A/N Sorry it's been so long. I've had a bit of depression this summer and while I've been writing, it hasn't been an awful lot. I have a few chapters written and I hope to post them in the next few weeks. Thanks
Ch. 61
Wednesday 17 March 1999
After transfiguration that day, Minerva asked Hermione to stay. She smiled at the young woman. "I've talked to the Testing Authority and you have been allowed to take your NEWTs starting 1 May. Is that acceptable?"
Hermione smiled widely. "Yes Ma'am. That will work wonderfully as I have a feeling I'll be going on full bed rest after that."
Sunday 21 March 1999
That Sunday morning, everyone at the Madhouse was woken up to squealing. Hermione rushed, or tried to rush, which was really a fast waddle,to Penny's room.
Hermione grinned as she walked into Penny's room. There sitting next to her bed was the biggest stuffed griffin Harry could find.
They had talked about it and decided since she loved all the stuffed animals Dan and Emma had bought her, this was the perfect gift.
Harry grinned as Penny jumped into his arms. "Thank you Harry. Thank you. Thank you." She squealed as she punctuated her thanks with kisses to Harry's cheeks and lips.
Harry just laughed as he started downstairs. "Let's go down for breakfast, little love. I think Dobby made all your favorites." He kissed her cheek as they headed down.
"Scrambled eggs?" She asked hopefully. Harry just laughed as they all sat. "Eggy bread?"
And so went Penny's first birthday with the family-she was spoilt rotten.
Monday 22 March 1999
Harry had grown used to reaching out to Mione's belly in the middle of the night to feel the twins move. He had gotten in the habit of waking whenever his fiancee went to the loo, which was at least 4 times a night. Each time, for the last few months, she would get back into bed and he'd put his hand on her tummy and feel them move. This morning there was no moving and he panicked. He popped up in bed and looked at Mione. "Why aren't they moving?"
"Probably asleep." Mione muttered as she fell back to sleep.
Harry was worried though so he sat there with his hand on her belly until Teddy woke up and he had something else to think about. They did not move a centimetre. However, he couldn't stop truly thinking about it. The twins' health was always in the back of his mind. He had a lot of fear about this pregnancy. He lost his parents, almost lost his godfather, had seen both Cedric and Dumbledore die and after all that tragedy he was scared something would go wrong now. Would he lose another child? Would he lose Mione? These were all things running through his mind.
Finally, he sat down with one of Hermione's books and found out that sometimes, towards the end of the pregnancy, twins don't move very much. There is just not enough room for them to wiggle around. This gave him a little relief but he wanted Healer Axel's opinion.
Consequently, he was a little quieter that day than usual. It was while Nev and Harry were out at the greenhouses that Nev brought it up. "What's bothering you Harry? You're excessively quiet-even for you."
"I'm worried about the twins. I didn't feel them move this morning." Harry looked down at his feet. Even nearly a year after the war, and two without the Dursleys, he still didn't talk about his feelings well. He still found it easier to talk to his feet about his feelings than his friend's face.
Nev patted him on the back. "I know you're worried, so am I, but I'm sure they are fine. Talk it over with Healer Axel tomorrow." Then he muttered, more to himself than Harry, "Both our girls better make it."
23 March 1999
Next day, Harry woke up with a sense of anticipation. However, he noticed that Jaime and Sarah were not at breakfast that morning.
When he asked about it, Sirius just laughed. "They're with Molly doing the last minute plans for the wedding. You know, it is in less than two weeks."
"Nervous?" Nev asked.
Padfoot shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "If you'd asked me before Harry was born, I would have told you there was no way I'd stick myself with a ball and chain." He grinned at the boys. "But that changed after Azkaban and the war. And I love her, so it makes sense." Then he paused. "Besides, when have you ever known me to be nervous?" At that, they all grinned.
HP
That afternoon, Harry and Hermione met in the Infirmary. Mione leaned over and gave him a hug. "How were classes today?" She asked.
He sighed. "I think I snapped at only four or five students this afternoon." He tried to smile but it came off as a grimace.
"I know you're worried about the twins not moving but you'll have to apologize to those kids. You know that, yeah?"
"Yes dear." He then gave her a genuine smile.
They heard Axel laugh as he came into the room. "Sounds like you're already married, Harry."
"She's been my best friend for nearly eight years, so yeah we might act that way sometimes." He grinned at the Healer.
"I hear that you're worried about the twins not moving?" He asked as Hermione laid down and he got out his stethoscope and his wand.
"Yeah, both mornings now, when they usually move, I don't feel them now." He said as he laid his hand on Mione's tummy.
"Well, let's listen to the heartbeats." Axel laid his scope on Hermione's tummy and moved it around quite a bit. He frowned deeply for several minutes until his face suddenly lit up. "There you are, you little bugger!" He announced as he enhanced the volume on the scope until the parents heard it.
Hearing the heartbeat, Harry relaxed a little. "What about the other one?" He asked. It took another moment but they soon heard the second one.
