Chapter 43 Icy Blue Eyes
She woke up to the sound of the ocean right outside the opened window of her room in the cottage. Absentmindedly, she stroked her tummy with a serene smile. She is thankful that she was okay, and Clementine was also, alright. But the fear of her friends' sake was bugging her. She couldn't face them, all with their worried looks and clumsy expressions- they make her worry. And she knew that it isn't alright in her state. Clementine is a sensitive topic, and she doesn't want any complications to happen to her child.
Well-infact, after a few seconds of thinking about Harry, Clementine sensed her distress and kicked against her bladder in an act of distracting her. Rubbing her tummy lightly, she puffed out uneasy breath. Mentally, she nodded with a thought that came to mind; agreeing with the knowledge that there is this unexplainable phenomena regarding the beautiful connection mothers and children have that nobody could ever understand; mothers have this unspoken ability to feel what their children feel even without a single glance or an utterance of a word.
"Are you alright Miss Luna?" Dobby asked, his face wrinkled with a frown filled with curiosity and worry.
Luna tries to respond but instead, a sharp feeling of having her abdomen being squeezed empowered her usually calm demeanor. Cold fat sweat fell from her scalp, trailing down her cheek as Luna felt her insides squirm. Everything that is happening inside her body was unbelievably present for her to be felt. Her heart tugs echoed from her ears and her muscles tighten in per beat. She felt something happen that does not usually happen before and it made her feel as if today is not a regular day.
Suddenly, she felt as if her insides exploded with the tightness of it's metaphorical dam. She felt a rush of need to pee. Only that, this time, for the life of her, one that nobody could bear or control.
Her eyes widen. There was a pregnant pause, both of them too shocked to even move. Apparently, Hermione had sensed everything. She paused dramatically to breathe and then, looked right, back and forth to Harry and Ron. Everybody and everything stopped around her, all of their eyes and thoughts revolved onto the scene that is being unfold.
Once, twice, droplets of liquid trickled down her leg. She gasped and turned her head to look for a napkin, anything, just to stop herself from leaking. She stopped midway as her eyes connected to Hermione. The older Gryffindor smiled at her, encouraging her not to be frightened about this. Halting from her panicked state, her mind, her usually calm self knocked her out from her rare paranoia. Calmly, with deep breaths and without any further actions, whatever that was holding her metaphorical dam broke, and water gashed out from her private area.
"Somebody- anybody! Now's the right time to take her to St. Mungo's" Hermione's eyes darted right to the puddle that Luna had caused. Horrified yet with brain developing plans as fast as how Harry is being a seeker, she acted briskly. Xenophilius opened the door of the cottage for his daughter, and Harry nodded while making his way to Luna. He scooped her inside, planting his arm to the back of her knees and the other one right to her back. Luna pants, feeling wet all over her legs and feet. In truth, she was afraid and Harry can see that. "You'll be alright Luna" he said softly, comforting the girl as he remained his eyes to her's.
"I need him there" Luna smiled, although her eyes squeezes shut as she experienced a sharp pain right below her tummy. It was that kind of pain that she never had experienced before, it was as if her abdomen is been kicked by a titan over and over again, more pronounced and detailed than the last. It was truly horrifying. Immediately, Harry saw her pain, and he gulped guiltily. He wanted to dwell in this pain that she's been experiencing. He wanted to be there for Luna as much as how she has always been there for him, but his name is a big hindrance in everything that he wanted to do. As much as he wanted to take her to St. Mungo's, he doesn't have any choice. He was a wanted man by the dark lord, and any signs of him anywhere can end not just his life, but most importantly, his loved ones'.
"Mr. Lovegood? please take your daughter to St. Mungo's. And Dobby, you have to get Ma-Draco" Harry instructed and the two nodded in command.
"It is okay Harry, I understand" Luna tightened her hold to Harry's neck. Looking right inside Harry's soul as she pleads silently for his safety. "I need to make this world a better place for Clementine, Luna" He leaned to her ear, the sadness inside his words lingered through his sentence. It was because of the doubt. The fear of not knowing whether he would succeed or not. The child inside Luna;even if the baby is Malfoy's spawn, she would have a special place inside his heart. And the thought of him dying,and a dark cold place for the child's future, sends chills to travel inside him. He doesn't want that. No.
"Harry-"
"Be careful Luna. I- Hermione, Ron, and I would still need to see you and Clementine alive and smiling, alright?" he squeezes her arm and flashes her a bright smile, and Luna returned it by raising the end of her lips to form a tired grin.
"Clementine still needs to see her uncle too"
"Mr. Malfoy sir?" Dobby popped inside Draco's chambers. Draco stood in his balcony with his eyes focused to the grounds below, thinking about the fallen Rabastan and how his face seemed to imprint itself inside his thoughts
"Mr. Malfoy sir!" Dobby hurried his way next to him, folding his hand to the sleeve of Draco's robes and yanking it to get the aristocrat's head back to reality. Punishment be damned as Dobby didn't care if his old master would eventually hurt him. But odd as it seems, the young Malfoy just turned his head and raised his light eyebrow.
