Operation Lion Cub
The call came right before Harry and Ginny had put James down for bed. Ron's frantic voice coming from the communication mirror made Harry run to the bedroom where it was laying on the side table.
"HARRY PICK UP!" Ron shouted.
Harry grabbed the mirror, panting. "What is it?"
"Hermione's in labor, get over here. Operation Lion Cub is a go. Let's go!"
Ginny stood at the door with James, having heard what was going on. "Go on, we'll meet you at the hospital."
Harry quickly changed out of pajamas and into a pair of jeans and a jumper. He slipped on his sock as he tried to do something with his hair. He grabbed his trainers, putting them on as he left his bedroom.
"Alright, I'm going," he called over his shoulder as he jogged down the stairs and out the front door, coming back a second later to grab his coat when he felt the late March wind.
Meanwhile, at Ron and Hermione's house, Ron rushed into the sitting room, hospital bag in hand.
"Is he coming? Is he coming?!" He asked.
Jane looked over at her son-in-law from her place beside her daughter. "Ron, she's barely in labor."
Hermione sighed. "Mum, he's not talking about the baby."
The front door burst open, Harry walked in.
"He's here, now we can have our baby!" Ron said.
"Alright, Papa Lion commence Operation Lion Cub. Suitcase?"
"Check." Ron held up the suitcase.
"Car seat?"
"Check. It's in the car."
"Birth plan?"
Ron held up a folder. "Check."
Hermione sighed. "Can we get going?" She asked.
"And finally, Mama?"
Ron walked over, helping Hermione stand up. "Check." He kissed her cheek. "Ready to have this baby?"
"Yes," Hermione replied.
They made their way to the door.
"Let's roll."
Jane followed them out the door, locking it behind her. "How are we getting to St. Mungo's?" She asked.
"Driving," Ron replied. He tossed the keys to the BMW SUV to Harry. "Here Harry."
Harry got in the driver's seat while Ron got in the back with Hermione. Jane got in the passenger seat. Harry hadn't started the car when Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Listen to me very closely. Get us to the hospital quickly and in one piece. I don't care about red lights or traffic, get us there!"
Harry saluted her.
The drive to the hospital didn't seem like it took forever. Harry dropped off Ron, Hermione, and Jane at the hospital entrance and went to park the car.
By the time he had made it to the front desk with the suitcase in hand, Ron, Hermione, and Jane were led to the maternity ward. Harry took the lift, turning right, following the signs to the maternity ward. He met with Jane outside a room.
"Thanks, Harry," She said, taking the suitcase.
The door opened as Harry turned around to walk to the waiting room to wait on the family to arrive. Shanti passed him on his way to the waiting room. She nodded to him as she walked down the corridor. He passed the floos just as Charlie, Bill, and Fleur arrived. Charlie was holding Victoire, Bill was holding Dominique, and Fleur had a sleeping Louis.
George and Angelina arrived next with a half-asleep Freddie. Percy sent word that Molly and Audrey both had a cold, meaning they wouldn't be at the hospital, but asked they be kept updated.
Molly and Arthur had arrived first and were waiting when their family entered the room.
"How was Hermione?"
Harry turned to the voice to see his wife and son. He reached for James, moving him without waking him, an act they had mastered in the almost two years they've been parents.
"She's alright. She about hexed me when I slowed down at an intersection and screamed at me to go."
"And how was Ron?"
Harry paused, shifting James to his other shoulder. "He was a wreck."
"Probably like you were when I had James," Ginny noted.
They walked into the waiting room. Molly was knitting while Arthur snoozed in his chair beside his wife. George stretched out on one of the sofas, Freddie beside him. Charlie leaned back in a reclining chair with Louis. Dominique was asleep in Bill's arms while he stretched out in the other reclining chair. Victoire opted for the love seat beside them while Fleur sat in the chair beside her daughter. Angelina sat in the chair beside her husband, watching him and their son sleep.
Harry and Ginny took the love seat beside George and Angelina. Ginny leaned her head against Harry's shoulder while he stretched out with James in his arms.
