Hermione and Draco sat side by side like the other couples as Professor McMiggins revealed baby genders. The first couple was Neville and Hannah. McMiggins waved her wand over Hannah then made a sharp flick with her wrist. A blue light shined over Hannah's head. A triumphant grin was plastered on Neville's face as couples applauded them.
"Another clumsy Longbottom," Draco mused. "How utterly unfortunate."
Hermione frowned and slapped Draco's arm. "Oh don't be a prat. Especially when everyone is happy."
"I was only joking, Love. No need to get physical. Save it for our bedroom, yes?" Draco teased. He watched as Hermione's eyes lit up with a furious flame dancing in her honey orbs.
Hermione huffed and shoved Draco away from her. Draco merely winked at his partner then turned to Blaise, who was sitting at the table next to them.
"She's already incapable of keeping her hands off of me."
Blaise and Ginny watched as Hermione's nostrils flared in anger. The witch grabbed her wand and muttered under her breath. At first, Draco had no idea what she had done until he tried to speak. His voice was muted so no one could hear him. The Gryffindor Princess had dared to silence the Slytherin Prince.
Blaise laughed and gave Hermione a thumbs up. He admired the witch for her magic capabilities-And for her restraint from strangling Malfoy.
"Look, Ron and Lav are up next," Ginny said. She pointed to her brother and his fake wife. "Let's see if it's Ron Jr or Cherry," she joked.
"Oh let it be Cherry," Blaise pleaded. "Let him suffer with a child named Cherry."
It was Ginny's turn to hit her partner. "It's bad enough having Malfoy make remarks."
Everyone watched as McMiggins casted the spell. Ron and Lavender were holding hands, both shaking with excitement. Although he'd never admit it, Ron didn't mind a girl named Cherry. He pictured having a little girl with fiery hair and blue eyes, and suddenly, names didn't matter. Ron was satisfied with having a boy or girl.
But after McMiggins flicked her wrist, a blue light appeared above Lavender.
"A boy!" Ron cried out. "We're having a boy!"
Tears of joy pricked at Lavenders eyes as she threw herself into Ron's arms. "Won-Won this is amazing"
And for a single moment, they forgot that they were part of a class. They forgot they were having a fake child. They forgot that none of it was real.
"Look at how happy they are," Luna said dreamily.
Theo nodded and draped his arm around Luna's shoulders. "Yeah," he murmured.
"Ugh. Another redhaired beast," Draco said, even though no one could hear him. But Hermione knew Draco enough to understand he had said something rude, so she slapped his arm. "Damn it, Woman!" Hermione moved to hit his arm again, but Draco grabbed her hand before she could. He wove their fingers together then gave her a stern look, as if telling her to stop.
Harry and Pansy were next to get their child's gender revealed. Pansy chewed on her lip and rubbed her hands on her thighs to keep them from feeling clammy.
"Relax," Harry said. "Just breathe."
"Merlin, Potter. If you tell me that while I'm in labor, I'll hex your arse to hell and back," Pansy snapped.
Harry cracked a smile and nodded. "Duly noted."
They both shared a look before a pink light shined above Pansy.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Potter. You're having a girl," Professor McMiggins said.
"A girl," Pansy echoes quietly. "We're having a girl." A slow smile graced her features. "We're having a girl, Potter."
"Yes, Mrs. Potter. I believe we are."
Hermione watched as the couple shared a moment. It was moment that seemed so precious. Seeing people feel joy about having a child nobody planned on was a change of perspective.
"We'll have a boy," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear. She didn't hear him, but she knew what he said. The puff of his breath from when he said 'boy' told her everything. But what he said next, she didn't comprehend. "And for the year we'll play the role as a happy family. For some reason, I don't think it'll take much acting to make that happen."
"Malfoy, I don't know what you just said, but if it's not nice then piss off."
Draco chuckled and smirked. "If only you knew..."
More genders were revealed. Hermione was anxious to find out whether she was having a girl or boy. She glanced at the Slytherin who was still holding her hand, and saw how calm he was. Subconsciously, his thumb skimmed over the soft surface of her skin and traced random patterns.
McMiggins slowly made her way closer to Blaise and Ginny. If either of the two were nervous, it didn't show. Blaise and Ginny sat hand in hand, talking about possible baby names. They didn't stress over having a boy or girl. They just felt content.
"Alright Mr. and Mrs. Zabini," McMiggins said. "Are you both ready?"
"As ready as we'll ever be," Ginny replied. She felt Blaise's hand brush against hers, then their fingers became entwined.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. Blaise watched carefully above Ginny's head, waiting for the color to appear. Ginny looked at him with a small smile and nodded reassuringly.
