Author's Note: Hello again, and welcome to the sequel to my first story ever, Amortentia and the Imperius Curse. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest that you do so before reading this, so that you're able to understand everything that's going on. I hope you enjoy it, and please review!
"Jayde."
I hear my name being called quietly in my right ear, and though in my sleepiness I'm unsure of whose voice is speaking, I'm positive that this voice must be what angels sound like when they speak. The voice is deep and very masculine, with a heavy British accent, and each syllable seems to flow from the angel's lips like honey pouring from a jar; soft, steady, and sweet. Caught in that trance-like state between asleep and awake, I'm unsure of where I am, what's going on, or if I'm even awake. I don't answer the angel's deep voice and keep my eyes closed, trying to go back to sleep.
"Jayde, darling", the voice says, a little louder this time.
Instead of completely ignoring the voice, this time I mumble a quiet "Hmm?".
"You've got to wake up, dear, or we'll miss our appointment at St. Mungo's", the voice replies.
"Mmmkay", I mumble in response, still keeping my eyes closed tight.
The angel chuckles in my right ear, his laugh making my heart skip a beat, and he says, "You're so cute when you're sleepy". He gives me a gentle kiss on my cheek and then continues. "Darling, I'm sorry, but you've got to get up now", he says.
"Five more minutes", I reply in my heavy Irish accent, making the angel chuckle again. I feel my mouth curl upwards into a smile at hearing the angel laugh again, and he once again leans down and presses his lips against my cheek.
"Alright, no more playing around", he says seriously, "If you don't get up I'm going to tickle you".
"No" is my only response, but I still make no effort to get out of bed; I'm very tired and extremely comfortable.
As if he's read my thoughts, the angel sympathetically says, "Darling, I know you're tired; you can come home and go straight back to bed after the appointment, but for now you've got to get up".
"But I want to sleep now", I whisper in response.
"Alright, that's it", the angel says playfully, and the next thing I feel is two sets of fingers poking at my hips and the sides of my stomach.
I squeal and giggle, playfully shouting "No!" as I squirm and writhe, trying to escape being tickled. The angel rolls on top of me, taking care not to lie on my stomach, and pins me in place, allowing himself to continue tickling me. Realizing that the angel isn't going to give in and let me sleep, I open my eyes and, still laughing; turn my head towards the sound of his laughter, seeking out his face.
For some reason I no longer notice the tickling and I'm immediately wide awake as I stare up at the angel's familiar face, whitish-blond hair and piercing grey eyes. Coming to consciousness, I suddenly remember everything. My name is Jayde Alyssa Newsome, I'm 17 years old, and I'm a very special kind of Irish witch. I'm a Nimbimagus, which means I can control the weather depending upon my mood. My mother and father are dead, and I was raised in an orphanage. I attended Dunamase Institute of Magical Learning for 6 years before transferring to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in my seventh year. During my last year of school, the Matron of the orphanage I grew up in, who was also like a mother to me, was murdered, so I now live with my fiancé and his parents.
I realize that I'm at home in Wiltshire, England, in bed, with the green silk sheets pulled up closely around me. I also now remember that I'm 23 1/2 weeks pregnant and that the appointment the angel was talking about is my maternity checkup. It takes a moment, however, for my eyes and brain to register that the angel I'd been dreaming of is actually my fiancé; my eyes widen as tears well up in them and my mouth drops open slightly in surprise.
Not missing a beat, my gorgeous fiancé asks me, "What's wrong, love?", with a look of concern on his face. Silent tears start streaming from my eyes and I continue to stare up into his face without answering him. I don't have to answer him though, because he's somehow always been able to read my thoughts, and now is no different. "You'd forgotten you were here, hadn't you?", he asks, "You'd forgotten you'd come home".
I nod my head silently and lean up, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into the tightest of hugs. He pulls me close against him, placing one arm around my waist and the other on the back of my head in response. I sob against the pale skin on his neck; "Shhh, it's okay", he says in my ear in an effort to calm me. My mind races back through all the events of the past week as I sit there sobbing in his embrace.
Last week I went downstairs and overheard my fiancé's Mother telling some of her friends that she and her husband had someone cast a curse on my fiancé and I to make us sleep together and get pregnant. She said they'd done this to ensure that he and I were together, permanently. I'd immediately suspected that my fiancé had something to do with his parents' plan, so I ran away. I spent an entire week at my friend Ginny's house, depressed and confused. Towards the end of the week, someone who knew about the plan that my fiancé's parents had developed came to visit me at my friend's house and ensured me that my fiancé didn't know about the plan all along, and that his parents were forced into it themselves. After finding this out, I returned home yesterday and had a very emotional reunion with my fiancé and his parents.
