Marriage, Muggle Life, and Babies

Chapter 37: Happy New Year!!!!!!!

A/N: Wow, I've just finished the chapter and I'm amazed at the house point totals. Well, this is a very special chapter, not only because of the dirty sounding bit of the beginning, but because today, at 11:36, at 9 pounds, 1 once, and 21 inches long, my nephew Evan Louis Knobel was born. Yay!!!! You can thank him cuz it's because of him I got on a writing kick and finally finished the chapter. I was just too lazy to type it up, but his joining the world spurred me on. So, Evan, this one's for you! And when I'm a famous writer you can tell everyone that on my first official writing piece, I dedicated it to you. He He He. Sorry, aunt's pride. Also, so as not to be left out, my other nephew, Landon Philip Knobel is also a dedicationee? I don't know, something like that. Anyway, I hope you all love this chapter as much as I do, and I can hardly wait for the response I'll be getting to write the next chappie. Thanks for all the reviews,

Toodles, jessebelle (a proud aunt)

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"Draco, it feels weird."

"Shh, hold still a bit longer."

"Draco-" She moaned.

"There, all done." He kissed her stomach.

"Wow, it's changed a bit." She sounded amazed.

"Well, that's expected in this condition, luv."

"I know, but I mean, it's so big!"

He chuckled. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing, pet?"

"I don't know, why don't you tell me?"

"Well, from my prospective, it's a very good thing." He sounded smug.

"I'll bet."

"Now it wasn't so bad, was it?"

"No, you were very good."

"Aren't I always?"

She giggled. "Yes, luv, you are."

"And you're just as good."

There was more giggling. "Glad you think so? But, do you think we can move

this to the bed, being pressed against this wall is killing me."

There was a bit of laughter. "As you wish."

After a shared kiss, "You're so good to me."

"That's because I love you."

"And I you." The bedsprings could be heard as she got on the bed.

"Are you sure this is good for the baby?"

"Of course, I've read about it in a ton of books. Ginny says she wishes she and Harry would have started to do it too."

From his spot in the hallway, Harry Potter stood, leaning against the wall, with a red face and an embarrassed expression. His eyes were wide and he wished he could have crawled under a rock. Without meaning to, he bumped into the small table that Hermione had against the wall. From inside the bedroom, he could hear Draco.

"Did you hear that?" Hermione sounded a little worried.

"Yeah, I'll go check it out." The door opened and Harry closed his eyes feeling mortified, plus, he didn't want to see what state his enemy turned, well, friend was in.

Draco opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. He was hoping that it wasn't a burglar or anything, without magic, he had no way to defend himself, unless you counted his fists. He turned and looked toward the living room and saw Pot- no Harry leaning against the wall and looking like he wished the earth would open up and swallow him. He smirked. "It seems we have an intruder, one that has a very red face, from getting caught I imagine."

Inside, Hermione could hear his amusement and was curious to see what was happening. "Well, bring him in here."

"NO! I mean, no, that's okay, I'll just be going now." Harry still had his eyes closed as he tried to make his way, blind, to the door.

Draco's smirk turned into a grin. He grabbed his arm. "Not so fast Potter. The lady wishes to see you, and the lady always gets what she wants." He dragged Harry into the room. Harry nearly fell over because his eyes were still closed. He only stayed upright because Draco had grabbed his arm.

Over on the bed, Hermione was trying not to laugh. "Harry, why are your eyes closed?" She stared at him over her huge belly. She and Ginny were both due any time now.

Harry shut his eyes tighter. "Uh, I don't want to see any of the evidence of what you've been doing."

Draco's eyes widened, then he smirked. "And what exactly do you think we've been doing?" Hermione's eyes widened in realization.

Harry looked around uncomfortably, his eyes still shut. 'Uh, well, you see-"

"Harry James Potter! I can't believe you'd think that of me!"
"But I, I don't Hermione, I swear. It's just that, that-"

"That it's what Potter?" Hermione was actually smiling and trying to contain her laughter as she lectured Harry, who still refused to open his eyes.

"Uh, I heard you two, um, yeah. Can I please go now?" His voice sounded desperate.

It was so pathetic that Hermione had to stop torturing him. "Harry, just open your eyes."

"NO!"

"Harry." Her voice was threatening.

He covered his eyes with his hands. "Not a chance."
"Don't make me get out of this bed and open your eyes myself."

Draco couldn't take it anymore, he burst out laughing. He had to hold the bedpost for support and he had tears running down his face. To Cordelia as she walked in the room, she was kind of confused. "Uh, hello Hermione. Draco, are you all right?"

