A/N: This is the second chapter posted today, please read ch. 25 first!
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Come Back Around
St. Mungo's
Friday night
Marissa held down the fort, again while Harry and Hermione went to get something to eat.
So far, Brian remained asleep with his fever down to 102 but, he was still breathing shallowly, not enough to require intervention, but enough that the Healers set up an alarm to ring them upfront if his breathing fell below a certain rate per minute. Marissa held his hand, like she had the previous day and just talked to him. She told him about her boring day, the brief run in she had with Arnold, how Cassandra was trying to find a wedding dress already and was thinking of having Lavender and Samantha design one so she could wear the dress of her dreams.
"Pretty much my day was uneventful…as yours seems to be," Marissa pressed the cold cloth on his head that was there when she arrived three hours earlier. She watched the Muggle IV drip into his arm since he wouldn't wake up enough to drink any liquids. Rubbing her finger across his knuckles she stood up, leaned over and kissed his cheek, swearing she felt him squeeze her hand a bit longer than his normal muscle twitches.
"I felt that, Brian…," Marissa whispered near his ear looking down where her hand was holding his. "Everyone would really like to see you wake up." She pressed her lips next to his ear and was rewarded with a slight squeeze then he relaxed and she could see him breathing deeper and more evenly than before.
"That's it Brian, rest…but wake up soon, too." She jumped a bit as the door opened, but she left her hand under his and made it look like she was turning the cloth over instead of kissing him. That's all Harry and Hermione needed was to see her kissing him when they left her alone with their son.
"How's he doing?" Harry asked, his face looking tired. He rubbed the bridge of his nose under his glasses then walked over to the sink and washed his hands.
"I think he squeezed my hand when I was talking to him," Marissa said and she saw Hermione's eyes light up and saw Harry's eyes flick towards his son.
"Good to hear," Harry said, dropping into the chair next to Hermione. He saw the book she borrowed from her father open on the sofa and nodded at it.
"What're you doing with that?"
Marissa let go of Brian's hand, turned around and closed the book, showing Harry the title.
"I told my mum I want to find a cure for the Wizard Flu after I came down with it. I took what's been done in the past and am going through trying to find the right ingredient that could neutralize the virus, without compromising the entire potion. So far, no luck." Marissa put the book down and Harry stared at her for a minute.
"That's a very big undertaking…you aren't limiting yourself to just Potions are you? You could check Herbology too," he suggested and Hermione agreed with him.
"That's my next step, but I haven't done much since I've been studying for my fifth year exams. Maybe over the summer I'll have more time."
"Brian received a note from Professor Sprout, about an internship she's doing for students with an interest in Herbology. It's over the summer, in Ireland," Harry said stretching out his legs and pushing the sleeves up on his white button down shirt he wore for teaching.
"I didn't hear that," Marissa said excitement evident in her voice. Brian would love that chance and she knew he'd jump up and take it.
"I just got the letter yesterday and haven't told him yet," Harry answered, smiling a little at the happy bit of news he had received via Owl.
"I'm sure he'd take it in a heartbeat," Hermione continued and Marissa nodded in agreement, looking up as the door opened and in walked her mother and father.
"Dad, mum…I thought you had off today?" Marissa said surprised to see them both here, especially her father.
"I did, but we wanted to see how Brian was doing then take you to dinner," her mother said in a firm, don't argue with me voice. Marissa looked at her father who was looking at the sign above Brian's bed, not doubt comparing what his stats were to hers a few months ago.
Her parents talked for the next few minutes, Draco and Harry actually comparing notes about their two eldest being sick. Marissa watched them interact, noticing that they when they talked they usually looked right at each other, neither using extravagaint hand gestures and they never interrupted each other. Quite the opposite of Ginny and Hermione who could talk for hours and constantly interrupted--- sometimes seeming to have more than one conversation going at once.
After Ginny kissed Brian's forehead while Draco stood at the bottom of the bed, they gestured for Ginny to follow them and she hesitated wondering if she should bring her school bag.
"You can come back and say goodnight," Hermione said gently, noticing her hesitation. Marissa nodded, gave them a small wave and followed her parents out of the room.
