Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling; I just like to play with them a little.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
TEMPER, TEMPER
"You heard me!" Draco spat back at her.
"I don't believe you!" Ginny's eyes were wide open and her body was shaking. "Our daughter is laying in there hurt and all you can think about is yourself! Well let me tell you something, Draco Malfoy! Being a parent means putting your children first, at all times, despite your own feelings."
Ginny had advanced on him during her little tirade and began poking her finger into his chest to emphasize her point.
"Yeah- well- I haven't had much practice at this parenting thing, thanks to you!" Draco yelled back at her.
"You left me!" Ginny screamed at him.
"You could have told me you were pregnant!"
"Why? So you could steal them away?"
"What? Why would I steal them away?"
"Hey, guys. Give it a rest. This isn't the time or the place." Harry tried to interject as everyone else looked on in astonishment.
"Stay out of this, Potter," Draco snarled as he pushed the other wizard in the chest.
"All you're interested in is an heir," Ginny goaded.
"That's rubbish!" The disgust in Draco's tone was clear.
"Is it? You were only interested in seeing Drake to start with."
Draco stared at her in disbelief. "That's because I only knew about Drake."
"You could have found out about Angel. It's not like they were kept a secret," Ginny snarled.
"I'm beginning to doubt that very much. It's not like you were ever going to tell me." Draco attacked her with her deception.
"Well, if you never found out, my daughter wouldn't be laying in that bed now."
"Oh and just how do you figure that?" Draco's voice had suddenly taken on a superior tone.
"She fell from your broom, Draco. This is all your fault."
"My fault- how can this be my fault? I was at work! Where the bloody hell were you?"
"I- I-"
"You should have been watching them, Ginevra. This would never have happened if you had been watching them, like a good mother."
"How dare you!" Ginny raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. "You know nothing about raising children."
Draco bought his hand to his face automatically, to sooth the burn of her slap.
"No, I don't. Thanks to you. You're the one who didn't bloody well tell me I was a bloody father." Draco screamed at her as he turned away from Ginny. His fist was clenched in anger and he allowed it to fly into the wall with a sickening crunch.
The sound of bones breaking brought everyone out of the shock of watching the two argue so vehemently. Narcissa flew to Draco's side and tried to fuss over him. Harry attempted to pull Ginny away from Draco.
"Oh, Draco. Your hand," Narcissa fretted.
"Leave me," Draco growled at her as he nursed his broken hand.
"But darling you need-"
"Just leave me alone, Mother," Draco cut in with a low growl.
"Narcissa, leave him be." Lucius place his hands on her shoulders and led her a short distance away.
"Gin, this is not the time or the place to be having a row," Harry said softly into her ear as he directed her away from Draco.
"I know, I know," Ginny replied harshly, having not calmed down in the least.
"Ginny, what were you thinking," Molly admonished.
"Mum, I know. Please, don't start."
At that moment the double doors at the end of the corridor swung open to reveal Ron and Pansy strolling in together. Leaving Ginny in Molly's care, Harry went to meet them.
"Has something happened?" Ron noticed the dark expressions on everyone's face.
"Umm- yeah you could say that," Harry responded hesitantly.
"Angel! She's okay, isn't she?" Pansy asked anxiously.
"Yeah, Angel's fine she woke up a little while ago. The healers are with her now, that's why we're all out here," Harry responded flatly.
"Well- what's wrong? That's good news, isn't it?" Ron was slightly confused by everyone's downcast expressions.
"It's Gin and Draco. They just had an almighty row."
"Oh no," Pansy sighed.
"What do you mean `oh no'?. This is good," Ron exclaimed.
"How can it be good?" Pansy asked.
"Well, maybe now that slimy git will crawl back under the rock he slithered out from and leave Gin alone."
"Ron, they're his kids. He needs to be part of their lives," Pansy stressed.
"I'm with Pans on this one mate. Malfoy needs to see the kids, so no matter what he's not going away in a hurry," Harry said as Ron looked at him, totally unimpressed.
Ron looked down the corridor toward the blonde wizard, who was sitting against the wall on his own. He was cradling his hand and his face looked pained.
"He hit the wall, didn't he?" Pansy asked Harry.
"Yeah, right after Gin slapped him," Harry replied rubbing his face.
"Merlin! He is so stupid sometimes," Pansy muttered as she walked up to speak with him, giving Ginny a supportive smile as she passed.
"So what was it about?" Ron asked.
"Umm- I'm not sure. It's a bit confusing-" Harry paused for a moment. "Angel asked for me and Malfoy lost it at Gin for that. Then she said that I've been there all her life and he said he didn't have the chance to be, then she totally lost it. There was more but it was getting really confusing by then."
