Say Hello, Say Goodbye

Chapter 9

The weeks after Harry's birthday were far from the relaxing ones the couple had hoped they'd be. While the number of people coming and going from the Black estate had diminished some there were still enough that it kept Harry's head spinning. Ron had gone off with Charlie to Romania in the first part of August and Hermione started her job at the Ministry and Harry rarely got to see either of them if at all. One Weasley Harry did get to see a lot of was Percy. He and Oliver came over quite a bit as they got ready for their own potential pregnancy and everyone was excited for them. Though no one was more excited than Molly Weasley as this would be her first grandchild.

As the weeks went by Harry could feel himself getting more and more cranky and on edge. Everyone had learned quite early to stay clear of the raven-haired young man when he was in one of his moods unless they wanted to deal with an overemotional Harry. He was also gaining weight again which made him feel as though he were a beached whale and it also caused his ankles to swell up. Luckily Draco was schooled in ways to help Harry from Mrs. Weasley and Harry was treated nightly with massages in any and all places he ached.

The couple was getting more and more excited with each passing day for the arrival of their baby. It seemed most of the wizarding world was also anticipating the arrival because every day they received more and more gifts from the general public both for Harry and the baby. After all the gifts were checked for any hexes or curses, a good portion of these gifts the couple sent off to the numerous orphanages that had popped up since the end of the war for all those wizarding children who were either abandoned or orphaned due to the war. The ones they did keep were stored in the play room that Sirius and Remus had built for the baby as a surprise for Harry and Draco.

Every couple of weeks Harry and Draco made the trip to Hogwarts for a checkup with Madam Pomfrey. She told them that the baby was doing fine and was developing at a normal rate. She also prepared Harry for what would happen when it came time to deliver the baby. When Harry began to feel the contractions he was instructed to go straight to the Hospital Wing and they would monitor the baby and when it dropped far enough into the birth canal they would do a C-Section to take the baby out since it wasn't safe for either Harry or the baby to deliver in the usual way. The thought of someone cutting him open didn't sit well with Harry but he knew he didn't want to risk the life of his baby just to ease his own mind. After each visit with the nurse Harry always asked to listen to his child's heart beat. No matter how many times he heard it, the intense feeling that came over him when he heard the fast pace beats of his child's heartbeat kept him in awe for the rest of the day.

As the atmosphere at Black Manor grew more and more excited of the pending arrival, the atmosphere at Hogwarts grew more and more weary as the headmaster grew weaker and weaker. There were days when the headmaster couldn't even get out of bed without some sort of assistance. It had become quite obvious to everyone that they were very close to losing him. All of the professors had begun to help out with some of the things that needed to be done prior to the new school year along with the preparations for their own lessons.

In the end of August, Madam Pomfrey had Harry and Draco move into a set of rooms in Hogwarts so that they would be close by in case something should happen with the baby. Though she had to reassure both men that she didn't think such a thing was likely. It was just a precaution. Before they left they promised Remus and Sirius that they would inform them as soon as they knew that the baby was on its way.

Professor McGonagall met them at the front steps on their arrival to the castle. "Mr. Potter. Mr. Malfoy. It's wonderful to see you here again."

Harry smiled at his former Head of House. "It's great to be back again, Professor. Hogwarts has always felt like home to me."

She smiled at him though both Draco and Harry could tell it didn't reach her eyes and that something was bothering her. "Now, follow me, you two. I'll lead you to your rooms. You can leave your belongings here as the House Elves will bring them up."

Harry and Draco followed their old professor through the quiet corridors of Hogwarts till they got to the portrait of the meadow that guarded the room they had used during the last school year. "The headmaster and I thought you'd be most comfortable in this room again. The password is still the same. Make yourself comfortable and we will see you in the Great Hall for lunch?"

Harry and Draco nodded. "Yes, thank you, Professor," Harry said.

