Birthday Surprises Chapter 46

Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only. Lolly, xxx.

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Double Transfiguration was punctuated with shrill cries from several dolls, and Professor McGonagall was beginning to get exasperated.

"This is nonsense. There is no way anyone can concentrate with this racket going on. We'll take a five minute break so that everyone can see to their doll." She said irritably. There was a flurry of movement as everyone calmed the dolls, trying desperately to get them to sleep. Harry grinned as the triplets looked around them, wide-eyed and interested.

"You want a look?" He murmured, lifting Sam up for a better view of the classroom. He put the baby back before lifting each of the other two. All three were gurgling happily, which drew Professor McGonagall over to him.

"Ah, Potter. How have they been behaving?"

"Very well." Harry said.

"They've grown a lot since the last time I saw them."

"Yeah." Harry agreed.

"How are you?"

"Fine." Harry said with a smile, knowing that she was talking about.

"When did you see the triplets?" Parvati asked.

"I...spent a night here during the holidays." Harry said.

"Why?"

"Family problems." Harry said. Professor McGonagall's eyes flashed angrily, and she sniffed disparagingly.

"I'll say." She said very quietly.

***

Sally approached him again at lunch, and Harry promised that they would talk later that night. He didn't have a lot of time at that moment as all three children were screaming for a bottle, and Parvati was panicking. Harry picked up Sam first and put the bottle in his mouth before giving the other two their bottles. The entire Gryffindor table, and most of the hall seemed to stare as he managed to deal with the three of them alone.

"And we can't even deal with one." Dean sighed. "I don't suppose you're up for babysitting, are you?" Seamus asked.

"No way. Three is plenty, believe me." Harry said with a grin.

***

"Ginny, what is wrong with you today?" Reilly asked as they walked from the Great Hall. Ginny was scowling as Parvati simpered over the triplets.

"Me? Nothing." Ginny said.

"Are you sure? You looked as if you were ready to scratch Parvati's eyes out. I thought you were over Harry?"

"It's not that. Can I tell you something? A secret?"

"Yeah, I swear I won't tell anyone, living or dead, or any creature."

"Thanks. We know who the triplets' mother is." She murmured, making sure that no one was within earshot.

"You do? How come Harry hasn't said anything? Do you know her?"

"Yeah. It's me."

"You have got to be kidding!" Reilly asked.

"Nope. The Ministry did a compatibility test to choose the mother, and me and Harry are pretty compatible."

"How do you know?"

"We did the test."

"And?"

"Three hundred and twenty percent - Harry's parents only got two hundred and three percent!"

"Oh Ginny, this is...umm..."

"Weird?"

"Yeah, it's definitely weird. No wonder you were glaring at Parvati! Who else knows about this?"

"My family, Hermione, Harry. You. I think that's it."

"Wow. So how come you don't practically live in Harry's room?"

"Well, I don't really want everyone to know. Can you imagine?"

"Ugh - yeah. You'd be lynched or something." Reilly shuddered. "So what does Harry think?"

"Well, he's dealing with it a lot better than I did - I was really scared at first, but I talked to Harry about it and...well, it's not all bad. They're so cute. Oh, you should have seen my brothers' faces when they found out!" Ginny laughed, remembering how Bill and Charlie looked as if they were about to castrate Harry there and then.

"Let me guess, Harry was about to die?"

"Oh yeah. Bill and Charlie thought that they had been made the conventional way - the triplets, I mean."

"Oh, such a pity." Reilly grinned. "A pity that they weren't."

"REILLY!"

"What? You can't tell me that the thought didn't cross your mind - you're eyes are giving it all away."

"Giving what away?"

"If you're over Harry, then I am Merlin himself!"

"You are?"

"Ginny, come on, I've known you for almost eleven years. I know when you're lying to me."

"Fine. Ok, whatever."

"So, now you have to tell me everything about your summer."