Listening to their headmistress, Arik and Theo were not happy.
"What do you mean its a parenting class?!" Theo demanded while Arik just looked shaken.
"Well, as I said in the speech," McGonagall said calmly, "many families were lost, not to mention, the numbers of witches and wizards old enough to procreate has been significantly lowered. This class will help those old enough learn how to care for a real family. While the child will not be real, it will most definitely feel real both while it is in the mother and after.
"Will we actually have to...? You know?" Arik finally asked.
"Oh, no dear, there will be a potion that you will take, and based on what your body tells the potion will determine how many children you have, and what sex they will be. While the two of you will be getting married shortly, I have taken the liberty to tell your parents about the class. They have decided for the two of you to continue with the class, and on the night of your marriage you two will still have to consummate, though we are removing the risk of you actually conceiving."
"So we don't have to worry about having a real kid just yet?" Asked Theo slightly relieved.
"No, not just yet, though I assure you, once this class is over you will be expected to produce an heir." McGonagall warned.
Taking their time to understand and come to grips with the reality they were facing, Arik and Theo got up to leave.
"Oh, I almost forgot," The headmistress said, "your new rooms are on the seventh floor in the south wing of the castle. There is a painting of two lovers under an apple tree, when you get to the door, the password is Bobblekins. Have a good night."
Walking to their dorm was a quiet scene, neither one of them talked about what was going to happen, they both seemed to be in shock.
When they finally reached their door they looked at the couple in the painting. There was something off about it, the two people were on separate sides of the painting, not next to each other as they should be.
The couple in the painting looked up at the two standing there.
"Aren't you two supposed to be lovers? Why aren't you together, why are you on the other side?" Arik asked.
"We are not lovers," The woman said, "At least we're not lovers yet."
Arik looked at Theo who just shrugged and said "Bobblekins."
As the doors opened Arik walked through the opening as Theo held the door. Arik walked into the common room, or what would have been the common room if this was a dorm. Their living room had tall ceiling and a giant fireplace on one side with a couch and two loveseats surrounding it.
Turning, she saw a door with a raven on it and pushed it open. There was a spiral staircase leading somewhere. As Arik followed the stairs she came to the next room, her bedroom. There was a tall four poster bed with a gold canopy over the top. Her sheets were navy and gold satin and the pillows were made of 100% goose feather.
Laughing, Arik spun around where she noticed two more doors, the first led to the bathroom and had another door on the other side with a serpent on it, it must be connected to Theo's room, she thought. The final door was something that she hadn't been expecting. As Arik opened the door, torches were lit all around the room and Arik gasped. The room was filled to the ceiling with books, all four walls were covered. On one wall there was a fireplace with a chair next to it, and on another, there was a window that let Arik look all across the grounds.
Smiling Arik reached the living room again and found Theo sitting on the couch waiting for her.
"So, how was your room?" He asked.
"Wonderful!" Arik sighed, "I have the prettiest bedroom not to mention my library. Oh, it's beautiful!"
"You got a library?" he asked, "That's funny, because I got my own potions lab."
"Our rooms must have known what we liked." She got up and used her wand to start a fire. "I hope you don't mind, I was cold."
"It's fine, I was cold too. So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" Theo asked looking at the girl warming herself by the fire.
"How about a walk around the grounds?" Arik suggested, "I'd just have to get my coat and scarf."
"That sounds good; I'll meet you down here in five minutes?"
"I'll be there."
True to her word, Arik arrived in the living room five minutes later in her blue jacket and scarf. Theo was nowhere to be seen so she curled up on the sofa and pulled a book from the side table and started reading.
Theo came down the stairs a few minutes later and walked over to the couch where he saw Arik reading, her head nodding a bit as she tried to stay awake. He walked over and lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Hey, do you still want to go walk?" he asked watching her rub her eyes sleepily.
Nodding Arik looked up, "Of course I would, and the fire was just making me tired." Standing she reached her hand out to Theo, "Let's go."
Theo grabbed her hand and placed it on his arm as he led her out of the room. As they walked down the hall and out the main doors they passed Malfoy and his gang. Theo pulled Arik closer to him and shot a glare at Malfoy before he could say anything.
As they walked out the doors, Theo led her down around the Black Lake. They talked about random things as they walked, what they liked to do, what they didn't like to do.
"I love dipping my toes in water." Arik said as she slipped off her shoes and tiptoed to the lakes edge.
"You should be careful, the squid might get you. He goes after pretty things like you." Theo said laughing.
Pushing Theo slightly Arik sighed, "This would be the perfect spot to just block the world out and read." she said as she mentioned to the giant willow near them.
Finally, Arik pulled her shoes back on and they started on their walk again.
Arik sighed as they walked, looking towards the Forbidden Forest.
"I've always wondered what types of animals would be in there." She said lightly.
"Well we know that there are giant spiders, Threstrals and Unicorns." Theo said shrugging.
"I've always wanted to see a unicorn. They're beautiful." She said.
"I'm sure they aren't the prettiest thing around." He replied looking at Arik out of the corner of his eye.
"No, I'm sure the prettiest thing is back in the castle." Arik said lost in her own world.
Theo pulled at her arm causing her to stop. "I don't think so, I think she's right here, standing in front of me in her jacket and scarf and her adorable red hair." Reaching up Theo put his hand to her cheek and stroked it slightly.
To say Arik was shocked would be an understatement, her eyes went wide, yet she found herself leaning her head into his hand slightly.
When she finally found her voice, the only thing she could utter was, "Thank you."
Theo seemed to snap out of his revere and pulled his hand back slowly. "We should get back to the castle, it's getting late."
Putting her hand back around his arm Theo guided her back to the castle and to their dorm.
Before going up to their rooms, they bid each other goodnight, Theo leaned down and kissed Arik's hand, they then walked up to their bedrooms and fell asleep.