Chapter 25:

About a week after the party, Remus walked out of his bedroom to see a little wrapped package on his desk. He walked up and saw his name was written on the card attached to it. Remus smiled as he recognized the handwriting right away as his wife's. Checking the date, he surprised himself completely by discovering it was March 10th. He opened the card and read what his wife had written.

"My dear husband,

"I know with the twins coming towards the end of this month, we haven't focused on ourselves or each other. Well, okay, I'll be honest. You've focused a lot on me, but be honest, it's mostly because I happen to be the one your children are growing in! But all thoughts of the twins aside, I definitely didn't forget what today is.

"Happy birthday, love. I missed out on many of your birthdays and it feels so good to say that again. You know how many cards I almost sent out but drew back for fear of detection or rejection? And stop laughing, I told you when we were first reunited that I feared you were angry at me for leaving. It is a perfectly rational belief! Oh dear, I believe I am ranting again. Let me end this before I end up writing nonsense. Happy birthday, I think you'll love the gift!

"Your loving wife, Harmony."

Remus smiled at the card and picked up the small box. Whatever could be this small? The box was no bigger than a few inches, even if it was an inch across! He opened the box and saw…cotton. Lots of cotton. "Harmony got me cotton," he said aloud.

"Yes, I scoured the stores and decided that you could use about three inches worth of cotton," his wife's voice drifted from behind him, a hint of humor in it. "Lift up the closest cotton…uh, puff."

"So eloquent from the one who once published a book," Remus retorted, but lifted the cotton anyway. Sitting on a bed of more cotton was a necklace with a crescent moon on it. "The necklace…I gave you this necklace for your birthday after we started dating," he said.

"The year I had all those horrible nightmares, remember?" Harmony said, waddling towards the couch. "You said that it would help ward off the nightmares from our days as an Auror, at night when no one could help me. It worked, but I didn't expect any less. And I realize that with the twins, there are going to be many nights when I can't be beside you when we sleep. And we're going into the rockiest part—the final battle's coming. Everyone can feel it. So I want you to have it. To ward off the evil."

Remus smiled and placed the necklace around his neck. "Thank you," he replied, leaning down to kiss his wife.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all found their seats as Defense Against the Dark Arts class was about to begin. The entire class, however, received the surprise of their lives when they saw Professor Lupin sitting behind the desk instead of Professor Anderson. They knew that the previous week had been a full moon and he wasn't able to handle classes, but why wasn't Professor Anderson?

Hermione raised her hand and they heard Professor Lupin chuckle. "You can put your hand down, Hermione; I know what you're going to ask." He stood up and walked in front of his desk, leaning against it. "No, Professor Anderson has not had the twins yet, but since the time is looming, she's been ordered to bed rest until birth." The class nodded in unison and Professor Lupin continued on with the day's lessons.

At lunch after class, Harry told Ginny that Harmony was confined to her bed. Since she had no afternoon classes, she decided that she would go and cheer up her godmother. That's why she was currently standing outside of the portrait that let her into the Lupins' chambers wondering if she should knock, just say the password, or go through the study. The idea of the study was knocked out when she heard the sounds of Professor Lupin teaching in the classroom—there was no way she was going to disrupt class. So, she decided to knock and hope that someone was in there.

A few minutes later, Kiki opened the door and smiled. She ushered Ginny in and brought her to the bedroom. Harmony sat there, shuffling a pack of cards. She looked up and gave her goddaughter a smile, pointing to the seat next to her bed. "Hey, Harry says you're confined to your bed," Ginny said, plopping down.

"Oh, don't remind me!" Harmony groaned. "Before, I would give anything to be able to sleep late, but I don't want to be limited to my bed alone. You know how boring that is?" She closed her eyes for a minute before smiling. "But it's nice when I get visitors."

"Hmph, Ginny came of her own accord. I believe I was summoned," Kiki explained, plopping down on the bed.

"You'll understand when you're confined to your bed."

"Darling, I doubt I would be confined to my bed. I'm only having one and have you seen the size of my bulge?"

"What bulge?"

"Exactly. I'll be walking till the day Sam decides to make her grand entrance!"

"Umm, goddaughter in the room?"

The two women turned and smiled at Ginny, who was clearly amused by the bickering between the two women. "As much as I would love to hear you two snap at each other, why don't we change topics before one of you kills the other?"

Kiki nodded. "Good idea. Hey, Ginny, what did Harry get you for Valentine's Day?"

