Hey peeps, this will probably be my last post for a bit cos I still need to write the bloody thing:-) As I've said, I have the first chapter of the main part up, only I would like to have a bit more up written before I post more. So why did I post this story in teh first place? Well, to see how people would respond to it, I guess. Also cos it's exciting posting chapters. So, without much further ado, I can't really think of anything else to write except thank you to everyone who reviewed!
Now, comments:
Little Black Poko-chan: Well, I guess you could say that it is an extended prologue... ;-) When I first started writing it, it was intended that it was only going to be a few pages of typing (Word) long, only I soon found that to set the story straight, it was gonna havta be longer than that! But I'm glad it still sounds alright...
Macey Muse: That's cool that you do German as well - ich spreche nur ein bischen Deutsch und kann auch nur ein bischen verstehen. Aber ich studiere Deutsch an der Uni seit ein Jahr. Anyway! It's awesome to know that the story sounds fairly real life - I think I'm gonna like writing John's character. The cool unclefigure (only he isn't an uncle... woops, I've let loose a bit much info!) with all the right answers. Or rather, someone to keep Robert on the straight and narrow, seeing as he is a psychologist, and a damn good one at that!
xoxoluvme4evrxoxo: I mentioned in an earlier chapter that it won't be a DHr romance fic for incestral (is that a word?) reasons. I had it pointed out a couple of chapters ago that it would be quite wrong for it to happen and I'm not the sort to make them decide that despite blood ties, they want to be together. It's a little sickening. Even though I keep saying it will probably eventually be a DHr fic, I don't mean it in the romantic sense. I mean it in the sense that the story will eventually be about how both of them cope with being the other's sibling.
On to the last part of the prologue...
21st February, 1980
10:13pm
"What?" Robert replied in absolute shock.
"I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant!" Narcissa repeated more forcefully.
Robert thought back to that wondrous night. How much that night meant to him! He could remember every detail; what she was wearing, how she smelt, how good it felt with her… and how he didn't have protection, assuming that she was on the Pill.
Oh God, why now?
He raised his hands and placed them behind his head, all the while muttering "I did not need this, not now! Shit, I didn't need this!"
Narcissa was still standing outside the doorway. John's voice was heard from behind Robert.
"Hey Mate, I think I better go. I'll see you at training Tuesday, hey?"
Robert turned to him, mouthing, 'don't go!' and shaking his head. John only shrugged his shoulders and headed towards him.
"I think you better let her in, she looks like she's freezing out there," he added.
Robert sighed. "Right Mate. See you Tuesday." He moved aside so John could leave. "Narcissa," he addressed her. "John's right. You need to come in before you freeze to death out there."
She didn't look at him but merely muttered a small "Thank you."
She took off her woollen coat and sat down on the couch, continuing to avoid his stare.
"Did you want anything to drink?" he asked her, trying to keep himself busy to avoid something horrible.
"I would like a glass of water, if you don't mind. I've come a long way tonight but I thought it was necessary."
Robert gave a small snort. So it seems.
He returned with the glass, which she accepted graciously, and he returned to the desk chair. She took a large mouthful then lowered the glass. After another minute, she finally looked up at him.
"Robert," she said softly, "I don't know what else to say except that I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked sarcastically. "For running off like you did without so much as a goodbye? For making me think that you do this to everyone you encounter on the street? Or for making my life an absolute nightmare these last few weeks? Which was it?"
Narcissa looked down again. "For everything."
"You came all the way here to say that 'sorry and oh yeah by the way, I'm pregnant'?"
"Yes."
He knew this was hard for her. He had to admire her courage at coming this late at night and telling him this. Especially someone of her age. He knew that she wasn't as old as him and given that he was not yet 22, it meant that she must be only about 17 or more. This fact didn't sit well with him at all considering it was easily his fault as it was hers for failing to use protection.
Contrary to these thoughts, it still hurt him so much to have to sit here talking to the one person who had made these last few weeks extraordinarily hard to bear. He wished it himself that things were different but what she'd done was very difficult to take.
"You don't know how much I wanted to stay," Narcissa continued softly.
"Then why didn't you?" he asked bitterly.
"Because it wouldn't have been right. As I said in the note, there is no chance that you could possibly understand what position I'm in. Everything that I wrote was true; I didn't make it up nor do I say that kind of thing to every male I encounter on the street. I can't believe that you even thought that!"
"What was I meant to think? You slept with me after meeting me that night then took off without saying anything except leaving a quick note! Can you see it from my perspective?"
She was sobbing again. "Yes! Don't you think I contemplated that? As I keep saying, I wished I could have stayed but I couldn't. I am not the sort to lie; there was very good reason why I didn't stay."
"Why can't you just tell me the reason?"
"Because you could never understand!" she yelled, looking at him with disdain and anger. "Besides, you would turn against me very, very quickly. I know this because I have seen it happen before!"
It was all too much for Robert. He had told her much of his life story and he had thought that she'd done the same except there was something missing from each of the stories. He desperately wanted to know but he could see that she was not wanting to or not daring to, whichever it was.
