A/N: PLEASE forgive the mistakes. I tried so hard to catch them but my eyes were crossing by the time I finished writing and I know I missed stuff!
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Monday December 7th- 6am- Harry and Ginny's Room:
"I'm sorry love." Harry whispered to his wife as she threw up again. They were sitting on the floor of the loo and he was rubbing her back slowly with one hand while holding her hair away from her face with the other. "I can get the potion." Madam Pomfrey had given her a potion for the morning sickness but had cautioned Ginny only to use it when necessary.
"No." Ginny said before wiping her mouth on the wet cloth Harry had summoned for her. "It's over for now." She leaned back against him and Harry could see that she was completely exhausted.
"Are you ready to go back to bed yet?" He felt her nod weakly against his chest so he picked her up and carefully moved her back to bed. He set her down and pulled the covers up. She rolled on to her side, hugging a pillow. "I'll bring you some toast." He kissed her sweaty brow and went off to their dining area. He came in and saw Dobby waiting with the dry toast. He gave the elf a small smile. "Thanks Dobby." This had become their routine over the past week. "I really appreciate it. She is really not feeling well today."
"You are welcome, Harry Potter sir! I hope Mrs. Potter is feeling better soon." Dobby squeaked as Harry took the plate from him. "I is having the children's breakfast sent up soon."
"Thanks again." Harry said as he left take Ginny her toast. He opened the door to their room and put the toast next to her on the bed. She didn't even stir. Ginny was sick and exhausted constantly and Harry was very grateful that she did not have class for another several hours.
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Defense Class-After Lunch:
Harry looked out at the Seventh Year NEWT class and saw that Ginny was present but pale. Colin was sitting next to her, shooting her concerned looks but she ignored him. Ginny had decided not to tell any of their friends about the baby until the family knew. Harry sighed before starting class. "Good afternoon class. Today we will be reviewing what we have learned so far so that you will be prepared for your exam next week." Several of the students groaned but did not comment. "I would like you to split up in to pairs and start working on the advanced shields we practiced last month and trying to break them down with the hexes we covered last week. Switch off when you feel you are proficient." He walked over to Ginny and Colin who were about to get started. He looked at his wife and spoke softly to her. "I want you to work with me today."
"What?" Ginny gazed at him in confusion. "Why?"
Colin looked surprised but only said, "Go ahead Ginny, I'll work with Natalie Rose."
"No." She protested. "She already has a partner and if I work with Professor Potter then it will be odd numbers. That makes no sense." She glared at Harry, telling him with her eyes to drop it.
Harry did not heed the look. "I think it would be best if you work with me. I don't want you to get hurt."
Ginny's pale face turned red in an instant. "Are you questioning my ability to create a shield?"
An admonishing voice in his head told Harry to let it go but he ignored it. He was concerned that she could be hurt and thus hurt the baby. "I just want to protect you."
He seemed to have struck a nerve because she immediately started yelling at him. "Listened up Harry James Potter!" Harry cringed. He knew he was in for it when she used his full name. The whole class quieted to watch their argument. "I can take care of myself! I DON'T NEED TOU TO PROTECT ME OR QUESTION MY ABILITY TO LOOK AFTER OUR BABY!"
The class was silent for a moment before he watched the Head Boy and Girl quickly usher everyone out of the room. Harry saw Colin close the door before he tried to reason with his wife. "I just don't want you to get hurt." He put a hand on the side of her face. "Colin is really good at hexes and I don't want him to accidentally hurt you especially since he didn't know you are pregnant."
"I can take care of myself!" She whispered as she started to cry.
Harry took her into his arms. "It's alright love. I'm sorry I was being a prat but I was just worried and I'd rather not take a chance with you or the baby."
"I know." She sniffed and looked up at him, her eyes rimmed red. Harry could see the bags under them and knew that she was not getting enough sleep. She had been awake early throwing up and she was falling to sleep right after dinner each night. "Maybe you should take the rest of the afternoon off and nap. I can review with you tonight or this weekend."
"I can't." She protested weakly but he knew she desperately wanted to go.
