The rest of November went by quickly and without incident. Lily's arm healed nicely over the night, but the one on her face hadn't. But since it never hurt, she ignored it, and declined to go to the Hospital Wing. Tanner had been let out the day after the game, his arm as good as new. James was kept in there for a week. Everyone had expected James to be after revenge against Lars, but he didn't even go near Lars. In fact, he stayed away from all Slytherins. It made Lily trust him even less.
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had their match, which Lily couldn't help but go and watch. Hufflepuff had pulled out an amazing victory, winning the game with four hundred and ten points, leaving Ravenclaw with only two hundred and sixty. But the score wasn't Lily's main focus. She couldn't stop her eyes from following Lysander as he moved around in the sky.
December came, and as time went, Lily soon found herself packing to go home for Christmas. And she then found herself on the train, sitting with Jace and Lola.
"Man, I am so happy to be going home," Jace said with a sigh. "I mean, it'll be boring, but at least I won't have any homework." With another sigh, he took a big bite off of his Chocolate Frog.
"I'm not," Lola muttered. "My siblings are so annoying."
"Yours doesn't have crap on mine," Lily replied. "I'm just hoping that they'll continue to avoid me. And if my dad really did write to them too, then I'm sure they will."
"Hey, guys," Scorpius greeted as he stepped into their compartment. "How's it going?"
"Not bad," Jace said, holding out a Chocolate Frog. "Why aren't you with the others?"
"Mitch went off to snog Dominique, and Dante and Lana are being disgusting, and since she's practically my sister it's even worse. And the other guys are talking about Quidditch, so I thought it would be much more exciting to come and see my favorite girl," Scorpius said with a grin. He opened the frog and then tossed the card to Jace as he sat down.
"Well I'm flattered," Jace joked.
"As you should be," Scorpius said with a laugh.
The ride continued, and soon they found themselves at King's Cross. The four stood up to get their things. Scorpius grabbed Lily's bag, pulling it down from the overhead compartment. He held it out to her. "Here, Princess."
Lily gave him a small and thankful smile. "Thanks."
The four got off the train, and found themselves amongst the sea of reuniting families. Lola spotted hers immediately, giving Lily a hug and the boys a wave goodbye, before running off to greet them.
Scorpius smirked at the two third years. "Well, I see my family. I'll see you two later."
"Yeah, later, man," Jace told him.
Scorpius turned to Lily and gave her a hug. "Take care, Princess."
"You too," Lily said as she pulled away from the hug.
He walked away, leaving Lily and Jace standing there by themselves. Lily felt slightly awkward. They hadn't been alone together since the kiss. She wondered if he'd say anything.
But Jace only grinned. "Well, I guess I'll see you on the train ride back."
Lily nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I'll see you then."
Almost hesitantly, Jace gave her a short and slightly off, hug. Then he pulled back quickly, and gave a small wave goodbye. Lily stepped away and began walking to where her family usually waited for them all to get off. She found the mass of red hair and loud voices near the exit. Teddy was the first to see her.
"Lily!" he exclaimed. When she was close enough, he wrapped her into a hug, lifting her off the ground.
"Nice to see you too, Teddy," Lily said with a laugh.
Teddy put her back on the ground. Then he apparently got a good look at her face. "Wow! Look at that bruise!"
Lily looked at him in surprise. She'd forgotten all about it. "Oh! Yeah, I took a hit during the last Quidditch game. Nothing big."
Then her mother pulled her into a quick hug. "Are you sure you're ok, honey? It looks like it might hurt."
But Lily just smiled. "Really, it's fine. The only reason I haven't gone to Madam Pomfrey is because it doesn't hurt."
But Ginny didn't look completely assured. "If you're sure," she murmured.
Lily then hugged her dad. "Hi, Daddy," she whispered.
"Hey, princess. You listened to what I said in that letter?" Harry whispered.
Lily felt her stomach churn. She wanted to argue. To say that none of it was her fault. But instead she gulped back every angry word she had and choked out her reply. "Yeah."
