I don't own SPN or Harry Potter.

Chapter 10 – What a surprise?

As Jo and Dean stepped into the park Hermione was pacing outside of Georges and Fred's shared room. She was nervous, how he will react to the news. Even if she knew that he wouldn't run away from his responsibilities, because that isn't his style, she still is scared. Fred is an honest man, who didn't back down from a challenge and becoming a parent of twin girls definitely will be a challenge for him as well as for her.

But she can't get the courage to knock on the door. They may be a couple, but she would always respect his privacy and not just enter his room without announcing herself first, especially considering he shares a room with his brother. But her pacing for the last 10 minutes didn't go unnoticed by the twins. So faith took courage out of her hands as George opens the door and says with a big smile. "If you run like that a little bit longer you will break a hole into the floor." Jokes are always a good way to break the tension. He doesn't need to see that she was tense; he feels is and heard her pacing in front of their room.

For a moment Hermione was shocked and didn't know what to say. But her brave self was back soon, even if she voiced her question in a whisper. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." with that he steps away from the door to let her in. Hermione steps around George into the room, which was equipped with two beds, two desks, one couch and a fireplace to keep them warm. Fred set on the couch deep in concentration; he and his brother were apparently working on a new product or something they could use in the war.

He looks up at her with a smile and asks. "Is everything alright, Love?" he can see that she is nervous, but he doesn't know why.

She took the seat beside him as she answers. "We have to talk Fred."

George can see that it is something serious and he doesn't want to invade on their privacy. So he tells them. "Take all the time you need I will be in the library."

Before he can leave the room, she stops him. "George you don't have to go."

"Are you sure?" he asks her.

"Yeah." she tells him seriously. Both twins are curious, what is going to happen next. She looks nervous at Fred and he is concerned for her. But he doesn't have time to think about it long as she dropped a metaphorical bomb on his head. "There is no easy way of saying this so here goes nothing. Fred I am pregnant." That statement faced silence. Time stood still for Fred as his mind slowly formed a picture of a little boy with his mischievous tendencies and her smart brain in his head. Without noticing a smile started on his face. A good sign for Hermione maybe she should tell him the rest. "with twins." With shock he looks at his girlfriend or better the mother of his children as the boy in his mind stood beside his identical twin. The smile gets bigger especially if he thought about his children pulling the same trick he and George pulled on their mum for years, by switching from Fred to George and the other way around. "And they will be girls." The smile died a little with that statement, not because he would have liked boys more, but girls mean so much trouble. Boys want to date them and that combined with his mischievous tendencies scares him a bit. Nevertheless the picture in his mind transform the twin boys into twin girls, whom where the exact copy of their mother, beautiful and smart. Only that picture tells him that he never will have a chance against all his girls. They will outsmart him on a daily basis; oh he has to be careful.

George watched his brother's face from the moment Hermione told him about her pregnancy. He could see his smile and knew what he was thinking. With every statement she presented them with his facial expression changed. But the funniest thing happened as she told him that they were girls. Fred's face showed shock, happiness and downright panic. George knew what his brother was thinking in that moment, without asking him. The thought of girls terrified him and should they be as smart as her mother he would have a hard life in the future. That is amusing to George and he had a hard time keeping his laughter in. But the picture about two beautiful, mischievous nieces, who would prank their parents with their cool uncle's help, was too much for him. He burst out laughing as he said. "You do nothing in halves Forge."

Until the moment Fred's smile shrank Hermione lost her nervousness a bit. But the information about the babies being twin girls was apparently too much for him or at least a little. Good to have his brother here to make a joke to lift the tension a bit. She knew why she wanted him here. It was always a good to have both twins there if you have to deal with only one of them. The other one would always try to make the situation better. So she is grateful for his presence. "Yeah he is special like that." she gives in her five cents.

Speechless, Fred Weasley, was speechless. There was no other word for it, as he looked from his laughing brother to his smiling, but still nervous looking girlfriend. 'Why was she nervous? Does she think that I don't want her and the babies or does she believe I would run from his responsibilities?' All those questions run through his mind. They are his family, his family. That thought brought out another smile this time in full force. He reaches for her hand and pulls her into his lap. As soon as she sits there, one of his hands lands on her still flat belly. "We are going to be parents, Love." he says to her smiling while his other hand caress her check, before he brings her lips to his for a passionate kiss. "Thank you, Love … thank you for this." he tells her after they break apart after some snogging. With his hands he draws circles on her belly to tell her for what he is thanking her.

"So you are okay with this." she asks him as she puts her own hand over his to bring her point across.

"Yes, why should I not?" he asks her perplexed.

Ashamed Hermione looks away from his beautiful face as she answers him. "I don't know maybe you want something different." In reality she meant someone else, but her proud self didn't let her formulate that statement.

But Fred knew her well, so he knew what she is talking about. But for him there is no-one else. He turns her face around so that he can look into her beautiful brown eyes. He needs the eye contact so that he can reassure her. "Who else shall I want, when I have the smartest, funniest and most beautiful witch already in my arms."

Even if she knows that he speaks the truth, because she can see it in his eyes. Her insecurities are always on her mind and the hormones of the pregnancy weren't any help. So she blurred out. "I don't know … maybe a wizard instead of a witch."

Fred smiles, he knows one of her fears is to lose him, but not to another witch, but to a wizard, especially one in particular. He knows they need to talk about it and what better time than now. Before he starts he sends his brother one meaningful glance to tell him that he probably should do something else. With a nod George cast a silencing charm on himself and worked more on their new ideas. "Hermione, I know that you are afraid of losing me to Malfoy, but that will not happen. I love you. … The other way is a greater possibility with the bloody contract between the both of you."

"I love you too. … Yeah, I know he doesn't want to break It." she tells him.

"Sirius told me what he wants instead and that it is a decision for the both of us." he tells her matter-of-factly. He sees the gears in her head in motion, but before she drives herself into a fit he has to clear something up. "Hermione stop thinking for a moment and listen." he waits for her to answer, as she nods that he has her attention he goes on. "Malfoy's preposition isn't an easy one for either of us … He has to gain your trust and regain my trust. And I don't know if I can believe him, but I know his idea gives me the chance to be with you without losing you in the end." she wants to interrupt him, but he wasn't finished. "That doesn't mean we accept his preposition, but we can talk about it and decide together. Besides at the moment he only wants to meets with us." he concludes his statement.

