moved to: heartscfvalor

Being one of the biggest heroes of a world-wide war good and bad aftermath. Harry had influence; he was fairly certain that he could pursue any career or interest he liked, and he’d be supported and encouraged. His friends and loved ones did too, and in the months following the Battle of Hogwarts, they all were able to take a breath, and begin thinking about their futures.

It also meant that they were instrumental in rebuilding the wizarding community. Kingsley requested the “golden trio” attend all of the trials and Ministry meetings and hearings that took up the next year, and they did. Harry offered his opinions, debated and discussed with Ron and Hermione at his back, made suggestions and corrections….and he attended every single Death Eater trial.

That part had shocked his friends, but Harry said nothing of his reasons until the Malfoys came before the Wizengamot. And then Harry stepped forward, requesting to speak, and before a shocked and silent audience he advocated–hard–for the Malfoy family to be spared Azkaban and given house arrest instead. In the end, there had to be some compromise; but Harry was relieved when they conceded at least to spare Draco.

He’d gone to his old classmate’s residence out in the country mostly just to make sure that Draco knew he wasn’t alone and without resources. But staying for tea, and then dinner, then drinks…then overnight…well, Harry didn’t particularly regret any of that.

The invitation to finish his missed final year at Hogwarts was a very good outcome. Ron declined, choosing instead to join George and Lee in business, while Harry and Hermione journeyed happily to meet the Hogwarts Express.

The last thing Draco needed was unfounded rumors going around that he was somehow carrying a child out of wedlock where people might think the Alpha father was another Death Eater. Nevermind that he would have been showing by now if that was true, but some people were hopelessly stupid.

The train ride to Hogwarts was quiet. The underclassmen kept their distance from the Slytherins, though a few of them were able to give a quiet thanks when they were alone, as Pansy, Theo and Blaise had joined Daphne and Astoria in trying to sneak healing potions to whoever had detention with the Carrows. They had stayed behind to help fight for Hogwarts too, but some wounds still ran a little too deep, and no one knew what to make of Draco at all.

The Wizengamot had cleared him of all charges, but that didn’t mean anyone had to forgive him for his bullying ways before Voldemort had come back.

Reaching Hogwarts, the castle had been rebuilt, as beautiful and strong as it had been before the Final Battle, and the Great Hall had a more open, airy aesthetic to it, with all of the Hogwarts House colors bathed on the walls. The Sorting Hat sang a song of bittersweet victory, urging the Houses to once again try to come together, before the Sorting went on as normal. The feast that followed had more homey meals, no doubt to keep everyone feeling safe, and when it was done, they were all dismissed.

That was what was being said, right? That it was over? Lord Voldemort, finally vanquished, felled by the Boy Who Lived Twice, killed by his own rebounded Killing Curse in front of so many people within the broken Great Hall of the castle. People were still celebrating, his body put aside as the Ministry Officials came to verify that he was truly and finally gone.

But it wasn’t over. Draco could see that clearly. Amid the celebrating, there was sorrow. The dead bodies that littered the next room, with people weeping over their lost loved ones. The injured nursing their wounds. The survivors with their dead, tear filled eyes. The innocence and the warmth of Hogwarts had been gone for several years now. It would never be the same.

He wasn’t sure what would happen now, sitting in the far corner with his parents on either side of him, keeping him close, holding him protectively, as the Aurors arrived to talk to Harry and the Order members. The Death Eaters who had not died in the Battle had fled, save for the Malfoys, and sooner or later, the trio would be noticed. No doubt Lucius would be arrested, and Draco wondered if he would be arrested too, despite not wanting to join in the first place, despite struggling to just keep his head above water during this whole mess. 

“I’m feeling a bit sick but I’m not ill, don’t worry. It’s a good thing, at least I hope it’s a good thing.” She leaned into his touch, bringing her hand up to cover his own pressed against her cheek. “Draco. I’ve got some news and I don’t know how you’ll feel about it.” She pulled her hand back and opened the cardigan, revealing that small tell tale swell. She glanced down, hoping he’d follow her line of sight.

When Lyra admitted to feeling a bit sick, Draco’s worry for her was immediately activated. Had she truly been ill, and he had missed it? He knew he had been very busy with the shop lately, trying to fill orders as well as working on the wolfsbane potions, but knowing that his wife had fallen ill and he didn’t even know… He really had to get better at this.

And then she looked down, and Draco looked down as well, though it took several moments for his mind to catch up with what he was seeing. When it did, his eyebrows shot up, mouth dropping open with some surprise before he looked at her in amazement. “You’re pregnant?”

She nodded, catching hold of his hand that hovered near her bump. In a moment of daring, she pressed their hands joined together against her bump, their bump. They were going to be parents and she was surprised herself that Draco appeared to know as much as he did.

“Yeah we are, as far as I know.” Her words were softly spoken, the worry that had been lurking in the back of her mind slowly fading.

When Lyra spoke again, sounding worried, Draco finally looked up at her. “That’s not your fault love,” he assured her gently, reaching up to touch her face again. “Stress does very odd things to the body. I was stressed out too, otherwise I would have noticed sooner or later that something was different.”

(*)

It had been another hard full moon, as it almost always was, so Draco was looking forward to coming home and just crawling into bed with Lyra, and possibly some snacks, and then pass out once he had the chance. Eating first would help, as he was starving, and being wrapped around Lyra would be a great comfort. The fact that she took it into stride so well would never cease to amaze him.

The results has come back quickly and she was excited, thrilled even and then the fear had crept in. The fear that Draco might react badly to this, that he would be worried about passing on his condition which was utter rubbish in her opinion.

She heard him calling out from the drawing room and she brushed a hand over her slightly swollen stomach. Lyra took one final glance at the mirror in the bathroom and tightened her cardigan around her, thankful for it being lumpy and a size too big. She descended the stairs, trying not to run and slipped into the drawing room.

When she finally arrived, he turned his head to smile sleepily at the sight of her. “Hello, love,” he said, before she spoke, and he sighed. “Just a side effect, you know that. I’ll be chipper again by tomorrow morning.”