Chapter 11 – The problems of pregnancy

Remus raised an eyebrow in question when he opened the door to his room to find not only Draco and Blaise there, but Severus as well.

"I got summoned," Severus stated with dry amusement while holding a slip of parchment in the gap of his fore and middle fingers. "It appears that Tom wishes to pick my brains over breakfast while the young one gets to know me better. I think either Miss Granger or Harry may have told him that Salazar Slytherin was a parseltongue and he'd like to ask a few questions."

Remus nodded his understanding and moved aside to allow the three Slytherins into his rooms where they stopped in shock. Sitting cross-legged with Harry and Hermione was Tom – no surprise there – and, horror of horrors, Sirius.

"It's a serious shock to the system, isn't it? Remus murmured from behind them. "For someone as hyperactive as Sirius is to have caught onto meditation as quickly as he did is unprecedented. He took to it like a duck to water the first time we saw Tom teaching it to Harry and Hermione."

"Unlike you, hey Moons?" Sirius said making the wolf jump in shock at hearing a loud voice so close to his ear. The next thing everyone knew, Sirius was on the ground with Remus, Harry and Hermione on top of him.

"What did we say we would do if you ever shouted into one of our ears ever again?" Harry asked sweetly from his perch on Remus' back. "Answer me please or you will be cooking for yourself for a week in your rooms with no help."

Sirius pales. "You said you would torture me beyond all belief. Please don't, I'm sorry, I won't do it again!" he pleaded.

"No Sirus. You could have done some serious, irreversible damage to Remus' hearing – especially now that we are trying to get him and his wolf to merge. You are going to stay there until we have finished your punishment and you are not to complain once," Harry stated, forcing Sirius to meet his eyes. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Kitten," Sirius muttered, completely ashamed of himself. "I deserve the punishment, I took a joke too far and it could have been disastrous."

"Good boy," Hermione said, patting his head none to gently as the three of them allowed him to stand and move to a seat where Harry and Hermione attacked him with brushes, combs, and a wide range of products that none of the others wanted to know about. The three Slytherins and Tom followed Remus into the kitchen, thinking it would be safer for them.

Remus was almost finished with getting breakfast ready when Harry and Hermione walked into the kitchen wearing smug expressions and dragging a very attractive and pouting lady with them into the room.

"Everyone, this is Serina [pronounced Ssss-air-eeee-nah]. She will be taking Sirius' position in our lives until we decide that his punishment is over. She will be taking his classes and his detentions as well as any and all duties Sirius had."

The eyes of everyone in the room turned to inspect the unknown woman. She was only just shy of five-foot-eight with a decent sized chest, wide hips, narrow waist and shapely arms, legs and neck. Her skin was a slightly pale tone with a hint of pink, which was highlighted by her clothing.

Her robes were magenta and hugged her to her waist as though it was a second skin before flowing out into the usual robe. The men also caught sight of a cream silk undershirt.

Her face was framed by raven black hair with a slight curl to it. Pale pink lips were formed into a put, cheeks had a slight flush and deep grey eyes were lined with black Kohl and were frosted with a misty blue-grey powder.

"Do you mind?" she snapped.

Everyone's eyes widened at the slightly familiar, husky feminine voice.

"Black?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged smirks as Tom's, Severus' and Remus' eyes widened in shock as they took a longer, lingering look up and down the feminine figure before them.

"I thought you were going to torture him," Blaise said as he and Draco wrapped their arms around their perspective mates.

"We are," Harry and Hermione chorused. "What's worse torture to a straight man being surrounded by hundreds of hormonal male teenagers who are doing nothing but imagining you naked and starring in their wet dreams?"

Severus, Tom and Blaise exchanged horrified looks while Remus and Draco burst into laughter at the green tint that appeared on the animagus – turned –female's face.

"A punishment worthy of the Marauders Kitten," Remus gasped through his laughter.

Harry and Hermione smiled innocently. "We did nothing but what we promised Remy. Now, what is happening today?" The two of them greeted the Potion's master before cuddling into their mates.

"Sirius … I mean … Serina and I have classes all day, so we will need to eat in the Great Hall as we also have some detentions we need to supervise for the second half of lunch," Remus stated with a smirk as he gestured for everyone to start eating.

