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The Rise of the Drackens	By : StarLightMassacre Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 769456 -:- Recommendations : 71 -:- Currently Reading : 219
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights for the creation of the Harry Potter novels go to J. K. Rowling. I make no money from this piece of fictional writing

Chapter List
- 118
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Last Time
He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way as he wrapped his arms around Max’s neck, both hands cradling the back of his mate’s head, stroking through the short, bristly hairs as he returned the impassioned kiss. This was his life now, not the one he’d had before, and he could get over what had happened to him, because of these four men around him would help him, and they would always be here with him, as he would always be with them.
Chapter One Hundred-Nineteen – December Decorating

Harry had been right after all. December was a very hectic time, and worse, the kids seemed to know that something was up. They were all ramped up more than usual and none of them really knew if it was just a normal part of them all getting older or if they truly could feel the excitement in the air.

“Can we postpone sticking the decorations up…maybe until Christmas Eve?” Blaise asked. “These kids are already excited, look at them. You’d think that they understood what Christmas means.”

All five of them looked to the toddling, screeching, giggling mass of children, just in time to see Calix trip on a toy car and fall onto Tegan, who hit him over the head with the doll she was holding.
Nasta swooped in like a massive bird of prey and hefted up the crying Calix, passing him over to Max before picking up Tegan.

“We don’t hit others, Tegan.” Nasta told her sternly.

“Dada Asta, eh banab canah!” She said furiously.

“I really wish I knew what she was saying.” Nasta sighed.

“She’s telling you that Calix was being bad.” Harry answered from where he was curled up on the settee, Ave sleeping on his chest. He was just repeatedly stroking her back, listening to her breathing.

“How do you know that?” Draco demanded.

“Look at her body language.” Harry insisted. “She’s angry, her tone of voice got louder and she pointed to Nasta and then to Calix. She’s trying to tell him that Calix started it, that he fell on her first.”

“So how do we deal with it?” Blaise asked, looking a little nervous. He wasn’t good at dealing with punishments.

“We don’t allow them to hit others.” Harry said firmly. “Calix fell, that was an accident and though he might have hurt or scared her by doing so, she hit him with her doll. We can’t allow that.”

“Come on, Tegan.” Nasta said to her. “You need a time out because you hit your brother with your doll.”

“Daddy, no!” She shouted at him. “Eh! Eh!” She babbled, jabbing her finger at Calix.

“Calix tripped over, Tegan.” Nasta explained. “He didn’t mean to land on you, but you hit him. You need a time out.”

As they’d known would happen, Tegan started crying and Harry sighed. He hated punishing his children, but it was all a part of parenting. They needed to learn that hitting others wasn’t acceptable, and the only way to do that was to punish that behaviour now, while they were young.
Harry sighed again and went back to stroking Ave, nudging her chestnut curls with a gentle finger. Those curls were absolutely adorable, and got his little girls a lot of attention, especially paired with their large, bright blue eyes.
Max had managed to calm Calix down and all too soon their little explorer was ready to slip from Max’s lap and go back to playing. Harry watched him with a smile as he toddled back into the mass of writhing bodies.

“So, back to my original question, do we have to put the decorations up tomorrow?” Blaise asked.

“Yes, twelve days before Christmas is traditional.” Draco insisted. “Those decorations are going up tomorrow.”

“I’m so excited I can’t wait.” Max grinned.

“I’m sure you’re the reason these kids are so excited. They’re feeding from you.” Blaise told Max.

Max just laughed and Harry chuckled quietly so that he didn’t disturb Ave.

“They’re going to be excited, we’ve taken them out, they’ve seen the decorations and lights around town, they’re smart, they know something’s up.” Harry insisted.

“I can’t wait for it to be over.” Blaise sighed.

“As soon as it is, we have five babies turning two.” Max pointed out.

“Merlin, save us.” Blaise declared.

Harry chuckled again.

“Then two weeks later we have our girls turning a year old.” Harry couldn’t help but add.

“We’re not going to survive.” Blaise declared dramatically.

Harry and Max both laughed. Draco seemed to be doing his best to ignore them all completely, his nose in his book.

“Not when you also add in that possibly a few weeks after our girls turn a year old we’ll have a newborn baby.” Harry added with a grin.

“I think you need to stop having babies in winter.” Blaise insisted. “Our Braiden is our only summer baby…can’t you have some more spring, summer, autumn babies?” Blaise asked.

Harry laughed as he realised that Blaise was right. Apart from Braiden, all of their others were winter babies, and their thunderer would be too, as it was doubtful that Harry would go two weeks over his due date and into March.
Ave made a soft sound and Harry immediately stifled himself, going back to stroking her back and shushing her, humming gently to lull her back to sleep. She wriggled on him and then settled and he smiled adoringly at her.

“I love you so much.” He said softly, tucking her curls back behind her ear, even knowing that it wouldn’t stay there and he would have to do it again not two minutes later.

“How are you feeling now?” Max asked him, turning serious for a moment.

Harry looked up. “I’m fine, Max. I feel alright. Those potions are working finally.”

“Good.” Max said, looking at him consideringly. “Has the pain in your back gone?”

“Yes, it hasn’t come back.” Harry answered.

Of course, of all the things Harry could have gotten while pregnant, he had contracted a urinary tract infection. Max had immediately diagnosed him when Harry had complained of certain symptoms and he had started making antibiotic potions for him while Draco had called for a Dracken Healer to come and see him, just to be sure.
Healer Grant had confirmed that Harry had a urinary tract infection and he’d commended Max on diagnosing him correctly and starting on making the potions that Harry needed. It was now three days later and it no longer burned when he had a piss, he was no longer trying to go every twenty minutes, despite the fact that nothing was coming out, but he still had to take the potions until he’d finished the full course, as he was told that the infection might come back if he didn’t. Max was making sure that he took every potion though, on time, so there was no way Harry could wriggle out of taking the potions, his mate was well on top of that and he would ensure that Harry would finish the needed course.

“If you need anything, let us know.” Nasta insisted.

“I will. Our boy is being still and quiet for once, though.” Harry said, patting his bump.

“Any sickness or cravings?” Draco asked him.

Harry shook his head. “No, I’m honestly okay. You don’t need to fuss over me so much.”

“You’re in the third trimester now…” Blaise said.

Harry said nothing. If it had been anyone else he might have snapped off a sarcastic comment, but Blaise had taken to repeating such information often, as he claimed it helped his memory, so Harry gave him more leeway in terms of repeating how far along Harry was in his pregnancy when he was very much aware of that fact.

“Due in…in February?” Blaise carried on, but his statement turned into a question as he frowned at them all.

“That’s right.” Harry smiled. “Two months to go and our baby boy will be born.”

Blaise nodded, but he was pulling a thoughtful face, so Harry sent a look to Nasta.

“Are you feeling alright, Caru?” Nasta asked Blaise.

Blaise blinked and looked up at him. “Yes. I feel fine, I just…I feel as if there is something I’m forgetting.”

Harry hefted himself up, settled Ave securely in his arms, and then he walked over to Blaise and sat next to him. He kissed Blaise’s cheek.

“You’re not forgetting anything, love.” Harry said. “You’ve been doing really well with your memory recently. You know the kids, you know us, you know about our thunderer, how far along I am and when he’ll be born. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, okay?”

“I suppose I will feel like I’m forgetting things for a while yet.” Blaise agreed, wrapping an arm around him and laying his other hand on Ave’s head.

“You’re getting so much better. I love you.”

“Ti amo, Bello.” Blaise replied immediately.

It made Harry smile and he cuddled up with Blaise, Ave still sleeping peacefully in his arms.

