3 YEARS LATER
George had a habit of popping around to the house randomly and today he had done the same thing. He had floo'ed into my home with Ron by his side and they had both announced that they were here to kidnap me for my stag do and just before they made any move to kidnap me, George had slipped something into my hand, telling me to remember to take it before I fell asleep – if I was sober enough to remember to do so.
And hours later, when I stumbled into my room I suddenly recalled George's impromptu gift. I fumbled with my pockets and finally retrieved it, looking down at a very familiar looking vial which had a note attached to it. I took a while for me to probably read what it said, let alone to comprehend it. But I got it eventually.
I modified it a little this time round, Potter. Don't you want to know what you're letting yourself in for?
I tipped its contents down my throat and crashed on my bed instantly, knowing I wasn't sober enough to change my clothes. I was out like a light.
The first scene of the dream was my wedding reception and as I looked down at the woman sitting beside me, I couldn't help but want to take her in my arms again.
At Mrs Weasley's insistence that living together during the month leading up to wedding was bad luck, she had moved out of our shared home for a short while. Since she had moved out, our bed had seemed too big and sometimes when I woke in the middle of the night, I wanted nothing more than to roll over towards her side of the bed and hold her as she slept. But she wasn't there.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked quietly, leaning towards me as Ron started his best man speech.
"Just how beautiful you looked today." Taking her hand in mine, I pressed my lips to the back of her hand and smiled gently when she blushed prettily at the compliment.
"You're only saying that because you missed sharing the bed," she said back, hitting the nail on the head.
"Hey," I protested quietly as, judging from the good-hearted chuckles going through the crowd, Ron poked fun at me during his speech, "Don't pretend that you don't like to cuddle."
"I don't like to cuddle anywhere near as much as you do." She smiled knowingly, "And don't pretend that you're so pure that only cuddling was on your mind."
"I'm not going to." I drew away from her a little, just in time to hear the end of Ron's speech.
He raised his flute of champagne towards us in cheers and the guests copied the action. Taking the silent cue, I leaned back towards my new bride and pressed my lips soundly against hers.
This scene ended with a kiss and the next began with one.
I pulled back, staring down at my utterly exhausted wife. She strained a little for breath but smiled tiredly when one of the nurses handed our new-born son to her. Instantly cradling him to her chest, she glanced down at him with a gentle smile. She was going to be such a good mother.
"Harry," she said gently, "You were right – we did have a boy so you win the bet and get to name him." My eyes drifted from my son to her eyes. "So, any ideas?"
"James Sirius," I answered instantly, blinking back tears.
She reached out to take my hand in hers and I chuckled slightly, removing my glasses to wipe my tears away. Looking down at the pair of them I felt my heart swell with so much love that I was surprised it wasn't going to explode. Family – we were a family. I finally had the family I'd wanted for so long and the woman staring up at me, eyes displaying her blatant concern was the centre of it all.
"Harry?" she called out cautiously.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, pressing a kiss to her forehead, both her cheeks, her nose and finally her lips. "Thank you so much."
"Whatever for, you silly man?" She reached out a hand to brush her fingers across my cheek.
I brushed back some of the hair that was stuck to her forehead, "For James, for marrying me, for making me the happiest man on the planet – for everything."
"Oh Harry –" James let out a sharp cry and my wife laughed gently, sitting up to pull the front of her hospital gown down. "It sounds like he's hungry."
Suddenly James was older, and he was running off to play with his younger brother toddling after him.
"Albus," his mother called out cautiously from beside me but our son made no indication that he'd heard his mother call after him. Instead of trying to call after our son again, my wife turned to look at me, "Can you watch over the boys? I'm going to go and help Fleur. There's still a lot to do."
"Well, go and help her, I'll keep an eye on the kids."
"Thanks." She pecked my cheek and headed off into the house.
I was left standing in the garden of shell cottage, watching over the group of children who were running riot. Ron, who had been left to chaperone the kids with me, sent me a look as one of the kids started crying. It was like a chain reaction – one after another the kids started crying for some reason. Sighing a little, I walked towards the group of kids and upon seeing me, both James and Albus scrambled into my arms.
James started bawling, smothering his face in my shoulder as he began to explain why he was crying but his sentences made very little sense. Albus, copying his older brother started to do the same and resorted to babbling randomly against my chest. I shushed both boys, watching as Ron cradled a crying Rosie in one arm and Molly was clinging to her uncle with her all of her might. Fred and Louis were each holding onto one of his legs.
The birthday girl, left alone to deal with her tears, started to cry even louder. Teddy ran out of the cottage suddenly, rushing out to embrace the younger girl in his arms. Victorie clung to him and I shared a look with my godson from over her shoulder. Sometimes he seemed so much older than he actually was.
The garden of shell cottage faded away, replaced by the garden of our family home.
"Happy anniversary," a voice whispered quietly in my ear and bought an instant smile to my face.
Turning to face the woman sat beside me, I pressed a kiss to her lips. "Happy anniversary, love." I pulled away from her and muttered, "I really wish you'd have let me plan something for today."
"And I'd have liked that too but," she placed a hand on her bulging stomach for emphasis, "With the newest Potter running behind schedule, it made sense to not plan something in case my water suddenly breaks."
Our children ran up to us before I could say another word. James, now eight, grinned mischievously as he approached me.
