Family Secrets
By Keara
Part Twelve
Draco was smiling as he stood on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He’d had
the best Christmas Holiday ever. He had spent a wonderful vacation with family,
more family than he had ever thought he had...a sister, a niece and nephew.
Simply put, he was happy.
However, there was one thing that worried him. He looked down at himself,
running his hand over his stomach lightly. He’d start showing soon. The robes
would hide his condition for a while, but people would eventually notice how
difficult it was for him to get around. It was only a matter of time before the
entire school knew that he was pregnant. He frowned at that, not relishing the
thought of being teased constantly.
“Stop worrying so, Draco. It’s not good for the baby.” Raven wrapped an
arm around Draco’s shoulders and squeezed, her own enlarged stomach impeding
the embrace slightly.
Raven had volunteered to bring Draco to the station today. His mother had
returned home, promising to send Draco the things he would need for his baby
when the time came. As it was, he was glad that he didn’t have a lot of people
to say goodbye to. He didn’t think his stomach could handle too much stress
just yet.
Raven continued to speak, her voice soothingly calm. “My father will look out
for you. If you honestly think that you can’t handle it, he’ll contact your
mother and she’ll send for you. She said something about having an apartment
in London if you need it.” She smiled fondly at him and hugged him. “Do you
have someplace to stay this summer? You’re more than welcome to stay with me
and my family. The kids adore you, you know.”
Draco smiled back at his sister as he returned the embrace. “Thank you, Raven,
but Professor Snape has already told me that I can stay with him. I’d like to
visit you, though.” He broke away as he heard the train arriving. “I have to
go.”
“Oh, I almost forgot!” She smiled, her eyes lighting up. “I have a present
for you.” She reached into a pocket of her coat and pulled out a simple box.
“I felt sorry for not having a present for you at Christmas...I just had
to give you something.” She set it in his hands.
Draco tried to push the present back into her hands. “No, I don’t need
anything. Really...I don’t.”
“Nonsense.” She smiled, brushing her fingers over his cheek. “I want to
give you something.”
Still thinking that he didn’t deserve anything, Draco opened the plain, white
box. What he found inside, made his eyes widen. He looked up to Raven, then back
to the box, unbelieving. “No, I can’t accept this.” He argued.
Raven smiled, reaching into the box. She lifted the amulet that was within by
the silver chain that it hung by. “Don’t be silly.” She chuckled, looping
the long chain over his head so that the charm was set against his chest. It was
a simple deep, clear amethyst...such a dark shade of purple...in the
shape of a teardrop. He couldn’t accept this, it was much too precious and had
to be expensive.
“No, I can’t take this.”
“Now, don’t argue with me, Draco. I’m giving it to you.” Raven smiled,
taking hold of Draco’s hand, running her thumb over his skin lightly.
“There’s a protection charm on it. As long as you wear it, no harm will
befall you.”
“T-Thank you, Raven.” Draco whispered, knowing that the words could not do
his current gratitude justice. A simple ‘thank you’ did not seem to be
enough. “I...I better get going.”
Raven nodded with tears in her eyes and smoothed Draco’s hair back. “And
don’t you worry about that Ron fellow.” Draco had told her about the father
of his unborn child. “If he’s the person that you say he is, then he won’t
turn his back on you. I think he’ll be thrilled with the idea.”
Draco shook his head, wishing that he could believe that. “But it’s been so
long, Raven. He might be angry that I didn’t tell him sooner. He’ll think
I’m ashamed of him.”
Raven nodded, but kept a gentle smile on her face. “At first, perhaps, but I
think he’ll come to understand how frightened you must have been. Just don’t
rush him into making him understand, and all will be well.” She leaned down
and planted a gentle kiss on Draco’s cheek and hugged him once again. “Take
care, little brother. And bring that Ron to meet me sometime...I remember
meeting his brother, Percy, once...If Ron looks anything like him, you have
some damn fine taste.”
Draco felt himself blushing and climbed aboard the train. He quickly made his
way to a compartment and took a seat, waving to Raven from the window as the
train pulled out of the station. When he could no longer see his elder sister
anymore, he leaned back and relaxed, laying his hand over his middle in what was
now a reflexive movement. He was almost four months pregnant now...the bulge
was beginning to form, his child was growing. He easily slipped off to sleep,
his thoughts going over visions of what his child would look like as he or she
grew older.
Draco was jolted awake by the train coming to a stop. He blinked open tired
eyes, rubbing his fingers over them in an attempt to push back his weariness. He
yawned as he sat up, trying to clear his foggy senses. Wearily, he staggered to
his feet and quickly changed into his school robes, then left the compartment.
A strong hand clamped down on his shoulder as he stepped off the train. Draco
stumbled, nearly falling over, but was stopped by that same hand that had
grasped him. He looked up, blinking when he found himself facing Professor
Snape.
“Professor?” Draco asked.
“Mr. Malfoy, I took the liberty of informing Madam Pomfrey that you wish to
see her. She’s waiting in her office for you, whenever you are ready.”
Professor Snape said.
Draco sighed, but nodded. He knew that this had been coming...Snape had told
him during break that he should tell Pomfrey of his condition and Draco had
agreed. It was a good idea to tell her, if only to be ready in case of an
emergency. So Draco made no arguments. But he didn’t want to do it right now...no, he was tired and wanted to lie down for a little while.
“I’ll go see her after dinner tonight...if that’s okay, sir? I’m
quite tired.”
“Yes, I do suppose rest is a good idea. You don’t want to overburden
yourself.” Professor Snape nodded. “If you wish me to, I will escort you to
the Hospital Wing...I also suggest you inform Professor Dumbledore of your
condition. Some changes will have to be made to your class schedule in the
coming months. Pregnant Veelas, especially males, tend to tire easily.”
“Yes, sir.” Draco replied, stifling a yawn with his hand. “And I would
appreciate your company. The visit with Professor Dumbledore would be best
before Madam Pomfrey has a look at me, I suppose.”
Professor Snape nodded. He took his hand from Draco’s shoulder. “If you
should require anything, you are welcome to come to me.” He said, then with a
curt nod, he turned and strode off, leaving Draco to blink at his back as he
walked away.
A few minutes later, Draco was walking through the halls of the school, tiredly
heading to the Slytherin dorm where he could take a nap. He had done little
today, but he was still weary...perhaps it was the stress of all the
goodbyes earlier, or the worries over his return to school, either way he was
simply tired. A sharp screech behind him caught his attention and his eyes
widened as a tiny ball of feathers all but rammed into the wall next to him head
first. Draco bent, scooping the dazed bird into his hands and looked at the
pitiful thing curiously.
When it noticed Draco, the little bird began hopping up and down on his palms,
squeaking loudly and annoyingly. It was then that Draco took notice of the small
bit of parchment that it carried. Fighting to keep the fluttering bird still
with one hand, Draco eventually managed to get the parchment away from it.
Annoying little thing, he thought, as it flew off.
Shaking his head, Draco opened the parchment, nearly falling over as the words
stood out sharply.
‘Meet me in ten minutes in the Astronomy Tower.’
It simply said. It was signed by Ron. ‘Oh no...he knows.’ Draco shook
his head. No, how could he know? Draco hadn’t told anyone but his own family
and Professor Snape. They wouldn’t tell anyone about this. So Ron couldn’t
know. He couldn’t. But then why would he want to meet Draco?
Draco pondered over this for a few minutes, his hands shaking unknowingly. He
was consumed with dread, fearing what Ron wanted to speak with him about. But he
had to go. He and Ron did have things to discuss.