Molly looked around at her family, smiling at her sleeping grandchildren. She stopped when she reached Harry and Ginny. Ginny moved over to the loveseat beside her husband and son. Harry glanced at her, whispering if she was okay. She assured him she was fine, just couldn't get comfortable.
Harry conjured a cot, adding pillows. Ginny smiled, leaning over to kiss her husband on the forehead before she laid down.
"Do you want me to take him?" She asked, pointing to James.
"He's fine."
Molly smiled and returned to her knitting. She would get some sleep eventually, but the arrival of a new grandbaby keyed her up to where she couldn't sleep, afraid she would miss the moment the new baby arrived.
Arthur snorted beside her in his sleep. She glanced in his direction before checking on the grandchildren to make sure the noise didn't wake them.
"Grandma?"
Molly looked up at the voice seeing her oldest Granddaughter standing in front of her.
"What's wrong Vic?" She asked.
"I need to go to the loo, but I don't want Mum or Dad to wake up and notice I'm gone."
"It's alright, sweetheart. Go on."
The loo was right across the hall. Molly could watch her go in and come out from where she was sitting.
She sighed hoping it wouldn't take all night for the baby to arrive.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The sun rose the next morning with no baby. Hermione had been in labor for over eight hours at this point and Ron was getting restless. His brothers and Harry had all warned him about labor and delivery and how long it could take for the baby to be born. Fleur's labor with Victoire was so short. It had given the family false hope of a quick delivery.
Freddie was the longest delivery, though if James's labor had lasted another two hours, his would have been the longest.
What Ron wished his brothers had warned him about was the feeling of helplessness. Even with the pain potions and epidural, Hermione's labor was long and hard.
He remembered some of his brothers had gone down the corridor to talk with the Dad while he was kicked out of the room while Shanti checked the progress.
He sighed, glancing down the corridor.
"You look like hell."
Ron turned at the voice, finding his best friend approaching him.
"Thanks, mate."
Harry leaned against the wall beside Ron. "How's she doing?"
"We finally got her pain under control. She's getting tired, but Shanti said not much longer." Ron sighed. "If she decides to come today, she would share Hugh's birthday."
Harry remembered Hermione making the same comment when she found her due date.
"I might have the baby on Dad's birthday. I don't know how to feel about it."
Ron groaned. "I feel like I've been out here forever."
"I felt the same way," Harry commented. "When Ginny had James it was like I blinked and he was here."
Ron let his head fall back. "Hopefully that is how it goes with Hermione."
The door to Hermione's room opened. "You can come back in Ron," Jane said, peeking her head out."
Harry squeezed his shoulder. "Good luck, mate."
He was about to walk back to the waiting room when Ron called to him.
"I thought I would warn you, Hermione wants you and Ginny to be the first of the family to meet Rose."
Harry smiled. "Alright, I'm sure Molly wouldn't mind."
"She knows," Ron assured him.
Harry returned to the waiting room, greeted by James and Ginny coming back from the loo.
"Hey mate," he said to his son as he picked him up.
"George and Charlie went to get breakfast. Bill went to get teas and coffees. Dad called Percy with the no baby yet update and I just changed James's nappy."
They walked into the waiting room just as George and Charlie returned with breakfast. Bill came in with teas, coffees, and orange juices, adding them to the make-shift buffet.
Angelina, Fleur, and Ginny started fixing plates for the kids. Harry had finished cutting up James's eggs, sausage, and pancakes when Bill came over with a bottle of orange juice.
"Here you go little man," he said.
"Thank you," James said, looking up at his uncle.
"You're welcome."
Once all of the kids had plates, the adult started to fix their plates and eat breakfast. Conversation flowed across the room from arranging play dates to job updates, and the bets on when Rose would make her appearance into the world.
"How was Ron?" Ginny asked, handing Harry a cup of tea.
"He looked like hell. He's getting antsy about when Hermione would deliver. He said he felt like it was taking a long time."
"It does feel that way," George commented, having heard their conversation. "You want it over for your wife more than yourself."
Bill sat down with his food and coffee beside his brother. "I can stay I'm glad we're done and won't be going through this again. But I can relate to wanting it to be over for your wife. It's hard to watch them go through childbirth. Even with the pain potions and epidural, it doesn't take away your concern."
