Chapter Nine - The Next Generation

Almost before he knew it, Harry's seventeenth birthday had snuck up on him. With all that had been going on lately, he had lost track of the days. He was so busy training that if not for Sirius and Narcissa he would have forgotten all together.

A small group gathered around noon at Malfoy Manor to celebrate. It wasn't much of a party by past standards. The Malfoys and Tonkses were there, of course, and Remus and Theo also. They could have invited all of his friends, but Harry saw them all the time anyway. It was nice to sit with his chosen family.

The ancestral Malfoy home was under the security of generations plus the Fidelius Charm held by Lucius' brother-in-law, Ted Tonks. He had volunteered to take the burden, an act of such selfless generosity that Lucius had embraced the Muggle-born wizard and sworn eternal friendship.

Now that he no longer held the Secret and was able to reside in his home without putting his family at risk, Lucius had begun an expansion of both the east and west wings. Only the south wing presently rose beyond the ground floor.

Elan and Bridget had no plans to move out of the manor. They lived in Elan's old room, with walls taken out to the north and south, expanding into the vacant guest rooms. The rising Lady Malfoy had a private bathroom, a well-stocked walk-in closet, and a super-king size bed. Once the construction was completed, Elan and Bridget would take residence in the west wing to start their family.

They were not waiting.

Bridget was very pregnant. She did not walk so much as waddle. It was for her sake that they held Harry's party at Malfoy Manor and not Grimmauld Place. She grunted and groaned, yet she had a glow about her, a sense of serenity that could not be disturbed. Apparently there were women who were suited to the creation of life, and she was one of them.

Then at other times, she swore a blue streak, demanded her wand, and cussed Elan out when he refused to give it to her. The one time he had made the mistake of fetching her wand, she immediately used it to hex him. Though startled, he dodged out of the way, manoeuvred behind her, and neatly plucked it out of her fingers.

Now she was not allowed to have her wand. It had actually been Narcissa's idea. "A pregnant witch is not rational. She is not capable of being responsible with the vast power we command."

"Were you irrational, Cissa?" Sirius said with considerable cheek.

She laughed merrily. "Oh my, yes. Lucius spent a week in silence before I realised I was out of control. I gave him my wand and apologised. He kept it until Elan was sleeping through the night."

"I preferred to deal with her words, not her hexes," Lucius said dryly.

"With Draco it was even worse. I could not stop feeling nauseous, and I couldn't eat anything. I gave my wand to Lucius the first time I had a food craving and wanted to vomit at the same time."

"I understand completely, Mother Cissa." Bridget put her hand on her belly. "This not so little one likes to rearrange my organs. Whenever he kicks on my bladder, I want to scream."

"He's active then?"

"So active. Usually at night when I'm trying to sleep."

Narcissa smiled with remembrance. "I was fortunate in that regard. Both boys got on my schedule early on. After they were born, now that is another story altogether."

"How long does it take for a baby to start sleeping through the night?" Bridget asked hesitantly. "I've heard some stories."

"Every baby is different." Narcissa shrugged. "Some start sleeping through the night within six months, while others could take more than a year."

"A year?" Bridget was aghast. "Sweet Merlin, I don't think I have the stamina for that."

"You'll do fine, sweetie."

"Chin up, Bridget," Sirius said, sounding supportive. "Harry here didn't ever sleep through the night for James and Lily."

"I didn't?" Harry said brightly. "I wonder if that means I kept Petunia and Vernon up all night. I hope so."

Sirius chuckled.

"Any idea yet if it's a boy or a girl?" Draco said.

Bridget shook her head. "I want it to be a surprise."

"How far out from your due date?" Sirius wanted to know.

"I'm due mid-August."

"Not far off," Sirius noted.

"I'm so excited to meet him," Elan said.

"Or her," Bridget retorted.

"Or her," he agreed.

"Have you decided on a name?" Harry asked Bridget.

"Only a girl's name. We still can't agree on a boy's."

"What are the choices?"

