Ch.7 Seven Days
Disclaimer: I don't own harry potter.
A/n: much thanks to my beta icebabesfire for keeping me from grammatical suicide.
Also make sure you all go check out In Between The Lines. It's a one shot companion to this story.
Enjoy.
It's amazing how much of a difference seven days can make.
Day 1
"Your family should be here any minute, what do you want to tell them?" Draco is sitting in the chair next to my hospital bed, his long work day cut short.
"I don't know. All of them are smart enough to figure out what this is." I wave over my appearance to show what I am referring to. "Obviously, we have to tell them about the baby now. But I don't know how to tell my parents about the curse." I sigh sinking into the pillows.
"Ginny I…" He begins but a knock on the door stops him. "Come in"
I'm not quite sure whether it is my stomach or my son that does a nervous flip when the door is opened. Ron, Hermione, Harry, Azlyn, Blaise, and Pansy all walk in. Their faces are each a mix of shock and concern as soon as they see me. I am slightly relieved that they got here before the rest of my family.
"Why are you on the maternity floor?" Azlyn is the first person who recovers enough to speak.
"Because it is where they put the pregnant women" I reply.
It takes the room a moment to recover before Azlyn speaks again.
"I thought you were getting fixed. How long have you known about this because you've been living with me, and I had no idea."
"Why are you living with Azlyn?" Ron is more interested in this fact than anything else. "I'm confused as to why my best friend didn't find this information important enough to tell me" He looks pissed at Harry and Azlyn looks embarrassed.
"I screwed up and she left me. That's all you need to know and we are not telling anyone else got it?" Draco seems frustrated that Ron seems more interested in my living arrangements than in my health.
"But.." Ron begins but Hermione hits him in the arm before taking a seat. She is nine months pregnant now and due any day so her patience with her husband is all but gone.
"It's none of our business Ronald, besides I'm more interested in how the curse is showing up after we got rid of it." She stares at my face for a long time before speaking again. "Is this the only symptom you're having? No voices or anything?"
"This is it. I was so shocked when I stepped out of the shower this morning that I fell backwards and hit my head. How do I explain this to everyone else?"
"You don't." She answers. "We'll just use the same glamour that you used in school to cover it. Then everyone else will be none the wiser while I figure out what the bloody hell is going on." She waves her wand and I check to see that my hair has returned to its proper shade.
"Hermione, I can't ask you to help with this. You are going to be having that baby any day now that is what you should be worrying about."
"I'm doing fine. Besides I'm the one who was supposed to have fixed this. And I don't make mistakes."
"This isn't your fault Hermione." I reassure her as the door opens again. The rest of my family rushes into the room.
My mother wraps her arms around me with tears streaming down her face.
"I cannot believe you two didn't tell anyone." She wipes away her tears as she steps back.
"We didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. We didn't even think we would make it to this point." Draco answers for me. I am grateful for his presence today as I have no idea how long I will keep it together with everyone now knowing.
"So how pregnant are you exactly?" Fred asks as he shifts Amanda in his arms.
"Twenty weeks."
For a good hour my family chatters on excitedly about how much of a miracle this is and how things are finally looking up for us. If only they knew all the things breaking apart to give us this miracle. I know my smile is faltering and I am extremely relieved when Calvin comes and tells them that visiting hours are over. Once they have all left he sits on the end of the bed to talk to me and Draco.
"All of your tests are normal. The baby is healthy and you are healthy sans the obvious. In my best opinion I think the physical ramifications of the curse are probably just showing up now because a portion of this curse is so emotionally intertwined that your insane hormones are making it appear. I would still let whomever removed the curse the first time do some digging. But it may not be dangerous to your health at all and should go away again after you give birth." He gives me a reassuring look. "I can send you home tomorrow on strict bed rest which may last until you give birth."
"How do you know so much?" I question but am relieved he seems to think I am not going to die nor is my baby in any real danger yet.
"I've read just as many books as Hermione. And I had a thing for ancient curses when I was in school. I'll leave you two alone to get some sleep and will be back in the morning to release you. Goodnight love." He smiles before hopping off the bed and heading out the door.
