HP Life after Hogwarts
Chapter 13
Ron and Luna's surprise
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Okay after reading HBP all I can say is what the bloody hell was she thinking…I love it that I came up with something original that I can enjoy writing for all of you to enjoy. I'm still reeling over book six, but then I'm thinking that she wants this ended permanently in book seven. I like it that I found a way to keep the story alive, so with that said here is chapter thirteen…With a little twist in honor of book six. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It's my way of incorporating HBP into the story…It is going to have a major impact on the attitudes of various characters in the story...
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Harry and Hermione finished their thirtieth television interview of the day. It seemed as if everyone on the planet was focused on what Harry was often heard calling the royal circus.
:Tell me again why I didn't stand firm and say no to what is clearly not supposed to be another joyous day for us and ignore our elder family members wishes?: Harry forced a smile on his face, as he signed several copies of the sixth book for the fans gathered around where they were being interviewed.
"There ya go. I hope your daughter gets a kick out of getting it signed by me." He was polite to the fans and well aware that the American media morning anchors were watching him, as was the camera.
Hermione also felt the same as he did, but she happily signed them as well. "One never minds having the real Harry and Hermione sign their collections." She managed to force herself to smile warmly at all of them. :We promised that's why. Now grit your teeth and bear all of this. Think of Sunday. Now that will be a little bit of fun now won't it.:
:Oh yeah, there is that and boy do I have something special planned for Sunday.: Harry grinned.
"I'm curious, as are all of the fans, on how you two like the books. This last one was even more dramatic than the last. Anyone who hasn't read the books should turn off your volume; there are some emails that we're going to read to the two of them from curious viewers." Charlie smiled at the camera.
"Actually, to be honest I don't care to read them. It's somewhat unnerving actually to see what she's gone and done next." Harry didn't feel like talking about his past.
"So, you weren't shocked that the school's Headmaster was killed by the former potions professor?" Diane Sawyer arched one brow at him in curiosity. "Or that Ron ended up with Hermione and your character started to date Ginny?"
Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise, as he took in what was being said. That wasn't what happened nor was it in the book that he'd read last winter. No wonder Wills and Henry were trying to get him to read the book again. It wasn't even close to what had happened! He thought to himself.
"Actually, that just makes things a hell of a lot easier on all of us. So what happened to my brother's character, did he become a Deatheater?"
One of the fans nodded.
"You know what. I think I'm really gonna have to give that book a look through." He grinned sheepishly.
"I haven't had a chance to read it yet either. Being new parents has kept the two of us busy. We were on our honeymoon when the book came out, so we never bothered to read it. I'm curious though, so I'm also going to give it a read." Hermione was also floored by this new turn of events.
"Although, Harry's right it does make things so much easier on all of us. It amuses me that Ron ended up with Hermione. In reality he's married to Luna. And Ginny ended up with Harry, seeing as she's married and head over heels in love with Draco. No wonder Dan and Emma have been nagging us to read the book." She handled the question smoothly and like a pro.
"Did ya just say that me and Hermione are a couple in the book?" Ron walked over with Luna.
"Hi. I'm Ron Weasley and this is my lovely bride Luna. We keep these two on schedule." He smiled for the camera.
"Well, she did want it as far away from reality as possible, Ronald." Luna seemed a little miffed at the thought of Ron and Hermione as a couple.
"Ronnie had an infatuation at first with Hermione, but then he finally saw who he was destined to be with. Ginny crushed on Harry at first and then finally set her sights on his brother Draco. My big brother is nothing like the Deatheater character, as he is portrayed in the books. I'm not a fan of the books either. They portray me as some sort of dreamy ditzy blonde. I adore Jo, but it's hard to see your somewhat likeness put on the pages of a book." Luna growled out her response.
"I can understand how that would be difficult on all of you, especially now that you're very public figures. What has been a rollercoaster ride for all of us must be somewhat of a headache for all of you." Charlie nodded in understanding.
"We try to keep ourselves separate from the books, but now that my older sisters are engaged to the princes that isn't really as easy as it used to be." Harry answered honestly. "Hermione and I managed to stay under the radar for years while the book was going on. The Four Hearts changed all of that for all of us and we had to adjust our lives accordingly."
"I think the shocking part of all of it is how much the movie actors and actresses look like us. Ginny not so much, but when it comes to Harry, Hermione, Draco, and me it's been really unnerving. It's something that has caused us quite the headache especially Harry." Ron smirked.
"Ron makes a valid point, but then all of us gained some really good friends this past year." Hermione nodded.
"That we did love that we did." Harry grinned.
"Sorry, to put a stop to all of this, but this is a hectic week for the two of them. And we have a busy schedule planned for the rest of the day." Luna was clearly in the mood to go.
