As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 27 Another Year Starts Part 2
The rest of the morning passed in sixth year Herbology with occasional whispered conversations around them as classmates took notice of just how close together Harry and Hermione worked and the other girls tried mostly unsuccessfully to sneak a peek at the rings on Hermione's fingers.
Lunch was even worse. Hermione hoped it would calm down in a few days. She'd thought she was prepared for the scrutiny of her fellow students after watching Harry undergo it various times. However she quickly learned that to watch someone else was nothing like being the one under the microscopic inspection of your peers. Walking from the entrance to the professor's table she felt like every girl there was checking out two things. Her rings and she had the suspicion that they were also checking out rather or not she was showing signs of pregnancy.
After the day's classes had ended they found themselves with a little free time before dinner. A short walk later Harry and Hermione entered the hospital wing to see Madam Pomfrey emerging from her office. When she spotted the two of them she asked, "What brings the two of you here so early in the term. Surely Professor Potter hasn't hurt himself all ready?"
"Actually I am the reason." Hermione said speaking up.
A suddenly business like Madam Pomfrey asked, "What is the problem Mrs. Potter?"
"I wouldn't classify it as a problem actually. I believe I might be pregnant."
Pomfrey's glance at Harry would have caused most other males at Hogwarts to run for an exit. Harry just smiled and waited for the school matron to examine his wife.
"There is a simple charm that one can cast Mrs. Potter." Pomfrey stated.
"Yes, but I am under age and unable to case it outside of Hogwarts without problems. I figured as long as I was here you could start the care I will need if I am indeed pregnant."
"A wise decision as always. If you are pregnant would you like to know the sex of the baby?"
"Yes," Hermione said glad she'd talked this over last night while she and Harry were resting after christening the bed.
Once she had Hermione relaxing on a bed Madam Pomfrey muttered a spell under her breath while passing her wand over Hermione causing two distinct glows to appear, one blue and one pink. "Mrs. Potter it appears you are going to be having twins, one of each."
"Twins." Hermione echoed beaming at Harry who was beaming right back at her.
"I take it this is not an unexpected event."
"Not at all Madam Pomfrey, twins in possible the best news you could have given us." Hermione said.
"It does come with some bad news for you I am afraid. You will need to drop sixth year potions. I should also have a word with the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. Care should be taken to insure you are not subjected to random curses or hexes." "
Harry could feel that Hermione was only slightly upset by the news but he was not surprised when she asked, "I can understand the curses or hexes but why should I drop potions? I understood all the potions we prepare are safe for everyone."
"That is true, especially up through fifth year. Once you start your sixth year the final potion being brewed is quite safe for everyone. However a misreading of the ingredients or improper brewing of a number of those potions can cause reactions that, while not excessively harmful to normal witches and wizards, meaning nothing I cannot cure with prompt treatment, may cause problems in a developing baby that I cannot cure. What I can offer to you instead is a course of study with me that will enable you to treat a great number of household injuries and illnesses without outside assistance."
"I wasn't aware that class existed." Hermione said surprised.
"I offer it on a limited basis by invitation only. You and four other young ladies will be taking the course."
"Are all of us expecting?"
"No you are the only one. The other young ladies expressed a strong interest in healing during the career counseling and their heads of house contacted me. Your pregnancy however will be a topic of discussion and provides us with a unique training opportunity." Madam Pomfrey said a twinkle in her eye.
"Great just what I wanted to be, a training opportunity."
"Welcome to the world of being a Potter, Hermione." Harry said trying to get his wife to laugh.
"Watch it Harry you've got to sleep sometime." Hermione responded with a glare not amused by this turn of events.
"So no potions for either of us this year. I guess we should send our cauldrons and other things home then." Harry said.
"Whatever gave you the idea that Hermione wouldn't be brewing potions?"
"You said she wouldn't be allowed to take sixth year potions Madam Pomfrey."
"That I did but she will be brewing potions with me. There are a number of potions that a good healer should be able to brew on a moments notice. I dare say one she might need soon is a potion for morning sickness."
"There is a potion I can take, that is safe for the baby…babies?" Hermione asked suddenly quite interested.
"Need it all ready do you?"
"Yes Madam Pomfrey." Hermione said blushing slightly.
"I have some made up. Let me go get you a bottle. It keeps for a year so I have the class brew some fresh every year. This is the first time in a number of years that a sixth year has used it. You just need to take a teaspoon full every night before bed."
"I take it some seventh years have used it then." Hermione replied.
