Date: April 28, 2008

Chapter 12: Headfirst into Trouble

Angelina surveyed her stomach in the mirror. She was in her old room in her mother's house, collecting some old things she'd left behind. It still wasn't obvious she was pregnant, but just to make sure no one could tell, she had been wearing baggy shirts lately.

'Angelina, dear? I found some old shirts and things in the - ' Her mother came into the room just as Angelina pulled her jumper back down. 'What were you doing?' she asked suspiciously.

'Nothing,' Angelina lied. 'I was just looking around. I miss this place.'

'Why was your shirt up?' her mother went on. 'And I'm sure you can't see the entire room in that tiny mirror. Angelina, what's going on?'

'It's nothing,' Angelina said quickly. Her hands fluttered to her stomach and she moved them a second too late. The laundry basket fell from her mother's hands.

'Angelina,' she said in a hushed voice. 'Are you pregnant?' The look on her daughter's face was enough to tell her the truth. 'Angelina Marie Johnson, how could you?!' she screamed. 'What have I taught you? Always use protection and never have sex with just anyone!'

'We did use protection!' Angelina shrieked back. 'It must just not have worked! And he's not just anyone! We're engaged!' She flung out her left hand and her mother gasped.

'He doesn't love you! And now he's only marrying you so no one can say the baby is illegitimate!' Angelina's mother yelled.

'How can you say that about George?' Angelina screamed. 'You like him!'

'I liked him before he knocked you up!' her mother shrieked.

Angelina gasped. Then she grabbed her purse. 'I'm leaving,' she said decidedly, and she slammed the door behind her.

'It was awful, George,' Angelina said. She was lying on George's lap and he was stroking her hair. 'She just kept yelling these terrible things at me, saying you don't love me and you're only marrying me for the baby.' She scoffed. 'As if. We're in love, aren't we, George?'

'Do you even need to ask?' George laughed, kissing her.

'This whole thing has got me thinking, though,' Angelina said. 'I don't want your family to find out like my mum. I'd rather tell them ourselves, wouldn't you, George?'

'I suppose,' George said warily.

'They'll find out one way or another, George,' Angelina pointed out. 'It's best they hear it from us, don't you think?'

'Yeah.' George sighed heavily. 'When do you reckon we should tell them?'

'Next Sunday? We always meet up for lunch.'

'Alright.' George sighed again. 'But brace yourself - my mum can be right ferocious when it comes to us kids.'

Angelina twisted her hands uncomfortably. She was sitting in one of the Weasleys' spare chairs. Arthur and Molly hadn't made one for her yet, as she wasn't part of the family.*

It was loud as usual in the Burrow, and when she had walked in she had almost tripped on little James, who was running around half starkers. Behind him was Ginny, who was attempting to catch him. 'Hi, Angelina,' she sighed. 'Better hope you don't have any of these soon,' she said, gesturing to James. 'They're a right nightmare.' Angelina gave a weak chuckle and sat down at the table.

'Lunch, everyone!' called Mrs Weasley over the ruckus, and those words brought everyone to the table like a magnet. George and Angelina didn't talk much while eating, but at one point George took off her ring and hid it in her pocket so their news wouldn't be announced too soon.

Finally, when everyone was done and Mrs Weasley had cleared up the table, George and Angelina stood up, Angelina slipping the ring back on her finger. 'We've got some news,' yelled George, and everyone quieted down.

Angelina held up her left hand. 'We're engaged!' The women started shrieking and the men offered congratulations to George. Only one person didn't join in the festivities, and that was Mrs Weasley.

'And?' she said, and everyone got quiet again. George gulped. She knew him much too well to know if he was hiding something.

'And...' he took a deep breath. 'She's nearly four months pregnant.'

'She's WHAT?!' Mrs Weasley hollered. The parents clapped their hands over their children's ears, knowing what was coming. 'GEORGE FABIAN WEASLEY, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! GETTING A GIRL PREGNANT OUT OF WEDLOCK, I THOUGHT I HAD TAUGHT YOU BETTER!'

Angelina began to hyperventilate. This was far worse of a reaction than she had expected. Mrs Weasley continued, 'AND NOW YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED, NO DOUBT JUST BECAUSE OF THE BABY!'

'WE ARE NOT!' George roared back, just as loudly. 'WE LOVE EACH OTHER!'

'I'M SURE YOU DO!' screeched Mrs Weasley. 'BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR YOU TO HAVE SEX BEFORE GETTING MARRIED!'

'I feel faint,' whispered Angelina, barely audible over George and Mrs Weasley's overlapping yells.

'ALL YOU TOLD ME WAS TO-'

'YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE-'

The yelling was cut off by a scream from Ginny as Angelina collapsed. 'Ange!' George dropped to his knees beside her. Molly tried to get to Angelina, but George pushed her away. Angelina was breathing quickly, too quickly. He scooped her up and ran to the fireplace, yelling, 'St Mungo's!' Then they were gone in a whoosh of green.

*A/N: For a full description of the Weasley Chair Tradition, read chapter 2 of my story 'On the Road to Parenthood'.