Hello, darlings! Sorry this is late, I had a long week and no time to write. But here it is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy this story I in no way own.
Chapter 27 Birthday Boys
Knowing the basics of what they wanted, Lise helped both brides create and combine their vision. Both brides want the ceremonies to compliment each other. Audrey's desire for this quickly gave Lise and and, to a lesser extent, Hermione a way to minimize Mrs. Hull. Any time Audrey's mother pushed her preferences on her daughter, they had Malin disapprove. Occasionally they let the woman win. Her idea to have darker flowers for Audrey and lighter ones for Malin was inspired. Like Hermione and Marcus, they used local businesses. Upon hearing it was a double wedding one bakery offered to make one larger double sided cake. One side for each couple. This lead to a deep dive into mirroring everything. Hermione dissuaded them from matching wedding gowns, pointing out that the two women had different body shapes and might have trouble finding a style to fit both of them," Let's not go overboard, guys." Happily each bride found a dress to her liking.
Both preferred things simple and understated. Audrey asked her best friend, Margo, to be her maid of honor and Ginny to be her bridesmaid. Victorie and Hugo would be flower girl and ring bearer. Percy asked his friend, Alexander, to be the best man and Bill to be a groomsman. The day Malin's immediately family responded they would be in attendance, she danced about the house, causing Kreacher to smile brightly. Her sister agreed to let her niece, Talitha, be flower girl with Teddy as the ring bearer.
For Harry's birthday Malin arranged a picnic for the two of them at Canterville Castle. "Where we will join our two houses into one," she told him.
"I love this as much as I love you," he kissed her. "Brilliant idea this. Thank you." Hands entwined they sat on Malin's bright green blanket watching the sunset paint colors across the sky and meadows. "I like that we can sit here and enjoy just being."
"Did you and Ginny ever do things like this?"
"When we dated back in school we did, before the war ended. Even before she spent all her time with Veronica we spent more time away from home then we did that it." Harry shook his head, "Had Veronica never happened we probably would have made a go of it with some compromises."
"No sense wondering the what ifs," Malin said quietly.
"No, there isn't. Especially since my happily ever after is with someone who likes the quiet life like me."
She hugged him tightly, "Exactly."
The next birthday to be celebrated belongs to three brown haired little boys. No matter how she tried, Hermione could not determine a way to share their first birthday parties with their families. Marcus soothed her, rubbing circles on her back, "We'll say we wanted to help your parents make their trip, and my father have his business trip with two parties."
"Thank you for being so wonderful," she wiped away the tears and hugged him.
"I would like to take this moment to point out that all three boys are walking."
"Yes, I realize someone will be gifting them brooms. Which you will further charm for safety."
"Yes, ma'am," he saluted her. She swatted him.
The muggle party took place at a park around the corner from her parent's London home. Hermione tied a helium balloon to each boy. "If one of them wanders off it will be easier to find him. And makes checking where they are easier.
"Very smart thinking," praised her Aunt Alyce. "This cake is adorable, where did you get it?"
"Lindy's Treats, same bakery our wedding cake came from. I was down that way with Malin for wedding planning and ordered it on a whim." The rectangular sheet cake depicted woodland animals at a party. "Half chocolate, half white. Came with a smash cake for each of them."
"Excellent. You always were so well organized. Sometimes I wonder how you're my sister's daughter." Hermione shrugged, knowing that was in itself the answer.
The birthday boys toddled about on the grass and giggled as the adults pushed them on the swings. A friendly couple allowed them to play with their young daughter and her puppy. All four children began to cry when it was time for cake. Marcus simply invited them to join the party. "My wife goes overboard with food. Rather have more than we need than not enough."
Sarah Burken nodded, "Very sensible, your wife is a smart woman."
"You have no idea," laughed Marcus. "Hermione, your offspring made friends again."
"And refused to leave them behind?"
"You know it. This is Dalton, Sarah, and Korrine Burken."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Hermione Flint. Would Korrine like to sit next to the boys?"
"Yes, please," answered Sarah. She settled her daughter on the picnic table bench. They watched Korrine smashed her hands into the cake eagerly. Dominic watched her, swiftly following her example. Remus examined his and leaned forward to nibble the icing directly from the cake. Benedict stared at his mother until she cut it for him, then began eating with his hands. Wendell Granger proudly recorded the entire thing on his new video camera.
Marcus shooed Hermione off to play with the boys and Korrine after they ate, "You set up, I'll clean." Dalton offered to help. By the end of the day they exchanged phone numbers and scheduled a play date.
Wendell wondered aloud if the boys needed a puppy, "Not unless it's your puppy and we visit," quipped Hermione.