Hermione took her time to work to everything that he had said as she answered. "I know that you love me and that it is only a meeting, but I am scared that your feelings for him are bigger than for me."

A tear runs down her check and he uses his dumb to wipe it away. "Hermione, Love, listen carefully, my love for you differs from the feelings I had for him. Because even if I fell for him in the end … I couldn't explore them like I could with you. Between me and Draco it was mostly sex and with you it is so much more. So it will be the other way around my feelings for you are bigger." with the last word he connects their foreheads and gazes in her eyes so that she can see that he means every word. The growing smile on her face tells him that she believes him. So he had to lift the tension a bit with a joke. "Besides soon there is so much more to love about you."

She laughs and sees what he is trying to do. "Yeah I am going to be fat." she says with a smile.

"Not fat, Love, but filled with some nice carvings." he teases her.

"And you want your fill." she gives back.

"Always." with that he kisses her. After a short passionate kiss he leans down to her belly and says. "Girls be good for Mummy." That gesture brought a small tear of joy to Hermione's eyes. She is happy to start a family with him.

Even if George was under a silencing charm and couldn't hear what they say, he kept his eyes on them. As he sees his brother talk to her belly he knows that the crisis is averted and that he can finally say something else to that matter. He got up, walks to them and brings the both of them into a group hug. "Congratulations, bro, but good luck with the girls." he emphasizes the word like it was a curse, than he looks at Hermione and tells her seriously. "You had to fall for him; you know that your children with me would be more beautiful than his."

Both Hermione and Fred shake their heads at George and laugh whole heartily. That was all he wanted to do to make the people he cares the most in the world laugh. So he steps away from the hug and takes the seat beside his twin. "Gred, you and I know that Hermione's and my children will get her beauty from her mother, but their mischievousness from me. Because let's not forget I am the greater genius from us." Fred teases his brother back.

In mock outrage George places a hand over his heart and gives back. "Such lies, my nieces will learn the truth soon enough."

Hermione simply laughs at their bander and asks herself if the girls will be like their father and his twin. If yes she probably needs all the help she can get. Good to know that they have a big family to share this with. That reminded her that the rest of the family doesn't know it yet, but she wanted to tell her mother first. "Can we visit my Mum tomorrow?" she asks Fred.

In the first moment Fred was perplexed, he didn't think that he had to face her mother. Even if he only met her once for a short moment, she reminded him of his own mother and her scary ways. The thought about his mother hurt a bit after all she had done, but he still has the rest of his family on his side. He probably should send them an owl, but first he needs to talk to Sirius and apparently her mother. He gulps as he answers. "Ok."

Hermione could see the panic in his eyes and says. "Don't worry I am sure she only wants to threaten you with her shotgun and not to use it."

"In what way is this going to make me feel better?"

"Simple you are a wizard." She points out matter-of-factly. There is that, be he really doesn't want any problems with the MACUSA, even if it would be in matter of self-protection. Hermione smiles, but has to yawn. It didn't register with her how tired she was, Fred catches her sleepiness and from the pregnancy of his mother, which he remembers, he knows that pregnant woman need more rest. So he puts her on her feet, leads her to the door and says. "Love, you need some sleep, we will talk tomorrow, before we visit your Mum." she nods and he kisses her. Before she can leave the room he bends down to her belly and kisses it as well. "Sleep well my girls."

With a good night, Hermione went to her room, which is on the same floor, only two doors down from the twins. Fred watches her until the door to her room closes behind her, before he turns around and walks to his drawer. There in the hidden in a sock was a velvet box. The box contains the ring he found some time ago for her, a simple white gold bond with a ruby in the middle. He saw it and thought about her, so he had to buy it. This was the ring, he original planed on giving to her after the war has ended and they had won, but with the twins on the way it is probably a good idea to do it sooner.

Before he got ready for bed he took one look at the ring just to be sure that it still is there. Without any talk between the brothers, Fred simply says good night, lies down and dreams about his little family. All the time George watches his brother with his love struck face and knows that tomorrow will be an interesting day. Just like today, even if George couldn't call tips on being a godfather. Something he has to change sooner than later.

It was a normal morning for Sirius or as normal as it can be for the Head of an ancient and noble house in times of a war. After his short delicious breakfast, before anyone of the other inhabitants was even on the verge of waking, he started working. He knew that he had some things to do. All the new developments needed to be addressed by him and he has to take some actions.

His to do list is getting longer and longer by the day. He added the new elements which have to be taken care of at the end of the list, before he started at the bottom to look what he already has achieved. The first point on his list is the Horcrux in Harry. To his displeasure nothing in the Black library suggest another way besides killing him, a point that didn't sit right with him. His son doesn't deserve that, but even Dumbledore didn't find another way and he was a powerful wizard full of knowledge. The question is still how it should happen, even if Sirius has his suspicion, he doesn't want to go down this path under no circumstances. So that means further research.

In matters of Sam and the Demon Blood, Sirius was fruitful. In one of the darker books, which he found in his personal library in his study, he found something. After Harry and he made Grimmauld Place habitual for them, Sirius removed some of the darker books from the library. He didn't want the younger ones play with them. He found a cleansing ritual which contains a blood sacrifice of Sam's virgin soulmate, who has to give the blood willingly. Sam has to drink the blood during sex like a mating ritual of a werewolf. Two things he doesn't like about this; he isn't absolutely sure that Harry is really Sam's soulmate. Nor if Harry is still a virgin, not to forget that he doesn't know if he would do it. Sirius doesn't want to pressure them, so that one can be saved by the other. Both are equally important to him. So his next research project is to find anything on soulmates and how they can use it in a different way. In reality both parties should know about the bond, by feeling their magic tingling, every time they touch the other one. It was this way for Sev and him. But without the right education to interpret this tingling's, they would need help from outside to learn the meaning.

Point three on his list is Dean's deal. He knows the bond will keep him save. The siblings simply have to embrace the bond for this. But something is bothering him with this deal. To him it looks staged so that this outcome with Dean going to hell would come true no matter the cost. He searched anything he could find about Deals as did the kids as well, but still found nothing. But today he decided for another course of action inspired by his gut. He summoned the family book of prophecies. Like all old pureblood families they have a self-updating book about premonitions, which relate to his family members.

