Chapter 21: Your Son, Mr. Malfoy?
Severus made his way to Ginny's room. The door was slightly ajar and the deep baritone of Draco's voice could be heard drifting through the room into the dimly lit corridor. Not wanting to disturb the couple, Severus peered into the room and saw a sleeping Ginny Weasley and a very worried Draco Malfoy tenderly stroking Ginny's abdomen. He watched his godson lower his head and speak to his unborn child.
"Now you let your mum get some rest. She's had a very difficult day and you need to work on staying strong and healthy…and not scaring your mum and I. We both love you and we're going to be a family soon, but not too soon. I need you to stay put for a while. At least until I convince your mum that the three of us belong together," he finished then kissed Ginny's protruding abdomen lightly.
Realizing that he was on a time constraint, Severus tapped gently on the door then entered the small room.
Draco sat up next the Ginny and greeted his godfather wearily, "Hi, Sev."
"How is she?" he asked with worry evident in his voice.
"She was given a potion to stop the contractions. It seems to be working. She hasn't had one in the past ten minutes. They also gave her something to help her relax. The healer said that she couldn't afford to get upset or the contractions may start again and they may not be able to stop them."
"Keeping her calm may be easier said than done. Albus is notifying Molly and Arthur as we speak." Severus sank into the uncomfortable chair next to Ginny's bed opposite Draco and watched over his favorite student and friend as Draco spoke.
"So, this room will be flooded with overbearing redheads a matter of minutes?"
"If you choose to remain here, that will be the least of your worries. I don't think it will take them long to figure out why you are here which may not bode well for your person," he advised.
"They would have found out eventually. Have you forgotten how predominant the Malfoy traits are? My son is bound to be born with blonde hair, silver eyes, or both," he explained. "I haven't seen a portrait of a Malfoy ancestor who doesn't have those attributes regardless of the other contributing parentage."
"That may very well be, but are you ready to take on Molly Weasley?"
"You can't be serious?" Draco asked. "I took on Lucius for years, how hard can the Weasley matriarch be to handle?"
Severus snickered "You have no idea what you're getting into with her."
"She can't be much worse than Ginny," Draco reasoned.
"If you say so," Severus replied knowing that the young man was quite wrong indeed.
The two men watched the sleeping witch grimace on slightly then shift to a more comfortable position on the bed.
"Severus, in all of the confusion, I forgot to notify Mother. Could you take care of this for me?"
"I wasn't aware…"
"Severus, I know she knows. She's the reason I know. I found out last weekend when I overheard her speaking with you about Ginny's pregnancy."
Severus nodded and left the room to contact Narcissa. He knew Draco would need an ally, and notifying Narcissa would provide that and notifying the twins would hurt either. Regardless of their feelings toward Draco, they would always support Ginevra.
It was a thriving day at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Diagon Alley location. People were out on this November afternoon trying to get a head start on their Yule time shopping while their children were still away at school. All in all, this was one of the busiest days they'd seen in a while. Fred had left the sales floor to pull additional merchandise from the stockroom when he felt the Protean charmed coin in his pocket grow warm. He retrieved the coin from his pocket and read the message.
The box of licorice wands he had held in his hands dropped to the floor as he yelled for his brother and ran back into the store.
"George!" Fred called frantically as he looked for his mirror image among the crowd in the store.
"What is it, I'm kinda busy here."
"It's Gins, we have to go now!"
"Go where?" George asked confused.
"St. Mungo's, room 2031. I don't know what's going on, but I just got a message from Snape."
George nodded. "Hinkley, he called to their assistant. You're in charge."
"Family emergency," Fred called as they ran into the back and flooed to the lobby of St. Mungo's hospital.
Hinkley watched as his bosses disappeared into the back of the store thankful that there were several other employees there to help with the drones of customers.
"Molly! Arthur!" the head of Albus Dumbledore called.
"Albus, what a pleasant surprise, what can I do for you?"
"Molly, is Arthur there with you? I need to speak to you both."
"Yes, he is. Just one moment, and I'll get him," Molly replied as she turned from the fire. Moments later the couple returned and greeted their longtime friend.
"Albus, it's a pleasure to see you," Arthur greeted the aged wizard.
"Arthur, Molly, I wish I were calling under better circumstances."
"What is it?" Molly asked nervously.
"Poppy had to portkey Ginny to St. Mungo's just a little while ago."
Molly gasped and took hold of Arthur's arm for support.
"Wh-what's wrong? Is it the…baby?"
"Ginny was upset and started to having contractions. Poppy thought it best t send her to St. Mungo's for evaluation."
