the baby project — act one
" almost like a pregnancy "
﹙ 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬. ﹚

     "THINK OF IT AS HOUSE PRIDE."

     "But I'm not in your house?"

     Gia Meadowes, proud Gryffindor, currently experiencing the post-Quidditch-win highs, thought it was utterly stupid that her best friend, Addie ─ non-Gryffindor, with no care for any school Quidditch result ever ─ won't be joining her in the Gryffindor common room for some Thursday evening celebrations.

     She wasn't in a worse position as Quinn, however, since the latter was a member of the house Gryffindor had just beaten.

     Addie's reasoning is perfectly simple. First, there's the obvious fact that she is not a Gryffindor and it would be strange for a Hufflepuff to not only show up in the Gryffindor common room but to celebrate their success too would just be unheard of. And her second reason is ─ and Addie will continue to claim that said boy has absolutely no residence in her mind whatsoever ─ she would rather her night not be ruined by a boasting George Weasley.

     She decided it best to base her argument on the former.

     Gia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. In her opinion, Addie had no valid reason to not accompany her at the Gryffindor celebrations, and this was all just an act of Adelaide's stubbornness. She heaved a sigh, "Neither are these three but they're coming!" she gestured with her thumb to the three friends sitting surrounding them.

     The Great Hall was full of life in the evenings, bustling with hungry children huddled around table-lit feasts, the ceiling overhead a clear black canvas, sprinkled with twinkling stars. Addie glanced around the group.

     Clayton was mixing the contents of his baked potato to his particular satisfaction. Laurie had her arm wrapped around the goblet she was sipping, impatiently waiting for her sister to grant them some fun. And Quinn was neatly cutting her chicken steak into perfect pieces. Jazz had already retired for the night claiming she was doing a paper for Snape and, after a grim defeat on the Quidditch pitch, she probably would not be joining them until next week.

     Addie glazed her steak pie and mash in gravy, arching an eyebrow in her Gryffindor friend's direction. "I can assure you, Gia, that doesn't make it okay."

     "Well, it's never stopped you before!" Gia exclaimed with highly over-dramatic hand gestures.

     Addie thought about arguing that she has only ever been in the Gryffindor common room twice and on neither of those occasions was she celebrating the success of a house Quidditch team that is not her own.

     Laurie spared her an unearthly groan before she could even reconsider using that argument. "Why are you so un-fun?" her sister asked; Laurie's other hand, which had previously been supporting her chin, flopped down onto the table, causing Addie's spoon to rattle against her plate.

     "Who's side are you on?" Addie asked disgustedly.

     Laurie thought it was obvious. "The one with the epic party?"

     "It's one night, Addie," Clayton piped up, shovelling a clump of potato and baked beans onto his fork with his knife. "Don't be such a party-pooper."

     "You sound like my mum."

     "Even Quinn's making an appearance," Gia was resolute to convince Addie to change her mind. Even at her friend's expense, apparently. "At a party."

     "I know I should find that insulting," Quinn said, still focused on making perfect square pieces from her steak, "but it's actually pretty good persuasion material. I never go to parties, Ad, so for you not to go to one I'm going to, is lame. Even in my terms."    

     Addie didn't stand much of a chance when her entire friend group was against her. Maybe if she steered clear of George Weasley and his twin, her night wouldn't be so bad after all? It's only a bit of unfamiliar territory and she can always swig a glass of fire whisky if she feels her sober self's animosity towards a smug redhead would get out of hand.

     That being said, George Weasley has always found a way to worm himself into Addie's path. And since he will still be riding out the ecstasy laced in a post-Quidditch-win, it is no doubt that George will make himself known in any way he can.

     "Fine," Addie exhaled, leaving Gia in a fit of applause. "But don't expect me to sing your team's praise all night." She couldn't give that redheaded imbecile any kind of satisfaction, especially not gifting him any signs that she supports his efforts on a broom.

     Gia grinned from ear to ear, a certain glint in her eyes. "I won't even subject you to face paint."

༺༻

     WHILE GIA INSISTED HER FIVE NON-GRYFFINDOR FRIENDS attended a party to celebrate the Lions' victory, she also insisted that they covered their ears when she muttered the password to enter the common room. It was fair enough but pretty much pointless if Gia demanded they all visit her in her house's tower more frequently than only once or twice.

     "I realize this is probably too late," Laurie drawled as the four of them watched as the portrait cracked open, the noise of the extravagant celebrations trickling in through the growing gap, "But why are you wearing blue?"

     Clayton bored into the Hufflepuff's eyes, before trailing them down his choice of outfit. A pair of inoffensive trousers and a navy shirt. It all dawned on him a little too late. "Oh fuck-"

     The entrance to the Gryffindor common room had now swung completely open, revealing the bright illumination of firelight and candles and an explosion of red and gold, through the hole in the wall.

