Prophesied

Chapter 19

3 Years Later

She comes to us every weekend, Lamia. I laugh at myself now, when I think back on what had happened to us as seventh years. I laugh now at my reluctance to be her father, for that is what I am to her, her father. Jeff is her dad.

I have to laugh because if I don't I miss it too much. I miss not having a care in the world at the beginning, I miss the feeling of finally doing it, finally becoming free at the end, and I miss seeing Ron and Hermione everyday.

I think what I find most amusing however, is that the reason behind my reluctance at this was Voldemort, but now, three years after the fact, he's still out there, and she comes here every weekend.

However, the time is drawing to an end for the war. Voldemort is getting too crazy; he's too much in the open now. Snape is in a frenzy over the plans the lunatic has, and is telling Dumbledore every word faithfully. He says the message Voldemort's trying to give us is that the end is coming, whether we're ready for it or not. He says to prepare, get whoever and whatever is available to fight and be ready for the time to come. He's going to let us know when that time is, assuming there is a scheduled time. If we meet by chance--or by trap--then I know we won't be ready.

The doorbell rang and I went to answer it, knowing Lita had come with our daughter.

***

I smiled as I carried Lamia up the stairs to her father's house. Lamia's aquamarine eyes shown brightly with the joy and anticipation of seeing both Harry and Draco again. I was happy that the two of them were still together even after all this time. They still weren't married, but Harry had discussed things with Draco the night of the almost-wedding, and they'd worked things out.

Lamia rang the doorbell for me when we reached the door, clearly excited.

Harry answered a few seconds later and Lamia reached out for him. I handed over our three-year-old daughter and he smiled.

"Do you have a moment?" he asked. "You can come in if you like."

I sighed. I wasn't really in a hurry, but I didn't really want to come in. However, when my daughter looked at me with those eyes and said, without words, that if I didn't, I'd be sorry, I relented and nodded.

Feeling for any signs of Draco and Narcissa, I picked up on something odd in Harry's emotions. There was something he was hiding, from all of us if I didn't know any better. I couldn't tell if either of the other two people were in the manor, so I shut off the feelings and followed Harry, who was leading the way into the Masters' sitting room.

He poured tea for the both of us and we sat down.

"Alright," I sighed, getting sick of picking up on the feeling of secrecy even though I wasn't trying to. "What's going on?" I asked. "You've got 'I've got a secret' written all over you."

***

"What's going on?" Lita demanded suddenly. I looked at her confused. "You've got 'I've got a secret' written all over you."

I sighed. Emotions are vile betrayers. "Something with Voldemort, that's all."

"That's all?" she asked doubtfully.

"We're not ready should he attack any time soon. And I can't figure anything out, I've learnt every damn spell they've told me to, I've gotten all of the training I'm supposed to have, but there's something missing.... I don't know what it is, and I know that without it, I'll loose."

She sighed heavily. "I knew this was coming," she said softly.

"You knew?" I asked.

She nodded. "My father sent me word a few weeks ago, saying that the time was coming to make a choice. He said that the fate of the wizarding world would depend on that choice and I needed to make it before the time came. That choice is whether I hold my oath to Jeff, or I help you."

"What does your marriage have to do with helping me?" he asked.

"Harry, I know what I need to do now to help you. I know what power I'm supposed to have that Voldemort doesn't, and it's not just love. It's something else, something sacred to elves."

She averted her gaze, letting it rest anywhere but me. I felt like she was closing herself off to me, and it bothered me. Every time she does something like that, it means something bad is about to happen.

"What is it?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I'll tell you when the time is right," she answered. "I really must be going now," she said, standing. "I'll be back for her Sunday night around seven, alright?" she asked. I nodded and stood to show her the way out, even though she knew it well.

With my daughter in my arms, we waved goodbye to her, goodbye to my dreams....

***

Our weekends were always spent in passion, not having to worry over a child walking in or crying. We wanted another child, hopefully a boy this time, but it wasn't working. I'm not sure what it is, but I can't seem to get pregnant with another child.

Yet we keep trying. The medi-witches and wizards can't find anything wrong, and they suggest we keep doing what we're doing. I can only hope we get a son soon.

Dinner, as always, was very romantic and set the mood perfectly, as it always did.

More than once, Jeff and I found ourselves locked in the heat of the moment, our thoughts gone to the passion. More than once, we made love, hoping to make a child.

***

I watched Lamia as she played with her toys in her room and thought about what Lita had said earlier about knowing what needed to be done. Draco walked up to me and placed his hand on my arm. I looked up at him and then returned my attention to my daughter. She was beautiful, so much like Lita....

They had that same pale skin that shown like moonlight over snow, that same black curly hair, that same smile. The only difference was our daughter's eyes. She had combined both of our colors and did so perfectly.

The girl played with her magical toys, laughing and talking to them in the way only a toddler can.

"Come on," Draco said, pulling my attention away from her again. "Let's put her to bed and get there ourselves. We've got a big day tomorrow, remember?"

I sighed and nodded.

"Lamia," I said, walking into the room finally.

My daughter looked up at me. "Huh?" she asked.

"You ready to go to sleep?" I asked, crouching so I was somewhat level with her.

"No," she pouted. She seemed to be ready to cry if I made her do anything she didn't want to do--something that always worked with me. I didn't want her to cry or be neglected like I was--but she needed to go to bed.

