Title: Boy-Who-Lived: Father-To-Be

Author: SweetMercy

Rating: M

Warnings: mpreg, slash, may have small references to HBP, has naughty swear words!

Pairings: RL/HP

Chapter 24: The Christmas Rush

The Hogwarts Express slowed down and turned into Kings Cross, the magical platform barely visible through the torrential rain hammering on the carriage windows. Blurred figures of all different colours could be seen gathered on the platform, awaiting the arrival of their children.

Feet could be heard running up and down the corridor outside, students hurriedly running back to their compartments to collect their things. When they had boarded the train back in Hogsmeade, Hermione had had to shut the blinds to their compartment due to the number of people looking in at the babies as if it were some sort of show. Now, Harry had dealt with similar things himself and had just learnt to deal with it, but he was very protective when it came to his children. He had just been about to tell them all where to get off when Ron had stopped him, saying it would only cause more trouble rather than do any good. The fact that Ron had said this surprised him more than it angered him to know that people thought they had a right to stare at his children so he quickly dropped the matter to ponder how much he should be worried by the fact that Ron was starting to turn into Hermione.

The babies had been on their best behaviour for the best part of the journey, only kicking up a fuss when they felt they should be getting more attention than they were. Even though they were only two months old, Harry had the extreme impression that Leanna was a complete drama-queen already, loving the attention and adoration and very prone to having what Ginny liked to call 'hissy fits.'

Having spent most of his day cooped up with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and the triplets, chatting, changing nappies, playing cards, feeding hungry babies, laughing and joking, and comforting the little ones, Harry had almost forgot his 'confession' of sorts from yesterday. Every now and then his eyes would meet Hermione's and he would have to look away, refusing to let the guilt consume him. He loved his children with all of his heart, it was just that sometimes he wished all this could have waited a few years; what was so wrong with that?

He hadn't had very long to speak to Remus this morning as the train was leaving early and he had more luggage than everyone else to get downstairs and even with magic it took longer than the others. But he would see him tomorrow – teachers were allowed to floo home during the Holidays unlike students who, unless special circumstances arose, had to take the train journey all the way from one end of the UK to the other.

The train came to a stop and the doors opened, parents running forwards to help their children with their luggage. Now that they were here, Harry could see that most of them had been waiting in the actual station beyond the barrier as to keep out of the rain. As Harry stood up and scooped Skylar into his arms he could see out of the window Narcissa Malfoy waiting impatiently amongst the other parents, a tall man in a suit holding an umbrella over her head.

"It's going to be murder trying to get them off here in their prams," said Ron, nodding towards the babies. "I didn't realise how many students were going home."

"He's right," said Hermione, standing up and stretching, "I think it's best I we carry them out. Ron's dad wrote and told us we were being taken to Grimmauld Place by a Ministry limo so there's no point in putting them in just to get them back out again."

She bent down and pushed her long hair behind her ears before picking up Joshua and cradling him in her arms. "I'm sure Mr Weasley or someone is out there waiting for us."

Harry stood there and looked around. The room was full of trunks and bags. Neville had already said his goodbyes and was outside greeting his grandmother and Luna was attempting to get her trunk out into the busy corridor.

"How the hell are we supposed to get all this off as well as carrying the babies?" he asked.

"I could call for help," suggested Hermione, seeming to have noticed the problem as well. She went over to the window and looked out. Mrs Malfoy was still there. She kept throwing glances at someone in the crowd to her right and Harry followed her gaze to find Sirius stood there, accompanied by Tonks, Mad-Eye, and three people Harry didn't know, a woman and two men who he assumed worked for the Ministry.

"Come on," he said to the others, "If we get their attention they can come and get our trunks."

Ginny went first, dragging her trunk behind her, and soon Tonks had joined her, followed by the others who boarded the train to help with the luggage. Harry swung his bag carefully over his shoulder and stepped off the train. One of the ministry men immediately put up an umbrella over him and helped him through the crowd towards the barrier separating them from the muggle world. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Ron and Hermione were getting the same treatment and his other children were safe before stepping through the barrier into the breezy, but dry, station.

As soon as Ron and Hermione joined him the Ministry member led them out of Kings Cross and towards the limo awaiting them. They climbed in gratefully and got settled, sitting the children in the baby seats provided. They were soon joined by the others and they were on their way, driving through the busy streets of a rain-sloshed London.

Sirius was talking to the woman Harry didn't know and Mad-Eye was blabbing on about all the extra security that number 12 had been given since the summer. Hermione's parents, apparently, were joining them later on this week and would be celebrating Christmas with them all. Bill and Fleur, to Ron's delight, wouldn't be attending as they were holidaying in France, spending the festive season with Fleur's family.

