I woke up slowly and naturally, the best way to wake up. I stretched and accidentally punched someone, who groaned. I froze, trying to remember where I was. James's chuckle reminded me instantly.

"What a way to be woken up on my birthday," he muttered as the arm that was still wrapped around my waist brought me closer to him.

I peeked up at him. "Sorry," I said, not sounding sorry at all. "Happy birthday!"

He grinned down at me and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. "Good morning, beautiful."

"Ugh," I groaned, "don't remind me. I'm probably disgusting."

He buried his face in my hair. "Shut up, Lin."

I punched him again, and smiled sweetly up at him. "Another accident, I swear."

He rolled his eyes. "I bet."

"Oi!" Reggie shouted from his bed across the room. "Shut it. I have a massive hangover. Go be cutesy somewhere else."

I sat up and stretched with a smile as James checked his watch. "Feeling hungry, Lin?"

"What time is it?"

"Eight in the morning." He moved his arms to circle my waist. "Which means we could go to the Great Hall…" he trailed off.

"Or?" I prompted him.

"Or," he pressed a kiss to my neck, "we can go to the kitchens."

I smiled and pressed my back to him. "A private breakfast for the birthday boy."

A pillow hit me in the head. "Out!" Reggie hollered. "It's too early!"

James snatched a shirt off the floor as we ran from the room laughing. I stopped him when we got to the portrait hole, though. "Hold on a second. I need to grab your present."

"You know you didn't have to get me anything, right?" He leaned against the way.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right. After you gave me this?" I pointed to my necklace. "No way."

I was back a few seconds later with a bag clutched tightly in my hands. He reached for it, but I slapped his hands away. "After breakfast, greedy."

He stuck his tongue out at me, but led the way to the kitchens, using several shortcuts I had never used before. We were soon in a section of the dungeons I had never visited before. We soon stood in front of a portrait of fruit. I snorted. "Is it behind here? How original."

He chuckled and reached his hand out to the pear. His fingers wiggled across the canvas, and, just as I was about to ask him what he was doing, it laughed and turned into a doorknob. I stared at it in disbelief. James grinned. "Pretty cool, hmm?"

I laughed. "Yeah, it is."

We stepped through the doorway and were immediately greeted by a dozen house elves out of the hundred that were in the room. I stood in shock. James nudged me as he turned to one of the house elves closest to us. "Hello, Crumpet."

"Hello, Master James!" she squeaked. "Is you enjoying your birthday?"

"Very much so." He grabbed my hand. "Crumpet, this is my girlfriend, Lin."

"Pleased to meet you, miss!" Crumpet bowed.

I grinned and curtseyed. "Pleased to meet you, too."

"Would you mind whipping something up for us to eat, Crumpet? We're starving." James rubbed his stomach dramatically. I snorted.

"But of course, Master James!" She ushered us to a couple of chairs by a fire place.

An hour later I groaned and stumbled out of the kitchens, clutching my stomach. James chuckled as he rubbed my back. "I told you to slow down."

"Shut up," I moaned as I leaned against a wall. "I had no idea the house elves would cook us a three-course breakfast."

James grinned. "They're really accommodating."

"And there's so many of them." I shook my head.

"How else did you think we got our food?"

I blushed and shrugged. "Magic?"

He laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders. "Oh, Lin. You're so naïve."

I rolled my eyes and shoved the bag containing his presents into his stomach. "Here. Open them while I digest." I sank to the floor and leaned against the wall.

He fished around in the bag and pulled out my first present, which was a pack of socks from Gladrags that screamed when they became too smelly. "Thanks," he said dryly.

I sniggered. "Something to help with the sock graveyard under your bed."

He rolled his eyes and pulled out the second present, which was something I was really proud of for getting. He looked at it curiously. "Why'd you get me a toy quaffle?"

I sighed and pointed my wand at it. "Engorgio." It resumed its normal size.

James tossed it once in the air and caught it deftly. "Okay, why'd you get me a regular quaffle?"

"Look at it closely, idiot," was my retort.

He examined it carefully, turning it over once before he froze. I smiled brightly as he sank down on the floor beside me. "Merlin."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't. I snapped my fingers in front of his face. "James?"

He jerked his head up. "Where did you get this?"