I'd come home to find that my fiancé was very ill, me leaving had taken its toll on him, but he'd immediately forgiven me, and over the past twenty-four hours our relationship has continued as if I'd never left. And though he's still a little weak and sickly, his demeanor and health have improved greatly since I returned. Finally bringing my mind back to the present and realizing I'm still in my love's arms, I pull myself even closer towards him.
"It's alright, love, I'm here", he continues.
"I'm so sorry!", I sob. He gently pulls away from me and eases me onto my back before taking my face in both of his gentle hands. He stares directly into my eyes, our noses touching, with a very serious expression as he speaks.
"Jayde, darling", he says, "You have NOTHING to be sorry for and I don't want to hear you say it again, do you understand me?". I make to object, but he quickly silences me with a tender kiss on the lips. He whispers against my lips, "You were confused and scared and it wasn't your fault. I can't imagine the hell you went through while you were away, and I don't want you apologizing for something that you didn't do".
"But I caused you so much pain! How can you forgive me so easily?", I ask.
"You didn't cause me pain, my parents did", he replies. Then he wipes the tears from both sides of my face and continues, "Now dry those beautiful eyes that I love so much…or you'll break my heart". I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close to me again, savoring the feel of his skin against mine, savoring each time his warm breath hits my neck.
"I love you, Draco", I whisper against his neck.
"I love you too, my angel", he responds.
After a moment of silence Draco pulls away from me and stares down into my eyes with confusion and concern clearly written all over his handsome face. "What's on your mind, love?", he asks.
"Nothing", I reply, "I'm just glad to be home". I flash him a smile in the hopes of reassuring him and it works; the confusion on his face quickly turns to happiness.
"I'm glad you're home, too", he says, "But now you've got to get out of bed so we're not late for your appointment!".
"Um…no", I say playfully before bursting out laughing at the mock look of shock that's just spread across his face.
"Well, I didn't want to have to do this", he begins, "But you've left me no choice. If you don't get up now I'll have to torture you into submission".
"Nice try, Draco Malfoy", I say playfully, "But I know you too well…you'd never use the Cruciatus Curse on me".
"Well, you're right about that", he replies, "But I never said anything about using the Cruciatus Curse".
My curiosity peaked, I quickly ask, "So then how are you planning on torturing me?".
As soon as the last word of that question leaves my mouth, Draco provides me with the answer. He leans down from his position atop me and gently presses both my arms further down onto the mattress, pinning me in place. Then he firmly but gently lowers his head towards mine and presses his lips to mine tenderly, taking me by complete surprise; I close my eyes and begin to participate in the kiss immediately. When his tongue lightly brushes my bottom lip a few moments later, I instantly open my mouth to allow him entrance before sliding my own tongue into his mouth and exploring every inch of it. A moment later, however, three sharp raps on our bedroom door interrupt our short-lived make-out session.
"Draco!", I hear his mother call from outside the bedroom door, "Is Jayde awake yet?".
"Yes, Mum", Draco calls back in response.
"Well the two of you need to get downstairs. You both need to eat your breakfast before it gets cold, and do it quickly so you're not late for your appointment".
"Ok!", Draco replies, rolling his eyes.
"Ugghh…do I have to get up?", I ask him quietly.
"Yes, I'm afraid so, love", he replies while looking down into my eyes longingly. And then, without another word he quickly gets to his feet before pulling the blankets off me and scooping me up into his arms. Both of us laughing, he carries me to across the white-carpeted bedroom floor to the door and he rests half of my weight against his hips as he frees one hand, which he uses to open the door. His mother is still standing there when the door opens, and she smiles from ear to ear when she sees us before turning and walking down the hallway. Placing his other hand back underneath me for support, Draco carries me down the hall and down the two flights of stairs to the dining room, where breakfast is already waiting for us.
He sits me in my usual chair beside his at the massive oak table and gives me a light kiss on the cheek before sitting down himself, and as I turn to face my plate I gasp as my feet touch the cold, white marble floor for the first time. Draco and I immediately begin devouring our eggs, bacon and toast while Narcissa sits across the table as a silent reminder that we've got to hurry up. Draco and I eat as quickly as possible, and after breakfast Draco actually allows me to walk up to our bedroom and I quickly grab an outfit and my toiletries before hurrying into the bathroom for a shower. I breathe a sigh of relief as I bathe, a last final celebration of being home; in my room, in my enormous shower, and with my love. I get out of the shower, dress, and use my wand to quickly dry my hair, and then I throw my towel and dirty pajamas in the hamper for the maids to wash later.
