A/N Just to let you know. The reason you're getting so many updates is because I have the week off from teaching my ELD class of middle schoolers (middle school boys are a breed of their own!). I haven't even thought about writing since I took over this class before Winter Break. Been putting off putting together lesson plans for the next book we're reading, so decided to procrastinate by updating this!

Ch. 50

31 December 1998

The morning of New Year's Eve was a regular morning with Harry getting up and putting Teddy in his walker as they moved around the kitchen. "Before you know it, little man, you're going to be walking up and down stairs and we're not going to be able to catch you." Teddy just grinned, and said "Dada". "Can you say Uncle?" Harry asked. "I'm not Dada. I'm Uncle."

"Dada!" Teddy squealed.

"Uncle!" Harry squealed as he cooked the bacon.

"You know, Harry, he's gonna call you Dada now." Jaime said as she came in and started making orange juice. "You fill all the roles, so he doesn't know any better."

"Well, he has to. I'm not his Daddy, Remus is." He moved Teddy to a booster chair and put cut bananas on his plate. He moved back to take the bacon off.

"He doesn't understand that, hon."

"Well, he has to."

"Has to what?" Dora asked.

"Has to learn I'm not Daddy." He growled.

"Yeah. I wish Remus was here too." Dora sighed. "He is so much like Remus in so many ways."

"Like what?" Jaime asked.

"He watches people. Just like Remus. There are other things too. He likes to be read to." She shrugged as she sat at the table and fed him more scrambled eggs.

"We should all be at Longbottom Estates at five o'clock." Sirius informed them as he sat down.

"Sure Sirius." Hermione smiled. "I'm just glad my dress for this is a little looser than usual. I'd like not to announce the twins until next meeting."

Dora laughed, "I remember trying to hide Teddy from Shack. That was a nightmare cause we worked together and were in the Order. It felt like he was constantly watching me."

"He was, love." Sirius laughed. "He kept saying 'there's something wrong with Tonks. I just can't figure it out.' "

Later on, when they were in the game room, Dora came up to Harry. "Harry, can we talk a minute?"

"Sure." He put down the parenting book he was reading as he got up. "What's up?"

Dora sat a little away from everyone else. She took Harry's hand. "If Teddy calls you Daddy, don't stop him, okay?"

Harry frowned. "I'm not his dad though."

"Sarah pointed something out to me. As much as it saddens me that Teddy will never know his Dad, in every way that matters, you are his dad. That's why Remus and I named you godfather. We knew that if anything happened to us, you'd be there for him." She took a breath and let it out slowly. " When he is old enough to understand, we will tell him stories about his dad but to him, you'll always be Dad. Don't fight it. That's what Remus would want." By the end of this, she was crying softly, thinking of how much Remus loved Teddy.

"Are you sure about this?" Harry asked.

"It's what he would want." Dora sighed. "I've been hiding from the world for the past six months. First it was because I had a newborn, then it was because I just didn't want to face the fact he was gone. Then we went to Godric's Hollow and talking to Wolfie made me realise I had gotten so wrapped up in school and your issues, that I'd forgotten to grieve or rather I had put it on the back burner. I've spent the last few months trying to deal with it more actively than passively."

"Is that because of your friendship with Sarah? I know you two are close."

"Partly. She encourages me to tell her about him and talking helps." She smiled at Harry. "I know I haven't said it nearly enough but thank you for all you do for Teddy. It's let me grieve."

"Anytime. You know I'm here." Harry hugged Dora. "I love you Aunt Dora." he smiled as he pulled back from her.

"I love you too, Harry."

HP

Because they were expected at Longbottom Estates at five, the females went up to get ready around three. Once everyone had taken showers, they all ended up in Mione's bathroom and dressing room.

"I can't believe I'm three months pregnant and I'm going to a ball." Hermione groaned. "I know I'm not showing much to all of you but I feel uncomfortable."

"That is why you have such a loose dress." Dora laughed. "It also has a high waist so you really don't notice the bump."

"I know." She said as she got into it. It was a beautiful burgundy dress that had semi-sheer sleeves, scalloped trim, and a V-neck that let her more than usual impressive bust out to shine. "But I feel like a whale. I mean, I love the fact that I actually have huge breasts now but the rest of me feels big too."

"I bet Harry's loving your breasts." Luna laughed as she went red.

"Why is it guys find pregnant women so attractive? Harry can't keep his hands to himself." Hermione giggled.

"I don't know but Remus did as well." Dora supplied.

"So did Mark." Sarah added.

"I feel like I have to get preggers to fit in with you all. I'm not ready for that!" Jaime sighed.

