Mirror, Mirror

It was halfway back to King’s Cross station when he knew for a fact he was in labour. He suspected that he had been for at least a day. All he needed to do was get back to the Burrow and everything was alright. He had felt his magic make a passageway for the baby. When he found out he was pregnant he did a lot of research, even after he was transported back in time. He didn’t want any surprises when it came to the baby’s birth. It did worry him that he hadn’t seen a medi-witch since he was newly pregnant, but he couldn’t risk people finding out at Hogwarts.

Thankfully no one wanted to sit with him, so he was alone in a compartment. That meant no one saw his grimaces or anything. Since they were still allowed to use magic on the train, he put a silencing charm on the compartment, in case he was too loud. There was also an enchantment on the door making anyone looking in, they would see an empty compartment with an out-of-order sign on it. He had a feeling the baby wasn’t going to wait until they got back to King’s Cross. It shouldn’t be happening this early though, he still had a month before the baby was due.

Another contraction hit; this one followed the other one too soon. The baby was coming…now.

Just as he let out a scream of pain, the compartment door slid open, and Terrence Higgs walked in.

“What is wrong with you?” he asked with wide eyes.

Percy was on the ground, trousers and pants off, all he had was his robe covering him. “I don’t know I thought this seemed like a good idea. I’m having a baby, what does it look like? How did you know I was in here?”

“I didn’t I was just trying to get away from Marcus. What do you mean you are having the baby? Now? I thought you weren’t due for another month?”

“Well, the baby says now so we’re doing this now,” he said through gritted teeth. “Close the door and help me.”

“Me? No. I can’t. Maybe I can get someone to help.”

“Who the trolly lady? Get in here and help me.”

Higgs came in and slid the door shut but he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. That wasn’t Percy’s problem, his problem was his insides being ripped out.

“I hope you know what you’re doing?”

He did too because there was no turning back now.

“You won’t mind if I never look you in the eye again,” Higgs said, looking almost as exhausted as Percy.

Percy didn’t look up; he was too entranced by his daughter’s face. The birth went how his research said it would, he was lucky there was no complications which could have happened because his body hadn’t completed growing yet.

“I don’t mind.” He was so in love with her.

He listened as Terrence cleaned everything up, he was quite good at those spells. The afterbirth was a little harder to get rid of, but they were able to do it.

“Can you hold her while I get dressed?”

“What? You’re still bleeding, you can’t get dressed yet.”

“I will be for a while, but I really need to get dressed because we’ll be at King’s Cross soon and I can’t be completely starkers for it.”

“You better watch it; you might sound like a real person if you keep talking like that. Here, hand me the baby, you’re right, we’re close.”

Percy found it hard to hand her over. She was perfect. Gently, he handed her over to Terrence. “Watch her head,” he warned. He had lots of experiences with babies, because his mum used to watch other people’s children for them. He also remembered what Ginny was like as a baby.

Once she was in Terrence’s arms he stood up, the pain was much less than it was when he was giving birth but now, he was sore. He used his wand to help him get dressed. Once they were in the station, he wouldn’t be allowed to use it anymore. Finally, he was dressed and gingerly sat down, spelling his trousers to cover any mess. It was embarrassing but not as much as making a mess, he would be horrified if that happened. Higgs handed him the baby back and went back to the door.

“What are you going to do?” Higgs asked.

“Tell the truth, what I can. It’s not like I can hide her, but I wouldn’t even if I could. She’s mine.”

“Yeah, she is. Funny, she doesn’t look a thing like Marcus.”

She didn’t and she didn’t look like she was born a month early either. That can only mean he was wrong on the date he got pregnant. Dating a pregnancy is very hard on male carriers. But he was sure it was Marcus. It being his ex’s baby brought on more problems. He would have to make sure no one found out who the real father was.

“She’s not his, I guess I was wrong.”

“That’s good, really, could you imagine her having his teeth?”

Percy laughed, that was a plus, she wouldn’t be cursed with those teeth. “Will you still be her father?”

“Sure, why not. First tell me who really is?”

“I can’t tell you, but I’ll give you this. No one can ever find out because it would ruin his life.”

“Why?”

