A/N- Warning :This chapter, like many others of mine, contain
warm fuzzies.
With summer came hot, humid, wet weather in London. It also brought Harry and Hermione's first anniversary. And in August, Ron and Rebecca found out that they would be having a baby the next spring. Holly and Oliver soon found out the same thing. Lori and Cedric found out in October that they would welcome twins into the world sometime at the beginning of summer. Soon December rolled around and another couple received some terrific news.
Harry had never been so tired in his life. His legs were aching, and his heart felt as though it was about to burst from his chest. Sweat poured down his forehead, even in the cold London winter. He grunted as he flung himself down an alleyway, running as fast as his legs would carry him. Not far behind him was Chase McGonagall, also sprinting as fast as he could. Chase had been married for about a year now, and was still adjusting to the combination of being married and working as an Auror. Harry ran faster, forcing his legs to carry him. He had only a short time before he was supposed to be at home with Hermione. She hadn't been feeling well lately, and it worried him greatly. They had been married for just under two and a half years now, and were still perfectly happy. Harry groaned as he felt himself growing more tired...he could hear Benetti cursing somewhere ahead of him in the alleyway.
"Tony...you all right?" Harry called, gasping for air. There was no reply. Harry ran faster once again, and rounded a corner to find Benetti sitting there, looking dazed. "Chase!" Harry yelled. "Move it!" He turned his attention back to his friend and partner. "You all right? What happened?"
"Hit me...with something...Muggle made..." Benetti shook his head around, and winced painfully. Harry gasped in and out a few times, just as Chase caught up.
"Head after him." Harry told Chase.
"You're the boss." Chase said as he took off running once again. Harry knelt beside Benetti, who was now bleeding from the forehead. Harry pulled out his wand, and tapped it to Benetti's forehead. The wound healed quickly. Harry pulled his friend to his feet, and the two of them stood there for a moment. It was beginning to snow again, and they all knew they wouldn't be able to keep up this chase much longer: this one was fast.
Hermione was sitting on the couch when Harry dragged himself in through the front door close to midnight. He was dirty, cold, and exhausted...as he was on so many nights now. Hermione noticed that Harry didn't seem to eager to talk about how his day was gone: most of them ended this way, with him chasing weak dark wizards around, Chase and Benetti following close behind. Harry had been working as an Auror since the Halloween after they got married. Hermione found herself alone more often than she really liked. Harry went upstairs and showered quickly, and came back down into the living room. Lemmy timidly offered him a cup of tea, and he gratefully took it, giving the elf a pat on the head before Lemmy was gone again. Hermione looked concerned.
"Six of them. All mad, all fast. Not one of them is going to jail." Harry said. "They were quick...my god, they were fast. No way three of us could tackle six. They should've sent more out." Harry knew that there weren't that many Aurors around at the moment. It hurt Hermione to see Harry this exhausted, this worn out...the Ministry had been working him hard lately. He worked eighteen hours on most days, and came home exhausted and too tired to even eat on some days. It worried Hermione to see him with such a heavy workload.
"I'm going to the doctor tomorrow." Hermione said. "It's just getting worse. I don't know what to think anymore."
"You're fine, aren't you?" Harry seemed worried suddenly.
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know."
"Heard from Ron, or Rebecca?" Harry asked, suddenly thinking of Rebecca and Ron, who had been married since December of 1998.
"Only four months to go." Hermione said. "They set the due date at mid-April."
"Ron Weasley, a father." Harry chuckled. "Scary thought." Hermione sighed...she and Harry never discussed having children at great length. She wanted a baby, really, but she didn't think now was a good time for that, with Harry hardly ever home, and she having a rather mammoth amount of work all her own. She did research for the Ministry, and it was beginning to stack up to one hell of a job as well. But still, Hermione found herself wanting a child terribly...something she hadn't really shared with the already heavily stressed Harry. "I gotta get to bed. I've got to get up at five tomorrow." Harry said, standing abruptly. He kissed his wife goodnight, and as he had done so many times before, disappeared upstairs to their bedroom.
The next afternoon Hermione was delivered a nasty shock by her doctor: she, Hermione Potter, was pregnant. It was a terrible thought, she realized, something that she regretted: Harry didn't need this right now. And come to think of it, neither did she. She sat there in the doctors office, a funny little witch delivering the news to her.
