Ch. 56
When Sirius woke up the next morning, he reached out for Jaime and found her curled up on his chest. As he looked down at the fiery hair spread across him, he thought for the millionth time, "Damn! How did I get so lucky?"
"How are you doing hon?" She asked sleepily as she moved her naked body against him and looked into his eyes. What she saw there was not surprising in the least. She saw happiness, plus love mixed with a dash of lust as he pushed her on her back and hovered over her to grin as he kissed her deeply.
A while later, as they lay sated next to one another, she smiled sweetly at him. "I love you Sirius." she breathed softly.
"As I love you darling." He smiled at her, thinking of finally making this witch his in every way. When was he going to propose? He knew, like Hermione and Luna, she really didn't like Valentine's Day, so she wouldn't like it done then.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" She asked.
"Trying to figure out when I can take you on another date." he grinned mischievously.
"I don't like that grin." She stated warily. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing." He zipped his lips shut.
HP
By the time they made it out of a mutual shower and had gotten downstairs, most of the family was at the table for breakfast.
"And what took you two so long to get down here?" Dan asked with a teasing tone.
"If you can't guess, you and Em aren't doing something right." Sirius tossed back with a huge grin added to the mix.
"I don't need to hear this!" Hermione groaned as she put her hands over her ears and started humming loudly.
"Oh, we're doing something right." Emma confirmed as she grinned at her daughter's embarrassment.
A few seconds later, as Harry started putting dishes on the table, he kissed his fiancee and pulled her hands away from her ears. "I think they're done, love."
She looked up as she took her hands away from her ears. She glared around the table. "Are you all done now?" She asked, looking at her dad and Uncle.
"I think so." Sirius grinned at Dan, who just nodded, as they both laughed.
HP
That afternoon, the Weasleys not at school, Augusta, Xeno, Andi, Ted, Emma, Dan and Kingsley arrived for dinner. While the boys were up in the game room, the women were in the newly enclosed patio.
"So, Hermone how are you doing today?" Andi asked, nodding to her belly.
"Tired, very tired. I'm looking forward to giving up teaching for a while because that means more time for studying NEWTs. I love teaching but everything accumulating on my shoulders is difficult." She sighed as she gave a weary smile.
"I know the few times I've seen you at Hogwarts, you've seemed stressed." Andi smiled. "Are we still on for the trip to the Tower next month?"
She smiled at the look of excitement on Andi's face. "Yep. That's the end of my teaching." She took a sip of tea. "Are you ready for your class to start next term?"
Andi grinned at Emma and said, "Yep and I think I might have two muggle co-teachers."
"Really? Who?"
"Us, dear." Emma smiled at the stunned look on her daughter's face.
"What about your practice?" she asked incredulously. That practice was their life's work and she knew it was important to them.
"We're going to close that down and take up teaching Biology and Maths at Hogwarts. Plus we'll be helping Andi out. We've done very well being dentists but decided it was time for a change in our lives."
Hermione was quiet as she assimilated this information. "When did this happen?" she finally asked.
"Minerva asked us in early December when we were there. We didn't give her an answer until this week though. Honestly, we weren't sure we wanted to get further into your world or invade your space but Minerva really needs someone who knows how education in our world works." She smiled.
"Are you going to move there?"Hermione asked hesitantly.
Emma laughed. "No, love. We like living as muggles. We'll be hooking our floo up to Hogwarts and going home every day. Don't worry. You won't have us underfoot any more than usual."
"Well, you'll get to see the twins a lot then." Hermione grinned as she relaxed. It wasn't that she didn't love her parents, it was that Hogwarts was her thing. Yes her parents had gotten used to magic over the last several months, but she enjoyed her independent life at Hogwarts.
"Yep. That's another reason we decided on this." she grinned.
HP
That evening as Sirius and Jaime were getting ready for bed, Sirius got a goofy look on his face. "What's up, hon?" she asked him nervously as she got into bed.
"Nothing much." He held her close to him. "Just enjoying having everyone I care about around me. The last time I felt this content was when I moved in with James' family. I guess I feel more settled now and it's nice."
"I guess you've lived for so long with everything up in the air that you feeling settled would make sense." Then she grinned. "Just wait until Mione and Luna give birth and Penny comes to live here. Life will get complicated again."
"You think Penny's going to move in? With the babies coming?"
"Twenty galleons says she's living here permanently by the time school starts next year." She grinned as she began to think of ways to 'encourage' Mione and Harry to make that happen.
