A Priceless Gift

Chapter 7

It was two weeks after Harry's argument with Ron and things still had not been resolved between the two. In fact, neither Harry and Draco nor Hermione had heard from Ron since.

Hermione told Harry that Ron had disappeared through the Floo after Harry went to check on Draco and nothing more was said. Harry had explained to Draco everything that had happened and Draco ended up just as angry at Ron as Harry, if not more.

The past two weeks had gone by without incident and the pregnancy appeared to be going smoothly. Hermione had informed the couple that the only pregnancy-related thing she had suffered so far was her missed period and she was more than happy with that.

Draco's 'food poisoning' had disappeared the following morning and Harry was more inclined to think it stress or something.

They had all decided to wait until the pregnancy reached a month before telling anyone else, as the Healer at the fertility clinic told them there was a chance Hermione may miscarry in the early stages of the pregnancy. The time had now come and they had invited Narcissa over for lunch to tell her first and they had invited everyone else over for dinner to break to news.

It was Sunday and Harry was indulging in a sleep-in. He gradually became aware of his surroundings as he woke slowly. Yawning leisurely, he reached out to hug Draco only to discover he was alone in bed. Harry sat up and rubbed his eyes. He couldn't smell coffee or breakfast, and those were usually the only two things Draco would get out of bed before Harry on a weekend for.

"Draco?" Harry called out but got no answer. Harry flipped the covers off and pulled his pyjama pants on when the door to their en suite bathroom opened and Draco emerged. He was donned in only a pair of silver boxers and his hair was still ruffled from sleep. His face was sweaty and he looked as white as a ghost.

"I'm sick again, Harry," Draco said roughly and swallowed to wet his dry throat. "I just spent the last half hour puking my guts up. I never get sick. How can I be this sick twice in two weeks? God, I hope I'm better by tomorrow. I have to be in court at nine." Harry got up and gave Draco a warm hug.

"You should've woken me, baby," Harry told him.

Draco shrugged. "You were sound asleep, you looked so peaceful. I didn't want to disturb you. You don't sleep in often."

"Why don't you hop back into bed and I'll ring your Mum and call off lunch?" Harry suggested but Draco shook his head.

"No, I'm feeling a bit better now, and you know she'll just come no matter what. I might just get a shower and then come help get ready for lunch. Not that I want to eat anything, but I can help get it ready."

"Are you sure? You still look peaky." Harry scrutinized him closely.

"I'm sure," Draco insisted. "Want to join me in the shower?"

"How could I refuse?" Harry laughed.

They had a long, leisurely shower together where Harry gave Draco a soapy neck massage and Draco said he felt even better after it. They dressed in some nice clothes for Narcissa's visit and made their way downstairs to get lunch ready. It was already 11.30am and they were thankful that they had made the meal the night before and it only needed heating in the oven.

The fireplace roared to life and Hermione gracefully appeared. "Morning, boys!" she said and gave them both a hug. Harry and Draco had asked her over to be there when they told Draco's mother the news. "How are my favourite daddies-to-be?"

Harry chuckled "Not too bad. How are you this morning, Hermione?" he asked as he pulled out a kitchen chair for her to sit down. "Coffee or tea?"

"Tea please, but just weak and no sugar," Hermione requested. "This is the second morning running that I've woken up feeling a bit sick. Nothing major though and I'm yet to throw up. The crackers and ginger tea really do help."

"That's good to hear. Remember to just let us know if you need any help or anything, ok?" Draco reminded Hermione for about the tenth time in two weeks. Harry handed Hermione her tea.

"Draco, sweetie can you come and put the lasagne in the oven while I make the salad?" Harry asked and Draco stood up and went over to the fridge. He pulled the covered lasagne out and placed it on the kitchen bench.

"I don't suppose you've heard from Ron?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry said tensely. "And we didn't extend the invitation for dinner tonight to him either. I just can't handle him causing problems."

"No great loss," Draco murmured and pulled the lid off the lasagne dish. The smell of the cheese hit Draco like a ton of bricks and his stomach lurched violently, sending the contents surging up his throat. He turned away abruptly from the sight of the rich lasagne before him and stumbled over to the kitchen sink and vomited for the second time that morning. Harry was by his side in an instant, holding his hair out of his face and rubbing his back.

"Shit! Draco!" Hermione cried with a gasp.

"He's not well again. This is the second time this morning. He said he was vomiting for half an hour this morning when he woke up," Harry told Hermione.

"The poor thing." Hermione shook her head sympathetically. "Is it the flu, do you think?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm getting worried," Harry admitted.

"Stop talking about me as though I'm not here!" Draco coughed and then retched again.

"Sorry baby," Harry said apologetically and gave Hermione a wry smile. Draco was soon reduced to dry heaving, so Harry turned the tap on to wash away the vomit. Draco rinsed his mouth out and turned the tap off and shakily stood up. "Ok, now?" Harry asked in concern.

