Chapter Text
- July 31st, 2009 -
Harry shuffled a few papers around at his desk in his home study. There was so much bloody paperwork to go with being the Deputy Head of the Children’s Ward. He set his work aside, trying to get everything finished before everyone showed up for the party. It was going to be a big one this year. It would be Harry’s last birthday before Teddy went off to school. Not that Teddy wouldn’t be at the next birthday, but he was going to be going off to Hogwarts at the end of the summer and no one in the family was ready for it.
It was bitter sweet, in Harry’s opinion. He was so excited for Teddy, but he was going to miss him dearly. He supposed he and Hermione would still have their hands full, but it wouldn’t be the same without their little Teddy Bear around each night.
There was a knock at the door to Harry’s study. He looked up and smiled at the sight of Hermione. She was wearing a beautiful red sundress that hugged her chest and flared at her hips.
“Hey, you,” he greeted as he pushed back from the desk.
Hermione entered the study. Her arms wound around his neck as she settled in his lap. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Happy birthday, birthday boy,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Mmm…” he hummed happily as he kissed her again.
His hands curled around her ample hips. She’d never really lost the weight she’d gained from her pregnancy with the twins. Harry enjoyed spreading his hands over the curves of her body. He was of the opinion that she was more beautiful than she’d ever been. But he was also of the opinion that she got more beautiful every day, so he was probably biased.
He frowned and murmured. “It’s quiet.” He pulled back. “Where are the children?” he asked, suddenly alarmed.
Hermione laughed. “Out back with your horse of a dog and at least two sets of grandparents that came early.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. “So we’ve got about five minutes before chaos ensues and we need to go help?”
“Or less.”
“There's a lot you can do in five minutes,” he said with a wink.
Hermione’s cheeks turned a lovely rosy colour. He leaned in for a kiss but she pulled away.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh? Talking. Yeah, suppose we can do that.”
Hermione grinned. “Do you remember what happened after you said that exact line to me oh… three years ago?”
Harry’s brow furrowed.
“At Ron and Padma’s baby shower?” she pressed.
“Which one? They’ve got like ten kids.”
“Three years ago. For Eli?”
“No, wasn’t that for Alice?”
“I’m pretty sure it was Eli.” She waved her hand. “Doesn’t matter. What happened?”
Harry grinned smugly. “Would you like a demonstration?”
Hermione laughed and shook her head. “Maybe later. What happened after ?”
Harry narrowed his eyes.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. “ We had a baby. Evan? Your son? He’s two. Ringing any bells?”
Harry grinned. “Some bells, yes.” His eyes widened. “Oh. Oh . You want to have another baby?”
Hermione looked up and sighed.
“I’m not opposed to it,” Harry continued quickly, hoping not to upset his wife. “I just thought we were done after Evan. His timing wasn’t exactly planned. I mean, neither were the twins. But we did discuss just having three and we sort of knocked two of them out in one go, didn’t we?”
Hermione waved a hand in Harry’s face. “Harry, stay with me, I’m already pregnant.”
He blinked. “Wait– what?”
“A month ago? Luna’s party? We had about five or so minutes before the kids were going to be dropped back off and you said-”
“-There’s a lot you can do in five minutes. Wow. I use that line a lot.”
Hermione smiled. “You really do.”
Harry shrugged. “We’re parents, we only ever really have five or so minutes. Besides, you don’t like romance.”
Hermione burst into laughter. She kissed him. “I love you.”
Harry smiled and kissed her again. He pulled back. “Are you really pregnant?”
She nodded.
He couldn’t help but revel in the bloom of warmth that spread through his chest. “Guess we’ll have to turn my study back into the nursery, huh?”
“Guess so.”
“Did you tell Huart? I imagine he’ll be upset to lose his best lawyer.”
Hermione had sped through a mastery in law a year after having the twins. She never returned to the Department of Mysteries, instead choosing to continue on with the momentum that she, Huart, and Rita had started with the feminist rights movement in Magical Britain.
“I haven’t yet. But considering how much we got done with the divorce rights when I was pregnant with Evan, I imagine it’ll be alright.”