"Oh, no." Hermione said, placing a hand to her still flat stomach. She felt sick suddenly, and she stared at her doctor, whose name was Doctor Murdoch. Dr. Murdoch was a fat little witch with a big nose and hair the color of strained peaches. She was friendly but rather unpleasant, no matter how warm she tried to be.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Potter." Dr. Murdoch said earnestly. "Without a doubt. You're pregnant. About a month along. No denying it." Hermione went numb...she was pregnant. She closed her eyes for a moment, and knew that this was going to cause a few problems. This was the worst possible time for something like this, for both herself and Harry. Hermione swallowed. "I take it this wasn't a planned pregnancy." Dr. Murdoch stated, noticing the lack of enthusiasm her patient was experiencing.
"It's not a good time." Hermione said. "Not at all. Harry's working eighteen hour days, I'm up to my neck in paperwork. I'm not ready for this. I can't be a mother."
"It's a bit late for that, dear." Dr. Murdoch said. "I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm sure Harry will be thrilled."
Hermione was having a bad enough day as it was...she was way behind in work. She and Harry were due at a Christmas party hosted by Ron and Rebecca later that night. And to top it all off, she knew that Harry was being forced to work like a dog, when he should be at home with his wife: it was, after all, a few days before Christmas. Hermione sighed, and felt herself zoning out as she sat in the doctors office. When was she going to tell Harry? How could she? How would he react to such startling news? Hermione couldn't think of it, not even as she returned home to an empty house later that day. There was an owl post from Rebecca, reminding her not to be late. Hermione slid down at the kitchen table...she was pregnant. She couldn't believe it. She was so angry with herself right now, she couldn't believe it. Twenty-four hours ago she had wanted a baby...now that she was going to have one, she wasn't too happy. Harry wasn't going to take this well, she realized. It was going to be difficult.
Later that night, Harry returned home tired but clean: it had been a long day of paperwork for him, she could tell, but she was at least glad to see that he wasn't bruised and beaten, as he sometimes was when he came home. He showered and changed, and she and he headed to the Weasley residence. When they arrived the house was already packed with guests. Hermione spotted Rebecca Weasley headed to the kitchen, and she followed. Harry joined Chase, Ron, and Bill on the couch in the living room. All of the males were sitting around drinking and laughing...most of the women were drinking wine and gossiping. Hermione joined Rebecca in the kitchen: she needed someone to talk to. Quickly.
"You look sick, Hermione. Are you all right?" Rebecca asked her. She was putting a rather large ham into the oven as she asked this. She was five months pregnant by this time, and looked utterly exhausted. Hermione realized that Ron had probably asked if she wanted help, and she had probably very forcefully declined. She handed Hermione some eggs and a bowl, and Hermione began cracking them into the bowl.
"I'm fine." Hermione said softly. She caved shortly after. "No I'm not, Rebecca. I'm pregnant." Rebecca almost dropped the pan of chocolate sauce she was transferring onto a cake. Her eyes went wide as she glanced at Hermione.
"Oh my God." Rebecca put a hand to her mouth. "Hermione, I don't know what to..."
"You don't have to say anything." Hermione said. "I haven't told Harry yet. Hell, I haven't told anyone but you. I just found out today." Hermione said.
She felt uncomfortable for the rest of the night...everything seemed aimed at Harry finding out the truth. Whether it was Ron pressing her to have some wine, or someone asking why she wasn't eating much, Hermione knew that it wouldn't be long before the truth was out. She was careful to avoid Harry's gaze throughout the evening...Rebecca and Ron talking about their baby was difficult for her, even though Rebecca tried to avoid the conversation as much as possible. Hermione excused herself from dinner quickly, and then went to sit alone in the living room.
Narcissa* showed up in the living room a few minutes later, looking serious and more clearheaded than Hermione ever remembered. Sirius was still in the dining room with the rest of the men, who were no doubt getting very, very drunk by this point. Narcissa slid down beside Hermione on the couch.
"You don't have to tell me." Narcissa said. "Because I already know what's wrong." Hermione opened her mouth to ask how, but Narcissa stopped her: "Miranda pointed it out earlier, and she's right. How far along are you?"
