Something About Me…
By: LittleLauren:]
Chapter 7: Sacrificing Everything
So far, Gavin and I have been strong for the most part. Only one thing seemed to bother us, and it wasn't the people who stared and whispered. It was the people that made us a laughing stock. This problem wasn't just with Cindy and her gang of friends, but it was shown in all of the other three Houses. Gavin was even beat up a couple of times by a bunch of Ravenclaw sixth years. They used to call him many stupid and vulgar names just because he was going to be a father at sixteen. However, we didn't want to give them the satisfaction of letting them get to us.
Rose tried her hardest to get me to forgive her. I did forgive her, of course, but she didn't know that. She's one of those people who thought she wasn't forgiven unless she apologized herself. That's an Aunt Hermione quality right there. I remember telling her that the news was going to get out anyway. She just made it easier for me to explain to my parents when they knew before I told them. I didn't have to face the "first reaction", so to speak.
She also told me that people aren't just bothering me and Gav, but they're also affecting my family as well. She explained that Al told her that James was never going to speak to me again.
Great.
When I thought that my whole family disowned me at the end of the fifth month of my pregnancy, there was an uproar that started in the Great Hall…
I waddled in the Great Hall with Joey and Leon. As usual, people were staring and whispering. Even though it became a regular routine, it put an invisible steak in my heart every time. I was as human as the next person, and I felt the same way as a regular human being. My heart broke when broken, and whenever my classmates decided it was polite to point at me, I always had the urge to cry. Yet, I didn't, and that's what made me feel strong.
When I sat down, Sam nudged me to look at who was walking down the row between the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws. I immediately saw Gavin, who sported another black eye and a few bruises. That was the last straw… I didn't think I could take this ridicule anymore. He sat down next to me quietly, ignoring all of our looks of shock and concern. "So," he asked me conversationally, as if nothing was out of order. "How was your day?"
I glared at him and whispered harshly, "What happened to you?"
"Nothing," he said casually, grabbing a meat pie.
"Oh, come on! Who was it this time?"
"The same gang," he admitted quietly.
"The Ravenclaws?!"
"Yeah." I shot up and began to stalk over to the Ravenclaw table, but Gavin stopped me halfway. "Don't… that's what they want you to do."
"I don't care," I cried. "I said before, if they do it again, I'll beat the shit out of them."
He caught me in his arms as I struggled to pass him. "Stop, Lils," he whispered in my ear. "I don't want you getting hurt."
"Look at the lovely couple!" boomed one of the Ravenclaws and their table, which was the second table from ours. As much as I was the main topic of everyone's conversations these days, I hated being the centre of attention.
"Yeah!" chimed in another. "I think they're discussing on how to use the contraceptive charm, Rodger."
"Aw, rotten luck then, Davey!" shouted Rodger. 'Don't even go there,' I thought threateningly, grasping my wand firmly in my robes.
"Why's that?" Davey inquired, mocking curiosity. All of a sudden, the Great Hall went completely quiet.
"Because," replied Rodger loudly. "They're a little late!" The group nearest them sniggered.
I was just about to pounce those sixth year bastards, but Gavin held me back even more, holding me by the forearms. "Be strong, Lils," he whispered. Tears were silently streaking down my face.
"Oh look!" laughed Davey. "The little mummy's got her knickers in a twist!" 'Where were the bloody professors when you needed them?' I thought desperately.
"Apparently, it seems GavGav has been in little mummy's knickers for sometime now." Many people laughed this time. "Probably because he wants to feel important to someone."
"Yeah," replied Davey. "I hear that he doesn't get much love from his little mummy."
He loosened up his grip on my shoulders. "No," he muttered quietly, yet dangerously.
"That's enough," I heard a familiar voice call out of all the clamor. Albus stood up slowly from the Gryffindor table, calmly walked over to the Ravenclaws, and said, "That's my sister you're talking about."
"Oh! I'm sorry Mr. Knocked-up's-brother," laughed Rodger. "Why don't you tell your sister to go back to slut school? I think they're missing-"
Rodger was brought to an abrupt stop by Al, sweet and gentle Albus Severus Potter, who punched Rodger so hard that he was actually pushed to the ground. Al reached down, picked Rodger up by his robes, and said, "Her name is Lily. She's the bravest girl I've ever seen. And Gavin is way much more of a man than you'll ever be, you bastard." With that he walked out, winking at me at the last second.
That made me, once again, hopeful that I wasn't alone. Yet, once again, there was another hill for me to climb: Rodger, apparently, wrote to his father, who was a Ministry of Magic official, telling him about this little "incident". Truthfully, I still don't know how he managed to skip the part where he's the one who started it all. Apparently, Albus could've gotten arrested because he's of-age. In legal Ministry terms, it's called an "assault" if an of-age witch or wizard attacks an underage witch and wizard.
