Authors note: Sadly I own nothing of the Harry Potter realm...*Sigh* All contents, save the plot, belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling. Some parts in this story are from the 6th book only from Draco's POV and the ending of the 6th book is completely different as is the 7th book.
I apologize for this being so late. I have 3 other stories floating around in my head and I can't seem to concentrate on just one… Here it is, late is better than never as they say.
This is now the third version of this chapter. A nice reviewer notified me that, once again, I drifted from the story line and added Ron into this chapter… It has been fixed and I apologize for any confusion. I'm working on 2 other stories at the moment and I tend to lose track of which I'm working on…
Chapter 10 – Valentine's Day Suprise
Mum met us in front of the house and I gave her the plans for the new house. She immediately took Alex and went into the sitting room to watch him.
"Come on," I told Hermione. She followed me into the kitchen. The table had been cleared off to the side of the room and hundreds of candles floated along the walls. I flicked my wand and soft music floated around the room.
"What are we doing?" She asked as I took her hand.
"I'm teaching you to dance." I said quickly.
"Why?"
"Because there is something planned for tonight that requires dancing."
"What is it?"
"You'll see." She didn't say anymore as I taught her to waltz. I felt her rounded stomach against my flat one as we danced to the music. Every so often, I felt a twin kick and smiled. When she had it down well enough, I made lunch and packed it into a basket. Shadowfax and Snowflake were already saddled and ready to go. I helped her up onto Snowflake before securing the basket on Shadowfax and leading Hermione out.
I led her off of the property and into the woods on the western side of the house. I came here a lot when I was younger. Towards the middle of the forest was a small clearing that I had sort of furnished a few years ago. In the center of the clearing was a fire pit surrounded in large rocks and one of our old couches was off to the side along with a picnic table. A small river ran along another side of the clearing and down across out property.
"Wow," Hermione said when we finally reached the clearing. "This is neat, Draco."
"Thank you." I climbed off of Shadowfax and then helped her down. "Go sit at the table." I told her. I untied the basket from Shadow's saddle and laid everything out on the table. "Grilled cheese, tomato soup, and apple cider. All the things I know you've been craving lately." She smiled.
"Thank you, Draco." She picked up a sandwich and took a bite. "Mmmm, this is amazing!"
"I've always been good at grilled cheese." I agreed. "So what do you want to do after graduation?"
"Well the twins are due in May. I've actually been meaning to talk to Dumbledore about maybe graduating early. When Alex and the twins are old enough I'm thinking about going through Healer school." She said.
"I'm sure he'd let you. You're defiantly smart enough to graduate now. But you don't want to be a stay at home mother?"
"Not really." She took another bite. "Not that there's anything wrong with stay at home mum's but I just can't see myself doing it. I'd be bored."
"With 3 children? I doubt it." I laughed. When we finished lunch, we headed back to the house and into the sitting room. "Mum, where's that book?" I asked when we entered the sitting room.
"On the table behind you." I turned around and sure enough there was a thick black book sitting on the end table. I picked it up and handed it to Hermione.
"Pick one." She sat down on the couch and opened it up.
"Dresses?" She looked up at me, confused. I nodded. "Does this have to do with the dancing?"
"Yes. Pick whichever one you'd like." She started looking through it.
"Dada!" Hermione and I looked up to see Alex sitting on the floor grinning. "Dada!" He said again.
"Alex, good job!" Hermione set the book aside and sat on the floor. "Come here." Alex crawled over to her and climbed into her lap. I slide off the couch and sat next to her.
"Dada!" Alex squealed. He pointed to Hermione and looked at mother.
"No Alex." Hermione said. She pointed to me and said, "Daddy." Alex looked at her in awe and then at me. "Daddy." Hermione repeated. Alex crawled over into my lap and patted my cheek.
"Dada," he repeated. I grinned and swelled with pride. I lifted him up over my head and tossed him in the air.
"That's my boy!" I said. He squealed in excitement. I set him back down in my lap. He pointed at Hermione and looked at me questioningly. "Mommy." I told him. "Mama."
"Dada." Alex said.
"Mama." I corrected him. He looked over at Mother.
"Dada?"
"That's mama, Alex. Mama." Said mother.
"Don't push it." Hermione told us. "He'll get it eventually." She reached over and tickled Alex and he laughed. She pushed herself back up on the couch and continued to look through the book. I played with Alex while she looked through the book. Alex crawled away from me a few moments later and over to Mum. Hermione placed the book in my lap and pointed to a dress.
