Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Behind Closed Doors	By : AnnaChase Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Narcissa Views: 5101 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter Four: The Birth of a Mother

Hear my soul speak:

The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service

-William Shakespeare: The Tempest

Whether it was the potion, a glimpse of sheer luck, or whether it would have happened anyway: we will never know. And it did not matter. What mattered only was the fact that Narcissa conceived within the next month. Being pregnant turned out to be less difficult than she had expected. Of course, no one escaped certain discomforts. The third and last trimester which Narcissa had now reached was the worst so far. Her belly had grown so much that it became quite difficult to get comfortable, especially at night. Due to the baby’s weight, her back now hurt constantly and it also seemed to press down on her bladder, causing the need to visit the bathroom every ten minutes. But none of that mattered when she felt her child kick vividly inside of her: the very evidence that he was alive and growing well. Narcissa was certain he would be a boy. Call it mother instincts, call it wishful thinking, she just knew.

Healer Foxworth visited every week now that the pregnancy progressed. He examined Narcissa and checked her blood pressure, concluding each time that both mother and child appeared in perfect health. Even if this was always happy news, Narcissa received no true support from the old-fashioned family Healer. He merely stated all discomfort she experienced was part of the process. And so, it was Severus instead who brought to her potions that relieved her symptoms. Throughout the months of her pregnancy, he had become a true family friend. Lucius was quite fond of him, and therefore made no objection to the help Severus regularly offered Narcissa. Without his Sleeping Draughts Narcissa didn’t think she’d still feel so joyous.

Now that she had entered the final month, Narcissa was prescribed a lot of rest. She spent a lot of time laying comfortably on the sofa in the patio looking out to the gardens of Malfoy Manor. Everything was in full bloom now that it was spring, giving a golden glow to the sight. The young mother to be was recommended one hour of exercise in the gardens every day, to ensure she got her share of fresh air. It also kept her in shape for the delivery to come. Today Lucius was joining her: a fortunate occurrence, since he had so little time these days.

“How are you feeling today, Cissa?” Lucius stood in the doorframe as she got ready by adjusting her hat. She wore a gown of light blue that matched the shade of her eyes. The light material did little to hide her swollen stomach, but that was all right. She felt very proud of her unborn child, and as far as she was concerned anyone could see how far along she was.

“Quite well, it seems lovely to go outside, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed. Do you need a coat?” Lucius inquired. Narcissa found in him often a concerned father-to-be. He was always interested in her health and wellbeing. In a way, it made her feel safe. She could not wait to see the sort of father he would be once the baby was born.

“I don’t believe so. It seems quite warm.”

“Well, let’s be careful. We can’t have you catching a cold now, not in this stage,” Lucius commented as he went to fetch her coat anyway. It brought a smile to Narcissa’s lips and she made no further comment on it.

The gardens of Malfoy Manor were truly a sight to see. There was enough ground to keep one occupied for hours, endless flowers in all spring colours stretching out before them. The young couple found a quiet companionship as they strolled. Narcissa linked her arm through her husband’s and studied him sideways. She knew he was under a lot of strain. The missions seemed to become more frequent and dangerous by the week, and at times Lucius showed her hints of a temper she had never seen in him before. Not that he ever hurt her, but there were times when she thought it not impossible.

“Do you often think of your mother now?” Narcissa inquired. Luckily her own mother was still alive, but Druella Black was not the type to discuss confidential topics with either of her daughters. Even so Narcissa was well aware her parents had gone to great lengths to have a son and heir, which had resulted in many miscarriages, two stillbirths and, eventually, three living daughters. It was fortunate her father’s brother, uncle Oreon, had two sons to carry on the family line, but she knew it had hurt her parents’ pride greatly. She could only hope her child would be a boy so that the task was done. But already she knew that she would love the child no matter the gender.

“I do sometimes,” Lucius agreed, guiding her to sit down on a wooden garden bench by the pond. “Is he kicking now?” he glanced at Narcissa’s belly, and waited for her nod of encouragement to place his hand upon it. “He’s strong, isn’t he?” he smiled. His son.

