A/n: Yes, another chapter… I've been writing like mad, and what with ff

A/n: Yes, another chapter… I've been writing like mad, and what with ff.net down for the past while, I've been going stark raving mad not being able to post!!! And yet, even with the damned outage or whatever hit this site, some of you have still had time to review the newest chapter in what must have been the last 12 hours. Guess who's genuinely impressed? Give ya a hint: It's me.

To add a couple names to the honor roll… well, actually, it's not so much adding as expressing my appreciation to these wonderful repeat-reviewers: *~*GinnyPotter*~* (As always, a great review from a great writer), Lily_Lioness (Oh, thank you thank you SO much… greatest compliments ever… words cannot express… well, you know the drill), The Destructive Blossom (No complaints about the slash? Bless you, dear!) And Golden Snidget (Okay, I've made up my mind that you are just all-round cool. 'nuf said!). Then, of course, there's Meg Albatou, who HASN'T reviewed yet, but has given me the best possible input in person. Plus, there's the fact that I spent twenty minutes on a stuffy public bus just to get her opinion. Meg, I take full credit for getting you hooked on Harry Potter in the first place!!! Well, that's all for now! Luv ya all, -Nymphean

The New Year started off well at Hogwarts. At first the students had a rough time getting back to work, but after the first couple weeks, it was business as usual. Harry and Ron were both very excited about the Quidditch season resuming.

The weeks sped by, and before anyone knew it, the snow had melted and it was March. As soon as the fields were clear of snow, the Gryffindor Quidditch team had invaded them. Harry was determined to win the cup this year, his first year as captain, and let the whole team know by making them practice at least four times a week. Ron was just as enthusiastic as Harry, and went at his position as Chaser with unmatched vigor. Ginny and Hermione watched nearly every practice, as did Laelyn, who was now eight months with child. Sometimes she was even accompanied by a large black dog called Padfoot.

Pretty soon, the games began. Gryffindor began racking up points, and things began to look very promising indeed. With the finals beginning in April, things were looking very optimistic indeed.

One Saturday afternoon, near the end of March, Ginny, Hermione and Laelyn were sitting by the shore of the lake, chatting, as girls so often do, about everything and nothing. Hermione was just telling them an amusing little anecdote about something Ron had said the previous night. Laelyn and Ginny were laughing themselves silly, when suddenly Laelyn stopped and looked down.

"Oh… That's interesting…"

"What?" asked Ginny, worriedly. "Is something wrong?"

"No… But I think I'm going to have the baby."

Hermione tossed her head and laughed. "Well of course you're… wait, you mean NOW?"

"Yeah, now. Could you two help me up, please?" The three women struggled to get Laelyn to her feet. When she was finally standing, she leaned on Ginny's arm. "Hermione, go to Professor Dumbledore. Tell him that I'm having the baby, and I need my husband here, and ask him very nicely if he'll send someone to get him as soon as possible. And if you could please tell Sirius what's going on… he'll want to know. Ginny… just help me walk, okay?"

Ginny nodded and the two started off towards the building, Hermione running ahead of them. They finally made it up the hill, through the door and up two flights of stairs to Madame Pomfrey's office. Madame Pomfrey rushed towards them, looking distraught.

"Oh dear me! Is the baby coming?" Laelyn nodded, wincing with pain. Madame Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly. "And where is your husband, pray tell?"

"He's in Egypt!" Laelyn cried, sounding frustrated. "Don't give me a bloody lecture about it, just get this bloody thing out of me!"

Madame Pomfrey led Laelyn to a bed and helped her lay down. "Mm Hm…" she shook her head. "I could have made this MUCH easier for you if you'd only come in a bit sooner, my dear. But I'm afraid now we'll have to do it the hard way." Laelyn groaned, and Madame Pomfrey nodded sympathetically. "I know, I know dear, it's painful, and it'll get worse before it gets better. This baby's a big one, even for an entirely human child. I'm afraid you're going to have a very long and difficult labor."

Ginny wrung her hands. "Will she be all right, Madame Pomfrey?" The older witch turned towards Ginny.

"Um… Of course, dear. She'll be fine. You run along now…"

*****

Bill sat at his desk, chewing absent-mindedly on the end of his pen. His mind was having trouble focusing on paperwork today. Something in the air. He looked up, and was startled to see that someone was in the process of apparating in front of his desk. Bill blinked a couple times; he could hardly believe his eyes.

"Sirius?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"Shh… I'm a wanted criminal, remember?" Sirius whispered, pulling his hood further over his head.

"What are you doing here?" Bill said quietly.

"You have to come with me. Now. Your wife is in labor."

"No WAY… she's having the baby NOW?" Sirius nodded, and Bill ran around the desk to where he was standing. "All right, let's get to the school." The two disapparated, appearing in front of the school's gates seconds later.

"Shit," Bill said, running through the gates. "This is bad… I should have been here sooner." He looked over his shoulder to see that it was not Sirius following him but a large black dog. Bill continued to run towards the school at top speed.

He bolted into the hospital wing minutes later, still followed by Padfoot. Madame Pomfrey shot his a disdainful look.

"Bill Weasley, it's about time!" Bill ignored his comment and rushed to Laelyn's side. He grabbed her hand.

"Lae, I'm so sorry. I came as soon as I could…"

"It's all right," she said, sounding pained. "Goddess, Bill… I can't do this…"

"Yes, you can! Don't worry… just breath deeply and try to relax…" He kissed her forehead, which was burning hot. Padfoot barked a few times.

"Thanks," Laelyn managed to say before yelling in pain.

