A/N I'm off school so I will start posting again. I only have until Ch. 65 written and I'm coming to the end of the story I mapped out. Hopefully I'll be done with this story by the end of the summer. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read and review this story. It is my first writing project since I was a teen. Your reviews help keep me writing.

Ch. 59

Friday 19 February 1999

When Hermione woke, like most mornings, she used the bedside table to get upright."C'mon guys. Can't you make getting up a little easier?" she asked the twins. "This is getting awfully difficult." She muttered as she finally got into a sitting position. "I don't even want to think of what 25 weeks is like."

That afternoon, her last class of the day was with her third years. As she sat in her chair waiting for students, she was ruminating on the fact that she wouldn't be back to teach until September. It was a weird feeling because in actuality she'd only been teaching a little less than six months. Yet, she'd miss her kids.

"Hey Professor Granger." a student named Rose came into the class.

"Hey Rose." She smiled. "Ready to learn from Professor Richardson next week?"

"If we have to." She sighed. "We're going to miss you."

"Well, I'll still be here, so if you need help you can come see me." She smiled.

"Really?" Olivia asked.

"We'll talk about it in a minute." she smiled as the rest of the class came in. "Welcome, everybody to your last class with me." She began as the class settled. "Now, you all know that I'm going on maternity leave today. You will be taking a test today, so you should have been studying for it. As you know, I will be living here at Hogwarts for the rest of the term, even though I am not your teacher. If any of you need help in that time, you can always come to see me in our flat, yeah?"

At their assent, she finished out her last class. When she had let the class go a few minutes early, a couple of kids stayed behind. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"We just wanted to say thanks and we hope you're back next year." A young man said.

"Well, you're welcome and I will be here next year." she smiled. "Remember, I'm still in the castle if you need me." she returned as they waved and left.

She cleaned up her room and left it for next year. She then went back to the Playhouse, a little sadder than any other time.

HP

When she got back to the Playhouse, she found Penny playing with Teddy and Jordan in the game room with both mum's tooking on. "Hey Penny. I didn't know you got off early today."

"Teacher workday." Dora supplied.

Mione nodded. "So, you ready to go to the Tower tomorrow?" she asked Penny.

Penny grinned up at her. "I can't wait. After the books we've read, it sounds like it will be fun."

"Have you been reading history books to my niece?" Sirius accused as he came in.

"Yes I have. And you know that Pads." Hermione laughed as Penny ran up and gave him a hug. "Do you have the portkeys?" she asked Jaime, who was right behind him.

"Yeah." She pulled one out of her purse. "They each take 11 people. This was a lot more complicated to arrange. We have tickets for a standard Beefeater tour."

"We'll be eating in the Hall at 8 yeah?" Emma asked.

HP

The next morning, the family got up early and was down in the Great Hall for breakfast with the students and extra chaperones. Because they had done this before, the students were reminded of behaviour they needed to adhere to but not given a lecture. Then they walked to the castle gates to use the portkeys.

When they arrived in the private apparition area, the students were assigned a chaperone and Jaime went off to find the guide. When she came back, everyone was ready for the visit.

It amazed Jaime how many of these 12 year olds were asking insightful questions. When they got up to the Bloody Tower, the story of the Princes in the tower got all the kids fascinated.

While this was Hermione's favorite place, by the time they got to the Bloody Tower, she was exhausted. Not to mention, she was not going to be able to manoeuvre her chair up the narrow stairs; she decided to sit outside the tower.

"I'm going to sit down here too." Luna smiled at her friend.

Hermione smiled at her best friend. "Tired?"

Luna just smiled as her head fell back on the wall. "Yeah but it's been fun so far."

"Yeah. Penny seems to be loving it." Hermione smiled. Penny had decided that Sirius was to carry her up the stairs and he couldn't say no to those pleading brown eyes.

"Yeah. It's amazing the power she has over the men in the family." They both chuckled. As they sat there, they started chatting about inconsequential things.

Eventually, they came to Tower Green. The yeoman warder asked the group. "Can somebody tell me a person they think was killed in the tower?"