Harry pouted at the quiet man, much to his amusement. "Sorry Kitten, but you know we work – and you'll see me in the hours before dinner for our session and to help cook our evening meal," He chuckled seeing Harry's eyes resume their joyous look.

"You'll see me the hour after lunch also kitten," Serina announced, smirking when everyone bar his niece and nephew jumped at the sound of his voice, "And Hermione will see me for my session at the same time you and Remus meet."

"Blaise and I have classes, but we will be having lunch here unless you wish to have a picnic out by the lake," Draco said.

"That would be wonderful," Hermione answered with a smile. "Did you want us to cater for it or would you like those darling little creatures to do so?"

Blaise chuckled. "Draco and I will stop by the kitchens before we come get you for lunch." He turned towards Tom. "I received word from Mother last night. She wishes to know if you and she can meet before I introduce Hermione to her. I also mentioned Harry having his healer's certificate. She wishes to ask your permission to see him."

Tom nodded. "I will see her this afternoon if that is permissible?"

Blaise nodded his head slightly in his direction. "I will send her your request after I leave here," he promised.

Severus smiled crookedly. "I have classes to teach as well," he stated, not able to hide his disappointment. "I would like to invite the two of you to join me in my afternoon lessons. I have my younger years at that time and even though I haven't been able to completely look through your questionnaire, I got enough understanding from watching you work to allow you to aid in my lower year level classes."

Severus fell off his chair as both Harry and Hermione launched themselves at him, squealing excitedly like five year olds. Everyone in the room laughed as he pat the two of them unsurely on the head while trying to get them to calm down so they were easier to understand.

Tom, who eventually began to pity the poor man, stood and cleared his throat, looking pointedly at his two charges. They silenced immediately and clambered off the very relieved man.

"I thought I taught you better than that, my snakelings," he began in a dangerously clam voice. "So what, may I ask, do you think you were doing?"

"The Professor invited us into his classroom while he was teaching. Not to do a test, not to learn from him – thought that would be wonderful – but to aid him in teaching young minds something that will be useful to them throughout their lives. He wants us to help him," Hermione answered as calmly as she could.

"And what is so interesting about that?" Tom asked, hissing slightly in irritation.

"He's THE Severus Snape, Tom! Harry exploded in his anxiety to explain his reasons to his mentor. "Lord of the Prince line, Creator of sixty-three of the world's top one hundred most used and useful potions, author of sixteen potions books, a defensive text, four spell crafting papers, two articles on Occulmancy and Legilimancy, Holder of the world's most prestigious potions award for the last twelve years AND the youngest ever Potion's master." Harry was vibrating with excitement where he stood facing Tom, who suddenly had a very understanding look on his face.

"You were not this excited yesterday when you first met him," Tom eventually pointed out.

""That's because I didn't know who he was!" Harry started to hyperventilate. "I didn't know until Siri told us while we were doing his hair."

"Harry … Kitten, calm down!" Hermione called, reaching for the green-eyed teen. "Deep calming breathes, Sweetie, Deep and clam."

Everyone jumped when a growl and slap was heard followed by a lough yelp.

"You imbecilic idiot!" Remus snarled, sending stinging hexes at his best friend, who was cursing this foreign body. "You know how much our kitten looked up to Sev and you still told him who he was BEFORE he got to know him. YOU. ARE A. GALLOOT! Remus hexed Sirius between each word before stopping, panting as though he'd run a cross-country marathon.

"What?" Severus squeaked, making Harry flush with embarrassment at his behaviour that morning.

"Harry has two heroes," Hermione explained, smiling at the embarrassed young man. "The first is Tom because he stopped and aided us in our time of need even though he knew that it would be over ten years before he could continue on his own quest," Tom smiled at Hermione and gathered his blushing Prince to his side, giving him a soft kiss on the top of his head. Hermione smiled back and looked at Severus. "The other is one Severus Tobias Snape because he never gave up on his dreams, no matter what was thrown at him nor by whom. He stayed true to what his nature was and not only bested the last record for youngest person to get any mastery by four years, but also proved to wizarding society that it didn't matter which type of blood flowed through your veins, nor the type of magic you use – everyone has a place."

