Chapter 12. Here we go!

"Okay, I've got ten Galleons from Dad that it's a boy, and five sickles from – Percy, five sickles? You cheap skate! Anyway, Harry's got fifteen Galleons on a boy too… crikey, not much hope for a girl is there?"

"Fred!"

"Yes mother?"

"Are youholding a sweep on the sex of the baby?"

"Aye Mother, I am. What's your bid?"

"My bid! I can't believe… your own brother… never did I think…"

"I'll put ten pounds on a girl. How much is that in your money?"

"Well, I think it comes to about…"

"Fred, shut up! Elizabeth, that's your daughter in there!"

"Yes, so I get top priority. What do you put for Ron's capabilities Molly? Twenty pounds?"

Harry smiled to himself. He didn't even have to look up to know that Mrs. Wealsey was spluttering in indignation over their gambling. It, in fact, surprised him that she had not yet – until now – found out about the little scheme the twins had been setting up.

Hermione had been in there for two hours now, and it was well past one in the morning. Harry was rather tired and rubbed his eyes under his glasses, hoping for a pepper-up potion to be slipped into his coffee.

Ginny sat down beside him and rubbed his back, handing him a drink. "Here, you look beat."

"I can only imagine what Ron's feeling." He said, giving the door a glance. They had heard nothing in an hour. The room had obviously been sound-proofed, as they had not heard Hermione screaming in pain… or Ron.

Ginny smiled at him. "It's cute that you worry so much."

"She's like my bloody sister, tell me I wouldn't." he said, taking a sip of his drink.

Ginny stroked his hair and looked up. Her entire family, save for Charlie, was present. Mr. and Mrs. Granger would looked at the door ever few minutes very apprehensively at the door, quite obviously wanting to be in there as well. Her own mother looked as stricken as Mrs. Granger, and could be seen wringing her hands nervously when she was not slapping Fred and George for making some vulgar comment about Hermione's condition and how she had gotten that was in the first place. Her father and Bill were talking with Percy and Mr. Granger, apparently discussing the sex of the baby.

"I hope nothing's wrong." Said Harry suddenly, his head drooping. "Is it normal for her to be premature? I mean, surely nothing's wrong…"

"I'm sure everything's fine." Said Ginny soothingly. "We would know if something was wrong."

"Yeah." Said Harry, looking at the wooden door again. "Yeah, we would."

(HOUR THREE)

"Still nothing?"

Ginny looked up and smiled to see her father standing over her, holding out a cup of coffee. "Nope. Not a peep."

Mr. Weasley smiled. "Is he okay?" he asked, pointing.

Ginny looked down into her lap where Harry's sleeping head lay. His face was free from his glasses, which she held in her other hand. "Yeah. He's just worried is all."

"Hmm, makes you wonder what he'll be like when you finally have little bubs." Mr. Weasley said slyly.

"Dad, I think you need to lie down as well – you're hallucinating again."

(HOUR FOUR)

Ginny pressed her ear against the door a little harder, trying desperately to hear something, anything…

"I'm bored." Announced George suddenly.

WHACK.

"OW! Mum!"

"Tactless, talking about Hermione like that with your mother present." Mrs. Weasley laughed, sitting down his wife who had just his George over the back of his head with her handbag.

"If I go into labor, and I hear you say something like that you'll be begging for mum to hit you like that." Growled Ginny in Hermione's defense.

"Well then, let's hope you don't go into labor anytime soon and freak Harry out." Chuckled Fred, giving Harry a smile.

Harry blushed deeply and sunk even further into his seat.

"Hey, did I miss the party?" shouted a new voice.

Everyone looked around to see – to their utter amazement – Charlie Weasley skidding around the corner, his leather trenchcoat billowing out behind him as he jogged up the hall where the party was. He looked very harassed and weather-beaten, but happy all the same.

"Charlie!" cried Mr. Weasley in surprise. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"Oh now really, did you think I was going to miss the birth of my little Ronnie's first child?" he chortled, greeting everyone in turn. "You must not think very highly of my standards concerning family matters."

"Oh Charlie, is good to see you sweetheart." Smiled Mrs. Weasley, shoving Percy who had been shaking his brother's hand aside rather sharply so she could hug her second eldest. Bill caught him as he stumbled and laughed, fixing Percy's glasses.

