Ch 9 James and Erica
"We really ought to tellour parents," Erica told James. "My breasts are starting to grow, and by Christmas it is going to be pretty obvious that something has happened."
James grinned at the parts Erica mentioned, and she swatted him on the leg. "You think it is funny, don't you, James! Well, I don't. It may have been caused by a curse, but I'm still pregnant and ...
"I'd better have a ring, soon," Erica said defiantly. "If you want to do it more often we had better marry over Christmas."
"I don't want to sneak around to do it, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to wait," James agreed.
"It isn't what we had planned, though," Erica sighed. "I'm getting used to the idea, sort of, but I am afraid our parents will be disappointed in us, and James, it is really not what we wanted or planned."
"I know," James replied. "Except if it was a spell dad knows about it, so I don't think my parents will be mad. Disappointed, but not angry."
"I don't know if mum will be upset, or glad that I didn't get birth control potions because we were good," Erica thought. "It is really horrible though, to have to suffer because you were good. The witches who were on birth control potions didn't become pregnant."
"I will ask mum if the two sets of parents can meet," James suggested. "I don't think they will be too surprised."
James borrowed Albus's mobile, and called his mother.
"Hello, Albus," Ginny answered the mobile.
"Hello Mum. It is James, not Albus," James replied. "Erica and I would like to talk to you and dad, and Mr. and Mrs. Lionheart."
"About what?" Ginny asked.
"Us, and getting married, and stuff," James replied.
"Stuff, what sort of stuff?" Ginny persisted.
"I'd really rather talk about it in person, mum," James replied, biting his lip nervously hoping she wouldn't push.
"I will set something up as soon as I can," Ginny agreed. "I love you."
"I love you too, mum," James said. He looked at Erica. "Mum is going to set something up."
"Are you as scared as I am," Erica wondered.
"Probably not," James replied, "I am worried, though."
Erica huffed in exasperation. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on the temple.
When Harry came home Ginny told him, "I think it is possible that James and Erica were one of the couples who became pregnant October first. James wants to talk to the Lionhearts' and us about marrying Erica, in any case."
"Didn't we expect James to propose over Christmas?" Harry wondered.
"If it was just that, I think James would have waited to talk to us over Christmas," Ginny suggested.
"Has Erica called her parents?"
"James asked if I could arrange something."
Harry waved at Ginny in a gesture that indicated that she should go ahead and call the Lionhearts, the two communicating without words the way old married couples often do.
"Hello, Donna. James asked if I could arrange a meeting between you and Bill, Harry and me, and Erica and him. They want to talk about marrying. Before we get any further, though, I need to tell you that October first something happened at Hogwarts. It is not general knowledge yet, but there seems to be half an hour where everybody fell asleep, and during that period many couples became pregnant. Don't ask me how I know to take it seriously, but Harry and some others have evidence that the students who cannot remember what they did are telling the truth."
"Are you suggesting that Erica is pregnant?" Donna asked. "She wanted to play Quidditch! Ginny!"
"I am not sure, but it would not be surprising,"
"Can we meet tomorrow night for dinner? That is what parents do in a situation like this, isn't it? Oh boggarts!"
"Harry, are you free for dinner tomorrow night?" She looked over at her husband to make sure. Harry nodded to indicate that he was free.
"Donna, Harry says he is free. I will arrange everything. I can pick them up from Hogwarts. Mitzi and I can take the Floo to the Wheeze's store, and from there I can side-along to the entrance, and from there into the Great Hall. I don't side-along with her very far. It is bad for my balance, but just from Hogsmeade into Hogwarts is fine."
"Six o'clock?"
"I will see you at six, you and Bill."
The next evening Ginny picked up the couple at Hogwarts. "I have permission to take you to dinner tonight," she told the couple. They walked to the Wheeze's and took the Floo to twelve Grimmauld Place. Waiting for them were Harry, Bill and Donna Lionheart. Ginny walked them up to the dining room, and the six sat down.
"I've asked Erica to marry me, and she has said yes," James started out, looking at Erica, both of them obviously very nervous.
"Is there any reason why you cannot wait until you graduate?" Ginny wondered, already knowing the answer.
"Well, it is like, October first, Saturday," James started, and then he looked at Erica then grabbed her hand to squeeze it.
Harry butted in. "We know that a number of witches became pregnant October first. We also know that many of them were not aware of what they did. It is like half an hour is missing. I'm not saying that happened to you, but if it did it is nothing to be ashamed of."
Erica nodded her head 'yes.' It looked like she was going to cry.
"Yes what?" Ginny gently pried.
"I'm pregnant," Erica cried, looking like she was close to tears, both mothers came over and hugged the frightened girl.
