Dolasitas

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When Lucius woke in the morning, Lexy was already sat up in bed, her eyes shining. “I hope you don’t mind, Lucius, but I’ve Flooed Ginny and asked her to come over. There is no point in going to St. Mungo’s until we know for sure, after all,” she said persuasively.

Lucius nodded. “Very sensible, princess. What time is she arriving?”

“In an hour’s time,” Lexy replied with a small sigh. “I do not know how I can wait that long to find out, though… I’ve been awake since six already thinking about it.”

“Lexy, you must rest, especially if our suspicions are correct,” he admonished her softly. “Over-exerting yourself will not help.”

She sank back down into the bed, her face downcast. “Do not think that has not crossed my mind, Lucius. I have thought of little else. I… I just do not think I could bear it if something went wrong again,” Lexy whispered, her eyes filling.

To his consternation, Lucius felt tears threatening to spill from his own eyes as well. “I know that you will do the very best that anyone possibly could, and that is all I could ever ask of you, Lexy,” he reassured her. “What is meant to be will happen, and I believe that this baby is meant to be. Now, let us get ready for Mrs Snape’s visit; whilst I am sure that she would be surprised to find us in this state of undress, we would not want to make her jealous,” Lucius finished teasingly.

Lexy smiled, and they rose out of bed to dress.


Ginny was prompt, and arrived through the Floo in the main parlour, where Lucius and Lexy were sat anxiously awaiting her. Lexy leapt out of her chair and embraced her, albeit with some difficulty; Ginny was by now eight months pregnant. “How are you, Ginny?” Lexy enquired, affectionately caressing the young woman’s swollen abdomen. The two had fast become firm friends over the past few months, and drew strength and comfort from each other.

“A little uncomfortable. I cannot wait for him to make his appearance,” Ginny replied. “And you?”

“Anxious,” Lexy confessed, her hands shaking. So much depended upon the results of the test; if it was negative, they only had two months left until Voldemort’s deadline. Lucius squeezed her hand supportively, and Ginny frowned. Despite her husband’s reservations, every time she saw the Malfoys together she became more and more convinced that Lucius truly had fallen in love with her friend.

“Shall I end your suspense, then?” Ginny asked, withdrawing her wand. Lexy nodded eagerly, letting go of Lucius’ hand and rising. Ginny silently cast the spell, and Lexy closed her eyes.

“I cannot watch,” she explained, her voice strained. “Just tell me what colour it is.”

Lucius and Ginny waited for the colour to develop. Ginny smiled at him encouragingly. “Any second now,” she said quietly.

The light began to develop, and Ginny’s delighted expression told Lucius that it was the result they had been hoping for. “Is blue good, Lexy?” he asked mildly.

Lexy shrieked and leapt into Lucius’ arms. He swung her around in the air before drawing her close. “We did it, princess,” he murmured into her ear lovingly, slipping a hand down to caress her stomach. “Hello, baby,” he whispered.

Lexy was too overwhelmed to reply, and Ginny laughed at the dazed expression on her face. “Congratulations,” she said sincerely. “Are you going to go to St. Mungo’s today then?”

“Yes, just to be on the safe side,” Lucius confirmed, a wide smile still stretched across his face.

“Well, I’ll let you get on your way then. That’s been enough excitement for me for one day, I think,” Ginny replied, failing to conceal a small yawn.

“Thank you, Gin,” Lexy said softly, finally finding the words to speak. “I’ll send you an owl soon.”

Ginny nodded. “You look after her, Lucius, do you hear?” she said sternly.

Lucius moved across to the fireplace and threw the Floo powder into the flames for her. “I would move heaven and earth to protect my wife and child, Ginevra,” he said soberly. “Pass my regards to Severus, won’t you?”

Ginny nodded, and kissed Lexy’s cheek before stepping into the flames and leaving. Lucius turned back towards Lexy. “We’re going to have a baby, Lexy,” he whispered dazedly.

Lexy’s hand drifted down towards her stomach, her eyes wide. “It’s incredible, Lucius… our child is in there.”

Tenderly, he kissed her on the lips. “Shall we go to St. Mungo’s now then, princess?”

Lexy nodded and took the arm he offered before they Flooed to the hospital.


