A/N: Thanks to those of you who reviewed!
Viktor Krum's lazyllama101 I'm glad you like it! The tears will start flowing in later chapters! Keep reading!
Leentja I have big plans for Sirius still, and don't worry, you'll love them, I promise! Thank you!
Stickzx The first parts are background stuff before I really launch into the story, and then I'll make sure t he chapters are longer. Much longer! Thanks for the review!
CHAPTER FOUR: IN A REAL LOVE
14 months later (April 2000)
Harry was doing one of the many house hold chores he had taken over since Charlie was born. Or maybe three of the many chores he had gotten used to. He had Charlie in one arm, a vacuum in the other. He had laundry being cleaned, and was ready for Hermione when she got home from work.
"Honey, I'm home!" they heard from the entry way. Harry and Charlie went to greet Mom, who had on a large jacket and a pink cardboard box in her hand. For only being nineteen years old, she really looked mature. Her hair was wind-blown, her pink cheeks made her dark brown eyes look even darker. Harry had many times noticed that her hips had widened since Charlie. And she was as beautiful as the day they'd wed.
They paused for a split second, Harry and Hermione having a conversation no one could hear, because they could see what the other was thinking in their eyes. Harry leaned over to kiss his wife's candy-flavored lips.
"What's in the box?" Harry questioned.
"It's your surprise. Don't touch it."
"What is it?"
"Not telling. You'll have to wait and see." Hermione winked at Harry and carried the pink box into the bedroom. Harry, fighting the urge to follow, turned on his heel and went to preparing dinner for the family.
Hermione barely talked all through dinner. She kept glancing between Harry and Charlie, a small twinkle in her eye. Harry really wanted to pop and ask her what the hell she was keeping from him, but he knew that when Hermione set her mind to something, there was no stopping her.
Harry returned from laying Charlie down to sleep for the night to find a cake on the table. Guessing it was what was in the box and wondering why he got himself so worked up over a cake, Harry walked over to it. What he saw made his breathe catch in his throat.
The cake was white, with baby pink icing covering the side. There was a single pinstriped candle in the center of the cake, right in the middle of the words, "It's a girl!"
Harry couldn't talk, he couldn't move. He heard a choked giggle behind him. He turned and was instantly enveloped in Hermione's arms.