Quite some news ((Nasser))

[dana]

Dana was. Well, she wasn’t exactly sure what she felt like, but by now the shock and the worries had disappeared. Kris had taken the news shockingly well – the couple of death-threats to the father could only have been guessed – but he would make an awesome uncle. Dana herself wasn’t worried anymore. She would have help raising her child, even if he or she had been very-very-very unexpected. A one-night deal that as it turned out would influence Dana for the rest of her life. But she would raise her child and love the kid with all her heart and soul. Even if it would mean quite a lot of changes in her life-style. But Dana was happy. She was overjoyed as she stood in a spot of sunshine in the middle of Diagon Alley and smiled to herself, very nearly keeping herself from chuckling.

Noticing a familiar figure Dana took of happily knowing she needed to share the news with someone and who better than a friend? “Nasser!” Dana called noticing that the Gryffindor was about to move on and smiled happily upon catching up with the boy. “Heya,” Dana stated with a wide grin throwing her arms around Nasser’s shoulders and giving him a brief hug as she simply needed to share some of her excitement, “I’m glad I met you here. Have some time to spare for me? I have news and big ones at that! Well small now, but that’s merely a matter of formality.” Dana waved her own words off as she was positively glowing as she twirled away and pointed towards the ice-cream parlor a little ways away, “Let’s go and get some ice-cream if you have the time as you need to be sitting down for this. Well, I was sitting actually when I learnt of this, but that didn’t stop me from fainting but I doubt you’ll take it quite the same way. Come on.”

Dana twirled happily, her white summer-dress with small blue forget-me-not blooms on it swaying around her feet as she threw one more smile to Nasser before dashing into the parlor and heading straight to the counter to place her order. “The fruit Sundae with pickled tomatoes,” Dana told the middle-aged woman behind the counter with a mischievous glint in her eyes as the woman looked up in surprise before her eyes fell to Dana’s mid-section before the woman smiled back. “Congratulations, deary, but we don’t have the tomatoes I’m afraid,” the woman asked and Dana laughed agreeing with a happy nod before shifting again and choosing an empty table to sit at. Curling her legs on the table at her side Dana grabbed a spoon and scooped some ice-cream onto it, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the first bite as the cold sugary treat slid down her throat. Opening her eyes Dana smiled a bit wickedly at Nasser who had taken a seat himself as well. For a moment Dana enjoyed the secret she already know, before putting her spoon down.

“Well, it came as a shock to me as well as it’s quite unexpected news, but I decided that I’m happy over the outcome. I’m pregnant Nasser. I should be giving birth around the beginning of March and I’m going to have the baby, keep it and raise it. I’m sure Kris and Cleo will help me, but I’m going to become a mother. Not sure I’ll be a very good one, but,” Dana spread her arms a little as she laughed as she waited for Nasser’s reaction, whatever it might be.

[Nasser Salah G6]

He simply couldn’t believe that it was summer and he was at Diagon Alley. He should have been back home, with everyone else, enjoying every minute of the two months he had with them before he went back to school. He could practically smell the salt of the sea if he closed his eyes long enough. They were supposed to go to Alexandria that summer, in fact they were all already there, parents, siblings, and even grandchildren – Nasser was an uncle though he had yet to meet his first nephew! He would get his business done here quickly, buy the books and items he needed as quick as he could and then be back with them before you could say “Floo powder!” He was going to have to keep up with his reading if he was going to become a Healer. Because Nasser was not from a magical family he was always worried that others had an advantage over him – he knew for a fact that some parents were already making their children practise potions and read books during the holidays in preparation for the years to come and the professions they wished to practise. Besides, he didn’t mind doing some reading over the summer.

Nasser was just out of Flourish and Blotts and wishing for the hundredth time that he could apparate when he heard a familiar voice behind him. “’Course I do,” said Nasser, excited to see Dana. This made coming to Diagon Alley worth it, come to think of it, he should’ve owled Dana on the-off chance that they might meet here. Her excitement was infectious, and Nasser couldn’t wait to hear her news. The sight of his smiling friend had made his day, her obvious excitement at having bumped into him being the icing on the cake. He followed her into the ice-cream shop wondering what her news was, a little confused as to what exactly the ice-cream lady was congratulating her about and he found himself smiling in anticipation of her news – finally something was going right for Dana! She certainly deserved it after all she’d been through during this year – Kris’ blindness, her grandparent’s death and then the Death Eater attack. “A chocolate malt, please,” he said, his eyes on Dana. He sipped at his drink when it arrived and made frantic hand gestures indicating that she should spill the beans.

Dnaa didn't keep him waiting much longer.

The smile disappeared from Nasser's face in an instant. He accidentally spit out his straw and a trail of chocolate seeped down from his mouth and onto his robes. Little as he cared about his robes at the moment he seized the opportunity to busy himself with something as he wiped away the chocolate from his robes and avoided Dana’s eyes. Questions went off like fireworks in his head. Pregnant? He half-expected someone to yell out “April Fools!” But this was no joke, Dana’s voice was excited and entirely in earnest. And Nasser was stunned into silence, trying to believe what he had just heard her say.

He didn’t know Dana had had that kind of relationship with anyone. They had never exactly discussed the topic, it was something he usually discussed with his male friends rather than his female ones, and yet it had never crossed his mind that Dana could’ve done that - she didn’t even have a steady boyfriend! Had it been her first time? And hadn’t she heard of Contraceptive Charms or Potions? The wizarding media was crazy about the topic, with new ones coming out all the time, supposedly each more effective and comfortable then the others. He didn’t know what to ask or where to start. He continued to wipe at his robes, a little too vigorously than was necessary and when he spoke he still didn’t look at her.

