Good afternoon, readers. Wow, two weeks I've left you hanging, I am sorry. Normally I try to keep it to one week, but real life has kept me hopping! I am back in work, and even without students yet I am really busy-committees, a special task force with high visibility to administration, plus a project to complete before classes resume. And I've had a sick child and a sick husband-typical back to school colds, blech. And it's harvest season! Anyway, here is the next chapter. I am going to attempt to get the next chapter up within a week, feel reasonably confident in doing so as long as I can stay healthy. A few very belated review replies:
Rhiannon, I hope you're still enjoying the story!
roon0, WELCOME and THANKS for all the marvelous chapter by chapter reviews! You rock!
randomfan17, yes, it was ugly fall-out. I'm sure you're ready to find out what happens to Hermione here.
angstar, yes, I think a little girl is great for the Malfoys! Glad you liked that chapter and I have taken note of your and Alesia's hints about Harry.
Guest, thanks for the kudos about the story!
Alesia, good catch on the room numbers! I will try to go back and fix now, although I have to get dinner going. Your characterization of the relationship between Calvin and Lucius is great! I did not expect Calvin to develop as he has, but as you often hear characters take on a life of their own and so it was with Yaxley. I'm quite pleased with his voice, it's good for Lucius to have a friend like that.
zeeksmom, here you go, no more angsting. Real life can be demanding as you know!
Ok, I will say again I do not own the HP world, but thank you for enjoying my imaginative ramble through it with my own spin. I have not had a chance to edit this AT ALL so please forgive any mistakes! Thanks!
"Why is she not waking?" Lucius demanded, and Draco frowned with irritation, giving his father a pointed look which Lucius ignored, his attention focused on the Muggle doctor.
"Sometimes it takes time for the brain to realize it's time to wake up, for lack of a better description. She was subjected to a trauma, and unfortunately sometimes it is difficult to detect any brain trauma until after the sedating medications are removed. If there is no change, we will see about some detailed scans tomorrow, and go from there." Dr. Thompson looked grave, and Lucius' hand was firmly fixed on his wand in his coat sleeve. He was hideously tempted to hex the Muggle, but it would not help anything.
"It is encouraging that the contractions have lessened in intensity, and the baby seems to be staying put. I would very much like to discuss a birth plan with you, Mr. Malfoy—"
"Not now," Draco interrupted. "The specialist from St. Mungo's has several opinions about that, and she will be consulting with you shortly, I have no doubt."
"Yes, well, it's a bit unorthodox to not transfer her obstetrical care here as well…" Thompson began, but was cut off by Lucius.
"My wife is a bit unorthodox, so you'll pardon me for relying on our specialist," he said tightly, and the Muggle wisely fell silent again. In the three days in which Lucius had been planted by Hermione's side, he had gained quite a reputation with the doctors for his obstinacy, and a bit of an adoring fan club from the nurses, who found his devotion to his wife and unborn daughter extremely touching.
"Dr. Thompson, perhaps we could continue this discussion in your office. I don't think my father is prepared to have a lengthy discussion of care plans at present, at least without a few consultations with our usual family doctors." Draco could feel the air stirring in a way that was reminiscent of an impending hex, and he had no desire to deal with the paperwork and Obliviate that would entail.
"Yes, Dr. Malfoy, perhaps that would be best at present," Dr. Thompson agreed, and escorted Draco to his office.
"You owe me," Draco said under his breath to Lucius as he passed him, but Lucius was focused on Hermione. His own injuries were now nearly fully healed, and after a few rounds with the senior consulting Healers from Mungo's he had wrangled a few hidden transfigurations to the room which allowed him to stay with Hermione around the clock. The Muggle surroundings and the requirement to hide his magic was extremely wearing, as was the worry from Hermione's continued…rest, for lack of a better term. No one would call it a coma, but she was still non-responsive. Lucius had started reading to her from her favorite journals, Shakespeare, poetry, anything that he thought might gain a response. The nurses had caught him reading fairy tales to the baby as well, and they had begun leaving Muggle children's books for him to read as well. It was the only part of the experience that Lucius found in any way pleasant, although the nurses generally gave him a wide berth.
