Hey y'all, this is the beta'dversion, I removed and replaced it. Thanks to SatyrOh for his work. I'm glad that he has something to do when he can't sleep!
I still don't own any of JKR's characters. Just the story and my own inventions.
Enjoy...
A Fine Samhain
The last two weeks of October seemed just as long as the first six weeks combined did for all of the students in both schools at Hogwarts. Thundercloud house had begun working on the Strategic Practices of the Wizarding Battlefield level H1, with another level to go later in the year. This subject was difficult for the Thunderclouds who were not thunderbirds knew this stuff instinctively. Their study time was usually spent helping one of their housemates. The first thing that Thundercloud house needed to be able to do was identify the combatants by sight. Deciding who was who on a battlefield too late was often fatal.
Ron was in his complete element because he took over the lessons when the curriculum for the day was set. He made it fun for Thundercloud house to learn this normally dry subject and that was half of the problem. Strategizing would often mean sending people to their deaths by the hands of a dark wizard or his minions. Voldemort wouldn't be around for much longer but there would always be someone that would try to take his place.
This evening was the ninth evening of Strategy practice in the common room. Draco and Ron devised a way for people to actually visualize what they were supposed to be doing. Draco, Blaise and Neville all pitched in on this Thursday evening because tomorrow was Samhain and there would be no homework done tomorrow night. Neville had brought up several seedling trees, Blaise spelled them to shrink, Draco used an earth spell on them, and they became fully miniature mature trees and shrubs.
Draco was a master at making projected images dance over the treetops on the mock battlefield in the common room to represent flying combatants. Neville and Blaise had been munching on raisins and they transfigured them into little toy wizards, like the muggles green army men.
The four Thunderbirds were hoping their house would get the idea of their tuition soon. The model was impeccable in its detail. It was a complete replica of Hogwarts and the surrounding grounds including the village of Hogsmeade and the railroad tracks north and south. The forbidden forest, the lake, Hagrid's hut, it was all there. Blaise got Luna and Hermione involved when he had become exasperated trying to get the Thunderclouds to understand this very simple subject.
Hermione and Luna took over for the four Thunderbird wizards and everyone in Thundercloud house was paying attention. Hermione decided to start from scratch and began to give a tour of the Castle and the surrounding area. Luna transfigured an emery board into a black board and she made symbols for the dark participants in the battle scenario. She showed what the symbols represented and then she identified what the symbols represented by the possible light participants. When it was all written down, the students were told to think like the dark wizards. They were instructed to use all the symbols available to them as dark wizards and place them around in the most opportune spots for them to begin their attack. The witches and wizards all began to think about what they've been told. Be the bad guy, try to take the castle. And they were to be vicious in their planning.
Twenty minutes later a consensus was come to and the representatives of each class spoke for their teams. Ron and Blaise were getting a kick out of how Hermione and Luna started out. They taught it like ladies and they only asked for answers they knew they would get replies to.
Hermione and Luna with Blaise, Neville, Ron, Draco and now Harry were inspecting what the Thunderclouds thought they were thinking like Death Eaters and Voldemort would and were going to attack in the wrong places and at the wrong times. Their community would indeed be lucky if that's the way things would play out. Harry decided to try his hand at getting through to the confused witches and wizards. Hermione and Luna did a good job at naming places on the model of the area. Harry pointed out the things that they missed. Harry noted that most of Voldemort's forces had gone to Hogwart's at one time or another and some were from many Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and America.
Harry started at the bottom of the model and he worked his way up and really identified the things there as defensive places. He showed a hidden trail under the canopy of trees along the edge of the Forbidden Forest from behind Hagrid's hut where fighters under concealment could slip behind the D.E.'s and set up a cross fire for hexes and curses.
"Next there is another way onto school grounds and that's from the water. In the dark, witches and wizards would have to come in from here."
Harry pointed at a place in Hogsmeade that could possibly hide a boat large enough to carry enough Death Eaters or other nasty things to the dock and the steps up to the castle. "Everybody comes in the first time this way..."
Harry pointed to another spot on the model which was close to buildings in Hogsmeade where the little lantern lit boats brought Hogwart's first years to school for the first time.
"All of the boats have to come this way if they want to get up there because the cliff face is one hundred feet Straight up."
Harry was looking at Draco with a self-satisfied smile on his face. He really was a damn good teacher and it showed.
"So that leaves few other way's onto Hogwart's grounds the main gate, and through the Forbidden Forest. In the forest, there is an acromantula colony in there in a line two hundred meters deep and the whole length around the school and the lake. They live about three thousand feet in. That is little more than a kilometer. Now besides the acromantulas, we have centaurs that are very pissy when it comes to humans getting close to their home.
There are a few hundred natural werewolves and a giant in there as well. It is hard to know where the next danger in there is. On the flip side, there are pixies, faeries, unicorns, a flying Ford Anglia, and a number of usually harmless creatures. The thing that keeps them safe will keep us safe. Then that leaves flying over the trees. Now you have to fly low enough or you'll be seen but you have to fly high enough to not hit the trees and the trees have been protecting the castle from who knows who or what for the last thousand or so years. So, you're wasting your people there. Come on. Don't you want to capture Hogwarts?" Harry said looking at the wheels turning in their heads through their eyes.
