A/N: All right, so here it is, the next chapter

A/N: All right, so here it is, the next chapter. Now, before you read, I want to warn you that this chapter marks the beginning of a mild slash relationship between two very unlikely characters. You may not like the combination. I dunno. But if you are morally opposed to male/male slash, then you might want to turn back now. There's nothing dirty, especially not in this chapter, but it still offends some people (don't ask me why, I don't know!). So don't you DARE flame me because of this, if you can't stand the heat, then stay the hell outta the kitchen! All right, well I'm being kind of defensive about this… sorry… I just hate being flamed. Okay, so that's it for the warning.

The following names are being added to the reviewer's honor roll. Thanks so much for your compliments and constructive criticism. I really appreciate it!

Thanks to: *~*GinnyPotter*~*(aww… it's on your favorites? Thank you!), ~Meg~ (wow… you have a lot of energy…), Lady_Lioness, And k.i.w.i (again!)

Thanks to everyone who reviewed… I love you guys!!! By now! -Nymphean

The next few weeks flew by in a blissful sort of daze for Harry and Ginny. Never, it seemed, had two people been so caught up in each other as the two of them. And what was even more amazing was the transformation in Ginny. Being with Harry had brought her out of her shell. She was happy and talkative and hardly ever stopped smiling, much to everyone's relief. And it was discovered that Ginny had indeed inherited a sense of humor from her brothers. And Harry, too, had become less somber and started acting more like a normal teenager instead of the infamous "boy who lived". Never in their lives had either of them been in a better mood.

Relationships were blossoming all over Hogwarts. Laelyn and Hagrid had become fast friends. The gigantic grounds-keeper kept watch over the tiny dark arts professor as if she were a little sister, and Laelyn, in turn, took care of the big man, helping him tame the animals for his classes and the like. The Gryffindor's, who were quick to accept Laelyn as one of their favorite teachers, were glad to see that she'd found a friend amidst her colleagues, the rest of whom were all too quick to spurn her.

Harry visited Sirius every night after supper, when the had a chance to discuss everything from the weather to being in love. The latter seemed to be one of Harry's favorite subjects in recent days, but he couldn't help but notice the look Sirius got in his eyes when Harry mentioned his relationship with Ginny. A far away, day-dreaming sort of look, which appeared rather out of place to Harry on Sirius' usually solemn face. One day, a thought occurred to Harry as he sat curiously watching his godfather: Why, he's in love! Harry almost fell off his chair, but when Sirius questioned why, Harry replied that he was merely dizzy. Still, He resolved that he would find out the object of his godfather's affections. Little did he know that it would prove to be a rather interesting quest.

*****

Ginny and Harry sat beneath the stars on their bench in the garden. Both were silent, thinking. Ginny had her head on Harry's shoulder, and now he kissed the top of her head, and she looked up to meet his eyes.

"This will always be my favorite place in the world, Harry." She leaned against him again, burrowing her head up beneath his chin. He held her hand, and Ginny thought that it was simple, old-fashioned little gestures like this that made it so special. Oh, they were as passionate as any teenaged couple, but at the same time, they didn't need anything too heavy. And she loved knowing that it was enough for Harry just to hold her hand, just to sit next to her. Yes, that made it special.

"What was that?" Harry whispered suddenly, stirring Ginny out of her reverie. She shrugged, and then tried to listen for what Harry had heard. A voice… a man's voice, low, whispering…

"Hagrid?" She said quietly, looking up at Harry. He nodded, furrowing his brow. Another voice… soft, melodious… and sad, broken by heavy, shuddering breaths and ragged sobs.

"It sounds like…"

"Laelyn," Ginny whispered, finishing his thought. "We have to go see what's wrong!"

Harry let got up from the bench and, still grasping Ginny's hand, made his way towards the bushes, which separated them from the two teachers. Ginny could now make out the conversation.

"I- I can't believe this is happening… Why now, why me?" Laelyn sobbed. Ginny peered through the rose bushes and saw the tiny woman standing dejectedly with her head in her hands. Hagrid put one gigantic hand on her shoulder.

"Are ya sure, 'Lyn? Maybe ya're worryin' fer nothin'…"

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No, I'm certain. Two moons in a row, and still nothing… I don't know what I'm going to do. With Bill stuck at his job in Egypt and me teaching at Hogwarts… I feel so helpless, Hagrid!"

"What is she talking about?" Whispered Harry. Ginny shook her head and shushed him. She thought she might have an inkling, but still, she should be sure…

"Ya should tell Weasley, then. Bill's a good boy, He'll take care a ya." The large man wrapped his arms around her, patting her back lightly and looking troubled.

