Chapter 2

The Pregnancy

Orion seemed fine and nothing in his behavior had changed that neither Hessa could see or feel, she assumed that it was just a talk and knowing that Bellatrix was with them she doubted even the crazy dark haired woman would let anything happened to her son. Draco had waited for her to settle and put Orion to bed after he told his parents his story of what the Dark Lord had done to show off his powers.

She entered the bed chamber, Draco sitting with his back against the headboard with pillows behind, "I told you everything would be fine."

Hessa didn't really respond and went to the bathroom to wash. The soapy water ran down her back and the liquid warmth felt like a relief and her mind felt totally at rest. She knew Draco wouldn't let anything happen to Orion, because despite what people thought, her husband had also become extremely powerful and knew the Dark Lord regretted ever making him what he was. He regretted both of them but needed both of them, the Malfoys were a necessary evil to the dark wizard. Draco would become a formidable enemy should anything happen to her or their son.

"Are you coming out sometime tonight?" she heard her husband's deep voice by the shower curtain and hadn't heard him come in, but why would she.

"I haven't been in here that long, Draco," there was a smile in her voice.

"Fifteen minutes."

"I usually take twenty," Hessa was so glad that her husband still treated her as he did when he was a boy. Always following her around like a love-sick puppy who constantly wanted to hump her leg. It was better than the alternative - no attention at all and needs unfulfilled. The curtain moved and Draco stepped right in. "Draco, I told you I'll be out…"

He shrugged, "wash me." She giggled as she looked up, his head always went past the shower rod. "What?"

"Nothing," she took the soap and lathered his chest and other areas because that was as far as she could reach, he kneeled down and let her wash his long hair, caressing his soft scales along the rim of his scalp. She had found out that these had become erogenous zones, his eyes smoldered as she finished and slightly ignoring the soft growling sounds he was making as he kissed and nipped her stomach - okay, the nipping was harder to ignore but she was used to it.

"You didn't take your contraceptive potion today?"

"No."

"Good," Draco kissed the soft part between her hip and thigh. "You're extremely fertile, I could smell it on you all day."

"Bet that was hard to ignore," she giggled as she looked down at his indignant face. Hessa squeaked a bit as he manhandled her getting up and dragged her out of the shower. She winced as his claws dug in her side slightly, they were both still wet and the cold air smacked her skin until finally she was on the bed. At first she was afraid but then he approached her gently and touched her face. The idea of foreplay was not an option tonight - Hessa let him take complete control.

Hours passed and Hessa was exhausted by the time it was all finished. Her hair was matted to her face with sweat until Draco smoothed it away, "how are you feeling?"

"Sore…," she said helplessly.

He got up from the bed, she sounded hoarse and got her water to drink. Hessa sat up and drank it…his seed was already taking. He had gotten her pregnant right away with Orion within hours of love making. Draco put her between his legs and petted her as she fell asleep…they slept that way until morning.

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The gentle knock came around 7:30, "mommy…?" The door opened with a small creek and little Orion saw his father petting his mother. "Daddy, is mommy sick?"

"No, my son. Mommy is going to have a baby. You're going to have a little brother or sister, how do you feel about that?"

Orion made a face, "okay…I mean, all right."

Draco smiled, "good…because you'll be their big brothers and big brothers help take care of them and keep them out of trouble."

"But mommy's more tired," Orion said observantly.

"She is, because mommy isn't like other mommies, mommy is a very special mommy and she gets more tired and weak and we have to protect her."

Orion seemed to puff up his chest and get a determined look, "we'll protect mommy!"

"Yes, we will," Draco had to stifle a chuckle. They both looked at each other and Draco knew that when he son became a young man, he would have to leave the house. Two half-dragons could not co-exist peacefully in the same household, though they would remain close, a male dragon was protective over his domain. "Why don't you go and tell the house elves to make mommy and I some breakfast."

"Yes!" Orion scampered off like he was on a mission.

Hessa stirred and looked up, "what time is it?"

"It's only around 7:30...you can sleep longer."

"I thought you had to work."

"I took a little time off."

She tried to pull herself up a little and take a deep breath as if to wake herself up more, "you shouldn't miss work for me."

"I'm due a vacation. The Dark Lord already knows that I have no intention of going on away missions until after our child is born," Draco knew that leaving Hessa helpless was not an option. "You should go back to sleep, I'll let you know when breakfast is here."

