"There are things I want to know," Polly said, setting down at the table and frowning as the teapot floated after her. I didn't feel as if I had to hide these things from her now, the dishes doing themselves, the knitting of a blanket in the living room, using magic to get things done faster. The heating in the pipes. "The war obviously comes to an end if you're from the future."

"I can't tell you anything that will change the future, Pol. Yes, the war ends, but I'm not gonna tell you when or what happens and I don't know what will happen to your nephews. I never even knew they existed until I moved here. I've already changed things by being here," I said, running my hands over my face as I sighed deeply. "I was being so careful and then Merry knocked the time-turner and we ended up here. I can't get us back, Polly."

"Maybe you're meant to be here, maybe this is your future."

"It could be possible." I stopped to think about my family. Would they think I died if I never returned? What would be going through their minds? What would dad be thinking? Would he blame himself? "What will my family think, Polly? If I don't return."

"Wouldn't they be able to find you through history?"

"I guess, but wouldn't I change things? Tom's going to be born ten years earlier, that's going to throw a spanner in the works. He's not going to be on the same path? Have I messed this up?"

"I don't know, love, why don't we think of something else?"

"I need to plan Merry's funeral," I said bluntly, letting off the heaviest thing weighing down my mind.

"She's not dead yet, love."

"But she will be, Polly. There's no changing that. She will die and I'll be left alone with a baby," I said, waving my wand and pouring myself a cup of tea. It might have seemed lazy, but I liked watching the magic. It reminded me of home and how the teapot was always refilling itself as the family walked in and out of the house.

"Have you written to Tommy?"

Oh, Merlin, she knew about that. I bet it was Merry or Finn that told her, both of them knew I was writing to him.

"Every three weeks. I reply to his letters," I told her, not bothering to look at her as I knew the exact look she'd be giving me.

"Merry says you're happiest when writing to him."

"Where are you going with this, Pol?"

"Nowhere, just wondering why you replied? Didn't you say you were only doing it for Finn?" She teased. I could hear the smirk in her voice and as I glanced up, it was sitting there on her lips.

"Okay, I like writing to Tommy. Is that a bad thing?"

"No. I think it's a good thing."

Was it just me or was there a twinkle in her eye?

The letter in my hand was something I wasn't expecting.

My nursing career had only started in July and I'd been learning the role as I went to night classes, it had been about three months and the doctors were impressed. To be fair, I had been doing two-years of assisting in the Hospital Wing back at Hogwarts, knowing I wanted to be a healer.

To receive this letter now, on my eighteenth birthday was a shock.

"You okay?" Polly asked as she sorted Edward out as he threw his porridge on the floor.

"I've been accepted into the University of Birmingham under a nursing course," I told her, sounding astonished at the news. "I didn't even apply, Polly."

"How did you get in then?"

"One of the doctors forwarded me for the job. It's evening hours and I'm expected to learn as I work." This wasn't what I was expecting. Why did it seem it was being thrown on my shoulders? "I don't think I can do it, Polly. When the baby comes, how am I expected to go to nursing school on top of raising a baby?"

"I'm sure we can sort something out, Romy. Do you want to go to nursing school?" She asked, handing me Edward as he screamed for me. I also wasn't keen on leaving the children.

"I do, but I'm not sure if I want to miss out on the children growing. I don't want to miss out on Tom's first years."

"Who was it that referred you? Can we write to him and explain the situation?"

"I guess, but he was raving to me about some of the doctors at the hospital." I didn't know why though, I wasn't the best nurse he had under his thumb, just a fast learner and experienced for my age in some ways.

"Why have you been referred now, anyway? Didn't you mention having a job?" She didn't sound angry that I was applying myself, but I could also why she'd be angry.

I had committed myself to looking after the children and I'd be doing a crappy job if I just abandoned them for a career I would pursue in the future. I wasn't ready to become a nurse yet. Not only because we were during a war, but also because I was the only family Tom had and I needed to be there for him.

"Dr Smith wanted it to be a birthday surprise. I guess getting accepted into University on your eighteenth birthday is something you'll never forget," I muttered, wiping Edward's face from sticky porridge.

"It's your birthday?" Polly asked, sounding astonished that she hadn't known beforehand.

"Umm, yes? Didn't Merry tell you?"

"No."

"Oh, well, we were having Harry over for dinner tonight to celebrate. You're more than welcome to join. I thought it would be nice to have the children sleep over too."

"I think that's great," Ada said, interrupting the conversation before turning to her nieces and nephew. "It's Romy's birthday today, shall we go make her a card?"

"I'm not happy with you," Polly said once Ada had taken the children into the living room where Merry was reading. I frowned at her, confusion washing over my face as she gave me a playful smack on the arm. "You should have told you today was your birthday."

"It's also Halloween, Polly and considering things, I'm not really in the mood to celebrate."

"But it's your eighteenth, you're a woman now. If the circumstances were different and we weren't in a war, I'd take you out for a nice high tea with Ada. Perhaps we would have gone shopping too."

"I really appreciate it, Polly, but I'd rather a night in with my family, enjoying a cooked meal with the ones I love." I must have said something right because Polly brought me into a hug, squashing Edward between us.

There was something wrong with Merry. She'd been acting funny all morning and throughout lunch and now it was after dinner and she had this painful look on her face.

