Chapter 30:

The next week was very different for the family. Not only was Hermione twelve weeks pregnant but Aurora and Curtis had turned seventeen. Aurora had lots of questions for Hermione about the pregnancy. Hermione took the time to show her daughter the books that she had bought on the subject. "Wow, mum it says here that by twelve weeks, your twins will have each grown to 5.4 cm long and will be fully formed. That's amazing!"

"It's amazing isn't it?" Hermione grinned.

"It says that if we prod your stomach, they will squirm but you won't be able to feel it."

Hermione grinned at the idea of her babies moving about inside her stomach. "It also says you should start doing pelvic floor exercises and we might need to go shopping for new clothes soon too mummy."

Hermione laughed at her daughter's excitement. Hermione had really started to enjoy being pregnant this week. Her morning sickness was almost completely gone and she was starting to eat normally again.

"Have you thought of any names yet mummy?" Aurora asked.

Curtis walked into the room at that moment, "why do you care Rora, you're never going to meet them!"

Hermione sighed, "your father and I have discussed it and we were thinking Scorpius for a boy and Katriona for a girl. What do you think?"

"I like them," Aurora cuddled her mother, "I love you mum."

All of the seventh and eighth years were called into a meeting at the end of the week with Professor McGonagall. "I have discussed it with the minister for magic and we feel that it would be cruel to take your children away from you now that you have formed such a strong bond with them. Therefore, we are going to give you the option of keeping them."

Hermione tightened her grip on Draco's hand. "We want to give them the best chance at a normal life so you would have to marry your partner if you want to keep them. Also the children would not be the age they are now. They would revert back to nine months old as that would be the age they would be now if they had aged normally."

"You will need to think about it – it is a huge responsibility raising a child."

Hermione and Draco smiled at each other, "I want to give them the choice."

"Them?" Draco questioned.

"Our children."

"But you know what they will say," Draco laughed.

"But I want them to feel that they have a say in our decisions," Hermione explained.

Draco and Hermione returned to their apartment. Aurora and Curtis were in school and so Hermione and Draco should have been using the time to study for their N.E.W.T.s but they couldn't concentrate. They were giddy with excitement. When the teenagers finally returned, Draco and Hermione jumped to their feet to welcome them. "Hello," Hermione smiled.

"Come and sit down," Draco ushered them into the common room. "We need to talk."

Curtis didn't look impressed but Aurora smiled kindly.

Hermione and Draco glanced at one another and took a stabilising breath. "We had a meeting with the headmistress today."

Curtis yarned. He was still annoyed with his parents, "and?"

"And she told us that there is a way that we can keep you."

That got Curtis' attention, "how?"

"You would have to revert back to nine month old babies but you would grow just like any other child. You'd go to Hogwarts. You'd be with us," Hermione was crying as she explained.

"We want to know what you want to do. We want to keep you but we want to hear what you want," Draco said.

Aurora began to sob, "You mean I can stay." She flung herself at her mother. "I'll meet the twins."

Hermione nodded. "Count me in," Aurora smiled.

"Curtis?" Draco turned to his son. He couldn't believe how much the boy reminded him of himself. He had a coldness about him when he was trying to be strong.

"I don't want to die," Curtis whispered.

"Then you won't," Draco grinned, pulling his son into his arms.

That night Draco carried Hermione up the stairs to their bed. "I'm so happy Draco," Hermione whispered.

"Me too love," Draco kissed her softly as he placed her into bed.

"I love you," Hermione said as she closed her eyes.

"I love you too love," Draco grinned as he held her close to him. He couldn't believe that they were going to be able to keep their children. Nothing could make him happier in that moment. He had it all; a beautiful fiancé, two beautiful children and two more on the way.

Hermione and Aurora arranged to go shopping with Narcissa the following week as Hermione couldn't fit into her jeans any more. You still couldn't tell that she was pregnant just by looking at her however. Narcissa couldn't help but ask Hermione all sorts of personal questions about her symptoms.

"Erm… I'm not as tired now. My boobs are still ridiculously achy and they really don't seem to stop growing."

"Have you been constipated?" Narcissa pressed.

"A bit…" Hermione answered awkwardly.

They spent the whole day shopping for clothes for Hermione. "Have you thought about where you will live when you leave Hogwarts?"

Hermione frowned, "we've not really discussed it."

"I only ask because you're going to have your hands full; preparing for the births as well as looking after Curtis and Aurora – not to mention planning the wedding."

"It is going to be hectic," Hermione admitted.

"We would love for you to live with us at the manor," Narcissa told her. "There's enough room that it won't be like we're in each other's way but we'll be there to help if you need it."

"That's a really lovely offer, Narcissa but I'll have to discuss it with Draco."

Narcissa nodded.

"Your mum made an interesting offer today," Hermione told Draco as they lay in bed that night.

"What's that love?" Draco yarned.

"She offered for us to live at the Manor after Hogwarts."

"And what did you say?" Draco asked, suddenly listening attentively.

"I told her we'd have to discuss it."

"And what do you think?" Draco smiled.

"Well as weird as it would be… it would be easier. We're going to have four babies."

"And you'll start working with your father at Malfoy Inc. It would make sense for us to have a little help," Hermione continued. "What do you think?"

"I'm happy with the idea of living at the manor. It will be ours one day anyway."

"Ok… so it's settled. I'll write to your mother tomorrow."

"Good. I love you… you know that?"

"I do and I love you too."

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