Living Your Life

Birthday Present

July 31st

He turned to his side, so he could see his stomach in the mirror. His hands travelled over the now clearly recognisable baby bump, only the week before everyone would have said he was pudgy, but not anymore. Even little Teddy was shooting curious looks at his stomach now.

Every Wednesday morning he would measure his girth and weight and write it down for Draco and himself, of course. Apart from the darkening of the little line of skin from his navel to his pubic bone he had as of yet no dark stretch marks, his skin looked as perfect as ever and he planed on keeping it that way. He stroked one last time over the warm skin that kept his babies safe, before reaching for his shirt.

''You look breathtaking.''

He swirled around and saw Charlie casually lean against the door frame.

''You are biased.'' He answered and added thoughtfully. ''And rightly so, this is your fault.''

''And I take full credit, happily. I wouldn't let anyone have that title.'' Charlie moved closer and took pleasure in straightening out Harry's clothes.

''Let's get downstairs, before our guests arrive.''

''Right, don't need them to start teasing.''

They walked down the stairs and into the drawing room. Winky had decorated the room with dark blue balloons and forest green garlands. A big twenty-one hung from the chandelier.

One by one the family arrived and greeted Harry with hugs and kisses and congratulations.

Once everyone had arrived it was time to open the presents.

He made his way through the presents slowly, making sure to thank all of them. Of course being the pregnant father he loved Teddy's colourful drawing the most, even if it would never be called a masterpiece. Wanting the normal life he had craved during his childhood he had found a solution for the problem of not having a refrigerator to pin the drawings to. The patch of unused grey wall between the kitchen counter and the door to the pantry. Now a cheery yellow it was plastered with unrecognisable shapes in every colour.

''Thank you, Teddy-Bear.'' Harry kissed the smiling face.

''It's a drragon.'' He said rolling the r, trying to sound grown-up, he still had trouble with it in some words.

''Are you sure? Could be a green blob.'' Ron mumbled through a mouthful of cake and Molly hit the back of his head.

''Hey, you missed one.'' George pointed to a small black box.

''Oh, who is it from?'' Harry reached for it and locked up to see everyone shaking their heads.

''Is there a card?'' Charlie asked.

''No, maybe inside, could be from Luna.'' He tugged on the crimson bow and lifted the lid. He sucked in a breath and the box dropped from his hands.

Inside was a bloody dead baby weasel, wrapped in a dirty pink bib.

''That's – I , Mum can you take Teddy out?''

She nodded shakily and picked him up. ''Let's look if little Victoire is still sleeping.''

''Okay, that way, Granny.'' He pointed the way, because he thought she couldn't know, it was his home after all.

Once they were outside Bill began casting spells on the present.

''Kreacher.'' Charlie called, while Harry stared unblinkingly at it.

''Yes, Masters.''

''Tell me all you know about that box.'' Charlie demanded in a hard voice that startled the old house-elf.

''It was send by owl this morning, Master Charles. It passed the wards without problem and Kreacher put it with the others. Kreacher did wrong?'' He asked and peeked at it. ''Kreacher did wrong! Kreacher will go and punish himself.''

''No! No, it's not your fault, Kreacher.'' Harry pulled himself out of his trance. ''I think we could do with some tea, to calm ourselves.'' Kreacher looked hesitant, but seeing the encouraging nod from Harry he went into the kitchen.

''I would prefer whisky.'' Charlie grumbled.

''Nothing, no signature or reference.'' Bill put his wand down and sighed.

''Not that I really want to do it but maybe we should look for a card or note underneath the – underneath it.'' Arthur said.

Nobody moved to do so, even if everyone nodded.

''Fine, I'll do it.'' Charlie said and without using his wand he turned it around.

''Oh, shit.'' He cursed, he pulled his hand away and it was red and swollen. Harry stood up and healed his hand. He had to use the burn-healing charm thrice before a recovery was seen. Twice more he waved his wand and Charlie's hands were back to normal.

''There still tingling a bit.'' He admitted. ''That's normal, it should stop in the next hour, though.''

''We definitely have to call the Aurors, this is serious, whoever did it wanted to cause pain. Emotionally and physically.'' Arthur said grimly, he wouldn't let some stranger ruin his family's happiness or health.

''And they succeeded. This was supposed to be a happy day.'' Harry sat back down rubbing his stomach, trying to avoid looking at it again.

''And it will be.'' Molly stood in the door again. ''One of us will go to the ministry and take this thing with him and the rest will go back to having fun. We won't let them win. Teddy is just grabbing a book and will be back soon, so...'' She motioned disgusted to the table.

''Right, I go.'' Percy stood up and conjured a bigger box, he levitated it inside and sealed it.

''Mum is right, just forget about it, it's not your job to find them, okay?''

He nodded and watched Percy leave. Kreacher popped in again and served tea, no one mentioned that he took way longer than usual.

''Who would do something like that?'' Ginny asked, shattering the silence. Molly gave her a disapproving glare.

''What? Don't tell me you don't want to talk about it. I mean, it was wrapped in pink. I don't believe in coincidence.''

''She is right, whoever did it, knows about Harry having girls. So someone from St. Mungo's.'' Fleur mused.

''Or one girl. I was shopping yesterday, I saw some baby shoes, one was pink with a white lily and the other white with a pink rose. Everyone could have seen me, if it was someone from the hospital they would have known it's twins.'' Harry said, warming his cold hands on the teacup. ''Or wouldn't bother with this, because of my HRP- status.''

''Don't think like that, our girls are fine.'' Charlie put his hand under his shirt rubbing slow circles on his back.

''Auntie Fleu' the baby is up.'' Teddy skipped in a book clutched in his arms. ''She is all red and sc'eaming.'' He plopped down in front of Bill, giving him the book.

''Read.'' He commanded and Fleur ruffled his hair on her way out.

''Teddy, use your manners.''

The little guy pouted, but Harry stayed strong. ''Please? It's from the new lady.''

''He means Andromeda.'' Charlie explained.

''Alright, since you asked so nicely.'' Bill opened the book and started reading.

''The Jungle Book. Mowgli's Brothers. It was seven o'clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up...''

Harry let himself be swept away by Bill's deep voice and succumbed to sleep.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Hope you liked it.

CurlyD