Laelyn began to sob again. "But what if he doesn't want to! Maybe he'll think it's my fault… What if he takes one look at all swollen and fat and decides that he doesn't care about me anymore? I couldn't bare it if he left me…" Ginny gasped. NO… could it be? Hagrid's head snapped towards the bushes where Ginny and Harry were hiding.

"'Ho's there?" He let go of Laelyn and bounded toward them, parting the rose bushes before they even had a chance to run. "Ginny? Harry…" Laelyn heard their names and started towards them, a terrified look in her eyes.

"Did you hear all that? Oh no… You won't tell anyone, will you? Please…" she looked beseechingly at the two of them. Harry still looked confused, but Ginny shook her head.

"We promise. But why are you so sad? You should be happy!"

Laelyn's eyes filled with tears again. "I don't know how Bill will react." Ginny's eyes went wide.

"What do you mean?" she stepped towards the older woman and put her arms around her. "Laelyn, I've known Bill for my whole life, and I know he won't leave you because of this. He'll probably be so happy… He's always loved children, and I know he loves you more than anything… You really have nothing to worry about!"

Laelyn looked at Ginny skeptically. "You really think so?"

"I know so."

Laelyn began to cry again, but this time she was smiling, too. "I can't believe it," she whispered, "I'm going to be a mother!" Ginny hugged her again.

"Congratulations, Laelyn. I know you'll make a great one." By now, Harry seemed to have caught on.

"Yeah, congratulations," he said, patting her on the back. Hagrid was grinning from ear to ear.

"See, I told ya it would turn out right."

"I wrote to Bill yesterday…" Laelyn said, seeming worried again. "It's been over forty hours… I wish he'd hurry up and reply so I'll know everything's all right."

Ginny shook her head. "I told you, he'll probably be happy about it, and even if he's not, We're all thrilled. No matter what, we won't let you go through this alone."

"Thanks Gin."

"We should probably get back inside," Harry said, glancing at his watch. Laelyn nodded, pulling her sweater tightly around her still slim form.

"It's getting chilly." And with that, the group headed towards Gryffindor tower, all save for Hagrid, who started off towards his hut. When the three reached the common room, Laelyn turned towards them again, ignoring the small groups of Gryffindors who huddled in clumps on the floor.

"I really want to thank you both for being so understanding. It means the world to me that I have your support, especially since Bill isn't here to help me out."

Maybe it was some bizarre trick of the gods, or maybe it was just uncanny timing, but as the words came out of her mouth there arose a faint murmur from those who were sitting near the fireplace. Laelyn turned to see what the commotion was about, and her eyes became wide with shock.

"Bill!" She cried, running across the room to greet him. He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "How did you get here?" she whispered.

"Flu powder," He said, putting his hands on either side of her face. "Hey," he said quietly, "I got your letter… Are you okay?"

She nodded solemnly. "Bill, I…"

He shook his head, placing his finger over her lips. "Shh… before you say anything, I need to tell you what's on my mind." He looked serious, thought Laelyn, beginning to worry again. "When I read your letter, I was shocked. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and I didn't know what to do. I've been thinking about this an awful lot, and well… I decided there was really only one thing I could do." He paused, putting his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Laelyn bit her lip. He sounded… she was afraid to even think about it. Bill looked into her eyes, then dropped to his knees. Taking her hand, He opened his free palm to reveal a ring.

"Will you?" He whispered, looking beseechingly into her eyes. Laelyn blinked, hardly believing her eyes.

"Um… are you… I mean, do you MEAN that?"

Bill laughed. "Of COURSE I mean it."

"Then of COURSE I will!" She replied, pulling him to his feet and kissing him amid the applause of the students who had been watching the entire scene. Bill slid the ring onto her finger. It was a beautiful band of dark silver, inlaid with a white stone. But the amazing thing about the ring was the fact that inside the heart of the stone, there were what appeared to be ever-changing swirls of different colors. The stone appeared to be one moment cloudy, the next moment sparkling like the surface of a lake, and the next glittering like the most radiant star in the sky. Laelyn gasped.

"This is the most beautiful ring I've ever seen…"

Bill shrugged. "Well I could hardly get you the ordinary, run-of-the-mill diamond, now could I? You could never wear something boring and ordinary like that, it's not you."

She flung her arms around him. "Everything's going to be perfect… We'll be so happy together…" Behind them, Ron cleared his throat.