The hospital assured them that all was fine with the pregnancy, but to Lexy’s consternation Lucius decided to take no chances, and confined her to bed rest until the first twelve weeks of the pregnancy were up. Aside from a little morning sickness and tiredness, she felt perfectly well, and was frustrated by her confinement. Lucius’ frequent absences did little to help the situation. Fortunately though, he gave in to her pleadings and allowed her to visit Ginny Snape and her new son, Casper, four weeks later.

The two women spent an enjoyable morning together fussing over the baby, who had inherited his father’s dark hair but, thankfully, his mother’s good looks, and it was with deep regret that Lexy Flooed home to Malfoy Manor. However, she recognised that it was not a good idea to test Lucius’ patience by staying longer than he had permitted her to.

However, when she stepped out of the fireplace in the parlour, it was not her husband there to greet her. Instead, Lord Voldemort stepped forward. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Malfoy, and looking so well too,” he said smoothly, taking her hand and kissing it.

“Thank you, master,” she replied demurely, her eyes desperately seeking out any sign of Lucius.

“I hope you have no objection, Alexis, but I have taken the liberty of offering your hospitality to President Volkarov and his wife whilst they are staying here in England. Lucius is overseeing the preparation of the guest room,” Voldemort explained.

Lexy’s eyebrows shot up – she had not realised that the plans were so far advanced. Quickly, she concealed her surprise. “Of course not, master. I am delighted that I can help you. When will they be arriving?”

“In an hour. I apologise for not giving you more warning.”

“No matter,” Lexy assured him. “Can I get you anything whilst we are awaiting their arrival?” Lexy was thankful that she had at least told Remus that they were expected, but she knew that the Order was not yet ready for the Volkarovs’ arrival.

“No, thank you. Perhaps you would like to get some rest before they arrive, though? There is no point in straining yourself unnecessarily, especially in your condition.”

“Yes, perhaps that is the best plan, thank you master,” Lexy agreed, relieved. This way she would be able to get word to Remus immediately. She curtseyed and left the room, rushing upstairs where she scribbled off a quick letter to Remus, urging him to hasten the plans to prevent Voldemort bringing Russia under his influence. She did not know what he had planned, but she did know that it was imperative that Russia did not fall.

No sooner had the owl bearing the letter disappeared from view than Lucius strolled into the room. Lexy was not surprised to see his normally so composed countenance seem somewhat disturbed; it only served to reaffirm her certainty that Voldemort had big plans for Russia. “Lexy,” he said anxiously, “President Volkarov and his wife will shortly be arriving to stay with us. I am afraid that it will be impossible for you to rest as you have been doing any longer.”

She smiled. “As I keep reminding you, Lucius, I am pregnant, not ill. And it will be lovely to have guests staying with us,” Lexy replied sincerely.

“So long as you are certain you feel capable,” Lucius said, the strain clear on his face.

“It will be fine,” Lexy stressed somewhat sharply. She caught herself and shook her head. “I apologise, Lucius,” Lexy said with a soft sigh, her hand caressing her stomach, which was already displaying a slight swelling. “I am just feeling a little overwrought, and being cooped up in the manor constantly has not helped.”

“I suppose you are right,” Lucius acknowledged. “I have been a little over-protective, but it is only because I want this so much, Lex.”

“I understand,” she replied, her eyes softening as she took his hand, placing it on her stomach. “But this child is a fighter, Lucius, and it’s not going anywhere.”

He nodded and smiled, and then they both turned towards the door as they heard the sound of footsteps in the entrance hall. “Come, let us greet our guests, Lady Malfoy,” Lucius said, his mouth set in a thin line, his nerves apparent on his face. “I know our master is depending on us.”


Mikael and Valentina were soon settled into the manor, but to Lexy’s surprise they saw little of Voldemort over the next few days, and did not leave the manor at all. True, Lucius and Mikael had many private discussions in the study, of which Rodolphus Lestrange attended a couple, but the urgency which had seemed to be afforded to Russia previously now seemed to have disappeared. To compound her confusion, she had not heard anything back from Remus.

