Happenstance

Chapter 18: Off the Record

No matter how hard she tried, Luna simply couldn't look at the bright side. After finding out that she had gotten pregnant by Draco again, she retreated to her former quite and brooding self. Luna had always planned on having more than one child, but she'd never wanted to have them so close together, out of wedlock and at such a young age. She'd only spent two weeks at her job at the Quibbler and had really started to enjoy it, but now that she was pregnant again, Luna knew that it was only a matter of time before she would have to take maternity leave. At the rate she was going, Luna would never be able to establish herself as the well respected and reputable journalist that she wanted to be. What was worse, was that Draco was absolutely ecstatic about the news. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but Luna had made it very clear that she wanted to keep the news about her being pregnant again secret until she had a chance to explain it to her father.

Draco had initially agreed, but after two days had passed and she hadn't spoken with her father, he lost the little resolve he had and blurted it out to his secretary. Luckily, he was able to swear her to secrecy by threatening her job, but it wasn't long before Draco had told several other people, of whom he couldn't threaten to fire. That was when his excitement got the best of him and he broke down and, for reasons still unknown to him, contacted Rita Skeeter with the exclusive story.

Things between the young couple had been quite tense in the week that followed their finding out that Luna was pregnant again. Draco knew that Luna was shocked, so he tried not to take her less than thrilled attitude to heart. He'd assumed that she would have snapped out of it after having been able to process her thoughts on the news, but it didn't look like that would be happening. At least not anytime soon. Granted, Luna had yet to outright say that she didn't want to have the baby or that she was unhappy about it, Draco felt that she wasn't looking forward to it. He'd thought that he would be able to help her get used to the idea, but he knew that Luna was still really angry about the way he'd taken the news about her pregnancy, so he didn't press too much. Truth be told, Draco didn't blame her for being upset. He'd more or less called her a whore, thanks to his shock over the news, and that was something that he wasn't even able to forgive himself for. This guilt was one of the reasons why he agreed to keep quiet about the baby, and now that he hadn't kept his word, he was sure that whatever progress he had made over the last week, was sure to be reversed once Luna read the article.

Knowing that his article would be in that mornings edition of the Daily Prophet, Draco had awoken early so that he could read it before she did. Rita had promised him that the article wouldn't defame his family in the slightest and would only serve to announce their happy news to the rest of the magical world, but Draco knew Rita Skeeter and he wasn't completely convinced that she would make good on her end of the deal.

After reading it, Draco was glad to see that she had kept her word. For once in her career, Rita Skeeter had actually managed to write an insult free, fluff piece, and Draco thought that the article was quite good. But no matter how well written or polite the article was, Draco knew that Luna would still be pissed when she read it, especially since she'd expressly asked him to keep his mouth shut and he'd assured her that he would.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Draco asked, as Luna entered the kitchen, surprised to see that Draco was already there. Usually she beat him to the kitchen and was able to get breakfast started before he arrived.

"I've been better," she muttered, sounding horribly sad

"Are you puking a lot?" Draco asked, biting into an apple loudly. He'd went a bought a book about being pregnant the day after they'd found out, and he'd been trying to sound like he knew what she was going through, ever since.

"You speak so eloquently, Malfoy," Luna grumbled, not really answering his question. "Just so you know, it's called morning sickness, so you don't have to say puking."

"Is there anything I can do?" Draco asked, softly, at a complete loss as to what he could do or say to make her feel better.

"I'm fine," Luna replied. "I'm just tired." Draco felt that she was lying; even as the words left her mouth, she sounded like she wanted to cry.

"I don't think I could pull off being pregnant as well as you do, Love. If I could, I'd carry the baby for you" Draco said, hoping that compliments might ease her sharp temper. "I just don't have the legs for it, but you definitely do." Luna didn't say a word, she just stared at him as if he'd just said the dumbest thing possible. Seeing that he was holding the prophet, and desperate for a distraction, Luna held out her hand and waited for Draco to give it to her. For several moments, Draco contemplated just running out of the house with the paper and chucking it, so she couldn't read the article, but he knew that she'd find out about it sooner or later, so he handed it over.

