The Cat Spirit

The Cat Spirit

Chapter Five: The Pregnancy



Narcissa had persuaded Harry to move with her to one of the Malfoy estates. The move had been an escape for Harry who hadn’t wanted Draco or any of his friends know about his state. She had forbidden Lucius from telling Draco where she was. Narcissa had offered to help Harry with his pregnancy and now they lived in France.



The house the lived in wasn’t as grand as the Malfoy manor but it was still huge. There were too many bedrooms to Harry’s liking and as many bathrooms. A large kitchen Harry spent most of his time in, an equally sizeable dining room, a room with a fireplace and comfy divans and a huge living room. Of course you can’t forget the big ballroom. Outside the house there were acres of a beautiful garden.



Harry spent too much time in the kitchen for Narcissa’s liking but she did enjoy the food, pastries and sweets he made. He had insisted on cooking instead of the house elves. He had wanted to give something back for living there. Narcissa refused to take money so they had settled on cooking.



“This is delicious!” Narcissa complimented him the first night Harry had made dinner for them. “Where did you learn to cook? They don’t teach it in Hogwarts.” she asked. Harry had looked uncomfortable fidgeting in his seat beside the table.

“I ought to have learnt. I have been cooking since I’ve reached the stove.” Harry muttered nibbling his food.

“Why?” Narcissa asked fearing the answer.



“My dear relatives made me cook for them.” Harry mumbled bitterly. Narcissa frowned.

“Why would they do that?” she asked.

“My aunt and uncle hate anything abnormal, magic being one of the things they disapprove of.” Harry said quietly. “They took it upon themselves to rid me of my abnormality.” he sighed. “I’ve been their personal slave and beating bag for years.” Harry hissed with hatred towards his relatives.



“How could they do that to a child?” Narcissa asked horrified.

“Wouldn’t know.” Harry shrugged. “They did what they thought to be good for me. What I deserved.”

“They didn’t…sexually abuse you, did they?” Narcissa asked worried. Harry laughed at her question.

“No no. If they had it would’ve made them abnormal too. And they didn’t want to be anything but normal.”

“Thank Merlin.” Narcissa whispered.



A few days later Lucius came for dinner. Narcissa and Harry were already sitting at the table. Lucius greeted them politely and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. He sat at the head of the table Narcissa sitting on his right and Harry on his left across from her. The food was already laid on the table. Narcissa asked about Lucius’ work as they started eating.



“Nothing extraordinary at work.” he said and took a bite of baked potatoes. “The house elves seem to have outdone themselves.” Lucius muttered.

“No dear.” Narcissa said smiling. “Harry cooked.” Lucius’ eyes widened for a second before he composed himself again.

“Really?” he asked looking at Harry who nodded. “Then I have to compliment you. You are an excellent cook, Harry.” Lucius said giving the raven an almost-smile. Harry muttered a quiet ‘thanks’.



Lucius decided to stay the night and after Harry had gone to bed Narcissa told him how Harry’s relatives had treated him.

“If that’s true then no doubt the rumour about the boy-who-lived living in a cupboard might be true, too.” Lucius muttered. He decided to somehow get revenge. If he remembered correctly Dursley worked in a company. Maybe the company should get in trouble they wouldn‘t be able to get out of?



The next day at the Ministry Lucius went through the Hogwarts’ records. He found the first address they had send Harry’s letter. ‘The cupboard under the stairs’ he read silently and sighed. So it was true then. The boy-who-lived had spent the first years of his life sleeping in a cupboard. Lucius was determined to make the Dursleys pay. After few days of arrangements and the company Harry’s uncle work for went bankrupt, the Dursleys’ were kicked out of their apartment and Dudley was expelled from his school. And Lucius…Lucius was content.



Meanwhile the morning sickness hit Harry but it wasn’t so bad with the potions he got from the family healer. The first thing after their move Narcissa had called for the family healer to come and look at Harry to make sure everything was fine. Now the healer visited the house frequently to check on Harry and the baby. The pregnancy was progressing well.



When Harry wasn’t cooped up in the kitchen he wandered around the gardens. Sometimes Narcissa joined him and they walked around and discussed about things that came to mind at the moment. She learned more about Harry’s childhood with the Dursleys, his school years and about Harry’s opinions about various things: his friends, teachers, school subjects and so on. But mostly Harry wandered alone pondering on his life.



