A Priceless Gift

Lani

Story Summary:
Hermione offers Harry and Draco the ultimate gift. What happens when the tables are turned and Draco gets more than he bargained for?

Chapter 16 - Chapter 15

Posted:
02/06/2006
Hits:
1,680
Author's Note:
Many thanks to my Beta, Malikamoonbeam!


Chapter 15

The pregnancy had reached its twelfth week, and Draco still had no relief from his Couvade Syndrome.

Hermione's suggested 'resting' strategy had helped somewhat. Harry had adjusted to their new sleeping patterns and he no longer felt so tired. Draco, however, had just resigned himself to the lethargy and often fell asleep at strange times when he wasn't at work, and even a couple of times when he was at work. Thankfully both times were when he was alone in his office and not during staff meetings. This had also put a dampener on their social life as Draco rarely felt like going out or visiting anyone.

One thing that didn't suffer from Draco's exhaustion was their sex life. No matter how tired Draco seemed, he could be horny and all over Harry at the blink of an eye. If Harry thought they had christened their home by having sex in every room when they moved in, he was wrong. Not only had they done it in every room ten times over (or so it seemed to Harry), every surface was now effectively debauched and various items of Harry's wardrobe had become casualties to Draco's sexual appetite. It came to the point that they had to close off their Floo, asking friends and family to Owl or call in advance if they intended to visit because the couple had been caught in the act not only by Hermione and Ron more than once, but also Narcissa, Remus, and Mr and Mrs Weasley, much to Harry's embarrassment.

Draco had lost more weight than Harry was comfortable with, and the only thing that kept him from becoming malnourished was Draco's cravings for unbelievably sweet and fatty foods; of which he ate in abundance. Some of Draco's requests had left Harry gagging while his boyfriend savoured one strange concoction after another.

The smell of food no longer made Draco sick, but coffee was still banished from their home. Draco's ritual with the bucket in the mornings had eased and he rarely woke up feeling nauseous anymore. Instead, he had taken to just spontaneously vomiting for no apparent reason at any time of the day. Harry was mystified by the sporadic vomiting bouts and found them quite amusing.

One day they had been shopping in Diagon Alley when Draco had abruptly turned and upchucked into the nearest rubbish bin. On another occasion, upon a visit to the Burrow to see Mrs Weasley, midway through an animated conversation with her about baby clothes, Draco had launched himself out their backdoor and vomited rather spectacularly over their back stoop. The most recent inopportune puking was during a client conference with a little old lady who was settling her deceased husband's estate. Thankfully, she was very sympathetic, and Draco wasn't sure whether to be grateful or offended when she offered Draco a breath mint.

Much to Harry's disapproval of himself, he was torn between sympathy for his boyfriend's suffering and the urge to laugh at Draco's inconvenient stomach upheavals.

Hermione found it hilarious and was convinced that Draco was right; he was suffering from karma for all his past sins of picking on them incessantly during Hogwarts. Her own morning sickness had all but stopped, and backaches were really her only problem. Draco had given her the finger when she told him this and left Hermione snorting with laughter.

Harry was standing in front of the full length mirror in their bedroom trying to quickly do the buttons up on his shirt when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and tackled onto the bed. Draco was kneeling across him in moments with his lips wrapped around Harry's earlobe and a hand down the front of Harry's jeans.

"Merlin, Draco! Not again! We have to get to that appointment!" Harry cried and tried to push his randy boyfriend off him. Draco was determined, however, and took Harry's arm, pinning it to the bed. Harry felt Draco's dick pressing into his hip. "How the bloody hell are you so hard again?!"

"Fuck me, Harry," Draco panted. "Please? Just a quickie? Even just a hand job will do!"

"I couldn't even if we had time! You're wearing me out!"

Draco stopped his ministrations and abruptly rolled off Harry. "Fine, you don't want me. I'm fat and unsexy and you hate it!"

"Oh for -" Harry threw up his hands. "I had you four times this morning! How could you think I don't want you?! We just don't have time now... oh god, not the tears again!" he sighed in exasperation as Draco sniffled and looked away. "And you are not fat; it just a little fluid retention."

"Fuck you! I can't even get my ring on! Look!" Draco held up his hands. "My fingers look like flesh eating slugs!" Harry gazed at Draco's immaculate, manicured hands.

"There's nothing wrong with them," Harry started. "They're as sexy as always."

"You really think so?" Draco asked and gave Harry a look from beneath his long eyelashes.

