A/N: Into each life a little rain must fall… (I don't know where I heard that one, but I've heard it before). Anywho, I still don't own anything but my characters…
Chapter 16—The One With More Bad News
On the train back to school, Charlie and Maya again found themselves sharing a compartment alone. "Have you told your father yet?" Charlie asked.
"You're still alive, aren't you?" Maya joked. "If I had told him, he would have killed you."
"You're forgetting that I can do magic," Charlie teased. He kissed her head and let her lean back against him. "Are we going to tell anyone yet?"
"I'd prefer not to," Maya said. "I don't want everyone knowing my business."
"What are we going to tell people for the reason you're no longer playing quidditch?" Charlie asked.
"Why wouldn't I play?" she demanded.
"You can't play in your current condition," Charlie growled. "I won't allow it."
"And what if Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey say that I can play?" Maya demanded.
"Then, I'll think about it," Charlie agreed. "But, Maya, that's my baby you're carrying and I won't jeopardize you or him for a stupid game." Maya huffed and refused to speak to Charlie for the rest of the train ride. When they arrived back at the Castle, Professor McGonagall summoned Charlie and Maya to her office.
"I shall agree to keep your situation as quiet as possible," she said. "The teachers are all aware of what is going on and have agreed to keep it quiet. However, we need to come up with an excuse for why you can't play quidditch anymore, Ms. Binning."
"Professor, we have 2 games left," Maya argued. "There is no reason why I can't play. I can still fly just fine. I should be allowed to play."
"Ms. Binning," Professor McGonagall began, "I have already discussed this issue with the Headmaster. It is our decision that you can no longer play quidditch. We will tell everyone that you are leaving the team because the practices interfere too much with your studies and your music rehearsals." Maya began to protest further, but Professor McGonagall cut her off. "It has been decided and if you continue with this, you will serve detention every night for the rest of the school year.
"Now, we must also discuss the punishments that you both will face for your… indiscretions," she added. "You will each serve detention with me. Ms. Binning, you are to report on Friday after dinner. Mr. Weasley, you will report on Saturday at 9:00 AM. Is there anything else?"
"No, Professor," Maya and Charlie said in unison. They slowly made their way back to Gryffindor tower.
"You could have stood up for me a little," Maya snarled.
"I didn't disagree with the decision," Charlie said. "Quidditch is not safe for you right now."
When they entered Gryffindor Tower, their friends were waiting. They explained that they had been summoned to Professor McGonagall's office to discuss the Quidditch team. Maya had decided to quit because the practices interfered too much with her school work and music rehearsals. Charlie invited his friend, Ian, to join the team, but he declined. There was a first year girl, Katie Bell, who was the reserve chaser. She agreed to join the team as the starting chaser.
January trudged along slowly. In addition to not being able to play Quidditch, Maya was also subjected to weekly examinations by Madame Pomfrey. They scheduled them during prefect duties so as to avoid any suspicion and so that Charlie could join her without telling their friends Maya's secret. Madame Pomfrey said that Maya seemed to be doing fine.
For Maya's birthday, in February, Charlie planned a party in the common room. He intended to, again, ask Maya to marry him. On the Saturday before Maya's birthday, Ivy and Jenna helped Charlie get the common room ready for Maya's party. Ivy and Jenna went to Hogsmeade to get beverages while Ian and Kenneth went to the kitchens to get food. Charlie was keeping Maya out of the common room until everyone was back and the younger children were sent to bed. They were doing rounds when he proposed again. He grabbed her and pulled her into an empty classroom.
"What are we doing here?" Maya asked. "This is not part of our rounds."
"The others are setting up your party," Charlie answered. Maya sighed, but Charlie pushed on. "I know that we're still working on things and we've got a lot to sort out still, but…" He trailed off and knelt on the floor in front of Maya. "Will you?"
"Stop, Charlie," Maya begged. "Don't ask. Please. I can't say yes right now." Charlie looked dejected, but got up off the floor, blushing madly. "Don't be embarrassed. It has nothing to do with you."
"It's fine," he said, through clenched teeth. "We should just finish rounds and get back to your party."
"I don't want a party," Maya said. "Whose idea was it?"
"Mine," Charlie answered. "With everything that's been going on, I thought you might like to have a party with your friends. I'm sorry I bothered." Charlie strode off into the castle. Maya stayed in the classroom, tears streaming down her face. She knew she had hurt Charlie terribly, but was simply not ready to commit to marriage.
Charlie was hurt, but also furious. He was angry that Maya wouldn't even consider getting married and thought she was being rather selfish. He slowed his walk just down the hall from the classroom, where he had left Maya crying. He heard her footsteps behind him and waited for her to reach him. She passed him and strode on to the Gryffindor common room. He entered the portrait hole a second behind her. She spent the next few hours pretending to laugh with her classmates and friends. Ivy and Jenna noticed that the laughter didn't reach her eyes and that she looked like she had been crying. When Maya begged out of the party to go to bed, they followed her and dragged her into the toilet.
"What is going on?" Ivy asked.
"Nothing," Maya replied. Ivy and Jenna crossed their arms and blocked the doorway, refusing to move until Maya told them what was wrong. "Fine. Charlie and I had a fight. There's nothing more to explain and I'm very tired. I'm going to bed."
"You're holding back," Jenna accused. "What was the fight about?" Maya refused to answer, so Jenna added, "You know you're not going to bed until you talk to us. What was the fight about?"
"He proposed," Maya answered. "I'm not ready for that, so I said no."
"How was that going to work with him in Romania and you in London next year?" Ivy asked. Maya shrugged her shoulders. She was still not ready to tell her friends that he proposed because they were expecting a baby and that he would probably not be going to Romania.
