Over the next few weeks, Teddy and I exchanged a fair amount of letters. They weren't long or complicated or filled with romantic undertones. They were just letters. The kind friends exchanged. Filled with simple stories like the stupid thing his friend did after a bit too much firewhiskey or how Aidan and Fred had gotten detention for transfiguring Slughorn's cauldron into a giant slug in the middle of class.

Teddy and I were getting pretty good at the whole friendship thing, if I did say so myself.

Of course, it was easier not actually seeing him. Being friends with a piece of parchment was much easier than being friends with an actual boy.

Sometimes I still dreamt about him. Just like I still dreamt about Colin.

Guys were making my life so freaking complicated.

I set down Teddy's latest letter (filled with a story about an old muggle man who fancied his grandmother), which I'd been reading on my bed, and headed down to the common room.

Fred was sitting on a couch, head in a book. I threw myself down next to him, kicking off my shoes and placing my feet in his lap.

"Foot massage. Now," I demanded.

He set his book aside and turned to look at me, eyebrows raised.

"Please," I added with a smile.

"No can do, Vic. I'm way behind on my reading for Transfiguration."

"But you have to."

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm pregnant, I'm your cousin, and tomorrow's my birthday."

"I don't have to everything you want until the actual day of your birthday," he said, grinning. "Go find another cousin to give you a foot massage."

"Like Roxanne?" I asked sarcastically.

His grin disappeared. "Look," he said, "I don't know what happened between you and my sister, but you'll work it out, okay? You've been best friends forever."

"She hates me."

"That's bullshit. She misses you as much as you miss her. She's just too damn stubborn to admit it."

I sighed, leaning my head back against the armrest. I suddenly felt like crying and I didn't know why.

Fred looked at me, his eyes filled with concern. "How about I give you that foot massage now?"

I smiled. "That'd be brilliant."

The next morning, I was shaken awake by Grace.

"Wake up, Vic!" she squealed. "It's your birthday!"

I grunted, pulling my pillow over my head, trying to block out her voice.

"Go away," I mumbled.

She reached out to grab the pillow from me, but I retaliated by trying to punch her in the stomach. I missed by a few feet and hit my hand on the bedside table instead.

"Okay," she said. "You've left me no other choice."

And then she started to sing. Very loudly and very off-key.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear—"

"Stop! Now!" I shrieked.

"Only if you get up," she replied. I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

I groaned, rolling over and placing my feet on the ground. I slowly mustered up all my energy and stood.

"Happy?" I asked.

"Extremely," she replied, handing me a present. "Happy 18th birthday, Vic."

I took it and tore open the paper.

Inside was a box filled with chocolate frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

I looked up and smiled. "You know me too well, Grace. Thanks."

"It's not much," she replied, "but I've always been rubbish at picking out gifts."

"Trust me," I said, "you can never go wrong with candy when it comes to me."

Down in the common room, Fred and Aidan were waiting for with yet another off tune rendition of "Happy Birthday" and gifts.

Aidan gave me a book about famous women Quidditch players.

Fred gave a couple of things from his dad's shop. I noticed that on the card he had signed "Fred and Rox" as if she the gift also came from her. Yeah right. Nice try, Fred.

At breakfast, about ten owls swooped down on me, delivering gifts and cards from different family members.

Even Teddy sent me a card. Inside he had tucked a picture from my fifth birthday party of me with my face covered in blue icing. I'm smiling and waving at the camera. Teddy is standing behind me, his hair the same color as the icing, laughing at me.

I read what he wrote.

Happy 18th Birthday, Vic. I was looking through some old photos and I found this one. I thought I'd send it to you to embarrass you. Do me a favor and try not to get so much icing on your face this year.

Love, Teddy

Were friends supposed to sign their cards with 'love'?

I opened the package from my parents. The card had a note from my mum that was about a mile long. I skimmed over it. At the end there was a PS.

I ran into Colin at the store a couple of days ago. He remembered your birthday was coming up and asked me to tell you happy birthday for him. So Happy Birthday!

For some reason the thought of Colin remembering my birthday made my heart speed up.

Which was wrong, very wrong. I needed to get over that boy once and for all.

Scratch that. I needed to get over both those boys once and for all.

Too bad I had no idea how.

Later that day in Potions class, I was told that the headmaster needed to see me.