"I know so," Harry confirmed. "In fact, if you let me take a rain check on your spontaneous seduction, I promise to suck each and every one of your sexy, gorgeous fingers tonight."

"You don't need to patronise me just because you think I'm a bloated pregnant pansy," Draco huffed.

"Fine, I won't suck your fingers tonight," Harry said with a shrug and pushed himself up off the bed.

"I didn't say that!" Draco argued. "You can suck them if you really want to."

"Can I, now?" Harry smirked.

"I'd really prefer you did it now, though."

"There's no time and you know it," Harry scolded.

Draco scowled back at him. "Fine! I'll go wank then if you have no interest in helping me!" he snapped, flinging himself into the bathroom and slamming the door. A second later, Harry heard the lock on the door snap shut, and he sighed.

"I'll go to the appointment without you," Harry called through the door.

"You wouldn't!" came Draco's horrified cry, and he threw the door open again. Harry smirked when he saw Draco standing there red-faced, hands on hips and zipper undone.

"Yeah, I would. It's obvious you think your dick is more important than our baby," Harry replied flippantly.

"You're a bastard!" Draco screeched. "How dare you say that?!"

"Then get your arse ready so we can leave!" Harry said firmly.

"You don't even care I'm feeling like this," Draco sniffed.

"I'm not biting this time, Draco," Harry said. "Get ready or I will leave without you." Draco glared furiously at Harry for one last time before he stalked back into the bathroom. Harry heard Draco slam up the toilet seat and start relieving himself.

When Draco came out of the bathroom, his hair was brushed and his face was clean, but he still had a nasty scowl on his face. "It's your fault I have to go to this appointment with a hard-on," he sneered at Harry.

Harry just rolled his eyes, grabbed his jacket, and walked out of the room.

o o o o o

Harry, Draco, and Hermione were now on their way to Hermione's first ultrasound to check the development of the baby. They were driving to the appointment at St Mungo's, as Draco was still having problems with magical travel means.

"So, what is this thing we are going to?" Draco asked for the first time as he sucked on a lollipop. He seemed to have gotten over his mood by the time they got into the car and was even resting his hand lightly on Harry's thigh as they made their way to the hospital. "I know nothing about what procedures a pregnant person has to go through."

Harry had been wondering when Draco would finally pipe up and ask what was going on. As it was, Draco had just gone along with everything, having actually been lost in a large bowl of raspberry jelly and tomato sauce when Harry had told him about the appointment.

"The Healer will run this little thing over Hermione's stomach, and it will take a picture of what the baby looks like to see how he or she is growing." Harry explained as he manoeuvred the car into a line of traffic.

"Oh," was Draco's response.

"Harry, don't drive so fast, we have plenty of time," Hermione scolded. Draco fell silent as he pulled the lollipop out of his mouth, put it back in the wrapper and started fidgeting. Harry glanced at him quickly before looking back to the car in front of him.

"I'm not driving that fast." Harry scowled but slowed down anyway.

"Can you park near the main entrance when we get there? I've got to meet someone. I told them the main en -" Hermione started but was cut off by Draco.

"HARRY, STOP!" Draco cried desperately and Harry slammed on the breaks automatically, causing Hermione to shriek in surprise and brace herself on the seat in front of her. Luckily they weren't on a busy strip of road and no one was in front or behind them.

Draco had both hands pressed to him mouth and Harry quickly eased the car to the side of the road. Draco reefed off his seatbelt and hastily flung open the car door. He didn't get two steps from the car before he lost his breakfast.

"Back in a sec," Harry told Hermione, as he took off his own seatbelt and climbed out of the car. He hurried around to Draco, who was leaning over and steadying himself with his hands on his knees while he threw up. Harry pulled Draco's hair back from his face and held it in place while he rubbed Draco's heaving back.

"Urgh," Draco groaned as he stopped throwing up and stared down at what had just come out of him. "Don't ever let me eat whatever that was again." Harry stifled a laugh and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, which he had taken to carrying since Draco's spontaneous vomits. He handed it to Draco to wipe his mouth.

Draco straightened up and drew some deep breaths as he cleaned himself up. Harry then pulled out a packet of breath mints and handed one to Draco. Draco gratefully accepted it. "See, what would I do without you, honey?" Draco chuckled weakly.

"Well, you wouldn't have anyone to sneer at during a mood swing," Harry pointed out, and Draco smacked him softly in the arm.

They climbed back into the car, and Draco rested his head against the cool glass window as Harry started the engine and pulled out onto the road. "Sorry about that, Hermione," Draco said. "I didn't mean to startle Harry into slamming on the breaks. I just don't usually get much warning, so..."

