- Chapter 5 – Nightmares, Dreams & Memories

It was Christmas Eve, Harry and Hermione were standing in their living room, the big Christmas Tree was next to the fireplace, many red and golden ornaments were on the Tree, many little magical lights were giving the best colours around the room. Hermione sat on their couch and Harry followed her. They stood there for awhile, the dinner was ready, Minerva, Remus and Tonks could arrive at any minute. The doorbell rung, "I'll get it." Harry smiled, woke up and opened the door, Hagrid was standing in front of him. "Am I late?" Hagrid smiled at Harry.

"No, not at all," Harry smiled back. "You are the first. Come in." Harry said.

Hermione came to the hall and hugged Hagrid, "This is for you guys, nothing much, I made it myself." Hagrid said and handed to Harry a box. "It's a cake." Hagrid said and smiled.

"Oh thank you Hagrid." Hermione smiled and took the box and went to the kitchen.
The two men went to the living room, and sat, Harry made a spell on an armchair, for be larger for his friend. Hagrid sat down and Harry sat back on the couch. Hermione returned to the living room and sat next to her love.

"So-- how is life as an Auror?" Hagrid smiled.

"Well, fine, I always wanted to be an Auror, and Hermione is next to me, so I'm just fine." Harry smiled and kissed Hermione's cheek.

A noise heard and Minerva McGonagall showed up from the fireplace. "Good evening Harry, Hermione, Hagrid. This is for you." Minerva smiled at the young couple.

"Oh good evening - Minerva. Nice to see you again." Harry smiled. (Hermione had used to call her with her first name but Harry had still troubles to do it.)

"Good evening Professor." Hagrid said and stood up.

"Oh Minerva! You shouldn't have to." Hermione said and took another box from Minerva's hands, then hugged her.

"Where is Tonks and Remus?" Minerva asked as sat on another armchair close to the fireplace.

"They will be here at any moment." Harry smiled.

Another noise heard and Remus showed up. Two seconds after Tonks was standing next to him.

"Hello people," Tonks smiled.

"Hello Moony, Tonks, thanks for coming." Harry stood up again and smiled.

"Our pleasure Harry." Remus said and give a 'manly' hug to his friend as Tonks was hugging and giving a third box with cake inside, to Hermione.

"We're so happy you all come." Hermione smiled.

They stood in the living room and talked about random things like the differences between their generations at Hogwarts, and the Aurors. Then Tonks and Hermione went to the kitchen for prepare the dinner. Minerva stood and played a chess game with Harry, and she won. All sat around the dinner table, in the dining room. Plates and glasses were "flying" from the kitchen to the room, Tonks was really happy, she didn't hit none with the 'flying' plates. They all sat and took their dinner, then ate from the three deferent cakes. They were talking again about their years at Hogwarts when Minerva mentioned that Ron and Luna were expecting their first child, Moly had informed and asked for her help with the wedding. She smiled and gave to Harry and Hermione the perfect time to announce that they wanted to. Harry stood up like he had done in Burrow and said.

"Remus, Tonks, Hagrid, Minerva, you know about it but this is the official announcement for you too. Hermione and I want to tell you that… Hermione is expecting our first child." Harry said with a smile from ear to ear.

"Oh my god, that's great." Tonks jumped first and hugged Hermione and then Harry.

"This is great Harry, Hermione, congratulations." Remus smiled and hugged both of them.

Hagrid didn't move for awhile, big tears were running his cheeks and disappeared in his beard. "Oh Gods! My little Harry and Hermione, the two little, smart, noisy kids are going to have their first child." Hagrid choked out.

Harry and Hermione smiled and both of them hugged him. They kept talking about only one thing from that moment, the baby, Minerva promised she and Madame Pomfrey will help Hermione with her labor, Tonks was suggesting names to the couple, but they were positive.

" We will decide tomorrow, the potion which reveals the sex of the baby will be ready tomorrow." Hermione smiled.
When the clock in the dining room showed midnight Minerva stood up first.

"The dinner was more than great, but I have to go, school needs help and students need detentions." She smiled, hugged the couple, said goodbye to the rest and disappeared through the fireplace. Hagrid left second, after his goodbyes to everyone.
Tonks and Remus helped the couple and the elves for clean up and then stood some more minutes in the living room, talking about random things.

"We will be waiting Hedwing for your letter with baby's sex." Tonks smiled at Hermione before hugged Harry and leave through the fireplace.

"The dinner was great, congratulations again." Remus smiled and hugged both of them before left too.

Harry and Hermione went upstairs, changed their clothes and laid on their bed.