"I have a feeling Sirius is going to want a quidditch team worth of kids too." Hermione giggled.

"You know Jaime, you'll be 33 next spring. You guys need to get to work on that if you're going to have them." Sarah teased.

"Yeah. I only have another 20 years left." She snorted. "Stop sounding like mom. Witches can have children well into their 50's" As they were talking and teasing, Sarah was doing makeup and Jaime was doing hair for all five of them.

Sarah turned to Hermione. "Should I send for all my maternity clothes for you?" she asked.

"Aren't you going to send movers for all your stuff?"

"Yeah. I was actually hoping to enlist Dobby and Mitzy in that task so we'd have some stuff from home to put in both suites, here and Hogwarts?" she asked.

"I don't see a problem. Have Dobby and Mitzy furnish your suite at school before we get back. They can manage this place once it's revamped." Hermione grinned. "Dobby!"

He popped in. "Mistresses look beautiful." Dobby grinned. "Masters are going to love this. What can I do for you?"

"Can you and Mitzy pack up Mark and Sarah's bedroom, living room, and nursery at their house in California and at least furnish the playhouse with their stuff?" Mione asked.

"It'll be done by the time you get back." He popped out.

"That's awesome." Sarah smiled as they finished getting ready.

"I guess it's time to face the men." Dora sighed. "It's 4.45."

"Yup." Hermione and Luna grinned at each other as they headed to the stairs. When they started down, they noticed all the men at the bottom. Harry and Nev were just staring like first-years walking into the great hall.

"Wow, Mione. You look amazing." Harry reached down to kiss her. At the last minute, she turned her cheek to his lips.

"Don't want to mess the lipstick." She grinned mischievously at his puppy dog face.

"You're mean." He sighed. "But you're beautiful."

"You look good too, love."

"Holy Mother of Merlin!" Padfoot nearly dropped to his knees as Jaime came down in her green, body hugging, leave no man conscience dress. Jaime just giggled as she came up to Padfoot.

"Take a breath, hon." she laughed as he picked his jaw off the floor.

"My gods." He got a little twinkle in his eye. "I have a better plan for tonight than some boring ball." He grinned as he hugged her and she felt what he wanted to do.

She laughed. "You have to go love. This is your party." She laughed as she backed away. "It'll just have to wait till after the ball."

After Dora came down, they left for Longbottom Estates.

HP

When they got there, the house looked amazing. They went into the ballroom and there were a lot of the heirs with their significant others.

Harry went up to Bill. "So, how'd your Yule go Bill?"

"Pretty well. We had dinner at Mum's but had spent Christmas Eve with Fleur's parents in France."

Harry smiled. "That sounds like fun. We spent it with some kids from LAR and Jaime and Mark's families."

"Oh, bet it was that redhead, yeah?" Bill teased.

"Yeah. And some others." Harry sighed. "We got asked to adopt them."

"From what I hear, you and the little girl get along well." He laughed at Harry's embarrassment. "Nothing to be ashamed of. You're good with kids. It means you'll be good with those." He pointed to Mione's belly.

"Yeah. I hope so."

"So, when is she due?" Daphne came up behind Harry.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, trying to sound confused.

"Hermione's pregnant. It was obvious on the train home. She's walking differently." She shook her head.

"Don't tell anyone." Harry whispered. "She's due in June with twins."

Daphne smiled. "That's wonderful. When are you telling the Alliance?"

"Soon."

"I wondered where you got off to, Harry." Nev smiled. "Hi Daphne, Bill."

A few minutes later, Sirius yelled, "Could I talk to the heirs?"

They heard Jaime mutter, "You don't have to yell, Siri. You're not American."

He laughed as the Heirs came to him. Once everyone was gathered, he, and Augusta looked very seriously at the kids. "Now, nearly everyone in Wizengamot is going to be here tonight. Some of them, like the Flint's and Montague's, some of you have had run-ins with at school. We, as the more active members of our Alliance, are asking you to keep your mouths closed and your wand sheathed-yes that means you too Harry." He looked at Harry.

Harry just rolled his eyes. "I never cast first."

"But when you do, it's for keeps." Nev smiled at Sirius. "Don't worry Sirius. I'll keep him in check." Everyone laughed. Harry growled softly.

"We want to build relationships with these people, not ruin them. So I'd like everyone on their best behaviour." Augusta looked sternly at everyone.

"Yes Ma'am." Melanie nodded.

"Okay. Dinner will start at half six and dancing will be after that. Nev, Harry and Daphne you will be starting the dancing with us." Sirius laughed at the horrified looks on his boys' faces.

