Howl into the Night

Published: 3/30/2025

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of past non-con, pregnancy decisions

Draco woke up needing Potter's scent. His blankets weren't enough to satisfy him. He tried to listen for Potter in the house, but there must be Silencing Charms. Draco tracked him through the house until he found him in the kitchen making breakfast.

Harry didn't notice him. Harry was still angry and sad and seemed to be stabbing the eggs forcefully into the pan. "Fucking bastard. If he wasn't dead... I'd fucking kill him," he muttered, still trying to reign in his anger.

Harry was in full protection mode. That was always his number one emotion around Draco. He always felt better around him, even when Harry was angry. The anger wasn't directed at him. Harry plated the food, turned, and jumped when he spotted Draco.

"Shit... sorry," Harry mumbled, his scent changed to hopeful.

"It's okay," Draco said.

"Sit down... eat..." Harry said and put the food on the table.

Draco wasn't sure he could keep it down, but he tried. Harry fixed his own plate and sat next to him. Draco slowly took a few bits.

"Are you sleeping okay? You don't usually wake up so early."

"We did go to sleep at like eight last night," Draco drawled.

"Oh... right...."

"I missed your scent," Draco admitted, and noted that Harry smelled pleased with that.

"Sorry... I don't sleep as long as you do."

Draco looked at him, concerned, fork stopping midway to his mouth. "Why?"

Harry smelled... different... evasive, if he had to guess. "Habit."

"I don't believe you."

Harry chuckled. "Can't lie to you, huh? I used to have bad dreams. I'm surprised that I haven't woken you, but they haven't been as bad as before you came here. I also have difficulty falling asleep. When something wakes me... I'm... just ready to... attack and defend. It's been like that since the war. Insomnia, I guess."

Draco felt guilty for never asking Harry about his pain and issues. Mind you, Harry rarely smelled upset. He grimaced as he had thought that the smell would have woke him. He remembered that Harry told him that he had bad dreams the first night he asked to stay in the room.

"I'm sorry I hadn't noticed."

"I... really haven't had bad dreams since you've been here. I just... well... fear sleeping... is the best way to put it. I sleep when exhaustion hits me."

"I sleep... all the time," Draco commented.

"Good. You really need it. You're still healing... and regaining your strength... mentally and physically, remember?"

Draco stabbed another bite, frustrated. Potter didn't mention the fact that he was pregnant. "Yeah."

After they finished breakfast, Harry made him get ready, and they went to the healer. Amazingly, Draco just followed him meekly and didn't put up a fight. She was frantic when they came in. She started apologizing about missing it, and suddenly had a brainwave to check his blood for something that was so rare in men.

"I'm sorry... but you are pregnant."

Draco nodded somberly, and Harry replied, "It's okay. We just figured it out yesterday."

"Oh... but still. Low vitamins, throwing up and what Draco went through. I apologize for not thinking outside the box."

"Healer, what are our options?" Harry asked, directly. "You have dealt with werewolf pregnancies, right?"

Draco was alert for any change in her emotions and was relieved when she switched to concern and empathy.

"Yes, I have, though they were... in a relationship... and not this...."

"I see. Male pregnancies as well?" Harry stressed.

"Yes. I have had a few... though not as many as the women werewolves I've seen. Male-on-male pregnancies are still rare, and those men go through counseling to ensure that they can handle those body changes, before I'll proscribe the potion. I take it seriously."

Harry nodded and glanced at him worriedly. "If Draco wants... can we stop this?"

She grimaced. "Yes, it's a little risky and... permanent for men. You wouldn't be able to have any more. It's a potion and it will... stop the changes... make the body reject the fetus, but it will stop it forever."

"But I'll be able to get pregnant after this? I mean... if I don't take that potion?" Draco braved to ask.

"Essentially... yes. The fertility potion is permanent as long as you aren't injured, take the potion, or if your new... organs are removed."

"Organs?" he said, his eyes widening.

