The Changing Lights by lazywonderland

chapter twenty seven

Friday, 9 June 1999 - Five Months Pregnant

i.

Their N.E.W.Ts came and went, and in a twist of events no one but Hermione had anticipated, they survived them. Draco even thought that he'd done rather well all things considered, although he was glad to leave off worrying about it until they got their results over the summer.

His birthday came too on the Monday before graduation, and while Draco indulged Pansy in his company during the day, he spent most of the evening with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They sat outside near the lake and ate dinner and laughed and talked and it felt silly and corny and wonderful to snog Harry in the moonlight with the sound of Ron and Hermione chatting nearby.

A few days before commencement he sent his mum an owl letting her know he needed to speak with her about something important, and on the day of the ceremony, when she was allowed to come to Hogwarts with an Auror escort, he and Harry prepared themselves to break the news. He held Harry's hand when they went to Slughorn's office early that morning, and keeping himself from dwelling on a thousand different horrible imaginary situations was as fruitless as trying to keep water cupped in his hands. Harry's presence made it easier, but ultimately it came down to himself and his mother and his (still only minorly) distended belly.

"D'you want me to come in with you now or do you wanna be alone with her first?" Harry asked. They were stood in front of the door to the office, Draco staring at it like an insurmountable obstacle and clutching Harry's hand so hard it was very likely the bones would bruise. Harry being Harry allowed it without complaint.

"I dunno," Draco said honestly. His free hand went to his belly, and that afforded him some comfort. He didn't know if it was a boy or a girl or some kind of alien life form in there but he did know that he loved it very much, and that as scary as this felt it had to be worth it. For five months now he'd been sharing his life and his body with this person inside of him. That meant something. That meant everything .

"Nothing bad is gonna happen, Draco," said Harry, and Draco broke out of his daze to look at him, his earnest face and kind eyes.

"I know."

"She handled the hex," he said. "She can handle this too. She loves you."

"I know," Draco said again.

"This isn't even a possibility, but if the worst thing in the world happened, if she couldn't handle this and she left," he said, looking intently into Draco's eyes, "I would still love you and I would still love this baby and you will always, always have me."

Draco, emotion making his throat tight and tears itching his eyes, searched for any sign of uncertainty or hesitation on Harry's face and saw none. He meant it, he meant every word, right down to his bleeding-heart bones. Draco's brain tried to remind him for the millionth time that that promise couldn't be made until he was back in his old body, but his heart wouldn't hear it. In this moment, he believed Harry utterly.

"Okay," Draco said softly.

"Okay?"

"Yeah," Draco said with a wet laugh. "I get it, Potter." He stood on his toes and kissed him, a hand coming up to skim his fingers down Harry's cheek. "Thank you."

"Shall we do it together, then?"

"Yes," Draco said, "I think so. It's ... it's yours too, after all."

The look of blissful pride on Harry's face never stopped feeling surreal.

ii.

"Oh! Potter," his mum said when they went into the office, blinking at him even as some colour appeared on her face. Something esoteric passed between them and Draco thought it looked like she was about to say something to Harry, but then her gaze shifted and her face softened when it landed on him. "My darling boy," she said, "come give Mummy a hug."