Chapter 12 Managing
It took a couple of weeks before Harry and Hermione got a routine down in dealing with everything. While Hermione had more classes than Harry, he had Quidditch practice and extra defense lessons with Draco and Kingsley, plus DA and Head duties. So Harry spent time with Robbie and Raven in the mornings and Hermione had them in the evenings. They had combined their hour together by patrolling the castle, using the map and stealing a snog every once in a while. News of their family spread like wildfire through the school. Most students seemed to be happy for them and wished them well.
Harry's biggest problem was potions. Slughorn continued to praise Harry for his skill, only now he included Hermione in his praise. She still didn't know about Harry's potions text being concealed and Harry really didn't think of it as cheating as most of the instructions mainly simplified the potions making them easier to produce. However where Slughorn was the most stubborn was his insistence in having both Harry and Hermione in his "Slug Club". They had so far come up with plausible excuses to get out of it.
About once a week Harry would take the twin to the Gryffindor common room for their housemates to see, play, and fawn over the babies, who loved the attention, leaving Hermione free to do whatever she wanted for a couple of hours. Hermione would take the twins to see Professor McGonagall and Poppy for a couple of hours to give Harry some time for himself, much to the older ladies delight. It was during one of the visits that Harry had Colin Creevey take the twins picture for Hermione's locket. He already had one of her parents in there and one of himself. As a matter of fact Harry was planning Hermione's birthday and since it was on a Saturday, he had the whole day planned out. He drew Draco, Luna, Dobby, and Winky into his plans.
On the morning of Hermione's birthday, Harry walked into their bedroom carrying Robbie and Raven. Both babies had presents for their mother in their hands, under a light weight charm. Hermione woke up to the giggles of her daughter. Hermione made very big deal about taking the presents from them and both giggled at their mother's antics. But Hermione's emotions changed as she opened the locket, bringing tears to her eyes. And Hogwarts: A History was greeted with equal emotion. Hermione kissed all three, thanking them for their presents. Dobby and Winky arrived with a special breakfast and to take the twins back to the nursery.
"There are more places for pictures in the locket as you want to add them."
Hermione just grabbed him and gave him the snog of his life. It was several minutes before they came up for air. Harry insisted on feeding Hermione who insisted on feeding Harry making breakfast last over an hour.
Owls arrived bringing presents from Bill and Fleur, Fred and George, Hagrid, Moony and Tonks, and Narcissa. Draco gave her a charm bracelet with birthstones for the twins. A surprise party was planned in the Gryffindor common room that even included Robbie and Raven. And Harry planned a romantic dinner for the two of them in the Room of Requirement, with Draco and Luna watching the twins. Harry treated her like a queen and she thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
September slowly turned into October and with it the first Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry wasn't too worried about foul play since Draco was captain of the Slytherin's team, but he kept getting the feeling that something was going to happen at the match. He didn't have to worry about Ginny doing something since she had made the team, with Neville's permission. As the days went by bringing the game closer and closer, the feeling increased. Hermione told him that it was probably nerves and not to worry about it but when the day arrived Harry knew that something was going to happen and he intended to be ready.
The game itself went fine with Gryffindor winning four hundred and eighty to one hundred and ten and Harry was beginning to feel silly about being paranoid. As Harry congratulated his team, no one saw Ginny pull her wand and fire a spell at one of the bludgers .The bludgers headed towards Hermione and hit her on the side of the head. Seamus quickly grabbed Raven from Hermione's arms as Neville grabbed Hermione before she fell over. Harry was there in an instant.
"HERMIONE" yelled Harry. The twins were crying and so was Harry. Poppy hurried over and made an emergency portkey, taking her and Hermione straight to the hospital wing.
"Harry, go up to the hospital wing, GO ON! I'll take the twins back to your rooms and watch them. Just go to your wife."
Harry nodded and flew off on his broom towards the wing, leaving Draco to care for his children. Draco had dismounted right into Gryffindor country. Taking Raven, his future goddaughter, she quieted almost immediately, recognizing who was holding her. Luna arrived seconds later and took Robbie, getting him to quiet with some nonsense words. Neville handed Draco his broom and nodded, showing his support of Harry's decision to have Draco care for his children.
Draco led the way back to his room. He said the password, walked in and threw his broom on his sofa while making his way to the door that led into Harry and Hermione's rooms. Luna followed the entire way, totally silent. As soon as they reached the nursery Luna immediately changed Robbie's nappy. The fact that she knew how to, surprised him. Not every woman knew how to take care of a baby or even wanted to. Pansy sure didn't, saying that when they married and had children that a nanny or special house elf would have to be employed to care for the child and that they were only going to have one. Not that he had proposed to her and never would but it was stuck in her brain that they were. He had been lucky that his mother had cared and loved him enough to take care of him when he was little. Luna came over and switched Robbie for Raven and proceeded to change the other's nappy. Just as she finished Dobby and Winky popped in after hearing about what had happened to their mistress.