"Oh my yes, just about every year at least one young lady manages to have a baby less than nine months after leaving Hogwarts." Madam Pomfrey said with a chuckle.
"I thought there were charms cast to prevent pregnancy."
"I can't say either way but if there were they would be negated when the young lady turns seventeen and becomes a legal adult." Madam Pomfrey said with a straight face.
"Good thing I'm married then seeing as how I turn seventeen in a few weeks." Hermione replied her face equally impassive.
The matron and new student ended up have a conversation for several minutes before Madam Pomfrey said, "Get out of here you two and let me relax for a while before someone shows up with a real problem. I'll contact McGonagall and let her know to adjust your schedule." kicking them out of the Hospital wing.
Monday evening at the Gryffindor table during dinner Parvati Patil was talking with Lavender Brown, "I tell you I saw their robes during Herbology and they do not have the Gryffindor crest on them."
"So what if they aren't wearing the Gryffindor crest what's the problem with that?" Ron asked confused as normal by the discussion.
"Honestly brother dear, we've had to wear our house crest on our robes since the sorting. Wearing of anything but a house crest is against the rules."
"But plen'y of professor's dun't wear a horse cr'st." Shamus spoke up his brogan thicker from a summer around family.
"The Heads of house wear their house crests. Most of the rest wear a Hogwarts crest. But Harry and Hermione are not wearing either one. Theirs is something like the Gryffindor crest because I can see a lion but it's a different looking lion and then there's what looks like a diamond and a black star. It's really a pretty design but I wonder what it means." Parvati said starting to sketch the design on some parchment she had handy.
Neville watched the goings on with his brow furrowing. He normally didn't contribute much beyond some teasing of Ron but his mind was working through the statements. "Ron you're Quidditch captain right."
Ron puffed out his chest and beamed, "That's right if you want to play we're going to have tryouts Saturday."
Neville shook his head, "Maybe, but what I was thinking is if Harry isn't wearing a Gryffindor crest does that mean he is not in Gryffindor anymore?"
"Huh?" Ron asked confused.
Suddenly Ginny's face lit up as she realized what Neville meant. "Oh Merlin, what my smart boyfriend means is you may have lost your starting seeker Ron."
Ron looked at her then motioned to the head table saying, "You are daft Ginny, Harry's right up there."
"That's right, up there, not down here with us. He's a full professor now. Have you ever heard of a Hogwarts professor playing on a house team?" Ginny said nudging Neville down the table and away from her brother while drawing her wand but keeping it out of sight under the table.
"I've got to talk to Professor McGonagall… This can't be happening… No not now… Just when…" Ron said sputtering his voice actually going down as he became pale while those seated near him moved away leaving a clear spot.
McGonagall was watching the students from her seat at the right hand of Dumbledore when she noticed the sudden movement of students at her house's table. Everyone seemed to be moving away from the tall lanky red head. Knowing this did not bode well she drew Dumbledore's attention to the problem then left her seat hoping to head off the pending explosion.
"What is going on here?" McGonagall said walking up to the suddenly open area.
"Nothing Professor my brother is just a little clumsy today." Ginny said hoping her brother wouldn't explode and ruin her cover story.
"Professor will Harry be able to play Quidditch?" Ron asked in as controlled a voice as he could manage.
"Ah someone just informed him that a professor can't play for a house team. That explains everything.' McGonagall realized before replying, "I doubt Professor Potter has even asked about that yet. I will mention it to the Headmaster and he will let all the parties know of his decision."
"Professor please we need Potter." Ron said begging his head of house.
"Mr. Weasley I will let you know the Headmaster's decision now if you will calm down so your house mates will feel safe sitting near you I will return to my lunch."
Harry watched her return to the head table and hold a quick discussion with the Headmaster who motioned him over as Harry and Hermione rose to leave, "Harry there will be a staff meeting Wednesday night after dinner. One of the topics to be discussed is rather to allow you to play Quidditch for the Gryffindor house team or not. I expect you to be professional about this." Dumbledore said by way of warning.
Hermione looked at Harry saying, "I guess we need to visit our friends tonight."
Harry nodded and when dinner ended he took Hermione's hand as they walked to Gryffindor tower.
They were no sooner in the common room then Lavender and Parvati came over asking, "So how did you land his hotness here?" before they took Hermione off to one side for an all Gryffindor girls meeting.
