HDOwlPost 2022: When You Say Nothing At All
Title: When You Say Nothing At All
Author: enchanted_jae
Summary: When Harry learns he's pregnant (again!), he wants to tell Draco at the perfect moment. As it turns out, he didn't need to say anything at all.
Word Count: 1,274
Rating: PG
Contains: (Highlight to view) *Mpreg*
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Notes: Many thanks to r3ading_emory for the beta.
Harry tugged his jumper off and tossed it across the bed. He moved to stand in front of the mirror, pivoting from side to side to determine if he was showing yet. Less than a week had passed since Harry learned he was pregnant. Again. He and Draco already had four children: James, the eldest, Sirius and Remus, the twins, and little Lily, the apple of her fathers' eyes.
Harry wondered if this would be another girl. He hoped so. Lily was terribly outnumbered at the moment. Harry also found himself wondering what Draco's reaction to this latest pregnancy would be.
Aghast? Amused? Annoyed?
"Amorous," Harry whispered to himself. He hoped Draco would be amorous, even though that's what had led to his current condition. Harry had never minded being pregnant. He experienced mild bouts of nausea in the first trimester, followed by breezing through the second. The third trimester was generally the worst, as he grew uncomfortable towards the end and simply wanted to be done with the process.
Harry was eager to experience it again, and he couldn't wait to tell Draco. He would do so once the children were in bed, maybe even hold out until he and Draco were in bed, too. Harry wanted the moment to be perfect.
Harry put some extra effort into dinner, preparing a chicken dish with pasta in basil cream sauce. It was one of Draco's favorite meals and as a bonus, the children liked it, too.
Draco was suitably impressed. "This calls for some wine," he declared.
"May we have wine, too?"
"No, James," said Draco. He selected a chardonnay and chilled it with a spell. He joined Harry and the children at the table and poured a glass. Glancing up, Draco said, "Pass me your glass, Harry."
"I'll stick with water, thanks."
Draco's forehead furrowed in confusion and then his eyes widened. He cocked a brow in Harry's direction.
Harry smiled, dipped his chin, and lifted one shoulder in a minute shrug.
Draco smiled back and rolled his eyes.
Harry looked away as he helped Lily cut her chicken. He was still grinning faintly, amused that he and Draco had just engaged in a life-changing conversation without saying a word. Clearly, they had been together too long.
"Dad, James is looking at me."
Harry stifled a sigh. "It's because he thinks you're handsome, Remus."
"Ugh! No, I don't," James protested. Nevertheless, he turned his attention to dinner and peace reigned once more.
Draco solicitously draped another folded blanket over the end of the bed, knowing Harry's feet were often cold. "When did you find out?"
"A few days ago," Harry replied. "How do you feel about it?"
"I'm happy," said Draco. "What about your feelings on the subject? You're the one who will have all the hard work."
"For the most part, I've always enjoyed being pregnant," Harry said. He yawned and wiggled his toes in their cozy cocoon.
"I think this one will be another girl," Draco announced as he slid into bed beside Harry.
"Yeah? You were convinced Lily was going to be another boy."
"By that time, I was resigned to boogers and bruises," said Draco.
Harry chuckled. "Instead, we got boogers and bows."
"Harry!" Draco gasped in feigned dismay. "How dare you use the word boogers in conjunction with my sweet baby girl?"
"Your sweet baby girl kicked Sirius in the shin this afternoon," said Harry. He reached back to plump his pillows before adding, "And then she stuck a finger up her nose."
"Ugh."
"That's what I said."
"Enough of that," said Draco. "Don't we have more pleasant things to discuss?" He scooted closer and draped a protective arm over Harry.
"Like the fact that you'll have to do all the holiday shopping this year? I shouldn't have to face the crowds in my delicate condition."
"You're far from delicate, Harry," Draco scoffed. "Besides, you're not even showing yet."
"I still plan to wear big, cozy sweaters, just in case," said Harry.
"How will that be different from any other holiday season?"
Harry grinned as he doused the light with a flick of his fingers. "What can I say? I love oversized sweaters." He burrowed under the covers, and just as his eyes grew heavy, Harry heard Draco mutter something.
"Size queen."
By mutual agreement, Harry and Draco waited until after the madness of the holidays to inform family and friends that a new baby was on the way. The Weasleys were ebullient, the Malfoys reserved yet pleased.
All that was left was to tell their children. Neither of them was quite sure how to go about it. Harry recommended they play it by ear. At the dinner table one evening, between Boxing Day and the New Year, Harry tapped his glass to gain his children's attention.
"Ahem. Your father has something to tell you."
Draco's face froze in horror, but he quickly regained his composure. He cleared his throat, squared his shoulders, and said, "We are going to have a new baby in the family."
