On the Other Side

~VII~

In the end neither Harry, nor the twins went to beds early, and Malfoy also remained on the premises, all of them sitting at the kitchen table for a long discussion of their future plans.

"So, Mr. Potter, I recon you are not going to abandon my Lord now in view of the current affair?" Malfoy inquired.

Harry shuffled in his seat uncomfortably.

"You'd recognised him, then?" he mumbled.

The Weasleys meanwhile looked at each of them in turn with wide eyes, before simultaneously looking back at the now closed door to the bedroom.

"That's the Dark Lord in there?!" one of the twins pointed with his thumb over his shoulder to the bedroom door. "Blimey, Harry, that's wicked!"

Harry shook his head tiredly.

"I hoped this won't come out like this," he muttered. "Thank you, Lucius," he drawled drily with a pointed glare towards Malfoy. Then turned to the twins, "Are you going to squeak on him now? Turn him to the Order?"

"Of course, no, Harry! That's just too hilarious! 'The Boy-Who-Lived knocked up the bloody Dark Lord!' The Minister and Dumbledore would have a field day with this!" One of the red-heads exclaimed.

"Don't you dare – !" started Harry in unison with Malfoy.

"Calm down!" the other red-head raised his hands in placating gesture. "We've said we won't talk of it to anyone! That's a promise!"

"I'd like to see his face, though," his twin mused, smirking, "when he sees the diagnosis," he snickered.

Harry let out an unamused and strained laugh.

"We'd probably get a Crucio for our efforts, though," Malfoy admitted. "He's not known for his patience and calmness. And does not take kindly to peeking into his personal affairs."

Harry winced.

"I hope he remembers our other problem, before getting his hands on a wand," he muttered darkly.

"What other problem?" chirped one of the twins curiously.

"I'm not telling," Harry mumbled, sending a look at Malfoy. "He won't be pleased as it is, he doesn't need another reason to Crucio me." He sighed. "Even if it won't work again, as usual," Harry added in an undertone.

"I still insist you should move to my place as soon as he wakes up," Malfoy interjected. "This place is too unguarded. And is frequented by those, who certainly won't hold on offensive spells just because of this," Malfoy poked at the rolled-up scroll, lying on the table in front of them, with his finger.

Harry chewed on his lip minutely, his expression pensive, before suddenly straightening his back up and looking at Malfoy questioningly.

"Say, Malfoy, do you have a Healer among your ranks, per chance?"

"Yes, we do, actually. Why?" Lucius inqured.

"Well, there's this place we can stay at. But I doubt he'd be pleased with us if we bring a random St. Mungo's worker over there. On the other hand, if it was the Healer he trusts, though – " Harry was interrupted by Malfoy shaking head.

"He does not trust anyone in these matters, I am afraid. Not with his own health. That will not work."

Harry rubbed his face with his hands tiredly.

"Bloody paranoic!" he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Then I am out of ideas. We certainly need a Healer for his 'little problem', at the very least. And there is another pressing matter, for which a specialist would be nice to have around, too." Harry frowned in thought. "Though, come to think of it, these issues can very well be related to one another," he mumbled under his nose. "Hey, Malfoy! And you, guys, too, where can I find books, or anything, on the male pregnancies?"