WHO: Tracey and Draco Malfoy WHEN: November 22 WHERE: Their quarters, Malfoy Manor WHAT: A discovery of sorts. RATING: PG STATUS: Complete.
The early morning light streamed through partially closed curtains; Draco shifted against the silk of the bed sheets and slid out of the bed carefully, trying not to disturb Tracey. He padded to the French doors and pushed back the silk curtains, looking out on their property. Beautiful green summer had given away to autumn, which meant that the land was covered in a soft fog.
He turned and looked back to the bed, watching the curve of Tracey’s body for a moment. He smiled, and came back to her.
The rest of the world was falling apart at the seams, but she was alive and well. His family was not necessarily whole, and it would never be again. But Tracey and Luc were alive and well. And that was all that mattered.
He reached out, once in bed, and traced his fingers down her arm, watching her face. “Are you awake, love?” he whispered.
Tracey felt a little off. Of course she was happy that despite everything going on, she still had her husband and son as well. Her father-in-law too, even though she rarely thought she got on his good side.
Still, with everything going on, she was more worried than usual. And found herself more tired lately. Perhaps it was just the stress from the deaths -- two deaths, to be specific -- that had occurred in a short time. Too terrifying to be coincidental.
That wasn't the only thing, however. Whatever else seemed to be trying her lately, she couldn't pinpoint, but she had a feeling something else was up. "I am," Tracey smiled, sitting up slightly when he walked up to her. "Did you rest well?"
He hadn't, not exactly, but he nodded nonetheless. "I did," Draco told her, brushing her hair back from her face. "You still look tired, love."
She probably did. Which was a bit annoying but again, she just thought it was from the stress. "I've been feeling a bit more tired than usual, lately," she said, sitting up straight and pulling her legs toward her chest to hug.
And good Merlin, she probably had gained a little weight from the stress too. "I guess the days off would be much appreciated."
"I'm glad that you chose to stay with us for a few days, however," he said. "There's just ..." Draco paused, remembering the trip to St. Mungo's with Luc. "Too much death at that place," he said finally. "I wouldn't want you surrounded by that."
"Of course there is, love," Tracey said, giving him a small smile. "Not everyone survives." She'd know. She had a few patients of her own that hadn't survived. The first time it had been devastating but she'd eventually learned to accept she couldn't save everyone. Yet, she was starting to wish the same thing again right now.
"I am glad you've convinced me to take a break." She bent closer toward him to gently kiss him.
Draco returned her kiss, softly, nuzzling closer to her. Merlin, it had been a while since the last time he'd not had to panic. Her, or Luc, or his father, or Tedddy and the children. This was making him forget, just for a little while. "I love you," he murmured, something which a few years back, he might not have been able to say. "Are you truly all right, Tracey? You don't look well."
"I love you too," she uttered back, leaning against him. Oh, if they were going to stay like this a little while longer, it was possible that she would end up falling asleep again. Except his worried tone kept her eyes open. Was she clammy? Did she look pale or feel hot? There was that bit of malaise and fatigue. "I don't know. Maybe I just need some food? Mornings are not my best moments lately."
Draco was not a healer, personally, but he did take her seriously, and frowned when she said it. "No? Do you've a fever, love?"
Tracey shrugged, slightly, sitting up again, preparing to perhaps climb out of bed. Food or a shower... if either worked for her it would be good. "I do not think so. I don't feel hot. Just very tired."
And a bit nauseated. Just as she started to get up.
He straightened, watching her as she started. "Perhaps you ought to stay in bed then, love. I'll have the elves bring your breakfast," Draco returned. Her figure was stiffer than it normally would be, rising, and that made him worry. The last thing he needed was to lose her, on top of everything else.
Brushing her hair back with one hand, she glanced down at Draco while contemplating whether to do as he said or continue into the bathroom. Staying in bed did seem very tempting, but she couldn't be lazy all day. And breakfast in bed was always a pleasure.
Except when she ran a hand down her night dress to straighten it out, her hand paused at her stomach. "If anything, I think I need to cut down. I think I've gained a bit of weight over the last week." But Tracey sat back on the bed anyway.
He quirked a brow, smiling slightly. "Yes, a whopping hundredth of a stone, look at you."
She lightly swatted at his arm, though there was a bit of a smirk on her lips. "Very funny, Draco. But breakfast in bed is my weakness. Does this ploy to keep me in bed have any other motives?"
He looked at her innocently. "I don't have the slightest idea of what you mean, my love." There were two separate lines of thought on that matter, and only one was pleasant. "I promised Luc we'd go out this afternoon, though, so I can assure you that you'd have sleep time eventually."
Tracey laughed and gave him a quick peck on one cheek. "Eventually, hmm? Well, then. Call that house elf. I'll just go and wash my face, first." And she wasn't going to get up again this time before she had her husband's approval. Of course she had a decision-making mind of her own, but when he was worried about her, she listened just so he would stop.
"Do that, love." Draco kissed her on the forehead, preferring to step out into the hallway to summon an Elf to him, rather than call one out of thin air.
As he stepped out, Tracey stood up again, heading for the bathroom. That brief nausea from before had passed but when she started moving it suddenly came back that she had to pause in the doorway. This was going to be the worst time to get sick again. And it hadn't been too long ago when she really did fall ill.