"Hey, I find it amusing," Hermione laughed. Draco turned around and glared at her.

"I'm glad I'm such a good source of entertainment," Draco huffed.

"How much warning do you get?" Hermione asked curiously. "Just nausea or what? I always knew quite a bit before that I was going to be sick. Well, enough to make it to the bathroom."

"No, the nausea is there so often I'm used to it. It's hard to describe. It's just like a thick feeling at the back of my throat, then my mouth starts to water and my stomach will give this, like, abrupt lurch. That's about it. As soon as I get that feeling in my throat, I know I only have moments," Draco explained.

"We're nearly there. You can compare puking strategies later. You said the main entrance, Hermione?" Harry asked as they approached the abandoned looking building, which was actually St Mungo's.

"Yes please," Hermione said.

"Who are you meeting?" Draco asked and Hermione cleared her throat.

"Um, Ron," she said with a little cough. Draco turned quickly in his seat and looked at her. Harry turned the car into the entrance to the building and once they were through, the view changed to show a significant hospital building surrounded by beautiful gardens with a car park for wizards and witches who owned cars.

"Ron, hey?" Draco asked as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

"He wanted to come and -" Hermione was once again cut off.

"Hold your hand? How sweet," Draco cooed sarcastically. Harry sent him a warning glare as he pulled the car into a free space.

"No," Hermione bit out. "He wanted to show his support. For. All. Of. Us."

"Oh, of course," Draco said with an elaborate wave of his hand. "All of us."

"Draco, quit it," Harry warned as he wrapped an arm around Draco's waist.

"Yeah, shut up, puke boy, or you won't be suffering a sympathetic pregnancy any longer because you'll be dead!" Hermione snapped.

Draco sniggered. "Oh, that hurts," he teased and placed a hand over his heart. "I'm so abused. Hear that, Harry? Domestic abuse from the woman carrying our baby." Harry shook his head and Hermione chuckled despite herself.

They walked in silence for a few minutes when Draco turned to Harry. "I'm worried about this thing. What if the baby looks nothing like me?" Draco bit his lip. Hermione snorted and Harry smiled to himself.

"It's not an actual photo of the baby that we see, sweetie. It's just more like an image of the outline of the baby. We probably won't even be able to tell that it's a baby we are looking at. You won't see any actual features," Harry explained and Draco frowned.

"Well, what's the fucking point of that?" Draco snapped. "It's just like a Muggle one! What good are we as magical people if we can't even advance on Muggle technology?"

"It's so a Healer can see that the baby is developing at the correct rate. Whilst we might not be able to read the images on the screen, Jenny will know exactly what she is looking at. There is no need for any further detailed picture to gain that information. But, she may be able to tell the sex of the baby," Hermione said and glanced at the couple.

"We don't want to know that yet, do we, honey?" Draco asked Harry.

"Um, I'd sort of like to wait until the birth," Harry admitted and Draco nodded in agreement. "You don't mind, do you, Hermione? I mean, if you want to know yourself, that's fine, but we'd rather wait."

"Well, if she does find the sex, I think I would probably prefer to know. I can start thinking of him or her as your son or daughter then. It will help me distance myself," Hermione reasoned. "Would you have a problem with me knowing before you?"

"No, not at all," Harry said and looked to Draco for confirmation.

"Makes no difference to me. Just so long as you don't let it slip," Draco said with a shrug.

"I'll be extremely careful. I won't tell anyone else," Hermione promised.

"Not even Ron?" Draco teased.

"Oh please. Ronald Weasley has the world's biggest mouth. I wouldn't tell him even if we were shagging ourselves stupid," Hermione scoffed.

"So you admit you want to shag him?" Draco pressed and Hermione just gave him a bored look.

"Give it up, Malfoy," Hermione snorted. Draco just grinned.

"Hey Harry, speaking of shagging...?" Draco reached around and pinched Harry's arse.

"Bloody hell, Draco. Don't you ever let him rest?" Ron's voice piped up from ahead of them. He walked over and gave Hermione a small peck on the cheek causing Harry and Draco's eyebrows to shoot up simultaneously. Before they could say anything, Hermione looked pointedly at her watch.

"We better hurry. We're going to be late," she said.

They approached the clinic and passed a vending machine. Draco looked back at it longingly. "Harry..." he whined, but Harry kept his arm firmly around Draco's waist and kept walking.

"No, baby. Not so soon after you've been sick," Harry said firmly.

