And once again, thank you so much for all the reviews, I really appreciate
them and the suggestions. (They usually wind up finding a place in the
story, hint-hint).
This chapter has references to the prequel to this story, Reverso, also archived at FanFiction.
This chapter also earns the R rating, (it is Valentine's Day after all) please don't read if it offends.
Next chapter will see a new twist on an old tradition, yes folks, it's baby shower time!
Chapter VIII. Mother and Child Reunion
//13th Febuary 11:30 p.m.
I can't sleep.
I know I should try to get some rest, but I got an owl today from my Mum, letting me know she is coming to visit.
Tomorrow.
I want to see her, I miss her so much, but I, I don't know. I haven't seen her since June of last year, during Father's trial. I have so many questions, some I'm not even sure I want answers for. I guess the baby can tell I'm nervous, seems like it's turning flips in there. Seems odd to call the baby an "it", I've been wondering more and more lately what "it" is. And I'm getting a little scared, I have to admit. I'm almost seven months now. Harry is being wonderful (if you don't count him sending Dobby to "take care" of me for a week) and I don't want to worry him.
It's nearly midnight now, so I will try to get some sleep. Good night, little one.
Grandma will be here soon.//
14th Febuary 9:49 a.m.
Harry brought eggs, toast, bacon and jam to the table for a late breakfast.
Draco had been very quiet all morning, his mind a thousand miles away. Harry pulled out the closest chair from the table and sat down. Draco picked at his food, moving it around the plate and back.
"You know," said Harry. "You won't absorb the eggs through the fork."
When this barely raised a smile, Harry had a pretty good idea what was going on.
"Are you going to be ok today?" Harry asked. "I know you wanted to be alone with your Mum when she got here, but if you need me to, you know I will stay."
Draco finally looked up.
"No, I need to do this." He placed his hand on Harry's cheek. "But thank you, I know you would stay if I needed you. And that's all I need to know."
Harry leaned in for a soft kiss.
"By the way, Happy Valentine's Day," he whispered.
A few hours later, Draco paced the living room nervously. The letter had said she would arrive at noon, and Narcissa was never late. She had always looked down on those who "couldn't be bothered to be punctual."
Draco smoothed the wrinkles down from his maternity robe, dark green silk that came just below his knees, with black trousers. Madame Magnolia was having a lovely time designing his outfits, and usually brought one to two a week now. They were getting more and more elaborate, as this one had intricate silver clasps all the way down the front.
At exactly twelve noon there was a soft knocking on the door.
Draco took a deep breath, and walked over to grasp the handle.
Narcissa stood in the doorframe in a black and red flowing dress, her hair pulled back in a golden clasp. Her eyes widened a bit at the sight of her very pregnant son, but then returned to a neutral gaze, unsure of herself for what may have been the first time in her life. Draco motioned for her to come in to the cottage.
"Mother," he stated politely.
"Draco."
"Please have a seat," Draco waved toward the couch in the living room. "Would you like some tea?"
Narcissa sat down, folding her cloak across the arm of the couch. "Yes, that would be lovely. So this is where you and...and Harry live."
Draco returned from the kitchen with the teapot and cups, setting them down on the table.
"Yes, Harry and I live here. Since last June." He fumbled with the teacup, not sure where to go from here.
"Um, are you doing well?" Draco finally asked.
"I am alright." she half-smiled. "It has been difficult running the manor alone, of course, but it is getting easier. I think the house-elves are actually starting to listen to me."
Draco nodded. He understood her meaning. The house-elves, save for Dobby, only obeyed Lucius. But since he had been in Azkaban for nearly a year, they were beginning to believe he wasn't coming back.
"That's good, " Draco stated.
Long tense moments passed. There were so many things he wanted to say, wanted to ask. He had meant to make small talk for awhile, ask how everyone was, but the words were out before he could stop...
"Mother," he asked."Did you know?"
Narcissa looked at the teacup in her hands, which had begun to shake slightly.
"Know?" she whispered.
"Yes," Draco went on. "Did you know how Father treated me? Did you know of the beatings? The curses he 'practiced' on me so I would learn them?"
Draco was shouting now, hardly aware of the volume of his voice. It was all coming out, all the hurt, the scars, the desperate questions. The dam he had built for so many years was finally breaking open.
"Did you know of the night he tried to make me take the Dark Mark?! Did you.."
"STOP!" she cried. "Please, stop."
Draco noticed the tears beginning to form in his mother's eyes.