A blue light appeared.
The Italian pulled his partner in his arms. Kisses peppered Ginny's face, making her giggle at Blaise's reaction.
"A boy!" Blaise grinned. "A boy, Weaselette."
Hermione clapped happily like the rest of the class, and got up from her seat to hug Ginny. When she tried to get her hand free from Draco's, he only held her hand tighter. Hermione looked at him in confusion. What was wrong with him? Draco feigned innocence and gave her a smirk.
"Let go of me."
Draco held on.
Hermione flicked her wand. "We can hear you now, okay? Now let go of me."
And he did. Draco released her, and watched as she gave her best friend a hug. Hermione kissed Ginny's cheek and smiled brightly.
"A boy," Ginny whispered, as if she didn't believe it.
Hermione nodded. Her eyes flicked over to Luna and Theo, who were up next. She and Ginny watched as Luna, who was swaying slightly in her seat, talked to Theo about baby names.
McMiggins waved her wand above Luna's head and flicked her wrist. Everyone who watched anticipated to see blue or pink. Never had anyone thought they would see both colors.
"Oh look," Luna giggled. "Blue and pink. Does that mean we're having twins?"
McMiggins's eyes widened. Impossible. There was only supposed to be one child per couple. That was the way it was supposed to be. The Ministry had specifically said that there was only supposed to be one child per couple- no more, no less. But for Luna to me pregnant with twins...
"No no no," McMiggins muttered under her breath. "Dumbledore will need to know about this immediately..."
McMiggins clapped her hands together loudly. "Class dismissed! Mr. and Mrs. Nott, please some with me to the headmaster's office."
Dumbledore pressed his lips together. It was not a good sign at all that Theo and Luna were having twins. He was against the making of the parenting class since the beginning. When the Ministry told him that if he didn't make it mandatory, he would lose his job, Dumbledore knew that the Ministry was up to something. Problem was, he didn't know what. All he knew was: Students were to be paired up and raise faux-children. The Ministry had a specific number of faux-children there could be. The reason why was still unknown.
"What will we do, Albus?" Minerva asked. "Merlin knows what the Ministry will do if they catch word of this!"
Dumbledore nodded and waved his hand in the air. "The Ministry has been keeping secrets from me," he said quietly, just so that McGonagall could hear. He glanced over at Theo and Luna, who were standing by the door of his office. "Come here, my children. We must discuss your extended family," Dumbledore said.
The two blondes made their way over. Both glanced at Fawkes as they came closer. Luna itched to touch the bird, but Theo grabbed her hand and pulled her close to his side. He felt anxious for some reason, and didn't want Luna staying far from him.
"Now, I believe a congratulations is in order." Dumbledore smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You both will be having twins. This means double of everything. I understand that the financial part of the project may intervene, so I will also have your pay dou-"
"With all due respect," Theo cut it, "Luna and I do not need a raise. We are capable of paying for two children- real or fake." He felt his pride surface. He didn't want special treatment. Theodore Nott was competent enough to be financially stable, and he had no doubt that Luna was capable as well. She was a Ravenclaw after all, and despite what most people thought about her, she was brilliant.
Dumbledore had anticipated that Theo would respond the way he did. He knew each student, and knew how they thought.
"If that is what you both wish," Dumbledore said, glancing at Luna. Though he already knew that the Ravenclaw would agree with Nott.
"Yes, it is," Luna said firmly.
"Then you should both know that your grading process will count for each child as a whole. If one child is happy but one is not, then points will be deducted from your overall grade."
Theo and Luna nodded in understanding. They glanced at each other and smiled slightly. Neither one of them doubted their capabilities to succeed in parenting.
"That is all for now. Take the rest of the day off. I will inform your professors of your absences."
Dumbledore and McGonagall watched as the two students left. Once they knew they were alone, their mood quickly changed. Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed and his lips were once again pressed into a thin line. McGonagall brushed imaginary dirt off her robes and corrected her posture.
"Albus, perhaps we should look into this more," Minerva insisted.
"Yes, yes," Dumbledore agreed. "I will have Severus and Poppy look into this." He gazed at his thin, wrinkled hands with a lost look in his eyes. "I fear that the Ministry is planning something."
A/N Thank you for reading! I got a bit of writer's block so if anything sounds awkward, it's probably because I'm awkward and my writing has expressed my awkward self.
THE GENDERS ARE REVEALED! Except for Hermione and Draco. What do you guys think their baby's gender will be? I know some of you guys wanted Hermione and Draco to have twins, but I have something else in mind.
Sorry for any mistakes! Thank you all for the support I've been recieving. I'm so excited to write when the babies are born.
Thank you again!
~KittyKat