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Stricken: The Principles of Lust	By : Chocho Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 10291 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters, places or names. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
Stricken: The Principles of Lust

Four-part

Written by: chochowilliams

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters, places or names. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Summary: No strings. No promises. No commitment. Just a single night of passion to ease the loneliness. It wasn’t until Harry discovered he was pregnant did things start to become complicated.

Warning: non-epilogue compliant, fantasy, drama, romance, language, sexual situations, infidelity, OOC, OCs, F/M, M/M, M-Preg

Pairings: Harry/Draco, Harry/Lucius, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Ginny/Seamus

Inserts: “As Long As You Love Me”, Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys, recap from chapter 3

A/N: Once again, I would like to thank all of you so very much for your support! Please enjoy the final chapter of “Stricken”.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine

I’m leaving my life in your hands

People say I’m crazy and that I am blind

Risking it all in a glance

How you got me blind is still a mystery

I can’t get you out of my head

Don’t care what is written in your history

As long as you’re here with me

-“As Long As You Love Me”, Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Last Time

Draco’s narrowed gaze zeroed in on Harry’s belly. With a disgusted sneer on his face, he asked, “And that -- thing is…?”

The beginning of tears stung Harry’s eyes. Wrapping his arms around his belly, he nodded for the tightening of his throat prevented him from speaking.

Without another word, Draco turned sharply on his heel, the tails of his robe billowing out about him and stalked off back the way they came.

“D-Dray?” Harry called out around a sob. He’d expected yelling and screaming; a hex or two; being called a whore or home wrecker; something.

Halfway down the dirt drive, Draco halted and said, “Don’t. Just. Don’t.”

“But-but what about-?”

Still without looking back, Draco told him, “I’ll talk to Father about consulting on the winery like I promised. Other than that…”

“Please,” Harry sobbed. He’d known telling Draco about the baby was going to be a bad idea! Why had he tried to convince himself otherwise? “Dray. I-I’m sorry! Your Father and I-”

“You and that -- thing,” Draco continued as if he hadn’t heard Harry, “will stay away from my family or you will regret it.” With that, Draco disapparated with a particularly loud clap.

It felt as if his heart were breaking into a millions tiny pieces and each of those pieces were breaking into a million and so on and so forth until there was nothing but dust where his heart used to be.

Dropping his face in his hands, Harry slid to his knees there in the middle of the drive and sobbed.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Chapter 4: Birthing Consequences

A Week Later - 1^st August - Afternoon - Aotearoa Manor - New Zealand

It was official.

Harry wasn’t sure how it happened or when it happened. All he knew was that he was in love with Draco Malfoy. He was in love with the son of the father of his child. How messed up was that? And it had only taken being rejected to come to this life altering realization.

There was an almost inaudible pop behind him. Then a scraggly voice said, “Healer Iriye be here Master.”

Sniffling, Harry pushed himself up onto his elbows. The bed barely shifted beneath him at the movement despite the massive weight it was supporting. It continued to amaze him that the bed hadn’t collapsed beneath him by now. “Thank you Kreature,” he said with a sniff as he dried his tear stained face with the hem of his shirt. His voice was thick from crying and thus did not sound like his own. “Show her up.”

Bowing, Kreature vanished with a pop.

Sitting up, Harry propped the pillows behind his back and when he was satisfied, lay back against them with a sigh.

After having his heart ripped out, shredded and then stomped on for good measure last week in Lis, France, Harry had somehow made his way back to the inn he’d been staying at, packed his belonging, paid his bill and then returned here to New Zealand where he was, for all intents and purposes, sulking.

A bird fluttered passed the balcony doors, which were open to allow a light breeze to flow through the bedchamber.

There was a knock.

After clearing his throat, he called out in a voice that sounded more like his own, “Enter.” Harry turned his head to the side and watched as Healer Iriye stepped into the chamber and shut the white double doors behind her.

“Hello, Harry,” she greeted warmly with a large toothy grin on her face.

“Hi,” he returned her greeting with a smile that came out as more of a grimace.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded with a frown. “What happened? Is it the baby?” Her wand was in her hand and concern lined her face.

Harry shook his head. “He’s fine.” He turned away from her penetrating gaze.

Still frowning, Healer Iriye waved her wand over him in a series of complicated patterns.

“It’s…It‘s just-” An expected sob chocked his voice to a halt and a stray tear slipped down his cheek. Harry hastily brushed it aside and though he took a deep breath in order to try and calm himself down, his voice still came out not sounding like his own. “I met with Draco last week,” he confessed despite the tightness in his chest and the constriction of his throat.

“As in Draco Malfoy?” she inquired for clarification as she continued her diagnostic sweep. Her voice was as carefully neutral as her expression.

Harry nodded. “He’s become a good friend over the past year,” he admitted.

Healer Iriye hummed to indicate she was listening.

“So I thought I’d, uh, tell him about the baby, ya know?” he sniffed.

Stilling all movement, Healer Iriye asked, “Is he-?”

Harry shook his head vigorously.

Nodding, she continued waving her wand over her pregnant patient. “How’d he take it?”

A sob choked off any words he may have said, so he merely shook his head as his vision blurred behind a sting of tears.

Seeing the utter devastation on the young man’s face, Healer Iriye whispered, “I’m sorry.” Inwardly she cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. They seemed inadequate, but she wasn‘t sure what else to say. With her diagnostic scans of both mother and child complete, Healer Iriye lowered herself to the edge of the bed. “What happened?”

Unable to bring himself to repeat the exact words that had been Draco‘s parting words to him, Harry said, “He said that he-he didn’t want to see me or-my baby again.” Thinking about that day felt like being stabbed in the heart.

“He was angry.”

Harry barked out a laugh. It was not an amused sound. That’s putting it mildly, he thought.

There must have been something about his expression or his reaction that was telling for Healer Iriye asked in such a soft voice that Harry almost couldn’t hear the question, “Are you in love with him?”

His eyes going wide, Harry went still. He stopped breathing. The only movement was the pounding of his heart. Its beats were so loud they drowned out all other sound. Was it that obvious?

“His rejection must have been devastating.”

Stifling a sob, Harry nodded as a single tear slid down his cheek.

“Do you think he feels the same way?” she asked.

Adamantly, Harry shook his head. He didn’t know anything about that. If Draco had harbored any un-friend-like feelings for him before last week’s blundered reveal, they would have turned into bitter resentment by now. “It doesn’t really matter either way now does it?” he asked rhetorically. His voice was laced with bitterness. Whether it was directed at Healer Iriye, Draco or himself, he was not sure. “Because I slept with his-” He cut his rant off with a silent curse.

Healer Iriye cocked her head to the side. “With his what?”

Something in Harry snapped. “His father okay? I slept with Draco‘s father. Lucius fucking Malfoy is the father of my child. Okay? Happy?” That type of betrayal wandered passed all levels. It contaminated everything. There was no going back from this.

To her credit, Healer Iriye’s face was blank. “Does he know?”

The anger vanished as quickly as it appeared. It left Harry drained and emptier than before. Wearily, he shook his head as he dropped his head back onto the mountain of pillows behind him.

Shaking her own head, Healer Iriye sighed. The longer Harry put it off, the harder it would inevitably become as he was no doubt beginning to realize.

Deciding it was time to change the subject, she stood up and said, “Speaking of which. It appears as if the baby is in as good health as are you.”

The first genuine smile in a week appeared on Harry’s lips. “Yeah?”

