After Mrs. Taylor's home visit, Draco decides not to go back to work. He opts, instead, to spend the rest of the day with me. I get the strange feeling that this is because he's afraid I'll hurt myself again, but when I question him about this he adamantly denies it. He sends an owl to the Minister of Magic to let him know why he's left work. Thankfully, he leaves out the more embarrassing information and simply says that I fell and broke my arm. I feel like a child because Draco had to leave work to come take care of me, and I feel guilty for making him miss work, though I don't express these feelings to him.
Immediately after he sends his owl to the Minister, I drag him into our bedroom to show him the names I chose from the baby name book this morning. He says that he, too, likes the boy names I've picked out, though I insist that he doesn't have to agree with me just to make me feel better. After all, this is his child, too! He continues to assure me that he loves the names I've chosen, however, and even tries combining them with "Draco", which we've already decided will be the baby's middle name if it's a boy, to see how they'll sound together. When I tell him my idea about what we should name the baby if it's a girl, he says that he thinks naming our potential daughter 'Neta Caroline' would be the perfect way to honor my two mothers. He says he absolutely loves that name.
When we've finished discussing names he takes the name book from me and places it on the wooden nightstand beside the bed. Then he slings his feet onto the bed and scoots back, resting his back against the pillows at the head of the bed. He extends his arm and summons me to his side, and I quickly but carefully slide closer to him, my butt-bone throbbing all the while. I rest my head on his shoulder as he wraps his arm around me. I take a deep breath in and relax, and a few moments later I realize I'm close to falling asleep. Draco kisses my forehead and speaks to me softly. "We're going to have to find something for you to do while I'm at work," he says, "Because I was really worried when Pinky told me you were hurt today. I don't know what I'd do if anything more serious had happened to you; it already scares me enough that you broke your arm."
"Well, what do you suggest then?" I ask sleepily.
"I don't know, love," he says, "But we've got to figure out something. I'd even be willing to let Weasley and the mud… I mean, Granger, come here if it meant keeping you occupied and out of harm's way."
I gasp at Draco's almost-use of the word 'mudblood' to refer to my friend; he knows how much I hate that derogatory term used to describe a first-generation witch or wizard. I assume that's why he corrected himself while he was speaking, because he looked straight into my eyes when he said 'Granger'. Suddenly wide awake, I lean up out of Draco's arms and rotate my body to the left, so that I'm facing him. Apparently knowing what's coming, Draco begins apologizing. "I'm sorry, love," he says. "I forgot who I was talking to for a moment. That was very disrespectful of me; I know how much you hate that word."
"Forgot who you were talking to?" I ask. "You mean you still use that word in front of other people?" Draco stares down at the bed with confusion written all over his face. He clearly doesn't understand why it would upset me if he said 'mudblood' to someone else. Hoping to make it very clear, I start explaining. "Draco, I don't believe there's any difference between first-generation wizards and purebloods. I know that's just how you were brought up, but I was raised to believe that nobody is any better or any worse than anyone else."
"I know, love," he replies, patting my arm in a soothing way.
"And it's important to me that our child is raised with the same values that Ms. Fitzpatrick instilled in me," I continue. "I don't want any of this 'mudblood/pureblood' war nonsense rubbing off on our baby."
"And I couldn't agree more," Draco says, "I don't want our child turning out like me."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with our baby turning out like you," I reply softly, "But what you've got to think about are the possibilities. Just because we're both purebloods doesn't mean our baby will be. I'm not saying I want this to happen, but what if our child turned out to be a squib?"
Though I wasn't finished speaking at this point, Draco interrupts. He's clearly horrified by my suggestion. "Oh no!" he says loudly, his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline. "There's no way our child will be born without powers; our child can't be a squib."
"You don't know that, Draco," I reply. I make to continue but Draco cuts me off again.
"Yes, I do!" he says, almost angrily. "The Malfoys have been purebloods for centuries; no Malfoy is going to end up being a squib! Especially not our child!"
"Darling, I know it's not something you want to think about, but just hear me out for a moment," I say quietly. "What would happen if, by some crazy circumstance, our child was born a squib?"
"It would be humiliating!" Draco replies matter-of-factly.
"I know that, love," I reply, "But what I asked you is what would happen. Would you be angry at me, as though it were somehow my fault? Would you be upset to the point of leaving me and abandoning the baby? Would you even love our baby if it was a squib?" My eyes well up with tears as I ask this, and I watch as Draco's face softens in turn. He pulls me close to him and rests my head on his shoulder and his hand on my stomach.
