A/n: Well, here's chapter ten. What can I say, it's been a while. For that I apologise. My cat has recently developed a fetish for chewing on cords, Chargers and power cords being her preferred choice, meaning the cord for my laptop was at the top of her list. That means that I had to start from scratch on this chapter. I hope you'll bare with me on this.

D/c: I own Mina, Allison, Destiny, and most of the plot. Anyone, thing, and place you recognize from the books belongs to JK Rowling.

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Mina walked into her house with about twenty different bags in each hand. Her friends followed her, much in the same condition. She grinned as she looked around. She'd splurged, she knew that, but she was having such a good time that she really didn't care. They'd even stopped into Diagon Alley to pick up what they knew they would need before the new year started. Without their booklist, it was the only thing they couldn't get.

Mina smiled. She'd also indulged herself in a few new things as well. Nothing she'd be able to wear while she was pregnant, but that didn't mean a new mama couldn't be sexy, did it?

Lily and Allison were laughing as the boys all came in carrying a basinet, followed by a dresser, and a changing table, and the box that contained the bouncer and swing.

Mina smiled at them. "Thanks, Boys." She said, kissing each of them on the cheek. "Now that it's inside we can levitate it."

"You should really consider moving into a magical community." James told her.

"And not let you guys have your fun lifting heavy objects and showing off for the neighbor girls, that would just be mean of me." Mina said, with a glare at Sirius. "And yes, I saw you, macho man. Mine, Remember?"

Sirius sighed. Her hormones were acting up again, He realized. She was such a bitch any other time that he hadn't really noticed. It was when she was jealous that it came out. And he meant it all in the best possible way, because he loved her for it all.

"Mina, honey, you know I only have eyes for you." he said, walking up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. "If I didn't need them so bad, I would take them out and give them to you."

Mina glanced up at him. "That has got the be the sickest, most oddly romantic things you have ever said to me."

"I have my moments." Sirius said, grinning.

Mina shook her head and swatted him in the arm. "Pig."

"Bitch."

"Asshole."

"Psychopath."

"Masochistic, self obsorbed, git." Mina finished the argument. She loved when they got into these kinds of spats. It was fun. And she won because she used big words.

"How do you figure I'm masochistic?" Sirius asked, once Remus told him what it meant.

"You may not realize it but you do a lot of biting." Mina told him. "And when I do it back you go harder, faster, and longer."

"You make me sound like one of those car thingies." Sirius told her.

"Yes, but it's so much fun." Mina said as she started picking up bags.

Sirius gave her a rougish smile. "Really? More fun than say, last night?"

"No, but it's a close third."

"What's second?"

"Scaring off our friends. Come help me levitate this stuff." Mina told him as she placed all of the bags In the basinet and started floating it up the stairs.

Sirius looked around to see that his fellow Marauders and their girlfriends were gone. "When did that happen?"

"About the time I started talking about you and your fixation with biting." Mina called down the stairs. "Bring up the changing table."

Sirius sighed and did as he was told. He would never win with these people.

Mina smiled as she looked around the room she'd chosen for the nursery and started putting things where she wanted them to go. Sirius Came in with the changing table and set it up. He went back for the bassinet and dresser. The swing and bouncer would stay downstairs in the sitting room.

Mina set the room up and smiled. Just a few more months. Only a few, and she would have her bouncing baby girl here. Sirius walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

"How nice it'll be with the baby here." Mina sighed. "I can't wait to get this thing out of me."

"It's not a thing, love, it's a beautiful baby girl that you created."

"Charmer."

"I prefer Defense, actually."

"Sirius, not today. I don't want to laugh today." Mina told him. "We start school again in just a few weeks. We can laugh all we want then. Not today, today is a day of loving."

Sirius smiled at her. "Then let me love you." He whispered. "Give in to me and relax and enjoy."

Mina smiled. "Okay."

