Out of Her Hands

A/N: A huge thank you to Ang, who is a wonderful beta and friend. I want to say a great big thanks to all of you that reviewed the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Eleven: Forthcoming Nuptials.

Poppy Pomfrey looked critically at herself in the full-length mirror. Her hands rested on her bump and she rubbed it soothingly. Poppy was stressed. She had been tearful all morning and now she was getting cold feet. She rubbed her bulging stomach again and closed her eyes, trying to settle her nerves for her sake as well as the baby's. Poppy had found that rubbing her stomach had some therapeutic side effects. She had never understood why pregnant women always seemed to be rubbing their bumps but now she knew why.

Poppy had never felt so unattractive in her life. It was her wedding day and she was fat! It didn't matter how many times Minerva or even Alastor told her she was beautiful, Poppy took no notice. Alastor had even commented that there was nothing sexier than a pregnant woman. Poppy had simply glared at him and told him to go and bother someone else. She knew he was trying to be nice and reassure her. And she knew that carrying a child conceived in love was beautiful but all that didn't matter on a day like today. She had already had her wedding robes enlarged twice, to her dismay, and not only was her stomach getting bigger but so was her bottom, chest and thighs.

"How can Alastor want to marry me like this?" she said softly to herself.

"Because he loves you and you are carrying his child," interjected Minerva, who was beginning to lose patience with her best friend. "You look stunning. I only wish I could make you see that."

Poppy turned around and looked at her best friend and maid of honour. She hadn't realized she had company when she had been talking to her reflection. Poppy couldn't help but feel slightly jealous as she saw Minerva standing before her wearing lilac dress fitted dress robes that clung to all the right places. Minerva had always had a figure that Poppy had dreamed of and now on her wedding day she was eight months pregnant while Minerva had a bride to be figure.

Minerva looked at her friend and knew exactly what she was thinking. Minerva had known deep down that they would run into this problem. She wanted to tell Poppy that she would give anything to be getting married when eight months pregnant but she didn't. This was Poppy's day and she needed to support her.

"Why don't we make a start on your hair," suggested Minerva who desperately wanted to uplift the tone of the bedroom. It felt more like they were preparing for a wake rather than a wedding.

"I would like to have it in loose ringlets and have daisies threaded through," Poppy told her friend as she sat down in front of the dressing table and let Minerva create her dream hairstyle.

"What do you think?" questioned Minerva five minutes later.

"Perfect," replied Poppy who was beginning to feel a lot better about her appearance now her hair was done. "I am sorry to be such a grump."

"It's understandable Poppy so I won't hold it against you," answered Minerva as she placed a white gold chain with a teardrop diamond around her friend's neck. "This really finishes off the whole bridal look."

Poppy raised her hand to the necklace and stared at the reflection in the mirror. It took a moment to realize where she had seen the necklace before. It had belonged to Minerva's great grandmother and Minerva had planned to wear it to her own wedding.

"I can't wear this Min," gasped Poppy! "It's yours."

"You can wear it Poppy," said Minerva softly. "Think of it as something borrowed and I will be deeply hurt if you don't wear it."

Poppy felt tears brim up in her pale blue eyes. She felt deeply touched that Minerva would let her wear such a prized piece of jewelry that she had reserved for her own wedding. Poppy had always admired the beautiful necklace and she had to agree with Minerva, it did finish the bride's outfit.

"Thank you Min!" said Poppy as her tears leaked from her eyes all over again.

Minerva smiled and then added the finishing touches to her outfit. Poppy simply stared at her friend and wondered what she was thinking. Minerva hadn't been herself for the last week and a half. She had been quiet and had slipped off to her rooms instead of chatting with Alastor and Poppy.

"Min," asked Poppy softly "are you okay with Alastor asking Albus to be his best man again?"

"It is Alastor's choice and they have been friends for decades," answered Minerva as she looked up and caught her friends' eyes. "Albus was always going to be his best man. It was only when we thought he was dead that other arrangements were made but now he is back and can fulfil his promise to you and Alastor."

"You haven't seen him since that night you went to see him?" asked Poppy. "You must be feeling something!"

"I asked him to give me space and that is what he is doing," replied Minerva. "Today is about you and Alastor, not about Albus and me."

"But he will be there and you have some duties together," protested Poppy who couldn't believe how cold Minerva was behaving.

"Poppy," said Minerva as she moved across the room and took her friends hands "I can assure you that nothing is going to ruin your big day. We will speak when we need to and that's that."

Minerva let go of Poppy's hands and made her way into the bathroom. She needed to be on her own for a few moments. She sat down on the edge of the bath and placed her head in her hands. She knew today was going to be so hard to get through because he would be there. She hadn't seen him since she had asked him to give her space. He had done just that and part of her was upset that he hadn't even tried getting in contact with her.

It was taking all the strength she had to stop her from running to him. She wanted to. She loved him more than anything in the world. He was her soul mate and the only man she had ever wanted to share her life with. She wanted to be his wife and have his children. Those had been the plans before he went away and left her. She knew that as soon as she saw Albus wearing his dress robes, she would lose all coherent thoughts and words. She would be reduced to a bumbling wreck of emotions and make a spectacle of herself. Despite her love for him, there was something holding her back from him. The hurt she had suffered was slowly slipping away and was being replaced with want and need. What she hated the most was that she was not in control anymore. She wanted him back.

"Minerva!" called Poppy through the door.

"I'm coming." Minerva replied as she rose to her feet.

"Remember you said nothing will ruin my big day?" Poppy asked, her voice strained but calm.

"Yes," replied Minerva as she opened the bathroom door.

"Well my water's have broken!" announced Poppy clearly.

To be continued