“Have you thought about the name for the baby?” Narcissa asked one day while they walked in the garden.

“I haven’t thought about names.” Harry answered calmly. “But I did think that I should let you, meaning yourself, Lucius and Draco - as I am sure you have informed him that he’s going to be father - to decide what to name the child.” he said softly rubbing his stomach.



“No Harry.” Narcissa said sternly. “I think you should name the child. If you won’t be able to turn back human, you should name the child to leave something behind. To leave child something about you.”

“I-” Harry muttered looking ashamed for not having thought about it like that. “I’ll think about it.” he said smiling softly at Narcissa and wandering of on his own.



For a long time they left naming out of their discussions. Narcissa only tried to bring Harry out of his depression. As for months Harry had been crying himself to sleep. Sometimes Narcissa held him when he cried, sometimes he cried alone. Little after he started showing the tears ran out. He didn’t cry anymore. And he didn’t want to. Harry knew crying wouldn’t help him to get his mate.



After living weeks at the manor in France, Harry started having an odd obsession for lemon drops. No other weird food cravings came over him. His want for lemon drops only seemed to amuse Narcissa and Lucius, though they were cautious around him as he could start crying if offended due to the mood swings. To ease Harry’s need for lemon drops Lucius bought them daily to make sure there were enough and making sure to by the non-veritaserum kind and with less sugar.



Soon it came down to the conversation about the child’s names. Narcissa had invited Lucius over for the night since Harry had asked him to be present during the deciding.

“Have you come up with any names?” Narcissa asked calmly while they were sitting in the library. Harry sat opposite them with a book lying on his lap. The round stomach had made him glow and Narcissa thought it was a shame Draco wasn’t there to see it. Lucius sat next to her quietly taking sips from his wine glass.



“I have thought about it as I said I would.” Harry started. “If the child is a girl…” Harry paused. He hadn’t wanted to know the gender yet. He wanted it to be a surprise for everyone, himself included. As it might one of the last surprises he could ever get. “I would like her to be called Lilian Malfoy. If there is a second name you wish to give a girl I left the choice for you.”



“Lilian.” Lucius said the name out loud testing. “It sounds nice.”

“It’s a wonderful name.” Narcissa praised.

“Is it in the honour of your mother?” Lucius asked and received a small smile as an answer.



“And for a boy…” Harry paused again. “I am rather sure you wouldn’t him to be called James or Sirius as you didn‘t get along so well, so I though-” he continued but Lucius interrupted him.

“Harry. If you aren’t able to be a large part of the child’s life I would like you to name the child as you wish. It doesn’t matter what we want. It only matters what you wish to name the child.”



Harry smiled as a ‘thank you’ but shook his head. “I know. I’m not trying to…To come up with a name that pleases all. I just…”

“It’s alright dear. Continue.” Narcissa said.

“Yes. The name…I thought of Orion Malfoy.” Harry said smiling slightly.

“For your godfather I’d presume.” Lucius said and Harry nodded. “It’s a good name too. And it does come from Narcissa’s side of the family.”



“I like it.” Narcissa exclaimed merrily. “You didn’t think of any other names? Not Orion James…Actually that doesn’t sound too good.” she said frowning. Harry chuckled. He had come over his depression as his love towards his child grew and was now more cheerful.

“No, I haven’t. I think I should let you, and Draco too if he wants to, to give the child another name.” Harry told them and spend half an hour to assure Narcissa and Lucius it was alright with him if they wanted to name the child as Orion Lucius Malfoy, Harry’s example, till they finally believed him.



When the predicted day of the child’s birth came closer Harry was growing anxious. He couldn’t wait for his child to be born but on the other hand it saddened him too. After all he wouldn’t be around the child, not at least as human. Narcissa had promised to take him in as a cat, so he was able too see his child. But he wouldn’t be able to hold the child. He might be able turn human once a month, but for his motherly instincts it wouldn’t be enough. Harry sighed gazing out of the window wishing that things would’ve gone better.

---

A few weeks after Harry moved to France



Daily Prophet

The-Boy-Who-Lived-to-Go-Missing



According to one of Harry Potter’s closest friends the Saviour of the Wizarding World has disappeared. Nobody seems to have seen him lately. We are only left to wonder if he is alright or is this the remaining Death Eaters’ revenge for defeating their master.



