Author's note: Yet another long chapter. I think this one's even longer
then the last one, so I'm just going to get right to it, and not keep you
here, lol. Don't forget to review! I just noticed that I've now caught up
in chapters to my other fic, "A Summer Not Easily Forgotten", and if you
all review for this chapter, like I hope you will, I'll have more reviews
for this one then that one. That'd be interesting. I'm only one away from
tying it, so yeah- it shouldn't be too hard to beat, lol.
-Mariel the Smart: lol, yes- you reviewed- thanks. And yes- that chapter
was long..and this one's the same, if not longer (and the thing you've been
waiting for happen too- not in the order I had said it would, but it
happens, lol).
-An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin: almost made you cry?!?! That's funny, I
could swear you said it did, lol. Thanks for saying it's not too Ooc- I
was a lil worried on that one, lol. Hmm..the pendant thing? Lol- just
shows you how long it's been since I read your fic (or that part anyway),
cuz I don't remember.maybe if you had updated a lil more often, lol. Geez,
I really sound like Mariel today, lol (Mariel if you're reading this, yes-
you have earned the title you mentioned earlier). Lol- glad you liked the
chapter overall!
Chapter 16: The Final School Year Begins
The rest of the summer passed quickly and uneventfully. A few days
before the new school year was to begin, Selina received her letter and
Severus left to prepare for the new year. Eric and Selina had gone
shopping together, then returned to Selina's house so she could finish
packing. They spent the last night of the summer there, and went off to
the train the next morning.
Everything had gone as well as it possibly could have gone with one
exception. For about the last two weeks of the summer, Selina had been
feeling quite ill, and had actually been being sick on some days. She was
showing it quite badly the day they caught the train.
"Are you going to be alright?" Eric asked as they sat in an empty
compartment near the front of the train.
"I'll be fine." Selina tried to reassure him.
Eric only needed one look at her paler then usual face to know that she was
lying. "You can see the nurse when we get there."
"No, honestly, I'll be fine. I'll go tomorrow if I still feel like this."
Selina promised.
"Alright." Eric replied uncertainly.
The train arrived at Hogwarts later that day. Selina and Eric took a
carriage together up to the school, then walked to the great hall. Here,
they said their good-byes.
"I have to go sit at the staff table with your father, but I'll see you
after dinner." Said Eric, adding a kiss on Selina's forehead.
Selina nodded.
Eric put his hand on her forehead. "You sure you don't want to see the
nurse tonight? You feel a little warm." He said, hoping to persuade her
to go.
Selina shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I just need a good meal and a
decent sleep- I hardly slept at all last night." She replied.
"Alright, I just don't' want anything to happen to you." Eric said.
"I know." Selina replied with a nod.
And with that, they went their separate ways.
"How is she?" Severus asked when Eric took his seat next to him.
"Still unwell, although she refuses to admit it. She's got a bit of a
fever tonight." Eric replied.
"That's not good. I'll have a talk with her after this is finished. I'd
like to see the two of you in my office later anyway." Severus said.
"Alright. I told her I'd meet her afterwards anyway." Eric replied as the
sorting began.
When the feast had ended and the majority of the students had left the
great hall, Eric went over to Selina, who was still sitting at her table.
"Selina?"
Selina looked up and smiled. "Mmm Hmm?"
"Your father would like to see us in his office. Care to join me?" He
asked, holding out his hand to her.
Selina laughed a bit and took his hand, standing up. "Well, I don't have
much of a choice, do I?" She joked.
"Apparently not, but it's nice to hear you laugh again." Eric replied with
a smile.
"Well, I feel a little better now that I've eaten something." Selina said
as they began to walk to Severus' office.
"That's good to hear. As long as you don't get sick in the night again."
Eric said, concerned.
"Well, I can't promise anything there." Selina replied.
"I know." Eric said as they arrived at Severus' office. "Well, here we
are." He said as he knocked on the door.
"Come in." Came Severus' voice from inside.
Selina and Eric entered and closed the door behind them.
"Ahh, Selina. Feeling better, I hope." Severus said as Selina and
Eric sat down.
"A little." Selina replied.
"That's good to hear, but if you're still unwell tomorrow, even the
slightest bit, I'd like you to Madam Pomfrey, alright?" Severus said.
"Alright." Selina replied quietly.
"Good, then I'll move onto why I wanted to see the two of you. As you are
engaged to be married, Professor Dumbledore has allowed you to share a room
so you can have time together. However, as Selina is still a student here,
all school rules will apply within the room." Severus said.
Eric looked quite shocked. "That's amazing."
