Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! No copyright infringement intended!
A/N:
The Winggoddess, thank you so much for your latest review.
Well, I think Draco is just living up to his nickname „The Slytherin XXX God"! What do you think? But I've got the hang of your broad hint and promise to try to let them act more „pure and chaste" from now on ;0). I wonder if Blaise could outstrip Draco!? ;O)
Hope you like the new one...writing it was so much fun!
Living with a Quidditch Star
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The father's hormones
He would be in a fix! If that was his child he'd definitely be in a fix. He would have to marry her. He decided that he'd rather die than marry her. What would happen to what was growing to something so big, something so strong, something so powerful momentarily? Their relationship. What would happen to Ally and him? His insides were clenching at the very thought of this.
His mind was racing.
When had it happened? When had he got her pregnant? Hadn't he always used that Contraception Charm on her secretly every time they had become intimately involved?
He was staring at the enchanted ceiling, unable to get some sleep.
The rules, those damn rules. Oh, how he hated it to be bound by them his whole life.
He gritted his teeth.
He wondered if there were ways to clear the paternity question already.
He listened to the steady and low breathing from the other side of his bed and closed his eyes for a moment.
He didn't want to lose her. All he wanted was to spend his life with her. She was his life.
He had never felt like this before.
He knew that she was the only person who would always understand him, understand the way he was acting. Who would stand by his side whatever may come.
He took a deep breath and tried hard to fight down the feeling of boiling rage on the inside.
He would not let anybody destroy this relationship. That much was sure.
After tossing and turning for a while he fell asleep. It was a fitful sleep – not restorative at all.
I had to be at the library quite early the next morning.
When I woke up, Draco was still asleep. I looked at him for a moment and stroked his cheek.
He stirred and I kissed him on the forehead.
He growled and I smiled.
I jumped out of the bed and headed for the bathroom to take a quick shower.
When I came to the kitchen Draco's house-elf was already bustling. I greeted it and sat down at the small table.
„Don'ts ma'am! It'll serves you breakfast in the dining room. Master wills be mad with me." it squealed and looked at me with it's large watery eyes.
„I'm sure he won't. I'll stay here if you don't mind. I have to leave soon anyway. May I have some tea and fruit, please." I said and grinned as the tiny house-elf hurried to get me my breakfast.
I took a piece of parchment and scribbled a short note for Draco on it. I wanted to meet him at my flat tonight. I wanted to do some cooking and talk to him about Sindy and her pregnancy.
Then I wrote another short message on a second piece of parchment. This note was for Ginny. I asked her to meet me for lunch at Diagon Alley.
When the house-elf returned with my breakfast I handed it the two letters.
„I want you to give this to your Master, please." I said and pointed at one of the letters. „And please dispatch an owl to Ms Weasley at St. Mungo's with this one."
The house-elf nodded eagerly and left again.
I smiled and turned to my tea.
When I had finished my fruit salad I got up and left for the library.
When I left the library around noon for the Great Hall to apparate to Diagon Alley I saw Andrew, involved in conversation with some fellow students I knew by sight.
He waved at me and called,
„Don't let us down at Hogsmeade next week, Ally!"
I nodded and he winked at me. I waved and said,
„As I've told you, I'll give it some thought. I'm sorry, but I'm in quite a hurry. See you!"
Then I disapparated with a loud crack.
At Diagon Alley I hurried to the small Italian restaurant where Ginny and I wanted to meet.
Ginny was already inside and got up, when I entered the restaurant.
„Ginny, good to see you! I'm sorry I'm late!" I said breathlessly and drew her into a hug.
„Ally, that's alright! Good to see you, too!" she said and pecked me on both cheeks.
„What is it you want to talk to me that urgent?" she asked after we had placed our order, a stern expression on her face.
I took a sip of my white wine and looked at her.
„Draco and I have a problem. You're the only one I can ask about this." I said.
I told her everything about Sindy's pregnancy and that she had said that she was sure Draco was the father of this child just as the Daily Prophet had written.
She listened to me in silence, still a stern expression on her face, but I could also make out a slight hint of astonishment.
„I wanted to meet you because I wanted to know if there's any possibility to proof that Draco isn't the father of this child before it is born. I need certainty as soon as possible. You know the rules. The whole story will end up in disaster if I can't find out who is the true father of this child. I don't want to lose him. Can you help me, Ginny?" I said, a desperate expression on my face.
„I see. Well, uhm, first of all you have to know that the mother has to agree to everything we do. But I don't have to tell you this, that's what the law says." she said, taking a mouthful of her mineral water.
