A/N: I do not own any characters referenced by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series and do not endorse her comments. This story is entirely my imagination. I do not profit from it and will not pay for any art commissions related to this story.
It may be years before you will ever know it.
The greatest Christmas gift is love.
In all the ways we show it.
Like every springtime shower,
And those long days of summer.
As fall brings change of color,
Remember, I love you all over again.
~ Happy Christmas by Hanson
~*~ 7th December 2003 ~*~
Neville stood and took her hands. "I've got you. Need to walk it off? Back cramp or stomach cramp?"
Neville stood helping her up, and she straightened her back. "Back cramp," she said, then froze, looking down toward the floor, "Either I just peed myself, or my water just broke."
Forks dropped as silence spread through the room. All eyes moved to Ginny and Neville, who stood frozen, staring at the growing puddle between her feet.
Neville was the first to move. "I'll get the bag!" and he sprinted out of the kitchen.
Harry was moving before Hermione registered it, crouching in front of Ginny, vanishing all fluids. "Stay still."
Hermione watched Healer Harry take over as he murmured a diagnostic charm. Golden ribbons of light swept around Ginny before settling over her abdomen. Hermione registered what some of the runes stood for, showing waves of energy.
"You are actively having a contraction right now."
Ginny frowned. "I don't feel anything."
"It's still early," Harry said as he stood.
Neville ran back into the kitchen, his feet sliding against the tile floor, carrying three bags. "I have the bags," he stated, out of breath, "Yours, mine, and Molly's."
"Mum has a bag?" George asked.
"I wasn't taking any chances," Molly stated, making everyone laugh.
Harry looked at Neville. "No need to panic. They'll probably send her home if you go. Let's get her into the sitting room. You'll be more comfortable on the couch."
Ginny sighed, "Are you sure? Because I'd absolutely be fine waiting at St. Mungo's."
Hermione watched them help Ginny into the sitting room.
"Hey, Gin, are you going to eat your potatoes?" George called.
Angelina hit him as he reached for them, "Don't you think about it."
~*~
Hermione hurried through the maternity entrance of St. Mungo's, brushing snowflakes from her coat that had settled around her shoulders like bad dandruff. Immediately after entering, she spotted the Weasleys within the waiting room. The entire waiting room was a sea of red hair along with Neville's scary Gran.
Harry looked up and smiled when he spotted her. "Did she settle okay?"
Hermione walked over. "Both she and Sirius are all settled in at my parents'." She hung up her coat. "How is she doing?"
Harry patted the chair beside him. "Come here." Hermione sat beside him and leaned against him. "She's progressing well. From what the medi-witches are telling me, I'd say a few more hours."
Hermione nodded as she looked around the waiting room. Angelina was asleep on the small couch, with her head on George's lap, as Fred slept on the floor. Bill was quietly reading. Charlie was entertaining the only other family in the waiting area by making small paper dragons for the little girl. Arthur was pacing, while Molly was busy knitting, as Mrs. Longbottom read the Prophet.
Hermione frowned, "Where are Ron and Luna?"
"Went for a walk. Ron was getting antsy," Harry told her as he laced their fingers together. "Luna told him fresh air would help." He studied her face. "Are you sure you want to hang around here?"
Hermione squeezed his hand. "I'm fine, Harry."
"I know," Harry said, leaning back into his chair.
"Our whole family is here. I'd rather be here." Hermione assured him.
~*~
Several hours later, the waiting room had thinned out. The first hour after Hermione arrived, their assembled group had gotten smaller when Fred, Angelina, and George had left when Angelina had grown uncomfortable. Bill had gone home to be with Fleur, and Charlie and Michel had disappeared somewhere. After the second hour, even Molly had stopped knitting and had fallen asleep.
Hermione found herself comfortably stretched across three chairs with her head in Harry's lap, his fingers drifting through her curls as she fought to remain conscious when the sound of footsteps made her open her eyes.
Neville stood in the doorway in sanitary robes, wrinkled, but he was smiling. A huge smile that took over his entire face. "He is here."
Hermione sat up as Molly jumped when everyone stood, congratulating Neville.
Mrs. Longbottom walked over, wrapping him in a hug. "I am so proud of you."
