Chapter 42: Life Continues

Two days. Forty-eight excruciatingly long hours had passed, and still he remained unconscious and yet, the rest of the world moved forward. Some moved a little more reluctantly than others. Ginny still couldn't believe what was happening. Of all the things that she was thinking on the way to the hospital wing two days prior, the thought of him nearly dying because of her was not one of them. She never wanted to have this kind of power over a person. She sighed heavily and pushed the food around on her plate. She glanced up at the head table and missing him presence now, more than ever.

It seemed that now, everyone knew that their newest professor was incapacitated. The rumor mill circulates quite quickly in the castle with the many portraits and ghosts being chief amongst the gossip mongers. I guess being dead as long as they have, they have to have something to occupy their time. So, they gladly shared with anyone who would listen that their professor was isolated in the hospital wing and it looked like he'd be there a good long while.

As Ginny continued to push her breakfast around on her plate, she tried to ignore the sounds buzzing throughout the Great Hall. Try as she might, she still picked out a few words here and there. It seemed most of her classmates were still speculating the reason her husband was in Madame Pomfrey's care.

"I can't take this anymore, Colin. I'll meet you in class later," Ginny huffed and gathered her things as the Headmaster rose to address the students.

"May I have you attention for a moment?" he asked waiting for the many conversations to cease before continuing. "As you all may be aware by now, Professor Malfoy has become quite ill and will be unable to teach his classes for a while."

Excited murmuring swept through the hall as the students whispered about the possibility of having another free period for a while. After a few moments, Albus raised his hands and the whispering stopped.

"Sadly, I must disappoint you," he stated with a knowing look at his students. "For the time being, I have asked someone to fill-in for him, as he's already at the castle and has had extensive experience in this area."

"No, Colin he wouldn't do that? Would he?" Ginny asked shaking her head.

"Gin, I think we both know the answer to that and I don't think either one of us if going to like it," he replied hoping he was wrong as they both turned to face the headmaster.

"So, filling in, on a temporary basis of course, is your new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Harry Potter." Half of the Great Hall erupted in cheers as Harry stood and waved at him former classmates, a slight blush tinging his cheeks. He still dislike being the center of attention.

"Do you think I could possibly skive off every DADA class while he's here?"

"Only if we could do it together, Gin and I don't think we'd be setting a good example as Head Boy and Head Girl," he replied rather dejectedly as they gathered their thing to make their way to class, her to the dungeons and an annoyed Professor Snape who wasn't exactly pleased with this turn of events either and he to the North Tower full of crystal balls, pillows, and the stench of incense that inundated the Divination classroom along with a decidedly daft professor.

The sun was slowly setting as the light diminished from the small private room in the hospital wing. Severus pointed his wand at the lamp generating more light in the small room. He continued to pace at the foot of the bed watching Narcissa worry over her only child as only a mother could.

"I cannot believe he was foolish enough to think that this type of complication would not occur with all the Prewett and Weasley blood running through her veins. He should have known that they would have to bind to each other," she stated softly.

Narcissa sat in the slightly less than comfortable chair next to the bed holding her son's hand with one of hers and brushing his pale blonde hair from his forehead with the other. She watched him closely for any signs of movement. There were none, other than the rise and fall of his chest with each breath he took. She was worried and frightened for him and for the unknown outcome of his recklessness.

"You do realize, that she is going to flay him alive when he finally heals from this," Severus continued and he stopped to look at his godson. "I can't say he doesn't deserve it."

"His heart was in the right place, Severus."

"Be that as it may, it does not change the outcome," he sighed heavily as he sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed. "I have spent entirely too much time in this room since September." Severus leaned forward placing both elbows on his knees. He held his hands together watching Draco closely. "No matter how accustomed I have become over the years to his misadventures, I do hate seeing him like this. However, as true as that may be, I am grateful that it is not her this time."

"You truly care for her," she simply stated.

Severus lifted his head staring into her bright blue eyes. "She's…" He started and stopped unsure of how to continue for a moment. "If things could have been different," he tried again, but the right words still escaped him. "I imagine her to be the daughter I never had," he stated then looked away. "She and I, we are.. kindred spirits you could say. I understood and helped her in a way that no one else could when she needed it. She is like a phoenix, a broken little girl rising to be the strong, intelligent witch she has become." He smiled sadly thinking of the twelve year old girl who he had helped so long ago.

