Hey everyone,
Wow, I guess not updating until I had another story finished just didn't work out. I guess that has to do with the fact that my mind kept trying to keep up with new stories instead of working on multiple chapters for a single one. I guess I need a certain set of chapters to write in order for my muse to keep going strong and steady instead of constantly fluttering off away from what I am currently working on.
Still, I don't really mind the three new stories that I have written since I stopped my Once-A-Month update schedule and I hope that you all like them as well. I definitely enjoyed writing each of them and the reviews I got for A Soul's Future were very great to read. Still, I miss reading all of your wonderful reviews every month, so I decided that a compromise was the best course of action for me to take in regards to my schedule.
So while I am not entirely happy with what I am about to tell you all, I know myself well enough and know that, if I don't do this, I will not be able to keep up a steady schedule and might even decide to entirely give up on certain stories. And that's the last thing I want to do. Heck, I deleted my Thanos story, simply because I couldn't get myself to write another chapter for the damned thing. And it might sound weird, but I blame Endgame. The way they handled Thanos was just too good.

Anyway, back to my compromise and what it will mean for all of the stories that still need to be finished. I do plan to continue posting for as long as there are chapters available, but I might reach a point where I would rather stop the daily posts for a bit. Now DON'T worry, this break won't turn into a hiatus, I will just want to gather a small group of chapters again and then restart the daily posting.
So once the next 10 chapters have been posted, this one included, expect a break that might, at the longest, take a month, though it probably won't get to that. I have ideas for various stories, mostly To Read And To View, but maybe a few others as well. I also do still want to finish the few stories that I believe require the least amount of chapters to be considered finished. Anyway,
You get the picture,

Venquine1990

Chapter 29
A Bloody Christmas

25th of December 1994
Sirius' Chambers, Hogwarts
Jillian's POV

"Wake up, my precious pretty princess." I hear a loving voice softly whisper in my eye, which makes me grimace as my most recent memory is a dream recollection of last night's dance. "Did you have to wake me, dad? I was dancing with Angelina while Cedric was singing along with the music played by Dobby's magic." I mumble and the man laughs as he says: "If you want that so bad, wake up. The quicker today passes, the quicker you can spent time with your fiancés."
And just like every other time that that word passes someone's lips, my grimace gets changed into a brilliant smile. I open my eyes as I had kept them closed up to this point in the hope of keeping the image of my dance embedded into my brain for all eternity and to just enjoy its sight a little bit longer. "You know, I love spending time with them, but that doesn't mean I don't want to spend Christmas with you." I tell the man, who sends me a brilliant smile in return and he says:
"I know. It's just – so crazy to think of. Our first Christmas together in 13 years." I easily spot the lost look of pain and regret fly across the man's face and lie my hand on his as I say: "Not just that. It's also our first Christmas as father and daughter. As family." The man's eyes are watery, but his smile has returned and is full of love, as is the look he sends my way at hearing this. "Thank you, princess." He whispers and I climb across the large bed to wrap my arms around him.

We stay seated together for several minutes and while a small part does feel like longing for James and Lily to have been here, is this followed by the thought: "If for no other reason than because dad deserves it after all his years of suffering." And that same small part suddenly starts to wonder if our upcoming planned funeral is really such a good idea. Deciding to see if I can meet with my Mind Healer about this before New Year's Eve, I pull away from dad.
"Come on, let's get up. I'll go get changed and then we can –.""No need to change, love. Your mum introduced me to spending Christmas in your pj's and I've been hooked onto the idea since. Heck, I even bought this pair just for that." I laugh at the man over this, yet also think: "That explains the color scheme. It's fawn brown." Then suddenly dad looks down and a huge grin grows on his face. My own heats up and I mutter:
"My Mind Healer recommended me." The man's face comes back up and he kisses me on top of my forehead as he says: "That's my brave little princess." Yet I drop my own head and say: "I've only been able to do it here. I tried to do it in the dorm last week, but – even the closed curtains just didn't quite managed to make me do it. Though don't tell the other girls this, please. I don't want them to feel offended or something."
"They won't, princess. Your friends and dorm mates have been really respective and understanding so far. Trust me, this won't change that." I release a breath of relief and say: "Just give me a few minutes to get changed." The man laughs, but he does leave nonetheless. And when the door closes behind him, I sigh in relief and look down. And even though I am alone, I still feel my face heating up in a mix of pride and embarrassment at the fact that my upper body is entirely bare.

