Hello, my freaky darlings. I know that I cannot please everyone. I agonized over the decision of who the baby daddy was. Finally, I wrote out all three ideas and extrapolated where the story goes from there. I went with the one that lead to the best payoff of ideas. Even if that payoff is still down the road a bit. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 52 And Now We Know

Hermione apparated them to the side alley of the hospital. Subtly, she directed Harry inside and up to the 4th floor to the labor and delivery department. At the desk, she nudged him into speech. "Hello," he said to the calm receptionist. She patiently looked at him until he continued. "I was told Ginerva Rowle went into labor. I formally cut her but would like to establish paternity. Did I say all of that right?"

"Close enough, dear," the gray haired woman assure him, She pulled out a form and slid it and a self-inking quill to him. "Fill this out and sign it." She looked at Hermione. "Are you his spouse or just a witness?"

"Just a witness."

She pulled out a different form, "Fill this out then." Hermione skimmed the paper. They wanted her name, address, relationship to the petitioner, and the desired outcome. She looked at the receptionist with a raised eyebrow. "We like to be prepared in case the results and desires don't match."

"Rather sensible, but what if we don't know the answer?" Hermione asked.

"That is an answer."

"Okay, then." She finished filling out the form and signed it. She grinned at the sight of Hermione Flint. It was the first time she had written her married name.

"Stop googly eyeing your signature," Harry ordered.

"I will do whatever I want," she shot back.
He laughed, "I know." He handed his form back.

"Have a seat, someone will be along presently to show you to a waiting room."

"Okay." Harry paused, "Can I ask what happens now?"

"After Mrs. Rowle gives birth, Mr. Rowle will have an opportunity to block the testing by adopting the child. You will be informed if that occurs. If it does not a sample will be taken from the infant to be tested against your own and Mr. Rowle's."

"Thank you, and thank you for being so kind," Harry said.

"You're welcome," she smiled at him kindly, watching them take seats in the hard wooden benches placed along the wall. Fifteen minutes later a tall, wide-framed man entered. He brushed his long blond hair out of his face. He scowled as he looked around. He nodded to the two waiting and crossed to the desk. The receptionist looked up at him. "How can I help you?"

"Thorfinn Rowle, when Ginerva Rowle gives birth test the baby."

The receptionist barely even blinked, "Yes, sir. Let me give you the form to sign."

"Thank you," he signed everything quickly. "Can I give my sample now? I have several important meetings today?"

"Someone will be along momentarily for the others. I will inquire for you."

He nodded, "If you would, thank you." He joined the other two. "Potter, Flint."

"Rowle," greeted Hermione. "Should we offer congratulations?"

"Only if the kid belongs to Potter or some other bloke," Rowle frowned, "She was really disappointed to learn my vaults weren't overflowing with galleons."

Harry snorted, "Greedy whore."

"Harry!" admonished Hermione. "Rowle just said he couldn't pay her. And don't insult sex workers like that. Most of them are lovely people."

Before any of them could respond a wizard in healer robes approached, "Mr. Potter, Mrs. Flint?"
Harry stood, "That's us."

"You'll be following me. Mr. Rowle we can't take a specimen now, but we can contact you when the healers determine the time is closer." Rowle nodded and accept a message device. "Follow me then." He led them up a floor into a small white room. "Someone will notify you when the time has come."

"Thank you," Hermione said as she followed Harry into the small room. Two vinyl couches faced one another, while three plastic chairs surrounded a beat-up circular table. "I wish I brought a longer book," she muttered.

Harry pulled a small box out of his pocket. With a flick of his wand, he enlarged the Cluedo game. "I'll let you be Miss Scarlet," he offered.

"Of course, you will, you like being Col Mustard."

"You got me," he opened the box.

They played for several hours before Marcus arrived carrying brown paper bags, "I wasn't sure how hungry you would be, so soup and sandwiches."

"Thank you, brute. You are amazing." Hermione stood, stretching. She kissed him.

"Appreciate it, mate." Harry took the bags from him and began removing the individual containers. They ate in silence, ignoring the elephant in the room. Marcus refused the offer to join them.

"I learned my lesson last time, you two savages team up against me somehow." He kissed Hermione farewell, clapping Harry on the back. "I'll be here with dinner if you're here that long."

After sixteen hours of labor, Ginny lay back on the pile of pillows, exhausted. The staff told her Thorfinn waived his right to stop Harry from demanding the paternity test first thing that morning while she was too busy to stop him. Silently she prayed Thorfinn or the random muggle, "Randy," was the father right now. Molly fussed over the bassinet, then fawned over her daughter. Arthur paced.

