Flame had been feeling wierd,,, very wierd. It had been there, pushed into her subconcious for a while- since the whole Sentinus thing- but she had ignored it. Now, however, she knew there was something wrong- something seriously wrong. It was like she was more than just her, like there was a new dimension to her. Hell- Flame had even started being nice to people she'd once hated. It just didn't fit.

So Flame, who had now taken flight from Hogwarts in her own worry, had decided to sink to muggle standards. She didn't want to tell anyone of her fears because they'd only think worse of it. But then, how could it be? Had Sentinus not destroyed the child. He had. He'd told the world he had.

Flame took refuge in a place that was neither a comfort not a threat- the abandoned colloseum. It seemed the right place to do this, here was where, if the test were to come back positive, the child was concieved.

So she went ahead with it, using the muggle test and then curling up in a corner while she waited for the results. Head was in her hands and she kept having flashbacks. Why did this room have to be one that survived- the very room in which she had been raped. Still, this was better than staying out in the january frost.

Finally, after what seemed like much longer than it should have been, the results were ready. She looked at the strip of paper, her hands trembling. Then she dropped it. "No..." her voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "NO!" this time she was not so quiet, she shouted it as loudly as she could manage as the first silver tear formed in her eye and rolled down her cheek.

Just what she needed- now she was crying. She returned to her corner, shaking, tears flooding down her face. It couldn't be... It must be wrong. yet, deep down she knew the test was right and that just made her feel worse.

*Liam hadn't been back to the family headquarters since he had slept with flame. After that he had gone back to Hogwarts and to the battle, and after the battle, back to the school. He had heard a rumor that the place had been completely demolished durring the fighting. Luckly, he hadn't been there with Mark.

He realizzed just how lucky it was when he arrived there. There was hardly anything left. Liam stepped in and glanced around with a sigh. The wind whipped through and he hugged his jacket tihter to his body. It was almost totally quiet. Untill he heard the word no screamed in distress. It took him a moment to place the voice. But he thought it migh tbe Flame....

Liam walked through the remainder of the house untill he found where the noise had come from. It was, indeed, flame that had screamed. And what was that on the ground by her feet* "Flame?" *He asked, standing in what was left o the door way on the opposite side of the room.*

Flame looked just as terrible as she felt- the tears had stained her face where they had fallen, her eyes were puffy, and she had the general look of someone who had not cared to look in the mirror that morning. She had, of course, she had looked immaculate, but the news had driven her beyond her limitations and it showed on her every feature.

The voice forced her to look up, scared it was someone much more dangerous than who it actually was and when she saw it was Liam she attamepted a smile which turned out a grimace. "Hi, Liam." she said, her voice cracing as she did.

Now she had said hello she sat and stared at the test again, a whole new story folding within her mind. She had bedded Liam, had she not? She could say she had concieved then, denying to ehrself, and the rest of the world, the true sire of her child. The curse which lay inside her would never know it was a lie, only she would know.

*Liam felt a strange but familiar lurch in his stomach in responce to the look she had given him.He took an unsuer step towards her.* "Flame, what's wrong?" *As he said it, Liam could hear the hint of fear in his vice. He took another sttep towards her and then he saw it. A pregenancy test on the floor near her. And it was blue. And blue ment.....

Liam looked back up at Flame, the hint of dread and fear intensified and gripping him completely now.* "Flame....."

She looked back to Liam, pciking up the fear and uncertainty with a single glance. She knew how he felt, she was feeling the same way. She didn't want a child, she wasn't ready, but she didn't know what to do at the same time, and it caused her pain and anxiety. "Yes, Liam?" she asked in a worried, strained voice, glancing at the test and then keeping eyes fixed on Liam, she wanted to know what he thought,

*Liam looked away from her and closed his eyes. She couldn't be. He couldn't deal with another kid. Mark was enough. And now with Mel in the hospital he was beginning to see how much responibility having a two year old really was. And he wasn't ever going to forget how difficult it was when Mark was an infant.* "Are you....p..pregenet?" *He said, his eyes still closed.*

Flame looked away from him, staring at the floor. Apparently, this was as hard for him as for her. She was struggling to cope already, she didn't know what to do- or what she could do- about it. She knew she couldn't tell her father, he'd flip to the dark side of hell, and he was bad at the best of times. She couldn't stand how she felt then, as if her whole world was collapsing around her and she could do nothing to stop it. "I... I'm sorry, Liam."

