New Life

Once Luna got her wish, Harry wanted to help Lavender. He hoped that the potion they had used for his scars and for helping Luna could also help Lavender, although her scars were somewhat different. Just as before, both Harry and Hermione were present when Madam Pomfrei checked Lavender, frowning quite a bit, and then administered the potion. Lavender took it, making a face at the taste. She then sat on the bed and talked with them until the potion started working, overwhelming her with the sudden intense pain.

Harry took her hands in his, trying to comfort her. Hermione couldn't stay long. Her advanced pregnancy was making her tire easily. She only sent Parvati to stay with her friend.

Harry was surprised that Lavender was feeling a lot of pain inside her body. He only expected her to have pains where she had been scarred, Madam Pomfrei explained. "It looks like Lavender had been hit during the battle with some low-power dark curses. They didn't cause any visible injuries and were undetectable at the time, yet they caused harm within a few days after the battle. I'm sure you've lost your appetite and had some stomach aches since, haven't you, dear?"

Lavender only nodded, being unable to talk due to the pains. At times they got so strong that she couldn't hold back and even cried, with Harry and Parvati holding her hands comfortingly. By night fall, her pains were subsiding. Exhausted by the pains, Lavender fell asleep. Parvati stayed at her side for the night while Harry returned to Luna.

Harry didn't go to the hospital wing before breakfast, so he was surprised finding Lavender eating heartily at the Gryffindor table. "How do you feel?" he asked her with concern in his voice.

"I'm really fine. I have no more pains and my scars are gone. See?" Lavender moved her robe aside, baring her shoulder for him to see. There was a slight discoloring where Harry remembered seeing the scar, but her skin was smooth.

"Madam Pomfrei believes it will eventually become the same color as the rest of my skin," she said, pulling her robe back, disappointing some of the boys nearby. "I'll let you check it regularly," she added suggestively.

By mid February, Hermione was already very big. No robes could hide her pregnancy and she felt so heavy she could no longer move freely. The multitude of stairs was becoming a nightmare in her condition. She stopped going to classes. She stopped going to meals in the Great Hall. She only moved between the adjacent apartments on the same floor, yet she renewed her visits with Harry after Luna encouraged her to do so.

By March, Daphne and Susan were also starting to show, unless wearing big robes, while Luna, despite her morning sicknesses, still looked slim and trim.

It was the middle of the night when Ron knocked on the Potters' door. "Hermione's water broke! What should I do?" he asked desperately.

The noise woke up the others. Luna and Lavender went immediately to help Hermione get ready while Harry called Poppy with Kreacher's help.

Hermione didn't expect it, but her labor was soon becoming a public event. All the women were standing around her, holding her hands, giving contradictory advices, telling jokes and reminding her to breathe and to push as needed. The men were confined to the other rooms. Come morning, Daphne also joined the girls.

Hermione was so distracted by all the girls around her that she barely felt the pains. She was almost surprised when after a few more pushes she was rewarded with a redhead baby girl. Lavender brought Ron in to see his daughter. He was first excited too much to see anything but the baby, but a moment later, when he saw the blood, he just lost it. Madam Pomfrei had to levitate him into another bed until he regained his conscience.

Ron got an owl a few hours later, informing him that Fleur had given birth to Victoire at about the same time his daughter was born.

Rose, as Hermione called her daughter, proved to be a very pleasant baby. With all the young women around, she never lacked attention and they were all eager to help take care of her, leaving only the breast feeding to Hermione. Luna, Susan and Daphne were paying extra attention to the baby, thinking of the babies growing inside them.

By the end of March, both Susan and Daphne were already showing, no matter what they wore, and even Luna was already sporting a small baby bump, but only Harry could see it.

Hermione returned to her studies with more vigor than before. She arranged study groups for the different subjects and was ruling them with an iron fist, making sure that all her friends would pass their NEWTs with highest scores possible.

Harry visited Gringotts during the spring break. He had been quite reluctant to even come near the bank, knowing that the Goblins had suffered both humiliation and physical damage due to his break into the bank in search for the Horcrux and then his escape on a dragon's back. It was only after several letters from the bank, escalating until the last was signed by the general manager, assuring him that neither his freedom nor his body would be affected by visiting Gringotts and urging him to take care of his accounts. That letter was signed with blood, making it a magical oath.

Harry still felt unsure. The guards at the doors seemed hostile to him, although they didn't move even a single muscle as he passed them. He was relieved not to see Griphook among the tellers. His relief was short lived, as he was informed that Griphook had been promoted to become the Potter account manager, due to the close relations he had created with Harry and his friends. Harry wasn't sure if this was a cruel joke or not.