He sighed and leant his arms on his knees. He would have to try a different approach. "Well, could you at least tell me what you plan on doing with your, I mean, our baby?"
His caused Narcissa to burst out crying once more. Once she composed herself, she said, "I wanted to talk to you about that. I thought you had a right to decide as well."
This made Robert's heart melt. It was not everyday that a woman gave consideration into the thoughts of a man in regards to child rights.
It was apparent that she did indeed care about him after coming to him to tell him that she was pregnant. Furthermore, since she'd acknowledged that he had a right to decide what was to be done about the baby. She also seemed quite persistent with her view that she wanted to stay with him, only some unknown reason prevented her from doing so. It gave Robert a sense that perhaps he had not given her a fair go and resolved to try to find an acceptable outcome.
He softened his voice. "Whatever you decide, I will be happy with. I am equally to blame in all this. I know you are young and still have a future in front of you but I will be there to support you in any decision that you make."
She looked up at him and whispered, "Thank you."
They were silent for a couple of minutes where the only noises were those of heavy breathing and sniffles. Finally, Robert broke the tension.
"Had you decided what you yourself wanted to do before you came here?"
Narcissa put her delicate hands up to her face and rubbed her eyes. "I knew what I wanted to do but that's where it gets complicated."
Oh shit, not more, I don't know if I can stand this.
"What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"You see," she bravely fought back tears as she spoke, "I want to keep it. However, my family will not approve."
Robert could see if from their perspective; a young woman who still had a life ahead of her suddenly becoming pregnant to someone whom they had never met nor seen at a glance. As well as that, he was a poor uni student who, despite not having financial difficulties upon graduation, was still struggling at the present moment and who would not be able to support an unemployed mother.
"It certainly is understandable. Why is it that you want to keep it if it will cause so much trouble?"
Narcissa hesitated, looking nervously at her hands then at Robert, to the floor and back to Robert. "It would be a reminder of you."
This rendered Robert speechless. Why would she want a reminder of me that badly?
"What do you mean?"
"Here's where it gets complicated." She sighed and smiled at him sadly. "You see, I'm from a very well-off family and I'm already betrothed to another."
Robert sat bolt upright. "What?" he exclaimed. "You're betrothed? But that went out in the 1800's!"
"I don't know what you're talking about but I can assure you, I'm to be wed upon my 21st birthday."
"That's impossible!" Robert couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I don't know how it is; that is what's to happen. That doesn't solve the problem of the baby."
"What, so he would not accept you having a child before marriage?"
Narcissa laughed, a shrill nervous laugh. "Not a chance! If it was his own that might be different but since it isn't, he would more than likely want to kill it!"
Robert stood up in exasperation. "You can't let that happen! That's murder and he would be put away for it as well!"
"Not where I'm from!" Narcissa raised her voice to match his. "It is not uncommon for a man to treat his wife as a possession as opposed to a real human being!"
"But you're English! That sort of practice is unheard of here! Unless you were only educated here. Where are you from originally?" he demanded.
"I was born in London and grew up in Middlesex."
"Then I don't understand why you would be betrothed to another!"
She stood up and glared at him, trying desperately hard to make him see her point of view. "Because I'm not from the same world as you!"
Excuse me? "What world could you possibly be part of then, if you were born and bred in England?" he exclaimed, thoroughly confused by this statement.
"Blast it Robert, I'm a witch!"
Robert looked at her in utter perplexity, trying desperately hard to comprehend those three little words that she had just said.
"A witch?"
"Yes," she muttered resignedly. "A witch."
"But they don't exist in modern society! For all I believe, they didn't exist in ancient society either, only the Catholic church treated people as such to hide any inconsistencies with their own ideas."
Narcissa blinked in surprise. "You honestly think that?"
Robert looked back at her to see that she was quite serious. "Yes, I don't believe that they ever existed. The Catholic church was quite brutal with anyone who didn't follow –"
"No," she interrupted. "What I mean is; do you honestly believe that witches and wizards have never existed?"
"Yes, I do."
Narcissa sighed. "I'm afraid I will have to prove it to you, then. Can you stand up for me, please?"
"What?" he questioned worriedly.
"I'm not going to do anything to you, for God's sake! Come and stand beside me. Please, just trust me on this one."
Robert obeyed her and stood up and wandered over to the couch. He watched as she pulled out a thin stick from a pocket in her dress and pointed it to the desk chair. Muttering a few small words under her breath, she soon turned it into something that resembled a throne. He could only stare, mouth open in shock at the transformation that occurred in front of his very eyes. Narcissa turned to him, a small smile on her still tear-stained face but also appearing quite reserved.
"I told you," she said matter of factly. "I can change it back again, if you want."
Robert could not speak due to his surprise still controlling all other emotions. He watched as the chair twisted and writhed back into its original form and Narcissa put the wand back into her dress.
"But – but, h-how did you do that?" he stuttered.
"I told you, I'm a witch. I know this is incredibly hard for you to believe this, Robert," she was almost pleading at this stage, "but you will simply have to disregard all prior beliefs that you had." She paused, watching his reaction. "I cannot tell you how hard that was to tell you. Now do you see why I couldn't tell you that morning?"
