Dragon and Angel

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

ANGEL TELLS A SECRET

Draco arrived at the Burrow the next morning well before breakfast. Ginny had Flooed him before he had even woken up and insisted that they speak before he went to work. He agreed to come to the Burrow once he was dressed, and it was only when he was wandering sleepily back to his chambers that he realized he had forgotten to ask what was so important that she needed to see him immediately. Entering the kitchen, he found her sitting at the dining table waiting for him--still in her bathrobe, hair not brushed and most perturbing, to Draco at least, the expression on her face was not indulgent.

"Morning, love," Draco said cheerily as he made his way to her, hoping that she was just tired and her expression had nothing to do with her mood.

"Good morning," Ginny replied flatly.

Trying to ignore her tone, he took the seat next to her and leaned in to kiss her softly; she responded briefly before pulling away.

"Draco?"

"Yes, Gin?" he replied still trying to maintain an optimistic tone.

"We need to talk."

"About?" Oh gods, sounds like I am in trouble but what have I done, he thought.

She arched an eyebrow at him and sent him a look that definitely said 'you should know'. "Drake's birthday present."

"Oh." Draco grimaced inwardly. Ginny had promised him they would talk about his choice of gift and it seems she was serious.

"You told me you were getting Drake Quidditich gear for his birthday."

"And I did," Draco answered evenly.

"No, you gave him a racing broom," Ginny replied in a measure voice.

"That's Quidditich gear," Draco defended.

"No, it's not."

"Gin, you can't play Quidditich without a good broom."

"Draco, he's five years old... He doesn't need a racing broom," Ginny's voice was beginning to sound a little frantic.

"He may as well learn on the best."

"He could kill himself!" Ginny shrieked.

"He won't--he has natural ability, he's good."

"He's a baby."

"Drake is not a baby; he is already a skilled flyer and I have every confidence in him that he will handle that broom with ease," he responded strongly.

"Draco, he is my baby! I do not want him on that broom."

"Gin, it's not like he'll be flying alone, I'll be with him every time."

"That's not the point! You knew I didn't want him to have a broom yet you went ahead and got him one anyway... after what happened to Angel... I couldn't bear it if..." Ginny broke down sobbing into her hands unable to continue with her tirade.

Draco leaned over and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Hey... hey, Gin, calm down I promise nothing is going to happen to Drake."

Ginny's head nestled into his chest and she continued to weep vociferously.

"Gin, come on... this isn't like you. What's really wrong?"

When she didn't answer right away, he held her closely and made the appropriate soothing sounds, but his mind was whirring with all possible scenarios of what could be wrong with her.

After several minutes of almost heart breaking sobbing, she pulled away and wiped her face. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me."

"Gin, what is it love? Why are you getting so worked up? All this fuss isn't for a broom."

"I honestly don't know... I'm just out of sorts I guess," Ginny answered quietly.

"You must have some idea."

"No I just don't know... I haven't been like this since..." Realization washed over her like a bucket of icy water.

Draco frowned in concern at her. "Since when?"

Swallowing hard Ginny replied hastily, "It doesn't matter."

"Gin?"

"I'm fine... really, Drake can keep his broom as long as you fly with him," Ginny replied forcing a smile onto her face.

"Love, you've gone pale... What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing at all... I told you, I was just being silly." Ginny tried to laugh, but even to her ears it sounded hollow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

With the weather beginning to warm up in mid April and with Drake's no-flying punishment over with that very day, Draco made certain Ginny agreed to spend the weekend with him at the Manor. He had been eager to take Drake flying on his new broom but had, surprisingly, steadfastly refused to lift the ban despite persistent pleading from his small son.

As Draco Apparated into the foyer of the manor late on Friday afternoon, he was immediately greeted with squeals of joy traveling down the staircase.

"Daddy, you're here," Angel shrieked as she ran down the stairs as fast as she could.

"Daddy, Daddy, I brought my broom... Can we go flying now?" Drake bellowed, following closely behind his sister.

"Whoa... slow down you two. Can I at least take my cloak off?"

Angel pouted. "Not before you hug me."

"That I can do with my cloak on, come here, princess."

Picking his daughter up, he held her close as she wrapped her small arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Sighing lightly Draco muttered, "This I can get used to."