     The last time that Addie had visited the Gryffindor common room during their fifth year, it looked significantly different than it did right now. All the furniture was the same, no re-decorating had taken place, and the walls were still splashed in scarlets and glimmering golds. What had changed was the atmosphere. Addie never knew how much the ambience of a room could change how it appeared on the outside.

     Unlike the last time, the lounge was packed. Not in a stuffy, uncomfortable, I'm-going-to-drown-in-other-people's-sweat kind of packed. But a lively, animated, vivacious kind of packed. Somewhere, even Addie would want to be.

     It didn't smell like students' bodily fluids, but instead, the crisp smell of burning firewood mingled with a natural presence of orange and cardamon, the sweet scent of butterbeer juxtaposing the wafting sharpness of the fire whisky. 

     Walking through the crowds trying to find somewhere to settle, the five friends were bathed in the roaring fire's glow and the streams of moonlight pouring in through the stained glass window on the far side of the room.

     Students ambled around, drinks in hand, conversing in perky chatter, while others were squatting in groups dotted around the lounge in plush velvet armchairs, or just huddled in groups by drink bars. Vibrant banners acted as displays of celebration for the Gryffindor Quidditch team's first victory of the season. Fred and George Weasley fervently made tiny fireworks for the younger Gryffindors over by the fireplace, and Addie took that as her chance to slip in unnoticed by the latter.

     But. However successful she had been at avoiding George, it wasn't long before Addie found herself alone in this unfamiliar territory.

     For someone who was so desperate for Addie to make an appearance, Gia disappeared rather quickly, running off to play a drinking game with her housemates. Clayton was lost in dreamy chatter about Divination with some boy who apparently shared the same interests (Addie didn't know that person could exist, but good for Clayton). Quinn had a glass of fire whiskey shoved in her face upon arrival and was currently trying to wash away the taste in the bathroom ("It burns! Why does it burn?"). And Laurie was playing a game of chess with Ron Weasley. They had brought in a crowd that huddled around them, watching intently.

     "Sweeney!"

     Addie only just heard the holler over the chaotic, sprightly noise of the party, but it was loud enough to pull her out of her trance.

     George Weasley was practically bounding over to her from the fireplace, to where she stood glued to the drinks bar where she had hoped she'd run into someone to socialise with. George wasn't who she'd had in mind.

     Oh well. She had lasted ten whole minutes without him and it was surely inevitable he'd find her eventually. Addie almost thinks she'd prefer some company rather than looking like the loser she was, milling around a place she didn't belong in, utterly jobless.

     "Come to revel in my victory?" He brandished a wide, toothy grin, and looked particularly pleased with himself now that he could boast about Gryffindor's win while Adelaide Sweeney was present. George had teased Addie earlier about her joining the raving Gryffindors to celebrate their win, he just didn't know that she'd actually come.

     Addie furrowed her brows, "Oh I'm sorry," she said, "was it just you playing today? I could have sworn a Quidditch team was made up of seven players . . ."

     George played along with her false look of deep thought. "Nope." He said enunciated. "Just me. I'm very gifted."

     "I see that."

     "Can I interest you in a game of Exploding Snap?" George asked, motioning roughly to the group he had just left. "Fred and I worked out a way to make it a drinking game."

     "Enticing offer, really, but I'll have to pass. I'm not staying long."

     Addie had only recently decided this. Upon arriving at the Gryffindor common room party, her original, more cynical thoughts had changed and she believed she could actually enjoy herself, even when it wasn't her team to celebrate. Despite this, she had since been abandoned by her friends and the whole ordeal wasn't looking as amusing anymore.

     George sighed, slapping his thigh flippantly. "Darn. I should have guessed."

     Dubiously, Addie invited him to elaborate ─ a risky move, some might say. "Guessed what?"

     "I had a bet with myself, you see," George replied, "as to whether you were going to show up here due to your incredible ability to have fun or whether you were going to make an appearance purely to satisfy your friends, who, I assume, nagged you for a minimum of ten minutes before your stubborn arse finally agreed to come."

     Her only defence mechanism was to scoff. Said body language was, while an act of self-protection, evidence that George was correct and apparently, knew her far too well.

     A smirk slowly drifted onto his face when it dawned on him after studying her for a few short silent moments. "Oh my God," he heaved a chuckle, "I was right wasn't I?"

     Addie's face twitched. "No," she said. "I actually came here because I thought it could be fun. But evidently, I was sorely mistaken because anywhere within a two-meter radius of you is quite the opposite."

     George ignored the insult, instead, exhaling slowly, adopting an expression of condescending sympathy. "It was the latter, wasn't it, Sweeney?" he questioned, but George didn't need a response. Addie chewed the inside of her mouth and her eyes wandered around the room, clearly avoiding the piercing line of direction his eyes held. "Deary-me. Such a people pleaser aren't you?"

     "People-pleaser-bar-George-Weasley actually."

     "Good thing there's nothing you can do to get rid of me."

     "I'll find a way," Addie smiled sarcastically, before searching her immediate view of the lounge for her friends, whom she hoped to gather into one small area, allowing her to comfortably pass the time.

     Quinn and Jazz had returned from the bathroom and were now waving at her from three meters away. Clayton was where Addie had last seen him, but there was now a group of Divination dorks gathered together. Laurie had recently declared Checkmate against her redheaded opponent and was now receiving a passionate standing ovation from her fans, while she shook the unavailing opposition's hand. And Gia was . . . oh Addie will find her later.

     They were easy enough to round up. "If you'll excuse me," she said to George, placing her empty cup onto the table behind her, "I'm going to go anywhere but here."

༺༻

     THE NIGHT FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING WHISKED AWAY by a gust of wind, in a brightly-coloured, butterbeer whirl. Addie can't tell whether it was the idle conversation with her friends or a second serving of alcohol that made the party seem like a blur.

     After a few hours of amusing herself with casual drunken dancing and making small-talk with Hermione Granger about her O.W.Ls, Addie had ended up on a squashy armchair by the fire; Laurie on the arm of her chair, Clayton, Gia and Quinn on the sofa opposite.

     "What the fuck?" Quinn abruptly interrupted their debate on which Professor would be best at Karaoke ─ Addie vouched for the Charms teacher, but Clayton was adamant that should they have the pleasure of ever hearing it (highly unlikely, basically impossible), Professor Snape's voice would give off the skills of an opera singer as he belted out some Celine Dion ─ as she sat bolt upright in her seat, narrowing her eyes onto something she had spotted in the corner of the common room.

     "Urm," Clayton awkwardly choked out, his eyes dubiously trailing over to the brunette beside him. "I guess I just thought his rendition of The Power of Love would be karaoke worthy?" he said cautiously, thinking that Quinn's sudden outburst was aimed at his Operatic-Snape argument.

     "No, no, no, not that" Quinn dismissed him, her stare still fixed on the same spot. "What the fuck is he doing here?" she pointed a finger in the direction she was looking and the group all focused their attention on where she was gesturing; Addie and Laurie twisted in their seats.

     In the corner of the room, perched on the staircase that lead to the Gryffindors' dorms, was Lance Erwin, Quinn's twin brother, flirting with the pretty Gryffindor sitting beside him.

     "He's a Ravenclaw and Prefect," Quinn said, "he should not be here."

     The other four shared doubtful glances at Quinn's questionable statement, before Addie spoke up for all of them: "Q, you're a Ravenclaw and a Prefect?"

     "Your point?" Quinn asked indignantly. "At least I have friends in Gryffindor," she threw up a hand, loosely gesturing to Gia. "Lance just thinks everybody's in love with him."

     Laurie watched as the Ravenclaw rolled her eyes, grimacing before she cautiously spoke, "I hate to break it to you, Q, but I'm pretty sure-"

     "Then please don't break it to me," Quinn cut her off, fearing that whatever was about to come out of Laurie's mouth, was something to do with their year's infatuation with Lance Erwin ─ hot hunk, skilled keeper and quintessential popular boy.

     Quinn glared at her brother, leaving her friends feeling as though they should maintain their attention on him too. Unfortunately for them, Lance leant in, gently caressing the girl's cheek with the palm of his hand, and they relapsed into a very intense, full-on snog session.

     Addie couldn't help herself. She laughed when she was uncomfortable. After all, the joke opportunity was right there. "I think he's made a friend in Gryffindor now though," she snorted.

     Quinn practically went green with disgust, roughly rubbing her eyes as if to try and rid herself of the image of her brother's tongue down someone else's throat. "Ugh, how can he do that when there are people around watching?" she asked exasperated.

     "I think he's assuming people aren't weird enough to watch," Laurie pointed out.

     Jazz, apparently did not hear this, because her eyes were trained longily on Lance Erwin, wishing it was her.

     Now that the group's focus was away from the loved-up couple in the corner, Addie clapped her hands together. "Moving swiftly on from Lance's snogging antics, can we backtrack?" she said. "Because now it's apparently not okay for other houses to not be here?"

     Gia and Laurie shared a glance, both rolling their eyes at Addie's lack of ability to drop a battle she had lost.

     "When it comes to Lance, no. No, it is not okay for him to be here," Quinn said sternly, and Addie felt a tad intimidated as her friend stared into her soul. Quinn's head then fell onto the back of the sofa, as she gazed desperately at the ceiling. "Oh thank God Jazz isn't here." 