"If it's a girl, she will be Margaret, after my grandmother."

"It is always good to honour the family," Lucius said approvingly.

"If it's a boy, Elan wants Armand. I am holding out for Gaius."

Lucius nodded. "Armand was the first Malfoy to settle in England. His is an honoured name."

"Gaius Caesar was a Roman prince, brother to Lucius," Bridget said. "I've always liked the name."

Her father-in-law preened a bit. "With such a brother, how could I dislike it?"

"Will you try again soon after or wait awhile?" Narcissa said.

"I'm already thinking about the next one," she admitted. "I've always wanted a large family."

"I have no objections," Elan said.

She jabbed him in the side. "You just like the process."

"Who doesn't?" he asked innocently.

Harry had never been around babies before. It was strange to think that there would soon be a new, precious, helpless infant to be cared for and protected.

He wondered what life would have been like if his parents had lived. Would they have wanted more children? Would he have had a younger brother or sister? Both? More than one? It was a fascinating question, but pondering it made him melancholy.

It also made him wonder about his own future. Would he find love one day? Would he marry and start his own family? Harry suddenly realised that he wanted children. He wanted to teach them to ride a broom. He wanted to show them how to find the animal in their souls. He wanted to give them a home full of love that he had never had.

Now all I have to do is find a wife, he thought. That was easier said than done. Sirius had regaled Harry with his own dating woes. This girl had a horrible laugh, that girl was too quiet, and the next girl was self-centred. He hadn't been able to find anyone with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life, and he had the help of Narcissa, a matchmaker with a stellar track record.

It felt strange to think of marriage at only seventeen years of age, but Harry knew many magical folk married young. His own parents had done it. By all accounts they had been deliriously happy. Harry wanted that for himself, but it wasn't easy to find someone compatible. It was important to build on friendship.

Tracy could have been the one. He knew she had the same goal. She wanted to marry him and have lots of babies. It was not a complicated dream, but somehow the circumstances of life had other things in mind. He couldn't trust her, no matter how much he wanted to trust her. There was no way to verify that she wasn't secretly against him too. Without that trust, how could he build a life with her?

Harry pulled his thoughts away from that abyss. There was no point to dwelling on things that couldn't be.

Bridget made a grimace of pain. "Ooh," she moaned.

"Everything all right?" Sirius said.

"Just a practice contraction," she said, breathing through her nose. "Aunt Andromeda says they're completely normal. I've been having them off and on for a couple of weeks now."

"It's the body's way of building up to the real thing," Andromeda explained.

"It's passing," Bridget said, and her face relaxed.

"How frequent are they? How long do they last?"

"I have several every hour. They only last a minute or so."

Andromeda nodded. "Very good. When they start coming more frequently or the pain is much worse, that's when you need to call me."

"Of course." She took a sip of water. "I could talk about myself and the baby all night, if you let me. This is Harry's party. I was led to believe there would be cake."

"How right you are, my love," Elan said, kissing her forehead. "Are we just about finished with lunch?"

"I am," Harry said, pushing his plate away.

Lucius snapped his fingers, and the lunch plates vanished. Clean dessert plates appeared in their places. Dobby served the cake to the table.

"No singing, please," Harry requested.

"It's not a proper birthday if you don't sing," Sirius objected.

"Well if you'd only learn to carry a tune," Harry teased.

"I resemble that remark!"

"It's a lost cause," Remus said. "He's been torturing us for years with his caterwauling."

"A dog that caterwauls," Harry observed. "That's a neat trick."

Sirius assumed a lofty expression. "Since it is your birthday, I suppose you can get your own way."

Harry closed his eyes. I wish for my family to survive this war intact. Then he blew out the candles. They smoked for a moment before the flames jumped up again.

"What the-?" he exclaimed.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Sirius had a gleam in his eye. "Not enough hot air? I thought you Slytherins had it to spare."

Harry groaned. "Spare me your bad jokes. Is this your doing?" Sirius and Remus were known for pranks and mischief, but trick candles seemed a little pedestrian for their usual exploits.