“I want to start writing the list for the food shopping we need for Christmas week. It’s going to be a lot of food, so if I start getting the frozen food and the non-perishable foods now, that would really help.” Max said as they lapsed into silence. Or as silent as things ever got with several playing toddlers at their feet.

“Get some parchment and a quill then.” Harry encouraged. “We’ll brainstorm now.”

Max hefted himself up and went to the sideboard, he got out a self-inking quill and a sheaf of parchment before sitting back down and hunching over the coffee table.

“Right lovers, hit me.” Max said happily.

“If you bring fish or cheese into this house I am divorcing you.” Harry said happily.

“We’re not married.” Max said before poking his tongue out at him.

“I will marry you, then divorce you.” Harry said seriously and Max laughed.

“Okay, no fish or cheese, though I would like to point out that you’ve been very good for the last few weeks.”

“I would also like to point out that if our thunderer kicks me wrong then I vomit up my own body weight.”

“He is very active.” Nasta said softly, looking at Harry’s baby belly.

“It makes me feel nauseous when he’s squirming around so much. I think he’ll be on his feet early, like the girls were.”

They all took a moment to look at Ave snuggled in his arm and they all smiled.

“Right, seriously now, back to the list. I need this done.”

“Essentials then. We need a turkey and all the veg we usually get.” Harry insisted.

Max started his list and Harry watched what he wrote down in case Max missed anything.

“Are you going to be okay with sprouts, Harry?” Max asked.

“Don’t wave them under my nose and don’t put them on my plate and sure. I want to see how our kids do with them.”

Max nodded and added them to the list.

“Christmas pudding.” Draco put in.

“I like Christmas cake too.” Blaise added. “I think…”

“You do.” Harry said, a teasing lilt to his voice. “You ate the entire cake last year, before anyone else could have any. You’d sneak a slice or two every day and when someone finally wanted some and went looking for it, you’d eaten it all.”

Blaise chuckled. “That sounds…I don’t know, it just sounds right.”

“You like it if there are more cherries in it.” Draco told him.

“I do like cherries.”

“I do too.” Harry grinned.

“I remember you like fresh cherries the best.” Blaise told him.

Harry nodded and snuggled into Blaise more.

“I’m really into fruit at the moment.” Harry chuckled. It had become a running joke in the house that he had turned into a mini-Nasta with the amount of fruit he was craving.

“Do you want any now?” Nasta asked.

Harry considered it. “Yes, I want some mango.”

“I’ve got it.” Nasta said happily, standing and kissing Harry, then Blaise, on his way to the kitchen.

“Harry, are you going to do your vanilla cookies, or will you be taking a year off?”

“I’ll see how I feel, but there has to be at least one day where I can get some cookies baked.” Harry answered.

“Cookie.” Farren repeated, and looked up at them expectantly. “Mummy, want cookie.”

“Do you want a biscuit instead?” Harry offered.

Farren nodded, sensing that he would be getting a biscuit or nothing. “Want bisky.”

“Nas? Can you bring in some rusks with you, please?”

“Of course, Caru.” Nasta called back.

“You need to rest too.” Draco fretted. “You’ve been very tired lately.”

Harry nodded. “If he stays put then he’ll be the longest baby I’ve carried, so I can imagine that I will get more tired as time goes on and of course, that UTI hasn’t helped at all.”

“You’re tired?” Nasta asked as he came back into the room with a bowl of cubed mango and a plate of rusks.

“No, not yet, but I have been more so lately. Draco was just saying that I need to rest.”

Nasta nodded and handed him the bowl. Harry very happily dived into it while Nasta handed out the rusks…of course Farren was right in front first, clamouring at Nasta’s legs for his biscuit.
Nasta came and sat beside him, he could never keep away when Harry was eating fruit. Harry, very graciously in his opinion, offered Nasta a cube of mango, holding it up to Nasta’s mouth. He grinned as Nasta’s lips brushed his fingers and he watched as Nasta ate the fruit before he went back to eating it himself.

“I love watching you eat fruit.” Nasta whispered into his ear.

“I can’t…I just really want fruit during this pregnancy. The more the better. The more colourful and flavourful the better.”

“While you’re like this, I’m going to try and feed you as many different fruits as possible, in the hopes that you find one that you really love and keep eating.”

“I already have. I love mango.” Harry insisted happily.

“You love it now, you might not when you’ve given birth.” Max pointed out helpfully, writing several more things down.

“Have you put double cream down?” Harry asked mildly, watching him.

“Damn. I knew I would forget something.” Max said, going to the ‘section’ where he’d written down the fresh foods and he added double cream.

“Add shortbread to the list too. I like shortbread at Christmas.” Draco said.

Max added that too. “I’ll go later today to pick some things up.”

“Oh, did you put Christmas crackers down?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, I got the magical versions on owl order, adult and kid ones.” Max told him, sending him a smile. “Along with the tablecloths, napkins and the plates and silverware that you picked out.”

Harry grinned, being reminded that his choice had been picked for the table setting. He didn’t like thinking that their old tableware had all been broken, or otherwise ruined, in the massive fight in the old house. They had been stored in the living room cabinet that had been demolished.
He had, of course, had the thought that perhaps his mates had chosen his option just to keep him happy, after what had happened to the previous set, but he’d seen their reactions to his ‘find’ first hand, and they had liked his pick the best, he was sure, and they weren’t just placating him by picking the table set that he had wanted.

“Did you add jelly or trifle to the list?”

“Got them both. You wanted chocolate trifle and strawberry jelly, didn’t you?” Max asked Harry.

Harry nodded as he had a mouthful of mango.

“Mince pies?” Draco asked.

“Damn it.” Max cursed, going to his ambient section and adding mince pies.

“This is why we’re brainstorming, Max.” Nasta soothed. “You don’t have to remember everything by yourself, we’re here to help you.”

“I’m really glad of the help. I would definitely forget something. I won’t get it yet, but what fruit do you want for Christmas week?”

“Clementines, dates and the usual fruit for me and the kids…apples, pears and pomegranates are all in season.”

“I’ll grab bananas too, so I can add them to the kids’ porridge in the mornings.” Max said to himself, adding everything down.

“Don’t forget nuts, lover.” Harry put in.

“Oh, I never forget those.” Max said with a grin and a wink.

Harry snorted at the innuendo, but brushed it off and went back to his fruit.

“Mummy, I want.” Farren told him, toddling over and pointing at what he was eating.

“Do you want to try some mango, sweetness?” Harry asked as he picked up the smallest cube he could find in the bowl and he handed it to Farren.

His big boy licked it, squashed it, licked it some more, then popped it in his mouth and chewed it. The five of them watched him as he hummed happily and reached out his hand and made a grabby motion.
Harry chuckled and handed over the whole bowl to him.

“Harry…”

“I’m done.” Harry said. “You know my stomach has shrunk because of the baby. I can only really snack.”

“Is he still pushing up into your stomach?”

“Yeah, it feels like I no longer have a stomach. Or any lungs for that matter, you know I keep getting breathless. Max, did you remember those little savoury cheese snacks the kids like?”

“No.” Max groaned and went back to his ambient section to add the little cheese crackers in.

