Over Protected

Disclaimer's: This may seriously be the last time I say this… I don't own Harry Potter!

Author's Note: Ok, it's been a long time…

Ch 21: The Beauty of Life

Elizabeth stared blankly into space, Professor Slughorn's class was boring her, nearly to tears. Although perhaps the tears came from a different source. From the chill in her bones she could feel the event coming near. What was going to happen? She wasn't exactly sure, however she knew her father was planning something. It still came difficult to her to think of him as her father. It was painful that her life had been a lie as a child, yet it was just as painful to know that her father was at most times incapable of loving her. After the contract she signed at the wedding, she sometimes wondered if the life she was living at the moment was the real one, if it wasn't just all a ploy. She wondered if she wasn't being used.

And then there was Draco, the absolutely wonderful man she got to spend the rest of her life with. It was amazing, how much he had changed, how he had gone from Draco Malfoy: smug and obnoxious, to the sweet, loving, and caring supporter that she hoped to always live with and maybe die with. How could she possibly live without him? Perhaps it would be impossible, it was almost as though they were connected. As though a tiny rope clung to each of them pulling them together, a rope that was unbreakable and very tiny. So tiny that if one were to go the other would consequently have to follow.

Draco was looking at her, catching her gaze he smiled, she smiled back. It was so simple, their love, as simple as a smile. Yet it was so complex, after years of hate, of absolute unadulterated hate for one another they were in love, so deeply in love with one another. And she was going to be a mother, the mother of his children. Suddenly Elizabeth remembered the wonderful thing about life, that if you played your cards right, life only led to more life. Beautiful life, with small fingers and noses, and little rolls of baby fat to snuggle and love. She was amazed that she, and Draco could make such beautiful things, things that were to come.

"Could someone tell me what this potion is, perhaps Mrs. Malfoy?" Elizabeth's attention snapped back to Professor Slughorn.

"It's the Elixir of Life, but in reality it only promotes good health and does away with a bad cough."

"Very good! This is true, the Elixir of Life has been said by some to be a misnomer, but in actuality this is the truth of life, we life and keep healthy, and by this we continue to live. Good answer Mrs. Malfoy."

"What if I don't want to keep healthy?" Someone muttered behind Elizabeth, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly and hoped that she was wrong about whose voice that was.

"I'm sorry Mr. Potter, what was that?"

"I said," Harry articulated loudly, "what I don't want to keep healthy, what I no longer have a reason to?" As he shoved past her out of the classroom Elizabeth nearly fell off her seat. The dungeon door slammed loudly after him, glancing over to see Draco's reaction, Elizabeth noticed he was still glaring at the door, where Harry's retreating was ten seconds ago.

How could life change so quickly, it seemed like it had been just yesterday that she lay in bed pondering her life as an orphan and her unrequited love for Harry, but today it truly seemed like he was the one pining for her. The question was, what exactly his motives were. Had he realized his love for her when it was too little too late, as most people did when they lost something they loved, or was his interest purely in saving the wizarding world, as it usually was.

Love was a complicated thing… Elizabeth felt some movement in her uterus, and as the baby, or possibly babies, continued to kick, she realized she had nothing to worry about.

A/N: Sorry this is short! To tell the truth I barely remember where I was going with this, it's been a very long time…