Selina smiled. "That's quite nice of him."
Severus handed a map to Eric. "Here's a map of how to get to your room
from here, and you get to choose a password." He said with a smile.
"Really? Then how about 'sponsalia' as the password, Selina?" Eric asked.
"Sponsalia?" Selina repeated, confused.
"Yeah, the Latin word for engagement." Eric explained.
Selina laughed. "Well, I'd say that was quite appropriate then."
"That's a wonderful idea." Severus said.
"It's settled then. 'Sponsalia' it is." Eric said. "Should we go find
our room then, Selina?"
"May as well." Selina replied.
"I'll see you both tomorrow then. Selina don't forget what I said."
Severus said, getting up and opening the door for them.
"I won't. Goodnight, father." Selina replied, as she and Eric left the
office.
They followed a map to a nearby painting, gave the password, and were
then able to enter the room behind it. The size amazed them. It was set
out in much the same way as a teacher's quarters, with an office area,
sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom. Although they could have looked
around forever, it was growing late, and they both recognized their need
for sleep. Therefore, they changed into their pajamas and crawled into
bed, together, for the first time as a couple.
The next morning, Selina awoke, once again, to the churning in her stomach.
She quickly got up and hurried to the bathroom to be sick. Eric soon
joined her, having been awoken by her abrupt leaving. He kneeled beside
her and rubbed her back until she was finished, at which time he got a
glass of water and handed it to her.
"Thanks." Selina said, slowly drinking the water.
"You know this means you have to visit the nurse today." Was all Eric
said.
"I know, I'll go as soon as I'm dressed." Selina replied.
"Alright. I'd go with you, but as its' the first day of classes I'm unable
to. I'll get your timetable for you and visit you at lunch if you're not
back by then." Eric said.
Selina nodded as he left the room to get changed.
Selina joined him as he was preparing to leave.
"Well, I'm off. I'll see you later, and hopefully you'll be feeling better
by then." Eric said, stealing a kiss from her.
Selina smiled. "Have fun. Don't let my father work you too hard."
Eric laughed. "I won't, don't worry. You just concentrate on getting
better." He said, then left for breakfast.
Selina then got dressed quickly, and headed to the hospital wing to see
Madam Pomfrey.
Madam Pomfrey was at her desk when Selina entered.
"Ahh, Selina. Your father said you might be visiting today. What can I do
for you?" She asked when She saw Selina enter.
"Well, I was hoping you could help me figure out what's wrong. I've been
being sick at least once daily and just feeling ill overall, yet I have an
increased appetite." Selina replied.
"Well, have a seat of the bed over here and I'll have a look at you." Said
Madam Pomfrey.
Selina did so, and Madam Pomfrey began to perform a few tests on her.
When she had the test results, she looked at Selina with a slightly
shocked expression.
"Well, this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but nothing is wrong with
you in your condition." She said.
"My condition?" Selina asked in confusion. "What kind of condition could
possibly cause all this?"
"Pregnancy" Madam Pomfrey replied.
"You mean I'm." Selina asked, quite shocked.
"Yes, and quite far along too from the look of things. I'm surprised you
didn't notice that." Madam Pomfrey said, motioning to Selina's already
slightly swollen belly.
"I guess I hadn't really paid that much attention." Selina admitted.
"Is the father a wizard?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
That made Selina think. Who was the father? She couldn't remember doing
anything with anyone that could have caused this. Then she remembered the
night she had spent with Kevin and nodded.
"That explains it then. Pregnancies from completely magical relationships
are a lot shorter then those of mixed or non-magical ones. I'd say you
were due in late December- sometime around Christmas." Madam Pomfrey
explained.
"That soon? But that's only six months!" Selina exclaimed in shock.
"Well, that's the average." Madam Pomfrey replied.
Selina sighed. "Can I trust you not to tell anyone about this? I'd like
to tell them on my own when I'm ready."
"Of course." Madam Pomfrey replied with a smile. "If anyone asks, I'll
say you've got a bad case of the flu. You can even take this to help
settle your stomach." She continued, handing Selina a vial of potion.
"Just take one sip before going to bed for the next week, and you'll be
find during the day. And it won't affect the baby, so don't worry." She
finished.
"Thanks." Selina said, getting up to leave.
"No problem, and come back to see me if there's anything else you need."
Madam Pomfrey replied.
"I will, and thanks again." Selina said as she left, heading off to lunch,
which was to start soon.
Another author's note: Ok, I'm sure Magical pregnancies aren't really
faster then normal ones, but for the sake of this fic they are, lol.
You'll see why when the time comes. Just thought I'd clear that up now.