Severus blinked at the cinnamon-eyed girl as he processed what she had said. "James Potter's son looks up at me as one of his heroes?" he asked a few moments later, just for clarification.

"He does," Hermione clarified.

"Then I must say that I feel privileged to have found a place in his life with one of the people he classifies as one of his most precious people and I hope I can live up to his expectations," he stated firmly with a flattered look on his face.

"You already have," Harry murmured blushing brightly as he peeked at the man over his sister's shoulder.

Severus' eyes lit up in delight at the softly spoken words and he smiled softly. "I have a spare space in my schedule mid-morning so I will be able to come here for the talk you wish to have Tom."

Tom nodded regally. "If Blaise's mother permits it, I will be meeting with her and her family around or after lunch and other than the space that I will be talking with Severus, I will be following my kits to where they wish to take me."

Harry and Hermione exchanged excited looks.

"Well, "Harry began excitedly, "first we are going to be introducing Tom to Salazar. He said that he'd be able to show us to another frame of his that we can carry around with us so we can talk to him when we wish to."

"Then we will be coming back here to wait for the Professor and while he and
Tom talk, Harry and I will be doing our own study."

"What would that study be?" Remus asked with interest.

"'Mione will be reading her newest neurology book," Harry said with a warm smile at his sister.

"And Harry will be reading this month's copies of Healing hands, Pioneering potions, Nat. Geo., Time and any other magazine he gets delivered today," Hermione said with a grin.

"It's called a periodical, Mione," Harry whined, "not a magazine."

"I should have known," Remus chuckled.

"You read Pioneering Potions?" Severus, Blaise and Draco asked.

Harry nodded his head rapidly, eyes shining and a large grin on his lips. "It's the best potion's journal that is printed in the UK!" Harry said excitedly. "I tried reading others but after reading Pioneering Potions they are more like an introductory tool for those not competent in the art of potions. Last month they had this awesome debate on whether the addition of Actea racemosa can be inter-changed with Mocrotys actaecieds with no side effects and if so, can they be used in abortion potions with Caulophyllum thalictroides to negate aborting effects to create a safe and low potent potion a witch can take every moth to regulate her menstrual cycle after child birth or other traumatic events. They decided that they needed to ask what those who worked in the business of potions and health thought and this month's edition will have the responses from those who took the time to reply and the answer to the debate which had been tested as the debate had continued."

"What is it that you think?" Severus asked, eyes gleaming at the topic under discussion.

"In the first instance I believe that Actiea racemosa and Mocrotys actaeoides can be interchanged with limed differences. The taste and strength of the resultant brew could be all as muggles have used both of them for the same medical conditions interchangeably. The second part of the debate is incorrect as all three ingredients have the same – or similar – use in the muggle world with Caulphyllum thalictoides having the strongest effects of the three of them. While Actea and Macrorotys are commonly used to aid in the treatment of women's health problems, Caulophyllum has always been used to stimulate the womb into ridding itself of anything inside of it – be it an overly thick layer of tissue or a developing child," Harry prattled, ignoring the amused glances of his family and the awed disbelief on his and his sister's mates faces.

"I don't …" Severus growled in frustration when the bell sounded, warning of the start of the day. "When you obtain the newest copy, bring it to me if you wish so I can read it. It sounds like an interesting debate" he sighed. Before he could move, Harry had disappeared and reappeared before the man.

"I'll bring this month's edition to class this afternoon, but here is last month's copy so you can get the facts of the debate," Harry blushed slightly. "Just ignore the writing on the pages."

Severus removed the journal from the teen's hand with a gentleness that surprised even him. "I thank you for loaning me your copy of last month's edition I will treat it as though it were my own."

Harry smiled at the man then bounded over to Tom and dragged the chuckling man from the room, followed closely by Hermione. Remus laughed as he realised that the sneaky kits had left them with the cleaning. With a snap of his fingers he called his personal house elf to him, gave him instructions to clean the breakfast dishes only and had herded everyone to the door to start the new day

Dashingthroughtheline

Tom chuckled as he followed the two kits deeper into the bowels of the castle. The two of them where chattering away as if they were a pair of old crows. As they turned a corner, Tom felt his breath catch in his throat. There, before them was a portrait of a distinguished gentleman with a calculating gleam in his eye that disappeared as soon as he noticed Harry and Hermione.

