CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

TELLING THE TRUTH

I wake up, of my own accord for the first time in a while. Molly is still fast asleep in her bed. I don't think she's been sick at all this morning and I'm glad for that - she deserves a rest. Especially if she's going to tell everyone about the pregnancy today - which she is. Molly never backs down once she's made up her mind. I sit up quietly, pick up a pair of blue jeans and a pink long-sleeved top and tiptoe into the bathroom to get dressed, trying not to wake Molly. After showering, brushing my teeth and doing my hair, I tiptoe back out again. I thought the sound of the shower would wake her but surprisingly she still isn't awake ... until I trip over one of my shoes and fall crashing to the floor on my arse. Ouch. Erela starts screeching in her cage and Molly sits up with a start. She squints her eyes, her mouth is wide open and her hair is all over the place. I can't help but laugh. She pouts at me and looks confused.

"S-sorry." I say, biting back a laugh. She shrugs and rubs her eyes.

"S'ok. What time is it?" She asks me.

"I don't know. About 11 o'clock I think." She smiles widely at me and gets out of bed.

"I wasn't sick." She informs me and I nod.

"I know. Maybe today won't be so bad after all." I say. Wishful thinking. Her smile falters but stays on her face.

"C'mon Lily, you know that's not true. When I tell them ... they're going to hate me. Today will probably be as bad as it gets."

"You don't know that. Our family love us. They love you. So much. Yes, they'll be mad but they will forgive you and-"

"What if they can't, Lily. What if I'm just too much of a disappointment. My parents will kick me out and I'll be hopeless and alone ... I can't raise a baby alone!" She starts hyperventilating, panicking. Her smile is completely gone now. No sign of that happy girl that woke up today. She's gone. Replaced by this distraught, scared teenager who's having to grow up way too fast. I go over to her, pull her down to sit on the edge of the bed and rub her back in, what I hope is, a soothing way.

"Shhh. You won't be alone. We both know that your parents are going to be mad - of course they are. But they love you far too much to hate you. Too much to kick you out. You could never be a disappointment. Never. They are so proud of you. And they will be even prouder when they see how well you've handled all of this, how brave you are." I tell her. And I mean every word. After a while she takes a deep breath and smiles at me, puts an arm around my shoulders.

"When did you get so wise? Honestly, it feels like only weeks ago you were following James and Al around like a little puppy dog, dragging your little dolly along with you. When did you get so grown-up?" She grins and ruffles my hair with her other hand, "Thanks, Lily-pad. I mean it. I don't think I would have gotten through the past few weeks without you. I love you, kid."

"Aww Molly, I love you too." I hug her tight and then she goes to get dressed.

For the rest of the day I watch her carefully for any signs of nervousness or fear but there isn't any. She's either come to terms with her decission and the consequences that follow or she's a damn good actress. I suspect the latter. In fact anyone who saw us would think I was more nervous than she was. All day I'm on edge, waiting for it to come out. Waiting to hear a sudden yelling or for Molly to run into the livingroom crying. By the time we get shouted for dinner I'm a wreck. On the way to the table I whisper to Molly that she should sit next to me.

We all sit down and it feels strange to me. Everyone is so ... normal. Don't they feel it? Can't they sense that everything is about to change? It seems so obvious to me. In the atmosphere. Dad offers to help Grandma dish out they dinner. Grandma waves her wand and everyone's plates are filled but my Dad doesn't use magic to pour out the drinks. He walks around the table - pumpkin juice in one hand for the kids, wine in the other for the adults. Then he gets to us. He pours me a glass of pumpkin juice without hesitantion, of course. Then he gets to Molly.

"Wine, Molly?" He asks with a smile. One look at Molly's face and I know this is it.

"No thank you, Uncle Harry." She says, looking at her plate like it's the most interesting thing in the world.

"C'mon Molly, we aren't idiots." Jokes my Uncle Ron, "We know you kids have all had a drink at some point. Besides, you're 17, you're old enough. It's Christmas anyway."

"No chance Ron. My Molly's too smart to drink." Boasts my Uncle Percy. I'm not quite sure if he's joking or not.

"Actually, Dad." Speaks Molly, looking up from her food, "I have had a drink. I just ... can't now." I don't know about Molly but my heart is beating a million beats a minute. I feel physically sick. I grib Molly's hand tightly under the table. Looking around the room, confusion clouds the eyes of almost everyone. But I hear a couple gasps and look to the sound. My Aunt Hermione and my Grandma seem to have worked it out. Now that I look at it, Dom doesn't seem all that surprised either. My Uncle Percy looks the most confused out of everyone though.

"What? What's wrong, Molly? And what's up with you two?" He asks Molly then turns to Aunt Hermione and Grandma. Aunt Hermione and Aunt Audrey make eye-contact and Aunt Hermione nods. Aunt Audrey covers her mouth with her hand and looks to Molly.

