Chapter 10 - From laughter to tears
How would you describe those first moments in the morning when you feel the warmness and far away sounds surrounding you, but you're still in the lightest of sleeps?
Ginevra Malfoy, Princess of Birmingham's Kingdom described it as delicious. Her body temperature was warm and pleasant, the covers weren't too heavy on top of her naked body and each movement of hers made the silky bed sheets brush her sensitive skin. By her side she could feel a source of heat and she snuggled closer to it, draping an arm around what felt like another human body, but she didn't waste time thinking about reasons why she had another person in her bed. Behind her closed eyes she could see a bright light, probably it was day already and slowly, she began to stir, rubbing her face against the warm skin she was hugging and her eyes fluttered open, a happy smile on her lips.
The smile, however, disappeared as soon as she realised that she had been right in assuming there was another person in her bed, and that person had pale skin, silver grey eyes and tousled blond hair.
"Good morning, wife…" her husband whispered, brushing the hair from her eyes with one warm hand. "You look very surprised to see me here. Did you expect me to be gone, when the morning came?"
"No, I just forgot I was married now… I think it'll take some time to get used to, you know?" she replied, allowing him to caress her face and just kept her arms around him. It would bring too many problems between them if she refused his intimate touches. She wanted this marriage to work and truth was, she had enjoyed last night.
Probably he wasn't feeling that same awkwardness of waking up with someone naked, by his side. Probably he was used to waking up with a different woman each day.
`Enough, Ginny, don't think too much about his affairs, just think about you and him, no one else…' she told herself, sighing deeply and closing her eyes sleepily.
"I ordered us some breakfast. Are you hungry?" his soothing voice whispered in her ear.
"Yes, I'm famished." She smiled with her eyes still closed and rubbed her cheek against his. The gentle gesture seemed to be what he was waiting for as he slowly placed his lips on hers, kissing her softly into wakefulness. "Are you always this gentle with the other women?"
`Oh, oh; wrong thing to say. Ginny, please, learn to keep your mouth shut!' she scolded herself as she felt her husband break the kiss and roll away from her, leaving her feeling cold without his body close to her.
"I'm sorry, Draco, it was stupid of me to say that." She apologised, her eyes trying to catch his, but he never allowed her to, gazing out the window instead. "Hey, won't you say something witty to come back at me?"
Her attempt at humour didn't work as the Prince remained still, ignoring her for a few moments more. Ginevra sighed sadly, sat next to him, keeping the bed sheet covering her naked body and ran her hands through her tousled hair.
"Weren't we supposed to try a happy marriage? We married less than twenty-four hours ago and already we're about to fight… Believe me, I would be glad to snap at you, but I promised myself and to the gods, to try and make you happy." He said harshly, his face looking cold and irritated. "Can't you please just forget about my past and move on? I'm being gentle and loving - something I rarely include in my vocabulary, mind you - and you start talking about the other women I've spent time with…"
"Oh, don't you dare victimize yourself, Draco Lucius Malfoy! That strategy may work with your mother and other people, but not with me. Remember, six brothers and all that?" Ginevra replied, angry that he was trying to make her guilty of something she had no control over. "I admit that my comment was completely uncalled for, but I can't help it. The truth his that your fame precedes you, and you've proved yourself to be a man who enjoys women… How can I forget that you've spent several nights with other women? That you've touched them like you touched me last night?"
"So, now I'm the guilty one for being desirable and enjoying pleasurable companies?" he sneered, finally looking at his wife and immediately regretting having done so. His wife was a beautiful woman, especially when wearing nothing but the bed sheets and her long red hair framing her beautiful face.
"Oh, you're so full of yourself…" she complained.
Considering that he had seen and touched her whole naked body the previous night, Ginevra decided that she had nothing to hide, anymore, and in a show of great courage, she threw away the bedcovers and left the bed, picking up her nightgown from the floor, putting it quickly on. Next to the balcony's double doors was a small table full of food. Sitting down on a chair, she buttered a piece of toast, served herself of some tea and prepared to eat.
"Maybe I should give you something real to talk about…" he said, still seating on the bed, watching her eat.
"What do you mean?" she asked, sipping her tea and looking out the window, watching the wind brush the trees' tops.
"Maybe I should keep on seeing other women so that you could keep on making those stupid comments…" he replied, standing up from the bed, without bothering to put some clothes on and came to stand next to her completely naked, but Ginevra simply ignored him, although her face became flushed.
