Feint Potter

Nine

Fred's POV:

"Are you sure that she's ok with staying here honey? It seems like shes upset by it. ."

"It's not that, i promise. She's been feeling like that for a few weeks come to think of it. .but no. She understands that we're here to help her brother when he needs it."

Mom sighed before she turned her back on me to stir the pot that was bubbling on the stove, the smell of stewed meat and potatoes made my stomach growl.

"If you're sure. . do the two of you have wedding plans yet? You've been engaged for awhile now."

She poked a wooden spoon into the pot and i couldnt help but laugh at how tense her shoulders got when she asked, no doubt she was remembering my older brother Bill's wedding.

"We've talked about it, neither of us want to do that until this is all over for good though. Dont worry, we've made some decent galleons and what not with the joke shop so you wont have to put anything into it."

She went to say something else but a high pitch squeal interrupted her, she turned her head to look at me and i just shrugged my shoulders.

"Ill go check on her."

I turned around and walked out of the kitchen but i didnt have to go too far, Rose all but smacked into me rounding the corner; her cheeks were pink and there was a hint of tears in her eyes.

"Ah, mind following me for a sec?"

"Sure?"

Rose grabbed my left wrist and pulled me closer to the bathroom before she turned on me and let me go, she held one hand behind her back and her eyes were glistening with fresh tears.

"Are you ok Rose? We both heard a noise-"

"Yeah, yeah. . we're . . we're fine."

"We?"

Rose wiped her wrist across both of her eyes before she brought her other hand around and i could see the little piece of plastic laying across her palm.

. . . she cant be pregnant. . not now. . . not me. .

"All the times i couldnt eat meat? All the weird crying? Im pregnant Fred. You're going to be a father. Im going to be a mother."

She held the plastic up and i blanched at the two little blue lines on the tiny window and my brain stopped working when she folded both of her hands over her belly.

"Fred? Did you hear what I said? You're going to be a father."

Rose tried to touch my hand to her belly but i just jerked it away reflexively and took a few steps back, her face fell a little and the corners of her mouth were twitching like she was about to cry.

"Are you not happy?..."

"I dont know. . let me think about it ok? This kinda. . popped up out of nowhere. I need to be alone."

Rose's POV:

(January)

"Im off to work with George, dont wait up for us."

Fred waved over his shoulder before he left the Burrow without so much as looking at me over his shoulder and i set my spoon down by my plate, nauseated before he even slammed the door.

"Er. . . Molly?"

I curled a hand over my belly under the table while she set her cup of tea down and tilted her head to the side; so far in my pregnancy i hadnt told anyone else, but Fred had refused to touch me ever since.

"Yes dear?"

"Can i. . do you think Bill would mind if i stayed over at his cottage for the afternoon? Id go back home if i could. ."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Im sure neither of them would mind, but i have to ask, what makes you want to leave?"

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes but i bit down on my lower lip to keep my composure, a method that was sure to be deemed useless in the next few seconds.

"I dont think Fred loves me anymore."

"What makes you say that? You two seem so perfect for one another."

"Well. . . remember when i got sick at Christmas? I. . Fred's refused to have anything to do with me ever since then because. . . i found out that im pregnant."

The tears were already spilling over before i looked up at her, expecting her to be mad, but the only emotion i could read seemed to be a strange glint in her eyes. I waited for her to speak but she was still silent after i counted to two hundred heart beats.

"So. . . so i thought that maybe i should leave even if it's permanently. ."

I got to my feet and tried to hobble over to the fireplace where they kept a pot of Floo Powder handy but she jumped back to lofe just as my fingers made purchase on the faded pot.

"Let me come with you, Bill may be at work."

*

"Right you are, the heartbeat sounds healthy."

Molly smiled while i pulled my shirt down and she looked back at Bill, his wife was tinkering away in a small garden at the front of the cottage.

"I had to see it for myself to know that it was true, i guess that makes you a grandmother now huh mum?"

Molly smacked Bill on the back of his head and all but hissed while i settled back onto the couch and nervously sipped at some chilled spiced pumpkin juice.

"Dont remind me, and dont let your brother show up here until after im done. Im off to have a conversation with him."

Molly flashed me a warm smile before she stomped out of the front door and i flinched when the door slammed, leaving me alone woth Bill; he just looked at me with pure kindness in his eyes that made me feel even worse.

I need to get away from the whole family..

"So have you thought of any names yet? I take it my brother's been an asshole since you told him right?"

I twirled the ring on my left hand until it came off and just weighed it on my palm, sure that Bill could read my thoughts just off my facial expressions alone.