2006
The sun was blinding to my eyes that morning, filling the room with an unbearable light that made me pull the covers over my eyes.
Another cursed summer day... I thought bitterly as my stomach rolled in nausea. I hadn't been out of bed for days, except to puke in the en-suite bathroom, and the happiness of the outside world was beginning to make me sour. I sighed as I flipped the cover from off my face and squinted at the light.
Maybe today I'll stop puking and get on with life.
"Sun bothering you?" Theodore asked as he walked into the room, having just finished his breakfast. He looked at the way I cowered from the light and flicked his wand at the two giant windows on either side of the bed. The blinds dropped down from the top and landed on the floor with a light clap.
"Not anymore," I groaned as I rolled over in bed again.
"Still sick I take it?" he said softly as he said on the edge of the bed.
"Yes..." I mumbled angrily at my body. "I'd like to know what the hell I ate to get this sick!"
"You haven't eaten since the day before last; maybe you're actually sick," Theodore suggested as he did up the buttons of his shirt. He, unlike me, was going to go to work today. I was going to lie in bed and pray that I sleep for the next 12 hours. Theodore stared at me for a moment and started to say "You know, I can stay home and-"
"No, you have a big case today!" I interrupted before he could even finish. I knew perfectly well that if I asked, he would stay. But that was what worried me; the last thing I wanted was for him to lose his job because he's caring for his sick wife who has the flu or something.
"You're sure? Because I can just tell my boss that I'll-"
"No, I'm fine," I insisted, smiling in gratitude at his offer, but still not accepting it. He stared at me for a moment, then held out his wrists for me to do up his cufflinks (as I did every morning) for him. Then, with one more long look, he sighed and stood from the bed.
"Well, before I leave then, there's someone who wants to see you." He said with a small smile. I nodded my head and then sunk down into the bed a little more. "Oh, and this letter just came a few minutes ago." He added, pulling the letter out of his pocket and putting the gold envelope on my nightstand. Then he walked out of the room with a little haste in his step.
Marital Bliss. I thought with a long sigh as I made myself comfortable. Having someone worry about you enough to offer to stay home and care for you. It's more than I could ever ask for of anyone I know.
I smiled slightly to myself as I checked the time on the clock beside my head. 9:30; he was going to be late for work. But I knew his routine like the back of my hand; living for 6 years with each other will do that to you.
I picked up the letter beside my head and examined the front. It was addressed to Daphne Greengrass, which was strange since I hadn't been that for 3 years. I took Theodore's name even before that, with the hopes of avoiding confusion like this. I flipped over the envelope and noticed there was a seal, which seemed faintly familiar to me. Curious now, I tore open the envelope and pulled out the white paper with silver ink written on it. After I read the first two sentences, I felt my chest tighten and my heart stop (or race... I wasn't sure)
We are pleased to announce the birth of Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy at 4:45 this morning, June 7th, 2006. As a member of the extended family, we invite you to come and celebrate our new addition at-
I didn't bother to finish reading it. Instead, I crumpled it up and threw it in the general direction of the trash can. I couldn't exactly see if it made it that far, my eyes were starting to water a little.
How did they find me? I thought fiercely, feeling a sense of fear now that almost made me scream. For my safety, I had arranged that only Theodore's owl be allowed to bring the post to our house. For a letter to arrive at this time of day, it would mean that someone sent their owl directly here.
How dare they contact me! They're the ones who treated me like dirt before! Do they think that time would just heal all my wounds!? I felt my breathing grow shallower as my temper rose.
Once again, all the reminders of why I tried to forget my past was coming back with a vengeance. I was forced to remember why I practically fell to my knees in surrender when I found Theodore again. How he saved me from myself and them. How before that, my sister stole my love, and now has his child! I felt the monster of jealousy and contempt growing inside me, where it had been lying dormant for years.
"Here she is, Elly," Theodore said cheerily as he entered the room with my guest. In an instant, the dark clouds that filled my thoughts vanished.
Perhaps I overreacted. I thought with a mental smirk. I beat Astoria at one thing...