*Liam had opened his eyes when Flame had hesitated. But he closed them again when she confirmed what he already knew. Liam turned away and took a few steps, He ran a hand through his hair and stopped with his back to her. Liam opened his eyes and let his head fall back* "is it mine?" *His voice sounded strained, even to him*

Flame continued to avoid looking at him, she felt guilty that she knew she was about to lie to him. yes, she had to lie to him, and at the same time herself. It would hurt him and so it would hurt her, but it could help her feel more mentally secure. "I think so... I mean, he said there was going to be no child."

*Liam sat down on the ground and held his head in his hands. He still couldn't bring himself to look at her* "So what do you want to do about it? The baby, I mean?" *He turned around to look at her now for the first time, reminding himself that this was equally hard, if not harder, on her.*

Flame still didn't look at him, she couldn't bring herself to look at him. There was war in every cell of her body, should she tell him the truth, that she didn't believe Sentinus, or just carry on. But telling him would mean admitting it- right? She gulped, wandering what she could say, and then sighed. "I don't know... I know nothing about any of this Liam. What options are out there, what can I do without father knowing, what is there I can do other than go ahead with it?"

"You could give it away. Or go to Mungos and abort it...." *He paused* "Or of course you can keep it." *He wanted to say 'no matter what you decide I'm there for you...' but it had been a one night stand...he hardly knew her...he already had a son and a girlfried.....even if he didn't want to be with her anymore.*

Flame sighed, thinking through the options he gave her, None of them were ok with her- she hated every option he seemed able to offer. Why would she go through the pain of birth just to give the damn child away? She could hardly go to Mungos and abort it, they were probably reporting to the Protectors which meant Harshing would find out but then again, she couldn't keep it. Finally she came up with one, final option and turned to Liam. "Hit me with a spell, any spell, which will send me flying." the theory behind it was simple, she would land and the child would be dead. No problems, it would all be over.

*At first Liam reached for his wand simply obeying orders out of shock. But just as his fingers brushed his wand handle, it him what he was about to do.* "No." *He said firmly, dropping his hand back down to his side.* "No, not happening. You could get hurt too. "




ooc: what do you want to do about this? want her to have it or not? I'll go with either one.

ooc: Part of the plot is it can't be destroyed, Sentinus said he killed it when he placed protection around it- she can't do anything to it that will cause it to go away.

ic: Flame stared at him coldly, she was not used to being told no- she was spoilt, had everything her way, and this would be no different. She didn't care what he thought. "Liam, do it." she said firmly. "If I get hurt I can heal it using magic, but I can't tell anyone." she had a mad look in her eyes now, obsessive.

*Liam gritted his teeth and glared back at her.* "This is sick." *He muttered, pulling out his wand. Liam hated the idea of hurting a girl or a baby, but he knew that if he didn't do it she would just get someone else to do it, and they might really hurt her.* "Alarte Ascendare." *He muttered, pointing his wand at Flame. The spell would send her flying through the air. He didn't watch.*

She stood there are took the spell and she was sent flying. She landed on the floor a little distance from where she had started with a thump. It didn't really hurt her but she hoped it had worked. She didn't know if it had, she didn't know much about babies. Would she have known if it had been destroyed? She stood up and brushed dirt from her clothes. "Thanks Liam."

*Liam pocked his wand and nodded, feeling disgusted with himself.* "Should I take you to the hospital wing to see if it worked?" *Liam stepped foward and offered Flame his hand to help her up. At the same time he slipped off his coat and held it out for her.* "Or I could take you home if you wanted."

Flame looked at him, and could tell she'd made him do something he hated. "Liam, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... It was a terrible thing to do." she looked down and took his hand when she stood up. She efused to take his coat, however, she was fine as she was. "Home only means school right now." she shrugged.

"Don't worry about it." *He muttered. He didn't really know how he felt about the whole situation: he didn't want to be a dad, but at the same time, if the kid were to die because of what just happened, he would feel so disgusted with himself. Would it count as murder? He shied away from the thought.* "I'll take you back to the school then.....you'll want the coat...I came on my motercycle."

Flame shook her head. "I'll be ok, but thanks for the offer." she told him. She glanced around the ruined colosseum and then back at Liam. "Should we go then? I don't like this place..."