The blond in question managed to wheeze out a 'fine' in between his laughter. Next she set her eyes on Harry. Thinking he had something wrong with his eyes, she rushed over to him and grabbed his hands.

"Harry, what's wrong? Are you okay? What happened?"

He struggled. "No, don't!" He tried to keep his hands up, but she had a burst of energy and managed to yank them down. "They're-" Cordelia, desperate to make him open his eyes, had to result to desperate measures, she pinched his bum. His eyes popped open and he took in the scene, finishing his sentence. "-fully clothed."

Draco had finally managed to stop laughing and catch his breath, but Harry's surprise and astonishment that they weren't naked set him off again. Hermione was still on the bed, holding her big belly and trying not to act like Draco and collapse laughing. She was pretty sure that if she did, the baby would probably just 'pop' out of her. She couldn't contain her chuckles though.

Meanwhile, Cordelia had stopped trying to examine Harry and was giving him a strange look. "Why wouldn't they be? Were you expecting them to be nude, 'cause I don't think Ginny would like that much?"

Harry's face just screamed that he wished he was anywhere but there. It took him another minute before he finally managed to regain his ability to speak. "Uh, what were you, I mean; it sounded like, what was that?" Unfortunately, he still fumbled for words.

Hermione took a few deep breaths, her stomach and lower back ached because of her laughing. "Harry, I don't know what it sounded like to you, well, actually I can, but all we were doing was tracing my stomach. See, look." She pointed to the wall where there were quite a few lines matching all of the progress made as her stomach grew bigger and the 'pregnancy progressed. "We were measuring my stomach against the wall, we have been for a while now, since the project started. It's amazing how much I've grown in less then a month."
Harry just gaped like a fish in the sea. His eyes closed again, this time in mortification and his face turned an interesting shade of red. "Oh, um, I'm just going to go somewhere, away. Yeah, away is good." He left the room like a dead man walking. They stared after him and Draco finally managed to stand upright and regain his breath.

"Well, that was interesting."

Hermione just shook her head. "Yeah, that's my friends for you. But now we don't know why he came in the first place!"

Cordelia watched as Draco rushed over to her and calmed her down. "Shh, it's alright. If you want I can go find out, would you like that?" Hermione nodded.

Cordelia finally decided to speak up. "Actually, I know why he was here, I sent him to tell you guys something, but when he didn't come back, I thought I'd see how much trouble he managed to get into."

"Well, why are you here?" Draco got smacked by Hermione for that comment. "Be nice." She reprimanded.

Cordy smiled. "Oh, well, I was invited to a New Years Eve party tonight by my friend Amber and I wondered if you guys wanted to come."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "A New Years Eve Party?"

Hermione gasped. "It's New Years Eve? I completely forgot!"

Cordy smiled. "That's what I figured. Basically it'll be a party with food, drinks, music, dancing, the whole bit. We'll also have Dick Clark on and when it's close to midnight, we'll all count down to the New Year. It should be really fun."

Hermione's eyes sparkled. "Oh, we have to go! Right Draco?"

Draco looked from Hermione's bright smile and the happiness on her face, down to her baby belly, and back up to her face. He opened his mouth to say that maybe they shouldn't, before he shut it. "We should go, especially since it's likely to be the last time we can get out of the house before the baby comes."

Hermione squealed and threw her arms around him, luckily he was right there to grab. Cordelia smiled. "Great, I'll call Amber and tell her to expect all of us then."

"You mean Ginny and Harry and Ron are coming too?"

"Yeah, they kinda had the same idea you did." Hermione nodded, then her brow furrowed. "What about Anyanka?"

Cordy grinned. "Well, one of her many uncles decided they'd like nothing better then to watch their lovely niece."

Draco cocked an eyebrow. "Meaning, you hoodwinked someone into watching her?"

Cordelia pretended to look offended. "Of course not, why in the world would you say that about me?"

Draco gave her a knowing look. "Because I've met you. So who is it?"

The red head grinned. "Percy. Fred and George are coming with us, Percy's going to stay home with 'Yanka, Bill and Charlie have left, as you know, and the adults are all staying in." The two eldest Weasley boys had left America the day before to go back to Egypt and Romania respectively. After all, they had lives, and girlfriends to get back too, not to mention work.

Hermione smiled. "All right, we'll be there. Um, do our chaperones know what we're going to be doing?"

