(This is my fifth fanfic and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The chapters are short, and the storyline isn't brilliant but it is okay for a third attempt, I suppose. This is the last in a trilogy of 'The Stress of…' series, so I advise you read the first two before you read this. I don't own the characters; they belong to JK Rowling and her fabulous imagination. The plotline is mine though, unfortunately.)
Chapter Two
Back at Malfoy Manor the couple had resized their gifts and opened them. Some were thoughtful, others practical and some naughty; just like at Hermione's Hen night.
Lucius and Hermione had spent the next month getting the Manor sorted out with all their belongings, re-decorating certain rooms, having friends over for dinner, visiting friends for lunch, having the Granger's round for visits and other similar things that married couples do. Oh….and lots of passionate love-making sessions.
Then, on Sunday morning, two months after Hermione and Lucius had gotten married, Hermione felt sick. She had rushed to the bathroom and thrown up, but she thought nothing of it. She'd gone about her day, completely forgetting the incident; pushing it to the back of her mind. She blamed it on the chicken they'd eaten the night before. It was probably bad meat. She'd ask Lucius if he'd been sick later that evening.
When she asked him that evening, in a casual manner, Lucius had told her he hadn't been sick, or felt ill, at all. Hermione worried slightly at that. Why would she, only she, be sick? Thoughts filled Hermione's head but she pushed them aside. She was overreacting, and she knew it. She told herself firmly that it was a one-time thing and it meant nothing. That thought worked well.
Until it happened again the next morning. Hermione had rushed to the bathroom and vomited for the second time in two days. That worried Hermione. Especially seems she and Lucius weren't using protection; she hadn't fancied taking contraceptive potions. Hermione got up from the bathroom floor and returned to hers and Lucius's bedroom. She lay down on the bed. Luckily, Lucius wasn't there. Then she took out her wand and cast a small charm whilst running it over her stomach. The white light turned blue and she gulped. When it turned pink also, she gulped again. It's worse than she expected.
"Uh oh." She said aloud to herself.
A few hours later Lucius arrived home.
"Hermione, my love." He called out. "I'm back from work." Lucius had quit his job as Potions Professor after he and Hermione had got married. He wanted to work closer to home; so now he worked in St Mungo's as a fully qualified healer. Lucius had always been rich enough to not need to work and he had also been smart enough to do almost any job. Now that he'd married Hermione though he wanted to work; not for an income but so he could say he was working. He'd opted to work as a healer because he'd be doing something useful. It also impressed Hermione. This new job also meant he could come home everyday, and not have to stay in Hogwarts like he'd done when he'd worked there.
Lucius listened intently, expecting to hear the rushing footsteps of his wife; and that is exactly what he heard.
Hermione came running down from upstairs and ran into Lucius's arms. He span her around in the air a few times before placing her on the ground and kissing her. Hermione return the kiss but then she remembered this morning and she pulled back. Lucius looked puzzled. "What's wrong?" he asked inquisitively.
Hermione paused, but then decided firmly that she should not waste time, and just get the announcement over and done with. She hoped for a good reaction as she told Lucius her news.
"I'm pregnant." Hermione whispered.