Before Draco could answer their fireplace roared and Narcissa stepped out. "Boys!" she cried and went over and engulfed both Harry and Draco into a tight hug. Then she stepped back and studied them. She put a finger under Draco's chin and pulled his face up gently. "You're ill, my darling," Narcissa stated.

"How can you tell, Mrs Malfoy?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Narcissa," Draco's mother corrected. "Maternal instinct. I've always been able to tell when he's not well. Not every mother can but I was one of the lucky ones," Narcissa explained. "I must say, Hermione love, you're positively glowing. New lotion?"

"Er, not quite." Hermione cleared her throat and blushed.

"Come and sit down, Draco," Harry urged and gently pulled him over to the kitchen table. "I'll make you some peppermint tea to settle your stomach. Do you want a potion?" Draco shrugged, not really caring what Harry brought him as it was unlikely to stay put for very long.

"Now, Draco darling, tell me what's the matter. You haven't been working too hard again, have you?" Narcissa asked gently and took her son's hand.

"I'm fine, Mum," Draco sighed.

"I can tell when he's lying too," Narcissa said pointedly. Draco just rolled his eyes. "Fine, Harry will tell me, won't you, Harry love?"

"He's thrown up twice this morning," Harry stated without hesitation and just raised an eyebrow when Draco glared at him. He put a small cup of peppermint tea in front of his boyfriend and a cup of coffee with a piece of cake in front of Narcissa. Draco took one whiff of the coffee and gagged into his hand.

"Harry, take the cake away," Hermione said quickly and Harry rapidly removed it from the table. Draco kept his hand over his nose and mouth and dry heaved, so Harry took the coffee and tea away too.

"Is the sight of food bothering you?" Harry asked as he came back and sat in the chair next to Draco. Draco took his hand away and drew a deep breath.

"It was the smell of the coffee," Draco admitted with a frown. "But I love coffee..."

"Maybe you should go to the Healer?" Harry suggested tentatively and pressed a tiny vial of stomach settling potion into Draco's palm.

"But I don't feel sick all the time. It's just sort of a mild nausea which only gets really bad right before I throw up and I feel better afterwards," Draco insisted and downed the potion. "It's probably just stress from..." He stopped abruptly and glanced at his mother.

"What's going on?" Narcissa demanded immediately.

"Do you guys mind if we talk about this now?" Draco asked Harry and Hermione. "I don't think I can sit through lunch."

"Not at all," Hermione said and settled back in her chair.

"Do you think you can stomach the tea, sweetie?" Harry asked and Draco nodded.

"It was the coffee," Draco insisted. "Mum, do you mind having tea instead?" Narcissa shook her head and Draco pulled his wand out and conjured a pot of tea and some cups. Harry retrieved Draco's peppermint tea and came back to join everyone at the table.

"Mum, Hermione's offered to have a baby for Harry and I and she's now nearly five weeks pregnant," Draco blurted out and Harry gaped at him.

"You can't just dump it on her like that!" Harry gasped.

Narcissa, however, didn't look shocked, just overjoyed. "I'm going to be a nanna?!" she squealed and clapped her hands. "Oh my darlings! This is fabulous news! Hermione, you are an amazing young lady! You all have to tell me everything." She was up in a flash and cooing at Hermione's stomach and rubbing it lovingly.

"You're not upset or anything, Narcissa?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Why would I be upset? This is unbelievable! My boys are going to be daddies! Who is the biological father?" Narcissa asked, which received identical shrugs from Harry and Draco. "This didn't happen when you were all drunk, did it?" she asked suspiciously. "Not that there is anything wrong with that, if you are that way inclined..."

Harry, Draco and Hermione all burst out laughing. "No offence, Hermione, but I couldn't be drunk enough to sleep with a woman!" Draco cried and wiped tears of laughter from his eyes.

"Hey, none taken," Hermione giggled. "I couldn't be drunk enough to sleep with a woman either!" Draco grinned and nudged her playfully in the arm.

"Well, do I get an explanation then? Or was this an immaculate conception?" Narcissa asked in amusement.

"We both gave, er, donations, Narcissa," Harry explained with a blush.

"Oh, that explains a lot then," Narcissa laughed. "You two have me worried sometimes. I know the sorts of things you get up to. Don't think I believed for a moment that you two were only admiring the décor in the sauna at the Manor that day. It might have been believable if you both weren't naked from the waist down!"

"MUM!" Draco cried and looked away. Harry had dropped his face into his hands and was moaning in embarrassment.

"Oh come on, boys," Narcissa teased. "I know you're both way beyond a quick snog and a grope in the bathroom. Don't be so embarrassed!" Narcissa winked at Hermione.

