Babe

I sip my tea slowly. The clink of china echoes around the silent room. The fire crackles. You could hear a pin drop. Draco sits in his usual chair, reading the Prophet. I normally don’t bother Draco after he’s had a long day at work. When he comes home, late and frustrated, I do my best to placate him and be whatever I can be for him. But tonight is different. Tonight is crucial that I bother him. It has to be tonight. The Healer said I would have the best chance tonight. I take a deep breath. I can do this.

“Draco?” I ask sweetly, setting down my cup and smiling at him. I tuck my hair behind my ear and I see him breathe through his nose. He doesn’t put down the Prophet. “Draco? Could we talk about something? I have something to ask you,” I request.

That gets his attention. He folds his newspaper quickly and studies me. His piercing grey eyes find me and I try not to be uncomfortable under his gaze. It’s silly to think a wife would be uneasy to have her husband stare at her, but Draco is the Britain's most accomplished legilimens and I want to keep what I’m asking him a secret. So I bat my lashes and smile sweetly at him. He remains unfazed. He studies me a moment more before he speaks.

“What is it you want?” I glance at him for a second.

I’ve known Draco my whole life. We grew up together, the five of us had been wild kids. I missed those times dearly. Draco, Theo, Daph, me, and…. Pansy. My heart clenches when I think about her. After her death, our group never fully recovered. Daphne grew up and became more serious, Theo had withdrawn, and Draco and I had clung to each other, rushing into each other’s arms, and consequently, a marriage. Our friend group had once been the life of the party, ruling the school, messing around during the boring society life of Purebloods, and sticking by each other as we were tortured, forced to kill and maim innocent people, and stretched to our fucking breaking point. Theo had been a rock for Draco during sixth year, when he had pushed everyone else aside. Pans… Pansy had been the one to tell me that most of the older Death Eaters preferred blondes with big tits. We had all been there for each other, family in a way blood could never touch. I think Draco changed after she died. I think he realised exactly how much the war changed us and it scared him. Looking back, I don’t know if he needed me or just needed a friend. I’m not sure I care, it got us here. We had leaned on each other for support and the marriage had been drawn up by our families. I had been all for it, though Draco perhaps had been a bit hesitant. But obviously, he has since come around. We love each other in our own way and I’m happy. That’s why tonight, I wanted to bring up the topic of getting started on Malfoy heirs.

I fidget with the hem of my satin dress.

“I wondered if you… well we only talked briefly about children once and I-”

He cuts me off with a panicked glare. His eyebrows shoot upwards and he opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. After a moment, he collects himself and his facial expression smooths over.

“Toro it’s late. I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Draco, I’m ovulating. I’ve been to the healer and I think that tonight is the best time to try-”

“I said I don’t wanna talk about this,” he snaps. His jaw clenches and he shuts his eyes momentarily.

“Now? Or ever?” I snap, unable to keep the annoyed undertone out of my voice. “You know that I want kids, Dray, I have since we WERE kids.”

My voice shakes slightly and I remind myself that I was prepared to have to talk him into this. I had to talk him into everything, but he always came around. He always tried to see things from my side, and he always ended up being happy.

“Astoria, I’m serious, this isn’t a conversation that I want to… it’s not the right time,” he says, shaking his head firmly.

“Not the right time?” I repeat incredulously. “Do enlighten me, when is the right time Dray?”

I glare at him angrily. He rises from his chair, not looking at me.

“Toro please, drop it. I’m tired, I’m going to bed.” I stand and cross my arms.

“You’re always tired Dray, and you always are home late, and you never wanna talk. And you don’t want a baby. Do you even want me anymore?”

He stops in his tracks. I see his shoulders tense and watch as he slowly turns to me.

“Astoria. I mean it this time, sit down and please just let this go.”

His eyes won’t meet mine, and his jaw works slowly. He stares at the ground and I can’t stop the lone tear from slipping down my cheek.

“Dray. Come kiss me. Come hold me. Prove to me you still love me. Prove to me that you want me..”

The last word comes out as a sob and he finally looks at me. He swallows and I see a flash of guilt in his eyes for a second before they cloud over completely. He’s occluding.

“Astoria. I don’t.”

“Don’t what?” I sniff, wiping my cheek.

“Don’t want you anymore.”

“Astoria?? Astoria?”

“I think she’s coming around.”

