Chapter 13 – Babies
The third week of September brought the biggest news yet for the commune when Luna went into labor shortly after lunch one day. She had been feeling quite tired and had been about to take a nap when her water had suddenly broke. Calling for an elf brought Dina to her side, who immediately fetched Harry, who was frantic with worry, but managed to help Luna make her way downstairs to the floo. The elves meanwhile were sent to collect all other commune members who were on the island. By the time Harry and Luna reached the entry and the floo, Neville, Susan, Hannah, Teddy, Hermione, and Dean had all convened and were ready to follow them to St. Mungo's. Neville immediately agreed to take the duty of going to collect the missing commune members from their jobs, as well as Xeno Lovegood. With that arranged, Harry and Luna went through the floo with everyone else following. The floo to Tinworth was then immediately followed by a second floo ride to the hospital.
Luna was at the hospital for barely twenty minutes when her father arrived, as well as Ron and Ginny. Tonks would follow in a couple of hours, as the DMLE wasn't willing to release her for a non-relation's impending delivery. Still, it took Luna five hours before she delivered, so Tonks arrived in plenty of time. Everyone was in place when, at ten minutes past six in the evening, Xavier Ralston Lovegood-Potter made his debut. He had a few wisps of dark brown hair and deep blue eyes that within six months would match his father's. His name began with an X, as all Lovegood males did, but also honored his Potter heritage. All of the commune joined Xeno in welcoming the first new baby to the commune within minutes of his arrival and he was immediately doted on by everyone. Harry may have been the teariest, but he wasn't the only one needing a tissue.
The day after Luna's easy delivery, she was allowed to return home with baby Xavier and immediately set him up during the days in a small cot in her studio, or in a sling when she was out roaming the island to check on the demiguise.
Luna made her first visit to the tribes when the baby was five days old and immediately had several females who came close to visit her. When she sat down and began to nurse, the demiguise drew near and a couple of brave ones even came close enough to run tentative fingers along the baby's leg. Luna never had any fear for Xavier's safety, she knew the demiguise were very protective towards their young and it seemed they extended that same feeling to her own. When she was done nursing, she held the baby out to the eldest female and she gently ran a paw across the baby's head while making a trilling that brought a smile to the baby's face. Luna had to smile herself, since she knew that the female in question would soon be a mother herself. It was a very bonding moment between two females of two species.
Xavier's addition to the commune also meant that Luna saw more of his father, as Harry made a point of crossing the hall to check on her and his son at least a couple of times a day. Or, on the occasions when he had to leave the island for business, he would always check in with them on the way in or out. He doted on his son and Luna knew that she was blessed that her baby's father was so loving.
October soon arrived and fall was in full manifest on the island as trees lost their leaves and the air began to gain a regular chill. The barn addition for the goats was finished and the animals were sequestered inside at night by the elves. The commune funds were still being used as they accumulated as each new project needed to be finished, but at least the commune was providing for itself.
The next project that was due to be started was a new flat remodel for Susan and Hannah in preparation for Hannah's addition, due the following March. Although there was still plenty of time, when the commune account had the funds in mid-November, the vote was made to go ahead before the holiday madness began. There wasn't much going on, so it was a good time. The same contractors who had done the previous work were hired again and by the first week of December Susan and Hannah were set in their new flat. If the contractors wondered about the unusual family group and living situation, they never commented.
November also brought monumental news for Luna professionally when the first demiguise pups were delivered. Each of the two pregnant females delivered a single pup and both seemed healthy. Although they were difficult to examine closely, Luna reported that both had strong auras and were nursing well. Within a month the demiguise would retreat to their nests for the winter and by the time Luna viewed the pups again in the spring they would have tripled in size.
December arrived and all of the commune were busy decorating the manor to its finest. Each year that Teddy got older he enjoyed it even more and now with a new baby each year held more promise. The winter months tended to be a bit dreary, but December was a month of brightness and cheer in the middle of the doldrums.
Two members of the commune who weren't having a problem staying busy during December were the Weasleys. Although the separation from their parents was still difficult, Ron and Ginny remained on good terms with all of their siblings and were both busy working at WWW as the holiday madness got into full swing. It was during the first week of December, just as the madness was ramping up, that another opportunity came knocking when Oliver Wood came by the Diagon Alley shop to visit his old friends and team mates, Fred and George.