"Winky we need a couple of bottles" said Luna sitting down in one if the rocking chairs. She stared at Draco until he too sat down in the other rocker. Winky returned and handed each a bottle to feed the hungry babies. Draco had never done this before. When he and Luna had watched the twins for Hermione's birthday, the babies had slept the entire time. But Robbie seemed to know what to do and grasped the bottle and started to drink from it with gusto. Draco smiled down at the boy who smiled back while drinking. A sound drew his attention away from the baby in his arms. It was a voice softly singing in Gaelic. Luna was singing, rocking, and feeding Raven and Draco was entranced. He listened to the angelic voice singing a tale about the leprechauns of Ireland. As she continued with the tale Draco could envision the two of them, together, in their own home, and her singing their child to sleep. He shook himself, wondering where that thought had come from.
Both babies finished their bottles, were burped, and soon fell asleep to the angelic voice singing lullabies and tales for their enjoyment. Then they were placed in their cribs for the night. Draco went back into the main room and continued on into his own room to shower and change out of his Quidditch robes. Meanwhile Luna arranged for dinner to be brought to the room. When Draco returned to the other room he was surprised that Luna was still there. She came up to him, wrapped him in a big hug, reached up and kissed him.
Harry landed on the astronomy tower and ran the rest of the way to the hospital wing. He didn't care what wards were up to keep him out, he blew right through them. He did stay out of Poppy's way as she examined Hermione and poured some potions down her throat.
"Mr. Potter, she will be fine. I gave her a couple of potions and put her into a healing sleep. She needs to remain here overnight, but by morning she should be able to leave. Now if you cause any trouble I will kick you out until morning. You may stay until midnight agreed?"
Harry nodded, relieved that Hermione would be fine. He settled into the chair next to her bed. About half an hour later the doors opened and Ginny came running in. Harry stood up and Ginny wrapped herself around his waist.
"Harry I'm so sorry about Hermione but I'll take over and be the twins mother, like it should have been and after a short mourning period we can marry. Everyone will understand; everything will be alright."
Harry stood rigid with anger as he listened to Ginny talk, not believing what he was hearing. He pushed her away and yelled "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Hermione died, didn't she? It's all over school. Now you can break this ridiculous betrothal of mine to Neville and we can get married like we should have done in the first place."
"What did you do" he whispered in anger, noticing that Neville, Seamus, Dean, Lavendar, and Pavarti were coming up behind her.
"I really didn't do anything, just righted a wrong, that's all."
"You sent the bludgers at Hermione, didn't you" shouted Harry, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her.
"You'll never prove it."
Harry had never been as angry with someone as he was with Ginny and that included Voldemort.
"Sorry to disappoint you but Hermione's going to be fine. I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN. It will be up to Neville if your allowed to stay here at school but as of right now you are off the team, permanently. Two hundred points from Gryffindor and detention every night with Filch for a month Ms Weasley. IF I CATCH YOU ANYWHERE NEAR MY FAMILY AGAIN, I'LL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS" stated Harry in a cold fury.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'LL BE ALRIGHT? YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME" yelled Ginny. She jumped when she heard Neville's voice behind her.
"He said that Hermione will be alright and he can do that as he is Head Boy. You and I need to discuss moving the wedding up. I think Halloween would be a good day." Ginny paled at hearing Neville say this. Neville grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out of the room.
At midnight Poppy kicked Harry out and told him that she didn't want to see him until after breakfast and it was no use using the invisibility cloak either. Harry returned to his rooms. He found the connecting door to Draco's wide open as well as the nursery door. After checking on the babies, Harry went to thank Draco for all his help and found the Slytherin fast asleep with Luna snuggled up beside him. Both were still in their clothes and on top of the covers, so Harry knew that nothing had really happened but it still was a surprise. He couldn't wait to tell Hermione. He grabbed a blanket from the wardrobe and covered the couple up. He smiled at the sighs he heard, left the room and went to bed.
The next morning Dobby served breakfast in the Potter's main room for the three teens. Harry couldn't resist teasing his formal rival.
"So did you need another hug?"
"NO" said Draco, blushing. "She helped take care of your children, for which I was grateful. Did you know that she could sing like an angel? I swear that I thought that she had come straight down from heaven last night just to sing them to sleep."