He collapsed onto the couch. Having just watched the desk chair make its transformation, it made him feel a bit wary to go near it. He also knew that if what she was saying was true, and judging by that little performance it seemed she was, then he could see why she would be so anxious to let that piece of information known.
Finally, he thought, it was time to speak. "How many other people know about this?" he asked.
"Family and friends."
"So, how is it that you have concealed these talents?"
"As I told you before, I don't live in the same world as you. I mean, it's still England but it's far away from any other ordinary person."
"Okay, so I have never heard of this place before?"
"No non-wizarding person has. The worlds are completely separate. The only reason why I was in this part of London was because there is a decline in wizard actors so my sister and I have had to be content with other forms of theatre."
"So it was by chance that I saw you that night?"
"Yes, I believe so."
Shit on it! I could have avoided this whole mess had I caught the earlier bus home!
Narcissa jumped in since Robert was not going to answer. "If it's any consolation, I'm glad I met you that night, Robert. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't, nor would I be willing to keep a baby out of wedlock."
This brought Robert's thoughts back to the reason why it got to this point.
"So why are you betrothed? Surely your folk wouldn't all do this."
"Not all, but I am from a very wealthy and aristocratic family."
Hmph, sounds like the Royal family except for the betrothal part.
"So you keep the bloodlines pure within the old families."
"Yes, how did you know that?" she looked at him in wonder.
"Because that practice is very much like the royal families of Europe. Although nowadays they have become more casual with whom they let into the family and who they don't."
"Oh." Narcissa fumbled with her hands then looked back to Robert. "This isn't the final thing that I wanted to tell you, or ask you for that matter."
Robert looked at her, wondering what on earth she could possibly add to this. "What is that?"
"Because I cannot keep the baby with my family, I wanted to know if you would keep it." Seeing Robert's face change to something resembling not very pleasant, she hurried on. "Please let me finish! I ask that you raise our child but you would not have to worry about anything concerning her keeping. I will finance everything for her since she is my responsibility too. I have already said what my family would do if they found out that this child was not my betrothed's, but I desperately want to keep it as a lasting memory of the one whom I think I fell in love with."
This revelation stumped Robert to no end. As it turned out, Narcissa had felt the same way about him as he did about her. It was of little wonder that she ran off like she did. Being betrothed to someone and falling in love with someone else could not be good anytime, let alone when you were pregnant as well. He only wished that things were different and that they could be together. However, fate had other ideas and would not let this happen. It was bound for her to marry another and for him to live his life elsewhere.
Except for the baby. He would always have a constant reminder of her. Was this what he wanted? Would he be better off not having anything to do with it? No, he could not let anything happen to his firstborn. And she did say that she would help out financially. He only wished that she could be there all the time to help him take care of it. That she couldn't and so he resolved that he would raise the child alone for her.
"Please say something," Narcissa pleaded softly.
He suddenly realised that he had been sitting there staring absentmindedly at nothing for the last few minutes. Knowing she needed an answer and knowing what the answer was, he told her his decision.
"I'll do it."
He could see her face literally melt before him. Her tear-streaked face lit up like a light and more tears started to run down her cheeks. She started sobbing uncontrollably and also collapsed onto the couch until Robert held her. They just sat like that for a while, her crying until there were no more tears to cry and him whispering soothing things to her as he held her tightly.
After some time, she broke away from him. "I cannot thank you enough for this," she said.
"No, I thank you for giving me something to love," he replied.
This almost caused her to start up again, however she maintained her composure and spoke again.
"Please don't worry about how you will manage this. I can tell that you will be a good father to our child, whether it is a boy or a girl. It will grow up clever and intelligent with a love for books!" she laughed, causing him to smile.
"That it will. In the meantime, how will you cover up your pregnancy?"
"I am going on holidays to France for a year starting in March. During that time, I'm sure I won't have to worry about dealing with a round belly."
"It's good you have thought this through. I will ensure that it has the best possible upbringing a child could have."
"I know it will."
They sat silent on the couch for some time as the clock on the wall struck midnight. Finally, Robert gently broke apart from Narcissa and realised that she had fallen asleep. Smiling to himself, he picked her up and took her into his bedroom, laying her down and pulling the covers up over her.
As he was about to leave to go and sleep on the couch, he heard her behind him saying, "Don't go. Please stay with me, Robert."
He turned back to the bed to see that Narcissa had sat up and was looking at him. He wandered across to the bed and got in on the other side. He felt her move closer so he wrapped one arm around her waist and drew her to him.
"I won't ever leave you, Narcissa," he whispered softly in her ear.
Eventually, they both fell asleep, listening to the pattering of the rain landing on the window.
Comments:
As I said above, this may be the last time I post in a while. I'm sorry about this but well, aside from work commitments, I still have to write a story for this so you may just have to be patient! But hopefully it won't be too much longer before I get it uploaded.
'Till then, adios, auf Wiedersehen, sayonara, ciao, au revoir, toodle-loo, see ya:-)