When Draco had given Rita the exclusive about Luna being pregnant with his second child, he hadn't expected it to make the front page, but sure enough it had. Write under the title of the paper, in big bold letters, was the headline, 'MALFOY FAMILY GEARING UP FOR NEW ARRIVAL'. Draco knew that the headline didn't give too much away and part of him wanted Luna to skip over it thinking it was about his father's company, but he knew that he wouldn't be so lucky. Luna was a stickler about making sure that she knew what the competition was putting in their papers, and this morning wouldn't be any different than any other morning when she read the paper cover to cover.

"Draco," Luna said, jolting Draco out of his nervous thoughts. "There's an article about your Dad's company in the paper." Draco didn't know what to say to that, so he just stared at her dumbly. Not sure why he was looking at her like that, Luna decided to read the article to him. "It seems that the addition of five month old, Landon Cooper Malfoy..." Luna looked like she was ready to gouge Rita Skeeter's eyes out. "Why are they saying his last name is Malfoy? It says Lovegood on his birth certificate."

"Don't know," Draco lied. He had told Rita to use Malfoy instead of Lovegood, as he felt that Landon should of have his last name all along. "I'll try to find something out." Seemingly satisfied, Luna offered him a weak smile before continuing with the article.

"...was not enough to satisfy the heir to Malfoy Enterprises and the fortune it had brought in. Draco Malfoy, 19, who currently holds the position of Vice President at Malfoy Enterprises, has informed me, exclusively, that he and the mother of his son, Luna Lovegood, are currently expecting their second child. When asked if this is the last of their brood, Draco Malfoy stated that he intended on having several children, though a specific number is unknown. He figures that he will stop having children when, 'Luna won't let me have anymore'. Mr. Malfoy has assured me that he doesn't plan on over doing it like the Weasley family is notorious for doing." Draco could hear the disbelief in Luna's voice as she read the article. The fact that she had continued reading past the part stating they were expecting another baby, surprised Draco. He'd expected her to beat him with a spatula or other kitchen utensil as soon as she read it. "When asked if a wedding was in the works, Mr. Malfoy stated that he and Luna weren't in any rush to get married because a love like their's is a sure thing and they don't need a ceremony to prove it. He has assured us that someday the pair will publicly declare their love for one another but public approval is the last thing on their minds at the moment. Instead their attentions are excitedly focused on being good parents to son, Landon, and ensuring the healthy development of, what Draco hope's will be their daughter. 'I've always wanted a baby girl,' Draco said, a huge grin on his undeniably handsome face. 'I can't wait to hear her call me Daddy. I've already got some cute little outfits for her. When her Mum saw them, I think she thought that I was nutters!'. The longer I sat with Mr. Malfoy, the more I could see that he was under the influence of the excitement and love that only someone faced with parenthood could know. It was no secret that the conception and birth of his first child, Landon, was kept from Draco and perhaps that is why the young wizard is so overcome by happiness after hearing the news. When asked about how he felt towards Miss Lovegood for keeping the existence of his child secret for so long, Draco replied, 'I was an asshole to her for the entire six years that I knew her, save for my last night at Hogwarts. I can only imagine how terrible I made her feel all of those years, and not once did she ever retaliate. In fact, because of something she said to me out of concern for my well being, even though I'd just said some horribly cruel things to her, I was finally able to get a handle on my anger and learn to move past some of the rubbish that had been strangling me for so long. Six years, I tormented her and when I saw someone else do it, and how... crushed she was, I wanted to make her feel better. Now whether or not that's what I did, I can't say, but I can say that Landon was conceived by my efforts. One night of decency, that's all I ever gave her, and that's not much to cause her to trust me. I don't like that she didn't tell me she was pregnant. I would have loved to have been there, but I can't blame her for not telling me. Like I said, I was an ass.' " Instead of finishing the rather lengthy article, Luna calmly folded the paper and wordlessly sat it on the table between her and Draco. Standing, she went to the cabinet and started to prepare herself a couple of slices of toast. Draco was worried. He would have really preferred her to yell or something, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of her being completely silent about it.