She ate her breakfast and Draco watched her to make sure she finished it all, hardly eating the last time when she was pregnant with Orion. The food made her nauseated, even the smell but apparently this time she ate fine but was tired. A Conk woman would be severely weak for a good 4 to 5 months of their 10 month pregnancy. It was another reason why he had to stay home - to watch Orion. He would not trust his son's care to Bellatrix, Orion was temperamental and sometimes Draco would be the only one he would listen to.

Finally Hessa got up and looked out the window, she was radiant and had her hand on her still flat stomach. "What is your feeling on the sex?" Draco cocked his head. She was right with Orion and knew before the Healers.

"A girl," she said softly and turned to Draco who seemed to look neutral. "Are you disappointed?"

Draco smiled, "no, I'm not. I always wanted a little sister when I was growing up. I don't know why…I guess I just wanted to be a big brother in general."

"How come your family never had more than one?"

"I think partly it was because they felt they had to have children. I honestly want them with you, so I don't mind if we have two…or even ten," he stifled a laugh when he saw her face.

"You're not the one who has to have them," she cocked an eyebrow, a habit she picked up from him.

"That is very true. I was a little worried when you were so weak the last time, I don't care to keep going through that. At least you're eating this time."

"All pregnancies are different," she said softly.

Draco stood up and hugged her and then put his hand on her stomach, "still, I can't wait for you to grow bigger, it's very cute how you hobble about." Hessa blushed as he held her protectively and nuzzled his nose against her temple.

There was a small -pop-, a house elf came up, "'scuse me sir, there is a Death Eater downstairs that wishes to speak to you."

Draco eyed the small creature, "I'll be down in a moment."

"Yes, sir," the house elf was gone.

He looked down at Hessa, "stay here."

"I can greet our guest, I am the lady of the house," Hessa said softly.

"I know you can, but…you know how I get when you are like this. The man looks at you wrong and I'll most likely kill him."

She stiffened, almost forgetting an incident at a dinner party where a man wanted to touch her belly because he found a Conk birth fascinating…Draco threw him several feet, "yes…I forgot."

Draco got dressed, kissed her and went downstairs. He addressed the Death Eater, "yes, why is it you come in the morning?"

"The Dark Lord wishes to see you this afternoon, concerning your current decision."

"I will be there at 11:30."

The Death Eater bowed and dismissed himself quickly. Draco went back upstairs to get dressed in his full uniform with his wife looking at him with curiosity. "You've done this before when Orion was conceived, why the alarm now?"

"I don't know. But don't worry, it will be taken care of," Draco petted her face, his assurance was more than enough. "I will be back in a few hours and no more." Hessa nodded and smiled and then he was gone. She worried despite her appearance, the Dark Lord did not want her to have any more children…she knew he feared something about their family. They had grown powerful and Draco held much sway in the wizarding world - even by fear alone.

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Draco bowed to his master, "you called for my Lord."

Voldemort sat in his chair and gazed at Draco, "so, Hessa is with child again?"

"Yes."

"Is it truly necessary to have the child?"

"Yes, I wished for it…in case something happened to Orion."

"I see, does she know the sex?"

"A female."

Voldemort nodded his head, "the female child will most likely become a Conk herself."

"I believe so."

"Good, she will make an excellent wife to one of the Death Eaters if she chooses them." Draco nodded curtly. "Do you find it necessary to stay here, my men need their Commander?"

"Hessa is very weak now. If I leave, she can easily become upset and worry, possibly making her even more fragile…I will not have it."

"I see. I've forgotten the bond you share with her can be very strong. Are you sure you can manage to monitor here?"

"I can."

"All right. But if any of the regions start wavering, I will have no choice but to send you out, do you understand?" he hissed.

"I do," Draco bowed again. Voldemort never talked to him the way he talked to the rest of his Death Eaters. They respected each other's power and that's the way it stood. There were other reasons why Draco did not leave his wife…he did not trust Voldemort. Like this, she was extremely vulnerable and he would love nothing more than to take the one thing that made Draco love and kill it and he would not care whether or not she was with child. Draco would go mad without Hessa and Voldemort knew it, get rid of her and he would have complete control, breaking him in half.

He walked through the bedroom door to find Orion and Hessa sleeping soundly together. The boy woke up and looked at his father, "mommy is sleeping." Orion seemed to take a warning tone and Draco smiled, putting his finger to his mouth as if to promise to keep quiet. Orion crawled off the bed, hugged his father's leg to which he felt his father's hand pat him on his head and he left to play. Draco crawled into bed and Hessa seemed to know it was him because she turned and curled into his arms without waking up.. He curled around her and took a nap with her, looking forward to the days she would be stronger so he would not worry so much.