Oh. I'm sorry I haven't posted if you've been waiting. I've been really busy. And I wanted to apologize for a few things!
For one I'm sorry about the whole graduation thing. Let's just pretend that THEY do have a graduation. I didn't know that they didn't.
About Draco's age. I originally did have that he was turning 19 and I have no idea why I changed it! Sorry! And about the miscarriage thing…er…I know nothing really and my mother isn't exactly 'share and care' so I had to base it on what I knew.
Thanks for all the feedback though and enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I wish I did…BUT I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!!!
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate
~~!!!~~
CHAPTER 7: HEY BABY
Ella tried to move but couldn't and opted for groaning instead. There was simply no other way to put it. She was so fat that she couldn't move. How she'd gotten onto her bed in the first place she had no idea. All she knew was that she couldn't get back off.
She tried again anyway and groaned before catching the bemused expression of her friend who was standing at the end of her bed.
"Shut up Draco." Ella scowled. Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't say anything," He told her before adding, "But if I did I doubt you would be able to chase after me now, would you?"
"Probably not. But why would I have to chase after you really? Geraldine does that enough for every girl in the world." She said smiling. Now Draco scowled.
"Yeah well. You...you're fat!" He always said this to her and it usually just caused her to laugh at him.
But this time Ella stared at him for a moment before hanging her head, "I've been awful Draco."
"I was just joking," He said quickly, "What's the matter?"
"Aside from everything?" Ella wondered. Draco frowned, this sounded familiar.
"Okay. Well yeah. Aside from everything." He shrugged.
"I should never have moved in with Harry. I should have stayed with my foster parents and waited until everything with this war got sorted out," Ella sighed, "I was greedy. I wanted to live with Harry when I think I should have thought about it a bit more. I think I've ruined his life."
"I doubt he thinks that." Draco argued.
"Oh please!" Ella rolled her eyes, "I've always given him hell about his job and I never told him about the baby myself. He's killing Voldemort for the sake of the entire Wizarding world and then there I was nagging at him to give me attention."
"Ella, where is this coming from? You know you had to leave for the baby. I'm sure Potter would understand. Is it the hormones again?" Draco shuffled uneasily, "Because I would really have to leave if it was."
"No. This is me." She said quietly, "And if he did understand then why hasn't he come to see me?"
"You could always go and see him." Draco suggested.
"No," Ella scoffed, "I've left it too late. Look at me! I'm a walrus. I doubt I'd make it to the door."
Draco studied her for a minute and looked over to the door. She was due in a little over a week and he doubted she'd even make it halfway to the door.
"See. You agree. But if he just came here..." She trailed off.
"What is with this sudden need to see Potter?" Draco asked lightly. Ella blinked several times before bursting into tears.
"I miss him." She cried, wiping at her tears. He stood and watched her awkwardly. What was there to say?
"You'll see him soon. How long have you missed him?" Draco said quietly.
"I always have," Ella took in a deep breath, "I love him. Sorry. I think it might be the hormones. But they haven't really been this out of whack..."
Her eyes widened and she placed both her hands on her stomach.
"The bugger kicking again?" Draco grinned and made his way over to her but stopped when she shook her head furiously.
"Oh...no..." She bit her bottom lip for a moment before letting out a loud scream.
"Merlin Egon!" Draco exclaimed shaking his head, "You'll smash the windows!"
She clenched her jaw and glared at him.
"What is your-" He began before gaping at her, "It's not...you're not...it's not..."
"It is," She said in alarm, "I really think I should go to the hospital now."
"Okay!" He helped her off the bed with difficulty and they made their way to the fireplace.
"Draco," She said urgently as they stood inside the fireplace, "Please get Harry after we get there."
* * * *
Hermione Apparated to St Mungo's merely minutes after she had received the message from Malfoy. She had been studying but she was willing to let that go for a few hours. After all, its not every day one of your friends gives birth. Well, considering that Ella was really her only female friend it was going to be the only day one of her friends gave birth. There was also Ginny though. And then perhaps maybe one day Hermione would be able to have children herself...
She shook her head. She'd gotten a little off track there.