"Can we move these symbols then to somewhere else?"
"Go ahead. I'm not up to telling you anything yet." Harry said. He had by this time come to Draco's side and got his husband to walk with him. The Thunderclouds rearranged their symbols and then Harry continued.
"I told you guy's that there are only so many way's to get onto Hogwarts grounds. You can walk, fly or take a boat. Well, no one noticed but there is a huge rock cropping out over the channel where the little boats dock. Our pier is 'round a corner in the lake. Hard to tell really if you're standing there in the daylight. Anyway, the boats can be sunk from a very good vantage over their path. The dragons will surround the school in under sixty seconds from the alarm protecting it from hex fire. The cliffs on the other side of the main entrance to school are straight up. It is tough to climb a burning cliff. You can walk onto the grounds but you can't get through the wards so how are you going to get in and remember we haven't deployed yet."
Harry gave the Thunderclouds a patented Malfoy smirk when he said, "NGNGNGNGNG time's up." All right, this is strategic defensive battle planning. Now, I am going to be the death eaters and you are going to be the defenders of the castle and Hogsmeade both. You have no more than ninety seconds with the children secured to fully deploy. Go."
Harry let the wizards take over the defense of the castle on the little model city. They were doing quite well once the scenario had been set, ironically by themselves. Harry waved his fingers and little energy balls came out and made the little death eater symbols advance on Hogwarts before the student's were ready.
Running Bear (Buddy) being caught off guard said: "Hey wait! No fair, you said we had up to ninety seconds."
"Tough luck for you, do you think Voldemort will wait once his forces are in place?" Harry said mocking the shocked American.
The next fifteen minutes Draco and Harry were animating the little mock forces of Voldemort and attacking the tiny ward that Ginny put in place to represent the wards that protected the school from attack. The Thunderclouds were relieved because they did not think of their capabilities completely first before they tried to defend anything. Once the Thunderclouds got the hang of what they were doing, they were able to identify their enemies, they were able to set the defenses and they were able to stop the mock army from invading the tiny castle.
The chatter amongst the Thunderclouds was excited. They were given three more scenarios and they had to take turns leading the defense and the attacks. The model that Draco, Blaise, Ron and Neville made was getting a very good work out. Ginny taught them the spell for the ward, Draco and Harry showed them how to animate the tiny objects and make them move. Making them fly was only a Wingardium leviosa with a kicker. They were having the time of their lives eventually because they got into the strategy instead of looking at it from the outside.
Harry and Draco had seen to it that there was a supply of butter beer and American muggle soft drinks in the common room icebox at all times. The evening's study was finally a success and everyone settled down with a drink. Some of the American wizards smoked wooden pipes close to the common room fireplace so they wouldn't smell up the room with smoke. Draco caught a whiff of the pipe smoke, fell in love with the aroma instantly, and insisted that they don't bother sitting at the fireplace to smoke if they would be more comfortable elsewhere. None of the Thunderbirds or any of Thundercloud house minded the pleasant aroma of the pipe tobacco.
Harry, Draco, Neville and Adam were going to take the last shift attending the Xanadu potion early the next morning. Severus had the last night with six Thunderclouds and, Blaise and Luna two of the Thunderbirds. Severus entered the Thundercloud common room with a smile on his face for the umpteenth time that day it seemed and his robes were billowing out of joy not for intimidation.
"I trust your experiment in getting through to your housemates was a success?" Severus said to the Thunderbirds.
They sat in a circle now that the rest of the Thunderbirds had joined them and discussed the exercise. Fred and George were with Vince and Greg processing a new improved formula floo powder they concocted, and had to shower before joining the festivities in the common room. The twins were actually glad to see their Dean, the president of Hogwart's, smiling. They knew he would smile much bigger when he learned of their accidental revolutionary discovery in floo powder.
It seems that there was three liter's of chopped Sampson's Hair left over from the Xanadu potion making and they were given permission to experiment with it. They used two liters of chopped Sampson's Hair in a portion of their floo powder and had fifty kilo's of the stuff, supercharged floo powder. They had only tested it twice and both times it was amazing at how far they could get on the amount they used. They got as far as an Italian toy store fireplace on their second try with only a pinch, and only a pinch.
The first time they got to a wizard chocolate maker's fireplace in Geneva. They wanted to try for the cafe fireplace that was across the street from where their brother Bill lived in Alexandria, Egypt. They only need to ask permission to test the strength of the super floo powder before they gave it to who would need it the most. They could say for a fact that with it one could move freight of some size safely. They pushed a piano into the fireplace in the Great Hall on the main floor and it came out of the fireplace in the Slytherin common room.
The Xanadu potion was the subject of few hushed conversations in Thundercloud house. Severus was explaining some of the possibilities to the circle of powerful witches and wizards, they were listening to their former potions instructor, and new comrade lay out some possibilities they hadn't even imagined possible.
