* The First To Know *

Rose walked in the little bookshop one afternoon. Once Upon a Magical Time, as it was called, was located in the corner of Charing Cross Road and it sold not only books from the wizarding world but also muggle ones. The owners of the place were very smart and placed a very powerful and extended glamour charm on the magic books so, if any muggles walked in, they'll see dusty books.

"Yes, Mrs. Adleton, trust me. Your granddaughter will love this book in spite of being a muggle one. It has very beautiful illustrations and it even has your granddaughter's name on it." Rose heard Belle, her eldest sister, tell a customer. After getting married, Belle and her best friend from Hogwarts, muggle-born Macey Whitford, bought the place and opened the little bookshop. It gave them plenty of time to spend with their families as well as work together in what they loved. Rose looked at her sister as she talked with an elderly witch and showed her the Eloise book. Rose smiled. She remembered Belle reading those books to her when they were kids. At the far end of the shop, where there were little chairs and colourful rugs surrounded by bookshelves, Rose could see many young people sat there talking animatedly as Macey, a tall, blonde witch who wore glasses, conducted the conversation. Rose was walking towards that corner when she felt something (or someone) crashing to her legs. She looked down to see a bushy auburn hair, a pair of big, brown eyes and a big toothless smile.

"Autie Wosie!" the little creature said, smiling, as she held onto her aunt's legs. Rose smiled and picked the little girl up in her arms.

"Isn't it my gorgeous goddaughter! Look at you, Miss Meg! You're bigger every time I see you!" she exclaimed as she kissed the baby's chubby cheek. Little Meg squealed in delight and held Rose's face in her hands.

"Mommy! Mommy!" she shouted. Belle was there in a matter of seconds as the elder witch she had been talking to left.

"Meg? What is it, darling?" Belle asked.

"Mommy, autie Wosie!" the baby exclaimed happily as she pointed to the woman carrying her.

Belle looked at her sister and smiled.

"Well, well... if it isn't my little sister, head of the Foreign Affairs and Sports Department! To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked as she hugged her baby sister. Rose shrugged her shoulders.

"I have the day off, and well... I kinda need to talk to you." she said looking down.

"Is everything alright?" Belle asked concerned. Rose nodded, but wasn't convincing. Belle sighed, then told Macey something and made Rose follow her to her office at the back of the shop. They sat down in two chairs and Rose put the little girl down on the floor.

"Work's fine?" Belle asked as she poured two cups of tea. Rose nodded. "Scorpius?" Belle asked next.

"He's fine. Busy with a complex potion he has to make." Rose answered as Belle gave her the cup.

"Mommy, autie Wosie pay?" Meg asked. Belle smiled and kneeled down to her.

"Later, sweetheart. How about you bring your toys here to show auntie Rosie?" she suggested. Meg smiled and ran to the corner next to the desk where all her toys were.

"She's so adorable!" Rose exclaimed. Belle smiled and sat down.

"She really is. She's a handful as well. Not as much as Lizzie, mind you, but she's not far from it." Belle answered.

"How's Lizzie?" Rose asked.

"She's at school now. She's doing fine, though I know she misses Amy. Oh! She has a dance recital in a few months. She'll tell you all about it on Sunday at mom's." Belle said. Rose nodded.

"Amy?" Rose asked.

"Good. She really likes it at Hogwarts. She's getting along fine and has some friends. She did good in her last tests. She says Charms is her favourite subject, but her teacher is quite strict. And she loves going to the library. Did I tell you I got an owl from Headmistress Middleton the other day because they caught her in the Restricted section?" Belle said. Rose laughed a bit. "When I asked her about it, she wrote that she was curious about the books that were there and that she couldn't wait until she was old enough to see them." Belle continued as Meg went to them with one of her dragon toys. Belle took it gently and smiled at her as Meg giggled and ran back to her spot. Seconds later, she came back crying and rubbing her eye. Belle picked her up and sat her on her lap, cuddling her.

