Love Thy Enemy

CHAPTER 42: What’s Good for The Goose







Hermione made her way into Lucius’s study just as he was getting ready to pour himself a glass of scotch.





“Oh no you don’t! You promised, Lucius.” She took the crystal decanter from his hand and replaced the stopper.





“I promised I would abstain from wine, you didn’t say anything about other beverages.” Lucius grouched. He was being forced into teetotalism because she was pregnant and couldn’t imbibe and therefore determined it was unfair of him to do so when it was his pregnancy too.





“If I can’t have it you can’t have it either.” She smiled. “Besides, I think maybe you should give it a rest for a bit. I wouldn’t want to catch you wandering about dressed as a deatheater again.”







“That was different. I was emotionally devastated then and drinking to numb the pain. This time I just wanted an after dinner drink.”







“Then you can join me for a hot chocolate.” Hermione said, slipping her arms around his waist and smiling up at him.







“I don’t like hot chocolate, I want a scotch.” He was pouting now, but luckily for him, Hermione found the boyish behavior rather cute.







“Well, then I suggest you remember this when you think about that Quidditch team you are so hell bent on breeding.”





“Don’t forget the cheer squad.” Lucius said, setting his glass aside and resting his hands on her shoulders.





“Oh yes, how could I have been so remiss.” She rolled her eyes.







“You are being very stubborn, love. First you forbid me to drink coffee in your presence because of the smell. You told the house elves not to serve bacon or sausage because the sight of them makes you ill. You refuse to let me drink wine, or anything else it seems because it’s not fair. What next?”







“I don’t know yet, I still have three months or so to go.” She said.







“Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be bigger?” He asked. He stepped back and rested his hand over the small bump of her stomach.







“The physician says I am fine and from what other women have said it’s not that uncommon to show later with the first baby. However I was warned that you tend to show sooner and get bigger with each baby.” Hermione lifted onto her toes and bussed his lips with a quick kiss. “Don’t worry so much.”







“I can’t help it. As soon as Narcissa discovered her pregnancy she went straight to bed and stayed there, you on the other hand are never still. Are you certain it is safe for you to be so active?” He took her by the hand and pulled her back towards his desk chair and when he sat down he pulled her into his lap.





“Its fine, Lucius, the physician says that I can do whatever I want. I know my limits and I rest when I have had enough. Stop worrying; I will not do anything to harm our child.”





It was kind of sweet the way he fussed over her, and despite his grouching he had given little resistance to her request that he give up drinking until the baby was born. Though she suspected he still snuck the occasional glass of fire-whiskey when she wasn’t looking.





“I will never stop worrying or fussing over you so that point is mute. Now, tell me what brings you in here this evening. Was it just to prevent me from enjoying a drink or did you have a purpose?” Lucius asked, his hand still resting over her tummy.







“Actually, I wanted to ask you about something.” Hermione pulled forward a large leather portfolio that she had tossed onto his desk when she had entered his study. “I found these in one of the upstairs closets and I wanted to discuss them with you.”





Hermione unzipped and opened the leather case. Inside were several drawings done in pastels. Hermione shifted through them slowly.





“Where did you get those?” He asked, flushing slightly.





“I found them in a closet upstairs while looking for a room close to ours to turn into the nursery. They aren’t signed but they are absolutely fantastic, look at them!” She showed him the drawings of Hogwarts castle, each of the house crests, a view of the Black Lake, several dragons and one of their Home and the gardens out back.





“I’ve seen them. What are you doing with them?” He asked.





“I want to have them framed and hang them in the baby’s room.” She stroked her finger gently over the drawing of their Alma Mater. “Do you have any idea who did them?”

Hermione turned to look at him, noting the slight flush on his high cheekbones. Her eyes widened and she gasped softly. “You did these didn’t you?”







“It was a hobby when I was at school.” He answered, a little uncomfortable.







“Oh, Lucius, I had no idea you were an artist!” She laid her hand on the side of his face and smiled down at him.





“I’m not; it was a hobby, one I have long since given up.” He said, looking over the work that at one time had helped him relax and unwind.





“No, these are brilliant and now I am even more determined that they hang in our child’s room, as soon as I figure out where that will be.”





“There is a nursery with a nanny’s quarters on the third floor.” Lucius said.





“No. That is another thing we need to talk about Lucius. There will be no nanny.” Hermione said.





“What do you mean no nanny? Who will care for the baby?” He asked in confusion.





“We will. Most muggle families don’t have nannies Lucius, we raise our own children.” A little part of her enjoyed his obvious discomfort.







“But I’m not a muggle and I don’t know anything about caring for babies, Draco was brought in for visits and then they took him back to the nursery. He was three and toilet trained before I spent any length of time with him.” He looked almost panicked. “What do we do if we need to go somewhere?”





“We take the baby with us unless it’s to an event where children aren’t welcome and then we get a sitter.” Hermione told him.





“A sitter?”





“Yes, someone who comes over to take care of the baby while we are out. There are services or we can call Ginny or Molly. Even Bindy or Milly.” She said.







“How do you know so much about parenting, this is your first child?”







“I have spent a lot of time around family and friends with little ones, and I have read every book I could get on the subject, wizarding and muggle alike.” She pulled the ribbon from his hair and dropped it onto his desk before threading her fingers through his hair. “Don’t worry; you will pick up on it easily enough. For the first several months the baby will sleep in our room so I can nurse, then we can move them to whatever room we decide to use, but it will be closer than the third floor.”





“There was a mistresses chambers off of the master suite, Narcissa never used it as she preferred being out of arms reach and since we were ordered to share a bed it has sat empty for decades. I can have the doors transfigured back and we can put the little one in there.”







“That’s perfect! It will be so much easier to get up through the night if the baby is close.” Hermione kissed his cheek and rose from his lap.







“Get up through the night? Surely you don’t expect me to get up too. If you are nursing I would just be in the way!” Lucius said, not liking the idea of more sleepless nights. He had had his fill of them when Hermione had left him.







“Oh, I expect you to get up with me alright. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” She smiled, collecting the drawings and waving at him over her shoulder. “Stay out of the liquor, Lucius.”







As soon as she closed the door he cast a locking spell and filled a glass with scotch. No booze, no coffee, no bacon and now sleepless nights. It was a good thing her loved her so much because she didn’t present a pleasant picture of the coming year.