"Ho Oliver!"
"Fred!"
"I'm not Fred."
"Gah, really George sorry."
"Never mind, just kidding. What can we do for you?"
"You'd think I wouldn't fall for that anymore. Anyway, I'm in a bind. Puddlemere plays tomorrow and our announcer croaked. It will be in the Prophet tomorrow. They found him this morning. Niles Barkmore. Something with his heart. I don't suppose one of you can take a couple of hours to announce a game or know someone who can?"
"Ooh, bad luck mate, no can do though. We're behind on brewing and can't get away. That's where George is now. Ron is handling Hogsmeade. I know, how about Ginny! Hey Gin, come over here!"
Ginny rolled her eyes, but crossed the store to her brother.
"What Fred? Oh, hi Oliver."
"Hey Gin, Oliver needs a favor. Think you can handle announcing Puddlemere's game tomorrow? Their announcer bit it today."
"Really? Brilliant. Well, not brilliant for your announcer, sorry about that, but sure I can do it."
"Awesome, thanks Ginny. The game starts at ten."
Oliver and Ginny arranged a few more details and then Ginny had to get back to help some customers, but she was happy at the prospect of announcing a professional Quidditch match. When she got home that night, it was all she could talk about. Everyone agreed they'd have to tune the wireless to the match and listen in.
The next day was a Saturday and saw the majority of the commune gathered in the upstairs game room to listen to the Puddlemere versus Tutshill Quidditch match. When Ginny came on and begin announcing, a cheer went up from everyone. The match was about average length at a bit over three hours. Not everyone listened to the full match, but everyone agreed that she did an excellent job.
Some others who were in agreement with Ginny's performance were the owners of the Puddlemere team, as well as the owner of the Tornadoes, Wasps, and Harpies, all of whom Niles Barkmore had been contracted with to do the announcing for. Ginny was barely out of the announcer's box, when the owners of the two teams who had played in the game descended on her, wanting to talk. By the end of the day, she had signed on to be a permanent Quidditch announcer. Within the week she would sign with the Wasps and then the Harpies. The teams received her services in order of which she signed, with Puddlemere being first. If two teams played home games simultaneously, then she went with the primary team. It was rare that it happened, but for Niles it had happened twice in eight years. Ginny was thrilled. Between the four teams she would floo or apparate between games on average three times a week, working a few hours each time, and then be able to work at Wheezes in between. When she made her announcement to Fred and George, they were a bit upset to have to share her, but also congratulatory, as were all of her commune family.
With her contributions to the commune increasing and her career more defined, Ginny started to think about what she wanted personally in life. She adored baby Xavier and thought that there was really nothing to keep her from having a baby of her own. The commune had built in babysitting and she could even take a baby to games once they were old enough. With that thought in mind, she began to think about how to approach making a baby. She slept with Harry and Dean regularly and Neville on occasion. She wasn't sure she wanted the uncertainty that Luna had with not knowing the baby daddy. Harry already had one baby and Neville had one on the way. She also thought it might be nice to have a little curly haired milk chocolate baby running around the island and made up her mind to approach Dean with her decision. The ideal time happened to be one night when they were getting ready for bed together.
"Dean, I've been thinking about something."
"Okay…"
"Would you mind if I didn't cast the contraception charm?"
"Um, what? You want to get pregnant? With me? What about Harry?"
"Yes, with you. Maybe I'll have a baby with Harry someday, but he already has a baby. I want your baby, a beautiful little milk chocolate baby. Would you mind? If I'm anything like my mother, it won't take much."
"Alright, um sure. Why not?"
Ginny grinned, dropped her nightgown and stepped into the ray of moonlight that was coming into the room. Dean gulped and then grinned, happy to contribute to the effort.
The rest of December passed quickly and soon it was time for Christmas. All of the commune spent Christmas Eve together the same as they had the year before, but then different members had plans with extended family on Christmas day. For Hermione, she had arranged a Christmas portkey to Sydney and planned on staying through the new year since she hadn't seen her parents since the open house party and was the most separated from them. For Ron and Ginny though they didn't have their usual plans to go home to the Burrow. Thanks to Molly's stubbornness, it was due to be an especially hard Christmas.
