Chapter Twenty-Nine:

The morning creeps upon Pemberly slowly, but most of the occupants have been up since a rather early and nasty Howler came to Hermione. Harry rushed her to St. Mungo's and had her checked out, because she collapsed after the letter exploded. He silenced that tirade and stopped the burning spell on the letter. He could tell it was from Ginerva, soon to be Goyle, just by the sound.

Draco and Katie are waiting when they get back. "How are you?" Katie asks as Harry carries Hermione upstairs. They follow the Potters, concerned about the sudden illness of Hermione.

Hermione answers as Harry carries her into their room and gets her comfortable on their bed. "It was just a sudden shock and I got up too quick without eating. I need to be more careful with what I do from now on. The doctor told me that the only times I am to walk around is when I need to go to the bathroom, going to and from class. I am not allowed to go down to meals and I can't be in anymore weddings due to my condition. I can still go though, I just can't dance or mostly get finally were able to take a good look and Enyo was right. There are two babies."

This was news to the Malfoys. They knew that she was pregnant, as was Daphne and Luna. The St. Rosas have not owned to it yet though. Katie drags her worried Veela from the room to let the Potters get ready for the wedding.

Harry watches his wife dress and hovers when she walks into the bathroom. "Harry, I know you are outside the door. Go get dressed, remove some temptation so I don't want to smash something over your handsome head." He laughs for the first time since this morning and gets ready for the wedding. When she walks out, he whistles at her. She is wearing an beautiful purple knee-length dress. As a nod to her changing body, she has sturdy sandals on.

"Are we going or what?" She asks her staring husband.

"Yes, but can I say that if you were not on moderated bed rest, we would not be going anywhere and that dress would be on the floor, Love." He growls softly as he pulls her into his body, proving his statement. "Let's go." He nuzzles against her mark.

They walk down the stairs and Remus strides right up to her. "Tell me everything, Harry." He orders as he sniffs and visually checks her over.

"She is going to be fine, if she listens to her doctor's orders. She can go to classes, and such, but meals in the suite and sitting down with her legs up whenever she can." The werewolf nods and hugs her tightly. "That little girl is going to find out that you don't mess with our family." He growls, upset that anyone would knowingly do that to a pregnant woman.

When they get to the Burrow, and walk into the tent. They are blown away by the whole thing. Harry seats Hermione among their family. He makes sure that both her father and Uncle are in close proximity to her.

Upon hearing the news of twins and what happened that morning, Severus slides closer to his niece. "Are you sure that you are alright?" He asks gruffly, but when she looks up, Hermione can see that he is truly concerned for her.

"Yes Uncle, on moderate bed rest and will have to eat my meals in our suite, but I am still alright for classes and will need to have my feet up." Severus nods and sits back. "You know where I am, if you need me. And I mean at anytime, young lady. I will keep sending up potions for you. If you run out and can't find me, the Infirmary will be doubly stocked also." His stern response brooks no arguments.

Harry is back before the ceremony begins and sits, holding her hand through the whole service.

He helps her to her feet and kisses her cheek, before guiding her out to the floo. Remus goes with them and walks down the hundred feet to the reception venue.

When she starts to slow down, Remus doesn't even falter. In mid-step, he swings her up into his arms and continues on. "I could have gotten her, Remus." Harry comments.

"Any of us could have." Orion says from behind them.

"I am sorry, to you both, Cousin and Brother. She may be your wife, Harry, but she will always be my little girl and both Moony and I agree. If we are still capable, we will carry her if she is sick or hurting." Remus growls back. "I apologize if I am short tempered, but this whole thing has gotten Moony riled and as you know that is not a good thing."

They carried on to the reception and Remus carried her up the three flights of stairs without a complaint or being winded when he got to the top. The same could not be said for Ronald or his fiancee, Lavender. The former was out of breath and the latter whined about how many stairs they had to climb.

"And that is why we need an exercise program at the school, Harry." Hermione tells her husband, from the safety of her father's arms. Harry doesn't make a comment, he agreed, but didn't get a chance to say anything, because Ron butted in as usual.