"A month." Hermione said quietly. She wanted to cry, but she didn't. "I haven't told Harry."
"That's clear." Narcissa said.
"Haven't told Harry what?" Harry asked as he walked into the living room. Hermione's eyes went wide suddenly. Narcissa quickly excused herself, and Hermione was left alone with Harry. "Is something up, Hermione? You've barely eaten anything since you got here. And you haven't had a drop of wine. And you've been careful not to tell me how you're feeling. Everything's all right, isn't it?"
"Harry." Hermione said. She didn't realize that Ron and Chase had walked into the living room...the Weasleys had a large, spacious living area, one in which it was difficult to notice when you had an audience. "I...I'm pregnant." she told him. Harry looked as though he'd been slapped. Ron choked in the corner, and Chase didn't say anything.
"PREGNANT?" a loud voice asked. "You're PREGNANT?" Ginny Weasley was standing in the doorway, looking rather amused.
"Ginny." Bill scolded. "Shut up." Ginny grinned but fell silent. The entire group of party-goers was standing in the living room now.
"Pregnant...how did that happen?" Harry asked.
"Well, Harry, remember that one night about a month ago when you..." Hermione finished that sentence with words that made even the wisest ears turn red. There was an odd silence over the room as Hermione glanced at her husband...he was still quite shocked. Ron was standing now with Rebecca...it was as though everyone was waiting to see how he reacted. There was no blowup, nor were there tears of happiness or sadness. Harry simply stood and walked back into the dining room as though it had never happened.
Once at home that night, Hermione knew that there was going to be an argument. Harry was unusually tense and short tempered for the rest of their stay at the Weasley house, and it didn't help that Ron had clearly been talking to him about the joys of pregnancy ("No sex. None at all.") Harry slid down onto the couch, still not saying anything. Even Lemmy was choosing to steer clear.
"Herm." Harry said finally. "This isn't good."
"That's a massive understatement, dear." Hermione said. "Try carrying a watermelon inside you for nine months. And then squeezing it through..."
"Whoa. I beg you not to finish that sentence." Harry said. "We can't have a baby right now, Herm. We're both always working."
"Maybe we should've thought about that a month ago." Hermione said.
"But...I can't just quit my job." Harry said.
"Why not? You've got a huge bank account." Hermione said sharply. "You don't need to work."
"Somebody's gotta do that work for the Ministry. I can't just quit, and leave Benetti and Chase to do everything." Harry said.
"Then find someone else to do it!" Hermione cried. She was about to get more upset with Harry than she had been in a long time.
"I would if I could. And even if I did, then how would I get another job? No one wants me working for them. No one." Harry said.
As if on cue, there was a tapping sound at the window. Harry looked up to see the familiar owl of Minerva Lupin in the window, looking at him expectantly. Harry stood slowly and walked to the window, letting the owl in hesitantly. He took the letter from its feet, and opened it. He read it quickly, and sighed.
"Mione." he said. His voice wasn't angry, nor was it resentful or hostile. He smiled weakly at his wife. "C'mere." he said, motioning her over. Hermione pulled herself up, and glanced over her husband's shoulder at the piece of parchment he held in his hands.
Dear Mister Potter,
It has come to my abrupt attention that you are seeking a new job (or so my sources say.) That said, I would like to offer you a position on the faculty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Current Headmaster Albus Dumbledore will be retiring in June, and some changes will be made. I would like you to consider my request. I'm sure no one could do the job better than you. Mister Wood would be more than happy to have your old job, by the way. (I've thought all of this out.) Reply soon. Tell Hermione I said hello.
Minerva Lupin
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"What do you think?" Hermione asked him suddenly. She liked the idea of Harry at Hogwarts. Harry didn't say anything...he was apparently thinking very hard about this new job offer. Hermione hoped that he liked the idea of being Professor Potter...it truly was much safer than being an Auror. Harry bit his lower lip as he thought about this: he had thought about going into instruction a while back, but had given up on this idea when he was recruited as an Auror. Harry read over the letter again quickly.
"I think..." Harry began, "...that we're gonna need a nanny." Harry said. Hermione flung herself into her husbands arms and hugged him. Harry couldn't help but smile as he held her...he, Harry Potter, was going to be a father.