"You are in good company," Ginny observed, tilting her chin up gently. "Witches who were under the spells influence and not taking birth control potions become pregnant, so it seems to be mostly good wizards and witches that have found themselves in your predicament."
"I'm still pregnant," Erica sniffed. "It's not FAIR! James gets to keep playing Quidditch, and the Matrons are not thrilled that I'm still practicing. They don't want me playing in the spring. James just goes on like nothing happened and … can you play when you are nursing a baby? Why do witches all nurse their babies? How come everything to do with babies is focused on witches? It's not fair!"
"Witches have been concerned with procreation and babies for as long as there have been witches," Ginny explained. "I think there have been midwitches for witches as long as anyone can remember. We have birth control and aids to become pregnant if you are having problems. Potions to keep from getting sick when you are first pregnant. Potions and spells to keep mother and baby healthy. There are a number of spells to aid in giving birth.
Some midwitches even became midwives to help Muggle women give birth.
"Once the baby is born there are additional potions for the mother and baby. One type most witches take helps with lactation. Very few witches have any problem nursing, unlike Muggle women, and the potions help with the milk supply and also increase the pleasure of nursing. It is usually pleasant anyway, unless there is a problem, but there are potions to cure all sorts of problems."
"Can you nurse and still play Quidditch?" Erica wondered.
Ginny thought. "You might want to wait until the baby is born before you make any decisions about that. There have been Harpies who have come back after having a child, but not often."
"May we marry over Christmas?" Erica wondered. "James has been patient, but my emotions have been driving me crazy, and sometimes I want him so badly it hurts and sometimes I'm mad at him and …"
"You are pregnant," Donna told her daughter with a watery laugh. "Your first one, and your body is changing and getting ready, and of course you are emotional. The awkward situation of being a student and not married doesn't help."
"We have a formal betrothal contract here," Ginny told the couple, bringing out a parchment. "If we sign this, and you sign it, then you are pretty well committed to marry. The marriage ceremony is important, but most places treat formally betrothed couples as all but married."
"We could do it at Hogwarts, then?" James asked.
Erica looked at James in amazement, shyly blushing.
"Do what, James?" Ginny smirked, knowing what James was hinting at but wanting him to say it out loud.
Harry laughed, and both of Erica's parents smiled.
James held Erica's hand and looked hard at her. "Do you want to wait, or …"
Erica shook her head 'no,' obviously embarrassed.
"Sex?" James squeaked.
"You are talking about shagging, intercourse, doing what caused Erica to become pregnant in the first place," Ginny stated, not even hiding her amusement at her son's embarrassment.
James and Erica looked at each other, a little surprised to hear James' mother talking quite so frankly about it. They nodded 'yes' to each other, and then looked at the parents and nodded 'yes,' both with red embarrassed faces.
"Let us eat dinner, and talk about the Cannons," Ginny suggested. "Then we can get back to what we came for."
After dinner Ginny brought out a formal betrothal contract that she and Harry had had created when it was apparent that James and Erica would probably marry, and both sets of parents signed it, as did James and Erica. Ginny then brought out The Witches and Wizards Graphic Guide to Married Sex.
James grinned a snarky grin, but Erica was shocked. Ginny gave the book to Erica, who glanced through the book until she came to the first illustrations, before slamming the book shut, eyes wide open.
"James," Harry told his son. "The most important thing you need to learn is patience. You need to make love to Erica, being aware of her moods. It is too easy for a wizard to have sex without patient, loving consideration. Take your time, and make sure she is ready."
"Tell James how you feel," Donna told her daughter. "Do not be afraid to say 'not tonight.' Do not be afraid to initiate sex either. Wizards are almost always ready, but we witches are not."
"Should we actually read this together?" Erica wondered, blushing.
"I have permission from Professor McGonagall for the two of you to spend the night, in James' bedroom, if you want to practice," Ginny told the couple out-right laughing at the eager yet embarrassed look on their children's faces. "What is forbidden before is expected after."
James looked at Erica, who shyly grinned at James.
"Do you want to?" James asked.
A world of emotions crossed Erica's face before she shyly nodded 'yes.'
"I do not have any bedclothes with me," Erica told her mother.
"I'm not sure why that would be a problem," Donna replied.
"It's not like a little girl is going to come flying into James's bedroom and ask what you are doing, or why you are starkers'," Ginny laughed.
"Where is Minerva?" James wondered, noticing that his little sister was not there.
"At her grandmothers, so she won't come flying into James bedroom and ask what you are doing, or why you are starkers'," Ginny laughed some more.
"I think your father and I are going to go home and enjoy each other," Donna told her daughter. "Erica, I know that this is not what you wanted. I am very sorry for you and James. But since you have decided to marry and keep the baby, just know that your father and I will support you in any way we can."