"I don't think I'll be able to do this tonight – or when dad and I go and spend some time at the Johnson's and the Diggory's." And after putting on a nice, thick and fluffy pair of night cloths, I call on Dobby and say: "Please make sure that all of my nightgowns are packed before we leave, Dobby." The very lovable elf nods and then I say: "Oh, I almost forgot." I rush for the long, low-standing cabinet against the wall opposite my bed and open a drawer.
"Here you go, Dobby. Merry Christmas. No, don't worry, it's a Christmas present, not cloths-cloths." And the poor little guy had whitened at seeing the pair of mismatched socks, as I had realized after meeting him a few times these past few months that Dobby collects them like this. But hearing my words makes a huge teary-eyed smile grow on his face and I ask: "Would you like me to give them to you now or when dad and I open presents?"
"Dobby would like to take the gift now, Mss. Jillian Potter-Black miss. Dobby would not want to intrude on private time with Master Black." I nod at the sweet elf, knowing and ignoring the knowledge that hearing this would have probably set Hermione off on a rampage about Elf Rights. But one of the many things I have learned since becoming friends with Angelina and the others is the actual dynamic between wizards and Elves.

I shake my head, silently telling myself that this knowledge is unimportant at the current moment and just make sure that I am fully dressed. A laugh escapes me as my feet are suddenly covered by a fluffy pair of slippers that have stuffed dog heads on top and Dobby pops out as he says: "Master has the same. Dobby bought them for both Master and Mss. Jillian Potter Miss. Happy Christmas." And into the empty space he vacated I return the sentiment before heading out to the living room, which, while in reds and browns, looks as amazing as the Yule Ball Great Hall.
"That took long enough." Dad jokes as I move over to join him in a pair of nice warm high-backed armchairs that are stationed on both sides of the huge fireplace and I say: "I had to get dressed, told Dobby a bit of a New Year's Eve order and gave him my present for him. Oh, and apparently these are his to us." I raise up my legs and wiggle my slipper-clad feet from side to side. The man laughs as he says: "Yeah, the little guy put them on my feet when I woke up."
He then suddenly raises his own and actually taps the bottom of my toes with his own, a loving wink coming along with the gesture. Realizing that he just had our dog-shaped slippers kiss, I burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all and whimper: "Only you, dad." The man leans back with an arrogant smirk on his face and his arms behind his head as he says: "I got you to laugh. Mission accomplished in my eyes. Yep, Padfoot's still got it."

A sudden and urgent knock on the frame of the portrait leading into the chambers shocking us both and I ask: "Were you expecting anyone?" Dad shakes his head and says: "No, Remus said he would be by later as he wanted this to be our first Christmas together and I couldn't convince him to stay no matter what I said or did. You?" I shake my head and say: "No, I have my plans with Ced and Angy, but those are tomorrow."
Dad frowns at this and shouts out to the portrait: "Who's there?" And the answer just further increases my confusion, as well as that of my dad. "It's Poppy, I need to speak with your daughter asap." The two of us share a look, me asking my dad if he knows what this is about without words and him doing the same. This proves to both of us that neither of have a clue about the woman's anxiety or the fact that her voice sounds breathless.
"Let her in." Dad calls out for the portrait, which rolls itself up. The mediwitch thanks both the portrait and my dad as she rushes in and says: "I need to speak with you, Jillian, but it's quite personal and private. Most girls prefer not to have this kind of information shared with the male side of their family, though it remains entirely up to you." This just increases my sense of confusion, but also makes me feel a slight sense of concern.
"Is this going to be painful?" I ask, as I feel it's best to just be cautious before I make any kind of decision. Madam Pomfrey winces and says: "That – depends. Some girls experience a lot of pain with this case, others not so much." And this seems to clear everything up for dad, who turns red first and then white and mumbles: "Oh, Merlin." Madam Pomfrey moans and says: "Never mind, I should have been more vague about that."