It took about several minutes before she found the room Ella and Malfoy were in. He was standing away from her bed with an uneasy look on his face while she was being tended to by a Medi-Witch.
"Malfoy." Hermione greeted his as she went to stand next to him. He glanced up at her briefly before going back to staring at Ella.
"You how long is this supposed to take?" He demanded, a nervous expression on his face.
"Depends. Possibly a few hours. Possibly over a day," She waved at Ella as the girl smiled up at her from the bed, "Is Harry coming?"
Malfoy was silent.
"Is Harry coming?" Hermione repeated quietly.
"Oh," He seemed to be startled, "Could you get them? They should be somewhere right?"
"Harry would be at work. What do you mean them?" Hermione wondered, hopefully he wasn't referring to Ron. No such luck.
"The Weasley. Potter." Malfoy replied simply. Hermione opened her mouth to protest before shutting it as she considered the situation. Malfoy didn't look like he was moving and Ella certainly wasn't going anywhere. She quickly excused herself before making her way out of the room and Apparating to Harry's work. She'd been there once before and so she was remotely familiar with where she was going.
The Auror department was a rather cramped facility but then again, its occupants were rarely present. Since the war had become apparent Auror's were constantly fighting against the dark power that was Voldemort and his army.
Hermione sighed, that in itself seemed to be a never-ending battle.
She walked slowly past the small offices and hoped that Harry, maybe even Ron too, was in. She spotted Harry's office and smiled thankfully when she heard a voice coming from it. Picking up the pace, Hermione began to walk towards his office faster, before she stopped outside as she recognised the voice. It wasn't Harry, but Ron. And he was talking about her.
"I don't know mate," Ron's voice sounded strained, "I reckon I've not just screwed up any chance of us being together but every chance of us having a relationship at all."
"I doubt it," Harry said seriously, "You two have been friends since our first year at Hogwarts. Hermione wouldn't overlook that because of some stupid thing you did. You've done plenty of stupid things where she's concerned."
Hermione smiled. Ron had done plenty of stupid things where she was concerned. There was the slug curse that backfired, detention from Snape for defending her in class, the entire Yule Ball incident...
"I know that," Ron snapped, "But this time I mean I really did screw it up."
"I doubt it," Harry repeated, "You told her you love her. I know she loves you back. I don't see the problem."
Hermione frowned. Harry wasn't supposed to have told Ron she felt that way. She mentally noted to hit her bespectacled friend later.
"The problem is me!" Ron exclaimed, "I love her Harry. I'll admit it all right? I've loved her for years. I've never done anything cos I thought she was always too good for me or cos she didn't feel the same way back. And now I find out that she did and I've ruined it because she doesn't feel the same way anymore. I should have just swallowed my pride and told her how I felt before she moved on. I...I think I'll always love her you know?"
The girl in question felt her face flush and tears unwillingly form in her eyes. She felt the exact same way about Ron. But what could she do? Should she just throw caution and reason to the wind and run in the office right now and tell him so? No. That wouldn't be right.
"Ron she loves you!" Harry argued, drawing her back to her eavesdropping.
"She doesn't love me. She told me she hates me!" Ron pointed out.
"It's Hermione," Harry said exasperatedly, "You Apparated into her room in the middle of the night and started yelling at her. I think most girls would have done the same."
"Except the ones that hit you," Ron sounded amused all of a sudden, "Your girl can punch."
Hermione pulled a face, unsure of what they were talking about. Did Ella punch Harry?
"I spose the thing is," Said Harry thoughtfully, "That we're both hopeless where girls are concerned."
"I'll say." Ron agreed fervently.
They were quiet for a moment and Hermione made to walk inside the room
"What are you going to do Harry?" Ron said quietly, stopping her in her tracks.
"Do with what? With Ella?" Harry inquired.
Ron must have nodded because Harry sighed and spoke again.
"What I should have done all along. Bring her back," Harry said before adding quickly, "As soon as she has the baby that is. I can't wait until she does so that she can come back-"
"You may have that chance now," Hermione said from the doorway, startling both her friends, "Because she's in the hospital right at this moment."
* * * *
Geraldine Maple was beautiful. She knew she was and she didn't need other people telling her. Although she didn't mind in the least when they did. She was graceful and elegant too, the kind of woman any man wouldn't mind on his arm.