"Getting to know the future in-laws," Ron muttered. "I don't know what he sees in her," he continued, "I mean, yeah, alright, she is good-looking and yeah, she's pretty brave and smart when it comes to magic and stuff. And I suppose there is that fact that her family's really rich and all…

"But apart from that?" snapped Hermione.

"Harry," said Sirius, sparing him the need to answer to Ron's comments without hurting Hermione's feelings, "I want you to meet my favourite cousin, Andromeda." He indicated the woman sitting next to him and she held out her hand.

"Tonks' mother?" Harry asked politely, shaking her hand. At first Harry was surprised he hadn't recognised her from Tonks, but then again Tonks looked different almost everyday. The woman sitting opposite him had long, dark hair, much like that of her sister Bellatrix, but her face was much softer and her cheeks more rosy.

"Yep," she smiled, "It's nice to finally meet you Harry."

"You too," Harry smiled.

Sooner than Harry had expected, they pulled into Grimmauld Place. The Ministry men helped get the luggage out of the car before wishing them all a 'Merry Christmas' and pulling away. The rain was still falling but wasn't has heavy has it had been back in the city. As Harry got the triplets into their prams, so they had more hands free to help with the trunks, the street lamps flickered into life to illuminate the dark street.

They walked in the direction of the house and muttered the password, watching the house materialise out of nowhere. Last time Harry had been here, the interior of the old wizarding house had been almost completely refurbished and it was now apparent that someone had been working extra hard on the garden as well. All the creeping weeds were gone and had been replaced by colourful flowers. The cracking paint around the windows and doors had been painted over and the fence surrounding the house was brand new.

Sirius knocked on the door and they entered the hall way and Harry was momentarily stunned. The landing and stairs banister was draped in white, sparkly cloth and tinsel was curling around the posts and picture frames. Fairy lights were scattered all over the walls and, just like Hogwarts, fake snow was falling gently above their heads, disappearing before it reached them. A huge, gold star shone brightly above the kitchen entrance and the floor was absolutely covered in fake snow. The portrait of Mrs Black scowled at them but didn't say anything. Actually, she looked rather tipsy.

"We still have to put up the Christmas tree," Sirius said to them as they put the trunks into the corner, "I thought you guys would like to help."

"Did you do all this yourself?" Hermione asked, following Sirius into the living room, watching with amazement as her footprints disappeared.

"Nah," he said, "I had a lot of help from Adromeda. Molly wasn't too thrilled about it at first though, we couldn't get the snow to stick and everyone kept tramping it all through the house."

"It's a winter wonderland," exclaimed Ginny, who was watching the glittering snow falling from the ceiling.

After having greeted everyone and getting the babies settled into their new rooms it was time to unpack their trunks, which for Harry was a chore in itself. He neatly folded the babies' clothes, blankets, and towels away into drawers before unpacking his own and by the time he had finished, Molly was calling him down for a late dinner.

Andromeda, it turned out, was a chef and owned quite a few fancy restaurants scattered about Europe. She was particularly skilled at French Cuisine and had spent a large number of years studying in Paris and New Orleans. Ron, who was afraid she was going to feed them Frogs Legs and Snails was, was treated to something called a 'Croque Monsieur' ,which was pretty much a ham and cheese sandwich, as well as a helping of rice and chicken soup. For desert she served up a 'Crepe Banane-Chocolate' which was delicious. Mrs Weasley was having the time of her life and had already taken numerous recipes from Andromeda. She and Andromeda, as well as Mrs Granger when she arrived, were going to be cooking Christmas dinner.

The next day, Harry woke up nice and early and he managed to shower and dress before the babies called him to his 'motherly' duties. He got them fed and dressed and carried them one by one downstairs, plonking them into the arms of the others who were already awake. They had agreed the night before that they would look after them for the most part of the day whilst he went into London to do some last minute shopping. Mrs Weasley insisted that they be accompanied by an adult as it still wasn't save to go out alone, but they assured her that they would be fine and that if anything happened they would apparate straight back home. (Hermione had passed her tests the year before and Ron during the summer. Harry hadn't passed yet but was able to do it.) Mad-Eye would have gone with them but he and Tonks had been called into the Ministry to give evidence on an attack that had happened some days ago.

Finally, they were allowed to leave and they threw some powder into the fire and found themselves in The Leaky Cauldron. Witches and wizards were sat all around, joining in the festive cheer.

"Right," said Ron, looking around the brightly lit pub, "First things first; money."