"About what?" I ask, agitation and confusion coursing through me and Madam Pomfrey sighs. She takes a seat that appears behind her and asks: "Remember when you had your first bath after your change? When I told you about what I had been doing about your need to go?" I nod, my own face flushing slightly at the reminder and Madam Pomfrey releases a sigh that closely resembles a moan as she says:
"I did something similar to another part of your new organs – and forgot to undo the spell. I actually had your fiancé, Mss. Johnson, over earlier this morning and she gave me permission to tell you about that as I asked her how you were faring. It was only after she left that I put it all together and realized my mistake." Sirius has his shaking head in his hand by this point, by the woman's sudden vagueness just further increases my confusion and I ask:

"So – what exactly did you forget to undo? I mean, sorry, but you still don't make much sense to me here." And the wince that is shared between my dad and the matron really doesn't make me feel any better. "Okay, will one of you just spill the beans already? I'm not made of glass, you know?" I snap at the two and Madam Pomfrey sighs as she says: "Miss Potter – Jillian – I'm just going to be blunt with you here."
"That would be nice." I think to myself, but the woman's next words make me regret that thought. "I put a spell on you when you first started healing as a girl – that basically suppresses all of the hormones you need to be able to get pregnant. You are basically on the magical equivalent of what Muggles call the contraceptive injection. Because of this, regardless of the fact that you have been a witch for almost two months, you've been unable to have a period the entire time."

I look at the woman, my own face beet red with embarrassment and I think to myself: "Why didn't dad just leave when he realized what this was about?" At the same time I whimper: "Please tell me that Angy and Ced didn't see you." And the fact that the woman shakes her head is enough to make me sigh in utter relief. I do remember Angelina, Alicia and Katie explaining this to me when I had my first bath and then realize that the woman is right.
"Wow, I've been so busy with the First Task, the Introduction Party and the Yule Ball, I didn't even think about the fact that I have been skipping – that time of the month – this whole time. So – what now?""I need to undo the spell, dear. No, I need to. You are much too young for this kind of magic. I just cast it at the time because it often comes with stomach cramps and I didn't think you should have had to handle that along with your other injuries at the time.
I did plan to undo the spell once I released you, but I was so busy getting your stamina back up that I completely forgot." I can tell that the woman feels horrible about this and while I silently bless Angy with going to the woman about her own problems with this, I also mutter: "Let's just get this over with." And this gets answered with a reassuring nod from the woman, whose whole face radiates a strong sense of understanding.

The woman runs her wand over my form and it really doesn't escape my notice how she pays extra attention to the area between my legs and just below my belly button. A sigh of relief escapes her as she finishes and she says: "Well, it looks like I realized my mistake just in time. So far the spell hasn't done any damage, though I can't quite determine for how much longer that would have been the case. Also, once I undo the spell, you won't instantly feel your period beginning.
Your hormones need time to reawaken themselves, so expect the period to be sometime in the next 24 to 48 hours. Also, I'm really sorry, but because of the time you were under the spell, there is every chance that your first period will be the whole package. Your breasts being more tender to touch and sensations, your muscles aching, headaches. I think – yes, I am quite sure that the only symptom you'll probably not suffer from is acne, but that, I'm afraid is it."
The woman has moved from her chair to stand next to mine and for a good reason to as I am burying my face in my hands and am leaning forward with my elbows up on my knees. "Thanks for the information, Madam Pomfrey. I can only hope that it's going to be 48 and 24. Though I don't blame you on this, this whole period thing has already ruined one day of Christmas. I really don't want it doing the same tomorrow when I spent it with Angy and Ced."