It didn't really matter that Harry Potter had broken up with her for some tramp in her sixth year because she had not been dumped by anyone else since then. She knew it was because of her appearance.
But beautiful or not, she was poor. Her mother had always told her that she could create for herself any life she wanted and she wanted a rich life. A very rich life.
Harry Potter had been the first opportunity to help her with the dream. It was no secret that The-Boy-Who-Lived was exceedingly rich, not to mention famous and handsome. But he wasn't as much of a pushover as Geraldine had thought he might be and she'd failed with her first opportunity.
Draco Malfoy was her second chance. She would never have approached him in her years at school with him. No one really would have. He was cold and cruel and spiteful.
Geraldine didn't know how Ginny Weasley had tamed him but she appreciated it because now she was able to twist him around her finger. Hopefully around her engagement finger...
"Hey," She snapped upon spotting a House Elf in the corridor, "Where's Mr Malfoy?"
The House Elf was called Pooty and was, as far as she was concerned, a pathetic example of behaviour for his kind. He was supposed to be a slave but somehow he was working for Draco and being paid for his duties. She thought it was abominable.
"Mr Malfoy?" Pooty's big eyes widened in fright as Geraldine clicked her fingers in front of his face.
"Yes you twit. Mr Malfoy! You know who he is. Where is he?" She demanded. The House Elf frowned in a highly impolite manner before smiling.
"He is gone. He took Miss Ella to the hospittle. The baby." Sooty told her happily.
"Oh great." Geraldine rolled her eyes. It was just disgusting how the little tramp was living with Draco now. She was pregnant with someone else's child and taking full advantage of Draco. If Geraldine didn't know any better she would think that Ellanora Egon was trying to get Draco all to herself!
Well she wasn't having any of that!
Ten minutes later Geraldine was standing outside one of the maternity rooms of St Mungo's listening happily to Ella yell in pain from the inside. It was only moments before Draco appeared before her with a questioning look on his face.
"Hey Draco." Geraldine bent up and kissed him in greeting. It was an action that had become familiar to her over the past few months.
"Hey Geri," He frowned, "What are you doing here?"
Sucking up you stupid prat, she thought.
"I came to see if you're alright," She replied with feigned concern, "One of the servants told me that Ella was having the baby and I thought that maybe you might need some company."
He smiled faintly.
"That's good but I'm alright," He grabbed her hand, "Thanks for coming though."
"Sure." She smiled brightly and squeezed his hand right back.
"About time they got here." Draco frowned over her shoulder at a sudden commotion coming from the end of the corridor. A small group of people was barging towards them. There was a man at the front who was running their way as if the Dark Lord was chasing after him. He stopped in front them and doubled over, panting heavily. When he had caught his breath he looked up again. He didn't seem to see Geraldine as his gaze was focused strongly on Draco.
"Is she alright? Is it time? She hasn't had it yet has she?" The man wondered. He looked extremely familiar and it took a mere glance at the lightening bolt scar on his forehead for Geraldine to gasp in recognition.
"Harry?" She wondered, her eyes wide. His eyes flickered over to her and he scowled.
"Geraldine." He stood up straight and surveyed her wearily.
"What do you think you're doing here?" She demanded, placing one of her hands on her hip.
"I have every right to be here," He looked down at her other hand clasped in Draco's," What's all that about?"
"We're dating Potter. This is my girlfriend Geri. But I suppose you two already know each other." Draco smiled as two other people came to Harry's side and Geraldine inwardly groaned. One of them was Ron Weasley.
"You," Ron glared at her, "Veela woman! What are you doing here?"
"This is my girlfriend-" Draco began but Ron interrupted him.
"You little gold-digger! What are you doing? Trying to get Harry back so you can sponge off him a bit more?" Ron wondered menacingly. Geraldine feigned innocence.
"I have no idea what you're implying." She said lightly.
"I don't want you around when my baby is being born." Harry said quietly. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Who would? Would you get away!" Ron narrowed his eyes at her. Hermione, the other accompanist of Harry, was glaring at her too. Draco was surprised.