He debated with himself. He had no idea which outcome he desired. But he knew how his wife handled any of them would determine his next step. He could no longer turn a blind eye to her crimes, her prejudices, to the darkness forming in her. He had no idea if she had been like this when they wed, or if life had corrupted her.

A mediwitch bustled in, "Hello, dearies, just here to do a little collecting." She did her job efficiently. "Be back in a jiffy." She hustled out.

Tick. Footstep. Tock. Footstep. Tick, step, tock, step. Tick, step, tock, step. An eternity later the door unlatched. Arthur froze. Ginny held her breath. Molly smoothed Ginny's hair back. They waited. The door slowly swung open. Harry stalked into the room followed by Hermione. Molly's hand flew to her mouth, then her eyes narrowed in anger, "Hermione Granger! I should have known you'd be behind this, you nasty little slapper."

"My name is Hermione Flint, and I have to wonder how this would be my doing, you hoped I was dead. And you can keep your opinions to yourself. Your encouragement to use manipulative magic is what caused all this. I am here to support Mr. Potter and collect my godchild."

"Godchildren," remarked Harry blandly. Hermione looked over. Two bundles lay in the bassinet, one pink, one blue. "Twins, huh? Going to have to rethink the nursery theme."

"Quidditch is an acceptable unisex theme," Hermione pointed out.
"No, you can't take my babies," screamed Ginny. She threw her ice chips at Hermione. "This is all your fault!"

Hermione blocked the beige cup easily, sending it flying harmlessly into the corner. "You are exhausted, and distraught at all your machinations failing miserably, so I am prepared to ignore your little wobbly. I fail to see how it is my fault you drugged and raped the man you claim to love. I most certainly did not impregnate you, or encourage you to do so. I did not force you to marry anyone. None of your problems are mine."

"Perfect Hermione gets everything: fancy wedding, rich husband, and my babies."

"I am wealthier than my husband, thank you very much. My birth parents left me a fortune that makes the Malfoys look like paupers. I've always been wealthy, you just never cared enough about my muggle life to find out. Nor would Dumbledore let me show you. You forfeited your babies when you tried to use them to trap your victim. I will grant you that I had a fancy wedding."

With a cry of rage, Molly surged forward and slapped Hermione hard across the face, "You stupid bitch. I told you to stay with the boys and keep Ron happy. If you hadn't been such a frigid twat none of this would be happening."
Hermione's eyes flashed, "You're the stupid bitch. You ruined your youngest children by spoiling them into uselessness. You can blame me all you want, but the truth is Ron had no interest in me."

Cold fury coloring his tone, Harry broke the staring contest, "I am taking custody of my children. I will be raising them without their biological mother, Ginerva Molly Rowle, nee Weasley, as is my right by law. Do not contact me ever again." He looked at his former friend and surrogate, "You are dead to me." He handed Hermione the blue bundle and picked up his daughter.

Arthur stopped Hermione and spoke to her quietly. She nodded and he patted her on the shoulder. He nodded to Harry, who returned the gesture. Arthur closed the door behind the two. He looked at his wife and daughter. "I can no longer condone this behavior. You two created this disaster. One of you by encouraging the use of potions and enslaving the will of others, the other by using said potions to entice a man into your bed. As Rowle married you, he had to have had relations with you. Stop blaming others for your sins. Molly, you just hit another witch, a rather powerful one. There are consequences to actions and I will no longer shelter you from them. I will not embarrass you by divorcing, or publicly separating from you. But until you and our youngest two children repair your behavior and thought patterns, I will be moving out." He ignored Molly's wails of anguish. He suspected them to be mostly fake. "Stay with Ginny tonight. I will be gone from the Burrow by the time you return." He looked at them sadly, nodded once, and left the room.

Harry stalked down the hallway stopping at the day room at the end of the hall. "What now?"

"We get these two settled in with the healers in the nursery. We get some sleep and you start making arrangements to bring these two home."

He nodded and headed for the nursery. "What did Arthur say?"

"He asked if I was okay, and told me actions have consequences and whatever follows isn't my fault."

"He's not wrong," Harry pointed out.

"We have more important things to focus on." She cooed at the baby in her arms, "Don't we, handsome? Yes, we do."

"You are important, too. You need to have someone look at that."

"Fine, you win."

The staff helped Harry with paperwork and creating a timetable for discharge. They also changed the id bracelets to read 'Baby Girl Potter' and 'Baby Boy Potter.' "You don't need to fill out their names until discharge," as sweet-faced mediwitch told him.