James responded with a grimace, the twins looked intrigued and excited, and Lily burst into tears.
Draco swooped in to hug his daughter. "Why are you crying, sweetie?"
"I d-don't wanna 'nother baby," she sniffled. "I'm the baby!"
Draco scooped Lily up and settled her on his lap. "You will always be our precious baby girl," he told her, "whether we have one more baby or ten more babies."
"Sorry?"
"Hush, Harry," Draco absently chided as he dried Lily's tears. "Maybe this baby will be a little girl," he said to her. "Wouldn't you like a sister to play with?"
"Sisters are stupid."
"Shush, Sirius," scolded Harry.
"When will the baby get here?" asked Remus.
"Not until summer time," Harry replied.
Remus was puzzled. "Why must we wait so long?"
Harry's ears got hot. "Well, erm, babies take awhile to, um, develop." From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Draco grinning at him. Smug git.
"Where's the baby now?" Lily asked innocently.
All eyes turned to Harry. He was going to murder Draco.
"Is it in your tummy, like Lily was?" asked James, leaning forward to peer at Harry's midsection.
"Yes, exactly," said Harry, relieved that he didn't have to explain it.
"How did it get in there, Dad?"
"Yes, Dad, how did it get in there?"
Harry's lips thinned, and he turned a baleful glare on his smirking husband. Returning his attention to the children, he said, "Ask your father."
"Ask your father," Draco sniped later, as he and Harry were settling into bed.
Harry responded with a snort of laughter. "Merlin, you looked like a pixie caught in an Acromantula's web."
"Very funny, Harry."
"You did a remarkable job of dodging the question, however," said Harry. "Luna would have approved of you blurting out, 'Oh look! A puffskein!' as a means of misdirection."
"Shut it, Harry."
Harry pulled the duvet up to his chest and reached over to pat Draco's stomach through the heavy coverlet. "Stop frowning; you'll wrinkle."
"I'll wrinkle you one," grumbled Draco, hanging onto his pique.
"That sounds terribly sordid," said Harry.
That got a smile out of Draco. It faded and was replaced with a worried expression. "Harry, however will we manage with five children?"
"Arthur and Molly managed seven."
"That's true," said Draco. He turned off the lamp and added, "If they can do it, so can we."
"That's the spirit," Harry said before a large yawn overtook him. His eyes drifted shut only to pop open in the darkness once more. "Wait. You aren't suggesting we have seven children, are you?"
Author: enchanted_jae
Summary: When Harry learns he's pregnant (again!), he wants to tell Draco at the perfect moment. As it turns out, he didn't need to say anything at all.
Word Count: 1,274
Rating: PG
Contains: (Highlight to view) *Mpreg*
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Notes: Many thanks to r3ading_emory for the beta.
Harry tugged his jumper off and tossed it across the bed. He moved to stand in front of the mirror, pivoting from side to side to determine if he was showing yet. Less than a week had passed since Harry learned he was pregnant. Again. He and Draco already had four children: James, the eldest, Sirius and Remus, the twins, and little Lily, the apple of her fathers' eyes.
Harry wondered if this would be another girl. He hoped so. Lily was terribly outnumbered at the moment. Harry also found himself wondering what Draco's reaction to this latest pregnancy would be.
Aghast? Amused? Annoyed?
"Amorous," Harry whispered to himself. He hoped Draco would be amorous, even though that's what had led to his current condition. Harry had never minded being pregnant. He experienced mild bouts of nausea in the first trimester, followed by breezing through the second. The third trimester was generally the worst, as he grew uncomfortable towards the end and simply wanted to be done with the process.
Harry was eager to experience it again, and he couldn't wait to tell Draco. He would do so once the children were in bed, maybe even hold out until he and Draco were in bed, too. Harry wanted the moment to be perfect.
Harry put some extra effort into dinner, preparing a chicken dish with pasta in basil cream sauce. It was one of Draco's favorite meals and as a bonus, the children liked it, too.
Draco was suitably impressed. "This calls for some wine," he declared.
"May we have wine, too?"
"No, James," said Draco. He selected a chardonnay and chilled it with a spell. He joined Harry and the children at the table and poured a glass. Glancing up, Draco said, "Pass me your glass, Harry."
"I'll stick with water, thanks."
Draco's forehead furrowed in confusion and then his eyes widened. He cocked a brow in Harry's direction.
Harry smiled, dipped his chin, and lifted one shoulder in a minute shrug.
Draco smiled back and rolled his eyes.
Harry looked away as he helped Lily cut her chicken. He was still grinning faintly, amused that he and Draco had just engaged in a life-changing conversation without saying a word. Clearly, they had been together too long.
"Dad, James is looking at me."
Harry stifled a sigh. "It's because he thinks you're handsome, Remus."
