Pansy had to laugh. 'Darling, I wouldn't have believed it this time last year!' she admitted. It was just a year ago that she'd discovered she was going to have a baby, and the news had come as a bit of a shock. She had thought her life was over. Little did she know that it was just beginning. Pansy smiled at all the changes Polly had brought into her life.
Taking Nathaniel, Pansy sighed with pleasure at the feel of a younger child in her arms, one that didn't immediately demand to get down. 'Oh, aren't you the precious little bundle?' she cooed to him. 'Yes, you are! Yes, you are....' She knew she wasn't supposed to baby talk to him. John and the books all said that, but she couldn't resist, especially when he was smiling at her that way. 'Oh, you're going to be a heartbreaker, aren't you?' she smiled. 'Just don't go breaking my little girl's, okay? Can we make that deal right now? Surely your mummy and daddy have taught you to do what your elders say, haven't they?'
Her head jerked up. 'Merlin, did I just call myself an elder?' she groaned in surprise.
It could actually be worse. Polly could be using her one other word...the one Pansy would have a hard time explaining.
Nathaniel started to squirm, looking around for the origin of the yell. 'Oh, she's already got at least one wrapped around her little finger,' Pansy admitted without thinking. 'Even poor Cass doesn't mind being around her as much as he was afraid he would. Did you hear about him?' Pansy frowned, sadness suddenly washing over her. 'Of course you did. I'm sure I owled Theo when I was owling everyone else.' She was so worried about him. She'd been to see him every day, sitting with him and talking to him. Though she'd finally gotten John in there to see him, John's verdict hadn't been any better than the other healers'.
Sniffing back her tears, Pansy knelt down with Nathaniel. 'Nathaniel, this is Polly. You're going to look out for her when you get older and keep all the nasty 'Puffs away. Polly, this is Nathaniel. You're going to be kind and not break his heart too often when you are grown....'