Those Crazy Nine Months

CHAPTER ONE

Swinging his duffel happily as he strolls down the street, vibrant green eyes scan the houses in front of him. On the duffel bag is the orange crest of the Chudley Cannons, and around his neck is a silver necklace adorned with a silver snitch pendant.

The smile on his face brightens as he comes to a stop in front of a soft-blue house with dark blue trim, and of all things a white picket fence. Relaxing on the front porch swing is a young man, in about his mid twenties, and an infant child.

Quietly the green-eyed man slips through the fence, and walks up to the sleeping ones. Smiling down at the soft brown hair of both father and child, he wonders how he got so lucky. Gently he presses a kiss on the baby's forehead, before awakening the man with a soft kiss on his lips.

Golden brown eyes flutter open, as the man says softly, 'Harry... You're home early...'

'Good morning, Michael...' Harry replies, his voice fading as does the world around him. With a disappointed moan he realizes it was just... a dream.

"Morning to you too, Sleepyhead," a male voice chuckles, pushing gently on his shoulder.

Harry Potter, once known to all of the Wizarding world as The Boy Who Lived and the Defeater of the Dark Lord - He Who Must Not Be Named, groans playfully as he shoves the hand from his shoulder. Stretching while he yawns, Harry opens his eyes to see the brown haired man from his dream sitting up in the bed next to him. "Do I have to get up...?" he groans as he buries his face in his pillow.

"Only if you want to keep your job. I personally am partial to eating, and living in a house instead of a box, so I am heading out soon. Just thought I'd make sure you were awake first," Michael replies, his golden eyes twinkling with mischief.

Grinning to himself with his face still tucked into his pillow, Harry snakes out an arm and pulls Michael down to his level. He lifts his head just enough to capture Michael's mouth in a kiss. He can feel his lover smile and respond to his kiss, and all feels right.

As he pulls away, Michael says, "Well now that I know you're awake, I guess I'll be on my way! Don't forget we've got dinner plans with Luca and Jenny. 7 o'clock. Be ready this time? Luc will never forgive us if we bail again." Gifting his boyfriend with one last kiss, he stands from the bed and smoothes his clothes.

"It wasn't just my fault we were running late," Harry says, blushing softly as he sits up and pulls the covers around himself.

Michael smiles softly, waving a bit as he says, "Either way; I've got to run. Be home later though."

Harry nods, smiling as his lover leaves the bedroom. A moment later he can hear the front door of their flat closing and locking. Slowly standing from his bed, Harry is overcome by a wave of unexpected nausea. Almost moving as fast as he can fly, he speeds down the hallway to the bathroom. A few minutes later he lifts his head from the edge of the toilet, and stands. Splashing his face with water from the sink, he looks at his reflection in the mirror. "You look like death warmed over," he says to his reflection. It can't talk for itself because it is only a muggle mirror.

Not long after the final battle with Voldemort, in which he won of course, Harry Potter had retreated to the muggle world for a time. While there weren't many casualties for the Order's side, it seemed to Harry that it had all been the most important people that died. Sirius had been gone since his fifth year at Hogwarts, and most of his roommates from Gryffindor had perished in the final battle. Of the Weasleys there was only Molly, Ginny, the twins, and Charlie left. Ron and Bill had died in the final battle, and Percy died trying to protect his father Arthur, who passed on shortly after.

Hermione and that Slytherin Malfoy both survived. As did, miraculously, Professor Dumbledore. Supposedly Malfoy saved his life, but Harry is reluctant to believe it. All in all the survivors far outnumbered the death toll and most people were able to pick up their lives where they left off. It seemed, of all the Wizarding World, the Weasleys were hit the worst. It was only a month of being treated as a Hero, and not being able to properly mourn his friends, before he snapped and fled the Wizarding World.

It was only a short while before he realized he missed it. Everything. Flying, his friends, his old professors, Quidditch, even Diagon Alley. After a few weeks of thought he came to a decision. He decided to work in the Wizarding World, but live in the Muggle World. All was good for a time.

Both Puddlemere United and the Chudley Cannons wanted him on their teams. In remembrance of Ron, he chose to accept the Cannons' offer, and became their back-up seeker.

During his off days, he got a part time job in a muggle coffee shop. It was drudgework but it bought the food and gave him a chance to interact with muggles. It was there that he met Michael Parish, a young American man who attended the local culinary college.

They dated for almost a year before Michael's funding was cut short due to a falling out with his parents, and he lost his housing. The money he had saved, and the money he made from his job were enough to cover basic expenses such as tuition and books, but what good would that do him if he starved or froze to death?

So Harry invited his boyfriend to live with him. It's been three months since then, and it's almost time for the school and Quidditch seasons to begin again. Unfortunately for the last week or so, Harry has been throwing up. Every morning.