"Yeah, you too mum."

Ginny, who still hadn't moved from the door, smiled but did not greet Charlie like the others. She was far too busy, trying to gauge any type of response from the room on the other side of the door.

"No no no, that's not the way you do it!" cried Fred, pulling Ginny away from the door. "How quickly we forget."

Ginny frowned as he reached into his pocket and drew something out. She gasped in horror and looked around to see if anyone was watching, but luckily everyone's attention was still on Charlie.

"Extendible Ears?" She hissed, giving him a slap in the arm "You brought Extendible Ears to Hermione's delivery?"

"I figured we could find out some hidden, behind-the-scenes hospital gossip while we were here. And ow, crikey Ginny…" he added, rubbing his arm.

"Fred…"

"It's only a quick listen. We should be able to get something."

Ginny sighed in defeat as Fred stuck one end of the fleshy coloured apparatus into his ear, letting the other end drop to the floor. It slithered under the door and for a moment, from the expression on his face she thought it hadn't worked.

But suddenly…

"AHHH! SWEET MOTHER OF MERLIN!" Fred screamed, ripping the listening device out and covering his hears, looking very much in pain.

Everyone had gone silent, completely bewildered as to the reason for Fred's sudden outburst. Ginny had her knuckle in her mouth, trying to muffle her laughter as Fred was almost bent over double, his hands still clapped over his ears and whimpering in pain.

"Fred, what happened?" asked Mr. Granger, looking rather concerned.

Ginny snorted and rubbed Fred's back. "So? What's the verdict?"

"What?" Fred yelled. "You'll have to speak up, my ears are ringing. Gah, bloody hell, my eardrums have burst…" he muttered, rubbing his ears.

(HOUR FIVE)

Harry began to wonder if someone had stopped all the clocks in hospital, they were going that slow. Everyone was now becoming very restless, but none as much as Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Mrs. Granger had now taken up the position Ginny had been in, her ear pressed against the door apparently itching to get in there and be with her daughter. Fred had been taken to the next floor to get his ears checked out, but mostly everyone was pacing along the corridor.

Harry, not being able to take it anymore, pulled himself away and decided to talk to Charlie. He was standing near the window; a pensive expression on his face Ginny had told him was his worrying face.

"Hey." Said Harry, clapping him on the back.

Charlie jumped a little and looked at Harry. "Oh, you."

Harry blinked, surprised at his cold tone. "Um, sorry?"

Charlie inflated a little, making him look very intimidating. "Look, the others may be all happy that you've taken Ginny away, but I'm still rather enjoying my opportunity to brood over it. So, if you don't mind…"

And he turned back to the window.

Harry was very confused. He had always gotten on very well with Charlie in the past, and was rather under the impression that he would be happy for them.

"Charlie, have I done something to upset you?"

Charlie sighed and rubbed his face. "No Harry, you haven't. I'm sorry. I just apparated overseas in a matter of minutes, my baby brother's about to become a father and Ginny's decided she wants to leave me to be with you. I'm a little cranky."

"Do you have something you'd like to say to me?" asked Harry, feeling suddenly quite irritated.

Charlie opened his mouth to say something, but what he was to say Harry didn't get to find out. For in that moment, there was a feminine yelp of surprise, followed by a lot of crying and screaming.

Everyone looked around to see that Mrs. Granger had leapt away from the door in surprise, because it had opened and Ron had stuck his head out. He looked terrible, and the sounds of Hermione's obvious effort were echoing out of the room and down the halls.

"Ron!" cried Harry, rushing forward.

"Hey." He smiled.

Everyone gathered around hurriedly, looking expectant. They all started talking at once, but Ron shut them up with a wave of his hand.

"Look, I er…" he stuttered. He seemed to want to tell them something very important, but also seemed unable to form the words. "I wanted to tell you quickly that…"

"RON!" Screamed Hermione over his shoulder.

He winced, smiled at them apologetically and disappeared again, shutting the door and instantly blocking out the noise, draping them in silence once more.

Mrs. Granger burst into tears and flung her arms around her husband. "Oh Jake, my baby…"

"Shh, it's alright." Mr. Granger soothed, patting her back but looking worriedly at the door. "She's got Ron, she'll be fine."

