Chapter 3
Ron nearly fell out of his chair and Harry was just simply staring at Hermione unhappily.
"You mean Harry is going to have the baby?" Ron asked incredulously and scratched his head.
Hermione rolled her eyes and swatted him on the top of the head with a small booklet she had been holding in her hands. "No you twit, honestly don't you two pay attention to anything I say?"
"But, Hermione how can I be having all your pregnancy symptoms? I mean I feel okay now maybe I just umm…….had some sort of Wizarding Flu…or…or maybe I ate something that didn't agree with me."
Ron eyed Harry's breakfast warily and nodded emphatically. "He has a point Hermione."
Hermione giggled. "What am I going to do with you boys? Healer Valorin and I had a lovely chat and he mentioned that you might be experiencing what we call Empathic Pregnancy. It happens sometimes when two people love each other so much that the man will start exhibiting some of the symptoms." Hermione sighed wistfully and smiled at Harry like he had answered her prayers of every romance notion she had ever thought of. "Its actually a lot more common among Wizards than muggles, but it happens with them sometimes too." She handed Harry a small book that had a young man waving unhappily beside a young woman who was grinning from ear to ear as she patted her swollen pregnant tummy.
"It all makes sense actually. If you stop and think about it you have been experiencing a couple of things already. I mean the nausea…strange eating habits...mood swings…oh and you might gain a little weight, but I'm sure everything will be fine. Oh Harry!" She stated breathlessly. "We will be able to truly experience this together! I'm so excited! I think I'm going to go shopping for some baby things." She said all of this very fast and after flashing her boys a luminous grin, she disappeared out the door and up the stairs. Harry and Ron could hear her singing a sweet lullaby and both of the two young men stared at one another and gulped.
Harry slowly digested what Hermione had just told him as everything ran through his mind over and over again. Nausea...Mood swings...Weight gain? Harry suddenly whipped his head around to try and look at his arse and suddenly it all became clear to him.
Harry heard Hermione thumping around in the room they were planning to decorate for the baby's room and plopped down pathetically. "How could this be happening to me? I mean I hate the thought of Hermione going through all of those symptoms...but...it is supposed to be HER going through it...not me. I...I...I'm just the husband!"
"Mate, you probably have the worst luck of any man I know. Forget the loonys trying to do you in, you have bigger problems with your wife." Ron shook his head sadly and sat back down to devour his sandwich. "I always did think she was mental. Better you than me I always say."
Suddenly, a deep primal urge to prove his manhood began building up inside of Harry. He couldn't explain it but he certainly knew what he wanted to do. "Hey Ron how about we go out for a guys night out kind of thing? I haven't went out with you guys in a long while. What do you say we call Neville and your brothers, play a little Wizard poker and kick back?" It was a great idea! Going out and tossing back some beers and maybe even some firewhiskey. He almost felt like roaring with a very manly roar when Ron sniggered. "What is it?"
"Sorry mate, but I'm afraid I can't let you drink."
Harry looked at Ron curiously before Ron's mouth curved into a huge grin. "Alcohol is bad for your little bun in the oven."
"WHAT?" Harry lunged for Ron with his wand drawn but Ron was ready for his attack and jumped out of the way cackling hysterically. Grabing his half eaten sandwich Ron narrowly missed a beam of red sparks before disapparating out of the Potter's kitchen. Harry could just imagine Ron telling Fred and George with gusto what was going on with "the pregnancy" and shuddered. Then another train of thought popped into his head. Perhaps it is time he took some extended time off from work. He didn't think he could handle hunting dark wizards and pregnancy at the same time. The world would just have to make do without "The Chosen One"...at least until after the baby was born. At that moment Hermione appeared in the doorway with a deep blush heating up her lovely cheeks.
Harry smiled when he saw her and the love he felt for her overtook his heart until nothing else seemed to matter. The effect she had on him was amazing and right now there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. This amazing woman was carrying his child and that alone was a captivating thought. They were going to be parents and he realized that at least they could go through it together just as they always had. Her eyes glittered dangerously as she slowly approached Harry and slid her arm up around his neck. Damn she smelled so good and that look in her eyes reminded him of last night…Oh hell what was she doing?
"Harry…" she purred. "Let's forget about going shopping."
Harry took a sharp breath when she cupped her hands around his bum and all coherent thought was wiped away. Yes indeed Hermione had other things on her mind. Things that made Harry never want to leave the kitchen again. He grinned like a fool when he saw his wife wave her wand in the air to cast her anti apparition spell against visitors. Oh Merlin this was going to be good!
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