"You're on. I say next Yule." He grinned at Jaime.
Wednesday 3 February 1999
After classes were over on Wednesday, like nearly every week, Dora, Jaime and Sarah congregated in the game room for a little relaxation. As they sat down for a spot of tea, Dora grinned. "It'll be interesting to see how Em and Dan fit into the staff here. You guys didn't grow up here. The idea of muggles teaching classes at Hogwarts when I was going here would have just garnered snorts of laughter. The idea of muggle classes would just be unheard of."
"I've been talking to Filius and he's all for it." Sarah said.
"He would be." Dora snorted. "He's always up for new ideas."
"I understand that this is what the staff meeting is about tonight. What's going to happen next year." Jaime added.
"You know Mark's been interviewing candidates for teaching Transfiguration, yeah?" at Sarah's comment, she got nods. "I think it's interesting that Minerva hasn't really weighed in on the topic. She's been in the interviews but apparently hasn't tried to tell Mark who to pick."
"That's Minerva." Dora replied. "She would never hand over the department to someone she didn't trust. And she wouldn't want to step on Mark's toes regarding who he works with."
"Shoot! I hear Jordan." Sarah got up to get her daughter from her afternoon nap.
Jaime cocked her head as though listening for something. "Waaaaait for iiiit. Waaaaait for iiiit." she extended the pronunciation until they heard another cry. She grinned. "Aaaand there goes Teddy." she laughed as they heard Teddy scream.
"I swear it's like they know when the other wakes up even though they can't hear each other." Dora sighed as she got up.
A few minutes later both mums had their kids toddling around the room playing with their toys. Dora smiled as she and Sarah helped the kids sort toys.
Jaime sighed as she looked wistfully at the babies. "They're almost cute enough to want to stop using the Contraceptive Charm."
The mothers just laughed.
Friday 5 February 1999
Jaime walked into Sirius' classroom after classes were over on Friday. The family was going home for the weekend except for Harry and Hermione because he had practice for the Slytherin game the next day.
"So, you ready to go pick up Penny from LAR?" She asked as she sat on his lap as he pecked her on the lips.
"In a moment, love." He rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. "I swear I was never this deliberately annoying to my professors as a first year." He groaned.
"According to Minerva you were." She laughed at the annoyed look on his face. "According to her, you and James were absolute terrors. This is just karma, hon."
He sighed as he let himself relax with the love of his life. "I'm just glad I'm not teaching the Weasley twins. Rem told me some interesting stories about them."
"Just wait until our kids get here." Jaime grinned as she thought of little boys with ebony hair and grey eyes.
"You want kids, love?" He asked, hope clearly in his eyes and voice.
"I wouldn't mind one or two." she grinned as he kissed her enthusiastically. "I seem to really miss Pen and Alex when we don't have them."
"Speaking of them, we ought to go pick them up."
"Soon"
Eventually, everyone was laying around the game room. Harry looked up from his shot and said. "So, you're going to make sure Penster is at the game tomorrow?"
Sirius grinned. "Of course I am. You're going to make sure you win, yeah?"
"Of course." He grinned right back.
Mione just shook her head. "Just don't die while doing it." She groused.
The family just laughed at Hermione's obvious nerves. "We ought to leave Jaime." Sirius grinned.
"Sure." she looked back at Harry and Hermione. "Have fun here all alone tonight." She winked as she put her hand in Sirius'.
HP
When Sirius and Jaime got to the Madhouse with Penny, the rest of the family was already there. Penny was delivered to her new room on Sirius' shoulders.
"Let me down Padfoot!" She screamed almost directly in his ear as she tried to get off.
"Wait! Wait!" He laughed. " Calm down so I can get you off without killing either one of us." When she calmed down, he helped her off his shoulders. "Do you like your new room?" He asked when she stood there like a statue.
"It's ever so lovely." She smiled up at him. "It looks like a princess lives here." She whispered as she looked at the mahogany four poster with royal purple bedding. All the furniture was done in the Queen Anne style. The desk, bookcases, bed, bedside tables and drawers were all reminiscent of that era.
"I happen to think a princess does live here." He grinned down at her and her content expression. He then resized her overnight bag "Do you want some help unpacking?"
"Yes please." She nodded as she began taking clothes out of the bag and handing them to him.
He had never really had any experience with kids this age , so he let her tell him what to do for the most part. He noticed how orderly and neat her suitcase was as she carefully handed things to him.