„In the early pregnancy it isn't possible to depict the embryo so easily. But when the woman is - let's say – about five months pregnant, we can picture it magically. You would be able to see the features already. Else we could take some water of the woman and analyse it to find out who's the father. This is rather risky for mother and child and she would have to agree to this again, of course. I think she won't do that, when she's really making this up." Ginny said.
I sighed.
„Thank you so much. As I see we have to be patient. I fear we can't do anything except waiting for what time brings for us." I said sadly, sullenly picking at my salad.
After that we were talking about this and that for a while.
I invited Ginny to Hogsmeade for next week.
I had finally decided I would go there after my written exams. I asked her to bring Harry, Ron and Hermione, too, as I hadn't seen all of them for quite a while.
Then I left the restaurant to do some shopping on Diagon Alley for the evening. Ginny returned to St Mungo's.
There was farmers market on a nearby square and I bought some vegetables for tonight. Some people recognised me and asked for an autograph or a picture with me. I didn't mind.
After that I returned to the library for two more hours of reading. Once I overheard a conversation of Celia and some other girls I didn't know. She was praising the potion she had bought on Knockturn Alley to improve her concentration. I grinned and turned to the book in front of me again.
Two hours later I hurried to my flat. I changed and headed for the kitchen. To be honest I wasn't in the mood for cooking at all, but I knew I had to pull myself together to get us a nice dinner.
Of course I did some Italian food again.
I sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and arranged everything on a large platter. Then I basted it with some olive oil of father's firm and sprinkled the salad with fresh basil and oregano. Finally I added some sea salt and put the platter aside.
Meanwhile my knives had ended chopping onions and garlic. I poured olive oil in a large pan and let it heat. Then I added the onions and the garlic with one wave of my wand. I waved my wand again to make a large wooden spoon turn garlic and onions from time to time to avoid it to stick to the pan.
I waved my wand and the table laid itself magically.
Then the knives had finished to cut tomatoes into small cubes. I poured them into the pan. The wooden spoon was still turning everything. I reduced the heat, put a lid on the pan and let the sauce simmer.
Meanwhile I took two small bowls and placed it on plates. I imbued sponge cake with coffee and some liqueur and placed it on the bottom of the bowls, then I spread some creme, made of mascarpone, egg yolk and sugar on it. I put some of the sponge cake on top and spread some more creme on it. Finally I covered everything with cocoa powder and put the bowls in the refrigerator.
I had opened a bottle of red wine and had poured me some before, now I was taking a mouthful of it and turned to the living room, waiting for Draco. I looked down at my watch. While I did so I heard a loud crack behind me.
„Hi darling. How are you?" I said and hugged him. I smiled when he handed me a large bouquet of flowers.
„Thank you. They are beautiful!" I said, gazing at the roses.
„How was your day?" he asked and kissed me.
„Rather exhausting! How was yours?" I replied, handing him a glass of red wine.
„I spent my day at MALFOY Inc.. After that I visited my mother, she'll make a journey to France to visit some friends. She's asked me to send you her regards."
„Thank you! Well then, let's have dinner, babe." I said and led him towards the table.
We sat down and I handed him the Caprese salad.
„Help yourself, please!" I said and took some bread to hand it to him too.
Then I waved my wand again and a bunch of spaghetti soared through the air and landed in a pot with boiling water. The wooden spoon was now stirring everything.
We enjoyed the dinner. Draco praised my culinary skills and I blushed.
„You should try my grandmother's food! She's even better in cooking." I grinned and took another sip of my wine.
I changed the subject rather abruptly.
„Draco, I've talked to Ginny today." I said, sternly looking at him.
„Ginny? Are you ill?" he said, furrowing his brow.
„No! Fortunately I'm not. I've talked to her about Sindy." I went on, staring at him.
I saw him blush a little, besides that his face was rather expressionless.
„And what did she say?" he drawled.
„Draco, I thought you're interested in proving you're not the father of this child, too?" I said, slightly furious now.
„Of course I am! But I fear we don't have a chance to prove it, do we?" he said, sounding slightly crestfallen.
I told him about the conversation with Ginny. His mood wasn't improving by the news. Finally he asked me to stop talking about this annoying topic for today.
He looked exhausted, he had dark circles around his eyes. Sitting there, he was massaging his temples with his slender fingers.
I got up and walked towards him. I touched his shoulders and started to massage his neck. He sighed and whispered,
„Thank you, dear. That's good! I think we should go to the jacuzzi more often. I'm totally tensed up."
„I can feel it." I said, kneading even harder now.
„Ouch!" he moaned.