"So are you going back to Azlyn's tomorrow?" Draco's face is serious and for some reason he looks much older than twenty. I miss him. I miss our bed and I miss our home. I miss our old struggles even. He is my soul mate. We have been through so much. Could this really be the end?
"No, I'm coming home. I haven't forgiven you. And I'm not sure I will, but this is our baby. So for right now, I'm coming home. I'll stay in the guest room for now." I answer.
"No, I'll sleep in the guestroom. Our bedroom has the better bed and the huge bathroom. You'll be more comfortable in there." He rests one of his hands over mine and seems relieved when I don't pull it away. "I know I have said this before, but I honestly thought I was doing what was best for us. And I am so sorry."
Day 2
I'm home for a total of one hour before I am bored out of my mind and pick up my laptop to aimlessly roam the internet.
"Gin?" Draco steps into the bedroom and I set my computer aside. "Are you busy right now?"
"Yes, I am perfecting world peace from this bed." I roll my eyes laughing at the suggestion that I am being productive. "Do you need something?"
He picks up the laptop moving it onto the dresser before sitting down on the bed next to me.
"We have a visitor who wants to speak with both of us." He looks nervous and I wonder briefly why he felt the need to sit down to tell me this.
"Who is it?" I question picking up my wand to perform a glamour on myself.
"It's Cynthia Bickman. She is his mother." He whispers. "She wants to speak with us. I told her I would see if you are up to it."
My stomach drops and I am sure my face has lost a couple shades of color. But I pull myself together and take a deep breath. I throw the blankets off of my legs and stand slowly. Draco jumps up and comes around to wrap an arm around my waist before lifting me into his arms. We don't speak as he carries me down the stair into our living room.
Sitting in one of the chairs is a woman I would recognize anywhere. She looks so much like her son that my body tenses just at the sight of her. Draco places me gently on the sofa and we turn to face her.
"I know this is not a very good time for you, but I have been putting this off for far too long. I'm assuming Draco told you who I am." She speaks with such a soft voice and I am shocked her son turned out to be such a monster.
"Yes I am aware." I am trying to keep my voice flat but I am sure she can tell I am terrified by her presence.
"My son was a terrible person at the end of his life. He wasn't always like that. I tried so hard to make sure he would not turn out like the bastard his father was but I failed. Maybe if I had been honest with him about who his father was then he wouldn't have turned from me when he found out. I don't really know. I've heard from a reliable source that you had a baby a few years ago and he was the father. I know that nothing between the two of you was consensual on your part and I am well aware that he was the cause of the baby's death." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "I came here today to speak with you about two things. The first is that I am seeking your permission to visit your daughter's grave."
"I don't think you need my permission for that. She was your granddaughter after all." I swallow hard and try not to let the tears in my eyes begin to spill.
"I know but the circumstances of her conception and death were terrible and at the hands of my son. I didn't feel right just going without your blessing. Besides I wanted to meet you. My son is gone and so is the granddaughter I never got to meet. Meeting you was very important to me." Her eyes tear up and I wish I had the courage to get up and hug her. Not that Draco would let me stand for more than two seconds anyways.
"What is the other thing you wanted to discuss with us?" Draco asks attempting to change the subject to anything other than the catalyst for years of heartbreak for us.
"I think the two of you should know who Travis's father is. I am not proud of what happened between the two of us. And before I tell you, I think you should know that he was aware of Travis. He has known about him since I got pregnant with him." She seems more uncomfortable with this subject than the first. "He was a married man and I am so ashamed of the affair I had with him. And who he is directly affects both of you."
"Who is he then?" Draco questions and I feel as if he is catching on to something that I am not.
"Lucius Malfoy"
Day 3
"Draco?" We haven't spoken since Cynthia Bickman left. We ate dinner is silence. We both went our separate ways to bed in silence. The silence is deafening and I am unable to sleep. So at four in the morning I give up and go to Draco's room.
"Ginny? What's wrong?" He sits up in bed and I know from his face that he hasn't slept either.
I climb up next to him in bed and lay down on the pillows.
"I can't sleep." I wait for him to lie down next to me and turn towards my face before I speak again. "What are you thinking about?"
"He was my brother" He whispers.