It was approaching the time for bed for most of the house, and Severus rose stretching and giving a big yawn, he bowed slightly at the thirteen Thunderbirds thanking them for the hard work that they put into the successful brewing of a most amazing seed potion. Blaise and Luna had already been to their rooms to change into something more comfortable for a long night. They got up with Severus and waited for their six students to assemble.
The last six Thundercloud students that night were shadow dancers. In the Magical Cherokee Nation, they say shadow dancers dance with the souls of the dead and can bridge the gap between the dimensions between the living and the dead, communicating with the other side. Flying Swallow was the most gifted in that practice in his homeland. He was most eager to do anything he could to help with the important project. There were people at home that could use the Xanadu potion to come back from where ever they sought refuge when they were traumatized so severely.
"Let us go and get ready for this evening's second to last step. Princes Harry, Draco and Adam, and Mr. Longbottom were selected for symbolism as well as the required magic level to do the final incantations. Draco will insure that there are no mistakes in the recitation. Adam will insure that the translation is correct, Harry will insure that the potion is made with enough magic and Neville, well, Neville needed to do this. His parents after all will be among the first to benefit and I would like for him to feel he'd done his part in their recovery."
"That's nice of you Professor." Luna said. She remembered more than she let on most of the time and saying that Snape did something nice was not cheek it was just her rendition of astonishment.
"It was nothing Miss Lovegood. Perhaps you and Mr. Zambini would like to ready the pint vials tonight. The students can take turns stirring in ten-minute shifts. That should keep them content. The potion has had to sit for six hours and I secured it myself. There is an auror squad protecting it currently in the potions lab right now. I'm sure that they would like to bide their leave by now."
The six aurors spent their time in the potions lab reading the books on the library shelf with permission of course and were intrigued to find that there were several muggle novels. Authors like, Zane Grey, Looie Lamoure, JoAnn K. Rowling, were there and the wizards hardly noticed the passing of time. They have had harder duty and they were not complaining.
"Thanks for letting us read the books sir; we hardly ever come across muggle books. That Rowling woman's series is not complete is it sir. I'd like to get a set for my little sister." The captain Auror said to the potion's master.
"I'm familiar with what you're talking about. No, I do not believe she's even come close to satisfying her readers with her story. It seems to be quite consuming doesn't it?"
"You're right about that sir. I can't wait for her next book. The first five were easy reads, Great characters. I hope they get the bad guy in the end and everyone lives happily ever after. Sort of curious sir, I mean, it is so much like what is going on right now it is uncanny is all. Good night Mr. President and good luck." The auror finished.
Severus did indeed see the similarities between the books and what was happening now there at Hogwarts and agreed with the auror bidding the troops good evening and the nine of them set about getting comfortable taking their turns stirring the potions cauldrons magically. Severus adjusted the heat under the two big blackened iron cauldrons and Blaise and Luna chanted over the two cauldrons with the stone that they were told to use for the incantation to take effect seamlessly. Magic was a big ingredient in any potion that really did anything.
Three forty-five in the morning was fast approaching and the eyes in the potion's lab were getting heavier with each revolution of a stirrer by the Thunderclouds. Harry and Draco said sleeping spells on each other and had a completely refreshed sleep. Draco's babies were sleeping too because of the strong charm Harry cast. Draco was ready to complete the task at hand finally gotten a good rest. Harry always slept well with Draco but lately he had been feeling a bit queasy when he woke up. He told himself that he would see Madame Pomphrey soon. There wasn't any rush really, he wasn't ill at all.
The final four Thunderbirds arrived to finish the work on the delicate potion. Blaise and Luna had prepared the bottles that would keep the priceless potion safe until it was distributed. The bottles were lined up in a velvet lined, jewel encrusted box. Severus stayed in the laboratory with the final four Thunderbirds and completed the final hour of stirring himself. Draco, Harry, Neville and Adam were to use their wands and chant a spell repeatedly ten times without stopping. Each one of them was standing on compass points in the marble floor the cauldrons were suspended over. After the chanting was over, the four wizards gathered magic and their wands acted as a conduit from the earth to the potions in four streams of light, the colors of the rainbow. History had been made At ten minutes to six, the morning of Samhain. For the first time in the last known five hundred years, the Xanadu potion was again in existence.
Harry and Draco's tears ran freely down their cheeks and neither made to dry the others face. Neville and Adam were doing much the same. Neville even let Adam give him a kiss on the cheek for a job well done by someone that he loved as a brother. The two of them also cried the tears of relief and joy. The complete fortnight's work was finally done and Three hundred thirty odd hours of constant vigilance seen to a fruitful end. Severus had an odd feeling.
Severus was actually proud of himself. For the first time in, oh so many years, he felt good. The four wizards had dried their faces. He pledged now that there would be awards of the Order of Merlin for the participants. He was unsure as to the class but it was the very least that could be done in this case. He would personally tell Empress Thundercloud of their success.
