The Cruelty of the Past

Chapter 24

Recovery Begins

"I will call all the staff to a meeting and I will tell them. You should head to Gryffindor Tower and inform her housemates. The rest of the school can be briefed at dinner. I will have Longbottom tell Miss Lovegood, though."

Fifteen minutes later, all of her staff were assembled. Minerva could see the concern on both Potter's and Longbottom's faces. Funny, when she thought about it, everyone always felt that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had this unbreakable bond, but she personally felt that Ginevra, Neville, and Luna were possibly closer. The year before, she had watched them take over the role that the staff could no longer act on; that of protecting the younger students. She watched them plan and carry out acts of rebellion against Severus Snape and the Death Eaters here at Hogwarts. They witnessed horrors happen to other students and they fought in the final battle together. No, these three most likely were at the very least as close as the Golden Trio.

"As you know, I am unable to say much at all, but I can tell you that Ginevra Malfoy is alive. However it is doubtful that she will return to the school."

"Professor, you must be able to tell us something!" Potter protested.

"I'm sorry, I can't"

Longbottom looked very low, but Harry again spoke, "Mrs. Weasley will know something! I will contact her."

"Try all you want, Harry. Ginny has only heard from her once since school started," Neville said.

"Still, that's her mother! The hospital would have called her," Harry protested.

"No, Harry. As soon as Ginny married Malfoy, he became her next of kin," Neville explained.

"Longbottom, would you mind letting Miss Lovegood know? I'm sure she is extremely worried. Professor Wood is informing her house, and the rest of the school will be told at dinner," the Headmistress explained.

As Lucius watched the healer set and cast Ginevra's broken bones, he noticed a shift it his own view of the young woman. She was no longer just a physical pleasure; she was the mother of his child. A child she was already willing to do anything for. Lucius' own respect for Ginevra was growing.

He had already contacted her healer and had arranged for a private aide to come and care for his wife. They had also spoken to the healers here at the hospital and had been brought up to date on her condition.

He wasn't sure if she was stubborn or determined, but he did admire her willingness to put this baby and her family ahead of her own needs.

"Once we are done here, she can be moved to your home," a healer explained to Lucius.

He suddenly froze, realizing he never asked, "How far along is she?"

"She said she hasn't even missed a period, so not far along at all," the healer stated. "She would have been better off if we hadn't told her and allowed her to miscarry."

Part of Lucius felt the healer was right and part of him did not. As he thought about it, he found himself wondering for the first time what their child would look like. Who's physical characteristics would be stronger? He wondered if this baby was a boy or a girl.

When they arrived at the house, Lucius ordered that Ginevra be taken to his room. Once the aide and her healer had left, Ginny became more comfortable thanks to the Muggle painkillers. Ginny looked at Lucius. "I would be more comfortable in the rose room," she said quietly but firmly.

Lucius shook his head. "You may, but it doesn't make sense to move you from bed to bed each day."

"I don't need to sleep here," she protested.

"Ginevra, you will not be able to sleep properly with an aide in the room each night."

"I don't need someone with me at night."

Lucius sighed; he had hoped the Muggle painkillers would make her more agreeable. "What if you need something in the middle of the night? You aren't going to be getting up yourself. And what do you plan to do; scream until someone hears you? No Ginevra, use the brain you were born with! It makes far more sense for you to sleep here. After all, you are carrying my child, and at a great cost to yourself." He paused, "Allow me to help." He could tell she was going to protest, so he added, "I will feel better knowing I'm right here at night if you need something." He knew he could guilt her into agreeing.

"I would be fine."

Lucius simply changed the subject. "Are you hungry?"

She nodded, and it clearly caused pain. She then whispered, "And thirsty, and cold. I still haven't warmed up from the game."

"Some hot stew perhaps? And tea or hot coco? Anyone else and I would offer a shot of Fire whiskey."

"Cocoa for now and maybe the tea later."

Lucius nodded. "You rest and I will send a house elf up in a few minutes. I have to go over what the healers said with the staff." Lucius turned to leave, but stopped at the door. "Ginevra, are you sure about this? Everyone would understand if you chose to be healed."

"I am."

He knew there were many thing to discuss with her, but it looked like they would have a lot of time to do that now.

Once Lucius explained Ginevra's condition and the fact that she couldn't use magic or be given anything made by magic to eat or drink to the staff, he headed for his office in the Manor. With Ginevra expecting now, his will would have to be changed. She may not be his wife by choice for either of them, but she was the mother of one of his children. She would have to be provided for so she could give the baby the best if anything ever happened to him; that is, until the trust funds could be accessed by the child.