I rush out of the bathroom and quickly sit at the vanity, where I busy myself with donning my makeup and jewelry. Draco quickly has a shower while I finish getting ready, and I hear the water turn off just as I stand up to admire myself in the vanity mirror. I start at my head, admiring my straight, shoulder-length ebony hair, before glancing down across my pale, bare neck. Next my gaze shifts to my torso, covered by a black shirt with quarter-length sleeves that rises with the swell of my now-growing breasts and the size of my growing baby bump. I turn to my right and admire myself from the side, glancing down at my jean-covered legs before looking back up and resting my eyes and hands on my belly. I stand there staring down at my belly for a moment before hearing the bathroom door open.
When I turn to look at Draco, however, my heart starts beating rapidly as his muscular, shirtless form makes its way across the bedroom and over to the closet. He grabs a white button-up shirt from the rack and I watch as he turns around and slips his arms into it. Just as he makes to fasten the first button he glances up at me and catches me staring. He blushes slightly, saying, "I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to startle you; I just forgot to grab a shirt before I went in there". When I don't answer him but continue to stare dumbly he smiles before looking down slightly and laughing. Amazed by the sexy sight of his chest that I haven't seen very often or recently, I continue to stare as though in some sort of trance until he looks back up at me, deliberately smoldering at me through those beautiful grey eyes. "Do you see something you like, Mrs. Malfoy?", he asks.
I'm shocked but pleased by his first reference to me as "Mrs. Malfoy", even though that's not officially my name yet, but more so I'm embarrassed by his question. I blush and look away from him, but before I know it Draco's crossed the room, with his shirt still unbuttoned, I might add, and come to stand behind me. He places his hands on my shoulder gently and turns me around to face him. "Don't be embarrassed", he says, "And don't look away". He reaches down and takes both of my hands in his own, pressing my right hand against his rock-hard, godlike abdomen and kissing my open left palm tenderly before placing my left hand on his right cheek. "You don't have to look away", he repeats, "And you don't have to be embarrassed; all of this is yours, Mrs. Malfoy. That's going to be your name soon, you know. Do you like it?".
"Of course I do", I say quietly while smiling up at him. He leans down and wraps his arms around me, and I fling my arms around his neck as he inches his face closer to mine and presses his lips against mine tenderly.
Not even two seconds later, however, Narcissa interrupts again; "Draco, Jayde!", she calls, "You've got to hurry up! We should've been there by now!".
Annoyed, Draco pulls away from me and rolls his eyes before calling back to his mother, "We're coming! We'll use the Floo network; it'll only take a second!".
"Well come on then!", she replies frantically from behind the closed door.
Draco lets out a loud huff as he begins fastening the buttons on his shirt and I rush to the closet to get his shoes. Once he's donned his black dress shoes and socks he places his hand on my back, gives me a quick peck on the cheek, and then guides me from our room and down to the first floor, to the large marble fireplace in the entrance hall. When she sees us coming, Narcissa says "Peacocks", which I assume is the password to access the Floo Network from inside Malfoy Manor, and she throws a silvery powder into the fireplace which causes the fire inside it to turn green. Then Narcissa steps into the fire and says, "St. Mungo's Maternity Ward" before disappearing in an eruption of green flames.
Amazed by this first time I've seen the Floo Network used, I stare at the now empty fireplace with widened eyes. As we near the fireplace, Draco removes his hand from my back and walks over to a large pot near the fireplace, filled with the same silvery powder I just saw Narcissa use. Draco tells me to extend my hand and I immediately obey, and he fills my palm with the mysterious powder. "Go ahead, darling", he says, "I'll follow you and make sure nobody can Floo to the house while we're gone". Draco tries to usher me closer to the fireplace as he says this, but I stop dead in my tracks instead of even attempting to mimic Narcissa's actions.
I simply stand there staring at the fire teary-eyed and terrified; I don't want to admit that I've never used the Floo Network before because I think I'll look like a complete idiot, but I don't want to step into the flames and be burned alive either. Draco immediately turns to face me and places his hands on my face; "What's wrong, love?", he asks with his pale blonde eyebrows furrowed. I don't answer him and can't even look into his eyes out of sheer embarrassment; I stare at a spot on the floor to my left. Draco places a gentle finger underneath my chin and turns my face upwards towards him, and he stares down into my eyes worriedly. "You've never used the Floo Network, have you?", he asks a moment later.