"Next is lunch with the Queen and they can't be late for that." Ron was puzzled by Luna's sudden mood change it was happening more and more lately, but he wasn't going to be rude to the press either. "Honey, you won my heart, so enough with the claws."
Luna glared at him, but said nothing.
"I'm curious. Who's looking after those precious bundles of joy? It can't be easy to be away from them as much as you have this week." Diane asked.
"It really depends. You see everyone in the family vies for the chance to watch them." Harry chuckled.
"We hardly ever leave them. This is a first for us, and we miss them terribly." Hermione added hastily, sensing that Harry was about to do something foolish.
"Sometimes my Great-Grandfather Merlin and Great-Grandmother Mab watch them for us, my parents, her parents, my siblings, the aunts and uncles, and the list goes on from there. I need to clear some things up, seeing as you brought up the Headmaster in the book. Uncle Albus and Aunt Minerva are happily married with a grown son, who has a family of his own. In this world he is very much alive and well. Now as for Uncle Severus, he's Draco's godfather, an honorary uncle of sorts. He married Aunt Sibyll and they are expecting a little one in December. Uncle Sirius married Aunt Jenna. She's my Dad's younger sister and they have twins. Uncle Remus, as we fondly call him, married mum's Cousin Gene. They have a son. Charlie married Dora, they have a son. Percy married Penny, no kids yet. Bill married Fleur, no kids yet. Rubeus married Olympe; they have a little one on the way." Harry glanced around everyone was intently listening to his every word so he continued.
"Neville is engaged to Lavender. Dean is engaged to Padma. Seamus is engaged to my cousin Lexi, who happens to be one of Uncle Albus' granddaughter's. And Wood married Katie Bell's older sister Lucy, they have twin girls." He arched a brow at all of them. "Want more?"
Everyone nodded.
"Okay, I have more. Let's see Fred married Katie Bell. George married, Sibyll's niece, Melanie. No kids on the way that I am aware of for either of them. Victor is a scrawny washout loser, nothing like the actor in the movie. Cho died tragically in an accident on New Years. Cedric married Prince William's Ex-girlfriend Kate Channing and they are expecting a little one in the spring. Draco married Ginny, another little one on the way there. And Ron married Luna, somehow I see twins in their near future…" Harry raked his good hand through his hair.
"Scratch that other part about twins. I have no idea why I said that. I mean that would mean dire circumstances for a certain best mate of mine." Harry turned around to glare at Ron, who paled visibly.
"Goodness, you all got a real window into our world now didn't you?" Hermione tried to keep her temper in check. "He gets this way when he's stressed or isn't happy about something. I'm sure that Jo is getting an earful tonight."
"What do you expect when the copy that she snuck us was nothing like what she published?" Harry muttered under his breath.
"One last question and we'll let you go. That ring on your finger it looks heirloom, what does it represent?" Charlie Gibson shot that last question at him knowing that he was vulnerable and would answer it honesty.
"This is a signet ring design that has been in the family for centuries. Dad has one, Grandpa has one, and Draco has one. My initials are on one side and in honor of my being; Head Boy prefect last year, dad had HBP added on the side of it. It mirrors his own, seeing as he also was head boy his final year of school." He proudly showed off his ring. "The papers are calling it my Half Blood Prince Ring, because I can do magic. Still, now having heard some of the plot I bet she went and made Snape HBP."
Again the fans nodded vigorously.
"Oh yeah, the two of us are gonna have a chat tonight." Harry growled darkly.
The skies above the location at Trafalgar Square were growing dark, but no one besides Ron, Luna, and Hermione were noticing.
"Well, then thank you for tearing yourselves away from your little ones so that you can treat all of us with this interview." Diane smiled. "You must be eager to hold them."
"Yes, I'm eager to hold them, but duty comes before pleasure or family. It's something that Aunt Elizabeth has drilled in our heads. We agreed to this public royal wedding and all that comes with it." Hermione handled that question. "We're looking forward to the girls christening on Friday and the Charity event on Sunday."
"Only those two events," Charlie was pleased that they had gotten more than polite chitchat from the prince, something that no other reporter had succeeded in doing all week. "What about Saturday's wedding? Won't that be your crowning moment as it were?"
"Our wedding last Christmas Eve was special in our lives. It was in a small chapel near our hometown. This pomp en circumstance is all for show. There's too much work involved for it to be otherwise." Harry tried to keep his tone polite, but he was on slow boil.
"Yes, it was a glorious evening that Wills arranged for the two of us. My dress didn't require any fancy train nor did an Archbishop perform the ceremony. It was private, family and friends only, and just for us." Hermione reached over and squeezed Harry's hand.
"Well, then in that case all of us are honored that you've decided to let us share in your happiness by agreeing to this second wedding." Diane was highly impressed with this young royal couple. "Thank you so much for coming." The interview was finally ending.
"Thank you for having us." Hermione and Harry smiled.
