Nineteen Years Later
"When the time draws nearer, we can assist you in finding a suitable substitute to teach your potions classes," Minerva told me and I nodded in understanding. I hadn't intended for the headmistress to be around when I was told the results of my test, but she happened into the ward at the most inopportune time and it wasn't as if I could just obliviate the woman. Although the thought was tempting considering the amused grin on her face.
"Thank you… both of you," I said. Poppy was smiling at me. Her smile was so big I thought she might hurt something. The usually stoic woman gave my hand an encouraging squeeze before she hugged me. I instinctively hugged her back. I was still stunned by the results. It didn't make sense, "I just… it's not like… I mean…"
Minerva laughed and pulled me in for a hug. I, of course, hugged back because it was hard not to become close to people you went through a war with. I adored these women. They had been there with me throughout so many years of my life. They were like aunts to me - much as the majority of the staff members felt like family - and just like any familial relations there were times I would like to disown them. Which described how I currently felt about Minerva for laughing at my current predicament.
Poppy nudged me towards the door with a reminder, "Be sure to tell your Mum or you'll never hear the end of it."
"I will," and I would because Poppy wasn't wrong about my mother. But as I walked out of the hospital ward, my mind was buzzing with excitement, fear and confusion.
Pregnant. Poppy said I was pregnant. I was pregnant. Again.
How did I… no, scratch that, I knew exactly how I ended up pregnant, but we had been so careful. Three months. It was Halloween and three months ago was… Oh. We were careful every time except the night we had a bit too much to drink while celebrating Neville's birthday. Not to mention the boys were out of the house with the grandparents so there was plenty of celebrating…
I was too old to have another child. Sure I was a witch so technically I wasn't too old, but I was ready to have fun with my life. Frank was in his third year, the twins were in their first. It was time to enjoy my time with my family and go on adventures with the children much like Andrew and I did with Mom when we were younger. It was not an opportune time to start all over again with a baby: O'dark thirty feedings, crying, teething, pooping and diapers!
I was idly rubbing my belly as I walked down the hall. A baby… I was pregnant… I was having trouble wrapping my mind around the news. On the other hand, I missed the feel of a cooing bundle in my arms and the smell of a freshly bathed infant.
We were going to have another child. Wow.
Maybe we'd finally have a little girl. I was hoping for a girl when I was pregnant with Matthew and Mark. I wondered who would be more excited by the news of another baby: Mom, Gran or Winky.
I pulled out my cell phone and sent Neville a text asking him to meet me at the Entrance Hall before the feast. I couldn't very well tell him via a text. Well I could, but that just seemed too impersonal. Not to mention that dinner was due to start in less than thirty minutes so I didn't have much time to procrastinate. The last thing I wanted was Neville to find out about the pregnancy in an announcement at the Halloween feast in front of the entire school.
I looked at my cell phone and started to do the math. It was 1647 hrs in Scotland, we were 9 hours ahead of the East coast so it was only 0547 there and… meh, my parents would be happy with the news regardless of the time difference. I sent Mom a text and made my way down the marble staircase.
There was no sign of Neville, but my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. It still took me by surprise that cell phones continued to work even with the new wards surrounding the school grounds. I looked at the number before answering and had to laugh at who it was, "Hullo, Daddy."
"My baby is having a baby." The Colonel said in an oddly sing song voice.
I giggled at the man. He may be old, but he was just as giddy as a kid at Christmas when it came to his grandchildren. Andrew hadn't had a child yet, but I supposed getting married first would make the parents happier. I teased Dad, "That is what the test said, yes."
"Think it's a girl this time?" He asked hopefully.
"I don't know. I'd like that, but I don't want to know beforehand. I rather like being surprised." I lowered my voice as students passed on their way to the Great Hall, "I haven't had a chance to tell Neville yet."
"You told your parents before you told your husband?" Dad didn't sound very impressed. Men, they had a habit of sticking together on certain points. This one seemed to be important for some reason. Minerva and Poppy were making their way into the Great Hall. They both gave me knowing looks and I rolled my eyes at them.
"I didn't want to do this via text and he was out in Greenhouse Three with his last class. I asked him to meet me before the feast, but…"
The Colonel laughed, "We all know how difficult it is to get that man of yours out of a greenhouse."
"That is an unfortunate truth," I agreed.
"Your mom wants to know how far along you are," Dad continued.
"Twelve weeks," I admitted. Dad snorted apparently having done the math and I grinned, "Not a word, old man."
Dad laughed harder and soon Mom was on the line, "We'll be there for you, honey."
"Thanks, Mom." I was looking out the door and was growing concerned when I saw his students coming up the walk without him. I sighed, "Neville isn't here yet. I don't know if I will get a chance to tell him until after the feast."