"Everyone is happy for us, that means we have friends who care about me and you." Harry smiled and pulled Hermione into his hug.

"Yeah I know, Gin is the only who is not happy." Hermione said and started stroking her belly.

"Well, we can't have everything…" Harry said and hugged her tighter.

Darkness, "Lily take Harry and go! It's Him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-" James' voice heard, "Please take me but not Harry, not him." Lily was begging. The picture of Vernon hitting a five years old Harry showed up. Harry was in the Forbidden Forest, Draco Malfoy was next to him, a man in black was laid and drinking the blood from a dead unicorn, the figure rose and approached Harry while Draco started running. Harry saw Hermione, froze and stunned in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. Harry was fighting with Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, the Basilisk attacked him, Harry rose Gryffindor's sword and hit the huge snake but one of its teeth pinned in Harry's shoulder, he screamed in pain. "Baby wake up!" Harry heard Hermione's voice somewhere close to him. Harry and Hermione were standing in the grounds of Hogwarts, many dementors were approaching them, Harry tried save both him and his friend, he heard Hermione's whispers and two cold hands grapping his neck before the picture faint again. Harry was in the graveyard, a sort man approached him and Cedric Diggory, "Kill the spare!" a voice heard from something in man's hand, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" the sort man screamed and Cedric's body fell on the ground lifeless. Harry was laid on a grave, a cauldron close to him was making terrible noises and then, He rose from inside, Harry fought with him, graped Cedric's body and the Goblet of fire and left the graveyard. He saw Sirius' body falling behind the veil, Remus graped him as he started screaming, Death Eaters and Order's members were fighting around him, Bellatrix Lestrange laughed and Harry started hunting her. "Harry wake up, please." Hermione's voice heard in his mind again but he couldn't see her. Harry was in a board, Dumbledore was with him, many Inferis started approaching them, they were cold, white and lifeless, they gripped him and tried took him with them in the deeps of the black lake. Snape rose his wand, "Avada Kedavra!" he said and Dumbledore's body fell, he was dead, that was the end. Many people were in a graveyard, Harry was fighting Him, He screamed "CRUCIO!" but Hermione protected Harry by standing in front of him, the curse hit her, she started screaming. "Harry wake up please honey, wake up!" her voice heard again in his mind. Harry rose his body, "ACCIO WAND! AVADA KEDAVRA". Hermione was standing in their bedroom, her belly was flat again, Bellatrix entered the room, " Here you are Mudblood, AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix screamed with her wand pointing at her.

But before Harry saw the end, he screamed louder then any other time and woke up, he was sweated and breathless, Hermione was standing next to him trying calmed him down. Harry was trebling, he rose his body and sat on the bed.

"Harry it's ok love, it was just a nightmare." He didn't talk, he graped her shoulders and pulled her in a hug.

"It's ok Harry, I'm here with you." Hermione was repeating to his ear. Harry was holding her tight, his left hand was stroking her belly and his right her hair.

"I saw the worst things have happened to me, I heard my parents, I saw us, dementors, Voldemort, Death Eaters, pain, lost, the Battle, and…" Harry's voice broke at the last thing he saw in his nightmare, Bellatrix had never hit Hermione. What that supposed to mean? Was this picture from their future? Harry's eyes fill with tears with that thought.

"It's ok Harry, it was just a dream sweetheart." Hermione smiled and pulled a bit away for can face him, her hand traveled on his messy and sweated hair.

"Hermione, promise you'll always be here." Harry said and looked straight into her chocolate brown eyes.

"I promise honey, I will always be here." Hermione said and hugged him again. He arrested his head in her neck kissing it and letting his fast, hot breath hitting her, Hermione could feel his agony, his pain. The scar on his forehead wasn't the only one Voldemort had left him. Harry's breath come to normal again, he was falling asleep, Hermione didn't move. She knew he needed her now, more then anyone else. This wasn't Harry's only nightmare, he had many more in the last years, but that one was one of the worst for sure. Hermione laid his body on the bed again. She stood awake for an hour, she wanted to be sure he wouldn't woke up again, she knew his soul was still bleeding after all those physical and mental tortures he had been thought, she had joined him in some of them, he fell asleep but he was murmuring things, her touch and her voice whispering to him she was there was calming him down, she put the hand of him was around her waist on her belly, that made him calm more, she kept him in her hug until she closed her eyes and fell asleep too.

It was Christmas, Hermione opened her eyes, Harry wasn't next to her, she rose and looked around, he wasn't in their bedroom, she looked at the clock 11:33, Hermione woke up and went to the bathroom, she dressed up and went downstairs. Harry jumped in front of her at the end of the stairs and kissed her passionately.