Ron stood there glaring at Harry unsure rather he was madder about them getting married or losing his starting seeker. As he came to his senses and started to move he realized there was a wand in his side. "Ron smile and be a good boy or I'll hex you and then tell mom your being a prat." Ginny said standing beside him a smile pasted on her face.
"Ron are you alright?" Harry asked.
"Yea, just a little ticked off. You didn't tell me I've finally became Quidditch captain only to lose my starting Seeker."
"That's not a done deal yet I'm going to try and stay on the team but you had better plan on Ginny replacing me."
"Alright, but try hard will you?"
"So you aren't upset about Hermione and I."
"Nah, I mean I was at first but then Ginny and a few of the ladies opened my eyes. I'm fine with it."
Harry smiled then motioned Ginny close and whispered into her ear, "Remember the wedding."
Ron looked at his sister in confusion Harry had just whispered something to her causing her face to go blank before breaking out into a big smile. "Seeing as how you two are not going to kill each other I guess the maid of honor should go help out the bride." Ginny said walking over to Hermione and putting her arm around her.
"She was maid of honor?" Ron asked shocked.
Harry looked around and waived Neville over waiting until he was within hearing range when he replied, "Yes and Neville was best man."
"Bloody Hell Harry I thought I was your best mate!" Ron yelled loud enough to be heard in the dungeons.
Everyone stopped and looked over at the two Ginny went so far as to draw her wand only to have Hermione stop her as she mouthed let Harry handle it. "Ron do you remember your brother inviting you to spend a day at Gringotts with him?"
"Who'd want to spend a summer day in a bank studying?"
"But Ginny went didn't she. In fact that was the only day this summer you two spent separated wasn't it." Harry asked thinking 'come on Ron you've got a chess mind see the board'.
"She didn't go to the bank? She was at your wedding? I'm killing Bill, why didn't he tell me?" Ron sputtered loudly.
"First off he was doing what we asked, keeping our wedding secret! Can you imagine what Dumbledore or the ministry would have done if they'd found out Hermione and I were getting married. Dumbledore would have locked the two of us up until he could convince Mr. and Mrs. Granger to send Hermione to Beauxbatons. Come on Ron think this through. We had to keep this secret until after we were married. I felt bad imposing on Neville to be best man knowing he was the second choice but other than you he is my best friend, he is such a good friend that he didn't mind being asked second." Harry replied noting in his mind how Ron would have reacted knowing he was second choice.
"Sorry mate. I wished I'd known what Bill really wanted. But I guess you were right about the need to keep it secret." Ron forced out much to the shock of his dorm mates who were expecting the explosion to continue.
Shamus looked around then cried out "Party!"
Everyone was soon in the spirit even the first years who were being briefed on what was going on by a few of the more aware Gryffindor's.
"Did you bring your wedding pictures?" Lavender asked Hermione.
Hermione frowned then waved Harry over before whispering in his ear. "Winky." Harry called out bending down to talk to the house elf when she appeared.
Within moments house elves appeared setting up a table and filling it with food and drink before disappearing. Winky appeared for a moment passing a book to Harry who promptly gave it to Hermione. When she opened it the other girls gathered round Lavender saying, "You had a muggle wedding?"
"We wanted both but seeing as there were more muggles there than Wizards we decided to go for muggle dress. We were married by a wizard who did both a muggle wedding and wizard bonding ceremony for us."
"Look at those dresses. Hermione you looked gorgeous!"
Hermione was blushing slightly when Parvati spoke up saying, "The bride is always beautiful but look at Ginny she looks stunning," as she pointed at a picture showing the wedding party.
"Who's the bloke with her? He looks familiar,"
"Neville, he was best man."
"That's Neville!" one of the girls yelled drawing the boy's attention just as every girl looking at the pictures looked over at him.
"Merlin he cleans up well!" Lavender added.
"Hey, he's taken." Ginny said speaking up.
"Neville you seeing anyone?" Parvati Patil yelled across the common room causing Neville to blush bright red.
"Neville tell them!" Ginny yelled.
"Ginny and I've been owling all summer." Neville managed to say drawing groans from several of the girls. Each one knew the informal rules of the girls' dorm. Once a girl claimed a guy and he acknowledged it he couldn't be hit on by any of the other girls and they kept an eye on the other houses as well.
When Hermione flip the page to one that had couple shots of all the people one of the girls in Ginny's year remarked, "You know she and Neville do make a really cute couple," drawing nods of agreement from most of the others.
It wasn't until everyone had a chance to look at the wedding pictures that Harry and Hermione were finally able to leave the common room and head back to their own rooms for the night.