"You know, we might want to buy you a wardrobe to keep here since you're spending so much time with us." He smiled as he turned back to her from putting clothes away. He nearly fell over as she bowled into his legs with a screech louder than he'd ever heard. He started laughing as he finally fell on his butt. "You're a strong little bugger aren't you?"
He laughed as she sat on him and wrapped him in a tight hug. "That would be lovely." She grinned at him as they got back up.
HP
After they got done unpacking, they headed up to the game room. "How did you like the room?" Sarah asked after everyone's greeting.
"I love it." She smiled up at Sirius as she went to the kids bookshelf that had been added. She then sat down in a bean bag and began making up a story.
Later that night, as they were getting ready for bed, Sirius offered. "I think I could raise a little girl."
"Oh you do, do you?" she teased.
"Penny's such a sweet kid, I can see raising one like her."
"Yeah but this kid will be related to you." They both grinned. "Sweet is not a word I'd use to describe you." She chuckled.
Saturday 6 February 1999 Hogwarts
Hermione woke up the next morning with Harry's side of the bed cold. Looking around she saw it was after seven. "Okay little ones, can you make it easy on Mummy today?" She asked as she rubbed her growing belly as she tried to get up. "Merlin! I can't get up. You guys are just too big." She smiled as she tried again, using her bedside table to help lever herself up.
Mitzy popped in then. "Mistress, breakfast is ready whenever you are."
Hermione smiled. "Great Mitzy. Will you eat with me? Harry seems to have left already."
"Yes Mistress. Master Harry left a couple hours ago." She smiled as Hermione moved around her room getting ready.
"I'll be out soon." Mione smiled as Mitzy popped out. And she kept her word as it was only a few minutes before she came down in her chair. She knew she would be going up stairs this morning to the Quidditch stands, so she knew she'd need her chair.
"Is everything okay Mistress? You look nervous." Mitzy asked as they ate.
Mione chuckled. "I'm always nervous on game day. Harry has a tendency to believe the laws of physics don't apply to him when he's on a broom. I swear he spends more time in Hospital because of that game than anyone I've ever seen." She sighed. "It's always hard watching one of his games."
"Oh, he'll be fine! He's James' kid." Sirius grinned as he came in from the floo room.
"Pads, if you think that, you haven't actually watched him play. He stands on his broom and swallows the snitch, gets hit with bludgers, and gets attacked by Dementors. If that is fine, then your definition of fine is off."
"She's right, hon." Jaime came in carrying Penny on her shoulders. "Harry has his issues when he's playing."
"Ahhh. Harry will be fine. You women are worrying too much." He laughed at the dirty looks they gave him. "Aren't they Penny?" He asked as she got off of Jaime.
"I don't know. He's scary on a broom." She shook her head as she kissed the twins good morning.
"Well, we best get out there to get seats." Luna grinned. As she looked at Mione, "You can grab onto me if you need to." A roll of thunder and a quick flash of lightning sounded as she said this.
"Great. I didn't even think of the weather causing a problem." Hermione groaned as they left the Playhouse. "So how many new games have you created for the game boy and when are they coming out?" She asked Luna as they walked together.
"The game boys will be out for summer and the first 3 games will be out then too. Dean and I are working on a murder mystery too." She smiled. "I was thinking maybe you and I could work on magicking a microwave."
"No electronics at all? Purely magic-based?" Hermione responded.
"Yeah. Dean and I've been talking a lot about what he misses about his muggle upbringing. He pointed out that some people aren't good with simple warming or heating charms, so a microwave built with warming charms and such would be good."
"Should we offer him a job as a developer?" Hermione asked as they started outdoors. She put up an anti-rain ward around the family as they left.
"I think so." Luna smiled as Hermione slowed her pace so Luna wouldn't slip. She wasn't in a bloody chair yet! "I think he's smart and creative."
"Good. Let's talk to Fleur. I also have an idea for programming for the telly that I think would help." Hermione offered as they went up the stairs to get a better view of the game.
"Can I sit on your lap?" Penny asked the chestnut-haired girl.
"Sure. You won't be able to soon, so you might as well now." Hermione grinned down at her protruding belly. Penny just laughed as she climbed on.
"I can't wait until they come." Penny patted her tummy.