"Yes you can." He assured her. "You've told me many times that pregnancy is hard so you should go easy on yourself if you need more sleep. You also happen to be married to your teacher and you can use me to tutor you whenever you are up for it. You don't have any other classes today so take this time to rest." She nodded against his shoulder and he walked her to the door. He opened it to find the class congregated in the hall. "We are sorry for the interruption. Ginny is going to go back to our rooms."
"I'll walk her Professor." Luna Lovegood said dreamily.
"Thanks." Harry told her and Luna took Ginny's bag from him and walked away with his wife. "Please come in and we'll continue class." No one asked about the outburst and he thought Colin had probably warned them not to talk about it.
Harry helped them review shields and hexes for the rest of the period. "That was much better class. I'll see you on Friday and we'll continue to review." Harry watched everyone but Colin leave. He studied the Head Boy and waited for him to speak.
When he did his voice was hushed. "Is she pregnant?"
Harry regarded him but knew that denying it was futile since Ginny had admitted it in class. "Yes."
Colin nodded slowly his expression unreadable. "You were right to try and protect her."
He shrugged. "I should have discussed it with her when we weren't in class. She's pretty emotional right now. Madam Pomfrey said it would get better in the next month or two."
"Maybe." Colin looked away. "You just wanted to make sure she was fine." He turned back and met Harry's eyes. "I'll look after her while we're in our other classes."
Harry studied him. "She won't like that."
"She won't know." He replied shortly. "But I'll do it anyway."
"Thanks." Harry told him and held out his hand, which Colin shook.
"Any time."
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Dinner That Evening:
"Mummy," Erik looked curiously at his mother. "You eat a lot."
Harry and Bill chuckled but Ginny smiled at her son. "Mummy's hungry."
Harry shook his head in bewilderment. Ginny spent all morning in the loo but at dinner she ate more than he and Bill did combined. He studied her and saw that she looked better after her nap. "Mummy has to eat for two now." He told his son.
"Dada." Emily caught his attention. "Dun (done)."
"Eat one more bite." Harry picked up her fork and held a carrot to her mouth. She opened and ate it. "Good job." He smiled and lifted her down. He saw Ginny also lift Nicole out of her highchair.
"I'm done too daddy." Erik informed him.
"You are excused then. Let's go start baths." Harry smiled at Erik's groan of disgust.
"I'll be in to help soon." Ginny told him as she sat down to continue eating.
Harry grinned. "No rush." He looked over at Bill who was cleaning Tyler's face. "Night Bill, night Tyler."
"Goodnight Harry."
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That Night- Harry and Ginny's Room:
"Luna and I had a nice talk while we skived off of your class." Ginny told him, as she got ready for bed that night.
"Good. How is she doing?" Harry asked as he pulled on his pajama bottoms.
Ginny crawled into bed and under the covers. "Fine. She's the one who wrote the article on Rita Skeeter, you know. I can't believe that Rita is in Azkaban." She shook her head. "Anyway, Luna's father is giving her a job at the Quibbler after she graduates so she is looking forward to that."
Harry got in and she moved over to cuddle with him. "Any love interests?"
Ginny giggled. "I don't think Luna is looking for love right now. She enjoys hunting for mythical creatures too much. Maybe if she found someone who also enjoyed that but until then I think she'll remain single. I don't think she minds though."
"Right."
Ginny was silent for a minute before speaking again. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you in class." She yawned as she spoke the last word.
Harry kissed the top of her head as he held her in their bed. "I know love. Go to sleep."
She turned her head to face him. "You aren't angry?"
He grinned. "I'm sure that you'll yell at me again before the baby is born so there is no point in getting angry. I'm sure that we will have more children after that and you'll yell each time you are pregnant. I know that you are going to be moody and I'm okay with that. It's not like you can help it." He kissed her. "I figure that if you have to throw up every morning then you are allowed to yell at me as many times as you want."
Ginny laughed and then yawned again. "You are too sweet. I'm just glad that I don't have morning sickness all day like most women do. Once a day is enough for me."
"You're just tired all the time." Harry replied and smiled when she yawned again. "Go to sleep love. Tomorrow morning will come very early."