"You aren't supposed to talk about these sorts of things! You're my mother!" Draco protested with a shudder.

"Mothers don't know about sex?" Narcissa scoffed. "You two will be pleased to know that you don't give up sex just because you become a parent."

"But you aren't supposed to talk about it with your kid!" Draco argued and slapped his hands over his ears. "La la la la la! I can't hear you!"

Narcissa laughed and ruffled Draco's hair. "You always were a drama queen, son," she said affectionately. She pulled Draco's hands away from his ears. "I'll stop. I promise." Draco just scowled at her. "Now, tell me more about the baby."

o o o o o

"I'm so nervous. My stomach is churning," Draco moaned and clutched his stomach.

Harry chuckled and came up behind Draco and wrapped his arms around Draco's waist and rubbed his abdomen. "Why are you nervous, love? These are our closest friends and family. They are going to be happy for us. You know that. Just calm down."

"I don't think I can eat," Draco protested and turned in Harry's arms to cuddle close to his chest. "Shit, what have we gotten ourselves into? They're going to laugh or scoff at us! Us, Harry! Potter and Malfoy having a child! It's almost criminal!"

Harry laughed. "Are you sure one of your middle names isn't 'drama queen'? How can you go from perfectly cool, calm and collected to nearly pissing yourself from nerves in such a short space of time? You've been a right mess lately, love. Settle a bit, ok? You don't have to eat," Harry told him. He took out his wand and summoned a stomach settling potion to him. "Take this. It helped this morning when you took it."

Draco nodded and pulled the stopper from the vial and swallowed it. "I need to ask Sev if it's possible I can have too much of this stuff... Do you really think they'll be happy?"

"I don't doubt it! Think about who's coming for a moment..." Harry urged, "Hermione, your Mum, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Remus, Severus, and Pansy. All the most important people who deserve to know first that we are having a baby. We've been together for years, Draco. They all accept our relationship. They are going to be happy for us. Trust me, ok?"

The doorbell rang and Draco sighed. "Alright, I trust you. How come they aren't Flooing?"

"I didn't want a heap of people falling out of our fire and making a mess. It took me all afternoon to clean up the house. I told them to Apparate behind the deserted service station across the road and just ring our doorbell when they arrive," Harry explained and swiped at some missed dust on the mantle with his hand.

"You get the door and I'll check on dinner?" Draco offered.

"I can do the food if your stomach is still upset."

"No, the potion helped. Its fine," Draco said with a smile. "I'm a bit excited now, actually."

"Good. You should be!" Harry smiled and gave Draco a kiss as the doorbell sounded again. "Impatient bastards!" Harry pulled a face and then raced to answer the door.

"Harry!" Remus Lupin cried and engulfed Harry in a firm hug. "Thank you for the invite. I must say, I'm rather intrigued. 'Something to tell me', indeed."

"Sorry, Remus," Harry said sheepishly. "We wanted to tell everyone all at once."

"They haven't passed the laws yet, have they? I'm sure I would've heard if they had," Remus stated. "Or at least seen it splashed all other the Daily Prophet."

"No, we aren't getting married yet," Harry laughed.

"What else could you possibly need to announce?" Remus wondered.

"Stop trying to trick me into telling you early!" Harry scolded good-naturedly.

"Ah, was worth a shot," Remus teased. "Where is that lovely other half of yours? Something smells delicious."

"Seeing to dinner in the kit - oomf!" Harry was cut off as Mrs Weasley seemed to appear out of nowhere and he was wrapped in another suffocating hug.

"It's good to see you, Harry dear!" Mrs Weasley cooed. "Look at you, looking all handsome in your lovely jeans and gorgeous blue shirt. Where is Draco?" She released Harry and peered inside while she swiped at an almost non-existent wrinkle on his shoulder. Harry noticed Ginny and Mr Weasley standing behind her sniggering.

"Kitchen," Harry choked out and gasped for breath. "Come in everyone. Just go through to the living room." Ginny took Harry's hand and squeezed it with a grin as she walked past and Harry gave her a questioning look. It was almost as if Ginny knew what was going on, but he was sure Hermione wouldn't say anything. Maybe Ron had in a fit of anger?

Harry went to close the door when Severus Snape appeared and gave Harry a cool gaze with one eyebrow cocked. "Harry," he said simply.

"Professor," Harry greeted and held out his hand. "Thank you for coming."

Severus shook Harry's hand. "Draco was quite insistent when I spoke to him and Narcissa all but threatened me when I spoke to her this afternoon about coming tonight. I must admit, spending a night surrounded by ex-students and very distant acquaintances is not my idea of socialising."

"This isn't a social visit. It's important. Draco wanted you here," Harry insisted. "You know we wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important. Despite being a snarky shit, you're still his godfather and he values your opinion."

Severus stared at Harry before clearing his throat. "I take it this is about the same sex marriage laws?"