"We have an exercise program, Flying and Quidditch." The red headed fool cries out. "Yeah." Lav the genuis adds.

"And now we know who is holding the grading curve behind." Harry mutters to his cousins. Orion and Luna chuckle. Draco and Katie sit down at the table. "No offense Remus, but shouldn't you be sitting with Uncle Siri and Uncle James?"

"No, he shouldn't, because we are coming over here with him." James tells the kids. "Some uninvited red heads just showed up and we want to close ranks." Draco nods and shoves his chair over for his uncles and aunt.

Molly and Ginerva had walked into the hall. Molly had heard from a old friend that Charlie's reception was to be held in the Muggle world and she was going to have a few words with him about that. The problem is that she got sidetracked by her daughter seeing Harry and Hermione.

"I thought for sure he would be alone tonight, leaving the cow in the hospital." Ginny mutters aloud.

As a matter of fact, Hermione had her feet elevated and a ginger ale at her place, that she was sipping on. In fact, her feet were being rubbed at the moment by her husband. "Are you sure you want to do that? You don't have to Harry." She says through a groan, as he releases another knot.

"Honey, I have no problem doing this. You had a rough day and I was told to make sure you are relaxed from here on out."

Hermione laughs, it is a joyous sound that warms Harry's heart. "If you keep this up, I'll be a limp noodle." She waves her hand and a large stuffed ottoman appears under the table, to this she adds three pillows. Now that she has her equipment ready, she shifts her feet out of Harry's lap and onto their new perch.

Harry pouts for a moment and then starts rubbing her shoulders. He leans into her ear. "That is my plan, either through massage or other ways. I love you, 'Mi, thank you for going through all of this with me." He pulls her onto his lap and holds her.

Remus looks over when he sees Hermione move from the corner of his eye. Harry is holding Hermione in his lap, with his head on her shoulder. He can see the worry in the young man's form. He moves over into Hermione's chair and the whole group moves with them to lock out the still circling sharks named Molly and Ginny.

By this point, Bill has called the law enforcement squad and they are waiting for them to show up. He is sort of glad that it is Charlie's wedding that gets crashed by their former mother and sister.

When the two party crashers are led away, Ron is shocked to see that it was Bill that called them. "Why are you doing that?" He cries out to his oldest brother.

"It is my duty as the best man to have trash removed and Charlie doesn't deserve to have his wedding day ruined by the two screw ups." Bill glares at the youngest Weasley. He knows that Ron is having adjustment issues, but this is crazy. He sees that Ron is going to fall back on making things hard for Harry and Hermione, like he always does when things don't go his way.

"Oh no, you don't. You leave them alone. Hermione is having a very rough day and doesn't need your shit. Keep Lav away also. They don't need to have her fishing for gossip for the new year. I am sure that she will hear all about it from the article that Rita writes."

He taps his glass and begins his speech. "May I have your attention? As best man, I am called upon to give a toast to the new couple. In said speech, I am supposed to praise Charlie for finding a wife who is better looking and behaved than he would ever deserve. I am also required to give my sympathies to his new bride. I know that he snores like a freight train and leaves dirty socks and other things around. I did share a room with him for almost twenty years.

In said speech I am supposed to wish you two all the best and a happy marriage and lots of kids. The kid thing I think all my brothers agree that we don't want as many as our parents had. Beyond that, Hyla and Charlie may you have a good life with each other. I love you both. Hyla welcome to the family." The bride and groom stand up and hug their best man. "Thank you, Bill."

Charlie's eyes pop when the cake is revealed. "Baby, what kind of Dragon is this?" He walks around the table inspecting the cake from all angles. Hermione yells out. "That is Falcour, the Luck Dragon. Hyla, do you need a new name?" Hermione's enthusiasm cheers Hyla. When she heard about what happened, Reyna had to bodily stop her from being by the young woman's side.

Harry watches the bridal couple dance their first dance, with his wife and children in his arms. "Let them dance, I have all I could want in my arms right now." He whispers to Hermione. They snuggle closer and watch the bouquet and garter toss going on. There isn't many left to catch either anymore.