„You're definitely tensed up." I said and grinned. Then I kissed his hair and stopped my massage. I took his hand and pulled him towards the sofa. We sat there for another while, talking and looking at the fire in my fireplace.
Then we went to bed.
We were lying in the dark, shoulder to shoulder. I knew he wasn't asleep, so I turned to him and rested my head on his bare shoulder.
„I'll accompany you!" I whispered.
„What?" he asked, absentmindedly stroking my hair.
„I'll come along with you to St Mungo's tomorrow." I said.
„Do you think that's a good idea?" he said.
„Sure. Let's stick it out together, babe." I whispered and stroked his chest. I felt his muscles flexing.
I leaned down and kissed his naked skin tenderly. He was getting goose skin. I grinned and rested my head on his chest, inhaling the odour of his skin. I closed my eyes and stroked his abs with my fingertips.
He seized my hand and said,
„Stop it! That's tickling me."
I started to laugh.
He drew me into a hug and kissed my forehead.
My lips were on his throat, I could feel his heart beat against my chest. It mollified me to feel his strong arms around me, to have him near me.
I took a deep breath and fell asleep soon after.
After breakfast I had to go to the library again. Later Draco and I would meet at St Mungo's.
The day was dragging on unnervingly. I wasn't able to concentrate thoroughly.
I didn't want to see her again. But I had to be there to keep her from pinching my fiancé.
I growled and wondered what kind of show she would put on this time. I gritted my teeth.
Andrew jerked me out of my thoughts. He invited me to come to the cafeteria with him. I agreed, knowing that I needed a break. We were talking about Muggle EU Law again – to my surprise he had really read the essays I had recommended him.
Finally he asked me to join him at Hogsmeade again. I told him that I had decided to come and he was beaming with joy.
I wondered why he was so keen on having me near him the whole time lately. Hadn't I made myself clear last time at Hogsmeade?
I decided that I was having enough problems for the moment and that I wouldn't want to pay too much attention to Andrew's weird need for a shoulder to lean on lately.
I smiled at him and took another mouthful of my coffee.
„Ally, you look sad. Do you have something on your mind?" he asked.
„No, Andrew, I'm fine. Thank you! I think it's just the upcoming finals that are running me hard lately. If you excuse me please, I have to go now. See you!" I replied and got up, pecking him on the cheek.
„See you next week, Ally!" he said and I left.
I hastened to the library to get my stuff. Then I went to the Great Hall. From there I apparated directly to St Mungo's.
Draco was already waiting for me and I saw a few paparazzi linger on the street.
„Hi, dear. How are you!" I said hastily. He drew me inside the building, side-glancing at the paparazzi.
„That's just what I needed now." I said sternly, nodding towards them.
„Me too." said Draco in a hoarse voice, curling his lip, a tense expression on his face.
We stood there for a while. Then I saw her stalking towards us. Draco had seen her too and muttered,
„Here we go! Excuse me please."
He turned away from me for a moment and waved his wand. I heard him say „Assordo!", then he turned to me again and put on a strained smile.
„Sindy, how good to see you again!" he said in a fake sweet tone and pecked her on both cheeks.
She hugged him cordially and tried to kiss him on the mouth. My insides were clenching and I had to try hard to stay calm.
I gave her a fake smile and waved. She nodded curtly and averted her eyes from me again, a priggish expression on her face. She started a conversation with Draco, who looked rather unnerved.
'Bitch!' I thought and rolled my eyes.
Deliberately I took a back seat all along to avoid to annoy her.
After Draco had talked to her for a while, we went to the fourth floor, where we were seated in the waiting room.
Some of the other outpatients were staring at us. I smiled at them.
Draco sighed when he took the seat next to Sindy.
He took my hand, I squeezed it, it was cold. He looked at me, stony-faced. I blinked at him calmingly. I knew he understood me without any word spoken.
Then a young wizard in a white cloak appeared, a clipboard in his hand, saying,
„Ms Mos, please."
She rose to follow the wizard. I squeezed Draco's hand and he got up, too.
„I'll wait for you!" I whispered and gave him an encouraging smile.
He cleared his throat and followed her to the examination room.
I crossed my legs and took an issue of Witch Weekly, skimming through the pages, trying to find some distraction. I felt very tense inside, my heart was racing.
„Ms Mos, good to see you again. How are you?" the wizard said.
Sindy beamed at him.
„I'm fine, doctor. May I introduce you to my husband-to-be..." she said.
Draco gasped and frowned.
„Oh, I didn't know you were engaged to Mr Malfoy." the wizard cut in, beaming at her.