As he opens it, he is perplexed about the sheer amount of prophecies listed. That is the reason the Head of the house is the only one in the know of the book, because if the person, who is mentioned in the prophecy is notified about it, it can become a self-fulling prophecy very fast. Actions to prevent it always trigger it, like it was the catalyst for it. On the other hand without influence from the mentioned person, the natural cause can lead to the outcome of not achieving the prophecy. That is the reason why Sirius skipped over his own prophecy, he doesn't want to know. It also was the reason why Sirius had to help Reg to fake his death, because Voldemort heard the prophecy and fueled it with power this way. But now he searches for a prophecy about his nephews.

His gut is right the last entry was about them, excluding the one that concerns Hermione as well, because this one was of a younger date with November 2nd, 1983. That date reminded Sirius of something he looks up, closes his eyes to search his mind for information and found what he was looking for. It was the day Mary Winchester, Regs wife and the mother of Dean and Sam died, burning upon the ceiling. That can't be a coincidence. He needs more, so he reads the entry of the prophecy which was surprisingly short.

'The faith of the world lies in the hand of brothers. One obedient to an absent father, the other on rebels against him at every turn, shall become the vessels for the apocalypse. Like it was for seen centuries ago Michael and Lucifer have to battle on a chosen filed to seal this faith.'

With every prophecy it tells him so many things as well as so little things at the same time. The meanings are clear and unclear. But Sirius understands the important parts and that is the apocalypse and the fight between Michael and Lucifer, both archangels, but only one is free at the moment. Lucifer, the fallen one, is sealed in, but the seals can be broken and Sirius only knows of one seal in relations to Dean that he can't let happen. It is part of the 'Legends of old' and states that the righteous man will shall shed blood in hell. So not good, Dean fits the description of a righteous man to a dime. Sirius knows that he has to keep that from happening and he needs to help the siblings to embrace their bond for it. His duties have become a little bit harder, but he will manage it work for his family and the world.

The next point on his list is the contract of Hermione. After revealing the proposal of his cousin to Hermione and Fred he can only wait at the moment. The decision is out of his hands and he knows that Draco will keep his word and let them decide, what they want. So for now he can scratch that off his list. Good, one thing less he has to think about.

The ongoing point of training develops like a plant and grows. The education of the brothers in matters of practice magic is good, very good. On the practical level they are at the moment between 4th and 6th year, depending on their strengths. Unsurprisingly both are good in Defense against the Dark Arts, while Sam is better at Transfiguration and Potions, which he must have inherited form Reg, because he was almost as good as Sev in Potions. Dean on the other hand was very good at charms and surprisingly ancient runes, because warding was like a second nature to him now. Those are good developments.

In matters of their animagus training Hermione and Sam are still more advanced that the others. Hermione almost transformed completely, while Sam only could transform his hands and feet at the moment. The twins are not far behind, because after they found out that they have fox spirit animals, they started successfully to transform a tail. It doesn't even surprise Sirius that they have similar forms, that's because of their twin bond. Dean on the other hand only discovered his form during their last group session, which they hold once a week. His spirit animal is a bear, fitting, considering how he smothers his younger siblings including Harry. The hardest fight had Harry or still has, because he is still searching for his spirit animal and Sirius guessed that the Horcrux or better Voldemort is to blame for that. That's the reason why Harry almost constantly meditates and Sirius tries to help as far as he can, but that's all.

For the moment Sirius skips the next point, because that's for the wizarding world as a whole. But at the moment he concentrates on the family problems with which he has to struggle. So he focuses on the last two points, the pregnancies of Tonks and Hermione. The children even if they are not born yet, need to be taking care of. For him that means a change of his will, with new vaults for every child in Gringotts. The need financial backup, should something happen that would leave them as orphans and they need the society backing, they are the next generation of the Blacks after all and have to be save. The last point on his list is connected to this they need help and he can only think of one way, even if it will drive his niece up the walls.

Only one house-elf comes to mind, Dobby. He is free and a little bit strange, if he can believe the explanation of his son. But he also will be devoted and he knows some of the family, even likes them. The only question is would he willingly bond with a magic family again. To please his niece he even would pay him, but the bonding part is important so the elf can be stronger to fulfilling his duties. There is only one way to find out. No time like the present. "Dobby." he calls and hopes that he will come.

Only moments later with a small pop the creature appears and looks expectantly at Sirius. "What can I do for Harry Potter's dogfather?" he asks him.

This creature is funny, because he can't believe that he had heard Harry say that, so he has to come up with it on his own. A barking laugh escapes Sirius lips, before he calms himself to answer. "I have a question to ask you." Dobby didn't stress him to go on, instead he waited patiently. "Would you like to bond with the House of Black and before you answer you should know that I will pay you as well."

A big, fat tear escapes Dobby's button eyes. "Dobby … hig … would be honored … hig … to serve the House of Black … hig … even without pay."

"No, no I can't do that, see you will be bonded with the House of Black, but you would be serving my niece and Hermione hates that you would be treated like a slave without pay." he answers.

"Yeah … hig … Miss Granger … good witch … makes good clothes." he says as he points at the seven or eight hats he wore.

A smile appears on Sirius face; Harry had told him everything about Hermione's knitting adventures to free the Hogwarts elves. "That she is. You should know that you will help her with the babies."

"Babies … Miss Granger getting babies?"

"Yes she is. That leads me to my second question; because she isn't the only pregnant witch in the house … Do you know of a free elf, who wants to bond with a magical family."

"I do, but Winky drinks to much Butterbeer now." he answers sadly. The name Winky rang a bell wasn't that Crouch old elf, which he set free after the fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup. Her alcoholism should be controlled with the bonding, because than she has a purpose again. So that isn't a problem for him, especially because he knows how tempting it can be to drown your sorrows in alcohol.

"Can you bring her here?" Sirius asks Dobby

"Of course." with that he disappeared to reappear a moment later with a slightly drunk female elf.

"Winky." Sirius addresses her to get her attention.

"You … Sirius Black … my old master hated you." Winky says.

The feeling is or was mutual, but that is not a good start. "Yes I am, but in contrast to your old master I want you to bond with the family of Black."

"Bond?" she asks him with her big eyes, but then she remembers something. "Blacks dark family." she points out.

Sirius sighs. "I know that, but we will change that … me and the rest of the family. Should you accept the bonding your duty would be to take care of the coming baby of Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Black." he tells her. He needs to know, what she thought about werewolf's, if she already considers his family as darks.

