “Yes, it is. I must admit, your taste has improved dramatically since school.”
“Har-har. It’s practically impossible to buy any baby stuff that isn’t cute,” Harry pouted. He walked over to Draco and kissed him on the forehead. Draco pulled him down to kiss him on the lips.
“I made you some tea, love,” Draco said. “It’s in the kitchen.”
“Thanks,” Harry replied and wandered sleepily into the kitchen in search of the tea. When he returned to the living room, steaming cup in his hand, Draco was putting the clothing lovingly back into the bags.
“I’m going to floo-call Hermione and see if I can get her to come over today,” he said after taking a sip.
“Well, I’d better make myself scarce, then,” Draco replied. “You’ll have a much better chance if she thinks I’m not here. I’ll just put these in the nursery.” He picked up the bags of baby clothes and walked into the hall.
Harry smiled, took another sip of his tea, and then went to the fireplace. He knelt down on the cushion they kept for floo-calling, tossed in a pinch of floo powder, and said loudly, “Weasley-Granger.”
He felt slightly nauseous as his head spun around in the fireplace, but a moment later he was looking up into Hermione’s living room.
“Hermione?” he called, willing his stomach to stop feeling queasy.
She walked into view a moment later with Jacob on her hip. “Harry!” she gasped in surprise. She sat down and put Jacob on a blanket beside her, and looked at him rather aloofly.
“Hi, ‘mione,” he grinned. “Haven’t talked to you in a while.”
She sniffed. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”
Inwardly Harry groaned. She was still angry. “Listen, I’m sorry, Hermione. Draco is too. We miss you.”
She frowned, but Harry could tell that she was waffling. “Harry…”
“We’re decorating the nursery, and I would really appreciate your help. You’ve been pregnant; you’ve nursed and changed nappies and everything. It would mean so much to me if you would give me some pointers.”
She was almost smiling.
“And I’ve gotten some really adorable baby clothes and toys; you just have to see them! Please, will you come over?”
“What about Draco?” she said hesitantly.
“He’s agreed to remove the hex, Hermione. He’s sorry. Please come.”
“Oh, all right,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “When?”
“Anytime today is fine.”
“Give me about an hour to get Jacob fed, and then I’ll come over. It’s time that Ron spent some quality time alone with his son, anyway.”
Harry smiled broadly. “Thanks, ‘mione!”
An hour later, she arrived in their fireplace, brushing the soot off her robes. Harry immediately engulfed her in a large hug. He really had missed her.
“Oof, Harry!” she gasped as she was squeezed tightly. He was delighted when she hugged him back. When she stepped back from him, she glanced down at his stomach. “You’re showing!” she gasped delightedly.
“Yeah,” Harry couldn’t help but give a wide, goofy grin. “I’m almost to my fifth month now. I have to wear pants with elastic waists. Maternity clothes for witches might have gotten trendy, but clothes for wizards who are pregnant are still just so…unattractive.” He was thinking of Dudley’s old cast-offs that he’d had to wear all through school. He refused to wear big baggy clothes ever again.
Hermione nodded understandingly and then glanced at him hesitantly, her cinnamon eyes hopeful but anxious. “Can I?”
“Of course!” Harry took her hand and placed it over his navel.
Hermione held her breath as she felt Harry’s belly. “Wow, twin girls. Isn’t it amazing?” she asked softly.
“It’s wonderful,” Harry replied.
She withdrew her hand and got a pained look on her face. “Harry, I…uh…”
“It’s okay, Hermione, I forgave you a while ago. Let’s talk about it later. Come see all the stuff we’ve got for the girls!” he said excitedly and pulled her towards the nursery.
They sat in the nursery for several hours, cooing over all the adorable clothes and toys. Harry showed her the colours he and Draco had selected, and she told him all about changing nappies and feeding and bottles and burping. She had some very good suggestions about where to put the cribs, changing tables, and rocking chairs.
Once they returned to the living room, Draco was waiting for them on the sofa, tea ready on the coffee table. Hermione stiffened when she saw him.
“Draco,” she said coolly.
“Hermione,” Draco replied in the same tone. “Please sit down and have some tea.” She sat rather rigidly in the chair next to the fireplace.
Sensing the tension in the room, Harry began pouring the tea with a meaningful look at Draco.
“Hermione,” Draco began, “I know that you had good intentions when you gave Harry that potion, and considering that having children is the best thing that ever happened to us, save when we got married, I think I’d like to remove that hex I put on you.”
Hermione nodded at him, and said to Harry as he handed her a cup of tea, “I know I should have told you what the potion was, Harry, and I’m sorry I tricked you into getting pregnant. But I really am happy for you,” she added quickly, looking at them both pleadingly.
“So you won’t be interfering in our private lives like that any more?” Draco asked sternly.
“No. No more mysterious potions or anything else devious, I promise.”
“Good.” Draco smiled. “You can baby-sit for us instead.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Harry cut her off.
“You were the one to get me pregnant, after all,” he said with a chuckle as he leant on the mantelpiece. “It’s only fair for you to help take care of what you created. You’ll be their godmother, too, so…”
Hermione gave a surprised yelp. “You want me to be their godmother?!”
“Yes, Hermione,” Draco replied with a grin sliding onto his face. “In fact, we’d be honoured.”
Harry had to stifle a laugh as his best friend was speechless for a moment. Hermione was rarely unable to speak, and Harry had really enjoyed surprising her.
She jumped to her feet and gave Harry a huge hug. He could see Draco smirking at them through her bushy hair. She then let go of him and walked over to Draco. Before the blonde could say a word, she’d pulled him to his feet and embraced him as well.
Stepping back, she said, “No, I’m honoured. Thank you so much, Harry, Draco.”
Draco smiled and pulled out his wand. Pointing it at her, he said “Finite Incantatum. There you go, ‘mione, now your next child will probably be another Weasley redhead, poor kid.”
She gave Draco a playful slap on the shoulder as he ducked, smirking. Harry grinned broadly, incredibly pleased to have this rift mended.
Hermione sat back down with a huge smile on her face. “So tell me Harry, how’ve you been doing?”
“Much better now that I’ve hit my second trimester. I rarely get nauseous anymore.”
“Have you felt them move yet?”
Harry grinned happily as he thought about the little flutter he felt in his abdomen when the girls moved. “Yes! It’s so amazing!”
She nodded knowingly. “Well, now that you can feel them, perhaps it’s time to name them,” she suggested. “Have you decided on anything yet?”
Draco and Harry both shook their heads.
“Well, then, as my first official act as godmother, I’d like to suggest that you use your mothers’ names, at least as the girls’ middle names. I think it would be a nice way to honour them.”
Harry looked up at Draco hopefully. He could see Draco looking thoughtful. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “What do you think?”
Draco smiled. “I think it’s brilliant.”
~*~
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