Face Claims:

Valentine Graves- Tessa Thompson

Madeleine Graves- Madeleine Mantock

Elodie Graves née Picquery- Judy Reyes

"Jojo the foods done."

I looked up from my sketch book and smiled at the tall girl leaning on my bedroom door.

"Thanks Val."

My older cousin Valentine along with her twin sister Madeline and their mother Elodie have been visiting for the past 2 months at my grandparent's estate in London. Elodie is the only child of my gran's older brother Baptiste Picquery; her and my mother were extremely close and I'm just as close to her daughters. Though they attended Ilvermorny we still had a close bond considering the fact that I spent most of my childhood living in New Orleans with them before attending Hogwarts.

I sighed as I closed my book and struggled to get up out of my chair.

"We better hurry. You know Auntie Adie's been a bit crazy about your eating habits, especially since you're this far along." She smirked rubbing my growing belly and I felt a small kick making me smile.

The decision to follow through with my pregnancy was a difficult one. At first I truly struggled with the fact that I was carrying the child of the man who violated me, but I could not bring myself to end it. This child is innocent, no matter what Dolohov did, this child is apart of me and I will make sure they have the best life possible. I will make sure that this war wasn't fought in vain, they will never have to live a life in fear of death eaters or their so called dark lord.

"Let's go before she sends Kreacher up here. The last thing I need is a grumpy, old elf berating me." We laughed and we slowly made our way down the stairs. I was moving as fast as I could, being almost 9 months pregnant meant that I was no longer the broom riding, fast paced and as Professor McGonagall would say "reckless" girl I was only a year ago, now I'm a 18 year old single mother preparing for my first child.

"It's about time you two. I was beginning to think y'all got lost." Auntie Ellie gave us a bright smile as her strong Louisianan accent rang throughout the dining room.

Elodie Graves was a beautiful woman with glowing light brown skin, long flowing brown curls common among Picquery women, bright hazel eyes, and cheeks riddled with freckles just like mine. She was married to Auror Gregory Graves, the grandson of Former MACUSA Head Auror Perceval Graves, but he was killed by death eaters in a raid around the same time as my mother.

"Sorry Auntie, I'm not moving as fast as I used to. My ankles are swelling up like bludgers." I said making her laugh along with Madeleine and my grandparents.

We ate our lunch having easy and comfortable conversations before Maddie spoke up.

"So Joie have you thought anymore on what we talked about?"

Everyone looked at me with soft, understanding smiles as I took my time to answer. For the past couple of months I've been trying to decide where I want to settle down once I give birth. While I love England, I don't like the unwanted attention that I along with Harry, Hermione, & Ron have gotten since the end of the war. Yes I'm grateful and humbled that they've hailed us heroes, but it seems as though my privacy no longer exists. I don't want to bring my child up in the spotlight, when I don't even like it myself.

"Honestly, I don't know. I love England, but I feel like I won't have any privacy here. And I don't like the spotlight. I just want to raise my child in peace. Skeeter has already spread lies on who the father is; one week it was Harry, the next it was Krum. All I want is to live in peace." I was starting to get worked up, annoyed at the irritating beetle who calls herself a journalist.

"Well our offer is still on the table suge. You could move to the states with us. You have your pick of all your great-gran's properties, there's the Manor in New Orleans, the brownstone in Manhattan, the Manor in Virginia, that Cabin up In Washington state, or the Estate in San Fransisco," she started before Maddie spoke up, "Mama's right Jojo anywhere you wanna go, we'll be right there with you. You're not alone." She finished getting teary eyed.

She and Val sat on both sides of me gathering me in a group hug making relieved tears fall from my eyes. I wouldn't have been able to make it these past few months if it wasn't for my family rallying around me.

"The states don't sound so bad. Maybe we could go back to New Orleans for a couple years before settling down somewhere else," I started before feeling a few kicks to my side making me laugh, "sounds like they like that idea too."

Val snorted kissing my forehead laying a rubbing my belly.

"I wish you would have found out the gender when you had the chance. The suspense is killing me Jo."

"Sue me I like surprises."

The next couple hours went by like any other day. It was early January so going into the garden was out of the question, so we settled into the main sitting room just enjoying each other's company. I resumed my sketching and spoke to Val about how Puddlemore United was seriously slacking this past match, while Maddie and Papa spoke about something to do with the Wizengamot.

I honestly checked out of their conversation after the first minute, those two could talk politics for hours.

And Gran and Auntie Ellie spoke about the nursery. We had a crib set up in my room but I didn't want to set up an actual nursery until I figured out where I wanted to live.

Suddenly the floo lit up Harry and Ginny made their way through making my face light up.

I struggled to tried to get up from the couch, sighing as I looked down at my protruding belly.

You're really doing a number on me kiddo.

As if they could hear my thoughts I felt a small flutter of magic in my gut that wasn't my own. I smiled and rubbed my belly.

My god brother quickly walked over to me with a teasing grin.

