We arrived at Shell Cottage just after 10am and went inside. Through all the greetings and conversations that was going on between Bill, Fleur, Fred, and George, the only thing I could concentrate on was the smell of pancakes coming from the kitchen.
"Adrianna?" Fleur asked me.
"Sorry, what was that?" I said, turning my attention to her.
"Are you feeling well? You look a bit ill." She said.
"Just getting over a stomach bug actually and I'm quite famished." I replied and headed toward the kitchen, "Is that pancakes I smell?"
"Dragon-berry pancakez to be exact." She said as she followed me, "Would you like zome?"
"I would like twenty."
"Wow, the more time she spends with you two, the more you're rubbing off on her." Bill said as the three Weasley men entered the kitchen.
"Well we try." Fred said with a smirk.
George stayed silent.
"Well dig in, zere iz plenty for everyone." Fleur said and led me to a chair before taking a seat beside me.
After the boys took a seat, Bill spoke, "You can all have your own room until the others get here in a few days, but after that, you'll have to sleep in the living room."
Everything was pretty much silent after that. We all ate in peace, me savouring every bite. I liked it here at Shell Cottage, it's like the little house I pictured. The little house I could call home, If I could find someone to share it with.
An hour later I found myself in my temporary room at Shell Cottage. I told the others I was tired and just wanted to take a nap. I didn't get back to sleep after George left me last night, so I was going to try and get some sleep now. Something told me it was going to be futile though.
I lay down on top of the covers facing the small window opposite the door. I felt horrible…I felt sick. I don't know why I felt like this but it was like ending things with George was the wrong thing to do, even though it was right. Or I was telling myself it was right, as least.
I tried to clear my mind and shut my eyes to get some sleep but I heard something coming through the vent. I listened closer and realised my vent must be connected to one of the twins rooms because I could hear the two of them talking.
"What's going on with you today?" I heard Fred ask, "It's like you came back from moms all depressed."
"I'm not depressed, I'm just not feeling well." George replied after a moment of silence, "I think I caught that bug that Adrianna had."
"So this has something to with Adrianna…" Not a question.
"Did you not hear what I just said?"
"I heard you loud and clear." Fred replied, "I knew she was going to hurt you." He had a small trace of anger in his tone.
"No! It's nothing like that."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"I could talk to her again, if you want."
"No, it's alri- Hold on, did you just say you talked to her?" George said, I couldn't tell what kind of emotion was in is voice. "What was it you said to her exactly?"
"Nothing."
"Fred…" It was a warning.
"I just told her not to do anything unless she means it." That's more or less the truth.
"Why would you do that?"
"I was just looking out for you. I didn't want you to get hurt!" He was on the defense.
There was a few moments of silence and I thought George was going to explode but all I heard was the bed creak from that room indicating someone sat down…probably George.
"It was probably for the best anyway." He said quietly. I felt my stomach drop at those words and I all of a sudden felt nauseous again.
I got up and exited my room as quickly and quietly as possible and practically ran to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me before I wretched into the toilet. Two days in a row I've thrown up and it's all because of my guilty conscience. I hurt George, which is the very reason why I didn't want to start anything with him in the first place. I wretched again. I just had to go against my better judgment. Again.
I got up off the bathroom floor, rinsed my mouth and then looked in the mirror. I looked like crap. I was wearing an old baggy navy sweater, I was pale, my hair was up in a messy bun, the loose strands stuck to the side of my face. My eyeliner was also a bit smudge seeing how I was rubbing my eyes while I was trying to get to sleep.
I pushed some of my hair out of my face, which just made it stick out, and then splashed some cold water on my face. I tried smoothing my hair back against my head and gave up with a sigh. I'll get a shower later, I thought as I opened the bathroom door and bumped into a firm chest.
I looked up and came nose to nose with George. I took a step back, fidgeting with the hem of my sweater. This is the first time we had contact since our encounter in the night. It made me nervous, especially after the conversation I just heard.
"You're still not feeling well?" He asked. He was concerned.
I shook my head no, "Not really. It might be a little more serious than I thought. Maybe the flu."
"Did you need anything?" He asked quietly.
"No thank you." I replied.
"Well if you do…" He left the statement open but I knew what he meant. I nodded and walked past him back to my room.
I wanted to look at least a little presentable for lunch so I changed my sweater to a more form fitting one. I used the baggy one to wipe off my eyeliner. I then redid the messy bun my hair was in. I felt a little more better now that I looked almost half decent. I took one last look in the body mirror hanging on the back of my door and then left to the kitchen.
