30) The Calm Before


The grounds had been bathed in snow, his father gaze aimed steadily at him from the bed. Beneath the doorframe the healer had been talking to his mother in hushed voices. Lucius had looked around and found Narcissa staring at him. The Black girls had come over for the weekend. When Andromeda had entered she had waved her sister over and both girls had left the room. His mother had showed the healer out and left Lucius alone with his father.

The elder Malfoy still looked… magnificent, propped up on several brocade cushions with golden embroidery, his waning body concealed under the expensive velvet covers. His white-blonde hair was sprayed over the pillows and his cool eyes were as unyielding as ever. A slight wave of his pallid hand made Lucius walk over to him and sit on the bedside uneasily. His father's weak grip on his own had was barely restraining and he could have shaken it off, but Alain Malfoy was not to be denied in life and neither on his deathbed.

The ailing that ate away his father's life had affected Lucius more than he had thought. If not for the little affection his father had bestowed on him during the years, it was for the pretence of stability and strength the elder Malfoy had displayed as long as his health had allowed him to. Lucius had not known about his father's illness until it had become inevitable.

And those last words his father had told him then had wormed their way through Lucius' head:

"When the time comes, men will judge you generally more by the eye than by the hand; everyone can see – just few can feel," his father had said and his eyes had shone with a rare solemnity Lucius had never seen before. "But everyone sees what you appear to be. And Lucius… keep it that way or those greedy dogs will tear you apart."

And then he had lain back on the pillows and died.


A voice says "get up," it's time to move, time to reap, time to kill…


Harry was slowly massaging her back. After complaining about the constant ache, Daphne had grumpily allowed him to try. Now she was lying on the bed, purring like a cat and he was sitting beside her with his arms starting to twinge. Stopping for a moment, he stretched his joints and his back cracked a little. She turned to her side and smiled up at him, looking distinctly more relaxed than before. Huddling against the headboard, they avoided looking at her slightly stretching robes.

"We can't hide it much longer," he stated and she nodded.

"The girls in my dorm noticed. Too bad I've always been slim. They won't buy excuses for much longer…"

"What did Pomfrey say?" he inquired further.

"Everything is fine. She said I could know the gender if I wanted, but I want a surprise. Apart from that I wanted to speak to you first."

"Well, yes. You said so in the library. Surprise sounds good. Actually," he scratched his ear, "I think it'd be wise to tell certain – ah – people, before it becomes common knowledge. And there is that…um…"

"Yes?" she frowned when she noticed his uneasiness.

"I've been giving that issue some thoughts and… I think it would be best if you just told them you were pregnant. You realize the moment word gets out, that it's mine, my kid, then you'll be in… danger," he finished somewhat lamely. She said nothing. "I mean – look, one baby and an underage, pregnant girl do catch attention, but MY kid - shit – don't you get it?" he snapped.

"Get it? Me? Never mind! After all it's all about Harry-fucking-Potter's perfect reputation! Have you any idea what my house will say if I turn up with a bun up the oven, unmarried, just like that? Have you ANY idea at all what my parents will say? NO?" she screamed and hit the bed in frustration. "Do you ever think about what I'm going through?" her voice faltered and she lowered her head into her hands. He watched detachedly as she began to sob.

"Please don't cry," he said, completely crushed. "I mean I'd love to make it all right, legal, whatever… but Voldemort…" he stuttered and shut his mouth.

She looked up at him with reddened eyes. "Will you always let him rule your life?" her whisper was faint, but the words stung.

"I…" he started to say, but then he just sighed dejectedly. An unhappy, resigned smile died on her face, when she suddenly grabbed her growing belly. "What?" he asked alarmed, but she shook her head, a bright grin forming.

"I think it just kicked…"

"When? Where?" he spluttered, eyes wide.

"Here," she took his hand and placed it on her stomach, "feel?"

First there was nothing, but suddenly his eyes went wide. "Cool…" he said in amazement and looked at her, his nose twitching slightly.

Big green eyes stared into dark blue ones and a slight tingle went through his guts. Funny how everything seemed to work out somehow…

"So we tell Dumbledore and just leave the rest to gossip?" he asked afterwards. She nodded and before they put down the wards, he hugged her once briefly. "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised, before hugging her a second time and opening the door. "Bye," and he slipped out, back to the tower, fetching his broom. He was already late for practise…


Looking out of the office window, Percy observed the people on the street. Everything seemed so peaceful. Nobody was expecting how soon this would change…