Then the families were walking out off the platform, talking of how they would all see each other at the Burrow on Christmas Eve. Then Lily followed her parents to the Apparition point.
"You didn't take the car?" James asked.
"Your father and I were having lunch before we came to get you," Ginny told them, running a hand over James's hair.
"So, we'll be apparating you kids home," Harry said with a smile. "So, grab on." He held out his arm, which Albus grabbed. As he held out his other, Lily moved and took her mother's arm and avoided her father's eyes. James was the one to take their father's other arm. Without a word, Lily felt herself being sucked through the air. She landed on the carpeted floor of the living room, and stumbled forward, her hand letting go of her mother. Ginny grabbed Lily's shoulder, keeping her on her feet.
"Thanks, Mum," Lily said with a sigh.
"No problem, honey," Ginny told her. Lily pulled her shoulder away from her mother's grasp, and began to head for the stairs, pulling her bag with her. She made it upstairs quickly, and dropped her bag onto the floor of her room. She kicked the door shut and locked it. Then she began to take things out of her bag, putting things back where they should be. Then she dropped onto her bed, unsure of what to do. It was getting dark outside, so she was sure that dinner would be ready soon . . . but part of her really didn't want to go outside of her room. She didn't want deal with the glares from Albus, stern looks from her dad, and she didn't want to have to look at the pink scar on James's head that was taking forever to disappear. A knock soon sounded on her door.
"I'll come to dinner in a minute," Lily called out.
She heard the lock click, and the door opened. She turned around to see Teddy poke his head in. "I'm not here to discuss dinner. May I still come in?"
Lily grinned. She rolled onto her stomach, laying her face onto her pillow. "Lock the door once you're in."
She heard the door close and the lock sound. Then she felt weight on the edge of her bed. "Is locking doors a new habit of yours?"
Lily sat up on her bed and looked at her favorite brother. He'd reverted away from his usual look to his original look. His mousy brown hair fell into his eyes, which were a light grey. And his smile was warm as he looked at her. "Just a hobby," Lily joked.
Teddy sighed as he fell onto his back. Lily fell back onto her stomach. "What I came to talk about is your letter. Why do you ask if your father has mentioned anything?"
Lily let out a breath into her pillow. "Because, he sent a letter talking about how he was getting sick of my and the boys' fighting. He made it sound as if I go up to them and start talking trash in their faces. James started that fight on Halloween. I had planned to avoid him," Lily defended.
"And I believe you," Teddy assured. "But your dad hasn't said anything to me about it."
Lily closed her eyes and rested her cheek on her pillow. "Oh. Thanks anyway."
"Is that why you've locked yourself in here?" Teddy asked.
"No, I just don't want to risk being around the boys," Lily muttered.
"Well, if you're worrying about your dad hating how you three fight, I'm not sure this will help," Teddy told her.
"Sure it will. If I lock myself into my room, then we can't fight," Lily explained.
"I think what he wants is for you three to get along better."
"Well, life sucks. He should know that."
Teddy didn't say anything else, so the two laid in a silence. But Lily didn't like how their conversation had ended. "So, are you staying for dinner?"
"Yeah. Victoire's going to be eating at her parents' house with her brother and sister," Teddy told her. "But, how have you been?"
"Promise not to tell anyone?" Lily asked.
"You have my word."
"Well, I went on a date with Lysander."
"Scamander?" She could hear the surprise in his voice.
"Yeah. And we went to Slughorn's party, too," Lily told him.
"So, you two are dating?" he asked.
"No. I basically told him to stay away from me, and I've avoided him since." Lily felt a bit of sadness as she recounted the events in her head.
"Why would you do that?" Teddy questioned. She could feel him shift his position, and she was sure he was trying to get a look at her expression.
"He's too nice. He wants to be with me and be friends with the others. That's impossible. I wasn't going to have him end up being a social pariah just because of me. Besides, we wouldn't have lasted anyway. I'm only thirteen," Lily reasoned.
She heard him sigh. "Lily, you can't let other people's reactions choose what you do or how you live your life. You need to do what makes you happy."