And while my eyes are closed, I am still quite sure that Madam Pomfrey and Sirius share a look of concern and sympathy with each other. I hear Madam Pomfrey mutter something under her breath and gasp as a strange sensation runs through the lower part of my body. This makes me realize that she must have cast the counter-curse. Yet only seconds after realizing this, I dash out of the room and over to my private bathroom.
"Is that counter-curse supposed to make me need to go like this?" I shout to the matron from where I planted myself down on my personal toilet and I hear the woman walk over, while I also hear a loud moan of self-pity come from my father. "Oh that bastard. He's not the one that's going to be bleeding out of his lower parts in a day or two. He wanted to adopt a teenage girl, so he better just accept that this whole thing comes with the adoption package."
"Yes Jillian dear, a need to go is indeed an aftereffect of the spell. If you hadn't had that need, I would have been worried as I definitely sensed my magic dissipating from your form. It would have meant that your body would have instantly tried to make up for lost time, which can be really unhealthy for one as young as you." I moan at this and Madam Pomfrey moves over to the cabinets underneath my personal sink.

"I'll just put everything you're going to need for this period in this here drawer, okay Jillian? That way you'll have everything close at hand. Your fiancé, unfortunately, ran out of pain-relief potion, so she came to me. Though I do bless her for that as it reminded me – well, of all this." I sigh, but I also agree with the woman, even if I am already dreading the idea of what lies ahead of me. And with that thought I flush my toilet and leave my bathroom.
Madam Pomfrey follows after me and heads back for the portrait. Yet just before it opens, she turns to me and asks: "Miss Potter, would you rather I inform your partners or would you rather do it yourself?""I'd rather do it myself, Madam Pomfrey. We plan to spend all of Boxing Day together, so that will give me ample time to tell them." The woman nods and I hear dad whimper: "Both of his fiancés on their period at the same time. Oh Cedric, you poor soul." This statement makes me send him a furious and insulted glare.

The next day
26th of December 1994
Jillian's POV

It took a few minutes for the awkward silence left behind by Madam Pomfrey and her retreat to dissipate and yet, after only ten minutes, dad and I had completely discarded the topic for the time being and just focused on our original plans for the day. And the sight of a huge, if not enormous, pile of Christmas presents had definitely helped with that. I had already expected the pile to be quite decently sized as I had splurged the previous Hogsmeade weekend, but the actual size had still left me feeling gob smacked.
"Ehm dad, do you think that perhaps Dobby let fan gifts through or something?" I had asked at the sight of the pile, or better said several piles, the fact that each of them came up to my upper leg just utterly amazing me. "No dearie, these are just all of the gifts all of your new friends decided to give you this year. Though I did hear from Dobby that he left out the gifts from Cedric and Angelina, because of your plans for tomorrow."
"What? But – but – but there are at least four piles over – oh wait, sorry. I'm being –." But dad, a huge grin on his face, had shook his head and astounded me as he said: "I've already moved my own gifts to my bedroom. I did so before I woke you earlier this morning. No princess, this is all yours." I had gaped at him first and then back at the four piles in front of me and asked: "But – but – but – is this because of Halloween?"

"Doubt it. I think it's more likely that your friends decided to splurge to make your first Christmas as Jillian a little extra special. Now why don't you stop spluttering and trying to come up with your crazy excuses and just have fun? Go on, open one of them. Let me see my princess be happy with her Christmas gifts." These words had sealed the deal for me and I had just ploughed myself down on the warm carpet floor in front of the middle two piles.
Dad had made the whole thing even better by joining me on the floor and holding me close, his front against my back and his legs stretched out on both my sides. He had used his wand to summon the gifs over to me one at a time and had closely studied my facial expressions every time I unwrapped one of them. And while I had only been careful with the wrapping paper from time to time as Harry, has my change to Jillian made me be careful with each gift.
I had actually constantly made sure to gently undo the bow or the ribbon tying the gift together and unfolded and then refolded the wrapping paper around each gift. I would place the folded paper to the side and only then would I focus on the gift afterwards. Dad did get a bit annoyed with this after a few gifts and had just started casting folding spells on the paper once it came off of the gift, but I hadn't minded this and thanked him for this instead.

