A/N: So I know the last chapter ended rather sadly but I think it adds a needed depth to the story. Between the last chapter and this Theordoe Nott, Millicent, Crabbe, Goyle, Lavender and Blaise have given birth. Sorry about the spelling errors, a lack of spell check and dyslexia does not good spelling make.
Chapter Nine: Sunny Days Seem to Hurt the Most
The sound of her new baby girl crying sent a stab to her heart, on the one hand she loved her new daughter and was relieved that she had made it safely into this world, but there was still the lingering air of pain and grief that had clung to the baby's parents who were still in shock over the loss of their first daughter, Truly-Angel who had been stillborn only days before Millicent had given birth to a second daughter, a healthy baby girl whom shared the same other parent as her late big sister.
Honor True Parkinson Bauldstrode was helping in her own way to heal the hearts of both of her young mothers. She had been given her name in honour of her big sister whom she would never get to know.
"Sssh Hon don't cry" Millicent tried to sooth her baby, but truth be told, she wanted to cry herself.
Today was the the day of Truly's memorial. Both Millicent and Pansy had agreed to have the girl cremated, which had been done the day earlier with both her parents and her baby sister present. They had held both daughters together, taken the time to take photographs with their daughter. Honor had been dressed in matching clothes to her sister and lain down next to her. They had looked like a family as they said their goodbyes.
They would be holding a memorial on the grounds of Hogwarts today, all the other Hogwarts Babies and their parents would be attending, even the Gryffindors. Some of the other Slytherin's whom the two mothers were close with would also be there, along with Professors Snape and Dumbledore, both sets of Grandparents and Madame Pomfry who would be conducting the service at the girls' request.
…
It was a sunny spring day as they gathered together on the grassy lawns of the School, white benches sat in rows for the mourners. A table was at the front of the seats, it had a knitted white baby blanket draped over it and was surrounded by white and pink pansies and lit white tea-light
candles. In the centre of the table was a silver urn with magical photographs of baby Truly on either side.
Pansy and Millicent sat at the front, dressed in matching black dress robes, baby Honor in Millicent's arms as Pasny clung to the other girl, unable to stop her tears. Both girls looked so lost and broken as they stared at their daughter's urn.
Madame Pomfry stood infront of the small crowed and spoke in a somber tone "it is a most sad occasion that gathers us together on this day, the loss of life that not yet begun is a terrible tragedy that no parent should ever have to live through, it is a loss that will forever be with us, but together we can help this little souls family to grieve and learn to remember her short life with love and laughter."
"I would at this time like to invite Millicent to come and speak to you" the Matron spoke, as the teen came to the front, her baby still in her arms there was a murmer in the air.
Millicent cleared her throat and spoke "I lost my daughter, I had no way of understanding love, life and loss until Truly was born, I was lucky enough to be there at the time, although I did not know she was my daughter until afterwards. I loved her from the moment I saw her and loved her even more when I heard the news I was also her mother, but I cried and I broke a little on the inside because I knew I would never see her open her eyes or take a breath, I would never hear her cry or laugh or call me Mummy and say 'I love you'."
She was crying a little as she spoke "three days after we lost our little angel I gave birth to her baby sister, this is Honor True, she will never get a chance to know her sister, they won't grow and learn and play together as I had hoped."
Many in the crowed were crying now too, as they heard the words spoken by the grieving young mother.
"Pansy is unable to speak today, but she has written a letter I would like to read to you now" Millicent spoke, she handed Honor to her own mother and pulled out a piece of parchment and began to read.
" Sunny days seem to hurt the most, you should be here with the sunshine in your hair, instead you're somewhere I don't know, somewhere I can't go, I wonder if you're all alone? Is there a door or a bridge to the other side where you are waiting for me? Could I be with you even just for a moment of a day? I wasn't expecting you and at first I thought I didn't want you, but I did and I do and I would do anything to bring you home to me baby Truly, you have a sister now, a sweet little baby, but I can't hold her, my arms ache solely for you, what can I do? You are gone and I'm here without you, this sunny day and it hurts, that's true...Rest in piece my Angel-Girl, Mummy will always love you."