"Baby … Lupin he werewolf?" she asks.

"Yes. Would that be a problem?" Sirius asks the counter question.

"No." she answers whole heartily with the first smile since she arrived.

"So do you want to bond with the House of Black." he asks her again.

She used time to think before she answered. "Yes."

"Then let's start." with that he initiated a bond between elves and the House of Black through him as Head of the house. The bond manifested after only moments and as soon as it was established Kreacher appears.

"Ungrateful Master bonded with new elves."

"Yes, I did Kreacher, but so that we are clear they are not your subordinates, but your equals." with that statement the bond changes his form between the elves. Before Dobby couldn't voice anything against to others mistreatment of the master, which he is allowed to do now, Sirius orders Kreacher away. "Kreacher go back to the kitchen and prepare lunch." with a pop he was gone and Sirius turns to Dobby and Winky, who was sober because of the bonding. "Please collect your belongings and get comfortable here on the ground floor behind the painting of the forbidden forest you will find your rooms. Until I call you next time, please help in the house and stay invisible, because Hermione and Tonks don't know yet and I want to surprise them.

"Of course, Master." they answer unison with a smile and a light bow. Kreacher can learn some manners from them, Sirius thought before they vanish away.

Sirius made his way back to his desk again to go on with his duties. Now he has time for the element he skipped, before he has to be ready for lunch. In the afternoon they have a training session planned and he will not have time to concentrate on it. But a knock on the door tells him that faith has other plans. "Come in."

The door opens and Fred steps in. As soon as he sees him Sirius knows why he is here or at least that it is what he hopes. From his desk he watches him, close the door and walking up to the front of Sirius desk without taking a seat. With a hand gesture Sirius points him to sit down. "Thank you." the normally cocky and self-confident Fred answers. Sirius has to hide his smile at the obvious nervousness of the prankster, who was unsecure at the moment. But he didn't talk, but instead waited for Fred to make the first move. For some moments it was completely silent in Sirius study. Only the sizzling of the fire in the fireplace could be heard.

'Come on, you are Fred Weasley, one of the prankster twins, a legend at Hogwarts, you can do anything.' Fred gives himself a pep-talk. He never was as nervous as he was now, but he never before had to think about someone besides him or his brother. Now he has to think for a family and he was nervous. He knows his next steps, but that doesn't make them easier. Especially he doesn't know how Sirius will react to the news of Hermione's pregnancy. But that isn't the only thing, why he came here to talk to the man. No he and his brother have an idea and want his permission for doing it, but talking about that would be the easier thing. For it he has to get all the stones out of the way.

With this new enthusiasm Fred looks for the first time directly at one of his idols, Padfoot. But instead of curiosity he could read understanding in his face, like he knew why he was here. The mischievous smile on his face clearly tells him that he really knows why he is here. He doesn't look hostile or angered more amused. But after he thought about it, if he knew about Tonks pregnancy, he had to know about Hermione's too. That made it somehow easier. So with some new self-confidence he sighs and says. "Your face tells me that you know, why I am here?" that was a statement and a question at the same time, but he didn't get a reaction out of Sirius. The marauder liked to see the young prankster squirm that made his day. Fun has to be found everywhere you can nowadays. So after a short paus Fred continues. "I am here to ask you for the hand in marriage for your niece." He took out the ring box and puts it on the table. He took it with him, because of a gut feeling; he thought he needed it and now he knew why. He slides the box to Sirius and says. "As you can see I already have a ring for here. That should tell you that I am not doing this, because of the twins." his voice was stern and now very sure of himself. This way he tells Sirius of the twins and that he knows that the other knows as well.

Sirius didn't react to the statement itself, but took the ring box and opens it. The first glance at the ring tells him that the prankster thought long and hard about the ring, because it was a simple, beautiful and elegant ring. Just like his niece and it somehow looked like it were custom made. The young prankster is a good guy, Sirius knew that before this moment, but this proved it again to him. Marriage wasn't a necessary evil for him, because of the babies, he wanted it and that even before he knew about the twins. The question is why didn't he ask sooner for permission. "Why now?" Sirius looks at Fred again.

Fred should have seen this question coming; it wouldn't have taken him completely off guard. Not because he doesn't have an answer for it, but because he has. It is one of his fears and it is never easy to face them. But he knows that Sirius wouldn't let it go. The marauder was way too curious about it, so he takes a deep breath and says. "There is more than one reason for that. First I was afraid she and you would say no." Not that that has changed now, the fear was still there, but the circumstances changed and forced his hand. "Than the whole business with the contract … You and me, we know that even with her marrying me, Draco could still take her away from me with the help of magic." which he still could do, but he knew the blonde wouldn't and that is because of the twins. Parents and their kids should stay together in his opinion. "And the last one happened to be that she would say yes, but I am not good enough for her." All fears are still there, but it is time to let them go and start to live, because letting your fears control your life isn't living.

For a moment the snarky, short mouthed marauder was speechless. He doesn't have an idea, how he shall react to that. So he took a moment to gather his thoughts and decides to start with the element, which he believes Fred fears the most. "Fred you are a good man and even if I don't want my daughter, because that is the way I see her, go. I am happy that she is with someone like you. You are smart, funny, have a successful business and you care for her very much. That is the most important part to me at least, because I know you always will put her first." For Sirius that's what a couple should be made of, each partner should always put the other before himself. He can see that quality in Fred as well as in Hermione. "In matter of the contract you don't have to worry I will not let it happen, I know you are afraid that you still would lose all your girls, but not with me on your side." With that Fred feels lighter, that was what he needed to hear.

But his last fear isn't cleared yet, because Sirius didn't answer his question. Not in a direct way anyway, but Fred wanted to hear a clear yes from Sirius, his idol, Hermione's uncle or father and a good friend to him. "Is that a yes?" he asks him point blank.

Sirius took his time on purpose, even if his answer is yes; he wanted to let him wait for it. He was a marauder after all. The silence after his question and Sirius passive face got to Fred. He tries to hide it, but Sirius sees as a drop of sweat runs down Fred's forehead. This made Sirius burst out laughing; he never would have guessed that he invokes such a fear in the young prankster. Considering his own mother never got that kind of reaction from him. For a moment Fred was shocked about Sirius habit. Then he got it, the marauder had one over him. "Ha, ha very funny."