Draco smacked his lips and scowled. "I only want one Mars Bar..." Draco grumbled. "Ok, maybe two, but I'll give you a bite!"

"No," Harry answered shortly.

They entered the prenatal clinic and found Jenny standing at the reception desk. "Oh hello! Right on time, wonderful. You can come straight through with me." Jenny ushered them into a little room with lots of equipment much like the Muggle-style ultrasound machine but running entirely on magic. "Have you drunk your two litres of water, Hermione?"

"Sure have and I'm busting for the toilet," Hermione laughed.

"Oh, me too," Draco groaned and Harry snorted in amusement.

Jenny smiled warmly at both Draco and Hermione. "Then we best speed things up," she said. "Just duck into that cubicle, Hermione, and slip on the gown in there then come back through and lie on the table." Hermione disappeared into the cubicle and Jenny realised there was an extra person in the Potter-Malfoy party. "I'm sorry, we haven't met. I'm Hermione's Healer, Jenny." Jenny held her hand out to Ron.

"I'm Ron Weasley, Hermione and Harry's best friend. Nice to meet you." Ron shook Jenny's hand.

"Oh, yes. Hermione's told me a lot about you." Jenny smiled warmly, Harry and Draco sniggered. Hermione came out and climbed up onto the table, and Harry saw Ron looked appreciatively at Hermione's legs.

"Harry, I really do need to pee," Draco whispered to Harry but everyone else heard too.

"Then you can wait just like Hermione has to," Harry replied. Draco sniffed, feeling put out. Jenny placed a sheet across Hermione's lap and pulled her gown up just above her stomach.

"Hermione..." Harry breathed. "You're showing!" He reached out to touch her stomach but pulled back, thinking it inappropriate. Hermione laughed.

"Yes, just. You can touch, Harry. I don't mind." Hermione smiled. She took Harry's hand and placed it on her exposed, swollen stomach. Harry made a funny little sound in the back of his throat when his hand touched Hermione's stomach, and he turned to look at Draco with a huge grin on his face. "You too, Draco love," Hermione urged and Draco hesitantly inched closer, ghosting his fingers over the swollen bump.

"Oh wow," Draco breathed. "Our baby is in there, Harry!"

"Why don't we take a look then?" Jenny asked, still smiling. She had a soft spot for this couple; they never failed to give her a chuckle. Harry nodded eagerly and pulled Draco close to him. "Do you want to know the sex of the baby?"

"No," Draco said firmly. "But you can tell Hermione."

Jenny nodded as she squirted some gel onto Hermione's abdomen. "Sorry about the cold, Hermione. It probably won't help your need for the toilet, but I'll be as quick as I can. Ok, let's see... look up to the screen there and you'll see the image." Jenny rolled the small pad over Hermione's stomach and a tiny black blob appeared on the screen.

Everyone's eyes turned enthusiastically to the screen. Jenny stopped moving the pad and held it into place. "There you are, boys. That's your baby's head." Harry's hand came up to his mouth, and he gasped sharply.

"Oh my god, it's so tiny," Harry whispered. Draco gaped at the screen, frozen with a death grip on Harry's hand. Jenny reached around a flicked on a switch near the screen and soft thudding noise filled the room.

"And that," Jenny said with a smile as she watched Harry and Draco, "is your baby's heartbeat."

Draco stepped over to the screen and ran his finger over the image. Harry bit his lip and watched Draco intently. Draco turned to look at Harry, and Harry saw that Draco's face was wet with tears. "Our baby, Harry," he whispered with a sob. Harry felt his own tears spill onto his cheeks. He stepped over to engulf Draco tightly to his chest. Hermione brushed frantically at her own eyes, and Ron came over to her and offered her a handkerchief, which she took gratefully with a smile.

Jenny printed out a copy of the image off the screen and handed it to Harry. "There you go, hon, your first baby picture." Harry took the picture and stared at it in awe while Draco continued to sob forcefully into Harry's chest. "Why don't you step into my office through that door, and we'll come through when I finish up with the usual necessities. There's a box of tissues on my desk and a toilet through the door to the left." Harry nodded silently and led Draco into the room; he caught Hermione and Ron's encouraging grins as he closed the door behind him.

Harry pushed Draco gently into one of the patient chairs and knelt in front of him. Draco had stopped sobbing and was gulping and hiccupping. Harry grabbed a tissue and brushed the tears from Draco's face before giving him a kiss. "Ok, baby?" Harry asked with a smile.

