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First off I’d like to say your writing is so so good and you’re very talented! I would not be surprised if you’re a professional writer, it’s just that good!

If you’re comfortable with the topic can I request a fic with Seb and MC dealing with a pregnancy scare towards the end of 7th year? Her cycle is whack because of stress due to graduation, exams, worrying about a career, etc, and when she finally gets her a period weeks later they’re relieved at first but maybe also a little disappointed because they started to accept it? Like they haven’t thought about having a family together yet but now that she had a scare they realize they want it in the near future? Thank you so much!

Hello, sweet Anon!!

First, thank you for your incredibly kind words. I don't AT ALL deserve it, but I'm honored and flattered, and I really, really hope I did your request justice here. I deviated just a smidge from part of your ask, so I hope that's alright. This is TOOTH-ROTTING FLUFF, and I had a blast writing such a fun prompt. This was such a creative and lovely request. Please feel free to send me more - I adored this one.

TW: Pregnancy, pregnancy scare, non-explicit sexual content, language...

"More Than Anything"

"That's a rather odd combination for you, MC." Poppy said, marveling as she watched her friend slather strawberry jam over a mountain of hot bacon.

"It's actually quite good." MC said, shoveling in a mouthful of the sticky strips. "Smelled 'em this morning and simply couldn't help myself."

"Your appetite never ceases to amaze." Shaking her head, Poppy returned to her own plate.

Seventh year had been a whirlwind so far. N.E.W.T. preparations being the source of many students' distress, MC was certainly not immune to the anxieties of studying. Give her an Ashwinder camp or a goblin rebellion any day. These exams would determine her future - a future that was approaching at break-neck speed.

It may not have been so bad if she had even an inkling of what she wanted to do when she graduated - besides remain with Sebastian. He was the only thing she had ever been certain of, but even he seemed to have his whole life planned out.

With plans to take over Fig's still-vacant position after graduation, Sebastian remained laser-focused on his studies. She had no doubt in her mind that he would achieve his goal, but when he continuously pressed her for where she wanted to apply, she always came up empty.

As if intent on not letting her forget this fact, she felt his familiar form slide in next to her on the bench, stirring her from thought.

"I see you're still studying to try and ace all of your N.E.W.T.s? If you narrow your occupation down, you only have to focus on some, you know." Sebastian said obnoxiously, and MC bristled.

"I'm well aware of that, Sebastian. You don't need to keep badgering me. I'm fine." She snapped, spooning another mound of jam onto a bare spot of the meat mountain on her plate.

"Are you...alright?" He asked, regarding her meal cautiously.

"Can't a girl simply eat in peace without everyone judging her taste? Fuck's sake!" Seething, she drained the last of her drink and slammed the water goblet down on the table before swinging her legs over the bench and standing.

She made to grab her books, but Sebastian was already scrambling to his feet, frantically gathering her belongings in his arms. She tried to snatch them away, but he held the haphazard stack of books above his head.

"Don't be like that, love. I'll stop - I can see you're stressed. Let's head to the Library before Charms - unless you'd like to finish your personal feast." He said cheerily, trying to tease away her temper.

It sufficed in quelling a bit of the rage she felt, as his charming smile so often did, but she still couldn't shake her annoyance. It had bubbled up out of nowhere that morning, and she felt like she wanted to bite the head off anyone who so much as breathed too loudly.

Which was almost precisely what happened when Cressida Blume approached their quiet study session that morning.

MC could feel her blood pressure finally beginning to lower. Sebastian sat close next to her at one of the Library's back tables, mindlessly tracing soothing circles with his thumb over her skirted thigh as they read quietly. The sound of his steady breathing combined with his warm hand and the intoxicating scent of his cologne, and she was finally lulled into calm.

Until Cressida loudly sank into the seat on her other side and jabbed a bony elbow into her ribcage. The scathing look MC shot the poor girl would have sent most running, but the Gryffindor merely smiled and slipped something soft into her pocket.

