Aries Rising

The house was quiet as the Potter-Black family settled into the evening. Harry sat curled up on the couch, his hands resting lightly on his rounded belly. His mind was spinning with thoughts he couldn’t quite sort out, and the weight of them pressed heavily on his chest.

Regulus was seated in the armchair nearby, flipping through a book, while James stood at the window, absently swirling a cup of tea. The atmosphere was peaceful, but Harry couldn’t shake the nervous energy building within him.

“Papa, Dad,” Harry said softly, breaking the silence.

Both men looked up immediately, their attention shifting to their son.

“What is it, Harry?” Regulus asked, his tone gentle but curious.

Harry hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He looked down at his belly, then back up at his parents, his green eyes clouded with uncertainty. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” James said, setting his tea down and coming to sit beside Harry on the couch. “What’s on your mind?”

Harry bit his lip, his gaze dropping again. “It’s… about the baby.”

Regulus closed his book and leaned forward in his chair, his sharp gray eyes softening. “Go on, Harry,” he encouraged. “You can ask us anything.”

Harry took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the fabric of his shirt. “If I can’t… if I can’t mentally deal with having a baby, will you guys adopt it and raise it?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and raw. Regulus and James exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from surprise to understanding.

“Harry,” James said gently, placing a hand on his son’s knee. “Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t know,” Harry admitted, his voice trembling. “I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately. I love the baby, I really do, but what if I’m not ready? What if I can’t handle it? I don’t want to mess up their life because I’m not good enough.”

Regulus moved to sit on Harry’s other side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “Harry, listen to me,” he said softly. “No one is ever truly ready to become a parent. It’s one of the hardest things anyone can do. But you’re not alone in this. You have us, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“I know,” Harry said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But what if that’s not enough? What if I make mistakes? What if I can’t give them what they need?”

James’s hazel eyes filled with compassion as he leaned closer. “Harry, every parent makes mistakes. That’s part of the journey. But what matters is that you love your child and do your best for them. And knowing you, I have no doubt you’ll be an amazing parent.”

Harry looked up at his dad, tears brimming in his eyes. “But what if I can’t?” he pressed. “Will you adopt them if I can’t do it?”

Regulus tightened his arm around Harry, his voice steady and calm. “If it ever comes to that, Harry, of course we’ll step in. We love this baby already, just like we love you. But I need you to hear me when I say this: you are not alone. You don’t have to carry this burden by yourself.”

“Exactly,” James added, his voice firm. “We’re a family, Harry. Families figure things out together. Whatever you need, we’ll be here.”

Harry sniffled, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. “It’s just so scary,” he admitted. “I keep thinking about everything that could go wrong, and it feels like too much sometimes.”

“That’s normal,” Regulus said, his voice softening further. “Becoming a parent is overwhelming, especially at your age. But you’re already showing how much you care by worrying about these things. That’s what good parents do.”

Harry looked at his papa, his heart aching with gratitude. “You really think I can do this?”

Regulus smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Harry’s face. “I know you can. And when it feels like you can’t, you have us to lean on.”

James nodded, his hand still resting on Harry’s knee. “We believe in you, Harry. And if you ever feel like it’s too much, we’ll figure it out together. You don’t have to have all the answers right now.”

Harry let out a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thanks,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” Regulus said firmly, pulling Harry into a gentle hug.

James joined the embrace, wrapping his arms around both of them. “We’re in this together, Harry,” he said. “Always.”

As the family sat together, the weight on Harry’s chest began to lift. The fears and doubts were still there, but they felt less suffocating in the warmth of his parents’ unwavering support.

For the first time in a long time, Harry felt like maybe—just maybe—he could handle this after all.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting warm, golden light across the Potter-Black estate. Inside the house, Regulus and James were keeping a close eye on Harry, who had grown increasingly restless as his due date approached. His body was heavy with exhaustion, his nerves frayed, and the anticipation of meeting his baby left him feeling both exhilarated and overwhelmed.

But despite their constant vigilance, Harry had managed to slip out of the house.

He moved slowly toward the barn, one hand supporting his lower back as he walked. The fresh air helped clear his mind, and the familiar scent of hay and horses offered a small sense of comfort. But no amount of peace could distract him from the tension building in his body.

As Harry stepped into the barn, a sudden, sharp pain rolled through him, stealing his breath. He gasped, his hand flying to his belly as the contraction gripped him, leaving him trembling.

“Ugh,” Harry whimpered, leaning against the stall door for support. “Not now. Not here.”

What Harry didn’t realize was that he wasn’t as stealthy as he thought. From the window, Regulus, James, Sirius, and Harrison had been watching his every move.