"Hermione, love, I am going to get you transferred back to Mungo's," Lucius said, kissing her hand. "Now, where were we? I believe I was about to finish 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Utter tosspot rubbish, of course, but for a Squib he did have quite the turn of phrase…now…"
Draco popped his head in and left again thirty minutes later without saying goodbye. His father was practically obsessed with Hermione's condition, and there was no use in trying to get him to pay attention to anything else. Even Kingsley had wisely decided not to push his favorite ex-Death Eater about the prisoner interrogations, because Lucius had practically hexed Calvin for even bringing up the current status of the process. They had all decided to wait until Hermione was better before even bringing it up again. Draco was betting on her regaining consciousness any time now, but it was damned tricky to predict based on magical level recovery alone. Much like the brain trauma hypothesis of the Muggles, the Healers agreed that it was sometimes difficult to ascertain how quickly a wizard or witch would recover from the mental trauma of certain curses. With Hermione being pregnant, no one was confident in their estimates. Draco sincerely hoped Hermione would come around soon, because the next step would be discussion of the Janus Thickley ward—and then Lucius WOULD go mental.
"Hmm, I think it's time for a few stories for this little one," Lucius said to Hermione, feeling the kicks under his hand. He tried to keep some type of contact all the time, reasoning that it helped her know he was there.
"Oh, I am sorry Mr. Malfoy," a soft voice said from the doorway. Lucius turned his head and found one of the nurses there, a few Muggle storybooks in her arms. "I just thought you might like some new books to read to them."
"Thank you," Lucius said sincerely, putting down the book he had abruptly let fall the few inches to his lap when he heard someone speak. He accepted the books with a nod and waited until the latch had clicked before he looked through them.
"'The Places You'll Go'…well, how about that one, little bean?" Lucius asked, taking the kick he received as affirmation. "Very well. 'Baby oh baby, the places you'll go! The worlds you will visit! The friends you will know!'" Lucius stopped and chuckled, then leaned his head closer to the baby to say, "Oh, dear, they have no idea…"
"That makes it better," a very dry, whispery voice said. Lucius' head flew up, and the sight of his wife's tired but conscious eyes on him had never been sweeter. He flew out of his chair and pulled her gently into his arms, uncaring of the lines and noises of the machines as monitors slid out of place.
"Sweet Salazar, woman, don't ever do that to me again," he whispered into her hair, shutting his eyes tightly prevent any disgraceful tears from falling.
"I'm sorry I worried you," Hermione whispered back. "I'm thirsty."
"Dear, sweet, marvelous, witch. Of course you are." Lucius conjured a glass of water, not giving a damn if any of the Muggles walked in at the moment in response to the beeping alarms that were starting to go off. "You can have whatever you want, love."
The door burst open as a nurse rushed in, saying, "Mr. Malfoy, what's happening—" She cut off abruptly when she saw Hermione. "Oh, that's wonderful, that is. Hang on one moment, Mrs. Malfoy, I'll be right back to take your vitals, then I'll let Dr. Thompson know you're awake. He'll be pleased as punch!"
Hermione handed Lucius the water glass, which he vanished as she asked in a slightly steadier voice, "Why am I in a Muggle hospital?"
"That, my love, is a very good question, and one which will take some time to tell. For the time being, please let's get through the Muggle formalities, and after they are done I will summon Draco and the rest of your consultants from Mungo's. There are a few things we need to do before we can get you out of here."
Hermione looked puzzled, but Lucius didn't have time to explain further, as the nurse returned prepared to take all of the measurements she needed, and to reposition baby monitors and heart rate monitors before she was satisfied enough to summon the Muggle doctor.
"Lucius, what about the baby?" Hermione's tone was urgent, and Lucius was torn as to how much to tell her. He didn't want to upset her but also he didn't want to lie.
"She is fine," he said, and noticed her eyes widen at his use of the feminine pronoun. Distraction achieved.
"She?" she whispered, and Lucius smiled.
