Hi everyone! It's been a while since my last update, I know. As you all have probably already noticed, the time between updates has steadily gotten longer and longer. I do sincerely apologize for this, as I usually do update once a week, if not multiple times a week. For the past month and a half or so, however, doing so has been difficult. I've had quite a lot going on in my personal life, and that has affected the pace of my writing quite a lot.

Nonetheless, I do want to reassure you guys that I have not and will not be abandoning my fics at all. Instead, for the next few months, I anticipate having a very sporadic update schedule. This means that if I find the time, I might update twice in a week as usual. It also means that I might end up going up to a month without an update, although I truly hope there won't be any delays that are that long. Overall, though, I'm asking you all for your continued patience and understanding— writing is very dear to me and has helped me immensely in times of stress, so I do not plan to let it go anytime soon. I expect to be back to normal in mid-August or so, but it could be sooner. I will be keeping you guys updated along the way though, and I am trying to stay as active as possible on social media to compensate because even if I won't always be able to find the time to sit down and write entire chapters, I will be available those ways. As usual, I'll leave those socials at the end of the chapter.

Also, on a happier note: My beta, RESimon, has posted her first fic! It's a Nevmione titled Not But For You, and you can find it in my favorites. Please go show her some love, she's worked so very hard on it. Also, please do follow her on tumblr and show her some love there (resimonfics). As you all know, this fic would be in quite the state without her, so she deserves tons of kudos for all of her hard work.

Finally, there was one last thing I wanted to address. I oftentimes get questions about my fancasts for certain characters, and I wanted to let you all know that I have chosen some and have uploaded pictures on the fancast channel of my discord server. (:

Also, a special shoutout to Cass/Feather on discord this chapter — a comment of hers inspired the opening scene of this chapter, haha.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

"Oh gods!" Hermione shrieked, moving to climb off of Sirius' lap.

His hands held her waist fast, however, and he smirked up at her panicked expression. "What is it, love?"

"There's a man—he's come out to sunbathe, I think, and he's looking straight at us!"

Sirius chuckled and the movement echoed down to his cock, which was buried deep inside her. Sirius had convinced her to come to Grimmauld Place to sunbathe with him, which had quickly turned into his convincing her to ride him on one of the lounge chairs. While Sirius had simply vanished his clothes completely, she had only let him tug the crotch of her denim cutoffs aside, giving him just enough room to slip his cock inside of her. She had been riding him carefully — cautiously — until their muggle neighbor had emerged a minute prior, blissfully unaware of what was occurring on the magically hidden rooftop next door.

"You know that he can't see us," Sirius whispered, nibbling at her ear. "And besides, do you really want to stop?" He punctuated his words with a snap of his hips, thrusting his cock deeper into her.

"I—oh!" she moaned, leaning forward to bite down on the corded muscle of his shoulder. Through half-lidded eyes, she spotted the muggle man amble even closer to them, his pale, rounded belly jiggling as he settled onto his lounge chair.

"We're giving him a show," Sirius mumbled, "and he doesn't even know. Poor sod," he chuckled, the rumble of his laugh once again causing her to clamp her pussy down around him.

The man across from them coughed, squinting right at where Hermione and Sirius sat, causing her to pause and stare back, wide-eyed. But the man's gaze bore right through her, and he coughed again before sliding on his sun shades.

"I can't do this," she said, making to climb off of Sirius once more, her heart still thundering even though she knew there was no possibility that the man had actually seen them. Instead of letting her climb all the way off, however, he pushed her back down onto his cock, causing her to bite back a moan.

She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut although she heard the answering smirk in his voice. "I don't think you really want to," he murmured, "I thought you had a bit of an exhibitionist streak in you?" He snaked a hand up her cropped t-shirt, wandlessly vanishing her brassiere so that he could knead a breast.

Hermione groaned again, partially in pleasure and partially in embarrassment. "The idea of getting caught," she started, her words punctuated by moans as he continued to fuck her steadily, "is an interesting prospect, but being watched by a wrinkly old man is—" she cut off as Sirius started to thrust even harder.

"Ah!" she gasped, then immediately stifled the sound by clapping a hand over her mouth. Truthfully, she and Sirius both knew that he had used no force in coercing her back onto his cock, and that she could have truly climbed off at any time. But despite the way she itched to scurry away from the muggle man tanning only a dozen feet away, she continued to cling to her husband, letting him continue to grind up into her as he chased his release.

And it was in the exact moment grunted loudly in pleasure as his cock pulsed inside her that the door to the rooftop opened, admitting none other than Harry.

"Sirius? I've been searchi—" Harry stopped dead in his tracks, gaping at the scene before them.

Hermione's eyes widened and her face flamed as she immediately buried her head in Sirius' shoulder. Which was bare, of course, as was the rest of his naked body, leaving no doubt as to what they had been up to. As it were, his cock was still firmly lodged within her, pulsing out the final dredges of his orgasm.