"I know. I love you."
"I love you too."
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Friday December 25th 1998- 8am-Grimmauld Place- The Drawing Room:
"Happy Christmas everyone!" Fred called as he and George came in to where everyone else was waiting.
"It's only happy now that we are here." George reminded his brother.
"Can we open presents yet?" Erik asked Ginny.
"As soon as we give Uncle Fred and Uncle George their gifts." She looked at her brothers. "We have a surprise for you two." Ginny grinned at them. Maddie and Merri were waiting in the corner under Harry's invisibility cloak. Dumbledore had brought them to the house two hours earlier and Mrs. Weasley had been delighted to meet them.
Fred and George exchanged nervous glances. "What would that be?"
"Stand here." Ginny positioned then in front of the fireplace. "Now close your eyes." Neither did. "Nothing will explode on you, I promise." Harry saw them reluctantly close their eyes.
Harry led Maddie and Merri over to stand face to face with his brothers before removing the invisibility cloak. Both of the women had outdone themselves in their appearances. They looked amazing. "You can open your eyes now." He told the twins and watched as Fred and George opened their eyes and saw their jaws both drop.
"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled.
George looked from Meredith to Ginny, his voice sounded strangled. "Is this a trick?"
"No, they are actual twins." She assured him.
"No Polyjuice Potion taken by one really beautiful redhead?" Fred did not take his eyes off of Maddie.
"Nope." Harry said.
"Does this mean you'll be getting married?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she winked at Harry and Ginny getting in to the joke.
Fred and George exchanged a look before trading places to stand in front of the opposite woman. "I am George Weasley." He held out his hand to Maddie.
She looked a little flustered at the strange turn of events. Everyone had said that the jokesters would pass out. "I'm Madeline Albertson. I go by Maddie." George took her hand and brought it to his lip.
"I'm Fred Weasley."
"Meredith Albertson, or Merri." Fred kissed her hand as well before leading her over to a couch, George behind him with Maddie.
Almost everyone was stunned and not able to speak as they watched the twins talk seriously with the other twins. "I can't believe it." Mrs. Weasley finally said.
"Nana." Erik walked over to his grandmother and took her hand. "Can we open presents now? I've been waiting for a long time!"
Mrs. Weasley laughed, as did the others. Harry had been holding Emily who did not really appear interested in presents and Nicole was sitting with Mr. Weasley and playing with his glasses. "Let's open gifts." She told her grandson and together they went to his pile of gifts. With a little coaxing and watching her siblings, Nicole finally started to open her presents as well.
"She's playing with the paper." Harry whispered to Ginny as he looked at his youngest daughter.
She laughed. "Look at Tyler." Harry looked over at his brother-in-law and nephew and he too started to laugh. The baby was ignoring his unwrapped gifts in favor of trying to chew on the paper.
The two sets of twins came over and sat on the floor with everyone else. Harry noticed that the couples were sitting rather close to each other. Hermione handed each of them several gifts. Harry and Ginny had gotten the women something and he had seen gifts from Colin under the tree for them as well as gifts from several other family members. Merri and Maddie looked flummoxed. "You didn't have to get us anything." Merri exclaimed.
"Nonsense!" Fred exclaimed. "George and I are going to do our best to make you a part of this family. You have to get gifts." Both women blushed and everyone once again fell in to a stunned silence.
"You're serious?" Hermione asked.
"Course we are!" They said together before George continued. "We wouldn't lead them on just to get back at you for trying to pull a prank on us."
"Yeah, how many times are we going to find another set of identical redheaded twins?" Fred told him. "It is quite the bonus that they are gorgeous."
"You are having us on." Ron said wearily.
"No we aren't!"
"Leave them alone." Mrs. Weasley commanded.
"A BROOM!" Erik shouted as he unwrapped his child-sized toy and the attention in the room shifted back to the children.
After all the presents were opened Harry brought Erik to him to whisper in his ear. "Do you want to tell everyone our surprise?" He and Ginny had been amazed that Erik had kept quiet about the pregnancy over the past week with the family.
Erik leaned in to Harry's ear to whisper as well. "About our baby?"
