Penelope's POV

"Ok." I whispered to myself holding the pregnancy in my trembling hands, praying that it is negative. "Three minutes."

Sitting impatiently beside the toilet seat, I can feel my pulse pounding in my temples, my legs shaking uncontrollably and my heart throbbing against the cage of my chest. For the past three weeks, I have been violently sick, feeling pale and tired and I was late. The very second that I realised just how late I was, my mind had flooded with all these dreams crashing around me about my future and how I am going to cope with caring for an infant whilst working at the Ministry.

It was almost funny, how a little white stick with one word on it could change my life forever in a matter of minutes. Perhaps, I would have found it within myself to let out a nervous chuckle if I wasn't in a state of having a nervous breakdown. I can barely believe that I would jeopardise my whole future by doing something so reckless, I am supposed to be the sensible one, the one who was going to achieve greatness and pursue my dreams. None of that included mothering an infant.

My parents would murder me for being so careless and not using protection and I would have to give up everything that I had worked hard to achieve. The last thing that I want is to be stuck in a boring, dead-end job that I hate with no future prospects all because of a mistake that I made early in life. I still live with my family and sure I have a job but that wasn't going to be enough to give the child, the life that it deserves. I want children, one day, but not like this; I always dreamed of being married with a nice house and a decent job.

It had been three weeks since I slept with Percy. I used to love Percy dearly; he is kind, ambitious and charming but things have changed since we were dating at Hogwarts. Percy is married with two daughters- Molly and Lucy and he lost his brother, Fred. It hasn't been an joyride for me either- my aunt died of lung cancer, my younger sister is addicted to drugs, my brother is missing, my parents are constantly arguing and my godparents died in a car accident. More importantly, we can't be happy whilst raising an infant.

… Or could we?

No. Absolutely not. That was an insane thought that I am having because I am considering a future where I am juggling motherhood and having a job in the Ministry. I was just second-guessing herself now, that's all. Percy would never walk out of her or their baby at their time of need. But how can I be certain? I don't know how he might feel about us being parents a couple of years down the line, especially with an infant in tow. Being parents changes things; I won't be myself anymore

I would be somebody's mother and I am not ready for that kind of responsibility and commitment. That baby would be dependant on me to take care of it and I don't know if I can cope with the everyday stresses of being a mother. All these thoughts were making these three minutes the worst of my life. Whatever the result of this test, how was I going to get through this? I don't believe in abortion and would never consider it. And, keeping the baby? Wasn't an option.

Percy and I would have talk, I know that. I don't even know what he would think of the pregnancy. Would he want me to keep it? Or will he run for the hills? The last thing that I want to do is force him into a relationship because I am pregnant. Percy has got so much going for him and he is on the road to greatness. It is not like I won't love the baby. Of course, I will love it with my whole heart but motherhood issue long term commitment that might not be ready for. What if I am a terrible mother and I ruin the child's life?

The result that I can only wish for is negative.

My train of thought was lost when I realized that three minutes had passed and her heart was in her throat just thinking about the result. I tried to take deep breaths in and out to try and control my emotions but I was fighting the urge to cry. Closing my eyes, I whispered to myself, "Calm down, Pen, everything is going to be okay. On the count of three."

"One…" I felt nauseous just thinking about the result. "Two…" I am going to faint. "Three." Opening my eyes, I hesitated for a moment before I looked down at the pregnancy test.

"Oh no!" I whispered, sobbing. "This cannot be happening."

Pregnant