Jupiter | Harry Potter

post-war ; the wedding

September 2002

   The crisp September morning carried a hint of autumn, the air cool enough to warrant a light sweater but still warm enough to feel the lingering kiss of summer. The sun shone brightly, spilling golden light across the Burrow's sprawling garden, where the final wedding preparations were underway.

Inside the guest room, Hermione and Ginny were on a mission to get Jupiter out of bed, though the bride-to-be didn't seem particularly eager to oblige.

"Good morning!" Hermione's bright voice rang out as she yanked the heavy blanket off Jupiter.

Ginny, with a wicked grin, ripped open the curtains, letting in an obnoxious stream of sunlight. The golden rays lit up Jupiter's face, forcing her to groan and bury herself under a pillow.

"Two more hours," Jupiter mumbled, her voice muffled. Her arm flung out beside her instinctively, and her heart clenched for a brief moment when it didn't land where Harry usually was. Then, of course, she remembered: idiotic tradition had them sleeping apart the night before the wedding.

"Two more hours and you'll be late for your own wedding," Ginny teased, flopping onto the bed beside her with a laugh. "Come on, Jupiter, this is your day!"

"Is it really my day if I'm forced to start it before sunrise?" Jupiter grumbled, peeking out from under her pillow to squint at her friends.

Hermione huffed, already gathering clothes and straightening up the mess around the room. "Honestly, Jove, you and Harry live in chaos. How do you function in this?" She dumped a pile of clothes into a hamper, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"I know exactly how they function," Ginny said smugly, her gaze flicking to something behind Jupiter. "For instance... why's your headboard broken?"

Jupiter sat up abruptly, glancing at the tilted wood behind her. Her lips twitched as she tried and failed to hold back a laugh. "I think you can guess why."

Ginny howled with laughter, doubling over as Hermione turned crimson. "Merlin's beard, Jove! Harry wasn't supposed to be in here last night! You know the rule—no seeing each other after midnight!"

"Relax, Hermione," Jupiter said between giggles. "We didn't break the rule! I kicked him out before midnight, promise."

Hermione covered her face with her hands. "I don't need to know the details!" she groaned. "Just get up! You're getting married in a few hours, and I will not let you look like you just crawled out of bed—which, let's be honest, you did!"

Jupiter groaned dramatically but finally tossed the pillow aside. "Fine, I'm up!"

But as soon as she swung her legs off the bed, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She froze, gripping the edge of the mattress as the room spun slightly.

"Whoa," Ginny said, steadying her. "You alright?"

Jupiter swallowed hard, willing her stomach to settle. "I...don't feel so good," she whispered. Before anyone could respond, she bolted for the bathroom.

Ginny and Hermione ran after her, entering the bathroom to see Jupiter hunched over the toilet, her face pale and her coughs loud. "Holy shit, dude, are you pregnant?" Ginny gawked, causing Jupiter's eyes to shoot up to her, widening farther than she thought possible.

"Ginny, why would you say that?" Hermione gasped, a hand going to her heart. "Obviously not, because Jove's on birth control!"

Jupiter's stomach gave another violent lurch, and she wretched again, the sound echoing in the small bathroom. Hermione rushed to her side, holding her hair back and murmuring soothing words. Ginny hovered nearby, looking increasingly panicked.