Harry smiled. "That's the one."
"Okay."
"Everyone!" Harry called and Ginny raised an eyebrow at him but she was also smiling. "Erik has to tell you something." He put his hand on Erik's back in support. "Go ahead."
Erik smiled shyly at everyone. "Mummy is having a baby."
The room was instantly in pandemonium as everyone congratulated them.
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That night- Harry and Ginny's Room at Grimmauld Place:
"I can't believe that they are serious about Maddie and Merri." Ginny lamented as they crawled in to bed.
"I can't either." Harry kissed her. "They look happy though. Even Maddie and Merri were charmed by them." He chuckled when he remembered what had happened at supper. "When they found out that they were Healers…"
Ginny giggled as well. "If it was possible my brothers seemed even more impressed with them." She snuggled closer to him. "It was nice knowing how excited everyone was about the baby."
Harry ran a hand down her side to her still flat belly. "Of course they are!" He moved his hand back and forth over her stomach. "Your Mum thanked me for the extra clock hands that we got her. She said that she was hopeful to be adding two daughters-in-law as well as our baby this year."
"If Fred and George get their way then she might." She sighed. "I can't believe my joke backfired so badly." She interlaced her fingers in his and rested it back on her tummy. "If it had to go wrong though, I'm glad that it went the way it did. They deserve to be happy."
"I agree."
"I asked my Mum about when she conceived us and she had no idea what I was talking about. It apparently just happened with her and she never noticed a difference when they..." Ginny let the sentence die.
"Right… that's odd." Harry started to kiss her neck. "I'm glad you aren't sick in the mornings anymore."
"Mmm." She stretched and yawned. "I'm still feeling ill but I am glad not to be losing my breakfast."
"Now you can enjoy breakfast and steal food off my plate."
Ginny stilled and Harry looked down to see tears in her eyes. "I miss Fleur."
Harry felt his throat constrict. "I do too love but I liked looking through the photo albums from last Christmas with Bill as he showed them to Tyler."
"I did too." Ginny yawned again but turned towards the door. A moment later there was a knock.
Mrs. Weasley's voice floated through the closed door. "Ginny, Madam Pomfrey is here. There is a birth that she needs you to attend with her."
Ginny got up. "I'll be ready in a minute." She called out to her mother.
"Are you going to be able to stay awake?" Harry asked in concern.
"I'll be fine. Madam Pomfrey will have me sleep for an hour or two if the labor goes too long." She kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
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Saturday December 26th, 1998- Lunch- Kitchen of Grimmauld Place:
"When is Mummy going to wake up?" Erik asked Harry.
Harry put a sandwich on his plate. Ginny had gotten back at about four that morning. "Probably soon." He got the girl's plates and put them on their highchair trays. Emily started to neatly pick up her food to eat.
"Beebee." Nicole looked up at her father. "Beebee Dada."
Harry kissed her cheek and smiled. "Yes, Mummy was delivering a baby." He held the small sandwich to her mouth and she took a bite.
"I'm awake." Ginny wandered in still not dressed. She yawned and kissed each of the children before sitting down to a full plate that her mother put in front of her. "Thanks Mum."
"Eat up. I have more when you finish that." Mrs. Weasley informed her before taking her own seat to eat.
Ron grinned at her. "At least now we know why you were eating twice as much."
"Ron!" Hermione admonished. "Leave her alone." She turned to Ginny. "How did the birth go?"
Ginny swallowed and looked at Hermione. "It was almost tragic. The baby had to be removed." She took another bite as everyone but Harry gasped.
"What does removed mean?" He probed. He had obviously missed that part when he read through Ginny's books on becoming a Matron.
Hermione answered while Ginny's mouth was full. "Do you know what a Cesarean Section is? It's often called a C-Section."
"Uh, isn't that where muggle doctors cut the mother to get the baby out?"
"It's the same idea but with magic. No knives needed although it is still very dangerous." Hermione explained and Harry saw all of the men cringe. "Why did you have to remove it?" She asked her.
"Him." Ginny said. "I just… I knew something was wrong and so I told Madam Pomfrey to remove him. She thought I was off my rocker." She took another bite chewed slowly. "I kept insisting and finally she showed me how to and we removed him. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and he was barely breathing."
