Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.

Chapter 21 The War of the Grandparents

"Katherine wake up!"

"Fuck no!" Everything made Kat exhausted, including being woken up. The only thing that got her out of bed besides a full bladder was…

"I made breakfast!" Mother fucker. After everything that happened, Kat never thought she'd want to complain about being pregnant. The fact that Draco was uncharacteristically chipper soured her mood even further. "It's nearly noon."

"Nearly?" Kat whined as she heaved herself up. "At least give me until the pm! Jerk."

"You might want to get ready. Your parents are coming over for dinner." They always came over for dinner. And Draco seemed too excited for Dad's continuous, usually taken too far, pranks. "Do you know what day it is?"

As usual, Kat was too focused on the food to care. When she bit into her waffle, she cringed. Egg shells. "You really did make this yourself, didn't you?"

"Are you even listening to me?" he halfheartedly chided. "You're twenty six weeks today, you dolt!"

"Really?" The days really did blend together when you sat around doing nothing. Finally everyone could stop being so on edge. Draco could stop acting like a kicked puppy, and more importantly, stop blaming her.

"Can't you tell?" he teased as he patted her stomach. Six and a half years pregnant felt more accurate than six and a half months. "Your mum's hoping you can make it another month, but…"

They'd likely survive if they were born now. Kat grinned. In her mind, this confirmed that everything was going to be okay. Now it was time for the real fun to begin.

"So we were thinking," Mum said over dinner. Usually, she was quiet because she was running diagnostic spells under the table and didn't want Kat to know. "You two are going to be needing a lot of help over the next few months. Over the next year even."

One of the perks of being pregnant with so many babies was everyone expected her to constantly be eating. Kat figured this was one of the best times to keep her mouth too full to talk. They probably wanted to move in. Dad and Lucius still didn't get along.

"Of course, but that's what house elves are for," Narcissa said smoothly when Lucius tensed at the thought of living with Dad for a year. Kat shoved half a roll in her mouth. Dad made a funny face, which nearly made her choke with the effort not to laugh.

Mum took a sip of her wine. This was getting serious. "Yes. But I think it would be beneficial if they were to live with a healer. And perhaps a home with a bit more warmth to it."

It was worse than she thought. Kat looked at her plate in dismay. She was starting to feel rather full…

Narcissa plastered a fake smile on her face. "Katherine seems to be comfortable where she is. Isn't that right, sweetie?"

"Uh…" It was the one time she didn't have to pee. "Pass the asparagus."

Draco rolled his eyes when Dad dumped nearly the entire bowl on her plate with an evil smile. Great. "I don't think this is the time to be worrying about such things. Moving is too stressful."

"Exactly," Narcissa practically purred. "Katherine can barely walk. Do you think she has it in her to pack all her things and move?"

"Hey!"

"Let them fight amongst themselves," Draco whispered in her ear. She could walk just fine! She just waddled a bit. A bit.

"We could do everything for her," Mum pressed. "What if she starts not feeling well in the middle of the night? Or what if she and Draco are sick at the same time? We should have done this months ago."

"That's what the emergency room is for," Narcissa said lightly.

"Once she enters, she might not leave until the babies are born," Mum said darkly. "St. Mungo's wants her now, actually." Now that was a boldfaced lie. Who knew Mum was such a snake?

"Let them have her." Stupid Lucius.

"Maybe it's better for Kat to come home then!" Dad spat.

"I think it's time for me to go to bed," Kat announced as she heaved herself from her seat. Draco moved to help her, but she had a feeling it was because he wanted to flee too.

"At home," Dad snapped. "This is no place to raise children. How are they going to run around? This place is like a museum."

Narcissa looked at him like he was nuts. "Running is for outside."

"But—"

"Just keep moving," Draco growled in her ear. He put his hand on the small of her back and pretended to be helping her along. "We don't want to get into this. Trust me."

"See Kat disagrees!"

Draco was definitely right…

The following week, Team Malfoy was in full throttle when they threw a baby shower. Kat had never seen so many presents. There was even a life sized family of stuffed lions in an effort to suck up to her.