"I am happy," she muttered, although she knew it wasn't completely true. She was happy . . . when she wasn't around her family. When she wasn't around them, it was easier to forget about them.
"I think you just need to haul off and hit your brothers," Teddy told her. She could tell he was smiling.
Lily laughed lightly. "I already did hit Albus. And a friend of mine threw James into the lake."
Teddy laughed too. Then they heard a voice calling. "Kids! Dinner!"
He sighed. "Well, let's go eat." He patted her shoulder.
Lily moved to get up, and she saw him opening the door. "Yeah, I am a little hungry."
"Oh, and, Lily," Teddy spoke as they left her room, "Victoire says that if you want, she'll take you to work with her the day after tomorrow."
Lily smiled brightly as she turned to look at him. "That would be perfect!"
Looks like she was going shopping tomorrow.
************************
Lily held on tightly to Victoire's arm as they apparated into St. Mungo's. But they were in a different room instead of the waiting room that Lily had been expecting. It looked like a locker room of sorts.
"Where . . .," Lily trailed off as she looked around.
"This is where us Healers dress and keep our things," Victoire explained. "I apparate in here because it's quicker. If you want, you can go to whatever level your friend is on."
Lily smiled. "Thanks, Vic. Oh, and I'm excited to hear about the baby."
Victoire smiled as well, only hers made her glow. "Teddy told you? I'm glad, because I've been dying to say this to someone. I am so excited!"
Lily laughed. "I like the idea of being an aunt."
"You think the others will be as happy?" Victoire asked, her teeth scraping along her bottom lip.
Lily gave her an assuring look. "They'll be so happy that they'll burst."
Victoire smiled again, and pulled Lily into a hug. "Thanks, Lily."
"No problem, Vic. I'll see you later," Lily told her.
"I'll come find you," Victoire told her.
Lily left the room, and immediately went to the lift. There was nobody else there, so she went to the second floor alone. She stepped off of the lift and moved down the hall, looking for a certain room number. Finally, she found it.
234.
Looking down at the wrapped present in her hand, Lily took in a deep breath. Then she slowly opened the door and peaked her head in. Duncan didn't look at her, so she stepped in fully. She closed the door and then stepped closer to the bed. The blanket was pulled up to his chin, and his mouth was open, and Lily could hear him pulling in small breaths. He was asleep. Lily sighed, and placed the present onto the bedside table, and then pulled up a chair so she could sit down and wait.
The door opened again, and Lily turned to see a Healer walking in. It was the same from last time . . . what was his name?
The man smiled. "Hello. You're Lily, correct?"
Lily smiled lightly. "Yeah. I'm surprised you remember me."
The man laughed. "Duncan hasn't stopped talking about his new friend. He's told all of us about you, his family included. He was so excited that he had a new friend."
Lily felt a surge of emotion run through her veins. "Really?"
"Really. I'm Gordon, by the way, incase you don't remember," Gordon told her.
"Well, nice to meet you," Lily said. She watched as he came over to the bed, and picked up a few papers on the table the other side. Lily hesitated, but then took the risk. "How is he doing?"
Gordon sighed, which scared Lily. "Not good. His legs aren't reappearing, and his arm is getting worse."
Lily felt her heart pound harder in fear. "What do you mean?"
"See for yourself," he murmured. He pulled the blanket back gently, and Lily gasped. His arm, which had been so discolored the last time she came, was now translucent. She could see the bed through his arm.
"It's going to disappear soon, isn't it," she whispered.
Gordon tucked the blanket back into place. "That's what it looks like. We're estimating that it'll disappear within two weeks time." He looked over the papers, put them down, and gave Lily a half smile. "We're working every day. I'm sure we'll figure it out." But Lily didn't believe his words, and she was sure that he didn't either. Duncan was slowly disappearing from them.
************************
After sitting alone in Duncan's room for almost twenty minutes, Lily felt that she had to get up and move. So she went to the fifth floor and got a cup of hot chocolate. It was hot down her throat, and the taste danced across her tongue. It was soothing, but it didn't make her stop thinking about the possibility of Duncan lacking a future. With her cup, she walked down the stairs to the second floor, taking her time. But when she opened his door, she found that he was sitting up, rubbing his eyes. So she smiled.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Lily teased.
