For Love
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own Harry Potter. The queen, Jo Rowling, does. ;)
A/N: Not as late an update as last time!
The Black Cat Pounce: You shall see! ;)
Fatecaster: Hmm… yes, that should be interesting!
QueenKittieKat: Yes she is! :D
twilightstargazer: Yup, I'll be making this one longer than the last, hopefully!
hi: (I have two his, so this is the one who reviewed first) Of course I will!
gimarkley2013: You'll see!
hi: (the second hi who reviewed) I will continue!
x.o.x.o.x.
Hestia said, "Nothing much."
"I'm pregnant," revealed Cassie.
"Sirius broke up with me," Hilary added.
"Not much either," Alice answered.
"I'm pregnant," Hilary continued.
Crystal hadn't spoken, because the second revelation, from Cassie, had rendered her speechless. It had done the same to Lily. Everyone turned to gape at both Hilary and Cassie.
"You're what?" cried Hestia.
"Why didn't you tell us?" demanded Crystal.
"Oh my Merlin. I missed a lot, didn't I?" asked Lily, laying a hand to her forehead.
Hilary looked down. "Well, I'm not positive that I'm pregnant, actually. I've just had some symptoms, I guess."
Alice gasped. "How could I not have noticed? You've been in the bathroom practically every morning!"
Her friend nodded, looking down again. "I just don't know what to do, girls! I mean, Sirius broke up with me. It's obvious he wouldn't want this baby whether he or she exists or not."
Lily, processing this, shot out of her chair, the mug of tea hitting the floor and shattering. She didn't even register the searing temperature of the liquid over her feet. "Sirius what, Hilary?" she questioned dangerously.
Hilary bit her lip. "Broke up with me?" she asked uncertainly.
"That- that- how dare he? He loved you! He told me that he loved you! And then, while I'm unconscious, he decides to break up with you? You were good for him! He was good for you! He is the stupidest, thickest, most arrogant prat in the world!" exploded Lily.
Her best friend managed a small smile. "I think you called my twin the exact same thing for six years, Lil."
"Speaking of your worthless twin, why isn't Sirius in a hospital bed? Or at least have a black eye?" demanded Lily.
"I told him not to beat Sirius up, Lily. If this is what makes him happy, then I'm in no position to stop him. Sure, I'll get jealous sometimes, but that doesn't mean I can prevent him from what is truly his nature," explained Hilary. She eyed Lily warily. "You aren't going to go do James's job for him, are you?"
Lily opened her mouth to respond, but Alice interrupted, "No. No way in Merlin's left saggy pant leg. You need rest, Lily, not overexertion, which beating up James will certainly be."
"You sound like Madam Pomfrey," grumbled Lily. "And it won't take exertion! I'll just raise my wand and yell hexes and jinxes and curses!"
"I'll ignore the jab. That takes energy, Lily, which you scarcely have at the moment," Alice scolded. "Why don't we listen to Cassie's story first?"
Cassie smiled gratefully as the others' attention turned to her. "Well, even though Kyle and I aren't married yet, we've been trying. And since I was feeling some of the symptoms" – she nodded at Hilary with a small smile – "I decided to first take a Muggle pregnancy test. It came out positive. I was overjoyed, of course, and then Kyle and I Apparated back to London to go to St. Mungo's."
"Oh, but that's highly dangerous!" squeaked Lily.
"No wonder why you were absent for a bit," exclaimed Alice.
"I know it was dangerous, and I'm sorry for leaving without notice, but it was urgent. The Healer informed us that I was in fact pregnant with a baby boy!"
The others squealed loudly.
"Congratulations!" shrieked Crystal, looking excited.
"Oh, this is so brilliant!" squealed Lily.
Hilary sat quietly. "A boy?" she finally whispered. "I'd like a boy."
Cassie looked at her sympathetically. "Oh, Hils. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It's not your fault." Hilary fell silent, a thoughtful look on her face. Then she brightened. "Could I follow your example, Cass? I could take a Muggle pregnancy test first, and then maybe go to St. Mungo's as well?"
"Of course! You don't need my permission."