Harry and Draco let go of their embrace and they took turns giving both Adam and Neville a hug and a kiss on both cheeks and went to each others arms. Adam and Neville noticed that even though Draco had a glamour charm on him, he was still standing a few feet away from Harry it seemed when he hugged him and his feet were unusually farther apart than they usually were. Harry led Draco with a hand behind his waist rubbing his back. It had been aching for the last few hours and Harry was trying to comfort his husband in any way he could. Draco was shaking Severus' hand when he got a tightening in his abdomen.
Draco took in a very deep breath trying to counter act the pain he was enduring at that moment. His usually shining silver eyes were wide and dulling. He looked at his husband and let out the breath. His breathing normalized quickly but the tightening in his belly was slower to subside. Severus smirked and raised his eyebrow very high. He pulled a muggle watch from his pocket and noted the time. Harry and Severus helped Draco to a seat and let him down gently.
Adam and Neville were mostly clueless to what was going on and they began to help Severus bottle the potion. Severus was only doing something to pass the time while he timed what he suspected was going to be the signal of the beginning of a very long day. Harry was to have his coronation that evening and Draco had to be present and if he was in the middle of childbirth, the ceremony would be, well done in the delivery room. It was not an arguable point. Severus, Adam and Neville had finished the bottling and were cleaning the cauldrons when Draco called out in pain.
"Harry, OOOOHHH Bloody Hell! I've just wet myself. Oh, Merlin, I'm in labor. Poppy told me that this might happen soon. Bugger. Well we best get me up to the infirmary and let the headmaster know to send for the nannys from America. They're Adam's Aunts. Completely reliable.. Oh... Mmmmmmerlin there is another contraaaaacttion. Oh Goddess this hurts." Draco rambled quickly grabbing for Harry's sleeve.
"Don't worry love; I'll float you up to Poppy. Mobilicor..." Harry was trying to say when Draco stopped him.
"Don't you dare levitate me there. You carry me Harry."
"I have some of Fred and George's super floo powder we can floo it up there we can."
"Not floo is what we can do. Bugger, there's another one coming. Harry love, Do something but do it right now." Draco said and collapsed in Harry's arms.
Adam and Neville, Severus and Harry picked up the blond wizard and were quite shocked at how much he actually weighed. Adam and Neville crossed their arms and lifted Draco under his bum, Harry held his shoulders up and Severus held Draco's legs together and up off the floor on the way to the infirmary. It was quite a show watching the four powerful wizards completely helpless getting Draco off the third floor, down the stairs and into the infirmary. Draco had a few more contractions, he was beginning to sweat a bit, and he was quite uncomfortable. He was very happy indeed to be finally delivering his babies and this was an honor amongst none other. He and Harry had created life.
Luckily, for Harry and Draco et al, there were no curious eyes up and about save for Mrs. Norris and even she was more interested in a mouse she'd captured and was now happily munching on its head. Poppy Pomphrey had suspected that Draco was very close to delivering the babies. Predicting the gestation time for a wizard was tricky at best. It was usually more than four months depending on how strong the parent was magically. We were talking about the children of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Poppy had left a warning ward on the large doors to the infirmary to let her know he was there no matter where she was. She could be there in a flash.
The doors opened and the ward alerted Poppy Pomphrey that one Draco Potter-Malfoy and Harry Potter-Malfoy were going to be parents in a short time. Poppy was having early tea with Minerva McGonagall in the deputy headmistress' quarters and she stood with a start.
"Poppy what is it? Are you ill?" Minerva asked suddenly concerned.
"I'm not ill. Draco is going to have the babies. I know it. I warded the doors to let me know when he came for that reason. Come on Min, we have six new babies coming. We will find us a house elf to get Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood to assist us. They are the most skilled in their Mediwitch training. Do you suppose you could get a few of the Gryffindor boys to bring the cradles they made? I think that Draco and Harry would appreciate that from their former housemates."
"Ah then there you go Poppy. But once a Gryffindor, always a Gryffindor. I suppose someone should... tell Albus." Minerva said with a mirthful look in her face.
"Yes. Some one should giggle. Do you know who could do it?" Poppy said and the two witches laughed together as they made their way to the infirmary and the probably now scared Draco and a nervous Harry. The large doors to the infirmary opened and the two powerful witches quickly shooed away the ones that didn't need to be around. Only Adam was allowed to stay simply because he was family, and Neville was volunteered to inform the headmaster, Hermione, Ginny and Luna. He valued his man's bits so he opted to tell Ginny first then the headmaster.
Neville entered Ginny's bedroom through the common bath that they shared. He saw the love of his life sprawled at a diagonal across the king sized bed and he tiptoed close to gently shake her leg to wake her.
"Gin...Gin... come on wake up. Madame Pomphrey needs you. Something's happened." Neville said urgently.
Ginny's eyes opened immediately and found the source of the noise to be Neville. She said, "Neville Longbottom I love you to death, but if you've woken me for something idiotic, I'm going to hex you into next week. Now what is it? It's a holiday. yawn"
"Madame Pomphrey sent me to get you she needs help. Something is happening with Draco. I think he is going to have his babies. Come on Gin. Move it." Neville said, pulling on the ankle he'd been shaking.