McGonagall nodded before heading off. The two boys could see that she had a lot on her mind. Harry spoke the password and they entered the room, seeing that the House Elves had indeed already brought up their luggage. Harry made his way to the bed and gently sat down. "Draco, did it seem like McGonagall was preoccupied?" he asked with concern in his eyes.

Draco sighed. "Yes, it did. I wonder what's wrong." He made his way to the bed and sat down behind Harry, allowing the smaller boy to lean against him.

"I hope the Headmaster isn't getting worse," he whispered. Draco nodded and tightened his arms around Harry. A few minutes later both young men were asleep.

An hour later, they were woken up by the crack that signaled that a House Elf had popped in. Draco opened an eye and found an Elf staring wide eyed back at him.

"Professor McGonagall told Winky to come and get Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter for lunch. Winky is sorry she woke you, sirs," Winky said as she wringed the hem of her dirty dress.

Draco smiled gently at Winky. "It's alright, Winky. Thank you for waking us. It's not good for Harry to miss a meal. Tell Professor McGonagall that we will be down in a few minutes."

Winky nodded and then disappeared with a crack. Draco stared down at the smaller boy in his arms and almost didn't want to wake him. He hadn't been able to sleep much lately since the baby had discovered the joys of kicking. Resigning to the fact that they both needed to eat Draco gently shook Harry's shoulder.

"Harry? Harry it's time to meet McGonagall for lunch," Draco whispered into his ear. Harry stirred and mumbled in his sleep. Draco chuckled at this. Harry could be so hard to wake up sometimes. "Come on Harry. You need to wake up."

Harry cracked an eye open and stared blearily at his boyfriend. "Do I have to get up? I'm nice and comfortable," Harry whined.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I know you're hungry and so am I. Plus we promised McGonagall we'd meet her for lunch."

Harry sighed and tried to lift himself into a sitting position. He struggled for a few seconds before Draco placed a hand on Harry's back and helped to push him up.

Harry grunted as he finally sat up all the way. It worried both him and Draco that just the act of sitting up caused Harry to be out of breath and sweaty. After a few minutes he caught his breath and grinned tiredly at Draco. "I'll be glad when this kid is born, just so I can sit up by myself again."

Draco grinned. "I know, Harry, but it's only a little more than a month." After freshening up a bit they slowly made their way to the Great Hall where they found a worried Professor McGonagall and an even more worried Professor Snape.

"Good Afternoon, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape," Harry said, giving a nod to each of them as he said their name.

While McGonagall smiled at the pair, Snape sneered. "Well...well...Potter and Malfoy. Barely a month out of Hogwarts and you're already back? Pitiful."

"Madam Pomfrey asked us to move into rooms here for the remainder of my pregnancy so that I'm close by when I go into labor," Harry replied, a slight sneer on his lips. Draco, sensing an argument, laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, silently telling him to calm down.

"Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey told us that since the baby could possibly be born early it was a good idea for us to stay here at the castle just in case."

The Potions' Master nodded. Since the man didn't say anything else, the two young men sat down opposite him and next to McGonagall.

The four of them sat in silence for a few minutes before the food arrived on the tables. Busy with piling food on to their plates there wasn't much noise except for the sounds of utensils scrapping against plates as they ate.

After everyone had finished eating, McGonagall cleared her throat. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy. I'm not sure if you noticed or not but over the last few months the headmaster has been rather ill," she said, worry etched in her aged skin.

Harry and Draco glanced at each other, neither really knowing what to say. "We know, Professor. I've noticed that he's been looking weaker and so has Draco. I also saw that he needed your help to stand at the leaving feast," Harry whispered.

The Transfiguration professor sighed. "I was worried that you students would notice something was amiss with him. He tried so hard to hide it from everyone."

"I don't think anyone besides Harry and I noticed, Professor," Draco said, hoping to ease her mind.

"That's good to know," McGonagall said, breathing a sigh of relief. "The students knowing and then telling their families and then everyone worrying is the last thing we need. I wanted to let you know so that you weren't surprised when you saw him. He has been spending most of his time in his bed but has come out for meals when he has the strength."

