"James?" Lily said, looking up from the book she was reading. Her back was resting against James's side as he looked over all sort of different parchment and newspapers spread across the coffee table, along with a couple maps resting on the floor near his feet.
"Hm?" He mumbled his focus still on his work. He pulled a quill out from behind his ear and circled something on one of the maps.
"What do you think of the name Harry James?"
He stopped what he was doing to look at her oddly, "I would say it sounds like someone combined my Dad's name and mine. Why?"
"I was just thinking of names for the baby if it was a boy."
James considered that for a moment, picking up a piece of paper to look at it closely. "Eh, Elvendork has always been a personal favorite of m—" Then, as if being petrified, James froze. Slowly, his head turned towards Lily, his mouth forming the question he wasn't able to voice.
Lily nodded as she sat up, placing a hand gently over her stomach, "Yes, I'm pregnant."
"Are you serious?"
"If I was Sirius I don't think this conversation would be possible," she teased lightly.
James ignored her and quickly turned so he was facing her on the sofa. He placed his hands over hers, so gently like she was made of glass. "There's a baby in there?"
She nodded, "That's kind of what I'm pregnant means."
He simply sat there, staring at her stomach with a blank expression on his face. Lily began to panic. "I know we spoke about having kids later after the war was over and this isn't exactly the most opportune time. But I think we can do this, James. I mean, your mom would help us, not forgetting the Order and all our friends and extended families would be thrilled to help. Please don't be upset about this."
"Upset?" James asked, horrified that that was what she was thinking. "Lily, my child, our child is growing inside of you right now. We're going to have a son or daughter! This is brilliant!" He grabbed her and picked her up, causing her to squeal at the unexpectedness of it, before he started spinning her around the room.
"WE'RE HAVING A BABY!" He shouted happily kissing her once more. He seemed to realize how tightly he was holding onto her and he gently placed her on the sofa. A thought hit him, sending him running out of the room.
"I've got to tell Sirius!"
Lily flopped dramatically on the couch, resting the back of her hand against her forehead, "Yes, James dear, I tell you I'm pregnant and the first thing you do is call Sirius. I shouldn't have expected anything less."
A crack upstairs signaled that someone had just apparated into the house. She turned her head and saw Sirius standing in her living room, still holding the two way mirror. He gave her a once over and said, "You're not fat yet."
Lily rolled her eyes, "Thanks, Paddy. You sure know how to make a woman feel beautiful."
"I aim to please. Now where's the bloke that impregnated you with his spawn."
"Tactful as always. He's upstairs probably having a panic attack by now. You should probably calm him down."
"Thanks, Lils," he walked out of the room towards the stairs. Lily sighed and rested her head back against the soft cushions. She had barely a moment's peace when she was startled by Sirius peaking his head around the corner saying, "Lily?"
"What do you need?" She asked sitting up.
He walked over and pulled her to her feet gently and hugged her tightly, "Congratulations. James is one hell of a lucky man to have you."
Touched by Sirius's words (and possibly her pregnancy hormones already getting the best of her), she teared up and hugged him back just as tightly, "He's a lucky man to have you as a friend."
"I know." Sirius said cockily. He pulled back and smirked the crooked grin that had sent girl's heart fluttering back at Hogwarts. "That's why I call dibs on Godfather."
Lily laughed and shoved Sirius jokingly on the shoulder. "Get out of here, you dog."
His barking laugh probably woke up the neighbors. Still chuckling, he nodded and kissed Lily's cheek, "You witty woman. You take care of Prongs Jr. while I go deal with the senior."
"We don't know if it's a boy or girl yet."
"Fine. Elvendork is a good name. Unisex." He added for clarification.
Lily put her hand on her hip and glowered at Sirius, "What is it with you and James with that name?!"
Sirius shrugged as he walked backwards towards the stairs, "It's a wonderful name Lily! It's a personal favorite of Prongs's."
"I married a child," Lily muttered to herself as Sirius disappeared up the stairs to congratulate his best friend on his impending fatherhood. She rested her hand on her stomach, and spoke to the baby, "Your dada's impossible but he's the most wonderful man I've ever met."
"I HATE JAMES POTTER!" Lily screeched as she stormed into the room on a February afternoon. She viciously threw her bag at the wall. "I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM!"