"Apparently having a diplomat for a father gives me access to all sorts of celebrities." I ruffled his hair affectionately. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it?" he asked incredulously. "This is a quaffle signed by Jeremy Huffington, who is only the best chaser of this century, not to mention probably the best one Puddlemere has ever seen in its history."

"I know that, silly." I rolled my eyes. "Why do you think I got it?"

He dropped the quaffle and tackled me to the ground, peppering my face with kisses. "You are the best girlfriend ever," he murmured as he moved his lips to my collarbone.

I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck. "You're not too bad yourself."

I could feel his lips twist into a smile as he kissed the underside of my jaw. He put his forehead against mine and nuzzled my nose. I closed my eyes and sighed. James pressed his lips to mine, being sweet and gentle. After a while, however, I became impatient, so I pulled him closer to me and traced his upper lip with my tongue.

He groaned and became more demanding with his kisses, biting and sucking on my lower lip. I opened my mouth in a gasp and he took the opportunity to run his tongue across the roof of my mouth. I shivered. "James."

He ran a hand down my body slowly, causing me to shiver again. It came to a stop at my hip, which he gripped gently. I moved my arms from around his neck and gripped the front of his shirt. I managed to flip us so I was on top. I pulled away from his face, panting heavily. "We're in a hallway."

He grinned and tugged me down so I was sprawled against his chest. "Your point?"

"We're in a hallway, and I'm in your old quidditch robes," I pointed out as I struggled to get off of him. "I would really rather not be caught like this."

He pouted. "But it's my birthday. And besides," he flipped us so I was pinned again, "it's not like many students come down here."

I dodged as he tried to plant a kiss on my lips, catching my ear instead. "James! I'm serious. Let me get dressed."

He sighed and pulled me up with him as he stood up. "Okay, fine," he smiled roguishly at me, "though I rather like the sight of you in my old quidditch robes."

I blushed and intertwined my fingers with him, pulling him gently in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. "Does that mean I can keep them?"

He pulled me into a secret passageway and kissed me soundly.

"I'll take that as a yes." I giggled as I pulled away for air.

Needless to say, it took us twice the amount of time to return to Gryffindor Tower because every few yards James would tug me into a secluded alcove to show me how much he appreciated his birthday presents and my wearing his old robes.

Therefore, by the time I entered my dorm room, I looked like I had just come out of a wrestling match. Jane laughed at me as she sat at her desk brushing her hair. "Look at you, naughty. Spent the night with James, did you?"

"Not like how you think." I blushed. "We did just sleep. And then we went down to the kitchens for breakfast and snogging."

She clapped her hands and rushed to hug me. "You said it!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

Carly groaned and rolled over in her bed. "Shut up."

"Carls, get up. It's almost ten," Jane reprimanded her, going towards Carly's bed and ripping the covers off of her. "I told you not to drink so much last night!"

"Yeah, well, she's never been much for listening, has she?" Georgie stepped out of the bathroom drying her hair with a fluffy towel. "Hey Lin, did you and James sleep well?" she teased.

"Yes, because that's all we did," I retorted.

She grinned widely at me as Jane and Carly continued to argue. I huffed as I grabbed a change of clothes and marched into the bathroom, quickly showering to wash the remnants of the previous day's quidditch match.

I had just finished getting dressed and was brushing my hair when I heard Jane shriek. I ran out of the bathroom quickly. "What's going on?" I demanded, drawing my wand.

Carly and Georgie were hugging each other and jumping up and down. Jane had a hand pressed over her mouth as she turned to me, clutching a piece of parchment in her free hand. She quickly freed her mouth. "Ary's getting married!"

My jaw dropped as I ran over to her. "What?" I snatched the parchment from her hand.

Hello, you lot,

Lin - I've just spoken with our scout, Fiona Wilder, and she said she was impressed with up at the match yesterday. She told me about that stunt you pulled, and I'm proud. The Harpies want to sign you, but I'm only telling you this unofficially. You'll be contacted soon enough. Cheers to Potter for catching you. Too bad he isn't a girl.

I snorted at that.

The real reason I'm writing, however, is to tell you Eddie proposed last week after our match against the Appleby Arrows! We don't want to tell anyone else, besides my mum and dad, and his, though, because of Victoire's wedding. She'd be bloody pissed if we stole the thunder. And Merlin knows she's bad enough now.