Cordy nodded. "Yep, as a matter of fact they do. I told them what was going on and that brings me to the other reason why I'm here. There is to be a meeting for all of the people involved in the project. It's important I guess. So, get up and come on out."
"All right, we'll be out in a minute." Cordy nodded in response to Draco and left the room and their apartment. Draco looked over to Hermione on the bed. "You up to going to this party?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I want to have some fun tonight. It's the last day of this year you know."

He grinned. "Yep, it is. So, let's get you up and ready to meet everyone." He helped her sit up and get out of bed. She was a little unsteady for a few seconds, but then she regained her balance.

"I feel like I've swallowed a watermelon, whole."

Draco chuckled. "Worried about your girlish figure?"

She gave him a look. "No, I'm worried about how I'm supposed to get this huge watermelon out of me through an itsy bitsy hole."

Draco winced. "I see your point. Okay, ready to face the troops?"

She nodded, "let's go." A few minutes later they were seated on one of the couches in the Gryffindor seating room. All of the chaperones were there and like their first meeting, they were conversing. Ron sat with Cordelia on his lap and Ginny and Harry were on the other couch. Harry caught sight of them and immediately hid his face. Severus spotted them and the conversation stopped.

"All right, now that everyone is here, we can begin. First order of business is the New Years Eve party. Now ultimately, I can't order you to stay here, as much as I'd like too, but Ginny, Hermione, you're due any time now, don't you think you'd rather stay in and relax?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and Hermione just gave her uncle a look. "Uncle Severus, it's the last big thing before we give 'birth' and have to take care of a baby all the time, and it's New Years Eve! We need to do something big."

"But what if something happened? You wouldn't have us there to help you."

Hermione sighed and Draco rested a hand on her stomach. "Uncle Severus, I thought the point of this project was to let us have some independence."

"Well yes, but-"

"Exactly. But, I'll promise that if anything happens, we'll call and come home immediately."
Severus opened his mouth to argue, but Molly cut him off. "Face it Sev, they're going and that's the best you'll get I think. And, we have more important things to discuss."

All of the students, and Cordy leaned forward, showing their interest. Molly shared a look with Narcissa and continued. "What we need to discuss is how the births of the babies are going to go." Immediately, all of the guys leaned back, but the girls were all ears. She smiled. "Now, of course you won't be having a real labor, because it's impossible for even magic to duplicate what labor is like and you technically aren't ready to give birth. There's also the fact that we'd frown upon making you girls go through all of that pain."

Here, all the girls shared a worried look. Narcissa took over for Molly. "Unfortunately, there will be some discomfort. What'll happen is your body will go through a mock labor. You'll feel some aches, and they'll get stronger and closer together. Those will be the replacement contractions. You will be feeling some pain, especially when they get close together. Hopefully you'll realize you're having the contractions and you'll come to one of us. Now, if you can't feel them, which not all girls do, you'll have your 'water' break. With magic, you'll feel a bit of pressure, definitely not really noticeable, and you'll feel water trickling down your leg. This will be the main sign you'll have to know you're about to have the baby."

Molly nodded her head. "That's right Cissa. Then you'll be having you're baby. There's no set time for your mock labor, but for the procedure, it's suggested that you come back to your apartment as soon as possible. Now, for the actual delivery, it's suggested that you have your chaperone, or one of us, be there to deliver the baby, but, it doesn't always happen that way in real life, so it's possible that we all might be unavalible and your spouse will have to deliver the baby, or one of your friends. The actual delivery will go as follows. You'll have the ache, or slight pain, that is the contractions and they'll pretty much be a constant when you're about to give birth. Then you'll feel pressure that will move. None of you girls have to be worried about being exposed at all. Since it's magic, you'll need to put on one of these right away. This is what actually makes the baby appear."

Remus held up two skirts that were made with a shimmery, ugly fabric. Ginny and Hermione shared a look and it showed on their faces that they weren't looking forward to wearing the skirts. Narcissa smiled. "Yes, they're hideous, but you have to wear them. You wear your undergarments and it'll be just like wearing a skirt. Then you are to prop your legs up, like so." She had been standing, but the blond had lain down on the floor. Sirius was behind her, helping her as she spread her legs and had them propped up in the familiar birthing position. Then she stood up and blushed.

Severus chuckled. "Lovely Cissa. Girls, just do what she did. Now, the skirts that you'll wear are magic and will transfer the baby to, uh,"

Molly and Cissa rolled their eyes. "The baby will appear between your legs like a normal baby would. You will most likely feel compelled to push, or bare down, and if you do, it'll make the process go faster. The baby just won't appear in a second, it might take some time."

