It was late when Ember finally got home. Too late, by my standards. "Where have you been?" I asked.

She paused, looking at me confusedly. "What?"

"You sent word that you were getting released hours ago." I said, crossing my arms. "What were you doing?"

"I went to visit the Potters'." she said defensively.

I blanched. "The Potters'?" I asked incredulously. "You went to them first?"

"I needed to talk to Ginny. What's wrong with that?" she asked.

"Well, A: I'm sort of your husband and expected you'd want to see me, and B: Why couldn't you talk to me?"

"Because it was girl stuff." she said, getting irritated. "Why are you being so touchy?"

"Why am I being so – Ember, YOU WERE BLOWN UP!" I shouted, coming towards her. She backed up and fell onto the couch, looking at me in bewilderment. "I waited four days for you to wake up! I didn't sleep! I hardly ate! Merlin, I even started praying! But, disregarding all of that, you decided to spend hours at the Potters' without telling me!"

"I didn't know about all of that!" she exclaimed. "You're being so unreasonable! It's like you're being overprotective!"

I roared with frustration, kneeling on the couch next to her and grabbing her shoulders. "Don't you get it, yet? Every day, you go out there, and I don't know if you'll be coming home! So, when you go off for a few hours and don't tell me, I automatically assume you're gone! Missing or worse!" I stared into her face. "Ember, I just need you to stop scaring me!"

Her eyes widened, genuine panic within them. "Draco, let go!"

"Oh, come on, Ember," I said. "I know I'm angry, but I won't hurt you."

"No, I – I'm going to be sick!" she exclaimed, causing me to instantly release her. She turned and proceeded to vomit into the trash can by the couch. I frowned, tired of all this dramatic nonsense.

"Go to bed." I said flatly when she'd finished.

"W-what?" she asked.

"Go to bed." I repeated. "I can't deal with you when you're like this. We'll talk more in the morning."

Admittedly, I was a bit sore at her. She couldn't just expect to be able to roam around without telling me anything. I was frustrated at this point, really. Another article had been published, and still there was no sign of the mysterious woman. I was on edge, wondering what she would do to hurt Em, so obviously I'd been worked up when she didn't come home when I thought she would. I pulled out a blanket irritatedly, deciding to sleep on the couch for the night.

. . .

Ember

The next morning, it was as if we weren't allowed to speak of the fight. I began making breakfast, Draco got off the couch, and we made pleasant small talk. It was weird, like our row was tabooed or something.

"So, anything new?" Draco asked, reading the Prophet as I put bacon and eggs on his plate.

"Oh, you know. Looking into stuff about Harbingers, Ginny's going to have a baby shower, I'm pregnant, and, oh, yes, you know Ron and Hermione are back." I said casually.

He took a sip of tea, nodding appreciatively, when suddenly he spewed the drink across the table. "WHAT?"

I backed out of the line of fire, making a face. "Draco-"

"No, wait a second." he said, grabbing me by my belt loop and pulling me towards me. "Did I hear you right? Did you say you were pregnant?"

"I – well, yeah, I suppose." I finished weakly, looking at him a bit timidly.

"But – but this is – you – how-" He looked at me desperately, a ridiculous grinned splashed across his face. "When did you find out?"

"Yesterday." I said. "The Healer told me I was a month in. Said it was a miracle it survived all the hell it's been through."

"That's because it's tough, like it's mommy!" he said excitedly, addressing my abdomen.

"Can you please not speak to my navel?" I said uncomfortably.

"Oh, this is going to be wonderful! Did I tell you I purchased the house?"

I blanched. "Wait, what? When?"

"The day you were put in Saint Mungo's." he said. "I'd just gotten back to the office from buying it when I heard about you."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, grinning myself, now.

"Well, I was a bit distracted, wasn't I?" he asked. "I've been moving my things over there while you've been gone." He checked his watch. "I'm sorry, love, I've got to run. Marcus wants me in the office today, but I'll be home as soon as I can." He hurriedly kissed me on the lips, giving me an extra hug. "This – I – I'm just so happy!"

I watched him gather his things, babbling nonsense all the while. The door slammed, and then there was silence, apart from the soft breathing of Merlin, who'd gotten up on the table. I looked down at his purple hamster form. Suddenly, he turned into a purple infant, looking at me questioningly.

"Gah!" I exclaimed, jumping back. "Limited to animals! Limited to animals!"

He changed back to a hamster, looking apologetic. I sighed, grabbed my jacket, and left the apartment, feeling significantly less bubbly than my husband.

. . .

Draco

"Someone looks happy today." Terry commented as I tossed my bag to the floor under my desk.

"You won't believe the news, Terry!" I said excitedly. "Em and I are going to be parents! She told me this morning!"

He chuckled. "That would put you in a good mood. I always tagged you as the kind of guy who'd go crazy over kids. Well... since you started working here, anyways. At Hogwarts, not so much."

"Oh, but that's just it!" I said, leaning my head back, unable to stop smiling. "She did it. She did it all. If it wasn't for her, there's no way I'd be happy right now. It's always her."

Terry laughed. "You've got it bad, mate. No wonder you two ended up together."

"How do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, she's everything you've ever needed, and you're all the romance she's ever wanted. You suit each other."

"Yeah," I said, folding my hands behind my head. "Yeah, we do."

"You know I have to do it now, though."

"Do what?"

He filled his lungs with air, clapped a hand down on my shoulder, and bellowed, "OI! Malfoy's gone and knocked up his wife!"

. . .

Ember

I sat heavily in my chair, staring at the pile of paperwork that had accumulated over the past week or so. Unable to think of anything else to do, I started on it.

"Hey, Em." said Harry, sliding his chair over to my desk. "Ginny told me your big news this morning! I think it's great!"

"No, it's not." I snapped. "It's not great, it's not fabulous, and it's not any other word that characterizes happiness."

He recoiled, surprised. "Em, what-"

"Look, see? You're doing it, too." I said, frustrated. "Everyone just assumes I should be all happy about this, but I'm not! I didn't want kids. Still don't! And now I've got one forced on me!" I buried my face in my hands.

"What is this? What about all that stuff you said to me last week? About being a great parent?" he asked.

"That was for you, Harry! I'm not cut out for this! It doesn't matter how responsible, caring, or patient I am (even though I'm none of those things)! I can't deal with small children! You saw how I was with Emelina!"

"I thought you were alright." he said.

"From a parent's perspective."

He paused, then sighed. "Look, this really isn't my area. Go talk it out with Draco. He'll understand."

"No, see, I can't do that." I said. "When I told him this morning, he was through the roof. You should have seen him, Harry, he was so happy! How can I take that away from him? He's so excited to have a kid, and I... I'm just not!"

He looked at me sadly. "Look, Em... I know this feels overwhelming, but... maybe you should try getting used to the idea. Don't dismiss it so easily. I mean, this is another life you're talking about."

I sighed. "I know, Harry. That's what makes this so hard. I can't just do something about it like usual. I just have to wait it out."

"Besides, if you don't want it so badly, why did you tell him about it?" he asked sensibly.

I shook my head. "I honestly don't know."