"The womb and birth canal were created with the potion... and you have the ability to... well... breastfeed," she gently explained.

Draco blushed and looked down at his chest. Holy Merlin, that would be awkward.

"Shh... breathe... we aren't there yet. Healer... did they have to... take away his ability to transform so he could get pregnant?"

"You mean was shifting an issue? No. I have had many pregnant wolves shift during the moon. The womb is very much protected against injury, as werewolves are not idle creatures. I'm afraid that is why only a potion can stop the pregnancy, rather than traditional ways."

"So, he branded me just to... trap me," Draco whispered and Harry took his hand.

The healer hesitantly nodded. "I am sorry."

"If I... don't take the potion... what..." he trailed off, losing his courage.

"What will happen? Yes... the pregnancy is shorter and the baby will be smaller but generally stronger. Most werewolves birth during the full moon, which makes it easier for you to heal. But labor can happen outside of it as well. For male pregnancies, the baby will... exit the rectum, so it will be unpleasant. You appear nearly two months along... so in 4 or 5 moons, 6 at the most... you'll be due."

Draco blushed and looked to Harry for comfort. He immediately put his hand on Draco's back. Draco whined in relief and took some deep breaths.

"Draco... my words haven't changed. I will accept whatever decision you want. If you want this to stop... it will be okay. If you want to continue it... I'll be there to help you raise the child."

Draco didn't know what to do. Children... he always imagined having children... certainly not this way. He moved slightly, and Harry knew to break contact immediately. Draco loved him for that.

"Healer..." he began. "Will it be... like me?"

"A werewolf? It's possible. It's about 25% when it's a werewolf-human coupling, but when it's two werewolves... it's still not guaranteed, maybe 50%. Other factors will affect it."

Draco held out his hand for Harry to take and felt courage from the contact. "What if... if it was on the full moon... when I wasn't a... a werewolf, yet?" he stammered out, ashamed. Harry's scent changed to sadness.

Healer Miriam gasped. "I... I'm sorry... that happened to you. I can say that werewolves, two wolves, that coupled during the moon... have always produced werewolf babies. I haven't had a situation where it wasn't. It's not for certain, either way, but in all cases I've seen...."

"It's going to be like me."

She nodded. "Werewolf pups don't shift immediately, usually when they hit puberty. They tend to be stronger and more... sentient when shifted."

"An Alpha..." Draco whispered.

"It's possible, though it's a theory. Werewolves don't stick around to be poked and prodded about information like that."

"Does... me... does being a pureblood change anything?" he whispered, as Harry squeezed his hand. Draco could smell pride from his mate. He felt reassured by that.

"Pureblood?"

"Greyback... mentioned it."

"I haven't heard that it does. Mind you... that there aren't too many werewolves that are... pureblooded. I suppose it increases the odds of the child being magical. Pure genetics. If both parents are magical... having a squib... is about 5 to 10% chance. But it can increase depending on inbreeding and having magically weak parents. If the child has one magical and one muggle parent, then it is still very likely that the child will be magical, maybe 75%. With maybe 25% having a recessive magical gene. Muggleborns are often born from one or both parents having a recessive magical gene."

"That's why purebloods are so adamant about being pure?" Draco whispered. He had heard his father shout similar theories over the years.

"Ah... but there lies the flaw in their argument. It is two magical parents that increase the odds of a magical child. Having a stagnant and un-diverse line, will lead to serious mental and physical abilities... including a higher chance for a squib and weak magic. If a muggleborn witch marries a pureblood wizard... then the odds are less than 1% that their child will be a squib. The odds increase if the child is pureblood, as the line is less diverse. Less... magical."

Draco blinked and looked at Harry, who shrugged. "Huh," Draco muttered.

"You, okay?"

"I'm realigning my perspective on life."

The healer was quiet as he processed the information she had given. He glanced at Harry, who was from a pureblood father and muggleborn witch. He was so strong and powerful. He remembered many purebloods who could only cast difficult magic with years of practice and training. His mother was frail for most of his life. He had never seen his father do extraordinary magic. But Harry... Harry was casting a Patronus Charm at 13.