"Is she alone?" Arthur asked.
"No, Severus is there now along with our new Defense professor."
"Thank you, Albus. We'll be there as soon as we notify the boys."
As soon as Albus' head disappeared from the flames, Molly began calling all of her boys to let them know that their baby sister was in St Mungo's. After the last call, they flooed to the lobby of St Mungo's heading straight for the information witch.
Fred and George reached room 2031 and threw the door open running to the bed where their only sister lay.
"What happened?" asked George.
"Why is he here?" Fred asked at the same time.
Both former Slytherins sighed heavily.
George looked at Draco watching protectively over Ginny with her hand held tightly in his.
Ignoring George, Fred asked, "What happened? How are they?"
"Gin started having contractions and was portkeyed here."
"Gin?" Fred asked looking bewildered by Draco's use of such a familiar name for the youngest Weasley.
Draco rolled his eyes. They were being impossible and it was only a matter of time before her parents and the rest of the brood showed up.
"Looks like you owe me ten galleons brother dearest. Our nephew is a Malfoy." George grinned at Fred. "He's a little slow today." George pointed at Fred as he explained to Draco.
"I didn't think she told any one."
"I didn't take a genius to figure this out. Last weekend, you were ready to throttle Ron for a few unseemly accusations and today, you look like you're about to loose your best friend. Not to mention that you haven't let go of Gin's hand since we walked in and you're outnumbered by her two most creative and protective brothers," George replied with a smirk.
Fred observed Draco's interaction with his sister while George spoke. "And, you're twirling her hair around your finger."
"I figured that either you fathered her child or Hogwart's professors have changed to a different type of hands on learning program."
Severus snorted in disgust at the idea.
Draco stared at the men not sure how they felt about the situation. He needed their approval if he hoped to win over the rest of the clan. He couldn't imagine a scenario where Ginny was separated from her family and being with him may be a catalyst to cause that.
"Look Malfoy, we've always allowed Ginny to make her own decisions and if she chose you, we respect her decision. I'm not sure why she chose you, but she did."
"But if you ever hurt her like you did last spring," Fred warned. "That quill she gave you last night will be nothing compared to what we do you. She's been through enough in her life already and doesn't need any more hurt."
"How did you?" Draco began to ask.
"That quill was a special creation. We designed it so that we would know when she used it. We wanted to make sure she made the bloke suffer and then be available to comfort her immediately if she needed us." George explained. "She never was one for cold hearted revenge."
"You didn't cause this did you, Malfoy?" Fred asked.
"No, gentleman, it wasn't Draco," Severus answered. "It was Mr. Boles again with the help of Astoria Greengrass. "
"I didn't think that charm would wear off so soon."
"Well obviously it did," Severus answered.
"What's going to happen to them?" Draco queried.
"Albus is contemplating their fate as we speak. Hopefully it will be full of longsuffering with a bit of pain and humiliation peppered in with it."
The other three men in the room nodded their heads in agreement with feral smiles on their faces.
Molly and Arthur Weasley hurried through the corridors making their way toward Ginny's room with fear and concern for their youngest child etched in their faces. When they arrived at the desired location, Molly reached out and threw the door open and rushed into the room.
"Oh, my baby…"she began. Her voice died when her eyes rested on the blonde holding her daughter's hand.
"Severus, can you tell us why Mr. Malfoy was allowed in her with my daughter?" Arthur demanded.
Draco sat up straightening to his full height, but never loosing contact with Ginny. "Mr. Weasley," He began respectfully. "I believe I can answer that question for you, but not in here. Ginny doesn't need to be upset any further."
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm not sure why you are here, but I am going to ask that you leave, now." Molly commanded.
"Mum, Dad, you need to listen to what Malfoy has to say," George pleaded.
"It's rather important," Fred added.
"Boys, there is nothing he can say that I want to hear. Now, let me check on my daughter and good day, Mr. Malfoy."
"Mrs. Weasley. I beg to differ. I do have something of vast importance to say, and I am not leaving," he replied standing his ground.
"Arthur, get someone to escort him out of here. I won't have some son of a death eater hovering over my daughter."
"Now, Molly," Severus began, but was cut off by an irritated Molly Weasley.
"Severus, get him out of here. He's not welcome."
Ginny began shifting in the bed and mumbling in her sleep. Molly approached the bed to comfort her daughter. She leaned over just in time to hear Ginny call out one name-"Draco"
Ignoring the angry Weasleys in the room, Draco reached out and tucked a random hair behind her ear and stoked her hair.