"I can see my hunch was right after your outburst at breakfast. Figured you may have forgotten yours today what with all your studying. Fortunately, I always keep a spare on hand." Cressida whispered and winked before slipping out of the chair, disappearing back into the bookshelves.

MC dug her hand into her pocket and felt the familiar fabric of a sanitary rag. With a sickening jolt, she realized that she was due to begin her cycle that week. Typically, on the same day as Cressida, as had been the case since they became roommates two years ago.

Making a mental note to bring the sweet girl an offering of chocolates later as thanks, she turned to Sebastian. "My apologies - I'll need to cut our studies short this morning. Need to tend to something before class."

Sebastian gave her a curious look but shrugged and let her leave with a kiss on the cheek. They'd see each other in class shortly, anyway.

-

Except, Charms soon began, and MC was still sitting in the lavatory stall, staring blankly at the pristine square of tissue she'd wiped herself with. Typically, her period came like clockwork. She was frankly surprised not to have bled through her skirt overnight. Yet there she was, sanitary rag grasped uselessly in her hand.

It was odd, she supposed, but not unreasonable to start a bit late. It was probably more strange that she had always been so regular. Deciding to fasten the cloth to her undergarments anyway to avoid an embarrassing mishap later on, she straightened her skirt and hurried off to class.

What started as an event barely worth thinking about, however, became an increasingly weighty concern as the days stretched on into weeks, and she still had not bled. By the third straight week, she was near ready to simply pitch herself off the Astronomy Tower than consider the implications of this new realization.

She and Sebastian had always been so careful, always keeping a healthy brew of contraceptive on hand in the Room of Requirement for their increasingly frequent nights together there.

Now, on a cheerful Sunday morning, she found herself still tangled up with his sleeping form in that very same room, feeling her heart race like a caught rabbit. Wracking her brain, she tried to remember just when they could have slipped up. Perhaps they'd been less careful than she thought.

The pressure of exams had certainly led to them blowing off steam in an array of odd places when their stress became unbearable - broom closets, the Undercroft, beneath the Quidditch stands - in the flurry of studying and worrying about what the near future held, she could not say for certain if she had remembered to take her potion every day she'd laid with him.

A rough hand tenderly caressing the side of her clammy face brought her back to sickening reality, and Sebastian's sleepy gaze widened at the sight of her. Instantly, he propped himself up on his elbows, pushing her hair out of her face and searching her eyes for any indication of why she was so distressed upon waking.

"Another bad dream, darling? You're so pale." He asked, concern growing.

She'd had a terrible episode of nightmares after fifth year, but they'd calmed significantly since then. She couldn't blame him for worrying about a recurrence - he'd spent weeks on end working with Garreth to develop a potion to ease her back then.

"I think I'd rather it be the nightmares, Sebastian." She choked back a sob and saw his expression crumple.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt? Tell me so I can fix it." Pleading, he began roving his hands over her, desperately trying to find the source of the pain so he could rid her of it.

She reached up and grabbed hold of his hands to stop them, bringing them up to her chest and pressing them tight against her racing heart. She swallowed thickly - it would be better to break the news now.

"I'm late." Was all she managed to croak out.

Sebastians brows furrowed impossibly further, confused. "Late? Darling, are you still half-asleep? It's the weekend. We've nowhere to be."

She gripped his hands tighter and clenched her eyes shut, trying to stem the flow of tears pricking at the corners. This was the last thing in the world she wanted to say to him, and yet he was being intentionally obtuse, it seemed.

"No, Sebastian. I'm late. I've missed nearly an entire month." She hissed, praying to whatever deity may be listening to have mercy and ensure that he would understand without her having to spell it out for him further.

He stilled for a moment, processing, before his mouth fell slack, and he, too, grew quite pale.

"You're pregnant." It was barely a whisper, but she winced like he'd yelled it.

