Yes this is legit an update!
Hello Sweetie
Yes I have an absolutely HUGE apology for the insanely long time to update!
I am still having internet problems like fucking crazy.
But I won't keep you from this.

XOXO

SHATTER ME

Chapter 25

There seemed to be very little chance in the following weeks leading up to the Easter holidays for Hermione to tell Harry, or Sirius to tell Remus, about Hermione's pregnancy. Harry was pushing for extra training practices for the game just before they left for the Easter break, as well as handling the extra load of homework the teachers seemed to be loading onto them. Hermione also focused down on schoolwork, as well as her own studies including trying to figure out how to return to the past and return to the future safely with a newborn.

It also seemed that Ron was still furious with not just Hermione but also Harry for not taking his side. He had written home to tell his mother what had happened. This then resulted in both Sirius and Hermione each receiving a howler from the Weasley matriarch. Thankfully both had begun to opt for breakfast in their rooms instead of the great hall which would have led to a very embarrassing explanation for the public.

The howlers arrived at the same time and exploded in to various lectures and vicious expletives that neither could fully hear properly above the other. Yet several phrases directed at both Hermione and Sirius did ring loud and clear through the room, as Sirius and Hermione sat with growing anger. The missives didn't have a chance to finish screaming as both howlers were engulfed in flames. Sirius was furious, but as he looked across the small breakfast table at Hermione he realised it was not his anger that incinerated the rest of Mrs Weasley's diatribe.

"That woman has no right to say a single thing about either of us!" Hermione hissed. The glass in her hand shattered but she paid it no mind.

"And nor should we let her words affect us like that Princess." Sirius answered cautiously, opening his copy of the daily prophet and reading as if it were a normal morning, instead of sitting opposite to someone ready to skin the next person who made a bad remark at them.

"For what it is worth love, what she said about you insulted me more than what she said about me." He picked up his wand and repaired the glass, hearing her hiss as the shards left her hand.

"Now, are you going to heal your hand or would you like to explain to Madam Pomfrey how you cut yourself?" He looked over the paper at her. She stared daggers at him but lifted her wand repairing the skin on her hand and standing.

"Where are you going?" He asked mildly.

"To change. Pumpkin juice doesn't seem to come out of clothing as easily as blood." She retorted, leaving Sirius heaving with laughter as she stormed into her room, shutting the door hard. Behind him a brief knock on the door as Ginny came bursting in.

"I am so sorry about my family! Where is Hermione? Is she ok?" She looked at the ashes that smeared the table and the spilt pumpkin juice.

"She is getting changed, and probably cooling off." Sirius explained, returning back to his paper. "Be careful if you go in there Ginny, she is really peeved."

Sirius heard the door of Hermione's room open and close. He had barely read a paragraph as the door opened and closed again. Letting the top half of the newspaper go limp, he saw Ginny leaning against the door glaring at Sirius. "She is not peeved! She is destroying everything in her room! Except, of course her books!"

"Why don't you sit down and finish Hermione's breakfast while she calms down." He flicked his wand to push the chair out.

"She has never been that emotional ever. I mean the boys upset her, but – what did my mother say in that letter to her?" Ginny sat picking up a piece of toast.

"It wasn't the letter to her that upset her." Sirius said lifting his coffee cup and taking a sip. "It was the one your dear mother sent me."

"Oh. Sirius, you know that I do not believe in anything that she may have said?" Ginny said panicked.

"Ginny, if you had, you would not even be in this room." Sirius said calmly. "In all honesty, the words that she slapped about Hermione pissed me off more than what your mother called me. And Hermione is more upset at what your mother called me to yet be upset at what she called her. I have no doubt that she will also register what your mother called her and there will be further hysterics before she calms down."

Ginny frowned at him, flinching slightly as something seemed to smash against the bedroom door. "It still does not explain Hermione's extreme emotions about all this. It's like her emotions are haywire, set to extreme."

"That would be one way to explain it." Sirius muttered, lifting the paper again.

"Explain what?" Ginny asked. Sirius tried to keep reading the article but couldn't when it was vanished. "Sirius, explain what?" Ginny asked again her wand pointed in his direction.

