| INTIMACY | - HPxTMR

Chapter 25 - [Fondness]

This chapter took so long to write for some reason, but I added nearly 2k words last night, and I edited it all today :)

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29th November 1998- Sunday

Harry sat there, stunned into silence. He stared wide-eyed at the Healer, searching the woman's expression for any sign of deceit. She was watching him with a soft, open gaze, nodding seriously. It took him a few minutes to even begin to think.

"I'm...Pregnant?" Harry was hesitant to even speak the words out loud. He didn't feel grounded in that moment, almost a spectator to his own body's reactions. His heartbeat had sped up after stuttering briefly, and he could feel the way his hands had become clammy as they twisted together on his lap.

The Healer nodded again, bowing her head respectfully at his lapse in control, her hands seeming to make an aborted movement to reach out and hold his own. He grabbed one, noting the way his were shaking, and stared at her as she looked upon him, surprised. The grip tightened. "Yes, Your Highness. Only around six to seven weeks along, mind you, so there aren't any physical symptoms yet. If I'm estimating correctly, your due date should fall around mid-July time next year."

Harry swallowed. He'd have a baby before his next birthday. Young, younger even than his parents. That was... fine. Surprisingly. "How can you be sure that I am pregnant?"

"Would you like to see the results, your Highness?" The woman handed over the parchment readily, which Harry took with trembling hands. There, clearly etched upon it, read the words 'Pregnant- Approximately six to seven weeks'. Below it, the sheet seemed to go into specifics and a more in-depth overview of his condition, charts of colourful colours and strange symbols hurting his stinging eyes. The words blurred before his eyes, and Harry wiped at them with the sleeve of his robe.

He let out a sudden, strangled sound, sniffing, the paper scrunching within his fist.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Harry's head snapped up, and he met eyes with the flustered healer.

She knew. She knew about the fragile life growing within him, of how this could affect everything for him, how this could affect the whole Harem and the Emperor too. Harry was not blind, he could see that he was clearly ascending quicker than anyone else and his predecessors, already a Concubine and showing no sign of losing the Emperor's interest as of yet. In fact, it only seemed to be growing, and obviously.

This life, this baby growing in his belly, would solidify his position, and secure him a place in the fight for the honoured position as the Emperor's primary spouse. And the Healer knew about that, someone he didn't trust in the slightest, who could run off to the nearest concubine once she left and blab about his condition, bringing upon him attention and a threat he could not afford.

"Do not, under any circumstances, inform anyone about this!" Harry hissed, hand retracting from where it had been grasping her own, instead settling on his stomach. He already felt overwhelmingly protective.

The Healer stepped back, looking shiftily around the room. "But, Your Highness, The Emperor must be informed of this-"

His eyes hardened. "Do you wish to be the one blamed when I mysteriously miscarry His Majesty's precious child? Do you think you could afford that scrutiny being placed upon you? Because if I lose this child, you will be the first I blame. Do not say a word to anyone." Harry spoke icily, stressing his words to emphasise his sincerity.

"Yes- Yes, Your Highness!" The Healer stuttered, no longer watching him warmly. Instead, her eyes were filled with fear and trepidation, reaching for her bag to begin packing her stuff. Good, it was better she feared Harry and the consequences he could bring rather than see him as an easy target to exploit.