Griphook proved to be just as efficient as he had been before. "Gringotts is very unhappy with your breaking in and the damages you have inflicted on the bank," Griphook informed him. "There have been long discussions about the right way to act. We had to consider all aspects of the event. Finally, it had been decided to fine you one hundred Galleons as a token of our displeasure and to file a warning in your account, yet no more drastic measures were recommended, as your deeds seem to have helped Gringotts raise its profits more than twice the projected amount."

Harry wasn't sure if Griphook was smiling or just baring his teeth. It wasn't pleasant, that was sure.

"So, along with the profits made by Gringotts, the profits made by the Potter account had grown just the same. We now need to discuss further investments and how to use the profits."

Harry spent half a day there, just learning about his assets. He was sure to come back another day with either Hermione or Luna to help him along, preferably both.

The main thing he learned, was that he didn't need to worry about making a living and that would probably be true of his children as well. He also found out that he owned several houses at different parts of the world, most of them quite large. If ever Grimmauld Place 12 would proved unsuitable, he had a choice of quite a few other places to live in.

With NEWTs approaching, Hermione made them all study even harder. Being a mother didn't seem to mellow her at all. If anything, it only made her more determined. This proved to be beneficial by the end of May, when they all sat for the exams.

Only Ron found them a bit challenging. All others thought they were quite easy. The results, which arrived almost two weeks later, proved them right. Ron managed to receive an O+ in DADA and an E+ in Charms, while Hermione, Harry, Luna, Susan and Daphne had all O's and higher. Ginny also scored well, although not quite as well as "Harry's girls".

Susan and Daphne were already feeling heavy now, although both had about two more months to go. This didn't mean that any of them was willing to stop her regular visits in Harry's bed. Daphne visited on Mondays and Thursdays, as usual, while Susan would pick either Tuesday or Friday and sometimes both. Luna didn't mind. She had her Harry each night and every morning, and there was enough of him to share.

It was after the leaving feast when Lavender caught up with the Potters.

"Do you mind letting me have a last shag with Harry?" she asked Luna.

"Oh, that's alright with me. Do you want him to impregnate you as well?"

"No. I'm on the potion. I just want a farewell memory to cherish. Once we leave school, it would become much harder to do it and it could interfere with your lives," Lavender explained.

Luna nodded understandingly. "Don't tire him too much," she added. "I need him to shag me in the morning before we board the train."

She kissed Harry and sent him along with Lavender. He joined her in bed about an hour later.

Harry's compartment on his ride back was quite crowded. Harry sat with Luna at his side. Daphne sat at his other side and Susan sat adjacent to Luna. All three young women were heavily pregnant. The facing bench hosted Ron and Hermione, who were alternating at holding Rose, whose cradle took the rest of the bench. Her pram was shrunk and stowed in Hermione's purse for the duration of the ride.

They weren't left alone, though. Neville came to visit, with Hanna stuck at his side, looking very happy. Ginny came to coo a bit over Rose, followed faithfully by Dean. Both Patil twins visited, quietly asking Luna if she would let them visit for some quality time with Harry, once the Potters settled down.

Luna just smiled at them and winked.

It was only hours later, when the train was approaching London, that Harry asked Susan, "Where are you going to stay?"

Susan shrugged. "I can't impose on the Abbots. They were kind enough to shelter me until now, but I think it's time I leave them alone. I'll probably stay at the Leaky Cauldron until I can rent or buy a new house. It may take some time until I can start rebuilding the old Bones Manor."

"Why don't you stay with us?" Luna asked. "I'm sure Harry will like staying close to his children and you like staying close to Harry."

"Well, I didn't..." Susan started reluctantly.

"Oh, do come! Our house is large enough and we can give you a whole wing for your own," Luna said. "We shall only need to check for Nargles, though."

Susan looked at Harry questioningly. He shrugged and smiled, letting her know he agreed with Luna.

"That's a bit... unexpected," Susan finally said, "But I appreciate your offer and I'll take it. I can always go to the Leaky Cauldron if things turn not to be what we expect."

Daphne witnessed the conversation silently.

"You're going to stay with your parents, I believe," Hermione noted.

"Yes. They know about my pregnancy and approve of it. Dad really wanted a son, but a grandson to carry the line is also welcome," Daphne said.

"I believe Harry will stay in touch with you," Hermione noted.

"I hope so. He said he wanted to be involved in his son's life," Daphne said, thinking 'and I want him in mine as well'.

Daphne was the first to leave the compartment, once they reached London. "My parents don't like the crowds at the train station. They want to leave as soon as possible. I'll send you an owl once I reach home."

It took Hermione and Ron much longer before they could leave the train, as traveling with a small baby made everything more complicated. Hermione did most of the work, as Ron was not very helpful, despite trying his best. Harry proved to be much more helpful, enlarging the pram, once set on the platform and shrinking the cradle, while Luna and Susan shrunk most of the Weasley couple's stuff. Hermione couldn't do much, as Rose needed breast feeding just as they came into the station.