For a brief moment, upon seeing the tiny little girl in Theodore's arms, with my hair and his eyes, all my troubles faded away for a moment. Through my slightly-teary eyes, I smiled and held out my arms to hold my daughter."Good morning, Princess." I said, my voice cracking a little.
"What's the matter?" Theodore caught on instantly that I was upset, and he was automatically sitting on the edge of the bed beside me. I ignored his question and took Lilith out of his arms and into mine.
My reason for living. My little angel. She truly was what I lived for, and every day what I looked forward to when I woke up. And if our relationship wasn't blissful before, then having Lilith certainly made Theodore and I closer than ever; she was the embodiment of our love, and what we focused everything we did on. She had made me forget everything about my past before I married Theodore. I no longer cared for any of the material necessities that I thought I needed to feel better, nor did I drink to drown my troubles away. She was my therapy and my saviour.
Of course, Theodore still meant so much to me. And I still meant everything to him. He would still give me anything and everything I asked for, but I was more than willing to share that privilege with Elora. Tracey, however, had always teased that Theodore was wrapped right around Elora's little finger the moment he set eyes on her.
Understandable. I thought as I smiled at her as she tried to reach for my earrings. She truly is the most amazingly beautiful creature I've ever seen...
"Daphne, what did the letter say?" Theodore pressed again in the same tone of concern. The momentary fantasy world that I'd lived in for 6 years, where Draco and Astoria and my parents didn't exist, was once again shattered at the reminder.
"Nothing" I muttered unconvincingly.
"Nothing?" he asked suspiciously.
"Just a memo from work." I lied.
"And you're crying from it?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"No no... My stomach just hurts." I told him. That wasn't really a lie... just not the real reason for tears.
Theodore stared at me, then nodded his head slowly. "That's it; I'm staying home."
"No!" I said a little too hastily. "I need you to do me a favour after work." I thought on my feet.
"What's that?" he asked, no doubt wondering what he missed in his almost daily showering of love and affection through gifts. I scanned my brain quickly and came up with the first thing that occurred in my plan of avoiding my family and Draco.
"I want to move," I said simply.
"Move? As in houses?" he asked in confusion.
"Obviously, Theodore." I sniffed a quick, but awkward laugh. "I just..." I trailed off and looked down at my daughter.
I beat Astoria at one thing; Elora is 6 months older than whatever her kid's name is. I thought with temporary glee. "We were both country-bred; we don't know anything about raising a child in the city," I told him. He looked at me like I was insane, then chuckled a little.
"Well, we can move when she's a little older than."
"No, I want to move now. As soon as possible." I told him with a little more determination behind my voice. Now that I was thinking about it, the sooner we moved, the less likely my family was to find me.
"Daphne, what's the matter with you?" he asked, taking my hand and giving it a light squeeze. "Where is all of this coming from?"
"Theodore, when we got married, you said you'd do anything for me," I said in a low but even voice., I hated using this against him, but there was no other way to make him act. I couldn't tell him the truth; he had no idea about me and Draco, and I intended to keep it that way. And I really did fear living here now, since the chance of my sister and my parents forgiving me for all the things I said and did was slim.
"And I meant it, and I will, but I want to know why." He replied back, his tone mirroring mine. We stared at each other for a minute, both too stubborn to give in. It wasn't until Elora cooed for attention in my arms that we looked away.
"Theodore, I don't feel safe here," I admitted.
"How? We're on the 30th floor of a tower, and you've put the most powerful charms on this house that even I have trouble finding it!" he chuckled.
"I just don't feel safe, Theodore!" I said sharply. "You think that a wizard can't figure out how to get up to the 30th floor?"
"And past all of your charms? I've never seen anyone doubt your ability to conceal-"
"Theodore, are you going to do what I ask?" I asked through a locked jaw.
"I want to know why Daphne." He said firmly. "Before I up and move our entire life, I want to know what has got you so scared that you want to run." I didn't reply at first; I just stared at him. He always could tell every emotion I was feeling. "I can see the fear in you, Daphne. What's wrong?"
