oooOOOoooOOOooo Chapter 8
They arrived at the Shrieking Shack almost 15 minutes late. Nothing moves very quickly with a baby; that's doubly so true for twins! They entered the basement of the Shack and looked around in the near darkness.
"Harry!" said Remus. Harry jumped but turned and saw the light from Remus' wand. A giant happy dog bark shook the silence as Snuffles ran over and gave him a doggy hug and kiss. The babies started crying.
"I told you not to do that," Remus said, giving the dog a baleful look while he gently picked up a twin and started rocking him. Hermione did the same with the other while Harry said hello to Snuffles.
"You great lout! You just had to wake the babies, didn't you?" Harry said, petting the dog. Snuffles ran over to Neville for a quick hello and then slowly approached the two people holding his pup's pups. He gently snuffed them until he'd never forget their scent. Hermione and Remus helped him say hello to Julius and Jameson. Snuffles jumped for joy and wanted so badly to bark again, he let out a little squeak of a bark that made everyone laugh.
"Well, are we hanging out here all day or are we heading back to the castle?" Harry asked. He was hungry, tired, and just wanted to relax in his own rooms.
"Lead the way, cub. We're behind you," Remus said. The group walked down the tunnel and back to the castle.
They finally reached Harry's rooms and went inside.
"I think I'll head up to the dorms and take a nap," Neville said at the doorway. "I had a good time with you all today. See you at dinner!"
"We might eat in here, Nev. If so, we'll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Thanks for coming and helping out. I really appreciate it," Harry said.
"Okay. My pleasure! See you later," Neville said, waving goodbye to everyone.
As soon as Neville was gone, Sirius morphed back into his human form. He hurried over to the babies and made a big fuss about the precious things.
"Look here, Harry!" Sirius said, gently taking the twin Remus was holding. "They look just like you did when you were a baby. I remember when I first held you. Lily said I wasn't allowed in the delivery room but after she got the good potions, she was glad to let us all come in."
Remus grinned at the memory. "Peter didn't want to come, rat bastard, but me and Remi here were game. Remus only lasted until they checked Lily for the first time. Then, he ran from the room! Ha!" Sirius said, grinning back at a now blushing Remus.
"She was unclothed, Padfoot," Remus said, smiling but still sounding scandalized.
"Can't exactly have a baby with clothes on," Hermione said, giving Remus a chiding look.
"True, but it didn't seem right to see my best friend's wife with her clothes off," Remus said, his voice squeaking a little at the end. Harry and Sirius laughed at his embarrassment.
"Trust me, it wasn't an enticing sight," Sirius said, remembering the gore and the screaming. Harry sniggered and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, when Lily and James let me hold you for the first time, I just knew. You were something special," Sirius said with a sappy look in his eyes.
Harry blushed. Sirius went on to tell two more baby Harry stories before the twins woke up and wanted changed and fed again. To Harry's surprise, Padfoot handled it like an old pro. With Remus helping him, they finished changing both twins and had them redressed and bottle in hand within about 3 minutes.
"Wow! That was impressive, guys," Hermione said.
"Thank ya," said Sirius, grinning at Hermione. "I'm an old pro. I had a year with this one," he said, pointing his thumb at Harry, "before my baby changing days were over. We'd race to see who could do it faster. I won by a landslide every time." Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius' boasting.
"You could never beat Lily," Remus said, bursting Padfoot's bubble.
"She cheated! I'm not sure how, but I know she did. She was fearless of bodily fluids," Sirius said. Harry laughed at the very idea of his parents and surrogate uncles racing to change his nappy.
Harry started unloading all his purchases from under the buggy while Sirius and Remus each held a baby.
"They look exactly alike," Remus said, comparing the two now awake boys.
"Except this one has a birthmark on the bottom of his foot, see?" Sirius said, holding the aquamarine baby.
"That one's Julius Sirius," Hermione said.
"Great name. Hello Jules," Sirius said, smiling at the tiny baby. The baby stared back in wide-eyed wonder. The corner of his mouth lifted into a little smirk. "You've got a bit of the mischievous devil in you, don't you?"
"Just like his namesake," Remus said, smiling at Julius while he bounced Jameson in his arms.
"Would you each like to be the godfather to one of the boys?" Harry asked. "Hermione's their godmother. We filled out paperwork at Gringotts today."
Sirius' eyes filled with tears. "I'd love that pup. I promise to be there for your babies the way I was never able to be there for you."