"Are you sure there's only one in there?" Poor, stupid Sirius. He eyed the four lion cub stuffed animals suspiciously but still wasn't sure. "Because…"

"Because what, Sirius?" Kat snapped, pretending to be hormonal. "Are you calling me fat? At my own baby shower?"

"Never mind! Never mind…" Sirius held his hands up in surrender and backed away. Sucker.

With an exasperated sigh, Draco walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Mother wants you to get started on the forty gifts she bought them."

Ten for each. Wow. Kat tried not to smile as she saw Mum in the background writing a list down for Dad. Apparently the toy brooms weren't going to cut it. And… "Is that a throne?"

"She wanted you to be comfortable," Draco said dryly. "Because it's going to be a while."

Kat chuckled and rubbed her hands together. "I'm going to milk this for all it's worth."

"Of course you are."

"Your dragon fruit, Mistress." Katherine, being the asshole that she was, had Mother give her a house elf for bringing her food. Then, she got one from her mother to rub her back. In retaliation, Mother gave her one give her manicures and pedicures. Draco was going to strangle the next one that came along.

"Oh." Katherine wrinkled her nose. She was lying down, propped up with pillows and having her nails done. "That's what they look like? Okay. Send it back. I want cake with peanut butter instead of icing."

"Yes, Mistress!"

"You're enjoying this a little too much." Draco smirked as Katherine didn't even pretend to look guilty. "At least your chewed up finger nails will look decent for once."

"Is that a fat joke?" She acted like everything Father said was a fat joke, so Mother would get mad at him. "I feel so gross… I think Ginny's coming over today."

"Oh joy."

"And Mum and Dad."

"If they bring another elf…"

Katherine pulled him into a kiss and then started kissing his neck. Then his shoulder. It had been a while since they had done anything, because of, well, the mechanicswere becoming a bit difficult. Therefore, Draco was almost too caught up in the moment to hear her whisper, "I've always wanted a house elf to do my hair."

"KATHERINE!"

"Ew. I think I see them moving. You look so… grotesque." How could he have forgotten how much he hated Ginevra?

"Thank you," Katherine said, almost proudly.

Ginevra only looked even more revolted. "I'm so glad that can't happen to me… Have you thought of any names yet?" Mother looked up from the baby catalog she had been obsessing over for the past six months.

Katherine glanced at him, so he forced himself to smile. He was still a nervous wreck, but she was nearly seven months now. Surely everything would turn out alright. "I like Carina. But with a K. Because my name begins with a K."

"You don't say," Ginevra said dryly. "Do you even know if they're boys or girls yet?"

"No." Again, she glanced at him. They didn't find out because he felt like it was jinxing them. "But James Sirius has a nice ring to it. Don't you think?"

"Almost as much as Lucius Severus," Mother cut in, almost venomously. Katherine actually gagged at the thought.

"Sorry we're late!" Speak of the Devil. Mr. Potter had his usual mischievous smile on. Mrs. Potter was always more subtle about hers. "What's this I hear about Lucius Severus? Did you get a new dog?"

"I don't think Lucius would name a dog after himself, James!" But there was a glint in her eyes that told Draco she knew exactly what they were talking about. "Are you having all boys, Kat?"

Mr. Potter blinked in surprise. "I thought you said she was having two boys and two girls."

"JAMES!"

"What?"

"MUM!"

"Oh, so James Sirius and Lucius Severus." Ginevra seemed to be the only one enjoying this moment. She dug into her steak and potatoes with a smirk. "And what? Lily Hermione and Narcissa Bellatrix?"

"Narcissa Druella," Mother corrected, not understanding that it was a joke.

"Well…" Katherine was going to try to go for James Sirius and turn down Lucius Severus. Good luck. "Without Dad and Sirius, we'd only have one baby so…"

"So?" Mother prompted. "So you want to honor your father and godfather for a risky pregnancy?"