"Yes," she sniffled. "Yes, I knew what he was doing. He was..." She broke off in sobs, placing the teacup on the table.
"What? What is it?" he asked, a bit more harshly than he intended.
"He was doing those things to me too." she said softly.
Draco leaned toward her. "What?"
"He, he beat me, and used the curses on me to make sure I was 'always the perfect complement to a Malfoy'. He never considered me an equal, only as an accessory. And you," she nodded, "were the heir, the one to carry on the name, to walk in his father's horrible footsteps..."
"Why didn't you try to stop him?" Draco broke in. "Why did you let him do those things to you, to me..."
"I couldn't!" Narcissa cried. "I tried to protect you when you were little, but he only beat me, and YOU, more every time I tried. After a while, I told myself you were safer if I let him do what he wanted. And after a while, I believed it. I believed he was right, that I was being unreasonable, and that you needed to learn how to be a Malfoy, and...so did I. At the trial, all I could think about was what he had drilled into my thoughts for so long: to hate the Potters, to protect the Death Eaters, to serve Voldemort...."
"What changed?" Draco asked.
"Your letter." Narcissa smiled. "The way you spoke of Harry, of the baby. Of how much you loved him, and how much he loved you. I remember the night you were born, I was so happy. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Even your father was happy, and for a brief moment, I had delusions that we would be a real family. But then I remembered him only being pleased that you were a boy, and that you would 'carry on the proud tradition of the Malfoys', and how 'pleased the Dark Lord would be'. She cried freely now. "I was crushed! I knew then I could never have real love, not from Lucius, nor for you. I would never earn it from him, and..."
She looked into Draco's silvery eyes.
"And I would never deserve to love you."
Draco shook his head. "You're wrong, Mother," he stated. "Did you know how Harry and I found each other? I was standing on a tower at school at midnight, convinced that no one loved me and never would, that I was the biggest failure in wizard history, and that I was going to do everyone a favor and remove myself from the world."
Narcissa gasped. "Draco!"
"I did jump, but Harry was there, and he tried to grab me. We both wound up falling off the tower."
"But how did..." his Mum began.
"Harry used a spell, turned out to be the wrong one, or the right one, depending on your point of view. It reversed our memories. We could see each others', and learned we had more in common than we had ever known. Harry has never had it easy, either. I always thought he was the golden boy, but like being a Malfoy, it had its price. The spell also stopped time for a moment, close to the ground, which is how we avoided being scraped up with a spoon the next day."
A slight blush colored his cheeks. "We, uh, also realized we had, well, feelings for each other, and, well..."
Narcissa smiled. "Obviously," she stated as she placed her hand on Draco's stomach, bringing a slight kicking against her palm.
"My grandchild," she beamed. "I don't want to make the same mistakes again, Draco. I want to be there for you, for your family. I love you. I just wish I would have had the courage to show it before..."
"Mum," Draco whispered. "It's over." Mother and son wrapped their arms around each other, holding for dear life. "We start from today."
Later that evening, long after Narcissa had gone home, Draco was lying on the bed, writing in his diary.
"Whatcha doing?" Harry sing-songed as he climbed onto the bed.
"Teaching the squirrels how to knit," he said matter-of-factly."What does it look like I'm doing?" he grinned.
"It looks like you are writing in your diary, which you know I approve of, because it's going to be a wonderful thing to look back on as our child gets older, but seeing as how it is Valentine's Day, I can think of something else that will be nice to look back on...."
"Why, Mr. Potter," Draco purred. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Damn right I am," Harry growled as he gently took the book from Draco's hand and laid it onto the nightstand. Quickly, he managed to rid them both of the pajama bottoms they were wearing. Sitting up in the bed, Harry gently pulled Draco back against him, the blond sitting between his legs. Harry slid his hands around onto his lover's chest, leaning forward to drag his mouth across the back of Draco's neck. He was rewarded with a deep moan as Draco melted against him, his head laid back on Harry's shoulder as the kisses moved toward his waiting mouth, and Harry's hand moved even further down. Draco shivered as he felt the first touch. He could feel Harry harden against him, his breath becoming more ragged against Draco's lips. Slowly, Harry pulled Draco back toward him, even as he pushed upward, sliding gently inside, cautiously rocking back and forth to deepen the thrusts. Draco moaned into Harry's mouth, loving the feeling of Harry in him, around him, pumping him with his hands and hips....
Draco felt Harry thrust harder, coming deep inside him, bringing Draco to his own climax, the two of them holding each other as the shaking subsided, kissing softly.