"Do you really not blame me for not telling you about Landon?" Luna asked, as she sat back down next to him, her dry toast on its plate in front of her. Draco couldn't help but notice that she still refused to look at him, instead her eyes remained focus on her toast.

"No, I don't," he said, softly. "I can see why you were afraid to tell me. I wish you had, but if I hadn't acted the way I had, you probably wouldn't have been so scared to come to me, and for that I am really sorry." Standing, Luna turned to leave, her toast mostly untouched. "Where are you going?"

"I've got to go and do damage control with my Dad," she said. "I can't imagine he'll be too thrilled by that article."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Draco asked, standing and walking over to her. "I can take off from work."

"No, I'll do it myself," she muttered. "Can you take Landon over to Gwennie for me? I won't be able to take him to her before I go see my Dad."

"Sure." Draco said, nodding. "You sure you don't want me to come?"

"Positive," she assured him, before slowing heading towards the stairs. Draco couldn't help but feel like he'd gotten off easy. Not only did she not yell at him, but she hadn't even brought up the fact that he hadn't kept his word about not telling anyone about the baby. The more he thought about it, the more sure he was that this was his punishment. She wanted him to wonder whether or not he'd ever get yelled at and he didn't like it one bit. Nope, Draco didn't appreciate mind games.

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Luna had spent as much time getting ready to go see her father as she possibly could have. Part of her thought that if she just stayed in her room forever, maybe this entire mess would sort itself out, but she knew that wouldn't work. So, after about an hour of procrastinating, Luna finally trudged downstairs and out of the house before apparating to her childhood home.

For nearly ten minutes, Luna just stood outside of the front door, contemplating how best to handle this. Luna was even more nervous now than she was the first time she'd told her father that she was pregnant, and that she couldn't make sense of. Her father had been so understanding about her pregnancy and she really hated having him think she'd gone and screwed up again. There were few things she hated more than her father being disappointed in her. Finally scrounging up some nerve, Luna opened the front door and went straight to the breakfast room, knowing her Dad would be in there.

"Daddy," Luna greeted him, as he stared stone faced at that mornings edition of The Prophet. At the sound of her voice, Mr. Lovegood looked up, his usual kind expression replaced with a purposefully blank one.

"Yes," he said, flatly.

"Have you read the Prophet?" she asked, dumbly.

"You know I have," her father said, tersely.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize," he interjected, angrily. "How could you do this? What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't," she replied, lamely. "He was just so... I don't know. I was confused, but it doesn't matter because..."

"I don't doubt that you were confused, Luna," her father assured her.

"I know it was stupid, Daddy. I mean, how dumb do you have to be to get knocked up twice... by the same person, but it's not like that. He's just so... him. I don't know! He's really good at getting what he wants without even seeming like he's trying. He just does some of the sweetest things sometimes, most of the time, in fact. I absolutely adore him but I didn't want him to know that, hell, I didn't even want myself to know that. It just gets hard trying to pretend that I don't want him when I do. It's no excuse for being so careless, again, but luckily it doesn't matter this time..." Luna's father wasn't exactly sure how things had gotten off course, but judging by the fact that his daughter was near tears, he was pretty sure that she had a lot on her mind.

"Luna," he interjected, his steely tone replaced with an amused one. "When I asked you how could you do this, I meant how could you do an interview with the Prophet before telling your own father, not how could you have another child with Draco."