"Please, Baby ... don't tell me you're about to say what I ... what I think you're about to say..."

"What is it!? What on earth are you talking about, Audrey? Will someone just tell me what's going on?" Shouts my Uncle Percy. A few more of my family members seem to catch on - all girls. Molly stands up, still holding onto my hand for dear life, and takes a deep breath.

"Daddy ... I'm so sorry-"

"Molly, what-"

"I'm pregnant." She says, deathly calm. She doesn't cry. She's so strong. But I can tell it's killing her. Uncle Percy's face just ... falls. All emotion disappears from his eyes. His head slumps forward onto his hands and there is a long silence.

"Well ... this is akward." In-puts Fred but nobody laughs.

"Merlin Freddie, not now!" Snaps Roxie and he makes a face.

"Only trying to break the ice. So ... is it that arse Jack's?" He asks.

"Yes, I would like to know that too." Says Uncle Percy, raising his head. His eyes are red, like he's holding back tears. And he looks so angry - like he could kill someone. Probably Jack, " I would also like to know how you could be so stupid. Did I not raise you to be smarter than this? Did I not raise you to think before you act. Not to jump into bed with random men like some ... some cheap slut." He screams, standing up.

"Woah, calm down, Perce." Says Uncle Ron, "Hell, I know you're mad but don't say things you don't mean. Molly, you know he doesn't mean that, sweetheart." Tears start to roll down Molly's face but she stands her ground.

"No, it's Ok Uncle Ron, let him say what he wants." Then she addresses her Father, "I'm sorry Daddy. I'm so sorry. But you didn't raise me wrong, I swear. I didn't ... I mean- Merlin!" She stops, takes a deep breath and starts again. "I'm not stupid. I get good marks and I've never had a detention and I'm a prefect and-"

"What good is all of that now? Huh? You have ruined any chance of a decent future!" He says, seething. Aunt Audrey puts a hand on his arm, silently telling him to calm down. Turns out she doesn't need to.

"Shut up, Dad!" Shouts Molly, "Just listen to me. For once. I always listen to you. I do everything you tell me to do. I went out with Jack for 3 years before we did anything. And I tried to do the damn charm. It just ... it didn't work. You have know idea how hard this has been ... and I ... I-" She starts crying and I stand up and hug her. I feel everyone's eyes on me, as if they've only just realised I was there, comforting her.

"You knew." Says my Mum. It's a statement, not a question. I simply nod and continue hugging Molly. Uncle Percy sits back down again, evidently defeated and lost for words. Aunt Audrey clears her throat.

"How far along are you?" She asks her daughter. Her eyes are filled with tears but at least she doesn't seem angry. Molly sniffs.

"Um ... just over 4 months, I think."

"And you haven't been checked out or anything?" Aunt Audrey asks, concerned.

"No. I didn't want anyone to know. I'm sorry Mum. I'm really, really sorry." She says, her voice breaking. Aunt Audrey's eyes well up and she walks around the table to Molly and pulls her into her arms. Molly bursts into tears.

"I know, baby, I know. Shhh it's ok. I just want you to be healthy. So we have to go to St Mungo's ok?"

"Tonight?" Asks Molly, "Isn't it a bit late?"

"We need to find out if everything's Ok or not. So we should probably-"

"No." Interupts Uncle Percy, "You can't go tonight, we have things to talk about."

"Like what, Percy?" Asks Aunt Audrey, "You want to shout at our daughter some more? You want to say some more things that you won't mean tomorrow?" Uncle Percy shakes his head.

"No, Audrey, I just want to talk. I promise, I'll try to stay calm. But you've got to understand that I can't ... I'm not-"

"What do you want to know Daddy?" Asks Molly, sitting down. Even through all of this she hasn't let go of my hand.

"... Jack. Have you told him?" He says, straining to stay calm.

"Yes." Nods Molly.

"And is he ... He's sticking by you, right?"

"No. We ... we broke up." Whispers Molly.

"What!? That little- arghh. I'm going to go over there and hex the little arse!" He says through gritted teeth. He trys to walk over to the fireplace but Uncle George grabs his shoulder to stop him.

"Daddy don't. Really ... can you blame him? It's ... a baby, it's a lot of responsibility."

"Hell yes I can blame him. It's his fault you're in this mess. So are you ... keeping it?" Molly put her other hand protectively round her stomach. I smile.

"Yes. This is my baby. Not his. And it may have been an accident, but that doesn't mean I don't care about it." She says. Aunt Audrey smiles proudly at her words but Uncle Percy raises a hand to his head.

"This is ... too much." He says, and disappartates. Everyone looks around at each other sadly, but nobody says anything.