"Hold on Jo, you look like you're struggling. I'll come to you." He smirked down at me making me glare at him.

Smart ass

"Bite me Potter."

"Stop teasing Harry." Ginny flicked his forehead teasingly leaning down to give me a hug.

"We come baring gifts." Ginny settled on the couch next to me handing me a gryffindor red onesie with a yellow K for Kama in the middle. I smiled looking at Molly Weasley's handy work feeling a warmth in my chest. I already had a small baby shower and had received more than enough gifts from the people closest to me.

"Tell your mom thank you. I love it."

I gave her another hug handing the onesie to Gran as Harry settled down on the couch sitting on the other side of Ginny.

"So how's my favorite mum to be doing?" He asked smirking.

"Well my ankles are swollen up like bludgers, my back hurts like hell, and I can't see my feet. Honestly your god child is kicking my ass." We laughed as I leaned back on the couch sighing feeling a prick in my side. All day I've been feeling this pricks and twinges in my sides and back, but I haven't been too worried about it. Back pain has been apart of everyday life for the past couple of months.

We spent the next couple of hours catching up, with me preparing for the baby, Harry & Ron doing Auror training, Hermione starting her internship at the ministry working under Kingsley, and Ginny finishing her last year at Hogwarts; we really haven't had that much time to spend together. Sure they visit every chance they get, with Mia coming to visit every other day during her lunch break and the boys stopping by at least twice a week for dinner, it's just not the same as seeing them everyday. My favorite couple decided to stay for dinner, and as we made our way back to the dining room I felt another twinge in my side that was much stronger than the others making me clutch my side groaning.

"You alright Jo?" Ginny quickly wrapped her arm around me concerned pushing my curly hair out of my face.

Everyone quickly made their way over to me, with my grandmother being the first.

"Ti kras, what's wrong?" She kneeled down looking up at my hunched over figure with concern.

"I don't know, I feel like.." I was cut off by another sharp pain in my lower back.

"I think you're in labor Mon Soleil." Papa rushes over to me holding me up.

Labor, I still had two more weeks!

"I can't be in labor it's to earl-ah.." I could barely get my sentence out feeling as though someone was roundhouse kicking me in my stomach.

"Hurry we'll get her to the medical room, Harry I need you to contact Poppy and tell her that Josette is in labor." Gran spoke softly yet sternly, I guess in an effort to keep me from flipping out.

They quickly led me to the fully stocked and state of the art medical room on the first floor of my grandparent's estate. I decided early on to have a home birth like my mother did, and I wanted Madam Pomfrey to deliver my child like she delivered me.

Papa kept a firm grip on me holding me up as we made our way into the room. I settled on the bed while he went back to Harry probably to inform the rest of our makeshift family that I was in labor.

Val and Maddie helped me change into a gown and I laid back in bed trying to get comfortable as I felt another contraction.

"Breath Ti kras, and take this." Gran tied my curls back in a bun after she handed me a small vile of pain potion.

It was about 15 minutes before Madam Pomfrey arrived and she rushed over to me.

"I'll only be needing Adelaide in here, the rest of you can wait with the others."

My cousins all kissed my cheeks and forehead before making there way out the room only leaving Madam Pomfrey and Gran in here with me.

"Now before we get started is there anyone else you want in here with you?" The mediwitch asked me quickly scanning my vitals.

"Yes, my papa and Hermione, she's the godmother."

Gran nodded and sent her falcon patronus with a message for the both of them to join me in here.

Omniscient

It had been about 5 hours and the young witch was finally ready to push.

"I-I I can't do this.. Gran it hurts so much... what if I'm a horrible mother.. I can't do this..." the usually brave gryffindor looked terrified as she looked up at her grandmother's caring eyes.

"I'll have none of that Josette, you can do this because you are not alone. We've got you, and you'll be a terrific mother. You have so much love to give and I know this child will love you unconditionally. I need you to be the gryffindor I know you are and push." The graceful woman kept a tight grip on her granddaughter's hand and gave her an encouraging smile as she wipes the tears from the young witch's eyes.

The young girl nodded her head, took a deep breath and gave a determined push.

"That's it Joie your almost there!" Hermione held onto her best friend's other hand wiping the lose curls from her forehead.

"I can see the head Josette! You can do it! Just a few more pushes!" Poppy exclaimed encouraging the young mother.

After one more push Joie let out a relieved sigh as she heard a sharp cry blare throughout the room.

"It's a girl!"

There wasn't a dry eye in the room as Poppy placed the small baby girl on her mother's chest which immediately ceased her crying.

Joie sobbed as she looked down at her daughter and felt a fierce love and protectiveness she had never experienced settle in her chest.

She smiled as she looked down at the bright hazel eyes that stared back up at her, before turning to her grandparents.

"She's beautiful Joie." Abdul wiped his tears as he stared down at his great granddaughter with a soft smile.

"What's her name sweetheart?" Adelaide asked smiling wiping the sweat from Joie's forehead with a cold rag.

"Beau. Beau Marcelle Kama."