"I want that one." She said firmly. I studied the dress and decided that I defiantly approved. It was a strapless, chiffon and silk dress with a ribbon tied above the stomach. It was fitted above the ribbon and loose and flowing from the ribbon down to just below the knees. The dress came in black, emerald green, blue, purple, or pink and the ribbon choices were the same.
"What color?"I asked.
"Black with a green ribbon." I handed the book back to her and turned to the back.
"Pick out shoes." She sighed and started flipping through it again. She set it in my lap a few moments later and pointed to a pair of flats that came in black, white, green or blue.
"Green." She said before I could ask.
"Size?" She sighed.
"8."
"Ok. I'll go order them." I told her. I stood up and left the room, headed to my study. I pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote down the order.
Item #33568
Color: Black with Emerald Green ribbon
Alterations: Resizing charm for Maternity
Item#SF21
Color: Emerald Green
Size: 8
Time: 2 hours
Price: 79 Galleons, 11Sickles, 25 Knuts
Ordered by: Malfoy
I counted out the correct amount of money, placed the order and money in an envelope, gave it to the family owl, Peps, and went back downstairs.
"MAMA!" I heard Alex scream. I ran down the rest of the steps and into the sitting room. The sight in front of me made my heart stop. Hermione was sitting on the couch, hunched over and clutching her stomach. My mother sat next to her, rubbing her back and talking softly to her, telling her to breath, while Alex wailed in front of her sitting on the floor. I hastily crossed the room and picked Alex up. He quieted immediately but was still whimpering, staring at Hermione. I kneeled down in front of her.
"Are you okay, Love?" I asked anxiously.
"Does it look like I'm ok?" She said, her teeth clenched.
"Draco, go to St. Mungo's and get a healer." Said mother. "NOW!" I jumped up and stepped into the fireplace, Alex still in my arms.
"ST. MUNGO'S!" I yelled, tossing down a handful of grey powder. I swirled away and slid into the waiting room at St. Mungo's. I sprinted to the reception desk. "I need a Healer. Now." I told the receptionist firmly. She looked to be a little older than me with curly red hair and green eyes.
"You don't look sick or injured." She said in a bored voice.
"It's my girlfriend. She's 7 months pregnant and is having contractions. I need a Healer at my house NOW!" I shouted the last word. She glanced up at me, startled.
"I'm sorry sir. We don't do house calls." She said, sounding a bit scared.
'She should be scared.' I thought.
"My family," I began, growling. "has donated a hundred Galleons a year to this fucking place for over 50 years. If you don't get a Healer to Malfoy Manor now I will sue St. Mungo's for twice that amount and you will no longer have a job." My voice raised with every word and by the time I was done, I was yelling.
"Is there a problem here?" A voice said behind me. I turned around to see a man around my mothers age. He was as tall as me with blonde hair and brown eyes, laugh and worry lines were scattered around his face. Next to him was a woman a little older than me with curly black hair and blue eyes.
"My name is Draco Malfoy." I stressed my last name. "My girlfriend needs a Healer. 20 MINUTES AGO! She's 7 months pregnant with twins and having contractions. And this bimbo refuses to send a Healer to my house!"
"Calm down, Mr. Malfoy." The man said. "My name is Justin Dean. I'm the head Healer. This is my assistant Healer, Margret Miller. Jessica," he turned to the receptionist. "If anyone calls for me tell them I had an emergency and to leave a message. Lead the way Mr. Malfoy." I sprinted back to the fire place.
"Malfoy Manor." I told Healer Dean, handing him the box of Floo Powder that was on the shelf. He quickly stepped into the fireplace.
"Malfoy Manor!" He tossed the powder down and disappeared into the green flames, followed by Healer Miller. I followed seconds later and slid into the sitting room just in time to hear Hermione scream. Healer Dean looked over at me.
"Give the boy to your mother and help me get her to a bed." He said quickly. Mother took Alex from my arms and I hastily went over and picker Hermione up bridal style.
"Follow me." I walked out of the room quickly, Healers Dean and Miller right behind me. I went up the stairs to the second floor and down the hall to an empty room. He went over to the bed and pulled the top blankets off, leaving it with just a sheet and the pillows.
"Sit her on the bed." He told me. "Lay her back against the pillows." I did as he said and then looked at him.
"I need 2 big bowls of water, one chamred to keep cold and the other to keep warm, a bunch of towels and washcloths, some type of clip, a knife, and 2 baby blankets." I nodded and sprinted out the room again.
"TIBSY!" I shouted. A house elf appeared in front of me with a crack.