"Sh-sh. I'm right here," he comforted the sleeping witch.
Molly's face paled when Ginny called for Draco. She glared at the blonde sitting next to Ginny holding her hand and comforting her.
"Why would my daughter be calling for you? She asked suspiciously.
"Can we please discuss this somewhere else? I don't think you..." Before he could finish his statement, an irate Molly Weasley interrupted him.
"NO, WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS NOW!" she fumed.
"Do you have no regard for your daughter or grandson?" he demanded. "If she wakes up and gets upset again she could have this baby now and the healers cannot guarantee his survival if that occurs. Do you want to be responsible for that?" He demanded.
Molly gaped at the young man blanchingt the tone his voice carried.
"Now see here…" Arthur began.
"No! I will not have you upsetting her. She's been through enough today. If you cannot respect me enough to take this conversation elsewhere as I have asked, then respect your daughter, your grandson, my son enough not to endanger them any further," he spoke dangerously as if guarding his most prized possession.
Seeing the look of complete and total disbelief written on the Weasleys' faces and knowing it was only a matter of minutes before one of them lost their temper, Severus decided to intervene and address the group. "Molly, Arthur, Draco, let's take this outside. The twins can watch over her while we sort this out."
Severus managed to usher the group out of the room before any further words were exchanged.
Fred looked to George as the group left the room. "Now, I wished we'd thought to bring a pair of extendable ears."
"How right you are, brother. How right you are.
The four entered a family conference room at the end of the corridor. As the door closed behind them Severus cast a silencing charm on the door.
Both Weasleys stood with their faces red with anger glaring at the young Malfoy.
"What exactly did you mean, your son?"
"Exactly what I said Mr. Weasley, your daughter is carrying my child."
"NO! Ginny would never….not with the likes of you! You're nothing but a clone of Lucius Malfoy," Molly spouted.
Draco flinched at the statement then took a calming breath. It would do him no good to lose his temper with them.
"I don't know how this came about, but you abandoned her and broke her heart. She said that you had no interest in her. So, why are you here now?" Arthur asked calmly.
"I never abandoned her. I had to distance myself from her for her protection. Lucius wanted…he wanted to hurt her and I could not allow that. As far as her pregnancy, I have just found out about that within the last week," Draco explained.
"Severus, do you know if this is true? "
"It is."
"Mr. Weasley, Ginny and I dated for nearly two years before this happened. If it weren't for the threats from Lucius, I never would have left her. I thought I was protecting her, not hurting her."
"Mr. Malfoy, do you honestly expect us to believe this?" Molly asked.
"Choose what you will to believe, but it is the truth. And whether you like it or not, I will not be leaving her side." With that remark he turned and left the room leaving a confused Molly and Arthur Weasley looking after him.
"Severus, you knew about this…this relationship of theirs and said nothing?"
"Arthur, it wasn't my place to say anything, but yes, she told me of her friendship with Mr. Zabini and Mr. Malfoy. When her relationship changed with Draco, she mentioned that to me as well. They were and still are good for one another."
"How can you say that?"
"Though you may not believe it, he is nothing like Lucius. He has done things only to placate Lucius. He is his mother's son. He does hide his emotions well, but he loves her deeply. It pained him tremendously to hurt her, but he did do it to protect her from Lucius. However, I don't agree with his method, but it has already happened and she is well on her way to putting this behind her," Severus explained.
"But Severus…he's…he's a Malfoy!" Molly spat.
"Yes, he is, but he is also a Black. A Black just as Sirius was a Black, and a little too much like Sirius if you ask me."
"Sirius was a good man," she replied.
"Yes, and unjustly convicted of a crime. Would you do the same to Draco as well? He is a good man and Ginevra makes him better." Severus paused for a moment allowing his statement to penetrate. "Did you know that Albus had taken him on as the newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? That in itself should speak volumes about his character."
"Isn't he a bit young?" Arthur asked.
"There is no one other than myself that I could think of that has had more experience defending themselves against dark magic and dark creatures. He was taught the spells and how to defend himself against the darkest Death Eaters there have ever been and has survived their assaults time and time again," Severus explained.
"But that's our baby," Molly simpered.
"Molly, she is seventeen and about to become a mother herself in a matter of weeks. She is very intelligent and doesn't trust easily and hasn't since she was eleven years old. She trusts him. Maybe you should trust her judgment."
Draco walked the length of the corridor back to Ginny's room to find his mother standing outside the door. She looked at her son who tried in vain to hide his aggravated state from her.
"Draco, darling how are you?"
