Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Thirty Four

"Charlotte?" Draco Black knocked softly on the door as he poked his head into the twin's room.
"What" the girl sighed, rolling her eyes at her DADA professor.
"What's going on, your mother and I thought you'd be excited to have a baby sister?" Draco asked tentatively, waiting patiently whilst she considered her response.
"Why would my mum need to have another baby? She already has me and Willow."
"It isn't about us needing to have a baby, we just... Wanted to, your mother and I both love you girls and Scorpius but I brought up the idea of having a child together and, after a lot of thought, she agreed so we looked into muggle artificial insemination methods." He explained carefully,
"But... What does this mean for me?"
"Other than you'll be a big sister?" she nodded, "nothing. Your mother will still be your mother, you and Willow will still be twins, nothing else will change other than there will be a baby in our lives. A baby that you get to play with and teach the things that only you could teach her, right?"
"I guess so... Okay... Thank you" She smiled at him shyly.

"Mumma?" Willow called out, wandering into her mother's bedroom.
"Hey there Wills" Erica smiled sadly, reaching out her hand for her daughter. Willow accepted it, climbing under the blankets besides her mother and leaning against her shoulder lightly, taking a moment to hug her tightly before speaking.
"You know Lottie doesn't mean anything by it mum, she's just... well, you know.." She shrugged awkwardly, unsure how to put it into words. Erica chuckled at her eldest daughter, lightly squeezing her closer and nodding knowingly in agreement before turning her attention to Willow,
"But what about you, Willa, what do you think about having a baby sister?"
"It's a girl?" Willow asked, smiling up at her mother in excitement who nodded, "I'm actually kind of excited mum, do you have any names?"
"Draco and I have discussed it a little and we like Juniper but we haven't settled on anything for certain yet" explained mother quietly.
"Juniper?" She asked, Erica nodded again "I like it, It's very pretty"

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"This is perfect, Dray" Erica Black smiled brightly, "The whole house is beautiful, I can feel the magic in the walls and the library, Merlin's beard..."
"I knew you'd love it" He grinned, "Can I put an offer in?" She nodded enthusiastically, throwing herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Yes! Oh Merlin, yes let's do it. The girl's will absolutely adore this place." she gushed.

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Willow Elladora Black sat in the empty bathtub of Willow cottage with the bathroom door locked, she was writing in the book her Godfather had given her.

Teddy,
Mum and Professor Malfoy are doing good..
They want us to move house, Lottie is really mad about it but
Mum told me the new house has a library so I'm kind of
excited, even if I'm sad to be leaving our home..
Speaking of being excited, I'm not supposed to tell anyone
this yet but Mum's pregnant... Again, Lottie's kind of one the
fence about it but I'm excited to have a baby sister.
Love,
Willow E. Black

Willa,
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you told me, your secret is
safe with me. Lottie will come around, she always does. I think
you're right, these are things to be excited about. I know change
can be really scary but having a library in your house sounds like
something worth getting excited about! I will see you soon.
Love,
Teddy R. Lupin

She smiled, closing the book and hugging it to her chest. She was glad she could confide in Teddy, he always knew what to say to her, she absentmindedly rubbed her fingertips together as she took a moment to collect her thoughts before climbing out of the bath and heading back to the room she shared with her twin.

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"I don't know Eri, are you sure about this? We could pay someone to do this for us... This is a big house, are you sure you want to decorate it all on your own?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I have magic Dray, it'll take no time at all" she laughed
"It's three floors, one of which I don't even know what we are going to do with" he reiterated uncertainly, shooting his wife a disapproving look, she merely smiled and shrugged at him, "I was thinking some study spaces and then guest quarters"
"You want to turn that massive space into... guest quarters?" He laughed out loud, this was supposed to be a family home, not a hotel.
"Dray..." She sighed, "Have you seen the size of our family?"
He hesitated briefly, thinking back to Easter Sunday, "Okay, that's a good point." "What about the girls' room?" She wiggled excitedly, knowing he was slowly getting on board.
"Easy. Willow hates change and this is already a big enough one. We will keep it simple, similar to what we already have but new enough to keep Lottie happy" Draco Black scoffed at her relaxed tone, "You say that like it's simple," he smirked "Okay, well I'll leave you to it" he sighed.
"Wait, Dray?" He hummed his acknowledgement, turning back to face his wife, "You remember how we were discussing middle names for Juniper?" again, he hummed for her to continue, "Well.. I was thinking about it and," she hesitated, "What about Eurydice? Scorpius once mentioned it was his mother's middle name and it's always been once of my favourite stories, Orpheus and Eurydice.." she smiled shyly up at Draco who was looking at her already, an expression of stunned adoration on his face.
"Juniper Eurydice.." He smiled as the name left his lips, taking his time almost as if he were savouring the way it felt on his tongue, "Are you sure, you want to name our baby after Astoria?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I? Besides, like I said, I already fell in love with the name the moment I thought of it, I have my own ties to the name" She shrugged as if it were no big deal but Draco knew this was a deliberate act of love from his wife, even if she'd deny it till the day she died.