“Yes,” Narcissa smiled and rested her hand on top of Lucius’s as they sat like that, quietly enjoying their little family for the moment.

“I sometimes wish I knew more of her,” Lucius continued, just when she had thought he wouldn’t. “My mother, I mean. But you know father; he isn’t one to talk, about anything really. I do worry for you.”

“I know you do,” she smiled. If anything Narcissa found her husband’s concern endearing. “But you heard Healer Foxworth; everything seems perfectly in order. There isn’t any reason to worry.”

“I’ll still be glad once it’s over and you’ve safely delivered,” Lucius concluded. “Father will be too, even if he doesn’t say so.”

“All your father wants is an heir, whether I’m still alive by end of it seems irrelevant,” she responded with a small smile. She felt stronger against Lucius’s father when they both agreed on his lack of benevolence. “It must have been very hard, growing up with him alone,” she continued.

“Very,” Lucius agreed, seeming lost in thought for the moment as he stared at the pond on front of them. “I’d like to do things differently. Of course, our son will need a proper Pureblood upbringing. He’ll need to become a strong man, after all. But I’d never be cruel like my father.”

“I know that, darling,” Narcissa replied fondly. She would never doubt her husband’s love for their child, now that he was already so considerate before he was even born. “I’m not sure what sort of mother I’ll be.”

“A good one, no doubt,” Lucius concluded, standing up and helping her up to continue their walk. She could only hope he was right. What she did know, was that she would give all she had to meet all of her child’s needs.
Narcissa’s contractions started a week before her due date. She had dreaded the moment to arrive. She feared horrible pains and complications, and in the back of her mind was the idea that women could die during this. Like Lucius’s mother. Despite that being over twenty years ago, it was still a distressing thought. She was assisted during the birth by Healer Foxworth, her mother, and Bellatrix. She could have done with just her sister. Bella had no experience with childbirth whatsoever, but Narcissa trusted her more than anyone. Also, no one could put her at ease like her sister could. Whereas the Healer and her mother only increased her discomfort. Lucius awaited out in the hallway, as men were not allowed in the birthing chamber. He was kept company by both prospective grandfathers; Abraxas and Cygnus Black, and Rodolphus Lestrange; Bella’s husband and the child’s uncle-to-be.

Supposedly Narcissa’s labour went as well as it could go. Yet that hardly meant it was painless. She was not quite ready to pushing the baby out yet, but she could feel it would not be very long now. She had positioned herself cross-legged onto the bed, several comfortable pillows supporting her. It seemed she had entered her own sort of subspace where she focused calmly on her breathing. When she sat like this, she was able to breathe through the contractions mostly. At least she would have been, if it weren’t for her mother’s voice.

“Please cease that noise, Narcissa,” Druella commented sharply as her daughter cried out in pain at a particularly painful contraction. “Screaming like a commoner. What must the men think of that? Besides, you’d do well to save your strengths for later.”

From the corner of her eye, Narcissa could see Bellatrix rolling her eyes upon their mother’s words. Of the three sisters, Bellatrix had always looked most like their mother. The same dark, unruly curls. The same proud, haughty demeanour. And mostly, both possessed a temper of impressive nature. No wonder they didn’t get along; they were simply too much alike. Narcissa, on the other hand, looked most like their father. Cygnus was a man of much calmer nature than his wife. He was in general much more agreeable. And even so his tranquil yet confident conduct demanded respect in such a way that his more opinionated wife would never overrule him.

“I believe I’m ready,” Narcissa gasped finally, disrupting the quarrel between mother and her eldest daughter. This was her first time at this, but somehow her body knew just what to do. She forced a grateful smile at Bella who dabbed her forehead with a cold cloth. An unusual gesture of kindness for Bella. But even the grandest Death Eaters had family they loved.

“She can’t be,” Druella protested towards the Healer. “She hasn’t been at it for that long yet.”

Fortunately Healer Foxworth was decent enough to take Narcissa’s word for it and examined her again. “She is ready indeed,” he announced, causing Druella to sport a rather sour face at being proven wrong.