"No puppy yet, got it," Wendell hugged his daughter. "We leave out for Kenya for tomorrow. We'll be back in late November, early December at the latest."
"We'll have dinner when you get back," promised Hermione. She hugged him back. "Have a good trip, Mum."
"Thank you, darling. Be good for Mummy and Daddy, my little angels," Monica gave each of her grandsons a peck on the forehead, leaving behind a bright red lipstick mark.
Molly offered to host their other family party, but Dominic Sr. put his foot down. Their home would host. He pointed out that she threw so many parties for everyone. She deserved to be a guest. And their house elves deserved to get to host.
"This means your sons will see your house," Hermione reminded him.
"Let them, has to happen sometime. Changes nothing, they signed away their rights to inheritance along ago. And I no longer live alone. You should be able to hold events when you want."
"Still, thank you," impulsively she hugged him. He returned her embrace.
The house elves threw themselves into preparations. The only thing they allowed Hermione to do was provide the smash cakes. This time she chose to bake them herself. She decorated each cake to match her sons: curious Remus got an otter, brave Benedict a tiger, and cuddly Dominic a bear.
"Hermione! The cakes!" exclaimed Charlie.
"What? What's wrong?" she panicked.
"They aren't dragons."
"Argh, Charlie Weasley, you scared me!" she pulled her wand and sent stinging hexes towards his bollocks.
Marcus's friend Nessa clapped her hands in delight, "I love watching her in action," causing the others to laugh.
Adrian grinned, "So who won the right to buy the brooms?"
"No idea, I don't care."
He placed his hand over his heart, "You don't care? How can you say that?"
"I do not, so quite easily," she told him primly.
"You wound me."
"No, I don't," she rolled her eyes. "I have no idea how any of you would consider brooms appropriate for one-year-olds, but as I am grossly outvoted, it is what it is."
"Toddler brooms are charmed to improve as the rider improves. And they have all kinds of cushioning charms and safety features," Marcus promised with a kiss to the top of her head.
"So you say," she grumbled.
"Are you implying you don't trust me?" he teased.
"You? With their lives. Those brooms? Not so much." She lightly slapped his chest. "But I asked for walking and they've been doing that for three months."
"I know," he smiled, "Heads up, Uncle Atticus and Aunt Cersi just arrived with their brood."
"Ah well, let the chips fall as they will," she replied. "If they misbehave I'm unleashing the twins."
"Fair enough," he laughed, "no less than they deserve."
Cersi Flint examined her surroundings with thinly veiled jealousy. Flint Manor stood as the family seat, and Flint Lodge held the honor of being the original seat with a better rose garden. Neither were resplendent, or spoke of old deep pockets. But this, this manor house was and did. Atticus told her of his father's agreement. He said he'd buy a house of his own rather than be beholden to his son. They waived the right to any of this grandeur for themselves and perhaps their children. As they lived here the old man would most likely leave the house to Marcus and his family. She made a few snide comments about hiding assets and two identical redheaded men gave her matching maniacal grins. It unnerved her enough that she felt silent.
Cersi was not alone in her jealousy. Veronica looked around seething. When they split up, Hermione demanded her share of the flat and hadn't needed a knut to live in luxury. While her ex and his family teetered on the edge of financial ruin. It just wasn't fair. And she still wasn't pregnant again. Ron suggested they start trying. Veronica wanted to pull out her hair, they had been for nearly a year.
After cake, Marcus and Hermione helped the boys open presents. Immediately after numerous quidditch enthusiasts took them out to fly their brooms. Hermione remained indoors with Molly. Together they planned out Christmas lunch for the family. "That leaves mornings for immediate family and dinner for the in laws," said Hermione.
"And from what everyone said, that should work for everyone," acknowledged Molly.
"Ready for two more weddings?" asked Hermione with a yawn. "Excuse me, I'm just exhausted from wedding planning."
"You're fine, dear. We're as ready as we can be. While I wish they were marrying at the Burrow it is nice to not have to do all the running."
"Right?" Hermione moved a few empty cups away from her. Something pungent remained in one. "Doing everything yourself is draining."
"Though Angelina hinted she wants something more in keeping with Bill's wedding."
"Simple, and homey, to be sure."
Molly frowned, "I suspect the Hulls need something more impressive. Poor girl is constantly having to defend her choices."
"Hmm," Hermione hated snobs, she really did. "Who's officiating?"
"I don't know, why?"
"I'll check with Percy and Harry, but if Kings is doing Harry's he could do Percy's. That should impress them."
"The twins also said something about impressing people. Merlin only knows what those two have in mind."
"I suppose we'll have to wait and see," Hermione gave her a small smile.