“You’ve obviously been taking your vitamins.”

“As prescribed,” Harry confirmed.

“Good. Do you need any refills?”

“I should be okay until next time.”

Healer Iriye nodded. “Okay. If you should need any before our next appointment, call the office.”

Harry nodded.

“Now, would you like to see him?”

His eyes going wide, Harry felt his heart skip a beat before it started racing in anticipation. “Oh yes, please!”

Chuckling lightly at his eagerness, Healer Iriye waved her wand once again over Harry’s belly. This time a wispy mist formed and rose. It hovered in the air above the bed and solidified as much as smoke could. It reminded Harry of a corporeal patronus.

“And there he is,” she announced with a grin.

“Oh!” This time when the tears came, they were spilled out of joy. Harry reached out with a trembling hand. The image wavered at his touch.

“It appears he’s sucking his thumb.”

Harry laughed around his quiet joyful sobs. “At least he’s not mooning us,” he deadpanned.

Healer Iriye laughed. It had taken well into the second trimester in order to determine the sex of the baby for the unborn Potter heir had taken to mooning them during each sonogram. Even now, three out of four ultrasounds were met with a pair of buttocks.

“A right Marauder,” was what Harry said.

The creation of this child may have cost him any chance of being with Draco, though slim that possibility may have been, and the tentative friendship they’d developed may have fizzled, but seeing his beautiful little baby Asher James Lucius Malfoy-Potter made the pain from his heartache not hurt as bad.

It was too bad the image was monochromatic though.

“I wonder if you’ll look like your Daddy,” Harry pondered a loud.

At the sound of his mother’s voice, the unborn Potter heir popped its thumb out of his mouth and shifted. His hands flying to his belly, Harry let out a whoosh of air as he felt a pair of tiny feet slam against him. Then he laughed.

Healer Iriye continued to watch Harry watch his son. The gloomy air of misery had been dispelled thankfully and the pregnancy glow had returned.

Harry would be alright, she decided. After all, a broken heart was not the end of the world, especially when you had so much else to look forward to.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Same Time - Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire, England

Lucius halted only briefly as he stepped into the dining room to see his son and heir’s seat once again empty. “And Draco is where today?” he asked his wife as he sat in his chair at the head of the table.

“He said he had some errands to run.”

Lucius nodded. Snapping the cloth napkin out of its intricate origami fold, he laid it over his lap. “And of course he cannot be bothered to take five minutes out of his busy schedule to sit to a meal with his family?”

A house-elf appeared, poured them each a glass of white wine with a light fruity aroma and then disappeared.

“Draco has his own life darling,” Narcissa said as she picked up a fork and speared a piece of sliced peach. “He is no longer a child.”

“I am well aware of that,” Lucius said as he dug into his own fruit salad. “I am just saying-”

“If it bothers you so much then speak to him about it when he returns.”

“Yes. I think I will do that.”

Lucius was not sure what transpired a week ago during Draco’s visit with Harry, but his son has been avoiding him ever since. The few times he has run into his son, he was met with a scornful gaze and a cold shoulder. Resting his fork against the side of the bowl, Lucius reached for his wineglass, but stilled briefly as a thought occurred to him. Was it possible Draco somehow learned of his one-time rendezvous with Harry? Shaking the thought aside as a ludicrous notion, he took a sip of the wine. But throughout the rest of the light meal, Lucius could not shake the idea that somehow his son had discovered what had transpired between himself and Harry back in December. Maybe he should contact Harry and ask him.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Same Time - Veni Café - Diagon Alley - London, England

Harry’s birthday was yesterday, Draco realized with a start.

Sighing, he lowered his fork. Picking up the cloth napkin from his lap, he dabbed at his lips before throwing the napkin on the table. He’d suddenly lost his appetite.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure how to feel about the discovery he’d made last week. Harry and his father? A shudder raced up his spine. He nearly retched at the mental image.

Great. Now I’m going to have nightmares, Draco thought in derision.

He was not sure what it was about finding out Harry had slept with his father that upset Draco the most. It wasn’t so much that his father had an extramarital affair since his parents had been separated at the time. Though, if he were being honest, the idea that his father had been intimate with someone other than his mother while still technically married was distressing and infuriating. That his father was old enough to be Potter’s father was a huge factor. The mere thought of Lucius having a sexual relationship with someone younger than his own son was repulsive. Or maybe it was that the child his father and Harry had created together was going to be eighteen years his junior. He was old enough to be its father!

But no. That wasn’t it; or not the entirety of what had him so distraught and troubled -- and maybe just a little bitter -- over the whole situation. He was envious of his father. Had circumstances been different, the child Harry carried would have been his father’s grandson and not his son. Draco wanted the child Harry was carrying to be his heir and not his little brother.

“Ah! Draco! Draco darling,” drawled an annoyingly sweet voice.

Where in Hades did she come from, Draco asked himself with a cringe at the sight of Rita Skeeter, followed faithfully by her photographer as well as her Quick-Notes Quill and notebook, rushed towards him as fast as her three-inch heels could carry her.

“A couple questions please, Draco?”

What Draco wouldn’t give to disapparate the pathetic excuse for a journalist to the Antarctic. Of course, he would have to put up anti-apparition wards otherwise the pathetic excuse for a journalist would just apparate back home, which would defeat the purpose of sending her to the South Pole.

Pasting on a smile, he turned to greet the woman. “Rita, darling. How good it is to see you this fine day. You are looking as stunning as ever.”

Preening under the flattery, Rita made a motion to her cameraman who snapped her picture. A cloud of flash powder hung over the three of them.

Managing to sneer without actually sneering, Draco removed the soot from his person with a subtle wave of his wand as he started to list the hexes he could use against her without being caught. It was a long list. “What can I do for you, Rita dear?” he asked the woman as he forced the smile back onto his face.

“I wanted to get your opinion on the sudden nuptials between Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger,” she began. Her quill moved rapidly on a clean sheet of notebook paper, then paused.

“Ah.” He’d been wondering when the vultures would start circulating. It’d only been an hour.

“What do you make of them snubbing our Savior their supposed best friend?”

Draco narrowed his gaze at the audacity of the woman. She hasn’t changed one iota; still trying to create conflict and controversy where none exists. “Actually,” he said, “Ms. Skeeter, they made the decision last minute to elope as Ronald is in the middle of Auror training and Hermione has been granted an internship in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures under Head LeBrock himself. Nobody knew of the elopement; as I said it was a last minute decision. Nobody was invited, not Mr. and Mrs. Weasley nor Mr. and Mrs. Granger. They knew anything of their children’s intentions.”

Rita seemed disappointed with his answer. If she was expecting a statement of the sort Draco would have given a couple of year ago, she was in for an even bigger disappointment.

Not to be stonewalled, Rita pressed, “Yes, but why the secrecy?”

“That is the nature of an elopement, Ms. Skeeter,” Draco drawled. “Why does any couple elope? The reasons vary. I happen to know that Ronald and Hermione decided to elope because they wanted to avoid the media blitz,” he said as if it should be obvious, which he thought it was, “for one thing.” One cannot exactly enjoy one’s wedding day when every paparazzo and journalist in the known world was pounding down one’s door. Nobody appreciated wedding crashers. “For another, they do not have the time currently for a proper Bonding Ceremony as, as I said before, Ronald is in the middle of Auror training and has to report back to the Academy in two weeks and Hermione begins her internship with Head LeBrock a week later. Besides, Harry is currently out of the country on business. However,” he continued, raising his voice above her, no doubt, sickeningly sweet tones of protestation, “Ronald and Hermione plan to have a proper Bonding Ceremony after Ronald graduates from the Academy.”

