Dragon and Angel

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

ACCIDENT

As the days passed the small family settled into a simple routine. Draco returned to work the week following their first dinner date at Château de Nourriture, but he always finished in time to spend an hour or so with the children before dinner, which was eaten at either the Burrow or Malfoy Manor. Ginny returned days of taking care of the children, with the help of her mother and assisting with the housework around the Burrow. In the afternoons she would await Draco's arrival or prepare to take the children to the Manor for dinner. When eating at the Manor, Ginny often arrived ahead of Draco and she would spend her time with Narcissa until he arrived. The two women began to develop a close relationship, much to her surprise.

Draco had yet to have another little talk with Drake, concerning his knowledge of special hugs and the like. Ginny reminded him of the need every time Drake made an inappropriate comment, which was just about every time Draco got close to Ginny. It was something he knew he had to do, but kept delaying because he still had no idea of how to manage it or whom he should ask for help. He was still tossing up whether or not he should involve Arthur Weasley. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to have a discussion about what he may or may not be doing with the man's daughter, in front of his own son.

Ginny had so far refused to stay at the Manor overnight again, much to Draco's disappointment, but he was working on wearing her down. He had even suggested that the children stay at the Manor too after she admitted her fear that the children would become confused. It wasn't as if they didn't have the room. In fact, recently his mother had spent much of her time having two bedchambers close to his redecorated for the twins, so they would have their own rooms when visiting.

Ginny had still to send Narcissa the details of the twin's birthday celebration. With two weeks until their actual birthday, she decided to sit down this morning, while the children were playing outside and write the invitation for the afternoon tea she had planned for the Sunday afternoon following their birthday.

To

Mr and Mrs Lucius Malfoy

You are cordially invited to

Afternoon tea to celebrate

Drake's and Angel's

5^th Birthday

On Sunday March 27, 2005

At The Burrow

Time 2:00 PM

Ginny had decided to have an afternoon tea instead of the usual lunch. She felt it may be a little more relaxed and it certainly would not go for as long as a luncheon. The thought of Lucius Malfoy and her father in the same room, at the same time still had her worried, but her mother kept reassuring her that all would be well.

Having finished the invitation for the Malfoys, she called Pigwidgeon down from his perch. Ron didn't mind when she borrowed the hyperactive bird and the flight to Wiltshire would probably do Pig the world of good. It took at least five minutes to tie the invitation to the over excited owl's leg before she could send him on his way, with instructions to deliver the correspondence to Narcissa Malfoy. Ginny would check with Draco to see that his mother received the owl, later that evening. It wasn't that she didn't trust Pig, he just never calmed down and being as excitable as he was, he often seemed to forget where he was meant to be going.

With the invitation taken care of, Ginny decided to take a walk outside to check on the twins. They had been playing quietly all morning and while it had been a blessing, in the fact that she was able to take care of a few pressing matters, it did have her suspicions aroused as to what they were up to. She collected her cloak from her bedroom and made her way outside. Not seeing either of the children in the fenced part of the yard she decided to walk to the adjoining field, where they sometimes wandered.

Ginny made her way up a small hill. She could faintly hear Drake's voice coming from the other side of the rise. To his mother's trained ear, he sounded distressed and she broke into a run. At the highest point of the hill, she could see Drake crouched over at the bottom of the knoll with Draco's broom lying not far from him. Her immediate thought was that he was hurt in some way. She tore down the mound at break-neck speed, only to have her heart stop at the sight before her, once she reached the little boy.

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Draco was sitting in an extremely boring meeting with the department heads of Malfoy Holdings. It was a meeting that was scheduled every Thursday morning and Lucius insisted Draco attend each week, even though he rarely had any input. At this point some insufferably boring git was reading from a report that Draco really had no interest in. He could be out flying with his son and was more than a little annoyed that he was stuck in an office with these tedious old men.

He had just about nodded off when there was a loud disturbance just beyond the doors. He looked to his father who inclined his head ever so slightly, giving him permission to investigate the ruckus, when the double oak doors burst open.

"I'm so sorry, sir. He just forced his way through -- I couldn't stop him," Lucius' secretary whimpered from behind the intruder.

"Mr. Weasley! What, pray tell, do we owe the pleasure of this impromptu visit?" Lucius drawled from his chair at the head of the large table.

"Malfoy, we've got to go. Gin's at St. Mungo's. There was an accident," Ron spat out in a hurry. He had no time to get into a slanging match with Lucius Malfoy and ignored the ex-Death Eater in every effort to avoid it.

"What? St. Mungo's? What happened? Is she all right?" Draco fired off the questions as he left his seat and rushed towards Ron Weasley.