"No, nothing to do with it, actually," Harry said, taking great pleasure in proving Snape wrong, who cocked his eyebrow again.

"Oh?"

"Yes, but you can wait like everyone else to hear what we have to say," Harry said dryly and stepped aside to let Severus in. "Draco is in the kitchen if you wish to greet him." Severus said nothing more and just brushed past Harry and into the house.

Soon after, Narcissa, Hermione and Pansy arrived together and suddenly Harry and Draco were very aware that they had a houseful of guests they needed to tell they had a bundle of joy arriving in eight short months. They had decided to make the announcement before dinner to avoid any unfortunate choking incidents. Draco had set up some nibbles in the living room and once Harry was assured everyone had a drink in their hand, he stood up and cleared his throat.

"Um, can I have everyone's attention for a minute?" Harry asked and everyone stopped their chatter and looked at him expectantly. "Um, well," he cleared his throat, "you know we asked you all here for a reason and uh..." Harry indicated Draco to come stand next to him. Draco stood up with a smile and put his arm around Harry's waist.

"Do you want me to say it, love? You're stumbling over your words and I'm sure everyone wants to eat before midnight," Draco offered with a smirk and everyone laughed. Narcissa had already pulled out a handkerchief and was wiping away tears of happiness, earning her two confused stares from Mrs Weasley and Ginny.

"Yeah sure," Harry mumbled and blushed.

"We've actually asked you all here because we have news, some fantastic news that we wanted to share with you all. Hermione, you should be up here with us, love." Draco motioned for her to stand and she flushed slightly before getting up and standing next to Harry awkwardly. "Hermione, here, is the most amazing woman on the face of the earth. She has unbelievably offered Harry and I something we never thought was possible and in turn she has made us the happiest couple in the world. We can't thank her enough and she's taken to telling us to shut the hell up when we try." Everyone chuckled at this and Hermione smirked. "She has offered to have a baby for us. We have accepted her priceless gift and she is now just over a month pregnant with our baby."

The silence was deafening. No one said anything for a few shocked moments until everyone exploded in noisy chatter and sobbing.

"Oh my fucking god!" Ginny screeched. "I thought you were going to just announce your official engagement! A baby! Bloody hell! Hermione, why didn't you tell me?!"

Hermione laughed. "It was not my place to tell!"

"Oh, my dears!" Mrs Weasley sobbed and Harry and Draco were once again tackled in a hug. Hermione was soon pulled into it. "Oh, I'm so proud of you all! What wonderful news! Hermione, you sweetheart!" She pulled back and conjured a set of knitting needles and plopped down next to Mr Weasley and starting knitting baby booties. Harry and Draco shared a brief, amused looked.

Pansy jumped up and kissed Draco on both his cheeks. "Congratulations, Draco honey. You both deserve this, so, so much!" Draco started crying in happiness then and lost his ability to speak.

Remus approached them with a huge grin on his face. "Hermione, you amazing, amazing young woman," Remus gushed and kissed the back of her hand. "Harry, Draco, you both have my complete support with this. You are both going to be wonderful parents. I'm so proud of you!" That was the end of Harry then, and he too started crying; happy tears spilling down his cheeks. They both earned slaps on the back from Mr Weasley, who asked if he could use their Floo to tell the rest of his family the good news.

The only person who had yet to react was Severus. He was standing by their fireplace watching the scene with an unreadable expression on his face. Draco realised then that his godfather had not offered his opinion and he stepped over to him, wiping the tears from his eyes hastily.

"Severus," Draco choked out tentatively. Narcissa was eying the scene intently and looked ready to jump Severus if he so much as breathed on Draco incorrectly. Harry bit his lip worriedly. He knew how much stock Draco put in his godfather's opinions and yearned for his approval. Severus rarely disapproved of anything Draco did, but Draco was always desperate to show he was what his mother and godfather expected him to be.

This was why Draco was visibly shaken when Severus grabbed Draco by the shoulders and pulled him close to his chest in an accepting hug, his hand coming up to stroke the back of Draco's blond hair. Harry actually heard Narcissa exhale in relief. "Congratulations, son," Severus murmured and Draco clung to him, but Severus discreetly pushed him back, not wishing to show more public display of affection than necessary to assure Draco of his approval. He turned to Harry and shook Harry's hand and nodded his head.

"Well, this calls for a toast!" Remus shouted and held grabbed his wand and soon everyone's beverage turned into champagne, excluding Hermione, who had sparkling apple juice. He held up his glass. "To Harry and Draco! May we wish them our sincerest congratulations and wish them the best on their path to parenthood!"

"HARRY AND DRACO!" everyone cried and the clinking of glasses sound around the room as Harry and Draco hugged each other tightly and shared a brief, but happy kiss in front of their loved-ones.