A/N: I do not own any characters referenced by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series and do not endorse her comments. This story is entirely my imagination. I do not profit from it and will not pay for any art commissions related to this story.
So, give me hope in the darkness, that I will see the light.
'Cause oh that gave me such a fright.
But I will hold on, as long as you like.
Just promise me, we'll be all right.
And the ghosts that we knew will flicker from view
And we'll live a long life
~ The Ghosts That We Knew by Mumford and Sons
~*~ 23rd April 2004 ~*~
Hermione watched Ginny look around her sitting room for what seemed like the hundredth time before throwing baby Alexander's blanket back into his carrier.
"His wipes are in the blue bag," she reminded them. "Not the green one. The green one has all his spare clothes in it, you know, just in case."
Hermione smiled as she watched her usually so easygoing friend fuss over her newborn.
"Oh, and the nappies are in the front pocket with his wipes," Ginny told Hermione and Harry as she looked at Neville, who was trying to keep his tie out of Alexander Franklin Longbottom's reach. "Unless Neville moved them. Neville, did you move them?"
Neville looked at her. "No, why would I move them?"
"You did last time you restocked the bag!" Ginny said as she checked the bag. "Nope, everything is right where it is supposed to be."
Harry leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded across his chest as he watched the show. "Ginny, relax, we've got this."
"Oh, if he spits up-"
"Then we'll clean him up," Harry told her.
"I almost forgot! If Al won't take his bottle, it needs to be warm. He is used to being breastfed," Ginny told them. "He lets Neville feed him, but if he won't let you guys, please let us know, and we will come to get him."
"I think we will be fine," Harry told her.
Ginny briefly glared at him before turning to Hermione. "Al likes his bottles at exactly body temperature."
"So, 37* exactly?" Harry asked. "That is very particular."
Ginny glared at him. "He gets it from his father."
Neville looked offended as he rocked Alexander. "I most certainly do not."
"You send food back, darling, if it is slightly outside of temperature," Ginny told him.
"It's a health hazard if it isn't," Neville stated.
Ginny turned to Harry and Hermione. "If he starts making little snorting noises while drinking, he needs a break."
Hermione wrapped her arm around Ginny's waist. "Ginny, it will be okay. It's only been a few years, but I did manage to keep Rosella alive."
Rosella looked up from the couch. "Yep! Here I am all alive!"
Hermione leaned over. "Besides that, this could be good practice for Harry."
Harry laughed so loud it startled Alexander. "I am an emergency healer. I deal with children almost every day."
Ginny frowned. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" She glanced at Hermione. "Give him his bottle in about an hour, change him, then he should sleep most of the evening."
Neville gently handed Alexander to Ginny, so that she could kiss his forehead. She set Alexander down in his chair, and Neville looked at her. "Are you ready now?"
Ginny nodded, "As ready as I'm ever going to be."
Hermione pulled her into a hug, and both women laughed as Roman kicked. "Go enjoy yourselves. We will call if we need anything."
Ginny stared down at her son. "If he cries more than twenty minutes-"
"Gin, we are going to be late to our reservation," Neville stated as he took her hand. "He'll be fine, love."
Ginny took a big breath and followed Neville to the floo.
Once they left, Harry turned to Hermione. "How long do you think until she floos us to check on him?"
"Ten minutes!" Rosella piped in.
Alexander yawned.
"Look, we are so boring that we are making him sleepy already," Harry commented. "Anyway, dinner is ready."
Hermione bent down to pick him up, and Harry stepped in. "You go into the kitchen. I've got him," Harry said as he unfastened him, then carried him as well as his chair into the kitchen, following Rosella and Hermione.
After placing him back in his bouncer chair and turning it on so that it vibrated, Hermione sat down at the table as Rosella brought over cups for all of them. "Thank you, honey." She looked at Harry as he brought plates over for her and Rosella. "Isn't it a bit weird that Sirius isn't here yet?"
Harry shrugged as he monitored Rosella pouring them each a glass of water. "He said he had a meeting with Arthur today at the Ministry."
"What about?" Hermione asked as she took a sip of her water.
"Something to do with taking back his Wizengamot seat," Harry told her as he grabbed his own plate and joined them at the table for dinner.
Hermione smiled as Rosella made ridiculous faces at Alexander to get him to make noises. She glanced at Harry, who grinned as Rosella crossed her eyes as she puffed her cheeks out.
Alexander blinked before grinning so wide that his dummy fell out of his mouth.
"I made him laugh!" Rosella said proudly.
Hermione laughed, "Rose, darling, eat your dinner first, and then you can play with Alexander."
Rosella sighed dramatically, "Fine."
Rosella told them about her classmates attempting to climb a rope at school during dinner, making it sound like they were spies trying to scale the school to steal treasure. Harry told her about their newest case: a new wizarding flu that had now spread to multiple cases. Hermione noticed the face Alexander was making as she heard a gurgling sound.
Hermione looked down at him. "Oh no."
Harry looked over. "What?"
Hermione stared at him a moment, "I think he's…" as more gurgling noises came from the small boy. "Never mind, I know what he is doing." She quickly touched her nose. "Not it!"
Harry turned pale. "Um, no?"
Hermione snorted, "Oh, yes."
Rosella looked down at the small boy, confused, wrinkling her nose. "What is that bad smell?"
Hermione pushed herself to stand. "That would be Alexander."
Harry picked him up from his bouncer and immediately held him as far away from his body as he could. "Hermione, we have a full-blown blowout."
"What is a blowout?" Rosella asked, frowning, "Because it stinks."
Before either of them could answer, a dribble of brown goo leaked down Harry's sleeve onto his shirt, making Harry gag. "Oh, dear lord."
Rosella's eyes grew large. "WHAT IS THAT?!"
Hermione bit her lips together. "Alexander's nappy has leaked."
Rosella dramatically gagged. "It's on daddy."
Hermione laughed as she walked over to the sink. "Let's get him cleaned up."
Five minutes later, Alexander was happily kicking his legs in their kitchen sink as Hermione attempted to wash baby poop from his hair.
