"HERMIONE!" George's whine came from the kitchen.

She groaned as she attempted to hoist herself out of bed, swollen ankles followed by swollen tummy. Being pregnant wasn't that much fun she decided, especially when the two week countdown had progressed by mere hours. Sometime soon she was going to hex someone for this, and she had a feeling it was going to be George. And if he said "It takes two to tango" he was going to lose his eyebrows.

After finally getting to her feet she huffed and puffed her gown onto her shoulders and fruitlessly tried to tie it around her pregnant belly. Her thoughts swayed between screaming, crying, breaking something and sighing as she accepted the fact that it would be a while yet before she could wear clothes that fitted and could actually see her feet again. She even managed a smile as she remembered she didn't want to see her feet again until all the swelling went down.

Shuffling down the corridor in a somewhat penguin manner she cringed as her husband's voice got louder and more frantic. There was also another noise coming from the kitchen that she wasn't sure of. A tap, tap, tapping. Whatever it was, it wasn't a good thing.

In the kitchen George was struggling to catch his breath. He opened his mouth to bellow again for his wife when she waddled into the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" She asked as she watched her husband tap dance on the kitchen tiles.

His right foot drummed; tap, tap tap. His left foot echoed; tap, tap, tap. He skipped from side to side; tap, TAP, tap, TAP. His knees lifted as he began to flip his legs over each other, bouncing on each step.

"What... am I doing? Don't... you... mean, what... did you... do?" George said breathlessly.

"I was lying in bed quite peacefully until you started yelling."

"No... sneezing?"

She shook her head in reply.

"Then what... in Merlin's... name... is going on?" George's eyebrows rose as he looked at his wife for an explanation.

"Stop that right now!" Hermione ordered.

"I can't. I've already tried everything... I can think of."

Ignoring him she continued. "I'm warning you. You better stop it right now." She growled.

"I can't..."

"Listen to your mother."

"Mother? Are you telling off... our unborn children?"

"Now's as good a time to start as any." Hermione offered as she looked up into his panting face.

"I never... thought I'd... see the day; someone worse... than my mother."

"Hey! I'm just learning from her experience. You've done much worse to people."

"Are you saying... this is payback... for that New... Year... dance prank?"

"Maybe. But it should be Molly teaching you a lesson, not our unborn twins." Hermione's eyes twinkled with ideas.

"Don't... even think... about it."

"Right now I'm focused on punishing them, not you. Right, now, I'm the boss here and you better learn that quickly. You two stop what you're doing right now..."

"Or?"

"Or else."

Then there was silence apart from George's panting and a loud thud as he collapsed on the floor.

Hermione smiled to herself as she stepped around her husband and put the kettle on. A few moments later George pulled himself to his feet and watched her open cupboards and drawers, taking out cups and spoons to make tea. Regular for him, herbal for her.

After feeling the burning eyes on the back of her neck she turned round to see him staring at her.

"What?" She cried.

"They're doing magic without your help now?"

"Maybe a little trick on their daddy- but then they get that mischievous nature from you, don't they?"

"I'm only slightly concerned." He frowned.

"I don't think they'll hurt anyone."

"If this is what they're doing before they're even born what will they be like when they're old enough to hold a wand?"

"If anyone should know what to expect it's you."

"Oh Merlin." His face paled at the thought of all of his years of pranks being played on him.

"It'll be fine. I'll protect you." Hermione smiled at George's sigh.

"Never, ever leave me alone with them."

"George, the doctor said the magic will dissipate when they're born. It really will be fine."

"Just thirteen more days then. That's 1,123,200 seconds."

"Take a seat before you hurt yourself." She said as she handed him his tea.

It really was going to be a long two weeks.