"Uh…" After about ten seconds, Katherine gave up and rounded on her own mother. "Mum! I told you we wanted to wait!"

"I can see why," Mrs. Potter said dryly.

Katherine sunk into her seat as the arguing ensued. Yet another moment ruined by their meddling parents.

"I like Karina," Draco said gently. By the end of the night, Kat's head was killing her, and she was in a rather foul mood. A good ten minutes after the arguing had stopped, Dad joked that he would fake his own death so James Sirius could have his name. Then started things up all over again. "What do you think of Aurora? I can't get that name out of my head for some reason."

Kat put her face in her hands. At this point, she didn't want to discuss names until the sprogs were off to Hogwarts. "I feel sick right now. Can it wait?"

"Of course." He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Are you okay?" Before Kat could shake her head, she summoned the rubbish bin and lost her dinner. "L-let's can we get go… I know you don't want to..."

She hadn't been sick in two months. As much as she wanted to say no, Kat nodded, causing Draco to start running around like a chicken with its head cut off. She hated going to the hospital, so he knew that this was serious. Something didn't feel right.

"I'm prepping you for a cesarean," Lily announced as soon as she looked at Kat's chart. Her blood pressure was so high! "Don't give me that look, Katherine Lily."

"The other healer said to try the potion," Kat snapped, sounding just as fierce as she did. "I just took it. I wanted to give it a few hours. I'm not even—"

"Twenty eight weeks is more than enough," Lily spat, ripping her arm out of her husband's when he tried to grab it in comfort. "I'm not going to sit here and wait—"

"I'm not letting you cut me open!" Kat yelled. "For one, if this works, they could have more time. For two, your hands are shaking! Are you mad?"

She was not going to let her baby get sicker and sicker when she could make it better in less than an hour. "The full moon is next week," she tried. Draco's eyebrows shot up at the blatant manipulation. "Are you really going to risk him missing it? They will be fine, Kat. You could die on the other hand…"

"Lily," James said firmly as Kat's eyes filled with tears. "That's enough."

"I'm not going to allow—" Lily yelped when James finally succeeded in dragging her out of Kat's hospital room. "JAMES!"

"She is doing what's best for her babies, while you are trying to do what's best for yours," he hissed. "Stop scaring her. You're only making it worse. You know what she's going to choose. It's what you would choose."

Lily swallowed back tears. "She's so sick."

"Getting her so worked up is only going to make her sicker," James whispered. "She needs her mum right now. Not her healer. Especially if she's going to have to deliver tonight."

"I think she's going to fire me anyway," Lily tried to joke as she wiped her eyes.

"Well you can't be fired from being her mum." James grinned. "Or she would've done so years ago. Just tell her that everything's going to be okay."

"It's not," Lily cried. When James hugged her, she burst into tears. By the time she got herself together, Kat was okay.

"You're fired," Kat said as soon as Mum came back. Her blood pressure went down, but now Draco wanted her to schedule a C-section for as soon as possible. "…unless you can get me out of here…"

"Sorry, sweetheart, but you're stuck." Mum ran her hands through her hair. "Maybe for the next month, if you keep up with this stubbornness."

"Thanks." The last time she had a long stay in the hospital was when she was recovering from a miscarriage. Kat squeezed her mother's arm. "Stay."

Mum laughed tearfully. "I'd like to see the fool who tries to make me leave."

"I'm staying too!" Narcissa practically barked. For once, Kat was able to laugh at the War of the Grandparents. It was almost as funny as two weeks later when Dad and Lucius got stuck in the elevator trying to outdo each other with more baby gifts.

James narrowed his eyes as Lucius stepped into the elevator with him. Kat was getting stir crazy, so he had a bag magically stuffed to the brim with all her favorite things. He had another bag filled with baby clothes with funny sayings on them like I pooped today. From the scowl on Lucius's face, he could tell that the other man thought that both bags were filled with baby things. His wife was running him ragged with the competition. James was almost sympathetic. Lily bought a carousel the other day.

"Warning! The elevator is filled to magical capacity! System shutting down."