Duncan blinked rapidly as he turned his head to look at her. When he caught sight of her, he smiled. "Lily! You really came!"
Lily giggled as she moved to sit down in the chair. "Of course I did! I promised I would."
Duncan giggled excitedly. "I'm really glad you came." The blanket fell, and Lily could see the translucent arm again. It made her glance down at the blanket that hid his legs, and Lily's stomach flopped at the thought of how they were no longer visible.
Lily pulled up a brave smile. "Well, the reason I came is because I have a surprise for you." Then she took the present off of the table and held it out to him. "Happy Christmas, Duncan."
Duncan gasped in surprise as he took the gift. "Wow! Thanks, Lily!"
"Open it," she urged.
Duncan quickly began to rip off the paper, his face bright with excitement. Then his eyes caught sight of what was beneath the paper. "Wow! Thanks, Lily!" He held up the book that Lily had picked out for, Hogwarts, A History. With his desire to go to Hogwarts, she was sure he'd love it. "It's perfect!"
Lily smiled. "I thought since you couldn't go there, I could bring part of it to you," she told him. "And, I also brought you this." She reached for her jacket and pulled a Chocolate Frog from the pocket. She held it out to him.
Duncan took it with an even brighter smile. "Thanks, Lily! These are the best gifts I've ever gotten!"
Lily blushed a little. "You're very welcome, Duncan. You are my friend, how could I not get you a gift."
Suddenly, Duncan looked a little upset when he looked at her. "Well, you're my friend, . . . but I didn't get you anything."
Lily felt a little tug at her heart. How could she expect this little boy to give her anything when he didn't have much at all? So she just kept smiling. "Duncan, as long as you smile when I visit, you're always giving me a gift."
Duncan looked down at the gifts Lily had given him. Then he looked up at her and smiled. "Ok. Then whenever you see me, I'll be smiling!"
*****************
"So, what are you getting me?" Lola asked with a grin. The two girls were in Diagon Alley, buying presents for their friends together. And to avoid getting the wrong gift, the girls decided to buy each others gifts together as well.
Lily smiled. "Whatever you want. Just tell me when you see it," she told her.
"Well, no worries while we're in this store," Lola muttered. The two girls had stopped in Quality Quidditch Supplies. "Why are we here?" she asked.
"Because Lars really needs some better arm guards. His are almost shredded. That, and he keeps horrible care of his broom, so I thought I'd get him a polishing kit," Lily told her.
"You buy the polishing kit, I'll get the arm guards," Lola suggested.
Lily shrugged. "Perfect. Know what kind to get."
"Ah . . . no. Help me?" Lola pleaded.
Lily laughed. "Sure, come on."
Ten minutes later, the two girls were leaving the store, another bag to add to their collection, which was resting with someone else.
"Teddy!" Lily called. Teddy turned his head from the store window he was looking into and walked over. He had several bags in hands.
"Got more for me to carry?" he asked with a chuckle. Remembering that it was Teddy's day off, she'd been able to rope him into coming shopping with the girls, mainly to carry their things. With one puppy dog look, Teddy couldn't say no.
Lily held out the bag. "Only one."
Teddy took it, placing it into another, bigger, bag. "No problem. Ok, we've been to like ten shops. Are we done?"
"Almost," Lola told him. "We just have to buy each other gifts, and Lily has to get one for Scorpius."
"You still haven't gotten him one?" Teddy asked incredulously.
Lily rolled her eyes. "It's got to be a good one. He always gets me something great, so I can't just get him anything!"
Teddy rolled his eyes this time. "Well I'm sure he's not picky."
"Let's just go," Lily urged.
Teddy nodded. "Where to?"
Lola looked at Lily. "Well, Lil, what do you want?"
Lily bit her lip as she thought. "Well, I do need a different potion book. The one I've got is good, but I've already gone through it a dozen times."
"So, Flourish and Blotts," Lola suggested.