"Thank you, Gran," Neville said as a crying Molly walked over to him. "She and the baby are doing wonderfully. He already had a full head of red hair. She wants to see you both first."
Hermione smiled as Molly practically flew out of the waiting area, and Arthur clapped Neville on the back as they followed.
Ron laughed, "The Weasley curse has struck again."
Luna smiled, "The Nargles are so happy with this ward so full of evidence of love. Not a single Wrackspurt around. We are in a period of renewal and love."
Ron leaned over and kissed the top of her head, "That we are." He stretched with a groan, "I think it's time for the rest of us to head home for the night."
Harry nodded, offering his hands to Hermione to pull her up. "Agreed. It's nearly ten and the morning will come quicker than we think." He threw his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "I'll check on Ginny in the morning when I come in."
"I figured nothing less," Hermione stated as she took his hand on her shoulder and held it.
Together, she, Harry, Ron, and Luna walked out of the hospital, and fresh snow had fallen while they were inside that crunched beneath their feet.
"I think this year is going to be busy," Luna said as they started walking toward the apparition zone.
"So many babies," Ron said with a laugh.
Luna looked at him. "There will be."
"Yeah, I mean, Gin's son, the twins' baby, and Bill's little boy," Ron said as he looked at her and Harry. "Mum is going to be over the moon."
"Your poor mother," Hermione said with a laugh, "I think we need to buy her stock in a yarn company."
Harry snorted, "At the rate this family is growing," he said, giving Hermione's hand a small squeeze, "we might need to just invest in buying her a sheep farm."
Hermione and Luna laughed as they walked over to the apparition zone.
~*~ 18th December 2003 ~*~
After a long day at the Lily Pad, which, thanks to the holidays, was busy and was turning over large numbers for profits, Hermione was exhausted.
So, after picking Rosella up from her parents and Sirius from his rehab program, Hermione took the lazy way out for dinner and picked up Mexican for the family.
The kitchen window was frosting up outside as Hermione set the takeaway bag on the counter. Looking out to their back garden, it had turned into a winter wonderland, as the garden lights had come on to illuminate the snow that had dusted the ground.
Hermione pulled out the containers from the takeaway bag.
Four containers of dinners: Rosella's soft tacos, her chicken quesadillas with rice, Sirius's enchiladas, and Harry's steak quesadilla. One large bag of tortilla chips and a large container of white queso. She swore under her breath as she saw Harry's tub of salsa had spilled slightly into the bag, coating most of the containers in wet tomato and spices.
While she was cleaning up the mess, her phone rang. Wiping off her pinkie, she pressed the send button. "Hello?" she said, attempting to balance the phone between her shoulder and her ear while she continued to clean the mess.
Harry sighed, "Hey, honey."
Disappointment set in at the tone of his voice. "Hey, everything okay?"
"I'm going to be late," Harry told her. "There was emergency after emergency today."
She could hear voices in the background talking over the hospital's communication system asking for another doctor in the poisoning ward.
"They had a bad shipment of potion ingredients delivered to Diagon Alley. Either they were contaminated or went bad. We've had witches and wizards coming in all afternoon with some severe allergic reactions and a few severe accidental poisonings."
Hermione winced as she washed the salsa from her cracked hands. "Oh, that is awful. So, you know, I felt lazy tonight. I ended up picking up Mexican food for dinner." She grinned, "I even got extra chips, salsa, and queso."
Harry groaned, "The steak quesadillas?"
"Of course," Hermione told him.
"You're killing me," Harry whined as she heard someone page him.
"I'll keep it warm for you," Hermione told him. "Hurry home."
"Thank you," Harry said, "Love you."
Hermione smiled, "Love you too."
Setting her phone down, she looked over her shoulder as the tip of Sirius's cane tapped against the ground, announcing his presence as he slowly made it into the room. "Harry is going to be late."
Sirius nodded. "Another emergency at the hospital?" he asked, opening one of the containers. "At least this won't be awful for him with a warming charm."
Hermione handed him his container. "I got you enchiladas."
"You are amazing, excellent choice," Sirius stated.
"I figured you wouldn't complain," Hermione said, pulling plates out of the cabinet.
