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Title: Never Easy Part VIII
Author: Ruby13b
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: R
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Mpreg
Summary: Sequel to The Recovery Boys. Loose ends are tied up. New drama occurs. It's never easy for Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am not being paid for this.

This is a Harry/Draco fanfic. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like don't read. You have been warned.

The rest of the evening was surprisingly upbeat. In Draco’s words, they had wined and dined their friends and then sent them happily on their way. Hermione had given them each a huge hug and kiss and told them very seriously that they better keep her up to date with everything that was happening. Harry swore that he would keep in communication with them, and he had no intention of breaking that promise.

Harry was now lounging on the bed in Draco’s bedroom, waiting for Draco to return from using the bathroom. Harry frowned impatiently at the bathroom door. Honestly, how long did Draco need? Harry was starting to wonder if something was wrong when Draco emerged from the bathroom. Draco paused in the middle of the room, giving Harry a questioning look.

“Is something the matter, dear?” Draco asked, smirking.

Harry shook his head. “I’m just worried,” Harry admitted. “That’s all.”

Draco walked over to him, sitting down on the bed. He began rubbing Harry’s back and shoulders reassuringly. Harry sighed and relaxed into the touch. He didn’t know how Draco simply touching him could feel so good, so right. Even after all the time they had been together, he was still deeply in love with Draco.

“You’re such a worrier,” Draco said. “Honestly, I’ve never met someone who worries as much as you.”

“Mmmmmm, Draco,” Harry sighed. He could feel himself drifting into sleep.

Harry was still getting used to staying at the Manor. It was so big and a little scary at times. Even during the short amount of time he had been there, Harry had more than once managed to get himself completely lost. He would then have to wait until Draco or one of the house-elves came to rescue him. The only time he had tried to get ‘unlost’ by himself had ended with him going even more astray than before.  Then, there were definitely rooms inside the Manor that were not meant for others to go into. Many doors were locked, and when asked, Draco would go very pale and mutter that some things were just better left unknown. Harry couldn’t help but be curious about the locked doors. He knew that curiosity killed the cat, but luckily the cat has nine lives. He would find out what was beyond those doors one day.

“Harry,” Draco’s voice interrupted his musings. “Tomorrow, when the Healer comes…”

“What?” Harry cut in.

“Don’t tell me you forgot,” Draco chided him. Harry had in fact forgotten. “They decided that it would be better for them to come to me, rather than the other way around.”

“Why?” Harry asked. “You’re doing fine.”

“Yes, but they don’t want to put any unnecessary strain on me,” Draco said. He stopped rubbing Harry’s shoulders and lay down, draping his hand across his forehead in a very elegant way. “I am nearly six months along now.”

Harry had lost track of the months. He was surprised it had been so long. Draco was hardly showing at all. In fact, looking at Draco from behind he couldn’t even tell Draco was pregnant. Harry let his hand drift lazily over Draco’s stomach. He stroked Draco’s belly up and down in a slow, determined motion. Draco cracked one eye open to look at him.

“I’m not a dog, you know,” Draco told him.

“You’re right, of course,” Harry said. “You’re more like a mouse.”

“I certainly am not!” Draco scoffed.

“Oh, I beg to differ,” Harry said slyly. He gave Draco’s thigh a quick pinch. Draco squeaked in shock and propped himself up on his elbows, glaring at Harry. “Oh, don’t give me that look,” Harry murmured, pushing Draco back down and leaning over him. He placed his mouth next to Draco’s ear to whisper his next words. “If you’re the mouse that makes me the cat, everybody wins.”

Draco shivered, wrapping his arms around Harry’s neck and pulling him closer. “Well then, Mr. Cat,” Draco breathed, “you’ve caught your prey. What are you going to do with him?”

“I think I can come up with something.”

Neither Harry nor Draco left the room the rest of the night.

                                                       ~~~

Harry awoke the next morning to the sound of someone knocking on the bedroom door. Draco stirred a little in Harry’s arms but didn’t wake. Harry pulled himself out of Draco’s grasp and went over to the door. He opened it, revealing a house-elf standing there, nervously pulling at his ears. The house-elf’s mouth was moving but Harry couldn’t quite make out what he was saying. Harry bent over, inclining his head.

“Beggin’ your pardon, sir,” the house-elf squeaked, and Harry suddenly recognized him as being the same house-elf he had met on the first day.