January came and went with snow and unusually cold weather. February brought Valentines day. And quite a surprise for Chase and Alicia McGonagall. One day after coming in from work, Chase saw his wife sitting at the table looking quite nervous. "Hey honey." Chase said, as she stood to kiss him. "I brought dinner."
As they sat and ate an odd thought entered his mind. "You know, I've been thinking. Do you realize that we were one of the first couples to get married but we still don't have a kid, or one on the way like Harry and Hermione or Ron and Rebecca?" Alicia looked up shocked. "Ummmm........Actually, we're not." Chase looked confused. "Yes we are. I mean, Jessica and George aren't wanting a kid for a while and neither are Heather and Fred." Alicia shook her head. "Honey," she said,"Trust me we're not." Chase, clearly not understanding what his wife was trying to tell him, was still confused. "Oh yeah, Percy and Cho aren't planning on having a kid for a while either." Alicia laughed."You aren't getting what I'm saying are you?" Chase shook his head.
"Okay. Let me explain so maybe you'll understand. You know I haven't been feeling well for the past week or so right?" She paused, Chase nodded in reply. "Well I went to the doctor the other day. And he called me today with results of tests he ran the other day." She paused a moment, and continued."How do you feel about being a dad?" Chase's eyes went wide. He was speechless. "You mean....you're...I'm going to be.....We're going to .....?" Alicia sighed. He finally got it. "Yes." She stood and began to clean up."Chase walked over to her. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" Alicia turned to face him. "I wanted to make sure. I didn't want to get your hopes up and then it not be true." "It wouldn't have mattered." "It would have made a difference."she said, turning back to the dishes. Chase thought a moment. She was right. It would have mattered. "Yes it would have. But right now, I'm so happy, I don't know how to describe it." She turned back to him. "Really?" "Really really"(A/N-anyone recognize that line? It's from Shrek!)"Now go and sit down, and let me finish the dishes." She obeyed, but before she did, they kissed.
*Yes, Narcissa Malfoy. Except she's now Narcissa Black. Another thing you'll need to read about at
Http://members.tripod.com/evilone568/index.html
And again, Please REVIEW!
With summer came hot, humid, wet weather in London. It also brought Harry and Hermione's first anniversary. And in August, Ron and Rebecca found out that they would be having a baby the next spring. Holly and Oliver soon found out the same thing. Lori and Cedric found out in October that they would welcome twins into the world sometime at the beginning of summer. Soon December rolled around and another couple received some terrific news.
Harry had never been so tired in his life. His legs were aching, and his heart felt as though it was about to burst from his chest. Sweat poured down his forehead, even in the cold London winter. He grunted as he flung himself down an alleyway, running as fast as his legs would carry him. Not far behind him was Chase McGonagall, also sprinting as fast as he could. Chase had been married for about a year now, and was still adjusting to the combination of being married and working as an Auror. Harry ran faster, forcing his legs to carry him. He had only a short time before he was supposed to be at home with Hermione. She hadn't been feeling well lately, and it worried him greatly. They had been married for just under two and a half years now, and were still perfectly happy. Harry groaned as he felt himself growing more tired...he could hear Benetti cursing somewhere ahead of him in the alleyway.
"Tony...you all right?" Harry called, gasping for air. There was no reply. Harry ran faster once again, and rounded a corner to find Benetti sitting there, looking dazed. "Chase!" Harry yelled. "Move it!" He turned his attention back to his friend and partner. "You all right? What happened?"
"Hit me...with something...Muggle made..." Benetti shook his head around, and winced painfully. Harry gasped in and out a few times, just as Chase caught up.
"Head after him." Harry told Chase.
"You're the boss." Chase said as he took off running once again. Harry knelt beside Benetti, who was now bleeding from the forehead. Harry pulled out his wand, and tapped it to Benetti's forehead. The wound healed quickly. Harry pulled his friend to his feet, and the two of them stood there for a moment. It was beginning to snow again, and they all knew they wouldn't be able to keep up this chase much longer: this one was fast.