Lucius made a list of changes to the will along with what the trust funds would entail and be worth. An hour later, there was a knock on the office door and Draco came in.

"Father," he greeted.

For the first time in Lucius' life, he saw Draco in a different way. It was neither a good or bad way, just different. "Draco," he returned the greeting.

"How is your day going?" Draco asked.

As far as Lucius knew, Draco had no clue yet. "It's been a long day," Lucius replied, suddenly feeling tired.

"Why is it that I thought you were taking the day off?"

"Ginevra had a Quidditch match today."

Draco shivered at the idea of playing in this cold. "You went to watch?" Draco knew Lucius already respected Ginevra. Being willing to marry Lucius for her family's happiness made her someone to admire in his father's mind.

"No, I chose to stay home. I think now that maybe I should have gone."

Draco had grown to like Ginny. "Why, what happened?"

"A Bludger hit her broom and she had a very bad fall," Lucius explained.

"She's spending the night in the hospital wing at Hogwarts then?"

Lucius glanced down at the list he had. "No, it was a very bad fall," Lucius paused, unsure of how Draco might react. "made worse by the fact she never should have been playing. Ginevra didn't know she was pregnant when she started the game today."

Draco's eyebrows rose. "I'm sorry, Father."

"You know how stubborn she is. She didn't miscarry, and her own magic is protecting the baby now."

Being young, Draco didn't know what this really meant. "So what does this mean?"

"If she was healed magically, it would disrupt her magic and most likely cause her to lose the baby."

Draco had grown to understand Ginny already. "And she will not allow that to happen, right?"

Lucius nodded. "Most of the broken bones will heal just fine, having been set, but she broke her hip as well. That will not heal itself with her being pregnant. She is now on complete bed rest until they deliver the baby."

"So is she in the hospital?" Draco asked.

"No, she is upstairs in my bedroom."

"Wow. I hope you don't mind; I would like to go up and see her," Draco stated, heading for the door.

"Draco, she's on Muggle painkillers, so she might not be herself."

Draco paused, surprised by this fact. "Muggle painkillers? Is that safe?"

Lucius nodded. "They do leave her in an altered mental state as they really affect the brain instead of doing much for the actual pain, but yes, they are safe for the baby."

"Well, why not just hand her a bottle of Fire whiskey then?" Draco sarcastically asked.

"Because the alcohol would affect the baby. This stuff is injected into Ginny's blood and is safer for the baby."

When Draco got up to Ginny's door, he just lightly tapped on it and then opened it slowly. Ginny's fiery red hair stood out against the stark white of Lucius' bed linens.

Ginny slowly turned her head to face him.

She didn't look the same as when he had seen her on Friday morning at breakfast. There was a large purple bruise on her left cheek and it engulfed her eye as well. "Wow, I always knew the Gryffindor team needed to learn to play Quidditch, but I thought you all knew not to hit the Bludgers with your bodies!"

"Fuck off," she mumbled.

"Now now, is that any kind of language to use in front of your stepson?" he smiled. "Father told me what happened. Hope you don't mind; I thought I would grace you with a visit." He made his way over to stand closer and look over the casts that were on her arm and legs.

She just stared at him.

"Well Ginny, you don't believe in doing anything halfway, do you? You made a right mess of yourself."

He looked a little closer at her cheek. "That looks like it's going to burst under the pressure. Let's get some ice for it." He then summoned some ice and wrapped it in a washcloth. He went to hand it to her and realized she had no way of holding it to her face.

"Thanks Draco," she whispered as he gently held it to her wound.

"It's the least I can do. Father explained the situation to me, so if you're willing to go through all this, the least I can do is hold some ice to your face." He smiled again. "Was it at least a good game?"

"Was too bloody cold."

"I bet. What happened?"

"Not sure. The last thing I remember was thinking I wished we were playing football; then the team would be warmer."

"How come we always block out the most interesting parts when we get hurt?"

"No clue."

"So I guess I have you around to bother full time."

"I can't use magic, and Lucius won't put me back in my room," she complained.

"Does he snore that bad?" Draco asked/

Ginny looked puzzled.

"The last time I remember Mother in Father's bed, I was about seven. There has to be a reason his wives don't want to sleep in his bed."

"No, I don't think so. It's just sleeping with someone is so personal," she explained.

"But having sex and orgasms is impersonal?"

Ginny turned bright red. "How would you know?"

"I've been walking down the hall at the wrong time. You're quite the little screamer!"

A/N I know updates have been slow. I think the problem might be that I'm doing too many stories at once, so I'm going to work on one story at a time. Please go to my profile and answer the poll as to what story you want me to finish first.