"Bed rest, Mister Potter, for the duration of your pregnancy – and no magic."

Tom wasn't overly surprised by Merriweather's proclamation and judging by Harry's face, neither was he. Lucius looked less than pleased but Tom thought that was mostly because the bed rest was an indication of just how badly injured their mate had been and how weak he still was.

On the bright side, Harry was still sleeping sixteen to eighteen hours a day so the confinement probably wouldn't wear on the formerly active boy too much... for awhile.

"But what about school? It's my Newt year... I can't graduate if I can't use magic."

"Not to worry, Luv, the baby should be here in late February. Lucius, Severus and I can tutor you in theory – Dumbledore will not have a problem coming up with some excuse for you absence from actual classes - and once the baby is here we will get you caught up on the practical side of things."

Merriweather cleared his throat, "Actually, from what my scans show, the development of the fetus is slower than normal. I didn't say anything at first because I wanted to be sure."

Tom's eyes met Lucius's and as one they looked down to their mate who, instead of a healthy pink, was now deathly pale, his hands curled protectively over his abdomen.

The Medi-Wizard held up his hands, "Now, now, Gentlemen, no need to get worked up just yet. The baby is developing in the correct stages, only slower. It is possible that it is a reaction to Mister Potter's injuries but most likely it has to do with your Draconian heritage; at least that is the theory Poppy and I are working with... I realize a theory is not the most comforting thing but with no written records on Draconian reproduction, that's all we have."

"When you combine the fact that the baby is healthy, is showing no signs of distress, and is developing with the fact that Dragons have the longest incubation period of any creature – magical or muggle – I believe we're just dealing with a longer than normal gestation."

Harry was regaining more and more of his color as the man gave his explanation.

"How long," the Gryffindor asked.

"I estimate a year from conception, so I'd plan for sometime in late April to early May."

Harry gasped. Lucius was looking a bit shell shocked and Tom... Tom was intrigued.

"No Newts then," his little mate said softly, making Tom smile. Trust Harry to focus on the mundane until he could cope with the rest.

"Don't worry, Luv," Lucius cooed, "just after Christmas we'll apply for a medical delay on the practical portion of the exam and you can still take the written with your classmates."

Harry looked up at the blonde quizzically, "They do that?"

"Of course, Luv. It is normally Quidditch players who need such allowances but I'm sure with Mister Merriweather here and Madam Pomphrey's help we'll have all the documentation we need."

"Absolutely Mister Malfoy, Poppy and I are keeping extensive records on Mister Potter's condition and progress. Hopefully it will help when Miss Granger decides to become a mother as well."

Tom smirked at the thought of Severus chasing a giggling toddler through the castle.

"But... won't your identities be a problem," Harry asked.

Tom noticed the Medi-Wizard's face go blank with interest. He knew Merriweather could not reveal their location or their identities to anyone – an Unbreakable Vow had seen to that – but his reactions were always interesting to watch. It was almost as if the man forgot he was in the presence of the Dark Lord and a notorious Death Eater, never mind the Boy-Who-Lived, until he was forcibly reminded of such.

Tom sympathized with the man, he truly did. It was not an easy thing he did, caring for Harry. Merriweather was familiar enough with their heritage to know killing the weakened Harry would, if not kill the remaining two Draconians, then certainly incapacitate them permanently. The Dark Lord's 'reign of terror' could be stopped in its tracks by this man.

"I wouldn't worry about that too much Harry. Lucius and I are in the process of hashing out our difficulties with the Ministry; after all, they can't very well hold mental instability against a man now can they? After all, even Muggles acknowledge that."

Harry thought about that for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again. A few minutes of silence and the boy lay back in the bed and said, "You know I think I'm going to do something very uncharacteristic."

"Oh?" Lucius quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes. I'm not going to ask. I don't want to know. I'm going to lay here for the next nine or so months and allow the two of you to take care of me – no questions asked. The rest of the world can very well sort itself out."

"An excellent decision, Mister Potter," Merriweather cut in, "and one the baby will benefit most generously from. Now I must be getting back to Saint Mungos. I want you to continue the massages and stretches. I'll have additional exercises for you on my next visit. The exercises are going to become a bit more strenuous every month, but of course, not enough to place the baby in any danger. We wouldn't want you to become a formless blob now would we Mister Potter?"

Harry grinned, "No Sir."

"Good. I'll see you Gentlemen in two weeks."

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When Harry was once again tucked in and asleep in their bed, Tom moved to the main sitting room where Lucius, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape, and Hermione all waited.

Settling close to his blonde mate he asked, "I take it Lucius has filled you in on Harry's condition?"

Everyone nodded.

