Gifted

20

"I just love you," she said. "You are the best friend I could ever have."

"I love you, too," I said smiling, then I whispered, "Are your hormones getting to you?"

"I'll talk to you about it later," she replied and went back to talking to Damon, Dean, and Seamus.

"Okay," I murmured, mostly to myself, and stood up from the table. I knew what I was doing today and I wasn't looking forward to it. First I had to find and talk to Professor Slughorn about getting a new Potions tutor. Then I had to talk to that person. After that, I knew I needed to write my paper for Charms that was due tomorrow and start on my Divination paper. Not to mention I needed to study for a Transfiguration test and I told Bella I would come watch the Quidditch team practice for the upcoming match against Slytherin this Saturday. They had practices almost every evening and I was starting to feel glad that I did awful at the tryouts. I didn't know if I would have been able to handle it.

Right as I stepped over the bench to head to Slughorn's office and see if he was there, I felt someone grab my arm. It was Bella.

"Wait," she said. She looked like she was going to be sick.

"Are you okay? Should we take you to Madame Pomfrey?" I asked.

"No, just help me get to the loo," she said, standing up with me. I helped her as we rushed to the nearest lavatory.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's just morning sickness," Bella replied. "My mom had it when she was pregnant with my baby brother." We entered into the tiled room and Bella ran for the nearest stall. I saw her on her knees and heard her as she threw up before I could ask what I should do. I guess I would just wait.

It was awhile after she can out, wiping her mouth with a piece if toilet paper, which she threw away and then washed her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror. Turning to the side, she lifted up her shirt so she could see her stomach.

Other then the fact that she looked like she had gained maybe three pounds, she looked fine, only showing a small bump that was barely noticeable.

She ran her finger over the center of her stomach.

"I may not come to school next year," she said. "I've been talking with Damon about it and we aren't really sure what to do."

"Your mom could take care of the baby after she got over the initial shock," I said.

"I don't want my baby to grow up in someone else's house," Bella replied.

"You have to graduate though," I insisted.

"Aly, you need to understand that I have to do what's best for the baby," she reminded me.

"I know," I said, "it's just, I can't imagine life at Hogwarts without you."

"I guess," she replied. "It'll be fine though."

"Is Damon really okay with you flying?" I asked.

"We actually had an argument yesterday evening about that," Bella replied. "He said I had no business flying pregnant and I told him he was being ridiculous since I'm not even a month along."

"What about later?" I asked.

"I'm still going to fly, Aly," she said. "And nothing anyone says is going to stop me. I know what you have to do, so get going. I'm fine now."

"Okay." I waved goodbye as I walked out of the loo and down to the first floor where Slughorn's office was. I pulled my sweater close as a gust of wind blew through an open window. I could see the snow pouring heavily outside, making it look as if it would be hard to see out there in the weather. I hoped it wouldn't do this on game day. As I got to the door I knocked three times and waited.