Anyway, I'd like to meet you all later today for lunch. I'll be at the Three Broomsticks at two. And Georgie, don't get fussy, saying how you lot aren't supposed to leave school grounds today. Well, bugger that, because I'm engaged. I know you'll figure out how to get here.

Ary

I grinned widely. "Oh my gosh. Ary is getting married."

"Of course we'll meet her," Georgie says exasperatedly. "She's engaged. I don't mind skiving off of duties every once in a while anyways. I can be fun!"

Carly snorted.

I threw her a look as I rushed to James's dorm room, fully intending on asking him for the map. Unfortunately, I forgot to knock before barging in. "MERLIN!"

"Sorry! Sorry! Oh my God, I am so sorry, Reggie!" I clasped my hands to my eyes and turned around. The image of him all but naked seemed burned into my eyelids. "Jesus, I am so sorry!"

He cracked up. "Bloody hell, Lin!"

I blushed furiously. "Shut up, Reg."

"You-" he gasped for air, and I could imagine tears streaming down his cheeks, "you just barged in here."

"I'm sorry," I moaned.

James chose that moment to exit the bathroom. "What's going on?"

Reggie was still roaring with laughter. "Is it safe to turn around now?" I grumbled.

James tapped me on the shoulder. "Couldn't stay away for long, could you?"

I punched him in the shoulder. "Prick. I came in here to ask you for the map."

"Why?" His brows furrowed together.

"Ary's asked us to meet her in Hogsmeade." He looked at me blankly. "I can't tell you why, though."

He frowned. "But it's my birthday."

I sighed. "As you keep reminding me. Look, it's just for lunch! We'll be back in time for the party tonight."

"Fine." He sighed and walked over to his bed, rummaging underneath his pillow. "I guess I can hang out with Al and Hugh today."

"Oi!" Reggie threw a pillow at him. "What about me?"

I snatched the map from James's hand. "Yeah, what about your boyfriend?" I teased.

James turned red as Reggie started laughing again. I stuck my tongue out at James and waved at Reg as I raced down the stairs and towards the girls where they stood waiting by the portrait entrance. I led them to the one-eyed witch statue and we slowly began our trek to Hogsmeade.

Ary was drumming her fingers along a table top when we showed up, slowly sipping from her tankard of butterbeer. She flashed us a grin and motioned us over when she saw us. "You made it!"

Jane snorted and hugged her. "Of course! You're only going to get engaged once!"

Ary's face darkened. "Hopefully."

"What's wrong?" I placed my hands on her as we sat down.

She exhaled slowly. "The prat won't help me plan the wedding, but still insists on my listening to his opinions."

Georgie frowned. "The wedding is still a bit far off, don't you think? When are you guys planning on having it?"

She flinched. "June."

"JUNE?" we shouted.

"You're barmy!" Carly exclaimed.

"Shut it, Hicks." Ary pointed a finger at her. "The issue is that I want a summer wedding, and Eddie doesn't want to wait for next year, and July and August we have training."

"But," I wracked my brains to think of a rational argument, "why doesn't Eddie want to wait a year?"

Ary turned bright red. "The thing is… well, it's a bit complicated."

We waited, but she seemed content to leave it at that. Carly wasn't having any of that. "Spit it out, Wood!"

She mumbled something under her breath. "What?" I asked, leaning closer.

"I'm having a baby!" She burst into tears and buried her face in her hands.

Our jaws dropped, but thankfully Georgie had retained enough sense to rub her back and murmur reassurances to her. I looked at Jane. What do we do? I mouthed. None of us had ever had to deal with an emotional Ary before.

After what seemed an eternity of awkwardness, she finally sat up and dried her eyes. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"Don't worry about it." I clasped her hand between both of mine over the table. "Have you told Victoire, Bertie, or Cathy yet?"

"Cathy and Bertie were always best friends with each other, and not me." She sighed. "And like I said, I want to wait until Victoire's wedding is over. I haven't told anyone except you four about the pregnancy, and I'd like to keep it that way."

I stood up. "No! Your mum at least needs to know. And I'm sure Victoire would want to know, too. You and Jane are sisters to her, I can tell. Damn her wedding. You're more important."

Everyone looked shocked at my outburst. Even the bartender looked over in astonishment. I turned red and quickly sat down. Jane quirked an eyebrow at me, but turned to Ary. "Ary, love, isn't this all happening a bit too fast? You've only been out of Hogwarts a year."