He mentally cheered as Rita looked put out. It looked as if she was not getting what she’d been hoping for. But then her eyes brightened.

“And what about Mr. Potter. You claim he is out of town on business?”

Draco simply answered with a, “Yes,” and no more.

There was silence for several heartbeats as Rita no doubt waited for elaboration which Draco had no intention of doing.

“If I may be permitted to inquire as to -- what sort of business?”

“You may not.”

Rita actually pouted. “What does Harry have to say about the secret elopement between his two best friends?”

“He wishes them all the best. Now, if you’ll excuse me; I have an appointment I simply cannot miss.” With a tip of an imaginary hat, Draco wheeled about with a dramatic flourish that would have made his godfather proud and sauntered off down Diagon Alley.

It was not until he was entering Mathias Goode’s Apothecary five minutes later that he realized he had not once slandered Harry even though he‘d had plenty of opportunities.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

The Next Morning - 2^ndAugust - Aotearoa Manor - New Zealand

Harry was shoveling corned beef hash into his mouth when two owls came soaring into the breakfast nook. One was a rather large eagle owl with tufts of feathers on its head that looked like horns. Its plumage was such a dark brown color that if Harry didn’t have his own raven locks to compare it to, he would have described the owl’s feathers as black. The other was a standard barn owl. Relieving both of their post, he summoned the box of owl treats and fed both a handful. Afterwards, the barn owl took off while the eagle owl merely flew to the back of the chair opposite him and eyed him curiously with a tip of head first one way and then the other.

There was something familiar about this owl.

He waved his wand silently over the scrolls. They unfurled so they were laying flat on the table and grew to three times the size they had been when they were delivered.

He picked up the nearest one. It turned out to be from Ron and Hermione. A single tri folded sheet of parchment was tucked inside the sealed envelope along with a photograph.

“Oh wow,” he breathed as he took in the moving picture of his two best friends.

A beaming Hermione was wearing a floor length, fitted white gown. A sheer overlay was covered in hundreds of cubic zirconiums around the waist. Diamonds sparkled in her ears and a single teardrop diamond pendant hung around her neck. A diamond bracelet was clasped around her wrist. The jewelry had come as a set that Harry had given to Hermione last Christmas. Hermione’s hair was pinned up with tendrils hanging loose around her face. Her makeup was expertly done. She looked absolutely breathtaking.

With his arms wrapped possessively around Hermione’s waist, Ron went from grinning like a lunatic towards the camera to smiling sweetly at Hermione. His ginger hair, which had grown to brush passed his shoulders, was loosely slicked back. Harry noted and chuckled at the beginnings of a goatee. At least it was well maintained and not a ghastly mess. Instead of dress robes, Ron was wearing a two-piece charcoal gray suit. The jacket had been left open to reveal a plum colored dress shirt that had the top two buttons undone. What had Harry laughing aloud were the sneakers.

Setting the picture aside, Harry picked up the letter that had accompanied the photo.

Harry-

You now have the privilege of addressing us as Mr. and Mrs. Ronald B. Weasley.

Harry choked. He hadn’t actually been serious when he said they should just elope.

Last Christmas, Hermione surprised Ron by asking him to marry her. They kept their engagement a secret until Hermione let it slip during the graduation ceremony back in June. The next day, Harry received a frantic letter from Ron. His mother had hijacked the wedding and was driving both him and Hermione up the wall. Harry made a comment, joking really, about how they should just elope then. One day, get up before anybody was awake, go down to the Ministry and get married by a Justice of the Peace -- or whatever the wizarding equivalent was. He’d had no idea they would take him serious.

We took your advice.

Groaning, Harry slumped down in his chair.

Early this morning,-

That would have been yesterday morning, Harry decided given the date scrawled at the upper left-hand corner.

-Ron and I went to the Ministry before even Molly was up (and we all know she gets up hours before dawn), filled out the necessary paperwork and two hours later, we were Mr. and Mrs. An hour after that, the news of our nuptials had spread across all of Great Britain thanks to our good friend Rita Skeeter.

Harry sneered at the mention of the woman who had helped to make his teen years a miserable rollercoaster ride. Like a bad rash, that vile woman popped up everywhere and at the most inconvenient times. Too bad there wasn’t a -- legal -- cream to get rid of her.

He didn’t bother wondering how she found out about his friends’ elopement.

The article she wrote was surprisingly tasteful, though she did insinuate an insinuation.

With a roll of his eyes, Harry snorted. “Of course she did,” he muttered. It was probably about how he hadn’t been invited to the ceremony, or some such rot. He could just picture the headlines.

“Trouble for the Golden Trio?”

“The Golden Trio not so Golden”.

“The Savior Saves Wizarding Britain from Mad Self-Proclaimed Dark Lord But Cannot Save Friendship”.

It would be just like Rita to overlook the meaning of “elopement”.

It would have been much worse, but thanks to Malfoy, it wasn’t.

Harry was left blinking in stupefied wonder at that. Given the strained relations between the two of them, Harry would have thought Draco would use any excuse to blast him. What did it mean that he hadn’t?

I was pleasantly surprised. Ron thinks Malfoy has some ulterior motive. I just think Malfoy’s finally grown up. I would have included the article, as I’m not sure if you would have access to The Daily Prophet wherever you are this week, but the nonsense Skeeter writes doesn’t need any more attention than necessary.

Anyway, we’re sorry you couldn’t be here, but you can make it up to us by paying for our formal Bonding Ceremony. And just so you know, I plan on picking out the most expansive wedding dress I can find.

Oh and Ron says you can pay for his Bachelor Party in Tahiti.

Harry tossed his head back and laughed.

Promising to have a formal ceremony after Ron graduates from the Academy was the only way to placate Molly who, as you can guess, was not too happy when she learned what Ron and I did. I have no regrets though and neither does Ron.

Hope to see you soon.

Harry had to grin at the signature at the bottom.

Love Mrs. Ronald Bilius Weasley

With an amused shake of his head, a still chuckling Harry set the letter aside and reached for the other. The fancy Edwardian Script calligraphy on the front of the envelope did not look familiar, but the seal stamped into the red wax on the back did. Harry gulped as he took in the Malfoy crest. Suddenly nervous, he carefully peeled back the hardened wax globule, lifted the flap, and pulled out a single sheet of parchment. Setting the envelope aside, he unfolded the letter. Automatically, his eyes roamed to the end of the letter for the signature. His heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened. “Lucius,” he whispered in shock and surprise.

Slumping back in the padded bench, a hand fluttered to his rounded belly where his son slept soundly -- for the moment.

Harry-

I have heard from my son that you are “backpacking” across Europe while your townhouse in London undergoes extensive renovations. I have to admit to being envious. I always wished to travel, but was forced by my father to marry Narcissa right out of Hogwarts and did not have the time as most of it thereafter was devoted to my young wife and our troubles in conceiving a child as well as my internship at the Ministry. But now that Draco is of age and will be furthering his studies by interning with world renowned Healer Dafyyd ap William,-

“Wait. What? Draco never said anything about that,” Harry muttered feeling slightly hurt. Then again, he thought as his heart clenched, he never really had the opportunity.