"Nothing could make me leave you, or stop loving you or the baby," he says. "I really don't know what else to say... I can't promise how I'd react at first because it hasn't happened yet. But could we please stop talking about this? I don't even want to think about it." Though Draco's answer to my questions hasn't completely satisfied me, I decide to stop talking about it; it's obviously upsetting him very much.
"So what am I going to do while you're at work from now on?" I ask, quickly changing the subject.
"Like I said," Draco replies, "I don't care if you have your friends over here; you'll just have to turn the pictures around to keep them from screaming at your friends."
"I've got a better idea," I reply, "Why don't I just go to the Burrow to see my friends?"
"I don't think that's such a great idea," Draco replies instantly.
"Why not?" I ask. Draco doesn't answer at first and we sit there in silence for a moment, but then I look up at him and indicate that I'm still waiting for his response.
"Because Potter will be there and I don't want him to try anything with you!" he finally blurts out.
"Harry's still angry at me for coming back to you," I reply, "He probably won't even speak to me." This statement seems to cheer Draco up a bit, but he's still not convinced.
"But if he's upset at you, he's likely to start an argument. And I can't have you getting upset and losing control, especially not over there. I don't want you or the baby getting hurt."
"Harry isn't going to start an argument," I say quietly. There's an awkward silence for a moment, but then I finally find the right words that I know will put an end to this dispute. "Would you rather for me to go to the Burrow and spend time with my friends or stay here and explore the Manor and fall and break my arm again.. or worse?" I ask. I realize this isn't really a fair question and the look on Draco's face tells me he's thinking the same thing, but it's created the desired effect nonetheless. Draco takes a deep breath in and stares into my eyes for a moment before answering.
"Oh, all right then," he says, "I really hate that you're cooped up in the house all the time anyway. But you've got to promise me that you'll be careful."
"You know I will, love," I reply. And then in my excitement over the fact that I'll now have something to do while Draco's at work, I lean up and kiss him tenderly. We make out for several minutes and then Draco pulls away from me, smiling.
"So what would you like to do with the rest of our unexpected day together, love?" he asks.
"That depends," I begin, "What's the weather like outside today?"
"It's nice," he replies, "Kind of hot, actually. Why? Were you thinking of taking a walk around the grounds?"
"Well, I was," I reply, "But I really prefer cooler weather."
"I know," Draco replies, nodding his head in agreement.
"I wish there was some way I could go outside without getting hot; I really hate being hot," I say.
"What if we went for a swim?" Draco asks. "That'd keep you cool."
"That's a great idea, love!" I say excitedly. "I hadn't thought of that before!"
"Well what are you waiting for then?" he asks, "Go get into your swimsuit already!" I lean up and kiss Draco again and then carefully slide off the bed as Draco does the same. I walk slowly over to the closet and begin tearing through my clothes frantically, searching for my bathing suit. When I find it, I walk over to the bathroom as Draco begins digging through the closet in search of his swimming trunks. As I enter the bathroom I wonder if I should be swimming right now, since my buttocks are still so sore, but I figure the exercise could only help with the soreness and stiffness. I close the bathroom door and slowly begin peeling off my clothes, before stepping into my two-piece lavender and white bathing suit.
I pull up the bottom piece, which doesn't sit as high up on my hips as it once did because it's got more belly to fit around now. I begin fumbling with the top, which doesn't seem to want to fit anymore now that my breasts have grown so much since becoming pregnant. I realize I'll have to stretch the top to get it to fit, and might as well stretch the bottom a bit while I'm at it. I call out to Draco; "Could you bring me my wand?" I ask him.
A few moments later I hear him knock on the bathroom door. "Here you go love," he calls. "I have to ask though," he continues, "Why do you need your wand to get dressed?"
"Because of your baby," I reply sarcastically.
"Oh," is Draco's only response.
"Just slide my wand under the door," I call back to him. Draco immediately obeys and I lean down and grab my wand, aiming it at the bikini top in a very frustrated way. I enlarge the top and pull it on, placing my wand on the counter top as I do so. Then I enlarge the bottom a bit as well, and pull it up a little higher on my stomach. I pick up my abandoned clothes and toss them into the nearby hamper for the maids to come collect and wash later, and then walk over to the counter once more. I turn to the side and gaze up into mirror that sits above the sink, trying to make sure I don't look too horrible. After all, this will be the first time Draco's seen me in my bikini.