"He looked dreadful!" said Mrs. Weasley, accepting a hand from Bill. "The poor dears…"

"What did he want to tell us then?" thought Bill out loud. "I hope everything was all right."

"'Course it was." Said Harry reassuringly, walking to the door and putting a hand on it. "We'd know if it wasn't. They'd tell us."

"How long have they been in there now?"

"Just over five hours."

"Blimey, this baby business takes a while, doesn't it? Hermione's going to be right zonked after all this."

"This is only the beginning. There's nightly feedings, naps…"

Harry tuned out their conversation and rested his forehead against the cool wooden door. He wanted to be in there with them, and not for the first time in his life had to push away the feeling of jealousy. Harry cared very much for Hermione, and sometimes it just didn't seem fair that he and Ron could no longer be in equal share of her like they used to. He had been present for such historical events in her life, but this was one he couldn't witness.

Suddenly, a hand slipped onto his shoulder followed by a kiss on the base of his neck. "Hey, are you okay?"

Harry exhaled slowly as Ginny wrapped her arms around him. He smiled at her over his shoulder and linked his fingers through hers. It didn't matter that he couldn't see Hermione give birth to Ron's baby… because he knew he was going to see Ginny give birth to his.

"Yeah. Perfectly fine."

(HOUR SIX)

"Okay, out of Catherine Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts."

"Catherine, definitely. Fred, that's too easy."

"You think so Bill?"

"Do Harry."

Harry cringed, not wanting to be a part of this conversation the Weasley's had been having. They had been coming up with some of the most repulsing mixtures, making him almost gag at one point.

"Okay Harry,' challenged George, eyeing him like a hawk. "Loony Lovegood and Pansy Parkinson."

Harry laughed. "Luna, although I'd have to get Colin out of the way first."

"Yeah, I agree with him." Fred said, jerking a thumb at Harry. "Okay, I got one…McGonagall and Sprout."

Everyone let out a groan of disgust, shaking their heads of the horrendous image. Harry rubbed his eyes, hoping that image wouldn't be burned into his head forever.

"Are you serious?" he groaned.

"Yeah, go on!" urged Bill. "I'd pick McGonagall personally.

"Bill!" laughed Fred. "Anyway Harry, come on."

"I'd go with Minne too." Agreed Harry, giving Bill a smile. "I've seen pictures of her when she was younger… and blimey."

"Okay, Harry I've got another." Said Fred.

In that moment, Ginny came over with Charlie and sat down in Harry's lap. "What are you four doing?"

Harry looked at Charlie for a moment, noting that he was determined not to look back. He sighed and wrapped his arms around Ginny as Bill explained the game they were playing.

"Ew! What kind of game is this?" she asked, clearly appalled.

"A funny one! Besides, we've been here for hours andthere's only so much you can do in a hospital.Now Harry, choose out of…"

Everyone held their breaths as George paused for dramatic effect, before saying:

"Snape and Umbridge."

The uproar was instant, mostly from Harry. "Are you insane? What kind of bloody options are these?" he cried.

"Luckily we're in a hospital George; I think I may throw up." Coughed Fred.

"Wait, who's this Umbridge woman?" asked Charlie, looking as confused a Bill. "Is that the hag who took you guys off the team for pummeling the snot out of that little wart Malfoy?"

"Oh yeah, that's her." Said Fred, actually looking a little green.

"Her and Snape? Little brother you are disturbed." Said Bill, beaming at George.

"Yes, yes… just pick will you?" bristled George impatiently, looking at Harry expectantly.

Harry sighed; wishing the floor would swallow him up. How could there even be a better option out of those two?

"I cant pick any of them! Add Ginny into that, I'll pick her."

"Excuse me? I do not just want to be a third option out of two disgusting, old individuals." Cried Ginny indignantly.

"Ah, he's just a wuss." Came a new voice near the door. "He knows he wants to pick Snape."

They whirled around to see Ron with his head sticking out of the door once again, a smile on his face. Harry leapt so fast he nearly sent Ginny flying into the wall. Everyone else gathered around Ron in a semi circle.

"Out of the way!" shrieked Mrs. Granger, shoving Bill and Harry out of the way. "Ron, what's happening?" she asked, looking over his shoulder into the room. There were no sounds coming out now.

Ron's smile widened. "Just wanted you to meet the new addition." He said, pushing the door open.

