One ordinary day
Characters: Debi and Snitch Status: complete
Debi yawned and turned off her computer. She'd taken it easy after Bellatrix Lestrange's attack a few weeks ago, and now was wishing she'd made herself get back into the swing of things right away instead of sleeping late and letting Zach pamper her until her arm stopped tingling. She was still tired and a bit achy, and her magic was more erratic than it had been in months.
"Get over, Deborah Anne," she said to her reflection in the darkened monitor. "You're alive, and that's all that matters. That's more than most people can say who run into her."
She shook her head and wandered over to the sink to drop off her tea cup and toast. She'd gotten up when Zach did, kissed him good-bye, then gone back to bed for another hour. The rest of the day had been routine: check the RJBlythe.com server, sort mail, draft some letters for Remus to approve, pick up groceries, walk the dog -
There was no reason for her to be tired again, and she wondered if she was coming down with something. Fatigue was a sign of the flu, and about ten million other things, so maybe she'd have Zach take a look at her when he got home.
Snitch whined and butted her head against Debi's leg. Debi gave her an absent pat on the head. "Later, girl. Whatever this is, I'm not up to a walk right now. Besides, you're not the only one who needs to go winky-tinky or tinky-winky or whatever they call it. Just because I don't squat down next to a fire hydrant doesn't mean I don't have to pee now and then!"
Debi winced at the sight of herself in the bathroom mirror. She looked tired despite herself, and her face was definitely a bit bloated. What was going on? Maybe it was time for a little Pepper-Up in case it was the flu?
The Pepper-Up was in the medicine cabinet, right over the toilet. She opened it up and started to rummage. "Chameleon Cream, pain potion, tummy tonic, pregnancy test, Pepper-Up - "
Fatigue. Frequent urination. Bloat. Could it possibly -
No. They'd only really been able to try since the New Year, and surely it took longer than that? "You're deluding yourself, Deborah Anne. Even if something did happen, Bellatrix would have scared it right out of you. Don't be silly, you even had a period last week - "
Her voice trailed off as she remembered how light it had been, and how quickly the bleeding had stopped. Her hand closed on the box of tests, and she pulled one out of its protective wrap and positioned it under herself.
The next few minutes were excruciating. Debi washed and dried her hands, played catch with the dog, turned the TV on and off. She even tried doing a crossword puzzle, but after she tried to cross "Burgundy" with "zebra," she gave up. All she could do was wait, and that had never been easy.
The timer rang. She closed her eyes and clenched and unclenched her fists before walking into the bathroom and picking up the little plastic stick. She stared at what she saw, mouth suddenly desert dry, and sat down on the toilet again.
"Oh my God. Oh my God!" She laughed hard enough that Snitch dashed in and whined anxiously until she leaned over and hugged her sturdy neck. "I can't believe it! Oh Snitch - "
Her fatigue was gone, replaced by the sort of wonderful, bubbly joy she'd felt the first time she'd realized she was in love with Zach. She wanted to sing, dance, run through the streets, shout it out the window.
But most of all, she wanted to tell Zach, and she wanted it to be special. And when it came to "special," there was only one person she could ask for tips.
The computer came back on in a few seconds, and she grinned as she brought up her chat program.
Oilcitydeb: Kristy? You on?
Kristykreme01: Barely. Gotta run - whassup?
OCD: I have the best news ever! And I really, really need some advice -