"Oh Merlin, I'll go get Hermione and Luna. You can tell everybody else later." Ginny said pulling a jumper on before, she grabbed her robes and wand and ran for the girls.
"I've got to get Dumbledore..." Neville said to the retreating back of his girlfriend as she went in search of Hermione and Luna.
"I guess I'll just go then." Neville said to no one. He ran out of the bedroom, through the common room down the third floor corridor to the main hallway to the headmasters office. When he got to the gargoyle guarding the staircase he tried to remember the password.
"Pixie sticks, Chocolate frogs, Bugger, Open up will you? You don't know how Ginny will get when it's about Harry's baby. Ruthless she is and..." Neville stopped talking because the gargoyle jumped out of the way and the staircase ascended to the headmaster's office door. He wished he could remember what he said to open the door. Neville knocked urgently but politely on the ornate door silently wishing for the headmaster to open it soon. He hoped too that he wasn't waking the old wizard.
"Come in Mr. Longbottom. What brings you to see me on such a fine day?" The headmaster asked the panting Neville.
"I think that Draco is having his babies and I'm supposed to tell you to call America and get Adam's aunts to come quick." Neville passed the message given to him to deliver.
"I'll do just that right away Neville, Lemon drop?"
"No sir, I...I'd better get along. I have to tell the others"
"Good day then, I'll see you later. Fine Samhain holiday isn't it?"
"Yes sir; So long."
Dumbledore knew how important the children would be and he didn't hesitate to use the muggle satellite telephone to make an important notification such as this one.
The telephone in Little Bird Thunderclouds desk was ringing at the wrong time of day and it startled the Empress of the MNN awake. She'd been to bed for only thirty minutes and the noise gave her need to worry.
"Albus, is that you?"
"Yes, Birdy, fear not, there is nothing wrong. Your godson and his husband are about to have their children and they wished to inform you. I believe that you have your aunts standing by to help with their care and protection...?"
on the other side of the world...
"Yes that's right Albus... Is Draco alright... How about Harry? ..Merlin they're too young... I'll get my aunts there straight away... Yes, they can take care of Draco too... No, it will won't be a bother... I'll have to use Pippy's brother to get the old harpies there... Yes on the main lawn of Hogwarts... They know what Hagrid looks like from photographs, send him to greet them... Yes, I am too... Give them my love Albus... Adam too... Coronation tonight?... Oh that poor Draco, I'll send him some goodies with my aunties... Alright Albus, call Narcissa... They'll be there in twenty minutes... Don't forget Molly Weasley... Goodbye Albus."
Birdy finished the telephone conversation from her bed and got up to alert her aunties of the call. Little Bird's aunties were up late knitting when Birdy called them and they flashed up to Casa de Thundercloud from the place that they lived together on the top of a playa in Monument Valley. Pippy's brother, Longstockings, was a smaller, natural Thunderbird and could only carry ten people on his back for magical transportation. His best virtue was that he was much faster than his big sister Pipsqueak and he absolutely adored flying acrobatically with Adam. Birdy had prepared and shrunk magically, a feast of mega proportions to celebrate the birth of her grand god children and she was packing a weeks worth of food, five thousand meals to send along as a very small token of affection while her aunties collected the things they stored for just this occasion. Longstockings wings were stretched out and the magic in the earth was charging into his wings.
Birdy's old aunties bid their niece the Empress a fond farewell promising to let no harm come to the children of the two wizards who meant so much to her. The old witches remembered the flattery that Draco gave to them and they thought it was cute that his husband was so considerate to him and to them. Birdy's favorite, Auntie Three Dogs was the last to board the excited Thunderbird and she said good-bye for herself and her sisters and promised to stay warm. Longstockings sat still while the six witches covered themselves with a protective bubble and the little big bird flapped its wings twice to get altitude and flew with great speed to the portal out of the kingdom and into the night toward Scotland and Hogwart's.
The headmaster had used the satellite telephone to notify Narcissa Black Malfoy and the floo network to notify Molly Weasley. Narcissa and her auror guards left Malfoy Manor from the apparition zone in the garden and appeared in front of Hogwart's gates in an instant. A 'pop' could be heard close by and Narcissa's guards had their wands drawn before the echo of the pop had disappeared. Molly Weasley had been up early cleaning when she got the call from Albus, she took the floo into Hogsmeade, apparated to the gates of Hogwart's next to Narcissa, and six spooked aurors.
"Oh, put those things away. I won't hurt you. Are you as excited as I am, 'Cissa? Six children indeed, Oh poor Draco." Molly just blabbed away. 'Good thing no one can hear the minister's wife' one auror thought to himself.
"Well we best get up to the castle. Long walk." Molly continued preparing for the long walk up to the castle.
"I've got a better idea Molly...swish, flick, wave there you go, A coach." Narcissa had transfigured a pumpkin that had been set out as a decoration for Samhain.
"Now all we need are six mice to turn into horses." Molly said entering the ornate coach.
