Aries Rising

As soon as the group dismounted at the barn, Regulus turned to Harry with a sharp expression, his brows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line. The lecture began before they even reached the house, Regulus’s voice cutting through the quiet evening like a blade.

“Harry, do you have any idea how reckless that was?” Regulus started, his tone clipped but laced with worry. “Riding while pregnant is dangerous. What if something had happened? What if you’d fallen off or—”

“I didn’t fall off,” Harry interjected, holding Rodeo’s reins as he led her into her stall. His voice was calm but tinged with defiance.

“That’s not the point!” Regulus snapped, following close behind. “You’re carrying a child, Harry. You can’t keep acting like nothing has changed. You have responsibilities now—to yourself and to the baby.”

Harry didn’t respond, instead focusing on removing Rodeo’s tack and brushing her down. His movements were deliberate, his jaw tight as he absorbed his papa’s words. James trailed behind them, his expression somewhere between concern and understanding.

“Regulus, maybe—” James began, only to be cut off by his husband.

“No, James,” Regulus said firmly, turning his sharp gaze to Harry again. “He needs to hear this. I let him go earlier because I didn’t want to smother him, but this—this is exactly why I was worried.”

By the time they reached the house, Regulus’s lecture had built into a crescendo. Harry remained silent, his green eyes fixed straight ahead, but the tension in his posture was palpable.

“You can’t keep being so stubborn, Harry,” Regulus continued as they stepped into the living room. “I know you’re independent, and I admire that about you, but there are times when you need to listen. This is one of those times.”

Harry sighed heavily, flopping onto the couch and throwing his head back dramatically. “Are you done yet, Papa? Or is there more?”

“Don’t take that tone with me,” Regulus said, his voice icy now. “I’m trying to protect you. Merlin knows you’ve made that difficult enough already.”

“Regulus,” James tried again, his tone softer this time. “Maybe give him a moment. He’s obviously exhausted.”

Regulus glanced at James, his expression softening slightly, but when he turned back to Harry, his determination remained. “Harry, you can’t keep brushing this off. This isn’t about control—it’s about your safety. I know you think you’re invincible, but you’re not.”

Harry sat up, glaring at his father. “I know I’m not invincible,” he said, his voice rising. “But I’m not made of glass either. I’m pregnant, not dying. Can you stop acting like I’m going to shatter any second?”

Regulus’s jaw tightened, his usually calm demeanor cracking under the weight of his frustration. “You’re pregnant at seventeen, Harry. That’s not something you can just brush off. Your body is under a lot of stress right now, and if you don’t start taking that seriously—”

Harry threw up his hands, cutting him off. “Papa, can we not do this right now? I’m tired, my head hurts, and honestly, I’d rather be in the barn with Rodeo than sitting here being lectured like a child.”

“Harry,” James said gently, stepping in before Regulus could respond. “You know your papa’s only worried because he loves you. We both do.”

“I know that!” Harry snapped, his frustration bubbling over. “But Merlin’s beard, can you both just let me breathe for five minutes? I get it. I’m young, I’m pregnant, and you’re worried. But you don’t have to remind me every second of the day.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Regulus opened his mouth to respond, but James placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head slightly.

“Alright,” James said, his voice calm and steady. “If you need space, Harry, take it. But don’t think for a second that we’re going to stop caring or worrying. That’s not how this works.”

Harry looked at his dad, his defiance faltering slightly under the weight of James’s steady gaze. “I’m not asking you to stop caring, Dad. I’m just asking you to trust me. I know what I’m doing, even if you don’t think I do.”

Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a slow breath. “Fine. You want space? You’ve got it. But don’t mistake that for us not caring.”

Harry nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank you.”

Without another word, he stood and made his way back toward the barn, leaving James and Regulus standing in the living room.

When Harry reached the barn, he felt the tension in his chest begin to ease. Rodeo greeted him with a soft whinny, and he smiled as he leaned against the stall door.

“Hey, girl,” he murmured, reaching out to stroke her nose. “It’s just you and me again.”

Rodeo nudged him gently, and Harry chuckled, opening the stall and stepping inside. He sank down into the straw, leaning against her warm body.

“They mean well,” he admitted softly, running his fingers through Rodeo’s mane. “I know that. But sometimes it feels like they don’t trust me at all.”

The mare let out a low, comforting sound, and Harry rested his head against her side. Despite his earlier defiance, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. He knew his parents loved him, and he knew their worry came from a place of care. But that didn’t make their constant hovering any easier to deal with.

“I just wish they’d let me figure things out on my own,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not a kid anymore, no matter what they think.”

As the barn settled into quiet, Harry closed his eyes, letting the steady rise and fall of Rodeo’s breathing lull him into a state of calm. For the first time all day, he felt at peace.