"Little ones!" he greeted calmly. "How may I help you today?"

"Hi Lord Slytherin," Harry chirruped, bouncing towards the portrait. "We really just came to introduce you to our mentor and to see if we could get those travel frames you mentioned."

Salazar chuckled. "Well do you not think you should introduce us? It does not seem wise to call your mentor, 'Mentor of the Little Ones' does it?"

Tom, Salazar and Hermione chuckled when Harry blushed softly.

"Tom, this is Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts. Lord Slytherin, this is Tom our Mentor, Teacher and fellow Demon but of the snake variety," Hermione said formally.

"It is a pleasure to speak with you, Lord Slytherin," Tom stated, inclining his upper body slightly in a shadow of a bow.

"No, it is I who is honoured to meet you, Master Tom," Salazar replied in all honesty. "I have heard much about you from your two kits and I must say I am impressed with your skill and dedication to them and their education. I am proud their chosen mates are in my house – they both deserve nothing short of the best."

"I must say that I agree with you in that aspect, Lord Slytherin," Tom said with a softened glance at the two kits that had transformed and were now playing with a broken quill they had found.

"I hear that you have taught the two kits your native language," Salazar inquired delicately.

"Yes, I did indeed. Harry already had the basics of the language and both were fast studies of it," Tom admitted with pride.

"One day when you are not so busy, would you be willing to chat with me? I find I miss having someone to converse with in and about Parseltongue. Such a fascinating and intricate language," Salazar enquired a hint of desire in his eye.

"I would like that very much," Tom responded with a slightly deeper, more respectful bow.

"Thank you," Salazar smiled slightly. "Now, for the frames …"

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Severus took a deep calming breath before knocking on the door. He was at a complete loss as to why the snake Demon wanted to talk to him and it unnerved him quite badly. He wasn't surprised to see Hermione answer the door and place a finger to her lips. Giggling softly, she led him to the sitting room where Tom was seated, watching Harry jump around the room excitedly, holding a potion's journal much like the one he had given into Severus care that morning.

"Professor!" he cried, slamming into the shocked man's chest in an exuberant hug.

"I guess that is the newest edition of Pioneering Potions," he chuckled.

Harry grinned and nodded his head so quickly that Tom and Hermione laughed and told him to make sure his head wouldn't fall off with the fast movements.

"How about you calm down and read it while I interrogate Severus for a while then you can loan him this edition as well so he can read about this debate that has you so excitable," Tom chuckled, producing a surprisingly rich sound.

"Ok Tom," Harry said with a sweet smile, releasing a still blinking Severus.

As Harry settled into a comfortable position with his quill in one hand, inkwell floating on a board diagonally to the right of him and his beloved journal resting on a slanted table to allow him proper access from his seat on the floor, Severus followed Tom into the dining room.

"I asked you here because I am interested in my kit's mates and their families. Please tell me all I need to know."

Severus allowed himself a small sigh of relief – he hadn't done anything wrong after all – and cleared his throat. "Let's start with Blaise first," he began.

Overlineswego

Tom looked around the room the House-elf had led him to as he waited for the Lord or Lady of the house to appear. Ten minutes later, a darkly enchanting middle-aged man lead a heavily pregnant beauty into the room. As the man arranged the woman with a calm, dutiful pose, Tom took the time to analyse her. He could have been able to tell that this lady was Blaise Zabini's mother, even if he hadn't known beforehand.

Blaise had inherited her dark caramel skin, her curling dark brown-black hair, her deep brown eyes and her proud Grecian stature. Noting that the attentive male had seated himself beside her, Tom bowed respectfully. "I thank you for opening your house to me, Lady Zabini. I've heard wonderful things of you from both your son and his Potion's Professor."

Willa Zabini nodded her head at him with a rueful smile on her face. "I'm glad to hear my son speaks highly of me, Mr Riddle. Please, have a seat and forgive my lack of courtesy. It's rather taxing to sit and stand continuously throughout the day."

"There is nothing to forgive, My Lady. I can only begin to imagine the strain you are under during this time. I was told this morning that you wished to ask something of me," Tom stated after seeing to the niceties.

"Yes, there are several things actually," the man said, transferring Tom's attention to him.