"I'll be fine, Mother. It's Ginny and the baby I'm worried about."
"Is that why you look like you want to throttle someone?" she asked worriedly.
"No, Mother," he sighed. "Let's just say I've learned first hand where Ginny gets her temper and stubbornness from and I don't think it's from the Weasley lineage."
"So, Molly knows her grandchild is a Malfoy?"
"Yes, as does Ginny's father and her twin brothers, the ones that own the joke shops in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley." Narcissa nodded in recognition.
"I assume things didn't go over very well?"
"Unless you count being compared to Lucius a compliment, I'd say no," he replied snidely.
"On, darling I'm so sorry."
"They'll come around- one way or another. I'm not going anywhere. I plan on being there for Ginny for as long as she'll have me, and I'll be there for my son for the rest of my life." Draco growled in frustration running his fingers through his hair. "At least the twins haven't tried anything, yet." He chuckled for a moment then added, "I think they are more afraid of Ginny than they are of their mother,"
"Of course they are dear. No mother would hex her own children, but siblings operate under a completely different set of rules," she replied with a smirk remembering the many times she hexed Bellatrix and Andromeda as a child. "Now, let's get in there and check on Miss Weasley and my grandchild."
Draco opened the door for his mother. "You mean your grandson," he said with a twinkle in his eyes and a genuine smile on his lips as Narcissa passed through the open door.
The potions that Ginny were given were successful in stopping her contractions. She woke the next morning feeling quite rested. She looked around the small room spotting several bouquets of flowers. The one that caught her attention the most was a large arrangement that must have been sent by Draco. It contained an exquisite display of purple, gold, pink, blue and deep red roses that reminded her of the missives that he had owled her just a few weeks prior.
She felt something touch her hand and looked down to find Draco sleeping with his head lying across the bed. His hand had inched closer to hers in his sleep. After all this time she still remembered how angelic he looked while he slept with his fine platinum hair falling over his eyes, his dark eyelashes against the pale skin of his face. His pink lips, she remembered were soft and warm and she would love to feel them pressed against her own again. She reached over and began stroking his hair lightly and felt the tenseness is his neck melt.
A soft moan escaped his lips and Ginny chuckled. His hair was always a spot that affected him. She felt him shift underneath her hand turning toward her.
"Good morning, Angelfire. How are you feeling?" he asked as he sat up in the chair.
"Remarkably well for a change. Your son actually let me get some sleep last night."
"Well, that would be because I told him to let you rest."
"Well, I thank you for that," she smiled at him. "I love the flowers. When did you get them?"
He smiled sheepishly. "I had one of the elves from the manor get them from my mother's rose garden."
"All of those came form your mum's rose garden?"
"Yes, most of them have been growing at Malfoy Manor for centuries. She did however, add the purple variety recently."
"I'll bet it looks magnificent."
"I'll take you there one day when you can walk around and enjoy it."
"I look forward to it," she replied with the smile leaving her face. "I thought I heard my mum in her earlier."
"That was yesterday. She…she and your father came."
"When will they be back?"
"They didn't say," he averted his eyes from her piercing gaze.
"What aren't you telling me?" she asked.
"Your parents weren't very happy to find me here and even less enthusiastic to find out their first grandchild will be a Malfoy."
"Oh, Merlin! They know?" she asked hanging her head.
"Were you planning on keeping this from them forever?" he asked with a slight edge to his voice.
She looked up into his eyes and answered. "No, but at least until I could have softened the blow with the most beautiful child ever born to a Malfoy and a Weasley."
"Gin, he'll be the first child born to be born of a Malfoy and a Weasley."
"Regardless, it would be hard for them to be angry at me for having your child while staring into his beautiful face."
"True, true, but sometimes, you are so Slytherin."
"Never, Mr. Malfoy," she grinned. "I'm a Gryffindor- brave and courageous to a fault and that fault is my mum's wrath."
Trying to comfort her the best he could and not knowing what to say, he added, " They'll come around eventually. They can't stay angry at you and ignore their first grandchild."
"You truly know nothing about my mum." Ginny could feel the tears welling in her eyes. "She got angry with her parents shortly after she married my dad. She didn't speak with them for thirteen years. Our son could possibly have finished school before she speaks to me again," she finished with a small sob escaping her lips and tears flowing down her face.
"Gin," he began as he reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I don't think she's angry with you, just shocked. It's not like us being together is anything anyone expected including ourselves if you recall."
"I hope you're right. I really need her with me for this."