"Explain that your mother called me a good for nothing mudblood whore, for letting Sirius get into my pants, and getting me pregnant." Hermione said hollowly behind them. Bits of fluff clung to her hair as she stood in the doorway to her room. Ginny rounded on Hermione, "My mother said what?" she cried in outrage and stopped as what Hermione had just said sunk in.

"Wait you're what?" Ginny stared at Hermione. "You're not?"

Hermione nodded.

"OH MY GIDDY AUNT! YOU ARE?" Ginny squealed and near tackled Hermione into a tight hug, forcing her to stumble back into her room; Ginny kicking shut the door behind them. Sirius shook his head un-vanishing the paper to finally read the article he had been trying to read since opening the paper, wryly thinking that Lily definitely hadn't been that emotional as Hermione was right now.

VVWVV

After accidentally letting the cat out of the bag with Ginny, Hermione left to find Harry to finally tell him the news. By chance she managed to locate Harry studying alone in the library, yet as she approached the desk, she noted it wasn't so much as studying as it was Harry banging his head on the book of the cover.

"You do know the easiest method to get the information into your head is reading the book? And it's less painful too." She grinned at him as she took her seat. Harry huffed, sitting up and pushing the book aside.

"Well, when you are trying to complete an impossible task, you would be banging your head as well." He grouched.

Hermione raised a brow, "Oh? Well how about you explain your impossible task and I'll tell you mine." She pulled out her wand casting the muffliato charm around them so they could talk without fear of being overheard.

"I thought you hated that spell?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged, "I did, but since everything that has happened and about to happen, I have found it useful. So what is this impossible task you have?" She asked.

"Slughorn. I have tried everything and he still won't give that memory. And now Dumbledore said until I get it he won't be doing the extra lessons." Harry explained dully.

"He still hasn't given it to you?" Hermione asked. Her brow creased as she considered his problem to find a way to help.

"Hermione, can I ask you a favour?" Harry asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Can you please not tell Sirius? About what I am doing with Dumbledore?" he looked pleadingly at her.

"Why don't you want Sirius to know?" she asked, slightly perplexed.

"Because he will react badly" Harry answered. Hermione raised a brow and Harry explained, "You didn't see him in the days after we went to the Ministry or after when he first went to see you in St Mungo's. He blamed himself for what happened to you."

Hermione couldn't help but snort at the irony of Harry's statement, mainly as it was the main reason she had come to find him. It was Harry's turn to raise a querying brow at her.

"He, well about what happened. It's really why I came to talk to you. About what Sirius did, I mean." Hermione answered, blushing slightly. The words sunk in and Hermione saw as Harry's face flushed and his eyes widen in horror.

"Hermione, I really don't think I want to know!" Harry protested, "I mean, you are my best friend. I guessed that you had, but Hermione, I really don't want to picture it! Even though I saw what I saw in your memories. And Sirius is my Godfather! And you, your more like a sister and -"

"Harry, I'm pregnant." Hermione interrupted him, cutting off his protests. There was a long silence between them as Harry took in what she just said.

"Is it Sirius's?" Harry blurted out, breaking the silence.

"What? That is the first question you ask? What kind of person do you think I am?" She demanded hotly. Harry had the grace to look ashamed.

"Well, I mean, I wasn't sure. Does he know?" He asked. Hermione stared at him in disbelief.

"Harry, I wouldn't be here telling you now, if he didn't know. But that is not the problem."

"You mean its twins?" Harry asked, trying to understand.

"No! It most definitely is NOT twins!" Hermione said hotly. "The part where I am pregnant is not the problem."

"You lost me. How is- is being pregnant not a problem for you Hermione? I mean you are still at school. And pregnant. Wait –that explains the disgusting breakfasts you've been having!" Harry exclaimed, like he solved a particularly difficult Transfiguration question.

Hermione groaned and dropped her head onto the book in front of her. This was not how she pictured explaining this to Harry.

"You're meant to read it, Hermione. Not bang your head against it" Harry quoted her, grinning at her. Hermione raised her head and glared at him. Harry's grin grew wider but he put his hands up in mercy.

"Ok, if being pregnant is not the problem, what is?" He asked. Hermione's eyes softened and she told Harry what Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey had told her.