"Ugh! No, I don't," James protested. Nevertheless, he turned his attention to dinner and peace reigned once more.
Draco solicitously draped another folded blanket over the end of the bed, knowing Harry's feet were often cold. "When did you find out?"
"A few days ago," Harry replied. "How do you feel about it?"
"I'm happy," said Draco. "What about your feelings on the subject? You're the one who will have all the hard work."
"For the most part, I've always enjoyed being pregnant," Harry said. He yawned and wiggled his toes in their cozy cocoon.
"I think this one will be another girl," Draco announced as he slid into bed beside Harry.
"Yeah? You were convinced Lily was going to be another boy."
"By that time, I was resigned to boogers and bruises," said Draco.
Harry chuckled. "Instead, we got boogers and bows."
"Harry!" Draco gasped in feigned dismay. "How dare you use the word boogers in conjunction with my sweet baby girl?"
"Your sweet baby girl kicked Sirius in the shin this afternoon," said Harry. He reached back to plump his pillows before adding, "And then she stuck a finger up her nose."
"Ugh."
"That's what I said."
"Enough of that," said Draco. "Don't we have more pleasant things to discuss?" He scooted closer and draped a protective arm over Harry.
"Like the fact that you'll have to do all the holiday shopping this year? I shouldn't have to face the crowds in my delicate condition."
"You're far from delicate, Harry," Draco scoffed. "Besides, you're not even showing yet."
"I still plan to wear big, cozy sweaters, just in case," said Harry.
"How will that be different from any other holiday season?"
Harry grinned as he doused the light with a flick of his fingers. "What can I say? I love oversized sweaters." He burrowed under the covers, and just as his eyes grew heavy, Harry heard Draco mutter something.
"Size queen."
By mutual agreement, Harry and Draco waited until after the madness of the holidays to inform family and friends that a new baby was on the way. The Weasleys were ebullient, the Malfoys reserved yet pleased.
All that was left was to tell their children. Neither of them was quite sure how to go about it. Harry recommended they play it by ear. At the dinner table one evening, between Boxing Day and the New Year, Harry tapped his glass to gain his children's attention.
"Ahem. Your father has something to tell you."
Draco's face froze in horror, but he quickly regained his composure. He cleared his throat, squared his shoulders, and said, "We are going to have a new baby in the family."
James responded with a grimace, the twins looked intrigued and excited, and Lily burst into tears.
Draco swooped in to hug his daughter. "Why are you crying, sweetie?"
"I d-don't wanna 'nother baby," she sniffled. "I'm the baby!"
Draco scooped Lily up and settled her on his lap. "You will always be our precious baby girl," he told her, "whether we have one more baby or ten more babies."
"Sorry?"
"Hush, Harry," Draco absently chided as he dried Lily's tears. "Maybe this baby will be a little girl," he said to her. "Wouldn't you like a sister to play with?"
"Sisters are stupid."
"Shush, Sirius," scolded Harry.
"When will the baby get here?" asked Remus.
"Not until summer time," Harry replied.
Remus was puzzled. "Why must we wait so long?"
Harry's ears got hot. "Well, erm, babies take awhile to, um, develop." From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Draco grinning at him. Smug git.
"Where's the baby now?" Lily asked innocently.
All eyes turned to Harry. He was going to murder Draco.
"Is it in your tummy, like Lily was?" asked James, leaning forward to peer at Harry's midsection.
"Yes, exactly," said Harry, relieved that he didn't have to explain it.
"How did it get in there, Dad?"
"Yes, Dad, how did it get in there?"
Harry's lips thinned, and he turned a baleful glare on his smirking husband. Returning his attention to the children, he said, "Ask your father."
"Ask your father," Draco sniped later, as he and Harry were settling into bed.
Harry responded with a snort of laughter. "Merlin, you looked like a pixie caught in an Acromantula's web."
"Very funny, Harry."
"You did a remarkable job of dodging the question, however," said Harry. "Luna would have approved of you blurting out, 'Oh look! A puffskein!' as a means of misdirection."
"Shut it, Harry."
Harry pulled the duvet up to his chest and reached over to pat Draco's stomach through the heavy coverlet. "Stop frowning; you'll wrinkle."
"I'll wrinkle you one," grumbled Draco, hanging onto his pique.
"That sounds terribly sordid," said Harry.
That got a smile out of Draco. It faded and was replaced with a worried expression. "Harry, however will we manage with five children?"
"Arthur and Molly managed seven."
"That's true," said Draco. He turned off the lamp and added, "If they can do it, so can we."
"That's the spirit," Harry said before a large yawn overtook him. His eyes drifted shut only to pop open in the darkness once more. "Wait. You aren't suggesting we have seven children, are you?"