I looked away and stared at Lilith, who was fiddling with the hem on her little blue dress. I tried to concentrate on what it was like to be so innocent and naive like her. I really wished I could go back to a time where I didn't have a care in the world... as opposed to the 300 cares I have every minute of every day.
"I had a dream." I lied. One thing I found useful but wasn't proud of was that Theodore couldn't tell when I was lying. He looked at me now as though to say 'Are you serious? This is all over a dream?'.
"You know that my dreams have a habit of turning out right."
"Yes, but you've also had dreams where you've been a pineapple, on a mission to destroy the fruit wagon from stealing your friend Mr. Orange." Theodore pointed out with a small smirk.
"Hey, that was a symbolic meaning!" I defended. "Blaise moved away the next week because of work."
"Yes, but he moved voluntarily." He pointed out. I pouted a little at the contradiction; whether he wanted to admit it or not, I did have a habit of dreaming something that would occur later on. "What did you dream?"
Damn. Now I'll have to lie through my teeth. I thought.
I sighed as I tried to waste time. "I dreamt of 4 tall towers of black smoke that reached all the way up to our apartment. I dreamt of glass smashing on the floor in the living room. I dreamt of running through the streets, and somehow losing Elora." I spilled quickly as I thought of the lie.
"And did you see who it was?" he asked, apparently buying my story. My mind smirked.
"No, they were cloaked and hidden." I paused. "Like death eaters."
"All the Death Eaters disbanded right after the war, Daphne. We both know that."
"Doesn't mean that someone can't dress like them, does it?" I pointed out smartly. "Look, I just have this feeling that we're not safe here anymore. I know you can find us a new home that will be much safer and hidden from the world, and I'm convinced that I'll feel much better there."
Theodore looked at me, then at our daughter, who was now chewing on her dress. He chuckled a little, took the wet fabric out of her mouth, and gave her a soother in its place. "Well, where do you want to move?" he said in defeat.
"Wales," I said simply. "How about that village we visited? Mumbles or something?"
"Wales? It's a little far, don't you think?"
"Not when you have a best friend who works for the Floo Network." I smiled smartly.
Theodore sighed again and shook his head slowly. "Only because I want you happy, Daphne." He told me as he leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips. "And because I love you so much."
"I love you too, Theodore." I smiled thankfully. "I think it will be better this way."
"I certainly hope so." He smiled, then kissed Elora on her forehead. "You sure you can take care of her today?"
"Oh, she'll be fine." I chuckled.
"I'm worried about her getting sick." He frowned.
"She won't get sick," I assured him. "I think that what I have is just a rejection to something I ate; I haven't had any other symptoms."
"Well, if you start to feel worse, you send for Tracey right away. You know that she'll take care of her any day."
"I should hope so; she is her Godmother." I smiled down at Elora "And she loves you just as much as we do, doesn't she?" I said in a sweet voice that made my daughter flash a toothless grin at me. "You're going to be late, Theo," I said in a sing-song voice to Theodore.
He checked his pocket watch, and just like every other morning, started to scramble to find everything he needed. He grabbed his briefcase as he waved a quick goodbye to me and Elora, then ran down the hall to the library, where out Floo connection would take him to the Ministry.
Now there was nothing. An eerie silence that brought back all my troubles. A dull light that filled the room with filtered sunshine that somehow made it seem like I was in a container. Lilith was hungry, so I fed her first, walking like a zombie through my own house. My mind was going a hundred miles a minute; how could they have found me? I was practically a hermit, never leaving my office or my home without Theodore or Tracey. I was careful to never send mail out to anyone that I couldn't trust. I had even gone as far as keeping my old address on all my work files, just to lead them to a dead end trail should they ever try to contact me.
Why am I so worried about them contacting me? I thought to myself as I fed Elora her bottle as I paced back and forward in front of the massive windows of the Great room. I wasn't positive that they were still vengeful; maybe they really were trying to make amends.
No! They would never do that. My sister would never give in, nor admit she's sorry. My parents are the same way. The only person who would ever try to rekindle a friendship is- I paused in my thoughts, felt the tears coming back, and shook my head feverously to get rid of the mental image.