"What, Daddy?" Angel asked lifting her head from his shoulder.

"I could get used to you being here to greet me everyday when I come home from work."

Angel giggled as she buried her head in his shoulder once more.

"Hello you, did you have a good day?" Ginny crooned from the bottom of the staircase.

"I didn't see you creep down," Draco replied while placing Angel back on her feet. "And I had a busy day, thank you, love."

"I was hoping you'd be home a bit earlier," Ginny told him in a slightly sulky voice as he moved toward her.

Taking her in his arms Draco placed a brief kiss on her forehead. "Sorry, got held up in a meeting."

A sharp tug on his cloak diverted Draco's attention momentarily.

"Daddy, can you please take you cloak off so we can go flying now?" Drake asked impatiently.

Eying his son carefully, Draco quirked an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you dressed for dinner?"

Drake sighed heavily. "Grandmother said we had to get dressed in..."

Draco cut his son off, knowing full well what his opinion of dress robes were by now. "Right, well looks like we'll have to go flying tomorrow then mate."

"I could get changed again into my Quidditich stuff," Drake suggested hopefully.

"And just what do you think your Grandmother would have to say about that?" Draco asked with a roguish smile playing across his face.

"She wouldn't mind," Drake responded heartily.

Smirking at his son, Draco quirked an eyebrow and waited for his amended reply.

"Grandmother would be cross," Drake grumbled dejectedly.

Draco bent down placed his hands on Drake's shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Right, so we will go flying tomorrow morning straight after breakfast. I promise."

Sighing disappointedly Drake replied, "Yeah."

"Hey, I want to go just as much as you do."

"You do? But you can go flying anytime you want."

"Yeah, I can, but I can't go flying with you anytime I want, can I?"

Drake responded with a satisfied grin.

"Were you on your way to dinner?" Draco asked.

"Yes, I didn't think you were going to make it," Ginny responded grimly.

"Now would dinner with my parents been that bad without me there?"

"I didn't say that, I just... missed you that's all."

"I like to hear that. Shall we then?" Draco offered his arm to her.

Ginny took Draco's offered arm and responded, "Yes I think we should before your mother sends out a search party."

Draco and Ginny walked together to the dining room with the children leading the way. Lucius and Narcissa were already seated when they entered, Lucius stood and assisted Angel into her seat next to Narcissa, while Draco held Ginny's chair.

"Darling, I didn't think you were home." Narcissa smiled across the table at her son.

"Only just arrived, Mother, a late meeting detained me."

"And... the result, Draco?" Lucius enquired almost casually.

Draco smirked at his father. "Of course we got the outcome we were after."

"Good," Lucius drawled, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I thought you would be pleased," Draco responded.

"Enough business talk, this is a family dinner," Narcissa admonished.

"My apologies, Mother."

"Indeed," Lucius intoned.

Satisfied that she had silenced any further talk of work from the men, Narcissa turned her attention to Ginny. "Ginevra, how is your sister-in-law?"

"Umm... which one? I have six."

"Of course, sorry dear, I believe her name is... Fleur? She was heavily pregnant."

"Yes, that was Fleur, she gave birth to a healthy boy, Henri, on Wednesday morning."

"How lovely, you must pass our congratulations on to your brother."

"I will, thank you."

"And your other brother, Ron... has he proposed yet?"

"Yes, he and Pansy are officially engaged much to Mum's delight... a baby and a wedding she thinks all her Christmases have come at once."

"Your brother requested Miss Parkinson's hand properly?" Lucius asked skeptically.

Ginny turned to the head of the table. "If you mean did he ask for Mr. Parkinson's blessing, then yes he did."

"And survived?" Lucius enquired derisively.

Ignoring his tone, Ginny responded lightly, "Just barely, though I did think he was going to expire from nerves before he even left the Burrow."

"Mmm... surprising Alfred Parkinson did not show him the business end of his wand," Lucius murmured just loud enough to be heard.

"I had a word with Mr. Parkinson before Ron approached him to ensure nothing of the sort would happen," Draco admitted resolutely.

"I see," Lucius drawled, raising an eyebrow at his son.

"You disapprove, Father?"