Their morning passed quietly enough, or rather as quietly as things ever got for them, and soon Max had picked up Calix and Eva and he had gone to the supermarket to start their Christmas shop.
Harry could do little more than snuggle with Leolin this time, as he watched Nasta and Draco entertain the kids, playing with them on the floor. They’d opened both doors, so the kids could roam from the family room into the smaller living room. They were making use of every bit of space, especially while Calix and Eva weren’t here, and Leolin was up in Harry’s arms.
It was peaceful in its own way, or at least Harry thought that it was, as he reclined back against two cushions, listening to the happy sounds of his playful children. It settled him down and relaxed him to hear his children so happy, just being babies and of course it always made him smile to see Braiden toddling around on little legs. He had stopped crawling altogether now and it made Harry so proud to watch him walking and running everywhere.
Harry was looking forward to decorating the house tomorrow. They’d bought all new decorations for this year, to go with the old ones, purely because this house was four times the size of Max’s old house, and the decorations would have been too sparse and sad looking if they hadn’t bought new ones too. Harry had had a lot of fun buying new ones online and having them delivered. He’d even found a website that would engrave handmade glass baubles with his children’s names and any picture that he wanted. He’d uploaded all the pictures of his newborns little footprints, with their names and birthdates. He’d cried when the eight baubles had arrived with perfectly to scale footprints, with the names and birthdates engraved above and below the footprints, and he’d seen how perfect they were. They’d been a surprise for his mates, who loved them as much as Harry did, and he’d caught Blaise studying them, memorising them and just holding the rather large glass baubles between his hands or tracing the outline of the feet and toes with his finger.

“Did you sort out the playpen for tomorrow?” Harry asked softly as he stroked Leolin’s head and back gently, repeatedly.

“Yes, Caru.” Nasta answered him. “It’s under the stairs for now, ready to take out tomorrow. You wanted the kids in the kitchen while we did these two rooms first, right?”

Harry nodded. “I’ll sit out with them, of course. I might try and get those vanilla cookies baked too, if I feel up to it.” He added when Nasta went to open his mouth. His top dominant closed his mouth and nodded instead.

“I will come out and sit with you.” Blaise said. “Healer Odell doesn’t want me climbing yet.” He groused. “I could use magic to pin up some of the decorations, but with you pregnant, and Eva and Ave being under a year old, none of us want to use too much.”

“Blaise, it’s fine. Max, Draco and I can handle the decorations.” Nasta assured. “We don’t want you or Harry doing any of the decorating, your job is watching our children, who can’t be left unsupervised.”

Blaise nodded. Harry smiled and hid it with Leolin. He loved Nasta and his way of diffusing everything. Blaise wanted to feel like he was doing something, like he was helping, because he didn’t want his brain injury to get in the way of anything, so the best way to deal with things was to give Blaise babysitting duties, which truly was a full time job, to make him feel like he was doing something useful.

“I want to decorate the tree, though.” Harry insisted.

“Those baubles will be an amazing addition, Harry.” Draco told him, not for the first time either. Draco really loved the baby baubles.

Harry smiled and cuddled Leolin closer. This Christmas was going to be wonderful. Their first in the new house. He couldn’t wait for all the excitement it would bring.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

The decorating was driving their kids mad. Harry had woken up feeling excited and energised, which was rare while he was this heavily pregnant. He had hustled the kids into the kitchen for their breakfasts, before they’d been penned into a corner of the kitchen while Blaise entertained them and Harry baked batch after batch of vanilla cookies that he’d cut into Christmas shapes. He decorated them as they cooled, and other batches baked in the oven, before he packed them all into air tight tubs.
The kids had been let into the living rooms while the tree was being decorated and even Leolin was fascinated by all the bright lights and the shiny, dangling decorations on the ceiling. Their children were now doubly excited and Harry was glad that there was less than two weeks to go until Christmas.

“Nasta!” Harry called out as he was decorating the tree.

His top dominant was just there, his hands fluttering around him, searching for injuries.

“What is it, Harry?” He asked seriously.

Harry pouted at him and held out Braiden’s bauble. “I want it up there, on that branch.” He said pointing. “But I can’t reach.”

Nasta’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed, and then smiled. He took the bauble from Harry’s hands and put it securely on the branch that Harry had pointed at.

“This one?” He asked, just to be sure.

Harry nodded. “Yes. I want Braiden’s highest, because he’s the oldest. Also…I want a smoothie, please?”

Nasta grinned and bent to kiss him. “I’ll get you one now, Cariad.” He promised, cuddling him for a moment, before he went to go and get him a glass of the purple sludge, as Max called it, that he’d made that morning and Harry had been stealing since breakfast.

Their house was now full of Christmas cheer, and eight excited, wound up babies, and Harry smiled as he took a moment to just stand and watch them as they looked around themselves in wonder, all the decorations up too high for them to reach, even the toddling Braiden. Not that it stopped any of them from trying, of course, as they all went up to walls and tried to reach the dangling bits of tinsel that decorated shelves and the mantelpiece, but he and his mates had made absolutely sure that the lower half of each room was undecorated, so that everything remained safe for their babies. The only thing they could possibly reach was the Christmas tree, and Harry grinned as he looked at the kids from the safety of the playpen, which had been put around the tree to keep it safe from little grasping hands…not that they hadn’t taken precautions, of course, because Draco had carefully taken each white bauble from their box that morning and he had cast an unbreakable charm on them, just in case, he insisted.
Harry stepped carefully over the playpen and went to sit on the settee with a groan. Nasta came to hand him a glass of a dullish-purple semi-liquid and Harry’s stomach clenched with want.
Nasta sat next to him and wrapped an arm around him, watching as Harry drank in big gulps that left him breathless. Nasta stroked his back as he drank, slowly and lovingly, and it made Harry feel…something. Something that made him feel warm and comforted and he shifted to rest himself on Nasta’s shoulder, turning to lay a hand over the strong heartbeat.

“You alright by there?” Max asked.

“I’m fine.” Harry said happily, handing Max the empty glass with a grin.

Max rolled his eyes, but took the glass and kissed him, then he kissed Nasta.

“Do you two want tea?”

“I do.” Nasta said.

Harry considered it, but shook his head. “No, the smoothie filled me up. I think I’ll be sick if I put anything else in my mouth.”

“Sit and rest easy for a minute then.” Max told him, bending for another kiss.

Harry smiled and inhaled, turning his face back into Nasta. He sat and he watched his children for twenty minutes, lying securely on Nasta. Blaise had handed him Leolin when their Faerie baby had started fussing and he was tucked into Harry’s other side, just drifting off clutching his Ma doll. That was when the floo flared and a panicked face appeared in the flames.

“Nasta! It’s Llew!” The face cried out desperately. “He’s gone completely berserk.”

Nasta, though rushed himself, he moved Harry gently to the side of himself, easing him upright carefully, and touched his cheek for a moment.

“What happened?” Nasta demanded of the man in the fire.

“We think he has an injury from another bull, he’s attacking the handlers, the other dragons, and setting anything that moves on fire.”

Nasta’s urgency went up as he took out his wand and summoned his shoes.

“How many are down?”

“Four handlers have been taken directly to Saint Mungos and another six are nursing minor wounds. The handler sleeping buildings are all on fire, as is Branwen’s enclosure.”

“She has hatchlings!” Nasta said, shooting the head in the fireplace a horrified look.

“We’ve saved the hatchlings already, but Branwen is refusing to leave the enclosure. She thinks they’re still in there and she won’t budge, Nasta. She’s going to die from smoke inhalation if she isn’t subdued and moved soon and Llew isn’t making it easy for any of us to move her to safety. We’re calling in everyone on this, we need all staff at the reserve.”

“Max.” Nasta shot Max a look and Max just nodded.

“I got them, lover, go and take care of this.” Max answered immediately.

“If I wasn’t the only Dragonologist…”

“We know, Nas, now go. Be careful.”

Nasta stepped over the fireguard and the person inside pulled their head back as Nasta took a pinch of floo powder from the pot on the decorated mantelpiece and threw it in the flames.