"I'm just so happy, Harry!" Draco cried and took a breath to stop anymore tears. Harry caressed Draco's cheek and then held the photo in front of Draco's face. Draco took it with a shaky hand and gave a watery smile to Harry.

"First baby picture." Harry grinned. "Wait til your Mum sees that!"

Draco laughed softly. "It's just..." he started and then dropped his head onto Harry's shoulder tiredly. "It didn't feel real until now. I mean, don't get me wrong, the Couvade symptoms felt very real but it never made it feel real real, you know? But now, look..." Draco pulled back and handed the photo back to Harry. "That's our baby, Harry. Ours."

"Sure is. And you're going to be a wonderful daddy," Harry cooed. Draco grinned at him.

"You think so?" Draco asked insecurely.

"I know so," Harry insisted. "There's a toilet just through there. Why don't you go and do what you need and wash your face. They should be back through soon." Draco went into the small toilet and closed the door just as Ron entered the room.

"Hey mate. Draco ok?" Ron asked as he plopped into one of the chairs. "That's the first time I've seen him cry."

"He's been doing that a lot lately. He's fine. Just emotional," Harry chuckled. "Where are Hermione and Jenny?"

"Oh, Jenny's telling Hermione the baby's sex," Ron said and Harry grinned. "That's why she coaxed you two to leave the room."

"She found it?" Harry asked eagerly.

"Yep, but Hermione suggested I leave on account of my big mouth and all." Ron grinned sheepishly at Harry and Harry laughed. "I can't believe you're going to be a father, Harry. It's un-fucking-believable! Bloody brilliant, I'll say. It seems so long ago since we first met in our first year on the Hogwarts Express..." Ron broke off wistfully.

"I know," Harry agreed. "I never thought I'd be the first of the three of us to have a child, though."

Draco came out of the bathroom at the same time as Jenny and Hermione came back from the ultrasound room. Hermione had a huge grin on her face and she gave Harry the thumbs up.

"What?" Draco asked as he sat back down next to Harry. Hermione sat next to Ron and Jenny sat behind her desk.

"Hermione just found out the sex of the baby," Harry explained.

"Ooo, give me a clue then!" Draco bounced up and down.

Harry glared at him. "I thought you didn't want to know!" he cried.

"I don't, I just want a clue! I hate not knowing things," Draco huffed.

"Sorry guys, my lips are sealed. You'll kick yourselves if you find out early," Hermione insisted.

"Now, there is just something else I want to discuss before you leave," Jenny said and clasped her hands in front of her on the desk.

"What's that, Jenny? There's nothing wrong with the baby is there?" Harry asked urgently.

"No, no, the baby is growing perfectly and at the appropriate rate," Jenny assured them. "It's Draco's health I want to discuss."

"Me?" Draco squeaked.

"Mmhmm." Jenny nodded.

"I haven't done anything wrong!" Draco scowled in irritation.

"I can see just from looking at you that you've lost a distinct amount of weight. Is this from the Couvade Syndrome?" Jenny asked.

"Yes. I just can't control the throwing up. I've tried everything! The crackers, the tea, meditation, Harry's massages, Chinese herbs, potions, antacids. Everything! Believe me, I would stop it if I could!" Draco cried.

"He's eating a bit better now that he can stand the smell of food, Jenny, but he has taken to being sick really spontaneously. One minute he's fine, and the next he's vomiting. It's happened at all times of the day and even a couple of times during the night. He made a right mess of our bedspread last week," Harry said with a concerned smile at Draco.

"You said your appetite has been better? How long has that been?" Jenny asked.

"Going on two weeks or so," Draco answered.

"Yet, you've continued to lose weight and it concerns me, Draco," Jenny said and frowned in thought. "Any diarrhoea?"

"A couple of times, but it wasn't bad or anything. I've had the opposite as well!" Draco blushed slightly. Jenny pulled out her wand and cast a few diagnostic spells over Draco.

"You're lacking in quite a few vitamins and minerals and you are certainly underweight for your build. But there is no other cause of it other than the vomiting, which is a result of the Couvade Syndrome, and hence we don't know how long it's going to continue." Jenny read out the results and tapped her fingers on the desk while she considered the situation. "Normally, I'd be inclined to admit Draco into hospital for a few days and have him put on some nutrient potions intravenously."

Draco paled dramatically and gripped Harry's hand painfully. Harry was worried Draco might faint from the mere thought of a needle in his arm.

"Isn't that a bit drastic, Jenny? Draco's petrified of needles; it would only cause him grief. Isn't there anything else we can do? I have been making a conscious effort to make sure he eats nutritious things and he does look a whole lot better than he did two weeks ago. Well, other than the weight," Harry pleaded.