"What do you need?" he asks distantly, as if he was still stuck inside his thoughts.
"The baby is going to be delivered sir! Dobby was given the instruction to tell Mr Draco sir!" It had seem to awaken the senses of the blond. At first, he stared flatly to Dobby, blinking as he was contemplating the elf's words right inside his head. Then, his eyes turned lighter, showing an excited expression as his lips turned into a grin.
"Let's go" without another second left for him to ponder, they held hands and with a blink of an eye, vanished.
He opened his eyes, slightly dizzy with the apparation. They were already there, infront of the opened gates of St. Mungo's. Dobby turned his head to look at him, asking for an assurance or a command. Nodding to the elf, they both walked in the magical gate with Draco striding quicker; it was probably not because he was bigger and longer-well, yes, it can also be a reason- but because, he was actually in mixed emotions, and by that he can't do anything normally. His heart was tugging, pulsing inside his ears and his feet were cold and numb.
"Luna Lovegood- I erm, where could I find the labor room?" he sunk both of his hands to the ceramic counter. Through his panic emotion, he can't seem to know what was the right words to form. Selfish as he was, in truth, he didn't want Luna to make a move just yet. He needed to be there. He needed to witness every single second on how beautiful Luna looks like as she would violently scream right inside his ear. He needed to witness the hardships Luna would face to slowly melt away as soon as Clementine's very first cry would be heard. He just needed to be there. Just like what Rabastan said, it is never too late.
Rabastan..
"Just walk right to that right hall and the very first door would be Miss Lovegood" he nodded and mumbled a half hearted thankyou to the tired witch behind the counter. Without another word, he race his way to that right direction, dodging and sprinting as he made sure he is not wasting a second, not minding those who he nudges and push.
The 'Delivery Room' hall seemed to blink it's words right infront of his face. He turned his eyes to the first door on the right, squinting as he read the neat fonted clip that says 'Luna Lovegood'.
There was a sigh that had came from his mouth. With his hand twisting the door knob, he let a content smile form on his lips, letting his imaginations get the best of him. He truly was excited to see his daughter. But he couldn't say that he had always been. Well, not intentionally. In truth, he was really happy to have a child. But his insecurities would always dominate the happiness out, making him feel like he never deserve to have a beautiful Luna Lovegood and a beautiful child. He was also afraid. Afraid that he wouldn't be a good example, and that, he would raise them and pull them right inside the darkness of his own world.
He was afraid that he could ruin something so beautiful and pure.
Just as he was about to open the door, somebody from the inside was faster. He raised his eyes to look at the intruder, and eventually, he made eye contact with the one and only, Xenophilius Lovegood.
"Good afternoon sir" it took him five seconds to respond to the awkward silence. Soon as he mentally traveled inside his mind to pull the courage from it's hiding place, he quickly moved on from the unexpected events and offered his hand to the father of the one he has a child with.
But instead of taking his hand, the man's lips lifted slowly and surprised Draco with his warm arms, he patted the man's back awkwardly, trying to understand the unexpected motion. He is no good with physical contacts.
"You have proven yourself worthy to be kept young man" The man declared while releasing him off of him. Like a father to a son, Xenophilius nodded proudly at Draco, looking at him as if he doesn't belong to the people who kidnapped his beloved daughter. And as shocking as it was, the man reminds him so much of Luna. So kind. So pure of imagination. So full of life.
"thank you sir, I-" He was about to say something nice to the man but was cut short when Luna's squeal was to be heard. The two men turned their heads and immediately came rushing towards Luna's side.
Xenophilius stopped when he was five inches away from Luna's cot; thinking that it was a couple's thing to experience. So instead of striding closer, he sat himself on the sofa a couple of inches away from Luna.
"Hi Luna" Draco grabbed Luna's cold hand inside his, squeezing the nervous flesh as Luna's squinted eyes turned to look at him. "It hurts so much" she whispered, tightening her hold to his hand as she felt the stirring pain worsen than before. Much to the hospital's policy, Draco extended Luna's cot with a flick of his wand. When the healer gave him a piercing glance, he shot her his arrogant, cold look, reminding her about his power over her. With that, the healer scoffed in irritation and returned to her current work.
"I got you, don't worry. It will be alright" He hopped in behind her, his long legs sprawled to her sides. Luna groaned in frustration, her breath heaving as the contraction hit her lower back. "It will all be alright wouldn't it?" She nodded, her chest lowering with deep exhale. He leaned onto her shoulder, caressing her sweaty hair out from her face and planted a chaste kiss to the side of her jaw.
"Stay calm Ma'am, the baby is ready to leave. We are now on the second stage of your contractions. Breathe real deep, I need you to gather your strength. Okay, ready? Now, push!" the healer said, holding both of Luna's legs to fight them from kicking her on the face. Instead of replying, Luna's eyes went wide as she screamed; she could feel her skin stretch to an unbelievable expansion.