“I’ll send you a message when I can.” Nasta said and then he was gone and the four of them exhaled as one.

“I hate it when he has an emergency.” Harry said. “He better be careful.”

“You know he will, love.” Draco said, coming and sitting beside him and taking Nasta’s place, letting Harry turn and rest on him.

“At least we got the decorating done before he left.” Max chuckled. “It would have been just our luck that he would have been called in just as we’d started and he missed the mess and the frustration.”

That made Harry chuckle and he made sure that Leolin was still safely in his lap as he rested on Draco. He was, and he had finally drifted off to sleep too, undisturbed by the frantic emergency that had just taken over their house.

“I still can’t believe he’s almost two.” Draco said, looking at Leolin too.

Harry hummed. “We’ll have six two year olds soon.” He said with a smile, looking out at the other quintuplets. “Twin year olds and a newborn too.”

“One thing at a time.” Draco coached him, kissing the side of his head.

“I hope Nas comes home soon. We were having a nice, relaxing day.” Harry sighed.

“Don’t let it worry you, Harry.” Blaise said gently. “You need to remember that whatever happens, this was Nasta’s choice in careers. He doesn’t want to do anything else.”

Harry nodded. “Max, can I have that tea now, please?”

“Of course you can, dearest.”

That made Harry grin and he chuckled lightly, turning into Draco. He could always count on Max to make him laugh. To make him feel better, even just slightly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

Harry was upset that Nasta was gone all day. He missed dinner even and Harry was getting worried too as he sat on the settee, ignoring the news on the tele, as he stared at the fire burning in the grate, waiting for Nasta to come back.

“He’ll be fine, lover.” Max told him, coming to sit beside him and snuggling him up in his arms.

“He might be injured, or burnt.”

“He knows how to handle burns.” Blaise told him, coming to sit on his other side.

“I know, but I don’t like him being injured and hurt.”

“None of us do, but he knows how to handle himself. He’s a Dracken you know.” Max grinned.

That made Harry smile and he turned to snuggle into Max more fully, but he made sure that he could still see the fire burning in the grate.

“Surely we should have heard back from him by now?” Harry questioned.

“It depends on what he’s doing, Harry.” Max sighed, stroking his back. “It could be he’s just shouting and directing others, trying to keep everyone safe from the rampaging dragon. It takes a lot to subdue a full grown dragon, even with highly trained wizards, without needing to subdue two of them. Nasta is the Dragonologist for the reserve, none of us like it, but he has to be there.”

Harry nodded and he sighed unhappily. “At least the kids are all asleep and didn’t fuss too much.”

“We’ll listen out for Eva and Ave, our Leolin, and for Braiden too.” Blaise assured him.

“What do you think it is that makes him keep getting up?” Draco asked from the other settee, where he was sat with a book that he wasn’t actually reading. He hadn’t turned a page in twenty minutes and he kept staring off at the wall, lost in thought.

Max shrugged. “It could be any number of things. Maybe he doesn’t like being in a room with his four brothers and sister? Maybe he can hear something, or the most likely, as we’re potty training him, he might need to use the potty in the night and he’s getting up to look for it.”

“He’s too young to be moved to a bed, isn’t he?” Harry asked.

“He’s over two years old now, so no.” Max insisted. “We could try to give him a room on his own, with its own bed, and see what he does. I know you can get really low beds, so he can’t hurt himself, and he’ll be able to climb in and out by himself. If he does need the potty, this can really help too, we can teach him early about going to the potty in the night.”

“We’d have to baby proof the family bathroom on the first floor.” Harry said. “Make sure he can’t fiddle with any taps or get into any cupboards.”

“We can put a training seat on the toilet too. No one uses that bathroom anyway.” Max said.

“He’s such a good boy. We’ve been spoilt with him as a first child.” Harry chuckled.

“Farren is a good boy too.” Draco pointed out, finally giving up the pretence of reading and putting his book down.

“Regan is no trouble either.” Blaise added.

“Just all the others then.” Max laughed.

Harry snorted. “The worst by far is yet to come!” He insisted, laying his hand over his considerable belly, which was nicely rounded, but straining forward.

“How is our thunder tonight?” Max asked, also laying his hand on Harry’s belly.

“Still for the moment. I think he’s sleeping. He hasn’t kicked in the last hour. I’m enjoying the momentary reprieve.” Harry smiled tiredly.

“I know you’re going to say no, but don’t you want to go to bed, love? You’ve had a long day, and we can see how tired you are. You might think you’re hiding it well, but you’re not.”

“I want to see Nasta first, to make sure he’s okay.” Harry said stubbornly.

“He might not come home tonight, Harry. You know that sometimes he sleeps at the reserve, especially if a dragon kicks off. It comes with his job title…and the large wage packet.”

“He’ll call us if he’s staying on the reserve. I am tired. I won’t lie about it, but I won’t be able to sleep until we’ve heard from him, whether he’s coming back, or staying on the reserve.”

Max sighed, but kissed the side of Harry’s head and snuggled him back in.

“Okay, but you rest, you hear me?” Max ordered.

Harry nodded. “Yes. I’ll sit here all night if I have to, but I can’t hide the fact that I’m worried. He’s been gone for hours and we haven’t heard anything.”

“We’ll hear something soon, I’m sure.” Blaise soothed him. “Nasta knows that we’ll be worried for him and he’ll send word as soon as he can.”

“I’m sure it won’t be long now.” Max added. “We just need to be patie…”

The floo flared, cutting Max off in mid-sentence, but Harry’s heart sunk, and his stomach flipped, when it was Aneirin who stepped out of the fireplace, and not Nasta.

“Please tell me he’s not dead.” Harry begged, his mind automatically thinking the worst.

“He’s not dead.” Aneirin said, stepping over the fireguard and coming to soothe him. “Settle yourself, Harry, you’re heavily pregnant.”

Harry breathed in deeply, then breathed out slowly.

“What has happened to him?” Draco demanded.

“He’s in Saint Mungos. He’s awake and aware, but he’s got a broken leg. The hospital called me, because I’m still his next of kin. He has to stay in overnight, and he’s got to have his dragon pox vaccine early, just in case, but he’s going to be fine, Harry.”

Harry sat back against the settee and tried to stay calm.

“I need to see him.”

“You can’t go in your state.” Max said. “Do you want me to go and bring back his shirt for you?”

Harry wasn’t happy with that, but he nodded. Flooing while heavily pregnant was awful, and he would likely be sick too.

“Is he really okay?” Harry asked, as Max rushed to get Nasta some pyjamas and a book to read. Blaise rushed out too and Harry watched them both leave, his mind racing with thoughts of Nasta being injured.

“He really is alright. He’s really worried about you, and how this news would affect you in your condition. The Healers are being careful with his break, because it was a dragon that was the cause, but it’ll be healed tonight and he’ll be back to you in the morning.”

“Tell him that we love him, that the kids went to bed with no problems and that me and the baby are fine.” Harry said.

Aneirin cupped his face and kissed his forehead. “Of course, annwyl. You just focus on you and the baby, leave Nasta to me and you can shout at him, or hug him to death tomorrow, whatever you feel like doing.”

“Maybe a bit of both.” Harry chuckled tenuously.

“Whatever you want, I’m sure Nasta will sit and take it.”

“I’ve got everything. I think.” Max said, stuffing an errant sleeve into an overnight bag.

“A change of clothes for tomorrow?” Harry asked.

“Yes. Got it.” Max said.

“You remembered to pack his boxers and socks?” Harry asked pointedly.

“Yes, I grabbed a pair each. I’m sure they’re Draco’s though.”

“Nasta will fit into my clothes, its fine.” Draco insisted.