"Look, I don't know. Mum flooed us at work. Harry's contacting the rest of the family and, apparently, she asked for you. I tried to floo you, but they wouldn't let me talk to you, so I came over. We have to get to the hospital now!" Ron explained with urgency etched clearly into his tone.

"Well, I suggest we leave then," Lucius said from behind Draco. Upon hearing Ginny was at the hospital, he had ventured closer to the redheaded Auror to hear his explanation.

Lucius had no intention of allowing Draco to go to the hospital alone. If Ginny was injured badly, he would need family support and he doubted he would receive it from the Weasley clan.

Ron did not take the time to argue with Lucius about whether or not he was invited to accompany them. He simply turned and walked out of the office. On the way out the door, Lucius instructed his secretary to contact Narcissa and have her meet them at St. Mungo's, promptly.

Both Malfoy men summoned their cloaks and Disapparated with Ron. Upon their arrival at St. Mungo's, Ron spotted Arthur across the busy waiting room and headed straight for him.

"Dad!" Ron called as he crossed the waiting room with the two Malfoy wizards bringing up the rear.

"Ron, I thought I'd wait out here for everyone," Arthur explained before turning to the two blonde wizards. "Draco, the healers have just taken her down to the Artefact Accidents Ward," he said as he shook Draco's hand.

"Mr. Weasley, what happened?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't been able to get much sense out of Molly or Ginny, yet."

"Arthur," Lucius drawled with a curt nod.

"Lucius," Arthur replied coldly. There was certainly no love lost between the two wizards.

"Draco, shall we?" Lucius said as he indicated toward the corridor leading to the Artefact Accidents Ward with his cane.

"Yes, of course, Father. Mr. Weasley, will you be joining us?"

"In a bit. I'll just wait for the rest of the family to arrive." Arthur forced a smile.

"Mr. Weasley, I wonder if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye open for my mother? She should arrive shortly."

"Not at all, Draco. You go. You should be with Ginny. She needs you." Arthur patted his shoulder mechanically.

Draco and Lucius strode down the corridor leaving Ron and Arthur to wait for the rest of the Weasley clan and Narcissa Malfoy. As they reached the end of the corridor a set of doors lead off to the left. The sign above the door read 'Artefact Accidents'. Draco took a deep breath and pushed his way through the doors.

Molly had been waiting in the corridor, just outside the hospital room. The moment she saw Draco she launched herself at him.

"Oh, Draco! Thank Merlin you're here. Ginny's in with the healers now-- right in there." Molly rambled as she led him by the arm to the door that would lead him to his Ginny.

Draco's hand hesitated on the door for what seemed like an eternity. He didn't even know what had happened. What if she was badly hurt? What if she died? He felt as though his stomach had dropped to his toes.

"Draco, you are not going to answer your questions standing out here," Lucius hissed in his ear.

It was enough to get his feet moving again. He pushed the door open and stepped hesitantly into the room. In that moment it felt as thought all the air had been sucked from his body. The sight that met him made his blood run cold.

She looked so very small lying in the hospital bed. She hardly made the blankets rise from the mattress. Her face so pale. Her eyes closed. His little Angel looked as though she had already passed to the next world. Only the fact that healers were casting spells over her body assured him that she hadn't.

"Angelique," Lucius croaked out. He seemed to have lost all pretence of decorum on seeing his precious granddaughter lying in the hospital bed.

"Draco! Oh god, Draco," Ginny cried as she moved into his arms that had opened to welcome her of their own accord.

He stood holding Ginny while she sobbed into his chest, rubbing her back and making the appropriate soothing sounds, but his eyes never left his little girl. He was vaguely aware that his father was still standing behind him. After Lucius' initial utterance, Draco could only hear him breathing harshly, as if he were struggling to retain control of his emotions.

A healer approached the couple. "Miss Weasley?"

Ginny lifted her head and turned to the healer. Draco kept his arms around her the whole time -- for her benefit or his, it mattered not.

"Yes."

"We've done all we can for now. With luck she should wake up sometime within the next forty-eight hours. If you need anything or have any further questions, please, don't hesitate to summon a healer. Meanwhile, the nurses will be checking her periodically and they will report any changes in her condition." With those brief words the healers all left the room.

"Gin, what happened?" Draco asked softly.

"I-- I'm not sure. I think she fell from your broom," Ginny told him shaking her head.

"My broom? What was she doing on my broom?" Draco's tone was a little harsher than he intended and he was frowning in confusion.

"I think, maybe Drake may have gotten it out. I don't know," Ginny answered, tears falling down her face.

"All right, we'll sort it out later," Draco soothed. "Where's Drake?"