Hermione was sitting on the couch when Harry dragged himself in through the front door close to midnight. He was dirty, cold, and exhausted...as he was on so many nights now. Hermione noticed that Harry didn't seem to eager to talk about how his day was gone: most of them ended this way, with him chasing weak dark wizards around, Chase and Benetti following close behind. Harry had been working as an Auror since the Halloween after they got married. Hermione found herself alone more often than she really liked. Harry went upstairs and showered quickly, and came back down into the living room. Lemmy timidly offered him a cup of tea, and he gratefully took it, giving the elf a pat on the head before Lemmy was gone again. Hermione looked concerned.
"Six of them. All mad, all fast. Not one of them is going to jail." Harry said. "They were quick...my god, they were fast. No way three of us could tackle six. They should've sent more out." Harry knew that there weren't that many Aurors around at the moment. It hurt Hermione to see Harry this exhausted, this worn out...the Ministry had been working him hard lately. He worked eighteen hours on most days, and came home exhausted and too tired to even eat on some days. It worried Hermione to see him with such a heavy workload.
"I'm going to the doctor tomorrow." Hermione said. "It's just getting worse. I don't know what to think anymore."
"You're fine, aren't you?" Harry seemed worried suddenly.
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know."
"Heard from Ron, or Rebecca?" Harry asked, suddenly thinking of Rebecca and Ron, who had been married since December of 1998.
"Only four months to go." Hermione said. "They set the due date at mid-April."
"Ron Weasley, a father." Harry chuckled. "Scary thought." Hermione sighed...she and Harry never discussed having children at great length. She wanted a baby, really, but she didn't think now was a good time for that, with Harry hardly ever home, and she having a rather mammoth amount of work all her own. She did research for the Ministry, and it was beginning to stack up to one hell of a job as well. But still, Hermione found herself wanting a child terribly...something she hadn't really shared with the already heavily stressed Harry. "I gotta get to bed. I've got to get up at five tomorrow." Harry said, standing abruptly. He kissed his wife goodnight, and as he had done so many times before, disappeared upstairs to their bedroom.
The next afternoon Hermione was delivered a nasty shock by her doctor: she, Hermione Potter, was pregnant. It was a terrible thought, she realized, something that she regretted: Harry didn't need this right now. And come to think of it, neither did she. She sat there in the doctors office, a funny little witch delivering the news to her.
"Oh, no." Hermione said, placing a hand to her still flat stomach. She felt sick suddenly, and she stared at her doctor, whose name was Doctor Murdoch. Dr. Murdoch was a fat little witch with a big nose and hair the color of strained peaches. She was friendly but rather unpleasant, no matter how warm she tried to be.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Potter." Dr. Murdoch said earnestly. "Without a doubt. You're pregnant. About a month along. No denying it." Hermione went numb...she was pregnant. She closed her eyes for a moment, and knew that this was going to cause a few problems. This was the worst possible time for something like this, for both herself and Harry. Hermione swallowed. "I take it this wasn't a planned pregnancy." Dr. Murdoch stated, noticing the lack of enthusiasm her patient was experiencing.
"It's not a good time." Hermione said. "Not at all. Harry's working eighteen hour days, I'm up to my neck in paperwork. I'm not ready for this. I can't be a mother."
"It's a bit late for that, dear." Dr. Murdoch said. "I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm sure Harry will be thrilled."
Hermione was having a bad enough day as it was...she was way behind in work. She and Harry were due at a Christmas party hosted by Ron and Rebecca later that night. And to top it all off, she knew that Harry was being forced to work like a dog, when he should be at home with his wife: it was, after all, a few days before Christmas. Hermione sighed, and felt herself zoning out as she sat in the doctors office. When was she going to tell Harry? How could she? How would he react to such startling news? Hermione couldn't think of it, not even as she returned home to an empty house later that day. There was an owl post from Rebecca, reminding her not to be late. Hermione slid down at the kitchen table...she was pregnant. She couldn't believe it. She was so angry with herself right now, she couldn't believe it. Twenty-four hours ago she had wanted a baby...now that she was going to have one, she wasn't too happy. Harry wasn't going to take this well, she realized. It was going to be difficult.