Draco came back after placing an order, and paused when he saw her. It didn't take but a second for him to rush to her. "Tracey? What is it, what's wrong?" he demanded. He'd not seen her this pale in a long time. Not since before she'd given birth to Luc, as a matter of fact.
Tracey glanced back over her shoulder when Draco came back in. The feeling hadn't disappeared either. "I feel a little ill," she said, rubbing her stomach slightly with one hand as though that would alleviate her nausea. No, it didn't seem to help much.
"I think.. oh, blimey--" It only worsened till she couldn't stand there anymore but had to rush over to the toilet and get whatever was bothering her out of her system.
He followed her, pausing only to get a soft towel and wet it before he went to her, kneeling beside her. "Couldn't be a stomach bug, could it?" Draco queried. He dabbed at her forehead.
Tracey lifted her head again, grateful for the wet towel. "I doubt it is," she said about to get up but when another wave of nausea rolled over her sense, she decided against it and stayed put.
"Then what?" He was hoping she had an answer to this, because certainly, he wasn't at all sure.
Unfortunately, right then, Tracey didn't really know so she just shook her head. After waiting another moment, she decided to chance it and stood up, though slowly. Nothing this time, so she headed over to the sink to clean herself up. And glancing up in the mirror didn't make her day any better. "Oh, Circe," she exclaimed, touching the atrocious looking (though slight) bags under her eyes.
Draco rose beside her, stifling a smile. "I told you you looked tired, darling." He was still worried, however, and reached out to her, holding her as she stood there. "Tracey, please. You ought to head to bed if you're not feeling well," he urged.
She should have been in bed. But at that moment, she was too busy annoyingly inspecting her eyes. And then her eyes drifted back down to her stomach. What was with that utterly bloated feeling? "Maybe you're right," she started turning away from the mirror.
Draco nodded, forcing a smile for her sake. "I'm always right," he said loftily, as a tease.
His smile was always contagious that Tracey found herself smiling. "Don't push it, darling." No other choice other than to head to bed which she did. Breakfast, on the other hand, seemed less appetizing after throwing up. "Draco, have I gained anything? Even a little?"
"Darling." Draco shot her a slightly exasperated look. "Of course you haven't. You're as thin as when you had Luc. Thinner, actually." That fact didn't please him one bit, because it made her look ... vulnerable. Fragile.
When she had Luc... no, she really hadn't gained too much weight. Though back then, she saw that as a good thing considering she didn't keep any of that extra fat. It didn't seem any different now as she slipped back under the sheets, thinking this over silently.
But wait... it really didn't seem any different from before. She also tended to get tired easily back then too. Morning sickness was not that bad but it was there. All when she had Luc...
Oh, God, when was her last period? "What's today's date, love?"
"November twenty-second," Draco answered, and lifted a brow. "Why?"
Tracey froze, staring at him in surprise, having not realized that that much time had passed. She usually kept up with her cycle because she felt she had to, especially since the summer when she and Draco and decided on trying for a second child. In midst of the tragedy around the Potters, Weasleys and their family, it had completely slipped her mind.
Draco saw the look passing over her face, and returned it with a perplexed one of his own. "Tracey? What is it?"
Two weeks. It was late by two long weeks! "I.. Draco. I might need to go to the hospital. To check up on, um... something."
"What sort of something?" Draco enquired.
She was a Healer herself so her judgement ought to have been correct. "Well, I don't think its a stomach bug. Or know it can't be." How to say it without getting his hopes up too high? "There might be a chance that I'm... Draco, I'm two weeks late."
He was the one to stare at her this time, his face draining of color. Salazar Slytherin, she couldn't mean... "You're not -- you don't think you---you're pregnant?"
Giving him a bit of a hopeful look, Tracey tried not to smile too much. Better safe than sorry, of course. It was always better to check, but Merlin, now that he had said the word out loud, it was hard to go back to being cautionary instead of a little excited. She said nothing but nodded.
He knew he ought not get over-exited about this, either. It had been a difficult road to conceiving Luc, let alone having the peace of mind to try again. But now that it seemed like she'd conceived .... well. It was almost a miracle, in the midst of so much death and despair. He embraced her then, tightly as he dared. "Oh, love," he murmured.
Tracey couldn't help the nervous little laugh that escaped her when he hugged her. She brought her arms around his shoulder, leaning her chin against it. "Check-up first, darling!" Though she was sure it had to be it. It had to be!
He rubbed a hand down her back slowly. "What else could it be, love?" Draco asked, unconsciously mimicking her train of thought. "It has to be. Oh, darling, another child.... a girl for you, this time, mmm?"
This time, her laugh was more genuine as she pulled back to look at him. "There is no other explanation I can come up with. I think we'd still need to go to figure out how far long I am then."
Draco was positively beaming, that was how happy he was. "All right, we'll go first thing in the morning when you're feeling better."
Tracey nodded in agreement, trying to get herself to calm down. But when Draco appearing so happy, she ended up giving a delightful little squeal and hugging him again. "I love you, Draco."
"You too, darling, you too." He flashed her a grin, cupping her face in his hands. Thank you.