"Does that change things?" I ask.
"Not about how I feel about him or what he did. I'm not sure that I can hate my father any more than I already did. If anything it made losing Merci so much worse. I should have protected you more. I should have…" He trails off turning to look up at the ceiling and I know he is crying.
"It's wasn't your fault. You know that." I move closer to him and rest my head on his chest.
I've done this one thousand times before and yet tonight in this moment, it is the first step towards repairing something broken. It's everything.
We don't talk anymore and soon we are both asleep. Hours later, it's Draco's phone that pulls us from our comfortable sleep.
"Hello?" It's more of a yawn then a word and I can't help laughing.
"Where are you? It's awful noisy in the background."
"We are on our way." He hangs up and I give him a suspicious look.
"Hermione is in labor." He smiles and begins to get up. "Azlyn says Calvin is giving you permission to go. But you know your limits so don't make him regret it."
"You know what's amazing." I say as I finish getting ready and we begin to head down the stairs.
"What is amazing?" He stops at the bottom of the stairs and looks at me.
"We're next." I smile. It sounds so strange coming out of my mouth. Only five more weeks and the baby will be viable. If something happens he will be able to survive. Right now, that doesn't seem so far away.
"I know."
The waiting room is filled with our family, children are being passed from adult to adult, and everything is just general chaos. Everyone except for Azlyn seems shocked that we have made an appearance.
"What? You all thought I was actually going to miss my nephew being born?" I laugh as Draco leads me to a seat. His arm has stayed firmly wrapped around my waist since we left our home.
"You're supposed to be on bed rest." Charlie points out as he comes over and sits in the chair next to me. Clarissa is in his arms with a teddy bear. It is obvious his nearly three year old has bonded quickly with her father.
"I got permission, don't worry." I smile down at his daughter and my mind flashes to what this moment would be like if Merci was here. Would she be clingy to Charlie and calling him daddy? Or would she be Draco's little girl? My heart aches for a moment over what could have been.
"Aunt Winnie, I have teddy bear." Clarissa holds her bear out so I can see it. "Daddy gave me"
"It's lovely Clarissa." I bring myself back into what is as I respond to my niece.
Hours pass as we all eat, chat and wait. Before we know it the sky outside has shifted from day to night and people begin to fall asleep in their seats. I have barely nodded off when Ron comes running into the room with tears in his eyes.
"He's here and weighing in at eight pounds two ounces!"
We all jump up and in turn hug him, offering our congratulations. Then two people at a time go to visit Hermione and their new baby.
It is nearly midnight and I am exhausted by the time Draco and I make our way to her hospital room.
"Oh Hermione, he is perfect." I am enamored by the red haired baby in her arms the moment I see him.
"He is isn't he?" She has the smile I have seen on so many of my patients before. It's the new mom smile. It's not like any other smile. I can't help but think that soon I will be here.
"What's his name?" Draco asks as he looks over my shoulder at the baby.
"His name is Gregory Lee Weasley." Ron announces proudly.
"Do you want to hold him Gin?" Hermione lifts him up for me to take and I can no longer keep the tears out of my eyes as I hold the small blue bundle.
"Welcome to the world Gregory," I whisper as I kiss him on the head and then spend a few moments in silence taking in his perfect features.
"We should go Gin before Calvin finds out how long you have been here." He reminds me and I nod my head handing Gregory back to his mother before we say our goodbyes.
When it is time for me and Draco to go our separate ways once at home, I stop him.
"Stay with me, I sleep better when you are there."
He does.
Day 4
Draco returns to work the next morning and I am forced to spend the majority of my day surfing the internet. I'm sure I have lost my mind out of boredom by noon. I finally give up and decide to take a nap.
"We can't pretend this isn't happening" I whisper. My head is on Draco's chest and I am listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"You are not leaving me." He is broken. All the strength I am so used to is gone.
"I'm dying Draco" A single tear falls down my face as I force myself to sit up and face him. The simple act makes me tired but this is not a conversation I can have while snuggling.
"No" He sits up. He is not hiding his pain or his tears from me tonight. He knows.
"You can say that all you want. It won't save me." I take one of his hands in mine.