"Didn't think it would last. Now, maybe, she'll let me kill the git," Ron muttered, sending a look in Draco's direction that most definitely conveyed his intentions.
"Calm down, mate. They're both really tired and stressed. Once they've had some sleep and taken the time to have a think about what they've said, they'll kiss and make up." As Harry spoke he too realized he needed some sleep.
"I can dream, can't I, mate?" Ron grinned cheekily at his best friend.
"Yeah, mate. You can dream." Harry clapped him on the back and they made their way to where Ginny was standing with her parents.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Draco?" Pansy whispered as she knelt down in front of him.
"Go away, Pans." His voice was impassive and low.
"No can do, Draco."
"Parkinson, I'm warning you," growled Draco.
"Warn me all you like, I'm not going anywhere," Pansy replied flippantly.
"You are a pain in the arse, witch"
Pansy smiled at him. "Thank you! I strive to make your life a living hell."
"What did I do to deserve this?" Draco whined.
Pansy quirked a perfectly shaped black eyebrow at him. "Would you like me to make a list?"
"Don't bother, I'm not that interested." Draco sighed heavily, silently bemoaning his situation.
"How's the hand?"
"Hurts."
"Let me see."
"No."
"Don't be a baby."
"I'm not!"
"Well let me look."
"No!"
"Draco-"
"What?"
"Show me your hand now!"
"NO!" Draco's response reverberated through the corridor.
"Draco, stop acting like a baby!"
"I'm not a baby!"
Pansy smirked at him. "You sound like one."
Laughter from Harry and Ron drifted down the corridor to where Pansy was talking with Draco. It was hearing their amusement at his predicament that finally got Draco to hold out his wounded hand.
"Oh Merlin! How hard did you hit the wall?"
"Hard- Ouch! That hurts." Draco complained as Pansy gently prodded the obviously broken hand.
"Oh, Draco! Your poor hand. Lucius, he needs a healer." Narcissa had drifted back to Draco when he held his hand out for Pansy's inspection.
"Does he?" Lucius asked sourly. He was not impressed with his son's behavior and was finding it a little difficult to summon any sympathy for him over a self-inflicted injury.
"Oh my goodness! Draco, dear you should see a healer straight away. That will need to be realigned before they heal it," Molly said from over Pansy's shoulder.
"I need to see Angel first," Draco said firmly.
"Well, as soon as the healers are finished with her, you are going to see someone about that hand," Molly told him in a tone that left no room for argument.
"Perhaps we can get a healer to come here and take care of your hand, darling," Narcissa suggested.
"It's all right, Mother. I'll take care of it after I've spoken to Angel's healers," Draco replied a little harshly. He hated it when his mother fussed over him.
In the corridor, there were two very distinct groups waiting for the healers to reappear from Angel's room. Draco sat on the floor with his parents close by and Pansy standing over him. Ginny was leaning against the wall with her father, Harry and Ron close by offering soft words of support. Molly flitted between Ginny and Draco, in an effort to keep herself busy.
After what seemed an eternity, to the family, the healers finally made their way out of Angel's room.
"My baby! Can I see her now?" Ginny was anxious to get back to Angel.
"Miss Weasley, could we have a word before you go back to your daughter?" the Healer in charge asked.
"Oh, I-"
"I'll go and sit with Angel if you want, Gin," Harry offered softly.
"Thanks, Harry. Tell her, I'll be in shortly." Ginny offered her friend a small smile.
The Healer directed Ginny down the corridor a little way to a small office. Draco had followed of his own accord, nursing his broken hand close to his chest.
"I'm sorry, this is a private meeting for the parents of the child," the healer addressed Draco when he noticed him following.
"I'm her father," Draco growled fixing the healer with his glare.
"My apologies Mr.-"
"Malfoy - Draco Malfoy."
"Mr. Malfoy. Of course, you're most welcome to be present."
"Well?" Draco prompted the healer as soon as the door had closed behind them.
"If you would care to take a seat. I'll explain your daughter's condition," the healer replied in a business like tone.
Both Ginny and Draco sat in the visitor's chairs on one side of the desk while the healer moved around to the other side and took his seat.
"Angelique is a very lucky little girl. As you are aware we were concerned about the injury she sustained to her head. I'm pleased to inform you there appears to be no permanent damage. Of course, the broken bones she suffered will be healed without delay. We would like to keep her for a few days, just to monitor her head injury."
"When can she come home?" Ginny asked softly.
"If there are no further complications, I should think she'd be allowed home after the weekend."
"That's good news, then," Draco said cautiously.
"Yes, we're very pleased with her progress so far. She should make a full recovery." The healer smiled warmly. "At this stage, I don't have any further information for you, unless you have any questions, of course."
"We can see her now?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, of course."
