September 1st

Eve's POV

"I got it," he said, walking into the room where I was. I turned, with a lot of difficulty, considering the state of whale I was in, and looked at him curiously.

"Got what?"

"My letter. Of recruitment." He sat down next to me, took my feet, and began to massage, something he had been doing frequently. Something that made him the only one I didn't lash out at.

"To the Cannons?" I asked, excitement and dread finding its way to my stomach at the same time.

"Yeah," he said.

"Are you... are you taking it?"

"I think so," he said, not looking me in the eyes.

"So... you're leaving?" I confirmed. "Not coming back to Hogwarts? Living in England?"

"Guess I am," he said, still not looking at me.

"Congratulations," I said, trying not let my voice break, and stood up. He looked over at me curiously, but I just turned and went to the direction of the bedrooms, scared I'd start bawling. It was happening a lot anyway, because of this forsaken baby. He didn't follow me up, something that I was grateful for. School was just about to start and he had to spring this on me. An eight-month pregnant girl who was just about to say "I love you" to him. I was happy for him. I really was, but I was crushed at the same time. I guess he was living the dream, and there really was no other path for him.

I wandered into Lily's room, for lack of anything better to do. She grinned at me, putting a textbook into the trunk lying open on her bed. I started to help her fold clothes, when she stopped me.

"You are too pregnant. Sit down." I obediently sat down, having figured out the hard way that Lily was no good to cross.

"Here, I'll help sitting down," I said, picking up my wand and casting a packing spell. It wasn't the best, but it would do. Lily sat down next to me and took my hand.

"You heard?" she asked, as socks began folding themselves around us.

"I heard."

"He loves you, you know. He's torn."

"I know, and I don't want him not to do it. The baby is just warping my thoughts."

"Well, it will soon be over," she said. With dread, I thought about the actual process. Both my mom and dad were coming down the next day. It would be the first time they saw each other in years. I finally fessed up to my mother about being pregnant, and she was supportive like I knew she would be. She also made a huge turn-around since I had left her, being almost fully restored to looking like she always had. The baby was due in two weeks, but the Healers at Mungo's kept telling me that the first usually came early, which considerably freaked me out. I would have to go through this whole thing, and then give up JJ for adoption right after. I'd have a day to change my mind, but after that I'd have to live with the decision. But it wasn't like I would change my mind-I was doing what was best for my baby. Al meandered into the room and collapsed onto Lily's bed.

"Hello whale," he greeted me. I returned it with a dark, dark look.

"I will end your life, Potter."

"You'd probably be in Azkaban for life for killing Harry Potter's son," Rose said from the doorway.

"When'd you get here?" Lily asked.

"A few minutes ago. Mum wanted to know if you wanted any cookies. Personally, I don't think you do. They're pretty awful."

"Yeah, we'll pass on Aunt Hermione's cooking," Al laughed. "Although tell her thanks."

"Nah, I'm not going anywhere yet." She sat down on the now pretty crammed bed.

"Heard from Scorpius?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Rose said, her favorite topic of conversation had been brought up. "He's meeting us tomorrow at King's Cross."

"Well, obviously," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "I mean where else will he be? School starts tomorrow."

"Okay smart arse," Rose snapped. "I'm just happy that's all."

"Cut it out," I said to her. "Not all of us are happy, you know."

"Hey guys." We all turned to see James standing at the doorway, smiling uncomfortably. Lily beckoned him in. "How's it going?"

"Packing. Something you're not doing, lucky," Lily said. She could've just kicked me in the gut. It would've been just as painful a reminder.

"Eve, can I talk to you? In my room?" James asked. Rose watched me curiously, but I ignored everyone and followed James out to his room. Well, I was slower than him, considering I waddled now, but I still made it there and sat down on his huge bed with the soft mattress and immediately stretched out on it. He let out a chuckle and joined me.

"I'll be there for the birth," he said.

"You'd be there for the birth anyway, James," I responded.

"True, but this time I don't have to come from school. I'll just be there, you know?"

"I guess."

"This doesn't have to be the end. I'll see you on weekends, holidays, and then you'll be done with school..."

"I know that, I'm just on baby hormones and my mind made it bigger than it was. James, I'm really, really happy for you. I hope you know that."

"I know that," he murmured, before turning and kissing me.

/

Rose's POV

"Late, always late!" Mum yelled to the house in general. My trunk was already in the car, robes and prefect badge in my purse, and I was dressed and ready to go in the living room, joined by Lily, James, and Eve. Al was still in the Potter house, getting ready, and as usual, so were Hugo and dad, both of whom had just woken up. "Don't you have any shame?" Mum kept yelling from upstairs.

"I'm so nervous," Eve said suddenly.

"Aunt Hermione's always like this. Don't worry, it's normal," Lily said, leaning down to tie her shoe.

"No. My parents meeting. I mean how weird is that?" she asked.

"It'll be fine," I said. "I mean, you'll have to write and tell us everything okay? I'm serious."

"Yeah, yeah," she said, "but what if they hate each other and spend the whole time fighting?"

"Doesn't worrying make you go into early labor?" Al asked, walking in, pulling his trunk behind him.