“Your name is Mumble, is that right?” Harry asked quietly.

“Aye, sir,” Mumble said.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, sir,” Mumble said. “The Healer is here to be seeing Master Draco now, sir.”

“I see,” Harry said, standing back up. “Did you let him in?”

“Yes, sir,” Mumble said. “He’s in the drawing room.”

“Would you mind terribly showing him up to our room?” Harry asked, scratching the back of his head. He was no good at giving orders.

“Mumble will be showing him up, sir,” Mumble said, bowing. He turned to leave when Harry stopped him.

“One more thing,” Harry said. “Call me Harry, please.”

“Yes, Master Harry.” The house-elf bowed.

“Just Harry is fine,” Harry said.

The house-elf suddenly looked very uncomfortable. His eyes darted through the door to Draco sleeping in the bed. Mumble then nodded and made his way down the hall. Harry was left scratching his head in confusion. What was this house-elf’s problem? He seemed to be terrified of Draco. Sure, Draco was a nasty piece of work sometimes, and Harry could only imagine what Draco had been like as a child in the Manor. Come to think of it, Harry would rather not picture it, more for his own sanity than anything else.

Harry made his way back over to Draco. He stroked Draco’s cheek a few times with the back of his hand before leaning over him, kissing him on the forehead. Draco moaned a little, opening his eyes. He smiled when he saw Harry and pulled him down, pressing their mouths together. Harry pulled back.

“The Healer is here, love,” Harry told him quietly. “He’s on his way up now.”

Draco nodded and stretched before propping himself up against the headboard.

“How are you feeling?” Harry asked a little anxiously.

Draco gave him a strange look. “I’m fine,” he said slowly. “How are you?”

Harry shook his head. “I was being serious, Draco,” he said.

“So was I,” Draco returned evenly. “You really need to relax. In fact,” Draco paused, “it might be for the best if you sit this one out.”

“What are you saying?” Harry frowned.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Draco said slowly. With the tone of voice he was using it sounded like he was talking to a three-year-old. This made Harry frown even more. “But you’re such a nervous wreck; you make me nervous, too.”

“Draco!” Harry whined. “I want to be here.”

“I know, sweetheart,” Draco said. “But I need you not to be.”

The Healer appeared in the doorway. Like always, he looked like he had just woken up from being deeply asleep. His gray hair was tousled, but his eyes were bright and full of life.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” he greeted cheerfully. “Good morning, good morning. How are we today?”

“Very well, thank you,” Draco answered. “In fact, Harry was just leaving.” Draco looked expectantly at Harry. Harry didn’t move an inch.

“But, Draco…” Harry started.

“Now, Potter!” Draco growled.

Harry hesitated for a moment before he leaned over Draco, giving him a very loud, very wet kiss on his cheek. Harry then all but fled to the door, narrowly avoiding the pillow that had been thrown at him by a fuming Draco.

                                                      ~~~

Even though he had been kicked out of the room, Harry didn’t wander far. In fact, he was nervously pacing outside of the bedroom door. Every now and then he paused, putting his ear to the door and desperately trying to hear what was going on inside the room. It was no use, though. He couldn’t hear a damn thing. Harry decided that there had to be some sort of silencing charm on the room. While normally Harry would have been thrilled with this discovery, at the moment it only added to his impending sense of dread.

Harry stopped pacing, trying, yet again, to hear something, anything, and again, was met with nothing but silence. Harry growled in frustration. He hated waiting. He had spent half of his life waiting for something. He hated not knowing what was going on, being in the dark, as it were. That had also been a major part of his existence, and he tried to avoid being ignorant whenever possible. It wasn’t easy. It was never easy.

Just when Harry had given up trying to hear what was going on in the room without him, the door opened.

“Everything is in order, then,” the Healer said, smiling at him. “He’ll want to stay quiet for a few days. The tests take a lot out of even the strongest patient.”

“How is he doing?” Harry asked anxiously, trying to crane his neck to see around the Healer. “How is the baby?”

“Fine, fine,” the Healer said, waving him off. “Everything is fine.”

“Can I see him?”

“Yes, yes, go on in. But I, unfortunately, must be on my way. So I bid you both a good day.” With a little bow the Healer left.

Harry turned around and slowly entered the room. Draco was still lying on the bed, his eyes closed. He looked very pale, and he appeared to be exhausted. Draco opened his eyes as Harry came near and held out his hand.