"Why?" I asked. "We've got a big day tomorrow, all just for you, but it doesn't get to happen until after you go to sleep and wake up in the morning."

"Really?" she asked, smiling. "What?"

"Shh," I answered. "It's a secret," I whispered.

"Okay," she whispered back. "I'll get ready for bed."

"I'll be right back," I informed her. "Be ready for a story."

She smiled again, causing my heart to ache for her mother. What was Lita doing now? Was she happy with Jeff, or was she worrying over our daughter?

I stood up and walked back over to Draco. He led the way to our room where I found myself in his arms and under his kiss.

"Draco, no," I said pulling away from him. "Later," I insisted. "I have a daughter to put to sleep first."

He sighed and sauntered over to our large four-poster bed. He plopped himself down on it and sighed again.

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head and didn't answer. This was odd. However, I did not have the time to sit and chat with a closed door, I had a story to read to my daughter--or at least a chapter of one.

I walked out of our room again and back to hers. I knocked on the door and she opened it, smiling like she always did.

"What do we have the pleasure of reading on this night, love?" I asked. She walked over to her bookshelf and pulled one from the shelves. "This one, Father," she answered. She walked over to me and placed the book in my hand. The Princess Bride, one of her favorites.

"This one again, is it?" I asked. She nodded and ran across the room to her bed.

Later, after reading until she'd fallen asleep, I returned to Draco in our room. I found him asleep, much to my dismay. I was actually looking forward to what he wanted; it was always exciting.

I changed in the dark and joined him on the bed, fully intent on getting some sleep before the dawn arose, or Lamia came in from a nightmare.

***

I cried to myself that night. This was all becoming routine for us, something as exciting as sex was getting boring. It broke my heart to find that what Jeff and I had had could possibly become this.

"Lita?" Jeff asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I lied.

I knew he could feel my emotions, I knew he could tell I was lying, but I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't tell him that what we had was being lost. I couldn't tell him that I was falling out of love with him....

"What is wrong?" he asked again. His tone demanded answers in a way the question didn't. He wanted to know, and he would know.

"Does it feel to you like this is becoming a routine?" I asked softly, not really wanting to voice the question.

"No," he answered honestly. "Does it to you?" he asked.

I nodded, unable to say the words.

I felt his heart break.

Jeff rose from the bed and walked out of our room, the agony overwhelmingly powerful.

I followed him, knowing that we needed to discuss this further, especially if there was any hope for us. Now I know why most elves do not bind themselves to another, feelings change in time.

"How can this be routine for you?" he asked, crying. "How can this...."

I was silent, not knowing what to say.

"I look forward to these nights, Lita," he informed me. "You used to too. What happened?" he asked. "What made me become a chore?"

I wanted to tell him, I really did, but I didn't know what had happened. I just...I simply didn't love him like I used to.

"Do you still love me? Or am I another lost love?" he asked. The pain I felt from him was unbearable, it hurt so badly.... It made me want to love him again, just to get the pain to stop.

"Of course I do," I whispered, not entirely sure if I was lying or not. "Of course I still love you!"

"Prove it," he requested. "Say it in elvish."

[I love you,] I repeated. [I still do and I always will, Jeff. You are not lost, my husband.]

I moved over to him on the couch and wrapped my arms around him. We kissed.

"Come to bed," I said with a smirk.

***

That day, after being waken up early by my daughter, we went to Diagon Alley for her birthday. It wasn't for another three days, but she wouldn't be with Draco and I on that day so we were celebrating. She was going to be three.... Has it really been that long...?

We spent the whole day buying her whatever she wanted. We ate lunch in the Leaky Cauldron and visited Fred and George at their Joke shop.

Then Draco had her in Madam Milkins. With his obsession with appearance having rubbed off on her, though surprisingly not me, they'd be in there for a while. Knowing this, I decided to go buy her an owl of her own, knowing how much she loved Hedwig.

I bumped into Lita as I was passing Flourish and Blotts, catching us both by surprise.

"What are you doing here?" we asked each other.

"Buying birthday presents for Lamia," we answered together.

We started laughing after that, finding it more than funny for some reason.

"Listen," I said after we calmed down. "I want to buy her an owl, would that be alright with you and Jeff?" I asked.

She nodded. "What kind?" she asked. Something had changed about her at the mention of her husband's name and peaked my curiosity.

"Probably snowy," I answered, acting as though I hadn't noticed. "She loves Hedwig after all."

Lita nodded. "Alright," she said. "That sounds great."

Her odd attitude was beginning to really bother me as we stood in the middle of the road in the same spot where I had seen her for the first time, all those years ago....

"What's wrong?" I asked after a while.

She shook her head. "Marriage stuff," she answered. "You wouldn't know."

I raised my eyebrows. "Just because I'm not yet married, Lita, doesn't mean I don't know. I've lived with Draco for how long now?" I asked. "We may as well be married."

"Don't worry about it," she said with a shake of her head.

But that didn't stop my worry. Something was wrong with those two, and if it had any repercussions and my daughter got hurt...I don't know what I'd do.

She sighed. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" she asked. I shook my head.

"MOMMY!" came the voice of my almost three-year-old daughter.

"Hey, sweetheart," Lita said bending down as Lamia came running. She straightened when she had the girl in her arms and looked at me with something close to sadness in her eyes. "We need to talk," she said to me. "Why don't you bring her home Sunday night instead of me coming to get her?" she asked.