By Rita Skeeter



Read more on page 5.



Draco scoffed as he laid the paper on the table. How could the media jump into the conclusion that it was revenge? Considering how much the Saviour had been in the media after the war it wouldn’t make him wonder twice if Potter decided to go on a vacation and tell no one about it. Besides they didn’t exactly tell who was this friend of Potter’s, which Draco noticed after quickly scanning through the article.



“Anything interesting in the paper?”

“Nothing.” Draco muttered looking at Blaise who just came into the dining room for breakfast. Draco rubbed his temples to try to soothe the upcoming headache. His head hurt too often nowadays. Blaise looked at him with frown.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “You have been stressed ever since the conversation with your father.”



“I’m fine.” Draco said. Blaise gave him look saying he didn’t believe it. “Alright I’m not.”

“You know it’s not to keep everything you feel inside. We wouldn’t want you to blow up the bed in your sleep again, now would we?” Blaise said referring to the last time Draco lost control over his magic. “I’ll listen. As always.” Draco huffed good-naturedly.



“I’m going to be father.” Draco said suddenly making Blaise almost fall of his seat.

“What! Why didn’t you tell me you hooked up with someone?” Blaise exclaimed accusingly.

“I didn’t.” Draco defended himself. “When father came to see me he told me that I had managed to get someone pregnant.”



“Oh. Sorry…” Blaise muttered sheepishly. He had jumped into the wrong conclusion. It occurred often around him. “So who is it?”

“I don’t know…” Draco said annoyed. “According to father the ‘mother’ doesn’t want me to know.”

“When can I expect an invitation to the wedding?” Blaise asked jokingly trying to make the mood lighter.



“Not in the near future.” Draco muttered darkly.

“But you know you shoul-” Blaise started to say but Draco interrupted him.

“He doesn’t wish to marry me.” Draco nearly snarled. He couldn’t understand why.

“He! You got a man pregnant…Or rather a boy…” Blaise exclaimed. “Wait! Why would he want to marry a Malfoy?”



“How should I know?” Draco sighed getting aggravated. “Father told me that who ever it was didn’t want me to recognize him.”

“Hmm…” Blaise murmured to himself deep in thought. Silence overcame them as they both were absorbed in their thoughts. Draco hoped with his best friend’s help he might be able to figure this out.



“What else did your father say?” Blaise asked suddenly. Draco was quiet trying to remember.

“That the other father didn’t need our money…And that something prevented him from keeping the child after it’s born, even though he‘d love to keep it.” Draco told his friend.

“I don’t know any explanation to what might prevent him fro keeping the child…” Blaise started getting a short nod from Draco. The blond didn’t expect him to be able to explain everything.



“But I have a feeling that the reason why he won’t marry is in his own feelings towards you.” Blaise said. Draco flinched.

“You mean he hates me?” Draco stated more than asked. “It’s possible I have slept with people when they’re drunk and don’t really who they’re with…”

“No. That’s not what I mean.” Blaise snapped at his friend. Even Draco had the habit to jump into fast conclusions.



“I’d say he loves you enough not to want a loveless marriage.” Blaise stated softly. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the bloke Draco had gotten pregnant. The Ice Prince took a long time to start caring about someone. ‘Look at how long it took him to fall in love. Seven years!’ Blaise thought.

“You think?” Draco asked unsure about it. Blaise simply nodded causing Draco to look thoughtful. They lapsed into a silence again.



“Do you have any idea who the other father is?” Blaise asked when Draco looked to have finished thinking startling him. “Have you made a list of who it could be?”

“I…No.” Draco muttered having a slight blush on his cheeks because of his thoughtlessness.

“Then make one now.” Blaise exclaimed. Draco summoned some parchment and a quill.

“It should have happened less then nine months ago, right?” Draco asked. Blaise nodded and the blond started writing down names. After five minutes Draco lifted the quill of the paper.



“Give it here.” Blaise said and took the list from Draco. He scanned the long list through quickly only stopping at one name.

“What?” Draco asked when he saw Blaise pause.

“Harry Potter?” Blaise asked with a raised brow. Draco blushed with a soft, sad smile. Between them it was no secret what Draco felt for the Gryffindor.