Lily grinned. "Actually, why don't I meet you there? I think I have an idea for Scorpius's present."
Lola shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
"Wait!" Teddy interrupted. "Who am I going with?"
"Go with Lola," Lily told him. "You can help her pick out a book. You know me well enough."
Teddy nodded. "All right. And this way we can talk about you behind your back," he joked.
Lola giggled. "Sounds like a plan."
Lily rolled her eyes again. "Whatever. You both love me," she replied.
"Usually," Lola teased.
Lily just stuck her tongue out at them. "I'll see you two in a bit."
"See you then," Teddy told her.
Lily moved past the other two, and walked toward a store that had caught her eye. Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. She pushed open the door to see that there weren't many people in the store, and only one man behind the counter. She moved further into the store and began to look at the different things on the shelves. There were many different things, telescopes, books, different quills, and various other things. Then she found something interesting. It was a studded bracelet, but the tag was what caught her attention.
"A shield that fits on your wrist! This bracelet will protect you from any and all minor jinxes and hexes, insuring your absolute safety from those irritating foes."
Lily picked the bracelet up. It was obviously something for a kid at school, but that's what Scorpius was. And since James and Albus had habits of picking fights with him . . .
Lily brought the bracelet to the counter. "I'll take it."
Lily had a very small bag this time as she walked into Flourish and Blotts. She could see Teddy's bright green hair on the second floor, so she began to walk up the stairs. They were both looking at a shelf, and Lola was running her fingers over a dozen book spines.
"Find one, yet?" Lily asked.
Lola and Teddy turned to look at her. Teddy grinned. "Yes, thanks to my knowledge of all that is you."
Lola rolled his eyes. "Teddy found one that only someone of age can buy, so he was sure that you would love it."
Lily smiled. "He's right. I would."
Lola laughed. "Good, because I already gave him the money, and he already bought it." She pulled a book out of a bag and held it out to her. "Happy Christmas, Lil."
Lily took the book and examined it. Potions of Life and Death. "Thank you, Lola," she said, placing the book back into the bag. Then she handed her new bag to Teddy.
"What did you find?" Lola asked.
"A bracelet that wards off hexes and jinks. I thought Scorpius would find some use of it," Lily replied.
"He does get into a lot of fights," Lola agreed.
"Decided what you want?" Lily asked as they began to leave the store.
"No," Lola muttered with a sigh.
"Well, you always talk about wanting to dye your hair so that it's one simple color," Lily suggested.
Lola looked as if she were really considering it. "That's not a bad idea. Maybe then the idiot will shut his mouth."
"So, is that what you want?" Lily asked.
Lola smiled. "Sure."
"Then off to find your present," Lily said with a smile.
********************
Lily sat on the floor of the Burrow's sitting room, her back against the arm of the couch. It was Christmas Eve, and she was dreadfully bored. She'd sent her friends' gifts, and had received the gifts from them. But her grandmother had refused to let any of the kids open the presents their friends sent them. So she was sitting there, avoiding the others, who were all sitting around the room, talking loudly and laughing. She hated it when her grandmother demanded that they all 'play' together.
"Hey, Lil," Louis greeted with a sigh. Lily looked up at him. He was sitting on the couch, and he looked really spaced out.
"Hey, Louis. What's up? I haven't seen you all year practically," Lily asked.
Louis didn't look at her, but he shrugged. "Sorry. I've had a lot on my mind."
"Like what? Something wrong?" Lily wondered.
Louis scowled, but he didn't look angry. Just thoughtful. "Kind of . . . but I don't want to talk about it."
Lily sighed. "Are you sure? I mean, you always let me vent, so the least I could do is listen to you."
Louis's eyes scanned the people in the room. "Well, I don't want to talk about it here."
"Wanna go for a walk?" Lily suggested.
Louis finally looked at her, and gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Lil."
Lily smiled back. "No problem. Come on."
Louis stood up. "I'll tell the adults where we're going."
Lily nodded, and moved to slip on her shoes and coat. Louis soon came back into the room and put on his jacket and shoes as well. Lily wrapped her scarf around her neck, and Louis pulled on his hat. He opened the door. "Ladies first."