"Now hang on," He looked between them all, "This isn't that girl you dated in the sixth year is it Harry?"
"Ohmigod," Geraldine threw her hands up in the air, "Did you tell everyone about me you four-eyed prat?"
"As a word of warning." Harry retorted.
Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
"Maybe you should head back to the Mansion. We'll talk when I get back." He said lightly but she could tell he was examining her in a whole new light.
"Fine." She smiled at him and turned away. Let them all be horrid company for each other! She didn't want to be around them as much as they didn't want to be around her.
* * * *
"Are you coming in?" A Medi-Witch stuck her head out of the room Ella was in and looked over at Malfoy. Malfoy frowned and took a few steps towards the room.
"What for?" He asked. The Medi-Witch sighed irritably.
"For your baby to be born. It's an awfully quick labor. It should only be a few more minutes." The Medi-Witch informed them. Malfoy stood still for a moment before looking over at Harry.
"You want to go in Potter?" He smiled. The Medi-Witch shook her head.
"I'm sorry but I think only the father should go in..." She began.
"I am the father." Harry said, a little annoyed that the Witch didn't know and surprised at what he had said. He was going to be a father...it was strange. The Medi-Witch was taken aback for a minute before she stepped aside and allowed Harry to walk into the room.
"Hey Ella." He said casually making his way over to her bed.
"Harry?" She was drenched in sweat, "How did you get time off work? Ah!"
She grimaced in pain and he couldn't help but flinch.
"Oh you know...I didn't. I just left," He grabbed her hand, "I would miss this for the world."
"Oh really. You wouldn't miss this? It's not a sideshow you great prat! Merlin you're bloody hopeless Harry..." She trailed off and groaned.
"Is that normal?" He asked the Medi-Witch. She gave him a funny look.
"Yes. Its called labor."
"Oh." He blushed a little, feeling sheepish. Ella looked up at him and smiled before she groaned again.
"Can I stand away a bit? Would you mind?" Harry asked. Ella shook her head.
"Not at all. Draco wouldn't come within five feet of me as soon as we got here," She rolled her eyes, "Merlin knows we wouldn't want you big strong men feinting."
Harry glared at her before smiling and taking a few steps back. He grimaced as the Medi-Witch got to work and shamefully turned around. He knew it was pathetic but he really couldn't watch it. Going up against Voldemort was one thing but seeing something like that...it was entirely different.
"Oh well done!" The Medi-Witch finished up and wrapped the baby in a soft blue blanket. Harry made his way slowly over to the bundle and grinned. It was tiny which isn't what he would have thought by the size Ella's stomach had been when he first walked in. The baby's eyes were closed and Harry couldn't help but stare at it. It had dark brown hair and a small, soft face.
"That's unusual," The Medi-Witch commented, "Normally they cry and don't go to sleep for hours."
Harry nodded and observed the blue blanket before smiling broadly. Blue. It was a boy.
"A boy Ella." He walked over to her bedside and showed her the baby. She was breathing heavily and grinned.
"A boy huh?"
The Medi-Witch was exiting the room but stopped and turned around.
"A boy? Oh heavens dears. It's a girl." She told them before leaving the room.
"A girl. Now that's more like it." Ella put out her hands and Harry placed the baby in them. So it was a girl. That was entirely different. It was bloody fantastic!
"How have you been lately?" Harry asked her suddenly. Ella looked up at him thoughtfully.
"Oh you know. This and that. I've been shopping and reading and I gave birth recently," She trailed her finger across her daughter's cheek, "What do you want to name her?"
"Lilly," Harry said immediately before adding, "Or Elizabeth. What do you think?"
"Our mothers names?" She crinkled her nose, "That'd just cause an argument. Because I know I'd want Elizabeth and you'd want Lily."
"True," Harry frowned, "What's wrong with Lilly?"
"Nothing. What's wrong with Elizabeth?" Ella frowned too.
"Nothing."
"Well why can't we name her Elizabeth then?"
"Why can't we name her Lilly?"
"See. Argument has been caused," Ella observed Harry momentarily before gazing down at the baby again, "We'll call her Lily. It's okay Harry."
"How about we call her Elizabeth and name our next daughter Lily?" Harry wondered aloud. Ella's eyes widened and Harry coughed.