When I entered I was surprised to see Tonks there with Fleur getting lunch ready. I couldn't even contain how happy I was to see her. Also, her being here meant that Remus was here too. I took another small step forward into the kitchen and they must have heard me because they both turned to look.
"Adri , it's great to see you…" She looked thoughtful as she studied me, "I swear you got fatter." She then came over to me.
"You would say something like that wouldn't you." I said with a small laugh and hugged her.
A gerber was then heard and I looked over to the kitchen table where a baby carrier was situated. I walked over and saw a beautiful baby boy smiling at me. I smiled widely in return and picked him up.
"You must be Teddy. I'm you're Auntie Adri. I'm so happy I am finally able to meet you." I told him quietly as I rocked him back and forth.
Fleur stood smiling at the sink as she watch the scene. Tonks came over and stood beside me.
"We named you god-mother. I hope you don't mind." She said.
I looked at her and could feel myself tear up, "Why would you do a thing like that? As if I'm a good role-model." I said with a shake of my head.
"You'll make an excellent god-mother. Like Harry will make an excellent god-father." Tonks said.
"You made Harry god-father?" I thought as I looked up at the ceiling, "Hmmmm, I think he'll be happy." I said as I looked down at Teddy.
"I'm going to be your favourite aunt you know. I'm going to spoil you and shower you with all the love you need." I told him. "I sound corny don't I? Well, I promise you when you get older I'll be a little less of a sap. We don't want you growing up to be soft and a pushover. But just remember, a little sensitivity doesn't hurt."
"I see you've met Teddy." I turned and saw Remus standing in the doorway. Bill slightly behind him with Fred and George.
"Yeah…he's beautiful." I said quietly and passed him to Tonks.
"He is, isn't he?" Remus was so proud. You could see it in his face and hear it in is voice. I walked to him and gave him a hug. "Good to see you again."
"You too. It feels like it's been years."
"Well, it's been almost one." He replied as we broke the hug.
"Zo, who wantz lunch?" Fleur asked.
Everyone sat down to eat and there was a bunch of chatter all around the table. I was sitting on the end of one side, George next to me, and Fred next to him. Across from us was Tonks and Remus. Bill and Fleur on the ends. I was pushing my food around on my plate, not feeling all that hungry. It looked delicious and I wanted to eat it but I still felt a bit sick.
"You should at least try and eat a little." George whispered to me.
"I'm just not hungry." I whispered back.
"You'll feel better when you eat."
I could tell he wasn't going to let this go so I took a fork full and put it in my mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "Happy?" I asked.
"Much." He grinned and I rolled my eyes as I took another bite. I didn't want to admit it, but he was right. I did feel better.
I looked up from my plate and caught the eye of Tonks. She winked at me then and I was confused. Well, I was confused before I figured out why she was winking and then my eyes just widened. I shook my head while mouthing 'no'. She thinks there is something going on between me and George. Even though there was, there isn't now and it was nothing serious. She had to know this.
She just eyed me in return as if to say 'ssuuuuuure', in the most sarcastic way possible. I just let out a sigh and shook my head again. There is no talking to her…or signalling to her in my case.
After lunch was over, me, Fleur and Tonks started to clean up while the boys went outside to play a bit of quidditch. It was then that Tonks bombarded me and Fleur joined in soon after.
"I can't believe I didn't notice when I first saw you!" Tonks said, "Especially since I was the same way when I found out."
"What are you talking about?" I asked as I washed the dishes.
"You of course! When are you due?" She asked.
That's when Fleur drop what she was doing and came over, "Due? Forget zat, who iz ze fazer?"
I looked between the two of them, "What?"
"You mean you don't know?" Tonks asked, "I thought you were more responsible than that Adri. How could you not know who the father is?"
"I seriously don't know what either of you are talking about!" I was nearly at a shout.
"Oh dear." Tonks said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Adrianna…yer pregnant." Fleur said.
I laughed, "No I'm not."
Tonks put her hand on my shoulder, "Yes you are."
My laughing slowly died down and I felt dizzy. I looked at Fleur and then at Tonks and then everything went black.
I awoke on the couch and put my hand to my head, only to feel a cold cloth. I sat up, letting the cloth fall to my lap. I looked around but no one was in the room. That's when I heard chatter from the kitchen. I just flopped down on the couch again and put my arm over my eyes. I tried to remember everything that happened before I passed out.
