Ch. 60

28 February 1999

Sunday morning, while everyone was at the table, Sirius chimed in with, "I'd like all of you to be at lunch today. My two professors are going to come to lunch and then we're going to have our regular staff meeting."

Harry nodded. "Sure thing Sirius. Are you going to tell McGonagall that you two are getting married?" He asked.

"Yeah. At the staff meeting." he sighed. "We're going to have to convince her that we're not moving to the States, I think."

"True." Harry replied.

"I was wondering if we could get together this afternoon for the last interview for the book? I think I can start writing it in the next few weeks." Jaime asked.

"Yeah." Nev sighed. "I'm just glad you're almost done." He and Harry both laughed.

"Well, I have practice this morning so I best get out there." Harry smirked.

"Okay. I'll get Ted ready and see you after practice." Sirius smiled at his godson. Harry just laughed as he got up.

As everyone split up, Jaime looked at Hermione, "So, I want to throw you a baby shower over Spring Break. But I need to know what the theme of the babies' room is going to be." She said as they sat down.

"Disney. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy. That's what I want." she replied firmly.

"Have you talked to Harry about it?" She laughed at the bewildered look on Hermione's face.

"He told me it was my choice and he knows how much I like Disney."

"That he does." Jaime grinned as she turned to Sarah. "Are you going back to San Jose to finish up with the house over Break?"

"Yeah. Unless you and Sirius want to beat Harry to the altar." she said laughingly. "Then I can put it off until summer."

"That sounds like a brilliant idea." Hermione smiled.

"Can we put together a wedding in that amount of time?" Jaime seemed surprised.

"Molly can do it if you tell her now. She's already working on Luna's." Mione smiled, thinking of Bill and Fleur's wedding. "She's already done one wedding, during the war mind you. This will be easy." Mione's face brightened. "We can have anyone you want at the wedding staying in the houses at the Madhouse."

"Do you think your mum would hold any festivities mom wants at their place?" She asked Mione.

"Yes. She'd love it."

Jaime got up. "I'm gonna go talk to Sirius. See if he'll do this." She left for the pitch. When she got there, she found Sirius and Ted playing on the benches while it rained all around them. However, the high winds and drenching rain did not affect them.

"Hey love." Padfoot stood up to give her a kiss. He looked down at her hand. He loved seeing his ring on her finger, knowing that everyone knew that she was his forever. "What's up?"

She sat down next to him as she picked up Teddy. "Well, we were talking about our wedding. We were thinking, if you agreed, that we could get married over spring break and have Molly put it together. I don't want anything big and I don't have many non-maj friends, just one that I've told about being a witch and I haven't talked to her since I moved."

"If that's what you want love, that's fine with me." He sighed. "James was supposed to be my best man. Guess Harry will have to do."

Jaime grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry honey. I wish James could be here too. The way you describe him, I think I'd like him."

"You would have." He grinned. "He would have teased you mercilessly."

"And I would've teased him right back." she smiled. Eventually, before practice was over, they decided to tell Molly tomorrow evening and leave the plans up to her. They decided Sarah, Mark, Harry, Mione, Nev and Luna would be their bridal party. She'd use her mom's dress, like she always wanted. "I better call mom to see if they can come out." She rushed off to call her mom before lunch as Sirius went to greet his new professors.

HP

When everyone got down to the great hall, they noticed the rectangular Teachers' table had been replaced with a larger semi-circle to fit all the new teachers.

As the Heads were about to sit down, Minerva gestured them to come up where they were introduced to the new staff before they were allowed to return to their table.

"I'm not sure I'm going to ever be comfortable sitting up there." Harry murmured as they sat.

"I know what you mean." Nev laughed. "It's weird thinking of being an adult here at Hogwarts."

"You're already an adult." Luna commented.

"Yes but we're still in school." Harry returned as the girls chuckled.

HP

After lunch, all four headed to the staff room. Mione looked at her best friend. "I'm glad we brought these with us." She held up the notebooks she and Luna were carrying.

"I can't believe we almost walked out of the house without them." She sniggered. Hermione smiled and shook her head as they walked into the Staff Room. They plopped down, bottoms first, on the sofas.

"Harry may need to carry me home." Hermione joked. "I don't know if I can get up again."

"Halfway there, love." Harry murmured into her ear.

She smiled at that. "And from what Healer Axel said, twins come early."

"Hello, Hello." Sirius hollered as he led a procession of teachers into the lounge.

Mione just groaned good-naturedly. "Can you stop using Dad's phrases?" She asked as he sat down on another couch.

