AN: Thank you to my loyal readers.

Read and Review Please!

Chapter Forty Nine: Awaiting Distraction.


"How's Lavender doing?" Hermione asked for the third time that hour. Whenever anyone stepped into the Infirmary or Draco moved too loudly at his desk, she would ask the question. Her anxiety causing her to fidget nervously and ask the question repeatedly, knowing what would happen after the delivery.

"She's getting there." Harry reported, placing a mug of tea on Hermione's bedside table, "Ron's pacing the corridor."

"Of course, he'll be more anxious than all of us." She nodded, "She shouldn't be too much longer though, it's been six hours, and her family history suggests a quick birth."

"Right." Harry sipped his tea and sighed, "Tonks is trying to stop Ron pacing, she says he's disturbing Teddy."

"I don't know who he'll be more afraid of; Tonks trying to stop him disrupting Teddy or Lavender's wrath if he's not within ten feet of their room when the twins arrive." Chuckling quietly, Hermione carefully reached for her cup and blew the steam away from the top, "I still can't believe Teddy's a week old already."

"I know." Smiling, Harry nibbled on one of the biscuits he'd brought from the kitchen, "He's got blue hair at the moment."

"Blue? Well, it's different to all the redheads around here." Hermione grinned, "I wonder why blue?"

"Tonks was changing her hair colour to entertain him earlier. He tried to copy her, but could only manage a greyish blue colour."

"Ah, that makes sense. Babies can't see all that well for the first few months. That's why many early baby toys are black and white, they're easier to see." Hermione took a gulp of tea, "Are Blaise and Pansy ready to go?"

"I assume so; they were in one of the bedrooms last time I checked." Harry coughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck.

"They're not screwing each other." Draco pointed out drily. Stirring a potion, he rolled his eyes at the two Gryffindors.

"I never said they were." Harry replied, his ears tinging pink.

"Of course they're not; we haven't time for distractions now." Hermione cut in before it could turn into an argument, she swore Draco and Harry could cause arguments over the colour of the sky when provoked by the other. Setting down her tea, she took one of Harry's biscuits, "Have you got everything together?"

"I've got your bag." Harry nodded. Hermione had insisted he take her beaded purse, stating it was packed with everything they may need. Harry hadn't wanted to take it, but tucked it into his backpack all the same. It was Hermione's intelligence that had gotten them this far throughout the years; he wasn't going to doubt her now.

"They're here!" Ginny ran into the Infirmary, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Boys? Girls?" Hermione replied eagerly, "How's Lavender?"

"She's pushing out the after birth as we speak, so I escaped to tell everyone." She grinned, "Ron nearly barrelled into the room when he heard them cry, but I told him he did not want to go in there until after we'd cleaned up." Shuddering exaggeratedly, she laughed, "I'm not having children any time soon."

"I'm sure your mum will be very pleased to hear that." Hermione agreed enthusiastically and clutched Harry's hand, "So, the genders?"

"Two boys! Two beautiful, screaming boys!" Ginny shook her head, "So, I'm still the only girl in the family."

"Awh, Ron will be so pleased!" She squeezed Harry's hand and forced a smile to remain painted on her lips.

They knew it was time.

Despite their initial joy, Harry and Hermione knew they couldn't celebrate. Harry, Blaise, and Pansy had to quickly, while everyone was distracted with the good news. They knew this mission would be one of the most dangerous than they had attempted before, but it was inevitable. Still, fear gripped their stomach under their happy personas. Ginny hurried away, wanting to be back with her family for when the family could join Lavender and the babies, and oblivious to the straining atmosphere cloaking the room.

"I better go." Harry eased his hand from Hermione's grasp and took a deep breath. He'd never been without Hermione and Ron before, they always had each other's backs, but he had to soldier on. He trusted Hermione's planning and knew he had to complete this task before their time ran out. There was no choice in this war anymore, they had to do what they set out to do, and do it before the end arrived.

"Good luck." Hermione suddenly lunged at him, pulling him into a bone crushing hug, "Be careful, Harry."

"I always am." He responded quietly and broke the embrace.

With that, Harry exited the Infirmary with a renewed sense of Gryffindor courage and determination. He wouldn't let the Order down, he would complete his task. Dumbledore had left him his mission because he believed he was strong enough to pursue it to its completion and he would do anything for his late Headmaster. Trying to appear nonchalant and delighted with the news, Harry passed various members of the Weasley family hurrying to linger outside Lavender's door.

Blaise and Pansy were watching from afar, assessing the situation. Clearly, they had been made aware of the new arrivals down the corridor. They watched with interest at the commotion of the overjoyed Weasley family, feeling brief pangs of longing for their own families, before quickly dismissing it. They were here because they didn't need their family, they only had one another, and they needed to keep their focus on protecting each other in the coming hours. Tension stiffened their shoulders as they saw Harry appear, a guilty expression clouding his face.

Harry nodded to them and collected his backpack from under his bed. Shrinking it, he stuffed it into his pocket and the three slipped back down the corridor. No one questioned them as they walked passed. No one appeared suspicious. Harry felt remorse for leaving in such a manner, but he resolved to be back as soon as he could to join in their celebrations.

Surprisingly, they reached the entrance to Shell Cottage without issues and quickly exited the underground bunker. From there, they would send a message to Griphook to be ready for their arrival at another Order of the Phoenix shelter, before quickly travelling to Wizarding London to begin their mission at first light.