Harry stands at the end of the party and quietly carries her out of the building and down to the portal to their home. He was almost there when a voice calls out to him. It's owner falls in beside him. "Why are you even still trying to prove that you love her instead of me? We both know the truth. Dump the cow and run away with me."

Harry keeps quiet as he walks. It is easier not to respond to gnats, they will just keep buzzing around, but he couldn't hold back the vitriol.

"I have only ever loved one girl and she is in my arms right now. You never factored into the picture at all. You were always just Ron's sister. That is the truth. This "cow" as you call her is my world and mate. She is the only one that will ever be my lover."

Harry walks through the portal and floos to Pemberly. He carries his sleeping wife up to their room.

"She can't have you, Harry. You are all mine and will be until I say so." Hermione mutters in her sleep. "That is right, my love. She is nothing compared to my lovely wife and the mother of my children. I have always thought you were the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on, but seeing you carrying my children only makes you more so. Good night, my love." Harry strokes a hand down her stomach.

"I love you too, my little ones. Please settle down so Mummy and I can get through school and make a good life for us all." He rubs them again and charms the room so no letters or visitors will come in the room without knocking. Settling into bed, Harry gathers his little family close and falls asleep for the night.

Tomorrow they floo back to the school. Madam Pomphrey will meet them at the Headmistress' office and perform a pre-natal check before the classes start again on Monday.

Winter Wonderland

I am starting to really like this theme wedding trend. I just walked in from attending the winter gala that was the wedding of Charles and Hyla Weasley.

The ceremony took place at the Weasley's Burrow home. A little birdie told me that after the original home burned around Christmas, Hephaestus, god of the forge and master builder, designed and built the new Burrow in under a week.

The huge marquee gave nothing away on the outside; but when opened, it revealed the handiwork of the groom himself. Charles hand crafted the foam trees that lined the aisle and were dotted among the chairs. Drops of crystals hung from the branches like glittering icicles. The roof was swathed in fabric. Along the ceiling are large chandeliers, which lit most of the tent.

As usual, my photographer and I sat at the back of the tent. The bridesmaids; Jane Weasley, Hazel Zhang, Annabeth Jackson; and Matron of Honor, Reyna Weasley all wore white gowns with wide straps, sequin bodices, long chiffon skirts, sweetheart necklines. A wide, dove grey, satin ribbon was fastened around their waists.

The men's tuxes (again inspired by the Mars family) were black with dove grey vests and ties. Charles' was white to match Hyla's gown. The grey color went well with both the famous Weasley red / orange hair and the surrounding decorations.

Back to Hyla Weasley's gown. In keeping with the winter theme, she had the first long sleeved gown that I have seen. I loved it so much that I myself have started looking for gowns like it. The neckline was square with a small notch in the middle. Her long bell sleeves were trimmed with ermine, the same for the hemline. It was A-line, and had a Celtic belt that hung down from the bride's hips. It was lovely.

I have heard the bride, the least seen of the Mars sisters, is an avid bargain hunter and found many elements for the ball room reception herself. These she sought out in the States at "yard" sales, "estate" sales, antique shops and other retailers. She then had them ship the items over here.

She enlisted friends and family for the rest. Graciously, she asked each bride that she used an idea from for advice or outright for the names of their sources. She should work for us.

Neville, the future Lord Longbottom, was asked if he would grow all of the flowers. From what Mrs. Susan Longbottom, Neville's wife, said, Hyla paid four times what they got for the same amount at a local farmer's market.

"Neville wasn't going to charge her anything, as she is Harry's sister. She paid him for the flowers and when we delivered them to her florist, she came back with another check. She told us that the first one was for our supplies and the second was for Neville's time and labor."

Mrs. Hermione Potter's mother Emma Granger was hired to arrange the flowers at the reception and make the bouquets. They were magnificent. Each bridesmaid and the MoH carried smaller versions of the bride's bouquet; white rose lisianthus, snowball marigolds, white zinnias. The boutineirs were white roses. Mrs. Granger was again paid handsomely for her hard work.