"No animals allowed in the hospital wing!" Madame Pomfrey cried, noticing Padfoot for the first time. She moved to shoo the dog out of the room, But Laelyn reached out and grabbed the sleeve of her robe and pulled her back.

"I'm in a bloody big amount of pain, and I want the dog to stay HERE!" Padfoot barked in agreement, and Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes.

"All right, it's not sanitary, but if you think it'll help…"

The doors swung open and Hermione and Ginny rushed in. "How's it coming?"

Laelyn winced again. "Not too great, Hermione. This thing is bloody huge…"

Ginny stood behind her brother. "Don't worry, Laelyn, You're going to make it!" But as her eyes met Bill's, she became frightened. There was a knock at the door, and Madame Pomfrey opened it t find Professor Dumbledore standing outside.

"How is she?" He asked, his kindly eyes full of concern. Madame Pomfrey hung her head.

"It's bad, Albus… The poor child… the baby's too big for her. Yes, it's bad."

"How bad?"

"Very bad. She might not make it… Albus, I'm frightened for her."

Dumbledore shook his head. "We can't let that happen. She WILL live. She has to."

Madame Pomfrey looked at the ground. "I will try, Albus."

Ten hours later…

Bill Weasley sat dejectedly at his wife's side, stroking her sweat-soaked hair and whispering words of comfort. Laelyn had been suffering for hours now, and still Madame Pomfrey told them it was not yet time. He looked at his wife, normally so vibrant and full of life, now reduced to this pale, haggard woman. Her hair hung limply, and her eyes were full of pain. Every now and then, she would whimper hoarsely, and Bill knew she had suffered another contraction. She had stopped screaming hours ago.

Madame Pomfrey came into the room and checked their progress. "Another two centimeters to go," she said worriedly. Laelyn closed her eyes, a tear streaming down her face. Madame Pomfrey pulled her robe down again and gave her a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, dear, it will all be over soon enough."

*****

After eleven and a half hours of labor, Madame Pomfrey finally announced that it was time for the baby to come. Bill and Ginny each took one of Laelyn's hands and told her to squeeze as hard as she could while she pushed.

"Keep going," Ginny cried.

"You have to PUSH, dear!" Yelled Madame Pomfrey. Laelyn screamed in pain, scrunching her face up angrily as she focused her hardest on pushing.

"The shoulders are out! The shoulders are out!" Madame Pomfrey announced. "Come on, dear… just a bit more… As hard as you can… NOW! NOW, PUSH HARDER!" Laelyn's entire body went rigid as she gave one final push and collapsed, unconscious, against the pillows.

*****

Dumbledore quietly entered the hospital wing, a solemn look on wrinkled face. He walked up silently behind Bill Weasley, putting his hands on his shoulders.

"How is she?" He asked quietly, his eyes resting on Laelyn's sleeping face. She looked pale, sickly… half dead, thought Dumbledore, before banishing the thought from his mind. Bill bowed his head.

"She just collapsed, Professor… She was in so much pain. It hurt so much at the end that she couldn't even scream. The baby was too big for her. After he was born, she was bleeding… we couldn't get it to stop. So much blood… I've never seen so much blood. Madame Pomfrey said she'll never have another child, if she even…" Bill couldn't finish his sentence. "And our baby… he looked so sick… he was all blue, and he couldn't scream… my baby's going to die…"

The professor shook his head. "Bill, we'll do everything in our power to save you wife and son. Laelyn is a strong woman. She'll pull through this. And your baby WON'T die. I promise you."

Bill was distantly aware of a tear sliding down his cheek. At this point, he didn't even have the strength left to brush it away.

*****

"He's still very weak…"

"Yes, we understand that."

"I want to see my son, god damn it!"

Laelyn heard the voices before she saw where they were coming from. Madame Pomfrey… Dumbledore… Bill… her eyelids turned red from the light shining through them, and she made a conscious effort to open them. She felt her eyes flutter open slowly, and she blinked several times as she got used to the light.

"Laelyn… say something…" She turned her head towards her husband.

"Bill…" she said, a smile crossing her face. "I did it, Bill."

Relief flooded his face. "You're the bravest person I've ever seen. You're a hero, do you know that?"

She laid her face against his hand. "Where's our baby? I want to see him…"

Madame Pomfrey hesitated, looking at Dumbledore.

"The woman wants her child. She deserves to hold her baby."

"Yes, professor." Madame Pomfrey left the room and returned seconds later with a little bundle in her arms. She handed the mass of blankets to Laelyn, who winced as she moved to sit up but still smiled anxiously as the bundle was placed in her arms.

"Goddess," she whispered as she looked down into the small, round face. "He's beautiful…" Tear began to well up in her eyes, and she made no effort to stop them from running down her face. The baby had eyes the color of the stormy gray sky outside, and a shock of brownish-red hair. Laelyn kissed the tiny forehead lovingly. "Bill, look at him…" she handed the baby to her husband.

Bill took the baby in his arms very carefully, staring down for the first time at the tiny face of his son. "Hi," He whispered to the small, silent child. He looked over at his wife, who looked weary and drained but unbelievably happy. The baby made a soft sighing sound and shifted in Bill's arms. "I love you," he whispered into the tiny ear. He grabbed Laelyn's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. "And I love you."

Dumbledore smiled at Madame Pomfrey. "Perhaps we'd better give them a moment," He whispered. The witch nodded and followed Dumbledore out of the room, sneaking a look back at the tired yet happy family, together at last.

A/N: I'm such a sucker for the corny stuff. Anywho, that's not what I meant to say. No, I actually meant to tell you that you have now reached the fifty page mark. You must like my story an awful lot. Or maybe you're just bored. Yeah, that's probably it.