From the doorway, Rosella continued to gag dramatically. "I don't want babies anymore if they stink this bad!" she said, holding her nose.
Harry snorted as he held Alexander and glanced over at her. "You say that now, but Roman will be different."
"Don't set her up for thinking that Roman won't do this exact thing at some point," Hermione told him.
Hermione barely heard the floo chime over Rosella's gagging.
"What are you pretending to gag about?" Sirius asked as he stepped around Rosella, then froze. "Merlin, it stinks in here," he said, then froze. "Why is there a baby in the sink?"
Rosella pointed toward them. "Babies stink, Dogfather. Roman is going to stink. Why do babies have to stink?"
Sirius snorted. "I'm sure you did too."
His cane tapped the floor lightly as he looked down into the sink. "Whose baby is that?"
"Alexander Longbottom," Hermione answered, trying to get the last of the poo from his hair. "How did your meeting go?"
Sirius slowly smiled before relaxing into the kitchen chair and taking a piece of chicken from Harry's plate. "It went well. I'll be taking back my family Wizengamot seat."
Harry grinned. "Good. I don't want it. I never really did anything with it in the first place."
"I was talking to Arthur, and thanks to your runes, the stability of the Ministry continues to get better," Sirius told her.
Hermione started cleaning the rest of Alexander's body. "Good."
"I also spoke to Arthur, and he wants me to become an advisor," Sirius told them.
Harry glanced at him. "Advisor?"
"Someone that people can come to. Arthur wants me walking around to all the departments of the Ministry and helping where I'm needed, monitoring and such. He'd like me to learn the ins and outs of the Minister's office too. He's delegating," Sirius told them with a grin, "I suppose there is some irony there about spending most of my life fighting against the Ministry and their hunt for me. Arthur said it's only right after the injustices against me that I get to spend some time making the Ministry better for others."
Hermione motioned to Harry for the towel and handed Alexander over to him after drying him off. "I think it will be a perfect thing for you," she told Sirius as Alexander settled into Harry's arms.
"It's how…" Harry began, before he frowned as he looked down at himself. "This is a new shirt. Why am I wet?"
Hermione laughed as the towel that Alexander was wrapped in began dripping. "Because he peed."
Harry looked down at the growing wet spot spreading across his shirt and trousers. "Ah, man."
Sirius snorted. "Welcome to babysitting, pup."
Rosella frowned. "I don't want babies anymore."
Hermione laughed as she took Alexander from Harry. "I got him. Go change again." She looked at Rosella as Harry walked out. "We will do our best to make sure none of Roman's bodily fluids ever get onto you."
After Hermione took Alexander into the sitting room and changed him into a clean nappy and outfit, she sat down after placing him on the couch. "Rose, sweetheart, could you hold him for me? Just a hand on his chest while I clean up his chair?"
Rosella stared at the baby before slowly going over to him. "Don't pee on me."
Hermione smiled as she took out her wand to clean up the mess in his bouncer chair. "You are such a big help, thank you."
Rosella looked at her. "Will Roman be this little?"
"Smaller when he is first born, just like Al was when he was born," Hermione told her as she set Alexander in his clean chair, then looked at Rosella. "Come here."
Rosella folded herself into Hermione's arms.
"I know this is going to be a big change for you. If you are overwhelmed or scared, let me or Daddy know," Hermione told her.
Rosella nodded against her stomach. "I'm not scared. I just am afraid that I will hurt h…" she gasped. "He kicked me!"
Hermione smiled. "He was just saying hello to you." She kissed the top of Rosella's head. "He cannot wait to meet you. He can hear you, did you know that?"
Rosella looked at her with wide eyes. "He can?"
Hermione nodded. "Come here. Let's lay together on the couch, and you tell him all about your day."
Rosella climbed up on the couch next to her and laid her head on Hermione's lap. "Hey, baby Roman, it's Rosella. I am your sister."
Hermione smiled as she closed her eyes, listening to Rosella talk to her baby brother.
~*~ 18th June 2004 ~*~
The closer Hermione got to her due date, the more Hermione felt like people were hovering over her. At thirty-five weeks along, Harry must have paid every single one of her employees into believing that she was incapable of doing even the simplest of tasks.
"You should sit down," Matt said as he walked by as she organized the to-be-shelved cart early in the morning.
"I am fine," Hermione insisted.
"Do you want me to carry that?" Andrew asked, carrying his own heavy box of an order shortly after ten.
"It's two books," Hermione stated, getting slightly annoyed. "I'm fine."
Megan walked by on her way to the stockroom as she pushed another cart out. "You've been standing too long. You should go take a break."
Hermione sighed, exasperated. "I just got back from a break. I am fine."
Pushing the cart over to the new releases section, she was fairly certain that if she dropped a book, at least three people would run to get it before she could. It was ridiculous that they were acting like she couldn't handle herself.
Roman shifted against her ribs as she placed a book on one of the lower shelves. Rubbing under her ribs, he kicked her hand. "I know, honey. We are nearly done."
Seeing the remaining stack of books, she looked toward the top shelf where one of them belonged. Looking around, she walked to the end of the aisle. "Regina? Megan? Anyone?"
"Be there as soon as I finish checking this customer out!" Regina called.
Hermione glanced back at the shelf. It would only take less than thirty seconds. Her eyes swept back to her cart, and she saw the step stool. Only thirty seconds and no one would have to know.
Grabbing the step stool off the cart, she rolled her eyes at her husband's overprotectiveness and expectations that she would limit her activity for the next month and a half. Placing the books on the furthest shelf she could reach without the step stool. She carefully climbed up to the top step.
Carefully sliding the three titles into their places, she smiled, feeling proud of herself as she stepped backward to climb off the step ladder and missed the bottom step coming back down.
Hermione inhaled sharply as the stool slid beneath her. "Shite!" she yelled as she tried to grab something but started falling backward.
"HERMIONE!" Regina yelled as she tried to run to catch her in time.
Hermione twisted as she fell to protect herself, landing on her tailbone and sending pain shooting up her back.
"I told you to wait!" Regina said as she dropped to her knees beside her. "Are you okay?"