"I must say Harry's decision to essentially sit out the rest of the war surprised me," Lucius said blandly, leaning against Tom's shoulder and watching Severus's face.

The Potion Master choked on his tea and the elder Malfoy smiled.

Dumbledore's eyes had gone wide.

"He said what," Severus sputtered.

"He said, and I quote, 'I'm not going to ask. I don't want to know. I'm going to lay here for the next nine or so months and allow the two of you to take care of me – no questions asked. The rest of the world can very well sort itself out'", the blonde repeated with relish.

Tom hid his grin behind his hand.

"Do you think he means it," Draco asked.

"He absolutely means it," Hermione stated firmly.

Dumbledore's voice was forbidding, "But he can't. He must-"

"He must rest and that is all he must do," Hermione spat, standing. "He's done his part Professor, he's fulfilled the prophecy and now he's going to concentrate on his family – the family he has craved for the last fifteen years."

Draco pulled the furious brunette back down on the couch between himself and Severus but she wasn't done yet.

"Besides, what exactly would you have him do in his condition? He can't even leave his bed for Circe's sake! And let's not even talk about Harry and the press – that's a disaster just waiting to happen."

"All right, baby," Severus cooed, pulling her back against the couch cushions, "I think Albus understands Harry's stance on this and I'm positive that Lucius and Tom will ensure his continued good health."

The Gryffindor huffed, "Damn straight."

Lucius was hiding his face against Tom's neck and from the snuffling sounds; the brunette decided his mate was trying to stifle his laughter.

"Quite right Hermione," Tom was quick to confirm, "Harry is officially retired from the war. Now we must decide how to wrap things up. Have you followed up on the information I gave you Albus?"

The Headmaster nodded, his usual twinkle noticeably absent, "Minister Fudge has indeed been conducting some odd dealings and the Order is currently investigating what exactly that fool is up to. They have been told that the Dark Lord is currently out of commission so any connections to him are to be doubly scrutinized."

"Excellent. Now as to the upcoming school year, since I seriously doubt all of this unpleasantness will be resolved anytime soon, Lucius and I have devised a plan to lure out Harry's attackers."

"Oh?" Albus had his elbows on the arms of his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his bearded chin.

"I will impersonate a still injured Harry, with polyjuice masquerading as a potions regimen the injured Gryffindor is forced to be on. Draco will, as last year, be the ever faithful companion and Hermione will use the attack as a reason to be even more secluded from the school population. They will continue the same living quarters as last year for the same reasons and Severus will return to teaching. Lucius will remain here in our quarters to ensure Harry's protection on the off chance that someone sees through the ruse. In fact I would like to make a few short visits soon to Diagon Alley. It would be preferable to have an attack made away from all the children but it is probably not going to be so simple... Besides, Harry's birthday is coming up and I need to find a gift." Tom seemed more worried about the gift than the possible attack.

Dumbledore looked unconvinced, "I seriously doubt such an obvious deception will work."

"It worked on you two years ago," Hermione snapped.

The Headmaster had the courtesy to look ashamed before nodding his head in acceptance of the fact, "If you would let me know the dates of these excursions Tom? I'll have Harry's normal escorts from the Order notified so as to avoid suspicion."

"Excellent. Thank you Albus."

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Dumbledore left shortly after, leaving the five Draconians to contemplate the coming months.

After a bit Draco broke the silence, "Is it just me or is Dumbledore becoming... more meek? Especially with Hermione?"

"You can't argue with the truth," Hermione grumbled.

"He could argue with Merlin himself and win," Draco shot back.

"It is the changing of the guard," Snape said softly.

"What do you mean," the Gryffindor asked.

The Potion Master took a deep breath, "Albus Dumbledore has led the Wizarding World in one way or another for over a hundred years and I can guarantee he has made more mistakes in the last six of those years than ever before and all of them led to trauma after trauma for Harry. He loves that boy as his own but he can't seem to do anything right for him."

"The Headmaster has been alive for over four hundred years now, and he knows his time is over. It is time for new leaders, new blood – Tom, Draco, a few of the Weasleys maybe... But not Albus Dumbledore – not anymore," Severus explained.

"He's not... not dying is he," Hermione asked fearfully – for all her bluster and her very real anger with the man, she did love him.

"No," Tom answered, "but a gentle retirement is long overdue, I'd say."

"And I'd say the old Bumblebee would agree," Lucius said softly, still snuggled into his mate's neck.

"So a little bait-n-switch, some political maneuvering and then... world domination!"

Everyone turned wide eyed to Hermione. The girl looked at each of them, apparently surprised by the others'... surprise.

"What? That's the plan right? Or did I miss something?"