Penny bounced up and down on Sirius' shoulders. She raised her hand in a very Hermione-like way but unlike Hermione she hadn't exactly learned to be called on yet and shouted."Anne Bolyne, Queen Elizabeth I mum. Catherine Howard, George Bolyne, Mark Smeaton, Lady Jane Gr-" she stopped as Sirius puts his hand over her mouth as everyone in the party including the beefeater started to laugh as she tried to bite Sirius.

"You're right, young one." The Warder agreed as he stopped laughing. "Where did you learn all that?"

"My mum and aunts are history teachers." She pointed to Hermione, Sarah and Jaime. They bowed their heads as they went red. "Mummy reads me a little at night and it's usually a history book."

"Oh. I see." He thought for a moment, then asked. "You can't possibly know this. How are the princes in the tower related to Henry VIII?"

Still sitting on Sirius' shoulders, she put her left index finger on her lips, rolled her eyes up and bit her lip. "Hmmm. His mum was their sister so he was their-nephew, yeah?"

"Wow. Maybe you should be leading this." He smiled at her.

She shrugged. "I can if you want." She said which made everyone laugh again. It amazed both Harry and Hermione how the shy and reserved little girl who was so afraid of her own shadow was now this bubbly, ever effervescent child. They watched her proudly as she entertained everyone, including the adults.

Soon the tour was over and the class ended up back at the castle around three. The elves had sandwiches made for a late lunch for them.

By the time the family had walked into the playhouse, Penny was asleep on Harry's shoulder. He went directly to put her to bed.

When he came down to the game room, everyone was nearly asleep on couches, chairs or the floor. "So, that went well." He said as he sat next to Mione.

Sirius laughed. "Yeah. Except for Penny trying to take over. Did anyone get that on film?"

"Yup." Mark grinned. "Got it all on film. We can show it at her wedding." The men just laughed, knowing it was blackmail for when she got older.

Mione looked at Jaime and Sarah. "I think we did a good job teaching her." The three giggled.

Tuesday 23 February 1999

Tuesday evening Harry and Hermione ran into their first parenting bump. Penny came home from school very down. When Harry came into the playhouse that afternoon, Penny ran up to him and grabbed his leg tightly. Harry knew something was wrong. "Hey sweetheart. Can I put my bag down?" He asked as she moved away from him. He dumped it in the entryway and bent down to pick her up. "What's wrong?" he asked when she looked at him.

"You know my friend Kate?" She asked as he nodded. He'd heard all about this girl although he hadn't met her. "She's getting teased by some older boys."

As they came into the game room and sat down, he asked, "Would you like me to talk to Venus about it?" He asked, not sure how to respond.

She nodded. "Please Harry."

"What's the name of the person teasing her?"

"Michael. He's 5."

"What is he saying to her?" He asked. Penny then filled him in, in her roundabout way, on everything he'd done. Eventually, after he'd been filled in with great detail, he decided to go see Venus. He got up and looked at his watch. "Well, I'd better go see Venus now before she leaves her office."

"Thank you Harry." Penny thanked him somberly.

"No problem kiddo." he smiled down at her before he left.

HP

When he got home later that evening, he went to wake Hermione up for dinner. "Sweetheart, wake up. Time to eat." he whispered in her ear.

"In a while" Mione mumbled. He kissed her, thinking that might wake her "M tir'd leave m' alone."

"Come on luv. The babies need to eat." He sighed. He wanted his Hermione back-the one that got up early and had energy and never took naps. "I talked to Venus about the boy teasing Kate."

"Hmmmm?"

"She said she's going to look into it. Hopefully, it'll get taken care of. She seemed genuinely surprised and really concerned."

"I s'pose that's good." Hermione muttered as she opened her eyes. "You're not going to let me sleep, are you?" She looked, exasperation at him clear on her face.

"No." He grinned at her as he helped her up.

HP

The next morning, as Teddy and Harry were making breakfast, Sirius came down a little earlier than usual. Sitting at the island, he looked at Harry very seriously.

"What's wrong Pads?" Harry asked.

Sirius sighed as he looked at his hands. "I'm taking Jaime to the place we had our first date on Saturday." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to propose."