Sirius walked over toward the doorway. "Hey, Puppy! Dinner is ready!"
Hermione stared at him. "Puppy? You are calling her puppy?"
Sirius shrugged as he sat down at the table. "She likes it."
Rosella came barrelling into the kitchen. "Dogfather, you didn't eat all my food. Did you?"
"Nope, Puppy. You have your own," Sirius told her as she sat down beside him and Hermione set Rosella's plate in front of her.
"How was your day, Rose?" Hermione asked her.
Rosella waved her fork around as she recounted her day, "… and then Oliver spilled paint all across the art room, and everyone stepped in it, so it was all around the room. Emily said my picture looked like a unicorn, but it was actually Uncle Sirius as a doggy. Mumma, did you know he can become a doggy?"
"I did," Hermione stated. "You drew Sirius?"
Rosella nodded, rice falling from her mouth, "He was fluffy."
Sirius frowned, "I'm not fluffy."
Rosella smiled, "I think you will be."
Hermione smiled behind her glass as she took a drink.
Sirius muttered words under his breath that Hermione hoped Rosella hadn't heard, because she assumed that they were not child-friendly.
Rosella reached over for the bowl of tortilla crisps, and Hermione pushed her plate closer to her. "Eat more food. You've hardly touched your chicken."
Rosella pouted, "I've ate a lot."
"You've EATEN a handful of chips and rice. None of your chicken," Hermione stated.
"One bite," Rosella defended.
"That is not enough," Hermione told her. "Finish your food, Rosella, then you can go play with the new Lego set."
Rosella's eyes lit up, and she scooped a large amount of chicken and rice into her mouth.
Hermione gave her a look. "Rosella Lily, you know better."
Rosella froze, her cheeks full as a tiny chipmunk.
"Chew that well before you swallow," Hermione told her, trying her best not to smile.
Rosella nodded, tiny bits of rice falling from her mouth as she slowly chewed, before opening her mouth as wide as she could. "See? Empty."
Hermione laughed, "Very good. Smaller bites next time, please."
Rosella was practically vibrating in her hair, "Can I go now?"
Hermione saw that half of her rice was gone and, thanks to her massive bite, a third of her chicken. "I will put a warming charm on your food. You get one hour. If you are still hungry, you can come back. If not, bath time."
Rosella bailed from her chair and ran out of the room.
Sirius laughed as he took another bite. "She doesn't eat much, does she?"
Hermione shook her head. "She picks and grazes at her food. She prefers noodles over rice." She looked toward the doorway. "She is growing up too fast and is getting more picky."
Hermione's hand briefly went to her stomach, hoping their next child would not be as set in their ways, but knowing herself and Harry. She didn't figure that would be reality. She bit her lip. "It seems like yesterday that she was just beginning to walk."
Sirius smiled, "You've got a good one, though. She is hilarious and kind."
Hermione nodded, grinning. "I really do."
~*~
Hermione came down the stairs after getting Rosella to bed by herself and dropped onto the couch with a sigh.
Sirius looked over at her from his movie. "She didn't want to go to sleep?"
"Nope," Hermione said, throwing her arm over her face, "She was adamant that she was waiting on Harry. Took five stories. Five."
Sirius looked at his watch, "I'm surprised he isn't home yet."
"If it was a large-scale situation, I'm not," she yawned. "He is chief healer, and he is the one in charge of these issues," Hermione told him as she saw he had brought the crisps into the sitting room. "Bless you, Sirius. You even got me a bowl of my own queso."
Hermione picked it up and set it on her lap as she watched the movie.
"Want more?"
Hermione looked over at Sirius to see him holding the bag filled with the remaining crisps. "I am…" she trailed off as she saw her bowl had two more left, "No way did I eat all those already."
Sirius laughed as he poured the remaining crisps into her bowl. "I never realized you could put that much food away."
Hermione coated the crisps in queso and savoured it as she ate it. "I can when it's queso."
The fireplace lit up green, and Harry came through, looking tired and rundown.
Hermione wiped the crumbs from her body as she stood. "Hey, honey."
Harry stepped back from her. "I am going to shower. I was vomited on so many times today that you don't want to know. Then I'll come down to eat."
