With you in my Arms

76. A rather sleepy and grumpy Draco

Draco was watching his wife as she was talking animated to her parents. Hermione was listening to her mother talking how they had arrived in Australia, how they had found a place they like and the job her father had found. It was light conversation. He just let his thoughts wonder.

Soon they would be attending St. Mungo's once a week for pre-natal classes. Whatever that might be. Hermione had been trying to explain that these classes were to prepare them for the birth. At first he had seriously considered her pulling his leg. Until he saw her face. Then a long discussion had ensued about why he, a wizard, needed to know how to breath during birth. Or what the most comfortable position was. It wasn't him having the baby after all. Her next sentence had stunned him. She wanted him to be with her when their child came into this world.

He shuddered. The thought alone him having to watch... He wasn't actually sure what was going to happen in detail, but he was pretty sure not wanting to find out either. Her scowling face had told him that that had been the wrong answer. Though he had dug out the book she had bought him and re-read the last chapters. With a still slightly green complexion he had told her he wouldn't be able to endure what was going to happen without going to be sick. He didn't want to be publicly sick while his son was born. She hadn't said anything, at least not with words.

It was the moment his attention returned to the conversation between Hermione and her mother that he heard the older woman ask him, "I suspect you'll have a photo of the ultrasound in your wallet, don't you?"

"Sorry?" he looked at his wife. What was he supposed to have?

"Mum, ultrasound is only done in the Muggle world. It doesn't exist in our world."

"But you have been to regular check-ups, don't you?"

"We're going to attend pre-natal classes from next week."

There was a thick silence filling the room. Draco had the distinct feeling that what was going to come next wouldn't be pretty.

"But you have seen a gynaecologist?"

"No. If anything feels wrong I just go to St. Mungo's, but everything is absolutely fine, Mum. There is no need for you to worry. Besides the healers have checked me over when I was watching over..."

There was a moment of silence and Draco hoped against hope that this would signal the end of this discussion. No such luck.

"Hermione! You're still so young... So much could go wrong and you wouldn't even notice."

He had been right about this conversation going to take a turn he didn't like. His mother-in-law turned to him. A big frown on her face.

"What kind of irresponsible husband are you, young man? Why have you not made sure, she sees a doctor as soon as she found out about the baby? I would have thought that you would try to make sure that she is getting the best medical attention possible."

"Mum!"

"No, Hermione, this will absolutely not do."

She got up, walked into the small hall and moment later she could be heard talking to somebody. When she returned to the room she handed her daughter a piece of paper.

"What's that?" he tried to whisper low enough for her parents not to hear. He got his explanation a moment later.

"I made an appointment with Dr. Rodgers. He'll see you on Monday at 9 am. He was the of same opinion as me, you need to see a proper doctor."

"Mum! I can take care of myself. I'm not going to see Dr. Rodgers. He's got ice cold hands and has looked funny at me the last time I saw him."

"No discussion! You're going to see him."

Draco sighed. He better say something or this matter might develop into something none of them wanted it to become. There was of course the chance that he might even worsen the discontent on both sides of the table, but deep down he knew his wife was expecting his support and he would be damned, if he didn't give it to her.

He squared his shoulders, caught the older woman's eye and then tried to keep his tone as level and un-accusing as he possibly could.

"Mrs. Granger, in my world a witch is not seeing a healer every other day just because she happens to be having a baby." he lay a hand on Hermione's, "My wife is pregnant, not befallen by some life threatening disease. She is smarter than any other person I know and when she says she's fine and she'll tell me as soon as something is wrong then that is all I need to know. I would never allow anything to happen to her. This might be our first child, but we're in this together. We've fought and survived a war. Becoming parents is a piece of cake in comparison."

There was more conviction in his voice than he was actually feeling. A warm smile lit up his witch's face.

"Maggie, we never needed to worry about our Hermione. Look at her, she looks healthier, happier and more radiant than I have ever seen her in the past. Everything is going to be fine." Mr. Granger injected before his wife could say anything more.

Then he turned to his daughter, "Hermione, I know you and Draco are going to do whatever is necessary to keep you healthy and that nothing is going to happen to your baby, but please, go and see Dr. Rodgers. You can tell him you're registered with a different surgery now as you have moved to live with your husband and that will be it."

Draco felt his hand being slightly squeezed as she answered, "Okay, dad, I'll go and see him, but he's not going to get anywhere near me."

The topic was dropped after this, but the atmosphere was somewhat strained afterwards. The young couple left shortly afterwards to return to their house in Edinburgh.