“All I ask is that you take regular breaks.”
Harry was pretty certain the two of them would be workaholics until the day they died.
Hermione cupped his cheek and met his gaze seriously. “I promise I will.”
He tightened his arms around her. “Maybe we’ll get our little Rosie this time.”
“Don’t jinx it,” she said against his mouth.
Harry kissed her again, his heart filled with joy. Another baby.
“Oh god ,” a voice interrupted.
They pulled apart to find Rita standing in the doorway.
“Stop it before you knock her up again.” She gestured at them with the bottle of wine in her hand. It had a bow on it.
“Too late,” Hermione responded, delighted.
Rita rolled her eyes as she groaned. “Ugh. Congrats, I guess. Where’s Ginger? Someone needs to drink this with me.”
“Out back. Come on.”
Hermione got up and Harry followed the two bickering witches down the stairs and out to the backyard.
“Happy birthday!” the assembled group shouted as Harry appeared.
He smiled brightly and accepted the running hug he got from Teddy, followed closely by Estella and Saphrine. They quickly rushed off again after Padfoot, who seemed to have someone’s toy in his mouth.
Harry turned and was immediately hugged by Mrs. Weasley.
“Look at you, so handsome.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. The food looks incredible, as always. Thanks for coming early.”
“Happy to.” She pointed to the end of the table. “Now go stop your twins from ruining the food.”
Harry hurried towards James and Sirius. “Boys!”
“Daddy!” they chimed together.
The twins' identical brown eyes glittered with mischief. Their black curls sprung up wildly around their heads. Their shirts were inside and out, so they’d definitely traded clothes at some point. It was a trick George had taught them, but they were a bit young to get it right yet.
Harry picked them up with one in each arm. “Leave Grandma Molly’s food alone.”
“I’m hungry!” Sirius whined and began to wiggle in Harry’s arm.
“Yeah? Maybe I’m hungry. You know what looks real tasty?”
“Sirius!” James exclaimed. “Eat Sirius!”
“No! Jamie! Eat Jamie!”
“I can’t decide. I’ll just have both!” he roared and tickled their sides as he pretended to take big bites of each of them. The boys squealed with delight. He set them on the ground and they immediately escaped. The twins dashed off to Gramps, calling for him to protect them from Harry.
“Happy birthday, kiddo,” Grams greeted as she joined him. She had Evan on her hip. The two-year-old smiled brightly when they got close and reached out for Harry.
Harry smiled as he accepted his son. He pressed a kiss to the top of Evan’s dark brown curls. He was the spitting image of his mother, with freckles across his nose to match.
“Thanks, Grams. The boys put up a fuss today?”
She scoffed. “When don’t they? Little monsters.”
Harry grinned. “I thought they were angels?” he teased.
She glared at him. “You’re a monster and you should be ashamed of yourself for bringing more of you into this world.”
Harry laughed loudly. Evan wiggled to be set down and Harry let the toddler go. He immediately hurried off to Grandma Molly. Harry kept an eye on him until Mrs. Weasley had him.
“Have you heard the good news?” Harry asked.
Grams raised an eyebrow.
Harry smiled charmingly.
Grams’ shoulders lowered as she smiled. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
“Planned?”
“None of them have been.”
Grams snorted. “That seems entirely in line for you two.”
Harry chuckled. “It really is, isn’t it?” He felt a tingle in his magic as more of the Weasleys began to arrive. “Incoming,” he warned.
A moment later, a parade of Weasleys began to come through the house and out into the backyard.
George and Angelina arrived with Percy and Charlie as well as their three children. They greeted Harry before moving along to say hello to everyone else. Fleur and Bill arrived soon after with their four girls. Victoire almost immediately found Teddy and Harry smiled as he watched them tease and play.
Ginny came alone just after. She was happily divorced, almost immediately after the overturn of the law. She was still working with the Harpies and travelling frequently for work. It was just by chance, he knew, that she was able to make it for his birthday. The two of them still weren’t close, but they were family.
Absolutely pandemonium hit a moment later when Ron and Padma arrived with their six children. Hugo and Winston immediately dashed after the twins.
