A Love Story - Undoing of Fate

Chapter 3

By Ruz

       

Zelda Altman walked down the lavishly decorated corridors. The cold, empty corridors provided her comfort, knowing that some things still wouldn’t change. Tugging her short hair behind her ears, she continued walking down the seemingly endless hallway, making her way through the twist and turns of the manor.

Taking a turn to the right, Zelda soon found herself in another quiet hallway again. The walls of the hallway were hung with portraits, and as she walked past them, she could feel their disapproving gaze on her. Watching her every move, waiting for her to make a mistake.

Walking past the sealed doors, millions of thoughts fleeted through her head, as the memories etched in her mind started to resurface.

Narcissa… holding on to a broken doll, tears streaming down her angelic face.

“…I can’t bear it any more… Zelda… I want a child… help me…”

“Zelda! You’re finally here!” a voice interrupted her dark thoughts, as she looked up to see Lucius storming down the hallway.

“Where is she?”

“At the west wing.” Lucius replied, his voiced tensed and worried.

With a curt nod, Zelda followed behind Lucius down another stretch of corridors, as past memories came back again to haunt her.

“You don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I know what I’m asking for.”

Zelda shook her head slightly as she wondered for the millionth time whether she had done the right thing.

Soon, they reached the end of the hallway, which in turn led into another hallway, but one that was a total reverse. It was noisy and bustled with life, filled with house-elves rushing up and down the corridor, occasionally dumping into each other. Some were carrying basin of water, while others were holding on to towels, their squeaky voices filling up the corridor.

“Quick! The hot water!” a female house-elf squealed, sending another pack of house-elves into a mad rush.

Zelda ignored the commotion, as Lucius and her made their way through the crowd of house-elves. Suddenly, a house-elf dumped into Lucius, and fell backwards, landing hard on the marble floor.

“Oh! Sorry, sorry! Dobby really sorry!” It shrieked, after he noticed who he had just knocked into.

Lucius stared down at him with cold grey eyes, as he watched him hit himself on the head, reprimanding himself.

“Where is Narcissa?” Lucius asked.

“Dobby knows! Dobby knows! Dobby will show you!” Dobby jumped up and down, its enormous eyes smiling with delight.

“There’s no need for that, just tell me where she is.”

“Lady Narcissa is at the third wing! The second room to the left!” Dobby answered, as Lucius and Zelda left the area in a hurry.

As they reached the room, more house-elves were present, rushing in and out of the room, ignoring both of them.

Entering the room, Zelda recalled what had happened the last time she was in this room.

Narcissa, sitting on the rocking chair, humming a soothing tune softly to herself while she gently pat her swollen stomach.

‘It is.’

“Ahh!!!” a scream of pain ripped through her thoughts as Lucius immediately dashed to his wife’s side, with Zelda following closely behind.

“Don’t worry, Narcissa. Zelda’s here.” Lucius said, as he held on to Narcissa’s fragile hand, his hand wiping away the sweat beads off her forehead.

“Zelda?” Narcissa managed to whisper, her face paled from the pain she was going through.

“Narcissa…how are you feeling right now?” Zelda asked calmly, as she looked down at her friend.

“It hurts…” Narcissa said, tears stinging her eyes.

Zelda’s hazel brown eyes softened as she kneeled down beside the bed, smoothing Narcissa’s long blond hair away from her face.

“Narcissa…just say one word…just say that you don’t want the child and you won’t need to feel the pain anymore…”

“No!” Narcissa cried out, as she pushed away Zelda’s hand. “I won’t give up the child!”

Shaking her head slowly, Zelda took out her wand, and whispered a complicated spell.

“Redigo excrucio.”

Looking at both the Malfoys’ expression, Zelda gave a sad smile.

“Don’t worry, it’s a pain-reducing spell. It’s the most I can do for you.”

       

Narcissa Malfoy could withstand tremendous physical pain, yet this pain was a thing of demons. It transcended any form of torment she had ever experienced. She felt as if she was being ripped apart, consumed from the inside.

Hours passed, and the pain in her womb increased with each minute.

Even the powerful pain-reducing spells Zelda and Lucius had placed on her did not help in the least.

“Lady, you have to stay calm. Take in deep breaths.” The nurse said, but Narcissa ignored the nurse’s advice as she fought for oxygen. Another spasm gripped her, seemingly threatening to rip her in two as she gasped for air.

“Lucius!” Narcissa cried out, tears of agony blinding her sight.

“Narcissa…” Lucius whispered, as he took Narcissa’s hand and kissed it gently. He couldn’t bear to watch his wife go through this much pain any longer.

“Zelda, we have to take her to the hospital. Narcissa…she won’t be able to take it.”

“No. We can’t risk the hospital. They’ll know that something is wrong.”

Lucius stared at Zelda then looked back at Narcissa. He felt so utterly useless.

Suddenly, a house-elf appeared in the room.

“What do you want?” Lucius asked impatiently.

“Sir, Mr. Dolohov wishes to see you urgently.”

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s about the Dark Lord. And the Potters.”

Lucius stared at the house-elf but he didn’t move.

"Lucius!” Narcissa cried out again, as she tried to reach for Lucius’s hands.

“Shh… everything’s going to be all right…” Lucius whispered softly to Narcissa, as he turned around to face the house-elf again.

The decision has been made.

“Tell him to wait or get lost. I have more important things at hand.” Taking in Narcissa’s fragile hands once more, Lucius said,

“I’m here, Narcissa, I’ll always be here for you.”

Narcissa did not answer, as another pain tore through her body.

       

That night, a shrilling cry rang through the Malfoy Manor, as the Malfoy heir was born.

And as little Draco fell asleep in his mother’s arms, the whole world celebrates.

For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gone.

Destroyed by Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived.

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