"Umm- Could you possibly take a look at his hand?" Ginny asked the healer as she indicated towards Draco.
"Of course, is there a problem, Mr. Malfoy?"
"I- " Draco started.
"Stupid prat hit the wall. It's broken by the looks." Ginny stood up and left the room before either man could respond.
Ginny walked back to Angel's room with a smile on her face.
"Mummy!" Angel smiled as she caught sight of her mother.
"Hello, baby. How are you feeling now?"
"Where's Daddy?" Angel asked looking around for Draco.
"Oh he's-" Ginny felt a little guilty as she watched Angel's expression drop when she couldn't find her father. She had not only denied Draco the opportunity to see Angel, but Angel to see Draco.
"Daddy will be here in a minute, dear. He's just talking to the healers," Molly interjected.
"About his hand?" Lucius asked quietly, arching an eyebrow at Ginny.
"Yes. I told the healer what he did," Ginny said with a smirk. She'd be damned if she'd let anyone know just how guilty she was feeling.
"Good." Lucius responded smirking back at Ginny.
Over the next few hours, many members of the Weasley family came in to say hello to Angel, as word spread that she had regained consciousness. Molly insisted that everyone who had stayed the night at the hospital, left to get something eat from the tearoom on the fifth floor, while the other members of the family were visiting.
"Perhaps we should wait for Draco," Narcissa suggested.
"He could be hours yet, dear. His hand was quite a mess from what I saw of it. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to remove all the bones and start again with Skele-Gro." Lucius negated her suggestion.
"How would they remove the bones?" Narcissa asked quite shocked.
"It's not difficult, dear."
"No, `Brakium Emendo' cast incorrectly will do it every time." Harry chuckled as he remembered Professor Lockhart's efforts to repair his broken arm in his second year at Hogwarts.
"Perhaps we should check on him," Narcissa said as they walked into the reception area.
"He's a grown man, Cissa," Lucius growled. He was tired and hungry and not at all in the mood to listen to her simpering over Draco.
"But-"
"No, Narcissa. We are going to get some food and go back to Angelique. Draco is a grown man and can look after himself. Besides he was the one who hit the wall."
The group walked in relative silence up to the fifth floor tearoom. They ordered some food and sat at one table. Everyone ate in silence - most too tired to speak. Once everyone had eaten their fill they all filed back down to the ground floor again. As they neared the room Angel was in, they could hear Fred and George entertaining her, from the corridor.
"What on earth are you two doing?" Molly screeched at her twins.
"Making Angel laugh," George replied innocently.
"You do realize she should be resting!"
"Sorry," Fred mumbled with a cheeky grin on his face. "Gin, can I have a word?"
"Sure, outside?"
"Yeah, that'd be good."
Fred held the door until his little sister had walked through then he followed her into the corridor. "Drake's been asking to come to the hospital. He's driving Angelina nutters with it. I think he's blaming himself for what happened." Fred told her with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Well, perhaps it would be okay if he came to visit. She'll be here for a few more days and I can't keep them apart that long."
"Great, I'll bring him by tonight, after we close the shop."
"It's alright, I'll ask Ron or Harry to go pick him up shortly. That'll be easier for you and it'll give Angelina a break."
Fred smiled broadly at her. "Sounds like a plan, little sister."
George walked out of the hospital room and over to where they were talking.
"Hey, Gin, where's Draco?" George asked.
"The prat hit the wall and broke his hand. I think he must still be getting it healed."
"He hit the wall?" Fred asked.
"What did he do that for?" George added.
"Yes and because he's a stupid git!"
The Weasley twins looked at each other. They knew their sister was tired but calling Malfoy names was not normal for her. Even before he came back into her life, anyone caught calling him anything nasty risked being hexed seven ways to next Sunday by the redheaded witch.
"You two have a row?" Fred asked.
"Yeah."
"What about?" George enquired.
"Sorry, guys. I know you mean well and everything, but I really don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Alright, but you know where we are when you do, yeah?" George told her.
"Merlin, look at the time! We've got to go," Fred exclaimed. "See you later, Gin."
George gave her a quick hug. "Bye!"
"See you guys," Ginny called after them as they ran down the corridor.
Once the twins were out of sight, she turned and walked back into the hospital room. She desperately needed some sleep; maybe she could nap in a chair for a little while, but first to get someone to pick Drake up from Angelina.
"Harry, I wonder if you'd mind going to Angelina's and picking up Drake? He's been driving her nutters, constantly asking to come to the hospital." Ginny asked him quietly so Angel wouldn't hear.
"Of course I wouldn't. Do you want me to get him now?"
"If you wouldn't mind. I think Angelina could do with the break."
"I'll be back soon, then."
Ginny made herself comfortable in a chair near Angel's bed and quietly closed her eyes for a little while.