"Yes," he said, pushing her hair back from her forehead. "We are having a daughter. Heaven help me if she is as stubborn as her mother."
Tears swelled in Hermione's eyes, and Lucius rubbed them away with his fingertips. "Don't cry, love. She will be hideously spoiled, and already she has her father wrapped around her finger."
"You were reading Muggle stories to her," Hermione whispered, her hand clenching around his. "You are…words fail me. I love you," she said fiercely, and Lucius kissed her carefully.
"I love you too, dearest. Let's see what we can do about getting both of you home as soon as possible."
Hermione's eyes wandered and she read the label on her IV bag. "I'm still on medications. What are they giving me and why?"
Lucius was frustrated at his lack of knowledge of Muggle pharmaceuticals. "I cannot answer the 'what', but as to 'why', you were having premature contractions, and they had to stop them to allow our daughter more time to develop. The Muggles have concerns about her lungs, and Astrid concurs that it would be best if she waits a while longer to be born."
"Do they not have potions that would accomplish the same goal?"
Lucius swore mentally at his wife's quick mind, and considered how much to tell her to keep her calm. "After you were hit with that curse, the healers have opted to be as conservative as possible when it comes to magical treatments."
Hermione thought about this, closing her eyes briefly, which made Lucius squeeze her hand when she kept them closed for a second longer than he could tolerate. She opened her eyes again and looked at him, a wry and tired look on her face. "Don't worry, Lucius, I'm still here."
"Yes you are, love—yes you are."
Hermione tolerated Dr. Thompson's examination and discussion of her condition with far greater equanimity than Lucius, which was hardly surprising. She asked a few succinct questions about the medications they were still using to keep the contractions at bay, and was less than satisfied with the timeline the physician was able to offer for withdrawing them.
"Surely it would be wisest to try to stop them altogether?" she asked, and got the distinct impression that they were not in the habit of ceasing the dosages until delivery had been achieved! This was certainly not what Hermione wanted to hear, but she didn't say anything until the doctor had left the room. Lucius, correctly divining her mood, simply raised an eyebrow and waited.
"Well if he thinks I'm going to stay here on those medications just because he says so, he has another think coming," Hermione huffed. "I want to hear what the healers have to say, and I also want a detailed explanation of what they think can be achieved by me remaining here now that I am conscious again."
This was precisely what Lucius had been hoping for, and he sighed with relief. "Of course you know that I feel the same. I imagine Draco will be here shortly."
Hermione then noticed that he was fingering his ring, and she leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. "I'll just rest until he gets here, then. But you are to wake me when he arrives, please!"
Lucius kissed her fingers. "Believe me, my darling, the last thing I want is to see you unconscious again for long periods of time! I do believe you are responsible for my first grey hairs."
"Lucius, I am so very sorry for frightening you—but I will not apologize for saving you either." Hermione said this while her eyes were still closed, and Lucius merely turned her hand over to press a kiss into the center of her palm, carefully avoiding disturbing the IV that he now wanted to see gone with a rekindled zeal.
"Hermione, I expect nothing less."
"Ok Granger, time to see if you're ready to be sprung."
Draco's signature smirk was firmly in place, the senior midwife Astrid by his side, wand at the ready. Hippocrates Smethwyck was on standby at St. Mungo's in case he was needed, the Muggles were being carefully redirected with a site specific Confundus charm, and the Aurors were again being firmly directly by Calvin Yaxley. Hermione had been conscious for three days, and hopefully she would finally be allowed to go home today.
Hermione looked at Lucius. He appeared calm, but Hermione knew he was nervous from the way the muscle in his temple was jumping. She took his hand and caught his eye, taking a deep breath to remind him to relax. The healers needed time to ascertain if the Muggle medications were completely gone from Hermione's system, and if she was still having premature contractions. Apparently the process would take nearly an hour, and they didn't want Muggles walking in on wand waving and potion giving.