“Ri-Ri? You awake?”

I blink and Theodore Nott comes into focus. I’m laying in my bed, with him sitting by my side. A medi-witch appears at his side and waves her wand over me.

“She seems fine, just dehydrated and a little underweight. Make sure she eats and drinks more. I’m concerned about the fainting. She seems to have over exhausted herself. Some sleep would do her good.”

Theo nods and glances to the other side of the bed. I turn my head to find Daphne chewing her lip nervously. She won’t meet my eyes and I can tell she’s done something she’s not supposed to. The medi-witch excuses herself and slips out of the door.

“What’s going on?” I ask, attempting to push myself up. Theo stops me with a gentle hand. He smiles softly at me.

“Well, my fragile little damsel, I found you on the floor, not doing so well. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

He winks at me, but I can tell he’s playing it down. His hair is ruffled, meaning he ran his hands through it, and his rings are all twisted. Theo was worried about me. I smile back at him and place my hand on top of his. His eyes widen for a second but then he grins.

“Daphne,” I say, turning to her. “What’s going on? Why do you look guilty?”

“I’m not- I… I just-”

“Daph it’s no use trying to lie, just tell me why you feel bad.”

My sister opens her mouth to speak, but the door opens first and in barges the medi-witch. She is speaking over her shoulder to someone.

“Yes yes, come in. You may see your wife now, Mr. Malfoy.”

My heart stops and I shoot upright before Theo can stop me.

Malfoy comes through the door and I exhale quickly, incredibly taken aback. He had just left after thoroughly stomping on my heart, why was he back? What the hell does he want now?

He sees me staring at him and I see him take in Daphne, who is biting her fingers nervously. Malfoy glances to Theo, whose fists are clenched and is glaring at Draco like the other man murdered his pygmy puff.

“Ah. You didn’t tell me she was awake.”

“Get out,” I say immediately. I’m barely aware of my surroundings, but I know one thing. I want him gone.

“Astoria, I had barely gotten to the apparition line when Theo cried out for help. I wasn’t just going to-”

“Teddy, get him out of here!” I shout, my voice wobbling.

Theo jumps to his feet at once, walking intimidatingly towards Malfoy. He stands his ground, trying to step around Theo.

“Get out,” Theo growls, his voice low and dangerous.

“For Merlin’s sake Knot, are you going to be mad at me forever?”

“Get the fuck out and don’t come back.”

“I just wanted to make sure she was alright, okay?”

“FUCK OFF!!” I yell angrily.

Theo drives my point home by wandlessly opening the door, and roughly shoving Malfoy through it. He salutes him with his middle finger and then slams the door shut. I let out a relieved sigh and slump back down onto my pillows.

Someone has cleaned up the floor of my room and the bottles out of my bed. I assume the medi-witch, who unfortunately was still in the room for all of that. I cringe slightly, hoping she won’t gossip. As if reading my mind, Theo strides over to her and slips her a couple galleons.

“You saw nothing,” he says firmly. She nods and scurries out of the door. “I’m so sorry Ri-Ri,” Theo speaks in a solemn voice, walking over to my bed and resuming his position on the side.

I can’t hold back the tears that spill out of me. Theo instantly wraps his arms around me and shushes me, stroking my hair comfortingly.

I can’t remember the last time I felt so safe and cared for. I sniffle into his shirt and he presses a short kiss to the top of my head. His arms are wrapped around me tightly. His curly brown hair smells so good and he rubs my back soothingly. The tears begin to slow.

“There now, shush.” Theo glances up at Daphne, who is standing awkwardly by the bed, unsure of what to do. “Could you go get your sister a glass of water?”

She nods and clears her throat. Theo waits until she leaves and then gestures for me to scoot over. I oblige and he lays next to me.

His arms draw me in close again and I blush. I can’t deny I feel incredibly safe and protected with him nearby. Theo’s strong arms wrap around me and I snuggle into his chest. I sigh contently. I could fall asleep like this.

“Go ahead darling,” he murmurs. I hadn’t realised I had spoken aloud. My eyes flutter as sleep begins to overtake me.

Just before I fully drift off, a thought crosses my mind that brings back the ache in my chest that Teddy had temporarily banished. I can’t remember a time Draco ever held me like this since we got married. Not even once.

My heart breaks a little more and I let the comfort of sleep roll over me, helping me forget my heartbreak and anguish.