“He’s heading to the barn,” James said, his voice tinged with both amusement and concern.

“I told you he’d try to sneak out,” Sirius said with a grin.

Regulus, however, wasn’t smiling. His sharp gray eyes were fixed on his son, his gut twisting with worry. “Something’s off,” he said, his voice low. “He’s moving slower than usual.”

Harrison nodded, his healer instincts kicking in. “Let’s go check on him,” he said.

Before they could step outside, a loud commotion erupted from the barn. Rodeo’s frantic whinny pierced the air, followed by the sound of hooves pounding against the ground. The mare had broken her lead and bolted from the barn, her dark coat glistening with sweat as she charged toward the house.

“What the—” Sirius started, but Regulus was already moving.

“Come on,” Regulus barked, his tone urgent as he sprinted toward the barn. James and Harrison followed closely behind, their hearts pounding with worry.

Inside the barn, Harry was doubled over, his breathing ragged as another contraction hit him. He whimpered softly, his body trembling under the weight of the pain.

Rodeo, sensing her human’s distress, had reacted instinctively. She’d pulled against her lead with all her might until it snapped, her desperation to reach him overriding any training she’d ever received.

By the time Regulus and the others reached the barn, Rodeo was outside, pacing frantically and letting out sharp, high-pitched whinnies. Her ears were pinned back, and her large brown eyes were wild with panic.

“She’s scared,” James said, his voice tight.

“She knows Harry’s in pain,” Harrison added, watching the horse carefully.

Sirius stepped forward, a new halter in hand. “Easy, girl,” he murmured, his tone low and calming. “We’ll take care of him. You’re okay. Let’s get you back inside.”

It took a few moments, but Sirius’s calm demeanor eventually soothed Rodeo enough for him to slip the halter over her head. She snorted and tossed her head but allowed herself to be led back into the barn, where she immediately settled by Harry’s stall, her protective gaze never leaving him.

Regulus and James found Harry collapsed against the stall door, his face pale and his breathing uneven. Regulus was at his side in an instant, dropping to his knees and wrapping an arm around him.

“Harry,” Regulus said urgently, his voice trembling. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Harry looked up at his papa, tears streaming down his face. “I—it hurts,” he stammered. “The contractions… they’re getting worse.”

Regulus’s heart clenched, and he held Harry closer, his mind racing. “Alright,” he said, his voice steady despite the panic threatening to overtake him. “We’re getting you back to the house. James, help me.”

James knelt beside them, his hands gentle as he supported Harry’s other side. “It’s okay, love,” he said softly. “We’ve got you.”

Harry whimpered again, his body trembling as another contraction rolled through him. “Everything’s pushing down,” he gasped. “It’s like… I can feel the baby moving lower.”

“Shh,” Regulus murmured, stroking Harry’s hair. “You’re okay, Harry. We’re going to get you comfortable. Just breathe for me, alright?”

The walk back to the house felt endless, but with Regulus and James supporting him, Harry made it inside. Harrison immediately took charge, clearing the couch and gathering his medical supplies.

“Lay him down here,” Harrison instructed, his voice calm but firm.

Regulus and James carefully lowered Harry onto the couch, adjusting the pillows to keep him propped up. Harry clutched his belly, his breathing shallow as he tried to manage the pain.

“Harrison,” Regulus said, his voice tight. “What’s happening? Is this normal?”

“It sounds like he’s in early labor,” Harrison replied, his hands moving quickly as he performed a diagnostic spell. A soft golden light surrounded Harry’s abdomen, and Harrison studied it carefully.

“The baby’s positioning is good,” Harrison said after a moment. “But the contractions are coming faster than I expected. We need to keep him calm and monitor him closely.”

Harry whimpered, his green eyes wide with fear. “Is the baby okay?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“The baby is fine,” Harrison reassured him, placing a comforting hand on Harry’s arm. “But you need to relax, Harry. Stress will only make the contractions worse.”

Regulus knelt beside Harry, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. “You’re going to be alright,” he said softly. “We’re here, Harry. We’re not going anywhere.”

James sat on Harry’s other side, his hazel eyes filled with determination. “You’re stronger than you think, Harry. You’ve got this.”

Harry nodded weakly, tears slipping down his cheeks. “It just hurts so much,” he whispered.

“I know,” Regulus said, his voice breaking slightly. “But you’re not alone, Harry. We’ll get through this together.”

As the family rallied around him, Harry felt a surge of strength and comfort. The road ahead would be difficult, but he knew he could face it with his family by his side. The time had come, and he was ready to meet his baby.