     Parroting her friend, Gia too threw her head back in frustration. "We have that Life Skills crap tomorrow."

     "Very glad to hear your timetable inhabits at least some of your memory, Gee," Addie smiled charmingly.

     Clayton lifted his feet to rest them on the coffee table in the middle of the arrangement of sofas, before addressing Addie and/or Laurie. "Are we the first ones?" he asked. Assuming the classes had been created based on houses, he can therefore rely on the two Hufflepuff sisters to know his whereabouts during the school day tomorrow.

     "No, I'm pretty sure the first group to have it, have it first period," Laurie answered. "We have Potions."

     Quinn slowly straightened up from where she had previously been lounging backwards in a disgruntled manner. "So do I."

     Gia looked at her friends suspiciously, "So do I."

     Jazz had her bottle pressed to her lips but she lowered it just enough to say, "Urm, so do I."

     Puzzled by all five of them sharing a Potions lesson the following day, the group of friends peered at each other; Laurie breaking the confused lull that had settled between them.

     "So we all have Potions first period tomorrow?" Gia asked for confirmation.

     Addie sat up straighter, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward. "And we didn't realise this before because?"

     Clayton's eyes drifted to the ceiling in thought. "Does that mean we all have Life Skills together?" he asked.

     "Why would they mix all four houses for one class?" Quinn questioned. "That doesn't make sense."

     So far into the first week of the school term, the Hufflepuffs had shared Potions lessons with the Slytherins ─ Ravenclaw and Gryffindor pairing together ─ but, seemingly, not this one particular Potions lesson on a Friday morning.

     Having come to a conclusion ─ even if slightly unsatisfied with the result and still a little confuddled by the state of affairs ─ Gia folded her arms across her chest and slumped back into the cushion of the sofa. "Huh."

     The lines on Laurie's forehead wriggled as her mind replayed the thought a few times over. "Random."

     "What's random?" George had wandered over to the band of friends by the fire, pulling up a free armchair from over by the window, pushing it beside Addie, and swiftly launching himself onto it. Fred followed shortly after, sitting on the arm next to Gia. He then slid down onto the body of the sofa, squashing Gia in the process, earning him an elbow to the side and a scowl.

     Addie looked over to the boy on her left. "Your ego's ability to convince yourself that people like you."

     "You should try stand-up comedy."

     "Considering it."

     "You two are like an old married couple," Clayton said, causing the bickering pair to look over at the sofa which now held four people. Clayton, Gia, Quinn, and Fred (and Laurie for that matter; Jazz staying on the floor) all stared back at them.

     Clayton cocked his head to the side, "And I can't quite tell whether I enjoy it or despise it."

     "Please don't use our names and marriage in the same sentence ever again," Addie wore a caustic expression and it became apparent very quickly that she did not appreciate Clayton's statement.

     George glanced at Addie, then back at the group. "I second that."

     "So what were you really talking about?" Fred asked, guiding the conversation back on track.

     "This Life Skills garbage happening tomorrow," Gia yawned.

     "Oh yeah, I forgot about that," George said.

     Addie hummed in his direction, "Probably because your five-year-old mentality can't grasp important information."

     George bobbed his head pensively. "Probably." He turned his attention back on the people who were more likely to give him a straight answer than Addie was. "When do you lot have it?"

     "We all have it second apparently," Quinn replied, moving passed the that's-weird portion of their discovery and onto the it's-too-late-for-this segment.

     Mischief glinted in George's eyes and Addie sensed the worst. She probably didn't even need him to respond to know what was brewing in that twisted mind of his. "Sick. Guess that's another lesson where you'll have to put up with me, Sweeney."

     Addie rubbed the part of her arm that George had just swatted, her face scrunched up in soreness. "Great," she said airily, before perking up and addressing the whole group like a meerkat. "Anyone got a gun I can use?"

     "To shoot him or yourself?" Fred queried, the hint of amusement playing about on his features.

     "I was thinking him first and then turning the gun on myself. That way I'm doing you lot a favour in the process."

     George puckered his lips earnestly. "That's very considerate of you, Adelaide."

     They both mirrored each other's sarcastic smiles. "Eat shit, George."

     "Ditto, darling."

     "Are our newlyweds considering children, by any chance?" Clayton asked jokily, but it wasn't enough to break the staring contest currently unfolding before them all.

     Finally, the blonde clawed her eyes away to confront her oppressor. She jutted her eyebrows upwards but opted not to continue the discussion any longer, and instead, redirected the conversation elsewhere. This time, she returned to the karaoke professor-centred debate, thinking it would be even more humourous with two new debaters to contribute fresh material.

     After all, Addie didn't want to subject her poor imagination to the horrid thought of having a child with George Weasley.

𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗘'𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗣 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 ━━

———————————————