Broken

Violet
Chapter 17

Six months later...

Harry was lying on his bed, nibbling on Abigail's feet while Ginny bustled around. "Hey, Gin, look, Abby loves this. She laughs every time I put her toes in my mouth. When I take them out, she sticks her foot in my face so I'll do it again - watch."

Ginny turned toward her bed and watched as Abby crammed her foot into her daddy's mouth then giggled hysterically. Ginny fell onto the bed with them and said, "Your daddy's silly, isn't he, Abby?" At the sound of her mother's voice, Abby tried to cram her foot into Ginny's mouth.

"Looks like she's found a new hobby, huh, Gin? I bet she's the cleverest eight-month-old baby in the whole world. Aren't you, Abby? You're the cleverest baby in the world, aren't you? You'll be giving Hermione a run for her money. And if you're as talented with a wand as your mum, we'll all need to watch out."

Ginny got an evil glint in her eye. "Harry, you're pretty talented with your wand as well."

"Well, I dunno about that. I mean, yeah, I'm pretty good at defense spells and all." Harry answered, oblivious to Ginny's meaning.

"Harry, I wasn't talking about your defensive spells." Ginny giggled.

Harry reddened when he finally caught on and put his hands over Abby's ears. "Gin, you can't talk about stuff like that in front of the baby. I'm telling you, she's clever. She'll understand what you mean if you're not careful."

Ginny laughed again. "Oh, she will be a precocious witch, won't she? Speaking of Hermione, have you heard from anyone today? I meant to stop by her flat on the way to the hospital to get my new shift schedule, but I was afraid of leaving you alone with Abby for too long."

Harry looked affronted. "Draco popped in while you were out. He said that she just had some early labor pains, but she'll be alright. And why would you be afraid to leave me with Abby? I've got this whole father thing down. You've got nothing to worry about. I'm not going to drop her out the window or anything."

"Harry, I wasn't worried about her, I was worried about you. Like you said, she's very clever."

"Very funny, Gin, very funny. So, you've got your new schedule, do you? When do you go back?"

"I don't go back for another week. Now that the war's over, and I have Abby, I am only going to work part-time."

Harry cupped her cheek. "You know you don't have to work at all, right? You can hang out with us every day. We're awfully fun to be around. Besides, you make me feel like I'm not doing anything because I haven't got a job."

"Harry, you don't have to get a job. We have enough Galleons to keep our grandchildren from working. But, this isn't about money. It's about helping people. You have earned your right to stay home for a while. Not to mention that fact that you can't even leave this place without having pretty witches and pesky reporters following you everywhere you go."

"What pretty witches?" Harry asked and laughed when she punched him lightly on the arm. "Well, the only pretty witches I know of are you and Abby -- oh, and that girl that runs the café in Diagon Alley."

"You're really funny, Potter." Ginny laughed. "Is this girl someone I need to worry about?"

Harry laughed. "Nah, I'm not really her type. I think she likes redheads. When Abby and I had breakfast with George last week, she didn't give me a second glance. She only had eyes for Abby and George - but I don't think Abby is the one that made her blush."

"Well, that's wonderful. George has been slightly woeful since Fred hooked up with Gwen. Perhaps George has confided some info with Gwen. I'll have to ask her about it when I go back to work."

There was a knock at the door. "Excuse me, Harry Potter, sir, it's Dobby. May I come in, sir?"

"Yeah, Dobby." Harry sat up, and Ginny took Abigail from his lap.

"It's Mr. Malfoy, sir. He says that Miss Hermione is needing you and Mrs. Ginny."

Harry and Ginny exchanged a look of trepidation. Harry stood and said, "Where is she, Dobby?"

"Miss is back at St. Mungo's, Harry Potter."

Ginny left Abby with Dobby and Apparated straight to St. Mungo's. When they arrived, they found Remus and Susan sitting in the waiting area and Severus standing by the wall with his arms crossed and his scowl firmly in place.

"What's going on?" Harry asked Severus.

"Hermione's gone into labor," Severus whispered.