Millicent began to sob as she finished reading the words, no one spoke for a moment all that could be heard was the sobbing of both of Truly's mothers and the chirping of spring birds.
…
Lavender snuggled her four day old daughter, Indigo, after Pansy had lost her daughter all the others had become very greatful for each and every one of their healthy babies. Lavender felt blessed that she and Parvati now shared three healthy littl babies, two daughters, Viveka Padma and Indigo Olive and a son, Avish Jakob or as he was more often called, Ajay.
Motherhood was slowly sinking in for the fifteen year old mothers of three. Night time feedings and plenty of nappy changes had just become their reality.
"Come on Indy, I've got to change your stinky brother" Lavender cooed to her black haired, caramel toned daughter.
Indigo stared back at her mother with blue eyes that looked stunning against her more Indian looking skin. She was a beautiful looking little baby, she had lighter colouring than her older brother and sister, but they still looked enough alike that you could see they were siblings.
…
A son, Blaise smiled as he held his son who had been born the night before. Titus Malfoy Zabini had weighed eight pounds and nine ounces when he was born. He had curly black hair, stormy grey eyes and a chocolate complection. The same test that had now been done several times before had shown Draco Malfoy to be the baby boy's second parent, Evander had gained a brother.
The two brothers now lay side by side on a bed in the hospital wing as Blaise worked on changing Titus's first pooey nappy and Draco prepared a bottle for Evander with a practiced ease, he had been caring for his first born for seven weeks now, the blond baby had grown so much over that time although he was still not up to speed developmentally as he had been born a little over a month early.
Titus was not Blaise's first born, the teenager had been confirmed as the second parent to the Weasley triplets after their birth four weeks ago. Titus had four older half brother's, Evander on his 'Papa' Draco's side and Callum, Kenzie and Quinn on his Daddy's side. Although it was unlikely he would spend much time with the triplets as they grew.
Blaise still saw the boys once a week, for half an hour on Saturday morning, in the Hospital Wing, although he caught more glimpses of them now that he too was staying in the Infermary with his baby, most likely until the end of term, although it was unclear.
All of the babies, minus Truly-Angel were in good health but as permenant care arrangements had not yet been made for the babies, it had been deemed easiest for them and their parents to take up residence in part of the Hospital Wing until they left for the Summer, all except Professer Snape that was.
And those who had not yet given birth, although most of them had other children confirmed by now and spent plenty of time with the others in what was currently being called, the 'Baby Ward'.
"Here you go, I made a bottle for Titus too" Draco said as he came back over to the bed and scooped his son back up into his arms before settling down in a rocking chair to give Evander his third feed for the day.
"Look Ty, Papa made you a bottle, isn't that nice?" Blaise cooed to his son as he settled down on the bed and began to feed the new born.
…
Vincent Crabbe was still unsure as to what he was supposed to do with his baby son that he now had with his best friend, Gregory Goyle, nor what they were supposed to do with the second son that Goyle had given birth to twelve and a half hours after they had welcomed a nine pound, eight ounce Galven Gregory Crabbe into the world.
Venedict Vincent Goyle had weighed even more than his older brother at a whoping ten pounds one ounce. Both boys and their fathers were doing well. The two new brothers fed nicely, although their feeds were mostly done by Madame Pomfry and ocasionally Daphne Greengrass would help out as she was still waiting for the birth of her baby girl but was often on the Ward to visit her daughter with Neville Longbottom.
"Honestly Crabbe, it's not like he's going to bite you or anything" Daphne scoffed as she transferred Galven from her arms into his father's.
"Here you finish feeding his this, while I help Goyle change Venny" the teen instructed.
…
Hermione Granger was a little over fourty weeks pregnant with her baby girl, she and three other students were still expecting but she hoped her daughter would be born soon. She had been expecting the one daughter and had known their was a chance she might be the second parent of one of the other children, she just hadn't figured that it would be Theodore Nott's child.
The Slytherin boy had stated early on in the pregnancy that if he carried the foetus to term he would be giving it to whoever the second parent was. So after he had given birth to a precious baby girl at six minutes past five that morning, he had refused to even look at her. He had been healed up and had been transferred into the care of a private Healer at the request of his parents, he would not return to school until after the summer.