“Here.” Blaise called out, hurrying back into the room and bringing over a large flask, one that Harry usually used to store his mates’ blood when he was in his nest, from the kitchen. “It’s tea for him.” Blaise explained. “The tea at the hospital tastes like piss.”

“That’s a nice touch, Blaise.” Harry said with a smile.

“I still remember being on the ward.” Blaise said. “The food was nice, but the tea was awful.”

Max kissed Blaise and took the flask, slipping it into the bag and zipping it up.

“Look after him.” Max ordered Blaise, before turning to Draco. “You, look after them both.”

Draco waved a hand. “I’ve got them both. You know they are actually adults and they usually behave themselves.”

Harry giggled. “Usually.” He echoed.

“Be good.” Max pointed at him.

Harry giggled again, but stopped on a gasp as his thunderer kicked him.

“You okay?” Max asked, taking three huge, quick steps to crouch down in front of him.

“Thunderer is awake.” Harry said, and it was all he needed to say to explain the situation.

“Right, Max, you go and sort Nasta out. I’m going to give Harry and our thunderer a belly massage.” Blaise said. “Draco, can you get my stuff for me?”

Draco nodded and stood to get the oil, towels and the bowl that Blaise needed to give Harry one of the very frequent massages that helped with the pain, and helped to settle the baby down.
Max kissed Harry once more and then he was gone with Aneirin and Harry let go of his mask as he fell backwards and bit his lip, trying to stop himself from fretting.

“It’s a broken leg, Harry.” Blaise soothed him.

“It could have been his neck.”

“It could have been, but it wasn’t. He’s in the hospital and he’s going to be fine and he’ll be home by the morning. Now, let’s get you lying down in front of the fire and give you and our unborn son a nice, relaxing massage.”

Harry smiled at that. “Our thunderer likes your massages.”

Blaise hummed. “That’s why you’re getting one, Prezioso.”

Draco came back with an armful of supplies, and though he handed the bowl of oils to Blaise, he kept the towels for himself and he started spreading them out in front of the fire before he helped Harry strip off his jumper and tee-shirt.
Harry was helped to lie backwards and Draco’s hands went into his hair, rubbing and stroking and Harry moaned happily.

“Of all the massage techniques you’ve taught us, this one is the best.” Draco declared.

Blaise smirked. “You keep that up for me, while I help settle down our thunderer.”

Harry felt Blaise’s hands touch his belly and they stayed there for a moment before moving and spreading out, sweeping in gentle motions and immediately the baby writhing inside him stopped moving and settled down.
Harry chuckled at how quickly their thunderer settled under Blaise’s touches, and he enjoyed the attention on his body, and the lack of kicking and punching inside him. Sometimes it would be strong enough, or sudden enough, to take his breath away and sometimes it even made him throw-up.

“You’re going to have to go back for classes, Blaise.” Harry said softly.

“Have I forgotten something?” Blaise asked immediately. “Am I hurting you?”

“Oh love, no. I didn’t mean that.” Harry insisted, wanting to sit and hug his mate, but unable to do so from his back. “I just meant that you’d need to take classes for baby massages. Our thunderer is not going to be happy when he’s born and can no longer have these massages from you.”

“They actually had baby massage classes.” Blaise said, frowning as the words prodded his damaged memory. “I thought about taking them, but I was doing it for you, so you were my priority at the time. I can easily see if they have a space for me to take the class. I know Max already knows a little of baby massage, maybe he’d like to come with me.”

That prodded Harry’s memory, of Nasta’s voice telling a story of Max sat in their room at Hogwarts, massaging their Faerie baby’s belly to help ease his colic pain.

“Your hands have stopped.” Harry complained.

Blaise blinked, then realised he’d stopped his massage and he went right back to it with a wry chuckle.

“I hope Max thinks to ask Nasta if everything was sorted at the reserve.” Draco mused, even as his fingers stroked soothingly over Harry’s skull and down behind his ears before moving back up to the top of his head.

“I’m sure he will.” Harry said sleepily. “Unless Nasta tells him first, he’ll know that we’ll want to know.”

“Draco, brush your thumbs over Harry’s forehead.”

“Show me.” Draco insisted.

Harry moaned when Blaise’s hands stopped moving on his belly, and he frowned at his mate, watching as he wiped his hands on a towel before shuffling up to his head and showing Draco how to cradle Harry’s head, but to run his thumbs over his forehead, dipping to the bridge of his nose, before sweeping up again, over his eyebrows and back to his temples. Blaise repeated the move, in a perfect circuit, until Draco was confident enough to try it himself.
Once satisfied and Draco had the sequence memorised, Blaise moved back to Harry’s belly, dipped his hands back into the bowl of oil, before placing his hands back on the prominent baby belly.
It was an art form to massage a pregnant person, there was only so much pressure that could be used, and a lot of Harry’s inner organs were sore and squashed up, particularly his stomach and lungs as their growing son took up ever more room.
Harry himself fell into a doze several times, only to be woken by a movement, a noise, or the baby squirming inside him, but he felt so relaxed, and so calm and boneless. He was worried for Nasta still, but he was no longer panicked or feeling so stressed.
The floo flared and Draco moved immediately to shield him and Blaise, but it was Max who was grinning down at them from the other side of the fireguard.

“Comfy?” He teased.

Harry closed his eyes and hummed, smiling in a very satisfied way.

“How’s our Nas?” He asked.

“Propped up in a bed, very grateful for the book I packed and the flask of tea that Blaise thoughtfully included. He’s fine, Harry. I swear.”

“The reserve?”

“All calm and under control once more. Llew was injured and lashing out. One of the other bull’s had bitten his damn tail. Nasta said it was so bad that the tail was almost severed, right near the top too. Nasta says Llew must have been sleeping when it happened.”

“Branwen?” Blaise asked, even as his hands continued to glide gently over Harry’s belly and sides.

“Safely knocked out and moved to be in a new enclosure with her hatchlings. Everyone is safe and accounted for, dragons and handlers both. A few, like Nasta, are going to need some time to recover, but will be fine eventually.”

Harry sighed. “I’m glad. Nasta will still be back tomorrow, won’t he?”

“Yeah, nine in the morning according to the Healer. He’ll be very bruised though, so no pouncing on him, any of you.” Max said as he stepped over the fireguard.

“The kids might.” Harry chuckled.

“He’s had his dragon pox vaccine?” Draco asked.

Max nodded. “Hence why he’s so bruised.”

“I’ll make him a nest on the settee.” Harry murmured. “He’ll need to keep his weight from that leg for a few more days, and the vaccine will make him feel ill.”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Max told him firmly. “I’ll do that, while you rest yourself.”

“I feel nice and relaxed and well rested.” Harry insisted.

“I don’t care.” Max told him. “You will rest as much as humanly possible.”

“The bladder infection is gone, Max.”

“You’re still on potions for it, you will rest, Harry.”

Harry sighed and waved at Max. “Whatever you say, love.”

Max breathed out, but he took Harry’s word for it and sat himself down. He had Nasta’s shirt folded in his hands.

“You’re bothered by something.” Draco pestered several minutes of silent massage later. Harry had been drifting again, but his eyes blinked open at the sudden intrusion of noise.

“I just don’t like the thought of Nasta being injured, Draco.” Max insisted. “He looks very pale.”

“Nasta’s always pale.” Blaise pointed out.

“To you he is. We can’t all be tanned, olive skinned descendants of Italians.” Max attempted to joke.

Blaise rolled his eyes, used to the joke by now. “You know what I mean, Max.”

“No, he’s more…ashen. More a grey pale than the white pale he usually is in winter.”