"Remember Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy that if it is necessary, we can Apparate you directly to Mungo's maternity ward. Hopefully we won't have to do that, but since this is a unique case…" The midwife had short blond hair and the silliest pair of spectacles Hermione had ever seen, but she was kind and extremely capable, and far more approachable than Healer Smethwyck. Draco rolled his eyes behind her, his arms crossed over his chest.
He was back to his usual irascible self around the pair of them, but Hermione knew from Astoria that he had nearly given himself a bald patch worrying about first Lucius and then her. She smiled at him—he wouldn't fool her any more. It didn't matter that he persisted in calling her by her maiden name, to Draco she was a Malfoy through and through now.
"I want to remind you that it might take some time for any ill effects to be seen," Draco said. He was remaining guarded about the process, not wanting to get anyone's hopes up unnecessarily.
"We understand," Lucius said tersely. Hermione had improved markedly over the past 24 hours, and all that stood between them and a quiet, peaceful home was this medication and a potentially excitable uterus. Needless to say, they were both hoping for a chance to recuperate quietly at home, away from the mania of a Muggle hospital. Even Hermione had reached the end of her patience with the endless rounds of checks despite the monitors, the shift changes, the night-time checks, and the distressing levels to which Lucius went to conceal magic that he used as naturally as he breathed. While it was somewhat easier for Hermione, as she was still not permitted to lift a finger, magically or otherwise, she could see how the days spent at her bedside had frayed Lucius' nerves.
"Let's get started then," Draco said, waving his wand to turn off the pumps, then adroitly removing the IV, leaving the line intact just in case.
"Right, let's see how we go then," Astrid said cheerfully, and they sat back to wait, Draco and Astrid keeping a close eye on the monitoring spells they had cast on Hermione and the baby.
After about fifteen minutes, Hermione looked at Lucius and then the healers. "Well, this is boring."
"Boring is good," Draco said, his eyes intently focused on the monitoring spell that was tracking her.
"Could we listen to some music?" Hermione asked, and the midwife shook her head.
"We'd prefer to keep things as calm as possible," she said, her own attention focused on the baby's statistics.
Lucius raised Hermione's hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her wrist. "We've had enough excitement to last us for quite a while. I think I'll happily take an hour of boredom, love."
"Well, things look good thus far—now it's time to push the magic issue," Astrid said firmly. "Hermione, we will need you to take this potion. It will enhance your sensitivity to magic for a period of about an hour, but it will allow to see how well your body and the baby are tolerating magical influences."
"Right," Hermione said, accepting the potion. "Why every potion needs to smell foul, I will never understand…"
"Bottoms up," Lucius said tartly, and Hermione quit complaining and drank the potion.
"How long until—" Hermione cut off with a gasp as a strong contraction began.
"I was afraid of this…" Astrid said, her wand whipping quickly through the air. "Yes, definitely sustained—we need to transfer," she said, meeting Draco's gaze.
"Baby is okay right now," Draco said, nodding to Lucius.
"Hold on pet," Lucius said, taking Hermione's hand. "Mungo's maternity?"
"Yes. The apparition room. See you there."
All four turned into nothingness, Lucius taking Hermione via side-along. Hermione's first thought was that the bed was more comfortable than the one at the Muggle hospital, and her second was that something was very, very wrong.
"Contraction is sustained…labor signs are increasing," Astrid said, while Draco broke an ampule, then shoved the phial under Hermione's nose.
"Breathe, Granger. Father, give us some room please."
"Lucius—" Hermione said, her hand reaching for his.
"I won't leave," he said, a promise to Hermione and a guarantee to Draco and the other Healers rushing into the room.
"Just stay out of the way," Draco said as Smethwyck took a wand in. Hermione gasped, gripping Lucius' hand tightly. Her uterus was twisting, almost trying to turn over inside her.
"It feels like—" she ground out, and Smethwyck, his brow furrowed, finished, "—the curse is trying to reactivate itself."
"Baby's not happy here!" Draco shouted, a fact made clear by the wild jab of a limb that was visibly apparent. The spell he had cast to monitor the baby was glowing an unhealthy red, and Hermione bit her lip from the pain twisting her abdomen.