Ginny frowned. "It's early, yes, but not too early. I'm going in there. Hermione might need me."

Harry gave her a quick kiss, and Ginny went in.

Harry looked around the room. "Where's Draco?"

"He's inside with Hermione," Severus replied.

"Has anyone contacted Ron?"

Severus sighed with the annoyance of so many questions. "You could give Little-Miss-Know-it-All a run for her money. Yes, Lupin Floo-called Weasley - all of them, as a matter of fact. They are on the fifth floor in the visitors' tearoom. I believe they were going to go in the shop and get some flowers as well."

"So, now what?" Harry asked.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Now we wait."

Harry searched for something say. He hated waiting and couldn't stand the quiet. "When did you get back from your holiday?"

"We came home early. Draco contacted us to let us know that Hermione had gone into labor."

Harry frowned. "We?" Unconsciously, he let his eyes wander around, looking for whomever Severus was referring to.

Severus smirked. "Yes, Harry, there is someone with me. She is also currently on the fifth floor."

The sound of the elevator door opening brought both men to the attention of a tall, beautiful, blond woman. Harry had only seen the woman once in his life. However, his only recollection of her was not of the beauty he saw before him. He remembered her wearing a look on her face that indicated something smelly under her nose. The woman striding toward Severus was definitely not the Narcissa Malfoy that he had met before.

Harry's jaw dropped when Narcissa handed Severus a cup of coffee, for which he thanked her with a peck on the cheek.

Narcissa turned toward Harry. "Harry Potter, I presume?" she asked, extending a delicate hand toward Harry. Harry mentally shook himself while taking the outstretched hand. "Yes, I'm Harry Potter. You must be Draco's mother."

She smiled proudly. "Yes, I am. And I'm about to be a grandmother. I cannot tell you how pleased I am." Narcissa dropped her voice so only Severus and Harry could hear her. "Don't look so surprised, Mr. Potter. I know the circumstances of the child's existence; however, my son has informed me that the child will be raised as his. As such, that will make me a grandmother."

Harry nodded his thanks to her. "Please, Mrs. Malfoy, call me Harry."

She chuckled. "Then I must insist that you call me Narcissa."

The elevator opened again, and Dumbledore, followed by the rest of the Weasley family, entered the corridor.

They all spoke quietly with one another until Ginny emerged from Hermione's room. All eyes turned toward her. When Ginny let a grin spread across her face, a collective sigh of relief reverberated throughout the corridor.

"Draco will be out in a moment," Ginny said. "He would like to be the one to make the introduction. However, Hermione would like to see Harry and Ron right away."

Harry and Ron exchanged confused looks, but followed Ginny into Hermione's room. Once inside, they both stood hesitantly right inside the door.

"Oh, for Circe's sake, boys, come here." Hermione patted the spot on either side of her. She looked tired, but extremely happy. Draco was standing next to her bed, holding a small bundle.

The boys took a seat on either side of Hermione and covered each of her hands with their own.

"Now, I called you two in here for a specific reason. Draco and I have been discussing some things lately, and we've come to a decision. First of all, however, I have some things I want to say to you. I love you both so much. You boys are my family. You have been my knights in shining armor, and you've risked your lives for me too many times to count."

"Even after everything with Voldemort, Lucius, the bond, and my health crisis, you two have never left my side. I know that I can always count on you to be on my team, regardless of the circumstances. You have loved me unconditionally and supported me with everything I've ever done." Hermione giggled. "Even S.P.E.W."

Harry and Ron exchanged amused glances.

"What I'm trying to say is, I know that I can trust you with my life. I also know that I can trust you with the life of my baby. It's unorthodox, but it seems like everything I do lately is unorthodox. Anyway, Draco and I would like to ask you both to be godfathers to our baby."

Taken aback, both boys looked at Hermione and then at Draco. Back to Hermione, they spoke in unison. "You're on."

**********

Outside Hermione's room, patience was running thin. When the door opened again, Draco came out, holding the small infant. He put his hand up to put a halt in the steps of the visitors who wanted to be the first to hold the baby.