"What?" James said dumbly as the lights went out and the elevator lurched.

"Your charms messed with the charms running the elevator, you bloody idiot!" Lucius shouted. "You can only have so much magic in such a contained space!"

"My charms?" James yelled back. "You got on the damned elevator after me! And you could use a trip up the stairs!"

"Excuse me?"

"Isn't the husband the one who is supposed to gain sympathy weight?" Lucius looked the same as he always did, but James didn't really care. He was about to die in an elevator with the prat. Good thing he packed Kat's favorite snacks and now had an excuse not to share them.

"How dare you? I—" The elevator lurched again, and Lucius screamed, actually screamed like little girl.

"Shame," James said as he shoved a chocolate covered biscuit in his mouth. He chewed as quietly as he could. Sure, it had been less than five minutes, but he was not going to starve to death. "I wanted to die with Sirius."

"Have you seen Dad?" Kat was bored. So bored that she actually wanted to read the baby shirts that Dad had with the corny jokes.

Hermione stopped mid-sentence and glared at her. When she said she didn't mind being read to, she thought her sister was going to read her a novel, not a textbook! Her eyes were starting to droop. "He said he was stopping by."

"Three hours ago!" Kat whined. "This hospital food is too—"

"Healthy?" Draco drawled. For some reason, he thought high blood pressure could be controlled through diet. Imagine that. "Stop getting him to sneak in food. When I wake up and smell chips in the middle of the night, I don't believe you when you tell me its Mum's feet."

"Katherine!" Mrs. Malfoy looked like Kat had just slapped her in the face.

"I'm pregnant. You have to be nice to me." Kat found herself saying that a lot lately. Being so bored put her in rare form. The worst part was that people tended to fall for it. Well, that's what they got for camping in her room. When she said she wanted everyone to stay, she didn't mean have between three and five people crammed into her room for weeks.

"It is unlike Dad to be this late," Mum said with the slightest bit of worry. "I hope he's not up to something."

"Without me?" Kat couldn't help but pout. She was so big she couldn't even shave her legs. Occasionally she saw a butt poking out of her stomach, and the circles under her eyes made her look like she hadn't slept in days. And now Dad was having fun without her! "Two more hours and we file a missing person's report."

Mum rolled her eyes. "Two more hours and I'll bring him dinner. He probably got caught up with work."

"Don't bring him dinner! He was supposed to…" Kat almost said bring her sweets but stopped when she felt a pair of grey eyes boring into her soul. "Hang out with me. He deserves to starve."

"I'm bringing you a salad," Draco said evilly.

"No!"

"With grilled chicken instead of bacon." The monster!

"I always thought you and Draco would make up before you died." After six hours, Lucius made him share the biscuits, and for that, he must pay.

"We are not fighting," Lucius said coolly.

"Yeah, but you're a prat!" James had wanted that last biscuit. "You resent him for something he can't control. He used to idolize you. Now, he's hesitant to even smile at you."

Lucius was quiet for a while, probably trying to think of an excuse. "I don't like what he is," he admitted. "But I keep my distance, because I know he must blame me. It was my fault after all."

James frowned. That wasn't the case at all. Draco thought his father hated him. Before James could say anything, the lights came back on and a pair of wizards pried open the elevator. Should he intervene?

Katherine almost made it to thirty two weeks when she shook him awake at three in the morning. At first, he nearly jumped out of his skin until he realized none of the many charms she had on her were going off. He had taken to sleeping in a chair that also served as a bed beside her when it wasn't too close to the full moon.

"Hey." She had a weird, terrified sort of smile on her face. "How's it going?"

"Wonderful," he drawled. If she was about to send him out for another packet of chocolates, he was going to…

"My water broke."

One more chapter! Maybe (probably not) two.

Thank you for reviewing Ern Estine 13624, gr8rockstarrox, Cookiemonster, Vi38, and ScarlettMeadow123102!

gr8rockstarrox: You underestimate my laziness. ;) This story didn't turn out as good as it was in my head, so I kind of want to finish it and move on.

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