I shake my head in response, glad to have that off my chest but still a little unsure of how Draco always seems to read my thoughts. Draco smiles down at me and pulls me close; "It's alright, love", he says quietly, "I'll show you how". So Draco proceeds to teach me how to use the Floo Network. He says that I'll have to throw the silvery powder he gave me into the flame, step into the fire and say, "St. Mungo's Maternity Ward" very clearly. He asks if I'd rather just apparate, but I know that would take longer and I don't want to seem like a coward, so I quickly tell him I'll be fine and throw my powder into the flaming fireplace. I step into the now-emerald green flames and am surprised to find that instead of burning me, they tickle.
Very loudly and clearly I say, "St. Mungo's Maternity Ward", and I immediately begin to feel like a top being spun out of control. The lights from several rooms flash before my eyes through their fireplaces, and I start to feel very dizzy and sick to my stomach. When the spinning finally stops I find myself inside another large marble fireplace and immediately recognize the room before me as the reception area of the maternity ward at the wizards' hospital; I've done it! So why do I feel so horrible?
Narcissa, who is standing directly in front of me, extends a hand and helps me out of the fireplace, and she doesn't realize something's wrong until I nearly fall when she releases my hand. "Oh my goodness, Jayde, are you alright?", she asks. She places an arm around my waist and supports me, keeping me from falling face-flat onto the floor. She frantically calls for a Healer but none answer, and moments later I hear Draco arrive in the fireplace.
I hear his frantic voice call my name and I hear the sound of his shoes beating on the marble floor as he rushes to my side, placing my arm around his shoulder and grabbing my legs, sweeping me up into his arms. He carries me over to the nearest waiting bench and sits me down, coming to rest on his knees directly in front of me. Narcissa comes to sit beside me on the bench and Draco places his hands on my face; "What's wrong? Baby, what's wrong?", he asks frantically. Though I want to answer him I can barely even see him with all the swimming that's going on in my head; I imagine I probably look like someone who's had a bit too much firewhiskey right now, swaying back and forth with a distant look in my eyes, looking at everything but seeing nothing.
And then I feel disgusting bile making its way up from my stomach to my throat, and I just manage to say, "Gonna throw up!", before the bile makes its way from my mouth. Draco saw it coming, however, and has a bucket directly in front of me, which I quickly expel my breakfast into. He and Narcissa both rub my back and try to soothe me as I vomit, and the healers, who apparently didn't take Narcissa's call for help very seriously at first, now come rushing to my side at the sound of my hurling in the reception area.
When I finish vomiting several of the Medi-witches offer me tissue to wipe my mouth with, and Draco thanks them all before taking one of the tissues and wiping my mouth for me. When he's finished he throws the tissue into the bucket he's just conjured and then banishes all the items with his wand. As he does so, I realize that the Medi-witch standing closest to me is in fact my Medi-witch, the one who I'm scheduled to see today, Mrs. Taylor. She quickly kneels down beside Draco and asks how I'm feeling.
"Ok", I reply with my hands resting on my stomach.
"And what happened?", she asks, but I don't get a chance to answer because Draco does it for me.
"That was her first time using the Floo Network", he says before pulling me into a hug. "I'm sorry, dear", he says to me, "I didn't know it would make you sick…we should've just apparated".
"Oh, I'm sure it's alright", Mrs. Taylor says, "It just sounds like a case of pregnancy motion sickness to me, but I'll check once we get into the examination room". Then she gets back to her feet and says, "Now come along, you three, it's time for your appointment" to Draco, Narcissa, and I.
So Narcissa slowly rises from her seat on the bench beside me and begins making her way over to where Mrs. Taylor is now standing beside one of the examination room doors. As she does so, Draco gets to his feet and then extends his arm, carefully helping me to my feet. My stomach still churning from my recent vomiting session, Draco slowly guides me through all the Medi-witches who are still watching curiously over to where the two women stand waiting for us, and then Mrs. Taylor opens the door, allowing Draco and I to pass through first. Draco walks me over to the examination table and helps me up onto it before taking a seat in the small wooden chair to my immediate right. "Very well", Mrs. Taylor says as she walks into the room behind Narcissa, "Let's get started".