"Well, that's what I call an extremely stupid idea, the kind of ideas that only men can have; but I won't stop you from doing anything. You should listen to reason, evaluate the situation, remember the promises you made and from there, decide on what to do." She replied coldly. "It's incredible how we're fighting over an unhappy comment I made and already apologized for!"
"Well, I don't feel very forgiving this morning… Someone ruined my happy mood." he replied, placing a hand under her chin and making her turn her head to look up at him. "I could forgive you and stop this nonsense right now, if…"
"If what, Draco?" she groaned, her face showing the frustration she felt.
"If we repeat last night's performance right now." He whispered, slowly kissing her lips, although both kept their eyes open, studying the other's reactions. Ginny allowed him to kiss her and responded quite eagerly, both because she enjoyed kissing him and because she wanted to make him realise what he would be missing in case he decided to betray her with other women.
"You won't always get what you want, Draco, and you won't resolve our divergences with seduction and sex…" she warned him with a serious expression. "That would only make us stop talking about the issue at hand, but I would keep on thinking about it and get frustrated for not having solved our divergences. If you aren't willing to accept my honest apology and forgive me, then I won't forgive myself for giving you what you want, right now, sex."
Her husband just stared at her in shock and anger for having his request refused. Prince Draco made no move to put distance between them and he showed no intention to open his mouth, so Ginevra just rose from her seat and quickly crossed the bedroom to enter the bathroom. After a long bath, she surrounded her body with a fluffy white towel and entered the bedroom, only to find it empty. Prince Draco had left.
"How much more complicated can we get? We even fight over the smallest things!" Ginevra complained to Mrs. Potter, a few hours later in the Sitting Room. Apparently, last night Mrs. Potter had felt too sick to make the trip back to the Potter Manor, so the couple had stayed at the Palace. At the moment, Mr. Potter was playing cards with the Queen while the younger women talked in hushed tones next to the lit fireplace, their cheeks rosy because of the heat and because of the last night's descriptions that Ginevra had just made.
"Harry and I fought the morning after our wedding, as well." Mrs. Potter confessed with a sad sigh. "He stayed away for a few days and I ignored him as well, but the truth was, I was dying to run to his arms and kiss him… Those days we spent apart made me realise I felt something deeper for him, not just lust or admiration. I loved him."
"How did you solve that fight?" Ginevra asked curiously.
"The Queen asked us to visit her and she locked us in this same room. I had told her, just like you are telling me now; the problems between me and my husband, and she decided to give some help… I was furious at her when she locked us, but later I agreed that she was a great help. Harry and I had to talk, while we were locked that afternoon, and eventually we apologised to each other and we… uh, I really shouldn't tell you the last part. It suffices to say we made up… twice…" Mrs. Potter explained, her face growing even redder, although this time, not because of the fire.
Ginevra stared at her for a few moments, trying to make sense of her friend's words and, at last, she got the meaning of Mrs. Potter's words.
"You had sex in the Queen's living room?" she gasped in shock, covering her wide open mouth with her hands.
"Sshh, don't talk so loudly!" Mrs. Potter scolded her, but an amused smile appeared on her face. "Yes, and it was wonderful. The beginning of a happy marriage…"
"I'm happy for you, Hermione; I'm glad you love your husband and that he loves you back…" Ginevra whispered honestly. "Do you think that Draco will do what he menaced to do? Do you think he'll seek other women?"
"Yes, I think he will, Ginevra." Mrs. Potter replied, hiding nothing from her friend. "Men always find the worst tactics to get revenge from their wives, brides or girlfriends. He'll probably seek the bed maids and pretend you don't even exist. You will sleep alone for a few days until either of you takes the first step to reconciliation."
"I gave my apologies, Hermione, and he refused them wanting to trade them for sex, as if I was some whore, exchanging services! If he wants war, he'll have war, but if he wants to make peace, then he'll have to come to me first…" Ginevra replied, feeling extremely frustrated by the whole situation. After taking a few deep breaths, she managed to smile a little and study her tired looking friend. "How are you, Hermione? Are you still feeling sick?"
"I feel better now, but last night I felt dizzy and my stomach couldn't hold any food down. I spent most of the night throwing up in the bathroom with Harry rubbing my back, supporting me even in that gross moment…"
"He's so sweet…" Ginevra cooed, looking over at the handsome man chatting with Queen Narcissa. "You're very lucky, and so is he, for having you. Hermione, my mother had seven children, and she usually helps our neighbours delivering their babies. I've heard the pregnancy symptoms and you actually fit in the category. Are you pregnant?"
Mrs. Potter just stared at Ginevra in shock, her brown eyes wide open, her mouth slightly open and her eyebrows nearly touching her hairline. Slowly, her face began to go back to its normal appearance and her breathing went back to normal.