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"Where are we going to eat?" Marissa asked as they made their way downstairs and out the front door then stood in the middle of the sidewalk. There were very few Muggles were out and about at this end of town.
"There's a new restaurant up the street, a magical one, we thought we'd take you too," her father said his arm around Ginny's shoulders.
"Why?" Marissa asked a bit suspiciously looking back and forth between her parents. She saw them glance at each other then her father turned to her. Marissa suddenly knew that her father shut down his mind tight. She had NO idea what he was thinking.
`Not good,' she thought to herself, frowning down at the sidewalk as she walked down the sidewalk.
"Why not?" he asked lightly and Ginny laughed.
"This is not good," Marissa muttered to herself, not being able to remember the last time she went out with just her parents. IF they ever did go out to eat, all the children were present, or it was just her parents while they were usually at a grandparent's house. She followed a few steps behind her parents, looking around. The air was cool and the three of them had light jackets on, Marissa having grabbed hers from her schoolbag before they left. It was also humid and she got the feeling it was going to rain again; she also got the feeling her parents were going to tell her something…unusual…and for a moment she felt a sense of horror that it might be about Brian. Slowing down even more, she thought that through and realized Brian was not the reason they were taking her to dinner. Her mother would still be at the hospital if something was wrong with Brian or any other patient. Not paying attention she ran into the back of her father who had stopped at the entrance to an alley.
"This is it?" Marissa peered around his shoulder and he nodded and walked down to an alcove in a brick building. He patiently waited for Ginny and Marissa then opened the plain steel gray door. Once inside they were surrounded by a very nice, family oriented restaurant with a menu board floating around from table to table. A witch wearing a set of dark green dress robes escorted them to a table in the back where they sat down, Marissa on one side and her parents across from her. Looking around, she saw it was very busy but didn't see anyone she knew.
She watched her father order a firewhiskey, something he never had at home since Ginny couldn't stand it in her house (ever since Nott attacked her years ago). Her mother ordered pumpkin juice and Marissa followed her mother's example wondering why they were so quiet.
Patiently and a bit nervously she watched them as they studied the menu wondering what was going to transpire. Not being able to decipher anything she glanced up and saw that lasagna was on the menu. Her Aunt Maggie had made that for her once and she loved it. Marissa ordered that entrée, then studied the restaurant as her parents placed their orders. She saw plants suspended from the ceiling and water pitchers roaming around on their own filling up customer's glasses. The crowd was a good mix of older witches and wizards and then younger ones with families. Occasionally she would hear a child yell or a baby cry but overall it was fairly quiet. Her mother's question about Ravenclaws Quidditch practice brought her attention back to her parents.
For the next hour or so they made small talk, school, sports, Marissa relaying stories about the Bosse twins to her mother, hearing stories about her aunts and uncles and what they were up too. After their dinner was done, which Marissa thought was just as good as her Aunt Maggie's, her mother ordered ice cream for the three of them and as they ate it slowly her mother said what Marissa had been expecting.
"Besides just wanting to get you out of that hospital room and a good meal in you we wanted to tell you something," Ginny said, stirring her ice cream so it was almost like a milkshake. Marissa set her spoon down in her bowl, only half way finished her chocolate ice cream.
"I knew it," Marissa said knowingly watching her father polish off the last bite of his pistachio ice cream. She saw Ginny look up at Draco and there was that "look" the adults did that Marissa couldn't understand. She saw Harry and Hermione communicate with just a glance and now her parents were doing it.
"Why me?" Ginny asked her husband, very quietly, with a small smile.
"I did it last time," Draco answered just as quietly, leaning over and kissing Ginny's temple causing Marissa's eyes to go wide. She rarely saw her father do much more than place an arm around her mother in a public place and now she wondered what was wrong.
"Just tell me! Is someone else sick? Am I failing something? Are one of my cousins moving across the world?" Marissa demanded pushing her bowl to the side, not hungry anymore as the contents of what she has just eaten swirled around unpleasantly in her stomach.