Al respectfully went to his hearing without a fuss. It lasted for about an hour, and he came back to school the same day. His sentence was very small: he received the trace again, and he would be able to get his privileges back when he turned eighteen, which would be in September. Al took his punishment like the way it was, but he did say that the Wizengamot wanted to see me and Gavin. I remember freaking out over this. However, Al said that they'd give me a letter to inform me.
And so they did…
"Oh crap," I muttered inwardly. We were all in the Great Hall for breakfast when Bear dropped an official looking letter with the famous "MoM" sealing the envelope. I took a deep breath because I had a feeling this was about the baby.
Gavin wasn't in the Great Hall that morning… he studied all night according to Joey. He said that he wanted to catch up.
I didn't have time to open the letter because it started to open itself and read aloud:
Dear Miss Potter,
We are regretful to inform you that you are to attend a hearing on 3 April, 2024 to discuss the matter of your unexpected pregnancy. We've sent a letter to your parents, Mr. Harry Potter and Mrs. Ginevra Potter, regarding the hearing. You are to attend with them only. You may not bring anyone else.
Because of your condition, we insists you not to worry about the measures we are about to take to help you and Mr. Gavin Owens make the right decision for the child.
Hope you are coping well,
Grace Howe, Secretary of Magic
Well, that just made my day. 'I didn't need the Ministry of Magic to tell me what to do with my life… that's what parents were for!' I thought. 'It's all that bloody Rodger Price's fault! I swear, the next time I see him, I'm going to-"
"Lily!" panted Gav, waking me out of my reverie. He stood behind me and shoved a letter in my face. It had the same Ministry seal on the envelope.
I turned around in my seat to face him. "I know."
"They can't do this!" he cried as he sat down beside me. "Can they?"
"I guess so."
Gav sighed. "We'll make it through… you'll see."
"When's your hearing?" I asked him.
"Er…" he began, looking back at his letter. "2 April."
"That's odd."
"What's odd?"
"Why would your hearing be first if I'm the one having the baby?"
He pondered this for a moment. "Maybe they think I don't want her, and then they'll surprise attack you and agree to what I say."
"Maybe… we'll see."
That week, my dad arrived to excuse me from all of my classes so we could prepare what we were going to do and say during the hearing. I remember six days before my hearing, I was in my room, staring at the ceiling with nothing else to do but daydream. All of a sudden, I heard the front door open and close, and then the voice of James called out…
"HULLO! Anyone home?" His voice sounded a tad different… but he was nineteen. Voices change over time, I guessed.
I ran down stairs… well, as best as I could… and replied, "Dad's at work and Mum is grocery shopping."
He looked startled to see me, and I didn't blame him. How would you react if you saw your knocked-up sister unexpectantly when she was supposed to be in school? "Oh," said James when he recovered. "It's you." He proceeded into the house, and landed in the kitchen. I followed him quietly, watching him search in the refrigerator and cupboards. "Is there anything edible in this house?"
"Like I said," I replied. "Mum's getting food."
He looked at me again, then his eyes diverted to my stomach, which was getting noticeably bigger. James sat down at the table and rummaged through some old Daily Prophet papers.
I sighed and sat down across from him, holding my head up with my hand. "I know you hate me because of what I am and what I've become. I understand… trust me. I understand that you wouldn't speak in my direction when I was sorted as a Slytherin. I understand that you'd call me a slut when you saw me and Joey in the boys dormitory at that party… for the record he's gay, and he's been gay even when you saw me with him." The whole time I spoke, James kept his head down, but I knew he was listening. He always has this concentrating look on his face when he's listening to something important. "And I understand that you've disowned me because I became pregnant. Just remember this, James Sirius Potter…" I paused, in which he lifted his head up tentatively, and I smiled, "I forgive you."
He appeared as shocked as I felt. "Really?"
I nodded, grasping his hand in mine. "You're my brother… I'll even love you if you were planning to humiliate me in front of the whole family tomorrow morning… mind you, I wouldn't be very happy."
He chuckled and said, "I wouldn't do that. I guess I was just acting immature."
"When?" I asked. "Two minutes ago?"
"What?"
"You weren't talking to me, like, two minutes ago."
"Oh yeah. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
There was a slight pause, then James whispered, "I wasn't going to tell anyone until mum and dad came home but… I'm getting married!"
"Oh my Dumbledores!" I cried excitedly, jumping out of my seat. "That's amazing! Congratulations!"
"Thanks," he said, smiling brightly.
"One question though."
"Go ahead."
"Who is she exactly?"
He smiled even more, almost blushing, and said, "Her name is Amber, and she's the most beautiful girl in the whole world."
"I don't think I've heard of her before."
"You didn't… she's a muggle." I was shocked. James was always so traditional, and said that he was going to marry a witch. I guessed times have changed for the better. "She has the most amazing hazel eyes and long dark brown hair. I met her at my part-time job I started last year."
"Where did you get a job where you'd find a muggle for a wife?" I inquired him, teasing him a bit.