"Me either." Hermione agreed as the game started. No one could see much because of the rain coming down. It seemed to her that each team was using shorter passes because the wind was ripping the quaffle right out of their hands. She noticed that Harry spent most of his time closer to the ground than usual.
"So, what were you thinking of for telly programming?" Luna asked loudly, above the driving rain, about an hour into the game. Gryffindor was winning but only by a goal. Hermione stood up quickly as Harry began going after the snitch.
"Slow down. You're going to kill yourself." Hermione screamed. Then everything happened at once. Harry began a steep climb as he chased the snitch. Just as he was about to level off at what Hermione guessed was 25-30 meters above ground, a bolt of lightning hit his broom. The broom bucked and hit him in the head as he fell off it.
Hermione's mind went blank. She knew there was a spell to slow him down but couldn't remember it. "Bloody hell!" She yelled at Luna as she threw Penny off her lap and zoomed as fast as she could in her chair to try to catch him.
"Mione!" Everyone in the family screamed. Just as Harry was about to hit the ground, a loud male voice yelled "Arresto momentum!" Harry slowed but didn't stop. As he landed right in front of Hermione, she heard several bones break.
"MADAM POMFREY!" she screamed as the nurse came running out, slipping and sliding all the way. "Is he alive?" Hermione asked as she tried to find a pulse the muggle way. "I can't find a pulse. I can't find a pulse." she screamed as Pomfrey arrived, wand out already scanning.
"He's alive. He'll be okay if we get him inside." she told Hermione, the team and the family, who were all now standing there in shock. She conjured a stretcher, put him on it and started her way into the school.
Ron, who was right next to him, whispered, "He still caught it." as everyone looked to his right hand where the snitch was clutched.
"Is that all you can think of, you immature ape?" Hermione screamed as all her rage had a target. "How dare you Ronald? He is going to be a father and you're worried about a bloody game? He could have died before they were even born, you moronic baboon!" She started hitting him as they came into the castle.
Neville turned her around forcefully and brought her into a hug. "He'll be fine, Mione. He'll be fine. It's Harry. He's survived worse." Everyone else left to follow him to Hospital while Neville stood there and let Hermione cry.
Soon, she stood away from Nev and looked at him. "Sorry about that." She mumbled as she turned towards the stairs.
"No problem Mione." He grinned at her as they took the stairs quickly. They got to Hospital faster than he'd ever done before. As Hermione burst into the room, she noticed that only the family and Penny were near Harry as Pomfrey was working on him.
It took another hour before Poppy looked up at the surrounding family. "I've reset three ribs and will have to regrow the tibia and the femur bones in his left leg and the femur in his right leg. He'll remain unconscious until the regrowing is done tomorrow morning. I need Hermione and Sirius back here tomorrow morning to assess a concussion." Then she looked sternly at his godfather and fiancee. "Now I need you all gone while he recovers."
"I'm not leaving." Hermione stated stubbornly.
"Me neither." Sirius crossed his arms. "I've left him alone enough in his life."
She sighed indignantly. "Fine. You can stay until dinner. Then you will leave for the night." She replied emphatically.
"Fine." Hermione agreed as she took Harry's hand in hers.
Sirius heard Jaime as everyone filed out. "Penny, Padfoot will be there to read to you tonight. He just needs to assure himself Harry will be alright."
"Is he going to be okay?" Penny asked in a small voice.
"Of course he is, love." Dan confirmed as he picked Penny up and carried her back to the Playhouse.
HP
As the family headed out, Hermione and Sirius sat on opposite sides of Harry as they thought about the day. "There is no way he's playing again." she muttered to herself. "The kids need him-alive."
Sirius barked a laugh. "If you think you can stop him from playing, you're not as smart as I thought you were." He sighed. "James was the same way. He was such an amazing flier because he never believed he'd get hurt. Of course he landed in here at least once a year due to flying. Even when we graduated and played pick up games at the cottage, Lily would worry like crazy. By then he was only playing for fun, so he was much more careful."
"How did Lily deal with it?"
"She learned healing spells quickly after we graduated." He laughed. "If he was going to play, she was going to have to heal him, she told us."
Hermione laughed. "Seems like I'll take a page out of her notebook."
They lapsed into silence as each worried about Harry. Hermione couldn't help but worry about a concussion. She had heard all sorts of stories about people not being the same after a head trauma like that and it frightened her to no end.
Sirius, on the other hand, was more worried about whether Harry would forgive him for not getting there faster. He kept thinking Lily would kill him for this.