The Cruelty of the Past
Chapter 23
Weasley Determination
Lucius looked down at Ginevra. She had surprised him. He was well aware of how bad a broken bone hurt, and she had more than one. She was showing amazing strength and pain tolerance. Lucius knew that the healer was correct.
"Ginevra, you don't have to make up your mind this second. How about you seeing how you're feeling in the morning?"
The healer spoke, "Mrs Malfoy, even on complete bed rest you still could miscarry. We can't give you anything for pain, other than some Muggle painkillers. Rather than dealing with the pain, they alter your mind, making you think your pain is lessened. I still advise you to allow us to treat you."
"No! I'm not losing this baby!"
"Can I speak to my wife alone?" Lucius asked.
"Of course." The healer moved toward the door. "I'll just be outside." He then disappeared out the door.
"Ginevra, I don't think you know what you're facing; nine months might not seem that long to you, but day after day in bed will wear on you."
"Lucius, I can't give up. This baby is the end of the curse! As soon as she is born, our families will be free."
"I'm quite sure Draco and your brothers won't mind sowing their wild oats a while longer."
"I. Am. Not. Losing. This. Baby," she said through clenched teeth. The look on her face was one of pure determination.
"You're very stubborn. Really, Ginevra! Muggle pain killers?" She nodded. "You said you wanted one normal year at school," Lucius tried to reason with her.
"I'm pregnant," she stated simply.
"Ginevra,"
"Lucius, I am carrying your child," she pointed out.
"I'll call the healer back in." Lucius headed to the door. He stole a look at his young wife; she was clearly in pain. Her chin trembled with the effort to hide it. Then he called the healer back in. "My wife wants to try to keep the baby."
The healer nodded, then spoke, "I would again advise you allow yourself to miscarry, but I understand this is also emotional. I will get the Muggle painkillers for you. I would also advise getting a private aide, as Mrs. Malfoy will need help with everything. The hip will heal and set, however not correctly, and we can't say how painful it will be. When it comes time, you will not be able to have the baby naturally."
Ginny's teeth chattered in pain, but she only nodded.
This wasn't missed on Lucius. "How safe are these painkillers?"
The healer smiled. "They're very safe. They have been used for generations. For now, they will be very strong, and we will adjust the strength as time goes on. With the first dose, Mrs Malfoy may seem intoxicated."
"Then can we get her some now!" Lucius ordered.
Ginny said nothing.
"Of course. Mrs. Malfoy, if you were to rate your pain as 1 being nothing and 10 being the worst pain you have ever had…"
"Clearly her pain is great! Get her something!" Lucius barked.
The healer nodded and escaped from the room.
"I can tell you're in pain. Are you sure you want to do this?"
She only nodded again, but Lucius could tell she was fighting her pain, and even the tears the pain was causing.
When the healer returned, he spoke, "You will have to make arrangements for your personal healer to come and monitor your progress. We don't have the resources to treat a patient who is choosing to go against the advice of a healer."
"When can she leave?"
"I would like her to remain here for a couple of hours to see how she deals with the Muggle drugs. Some people can have reactions to them, but that will give you some time to speak to her healer and for us to set the broken bones we can."
Lucius turned to Ginny. "I need the name of your healer."
"Spencer."
"I will contact him and make arrangements." She again only nodded. "I'll return shortly." He then left the room. When he returned to the waiting room, he came face to face with Headmistress McGonagall.
Upon seeing Lucius Malfoy, she quickly rose to her feet. "Is she going to be okay?"
"Ginevra is extremely stubborn and strong willed."
The woman released a sigh of relief, then smiled. "I could have told you that years ago, How do you think she dealt with being handed to Voldemort at the age of eleven? How long before she can return to class?"
"She will not be returning," Lucius stated.
"What? Why?"
"Ginevra is pregnant, and any magical treatment for her injuries will cause a shift in her magic and cause her to miscarry. She's refusing treatment," he explained.
"She is?" Minerva kept getting more surprised.
"I tried to talk her into allowing herself to lose the baby."
"She would never!" McGonagall stated. "What are her injuries?"
"A broken hip and a few other broken bones. All will heal, but the hip will not and she will be on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy."
"Does she wish to continue her education?"
Lucius sighed. "Ginevra is in a great deal of pain, so we never discussed it."
Minerva nodded. "There is time for that once she is more comfortable. We can make arrangements for her. Well, I have a student body and full staff convinced Ginevra is dying, so I'm going to head back to the school." She then turned to leave.
"Professor, thank you for your concern," Lucius said.
When Minerva returned to Hogwarts, she found Oliver Wood in her office. "Headmistress, how is Ginny?"
Minerva could tell how worried Oliver was. She knew the two had become friends. "Ginny will not be returning to the school."
"Why? What's her condition?" Oliver asked.
"She suffered a number of broken bones, including a broken hip. I understand that she's also expecting, and her magic is the only thing keeping her from losing the baby. Anything magical done to treat her will cause her to lose the baby."
"Ginny won't allow herself to miscarry!" Oliver stated.
Minerva looked at the young man in front of her. He clearly cared for Ginny. "You know how strong-willed the Weasley family is, and Ginevra is likely the most determined in the family. Being the only girl forced her to be that way."
"Is she going to continue her classes after the baby arrives?"
"Her husband said they hadn't talked about it," she replied.
Oliver started pacing the room. "It was important to her to finish. Maybe she could be allowed to study the book work at home and maybe for some of the practical, credit could be given. Then she could test after the baby comes!"
"That would require her to be here," the Headmistress pointed out.
"Or for someone to visit her very often. I would be willing," Oliver offered.
"That would be a lot."
"No, I would be fine with that. Ginny might not be Hermione Granger, but once she sets her mind to something, it gets done."
"I will visit her in a couple of days and see how she feels about it," the headmistresses said.
"Thank you, ma'am. What do we tell the students, then?" Oliver asked.
She sighed. "As I explained earlier, we aren't at liberty to say anything. However, if when I see Ginny and she gives her permission, then we will say what she has allowed us to say."
"That may work with most, but Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, and Professors Potter and Longbottom? I assume the only reason you have told me this much is because I'm head of her house?"
"That is correct. We can remind them of the fact that we aren't allowed to say anything. They are all adults, and it is up to them to govern themselves as such!"
A/N See I did not forget about it just have been so busy with real life but I am now hoping to get at least one chapter out a week but remember I have a few stories all on the go right now!