"It doesn't," Harry agreed. "And the fact we'll be having another one…."
"One thing about the second one, you have an idea of what to expect. Only you might get a surprise, like your wife's labor progresses quicker and you deliver the baby," Bill said.
The conversation paused when Freddie dumped out a basket of blocks and he, Louis, and James started playing with them. Ginny, Fleur, and Angelina started cleaning up the mess from breakfast.
"Are you going to sit there like a lump or are you going to help?" Angelina asked her husband.
George jumped up, starting to collect trash while Bill jumped up and headed to get the rubbish bin. James came over to Harry with his cup.
"Do you want more juice?" Harry asked.
"Yes, please," James replied. Ginny had been working with him on using his manners. So far it was going well.
Harry took the cup, unscrewing the spill-proof lid. He took the extra bottle of orange juice, pouring it into the green cup. He put the lid back on, handing it back to James.
"Thank you."
James walked back to where the other two boys were playing.
Harry tossed the empty bottle into the rubbish bin as he stretched.
"Should someone go and check on Ron and Hermione? I mean it's been…." Molly trailed off when Ron stepped into the room.
"She's here," He announced. "Nine pounds, eleven oz. Mummy and baby are fine."
Cheers and congratulations broke out as Molly rushed to her youngest son, tears running down her cheeks. One by one, the adults took turns hugging Ron. Harry was last.
"Congratulations Dad," Harry said as he hugged his best friend.
"Come on, Hermione gave me orders to bring you back first."
Harry and Ron left the waiting room with Ginny following a moment later. She said she would wait outside, giving the three best friends a moment before she came in.
Ron led them to Hermione's room. Ginny hugged her brother before he and Harry walked into the room.
Hermione sat on the bed, looking nothing like Harry expected. She looked more put together than Ginny did when she gave birth to James. But then again to Harry, Ginny looked beautiful even after childbirth.
"Hi," Hermione greeted.
"Hi Mum," Harry said with a smile. "Congratulations."
"Thanks. Harry, I would like you to be the first to meet Rose Elizabeth Weasley." Hermione handed Harry Rose as she introduced her. Harry took her with practiced ease.
"Hi Rose, I'm your Uncle Harry."
Ron stepped out to tell Ginny to come in and meet her niece. She paused at seeing Harry holding the baby.
"Hi Rose," she whispered.
Ron and Hermione shared a look before Hermione nodded. Ron cleared his throat. "So, there is a reason we asked you both to be the first out of the family to meet Rose."
"Well considering we're the closest I figured that was why," Ginny commented.
"There is another reason. Hermione and I would like you to be Rose's godparents."
"What?!" Harry and Ginny exclaimed in unison. Harry immediately soothed Rose when the noise startled her.
"Sorry sweetie," he murmured to the infant. He looked at his wife who nodded. Clearing his throat, he hoarsely replied, "Thanks, mate. We're honored you asked. I know we asked you to be James and…."
"We know he's in good hands with you," Ginny added.
"And we know Rose would be too."
They visited for a bit, Ginny taking a turn to hold the baby before the rest of the family came in. James walked over to his Dad, reaching up.
Harry picked him up as Jane stepped back into the room. She stood beside them as Rose was passed around to the different family members.
Molly came over, opening her arms for a hug. "Congratulations Grandma."
"Thank you. I don't know what I want to be called yet," Jane admitted. "I might let her decide."
Ginny came over to stand next to her husband, adjusting James's shirt before she leaned against Harry's side. He wrapped his free arm around her, his hand resting on the noticeable curve of her stomach.
"Hermione requested the pasta bake so I'll need to run to the shop," Ginny said.
"I figured you and Molly along with the other women in the family would be fixing food to send over to Ron and Hermione's." He reached in his pocket. He pulled out the keys, handing them to Jane. "I parked in the car park on the next block."
"I know the one, thanks," She said.
"I'm sure Hermione told you but if you need anything, Harry's mobile and our house phone are on the pad in the kitchen. We'll be bringing food by so you don't have to worry about cooking," Ginny assured her.
"Well, that's nice you and your family. When I go back to the house I'll call my friends. They owe me a favor and I'll ask them to cover my patients for the next few weeks. I know Hermione will need some help."