Lily giggled. "Why thank you." She walked out into the cold and the snow. Louis followed her, and the two began to trudge through the snow.
"So, I heard about you and Lysander," Louis mentioned.
Lily looked at him in surprise. "Really? How?"
Louis chuckled. "He's in my House, remember? He came to talk to me about you."
Lily tried not to scoff. "Well, don't let him bug you."
"He doesn't," Louis assured. "But, are you ok?"
Lily waved it off. "I'm fine. I'm a little sad that it's over, but I think that it's best." Then she looked at him. "But, enough trying to sidetrack me. What's up with you?"
Louis stopped walking, so Lily stopped as well. He looked out onto the horizon, that thoughtful scowl making a reappearance. "Lil, do you ever feel like . . . like there's something wrong with you?"
Lily looked at him weirdly. "What are you getting at, Louis?"
He closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. "I think that there's something . . . different about me. Not wrong, but . . . different."
"Like what?" Lily asked. She was beginning to get worried. Was he sick? Her thoughts traveled to Duncan. Surely . . . surely Louis would have said something earlier.
He opened his eyes, but he still didn't look at her. "Lil . . ." his voice trailed off.
"You're not . . . sick, are you?" Lily asked hesitantly.
Louis shook his head, and Lily felt relief flood through her. "No, I'm not sick."
"Then what is it?" Lily questioned gently.
Louis tilted his head back, a large gush of air leaving his lungs. "Lily, I'm gay."
Lily stared at Louis in a stunned silence. Gay? What did she say now? "Um, . . . wow," she muttered.
Louis nodded, finally looking at her. "Yeah, I know."
"Louis, are you sure?" Lily asked. "I mean, that's quite a statement for a fourteen-year-old."
"Fifteen," he corrected. "My birthday passed, remember?"
"Ok, fifteen," Lily replied. "I mean, that's still young. Are you sure?"
Louis blew out a breath. "Look, Lil, if you can't accept it-,"
"No!" Lily exclaimed. "No, it's not that! If you are, then I completely support you. I just want to make sure that you're positive about this."
He sighed. "Lily, there's a guy that I'm attracted to. Physically and romantically," he told her.
"Oh," Lily murmured. "Yeah, that would make you think that."
Louis scoffed. "Tell me about it."
Lily gulped. "Well, ok then. Have you told anyone else?"
Louis shook his head. "No, you're the first. It took me awhile to . . . figure it out for myself. But I'm pretty sure about this. I mean, this may sound personal, but I've never been attracted to a girl. Physically . . . there's nothing," he muttered.
Lily blushed. "Oh." Then she shivered. "Um, can we go to the shed, I'm freezing?"
Louis nodded. "Yeah, Grandpa's in the house anyway."
The two walked to the shed in silence. Lily's mind was spinning. Of all the things Louis could have told her, him being gay was the last thing she expected. Not that she'd expected him to be some player . . . but Louis was just Louis. She was starting to give herself a headache.
Louis closed the shed door behind them, and Lily shed her coat and scarf. Their grandpa always made sure that it was warm in the shed, but it felt hot now. Louis was doing the same.
"So, you've never found a girl pretty?" Lily asked. She sat on the old couch that was left in the shed.
Louis sat down next to her. "Well, I know that girls are pretty, but they hold no appeal. I like being friends with girls, but they don't hold any romantic or physical appeal. They're just . . . girls!" he told her.
"And you're attracted to someone?" Lily inquired.
Louis nodded. "Yeah. For a few months now."
Lily smiled. "Well, who is he?"
Louis grinned. "Don't get excited. It's Paul Bradley. My best friend, who is completely straight."
Lily tried to remember Paul. She'd met him a few times, from when she'd hung out with Louis. She remembered light brown hair and dark eyes. He was funny, and he was often smiling. "Well, maybe it's just because you know what kind of guy he is that you're attracted to him romantically," Lily suggested.
"Lil, I had a wet dream about him," Louis muttered with a blush.