Hermione swallowed hard, watching him climb the stairs and plopped back onto the couch. "I think today had to be the hardest day he has had yet."
Sirius frowned, sniffing the air.
"What? Can you still smell him?" Hermione asked.
"Possibly," Sirius said as Hermione took her wand out and cleared the air so he could take another breath. "That's better."
Hermione looked at him as she put her wand down. "Have they tried letting you do magic again?"
Sirius swallowed visibly. "No, with my magic being nearly wiped out like it was, they have been hesitant for me to attempt to use my magic again. Possibly in the next week or so they think that my core will be stable enough."
Hermione took a drink of her water. "You really have made a lot of progress, Sirius. It might not seem like it, but you have. We are so proud of you."
Harry came down the stairs, his hair wet and wearing his favourite faded sweatshirt, and dropped onto the couch between her and Sirius. Hermione smiled as he leaned against her, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.
"I know you got my favourite dinner," Harry mumbled, "but I am so tired that I don't think I could eat. I got a wrap at the canteen around seven," he yawned, "but I'm just ready for bed."
Hermione rubbed his back before she stood. "Then come on."
Harry let her pull him up with a groan. "Goodnight, Sirius."
"Goodnight, pup. Get some rest." Sirius said as Harry took Hermione's hand to lead them upstairs.
~*~ 22nd December 2003 ~*~
The first day of Rosella's winter break somehow felt busier than when she was at school. Wrapping paper covered half of the kitchen table. A few gift bags had already been placed under their tree for the Weasleys.
As they put Rosella to bed, Harry tucked her in while Hermione sat beside her bed, using her large stuffed teddy bear as a chair.
Rosella yawned, "Two stories."
Harry looked at her. "Two? Who says you get two?"
"Me," Rosella said, closing her eyes, "I'm tired."
Harry laughed as he opened the book. The first story was short, and Hermione's eyes were fighting to stay awake as much as Rosella's. As Harry started the second story, Hermione closed her eyes for just a moment.
A gentle hand on her face made her dry eyes open. Harry was kneeling before her. "I think you should go to bed."
"No," Hermione said defiantly, shaking her head. "There's so much to do. Go ahead and take your shower. I'll be downstairs. I will make some cocoa"
She stood up, yawning so loudly that her jaw popped. Rubbing her eyes, she left Rosella's bedroom and walked downstairs to the kitchen.
After starting the kettle, Hermione glanced at her notebook, where her columned list of names and purchased gifts resided. It also designated whether gifts were wrapped and if they needed to purchase any additional gifts.
Too many spaces were blank, which was giving her anxiety.
Reaching for another tissue, she wiped her nose before placing a question mark beside Charlie's name. What do you get the man who owned dragons and oozed more cool than anyone she knew?
"I'm officially behind," Hermione muttered.
"What are you behind on? You've said you were behind at least three times today." Harry stated, walking into the kitchen, hair wet and looking ever the bit like a Greek God as his grey shirt clung to his wet abs.
"Because it's true," Hermione stated. "We have purchased something at least for everyone, but I haven't gotten all of them wrapped."
"We have three days," Harry assured her. "And you also need rest."
Hermione groaned, "I had a plan."
Harry smiled, pulling her into his arms. "You are also ten weeks along, and our child is draining all your energy. Give yourself some grace. Your cold doesn't help."
Hermione dabbed her weeping eyes. "I was perfectly healthy until this week, and now my body is betraying me."
"I don't think it's doing it on purpose," Harry chuckled. "Let's work on presents together. You go ahead into the sitting room. I'll bring in the cocoa."
Hermione let herself lean into him, her forehead pressing into his warm chest as she inhaled his clean scent. "Go get the box with all the presents that is hidden in the laundry room. I'll get the paper."
Hermione walked past the dining room, turned into Sirius's bedroom, and glanced inside to see Sirius sound asleep beneath one of Molly's quilts, the television showing some old movie.
Harry joined her in the sitting room with the shrunken box of gifts as Hermione started to set out all the wrapping paper, as the Christmas tree illuminated the room. Setting the box down, he left the room again, returning with two steaming mugs of cocoa.
"I'm worried about Sirius, Harry," Hermione admitted, setting one of his gifts to the side.