"I've got something better. Auror Williamson, would you mind if we used you to pull the coach? I promise it won't hurt a bit." Narcissa asked, seeing it as the most natural solution.
"Alright Minister. If it were anyone else we'd tell them to... well... it wouldn't have been nice. My mates here won't mind a bit of exercise pulling the coach up the hill... will you fellows?" Auror Williamson said to his subordinates making a face to get them to go along.
"Oh, no worries Minister; don't forget to change us back when we get up there."
"I wouldn't dream of it. You ready Molly?" Narcissa said as she closed the door. The aurors got into the harnesses and Narcissa stuck her wand out of the window and turned them into six white horses. The harnesses were already in place and the driverless coach sped towards the castle and a couple waiting for the arrival of their first children.
The driverless coach pulled to the front entrance of the Wizarding School and the horses changed into panting aurors the second the coach stopped. Hagrid was at the entrance of the castle and he escorted the two witches inside and pointed the way to the infirmary. The sky outside was lit with a blaze of sparkles coming from the dark western sky. Adam's aunties had arrived. Hagrid loved watching the magical bird come in for a landing on the lawn in front of the school. He had a dead ferret for the beast and Longstockings gladly accepted the tidbit. Longstockings passengers had already begun to get off the bird. The old ladies carried only small bags with them and a few boxes that Birdy had sent along as gifts. They were pleased to meet Hagrid after hearing so many stories about him from Birdy. They shortened their greetings when their desire to go to Draco and Harry was very demanding.
Adam Thundercloud was pacing back and forth in the hallway with Ron and the rest of the male Thunderbirds when his aunties came down the hall. They were speaking in Navajo to each other all at once. Adam grinned very big for his old aunties who were excited to see him. They weren't so excited that they stopped for a conversation and they told him to be a good boy and wait there. The six old Navajo women were very energetic and they made their way into the infirmary in the blink of an eye.
The six old Navajo witches, the Thunderbird women, the Minister of Magic, Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomphrey soon had Harry out of the door to wait for them to come for him to witness the birth of his children. For the time being, they decided that the headmaster and he were in the way and out they were.
Harry had been pacing back and forth with Ron who gladly shared his space in front of the infirmary with his best mate when the door opened a crack and Hermione reached out and snatched Harry inside by his collar.
"Ouch,' Mione, Can I go in to see him yet?"
"Yes, but Harry, don't go all wonky on us alright? Draco needs you to be strong. They are going to take the babies as soon as you get in there. Harry... you have to put these on." Hermione said handing Harry a surgical gown and slippers for his shoes.
"What for 'Mione?" Harry asked as he put the things on like requested.
"It is for hygiene Harry. You had better hurry along. Draco has been very good. He was delighted to see Adam's aunts."
"I was too. Birdy said they'd love and protect them like they were their own."
"I have no doubts about that Harry. They are harpies."
"I know. I better get in there Hermione." Harry said. His eyes were about to tear up when the door to the delivery room opened and Molly gently pulled him into the room.
"Harry dear," Molly whispered, "Go sit at the head of the table with Draco. He needs you now so be strong for him do you hear me?"
"Yes ma'am"
"Good. Now sit, Poppy's about to begin." Molly ushered Harry to a seat by Draco.
Harry looked into his husbands liquid silver eyes and leaned in to kiss him gently. He brushed the hair out of Draco's face and held him close. Draco closed his eyes and he began to say a prayer of sorts under his breath. Harry listened to Draco while he watched the procedure to deliver his children. Draco's skin was cleaned with a charm and sterile cloth was placed around his belly. A huge cover with a hole in it was placed on top of Draco and they made a little tent over Draco's face. It did not matter much because Draco kept his eyes closed and his hand was tightly holding Harry's. The six witches that had just come from America had changed into surgical clothes and were standing ready to take the babies from Poppy as soon as she could remove them from Draco's abdomen.
Poppy looked over the little tent at Draco's face. She noticed his Elvin ears for the first time and she asked the two nervous wizards if they were ready to become daddies. Draco opened his eyes briefly and smiled at the witch he had known for so many years saying only that he had complete faith in her and her skills. Ginny was assisting Poppy with the surgery and Professor McGonagall and Molly were casting pain killing and numbing charms. Effectively, they were the anesthesia team. Draco was completely comfortable and in no pain. He took a potion when Poppy got there to take the pain away and relax Draco. Professor McGonagall had helped get Draco ready while Poppy made sure that he was ready to give birth.
Narcissa had a muggle ink pen and a roll of parchment and was to act as the recorder because there were so many babies at one time. It would not do for the babies to not know who was born before whom when they were older and could understand the concept. Their daddy was going to be King and they had to know who was after whom.
Poppy removed her head from over the little tent protecting Draco and she began her work. She used a muggle scalpel to split open Draco's smooth alabaster skin and begin the process of moving tissue to the side so she could get to where the babies were. Poppy's surgical skills were delicate and exact. She had done this operation several hundred times without losing a baby or a mother. In this case, she planned no differently.