"Mine," Draco admitted. "I got them from the Weasley twins."

Harry laughed and pinched out the flames with his thumb and finger. "Now that makes more sense. How are they doing? Is your investment working out?"

Draco had given the twins a good deal of money toward the end of fifth year. A little more than a year later, they had done well enough for themselves that they were able to open their own shop in Diagon Alley.

"Better than I had hoped," Draco said modestly. "Those two are insane, but they're very creative and quite gifted. With the war on, they've moved beyond simple tricks and pranks and into more practical items. They've got this stuff called Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder that is remarkable. A little pinch banishes all light from a room. They haven't found any charm or spell that will let you see through it."

"That could come in handy," Harry noted.

"They're working on a whole line of defensive items. They're trying to perfect their Shield Hats, since a lot of Ministry workers can't cast a Shield Charm for a fig."

"And how is the profit, Draco?" said Lucius.

"I've already made back my initial investment," Draco said proudly. "It wasn't a loan. I'm a silent partner. They come up with all the ideas and do all the work. I just collect a sack of Galleons from them every month."

"Excellent," Lucius said proudly. "Well done."

"They're keeping to the terms even though Ginny broke up with you?" Theo wondered.

Draco smirked. "There are severe penalties in the contract if they try to force me out within ten years. I can leave at any time, but they can't buy me out. Plus, I have a share of all their copyrights in perpetuity. Anything they ever make, I get a part of it."

"How did you get them to agree to that?" Harry asked. "They're pretty sharp."

"They didn't really have a choice. They want their own shop. They weren't willing to wait for the business to grow naturally. It would have taken them another five years at least of selling through owl order and Zonko's to reach the point where they could open a shop front, and even then it wouldn't have been in Diagon Alley."

"Gryffindors are not known for their patience," Lucius said with a sly smile at Sirius.

"No, we're really not," Sirius agreed. "We tend to like fast action and immediate payoff."

The cake was delicious. Harry took a second piece. So did everyone else.

Bridget suddenly gasped and clutched her belly.

Harry's heart leapt into his throat. What was wrong?

"Oh, that was a real one," she said.

Elan was at her side in an instant. "Breathe, love."

"What's happening?" Harry whispered, scared to move.

"It's just a contraction, dear," Narcissa said calmly, sipping her tea. "The baby is getting ready to come."

"But she's not due for at least two more weeks!" Elan said worriedly.

"Babies come where and when they choose," Andromeda declared. "The due date is just an estimate."

"She looks like she's in pain." Harry had seen people suffer from Cruciatus, even experienced it himself, but somehow this seemed worse.

"She is. Contractions and labour are the worst natural pain that exists. Never forget that witches are the ones who endure it." Andromeda stood up and went around the table, drawing her wand as she went.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Harry asked, feeling a sudden sense of urgency.

"There's nothing to do, dear. I'll see to it." Andromeda coolly examined Bridget, tapped her wand to her head and hummed happily to herself. "All is well."

Narcissa slapped her eldest son on the back. "Breathe, Elan. Breathe a lot."

"What do I do?" he asked, sounding a lot more panicky than Harry felt.

"Let's get her to her room," Andromeda said. "She'll be much more comfortable there than here."

Elan ducked under Bridget's arm and helped her to stand. He guided her out of the dining room and into the hall.

Lucius drew his wand and cast a spell that opened a hole in the ceiling. He waved it again and the floor rose up, lifting the pair to the first floor.

Harry followed Andromeda, Narcissa, Lucius, and Draco up the grand stairs. He dashed ahead and opened the door to the secondary master suite.

Elan guided his wife toward the bed, but Andromeda stopped him.

"It's far too soon for Bridget to be taking to her bed. Right now she needs to walk around."

"But the baby is coming!"

She harrumphed at him. "Trust me to handle this, Elan. I've been a Healer for many years, and this is not my first delivery."

"What can I do?" he asked desperately.