"You're not getting any older?" Harry asked; his eyes wide from everything she told him. Hermione shook her head.

"And even Dumbledore isn't sure that by sending me back in time again will even fix it. But he does seem certain that I do need to go back, so I can have the baby." Hermione explained.

"Blimey Hermione. Your problem actually makes mine seem childish compared to yours." Harry leaned back in his chair as he took it all in.

"Hold on. How are you going to go back in time? We managed to destroy every single time turner when we were at the Ministry." Harry asked frowning at the obvious problem.

"That is what I have been trying to figure out. Time turners won't work anyway if I am going back past when I am born. Yet Professor Dumbledore said not to worry about it." Hermione grouched.

"So why are you? Worrying I mean. If Dumbledore said not to worry about it he must already have a solution, maybe a Time Travel Device." Harry suggested.

Hermione shook her head, "No Harry. Professor Dumbledore also confirmed there are no more Time Turners. And from my own experiences with him in the past, I don't quite trust the entirety of his plans, because he never explains the entirety of the plan." They lapsed into silence, both in deep thought, both considering the other's problem.

"So, I am guessing – don't say anything to anyone?" Harry broke the silence, drawing Hermione back to reality. She shook her head.

"Not a soul. Well. I mean you can talk to Sirius, Ginny and me about the pregnancy."

"You told Ginny before me?" Harry asked surprised.

"She only found out because I was upset at the Howlers her mother gifted me and Sirius with this morning at breakfast." Hermione explained.

"But, Sirius hasn't told Remus yet. Though he will after today" Hermione smiled at Harry. "He is using it as a distraction for the other piece of news he is about to give Remus."

She pulled the book between them towards her and opened it, "Now hand me that parchment and let's find a way to get Professor Slughorn to give you that memory."

VVWVV

"You never said why we were meeting Fred and George." Remus muttered at Sirius as they approached the joke shop in Diagon Alley. Sirius shook his head not answering, striding forwards to the store's entry. The streets seemed to be deserted, yet for the witches and wizards that were brave enough to come out and do their shopping as fast as possible; everyone was suspicious of the other, keeping their heads down and avoiding talking to anyone. The Twins store, despite its bright colours was also empty of customers. Yet their main clientele were all currently at Hogwarts. Despite that, the twins both stood behind the counter grinning as the bell chimed when Sirius and Remus entered the store.

"Welcome to Weasley Wizard Wheezes!" they both chimed enthusiastically. Fred moved to lift the counter access, allowing the older wizards to pass through as George pointed his wand at the front door, locking it and magically turning the store sign to 'closed'.

Having been in the store frequently they continued forwards through the curtained off doorway to the back of the store where the sound of production of their products were in full steam. It was nothing that Sirius or Remus had seen before, yet it was always amazed them. Passing through the stacks of boxes and magically run machinery they entered the office the twins shared for the operations of their business. Remus looked around to see it was extraordinarily tidy.

"Clara" Fred explained with a broad grin. "We hired her to work the registers in the peak season and the next day she found her way back here and turned the place upside down tidying and organising"

"From what I gathered at Christmas, the new job wasn't the only thing she got to organise." Sirius stated as he sat down in one of the seats offered to him. The others took their seats chuckling. Fred shrugged, still grinning from ear to ear.

"So, now that we are here, Sirius, would you care to explain why we are here?" Remus asked his friend.

"I brought you altogether with a proposition of sorts, as well as inviting you all to the biggest Bucks party." Sirius announced.

"Who's getting married?" the twins asked in unison.

"I am" Both Sirius and Remus answered.

"I knew it." George nodded in understanding.

"Yeah I mean we always had a feeling you two were" Fred added.

"It is actually really beautiful you are finally coming out" George pulled out a hanky to wipe away mock tears.

"NO!" Both Remus and Sirius shouted together.

"Gentlemen! You really shouldn't' hide it, coming out like this, it means a lot." Fred said, taking George's handkerchief and blowing his nose on it.

"That being said Freddy; witches everywhere and I am sure a quite few muggle women are going to be devastated at the news." George added grinning at the two men opposite. Both were now scowling at the twins.

"Not to mention a few lads." Fred Chortled.