"Forgive me, Gentlemen," Willa gasped. "May I introduce Nicholas, my husband?"

Tom stood and bowed deeply to the man. "It honours me that I can meet the man that Blaise speaks so highly of. I believe the only person who he holds higher is his mother. It is also wonderful to meet a kindred spirit. It isn't often you find someone willing to become the father of a child not theirs by blood."

Nicholas and Willa stared at Tom for a while before shaking themselves out of it.

"It was my privilege to raise Blaise as my own," Nicholas said with a warm smile. "He's a damn good kid. I couldn't be prouder of him. We couldn't be prouder of him."

"Which leads us to the first of our reasons to ask you here," Lady Zabini said. "Blaise wrote to us stating that he has found his mate in one of your charges. Is this correct?"

"This is correct, Lady Zabini," Tom gave them a half-smile. "I must be honest with you. To begin with I was not impressed by this fact – meaning no disrespect for you, your son or your family. It was more along the lines of a Father's unwillingness to believe that their daughter had grown into the beautiful woman they have been destined to become. I think it was harder on me because both my kits found their mates at the same time – one to your son and the other to the Malfoy heir. After pulling your son aside and talking to him, the

Founder of his house and Potions master Snape, I have come to respect him and am thankful that of all the males in the word, my 'Mione managed to capture one who will treat her with the respect and devotion she deserves. Are you feeling alright?" he asked with a frown as the lady before him tensed slightly and pushed down on her stomach gently.

"I'll be …" Lady Zabini whimpered before starting to hyperventilate when her husband raised a red-coloured hand from her leg, his face white.

"Do I have permission to bring someone to your manor?" Tom asked firmly, wasting no time.

"I, Nicolas Zabini, give Tom Riddle permission to bring whomever he wishes into the Manor as long as they wish us no harm."

As soon as the Zabini Lord had uttered those words, Tom had vanished, only to appear ten minutes later with four other people, two who were familiar, two who weren't.

"Blaise, I need you to move to whee your Father is, Mr Zabini, I need for you to collect every potion, balm and pill she has been prescribed and give them to 'Mione." Hermione waved a hand to indicate who she was. "Draco I need you to find the young ones and keep them from coming in here. I don't care how you do it, but do it. One of us will get you when it's over."

Draco nodded and left his relief visible.

"Tom, keep talking to her husband, keep him calm and let no on from out there in unless I request it. 'Mione, I'm going to need potion thirty-two as a definite and I'll tell you the rest as I go."

Hermione nodded and started to set up a portable potions lab out on the veranda so the fumes wouldn't harm anyone. Harry smiled calmly down at the panicking woman and carded his hands soothingly through her hair.

"Hello Mrs Zabini," he cooed slightly. "My name is Harry and I'm going to be your Healer for today. My blood-sister, Hermione, is going to be my helper." Harry slowly allowed a trickle of his magic to enter her system to calm her fears before placing both of is hands on her protruding stomach and allowing more of his magic to flow into her, seeking the problem. He mentally called out numbers of his more frequently used potions to Hermione as he found use for them.

"Nicholas?" Willa asked, panting for breath while the cool sensation removed the pain from her body.

"He's just doing a small job for me and is now talking to Tom. If you turn your head slightly to the left then you should see them."

"Blaise?"

"I'm here Mama," Blaise said, squeezing her hand gently. "You didn't think I would leave you and Papa to go through this alone do you?"

"Carla and Laynee?"

"Draco is with them. You know how much they love their Uncle Draco," Blaise answered.

"You have three children already Mrs Zabini?" Harry asked, still conversing with Hermione as she used her magic to examine the potions she had just been given.

"Yes. Blaise is my eldest at seventeen. Carla is our Princess and eight and Laynee, our Kitten at five."

Harry let out a soft, tinkling laugh. "It seems that it might get confusing every now and then when I come over to visit then. 'Mione and Tom always call me Kitten on the account that I'm a Cat-Demon."

"I always thought that Demon magic would be more … potent than this," Willa stated.

"Most Demon magic is," Harry smiled "Natural submissives have a less authoritative feel to their magic which makes us perfect Healers, Teachers and Mothers. Do you know the sex of you young ones yet?" he asked.