Jenny nodded when Harry finished. "Hermione mentioned Draco's phobia to me in the initial stages when we were discussing what would be required with the surrogacy. So, no, hospitalization would very much be a last resort," Jenny assured them and Draco visible relaxed. "I'm going to prescribe some nutrient potions that you will need to take four times a day, Draco. I'm also going to have to prescribe you to three or four days bed rest. Your body is weak and will need time to absorb the potions. They work better if a patient is as inactive as possible. That means you must stay in bed and leave only to use the toilet and bathe. Come back to see me in a week and we'll go from there."

"But I have to work!" Draco protested.

"No you fucking don't," Harry snapped. "A medical practitioner has just said you need to rest for four days, and I'll be buggered if you won't!"

"Three days," Draco retorted and Harry glared at him. Hermione pursed her lips so she wouldn't laugh.

"Do you have any questions?" Jenny asked.

"Erm, well..." Draco cleared his throat and coloured violently. "Um, I mean, what about, ah... sex?" Draco looked down at his feet and coughed in embarrassment. Ron and Hermione sniggered as Harry gave Draco a comforting pat on the back.

"It's preferable if you abstain for the next few days. However, if you absolutely can't restrain yourself -" Jenny said.

"He can't," Harry interrupted with a snort.

"If you can't, sexual activity should be minimal for relief only, and you really shouldn't be the dominant partner, Draco." Harry and Draco both flushed at Jenny's answer. "Bed rest means just that. Going to bed doesn't mean sex in the medical world, unfortunately," Jenny laughed.

"Oh, great," Draco whinged. "This is going to suck."

"No, I think Harry's going to," Ron joked.

"RON!" Harry cried in exasperation and felt his ears burn in embarrassment. Jenny just laughed and Hermione shook her head.

"Nevertheless, you need the rest otherwise I will have no option but to admit you to hospital," Jenny said firmly, which effectively shut Draco up. "One thing you may also like to try, Harry, is when Draco is vomiting, massage the nape of his neck about at the point of his hairline. It's a known pressure point in wizards and it may ease the vomiting quicker." Harry raised his eyebrows and Draco hummed in interest.

"Wow, does that work for hangovers?" Ron asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, please," she muttered under her breath.

"Unfortunately no, and it doesn't work when you do it yourself. It also doesn't work on everyone, but it's worth a shot," Jenny supplied.

"Oh brilliant, that means it will do fuck all for me. All the remedies we've tried for this bloody thing haven't worked!" Draco moaned and Harry could see his boyfriend's mood was rapidly deteriorating.

"Ok, well, we'll try what you have suggested Jenny and I'll take Draco home to bed. Is there anything else you need from us?" Harry asked pointedly.

"I just need to take some blood from Hermione to check her iron levels," Jenny said, and Draco swallowed thickly at the mention of needles again. "But you two are free to head home. I promise you all is progressing wonderfully with the pregnancy. Here is the script for the nutrient potions. I've also written one for a mild sedative to help Draco sleep at night and an anti-nauseant to take before the nutrient potion because it's not a pleasant potion. It has a thick, disgusting texture and an offensive aroma. The anti-nauseant will prevent it coming straight back up again."

"Hmm, as opposed to everything else coming straight back up again," Draco snapped, and Harry sent him a glare. Draco crossed his arms and looked away petulantly.

"We'll wait outside for you Hermione," Harry said and took Draco's hand, which Draco reluctantly gave.

"I can take her home," Ron offered. "If you want me to, that is, Hermione. Maybe we could have lunch or something?"

"That would be nice, Ron. Thanks," Hermione said with a smile, and Ron allowed himself a grin, then he blushed, looking away.

"You don't mind if we head home then?" Harry asked.

"No, but give me a kiss before you leave," Hermione said and held her arms out to Harry. Harry gave her a peck on the cheek and Draco did the same. "I'll drop around in a day or two to see how you're doing, Draco, love. Get lots of rest, ok? We might tease you, but you know we hate seeing you not well, don't you?" Draco sighed and nodded.

"Thanks for caring, Hermione. It means a lot to me," Draco said softly.

"You take care of him, Harry. Potions are all well and good, but lots of TLC won't go astray." Hermione squeezed their hands and gave them a little wave.

"See you later, Ron." Harry waved at his friend. "And thanks for all your help, Jenny. We'll see you in a week's time." Harry slung his arm around Draco's shoulders and they left.