In retaliation against Molly, Harry and the Weasleys planned on having their own feast the day of Christmas and making the best of it they could. When Luna heard about the plans, she soon invited her father, and decided to stay with baby Xavier as well. She didn't have much family, but together, Harry, the Weasleys, and Lovegoods planned to make their own celebration. Also, on Boxing Day, all of the other Weasley siblings were invited out to the island for a day of leftover munching and games. It was still difficult to have the split in the usually happy family, but Ron and Ginny made the best of it.
All the celebrations went quite well and the new year brought happy news of the promise of new life when Ginny tested and found that she was in the very early stages of pregnancy. She couldn't be sure, but by the timing she estimated that it had only taken her and Dean one or two tries for her to take. It seemed the Prewett blood was proven once again.
Once the holidays passed and with her good news confirmed at St. Mungo's, Ginny decided it was time to have a reckoning with her mum. She thought about bringing Ron along, but then decided against it. As much as she loved her brother, he wasn't the strongest when it came to standing up to their mother. She decided to visit the Burrow early one evening at the beginning of January, shortly after she knew her father should be home from work, but before her mother normally served dinner. Although her father didn't stand up to his wife much either, she still felt that he should hear what she had to say. She apparated just outside the wards and then walked up to the door, knocking politely. Thankfully, it was her father who answered.
"Ginny! Wow, it's good to see you!"
"Hello father. I came to talk to you and mother if I may."
"Of course, but must you be so formal?"
"I think after the way I was treated the last time we were together that it should be expected."
Arthur sighed and opened the door, gesturing for Ginny to enter. Upon stepping in, she saw her mother step out from the kitchen, a firm look on her face.
"Hello mother. I've come to talk to both of you."
"Ginevra, my mind has not changed about that unnaturalness."
"Fine, but you need to hear me out. Just this once and then I will be gone."
Arthur stepped to his wife's side and took her arm.
"Come Molly, please…"
Molly Weasley sighed and nodded barely to her daughter. Ginny took one step further in the house and took a deep breath as she prepared to say what she had come to say.
"Father, mother. We have gone months now since our last disagreement. We went through Christmas without each other and you persist on denying me the courtesy of choosing my path as adult. There comes a time after you raise a child where you must let them go and trust that the values that you raised them with will remain at the core of who they are. Obviously you don't trust that. I have waited for you to calm down and cool off, but I realize now that this is false hope and I have come to say my peace so that I can let that hope die and move on with my life. That life includes living within my commune family. I wish my birth family and my commune family could completely coexist. I know my brothers are fine with my commune family, but now I realize that I am going to lose my parents and this hurts very deeply. That said, I am standing for what I believe in. This is the child you have raised. When I have my own children, I will raise them with these same values. I think it is only fair that you know that I am expecting the first of those children in about eight months. This child was not unplanned and I am thrilled that I will be a mother. I am saddened though that my children will never know you. I will leave you now and let you continue with your lives. Abandon all hope that I will return. My choice is made."
Ginny wiped a single tear from her eye and turned to leave. She heard a gasp and then her father uttered her name, but her mother said nothing. She didn't look back as she left the Burrow and then apparated back to Tinworth. When she caught the floo back home, she found Hermione and Luna both waiting. They had known her chore and now welcomed her home as she collapsed and finally let loose the flood of tears that she had barely managed to control. After a while the flood stopped and she excused herself to her room to rest for a while before dinner.
Ginny remained melancholy for the rest of the week, but gradually life moved on and both her jobs called for her attention. She was blessed with an easy pregnancy and, other than an increased appetite, noticed no changes in the early stages.
Winter was a quiet time for the commune, but along with planning another flat remodel for Ginny and her upcoming arrival, the commune was making additional plans thanks to Dean. Over the winter he had been spending his free time reading and studying up on beekeeping. Starting in February he began an internship with a non-magical beekeeper in Devon to begin to learn the craft. It was something that magic really couldn't help with much, but Dean's muggle raised background made him an ideal fit for the trade. By the time March began, the commune purchased two hives and began to produce its first honey, adding yet another homegrown product that it could claim.
