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It took weeks to come to terms with the fact that I was pregnant. Poor Remus still hadn't adjusted to it.
"Amy, I'm so sorry", he told me one night after I had puked my guts up.
"For what?" I frowned.
"You're pregnant with a werewolf's child. You'll be frowned upon", he said as though it were obvious.
"Well thanks!" I snapped. "No, I'm fed up of how self-conscious you are! I'm pregnant with the man whom I love's child. So what if he's a werewolf. I'm already an outcast for being a blood-traitor so screw them!"
He wasn't so self-pitying since.
By the time that I was four months along, the morning sickness that Remus had renamed all-day sickness had ceased. I was craving the weirdest of things. I had been eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans when I found a grape flavoured one that I liked. I then insisted that Remus buy boxes of them and taste every one of them to find me another the same. Remus had to eat 1,576 jelly beans and didn't complain once.
A small bump had formed over my abdomen and it was a struggle to tie the zip on my jeans, in the end I had to extend them with magic. It was that or suffocate.
My maternity leave at the ministry would start when I was six months pregnant. It was earlier than most occupations because of the danger involved. I would be given a pile of paperwork to do when I was at home.
I had already begun the paperwork. I lay across the sofa, reading through a case with my feet in Remus' lap when a phoenix patronus burst into the room.
"Amy and Remus, please come to my office immediately. Alone." Dumbledore's voice instructed. Remus was on his feet in a flash and grabbed my hand. He dragged me to the fireplace, tossed the powder in and diving into the emerald flames, pulling me with him.
Remus caught me just before I fell when we emerged in Hogwarts. I smiled my thanks but it was half-hearted. What the hell was so urgent that he wanted us there immediately? Especially seeing as magical transportation was discouraged for pregnant women. It was still early days so the risks were slim but I hated taking chances.
"Bertie Bott", Remus said impatiently to the sneering gargoyle. He dragged me up the spiral staircase and pushed the doors open. The Potters and the Longbottoms were seated at Dumbledore's desk. Each wore an expression of fear and apprehension that mirrored Remus' and mine.
"Lily? James? Alice? Frank?" I asked in astonishment. "What are you doing here?"
"We don't know yet, we were waiting for you to show up", James replied.
"Well now that you are all here, I shall begin", Dumbledore said. I jumped, not having known that he was in the room. "Amy, Remus, please take a seat."
"What's happening Professor?" I asked, my hands instinctively going to cradle my stomach as I lowered myself on to the seat.
"Why is it just us? What about the rest of the Order?" Alice asked sharply. She had the biggest bump out of the three of us. Five months pregnant and she already looked like a hippogriff.
"Is it something to do with our children?" Lily asked, ever the brainbox. Trust her to realise that everyone here was pregnant or a father-to-be.
"Yes, Lily, I'm afraid to tell you that it is." Dumbledore said softly, bowing his head. I stopped breathing and flashed a terrified look to Remus. "Or at least it could be."
"What do you mean it could be? For Godric's sake, stop being so damn bloody cryptic! This isn't a game, we're talking about our children here. They're not even bloody born yet!" James bellowed, unable to keep a handle on his protective nature. Lily grabbed his hand and squeezed it softly. James calmed down and said weakly, "They haven't done anything. They haven't had the chance to."
"Albus can you please just tell us what's going on?" Frank asked in exasperation.
"As you know, our Divination professor has handed in her resignation. I went to interview a candidate at the Hog's Head when they made a prophecy." Dumbledore explained.
"A prophecy?" I repeated.
"A prophecy", Dumbledore confirmed. He took a deep breath and recited. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live whilst the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
A short silence followed the dark prediction. Everyone tried to process what it meant.
"I have summoned you here today because all three of you fulfil the requirements. You have all defied Lord Voldemort three times. It is possible that your child will be born at the end of July." Dumbledore stated.
"One of our children is destined to kill Voldemort?" James asked weakly.
"Yes, I'm afraid so, but only should Voldemort make it so." Dumbledore replied.
"What do you mean?" Frank enquired.
I tuned out as Dumbledore explained. My baby was going to be targeted and that was all that mattered. It had been inevitable. Voldemort wanted me for my wandless abilities. Remus and I were both in the Order. I just hadn't expected a price to be put on my child's head.
"The prophecy said he", I suddenly blurted out. "What is our children are girls?"
All eyes turned to me.
"Well…" Dumbledore said. "If you wish, I know of an old spell that will inform us as to the sex of your children."
"Can you do it?" Lily asked, her emerald eyes wide with fear. It would either prove our children safe or in danger.
"Yes".
"Then do it", Alice said. We nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive", I said firmly.
Dumbledore performed the spell on Alice first.
"Boy", he said sympathetically. Frank hugged Alice as she trembled.
"Boy", he told Lily and James. Lily burst into tears and James did his best to comfort her, despite the own tears in his eyes.
"Girl", he smiled to Remus and I. But how could I celebrate when my two friends' children were to be targeted?
"Don't tell anyone it's a girl", I found myself saying. "It will be another target for the Death Eaters. Make them work harder."
"Are you mental?" Remus snapped.
"No. It could save their lives. We'll stay safe. No one say to anyone what gender their baby is." I instructed. They nodded in unison.
"There are over six billion people in this world. Less than a million are magical. Half of them are male. A fraction are unborn. We just have to hide the fact that we are pregnant. Tell people you miscarried or that it's a girl. Glamour your bump. Be careful. Let Voldemort search, he won't see what's right in front of him. We're ready." I said diplomatically, standing up for emphasis.
"You're right", Remus said, giving in.
"I always am", I smirked.
