A Rose By Any Other Name

Chapter 7

What felt hours had passed. Time seemed to stop when you had nothing but white walls to keep you company but the doors of the operating theatre finally opened, unveiling a still unconscious but lifelike version of his wife. The wife he once knew

"What's going on?" Lucius pleaded, almost as if his life depended on it. No ones life was at risk anymore;maybe his mind hadn't registered everything yet.

The nurse looked somber before directing Lucius to the now occupied surgeon's office. He was a tall wizard: dark black hair, fair skin with eyes greener than algae. His hands were occupied by a clipboard undoubtably containing complicated medical notes and charts.

"Hello Mr Malfoy. I'm Dr Cadash, I operated on your wife this afternoon"

Lucius almost seemed oblivious to the fact his wife had just had major surgery. He noticed the surgeons name, he simply didn't recognise it. The doctor looked about his age, maybe a little yo7nger which would have meant that they would have been in the same school year or at least were at Hogwarts around the same time period

"Interesting name. Where did you go to school ?" Lucius asked, prying into this strangers private life which he knew from his mother was quite rude but as his father always said: "sometimes you have to be nosey and do a little digging in peoples private life if it helps you get where you need to be".

"I went to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. I was a ravenclaw there. Both of my parents were muggles so it was quite a shock when I got my Hogwarts letter. Anyway I'm sure you want to know about how your wife is doing, I'm sure you are undoubtedly very worried about her".

In truth, he hadn't taken a second thought to Narcissa's well-being or state of life and health. In his mind, it was her own fault. There was only one thing he cared about now.

"The baby. Is my child ok?"

The surgeon took Lucius' quivering hands before replying cautiously "Yes. The baby was delivered after we attended to your wife's head injury"

For once it was as if he cared about his wife that 3 hours earlier was knocking on death's door

"Is my wife ok?" His tone was slightly more mundane, with a delicate sprinkling of guilt and concern.

The doctor hung his head "unfortunately your wife sustained a severe bleed to her brain. Your thought was indeed true; your wife did overdose on incredibly strong sleeping pills. I or one of the nurses will show you to the ward in a while once she has fully recovered"

He was puzzled, his thoughts being spoken aloud at that moment "why would you need to show me . This is my wife's 4th pregnancy maybe not her 4th baby but I think I know where the maternity unit is!"

"I'm sorry sir" the surgeon replied "but due to your wife's recent suicide attempt we have admitted her to the observation ward"

The nurse let go of Lucius' now stable hand as she stood up to exit the room.

"Just tell me please. Where is my child?" Asked Lucius

"With your wife. She is not a danger to the child. Only to herself."

He turned to leave the room, heading towards the rickety old lift. He turned as he heard his name being called

"The baby, what is it. A boy or a girl?"

Fulfilling Lucius' dreams, the doctor replied "A girl!"

Finally it had happened. He finally had a daughter he had always wanted but never....

Deserved