Upside Down

distinctlyME - *giggles* I thought you'd like the checkered flag bit...Narcissa and Lucius are here, but I'm afraid I had to split the chappie. I'm working on part 2 now, and D and Hr will be there... There is a crucial scene in here though...

Nitesfool - Aww....well, maybe you'll have a nice long one for this one, right?

bLondpierogi - welcome back, sweet!

smurphy - mood swings....ah the joys of motherhood. (I'll probably never know them....*sigh* DAMN YOU VIRGINITY)

LadyVoldemort87 - Aww...you made me feel so awkward and uncomfortable. Welcome to my world....and I'm sure god(me) will keep your prayers in mind...

Now....ON WITH THE DRAMA

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To say Narcissa Malfoy was worried about the Final Battle would have been a grave understatement. Narcissa Malfoy was worrying herself twice as sick as she normally was over the stupid thing, and in turn was worrying her husband. Narcissa, unfortunately, didn’t respond as well to anti-nausea potions as well as most pregnant women. It was for that reason that she had had so much trouble with Draco, and it was for the same reason that she was having so much trouble with this baby.

Her pregnancy illness coupled with worry was threatening to break her physically. But Narcissa had been hiding herself well. Like her sister, she knew the fine art of dismissing oneself stealthily for sickness. It wasn’t until dinner, exactly one week before the Final Battle, that anyone knew anything was more off-kilter than normal.

She sat at the table, picking at her potatoes dutifully, trying to swallow enough to please Lucius, when she began to feel light-headed. Everything began to swim around her, and even Lucius, who was sitting right beside her, wasn’t clear in her vision. She vaguely heard her name, before her eyes rolled back and she went completely limp.

Lucius dropped his fork unceremoniously and shot forward to grab his wife.

“Narcissa!” he cried. He gently lowered her to the floor, cupping her head in his hands. Draco was out of his seat instantly, and kneeling beside his mother. Bellatrix came a bit slower, standing beside Draco to see to her sister. Draco took off his outer robe, and balled it up, gently putting it underneath his mother’s head so that his father could withdraw his hand. Lucius then removed his own robe and wrapped it around Narcissa. He stroked her cheek lovingly. “Narcissa, sweeting….what’s going on?” he asked, brushing a stray strand of white-blonde hair from her face. Her breathing was rather shallow, and that scared Lucius. But he was slightly heartened when her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, resting her unsteady gaze on her husband.

“Lu…” she started weakly. He leaned down, and pressed his forehead to hers.

“I’m right here, kitten. I…I thought you were doing better? What happened?” he asked gingerly. Much to his dismay, tears began to leak from her eyes, and she reached out to desperately grasp his hands in hers.

“I don’t want you to go.” She sobbed. “I want you to stay here with me.” She said, and hiccupped pitifully.

“I’m not going anywhere, kitten. What are you talking about?” he asked.

“The Battle. The Battle…” she choked, her voice broken. “I don’t want to lose you.” She whispered. “I can’t lose you. You and Draco are my life…you are the reason I live. Without you I cannot go on…”

Lucius paused, looking down at his sobbing wife. This was not something that needed to be discussed with the entire house watching like some sort of Television Drama. He gathered Narcissa in his arms, and lifted her up. He then turned to Dumbledore, who was sitting at the table enjoying dinner with the rest of the house.

“Albus…could you be so kind as to summon a Healer? Send him or her to mine and Narcissa’s room…” he said. Dumbledore nodded gently, and pushed back from the table as Lucius left.

Lucius went to his and Narcissa’s room, and settled his wife on the bed, uncurling her from his robes, and using a spell to remove her clothing. He could almost make out her ribs….and it didn’t mix well with the gentle slope of her belly. There had to be something that could help her…

He retrieved a warm sleeping gown for her, and slipped her into it, and then put her under the covers of the bed, propping her up on several soft pillows.

“Lucius…” she whimpered. He then did something that he rarely did. He toed off his shoes, and climbed onto the bed next to her, pulling her into his arms. And then she cried. She cried herself right into a sound sleep, and didn’t even awaken when Albus entered the room, followed by a green-robed Healer, obviously an Order member. The woman came over to the bed, and Lucius relinquished his hold on his wife, slipping off the bed the same way he came. The Healer studied Narcissa’s sleeping face, and then turned to Lucius.

“I’m Healer Nightingale.” She said softly. He nodded to her. “Is she allergic to any medication?” The Healer asked. Lucius closed his eyes in thought for a moment, before shaking his head.

“No. But she’s pregnant and she hasn’t responded well to anti-nausea potions. It was the same with her first pregnancy.” He said. The Healer nodded, and plopped a little black bag on the floor. She knelt beside it, and pulled out several items. The first was a stethoscope. She used it to check Narcissa’s breathing and heart beat, which were a bit weaker than they should have been. Then, she pulled out several vials, and a wand. She pointed her wand at Narcissa, and Ennervated the woman.

Narcissa stirred, and looked up, a bit startled at first. The Healer quickly introduced herself, and handed Narcissa the first vial, a clear blue potion within.