`What the hell is going on?' she thought to herself. She watched her mother push her almost empty bowl away, move a bit closer to her father then look up to meet Marissa's eyes. Marissa could feel the blood rushing to her head and barely heard what her mother said. Shaking her head slightly she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"What?" Marissa asked her hands clasped tight in her lap.
"I said…it looks as if you will have another brother or sister next January."
Marissa stared at her not truly comprehending what her mother was telling her. All thought processes were stalled in
her analytic brain and she just stared.
"Why? Are you adopting or…what?" Marissa asked and she heard her father cough (which was really covering up a laugh).
"Noooo, Marissa. I'm pregnant, about three weeks but pregnant nonetheless."
Marissa suddenly felt like she was hit with a ton of bricks. Not just from the news but from the fact that her parents had sex for this to happen and that thought was so truly embarrassing she stared down at the table, willing her hands to stay in her lap and not cover her face like she wanted to. After all, she was only three when the triplets were born. She barely remembered them coming home and she knew Devon didn't really remember them until he was about four and they were two.
"Another? I mean…I thought…triplets weren't enough?" Marissa asked in rush and out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother shake her head in amusement and her father smiled. "There's…there will be like sixteen years between me and…," Marissa waved her hand in the general direction of her mother. She still couldn't look up at her parents, her brain being stunned from the thought of her parents having sex…recently too!
"We realize that. Sometimes these things happen," Draco said lightly.
"Well, there's ways to NOT make it happen," Marissa said a bit more sternly than she intended.
"We're adults, Marissa, we know that. We don't need you to remind us," her father said in that tone of voice which made her apologize automatically.
"I just thought…I mean…why another baby?" Marissa asked her hands now fiddling with the edge of her napkin, looking everywhere but her parents.
"Well," her mother started who reached across the table and stilled Marissa's hand. The light contact caused her to look up at her mother, meeting her dark eyes. "It's not something that was planned, but being that we both chose to not have permanent charms put upon us, so we could be sure to not have any more children, this happens. It's part of life." Marissa looked down again not quite sure how she felt…more embarrassed than anything now because once her mother started showing and everyone knew she was pregnant then all her friends and school mates would know her parents… `Ugh! I can't even think of them…that…now!' Marissa thought to herself. "Look…you happened to come about in the same way. We never regretted having you earlier than planned at all."
`Oh Merlin…do not talk about how I was conceived…please!' Marissa's thoughts screamed and now buried her face in her hands.
"Parents do have sex, Marissa. How do you think all these children get here?" her father said bluntly and Marissa groaned aloud, her face hot beneath her hands.
"Stop," she mumbled, then ran her hands through her hair in a perfect imitation of her mother. "It's just…weird. And, if you think I'm telling Devon and everyone don't count on it. That's your job." Marissa said pointedly glancing up at her father who was sitting with an arm around Ginny and look of amusement on his face.
"We wouldn't ask you to do that. But, we thought to tell you now because by the time you come home at the end of June I'll probably be in the middle of morning sickness and that wouldn't have been the best way to find out."
"I don't think any way would be the best way," Marissa said before she could stop herself. She heard her father take a breath and let it out, expecting him to chide her for that comment.
"No way is best to tell your fifteen year old daughter, or even a fourteen year old son for that matter. But you know now, and your brothers and sister will find out this weekend too. You're almost an adult and we expect you to deal with this like an adult. If you have any questions ask; if we think you need to know something we will tell you."
"I understand," Marissa said looking up at her father for the first time. He still had a relaxed look about him like this wasn't phasing him in the least and Ginny was watching Marissa with hopeful look. "I guess…I'm just…," Marissa stuttered, stopped and took a breath and forced out, "Congratulations" in one big breath.
Ginny saw how hard it was for Marissa to grasp what they had told her. For someone who liked their routine and schedule, there was about to be an addition to it and one she never expected. If she gave birth on her due date of January 2nd of the following year, Marissa would have nine months to get used to the idea of a baby brother or sister. It also gave Ginny and Draco the time they needed to re-adjust to having a newborn…and to go shop for everything they had gotten rid of after the triplets were born.