Draco whispered against Harry's lips. "Oh, by the way, Happy Valentine's Day to you too."
This chapter has references to the prequel to this story, Reverso, also archived at FanFiction.
This chapter also earns the R rating, (it is Valentine's Day after all) please don't read if it offends.
Next chapter will see a new twist on an old tradition, yes folks, it's baby shower time!
Chapter VIII. Mother and Child Reunion
//13th Febuary 11:30 p.m.
I can't sleep.
I know I should try to get some rest, but I got an owl today from my Mum, letting me know she is coming to visit.
Tomorrow.
I want to see her, I miss her so much, but I, I don't know. I haven't seen her since June of last year, during Father's trial. I have so many questions, some I'm not even sure I want answers for. I guess the baby can tell I'm nervous, seems like it's turning flips in there. Seems odd to call the baby an "it", I've been wondering more and more lately what "it" is. And I'm getting a little scared, I have to admit. I'm almost seven months now. Harry is being wonderful (if you don't count him sending Dobby to "take care" of me for a week) and I don't want to worry him.
It's nearly midnight now, so I will try to get some sleep. Good night, little one.
Grandma will be here soon.//
14th Febuary 9:49 a.m.
Harry brought eggs, toast, bacon and jam to the table for a late breakfast.
Draco had been very quiet all morning, his mind a thousand miles away. Harry pulled out the closest chair from the table and sat down. Draco picked at his food, moving it around the plate and back.
"You know," said Harry. "You won't absorb the eggs through the fork."
When this barely raised a smile, Harry had a pretty good idea what was going on.
"Are you going to be ok today?" Harry asked. "I know you wanted to be alone with your Mum when she got here, but if you need me to, you know I will stay."
Draco finally looked up.
"No, I need to do this." He placed his hand on Harry's cheek. "But thank you, I know you would stay if I needed you. And that's all I need to know."
Harry leaned in for a soft kiss.
"By the way, Happy Valentine's Day," he whispered.
A few hours later, Draco paced the living room nervously. The letter had said she would arrive at noon, and Narcissa was never late. She had always looked down on those who "couldn't be bothered to be punctual."
Draco smoothed the wrinkles down from his maternity robe, dark green silk that came just below his knees, with black trousers. Madame Magnolia was having a lovely time designing his outfits, and usually brought one to two a week now. They were getting more and more elaborate, as this one had intricate silver clasps all the way down the front.
At exactly twelve noon there was a soft knocking on the door.
Draco took a deep breath, and walked over to grasp the handle.
Narcissa stood in the doorframe in a black and red flowing dress, her hair pulled back in a golden clasp. Her eyes widened a bit at the sight of her very pregnant son, but then returned to a neutral gaze, unsure of herself for what may have been the first time in her life. Draco motioned for her to come in to the cottage.
"Mother," he stated politely.
"Draco."
"Please have a seat," Draco waved toward the couch in the living room. "Would you like some tea?"
Narcissa sat down, folding her cloak across the arm of the couch. "Yes, that would be lovely. So this is where you and...and Harry live."
Draco returned from the kitchen with the teapot and cups, setting them down on the table.
"Yes, Harry and I live here. Since last June." He fumbled with the teacup, not sure where to go from here.
"Um, are you doing well?" Draco finally asked.
"I am alright." she half-smiled. "It has been difficult running the manor alone, of course, but it is getting easier. I think the house-elves are actually starting to listen to me."
Draco nodded. He understood her meaning. The house-elves, save for Dobby, only obeyed Lucius. But since he had been in Azkaban for nearly a year, they were beginning to believe he wasn't coming back.
"That's good, " Draco stated.
Long tense moments passed. There were so many things he wanted to say, wanted to ask. He had meant to make small talk for awhile, ask how everyone was, but the words were out before he could stop...
"Mother," he asked."Did you know?"
Narcissa looked at the teacup in her hands, which had begun to shake slightly.
"Know?" she whispered.
"Yes," Draco went on. "Did you know how Father treated me? Did you know of the beatings? The curses he 'practiced' on me so I would learn them?"
Draco was shouting now, hardly aware of the volume of his voice. It was all coming out, all the hurt, the scars, the desperate questions. The dam he had built for so many years was finally breaking open.
"Did you know of the night he tried to make me take the Dark Mark?! Did you.."
"STOP!" she cried. "Please, stop."
Draco noticed the tears beginning to form in his mother's eyes.
"Yes," she sniffled. "Yes, I knew what he was doing. He was..." She broke off in sobs, placing the teacup on the table.
