Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart

Chapter 10

Already halfway through my first trimester, I hoped I would soon start seeing an end to the morning sickness. Unfortunately, according to the books Hermione had sent me, the sickness lasted right through the pregnancy in some men. Still, those were rare cases; most people were okay around the beginning of the second trimester, so the books said.

Thankfully, after the quick travel of information following my initial announcement, the news of my pregnancy seemed to be staying in the family. The last thing I wanted was for the Prophet to catch wind of it, especially before the second trimester; the books said miscarriage in the first trimester was fairly common. I tried not to think about the exact statistics too much, hoping the Potter Luck would carry my baby through to term. I hadn't realized just how desperately I wanted to be a father until the option was presented to me.

September 22nd found Remus and me flooing to a private room in St Mungos for my first appointment with the healer recommended by Madame Pomfrey. I wrung my hands nervously on my lap, and Remus squeezed my shoulder with a small smile. 

"Calm down, cub; everything will be fine," he reassured me. 

I opened my mouth to respond but was cut off when the door opened, and a smiling man with dirty blonde hair and lime green healer's robes poked his head in.

"Ah, good, Mr. Potter. I'm Healer Thompson, I'll be looking after you for the duration of the pregnancy," he declared, slipping into the room. 

I shook the man's hand with an anxious smile, rising from my seat.

"Hi, Healer. It's good to meet you; Poppy has nothing but praise for you," I complimented, making the man chuckle.

"Yes, well, I have only the same for her. Why don't you change into the scrubs behind the screen while I get set up, yeah?" Thompson suggested, gesturing to the screen set up in the corner. 

I nodded, ducking behind it to change into the pale green scrubs set out for me, emerging to find the bed set up for me, Thompson waiting with a bright quill in hand that was no doubt spelled to record my vitals. 

Climbing up to lay on the bed, I tried not to shake too much, reaching for Remus' hand as the man came to stand beside me. 

"I understand you'll be doing this solo, then, Mr. Potter?" the Healer asked, gently nudging my top up to bare my stomach, "The other father isn't around?"

I swallowed thickly, shaking my head. 

"No, no, he won't be involved," I replied, jaw set defiantly as if daring the man to protest. 

Thompson merely continued to smile, his expression non-judgemental.

"Then it's good you've got Mr. Lupin here with you, isn't it?" he remarked brightly, "Sorry, this is going to tingle a bit." 

He murmured a spell under his breath, his wand pointed at my stomach, and I automatically tensed, gripping my godfather's hand a little tighter. I gasped as a flat-screen of magic hovered in the air above my stomach, showing the monochrome blur of my ultrasound, similar to the muggle machines. 

Thompson shifted around to get a better look at it, lips pursed, and my heart pounded in my chest as I waited for the man to speak, half expecting him to say there was something wrong with the baby. 

"I understand this little one was conceived in rather... unusual circumstances, correct?" the Healer asked.

It took me a moment to figure out what the Healer meant before I nodded and answered, "The other father is a muggle, yes. Why, is that going to cause problems? Is everything alright?"