After they had collected enough money from their vaults they started their steady exploration of Diagon Alley. Ron and Hermione had already done most of their Christmas shopping during Hogsmeade weekends so they helped Harry pick out gifts whilst doing a spot of window shopping themselves. Christmas trees were scattered all about the narrow lane and people were walking up and down singing carols and collecting money for a charity. All the window displays were decorated with tinsel and fairy lights, but the ominous posters warning people of the Dark Side still stood out amongst all the decoration but Harry did his best to ignore them and enjoy himself.

Luckily it wasn't raining so they were free to wander around outside, stopping here and there to look in shop windows at the fancy displays. Witches and wizards greeted them merrily as they passed by in the street, perhaps more attention directed towards Harry than he would have liked.

Sometime during the afternoon they had strayed out into muggle London as Hermione had thought the magical baby toys 'far too advanced and dangerous for two month old babies'. Harry settled for getting them some more teddies; after all, they weren't exactly aware of what was happening and they were, as Hermione said, too young for most of the toys that were on sale. They stopped in at McDonalds for a hamburger and fries before venturing out again onto the busy high streets.

"What are you getting Remus?" asked Hermione, "Any ideas?"

"None whatsoever," he said, peering in at shop windows as he passed.

"Well, what does he like?" asked Ron, swinging a bag of teddies happily.

"Er…I'm not sure actually…"

"You mean, you're in love with the man yet you don't know what his interests are?"

"Of course I do…he likes books and cardigans and Defence Against the Darks Arts…"

"Obviously," muttered Ron.

"Well have you got any better ideas?" asked Harry.

"How about something, you know, kinky?" suggested Hermione and Harry looked at her as Ron stared at her with wide eyes.

"I don't know what you two get up to, but bondage isn't exactly my thing," he laughed.

"We don't do anything like that!" said Ron in a high voice.

"It doesn't have to be something completely kinky," she said, "I was just suggesting that you might want something sexy, you know? For the bedroom?"

"I can't believe you guys are actually talking about this in a crowded street," muttered Ron but they both ignored him.

"Well," said Harry, considering slightly, "We haven't really, you know, for eleven months now so I suppose it would help…I mean, we were planning on getting a bit of alone time together over Christmas…"

"Then that'd be perfect," she smiled, "Come on." And she grabbed his hand and led him through the crowd.

"Don't you have to be 18 to go in those sort of shops?" he asked as he allowed himself to be pulled along on the street.

"You don't have to go to those shops, you can go to normal places," she said; then, turning to look at him with a trace of a grin on her face, "Unless you were looking for something really kinky?"

"No," he said quickly, struggling not to laugh at the mortified look on Ron's face, "Normal, sexy lingerie is just fine."

They joined the small throng of people waiting at the traffic lights to cross over the busy road. Ron was looking at his girlfriend rather suspiciously with a surprised, yet intrigued look on his face.

"Since when have you had a knowledge of all this sort of stuff?" he asked.

"I'm an 18 year old girl Ron," she said, "Just because I like to study and read doesn't mean I can't indulge myself every once in a while."

They returned to the house just before dark, having made an entire day of their shopping trip. Harry dumped his many bags in his bedroom upstairs before settling down on the floor in front of the fire.

"How have they been?" he asked as Sirius came through the door with Joshua in his arms.

"Absolute angels," he smiled, sitting down, "I've never known them to be so good."

"Where are the girls?" he asked.

"Molly's just changing one of them and Albus has the other," he said.

"Dumbledore's here?"

"Yeah, he came by earlier this afternoon. There aren't a lot of students staying at Hogwarts so he's come by for a few hours. I think he said he and Minerva would be here for Christmas – they're leaving the other teachers in charge. So, did you get all your shopping done?"

"Yeah, I…" But before he could finish, the living door was flung open and Mad-Eye came in followed by a frantic Remus.

"God, I've been so worried!" said Remus, seeing Harry. "They said you'd gone into London and we didn't know if you'd gotten back yet."

"Why, what's wrong?" asked Sirius, as Harry sat up.

"Death Eaters!" said Mad-Eye. "A dozen of them just attacked muggle London. Half of Oxford Street is in pieces!"

"What? When did this happen?"

"20 minutes ago," he said, "They just appeared and blew everything up! Loads of muggles have been killed. The Ministry's in a state of panic, they don't know what to do. When do you get back?"

Harry sat there silently, staring at the two frantic men, his mind reeling. "20 minutes ago," he said quietly. "We must have left…just has it happened. They just missed us."

A/N: 2 updates in 2 days! Aren't I doing well? AND it's longer than the last one. Fair enough, it isn't THAT long but we're getting there...I'm getting back into the swing of things again.