Harry knitted his brows in worry. 'Was he really getting that bad?' Looking to his boyfriend, he saw the same worry he was feeling reflected in his grey eyes.

"He has asked that the two of you come and visit him when you are through eating. There is something he would like to discuss with the two of you."

Harry and Draco both nodded. "Professor, I've been wondering," Draco started hesitantly. "Since the Headmaster has been getting worse, are they going to choose a new Headmaster?"

McGonagall sighed sadly. "The standard procedure is for the Deputy Headmaster/Headmistress to take over the position and then it's their job to appoint a new Deputy."

"So, you'll be Headmistress, Professor?" Harry asked, a smile on his face. His smile faded slightly as a new thought struck him. "But, who will be Head of Gryffindor?"

"Well, currently the only professor that we have on staff right now who was a Gryffindor, is Professor Lupin so when we have our next teachers' meeting I will be asking him if he would mind heading that post."

Harry grinned, he knew that Remus would make a great Head of House. He noticed that Snape had left sometime during their conversation and then realized that they had been sitting there talking for an hour after they had finished their meal. Standing up he said, "We better go and see what Professor Dumbledore wanted to see us about."

Draco nodded and thanked McGonagall for inviting them for lunch before placing a hand on the small of Harry's back, gently guiding him out of the room. On the way to the Headmaster's office the two talked about what they thought he wanted to talk to them about. Neither were really sure though they suspected it had something to do with the baby.

When they got to the gargoyle they realized they had forgotten to ask for the password. They immediately started naming sweets until they found the right one, "peppermint humbugs". They quickly walked up the stairs and came to the door that led to the headmaster's office. Harry knew that Albus's rooms were located next to his office. The only door leading into the rooms was located in his office behind a tapestry of all the past headmaster/headmistresses on it. Harry knocked on the office door though not really expecting an answer. After a few moments of silence the two boys opened the door cautiously before stepping into the office. Finding the room empty, Harry and Draco walked over to the tapestry and pushed it aside to reveal a door. After knocking they heard the headmaster's tired voice call out.

"Come in."

Harry and Draco shared concerned glances. The headmaster wasn't sounding good at all. Harry opened the door and walked in followed by Draco.

"Professor?" Harry said as he walked over to the bed. "Professor McGonagall said that you wanted to see me and Draco."

Albus smiled at the two boys. "Yes, I did." He struggled to sit up so they could talk but wasn't quite able to make it. Seeing this Draco rushed over to the bed and propped up some pillows behind the headmaster's back to help him sit up.

"Ah thank you, Draco. I'm afraid I'm not as strong as I used to be," he said tiredly.

"Professor, how are you feeling?" Harry asked, worry obvious in his voice.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly. "Harry, my boy, I'm no longer your professor. Please call me Albus. And that goes for you too Draco."

Harry blushed lightly. "Right, sorry Albus."

"Now as to your question," Albus went on. " I'm afraid I'm getting worse my boy."

Harry and Draco exchanged concerned looks. Seeing the looks Albus chuckled. "Don't look so concerned boys. As I told you your first year Harry, death is but the next great adventure. And I assure you I intend on enjoying that one as much as I enjoyed this one. Now as for one of the reasons why I asked you to come up here. How is the baby doing, Harry?" Albus asked, eyes twinkling.

Harry smiled as he placed a hand on his stomach. "He's doing great, Albus. Madam Pomfrey says that he's developing normally and that as far as she can tell he's extremely healthy. Only a few more weeks left. I can't wait till he gets here," he replied wistfully.

Draco smiled softly at his boyfriend and placed a hand over Harry's. "Neither one of us can. It will be great to finally meet him."

"Good, good. I'm pleased to know that you are both doing so well. I'm sure the rest of the professors are anxiously awaiting the arrival as well. I know Minerva has been talking about little else."

