Ch. 7 Dawn Of A New Day
a/n: I have intentionally switched the POV to first person. It was the best way to right this chapter. And it is probably how this story will be finished. That said after this there is maybe one or two more chapters then an epilogue.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
I curl my toes in the sand and let the waves wash over my feet as they roll in. I know I am being watched. Draco is never far away. I guess he is looking at me from the front porch of the large beach house behind me. This secluded island is home now. It has been for I don't know how long.
The days blur together and I know it is sometime in late June. But we are cut off from the world so there is no telling. I wish I knew what was going on back home. The lack of information stresses me out. And scares me. Is my family alive? Are my friends alive? Has the war come to an end and we don't know? No, that can't be true. Draco has told us again and again that he has ways to know when the fighting has ceased. But when that will be I don't know. We could be here on this island for months or maybe years. I try not to cringe at the idea. At least if we are stuck here for years, it is a beautiful place.
I realize that as I am lost in thought my feet have now suck in the sand. As I try to unstick them, I lose my balance and fall with a thump on my butt in the sand. I don't even both trying to wiggle my unbalanced pregnant body out of my predicament. I haven't even counted to ten before Draco is at my side, knees in the sand.
"Go ahead and laugh at me. I'm a whale." I smile up at him. He smiles a little and I feel accomplished. He is on pins and needles these days, so afraid of everything. None of us are of age so there is no magic here. None of us have any medical training do delivering a baby is a terrifying thought. We have no choice. It is live like this, or maybe don't live at all.
"You are not a whale, you are a pregnant girl, stuck in the sand." He wraps an arm around me and lifts me to my feet.
We make our way back to the house together. Inside our friends are all gathered in the kitchen making lunch and at the sight of us they all begin to laugh.
"Rolling around in the sand, Gin?" Azlyn has this huge smile on her face. She has no fear. And if she does, she hides it well.
"Perhaps they were trying to swim on land. Or in the water since their clothes are rather wet as well." Logan in standing in front of a pan on the stove. I have no idea what he is making but it smells delicious. He is another one with no fear. But he has worry. I've heard him up at night just pacing and sometimes talking to himself.
"I fell" I roll my eyes at them. We joke now, but there is understanding. Nothing is comical or even happy about how things have turned out.
"Ah, got stuck in the sand again." Pansy is setting the table. Pansy is the only one who doesn't smile. She won't talk about the war or about the world we have left behind. She fears for the loss of life when even a few able fighters are removed from the fight. I have a strong feeling, that she is trying to convince Blaise to go home after I have my baby. They are more help there than here. But no one will talk about it.
"Perhaps you two should go shower quickly or change clothes. Lunch will be ready soon." Blaise walks up behind Pansy and wraps his arms around her. I haven't quite figured Blaise out yet. If he's afraid, I can't tell. If he's worried, I can't tell. I can't tell anything.
"Ah, perhaps you're right." Draco led me by the hand out of the kitchen and up the stairs to our room.
"I'm just going to change." I walk over to the closet and pull out a simple dress before turning and walking into the bathroom. Once I am dressed in clean clothing and have brushed my hair, I walk back to the bedroom and join Draco as we make our way back down the stairs.
We eat in silence and soon the day goes by. And another. And another. It feels as if we are stuck on repeat and nothing ever changes. And then suddenly it does.
I'm standing in the ocean with Azlyn and we are watching Pansy and Blaise sitting together on the beach.
"Do you think they are really just going to leave?" Azlyn asks with a smile on her face. We are pretending to discuss something jovial and happy. If Draco, who we both know is watching sees me with an unhappy expression, he'll come running. I'm sure any day now he is going to snap.
"I don't know. I heard them discussing it the other night. They think we can't hear them fighting or maybe they don't care anymore." I laugh, like we are sharing a joke. But in reality we are sharing fear. If they leave, we may never see them again. And if they get captured, how long will it be before the death eaters come for us if they break.
"I guess only time will tell." A wave comes our way and we jump with it and laugh as I lose my balance and she has to grab my hand to keep me from toppling into the water. Now our smiles are genuine. And for a few moments we are normal. Two friends seemingly just enjoying a day at the beach. But the moment is fleeting.
I am caught off guard when a wave of pain wraps around my lower back and abdomen. I take a deep breath and am careful not to let on to my moment of discomfort. As quickly as it comes, it is gone. And I forget all about it.
An hour or so later I am laying in a beach chair under a huge umbrella listening to the sounds of the water in front of me and the forest that wraps behind and to the sides of the house. We are alone on this island except for nature.
The only person besides us who knows were here is the muggle boat driver who brought us when we first arrived from the mainland of a country whose name I don't know. Once every two weeks the same man arrives delivering food. He is far to well paid to ask questions and part of me truly believes that he knows what we are. Sometime I catch a look he shared with Draco, as if they knew each other from a long time ago. But I don't ask.
My eyes are closed but I know Draco is attempting to play volleyball with the others directly in front of me. I wanted to play but he wouldn't allow it. Damn overprotective boyfriend. The pain comes again but this time slightly stronger and I pray no one sees me wince. I open one of my eyes to check and am glad to see that they are all far to engrossed in their game. I sigh and relax watching the game once the pain goes away.