"Lily," Elyse said as she quickly scrambled off the bed to go to her fuming friend's side. "Woot's happened?"
"Everything!" She seethed. "I decided to give him a chance and he is a bloody arse about everything! I thought he matured after the almost dying thing but he just turns into an even bigger twat! I honestly hate him and I will until the day I die! And don't you dare try to make some vague comment about my future!"
"I wasn't," Elyse said placating. "Just tell me woot he did."
Lily was still shaking with anger and took a few deep breaths before she was able to speak in a terrifyingly calm voice. "Sev and I were out for a walk since it wasn't snowing and the Black Lake looked beautiful. As we're walking, the ground opens up beneath Sev! He nearly suffocated because of Potter and Black! They were just standing there laughing!" Tears were forming in Lily's eyes as she remembered the horrific moment.
"Black?" Elyse questioned. She knew it didn't sound like something Ursula would do but since Ursula had a run in with her brother the other day, she was in a particularly anti-Slytherin mood.
"Sirius, of course. Ursula was off with Ben doing whatever couples do on Valentine's Day."
Elyse's eyes bugged out of her head, "It's Valentine's Day!?"
Lily gave Elyse an odd look, like she couldn't believe the seer had forgotten the day. "You haven't heard anyone talking about it for the last week?"
The look on Elyse's face was answer enough. Lily tutted, "You know, for a seer, you sure do miss a lot."
"Says you. I kin tell yeh everythin' aboot yeh's life right now if yeh wanted."
Lily shook her head, "Where's the fun in that?"
Elyse just shrugged, "I've never known different."
"That must be horrible." Lily said sadly.
"Nah, not really. It's payed off, savin' people 'n warnin' me aboot stuff."
Lily sat down on her bed and started to remove her shoes, "Well since the two of us are the only two not at Hogsmeade right now on some date, why don't you tell me some of your visions that have already come to pass."
Elyse thought about it a moment before her eyes lit up when she thought of the perfect vision, "Before Hogwarts, I had a vision aboot flyin on teh Hippogriffs. I don't think we ever told yeh boot here's woot happened…"
In the small village just outside of Hogwarts ground, in Hogsmeade hundreds upon hundreds of teenagers ran amuck. Two of those students braving the Valentine's Day storm were Ursula and Ben.
With school continuing to take up more time, detentions needing to be served, and Quidditch to be practiced, the pair had barely spent any alone time together in the last three weeks. Occasionally they were able to go on walks or have the Common Room to almost themselves but it was not enough.
"So what did Madame Pomfrey say?" Ben asked referencing her checkup earlier that day as they browsed through the sweets offered at Honeydukes. Ursula had been cleared about a month ago to play an half hour of practice but not any games.
Ursula smiled happily as she picked up a cherry lolly. "She said that I'm officially back. I'm not on probation anymore!"
Ben gave her a quick kiss before wrapping his arms around her shoulder, smiling happily at her news. "That's wonderful! It wasn't the same playing without you."
"It's good to be back, you know?"
He nodded, "I know." Ben thought back to everything he had done in the past year and he had to admit, he was almost glad that he had done what he had because otherwise he might not appreciate what he had now.
They paid for their purchases before walking out into the crowded street.
"Where to next?" Ben questioned.
"Definitely not there," she gestured towards the packed Madame Puddifoot's. Ursula shuddered when she saw the sickeningly pink and fluffy decorations.
Ben grimaced, "Thank Merlin. I would have done if you wanted but…"
"I would never torture you with that. That's just not our style."
"Our style?" Ben questioned, secretly pleased at the collective pronoun.
She nodded, "We're a bit more understated than that. Let's go to the Shrieking Shack. I want to see what damage we've done to that place already."
Ben nodded, curious as well. They had been in there twice already for the moon and each time they left, they had been exhausted to see what had been destroyed/ruined.
As they were walking down the isolated path surrounded by the trees, Ursula held tightly to his hand as they trudged through the freshly fallen snow. A sudden idea struck Ben and with a cleverly placed tug, he spun her around and pulled her to him. He lifted their hands slightly and placed his other hand on her waist.
"You know what I just realized? The last time we danced was over a year ago at the Ministry event."
"We don't have any music," Ursula pointed out as they started to sway back and forth to nothing.
