Chapter Two

Ron really couldn't spend much time thinking about this new realization even if he wanted to, though, as the younger Weasley's and Potter were talking again. Unconsciously, Ron leaned in closer to continue listening in on their conversation.

"It would help if they weren't so secretive," Al complained. "Knowing if it was going to be a boy or girl would really help us narrow down their options for them."

"And then we can bet on the outcome," Fred said with a grin.

"You do realize that Rose will kill you if she ever finds out that one of your little bets had anything to do with her child, right?" Roxanne asked her brother. "I mean, you don't have a death wish, do you?"

"Point taken," Fred said swiftly. "We'll just have a friendly conversation about it. So, how many constellations are there, anyway?"

"There must be thousands," Molly said with a small groan. "And here I thought we were trying to make things easier on ourselves."

"Actually," Lucy, ever her father's child, spoke up at that moment. "There are currently only eighty-eight recognized constellations."

"And how in Merlin's name do you know this?" Molly demanded of her sister.

"I was actually just reading a book about the constellations and other celestial bodies," Lucy replied, indicating the previously abandoned book sitting on her lap which, indeed, was about the constellations and other stellar phenomena. "It's quite fascinating, really."

"Does it by any chance happen to have a list of all of the constellations?" James asked excitedly.

"Names, origins, meanings, locations," Lucy said, glancing through the pages. "All of it."

Ron couldn't help but think that it was incredibly lucky that Lucy just so happened to have a book with all of the necessary information about constellations on hand at this precise moment. If this was anyone else other than Lucy, he might almost find it suspicious. However, the truth of the matter was that the book did belong to Lucy, who was much too smart for her own good at times (a bit like her father, Percy, actually), and who liked to spend her free time reading books that any other person would consider a textbook, and therefore not something to be read for pleasure.

So, Ron couldn't help but come to the conclusion that it was only natural that Lucy be reading a book with the constellations as its subject matter. And clearly her cousins had come to that conclusion as well, because none of them commented on how obviously lucky they were that she just so happened to have such a book with her at that precise moment.

"Excellent," James stated. "What's the first one?"

"Andromeda," Lucy replied promptly.

"I can already tell this is going to be harder than we thought," Teddy said dryly. "Obviously that one's already taken, so I think it's out. What's next?"

"Anilia."

"That's pretty," Lily said, "I like that."

Lucy frowned slightly. "Yes…but it means 'air pump.'"

"We'll advise against it, then, if they think the same way Lily does," Fred put in swiftly.

"Alright then, next up is…Apus."

Hugo grimaced. "That just sounds so wrong. That can't be my future niece or nephew's name. Next."

"Aquarius," Lucy replied. "Not really much of a name for a person though, is it? After that is Aquila."

"Aquila…" Dominique tested it out. "It could be a possibility, I guess. What does it mean?"

"Eagle."

"I suppose it could work," Roxanne allowed. "After all, with parents like Rose and Scorpius, Ravenclaw is definitely a possibility. No Gryffindor for the newest Malfoy, I guess…"

Across the room, that made Ron shudder. At random moments it still surprised him that his daughter was now technically a Malfoy. And now he's just had the reminder that his first grandchild would be one as well—not that the whole conversation about his poor grandchild being named after some random stars wasn't reminder enough…And to add insult to injury, his nieces and nephews had a lot of nerve to suggest that his grandchild wouldn't be a Gryffindor.

That was really the main problem here. He really was over the fact that Rose had married a Malfoy. But the Malfoy family's predisposition of being sorted into Slytherin house was definitely not something that could simply be forgiven and forgotten.

"After that is Ara," Lucy continued. "It seems kind of…blah, if you ask me."

"Well, what's after that one, then?" Victoire demanded.

"Aries," Lucy promptly responded.

Albus scrunched his nose. "I don't really fancy any names that are zodiac signs."

"We'll have to attempt to tactfully dissuade them from using one of those, then," Louis stated.

"Auriga is next."

"Personally," Fred said resolutely, "I think that is a fine name. Absolutely superb. Not that any constellation name couldn't be wonderful. Honestly, there are just too many fantastic names for Rosie and Scorpius to choose from. They really are going to have a challenge picking one out."

Ron couldn't help but grimace at this, try as hard as he might to make it look as if he wasn't paying a shred of attention to his niece's and nephew's conversation.

"And after that we have Boötes, which is apparently a constellation of a…" Lucy checked her book, "Of a herdsman, in case anyone was wondering."

"Interesting…" Molly allowed. "I feel like this would be a good opportunity to move on, though."

"I concur," Dominique said immediately.

"Up next we have Caelum, which is a lovely constellation of a…chisel," Lucy frowned at the last bit. "I can't really imagine why anyone in their right mind would name their newborn after a chisel."

"You do realize that this is Rose and Scorpius we're talking about, right?" Albus asked. "No one ever said they were in their right minds."

"Yes, yes, yes, as fun as it is to poke fun at the parents-to-be, we have more pressing matters to attend to," Hugo cut in, "If you'd be so kind as to carry on, Lucy."

"Very well," Lucy acquiesced. She scanned her list quickly before her eyes alighted on the next name, a broad grin spreading across her face. "Be prepared everyone; the next one's a real keeper. I can already tell you're all going to like it."

"Well?" Teddy demanded impatiently when Lucy didn't continue.

"Oh yes, sorry," Lucy said swiftly. "Camelopardalis."

Everyone was silent until, finally, Lily spoke up.

"Like it?" She demanded. "We adore it."

"Rose and Scorpius are sure to pick that one," Fred agreed. "In fact, if they don't, I do believe I'll stage a formal protest."

"Camelopardalis Malfoy does have a certain ring to it," Louis allowed. "But we're only on C. We really can't rule out all of the other possibilities already."

Ron, more than slightly horrified, couldn't help but hope beyond all belief that Camelopardalis would be ruled out as a possibility.

"Yeah, well, next is Cancer," James stated, looking over Lucy's shoulder. "Which is another zodiac, so we are ruling that one out."

"Do you mind?" Lucy asked pointedly, pulling away from James. "What are you? Eight? Haven't you ever heard of the concept of personal space?"

"You know," Victoire began in a rather offhand manner, successfully diffusing the situation, "For our sake, I really do hope Rosie has a long labor. This is going to take us ages."