Even Harry had heard of Healer Dafyyd ap William. He invented many of the basic first aid salves, creams and potions modern Healers and Mediwitches such as Madam Pomfrey used as well as the anti-nausea potion that was safe enough for pregnant witches and wizards to use. That Draco was granted an internship with this particular Healer was remarkable. It was said ap William never took apprentices or interns.

But now that Draco is of age and will be furthering his studies by interning with world renowned Healer Dafyyd ap William, I can finally relax and enjoy my retirement. I can also devote more time to overseeing the Malfoy vineyard and winery in France, which reminds me. Draco informed me of your proposition. I had no idea the Potters had a winery in Lis, but I would be honored to help you in any way I can.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Despite the turn his life took this past week, Harry’s plans to restart the Potter winery had not changed. That Lucius would willingly agree to help him was astonishing -- to say the least, but then again the man did willingly sleep with him on New Years Eve, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that Lucius would offer his services when it came to business matters.

Just send word through Morrigu-

Must be his name, Harry assumed as he glanced up at the eagle owl that was still perched on the back of the chair opposite him.

-as to when it would be convenient for you and we can meet to discuss matters.

Harry wrapped his arm around his belly. “Discuss matters, huh?” That they certainly did.

At first, he hadn’t informed Lucius about his pregnancy because he didn’t want to be the reason the Malfoy marriage, which was tenuous at best, ended. Now, he was afraid to tell Lucius because of what happened when he told Draco.

He knew it wasn’t fair to compare the two. A son discovering that his friend had slept with his father and had subsequently become pregnant was going to have a far different reaction than the father finding out his one-time lover was pregnant with his child. Of course, Draco was going to be angry at Harry for sleeping with his father. Had their positions been reversed, Harry would have hexed Draco into the next millennium. It was one thing to know things like this happened, but it was a different matter when it involved your father and your friend. He would have been suspicious had Draco been understanding about the affair. But it did get him thinking that maybe Lucius wouldn’t be so welcoming either.

Shaking off the anxiety to deal with at a later date, Harry returned to the letter.

There is also another matter I would like to inquire about. It involves Draco.

Harry gulped.

Did something happen between the two of you? Draco had not been the same since he returned. He has been aloof and cold. He has also taken to avoiding me whenever possible. Did you perhaps inform him of our tryst? If so, please be assured I am not angry. I would just like to know so that I know how to approach my son.

Hoping you are well.

Lucius

With a sound curse, Harry tossed the letter onto the table and dropped his face into his hands. This was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid.

Lucius’ owl Morrigu hooted softly.

Sighing, Harry raised his head and gazed at the dark brown owl.

When his son started performing summersaults then, Harry dropped both hands to his belly. “Shush now,” he ordered softly. He tried his best to ignore the rising nausea. “It’s okay. Mama’s just a little…conflicted.” He continued cooing to the unborn Potter heir until he settled back down. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. “And now Mama has to go pee,” he added as his son pressed against his bladder. Sometimes, he felt as if his son did that on purpose.

He loved being pregnant and he loved his son, but if it wasn’t morning sickness it was the urge to go to the bathroom fifty million times an hour.

Calling out for Kreature to aid him, Harry made his way up to the room he had commandeered as his office in order to write some letters, after first making a detour to go to the bathroom.

He couldn’t wait until October.

“I am never getting pregnant again,” he muttered.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

The Next Afternoon - 3^rd August - The Burrow - Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England

Amidst the laughter that filled the backyard, Seamus took a sip of the homemade lemonade Molly made that morning. He then turned towards Hermione. “Have you heard from Harry lately?”

“Actually,” Hermione replied, “we received a letter from him this morning.”

“He’s in New Zealand last he said,” Ron added from the other side of his wife.

“New Zealand,” Seamus echoed in surprise. “Wow.”

“What’s he doing there?” Ginny inquired politely from the other side of her boyfriend.

“Says he inherited property,” Ron says.

“Always wanted to go to New Zealand,” Bill spoke up from across the table. “Never had the chance though.”

“I had the opportunity years ago,” Charlie said from besides his brother, “but at the last minute I decided not to go. Regretted it ever since.”

Fleur, who was pacing back and forth behind her husband with their fussing daughter on her hip, said, “I went with Mama and Papa when I was a child. It is a beautiful country!”

“What is?” Molly asked as she returned with a large bowl of fruit salad.

“New Zealand,” Ginny told her.

“You know, your father and I went there years ago.”

Charlie said, “Really? I never knew that.”

The rest of the Weasley brood seconded that.

Bill exclaimed, “When was this?”

Molly set the bowl down on the magically expanded picnic table and said as she took her seat at the end of the table, “Oh this was long before either you or Charlie were born.”

“Well, Harry said to tell everyone hi,” Hermione said as the food was passed around.

As expected, there was a chorus of “Hi’s” and “Hello’s” followed by laughter.

The conversation turned to other things then. Ron, Seamus and a late arriving George and Arthur began a heated discussion about quidditch. Fleur decided to put her daughter down for a nap while Molly and Bill inquired into Charlie’s recent promotion and Ginny asked Hermione where she and Ron planned to go for their honeymoon.

All was well at The Burrow. The only element missing was Harry, but according to the letter they received that very morning, he claimed he would return to England sometime in October. They could hardly wait for the missing member of their family to come home, especially Hermione who planned on making her friend pay through the nose for vanishing as he had. But she wondered what he’d meant when he’d said in the P.S., “You’re going to have to conjure another chair at the table.”

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Same Time - Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire, England

Lucius sat in his study, but no work was being done. Instead, he was staring out the bay window that overlooked the west lawn where the albino peacocks strutted.

When the Dark Lord took over Malfoy Manor as his headquarters, the peafowl vanished from the grounds they had been present on for many generations, but one day not long after the Dark Lord fell, Lucius woke to find the birds had returned. What was it but a sign?

He watched as one of the returned albino peacock’s strutted passed the window with its young.

Tearing his gaze from the window, Lucius turned to the letter clasped loosely in his hand. It was from Harry.

It turned out Harry had informed Draco of their affair. Lucius had suspected as much given the stoical way his son and heir had been behaving.

“’I never meant to come between you and your son,’” Lucius read. “’For that I apologize, but I will not apologize for informing Draco of what transpired between us at Lord Corfield’s New Year’s Eve Ball. Draco is my friend and I could not in good conscience keep this from him.’” But it was the last line that filled the Malfoy patriarch with a sense of pride. “’But that doesn’t mean I have any regrets about that night for I do not. I didn’t regret it then and I do not regret it now.’”

His smile faltered as he thought about his wife. How would Narcissa take the news of his having taken a lover briefly while they had been separated? He had a feeling she would take it just as well as their son had.

Folding the letter, he stuffed it back into the envelope and locked it in the top drawer of his desk.

Now he just had to find the right time to tell his wife about Harry.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Three Months Later - 31^st September - Morning - Aotearoa Manor

Three months. It had taken three months for Harry to work up the courage to write to Draco. Honestly, where did all his Gryffindor courage disappear to?

“Itsy,” he called from behind the antique desk in his study.

A moment later, an androgynous house-elf appeared before him. It bowed so low that its long floppy ears batted against its knobby knees and its long spindly nose brushed the carpeted floor. “What can Itsy do for Master?”

Itsy, along with its sibling Bitsy, were the new house-elves Harry had procured for the manor in New Zealand. Itsy was in charge of the manor itself while Bitsy was in charge of maintaining the exterior. With them to take care of Aotearoa, Kreature had returned to London to oversee the last of the renovations on Grimmauld Place.

