Chapter 25 is now here, happy with how this chapter has turned out. Hope you like it.
Gossip and Discoveries
"Hermione nobody said pregnancy would be easy," chuckled Tonks taking a drink of her coffee. Hermione had taken up the Metamorphmagus offer of joining her for tea a couple of weeks after Sirius's wedding. She disliked how her body had changed with the pregnancy and looking at the size of Tonks who was only 4 weeks away from giving birth, she feared how large she would become carrying two. She was grateful she no longer suffered from morning sickness but wasn't impressed with the aches and pains she had started to receive with that absence.
"I don't know how Mrs Weasley did it but carrying twins is hard work I'm exhausted, and I'm getting a little pain in my ankles and lower back." She sighed before scowling at the chuckling witch beside her. "Thanks for the support."
"I'm sorry Hermione but I didn't think you'd be such a whiner about the whole situation I see my cousin is rubbing off on you. If it helps think of what comes after you've gone through pregnancy."
"Labour, sleepless nights, dozens of nappies to change, been sick on all the time, breast feeding." She said groaning taking a large gulp of her drink.
Tonks frowned at the bushy haired witch, "aren't you looking forward to the birth of the twins though?"
"I'm looking forward to them being in my hand but not the actual birthing. If I'm honest that scares me more than anything else," Hermione said. "I know it is possible but I've seen sizes of new-born babies and I also know how small the hole they'll be coming out of is. I don't like pain."
"There are potions you can take to stop the pain and isn't there Muggle procedures you can use to help with the pain?" Hermione nodded. "Well you'll be just fine and you have two sets of hands to break while you're pushing," Tonks winked and Hermione laughed.
"I'm not worried about the pregnancy because I have faith it'll go pretty smoothly but the boys seemed to be terrified I don't think they wanted me to leave today because they knew they couldn't be there to do anything if something went wrong."
"Remus is very much like that, I think it's a male thing. There is nothing they can do other than sit there for nine months until the baby is born and then when you go into labour there is nothing more they can do then,"
"I'd be happy to let them carry the twins you know." Tonks laughed shaking her head.
"Do you know the gender of the twins yet?"
"Nope we have another check up on the 28th of April and we can find out then. What about you? Do you know the sex yet?" Tonks nodded and grinned jumping and telling Hermione to stay where she was. Watching as the pink haired witch rushed over to the cabinet along the wall and pulled open the draws, Hermione wondered what she was doing. From her seat on the sofa she couldn't see what Tonks was doing but when she turned around Hermione recognised the small black rectangles in her hand and her emotions changed from curiosity to giddiness.
"These are the latest baby scan photos. I think it is amazing that St Mungos are now doing Muggle baby scans." She handed the pictures to Hermione who looked at them closely. She could see the head, body, arms and legs perfectly clearly on one picture and on another she saw the features of the face, the small bump of the nose the slight indent to the skull where the eyes were the slight curve where the mouth was. On the final picture she could see tiny toes and fingers but as she looked she couldn't see whether it was a boy or a girl. She gasped looking up at Tonks she had seen the tell-tale sign.
"You're having a boy!" she squealed excitedly looking at the pictures once more. Tonks nodded her face was enlightened with a huge smile; Hermione could see the happiness radiating from her eyes and couldn't help but smile back. "Have you thought of a name for the future Mr Lupin?"
"Theodore James Lupin, Teddy for short."
"I love it, is it after your father?" Tonks nodded and proceeded to tell Hermione that she wanted to name her son after a man that meant so much to her. Giving him the name Theodore instead of Ted allowed him to have his individuality instead of being Ted the second. She also went on to explain the reason for the middle name being James was because they wanted to continue the pattern of boys having a middle name beginning with J.
"Have you thought of any names for the twins yet?"
"Nope not yet, we're going to wait and find out the sex before we start baby naming. However I do want them to be regular Muggle names not like Hermione or Draco something more likes Harry, Hannah, Fred or Katie.
"Yeah I understand there is nothing worse having a name that's just odd. I should know." She said rolling her eyes, "Who in their right mind would call their daughter Nymphadora?"
"You're parents obviously. I think it's a Black thing you've all got odd names from your side." Hermione chuckled.
"Yep the five Blacks were all named after stars but then I think they cracked afterwards. I dread to think what Bellatrix is going to call her daughter."
"I believe she said it was going to be Morticia Morgana Lestrange. I think it kind of sums up Bellatrix really,"
"Yes the witch once presumed to be the most evil witch names her daughter after the Wizarding Worlds most hated witch Morgana Le Fay. What is it with my family and ridiculous names?" she said shaking her head rolling her eyes unimpressed. "I mean we've Bellatrix, Andromeda, Narcissa, Sirius and Regulus. Then they cursed their children with names like Nymphadora and Draco. Bellatrix is going down the dark street. I swear I'll kill Sirius if he names his child something odd like Phoenix, Cadmus or Galatea."
"I can't see Cecelia agreeing to something so ridiculous," Hermione chuckled "but if I remember correctly she did say she had a fondness for the name Sesolina,"
"That kid is doomed," she whispered shaking her head. "On the upset with the help of my mother and my aunties we've been able to remove the portrait of my dear great Aunt off the wall."
Hermione laughed before taking a sip of her drink. "I bet Sirius could have kissed her, it was awfully clever of her to know the spell couldn't be removed without three members of the family casting the counter course using a blood ritual. With Regulus dead, Bellatrix and Sirius in Azkaban and your mother disowned when she did it, she probably expected Narcissa to take hold of the house and keep her company."