Hermione groaned as she closed her eyes. "Regina," she winced. "I think I should get checked out."
"Megan!" Regina yelled. "Go get Harry! Hermione fell!"
Hermione moved back against the bookshelf behind her as she fought back tears. "I am so stupid."
"Are you having contractions? Pain?" Regina asked.
Hermione shifted, making pain flare through her back. "My pride is more wounded, and my back is rather unhappy with me at the moment."
"I told you to wait," Regina told her.
"It was two steps up," Hermione defended.
"And Harry is going to have my arse. He threatened all of us to wrap you in a bubble. He is going to have my head," Regina stated.
Hermione stared at her. "He threatened you?"
"He told me to tackle you before you did anything reckless, and here you are," Regina stated.
Hermione snorted. "That sounds like him."
Less than five minutes later, Hermione heard, "Where is she?" Then Harry rounded the corner, sliding on his knees to come next to her. "You fell? Megan said you fell…" he glanced at the step stool. "You were climbing a ladder? Hermione!"
"I know," Hermione winced.
"You are 35 weeks pregnant," Harry scolded.
"I'm not having contractions or anything, but I want to get checked out to be safe," Hermione told him.
Harry pulled out his wand and cast a monitoring charm. "Well, he appears more annoyed than anything."
She gasped as he carefully levitated her into the air. "Harry!" She watched as his eyes swept over to the step stool and he transfigured it into a makeshift backboard. "Harry, you are being ridiculous."
"Humour me," he said, gently lowering her onto it.
Taking her hand in his, Harry disapparated them directly to St. Mungo's, landing them inside the emergency department.
Harry immediately slipped into Chief mode as medi-witches hurried over. "Thirty-five weeks pregnant. Fall from around a meter onto her buttocks and back. No contractions, and fetal movement is present. I want continuous monitoring, and Healer Conner paged immediately."
"Harry-"
"No," Harry stared.
"You don't even know what I was going to say," Hermione defended.
"I know it was going to be a protest," Harry stated.
Hermione sighed.
"Let him fuss over you," The medi-witch told her.
Half an hour later, Hermione was lying in one of the maternity rooms, hooked up to a monitor that tracked both her and Roman. The familiar sound of his heartbeat filled the room as the crystal glowed above her stomach.
According to Harry and Healer Conner, everything looked perfect. Healer Conner assured her that Roman was unbothered by his mother's lack of balance.
Harry returned to the room after his shift was over, a large cup of ice with him. "They are keeping you overnight for observation."
Hermione frowned. "Harry-"
"No arguments about it," Harry stated as he sat down beside her. "He's head down now, which explains why you've said you have pressure lately and your centre of gravity changed."
Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry. This is mostly for my peace of mind," Harry admitted.
The tears came to her eyes before she could stop them, and she saw his face. "Ignore me, I'm pregnant, hormonal, and crying again."
Harry smiled as he got into the bed beside her and kissed the top of her head. "There is nothing to apologize for."
Hermione wiped at her eyes. "There is! Everyone warned me to take it easy, and I did it anyway."
"You did, but you need to realize you aren't invincible and to take it easy for the next five weeks," Harry said, rubbing her arm.
Hermione snorted, "I'm not invincible. What do you think I am, some superhero?"
"In our world? Yes," Harry said honestly, "I think you are more capable than you give yourself credit for. But you are also thirty-five weeks pregnant."
Hermione leaned into him. "I just hate people waiting on me," she admitted. "I can do things. I did with Rosella. I just missed the step coming down because I couldn't see around my stomach."
"You are going to be mad at me, but you need to cut back on your hours," Harry told her. "And keep both feet fully on the ground."
She sighed, "I've already cut back my hours, but fine."
Harry leaned over and kissed her. "I just want both of you healthy."
"Me too," Hermione said, placing her hand above the monitoring crystal. "We just need to get to the end." She smiled as Roman kicked. "I want him to stay put as long as possible. Rose was early, and I don't want that for him."
Harry glanced up at the monitoring screen. "We're going to be okay."
~*~ 16th July 2004 ~*~
Four days. She inhaled as she glanced at the family calendar and saw that she was four days away from her due date and was utterly done with being pregnant.
However, Roman was perfectly content with his living arrangements.
At thirty-nine weeks, Hermione hadn't seen her feet in weeks. She was exhausted, as she was so hot and restless while she attempted to sleep that it seemed like she would only sleep at two-hour intervals between rotating and peeing.
Thankfully, Rosella's first year of school had finished a week prior, which meant that summer officially began along with her maternity leave.
Hermione sat with her feet up in Harry's lap as she lounged on the couch. Sirius was in the armchair beside them, flipping through the channels.
Rosella laid on the rug in front of the television, colouring pictures of the dragons that Charlie had just taken her and Annie to see.
Hermione dozed, her hand on her belly, smiling as Roman shifted beneath her skin.
"Ready to pop yet?"
Hermione opened her eyes. "You try being nine months pregnant."
"Fair," Sirius said as he settled on some travel programme.
Hermione sighed as they showed crystal clear water and pristine beaches. "Look at that. I wish we could go to Majorca," she nudged Harry with her foot. "That would be relaxing."
Harry grabbed her foot after he set down his medical journal and started massaging it. "I think not."
Hermione frowned. "You are no fun."
"As your husband and your healer, I don't think traveling would be wise," Harry told her.
She closed her eyes as he hit a tender spot on her arch and folded her arms across her chest. "You aren't my healer."
"Are you disagreeing with my medical advice?" Harry asked, pausing his massage.
Hermione nudged him to continue. "No, you just said to relax and I'd relax there."
Sirius snorted, "For once, I agree with Harry."
"I am being ganged up on," Hermione pouted.
"You are four days away from your due date. You aren't getting on an airplane. A portkey would cause you to go into labour more than likely, and disapparation is out of the question," Harry told her.
"What about after he is born?" Hermione inquired.
Harry stared at her. "We will have a newborn."
"And?"
"They don't exactly travel well, which were your words about Rose as a baby," Harry told her.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You just don't want to go to the beach."
