While she recovered in St. Mungo's, he became a changed man. Always attentive, speaking in quiet tones, apologetic to the point she wanted to strangle him. She'd been numb her entire stay. Maybe it was the shock of losing her baby, maybe it was a side effect of all of the potions they kept insisting that she swallow. The only spark of emotion she experienced was when the Healer delivered the sad news that she'd been carrying the little girl they'd longed for. A tightening of her throat, a desire to cry, but no tears. They'd all been cried out those weeks in the broom cupboard. Her husband ran from the room and didn't return until the next morning still reeking of the fire whiskey he drank too much of. He didn't lay a hand on her in anger again for almost two years.