"Happy Christmas 'Mione." Harry smiled as he pulled a bit away for can see her eyes.

"Happy Christmas Harry." Hermione smiled and hugged him. The night was over and with it the nightmare, Hermione was relieved, that was the day they would learned their baby's sex. Harry led her in the dinning room, Harry, Dobby and Winky had made the best breakfast for her. "Come on, lets take our breakfast." Harry smiled and hugged her.

They sat one next to each other. Daily Prophet had an hour ago with a "new Christmas Scandal" they didn't gave a look. Harry 'pitied' Hermione and gave her just some sips of coffee, Hermione wanted more but didn't want to fight about it. "Many gifts are waiting for us in the living room, I wanted you to wake up for open them together." Harry said and kissed her cheek.

"Great, we have sent our gifts to our friends too, so we can eat and open ours." Hermione smiled.

"Great," Harry replied and feed her a spun of corn flakes, "The potion must be ready right?" Harry asked.

Hermione crammed and replied, "Yes, I have read the book, I will slip some sips of my blood in the bottle and if the color of the potion becomes pink, we are expecting a girl, if it becomes light blue we are expecting a boy," Hermione smiled.

They both stood up and went to the living room, many gifts were waiting for them. They opened them, books for raise children with magical ways and clothes for her later months were sent by Moly and Minerva for Hermione. They stood up after an hour of unpacking gifts. Harry bought for Hermione a beautiful set of jewelries, earrings, a bracelet and a necklace all of them with beautiful diamonds on them. "Harry they are wonderful." Hermione said and kissed him. She bought for him tickets for the pre-finals and the final mach of quiditch. "I think it was a good idea, if I'm giving birth on the last days of June I and the baby will be able to come and watch the matches with you in August." Hermione smiled. He wanted so much to watch the final matches, he couldn't believe she had bought tickets for him, he expected some book for future wizards-fathers or something. "Thank you so much honey. You're just the best." Harry smiled and kissed her.

"I have bought something more." Both of them said at the same time.

"OK, lets show the gifts at the same time, shall we?" Hermione smiled.

"OK," Harry said and both of them pulled behind their backs two all new alarm clocks, they both started laughing.

"I think it's time to do it." Harry said excited.

"Ok the potion is in the kitchen." Hermione smiled, " I will bring the book for make sure we're doing everything right."

Harry ran to the kitchen and Hermione brought the book from their bedroom. They both sat on the couch close to the fireplace, Dobby and Winky came to the living room too. Hermione opened the book to the right page and read something, then took the bottle from Harry's almost trebling hands and opened it. She took her wand and murmured a spell close to her left hand's finger-tips, one of them started bleeding a bit, Hermione put her finger upon the bottle and little sips fell in the potion. Hermione took her hand away, made another spell and her finger-tip was good as new again. Both Harry and Hermione looked at the bottle, "It needs some seconds." Hermione said breathless. Some seconds after the yellow potion started changing its color, it become bright red, then bright blue, then almost black and then purple. Harry and Hermione stood there without talking, they were waiting for take a color, pink or light blue, but the potion didn't change. They both shared a confused look and then Hermione spoke first.

"Something must be wrong," she said and took the bottle and the book.

"We must did something wrong." Harry said and looked at the bottle in Hermione's hand, then at her face, her eyes were wide-opened.

"The potion is fine," Hermione choked out.

What do you mean?" Harry smiled confused.

Hermione lowered the book on her laps and said with a breath, " The book says, if the potion become pink, the baby is a girl, if becomes light blue, the baby is a boy, if it becomes red, then the pregnancy is double and the babies are both twin girls, if it becomes blue, then they are twins boys and if becomes purple… there are twins, a boy and a girl." Hermione said and looked at Harry

Harry didn't move for awhile. "You mean we have twins." Harry smiled, "We have twins, not one but two babies, and not same sex, a son and a daughter!" Harry smiled again.

Hermione had a huge smile on her face, "We'll have twins!" Hermione said. Harry pulled her into his hug, "You will not just make me father, you will give me two kids." Harry said and kissed her passionately. "Oh my God, two babies!" Harry said and both cried from joy.

"I can't believe it." Hermione said and wiped hers and his tears.

"Hermione you really are my life." Harry said and kissed her.

"Now your life will be in three pieces." Hermione smiled.

"The most beautiful three pieces in the world." Harry smiled and started stroking her abdomen.

"I think we should inform our friends, they all want to know about it." Hermione said and pulled a bit away.

"Hey hey; they can wait, lets talk about names first, shall we?" Harry smiled and pulled her back into his hug.