Molly nodded in agreement with what Cissa had said. "Yes, that's right. The baby will, since it's being transferred, also appear and look like most newborns do when they're first born. There will even be an umbilical cord that the father may cut. It's all very real and I'm sure Hermione will be mind boggled with all of the different spells used."

Hermione blushed. She'd been thinking about the spells used in the project. Everyone else chuckled and Draco gave her a kiss on her head.

Molly continued. "The baby will then need to be cleaned and what not and taken care of. But we'll explain that when we come to it. So girls, how do you feel about the whole thing?"

Hermione and Ginny shared a look. Ginny grinned. "Does the skirt come in a different color?"

Everyone laughed. Sirius just grinned. "When it came time for Cissa to have her baby, she decided to charm the skirt to a plain white."

"Hey, it was so it went with my top!"

He grinned harder. "It ended up turning the baby all white. Why do you think Draco's so pale?"

Everyone roared with laughter and Draco blushed. Cissa smacked the back of Sirius' head. He shrugged.

"Hermione, do you have any question?" Severus asked his niece. Everyone looked at her waiting for the onslaught of questions she was bound to ask.

But she shook her head. "No, no questions." Everyone stared. "What?"

Draco shook his head. "Nothing, just surprised."

She rolled her eyes. "If I have a question, I'll ask. I just want to go get ready for the party."

"Oh, yay! Right idea you got there. Let's go!" Cordelia got up, Harry helped push Ginny up, and Hermione tried to get up.

Draco, being the vain and considering boyfriend he is, had rushed to go get ready. Everyone else was almost to their apartments when Hermione called them back. "Hey! I'm stuck, a little help here?"

Draco stopped in his tracks and sheepishly turned around. He walked over to her and took her arms to pull her out. "Sorry, luv."

Hermione gave an 'oomph' as she was pulled up. "Don't worry about it, I'm only carrying your unborn child," she said dryly.

Draco ducked his head and helped her to their apartment. Everyone else waited until they were in their apartments before laughing.
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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Severus was still trying to talk Hermione, and Ginny, out of going to the party. Right now all of the teens were outside getting into Cordelia's car. Since there were so many of them, Severus had offered to drive a few of them, Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ginny, in the adults' car, a blue 99 suburban. Hermione sat in front next to her uncle, and Ginny sat in the backseat with Draco and Harry on each side of her.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. It's only a party. Granted, I can't really dance and it's likely I'll become a bit agitated with all of the loud music, but I figure I can watch some of the television specials in the other room with Ginny." In the back, said girl nodded her head.

As they pulled up to the house where the party was being held, Severus sighed. "Fine, but if anything happens, promise me you'll have Cordelia drive you home."

He passenger door opened and Draco stood out there to help her out. Hermione, thought it was a bit hard for her, leaned over and kissed her uncle on the cheek. "I promise. I'll see you next year?"

Severus gave a small. "Yes, I'll see you next year."

Draco helped Hermione out of the suburban. Severus then sped away back towards Hogwarts Housing. Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ginny joined the rest of their group on the sidewalk in front of the house. Cordelia gave them all a grin. "Well then, let's party!"

Sharing a look, all of her new friends followed after her as she went up to the door. She knocked a special way. 'Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock knock'

They could hear music coming from inside the house, but then the door opened and they were greeted by a tall girl with dirty blonde hair. She was of average build, and had olive tan skin and blue-green eyes. Cordelia squealed when she saw her.

"Amber! How are you? Is the party going good?"

Amber, the blonde, grinned. "Hi Cordy, come on in, it's freezing out there. The party's going great. And I'm fine." She stepped away from the door and Cordelia entered, the rest of her friends following behind her. When they were inside, she shut the door and turned to them. "Wow, I know the twins, from meeting them through Christina, but I'm not sure who everyone else is. But tell me, it the cute one taken?" She winked at Ron.

Cordelia harrumphed. "Yes, he is, by me."

Amber gave her a sheepish grin. "Sorry, what about the other guys? You sure picked some hotties."

Hermione and Ginny had been standing behind and beside, respectively, their men and in poor light. Almost as if they had planned it, they stepped into the light, their pregnant bellies being displayed clearly.

Amber searched for a few words before finally commenting. "I'll take that as a yes then. So, I guess I'll just have to wait for Mr. Right a different time. Oh well, anyway, come in, join the party." She gestured for them to follow her, which they did.

