Unexpected - Chapter 8: New Family
Title: Unexpected
Authors: slashpervert and aveeno_baby.

Betas: brknhalo241, asm614, Mini Mouse, and Indie.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: ADULT!
Genre: Fluff, Smut, Hurt/Comfort
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Length: 94,000 words (40 Chapters)
Warnings (Mark to Read): Language, Explicit, M/M Sex, Masturbation, Oral, Rimming, Anal, Mpreg, and mental health issues such as anxiety attacks. (Characters in this fiction are over 18.)

Summary: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have lived together for four years in their country house surrounded by a magical menagerie of unwanted animals Harry rescues. Yet, Harry wants more. He dreams of a family that includes children.

Notes: Post-war, AU after HBP, not DH compliant. Sequel to Undesirable, though can be read separately. Whereas, Undesirable was very dark, this one is very fluffy with some angst. Thanks to corvusdea for help with Latin for spells. Icon adapted by slashpervert from Passion by dirty_darella.
Disclaimer: This is a non-commercial work of fan fiction intended for adult audiences only. No copyright infringement intended. (Full Disclaimer!)

Chapter Number/Total: 8/40
Chapter Title: New Family
Words: 2574 Words



It was Boxing Day. Harry and Draco had spent Christmas at The Burrow with their friends, surrounded by Weasleys and their children. Now, Harry had Apparated to St Hedwig's Orphanage. Harry's fingers tightened around the bags full of Muggle toys as he made his way up the steps and into the orphanage.

He was taking off his coat when Sister Maragaret met him in the front hall. "Harry, I hope you had a Happy Christmas."

"I did, thank you," Harry said, smiling at her. "I hope you and all the children did as well."

"Yes, and they are looking forward to seeing you. First, though, will you step into the office?"

"I bought them a few presents," Harry said, holding up the bags and then nodding when she mentioned stepping into the office. He hoped nothing was wrong.

She led the way into the room, closing the door and then sitting down in her chair. "Well, I have some good news, but I wanted to let you know personally because ... I understand it might still be difficult for you."

That made Harry nervous, but he tried not to show it. "What?" he asked.

"We have found a family for Elijah," she said simply.

Harry thought it would happen one day, and he had even hoped for it. It was good, he told himself, trying to calm the sinking feeling it gave him. "Oh," he murmured. "That's ... that's great."

"We only told him yesterday, and he's very excited about it," she explained.

"So I'll be able to give him his presents and say goodbye," Harry said, smiling again. Just the thought of Elijah being excited made Harry excited, too.

Sister Maragaret looked relieved; apparently she had been worried that Harry wouldn't take the news well. "Yes, he will enjoy that."

Harry nodded, moving to stand up, picking up the bags. "Well, I'd like to spend as much time as I can with him."

"They're in the day room," she said with a nod, and opened the door so he could carry the packages through.

Harry hurried over to the room, and tried to sneak in, wanting to surprise them all. Yet, one of the girls spotted him and began shouting his name. Soon Harry was surrounded by children hopping up and down, asking about the bags and wishing him a Happy Boxing Day.

Harry started to hand out the presents, making sure that every child got one. He had made a list of every child, then bought the toys from a Muggle store. He was happy that Draco hadn't objected to him spending the money. The kids ripped into the paper and were soon shrieking happily.

Harry had handed out all of them and was taking a seat, watching Elijah.

Elijah's eyes grew wide as he held the box containing a 'Magic' kit Harry had bought him. "Oh, wow, I can really learn magic now!"

Harry smiled, watching him read the label before he went about opening it. "Yep, I thought you'd like it. Especially since I won't be helping you anymore ...."

Elijah's smile faltered. He looked up nervously at Harry.

Harry just continued to smile, moving down onto his knees next to the boy. "I'm so happy for you."

"You ... you're not mad?" Elijah asked.

"No. Only happy for you," Harry replied, leaning over to hug him.

Elijah wrapped his arms around Harry's neck. "I want a family. I just ... I am going to miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," Harry softly said, hugging him tightly for a moment longer before he pulled back, smiling down at him. "You'll have a family ...."

"Yeah, a mum and a dad," Elijah said, sounding awed. "Do you think they will really love me?"

"I know they will. Honest," Harry told him, sure of it.

"But what if I go with them and they change their mind and bring me back?" Elijah asked.

"They won't do that, not with you, Eli," Harry insisted, not wanting him to worry like that. He only hoped the family wasn't like his own relatives.