--
Windsor Castle the Queens private apartments.
"Are we done for the day yet?" Harry paced the priceless carpets of the salon. "I'm starting to lose it and say crazy things like Ron and Luna expecting twins in the near future! I mean, why would I say that unless all of this is getting to me?" He raked his fingers through his jet-black hair in frustration. "I've been a good sport for three days, but if I have to answer another question today I'm gonna start taking out my aggravation on them!"
Thunder rumbled outside and it was pouring buckets.
"We want to cuddle our girls for a while. Dani isn't handling our schedule as a normal baby would and her sisters are not liking it very much either. We have barely gotten home by evening for the past three days. They are only two-months-old and don't understand anything about protocol or official duty." Hermione sipped her tea.
"I'm sorry if the girls are missing you. However, all will be better on Monday. This one week away will not harm them." Elizabeth saw things differently than the two of them, in her eyes duty came before family.
"Oh Granny, why didn't you listen to Wills and me…" Henry groaned in frustration and buried his face in his hands. "Now he's really gonna blow his top."
"That's why your first born son turned out like he did! You care more about all of this bloody pomp en circumstance than you do your own family!" Harry vented his fury on her.
"My generation was brought up on tradition, which I passed on to my children. This does not for one moment mean that I did not care about them. It was a very different era back then." Elizabeth remained cool in composure despite the fact that his words cut straight to her heart. "Diana changed everything after she had William and tradition was thrown out of the window."
"Why was that I wonder!? It was because she focused on her children instead of the crown! That's as it should be! There is no crime in that and because of it they had her killed! No wonder this world of yours is so messed up! You shun those who try to make things better, especially if they happen to not fall in line with all of you! You destroyed the brightest jewel, in the crown in order to make your lives dull and boring again, and the hell with her boys! I mean, who gives a damn if they loved their mother more than anything in this world! Boy did that backfire on all of you!" Harry really let his temper fly.
"Harry, she gets the point, ease off a little okay?" Dromi tried to defuse the situation, but it wasn't meant to be.
"I will not ease off! My life until my seventeenth year has been off and on hell on earth! I know what its like to have nothing, but what someone allows you to have! I know what real terror feels like or having ones parents murdered in front of your eyes! I was thrust into a battle of epic proportions at eleven that spanned six long years of hell for me! The Dursley's were a walk in the park compared to that! I know better than to not thank the powers that be everyday for granting my family back to me again! Family matters so much more than wealth, power, or ones duty! You may have missed out on raising your children, but I sure as hell am not missing out on protecting, nurturing, and loving mine!" Harry was having one of those days.
"No one is trying to change you, son. We're sorry that you were surprised with Jo's other version of book six. She had two versions and after meeting all of you, decided to go with the second draft. It seemed that it would be easier on all of you and all of us agreed that it was a good idea. Your lives are private and this way you and Hermione keep your romance just between the two of you." James tried to get him to calm down. "This has been a long very stressful week for you so far, so let's call it a day."
"I'm sure that after you cuddle the girls for a while that you will be in much better spirits." Lily agreed. "Now as for the other, you needed to be kept separate from that book."
"There was nothing wrong about your reaction to Elizabeth's words. Considering all that you went through, it was a given that you would react negatively to what she had said." Anna narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth. "I am humoring both you and Stephen by going along with this public spectacle. But I warn you, any more stress on my grandson and I shan't be happy."
"Now Anna, the boy is overly stressed over all the events this week. He's had his blow up so he should be fine now." Stephen frowned at his wife.
Anna didn't get time to respond to Stephen's view on things, because a very unhappy Dani appeared in her father's arms, with a harried Wills apparating into the room after her.
Harry stared down into his daughters furious green eyes then over at Elizabeth. "You see what happens when we don't spend quality time with them? They tend to take matters into their own tiny hands."
:You no loves us!: Dani was beyond displeased with her parents. :We no wants others! We wants mama and dada!: She added to that by throwing a royal fuss and howling at the top of her tiny lungs.
"That does it, official duties are now over for the day! She just scared the life out of me! She was sitting in her swing and then flash she was gone!" Wills looked about at his whit's end.
"Dani must have sensed Harry's temper and honed in on that." Hermione was trying to help Harry settle her down.
:We love you and your sisters very much. We're just doing some things for your Great-Grandpa Stephen and my Aunt Elizabeth, but it will be over soon I promise.: She felt her daughter's forehead her teeth were acting up again and she was once again spiking a fever. "No wonder you're being so grouchy. Mummy's little angel is getting all miserable again." She crooned to her child.