"Oh my!" Hermione's hands flew to her mouth.
"Is he all right? Is the mother fine?" Mrs. Weasley asked, her face full of concern.
"He's fine. We got him breathing quickly and the mother didn't hemorrhage so that was positive. She's in St. Mungo's right now recovering."
"You just knew that the baby was in trouble?" Hermione probed and looked lost in thought when Ginny answered.
"Yes." She finished her breakfast.
"Aren't you nauseous?" Bill asked her with a disgusted look on his face. "You just ate three plates full of food."
Ginny grinned before picking Emily up. "I am feeling a little sick but I was also really hungry." She tickled Emily belly and the baby giggled. "Shall we go play?"
"Yeth." Emily told her.
"Mumma down!" Nicole ordered from her highchair.
"All right." Harry got her down.
"I'm done." Erik told them and at a look from Harry he continued. "May I be excused Nana?" Harry grinned at him and ruffled his hair.
Mrs. Weasley smiled indulgently. "Of course you may. You have such grown up manners." She turned and glared at Ron.
"What'd I do?" He asked indignantly.
"Where are Fred and George?" Ginny suddenly asked.
"They are out all day with Maddie and Merri." Mrs. Weasley smiled triumphantly.
Ginny laughed. "I bet we'll be having another double wedding for them this summer. That is if Maddie and Merri don't wise up first."
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A/N: Thanks to all who told my what that not so nice word meant. I watched Bridget Jones' Diary and was really confused when she yelled it at some Christmas Carolers.
THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING!
Harry and Ginny 4eva: baby time!
Rivenn: Snape is sooo hard because he needs several more years to really open up. I'll see what I can do but no promises. I'm glad you like it.
Lourdes: Glad you liked it… I was kinda emotional when I wrote it. Thanks for letting me know about that word.
Ally: I've had that sex scene in mind for the entire time… I'm glad you liked it!
equatorialguinea: Thanks… I had fun with Erik during Christmas in this chapter!
Kawa Potter: Thanks… I'm glad you liked it.
haydenrocks14: Very sweet… I enjoyed it and have been assured by someone that her husband acted like that while she was pregnant. I think it's so romantic (I'm a sucker like that lol)
donalddeutsch: I'm glad you enjoyed it and I made the twins to be perfect for Fred and George. I just love a good romance… When I take another break at the end of this one to read I'll check your stuff out and let you know what I think but right now updating daily keeps me really busy since I also work full time (and I'm on call 24/7). Thanks for reviewing!
weselan: Yah baby! I'm at an age where my friends are starting to have kids and it's been fun. I have to put it in my right. I loved doing that to Rita! She's such a witch with a B! Thanks for letting me know about what it means in Australia. I find languages so fascinating that it was interesting to learn about it.
Kritbug: I'm bursting too… I write what I would want to read so I'm happy as well!
Wolf's scream: Thank you! I really appreciate family and how important it is so I like writing about it. I'm glad you are enjoying my work… it make the struggle to post everyday worthwhile when I read that people like it.
dacipota4ever: I am glad to hear from you! I'm glad you like it and believe me… the spelling and grammar errors bug me when I catch them after it's already posted! I'm getting better though, so I take comfort in that. Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed it.
Tanydwr: I was born in southern California and lived there until I left for college… now I'm on the east coast of the USA. I do know how to cuss in French and Spanish but that doesn't really help right now (lol). Thanks for telling me about it and I'm glad you like the story!
SaintEmo: I remember what school was like and it is harder than the real world because unless you are a teacher there is no hw! I type fast which is how I post so often so don't get discouraged! I tried to hurry through this one but it took me forever! Good luck with schooling.
Harrie: A dictionary might have helped… (lol) I tried but my dictionary sucks though.
mysticruby: I keep getting hints on twins but not this time… sometime in the future! I'm glad you liked it!
Allison: I'm so glad you liked and thanks for telling me. It makes writing easier! You are so close on Ginny… but you'll have to wait until the next chapter to learn more.