"Back to Paddington," Smethwyck said, clamping a hand on Hermione's shoulder and blasting Lucius off, disapparating them both straight back to the Muggle hospital room.
"Easy now," Smethwyck said as Lucius popped back in immediately with his wand drawn, darting a glance at the ex-Death Eater before returning his attention to his patient. He had been a Healer longer than Lucius Malfoy had followed the Dark Lord, and he wasn't intimidated by drawn wands in his, or rather a Muggle, healing room. Astrid and Draco popped in, and Smethwyck was pleased to see them immediately resume their previous task. Astrid had grabbed a box of potions, and another Healer in lime green robes popped into view carrying more.
"No more wands!" Smethwyck barked at all of them, taking note of the way the baby was still jumping around, Hermione's uterus still contracting extremely. "Antidote to Uncommon Poisons, please, and Draught of Peace. Draco, Astrid, please get Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction ready for intrapartous administration." The Healer held the antidote to Hermione's lips, urging her to drink it, then gave the Draught of Peace to Lucius. "Take a sip yourself, you could use it. Good. Now the rest for your wife, please."
Satisfied that Lucius was doing as he was told, Smethwyck strode over to take stock of the additional potions the junior healer had brought. "Very good Stebbins, please get a restoration potion, and, I think, Potion Number 83."
"A restoration potion is not licensed for intraparous administration," Lucius said, and the Healer raised a grey eyebrow at him.
"Thank you for telling me my business, Mr. Malfoy. You may know potions, but I know Dark spells, perhaps even better than you, especially when it comes to curing them. Now, either shut up or prepare to meet your daughter far too early for her lungs."
Lucius subsided and returned his attention to Hermione, who was still feeling very uncomfortable from the way their girl was jumping about.
"Ready with the Ubbly's," Astrid said, exchanging a glance with Draco.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, the contractions easing slightly.
"Keeping your baby where she belongs, for now," Smethwyck said. "Løngren, Malfoy."
The pair of them began to administer the potion to the baby, and almost instantly there was an effect.
"Ouch!" Hermione said as she received a jab in the ribs, but their daughter seemed to be calming down, her movements slowing, which in turn let Hermione's uterus relax. Draco and Astrid finished delivering the potion, and Smethwyck handed the restoration potion to Hermione.
"Drink please," he said, finally drawing his wand again as the baby's motions grew less vehement. "Everyone keep your hair on, I am just going to check on this young lady's vital signs."
Hermione downed the potion, surprised by the flavor of mowed grass. Smethwyck cast the charm very carefully, a very non-intrusive spell. The baby's pulse had dropped back to a normal range, respiration was good, blood flow through the umbilical cord was good. Satisfied, he added in a little twist, allowing a visual projection of the baby to flow onto the wall.
"She's going to sleep," Smethwyck said with a relieved air.
Hermione and Lucius were stunned at the image of their daughter's face, her little hand coming up to scratch her nose.
"She's beautiful," Hermione breathed, and Lucius looked at his wife and then back at the projection.
"And she has your nose."
"What about early delivery, sir? I don't think this little one is going to wait much longer," Astrid said, aware that Draco was trying and failing miserably to maintain a professional demeanor in the face of his half-sister's antics as she jostled herself around, her eyes opening and closing several times before they remained closed, apparently asleep.
"Yes, about that…" Smethwyck closed the spell, causing the three Malfoys' attention to snap to him. "It seems that your daughter was mentally affected by the spell, whereas you, Mrs. Malfoy, were targeted specifically in your reproductive functions. Essentially the spell sought to poison your womb, and to poison your child from a surfeit of dark magical influences. This has had the result that your body is eager to end this pregnancy, and furthermore, that your daughter associates magic with pain. Obviously, since she is a magical child, this association needs to be broken. Therefore, the Ubbly's potion will give you a fresh start for introducing magical influences to her, gradually. I believe that we can work out a programme which will allow you, Mr. Malfoy, to gently introduce magic to her while keeping the levels minimal enough to not induce premature labor for you, Mrs. Malfoy. As well, I believe that the sooner we can end this pregnancy, the better for you in terms of future children you may wish to have."