Then the tears sprung forth in full force, and she wailed loudly. A puffskein that had wandered its way out of the vivarium during the night startled off the bed at her outburst.

Sebastian, still coming to terms with the realization himself, panicked and instantly pulled her on top of him, wrapping his arms firm around her back to press her into his chest. She could feel his own heart trying to match the frantic rhythm of hers as she sobbed into him.

He tried to shush her, combing his fingers through her sleep-tangled hair and pressing desperate kisses to her bare shoulders. Unfortunately, every time she settled and would try to speak, her body became wracked with sobs yet again, and they'd restart the whole process.

When she'd finally settled down, thoroughly soaking Sebastian and the blankets draped over them with tears, he rolled them over and caged her against the mattress, locking her in place under his towering form. She stared up meekly - she'd never seen his face so serious before. Was he angry with her for missing a contraceptive? Would he leave her?

"Have you calmed enough to listen to what I need to say to you? It's important." He said firmly, keeping his eyes locked on her while she nodded softly.

Sighing heavily, Sebastian mustered a small smile and said, "While this isn't the ideal way to start our family, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intending on asking you for children some day. That day just came a bit sooner than expected, is all. We'll be alright."

He said it so assuredly that she could do nothing more than offer a watery smile of her own and reach up to pull him down on top of her, melting into a soft kiss.

Mouths melding against each other perfectly, things quickly spiraled from affectionate to heated, and before she knew it Sebastian was pressing searing kissing down her chest, pausing to glance up at her from just above her naval. The wicked look he wore sent a shiver down her spine, and then his face sank lower to gently nibble at the tender flesh above her hip.

"Sebastian!" She gasped out, fisting her hands in his tousled brown mess of hair, trying to pry him off. "This is precisely the sort of thing that landed us in such a predicament if you care to recall!"

He laughed against the soft flesh of her inner thigh and looked up again, grinning in that charming way she knew damn well would have her weak and caving to anything he suggested.

"I've already put a child in you, so why should I deprive myself the pleasure of properly enjoying you now? Let me take care of you this morning - show you just how much I love you. Ought to settle both our nerves quite a bit."

-

Both breakfast and lunch had long since come and gone by the time the two finally stumbled out of the Room of Requirement together, infinitely more relaxed than they'd been upon waking. While they hadn't had time to hammer out the specifics, MC was struggling to find enough energy to even think, let alone worry, after he was through with her.

Sebastian, for his part, looked positively elated when she glanced up at him. She was presently latched onto his arm, sleepily leaning on him as he wheeled her through the corridors. If he had any concerns about what the future had in store for them, he certainly wasn't showing it. Sebastian's fearlessness in the face of this unthinkable situation that had been consuming her for weeks eased away many of the reservations she'd had.

While there was still so much up in the air in regards to her future, Sebastian being a part of it was the only thing certain. There was never a doubt in her mind that they'd eventually settle down together, so what did it matter if things happened a bit earlier than anticipated? Sure, they'd never explicitly discussed children, but she eventually wanted to raise a family - most importantly, she wanted that with Sebastian.

Confidence left her, however, when Sebastian planted them both in front of the cold double doors to the Hospital Wing. Even he seemed to hesitate a moment in front of the imposing entrance. It felt like once they crossed that threshold, everything would become real. No amount of pillow talk or sweet dreams of an idyllic future could brace them for the reality of their situation.

Sebastian jostled her arm loose so that he could hold her hand tightly. He stared down at her, expression tight and controlled. Sudden warmth spread through her chest when she acknowledged that he was keeping a strong face for her sake. He was a nervous wreck - but he sure as hell was doing his best to hold it together for the both of them - for her.

She squeezed his hand back reassuringly, and together, they pushed open the doors.

The Hospital Wing was silent and blessedly empty, and Nurse Blainey's voice faintly called to them from her office that she would be out in a moment.