"She obviously didn't expect a family reunion," Tonks chuckled before thinking back to Hermione's previous words. "I heard about Regulus's death from my mother. Draco told my Aunt Narcissa and Harry told Sirius. The news spread quickly through the family." Hermione nodded her head lowering to stare at the ground not knowing what to say to the witch beside her.
"It's sad really the reason Kreacher never spoke the truth was because of Regulus's order that his mother was to never know how he had died. He only told us when Harry forced him too."
"It's nice to know he was a hero. Harry asked Sirius if he would be okay with him telling the Daily prophet about the truth and Sirius said he was happy for him to do it. He wanted Regulus to be known as a hero instead of a coward." Tonks smiled, she didn't know Regulus he had died when she was only a baby but she had heard the stories that the younger Black brother had gotten into the Deatheaters at a young age and hadn't understood the dangers he was getting into so when he tried to leave Voldermort had killed him. When she was told that the truth had always been false and the truth behind his death was revealed she was proud that Regulus Black was her uncle.
"So Hermione is there any newly pregnant ladies at Hogwarts?"
"Probably I only know of Lavender Brown announcing the news she was pregnant the other week. I don't think the smile has left Ron or Lavenders face yet."
"Aww now that's sweet. I bet Molly is overwhelmed with all the grandchildren she'll be receiving in the next year." Tonks chuckled, "is that the 4 of her children expecting now?"
"Erm Ginny, Ron and Fred are. I know George and Percy aren't, I'm not sure on Charlie or Bill I think Fleur could be. So she's definitely got three.
"Do you know who I think will have a really cute baby?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall,"
"Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall? I can't see Snape with a baby if I'm honest he doesn't seem the maternal type."
"He doesn't have a choice Hermione he has to have one. I think a cute little black haired baby with big brown eyes and a cheesy grin sounds really cute. Don't tell Professor Snape I told you this or he'll have a heart attack but in the restricted section of the library there is an old daily prophet and there is a picture of a three year old Severus Tobias Snape holding his mother's hand. I think they were the 1,000th customer of a new shop and the daily prophet took a picture of them. If Snape knew that existed he'd have it burnt before you could say no."
"I have to find that article I can't imagine what a young version of Snape would look like."
"Hermione he was so cute he had a right cheesy grin on his face."
"Can't imagine Professor Snape smiling let alone forming a cheesy grin," said Hermione surprised.
"I know he was a right little cutie. I think the reason he's the way he is now is because of his deatheater days. I think if he had a son it'd be a cutie alright."
"You know Tonks I think I'm gonna go back to Hogwarts and look for it and show Draco and Blaise the article."
"Yeah I think you should, I have to meet with my mother anyway she's become very excited seeing as the baby is only a month away." She said shaking her head amused.
Hermione bid her farewell and flooed back to the house in Hogwarts, upon noticing the two boys where out she made her way out of the house straight to the library. She could walk the journey in her sleep she had done it so many times. She hurried as she neared the doors. Smiling pleasantly at Madam Prince who greeted her back she made her way to the restricted section. Just as she was about to enter the room she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Miss Granger you of all people should know that you cannot enter the restricted section of the library without a note off your Professor." Madam Prince sternly said.
Hermione sighed and turned to face Madam Prince. "Professor I was told by Nymphadora Lupin that in the restricted section of the library is a Daily Prophet article of Professor Snape as a toddler. I only wanted to see if it was still here." Upon hearing her words Madam Prince's eyes widened and a grin formed on her face.
"C'mon Miss Granger let's have a look."
"Professor it's Mrs Malfoy-Zabini now," she chuckled waving away her Professor's apology as they searched the restricted section. "I've found it," Hermione cried half an hour after they started the search. Madam Prince rushed over to Hermione's side as they stared at the young dark haired boy waving back at them.
"Well I be darned wasn't he a cutie," she said smiling at the young boy.
"He sure is," Hermione said smiling. "Can I take this out to show Draco and Blaise?"
"That's fine by me Mrs Malfoy-Zabini but make sure not to tell Professor Snape you have it or he'll have a fit and come down on you with a life's time supply of detentions."
Hermione left the library with the newspaper safely tucked away in her bag a large grin on her face as she walked back to her house. She noticed the TV was switched on as she peered through the window.
"Good afternoon boys, have I got something interesting to show you," said Hermione. The boys filled her with questions of why she hadn't travelled by floo home to how long had she'd been home before asking what she wanted to show them. She walked to the sofa sitting between the two boys and took out the newspaper laying it smoothly on the coffee table.
"Snape!" they both cried staring at the picture in shock before laughing. "Wasn't he cute," Blaise said finally taking hold of his laughter.
"Both Tonks, Madam Prince and I said that," laughed Hermione.
"Can you imagine the look on his face if we showed him it," Draco said picking up the newspaper to read. "Where you find it?"
"In the restricted section in the library. It makes me wonder if he knew it was there and hid it. I mean why else would it be in the restricted area?"
"Maybe it's something to do with the newspaper explaining Agravain Locks horrid murder. His limbs were chopped off and delivered to his parents and partner who were horrified." Draco said quickly summarising the story, wrinkling his nose at the arm that was shown mutilated on the page.
"Lovely," said Blaise.
"Do you think we'd get an invite to Snape and McGonagall's wedding when it happens?" Draco asked reading the story.
"I don't see why not you are Professor Snape's godson why?"
"I was thinking about giving him this as an added wedding gift," he said smirking to the two beside him.
"Draco Malfoy how devise of you." Hermione said, "I like it." and the three shared a grin.
Woo next chapter is gender and baby names, please review.