The Hospital Wing was made near bearable by the occasional sights of Kadie and Hannah. I had been there for about a week when Madam Pomfrey came in and told me that I could go back to my classes, and I was more than happy to leave. The whitewashed walls and smell of healing potions had started to get to me - and when I got back to the Gryffindor common room, I couldn't help but appreciate the colors. Kadie and I strolled through the random groups of first and second years, and up to the girls' dorms. I threw myself onto my bed and sighed.
"So," I smiled, "How's Malfoy?"
Kadie's response was a pillow in my face.
"Hey!" I laughed. Kadie laughed too, but something wasn't quite right. "What's up, Kade?"
"Nothing," She stated, casting me an odd smile. I rolled my eyes.
"Look, you're not exactly the best at hiding your emotions. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, okay? It's just ... I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine."
I tossed her pillow back onto her bed and stood up.
"I'm bored," I stated, beginning to pace.
"Same."
"Well, what can we do?" I stopped in front of her.
"We could, um," She stopped for a moment to think, "go watch the Slytherins' Quidditch practice."
"Wicked! Let's go!" I grabbed Kadie's arm and pulled her up. We practically ran down the stairs and if Kadie hadn't stopped me, I would have had a collision with the door. We laughed as we made our way out of the school and towards the Quidditch pitch. We were slightly surprised to see some Gryffindors already gathered in the stands, booing and hissing at the Slytherins.
"Mind if we join the party?" Kadie asked Harry.
"Not at all," He smiled.
As fun as it was, I still felt uncomfortable. I could tell that everyone was staring at me in between their snide remarks towards the flashes of green. I didn't want to let it get to me, but I knew that I was fighting a losing battle. I took a deep breath and sat down.
What is wrong with me? I thought as I buried my head in my hands.
"What's up?" Kadie whispered.
"Dizzy," I replied. I couldn't let her know that I just wanted to scream at everyone to stop treating me like I'd changed.
But the truth was, I had, and I knew it. I wasn't just Tia anymore. Now, I was Tia - with child, and it pissed me off. Why had this happened to me? I had no idea what I was doing! And on top of it all, I was in it alone. Sure I had Kadie and Hannah, but I mean, c'mon. There's only so much they can do. I felt a tear slide down my cheek and I gingerly wiped it away. The fact was, I was going to be a mom, and I had to deal. I hated to admit it, but I was already attached to it, and there was no way I was going to give it up. I figured that my best bet was to at least try to act normal. I remained seated, occasionally adding to the Gryffindors' jeers. I felt a little better when Kadie sat down beside me and offered to leave. I denied, despite my extreme desire to do just that. I couldn't run away from everyone – my biggest fear about this was that I'd lose my friends. I decided that I'd have to suck it up and deal - which was a lot harder said than done.
I watched as the Slytherins played horribly ... I wondered why they had been so hard to beat. After a while, they left the field, and all of us headed back to Gryffindor tower.
I excused myself from the group as we entered through the portrait. I headed up the stairs and into my dormitory, and fell onto my bed.
"This sucks." I said to thin air. I ripped my pillow from under my head and threw it over my face. I screamed at the top of my lungs, and felt my eyes sting. "Why me?" I mumbled as I rolled onto my side and curled up around the pillow.
"Tia!" Kadie crashed through the doorway, and flung herself onto the bed. I turned over and looked her in the eyes. The look of fear that was painted on her face sent my stomach into a knot. What had happened now?
"What? What's wrong?" I asked.
"She knows!" Kadie yelled. I flinched.
"I'm right here. You don't have to yell. Okay?"
"Sorry."
"It's okay. But who knows?" I asked. Kadie looked around the room as if trying to find someone else to tell me her news. "Kadie. Who knows?" She looked as if she were bracing herself for something.
"Stella." I froze. Shit! No!
"My aunt Stella?" I instantly regretted saying that. Of course it was my aunt. Who else did I know named Stella? Kadie nodded. "How much does she know?"
"Only that you're pregnant."
"Wait, how do you know she knows?" Kadie froze this time.
"I – um… I-"
"Kadie!" I stared at her, desperate for any knowledge about this. I was so stressed out by now, I really didn't care if she had read my mail. I just wanted some answers.
"She sent a howler." Kadie admitted.
"A howler? Shit."
"I know." Then something hit me.
"But my aunt's a muggle. Why did she – How did she send me a howler?"
"I don't know, but a scarlet red envelope just exploded in the common room and it was your aunt's voice, no questions about it. She sounded completely pissed."
"Well no shit." I stated.
"Look. I don't know how she sent a howler. Hell, Tia. I don't even know how she found out, so please don't go getting all PMS on me."
"I'm sorry, but right now I'm having a bit of a dilemma. My aunt knows that I'm pregnant and she'll probably make me leave school. I'm kind of stressing, and I should be allowed to."
"You are allowed to, Tia! But I'm just asking that you don't snap at me! Go freak out at someone else! Fuck, maybe Dumbledore told your aunt? Maybe it was Madam Pomfrey? Or Hannah?"
"They all know how much I didn't want my aunt to know. Why would any of them tell her?"
"I don't know, Tia! Maybe you should ask them!"
"Maybe I should ask Malfoy. He's probably guilty." I muttered. I noticed that I had struck a nerve with Kadie.
"He wouldn't do that!" she argued.
"Yes he would, Kadie! He's a Malfoy!" I yelled.
"He's not like the rest of them! He's different!"
"No he isn't!" I yelled as Kadie ran from the room.
"Great," I said to myself. "Now I've gone and pissed off the only person I can talk to."
A/N: Voila! I know it wasn't the best, but it's all I could get out! And ooohh drama in the friends department! I promise, the next chapter will be up soon!