Ben spun her out, Ursula laughing at his wonderful silliness. When she spun back, he pulled her so close she was flush against him. Ben only had to look down an inch or two to look into her eyes. "You happen to be in luck, Miss Black. I happen to be a fairly decent singer."
He rested his forehead to hers, gently humming. Ursula's eyes fluttered close as she let Ben and lead and rotate them in a circle. "Only you can make this world seem right…" he sang softly to her. "Only you can make the darkness bright…Only you and you alone…Can thrill me like you do…And fill my heart with love for only you…"
They stopped moving, simply standing in the winter wonderland in each other's arms. Ben unwrapped one of his arms around her waist so he could cup the side of her face. "Happy Valentine's Day," he said tenderly.
Her response was to simply lean up on her toes slightly, their lips meeting. She pulled away but kissed him again, not satiated after just a single kiss.
They were still kissing when they heard the crunch of snow, signaling that someone was coming. They opened their eyes and quickly hid behind a large tree, not wanting to be caught alone by her brother, Slytherins, a teacher who saw them sneak off, anyone really.
The figures came into view and Ursula sagged in relief. She instantly recognized her teammate Moira and her best friend Mary, "It's just Mary and Moira." She whispered to Ben.
"What are they doing out here?" Ben questioned quietly, finding it odd that they were out near the supposedly haunted Shrieking Shack.
"They probably want to get away from the craziness on the main streets," Ursula suspected.
As they watched in the shadows, Moira stumbled and Mary grabbed her arm, keeping her on her feet. That was not odd. What was odd was the fact that neither one let go, holding hands as they walked towards the fence surrounding the area around the haunted shack.
"What…?" Ben questioned, not sure if he was just jumping to conclusions or if what he thought was true.
"Shh!" Ursula shushed him, not wanting to attract any attention to themselves. They had originally hidden to avoid someone seeing them having an intimate moment, not trying to catch someone else. It would look bad if they were caught now.
A giggle from a little further away drew their attention back to the fourth years standing a little farther away. Moira was laughing at something Mary said, a hand covering her mouth as she tried to hold back her laughter. Mary reached forward and pulled Moira's hand away from her mouth. She gently caressed the hand and lifted it to her lips and kissed the palm. Moira moved her hand to gently rest her hand against Mary's cheek. She leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, Mary wrapping her arms around Moira's waist.
"I think we should leave," Ben suggested, feeling wrong intruding on such an intimate moment between his teammate and her girlfriend.
"I agree," Ursula murmured, disillusioning them both as they retraced their steps to get back to Hogsmeade without altering either girl to their presence.
Once back towards the main part of the village, Ursula lifted the charm and the pair got back on the street and walked back to Hogwarts.
"We shouldn't tell anyone about them," Ben said once they were sure they couldn't be overheard. "It's their relationship and we can't force them to come out."
Ursula nodded, slightly stunned by the discovery, "I agree completely. I just can't believe it. But at the same time it makes sense. They're always together, when we go to their room to visit they sometimes look like they were hiding something, and Mary'll go to the pitch to walk back with Moira after practice. I'm surprised I didn't see it earlier."
"They didn't want anyone to know. That's why you didn't see it. It's kind of like Alice and Marlene not knowing about us dating before."
"I guess that's true." Ursula conceded.
Ben wrapped his arm around her waist, "So what do you say to going to the kitchen to see what Mitzi can whip up for us? I've heard from Sirius she can make a wicked chocolate mousse cake."
Ursula nodded, her mouth starting to salivate at the thought of sweet, "It's to die for."
He kissed her temple and tightened his arm around her waist, "Let's not waste any time then.
The next day at Quidditch practice, Ursula was thrilled to be back on. She had spent the last four months not allowed to be able to go full strength with the team during the practices. Now that she was cleared, she was itching to get back into the swing of things.
During practice, she found that it was like riding a broom—you never forget. She was able to pick up essentially where she left off. James was thrilled that his team now had a fighting chance to not come in last (which is where they were currently placed) and might even make it into the finals. Ursula also noticed that Moira was now sporting a new necklace that had a M written in calligraphy, made out of simple metal, and not that large.
After practice, the three girls were changing back into their regular clothes. Elyse was chatting about the letter Pat sent her yesterday and the lovely bracelet he included as a Valentine's Day present.