"I'm fine going to the beach, just not right after he is born," Harry told her.
Rosella sat up and climbed up onto the couch with Harry. "Mumma, when Roman comes, we will take him to the beach."
"Ha! Two votes against one," Hermione grinned.
Rosella moved over to her and followed Roman's foot as it shifted beneath her skin. She gently poked it, and he nudged it back. "I love when he plays with me."
Harry kissed the top of her head. "Because he already loves his big sister."
"We're best friends," Rosella announced.
"Of course you are," Hermione told her as Rosella moved to lie on Hermione's belly.
"Can I read him stories?" Rosella asked.
"Now that you are on summer break, you will be a big helper for me and Mumma," Harry told her.
Rosella gasped, "Can he sleep in my room?"
"Until he is bigger, he will be in our room," Hermione told her.
"Can I carry him around?" Rosella asked.
"No, he's too little," Harry told her.
Rosella pouted. "Fine, I'll just share my ice cream."
"He will be too small for ice cream," Sirius told her.
Rosella looked at them in disbelief. "Then what can I do?"
Hermione brushed her hair back. "You can help me cuddle him, read him stories, sing him songs, even."
Rosella kissed her stomach. "I love you, Roman. I'm gonna teach you lots of stuff."
Hermione glanced at Harry as Roman shifted. "I think he is running out of room. He'd better come sooner rather than later."
Roman kicked her in the ribs, and she poked him. "Oh, don't you start."
Sirius snorted, "Arguing with your unborn child."
Rosella looked at Hermione. "When is he coming out of there?"
"If I knew, I'd be counting down," Hermione told her.
"He will come when he is ready," Harry stated. "You could be Luna. She looks like she is about to burst, and Ron won't let her leave the house."
Hermione poked her belly. "He has four days. After that, he is being evicted."
~*~ 20th July 2004 ~*~
Hermione was officially done with being pregnant. Sleep had become an abstract concept between the heat that seemed to never leave the house and her discomfort from just being achy. Roman was now long enough to apparently use her ribs as a footrest. Between that and the heat, she seemed to never get more than two hours of sleep at one time.
She had kicked the blankets off her body hours ago, but the heat in the house was unbearable. Wearing only one of Harry's tank tops and a pair of sleep shorts, she still feared that she was soaking their bed with her sweat.
Glancing over at Harry, she felt a bit envious as he slept soundly, one arm over toward her side as he snored away.
Seeing that it was 3:13 in the morning, she sighed quietly as she rolled to get comfortable, and Roman shifted again. He seemed quieter, so it seemed that at least he was getting sleep.
She was hot, thirsty, and couldn't get comfortable no matter what position she was in. Licking her lips, she decided to get a drink of water. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she rolled herself into a sitting position. Groaning as she stood, one hand on the bed, one underneath her stomach, "Just a few more days," she told herself.
Taking one step toward the bedroom door, Hermione froze as her knickers felt damp, then something warm slowly streamed down her leg.
She didn't feel like she had to use the loo and Roman was quiet, so he couldn't have hit her bladder. Then she realized that it might be her waters leaking, like the books said could happen. "Harry?"
"Hm?" he mumbled, not opening his eyes.
"Harry!"
He shot upright as he looked wildly around the room, his wand in his hand. "What? What's wrong?"
Hermione looked down, then back at him. "Either I peed myself or my water is leaking."
Harry was out of bed before she had even finished her sentence. "Do you think you peed yourself?"
"No," Hermione told him, "I think it's time."
Harry gently touched her stomach, then cast the diagnostic charm over her stomach.
Hermione watched his face as he read the results. "Well?"
"You are contracting," Harry said, smiling.
"I am?" she asked, surprised. "I don't feel it."
Harry nodded. "And I think it was amniotic fluid. Most women don't break their water all at once." He kissed her forehead. "Want me to check how dilated you are?"
Hermione shook her head. "No offense, but I don't want you particularly seeing ME down there as things change."
Harry snorted, "Fine, but when you've seen one vagina dilating, it's just a way of life."
Hermione stared at him. "I thought it was the cervix that dilates."
"You know what I mean!" Harry said, grabbing the first shirt he could find and pulling it over his head, accidentally putting his head briefly in the armhole.
Hermione went over to her dresser to find a new pair of shorts and knickers. "Can you call MacKenzie and see if she can come over? Do we need to go to St. Mungo's soon?"
She glanced over to see him attempting to put on his trousers. She gasped as his foot caught in his trouser leg and he stumbled to the floor. "Are you okay?"
"I'm good," he said as he finished putting on his trousers on the floor, and Hermione had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
"Harry, honey, you've delivered how many babies and defeated many dark wizards without panicking. It's just a baby," Hermione told him.
"It's OUR baby though," Harry said, looking at her as he stood. "Do you need help changing? Your contractions aren't very close yet, so it will probably be a while. I'll go call Mum and Dad, and MacKenzie."
"Harry, just breathe," she said as she took his hands. "Just call Mum and Dad. I will call MacKenzie."
Harry nodded as he left the room.
Hermione walked over to the bedside table and grabbed her phone. Sitting carefully back against the headboard, she pressed her phone against her ear. It rang twice before MacKenzie answered, half asleep. "Shite, is it time?"
Hermione laughed. "My water is leaking, so it will be time soon. I don't feel my contractions, but Harry says I'm having them."
"Well, that's exciting. I'll get Annie up and tell her she's having a sleepover. She shouldn't fight me too much over that," MacKenzie laughed. "I'll be over soon."
"Thank you," Hermione said as she hung up.
Lying back, Harry returned, running his hand through his hair. "Mum and Dad said they'd be coming over soon."
Harry came over and sat beside her on the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," she told him, "I don't even feel like I'm having contractions."
Harry rested his hand on her stomach and smiled when Roman kicked. "Well, he's not rushing, thank goodness."
Hermione watched his face. His eye had a slight twitch to it, and she watched him run his hand through his hair again. He was nervous. "Harry, you don't have to stay awake and watch over me."
"I disagree," Harry stated.