"Now, let's take some measurements." He waved his wand and projected both younglings over Hermione's belly. They saw each one move a bit.
"Why didn't you show us this first?" Mione asked as the twins were examined.
"Because no matter how much they move, a strong heartbeat is a good indicator of health." He replied as he took measurements and examined the twins. " You are at 26 weeks now. The babies are not going to move much in the next few weeks. There just isn't enough room. It looks like they are both head down right now, let's hope they stay that way. I'm assuming you are more tired than in the second trimester, yeah?"
Mione just nodded. "I'm using the chair a lot more now than I was."
He stopped looking at the fetuses and looked at Mione and Harry. "I'd really prefer if you could either wait until the birth to take your exams or to get them done sooner. It'll be easier on you and the babies." Hr. Axel said.
Harry nodded. "We'll take care of it." Harry said firmly.
"Here is a prescription for a calming drought that is safe for the babies. You may need it in the next few weeks."
Harry grinned for the first real time since he came into the Infirmary. "It's almost like you know her or something." Then he yelled "Ow!" As Mione hit him playfully.
Harry left the Hospital Wing in much better spirits than when he had gotten there.
Thursday 25 March 1999
"Well," Sirius sighed at breakfast that morning. "Since we leave for home on Saturday, we need to talk about next week." He grinned like a mental patient at that. "I'm getting married next Saturday."
"Yes, we all know that Pads." Harry smiled. "And I've already arranged the bachelor party for Thursday night."
Sirius laughed. "The Richardsons are coming in on Sunday. Dobby and Mitz have gotten the cottages ready. We'll have a family picnic that afternoon. "
"We have an appointment at the Tower on Monday for our wedding." Mione added.
"Molly is expecting us on Tuesday to go over the last minute details." Jaime said.
"Then we are going to help her clean up the Burrow." Luna joined.
"How're you going to do that?" Nev asked, looking at Luna and Hermione's bellies. Mark, Sirius, Harry and Nev burst out laughing.
"Do you all wanna get hit?" Mione growled. Harry reached over and grabbed her hand, giving her a lopsided grin. Mione sighed. That smile always got Harry out of trouble.
"I'll watch out for her, Harry." Jaime laughed, as they separated for classes. Both Luna and Hermione were in their chairs. Hermione was sure Luna was in hers because she didn't want Hermione to feel uncomfy about being the only one going around in a wheelchair, even if it was wheelless.
Sunday 28 March 1999
Madhouse
Sunday morning, as the family sat down to breakfast, Hermione noticed Sirius seemed a little nervous. "What's wrong, Sirius?"
"Nothing." Sirius looked around like a caught fox.
"Pads, you look scared." Hermione was now getting a little nervous herself. Her Uncle was never this panicked.
"He's scared of meeting the rest of Jaime's family." Her dad answered for him.
"Oh geez, Sirius. It's just our sisters. Just like us but a little more pompous." Mark laughed.
Sarah grinned. "Those were the same words he used when he was about to introduce me to them."
"You've met the important ones, the parents-in-law. This won't be a big deal, Sirius." Emma assured him.
"What time are they arriving?" Harry asked.
"Noon." responded Jaime.
"Why don't we have a bar-b-que tonight, like most Sundays , and we can meet them all then.?" Harry suggested.
Sirius just nodded at that.
Monday 29 March 1999
Sunday night was a roaring success, even if Luna and Mione fell asleep on their men. It was settled that while Jane and Jaycee shared a cottage, Suzan and Adam stayed in the house so they could spend as much time as possible with Jordan.
Everyone got along well. However, Jaime did roll her eyes as her sisters began bragging about their new jewelry line. Mione had a hard time keeping a straight face.
When Mione and Harry went to bed that night, Mione couldn't help but mimic Jaycee's pompous attitude. " Our new line is selling so fantastically!" She couldn't help but say as she came out of the bathroom. Harry just grinned and helped her get comfy, which was a feat at her size.
When Hermione made it down to breakfast that morning, Adam had Penny on his lap and Suzann had Jordan. She looked at her fiance. "At least you still have Teddy."
"Hi Mione!" Penny piped up as she went back to her very serious conversation with Adam.
"Yes, I have Teddy." Harry laughed as he set Teddy in his chair. "We're going to the Tower today, yeah?" He asked Hermione.
"Yes. All the women and you." She answered. "That means you too Suzann."
"That's wonderful!" She grinned. "That means we're invited back in the summer, when it's warm?"
"Wimp." Nev coughed.
"Yes. I'd like you here the week or two before." Mione and Suzann laughed at Neville's comment.
"I'm a native Californian, Neville. I like my warm weather."
"Wimp." Harry concurred after swallowing. Adam just laughed as the twins gave the boys a haughty look.