Harry looked over at her. "He has been a bit down."
"You don't see him when he returns from rehab. Sometimes… it feels like he takes one step forward physically, and two steps backward mentally," Hermione whispered, smoothing wrapping paper down on the floor.
Harry sighed, "It's part of rehab. It can affect them mentally."
"I know," Hermione insisted, "But he was in love with Remus, and he came back to Remus gone. Before that, he was trapped in Grimmauld, where he ran away from, and before that he was on the run and in Azkaban." Hermione sighed, "He lost more than your dad that day, Harry. He lost all sense of himself. He lost the Potters and the only family that ever truly loved him and chose him."
She swallowed back the tears. "It's Christmas. I am just saying that the holidays are hard for people who are grieving. It's a daily reminder of people who aren't there anymore."
Harry swallowed hard. "That's how you felt when I was gone?"
Hermione looked at him. "Yes."
Harry stared at his mug before he nodded. "I'll spend more time checking on him. I have a week between Christmas and New Year's off. I'll try to get him out of the house and see if that helps."
"I think he'd appreciate that." She said as she started organizing the remaining gifts.
"But we also need to take care of you this week," Harry told her. "You need to take it easy too."
"I will take it easy when the holiday is over," Hermione told him, grabbing the paper designated for Molly and Arthur. "Could you hand me that knitting kit?"
Harry grabbed the Muggle knitting kit with light-up knitting needles. "She will love this."
"I hope so. It's hard to know what to get either of them," Hermione told him as she looked over. "That box is Charlie's gift that you can wrap."
"On it," Harry said as he picked it up and took the paper she handed him.
For the first time all day, Hermione relaxed at Harry's side as they worked together.
~*~ 25th December 2003 ~*~
Hermione inhaled as Harry rolled over early on Christmas morning and opened her eyes. As soon as she did, her stomach rolled.
She pushed herself up to sit and placed her hand against her mouth, concentrating on her breathing. Taking slow, steady breaths.
Harry opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Morning sickness?"
Hermione swallowed the saliva collecting in her mouth before closing her eyes and nodding.
She felt his hand against the small of her back, rubbing slow circles. "Just breathe."
Slowly, breathing in through her nose, out through her mouth. After over a minute, the nausea started to fade, and Hermione let out a breath. "I think it's passed."
Harry opened his arms, and Hermione happily melted into them. Harry tucked the blankets around both of them before kissing the top of her head. "Get at least another hour of sleep if we can," he said, glancing at the clock, "It's only five. I'm not working out today."
Hermione smiled as she nestled deeper into him. "Good."
Harry started lazily rubbing her back.
"I like cuddling with you in the mornings," Hermione mumbled as she looked up at him. "Happy Christmas, Harry."
He smiled, "Happy Christmas."
It felt as if she had just closed her eyes when she jerked upright as their bedroom door slammed into the wall.
"MUMMA! DADDY!" Rosella came charging into the room in her tartan pyjamas. "IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
Hermione barely had time to brace herself as Rosella launched herself onto the bed, and immediately started jumping.
Every bounce made Hermione's stomach lurch, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh!"
Harry grabbed Rosella as Hermione threw the blankets off them and sprinted to the bathroom.
"Mumma?"
Hermione barely had time to put the seat up when she prayed to the porcelain gods.
In between bouts, she heard Harry say, "How about you go to your room and put on your Christmas dress?" he told Rosella. "I'll go check on Mumma."
When she heard his footsteps, he found her kneeling beside the toilet. She motioned for him to go away. "You go with her. I don't want you seeing me like this."
Harry chuckled as he grabbed a flannel and soaked it under the faucet with cool water, then squeezed it out to drape it across the back of her neck. "Hermione," he said, taking a second one and wiping her forehead, "I'm a healer. I've seen worse." He smiled, "And nothing you ever will do will top Ron and the slugs."
Hermione chuckled, then groaned, "Don't make me laugh." She slowly breathed through her nose, "I hate being sick."
Harry rubbed her back. "I know." He kissed her sweaty forehead. "Hopefully it won't last much longer."
He stood up. "I'm going to go make you some ginger tea."
