Hermione shook Theo awake, a crippling pain slowly moving across her abdomen as another contraction hit. She had been woken by them hours ago but she had let him be, choosing to let him sleep until they became more regular.
"What?" he sat up looking bewildered "What's happening?"
"We need to go to St Mungos." she said through gritted teeth as another contraction hit sooner than she'd expected.
Wide eyed and panicked, Theo jumped from the bed. "Right. St Mungo's. Right. Right now?"
"Right now, Theo." she laughed before hesitating. "Will you send my mother and Aunt Andy a patronus and ask them to meet us there?"
His eyes softened as he reached to help her from the bed. "Of course, sweetheart."
Narcissa gazed down at the tiny baby in her arms with wonder. Hermione's labour had been blissfully quick, her grandson arriving first, followed relatively quickly by her granddaughter.
Narcissa knew that the waiting room was full as her daughter's family waited on news but she was reluctant to break the bubble they'd created.
She glanced across towards Hermione who was staring at her daughter in awe, Theo and Andromeda next to her. She was pale, sweaty and exhausted and she had never looked more beautiful as she balanced the baby on her bent knees, holding her tiny hands.
Narcissa moved to place her grandson beside his sister, Hermione smiling up at her tiredly as Narcissa sat at her side, wrapping her arm around her shoulder.
The twins were miniature replicas of Draco and Cassie as newborns. Tiny faces, with pointed chins and the Blacks grey eyes. They were the most beautiful things Narcissa had ever seen and she thanked the Gods that she'd been granted a place in their lives.
"Do you have names for them?" she said softly, stroking a finger down her grandson's downy cheek.
Hermione glanced at Theo who smiled at her and nodded.
"Lyra." Hermione said, smiling at her mother who bit her lip, instantly recognising the significance. "Lyra Narcissa and Regulus Harry."
She heard Aunt's sharp inhale from next to Theo and watched as her mothers face crumpled as she sobbed, feeling Theo and Andromeda lift the twins from her legs so she could twist to hug her.
"They're beautiful names." Narcissa whispered once she was calmer. "I….thank you, Hermione."
Hermione smiled. "Do you want to invite everyone in before they get bored enough to argue and cause a disturbance?"
Narcissa laughed, pulling herself together "Yes. I'll go and get them if you're sure you're ready."
Hermione lifted her son from Theo's arms as she smiled at her mother. "As I'll ever be."
"I'll go and give you all some space, lovely. Teddy will be wondering where I am" Andromeda spoke, handing Lyra back to Theo. "I'll come back and see you all tomorrow. Thank you for allowing me to be here."
Hermione shook her head, "I couldn't have imagined having anyone else." she said softly.
Her father appeared in the doorway first, allowing her Aunt space to leave, his eyes going wide as he took in the babies who were currently sound asleep.
"Oh." he whispered as he reached out a cautious hand to stroke his finger down his grandson's cheek before he gently pulled Hermione into a hug, mindful of the baby in her arms. "Congratulations Princess. They're beautiful."
"Do you want to hold him?" she asked gently, stifling a smile as he attempted to mask his panic.
"I….yes?"
"Here" she gently manoeuvred her son into his grandfather's arms watching as multiple emotions flashed across Lucius' face.
"Do they have names?" he asked, his eyes glued to his sleeping grandson.
"Yes. Regulus and Lyra."
His head shot up to look at her, "You named them using the Black family tradition."
"Yes. It seemed…..appropriate. Even if Grand-mere will not approve." she laughed.
The woman in question bustled in, "Everyone agreed to wait their turn," she announced, "But I am old and therefore do not need to adhere to such nonsense. Let me see my great-grandchildren and then you can tell me exactly what it is I will not approve of."
Hermione stifled another laugh, refusing to look at Theo who was snickering slightly beside her.
"They are beautiful, darling girl." her grandmother said, reaching to take Lyra from Theo, "What are their names?"
"Lyra and Regulus." Hermione said with a slightly knowing grin.
Her grandmother looked at her sharply, before she sighed. "Of course they are. Bloody Blacks. Perhaps your brother will adhere to Malfoy traditions instead."