Forget about him. Don't even try to imagine him coming back. He's not going to come back. I told myself as I absently paced a little slower. Even if he did, it wouldn't matter! You have Theodore and your own child. He means nothing to you now.
"Does he?" I muttered aloud. I froze at the sound of my own voice and stared at the reflection of myself.
Of course, he means nothing! I thought sharply. He treated me like crap! Why would I still have feelings for him!? It's been 6 years!
But he was the love of my life. I knew that. I hated to admit it, but I knew it was true.
If that's the case, then why did you marry Theodore? My own thoughts were taunting me. I felt my throat tighten at the very question. The worst part was that I didn't have an answer right away.
Because he loves me and would do anything for me. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love him for it. And like I had split-personalities, my thoughts chimed back again. But are you IN love with him? Of course, I am! I thought sharply... too sharply.
As I caught sight of my own reflection again, cradling my now sleeping daughter, I didn't fool myself.
Too late now if I wasn't...I thought solemnly. My infant daughter had made me fall for Theodore so much harder than I expected. And it's not like I didn't love Theodore; I truly did! It's just that... I thought I loved Draco more.
There was a tap at the glass that made me jump, almost waking up Elora as she snoozed in my arms. There was Theodore's owl, sitting on the balcony, holding the package I had ordered.
"About time," I muttered. I opened the door and then ran to put Elora into her crib. Then, upon returning and feeding Odysseus some treats (on occasion, he would take days to deliver mail... so we named him Odysseus since he too would get lost for an unthinkable length of time). I grabbed the package and put it on the kitchen counter, now pulling out my cauldron and starting to make my potion.
It was a fool-proof potion, so I was almost guaranteed to not get it wrong... so double read every single instruction. The potion was clear, but it wasn't its current colour that concerned me. I had to drink it, and if it came out a different colour aside from clear, then my suspicions would be confirmed about my illness. It took 3 tries to get the liquid down without gagging or throwing it back up. But finally, after much struggle, I managed to keep the mint-flavored drink, and decided it was better to go back to bed.
The longer I stay awake, the longer my mind will work... and the more upset I'll make myself. I told myself as I double checked that Elora was sleeping before I climbed back into my own bed, throwing the covers over my head in an attempt to hide from the world.
A few hours later, I awoke to the cries of Lilith in her room. She was clearly hungry or needed a bath, or just wanted out of her crib.
"Duty calls..." I mumbled as I climbed out of bed. As soon as I stood, I felt the sudden urge that I hadn't felt in days. I instantly ran to the bathroom to pass the potion, and before I stood up from the toilet, I sighed a long deep sigh of now-or-never. I stood up and looked back into the water; bring blue, as telling as if it were 1000% sure.
"Well... that answers that." I sighed with almost relief. Elora was now screaming from her room, clearly more impatient than I was. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" I called as I flushed the toilet and ran out of the room, feeling immensely better than before now that I knew the cause of my ailment.
Another couple of hours passed, and then I heard the telltale footsteps of a tired yet relieved Theodore. He walked right from the library to the bedroom, as he always did, jumping immediately into the shower. I knew it was best to let him cool down and get relaxed on his own before asking him how his day was.
The routine of our lives was almost frightening. Exactly 3 minutes later, I heard the water shut off. I could visualize his routine in my head, and I knew exactly when he was going to come in the Grand room and greet me. I silently counted down from 5 in my head, only to have no calling of my name.
What could be keeping him? I thought curiously. Right as I stood up to go investigate, he entered the room, all smiled as usual.
"Hello, my loves." He said as he crossed the room, kissed me, then took Elora from my arms and cuddled her. "How was your day? Are you feeling any better?"
"Much better," I told him with a smile, taking a seat on the couch again and motioning for him to sit beside me. "How was your day?"
"Excellent. Cleared yet another man of his sentence in Azkaban." He sighed contently as he sat down beside me, gently bouncing Lilith on his knee.