The barn was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustling of hay and the occasional nicker from the horses. Harry sat slumped against Rodeo’s side, letting her warmth soothe his frayed nerves. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through her mane, his thoughts wandering to the baby growing inside him.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea rolled over him, sharp and unrelenting. His stomach twisted painfully, and he groaned, clutching his abdomen. Before he could move, the chestnut mare in the neighboring stall, Tinker, snorted loudly and kicked a nearby bucket toward him. The clang of metal against the floor made Harry wince, but he managed to grab the bucket just in time to empty his stomach into it.

“Thanks, Tinker,” Harry muttered weakly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The horse snorted again as if in response, her large brown eyes watching him intently.

Harry leaned back against Rodeo, his breathing shallow as he tried to recover. But before he could regain his strength, the edges of his vision began to blur. His head swam, and the next thing he knew, his body went limp, slumping over in a faint.

Rodeo and Tinker immediately reacted, their instincts kicking in. Rodeo pawed at the ground, her ears pinned back, while Tinker let out a loud whinny, kicking the side of her stall. The noise echoed through the barn, growing louder and more frantic with each passing second.

Back in the kitchen, the commotion caught the attention of everyone at the table. Regulus was the first to react, his sharp ears picking up on the unusual racket.

“That doesn’t sound normal,” he said, his voice laced with worry. He pushed back his chair and stood, his movements hurried.

James glanced at Sirius and Harrison, his hazel eyes reflecting his concern. “Let’s go check on him,” he said, already following Regulus out the door.

The four of them made their way to the barn, their pace quickening as the sounds grew louder. Regulus was the first to enter, his heart sinking at the sight before him.

Harry lay motionless in the straw, Rodeo standing protectively over him, her dark eyes filled with worry. Tinker was still making a ruckus, her hooves clanging against the stall door as she tried to draw attention to the situation.

“Oh, Merlin,” Regulus breathed, rushing to Harry’s side. He dropped to his knees, gently shaking his son’s shoulder. “Harry? Harry, wake up!”

Sirius knelt beside him, his expression grim. Without hesitation, he slid his arms under Harry and lifted him with ease. “He’s out cold,” Sirius said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. “Let’s get him inside.”

Regulus nodded, his hands trembling as he stood. James placed a reassuring hand on his back, guiding him out of the barn and toward the house.

Once inside, Sirius carefully laid Harry down on the couch in the living room. Harrison, who had followed closely behind, immediately stepped into action. As a trained healer, he was well-versed in situations like this, though seeing his nephew like this made it far more personal.

“Give me some space,” Harrison said, his tone calm but firm. He knelt beside Harry, his hands moving with practiced precision as he began his examination.

Regulus hovered nearby, wringing his hands. “Is he okay? What’s wrong with him?”

Harrison didn’t answer right away, his focus entirely on Harry. He checked his pulse, his breathing, and gently pressed a hand to Harry’s forehead. “He’s a bit dehydrated, and his blood sugar is low,” Harrison said finally, his voice even. “It’s likely why he fainted. The nausea probably didn’t help either.”

Regulus let out a shaky breath, sinking into the nearest chair. “Is he… is the baby okay?”

Harrison glanced up, his expression softening. “The baby should be fine, but Harry needs to take better care of himself. Dehydration and stress aren’t good for either of them.”

James sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “We’ve been trying to get him to slow down, but you know how stubborn he is.”

Sirius chuckled softly, leaning against the arm of the couch. “Stubborn? He’s a Black through and through. It’s practically in his blood.”

At that moment, Harry stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He groaned, lifting a hand to his head. “What happened?” he mumbled, his voice weak.

“You fainted,” Harrison said, his tone gentle but firm. “Probably because you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Harry, you need to listen to your body. You can’t keep going like this.”

Harry blinked up at his uncle, his expression a mix of guilt and defiance. “I’m fine,” he muttered, trying to sit up.

Regulus was at his side in an instant, gently pressing him back down. “You are not fine,” he said, his voice trembling. “Harry, do you have any idea how scared we were? You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

“I wasn’t trying to scare anyone,” Harry said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“Well, it was,” James said, his tone firmer than usual. “Harry, we love you, but you need to take this seriously. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about the baby too.”

Harry looked away, guilt written all over his face. “I know,” he said softly. “I’ll try to do better.”

“You’ll do more than try,” Harrison said, his healer mode fully engaged. “Starting now, you’re on strict rest until I say otherwise. No riding, no heavy lifting, and no skipping meals. Understood?”

Harry sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Understood.”

Regulus reached out, taking Harry’s hand in his. “We’re not trying to punish you, Harry. We just want you to be safe. That’s all.”

“I know, Papa,” Harry said, squeezing his hand. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Regulus leaned down, pressing a kiss to Harry’s forehead. “Just take care of yourself, alright? That’s all we ask.”

As the family settled around Harry, the tension began to ease, replaced by a renewed sense of determination. Harry might have been stubborn, but he wasn’t alone. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.