A/N: Sorry it took so long to update this story. I reached a point where I wasn't sure how to proceed. Let's hope it will be smoother down the road.

September 2006

Ch21: Start of Term

As much as Dianna wanted to check her ancestry, there was little that could be done before the end of the vacation. Both Harry and Hermione promised to continue the search for her and owl any new information they found.

Start of term had only one surprise. "All students will have to attend a monthly tour in muggle environment," the headmistress announced after the feast. "The tours will be conducted in small groups, normally by house and year. Anybody who fails to attend his designated tour will have to join another as soon as possible."

"Why should muggleborns need these tours?" somebody asked.

"They need it to see how little their pureblood classmates understand muggle society and to help them get acquainted with it."

Some didn't seem too happy. A few looked quite terrified by the idea, yet Lilly and her friends just loved it. "I told the headmistress last year that it was a good idea. I wonder why it took her so long to adopt it."

The "muggle days", as these expeditions turned to be named, were the main topic around the morning breakfast tables for several more days. Lilly was telling her friends excitedly of a TV show she had loved as a small child when a loud snort was heard from a near table. "Only mudbloods and blood-traitors like that Potter girl could love these muggle monstrosities."

Lilly turned around, ready to hex whoever said it, but Dianna put a hand on her shoulder and silently communicated "We shall handle them later."

Lilly only noted the members of the offending group before turning back. They were all fifth year girls: three Slytherins and two Ravenclaws.

Once they finished their meal, both Lilly and Dianna turned to that table and smiled sweetly, wishing the older girls "a fabulous day". They didn't get any response.

None of those girls seemed to attend lunch or dinner that day. They could only be seen the next morning, looking tired and disheveled as if they didn't sleep all night. Soon after sitting for breakfast they all got large red spots on their cheeks, their lips turned brilliant red and their hair turned yellow, making them look like dolls. Even their robes changed into frilly dresses of the kind associated with dolls for small girls.

The five screamed in alarm as they saw the changes, attracting the attention of the whole school before running out. Dianna smirked at Lilly, who nodded approvingly.

"Now, what can you tell me about those girls?" asked Lilly.

"I've not been present, so most of this is what I've heard. They seemed to feel uneasy soon after the second period. They felt like rushing to the toilet, but the feeling disappeared as soon as they reached there and reappeared a few minutes after they returned. This went on throughout the day and night. Then they had the humiliation at breakfast which capped it all and they can't even blame anyone."

Lilly giggled. "Oh, that's awful, having to run to the loo every few minutes..."

Their parents didn't have a quiet night either. Shortly after midnight, Narcissa was awakened by a sharp pain which she eventually recognizes as a precursor for delivery. She tried not to wake her husband and his wife, but half an hour later, when another pain grabbed her, she couldn't stop her groan on time. Both awakened and started caring for her.

The pains were still wide apart and there was no sign that anything was going to happen soon. At sunrise they were still dozing, awaiting the next bout of pain while two female elves were also monitoring the trio.

Then, two hours later, it suddenly became hectic. Narcissa's water broke and her labor pains came much closer; she was clearly in no state to be transported to St. Mungos. Hermione shifted immediately into he "healer mode", taking control of the situation and commanding Harry and the elves, making sure to give Narcissa the best environment for the delivery.

The contractions came one ofter the other, with no discernible gaps. Narcissa was in such a great pain that she couldn't' even hear Hermione's instructions of "Push now!" or "Don't push!" Harry felt that he needed to help. He had not used his enhanced magic since Hermione had released it from its bonds. Now seemed the time to put these powers into test.

He helped Narcissa into a semi-seated position and slipped behind her, supporting her torso, caressing her face and whispering encouragements in her ear. At the same time, he urged his magic to help his wife. He felt as if his body was merging with hers, giving her more energy. When she needed to push, he pushed for her, and when it was time to relax he made sure her muscles, along with his, were relaxing.

With his help, birth continued at high speed. A few minutes after he joined, the baby's head was crowning, and soon after he fully emerged from the birth canal. Hermione took the newborn, cleaned him and checked his vital signs before smiling at the two on the bed. "He's perfectly healthy," she said, as the baby was exercising his vocal cords.

Harry helped Narcissa push a few more times to get rid of the afterbirth before they both collapsed of exhaustion. The elves, under Hermione's strict inspection, separated them. Harry only needed some rest, but the new mother also needed some medical treatment. Hermione did all that could be done at home, stabilizing her as much as she could, before calling St. Mungos to transfer both parents and the baby.

Both Dianna and Lilly were surprised when Kreacher popped in during lunch. He addressed Dianna first: "Mistress Dianna, your mother has just given birth to a healthy baby boy and she would be delighted if you came to see her and your new brother."

Both girls screamed with excitement and rushed to the head table. McGonnagal seemed to be ready for them.

"You may leave at once to visit your mother. I expect you back by Monday morning and you should catch up with your homework by next Friday."

"Thank you, professor" they both chanted as one before they rushed out of the hall and disappeared. Kreacher popped out as well, while the headmistress was still shaking her head and murmuring "Girls!"

Harry was already sitting at Narcissa's side, waiting for her to finish nursing the baby, when the girls rushed into the room. "He's so cute!" chanted Lilly, while Dianna was more concerned about her mother. "How do you feel?" she asked her, after kissing her cheek.

"As expected... Sore, tired and happy. It was almost brutal, but Hermione, being the wonderful healer she is, helped us tremendously. Once we came here, they only needed to give me some potions and let me rest."

"What do you mean by 'once we came here'? I thought you gave birth here!"

"That was the plan, but your brother didn't seem to be aware of it. Delivery was just too fast to come here. He was born at home."

Dianna looked at her new brother and smiled tenderly. "What shall we call him?"

Narcissa looked at Harry, who nodded slightly. "Sirius," she said softly.

Harry was still surprised when Draco and Astoria came to visit, although he knew he shouldn't be. Yet Draco surprised him even more when he congratulated Harry and added: "Let's hope that Sirius will be as brave as his father and as good looking as his namesake." Despite the fast ameliorating relations between Draco and the Potters, such warm congratulations were unexpected.

The first of the "muggle days" was fun. Once again, it was actually Lilly's idea. "We should ease the pureblood children into muggle life in a way that would make it enjoyable. I think a visit at a theme park may be fun, or even just a visit to a shopping mall and the cinema."

It was the latter idea that was adapted, mainly due to cost considerations, and it proved to be an immediate success. All girls, no matter blood status, enjoyed the shopping, especially since the could bring as much money as their families allowed in addition to the pocket money given by the school. Each ended buying a modest muggle wardrobe, and most of the boys did so as well. The boys had found more interest in the electronic games shops, though. The most difficult task for the accompanying adults was to pry these youngsters away from their games when the time was up.

Dianna overheard some of the fifth-year girls talk. "They were showing each other the clothes they had bought. One of them was ecstatic about her new push-up bra, while another was very satisfied that she found a minimizer one which could hold her ample boobs. None of the magical shops has anything close to these."

Lilly smirked. "The older girls in my house were comparing their new thongs and their bikini swimsuits. They were wondering what their parents might say if they saw them wearing these."

"We were taken to a documentary film about the beginning of the space era. My classmates were fascinated about landing on the moon and exploring distant planets. It made them painfully aware of how little they knew of anything outside the magical world. I heard a few asking Madam Pince to add some science books to the library."

"Our class was taken to a Startrek movie. They found it hard to believe that it was all 'make believe' and that there was no magic involved in creating the film or in showing it."

Both girls were satisfied. Change was coming to the magical world, even though in a slower pace than they would have liked.

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