"That's great!" Harry exclaimed. "I was wondering when you'd do it." He smiled and reached out to pat his Godfather on the back as Sirius let out his breath. Harry took another look at Sirius. "Were you afraid I'd object?" He asked, as he looked at how pale Sirius was. Sirius nodded as Harry laughed. "Don't worry about me. If it's right for you, it's what I want."

"Thanks Harry." Sirius smiled more openly.

Saturday 27 February 1999

Sirius woke up with a foreboding feeling in his stomach. He was taking the plunge. What the devil's snare was he doing? He'd never been a family man-except for this past year. Sure, he'd spoiled Harry as a baby but he did more work in taking care of Teddy than he ever did with Harry. Now he was going to add a wife to this mix? He looked down and saw Jaime sleeping peacefully. She was so amazing. A brilliant teacher, a gorgeous woman inside and out, an amazing aunt and friend, and unbelievably kind. What did he do to deserve her? He kept asking himself.

As he gathered her closer to him, she sighed and buried her head into his neck.

"Come on love. It's time for breakfast." He chuckled as she pushed closer.

HP

Later in the afternoon, as Harry and Sirius were coming in from the pitch dirty and wet but grinning, McGonagall stopped them in the entry hall. "Professor Black, you do remember that your new professors will be here tomorrow at lunch, yes?"

"Yes Minny. I'll meet you in your office at 11.45 so we can meet them together, is that alright?"

She rolled her eyes at the use of his nickname but let it pass. "That shall do." She agreed as she turned swiftly and left.

As the men came to the playhouse, they were laughing about something that no one else was privy to. As they came in, they took off their shoes and were about to go to the game room when Jaime came out and scrunched her nose in disapproval at the mud splattered all over them. "You better go get changed before Hermione sees you, especially if you plan on sitting for lunch."

Sirius came towards her, his arms out in a hug-me gesture. She shook her head." No hug until you don't stink." She said as they heard Hermione laugh from the kitchen.

"That goes double for you Harry." Hermione yelled as they hung their head in defeat and started up the stairs.

"Guess neither wants a filthy boyfriend." Sirius laughed as they parted for their rooms.

HP

In the early evening, Sirius came down after getting ready for his date with Jaime. "Hey Sirius, you ready for tonight?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. I think so." He grinned at his Godson. "I'm definitely ready for this to be over. I just want to know her answer."

Harry just grinned as Jaime came down the stairs in jeans and a sweater with scarf and cap. Harry thought she looked nice but from looking at his Godfather you'd think she was some supermodel. Then he chuckled because he knew he had the same look whenever Mione was around. "See you guys later." He said as he went into the game room.

HP

As Sirius and Jaime left, they talked about very mundane things such as what new things the babies were doing, how Hermione was dealing with maternity leave and some of their students,

When they got to the restaurant, Jaime reached up and kissed him. "I love this place." She smiled as they made their way to the beach they'd visited on their first date.

"I know. I thought you'd like it." He smiled nervously.

What is going on with Sirius? She asked herself. He is never this nervous. Did I do something wrong? Is he breaking up with me and just wants to do it nicely? Kept flitting through her mind.

After the main meal, she looked at him seriously and took his hands. "Why are you so nervous, hon? Did I do something? You've been bouncing around subjects like a ping pong ball."

At that Sirius stood and bent down on one knee. "The reason I'm more hyper than usual is I have a question for you. I know we've only known each other for six months and dated less than that. But after Azkaban I promised myself that I would live life to the fullest, I wouldn't hesitate. That's why I bought the Madhouse. That's why I took this teaching job. I saw you and knew immediately you were special. Well, now I'm asking you if you'll take me for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me, Jaime Richardson?"

He had been talking to her hand, so the first thing he was aware of was when he was laying on his back being peppered with kisses as she nearly yelled in his ear. "Of course I will Sirius. Yes, yes a million times yes!" She said as she laughed. "Were you nervous I'd say no?" She asked incredulously as she got off him and sat down. At his nod, she just laughed. "Silly man. Of course I'd say yes you numbskull." She said as he placed a medium sized sapphire ring on her finger. "Oh gosh. It's beautiful." She looked up into his beautiful grey eyes and just smiled. She put her hand on his cheek. "I love it and I love you Sirius."

He put his hand on hers and sighed happily. "I love you too darling." He kissed her tenderly as they stared at each other.