"Not entirely, the girl is pregnant after all," Lucius said dismissively.

Draco smirked. "Good, not that it would have mattered at any rate."

"Was it a romantic setting for the proposal?" Narcissa probed further, an expectant smile gracing her features.

"Well..."

"Oh dear, Drake, you're spilling your food down the front of your robes," Narcissa said exasperatedly as she picked up her napkin and began to wipe the errant food from his front.

"Well if they get dirty, I don't have to wear them again," Drake beamed at Narcissa.

Smiling smugly, Narcissa withdrew her wand from her robes and whispered, "Scourgify."

Drake's face fell as he examined his now clean dress robes.

"And now they are clean," Narcissa told him with a smug smile. "Sorry, Ginevra, do go on."

Smiling broadly at Narcissa she continued, "Ron asked her in the front room at the Burrow. I suppose he considered it romantic, but with Drake marching through as she said yes, I think it may have been spoiled a little for Pansy."

"Oh dear... well there is nothing she can do about that now." Narcissa's tone was disappointed, whether it was for Pansy or whether it was because there was no romantic tale to relay Ginny could not tell.

"They were snogging again, they're always snogging," Drake said disgustedly, screwing up his nose.

"Drake, we do not talk of such things at the dinner table," Lucius growled.

Looking sheepish, Drake raised only his eyes to Lucius. "Sorry, Grandfather."

Lucius inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement and returned his attention to his dinner.

After desert the family retired to the parlor for the remainder of the evening. It wasn't too long before Ginny announced that it was time for bed for the twins, who complained profusely as they were taken up to bed by both parents. When Draco and Ginny returned to the parlor, the elder Malfoys excused themselves for the evening leaving the young couple quite alone.

Making themselves comfortable on a sofa before the small fire, Draco and Ginny sat in silence for some time watching the flames dance in the hearth. Draco had his back against the arm of the couch with Ginny resting her back onto his chest and his hands resting on her stomach.

"Gin?"

"Mmm."

"Where did you put your bags?"

"Pardon?"

"Where did you put your bags - the ones you brought with you this afternoon?"

"The house elf put them in the suite I was in last time."

"Oh."

"Something wrong?"

"I just thought that maybe you might want to stay with me."

"I did think about it."

"And?"

"Well... you didn't ask me to."

"I didn't realize I had to ask."

Ginny smiled impishly. "Just how am I meant to know you want me to stay in your chambers? I've never studied Legilimency you know."

"You didn't? Well in that case, Miss. Weasley, would you care to join me in my private chambers for the duration of your stay at the Manor?" Draco asked in a cheeky formal tone.

Giggling lightly, Ginny responded, "Whatever for, Mr. Malfoy?"

"So I can shag you senseless every night," Draco growled into her ear before he nipped the tiny shell lightly.

"Mr. Malfoy, how can I possibly refuse?"

"You can't," Draco said smugly running a trail of hot kisses down the length of her neck.

As Draco's mouth moved lower, his hands began to travel up her body, cupping her breasts gently, he teased the peaks through the fabric of her robes. Ginny leaned back into his chest moaning lightly at his attentions, she could feel his desire beginning to grow not only through the increased pressure he was now fondling her with, but the very definite prodding in the small of her back left no doubt in her mind as to what he wanted.

"You like that love," he muttered against her ear.

"Mmm..."

Ginny turned her head as Draco leaned down to capture her mouth in a searing kiss. Immediately seeking permission to explore further, she allowed her mouth to open invitingly as his tongue slid in to caress hers sensuously. One of his hands drifted down, leaving the breast he had been caressing aching for more attention, and reached the peak of her thighs, gathering the skirts of her robes.

"Draco?" Lucius' voice drifted over them.

Ginny instantly jerked forward pulling her skirt down; her face flushed as red as her hair she found she could not look in the direction of the doorway where Lucius' voice had come from.

"Father," Draco grunted, exasperation clearly evident in his tone.

Clearing his throat Lucius continued, "Your mother was curious as to whether you had remembered to set the wards for the children."

Turning to face his father, Draco replied, "You can tell her that I did remember to set them."

"Good... whose chambers are they set to alarm?"

"Mine," Draco replied through gritted teeth.

"Splendid."

"Goodnight, Father."