"Um, sorry to disturb you, but would someone like to tell me what's going on here?"

"Not that it's any of your business," replied Bill, grinning at his younger brother, "But Laelyn and I are getting married. AND…" He said with a smile, "You're going to be an uncle."

Ron looked at them, stunned, for one moment of his life, into silence. He looked at Laelyn's stomach. "You… You're… pregnant?" Laelyn nodded, and Ron slapped his forehead.

"And the family grows some more. I can't wait until everyone comes to the Burrow in the summer." Ron's voice was thick with sarcasm, but then he hastily added, "But I really am happy for you both!"

*****

It was decided that the wedding should be held as soon as possible, and so the couple set the date for September 22, which was known in the magical world to be Mabon, or the Autumn Equinox. With the wedding only one week away, there was much to be done, and the couple enlisted the help of many students and teachers in their wedding preparations. Dumbledore had generously invited the pair to have their wedding and reception at the school, a gift that they immediately accepted. All the students and teachers were invited to attend, as well as the families and friends of the bride and groom. All of Hogwarts was buzzing with anticipation.

Laelyn had invited her three best friends from her school and Hermione to be her bridesmaids, and she insisted that, as her future sister, Ginny should be the maid of honor. Bill chose Charlie as his best man, and the rest of the Weasley boys became groom's men.

Two days before the wedding, the rest of the Weasley family arrived at Hogwarts. The first thing Mrs. Weasley did was give Laelyn and enormous hug, and then she continued to fuss and fret over her for hours on end until Bill had to drag his mother away so that Laelyn could breath freely.

"Is she giving you too hard of a time?" Bill asked his fiancée for the millionth time after they'd finally gotten into bed that night.

"NO, Bill," she replied, frustrated. "Your mother's a darling. She's just so happy that her first-born is getting married that she can't help being a little… overexcited. I think it's endearing."

Bill shook his head laughingly. "You would."

The day before the wedding was a Saturday, and a great many students had volunteered to help prepare the grounds for the big day. Hagrid was busy tending to the gardens, where the ceremony was to be held. Bill was busy getting fitted for his new robes, and Laelyn was busy pacing the walkway outside Gryffindor tower. Ginny and Hermione sat watching helplessly as the older woman chewed vigorously at her nails.

"Don't worry, Laelyn, I'm sure you're just having cold feet," Hermione said tentatively. Laelyn stopped pacing.

"It's not the wedding that's worrying me. I love Bill, I WANT to marry him, and I personally wouldn't care if we got married in a stable, so long as we're together. It's just…" She voice dropped below a whisper, "It's my parents."

"Your parents?" cried Ginny. "Why would that worry you? You've already survived a day with MY mother… surely you're prepared for anything!"

She shook her head. "You don't know my mum and dad."

Hermione shrugged. "How bad could it be?"

Laelyn took a deep breath. "Well, for starters, my mum's a nymph. Not only that, a nymph who was cast out of her tribe. Remember when I told you that she used magic illegally so that she could be with my father? Well, the tribe took that as an insult, and cast her out. And my dad is crazy. I mean, totally nuts, when it comes to me anyway. I'm worried about what he'll think of Bill."

Hermione fretted her brow. "You think he'll disapprove?"

"Would you hand YOUR only child over to a radical with a ponytail and an earring? Knowing my father, he'll probably take a fit and then suggest that I marry Percy instead!"
Ginny's eyes went wide. "That IS bad!"

"I haven't even seen them for three years. I wonder how they look."

Suddenly, they heard a loud cry, and before they knew it they saw a tiny little woman with shining black hair running across the lawns to meet them. Laelyn returned the woman's cry and ran to meet her.

"Mum!" she cried, embracing the woman. Compared to her mother, Laelyn looked big, even tall. The older woman was about four feet tall, and her build was very slender, so that she seemed just like a perfect china doll. She wore a green robe, which was held in at the waist with a thick leather band, and her eyes were the same bright blue as Laelyn's at the moment.

"It's so good to see you, darling!" She cried, looking at her daughter's smiling face. "My, how you've grown! So tall… just like your father."

"Where is dad?" Laelyn said in a fretful tone. Her mother rolled her eyes.

"Oh, he's lagging behind. He'll be along soon, I'd imagine." The tiny woman ran her fingers through her hair, which hung to below her hips. "Men! Honestly!" she said to Ginny and Hermione. "How do you do?" she said, embracing them. "Ravaine Thorne."

"Hermione Granger."

"I'm Ginny. Ginny Weasley."