I stare at my reflection, starting at the neck, and look down, glancing at my breasts. Okay, I think to myself, looking good so far. Then, however, I glance even further down on my reflection; at my mid-section. Horrified, my eyes widen and I place my hands on my stomach; my baby belly looks extremely unattractive in this suit. Bikinis are supposed to make you look sexy, but my baby bump makes me look like a small whale. Though I'd love to go swimming, I simply cannot let Draco see me like this. "I'm sorry, love," I call out, "But I don't think I'm going swimming after all. Maybe I can sit beside the pool while you swim."
"What? Why?" Draco asks from his spot outside the bathroom door, clearly confused.
"I look horrible," I reply, "My stomach is huge."
"Honey, I'm sure you look lovely," he says, "Stop being so ridiculous. I love you, regardless of what you wear; you're the most beautiful woman in the world. And I don't care how big your stomach gets, either. It's carrying my child; therefore it's also beautiful to me."
"I don't know.." I begin, but Draco won't have any of it. Without another word, he flings the bathroom door open, nearly scaring me half to death. I quickly turn around and frantically try to hide my belly from him; "Draco!" I call out loudly, slightly perturbed. I feel extremely self-conscious; I'm practically naked and it's the first time Draco's seen me so nearly nude. Draco says nothing in response and I simply stand there awkwardly for a moment before craning my neck to look over my shoulder at him; to see what he's doing and why he's being so quiet.
When he's in my line of sight, however, I'm surprised to find that he isn't doing anything at all; he's simply standing there mid-step, shirtless and in his swimming trunks, with his hand still on the doorknob and his eyes and mouth open wide. I'm almost tempted into a hormonal frenzy at the site of his muscular bare chest, but the discomfort of the situation quickly redirects my thoughts. "Draco!" I call over my shoulder again, feeling more and more embarrassed with each passing second. Draco gives an involuntary twitch and suddenly snaps back to reality, his eyes resting now directly on mine and the glossed-over look quickly fading from them.
"Um... I'm... s… sexy… I mean, sorry... um... MERLIN! I'm sorry!" he says, finally getting the phrase correct.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I ask timidly. Draco slowly walks over to where I'm standing in response. He wraps his arms around me; they come to rest on top of mine, which are lying on my stomach. He presses the front of his nearly-bare body against the back of mine. With him now being so close to me, I have to turn my neck back towards the front to be able to see him, and he rests his lips against my ear.
"Because you look amazing," he replies. Chills shoot down my spine from the sensuality of both his voice and breath in my ear, and I'm amazed at just how quickly and easily he can make me want him. Draco leans his head down and sucks on my nearly-bare right shoulder and kisses a trail all the way up my neck. I close my eyes and enjoy the moment, and then Draco straightens up and speaks into my ear again. "Turn around, love," he says, "Let me see you."
He removes his hands from my stomach and places them, instead, on my shoulders. He slowly begins to gently push on my shoulder, swiveling me around to face him. I seriously consider planting my feet firmly in front of me at first, not allowing him to turn me, but I quickly give in to the sensation his touch is giving me and allow myself to be turned. I open my eyes and look up as I turn, wanting to see Draco's initial reaction to my appearance. I keep my hands, however, atop my stomach, still partially guarding it from view. Once he's got me directly facing him, Draco slowly removes my hands from my stomach and drops them to my sides.
He looks at me, beginning with my eyes and slowly beginning to survey the rest of my body, head to toe. I find myself unable to look at him as he does so, afraid of the reaction I'd see in his face if he doesn't like what he sees. I stare, instead, down at the floor, waiting for any indication of Draco's opinion. When I notice that his breathing has become labored a few seconds later, I brave a look up into his face. He's staring at me wide-eyed again, and when I ask him what's wrong he simply stares into my eyes longingly and replies, "Mrs. Malfoy… your body looks even better than I'd imagined... if that's even possible. You look so good it hurts to look at you; you are a goddess." I blush but shake my head and look away, but Draco grabs the bottom of my chin with his forefinger and pulls my face upwards to meet his. "Yes, you are," he insists. He plants a tender but passionate kiss on my lips but pulls away immediately when I begin to participate. "If I start that now, we'll never make it to the swimming pool and there will be no stopping me... especially now that I've seen you like that," he explains, indicating my bikini-clad body as he says that. I can't help but think that I, personally, wouldn't mind if we didn't make it out to the swimming pool.