"I hope they like me," Elijah said, looking around the room, clearly wondering if he would have problems in his new life the way he had at the orphanage.

"How can they not?" Harry asked, picking up the magic kit. "Why don't you try a few with me?"

"Oh, can we?" Elijah asked excitedly. They spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the set. Harry had taught Elijah the coin trick he had been practising from the magic book and they now they did the rope and card tricks in the kit. It was fun and Elijah even showed off some of the other tricks to the other kids in a kind of impromptu magic show.

Harry watched him, feeling just how much he would miss him already. He almost wanted to grab him and take him home, regardless of what the nuns said, but he knew it wasn't possible. Elijah was looking forward to his new family, as nervous as he was, and Harry was happy for him. It was dark before he got ready to leave, starting to say goodbye.

He was ready to move on now.

Elijah sniffled when he hugged Harry goodbye. "I promise to remember you," he whispered against Harry's ear.

"I'll never forget you, either," Harry said softly, gently rubbing his back. He wanted to tell him that if the family treated him badly or if he didn't like them that he could come live with Harry, but that was obviously not the best thing to say at that point. It would only make Elijah more nervous. And it wouldn't be true.

Elijah pulled something out of his pocket and gave it to Harry. It was a drawing Elijah had made – of the two of them. Little figures standing out under a little round sun. He could tell the taller one was himself by the long black hair and big glasses. "You can look at this," Elijah told him.

Harry bit down on his lip and he felt his eyes water. "Oh, Eli," he whispered. "I love it ...."

"Promise to keep it?" Elijah said.

"Forever and ever," Harry replied.

They hugged again and then the nuns were gathering the kids up to go into the dining hall. It was time to go.

Harry followed them out, watching and waving goodbye to Elijah. He was holding back the tears.

Sister Margaret came up beside Harry. "They are a nice couple, Harry. We were very careful to make sure. We wouldn't let them have him if we weren't certain."

"I'm sure of that," Harry said, pushing his glasses up to wipe at the tears. "I'll just miss him so much."

She nodded but didn't add anything else, just standing beside him in a kind of mute support until he was ready to go.

Harry pulled his glasses back down and sighed, turning to hug the woman next to him. "I'll be back in a couple of days. Thank you again."

"Good night, Harry."

"Good night, Sister," he murmured, and then turned to leave, walking to his usual area before Apparating away.

Harry had stayed later than usual and Draco had dinner waiting for him when he came home. The dogs were barking the moment Harry came through the door, and Draco went to meet his lover and help him off with his coat.

Harry was quiet as Draco helped him, trying to comprehend that Elijah really wasn't going to be there the next time he went.

Draco was worried. Harry was usually very talkative when he returned from the orphanage. He seemed to have accepted not being able to adopt Elijah and he'd been very excited about getting all the presents for the children. "Did they like the toys?" he asked.

Harry blinked up at him and nodded, moving to sit down at the table. "They loved all of them," he said.

They sat in the kitchen when it was just the two of them, and Draco liked the intimacy of the small table in the warm room. He reached a hand out to pat Harry's arm reassuringly, sensing something had happened but not wanting to push too hard. "And?"

"And ... and someone adopted Elijah," Harry murmured, looking up at Draco.

Draco's hand stilled and he took a deep breath. He felt a prickle of anger again that Harry had been denied that option. "Someone adopted him?"

"A family. Tonight was his last night there," Harry explained.

"Oh," Draco said, watching Harry's face carefully to see how the man would take this. Harry's past was so painful that he often had trouble handling his emotions.

Harry was actually working hard not to react too badly, since he knew there was nothing he could do. "I'm just ... I'm gonna miss him," he whispered, blinking away the tears.

Draco scooted his own chair closer to Harry's and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I am sure you will miss each other ... and I also know you want what is best for him."

"I know," Harry said, leaning against Draco. "Maybe I'll see him again one day."

"Maybe," Draco said, not knowing how the rules about things like that went but wanting to be supportive.

Harry just sighed and turned to bury his face in Draco's neck. "I'm not so hungry, now."

Draco held him close, petting him. "I can re-heat it later if you like. We could watch telly and snuggle or even go to bed early if you like."

"Bed, please," Harry replied, arms around Draco.

Draco put a charm on the plates of food to keep them fresh and popped them in the ice box. Then he gathered Harry to him and led him to their bedroom.

That was one of the things Harry loved about Draco. He knew just what to do without ever having to be told.

