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Headcanon Exchange Round One (1 of 3: Lucius nearly lost Narcissa and Draco during childbirth, headcanon by Ana)

Complications.

She's losing a lot of blood.

She can't keep the Blood Replenishing Potion down.

The baby is barely hanging on.

I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but…

Lucius feels dazed. It's too much to take in. His Narcissa is in there, behind closed doors, suffering. His child is barely clinging to life. And the bloody Healers won't let him back there.

"Mr. Malfoy, please-"

"Don't 'please' me," he snaps, hand twitching towards his wand. "Do you have any idea who I am? I could shut this hospital down before you could even say dragon pox!"

"I understand that. We have-"

Lucius shakes his head, incredulous. Why is the witch still talking? Why isn't she letting him through? Narcissa needs him. "I don't care what you have!" he roars. "Let me see my wife! My child!"

A security wizard steps in, cutting Lucius off from the witch. "Maybe a nice cup of tea will help you calm down," he says, and though his voice is calm, Lucius can hear a clear warning in his words.

Lucius turns away furiously.

…

Narcissa can't see. Her eyes are open, but everything is so dark.

Pain. She's aware of pain, splitting her body in half.

She screams.

Stay with us, Mrs. Malfoy.

"Draco," she croaks. "Draco…"

Drink, dear. Drink.

The voices sound so distant. She can feel people around her, but they're little more than ghosts to her.

Liquid slips between her lips, and Narcissa gags.

You have to drink, dear.

She screams, but the sound is raw, hoarse. The effort exhausts her, and blackness consumes her.

…

"Narcissa?" Lucius demands.

The Healer sighs, massaging her temples. "She's resting, Mr. Malfoy."

"And my son?"

Lucius hates the silence, so tense, so awkward.

"We're doing everything we can. He's not breathing on his own."

"Let me see them!"

"I'm sure you can understand how delicate this situation is, sir. It's best that you wait out here."

…

"Lucius?" Narcissa croaks, waking in a panic. "Draco?"

A witch takes her hand, smiling sweetly. "It's okay, dear," she says. "Everything will be okay."

…

Lucius watches in amusement as Bellatrix draws her wand on the security wizard. "Let me tell you how this is going to play out," she says menacingly.

"Mrs. Lestrange, please lower your wand."

"You're going to let us see my sister and nephew. If you don't, they will be cleaning pieces of you off the floor."

"Mrs. Lestrange, I-"

The Healer returns, looking at Bellatrix with exasperation. "There's no need for threats," she says sharply. "Narcissa is awake."

"And Draco?" Lucius demands.

"Still fighting."

Lucius nods. It isn't the best news, but he will take it.

…

"Cissa!"

Lucius' arms are around her, and Narcissa smiles in spite of the way her body aches at the touch. "I'm here," she whispers, her voice stronger now. "I'm here Lucius."

"Of course you're here," Bellatrix says with a huff. "Black blood is strong."

Narcissa manages a weak smile. "Bella, you came."

"And why wouldn't I? You're my sister," Bellatrix says flatly.

Before Narcissa can answer, a witch enters, and all Narcissa can see is the swaddled infant in her arms. "Draco! Is he-?"

The witch smiles, placing the blond boy in his mother's arms. "He gave us quite a scare," she says. "But this boy is going to be a fighter."

Lucius strokes Narcissa's hair. "Just like his mother."