Ary gave a small chuckle. "I know, right? Arabella Wood, the mighty Gryffindor Keeper is now a mother- and bride-to-be. Who'da thunk it?"

"Is this what you want?" Georgie asked in a low voice. "Because you wouldn't have to, you know…" she trailed off, looking pale.

Ary also turned pale, and gripped her stomach. "No. No, no no. I thought about it, but I can't." Her eyes started watering up again. "I can't do it. The baby is mine. And Eddie agrees. He's always wanted kids, but I kept saying we had time. But now that I'm preggers, I understand. I want a kid, too."

"Do the Harpies know?" Carly sat closer to me, probably afraid of another crying outburst.

She nodded. "Eddie insisted. They're making me take maternity leave until the baby is born, but I'll be there for training."

"And when will the baby be born?" Georgie bit her lip as she continued rubbing Ary's back.

"Some time in the middle of November, the Healer said." Ary's fingers dug into her scalp. "What am I going to do?"

We sat in silence for a bit. I examined my friends' faces. Carly looked shocked and scared. I imagined my own face resembled hers. Jane and Georgie's expressions held more concern and understanding, and Ary, well, Ary just looked defeated. She needed someone to take care of everything while she got herself back together, and apparently Eddie wasn't helping.

I sighed. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. First, we'll divide up the tasks that go along with planning a wedding. Ary, you take control of the guest list and the dresses, but your main priority should be your health, and the baby's. Jane, Carly, Georgie and I'll take the rest. Now, we're going to take you to your mother's and you're going to tell her. If you don't, we're going to tell her anyway. For right now, don't worry about the baby. If you're only a couple of months along, there'll be plenty time for buying things and organizing the flat later. But talk to your Healer and learn more about being pregnant. I don't have any first-hand experience, but I hear it can be a bitch."

Jane caught me off. "Lin, don't scare her. It's fine, Ary. My mum did it three times, and it's not so bad."

Ary nodded. I felt guilty. "Sorry, Ary. I just want to make sure you understand how important it is for you to be focusing on yourself right now. We'll take care of the wedding, don't worry about it."

She nodded again, and threw her arms around my neck. I could feel her tears soaking my shirt. "Bloody hormones," she mumbled as she pulled away.

I laughed at that, and suddenly the air was lighter. We walked Ary to her mum's bookstore, and then, after greeting Mrs. Wood and exchanging pleasantries, began the trek back to Hogwarts.

"You know," Jane murmured as we got closer to Honeyduke's, "Eddie should be on his lunch break now. They always give accountants long lunch breaks over at the Ministry, or so I hear."

"Yeah?" I sighed as I tipped my head back to the sky to feel the sunlight on my face. It was a nice change from yesterday's flood.

"Yeah," Jane said strangely. "Ary used to complain about the fact that he always ate at the café across the street from the visitor's entrance. A muggle one, called Le Bistro. Said he was going to drive them bankrupt."

"No shit." I turned to her to ask her why she was telling me this, but I caught the gleam in her eye. "Oh."

"'Oh' what?" Carly demanded.

I smiled wickedly at her. "I think what our Janie here is suggesting, is that we go visit little Eddie and kindly inform him that he's being an asshole to our dear friend."

Georgie looked panicked and Carly laughed. "Yes!" she squealed at the same time Georgie said "No!"

Jane rolled her eyes at Georgie, who just continued, "Going to Hogsmeade's one thing, but to London? We could get splinched! We could get expelled! We could die!"

"Georgie, look, I'm going, Jane is going, and I'm pretty sure Carly is going, considering that she has that look that she gets when she's contemplating murder." I smacked Carly in the head, and turned to her. "Stop grinning maniacally!"

She frowned, and Jane took the opportunity to jump in. "Georgie, just go on ahead. We'll be back soon, I swear."

Georgie sighed in defeat and entered Honeyduke's. I looked at Jane. "Should we do Side-Along?"

"No, it's too dangerous at this great a distance. Let's just apparate into the Leaky Cauldron and then I'll apparate us from there."

I nodded, and turned on my heel. There was the sensation that I was being compressed into a tube, and then I was in the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Carly and Jane arrived at the same time. I shook my limbs, trying to feel for any sign that I had splinched myself.

"Everyone alright, then?" Jane asked as she gripped Carly and I by our upper arms. She waited for a beat before continuing, "Great."