And thus the final part of the delivery began. Impressive waves of pain rocked Narcissa’s body, leaving little time to breathe in between. Towards the end of it, she was clammy with perspiration, her hair drenched and clinging to her warm forehead. She had wanted to prepare for this more, to get herself ready for the birth of this so desired child, but all she could focus on now was trying to survive. At a certain moment she had taken hold of Bella’s hand, and she would not let go, squeezing it tightly with each attempt to push the baby out.

It was a boy. A healthy boy that came out crying, showing off his capable lungs the moment Healer Foxworth held him up. There was something about new life coming into the world that went beyond everything. It ceased quarrels and all else for the moment. Everyone but the baby was silent. When they gave him to Narcissa, she found every cliché to be true. She had no longer a memory of the pains she had so dreaded before. They could have obliviated her and the effect would have been the same. Her boy was perfect. He was still a little red and wrinkly from his journey into the world, but for the moment his eyes were open and Narcissa caressed the downy soft hair on his small head. He seemed so fragile. The responsibility of his wellbeing weighed down on her more than anything ever had. This child had changed her, for the good. He was, and would always be, everything to her.
They named him Draco, after the constellation. It suited the tradition of the Black family of naming their children after constellations and stars. This way, the young Malfoy heir also carried in him parts of his mother’s heritage.

“Draco Lucius Malfoy,” Lucius spoke the child’s names as he held him for the first time. He had been called into the room only when both Narcissa and the baby were presentable again. There was no sign left of blood or sweat. Sheets had been hastily changed for crisp white ones. The women had washed the young mother and changed her into a clean nightgown, her hair brushed and plaited serenely. The baby too had been properly cleaned and examined; his weight and height and reflexes tested by the Healer. And now that he was accurately approved of, he found himself in his father’s arms.

“Cissa, I am so grateful,” Lucius seated himself by his wife’s bedside. Even now he appeared to be his usual composed self, whereas Narcissa felt shaken and exhausted by the aftermaths of labour. “A son, like we hoped for,” he smiled, leaning down to press a kiss on her forehead.

“He’s perfect, isn’t he Lucius?” she responded with a delightful smile. She was propped up against a few pillows that helped her sit up. There was a new sort of glow about her that portrayed her happiness. “He’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Yes, he is more than perfect. Our little prince,” Lucius agreed when he handed him back to Narcissa’s waiting arms.

“I’m afraid Cissy must rest now,” Druella said, disturbing the young couple. Narcissa would have protested by saying Lucius could stay as long as he liked, but upon her mother’s words she realized she was right. Any longer and she feared she might collapse of exhaustion. With only the slightest protest she allowed her mother to take the baby from her so that the grandfathers and uncle might be given a quick glance of him before he would be put to sleep safely in his crib.

Just as Druella left the room with Lucius and the child, Bella re-entered to help her sister to bed. She had just been showing Healer Foxworth out.

“Bella?” Narcissa asked , laying down more comfortably when her sister removed the extra pillows from the bed.

“Yes, Cissy?”

“Do you love him too? I know you dislike children, but you must love him through me.” She was already quite drowsy, and uncertain exactly what words left her lips. It was a wonderful relief to find it was all over, and she had not died. Quite the opposite; Narcissa was certain she had never felt so wonderful before.

“The child?”

Narcissa smiled when she felt her sister sitting down beside her on the bed. She would always feel safe with Bella. All these years when their parents had been so occupied by their desire to have a male heir, Bella had cared for her. In her own way, of course. Of all people including Rodolphus, Narcissa was probably the only one to have seen this side of Bella. Except the other sister. Andromeda. Perhaps that was why Andromeda’s betrayal had sent Bella even further into the world of the dark arts. It had hit her harder than anyone else because she and Andie had been so close. Only eleven months apart, they had grown up like twins. There were times Narcissa wanted to talk about her, but she had sworn she would never mention her again.

“You sound delirious, Cissy, you must sleep,” Bella covered her with another blanket and Narcissa struggled to keep her eyes open, failing as she could no longer fight the force of sleep.

“Tell me,” she persisted weakly.

“I love him through you,” her sister assured her, standing up to close the curtains. Narcissa was asleep already ,unable to hear the words her sister added.

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t look like Malfoy.”
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Behind Closed Doors