And I still feel amazed, awed and greatly humbled by the fact that all of my friends – both old with the old team and new with Lavender and my other former male dorm mates – had bought me a total of 30 gifts all together. A few of the gifts had been old favorites of mine, such as the box of chocolate frogs that the twins got me and the delicious fudge and gorgeous night shirt that Mrs. Weasley had sown and sent for me, the fabric a lot lighter than normal.
Still as happy as I felt last night as I fell asleep, waking up now feels like a pain and I wake up just as annoyed and grumpy as I initially had the other day. This because, upon my conscious returning to the waking world and my subconscious trying to make me go back to sleep, I had turned on my other side, only for a strong sensation to overwhelm me, thanks to the fabric of my cover, somehow, rubbing across my nipples through my thick, woolen nightshirt.
"Oh, you can't be serious. Come on, deities out there. Just the other day I asked and prayed it would until tomorrow. Why couldn't you have answered that prayer?" I think to myself, trying not to respond to the sensation as it makes me really want to touch, rub and knead my breasts and play with my overly sensitive, already hard nipples. I groan at this fact and pull on the side pillow that is on my bed, forcefully hiding my face underneath it.

"Princess, what's wrong?" Dad asks as he walks in and I remove enough of the upper pillow from my face to grumble: "My breasts are sensitive." And instantly the man curses and says: "Say no more. What do you need?" I grimace, but still move my free hand beneath the cover and down between my legs. And while it's hard not to let my finger run past where I now know my clit to be, I rub fingers across the inside of my panties.
I sigh in relief at what I feel there and pull the other pillow off my face as I say: "Nothing, dad. I think it's just a forewarning. My panties are still dry." And even though the man's face is practically Gryffindor red, he still smiles in sympathy at me and I say: "Dobby, pack a bag for me, will you? Preferably with everything Madam Pomfrey left for me the other day." And a second later a large backpack appears on the bed at my feet.

A little while later I am in the set of rooms that Dumbledore and dad set up for Cedric, Angelina and myself after our contract had been signed, the other two already there. Both of them look astounding, even though their formal wear still has a strong hint of comfort to it. This makes me glad that I decided to go for a modest cut red dress with black and red straps across the shoulders and with a bit of a frilly fabric at the bottom of the skirt, the frills also being red and black lined.
Yet while I feel slightly self-conscious, I don't regret the secondary reason for picking this outfit. "You can hardly see red blood on a red and black dress, after all." I think to myself and at the same time I thank a little event that happened minutes before I left dad's chambers. Dad had argued and even verbally fought with Dobby, but in the end the House-Elf had consented to the orders that my period was to be taken care of by a female elf.

"I don't care how much you respect Jillian for being Jillian Potter, she's a girl and deserves her privacy. Whether you can do something like that while invisible or not is not the principle or the matter here, Dobby. You know Jillian as well as I do, you know she will feel uncomfortable if she realizes that male elf magic has helped her. Let a female elf do this one task, you can continue helping her elsewhere. You know she prefers your cooking anyway."
And that bit of bribery had done the job. Still, while I'm happy to see my betrothed, I don't really show it. This is because, on the way up, three more symptoms had started to show themselves. For some reason the light shining down from the windows between the portraits had caused a headache to form, upon taking a turn to the right, my lower back started to hurt and by the time I got to the floor I needed, I felt as if I had just finished a grueling Quidditch training session.