“I need you to mail this for me,” Harry said holding out the letter.

Itsy came forward and grabbed the letter. With a bow, it vanished with a pop -- he still wasn‘t sure if it was a male or a female and it seemed rude to ask.

Sighing, Harry leaned back in the cushioned reclining desk chair. Closing his eyes, he folded his hands over his ginormous belly. His lips titled up in a smile. Any day now. Any day now, he’d-

His thoughts were cut off by a sudden stabbing pain emanating from his belly that was gone as quickly as it appeared. With a gasp, he flew upright; his arms hugging his belly protectively. Emerald eyes snapped open and stared unseeingly across the room at the grouping of furniture around the large fireplace.

“What the fedge?” he whispered in fright and uncertainty.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

The Next Day - 1^st October - Morning - Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire, England

Draco could honestly say he had never worked or been worked harder in his entire life than he has working as an intern with Healer ap William, but he had also never felt more satisfied. He was not sure why he had been chosen over all the other potential candidates -- not that he was complaining mind you -- but he was glad he had been. To know that there were others out there -- other than Harry that was -- who could see beyond the end of their noses was a relief.

Spearing a piece of strawberry with the tings of his fork, Draco popped the sweet fruit into his mouth just as a house-elf appeared with the morning’s mail clutched in its hands.

After dabbing his mouth with his cloth napkin, Draco picked through the mail. There was a letter from Blaise; a missive from Gringotts, probably about the account he’d opened; what appeared to be an invitation of some sort from Pansy; and a letter from Harry.

Setting all the other mail aside, Draco stared down at Harry’s letter. A well of emotions surged within him; among those were anger, disappointment, betrayal, confusion; but most prominent was love.

It had been three months since then and Draco’s feelings for Harry had only intensified in that time.

He truly was an idiot to be madly in love with someone who obviously did not and was never going to return his feelings. Instead, he should hate Harry, but he didn’t though. Merlin knows he tried to rid himself of these romantic feelings, but all he’d managed to do was cause their grip around his heart and soul to tighten. He just could not hate Harry to the degree it would take to erase the feelings of love and admiration he felt for the man. Yes, he was disgusted and upset over Harry’s tryst with his father, but Harry continued to haunt his dreams.

His pulse racing, his palms sweating and his hands trembling, Draco tore open the envelope and pulled out the folded parchment within. He set the envelope aside then unfolded the letter. Draco closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He held it for a five-count before exhaling slowly. Calmer, he scanned the letter.

Draco-

I miss you. I miss that haughty attitude of yours; that silken blond hair; those beautiful eyes that seem to change depending on your mood or what you are wearing; the overpriced clothing; your quiet chuckles; your deep-throated laughs; that smirk; that sneer; the scent of musk, cinnamon and vanilla that surrounds you.

Draco’s face grew warm.

I never knew you could miss somebody so much. Losing Sirius hadn’t been this bad and I‘m still mourning his death.

Draco understood that pain all too well. Something so life altering stayed with you forever.

Watching you walk away from me back in Lis broke my heart. It felt as if my entire world had crumbled. And knowing that with a single action, not only had I betrayed your trust, but whatever there had been between us was obliviated...It killed a part of me. I cried for a week straight.

It felt as if his heart was strapped in a vise and its jaws were slowly closing. Draco was not such a Gryffindor as to admit it aloud, but he had done his share of crying as well over the past three months.

I guess that saying has some truth to it after all. You never know what you have until it’s gone.

Not sure precisely what that was supposed to mean, Draco frowned down at the letter.

You probably don’t want to hear this, but I want to explain what happened between your father and me.

Draco sneered.

What it all comes down to is this: both of us were having relationship troubles and we were lonely. What we found in each other that night was comfort and companionship. It was a single night of passion in order to ease the loneliness. Of course, having discovered I was pregnant complicated matters just a tad.

Draco snorted. “You think?”

I’ll be honest with you. I am attracted to your father. He’s a very good-looking man and your mother is a very lucky woman. But I am not in love with Lucius.

Sitting up straight, Draco reread that line several more times.

You have nothing to fear from me for I have no intention of coming in between him and your mother. The last thing I want is to become “the other woman”. I already feel guilty for having caused you so much pain and betrayal. I don’t wanted the added responsibility of knowing I caused your family to break apart. That’s why it’s taking me so long to tell your father about our child. I fear his denial and your mother’s reaction to her husband’s love child. As I said, I don’t want to be a home wrecker. All I want is a father for my child. Whether that means Lucius acknowledges our child publicly or not, I don’t care. As long as he accepts and acknowledges our son’s existence and treats him as such that is all I ask. I’d also like it if his big brother were to give him the same consideration. Maybe teach him what it means to be a Malfoy, look out for him. You know, just be there for him. And possibly be his godfather?

Draco’s blue-gray eyes widened minutely in shock. There was a sudden lump in his throat making it difficult to swallow.

I’d also like it if we could come to some sort of understanding, for my son’s sake.

I don’t know what else to say other than I’m so sorry that I hurt you. That was never my intention. Hopefully, one day I can have the privilege of calling you my friend once more.

I love you.

Harry

P.S. Congratulations on the internship.

His heart just about stopped. He had to reread it several times before he was convinced he wasn’t reading something that wasn‘t there. How many times had he dreamt or wished that he would hear those three little words uttered from Harry’s lips? Harry never said them though, not even to Weasley or Granger. He wasn’t even sure if he ever told the Weaselette that he loved her when they were dating. “’I love you,’” he reread in breathy awe. He barely glanced at the postscript let alone paid attention to it.

With a soppy grin on his face, Draco glanced out at the unseasonably warm fall day.

While he was far from ready to forgive Harry for sleeping with his father, maybe they could come to some sort of understanding and possibly one day, go beyond it.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

In a white flowing dressing gown, Narcissa was in what had once been the nursery sitting at her vanity table brushing out her long blond-colored hair. The nursery, which was attached to the master bedroom, had been converted into her own personal dressing room by Lucius on her request after their daughter was stillborn.

“Lucius, darling, I was thinking about having the nursery converted into a dressing room. What do you think?”

Who knew one simple sentence could have such a deep meaning behind it?

A crystal Georgian cut chandelier hung from the ceiling over two antique marble topped sideboards that had been pushed together. In the far corner of the room near the sole window was a chaise longue -- another antique. Her collection of shoes and jewelry and other accessories she had acquired over the years filled specially designed shelving on one side of the room while her numerous clothes filled the other half. Lucius had once commented that her dressing room rivaled that of any high-end fashion store.

At a sudden noise behind her, she turned around. Standing in the doorway watching her was her husband. “Morning Lucius,” she greeted as she turned back around and continued brushing her hair.

“Morning,” Lucius returned the greeting with a nod of his head.

Catching her husband’s reflection in the vanity mirror, Narcissa frowned. “Has something happened?” she inquired.

“Yes -- no -- yes.”

Narcissa set her brush down next to the matching hand mirror and turned around to face him. “Which is it? Yes something happened or no something has not happened?”

With a heavy exhale, Lucius silently stepped into his wife’s dressing room and crossed towards her. He sat upon the red velvet chaise longue. For a brief moment or two, he stared at something over her shoulder, his features frowning in thought, before he sat up straight and turned to regard her. His face was closed from all expression.

“Lucius?”

“Cissa, darling, there is something I would like to talk to you about.”

“It must be something serious,” she said. “I don’t believe I have ever seen you so hesitant.”

