The Baby Shower

Chapter Eight


Pansy carefully watched as her pregnant friend grew more and more agitated. She cast spell after spell after spell, rapidly changing the nursery walls, unsatisfied with each new shade that spilled from her wand.

"Ugh! This is so stupid. None of these colours look right! This whole plan is rubbish!" Hermione yelled, her magic sparking in frustration. Pansy could literally see it filtering lightly over her skin.

"Mi, I liked the yellow. It's a neutral colour." Pansy tried to reassure her friend.

"No! The yellow looked ridiculous. Like a rubber duck exploded onto the wall!"

"A what?" Pansy asked, utterly confused.

"It's a muggle toy. Just... don't worry about it." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "This whole idea is dumb. I can't even think straight anymore."

"Mi, let's just take a break."

"This stupid room!"

"Mi..."

"Stupid Malfoy traditions. I just wanted control over one thing! ONE bloody thing! That's all!"

"Hermione."

"This is all Draco's fault. He had to make the damn comment about the pastel green." She held her arm out in front of her, gesturing at the wall with feigned disgust dripping from her features.

"Love, it looks like the baby pooped on the walls." Hermione imitated Draco's voice. "No, it didn't. Maybe the baby will poop on him! He'll see. That green was perfect."

"Hermione!" Pansy yelled, pulling Hermione out of her angry rant.

"Oh, Pans! I'm sorry. I hate this, and I'm so frustrated."

"Let's just relax and get some tea, then try again. Gilly!"

The little elf popped into the room and Pansy asked her to set up some tea outside. She led Hermione out of the door and through the house, hoping some fresh air would calm her frazzled nerves.

"I just wanted one thing that I had a say in, you know?" Hermione sighed.

"Mi, you have plenty of control in this. It's just a room. We'll drink some tea, eat some biscuits and then get it perfect. Just you watch!"

Pansy pushed the patio door open and helped Hermione towards the table. She pulled out a chair, and Hermione sank down onto the soft cushion gratefully, a contented sigh falling from her lips.

"I thought when we made the decision to keep the baby's gender a secret until the birth, I'd have some kind of decision in the little things. It's Malfoy tradition for a star name, Malfoy tradition for a nursery, and it's Malfoy tradition for the first born to be a boy. Pans, it may not even be a boy!" Hermione rubbed her stomach, concern twisting her features. "It's Malfoy tradition all over the place, and I wanted one thing. That's it! But now, now I'm regretting it. I can't even pick an appropriate colour for the nursery. It's all rubbish and i've made a right mess."

"Oh, Mi. It's not rubbish! I understand that you wanted some say in it..." She held out a mug to her friend, smiling in reassurance. "Drink. We'll brainstorm. I'm sure that together we can think of the perfect colour."

"Thank you. You know I really appreciate your help." Hermione reached over and squeezed her hand.

Pansy's smile was genuine, but she was struggling. The nursery brought up a lot of mixed emotions. She really wanted to be there to help Hermione, but at the same time, it was a stark reminder that she may never get the opportunity to do the same for herself.

She watched Hermione as she sipped her tea, her magic finally settled. She loved the silly brunette, so she would go back into the manor and help her figure out a colour scheme. The pain would subside... eventually.

After several biscuits and a cuppa, they were both recharged and ready to get things finished. They stood in the nursery once more, staring at the now tie dyed walls from another of Hermione's magical outburst. Pansy, despite her friend's pointed glare, burst out with laughter, quite pleased with the room's current look.

"It looks like a rainbow threw up on the walls!" Pansy snorted.

"Oh, Godric. It does! I don't know what else to do…" She let her wand fall to her side, momentarily defeated. "Draco had mentioned a quidditch theme... I'm not sure I like that idea though."

"How about you put that pastel green back up and have that be the grassy colour. Then we can paint goal post on one wall, and the sky on the ceiling." She studied the walls, envisioning the way it would all come together. "You'd both get a bit of what you want. Life's all about compromise, right?"

"Pansy, that's brilliant! You're really good at this, you know." Hermione engulfed Pansy in a hug.

She buried her face into her best friend's mass of hair, trying to ground herself. She'd always dreamed about making up a nursery - a nursery filled with bright colours and fun toys. She sucked back the tears and held her friend just a bit tighter.

She was going to put all that she could into helping Hermione and Draco. This baby would have all her love.