"Yes you should have seen your face." Sirius answers while he tries to calms his laughing down.

Fred still wants an answer, a verbal one, not a prank or a speech, but a simple yes. "Can you please answer my question?"

"Yes I give you permission to marry her." Sirius tells him, before he adds mischievously. "But you still have to ask her."

"Yeah, I know, I am working on it."

"Don't worry I think she will say yes."

"But will it be for the right reasons." Fred doesn't want that she only says yes because of the twins. No he wants her to say yes, because she really wants to marry him, out of love and because it is the next logical step.

"What are you planning?" Sirius asks, because if he knows the prankster, like he believes he does, he knows that he already has something worked out in his head.

"Something involving the library and her favorite books." was his answer. For Fred there is no better place for proposing to her than doing it in the library.

"Do you need help?" Sirius asks.

"George is or will helping me. But the only problem is how to get her favorite books, without her noticing."

"I think I can help with that." Sirius tells him and without waiting for a reaction he says. "Dobby."

A moment later with a small pop, the elf appears. Fred stares at the elf for a moment, the last time he had seen him was in the kitchen at Hogwarts. So what is he doing here?

His question was written all over his face. "Dobby is the new elf for the House of Black since today with an important task." Sirius answers the question mysteriously, because he knows that the curious young man will ask further about it.

As if on que a moment later Fred asks. "Such as?"

Sirius smile grows bigger. "To help you and Hermione with the babies."

Fred starts laughing at the joke, because that is all that it could be. But after a moment he learns that he is the only one laughing. So Sirius is serious about it, no pun intended. "You know she will be furious about that?" he tells him matter-of-factly.

"I know." Sirius tells him if he doesn't have a care in the world. Even if he was a bit scared of his niece reaction, he still would face it.

After the elf was sure that his master and the red head, whom he is going to help, is done, he asks. "What can I do for you, Master Black?"

"Fred here needs your help with a special project for Hermione."

The elf turns his glance to the ginger and asks with his eyes what he needs. "I tell you later. Can you go to my room and wait for me there, invisible please?" he asks him and the elf disappears with a nod. He still has something to talk to Sirius about and he doesn't want to scare his brother with the sudden appearance of his new elf. "Thank you." he says to Sirius.

"My pleasure."

"Now she only has to say yes."

"I don't think that will be a problem." with that Sirius stood up and gave Fred an encouraging clap on the back. "If that is all, I still have some things to do, before today's training session." he tells him, but Fred didn't move. That tells Sirius that he still has something to do. Sirius leans back against the desk, crossed his arms in front of his chest and asks. "What else?"

Fred doesn't know how Sirius will react to his question, because every time he was asked, how the house becomes unplottable, he changed the topic. "Can the security of the house be broken?" he asks him.

"No, not even if he himself would try to get in. Why?" he asks the counter question.

"Even if they follow them here lead by a beacon?" Fred asks his next question ignoring Sirius question in the process.

A good question Sirius needs a moment to think about it. He was sure that even if they could follow the beacon, it wouldn't do them any good. "The follower of the beacon only would come into a close proximity, but not the house itself."

"So it is like the Fidelius they know something is there, but they can't see it?" Fred asks further. He needs a clarification.

"Almost, the radius is wider and they could never get anyone to give up the location." Sirius answers. To say that he was curious would be an understatement. He knows the prankster would only ask him such things if he has planned anything that could lead to such a situation. The question is what?

"Why?" he still doesn't reveal why he needs all the information. It is important, because the life of all the other people living in the house, including his unborn twin children, depending on their security. They need that their plan works without a hitch.

"For a Fidelius you have one secret keeper, but for giving up this location all participants of the ritual have to willing agree without pressure to reveal the secret and I don't see that happening." Sirius answers and watches as Fred work through that statement. Normally Sirius would give him more time to come clean, but his curiosity got the better of him. "Can you tell me now what this all is about?"

Fred looks at Sirius face and sees that he is almost blowing up with curiosity. Under normal circumstances he would tease him and torture him more, but not today. Today was different for Fred; he learned that he is going to be a father and got the permission to marry the woman he loves. Both are some reasons for growing up, even if only just a little bit. He always will be a child at heart. Hey look at what he does for living. So he explains his idea. "George and I came up with the idea of starting a wireless pirate show under codenames of course. Security is important to us. We need only a place to start our show. Together we already figured out the rest."

A good idea, Sirius has to give them that. But he needs more information and he is happy that both pranksters thought about keeping the rest of the family save. "Why?" he wants and needs to know, why they want to do that.

The answer was simple and to the point. "Hope."

"Hope?" Sirius repeats questionable.

"Yeah the rest of the wizarding world needs to know that the fight isn't over and that he hasn't won. That the light will keep fighting till the end. … That we are still standing strong … That Harry hasn't given up." he knows that is not a part Sirius would like, but even he should know that Harry is an idol for hope. "You don't have to like it, but the wizarding world looks at him for guidance." he tells the marauder matter-of-factly.

Even if Sirius hates it, he knows that Fred is right. Harry has become a beacon for hope, but he still is a boy with only 17 years old. Even if others become parents at the same age, like his beautiful niece doesn't that mean that the faith of the world should rest on the shoulders of a boy. Still that doesn't make it better, but what can you do, sometimes you have to accept the cards that you are dealt with. "What do you need?" he asks him with a sigh, because besides his reservations in matters of his son, he sees it as a good idea. Hope is never the wrong thing and the wizarding world can need more than a handful of it at the moment. "Just a room where we can broadcast and don't get caught." Fred tells him.

"You can have my study." Sirius tells him. It is the most secure room in the house and should they be discovered they would only get into this room, but not into the rest of the house. There are blood wards on the door that only the Head of the house can lift. It also gives him a way to determine, who enters and leaves his study. Sirius has to give them passage, if you want to call it that.

That answer surprised Fred. He would have thought that he had to fight harder to get Sirius to see the importance of their idea, before he decides to help them. "Just like that?" Fred asks perplex.

"Yeah, what did you expect that I would refuse?" Sirius tells him.

"Kinda." Fred answers truthfully.

Sirius claps Fred on the shoulder and says with a smile. "You aren't the only one, who thinks that the wizarding world needs hope." He himself thought about some things to make that happen, but the idea he has isn't ready yet and he doesn't know how to work the logistics at the moment. "I am working on something as well." he tells him. That was the last point on his to do list.

