Tentatively Harry reached out and took the howler from Hedwig. It was addressed to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George. This was going to be a long one. Harry looked up at the others who were around him.

"Run!"

All six of them bolted for the entrance hall before it went off.

"Who wants to do the honours?"

Hermione took it and threw it at the twins. "It was their fault, they do it."

Fred held his breath and opened the red envelope.

Molly Weasley's pissed off voice rang out, filling the hall and making those present cringe. "HOW DARE YOU ALL BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE?! FRED, GEORGE! HOW DARE YOU SPIKE THEIR DRINKS? WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN! HARRY AND RON I AM ASHAMED OF YOU! HOW COULD YOU GET YOUR BEST FRIENDS PREGNANT?! HERMIONE AND GINNY! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL! I AM VERY TEMPTED TO FLOO UP TO THE SCHOOL TODAY AND GIVE YOU ALL A DECENT TALKING TO! AS IT IS I CAN'T, BUT I MOST CERTAINLY WILL THE FIRST CHANCE I GET. I BLAME FRED AND GEORGE FOR THIS, BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES! YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM ME ASAP WHEN I HAVE CALMED DOWN A LITTLE!"

There was a silence while the echoes died down. Then a simultaneous letting out of breath.

"Harry, this is all your fault! You shouldn't have told her."

"You ratted us out to mother?" the twins said together glaring at him.

"You told her our secret." Ginny also glared at him.

"Wait? You're pregnant?"

"Yes George, Hermione and I are both pregnant, thanks to your little stunt at the Yule Ball."

"Yeah, thanks to you we throw up every morning. Our backs are hurting. We eat twice as much and pretty soon the whole school will know that we're pregnant because we will both be getting fatter by the day." Hermione shouted. Ginny went over to her and cuddled her, before necessity claimed their attention to their bladders.

The boys watched them rush down the nearest corridor.

"Man, we really screwed up this time didn't we, George?"

"I'll say!" Ron broke in. "Thanks to you we're gonna have children with the wrong girls. Harry was supposed to have Hermione's kids, and now I am. I no longer have a girlfriend, neither does Ginny, Harry and Hermione barely speak to each other anymore, and our best friends are pregnant thanks to us. Look. We're all to blame here. Mostly you two are, but we're the ones who got them pregnant. I expect you to help out with raising the children."

"Ron, you do know who you're talking to, don't you?"

"Yes, Harry, I do. I'm talking to the people who mother is going to receive a visit from very soon."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about mother's visit next week. She wants to talk to the girls, and give you two an earful. Good luck with that!" he finished cheerily. Harry laughed. "You can't laugh Harry, she wants to see us too."

"Then why are you so happy?"

"I had a letter from dad yesterday. There's been some developments."

"What?"

"You'll see tomorrow." Ron laughed and wandered back into the great hall.

Harry exchanged puzzled looks with the twins. "Developments?"

"All I know is that something must have happened with dad and the election."

"What election?" Harry looked even more puzzled.

"Dad must have won. Otherwise Ron wouldn't be grinning so much. We need to see the Daily Prophet."

"No. It won't be printed 'til tomorrow." Fred grinned at his twin.

"We're still angry with you for what you did, you know?"

"Yeah, but if it is true, mum won't be. I love coincidence."