"Ginny, why don't you go home and get some rest?" Molly suggested.
"I'm okay, Mum. Besides Harry has gone to get Drake from Angelina's."
Ginny rested while Lucius and Narcissa kept Angel entertained with stories. Arthur sat back and observed the Malfoy's closely while they interacted with his granddaughter. He was seeing a side to Lucius Malfoy that he never dreamed existed. The man was actually being very gentle with her and it seemed as though he cared for her very much. He was truly smiling warmly at the little girl.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry Apparated to Fred and Angelina's country home.
"Harry, come in," Angelina said as she answered the door. "How's Angel?"
"Hi, Angelina. Angel's good, she woke up this morning and hopefully she'll be released in a few days. How are you?"
"Tired," she sighed.
"That's not good. Has Drake been hard to handle?"
"No, it's not his fault. It's the pregnancy, all I want to do is eat and sleep at the moment," Angelina responded stifling a yawn at the same time.
"Well, I'll take Drake off your hands for the afternoon. Gin said he can come to the hospital."
"He'll be pleased with that. He's been asking to go."
"Uncle Harry," Drake said as he wandered into the room.
"Hello, mate. Would you like to go and visit Angel?"
"Can I?"
"Sure you can. Your mum sent me to pick you up, so go get your cloak and we'll get out of Aunt Angelina's hair, okay?" Harry said with fake enthusiasm.
"You sound like a good night's sleep wouldn't go astray either," Angelina remarked as Drake ran out of the room to fetch his cloak.
"Yeah, didn't get any last night. None of us did."
"Well, you need to get some rest and make sure Ginny gets some too. I can imagine she hasn't even allowed herself to blink since this happened."
"You know what she's like. There's no point in trying to send her home because she just ignores everyone."
"Uncle Harry, I'm ready!" Drake ran back into the room with his traveling cloak on.
"Good, let's go then."
"You behave yourself, Drake," Angelina told him.
"Yes, Aunt Angelina."
"I'll see you later," Harry said as Drake grabbed his hand.
"Give Angel my love. I'll try to visit her tonight after Fred gets home, if it's not too late."
"I will," Harry replied as he and Drake moved out the door.
"How are we going to get there?" Drake asked.
"Well, do you think you can hold on real tight?" Harry enquired.
"Yes."
"Good. We'll Disapparate, then."
"Mummy won't like that. She says double Disapparating is dangerous," Drake told him with wide eyes.
"Yeah, I know but it's the quickest way to get back to the hospital and if you hold on we won't get splinched."
"Okay."
They arrived back at the hospital safely and Harry guided Drake to the ward where his sister's room was.
"Okay, mate. Can you just wait out here and I'll get your mum?" Harry asked Drake when they had arrived at Angel's room.
"All right."
"Don't wander off!"
"I won't."
As Harry walked into the room, Drake could hear his grandfather's voice floating out.
"Gin." Harry gently touched her arm. He was loath to wake her, but he knew if he didn't, she would be angry.
"Harry." Ginny responded very sleepily.
"Drake's out in the corridor."
"Oh good," she said as she rose from the chair. "I want to speak to him before he comes in."
"I thought you might," Harry said as he followed her back into the corridor.
"Drake?" Ginny said softly.
"Mummy!" Drake ran to Ginny excitedly and wrapped himself around her legs.
"Hello, sweetheart." Ginny bent down to hold him close.
"Is Angel going to be okay now?"
"Yes, honey. She's going to be okay and she can come home in a few days."
"Good," Drake mumbled.
"Would you like to go and say hello now?"
"I suppose," Drake muttered.
"Come on then," Ginny said drawing herself up. "Just remember you can't jump around or anything. Angel needs to lie still, okay?"
"Okay, Mummy. I won't jump around."
Ginny took his hand and led him into the room, with Harry bringing up the rear. As Drake walked into the room he looked around to see who was in there, then his eyes rested on his twin sister. They just looked at each other for the longest time before Drake burst into tears. Ginny gathered the sobbing little boy into her arms and attempted to calm him down.
"I- I'm s-sorry, Mummy - I d-didn't m-mean for A-Angel to g-get hurt."
"Shhh- it's all right, baby. We can talk about it later, okay? For now, Angel is going to be all right and it won't do her any good to see you crying. You're meant to be cheering her up, not making her sad," Ginny whispered to him.
Angel started to whimper when she saw the state Drake was in. Before any one else could even move, Lucius jumped up and took her in his arms making all the right sounds to keep her calm.
Once Ginny had calmed Drake down, he pushed away from her a bit and took another look around the small room.
"Mummy, where's Daddy?" Drake asked curiously.
"Umm-"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AUTHORS NOTES
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