"Ron's on paternity leave, but I think Harry might get him out of the house some to go to the gym," Ginny added.
"Oh, I've witnessed that show. It's highly entertaining."
Right before noon, the family slowly started to leave to go home. Harry, Ginny, and James were the last to leave.
Harry cautioned James to be careful when he sat him on the bed to hug Hermione.
"Bye sweetie," Hermione said.
When Harry put him down to go say bye to Ron, he leaned over to embrace Hermione. "Good job, Hermione."
"Thanks, Harry."
He leaned over, pressing a kiss to the top of Rose's head. "Bye Rosie Girl. I love you."
Ginny traded places as she was saying bye to Ron. Ron pulled him into a hug. "Thanks, Mate."
"You're welcome. We'll see you later, mate."
When Ginny rejoined him, they said their farewells, reminded Jane if she needed anything while she was at the house on her own to call them, and they left the hospital, apparating home.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It had been two weeks since Rose's birth. Molly, Ginny, and Fleur had been taking turns taking meals over to Ron and Hermione's. They would bring food, visit with Hermione and Rose, and do a chore for them before they went home. Molly shared her advice and wisdom with Hermione along with Jane, especially when she walked in on a crying Rose and Hermione.
Jane was able to get her friends to cover for her for only a week. They sent a gift basket and a congratulations card to both Ron and Hermione and Jane.
It was needless to say no one in the Weasley household was getting a lot of sleep.
Ron flooed over to the Potter's two weeks later. He had gotten a full night's sleep, thanks to Jane volunteering to mind Rose so he and Hermione could get some sleep.
He jogged up the stairs as Ginny exited James's bedroom.
"Payback?" Ginny asked.
Ron just smiled. He walked over to the master bedroom, throwing the door open.
"Rise and shine. It's workout time!"
Harry groaned, putting his pillow over his head.
"What is this, payback?"
"Yup," Ron said, approaching the bed, yanking the covers back. "Come on, mate."
Harry sat up, picking up his glasses from the nightstand. "What time is it?"
"Six," Ron said. He opened a drawer, throwing a pair of joggers and a t-shirt toward Harry. "Come on, I'm ready to get my workout on."
Harry pushed himself off of the bed, picked up the clothes Ron had thrown at him, and shuffled to the bathroom.
"Five minutes," Harry murmured.
Ron left the bedroom, heading downstairs to the kitchen. Ginny had a cup of tea sitting on the counter.
"Thanks, Ginny."
"You're welcome," she said, pouring a third cup. Ron knew she was fixing Harry's when she added a spoonful of sugar and a dash of milk. "How are things going?"
"Alright, Jane kept Rose last night. I got to sleep a full night for the first time in two weeks. Hermione came to bed an hour after me. She was asleep when I left."
Ginny sat the cup down on the counter. "How is fatherhood treating you?"
"It's wonderful. I love her so much."
"We all do," Ginny murmured.
Harry came downstairs, picking up his tea. "You do know you have another week of paternity leave left right?"
Ron nodded. "I wanted to hit the gym, try and get back into that routine."
"Of course," Harry murmured.
They drank their tea as Harry caught Ron up on the developments of a few cases and the new lead for the major case they had been working on now the murder case they had been working on was closed.
"So, any leads to the Muggle Baiting case?"
Harry shook his head. "It's like they disappeared."
James woke up before Ron and Harry had left. Upon seeing his favorite uncle, James ran to Ron lifting his arms to be picked up.
"Hey buddy," Ron greeted, picking up the toddler.
While Harry gathered up his stuff, including clothes to change into after a shower, Ginny packed his lunch. She packed a quick breakfast sandwich she made with eggs and sausage. She placed a stasis and warming charm on it before putting it in a sandwich bag, slipping it into Harry's lunch bag before she put it into Harry's work bag.
It wasn't until Ron and Harry were at the gym that Ron asked, "How do you and Ginny do it?"
"Do what?" Harry asked as jogged on the treadmill.
"Do you do it with a child? Was it hard to adjust to having a child?"