Hermione groaned dramatically, "I hate that stuff."
"I know you do," Harry said as he walked to the doorway, "But it works."
Hermione slowly pushed herself up after he left and rinsed her mouth out before brushing her teeth. When putting her toothbrush away, she glanced at the mirror to see how horrible she looked, and something caught her eye.
Turning sideways, she lifted the hem of her pyjama shirt, and there, barely noticeable, was the smallest curve in her stomach.
She smiled, brushing her fingers over it. "Happy Christmas, baby."
A tiny knock sounded on the doorway, and Hermione looked up to see Rosella in the doorway wearing her red Christmas dress. "Are you okay, Mumma?"
Hermione smiled, "I'm okay."
Harry walked into the bedroom with a steaming mug as they came out of the bathroom.
Hermione looked at him, then at Rosella. "Harry, I think it's time."
Harry set the mug down on her bedside table. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "I cannot guarantee that I'm not going to get sick again."
Harry laughed. "Fair point." He picked Rosella up and placed her on their bed as Hermione walked over to their wardrobe and reached onto the top shelf.
She pulled down a bag and inside was a pink t-shirt.
Harry sat beside Rosella as Hermione walked back over to them.
"Now, Daddy and I have something very important to tell you, but you can't tell anyone else yet," Hermione stated.
Rosella nodded, "Not even Dogfather?"
Hermione laughed, "Not even Dogfather."
"We will tell him soon," Harry stated.
"But for now," Hermione said as she handed Rosella the shirt.
Across the front of the pink shirt were glittered silver letters reading: BIG SISTER
Rosella frowned as she slowly sounded the letters out.
"B…i….g," she looked up, "Big?"
Hermione nodded.
"This one is big," Rosella stated.
"Just do your best," Hermione told her.
Rosella took a big breath, "S….i….s…t…e…r." Her little tongue stuck out as she stared at it. "Sist…er."
Her mouth suddenly fell open as she looked up at Hermione and Harry wide-eyed. Then back at the shirt. Her jaw opened, then closed, before opening again.
Harry reacted instantly. With a flick of his wand, he cast a silencing charm on the room just in time.
"AAAAHHHHHH!" Rosella screamed. "A BABY?!"
She jumped off the bed. "Big sister?" she asked, throwing herself into Hermione's arms. "A baby?"
Hermione laughed through her tears. "Yes."
Rosella bounced in place, "Please, please, please!"
Jumping on the bed, she hugged Harry, then started jumping on the bed. "Santa brought me what I wanted!"
Hermione stared at her. "You didn't ask Santa for a baby!"
Rosella looked at her, "Yes, I did."
"You asked for a baby dragon," Hermione told her. "I saw the letter before I sent it to him."
"It was in my letter. The one I gave him at the mall with Grammy and Grampy," Rosella told her.
Harry snorted.
"SANTA IS AWESOME!" Rosella yelled as she continued jumping.
Hermione folded her arms over her chest, "Like I had nothing to do with this."
Harry laughed as he slipped his arms around Hermione's waist from behind, resting over their child.
"So," he whispered in her ear, "How long until she asks how the baby got there?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't want to open that can of worms. No way."
Rosella sat down with a dramatic thump. "Please, can I tell Dogfather?!"
"Not just yet," Hermione told her as she came over to them, and Hermione ran her fingers through Rosella's hair as she laid her head against her stomach, "The baby is still very tiny."
"When it gets bigger, we will tell everyone." Harry told her, "It's about the size of one of your little oranges right now."
Rosella frowned. "That's tiny. Is it a girl?"
Harry sat down beside her and pulled her into his lap. "We don't know yet." He glanced at Hermione. "But I need your help."
Rosella gasped, "You do?"
"A very important task," Harry told her. "I need you to help me take care of Mumma. Sometimes she is going to feel poorly, and I can't always be home. So, I need a big helper when I'm not."
Rosella grinned, "I'll be the bestest helper ever."
Harry kissed the top of her head. "I know you will, and remember, gentle touches with Mumma."
Rosella nodded. "So gentle." She looked at Hermione. "Where's the baby? At the hospital?"
Hermione smiled, "No, sweetheart. Just like Aunt Ginny and Aunt Angelina, the baby is growing inside my tummy."