„Good afternoon, Mr Malfoy. Good to have you here. Isn't it exciting to become a father?" he went on, giving Draco a flawless smile.
Draco gave the wizard a fake smile that was rather a snarl but didn't say a word.
Irritated, the wizard turned to Sindy again.
„So Ms Mos, how far along are we again?" he looked down at his clipboard.
Draco stood in the corner behind Sindy eyeing the scene suspiciously.
„Why don't you take a seat?" she turned to him, a sulky expression on her face, patting at the seat next to her.
He growled and sat down.
„Ah, already three months along. So do you still suffer from morning sickness? Last time you were here I wrote down – as I can see on my notes – that you were having rather severe problems with it. Did you take the potion I gave you? " the wizard said.
Draco started to get bored. He wondered what he was doing here.
„And has your fiancé served you breakfast to the bed as I've advised you to reduce the sickness, too?" the wizard said, looking at Draco, full of expectation. Draco grimaced at this question in bewilderment and disbelief.
„No!" Sindy piped an a fake sweet tone.
„No?" the wizard exclaimed, an astonished expression on his face.
Draco's insides were clenching – he was boiling with rage.
„Was abroad most of the time!" he ground out. „Unfortunately!" he went on, relieved that the others seemingly hadn't noticed the subtle irony in his last word.
„Yeah, that's sad. I advise you to get involved more intensely. Nine months pass by irretrievably quick, I can tell you from personal experience." the wizard said, arching a brow at Draco.
"Oh, I didn't know you have children yourself, doctor!" Sindy piped excitedly, beaming at him once more. The wizard nodded and gave her another flawless smile.
Draco tried hard to keep calm. He wondered when he would be able to get rid of this insufferable know-it-all. 'From personal experience'? That lad was still wet behind the ears and wanted to show the ropes to him? He curled his lip and let out a small cocky snort at very the thought of it.
He didn't like the sickly mawkish tone in that this lad was talking to him, he didn't like the chummy attitude he was showing towards him. Needless to say that Sindy appreciated to be treated like this, she wouldn't notice that the behaviour of this guy was totally artificial. But that was none of his business, he thought.
All he was waiting for now was to be asked to sign an autograph. It definitely was good to be Draco Malfoy, he thought cockily and let out a small laughter.
The touch of a hand on his shoulder jerked him out of his thoughts,
„Mr Malfoy, if you please..." the wizard said.
„Uhm, yes?" Draco drawled, looking flabbergasted for a moment.
To his dismay he saw Sindy lying on an examination table now. Her belly was exposed. He swallowed dryly as he noticed a slight bulge.
„I'm doing a screening of the child now, Mr Malfoy. It's absolutely painless for your wife." the wizard said, his wand raised over Sindy's belly.
Draco swallowed again, very pale now.
„Come over here, place your hand on her belly. Feel your child!" the wizard went on, seizing Draco's hand.
It was trembling.
The wizard pushed it towards the bulge. Draco tried to squirm free of his grip.
All of a sudden he threw off the wizard's hand and stormed off the examination room without saying another word.
'That's definitely going too far!' he thought lividly, a muscle in his jaw was jumping. He clicked his fingers and the Deafening Charm he had used this time wore off immediately.
"Draco! Come back, Draco!" he heard Sindy's annoyingly shrill voice.
„Well, uhm, alright, ah, yes, this...can happen...sometimes. That's just perfectly normal, Ms Mos. I can assure you! Nothing to worry about. Sometimes the father's hormones run wild, too. Especially when it's their first one. As you've told me before he has got problems to cope with the whole situation? Therefore it is very important to get him involved even more... Uhm, Ms Mos, no, uhm...don't...uhm... don't cry." he heard the wizard stammer from behind.
„Draco?" I called, taken aback.
„Are you already finished? Where's Sindy?" I asked, looking at him in bewilderment. He was very pale and his eyes were a very dark shade of grey. He was trembling slightly.
„Come with me!" he barked, seizing my wrist, pulling me up from my seat. The other people in the waiting room were staring at us.
„Ouch! You're hurting me!" I said, trying to squirm free of his grip, giving him a nasty look.
„Let's go! Now!" he hissed and left the waiting room.
„Mr Malfoy! Why are you leaving? Come back, your wife's waiting for you!" I heard the wizard's voice from behind, sounding rather distressed. Draco didn't answer.
„Wait, Draco, wait! Wait for me!" I said and ran after Draco, who had just turned around a corner at sprinter's pace.
I wondered what had happened at the examination room.
Trying hard to keep up with Draco I didn't notice Blaise lingering at the foyer, definitely waiting for someone.
