Hermione was distraught at the way Draco had reacted. Harry and Ron had comforted her as much as they could, but they knew it wasn't enough. Hermione had decided to owl Dumbledore and let him know that she would be coming in January, after the Christmas holidays, if that was alright. He sent her a letter back and said that he would have a suite ready for her and the babies. He told her that she can just take the train with the students to make it easier.
After a month passed since Draco's visit, it was nearing Christmas and she was excited to have her babies, but she was sad because she wanted to be a full family with Draco, but she knew that it wouldn't happen. She was happy that she had told him and got it off her chest, but she was hoping he would come around.
All of the Weasley's came over to Harry's for Christmas and Ginny came home from school as well. Everyone exchanged gifts and everyone had one for each of the babies. Molly's was the usual knitted jumper with their initial for all of them, including ones for the babies. Jacey's was Pink with a purple letter and James' was blue with a green letter. Other than that, everyone got the babies clothes and Molly gave her Ginny's old swing and play mat.
"You kept these?" Ginny asked, slightly laughing.
"Of course I did", she smiled. Hermione hugged and thanked everyone.
They had a wonderful turkey dinner, with stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, Brussel sprouts, with gravy and cheese sauce. Everyone pitched in with the cooking. There was a lot of left overs, so they divvied them up and everyone left around midnight that night. Ginny decided to stay with Harry and then catch the train with Hermione.
"How's school going?" Hermione asked Ginny as she sat down with tea the next afternoon, having just put the twins down for a nap.
"Pretty good. I've missed everyone though, especially the twins", Ginny laughed.
"I'm sure they missed you too", Hermione laughed with her. "I told Draco by the way", Ginny looked shocked.
"What did he say?" She asked.
"He didn't take it very well. He was very pissed off and yelled and then just stormed out and I haven't heard anything from him since", Hermione explained.
"Awe. Well it's his loss. And it's an extreme loss that he will one day regret", Ginny told her. Hermione smiled and nodded.
"Thanks Gin", Hermione hugged her best friend.
"You're welcome", Ginny hugged her back.
The rest of that week went quite fast and before they knew it, it was time to pack up and go to Hogwarts. The morning they were to leave Harry got the babies ready and woke Hermione and Ginny up afterwards. He was going with to make sure they got settled in okay.
"Come on Hermione, ready to go?" He called down the hall. Hermione was in the bathroom, getting ready.
"Just getting my face on!" She called back.
"Okay… Wait, what?" He asked.
"My face. You know, make-up?" Hermione laughed.
"Ohhhh, okay", he shook his head laughing and walked away.
By 10:00 am, they were ready to go. The babies were all bundled up in their car seats and Harry had apparated all of her belongings to Hogwarts, Dumbledore had allowed him access to apparate into the grounds. They didn't want to apparate with the babies though. They headed out and jumped into Harry's new car. They drove to King's Cross Station and were there by 10:30. They went inside and headed straight for the barrier. They crossed the barrier and got onto the train. They grabbed the first empty compartment they saw. Hermione felt all eyes on her as she was carrying a car seat and Ginny was carrying the other.
"Ignore them", Harry told her as they sat down in their compartment. She nodded and put the car seats down. She placed them on the floor, as there were no seat belts and she didn't want them falling. They were asleep for now, which she was happy about. She double checked the diaper bag to make sure she had two bottles each for them and diapers, as she knew they'd need to be changed and fed. Ginny made sure the door was shut once they were in, to lessen the sound if the babies cry. But that didn't do much. James had woken up crying and it caught a lot of attention. People followed the sound and stood outside the door, watching. Harry opened the door and asked them for some privacy. Harry saw Luna in the crowd and allowed her in, as they know her. She was shocked when she saw the two babies.
"You were pregnant?" She asked walking into the compartment.
"Yes", Hermione said, feeding James as Ginny fed Jacey.
"Wow. You hid it well", Luna said, sitting down.
"I know. It was how I wanted it to be, because of the way it happened and me being who I am; didn't want anyone to know. But now I'm returning to Hogwarts to teach", Hermione smiled.
"That's wonderful", Luna smiled back. "It's gonna be nice seeing you around and maybe being taught by you", Luna suddenly said, excited.
'Well I hope I have you and Ginny in one of my classes too. But I'm not sure what I'm teaching yet. I have to go see Professor Dumbledore when I get there", Hermione told them. They nodded and they continued talking, Hermione allowing Luna to hold the babies, who were awake, but quiet for most of the ride. They got to Hogwarts and of course, Hagrid was there calling for first years.
"Hermione, Harry! What're ya doin' here?" Hagrid asked as they were walking up the platform.
"Hey Hagrid!" They both said, excited at seeing him again.
"I've come back to teach Hagrid", Hermione smiled. He smiled and raised his eyes at the two car seats her and Harry were carrying.
"That's awesome. And who are these youngins'? He asked.
"These are my twins. Jacey and James", she said, pointing to each of them. "I… Uh… Had them in the summer, they were born a couple months early though. Before you ask, yes, I was pregnant at school. Dumbledore and McGonagall helped me hide it", Hermione explained as they walked to the boats with Hagrid. He nodded.