Luna, Harry and Susan left last. Nobody was waiting for them either at the station or at home. Harry called Kreacher to take care of the luggage. He then took the two ladies for a short shopping trip in muggle London, before taking a taxi to Grimmauld place.

Kreacher grumbled a lot, yet he was clearly thrilled that his family was settling in and he had no problem accepting Susan as another mistress. He served them a very festive dinner, which both Harry and the girls enjoyed, letting Kreacher know how much they liked it. As they were finishing the meal, an owl came in with a letter from Daphne.

"Dear Harry,

I'd like to be able to talk with you. Can you open your Floo for me? It may also be useful for visiting, as I'm not sure it's safe for me to use apparition at this stage.

Also, my parents would like to get to know you, Harry, although they don't expect me to marry you or anybody else, as I've already told you. Would you and Luna come for dinner on Saturday?

Love, Daphne."

Harry was quick to respond, as Luna advised.

"Daphne,

We'll come on Saturday. I think Susan should also be invited, as she's now part of our household.

I'll have the Floo opened by tomorrow noon. The address is 'Grimmauld Place' and it will be open for you to come through as well.

Stay safe, Harry."

Daphne made good use of the Floo. She called every evening, shortly after dinner, talking with Harry and even longer with the girls. Come Saturday, they all dressed formally and used the Floo to reach Greengrass Manor. They were welcomed first by two house elves who helped them stay on their feet and cleaned the soot off their clothes. Daphne was waiting just a few paces behind them. She hugged Harry as tightly as her bulging belly would allow and kissed him passionately. She then straightened, blushing, and turned around to present him to her parents.

"Mum, Dad, these are Lord Harry Potter-Black who was kind enough to help me bring you a grandson, his wife Lady Luna Potter and Lady Susan Bones. Harry, my parents – Cygnus and Bathsheba Greengrass" Daphne made the formal introductions.

Her parents shook hands with the guests. They looked at Harry a bit apprehensively and seemed bewildered when seeing both female guests were also showing advanced pregnancy.

Dinner was pleasant. Once formalities were left aside, both elder Greengrass were eager to get to know Harry, aware of the fact that this young wizard would have a great influence on their grandson. They had been afraid that Voldemort's Slayer, as some called Harry, would act like a pompous celebrity. They were pleasantly surprised to find a very modest young man who cared deeply for his family.

"I still find it difficult to understand how you intend to take part in all your children's lives," Mrs. Greengrass noted.

"Well, Susan lives with us now, having her separate set of rooms, allowing her to be close to us and still maintain her privacy as much as she wants. Daphne lives with you, just a Floo call away from us. We still have enough room to accommodate her in our house if she chooses so," Harry explained.

"If I remember correctly, the Black's London home is not very appealing. Certainly not what I'd like for raising small children," Cygnus noted.

"It isn't, although we've done some major re-decorating to change the atmosphere," Harry agreed. "I have some more properties where we can move to if we want, but I've not checked them yet."

"I remember that Potter Manor was quite large and very suitable for raising a family as well as for having parties," Bathsheba said.

"You've visited there?" Harry wondered.

"My parents were in friendly relations with your grandparents and used to visit a few times each year. I liked the extensive gardens and the immense library best," she replied, reminiscing.

By the time they returned home, Harry was determined to check the houses he owned. According to the Greengrass, there must have been several that were more suitable for his needs than Grimmauld place. Susan wanted to help him, but her advanced pregnancy made her less than suitable companion for going upstairs or just walking longer trails, as many of his possessions required. Luna was also less inclined to accompany him, despite her younger pregnancy. Carrying twins made her look almost as big as Susan. Harry found Hermione to be a willing helper in these endeavors. She was happy for any excuse to leave the Burrow, where she and Ron were still living, and spend some time away from the overbearing Molly Weasley.

Hermione was also more than willing to check each master bedroom in the houses they visited. Luna actually encouraged her, as neither Luna nor Susan were able to cooperate in bed as they had used to, due to their large bellies. Harry enjoyed checking his houses and enjoyed Hermione's company as well as her advices. Hermione suggested living at Potter Manor once the children were born, with Godric Hollow being the second choice, but only after restoring the house. Both needed some modernization, so that muggle technology, like television, computers and telephones could be used.

For the time being, they found another Potter property – a small house in London, quite close to St. Mungos. It only had one floor, making it ideal for expecting mothers and they also would be able to simply walk to the hospital when the time came. Both Luna and Susan loved it and the three moved there soon after.

Daphne called that evening, as usual. "Harry, I miss you a lot. May I come and live with you?"

"You're always welcome to join us. What do your parents say?"

"They say that may happiness is their main concern. They just ask to be informed as soon as I go into labor. Mum wants to be at my side when I give birth."

Harry smiled. "That should not be a problem."

Daphne joined them the next morning. Luna gave her a set of rooms similar to the one Susan was given.

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