3

Chapter 3 The Explanation

Harry couldn't help yawning every five minutes, since he couldn't sleep at all last night. It was another two days before the bonding. He let the Headmaster fill his godfather in on the whole story. He just owled him, asking if he and Remus would come or not. And it was just last night so he didn't expect to get the answer in a short time, cause only God knew where Sirius could be right now. He trusted Hedwig to find him, though.

Harry helped himself to the toast since he didn't really like the strawberry muffins, and the rest were already eaten. He wasn't fast enough to save some chocolate ones. He could feel his two best friends watching all his movements.

"Aren't you two eating?" There was something in those eyes that he decided he didn't like.

"We did. You took your time, Harry. We'll just wait to you." Hermione nodded at her boyfriend's words. His sleepy mind noticed that Hermione didn't have even a note with her, which was a very unusual sight.

"But you better do it fast, Harry, as much as we'll wait for you, Snape won't." It was Double Potions first class.

The day was not very promising, and the worse was still to come. Dumbledore would announce his refrain from Quidditch at dinner and there was conversation to be held with his friends.

As predicted, Potions Class turned out to be hell. Severus Snape, the Potions Master, decided that he would love to test his pupils. Each wrong answer would lose 10 points, and the right ones would only earn 5 points. His desires to take points didn't stop him from taking points from his own house.

Thanks to Hermione and her insistent on them to brush up the material for the upcoming NEWTs, they could hold the points taken to the limited.

The next classes went uneventful until lunch. Hermione and Ron couldn't wait any longer. They wanted to know what had happened to him. He'd been waiting for them to corner him since breakfast.

"So, Harry."

"So, Ron."

"Stop playing games. Just say it, Harry. We'll do anything to help you." Trust Hermione to be so logical.

"Well, I can't say it now. I'll tell you before dinner, OK."

That wasn't good enough, but it would do for the moment. And before the day ended, Harry would have everything clear for his friends. He needed time to arrange the words so his friends would understand, but he's running out of it.

The Quite Corner at The Library

"Now, you will tell us everything, Harry."

"I… I flirted with Malfoy and he got me pregnant."

Nobody said anything for a moment. Harry could see Ron's face pale so white like a ghost.

"Ehm. Er… could you believe that Malfoy told his father that he want to be bonded with me and make me bear his child? Well, a son to be exact. And he wanted you two to come to the ceremony. I guess he's not that bad."

He wished his friends wouldn't find out he was bluffing. But since they were good friends for such a long time he knew he got very little chance.

"That's absurd, Harry. Surely you're not insulting my intelligence, are you?" It wasn't a very clever reason indeed. Even Ron knew it.

"It's true. Looks like I hit him too hard and made him love me."

"Come on, Harry. Did he blackmail you into this agreement? And what is the nonsense about bearing a child, a son? Can he be more chauvinist? And how could his 'dearest daddy' agree to this."

"Yeah, and you're male. Sure, he can't get you pregnant!" Ron's reaction remained him of his own.

"There's a potion, Ron. Honestly, as a wizard, and a pureblood, you should know about it. It's very complicate and I do think it's not really welcomed since it has some side-effects."

"You right, it was my idea to invite you both."

"And he didn't opposed it?" Ron eyes were now so big that they might fall from the sockets.

"At first. But don't worry. I've assured him that it'd mean so much to me if you two will be there and support me."

"Oh, Harry."

"And I think as long as there will be little Malfoys, his father is OK with that." Was it true?

"Of course, you are the Boy Who Lived to make you-know-who suffered."

"Funny, Ron. Oh, and Dumbledore made sure that all of this affair will be kept secret. Malfoy does not talk nor touch me in public."

"That's wise and necessary. I still can't believe you agreed to such a thing." Hermione shook her head, still in disagreement of the bonding and the whole thing.

"Well, it's much better than getting expelled or… or Azkaban. You know what I mean."

"Yeah, and next time, Harry, I'd like to watch you assure him to do something you want." Harry just blushed, not really sure what to say.

The three of them visited Draco after dinner. There was nobody else there, so they could have the conversation peacefully.

"Malfoy, are you still sure with all of this? I can stand months of detention. Even until graduation."

"Harry, don't be such a coward. It's not made for a Gryffindor."

"He's just being reasonable, Malfoy. Sure you couldn't have him pregnant just because he hit you. It's much too childish."

"Well, well, Hermione Granger, the ever clever witch," Draco noted the warning look Harry sent him, "He got all his reasons reasoned, Granger."

"What will happen to him, Malfoy? Are you sure it safe for him? What about those effects?" Ron looked at him suspiciously.

"You surprise me, Weasley. I trust Granger to know about the potion, but you?"

"I can say the same about you, Malfoy. Never cease to amaze me what love could do." Ron had the identical smirk on his face.

"It help him to bear my little Malfoy," Did Draco look guilty? "And it's not like I want to jeopardize my baby." Draco pulled Harry to sit on his lap.

"For the hundredth times, Malfoy, I'm not even pregnant yet."

"Little Malfoy, huh, what a horrid thing to think." Ron smirked at Harry.

Draco seemed not to hear this, "Of course not yet, Harry, even I can picture you as a shy little virgin." Harry flushed again for God knows how many times ever since Draco being nice to him, "I mean you, but of course I won't want to jeopardise my will be born baby, a son or a daughter."

They never saw this side of Draco Malfoy before. Hermione didn't move from her spot. Maybe Draco and the baby planning will do good thing for Harry. Avoid him from silly thing he might do after the graduation. Like after Voldemort.

"Then why he had to give up Quidditch." The Headmaster had announced that Harry was taken out from the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, much to the dismay of the Gryffindors.

Hermione could awake from the trance whenever there's question to be answered. "He has to, Ron, if Malfoy is so eager to be a father. Flying could cause a miscarriage."

Draco just smiled at the two of them, something that unusual. And Harry couldn't help staring.

Draco put his hands at Harry waist. He could feel Harry's so slender body, too light for his height, anyway.

"Mother will come tomorrow, Harry."

"But… but I thought it will be another before the bonding."

"She like to make things perfect and I think she make it her business to make you look proper. You know that I'm her only child, right. It's her only chance. Unless, which I wouldn't think about, if I fall for someone else and plan for another bonding."

Harry paled a little at this. He felt something warm form in his heart. "Thank you." He said softly.

"It's nothing, Harry. Just dressing, and maybe do your hair. You might find it boring." Draco caressed Harry's face affectionately.

"But it means so much for me."

"Come on, Harry. We need to leave now. It's almost curfew." Hermione just sighed; Ron was really not the one for romance. Not like someone else. She glanced at Draco.

The trio walked slowly to the Gryffindor Tower. It was a strange encounter with the Malfoy, and they decided that it was an interesting subject as well.

"Never thought him to be the romantic bloke, Harry. Bonding on Valentine's Day." Hermione smiled at her friend.

"I don't think so, 'Mione. He said something about the students being on a date, and being foolishly in love, they won't notice if we're not somewhere in sight. They won't even notice a Death Eater and a fugitive here at school."

"Are you sure about this all, Harry? I mean, taking the potion is a big step. Once the baby grow inside you, there's no turning back."

"I'm not so sure, Ron. But I like the thought of having my own family. Even if it means Malfoy."

They could hear the loneliness in his voice, and they prayed to all the holly spirits that everything would turn out fine for their friend.

4 February 03, 10:16 pm