Narcissa smiled at him. "They will both get through this," she encouraged.

"The night their…estrangement began, she had such wonderful news to share with him. Has she mentioned anything to you?"

"Her letters to me recently have only been about my grandson and her studies. Draco is the one who told me of their misunderstanding. I had hoped that they would have worked things out before something like this happened." She brushed her fingers through his hair again. "I could honestly take the business end of my wand to him."

Severus chuckled, "You may have to get in line for that. Your daughter-in-law may want him first and unfortunately for you, my dear I am not sure she would leave much for you to play with when she's done."

Narcissa huffed as Severus rose to leave the small private room.

Another twenty-four hours and no change. She hated that she couldn't see him herself. She had to rely on others for information. She didn't doubt the information shared by Severus, Nacrcissa, and Madam Pomfrey, but she wanted to see him for herself. She needed to see him. Alexander needed to see him. He has become quite fussy while missing his father and it was mostly her fault. She knew she was wrong not to listen to him at all, but he was wrong, too. He should not have hidden his plans for Astoria from her.

No matter how wrong they both were, an innocent baby was suffering for their folly and this was the source for her grief and guilt. Her beautiful little blond hair, grey eyed baby missed his father. The two had a very special bond that she could not replace. She could only offer him comfort in Draco's absence. Maybe she could have Narcissa or Severus bring him to his father. At least that way he could be physically closer to his father, which is more than she could do at the moment. Glancing at the clock, she made her way to the last place she wanted to be, the DADA classroom with Professor Potter.

"Merlin's beard! Colin do we really have to do this? I could live the rest of my life in peace without spending another minute with him. I don't really care how sorry he is that he was a complete and total hippogriff's arse, or that he was the one who took me to my dorm that night. Honestly, I wish it had been anyone but him that found me," she spouted as they made their way down the corridor. He was the last person she wanted to see her that way.

"Won't argue with you about the hippogriff's arse part, but unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic considers Defence Against the Dark Arts a requirement and we do have to take our NEWTs this year. So, yeah Gin, we really do have to do this," he replied grimacing as he opened the door. He didn't want to be there any more than she did.

They were they last of the class to enter the room and take their seats. As they sat, Harry Potter stood and walked to the front of the classroom. He looked over the Slytherin/Gryffindor seventh year class. He knew all of the Gryffindors and he knew who most of the Slytherins at least by name. His eyes fell on Ginny and he smiled briefly and looked away.

"I am, as you know, Harry Potter and I'll be filling in for," he swallowed distastefully before continuing. "Professor Malfoy until he is able to resume his post. Does anyone have any questions before we begin?"

A few hands shot into the air on both sides of the room. Mostly, they wanted to know what was wrong with Draco, and Harry didn't have an answer for that. A few however, wanted to know when they'd be able to continue with practical application of the spells they'd been taught. After all, a portion of their NEWTs was dedicated to the application of the information learned.

Noticing the time and knowing that he really didn't have time to introduce anything for the day with the many questions the students asked. He decided that a little dueling practice would be a good way to end the class. He cleared the room and had them partnered into pairs of two to practice disarming spells. Colin and Ginny moved to back of the room. Neither was much in the mood for spell casting.

Harry paced around the room watching each pair. He made his way to the back and found Colin and Ginny. Neither was putting much effort into their work.

"Any particular reason you two aren't putting any effort into this?"

Neither student replied. Ginny rolled her eyes and bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to, she knew she shouldn't say anything that would cause her to have a detention with the one wizard she wanted to avoid. Colin just stared blankly at him.

"You know, as the Heads, you two should be setting a good example for everyone else in here."

Ginny snapped her head and glared at him. "What would you know about setting a good example for anyone?" Ginny spat.

"Excuse me?"

"I think you heard me, Potter," she barked sounding remarkably like her husband.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Weasley."

"That's not my name. It's Ma-"

Colin's hand shot up and covered her mouth as he yelled, "Prewett, Professor Potter. Her name is Prewett now. She and Charlie became Prewetts around Christmas."

He wasn't sure exactly why she was so angry with him now. He thought they'd moved passed the hatred stage, but then he was sure that Ginny would like the reprieve of not being around the great prat, Malfoy after whatever happened, happened.t just felt like he was back at square one with her. He missed her friendship and it looked like he was never going to get that back. He only had himself to blame for this he thought as he tuned and dismissed the class.

Six days, and his magical core was getting stronger every day, but he still remained in an exhaustive, or he's make slight coma. His color was slowly coming back and the medi-witch assured Narcissa that he was improving on a daily basis and would eventually make a full recovery. She had noticed in the day before, that his fingers would twitch, or he'd make slight movements. No one was sure if this was intentional or just involuntary movement. It did however seem to happen more frequently when she had Alexander with her as she did now.

She paced the floor cooing and talking to her bright-eyed grandson that reminded her so much of her own child. He seemed to be content to be near his father as only a baby could.

"You remind me so very much of your father," she told him. "I just hope that you will learn from the mistakes he made and won't repeat this particular one. No, you are going to be so much smarter than your father when it comes to pretty little witches, aren't you?" she asked. "Oh, the things I want to tell your father, my little Alexander." She readjusted the small bundle in her arms.

"I'd rather you didn't anything too much on front of him. I'd like to be spared my dignity in front of my son even if he doesn't quite understand what you're saying, yet," Draco rasped weakly.

"Draco! You're awake! Finally, you're awake!" Tears pooled in her blue eyes seeing her child awake for "

"Finally?" he asked confused.

"You've been unconscious for nearly five days now."

"How? The last thing I remember is Fred and George. Did they do something?"

"Fred? George? Oh, no this is all you. This is what happens when a binding is down only by one party. You nearly killed yourself!" she spat angrily. Before she could continue the door opened and the medi-witch entered.

"Ah, Professor Malfoy. It's so good to see you awake. I'll just need to run a few test and examine you for a moment," she stated as she bustled about the small room.

"I'll just step out a moment," Narcissa stated as she and Alexander walked through the door to the large windows overlooking the grounds gently running her hand over the downy hair on his head. No matter how much time had passed, looking out on the grounds, it seemed as nothing had changed since she herself was a student many years ago.

"This is a wonderful, magical place," she softly told Alexander. "When you grow up, you'll be a student here. I'm sure you'll be a very smart, very talented wizard." She continued so thoroughly engrossed in the conversation, she failed to hear the doors to the hospital wing open or the footsteps getting closer.

"Yes, my precious little one, you are going to be powerful like you parents, and hopefully, the first of many little Malfoys to come."

A sharp gasp was heard and Narcissa whipped around to find Astoria Greengrass staring at her with utter shock written on her face.

"The first of… many little Malfoys?" she sputtered. "What are talking about? Who is that… that…that little bastard?" she angrily demanded.

Narcissa moved so quickly Astoria didn't have time to mentally register the movement before she had a wand pointed directly at her chest. A sneer worthy of her former husband was plastered on her face as she addressed the girl.

"The fact that you are a mere child is the only reason you still breathe. I will promise you this, if you ever refer to my grandson as a bastard again, it will be the last slanderous word uttered from you worthless mouth," she promised with fire in her eyes that conveyed the truth in her words. "I can promise you this, he is the legitimate offspring of my son and his wife."

"W-w-wife? He can't be married. He was supposed to marry me. We had a contract." She huffed indignantly glaring daggers at the older witch.

"You insignificant little urchin, there was another that superseded that vile document drawn up by your father. One that Lucius knew nothing about. However, I am most grateful for its existence for I would never have tolerated your in presence in our family. Draco has told me about all the vile things you've been a part of since September that he's been unable to halt. I promise you, Miss Greengrass, if I hear one word, one tiny little word that you have continued to cause a problem for my son or any other student in the school, your future won't be worth living. I have connections in our world that sever all contact with you and your family just by my word alone. Do I make myself clear?"

All the color drained from her face. "You… you wouldn't… you couldn't" she stammered.

"Do you really want to try and find out?" she asked.

Astoria turned and fled the hospital wing, not even remembering why she was there in the first place as Narcissa sheathed her wand.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that, precious. Grandmother has to make sure you brothers and sisters, now doesn't she? That witch would have definitely continued trying to stop that from happening. Would couldn't have that now, could we?" she asked the sleeping baby in her arms.

"Now, now Mrs. Malfoy, it's not nice to terrorize the students."

"You say that like it's a bad thing, Headmaster. Sometimes, it's the only language they speak and out of necessity, I've become quite fluent over the years."

"Yes, my dear regretfully so, you have. Shall we go check on our newly awakened patient?" he asked leading her back to the small private room where Madam Pomfrey waited to update them on Draco's condition