"Oh," she said, lamely, her mood still not improving. "Well, in that case, you should know that I had nothing to do with it. I asked Draco to wait until after I had told you before he told anyone but apparently his excitement got the best of him and he told Rita Skeeter, of all people. I found out about it this morning in the Prophet. I wanted you to know first, I just didn't know how to tell you. I thought that you would be mad at me, but now that I've gotten..."

"Why would I be angry?" he asked, astounded that she would think such a thing. "Was I angry last time?"

"No, but this isn't like last time," she clarified.

"Love," her father said, coming to stand next to her in the doorway and wrapping his arms around his confused daughters shoulders. "I'm thrilled that you're continuing your relationship, if that's what you want to call it, with Draco. He's a great father and after having grown up and gotten over his ridiculous prejudices, he's a great guy who love's you. One child or twenty, I don't care, so long as he treats you all like royalty. My anger was solely due to how I found out about your pregnancy, not because you're pregnant. As a matter of fact, I'm quite thrilled about it. So is Rosie."

"But that's what I'm trying to tell you," she exclaimed, tired of being interrupted while she tried to tell her father what was probably the hardest thing she'd ever had to say to him.

"What is it?" her father asked, alarmed by her outburst. Luna rarely raised her voice, especially at him, so whatever was on her mind must have been pretty important.

"I'm not pregnant," she whispered. "Two days ago, I got my period. While Draco was at work, I went by St. Mungo's and the medi-witch examined me again and said that I hadn't miscarried or anything, I just was never pregnant."

"Then why did she say you were?" her father asked, sadly. He'd been so excited to hear that he was going to have another grandchild, even if he was angry about how he'd found out, and to know that it wasn't true, was like torture.

"She's said that based on my symptoms, she was sure that the test had to be right," Luna explained, the tears she'd been holding back now falling in torrents. "But because I'm still nursing and my hormones are still kind of out of whack, the test can sometimes be wrong. All of my nausea and dizziness must have actually been the flu and not just symptoms of being pregnant. So, on top of losing a baby I never had, I did get Lanny sick."

"Oh, Love," her father said, holding her close to him. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now. How's Draco taking it?"

"I haven't told him," Luna said, her crying increasing greatly. "At first, I wasn't really too happy about being pregnant, but the more I thought about it, the more I like the idea of having another so soon. Right when I was so sure that everything was going to be wonderful between Draco, me and the kids, I got my period, and it was all ripped away. He's so excited. He's sure its the daughter he's always wanted, and I can't bring myself to tell him that there's no baby."

"And now everyone expects you to be pregnant because of the article," Mr. Lovegood murmured, the full extent of just how terrible things really were hitting him with full force.

"He's not going to take it well," Luna whispered, once her crying slowed a bit.

"You need to tell him soon. The longer he thinks you're pregnant the worse its going to be. You need to tell him now, Luna. Not just for his well being, but for your own. You can't deal with this by yourself. You need to be there for him and he needs to be there for you." Luna's father hated seeing his daughter so upset, and to know that he couldn't do anything to make it stop, made him angrier than words could say. "Take the day off. Go get Draco from work, take him and tell him. I'll pick Landon up from Gwennie's a little later and he can stay here. You two need to be alone so you can deal with this, okay?"

"Thank you, Daddy," Luna whispered, making no move to leave her father's arms.

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I WAS PLANNING ON WAITING A FEW DAYS BEFORE I ACTUALLY POSTED THIS CHAPTER, SINCE I'D JUST POSTED ONE EARLIER TODAY, BUT ONE OF THE REVIEWS WAS A LITTLE TOO ACCURATE, SO BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS WAS HEADING, I THOUGHT I'D JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS ONE UP TONIGHT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANTED LUNA TO REALLY BE PREGNANT, DON'T WORRY, SHE MAY NOT BE PREGNANT THIS TIME, BUT I'M SURE DRACO WILL MANAGE TO GET IN HER PANTS AGAIN. THIS SUDO-PREGNANCY WAS MORE OF A CATALYST THEN ANYTHING : )

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