A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love

Chapter 2

Narcissa Malfoy sat stiffly in a high-backed chair at yet another party. They'd been married a scant three months and nearly every night so far there had been some kind of party.

Things hadn't been as horrible as she might have thought -- at least not yet. Lucius wasn't home much--busy wreaking havoc on other families, she surmised, and when he was...well, Narcissa had learned that pretending to be asleep would not deter Lucius Malfoy when he was hell-bent on conceiving an heir. Narcissa unconsciously rubbed her abdomen, knowing that when she told him that she was pregnant, he wouldn't touch her. And if it was a son...Narcissa might be safe from further...indignities.

"Narcissa, darling," Lucius said, his voice injected with false affection. "Why don't you go and see to dinner? The guests are hungry."

She rose and left the room without a word. She'd be glad when she would be too pregnant to attend these. Nothing but Death Eater meetings in disguise.

* * *

Lucius looked up to see Narcissa heading towards the fireplace. "Where are you going?" he demanded.

"To see a mediwizard," Narcissa replied. She didn't wait for any response. She threw a pinch of sparkling Floo Powder into the roaring fireplace and disappeared with a shout of "St. Mungo's!"

She stepped out of the correct grate and coughed to clear the soot from her throat. She hated traveling by Floo Powder, but she'd read somewhere that Apparating could hurt an unborn baby. She strode briskly to the front desk, where the receptionist glanced up. "Narcissa Malfoy for Dr. Beasil," she said.

"You may go right in," the receptionist replied. Narcissa walked into the office.

"Ah, Mrs. Malfoy, what can I do for you?" Dr. Beasil asked.

"I suspect I may be pregnant," she said. "I'd like to know how long, if that's possible."

Dr. Beasil rose from his chair. "You're in luck, Mrs. Malfoy. We've just perfected a charm that can tell us the exact date you conceived as well as the exact date you'll give birth." He held up his hand and said, "Conceptio dies!" He looked at the writing that appeared on a piece of parchment that had lain on his desk. "Mrs. Malfoy, you are indeed pregnant. Your due date is March 15^th, and..." he looked up at her curiously. "And the conception date is July 10^th."

July 10^th.

Before her wedding.

The night she'd spent with Etienne.

Dr. Beasil watched Narcissa's face pale. "Are you quite all right, Mrs. Malfoy?" he asked, concerned. The conception date was five days before the wedding--perhaps she and her husband had been unable to wait that long. Or perhaps...

Narcissa couldn't breathe. Lucius would kill her. He'd hunt down Etienne and kill him. Her baby would be dead. Her child...Etienne's child. She took a deep breath. "Dr. Beasil, I know that you are aware as well as most of the wizarding world that my wedding date was July 15^th. It would be greatly appreciated if we could keep the conception date strictly confidential. One wouldn't want one's reputation scandalized, I am sure."

"Of course, Mrs. Malfoy. And if your husband should ask?" he inquired. Narcissa glared at him.

"I want this date kept just between the two of us. It would do Lucius no good to know this." Narcissa Malfoy stood. "And it would do you no good to reveal it to anyone, much less my husband."

"Yes, of course, Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa rose, trembling, and left the office, her head held high. She made it outside of St. Mungo's before her legs gave out. Etienne's baby. What would she do? If Lucius found out, he'd kill her parents for sure.

As it was, they weren't speaking. Narcissa found it safer to cut all ties from her family and friends. She hadn't spoken to Lily or the others since her wedding. Lucius knew that Narcissa no longer socialized with any of the people she'd known before the wedding, but she wouldn't put it past him to kill her parents anyway.

She was sitting on a bench staring into space when a familiar wizard approached her.

"Narcissa!" Peter Pettigrew greeted. He sat down next to her. "I haven't seen you since graduation. How have you been?"

"Peter, it's best that you pretend you didn't see me here," Narcissa replied, quietly.

"What?" Peter said, surprised. "Hey, I was just talking about you with Lily the other day. She's been wondering how you've been. We missed you at the wedding."

Narcissa turned her face to him, her eyes filled with tears. "I wasn't invited," she choked out. "It was decided that they wanted Etienne there as well. I agreed not to go." She stood up abruptly. "Now please leave me alone."

She crossed her arms and walked away, leaving Peter openmouthed in her wake.

* * *

Shortly before the beginning of her eighth month of pregnancy, Narcissa performed a simple charm to discover the gender of her baby. She pointed her wand at her abdomen and said, "Sexus liberi!" Her wand sent out both pink and blue sparks. Narcissa consulted the instructions Dr. Beasil had sent her.