Harry paused the treadmill, stepping off. "It was hard at first. Neither of us slept. Even if James slept we spent a lot of time watching him sleep. Sometimes it was to make sure he was okay and breathing and the other times it was just….realizing we made this little human."
Ron gagged. "I would like to think you found him under a mulberry bush."
"It wasn't until Ginny got the job at the Prophet did we realize what a challenge we would have. Our only choice for child care, well still is, is your Mum. I know." Harry held a hand up. "Molly enjoys it, but I feel like we're dumping him on her."
"Harry, Mum loves being with the kids. She even tells Bill to bring his lot over and she'd keep them so he and Fleur could have a date night."
"The hardest adjustment with James was realizing we're responsible for this child. It wasn't like with Teddy. I send him home to Andy and that's it. With James, he's ours. It took some time but we adjusted and so will you. One thing that will help you is having Jane there."
"She's talking about working part-time and keeping Rose when Hermione goes back to work. Hermione said she's been talking about working part-time to prepare for retirement, but the real reason is because Hugh isn't there."
Harry nodded. "Hermione did say some of the patients said Jane is different and it seems like her heart isn't in it like it was before the accident."
Ron nodded. "So, shall we head to the weights?"
"Just drop it on your foot," Harry said.
"You're not going to let me forget it are you?" Ron asked. "Ginny seems like she's doing alright. She's starting to show."
"She is. Shanti said she's doing well and the baby is on track, growing."
"Do you have a preference this time, whether you want a boy or a girl?"
Ron's question made Harry pause. While he would love another son, he also wouldn't mind a daughter.
"Not really. I wouldn't mind another son."
"When do you find out?"
"We can find out now if we want to."
Ginny did have a scan coming up, but Molly was set to accompany her to that appointment. Harry could tag along if his work schedule allowed it.
"Are you still getting sick at random times?" Ron asked.
"No, it went away when Ginny passed over into the second trimester. Holly put a name to it when I went to see her."
"What is it called?"
"Couvade syndrome, she also called it sympathetic pregnancy. It's where an expectant father experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior as their pregnant partner. These most often include major weight gain, altered hormone levels, morning nausea, and disturbed sleep patterns. In more extreme cases, symptoms can include labor pains, fatigue, postpartum depression, and nosebleeds. The labor pain symptom is commonly known as sympathy pain."
Ron held a hand up. "Wait, so you're saying a man can experience labor pain?"
Harry nodded. "Shanti said she had seen it a few times. I asked her during Gin's last appointment. She told me I got off lucky with just the nausea."
"Sounds like you did."
"It also explained why Gin and I sometimes craved the same thing when she was pregnant with James."
When the clock reached eight in the morning, Ron left to head back home while Harry hit the showers. Once in his office after showering and changing, he ate the breakfast Ginny packed for him and checked to see what she packed for his lunch. It was some of the pasta she made for dinner the night before.
Harry slipped it into the cold box in his office before eating his breakfast. Maisy brought him his second cup of tea of the day when she came with the file for the case he would be starting on. Ron would join him when he returned from paternity leave.
Robards knocked on the door to Harry's office. "Did I see Weasley leave as I came in?"
"He came into the gym," Harry said, tossing the sandwich bag into the rubbish bin. "What's going on today, Gawain?"
"I'm going to be out of the office today after the morning briefing, so you will be holding down the fort as the Muggles say. Dawlish is still on leave and Williamson called in this morning."
Harry nodded, knowing he wouldn't have a problem running things while all Robards and his Deputy heads were out. It was confirmed in the morning briefing when everyone nodded and didn't say anything when Robards announced Harry was in charge in his absence.
Matthews, who was on night shift, left after Robards.
"Hope it's quiet today."
He ran toward the door as he met with groans and Harry's shout of "MATTHEWS!"
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The Burrow was a hive of activity the following Sunday. It was the first one Ron and Hermione would attend since Rose's birth. They had decided to stay home for the first few weeks to adjust to being parents. Molly, who considered attendance to these Sunday lunches mandatory, agreed. The family was too stunned to speak.
Ron was usually the first to arrive to help Molly with the cooking, but since Rose's birth, Ginny had stepped into his place. She would come over in the morning, leaving James with Harry to help Molly with what she needed help with.