"I believe they are considering Scorpius." Hermione replied grinning impishly at the woman who rolled her eyes, even as she smiled indulgently back at her granddaughter.
Draco and Astoria appeared the moment her grandmother left, cautiously coming into the room as if not sure of their welcome.
"Come and meet your niece and nephew" she said softly, choosing not to comment as her brother swallowed harshly as he moved to stand beside his mother who was cradling her granddaughter.
"They're so small." he said in wonder, "Are they supposed to be that small?"
He flinched back slightly as his mother glared at him, "Yes Draco, they are supposed to be that small" she bit out.
He held up his hands in surrender. "I don't think I've ever seen a newborn before."
"What, never?" Theo asked, surprised.
Draco shook his head looking down at his niece, running a finger over her hand.
"Well at least you've a way to get in some practice before my nephew arrives," Hermone commented from the bed.
Draco heard Astoria laugh, "Can you train him to change nappies?" she asked, he missed Hermiones' response as his niece opened her eyes and looked at him. He was immediately captivated by the eyes that matched his own, too many feelings to name swirling through him as he realised that he'd do anything to make sure that these twins never had to live through what he had. His niece would grow up right beside her brother, even if it meant she never left the house without being physically tethered to someone. Hermione would understand the need.
"Do you want to hold her?" he heard his mother ask softly, understanding clear on her face.
"I don't even know her name." he said dumbly as she carefully showed him how to hold his tiny niece.
"Lyra. Her name is Lyra." she said, smiling at him as he gazed down at the baby in his arms. He turned slightly, taking in Astorias slightly awed expression as she held her nephew and bit back the overwhelming urge to cry.
He had never allowed himself to believe they would have this. His sister was back, allowing them into her life. He silently vowed, as he stared back down at his tiny niece who was watching him intently, that he would make sure to never give her cause to question his place in her life.
He heard a knock on the door as Potter peeked his head in.
"I don't want to interrupt but Pansy's getting antsy and you know how that ends"
Hermione laughed, knowing exactly how badly that would end, "Come in, all of you."
Draco watched as the four of them traipsed in. They'd agreed to an uneasy truce following Hermione's stay in hospital and even if it wouldn't have been company he would have sought out himself, he was willing to give them a chance for her sake.
He felt Pansy move to stand beside him, Weasley following.
"Oh she's so tiny! She has your eyes, Hermione." Pansy breathed. "May I?" she gestured to Draco who fought a pout as he reluctantly relinquished his niece, already plotting how quickly he could reclaim her.
Harry was standing with Ginny, cooing over his nephew, his sister watching them with a soft smile on her face.
"You realise that they'll all go to Hogwarts together"
Harry laughed, "Two Notts that are half Hermione Granger, a Malfoy, a Potter and a Weasely. Minerva will retire."
Hermione smiled. "We wanted to ask you all if you'd be godparents."
Harry's head snapped up as he bit his lip. "Truly?"
"Yes, you managed to arrange it perfectly." she said smiling as she inclined her head to the baby in his arms. "Meet your godson, Regulus Harry Nott."
"Fuck, Hermione. Warn a man!" Harry swiped a hand across his eyes before handing the baby to Ginny and enveloping his honorary sister in a hug.
"I love you, Hermione Nott."
"I love you too, Harry Potter."
"Truthfully, I'm not that fond of you mate." Theo quipped from beside her, dodging Hermione's hand as he grinned unrepentantly at them.
"And my Goddaughter?" Pansy asked.
"Lyra Narcissa."
Draco heard his fathers sharp intake of breath as he gazed down at his daughter, his mother clearly already aware as she smiled at him.
It had been far too many horrendous years. But they were here, all of them changed, but whole and together. Draco glanced over at his sister who had reclaimed her children, Theo next to her, arm flung over her shoulders as his father gingerly sat on the bed at her other side, one of the babies tiny hands wrapped around his finger. His mother moved to stand next to him, sliding her arm around his waist as she watched her daughter and grandchildren with a soft smile. For the first time in what felt like forever, Draco allowed himself to believe it was going to be alright.
And we're done! Huge thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed!