Devotion

Chapter 19

The pregnancy seemed altogether more manageable with Draco by my side. The exercises didn't seem so awkward when he was doing them alongside me, and his comfort when the nausea overtook me again made me feel better. And the fact that he was there every time I woke up made me happier than ever.

Professor McGonagall visited and was a bit disappointed, but not surprised. She didn't punish Draco for skipping class at all, which shocked both of us.

But today was the 34th day. And though every pregnancy was different, I had been told most triplet pregnancies only lasted 34 weeks, if even. And deep down, I really did feel like it was getting close to time.

The occasional contraction had hit me the past few days, but not in any particular pattern. My stomach had bulged considerably, I hadn't been able to bend down in a long time. I really felt like a balloon.

I was both nervous and eager for the time to arrive. Nervous for the delivery part, which I could never be prepared for. But eager to meet our babies, and be done with these symptoms and feeling so large.

Draco, though great through everything else, was getting on my nerves slightly today. He would not stop pacing and wringing his hands. I would probably be doing the same if I could walk, but I wasn't allowed nor had the energy to. And Draco wasn't about to give birth.

"Draco, stop!" I shouted as he began his circle around the room again.

"Is it time?" he asked, immediately racing to my side. I glared at him.

"No, it's not. Now please, find something to distract yourself with. I'm anxious enough as it is without you impatiently walking throughout the room."

"Sorry, love. But what do you suggest I do?"

"Go check the nursery, make sure everything's right and ready in there," I suggested. I already knew it was, but maybe he could get sidetracked in there somehow, and leave me in some peace.

He did as I advised, and I leaned my head back into the pillow, sighing. I arched my back slightly, stretching my arms out, when I heard a pop. But it wasn't a bone cracking, as is normal when you stretch.

My eyes widened when I felt a gush of liquid in my panties.

"Draco!!" I screeched, my heart rate rising with each passing second. The potion meant my delivery was sped up as well. Which meant we had hardly enough time to get to the hospital wing.

He ran into the room, eyes wide. I reached my arms out so he could pick me up quickly. "They're coming, hurry!"

My husband sped down the corridors with me in his arms, sending patronuses out as he went. Luckily, all the students were in class, so the place was empty.

I groaned as a strong contraction ripped through me, and then again a few minutes later. I shut my eyes, trying to do the breathing exercises.

In, out, in, out...

~

"What happened?" I asked as I opened my eyes, and saw Draco sitting beside me. He looked exhausted, with circles under his eyes, and his hair mussed from running his fingers through it.

Relief spread across his face when he realized I was awake. He reached over to take my hand. "You passed out as I carried you here. Madam Pomfrey had to give a C-section."

"Are our babies okay? Did they make it?" I fretted, my hand tightening around Draco's.

"They're fine, just fine. Two girls and a boy. But are you okay?"

"Tired, and a bit numb from whatever she gave me, but I'll be alright," I answered with a weak smile.

He leaned down and kissed me, and I felt some tears from him land on my face. "Draco, I'm okay, everything's okay," I murmured against his lips.

Suddenly we heard the door to the wing burst open, with Madam Pomfrey rushing in.

"Oh good, you're awake. I know you probably don't feel like moving, but there's something you both need to see," she stated, pulling a wheelchair out from the storage closet and unfolding it.

"What happened?"

"Are the triplets okay?"

Draco and I questioned urgently, worry clear on our faces. She paused and looked at us a second before responding.

"They're fine, it's just quite remarkable. I've never seen anything like it. I think it's better if you just see it for yourselves."

I glanced at Draco, and he shrugged back. Neither of us were sure what to make of what she said.

"Well, let's go then," I told her, and she levitated me into the wheelchair. Draco rolled me out, following Madam Pomfrey.

When we reached the hospital crib, a wave of adoration overtook me. They were perfect.

Our one daughter was a spitting image of Draco, with his platinum blonde hair and his grey eyes. She was laying there calmly, not crying or anything. Just watching everything that she could see.

Our other two children were identical, and their faces closely resembled me. Which was quite remarkable in itself, considering the Malfoy traits tended to be dominant. Though their hair was black, which confused me. Who did they get that from? But still, their looks were not what had drawn Madam Pomfrey's attention.

Our second daughter was floating. Only about a foot above the bed of the crib, but with the way her small dark curls on her head were fluttering, she looked like a goddess.

Meanwhile, our son was making little stars appear and disappear with a pop in the air around him. He giggled each time they appeared or made a popping noise.

It took me a few minutes to realize Madam Pomfrey had left, letting us have our first moments with our children.

"Do they usually display their magic this soon?" I asked, not looking up from the two of them. But he didn't answer.

"Draco?" I questioned, glancing up to look at him. I quickly saw what was distracting him.

He was knelt down beside our daughter's crib (the one who wasn't floating), with his one finger poking through the bars. Our daughter was clutching it tightly with all her little strength, whilst looking into his eyes with her identical ones.

Draco was trembling as he looked back at her, his eyes shimmering with the trace of tears. But he didn't pull away.

I wheeled my wheelchair over and placed a hand on his shoulder, but he still didn't move. "What's wrong, darling?"

He gulped and answered, "She's so pure, a-and perfect. I don't want...don't want to hurt her."

"You won't. And you know how I know that? Because you love her. And she adores you. Look at her, she already can't take her eyes off you. You're her father. You might make mistakes, but she's still going to love you. Just like I do." I squeezed his shoulder as I spoke.

However, he still looked a bit unsure, and his body continued to tremble. "Do you want to hold her?"

He turned to look at me, his eyes wide with fear. "I—"

"Come on Draco, it'll be alright. I'm right here, I won't let you drop her." I carefully unlatched her fingers from Draco's finger, pulled the side of the crib down, and, still in the wheelchair, picked her up. I wanted to laugh when she still wouldn't look away from her father, but held it in.

I gently passed her into Draco's arms, muttering instructions to him as I did so. "Make sure you support her head and...there you go."

I watched them for a few minutes, marveling over how they stared at each other. The tension in Draco's shoulders slowly eased, and as our daughter reached up to touch his face, his face broke out into the biggest smile I had ever seen him wear. It was undeniable that these two would be inseparable.

"What should her name be?" I asked. He put a hand under her little chin, looking at her face. After a moment, he responded, "Astrid. Astrid Elise Malfoy."

I smiled. "Perfect. And for those two?" I questioned further, gesturing to our other two children, one who was still floating, one who was making tiny stars.

"Caelum Jay Malfoy," he said, with a nod to our son. "And hers?"

I hardly needed a second to think. Sure with my choice, I answered, "Celeste Narcissa Malfoy."