"Ginny, now, when I begin to bring out the babies, you push on his tummy to help them out. It will be very quick and there will be a lot of blood and fluid. As I pull them out, you give them to the Duchesses. I'm going to take the first baby in five, four, three, two, one, there you go. A daughter Harry..." Poppy began talking to keep the anxiety level down, the first baby was born and Harry's tears couldn't be stopped. He was a father. He looked at Draco's face and kissed it. His eyes remained closed until he heard. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaa" from his first daughter.
He opened his eyes and saw Harry crying, trying to get a look at the little red screaming thing that was the first member of his family.
"Another daughter ... one two three four five, A son..."
Harry and Draco cried silently together holding each others hands. Their family was here, finally, today, and it was getting larger.
Hermione had a muggle digital camera that had been charmed to work in a magical environment and she was discretely taking photographs of the babies as they delivered. Narcissa was writing down the times and her tears were flowing freely as well. Minerva and Molly's charms were working, well, like a charm and Draco continued to be pain free.
"Another daughter, one, two, three, four, five, here's another son for you, one two three four five and here's your last little bo... wait, this is a daughter, Oh, for Merlin's sake, you have another one, a boy. That's seven babies Harry, Draco. Congratulations." Poppy said and she finally stepped back to have the tears on her face wiped away by a beaming Minerva McGonagall.
"Aye, a fine group of babies my Congratulations to you both. Congratulations Narcissa, you have seven grandchildren. Seven! Miss Weasley, after you take their pictures and one of Harry and Draco here, you best go out and tell the ones outside waiting the news.
"It would be my pleasure. Harry, do you mind?" Hermione asked her friend.
Harry looked at Draco who had closed his eyes and went to sleep while Poppy delivered the placentas and closed his wounds. Hermione put her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. When he looked at her, his face was wet with tears of joy. Hermione broke down crying because this was the first time in her life that she had seen her friend so totally happy.
"What was that 'Mione?"
"I'm going to tell the others. Is that…Alright?" Hermione said wiping the tears from her face.
"I'd like that 'Mione. Tell them I'll be out soon."
"Alright, be back in a minute."
Hermione literally ran to the entrance to the hospital wing and opened the door with a huge push startling the waiting wizards.
"There are seven babies, four girls, three boys. Father and Papa are doing quite well. Harry will be out in a little while." Hermione said and turned to go back in.
The ten wizards that were waiting out in the corridor let out a loud whoop just as the door clicked shut. Even the headmaster was excited as the rest. Severus was smiling almost full time now and if there were ever an exception to his rule about smiling it was now.
Fred and George had three boxes of cigars to give out as mementos but they thought it would be better if Neville pass out the cigars seeing as how it was them. Good intentions or not, people wouldn't take a cigar from a Weasley in a million years. There was much backslapping going on and the noise calmed quickly enough. The hospital wing was out of the way but people would surely investigate if there were too much noise, holiday or not.
Narcissa had recorded the official birth times and then gave Harry the parchment with the times. The babies were lined up in charmed warm bassinettes until the time that they were given names officially. Ginny had the last baby in her arms, a little boy who was not as big as the others were perhaps three kilos. He was the most calm of the lot of them. He cooed in Ginny's arms. Ginny had cleaned and warmed the baby like Adam's aunties had done and she decided to give the youngest to his father to hold.
"Harry, here is your son. My Congratulations you two. They are all beautiful. Not a thing wrong with any of them as far as I can tell. Poppy has finished now. Draco would you like to hold a baby?" Ginny said grinning.
"I...I'd like to see the one that Harry's holding. Harry, do you know who this is?"
"No love, what shall we call him?"
"Sirius."
Harry broke down in a flood of tears at his husband's thoughtful gesture. "I love you Draco. Sirius it is. Come along Sirius and say hello to your papa." Harry said handing the baby to Draco. All of the babies had blond hair except for little Sirius, and all had little tiny pointed ears.
Draco melted and was instantly in love with his youngest son. Adam's aunties had warmed, measured, and done everything for the babies that needed doing for the time being and picked them up at one time. Each of the old Navajo women brought the now identified babies to Draco and Harry one at a time and let them each bond with their daddies before they were put back into their little beds, asleep.
Draco's body felt washed out but he felt no pain from the surgery that delivered septuplets to him and Harry. He felt around his tummy and the muscles had already begun to shrink back to normal. Draco thought his tummy felt fluffy and he imagined that his bottom had grown as well but as the time passed and potions consumed, messes cleaned up, children tucked in unharmed waiting for their first meals. He went to sleep after giving little Sirius a kiss and handing him back to his father.
There were preparations made for six babies not seven, and when Harry got next to where his other children laid quietly for a minute, he transfigured a nappy pin into a matching bassinettes complete with a tiny blanket and pillow. Harry transfigured a strand of his own hair into a little name band for Sirius. He would be the only one of that group for sure to never get away with anything. Six, blonde, green eyed babies and one with coal black hair and blue eyes. Life was good for Harry and Draco. Harry left his sleeping family with the nannies and the mediwitchs. Molly was the only one left to fuss over who ever needed it the most.