"No. It drives you nuts, so hell no." He laughed at her disgruntled expression. As everyone was seated, Sirius stood up, he looked down at his fiancee. "Jaime and I are getting married over Spring Break." He smiled at the stunned expression on Minnie's face.

"Am I losing you to the States?"She asked him.

"No. We may go visit there after the weddings this summer but we'll be back in time for school." he laughed joyously at her relieved expression.

"Minerva," Jaime put in. "I couldn't live back there if I wanted to. England is where I want to raise our family."

HP

Over the next few weeks, everyone was very busy. Jaime had talked to Molly and given her free reign to do what she wanted with the wedding. Needless to say, Molly was ecstatic. Jaime also had the dress sent over from California so Mitzy could alter it.

All three women had dress fittings every weekend with Mitzy. Sarah, Jaime, Emma and Luna started arranging a baby shower for Hermione. Meanwhile, Hermione began to study excessively for NEWTs early in March.

It was the day before the Alliance Dinner and everyone was at the madhouse when Hermione suggested at the dinner table, "I'm thinking of taking my NEWTs in May. That way I can concentrate on the babies and the wedding afterwards."

"That sounds like a good idea. You stress way too much about exams, so once you get it over, you'll calm down." Harry grimaced as he thought about OWLs in fifth year. Nev just laughed, remembering the same.

"That makes sense." Emma smiled. "That means less stress on you in June towards the end of your pregnancy."

"That's what I'm thinking." She smiled. "I have to talk to Minerva tomorrow then."

"What is Hermione like when exams come?" Dan asked, wondering if his daughter had changed any.

"Normal years, she gets uptight and is constantly studying." Harry laughed. "But it's not a regular year. Hermione during OWLs was another kettle of fish entirely. She started studying before Easter. She was normal "testing Hermione" then. However, closer to OWLs, she was a bloody nightmare. She got to about May and turned into Hurricane Hermione."

Nev picked it up then. "If you spoke to her while she was reading, even in the common room, you would experience wrath like you wouldn't believe. It usually started out civilly enough until she thought you'd taken up enough of her time, then she'd blow. In a deadly voice. With big words. The boys in our year, except for Harry, just stayed away."

"That's because I can usually calm Hurricane Hermione." He grinned as he kissed her cheek. At the look of irritation she gave Harry, everyone at the table laughed. "I love you Mione." He whispered as he helped her up.

"She hasn't changed much, then. She was the same way at primary school." Dan grinned

"So, what's the movie tonight? And don't say Jedi, Nev."Harry asked as Nev laughed.

"Have you guys seen Pocahontas?" Sarah asked.

"Not lately but it sounds good." Mione replied.

"Yeah that does." Luna seconded as they went to the game room.

About halfway through the movie, Nev looked at Harry, a grin on his face. Hermione was asleep on his lap. "Looks like you'll have to take her down to bed, Harry."

Harry looked down, then back at Nev. "Yeah." He grinned back.

HP

The next morning, Hermione was up with the sun and in the library studying. Harry and Teddy came up to see her before they went down to cook. "Hey love. Thought you'd be up here. How're you doing?" He and Teddy each gave her kisses.

"I'm fine. I need to study though, can you leave me alone?" She looked up at her fiance pleadingly.

"Okay. We'll call you for breakfast." Harry smiled as Teddy tried to reach out to his Aunt. She ruffled his hair and went back to work. As they got downstairs, Harry let Teddy play on the floor.

Soon, Penny came down and sat on the floor to try to get Teddy to walk to her. She was determined he'd walk before he turned one. "Come here Teddy. I found your Padfoot. Come and get it." She said as she waved the toy dog that looked like her uncle at him. She knew that it was his favorite toy right now. He squealed in delight and began cruising for it. She had been very smart in where she placed herself. He could cruise most of the way but he'd either have to walk or crawl quite a ways to get it.

As he came to the point where he had to choose whether to walk or crawl, Penny and Harry held their breaths. Teddy let go of the island and stepped out, putting his arms out to help him balance, he took his first five steps as he grabbed Penny by the hair to help him stabalise. "Och!" She yelled as she laughed at her little brother. She then took him in a hug. "You did it! You walked!"

Harry ran around the island to look at his godson. "You did it little man."

"Oh my!" Harry heard from the door. It was Dora, looking as stunned as an ox. "You walked little one." she grinned as she walked up to him and took him from Harry as she hugged him. "You did it. Wow!" Teddy just giggled and slapped Dora on the cheek with both hands, just like she constantly did with him. "Muma" he grinned as she laughed. "You are a smart kid. Your daddy was smart too. Just like you." she twirled him around. Then she gave him a big kiss. "MMMMwwwaa." she said as he said "Don" and pointed to the floor. Dora laughed as she put him down.

