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]

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.