He had signed his parental rights away, not even naming his daughter or waiting to find out who the other parent was. Hermione had been visiting with Ron and the triplets later that morning and happened to be there when the seven pound three ounce baby girl was tested and confirmed as her daughter.
Now she sat in the Baby Ward, holding the surprise daughter she had not expected to be left to raise as a single parent. The young mother was once again flicking through baby names books, trying to decide on a name for the baby in her arms. Her unborn daughter had had her name for months now, not that Hermione had shared it with anyone else.
"What about Odessa?" she mused aloud, but couldn't get it to work for her.
It was while she sat trying to name her new daughter that the contractions began to come stronger, she had been having several braxton hix cotractions for the past few weeks now, but she knew that these were different. Although they were still quite far apart. Hermione chose to stay calm , remembering what she had read and what she had learnt in the birthing class Healer Tonks and Madame Pomfry had put on for them.
After a couple of hours, the contractions began to get stronger and the bushy haired girl decided it was time to alert the medi-witch. Madame Pomfry came and checked her over.
"You are indeed in labour, but as your water hasn't broken and you're still only four centermeters dialated, you still have a while to go yet" she informed the labouring student.
"I can get you something to ease the pain if you like?" the Matron asked.
"No thank you, I'm going to do this as natural as possible." Hermione said.
"As you wish" Madame Pomfry bustled off to give the remaining pregnant students their regular check up.
The yet to be named Nott-Granger baby was fast asleep in a craddle next to her mother's bed, oblivious to what was going on around her. Hermione smiled as she watched the little one sleep.
"Hey 'Mione, you doing okay?" Harry asked as he came to check on his best friend.
"It hurts rather a lot, by I'm great Harry" she assured him.
"Have you named her yet?" he asked, indicating the sleeping infant.
"I've had some ideas, but I think I'll wait until her sister is here and anouce them together" the teen mother decided aloud.
"Sounds like a plan" Harry agreed.
"I can't wait until I have my baby" he added.
"It won't be long now, if you don't go into labour soon, they'll deliver you before the Third Task anyway" Hermione reminded him.
"Are you feeling ready for the task?" she asked, deciding to try and take her mind off of the pain she was currently experiencing.
"As I'll ever be, as long as she is out and safe before hand that is" said the pregnant boy.
At her request, Harry stayed by Hermione's side as she progressed with her labour which had sped up after her water had broken. Nine hours after her big sister, Hermione's second baby girl came into the world screaming, weighing in at exactly nine pounds, she was a big, but healthy baby girl with a head a black curls that matched her sister's brown ones, their hair would likely be as bushy as their mother's as they grew older.
"This" Hermione said indicating the older of the two babies.
"Is Iona Jean Granger" she pointed to her second daughter and said.
"And this is her little sister Elani Jane Granger".
Hermione had already gotten Elani to latch and was currently nursing her, while Madame Pomfry helped her to get Iona to latch on the other side so she could tandum feed, the new mother decided to ask.
"Can you tell me who Elani's second parent is?"
Madame Pomfry got to work, she pulled out the enchanted paper and took a small sample of Elani's blood. She cast the spell that would test the blood and highlight the parents' names on the enchanted parchment.
The name Hermione Granger lit up, as did the name...
"Severus Snape" Poppy anoucned.
A/N: Longest chapter yet, just three more babies left unborn and we'll meet them in the next chapter. The school year is almost up. I want to know, who want's me to continue to the end of seventh year in this fic or should I write each of the years seperate? Don't forget to review. The children to date Evander (Draco/Harry) Callum, Kenzie and Quinn (Ron/Blaise) Avish and Viveka (Parvati/Lavender) Indigo (Lavender/Parvati) Declan (Dean/Seamus) Venedict (Goyle/Crabbe) Galven (Crabbe/Goyle) Truly-Angel ...R.I.P... (Pansy/Millicent) Honor (Millicent/Pansy) Titus (Blaise/Draco) Francesca (Neville/Daphne) Iona (Nott/Hermione) Elani (Hermione/Severus) Aurelius (Severus/Nott) which I haven't mentioned in the story yet. In the next chapter we meet the final three Hogwarts babies.