"Yes Mister Draco?"
"Get me 2 big bowls of water, a clip and a knife." I told her. "Bring it to that room." I pointed to the room that Hermione was in. "And hurry!" The elf nodded and disappeared again. I sprinted down the hall to Alex's nursery, passing mother on the way.
"Where are you going?" She yelled when she saw me.
"Baby blankets and towels."
"I bought the twins blankets already. Bottom drawer of my dresser." I ran faster, past Alex's room and down to mothers. I yanked the bottom drawer open and grabbed a pink blanket and a blue blanket then ran into her bathroom to get towels. I got back to the room in record time and gave the blankets and towels to Healer Miller who was charming the water to be cold and warm. Hermione was laying back on the pillows, panting and covered in sweat, with a sheet over her lower body and a baggy shirt on.
"I'm sorry." She said as I reached the bed. I sat down on the bed beside her and smoothed her hair back from her face.
"For what, love?"
"I ruined Valentine's Day." I chuckled.
"I don't care. We can go out another time. Is that… my shirt?" She nodded.
"It was in the dresser. Call Harry and Ginny." She told me.
"Can Blaise come too?" She nodded again. I pulled out my mobile phone and called Potter. No answer. I tried Ginny. No answer. Growling in frustration, I called Blaise.
"What?" came his voice.
"Get Potter and Ginny and come to Malfoy Manor. Hermione's in labor."
"Is she okay? What happened?" he asked frantically.
"JUST DO IT!" I yelled.
"Draco, don't yell." Hermione told me.
"Okay, mate. I'm going. We'll be there soon." I heard a click on the other end and put my phone away.
"They're coming." I told Hermione. "Mum, can you-"
"Of course. I'll be right back." She said, already striding out of the room. Alex started crying.
"Bring him here, Mum." I said quickly. She turned around and set Alex on the floor. "Come here, Alex." He crawled over to me and mother left.
"You're almost ready to push, Mrs. Malfoy." Healer Dean said. Hermione didn't correct him on her name. I liked that. Mrs. Malfoy. Hermione Malfoy. It sounded good.
"Will they be okay? I mean, they're, what, 3 months early?" I said frantically, pulling Alex into my lap. He climbed off my lap and laid down next to Hermione, playing with a strand of her hair.
"They'll be fine. With all the potions and spells we have now, there shouldn't be a problem." He replied. Healer Miller came over and set the cold water on the bedside table with a washcloth then slid the table down towards the middle of the bed.
"Shouldn't?" I didn't like that word at all.
"There are always going to be complications with twins." He explained. "But I assure you, that they will fine once their born." I really didn't like the sound of that. "Are you ready to push, Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione shook her head.
"Can I have a glass of water first?" She asked. I jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom, coming back with a glass of water. She drank half of it and handed it back, then nodded. I set the glass down on the bedside table and kneeled next to the bed.
"Mr. Malfoy, I need you to slide her down to the end of the bed and sit behind her. You're going to need to support her." I nodded and picked her up. Alex started crying again.
"I got him, Malfoy. You worry about Hermione." I glanced over to see Ginny coming into the room. I laid Hermione down on the end of the bed, careful not to run into the table, and sat down behind her. Ginny picked up Alex and started walking out of the room.
"Ginny! I want you in here. And Narcissa." Hermione said quickly. Ginny nodded.
"I'll go get her and give Alex to the boys." She left.
"Legs up, Mrs. Malfoy." Healer Dean instructed. Healer Miller was standing against the wall and I wondered why he had brought her. Hermione bent her legs and placed her feet on the edge of the bed. He laid a towel down, under her bum. I wasn't so sure I wanted him seeing that part of Hermione's anatomy and I had to sternly remind myself that he was a Healer. "Take a few deep breaths for me hold each one for the count of 8." Hermione took a deep breath. "1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8… Release." He did it a few more times. "I need you to count like that, Mr. Malfoy." I nodded. Ginny and Mum came striding in. Ginny kneeled on ground on Hermione's left, Mum on the bed on the right. They both grabbed her hands. "If you want anything for the pain, let me know." He continued. Hermione nodded. "On the count of 3 take a deep breath and push for the count of 8."
"I've done this before!" She snapped at him. He ignored her.
"1…2…3… Deep breath." She did so. "Count and push." I started counting while Hermione pushed.
After a few more rounds, she gasped, "Water." Ginny reached over, grabbed the glass, and handed it to her. She drank it down quickly.
