SEHE; Chapter 7

Sunday September 28 [19w 6d]

"Lie back for me, Annabel, and we'll take a look at your baby." I lie back on the cot and the doctor places the tip of her wand against my stomach. A second later she flips it toward a grey space on the wall and there the baby is. Lena clutches my hand.

"How amazing is that." I nod a little. The baby is wiggling and kicking and moving but I feel none of it. Dr Shima points at the projection.

"There's the head, spine, bottom, legs and feet. Great heartbeat. Lots of movement which is wonderful. Your placenta is anterior and quite low. That can be cause for concern closer to delivery but isn't a worry yet. We'll keep an eye on that."

"What will happen?"

"A cesarean would be our best course."

"I'd like to avoid that if at all possible."

"Of course, as would I. We'll keep a close watch. Hopefully the placenta migrates up or back. It's quite common for it to move."

"Can you tell us the sex now?" I grin at Lena. She's far more excited than I thought she would be. Draco, however, is looking kind of dumbfounded. He hasn't said a word since we left Hogwarts. Dr Shima moves her wand around a bit until she's satisfied.

"Obviously I can't be 100% positive. But here I am about 90% certain you're having a girl." I smile and nod; something I didn't know I'd been thinking suddenly confirmed.

"Oh congrats, Bell!" I squeeze Lena's hand.

"Fantastic. Thank you Dr Shima." She stops the projection and I sit up.

"No problem at all. I'd like to see you back here next month. Take good care of yourself."

+++

"So Draco. What's up?" Draco looks up at me from his Potions work. We're in the library. I'm studying and he's discreetly copying my work.

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Earlier today. You were very quiet. What's up?"

"It may come as a surprise to you, Bell, but I'm not on the up and up with this baby stuff. I don't know what a placenta is or what anterior means. I'm kind of lost here."

"I know, I'm sorry. I feel like I've kind of thrust you into this with me. I hope you know that I don't expect anything from you." His face softens a little and he takes my hand awkwardly.

"I'm here for you, Bell. I may be a blundering idiot when it comes to this stuff, but I'm in it with you." I feel my face get hot and I know I'm blushing. I'd never thought about Draco as more than a friend before. Mainly because I'd been with Keelan, but that isn't really an issue now.

"Want to clarify that statement so I don't blow it out of proportion?" Draco gives me one of his rare smiles.

"I'm saying that I've liked you since 3rd year. I kick myself for not telling you back then." I kind of just look at him.

"What?" His grin gets a little bigger.

"You heard me, Leed."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. I didn't tell you this to change anything. I told you because it was finally time to. I just want you to know that I'm in your corner." I feel tears well up. I contemplate giving him a kiss on the cheek when I see Keelan stroll into the library with Penelope attached to his side like a leech. At the look on my face Draco turns around. I see him frown. I still haven't told Draco about the conversation I overheard earlier in the week.

"Come on, let's go somewhere else, Draco." I start to gather my books and shove them in my bag. "Draco." He's still siting, glaring daggers at Keelan; who still hasn't noticed us. "Come on, please?" At my please Draco finally looks at me, then grabs his books and stalks out of the library. As I'm walking out I receive a dirty look from Penelope. She's alone, Keelan must have gone off. The mature thing would be to let it go and walk past her. "What exactly is your problem?" She sneers at me and I catch myself thinking that she's got such an ugly personality.

"Look at you. Flaunting your relationship with Malfoy, only weeks after you've broken up with Keelan. It's so disrespectful." I stare at her incredulously.

"Excuse me? I did not break up with him. He left me." She shakes her head.

"That's not what I've heard. I've heard you slept around all summer, came back and broke it off, then went and screwed Malfoy the very same night. People saw him walking you to the tower." All I can do is stare at her. I have no doubt who's been spreading these rumours.

"And let me guess. You're just supporting poor, pathetic Keelan."

"Matter of fact, yes. You broke his heart." I laugh at her.

"I wish you luck. I really do." She sniffs and walks off. I shake my head and leave the library. I could go for a nap but I really need to finish this work. As I'm wandering down the hall, deciding what to do, Draco turns the corner and walks up to me. I stop and lean against the wall. I'm suddenly very tired.

"Should learn to follow your own advice eh?" I smile up at him. "You look exhausted. You okay?"

"Actually, no. It came on just now. I feel like I could pass out standing here." Draco takes my arm and steers me toward my common room.

"Let's get you to bed then." We walk in silence to the tower. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." He walks away before I can say anything. Somehow, I make it to my dormitory and into my bed before falling asleep.