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Three weeks later they were on the train ride to school. Playtime was over, School was back in session and it was NEWT year. Mina excused herself from her friends and moved down the train until she found Penny Blakely. She was also a seventh year with your perfect cheerleader features and black hair.

"Blakely, can I have a word with you …" Mina asked. She looked around at all the Hufflepuff Gigglers. "In private."

Penny nodded and looked at her friends. "I've been wanting to talk to her too, go on, go find a boy or something."

Mina smiled as she entered the compartment. "You're as bitchy as me. Must be the Diggory Gene."

Penny laughed. "What can I do for you, Mina?"

"I know that we've never been the best of friends, but I've always been a firm believer in knowing all branches of your family tree. It's probably because I don't know all of mine." Mina told her. "Which is why I was thinking that when the kids are older, they are allowed to know each other, before they come to Hogwarts. They're going to be siblings. I think it's important."

Penny studied her. "I agree. Amos may not be the smartest man in the world, but at the end of last year, he was just thinking of his family. He didn't want his parents to know his shame. He'd sired two children with two different girls. His mother almost had a heart attack when he told her. His father shook his head. Amos was so hurt."

"Not my problem." Mina told her. "He's the one that reversed the spell, not me. I had no intention of getting pregnant."

"I know. He did the same thing to me." Penny told her. "I would like for our children to know each other."

"I'm glad we agree." Mina said, standing.

"Mina, can I ask? What are you having?"

"A girl. Destiny."

"Beautiful."

Mina went back to her compartment and sat curled up under Sirius' arm. She didn't want to go back to school.

A few hours later the train pulled into the station and they made their way up to the carriages. Mina sighed as she looked around. They were pulling themselves, as per usual. She climbed into the nearest one with Sirius helping her. She was just going into her seventh month of pregnancy. She was rather large around the stomach.

Lily, James, Allison, and Remus followed. Peter was forced into another carriage since they only held six.

"Mina, have you finished?" Allison asked.

"Yeah, a couple weeks ago." Mina told her. "But I don't want to risk anything until after Destiny is born."

Allison nodded. "Understandable."

"I still can't believe you managed it." Lily told her.

"Yeah, well, it was a pain in the ass." Mina muttered.

"Finished what?" James asked.

"I might as well tell you, but you're sworn to secrecy on it." Mina told him. "And this goes for you and Remus as well, Sirius. You can't even tell Peter, i don't trust him. I know you don't intend to tell anymore, but I want you to understand how much trouble I can get in if you do tell. This goes beyond the school rules. I'm breaking the law here." She told them.

"Mina…" Alison hissed.

"Alli, relax. We can trust them." Mina told her. She took a deep breath. "I'm an unregistered Animagus." She told the boys.

Silence followed the revelation as the boys absorbed the information.

"I started studying it because of Allison. As you're all aware, she's a werewolf." Mina continued. "I did some research and found that werewolves aren't dangerous to humans in animal form. This year, after Destiny is born, I'm going to start joining her in the dungeon so that she has company on the full moons. And I have all in intentions of being there for every full moon until we die."

Mina noticed that the boys all had secretive smiles on their features. She sighed. She knew those looks. They knew something she didn't. Something usually pertained to themselves, of course, and she could make a pretty good guess at this point.

"You've done the same thing for Remus, haven't you?" Mina asked.

The smiles split into grins.

"Damn it, you Marauders do everything first." Mina growled punching them all in the arm.

Lily and Allison were staring between Mina and the Marauders. "What?"

"They're Animagi, too." Mina sighed. "Bastards."

James grinned. "Well, we couldn't let Moony suffer alone. Besides. He's more docile when we're around. He isn't as self destructive."

"Yeah." Sirius agreed. "More like an …. Over grown puppy that could kill us." He had a grin that went from ear to ear.

"Stupid son of a Bludger." Remus muttered, smacking Sirius upside the head.

Mina turned to Lily. "Since you're the only one available, will you be able to watch Destiny on those nights?"