She smiled before taking his hand. "Fine, make the couch into a bed so MacKenzie can get some sleep and put Mum and Dad into the guest room."
Harry kissed the back of her hand. "Got it." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep."
Hermione adjusted her pillow as she watched him leave their bedroom. Placing her hand on her stomach, she rested her hands over their son. "We'll meet you very soon, Roman."
~*~*~
Hermione opened her eyes, surprised to see the sun was up. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was a bit after seven in the morning. She had been awake periodically over the last few hours as her contractions grew stronger. Thankfully, they were more uncomfortable than painful. Rolling over, she tried to catch at least another hour.
Around eight, she opened her eyes to see Harry sitting beside her, timing her contractions. She inhaled through it. "That one is stronger."
"They are also five minutes apart now," Harry told her.
Hermione smiled. "How long have you been timing them?"
"Off and on," he said, brushing her hair back from her face. "I think it's time for us to go."
Hermione looked at him, surprised. "What?"
"I think it's time to go to St. Mungo's," Harry told her. "You're progressing well, and I'd rather have you there than us rushing later."
Within half an hour, bag in hand, they gathered at the floo. MacKenzie was standing with Michel, who seemed to have stayed overnight with MacKenzie. Rosella and Annie were sitting together in the recliner as Sirius watched them, glaring.
Rosella wrapped her arms around Hermione's belly and kissed it. "See you soon, Roman!"
Harry turned to Briar Rose and Camillo. "You ready?"
"No," Camillo said honestly.
Harry laughed, "Fair enough."
Harry assisted them both through the floo, then turned to Hermione. "Ready to meet our son?"
"You know, I can watch Rosella," Sirius stated.
Hermione glared at him. "MacKenzie is here to watch you both." She turned to Harry. "I'm ready."
She stepped into the fireplace. "St. Mungo's Maternity Centre."
Hermione stumbled slightly as she stepped out on the other side. She moaned as a contraction wrapped tightly around her stomach. Her mother rubbed her back as Harry stepped out behind her.
Wrapping his arm around her, he looked up, spotting a medi-witch, "Brenda!"
The medi-witch rushed over to them with an empty wheelchair.
"Call Conner and tell him we are here, please," Harry said.
Brenda helped Hermione sit down in the wheelchair. "He is already here and is already busy monitoring a mother of twins."
"What?" Harry asked.
"The private room is also occupied," she continued, "Although I am sure they won't mind sharing for a bit. They are your best friends after all."
"What?" Hermione said as she heard a familiar gasp down the hall.
"What are you doing here?" Molly asked, her eyes widening. "Wait! Is it time for you too?"
"Apparently," Hermione said.
Harry frowned, walking over to the chart wall. "Luna has been here since last night? Why didn't anyone let us know?"
"They wanted to make sure Hermione got some sleep," Molly told them.
Brenda returned, "Mrs. Weasley said she'd be very glad to have you with her."
"Great, which room?" Harry asked as Hermione tensed as another contraction gripped her.
Harry knelt beside her. "Breathe through it."
Hermione opened her eyes as it lessened. "They are becoming unpleasant now."
Harry kissed her forehead before pushing her down the hall as he followed Brenda down the hall toward the large maternity suite. Hermione smiled as she saw Ron sitting beside Luna, holding her hand.
A second bed was in the room, and house elves were preparing it.
Ron stood up, kneeling before her. "Blimey, looks like our kids want to be born on the same day. How are you feeling?"
"Ready," Hermione told him as Harry helped her to her feet and she waddled over to sit beside Luna's bed. "Apparently these three cannot wait to meet each other. How are you, Luna?"
Luna smiled, resting her hands over her stomach. "My water broke yesterday evening, but I'm not particularly close to having them yet."
Ron rubbed Luna's shoulder. "She's only barely dilated. We came too early when her water broke."
Harry walked over to the chart at the end of her bed. "Do you mind?"
Ron shook his head, walking over to Harry as he looked at her chart.
"She is at five centimetres at last check," Harry told them. "That was around eight."
"She was four when we came in," Ron stated.
Harry put her chart away. "They'll probably give her a potion soon if she doesn't continue progressing," he glanced at Luna's monitor. "But it isn't concerning right now. There are no signs of distress."
Ron's shoulders relaxed. "Good."
One of the house elves turned toward them. "Your bed is ready, ma'am."
Hermione smiled, "Thank you for your help." She closed her eyes as another contraction made her pause when she went to stand.
Harry went to the cabinet of supplies. "I'll grab you a gown."
"No," she gritted out.
"No?!" Harry froze.
Hermione pointed to her bag. "There is a dress in my bag," she said as she straightened up.
"A dress?" Harry asked.
"I'm not putting one of those thin paper gown robes on," Hermione stated. "Luna did the same. I told her so."
Harry slowly closed the cabinet. "All right. That's just unusual."
"I refuse to look like I am draped in a plastic tablecloth," Hermione told him.
Harry grabbed the bag and pulled out her gown. "Whatever makes you happy, honey."
After helping her into the loo to change, Hermione waddled out, then with Harry's assistance, climbed into the bed.
"I'm excited to go through this together," Luna told her as Hermione settled in.
Hermione breathed through her contraction. "Me too."
Harry sat down beside her as Ron moved his chair beside Harry's, then took Luna's hand. Molly popped her head in with Briar Rose right behind her as Harry helped her adjust her blanket, as Arthur and Camillo walked in.
"I just had the security wizards step in for extra security. We have exclusive access to the visitor's room for the family," Arthur told them. "We will make sure no one tries to make this front page news."
This time, surrounded by family and friends, Hermione couldn't help the tears that came to her eyes.
"You okay?" Harry asked as he kissed her hand.
Hermione wiped her face. "I'm just so happy, don't worry. These are happy tears. Things were so different when I had Rosella. I'm just so happy that you are here. Mum and Dad are here."
Harry leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm not going to leave your side. My paternity leave starts today. You have me for three weeks."
Hermione leaned her head against his. "Thank you."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else." He smiled against her scalp.
