PICKLED EEL & SPARKLING WATER
6 June 2000
Angelina's eyes fluttered open. She was getting a little too comfortable with her time off during the summer and had become accustomed to waking up near the middle of the day.
She slowly rolled out of bed and pressed her fingers to her forehead trying to ease the splitting headache. It was only made worse when last night's Butterbeers revisited her. She bolted for the bathroom and spilled the sickly sweet liquid into the bowl. When she was done, she rinsed her mouth and popped a Toothflossing Stringmint in her mouth.
The memories of the previous night were fuzzy but she knew the team had gone out to celebrate the end of their season, as they had been doing for two weeks. She reminded herself to better her eating habits. She couldn't let herself go just because she was on holiday. She was already noticing a change in her usually flat stomach.
"Hey!" Ginny tapped on the door. "You're not the only one who got pissed last night."
"Sorry," Angelina let her in. "I'm going to see if we have anything to put on for breakfast."
"Thanks," Ginny squeezed past her and closed the bathroom door.
Angelina stumbled into the kitchen, which was still littered with empty bottles and charmed the bottles into the rubbish bin but they just fell over. She sighed deeply and grabbed a rag to wipe down the counters before knocking the bottles into the trash by hand. Then she opened the ice box in search of something to eat.
"What's this?" she grabbed a container that looked to be a few weeks old.
She peeled off the top and was hit with a nasty odour. She nearly doubled over trying to ward off the scent. Then she tossed it in the rubbish bin as well.
"Anything good?" Ginny asked taking a seat at the counter.
"Not really," came the reply. "Maybe we should go out."
"What are you thinking?" Ginny asked.
"I could go for some pickled eel," Angelina mused. "The Leaky Cauldron?"
"No, gross," Ginny made a gagging face.
"What?" Angelina sighed. "It sounds good."
"It's fine," Ginny stood up. "I can get something else. And maybe we can stop and see my brother since we'll already be in Diagon Alley. He ordered some broomstick wax for me."
The two girls headed into their shared bedroom and changed quickly. Once they were ready, they picked up their bags and headed to the fireplace, only to be caught off guard when Valmai came stepping out of the green flames.
"Where have you been?" Ginny asked.
"Training," Valmai replied dropping her bag on the ground. "Just because we're on holiday, doesn't mean we put the brooms down."
Ginny felt her face burn bright red. Angelina was at liberty to spend a month drinking Butterbeer and tanning on the roof because she wasn't a player. Ginny made a promise to herself to get on the broom first thing in the morning.
"So," Valmai asked, "where are you two off to?"
"Diagon Alley," Angelina replied. "Hopefully the Leaky Cauldron will still be serving breakfast."
"It's after noon," Valmai laughed. "Mind if I join?"
"Not at all," Ginny smiled.
She grabbed a handful of the gray sand and threw it in the fire before heading into London's Wizarding mecca. Valmai showed up just after her and Angelina brought up the rear. The ride through the Floo network made Angelina's already unsettled stomach. As soon as her feet touched solid ground again, she bolted for the restroom in The Leaky Cauldron.
"What's gotten into her?" Valmai asked as she and Ginny found a table.
"Gwenog spiked her butterbeer," Ginny laughed. "She figured it out pretty quickly, but it didn't stop her drinking."
"I like her," Valmai smiled. "Best addition to the team yet."
"Sorry," Angelina returned and took a seat next to Ginny. "I think I just need to eat something."
"Yeah," Valmai laughed. "Heard about your big night. That teaches me to go home early."
A mousy blonde haired girl approached their table yielding a small red notepad. Ginny and Angelina remembered her from Hogwarts but neither could muster up a name.
"I'm Hannah," she smiled. "Can I fetch you something?"
"Pickled eel," Angelina said almost automatically. She incited a groan from the others sitting at the table.
"I'll have the soup," Ginny replied. "Whatever is on special."
"Game pie," Valmai said. "Extra carrots."
"Got it," Hannah smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.
Their food arrived a few minutes later. Once again, the table groaned at the sight of Angelina's meal.
"How do you eat that?" Ginny asked.
"It sounded good," Angelina took a bite. "Not bad."
"My sister ate pickled eel all through her pregnancy," Valmai chimed in. "Couldn't get enough of the stuff. Pickled dragon eggs too!"
"Same with Fleur," Ginny chimed in. "Mum was sending me to Shell Cottage every week with pickled frog legs. The French are so weird."
Angelina rolled her eyes. She was used to the girls teasing her. She usually teased them right back but she wasn't feeling her best. All she wanted was to be back in bed for a few more hours.
"I'm parched," Valmai said finishing off her glass of water. She winked at Ginny. "That's what three hours of flying does."
"I get it!" Ginny protested. "I'll be at the pitch first thing tomorrow."
"Here," Angelina pointed her wand toward the empty glass. "Aguamenti!"
Instead of water pouring from the tip of her wand in a small steady stream, two clouds of vapor spouted into the air and then a gush of water drenched their table.
"Er...thanks?" Valmai laughed.
"Sorry," Angelina replied. "I don't know what's happening with my magic."
"Yeah," Valmai spelled the water away. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you actually were pregnant."
She laughed and so did Ginny. But Angelina felt her stomach drop. She remembered back to that night she had spent in George's flat. She had taken the potion as soon as she remembered, but maybe it had been too late.
"Angie?" Valmai looked concerned. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
"I don't know," Angelina replied.
"But you haven't even –" Ginny knew from the look on her friend's face. She wrapped an arm around her. "Hey, hey. Everything's going to be fine. It could be something else. Luna was telling me about these Brommets that sting you and then...er..."