“It is,” Lucius said with a solemn nod.

Growing worried, Narcissa‘s first thought was of their son. “Is it about Draco? Has-?”

Lucius shook his head. “This has nothing to do with Draco.”

Narcissa’s relief was short lived. “Lucius you’re starting to scare me. What is going on? What‘s this about?”

Dropping his gaze, Lucius studied the white shag carpet in silence for several long moments before he lifted his head and catching his wife’s tormented gaze. “Something happened at Byron’s ball this past News Year’s Eve.”

Now, she was really worried.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Same Time - Aotearoa Manor - New Zealand

Harry was doing the controlled breathing exercises he’d learned in the Lamaze classes Healer Iriye had been kind enough to offer him as Itsy spoke through the floo to Healer Iriye.

It has been a whole day since the cramping initially began. Instead of stopping, which they’d done several times throughout the third trimester of his pregnancy, the cramping was steadily increasing in duration, intensity and frequency. This led Harry to the obvious conclusion that these were indeed genuine contractions, and not false labor pains. To say he was officially scared shitless would be an understatement. He would rather face a thousand Voldemort’s right about now. The contractions were far enough apart that Harry knew he had some time before he had to get to the hospital, but were close enough for him to start worrying.

Healer Iriye had originally scheduled him to check into the hospital for a C-section on the fifth. Here it was the first.

“It sounds as if you are in labor,” Healer Iriye was saying from the green flames as Itsy looked on nervously.

“You think?” Harry panted out an irritated snap from where he was laying on the sofa. His knuckles were white from gripping the sofa beneath him. The intricately carved wood work that projected along the back of the sofa was cracked under his hand. His entire body was coated with a thick layer of sweat. When the pain that had racked through his abdomen for the past five minutes started to ease, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This not being her first time with an expectant mother, Healer Iriye merely smiled. “What I want you to do is check into the hospital. Can you get there alright?”

It was Itsy who said, “I be helping Master Harry,” with its chest sticking out and its head held high.

Using the back of the sofa as leverage, Harry eased up onto his elbows. “We’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Good. I’ll meet you there.”

When Healer Iriye vanished from the flames, Harry ordered Itsy to get his overnight bag. He’d only just finished packing it yesterday morning not long before the contractions began. He then called for Bitsy and told it to look after the manor in his absence. “Itsy will be coming with me to the hospital.”

“Yes, sir, Master Harry. Bitsy will be taking good care of the manor in Master‘s absence.”

It took both Itsy as well as Bitsy to help lumber him up off the sofa.

With his bag in its hands, Itsy followed him into the fireplace. Harry tossed a handful of floo powder down into the hearth and said calmly and clearly, “Nantosuelta Private Hospital.”

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

The Next Day - 2^nd October - Morning - Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire, England

Breakfast in the Malfoy household that particular morning was strained. True to his word, Lucius told his wife about his tryst with Harry and just as he thought, she had not taken the news too well. It was not so much the affair itself as it was with whom he had chosen to have the one-night stand with. Not only was Harry a month younger than their son, he was also friends with their son.

In all honesty, Lucius had not thought about it in those terms. He had always known Draco wouldn’t take the news well because of his feelings for Harry just as he had known Narcissa wouldn’t like hearing about him taking a lover. He had not taken Harry’s age into account or the fact that he and Draco were friends.

At least Narcissa had not removed herself from the master bedroom as he had expected her to do; nor had she kicked him from the bed, so that in itself was a blessing.

The only sound in the dining room that morning was the clink and scrape of silverware as well as the sound of chewing and swallowing that seemed excessively loud.

The monotony was shattered was a house-elf appeared with a single piece of post on a sterling silver platter alongside a matching letter open. This was not unusual, but it was not the norm either. Usually the mail was delivered to their various studies. Only important correspondents were delivered to the table.

“Thank you Mimsy,” Lucius said as he took the offered post.

No longer surprised by its master’s unusual expression of gratitude, not like she and the other house-elves had been when he‘d first started thanking them, Mimsy bowed.

“Who is it from?” Narcissa inquired formally.

“I’m not sure,” Lucius answered truthfully. The handwriting on the front of the envelope was not familiar nor was the seal stamped in the red wax on the back. Taking the letter opener from the silver platter, he slit open the top of the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of folded parchment. He unfolded the parchment that seemed a little thicker than normal. A wallet-sized photograph fell onto his lap. He picked it up and frowned at it in confusion.

“What is it?” Narcissa asked her husband.

“A baby,” Lucius said.

Narcissa stilled. “Excuse me?”

“Here.” Lucius handed over the photo. He grew concerned when he noticed his wife go pale. “Cissa darling? Are you alright?”

“This -- this baby looks like you,” she accused a little breathy.

“You think so?”

“I do.”

Lucius took back the photo and studied the obviously newborn infant. The child was dressed in a white outfit and was swaddled in a stripped blanket. Wisps of dark hair could be seen from under the white cap covering its head. It’s skin appeared an angry red and its eyes were dark and squinty. To Lucius, it appeared like any generic baby. “Honestly, Cissa darling, I do not see the similarity.”

“Well I do,” she snapped angrily. “What is this Lucius?”

Confused by her anger over a mere baby picture, Lucius turned towards the parchment the photo had been folded up in. “Not sure.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had spoken too soon.

Seeing his astonishment, Narcissa barked, “Well?”

“’Magical Great Britain Ministry of Health Division of Vital Statistics Certificate of Birth’,” he read the seal at the top of the certificate. His voice was barely above that of a whisper.

Narcissa blinked. “A birth certificate?”

Lucius gave a jerky nod of his head.

Her ire rekindled, Narcissa demanded, “Just who is this child?”

“‘Full Name of Child Asher James’,” Lucius faltered, “‘Lucius Malfoy-Potter’,” Lucius continued to read.

“Potter?” Narcissa echoed in disbelief. Her eyes narrowed. “As in Harry Potter?”

Gulping, Lucius nodded. Date of birth was one minute past midnight that very morning, he realized as he continued to scan the birth certificate with a rapidly beating pulse. His blue-gray eyes flitted to the name of the father.

His wife called out warningly, “Lucius.”

Stunned into silence, Lucius staggered to his feet and stumbled out of the dining room. He didn’t notice his chair topple to the floor with a loud clatter nor did he hear his wife calling out for him. He headed to the nearest fireplace, dumped in an extreme amount of floo powder and called out, “Nantosuelta Private Hospital.”

Draco swaggered passed the parlor just in time to catch sight of his father vanishing in a swirl of green flames. He halted and backed tracked. Of course by the time he retraced his steps, the fireplace was empty. “Was that Father? I wonder where is he off to this early in the morning?” Shrugging, Draco made his way to the dining room where he found his mother at the table sobbing quietly and clutching something in her hand. “Mother?” Concerned, he rushed to her side. Kneeling at her feet, he grasped her free hand within his own. “Mother what’s wrong?”

Narcissa thrust out her other hand. “This!” she sobbed angrily. “This is what’s wrong!”

In her mother‘s hand, Draco saw a crumbled photograph. Standing up, he took the photo out of her hand and smoothed it out as best he could. The photo was of a baby, a newborn by the looks of it. He flipped it over and there printed on the back in familiar chicken scratch was a name. “Asher James Lucius Malfoy-Potter,” he read with a gasp. His eyes grew wide as he started to understand. “2 Oct ’99 1201 am 7lbs 2oz.”

His mother made a chocking sound.