"And what?" Fred wants to know. He always was the more curious one of the twins.

"I tell you when I figured out the logistics, because I have some things to do for it." Sirius says.

"Maybe George and I can help you with that" Fred points out.

"We will see … when do you want to go on air?" he asks him and changes the topic with it.

"We thought about Christmas, it would be a good idea." was Fred's answer.

"That's soon." little under a month, but if someone could pull it off it would be twins.

"Yeah, we are almost done. We just need to get the first participant to say yes." Fred tells him with a huge smile.

That got Sirius interest. "And who would that be?" he asks him, but he has a slight feeling that he already knows the answer to that one.

The glance he gets from Fred tells him everything he needs to know. He was one of the participants and he doesn't know that he should do with this information. But he knows it could be fun, he always loved to tell his opinion against blood purity, especially in his own family. Fred can read in his idols face that he will take part in his project. "Thank you. Now we just have to get Remus to say yes." Fred tells him without really asking him about it. Why should he if he already knows the answer beforehand.

"That shouldn't be a problem." Sirius knows for a fact that Remus would help them without a problem. It is a way for him to give something back and have an impact on the war.

"Good." with that Fred stands up and walks to the door. Before he leaves, he says. "We tell you soon about Potter watch." He left fast without giving Sirius the chance to respond in any way to the name of the show.

For a moment Sirius is dumbfounded by Fred's departure, but then he laughed, because he knows that he would have done it in the same way as the young prankster. It will be funny to have him as a fix part of the family. But until than he would have to discuss something with him, like the name of the show. He doesn't like it, but he also knows that he probably wouldn't have choice in that matter. Acceptance is the first step after all or at least so they say.

With a mischievous smile Fred makes his way to his room. A quick tempus tells him that he had only half an hour left before he and Hermione would go to see her mother. He doesn't know how long his own execution will take place. He only knows that he wants to propose after they come back, even if he is a ghost then, because nobody will keep him from his girls not even death itself.

But he needs help to get his plan done. The idea for the proposal come to him during dreaming last night and he thinks that Hermione will like it very much. Moments later he reaches his and George's room. His brother was currently working on some products, because he holds their idea diary in his hands and tries to make one of their ideas work.

Fred knows that it isn't easy to get his brother attention, when he is working, but desperate times need desperate measures. "Aguamenti." he cast and a small fountain of water reaches his brother and soaks him. Of course Fred mad sure that the diary with their ideas was out of the way. No reason to lose their hard work.

"Damn Merlin." George curses as he jumps up to get somehow dry. Not that it worked. Fred laughs at his brother. That got Georges attention as he looks up. "Not funny, Freddie." Calling him Freddie was an indicator for Fred that his twin was pissed, but what's done is done. If looks could kill Fred would be six feet under.

"Sorry, bro, but I need your help and I know how you can be while working." his face was sincere to show his brother that he means it.

"Yeah, yeah, what do you need?" George asks. Even if he is pissed at his twin, he always would help him. Besides he never could stay pissed at him for long. Especially when he looks like a bat, who was on his last way to the dungeons. Instead of answering directly, Fred shows him the ring. George doesn't need to know more, than that. His intentions are clear to his twin. "When?" was the only thing he wanted to know.

Embarrassed he answers. "Today." only his twin want to pull something like that off in the last minute. "After Hermione and I come back from visiting her mother."

Georges shakes his head, but he would help him nevertheless, even if it was such a last minute act. "What can I do?"

"A moment … Dobby." with that the small elf appears by his side. George looks at the creature with a questionable face, before he looks back at his brother, with the look to prompt him for an explanation. "Dobby here." Fred points at the elf. "is going to help me and Hermione with the girls, a present from Sirius if you want to call it that."

For a moment George was silently processing what his twin has told him, before he burst out laughing. "Please let me be there when you tell her about him." George says between the laughs. He knows the show will be unforgettable, George only hopes he will have his popcorn in reach, when the time comes.

"No problem, if you like to tell her." Fred says with a mischievous smile. Sirius may have bond with the elf, but Fred knows that she is going to spell the messenger. So to give the task to his brother would be a very good idea.

That sobered George up a bit. "No, no, your girl … your elf … your problem." Normally he would be on his brother's side no matter what, but everything has his boundaries and the anger or temper of that particular witch definitely is one.

With one last glance at his brother Fred turns to the house elf. "Can you please get the following books for me out of Hermione's room." with that he summoned a list he wrote down this morning and gives it to the creature.

"Gladly Master Weasley." he tells Fred before he disappears. Fred uses the time to collect the other parchments with the clues he has written in the morning as well. That is the moment Dobby reappears with five books and holds them out to Fred. He takes them and puts the clues into relevant book.

George watches his brother with interest and works out what his brother has planned as proposal. "A scavenger hunt, your proposal is a scavenger hunt." he was a bit perplexed by the simplicity of the proposal at least in matters of mischievousness.

Without looking up, Fred answers. "Yes. She loves puzzles and all the books." he shows them to his brother. "have a special meaning in our relationship." After he was done with the clues, he knows that they needed to be positioned so that she can find them in the house. So he turns to Dobby again. "Can you please put this book in front of the floo, but for now only invisible, only make it visible after we have left." he points at the chosen book before he looks back at the elf. Dobby nods so Fred goes on with his explanation. "Place this one in the training room. This one goes into the living room, that into the kitchen and this in front of the closed doors of the library." Fred looks at Dobby to make sure that he got everything before he gives him one final order. "And please make sure that no-one of the others in the house take the books away."

"Of course Master Weasley." with that Dobby went on his way.

With that Fred looks at his twin again. "It looks like you have everything under control. What do you need me for?" Georges asks him as his bothers attention was on him again. He knows that his brother Fred always is prepared; they have learned the hard way that without preparations many things can go wrong.

"You my handsome twin." Fred says.

"You mean the more handsome one." George interrupts him.

"Have the most important duty of all … you have to decorate the library." Fred tells his twin without acknowledging his brothers statement.

"Decorate with what?" George needs more information to set his twins plan into motion.

"Fairy lights in the air and an aisle with candles to middle of the room, where I will be waiting for her." Fred answers as he visualizes the proposal he has in mind.