While Harry took care of business, Hermione asked another mediwitch to look at her cheek. The second Hermione admitted Molly Weasley had assaulted her when they took the children, the mediwitch summoned security. He took one look at the handprint on her cheek and summoned aurors. The rookie pair took her statement and promised to take care of the matter. Privately, Harry felt bad for the pair. Molly was unlikely to go quietly.

Once finished, the two returned to Courtenay Avenue together. Marcus greeted them, "Well?"

"I am the proud father of twins," Harry told him as he walked past him on his way to his old room. "Staying here. Long night, longer day tomorrow."

Marcus started to address Hermione and stopped. "Who did that to your face and are they dead?"

In the excitement of summoning security, the mediwitch had forgotten to heal Hermione's face. "Molly Weasley and no, but she has been detained. If they release her without doing something you can have at her."

"Promise?"

"Promise," she kissed him.

"So, twins?" he said lamely.

"Yep, boy and girl."

Marcus blew out a deep breath, "Wow, has Potter considered a nanny elf? He's going to need help."

"One step at a time." She began walking towards the stairs. "Right now, sleep. Tomorrow nursery and visit babies. Day after that take over the world."

In the morning Hermione suggested Harry summon Kreacher and the Potter Head Elf. Both appeared instantly. Harry gave them a tentative smile. "I, uh, recently became a single father to twins. I am going to need your help. Since one of them will be the Potter heir and the other will be the Black heir, I wanted to ask both houses to help take care of them. Since I just recently met you, I hope you will have suggestions for who is most qualified."

Kreacher pulled his ear, "Kreacher is being the last Black house elf. Kreacher will care for the future of Mistress's great and noble house named Potter."

The Potter house elf considered the request, "Mags be thinking Lolly would be best for nanny elf, Lolly be Master's nanny and Master James's nanny elf."

"Splendid." He gave them his new address. "We're going to set up the nursery today." The elves popped away. "We'd appreciate your help," Harry trailed off.

Marcus laughed, "House elves love babies. Just wait until Hermione is pregnant. Maisie, Varl, and Bee will lose their minds."

Hermione frowned, "Bee is a Malfoy elf."

He snorted, "Because she cares? You belong to her. Chances are Lucius will offer her services as a christening gift to make her happy."

"As long as that's what she wants," Hermione replied. "Are you coming to help?"

"If you like," At Harry's nod, Marcus stood, "Let me throw on proper clothes."

Harry named his new townhouse The Haven. Hermione considered renaming her place, but couldn't settle on a name. The three flooed to the Haven to find the house elves at work everywhere. Mags appeared, "We wills be having house ready for babies soon, Master. Kreacher and Lolly be waiting in the nursery."

"Uh, thank you, Mags."

"Master be most welcome. Nellie is makings lunch for later." Mags popped away.

"Let's go join Kreacher and Lolly, shall we?"

Each elf stood by a collection of furniture. Kreacher explained it had been Regulus's newborn cradle and Sirius's crib. The wood had been stained black. Lolly presented Harry's newborn cradle and James's crib. James and Lily had purchased Harry a crib when they moved to Godric's Hollow. A changing table and rocking chair completed the beige colored set. The elves bickered over a color scheme, Kreacher wanting green and silver, and Lolly wanting red and gold. Harry quickly settled the matter by explaining his desire for a giant quidditch pitch covering all four walls. The players would be important people in the twins' lives, even Aunt Hermione who didn't play.

Kreacher bowed, "As Master wishes."

Hermione charmed all of the wood to be a dark cherry wood stain. "A darker color for House Black and red for House Potter. The same color because the twins are equal in our hearts."

Marcus added two small chairs, "Our house elf liked to stay close at night. Little beds would insult them, but the chairs give them somewhere to relax." Hermione flung herself at her husband and attempted to snog his face off.

-O-

Without having to wait for the infants to be discharged, Ginny was released the next afternoon with a list of instructions. Begrudgingly Rowle escorted her home and promptly abandoned her there. She floo called the Burrow and learned Molly had not been released yet. Ron had no idea anything had occurred, having been out all night with Lavender. Grimacing, she stepped through the flames. Nothing was like she planned. And it was all Hermione's fault, even Molly had agreed. She started filling her brother in on everything that occurred. "Sweet Merlin, no one's told you! Hermione Lestrange is our Hermione, Hermione Granger."

"That bitch! Unfaithful slag. How dare she do this to me?" Ron raged.

"Oh, it gets better. If she hadn't decided to keep her muggle life from us we could have been enjoying all her money. She is filthy fucking rich. You could have fucked a baby into her and everything could have been yours. But she never told anyone."