Harry stuttered a few unintelligible sounds before she heard the quick shuffling of feet followed by the door slamming. It was silent for a few long moments before Hermione looked up at Sirius, surprised to see his cheeks tinted slightly pink.

"Harry is what it took to make you feel some shame?" she blinked at him.

"Gods," Sirius muttered. "We've scarred him, haven't we? Well, I suppose we're even after your little display last year."

She stifled a laugh before they burst into laughter together, shoulders shaking. She felt his cock start to stir within her at their movements, and took a moment to climb off of him, groaning slightly at the sudden loss of the fullness within her.

"You're gorgeous," Hermione said, looking down at his muscled, bronzed body, from the dark tattoos littered across his chest and arms to his half hard cock that glistened in the sun with the remnants of their combined release.

His handsome features lit up in a smile, and he reached up to pull her down into his arms, kissing her gently. "I just want a cuddle," he laughed, taking in her suspicious expression. "I think we've had enough on the exhibitionist front for today, don't you?"

"I'd say so—" she cut off as a sudden wave of nausea rose up within her, and she clambered off of Sirius in time to retch violently into one of the potted plants. She felt Sirius' hands on her, rubbing soothing circles on her back while he held her hair back.

"Love," he asked as he handed her a transfigured handkerchief and a glass of water. "Are you ill, or are you…?"

Hermione swallowed, pressing a hand to her lower abdomen as she wondered if the lump she felt there was imagined or if it was what they both suspected. "I—I don't know, Carina's only a month old and it's only been a little over two weeks since I've been— well, and…" she looked up at him, still wide-eyed.

"May I?" Sirius asked, brandishing his wand with one hand while he cupped her cheek with the other, instantly calming her.

Hermione nodded, biting her lip as she flickered her gaze between Sirius and where his wand was pointed at her middle. He mumbled the spell that nearly all of her husbands now had memorized, and they both sucked in sharp breaths as her middle immediately glowed white.

"You're pregnant," Sirius' wide grey eyes flickered between her eyes and her stomach and back again.

"I'm pregnant," she breathed.

"You're pregnant!" Sirius exclaimed, snatching her up and spinning her in a circle before putting her down and kissing her stomach where it was covered behind her high-waisted shorts. "We might be having a baby."

"We might be," Hermione agreed, smiling widely as she pulled him into a hug, giggling happily all the while.

X

When Hermione approached the grand double doors that lead to the gardens where Emma's party was being set up, she stopped short, gaping for a moment before she burst into laughter.

Neville was tossing Emma in the air, who let out long peals of laughter with each toss. The scene wouldn't have appeared out of the ordinary, but for what Emma was wearing. Instead of the rather demure yellow dress and the matching floral headband Hermione had set out for her, she was wearing a dress that had a glittering sequined bodice and was made up of shimmering, rainbow-colored swaths of gauzy material at the bottom that flared out like a flower with every toss that Neville made.

"Gods," Hermione guffawed. "Harry and Draco have been at it again, haven't they?"

Neville caught Emma and held her to his chest, flushing lightly. "It was, uh, actually my idea."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Yours?"

Neville nodded, kissing the top of Emma's head from where it peeked through the bunched material of her dress. "They're always taking her out and buying her nice things, and I figured that I'd like to do something myself. Is it awful?"

"It's fantastic," she said, moving over to give him a gentle kiss. "Thank you for doting on her."

"Well, she is my step-daughter," Neville laughed. "And I do love her so," he added, tickling Emma until she giggled.

"Happy Birthday baby," Hermione cooed to her daughter, feeling moisture gathering in her eyes. "How has she already gotten so big—"

"No, no, no— none of that today," Parvati's voice sounded from behind her. "If you cry, then I'll cry, and then Hannah'll cry and it'll be a thing," she waved a hand dismissively. "And—"

Parvati cut off as Hermione drew her into a tight hug. "Our babies have grown so much!"

"Honestly, Hermione," Parvati rolled her eyes when Hermione finally pulled back, hastily wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. "The dramatics, woman. And you've wrinkled my robes." She made a show of smoothing out the satin of her lilac robes and straightened the diamond necklace secured around her throat, but Hermione caught the glint of emotion in her eyes.

"And you've grown entirely too vain for my liking," Hermione shot back, grinning.

"Oh please," Parvati fingered a silky strand of Hermione's hair that currently hung down her back in loose waves.

"I'll have you know that Carina's taken to tangling her fingers in my unruly hair, and that is the only reason I've caved into having Pinky do it for me." Hermione scowled as she recalled the way the elf had beamed at Hermione's request the swift, easy movements that the elf had used to have her hair done in seconds versus the hours she'd spent trying to tame it herself.