"What? What is it?" he asked, a bit more harshly than he intended.
"He was doing those things to me too." she said softly.
Draco leaned toward her. "What?"
"He, he beat me, and used the curses on me to make sure I was 'always the perfect complement to a Malfoy'. He never considered me an equal, only as an accessory. And you," she nodded, "were the heir, the one to carry on the name, to walk in his father's horrible footsteps..."
"Why didn't you try to stop him?" Draco broke in. "Why did you let him do those things to you, to me..."
"I couldn't!" Narcissa cried. "I tried to protect you when you were little, but he only beat me, and YOU, more every time I tried. After a while, I told myself you were safer if I let him do what he wanted. And after a while, I believed it. I believed he was right, that I was being unreasonable, and that you needed to learn how to be a Malfoy, and...so did I. At the trial, all I could think about was what he had drilled into my thoughts for so long: to hate the Potters, to protect the Death Eaters, to serve Voldemort...."
"What changed?" Draco asked.
"Your letter." Narcissa smiled. "The way you spoke of Harry, of the baby. Of how much you loved him, and how much he loved you. I remember the night you were born, I was so happy. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Even your father was happy, and for a brief moment, I had delusions that we would be a real family. But then I remembered him only being pleased that you were a boy, and that you would 'carry on the proud tradition of the Malfoys', and how 'pleased the Dark Lord would be'. She cried freely now. "I was crushed! I knew then I could never have real love, not from Lucius, nor for you. I would never earn it from him, and..."
She looked into Draco's silvery eyes.
"And I would never deserve to love you."
Draco shook his head. "You're wrong, Mother," he stated. "Did you know how Harry and I found each other? I was standing on a tower at school at midnight, convinced that no one loved me and never would, that I was the biggest failure in wizard history, and that I was going to do everyone a favor and remove myself from the world."
Narcissa gasped. "Draco!"
"I did jump, but Harry was there, and he tried to grab me. We both wound up falling off the tower."
"But how did..." his Mum began.
"Harry used a spell, turned out to be the wrong one, or the right one, depending on your point of view. It reversed our memories. We could see each others', and learned we had more in common than we had ever known. Harry has never had it easy, either. I always thought he was the golden boy, but like being a Malfoy, it had its price. The spell also stopped time for a moment, close to the ground, which is how we avoided being scraped up with a spoon the next day."
A slight blush colored his cheeks. "We, uh, also realized we had, well, feelings for each other, and, well..."
Narcissa smiled. "Obviously," she stated as she placed her hand on Draco's stomach, bringing a slight kicking against her palm.
"My grandchild," she beamed. "I don't want to make the same mistakes again, Draco. I want to be there for you, for your family. I love you. I just wish I would have had the courage to show it before..."
"Mum," Draco whispered. "It's over." Mother and son wrapped their arms around each other, holding for dear life. "We start from today."
Later that evening, long after Narcissa had gone home, Draco was lying on the bed, writing in his diary.
"Whatcha doing?" Harry sing-songed as he climbed onto the bed.
"Teaching the squirrels how to knit," he said matter-of-factly."What does it look like I'm doing?" he grinned.
"It looks like you are writing in your diary, which you know I approve of, because it's going to be a wonderful thing to look back on as our child gets older, but seeing as how it is Valentine's Day, I can think of something else that will be nice to look back on...."
"Why, Mr. Potter," Draco purred. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Damn right I am," Harry growled as he gently took the book from Draco's hand and laid it onto the nightstand. Quickly, he managed to rid them both of the pajama bottoms they were wearing. Sitting up in the bed, Harry gently pulled Draco back against him, the blond sitting between his legs. Harry slid his hands around onto his lover's chest, leaning forward to drag his mouth across the back of Draco's neck. He was rewarded with a deep moan as Draco melted against him, his head laid back on Harry's shoulder as the kisses moved toward his waiting mouth, and Harry's hand moved even further down. Draco shivered as he felt the first touch. He could feel Harry harden against him, his breath becoming more ragged against Draco's lips. Slowly, Harry pulled Draco back toward him, even as he pushed upward, sliding gently inside, cautiously rocking back and forth to deepen the thrusts. Draco moaned into Harry's mouth, loving the feeling of Harry in him, around him, pumping him with his hands and hips....
Draco felt Harry thrust harder, coming deep inside him, bringing Draco to his own climax, the two of them holding each other as the shaking subsided, kissing softly.
Draco whispered against Harry's lips. "Oh, by the way, Happy Valentine's Day to you too."