Bill, who had been silent most of the evening, obviously having some problem following everything, told his daughter, "Enjoy. We love you."
Erica and James both hugged Donna and Bill as they took their leave.
James took Erica's hand, and led her up to his bedroom.
A beaming James and a shy Erica came down for breakfast the next morning.
"I take it not having bedclothes was not a problem," Ginny kidded.
Erica smiled an embarrassed smile.
"I have the original of the formal betrothal contract," Harry told the couple, "so it can be registered at the Ministry. There are additional places to sign when it becomes a marriage contract, so it will come back to us once registered. I also have a duplicate for you to show to Professor McGonagall and others. I think you will find certain rooms available for you to use."
"Can we sleep together?" James asked.
"Moving in together full time will probably have to wait until after you are married, and I expect that will have to wait until Christmas," Harry responded. "The problems of October first are causing us to look at various things, however. Just be patient."
"Where were you last night," Nancy Weasley asked Erica when she walked into the Hufflepuff dormitory to pick up her books.
"James and I signed a formal betrothal contract last night, and then I spent the night with him in his bedroom at Grimmauld Place," Erica grinned.
"His parents let you?" Nancy squealed.
"I'm already pregnant, became pregnant October first because of that Merlin blasted curse, and James and I are going to marry over Christmas, and they offered it, actually," Erica told Nancy and Amelia Macmillan, who was listening.
"Did you do it, in James bed, then?" Nancy asked. "How often? Did you have a fancy nightgown? Was it fun? Are you going to be able to do it here?"
"If you mean here, in this dormitory, I don't think so," Erica replied, looking around. "Here at Hogwarts, I think so."
"You didn't take any clothes with you," Nancy noticed.
"You don't actually need to have any clothes on to do it," Erica blushed.
Nancy put her hands up to her mouth. "I guess not," she observed.
"I have class," Erica muttered, as she left the room.
"Where were you, James," Hamilton Jordan asked James when he walked into his dormitory room.
"I spent the night at home," James replied.
"Why?" Hamilton persisted.
"Erica Lionheart and I signed a formal betrothal contract, along with her parents and mine," James explained. "And then we spent the night in my bedroom."
"You did it to Erica in your bedroom?" Hamilton wondered.
"I didn't do anything TO her, we did it together," James insisted. "And I'm not saying anything else."
Before the end of the day the whole seventh year Gryffindor boy's dormitory knew that 'James Potter was shagging Erica Lionheart.'
That night James at dinner with Erica at the Hufflepuff table. He was beginning to think that was a mistake when Bill Lionheart and Lily Luna sat down next to him, and Erica's brother and sister Harry and Ginny sat down next to Erica.
Ginny folded her arms and asked, "When are you going to move your stuff out of MY bedroom, now that you are sleeping with James."
"James and I are engaged, betrothed, and all you can think about is the bedroom?" Erica gasped.
"I've never had my own bedroom," Ginny huffed. "When Tabitha married and moved out mum turned her bedroom into a guest bedroom.
"Was it fun?"
"Was what fun?" Erica asked.
"Sleeping with James, of course!" Ginny insisted, hands on her hips, a determined look on her face.
"Did you get any sleep, or were you and James too busy doing other things?" Harry laughed.
"Harry Lionheart!" Erica growled.
"How many times?" Harry persisted.
"I understand that Cara Koizumi and you are more than dance partners," Erica suggested.
Harry just grinned.
"When are you getting married?" Lily wanted to know.
"Over Christmas," James replied. "We do not have a date yet."
"Will all of Erica's stuff fit into your bedroom?" Lily wondered. "Girls have LOTS of clothes. Are you going to redecorate your room so it's all pink?"
"NO!" Erica snapped. "The last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time decorating a room that we may not be in very long, and I'm not that fond of pink."
"You never answered Harry's question," Lily persisted. "Was it fun?"
"It was very nice, and that is all that I will say," Erica insisted.
From the grin on James face it was obviously very nice for him as well.
"What is going on with you and Cleo, Rose and Scorpius?' James asked Albus the next day.
"It is complicated," Albus replied. "Don't ask. Some things will become clear over the Christmas holidays, I think, but please do not ask, James. I hear you and Erica are engaged."
"Erica became pregnant October first, which stinks, because neither of us remember. Erica is really upset. We signed a formal betrothal contract, and mum and dad let her spend the night with me in my bedroom," James grinned. "There are some rooms at Hogwarts where we can do it, and Erica and I are going to. It's fun."
"I'm sure it is," Albus replied, refusing to talk to James about what was going on.
2022