Maya was about to push her way out of the toilet when Bridgette came in. "Charlie's looking for you, Maya," she said. Maya nodded and went down to the, now deserted, common room. Charlie was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"What is it, Charlie?" Maya asked.
"I just wanted to see you once more today," he said. "Will you sit with me and hear me out?" Maya nodded and sat next to Charlie on the sofa in front of the fire. "I'm sorry for earlier. You were just being honest. The offer still stands but only if you want to. Also, I never got to give you your birthday present." He handed Maya a small box, which made her nervous, but she took it anyway.
"Thank you," she said. Charlie urged her to open it. She opened the box to find a small sapphire pendant.
"It's because he's due in September," Charlie explained. "That will be his birthstone."
"It's lovely," Maya said. They sat by the fire talking until 3 AM; no subject was off limits and they spoke about everything. Maya admitted that she was terrified about having a child so young and that she wasn't coping as well as she was trying to. Charlie admitted that he wasn't really ready to get married to her either, but that he was certain she would be a good mother.
At 3:00, Maya yawned loudly. "You know, we haven't done this in too long," Charlie mused. "But I think we've been here long enough. You should get to bed, princess."
"Could we just sleep here?" Maya suggested. "I kind of miss your arms."
"I would, love, but if Professor McGonagall finds out, we'd both be on the train home," Charlie whispered. He kissed her goodnight and sent her to bed. They both slept late the next day.
The second weekend in March brought the next Gryffindor quidditch match. Maya sat in the stands to cheer on the team and when Charlie caught the snitch, she rushed the field and jumped into his arms. Charlie picked her up, but set her down quickly. He kissed her cheek, not wanting to get either of them into trouble with Professor McGonagall. That night, there was another party in the common room. Maya stayed for the entire time, again staying up with Charlie late into the night.
The following week, Maya started to feel sick again. She went to see Madame Pomfrey, who insisted that the sickness was normal and nothing to be concerned about. Maya returned to class. They were in Transfiguration, working on some very advanced magic, when Maya felt the room start spinning.
"Are you alright?" Charlie asked. "You don't look so good."
"I'll be fine," Maya assured him. Then, she passed out. Charlie caught her and laid her on the floor while Professor McGonagall ordered another student to go and get help. Ivy had gone to the toilet to get a cool compress for Maya's forehead.
Professor McGonagall pulled Charlie away from her for a moment to speak with him. "Mr. Weasley, what is going on with her?" she asked.
"I don't know," he answered. "She's been sick for a few days, but Madame Pomfrey said everything was normal." Professor McGonagall nodded slightly and let Charlie return to Maya's side. Madame Pomfrey had arrived and shooed most of the students away from her. She ran her wand over Maya's body, trying to assess her condition. Then, she announced that she had to get Maya to the hospital wing.
"I'll carry her," Charlie offered. He picked her up and followed the elder woman through the castle.
"I can't find a heartbeat," said Madame Pomfrey. Noticing the fear etched on Charlie's face, she added, "I can't hear the baby's heartbeat." This did little to reassure Charlie, but he was slightly calmer knowing that Maya would be fine.
Two hours later, Maya started to stir. "Where am I?" she asked.
"Hospital wing," Charlie answered. "You passed out during Transfiguration." He sat on her bed and stroked her hair.
"Everything hurts," she whispered.
"I'll get Madame Pomfrey," Charlie promised. He went to the office and returned with the Healer. Charlie waited outside the room for a moment, but nearly burst the door down to get to Maya when he heard her scream, "NOOOOO!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley," Madame Pomfrey said when Charlie retook his position next to Maya. "There was nothing I could do."
Charlie nodded and asked to be left alone with Maya for a moment. He sat on her bed and pulled her into his arms, letting her sob against his chest. He let a few tears fall from his eyes, landing on her head. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep. Madame Pomfrey tried to toss Charlie from the Hospital Wing, but he refused to leave Maya.
When Maya woke, she found Charlie's arm thrown over her shoulders. She sat up, waking Charlie. "How are you doing?" he asked, quietly.
"I've been better," she answered. "What are we telling everyone?"
"What do you want to tell them?" Charlie asked.
"I don't really care at the moment," she replied blankly. "It doesn't matter to me anymore what people think of me."
"It matters to me," Charlie said. "I care if people think badly on you. I care if you're unhappy or sad or anything else."
"I'm hungry," Maya said.
"I'll take you to breakfast," he replied. Maya nodded and Charlie went to get Madame Pomfrey. After examining her, the Healer released Maya from the hospital wing and allowed her to go back to classes for the day, but also offered that she could skive off if she wanted. Maya was determined to return to classes.
At breakfast, their friends had held spots for Maya and Charlie and were demanding to know what had happened that Maya had passed out. "She hasn't been eating very well," Charlie offered. It was a plausible lie as Maya had not had much of an appetite for several days. The others were nodding in agreement when Maya spoke up.
"That's not true," she said. "I passed out because I had a miscarriage. I'm fine and now, I'm going to shower and get dressed for classes. Continue talking about me after I've left if you like." She got up from the table and headed off to Gryffindor Tower. Charlie caught up with her and asked if she needed anything. "I just need to be left alone for a while, Charlie," she begged. "I'm going to shower. I can handle that on my own."
"Professor McGonagall wants to see us after classes today," Charlie said as Maya marched up the stairs. She nodded and continued into the shower. She was late getting to her first class, Herbology, but Professor Sprout did not give her any trouble. After Herbology, Charlie went off to Care of Magical Creatures while Maya went back into the Castle for a free period, since she had dropped the class.
By the end of the day, Maya was exhausted, but she and Charlie were sitting in Professor McGonagall's office as directed. The Professor let them know that she had owled their parents to let them know what had happened and they shouldn't worry about it. Charlie and Maya thanked her and returned to the common room.
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