"Jillian, are you okay?" Angelina asks as she's the first to spot me and I ask: "Where's the bathroom again?" Cedric aims for the right door confused, but Angelina's eyes widen and she winces afterwards. "Not a word." I mumble, as I don't want her telling Cedric about this. If anything I'll tell him myself. And the fact that I am probably going to be experiencing even more symptoms makes me know that that's probably a must.
I sigh at this thought as I close the door behind me and pull up my skirt, before I use my other hand to, again check my underwear, which is simple cotton and the darkest black I could find. To my renewed relief, I still feel no wetness in the fabric and after making sure that the straps of my dark black bra are tightly wrapped around my shoulders, making sure my breasts can't wiggle even a bit, I return back into the central living room of our chambers.

"You – alright, Jills?" Cedric asks tentatively and I sigh, sitting down on the carpet next to him as there are no chairs or couches or sofas currently in the room. Yet the rug we are all sitting and lying on seems to have been thickened by House Elf magic as it feels fluffier than last time I had my feet on it a few days ago. "Okay, normally I wouldn't be this forward with what's currently going on, but – considering the situation, you deserve to know."
Cedric and Angelina share a concerned look and I say: "When I first got changed, Madam Pomfrey cast a spell on me to make sure that I wouldn't have any unexpected periods coming up. This because most symptoms that come with this time of month, as it's apparently called, are physically painful and Madam Pomfrey wanted to spare me these facts. It's just that, after I was released, she forgot to undo the spell – until yesterday in the morning.
She warned me that the period would start between 24 and 48 hours and that I would have most of the symptoms. The only one, she told me, I would be spared was potential acne, which is apparently thanks to the natural health of my skin or something of the sort. And earlier this morning, as much as I had hoped that the period would wait another 24 hours, I woke up with incredibly sensitive nipples. And upon getting up here, my back started hurting, my head started aching and the short walk tired me out like you wouldn't believe."

By now both of my fiancés are wincing and grimacing heavily and Angelina asks: "Want to postpone?" But I shake my head and say: "I have yet to let loose, so to say and I'm sure I'll experience even more physically ailing symptoms if I left back downstairs. Plus, I'd rather not tire myself out a second time and the presents are already here. I have my backpack and all my necessities are inside, so we should be good. Plus, a female elf is keeping an eye out."
"Please tell me Dobby didn't try –.""He did. Dad had to fight him, almost physically even. He convinced him by complimenting his cooking skill, by the end of it all." Another wince and Cedric mutters: "That elf needs to learn what it means to have boundaries." Yet Angelina shrugs and says: "What can you expect from an elf that has suffered Malfoy levels of abuse for years? To be honest, considering the rumors, I think he got off lucky."

Yet while I roll my eyes, I also spot Cedric wincing and he mutters: "Right, speaking of rumors. Ehm, well – you see –." This reluctance is so unlike the slightly older Badger that it makes Angelina and me share a worried glance before my eyes widen as I realize a potential reason. "Cedric, please tell that there aren't rumors about what we're doing in here going around the Badger Hole?" I ask, already strongly dreading the answer.
"No, that – that's not it. It's more – it's a family tradition; one my – aunt decided to implement into this year's Christmas, no matter how much mum, dad and I myself kept on insisting she had to wait until next year.""Why?" Angelina asks and Cedric mumbles: "Because we all believe that it's way too soon for this tradition to be of use to us. Yeah, it's a nice tradition and all, but – heh, no offense Jill, you're the whole reason I'm against it being this year. You're too young."
"Should I be worried?" I ask hesitantly, more than willing to trust Cedric, but feeling concerned about how he spoke of his aunt and how reluctant and resigned he continuously sounds. "To an extent, probably. Just – it's a gift. It's a Diggory tradition for brides to be to receive a certain gift from the Diggory family on Christmas. My aunt kept insisting on it being this Christmas, even though none of our family grimoires specify that. And like I said, you're too young."

