Briar POV

I'd seen them whispering all day. It was bound to start eventually. By tea time, most people had heard. Most people were throwing various looks my way. Some annoying. Some mocking. A couple came across as sympathetic. Either way, I decided to avoid the throng of students in The Great Hall, took a pit stop down in the kitchens for a pep talk and a sandwich and then made my way up to the old West Tower. It apparently was once used as a classroom, but now it was just an empty, peaceful space. I sat myself down on the window ledge, looking out over the grounds, and read my book while eating the sandwich one of the elderly house elves had made for me.

After not too long, I heard the door at the base of the stairwell open. It had to be James. For two reasons. We'd deciphered a particular charm a long time ago to help us use this private little space to our advantage after getting caught in what we thought was an abandoned room by his friend. And I assumed that, by now, he must have heard the rumours.

"Landon," I know I shouldn't right now, but my mind always jumps to every other time he's shouted my name in this room. "You up here?"

"Here." I called out. I didn't move. When James got to the top of the stairs, I watched his hazel eyes scour over me. He was taking in every detail he hadn't taken in before. From my day over due hair, minimal make up, packed lunch, curled up position and finally, the hand I couldn't help but forever find sitting on my still relatively flat stomach. He stopped there. His eyes widened and I watched a complete array of emotions run through his face. Some I recognised. Most I didn't.

"So it's - erm.." He stopped and closed his eyes. I felt my stomach tighten and my heart stop. "what they're saying is true then?"

"Jamie-"

"Is it true?" His eyes shot open. They weren't his normal, soft, welcoming hazel eyes. They were cold and hard. I felt tears welling in my own eyes. I nodded. "Is it -" deep shaky breath. "-is it mine?" I couldn't even look at him while I shook my head. I managed to keep it together until I heard the door at the bottom of the stair case slam shut. Then I sat and shamelessly cried.

I was up there for a few hours. I cried until there was nothing left in my to cry. My jumper made a good substitute for a cloth and I wiped away the streaks of mascara from my cheeks. My eyes would still be red, but there was nothing I could do about that. I kept my head down the whole way back to the Ravenclaw common room.

I headed straight for my favourite reading nook as soon as I got into the tower, half closing the curtain behind me. You see I prefer to be on the edges of the action than in it. This whole being pregnant and people starting to gossip was not what I was used to. I guess that's part of the reason why I'd always been happy as James' bit of the side. I wanted his attention, I enjoyed it, but I didn't want the attention that being THE James Sirius Potter's girlfriend would have gotten me.

"Hey B," Sam Robinson stuck his head around the curtain. He'd obviously seen me come in. "Mind if we have a look at that poti- Shit are you okay?" I rubbed the tears that had started again away. I hadn't even realised I was crying. Sam was good people. Sadly he was also James' people.

"Oh, me?" I laughed. Even I could hear it didn't sound right. "Never been better." Sam looked at me. He then threw a quick glance over his shoulder before stepping fully behind the bronze curtain. He cast a quick silencing charm as he closed it behind him.

"I've heard what they're saying." He said very matter of factly. Sam was rather to the point like that, I'd found. "James told me what you'd said." I could feel his eyes boring into me. I was busying tracing the embroidery on a scatter cushion that would normally have sat on one of the large leather sofa's in the main part of the room. "Why did you tell him it wasn't his, Briar?"

"Because it's not." I spat the words out.

"Briar," Sam didn't move. " I know you had that thing with Dick Thompson-" I snorted at the nickname. Richard was very much a dick. "but I know that's been over for months."

"How do you know that?"

"You think you're all mysterious and have the whole world fooled - both of you," He sighed. "But we see it. Why did you tell him the baby isn't his?" I sat in silence for a while. Trying hard not to break down.

"If he knew, he'd drop everything. He'd do 'the right thing'." I said finally.

"And?"

"And he'd lose too much." I finally met Sam's eyes now. "He'd have to put up with his family, the press, dropping that partnership he's been working towards. He'd ruin his life."

"What about yours, B?" Sam leaned forward now. He grabbed my fidgeting hand in his large, warm one. I'd been thinking a lot about that question over the last 4 weeks. Which was how long it had been since I'd taken a pregnancy test.

"I haven't worked that out yet." I admitted quietly. Suddenly, I felt Sam's arms around me. He smelled like expensive cologne and fabric softener.

"I know I'm his friend," Sam's voice was low, I could feel his breath against my cheek. "But you're not alone, B." I didn't really listen to what Sam was saying. Words are just words, and Lord knows people usually don't mean them. But being in his arms, feeling like someone actually gave a shit about me right now, it made things feel ever so slightly better.

Apparently, Sam was worth more than just words. When I got through with vomiting that morning and finally got myself into my uniform and down the dorm stair well, he was there. Leaning against the wall. Looking all fresh and neat and tidy - the polar opposite of what I looked right now. He held out a water bottle and an apple as I reached him.

"I thought you could use some food." He said simply as I took the items from him. I felt tears stinging the back of my eyes at the gesture. nothing more was said as we walked to class - charms - but it was nice to feel like I had someone on my side. I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and trying to keep the apple down.

Class had already started when we got there and I hesitated at the door. But Sam took hold of my arm and dragged me through anyway. The room feel silent as we walked in. I felt the eyes of 28 other students boring into me. Thankfully, Professor Baines almost ignored our late arrival - which actually might have done more to start the whispers as she's normally a hard ass on punctuality. Sam held tight onto my hand the whole way through the two hour lesson. It was reassuring, though I'm sure he was only doing it because he thought I was going to run away.

"Miss Landon," Professor Baines shouted over the dismissed class. "A word." I sighed and Sam let go of my hand, motioning he'd be right outside.

"I'm sorry I was late Prof-"

"Don't worry about that." She waved my comments off and sat herself down behind her tidy desk. "I just wanted you to know that I'm here."

"Yes?"

"You know, if you ever needed someone to talk to."

"Right."

"It's just," She smiled sympathetically. "I know there isn't really anyone at home, so if you needed someone, my door is always open."

"Right." I was half way between angry tears and upset tears. "Thanks Professor." I picked up my bag and left, storming past Sam and straight to the Great Hall as I went.

I didn't go to class for the rest of the day. I hid in the library instead.