"We have not suffered all this time just so I can lose you. Azlyn is right, you are my soul mate. I refuse to let you die on me."
"You will be okay. And I will be with Merci." I sigh.
"Don't, please, just don't" He can't even make a full sentence as he brushes a stray strand of blue hair out of my face. "Hermione will, she has to" I know what he is trying to say.
"Promise me something?" I smile up at him.
"Anything" He kisses the top of my forehead.
"Promise me that you will not let your sadness consume you. We were better for having found each other even if we can't have forever."
"I promise." His voice cracks and for the first time, I hold him as he sobs.
I wake up to find Draco sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at me.
"What were you dreaming about?" He brushes a stray strand of blue hair out of my face. "You always look so sad when you are dreaming. Even when it's a good dream, you are always frowning."
"It was more of a memory. Remember the night before Hermione found the cure for the curse?" I sit up and prop myself up on the pillows.
"Yes, I remember. I try not to though. It was…" He trails off and I know continuing will only take him back to that place.
"I know." I reach up to place my hand on his cheek. "How was work?"
"It was uneventful which is always good." He smiles thankful for the change of subject away from my near brush with death. "Ginny, we should probably talk about where we stand."
"I'm angry you paid her off and more pissed that I heard it from her rather than from you when it happened. But you and I, we are soul mates. And marriage is for the good and the bad. So it's time we get past it. We have something far more important to worry about." I place my free hand over the small bump that holds our son and he places a hand over mine.
"I'll spend the rest of our lives making this up to you." He leans in and brushes my lips with a kiss.
"I know" I smirk deepening the kiss but he pulls away all too soon for my liking.
"You know we can't until Calvin says it's okay or the baby is born." He rests his forehead against mine and runs a hand through my hair. "Don't worry I'll make this up to you too."
"You better."
"He needs a name." Draco pulls away and looks down at my stomach.
"I know." I look around the room trying to think. We have never come to this discussion before. Not once have I ever named a child. My eyes land on a photo from Hogwarts. I'm standing with Draco in the center and we are surrounded by our friends. Harry and Regan are sharing a look while Carter rolls his eyes at his sister. Logan is holding Azlyn in his arms and she is laughing. Ron and Hermione are standing close together but seem almost afraid to let on how much they care. Blaise and Pansy are kissing without a care in the world. My heart aches for those I have lost. "Logan"
"What?' Draco turns and follows my gaze to the picture.
"We should name him after those who died to give our son a safe world to live in. So my vote goes to Logan Carter." I smile.
"It's perfect." Draco agrees before leaning down to talk to my stomach. "Hello Logan Carter Malfoy. You are our little miracle and we can't wait to meet you."
Day 5
"I can't believe we are engaged." I smile staring down at my ring as we are getting ready for bed.
"Do you like it?" Draco asks as he sits down on the bed next to me.
"It's perfect." I answer. "I'm also in disbelief about how long you have had this ring and I didn't know about it."
"I can keep a secret." He smirks moving closer to me.
"I'll keep that in mind." I laugh and run a hand through his hair. "I say we celebrate in the best way possible."
"And what way would that be?" He looks confused as I move away from him.
I try to match his smirk as I stand up and lift me shirt over my head tossing it to the ground.
"The naked way" I answer, unhooking my bra and throwing it near my shirt.
It takes Draco a moment to recover before he stands and is standing in front of me. I reach out and pull his shirt off before pressing my lips to his. We stumble back to the bed and I fall on top of his chest still locked in our passionate kisses. I reach for his belt but he stops me and pulls away.
"You need more time to gather all of your strength back up. I don't want to hurt you."
"You will hurt me more if you don't let me take off your pants. I'm fine and I want to have sex with you so you can either shut up and let me do all the work or you can join in the fun."
I wake up to a phone ringing and grab it off of the nightstand.
"Hello?" I mumble still partly asleep.
"Ginny, it's Anne, one of the emergency healers from the hospital. I was trying to reach Draco is he there?" I sit up as I realize my husband is not in bed with me. I can hear the shower running in the other room and am relieved he hasn't left without telling me.
"He is but he can't come to the phone right now. Does he need to come in now?"