Rosella stared at her stomach, then looked at Harry as she frowned. "Well… how did Santa put it in there?"
Hermione bit down on the inside of her lip, trying not to laugh as she looked at Harry, who was trying not to laugh himself. "It was a Christmas miracle."
~*~
After opening their presents with Hermione's parents and Sirius, Hermione was surprised how well Rosella kept their secret.
As everyone got ready to head to the Burrow, she wondered if her luck might just stick.
"You go ahead first, Sirius," Hermione said, stepping aside.
Sirius looked at Camillo, "Want to ride with?"
Camillo frowned, "I'm not a fan of side-along flooing, as Hermione calls it."
Sirius grinned, "See you at the Burrow then." he threw the powder in and was whisked away.
Hermione looked at both her parents, "Sirius is just on the other side. Are you sure you don't want us to apparate you?"
Briar Rose shook her head, "No, this will do. Just do it." She said, taking a breath.
Hermione threw the floo powder into the fire so that her mother could step inside. "The Burrow!"
Camillo inhaled sharply as her mother disappeared. "We can apparate back, right?"
Hermione laughed, "Or I can apparate you now."
Camillo took a breath. "Fine, just do it."
Hermione threw the powder into the fireplace, "The Burrow!"
As the sitting room was suddenly quiet, Harry crouched in front of Rosella. "Now, remember-"
"I tell no one," Rosella said, nodding. "I don't tell anyone about the baby."
Hermione looked at Harry. "How long do you think before she says something?"
Rosella folded her arms. "I don't say anything. I swear."
Harry looked at Hermione, who looked at her before laughing. Picking Rosella up into his arms, he set her on his hip. "I have complete confidence in you."
Rosella pretended to zip her lips. "I keep secrets."
Harry kissed her forehead. "Good." Glancing at Hermione, he smiled as he stepped into the fireplace, and Rosella buried her face in his neck. "The Burrow!"
Hermione took a deep breath as the green flames swept them both away. Grabbing their magically lightened bag of presents, she stepped into the fireplace herself.
Closing her eyes tightly, she stumbled slightly as she stepped out at the Burrow.
"Easy," Harry said, grabbing her arm.
Hermione smiled, "Thank you."
Enlarging her sack of gifts, she knelt beside the Christmas tree and carefully arranged the presents beneath the branches.
"Uncle Bill, where is Victoire?" Rosella asked.
"Upstairs," Bill told her.
"I'M GOING TO THE PLAYROOM!" She yelled, rushing up the stairs.
Hermione laughed, looking at Bill. "Know of a safe spell that siphons energy?"
Bill shook his head. "Sadly, no. If you find out about one, let me know."
Hermione joined everyone else in the kitchen, and Luna was the first to notice her.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Luna said.
"Harry Christmas, Luna," Hermione said as she walked over to her and hugged her.
Arthur lifted his mug. "Happy Christmas, Hermione." He grabbed an empty mug. "Eggnog?"
Hermione instantly shook her head. "No… no, thank you. I am not a fan."
Arthur nodded, "More for us then."
Trying not to breathe too deeply near the eggnog, she stepped aside. She caught Sirius watching her. "What?"
He shook his head, "Nothing." Stepping forward, he took the mug, "Fill me up, Arthur."
Hermione moved closer to Luna to give Sirius room, and Sirius frowned. Sniffing the air, he looked at her.
Pulling her jumper up to her nose, she sniffed it. "Do I smell?"
Sirius didn't answer her. Instead, he leaned slightly toward Luna and sniffed her.
Luna stared at him. "Is it my new perfume? Ronnie bought it for me for Christmas," she looked at Hermione, "Is it bad?"
Hermione leaned over and smelled Luna's shoulder. "No, I actually quite like it."
"Good, I thought it was rather pleasant and I quite like it," She smiled.
A slow grin spread across Sirius's face. "I haven't transformed yet…" he tapped the side of his nose, "But I think my heightened canine senses are back."
Everyone looked at him as he looked between Hermione and Luna. "Someone's pregnant."
The room got eerily silent, then Luna sighed, "I suppose I am beginning to show," she said as she placed her hand on her stomach. "I didn't think anyone would notice yet."