"I work at that café around the corner to get some muggle money, and I ended up getting a muggle as well."
"That's great! I'm really happy for you." Maybe I said that last statement a little too bitterly because James looked unconvinced. He stood up and helped me up as well.
He gave me a long-awaited hug and he said, "I really don't know what you're going through, so I had no right to overreact like I did. Dad told me about how much you like Gavin, and I had to take that into consideration. I also had to tell myself that you're not a little girl anymore." I stepped back a bit, feeling a slight tug in my stomach. "You are so much more than a little girl."
"James," I said, my throat tightening up. "You're gonna make me cry.
"Well, don't," he said simply. "I hate it when people cry… I get emotional too."
I laughed, despite the fact that a tear ran down my face. "Oh come off it… you're never emotional."
"Yeah I am! Remember that time Al dropped a whiz-bang on my foot? I cried like I never cried before."
"Wasn't that, like, ten years ago?"
"Geese, Lils!" he exclaimed. "I'm trying to make you feel better, and you're just killing it!"
For the next five days, James and I were becoming as close as we were before I became a Slytherin. He even allowed me to meet Amber before the rest of the family found out about the engagement.
She was really nice. Apparently, she knew about magic and about my pregnancy, which indirectly told me that James did actually care about me before we made amends. She looked like one of those models in Witch Vogue. There were times when I wanted to push her into the nearest restaurant and shove everything on the menu down her throat because she was just so bloody skinny!
The morning of the hearing was horrible. I woke up late, got dressed as quickly as I could, ate my breakfast just as fast, which lead for me to unfortunately throw up right before we were to leave by the visitors entrance to the Ministry. My mum and dad looked a mess as well. I really didn't think of how they felt about the whole situation at hand… until the hearing that is…
"Lily Luna Potter," said the Head of the Court. "Lives at number seven Blake Point, Esher. Age sixteen, currently learning Magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a fifth year, and nineteen weeks and six days with-child as of today?"
"Yes sir," I replied timidly.
"We understand that you are underage, and would like to know what you are going to do when the child is born." The judge wasn't harsh, which I was grateful for. Dad said the former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was the Head of Court when he was tried in his fifth year. He also said that Fudge wasn't as nice as he expected.
"Er…" I thought. "I really don't know. I know that I want what's best for her, but I don't know how I'd be able to take care of her if I keep her. And I don't know anybody who'd be willing to let me be in her life without being the actual legal mother."
"So do you want to keep the baby?"
"I do," I said earnestly. "But, like you said, I am underage."
"We've talked to Gavin Owens previously, and he suggested something that will change his life forever." I glanced up at mum, who looked as confused as me.
"What exactly would that suggestion be?" croaked my dad, gripping my hand tightly.
"Well," started the judge. "Mr. Owens fully agreed to keep the baby unless you thought otherwise, but under strict condition. He is willing, from this day forward, to work in Hogsmeade on every weekend and everyday in the summer. By then the baby will be born, I presume. He proposes he'll stay with the baby in Hogsmeade village, in a flat provided by the Ministry, while you stay at school for the remaining years-"
"No!" I interrupted harshly. "You can't make him do that! He wants to be a Healer! He's the one that knows what he wants, and being in school will help him achieve it! You can't crush his dreams like that!"
"Mind you, Miss Potter," replied the judge. "I did not make this proposal… Mr. Owens devised the whole plan." I slumped in my chair, speechless. I couldn't believe that Gavin would do that! Of course I was flattered, but he did not have to sacrifice everything. The judge smiled. "You have a wonderful companion looking after you, Miss Potter. I assure you he did not take no for an answer.
"Also," he continued, on a more authoritative note. "On behalf of the Ministry of Magic, we proclaim that if you and Gavin Owens do not raise at least two thousand Galleons as a loan for all expenses given by the Ministry before the summer of next, we shall have the authority to put the baby in the Marauders Orphanage. We shall ask that no family members are to give them any money," he indicated to my parents, who both nodded automatically. Then he looked at me again. "The same conditions apply if there's any sexual activity between you and Mr. Owens in the presence of the baby, and if you do not have passing grades in all of your subjects. Have I made myself absolutely clear?"
I smiled, relieved. "Yes sir."
I didn't really care what else he said because I was just told, by law, that I could keep my baby! Even though this meant that Gavin would have to learn how to take care of a baby first. He chose to sacrifice everything for his family, and I thought that was very noble of him. I began to think that Gavin and I were sorted in the wrong house… we could've done well in Gryffindor. I guess it was our destiny to meet in Slytherin.
A/N: I have officially completed this story in writing, and all I have to do is type, which is hard for me to do because I don't focus very well. Hahaha! There are a total of 11 chapters in this story, and I am working on the sequel (or as my friend De would say, "the Squeak-quel"). I feel that a sequel is needed for the full story line to be understood, so that is what I am going to do, and nobody can stop me! So, stay tuned!
Reviews are like pie… I love 'em!
LL!