"OK, what names have you think for our son?" Hermione smiled and made her self more comfortable in his embrace.

"Our son… wow, it sounds so nice, uhmm I was thinking about a double name actually."

"Hmm let me guess, James Sirius, isn't?" Hermione smiled and rose her head for can see his beautiful eyes.

"Yeah! How did you know?" Harry smiled surprised.

"Well I was thinking the same names, your father sacrificed his self for saved you, and Sirius ran for help us, the less we can do is to give their names to our baby, don't you think?" Hermione said and kissed him on the lips.

"I totally agree baby," Harry said against her lips, "What about our baby girl?" Harry asked and pulled a bit away for look at her again.

"Hmmm I have my mother's name so she'll be fine if we won't use her name for our baby, I was thinking Lillian for first name…" Hermione smiled.

"You want to give my mother's name to our girl?" Harry smiled brighter at his wife.

"Well she is the reason you are alive, I owe her my happiness next to you, and she had a brilliant name nonetheless," Hermione was ready to continue but Harry cut her with a deep kiss.

"Thank you baby, that name I wanted too, what about a second name?" Harry smiled at her.

"Hmm you can choose one." Hermione smiled back.

"Well, I love your name, and if you put it next to mine we have the word Harmony, which I really love, plus, our lives deserve harmony after all those things we had been through so I think Harmony is the best for our little princess." Harry smiled.

"I think it's brilliant sweetheart, it sounds great, James Sirius Potter and Lillian Harmony Potter, just great." Hermione said and kissed him again.

"I think now it's time to write to our friends, they'll kill us if we don't." Harry said.

"I think you are right, Accio Wand!" Hermione said and her wand flew across the room and stop in he palm, "Accio Parchments, accio quills!" Hermione said again and many parchments and two quills flew from the bookcase near the fireplace.

They both started writing to their friends. All the letters had wishes for the Christmas and the news about the twins and their sexes, First to Remus and to Tonks as they promised a night before, then to Hermione's parents, then to Moly, (if Moly knew then all the family would learn the news), to Ron and Luna, then to Hagrid, to Minerva and last to the daily prophet. "It's better to tell them of our own than have them out of our house sneaking our lives." Harry said with a forced smile.

"I think you are right." Hermione said, "I need to be calmed and that won't happen if I have to jinx stupid reporters around our house, they will be bored and we will be fine, I hope… Harry…" Hermione paused for a minute, "You think we should send a letter to your uncle and aunt?" Hermione said a bit scared of his reaction.

"What? No! Hermione we were together the last time I saw them, I thought you remembered the way they looked at both of us and how selfish they are! I don't want them close to us or to our children. I have suffered enough cause of them." Harry said angry.

[FLASHBACK - Privet Drive 4 nine years ago

Harry was laid on his bed, all his stuffs were packed, he was waiting, it was his birthday and three letters had arrived three days before, one from Lupin saying him to be ready, they would try picked him up the next days. Two more letters from Minerva McGonagall had arrived with it, the Headmistress of Hogwarts had sent him one letter which was explaining to him what he needed for the new school year, Harry wasn't sure if he would return, but the second letter make him change his mind, he would be the next Head Boy and captain of the Quiditch team for one last time, a small note was at the end of the parchment.

The Headmistress

And your friend

Minerva McGonagall

Harry had read the letter more than ten times and he had made his choice, he would return, he could feel the danger and he knew Hermione and Ron would help him, Hermione, the last weeks in Dursley's house he was the only person could thing about, he was thinking about her differently than he should. She is your friend! He was shouting to his self. He knew he shouldn't fall in love with his best friend, besides, she had feelings for Ron, he couldn't stole her from him. That would be forbidden. But his heart was beating faster at her thought. Harry couldn't believe he hadn't seen her as something more then best friend all these years, she was there, growing up like him, fighting next to him, being ready to give her life for him.

Many pops heard down the stairs and then Petunia's screams, Harry stood up, took his wand and ran down the stairs ready to fight the Death Eaters but he froze when he saw Hermione at the end of the stairs smiling at him. Mad-eye, Tonks and Lupin were next to her.

"Hello Harry," Hermione said and kissed his cheek.

"Hello Harry." Lupin and Tonks said at the same time.

"Hello Potter." Mad-eye said.

"Who are you people? What do you want in my house?!" Vernon Dursley screamed walking to the hall from the kitchen.

"Calm down muggle, we will take Potter and we'll leave!" Mad-eye said and point his wand at Vernon.

Harry smiled at the small team and went upstairs with Hermione for pick his things, Hermione took Hedwing's cage and Harry his trunk and his broomstick.