"Does this have anything to do with that one intimacy rule we discussed back when we were discussing the contract?" Angelina asks, sounding as cautious and concerned as I feel myself and Cedric hurriedly says: "No! It's nothing to do with that. Well, I suppose in a way, but bloody indirectly and definitely just as long term as those plans. The intimacy is only part of what the gift will one day represent, but it also represents so much more, such a larger part of our future together." All of this greatly reassures me.
"Wait, I think I know what's going on here. Your aunt sent us wedding dresses, didn't she?" Angelina suddenly asks and this question, the very notion, astounds me. Cedric sighs and moans: "Yeah, exactly. Like I said, it would have been so much better if she had waited till next year. We've hardly been engaged for more than a month. But she insisted and the last time we tried to convince her, she told us that she had already sent them off with a family House Elf. And when she gives orders to a House Elf, they are bloody specific, let me tell you."
Angelina and I glance at each other and giggle as I say: "Well, I appreciate your concern, Ced, but I think this tradition of yours to be incredibly sweet.""Me too. I'm just going to assume that these two gifts over here, which have a, to me, unfamiliar handwriting, are the dresses in question?" Angelina asks, holding up two packages that are both folded and have dark green wrapping paper with light golden pine trees on the cover.

"Yep, that's them. Why don't you decide for yourself if you want to open them now or just leave them like that until next year. Oh, and they're not just wedding dresses, they're dresses that have been worn by previous Diggory brides and betrothed. That's part of the tradition.""Well, you just shot yourself in the foot there, mister. I would love to know what an authentic Diggory wedding dress looks like." I tell my groaning fiancé and happily take the gift that has my name listed as to.
Angelina and I share another glance and the girl says: "On three. One, two, three." And both of us pull on the string keeping the wrapping paper together and pull the paper off at the same time. But just at looking at the bodice of the dress that is lying in my lap, my previous excitement disappears and horrible anxiety and terror replaces it. "NO!" I scream in horror and dash from the room, the dress falling from my lap and spreading out in the process.
Yet I ignore this, too horrified by what I saw and just dash back to the bathroom, rushing for the toilet sink as the small bit of breakfast that dad and I shared this morning is now pushing itself back up from my stomach. I bend myself over the toilet seat and start to puke in disgust with what I saw, yet the tears aren't from physical pain; they're emotional.

Cedric's POV

"I'm going to kill her." I hiss to myself as I look at the dress that flew from Jillian's lap as she ran for the bathroom. Though to be honest, the word dress is too fancy for the horrible bit of fabric now lying on the floor between Angelina and I. The bodice is entirely transparent, bar a single strap beneath the chest area that is obviously meant to amplify the wearer's assets. The arms actually have some kind of fabric at the wrists that makes them clasp together.
And finally the same rules that apply for the bodice apply to the skirt as well. The whole thing can barely be called fabric it's that thin and see-through. It's also short enough it would barely reach halfway up Jillian's upper legs and the sides are, artfully, cut open with slits that reach even past the hip area. "Your aunt better have one hell of an explanation for this one, Diggory. And next to that, why does that look – like that – and mine look this fancy?"

I look up from the offending material lying in front of me and over to my other bride to be and the dress that she decided to lie out in front of her. The whole thing is gorgeous, well-made, has a nice thick white fabric, a very modest neckline and is, beyond anything else, obviously handmade and created by a very expensive and well-experienced designer. It has sequences running down both of the arms and a line of tiny jewels running across the hem of the skirt.
"I'm going to find out right now. You go and console our –.""No, you should go. If you go in there, it will tell Jillian that you are against this whole thing, even more than your reluctance from before. She needs you right now. Just tell me how I can reach your family and I'll take care of that." I nod at the sense that the other girl is making and say: "Just call on Trebble. He's my personal elf when I'm at home and I'm pretty sure dad already has him ready to do the same for the both of you."