"If the wand sends out blue sparks, the child is a boy. If the wand sends out pink sparks, the child is a girl," Narcissa read to herself. "If the wand sends out red sparks, the child is to be stillborn. If the wand sends out light blue and dark blue sparks, they are twin boys. If the wand sends out light pink and dark pink sparks, they are twin girls. If the wand sends out pink and blue sparks, they are twins, one boy and one girl."

Narcissa stopped suddenly. Twins. A boy and a girl. Etienne's children. Her smile faded. They would not be Etienne's children. They would be Lucius's children, and therefore she wouldn't be able to raise them.

She made her decision quickly and scribbled down her letter before she could change her mind. She watched Calypso take the message to her parents. She only hoped Gus would agree. If she couldn't save both her children from Lucius, then at least one would be saved.

* * *

Gus Fletcher was eating breakfast in the Great Hall on a Sunday morning in March when an owl dropped a letter in front of him. He looked at Fiona Malfoy, who gazed at the red-tipped letter anxiously. This was the signal that Narcissa had given birth to the children.

"Well, open it," she whispered. Gus took the parchment from the envelope and read it to himself.

Gus-

A dragon and a divine goddess have been to visit. We'll see you at the Easter holidays.

Love,

Mum

He handed the letter to Fiona, who scanned it quickly. "What does it mean?" she asked, softly. She eyed the other Ravenclaws, who seemed to be too involved in opening their own letters than in Gus and Fiona.

"A boy whose name means dragon, I guess," Gus said, "and I'm not sure what this other one means. I guess we'll find out at Easter."

* * *

Narcissa had practically begged Lucius to let her go to her parents to give birth. She promised him that once the baby was born, that she'd never see them again.

She had asked her parents to take the girl from her--she'd return to Lucius with his son, but Fiona and Gus would raise the girl as their own after they married.

"Darling," Barbara Fletcher said as she watched Narcissa rock the sleeping girl. "You don't have to give her up."

"No." Narcissa's voice was firm. "I only wish I could save Draco as well, but Diana will be safe. I made a mistake once, but I know I'm making the right choice."

"Gus and Fiona will take good care of her," Barbara promised.

"Take her, Mum," Narcissa whispered, her voice hoarse. "I can't-I can't-" She could say little else. Barbara nodded and took Diana from her. "Thank you Mum." Narcissa's eyes shone with tears. "I wish this wasn't the last time, but-"

"Hush, my darling," her mother soothed. She sat on Narcissa's bed. "You made a very brave choice when you married that scoundrel. It's not what your father or I would have wanted, but we can't ignore your reasons. And while you must raise Draco in that house, you are ensuring that your daughter will be safe. I couldn't be more proud of you."

Narcissa was openly crying now. "I wish I could have found a way to be happy as well as brave," she whispered. She turned over in her bed and buried her face in the pillow, sobbing. Barbara smoothed her daughter's long blonde hair as Narcissa cried herself to sleep.

It would be the last time. When the Fletchers awoke the next morning, Narcissa and Draco had gone. Only Diana was left in the nursery.

* * *

Lily and James had bought a small cottage in the town of Godric's Hollow shortly after their marriage. It was now a year later, and Lily was heavily pregnant. She was due the next month, in fact. She had taken to writing in a diary every day. Mainly things about her pregnancy--the kicks, the different cravings. One day, she hoped to show it to her child and let him know just how much she and his father had wanted him.

She was sitting at her oak desk in the parlor, writing in the diary on a Saturday morning in late June when a snow-white owl tapped at the window.

"Calypso," she breathed, recognizing the owl at once. She stood and made her way carefully to the window. She untied the parchment, gave Calypso a treat and sent her on her way. She unrolled the crisp parchment.

Dearest Lily,

Forgive me for not writing for nearly a year. So much has happened and I only wished that I could be there to tell you in person.

In March, I became a mother, and while I detest my husband, I simply adore my son. Draco Caleb Malfoy looks more like me than he does Lucius and it does help things.

I have been in contact with some people, and have come across some information that you must know. I cannot reveal their names in the chance that this letter is intercepted. Lily, my dearest friend, you and your family are in danger. I don't know when and I'm not sure why, but it is quite possible in the near future that you, James and your unborn child will be killed.

Please--go into hiding. Leave Britain. I don't care, but please, I beg you. Protect yourself. Trust only those you must. Sirius, Dumbledore, Remus, Peter, but tell only those who are necessary.

I often wonder, dear friend, what would have happened if I had said no to Etienne when he asked me to the Yule Ball fifth year. Would we be friends still? Would our children play together one day?

Or would Lucius still have wanted me? I often get the feeling that it had nothing to do with my being "beautiful" or "sophisticated" as he puts it. It has more to do with the fact I belonged to his brother and Lucius cannot stand it when others are happy.

I think about those days at Hogwarts, and I wish I knew how to be that happy again. Please, Lily, protect yourself. So that one day, we may meet and embrace each other friends.