Ron's ear turned red. His face grew splotchy. "That whore. The bitch. When I get my hands on her I'll teach her to disobey." He stormed off to vent his anger elsewhere. Idly, Ginny wondered if she could trick Rowle into telling her Hermione's address. Setting Ron loose on the twat would be just enough revenge for ruining Ginny's life. But first Ginny had a husband to seduce.

-O-

After decorating the nursery Harry asked if Hermione wanted to come stock up on baby supplies. They headed into Muggle London, Hermione driving, to shop. Marcus quietly told her he wanted to give the two best friends some time together. They went up and down the aisles filling the cart with bottles, wipes, soft towels, and cloths. Once they moved onto the more exciting clothing selection process, Hermione broached the subject, "How are you doing?"

"I don't know completely. Part of me never thought the baby would be mine, and part of me liked the idea. Yeah, I wish the circumstances were different, but I want a family. I want to be the kind of dad everyone says James Potter was or would be. That part terrifies me, too. But I worry I won't ever be able to trust someone enough to let them into my life enough to have kids." He placed several outfits into the cart. "Heh, look at how cute these tiny socks are." He showed her socks that looked like different kinds of shoes. He put two of every variation in the cart. "The worst part of this whole mess is that I remember adoring both of them. They were among my first friends. I don't know what's real anymore. This might be my only chance at kids." He held his hand up to hold off her protests. "Britta says she's good with going slow, with knowing I have trust issues. But what if it takes too long? What if she gets tired of waiting, tired of the questions?"

"Then she didn't truly love you. We need to get you a therapist. These issues are too much for me. I have my own issues."

"Do wizards have therapy?" wondered Harry.

"I'm not sure," she cocked her head to the side thinking. "So you're okay with the outcome?"

"First time parent fears aside, I am excited. And it removes the mental pressure I would put on myself to hurry up and get over it so I can have kids. I have them."

"Now that we established all that, onto the hard questions: names and godparents."

"I'd like to use my parents' names, but as twins that sounds creepy."

"First name for one, middle name for the other?" she suggested.

"I like that. James Sirius Potter," he said thoughtfully.

"They'd both be thrilled," she beamed. "And for our darling girl?"

The first adult that seemed to care about me and try to take care of me was named Meredith, so Meredith Lily?"

"All names with meaning. Also, your opinion is the only one that matters, remember that. So, now, godparents for Sirius James and Meredith Lily?"

"Ugh, um, do you want the boy or the girl?"

"You know I don't care. Who else are you considering?"

"Tonks, Dora, as people are calling her these days. And, maybe, the twins. Unless you think that would be in bad taste? They always supported me. They never ostracized me or turned on me. And if I ever do marry my spouse would adopt the twins, this could connect them with all the family they deserve."

Hermione nodded, "You are one of the sweetest men I know, Harry Potter."

"So, you think I should ask them?"

"Absolutely. We should have a party to introduce everyone to the new Potter family. You can ask the others then. Since Teddy is my godson, I will take Baby James. That way neither of them ever worries I prefer one gender over the other."

"Noted. Do you think we have everything?" Harry asked.

"We have enough for now. Except for one thing." She lead him over to a massive display of stuffed animals. "Pick two," she instructed. Harry selected matching teddy bears with blue bow ties. "And now two from Aunt Hermione." She selected two adorable penguins, one wearing a beret, and the other a top hat.

"What about Uncle Marcus?" Harry teased.

"Uncle Marcus can buy his own lovies for them," she replied primly before giggling. "Changed my mind, these are perfect. She picked up two doe eyes purple and blue striped snakes.

Harry chuckled, "Yep, those are from Uncle Marcus." He looked at the cart and sighed. "I suppose we should get all this home and check on the twins."

"Harry, you know Kreacher and Lolly won't let us put any of this away, right?"

He perked up, "I was not looking forward to that. Let's drop this stuff off and go see my babies."

"That's the spirit," Hermione commended.

The mediwitches and healers coached the pair through basic infant care. Severus owled Hermione telling her he had delivered a superior recipe for formula to the house elves. They should just accept the hospital one to keep from ruffling feathers. She passed the message on to Harry. The healer informed them James and Meredith would be discharged in the morning. "I'll be here. The house elves are super excited to meet them," Harry said. "We should make sure everything's ready." He gave each cap-covered head a kiss. "Daddy will be back in the morning," he promised, "with Auntie Mione." He gave her a sheepish, pleading look. She nodded.

A/N: So, more than just who fathered has been revealed, with more questions coming.