"What happens if she sees the library, before you are back here?" George asks. He knows that the witch in question is more than smart enough to figure the clues out in a fast manner. So timing was an issue so that all could work like Fred his envisioned. it has to be perfect, Fred wouldn't go for less, because he is perfectionist after all.

"Not going to happen, I will leave the roadhouse before her."

"How?"

"My excuse is that you need my help with one of our new inventions in the last stadium of trial."

"And you think that will work?"

"Yes, she always is and was very understanding in matters of our product testing."

"Not always, don't forget she was furious with us as we tested the products on first years." George points out. He will never forget the temper tantrum and the sparkling of her hair, because of that particular scolding. It was terrifying and he feared for his live in that moment and he is sure that Fred felt the same way.

Fred shutters. "Yeah right, but since we are only testing it at full-grown wizards as well as ourselves she isn't so uptight about it anymore." he wouldn't and couldn't forget that tantrum, because even if it sounds crazy that was the moment Fred full fell in love with his little witch. She was so beautiful in her angered state and her protection of the younger ones sealed the deal for him.

A knock at the door interrupts their discussion before they hear the witch in question say. "Fred are you ready to go?"

"In a moment, Love." Fred yells through the closed door.

"I wait at the floo for you, hurry up." she answers and they hear her move down the stairs.

They wait a moment longer, before they look at each other. Without a word they know whar the other wanted to say, George would prepare the room according to Fred wishes and Fred thanks him for his help. He knows that he always can count on his twin to have his back. With a clap on his brothers shoulder as greeting Fred follows his beloved witch. Only moments later he reaches the floo with her in front of it.

"Ready?" she asks him as he enters the room.

"As I ever be." he tells her matter-of-factly, because if he is true to himself he is really scared of her mother. Hermione takes his and to reassure him, before she steps into the floo and pulls him with her. As they both are in the floo she calls out her destination and a moment later, they arrive together in the kitchen of her mother's roadhouse. The kitchen was empty so her mother has to be outside serving her customers.

With Fred's hand still in hers, she pulls him behind her into the bar. As they enter they see some customers but not many. Apparently it is a slow day. That could be good or bad for Fred and Hermione. But only calling her mother's attention to them and with it telling her their news can show what the outcome would be.

So Hermione lets go of Fred's hand and walks to the bar. Where her mother currently serves some drinks for her customers. Fred follows her in a slightly slower pace. Ellen didn't see them until both of them were seated at the bar. "Hermione what are you doing here?" she asks surprised, before she looks at Fred, at least she believe that it is him, because why should be his brother be here. Ellen tries not to panic because of their sudden appearance; normally they let her know if they would come visit her.

Hermione looks at Fred and he takes her hand. Even if he feels like he will be executed in the next moments, it still would be bearable with her by his side. With Fred's encouragement in form of a light squeeze, she turns back to her mother and says. "We have to talk to you, do you have some time, Mum?" was her answer.

"Yeah sure … Ash please take over the bar for a moment." she yells to the pool tables where their special friend was playing a game. He nods his head and made his way to the bar to help out. Meanwhile Ellen leads the pair to a table in the back, where they aren't going to be disturbed. After they set down, Ellen asks. "So what is it?" But her gut is telling her that she has a good idea where this will be going, but let's hope that she is wrong.

With a deep sigh, Hermione explains. "I know it is soon and I know that you will be pissed, but Mum we didn't plan it but I am …" she didn't get further, because Ellen has figured it out on her own.

"You are pregnant!" she yells at them, so loud that the whole bar looks at them. Ellen sees that and tells them. "What are you looking at, go back to your drinks." her voice had a threatening tone in it. So that the inhabitants of the bar shiver a little bit in fear and conclude that it would be better to go back to their drinks like nothing had happened. To give them some privacy Ash activates the jukebox, sot that they couldn't be overheard by the patrons even if Ellen would yell some more. That of course is inevitable. After Ellen was sure she has lost the audience she turns back to the couple. "Are you out of your mind? How can you be so careless? That's irresponsible for you, didn't you think."

By this point Hermione was in tears and Fred was angered. He can understand that her mother wouldn't be pleased with this new development, but that isn't a reason to attack her like that. "Stop." he says in a stern voice and stands up to show that he is determinate to stand up to Ellen. "I know it is unplanned, but I will not listen to you badmouthing your own daughter. Things happen with or without your consent. So untwist your knickers and start accepting what is happening or you will not see your grandkids for a long time." That wasn't an empty threat to him. If she wouldn't come around, she will not see his girls until he has the feeling that he can trust her with them and Hermione, they are his family.

A silent stand-off between future mother-in-law and future son-in-law flowed. Ellen gaze was furious and she sent killing threats at him with her eyes. But Fred wouldn't budge, he holds his ground. His gaze was as fierce and furious as hers. Hermione looked from one to the other and held her breath to what would happen next. Fred's protection of her, took her off guard. He stood up to her mother to keep her save and wouldn't have she been already in love with him, she would have fallen in love all over again. Her Fred was so much more besides being a prankster and jokester; it makes her happy that she is allowed to see all his sides.

After an eternity, which was only minutes, it was surprisingly Ellen, who gave up first. She had seen that even if Fred was young and maybe not ready to be a family member, he still would put his family first. What does she want more beside a little more before being called grandma by her grandchildren? Grandkids? "Did you say kids as in more than one?" she asks them.

"Yeah, we are having twins." Hermione answers calm, their stair contest gave her time to control her tears and the damn hormones.

"Twins?" Ellen asks unbelievable.

"What can I say it runs in the family." Fred says with a smile. He accepted her retreat as her acceptance of his family and that made him happy to no end. But his joke earned him a slap on the head from his Hermione.

Ellen has to chuckle to Hermione's reaction to his joke. Especially as she reads in his face that he accepted that slap on the head, because he deserved it. "You have him under control already."

"Almost." Hermione says with a smile.

"Hey I am not a dog." he says with a mock hurt, but his eyes tell them that he doesn't have a problem, with them treating him like that.

"Men almost are the same." Ellen declares, before she asks. "So what happens next?"

Fred set down again and answers. "We still have a war to win, but I will give my life to keep her and the girls save." He tells them and he means it, they are his family, his life and he will give up that up to see them live.

"I will help." Hermione says determinate. She wouldn't stop now after almost seven years of constantly fighting for her life.