Finally, six days after the Volkarovs’ arrival, Lucius and Mikael interrupted Lexy and Valentina as they prepared for dinner in the manor’s largest dining room. “Ladies, we will not be dining in the manor tonight,” Lucius explained, offering Lexy his arm. “If you would like to go and change first, I would suggest that you do so now, as Rodolphus and Lupin are coming here in thirty minutes.” Valentina smiled and she and Mikael left the room to do as Lucius had suggested.

Lexy smiled up at her husband. “Where are we going, Lucius?” she asked, delighted at the idea of getting out of the manor.

“Victus Exquisitus, princess,” he replied fondly, moving his spare hand across to caress her stomach. “You must promise to tell me if you are struggling whilst we are out, though.”

“I promise,” she said honestly, “but truly, Lucius, I feel fine tonight. I think the morning sickness is finally beginning to abate.”

Lucius nodded and directed her towards the doors. “Let us go and change then, Lexy. Do you know what you want to wear tonight?” They continued chatting whilst they dressed, and met Mikael and Valentina in the entrance hall just as the doors swung open to admit Rodolphus Lestrange and Remus Lupin.

Rodolphus firmly shook Mikael’s hand. “Good to see you again, my friend,” he exclaimed, nodding to Lucius as well. “Madam Volkarov, you look delightful, and as for you, my darling Lexy, why, you are positively glowing!” Lucius and Lexy exchanged a knowing smile; they had not yet shared the news of their pregnancy with anyone except Ginny and the Dark Lord.

Lucius stepped forward. “Mikael, Valentina, may I introduce our colleague, Remus Lupin? He is the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” Mikael exclaimed with a beam. “The reputation of Hogwarts is, of course, unrivalled. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise,” Remus replied, his face taut as he smiled. Lexy frowned as she caught his eye and he quickly looked away; clearly, something was bothering him.

Lucius looked at his watch. “Time to make a move, I think. Shall we Floo or Apparate?”

“Oh, Apparate if no-one has any objections,” Lexy interjected hastily. Flooing had not agreed with her ever since the morning sickness had started.

Everyone nodded, and Remus looked deeply relieved. “Apparition it is, then,” Lucius said. “We shall, of course, have to walk outside of the property to Apparate away.”

Rodolphus dropped into step beside Lexy as Mikael began chatting to Remus and Lucius took Valentina’s arm. “You are looking well, Lex,” he commented, his eyes crinkling mischievously. “Is there something that you and Lucius are not telling me?”

Lexy’s smile was enough to give her away. “You must promise not to tell anyone though, Rodolphus,” she asked anxiously, seizing his hand. “Lucius does not want anyone knowing yet.”

“You have told the Dark Lord though, I presume?” Rodolphus enquired, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Of course. He was delighted,” Lexy confided, her eyes bright. “We are nearly nine weeks along now, so it won’t be long until we can announce it officially.”

Rodolphus bent down and kissed her cheek. “I really am delighted for you both, my dear. If there is anything I can do for you…” He looked up and chuckled, pausing. Lucius had looked back in time to catch Rodolphus’ affectionate gesture, and his face was as black as thunder. Rodolphus waved at him, quickly plastering an innocent expression onto his face, and Lexy giggled.

“You really shouldn’t tease him so, Rodolphus,” she gently admonished him. “You know how possessive he gets, and that has only increased since I became pregnant. This is the first time I have been allowed out of the house since the St. Mungo’s visit.”

Rodolphus shook his head slightly. “You know, sometimes I really do think…” but he was cut off as Lucius abruptly stopped.

“We are outside the Apparition boundaries now. When you are ready…”

They all turned on the spot, but nothing happened. “Are you sure we are outside the boundaries?” Rodolphus asked, taking hold of Lexy.

“Of course I am sure,” Lucius snapped, his face white. Realisation struck him, but as he thrust his hand into his robes for his wand, the air around them erupted with flashes of light and shouted spells.

Lexy seized hold of Valentina’s arm, and Rodolphus pulled them behind him, his hand still holding hers tightly. Before Lexy could realise what was happening, her surroundings disappeared and she felt the constricting pain of Apparition being forced upon her. Tightly, she held onto Rodolphus and Valentina, and prayed to Circe that this was some plan of the Order’s.


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