"When will you deliver her, then?" Lucius asked, everything Smethwyck said making sense. "And when we will know about the impact for future pregnancies?"
"Lucius," Hermione said, taking his hand. He knew they had not discussed having other children, but he certainly hoped that she would want more. They exchanged a look that said they would talk about it later, but Lucius felt the warmth of her affection pouring over him.
"I would hope that we could accomplish what is needed within the next week or two. I will defer to my colleague here in terms of what is best by means of delivery, but I do think we should not let this situation continue for longer than absolutely necessary." Smethwyck gestured to Astrid, nodded to Draco. "I imagine he has some idea about the baby, too, given that young Mr. Malfoy has made pediatric healing more of his specialty thus far in his career."
"My concerns are the same as the Muggles—her lungs need to mature. Once we accomplish that, it won't matter when she is born," Draco said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I know we could use a potion for that, sir, but would it be better to go the Muggle route with steroids?"
Smethwyck sighed. "I'm not sure. I dislike giving potions to unborn children as a general rule, too many squicky complications. I am sure that you could tolerate some Muggle shots, couldn't you Hermione?"
It was the first time that Healer Smethwyck had used her first name, and Hermione realized that the elderly wizard was paying a compliment by doing so.
"Absolutely, yes. I simply want her to be healthy and safe."
"Good woman," Smethwyck said, then turned back to the junior healer who was hovering with the other potion he had asked for.
"Ah yes, potion number 83! Thank you, you may return to Mungo's now," he said, dismissing the young man. Hermione steeled herself to take yet another potion, but Smethwyck merely raised his eyelids in shock.
"Oh no dear, this isn't for you, it's for me!" So saying, the healer downed the potion in one go and tucked the empty vial into his robes. "Wintergreen, quite a nice flavor that. Well, I must go back to Mungo's now, but I'll pop back in tomorrow to check on you when this pair are least expecting it, eh? Have to keep these younger staff on their toes, you know."
Astrid shook her head deprecatingly and Draco exhaled, then ran his fingers through his hair. "Yes, sir."
"Kiss up," Astrid sang, a small smile playing on her lips as she packed up the remaining potions. She had been at Mungo's long enough to no longer be intimidated by Smethwyck.
"Thank you," Lucius said, standing to shake the Healer's hand.
"Not at all, happy to be of assistance," Smethwyck said before he popped out.
"Now, absolutely no disturbances, although I expect you can relax a bit about a few small charms to make yourself more comfortable," Astrid said with a wink at Lucius. Hermione could have predicted his response to a tee, as her husband stiffened beside her in the chair in response to such gross informality from such a hippie-ish witch. "I'll leave it to you Draco to speak to the Muggles about the steroids, and get a few other midwives' opinions about the best methods of induction for labour under the circumstances. See you both tomorrow then!"
Draco nodded to the midwife, and she popped out with the potions, leaving Draco, who came over to the bed and put his hand on Lucius' shoulder. "I'll be off then. Tori and Scorpius will be disappointed you're not coming home, so I'd best go put out those fires right now. I'll pop out and tell the Aurors to keep the Confundus in place—no use having Muggles disturbing you at all hours for no purpose. Instead I'll rig a monitoring charm and Mungo's will keep an eye on you overnight, all right?"
"Please tell me that Lucius will be able to do something about this uncomfortable bed," Hermione interjected, and Draco rolled his eyes.
"I don't want to know, Granger. All I know is that Smethwyck said small charms are fine. Make of it what you will. Good night."
"Good night son," Lucius said, gripping Draco's forearm briefly before letting him go. He walked out and Lucius and Hermione looked at one another.
"Please transfigure the bed," Hermione said, and Lucius withdrew his wand.
"Gladly. And thank Merlin you won't have that damn IV any longer!"
"That's it, Lucius. Let's look on the bright side," Hermione said, caressing her stomach. "Not much longer now, Bump. I suppose we'd better hurry up and decide on your name."