"OOH! The groom's sister, then?" Ginny nodded. "I hope, then, for my daughter's sake that good looks run in the family." Ginny turned slightly pink.

"They do, mum," Said Laelyn. "Bill's a wonderful, perfect man. You'll love him."

Her mother nodded. "Of course I will. Your father, on the other hand…" her mother fell silent. "Oh dear, speak of the devil…" Laelyn turned to see her father walking up behind them.

"Hi daddy!" She said nervously, attempting to give him a hug. Ginny and Hermione nearly laughed. Laelyn's father was almost seven feet tall, and Laelyn, who was not more than five feet, had to stand on her toes just to hug him around the chest. Her mother and father had to have been the oddest couple in the world. Laelyn's father patted her on the head.

"This is a nice school you have here," He said, ignoring Ginny and Hermione. "So, when do we meet this boy of yours?"

"Simeon…" said her mother in a warning tone.

"Daddy, please please please be nice to him," Laelyn begged, grabbing her father's sleeve like a little child.

"Nice?" Her father looked confused, even a little hurt. "I'm always nice! Aren't I always nice? Ravaine, tell her I'm always nice."

The small woman rolled her eyes. "All right, Simeon, no one could ever hope to be nicer than you." She winked at the girls.

Suddenly, they heard a voice from one of the upstairs windows in the tower. "Lae, I can't find Ron or Charlie. Have you seen either of them?"

Laelyn put her head in her hands. "Goddess," she whispered. "No… um, could you come down here for a minute though, Hon?" Bill nodded and in a matter of seconds he was rushing out of the doorway.

"What's up? Is something the matter?"

Laelyn shook her head. "No, no… nothing's the matter… Bill, meet my parents, Ravaine and Simeon Thorne. Mum, Dad, My fiancée Bill."

Laelyn's mother gave Bill a little hug. "It's so good to meet you, dear."

"You too," Bill replied, smiling. He extended his hand to Laelyn's father. "And it's a privilege to finally meet you, Mr. Thorne."

The older man raise one eyebrow, looking Bill over from the soles of his dragon skin boots to the top of his pierced and ponytail-ed head. After a moment's uncomfortable pause, he shook Bill's hand quickly, and, letting go of it as if it were on fire, said, "So you're the insolent boy who has impregnated my little girl."

"Daddy…" Said Laelyn, burying her face in her hands. Her father put his arm around her protectively. Bill looked his soon to be father-in-law in the eye.

"Yes, that would be me, sir."

"Well," said her father, staring him down. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Laelyn was tugging at his sleeve again.

"Daddy, stop it!"

"Hush, darling, I'm only doing a father's duty…"

"Oh, honestly Simeon!" Cried Laelyn's mother, looking up at her husband threateningly, "The poor boy's got enough on his mind, what with the wedding tomorrow. The goddess only knows he doesn't need you interrogating him!"

Maybe it was her imagination, but Hermione could have sworn that the giant man flinched at his wife's words. As a matter of fact, this huge, foreboding man actually seemed to cower before his tiny wife.

"But Ravaine, I'm only trying to…"

"Be still!" She said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You are upsetting me."

"Yes dear," Mr. Thorn said with a passive sigh. Ravaine raised her eyebrows at the man.

"Well?" Another sigh from Simeon, and he extended his hand to Bill.

"Welcome to the family," He said grudgingly. "Take… take care of her for me."

Bill nodded. "I will, sir." Ginny sighed in relief, as did Hermione and Laelyn.

"Daddy, Mum, Let's go for a walk," suggested the bride to be. "Bill, why don't you introduce my mother to Professor Dumbledore and Professor MacGonnagal, and I'll go with my father and take the bags up to their room." Bill nodded, taking the hint, and offered his arm to Mrs. Thorne, who graciously took it, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"Such a gentleman… Not like my poor husband. Where DID my daughter find you?"

"In Egypt," Bill replied laughingly. "I work there as a correspondent for Gringotts."

"Oh, how wonderful! You must tell me all about Egypt after we meet this professor of yours…" They wondered away towards the main building. Laelyn sighed.

"Ginny, Hermione, let me formally introduce you to my father. Dad, Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger."

Her father shook their hands. "You know, I'm really not as much of an ogre as I seem. I just get a little carried away sometimes, especially when it concerns the well being of my only child…"

Ginny nodded understandingly. "Don't worry, Mr. Thorne. My brother may seem a bit rough around the edges, but he really is a good guy."