"At least with twins we can smack one each." Sirius growled. Remus nodded in agreement, "I concur. Gentlemen, as lovely as you say I am marrying Dora. I proposed on New Years Eve. Sorry I haven't had a chance to say anything until now."

"Congratulations!" The twins chimed.

"Shame though. You two are the cuter couple." Fred added with a grin. This time it was Sirius to act mock surprised, "Are you saying my cousin is not good looking enough for Moony?"

Fred and George burst out laughing, even Remus chuckled.

"No comment. Contrary to popular opinions we do value our hides." Fred said, recovering first from the laughter.

George wiped away a tear from his eye, "But it does leave the question who is the lucky lady?"

Fred leaned back in his chair, "I don't know, it'd be about time though." He said smugly.

"You know who he proposed to?" Remus asked slightly surprised at the twins. "Oh wait they are taking the piss."

Sirius snorted "I gathered that. Molly's howlers were rather explicit even for her. I've never heard that woman swear so much as this morning."

"It was the nicest day of our lives that a howler wasn't sent to us. Wish we were there for it." George said, leaning down and pulling out a large bottle of Odgeon's finest.

"Her screaming for murder and it's not our blood she was after! We have to ask though. How the hell did you manage to get Hermione, the smart studious bookworm?" Fred asked as he passed out the glasses as George filled them liberally for each of them. It was Remus and Sirius's turn to burst out laughing. Sirius took his glass and raised it, "Charming wit and animal magnetism. Plus she digs the bad boy."

"I don't think there was ever a time Fred and I were ever good!" George clinking his glass against the others.

"There was that one time. Worst two minutes of our lives!" Fred reminded George, before taking a sip.

"Boys, you were never going to compete. Moony and I, we are the original pranksters." Sirius said reclining in his seat, "Which reminds me," Sirius paused as he took another sip.

"Yes, I have another announcement to make as well." Remus said leaning forwards in eagerness.

"Oh, this has got to be good." Fred and George both grinned.

"We're Pregnant!" Sirius and Remus said together.

"What?" Remus and Sirius shouted at each other.

"I didn't know a wizard could be pregnant?" Fred said to George.

"Is it contagious?" George asked staring between the older wizards. Both twins leaned away quickly staring at Remus and Sirius with looks of horror.

Sirius and Remus were not paying attention to the twins as they stared at each other in absolute surprise.

"You knocked up my cousin?" Sirius asked Remus.

"You knocked up Hermione?" Remus asked Sirius.

"I knocked up Angelina" Said George.

"And I knocked up Clara" Fred said grinning as the two wizards now turned their surprised looks on them. George leaned over and topped up their glasses again.

"Since we're all sharing here." Fred raised his glass, "To proof that we all got laid!"

"Cheers!" George said enthusiastically as Sirius and Remus still bewildered followed silently, emptying their glasses.

"We are intending to propose to the girls on our birthday." George said as he refilled the glasses for a third time.

"It's the best day to do it. We will never forget it." Fred leaned back putting his feet on his desk.

George followed suit, "Not that we would forget of course. Those two would have our hides."

Fred nodded in agreement, "Though between the two, I am more scared of Clara. Never underestimate a Hufflepuff!"

Sirius snorted in laughter, "Moony knows that already."

George shook his head, "I don't know. Gryffindor girls are more likely to hex you first."

Remus nodded in agreement, "Having been on the receiving end of Hermione's hexing I would have to agree with you George."

"I am starting to think, perhaps it is time to get round to the business side of this meeting before we all get too drunk to legitimately conduct said business." Sirius said replacing his glass on the table and pulling out his wand and flicking it at the table, producing an official looking document handing over to Remus.

"This is to hereby declare you to act as CEO on my behalf in my stead, and in doing so, also to now handle our new and largest client." Sirius announced as Remus began unrolling the scroll and reading the scroll. "Formalities agreed to with said client dictate that I must let both acting CEO and client know of any changes with their contract."

Remus looked up frowning at Sirius, "I cannot be CEO, Sirius!"

Sirius shrugged picking up his glass settling back into his seat, "Why not? You have been doing so in everything but in actual name since I hired you. Now I have a legitimate and legal way in which I can give you the pay rise you deserve. Not that needed one, but you would have refused it anyway."