Fred turns to her, before he says. "Of course you are going to help, but with reason." He knows that it wouldn't do him any good telling her what to do. But that doesn't stop him from trying to keep her out of the deadliest fights. He will not be the only one, as soon as Dean, Sam and Harry know about the girls; they will help him and be on his side in this matter.

"We will see." was Hermione's answer and Fred's knows that she is challenging him with it, but he never was afraid of a challenge. Ellen has to chuckle again at their bander, because she knows, how stubborn her daughter can be, she blames John Winchester for it.

"So it will be twin girls?" she asks after she is remembers, what Fred said before.

"Yeah it is my luck to be in the presence of beautiful woman for the rest of my life." he answers with a smile in the size of the Gran Canyon.

"Are you sure you can take care of all of the girls … financially I mean." Ellen asks him serious.

"Yes ma'am, I am the co-owner of a flourishing business." Fred answers proud.

"What business?" was her next question.

"A prank shop ... and speaking of the shop, I have to get back to George to help him with some of our newest inventions." Fred sees this as the perfect opportunity to get back and put the finishing touches to his vision. "I hope that isn't a problem with you ladies?"

Hermione looks at her mother, because she is the deciding factor for it. Hermione knows what the shop means to the twins and her future is depending on a running business. Even with the dowry and such in her vault, a secure steady income is always good to have. After a moment Ellen says. "Of course not." She can use the time alone with her daughter for some serious talking. But without putting her down, because she doesn't want to lose her grandchildren before they are even born. With a kiss on Hermione's check and a nod to his mother-in-law should everything going as planned he races home. But he is Fred Weasley and until now only a dozen plans of him didn't work. Those were in his younger years since then he has learnt much. He was back at Grimmauld Place in only moments and rubs his hands in anticipation.

Almost an hour after Fred left her alone with her mother Hermione arrived back home. Both women had a long talk about all matters connected to the pregnancy and Hermione felt way calmer after that. It is good to know that even if her mother is pissed like never before, she still would help her. That was a reason to smile.

As Hermione steps out of the floo she sees one of her school books "Charms Level 7" floating in the air. She reaches for the book and a parchment falls out which Hermione picked up and read. "All starts with one step … in the end you get a surprise … nothing comes easy … so figure out the clues … I am a fox and I am not … find me where the fight can't stop." As soon as she was done reading, her brain was starting to work things out. The parchment was clearly written in Fred's handwriting, so he has planned this scavenger hunt, because it couldn't something else. He knows how much she loves a good puzzle. She knows that the next would be in the training room, but not what the line before that could mean. A glance at the book in her hand reminds her of a memory they both share. The patronus charm was in the book and Hermione helped him with his during the DA lessons. Or better their first kiss after they were done and worked some more gave him the ability to cast the charm. Before that his happy memories weren't strong enough. After their first kiss his weasel appeared for the first time. That is it; he is a fox as an animagus and a weasel as a patronus. So that tells her that the book is a clue as well.

With book and clue in hand she made her way to the training area. She enters and there is another book floating in the air. Of course he would choose books so that he can get to the end of this. She didn't realize that Harry, Dean and Sam were in the room as she reaches for the book. Since the book appeared there they were curious what it is for, so they watched her with great interest. This time as the parchment falls out Hermione catches it before it fell on the floor. "A rose is still a rose … with a different name … as part of the game … go high and see the sky." Already after the first line she knew that the book in her hand is Romeo and Juliet from Shakespeare. A play they watched together during the summer between 5th and 6th year on a date. The talked about the balcony scene a lot after the play ended and the meaning of the first line of this clue. So she knows she sees the sky on the balcony on the 2nd floor in the house. There will be the next clue.

She turns on her heels and almost runs to the balcony. All without noticing that all her brothers are following her now, because their curiosity got the better of them. As she reaches the balcony she burst out laughing. The magical cook book she received form his as a prank gift was floating in the air. Neither Fred nor Hermione could cook to save their life. It was always good to have George near so they could eat something. The clue from his book was easy. "We both can't do it … but can be found here often." The next clue is in the kitchen, because even if they can't cook, both of them like to eat. So that is her next stop as she rushes past her brothers without giving them a second glance.

Surprisingly as she enters the kitchen the rest of the family was there. They looked at her as she reaches for the floating book in the middle of the room. Sirius smirks, because he is the only one, who knows what this is all about. The book in the kitchen was her favorite book, Hogwarts, a History. The clue was easy, but the clue made her blush. "Here it all began … in your favorite place … we fall in love … and become one." Her favorite place in Hogwarts always was and always will be the library. Many things happened here, their first prank together, because even she likes to do something against people, who abuse their position, but their first time happened here as well. Okay it was actually in the Room of Requirement which they turned into a replica of the Hogwarts library. It was in her 6th year, as Fred sneaked into the castle to celebrate their anniversary. They waited a whole year for this moment and it was perfect. It was very romantic, but now she has other things to think of. So she made her way to the library with the whole family hot on her heels.

Surprisingly the doors to the library were warded, at least it feels that way to Hermione. The book or clue must give her the information what she should do next. The book was her own publication, she loves to write poetry and Fred bind them for her after he found them and gave her the book as a gift for Valentin's day. The clue said. "Almost done … find the right word ... to summon a bird … and enter for some fun." without thinking long, she says. "Avis." and canaries appear over her head and the door opens with a crack. Determinate to receive her reward, she opens the door and steps in. Only to come to a halt after only one step with catching her breathe.

The library was filled with fairy lights and candles that leaded her way into it. She followed them to a knelling Fred. She stops some paces away from him and is speechless. That is good, because now it is Fred's time to say something. With a deep breathe against his nervousness and to blend out the rest of the family, who his watching them curiously, he begins. "Hermione, my Love, my inspiration for pranks, for mischievousness or to be a better person. Since you are in my life, even before we were become an item, you were like a breath of fresh air, like the first rays of sunlight in the morning and it always was a joy to be near you. You are my sun, who shines my way. You gave me so much already and with the twins on the way you are still giving me things. But I want you to know that me asking you this was only pushed up by the babies. Because I have the ring" with that he took out the beautiful ring and showed it to her. "for months. So Hermione Jean Granger Harvelle Winchester Black, would you do me the honor and become my wife."

There was silence for a moment. Fred almost stopped breathing until she said "Yes" with tears running down her checks.

PLEASE REVIEW,

This month two more chapters should follow, if I can finish them with my newborn sons sleeping pattern. :-)