"Don't worry honey," Mom reassured me, "He won't care when you tell him. He'll be thrilled."
"I hope you're right." I bit my lip. "I have to go. The students are arriving."
"I love you, Andi." Mom said and I could hear dad in the background shouting his love as well, "Give our love Neville and kiss the boys for me."
"I love you both, too." I ended the call and hid my cell phone in my pocket just as the third year students came into the Entrance Hall. The majority of them greeted me: some rather loudly others more subdued and my son gave me a small wave.
"Hullo, Professor Auntie!" The rapscallion said.
I ruffled James' hair, "Good evening, Mr. Potter." I winked at Frank and watched as the two joined their friends making their way through the crowd to the Gryffindor table.
As the last of the students made their way through the Entrance Hall, strong arms wound their way around my waist. His nose nuzzled into my neck and his voice whispered warmly across my skin, "Hullo, love."
The man still managed to give me chills even after fifteen years of marriage. Only we were running out of time. The Halloween feast was set to begin soon so I didn't delay telling him, "You have two minutes to stop what you're doing so I can tell you my news before the feast starts."
"Can't it wait?" He asked while pulling me back into an alcove. "I haven't seen you all day."
"You were in the greenhouses all day and I was down in the dungeons," I giggled at him when he pressed me against the stone wall in the shadows and promptly began snogging me. I breathlessly reminded him, "Nev… we're not students anymore."
"We didn't do this enough when we were." I laughed, but he wasn't wrong. I had only moved to the country the winter of our final year, not to mention the stupid war got in the way. Although we did plenty of making out when we were both apprentices.
I groaned when the Great Hall doors closed with a loud click. Time was up. Well it was his fault so I slipped out from the alcove and made my way to the feast. When I reached the double doors, he slid his arms around my waist again and pressed in close to me asking, "What news did you want to tell me?"
I gave him a saucy smile over my shoulder and informed him, "I'm pregnant."
Unfortunately I had managed to open the Great Hall doors and taken three steps inside before what I said clicked in my husband head. Neville asked, rather loudly, "You're what?"
I stopped walking and turned to him. I took a calming breath and told him in a clear voice so he wouldn't mistake me again, "I said I'm pregnant."
"How are you…" Neville looked around when the entire school tittered at his question. I hadn't realized everyone was listening, but I supposed I should have known they would be. Neville flailed his arms and retorted, "Well, I bloody well now how-"
"Neville!" I reprimanded. I mean really. It was one thing to think such a thing, but to say it in front of the entire school? I bit my lip nervously. He didn't seem very happy, shocked yes, but not happy so I had to find out for certain. So naturally I put the man on the spot, "Does this mean you're not happy?"
"Not happy?" Neville blinked and apparently noticed how worried I looked. He gave me his dimpled grin and scooped me in his arms. He did a silly twirl, swinging me in his arms and laughed. "Love, I'm ecstatic! Just stunned is all."
He set me on my feet and kissed me. The school cheered at that point. Our hug soon became a group event when three smaller versions of my husband joined in. I kissed the top of each of my sons' heads, "Sorry you had to hear it that way."
Frank laughed, "It's okay, Mum. Hearing Dad yell he knows how to make you pregnant was much more embarrassing… for him."
Mark wrinkled his nose, "Yeah, Dad. Knowing Mum is pregnant is weird enough. We don't have to be reminded that you two still have sex."
Matthew made gagging noises and Neville ruffled his hair, "That's enough of that."
On our way to the head table, we walked the boys back to the Gryffindor table, Mark skittered off to the Ravenclaw table and his friends. Many of the students, mostly the girls, were congratulating us as we walked by until James piped in, "I can't wait to send that video to Mum!"
Neville groaned and practically begged the boy, "Tell me you didn't get me yelling that in front of the entire school…"
I looked around at the student body and noted numerous heads bent over their phones. I grinned at my husband, "I think it's too late."
"Maybe we need to ban all these mobiles…" Neville muttered and pulled my chair out for me.
I slid into my seat and patted his hand. He was so sweet, but there was no getting rid of the cell phones because I wasn't about to give up mine. Speaking of my phone, my text messages were blowing up. Reactions from my friends as their children sent them the news, no doubt.
Neville pulled his own phone from his pocket when he received three text messages in a row. Apparently he forgot to turn off the sound. Neville groaned when he read them, "Did you have to teach Gran how to use one of these things. She's going nonstop about how I didn't call her to tell the news, she had to hear it from your mother!"
Minerva didn't bother hiding her amusement when she said, "If memory serves, you were one of the many people fighting to bring our world into this century. It would appear one should be careful what they wish for, Professor Longbottom."
AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed taking you there.
Ajellah