Please review!
then the last one, so I'm just going to get right to it, and not keep you
here, lol. Don't forget to review! I just noticed that I've now caught up
in chapters to my other fic, "A Summer Not Easily Forgotten", and if you
all review for this chapter, like I hope you will, I'll have more reviews
for this one then that one. That'd be interesting. I'm only one away from
tying it, so yeah- it shouldn't be too hard to beat, lol.
-Mariel the Smart: lol, yes- you reviewed- thanks. And yes- that chapter
was long..and this one's the same, if not longer (and the thing you've been
waiting for happen too- not in the order I had said it would, but it
happens, lol).
-An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin: almost made you cry?!?! That's funny, I
could swear you said it did, lol. Thanks for saying it's not too Ooc- I
was a lil worried on that one, lol. Hmm..the pendant thing? Lol- just
shows you how long it's been since I read your fic (or that part anyway),
cuz I don't remember.maybe if you had updated a lil more often, lol. Geez,
I really sound like Mariel today, lol (Mariel if you're reading this, yes-
you have earned the title you mentioned earlier). Lol- glad you liked the
chapter overall!
Chapter 16: The Final School Year Begins
The rest of the summer passed quickly and uneventfully. A few days
before the new school year was to begin, Selina received her letter and
Severus left to prepare for the new year. Eric and Selina had gone
shopping together, then returned to Selina's house so she could finish
packing. They spent the last night of the summer there, and went off to
the train the next morning.
Everything had gone as well as it possibly could have gone with one
exception. For about the last two weeks of the summer, Selina had been
feeling quite ill, and had actually been being sick on some days. She was
showing it quite badly the day they caught the train.
"Are you going to be alright?" Eric asked as they sat in an empty
compartment near the front of the train.
"I'll be fine." Selina tried to reassure him.
Eric only needed one look at her paler then usual face to know that she was
lying. "You can see the nurse when we get there."
"No, honestly, I'll be fine. I'll go tomorrow if I still feel like this."
Selina promised.
"Alright." Eric replied uncertainly.
The train arrived at Hogwarts later that day. Selina and Eric took a
carriage together up to the school, then walked to the great hall. Here,
they said their good-byes.
"I have to go sit at the staff table with your father, but I'll see you
after dinner." Said Eric, adding a kiss on Selina's forehead.
Selina nodded.
Eric put his hand on her forehead. "You sure you don't want to see the
nurse tonight? You feel a little warm." He said, hoping to persuade her
to go.
Selina shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I just need a good meal and a
decent sleep- I hardly slept at all last night." She replied.
"Alright, I just don't' want anything to happen to you." Eric said.
"I know." Selina replied with a nod.
And with that, they went their separate ways.
"How is she?" Severus asked when Eric took his seat next to him.
"Still unwell, although she refuses to admit it. She's got a bit of a
fever tonight." Eric replied.
"That's not good. I'll have a talk with her after this is finished. I'd
like to see the two of you in my office later anyway." Severus said.
"Alright. I told her I'd meet her afterwards anyway." Eric replied as the
sorting began.
When the feast had ended and the majority of the students had left the
great hall, Eric went over to Selina, who was still sitting at her table.
"Selina?"
Selina looked up and smiled. "Mmm Hmm?"
"Your father would like to see us in his office. Care to join me?" He
asked, holding out his hand to her.
Selina laughed a bit and took his hand, standing up. "Well, I don't have
much of a choice, do I?" She joked.
"Apparently not, but it's nice to hear you laugh again." Eric replied with
a smile.
"Well, I feel a little better now that I've eaten something." Selina said
as they began to walk to Severus' office.
"That's good to hear. As long as you don't get sick in the night again."
Eric said, concerned.
"Well, I can't promise anything there." Selina replied.
"I know." Eric said as they arrived at Severus' office. "Well, here we
are." He said as he knocked on the door.
"Come in." Came Severus' voice from inside.
Selina and Eric entered and closed the door behind them.
"Ahh, Selina. Feeling better, I hope." Severus said as Selina and
Eric sat down.
"A little." Selina replied.
"That's good to hear, but if you're still unwell tomorrow, even the
slightest bit, I'd like you to Madam Pomfrey, alright?" Severus said.
"Alright." Selina replied quietly.
"Good, then I'll move onto why I wanted to see the two of you. As you are
engaged to be married, Professor Dumbledore has allowed you to share a room
so you can have time together. However, as Selina is still a student here,
all school rules will apply within the room." Severus said.
Eric looked quite shocked. "That's amazing."
Selina smiled. "That's quite nice of him."