Lucius smirked as he began to retreat from the room, pausing in the doorway he turned to face his son once more. "Draco, if I may suggest... chambers for such activities."

Draco shot Lucius' back a withering glance as he left the parlor. Turning his attention back to a now mortified Ginny. He tried to gather her in his arms again, but she sat stiffly unwilling to yield to his gentle tugs.

"Hey... come back here," Draco intoned gently.

"Why is it that every time we start something we get interrupted?"

"It's not every time, Gin. Come back here love."

"Draco, we can't keep going here. Your father knows what we're doing or what we were about to do."

"And with that knowledge, he won't be back," Draco said in an attempt to assure her.

"I'm not so sure... I think he enjoys embarrassing me. What if he tells your mother?"

"He won't tell mother. Do you want to go up stairs?"

"Well..." Ginny paused to stifle a yawn.

"Hey, you're tired. We're going up," Draco told her firmly.

"I am a bit tired," she admitted.

Draco assisted her to a standing position, then rose himself. Draping an arm around her shoulders, he guided her out of the parlor and upstairs to his chambers.

"I'll have a house elf transfer your things to my chambers."

"It's all right, I really just need my toothbrush tonight."

"I have a spare you can use," Draco told her as they entered his bedchamber.

"Thanks, I get the bathroom first," Ginny squealed as she ducked out from under his arm and ran across the room into the adjoining bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Chuckling, Draco conceded immediately calling after her, "Yeah, you get the bathroom first, just don't take too long or I will be forced to come in there."

Ginny leaned against the closed door and looked around at the lavishly appointed room. Black marble graced every surface and flawlessly polished brass fittings shone from the basin, bathtub and shower stall, complimenting the dark surfaces perfectly. Moving over to the basin she opened one of the cupboards and peered inside, smiling as she browsed through the vast collection of hair potions it contained. Locating Draco's spare toothbrush amongst the bottles, she extracted it and placed it on the sink, then began to disrobe.

Stepping into the shower stall, she sighed softly as she closed her eyes and lent against the wall, letting the hot water caress her body.

Draco summoned a house elf and ordered Ginny's belongings to be brought to his chambers, after which he wandered aimlessly around his room for a short time. Glancing at the closed bathroom door, he wondered if she would object to an invasion.

After a few minutes of internal debate Draco began to discard his robes, allowing them to drop to the floor as he strode confidently to the bathroom door. It was only as he reached for the door handle that it occurred to him Ginny could have cast a locking charm on the door; he hoped not, because he was getting a little chilly standing completely naked before the door. Draco turned the doorknob and grinned nefariously when he discovered it was unlocked.

Entering the bathroom quietly, he closed the door behind him and approached the shower stall where he could see Ginny's blurred silhouette though the frosted glass. Reaching for the handle, he confidently opened the door, assuring himself that she would have locked the bathroom door if she had wanted privacy.

"Thought I'd save water. You don't mind, do you?" Draco asked as he stepped into the shower and wrapped his arms around her.

Ginny placed a kiss on his chest then looked up into his face. "Not at all, I'm surprised it took you this long."

Running his hands down her back to cup her bottom, he ran a trail of wet kisses along her jaw line and down her neck, stopping to suck on the pulse point at the base of her neck.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Slowly rolling onto his side, Draco slipped an arm around Ginny's waist and gently drew her into his body. Sighing contentedly, he closed his eyes again and buried his face in the silken red hair cascading over the pillows, this was how he wanted to wake up every morning--late after shagging the woman he loved well into the early hours of the morning suited him just fine.

Ginny began to stir lightly in his arms. She tried to roll over to face him, but at that moment, her stomach lurched and she knew she had to get to the bathroom as soon as her legs could get her there. Reaching out, Ginny grabbed a handful of blankets and ripped them back, at the same time trying to wriggle free of Draco's encompassing hold.

"Hey, where you going beautiful?"

Her hand now clamped firmly over her mouth, Ginny was unable to answer for fear of vomiting all over him. Grunting indignantly at Draco, she threw herself off the bed and ran into the adjoining bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Within seconds Draco had risen and was standing in front of the closed door. He hesitated momentarily when he heard Ginny retching. "Gin, are you okay?"