"I understand. Thank you for explaining it."

"Of course. I can't be sure if the full moon plays a factor in the child's genetics, or if it was just done... out of superstition."

"What about... if I... was a... umm... virgin," he whispered.

Sadness and sympathy oozed out of both his healer and his mate. His healer struggled to answer. "I... well... I've never heard of that. There are no spells that have been shown to work better with... using them. It... if you wouldn't mind me venturing into a non-medical explanation, I can think of two viewpoints. First, people... enjoy the idea of it... being the first one," she said softly. "The other is one... of sacrificial intent. The sacrifice of innocence to a higher being. It may have been mentioned... as some wolves worship the moon as a god."

Draco nodded. He felt dirty, again, and Harry took the initiative to rub his bondmark. He smelled angry, again... protective.

"I am sorry that you've gone through this," she said.

He didn't answer. He wanted to go home. He faded out as Harry tried to get him to answer questions, but he stopped after a few failed attempts to draw him out. Harry asked about diet and potions, and the healer gave several prescriptions for potions and pamphlets. Harry eventually took him home and pulled him into his arms on the couch. Draco just cried into his chest, unable to process anything else. He wanted to bury this pain.

A few days passed and Draco hadn't said a word about the pregnancy. Draco didn't want to talk about it anymore. He stared out the window in their room at passing cars and muggles, while Harry alternated between pacing and sitting on trunk by the bed. He didn't answer Harry's questions when pressed. He accepted Harry's arms, scent and warmth as comfort, but he couldn't open up. He needed to process and understand. The healer had said so many things that he had taken as truth. His father was wrong. Was Greyback wrong?

That was what was irking him. Was what Greyback said true? Was it just conquest... or deeper magic at work? And the child... his child... it was likely a werewolf, too. He knew that the child, despite everything, was innocent. He had already connected to it. It didn't feel like Fenrir's... but he knew that it was, biologically. He was confused. Or was he? He glanced at the bed. Greyback's scent was gone off him. Harry had pulled him out.

He felt stronger... confident. He talked to the healer... confronted Lupin... things were different. He wasn't as scared anymore. Being around Harry gave him strength. His mate made him strong... strong enough to bear a child.

"Draco?" Harry murmured, anxious, and Draco didn't look at him. "I know you need time, but I'm worried. Really worried."

Tears formed in Draco's eyes. His mate was in duress because of him. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault. I just need to know... if you're okay," Harry said, fear in his scent.

"I'm coming to terms with it."

"Do you have any questions? Anything I can... do...."

Draco thought on it and sighed. He didn't know how to ask it. Harry came up next to him. They stood looking out for a long time, before Harry took his hand. Draco could feel Harry's thumb make small circles on his hand, comforting him. His emotions fluctuated a lot.

"Did you ever want... kids? I mean... have them?" Draco asked.

"Yes. I want a family. It's something I've never had," Harry said, quietly. "But it doesn't matter what I want... it's about you."

Draco frowned. "I did want kids. I know I'm... gay. I-I don't want to lose the ability... if I had to."

Harry smelled a mixture of happy and sad at the same time, but then he controlled himself. "Draco... you have options. I... I mean, your partner... he could... bear the children. You could adopt, too."

Draco's heart skipped a beat. Harry had said "I" first. His mate... wanted kids... with him. He had even suggested bearing them as well, but Draco didn't want to press it. It was so fragile, now. He couldn't take another heartbreak. Harry was all he had.

"It's my child... it's not Fenrir's. I can't kill it," he declared.

Harry smelled happy and relieved but tried to mask it. "Are you certain? I don't want you to... hate your child after for...."

"I won't. I bore through the pain and I'm free now. Though... I'm not sure I'm fit to be a parent."

"I'll be right there. We can figure it out together," Harry said, smelling determined... proud.

"Thanks, Harry," Draco murmured and squeezed his hand.