"A likely story," Harry laughed as he approached, wrapping an arm around Hermione's middle.

"Oh shut it," Hermione said. "Ano don't think I've forgotten about your wardrobe."

Harry blinked. "What's wrong with my wardrobe?"

"You dress as if you've never heard of a tailor— or a comb," Draco threw over his shoulder as he sauntered past, carrying Carina in his arms.

Harry huffed, then looked at Hermione, who winced. "I mean…" she offered, to Harry's instant scowl. "We'll have a shopping trip soon, maybe?" she offered.

Parvati and Neville stifled laughs while Harry's scowl deepened.

"Shall we head to the party?" Neville asked Emma, who smiled and giggled as they all made their way into the gardens.

When they got outside, Hermione watched Parvati pause as her jaw dropped. "Godric," Parvati breathed.

The gardens had been charmed to perfection, showcasing a dream-like display of clouds and jutting rainbows. The fountain that dominated the middle of the gardens had been charmed to spurt glittering-rainbow colored water. Wispy clouds that appeared to rain glitter hovered just above the party guests, the flecks disappearing as they touched any objects. Trays floated about touting various delicacies fitting of the theme, and Hermione's teeth hurt just looking at the mountains of sweets that had been charmed to dip to eye level of the various toddlers that ran about. There were three live unicorns — that she could count — trotting amongst the party guests, and there were various games set about for the children, filling the air with small giggles that settled just below the din of conversation of the adults.

"Is that—" Padma gaped at the floating stage made of clouds that hovered several dozen feet away as waddled over to them, one hand resting on her bulging stomach while the other pointed at the stage. "Celestina Warbeck?"

"It appears so," Hermione said, sighing at the ostentatious display.

"The Malfoys don't do anything halfway, huh?" Hannah added as she sidled up alongside Padma.

Harry scoffed. "Being Harry Potter does have its perks sometimes, I'll have you know."

Hermione giggled. "Thank you," she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's— a lot, but you and Draco did a fantastic job."

Harry smiled at that. "Emma deserves the world. And Draco agrees."

"Draco?" Parvati and Padma said in unison, raising their eyebrows at Harry who flushed in response.

"I meant Malfoy," he insisted.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh please, it was bound to happen. You two were always meant to either be the worst of enemies or the best of friends."

"We are not friends!" Harry protested.

"Is that why you've spent nearly every weekend for the past few months playing Quidditch for hours on end?"

"It's Quidditch!" Harry exclaimed as if it explained everything.

"I mean, mate," Neville stifled a smirk. "You have to admit that you've gotten close."

"Honestly, Harry, I'd suspect you two were having an affair if you weren't bound to Hermione," Padma said.

Hermione — among others — guffawed at that, while Harry continued to gape owlishly.

"I—Malfoy—we hate—" Harry sputtered as their group tittered.

Hermione gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I think it's lovely," she giggled.

"How far along are you, Hermione?" Hannah interjected, looking at where the swell of her middle was visible through her form-fitting robes.

"I'm showing quite a lot, aren't I? I can't be more than two weeks, but even with Carina I was showing earlier than with Emma," she mused. She moved to smooth a hand over her stomach and instead found it bumping into both Harry and Neville's hands as both men had reached out to run possessive hands over her bump.

Hannah and Padma stifled giggles at the sheepish looks on their faces while Parvati smirked at them. "Have we placed any bets yet on who the daddy is?"

"Gran's about bursting for a baby Longbottom," Neville said.

"Hullo, Lily," Harry cooed at her stomach, frowning at the raised eyebrows he received in response. "What? I'm speaking it into existence."

"You're not itching for a boy?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

Harry shrugged. "I've accepted that we'll soon be overrun by women—" he cut off as Parvati smacked his arm.

"She's currently overrun by men, Harry," Padma pointed out, crossing her arms.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Men," she said simply.

A throat cleared behind Hermione, and she turned to see Knobby standing behind her, wringing his hands as he looked up at her. "Mistress," the house elf's voice was small. "Mistress' father has come to call upon Mistress."

At that, Hermione's smile dropped. "I—I'll be back," she said absently as she turned to follow Knobby back into the Manor. The sounds of the party were quickly reduced to a din as she followed Knobby down the long hallways, the minutes stretching like hours the further they walked.

When they finally reached the open doors to one of the larger sitting rooms and Knobby turned to present her, she held up at hand to stop him before taking a deep, shaky breath. "You may go, Knobby," she said, giving him a small smile that she knew didn't meet her eyes. He disappeared with a quick crack a moment later, and Hermione took another deep breath before stepping into the sitting room.

Her father was standing in front of the fireplace, his back to her. His outline was illuminated by the glow of the fire, yet even as she stepped in she felt none of the familiar warmth emanating from his presence.