"No, it's just, his mother is in emergency. She keeps asking for him. Can you let him know?"
"Yes sure." I stand up and am not sure what to do. While Draco's mother has been a part of our lives since school, Draco keeps his distance.
"Ginny?!" I haven't realized that I have zoned out until Draco is standing in front of me panicking.
"Oh, sorry, the hospital called. Your mother is there." I hand him his phone.
"Why would she be visiting me this early?" He glances at the clock on the nightstand.
"Draco, I think she is a patient. We should go see her." I sit up and swing my legs over the bed but Draco stops me."
"The only place you are allowed to go is the bathroom. I will call you as soon as I know something but you are not going anywhere." When I roll my eyes at him, he grabs my legs and puts them back on the bed. "Have a nice day, love." He kisses me softly and is out the door.
I am now too concerned to go back to sleep, so I grab my phone and head into the bathroom to take a shower. I spend longer than I probably should enjoying the warm water before returning to my bed.
By the time Draco calls, I'm sure I have counted all the lines in our bedspread.
"Hello?" I answer more frantically then I mean to.
"Ginny? You know you can't have coffee right?" I'm unsure of whether or not he is joking because his voice sounds off.
"I know, love. I have just been losing my mind waiting for you to call. How is your mother?" I know the answer is not good before he even speaks.
"Not well. She has end stage heart failure and pneumonia. Apparently she has been sick since before we left Hogwarts but has been keeping it a secret." I can hear his voice cracking and I wish I could be next to him.
"So how long?" We are both healers and we both know how this ends.
"She might make it to the end of the week. I told her that you are home with the flu. I don't have it in me to tell her about the grandson she will never meet." He is crying now. It takes all I have not to join him in tears. I have to keep it together until I hang up the phone.
"Draco, is there anything I can do?"
"You can stay in that bed and wait for me to come home tonight. Don't stress over this. I need you to be relaxed and healthy. I need Logan to survive. I need you to survive. Do you understand?"
"I can do that."
"Good, Azlyn called me a little while ago and said she was coming over this afternoon. She said she needed to talk to you."
"I'll be here."
"I love you Ginny"
"I love you too."
I'm contemplating buying a muggle television when Azlyn arrives. She immediately kicks her shoes off and jumps up onto my bed next to me.
"What are you doing?" She smiles looking over at the web page I have open on my laptop.
"Online shopping, apparently muggles love it."
"What are you buying?"
"I'm thinking of getting a television. I've already read every book we own and there is only so much time I can stare at a computer screen before my eyes hurt. I've got to find something else to do in case I am stuck in this bed for the rest of my pregnancy." I shut the computer and turn to face my best friend. "Draco said you have something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Harry and I eloped!" She practically yells showing off the diamond ring on her finger.
"Are you pregnant?"
"No, we just didn't want to plan some huge wedding. And neither of us have any relatives so it just seemed pointless."
"I would say we should drink to this but you would be the only one drinking" I laugh and she joins in quickly.
"It's amazing how far we've come." She sighs placing a hand on my small baby bump.
"We've picked a name. I think you should be the first to hear it."
"Let's have it then."
"Logan Carter"
"It's perfect Gin. I can just imaging Logan wherever he is gloating that he gets a baby named after him." Her face is sad for a moment but she regains her composer quickly.
"I miss him." I admit, examining the group photo again.
"Me too, more than I care to admit sometimes." She sighs. "Do you ever wonder what would be if none of them had died? If Carter, Logan, Regan and Merci were all here?"
"All the time."
Day 6
"I don't have to go in Ginny. I can stay here in bed with you all day." Draco wraps an arm around me early the next morning.
"No, you have to go in. Besides you should spend as much time with your mother as possible. And Hermione is bringing Gregory over later. She found something she wants to tell me about." I kiss him on the cheek and playfully begin to push him towards the edge of the bed.
"Leave it to Hermione to still be doing research just days after giving birth. I have no idea how she does it." He laughs and jumps off the bed before I push him to the floor.
"Go to work, make some money so we can spoil our son rotten." I smile.