"Er, I mean. Well it doesn't matter." Harry said quickly.
"You want more children with me?" Ella asked.
"One day. Not now," He sat down beside her and smiled at his daughter, "Not that I'm complaining."
"Okay. Well think. There's plenty of names..." Ella trailed off thoughtfully.
"I know," Harry smiled, "How about Beth?"
"Beth? But that's from my mother's name..." Ella pointed out.
"Kinda. But it's a bit different."
"Well," Ella smiled, "It is beautiful. I love it Harry. But are you sure you don't mind?"
"Nope. Beth it is then," He stood up and kissed her on the forehead, "I've missed you."
"You too," Ella nodded at the door, "You want to go and tell them?"
Harry nodded and reluctantly turned away and left the room. Malfoy, Ron and Hermione immediately jumped up when he came out.
"Well," Hermione demanded, her hands on her hips, "What is it? How did it go?"
"Boy or girl?" Ron asked. Malfoy raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"Girl. We're calling her Beth." Harry smiled. Hermione squealed and hugged him.
"Can I go in?" She wondered. Harry pulled a face.
"Sure, you don't have to-" He began but she was already gone. Ron clapped him on the back.
"I spose you could still make a good Quidditch player out of a girl," Ron said thoughtfully, "Granted she doesn't have her mother's flying skills. Wow Harry. You're a dad. And a girl!"
Harry laughed and glanced over at Malfoy. He really did owe the guy quite a bit. He'd taken care of Ella when he hadn't been able to.
"Thanks Malfoy." Harry smiled. Malfoy shrugged, knowing what the other boy was implying.
"No biggie Potter. She gave me money for food and board and such. Congratulations," Malfoy sneered, "How old are you? Mister Father."
Harry laughed again. Nothing could spoil his mood.
"Potter?" A voice snapped from behind him.
Well, almost nothing. Harry groaned and turned around to face his boss.
"What the hell is going on?" Conner O'Mara demanded. Ron sighed and turned to face his boss as well.
"My girlfriend just gave birth..." Harry began.
"Well that's wonderful but that doesn't mean you can just run out of the Ministry when you're supposed to be on duty yelling over your shoulder to the secretary that you're going to St Mungo's!" He turned to Ron, "You either Weasley. You have no idea what is happening. It's something big. What we've been working on."
"You found him?" Ron wondered amazed. Harry cringed. He hoped they hadn't. If they had found him, meaning Voldemort, then that would mean Harry would have to leave.
"We found him. Or rather the town he's in," O'Mara nodded at them, "You two, myself and David Regan are going under-"
His boss stopped abruptly and eyed Malfoy with unbelievable suspicion. Malfoy got the message and after shooting O'Mara a glare, he turned around and walked into the Maternity room to accompany Ella and Hermione.
"Undercover," O'Mara continued, "For six months. We're going to become locals and then we're going to be trusted and do a bit of social engineering before we attack. It's going into play. Everything we planned. We're going to catch the Dark Lord and finally destroy him."
"Wow," Ron shook his head, "I never actually thought we'd be doing it because we've been planning it for so long."
"It's because it needed to take a lot of preparation," O'Mara suddenly glared at them again, "I was coming to tell the both of you we found what town he was in when you ran off. So come on. We're going now."
"Really?" Ron asked, "It seems a bit sudden right at this moment."
"I don't call three months of planning sudden Weasley. Now come on. The Dark Lord will not suspect mere locals as being dangerous. We'll bring him down," O'Mara turned to Harry, "You ready Potter? Because I know you've been working on this harder than anyone."
Harry stood still, frozen on the spot. This just wasn't fair. He had finally gotten to see Ella and he had a brand new daughter. But as fate always seemed to be so cruel he now had to go and work on the plan that had been put carefully together for months meaning he had to leave them both.
It was actually rather a brilliant plan. Everyone knew that Voldemort was hiding out in a secret place. A small group of Aurors were going to 'infiltrate the enemy's' lair by sneaking in. It was noted that to do such a thing would take a lot of time, perhaps six to eight months. People weren't just trusted straight away. But it was still a good plan, people hardly ever thought to look for something hidden right under their noses. The only problem had been that they didn't know the whereabouts of Voldemort. Until now that was.