“Because in our time it would just ruin his marriage. But in this time, he would be an adult wizard getting a fourteen-year-old pregnant.”

“Bloody hell. Oh, you have to tell me now.”

“No. Now, get out, I’ve got to get ready to tell my parents about their granddaughter.”

“I’ll figure it out. I know your life better than you.” With that he left. Percy took the enchantments off the compartment and waited. He knew soon someone would look in and see him.

It didn’t take long for someone to notice him. He saw Fred and George open the door and come inside.

“Hey, Perce, we’ve been looking for you,” Fred said before he paused, his eyes going from Percy’s pale, washed out face to the baby in his arms. “What is that?”

“It’s a baby, Fred,” he said, making it sound like a stupid question.

“I can see it’s a baby. Where did it come from?” Fred said. The door opened again and in walked Charlie. Looks like everyone was here now.

“Well, when two people get together and have sex, sometimes a baby is made. She’s mine and she’s perfect.”

“What? You have a baby?” Charlie looked like he just got hit by a bludger.

“Yes.” The baby started to whimper, probably feeling the tension. He rubbed her back, soothing her. She was in a little onesie that he had gotten in Hogsmeade along with a nappy he got there too. He was worried he would have her before he got home so he made sure he was prepared. That was him, always had a backup plan.

“This is what you’ve been hiding?” Charlie asked.

“Yes.”

“When was it born?” George asked.

“She was born about halfway between Hogsmeade and King’s Cross.”

“Where’s the girl that had her?” George asked, looking around.

“I had her,” he said, feeling very weak all of the sudden.

“What? You had the baby?” George asked, his eyes wide.

Percy was having trouble following the conversation. It felt like he was being pulled underwater. He knew something was wrong but not what.

“Charlie, take the baby,” he said before everything went dark.

“Ron, would you please just settle down,” Molly said. Ginny and Ron were driving her mad these last few days. They were so excited about their brothers coming home and Ron was excited that come September he would be going too.

“Sorry, mum,” Ron said, going to stand beside his sister.

“It’s alright, luv.”

As they watched the Hogwarts express arrived, she felt like she could breathe again. Something had been wrong with Percy since Christmas, and she wouldn’t feel better until she had him back under her roof. He had always been the odd duck of the family, but that made him more special to her. He wasn’t like his brothers or sister, they all were the outdoors type. They loved to play outside and with each other. But Percy was always shut in his room studying or writing. He had such plans for his life, he was more ambitious than any of her other children and that included Bill.

She watched as children got off the train and greeted their families. Usually, Percy was one of the first off, but she didn’t see him. In fact, she didn’t see any of her sons.

“MUM!”

Turning her head, she saw Fred running at her, he looked panicked.

“What’s wrong?” She knew something bad had happened seeing her always joking son looking so scared.

“It’s Percy, come on,” he said before turning and running back onto the train.

She may not be young anymore, but she ran as fast as her legs would take her. Boarding the train, she followed Fred as he weaved in and out of kids leaving. He came to a halt outside of a compartment. She took a breath before she looked inside. What she saw made her heart drop. Percy was lying unconscious on the floor of the compartment and Charlie was standing over him holding a tiny baby in a yellow onesie.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“He had a baby on the way here, something is wrong, he passed out,” Charlie said.

She would have to deal with her teenage son having a baby later, right now she needed to work.

“How is the baby?”

“She’s fine, I think,” Charlie said.

“Alright, I’m going to take him to St. Mungo’s by side apparition. You bring the baby the muggle way.”

“I can take Percy side apparition,” Charlie said, looking at the baby in his arms.

“NO!” she, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny yelled. She hadn’t even known her two youngest followed her.

“I’m better at apparition now.”

“Still, I think it’s best if I take him. If you don’t want to take the baby, I’ll find someone else to do it.”

“I’ll do it,” a boy she had never met said.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m her other father,” he said, pointing to the baby. “Terrence Higgs.”

She saw her older sons faces darken and wondered what it was about. But she had more important things to do.

“I think it would be better if Charlie takes her, but you can go with them,” she said gently. “I really need to get him help now.” She grabbed Percy and took him straight to St. Mungo’s, knowing her older children would take care of the younger ones. Just please let her little boy be alright.