Mr. Thorne nodded. "I know. I suppose I should try to make friends with the boy…"

Laelyn grinned up at him. "THAT is more like it. I knew you could be nice if you tried. Come on, let's get your things up to the tower…"

*****

A whole table was set-aside for the wedding party and the close friends and family of the bride and groom at the evening meal that night. Harry sat between Ginny and Bill, quietly eating his meal and listening to the conversation without much comment. Mrs. Weasley was saying something about He and Ginny when Laelyn's parents both turned to stare at him with wide eyes.

"I don't believe it," said Mr. Thorne, "It's Harry Potter!" Laelyn's mother covered her mouth with her hand.

"Bless you, my boy! I did not realize that you knew my daughter!"

"Why, yes," said Mrs. Weasley, her voice full of pride. "He is involved with my Ginny, soon to be you daughter as well! Perhaps some day you will be able to tell people that Harry Potter is your son…"

"Mother!" cried Ginny, turning pink. "We've only just started seeing each other!"

Harry took hold of her hand. "You mother is just expressing her happiness for us, Gin," He whispered. "So what if she's a little bit ahead of us?" She smiled at him.

"Right."

Laelyn cleared her throat. "I need to slip away for a moment," she said, pushing her chair away from the table. "I'll be back soon."

Bill squeezed her hand and said, "If you find Charlie, tell him to get over here. I don't know what's wrong with him today… I haven't seen him since lunch, and it's not like Charlie to miss a meal." Laelyn nodded worriedly.

"If I see him I'll be sure to give him the message. Be right back." And she ran out towards the hall.

Towards the kitchens, thought Harry. She's bringing Sirius his supper. It's a wonder no one thinks anything of her always slipping out at the same time.

*****

Laelyn tapped lightly on Sirius' door, carefully balancing the food-laden tray on one hand. It was a pity, she thought, that Sirius couldn't be out there enjoying the feast with the rest of them. She'd really grown rather fond of the man since their first meeting.

There was a slight sound of movement inside, and then the door was opened a crack Sirius' face appeared.

"Laelyn!" He cried, with surprise and what she thought might have been a trace of dismay. He glanced at the tray in her hand. "Oh… It's suppertime already? We must have gotten so caught up…" He noticed the skeptical look in her eyes.

"Aren't you going to ask me in so that I can put this tray down? It's terribly heavy…"

"Of course!" cried Sirius, opening the door and taking the tray from her. "I'm so sorry… I don't know where my head is at…"

Laelyn looked into the room, her eyes widening in surprise. "Charlie? What are you doing here? Bill's been looking for you all afternoon!"

Charlie, who was sitting in a chair by the fireplace, gave a little wave to her. "Hi Lae. Sorry about disappearing on you, but Sirius and I have been talking all afternoon. The time must have gotten away from us."

Laelyn raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I see," she said, not fully buying this alibi. What are you hiding form me… She smiled. "Well, I brought some food from the kitchens, but there's only one plate… I could go and get another if you'd like me to…" Sirius shook his head.

"No, Laelyn. Don't bother about it. I'm not all that hungry. We can share… That it, if you don't mind?" He said, casting a meaningful look at Charlie, who shook his head.

"No, I had a large lunch, I don't need much." He looked at Laelyn kindly. "Tell my brother I'll be back soon. Sirius and I only have a few things left to discuss. But you should go back to your parents and your guests… and Bill will be missing his bride." She smiled back at him.

"You're right. I'll see you later then… and Sirius, I need to talk to you sometime, if you don't mind." The older man nodded.

"Of course not, I'm always in, anyway!" She nodded to the two of them, then closed the door and left them alone in the room. Sirius listened at the door, making sure that he heard her receding footsteps, and then he turned to Charlie, his eyes wide.

"That was too close for my liking, Charlie."

Charlie sighed. "I know, for me too, but what is there to be done about it?"

Sirius fell into the chair across from him. "Nothing. Nothing. Any way you look at it, we're damned."

Charlie rubbed his temples as if in pain. "Don't talk like that, Si," He said desperately. "There's always some way…"

Sirius closed his eyes as the younger man laid his hand over top of his own. "I'm sorry, Charlie… I can't give you the things you want…"

"I don't want anything! Just to be like this, Si… That's enough for me." Sirius felt the other man's arms around him. Charlie, Charlie… You're so innocent… so beautiful… Sirius felt tears, which he knew would never fall, burning at the backs of his eyes. He realized that he'd said the words aloud, and he knew also from the way the younger man's embrace tightened around him that Charlie had heard, and that he felt the same way. He knew it without hearing it, without having it put into words. Theirs was a bond beyond the power of words.