Momentarily losing his footing, Draco stumbled backwards. Groping behind him for a chair, he collapsed into the seat. “This…”

“-is your father’s love child,” Narcissa sneered. “Apparently he slept with Potter.”

Draco’s head snapped up and around. “He told you?”

“Yes,” Narcissa barked with a sharp nod of her head. She narrowed her gaze at her son. “You as well it seems.”

Biting his lip, Draco gazed down at his new baby brother.

With a disgusted sigh, Narcissa waved her hand. “Go. Just. Go.”

Draco raised his head back up. “M-?”

“Potter more than likely is at Nantosuelta.”

Draco blinked. “Nano-what?”

“Nantosuelta Private Hospital. It’s a small, privately funded hospital in Opulentus Alley that caters primarily to the wealthy, celebrities and to aristocrats. They are known for their severe discretion policy,” Lady Malfoy explained. “It is that confidentiality that makes it so popular with certain members of society. What goes on there is not making headlines the next morning like at Saint Mungo‘s.”

Having gone back to study the photo of his brother, Draco nodded.

“Go Draco.”

Draco looked at his mother. The anger was gone. Instead, grief and sorrow were etched into the fine lines on her face. “Mother? Are you-?”

Narcissa smiled sadly at her son. Reaching out across the table, she patted his hand. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

With a nod, Draco pushed away from the table and made his way out of the dining room and down the hall to the parlor. Nervous at the prospect of not only seeing Harry for the first time in months, but at meeting his baby brother, he stepped into the fireplace, dropped a handful of floo powder and stated clearly, “Nantosuelta Private Hospital.” Like his father only minutes before him, he was whisked away in a dizzying twirl of green flame.

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Nantosuelta Private Hospital - Opulentus Alley, London, England

It had been easy to find out which room Harry was in. Given the strict hospital policy of maintaining patient confidentiality, all Draco had to do was go up to the Mediwitches’ station in the entrance and inquire where Harry Potter’s room was. Simple as that. When he questioned the Mediwitch, she claimed he was on the approved visitors’ list. To say he was flabbergasted at the news that Harry welcomed his visit would be an understatement. Even more surprising was learning that neither the Weasel nor Granger were on the list.

Wondering what The-Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-A-Mother was playing at, Draco made a beeline to the gift shop to see what types of gifts the hospital had for new mothers. He would never admit out loud that this was an attempt at delaying the inevitable.

Eventually, though, he knew he could not put it off any longer and made his way up to Harry’s private room on the maternity ward. Of course, given the maze-like corridors, Draco ended up lost once or twice before he was able to locate Harry’s room.

With his gift floating behind him, Draco paused in the open doorway and peeked inside. Sitting on the bed with the covers smoothed over his lap was the sole occupant of the room, Harry. The new mother was wearing the black silk pajama set that Draco had given to him for Christmas last year. Draco swelled with pride at the sight, but he scoffed at Harry’s unruly raven locks that were sticking up every which way. He also noticed that though Harry’s face was lined with exhaustion, he was glowing and grinning from ear to ear at Lucius who was swaying from side to side cooing down at a small swaddled bundle in his arms.

Nerves fluttered freely within his stomach at the sight of both Harry as well as his baby brother. His father acting so out of character was amusing him to no end though.

Clearing his throat quite loudly, Draco stepped over the threshold.

Startled, both Harry and his father turned towards the doorway.

“Son,” Lucius greeted with a nod of his head. He did not seem surprised to see him.

“Dray,” Harry whispered in surprise. His eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat at the absolutely asinine nickname, Draco asked from just inside the doorway, “Tell me Harry. Why is it that the Weasel and Granger are not on your approved visitors’ list?”

Harry blushed. “I, uh, never told them I was pregnant.”

At that, Draco barked out a laugh.

“Truly Harry?” Lucius asked the younger man.

His gaze riveted on a loose thread of his knitted throw, Harry nodded in embarrassment. He’d been so focused on figuring out a way to tell Lucius about the baby and worrying about losing Draco’s friendship that, in all honesty, Ron and Hermione had not been in the forefront of his mind.

“Oh,” Draco gasped in the midst of his laughter, “this is going to be good. Do drop me a line when you plan on telling them. This is something I have to see.”

“Draco,” Lucius lightly scolded, though his lips twitched.

Harry himself chuckled lightly.

“Anyway, I, uh...” Now it was Draco’s turn to stammer and blush.

“Would you like to meet your brother?” Harry asked him softly.

Draco’s head snapped up at the question. His stunned expression became one of awe as he took in the open and honest look on Harry’s face. He stepped forward. “Can I?” he asked. His voice was just as soft as Harry’s.

“Of course,” Harry smiled. He started to turn towards Lucius, but did a double take over Draco’s shoulder. His expression turned into amused confusion. “Dray? What is that?”

“Hm?” Curious, Draco followed Harry’s gaze. “Oh,” he exclaimed. Hovering in the doorway was a giant white teddy bear that was holding a blue cellophane wrapped basket that was filled with goodies for mother and son. It was the gift he’d purchased downstairs in the gift shop. “That’s for you and Asher.”

Harry’s eyes widened minutely. “For us?”

Nodding, Draco summoned the humongous stuffed animal -- it was bigger than Harry -- and carefully lowered it to the end of the bed. “There’s diapers, diaper cream, wipes, baby powder, pacifiers, bottles, formula, baby booties, footy one-piece pajamas, a winter hat and matching gloves. There‘s a 500 galleon gift certificate for Celebrate Motherhood here in Opulentus and two tickets for the theatre.”

Harry looked up from his examination of the basket. There were tears in his eyes and awe on his face. “Oh, Dray. You didn’t have to!”

Trying for nonchalant, Draco shrugged. “I wanted to.” If the warmth flooding his face was any indication, he was sure he hadn’t succeeded. Before he knew what was happening, the air was being punched out of his lungs as Harry launched himself at him. Without a moment’s hesitation, Draco wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist and melted within the embrace.

“Thank you for coming,” Harry whispered.

Draco shivered at the feel of Harry‘s breath whispering against his ear.

“I didn’t think you would after -- you know.”

Unfortunately, he did know. Reluctantly, he pulled away. Draco cupped Harry’s face and stared into those beautiful emerald orbs that continued to glisten with unshed tears and looked upon Draco with uncertainty. Draco smiled. “I missed you too,” he whispered. He was well aware he was coming off as a Hufflepuff at the moment, but sometimes, that wasn’t such a bad thing.

The uncertainty was replaced by caution. “Really?” Harry searched Draco’s face.

Draco’s smile only grew. “Yes. I was an idiot. Forgive me?”

Sobbing out a laugh, Harry nodded.

Without thinking, Draco swooped in and kissed Harry. Though, he froze as soon as his lips touched Harry’s. Despite what Harry wrote in his letter, there was no telling how the new mother would react to the sneak attack kiss. He soon found there was no need to worry for Harry was kissing him back.

The sound of crying interrupted their moment.

Remembering where they were and that they had an audience, the two men jumped part guiltily.

With a grin so wide that it hurt Draco just seeing it, Harry sniffled and wiped away the tears that were coursing down his cheeks. He gently and carefully took his son from Lucius and told Draco, “Come meet your brother.”

Gulping, Draco stepped forward and after receiving a smile and a nod from his father, sat down on the edge of the bed besides Harry. He reached out tentatively.

Seeing his hesitation, Harry said, “It’s okay.”

Draco ran the side of a knuckle down his little brother’s flushed cheek. “He’s so beautiful.”

