New Year's day, Rose returned to school. While her fellow classmates were nursing firewhiskey hangovers or talking excitedly about who they had kissed at midnight, Rose prepared herself for the conversations she would soon be having.
First, Rose knocked on the door of the Headmistresses office. She was a little nervous. Rose, sharing Professor Vector's favourite subject and being a prefect, was quite close with the Headmistress, but abstaining from sex was an unwritten rule at Hogwarts, and Rose was concerned that she would be in trouble, or at the very least Professor Vector's opinion of her would change.
"Come in." called Septima. Rose did so. "Ah, hello Rose. Have a seat." Again, Rose obeyed. "Now, obviously, we're both aware that your behaviour of late has not quite been up to the standards that I felt you were capable of. However, I understand that this is a difficult time for you, and I am certain that you are not the only student breaking a rule or two, or even the only prefect. So that leads me to your current situation. Madam Longbottom has graciously agreed to see you once a week, and in fact seemed rather excited about the opportunity to further her training. It has also been arranged for you to have regular appointments at St. Mungo's. May I ask when the due date is?"
"August 25th, but they said probably earlier." answered Rose.
Septima pondered this. "Alright then it will be possible, although perhaps not practical, for you to continue until the end of term. What are your intentions regarding the matter?"
"I'd like to finish the year, and return next year, if I can." replied Rose.
"We will do our best to accommodate you, if you do your best to accommodate us." promised Septima. "However, as Headmistress, the well-being of every student is one of my numerous duties. I am concerned that you may have a rather strenuous time if you intend to continue with your current workload."
Rose nodded. She had considered this already. "I intend to drop Potions."
Septima surveyed the girl. "That could affect your work with Gamp's Law."
"I know." replied Rose. "But I can't safely take it anyway as it could affect babies."
"Of course." Septima realised. "Additionally Rose, I was wondering if you might want to relinquish your prefect duties. I know that it is your ambition to become Head Girl, but there is no rule that the Head Girl must have been a prefect for both years. If you behave impeccably from this point forward, and continue to be a prominent figure within the school, your chances would only be slightly lessened. Assuming you return next year."
Rose considered this offer. "Who would take my place?"
"That is for Professor Longbottom to decide. However as there are no seventh year prefects anyway, it would not affect the balance." explained Septima.
"I'd like to continue, but I have to do what's best for my children." decided Rose.
"I understand. Now perhaps it is a good time for you to go and see Madam Longbottom, but I have one further question." Septima paused.
"The father." said Rose pre-emptively.
"I'm afraid so. Simply because I need to know if he will be requiring the same opportunities that have been offered to you." replied Septima.
"He won't, but the father is James Potter." said Rose. "I-"
Septima interrupted her. "You don't have to explain Rose. I know who you are, and whether this was a mistake or not, it won't change my opinion of you. But it does explain why I received a letter earlier claiming James wouldn't be returning to school." she mused.
"He – He's not coming back?" asked Rose.
"Apparently not. But you run along." Septima waved Rose towards the door, and Rose left quickly, pondering this new piece of information.
"Hi Rose!" said Hannah cheerfully. "Climb up here. I'll be back in a minute." She returned momentarily. "Okay week seven, huh? Let's have a look." Rose lay back and Hannah performed several complicated wand motions. "You can sit up. I'm detecting similar things to the report you got at your hospital visit. Still one boy and one girl, with possible health problems that cannot yet be identified. There's no need for you to worry about that, as many problems either are harmless, have no lasting effect, or can be easily treated."
"So why am I here?" asked Rose.
Hannah just laughed. "Well, nothing's new with babies, but something could be new with Mummy. Nausea?"
"Yep."
"There are potions for that of course, but if it's not too debilitating it's best if we leave it alone, especially in your condition. You let me know. Fatigue?" Rose just nodded, figuring the bags under her eyes were evidence enough. "Sore breasts? Cravings? Weird dreams?" Rose nodded like a bobble head. "All to be expected." said Hannah. "Well, if you're still taking your potion and drinking plenty of water, there's not much else I can tell you. Any questions?"
"When will it sink in?" asked Rose. "I feel like I'm living someone else's life."
Hannah nodded. "Well, it's different for every mother, and I've never experienced it myself, but there are some milestones that can help you to come to terms with it. When you first feel the baby move inside you, for example. Don't worry Rose, that's why you have nine months to get ready."
"But I don't have nine months."
Hannah smiled. She seemed awfully cheerful, thought Rose. "You know, I reckon that you'd be okay with even just five or six. It's the fathers that need nine months to prepare themselves." In spite of herself, Rose laughed a little at that.
"So, see you next week!" said Hannah. "Or any time really. I'll be here."
Rose fell asleep before dinner, so Lily brought her a plateful. "Rosie! You can't skip meals. It's bad for the babies."
"Uggh." said Rose groggily. "I know. I fell asleep."
"You missed Christmas, but your Dad made up some lame excuse." Lily randomly informed her.
"Yeah. Oh, I guess my pick for secret Santa didn't get their present." remembered Rose.
Lily nodded. "Where's James anyway? What happened after you came over? Mum put an imperturbable charm on the living room door, so we had no idea."
"Well." said Rose, quickly deciding what to reveal. "My mum had a meltdown, and then we came over to er, discuss I guess. Your mum suggested that we both move out and start living as adults, and I agreed, and then my Dad said some rude things about James, and your dad was trying to keep the peace, but everything went ballistic, and we got kicked out and James split."
Lily stared "Whoa. Then what?"
"A lot, but mostly I went to St. Mungo's, and then I stayed with my distant cousin Sophie at her flat. We were close when we were younger." explained Rose.
"She didn't tell?" asked Lily.
"She couldn't tell, because unbeknownst to her mother, Sophie's boyfriend is living with her." said Rose.
"Sneaky!" laughed Lily.
"Yeah, I didn't know that when I went there, but it was pretty much her or nothing." said Rose.
Lily nodded. "What about Jamie?"
"I don't know, I haven't seen him. But I found out today that he isn't coming back." said Rose.
"What?!" shrieked Lily. "Mum's going to freak. Where is he?"
"Good question. But he left me, so it's not my problem." said Rose, trying to sound like she didn't care.
"Wait, he left you? Were you dating?" asked Lily.
Rose gave Lily a strange look. "Uh, no. But these are his children I'm carrying, and I could have used some help supporting them."
"Oh." said Lily "Well, I'll help you. I mean, I don't have any money, but I can baby-sit. And come to your checkups with you, if you want."
Rose smiled at her cousin. "Thanks Lily. Just don't tell anyone. This needs to be a secret as long as possible."
"Of course." replied Lily "But you're going to tell Scorpius, aren't you?"
Rose sighed. She knew that when she told Scorpius that would be it with him. But some small part of her heart still cherished a small hope that he would stay with her.