Everyone let out an 'Aw' as Ron stepped out into the corridor, a bundle held securely in his arms. It was still and very small, and all that could be seen in between the folds of the pink blanket was a tuft of flaming red hair.

"Meet my little girl." Said Ron, choking on inward sobs.

Harry leant forward and smiled down at the baby. She was fast asleep, her entire hand griping the tip of Ron's thumb. Harry didn't think he had even seen anything to beautiful in his entire life.

"How's Hermione?" asked Mr. Weasley, holding his wife back desperately.

"She's exhausted.' Sighed Ron, clearly in the same state. "She wants to see you… I think you'll find she has another surprise for you." He added to the Grangers with a smile.

Hermione's parents exchanged a look, before giving Ron last smile and rushing into the room.

"What's her name?" asked Bill, stroking her hair very softly.

"Gypsy Eliza. We came up with that last night while doing the washing up… good timing eh?" laughed Ron, swaying a little. He turned to Harry and smiled. "You want to hold her?"

Harry blinked in shock. "M-me? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, go on." Urged Ron, moving over to him.

"Oh er…" stuttered Harry as Ron handed him the baby. He felt very clumsy all of a sudden, trying to hold her properly. His hands felt far too large and too dirty to hold such a thing.

"Is she okay?" asked Ginny.

Harry looked up, wondering what she was talking about when he saw Mr. Granger come out of the room, looking at Ron with wide eyes and apparently totally unaware of Ginny's question.

"Oh dear, what's wrong?" cried Mrs. Weasley, not able to take it anymore. "She hasn't had a problem has she?"

Mr. Granger simply continued to look at Ron for a moment, before bursting into laughter. Ron was sniggering to himself as well.

"Okay, what are we missing here?" demanded Percy. "What's going on?"

But there question was soon answered as Mrs. Granger came out of the room… holding another bundle in her arms.

Everyone's mouths dropped open, realization hitting them like a mad bludger. Harry gaped at Mrs. Granger, and then looked back at Ron.

"Twins?" breathed Mrs. Weasley. "You… had twins?"

"Ha! How's that for Karma then eh?" laughed Fred, looking very satisfied with himself.

Ron crossed to his mother-in-law and pealed back the blue blankets, revealing another tuft of red hair. "Everyone, meet Daniel James Weasley. He's the youngest by one minutes and seventeen seconds."

"Ron! Why didn't you tell us you were having twins?" demanded Ginny.

"It was Hermione's idea!" said Ron, cowering under his mother's stare. "She said she wanted to surprise everyone… she wondered why none of you had cottoned on earlier. After all, she was rather large."

"Is she asleep? I want to go in and slap her for not telling me." Cried Ginny, glaring at the door. "God, even after I suggested it… did you know?" she demanded, whirling on Harry.

He snorted and looked back down at the baby in his arms. "Nope. And I choose not to be offended, because it is a good surprise. Ron, you sly dog you." He chuckled, giving Ron a smile.

"Listen um, she's not asleep… but she would like to see you both." Said Ron, looking at Harry and Ginny. The uproar was instant, but they remembered themselves as Daniel gave a squeak. "Please, I know you all want to see her and you'll get your chance. She just wants to see them quickly.

Ron took Daniel out of Mrs. Granger's arms and held the door open for Harry and Ginny. They moved into the room, and Harry felt his heart thump at what he saw.

Hermione was lying on the bed, her bangs damp and sticking to her sweaty forehead. She was still breathing a little heavily, apparently still calming down somewhat. Her eyes were shut and she appeared to be dozing off, but there was this glow about her that if he had a million years, Harry would still not have been able to describe.

"Mione?" said Ron, carrying Daniel back over to her.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled up at her two best friends. "Hey there. I see you've met Gypsy."

"Oh, she's beautiful Hermione!" sobbed Ginny, rushing to her side. She was crying.

"I know." Laughed Hermione weakly. She sounded weak, like she had done a ten mile run, and rather looked it too. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you about the two of them. Are you mad?"

Ginny's eyes flashed, but she smiled and took Hermione's hand. "No, of course not."

"I tell you, now I understand why your feet hurt so much." Said Harry, sitting down on the end of the bed with Gypsy. "Carrying two of these around must have been murder."

Hermione laughed and held her arms out for her daughter. "Finally, you understand what its like for me! Well, better late than never I suppose."