Harry had her cuddled against his shoulder, rubbing her back to soothe her. "Its okay Wills. She does this when she's miffed at us and this is further than she has ever attempted to go." Harry was calm, cool, and focused on his child. The storm outside subsided to gentle rain showers instead of the fierce storm just minutes before. :We will never leave you or your sisters for more than a few hours and always try to be home before dark. You got all worked up over nothing. You could have gotten really badly hurt doing this and you sacred your Uncle Wills out of his mind as well. Just because you can do something does not mean that it is okay to keep doing it. This is not okay Danielle Stephanie Anastasia. You are too important and loved to risk something like that again. Is that understood young lady?:
:I sorry Dada. Me miss you and Mama. Mouth hurts.: Her wails had calmed to the occasional hic-ups and she snuggled against his shoulder.
"I see your point. This little one is quite the handful." Elizabeth could now see why the two of them were beyond stressed about leaving their girls. There was no telling when one of them even at two- months-old was going to pop in for a visit.
"The scary part is that she and her sisters had their magic binded." James was beginning to wonder how they were going to rein in this little bundle a year or so from now.
"James, just think of how Harry would have reacted had we left him when he was her age. He was constantly with one of us at all times and still kept us on our toes." Lily arched a brow at James.
"Point taken my love, we dodged a bullet on that one. The twins aren't anywhere near the handful that he was, but then he had enormous shoes to fill didn't he." James winked at her.
"Harry and I need to get our little one home. She needs her medicine and us for awhile." Hermione looked over at their family. "She's cutting her first teeth and it's making her completely miserable."
"When I left home Ally and Mia were being cuddled by Kane and Rory. They were happily soothing their mouths on teethers. Dani snoozed on my chest for an hour or so, and then she had her bottle. And I put her in her favorite thing in the whole world her baby swing. She was happy for a bit then she started to fuss a little, so I went to get her the teether. When I came back into the Common Room there was the usual flash that goes with vanishing Merlin style and she was gone." Wills decided to give them a detailed account of things. "Rory calmly told me to go check in on all of you, because that's where she went. Kane was highly amused. You know for someone who used to be a ninja for a living, he really is good with the girls, and an all around nice guy."
"Kane's a fraud, but then in his situation what other choice did he have. It was the same with Draco and he turned out just fine." Harry smirked. "Mione, hold Dani for me. Now that Wills is here, we can clear up the whole sword in the stone mess. It will give the press camped outside the castle walls a show as well."
"I say we all take a stroll outside. The storm is over and we can give them something to really write about. This whole male only rubbish is a bit dated." Dromi was showing her more mischievous side of her personality.
"I don't want to risk Dani getting a chill, so why don't we do this on Friday that way Rory can get in on the fun as well." Hermione suggested.
:Home now.: Dani whimpered. :Me wants teddy.: Her plush bear appeared in her arms.
"The boss has spoken. We shall settle this later." Harry kissed the top of Dani's head, pulled Hermione closer to him, and they were gone.
"Rory needs me, so I shall see you all back home. Granny, I hope that this shows you why they were so reluctant to agree to all of this in the first place." Wills had his final say and with the usual crack, he was gone.
--
"Andromeda, it puzzles me as to why you girls would wish to make a spectacle of yourselves by attempting the impossible. It is widely known by all that only a man can remove the sword from its ancient resting place." Elizabeth frowned.
"Not true, Granny. Wills, Rory, Harry, Hermione, Dromi, and I have all successfully removed the sword from the stone. It was on the very night that the two of us met our destinies." Henry kissed Dromi's hand.
"If my memory serves me correctly and it always does. You insulted First-Grandpa and he made you eat your words." Dromi smirked.
"I was reeling from too much information as it was and seeing Merlin was information overload." Henry chuckled. "Granny, this is the new millennium now. We're all pretty much equal, and therefore able to attempt or achieve the same goals. I see no reason why pulling the sword from the stone would be any different."
"No I suppose you're right." Elizabeth sighed.
Ron and Luna returned to collect Harry and Hermione and found them missing. "Where did they run off to?"
"They went home to focus on the girls. After all, they couldn't say no to a personal summons from Dani now could they?" James gave them both the heads up.
"Well, in that case consider their schedule for the day cleared. They only had the photo session and that's canceled anyways on account of rain." Ron reached down and took the last scone from one of the platters.
"No one wants Hermione's wedding gown ruined, so of course it's been canceled for today." Luna rolled her eyes in exasperation at him then proceeded to snag the scone right from his fingers.
"Look, I know that this book six rubbish has got your back up, but why are you taking it out on me? You've done nothing but bite my head off and I'm sick of it!" Ron narrowed his eyes down at his wife.
"You're annoying me today, that was the last scone and I wanted it." She snarled back at him. "Now as for the rubbish that is book six, well, I have a right to be miffed that she changed everything and stuck you with Hermione of all people!"
She was clearly not acting herself and the others were taking notice of it.
"Sweetheart, it's just a book. We thought that it would be easier on all of you if she went with her other idea." Lily had rarely seen her daughter in such a temper. It was usually when she had just cause and not over something as frivolous as a book.
