SEHE; Chapter 8

Thursday October 16 [22w 3d}

"You need to tell him. Now before he finds out some other way." I sigh and put my textbook down. Lena has been trying to convince me to tell Keelan about the pregnancy.

"How else is he going to find out? Only you and Draco know."

"It's a big school, Bell. Someone could hear something and gossip travels faster than light."

"I'm just not ready."

"Well you need to be ready. You're starting to show through your regular clothes. You won't be able to hide it much longer." I groan and look down at the offending bump.

"Curse it, I know. Fine. How do you propose I do this?" Just as the question leaves my mouth who should walk into the common room but Keelan himself. To my surprise he walks right over to me.

"Can we talk?" I look at Lena and I don't know for sure, but I suspect I see a hint of guilt on her face.

"Uh, sure, what about?" Keelan glances at Lena who stands up.

"I'll be up in the dormitory, Bell." I glare at her back as she retreats up the stairs. Keelan sits down on the armchair across from the couch I'm sitting on.

"So what's up?" He looks very uncomfortable.

"Lena told me you have something you need to tell me?" I was right. Damn her.

"Lena needs to mind her own business. But yes, there is something." He looks at me expectantly. "It's hard to say."

"Not to rush you, but I've got something to do soon." I sigh and rub my forehead.

"I'm pregnant." I look up quickly to see the expression on his face. It takes a few seconds for him to react.

"You're shitting me. Who's is it?" I frown.

"Yours, you idiot. What do you think I wanted to tell you the first night we were here?" A flicker of shame crosses his face before anger replaces it.

"And you waited this long to actually do it?"

"You haven't exactly been welcoming lately, Keelan. Or alone, for that matter." To his credit, he looks guilty.

"What are you doing with it?"

"Keeping it obviously, or we wouldn't be talking right now." He rubs his face and sighs deeply. We sit in silence for a few minutes.

"What do you expect of me?" I take a minute to think about it. What do I expect? I know pregnancy is the easy part, but I've gotten along just fine without him so far. I have Lena and Draco here, and Phoebe and my family at home.

"Honestly? Nothing." He raises his eyebrow. "Seriously. We're both young and made a stupid decision. I've come to accept the repercussions of that choice. If you decide to walk away, I won't hold it against you."

"I've never seen myself as a dad. I don't think I could do it." I sigh sadly. Secretly I'd been hoping he would decide to be a part of this baby's life, even if I don't need him.

"Take a while to think about it." He nods and stands up.

"I will. Thanks." I watch him walk out of the common room with a sudden urge to cry. I sit back against the couch and let the tears fall for reasons I don't understand.

+++

Saturday October 25 [23w 5d]

"Lena, come on."

"Just one more, please." I let out a frustrated sigh. We're in Hogsmeade today with the school and I've been pulled into a clothing store against my will.

"Last one, and I mean it. I'm starving, the sales woman is creeping me out, and I'm cranky." Lena rolls her eyes.

"Stop whining. Try this on and I promise I'll leave you alone." She holds out a dress and I grab it then stomp back into the dressing room. She's made me try on 15 shirts, 6 pairs of pants, and 3 dresses. 4 including this one. I tug it on and exit my clothing hellroom without looking at myself in the mirror. "Oh, Bell, that's perfect. I'll buy it if you don't."

"Deal. I'm putting my own clothes back on now." I change back into my clothes and exit the dressing room feeling quite a bit better. I managed to look at myself before yanking the dress off and have to admit that Lena was right. It flatters my height, build and bump together nicely.

"I've got the stuff you're buying and the things I'm getting for you."

"You don't need to do this."

"Hush, I'm doing it." I shut my mouth and after we exit the store I lead the way to the Tea Shop. I'm dying for something to eat. "What's after this?"

"I want to visit Honeydukes and Tomes. Maybe Scrivenshaft's. I need some new quills. Then I think I was supposed to meet up with Draco near the Shack."

"I hate that place."

"You know it isn't actually haunted, right?"

"Of course I know. Harry's uncle or some such. It's just creepy with the scratches all over the place." I snicker and flag Madam Puddifoot for some food.

+++

I sit on a log and wrap my coat tighter against my body. It's beginning to get cold during the day. I smile as I spy Draco walking up the path to the Shack. I've thought a little about what he told me. I can't say I've reciprocated any of those feelings, but I know him enough that I suspect it wouldn't be hard to let myself like him. I just don't want to add another book to the already teetering pile I've been holding.

"Hey stranger." The smile I receive makes my stomach do an odd little flip. Oh yeah, it could totally happen.

"Hi there. Where's Lena?" Draco sits beside me.

"She hates the Shack so she took our loot up to the castle."

"I saw you coming out of Tomes. Did you empty out the clothing store?" I laugh.

"Almost. I tried on 25 different articles of clothing this morning. I bought 5 of them and she bought a few as well."

"Jeez." We lapse into a comfortable silence. I wonder about grabbing his hand and holding it. Then I remind myself about the book pile. Funny thing is the more time I spend with him, the more I think I can handle it. As I finally talk myself into taking his hand, he looks at me with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Can I try something without it being weird after?"

"Uh, what?"

"I want to do something, but I don't want things to be awkward after."