Harry crept out of the room and made his way up the rows of beds that lined the walls of the hospital wing. His friends were outside and he had not let any of them in his head for the past hour and a half. Harry opened the doors and was greeted with ten hands to shake. Ron was not going to let something this big go with a handshake and he pulled Harry into a hug. He even kissed Harry's forehead and told him the babies would never need to worry for their safety with their Uncle Ron around. Harry thanked his best mate and got similar greetings from the Thunderbirds. Severus was happy just to shake his hand and made a similar promise to ensure the children's safety much like Ron and the others did. Dumbledore's greeting and congratulations were like the others. He however did say,
"Harry, I would like to do the ceremony tonight in the Great Hall. If we have to, we can put Draco in a wheel chair. Birdy seems to think it is time for you claim what is rightfully yours. I agree with her. I am glad that your children were born before Voldemort makes his move. You will be unbeatable with Draco and the others at your side. I am told that the recovery period is rather short for wizards that give birth in the manner Draco did. Now, is there any thing that you would like?"
Harry was still a bit stunned and it showed on his face. He screwed up his face in thought for a moment when he said that he'd like to hear the tower bell's ring for seven minutes to announce the arrival of the new lives. Dumbledore was very happy to oblige the small request. With a wave of his hand, the magic required to make the bells begin the swinging necessary for them to strike, came from his fingertips and shot towards the massive bells in the tower. Soon the nine bells in the tower began ringing. One after the other the smaller bells rang first. The massive striker in the largest of them had not struck a note since Voldemort was defeated the first time exactly sixteen years earlier.
The first strike of the largest of the bells shook the whole bell tower. Particles of dust could be seen falling from the heights. Suits of armor vibrated with each successive peal of the bell. The ghosts of Hogwart's glided down staircases, moved through walls, and came from the ceilings and floors searching for the reason for the bells ringing. They all knew when they found Harry and the Thunderbirds outside the infirmary glad-handing each other and congratulating each other with the headmaster, that children were born at Hogwarts for the first time in almost fifty years.
Harry didn't mind the ghosts coming to congratulate him, in fact he was very happy to know that there were so many people and spirits that were overjoyed at the blessed event.
"Thunderbirds, I think it's time I went back to my husband and name the babies. Draco already named the last one. The smallest, his name is Sirius Black Potter-Malfoy has coal black hair and blue eyes. Cutest one of the lot I'll have you know" Harry said to all of them as he stepped back into the infirmary closing the door behind him.
Fred and George told the others to go to breakfast in the Great Hall. The two of them would stand guard on the hospital wing's doors denying entry to anyone that wasn't injured or ill. In case there was a problem, they were trained mediwizards and could cure minor aches and pains effortlessly.
The Slytherins especially were shaken up; by the vibrations from the bells in the towers, their sleep interrupted as the sound went to the bottom of the castle. It was unheard of for the bells to ring unless there was good reason. Pansy sent Theodore Nott to investigate what was happening after several Slytherins met in their common room wondering why the bells were ringing. They didn't know if the dark lord was finally beginning his attack on the school or not. They needed to be prepared. Nott crept quietly out of the dungeons in search of answers.
Fred and George were standing guard over the doors to the infirmary and when Nott crept close he could almost hear their voices... he thought. Fred noticed the sneaking Slytherin pop his head 'round a corner and pull it back just as fast. The twins switched to mental conversation and the noise they were making stopped making any movement by Nott audible. George stepped out of view a few feet from his brother and he went invisible creeping down the side of the corridor while Fred continued to chatter alone thus distracting the Slytherin from the advancing George.
"Obliviate," Said George. Fred left his station to see who it was that was eavesdropping on himself and his brother. Nott was standing but only just. George was imbedding information with each point was driven home into Theo's head by a soft glow from the end of his wand. When the former Gryffindor was finished, he enervated Nott and sent him on his way to where he came from to deliver the message that Fred put in his head. The bells were ringing because of a new tradition and a litany of other things that were worthless as information.
The tower bells had struck their last finally and hundreds of students came from all directions seeking the Great Hall and their breakfasts. Any studying that day was on a back burner. It was truly a holiday but the student's of witchcraft and wizardry did not know the true reason why.
The male Thunderbirds save for Draco and Harry, Fred and George were in their common rooms waiting for the other members of their house to join them for the walk to the Great Hall. The twins would go to breakfast later or nick into the kitchen for a bite to eat if they missed the meal in the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall had left the sleeping Potter-Malfoy family alone with Adam's old aunties taking charge of the babies. Draco was attended by Poppy until she was satisfied that everything was stabilized with her patient. She summoned a house elf to bring Draco a nice light but filling breakfast and by his request, tortilla's and a chocolate protein drink. Some things were never going to change. For Harry, she thought he deserved a big juicy steak, a baked sweet rolls, eggs and toast with a big pot of coffee. The house elf was off with a soft pop and instructions to return when the sleeping parents awoke.
TBC...