Dragon's Fire

A few months later, Ginny and I were married. About the same time, we learned she was pregnant with twins. All the Weasleys showed up and even Potter could be seen. Ron and Harry each took his turn apologizing to me for being such bastards. I forgave them. Besides, I couldn't stay mad at my new in-laws forever could I? Well, I could, but what fun would that be? Six months after the wedding, Ginny was in labor and I stood at the end of the bed, coaching her.

"Son of a bitch! I can't believe I ever let you touch me! You motherfucking son of a pig! I'll castrate you!" Ginny screamed at me. I just held her hand and smiled reassuringly. I knew from experience not to say anything. She moaned loudly in pain and I wiped her face with a damp cloth.

"Ginny, love, it will be all right."

"All right?! All right?! You did this to me! You're the reason I'm like this! Get out of here! Now!" she screamed at me. She moved to pick up her cup of ice chips. I ran for the door, just as she chucked the cup at me. It missed my head by inches. She doubled over in pain at another contraction and reached out a hand to me.

"Baby, I'm sorry. Please don't leave me. Come hold my hand, Draco dear. Please come hold me," she said pleadingly. How could I refuse? I walked cautiously back toward the bed, carefully moving any potentially harmful objects out of her reach. I was in love, not stupid.

"Do you promise not to yell at me anymore?"

"I'll promise you anything, if you'll make the pain stop," she gasped.

"Honey, the doctor said that you're too far dilated for the epidural now."

"I. Need. Drugs. Go get me drugs. Do not come back without drugs," she barked at me. I walked out the door and went to find her doctor. He was headed toward me, so I flagged him down.

"Doctor? Is there anything you can give my wife? I hate seeing her in so much pain," I said, as pleading as I could make my voice sound.

"You're Mrs. Malfoy's husband, yes?" I nodded.

"Then no. I'm sorry, I can't. This late in labor we would risk the baby being stuck in the birth canal without oxygen or worse, Mr. Malfoy. I feel your frustration, I really do. There's nothing I can do for you, I'm sorry." He put a hand on my shoulder, as if to say, he'd been there, too. Ha! He didn't have to go tell Ginny. I walked back to her room slowly, dragging my feet as long as my pride would allow. Then I opened the door and walked inside.

"Ginny, I'm sorry, but I begged the doctor and he said no. He said at this late stage in labor, we risk cutting off the baby's oxygen supply or worse."

"He would say that. He's a man. You pigs have no idea what it is to go through this!" she screamed that last as another contraction took her over. I immediately moved to her side, and began rubbing her lower back. I prayed that the babies would come soon, so Ginny could rest. And it seemed God had taken pity on me, because almost as soon as I thought it, the doctors came in to check on Ginny and said she was ready to deliver. I donned scrubs and footies to cover my shoes, as well as a medical mask. I stood by Ginny's head, holding her hand, afraid that she was going to crush it every time she was in pain. As the first baby was delivered, I was asked to cut the cord. It was another beautiful little girl, who we later named Lillith Marie. Our second child was born thirty-six seconds later, a handsome young man who had well-developed lungs. We named him Jacob Arthur. Ginny lay back against the headrest, clearly exhausted. But when the nurse passed her the tiny little babies that she'd just brought into the world, Ginny's face broke into a huge smile and tears ran down her face. She was sweating profusely and I wiped her face with a wet rag. She smiled up at me. I looked down into the two little bundles in her arms and knew that no one would ever love them more than we would. I kissed Ginny's still-damp forehead and felt that sense of right come over me, as I stood there in the room with Ginny and our babies.