March also brought another arrival when, on the eleventh of the month, Hannah delivered her firstborn, a daughter she and Neville named Alice Claire. The baby was once again welcomed at St. Mungo's by all of the commune. The petite little girl had a shock of brown hair, ice blue eyes, and perfect rosebud lips. She was immediately loved by everyone.
With the arrival of spring, the demiguise came out of their semi-dormant state and all of the animals around the farm began to liven up.
The fields were plowed and planted and a wider range of fresh vegetables was being envisioned. The greenhouse provided the basics, but the large garden provided a wider range of consumables. The commune now produced milk (cow and goat), butter, cheese (cow and goat), eggs, honey, cannabis, and pounds of vegetables. Any surplus items were passed around to different family members, with the Drycræft Commune cheese becoming an especial favorite. Hermione even took some with her to Sydney at Christmas.
March also brought a bit of warming with the Weasleys, at least with Arthur. Ginny was working the Tornadoes game one Saturday and finished announcing a fairly standard game. She was leaving the pitch when a surprise guest stopped her, her father. Arthur Weasley had been waiting at the bottom of the VIP stands for his daughter to emerge after calling the game.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Ginny! Wow, you look…pregnant."
"I'm past my first trimester now, so yes, I'm showing. Why are you here?"
"Look Ginny, your mum has been having a hard time since you visited. She wants to accept this, but it's really hard. She's trying and I think she will get there, but it's going to take a lot of arguing with herself. I couldn't wait though, I wanted to see you. She doesn't know I'm here. I can't say the whole commune idea was the easiest, but I accept it now. Can you forgive me at least?"
Ginny sighed and reached to hug her father.
"Of course dad. I'm still mad at mum, but I can separate the two of you, as long as you don't take her side. Look, Bill and the twins are coming to the commune for Sunday supper next weekend at two. Can you find a way to come without mum knowing?"
"It won't be easy, but I'll find a way. It will be great to see you. Thanks Ginny."
Ginny sighed and said goodbye to her father. It wasn't what she was hoping for, but it was a step in the right direction.
Sunday supper a week later went quite well with all of the commune, as well as Andi Tonks, Xeno Lovegood, Bill, Fred, George, and Arthur all in attendance. Arthur had had to fib about an emergency at the office calling him in on a Sunday, but it had been worth it to spend time with the majority of his family. The weather was also nice enough at the end of March that the group managed to go for a fly around the island after they ate, which gave an even better tour of the various ongoing projects, including the new orchard.
The next few months flew by for all the members of the commune. The farm was flourishing with the able attention of the elves and help from Dean, who enjoyed occasional breaks from his sculpture to spend time with the animals. And of course, the beekeeping was his realm alone, as no one else was trained in caring for the hives. Not that the couple of hives required too much work.
The next major project that the commune funds went toward was to build out a flat for Ginny in the west wing. That was done in mid-June and utilized the same contractors, who were always interested in whatever new project the Drycræft Commune had for them. Once again, it only took a couple of weeks before Ginny was moved into her new space.
It was never discovered who, or even if it was intentional, but one of the contractors said something to the wrong person and word of the Drycræft Commune finally reached the press at the end of June. Every one of the members was a bit surprised that it had taken so long, but once the word was out, speculation was rampant and the headlines were worse by the day for a week until the commune finally agreed to do an interview. All of the commune met with a reporter from the Daily Prophet at the pub in Tinworth. Although the details of the farm and businesses were given, no reporter ever set foot on the island. The resulting article launched a firestorm of controversy for another week, but eventually died down.
The press controversy passed in plenty of time for everything to settle before the next arrival to the commune family when Ginny delivered a baby boy on August 2nd. Maximilian Arthur was delivered at St. Mungo's at two in the morning, but his early arrival didn't diminish the crowd that welcomed him. He had two total curls of dark auburn hair and deep blue eyes that would eventually turn brown. Of course, he was instantly loved by all, including his namesake grandfather who came to visit him at the hospital.
As the summer wore on, the commune had been flourishing, growing and thriving for over two years and only looked to have a bright future ahead.
