Chapter 21: Christmas family time
Rose animously told her sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law about all the things she had learnt that first half of the year at Hogwarts. She told them about the Quidditch matches, DADA's new teacher and Charms lessons, her new classmates and how she spent most of her time either studying or walking around the castle with Albus and Scorpius. Belle listened to her with a big smile on her face as she caressed her 6-month-pregnant belly.
"Is it kicking?" Rose asked, curious, as she looked at her sister's belly. Belle nodded. "Does it hurt you?" Rose asked. Belle shook her head.
"You wanna feel it?" Belle asked her. Rose smiled and instantly laid her hands on her sister's belly. She felt a pretty hard kick.
"wow! Pretty active baby you have in there." Rose said.
"That's because she's excited about her aunt's adventures at Hogwarts." Belle said. Rose smiled as the rest of the Granger-Weasley clan approached them.
"She?" Ron asked. Belle and Adam looked at each other, smiling.
"We were going to tell you all tomorrow at Christmas brunch as a present, but, yes, our last scan showed we're having a girl." Belle said. Everyone shouted of joy and congratulated them.
"We got a beater for our team!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"She's not even born yet and you're already giving her a position in Quidditch." she exclaimed.
"A man can dream, Hermione." he said.
"Have you got any names?" Rose asked.
"We're still thinking. Haven't decided on one yet." Belle said.
Hugo approached them with a package. He gave it to Belle.
"I know we're not doing gifts exchange until tomorrow morning, but I thought you should have this now, in case you want to use it tonight." he said. Belle looked at him, then at the package. She ripped the paper to find a brown book with muggle fairytales. It was similar to the one her mom used to read to her when she was a little girl, and that she then read to her brother and sister when they had been born. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I know you had mom's copy and that you gave it to Rose when she started Hogwarts. I thought you should have your own book now so you could read all those stories you love to your daughter." he said. Belle hugged him.
"Thank you, Hugh! it's one of the best gifts I've ever got." she said. She then gave him the book back. "Why don't you start reading it? I'm sure the baby would like to hear her uncle's voice." she said, smiling. Everyone sat down as Hugo opened the large book and flipped over the pages until he found the perfect story to read to his unborn niece. He looked at her and began: "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in shining castle..."