Children of the Prophecy

Had Harry heard what he just thought he heard? Did Hermione say she was pregnant? He was going to be a father? At that point and time Harry had become the picture of happiness. The widest grin imaginable formed on his face as he tried to calm down his hysterical wife.

Hermione looked up and met Harry's eyes. In them, she found happiness, love, hope; things she had not seen since this war began. Then she dared to look down on Harry's face. She did not find a hateful scowl, on the contrary. She found a grin on Harry's face that rivaled the one she had seen when she first told Harry she loved him. "I'm going to be a father," she heard Harry's murmuring under his breath. She laughed a little as Harry repeated it over and over getting louder and louder each time. The grin that she had suppressed all day had finally broken through and was plastered on her face. Harry, overcome by joy, lifted his wife off the ground and spun her wildly.

"Your not mad?" Hermione sheepishly asked her husband.

"Hermione how could I be mad? This is the best thing that ever happened to us. Why would you think I would be mad?" he said giving his wife a long awaited kiss.

"I, I just thought that with the war-"

"Hermione, I will not lie to you. This baby has chosen a hell of a time to appear, but that doesn't mean a thing," he said looking into her eyes.

"Harry, it means the world! What if there is a food shortage? What if there is no medical care? What if th-"

But she was cut off by her husband's finger over her lips, "Hermione, those are all 'What ifs'. There is no telling what the future brings," he said sincerely.

Hermione buried herself in Harry's chest and cried. He was right. "I'm scared, Harry."

*~*

Harry and Hermione traveled to Hogwarts that same day to tell Albus. They walked in the castle and were greeted by Professor McGonagall. "Harry, Hermione, welcome back."

"Thank you," they responded.

"Well, Albus is expecting you in his office."

***

"Harry, Hermione, so nice to see you again," he said as they sat down.

"You too, Albus," they said.

"What is the matter that you needed to speak about? It seemed quite urgent."

Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded, "Well Albus, Hermione is pregnant."

Albus smiled and nodded. "You knew?" Hermione asked.

"Indeed I did Hermione. It has already been foretold."

Harry's eyes lit up and recited those all too familiar words, ''The one that which was unclear will be bestowed worry yet a tremendous joy in coming time."

"Exactly, Harry"

Harry and Hermione left Hogwarts soon after that and went to the only place they could go; The Burrow.

*~*

Harry and Hermione opened the door that led into The Burrow, "Hello anyone home?" Harry called.

Just then Ron popped out of the kitchen. "Hey guys! What brings you here?"

"You mean your mum hasn't told you?" Hermione asked smiling.

"Told me what?"

Hermione put her hand on her stomach.

"You've got a stomachache?"

"Ron, you're a bloody fool sometimes, you know. No, she hasn't got a stomachache, she's pregnant," Harry told his best mate.

"Your-Your what?" he stammered.

"Pregnant Ron; with child, expecting."

"Who's with child?" Fred and George said coming down the stairs.

"Hermione," Ron told his brothers in a dazed voice.

"Congrats, you guys!"

"Thanks."

"I've got to go get Dad and Mum," George said running back up the stairs

"I can't believe it! My two best friends having a baby," Ron said sitting down.

***


Arriving home, Hermione decided that it was time to call it a night. Harry, on the other hand, was not in the least bit tired, but he escorted his wife to bed. Once she was comfortable in the bed, he kissed her forehead and went back down the stairs.

Harry sat down on his favorite chair and let the events of today sink in. He, Harry Potter, was going to be a father. This news made him happy beyond belief, but it also scared him out of his wits. No longer would it be only he and Hermione, two wizards who could take care of themselves. Now a tiny, helpless baby would be a part of the picture. Not only would he worry about Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys; he would now be adding yet another person to the ever growing list. Harry had everything he ever wanted but he was so close to losing it...

***

Time passed quickly, and before anyone noticed, the New Year had come. With it, came minor signs of the life forming in Hermione. Harry knew this time would come and he and Hermione had discussed it. They did not want to jeopardize the baby, so Hermione was going to continue working from home. Although Hermione did not really like this idea, she knew it was for the best.

***

It was a quiet evening in early February when Voldemort struck again. This time he did not target muggles; he targeted the Minister of Magic. Death Eaters stormed the building and captured the Minister. Reports say that Voldemort himself appeared and killed the Minister, but they have yet to be confirmed. However, he did leave a message burned into the late Cornelius Fudge's chest, 'I know about your secret, Harry, you can hide nothing from me.' These chilling words made Harry, Hermione and Dumbledore set up a plan.

***

"Albus, I have always thought of you as a wise man, but I think you have lost it!" Harry yelled, unable to hold back his rage.

"Harry, calm down please," Hermione said, putting and arm on her husband's shoulder.

"Calm down? How can I calm down when Albus plan is practically giving you and the baby over to Voldemort?"

"Harry, I know you do not trust him, but he is not like his father! He is on our side!" Hermione said trying to reason with him.

"Hermione, as much as I'd like to believe you both, I can't. If this plan is going to work then we need someone we both trust. I refuse to let what happened to my parents happen to you!"

"Harry we cannot have Ron, he is too obvious! And so is every other Weasley."

"Harry, Hermione is right, but I can understand where you are coming from," Albus said. "He is the only one... Perhaps if you spend more time with Mr. Malfoy he can gain your trust. I will call for him and you may ask him all the questions you like."

***

Harry and Draco sat in Dumbledore's office alone as Harry had asked for. "Why should I trust you, Malfoy?" Harry asked coldly.

"You do not have to trust me, Potter. However, you know it is in your best interest that you do," he said with his trademark sneer.

"That is what everyone is telling me, but I do not believe it! I think making you Hermione's secret keeper is as good as handing her to Voldemort!" Harry said fuming mad. He was not going to hold his tongue for the scum of the Earth.

Once he calmed down a bit, he asked, "Why do you want to help my family, Malfoy?"

"Believe it or not, Potter, we are on the same side. Being on the same side means we are working towards the same goal. I, for one, want to achieve that goal. I do not want to be like my father and become a slave to the Dark Lord! The only way we can win, Harry, is if you defeat him. Not me, not Dumbledore, no one but YOU! The only way you can defeat him is staying alive. I know as much as the next person how much you love Hermione, and if anything, god forbid, happened to her, this war would be lost! I'm not saying that I'm going soft here, Potter, but I want to help!"

This little speech did not change Harry's opinion of Draco, but when Harry looked into the once hateful, stone cold gray eyes of Draco Malfoy, he knew. People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and that is what Harry believed. The eyes of Draco Malfoy had changed. In those eyes he didn't see the evil, hatefulness that he saw in school, and it was then and there that Harry Potter started to believe and trust Draco Malfoy.

***