"I don't have to work so I can spoil him. My inheritance could buy us a castle but since you decided on Godric's Hollow, we are pretty well off and you know it. Besides you are on medical leave and still getting paid." He smirks kissing me on the cheek before beginning his morning routine.
I am sitting on the edge of Draco's bed while my Pansy and Azlyn finish getting me ready. I just stare at the wall. I am not here.
Azlyn slips my shoes on and Pansy finishes the braid in my hair before they both slip out of the room quietly. A moment later, Draco enters and walks over to stand in front of me.
"You don't have to go. They understand." He whispers as he takes my hands and helps me stand. I cringe. The physical pain is a reminder of what has happened. Draco notices and lifts me into his arms like a child. "Let's just stay here. Please."
I shake my head in response. I have to do this. I have to.
I wake with a start and realize I am not alone. Hermione is standing in the doorway looking uncertain. In one arms she holds her sleeping newborn son and in the other a thick book.
"I didn't want to wake you." She speaks softly, careful not to wake Gregory.
"I can't believe I fell back asleep. I was awake, I promise. Come and join me on the world's most comfortable bed." I smile.
She walks around the bed and sits down. I watch in awe as she manages to open the book without disturbing the baby. She truly is amazing.
"I found this the day before I went into labor. I have just been too tired to bring it over. I found some research on the Curse of Blue. It can apparently only be placed on women and before you there were only two others to ever survive it. Both were part of an experiment at Azkaban. They were doing research on it. But most subjects died. They wanted to know if there were lasting affects after the counter curse. The first one killed herself only a month after the curse was lifted. The book says there was no suspected connection." I listen intently to what she is saying. This is life or death for my son and me. "The second woman was in Azkaban for killing her husband but it turns out that she was under a curse when it happened. She was freed from Azkaban just days after receiving the counter curse. She went on the remarry and have four children. It says that the symbols and hair returned during each pregnancy. But it had no real effect on her or three sons. The only pregnancy she had any difficulty with was her daughter. Most of the symptoms returned and her daughter was born extremely premature with a heart defect. The daughter died when she was sixteen waiting for a heart transplant. "
"It only affects girls." I whisper, relieved. I'm having a boy. This will never be an issue for me.
"Yes, I figured you would want to know this. Here you can have the book, I need to get home before Ron takes his lunch break. He comes home every day. I'll see you later Gin."
After she is gone, I can't help the tears of relief that flow down my face. I am still crying when my phone rings.
"Hello"
"Ginny, what is it what's wrong?" Draco's voice is strained. He sounds far more tired than he should be at mid-day.
"Nothing, I'm actually quite happy right now. Is that all you called about?" I know it is not and my heart sinks in anticipation.
"Are you sure?" He sounds off and unsure.
"Yes, now will you please tell me why you are calling? I know it's not just to check up on me."
"I don't think I am going to make it home tonight. My mother has taken a turn for the worse and I'd like to stay with her tonight. If you need me though…" He trails off. I can hear how hard it is for him to be away from me now.
"I'll be fine Draco. I'll order in for dinner and maybe do some online shopping. I'll see you tomorrow." His mother needs him more than I do. And if she passes while he is here with me, I'll never forgive myself.
"If you say so, love. Call if you need me."
"I will. I love you Draco."
"I love you too Ginny"
Day 7
I wake up in the morning. And I am all alone.
Eat lunch. No phone call. No Draco.
Eat dinner. Nothing.
I am worried and desperately resisting the urge to call him panicking because of this.
It's well after dark, nearly midnight when I hear the front door open and close. For some reason as the familiar footsteps come up the stair, my stomach knots in anticipation.
He always calls. Something terrible has happened.
My fears are confirmed when he steps into our room. His eyes are red though there are no tears in his eyes. His clothes are the same as the day before. He looks so much like a little boy, lost without his mother.
I do the only thing I can. I run to him and crash into his arms. It is one of the only times the motion has been for his benefit and not mine. My strong protector has wavered. And for once I am the one who is stronger. I am the comfort and the support.
I'm not quite sure at what time we finally sink to the floor. Nor am I sure, what time he finally releases the arms locked around me. I do know that I could see the sunlight beginning to come in the window when he finally speaks the words I have waited all night to hear.
"She's gone"