“He was in a highly stressful situation, dealing with a life or death matter, and he had his leg broken by a dragon that could have easily bitten him in half.” Draco pointed out. “I’m sure anyone would have the right to be ‘pale’ after that.”

“Don’t forget the dragon pox vaccine.” Harry murmured softly. “That always makes him feel ill, and he had to have it early because of the dragon. I imagine that having it early makes it ten times worse.”

“The main thing is he’s alive. He’s alive and he’ll be better in just a few days. He’s even coming home in less than fourteen hours.” Blaise told them all sternly. “Max, you might need to take over the top dominancy for a few days, to keep Nasta off of that leg, but he’ll be here. He’ll be awake and alert, the only thing keeping him trapped to a chair is that leg, and Skele-gro is not anything you want to take again by messing up a healing break.”

“Trust me, I more than know that after I had to have the bones in my arm regrown.” Harry insisted. “If I’d used that arm in the few days after they’d grown back, and messed up the settling period of the new bones, they’d have had to be removed again and the process would have needed to be started again from the beginning. Once was bad enough.”

“So keep Nasta off of his leg, ply him with tea and fruit, and basically carry on as normal with him being carried everywhere.” Max said.

“You know that you’ll have to do that, right?” Draco pointed out. “No one else is strong enough to carry Nasta. I’m closest to his height, but he’s taller than I am, and bulkier.”

“Don’t fret about that, love. I’ve got him in hand.” Max promised. “He probably won’t want to be carried anywhere, anyway. I’ll just be a willing crutch to help him hop everywhere.”

“Oh, if that’s what he wants then I can do that.” Draco insisted. “I just can’t carry him.”

“I promise not to try.” Harry chuckled.

“I won’t either. If he stumbles, we’ll both be flattened and that won’t help his leg.” Blaise grinned down at him.

“Are you three done pampering? Do you want a cuppa?”

“Yes please.” Harry said, waving his arms to indicate he wanted to be sat up.

Blaise stopped massaging him slowly, and once his hands were free of Harry’s body, Draco sat him up carefully, slowly.
Harry allowed his body to resettle in an upright position, and immediately their thunderer started squirming and complaining.

“Oh!” Harry moaned unhappily.

“Is he fussing again?” Draco asked.

Harry nodded with a sigh. “I hope he settles down when he’s born, or we’ll be run off our feet. He’ll be one of those babies who cries when they’re put down.”

“You don’t put our newborns down anyway.” Draco teased.

Harry gave him an evil grin.

“That doesn’t mean anything good.” Blaise chuckled.

“Oh, I’m just going to remind him that I can’t do anything for the first several days after I’ve given birth.” Harry said mildly.

“Of course you can’t. You’d have had a self-caesarean and would have spent Merlin knows how long in your nest alone with the baby, bonding. No one expects you to do anything in those first few weeks, love.” Max said sternly, getting the wrong end of the stick from the conversation.

“Oh, no, I was just telling Draco why I wouldn’t be dealing with any fussy newborns and while I’m nicely tucked up in bed, resting nd recovering, you lot will be tending to our newborn son.”

“As it should be.” Blaise told him, escorting him to the settee and sitting next to him when Harry all but fell into his seat. He picked up Nasta’s shirt where Max had left it folded on the seat and buried his face in it. It still smelt of Nasta and it comforted him, and settled his Dracken.

“You just rest and recover, dearest. Let us take care of everything.” Max grinned.

“I want that in writing!” Harry teased.

“No need. I promise to remember.” Max insisted, coming to kiss him.

They heard the kettle click from the kitchen and Max snuggled Harry from behind for another prolonged moment, before standing and going to the kitchen to make tea.
Harry moaned and grumbled as his unborn son kicked and writhed, stretched out his little limbs to touch several parts of Harry’s insides at once, and Harry just knew that tonight would be a bad one, with absolutely no sleep for him.

“Is he still kicking you?” Max asked worriedly as he brought in the tea and made sure to pass Harry his cup first, even though it had been weeks since Harry’s hormones had made him kick up a fuss about getting his tea first.

“It’s more than kicking, he’s somersaulting in…” Harry ended his sentence on a breathy gasp as a fist found a lung and knocked his breath away. He moaned and wrapped his free arm around his chest.

A hand on his back rubbed and soothed him, helping him to regain his breath.

“Little demon child.” Harry hissed to his stomach.

“Come on now, love. Don’t be like that. You’ll be fine in a minute and if he came early, you’d be very upset.” Draco chided him.

Harry sighed, and he nodded, recognising the truth of that. He really would be upset if he went into premature labour and his son was born ill. He’d hate himself for that.
He took some tea and tried to hold his stomach in place as his cartwheeling son made him feel sick.

“It’s going to be a bad night.” Harry told his mates with a sigh. “He’ll be bouncing around all night now and he’ll go quiet and go to sleep at six in the morning, when the kids start waking up.”

“I…if you need to, love, stay in bed in the morning.” Max told him. “The three of us can look after the kids, and Nasta when he comes home. You need to rest.”

Harry frowned and sighed. “I might have to if he doesn’t let me sleep. I’ll be too tired.”

At eleven that night, they all went up to bed. Baby thunderer had settled down and had stopped kicking and Harry was hopeful. Until he climbed into bed, settled on his side and snuggled up to his body pillow.
Draco was against his back, Harry could feel his breath against his neck and it made him smile. His mates all drifted off, they’d had a packed day, with the decorating, then Nasta’s emergency, and the trip to the hospital. But it usually took Harry a while to settle with his pregnant belly these days.
Only the moment he settled, his thunderer came awake, kicking and squirming, rolling and stretching, and not even Harry’s body pillow, which supported him in all the right places, helped.
Annoyed and frustrated, he kicked himself free of the duvet, eased himself cumbersomely over the body pillow, and then over the side of the bed. He picked up Nasta’s shirt, and his wand from the pile of them on the bedside table, before he went and checked on his two girls, who were going to be moved to their own room in the New Year, to find them both still sleeping. They were both doing wonderfully well in recent weeks in sleeping through the night. It was Braiden who was the problem, as he didn’t stay asleep and kept waking up through the night. Unfortunately he’d learned which door his parents were behind, and he banged on it with his hand to wake them up at all hours, which usually woke his brothers and sister too, none of whom were at all pleased to be woken up.
Harry went and checked on them, as silently as he could, while breathing hard because his unborn son had a foot in his lung which made him want to vomit.
Braiden was indeed awake. Sat up in his cot, staring at the door to the hallway with teary eyes. He looked over when the bedroom door opened and pulled himself to his feet, warbling and clamouring, even as he started climbing over the bar of the cot.

“Shh, Braiden.” Harry whispered, as he hurried forward and plucked his oldest from the top of the cot. “Come on.”

Harry took him back out of the room, into the hallway, and went to check on Leolin, quickly, only to find his Faerie baby deeply asleep and perfectly fine.
Harry had to put Braiden on the floor outside and he took his hand instead. He led him to a guest bedroom and sat him on the bed.

“Why don’t you want to sleep, Braiden?” He asked.

“I don’t like being in cot!”

“You don’t like your cot?” Harry asked to confirm, and he sighed. They should have just asked Braiden from the start. He could have sent one of his mates out to get a toddler bed ready for tonight.

Braiden shook his head. “Want big bed.”

“You want a big boy bed?”

“Like Mummy and Daddies.” Braiden nodded.

“Okay, will you sleep in your cot tonight, and then Mummy and Daddies will get you a big boy bed for tomorrow night?”

Braiden started crying and he shook his head. “No.” He said stubbornly.