~*~*~
About two hours after arriving, just before eleven, Hermione's maternity Healer, Healer Conner, walked in and froze. "My, my, they didn't tell me that you were both in this room." He walked over to Luna's bed and took her chart. "I see you are up to six centimetres. Progressing, but not yet to where I'd like. We will give it another half an hour, then I will give you the potion to get things started." He told Luna as he walked over to Hermione, "Hello, Mrs. Granger-Potter, I am sorry for the delay. My apprentice came to evaluate you earlier, but I am sure you were in very capable hands under Chief Potter's supervision."
Hermione looked at him. "I refuse to have Harry anywhere near down there until well after our son is delivered."
Healer Conner looked surprised as he looked at Harry.
"I'd like to preserve some of the mystery in our marriage, thank you very much," Hermione stated.
Healer Conner cleared his throat. "Oh, well, I will do an examination then."
"Her contractions are currently three minutes apart," Harry informed him.
"More toward four," Hermione corrected with gritted teeth as another one hit her.
"Mine are four as well," Luna said.
Ron, who had become increasingly overwhelmed, started fanning himself with a Witch Weekly magazine. "This is becoming much too fast."
"Quit panicking," Hermione snapped as she sat back as the contraction eased.
"I'm not panicking," Ron replied, pointing at Harry. "Harry is panicking."
"I'm not panicking, I'm monitoring!" Harry stated.
"You are pacing between both their charts and monitoring charms like it will change in a couple of minutes," Ron defended.
"Things could. I'm monitoring their progress," Harry stated, making Healer Conner snort. "Michael, you heard nothing."
"Not a thing." Healer Conner said smoothly.
~*~
Just after noon, Hermione shifted in bed as Luna slept soundly in hers. Hermione was breathing through a contraction when she felt the pressure between her legs ease as her legs warmed and got wet. "My water broke the rest of the way."
Harry jumped up from his chair and poked his head out into the hallway. "Brenda, can you please make note that my wife's water finished breaking?"
"Yes, sir."
Harry returned to her bedside and dried the bed with a flick of his wand. "Do you want to change?"
Hermione shook her head as she looked over at Luna. "Where'd Ron go?"
"To get something to eat. He is bringing us back something too," Harry said, rubbing her leg.
Hermione closed her eyes, tightening her grip on his hand as the next contraction hit. "They are more intense now."
Harry nodded. "They can be," Harry said as he kissed her temple. "Just breathe, or do you want to do visualizations?"
Hermione breathlessly chuckled. "Well, I don't exactly want to stop breathing, but I will do my visualizations. Where is my picture of Majorca?" Hermione asked, shifting.
Harry pulled her bag over and pulled out her album. "Here you go."
Hermione took it and placed it on the rail beside her. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine the waves of the Mediterranean Sea beating the sand and the warm sun on her skin. "We are going to Majorca." She said, catching her breath, "As soon as I can see my feet again, I want warm sand between my toes."
"Whenever you want to," Harry told her, brushing her hair back from her face.
"And fruity drinks, I'll pump so I can drink," Hermione said, lying back against her pillow.
"Done, I'll order a pump," Harry told her as he joined her fingers with his.
She rolled her head to look at him. "He's really coming today."
Harry smiled. "That he is. As soon as he can stand traveling, we will go."
~*~
Around half past one, Hermione's contractions shifted to her back, bringing the intense nausea that had her standing beside her bed, holding onto the bedrail, rocking to try to loosen up her back as she held an air mask to her face to help her catch her breath.
"Just tell me what to do," Harry said, rubbing her back.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, and she tried to breathe through another contraction. "I'm just so sick to my stomach." She glanced at him. "Can I get the epidural now?"
Harry shook his head. "You aren't dilated enough."
"Damnit," Hermione said as she looked over at Luna. "How are you doing, Luna?"
Luna popped ice chips in her mouth. "Nargles have invaded me," Luna stated. "They sense my distress. The potion doesn't seem to be doing what it should, so they are trying to work with my aura to speed up the process."
Ron sat on her bed, wiping crumbs from his shirt as he snorted. "They are Weasleys. We are sadly stubborn."
"You said that when we got here," Harry said as he helped Hermione back into her bed.
Ron shrugged. "It's true. Ginny was late, Charlie was late, Bill was way late, Fred and George were twins, and they thought they would come early, but Mum said they wanted to overstay their welcome."
"They simply enjoy my womb," Luna stated.
"Roman certainly isn't," Hermione muttered through another contraction. "He's trying to claw his way out through my spine, using it as a ladder."
Harry walked around the bed and pressed gently on her back. "Better?"
Hermione moaned, "That's it. Right there." She said as he massaged it, "Harder."
Ron frowned. "You sound like porn."
Hermione glanced at him. "And how would you know what that sounds like?"
Ron's eyes got wide as he sputtered as their door opened.
Healer Conner walked in with Brenda following him. "How are my mothers doing?" He paused, seeing Ron and Hermione's faces. "Well, judging by the look on everyone's faces, not great."
Hermione moved again. "My contractions have shifted. On a scale of one to ten, how much fun this labour is, I'd say a negative four."
He walked over to her. "Let's have a look."
Hermione rolled onto her back for him to complete his exam.
"Well, Mrs. Granger-Potter, good news. You are at six centimetres. I can do the epidural if you wish, but I caution it might slow things down," Healer Conner told her.
Hermione blinked at him in surprise. "Seriously? Yes, I don't care. Do you think it will get rid of the nausea?"
"It should give you a break," Healer Conner said as he looked at Harry. "Would you help her sit up?"
Harry helped her sit up and pulled up her dress to reach her back. Brenda brought over the kit for Healer Conner, and after a simple spell, the bag of potion was already giving her relief. "I wouldn't get out of bed from now on. Your legs aren't going to be very stable."
Hermione saluted him. "Fine with me."
After sanitizing his hands, Healer Conner went over to Luna. "Well, Mrs. Weasley, you have progressed enough that I want to give you some rest as well. I think it is time for your epidural."
"Finally!" Ron stated as Harry handed Hermione a cup of ice chips.
