I wish I owned the Harry Potter books, but sadly, all that belongs to me are Liz, Gabby, and the plotline. The rest belongs to the fabulously talented JK Rowlings.
It was about two months later, with April sunshine flowing in on a Friday. Liz was picking at her dinner unenthusiastically. She was snappy towards her classmates and distant with her friends, though only Veda knew the truth about why. But depression over Lucius was only part of the lack of appetite, the other part being her upset stomach. She closed her eyes, willing her nose to stop working.
Giving up, Liz dragged herself up the staircases, through the Fat Lady, and back to her bed, a common theme with her these days, where she flopped tiredly.
She still had a three-foot parchment on summoning charms, not to mention the homework from Professor McGonagall. Sighing, she rolled over, and wound up the music box, listening to the soft tune, allowing it to soothe her.
It'd been a long time since she'd listened to it, though to her relief her heart no longer ached, but remembered good times. Liz had just about drifted off to sleep when Veda came hurrying in and began shaking her.
"Liz, I need some... supplies."
"I'm out." Liz snapped, irritated, "Why didn't you buy your own supplies last Hogsmeade weekend? You knew this hell was coming, it comes every month."
"Because, I had other things on my mind! And you were out last month too, and the month before that!" Liz suddenly shot up. Vida was right. She hadn't needed supplies since. . . December. Liz felt something in her head fizzle, then slowly spread to the rest of her body.
Tired, irritable, no period for three months, upset stomach, was she?
Taking deep breath, she whispered, "Veda, ask one of the other girls, I need to go see Madame Pomfrey for a bit." Not bothering to elaborate, Liz scurried off her bed and hurried to the hospital wing, willing herself not to break down. Just because I have some symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that I am...
"Madame Pomfrey!" She cried upon entering the wing, causing the Medi-witch to jump, then whirl around irritated.
"Miss Potter! This is a hospital wing!"
"Sorry, but I may have a big problem!" Here there was a suspicious look, until Liz explained what she wanted in a whisper. At first, the Medi-witch seemed shocked, unable to respond, then she shook her head and took the young woman to a bed where she promptly closed the curtains. Liz watched as several vials were emptied into a Cauldron, then Madame Pomfrey muttered a few words, and the smoky grey liquid turned a brilliant purple. Then Pomfrey picked up a sharp needle and poked one of Liz's fingers.
"Ouch!" She whimpered as a drop fell into the cauldron, and the mixture began bubbling and hissing.
"If it turns blue, you're pregnant, If it remains purple, you're not." So Liz watched, thinking of everything purple she could. Slowly, the potion began to change colors till it was a brilliant shimmering blue.
And then Liz broke down sobbing, while Madame Pomfrey held her...
Liz would never remember how exactly she got back that night. But the next thing she knew, she was lying on her bed in the dormitory, listening to racket out in the common room while she cried. What was she to do? If her parents ever found out, she was dead. Especially when they found out the father was one Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius.
Lucius would take responsibility for this. After all, isn't that why he'd stopped seeing her? Because he didn't want to risk loosing his child or setting a bad example. She rolled over and wiped her tears away. Surely, he'd want to make sure his other child was safe and well taken care of! It wasn't exactly the best scenario, but it would have to do. As the other girls came rushing chattering excitedly about this and that. Liz quickly pulled the curtains shut before they could engage her in any conversation, then snuggled under the covers.
She'd have to deal with it tomorrow, it was after all the beginning of Easter holiday...
Liz hung back in the shadows, watching the various members of the Black family congratulating Lucius and Narcissa. She owed Dobby big for sneaking her in like this. As she watched, she found herself drawn to Narcissa, who was now showing her pregnancy. Liz found herself placing a hand on her abdomen, feeling a slight bump. She wouldn't be able to hide her own pregnancy much longer. Which brings us back to her presence at Malfoy Manor.
After what seemed like ages, the guests had all left, and there was just Lucius standing there, bidding Narcissa good night while he went to patrol the halls.
Perfect.
She waited till the doors had shut, and Lucius was alone before calling out.
"Lucius!" He immediately whirled around, looking absolutely furious, and Liz recoiled, before showing herself. She had to do this.
"Elizabeth, I told you it's over."
"I know that Lucius! I'm not here for me!" Lucius merely raised his eyebrows, before dragging her unto the foyer in front of the stairs.