"You're in trouble now Dora." Emma chuckled from the doorway. "Hermione found her legs and the first thing she tried to crawl was the bookcase." At that Harry nearly dropped the eggs he was levitating to the table.

"That is so my Hermione." He couldn't help but laugh.

"What's me?" Mione asked as she came into the kitchen.

"Your mum was telling us that you liked to climb the bookshelves." Dora giggled.

Mione rolled her eyes. "I take it Teddy walked? She only tells that story on certain occasions. One is a new kid walking."

"Yep! He walked over to me." Penny smiled proudly.

"Well, you told us he'd walk before his birthday. I guess you were right." Penny just smiled smugly as they sat down to eat. Hermione looked at Jaime. "Since you're the head of our department now," she laughed at the uncomfortable look on Sirius' face. "I was thinking of coming up with weekend trips for some of our other years. Maybe the pyramids in Egypt, Greece, and Machu Picchu. If this were a muggle school, there would be no way but floo-travel won't be as expensive as air travel. It's not fair we only do British trips."

Jaime nodded. "Yeah. Sounds like something we could start next year. Why don't you write a list of places you'd like to go?"

Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled a folded piece of paper out. "Here you go." she said as she handed the paper over nonchalantly as everyone else at the table burst out laughing.

Harry leaned over and kissed her head. "Never change, my love." she reached up and softly kissed him on the mouth.

"I won't." she grinned at him.

HP

As everyone was on the patio, waiting for Alliance members to arrive, Sirius smiled. "The men in the family decided that next Sunday we are going to take you ladies to Rent and dinner."

All four of the ladies smiled. "That sounds like fun." Luna giggled as she looked at her tummy. "But we'll have to go shopping or have Mitzy refit a dress we already have."

At that, Mione groaned. "I am not shopping, so Mitzy will have to alter one of mine." Then she thought for a minute. "Are mum and Dad going?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I hope Dad tells her tonight. She's going to be mad if she has to shop next weekend." Mione giggled. Her mum did NOT like surprises.

"Master Dogfather, Mr. Weasley has arrived." Dobby led Bill and Fleur out.

"Thanks Dobby." He smiled at the elf who had insisted on answering the floo and door lately. The men got up to greet them.

Fleur sat down in between Mione and Luna. "So, how is school going, now that you aren't teaching, Mione?"

Mione smiled. "It's a lot more relaxing. I can just study. I pick up Penny from school now and am probably going to take my NEWTs early."

"Are you now, my dear?" Came Minerva's scottish brogue.

Hermione turned and smiled at her favorite teacher. "I was hoping to ask you tonight. Is it possible to take the NEWTs in early May?"

Minerva smiled. "Let me talk to the Testing Board to see. I'll look into it on Monday."

"Thank you Ma'am." Harry said as he sat next to his fiancee. "That will calm her down some."

Minerva laughed as she went to get food.

After dinner, everyone sat around comfortably eating peach cobbler or treacle tart when King got up. "I'd like to bring something to this group's attention. As a Senior Auror, I noticed a bias in how we treat magical species. As Minister I am thinking about how to go about mending our relationships with them." Looking at Hermione, he asked, "Does anyone have any valid suggestions as to how to go about doing it?"

"Accio Hermione's computer." Four voices said nearly in unison as everyone else laughed and the computer sailed out to its owner.

"I have a few files on here that should help." Hermione said as she opened the documents. "I have the laws regarding each species in here, which ones to revoke outright, like most of the werewolf laws, or those which need to be amended. I have a listing of each species and how we've screwed them over and how to fix it. For instance, we shouldn't be charging the merpeople rent on where they live, it's the only place they can live. Or regulating the price of Wolfsbane so everyone can afford it."

"What about the no wand law for goblins?" Hannah Abbott asked. "Or letting them into Hogwarts?"

Everyone started chuckling as all the girls started adding ideas. At about the five minute mark, Luna took the computer and began taking notes.

"What about muggleborns? Can we deal with some of those laws?" Katie Bell asked.

Sirius looked at Kingsley, who was now sitting next to him. "You know, you've just given the Ministry's stamp to these ideas, yeah?"

Kingsley laughed. "I know. I need to fire the whole magical species department. The changes we made last fall just didn't go far enough. I need a new head of the department."

"Why not ask Kettleburn to come out of retirement for a few years. He was a good teacher, knowledgeable." Bill suggested.

"That's not a bad idea." Kings nodded.

"You could give the kids' list to him and see if he wants to help." Sirius said.

"Yeah."