A week later, Harmony was busy reading a book. Remus had disappeared one afternoon while she had napped and came back filled with books for her to read while she was confined to her bed. She had been through most of them and was deeply involved in a sequel to the Phantom of the Opera that was set during the Bohemian period when she heard the door to hers and Remus' office open. She didn't know what time it was and the chapter was so engrossing, she didn't want to look up. She figured that it was Remus returning from dinner, probably early as he had all week. He always felt guilty about leaving her when the delivery date was speeding towards them, but she always pushed him to go. The house elves left plenty for her to eat—her discarded plates stacked on the table for them to take later and clean.

Footsteps began louder as they entered her room. She was going to say something to Remus, but Raoul had just pulled a knife on both Christine and Caroline… then she got the feeling something was wrong. That feeling was so strong, it caused her to mark her place and close the book. Standing before her wasn't her husband and her stomach pummeled down further than anatomically possible. "Jack," she said, her mouth suddenly dry.

"Hello, Harmony," he said, smoothly. Jack took a seat on the bed, ignoring the glare Harmony was sending him. He reached for her hand but she took it back. "Now, there's no need for that."

"Get out."

"What?"

"I'd ask you what you were doing here, but that would require you to stay longer than necessary. So get out."

"And leave you alone?"

"Precisely."

"That werewolf obviously doesn't care," Jack said, rubbing her arm. "He would be here with you when your children are due so soon. Of course, he's a monster, he wouldn't care."

"Jack. Shut up and leave."

"No."

"Then at least get your greasy hands off of me."

"My hands are not greasy and the answer is still no."

Harmony let out a groan of exasperation which changed into one of pain. One of the twins was kicking really, really hard… 'Not now, little ones,' she thought. 'Mommy needs to get rid of the evil jerk.' She took a deep breath and tried to reason with Jack. "Please, just leave me before trouble starts."

"And what trouble could happen?"

'Me hexing you into the next century sounds idealistic,' she thought. Harmony was about to voice this idea when she felt the same pain again—only this time it was accompanied by moisture. Her brain went through scenarios quickly and come unto one solution… "OH MY MERLIN!" she cried, swinging out of bed once the pain had subsided. She pushed past Jack and within minutes, was on her way to the hospital wing via the school floo system.

Filch burst into the dining hall, spooking all the students who weren't used to the caretaker bursting in on their meals. "Sorry to disrupt your meal, professors, but it seems that Miss Wright, Professor Snape and Professor Lupin are wanted in the hospital wing," he said. In the matter of time it took most students to blink, the three adults were already far gone from the Great Hall.

Remus made it in record time, bursting in to the room, finding his wife in the middle of a contraction. "I told you that I should've stayed in the room with you," he said, holding one of her hands. She squeezed it hard, but he didn't mind.

Once the pain had subsided, Harmony decided to speak. "I told you…it didn't…matter…besides…don't blame yourself…blame…Jack…" she gasped out.

Kiki, who was putting her friend's hair into a ponytail, gasped. "Jackson? He's here? Or was? Is he still here?"

"I'll go check. Anyone mind if I kill him?" Severus said.

"No."

"Good." With that, Severus left the room. At the same moment, another contraction started and Harmony squeezed Remus' hand again.

When that one was finished, Remus and Kiki switched places so that he could find Madame Pomfrey. He found her in the office, talking with Eden. The nurse must have summoned the Dumbledore girl for help. "Poppy," he croaked, "Is Harmony going to be alright?"

"Oh, she'll be fine, she's just a little bit earlier than was expected," Poppy said, pushing her way into the main body of the hospital wing. She had closed it to all students and sound proofed it so that Harmony could have some peace and quiet. She stepped closer as Kiki wiped down Harmony's forehead. "Now, let me do some preliminary checking," she said, waving her wand over Harmony. When she was done, her face scrunched up and she immediately went to talk to Eden.

At the same time, Severus walked in. "Well, the weasel escaped. And I'm here to warn you that Albus already sent word to the Order about the labor and—"

"When are my goddaughters entering this lovely planet?" Sirius asked, bounding into the room. Within minutes, he was clobbered to the floor by a pillow as Harmony began another contraction.

Madame Pomfrey hurried over and ushered everyone but Remus and Eden out of the room. Severus stepped over Sirius, helping Kiki over her friend, while Arthur and Bianca helped him up. They all stood around the hallway, waiting. "She clocked me with a pillow," Sirius said.

"You deserved it," Kiki said, calmly. "She's in labor, she's in pain and she's there because of an idiot."

"Who, me?"

"Of course not. You would never upset anyone into labor…"

"Jackson Harrington."

"B-I-N-G-O."

"Bastard."

The wait seemed to take forever but only a half hour later, Poppy stepped out to address the small crowd of adults gathered outside the hospital wing. "How are they?" Albus asked, slightly concerned over Poppy's lack of a smile.