***

Winter had given way to spring, the snow melting while crocus, violets and daffodils surrounded the farm house with purple, white and yellow blooms. For Harry, Draco and the animals they lived with, things were going well. Harry had come to accept that Elijah was now with his new family and, while Harry was still disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to adopt any of the children at the orphanage, he still enjoyed his regular visits there.

Harry had been cleaning out the rabbit hutch and was heading back to the house to make some lunch for himself and Draco, who was down in the basement potions lab when Severus came running out the pet door, swearing. Amongst the litany of insults, were the words "Floo" and "Weasel."

"Ron?" Harry asked as he walked into the living room.

Ron's flushed, wide-eyed face was in the flames. "Hey, mate, she's ready. We're at St Mungo's."

"She's ready?" Harry repeated, looking confused. "Oh! She's ready! We'll be right there."

"Great, gotta go," said Ron and his head disappeared from the flames.

"Draco!" Harry yelled, to the basement door of the potions lab. "Draco!"

Draco nearly spilled the potion he was bottling, looking up toward the stairs. "What?" he called and Oberon ran up the stairs as if to check on the commotion.

"It's time! Hermione's in St Mungos already," Harry replied urgently.

"Fuck," Draco answered, then drew his wand and dispelled what was left of the potion, since he wouldn't have time to bottle it properly. "On my way up!"

Harry went about getting the animals back into the house, grabbing both of their cloaks so that they could pull them on and run. He couldn't believe that it was finally time for the baby to come. He was excited for Hermione and Ron.

Draco ran up the stairs, locked his lab up so that none of the animals would get into trouble and took his cloak from Harry. "Baby time?"

"Yeah," Harry answered, pulling on his cloak as well. "Ron looked nervous!"

Draco huffed. "It's not like he's the one giving birth," he teased. Of course, he still remembered what a wreck Ron had been the last time, too.

"Let's go and give him some support," Harry said, leading Draco to the fireplace.

They Floo'd to St Mungo's and went to the maternity ward. The waiting room was, of course, full of Weasleys. Molly Weasley was holding Brian and smiled when she saw Harry.

Harry said hello to everyone before he went to take a seat. "I wonder how long it'll take," he said when he sat down.

It had taken half a day last time, but Draco knew second births usually went faster than the first. He tried to get comfortable despite the half dozen ginger-headed children running around the room with twice that many Weasley adults and spouses.

Harry spent most of the next hours playing with the children of his friends. He loved children and they seemed to take well to him. He was wistful, at times, wishing there was some way he could have his own children. It was especially difficult when he played with Gilbert, Ginny’s son. He wondered, if things had been different, would that have been his son. Or one like him. He loved Draco very much but couldn’t help his desire for a family of his own.

Four hours after they arrived, a Healer announced that Hermione had finally given birth and an hour later, Harry and Draco were allowed in to see Hermione and the new baby. Hermione was sitting up in the bed. Ron standing beside her, holding his infant daughter in his arms. They could see little hands moving when they walked in.

"Oh, congratulations, mates," Harry said as they walked inside, heading over to Ron first to get a look at the baby.

Draco went to stand across from Ron. "Well, you did it again," he teased Hermione.

Ron held the baby up a bit so they could see her better. To Draco, she looked very red and wrinkled.

Harry couldn't tell who she looked like more like. "She's adorable," he murmured, reaching to gently touch one petal soft cheek. He felt a stab of jealousy about the situation, but for just a moment. Harry forced himself to push it away, not wanting to ruin the mood in the room.

"Want to hold her, mate?" Ron asked.

"Sure," Harry said, holding his arms out for her. He had practise, so he wasn't worried about holding her wrong.

"What's her name?" Draco asked, as Ron lay the baby in Harry's arms.

"Catherine Anne," Hermione said, smiling at Harry.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl," Harry whispered, tapping the little girl's nose gently.

Draco didn't know if the child was beautiful, or if she would be, but he thought the sight of Harry holding her was. He smiled fondly at the other man. Harry was such a natural with children, that it really did seem a shame he didn't have any of his own.

Harry held Catherine for a while longer, cradling her. He wished so badly that he and Draco could have this, but it just wasn't possible. His heart swelled with love for this new child in his life even as it ached for the children he couldn't have with his lover. He sighed softly and smiled, stepping closer to the bed so that he could hand the baby over to Hermione. His arms felt empty for a long time after that.

[Harry has such longing.]

Chapter 9





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