Chapter Nine: Alex Zolar (or Potter)

(A/N: I am really sorry about the month-long delay. I know I'd said it would only be a week, but then I ended up doing a bunch of summer stuff with my family, and then I couldn't figure out what the heck I wanted to do for Alex's tale. So, without further delay, here it is!)

The quiet, sterile environment known as St. Mungo's Hospital was as busily running as it ever had. Nurses and Healers were dashing from place to place, disfigured people were looking to be fixed, and visitors came and went.

They had hard jobs, healers did, but one current visitor wasn't making it any better for them. That visitor was Harry Potter, in the birthing ward.

"Why can't you just let me go in?" the powerful wizard demanded of a flustered nurse. Mr. Potter's hair was even messier than normal, testimony to the many times he had run his hands through it in anticipation and anxiety. His green eyes were blazing with annoyance, and his aura was even sparking slightly.

The nurse, an exasperated-looking witch in her early forties, replied for the sixth time that day. "Because you will upset the charms on the room, Mr. Potter." She said. "We cannot have something go wrong in there because of you, I'm sorry, you must wait out here."

Harry scowled and ground his teeth, and felt a hand on his arm. "Come on Tallon," said Remus Lupin with a sigh, "Just sit down and relax. Hermione is in there with her, she'll be fine."

Reluctantly, Harry let himself be dragged away by both of his godfathers, to the official waiting area. He sat down heavily in a chair, and saw Ron Weasleygrinning at him. "What?" he snapped.

Ron was undaunted by his friend's tone. "You look like a bloody nervous wreck, mate."

"Thanks oh so much," Harry growled, "Like I couldn't have figured that one out myself."

"With the way your acting kiddo, I don't think you could." Sirius Black told him lightly. "You'd end up blowing up the mirror."

Harry glared at the animagus.

"How long's she been in there anyway?" Ron asked.

"Eighteen hours and twenty-three minutes," Harry replied instantly, looking at his watch: it read twelve ten am, August thirtieth.

"Hey, Pop?" said a young, tired voice.

"Yes Ally?" Remus said, picking up his eight year-old daughter.

"How much longer are we gonna stay?" she yawned.

"Just a little longer," he answered. "We have to keep awatchon Tallon so he doesn't blow up on the nurse."

She giggled. "Like he did when I spooked him on Halloween?"

Remus chuckled. "Yes, just like that."

Harry glared at Remus, who just grinned back good-naturedly. "You can come in now." A voice said from the doorway; it wasHermione.

"Finally!" Harry exclaimed, andjumped out of his chair then rushed into the room, skidding to a halt.

Alexandriaz Zolar, now Potter for two years, was sitting upright in the bed, looking tired, but happy. "Well aren't you a mess," she said to her husband.

"Are you alright?" he asked immediately.

"Are you?" she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Honestly, I think it was more tiring for you than me."

He kissed her on the forehead, "As long as you're alright, it doesn't matter how tired I am."

"Well?" asked Sirius, tapping his foot on the polished stone floor. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Alex smiled as a healer entered, holding two bundled forms. "Both." Alex replied.

Harry's jaw dropped as the healer handed him one. The baby was tiny, barely as long as his forearm. Its skin was awfully pink, and its eyes were clamped shut, its hands curled into tiny fists. "That one's the girl." The healer told him, and then handed the second baby to Alex. "And that's the boy."

Alex smiled as Sirius craned his neck over Harry's shoulder to look at the child. She knew he was excited about being a god-grandfather, as well as an uncle (to Ally). "Ha!" Sirius exclaimed. "The Potter hair continues!"

Alex laughed. Yes, their son did have black hair, which would no doubt stick up in the back. Remus came over to stand next to her, looking at the other baby with Ally still in his arms. "She's all pink," Ally noted. "But it's not a bad pink."

Alex smiled. "Thank you Ally, I'm sure she appreciates your opinion."

Remus winked at her. "Soon you'll be getting no sleep." He said. "They're a noisy bunch, kids."

"I didn't cry," Ally said smugly. "Uncle Sev said I never cried."

Remus sighed wistfully. "With him you didn't, but I think he slipped calming draughts into yourdrinks when you were with him."

"Uncle Sev wouldn't do that!" she protested.

Alex smiled, looking at her own daughter as Remus debated with Ally whether or not 'Uncle Sev' would have the motive to drug her drinks. "What are you going to name them?" asked Draco.

Harry blinked. "Names…?" he repeated, still dazed.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Yeah, names. You know, the things you callpeople by?"

"Oh. Right. Names." He looked at Alex. "What do you want to name them?"

Alex smiled, "You'll have to help too, you know. But, for the boy…I was thinking Kyle, after my dad."

"Kyle Harry Potter." Sirius said, rubbing his hands together. "I like it."

The new father blinked. "Kyle…Harry?"

Alex smiled at her husband's confusion. "Why not? You have your father's name for a middle one."

He nodded. "Alright, Kyle Harry Potter."

The Healer wrote it down on her clipboard. "And for the girl?"

Harry chewed on his bottom lip. "Umm…Would Lillian be alright with you?" he asked Alex. "After my mum?"

She nodded. "Lillian…"

"Alexandriaz?" Draco suggested.

"I won't put my daughter through that name," Alex replied, "It takes too much time to use."

Remus chuckled. "So does Nymphadora," he commented.

"As my cousin has so often complained," Sirius added dryly.

"What about Kali?" Ally suggested. "It means black," she pointed at the baby, "For her hair."

"Lillian Kali Potter," Alex said, then smiled, "I like it, what do you think Harry?"

"Sounds good." He said automatically, still staring at the baby in his arms.

She chuckled, and the healer wrote the second name down, then read the birth certificates. "Kyle Harry Potter, born August twenty-ninth, eleven fifty-nine pm. Six pounds, three ounces, parents are Harry James Potter and Alexandriaz Melanie Potter, maiden name: Zolar.

"Lillian Kali Potter, born August thirtieth, twelve o' two am. Five pounds, eleven ounces, parents are Harry James Potter and Alexandriaz Melanie Potter, maiden name: Zolar."

She handed the certificates to Draco, since Harry's and Alex's arms were full. "Well, Mrs. Potter, you will probably have to stay in bed for another couple of days, we don't want you tiring too quickly; you need to get your strength back up."

"Can't I go back to Hogwarts?" Alex asked, tired of the smell of the hospital, "I'm sure Mister Folter won't let me out of bed before I'm ready." Edgar Folter was the new healer stationed at Hogwarts, and he was just as vigorous and insistent in his job as his predecessor, Madame Pomphrey.

The Healer thought about it, then looked at the others there in the room. "If she is out of bed before the first, I will personally get you all suspended for allowing her to do so," she threatened, "Understand?"

They nodded. "Don't worry," Hermione assured the healer, "She'll practically be glued to her bed." Alex sighed, knowing that Hermione was right.

But at least Harry would have to deal with the kids first.

Coming Up:

Selena Lupin

(formerly Snape, Epans, and Splikvin; lol)

(A/N: I don't know when the next chapter will be posted, so please, have patience, thank you, A.S.Leif)