Hilary smiled warmly at her. "Thank you."
Alice tilted her head. "I would offer to do it instead, so you wouldn't risk the Apparition, but I was never trained in that aspect, and I wouldn't want to give you false hope."
"That's okay, Ali. I know you want to, and that's all that matters to me," Hilary answered with another warm smile. Then she looked at Lily. "Lils… you were my first best friend at Hogwarts. Please, please come with me to London?"
"When?" Lily asked.
"Whenever," Hilary answered.
"I'd be honored," Lily declared with a wide smile. "Thank you, Hilary."
Alice and Hestia looked troubled. "Lily, at least use Floo. James Apparated you here with Sirius, and he was Splinched. I don't want to risk another accident like that," Hestia said.
"We'll be going to St. Mungo's, Hest. Calm down! We'll have a building full of Healers to fix us up if we were to get Splinched," Lily assured her.
Hestia shrugged. "Think for yourself. But it would be a whole lot safer. Or even a Portkey would do."
Hilary also looked troubled. "A Portkey it is then. I don't need to see my sister in the same way my brother just was."
"Hils! That means so much to me," sighed Lily. "Since Petunia never was like a sister at all."
"Don't think twice about it."
"Did you tell them?" came a male voice from the doorway to the balcony.
Cassie whirled around and beamed as she caught sight of her fiancé. "Kyle!" she cried, and launched herself on him. After hugging him, she answered, "I did. They're all thrilled for us. And Hilary even-"
The mentioned young woman hurriedly cut her off with, "- is more happy for you!"
Cassie looked questioningly at Hilary, but the other girl doesn't answer, just shook her head slightly. "That's right, she is," Cassie smoothed it over. "Come on, honey, let's go tell the blokes. Do you want to come?" she asked the other girls.
Everyone nodded except for Hilary. "I'm going to the nearest drugstore. Let me know how it goes, alright?"
"What are you going to the drugstore for, Hils?" Kyle asked curiously.
"Er… Just for an experiment I want to do with Lily on Muggle medicines. I was fascinated by them when I took Muggle Studies. Come on, Lils!" Hilary pulled Lily out of the room.
Kyle looked confused. "James told me that Hilary didn't take Muggle Studies."
"Oh, his brain is addled. Of course Hilary took Muggle Studies," Alice soothed him. Under her breath, she added, "With Lily as her teacher." Louder, she said, "Why don't we go tell the boys?"
x.o.x.o.x.
The moment the two young women were out the doors of the villa, Lily looked at Hilary weirdly.
"You never took Muggle Studies, Hilary," Lily pointed out.
Hilary shrugged. "Of course I did. You were my teacher," she responded, rolling her eyes. "Now… have you ever been to Hawaii before?"
"Yeah. Mum and Dad took me here the summer before they died," Lily answered, her eyes becoming bright.
"Oh, Lils, I'm sorry…" Hilary trailed off.
Lily shook her head, blinking rapidly to rid her eyes of the unshed tears. "I think I still remember where the drugstores usually are. Come on."
She led the way until they came to a small drugstore. Hilary looked at it skeptically. "Are you sure, Lily?"
"Positive. Come on," Lily urged, swinging open the door.
x.o.x.o.x.
Half an hour later, the two girls were in the bathroom of the villa. Lily had cast a locking charm and a silencing charm on the room.
"Okay, just pee on the stick and then wait five minutes," instructed Lily. She looked worriedly at Hilary. "I'll be outside," she whispered.
x.o.x.o.x.
Hilary exited the bathroom five minutes later, holding the test with trembling hands. Lily didn't even have to ask; the answer was clearly etched in her friend's hazel eyes.
"Oh, Hils," murmured Lily, wrapping Hilary into a hug.
Hilary dropped the test, buried her face in Lily's shoulder, and began to weep. "Oh, Lily! How can I care for the baby by myself? All by myself? Sirius won't want it! I'm positive it's his! Oh, Lily."
"Sh… you'll be fine, Hils… you have all of us… and James…"
"But James will be caught up with Camille," wailed Hilary. "I know I sound so selfish, but I can't help it!"