We popped up right next to the almost abandoned-looking telephone box. I shook my head. I had only been at the Ministry once when I visited my Dad at work, and was amazed with the various ways one could enter. I had never been to the United States' Magical Governance building, though, because my dad had been able to work from home.

I shook myself out of my thoughts and followed Jane and Carly to a quaint little café that occupied a street corner. The words Le Bistro were painted prettily on the window. Eddie sat just inside reading a newspaper and munching on a sandwich. Jane entered first and slid into the booth he was at, sitting right next to him. "Alright there, Eddie?"

Eddie's eyes widened as he took in our three forms. "G- girls! What are you doing here? Wait, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Hogwarts?"

"We'll be back in a little while," I answered as I sunk into the seat in front of him. "We've just got to talk to you first."

He paled. "Is Ary okay? Is she hurt?"

Jane placed a hand on his shoulder. "No, she's fine. She's visiting her mum."

"You see, Eddie," I said seriously, cupping my chin and leaning forward across the table, "we just talked with her. We know she's pregnant, and that you want a wedding before the baby is born."

He became defensive. "Well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Not usually, but A, the wedding is in June, so that's a little over two months to plan it, which is not enough, and B, you're not willing to help her." Jane ticked off on her fingers. Carly cracked her knuckles surreptitiously, so I gave her a warning glance. She pouted.

"I get nauseated when I think about everything that has to be done, and I'm really busy at work, so I thought it would give…" he trailed off as I held up a hand to stop him.

"Okay, here's what you're going to do. You're going to take all your assumptions about Ary and imagine they're balloons. And now, you're going to pop them, because they're obviously shit." I showed no sympathy when he flinched. "You're not a girl, obviously, but I'm pretty sure you've never known a pregnant woman before. Am I correct?" He nodded. "Okay, well, today you're going to learn about both. Lesson A, pregnant women are a bundle of nerves and hormones, and Ary probably more so, because she's scared."

He looked guilty and confused. "She is?"

"Any new mother is! She has absolutely no idea what to do." Jane shook her head. "And here comes Lesson B. Planning a wedding is as frantic as fuck. Look at Victoire! And she's had practically 8 months to do it! Which brings us to sub-lesson B.1, asking a girl to plan a wedding while her best friend's wedding is going on? That is a disaster waiting to happen.

"So, let's recap. Ary is scared, nervous, and hormonal, and you're asking her to plan a wedding without your help in two months, while she's worrying about her best friend's!

Eddie now looked like he was going to pass out. He shoved his half-eaten sandwich away from him and buried his face in his arms. "What have I done? What am I going to do?"

I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That's what we're here for. We've told Ary all she has to worry about in terms of the wedding is her dress and the guest list, which you are to help her with, understand?" He nodded. "Good. You can owl us if you have a specific place to hold it at or any other details, but other than that we three," I gestured, "and Georgie will take care of the rest. Your job is to go straight from work to Flourish and Blotts and get whatever books you can on pregnancy, for you and for her. You're going to accompany her to every Healer appointment, too, got that?"

"Yes." He gulped. "Thank- Thank you. I had no idea."

Jane smiled at him and I nodded. "We know. We know you really love her, too, which is why we didn't let Carly punch you."

Carly frowned. "And I was really looking forward to it, too."

We left him shaken, but more aware of the situation. I groaned as I checked my snitch necklace. "It's almost 4:30 already. We have to get back."

We apparated back to Hogsmeade and walked slowly back to Hogwarts. I sighed as I held my lit wand up to illuminate the tunnel we were in. "I feel exhausted, don't you guys?"

Jane nodded, but Carly huffed. "I would I you guys would've let me punch him!"

"Carly, you need to understand that people are less likely to listen if you punch them than if you do," Jane said wearily.

I snorted. Carly whined, "But it's more fun."

"You're so bloodthirsty, I swear." I yawned. "I'm just going to sleep when we get back."

Jane laughed. "Yeah, right! Did you forget it's still James's birthday?"

"Crap."

"Exactly." She gave me a smile as we exited the tunnel and found ourselves in Hogwarts once again.

I frowned. "I guess I can sleep when I'm dead."

Nearly-Headless Nick, the resident Gryffindor ghost, chose that moment to float by. "Unfortunately you cannot, Ms. Benedetto."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Whatever."