" We will go in Burrow, they are waiting for us, we will apparate." Hermione smiled at her friend.

"Uhmm good, why you came? I mean, isn't dangerous?" Harry asked.

"Well yeah it is, but I wanted to see you, and where you lived the past years of your life." Hermione smiled shyly.

"OK, Well that's it, my bedroom for the last six years, my previous bedroom was downstairs, under the stairs." Harry simply said.

"I know you feel awful here, I do, but if they didn't keep you, your mother's sacrifice wouldn't help you…" Hermione almost whispered.

"I KNOW HERMIONE, I DON'T WANT TO OWE THEM NOTHING!" Harry screamed at her without want to.

"I know Harry please don't yell at me." Hermione said and a tear ran down her cheek.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't want to yell, I'm so sorry." He said and pulled her into his hug, his heart beated fast when her body came against his own.

"I know you didn't," Hermione smiled and whipped her tears.

"HARRY! HERMIONE! WE NEED TO GO SOMETIME IN THIS CENTURY!"
Tonks yelled from downstairs. The two young people pulled away from this warm but weird hug.

"We should go." Hermione whispered. They both went downstairs, Lupin and Tonks took Harry's trunk and Hedwing's cage and apparated first. Petunia and Vernon (which hadn't move from the wall which were pinned cause they wanted to.) screamed again.

"OK Potter, you and Granger will apparate and I will follow for be sure none will kill us." Moody said with his normal eye on the young people and the other one on the Dursleys.

"OK Moody, just give me two seconds." Harry said and pulled Hermione with him in front of his uncle and aunt. They both tried pulled back but the wall didn't help them.

"You made me suffer a lot the past years, I suffered cause of you and your son." Harry said angrily, "But my mother's sacrifice couldn't help me without you, aunt, so thank both of you for accepting me in your house, feed and raise, even as you did, I'm here, alive and ready to fight the man who killed my mother and father." Harry said and looked at Hermione, who was smiling proud of him.

"This is my best friend, Hermione Granger, a great Witch and the best student in our school, she is one of the reasons I'm still alive and able to smile." Harry said without looking at her this time, he was blushed.

"I'm leaving and I hope for both sides' sake to don't see you again. Thank you again for your help, Come on Hermione." Harry said and looked at his friend again. Hermione smiled at the Dursleys and then at Harry. They both apparate, Harry could swear that he saw his aunt Petunia smiling back at Hermione and himself.

[END OF FLASHBACK

"It's ok honey, I just asked." Hermione said and smiled at him.

"I know I'm sorry. The time you hugged me in there I though I'll die." Harry said and smiled at her.

"I know, I was close to die too." Hermione smiled.

"Hedwing will be mad with all these letters." Harry said and went at the attic, Hewding was sleeping up there, close to the elves' room.

"Hey you girl, wake up," Harry said and got closer to the owl " I need your help." Harry said and started banding the letters on the owl's feet, "You have a long trip, to the Burrow, to London for Ron, Lupin and the Grangers, at Hogwarts for Minerva and Hagrid, and to the daily Prophet." Harry said. The owl purred a bit angry and flew away.

The rest of the day was peaceful, Harry and Hermione took the happy replies from their friends, Ron had sent them with his reply the invitation for his wedding.

"In 365 days, two little children will be screaming and running across the house." Harry said and started stroking Hermione's belly like in the morning.

"Hmm it sounds scary." Hermione laughed.

"Yep, it does, and in a few years we will buy for them little broomsticks, Fluer and Bill have bought them for their daughters and they're really cool." Harry smiled.

"No, no, no! Forget it, they won't fly with any size of broom until their 11 or more, I was ready to die everytime I was watching you on the broom flying around the Quiditch field." Hermione said really serious.

"OK, we can fight about it in a few years." Harry smiled at her. "When they will start kicking you?" Harry asked.

"Well I'm three right now, it's really soon don't you think? They are twins so in two months, maybe a bit less." Hermione smiled and put her own hands upon Harry's on her abdomen.

"They are so lucky children." Harry said and kissed her forehead.

"Oh, and why is that?" Hermione smiled.

"Cause they will have the most smart, careful, lovesome and beautiful mom in both Wizarding and Muggle worlds." Harry smiled.

"Hmm I think they'll be lucky cause they'll have the most, brave, smart, handsome and good father could ever be." Hermione said and turned her head for kiss him. He answered her kiss.

"Sometimes is hard to believe we are here, together, alive with two babies on the way, with you next to me." Harry said some moments after.

"Well you have to used to it cause you won't get rid of me so easily or in the near future." Hermione smiled and kissed him again.