Harry and Draco shared a look at this. "Albus..." Harry started slowly. He had been wanting to ask this for a while and this seemed like a good time. "Will you be able to be here when the baby arrives?"

The happy look in Albus's eyes left as he once again appeared aged and sickly. "I hope to be, Harry. I hope to be."

The three wizards sat in silence for a few minutes after this announcement. After a few moments Draco came out of his reverie.

"Albus, was there something else you wanted to talk to us about?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you for reminding me, Draco. I wanted to ask you Harry if you had anything lined up as far as a job is concerned?"

Harry blushed and ducked his head. "Actually Albus I don't have anything planned right now. With the baby and everything I didn't think I would be able to get a job anywhere."

"I see. Well, I was wondering if you wanted a job as an Assistant to the Defense professor. Since Remus has planned on staying a while he will need some assistance for when he is unavailable due to the full moon. Remus has said himself that you thought about becoming a teacher at some point and when I brought up this idea of an assistant to him he suggested you and I have to agree with him. My thinking is that you would be an assistant to Remus during his lessons and that you would take over the lessons the day of and the day after each full moon. You would also become the main Defense professor whenever Remus decides to retire."

Harry sat and stared at the headmaster in shock. "I don't know what to say Albus. Are you sure I would be good for the job? And what about the baby? What will I do with him while I'm in lessons?"

"Well, I believe I have a House Elf here at Hogwarts that I'm sure would be willing to help you care for the baby. She has mentioned that she misses taking care of a family."

Harry and Draco looked confused for a moment before it hit Harry who he was talking about. "Winky?"

Albus grinned. "Yes, Winky. She also seems rather fond of you and as I said she wants to work for a family again. What do you think, Harry?"

Harry smiled. "Alright, Albus. Having Winky helping out will make my having a job a lot easier. Thank you, sir."

"You are quite welcome, my boy. I know that Remus had planned on moving back in next week so he can begin planning his lesson plans so you will be able to talk to him about your involvement at that time. Now, before I let you go there is something I would like to discuss with you Draco." Albus said as he turned his twinkling blue eyes on the blond haired boy.

"Yes, Albus?" he asked honestly confused.

"I was going through the applications for the Arithmancy position and I noticed that you had applied."

Draco nodded at this. He had filled it out just before leaving for home. "Yes, that's right. I know that not many are appointed directly out of school, the last being Professor Snape before Harry, but I thought I'd give it a shot," Draco said nervously.

Albus smiled calmly at the obviously nervous boy. "I talked it over with Professor Vector and she said that you were one of the two highest in the lesson in your year. You tied many times with Miss Granger, I believe. Professor Vector, Minerva and I talked it over and we decided that you will be a perfect addition to our faculty."

Draco didn't even register exactly what the headmaster had said nor that he was being practically squished by an overzealous pregnant man. "I - I understand Albus. I didn't really think that you would want..." He was interrupted by Harry's concerned voice.

"Draco...what are you talking about? Didn't you hear what Albus had said? You got the job, Draco!" Harry said beaming.

Draco furrowed his brows and looked to the Headmaster, who was trying to suppress his chuckles. "Yes, Draco. I said that you got the job."

Draco's eyes widened before a large smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Albus. I guess I had myself believing that I wouldn't get the job so that's what I heard you say," he replied, a blush crossing his cheeks.

Albus chuckled softly. "Quite alright Draco. Now I believe you have some fire calls to make so I will let you get to that."

The two boys nodded and Draco stood up first and helped Harry to stand as well. "Thank you again, Albus," Draco said while Harry nodded his agreement. Not waiting for a response, Draco led Harry out of the office and down the stairs.

When the door closed behind them, Albus sighed deeply and laid his head on his lap exhausted. "I truly hope I can be there for the birth of the baby, Harry. I truly do," he whispered, reiterating the promise he made to the raven haired young man earlier, as a single tear slipped down his wrinkled cheek.