Later that night, Harry returned home tired but clean: it had been a long day of paperwork for him, she could tell, but she was at least glad to see that he wasn't bruised and beaten, as he sometimes was when he came home. He showered and changed, and she and he headed to the Weasley residence. When they arrived the house was already packed with guests. Hermione spotted Rebecca Weasley headed to the kitchen, and she followed. Harry joined Chase, Ron, and Bill on the couch in the living room. All of the males were sitting around drinking and laughing...most of the women were drinking wine and gossiping. Hermione joined Rebecca in the kitchen: she needed someone to talk to. Quickly.
"You look sick, Hermione. Are you all right?" Rebecca asked her. She was putting a rather large ham into the oven as she asked this. She was five months pregnant by this time, and looked utterly exhausted. Hermione realized that Ron had probably asked if she wanted help, and she had probably very forcefully declined. She handed Hermione some eggs and a bowl, and Hermione began cracking them into the bowl.
"I'm fine." Hermione said softly. She caved shortly after. "No I'm not, Rebecca. I'm pregnant." Rebecca almost dropped the pan of chocolate sauce she was transferring onto a cake. Her eyes went wide as she glanced at Hermione.
"Oh my God." Rebecca put a hand to her mouth. "Hermione, I don't know what to..."
"You don't have to say anything." Hermione said. "I haven't told Harry yet. Hell, I haven't told anyone but you. I just found out today." Hermione said.
She felt uncomfortable for the rest of the night...everything seemed aimed at Harry finding out the truth. Whether it was Ron pressing her to have some wine, or someone asking why she wasn't eating much, Hermione knew that it wouldn't be long before the truth was out. She was careful to avoid Harry's gaze throughout the evening...Rebecca and Ron talking about their baby was difficult for her, even though Rebecca tried to avoid the conversation as much as possible. Hermione excused herself from dinner quickly, and then went to sit alone in the living room.
Narcissa* showed up in the living room a few minutes later, looking serious and more clearheaded than Hermione ever remembered. Sirius was still in the dining room with the rest of the men, who were no doubt getting very, very drunk by this point. Narcissa slid down beside Hermione on the couch.
"You don't have to tell me." Narcissa said. "Because I already know what's wrong." Hermione opened her mouth to ask how, but Narcissa stopped her: "Miranda pointed it out earlier, and she's right. How far along are you?"
"A month." Hermione said quietly. She wanted to cry, but she didn't. "I haven't told Harry."
"That's clear." Narcissa said.
"Haven't told Harry what?" Harry asked as he walked into the living room. Hermione's eyes went wide suddenly. Narcissa quickly excused herself, and Hermione was left alone with Harry. "Is something up, Hermione? You've barely eaten anything since you got here. And you haven't had a drop of wine. And you've been careful not to tell me how you're feeling. Everything's all right, isn't it?"
"Harry." Hermione said. She didn't realize that Ron and Chase had walked into the living room...the Weasleys had a large, spacious living area, one in which it was difficult to notice when you had an audience. "I...I'm pregnant." she told him. Harry looked as though he'd been slapped. Ron choked in the corner, and Chase didn't say anything.
"PREGNANT?" a loud voice asked. "You're PREGNANT?" Ginny Weasley was standing in the doorway, looking rather amused.
"Ginny." Bill scolded. "Shut up." Ginny grinned but fell silent. The entire group of party-goers was standing in the living room now.
"Pregnant...how did that happen?" Harry asked.
"Well, Harry, remember that one night about a month ago when you..." Hermione finished that sentence with words that made even the wisest ears turn red. There was an odd silence over the room as Hermione glanced at her husband...he was still quite shocked. Ron was standing now with Rebecca...it was as though everyone was waiting to see how he reacted. There was no blowup, nor were there tears of happiness or sadness. Harry simply stood and walked back into the dining room as though it had never happened.
Once at home that night, Hermione knew that there was going to be an argument. Harry was unusually tense and short tempered for the rest of their stay at the Weasley house, and it didn't help that Ron had clearly been talking to him about the joys of pregnancy ("No sex. None at all.") Harry slid down onto the couch, still not saying anything. Even Lemmy was choosing to steer clear.
"Herm." Harry said finally. "This isn't good."
"That's a massive understatement, dear." Hermione said. "Try carrying a watermelon inside you for nine months. And then squeezing it through..."