"Was it… The incident from last Christmas?" He asked quietly. Hermione nodded. "Come to my cabin tomorrow and we'll talk some more, I gotta get these guys to the castle. Make sure to bring those two", He smiled and stepped into his boat. Harry and Hermione waved and nodded then headed to the last carriage that was waiting specifically for them.
They got to the school and McGonagall met them outside. "Oh! Look at these beauties!" She exclaimed as they got out of the carriage and she saw the babies.
"Thank you", Hermione said, giving McGonagall a hug.
"You're welcome. Now follow me and we'll have dinner, and then I'll show you to your living quarters", they nodded.
"Where are we sitting?" Hermione asked as they walked into the great hall.
"You'll be sitting with the teachers of course", she smiled. They walked along the side of the hall to the front, as the first years were standing down the middle aisle, waiting to be sorted. "Are they able to sit holding their heads up yet?" She asked.
"Yes, why?" Hermione asked.
"I have two high chairs set up on each side of your chair. That way they can be down here whenever you are", she smiled. Hermione smiled at her and nodded, saying thank you. People gaped at them as they walked up. There was a second chair there for Harry. They put the babies in the high chairs and sat down. Dumbledore came over a few minutes later.
"Welcome back Miss Granger. Wonderful to see you and Mr. Potter. These two are so very cute", he smiled, shaking Harry and Hermione's hands.
"I know. Thank you sir", Hermione smiled. He then walked to the front to get the sorting ceremony started. Once that was complete he made a speech.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" He started. "As you can see, we have a new teacher; some of you already know her. This is Hermione Granger, she will be taking the post of Muggle Studies", he looked at her and she grinned, nodding excitedly. "As you can see, she has two young children, so I do ask that you respect that and respect her", he looked to the Slytherin table, knowing they gave her hell over the years. Everyone clapped as Hermione stood and waved. "Now, enjoy the welcome back feast!" He exclaimed as tons of food appeared on the tables.
After two hours Dumbledore asked the prefects to lead their students to their common rooms and McGonagall lead Harry and Hermione upstairs. She led them to the fourth floor, showed them where her classroom was and then led her to a portrait. She looked surprised and McGonagall noticed.
"Professor Dumbledore set your quarters up with a portrait and password, since you have two babies. For yours and there safety, as we all know locks can be magicked", she explained. "We don't want any students getting silly ideas of breaking in or anything", she continued. "The password is lemon drops", Hermione giggled.
"Professor Dumbledore's sticking with his theme of candy names for passwords?" She asked rhetorically. This made Harry and McGonagall laugh as well.
"Yes, I'm afraid he is", McGonagall said. The portrait of a woman in a long black dress opened. Hermione was stunned.
"This is incredible", she gasped.
There was a large sitting room, with a red couch and arm chair, a black arm chair and couch in the middle of the room. On one side there was a small kitchen that had some muggle contraptions like a microwave. There was also a fridge and two sinks. There was a table with four chairs and two high chairs. On the other side there was a washroom. There was a spiral staircase going up, and the size up there was the same size as the bottom floor. There were three doors. She was led to the first, which McGonagall told her was her room. It had the same four-poster bed with curtains that they had in the Gryffindor tower, only it was twice the size, a king size. It had the same type and color of bed sheets as well. The Gryffindor banner hung on one wall, where there was a fair sized closet and the other wall was just red with a door.
"You can hang pictures and stuff once you get settled", McGonagall told her. She nodded and they went to the door and it was a bathroom, with a Jacuzzi tub, basically a smaller version of the bath in the prefects' bathroom and a separate stand-up shower. There was another door which she assumed led into a second bedroom. She was right. In that room, the walls were a bright yellow color, with two cribs one with blue bedding and one with pink bedding. Just like at Harry's, the babies' names were above the cribs, but they were done differently. She smiled at all the stuff in there.
There were two giant teddy bears, one on the floor beside each crib, two toy boxes (one on each side of the room at the foot of the cribs). The room was done like there was an invisible line, so each child had half of the room. The toy box for James was green and the toy box for Jacey was purple. Hermione smiled, because the pink/purple and blue/green were just like the jumpers Molly knit for them. There was a rocking chair and an arm chair in there as well.
"This is unbelievable", Hermione breathed. "You guys didn't have to do all this", she looked at McGonagall.
"I know. But Albus and I wanted to do something extra special for you. This is our gift to you and the twins. The kitchen is stocked with food as well; we also have Dobby back here to give you a hand when you need it. This way you don't always need to come to the great hall and if you miss breakfast, lunch or dinner time down there, you always have food to eat here", she explained. "Your owl by the way has arrived and is in the Owlery", she added. Hermione nodded.
"Thank you so much", Hermione said, tears coming to her eyes as she was so overwhelmed.
"You're welcome my dear. Albus would like you to go to his office tomorrow at 9:00 am so you can discuss the final touches of your teaching position", McGonagall informed her. She nodded.
"Thank you Professor", Hermione smiled as they walked back downstairs, after Hermione put the babies to bed.
"You're welcome. And please, call me Minerva", she smiled as she hugged both Harry and Hermione and then walked out of the portrait.
"This is amazing", Harry said, hugging Hermione.
"I know. I can't believe this", Hermione hugged him back.