Polly had helped tidy up after dinner and Harry had already left. Ada was getting the children ready for bed and Merry was mumbling to herself as she waddled back to the living room.

"I'll come to collect the children in the morning," Polly said, pulling on her coat as she headed towards the front door. "Are you sure you want them tonight?"

"Edward's already asleep and Katie can barely keep her eyes open. I also promised Finn I'd show him some of the magical creatures from my world."

So Finn may have walked in on my doing magic this afternoon and he'd exclaimed that he knew I was a witch - though in his mind I wasn't the sort of witch he thought I was. He thought I was one from a fairytale, the ones that grew warts at the end of their noses. Polly had to sit him down and explain that I was magical but he couldn't tell anyone.

"Alright, love. I'll catch you in the morning."

"Night, Polly." I gave her a smile as she closed the door behind her and walked into the living room. "I'm putting the kettle on, do you want a ... Merry! What's wrong?" I rushed to her side as she curled up on the floor crying.

She turned her head to me and I caught sight of the thick tears rolling down her face. She slowly brought her hands up and I caught sight of the blood coating her hands.

"The baby's coming, Romy," she cried, her hands lifting her dress and showing me the bloody mess between her legs.

That wasn't good. She still had at least two months left. Tom wasn't going to make it this early and Merry definitely wasn't going to make it.

"Ada!" I shouted, grabbing the blanket from the sofa and moving it over the floor and helping Merry onto it. "Ada!"

"What?" she asked, rushing into the room. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the blood and her face paled. "I'll get Polly." She rushed out of the house, the door slamming behind her as she ran down the street after her aunt.

"It's going to be okay, Merry. We're gonna help you and we're going to save Tom," I assured her already knowing she'd give her life for him. She'd rather we save him than her and I wasn't sure if we'd be able to do that. Not because we would choose her over the baby, it was her dying wish, but because he was early. We were expecting him late November, December time.

"What happened?" Polly asked, rushing into the room, throwing her coat to the floor as she dropped to her knees next to me.

"She's not been right all day," I said, recounting how Merry had been off all day. "She came in here just before you left and I came in and she was on the floor and bleeding. Polly, it doesn't look good."

"Ada, I need you to stay upstairs with the children. Do not let them down here," she ordered, rolling the sleeves of her dress up as she turned to me. "Fill the tub with water and heat it until it's boiling."

"Polly, I'm going to St Mungos for help. I can't risk anything happening to Tom. It will kill her."

"Don't be too long, she's nearly ready. He's not going to wait," she warned, watching as I nodded and apparated, landing in St Mungo's, startling the receptionist.

"Can I help yo—"

"I need a healer," I told her, rushing to the desk and leaning against it. "My sister's gone into early labour. She's not due until December. She's bleeding heavily too."

"Alright, Miss, let me make a call, can you give me the address? Have you got a flew connection?"

"Umm, yes, here," I scribbled the address on a piece of parchment and handed it to her. "Send them to me, she doesn't have much time left." With a last nod from the receptionist, I apparated back home, shocked by the blood smeared over Polly's face. "Polly."

I dropped to my knees next to Merry, taking her hand in mine as she turned her head to face me.

"I'm sorry for ruining your birthday," she cried, giving my hand a weak squeeze as she screamed through her pain.

"Don't be silly, Merry. You didn't ruin anything," I assured her, sharing a look with Polly as the colour drained from her face.

"She's not gonna last much longer," Polly said, glancing down between Merry's legs, a surprised look on her face. "Some's in a rush. Romy, I need your help, the baby's crowning far too fast and Merry's losing too much blood."

Moving down to Polly's side, I was astonished to see the baby making it's way from her as if he was being forced out. What was going on? Merry wasn't even pushing any more. She wasn't even moving really, her energy drained already.

"That's not normal, Polly," I muttered, letting her guide my hands to the baby's head as she moved and reached out for something. I glanced up at Merry's face and my heart stopped at the frozen form of her face. There was a soft smile on her lips and her eyes were glassy as they looked over to the fireplace. "Merry," I whispered, shifting one of my heads and nudging her hand. She didn't move and I feared the worst. "Polly, Merry's not moving!"

Polly stumbled back to us, dropping forcefully to her knees as she grabbed Merry's face in her hands, tapping her on the cheek.

"Wake up, Merry. Come on, girl," she hissed, smacking her a bit harder as she gritted her teeth. Polly's fingers slipped to Merry's neck and she bit her trembling lip, turning to me with a shake of her head.

"The baby, Polly," I cried, blinking furiously as I tried to forget for a moment that Merry couldn't hang on any longer. "We need to save him!"

Polly muttered something under her breath as she brought her hands lower, running them over the baby's head before shifting them and sliding her hands in to pull the baby out. It was disgusting but I could only spare it a moment's thought as Polly pulled the baby out.

I didn't stop to think if her actions were possible as a sharp cry shattered my thoughts. Polly cooed down at the baby, cleaning him with a towel I hadn't seen her with.

For a baby that was meant to be early, he was loud and seemed to be doing well. I didn't really know much about baby's but as Polly settled him into my arms and his dark blue eyes locked with mine, I knew he would never be normal.

He was a special boy. He was destined for great things, but this time, this time he wouldn't become a dark lord and try killing muggleborns. This time he'd have a family, people that loved him and helped guide him through his struggles.