Love always,

"Cissy"

Lily didn't stop to think. She took a piece of parchment out, dipped her quill into a pot of viridian ink and began to write.

Dearest Cissy,

Thank you for sending this information. I assure you that James and I will take steps to protect ourselves.

Congratulations on Draco. I myself am pregnant with a boy. James and I must have argued for hours, but we finally settled on a name: Harry James. Harry Potter. Rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?

I, too, think about the days when we were younger. I can still remember the sorting ceremony where we came together for the first time. Oh, dear friend, if only we could be those innocent people again. We were so sure that nothing could touch us--that we would always be friends. And now, that same evil has torn us apart.

I also wish for the day when we may embrace as friends. Pray the day comes soon. Until then, I remain your eternal friend.

Love always,

Lil

* * *

It was October, over a year later when the world turned upside down. Narcissa was in the nursery rocking Draco to sleep and thinking about Lily. They had only exchanged owls when necessary and Narcissa hadn't even heard from her in two months, not since Lily and James went into complete hiding.

She looked down at her sleeping son. Draco was so peaceful like this. He had her blonde hair and delicate features, but the Malfoy family's grey eyes. She only hoped that they would never be as cold as Lucius's. Instead, she wanted them to be happy and sparkling--like his father's had been.

Quiet times like these, when no one else was around save Draco and herself, she wondered about Diana. Gus and Fi had married straight out of Hogwarts and Gus had sent the girls to France until Voldemort had been taken care of. She had learned that from the last owl her mother had sent, shortly before she'd written Lily for the first time.

She could still hear the conversation that had prompted her letter. She was sure that the words would never fade from her mind.

"The Potters must be eliminated."

Narcissa halted in front of the library. She'd been on her way to the nursery to tend to Draco when the smooth, cold voice of the Dark Lord had uttered those words. She didn't move, she couldn't - she just stood there.

"Yes, I agree. Before the child has a chance to begin his education. With parents like his, they will, no doubt, start it the moment he is born." Narcissa shuddered as Lucius talked about her closest friends so flippantly.

"We will strike shortly after he is born. To ensure that he is dead and no wizard can take him from his mother's womb and save his pathetic life."

Narcissa backed away, horrified. They were planning to kill Lily and James...and their child! She ran through the corridors, desperate to reach her room, some parchment and her owl.

Narcissa stood to put Draco in his cradle. As she was tucking the quilted blanket around him, she heard loud, angry voices below her. She turned off the light in the room and hurried downstairs.

"Lucius, what's going on?" she asked, watching him storm past her on his way to the library, a gaggle of Death Eaters following behind him.

He turned and glared at her. "Good news for you, my darling. Voldemort has fallen," he spat out.

Narcissa's heart lurched into her throat. It was over--the world was safe. Lily and James and their son, Harry. It was going to be okay.

"How?" she asked softly.

Lucius shook his head, angrily. "No one knows. He tried to kill the Potter baby and we think the curse rebounded on him. His power broke."

"The Potter--" Narcissa stopped, horrified. "He's dead?"

"That's the thing. He's not. He survived." Lucius smiled at her coldly. "But Lily and James Potter are."

The world stopped turning. Narcissa stared at Lucius for what seemed like an eternity. Lily and James. Dead. Laughing, clumsy, talented James Potter. Dear, sweet, wonderful Lily Evans. Dead?

"No," Narcissa breathed. "It's not possible!" Her voice rose into a hysteric shriek. "You're lying! They're not dead!"

Lucius turned to his fellow Death Eaters who were looking at the wife of their leader in shock. "Forgive my wife. Before our marriage, she was, unfortunately, a Gryffindor and was friendly with the mudblood Evans and the misguided Potter." The others nodded, understanding.

"You're despicable," she hissed. "I hate you and I won't live here another moment with you!"

Lucius threw her a furious look and turned back to the Death Eaters. "Go home. I'll be in touch."

One by one, they Disapparated, leaving Narcissa and Lucius in the front hall. He stalked towards her and grabbed her arm.

"How dare you do that in front of them? Have you no respect?" he shouted. His hand tightened around her arm. "Do I need to remind you what will happen should you leave?"

Narcissa tried to pull her arm away. "I no longer care! I'm taking my son and I'm leaving!" she cried. Without hesitation, Lucius backhanded her, the ruby on his ring splitting open her cheek in a scarlet slash of white-hot pain.

"You aren't leaving and you aren't taking Draco anywhere. He is my son, not yours. He will never be yours." He raised his hand again and she backed away, trembling fingers raised to her bloody cheek. "Do you understand?" he hissed.

She looked at him, her eyes glazed over. He took a step towards her.

"Yes," she breathed. "Yes, I understand." She turned and fled up the stairs.