9

Chapter Nine The Potential Father

Draco woke up with empty feeling in his arm. He spread his arm to look for Harry but he only felt the cold empty bed. The thought that something might have happened to Harry alarmed him to wake up.

"Harry…"

"Yes?" The response came from his left.

Draco turned to look at Harry. He was interested in the guilty look on Harry's face. Harry smiled shyly at him. He had his hands behind his back as if he were hiding something.

"What's in your hand, Harry?"

"What do you mean?"

"Give me your hand."

"This one?" Harry gave his right hand, but kept the left one behind his back.

"Yes, that one," Draco took the approaching hand only to pull him closer, "And this one." Trapped, Harry had no choice but let Draco take his other hand. "What's this?"

"Er… looks like the choco chips."

"Indeed." Draco tried to restrain his smile.

"I… I needed to pee and I couldn't go back to sleep. And I was hungry so… I just wanted to have one or two, but it's yummy. I didn't meant to…" Harry looked at Draco shyly, "I left you one, though."

Draco kissed his lips, "It's for you, Harry. It's OK if you eat them all. I'll told mother you like it. She'll send more. Is your stomach OK?"

Harry nodded eagerly, "I don't feel the queasiness, unlike yesterday morning and the day before."

"It's good for you then," Draco moved to get out of the bed and started to dress up.

"Are you leaving, Draco."

"No, I want to have a word with Madame Pomfrey first. I want to know how far along your pregnancy is."

"She was here before, to check me and stuff. She said it's been two weeks."

"What?" Draco stopped and looked at the embarrassed Harry.

"The miracle of Potions. Sure Snape will be proud if he heard this."

"Harry, that's because I'm a potential father." Draco laughed, "Did she tell you when you could leave this place?"

"After dinner. She wants to make sure I'm fine and that I get the rest I need."

"OK, then. I'll pick you up at nine."

"You're leaving now?"

"I had something to do. And it's better then hiding under the cloak while your friends are around."

"OK. Promise you'll come at nine?"

"I will." Draco kissed his cheek, and disappeared under his Invisibility Cloak.

Harry couldn't help but feel a bit lonely when Draco left him. Sigh.

Harry couldn't get Draco out of his mind. He got his friends to visit him. Ron and Hermione didn't even leave his side. Blaise came and stayed for five minutes. He left because he thought Harry still needed his rest and he didn't want to upset him like he had done yesterday.

Blaise's hand was at the handle when Harry's owl, Hedwig, came with more white roses. He didn't have to count them to know it's a dozen. Sadly, he left without another words.

"Who is it from, Harry?" there was a teasing tone in Hermione's voice.

"There's no card." But Harry knew whom it from. He looked at the wistful look on her face. After a second thought, he pulled one out and gave it to her.

"For me?" Hermione never received one before and she didn't know what to say.

"You look beautiful today, sure the rose will suit you," Harry laughed at her. She did look beautiful. Harry had told her what tonic and spell she need to have a straight hair. Now people could see her face clearly. It was a friendly and lovely one. People might meet her for the first time and feel comfortable to tell her their secret. 'Too bad it's hidden behind big dusty book. Ron doesn't know how lucky he is,' Harry study his friends.

"You are beautiful, 'Mione," Ron's face flush a little when he said that.

"Hey, it's not like you're seeing me for the first time."

'She's not the kind of girl who accepts a compliment the right way,' Harry shook his head. "Just say thank you, 'Mione. I've never heard Ron says something like that before."

Hermione turned to look at Ron. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek, "Thank you, Ron."

"I hope I didn't interrupt something." They all turned to the doorframe and met the cold eyes of their Potions Master.

"Er… Did I do something wrong?" Harry asked his friends.

"Why would you think so?" Severus looked sour at him, "If you forgot, I'm Draco's godfather, I would like to know if he's going to be a father."

"I should thank you for the potion, Sir."

"So, you are, huh. I couldn't believe it when Narcissa told me. Oh, before you feel anymore grateful, the potion only gives you the equipment, not makes you pregnant."

"Oh." Harry felt hot.

"Only gave you the equipment, Harry." Hermione looked at him meaningfully.

"I just came here to say, you better be careful from now on. I'll inform your godfather. He might be delighted." Severus smiled at the last word, left the three students shuddering.

Harry turned to look at the clock every two minutes. It's twenty-three passed nine. Draco was late. Really, really late. His mind was busy constructing and reconstructing things that might have happened to him.

'Oh, Harry. Stop being ridiculous. If something happen to him, well, this was the first place they would take him, right. I'm in the bloody infirmary.' Harry looked at the clock again.

He clutched the roses carefully and drew them closer to smell them when he felt invisible hands hug him.

"Draco?"

"Waiting for someone else, Harry?" Draco pulled down his cloak.

"No, you're late."

"I know, I'm sorry. There was a stupid second year Ravenclaw tried to sneak to the Charms classroom doing something, who knows what, just right after curfew. I had to take him to Snape for detention."

"If he's a Ravenclaw, he can't be stupid."

"He is, because he got caught."

"I thought something might have happened to you," Harry put his roses down and stood up to hug him.

"If something happened to me, they'll send me here."

"I know, I guess I just worried to much."

"Hormones," Draco laughed on his head, "Come on, you make sure the cloak covers the both of us, and I'll carry you. I don't need the detention tonight." Draco handed him the cloak before put his other arm under Harry's knees.

"Wait," Harry grabbed the roses, "And thank you for the roses, again." Harry smiled at him.

"OK. You could thank properly to me later," Draco caught Harry's redden face, "What you have in mind, babe?"

"Er… nothing."

"Now, hold on tight, Harry. And watch for the cloak. Ready?"

"Let's go, Draco."

"And I have my family in my arms." Harry tried to control his laughter.

It took more than twenty minutes to reach Draco's room. They, actually Draco, had to walk very carefully as not to make any noise.

"Here we are," Draco put him on the bed cautiously.

"You don't have to treat me like some Chinese antique porcelain. I'm fine." Harry stood up and walked around the room. He was looking for a vase to put the roses. He went to Draco's table and opened the drawer only to find chocolates of different sizes and flavour.

Draco was sitting on the bed, tired from carrying Harry. He wondered if he could carry him when he gained his weight. He studied Harry watchfully when he found the chocolates.

"You have many admirers."

"You do, too. And one of them sleeps just in the next room."

"All right."

"Come here, I have something for you."

The roses lay forgotten on the table as he went to Draco. Draco opened the dresser on the left side of the bed.

"You have a stack of choco chips for the whole week supply. And these…"

Draco handed him a rabbit doll. It's small and looks like a real one.

"Do you think our baby will love it?"

"Oh, Draco it's so cute. You are so sweet. Is this what your 'something more important thing to do'?"

"I wanted to make a surprise for you."

"Thank you, Draco."

"No, Harry. Thank you for making me the happiest man alive." Draco noticed Harry's eyes wet, "And I don't mean to make you cry."

"It's just… hormones."

24 February 03, 1:54 am