Harry and Ron emerged right behind him, grinning. Ginny pulled up the rear, pushing Hermione in a wheelchair.

"I was going to introduce you all, but I think it would be best if her godfathers did it," Draco said.

Harry took the baby from Draco while Ron cleared his throat. "Family and friends, Harry and I would like for you to meet our goddaughter, Violet Ginevra Malfoy."

A collective cheer rang out as they all started speaking at once.

"Oh, how lovely."

"What a beautiful name."

"Another little girl, that's wonderful."

"May I hold her?"

Harry took a step forward and handed the baby to Susan. Susan moved the blanket off of Violet's head and admired the tuft of blond curls that were already formed.

"Hermione, she's beautiful. Wherever did you come up with the name?"

"Well," started Hermione. "Ginevra is Ginny's full name, and we just wanted to pay tribute to her."

Narcissa came to stand next to Susan and asked, "Is Violet a family name?"

"No." Hermione blushed. "There are a couple of reasons why we named her that. When I was growing up in the Muggle world, the lights of my school library were violet. It's said that violet lights are used to improve concentration. As Ron and Harry can attest, the library has always been a place of refuge for me."

"Leonardo da Vinci once said," Susan offered, "that he used to meditate under the violet light falling through the stained glass windows of a quiet church."

"This is all true, but there is one main reason," Draco countered. "Violet is the color of her eyes. They will probably change, but that is the color they are right now. Hopefully they'll still be that color when she opens them again."

"May I?" Narcissa asked Susan.

"Oh, yes, of course." Susan handed the baby over to Narcissa.

Severus came to stand next to Narcissa, and Hermione gave Draco a knowing look. He smiled and winked at her.

Narcissa held the baby close to her. "You are quite lovely, Violet. I would love to see your eyes."

As if on cue, one deep, bluish-purple eye opened. Narcissa gasped. "My goodness, there it is. She has purple eyes."

"Have you ever seen eyes like hers, Mother?" Draco asked.

Narcissa froze. "Yes, Draco, I have."

Hermione yawned, which didn't go unnoticed by Ginny. "Okay, everyone, I believe it's time to let the new mum get some rest. I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing everyone again tomorrow, but I think we should give her and Draco some time alone with Violet."

As everyone started to depart, Dumbledore stopped to pat the baby on the cheek and then whisper something to Draco. Draco frowned at Dumbledore and then stared at his retreating back, lost in thought.

After Draco and Hermione settled back into her room, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Draco, it's Mother; may I please come in?"

"Yes," Draco answered. After Narcissa entered, Draco decided to tell both of the women about Dumbledore's very strange advice.

"I'm glad you're here, Mother. I was just about to tell Hermione what Dumbledore said to me."

"Really? What did he say, Son?"

"He told me that I really needed to look at Lucius' Pensieve," Draco replied.

"Well, I agree with him, Draco. And I'm going to tell you why. First, though, may I have Violet for a moment?"

Hermione exchanged a worried look with Draco, but handed the baby to Narcissa. After Narcissa took the baby, she gently removed the blanket, leaving Violet clad in only a diaper.

"Mother," Draco started. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"I have a suspicion, Darling, and I need to check something." Narcissa turned the baby over in her arms and gasped.

"What is it?" Hermione panicked.

Narcissa carefully wrapped the baby back up in the soft blanket and handed her back to Hermione.

"Draco, did you know that Violet has a birthmark shaped like a crescent moon on the back of her neck?"

"Yes, we thought it was very peculiar, but it's just one more thing that makes her special. Why?"

Without answering, Narcissa closed her eyes. "Draco, you asked me if I'd ever seen eyes the color of Violet's, and I told you that I had."

"Yes, but you never told me who."

"My grandmother, Draco -- my grandmother. And there is one other person that I know of who has the crescent moon birthmark."

Draco's heart was beating faster. "Who, Mother?"

"Me," Narcissa replied. She then lifted her long, blond hair to reveal the same crescent moon birthmark on the back of her neck - in the same place as Violet's.