“Happy birthday!” Ron shouted happily.
“Thanks, mate.”
They hugged and Ron shook his shoulder. “Congrats!”
Harry huffed a laugh. “She told you first?”
“Nah, saw her sneaking strawberries last time I was over. Our girl is nothing if not consistent with her cravings.”
Harry laughed. They’d been going through a lot of strawberries of late. He should have figured it out himself. “How’s Abigail?”
“An angel. Padma wants another.”
“Jesus Christ,” Harry swore. He shook his head. “You’re going to keep Hogwarts in business.”
Ron laughed. “Where are our children?”
Harry nodded in the direction he’d last seen them. “Percy went after them.”
Ron shook his head as he released a breath. “He is the least likely to survive their chaos.”
“We’ll remember him as the hero he was.”
“Cheers!”
Harry was cleaning the twins off from the plate of cranberry sauce they’d dumped all over themselves when Andy arrived. She’d dropped the girls off earlier in the day to play with Teddy before the party. She greeted him with a quick hug and kiss to his cheek.
“Harry birthday, darling.”
“Thanks, Andy. Where’s your boyfriend?” he asked as he stripped Jamie of his soiled shirt and helped him put a new one on.
Andy rolled her eyes even as her cheeks turned pink. “He’s inside getting wine from Rita.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Hi, Grandma Andy!” Sirius greeted brightly. “I’m messy!”
Andy snorted. “I can see that. Getting into trouble are we?”
Sirius smirked as he giggled.
“Don’t encourage them,” Harry said as he wiped the last of the sauce away. “Now, we are going to be staying away from Grandma Molly’s food, yes? We don’t want to upset her.”
“Yes, Daddy,” they chimed together and immediately dashed off.
Harry shook his head as he stood. “They’re gonna eat my cake, aren’t they?”
“Or wear it,” Andy teased. “How’re you doing?”
“I’ve decided I’m going to homeschool Teddy.”
Andy chuckled.
“I want to go to Hogwarts!” Teddy shouted as he raced past.
“Fine! I’m going to become your Defence professor!” Harry shouted after him.
“You’re not qualified!” Teddy shouted back.
Harry gasped, a smile spreading across his face. “The cheek!” He pointed after Teddy. “I defeated the dark lord for what?”
“He also wasn’t qualified,” Hermione teased as she joined them.
Harry laughed. He wrapped an arm around Hermione. They shared a smile.
“Merlin’s balls,” a deep voice boomed. They turned as Asmund joined them, a glass of wine in hand. “Getting wine out of that witch is like getting blood from a stone.”
Harry grinned. “Ah, the boyfriend.”
Asmund shot him a flat look. “It’ll be husband soon.”
“Yeah, but until then you’re a boyfriend.”
“Fiancé.”
“Eh, not as fun to tease you with.”
“You’re annoying.”
“I’m your favourite person.”
Hermione turned to Andy with a sigh. “Should we leave the boys to play?”
“Yes, lets. I want to ask Rita about that article in the paper the other day.”
The last to arrive at the party was Luna, Rolph, and their own twin boys. Once they made an appearance, dinner was called. It took every adult on hand to wrangle the children together and get them set up with the correct age appropriate meals.
Harry sat at the head of the table. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked down the long, long table at the assembled members of his family. Mr. Weasely was excitedly talking to Gramps about muggle technology. Grams was laughing with Luna. Ginny was telling a story about her last quidditch match to her enraptured nieces and nephews. Bill was in a deep discussion with Asmund and Percy.
Hermione took his hand. He looked over at her and he knew his eyes were shining with unshed tears. Hermione smiled lovingly at him. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
This was it. This was everything he’d ever wanted and more. It was better than any vision or dream. The life they had built together was better than any fantasy he could have thought up.
He thought back to years ago, sitting by Black Lake with Hermione and feeling so hopeless. He had thought then and there that they would never be together. He had thought he would never have a shot at the happiness he wanted with her. Now, Harry couldn’t help but think how hopeless his younger self had been.
It was so obvious now that he was here.
This was the way it was always going to be.
THE END