A/N: Sorry this is so short! I just wanted to get an update out here since it's been so long. I'll try harder to work on this story more often. The name of the baby will be revealed in the next chapter!

It was the end of November, and the kids were getting excited for Christmas. Aside from Halloween, the kids really got excited over Christmas with all the lights, special treats, and presents. Since the wedding, the Potters, the Gellers, and the Snapes have all come together once a week to have dinner together. It was our turn to host, with the Potters being the previous hosts. It was nice to have everyone come together for a big meal and have the kids go crazy in the garden.

Severus, Bane, and I were preparing a nice beef roast with red potatoes, green beans, beautiful blood oranges and apples from Bane's garden, and some fresh pumpkin juice courtesy of Hagrid, who delivered ten rather large pumpkins to their cottage. Since Albus and Gerard weren't that overly fond of pumpkin juice, we did have fresh cranberry juice for them to enjoy.

"So Bane, how much longer do you have at the Prophet?" I asked as I cleaned the potatoes to put in the roaster.

"Just a couple more weeks, cousin. I hope I have a chance at working in your shop," he said as he glanced at Severus, who was enchanting herbs to coat the roast.

"Consider yourself already an employee," Severus commented as he remained focused on his roast.

I caught Bane smiling, his deep dimples in his cheeks showing. A trait Dante inherited from his father.

"Hermione told me you are going to work on becoming a Potions Mistress," said Bane as he approached my area of our rustic kitchen, holding a large bowl of green beans to wash.

"Yes. After the baby is born, I plan on my training once the new term starts at Hogwarts. It's... almost odd going back, but in a way it's kind of like returning to another home, you know?" I finished cleaning the potatoes and laid them in the roaster to go with the meat Severus was preparing.

"You will do fantastically, cousin. Your scores matched Hermione's in Potions when you two graduated."

I smiled a bit. "Yeah. Pretty hard to match grades with Hermione - I'm sure Rose and Dante will be just as ambitious."

"Rose is worrying about how soon she can start Quidditch." Bane chuckled and stuck the bowl of green beans in the sink and started washing them.

After the food was in the oven, Severus and I went to work on preparing pumpkin and cranberry juice. As much as he didn't like to admit it, Severus was a great cook. The nights when he would cook would always be the favorites with the boys - they believe he made the best chicken they've ever had.

By that time, Gerard, James, and Rose joined the group and watched us fussing in the kitchen.

"Mum?" came Gerard's voice as I charmed the cranberries to juice themselves.

"Yes, love?" I turned my attention to him, and noticed James and Rose sniffing the air and heard them commenting on how hungry they were.

"How come we don't have a house elf? James said his dad has a house elf because he inherited one."

"It's cruel to have them like that," Rose commented. "Mum always says that House Elves deserve rights, and she's made sure they've had more rights since she got into the Ministry."

I smiled at Rose, who was every bit of Hermione.

"Gerard, I have to agree with Rose and your aunt Hermione here. I don't think it's right to keep House Elves to do work we are more than capable of."

"Kreacher is mean anyway," said James. "Last time I saw him he magicked my nose off."

"That's because you put stink pellets in his clothes," Rose said in a flat voice.

She had an impatient look on her face as she conversed with James. It was typical of them.

"Why do some people still have House Elves?" Rose asked.

I gave them my full attention then - they were all sitting at the island where the oven was attached, and there were four stools parked on the other side. They were perched on their stools, watching Severus and me attentively.

"Some still don't believe they deserve the same rights as wizards. The Malfoys are a decent example."

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Draco and Astoria do not have a House Elf," he commented. "Lucius does."

"Ah, that's right," I said, my memory jogging of when Severus would speak of his godson, whom I hadn't seen since Hogwarts. "Lucius Malfoy has another House Elf."

"My Dad freed his first one," James said with a mischievous smile. "He even comes and visits us during the summer."

"Too right you are, James."

"Why does Dobby keep working at Hogwarts?" Rose inquired. "Why doesn't he do something else?"

"Because he likes it there," said James. "He told us."

"I don't understand why anyone would want to serve someone who treats them poorly. Slavery is wrong," Rose replied.

I caught Severus stiffening up, possibly having memories of his time serving the Dark Lord.

"The House Elves are treated far better at the school than they once were. They even get some vacation. Your mother has made the world of difference for many creatures, Rose."

Albus, Dante, and Prince wandered into the kitchen, and saw Severus enchanting pumpkins from the Potters. He was juicing them midair, and had the juice, guts, and seeds fall through a collandar. There were a couple of "wow"s from the younger boys.

"Your dad is cool," I heard Albus said quietly to Prince, earning a smirk from my youngest son.

A matching smirk came to Severus' lips as he finished juicing the pumpkins.

We finished preparing our meal, then we all sat together and ate until our bellies were full, and discussed dozens of topics (and Harry had to scold Albus several times over some reasons I found ridiculous). Once dinner was finished, I magicked the table clean and served tea while the kids hurried off into the living room to listen to the Quidditch match on the radio. We could hear them shouting every time one of their favorite teams scored a point.

It was past ten when everyone left, and Severus and I got the boys ready for bed. They fussed and protested against bedtime that night, but eventually gave in and took their baths and we tucked them into bed.

"Mum?" Gerard said after I tucked him into his blue comforter.

"Yes, love?" I asked as I sat on the edge of his bed and brushed his raven hair out of his eyes.

"What are you going to name the baby?"

I furrowed my brow. I was leaning toward one name, and Severus seemed to be leaning toward another. I hoped we would make our decision soon.

"I'm unsure, son. Your little brother will have a name, though. Dad and I just need to decide before he decides to join us!"

"How much longer until he'll be here?" Gerard stared at me with his beautiful hazel eyes, staring attentively.

I smiled down at him.

"Just a few more months, Gerard. You can hold him when he's born. Just think - you get to be the big brother to two boys. Isn't that exciting?"

He smiled a little and nodded his head.

"It's a lot of responsibility, y'know. You'll have to keep them in line at Hogwarts."

"James said you're going to start working there, though," Gerard said suddenly.

I paused for a moment.

"That's true. I'll start my training after the baby is born so I can teach potions. It's something I've wanted to do since I was a student there."

"Just like Daddy?" He cocked his head to the side, his eyes beginning to droop as his head nuzzled into his pillow.

I smiled at him as I rubbed his forehead.

"Just like Daddy."