"One step closer to your goal, Theo. I'm happy for you." I smiled, kissing him on the cheek as a reward. I knew that it was
Theodore had a personal mission to free everyone in Azkaban since he believed it was a very inhumane prison for even the most vicious criminal. When his father had been released, he was barely aware of what was going on around him. And when he died mere weeks later, Theodore attributed it to the mental torture that he endured while there. He now wanted to save everyone that was in there... even if it meant fabricating evidence.
"So, I found a house for you," he said with a crooked smile. My face instantly lit up at this expression; it's the one he put on when he knew he'd found something I would love.
"Tell me about it!" I pressed anxiously.
"I can tell you that it's so gorgeous, and I know you'll love it, that I bought it on the spot." He smirked smartly.
"Bought it?" I questioned with my own smirk. He winked at me and chuckled quietly. I, of course, knew what that meant; made the owner think that he bought it.
"It's beautiful, Daphne. It's right on its own point in the bay, and its completely hidden from the road by its own forest, all owned by us." He explained excitedly. "And it has it's own private beach, which faces out over the bay; you can see the Swansea shoreline all the way across the bay."
"Oh Theodore, it sounds fantastic!" I smiled brightly.
"I knew you'd love it," He said contently. "Now I have a question for you." He said, reaching into his back pocket for something. When he pulled out the golden envelope that I had angrily thrown away this morning, my heart sank. In a much more serious tone, he asked me "Are you going to tell me what this is all about?"
I stared at the crumpled paper in his hand for a minute, debating on what I should and should not tell him."Where did you find that?" I whispered quietly, still staring at the paper.
"Under my dresser." He said flatly. "You apparently missed the trash can."
Of course, I did. I thought bitterly. Just my luck it would bounce under his dresser, too!
"I don't want to talk about that, please." I breathed quietly as I stared at the paper.
"Why? It's just an announcement of your nephew's birth."
"He is not my nephew because I'm not a Greengrass, remember?!" I hissed sharply. Theodore didn't even look shaken by my reaction; I'm sure he had more or less expected it, actually.
"Daphne, is this why you wanted to move?" he asked calmly, raising the paper so that as I stared at it, I was also staring right at him. I nodded my head slowly, almost as if I was no longer in control of my body; my emotions were taking over my common sense again. "Are you really that terrified of your family coming after you? Clearly, they have other things on their mind right now."
"You don't know them," I muttered.
"No, I know them rather well." He said in a low voice. "Did you finish reading the letter, Daphne?" he asked. I shook my head and now furrowed my eyebrows as he opened the crumpled paper and turned it towards me. "Look at who it's addressed from." He said in an almost sharp tone. I scanned down the page, and to my surprise, I did not see my sister's neat little scrawl across the bottom, nor did I see that of my parents. The only signature that was present was Draco's.
I felt my heart skip a beat and I stood up from the couch despite myself. I knew that my actions had now given me away, and I swore under my breath at my stupidity as I looked out the gigantic window. There was silence between us, but I knew what he was thinking. I heard him get up, whispering something to Elora, and walked down the hall to her room. He returned a minute later, stopping just at the top of the stairs, staring at me. I could see his face in the reflection of the glass; he was not happy.
"Something you'd like to tell me, Daphne?" he asked in a low tone. I shook my head, starting to feel the tears bombarding my eyes. "I see..." He said quietly as he stepped down the stairs and took a seat in the black armchair in the corner farthest away from me.
"You know, for the longest time, I thought it was Blaise," He started to speak in a tone that sounded much more resentful. I instantly spun around and stared at him with my watery eyes. "I mean, it made sense after all; he was your first real boyfriend, and he had a strange obsession over you." He continued, now looking up from the floor and locking eyes with me. "I never dreamt it would be Draco."
"W-What are you talking about?" I stuttered, my heart in my throat as I spoke.
"You're in love with Draco, aren't you?" he asked in a flat tone.
My head felt like it was spinning. I stepped back and leaned against the cold glass, supporting myself as I felt my legs start to get weak.
No no no! He can't know! My mind rambled as it tried to think of a believable excuse. The only thing that my body could do, however, was to nod my head slowly.