Severus handed a map to Eric. "Here's a map of how to get to your room
from here, and you get to choose a password." He said with a smile.
"Really? Then how about 'sponsalia' as the password, Selina?" Eric asked.
"Sponsalia?" Selina repeated, confused.
"Yeah, the Latin word for engagement." Eric explained.
Selina laughed. "Well, I'd say that was quite appropriate then."
"That's a wonderful idea." Severus said.
"It's settled then. 'Sponsalia' it is." Eric said. "Should we go find
our room then, Selina?"
"May as well." Selina replied.
"I'll see you both tomorrow then. Selina don't forget what I said."
Severus said, getting up and opening the door for them.
"I won't. Goodnight, father." Selina replied, as she and Eric left the
office.
They followed a map to a nearby painting, gave the password, and were
then able to enter the room behind it. The size amazed them. It was set
out in much the same way as a teacher's quarters, with an office area,
sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom. Although they could have looked
around forever, it was growing late, and they both recognized their need
for sleep. Therefore, they changed into their pajamas and crawled into
bed, together, for the first time as a couple.
The next morning, Selina awoke, once again, to the churning in her stomach.
She quickly got up and hurried to the bathroom to be sick. Eric soon
joined her, having been awoken by her abrupt leaving. He kneeled beside
her and rubbed her back until she was finished, at which time he got a
glass of water and handed it to her.
"Thanks." Selina said, slowly drinking the water.
"You know this means you have to visit the nurse today." Was all Eric
said.
"I know, I'll go as soon as I'm dressed." Selina replied.
"Alright. I'd go with you, but as its' the first day of classes I'm unable
to. I'll get your timetable for you and visit you at lunch if you're not
back by then." Eric said.
Selina nodded as he left the room to get changed.
Selina joined him as he was preparing to leave.
"Well, I'm off. I'll see you later, and hopefully you'll be feeling better
by then." Eric said, stealing a kiss from her.
Selina smiled. "Have fun. Don't let my father work you too hard."
Eric laughed. "I won't, don't worry. You just concentrate on getting
better." He said, then left for breakfast.
Selina then got dressed quickly, and headed to the hospital wing to see
Madam Pomfrey.
Madam Pomfrey was at her desk when Selina entered.
"Ahh, Selina. Your father said you might be visiting today. What can I do
for you?" She asked when She saw Selina enter.
"Well, I was hoping you could help me figure out what's wrong. I've been
being sick at least once daily and just feeling ill overall, yet I have an
increased appetite." Selina replied.
"Well, have a seat of the bed over here and I'll have a look at you." Said
Madam Pomfrey.
Selina did so, and Madam Pomfrey began to perform a few tests on her.
When she had the test results, she looked at Selina with a slightly
shocked expression.
"Well, this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but nothing is wrong with
you in your condition." She said.
"My condition?" Selina asked in confusion. "What kind of condition could
possibly cause all this?"
"Pregnancy" Madam Pomfrey replied.
"You mean I'm." Selina asked, quite shocked.
"Yes, and quite far along too from the look of things. I'm surprised you
didn't notice that." Madam Pomfrey said, motioning to Selina's already
slightly swollen belly.
"I guess I hadn't really paid that much attention." Selina admitted.
"Is the father a wizard?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
That made Selina think. Who was the father? She couldn't remember doing
anything with anyone that could have caused this. Then she remembered the
night she had spent with Kevin and nodded.
"That explains it then. Pregnancies from completely magical relationships
are a lot shorter then those of mixed or non-magical ones. I'd say you
were due in late December- sometime around Christmas." Madam Pomfrey
explained.
"That soon? But that's only six months!" Selina exclaimed in shock.
"Well, that's the average." Madam Pomfrey replied.
Selina sighed. "Can I trust you not to tell anyone about this? I'd like
to tell them on my own when I'm ready."
"Of course." Madam Pomfrey replied with a smile. "If anyone asks, I'll
say you've got a bad case of the flu. You can even take this to help
settle your stomach." She continued, handing Selina a vial of potion.
"Just take one sip before going to bed for the next week, and you'll be
find during the day. And it won't affect the baby, so don't worry." She
finished.
"Thanks." Selina said, getting up to leave.
"No problem, and come back to see me if there's anything else you need."
Madam Pomfrey replied.
"I will, and thanks again." Selina said as she left, heading off to lunch,
which was to start soon.
Another author's note: Ok, I'm sure Magical pregnancies aren't really
faster then normal ones, but for the sake of this fic they are, lol.
You'll see why when the time comes. Just thought I'd clear that up now.
Please review!