"Whoa. I beg you not to finish that sentence." Harry said. "We can't have a baby right now, Herm. We're both always working."
"Maybe we should've thought about that a month ago." Hermione said.
"But...I can't just quit my job." Harry said.
"Why not? You've got a huge bank account." Hermione said sharply. "You don't need to work."
"Somebody's gotta do that work for the Ministry. I can't just quit, and leave Benetti and Chase to do everything." Harry said.
"Then find someone else to do it!" Hermione cried. She was about to get more upset with Harry than she had been in a long time.
"I would if I could. And even if I did, then how would I get another job? No one wants me working for them. No one." Harry said.
As if on cue, there was a tapping sound at the window. Harry looked up to see the familiar owl of Minerva Lupin in the window, looking at him expectantly. Harry stood slowly and walked to the window, letting the owl in hesitantly. He took the letter from its feet, and opened it. He read it quickly, and sighed.
"Mione." he said. His voice wasn't angry, nor was it resentful or hostile. He smiled weakly at his wife. "C'mere." he said, motioning her over. Hermione pulled herself up, and glanced over her husband's shoulder at the piece of parchment he held in his hands.
Dear Mister Potter,
It has come to my abrupt attention that you are seeking a new job (or so my sources say.) That said, I would like to offer you a position on the faculty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Current Headmaster Albus Dumbledore will be retiring in June, and some changes will be made. I would like you to consider my request. I'm sure no one could do the job better than you. Mister Wood would be more than happy to have your old job, by the way. (I've thought all of this out.) Reply soon. Tell Hermione I said hello.
Minerva Lupin
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"What do you think?" Hermione asked him suddenly. She liked the idea of Harry at Hogwarts. Harry didn't say anything...he was apparently thinking very hard about this new job offer. Hermione hoped that he liked the idea of being Professor Potter...it truly was much safer than being an Auror. Harry bit his lower lip as he thought about this: he had thought about going into instruction a while back, but had given up on this idea when he was recruited as an Auror. Harry read over the letter again quickly.
"I think..." Harry began, "...that we're gonna need a nanny." Harry said. Hermione flung herself into her husbands arms and hugged him. Harry couldn't help but smile as he held her...he, Harry Potter, was going to be a father.
January came and went with snow and unusually cold weather. February brought Valentines day. And quite a surprise for Chase and Alicia McGonagall. One day after coming in from work, Chase saw his wife sitting at the table looking quite nervous. "Hey honey." Chase said, as she stood to kiss him. "I brought dinner."
As they sat and ate an odd thought entered his mind. "You know, I've been thinking. Do you realize that we were one of the first couples to get married but we still don't have a kid, or one on the way like Harry and Hermione or Ron and Rebecca?" Alicia looked up shocked. "Ummmm........Actually, we're not." Chase looked confused. "Yes we are. I mean, Jessica and George aren't wanting a kid for a while and neither are Heather and Fred." Alicia shook her head. "Honey," she said,"Trust me we're not." Chase, clearly not understanding what his wife was trying to tell him, was still confused. "Oh yeah, Percy and Cho aren't planning on having a kid for a while either." Alicia laughed."You aren't getting what I'm saying are you?" Chase shook his head.
"Okay. Let me explain so maybe you'll understand. You know I haven't been feeling well for the past week or so right?" She paused, Chase nodded in reply. "Well I went to the doctor the other day. And he called me today with results of tests he ran the other day." She paused a moment, and continued."How do you feel about being a dad?" Chase's eyes went wide. He was speechless. "You mean....you're...I'm going to be.....We're going to .....?" Alicia sighed. He finally got it. "Yes." She stood and began to clean up."Chase walked over to her. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" Alicia turned to face him. "I wanted to make sure. I didn't want to get your hopes up and then it not be true." "It wouldn't have mattered." "It would have made a difference."she said, turning back to the dishes. Chase thought a moment. She was right. It would have mattered. "Yes it would have. But right now, I'm so happy, I don't know how to describe it." She turned back to him. "Really?" "Really really"(A/N-anyone recognize that line? It's from Shrek!)"Now go and sit down, and let me finish the dishes." She obeyed, but before she did, they kissed.
*Yes, Narcissa Malfoy. Except she's now Narcissa Black. Another thing you'll need to read about at
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