So everyone knew, but I didn't know how my other aunts and uncles would take the news. Or Grandma and Grandad.

At lunch, I learned everyone's feelings about it.

Rose and I were the last two tosit down, mainly because I had put it off as long as possible. We were in the middle of the table. Rose sat to my left, Uncle Percy sat to my right, and Grandma across from me.

"Hello, sweetie," she said nicely to Rose. "Lily," she said simply to me.

"Hi, Grandmum," I said brightly, trying to ignore her tone. "How'd you sleep?"

"Fine," she answered stiffly.

"Excited for Christmas?" I asked her, ladling soup into my bowl.

"Yes," she answered shortly.

"Are you, Uncle Percy?" I asked.

"Not particularly," he told me. "I'm working. My boss, Mr. Landon, is in charge of a very important issue that the ministry is not qualified to release information on, and I am the main... shall I say, proprietor."

"Oh," I said, not sure how to react.

"Lily," said Dad from his spot next to Percy.

"Yes?" I asked.

"We need to talk later about...your situation."

"What situation?" asked Uncle Charlie curiously.

"Oh," I said. "I thought we all knew..."

"Knew what exactly?" asked Uncle Bill.

"That I'm knocked up," I told him.

"Whoa, Lils!" Charlie said jokingly. "Didn't now you had it in you!"

"Well, I do," I replied wtih a laugh.

"So?" Uncle Bill asked me. "Who's the father?"

"Well..." I started. "He's sitting at this table- 3 guesses."

"At the table?" he asked. "Oh my God, Fred, you got Lily pregnant?"

"WHAT?" shrieked Aunt Angelina.

"Wasn't me," said Fred.

"So it was Louis?" Bill asked.

"What?" I asked, startled. "No! I wouldn't sleep with a third year."

"Well who else could it be?" he asked.

"Hugo."

"Wow, man," Bill told Hugo. "You spend like an hour on your hair... I thought you were gay!"

"Obviously not, I've had a girlfriend non-stop for the last year."

"Well, still..." Uncle Bill said.

Thank God, no one seemed to mad, except James who whispered "Whore" as I stepped past him out ouf the kitchen.


After lunch, Mum, Dad, aunt Hermione, and Uncle Ron took Hugo and I into the sitting room, so we could talk 'privately.' Too bad Al, Rose, Roxie, and Louis were all had Extendable Ears under the door.

"So," Aunt Hermione began. "If you're planning on keeping the baby, you need a way to pay for it."

"I'll get a job," Hugo and I said simultaneously.

"How?" said Dad. "With school?"

No one spoke for a moment. "I'll quit," I whispered.

"No," said Mum. "You need your education."

"Well, I can't have it both ways," I argued.

"Lily," said Uncle Ron, adressing me for the first time since he found out. "Your mother is right."

"Lily," said Dad. "We have a solution. My parents left a specific amount of money to divide among 'Harry's children", as their will said. "We were going to wait intill you were of age to give you your share, but due to the circumstances, we have decided to give it to you now. It should be enoguh to pay for the child until you are done with school and have a real job."

"Oh, Dad!" I exclaimed, hugging him. "Thank you so much!"

"Of course," said Dad.

They decided we could go, so Hugo and I went outside and sat on a bench near the orchard.

"I wish I could help more," Hugo said quietly.

"Do you love me, Hugo?" I asked him.

"Yes," he replied. "More than anything, and more than I every have."

"That's enough," I whispered.