Harry rubbed his head and tried to figure out a solution. If he put Braiden back in the nursery then he’d wake up all the others, his mates too, and they all needed their sleep. He could always put Braiden in a spare cot in the room next to Leolin’s, but the chances that he would stay in it, or actually sleep, was very slim and it made Harry frustrated.
Then he had an idea. He picked up Braiden and took out his wand. He aimed it at the bed and shrunk it right down, so that it looked like a mini version of a double bed.

“There, will you sleep in this room. In this bed?” Harry asked, as Braiden eyed the bed with wonder.

“Yes, Mummy. This my bed.”

Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he put Braiden down on the floor and groaned through the pain in his back. Braiden crawled right under the covers and kicked his legs, giggling.

“Go to sleep now, Braiden. You have your own big boy bed. You need to go to sleep.”

“Yes, Mummy. Tuck in.”

Harry smiled at that, and he tucked his two year old in, laying a kiss to his forehead. He stayed in the room until Braiden stopped kicking his feet, stopped giggling and staring at his own legs in the little bed, and finally went to sleep.
Harry tucked him in again and hoped that Braiden stayed asleep now that he was out of the cot that he obviously no longer liked.
Harry went down the stairs and into the kitchen, making himself a cup of tea and he went to the smaller, more intimate living room, switching on the lights and sinking himself into a seat, while taking a sip of tea with a happy sigh.
Of course the moment he was up again his thunderer decided to be still. He rubbed his belly and felt the writhing movement, like a snake, come from within.

“You are going to be trouble, my little bolt of thunder.” He chuckled.

He drank his tea and tested his thunderer every fifteen minutes, lying down against the arm of the settee, but every time he tipped sideways, his child came to life, kicking, squirming and writhing and Harry was so frustrated and tired now that he snatched all the cushions, snatched the throw from the back of the settee that Mrs Weasley had made him, and he propped himself upright in the corner of the settee and covered himself over with the throw, using Nasta’s shirt like a comfort blanket.
He thought that perhaps it would take him forever to fall asleep, but he started drifting off almost immediately. Within ten minutes he was fast asleep sitting up, and his thunderer was still enough that his slight movements didn’t disturb him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X

Harry was woken up the next morning by a very, very loud screech from the room next door and he blinked open his eyes and stretched carefully with a yawn, dislodging the throw which was still tucked under his chin. Nasta’s shirt was buried under his nose, held there by the side of his face, and it made Harry remember what had happened yesterday.

“Calix, shh.” He heard Draco chastise just from the other side of the double doors. A moment later someone slapped the door with an open hand and Harry grinned as he realised that Calix was knocking to come in.

“Pick him up, Draco.” He heard Nasta’s voice, and that made Harry’s grin widen as he realised that Nasta was back home. He must have slept through his homecoming, unless Max had seen him sleeping in here and had Apparated Nasta home. He suddenly just wanted to burrow into Nasta and he stood himself up and went around to the other family room via the kitchen.

“Mummy!” Braiden cried out and came running the moment he cleared the door. His big boy had been just inside the door, playing with a toy car.

“Harry, are you alright?” Max demanded, fretting and fussing as usual.

“I’m fine.” Harry said as he snuggled Braiden, kissed his mouth, before he caught all the other clamouring babies before going to find his two girls, and then Leolin, who was having a nap in his bouncer.

Only then could Harry go and burrow into Nasta, being careful of the propped left leg that was on a cushion on the coffee table.

“How are you feeling?” Harry asked him, rubbing their faces together, despite the fact that Nasta looked like he hadn’t shaved in two days and was rather spiky and abrasive.

“I feel fine, Harry. Normal. My leg is healed, I just have to be careful not to overdo it and cause complications. This is Max overreacting.” Nasta told him, indicating his leg on a cushion, before pulling Harry more firmly into his arms and hugging him tight. “How are you? Max said you’d gotten up in the night and fallen asleep in the living room.”

“Little thunderer wouldn’t let me lie down again. I got so fed up and I was so tired, that I propped myself up with all the cushions and fell asleep sat up.” Harry grinned. “It must have worked because I didn’t wake up once after that, and considering it’s now gone eleven in the morning, I’ve had a good nine hours of sleep.”

“Did you sort out Braiden last night?” Max asked from where he was sat playing a game with Regan.

“Yes. He was awake when I got up and he was climbing out of his cot. He doesn’t like it apparently and he wants a big bed, like we have. So I took him into the guest room and shrunk the bed in there for him.” Harry shrugged, but then he grinned. “You should have seen him giggling at his own feet as he kicked them under the duvet. We need to seriously sort him out a proper toddler bed. Maybe let him pick out his own so he wants to sleep in it.”

“It was a good idea to shrink the guest bed for him, well done my clever mate.” Nasta told him, nuzzling him.

Harry chuckled and nuzzled Nasta back, kissing him, then kissing him again.

“I missed you last night.” Harry told him.

“Oh? But I heard that you were treated to two massages by two mates, and that you had all the cwtches.”

That made Harry let out a little giggle and he just automatically felt better. “I did, but I had room for one more cwtch.”

“Then let me make it up to you.” Nasta told him, snuggling him up and setting them up for a long, proper cwtch.

“Do you want something to eat, Harry? Or just tea for now?” Max asked him, aware that Harry no longer kept to ‘traditional’ meal times and instead ate what he wanted, when he wanted it.

“Tea and some pineapple.” Harry said, giving Max a smile.

“Right away, dearest.” Max gave him a loud, smacking kiss on his way past and it made Harry smile. He was more settled today, with Nasta back home, and he felt amazing, especially after the good sleep he’d had. It seemed that he would have to use that little trick more and more in the coming weeks, until his thunderer was born.

“You haven’t worried too much?” Nasta asked him.

Harry shook his head. “No, love. I’ve been alright, I was worried before we knew what had happened to you. I was worried when I heard that you were in the hospital, but your Dad reassured me that you were alright, and that you’d be home soon. Your shirt really helped though, so thank you for letting Max bring it to me.”

“I didn’t need it after I got the pyjamas he brought for me, I did fix it up first though, it was a bit ripped and soot stained.”

Harry sighed and tried not to think of it. They could never have a quiet year…right now he’d settle for a quiet month, where none of them were fighting, none of the kids were having problems, he wasn’t so heavily pregnant, and none of his mates were risking life and limb at work.

“I was worried that maybe you’d gone to sleep downstairs because you were worrying so much.” Nasta confided.

“Oh, Nas, no.” Harry said, turning to face him and cupping his stubbled cheeks. “It really was more comfortable. Our baby wouldn’t let me sleep, every time I went to lie down on my side, he started kicking my lungs or bladder, or stretching out the skin on my stomach. He only settled when I was sat upright and I just wanted to sleep.”

Nasta nodded and bent to kiss him. “I’m glad that that was what it was. When Max came to get me and told me that we had to Apparate because you were asleep in front of the floo…I thought then that maybe you’d fallen asleep waiting for me, sat there worrying all night. I’m so glad to hear that that isn’t the case.”

Harry shook his head. “I love you, but you’re daft.”

Nasta snorted and threw his arm back around Harry and cuddled him in. Max came in with a tea tray, and he handed out cups of tea, Harry and Nasta getting theirs before Blaise and Draco, before Harry got a bowl of chunked pineapple.
Harry managed several bits of pineapple, near enough half a bowl, before he turned to Nasta and started feeding him the rest. No one fretted now, they knew that he would eat when he was hungry, and he would stop when he’d had enough. Harry was a dab hand at pregnancies, this was his fourth, despite the fact that he had nine children between them. This little one was fairly easy, he hadn’t had any proper scares, despite that his stress had elevated his baby boy’s heartrate for a while, and he was his first singleton since his very first, his little Braiden.