Once she was done dressing, she looked at Ursula expectantly. The two of them would usually go meet with James and Ben and walk up to the castle together.
"Actually," Ursula responded to the questioning look, "I want to go over a couple of chaser things with Moira. Just tell James I'll talk to him about it later."
Elyse shrugged, "Alright. See yeh back in teh dorms." With that, she grabbed her bag and left the changing room.
Moira turned to Ursula, pulling on her jumper over her camisole. "So which play do you want to talk about? I know I messed up the arrow formation but I think I know what I did wrong with that pass."
Ursula shook her head, "That's not what I wanted to talk about. Sit down," Ursula said gesturing towards the bench. Moira swallowed nervously, wondering what she could have possibly done that the cocaptain wanted to have a private conversation with her.
"Moira," Ursula said comfortingly as she placed a hand over Moira's, "I want to talk to you as a friend to friend, not just as teammates, savy?" Moira nodded, still nervous.
Ursula picked up on the nerves and smiled reassuringly, "Trust me, you didn't do anything wrong. This actually has nothing to do with the team. It's just something that I think you should know."
Moira visibly relaxed, feeling much more calm now that she knew she wasn't in trouble for something.
"Yesterday during the Hogsmeade trip, Ben and I took a trip down near the Shrieking Shack. We were there for a while when you and Mary showed up. We hid behind a tree not wanting to be caught having our own moment when we saw you and Mary together."
Moira had grown alarmingly pale since Ursula mentioned the Hogsmeade trip. Her hands began to shake and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, please don't hate us!" She cried.
Ursula jerked back in shock, "Hate you? Moira, why would you possibly think that?!"
"I have a girlfriend!" Moira shouted, admitting what had been bottled up in her chest for a while. "People would hate me and Mary if they found out! They think we deserve to die just because we like other girls! But I can't help that I feel in love with my best friend!"
Ursula wrapped her arms around Moira in a sideways hug, "Moira, I'm not telling you because I condemn you being in a relationship with Mary! I don't want you dead! I think it's wonderful that you two are together and happy! Alright? I just wanted to let you know that Ben and I know about it; that's all."
Moira sniffled and looked at Ursula in disbelief. "You aren't going to tell anyone?"
Ursula shook her head, "It's your personal life. You have the right to have as many or as few people as you want know about your relationship. Though I would suggest telling your family."
She shook her head adamantly, "I'll let them down. They always talk about how they want me to find some nice young man to fall in love with and have two kids with. I can't shatter their dreams. Besides, they wouldn't understand."
"I don't think all of them would." Ursula said. "Professor McGonagall would support you and be happy for you. I may not be in your family but your aunt has helped me on so many occasions with issues in my own family. And never once, has she judged me. Remember that time you were hit with the bludger? I used dark magic on the Slytherin that did it and Minnie didn't even punish me for that. She was just glad that you were going to okay."
Moira was silent as she considered Ursula's advice. "Do you really think I should come out to my aunt?"
Ursula nodded and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If she truly loves you, and she does, then she will be proud that you had the courage to tell her something like this. She'll probably ask you why you're wasting your time telling her that when you could be working on your transfiguration."
Moira chuckled, knowing that Ursula was right about her aunt. She then noticed that Ursula had her hand on her shoulder and she shook her head in unbelievingly.
"What is it?" Ursula questioned.
"I thought that if I came out to anyone, especially the girls I knew, they would be all freaked out by me and thinking that I was in love with them or something and too scared to get within a ten foot radius of me."
Ursula shook her head, "Nah, you're my friend and so is Mary. I don't care if you're into men, women, or centaurs. Besides, we're both spoken for." Ursula smiled brightly at a brilliant thought. "Ben mentioned something along these lines but we should all go on a double date sometime."
Moira laughed outright at that, unable to believe that someone was so accepting of this. She would have at least expected some level of disapproval but so far, Ursula was completely fine with everything.
"How is it that you're accepting this? You come from one of the most conservative families around."
Ursula shrugged, "I've never followed any of my family's ideals. I'm in Gryffindor, I'm friends with muggleborns, halfbloods, and blood traitors, I'm dating one of the son of two of the worst bloodtraitors."
"March to the beat of your own drum, don't cha?" Moira commented as she got up to gather her things up. Ursula chuckled as she did the same.