She pointed imperiously at the door. "You can get out. All people who have no business here are to leave at once."

Lucius took Elan's arm as he headed for the exit.

"Hey!"

"Come along, Elan. There's nothing you can do here."

"But-"

"Out, Elan," his mother ordered. "We'll call you when it's time."

Harry was not brave enough to face the combined wrath of the Black sisters, so he was the first out the door. Draco was hot on his heels.

The men retired to the billiard room. Ted racked up the balls. Lucius took down a pool cue.

"We're just going to wait?" Elan said incredulously.

"Yes," said Lucius. "There's absolutely nothing to be done. Andromeda has this well in hand. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years, and men have never been essential to that process. Largely we get in the way. When you and your brother were born, I was nowhere around, at your mother's insistence."

Elan, like the Gryffindors they had been discussing earlier, was not well-suited to waiting. He had gone out of his mind when he'd been restricted to the manor when Voldemort was first on the move. His impatience at that time had led to his capture and imprisonment. His forced idleness now was hard to bear. He continually missed his shots on the billiards table. He scratched the cue ball so many times that Harry and Draco started counting. When he sunk the 8-ball on a bad shot, he threw his cue down in disgust.

"I can't stand this! I'm going to be with Bridget."

Lucius shook his head. "Cross your mother at your peril, my son. She'll only evict you."

"I can hold her hand. I can breathe with her."

"Right now, she's likely to hurt you with accidental magic. A part of her blames you for what she is currently experiencing. I'm rather fond of you, Elan. I would hate to see you get hurt."

Elan threw himself into a chair. "So I just have to sit here and do nothing?"

"I'm afraid so."

The words Elan began muttering to himself were not fit for polite company.

Lucius patted his shoulder and did not reprimand him for his language. "Has there been any word from Tonks?" he asked, changing the subject.

Remus shook his head. "All Severus will say is that she is well. He has not been able to talk with her at all. Voldemort insists that she be near him at all times."

"So she has convinced him she's the real deal?"

"Fooled him completely," Remus said, sounding proud. "Apparently she gave him a fake prophecy some weeks ago, and he's spending all his time trying to unravel it."

"That explains why we haven't seen as much Death Eater activity lately," Sirius noted.

"He believes this fake prophecy applies to him?" Lucius asked.

Remus nodded. "She gave him a doozy. It has hints of Arithmancy in it. He's driving himself nutters trying to figure out what is meant by the Daughter of War."

"So it's not about him?"

"No, that would be too obvious. He wants to find this Daughter of War and either eliminate her or subvert her to his cause."

"Brilliant," Lucius said. "He places much stock in prophecy. It will be his undoing."

They talked of many things for hours. None of it was able to distract Elan.

Harry asked Sirius to teach him billiards, and after some embarrassing fumbles, he eventually got the hang of the basics. Theo and Draco already knew, of course, and they each trounced him mercilessly.

It was well after midnight when Narcissa came to the door with a smile on her face. "Elan, Bridget is ready to see you now."

"The baby?" he said desperately.

"Completely healthy," she assured him.

"A boy or a girl?"

"Go see for yourself."

Harry and the others followed along, but they stayed outside to give the family their privacy.

After about ten minutes or so, Elan emerged from the room with a little bundle in his arms.

"My son!" he cried, tears wet on his cheeks. "I have a son!"

Everyone congratulated him.

"What's his name?" Draco said.

"This is Gaius Armand Malfoy," Elan said proudly. "Gaius, say hello to your Uncle Draco."

Draco's face was unreadable as he looked down at the tiny life in Elan's arms. A single tear escaped his eye and rolled down his face.

"This is why we fight," he whispered. "The world must be made safe for our children."

"Draco, will you be his godfather?" Elan asked, his voice choked with emotion.

"Of course," Draco said, his voice also thick. "You honour me."

"I can't think of anyone better."

Harry felt his own eyes get wet as he stared at baby Gaius. Draco's right. This is why we fight. This is why we must win. Darkness must be driven from the world so that there can be new life.