Hermione's eyes grew large as her jaw dropped. "Wait," she said, looking at Luna, "You're pregnant?!"
Molly gasped so loudly as she dropped the salad bowl, before collapsing in a near faint in Arthur's arms, who caught her before she hit the floor.
"My dear," Arthur said as he gently set Molly on the ground.
Molly stared at Luna, "Babies… babies."
Arthur grabbed a tea towel and started fanning Molly.
Harry and Ron rushed down the stairs and into the room. "What's wrong?" Harry asked.
Arthur nodded at Molly. "She is just overwhelmed."
"Babies…" Molly stated.
Ron groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Luna… I thought we weren't telling everyone about the twins yet."
Harry blinked, looking at Ron. "Twins?"
"Twins?!" Molly squeaked.
Ron winced, "Ah shite."
Harry stared at Ron, "You two are having twins?"
Luna smiled, "Yes, it is twins."
Harry laughed, "Congratulations," Harry said as he hugged Ron, "I can't believe you are having a baby too."
Ron stepped back as he looked at Harry, then at Hermione. "Hang on," he said as a grin spread on his face, "You said too."
Harry's smile vanished as Hermione closed her eyes. "Fuck."
Ron pointed at them, "No way!"
Briar Rose gasped as she rushed over and hugged Hermione, "I told you!"
Harry rubbed the back of his neck.
"Are you two pregnant too?" Ron asked.
Hermione buried her face in her mother's shoulder. "And here we were worried that Rosella would be the one to tell everyone."
Harry laughed, "Well, I guess that was one way to tell everyone."
Molly stood, pulling Hermione, Luna, and Briar Rose into a hug. "This is the best Christmas ever."
Rosella ran into the room and stopped short, staring at all the adults. "Why is Nana and Grammy crying?"
"Daddy accidentally mentioned the baby," Hermione told her, looking at her over Molly's shoulder.
Rosella pointed at Harry. "It wasn't me!" she said as she laughed, pulling her jumper over her head, getting it stuck on her reindeer clip that was in her hair.
Hermione's jaw dropped as she finally freed herself. "You wore your big sister shirt?"
"What's going on in here?" Camillo asked, walking into the room with Charlie.
"Look at my shirt, Grampy," Rosella said proudly.
Camillo looked at Hermione. "You're pregnant?"
Hermione looked at Harry. "And here we were worried that Rosella would be the one to tell everyone."
Harry laughed sheepishly. "Sorry."
"How far along are you both?" Briar Rose asked.
"Coming close to eleven weeks," Hermione stated, "Estimated due date is 24th of July."
Luna gasped, "Mine is the 7th of August, and they said the twins will probably come two weeks early."
"I would like it to be noted that I figured it out first," Sirius told everyone.
Arthur looked at him. "You figured out that one of them was pregnant. Who would have known it was both of them."
Harry came over and placed his arm around Hermione's shoulders as he kissed the side of her head. "Happy?"
Hermione glanced at her mum talking to Molly about helping her knit blankets and booties. "Look how happy they are."
She couldn't imagine a better Christmas.
a/n: Hard to believe this one is nearly over. Thank you for all the continued support of not only this story, but Guilty as Sin and a Reluctant Love Story!
Preview of Chapter 56- Two Is Better Than One
Harry reached up and took her hand. "I like this pregnancy better."
"So do I," Hermione smiled.
Harry grabbed her legs and tugged, making Hermione squeal in surprise as she suddenly was on her back. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "So… how are you feeling this morning?"
Hermione snuggled closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder. "Honestly? Really good." She looked at him, "So good that I think we have time for-" she giggled as he read her mind and began kissing her neck. "Glad we're on the same page."
Harry pulled the covers over them, and Hermione grinned as she looked up at his dark shape beneath their comforter. "Are we pretending to camp?"
Harry leaned down and kissed her. "Well, Rosella was conceived while camping."
Hermione laughed as she moved her leg up and rubbed up against him, making him hiss, "If you want to call it that. That's not the camping I want to do again."
Harry kissed her neck. "We should try it for a bit. The proper way."
"Mumma?"
Hermione froze.