When I got to his office, he greeted me with a warm smile. "Happy Birthday, Miss Weasley," he squeaked. "Please, have a seat."

"Thanks, Professor," I said, sitting down.

"Now, Miss Weasley, I assume you've figured out that I didn't ask you here today just to wish you happy birthday."

I nodded.

"I thought that it was time to discuss when exactly you will be returning home to continue your education from there."

"I thought that would happen after I gave birth," I replied, confused.

"Yes, that was the plan. But thinking about it more, I've come to the conclusion that you should return home a little before the birth. That way we can avoid unfortunate situations like you going into labor in the middle of class."

I shuddered at the thought. Unfortunate situation, indeed.

Flitwick peered at me over the top of his spectacles. "You're due in mid-April, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, Professor."

He glanced at the calendar perched on his desk. "And today is January 30th. So that's two and a half months away."

Merlin's beard. Was it really so soon?

"I would say that returning home in late March or early April would make the most sense," continued Flitwick thoughtfully. "What do you think, Miss Weasley?"

I was still slightly preoccupied with how close mid-April suddenly seemed, so I only nodded.

"Good!" said Flitwick, clapping his hands together. "We'll figure out the exact date at a later time. Off you go then, Miss Weasley. I don't want to keep you from anymore class time."

Missing Potions class didn't seem like the most terrible thing in the world, but I nodded anyway as I stood up.

"See you later, Professor," I said, as I headed for the door.

Later that night, I was lying in bed looking through the pregnancy book Aunt Hermione had sent me for my birthday.

Yes. She gave me a book. About pregnancy. For my birthday.

But that was Hermione Weasley for you.

I flipped through the section about the third trimester, which I had just entered a few weeks before, noting all the crappy symptoms that I was already experiencing.

Backaches. Check.

Swollen feet and ankles. Check.

Frequent urination. Check.

Basically I was uncomfortable, tired, and moody all the time. And it was just going to get worse.

I flipped to the section about giving birth and immediately regretted it.

I found myself staring at the most disgusting thing I'd ever seen. That was what giving birth looked like?

Grace chose that moment to enter the room.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I asked, my eyes glued to the picture. I couldn't look away, no matter how much I wanted to.

She came over and looked down at the book.

"Ugh!" she screeched, taking a few steps back. "That's disgusting!"

"That's what I'm going to be experiencing in two and a half months," I said.

She shook her head, looking horrified.

"You and Aidan better be careful or this could be you as well," I added, just to see the expression on her face.

Her face went white. "We're being very careful," she whispered.

"I thought that Colin and I were being careful," I said. "But look how that turned out…"

"I'm never having sex again," she said, looking down at the picture. "At least not until I'm married."

I laughed. "Why don't you go tell Aidan that? Let's see how reacts."

"I'm serious about this," she said.

I set down the book and stood up. "Whatever floats your boat," I said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I left my Potions book downstairs and I need to go get it."

She followed me down the stairs and into the common room.

We bumped into Aidan at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey, love," he said, grinning lazily at Grace.

"I'm not going to have sex with you anymore," Grace blurted out.

Poor Aidan's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What?"

"I could get pregnant."

"You won't," he replied.

"You're right, I won't," she said. "Because abstinence is the best birth control."

"Why don't you go to bed and then we'll discuss this in the morning. When you're not delusional from lack of sleep."

"Aidan, I'm serious. I've seen Vic get pregnant and Bridget get pregnant and I don't want to risk it anymore."

Aidan sighed.

"Are you mad at me?" she whispered.

"No," he replied.

"Do you still want to be with me?"

He stared at her like she was crazy. "Do I still want to be with you? What kind of question is that? Of course I do. I love you."

I watched as he pulled her into his arms. She smiled contentedly and buried her face in his chest.

"When we get married, we'll be able to have all the sex we want. I can wait until then," he said.

She pulled her head back and stared up at him.

"Do you really think we'll get married someday?"

"Well I'm planning on asking you, so you better say yes."

Merlin, they were disgustingly cute. I couldn't even watch this anymore. I quickly grabbed my textbook and hurried back upstairs.

I lay down and sighed. Time for another night filled with dreams about the two boys who had once been mine, but no longer were.

Sorry it took me so long to update. School keeps me busy.

I hoped you liked the chapter. Don't forget to review.