"You dropped this on us now deliberately didn't you?" Daphne asked.

Sirius shrugged. "Harry does better under pressure."

"That's mean." Nev shook his head.

"Well, that's all for now." Augusta released everyone.

Pretty soon, Harry, Sirius, Augusta and Neville were greeting everyone while their respective dates were huddled together talking.

"It's hard for me to see Siri looking all formal and Lord-y. This isn't my boyfriend." Jaime looked worried. "He does look good though."

Luna and Mione's faces were classic "Ewwww!"

Jaime just laughed. "Your boys look good too, just not as good as Siri."

"Stop talking about Padfoot that way. He's basically our father-in-law." Luna groaned.

"Sirius looks good tonight." Katie Bell said as she came up to them.

"Stop it!" Luna groaned louder. "He's my father-in-law, he DOES NOT look good."

Katie and Jaime just started laughing. "They really don't like having to deal with facts, do they?" Jaime asked.

"See ya later." Mione said as she and Luna left them to discuss Sirius if they wanted.

They ran into Fleur. "Hey, what's up?" she asked.

"Jaime and Katie are talking about Sirius. We ran." Hermione explained.

"He does look nice tonight." Fleur said nonchalantly as she looked for Bill. "He's no William though."

"Thank you, Fleur." Luna laughed. "So, you let everyone off for Christmas?"

"The store was open until Christmas Eve but they're off now." Fleur nodded. "The office has been off since the Hogwarts Express came home."

Soon they were all seated at tables and eating while talking. Harry and Hermione were sitting with Montague and Trigg. There was very stilted conversation until Montague and Harry started talking about Quidditch. "Well, Quidditch is the universal language for men." Mione said to Montague's date Doris.

She laughed. "Yes, even enemies can talk Quidditch. So, I understand you're behind MIT?"

"Yes. My best friend and I. It was actually a school project I'd started years ago but Luna helped me finish it and make it all work. What do you do for a living?"

"Right now I'm planning our wedding." she sighed.

Mione groaned. "I know I should be planning our wedding and I've finally got the dress and location arranged. I'm thinking of telling my mum to just take over. I'm so busy with school, it's hard to focus on that. I'm getting my mastery in History and Harry and I are currently teaching. So we're a little busy."

"You are going to quit when you have kids, yes?"

Hermione laughed. "No. I plan on working even after kids. That's part of the reason we all live together." Doris looked confused. "Sirius and Jaime, us, Nev and Luna, Dora and Jaime's brother Mark and his wife Sarah all live together right now. Someone is always with the kids so we can all work."

"You must have a manor to fit everyone easily?" She smiled.

"No. Well, it's big and has a lot of rooms but we manage. It's right next to my parents near London." Silently, Hermione was getting a kick out of watching this pureblood princess wrestle with the idea that there were other ways of living besides the one she lived. The expressions on her face were so much fun. I'm turning into Sirius! He'd get a kick out of this.

Soon dinner was over and the dancing began. Harry took his love in his arms and asked. "Were you trying to scare that woman by talking about jobs and babies?"

"Oh, you were listening." She laughed. "I wanted to see if I could induce a panic attack."

"You are acting more like Sirius every day and less like sweet little Mione. It's weird."

"I've been through a war, Harry. School isn't the only thing that's important. And Sirius' sense of poking the bear is fun." Mione laughed at her Harry.

"I love you, sweets." he kissed her on her lips.

"I love you too." she smiled up at him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd have been much safer the past seven years." He smirked as she hit his arm.

"That's enough." She rolled her eyes at him.

HP

Later in the evening, closer to midnight, everyone gathered on the lawn to usher in the new year with WWW fireworks. They were amazing like usual and Harry got to kiss the woman he loved more than anything in the world at the beginning of 1999.

It was after everyone had left that Dobby popped in next to Mione. "Mistress, please go home and let Mitzy and I clean." He said as he took the plate she was trying to move to the kitchen. "Yous tired and the babies need rest. Go home." he said firmly as he began pushing her towards the floo as she was objecting, saying things like "I can help. I'm not an invalid.".

"Thanks Dobby." Harry smiled as he high-fived the little guy. "She wouldn't have listened to me."

"Yous welcome." He said as they floo'd away.

When Harry floo'd in after her, she was standing there with her arms crossed and her hip out. "I could have helped."

"I know you could but everyone can see you're exhausted, love. You need to take care of yourself for the babies' sake." he took her in his arms.

"Fine." She grumbled as she was led upstairs.