Nine months

March

A surprising babysitter

"Miss? Would it be ok if you took Evie for a few hours while I go and help out at the defence classes?" I pleaded McGonagall. I didn't feel comfortable leaving her with anyone, but if I had to pick, the mothering head of Gryffindor seemed like a good pick. 

"I can't!" she replied, throwing her hands up and she searched around her quarters for her shoes. "I promised I'd help out too- keep an eye on it, we needed at least one responsible adult."

"But who can I leave my three-week-old baby with?" I wailed. "Harry seems to be under the impression that I can just drop everything and help out at his stupid class like I don't have enough to be doing! What doe he expect me to do, wrap her up in a blanket and hope that she doesn't get hit with a stunning spell?"

"Try Madame Pomferey" she replied, and I handed her her shoes. "She's got the most experience with babies."

We were both already late and ended up hurrying to the great hall, so there wasn't enough time to take a detour to the Infirmary- it wouldn't do for the deputy heads to be late. 

"Professor Snape!" I shouted, breathlessly unwrapping the bundle in my arms and handing it over to the terrified looking potions professor. "Can you take Evie to Madame Pomferey, please? We're late for something."

"What- do I look like the Night bus" he grumbled, adjusting his grip so that Evie laid comfortably on his arm. We thanked him and slipped into the hall, where about a hundred students were crowded around the far end. I could see the top of Ron's head, plus Neville's and Ginny, and quickly took my place behind Harry.

"Thank you all so much for coming!" shouted Harry over the crowd, who immediately quietened. "Welcome to the first self-defence class! Everybody partner up, did everyone bring wands?"

There was a general murmur, and the class began. I was first partnered up with Maisie, who had sought me out almost immediately, and we practised a few basic shield charms against harmless tickling charms so that no one got knocked out within the first few minutes.

The rest of the morning followed up with perfecting shield charms, learning Expelliarmus, and attempting a Patronus, though Harry assured us that he didn't expect us to be able to do that one yet. 

"But nothing's happening!" wailed Maisie, waving her wand randomly.

"You've got to think of a happy thought" I assured her. "You won't be able to do this spell for years yet-"

"Expecto patronum!" she cried, almost in tears. Her wand rattled in her hand, her arm falling uselessly by her side.

"Maisie!" I said sharply, grabbing her hand with her wand in and steadying it. "Don't beat yourself up over it! I can't even do this spell sometimes, the only person I know who's ever done it is Harry, and he's been training for years! And you're only eleven!"

"But what if I get attacked by a dementor?"

"Then you find someone who can cast one" I replied calmly. "And cast a shield charm over yourself. Stay calm, they could pick up on it, and you'll be fine. There are barely any dementors outside of Azkaban anyway."

"What's your happiest memory, Maisie?" asked Harry, handing Dennis Creevey over to Neville. 

"I don't have many" she replied quietly. "It should be at Hogwarts because being a witch is cool, but I haven't settled in enough yet, or had time to create many happy memories."

"Who said it had to be when you realized you were a witch?" said Harry, which was decent of him, considering his own history with Muggles. 

She smiled, thinking of something, and took a moment to compose herself before repeating "Expecto Patronum!"