"Right now, Jamie is doing fine," the nurse said. "However, when Jack kicked off Harmony's pregnancy, Lily wasn't fully turned around. I have Eden in there, performing one of the complex spells to help bring the little girl around—" She was cut off by a cry from inside and slipped back in. The group held their breath until a few minutes later when Remus appeared, smiling.

"Jamie Marie and Lily Rose Lupin have finally entered the world—completely healthy, if Lily does require some extra care," he said, beaming with fatherly pride. "March 23, 1998."

"Can we see them now?" Sirius asked, Kiki practically bouncing up and down by his side. Remus looked over his shoulder—most likely for confirmation from Madame Pomfrey—before nodding. Kiki and Sirius barreled in and reached Harmony's bedside.

She was smiling tiredly and gazing at two identical little girls in pink blankets. "Okay, which one is which?" Sirius asked, picking up the baby in Harmony's right arm while Kiki took the girl in her friend's left.

"Sirius, you are holding Jamie and Kiki is holding Lily," Remus explained, sitting on the edge of his wife's bed. Sirius and Kiki cooed at their godchildren, both who were staring at them with beautiful blue eyes. Jamie stuck her finger out and took hold of Sirius' finger while Lily yawned and fell asleep in her godmother's arms.

After Remus talked his daughters out of his friends' arms, others slowly started to trickle in. The last people to come in were the grandparents. "Oh my Merlin, Hans come look at this precious little thing!" Janice exclaimed, cuddling Jamie close. Margaret Lupin was slowly rocking Lily back and forth as the little girl slept on. "Well, I don't know whether to go beat Jackson senseless or hug him for giving us our little granddaughters."

"Mom, I'd definitely go for the former…maybe it will teach him to stay out of my life and that I am in no way, shape, or form in love with him," Harmony said, leaning back into her pillows. When Lily started to fuss in her grandmother's arms, Madame Pomfrey kicked the grandparents out—almost literally—muttering something about teaching the new mother how to nurse.

Six students walked towards the hospital wing. Dumbledore announced that no student would be allowed near there, but then McGonagall had taken Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna aside to tell them they were the only exceptions. And now they were all excited as they approached the wing. The wards acknowledged them and let them through its barrier.

Walking through the door, they saw Harmony asleep in one of the beds with Remus sitting next to her and a bassinette. He looked up and smiled at them, waving them all over. Hermione, Luna and Ginny rushed forward while the boys hung back, a little awkward. "Aww," Hermione whispered, "they are so cute. I hope my children look just as adorable." She glanced over at Ron, who blushed slightly.

Harry made his way over and looked over at the sleeping twins. Well, actually, one was asleep and the other was staring at everybody with such pretty blue eyes. "Who's who?" he asked, quietly.

"Sleeping Beauty is Lily. Jamie is the one alert and ready," Remus explained, brushing Lily's cheek gently. The sleeping girl yawned and rolled over, facing her father. "Would any of you like to hold her?"

The six—even Ron—all took turns holding Jamie. The baby girl seemed to like being held and often complained until she was back in someone's arms. Lily awoke when Luna was holding her sister and Remus picked up his other little girl. He promptly handed her to Harry, the only one who hadn't had a chance to hold Jamie yet. Lily looked up at Harry and smiled when he let her grab his finger. The group hung around until Jamie fell asleep (since she wouldn't let Luna put her down in the bassinette) and Lily woke Harmony up with her demands to be feed. The woman greeted her students warmly before Remus ushered them out so they could all be alone. Out in the hall, Hermione sighed and said, "I can't wait for Kiki to give birth."

A week later, Harmony and the twins were released from Madame Pomfrey's care and returned back to their quarters. The proud parents were relieved when they realized the twins never wanted their attention at the same time. If Lily was hungry, Jamie was asleep. If Jamie was hungry, Lily was content to lie in her bassinette or was also sleeping. The only real concern was the fact that when she was up, Jamie liked to be held. Luckily, they never had a class at the same time, but it became a problem whenever they were trying to grade papers. Occasionally, Kiki or Sirius would pop up in time to hold Jamie so her parents could accomplish something and sometimes Dumbledore and McGonagall stopped by for visits. Also known as "we'll watch the twins while Harmony goes to take a nap" time.

A/N: Just to let you know, that Phantom of the Opera sequel is really my POTO fanfic Le Cirque Boheme and Caroline is my main character. Now, if you're curious as to why Raoul has a knife out on poor Caroline and even poorer Christine, maybe you should go read it. Unless you're a Raoul lover. Then don't.