The fireplace swooshed and a subtle change in magic was felt in the manner that was felt by its occupants.
It was a warm day at the Potter Manor. Well, it wouldn't be an understatement to call it a perfect day at the manor. The elves were busy tending the chores, some resting on their own designated house that their master dutifully asked to be made to give the elves some reprieve in their work.
Daphne Potter neé Greengrass has been living in the manor ever since she and Harry have married. The manor was as big as the one she grew up with, but it felt extremely bigger considering it was just her and Harry that lived. The manor was lovely and yet it also felt lonely. Then one of their Beltane "celebrations" bore fruit. 9 months after James Sirius and Isabelle Mari Potter came to the world and made the manor warmer and somehow fuller.
8-month-old Jamie and Izzie were now crawling around with their mother supervising them in their nursery. The room was warded and littered with cushioning charms, sticking charms, and alerting charms with all the accidental magic the little tykes did.
Running footsteps could be heard nearing the room and Daphne just inwardly chuckled and waited for the announcement the newcomer would surely do.
There was a knock on the door, and it suddenly opened. Standing there was one Astoria Greengrass wearing a light green sundress with a smile on her face.
"Babies!" Astoria greeted as both her niece and nephew turned in her direction and gave her a one-tooth smile.
Astoria gushed over her niece and nephew and gave them both a smothering kiss and hugged them.
"How are my favorite niece and nephew?" Astoria cooed at them which was met with baby babbling.
"I'm fine too," Daphne said as she collected Izzie from crawling and carried her. Astoria did the same with Jamie and nuzzled her nose in his stomach which was rewarded with his laughs.
"I barely care about you now Daph, as long as my babies are fine," Astoria said as she continued cooing at her nephew.
Daphne just rolled her eyes and placed Izzie in the playpen that was filled with cushioning charms. Astoria followed and put down Jamie and gave him and conjured up a toy for him to play with. She also did the same with Izzie which was met with clapping and eager hands that pulled.
"Where's Teddy?" Astoria asked as she looked at her sister.
"With Andy but he'll be coming here tomorrow, said he missed his little brother and sister" Daphne affectionately said as she remembered the mirror call, she had with Harry's godson that already felt like a son to them.
"Who wouldn't miss you two cuties, no?" Astoria cooed again, "Even I miss you every time I don't see you for a day" she continued.
Daphne just chuckled before shaking her head, "Tori, you come here almost every day."
"So? I still miss them!" Tori replied as she charmed some of their toys to move on their own.
Suddenly there was a pop and the sisters turned and saw the Potter Family head elf bowing at Daphne.
"Mistress, yous be having a floo call," she said.
"Thank you, Annie, I'll be sure to head down now. Just a few moments" Daphne replied as Annie bowed again and popped out.
"Look after them for while please," Daphne said before heading out and answering the floo call.
"Now, who wants to ride Tori express?"
-o-
"Thank you, I'll look into it," Daphne said as the head in the floo disappeared. She sighed and rubbed her temple with the impending stress she was about to face in her office. Then a running pair of feet distracted her from her thoughts.
"Daphne!" Tori's panicked voice made her snap her head in the direction of her voice. Astoria came running from upstairs carrying James at arm's length. Annie popped in and gave her a confused Isabelle.
Tori's face was full of panic and disgust, and James' face matched it with the disgusting part and a bit of annoyance. Daphne was about to ask what was wrong when she smelt that unmistakable smell.
Daphne Greengrass did not laugh so loud, so boisterous. She was always the epitome of elegance and grace. She did not have the nickname "Ice Queen" at Hogwarts for nothing.
But Daphne Potter sure did cackle.
The way Astoria was crinkling her nose and was shaking with the weight of James on her hands while the baby was surely pushing it. It was funny how Tori can go from holding her kids like they were the most priced treasure in Britain to holding them like they were the most disgusting thing in the world.
Daphne has gotten used to the smell of baby poop, considering she was with twins that decided to poop every time.
But Astoria wasn't.
"Daphne, get your smelly spawn off me!" Astoria whined which only elicited more laughs from Daphne. Then, with whatever magic twins share, Izzie started to look like she was pushing it too.
"Not her too!" Astoria complained, her arms starting to feel tired of carrying James. Daphne's laugh simmered as she started to walk back to the nursery at tow.
"Now, Tori, I think this is high time you learn how to change a baby's soiled nappy," Daphne said mentally reminding herself to give Harry a copy of this memory. Daphne's laugh came back again as Astoria's cry of frustration was heard throughout the manor.
a/n
Hey! so I hope you it and btw no beta, we die like dobby. These are just random burst of ideas nothing too Sirius. I hope I can build the world around the snippets here and there. Tell me if you have suggestions and thanks for reading this.
- ykks