Sebastian guided MC to the nearest bed and sat her down, sinking down right by her side, all while never releasing the hold he kept on her hand. She was shaking, and he leaned over to press a kiss on top of her head.

"I promise you, everything will be alright." He said quietly, and she wanted to believe him, but -

"Sebastian, I can't even decide what I want to do with myself after Hogwarts. How am I meant to guide a whole new human being?" She stared up at him, terrified and keeping a white-knuckle grip on his fingers.

"We are going to figure this out together. I'm by your side - every step of the way. First things first, however. You need to be seen by a healer. We'll start with that." He said, as if it was obvious.

"Why do we even need to see Blainey? School's nearly finished. Once N.E.W.T.s are through, we'll be gone. No one has to be any wiser - I shouldn't even be, you know, showing by that time." She pleaded.

Sebastian sighed softly and said, "We need to see a healer so that your health is properly looked after. I reckon she'll have a few potions you'll need to start taking every day for nutrition. An expectant mother needs to remain stress-free and healthy, or so I've read."

"And since when are you such an expert, Midwife Sallow?" She asked skeptically.

He opened his mouth and paused before flushing darkly. Choosing to stare down into her lap where their hands were intertwined, he said, "Like I told you - some day I planned to discuss children with you. I've already done a bit of reading up on the matter. Wanted to be prepared."

She wanted to tell him how that was such an incredibly Sebastian thing to do - simultaneously thoughtful beyond her wildest dreams while also being the most amusing case of bookishness she'd ever heard of. But the clack of Blainey's shoes against the tile floor stirred them from conversation, and they both looked up to meet her curious gaze.

"Well? Which of you is it this time?" She snipped, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Er, me. It's me. I - " But the words caught in her throat.

Without missing a beat, Sebastian picked up for her. "We believe MC is with child."

Blainey's impatience vanished, and she looked between them. MC's face burned under her scrutiny, and she braced herself for the healer to berate them for their carelessness. The stern woman always had a few choice scoldings on hand for whenever either one of them came to her with a dueling injury - she'd likely have a littany of judgements to pass on this spectacular fuck-up.

However, Nurse Blainey's face remained serene, and if she was disappointed, she said nothing to show it. Instead, she held her clipboard in one hand, quill poised to write in the other, and simply began taking notes.

"Tell me your symptoms and when they started." Blainey instructed.

Again, MC's voice seemed to fail her. Ever reliable, Sebastian gave her hand a few gentle squeezes and answered for her.

"She hasn't bled for nearly a month." He replied.

Blainey nodded and jotted it down, then stilled her hand to prompt them for more information. "Yes, that certainly is a rather telltale symptom. Anything else?"

Sebastian waited a moment to see if MC would reply this time. When she did not, he answered again, this time with a bit of cheeky grin.

"I say this with all respect, but MC has been particularly irritable as of late. She's fatigued more than not, and frankly, the food she craves is abnormal even by her standards... mostly sugar, truth be told." Sebastian trailed off, casting a cautious glance to his side to see if his words had ignited said irritability.

They hadn't - while his girlfriend may have prickled at his words, they were true, and this was for medical purposes. So she simply nodded, resigned.

Blainey scribbled away and carried on with her volley of back-and-forth questions and answers. Before long, she stood and pulled the curtain around the bed, holding it open at one end and gesturing for Sebastian to step out.

He felt MC go rigid and looked over to see her wide eyes looking up at him, begging.

"I'll stay with her if it's all the same to you." He said softly.

"It is not all the same to me, Mister Sallow. While you may enjoy some of the activities of a married couple, the fact of the matter remains that you are not, and as such you are not entitled to be present for any part of her physical examination." There was that prickly attitude they'd come to know and love from their resident healer.

"Please, Nurse Blainey. I need him here." MC pleaded, desperate not to be without Sebastian for even a moment of this process. She couldn't bear to hear the news alone.