"I feel like my crotch is being ripped apart! It bloody hurts!" she reasoned out, a raw and unfamiliar rise of voice joined in exhaustion. Twisting both of her ankles as she gritted her teeth, she gave the most forced push that she can ever do."Magnificent Luna. You're doing incredible" Draco fingers trace her knuckles to calm her abused muscles. He felt hopeless sitting down and watching her writhe in agony as Clementine's splitting her in half.
As he leaned down and whisper sweet sentences to his laboring girlfriend, he can't help but to stare at her in awe. She was bright pink and her hair was a mess but it was lovely. She was lovely. Everything felt so alive, pulsing and breathing. And per usual, it is because Luna. Always because of Luna.
"Just push for me love. I know you can do it. I love you"
"Draco, you know I love you too, very and wholesomely much, and please know I do not mean this words ok? Oh dear Merlin, I hate you right now. Sweet blubbering humdingers, it hurts so bad!"
"Just one more push" Luna rolled her tired eyes and she writhed inside the cot, pushing weakly as she feel as if her body was giving up on her. Her hands clutched, squeezing Draco's hands as she feel his bones crashing to each other. Through gritted teeth, she let out one last struggling squeal; the nerves on her slim neck exposed and pulsing. Soon, through her passage way, Clementine slid herself out.
Luna lets her clenched ankles relax as she opened her mouth to take in harsh and shallow breath. Once her daughter was pulled softly from her body, the hospital-masked healer raised Clementine inside her arms and tilted the baby for Luna and Draco to see. And soon, as if Clementine had just sensed that she was separated from her warm shelter, the newborn wiggles both of her arms and cries helplessly, showing off her toothless mouth.
Draco circles the tip of his thumb on Luna's sweaty palm, his mouth opened in shock as he felt rush of unexplainable emotions fill inside his system. "You did so well Luna. She's beautiful" he said breathlessly, his head turned to face hers. He showed her his rare smile; the true smile that can only be equipped whenever he is with Luna or his mother. Luna, at lost for words, nodded in response. There were weak but happy tears pouring down her cheeks and she brought Draco's knuckles to her lips, planting a chaste kiss on the center of his crashed hand.
The healer's assistant raised their wand and pointed it towards the cord that ties Luna and Clementine together, with a quick murmur of a spell, the cord was separated to the middle and started vanishing without any prints left behind.
Soon, as the healer had finished cleaning the baby, and magically join the stretched skin that had belonged to Luna's, she wrapped Clementine with a pink blanket and went to Luna's side. Immediately, Draco opened his arms, his eyes never leaving the tiny bud inside the big blanket.
"Would you like to register her name?" the healer asked while placing the newborn in his limbs.
"Clementine. Clementine Larissa Lovegood Malfoy"
"I'll leave you three alone now" and she left with a smile. Probably glad to escape the young aristocrat while he's still in awe with his daughter.
With his arm around Clementine's bottom and the other under her head, she opened her eyes for the first time. Although he was certain she couldn't see him just yet; yes he actually pays attention to the human anatomy subject that he once had while he was in second year, Draco tilted her head gently, moving her much closer to him as he smiled with eyes deep and thick of unexplainable gratitude. "Hi there love, I'm your daddy" he said and the baby only blinked in return.
"She has your eyes Draco" Luna shifted on the cot, raising herself to lean at Draco's shoulder; the three pair of blue eyes linger to one another.
"hum" he only smiled in return. Tilting his head, Luna lowered hers as she captured Draco's lips in a chaste kiss, instinctively closing her eyes as she leaned closer to deepen it. Soon as the scene was starting to heat up, the couple broke apart as the baby started wiggling inside Draco's arms, opening her little mouth, she whined out a cry of plea.
"Did I hurt her?" Draco asked sheepishly, the inexperienced slash new father, gave the crying baby right to Luna. Guilt and insecurity bubbled themselves inside his system, and Luna was certain she felt him edge far away from her. She looked at him with a frown upon her face, wishing she could see the bewilderment inside her eyes.
"No, nonsense Draco" She tugged the thin sleeve of her hospital dress, removing the barrier between her chest and her newborn daughter. Immediately, the baby placed her rosy cheek on her mother's skin, blinking her eyes as she placed her head to rest upon her mother's breast, her eyes transfixed to Draco's own pair.
Relief and contentment decided to overrule his paranoia for a change.
Soon, as he smiled back at his daughter, he let his mind wander yet again, to Rabastan. He feels, to be honest, peaceful for a very long time. It was as if he had discovered something. And yes, he really did. As his daughter looked right at him, he feels so connected more than possible, to her and Luna. He feels the need not to give up on them. He feels as if he could slay the dark lord. He feels as if he can do anything for the two, just to see their smiles and their trust filled eyes. Suddenly, Rabastan's words were clear. Now, he understands. Now, he feels stronger than before. As if seeing a strange light, he feels that he could do anything just to keep himself alive; he needed to grow old with Luna, to see the family that they would create together. And as difficult as it was to admit, he just needs to believe and to trust Potter for his family's future. Because he wants to wake up everyday without the dark mark hurting. He wants to wake up everyday with a smile on his face, knowing that everything that Luna had said about him were true.
As long as you're still alive, you still have a chance.
Ugh, I don't know. Uninspired :(.
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