"Then why are you here Elizabeth?"
"I'm pregnant Lucius." There was a deafening silence. She swore she saw the slight widening of his eyes. Then, came the biggest blow.
"Then I suggest you get rid of it." At first Liz was so stunned, she just stood there with her mouth open, agog. Had he really just said that?
"W-w-what! You can't be serious! This is our baby! Do you understand that Lucius!"
"Elizabeth. You are not my wife; I do not wish to have a child with anybody else." Liz felt the rage build and build inside her. So, it was legitimacy the matter eh? Oh she'd show him legitimate!
"Well Lucius, I AM carrying your child, despite that little handicap. I'm going to need your help, at least until I find a job." She shot back, jerking her arm out of his grip.
"No Elizabeth. You will take care of this." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Her face became flushed with anger. She lashed out and slapped him, and then whirled around to leave. Then suddenly, she felt something, no someone, shove her. Suddenly she was sailing down the stairs, rolling and rolling, until finally she came to the stop at the bottom.
She hurt all over. Her knee was bruised, and she could feel blood dripping from her head. She stayed only long enough to see Lucius and then ran for it.
She ran till her lungs threatened to burst and her knee screamed at her to stop. She was gasping and sobbing.
Now what could she do?
Slowly she made her way home, it was about an hour's walk, and it was close to midnight. As Liz crept up the path, she could see the warm glow of a light in the main lounge. Groaning, she could see four figures sitting on the couch.
Booger. Figured they'd have checked on her. She pondered staying outside. But it was still cold, and she'd have to face them sooner or later.
Talking a very deep breath, she pushed open to the door and prepared to face the music.
"ELIZABETH GINERVA POTTER! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Mrs. Potter screeched as soon as Liz had come through the door.
"Taking care of some things Mum." The teenager answered, not daring to look at her brother or sister-in-law, who was VERY pregnant herself.
"Look at you, you're a mess!" Her mother cried. Liz supposed she did look terrible. The cut above her eye had stopped bleeding, though now she was also aware that she was favoring the leg without the bruised knee, not to mention all other various cuts and scraps that came from falling down stone steps.
"Elizabeth Potter, You better have not been involved in any, any hooliganism!" Liz was about retort back with some witty teenage repartee, when James responded, "Don't worry Mum, Liz is smarter then that." For some reason, that defense just snapped something inside Liz
"First of all James, I can defend myself thank you. I'm not a stupid little girl running around in pigtails anymore, in case you failed to notice that, and second of all, Mother, don't worrying, I haven't been out disgracing the Potter name by running around with creeps and gits." Just by getting pregnant by a married man who pushed me down the stairs. At first silence greeted her. She was normally such a happy person. But here she was, chewing on her big brother for really no reason, and being peevish with her mother. She looked angry and far older then her fifteen years in that moment. Finally her shoulders slumped.
She was so tired.
First the whirlwind romance, then the devastating brush off, followed by finding herself pregnant, Lucius' rejection of their baby, and now having to face her family. It was enough to leave any adult exhausted, forget about a teenager.
"I'm going to bed." She finally stated coldly.
"Wait a minute!" Her father snapped. Isaiah Potter regarded his only daughter with angry hazel eyes, eyes he'd passed on to his children
"Are you on drugs young lady?" Liz gapped at him. Is that how little intelligence her parents saw in her? They didn't think she knew better then to avoid that life? For a moment there was two sets of angry Hazel eyes glaring into each other, before Liz finally gave up in disgust.
"You all are really something y'know that?" With that, she began to storm upstairs, until she heard James' voice.
"Maybe she is on drugs." Then she came storming back down.
"YOU BUNCH IDIOTS! I'M SMART ENOUGH TO AVOID THAT BLOODY RUBBISH! I'M NOT ON ANYTHING, I'M NOT IN A GANG. I'M PREGNANT YOU IDIOTS! STUFFED, KNOCKED UP, IN A DELICATE WAY, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PUT IT, I'M PREGNANT, PREGNANT, PREGNANT!" Her family was stunned. Liz took the opportunity to go slamming up to her room, where she promptly bursts into tears and cried herself to sleep. Meanwhile back downstairs, James was the first to recover.
"Delicate my arse!"
A note from the Chica: Well this was an emotionally charged chapter wasn't it? Next chapter: What Liz's family decides what she should do.
