Twenty-third Spell

[courageous_wit]

[Hermione has read about this in the journal, but didn't expect to be a participant. Now there is a baby boy in the room and Hermione has parenting books all over the place. She picks up the baby and lets out a sigh]

You would have my eyes, wouldn't you? And I bet your hair is going to stick out just like your-- erm, James.

Now, what do you think we should call him? [and no, James, "Harry" is not an option]

Comments

[blazing_stag]

[James is not really very interested in the baby yet. It's a bit small to do anything with. But he does have an idea for a name that isn't Harry.]

We could name him after my Dad? [James shrugged. Better than nothing, right?]

[courageous_wit]

[Hermione would've thought of her own father if she could remember him]

What's your father's name?

[blazing_stag]

Arthur. [He moves closer to the baby and Hermione, seeing himself and his father in that face.] He looks a bit like him anyway.

[courageous_wit]

I like that. Is your name Arthur, little one? [the baby just stares at her and grabs her finger]

I think that's a "yes".

[blazing_stag]

[James nodded and smiled.] You look good with a baby.

[courageous_wit]

Well, I hope you think you look as good. You have to take care of him, too.

[blazing_stag]

What?! [His face falls.] I picked the name!

[courageous_wit]

There's a bit more to being a father than that.

[blazing_stag]

What...do I do? [James was panicking a little. He wasn't due to be a father for another 3 years!]

[courageous_wit]

[it's okay, Hermione's read all those parenting books] Just hold him. I've already asked the castle for baby formula when he gets hungry.

[blazing_stag]

O-kay...[He's really unsure now but he'll take the baby from Hermione and see what happens. Nothing happened. Nothing bad anyway.]

[courageous_wit]

[Hermione's expression softens] See? You're doing fine.

[blazing_stag]

Wow. [James grins and so does the baby. This was kinda cool.]

[courageous_wit]

[aww so cute. Since she hasn't figured out how old this kid is yet, Hermione has stuffed animals and teething toys at the ready]

[blazing_stag]

[James has pretty much tuned out Hermione, all attention on Arthur. Until he starts crying of course. Then he panics again.] Shh. Stop. Please?

[courageous_wit]

Try to rock him, and check to see if he's wet. He could also be hungry, or maybe he's cold?

[she tries to grab like five things at once. She could use magic but it's not something she thinks of when she's frazzled]

[blazing_stag]

Er...[Sadly, James was still panicking and so he froze.] Er...[Sorry Hermione, you're on your own this first time.]

[courageous_wit]

Here, let me have him.

[she can take charge of this situation. Come on, parenting books, don't let her down]

[blazing_stag]

R-Right. [He'll be glad to be rid of the boy. Oh Merlin! He really hopes he's better with Harry.]

[courageous_wit]

[after trying everything Hermione is forced to come to the conclusion that sometimes babies just need to cry]

You just want attention, don't you, Arthur? At least now we know who you take after.

[blazing_stag]

[Groaning, James flopped onto the bed, dislodging his Rattata who was still sleeping. At least Hermione had things under control now as Rattata jumped on James to nibble his ear in protest.] Ow. Sorry.

[courageous_wit]

Oh, hello, Rattata. [Arthur reaches out for the giant rat] No, no, Arthur, that isn't a toy.

[blazing_stag]

[James grabbed the pokemon just as he seemed to want to jump at Arthur.] No Rattata. Arthur isn't your toy either.

[courageous_wit]

[holds out one of the teething toys to the pokemon]

Maybe you can play with one of these instead?

[and of course the baby starts crying again. Sigh, parenthood]

[blazing_stag]

[James' grip on Rattata loosened when Arthur started crying and the little pokemon jumped out of his arms to attack the toy. Shaking his head, he moved over to Hermione.] What is it this time?

[courageous_wit]

I think he wants a toy. Hmm... stuffed toy?

[she gives Arthur a stuffed owl and he calms down, cuddling it]

[blazing_stag]

How long to we have to do this for? [This was a lot harder than it looked!]

[courageous_wit]

A week, I think, if the castle keeps to its pattern.

[blazing_stag]

A week! [Big sigh and Rattata looks up for a moment before going back to chewing on the toy.] Good thing I like then, huh?

[courageous_wit]

And good thing we already know each other. The castle sometimes randomly pairs people together for this sort of thing.

[blazing_stag]

Really? Wait, why am I questioning it? Of course it does. [Sigh and back to flopping on the bed.]

[courageous_wit]

Tired out already? [an amused look on her face]

And how about you, Arthur? Are you tired? [he just chews the wing of his stuffed owl] I guess not.

[blazing_stag]

Not tired. Just...unsure. From what you've told me, I'm not meant to have a son for a few years yet.

[courageous_wit]

This isn't Harry, James. See, he doesn't have Lily's eyes. [turns the baby so James can see] Everyone who's met Harry always comments on him having Lily's eyes.

[blazing_stag]

I know that, Hermione. But looking after Arthur can't be much different looking after Harry, can it?

[courageous_wit]

I don't know. Harry was your flesh and blood. Arthur is... The castle brought him here by magic.

[blazing_stag]

Magic isn't something I know nothing about.

[courageous_wit]

[lineface at you, James] Paradisa's magic isn't like what we know back home. As young Arthur demonstrates.

[blazing_stag]

What do you want from me, Hermione? To say he's not real? He's right there!

[courageous_wit]

[quietly she puts the baby in his crib. She can't think of this baby as real, because if she does it'll hurt more when he disappears]

I guess I don't have a motherly instinct.