Harry hid the grin that was threatening to come out and answered "No but somehow that doesn't surprise me." Just then the sound of Luna singing stopped both young men in their conversation, listening to the angelic voice.
When she finished, Draco had a calm, peaceful look on his face. "How do you fight something like that" he whispered, staring at the nursery door.
"You don't" answered Harry, amused.
Luna soon joined them. Draco actually stood when she entered the room and nudged Harry to do the same. He made them remain standing until Luna took her seat. Harry snorted into his pumpkin juice at Draco's display of manners and at the goofy grin that he was sporting when Luna thanked him with a kiss on the cheek.
"I want to thank you both for taking care of Robbie and Raven yesterday. I meant a lot to me and Hermione."
"That's what friends do for each other Harry. They help one another" said Luna pouring two different cereals into a bowl with chocolate milk.
"We still thank you both and Luna we were wondering if you would like to be Raven's godmother. Draco is going to be her godfather and Fred and George are going to be Robbie's. The ceremony will be this coming Saturday. Professor McGonagall is allowing the ceremony to take place here at the castle."
"Are you sure that you want 'Looney Lovegood' as a godmother for your daughter?"
"Yes, I trust you and you seem to have a natural instinct with the children and you're not 'Looney'."
"Then yes I would love to" said Luna smiling at Draco.
They finished breakfast and headed up towards the hospital wing with Robbie and Raven. Hermione was eating when they arrived. As soon as she saw her babies she stopped eating and reached out for them. She was asking them questions and the gurgled their answers and she acted like she understood every word. Luna told her every detail that she missed being in the hospital wing. Harry didn't think that was really necessary but Hermione looked grateful.
Poppy came out of her office and smiled at the sight of the young family. She came over and did a few tests with her wand. "Mrs. Potter may leave but I want her to take it easy today and get a good night's sleep." Harry and Hermione grinned at her usual instructions. Harry then took Raven and handed her to Draco. Robbie was handed to Luna. Before Hermione could even think about moving, Harry had her up in his arms and was walking towards the doors, telling Poppy 'Good-Bye' as they passed her, as if this was nothing new. Poppy was trying to hold back her chuckles as they left the wing with Draco and Luna in tow.
"Harry put me down, I can walk you know" said a laughing Hermione, secretly happy to be right where she was at.
"I'm not taking any chances. You are going to spend the day in bed or on the sofa and no homework. I'm going to pamper you all day and treat you like a queen I don't ever want to go through that again." True to his word, Hermione did nothing. Harry took care of the twins and waited on her hand and foot and by the bedtime it was starting to wear on her nerves. The next morning Harry wanted her to stay in bed instead of going to class and she blew up and they had their first fight.
Finally Hermione had had enough. "HARRY, I'M FINE AND I'M GOING TO CLASS. STOP SUFFOCATING ME!"
Harry stiffened and left. Hermione had no idea where he went to and at that moment she didn't care but as the day progressed Harry wasn't in any of their classes and she started to worry. When he was no where to be found and no one had seen him by dinnertime, she was frantic. Using the map, she saw that he was no where on the school grounds. She even went and checked the Room of Requirement. He wasn't there. Draco accompanied her on rounds using it as an excuse to search for the missing Harry. About an hour into the search Dobby popped in beside Hermione to inform her of Harry's return. She ran the entire way back with Draco trying to keep up.
As soon as Hermione entered their rooms she stared yelling. "HARRY JAMES POTTER WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Then she really looked at him. Covered in mud, blood, and muck, sat a very tired Harry with his eyes closed.
"What happened" she asked in a much quieter voice.
"Hermione I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to suffocate you but I couldn't help myself. I don't know what I would do if I lost you. I love you."
"I know Harry, I love you too. Now what happened that caused you to come back looking like you have been in a battle? Are you hurt?"
"No I'm fine just tired. I left here using one of the secret passages, and went to Hogsmeade. Then I apparated to Godric's Hollow to talk to Narcissa. We had a nice talk about you and I and she helped me realize a few things. Anyway Nagini was in the garden. John came in and warned me. I transformed into my snake form and killed her, trapping the Horcrux in a shatter proof case. Then Snape had the idea of trying to summon the rest of the Horcruxes, using my Parseltongue ability, out of the rest of the objects and it worked. It left the objects intact and there was no after shocks or explosions. We placed all the Horcruxes together in the container until we can destroy them. Then I came back here. I didn't realize that I had been gone for so long."
Hermione kissed him and told him to go clean up while she sent Dobby for some dinner. Draco left them alone to make up.