At dinner time we are all in a good mood. Even Pansy is sharing in the jokes. Our laughter is almost normal. But underneath you can still hear the nerves. Everyone hears what is not said. Everyone sees the small glances and looks we all share. None of this is real life and we know it. Azlyn is describing in great detail when Draco took a comical spill attempting to hit the ball today when the pain strikes again. It's stronger and last long enough for me to cringe and my hand to fly to my stomach. This time it doesn't go unnoticed.
"Ginny, is something wrong?" Azlyn has stopped mid sentence. And now all eyes are on me.
"It's just false labor." I've read books about this. But I'm not completely sure. Being in labor terrifies me. And if I was I would deny it. I know better, but still I convince myself that until I believe it, it isn't happening.
"Are you sure?" Draco is unconvinced.
"I'm sure, Azlyn finish your story. I think I may have napped right through what you are talking about." I smile. I'm not sure anyone is convinced but they pick up the conversation regardless.
Half an hour goes by and I am the shower when the pain comes again. I lean against the wall and attempt to take deep breaths. I tell myself it isn't real and sigh in relief when the pain goes away. I turn off the water and wrap a towel around myself while still standing in the shower. Suddenly, I realize there is water running down my legs. Now it is real.
It takes me a good five minutes to compose my self after I realize my water has broken. It takes all I have to stay calm as I put on my nightgown. I braid my hair with shaking hands and tell myself that I can do this. Walking back into the bedroom is the longest minute of my life.
Draco is sitting on the bed reading a book. He looks up at me and gives me a questioning expression. He knows something is wrong.
"I'm in labor." The tears have welled up in my eyes and a few stray ones fall down my cheeks. I'm terrified and no longer care who knows.
Draco shuts his book and stands. He doesn't speak at all as he walks over to me. On his face is the perfect mask of calmness and I wonder if he is as scared as I am in this moment.
"How in labor?" His voice betrays his face.
"My water broke about ten minutes ago." As I speak I can fell the pain returning. It's much stronger now and I cry out. Draco reaches out and I grip his hand in agony. Somehow he manages to get me to move to the bed and by the time the pain is gone I am sitting down on the edge.
"How far apart are the contractions?" He's done his reading too.
"That one and the last one were about twenty minutes. So I still have a while." He helps me so that I am comfortably leaning against the pillows.
"Do you want me to get Pansy and Azlyn?" We had only discussed me giving birth here once. Pansy and Alzyn were going to deliver the baby. Which made sense because Draco, I would probably be screaming at soon enough. And well the thought of Blasieor Logan seeing me give birth was equally embarrassing and horrifying.
"Not yet."
"Okay, we'll wait for awhile." He smiles encouragingly at me and I'm just a little less terrified.
We don't even have to wait for awhile. Less than an hour later, the contractions are now consistently five minutes apart. Draco seeks out Azlyn and Pansy in between two of them and they each walk in carrying a box.
"What is that?" I am breathing heavily and am quite positive that I look like hell.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, so which one of us would you rather be actually delivering this baby."
"I don't really...ah" Pain grips me and I try desperately not to curl up into a ball.
"Alright then, I'll do it." Pansy speaks up and I just nod my head in agreement.
Another hour rolls by before Pansy announces that it is time to push. At this moment there is nothing I want more in the world than my mom. But I can't have her so I cling to Draco and Azlyn instead. Draco now has a red mark on the side of his face where I threw something at him a little while ago. I would feel bad if it didn't feel like I was being ripped apart by his child.
I push and scream. Nothing.
I push and cry. Still nothing.
Three voices are cheering me on. All promising me only a little more and he'll be here.
I want to give up. I voice this. Draco whispers encouragement in my ear. Through the sweat and tears on my face I can see the tears in his eyes. This is our moment.
Again I push and scream. This is the worst pain I have ever been in. I am so tired and just want to close my eyes and this all be over. I tell myself not to give up. Just one more.
I hold my breath and push. Silence. The pain is gone and suddenly there is something else. The unmistakable crying of a newborn. My cries of pain and fear are suddenly turned to cries of joy.
Pansy puts the squirming, screaming, covered in blood and what not infant on my chest. Then a blanket is placed over him. I can no longer hear the world around me. He is everything.
He is beautiful. His eyes mirror his father's and his hair is the trademark of my family. There is no doubt to who his parents are. I cradle him in my arms and it seems like forever has passed at he stares into my eyes and I stare into his. And I know that nothing will ever live up to this moment.
When I pass him to Draco my arms feel empty and I fight the urge to just take him back. When Azlyn helps me to the shower to clean off and put on new clothing, I feel odd. As if a part of me is suddenly missing. When we return to bedroom it is completely clean. A crib is sitting against the wall where there was once a chair. A new dresser sits next to it and I am sure it is full of clothing, blankets, and diapers. Draco is sitting in a rocking chair with the baby who is instantly put back into my arms. And again I feel complete.
Azlyn leaves to clean off herself and her clothing. She returns a few minutes later with everyone else.
"Does he have a name?" Logan questions from where he is standing staring down at my little angel.
"Um, yes, we actually decided on a name about a week ago but decided to keep it quiet until he was born." I don't look up at them when I speak. It has to be close to midnight now. Maybe even later. I don't know and I don't care.
"So what is it then?"
"Jackson Gabriel Malfoy"