"Yes angel, we're sorry if it's hurt your feelings, because that wasn't what it was meant to do." James recalled Harry's words from before and it was all beginning to look like maybe he just might be right in making such a prediction. Luna was not acting like herself at all.
"Excuse us will you." Ron picked her up, carried her outside into the hallway, and closed the doors.
"I've annoyed you for three days running and it's getting to the point where I have to sneak off to get any food." He set her down on her feet, so that he could stare down into her defiant blue eyes. "What gives moon-flower? Is there something that you wanna tell me or am I suddenly just enemy number one?"
"I just happen to be annoyed with you this week! There is no reason for you to think that I'm… well you know!" She hissed up at him. "Neither does my need to snack!"
"Sweetheart, I'm just trying to make sense of your change in personality, not to mention unusual change in appetite. This isn't like you at all. Nothing annoys you and when it does it's something major and not something as stupid as a silly book." Ron kept his temper in check and remained focused on what was wrong with his love.
"Ron what if I am? What if that one rash moment on my birthday gave us a little surprise of our own?" Luna stared wide-eyed at him.
"Let's go have you checked over and then we'll see what happens from there." Ron scooped her back up into his arms and they vanished.
"Is everything all right out…?" Lily went to check on them and found them gone. "James where do you think they went off to?" She turned to look at her husband.
"I have an idea love, but for now let's just let the two of them be." He kissed her on the nose.
"James, you're acting too calm about something that should be making you very upset." Lily frowned at him. "They broke their promise if what you think is true."
"Love, there's one thing that I've learned since we've been back and that's until you know all the facts it's best not to jump to any conclusions." James led her back into the room.
--
Later on that evening at Dragon Manor
Ginny arrived home that evening with fascinating news for Draco. "Dragon you home?" She called out as she was greeted by Tut and Isis. "That's right sweeties mummy's home." She smiled down at the cats.
"I'm up in the nursery. I'll be down in a second." Draco called from upstairs.
"I know that I agreed to your surprising me with the nursery, but can't I have just a little peak at it?" She headed up the stairs.
"Now Peaches, I want to surprise you. So, that would be a no to any attempt at peaking." Draco met her on the first floor landing and pulled her into his arms for a kiss. "So how was your day?"
"It was uneventful until Ron and Luna popped in." Ginny grinned at him.
Draco frowned down at her. "Oh really why's that? Did one of them get hurt or is one of them sick?"
"No Dragon neither of them got into an accident or anything like that." Ginny's moss green eyes danced mischievously. "Harry and Hermione cleared their schedule to spend time with the girls, so Ron brought Luna there to get checked over."
"She has been acting rather out of sorts as of late. I can see why Ron would want her looked at." Draco had put in a long grueling day of training and wasn't taking in any of her subtle hints. "By that grin on your face I take it that it isn't anything life threatening."
"No nothing bad like that, but they did diagnose that she has a medical condition of sorts." Ginny, wanting a snack, headed back downstairs.
"Ginevra Molly Elizabeth, you cannot say something like that and then just walk away!" Draco cornered her in the kitchen. "What medical condition does my baby sister have?"
Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "You're the Auror you figure it out." She ducked under his arm with her jar of pickles and went over to the breakfast nook to munch on her snack. "I mean really Dragon, it's not that complicated just connect the clues."
Draco wasn't really in the mood to play games, so he went about preparing dinner for the two of them. It was to his surprise that after a few lessons with Harry and their father he wasn't that bad at cooking.
"It's not a bad condition and you do seem happy about it. Is she pregnant?" He paused preparing the ham, roasted potatoes, and rolls. "Well is she pregnant or not?"
Ginny grinned at him but said nothing.
"Not possible. She and Ron followed the rules…"
When he mentioned the word rules Ginny shook her head no.
"Ron is terrified of facing Dad's wrath not mention Harry's. Why would he…"
"It's simple the two of them had a moment of weakness and it happened on or around our birthday. She's nearly eleven weeks pregnant with twins." Ginny had to wait a full minute to continue, because Draco was swearing under his breath. "Ron's in shock and Luna is over the moon about it. She and the babies are in perfect health."
Draco decided that he needed to calm down before responding to any of this news and went back to making dinner.
"Ron has this crazy idea that all of you are gonna pummel him for having a moment of weakness before the two of them were married." Ginny went about making Bread and Butter pudding for dessert and was oblivious to Draco's temper.
"No Peaches I don't think its crazy at all." Draco all but tossed the roasting pan into the oven.
"No I'd say that about covers what I'm gonna do to him when next we meet." He prepared the salad as he spoke.
"Ron's a dead man walking that's for sure." He set the salad into two bowls that he nearly shattered when he set them on the table.
"Dragon, you're snarling over potion that was spilt a long time ago." Ginny chided him.