"No, our Healer said we wouldn't be able to know that for another four weeks. He also went on vacation once my complications started."

Before Harry could reply, Hermione let out a screech that could be heard through the glass before storming inside.

"Who gave you this potion?" Hermione almost snarled out of Nicholas who was walking backwards until his back hit the wall in fear. "Well?"

"Rinie, calm down and talk to me. What is the potion in question?" Harry soothed, now using his magic to check each foetus.

"On the label it says it is a potion to aid in Morning Sickness."

"Ok. Mrs Zabini, do you remember who gave you the potion for morning sickness?" Harry soothed.

"My Healer – Healer Johanson [prounounced Yo-han-son]. My morning sickness was only slight, but he insisted that I take it anyway. The complications started two weeks later."

"Thank you, my lady. Do you want to know the sex of the twins?" Harry asked.

"Yes please," she said, gesturing for her husband to come closer. "He says he can tell us the sex."

"I'm happy to say you are almost five months along and have two beautiful little boys. After "Mione and I fix the damage that has been done and have you cleaned up, I will get Draco to bring your daughters in and show you a picture of them."

"Thank you," Nicholas sighed out, kissing the side of his wife's head.

"What damage?" Willa asked nervously.

"First I will explain what has Rinie worked up, as that may explain some of what is wrong, however I can say that both you and the twins are low in potassium, the twins appear to be malnourished and the placenta and the walls of your uterus have lots of small tears in them. That is where the blood from earlier came from, by the way. Other than that, and a few physical problems, both boys are fine."

"Thank the gods," Willa muttered collapsing into the couch more in boneless relief.

"Now Rinie, the ingredients of the potion if you please."

Hermione nodded, eyes glimmering with suppressed rage. "Catnip, Passionflower and Celery," she started.

"That explains the potassium levels," Harry muttered, writing them down and handing the Zabini Matriarch the first potion he had Hermione make, which was to flush all other potions in the system out of both her and the twins. He smiled as his magic felt its effects almost instantly. "I'm guessing they were for anxiety and/or stress, but could also be the reason for the tears due to mini contractions they may have caused," Harry frowned slightly.

"Hermione nodded. "Evening primrose."

"Tenderness of the breast," Harry said with a nod of appreciation.

"Apple, rhubarb and vervain," Hermione continued, noticing the frown on Harry's face before anyone else could.

"Constipation, but not a combination I would use for a pregnancy," Harry muttered, making a series of notes. "Apple is good. It's soft on the stomach and the bowels unless you get an acid build up in your stomach, but rhubarb can cause for the uterus to contract – meaning micro contractions in small doses and the possibility of abortion," Harry frowned deeper, very happy he had given the lady his special potion. "Vervain could explain the slower-than-normal heart rate and the smaller-than-normal lung passages. Both of which take time and potions to fix," Harry scowled.

"Ginger and Raspberry," Hermione continued, starting to get nervous.

"Morning sickness and nausea," Harry muttered to himself. "Is that all Rinie?"

"No Harry … The last two ingredients were … were …" Hermione bit her lip and closed her eyes. "The last two ingredients were Black and Blue Cohosh," she whispered into the silent room.

Harry stilled instantly, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Do you wish to join me in destroying someone, beloved sister?" he asked, eyes glittering dangerously.

"Why yes, dearest brother, I do believe I do. What shall we do?"

"First, we tell the Zabini's what the big deal is. Then we do our best to fix that two-faced son-of-a-bitch's mess, then we show them there sons, then Blaise and Draco go back to the school, Tom stays here and watches Lady Zabini for me and we, my dear, we have an appointment with the Healer's Academy followed by a Court Hearing that will make that … that … that THING regret messing with his patients. I'll make sure he pays for this, even if I need to spell Veritaserum into his system myself!"

"What's wrong?" Blaise asked frantically. "You both just started hissing at each other."

Willa struggled to sit up and she grabbed Harry's arm. "Please tell me what is wrong with my babies."

Harry stroked a gentle hand through Willa's hair, soothing her without magic. "Your babies are fine," he cooed softly, "Nothing that a few doses of potions can't fix. The problem is the state of the placenta and the uterus itself. It can be fixed, but it will take time, frequent potions and a lot of bed rest on your part," he cautioned.