“Mummy, I want.”

Harry chuckled, of course his little Farren would look up and see him eating. Harry grinned at Nasta and handed Farren the bowl with the bits of remaining pineapple. Farren had already tried pineapple, and he liked it, so he ate the few chunks that were left happily enough, though Harry thought that there would be trouble when Braiden toddled over and took a piece. Farren however, only offered the bowl for Braiden to take another piece and the two of them shared a moment together, and then Braiden was gone again, walking over to Calix, and Farren was left to sit with his bowl of pineapple.

“So, how long is our quiet day going to last?” Blaise grinned.

“Don’t jinx it.” Harry complained. “I want a nice, quiet day. Max, you can open the door to the other room, put some cartoons on too. We have eleven days before Christmas, and there is still so much that needs to be done.”

“I’ve finished the shopping list. I’ll go this afternoon with a few of the kids to help limit the activity here. If I take both Eva and Ave, and put the toddler reins on Braiden, I can take all three of them.”

Harry shook his head. “Take Farren and Tegan instead, Farren hasn’t left the house in a while.”

Max nodded.

“You could even take Leolin in the baby carrier, or is that too risky?” Draco asked.

“Too risky.” Nasta said immediately. “The amount of people who will have colds or the flu in winter almost triples, because the viruses prefer cold, dry air to spread easier. Taking Farren, Tegan and Braiden will be enough. Make sure to take them to the deli counter, Max, get them to try some cheeses or hams. Farren especially will like that.”

“Buy me some fruit tarts too!” Harry piped up. “You know the ones, with the kiwi slices on them?”

Max chuckled. “I remember the ones you mean. I’ll grab you some.”

“Also, get some toddler sheets and a duvet set. Get Braiden to pick which ones, if he can. Don’t worry so much about the bed for now. We can keep the shrunken guest bed in the meantime, but we can try to make it his own a little.”

Max, who had taken out his large piece of parchment with his lists on it, and he started adding things. It was Draco who stood up to open the double doors into the smaller living room, and putting on the children’s cartoons on a low volume. Regan abandoned everything and went to watch, sitting in the little toddle chair that Draco had just set out.

“Does anyone want anything? Draco? Blaise?” Max asked, reviewing his list.

“No, I’m good.” Blaise answered, while Draco just shook his head.

“Nas, you want anything, babe?” Max asked. “You know, besides a new leg?”

Nasta snorted. “Grab me some kale and chia seeds, Max. I want to make up a new smoothie.”

Max pulled a face, but he dutifully added the ingredients.

“I’ll make it for you, I don’t want you standing up.” Max said, which Harry thought was nice of him, considering what he thought of Nasta’s smoothies in the first place.

“Are we okay for tea and milk?” Harry asked.

“We’re good for milk.” Max answered. “I’ll pick up another eight pints, just to be sure, but we need teabags and rusks.”

“I’m good for honey, I think there’s an emergency bottle in the top cupboard.” He grinned.

“I bought it last week, just to ensure we never run out for you.” Max smiled.

“Thank you, lover.”

“My pleasure, dearest. Now, Draco, you’ll be in charge while I’m gone. Look after them all.”

“Nasta is sat right there.” Draco complained.

“Nasta better not move his arse for anything.” Max muttered under his breath.

“I’m not going to move.” Nasta insisted. “I don’t want a broken or mangled leg for Christmas.”

Harry sighed as everything was rushed and time seemed to fly, even as he shared a bonding moment with Nasta. Very soon Leolin was awake and crying for him, because he’d dropped his Ma doll and couldn’t see it. The kids were spread out over two rooms, some being quiet, others rather rowdy and troublesome, Braiden in particular, who they noticed had emptied the contents of the sideboard by climbing it and throwing everything out onto the floor. He’d had a time out for that.
Very soon Max gave up trying to keep everyone happy and the house tidy, and took Farren, Tegan and Braiden shopping, strapping them into their car seats and getting them out of the house. Not that it made much of a difference, with Calix taking over where Braiden had left off and Eva banging her head into the coffee table, then Leolin pitching a fit it was hardly the quiet afternoon that Harry wanted, especially when his thunderer came alive and started squirming and wriggling. He had to run for the bathroom twice to throw up, both times Blaise coming with him, because Draco made him feel worse and despite wanting Nasta there, as the calmest, most competent person, he unfortunately couldn’t move, so Harry was stuck with Blaise. Though that truly wasn’t fair, as Blaise was calming and soothing, but he winced every time Harry heaved, and Harry could feel that stiffness in the hands on his back.
It was just eleven days until Christmas, and it was going to be hell on earth, only to be beaten when their children were older, and understood more about what was happening. Harry would cherish these early years, while Christmas was still mostly a surprise to the toddlers, but he would be looking forward to next year, as he had his fingers crossed tightly that he would not be pregnant at Christmas next year. Braiden would be three years old, his quintuplets would be almost three, and his twin girls almost two. His little thunderer would be almost a year old and thinking that made Harry smile as he curled up into Blaise on the bathroom floor, shivering and shaking from shock and cold of the sudden vomiting.

“Are you alright, Innamorato?” Blaise asked him softly, stroking his hair. He was less tense now that Harry had stopped vomiting.

Harry nodded weakly. “I think I need to lie down for a bit, Blaise.”

“Do you want to go up to bed, or into Nasta’s lap?”

Harry chuckled. “Do you need to ask? Nasta’s lap, please. Misery loves company, after all.”

“You can almost see the little rainclouds hanging over your heads.” Blaise teased, as he hunched on his feet and slipped an arm around Harry’s back and under his knees. Harry wrapped his arms around Blaise’s neck for stability and his mate lifted him up easily, carrying him back into the family room.

“Are you okay, Harry?” Nasta asked immediately, visibly vibrating with the urge to stand up and come to him.

Blaise crouched down and laid Harry gently on the settee, putting his head in Nasta’s lap.

“I’m fine.” Harry said. “I really need to lie down, though. That last…that last purge really wore me out. I feel weak and shaky.”

“You need some sugar. Blaise, go and find him one of those chocolate bars.” Nasta ordered.

Harry grinned. “I think I’m hallucinating now.”

“Oh, be quiet.” Nasta teased with a smile. “I’m not that tyrannical. You had that massive box from Max for your birthday, a chocolate bar a day, and I’ve not said a word about it. But your blood sugar has dropped from the vomiting, you need to eat something sugary to help.”

“Will tea help?” Draco asked, pale and worried.

“It would, thank you, Draco.” Nasta said, even as he stroked his hand through Harry’s hair, brushing his forehead.

Harry was kept happy with a bar of fudge chocolate and a cup of honey tea, but it wasn’t as nice as it could have been, considering that his stomach was very tender, his thunderer was still moving, and he had to eat carefully, delicately, letting the small nibbles of chocolate all but melt in his mouth, lest it make him run for the bathroom again.
He ate slowly, took delicate sips of tea, and carefully monitored himself. He couldn’t wait until this was over. He’d thought that once the morning sickness had trailed off, it would be plain sailing, he hadn’t counted on his son kicking him so viciously it could make him vomit up everything he’d eaten that week. It was eleven days until Christmas…they weren’t going to bloody survive.
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A/N: Not much to say other than I think this is the first time that I’ve managed to match up the timeline to real life. Normally we get the Christmas chapters in the summer, so it makes a nice change. Chapter 120 is up to 4,000 words and is going well, so I’ll hopefully be getting that up soon, within the next few weeks, but I hope that you’ve all enjoyed this chapter for now.
StarLight Massacre. X
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The Rise of the Drackens