"This happened nearly three months ago. The two of them have been too busy to really stop and notice the signs. I mean, that was the case until she started acting not like Luna this week." Ginny put the pudding into the oven as well as the rolls.
Draco focused on finishing dinner and not on her trying to defend her brother. "Somehow I seriously doubt Dad, Wills, Henry, and Harry are gonna see things that way. He went on and on about keeping his promise even after we found out about DJ. When the truth was that he had broken his word weeks before!" He snarled at her.
"They're gonna tell everyone as soon as it really sets in." Ginny frowned. "Ron is floored right now. Just like you when you found out about our DJ. Now as for Luna she's back to her calm, dreamy, serene self again."
"Did he faint when he got the joyous news?" Draco tried to see the humor about this current change of events.
"He didn't faint until he heard the word twins." Ginny giggled. "He muttered that Harry was right and then out he went."
"It can't be that big of a shock. I mean twins do run in your family." Draco got the Ham, roasted potatoes out of the oven, and transferred that onto a platter. "I think that he's been in denial and so ignored all of the signs." After retrieving the rolls from the oven, he put them in a breadbasket, and then set that on the table as well.
"Ron is a bit daft at times and Luna really hasn't acted pregnant until this week." Ginny set a trivet on the table, so that she could place the dish of bread and butter pudding on it.
"Let's enjoy our meal and talk about how normal our life is compared to the rest of our family." Draco set the platter on the table and they sat down at their table for two.
"Oh really?" Ginny arched a brow at him.
"Dani went in search of her Daddy and popped in at Windsor Castle during tea with the Queen." Draco grinned.
"Not possible. How did she achieve that at two-months-old and with her magic binded? I can see her doing that at home, because she can sense where he is. It's not the same with Windsor Castle, because that's on the other side of England." Ginny frowned, as she went to get them the butter dish and something to drink.
"My best guess is that she felt Harry lose his temper and locked onto that. She also made her teddy bear come to her as well." Draco fixed a plate for her and then one for himself. "And all of this mind you in front of the Queen."
"That would explain this afternoon's deluge in London today. He finally got tired of all the official rubbish and lost his cool with the Queen."
"That about covers it. I caught the last few minutes of their interview with the American morning show and I can understand why he's in a temper. Evidently, the book that we got from Jo isn't the same as the one that everyone got to read this summer. Ron's with Hermione in it, you're dating Harry, I'm a Deatheater, and Uncle Severus kills Uncle Albus. Oh and evidently Voldemort doesn't die in this one either." Draco wasn't anymore amused about that than she was.
"Now as for why Harry really lost it, well, the Queen told him that the girls could withstand this week without them and that duty came before ones family." Draco took away her Butterbeer and went to go get her a nice big goblet of milk instead.
"I don't get it. I thought that Jo was going with the facts not complete fiction." Ginny wrinkled her nose at him when he set the goblet of milk in front of her, but obediently took a sip of it.
"Yuck, I'm not a big milk fan, but then I know that DJ needs all of this to help him grow." She took another drink before continuing her previous line of thought. "Now as for Her Majesty doesn't she listen to anything that Wills or Henry tell her?"
"Dad says that it's so that all of us can have some sort of privacy in our lives." Draco took a drink of his Butterbeer.
"Now as for the other, evidently she's big on old school tradition, so no I would say she doesn't listen to them. Harry set her straight as did Dani's sudden appearance." Draco was enjoying the meal that he had prepared. It was his fifth one and it tasted very good. It wasn't up to Hogwarts, Aunt Mattie, his father's, or Harry's standards yet but he was getting there.
"Dragon, this is really good." Ginny praised his meal. "You might just be ready to fix dinner for the whole family."
"Let me think about the idea and then we'll see." Draco didn't think that he was ready for that yet.
"Think about how this could be neutral territory for Ron and Luna to spring their news on everyone. He would live to breathe another day without being pummeled, because no one would wish to ruin our first go at throwing a dinner party." Ginny winked at him.
"By Merlin, you've already got this all figured out down to the very last detail in that clever mind of yours." He sighed in defeat when she pouted at him. "Oh, very well, we'll have our first dinner party at Dragon Manor."
Ginny got up from her chair and rewarded him with hugs and kisses.
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Ron and Luna's place
Ron stared at the first 4D images of their twins. They were beginning to develop hair, fingernails and toenails which really had him in awe over the whole experience. They had the beginnings of irises as well. "It just floors me that you and I created those two amazing little miracles and that they'll eventually be miniature you's or I's." He glanced over at Luna happily knitting baby clothes beside him.
"We've got two little miracles of our own to cuddle in the spring." She smiled serenely at him.
The front doorbell rang announcing that they had visitors.
"I told you that Ginny was gonna spread the news to everyone." Ron got up and reluctantly went to answer the door.