Harry handed Gypsy over and beamed at Hermione as she cradled her daughter as if there was no better possession in the entire world. He looked at Ron and saw the unprecedented pride in his face.

"So, how'd she do?" asked Harry, giving Hermione a smirk.

"Same as always." Said Ron.

"Ah, so with a smashing, flawless effort then."

"Honestly, how many ways are there to give birth? It's not like there's an instruction manual on the actually process and all." She bristled, sharing an eye roll with Ginny.

Ron and Harry sniggered. Even during the aftermath of labor, she still couldn't help lecturing them.

"Are you feeling okay?" asked Ginny.

Hermione sighed and hugged her daughter a little tighter. "I'm exhauted actually. You know that feeling you get when you've been heavily consiptated and have finally passed the turd out? Yeah, its kind of like that."

"Hermione!" cried Harry, astounded. "Alright, I'd like to take this moment to note that in the first few moments of their lives, Hermione compared her children to piles of poo."

"That's nothing." muttered Ron. "You should have heard the names she was calling me. I dont know where she got it from!"

"She was giving birth! Give the girl a break eh?" defended Ginny.

"Listen, I'm really tired…" said Hermione.

"Huh, no surprises there." Smiled Ginny.

"Yes yes, alright. But, before I feed these two I – well, we – wanted to ask you both something."

Harry nodded and Ron sighed, ruffling his hair. "Well, we were wondering if Ginny, you would be Gypsy's godmother."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Me?" she laughed. "Of course I would! Bloody hell, it would be an honor."

"Don't swear in front of the baby." Whispered Hermione.

"Oh, sorry."

"And Harry, would you mind being Daniel's godfather?"

Harry smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling a lot more excited than he was acting. "Like you had to ask."

Ron sighed, looking very relieved. "Oh, good. Well, that was easy."

"I know it sounds a little strange, but we didn't just want one child to have both of you and have another with someone we didn't want as much." Said Hermione stroking Gypsy's hair.

Harry got up, walked around and gave Hermione a firm, lingering kiss on the forehead. "Well done Hermione."

She smiled up at him, tears in her eyes. "Thank you."

"Come on, lets give them some time." Said Ginny, putting a hand on Harry's arm.

Harry nodded, gave Hermione's cheek a stroke and stepped away from the bed. He went to Ron and sighed. "Well, this is probably the part where I'm meant to give you a back-slapping, manly hug and congratulate you on a job well done."

"Yeah, most likely."

"But, seen as you've got the tike in your arms I think I'll just clap you on the shoulder, go out there and get ridiculously drunk with the others." Smiled Harry, giving Ron a slap in the arm.

Ron smiled, a silent understanding passing between them. Harry knew that while Ron was acting in control, deep down he was probably more lost that Dudely in a health food store.

"Oh, don't get too drunk!" said Hermione, looking worried..

Harry exchanged a look with Ron, before shaking his head and walking out of the room with Ginny.

"Harry! Get over here old boy!"

Harry cried out in surprise as Mr. Weasley threw his arm around his shoulders and dragged him over to a small huddle including Bill, Mr. Granger and Percy. Each of them had cigars in their mouths and was puffing on them happily.

"Here you go, have some of that." Said Mr. Weasley happily, jamming a cigar into Harry's mouth.

Harry spat it out and looked at in horror. "Mr. Weasley, this is a hospital. And I don't smoke… like all of you!"

Bill laughed, blowing a green smoke ring into Harry's face. "They're not real Harry. One of Fred and George's fake candy cigars. You don't even have to light them… just start inhaling."

Harry quirked an eyebrow in suspicion, but nothing prepared him for seeing Ginny out of the corner of his eye, puffing on a cigar happily and chatting away to her mother. So, taking this as a shred of security, he stuck it back in his mouth and sucked in a little. Instantly, the taste of raspberry ice-cream filled his mouth.

"See? Good stuff." Beamed Bill, clapping Harry on the back. "Ah, what a good day. Two new Weasley's for the history books."

Harry smiled and looked back over at Ginny. He caught her eye and she smiled back at him, wriggling her eyebrows while puffing on her cigar. He winked at her and turned back to Bill.

"Yes, quite a good day."

A/N – Were you expecting twins? You so weren't!

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