First off, I'm sorry for abandoning this but I had four active stories and I was getting a lot more prompts then.
This isn't resuming normal service, but I had a free day where the three stories I'm writing don't need updating to stay with at least weekly, so have a little update!
-YDHP-
"Mama!" "Dada!" James and Lily were both over a year old now, learning to walk and talk and generally drive their parents batty. Harry and Ingrid each picked up an infant, getting sticky kisses and hugs from the children covered in pancake syrup that was more on their hands and faces than in their stomachs. "So, any idea what Vlad is coming over to talk about?" "No idea. Though I sincerely hope it isn't to tell me our mother is pregnant again. Wolfie lucked out, I'm not sure another child would." Inclining his head to agree with his wife, Harry worked on cleaning Lily's mucky face and hands magically. "I do know Erin isn't coming though, she's pregnant again and in the stage of go away Vlad, you're annoying me. Not sure how she doesn't say that all the time to be honest."
"Nice to see you too sis! Hey little monkeys!" Vlad apparated in behind them, both of the twins instantly demanding their uncles attention. Ingrid happily dropped James into Vlad's arms so he could deal with the sticky toddler, and Lily clung to Vlad's other arm and smiled. "So, to what do we owe this displeasure?" Rolling his eyes at his sister, Vlad sat down with the twins still clinging to him. "I thought you would prefer to hear it in person. We're getting a new sibling! Dora is pregnant!" Harry watched carefully for Ingrid's reaction, but she didn't look horrified with the news so he relaxed. "Boy or girl?" "Too soon to tell, I think she can do that spell next week." "Think dad will try to disinherit you and name the new one as heir if its a boy?" Vlad shrugged, or at least tried to with arms full of James and Lily. "No idea. I'm not against the idea, I have plenty to be getting on with, being Grand High Vampire and all. Not to mention husband and father. Though given they will actually be half witch, I won't be surprised if they are the third Dracula to go to Hogwarts."
That was true, neither Vlad or Ingrid had magical parents and they both went, this new Dracula would be halfblood. "True. Kind of funny that they will be in lower years than their nieces and nephew though." "Yeah, though they might be in the same year as my second kid, though with me and Erin it's too soon to guess if they will even be magical." "With you as their father, I don't doubt it for a minute." Vlad nodded up at Harry, arms suddenly freed as the twins decided to toddle off to their toys on the floor. "So, another Dracula. Your dad is what, six hundred? And only started having kids less than thirty years ago. Mind you, imagine how many of you there could have been if he had three every half century or so." Vlad stayed another half an hour to catch up, then sighed as he saw the time. "I better get going, I want to see Victoria then I have to get to Council. Later guys."
After goodbye hugs from the whole family, Vlad disapparated. Putting the twins down for their nap, Harry returned to his wife and wrapped arms around her. "So, how do you really feel about a new sibling?" Whatever it was, she would not have opened up about It in-depth with Vlad there, so he waited until they were alone to ask. "I'm happy for them, what more is there?" Sighing internally at Ingrid's defensive mood, Harry tilted her head up and kissed her. "You can't lie to me remember?" Ingrid scowled but didn't push him away, pressing her face into his chest for a moment. "I just worry I'm going to be reminded of how dad never really wanted me, I don't want to end up insecure over a baby." "Ingrid, your father may be the Prince of darkness, but he's also a complete idiot for not seeing what an amazing, powerful and vampiric work of art you are."
This was the only bone of contention they had ever had, no matter how much Harry reassured her this insecurity still flared occasionally. Vlad was long forgiven, having done his utmost to make sure he never made his sister feel second best but their father had never bothered. Dora had done wonders for the present behaviour of the Count, but the past was still firmly fixed and the only time their father had ever told Ingrid he loved her was when he thought he was dying. Which, despite her frequent and vociferous denial, had a larger impact on Ingrid than it appeared to anyone but Harry. Ingrid simply held tighter to him, soaking up the comfort they gave each other just by being there, being together.
A little over seven months later, Vlad, Erin and their now two daughters were at Harry and Ingrid's home. Victoria was playing in the corner with James and Lily, Vlad holding two month old Amelia Dracula in his arms. They were waiting for news - Dora was in labour with her daughter. They had had many emotional conversations about how both Ingrid and the Count would take the news, though the father seemed to be perfectly happy about it. Luna Lovegood - now married but not changed her name - apparated into the room. As she now worked at St Mungos - though in psychiatry more than maternity - she was here to update them. "Mother and daughter both doing well. Already showing metamorph abilities, and the Count hasn't even tried to bite the doctor yet."
The slightly dreamy girl had surprised them all in fourth year by saying she knew Vlad and Ingrid were vampires, she just didn't care. So her casual talk of vampires surprised nobody. "Have they finished arguing over names yet?" "I think so, it was hard to work out anything over the laughter of a baby with hair identical to your fathers, except neon pink like her mother." They all chuckled at the image, relieved everything had gone ok. "Vlad and Ingrid can visit, but St Mungos are wary of having too many vampires in one place so the rest of you will have to wait until she's released." Vlad checked Erin didn't mind him leaving before he handed over their daughter, squeezing Ingrid's hand supportively then waiting with Luna while Ingrid said goodbye to Harry. "Just focus on the baby, he isn't going to act up with Vlad and Dora there." Ingrid nodded, kissing him and going to join Luna - they needed her to guide their apparition to St Mungos. The trio disapparated, leaving Harry and Erin with the children.
"Lets hope this is the kick Count Dracula needed." Erin understood - the Count had taken a while to warm to Vlad's half fang girlfriend too. "I hope so. Ingrid's tough, but if he's openly accepting of the new baby but not Ingrid then it's going to break her heart." As Ingrid's best friend, Erin was probably the only person he could talk to about this. "How did little Amelia come about? I thought you two weren't planning on more for a while." "Error in judgement. Vlad didn't realise the contraceptive magic was less effective on non magic folk, he's found the right one now but it was an accident. I don't regret it though, she's beautiful." Amelia was a sweet little thing, that was true. The children were put down for naps, leaving the two adults drinking soya blood while they waited for the Dracula siblings to return.
It was another hour or so before they did come back, and both were smiling brightly. Vlad held out a photo (digital ofcourse) of Dora and the baby, who's hair kept flashing different colours. "Meet Cassiopeia Dracula. Though she's already been dubbed Cassie." "Cassiopeia?" "In honour of Dora's mum, Andromeda. Old wizarding families liked to use the stars for inspiration, and it's unusual enough to appease dad." Ingrid looked surprisingly happy, but Harry was waiting until they were alone to be sure that was the case. Erin and Vlad left to pick up their children and head home, promising to join them to visit Dora in two nights time and Vlad casually disapparated the four of them home.
"Now it's just us, how was it?" "Actually good. Dad sort of apologised to me and Vlad for taking out mum leaving on us. And Cassie is actually quite cute, definitely more Dora than dad. Plus, it was hilarious when a young magical creature specialist training there asked me and Vlad for autographs, but had no idea who dad was." Harry chuckled at the mental image, knowing that Vlad would have been awkward and Ingrid amused and enjoying the attention. "You get to be a big sister all over again. Excited?" "Someone had to torment Vlad or he would have been a total wimpire all his life!"
-YDHP-
Short and gooey? Have some family fluff!