~*~
Four hours after her epidural, Hermione felt more rested after she had been able to have a nap, but the tightness was back.
Ron was back to pacing after Healer Conner left, saying that both she and Luna were now at seven centimetres. "Do the babies think it's a race now?"
Hermione laughed before sucking in a breath as another contraction hit her. "Roman won't be a racer. He's going to be my calm child."
Ron ran his hands through his hair. "What if they come at the same time?"
Hermione hissed, "Don't jinx us."
Ron glared at her. "He's a Potter. They are dramatic. He will have to bring the drama."
Harry glared at him. "Excuse me?"
"You died, came back, ran away, came back, knocked up Hermione before your marriage, hid your marriage from the world, built us houses on your parents' old property that the rest of the world thinks is haunted! Dramatic." Ron said.
"Technically it is your fault. Hermione thinks he was conceived at our reception," Luna stated.
Ron looked at them. "You had sex in my room?!"
"You told us to!" Harry yelled, making Hermione nearly choke on her laughter.
~*~
Close to half past eight, Healer Conner was checking both women. "Well, Mrs. Granger-Potter has not progressed, but Mrs. Weasley, you are now eight centimetres."
"Thank Merlin!" Ron said after Healer Conner left, "We are getting somewhere at last."
Hermione glanced over at him as Sirius slowly walked into the room sans cane, a bag of crisps in his hand. "How's it going? Any babies yet?"
Hermione felt her eye twitch as she narrowed her eyes at him. "You didn't bring crisps in here."
He held out the bag for her. "Want one?"
Hermione reached over and grabbed her empty water cup and threw it at his head with amazing aim.
"Whoa, fine. No babies, no crisps," Sirius said, narrowly dodging it. "Pup, please tell me that he is coming soon."
"She is only at seven centimetres," Harry told her.
Sirius frowned. "Damn, all right. Anyone want any snacks?" Sirius asked.
"OUT!" Hermione yelled, pointing at the door.
"Fine, fine. I got it. Angry pregnant witch," Sirius said as he left. "I'll go eat my crisps where I'm appreciated."
"The gall of that man," Hermione groaned, letting her head fall back onto her pillow, "I would love a slice of pizza right now, but I'd just throw it up."
Ron slowly put down the sandwich he had produced out of nowhere. "I guess I'll just suffer with you guys."
"Good, misery loves company," Hermione stated as Luna laughed.
~*~
"Well, how are we doing? It's now half past nine." Healer Conner stated as he walked in and sanitized his hands, "Let me check you first, Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione held onto the bedrail as her arms shook. "Harry, the pressure is so much right now."
"Well, Mrs. Weasley, I think we are there at last. I see the crown of a head," Healer Conner said as he looked over at Hermione. "Let me check Mrs. Granger-Potter quickly."
Hermione moaned, "I feel like I have to push."
"Merlin," Healer Conner stated as he examined her, "You are also crowning."
"DAMN YOU RONALD!" Hermione yelled, "You jinxed us!"
Taking out his wand, he put out an emergency patronus for his apprentice. "Emergency, I need you in the suite now."
Luna groaned, "I have to push."
Hermione gripped the bedrail. "Go to Luna. Damnit, Harry, just do it. You've delivered babies before. Just promise me we will have sex after this."
Harry laughed, "Trust me, this won't prevent me from it."
"I also delivered my first child, and we have six of them," Healer Conner told her, assuming his position in front of Luna.
Hermione looked at him, surprised. "Six? What are you, forty-five?"
"My children are between six months and ten years," Healer Conner told her. "I am 36 years old."
Hermione looked at Harry. "We aren't having six kids."
Harry laughed, "Whatever you say, dear."
"If you are down there, I need Mum," Hermione told him, gripping the sheets as another contraction hit.
Harry cleaned his hands then sent his patronus for Briar Rose to Molly.
"Now Mum is going to come in here!" Ron protested.
"Sorry, but I'm a little busy!" Harry said as he helped Hermione move her legs into a better position.
Moments later, Briar Rose knocked softly, popping her head into the room. "Is it time?"
Hermione reached out, "Mum, I need you. Harry has to deliver him."
"Of course," Briar Rose said as she hurried into the room with Molly following.
"SEE!" Ron exclaimed as Molly gasped, "Mum, we don't need you."
"Ronald! That is rude. She is fine," Luna yelled as she bared down.
"Goodness," Molly said, coming behind Healer Conner.
"Not down there, though!" Luna demanded.
"Of course," Molly said as she came to stand beside Briar Rose between the two beds as Briar Rose took Hermione's hand.
Hermione couldn't help but cry, "I'm so glad you are here."
Briar Rose took a washcloth from the bowl next to her bed and wiped her sweaty forehead. "I wouldn't be anywhere else," she said, taking her hand.
Hermione shook as she bore down. "I'm pushing. I don't care if you're ready," she said, her teeth chattering.
"Push, babe. You are doing it. I see his head nearly to his ears!" Harry encouraged.
"I want to see!" Ron said as he walked around to look at his incoming child, "Whoa… what is… no."
Brenda caught him as he nearly passed out as his knees buckled. "I got Daddy."
Hermione glanced down at Harry as she stopped to catch her breath. "I told you that he could nearly pass out."
Harry snorted, "Thanks a lot, Ron. I lost ten galleons."
"You two bet on me?" Ron said as he sat down and took Luna's hand.
"Yes!" Hermione said as she pushed again.
"One more push, Mrs. Weasley, and you will have your first baby," Healer Conner stated.
Hermione looked over at Luna as she screamed. "You are doing amazing, Luna!"
Suddenly, a cry filled the room. "It's a girl!"
Luna laughed through her tears. "Anastasia is here! She is so tiny."
Ron sat back for a moment as he stared at his daughter. "Why is she covered in goo?"
Tears streamed down Luna's face as Healer Conner lifted the squirming baby above her legs. "She is a healthy, beautiful little witch."
Ron moved closer, staring at his daughter as Maria, the second medi-witch, took her to be cleaned.