This morning, Ginny walked in to find Molly nearly in a frenzy.
"Mum, are you okay?"
"Just this is going the first time all of the family will be together since Rose was born," she said. "How are you dear? You look a little peaky?"
Ginny didn't think she did. But then Molly said that to everyone. She said it to Harry when she came over to keep James last week while Ginny was covering a Holyhead Harpies match and Harry was working on a case. That was what she greeted Harry with when he arrived home one hour before James's bedtime.
"I'm fine, Mum. I have an appointment with Shanti this week and a scan. I was wondering if you would like to come with me. This is not the first scan, Harry came with me for that, but I thought you would like to come."
Molly smiled. While she didn't understand a lot about Muggle medical equipment, she didn't mind getting a peek at her unborn grandbaby.
"I would love to."
The family started to arrive around eleven. Lunch was scheduled for noon and no one wanted to be late. Of course, those with kids were often a little late.
Charlie was the first to arrive with Victoire. He had stopped by Bill and Fleur's place to help him set up the wards on their new place. It wasn't far from the Burrow. They were keeping Shell Cottage for a beach house, allowing anyone in the family to use it.
"Hi Sweetie," Molly greeted her oldest grandchild. "Do you like your new room?"
"Yeah, Mum said I can pick the paint color."
Ginny came into the dining area, with a pitcher of lemonade and sat it on the table. She pulled her niece into a big hug.
"Uncle Harry, James, and I are coming over later."
"Really?" Victoire asked.
"Uncle Harry is helping Daddy with something," Ginny explained, not wanting to give away the surprise they were getting a television. Bill had bought it yesterday with Harry's help. Since it was late when they returned to Bill and Fleur's Harry said he would come over after lunch to help him set it up.
George, Angelina, and Freddie arrived as Bill, Fleur, Dominique, and Louis flooed over. The two boys ran to each other before running upstairs to Bill and Charlie's old room. It had been turned into the boys' playroom since the girls had claimed Ginny's old room as theirs. To keep down the fights, Molly and Arthur turned the older two boys' room into the grandsons' playroom.
The girls followed going to upstairs their playroom.
Ginny was about to floo over to her house to see what was taking Harry and James when they came in the back door.
"That was not what I had laid out," Ginny said.
Harry sighed. "He went out the back door and fell in a mud puddle. Would you have rather I brought our son in muddy clothing?"
"No," Ginny agreed. She watched as her mother picked up her son, giving him her famous bear hugs. She sat him down. He ran into the sitting room before running up the stairs.
Ginny approached her husband, adjusting his glasses. "Did you…?"
"They're in the sink in the scullery. I banished what mud I could and left them to soak with the stain remover."
Percy, Audrey, and little Molly arrived next. Molly greeted her grandparents before heading up to play with her cousins until lunch was ready.
"Harry, did you hear about Robard's retiring next year?" Percy asked.
"He hasn't said anything in the department. I know Proudfoot put in for his retirement. He's gone the first of the month."
"I just hope the next Head pays attention to the budget," Percy said.
"Perce, it won't be your problem anymore," Audrey reminded her husband.
"True."
"Lunch is about ready," Molly said as she walked into the sitting room. "Wonder what is keeping Ron and Hermione?"
"You know it takes a while to get going with a baby, Mum," George said. "We were sitting at the table getting ready to eat when they…" George glanced at Harry, "Showed up."
Lunch was ready at five minutes until noon. Molly had some chicken she needed to do something with and Ginny suggested doing roasted chicken and potatoes. While the chicken and potatoes were in the oven, Molly made peas, carrots, and a salad to go with it. She had even made a jam tart for dessert.
Fleur, Audrey, Angelina, and Ginny went up to gather the kids and help the younger ones wash up.
Just as the family was sitting down to lunch, Ron and Hermione showed up with Rose.
The family greeted Ron and Hermione before admiring Rose as she was asleep in her infant carrier.
"Didn't Jane come with you?" Molly asked.
"Mum had brunch with her friends today. She said she'll come next week as she doesn't have plans."