"Alright troublemaker," I muttered, running a hand through the messy curls on top of his head, "What have you done now?"
"Nothing dad," he protested innocently and I shared a look with his mother.
"James," she said warningly.
"Honestly mum." He grinned as if to prove his innocence, looking to his mum, "You can even as Al."
As if taking a cue, Albus walked up behind his brother and pressed a kiss to his mother's cheek. "He's telling the truth mum, he hasn't done anything."
"Then why don't I believe you?" she wondered with a raised eyebrow, crossing her arms, "When you two troublemakers decide to plan something then there's always trouble." She narrowed her eyes, "What did you two do to your sister?"
"Daddy!" Lily cried, running out of the house and towards me. I looked between my two boys, waiting for them to tell me what they'd done but they continued to feign innocence. Lily climbed into my lap, "What's the matter, princess?"
"Harry?" my wife gasped suddenly, making me look away from Lily who hmphed in response.
"Love?"
She breathed in sharply, "My water just broke."
I was at Kings Cross before I could have possibly responded to that bombshell.
It took a few seconds for me to get used to the sudden change in scene and for the rapid burst of adrenaline that had been caused by the previous announcement to fade away into nothingness.
"Come on dad," James rushed, tugging on my arm, "You said you'd show me how to get to the platform and I don't want to miss the train."
"You need to run at the wall," I explained, trying to come to grips with the fact that my eldest son was already heading off to Hogwarts. Merlin. "Watch me."
I ran up to the wall, and just like that I was through it and onto the other side. Waiting patiently for the rest of my family I watched as James followed me with Lily and Albus on either side of him. The three of them stared around the platform in wonder and they reluctantly walked to my side.
"Where's your mum?" I asked Lily who took my hand.
"She's bringing Remus and Minnie with her." Here Lily rolled her eyes and I made no comment on the action. Instead I was reeling from the fact that I had five kids. Good Godric.
"And you know what Minnie's like," Albus continued for his little sister, "ever since she started walking she insists on walking, even though she's so slow."
The other half of our family stepped through to the platform and I hurried to my wife's side when I noticed that she was holding a quietly sleeping boy – no more than one in her arms as well as juggling a rapidly squirming girl.
"You should have called me," I insisted as I took our daughter from her arms.
"Well I did, but both father and son were too excited about James leaving for Hogwarts to hear me." She grinned teasingly and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. All our children, bar a sleeping Remus, made a sound of disgust.
Minnie squirmed a little in my arms and tried to get down.
"Minerva Hermione Potter," I said quietly making her stop her squirming, "There's no way I'm letting you run around the platform, young lady."
She pouted and I pressed a kiss to her forehead. The Hogwarts express was the last thing I saw as the scene faded and I found myself standing in the hallway of our home.
"Dad's home," Lily announced loudly, spying me from the top of the stairs.
I braced myself, preparing to find myself wrapped up in little arms. Sure enough, Lily and Minerva were the first to run up to me. Both of my daughters wrapped their arms around my legs and I ruffled their hair, grinning as little Remus Arthur ran on his unsteady legs towards me. I snagged him into my arms, throwing him in the air and catching him. Cradling him against my chest, I looked over at my 'all grown up' sons who were standing to the side.
"I missed you," Minerva's words were muffled against my trousers and I winced a little when I realised she'd gotten pasta sauce all over my trouser leg.
"Let's head in," I suggested to the girls who released me and ran into the house. Walking towards my older boys, I rubbed their hair. "How was today boys? A good start to the beginning of the summer holiday?"
"I'm glad to be home," Albus admitted, hugging me very briefly. "Also, Mr Malfoy said," here he put on a very Malfoy-esque expression. "to tell you 'Potter' and that you would understand what that meant."
I smirked, "Well when you go and stay with the Malfoys next week make sure you tell him I said, 'Malfoy', alright?"
Albus nodded, not understanding and walked away, muttering about how both me and Malfoy were mental. As he walked away, I looked to my eldest son who shuffled a little on his feet. I held out one arm – the other balancing Remus against my chest. When he realised the coast was clear, James stepped into my arms for a hug.
"How was today? Did you hold down the fort for me?"
"I did." He bit down on his bottom lip, "Dad, mum went upstairs half an hour ago and hasn't come down yet."
"Alright, I'll go and check on her." Handing Remus over to his eldest brother, I climbed the stairs and headed towards our bedroom. I popped my head around the door and frowned when I saw my wife sat on the edge of the bed, her head buried in her hands. I was instantly worried. "Love?"
At the sound of my voice, her head snapped up. Giving me an unimpressed look, she picked something up and threw it at me. "This is all your fault!"
I stared down at the object which, after hitting my chest had fallen to the floor. Picking up the muggle pregnancy test, my eyes widened little. "Really?"
"Wipe that smile off your face Harry!" She burrowed her head in her hands, "I honestly think we should have you neutered or something."
I was making my way over to the bed, sitting beside her in silence. Staring down at the test in my hands I let out a breath. How was I supposed to tell her that I had always wanted a family as large as the Weasley's? I forced myself to speak, "Do you not want –"
"I never said that," she cut me off, looking up at me, "Just – this is the last one, alright?"
"Alright." I pressed a kiss to her temple and didn't mention the fact that she'd said the same thing when she'd found out about Minerva, and then when she'd found out about Remus.
I woke up from my dream with the biggest grin.