Hermione felt a deep contraction and closed her eyes, pushing hard as another contraction hit. "I can't do it."
"You can do it, honey. Just push!" Briar Rose told her.
With one more hard push, Harry announced. "He is here! I love you so much. He is amazing." Tears were already streaming down his face.
Hermione sobbed as Harry stood up and cut the cord, cradling their wet son in his arms. Brenda rushed over to him to take Roman from Harry to clean him.
Healer Conner stood up. "How are things, Chief Potter?"
"Minimal tearing, no stitches needed. Just waiting for the placenta and will administer the potions to help her healing process," Harry told him, wiping his face with his sleeve.
"Excellent, congratulations to you both," Healer Conner said.
Hermione laid her head back in exhaustion as Briar Rose sobbed quietly beside her.
Harry smiled at Hermione as she stared at Brenda cleaning Roman. "How are you feeling?"
Hermione smiled. "Not quite ready for the next one. Definitely not going to put us at six, but happy."
"I think we can agree on fewer than six," Harry laughed.
"Good," Hermione said as Brenda brought Roman over to her and gently placed him on her chest. "Hello there, my little man."
After Harry finished the needed spells to aid in her recovery, Brenda administered a potion to her, as Harry sat beside her.
Hermione smiled through the tears. "You were the first person to hold him."
Harry leaned down and kissed the top of Roman's head. "I cannot believe he is here. How about five?"
Hermione ran her finger down Roman's face. "Two more should do it."
"I knew you'd cry first, Harry." Ron grinned.
Luna hissed in pain. "Molly, take her. Healer Conner, she is coming," Luna stated.
Hermione glanced over at Luna. "A few more pushes, Luna, and it's all over!" she said as Luna started pushing again.
Ron looked between his daughter and Luna in utter disbelief.
"Ron, don't you dare pass out on her!" Hermione told him.
Ron took Luna's hand as Luna collapsed back against the pillows as Healer Conner announced. "It's another girl!"
Luna gasped for air. "Why isn't she crying?"
"She is just a bit smaller, but…" Healer Conner said as the baby started crying, "Just had to get some of the fluid out of her mouth."
Luna sobbed, "They are here."
Brenda smiled, "Any ideas on names yet?"
Luna smiled at Ron as her youngest was set on her chest, already with a full head of pale strawberry blonde hair compared to her redheaded sister, as he grabbed their oldest daughter. "Ron is holding Anastasia Pandora Weasley, and I have Brielle Jean Weasley."
Hermione looked at her in surprise. "Jean?"
Luna looked over at her. "For you, of course."
Hermione burst into tears again. "Oh Luna, I love you."
"I love you too," Luna said, reaching toward her.
Hermione's fingertips barely skimmed hers as the boys looked at each other as their wives laughed through their tears.
"Oh, we are in for it… aren't we?" Ron asked.
Harry scoffed, "They just had three kids between the two of them. Give them a break."
A soft knock sounded on their door before it opened slightly. "Is everything okay? Has he been born?" Camillo asked from the other side of the door.
"Is he here? Is he here?" Rosella's voice asked.
Harry slowly stood up and walked over to the door. "All the babies are here, but we have to be very quiet. Only whisper voices."
Harry opened the door, letting them in, with Arthur following.
Rosella's hands went to her mouth as she practically vibrated with excitement, her eyes wide as she looked between her parents and her aunt and uncle. "There are three babies! All three babies are here!" she whispered excitedly.
Camillo walked over to Hermione's bed. "Oh, Hermione, he is beautiful."
"This is my baby Roman?" Rosella asked, "He is so little."
Hermione smiled. "He was just born. He will grow faster than you think."
Rosella reached down and gently touched Roman's tiny hand, and Hermione started crying when Roman wrapped his tiny hand around her finger. "He likes me!"
"Of course he does," Harry told her. "He knows your voice because you talked to him, and he loves you so much already."
Rosella held her arms out for Harry to take her, and he gently sat on the bed near Hermione's knees. "Hi, Roman. I'm Rosella, your biggest sister. I will share my toys with you, well, most of them. Not my dragons."
Everyone laughed as Rosella looked at Ron. "Uncle Ron, whose those babies? Are those your babies?"
"This is Anastasia, and that is Brielle," Ron told her.
"Anastasia and I have the same hair," Rosella gasped.
Hermione glanced over at her parents. Her father's arm was wrapped around her mother as they gazed at their grandson. Glancing over at their best friends, who were gazing at their daughters. With her husband, daughter, and parents at her side, she smiled at their makeshift family. Harry leaned over and kissed her head. "I love you."
"I love you too," Hermione said, resting her head against his shoulder.
A/n: And with that, only the epilogue remains. Thank you for coming along on their journey! They will still be around, though! Don't forget I also have Guilty as Sin (only a few chapters remain) and a Reluctant Love Story, where Sirius never died/went through the veil, and Remus lives too. Right now, the next chapter is due in two weeks, but it might be next week depending on whether I can finish the next chapter of a Reluctant Love Story.
Preview of the Epilogue- Chapter 58: Growing Old With You
She glanced across their children to Harry, who caught her eye then winked. Hermione grinned, rolling her eyes as the chamber doors opened.
All around them, the room erupted in applause as Arthur walked out for the last time as Minister of Magic, older, hair thinner and greyer. He still carried the same warm smile as he reached the podium and raised a hand.
Slowly, the chamber quieted as everyone took their seats.
"Thank you for coming today," Arthur began. "It has been the honour of my life to serve as your Minister of Magic for these past years. But all things must eventually come to an end."
Arthur looked up toward their section. "I am not getting any younger, and I would quite like to spend more time with my growing number of grandchildren that my family continues to produce."
The whole audience laughed at his remark.
Arthur chuckled, "With two more soon to arrive, I currently have twenty grandchildren. I suspect that number will only continue to grow." He looked out at everyone. "I believe it is time for new blood to step forward and continue the work we have started."
Hermione reached across the backs of the chairs and found Harry's hand, and he squeezed hers.
"This election was close. That is why we took additional time to count the votes," Arthur declared.
"The new Minister of Magic is…"