“I, well, that it is quite some news.” He still had no idea what to say. He really couldn’t understand what she was excited about. She was barely an adult and she was supposed to bear and take care of a child. He thought of the Dana he had met a year ago, wickedly funny, intelligent, and with all the potential and connections to make something out of her life in the magical world. She looked lovely today in that dress, her eyes dancing, it was as if summer was all around her, staring out of her eyes at him. Although all his concern was for his friend his first question was about the other party concerned – the boyfriend she had kept a secret from him for some reason. “And the father is?” In all his life Nasser had never imagined having the conversation, especially not with someone he called a friend. Yes, unwanted and unexpected babies were made everyday, and yes, there were teenage mothers but he had never known one yet alone called her his friend – his close, loyal, friend. His voice was steady even though he still hadn’t completely absorbed the shock.

[dana]

Dana was happy over being pregnant. And so she expected her friends to be as well, because she was going to go through with it. And while Nasser’s shock was quite evident Dana hoped that he wouldn’t take it too badly. Because family always took priority. The child inside her already had. Wordlessly handing Nasser one more napkin Dana ate her chocolate, quietly waiting for Nasser’s words as his eyes were avoiding hers. It was understandable really in a way, but Dana hoped that their friendship would survive it none the less. Nasser was a very valued friend after all. Swallowing the bite she had just lifted to her mouth Dana let out an amused snort: “I know it is. I fainted when I heard it. You have taken it the most calmly out of all the people I’ve told this about already though. Well, Cleo was quite calm and happy about it as well, even though I’m quite sure she would want her own kids already with Kris. Still have at least one temper tantrum ahead of me when I tell Mandarb – my fencing tutor – that I’m pregnant and can’t participate in the competition he signed me up for.”

Dana observed Nasser lazily as she twirled her spoon slowly in her ice-cream bowl. She had always been good enough at reading people, being best reading her friends. It was quite obvious that Nasser felt quite uncomfortable about it all. The question was how Nasser was going to react to the news in the end. “Lost your copy with what you should be saying? I’m afraid such a cue-card never existed,” Dana commented quietly tilting her head back as she gazed into the sky. Ah, the infamous question. The father. Everyone asked that first for quite obvious reasons. Dana wasn’t involved with anyone so people were curious. Raising her head again Dana smiled, not feeling any regret about all that happened.

“I’m not going to tell you who the father is. That knowledge will die within my head. While my brother is a walking contradiction really he wouldn’t have any hesitation about whether or not to drop Veritaserum into your glass – as he has too much respect to do that to me - to find out who the father is so he could slaughter him for laying a finger on me,” Dana responded smoothly. She loved Kris with all her heart as a sister. But that didn’t mean she was blind about all of his mistakes. He was darkness, he was hate, he was vengeance, he was fury and anger and scorn. But he was loyalty, and he was honor, even if he only followed his own moral code. “He wasn’t a friend. Actually he was hardly even an acquaintance, as while we had played in the same sand-box when we were around 7 or 8, we hadn’t even conversed after that. We accidentally met in Hogsmeade, he recognized me and things just happened. Sometimes it is easier to let yourself go before a stranger who you will never have to see again. I needed comfort and he happened to be there. Now he has moved on and I wish him the best in his life. But no, I will not tell you anything more. I will be able to care for a child. And he or she will have the best aunt and uncle anyone could ever ask for in Kris and Cleo.”

((Dear lord, how cruel am I? I just thought that it would be amusing to write Dana loosing the kid *grimaces* Even if it would open one more quite intriguing possibility for her.))

[Nasser Salah G6]

Well, so much for thinking that meeting Dana was going to be the highlight of the day. He pushed his drink away feeling in mood to drink any more of it, and fighting the impulse to snap at her out of sheer exasperation. “Yes, well I am not exactly turning cartwheels at the moment,” he said. Whoops. “I mean it’s going to take some time for me to be where you’re at – oh Dana – I just -” What could he say? Fencing was the least of her troubles in his eyes. Did she not fully comprehend the responsibility that came with a baby or was she just refusing to get emotional and dramatic over the matter. Well whatever it was he was going to have to control himself for her sake, however hard he was finding it. “Dana, he offered you more than just comfort,” said Nasser, biting his lip in frustration. He still had questions about the father, he wanted to know whether Dana had told him or not, why she didn’t think he had a right to care for the child and what she was going to do when eventually the baby grew up and asked her about him. But there was a much more pressing matter at hand, a matter that hurt Nasser more deeply than everything else.

Nasser looked at Dana who at the moment seemed not to have a care in the world. Whatever he did he didn’t want to upset her or in any way try to make her feel guilty, what had happened had happened and there was nothing he could do about it. It was difficult being friends with Dana, she was so headstrong and determined and did not take criticism easily. Why the need to turn to someone other than him – or that other Ravenclaw friend she had that was good at History of Magic – Ruby or Jewel – why that acquaintance? What had made her feel so miserable that he didn’t know about? “What were you sad about? Dana, you never talked to me about the attack and I avoided the topic because I didn’t want to rub salt into your wounds. Was I wrong? Did more happen than you told me? Or did something happen over the summer?” Dana was his main concern, that she was pregnant was to Nasser a very big deal, but first he had to understand what had been depressing her. That mattered to him the most, everything else, even a baby, came second.

((No comment. *huggles poor Dana's charries*))