We ate, I helped clean up, Tonks and Fleur started asking me questions. I opened my eyes with a start and sat up again. I felt panicked all of a sudden and I was almost at the point of hyperventilation.
"No worries, we didn't tell anyone." Tonks said, coming into the room with a cup of tea. "Drink this up. It's good for you and the baby."
Just the word baby made me dizzy. I was pregnant. That would explain my nausea and supposed weight gain. I tried to think how this could have happened and thought back over the past three months. We used protection every single night we were together…except one. That was the first night. We were too spell cast from the lust chocolate to think straight.
"It's a lot to take in isn't it?" Tonks said, sitting down beside me.
"I wish I was still oblivious." I whispered as I sipped my tea.
Tonks put her arm around me like a mother would and hugged me close, "You do know who the father is don't you?" She asked.
I nodded, "It's George." It was so quiet, I barely made a sound but I knew she heard it. She didn't say anything to that, it's like she expected it. I told her how it started anyway, "He gave me one of his experiments. He failed to mention it was a lust chocolate though. After that…well, we just sought comfort in each other."
"Are you going to tell him, now that you know?"
I shook my head, "I don't want him to be distracted with this when we go help Harry. Any type of distraction could get him killed."
"You're still going to the battle?" She asked incredulous.
I looked at her as if she was crazy, "Of course I am. I can't just sit back and do nothing while people are out there risking their lives."
"You're not just thinking about your own life anymore." Tonks said.
"Neither are you but both you and Remus are going into battle. You're leaving Teddy here knowing there's a chance he could be orphaned."
"Don't try to lecture me on what I'm doing. I love Teddy more than anything. That's why I have to go into battle. I want to make sure he grows up in a world without the fear and discrimination in today's society. If I die, he'll know it was for him.
You on the other hand may not even be giving your child a chance at life." She finished.
"I have to go Tonks." I told her, "I feel in my heart that this is something I have to do. I promise I'll be careful."
"I suppose there is no talking to you then. Come on, let's go eat dinner."
"Dinner?" I said as I stood up with her, "It feels like I just ate lunch."
"Trust me, you're hungry even if it doesn't feel like it. As soon as you eat you'll feel much better."
"Alright, you force me." I said as I followed her into the kitchen and took the spot I sat at earlier for breakfast and lunch.
"Glad to see you're awake Adri." Remus said.
"Thank you, I've been feeling a little under the weather lately." I replied.
"Well I hope you get better soon."
"Something tells me she will." Tonks replied for me as she took her seat beside Remus.
I was in the washroom again, getting ready for bed. I had my shower I promised myself and I felt great. My wet hair was cascading down my back and I was in shorts and a t-shirt. I looked at myself in the mirror and my eyes moved down to my stomach. I looked down at it as I placed a hand on it. A small smile broke onto my face as I thought about what was growing in side me. A child…my child.
I dropped my hand and moved to leave the bathroom. As soon as I opened the door I was pushed back in the bathroom, someone coming after and shutting the door. I was confused as I looked at him.
"Fred? What are you doing?" I asked.
"Is it true?" He asked.
My heart leapt into my throat, "Is what true?"
He placed a hand on my stomach. I took a step back.
"How did you find out?" I asked. I was scared.
"I overheard you and Tonks talking earlier." He said, "I had to confirm it for myself. How long have you known?"
"After lunch." I replied.
"I can't believe I'm going to be an uncle!" Fred exclaimed excitedly.
"SHHHHHHHHHHH!" I covered his mouth with my hand.
"Does George know?" I asked.
"I didn't tell him. I think you should. And even though I think you should tell him now, I can't make you." He replied. My panic died down at that statement. "You just better take care of Fred Jr. while you're out there." He said.
"You know I will Fred."
"And tell George as soon as You Know Who is dead." He said.
"I promise."
"Good."
"No what makes you think it's a Fred Jr.?" I asked.
"Well, he has to be named after his favourite uncle."
"What if 'he' is a 'she'?" I asked.
"Then you name her Winifred, of course. Either way, he/she will have my name."
"We'll see." I said with a laugh.
"Adri?" Fred asked after a moment of silence, I nodded for him to continue. "Do you have feelings for George?"
I looked to the side and concentrated on the bathroom tiles, "…No." I said quietly.
Fred put both his hands on my shoulders and I looked at him, "You keep telling yourself that." He said with a wide grin.