As Ron and Hermione settled at the table with Rose in between them, conversation began with the general catch-up. George reminded everyone of the sale he was having at the shop for the week. Angelina told Ginny and Fleur about a story hour at a library in London to which Hermione added how it was one of the newer libraries in London and was really nice. Ron asked Harry about how things were in the office. He would be returning to work the following week.
Arthur updated everyone about the progress on the Muggle Protection Act he had written with Hermione and Harry's assistance. It was going in front of the Wizengamot that week. Hermione was coming into the Ministry for the hearing as Harry wasn't able to attend due to work.
Percy cleared his throat. "Audrey and I have some news we would like to share."
"I'M PREGNANT!" Audrey exclaimed.
There was a slight pause until Molly let out a scream, jumping up to pull her daughter-in-law and son into an embrace. The family followed with hugs, congratulations, and pats on the back. The chaos was enough to startle Rose who had been asleep. Hermione picked her up to soothe her.
As the family settled at the table again, Molly commented, "Oh how wonderful."
Percy smiled at his wife, who returned the smile bashfully. "I know we said to wait to tell the family, but we've been trying since Molly was one."
"Three years, I know," Percy murmured.
Lunch continued with excitement in the air following the news of a new baby. Bill and Fleur were planning on having the family over to their house once they were settled in.
"I love the kitchen," Fleur said. "I have so much space, so much storage space and with three kids, we needed the space not just in the kitchen."
"The garden is a nice size," Charlie commented. "Plenty big enough for the kids to play and explore and I'm sure you're not worried about them wandering down to the beach."
"Do you like having your own room, Vic?" Hermione asked.
"I do. I like having my own space."
"I like having my own room too," Dominique said.
"We're going to be painting the girls' rooms this week, which is why the house is a mess," Fleur sighed. "But we wanted to decorate and change carpet before we put the furniture and their stuff in."
"It's like we're camping since we're staying in the family room," Victoire explained.
As Molly served dessert, George told Harry about how the shop's Hogsmeade location was doing. It had opened in the old Zonko's building two years after the war. Lee had come to work with George to help out when he reopened the shop after the war. He had taken time off from his own career to help his best friend.
He was still there almost eight years later.
Verity was still working with George and managed the Hogsmeade location.
"Lee has been working with me, doing Quidditch commentary, and I don't know what all. Since Morgan had Kieran, he doesn't work himself to death like he used to."
"He's a cute little thing isn't he?" Ginny commented. Kieran was younger than Freddie and James by a few months.
"Morgan said she wanted to know if we can arrange a play date for next week," Angelina said, picking up the empty plates from her son's lunch.
The kids headed outside to play as the weather was rarely this warm in April.
"What are you planning on doing for James's birthday?" Hermione asked, covering herself to feed Rose.
"I was thinking about having the party at the house this year. When Harry and I were shopping last weekend for his birthday we found this inflatable house that kids jump in. It has a slide on the side, it looked like fun. We got it because we thought James would enjoy it."
"And Harry did too."
"After he got it up, he did." Ginny chuckled. "He was ready to curse the thing by the time it was up."
Hermione chuckled, looking out the window at the kids. James ran passed the window with Ron chasing after him. He made a turn to go towards the swings. As he passed the tree with the tire swing, Harry jumped out catching him. James's laughter filled the garden.
The two women watched as Ron and Harry chased the three boys around the garden as Freddie and Louis wanted to play their little game.
"And to think we're adding to this chaos," Hermione said as she readjusted Rose.
"I know," Ginny said, hand on her stomach. "But would we have any other way?"
Hermione looked out the window as Bill and Charlie pushed the girls on the swing and Ron and Harry chased the boys. George joined them when he made it outside after having a brief discussion with Molly about baking some biscuits to have at the shop during the sale. Percy was with Arthur as they walked towards the padlock.
"No, I don't think we wouldn't have it any other way."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Molly stared in awe at the screen in front of her. She watched as the baby opened its hand almost as if they knew she was watching.
"Would you look at that?" She murmured. She took her eyes off the screen long enough to peek at Arthur. He had always been fascinated by anything Muggle related and had been present for a few scans when there was a grandchild on the way. But this was different.
Shanti had told Ginny at her appointment before the scan they could have an opportunity to see the baby in 4D.