"Fine... I..."

At the sound of Ginny retching again, Draco cracked the door open as quietly as he could and saw her crouched naked over the toilet bowl, holding her hair back with one hand, the other had a white knuckle grip on the bowl. Approaching her slowly he gently reached out and ran his hand down her back.

"Gin, I'm going downstairs to floo a Medi Wizard, okay?"

"No... I'm fine," Ginny replied breathlessly.

"No you're not, I'm getting a Medi Wizard. I'll be right back."

Draco left the bathroom hastily before she could protest any further, stopping only to pull on a pair of pants. He left the suite and went directly to the dining room, where he was sure he would find his mother.

Entering the room in a hurry, Draco ignored the other occupants, focused only on speaking with Narcissa. "Mother, would you mind watching the children this morning?"

"Drake told me you promised to take him flying this morning?" Narcissa responded curiously.

"I was, but Gin is really sick, I need to get a Medi Wizard for her,"

Narcissa frowned. "She's ill, whatever could be wrong? She was fine last night."

"I know but this morning she's so sick," Draco said worry clearly evident in his tone as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Mummy's always sick in the morning," Angel offered knowledgeably.

Drake reached out and gave his sister a shove in the arm. "Shh... Angel we're not supposed to tell."

"No. Mummy said not to tell Grandma, she didn't say we couldn't tell Daddy," Angel corrected him matter-of-factly.

"You still shouldn't have told," Drake huffed folding his arms across his chest and sitting back in his chair.

"Angel, sweetheart how long has Mummy been sick?" Draco asked gently.

"All week, but she's usually better before lunch." Angel nodded to confirm her statement.

Draco frowned--it did not make sense to him at all. "What?"

Sighing resolutely Drake sat forward and explained, "Mummy's been sick all week, but only at breakfast, then she feels better."

"That doesn't make sense--she's either sick or she's not," Draco growled in frustration.

Narcissa had listened carefully to the explanation given by the children and it was with an optimistic smile that she addressed her son. "Darling, may I suggest a Mid Witch in place of a Medi Wizard?"

"Mother... I don't follow you," Draco replied hesitantly.

Narcissa smiled indulgently at her son before explaining her reasoning. "Ginevra has looked extremely tired for quite some time and if she's ill in the mornings only, as the children have pointed out..."

"Mother, she needs a Medi Wizard--what use would a Mid Witch be to her? They're only for witches who are..." Draco's irritated tone dwindled to barely a whisper. "Do you think she's..."

"Draco, perhaps I'll go up and talk with Ginevra myself," Narcissa suggested as she gracefully rose from the table.

"No ... It's all right, Mother; I'll go... I want ... need..." Draco stuttered before turning and wandering absently from the room.

When he reached his chambers, he paused outside the inner door to the bedchamber and took a deep steadying breath--not that it did much to calm his thoughts. Reaching his hand out to the door handle, he noticed that it was visibly shaking. Stealing himself, he gripped the ornate brass handle firmly and opened the door. As he entered, Ginny emerged from the bathroom swathed in his bathrobe, looking somewhat paler than usual.

"Are... do you feel..." Draco couldn't get his thoughts to co-operate enough to put together a coherent sentence.

Pre-empting what he was trying to say Ginny responded weakly, "A little better, thanks."

"Good... that's good," Draco nodded thoughtfully.

They stood regarding each other for several minutes. She had hoped that she wouldn't get sick while she was here and hadn't really thought about what might happen in the morning when he asked her to stay in his chambers last night. Studying his face carefully her mind screamed at her, he knows, he must, she was at a loss as to what to say at this point in time.

Draco's mind was preoccupied with his own internal debate, convincing himself that she was simply ill was proving to be most difficult, especially when confronted with the expression on her face--frightened and guilty.

"Gin?"

"Draco?" Ginny replied, her heart hammering so loudly she could barely hear herself.

"Are you... Mother thinks maybe..." he attempted but his voice was shaky and his thoughts were still not coherent.

Ginny shrugged as a tear escaped from her eye and ran down her face. "I don't know... maybe... I haven't..."

Watching a second tear run down her cheek was too much for Draco; he crossed the room quickly and gathered her into his arms, stoking her back comfortingly as she broke down and sobbed into his bare chest.