Full swing wedding preparations left Hermione perpetually tired. But it took the smell of frying bacon turning her stomach to make her realize the fatigue was not the condition, but a symptom. Nervously she made an appointment with Healer Gray.
"Good morning, Mrs. Rubble. How are we?"
"Apprehensive that the pronoun we is more apt than you might think." Hermione wrung her hands in her lap.
"We should start by investigating that, shall we?" the older woman told her.
"Yes, please," Hermione held her breath until the gold light glowed around her. "Oh sweet lord."
"It does appear you are indeed a we, my dear," she ran diagnosis. "Only two this time."
"Only two? What happened to one? Why is it never one?" demanded Hermione wide eyed.
"As you said it was a powerful fertility ritual. Magic seems to like you." comforted the healer.
"I just wish it waited a bit longer to like me like this," grumbled Hermione.
"Would you like to wait for Mr. Rubble to find out the gender, or genders?"
"Yes, he'll want to be here."
"I'll get you set up in two weeks. According to the scans you're about two months along, putting your due date around March 9th."
"Good to know, I suppose. Thank you."
"See you in two weeks."
Hermione left St Mungo's in a daze. She suspected the pregnancy, but never dreamed of multiples again. She felt jittery and restless. The triplets were barely more than a year old. And now they were adding two more kids. She recognized the irrational panic. The house elves were huge helps. She knew this. She was just surprised. She let herself wander towards the Ministry. She needed to share her news. Hopefully, either her husband or her best friend would be there. She nodded in greeting to acquaintances and waved to a few friends. She kept moving not feeling up to small talk or pointless debate. Her mind kept repeating 'pregnant with twins' on a loop. It didn't quite feel real yet, but it would as soon as she said the words aloud to someone. And that someone should be their father.
Leander nudged Marcus, "Huh?" He looked over, but the other man simply pointed to a pale Hermione entering the office. He was on his feet and halfway to her before he realized he had moved. "Hermione, love, what brings you by?" She slipped into his arms, hugging him tightly before stepping back.
"I've been quite tired lately. And then I noticed things smelling off, so I went to St. Mungo's." She paused, taking a deep breath, "I'm pregnant again with twins, around two months."
He blinked twice, "Twins?"
"Yes, twins as in two babies."
He nodded dumbly, "At least it isn't triplets again." He studied her face, "Are you okay?"
"As okay as I can be. Bit of a surprise."
"Sure. I think Potter's in, want to tell him?"
"I think I do." she patted his chest.
"You go do that, I'll wrap up what I'm doing." She nodded and started towards the auror offices. Marcus returned to his desk knowing most eyes were on him. "I know you all have more important things to do than gossip about my wife." He glared around the room. "You know the war hero that hexes first and asks questions second."
Most went back to work. Leander raised an eyebrow. "Pregnant again, twins this time," he said quietly.
Leander gave a low whistle, "Damn, not bad for a woman who would have to work for kids."
"We're aware, hence the shock. We weren't trying. Not unhappy, just surprised."
Hermione slipped into the chair next to Harry's desk. He glanced up, "Hello."
"Hi. Busy?" she asked.
"Not really, finishing up a lot of paperwork so I can take off on a month long honeymoon."
"Good plan. I've been meaning to ask, are you sharing an officiant with Percy and Audrey?"
"Yeah, Kings like the castle, and is bringing a date for a luxury weekend around the weddings."
"That should impress the Hulls."
"Noticed that, too, did you?" Harry chuckled.
"I did. Makes me want to smack them. They are about to have a well connected son-in-law, with a war hero family. He's far more impressive than them."
"I don't understand people some times."
"Me, either. But that isn't what I came to talk about," she played with a paperclip. "Just found out I'm pregnant again," she paused dramatically, "with twins."
"Damn, Hermione. That's five kids."
"I am aware, Harry, I can do maths," she mock growled.
"That's wow, that's great." He took her hand and smiled at her. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks."
They sat in companionable silence for a few moments. "Huh?" said Harry.
"What?"
"Just realized Ron always wanted a big family, and now he's the one with an only child and you're the one building a quidditch team." She smacked him. "No, really, think about it. Makes you believe in karma. He went off the rails when he thought kids would be hard to have, and now you're the one having all the luck there."
"I suppose it could make you believe in it, I suppose. But the past is the past."
"When do you find out gender?"
"Two weeks," she answered.
"Is it wrong to say I hope they are girls?"
"No, I just want healthy children, but girls could be nice."
Harry patted her shoulder, "You be the good parent and wish for healthy. I'll be the selfish uncle and wish for girls."
"Thanks, Harry."
"Hey, what are friends for?"
A/N: Oh, look at me, throwing in that little surprise.