Blainey's hardened expression disappeared instantly when she looked at the terrified girl, and she let out an exasperated sigh, relenting. "Very well. Lie back on the bed - Sallow, you'll need to take a seat in a chair. The cot is for patients."

Reluctantly, Sebastian withdrew his hand from MC's talon-grasp, graciously pressing a comforting kiss to her temple before sliding off the bed and sinking into one of the visitor chairs next to it. Resting his elbows on his knees, he replaced the loss of MC's hand by clasping his own together, hunched forward, and observing the exam with rapt interest.

The physical examination was quicker than either of them thought - nothing invasive, MC wasn't even required to shed her clothing. Rather, Blainey hovered her wand just above MC's abdomen and muttered a soft incantation, brows furrowed. It was over and done with before MC had even gotten comfortable on the stiff cot, and Blainey helped her to sit back up.

Sebastian was on his feet, far too antsy to remain seated. He craned his neck to try and look at the clipboard - attempting even to see if he could decipher the strangely annoyed look on Blainey's face. He didn't have to wait long for an answer, though.

"Right. Well, I suppose I should have expected as much. You aren't the first, and you certainly will not be the last." She tutted. "N.E.W.T.s cause stress, which can be brutal on the body if you're not taking proper care of yourself. Your poorly balanced diet, lack of sleep, and rigorous study schedule seem to have created the perfect storm."

"So, I'm unwell? What about the - "

"Fatigue and malnutrition are to blame for your missed cycle, not pregnancy. I'll send you off today with a potion to help you sleep and a contraceptive. I implore you to make use of it, at least while I'm still responsible for the two of you." She said, summoning a couple of vials from the shelf to hand to MC before exiting through the curtain and calling back, "You're free to leave once you take your medicine. Set the empty bottles on the tray, please."

MC and Sebastian exchanged sheepish looks before she uncorked the vials in succession and downed them - not wanting their previous activities that morning to result in a similar visit later on.

They sat silently, both staring wordlessly at the empty potion bottles on the small tray next to the bed.

"Well, I suppose that'll ease some of your anxiety, eh?" Sebastian teased gently.

MC sat perched on the edge of the bed and continued looking at the vials, brows furrowed and deep in thought - not really listening. She was only stirred when she felt warm hands wrap around her own and saw Sebastian kneeling down in front of her, concerned.

"Sorry, I guess all this just got me thinking." She confessed and laced her fingers through his reassuringly.

"Care to share with the class?" He quipped.

"Well, it's silly, but I was almost, I don't know -" Unable to stop the crestfallen look, she pouted and prayed he could understand where she was coming from.

"Excited?" Sebastian offered helpfully.

"Yes! Is that wicked of me? To be a bit disappointed?" She asked warily.

Sebastian sprung to his feet and practically launched himself at her, knocking them both over onto the small bed with a crushing embrace. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he nuzzled into her and inhaled deeply.

"I feel very much the same." Voice muffled by the fabric of her robe, she was still able to make out what'd he'd said, and her heart melted. She kissed the top of his head and held him against her for a quiet moment, pensive and debating her next choice of words.

"Sebastian...I may not be sure what I want to do with my N.E.W.T results, but I am certain of one thing." She smiled, coaxing his head up to look at her.

The pure adoration with which Sebastian viewed her made her weak, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was where she was meant to be. He waited expectantly for her to finish vocalizing her thoughts.

"Regardless of what I decide to do with my studies, I know for certain that the thing I want most in my life is to raise a family with you." She said with conviction.

Sebastian made a choked sort of sound before hurriedly burying his face into her bosom, and she felt the heat rising from his face - tips of his ears bright red.

"I want that too - more than anything. And soon, if we could." He said, burrowing his face deeper and holding her impossibly tighter against himself.

"Perhaps we'll wait until after graduation, eh?" She felt him chuckle.

Finally, he looked up at her, wearing that charming, crooked smile she loved so much and matched it with one of her own bright grins. And she knew he was right, as always, and they really would be just fine.

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