Remus' eyes were misty as well. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather choose someone else? Someone who might be able to take custody, if you needed them to?" Remus asked, reluctantly.
"No. I already have a few people who could take custody. I want you and Sirius. Please? I trust you." Harry asked, hoping Remus wouldn't say no. Remus smiled a beatific smile and agreed.
"In that case, I'd love to," Remus said, clapping Harry on the shoulder. Harry grinned in return.
"Now that that's settled, who's hungry?" Harry asked. Everyone agreed they could eat. Dobby made a delicious fish and chips fry up for supper. Everyone ate peacefully and relaxed, talking about what Harry should do now.
"What are you going to do now, Harry? Have you found a governess?" Remus asked.
"Yeah. Hermione's mum and dad are retiring. They've agreed to come live with me and help take care of the twins. It's going to be brilliant. They did a fantastic job with Hermione," Harry said, glad the issue was settled. It was a serious weight off his mind.
"That is fortunate," Remus said, smiling.
"Living with the in-laws before the wedding night. Tough move, prongslet," Sirius joked, ribbing Hermione and Harry at the same time. Both teens blushed and glanced at each other through the corners of their eyes.
Remus looked around the small suite of rooms and looked concerned. "Will there be enough room here for all of you here?"
"Oh! That reminds me, I got something for each of you. Come on, I'll show you," Harry said, taking out the trunks he had purchased for himself, Sirius, and Remus. He gave Hermione her library trunk that he had purchased for her, too. The group took a quick tour of the trunks before reconvening in Harry's new home.
"This is amazing, pup!" Sirius enthused. He thought the trunks were a lark. Harry had purchased the strongest wards possible for each trunk and the things were basically siege worthy. No one was getting in without being invited.
"I thought you'd each like your own. I had them added to the floo network, too, so you can park them wherever is best for you and still come visit me whenever you want," Harry said, grinning at the men.
"Is this … is this silver reinforced dragonhide?" Remus asked in awe.
"Yes, it's called the moon madness package. The house and windows are reinforced, too. You'll always have a safe place to spend the full moon," Hermione said, gently. Harry just beamed.
"I, this is too much! Thank you," Remus said, bending to hug Harry and Hermione. Sirius followed suit.
"Your place is nice too, pup. Is this where the Grangers and the twins will spend most of their time?" Sirius asked.
"I think so. This way, everyone has their own space and there's plenty of room for the twins to grow up. I still don't know what I'll do after Hogwarts. The ministry has lost my respect for the way they treated you, Padfoot. I don't think I want to be an auror anymore. I don't know what I'd like to do," Harry said, kicking his feet against his new furniture.
"Well, you have time to decide. You can stay in Hogwarts until you graduate or you could leave after fifth year and get tutors. Who knows, maybe you'll decide to catch up on your muggle education and go to university. I've been thinking about going myself and studying ancient languages," Remus said, encouragingly. Harry glanced at Hermione when Remus said the last. That was an idea neither had ever considered before. It bore thinking about.
"Ugh! Harry suddenly said, looking at the clock. "I have detention with McGonagall in ten minutes! I almost forgot!" Harry said, jumping up and hurrying back into his suite of rooms.
"She told me to bring the twins," Harry said. He called for Dobby, "Dobby?" The little elf popped into the room. "Could you get the twins ready to go in their buggy for me?"
"Yes, Harry Potter, sir," Dobby said, popping away to get the twins ready. Harry met him at the door. Hermione was already waiting there for him.
"I thought we'd head out together," Hermione said, helping Harry through the portrait hole. Harry was grateful for her help. They parted ways. Hermione headed up to her dorm room and Harry headed on to McGonagall's office.
Harry knocked on McGonagall's door.
"Come in," a voice called. Harry entered the room, pushing the baby buggy before him.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. Please, come have a seat," McGonagall said, waving Harry into a seat before her desk. She got up and came around to see the babies.
"They're gorgeous, Mr. Potter. May I?" she asked, gesturing to one of the babies.
"Sure, go right ahead," Harry replied. McGonagall lifted the blue twin out of the buggy. "That's Jameson. Charlus Jameson Potter IV. The aquamarine baby is Julius Sirius Black."
McGonagall's eyes teared up. "Great names they carry. I'm sure they'll live up to their namesakes, though I do hope they are filled with slightly less mischief. How are things going so far?"
