Love The Heartless

Chapter Nineteen

February 20th, 1971

Aurora paced back and forth in her chambers. She had hardly seen Carina all week.
Did she mean it as a date? I'm not looking to date anyone. Fuck, I'm not ready to date anyone. 

Aurora paused, wincing as a knock echoed throughout the room.
"Come in."

"Good afternoon, Professor Nott." Carina smiled sweetly at her as she closed the heavy wooden door behind her.
"Hello, Professor Lewis. How was your first week?" Aurora motioned for the other Professor to sit down, and began pouring tea.
"Eventful. These students are very loyal to you."

"What do you mean?" Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"They weren't very excited to have a new teacher. They don't seem to trust me."
"They didn't trust me too much either at first." Aurora smiled softly, handing Carina her tea. "I had just graduated the year before, and many of the older students wondered what I could teach them. But it doesn't help that they haven't had a defense teacher last longer than a year for the past couple of years."

"Why is that?" 
"Not sure." Aurora shrugged. "I remember it started a few years ago. I think I was in my second year. Since then, nobody has lasted a year in the position."
"Odd..." Carina trailed off.

"So, did you have anything in particular that you wanted to review?"
"Yes. So the seventh years were asking about unforgivable curses."

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"So, you seem to know quite a bit about me." Aurora sipped her lukewarm tea. "What about you?"
"What do you want to know?" Carina leaned back in the armchair she had occupied.
"How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-five. I did a few years in muggle uni after leaving Beauxbatons."
"You went to a muggle university?" Aurora asked incredulously.

"I wanted a change. I couldn't think of anything else that I wanted to do with my life at that point, so I applied and got in." Carina shrugged.
"That's wicked. What did you study?"

"Education. Also art history. But I always knew that I wanted to be an educator of some sort. Oh, Merlin. I didn't realize the time!" 

Aurora looked to the clock, and was shocked to see that it was almost curfew. Had they really been at this all day?

"I apologize for taking your whole day, Aurora." Carina began gathering papers, placing them in her bad.
"It's quite alright. I had a lovely time."

"Then maybe," Carina paused. "Maybe we could do this again?"
"I think that I'd quite like that." Aurora smiled as Carina beamed at her happily.

"Mum! I need to talk-" Andromeda burst into the room breathlessly, pausing when she saw Carina standing there.
"'Dromeda? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Aurora rushed to the younger witch's side, checking her over.
"I-I need to talk to you." Andromeda had tears rolling down her face.

"Carina, I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" Aurora shot her an apologetic look.
"Of course. Miss Black." Carina nodded as she passed the two witches, shutting the door behind her.

"Andromeda, what's wrong? What happened?" Aurora led her to the sofa, sitting her down.
"I need you to promise that you won't get mad, or hate me." Andromeda's lip wobbled.
"Sweet girl, I could never hate you." Aurora rubbed her daughter's back gently. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant." Andromeda whispered.
Aurora's hand that was rubbing her back paused momentarily.
"You're pregnant." Aurora said slowly.

"We were being careful, I promise. We were using the spell and Ted even used some muggle rubber things to be extra sure." Andromeda refused to meet Aurora's eyes.
"You're pregnant." Aurora repeated.

"Mum, please say something else." Andromeda begged, tears in her eyes.
"Do you, um, do you want to be pregnant?" Aurora asked carefully.

"I..." Andromeda trailed off. "It's not ideal. But I want this baby."
"Alright then. Have you told Ted yet?" Aurora stood, making her way to her kitchen.
"No, I just found out. I was throwing up this morning, so I went to the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey found it. I'm four weeks."

"You need to tell Ted." Aurora poured her daughter a cup of tea, bringing it to her. "He deserves to know. Then, we'll take you to Saint Mungo's, and get you started on some prenatal stuff."
"Mum, are you mad?" Andromeda finally met Aurora's eyes, and she could see the fear in the younger witch's eyes.

"Mad? No. Is it ideal? Also no. But, this is your life, and your decision. I will support whatever decision you make. Whether you decide to keep this child, or not. Although, I would prefer that you and Ted be married before the child makes his or her appearance."
"Thank you, Mum." Andromeda set her tea down, engulfing Aurora in a tight hug.
"I've got you, kiddo. I promise."

"Can you sit with me as I tell Ted?"
"If you want me to. Although, I feel as though that should be something you two should do alone. But I will be here if you want me to."
"Please, stay." Andromeda begged.

"Alright, want me to call him?" 
"Please."  

"Posey!" Aurora called. Immediately, a small house elf appeared in front of the two witches.
"Yes, Miss Aurora?" The elf bowed.

"Posey, I've asked you to just call me Aurora," She scolded gently. "And you don't have to bow."
"Yes, Mis- Aurora. How can Posey be helping?"

"Would you mind bringing Ted Tonks to my office, please?"
"Yes, Posey will be bringing Ted Tonks!" Posey snapped, disapparating.

"Now, here is what's going to happen." Aurora turned to her daughter. "I will be leaving the room. I will just be in my bedroom. You two can shout if I'm needed, but this is absolutely  something you should speak about alone." 
"Yes, Mum." Andromeda nodded weakly.

"It'll be alright, love." Aurora patted her hand, and stood, making her way to her bedroom.

"Posey has brought Ted Tonks!" Posey exclaimed as she popped back into the room, gripping onto Ted's hand.
"Thank you, Posey." Aurora nodded, walking into her room, as Ted began questioning why he was there.

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Aurora sat by the fire in her bedroom. It had been quiet since she walked in an hour ago. She wondered if they had both left, or if they had both fainted.
Aurora stood, quietly making her way towards the door, creaking it open slowly.

"And you're sure? You're sure you're pregnant? Ted asked, pacing back and forth.
"Yes, Ted. Madam Pomfrey said so." Andromeda rubbed her face.

"Bloody hell." 
"Please, say something else. You've said that fifty times in the past hour."
"I-I don't really know what to say, 'Dromeda."
"Are you going to leave us?" Andromeda asked softly.

Aurora paused, waiting for Ted's answer.

"What?" Ted's head shot up, looking at the young witch.
"Are you going to leave us?" Andromeda repeated.

"Of course not!" Ted moved, kneeling before his future wife. "I bloody love you, Andromeda Black. I love the both of you, so, so much."
Andromeda burst into tears, reaching forward and wrapping her arms around the boy.

Aurora smiled, quietly retreating back to her room.