"For how long?" he asked in a much less understanding tone.
"Since I was 13." I breathed back. It may have been even before that; I wasn't really sure.
"And do you love him still?" he demanded. I looked at him with shock, but much to my disappointment, I did not answer 'no' right away, as we both had hoped. Theodore stared at me with disbelief, then shook his head slowly and laughed bitterly.
"Theodore, please-"
"Is that why you came to Tracey's that night?" he interrupted me. "The night of your sister's wedding?"
"Yes, but-"
"And is that why you hate your sister? Not because she's a horrible person, but because she stole him from you?" he continued his interrogation.
I tried to stop the tears from flowing, but it was getting more and more difficult. I nodded my head slowly and then looked at the floor in shame. He laughed bitterly again, shaking his head and putting his face in his hands.
"I should have known. You always did act so weird around him."
"Theodore, let me speak!" I pleaded.
"I'm not sure if I want to hear what you have to say!" He replied sharply from behind his hands still.
"I don't care!" I spat at his remark. "Theodore, I haven't seen him since that night! I don't know why he's writing to me, but believe me, I've been faithful to you-"
"But do you still love him?" Theodore asked in a low growl that I had never heard him use before. It frightened me so much that I was frozen in silence. We stared at each other for a minute, my eyes wide with fear and confusion while he was glaring at me with contempt. I knew I had to say something, and the longer it took me to answer, the worse it would be when I did finally speak.
"I-I don't know." I breathed quietly, my voice hoarse at the oncoming tears.
"Ok, better question," Theodore chuckled maniacally. "Do you love me?"
My jaw dropped at the very insinuation that he was making. "Of course I love you!"
"But is it the same way that you love him?" he demanded.
"I don't know! I haven't seen the man in 6 years!"
"You do know, Daphne! Answer me!" he shouted.
"I DON'T KNOW!" I screamed back, now letting the tears loose. He stared at me as I sobbed briefly, sliding down the window helplessly, landing on the floor like a ragdoll. "I don't know, Theodore," I whispered weakly. "I love you with all my heart because you love me, and you're the best thing that ever happened to me. But..." I paused as I thought for a moment. "Draco has this... obsessive hold on me. I can't get him out of my head! He may disappear for a long period of time, but then even reading a little reminder like that will bring all the feelings back like they never left."
"So tell me; do you love him more than me?" Theodore asked in a flat but probing tone.
"No, I love you more than anything, Theodore," I answered in a single breath. "But my feelings from Draco are... instinctual. I can't help myself when I see him."
"Instinct?" he repeated to himself. "You're sure that's why you can't help crying? It's not because you're still madly in love with him?"
"Do you think that I want them to know I'm here?" I whispered quietly as I looked at the floor. "Do you think I want them to know I'm happily married to you, and I'm getting along just fine without them? That I have a beautiful daughter that I would die for?" Theodore didn't answer. "I don't want them to know all of this because I'm afraid of what they'll do. Just out of spite, they could send in Draco to seduce and confuse me, and then they would feed lies into your brain, or try to hard you, or worse yet Elora-"
"I would kill them before they even set eyes on her!" Theodore interjected indignantly.
"And they know that... if they do in fact know that I have a daughter... or if I'm married at all." I pondered aloud. "You see, there are far too many unfavourable outcomes that can occur if they find out I'm living a happy life! They wanted me to suffer!"
"Well, I understand the moving part now, but you haven't answered my other question yet." He paused and caught my eye, which had only now just looked up from the floor. "Do you still love him? I need to know if there is any hope of protecting you in the way you want me to."
I should have known he would end up doing something like this. Admitting something that normally tears marriages apart, and he isn't even phased by it. So long as I tell him the truth.
And what do you intend on telling him? My mind scoffed. I was quite ashamed that I didn't have an answer right away. But, in my defense, I wanted to have a good, solid answer that I could stand by for the rest of my life.
"A part of me does," I admitted again. "That part of me is the same part that wishes for a family that loves me and appreciates me." I paused and looked up at Theodore. "But that part is my past, immature frame of mind that just refuses to be destroyed. That's what I mean by its instinct; I can't get rid of it!"