"Do you think so?" was all she said, hope evident in her voice.
"I cannot give you the confirmation, but I believe you are… You should be examined by a Healer. I know he isn't a Healer, but maybe Mr. Snape could help and give you something for the sickness."
"Yes, it's a good idea, but I don't want Harry to know yet." Mrs. Potter pleaded. "He was an orphan most of his life and now he wants to have the family he never had. I want to give it to him, but it would be too cruel to raise his hopes and then destroy them because of an indigestion caused by something I ate last night."
"Don't worry, it's our secret… I'll ask a guard to bring me an owl to my bedroom and I'll write a letter to Mr. Snape." Ginevra smiled widely, happy to be plotting with Mrs. Potter. "I'll be back in a few minutes…"
After sending an urgent owl to the Potions Master, Ginevra went back to the Sitting Room just in time to join them in lunch. Mrs. Potter lacked the appetite to eat, either because of her sickness or because of her anxiety. Mr. Potter kept on urging her to eat, showing great concern with her. The King showed no interest in keeping a conversation with the other table occupants, and Prince Draco didn't even show up for the meal. Ginevra's happy mood fell a little when she realised he wouldn't be coming for lunch, but a supporting smile from Mrs. Potter made her smile again. She could hardly wait to know if Mrs. Potter was pregnant or not.
As Ginevra had requested in her letter, Mr. Snape announced his arrival through Parvati, without the others realising the maid giving the message to her mistress. Ginevra quickly signalled Mrs. Potter to follow her, leaving Mr. Potter and the Queen talking about a book they had both read recently. Holding hands the girls went to Ginevra's old bedroom where Mr. Snape was already waiting for them.
"Good afternoon, Milady Ginevra and Mrs. Potter." The tall, dark man said, making a small curtsey to both ladies. "I'm wondering the reason why I was called with such urgency to the Palace and under such secrecy…"
"Forgive us for disturbing you, Mr. Snape, but we need your help in something." Ginevra apologised with a warm smile, signalling to Mrs. Potter to take over the conversation.
"I've spent the whole night vomiting and feeling dizzie. I thought I might have eaten something that made me sick, last night, but Ginevra tells me I might be pregnant. Can you confirm our doubts?" Mrs. Potter asked nervously.
Mr. Snape smirked at the nervous woman and nodded in agreement.
"So, we might have a young Potter on the way, uh? I would give anything to avoid teaching another Potter brat…" he complained teasingly.
"Well, that's too bad, as it would be a great honour to have the best Potions Master in all Britain, teaching my child the secrets of Potion brewing." The comment seemed to render Mr. Snape speechless, and for the first time he showed a small smile.
"Flattery will get you anywhere…" he chuckled and placed a small parcel on top of the nightstand. With his wand he returned the parcel to its normal size and opened it, revealing several potions bottles inside of it. "Mrs. Potter, please lay down on the bed."
With his wand, Mr. Snape performed several spells on Mrs. Potter and a white glow began to surround her body. The professor's face showed no emotion so it was hard to understand if the white glow was good news or bad news. Placing his wand inside of his black robe, the quiet man picked up a potion from his bag and gave it to Mrs. Potter. This time, a blue colour surrounded her and he frowned.
"What is it? Is it something bad?" Mrs. Potter asked nervously, the tears already falling down her face. Ginevra quickly crossed the room to sit on the bed, next to her friend.
"I advise you to loosen up your corset. Your womb cannot be tight from now on, if you want your baby boy to grow up healthy." Mr. Snape replied with a frown and turned to search inside of his bag for a potion bottle.
"I'm pregnant? I'm pregnant!" Mrs. Potter gasped in shock, a huge smile on her face as she turned around to face Ginevra. "A baby boy, Ginevra! A baby boy… Oh, Harry will be so happy!"
Ginevra smiled as well, a few happy tears falling down her cheeks, and then she turned to face Mr. Snape.
"Thank you so much for helping us, Mr. Snape, and don't worry, you have almost twelve years to prepare yourself for another Potter brat." Ginevra joked with a big smile on her face. "Hermione, I'll send Parvati to help you loosen your corset while I accompany Mr. Snape on his way out."
Mrs. Potter just nodded; her gaze dreamy as she caressed her flat waist, while Ginevra and Mr. Snape exited the bedroom.
