Chapter Eighteen – Eleven Years Later

"James! Sirius! Lily! Get downstairs NOW!" A 29-year-old Harry yelled as three black-haired, green-eyed eleven year olds thundered down the stairs of Grimmauld Place, followed much more slowly by an old black dog.

"C'mon Paddy!" Lily called sweetly to the dog, "It's breakfast time."

"You have a real affinity for animals Princess," Harry said, scruffing her hair.

The four walked into the kitchen to find Hermione serving breakfast to five-year-old identical twin girls.

Both had brown hair, though much straighter than their mother's and chocolate eyes.

"Morning Daddy!" they squealed.

"Morning Jade, Ebony," Harry said sitting down, "C'mon you three, eat. We're going into Diagon Ally today for your Hogwarts things."

"YES!" The triplets cheered and began ceremoniously stuffing their faces with food.

"Guess what daddy?" Jade said, bouncing in her seat.

"What?" Harry smiled.

"It's our birthday in two weeks!" Jade announced.

"We turn six!" Ebony added holding up five fingers, "On the twelfth of September. Isn't that right Daddy?"

"That right girls," Harry said.

"Hey princess," James mocked Lily, "Pass the pumpkin juice."

"Hey princess," Sirius joined in, "Pass the toast."

"You two are such boneheads!" Lily laughed, "The princess thing comes in handy – watch," Lily turned to Harry, who was reading the paper, "Daddy," she said sweetly, batting her eye lashes,

"Can we take your map and cloak to school?"

"Yeah, ok," Harry said smiling.

"Harry! Great way to start their year!" Hermione stormed, smacking him in the back of the head with a tea towel, though she was secretly smiling. With ancestors like their's the Potter triplets had no hope of being well behaved.

"You're right Honey. Sorry kids." But when Hermione wasn't looking, Harry winked at them.
Lily looked at her brothers smugly.

"Ok you win, Lil. We won't tease the pet name," James apologised.

"Morning all!" Rae entered the kitchen.

"Morning Aunty Rae," the triplets greeted before running back upstairs.

"Rae, could you look after the twins today?" Hermione asked.

"Sure, why?"

"Harry taking the triplets to Diagon Ally and I've got an appointment."

***

"Gringotts first," Harry directed the triplets. After Gringotts they went to get their wands.

"Ah Mr Potter!" Mr Alwend said, "And Master, Master and Miss Potter. Starting Hogwarts this year then?"

"Yep," Harry said.

"Who first then?" Mr Alwend asked.

"Me!" James said, puffing out his chest importantly, "Because I'm the oldest."

After a few tries, James was given a wand of mahogany, 12 inches with a dragon heartstring.
Sirius got a wand of cherry wood, also 12 inches but with a phoenix feather.

"Now young Miss – try this one," Mr Alwend gave Lily a wand of willow, 10 ¼ inches with a unicorn hair. A gold aura glowed around her, "First go – a rarity. Well that will be 33 galleons Mr Potter."

Harry paid and they set off to complete their shopping. Once done, Harry gave the kids five galleons each, to spend in Weasleys Wizard Wheezes.

"Elle!" Lily said as they walked into the shop.

"Hey guys," a freckle faced, blue-eyed, dark haired girl chirped, "You three have got to see dad's and Uncle George's new skiving snack boxes!" They all huddled off to the corner.

"I can't believe they are off to Hogwarts already," Fred said.

"Yeah and ready to make mischief no doubt," Harry laughed.

"Well they are Potters and Weasleys. Would we expect anything more?" George speculated.

"Yeah but mine have a bit of Granger in them too."

"Don't kid yourself Harry. She was the brains behind your adventures." Fred said.

"So, giving the triplets the map?" George questioned.

"Yeah, but don't tell Hermione."

***

"Ok kids, bedtime," Hermione announced that night, "Up early tomorrow to catch the train."
James, Sirius and Lily headed upstairs, too excited to complain. The twins were long asleep and Rae was at Quidditch training.

"How did your appointment with Ginny go?" Harry asked.

"Well. Harry, I'm pregnant," Hermione said.

"Really? That's great but, um, have you conjured a Patronus yet?"

"No. I – I thought I'd wait for you."

"Ok. Go on," Harry prompted.

"Expecto Patronum!" Hermione pointed her wand to the empty space before her. A silver otter flowed out of the tip of her wand, followed by a baby otter.

"One," they both said.

"Only one," Harry repeated.

"That's rare," Hermione commented.

"That's good," Harry said, "Not that the others aren't perfect but this – this is – special."

"I know exactly what you mean."

***

The following May the Potter triplets returned from their first year at Hogwarts.

"Kids! Over here!" Rae called.

"Aunty Rae – why are you picking us up? Hey Ebony, hey Jade," Sirius said, greeting his little sisters with a sly grin which caused the two girls to giggle wildly.

"Your mum and dad are at St Mungo's."

"Mum's had the baby?" Lily squealed.

Rae shrugged, "Dunno, let's go see."

***

They arrived at the hospital to find Harry beaming with pride," Hey kids, how was school?" he said, wrapping Lily in a hug and scruffing James and Sirius' already messy hair.

"Awesome!" they exclaimed together.

"Come in and meet you new baby sister. This – ," he said picking her up, "Is Abigail Ruby."

"Ohhh her hair is the same as Grandma Lily's!" Lily observed happily, cooing at her baby sister, who did in fact have wisps of dark red hair.

"Daddy's eyes but!" Ebony and Jade interjected.

"Daddy?" Ebony asked, tugging at Harry's pants, "Why don't me and Jade got your eyes?"

"Because sweetie, you have the same eyes as mummy and they are very pretty." Harry replied.

"Pass Abby here, I'll feed her," Hermione said.

"Ok kids!" Harry announced, "Time to leave mummy and Abby and get our own food. How about pizza?"

"YES!" the triplets cheered as the twins jumped up and down, clapping their hands.

"I love you Mi," Harry kissed Hermione, "And we have the perfect family."

Hermione smiled, "I love you too."

THE END