"Dad," her voice was small.

He turned slowly to appraise her, his eyes lingering on the swell of her stomach before he met her own briefly before looking away.

"I left Emma's gift with your elf," he said. His voice was low and carefully controlled, lacking the ease she was familiar with. Her heart banged as she realized that it had truly been years since she'd last heard that ease, although it had taken her months to admit it to herself.

"Are you coming to the party?" Her question fell flat as she already knew the answer he would give by the look in his eyes.

"No."

"Oh," she said when he offered no more. "Is mum…?"

"She went outside," he said. His eyes fell to her stomach again, and she found herself pressing a protective hand over her bump as she watched the way his lips had thinned harshly.

"Dad, I—"

"How old is Carina now?" He asked, cutting her off.

"Five weeks," Hermione answered, biting her lip.

"And how far along are you?"

"I—uhm, a week, maybe two. I've been busy with Carina, but my first appointment is in a few days."

Her father spat out a short, humourless laugh. "She's a mere five weeks old, yet you're already nearly two weeks along with the next."

"Dad," Hermione begged. "Please don't be like this."

"Please don't be like what, Hermione?" his shoulders heaving as he snapped at her.

"Angry," she waved a hand in his direction. "It's breaking my heart," she added in a whisper.

"I'm breaking your heart?" her father's voice rose before he stopped, a fist clenched at his side. "Do you have any idea how it feels to see you like this?"

Hermione sighed. "Dad, it's been weeks—"

"And you think a few mere weeks have provided enough time to absorb this? To justify any of it?" he snapped. "The more I think about it, the angrier I am. How much longer are you planning to remain in this—this prison for?"

"This is the life I've chosen, dad," she answered. "You know that."

"Chosen?" he spat as though it were an expletive. "You plan to breed for these barbarians forever?"

"Don't—" she swallowed, "Don't say it like that. I'm happy—"

"Happy? How can you be happy when you're married to—"

The floo flared to life then, and Arthur stepped out, dusting soot off of his robes.

"Hermione, love?" He looked between Hermione and her father, and she watched as realization began to dawn on him as he sensed the tension in the room.

"Hello, Arthur," she said, knowing he could hear the strain in her voice.

"Good afternoon," he greeted her father with a kind smile even as her father levelled his dark gaze on him in return.

"Do excuse me," he said as he met her eyes, squeezing her hand gently as he brushed past.

He had been about to drop her hand and exit when her father spoke again. "Is it his?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Instead of letting go, she gripped Arthur's hand harder. "We don't—we don't know yet."

Her father's lip curled. "But it could be?"

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath before nodding.

"Do you want it to be yours?" he asked, and Hermione opened her mouth automatically to respond when she realized her father hadn't been speaking to her at all.

""I—" Arthur hesitated, looking down at Hermione before turning to face her father fully, "—yes, I would like that very much." His voice was soft, and was filled with a warm kindness that juxtaposed harshly against her father's frigid tone.

"So you are alright with all of this, then?" her father snapped.

"She is my wife," Arthur answered.

The air was thick with tension, and Hermione's heartbeat quickened as she saw how deep of a shade of red her father's face had gone.

"Dad, please," she begged.

"I trusted you with her," her father seethed, stalking forward slowly. "I trusted you with my daughter, my little girl and you dare argue that she is your wife? As though you aren't some sick bastard who's taken advantage of my child? Who might have impregnated her?!" His burning eyes flashed down to where Hermione continued to grip Arthur's hand tightly, refusing to let go despite the fact that she knew it was doing nothing but fueling her father's rage further.

And before she could even process the action, her father reared back and snapped his fist forward, punching Arthur directly in the face. Arthur fell to his knees, clutching his face where blood had started to flow from his nose.

"Dad!" she screamed as he reared back to punch Arthur again, draping herself over her husband's body. "Stop," her voice broke. "Please."

Her father looked at how she was draped over Arthur before he stiffened, no longer hunched as if ready to strike but still rigid with angry tension. She took a moment to help Arthur back to his feet before she quickly muttered a spell to fix his broken nose and clean the blood from his face before turning back to where her father loomed over them, still heaving with anger.

"I told you that I'm happy now," she snapped. "I told you that even though I didn't choose this then, I choose this— I choose them—now, I will choose them forever, and I am happy."

"And you choose him, too?" her father's voice was so hard, so cold that it pained her to face him.

She paused to take a deep, quivering, breath before she looked back up at him. "I choose him, dad. He is my husband— I always will."

Her heart shattered as she spoke the words, and she saw heartbreak mirrored in his eyes as well.

"And if you can't accept that, then— just go," she said, her words ringing with finality. She turned away, no longer able to face the look on her father's face.

And when she heard nothing in response but the roar of the floo as her father turned and left, she threw herself into Arthur's arms and sobbed.

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