"It isn't selfish, Hilary," soothed Lily softly.
"And I would never ditch you for Camille," a soft voice said from the shadows.
Lily tensed, but didn't release Hilary.
Hilary looked up, and the tears streamed down faster. "J-Jamsie," she whispered.
James nodded soothingly, walking over. "Hilary… what in Merlin's name is wrong?"
Seeing that Hilary was in no state to inform her twin about it, Lily answered softly, "She's pregnant, James. With Sirius's baby."
James literally growled. "She's what?"
Lily nodded grimly. "She's pregnant with her ex-boyfriend's child."
"That- that piece of scum decided to knock my sister up and then break it off?" demanded James angrily.
"It appears so."
"BLOODY HELL," yelled James. "I'm going to go beat that pile of rubbish up. You bring Hils to St. Mungo's this instant."
"Yes Dad," teased Lily, standing.
Hilary's tears had ceased. "James… go easy on him, won't you? My baby needs his or her father, even if- even if he won't want him or her."
James, his hazel eyes softening, nodded. "Of course, Hilary. But this is the last straw. I won't put up with it any longer." He looked at Lily. "Take care of her," he implored.
Lily looked into the depths of his hazel eyes, enraptured. "Always," she whispered.
The young man nodded briskly, breaking eye contact, and began to walk down the stairs. "Hils… don't forget. I'll always be here for you, Camille or not." And with that, he vanished.
x.o.x.o.x.
"You are in fact pregnant, Miss Potter. Two months, sixteen days, seventeen hours, and thirty-four seconds, to be exact," the Healer informed Hilary, who had tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," Hilary murmured. "May I know the gender?"
The Healer smiled warmly at her. "Of course, Miss Potter. You will be having a baby girl in approximately seven months."
"A girl. A daughter," Hilary whispered. "Thank you," she said louder. "Thank you so much."
"Of course," Healer Smith answered. She smiled. "And who is the lucky father, Miss Potter, may I ask?"
Hilary took a deep breath. "That is confidential information, I'm afraid. I have no intent on releasing that information to anyone besides my close friends." She looked at Lily, who smiled encouragingly back at her.
"Of course," repeated Healer Smith. "You are all set, Miss Potter. Give my regards to Healer Longbottom and Healer-in-Training Jones, would you please?"
"We will," spoke up Lily. "Thank you, Healer Smith."
x.o.x.o.x.
"You" – punch – "insufferable" – punch – "arrogant" – punch – "immoral" – punch – "stupid" – punch – "thickheaded" – punch – "GIT!" Punch, punch, slap, punch, punch, slap, push, punch.
By the end of it, Sirius was clutching his left eye with one hand and his jaw with the other. He was on the sofa, having been pushed by James – quite forcefully at that. "What the bloody hell was that for, Prongs?"
James leered at him. "Don't Prongs me, you insufferable, arrogant, immoral, stupid, thickheaded GIT!"
"Prongs, what is going on?" Remus asked, putting down his book after witnessing the punching-bag incident.
"Don't act so innocent, Padfoot," sneered James. "And I'm not saying. My sister will tell you."
Sirius paled. "Is this about Hilary? Because if it is-"
"Don't you dare say her name!" snarled James. He looked up just in time to see the door open and his sister and ex-girlfriend walk through it.
Lily arched an eyebrow at the injured Sirius, but didn't say anything. She walked over and sat next to Remus, a mildly impressed expression on her face. Hilary, however, gaped. "James! I told you not to kill him!"
"I didn't!" James defended himself. "I just injured him!" Sirius was currently sporting a broken nose, a broken jaw, some teeth misplaced, and quite possibly two black eyes.
"Hils, just tell me already, alright? Before I black out," Sirius snapped at her.
"Don't talk to me that way," Hilary snapped back. Then she straightened, connecting her hazel eyes directly with his stormy grey ones. "I'm pregnant," she declared.
x.o.x.o.x.
A/N: What did you think? A longer chapter, definitely. And some drama thrown in! Anyway, leave reviews? :) Until next time…
OH, AND WELCOME BACK TO HOGWARTS! IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF TERM!