From what I understand, the bride and groom split up the two sites. Each helped the other, but were in charge of one site. The bride's obviously was the reception. Her ingenuity is amazing.

Having enjoyed the food from both of her brother's weddings, Hyla hired Elf 2 and as with the Potter's wedding, the food was great. I would say that this company has the talent to become one of the leading catering companies in our world. I plan on calling on them when it comes time for my wedding and would certainly recommend them.

To honor her new husband, Hyla had the cake done in the shape of a winter dragon. Charles was delighted with the finished result. Mrs. Potter, from the lap of her husband, Harry, yelled that it looked like a luck dragon.

This is one that I have never heard of, but then again Charles is the expert.

The reception took place at a banquet hall, a reasonable walk, in heels, from the Kings' Cross portal. It was in a third floor ballroom. The groom's youngest brother and his fiancee complained about the walk and having to climb three flights of stairs to get there. I must say that I agreed with Hermione, when she said to both Harry and Lord Potter that their bellyaching was just the reason that the school needed to add an exercise program to the curriculum. Both men and her father, who had carried her up the three flights, agreed with her.

Ron Weasley, countered that it did have an exercise program, Quidditch and flying. This was shot down by the argument that only a select few students participate in those.

The ballroom was just exquisite, as was the tent in which they got married in. Icicles hung from the ceiling and combined with the taper and votive candles on the tables and the white street lamps, gave the room a wondrously soft glow. The tables were dressed with lace cloths, as were the padded chairs. Silver candelabras held a large ball of white roses. Two of these were on each table. Three smaller flower arrangements were placed between them.

The bridal couple waltzed to "To Be With You".

I must return to why Mrs. Hermione "I hate to bother anyone" Potter was carried up the stairs and seated in Harry's lap during the whole reception and then carried home in his arms. Other than the fact that he loves to hold her. That is right from the horse's mouth, by the way.

They were gracious enough to tell me the reason, when I dropped into Hermione's empty seat. A Howler came to the Mars' mansion early this morning. It was directed at Hermione. The shock of getting it that early, jumping up quickly and not having had anything to eat since the night before, made Hermione faint. Concerned for his wife, Harry rushed her to St. Mungo's.

They got home in time to get ready for the wedding. Mrs. Potter is on moderate bed rest until the birth of Baby Potter. Hermione explained that she will be allowed to attend classes, just needs to keep her feet elevated. Her biggest restriction is that she will need to have her meals in the Potter's suite. Harry quickly added that he too will be eating in their rooms. Sorry to his many fans.

I asked if everything was mended between the brothers in regards to Mrs. Potter. Remus assured me that it was and that he and the elder Potters were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next generation.

He went on to explain to me that he carried his daughter up the stairs, because she was slowly falling behind the group, though she was not about to complain to anyone.

"Both Harry and Orion groused about me swooping her up." The werewolf lord smirked. "I told Harry that just because she is his wife, doesn't mean that she stopped being my little girl and she is sick. So, I will be carrying her." Both young men agreed that he had said that, grumbling good naturedly.

Things must have been going too good for the Weasley boys, because the party was crashed by the arrival of Molly Prewett and the former Ginerva Weasley. The Potters were closed in by their friends and relations. Once she realized that she would not be able to get to Mr. Potter, Ginny sneered and left. Molly, the pest that she is, stuck around until Lord Prewett called the Muggle authorities to come and cart her away.

I happened to be leaving at the same time as the young Potters, so we walked out together. Harry carried the sleeping Hermione all the way down and to the portal. At the door, I transformed into my beetle form (this made Harry chuckle) and continued on, on his shoulder. Ginerva fell in beside him. Harry ignored her digs at Hermione. The future, in just a few weeks, Mrs. Goyle, tried to get Harry to admit his undying love for her and promised to do a fair number of sensual acts for him if he would "Drop the cow and run away with her."

Harry's response was that the only woman that he ever wanted was in his arms, his wife, lover and carrying his heir. Without another word he walked us through the portal and into the floo to go home.

Charles and Hyla are said to be honeymooning in the state of Maine, in the U.S.

Next report is for the Weasley/ Brown union.

Oh, Joyous day.