A Love Like This

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, the entire world seemed to be in a rush of holiday happiness. Fred was already up and dressing himself in the room, waiting for me to wake up. We were going to meet with the others at the Three Broomsticks for butterbeer and a quick breakfast before we all split off.

I sat up in the bed and he turned to look at me, a smile on his face as he climbed onto the bed and pulled me into a kiss. "Well, hello there, gorgeous. Did you sleep well?"

"I did, after that horrible dream," I said. "Did- did everyone really stay in here last night? Did I dream that up too?"

"No, you didn't dream that, love. The room was full."

My heart warmed at the thought. Everyone stayed in the room with us last night because they were worried about me. They wanted to make sure I felt safe.

"Well, I'll have to thank them all then."

"I love the way you look in my shirts, beautiful, but I recommend getting dressed soon. I'm sure everyone will want to be leaving."

"My clothes aren't fitting me anymore," I stood up and opened the door to the wardrobe. "I tried some of them on over the break. While you were gone. My shirts are all too small and my pants are painfully tight."

"Well, all the more reason for you to wear my clothes then, huh?" He looked through his section of the wardrobe but made a confused look. "Where have all my sweaters gone?"

"Oh, these?" I opened the small hamper in the back of the room. "I wore them all while you were gone. So I had them washed."

"Aw, now they don't smell like you," He set the hamper on the bed and started hanging up his sweaters. I managed to snag one of them to wear. I pulled the shirt of his I was wearing off and softly gasped, feeling his hands on my skin. They were on either side of my stomach.

I looked down to see his smile just before he kissed my stomach, then he stood back up and pulled me in. "You should let me see this little one's bump a lot more. It makes me so much more excited to have them."

"Maybe I will," I looked up at him. "God, I feel so lucky to have you as this baby's father."

He blushed and lifted my chin to kiss me. "My beautiful girlfriend, you will make a wonderful mother."

We finished getting dressed, then we layered on some coats, scarves, and hats, and gloves. Fred asked me if I was warm enough. I had to pull the scarf down from my face to answer him, making him laugh.

As we were the last ones out of the house, he locked the front door and we left. I looked up at the snow falling gently from the sky and smiled. "It's so beautiful."

"That it is," He said, then stopped. "Wait- how are we getting to Hogsmeade?"

"Oh, easy," I removed my gloves and whistled loudly and a beautiful black hippogriff came soaring through the air. She screeched in excitement when she saw me. She landed rather gracefully and walked right up to me, nuzzling her beak into my cheek. I laughed and pulled back, petting her face gently. "Well, hello there, gorgeous! You've gotten so big! I forgot how fast you guys grow."

"You know her?" Fred asked. "Hagrid's class wasn't it?"

"Yeah," I took his hand. "Here. I've never known what to call her, how about Pepper?"

She nodded in agreement, a soft chirp left her. She then looked at Fred in anticipation.

"She's very gentle. It's the males who are haughty. You shouldn't have to bow for her or anything," I placed Fred's hand on her neck. He pet her gently and she leaned into his touch. "Pepper, this is Fred. He's my partner. We need a favor from you. Do you think you could give us a ride to Hogsmeade?"