"Well, to want your families to love you is understandable, but to want Draco's love?"
"I think I've lumped him with my family now... I mean, he's taken their side now, so my brain apparently thinks that he must be won over as well."
"You never have to win over your family, Daphne," Theodore interjected. "If they don't want you, then that's their loss; when they see what a fantastic woman you're becoming, they'll wish they'd never cast you aside for that lazy harlot of a sister."
"But Theodore, that's what I want them to see." I pointed out. "I want everyone to see what she's really like! Whether she knew it or not, she tortured me all my life. Now I want her to feel some pain and overshadow by her own flesh and blood just so she can see what it felt like."
"I see," Theodore amended. "Well, what does the rest of you love?"
"Are you seriously asking me that question?" I chuckled. "I love you, Theodore." I smiled weakly. "Even if it hasn't always been as my lover, it's been as a friend. You are, and will always remain, my closest and dearest friend." I gave him a reassuring smile before I continued "And now that I'm in love with you, I don't think I could ever part from you. We have a beautiful child together, and a great life; I wouldn't give that up for Draco or any other man in the world." I told him.
At that exact moment, my brain sent out a tiny little memory of what I told Draco, should he ever grow tired of my sister and see her for who she really is. I shook my head to get the thought out of my consciousness.
"Well, that seems like a suitable answer," Theodore said quietly. "I mean, there was no way I was ever going to let you wander back to him in the first place," he said as he stood from his chair and walked towards me with open arms. He helped me up and hugged me. I really don't deserve someone like him.
"Are you feeling better tonight?" he asked me as I snuggled against me.
Good Lord, I'd almost forgotten about that! My mind laughed.
"Oh, yes I am!" I smiled brightly "Tell me more about my house."
"Alright," he smiled as he led me over to the leather love seat, where we sat almost every evening and watched the sunset. It was still a couple hours away, but the routine was comforting to me. "It has a long, gravel driveway that passes through wrought iron gates at the road. It's made of stone, and looks more like a castle with a roof then a house."
"How many rooms is it?" I asked casually.
"Four. The master is at the back of the house, facing the sea, taking up the entire rear wing, and the other rooms are at the front of the house, facing the forest. I figured four bedrooms would be more than enough for all of us." Theodore sighed as he finally began to relax. I watched him sink lower into the couch and finally relax his muscles. I almost felt back for the piece of news I was about to drop on him.
"So we'll have one spare room for a guest room." I sighed peacefully, pretending to doze off to sleep.
"Arithmancy had never been your best subject; that would be two guest bedrooms, Daphne." Theodore chuckled.
"No, I said it correctly the first time," I said with my eyes still closed. I was smiling smartly, knowing that the wheels in his head were turning. I once again could almost countdown to his reaction.
"Daphne, are you..."
"I guess you'll find out in about 8 months, won't you?" I now beamed a smile at him, but my eyes were still closed. I felt him jump up from the couch and then, as he did the first time I was pregnant, he was on his knees in front of me, holding both my hands.
"You're positive?!" he asked excitedly. I laughed, opened my eyes and sat up.
"I took the potion this morning." I nodded reassuringly. "I daresay, this one's might be a boy, the way he's been making me sick!" I laughed.
"A boy!" Theodore exclaimed excitedly, the sheer joy and amazement reflected in his eyes.
"I don't know for sure, so don't get too excited!"
"Well, another girl would be fantastic too!" he corrected himself before he sat up, still knelt on his knees, and kissed me in a way, I was happy to say, he did almost every day. Unconditional love was what I had always been searching for, apparently. "We move tomorrow! Tonight, if you want! Is there anything you need?" Theodore started off with his selfless service. I laughed and shook my head.
"We can move tomorrow, and no, there is nothing I need more than you, Elora, and the next Nott chi,d." I told him lovingly. He smiled at me and kissed me again. From the corner of my eye, I could see the sun setting quite early in the evening.
Life goes on, happy as it always was. I thought with an inward sigh. Pray that it doesn't change, Daphne...