"Come on, visiting hours are almost over and I'm sure you will want to see Brian once more," Ginny said and the three of them stood up. She wasn't sure when her father paid the bill but he must have because they grabbed their jackets and walked out the front door, Marissa hanging back staring at her parents backs, then the pavement trying to absorb the news.
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St. Mungo's
8:10pm
Marissa walked in ahead of her parents to Brian's room after softly knocking on the door. Harry was reclined on the sofa reading some paperwork while Hermione was stretched out next to him, asleep with her head in the crook of his shoulder.
"How was dinner?" Harry whispered noticing the stunned look on Marissa's face. She didn't answer and made pretense of looking for her school bag, which was now in the chair on the other side of the bed. Making her way to it, she sat down, briefly glancing at Brian's stats above the bed and noticing only his weight had changed going down by a pound, and Marissa hugged her bag to her chest not wanting to answer Harry's question.
Hermione stirred and Marissa heard her greet Ginny and Draco sleepily.
"How was dinner?" Hermione repeated and Harry smiled. Marissa glanced over at the adults and saw Ginny look at Draco, then Hermione and Harry.
`So, they don't know yet,' Marissa surmised letting her gaze rest on Brian's still form. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ginny nod towards the door and the Potter's stood up with a curious glance at Marissa.
"We're going for coffee…be back in a few… then you need to get back to school," Ginny said to Marissa and she nodded.
"Be right back." Hermione's voice sounded confused and sleepy all at once and when the door clicked shut Marissa let her bag fall to the floor. Pulling her chair closer she grabbed Brian's hand and held it, unsure whether to tell him or wait until he woke up. Going with the latter she started her little soliloquy.
"Dinner was the most interesting part of my day…you have to wake up so I can tell you. If I can. It's pretty embarrassing…way embarrassing if you ask me." She moved closer and leaned her elbows on the edge of the bed, lowering her voice as if what she was going to tell him was a secret. "Please wake up. I miss seeing you at school and I really need to talk to you, rather with you since I'm talking TO you now…I'm going to come back after my homework tomorrow. Maybe I'll bring Devon since he can visit…if your parents aren't tired of seeing me around here."
She stood up knowing that it wouldn't take long to get a cup of coffee and bring it back to the room. Continuing to hold his hand she leaned over and lightly brushed her lips over his--still so very warm. "Have a good night. I need to get going." She took her hand off the top of his still one and cupped the side of his face, her eyes taking in the dark hair spilling over his forehead; his dark lashes resting against his pale face, marked only by a few freckles randomly scattered across his nose and under his eyes. Rubbing her thumb under his eye, across his cheek bone she saw his eyes move under his lids as if he was following someone in his dream. "Get better, Potter," she whispered feeling a colossal heaviness in her heart. She didn't want to leave, and as she rubbed her thumb tenderly along the ridge of his brow the truth hit her hard in the pit of her stomach.
`I love him,' she thought, dazed. `Holy Merlin…how do I know that?' She managed to get out another "good night", and kissed his cheek before she fell back in the chair, staring at Brian like she had never seen him before. It wasn't long before she heard the door open to her left.
"Thanks for letting me visit," Marissa said, leaning down to grab her school bag, not wanting to look at any adults face at the moment now that she knew Brian's parents knew about the baby.
"I think it helps him, Marissa, and you know you can come by anytime. Tomorrow if you'd like," Hermione said warmly, setting down her coffee on the windowsill.
"Thanks. After my homework I'd like to." She hiked her bag onto her shoulder and glanced at her father. He stood there with his hands in the back pocket of his jeans, watching Brian.
"Sure," Harry said and after saying goodnight to the adults, giving a quick hug to her mother and father she practically ran down the stairs and to the fireplace in the lobby, eager to get back to the normalcy of her common room, bury her head into her books and not come up for air until she was mentally and physically drained.
Finding out your 33 year old mother was pregnant with your fifth brother or sister was enough to shock anyone into a catatonic state.
Realizing that you were profoundly, truly in love with a life long friend was enough to knock you down for the count.
She needed the sanity of books and the monotony of homework to bring all her thoughts back to their specific place inside her, so she could think about how she was going to act and deal with the two major events that just about turned her life completely upside down.
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