The best part….more than just three people could be there. And Ginny knew who wanted there with her and Harry.
Molly and Arthur jumped the chance. It made it even better when Ginny realized they could bring James.
"That's your baby brother or sister," Harry explained, holding their son on his lap.
"Brother," James said. He was adamant that the baby was a boy.
"We'll see," Harry said.
"Isn't this amazing you can see what they're going to look like," Shanti commented from behind the mediwitch doing the scan.
"It is. I can tell already." Ginny looked at the screen. "You look just like your Daddy."
"I was hoping the baby would look more like you."
Shanti glanced down at James. He looked a lot like Harry at a glance, but he had Ginny's eyes. He was a good mix of his parents, but he primarily looked like Harry.
"So, do we want to find out the gender?"
Ginny shared a look with Harry. Molly and Arthur smiled knowingly.
"Do you want to know?" Harry asked Ginny.
"Do you?"
Harry knew the answer. He looked at Shanti. "Can you tell?"
"I can," She confirmed. The mediwitch moved her wand down to show towards the privates.
"Alright little one, I see you're more corporative than your brother." Shanti leaned back. "And you are not shy."
She turned to Ginny and Harry. "It's a boy."
"Another boy!" Molly exclaimed. "I didn't care as long as it's healthy."
Arthur picked up James. "You're getting a baby brother."
"Brother," James said.
The adults chuckled. Shanti made copies of the scan for Harry and Ginny and Molly and Arthur.
As they left St. Mungo's Ginny turned to her parents. "We're going to get something for supper before heading home. Do you want to join us?"
Arthur, realizing they were going to a Muggle restaurant, said, "Oh I would love to."
"Why not," Molly said.
They walked out onto the street, talking about the new baby and how much they needed to do to get ready.
Time was going to run out. Harry knew they needed to get a move on.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny leaned against the doorway of James's room. She glanced at Harry standing beside her. They had just gotten James down for the night. Tonight they had read the big brother book they had bought when Ginny was pregnant with James and they read it to Teddy.
"I think taking the side off was a good idea," Ginny whispered. They had been busy they had only time to go shopping for anything outside the necessities. Molly and Arthur were keeping James overnight Friday and they had the weekend clear with no work. They decided to seize the opportunity and go shopping for what they needed to get.
Mainly it was stuff for the new baby. They decided to include James when they went shopping for his big boy bed as they had included Teddy when they transitioned him along with Andromeda.
"It will do until we get him a big boy bed and keep him from climbing out of the cot."
Ginny sighed as she brought the door to, leaving a crack. "You do know that the next hurdle is going to be potty training."
"I know."
Harry followed Ginny into their bedroom. He had closed up the house while Ginny was giving James a bath. The floo was locked, the doors were locked, and the small lamp in the downstairs hallway was on in case they needed to go downstairs in the middle of the night.
"What time do you need to be in Holyhead tomorrow?"
"Noon," Ginny replied. "Angelina is going to take James for the afternoon."
They got ready for bed. Harry had showered while Ginny played with James. They switched when he was done. While Ginny showered, Harry got James ready for bed and read him his bedtime story. This arrangement allowed them to have one on one time with James. It would be not very long before they would have a baby.
"You know what, I'm happy," Ginny said, sitting down on her side of the bed.
"About?" Harry prompted, propping up on his side, holding his head up.
"Everything, our marriage, our life, our kids….." Ginny trailed off. "If you would have told twelve-year-old Ginny this would be her life at twenty-four, she would have laughed in your face."
Harry snorted. "Tell the same thing to a twelve-year-old Harry he would have laughed in your face."
Ginny smiled. "It's hard to imagine sometimes this is my life. Married to you, one godson, a son, and another on the way…"
"I know."
As Ginny drifted off to sleep, she thought back on her life. She wouldn't change anything. She was married to Harry, they had Teddy, they had James, and now they were having another baby. She couldn't be happier and she knew Harry felt the same.
Everything was going smoothly with this pregnancy. Shanti assured her everything was going well, she was on track, and the baby was healthy, which was most important besides her own health.
She hoped everything continued to go smoothly.