HP
They arrived at the apparition point at 8:45 and walked through the middle tower to the walkway that led to the Bloody Tower. They walked halfway up the crooked stairs and knocked on the wall with their wand and an arch opened up to a more modern looking office.
Wendy greeted them. "Hi Emma. I see you brought everyone." She laughed.
"Yes." She grinned as Hermione dropped the extremely full binder on the desk which gave a thump.
"Oh Merlin." Harry groaned. Jaime just sniggered. They spent the next two hours going over every little detail of the wedding.
HP
Harry seemed to be right about cleaning the Burrow. While both girls were not able to do much actual cleaning, Molly tried to keep them out of her way as she cleaned.
The rest of the work week was very slow for both girls. They spent most of their time asleep or studying.
It was on Thursday night that they had the hen and stag nights. For the women it was just a fun night of teasing Jaime about what she was in for.
Saturday 3 April 1998
"Ackkk!" Harry popped up in the bed from being dead asleep as the big black dog landed on him. The grim pushed Harry down and began licking him all over the face. "Pads! Stop it!" By this point Mione was sitting up and laughing.
Pads morphed back to his human self. "Just thought I'd have a little fun."
"Pads, quit making me laugh!" Mione said as she tried to get up. Sirius helped her sit up because she had been having more trouble doing that by herself these days.
"You okay Pads?" She asked as he became very serious.
He sighed as he sat on the end of their bed. "Really, I'm great. Just concerned she'll realise what she's doing and change her mind."
Harry grinned as he got up and smacked his back. "I wouldn't blame her." He commented as he headed for the en suite.
"Harry!" Mione objected vociferously. "Uncle Siri, she loves you. There's no way she'll leave."
"I know but everytime something goes right in my life, it all falls to pieces. I mean, Harry's born–good thing yeah? James and Lil die—bad. Get into the auror program–good. Mum and Dad die–bad. That's just two examples."
Mione took his hand. "Nothing like that is going to happen today. I'm sure of that."
"Promise?"
"Promise." They just sat together holding hands until Harry came out.
"Better go get ready." Sirius sighed as he got up.
All the women and children left the house around noon. When they arrived at the Burrow, they were inundated with last minute decisions. Placing favours, cameras and candles, these sorts of things. Mione, Luna and the Richardson twins were the ones mainly in charge of that. Meanwhile Emma, Molly and Suzann were dealing with bridal issues, or rather Suzann blubbering about Jaime getting married.
HP
After the ceremony, the pavilion was cleared out for the reception. When everyone settled down the first course was served by Dobby and Mitzy, Harry stood up. "I guess it is time for me to make an arse out of myself as the best man." He grinned as everyone laughed. "In third year, I started off with no family, only Hermione. I grew up with my aunt and uncle who were not fond of me. During that year, I discovered I had a Godfather. One that loved me so much that he wanted me to live with him. While that didn't happen, I did end up spending time with him over the next few years. While he tried to be as upbeat as he could during the war, I could see that he was having a hard time adjusting to life outside Azkaban.
Then, after the war, he was pardoned and we finally became a family. Last summer, we saw the playful side of Sirius come out. However that playful side was tempered with him being the only supposed adult in the house. He soon became more of a father-figure to Nev, Hermione, Luna and me and was all for us living in one big house and sharing each other's lives.
When he met Jaime, it was as though something inside him clicked and he was now complete. It's why she immediately joined family breakfasts. I could see how content he was with her, even if they weren't dating yet and had an inkling this day would come-just not before my own wedding-and she's not even preggers yet." Everyone laughed at that. "But, honestly, Jaime has been a part of this family since that first breakfast, it's just taken six months for it to come to fruition. Everyone, welcome Jaime Black to the Madhouse we call our lives." He clinked glasses with Sirius as he said. "You're a lucky guy." as Sirius reached over for a hug.
"Love you son." Sirius said thickly.
"Love you too Pads," He replied.
That evening, Harry danced with all the Heiresses in the Alliance, Jaime, Suzann, Emma and the twin Richardsons. Harry and Neville didn't want Hermione and Luna on their feet.
HP
Sirius and Jaime left that evening for the Black Estate in upper New York while the rest of the family went back to the Madhouse. As they sat in the game room, Suzann suggested. "I'd like it if we could stay here until you go back to school. Since Jaime and Sirius will be back Wednesday, we thought we'd get a few more days in with Jaime."
"I can imagine it would be hard for you to live so far from your daughter." Emma sighed. "It would kill me if Hermione moved that far away."
"I don't think that'll happen Emma." Harry commented. "We'll need you around in the next few years."
"So, we're just here for childminding then?" Dan asked.
"That and how to be a good dad. You, Dan, are my role model for that. I had no Dad, I have no idea what I'm doing." Harry replied seriously. At that everyone got a little somber. "I don't see any reason for you not to stay, Suzann."
"I'm going to bed." Hermione said as she smiled at Harry. "We need to start work on the nurseries tomorrow, Luna."
She just nodded as she cuddled more into Neville.