"What happened, sweetheart?" she asked. Meg looked at her.

"Daddy?" the little girl asked.

"At work, baby. We'll see him in a little while." Belle explained.

"Izzie?" Meg asked.

"At school. We'll see her in a little while too." Belle said as she kissed the baby's chubby cheek. Then, she looked at her sister.

"Sorry. She gets a bit fuzzy at this time of the day." she apologized. Rose shook her head and smiled.

"It's alright." she answered.

"So... Rosie... you didn't come here just for tea and a crying goddaughter. What is it?" Belle asked. Rose looked at her and sighed.

"How do you do it?" she asked.

"What? Running the shop?" Belle asked. Rose shook her head.

"Being a mom. How do you do it?" the young woman asked. Belle sighed.

"I just... do it. There's no user guide that tells you how to do things. It's more trying and error. Of course, you can read every book there is on child bearing and parental guidance, but that's it. Books won't tell you exactly what to feel when your kid cries or not to worry when they don't feel ok. They give you a general idea, but every child is different. Most of the times, what works with one kid doesn't work with the next one." Belle explained.

"But... You always seem to know what to do! You've always seemed so ready and fearless!" Rose exclaimed.

"When I knew I was having Amy, I was dead scared. I was only 20, barely out of school and living with my boyfriend. Surely, I had experience with kids from being around you guys, but it wasn't the same." Belle explained.

"What made you less scared?" Rose asked.

"Adam. He was as scared as me, but was excited and so sure we could do this together. And I knew mom and dad were there to help me. And Adam's parents. And you and Hugh. And all our families and friends. It made me feel less alone." Belle said.

"But that changed later, right? When Lizzie and Meg came? I mean, you already knew what to expect." Rose said.

"I did, but then again, none of them was planned. I mean, were weren't trying when I got pregnant with Lizzie, and after losing that baby a couple of years ago, we didn't think about having another child. We were fine with the family we had, but we weren't against a new member if it came. We weren't taking much precautions or anything. And then, Meg came along when we least expected it. And you know what? I wouldn't want it any other way. Even though none of them was planned, I'm just happy they're here. They're my whole world." Belle said looking down at Meg who was sound asleep.

"Aren't you scared of screwing things up?" Rose asked. To her surprised, Belle laughed.

"All the time." she answered. Rose looked at her, her eyes big and round with surprise. "You'll never do everything perfect. But you'll make sure to do your best, to do what's best for them and to hope for the best." Belle continued, then looked at her sister, who looked a bit fretful. She reached out and held Rose's hand. "Don't worry about it. When the time comes, you'll be great!" she added.

"It's just... there is no "when the time comes"! The time's already here!" Rose exclaimed. Belle looked at her, kinda shocked.

"Rose, are you...?" Belle asked. Rose just nodded and looked down. "Oh, my God! That's..." she said before her sister cut her in.

"terrifying." Rose finished. Belle laughed.

"Yes. It's quite terrifying. But it's also wonderful. What did Scorpius say?" she asked.

"I... haven't told him yet. You're the first to know." Rose said. Belle felt moved.

"Really?" she asked with tears in her eyes.

"Of course! You've always been the first to know, Belle. You were there for all my firsts, it's only logical you know this first too. Besides... you're already a mom, so... I figured you could help me." Rose said.

Belle smiled and wiped her tears away.

"You're going to be an amazing mother, Rose. You're a great aunt already. The girls love you so much!" Belle said. "It's ok to be scared, sweetheart. It's normal. It's healthy. But you know what? You can bet your Firebolt 2020 that you won't do this alone. You have Scorpius, and me, and mom and dad, and Hugh, and all our family. We're all here for you, darling." she added. Rose smiled. She knew she did the right thing by letting Belle be the first to know about her pregnancy. She always admired her big sister and always knew she would be the first to support her in everything she did.