"I know," he answered and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
The couple sat quietly leaning into each other for comfort and enjoying the closeness that they'd been missing. After several minutes Ginny broke the silence lingering in the room. "Have you told your mum yet?"
Draco nodded. She knows. She was here yesterday to check on you and the baby."
"How exactly is she taking the news?" Ginny asked timidly.
"She seemed quite excited actually."
"She's not angry that her grandson is part Weasley?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Gin, she's nothing like my father. It doesn't matter to her what your family name is," he replied seriously. 'Besides, that can always be changed,' he thought. "My mother is quite taken with you. She told me that the two of you had quite the conversation last weekend."
"Mm-hmm," Ginny muttered trying to remember exactly what she and Narcissa discussed the previous weekend. All she could remember was being angry with Draco and needing a calming potion.
"You know, she actually figured out you were pregnant then and didn't say a word to me about it. She said she was afraid I might do something to mess up her chances to meet her grandchild," he grinned at Ginny.
Ginny stiffened for a moment. She assumed that Narcissa didn't tell Draco because of the Greengrass betrothal contract. The baby may complicate that and she probably wanted to find a way to work around it. 'Well only one way to find out,' she thought.
"Has she told the Greengrass family about the baby?"
Draco looked puzzled. 'Why would she do that?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Gin, I don't understand."
"With you having a child, especially a son the contract might be affected..."she trailed off twisting her hands in her lap. She pulled away from Draco and looked away.
"What contact? What does this have to do with the Greengrass family?" he asked reaching out to tilt her face back to his seeing the hurt in her eyes.
"Astoria told me about the contract yesterday. Can you please tell me how this affects me and our son?"
"Angel, I don't have a clue what you are talking about."
"The betrothal, Draco promising that you will marry Astoria Greengrass. She told me about the contract that was signed by Lucius and her father years ago."
Draco looked gobsmacked. Nothing had ever been mentioned to him about a marriage contract. "Gin, Angel I promise you I don't know anything about a betrothal. I can guarantee that Mother doesn't either. If she did, she would have told me. We'll find a way to absolve the contract. I assure you of that."
"Really?" she asked biting her bottom lip nervously.
"Yes, really. I've known Astoria Greengrass since she was born. There is no way on magical earth that I would bind myself willingly to her. There is only one person I'd do that with and that's you," he answered then leaned over to capture her lips in a soft kiss to punctuate his answer.
He cupped her face in his hands and dusted light kisses across her cheeks, the tip of her nose, and on each eye. He then kissed her softly on the mouth, nibbling at her bottom lip. Ginny parted her lips in a soft moan allowing him to begin a soft sensual kiss that she felt to the core of her body. She had never been able to think clearly when he kissed her and now was no exception. She acted only on instinct and wrapped her hands around his neck gently stroking the soft hair that rested on his collar. The need for air soon drove them apart and the couple pulled apart resting their foreheads against each other lightly panting.
Ginny being the first to recover asked, "Draco, you'd magically bind yourself…to me?"
Without hesitation, he replied, "Yes, I love you and when you're ready I want us to be married. I want to have a traditional ceremony with a magical bonding binding us together forever." He explained to her his wishes as if they were as simple as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.
Ginny's eyes widened at his admission. "So… you … you really want me?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"Merlin! Gin, I thought you understood. I want you forever. I want to show you everyday how much I love you."
"Draco…" words failed her as she stared into the depths of his mercurial eyes.
"Ginevra Weasley, I want to see your beautiful face every morning when I wake up and hold you in my arms every night as we drift off to sleep. I want you to be my wife." He paused for a moment tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm not asking you right now. You've been through too much in the last twenty-four hours and I want you to have a clear head when I ask. I want you to be certain this is what you want, not what I want, not what my family wants, not what your family wants, but what you, Ginevra Molly Weasley wants.
Joyous tears were streaming down her face as she listened to his words. She had spent so many months thinking that she had lost him forever only to find that he never stopped loving her. She wanted to tell him that she loved him and no matter when he asked she would most certainly answer yes, but words failed her. Draco saw the tears on her face and the love shining through her eyes as he wiped away the salty tears staining her face just before they melted into another passionate kiss.
They were so completely caught up in themselves that they never noticed the identical pairs of blue eyes twinkling with mischief eavesdropping on their conversation. The duo silently agreed that the couple really did love each other despite their own initial reservations. The door quietly closed as the young men left the hospital heading for their family home hoping to convince their brothers and parents that Ginny and Draco do belong together and they should accept it. They knew it was going to be a tough argument and one that wasn't going to be won in a day, but they had to try.