"Ronnie, we made a scene at Windsor Castle this afternoon and then vanished. It's probably Mummy or Daddy just checking in on us." Luna put her knitting away and followed him.
"True or else they wouldn't use the door, in that case they'd just pop in." Ron saw that it was Dromi with a basket of treats for the two of them. "How did you know that the two of us are too beat to make dinner tonight?" He smiled at her.
"Come on in Dromi. Is Henry with you as well?" Luna looked around outside, but only saw her older sister.
"The two of us are going out later, so he's still at home. I wanted to check on the two of you." Dromi stepped inside.
"So where did the two of you go off to this afternoon?" She arched a brow at the two of them.
"We went back to London to see to Thursday's schedule and then called it a day." Ron took the basket from her and headed for the kitchen.
"You seem in a better mood this evening, Luna. I'm happy that the two of you made up." Dromi gave her a hug.
"I've just been stressed; trying to keep everyone on schedule is hectic work. I didn't realize that I was taking my temper out on Ron." Luna decided to go with that story, until they were ready to break their happy news to the rest of the family.
"If you needed a hand with anything then you should have asked. That's what family does, they help one another. Daddy thought that maybe you happened to be moody for other reasons." The two of them sat down on the sectional in the Common Room.
Luna casually reached over and closed the program displaying their little secrets on the computer screen. "Daddy worries too much. I'm fine. Ron and I are both wonderful. Being Muggle Liaison's is hard work, but the two of us love what we do. Believe me if I were expecting I would be shouting the news to all of you. I mean, unless I'm immune to the potion, I just don't see how that's possible." She focused on Tigger, mewing at her for attention, and chose not to look her sister in the eyes.
"Luna, I'm not Daddy nor am I buying anything that you just said to me. If you both wish to keep it from them then I'm not going to say anything. You have my word on that." Dromi had gotten a quick look at the image on the laptop before Luna had closed the program.
"It's just setting in for the two of us. Just give us a few days to take it all in." Ron walked into the room to join them.
"Is it that obvious to everyone?" Luna asked timidly.
"Only to anyone who was there at lunch today, but no one is saying anything out loud." Dromi now had Minx purring in her lap.
"Lucy walked in with a puzzled look on her face, while Ginny was grinning from ear to ear." Ron reached over and turned the laptop, so that she could see the screen. "We really weren't sure until after she got checked over." He played the disk containing the 4D images of their little miracles. "Instead of telling us anything they decided that a visual image was needed."
Dromi now understood why the two of them were reluctant to share their joyous news with everyone. Luna happened to be nearly eleven weeks along instead of just four. "Daddy is going to throw you in Azkaban for two days. Draco is going to deck you. Wills and Henry are going to follow his lead and pummel you as well. Now as for Harry, he's going to hug Luna, and then proceed to hurt you."
"I'm aware that they might be upset about our moment of weakness. Harry and Hermione had one as well last December and no one went mental on the two of them." Ron frowned.
"Harry and Hermione had been married for nearly four months, where as you both were only engaged. They were also eighteen and nineteen. What part of Azkaban and certain doom did either of you not understand?" Dromi shot down Ron's argument.
Harry chose that moment to appear in their Common Room. "Sorry for not using the door, but Mum's worried about Luna. Mione sent me to see what's up with…" He noticed that Dromi was staring at something on Ron's Laptop's computer screen and that she wasn't in the best of moods about it.
"So my hunch was right? Luna's moody for reasons other than being stressed about this week. The question is how's that possible when she took the potion?" Harry waited for an answer.
No one was talking.
Accio Laptop. He summoned the object to him and had a look for himself. "Well now this is interesting. No wonder none of you is saying anything. The two of you fear repercussions do to your lapse of sanity just before you got married." He hadn't really focused on the details as to how far along she was and continued on. "What's done is done…"
He finally saw that she was nearly eleven weeks pregnant with twins and his calm attitude vanished.
"You're expecting twins sometime in April? Well now someone one has been fibbing now hasn't they." He glared at Ron and in seconds Ron was pinned up on the ceiling. "Why would the fact that you lied to all of us for months and acted like the prefect future son-in-law anger anyone?!" He glared up at Ron.
"C'mon Harry! It was once! I swear that's all it was, until we officially got hitched!" Ron found that the only thing that he was able to move was his head.
"I'm not angry at you about your twins, Ronald! Luna has my fondest congratulations! I'm beyond furious at you for making Draco feel like crap for keeping things from everyone, while you were the one keeping something of monumental proportions of your own! Draco was married to Ginny, where as you were not married to my baby sister! If fate bit anyone in the arse it was you!" Harry snarled up at him. "Newsflash Mate! If it can happen to all of us then you sure as bloody hell aren't immune to it either!"
"We'll tell Mummy and Daddy the truth just don't hurt him! We didn't have a clue, until I started really acting strangely this week! It's been hectic for nearly three months with our first wedding in September, then the royal one last week, and now all of the events this weekend!" Luna pleaded with her older brother on Ron's behalf.