She led them into the huge living room that had been emptied out. The furniture had been moved and there was a clear space for dancing. There were already a lot of people there. A table with refreshments was set up in the back and some of the popular music of the past was being played. Hermione could see in the other room, which they'd passed, had an entertainment center set up and she knew where she'd be for most of the night.

"Welcome to my palace. Here's the main party room, obviously, but if you just want to hang, you can go into the room down the hall."

Their entrance had been noted, especially by a group of girls heading straight toward them. "Cordelia! I'm so glad you came. Who're your friends?"

Cordy grinned. "I guess I'll make the introductions then. "Everyone from overseas, these are my friends from school, Mandy, Emily, Hillary, Kristen, and Vampy. Peoples from school, these are my new friends Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, and Harry. I think you all know Fred and George."

Emily smiled. "Of course we do."

Hermione had a furrowed brow. "Vampy?"

Vampy grinned. "Hey, I like my name. And Hermione isn't exactly a common name."

Hermione shrugged, "Too true."

Ginny looked over to her brothers. "Why does everybody know you two."

Fred grinned. "Because of George's lover girl."

"George!" Christina's call from across the room made him roll his eyes.

"Speak of the devil."

Christina came up to the lot of them. "Hey everyone, George." It took about a minute before they noticed that the two, Christina and George, had attached themselves by the mouth, again. Everyone rolled their eyes. The doorbell rang.

"Oh, that's my cue. I'll talk to ya all later." Amber left to answer the door.

Fred then grinned charmingly and held out his arms. "Ladies?" Mandy, Emily, Hillary, Kristen, and Vampy all giggled and took his arms. He turned to his sister and her friends. "Later." Then he led all of the girls over to the dance floor.

Harry turned toward the remaining three. "So, what do we do know?"
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It was nearing midnight. Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Ginny had all decided to go to the room with the television. They awaited the New Year with MTV and Dick Clark, along with conversations about the many changes the previous year had brought. The biggest change was their relationships. Ron and Cordelia had entered the room at 10 o'clock and the conversation had turned to Anyanka and their assignment. As it neared midnight, more and more people entered the room to watch the TV.

Finally it was only a minute to midnight. Draco helped Hermione stand up and he held her close. Ginny and Harry were also on their feet along with everyone else. New Years Eve party favours, hats, glasses, noisemakers, had been handed out. Finally the ten second count started.

"10-9-8-7!" Everyone in the room counted down, all except for one. Draco, it being his first real New Years Eve party, was eagerly counting down, not noticing the loss of Hermione's voice.

"6-5-4-!"

"Draco!" Hermione tried to get her boyfriend's attention.

"3!"

"Draco!"

"2!" He turned toward her.

"Draco!"

At midnight, the start of the New Year, a few things happened at once. First, everyone was shouting Happy New Year! Auld Lang Syn blared through out the room. All of the couples, and all of the guys and gals in the room grabbed their/a partner and kissed. But by far, the biggest event was that Draco was finally able to hear her message. While everyone celebrated and cheered, Draco tried to wrap his mind around Hermione's declaration.

"1!" "Draco, I think my water's broken." (they were said simultaneously.)
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House Points. Well, a lot has happened for the house points. If you didn't get a chance to check this out before, I'd posted a sneak peek chapter that stopped in the way beginning right before we found out what Hermione and Draco were really doing. I'd offered anyone who guessed correctly what they were doing, 100 house points for there house. Well, the numbers are in and Houses, you have the following people to thank for your new contributions.

Vampy the Chosen One100 points to Hufflepuff

Priah you haven't gotten back to me, if you do after this is posted, I'll reconfigure the house points, but hopefully you'll agree that the Ravenclaws should get 100 points.

Emily100 points to Hufflepuff

Hillary 100 points to the Slytherins

Astoryortheyear100 points for the Hufflepuffs

Fairylights100 points to the Gryffindors.

Also, Orangutangirl is being awarded 50 points to the Slytherins for pretty much guessing correctly, but not completely. And, because it blew me away and made me fall off my chair, I'm awarding Ravenclaw 50 points thanks to a very special reviewer named, Ravenclaw. If you check out the reviews, I'm betting you can guess which one it was. So, without further adieu

The final standing of the house points are……

Slytherin: 945

Hufflepuff: 810

Gryffindor: 765

Ravenclaw: 605

Way to go Hufflepuffs!!!! Keep up Reviewing and a special reminder, if you haven't picked a house, pick one or tell me you want to be sorted and I'll do it for you. Always put your house or the word sorted if that's what you want to be and I'll add house points accordingly.

Toodles,

jessebelle

completed June 30, 2004 Evan's birthday