"How are you feeling, Milady?" Mr. Snape enquired in a bored tone of voice as they walked along the hallways. Ginevra turned her head to study the dark figure beside her. The man was very tall and a little thin, his hair was long and very dark, his pale skin made his obsidian eyes stand out and his nose was a little on the large side. Still, his eyes showed a great curiosity in everything that surrounded him and it was easy to see he was a very controlled and intelligent person. According to her brothers, he was a greasy-git who lived to make Gryffindors suffer, but Ginevra would have given anything to be his student in one of his Potions Classes at Hogwarts.
"I'm feeling well, Mr. Snape and I would like to thank you for helping me when I ran out of energies." She replied gently. "I'm not sure if I have all of my powers back, but I feel well."
"Prince Draco told me about your interest in magic." He commented, looking at her through the corner of his eye.
"Yes, I have a big interest in magic. My favourite subjects are Transfiguration and Potions, and although I had the opportunity to brew a few of the simplest potions at home, I couldn't do the harder ones, that require spells, and I couldn't perform transfigurations because I don't have a wand…" she explained excitedly, noticing the interest and surprise showing on his usually unreadable face.
"You've brewed potions at home, with no supervision of a teacher? And which potions did you brew, if I can enquire?" he asked curiously, slowing down his pace now that they had reached the front doors.
"When my brothers came home on school breaks I usually stole some ingredients from their potions' kits, and when they went back to school I waited for my mother to visit some neighbour and I would brew the potions I thought were the most interesting, like Polyjuice Potion, Calming Potion, Healing Potion, Draught of Living Death, and a few others, but the Polyjuice was the one that gave me more problems as I had to keep it hidden for a month. I used to leave my bed twice each night and run to my secret hiding spot to put some more wood in the fire, to keep the cauldron simmering. In the end, I made it and it looked perfect, but I've never tried it, afraid of what the results might be, once I had never been taught to do it." She explained excitedly, a big grin on her face.
"Milady, you are a young woman full of surprises… I would be honoured to instruct you on how to properly brew a potion." Mr. Snape said with a small smirk on his thin lips and then chuckled when he saw the happy look on the young woman's face. The chuckle quickly ended when she hugged him tightly, a few happy tears running down her face. He patted her shoulder awkwardly, not knowing how to act in such a situation. Finally she stepped back and grinned brightly at him.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Snape… When can we start?" she asked brightly, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shinning with emotion.
"Soon I'll send you an owl with a date. Have a rest of a nice day, Milady." He made a small curtsey and quickly walked out of the Palace.
Ginevra was so happy that she threw etiquette to the wind and ran down the hallway, the long skirt gathered in her hands to keep her from tripping. A gale of laughter bubbled in her chest and came out loudly, echoing in the stone hallways, filling the Palace with her happiness.
"Ginevra, what's going on?" the Queen asked with a small smile, as she watched her daughter-in-law running down the corridor, her hair falling down from her hair-do and her face full of tears despite the huge smile that lit her whole face.
"Oh, Mother, such wonderful news!" Ginevra gasped, hugging her mother-in-law. "Harry, ask Parvati to take you to my old bedroom. There you'll find your wife waiting for you with great news."
Mr. Potter immediately did as she said and walked down the corridor with Parvati. The Queen then ordered Ginevra to tell her the good news.
"Hermione's pregnant; Mr. Snape just confirmed it and he invited me to have lessons in potions' brewing, with him! This is a wonderful day…" she sighed happily, seating down on a chair to regain her breath.
The Queen smiled happily as well and looked at Ginevra with a dreamy look.
"Mother, are you alright?" Ginevra asked carefully when she saw the Queen studying her in a strange way.
"I was only imagining you with a huge pregnant belly… What a lovely image." The Queen replied, dreamily, but Ginevra just smiled sadly, remembering the one sad part of the whole day. Her husband was angry at her.
Not even the excitement in Mr. and Mrs. Potter's faces, when they prepared to leave to their Manor, made Ginevra smile brightly. Not even the Potions' classes with Mr. Snape made her sad mood lift; she was worried about what Prince Draco would be doing as a revenge for their little fight.
That night she had no appetite for dinner, so, as soon as Parvati helped her out of her dress, Ginevra put on a nightgown and went to bed, lying awake most of the night waiting for her husband to come to bed.
He never did.
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I'm so proud of this chapter, I've been writing for 4 hours and 30 minutes straight when I should be making the last preparations for Tuesday's presentation of my Social Psychology work.
Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, I always get surprised on how many reviews I get with each chapter, it's really really wonderful, so THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter because more this way comes, as soon as I find a little hole in my schedule to write another chapter, alright?
Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of love,
Carina (I'm so emotional right now for having so many of you supporting me)
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