"Shhh... It's okay love," he soothed to no avail; her weeping did not abate for sometime.

"I'm... sorry," she eventually managed, not lifting her head from the comfort of his chest.

"It's all right, Gin," Draco whispered in return, not really convinced himself that everything would be all right, but seeing her like this was ripping his heart out.

They were still clinging to one another when there was a light knock at the door to the bedchamber. Draco did not need to open the door to know who was disturbing them.

Bringing his hands to Ginny's shoulders, Draco gently lifted her from his chest. "Wash your face, love, and I'll get rid of Mother."

Ginny turned obediently and walked back to the bathroom. Only when she had closed the door behind her did Draco move to answer the chamber door.

"Mother," he drawled as he opened the door.

Narcissa tried to peer past her son into the room. "Draco, is Ginevra all right? I heard crying."

"She will be, we just need some time alone," he said with more confidence than he actually felt.

"I contacted Healer Wilson for you. Ginevra should be diagnosed as soon as possible... if she is ill, she may pass it to the children," Narcissa informed him lightly.

"Mother, it was you who pointed out what her symptoms were most likely to indicate, was it not?" Draco asked derisively. He was not in the mood to play mind games with Narcissa this morning.

"Well... I was simply trying to be of assistance," Narcissa claimed in an affronted tone before turning on her heel and gliding across Draco's private sitting room.

Sighing heavily and running a hand through his hair in frustration, Draco called, "Mother... I'm sorry... What time can I expect Healer Wilson?"

Narcissa turned back toward him smiling. "He will be here within the hour."

"Thank you, Mother," Draco intoned genuinely.

Moving quickly back to stand in front of her son, Narcissa reached up and stroked his cheek softly. "If there is anything else I can do just say so, Draco."

"I know, Mother, we just need some time to talk... I think," Draco replied quietly, his confusion evident in his silver eyes.

"You take as long as you need and do not concern yourselves with the twins--your father has taken them horse riding for the morning," Narcissa smiled gently.

"Thank you, Mother," Draco replied giving her a small smile.

"You had better get back to Ginevra. I'll alert you when the Medi Wizard arrives."

Narcissa made her way swiftly from Draco's private rooms, leaving him standing in the doorframe for a few minutes collecting his thoughts. Slowly moving back into the bedchamber, he closed the door securely behind him to find Ginny leaning in the doorway to the bathroom.

Draco walked towards her and took her hand silently leading her to the settee before the fireplace. When they had both sat down he looked at her. She intently studied her own hands. He knew it would have to be him who began the discussion, but he wondered where to start.

Taking a deep breath, he reached forward and took her hands in his. "Gin... Look at me."

She raised her face and looked at him--she was pale, her eyes were still glistening with tears she'd shed and those obviously still to fall.

"Have you seen a Medi Wizard or Mid Witch?"

Ginny shook her head. "No... I know it's silly, but I thought if I ignored the symptoms, it might go away." As she finished tears began to trace a path down her face again.

Draco wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and make everything all right, but he knew that if he did that now, they would not talk and they needed to do that before the Medi Wizard arrived.

"Angel said you've been sick all week," he continued.

"I told her not to say anything," Ginny whined.

"Actually you told her not to tell her Grandma, but you didn't say anything about telling me. She was quite specific, especially when Drake tried to tell her to keep her mouth shut."

Ginny sighed. "I didn't know how to tell you."

"How long have you known?"

"I suspected a few weeks ago, then when I started getting sick this week... I knew," Ginny admitted softly.

Draco nodded gravely. "You need to see a Medi Wizard, Gin."

"I know... I just kept putting it off."

"Today," Draco continued.

"But... I don't know..."

"There's nothing to know, Ginny. Mother has already flooed our family healer; he will be here soon."

"But..."

"Gin, we need to know for sure; it's just for confirmation, all right--just so we know for sure that you're not sick."

"I'm not sick, I know the difference," she whispered.

"I won't hurt..."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Draco kissed Ginny's cheek and rose to answer the door.

"Mother," he greeted Narcissa.

"Darling, Healer Wilson has arrived." Narcissa stepped back to make the way clear for the elderly healer.

"How are you, Wilson?" Draco offered his hand to the healer.