"Angelina has him," Ginny managed as her tears continued.

While they were talking Lucius had drifted over to Angel's bedside. Draco watched as he gently brushed Angel's strawberry blonde hair off her face. He spoke very softly to her and then he leant down to place a soft kiss on her forehead.

Draco and Ginny moved as one to the opposite side of her bed. They held hands as they sat and watched their daughter, lying broken and motionless on the bed. Gradually, other family members began to drift in and out quietly. None bothered Ginny or Draco, except for laying a comforting hand on their shoulders. Molly was keeping everyone informed of Angel's condition, so there was no need for any of them to ply Ginny with questions she did not have the strength to answer.

When Narcissa arrived it was Harry who guided her into the room. As soon as she saw Angel lying on the bed she gasped so loudly that it seemed to reverberate around the small room. Harry held her arm for fear she would collapse and waited for Lucius to come for his wife.

"What happened?" Narcissa barely breathed.

"An accident, dearest. Just an accident," Lucius responded as he took her in his arms.

"She will be all right, won't she?" Narcissa sought the answer in Lucius' eyes.

"We don't know yet. They have to wait until she awakens." Lucius' voice cracked with emotion as he uttered his response.

"Oh, Lucius. Is there nothing we can do? We can't lose her-- not now!" As Narcissa began to cry Lucius held her close.

"We won't lose her," Lucius murmured into her hair softly. He vowed to himself that he would take whatever measures necessary to see that his granddaughter survived, even if it meant selling his soul to the devil. Merlin knew he'd done it before.

Over the next twenty or so hours, much of the Weasley family dispersed to take care of their own children. Fred and Angelina were still caring for Drake, so Ginny did not have to worry about him. Seven people never left Angel's side.

Draco sat holding Ginny's hand the whole time, hardly even moving. He was afraid to take his eyes from the bed. Ginny sat in silence with occasional tears falling unchecked down her face, no one made an effort to wipe them away. She refused every effort Molly made to get her to eat or drink and blatantly ignored any suggestion that she get some rest.

Lucius and Narcissa sat on the opposite side of the bed, just watching the tiny frame of their granddaughter, not speaking or moving. Arthur took a chair at the end of the bed. He'd been through this a few times with his own boys, when they were younger. He knew the best thing to do was sit, wait and don't get in Molly's way. Molly was trying to fuss over everyone at once, fetching cups of tea that were left to go cold, updating other family members when they popped back in, and trying to care for Ginny as best she could -- she barely sat down the entire time.

Harry took a chair behind Ginny and Draco. He just sat and waited for his goddaughter to open her pretty eyes. Hermione had dropped in late in the afternoon to see Angel and to let him know that she was going to Fred and Angelina's to give them a hand with Drake. He was to stay as long as he felt necessary. She knew he would not leave until Angel was out of danger.

Sometime early Friday morning Angel began to stir. At first a frown appeared on her face and very slowly her eyelids began to flutter as she groaned in pain.

"Baby!" Ginny had leaped up to stand over Angel.

"Mummy?" Angel groaned.

"It's all right, baby. I'm here." Ginny was smiling through her tears.

"Hey, princess. How are you feeling?" Draco leaned forward placing his hand on Angel's leg.

"Daddy, it hurts," Angel grimaced.

"The Healers are on the way, sweetheart. They'll make you feel better," Draco told her quietly. He was unsure what to say to make her feel better. All he wanted to do was scoop her into his arms and hold her forever.

Molly had gone to alert the healers that Angel had awoken and they were on their way to the room.

"Mummy, where's Uncle Harry?" Angel asked softly.

"Hey I'm here, baby," Harry piped up from behind Draco.

At that moment the healers entered the room. They requested everyone leave while they examined Angel and dealt with the pain she was experiencing.

"Can't I stay? I'm her mother!"

"I'm sorry Miss Weasley. It's easier for us, and for your daughter, if you wait in the corridor," one of the healers responded as they herded the group towards the door.

"We'll be right back, sweetheart," Ginny called to her as Draco led her out of the room.

When they got into the corridor, Draco could not contain himself any longer. He spun and looked at Ginny in the eye.

"Why, in Merlin's name, did Angel ask for Potter?" Draco was tired and upset. The fact that his daughter had asked for Harry, when he had been talking to her, just about tore his heart out.

"Draco, Harry's been there since she was born. Of course, she's going to ask for him." Ginny was really much too tired to deal with this right now.

"Yeah-- well-- I didn't have that chance, did I? Someone forgot to tell me I was a father!" Draco spat at her angrily.

"WHAT?" Ginny shrieked at him.

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