Remus was now glaring at Sirius, ignoring the twins who had made a quiet bet on the outcome and was now watching the proceedings of the meeting indulging themselves to more whiskey. Sirius gave Remus one of his most charming smiles and nodded at him to continue reading.

He made the mistake of taking a sip as he skimmed through the document, choking on the whiskey as he read. "I can't accept that figure!" He wheezed, "It is more than triple what you already pay me!"

Sirius looked at the figure he was pointing at and grinned, "That is just the commission earned from our client." Raising a glass towards the Twins; who toasted in return gesture.

"I thought St Mungo's was the biggest client?" Remus asked staring at the twins.

Sirius shook his head. "Not since we finally managed to secure one of the biggest trading deals for them to the American and Canadian Markets. Their business boomed overnight."

"It's true." Said George "We even had to open a larger and more secure vault in Gringotts."

Remus looked back down at the page, "So what is my salary?" There was a pause before He exploded from the chair tossing the contract onto the desk.

"What? That can't be right?" He downed his drink and summoned the bottle filling the glass again.

"To be fair Moony, the Salary I am offering is still roughly half of what you should be paid, but I know how much you would dispute it if I put that figure down." Sirius said smugly.

Fred picked up the contract to peruse as Remus stood glaring at Sirius. He whistled and handed it to his brother to look.

"Sirius, exactly how much are you worth?" George asked, handing the contract back to Remus.

Sirius shrugged, "Before I took full control of my uncle's estate and company, I was probably worth maybe double what the Malfoy's and Lestrange's are combined. Since I took over Black Market Trading," He shrugged again. "My accountant said I could buy half of Europe, and still have Galleons to spare."

The twins whistled low. Remus swore.

"So, you are basically the Royalty of Wizarding Britain?" Fred asked.

"We also have direct blood ties to the French Royal Family, the only Royals that were also part of the Wizarding world that ruled muggles and Wizards alike; direct descendant to old King Louis himself." Sirius mused.

"Which one?" The twins asked together.

"All of them." Sirius shrugged again, not caring for his heritage.

"Sirius, I cannot accept this." Remus said finally recovering enough. He waved the contract at Sirius. "This is too much!"

"I need you to. Besides I wouldn't trust anyone else to handle these boy's trading deal." Sirius drew a quill and held it out to Remus.

"Plus, we also told Sirius that we won't accept anyone else, except for you or Sirius." Fred added; high fiving his brother.

"This is Blackmail." Remus growled. The twins and Sirius all burst out laughing. George doubled over banging the table as Fred leaned back clutching his stomach, laughing loudly. Even Remus managed to chuckle as he signed the contract at his own statement, because the contract was exactly that, Blackmail.

VVWVV

The twins had both passed out in the celebrations that followed, empty bottles strewn across their desk and on the floor besides their chairs. Remus and Sirius were still awake still nursing their last drinks for the night, the conversation no longer celebratory.

"I think she was hiding more than what she showed of the memory she added." Sirius said quietly, staring into the depths of his glass. He had explained what happened when Hermione showed Harry and Ginny her memories and what had happened after.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked. He was frowning in concern for the two people that meant as much to him as Tonks.

"Things went black. Blank. Yet I had the feeling that she deliberately left some of what happened when she came out of the Veil. That or some of her memories then were actually wiped by those bastards," Sirius growled.

They lapsed into silence sipping the last of their drinks before standing and leaving the twins to sleep it off in the office. They made their way to the fireplace they installed to floo in and out of.

"Are you sure you trust me with this?" Remus asked waving his hand at the twins business.

"Remus, there is no one I would trust more on this while I go and do what I have to do to ensure Hermione and our baby is safe." Sirius said, putting a hand on Remus's shoulder.

"Now, go home and tell Dora, the reason you are so shatfaced drunk. And I will go and tell Hermione and Harry about your good news." Sirius said pushing Remus to the fireplace. Remus's grinning face disappeared in a whoosh of green. Sirius stood for a moment before grabbing a handful of powder and stepped into the empty grate.

Hey, me again.
I hope you forgive me, I am hoping to be able to get more chappy's up soon.
But again - it is still touch and go.
Seriously though thank you for staying with me!
It means sooooooooo much!

XOXO