Harry smiled his thanks as he rocked the fussy newborn.

“You know Father, he looks a lot like you,” Draco said.

While his father sighed, Harry chuckled.

Draco looked between the two. “What?”

Harry laughed harder.

“What?”

+ HARRY POTTER + STRICKEN: THE PRINCIPLES OF LUST +

Two Years Later - Malfoy Manor - Wiltshire, England

This and that has happened and before anyone new it, another year passed and little Asher was turning two years old.

Harry laughed till he was crying as he watched Draco tear across the lawn after his brother who, with the aid of their father, had slipped an ice cube down Draco’s back, effectively ruining his absurdly expensive silk shirt.

When he wasn’t being tormented and harassed by his two year old brother, with help from their father, Draco adored his little brother. He spoiled the toddler rotten and has taken it upon himself to pass all his knowledge to Asher. They were becoming a real menace. Draco bragged to everyone who would listen, and sometimes to those who weren’t, about his baby brother. He loved being an older brother.

Harry turned towards the sound of chuckling. Sitting across from him were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.

All Harry had wanted from Lucius was for him to be a father to their son and that was exactly what Lucius has become. Lucius was ecstatic to be a father for a second time. That day in the hospital, Lucius admitted to not being the best father to Draco and had vowed that he would get it right this time around. And so far, he had. Lucius doted on Asher and spoiled the boy rotten. Harry had been forced to magically expand Asher’s closet and purchase several bottomless trunks for all the clothes and toys and whatnot Lucius bought their son. Asher spent every weekend at Malfoy Manor. Every Wednesday father and son spent the entire day together, Tuesdays and Thursdays, they spent the afternoon together and every night, Lucius came over and tucked his son in and kissed him good night. He even read to their son. Some of those stories included Muggle fairytales. The man was as proud as peacock. He had even decided to go against Pureblood Law and name Asher his co-heir. It had been Asher’s first birthday present.

“More tea Harry?”

Turning towards Narcissa, who was holding out the blue teapot, Harry shook his head. “No thank you,” he declined politely.

Narcissa had been the real surprise, though. The day after Lucius and Draco visited, Narcissa showed up just after Asher’s morning feeding wanting to speak to him. And talk they did. Harry had repeated what he’d told Draco; that he had no intention of coming between her and her husband; that he was not in love with Lucius and that he wanted nothing more than a father for his son. After that, Narcissa had fallen into the role of doting stepmother as she refused to acknowledge herself as being of grandmother age.

Asher’s introduction had not gone over so smoothly with the rest of Wizarding Britain.

A week after his son’s birth, Harry was released from the hospital. Instead of returning to New Zealand, Harry returned to the newly renovated Grimmauld Place. It did not resemble the old house at all. It was open, airy and modern. It was a good thing Sirius’ mother was already dead because she would have fallen over dead at the sight of her house. At first, Harry thought he’d once again screwed up and floo’d to the wrong residence for the parlor he stepped into was not the one he remembered from nine months ago. It was only the appearance of Kreature welcoming him home that reassured him that he had indeed returned to Grimmauld Place.

That weekend, he’d invited Ron and Hermione over. The look on their faces when he appeared with Asher in his arms had been priceless. He had never seen a more poignant look of “what-the-fuck” in his entire life. It had taken digging out Asher’s birth certificate that finally convinced them that no he was not babysitting. Two years later, they were still a little sore over the fact that they had been left in the dark about his pregnancy. Hermione had gone on this whole “why-didn’t-you-trust-us-we‘re-your-friends-you-can-tell-us-anything” spiel. He’d told her to shut the fuck up. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t said those exact words, but he had apologized for his “inability to think about anybody other than himself” followed by, “Not everything is about you so either shut the fuck up so we can catch up and have a nice visit or leave. I do not need this shit right now.” Then when they finally realized whose name was written down for the father, Hermione had gone on another “what-the-fuck-were-you-thinking” spiel. To that, Harry did tell them to fuck off. He hadn’t had much sleep the night before and he may have been a little snappish. Of course, Draco had peed his pants he’d laughed so hard when Harry told him later that night about the visit with Ron and Hermione.

Though they were a little hurt that he had not told them about him being pregnant, the rest of the Weasleys had been more welcoming, especially Molly and Arthur who spoiled and smothered Asher as if he were their own grandson.

As for Ginny…What was there to say about his ex-girlfriend? She’d been more hurt than he felt she had a right to be given they were no longer together and she was, supposedly, pretty serious about Seamus. It did not take her long to volunteer herself as a surrogate mother for little Asher though. Harry had not been too happy about her self-appointed role and had told her as much. They’d had a really nasty fight and were still not on speaking terms, which was just fine for both Harry as well as his son, for Asher had taken an instant dislike of Ginny. His accidental magic had a nasty habit of exploding whilst she was around. George and the Malfoys found it hilarious.

In in all, Asher loved all the attention.

And Wizarding Britain loved the Potter heir. It had quickly gotten to the point where Harry had been forced to relocate him and his son to New Zealand. He had also brought Kreature with them. The ancient, decrepit house-elf had taken it upon himself to become Asher’s nanny. It was shocking how sweet and gentle the creature could be.

“Mama! Mama!” squealed Asher as the toddler flung himself into his arms.

“Hey there my baby boy,” Harry cooed as he combed his fingers through the toddler’s silken blond locks.

An out of breath Draco appeared around the corner of the house just then. Holding his hands out, Draco crouched low and slowly approached his baby brother. “There you are you little Goblin.”

Squealing with laughter, Asher pressed closer to his mother’s legs.

Hugging his free arm around Asher, Harry chuckled.

The primary magical school was set to open in Spain next fall. It would open as a day school, but would have dorms for those students who wished to remain on campus. Harry had heard rumors that the Spanish wizarding government planned to name the school in his honor. Not that he wasn’t honored, but he sure hoped not.

The crumbling Potter château in the wizarding village of Lis, France and the one-hundred plus acres it sat on has since become not only a park, but also a National Landmark and was now on the Historic Registrar. True to his word, Lucius lent his expertise to helping restart the Potter winery. It has become one of the top selling brands in the world and that was before anybody knew who the owner was. Along with Château du Lis, the winery as well as the vineyard helped put the small village of Lis on the map. The once faltering economy in the tiny village was now blossoming.

As for Harry and Draco, they had agreed to take things slow at first, but now they were engaged. The ceremony was to take place here in the gardens of Malfoy Manor in the spring.

Pausing his assault on his baby brother, Draco caught Harry’s eyes and smiled. Straightening, Draco reached out and cupped Harry’s cheek. His eyes fluttering closed, Harry leaned into his touch and smiled. Trapped between the two, Asher merely watched them curiously with his thumb in his mouth.

Harry’s anxiety and panic attacks had ceased to be a problem. In fact, they had all but vanished around the time he discovered he was pregnant with Asher.

“Love you,” Harry whispered.

“Love you too,” Draco returned as he leaned forward and kissed Harry.

Asher squealed just then and reached up, effectively putting himself between the betrothed couple. “Kiss kiss,” he said.

Chuckling, Harry lifted his son up into his lap and started tickling him and kissing him all over as the others watched on in amusement. Asher’s squeals filled the garden.

Life at the moment was good.

+ END +

A/N: And they all lived happily ever after. Whatcha think?

Look out for my next HP fanfic, “Reason Reproduction”. It’s a non-con HP/SS with implied M-preg.
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