“This is an anti-nausea potion.” She said. Narcissa started to argue, but Healer Nightingale shushed her immediately. “Drink.” She said shortly. Narcissa uncorked the potion, and swallowed it down. It tasted faintly of peppermint. She sat there for a few moments, but did not feel any different, and she told the Healer such. Nightingale wordlessly handed her another vial, green of color this time. She resolutely drank that one down as well. This one tasted slightly like apples. Narcissa once again waited patiently, but to no avail. A last vial was handed to her, pink in color, and Narcissa once again drank it. This one was a bit thicker, and tasted a bit like some of the bubble gum Hermione had given her once. But she was surprised when her stomach began to settle.

“My gods…it worked.” She said softly. Nightingale smiled.

“Very good. That one is my own creation. Not used very often, because one of the ingredients tends to scare people.” She said. Narcissa looked at her, a little alarmed.

“And that would be?” she asked.

“Powdered vampire fang.” She said. Narcissa looked at the vial, and took a deep breath. Ew. Oh well…vampires lost fangs all the time…and they had to be purified thoroughly before being used in potions. It was just a bit odd… “Now that we’ve found a potion that will calm your stomach, we need to work on getting you out of an almost critical condition. You’re dehydrated, malnourished, and I’m truly surprised you didn’t go down sooner. You are one tough lady…” Nightingale said, reaching down to retrieve several more potions. Narcissa downed them one after the other, some tasting worse than others. When she had drank the last potion, she felt immensely better. Narcissa was then given a supply of each potion to take for a week, save the anti-nausea potion, which needed to be taken only once a week to keep nausea at bay.

When the Healer had left with Dumbledore, and Lucius and Narcissa were alone again, Lucius returned to her side on the bed, and she nuzzled against him.

“I know you don’t want me to go.” He started softly. She was silent, waiting for him to continue. “But we’ve been waiting for this for years. Albeit we were on the other side…This has to stop now. And I for one would be proud to help put an end to this…”

“But there are going to be so many going after you because of what you did. You don’t betray the Dark Lord and walk out unscathed…” she whispered. How well he knew. He would never have quite the ease of movement he’d had before he’d been caned across the back. The scars limited his movement just enough to annoy him at times.

“I know, darling. I know. But I want to help make the world a better place…to atone for my sins. I was so upset when I realized Draco had true feelings for that little Muggleborn. But Hermione is one of the brightest and fiercest witches I know. Aside from you, of course.” He placated, kissing the top of her head. She made a soft pleased sound. “But if they are to ever find happiness together…Voldemort cannot exist. We must be rid of him….for all our sakes.” He finished, and rubbed his hand over her swelling tummy.

“I know….I just wish he would do us all a favor and just drop dead!”

~~

After the debacle at dinner, Hermione moved herself to the most pleasing room in the house: the library. She quickly chose several books, and settled in front of the fireplace, kicking off her shoes and pulling her legs under her as she opened up the great tome.

“Good Lord….all you’d have to do is chuck that great thing at old Voldie, and you’d kill him on the spot!”
Hermione looked up to see Ron smiling at her. She gave a small smile back. Then she closed her tome, and motioned for Ron to sit down across from her.

“We need to talk, Ronald Weasley.” Hermione said softly. Ron nodded, and sat down. “I want to know what your designs on my cousin are.”

Ron got a strange look in his eyes when Hermione mentioned Ruby. “I…I really like her.” Ron started. “At first I thought I just wanted to make her feel better. But when I got to know her better…I really like her, Mione. Really and truly. We talked a lot at dinner…she told me that one day she wanted to settle down with someone she loved…maybe on a farm…and have lots of kids… Hermione…when she said that…I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”

Hermione looked at him. “You like her because she wants kids? Ron…she’s a woman, not breeding stock!” she hissed. Ron sputtered.

“No! That’s not what I meant! Look….I’m not good at expressing emotions like this…” Ron was floundering for the right words. “I….have the same ambitions. I want the same things she does. We’re compatible…” he said. Hermione frowned.

“What about intellectually?” she asked. Ron turned red.

“She’s smart, but she can have a decent conversation with someone!” Ron snapped. Hermione flushed. “She’s down-to-earth. I appreciate her knowledge…I would never try to hamper it. I want her to attend university, even if we were to get together. I think…I’m starting to love her, Hermione.” He said. Hermione was impressed. Ron had never expressed such feelings when he was with her. This was a good start.

“Ron…she’s my only family. I’m just being protective. After what happened to her…I don’t want to let her go. But I’ve seen her around you. She’s so comfortable…even with Harry there’s a certain amount of tension. You’re the only male that she’s let so close… Ron…I’ll give you permission to pursue her if you will agree to a few things…” she said. Ron perked up.

“Anything!” he exclaimed.

“One: you can still date her, but I want you to wait for more….physical activities…until she’s of age.” Ron turned red.

“Hermione….I want date her….not get thrown into Azkaban for statutory rape…” he grumbled. Hermione nodded.

“Two: If you hurt her…I will hurt you. I will make you wish you had never been born…” she said. Ron nodded.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“Three: treat her with respect. For the love of Merlin don’t try to bully her like you did me…” Ron nodded. “Four: just…love her.” Hermione finished, a soft look on her face. Ron moved forward, and hugged Hermione.

“I thank you for being so supportive about this.” He said. She hugged him back, and nodded.

“You’re a strange couple…that much I know…” Hermione said. Ron chuckled at her.

“You’re one to talk! I’m not a Muggleborn dating Draco bleeding Malfoy!”
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ONE LINER!!!!! *grins* This was another bit of crucial action. There will be one more chapter before the Final Battle...and then we fight....to the death...BUM BUM BUM........BUM.

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