"Well thank you, Draco," Healer Wilson responded genially.

"Please come in." Draco stepped out of the doorway and welcomed the healer with a sweep of his arm.

"Thank you." The healer stepped through the door into the bedchamber and glanced around, his eyes settling on the witch sitting before the fireplace.

"If you would." Draco indicated that he should follow him over to where Ginny was sitting.

Draco moved to stand beside the settee closest to where Ginny was sitting. "Gin, this is Healer Wilson ... Wilson, this is Ginevra Weasley."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Weasley." Wilson inclined his head politely.

"Healer Wilson," Ginny forced a fleeting smile.

"Mrs. Malfoy tells me you require a pregnancy test," Wilson said as he smiled encouragingly at Ginny.

"Umm... I..."

Draco stepped forward as soon as Ginny had begun to stammer the answer. "Yes, that is exactly what we require."

"Well if you would like to move over to the bed and lie flat, we can get on with it," Wilson suggested.

Draco assisted Ginny to stand and held her all the way to the bed. She flushed bright red when she noticed Narcissa hovering in the doorway, but any qualms she felt about Draco's mother were eased when Narcissa smiled warmly at her. Still clad in Draco's bathrobe she laid on the bed flat on her back with one hand resting protectively across her stomach and the other clasp firmly in Draco's large hand.

Wilson had followed the couple; fussing for a few minutes, he extracted a quill and parchment from his robes and placed them on the end of the bed. He then drew his wand.

Smiling gently at her, Wilson asked, "Are you ready to begin?"

"Y...yes," Ginny choked on the simple reply.

"Very well, lie perfectly still for me." Wilson's face transformed into one of utmost seriousness as he muttered an extremely complex charm, his wand hovering over her womb.

A white light of growing intensity glowed over Ginny's abdomen; the room's silence was disturbed only by the sharp intake of breath from the doorway. Studying the light intently, Wilson muttered unintelligibly to himself before uttering yet another complex charm over Ginny, causing the white light to change slightly toward a golden color.

"Well," Wilson began as he turned his attention back to Ginny's face, "you may sit up if you like."

Draco assisted her to sit up and placed pillows behind her back so she could relax into them. Once she was comfortable, they both looked expectantly to the healer.

Smiling indulgently at the young couple, the healer did not keep them in suspense for long. "Miss. Weasley, you are most definitely with child; I estimate you to be six weeks along."

"I'm pregnant," Ginny stated flatly. Having it said out loud made it so much more real, she could no longer ignore her nagging symptoms--her brow furrowing as her eyes darted toward Draco.

Draco glanced at Ginny and immediately noticed that she appeared to be on her way to getting upset again. Giving his mother a pointed look, he nodded his head ever-so-slightly at the healer. Narcissa did not need to be told twice; she immediately glided forward and spoke in barely a whisper to the aging healer before they both exited the room.

"Gin, are you okay?" Draco asked, concern etched deep into his tone as he moved to perch on the bed beside her.

"I'm pregnant," she repeated in the same monotone as before, her eyes flickering over Draco's face as if searching for the answer to a difficult question.

"Gin, it's okay; I'm here, it's going to be okay," Draco crooned as he looked into her frightened eyes.

"I..." Ginny shook her head as if she was not sure of what she had been about to say.

"Love, please--I promise you it will be all right, everything will turn out perfectly." Draco's voice had taken on an unfamiliar pleading quality.

Taking a big gulp of air, she looked him in the eye. "You... you haven't said anything about how you feel."

"I... I'm all right with it," Draco told her. Initially, as the answer to her question ran though his mind, he simply wanted to placate her for the time being, but as the words fell from his mouth, he realized they were true.

Ginny looked at him disbelievingly. "You are?"

A foolish grin crept across his face reaching up into the depths of his eyes, making them sparkle. "I'm going to be a father," he whispered.

Watching Draco's facial expressions go through a myriad of changes before settling into his current silly grin, Ginny couldn't help but giggle even as tears began to fall from her eyes. "You're really all right with the baby?"

"We are having another baby and this time I'm going to be there from the beginning," Draco exclaimed. Leaning forward he took her in his arms, holding her as closely as he could. "I'm going to be a father, again."

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