“Harry,” he murmured. Harry took his hand and stroked it with his thumb.

“I’m here, Draco.”

“Harry,” Draco said, sighing.

Even though Draco seemed worn out he also looked very happy and at peace. There was a calmness about him that Harry had never seen before. His skin was smooth and glowed with little beads of sweat. Everything about Draco appeared to be glowing. Harry had never seen someone so beautiful. He was like an angel.

“Harry,” Draco repeated. “It’s a girl. We’re having a baby girl.”

Harry was stunned for a moment and suddenly felt the stupid need to cry. A girl! They were having a baby girl. Harry didn’t know why it was, but for some reason, something about a little girl seemed just a little extra special.

Harry leaned over Draco and gave him a very chaste kiss on the lips. Draco’s eyes fluttered shut.

“That’s wonderful,” Harry whispered against Draco’s lips. “That’s wonderful, love.” Draco nodded, his eyes still closed. “You sleep,” Harry told him softly. “I don’t want you moving from this bed. Do you understand?” Draco nodded again, wearily. He was very close to falling asleep. Harry made to leave, but Draco caught him by his sleeve.

“Stay, Harry,” he pleaded, “Please stay.” His gray eyes were huge with panic.

Gently, Harry slid into the bed next to Draco. Draco immediately wrapped his arms around him and sighed heavily. Harry listened to the sound of Draco’s breathing becoming steady and even. He then finally felt Draco relax into sleep. Harry waited about ten more minutes before slipping as quietly as he could out of bed. Even though he knew Draco would want him there when he woke up, Harry couldn’t delay. He had a letter to write.

                                                      ~~~~

Dear Hermione,

Wonderful news! Draco’s having a little girl! I am very excited, but worried about Draco. The tests seemed to have taken a lot out of him. I was wondering if you knew any way to make the whole pregnancy easier on him? Any information you have (or can find) will be much appreciated.

Love,

Harry

After sending his letter to Hermione off, Harry leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. An involuntary tremble suddenly went up Harry’s spine. He jerked, opening his eyes.  He had the eerie sensation that he was being watched. Harry stood up, looking around. There was nothing in the room. Without even realizing it, Harry’s feet had carried him out of the room and into the hallway. Before he knew what was happening, Harry had traveled past all of the rooms on the first floor, past the kitchens and past the doorway leading out into the garden. Harry shook himself out of his trance to see that he was now underneath the Manor, in the dungeons. Another basement, that was bloody perfect. Harry hated basements. More importantly, though, he didn’t recognize where he was in the basement. He looked up at the door that was before him. He tried the handle. The door didn’t budge. Harry put his ear up against the wood. There was nothing but silence. Whether the silence was due to a charm or not, Harry didn’t know. There were many locked doors in the Manor, but for some reason, this one intrigued him more than any of the others.

Harry shook himself again, and taking one last glance at the door, he turned to leave. Luckily for him, there was only one way out of the basement, which he found with little trouble. As quickly as he could he made his way back to Draco’s room. He knew the blond would be upset, if he woke up and realized that Harry was not with him.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered Draco still sleeping in the bed. Making as little noise as he could, Harry climbed into bed next to Draco. Harry took Draco’s hand in his, giving it a small kiss. In his sleep, Draco smiled.

Harry was about to drift off into sleep himself when Hedwig flew in through the open door and dropped a letter into Harry’s lap.

Grinning, Harry tore it open, knowing that it had to be from Hermione.

Dearest Harry,

Congratulations from both Ron and myself. We were thrilled to hear that Draco is having a girl! On a second note, I was surprised you asked about how to make it easier for Draco, for I had been thinking of just that prior to receiving your letter. I do, in fact, have some ideas that might prove to be beneficial. I would like to discuss them with you in person. When and where would be the best for you? Just about anytime is doable for me. Take care, and I hope to see you and Draco soon.

Love from,

Hermione

Harry thought for a moment before leaning over and pulling a piece of paper and a Muggle pen from out of the drawer in the nightstand. He quickly scratched a reply.

Monday 10 am the Manor

H.

He gave the letter to Hedwig, who hooted softly before taking flight.

Harry settled back down in the bed, throwing an arm over Draco and pulling him close. Today was Saturday, which meant he had the rest of today and all of Sunday before Hermione came. Harry settled down, wondering what it was that Hermione had found.