Harry knew he had to go. He was the one that had to destroy Voldemort. There was no other way. If he wanted his daughter to grow up in a world without the kind of pain that was enforced at the present time than he would have to leave.
"Can I just tell Ella?" Harry mumbled, "And Hermione?"
Ron's eyes widened with the sudden realization of the previous events.
"Yeah, we can't go yet," Ron argued, "We have things here to deal with."
"You'll have a lot more to deal with if the Dark Lord continues to reign," O'Mara said bluntly, "Now I'm sorry but you can't tell anyone about the plan. The only people permitted to know are those at the Ministry that are in charge. That's it, no-one else."
"No," Harry argued, "I can't just disappear for six months. Why can't I tell them?"
O'Mara glared at him like he was an idiot, "You'd like to have the ones you love tortured to reveal information about you would you?"
"That wouldn't happen." Said Ron doubtfully. O'Mara laughed shortly.
"I assure you it would. It's best for people to just think that you have disappeared off the face of the earth."
"Wouldn't they torture them anyway?" Ron asked, "Even if no one knew where we were, wouldn't people think that our loved ones really did know?"
"No," O'Mara said sharply, "Your loved ones will try and find you and it would be considered that they do not know where you are. Of course, because they wont."
"I can't just leave them." Harry said simply. Ron nodded.
"Me either."
"Fine," O'Mara threw his hands up in the air, "Stay here. Let the Dark Lord continue to kill because you were afraid of leaving those you love. Let the whole Wizarding community suffer because you didn't want to trample momentarily on yours loved ones feelings. Let Voldemort become the ruler of the world."
Ron and Harry frowned at their boss as they watched him begin to walk angrily away. Only a few seconds passed before they both looked at each other and noted the expression on each other's face.
"We'll go," Harry said quietly, "But can we just see them one more time?"
"We won't say anything," Ron added quickly, "We just want to see them again."
O'Mara's face softened and he nodded, "Be quick. We have no time that can be wasted."
Ron and Harry walked into the room and plastered smiles on their faces. Hermione was nursing Beth and looked completely taken with the baby. Ella was still in bed and Malfoy was standing back, looking over at Hermione and Beth.
"Alright," Malfoy said suddenly, "She's cute, I admit it. Can I nurse her now?"
Hermione and Ella laughed and Hermione handed the baby over.
"Ella," Harry smiled at her before walking over to her and kissing her fervently for a minute, "You're beautiful you know that."
"Damn Harry," Ella grinned, "You're just making me regretting leaving even more."
Ron was whispering something to Hermione whose expression was changing rapidly from smiling to frowning and then from confusing to embarrassed.
"Don't say that. You did everything you had too." Harry mumbled kissing her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked quiet flustered when he pulled away.
"What happened?" She wondered, "Did you eat some Sensual Sensations?"
He shook his head and made his way over to Malfoy where he bent down and kissed Beth lightly on her forehead.
"We have to go to work," Harry said loudly, hugging Hermione while Ron did the same to Ella, "We'll see you all soon."
"Yeah," Ron nodded and waved at Malfoy, "Bye you stupid git."
Malfoy glowered at him but it was evident he was suppressing a smile.
"Work?" Ella sighed and restrained herself from arguing, "Okay. I'll see you later."
"Bye." Hermione smiled at them both warmly and Malfoy nodded.
"Love you Ella." Harry called over his shoulder, trying to sound cheerful. He thought he heard her call it back as he and Ron returned to where their boss was standing. He was tapping his foot impatiently and for some reason Harry wanted to hex him. His boss was a man with no sense of compassion.
"You ready?" He asked them. Ron sighed and Harry nodded.
"Ready."
~~!!!~~
A/N: Well now. I haven't written a little 'A/N:' thing in a while so here I'd just like to thank everyone who reviews and such and such…
So were you lot expecting a baby girl???????
I bet you knew…*sigh* I suck at surprises.
Anyway I'm going away so I won't be able to update for about a week! My apologies fair children…
God speed kindred spirits…
I shall see you shortly…