Chapter 10: Christmas and Findings

It was now Christmas time. Harry was asleep in his bedroom at Potter Manor when the door creaked open.

"Okay Megan." Ron's voice said. "Cry."

A baby started to giggle.

"Trying to make a baby cry, Ron?" Harry asked with his eyes still closed. "How low can you go?"

"I'm pathetic. I can't even make a baby cry." Ron said.

"When did you get here?" Harry asked as he reached for his glasses and put them on.

"A few minutes ago. The others are downstairs."

"Hey Meg." Harry greeted his now two-month old sister. "Are you hungry?"

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"How the bloody hell do you know what to do?" Ron asked as he held the baby while Harry warmed up a bottle Lily had prepared in the fridge in case it was James' turn to feed the baby.

"I've watched my parents." Harry answered as he finished the job.

And just in time. Megan started making noises like the start of a scream.

"Here we go." Harry said taking his sister from his best friend and giving her the bottle.

She started drinking the contents.

"Where's a camera?" Ron asked.

Harry just gave him a look before looking down at his sister. He noticed that she was eyeing him as she took in what her big brother looked liked. After all, she hardly saw him. Harry smiled at her.

Suddenly, the two boys heard footsteps running down the stairs. They stopped in front of the kitchen and the person looked in.

It was Lily, and she looked worried.

"Have you two seen…." She started to ask as she took in the sight.

She found the baby in Harry's arms and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry if we scared you." Harry said to her.

"It's okay. I was just concerned when I didn't wake up to the sound of Megan's screaming. It was actually a nice change."

"Hey Lils?" James asked as he came into the kitchen. "Have you seen Harry? He's not in his room nor the ball…"

James trailed off when he saw Harry feeding Megan.

"That answers that question." James stated.

"Ron used Megan to wake me up. Then she got hungry." Harry explained.

"I was trying to get him up so we can open gifts, but it's only taking longer." Ron added.

"Are you finished?" Harry asked Megan when she stopped.

He lifted her and placed her over his shoulder while patting her back.

"Are you sure we can't home school him?" James asked Lily. "We could use him to help with Megan."

"Nice try." Lily told him.

"I have no objections." Harry said.

"You'll be away from Ron, Hermione, and Ginny." Lily told him.

"Never mind." Harry said quickly.

"You'd make a great dad someday." Ron observed after Megan burped.

Harry laughed

"What?" Ron asked.

"Considering I'm dating YOUR sister…" Harry started.

"I meant if the time comes!" Ron corrected quickly.

"Yeah. Can we get Megan toilet-trained first?" James asked.

"Can we graduate first?" Harry added handing Megan to James. "Okay Ron. Let's go to the ballroom."

The two boys were gone.

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The next month,

"HARRY!" Ginny yelled running into the boys' dorm one Saturday morning. All five were asleep.

Until that moment.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"Where's the fire?" Seamus asked sitting up in bed.

"I didn't do it!" Dean yelled.

"I didn't mean to!" Neville added.

"I don't want to tap dance!" Ron yelled.

Ginny looked at her brother strangely and shook her head.

"Hermione and I discovered why Remus has been gone a lot." She announced.

"Is that all?" Seamus asked. "I'm going back to bed."

Ron collapsed back onto his pillows and started snoring.

"You woke us up at six in the morning to tell us that?" Dean added.

"Melissa's PREGNANT!" the redheaded girl announced

"Who's pregnant?!" Ron asked sitting back up.

"Melissa." Ginny told him.

"Professor Lupin's going to be a dad?" Seamus asked.

"That's what pregnant is." Ginny informed him.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Hermione and I heard Remus tell Sara." Ginny said. "She's continuing the evesdro…"

Hermione came running in.

"I just heard Remus tell Sara his theory about Sirius." Hermione added. "Spica is pregnant as well."

"The Marauder baby boom has begun." Harry observed

"Why has Sirius been so overprotective?" Ron asked. "John, James, and Remus have been as well, but not to that extent."

"I'm not 100 percent sure," Hermione said. "But…I think Spica HAD been pregnant before, but lost the baby."

"Oh no." Ginny gasped.

"That's just a theory." Hermione said.

"That explains the silent conversation though." Harry said. "Spica told him that something wasn't meant to be and that SHE was just fine."

"I have no clue what you four are talking about." Seamus said. "So, I'm going back to bed."

"Likewise." Dean said.

"We need to help." Ginny said.

"How?" Ron asked. "We're here, and they're there."

"Well, we can write. Let them know we still care. Besides, reading letters would give Spica something to do while resting."

"Good idea." Harry said before kissing her cheek.

"Can you not do that in front of me, please?" Ron asked. "I'm trying to stay out of over-protective-brother mode, but there is no guarantee."

TBC

"Harry?" Ginny asked. "Can you quiz me?"

"Sure." Harry said. "It's either that or listen to those two."

He motioned the arguing Ron and Hermione.

"Want to go somewhere private?" Harry asked.

"Sure. Where?"