"Anything," Willa said.

"Alright, I'll give you the directions in a moment, but first, I need to explain something. Several of the ingredients for the potion we were concerned about have been used for decades past as uterine stimulants for females who are trying to stimulate their fertility cycle. If a woman takes a strong enough dose of one of these, it could lead to the abortion of a child."

Harry soothed the pale lady by running his hands down her inner arm, just like Hermione sometimes did to him. "Black and Blue Cohosh are two of the more powerful uterine stimulants and more often than not, abortion is the rule, not the exception. Do either of you read Pioneering Potions?"

"We both do," Nicholas said. "We own several apothecaries around Europe and a few farms here and there. It's always good to know which ingredients are going to be popular before time."

Harry nodded grimly. "Black Cohosh is also known as Actea racemosa or Macrotys actaeoides," he stated, pouring his magic into Lady Zabini to prevent her from hyperventilating. "Blue Cohosh is Caulophyllum thalictroides. Both are illegal to use without a declaration signed by the parents to be, two different Healers and forty-five percent of the members of the Healer's Academy – where all are invited. I know that this wasn't followed as I was never called to the meeting."

"What do I do to fix this?" Willa asked.

"We will give you a fresh set of potions, along with an oath that none of these potions will do you lasting harm - even if it doesn't feel like it to begin with. You are to take these potions at every meal with food. I'm sorry, but it has to be substantial for the potions to work. You are to be on complete bed rest until I say so and I'll be here twice a week."

Willa nodded. "I can do that. It will be hard for the girls though."

"I can talk to them," Harry said with a smile. "Now, who wants to see the twins?"

Hermione smiled and flamed into the room holding Draco and two beautiful girls. "We're finished and Harry is going to show a picture of the babies."

Draco nodded and led the happily squealing girls to the room holding everyone. Harry smiled at Draco, who introduced his mate to the giggling girls beside him.

"Ready … and … there we go," Harry smiled wistfully as he gazed at the black and white image of the two small boys curled up inside their mother's body.

Draco wrapped his arms around his mate's waist and placed butterfly kisses down his neck. "In a year's time, that will by you, Kitten," Draco murmured. "I can't wait for you to be swollen with my kits, nourishing them with your body. What a beautiful sight you will be."

Harry giggled and blushed slightly at Draco's words before cancelling the spell and walking to kneel at the girl's level. "I'm going to tell you something very important, okay?" he told them seriously. Both girls nodded with wide eyes. "I know there was a man that either came here or that your mama went to so she could make sure the twins were alright," Harry stated.

"I didn'th like him," Laynee said with a slight lisp due to her top two front teeth missing. "He wath phery rude: He tried to thmack Carla and me with hith bag lath thime he wath here."

"I want you to do something very important okay?" Harry waited for both girls to nod and pulled out two rings with grey stones on them before putting them on the right pinkie of both girls. "If that man ever comes here again, or your mama needs a Healer, I want you to press that stone," he pointed to the largest stone. "That will call me here so I can deal with either him or help your mama."

Both girls nodded seriously, making their parents and Blaise smile.

"Now," Harry stated. "I'm going to be coming every Wednesday and Sunday to check on your Mama. The man I want you to watch for has made your mama very sick and tired to hurt your little brothers."

Carla looked grim at this news while Laynee gasped.

"I know it was a bad thing for him to do, but I'm here to fix what he did and make sure that he gets punished for it, but your mama isn't allowed to move from her bed for anything. She can sit up or lay down, but no walking. This is so she can help your baby brothers get nice and strong. So, the second thing I want the two of you to do is to make sure she doesn't get bored. Talk to her, get her to read to you and even get her to help with your homework, but don't get too rough. Can you do that for me?"

Both girls' nodded seriously, making Harry beam at them.

"I knew I could count on the two of you. Now, I need two helpers to bring the potions up to your Mama's room while your Papa, Blaise and Draco bring Mama."

To Willa's, Nicholas' and Blaise's surprise, both girls hurried over to where the potions were and carried as many as they could out of the room.

[All information on the plants used in the potions were found in the following book]

*Castleman, M., 2001, The New Healing Herbs : The classic guide to nature's best medicines featuring the top 100 time-tested herbs. Hinkler.