Angelina nods at me and while she starts to fold her own dress back up again, the look on her face as she looks at both speaks volumes. The young woman is obviously regretting not heeding my warning, but at the same time I can't blame her and really hope she won't blame me for this either. I really didn't agree with my aunt to have this tradition now, but I never expected her to use that dress as a way to "welcome" Jillian into the family.
And while I sincerely wonder what made Aunt Melina decide on a course of action like this, especially if you take into account that this union came about thanks to Jillian's Introduction Party, I decide to leave the topic for later and just trust my future wife – one of two – to handle this part of our day. And while I am really, really worried about Jillian, I still knock on the bathroom door, even though Jillian left it open in her haste.
Yet as I knock, I suddenly hear it; Jillian is retching. Instantly I forgo my manners and rush into the bathroom and over to the toilet. I crouch down next to it and help Jillian hold up her gorgeous long hair as she retches, coughs and pukes into the bowl. And the fact that it's mostly dry-heaving just worries me even more. "Can I have some – ugh – some water, Cedric?" My fair maiden, who looks almost deadly pale at this point, asks and I nod reluctantly.
Reluctantly because I really don't feel like leaving her side right now. But then I silently curse myself and internally hit myself over the head as I think: "Are you a wizard or not?" And I use my wand to summon one of the cups from the sink, put it down on the floor and another spell to fill it with water. All the while, I use my other hand to continue keeping Jillian's hair out of the toilet bowl. I notice that a bit of mushed food seems to have already got stuck in her hair and use my wand to get rid of it as well as the few tangles in her hair.

Jillian heaves for another minute or so and then gratefully accepts the offered cup. Yet as she leans away from the bowl, I notice how wobbly her body movement is. Instantly I am out of my seat and rushing over to sit behind her. And only better as the poor girl moans and her upper body falls down against my own. I wrap my arms around her form in concern and the girl whimpers: "Rub my belly, please. It – it hurts and –."
But that is all I need to hear and I gently start to rub circles and other patterns across her stomach, in a manner that my mother used to do when I was sick with stomach aches at young age. I make sure to pay attention to both the sounds that Jillian makes as I rub her form and the look on her face and gently start to apply different amounts of pressure at certain points, less so when I notice her face contorting in pain and more if I notice her sighing in relief.

"You really have amazing hands, you know that?" Jillian mumbles and I smile at her as that is one of the things I have learned about her over the last month; sometimes at random and sometimes at particular events or moments, Jillian would make an incredibly caring comment or compliment, yet she hardly ever expects one in return. And normally her next comment would ruin the moment, but not this time.
"I felt her magic between my legs." Jillian whispers, pain and humiliation strong in her voice, but it's the guilty tone that I focus on. I gently kiss her temple and mutter: "It was bound to happen. You're not the one I'm angry at right now. My aunt was beyond out of line. I'm going to prove to her why the Goblet chose me as the Hogwarts Champion, just you wait.""I don't want to cause a rift between you and your aunt.""If that happens, that's her work, not yours."
Jillian doesn't seem willing to believe this, which I know is an aftereffect of her upbringing. And while I know that Sirius and I both share a passionate desire to go hunt a couple of no-good Muggles down, neither of us has reacted upon this urge so far as we both, also, know that Jillian needs us in her life. And to the both of us her needs are more important than some petty Muggles. Then I notice that Angelina is in the doorway and the other girl says: "Your family's here."

Wow, okay!
So apparently I decided to make up for the last time I wrote a chapter for this story and how short that one had been as this one is at least three times as long. And I know that some might wonder why I didn't make Jillian's first Christmas an easier experience. To be honest, it's all to do with "Pomfrey's" forgetfulness (aka, my own). I know some of you might have been okay with just a summary of Jillian having her first period, but – that didn't feel right.
However, I'm not going to let Christmas pass this lot up like this. There's going to be a small confrontation between various members of the Diggory family – present and future – and then Jillian will ask Sirius to join her and her fiancés to stay with them in their rooms for the rest of the day. Also I am hesitant on whether I should really let Jillian bury the Invisibility Cloak. If you can think of another heirloom, let me know.
Hope you enjoyed,

Venquine1990