AN: Thank you to Sunara for reviewing, hearing from my readers always brightens my day.
So this chapter is going to be a little more light hearted, I know it's supposed to be a dark fanfic, but I think some lighter chapters need to be included to make it less upsetting.
Read and review please!
Song suggestion: Hold My Hand, Jess Glynne.
Chapter Twenty Nine: Traditions.
"Morning." Draco started slightly at Hermione's voice. Other than Ginny's quiet breathing and the occasional flutter of book pages being turned, there was no other noise in the infirmary. He had been doing some reading of his own, while waiting for a potion to cool to the correct colour, trying to decide the best method of rehabilitation tactic to use with Granger.
"Hermione?" Ginny smiled and pressed a hand to her friend's, "How are you feeling?"
"Better." She nodded back, "You?"
"I'm good, thanks." The younger Witch replied, "I've just been read-" Awkwardly, she cut the sentence short. An uncomfortable silence followed. Hermione's positive expression barely changed, though Draco could see the strain to hold it in place by the slight twitch of her eyes. He briefly wondered how hard it must be for Granger, Hogwarts' resident bookworm, to be unable to see anymore. It must be destroying her emotionally, despite her efforts to not let her new found disabilities bring her down.
"What were you reading Gin?" Hermione smiled after a beat of silence.
"The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six." She replied hesitantly.
"And how's the studying going?"
"Good. Mum said I could study in here because I was doing so well." Draco recalled that Lupin, with the help of Tonks and Mrs Weasley, were trying to maintain the studies of the Light Side's students. They had several copies of each subject's textbooks and were holding regular study sessions, with particular emphasis on defence against the dark arts. Every day members of the Order practiced duelling each other, in preparation for the illusively coming Battle. But he knew most of the residents of Shell Cottage would still be ill prepared.
"That's fantastic Gin, how are the boys doing?"
"They're doing fine. Mum is keeping them busy with studying, keeping them from hatching anymore hare brained schemes." By Ginny's raised brow and Hermione's guilty grimace, Draco surmised the Golden Trio had been up to their old tricks of rebelling, and hadn't been successful. Mentally noting he should question Granger about that later, he flicked his page over and scanned the first paragraph.
"And Luna? How is she?" Hermione continued on her inquiry to be up to date with everything.
"She's doing okay. Nothing fazes Luna." Ginny smiled, "Other than a couple of bruises, she'd think she hadn't been held prisoner for months!"
"That's a good thing, it means minimal psychology damage."
"Lavender says hello, by the way, she misses you. We all do." Squeezing Hermione's hand, she sighed, "It's strange without you in the dormitory."
"I haven't seen Lavender in a while, is everything okay?"
"She's doing…not great, to be honest. One of the twins is resting heavy on her back, she can barely move. Ron is demanding she take painkillers, but she's refusing." Ginny rolled her eyes, "He's going madly protective…but mainly mad." Hermione shook her head at this with a humoured frown, "Mum's ordered her to have stay in bed and study, she barely can get out to go to the bathroom."
"Poor Lavender. So, has Ron gone off the quick c-section solution?"
"I think Mum's last tirade finally beat his skull enough to shut him up."
"I bet!" Hermione laughed with Ginny, "There are so many dangers of a c-section and not to mention the-"
"Save your lecture for Ron, I know all about it. Mum's been reading up on all things baby, and is demanding Fleur and I do too." She huffed, "Why we have to follow the stupid Pureblood tradition, when we ignore most of it, is ridiculous."
"It is a lovely idea Gin, and I'm sure it means a lot to your Mum and Lavender."
"But why we can't follow Muggle tradition and have Ron shoved in the room, and myself far away from Lavender's nether regions, I don't know." The younger Weasley continued her tirade, "Is it supposed to deter me from getting pregnant? Don't worry, I don't plan on doing for a long time."
"It's not Muggle tradition to have the father in the delivery suite actually, it's only been in recent years it's become acceptable." Malfoy nearly chuckled at the teacher tone of Hermione's voice, as she lectured Ginny on birthing rituals, "Fifty years ago, men were frowned upon being present at the birth. They typically sat outside and would run errands if needed. Traditionally, other than a Midwife, the mother's own mother would be present. Though most women would invite other women in, if they wanted them there. So, it's actually quite similar to the Wizarding tradition, to be honest."
"I understand that. And I understand because Lavender's mum can't be here, Mum wants all of us to be involved as a family. But still, it's a sight I don't need to see." Pouting, Ginny snapped her book shut and put it aside in a show of discontent.
"It's actually traditional for the expectant mother's mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and sisters-in-law to be present, along with any direct female relations, such as the mother's Grandmother." Correcting the ginger Witch on her own traditions, Granger continued, "The men would wait in the Parlour or in the Gentleman's Sitting Room until the father was summoned, once everything was over and cleaned up. It was seen as a sign of legitimacy when the father is presented with the child, who would proclaim the child's name for the first time, therefore recognising the child is theirs. If the father didn't do all this pomp and circumstance to show legitimacy in a timely fashion, then the child could be named illegitimate then or in the future."
"You forgot the blood letting Granger." Malfoy pointed out. At her puzzlement, he smirked and explained, "The father and child exchange blood to show legitimacy too."
"That's barbaric." Hermione scowled, "To cut a child-"
"It's only a finger prick Granger-"
"It's still barbaric."
"It's tradition." He shrugged, "Most people don't follow that custom anymore anyway, only Traditionalists do."
"I still think it's cruel." Sensing one of Granger's humanitarian speeches brewing, he skipped his book to the next chapter, and ignored her and Ginny as they continued discussing the trivial elements of the Shell Cottage Order of the Phoenix.