"Oh, uhm, okay." I tense a little as he raises his hand, but he only touches it lightly to my cheek. I'd never really noticed before, but his grey eyes have blue flecks in them. My heart speeds up a notch as Draco moves his face closer to mine in what seems an excruciatingly slow pace. With a sudden boldness I close the gap and gently press my lips to his.

His hand tightens a little on my cheek and he hesitates a second before kissing me more firmly. My breath catches and I close my eyes, completely immersing myself in Draco and his kiss. He tastes like butterbeer and smells like soap. My heartbeat quickens some more as I shyly place my hand against his chest.

He suddenly breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine, breathing a little heavily. "Just. Wow. I've been waiting 4 years to do that." I feel myself blush and he smiles. "You know you're very adorable when you blush." He laughs when it deepens. I receive another light kiss before Draco pulls away. All I can think is, boy, do I have loads to tell Lena.

SEHE; Chapter 7

Sunday September 28 [19w 6d]

"Lie back for me, Annabel, and we'll take a look at your baby." I lie back on the cot and the doctor places the tip of her wand against my stomach. A second later she flips it toward a grey space on the wall and there the baby is. Lena clutches my hand.

"How amazing is that." I nod a little. The baby is wiggling and kicking and moving but I feel none of it. Dr Shima points at the projection.

"There's the head, spine, bottom, legs and feet. Great heartbeat. Lots of movement which is wonderful. Your placenta is anterior and quite low. That can be cause for concern closer to delivery but isn't a worry yet. We'll keep an eye on that."

"What will happen?"

"A cesarean would be our best course."

"I'd like to avoid that if at all possible."

"Of course, as would I. We'll keep a close watch. Hopefully the placenta migrates up or back. It's quite common for it to move."

"Can you tell us the sex now?" I grin at Lena. She's far more excited than I thought she would be. Draco, however, is looking kind of dumbfounded. He hasn't said a word since we left Hogwarts. Dr Shima moves her wand around a bit until she's satisfied.

"Obviously I can't be 100% positive. But here I am about 90% certain you're having a girl." I smile and nod; something I didn't know I'd been thinking suddenly confirmed.

"Oh congrats, Bell!" I squeeze Lena's hand.

"Fantastic. Thank you Dr Shima." She stops the projection and I sit up.

"No problem at all. I'd like to see you back here next month. Take good care of yourself."

+++

"So Draco. What's up?" Draco looks up at me from his Potions work. We're in the library. I'm studying and he's discreetly copying my work.

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Earlier today. You were very quiet. What's up?"

"It may come as a surprise to you, Bell, but I'm not on the up and up with this baby stuff. I don't know what a placenta is or what anterior means. I'm kind of lost here."

"I know, I'm sorry. I feel like I've kind of thrust you into this with me. I hope you know that I don't expect anything from you." His face softens a little and he takes my hand awkwardly.

"I'm here for you, Bell. I may be a blundering idiot when it comes to this stuff, but I'm in it with you." I feel my face get hot and I know I'm blushing. I'd never thought about Draco as more than a friend before. Mainly because I'd been with Keelan, but that isn't really an issue now.

"Want to clarify that statement so I don't blow it out of proportion?" Draco gives me one of his rare smiles.

"I'm saying that I've liked you since 3rd year. I kick myself for not telling you back then." I kind of just look at him.

"What?" His grin gets a little bigger.

"You heard me, Leed."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. I didn't tell you this to change anything. I told you because it was finally time to. I just want you to know that I'm in your corner." I feel tears well up. I contemplate giving him a kiss on the cheek when I see Keelan stroll into the library with Penelope attached to his side like a leech. At the look on my face Draco turns around. I see him frown. I still haven't told Draco about the conversation I overheard earlier in the week.

"Come on, let's go somewhere else, Draco." I start to gather my books and shove them in my bag. "Draco." He's still siting, glaring daggers at Keelan; who still hasn't noticed us. "Come on, please?" At my please Draco finally looks at me, then grabs his books and stalks out of the library. As I'm walking out I receive a dirty look from Penelope. She's alone, Keelan must have gone off. The mature thing would be to let it go and walk past her. "What exactly is your problem?" She sneers at me and I catch myself thinking that she's got such an ugly personality.

"Look at you. Flaunting your relationship with Malfoy, only weeks after you've broken up with Keelan. It's so disrespectful." I stare at her incredulously.

"Excuse me? I did not break up with him. He left me." She shakes her head.

"That's not what I've heard. I've heard you slept around all summer, came back and broke it off, then went and screwed Malfoy the very same night. People saw him walking you to the tower." All I can do is stare at her. I have no doubt who's been spreading these rumours.

"And let me guess. You're just supporting poor, pathetic Keelan."

"Matter of fact, yes. You broke his heart." I laugh at her.

"I wish you luck. I really do." She sniffs and walks off. I shake my head and leave the library. I could go for a nap but I really need to finish this work. As I'm wandering down the hall, deciding what to do, Draco turns the corner and walks up to me. I stop and lean against the wall. I'm suddenly very tired.

"Should learn to follow your own advice eh?" I smile up at him. "You look exhausted. You okay?"

"Actually, no. It came on just now. I feel like I could pass out standing here." Draco takes my arm and steers me toward my common room.

"Let's get you to bed then." We walk in silence to the tower. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." He walks away before I can say anything. Somehow, I make it to my dormitory and into my bed before falling asleep.