"How are you doing, Mrs. Malfoy?" Healer Dean asked.
"Tired." Hermione responded. Ginny and Mum looked a little shocked at what he had called her but said nothing.
"I'll let you rest for a moment and then we'll go again." Hermione nodded. "How's the pain?" He asked.
"Nothing I can't handle." Hermione replied. Blaise walked into the room just then.
"Alex is screaming for you Draco." He said. I sighed.
"There's nothing I can-"
"Bring him in here." Hermione inturupted. "He can sit next to Narcissa." Blaise nodded and walked out again, coming back a few moments later with a screaming Alex. Blaise set him on the bed to Hermione's right.
"Blood makes me queasy." He explained, shrugging. He turned around and walked out.
"Blood?! What blood?" I asked, panicked.
"Draco, there's always going to be blood during labor."
"Why didn't anyone tell me that?! No one ever tells me anything. I hate blood!" I said.
"If you had read the book that Andy and I gave you, you would know this." Mum said sternly.
"Let's try pushing again, Mrs. Malfoy." Healer Dean interrupted. Hermione nodded. "Deep breathe." On and on it went. I counted while she pushed and attempted to break Ginny and Mum's hands. Alex sat beside me with a pudgy hand on my leg, looking on with a curious and slightly worried expression. I dipped a washcloth in the cold water every so often and wiped her forehead, neck and chest, trying to keep her cool.
"Water." Hermione gasped for the fourth time. She had been pushing for a good 2 hours. I was getting bored and anxious. What if something was wrong? Ginny handed her the glass and she drank the whole thing. Alex crawled over next to Hermione. "Hey little guy." Hermione said to him. "What's up?" He looked at her curiously then looked at her stomach, head tilted to the side. He reached his hand out and patted her stomach gently. "You're baby brother and sister are in there." She told him. He looked at me, then Hermione, then back to her stomach, then pointed to the door. "I think he wants to go back to the boys. Ginny, could you-"
"Got it." Ginny stood up and went around the bed to pick Alex up then left the room. She came back in just as Hermione was getting ready to push again. I started counting again.
"I can see the head!" Healer Dean said an hour later. "A few more good pushes and the first baby should be out." Hermione nodded and donned a determined look. "Count and push!" Sure enough, Hermione gave two more pushes and our second child was born into the world. He put the clip on the umbilical cord and held the knife out to me. "Switch places with someone, Mr. Malfoy." Ginny took my spot and I took the knife. "Cut it right above the clip." I did so, trying not to think about the baby girl that was covered in blood and yucky stuff.
He quickly wrapped the pink blanket around her and handed her to Healer Miller who went back to the wall with the bowl of warm water to clean her off. Healer Dean turned back to Hermione.
"Now we wait. It'll be at most half an hour before you start feeling contractions again."
"Can I lie down?" Hermione asked. He nodded and Ginny moved out from behind her and helped her lie down. A few minutes later, Healer Miller came over.
"Would you like to hold your daughter?" She asked. Hermione nodded and struggled to sit up, I slid in behind her and helped. Healer Miller placed our baby girl in Hermione's arms and walked away.
"She's beautiful." I whispered. Hermione nodded. "What are we going to name her?"
"Viktoria Rose Malfoy." Hermione said. I smiled. The baby girl had a fine layer of platinum blonde hair that looked like it was going to be straight. She had her eyes closed so we couldn't tell what color they were, but her features - her nose, lips, eye shape, cheeks - all of them were Hermione's. Hermione gasped in pain and Healer Miller ran over.
"Contractions?" She asked. Hermione nodded. Healer Miller took Viktoria and handed her to Ginny. Healer Dean was there a moment later casting a spell. An image appeared above Hermione's stomach and he studied it.
"The boy is doing fine. He's head down and should be much easier to deliver." He said as the image faded. "Are you ready to push again?" Hermione nodded immediately. He quickly replaced the towel, that was now covered in bloody and icky stuff, and put a clean one down. "Deep breath, count and push." He said for what felt like the millionth time. He was right about one thing though, Dimitri came out much easier. He was born 20 minutes later, screaming, bloody and covered in icky stuff, just like his sister. I cut the umbilical cord and Healer Miller pulled him away to wash him. "I need you to give me a few more pushes."
"What? Why?" I asked.
"We need to get the placentas out." He responded. I climbed back up on the bed behind Hermione. She pushed twice and something brown and red slid out and onto the towel. She pushed again and another one slid out. Curiously, I leaned to the side and looked around her. I immediately regretted it as I saw blood and promptly fainted.