Lily blushed harder. "Oh. Ok, so you like your best friend. That's not a crime. But, attractions come and go. Feelings change. Perhaps yours will too."
Louis dropped his head onto the back of the couch. "Part of me wants the feelings to leave . . . but the other part of me wants him to feel the same. I hate that it's impossible."
"Well, it's not impossible," Lily reasoned.
"Just improbable," Louis sighed. "What do I do, Lil?" he groaned.
Lily bit her lip. "I don't know. You can ignore it, or you can confront him about it."
"I don't want to lose my best friend," Louis muttered. "And telling him that he stars in my dreams just might make him run."
Lily reached up and smoothed his hair down comfortingly. "If you think that's what will happen, then I guess all you can do is ignore the feelings."
Louis groaned again and dropped his head down onto her shoulder. "Hormones suck," he muttered.
Lily placed her hand on his head, stroking his hair. "Yeah. Yeah, they do."
That night, Lily laid on the floor, her mind replaying her and Louis's talk in her head. Attracted to his best friend. Lily guessed that she could sympathize. She would call Scorpius one of her best friends, and she was attracted him. How could she not be? She closed her eyes, just wanting to sleep and forget everything . . . for now.
**********************
"Wake up, Lil!" Lily groaned at the sound of a voice so close to her ear. "Sis, wake up!"
Lily opened her eyes slowly, trying to focus on the view of Teddy's face hovering over hers. "What?" she groaned.
"Time for breakfast. Then we can open presents," Teddy told her. "So get up!" he urged.
Lily sighed, and slowly kicked off her blanket. She got up, and she and Teddy maneuvered around the pillows and blankets that littered the floor. "They need to expand this house. The floor is getting too crowded," Lily muttered.
"I'm just glad that me and Vic are adults. We get a bed," Teddy laughed.
"You know, if it wasn't for a bed, you two wouldn't have to be announcing a pregnancy today," Lily mocked.
Teddy laughed. "You got me there." The two dropped the subject as they walked into the crowded kitchen and took their seats at the table. But they weren't far into their plates when their grandfather gained everyone's attention.
"Look, kids," Arthur address, "I've already told your parents this, so I thought that I should tell you as well."
"Tell us what, Grandpa?" Roxanne asked.
"That I plan on retiring next year," Arthur told them.
"What?" Rose exclaimed.
"But you're not even that old, Grandpa!" Roxanne argued.
"You're like in the prime of your life!" James told him.
Arthur raised a hand to quiet everyone's words. Lily just watched. After all, he'd told her this awhile ago. "I've been thinking about this for a while, and I think it's time. I've been through a lot in life, and I'd like to take the rest of my life to relax. I think I've earned it."
Victoire reached out and took his hand. "Of course you have, Grandpa. But are you sure?"
Arthur patted her hand. "I'm sure."
Teddy cleared his throat. "Well, um . . . since we're dispensing big news now," Victoire's head whipped around to look at Teddy, "I think there's something that everyone should know."
"Is now the time?" Victoire asked. Lily could see the panic in her eyes.
Teddy placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think now is the perfect time."
Victoire stared at him as everyone looked at the couple with curiosity. Finally, Victoire sighed and looked at the rest of the family. "Well, um . . . it turns out that Teddy and I are going to have a baby."
After a quick moment of shocked silence, the family burst into excitement and happiness at the news. Grandma Molly had tears in her eyes, and Victoire's mother was crying. Lily just smiled, watching the excitement unfold. Louis, who was sitting next to her, nudged her elbow.
"I get the feeling that you knew?" he whispered.
"How'd you guess?" Lily whispered back.
"Well, you don't look surprised."
"Teddy wrote to me once they found out," Lily explained.
"Can't blame him. You're the perfect person to confide in," Louis complimented.
"How do you go that long without telling anybody?" Angelina asked with a smile.
"Well, Teddy wrote Lily and told her. It was a relief that somebody knew," Victoire said with a sigh.
"Well, I knew Lil would keep the secret," Teddy told them.
"And since I did, I call being the godmother," Lily teased.
Teddy grinned. "Totally. You got it."