"I guess you can say that," Ursula agreed. "Ready to go?"
Moira nodded and the pair walked up to the castle. They just reached the stairs that would lead them to the portrait of the Fat Lady but Moira stopped just at the foot of the stairs.
"Coming up?" Ursula questioned.
Moira paused a moment before shaking her head, "No, no. I think I'm going to go talk to Aunt Minerva. I have some things I need to tell her."
Ursula smiled proudly at her friend. She clapped her on the shoulder twice, "Good for you. If you need anything later, or any time really, feel free to pop into the my dorm. I'll be there, got it?"
"Got it." Moira nodded, her insides warming with happiness now that she knew she had a friend that accepted her completely and didn't judge. Well, possibly two people since apparently Ben knew and shared the same opinion as Ursula.
"Good. Now, I've got to go give a lecture to a Miss MacDonald about the consequences if she ever breaks your heart." With that, Ursula turned on her heels and started up the stairs, leaving an amused Moira at the bottom.
Moira was about to walk away to her aunt's office but she turned back and shouted up the staircase, "Ursual?!"
Ursula paused about halfway up and turned around, "Yeah?"
"Thanks." Moira said simply, not able to think of a proper way to truly thank the girl she had confided to.
Ursula nodded once with a smile on her face before turning back around and walking up the stairs back to the warmth of the common room. Moira turned walked towards the transfiguration hallway. She passed a few students on the way, offering them brief smiles, trying to keep her beating heart under control. She had honestly never felt this nervous.
She got to her aunt's office and after a moment's hesitation she raised her fist and rapped on the wooden door twice.
"Come in." McGonagall's brisk voice called from within.
Moira pushed open the door. McGonagall looked up from her desk and her eyebrows went up in surprise. "Moira, dear, what an unexpected surprise."
"Hi, Aunt Minerva." Moira said nervously as she shuffled into the office. Her mouth felt so dry, her tongue like sandpaper. Her hands were clammy and she was sure her entire body was shaking.
"What is it child?" McGonagall questioned, concern plain as day on her face. She stood from her seat and walked around her desk. She put her hands on Moira's shoulders and guided her to a seat. She reached back to the corner of her desk and grabbed a tin of biscuits, offering Moira one.
Moira took but didn't eat it. She took a few deep breaths to try to calm herself down. She thought of Ursula's advice earlier; Aunt Minerva would love her no matter what. She could do this. She wasn't placed in Gryffindor for nothing. She gathered all her courage and her bravery and did the most difficult thing she could ever imagine doing.
"Aunt Minerva," she began, "we need to talk…"
This is going to be a fairly long author's note so please bear with me. Really quick, the lyrics Ben sang were from Only You by The Platters. Now onto the heavier/more serious stuff.
I do not want anyone to leave any sort of offensive comment about the subject of homosexuality. It will either be deleted or reported. This chapter is something that I have had planned for a fairly long time and I know that it can be a controversial issue. Since this is the HP fandom, I'm assuming that there won't be any problems (considering people ship Draco with an apple) with two female characters in a relationship. The only reason why I say I will not tolerate any hateful comments/messages/anything else someone can do is because a) I fully support gay marriage even though I personally am straight. I believe marriage is a union between two people who love each other and pledge to be true to each other until they die. I don't care who you are- you have the right to love who you want to. b) this is not some huge politcal statement I am trying to make. My personal belief is what it is and it reflects in my writing. c) if you do have a problem with it, don't worry. They obviously aren't one of the main couples, though this does play a role in something else that happens later in the series.
On a completely different note, there are two things I want to announce/ask suggestions for.
The first thing is one shots. I haven't written one in forever and I feel like I am majorly overdue for one. If you have any suggestions, feel free to make them and I will either try to make it work or take the best idea(s).
Also, I have a major development in my writing.
I am officially saying that I will be writing a Doctor Who story. I am not going to be publishing it for a long while since I want to write out most of it first.
Because of this, I would like to propose a challenge of sorts. If you can make it to 100 reviews by the end of this story (there will be about three or four more chapters), I will give include a small scene, a spoiler if you will, from one of the already written chapters from my Who story.
Well, that's all I have to say. I can't think of anything else. Thank you to everyone who has read/reviewed/favorited/alerted. You are wonderfully awesome.
Until next time.