"I believe I'll leave him on an iceberg for a few hours, maybe the Australian Outback, then again the Sahara Desert is nice this time of year, or I know how about the mountains of Tibet!" Harry ignored anything that Luna was saying to him.
Ron stared down at him in utter horror. "You don't mean that, Mate. You wouldn't do that to your best mate. You just don't have it any you to do so. I mean it's a bit rash isn't it?!"
Harry narrowed his eyes up at Ron and his expression told him without words how much he should have kept his mouth shut. "I'll let Dromi choose which place to banish your sorry hide for an hour or maybe an entire night!" There was no way that Ron was getting out of this one.
"It's summer in Australia. I hear the spiders are all the rage in the Outback." Dromi glared up at Ron.
"Although, a night in Azkaban will teach him to never pull one over on any of us again!" James made himself known by removing his invisibility cloak. It was clear that James was beyond furious with him. "I asked you many a time if you'd gone back on your promise and you lied!"
He took a deep breath and tried to rein in his temper before continuing. "Lily and I notice these things, because we've lived them ourselves. You'll learn that it's virtually impossible to hide anything from either of us! Luna snuck into her rooms at three AM the morning after her birthday and the result of that is that we now have two more grandbabies to look forward to."
"Harry is right, Ronald. It's not about the little ones! It's about lie after constant lie, while you rubbed Draco's situation in his face at every possible opportunity!" He glared up at Ron.
"Alright! I confess!! I'm not brave like them! I did fear facing your wrath! I mean dying once wasn't fun, so I wasn't gonna risk that happening again! Azkaban didn't seem good either, so yes I stretched the truth a lot!" Ron shouted back.
"Ronnie, that's not true! You are very brave! It wasn't his fault! I was the one who took advantage of him not the other way around!" Luna defended her man by telling them the truth and the three of them gaped at her in utter shock.
"LUNA?! What the hell are you trying to do!?" Ron was flushing crimson. "I am handling this!"
"It's true! I snuck into his bedroom at his parent's house!" Luna continued despite the fact that Ron wanted her to stop.
"Alright, Luna they get the picture no need for any details!" Ron groaned in exasperation.
"Yes angel, we don't need to know details." James pulled her into his arms for a hug. "We're well aware with what eventually happened next."
"Dad's right, no more information needed." Harry let Ron down and he was once again sitting down on the sofa.
"Ron got cold feet an hour before we were going to the Registers office. I took matters into my own hands though a lot good that did me." Luna sighed in defeat. "He's just too afraid of you."
"Well then what say we all pop over to Sanctuary and tell all of them your good news?" Dromi suggested.
"First of all yes I'm afraid of facing any of their wraths. I mean what bloke in his right mind wouldn't be. Now as for her taking advantage of me, well, I only have so much self-control, and in all honestly I was dreaming and she took advantage of that. Lastly, as to Dromi's suggestion, sure let's get everyone to Sanctuary, and we'll tell them about our news." Ron's face was so red that it was nearly the color of a ripe tomato, but he knew that telling everyone now would be the easiest thing to do.
"I love you so much." Luna raced over and kissed him. "Yes, let's tell our family about our twins."
"Do you want to know what you're having or do you want to wait until later?" Harry arched a brow at the two of them. He was seeing twin strawberry blonde cornflower blue-eyed baby boys in his minds-eye, but he didn't want to spoil it for them if that was what they wished.
"Why? Are you having an enlightening moment like this morning?" Ron arched a fiery red eyebrow at his best mate and now because of his marrying Luna, big brother.
"Yeah, something like that." Harry grinned.
"I'm happy with whatever we end up having, but if Luna is game I am as well." Ron looked down at Luna and she nodded. "Well then oh wise one, what's your take on what the two of us have to look forward to." He wiggled his brows at Harry and grinned.
"Wise one, huh." Harry glanced over at the fireplace and the flames turned to his signature color of turquoise and gold. "Visuals work the best on you, so take a peak at what you have to look forward to this spring."
The flames revealed the two of them holding two bundles wrapped in blue blankets while sitting on the back veranda of Sanctuary. It also showed Harry and Hermione conjuring magic bubbles for their three very active seven month olds. MJ and Izzy were chasing after a practice snitch that James had allowed them to play with. Draco was holding a very pregnant Ginny in his arms. Rory and Dromi were happily kissing Wills and Henry, who must have been home for the weekend.
It revealed that final image before going back to a normal fire.
"We're going to have boys that are miniature versions of their Daddy." Luna was very happy with her peak into the future.
"Sons… we're going to have boys." Ron was also happy with what the fire had revealed. "Thanks mate, now we know what not to paint the nursery."
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Chapter 14
Say Cheese
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008