7 YEARS LATER

This was the single most terrified I had been since I had been diagnosed with the blood curse that was intent on killing me. The curse, which had fizzled out into nothing following my marriage to Theseus, had lingering effects. Even after marrying him, it took years for my body to recover, to become as healthy as it was supposed to be. It was years after our marriage that I could properly become a wife to Theseus that he didn't have to watch with worry-filled eyes. He had been a faithful companion in every step of my recovery; there to cheer when I faltered, there to chastise when I grew too desolate and there to celebrate every small victory.

The sheer terror had left my life for years but upon falling pregnant with our first child and upon finding out that we would have a daughter, the terror-filled my life once more. The pregnancy that was supposed to be the marker of beginning a family with Theseus was instead riddled with so much complete terror that I couldn't bring myself to talk to Theseus for days following on from finding out about our daughter. It was selfish and immature but I hadn't wanted to share my fears with him – fears that were right there in his eyes. And now, now that our daughter was nearing her second birthday and old enough for Healers to detect the beginnings of a blood curse, I was terrified to the bone. No wonder I hadn't been sorted into Gryffindor.

Theseus had called in a favour with the Ministry, requesting that they contact the country's lead healer on blood curses and arranged for a screening in the safety of our own home. So, as I remained standing in the corner of the room, I watched as Theseus stood vigilant over our daughter who sat patiently for the Healer as he ran test after test. At first, Theseus had tried to beckon me forward but I refused, needing to keep distance as if getting too close would bring a positive result; I could understand why my mother was always so insistent on keeping far from me at the decisive moment. Did she too think that her presence would interfere and bring forth more troubles?

Finally, once the Healer had completed all of his tests, I approached Theseus and joined his side. He stood rigid; hands clasped behind his back as he waited for the verdict. How would he survive the blow of finding out that I had brought this curse to our daughter? He would never blame me, but I would blame myself. With a shuddering sigh, I reached out to rub a hand soothingly over Theseus's back in order to bring him some ease. It worked slightly.

The rest of the tension left him when our daughter turned towards her father, holding her arms up towards him. He stooped down to hold her close and drew her safely into her arms. Our daughter, content and safe in her father's arms, rested her head against his shoulder. Theseus, always the protector of our family – how would he protect us from this?

Finally, after taking his sweet time, the Healer turned once more towards us with a professional smile. The sight of it had me faltering, feeling like the ground had caved from beneath me. But only until their smile grew broader.

"There is absolutely nothing to worry about," the Healer assured, missing the way I heaved a large sigh of relief. Turning into Theseus's side, I burrowed my face against the sleeve of his shirt to hide my relieved tears. His arm came around my waist, thumb rubbing soothingly over the flare of my hip as he listened to the Healer assure us that our daughter wouldn't have to worry about facing the curse I had suffered through for my formative years.

Managing to compose myself, I brushed my tears away and straightened up once more to thank the Healer for taking the time out of their schedule to come to our home. Theseus, preparing to see the Healer out, handing our daughter to me and although she was reluctant to leave her father's arms – both her and my favourite place to be – burrowed her head under my chin. She smothered a yawn against my neck, bringing her thumb to her mouth. We had tried our hardest to stop her from gaining the habit but I was so relieved that today I didn't remove it from her mouth.

Instead, I adjusted my arms around our daughter and rocked her slowly as we walked back to her nursery. By the time we reached her crib, she was sleeping soundly. Settling her down gently with a kiss to her forehead, and brushing a hand over her hair, I raised the railing on the side. Reaching for my wand which was almost permanently tucked into the waistband of my skirt, I waved it once to dim the lights of the room.

Returning my wand to its place, I held securely onto the railing and breathed out a relieved sigh. Theseus, always knowing when I needed him to rest on, appeared at my back. His arms came around me to hold onto the railing, letting me lean back on his chest. Propping his chin on top of my head, he watched our daughter from over our head. Chuckling quietly, he simply shook his head when I looked curiously towards him.

One of his hands fell to my stomach, rubbing softly over the curve, "Thank Helga, this one is a boy."

Laughing slowly, I nodded silently in agreement. Resting properly against him when he rested his other hand on my stomach. He gave a gentle call of my name, making me hum in response.

"I love you," he murmured softly against the curve of my ear.

Turning in Theseus's arms, I burrowed my face into his shirt and breathed in his comforting scent. He smelt of home. "I love you too."