"Of course." Lily said. "I would love to."

"Beautiful." Mina said with a smile as they made it to the school.

"Fun time." Allison muttered.

"What are you complaining about? You're not the one that looks like a house." Mina told her.

"You do not look like a house." Sirius told her. "You look like a pregnant woman. You look beautiful."

"Stuff it, Sirius." Mina told him.

"Mina, we have to talk tonight as well." James told her.

Mina nodded.

They walked into the Great Hall ignoring all the stares they were getting from the rest of the school. James and Lily had gotten Head Boy and Girl and Mina was pregnant, so they had the full attention of the student body.

They sat through the sorting and ate their food before heading up to the dorms.

Mina and James sat up in the common room for a short while after everyone else had gone to bed.

"Mina, I don't want to put you out, but with you being pregnant and Quiddich starting in November, I'm going to move you to reserve for the first match." James told her. "The only reason I'm doing so is because of Destiny."

Mina smiled at him. "I understand James. One of our other beaters can take over for me until I can play again. Just as long as I'm not off the team for good."

"Well, the thing is, I don't even want you in the air at practice because of the baby. I don't want you risking getting hurt. Had I known before the end of the year last year, I would have done this sooner. I don't want you to risk losing the baby."

"James, I was fine. I wasn't as big as I am now. Even in the pro league they don't put the players out until the second trimester." Mina told him.

"I know. I looked it up. Fact remains. I talked to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall and they agree with me. You should have been moved back sooner."

Mina rolled her eyes. "Alright, James. It's fine. I'll be in shape again by second match. Don't worry."

"Thanks, Mi." He said. They rose and he pulled her into a hug. "And you can call me Prongs, alright, Kitten?"

Mina smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. "You've been like a big brother to me through all of this, Prongs. Thank you."

"You're welcome." James told her. "Goodnight, kiddo."

"Night." Mina said and they went to bed.

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The next morning dawned with a familiar conformability with all of the students, minus the first years. Lily, Remus, and James led the first years down to breakfast and Mina walked with Peter, Allison, and Sirius.

It was a new year at Hogwarts. For now it was a pleasant one, with only a shadow of a threat around the edges. They knew what lie ahead, and they would be ready to face it when they exited the sanctuary of their youth.

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A/n: Well, tell me what you think. I know a lot of you have been waiting for this chapter for a while, so I applaud your restraint in not killing me. Thank you, very much.

Thanks to:

crazyanimallvr93: you are very welcome. I always love hearing from my readers, with whatever questions that may entail

dusty101: I'm glad you think so. I've had a person or two tell me that Mina shouldn't be pregnant, but as it's slightly pivotal, as I've said, they'll just have to deal with it. Thanks.

sarieva: Yes, it is sad, but I needed something that would really tie her into the fight. Unfortunately they were doomed from the start of the story. I think I've explained the house-elf thing before, but I'll do it again in any case. Mina is actually the daughter of a squib and a witch. Her great grandfather was the youngest of two sons in a Wizarding family and the squib of the two. Half the house elves went to him, the other half to his brother who continued the magical line. They were passed down through the generations, well, their decendants, anyway, and ended up with Mina. Waiting, as Missy explained, for another magical child to be born into that line. Until Mina was born they weren't technically tied into the family. I hope this clears up any confusion there. Also, Mina was only about five or six months pregnant. That was a mistake on my part not keeping track of where I was. For that I apologize. Thanks for the review. Glad you like the story.

sras: Glad you chose my story. I'm always happy to see new readers. I'm really glad you liked this story. Here's chapter ten for you. Hope to hear from you again.

Sirius-Baby: Glad you liked it. here's the update everyone's been waiting for.

And thanks to cocogirl198 for adding me to her fav. And alerts lists. Much appreciated. As well as your reviews for my other stories. Those will be addressed when I can actually update those particular stories.

Thanks again to you all. Much of the love.

Leggy freak003