Harry laughed at the thought of the Weasley twins combined with the marauders. He hoped his boys weren't that wild. "It's going okay so far. I'm getting the hang of changing nappies. The elves are a great help. I don't know what I'd do without them," Harry said. McGonagall nodded.
"House elves can be a great help. I hope you have a plan for further assistance. It's good for babies to be around other humans, too," she said, looking at Harry over her glasses. She didn't know what the boy had done so far to prepare for the children.
"I have a plan. I actually wanted to make sure there isn't anything special I need to do? The children's governor and governess will be starting on Halloween," Harry said, picking up the other twin. He sat across from McGonagall and rocked little Julius.
"Yes, there are some forms you'll need to fill out. Who may I ask will be joining us? While you don't need approval for who you hire, you will need to inform the Hogwarts staff so we'll all know they're authorized to be in the building," said McGonagall. She spoke to Harry but looked down at the baby smiling.
"It's Hermione's parents, Dr. and Dr. Granger," responded Harry. McGonagall looked at him sharply.
"You intend to bring muggles to Hogwarts?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes, is that a problem?" asked Harry, sitting up straighter.
"It will cause a stir, for certain," said McGonagall, she started bouncing little Jameson.
"I don't care what other people say. They'll be spending most of their time with the children inside my new home, anyway," said Harry.
"You're letting the children leave Hogwarts without you?" asked McGonagall, surprised.
"No," Harry said more harshly than he intended. She gave him a stern look. He looked back apologetically. "I don't mean to be rude but that's not happening. I'm their father. I should be with them. I bought a travel trunk with a house inside. It's plenty of space for them and the babies. They'll only need to keep them while I'm studying and in class anyway."
McGonagall looked contemplative. "I suppose they must be excellent parents, considering how well Ms. Granger turned out." She looked at him closely. He blushed when McGonagall said Hermione's name. Was there a new romance on the way? This one she could at least understand.
"They are. They can teach me how to do it right," Harry said, determinedly.
McGonagall smiled at him. They chatted about what McGonagall knew of Harry's own babyhood for another hour or so before she released Harry to head back to the dorms.
Harry arrived back in his rooms to find them empty. He peeked his head inside each trunk and found Remus and Sirius exploring their own place. Sirius popped out first.
"Hey prongslet. How was detention?" asked Sirius, laughing at Harry. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I would think you'd know that quite well on your own by now," said Harry. He took a sack overflowing with galleons out of the bottom of the baby buggy. He handed it over to Sirius.
"For food or whatever else you two scallywags might need. Thanks for telling me you made me Lord Black, by the way," said Harry, giving the man a disgruntled look.
Sirius laughed loudly. "That was one of my better pranks," he said. "I never wanted to be Lord Black. You were always going to be Lord Potter. Fate supported me and gave you two sons. That was just a bonus," said Sirius, leering at Harry.
"Joke's on you. I'm Lord Gryffindor, Lord Slytherin by Conquest, and Lord Peverell, too," said Harry, waving his arm in a sarcastically grand manner.
Sirius' jaw dropped open. "How'd you manage all that?"
"The universe thinks my life is one big lark?" Harry suggested. Remus appeared in the room, exiting his own trunk. He had a huge smile on his face. The place was perfect. It was nicer than Remus had any right to expect and would free him from needing to work menial jobs in the hopes of keeping a roof over his head.
"Why is your life one big joke?" Remus asked, looking over the sleeping twins then turning to greet Harry.
"Because he somehow managed to find himself as Lord Gryffindor, Lord Slytherin by Conquest, and Lord Peverell? I doubt it happened because Harry's life's a joke, though. That's all Harry," Padfoot said, laughingly dodging Harry's punch to the arm.
Remus stared at Harry. He looked thoughtful after a moment. "I suppose I can understand the Lord Slytherin by Conquest. Voldemort, I'm presuming?" Remus asked. Harry nodded.
Remus responded with his own nod. "But the Lord Gryffindor and Peverell? How?"
"Apparently the Potters' were the Peverell's before they died out. The seat was never relinquished or disbarred, so it still exists. Mum's family is apparently a long lost squib line for the Gryffindor's. Or at least that's what Hardblow my account manager said the inheritance test revealed. I haven't had the chance to read the results yet. I've been a little busy being overwhelmed with becoming a sudden father," said Harry, sarcastically. Remus just shook his head.
"The things you learn about somebody," said Sirius, grinning.
The men helped Harry get the babies off to bed. Then, Harry headed off to sleep himself. It had been a long, exhausting 48 hours.