"Let's just stop into Slug & Jiggers," Valmai said. "We can pick up a home testing potion."
"Right," Angelina dropped a couple galleons on the table. "Yeah, alright. It'll be fine."
The two other girls paid and they stepped out into the alley behind the pub. Ginny quickly opened the passage to cross into Diagon Alley and they hurried toward the apothecary. Ginny waited outside with Angelina while Valmai bought the potion. It was only a few minutes before the girls were all together once again.
"I got a few," Valmai explained. "Just to be sure."
"Oh thank you," Angelina hugged her. "Now let's go before I explode with anxiety."
"Let's just go to George's," Ginny offered. "It's right around the corner."
"No!" Angelina said quickly. "I mean, I'd rather just go home."
"Wouldn't you rather just know?" Ginny offered. "If we're wrong then we can spend the day shopping."
"And if I am?" Angelina asked.
"We'll figure something out," Valmai assured her. "But there's no use worrying yet."
Angelina didn't even have a chance to protest before Ginny was dragging her toward Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. They went around to the back door and Ginny unlocked the entrance to the flat. The three of them tiptoed inside and bolted up the four flights of stairs and let themselves into the empty flat.
"Alright," Ginny read the label on the potion milky white potion. "Just a drop of blood. If the color drains, you're in the clear."
"Well what if I am pregnant?" Angelina asked.
"Then it turns red and bubbles," Ginny explained. "But it probably won't even happen."
"I guess now is as good as ever," Angelina sighed.
She uncorked the potion and sat down on the sofa. Valmai cleared the coffee table, tossing aside spell books and what looked like a broken extendable ear. Ginny pricked her finger with pocket knife she kept in her bag. She squeezed a single drop of blood into the vial. Breathlessly they waited for any sign of change. All too soon, the potion turned a deep crimson color and ten bubbles floated into the air out of the vial.
"Blimey!" she sighed. "I'm pregnant?"
"It's alright," Valmai pulled out the other packages. "Let's take another. It could be a mistake."
Twenty minutes later they were hovered over four bright red potions. There was no denying it now. Angelina was definitely pregnant. She could feel the sympathy from her friends weighing on her like a kiss of death.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Angelina clutched her hand to her mouth.
She ran into the bathroom and spilled her breakfast into the bowl. Pickled eel no longer whet her appetite and probably never would again. When she was done, she picked herself up and stood in the mirror. Her deep complexion was sallow and dark circles outlined her eyes. She didn't just feel ill, she looked it too.
"It's alright," she told herself. "This happens all the time. It's a baby. It's good news really. I just have to tell George...Ugh! That miserable twat!"
After a lengthy pep talk she had finally come to terms with her new reality, or at least she had convinced herself enough to step out of the bathroom. But she never could have prepared herself for what awaited on the other side of the door.
"You're pregnant?" George asked when he saw her standing in the doorway.
"Erm..." she was in shock. This was exactly why she didn't want to test the potion in George's flat. "I...er...how did you know?"
"Extendable Ear," he held up the foam earpiece Valmai had tossed aside earlier. "I was trying a wireless version."
"Good news," Angelina forced a smile. "It works."
"I'm the funny one," he warned her. They both chuckled weakly.
"Erm..." Angelina looked around the room. "Where's Ginny? And Valmai?"
"They went to get you seltzer water," George explained. "I'm all out."
"So I guess you know now," she swallowed hard. "I'm pregnant."
"Blimey," George clicked his tongue. "It's mine, yeah?"
"Of course it's yours!" she roared. "I could strangle you!"
"Sorry," he shook his head. "That was insensitive."
George didn't know how to continue. He stepped into the kitchen and pulled two bottles of ale out of the ice box. He popped them both open and handed one to Angelina before quickly catching himself.
"Oh, sorry," he shrugged. "I guess you're not..."
"None for me," she pointed to her stomach. "Besides, you probably don't have enough, now I'm drinking for two."
"That's a joke right?" he raised an eyebrow.
"It's a joke, yeah," she smiled.
Suddenly the door open wide and her friends came back. Ginny handed for a glass bottle of McSpratt's Sparkling Spell Water.
"The bubbles are supposed to help," Valmai explained.
"Sorry George," Ginny turned to her brother. "We'll get out of your hair."
"Er...no," he said quickly. "It's no trouble. Why don't you stay a bit? I could use the company."
"Angelina's not feeling great," Valmai replied. Angelina could have sworn that her friend was catching on. Ginny meanwhile was still oblivious.
"I think I might help with that," George said.
He gestured for Angelina to follow him into the bedroom. After a moment of uncertainty, she tiptoed behind him while the other girls stayed in the living room.
"Here," George handed her a handful of purple sweets, all individually wrapped. "Bill asked me to make some for Fleur. It's the antidote for our puking pastilles. Helps with the sickness."
"Thank you," she accepted them graciously.
"Can we talk?" he whispered. "Without...er...you know?"
"Tomorrow," she replied. "I'll come by in the morning. The girls have their training."
"Okay," George smiled. "Tomorrow."
"Yeah," she sighed turning on her heel.
"Hey," George grabbed her arm gently. "Everything will be alright. I promise."
She couldn't be sure that everything would be alright, but she sure appreciated George's willingness to make her feel comfortable during the scariest moment of her life.
I hope you liked my interpretation of how George and Angelina become a couple. Obviously we know they end up together but that doesn't mean there won't be a few obstacles in the way. Coming up, it's Neville's birthday and he receives an interesting proposal. Should be up by the end of next week