"Shut up, Al. No making her mad, remember?" James said warningly.

"I can't believe you're not coming back," Al said.

"Well Fred will be a good captain," James said. I could tell he was a bit upset about the fact that he wasn't captain anymore. But it was overshadowed by the excitement I knew he was keeping in for Eve's sake that he was playing as reserve chaser for the Cannons.

"Eh," Al said. "Not as good as you. But don't tell him I said that."

"No one's going to throw a party like you," I pointed out.

"I don't know. I was teaching Scorp the tricks of the trade during dad's birthday. He might be the next Great." James considered himself a Great. Before him was Fred the first and George, before them Sirius and James the first, and before them the Prewitt brothers. For James to call Scorpius a future Great was big news. It meant that he had a lot of respect for his past enemy.

"Wow, you two must have really hit it off," Al snickered. "Rose, better watch out, might have competition. You too Eve." To which he got one whack to the head and two jinxes thrown his way, all of which he easily dodged.

"GET DOWNSTAIRS! EVEN AL IS READY, YOU INCONCEIVABLY THICK BOY!" I heard mum yell from upstairs.

"Poor Hugo," Al said, laughing. Hugo walked downstairs, snickering.

"She's yelling at dad, actually," he said, rolling his eyes. I took a good look at him. He had finally stopped brooding over Eve, seeing as how she and James were good together. He finally cut his hair and it looked manageable. He was handsome, and I felt like a proud big sister, which was weird. But I gave him a one armed hug as soon as he sat down next to me anyway, which he actually didn't shrug off. Dad walked down about a minute later, looking angry and disgruntled, followed by my irritated mother. They're always arguing. It was a wonder they even stopped arguing enough to fall in love and get married. Let alone have me and Hugo. Ugh, mental images I didn't want.

/

Scorpius was the first person I saw and I pretty much skipped like an idiot all the way to him. He grinned widely and pulled me up for a kiss. "Missed you."

"Ugh," I heard and turned to see Mr. Malfoy standing behind us, looking grossed out.

"Dad, lay off," Scorpius said angrily, before hugging his mom and helping me and my trunk onto the train. We both got off and made our way to my family.

"Hey mom!" Scorpius said to Eve, which earned him a scowl. "You're almost due aren't you?"

"Ugh," she just responded. He hugged her as best as he could.

"I'll miss your pregnant self. Dude," he said, turning to James. "What the hell am I going to do without you kicking my ass at Quidditch?"

"Dude, you're still going to get your ass kicked in Quidditch," James said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But you're going to throw some killer parties. Al has the map, and you know where the Room of Requirement is."

"How could I forget the place where you dragged me off and beat me up and left me to die of hypothermia in the Astronomy tower?" Scorpius asked sarcastically.

"You had it coming," James said. "Plus, you're being dramatic. I would've come soon after. I'm not a monster."

"Will you two stop bickering like a married couple because the train is about to leave," Al interrupted. He turned over to James and gave him a hug and then gave Eve one too. Well a hug for Eve would be stretching it. We both made them promise to write and keep us updated on the baby thing, and turned and climbed on the train

/

Eve's POV

"Ah, I'll miss them. It'll be much quieter without them," I said.

"I'm still here," he said, putting an arm around me.

"For now," I retorted.

"But after I leave you'll be back in school and then the loud noises shall commence," he said. I rolled my eyes. And then clutched my stomach. Because it hurt. Pretty badly. "Man I hope the partying doesn't stop."

"James," I muttered, clutching at my stomach again.

"Because I might have to kill Scorpius. And then Al. Because Al has my genes. I know he's pretty lame, but he needs to be able to throw a good party you know," he continued.

"James," I said, a little louder. Man this was killing me. And something wet just ran down my jeans.

"I mean, it's a fundamental part of growing up. I mean, even dad throws some great parties, and he's like the savior or whatever," he said.

"Eve, what's wrong?" Oh thank God, at least one of the Potters wasn't a prat. Ginny was standing in front of me, holding on to me, because I was clutching my side.

"I think I'm in labor," I said.

"OH FUCK!" James yelled inappropriately.

"Language, James," Ginny said. As if it were even the time.

"Okay," Harry said. "What do we do, what do we do what about your parents, what's going on oh my god Ginny, I forgot how to get to Mungo's, how oh god please tell me you-" Apparently, this ran in the family. I wonder how he had three kids and still couldn't hold it together.

"Off to the hospital," Hermione said, taking my arm. "Ron will drive."

"I will?" he asked. Then he looked at me and his mouth formed an O. And it was like a whole new Ron. He was completely calm and grabbed his car keys. "James, help Eve into the car now. The rest of you apparate. Harry, side along with Ginny, because you always forget where it is every single time."

"No I don't," he mumbled, while everyone around him laughed. But I was too busy having horrendous periodical pain to notice. James lifted me off my feet and swung me into his arms as if it were the easiest thing in the world, even though I was humongous. He placed me into the car and told me not to worry. Ron got into the front and started driving like a crazy man.

"Call-" breathe "my" breathe"my-parents," I told James. "On-my cellphone."

AN: I lied. There's another chapter. :)