Hermione
I was now thirty weeks pregnant and for the most part life was horrible. I am always hot and partially horny. For that I had no idea why it was happening so much, often it was random. Just sitting in the living room and seeing Charlie walk by would have me in a fit of lust for him.
Though it was becoming harder and harder to coax him into it. For fear that something would happen to me or the babies, he had heard stories from someone that they’ve known witches to go into labor as early as thirty weeks, so he was more anxious than normal. Not to mention that it is harder to get in and out of some chairs on my own.
Today was no different, but my anxiety was outweighing my horniness. I could only do half days in the office as of now because in three short weeks I would be on bed rest. Because there are two of them there is a chance I could go into labor as early as week thirty-six. Which meant that everyone was hovering over me to the extreme.
Since I am doing half-day’s so is Charlie. He tending to the nursery, making sure everything is ready before the babies’ arrival. We had decided on the light green color, though it looked a little more teal than green. There is something that I had been meaning to bring up to him, but I am so bloody horny all the time that I never bring it up.
“How’s it going in here?” I asked him. He moved the bed that was in here somewhere else. Now there were two cots and two white rocking chairs that Molly insisted we have.
“It’s going lovely. Almost done with this.” He pointed to the changing table.
“Okay, let’s go sit outside when your done then.” I walked over to the window; it was now mid-summer. Even in the crevices of the mountains the temperature was rising, but the winds were nice. It was about to be sunset; the sky had a beautiful orange and red glow.
“Sure, I’ll meet you downstairs.” He said.
“Okay, I’ll grab a blanket.” I walked out of the room to a closet in the hallway to grab one and went down the stairs.
Once outside I sat in our little garden, wrapped in my blanket. It reminded me of Molly’s back at the burrow. Charlie did in fact keep my little blue rosebush alive. It was still thriving, it gave me courage, looking at it I could imagine my mother telling me to be strong. I could imagine my father telling me that everything would be okay if I kept my hope alive.
The sun continued to go down, and some of the stars began to show. Today my wish would be different. I would wish for their happiness, somewhere on the other side of the sky. That they would live without fear and continue to hope.
I heard Charlie approach me from behind. He sat behind me wrapping his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. Once we were comfortable his hands moved down to my belly. I remember when he first felt them move, he spent all night with his hands on my belly waiting to feel them move again. From that day on he would put his face near them and talk to them through my belly. It is the most wonderful thing; we are something like a small family. Even though we are bound to each other, he has no responsibility to the babies.
I know that he will be a part of their life and do well with them, but there is still that anxiety in me. Wondering if this is something too good to be true. That maybe it isn’t the same for him, that this will all come crashing down around us. Ridiculous. But the worry is still there.
“Penny for your thought?” He said.
“I’m just thinking about the future, about the babies.” I told him.
“What about them?” He asked.
I fidgeted with my fingers. There was no easy way to ask this, it was simple to say the words, but difficult to find the courage. I looked up to the rose bush again, in the fading sunlight. I needed the courage.
“Well, I was wondering, you know about us, and everything that has happened.” I took a breath. “You know about, possibly, you adopting them.”
Once the words were out, I felt my anxiety creep in, I didn’t take a breath until he began to speak.
“Oh.” Was all that he said. This was a bad idea, it had to be. He was probably overwhelmed, and this was probably too soon. Too soon to bring up, too soon to think about.
“You know, it’s okay, it was probably crazy to bring that up.” I made a move to get up, it was a vain effort because I wouldn’t be able to do it without help. His arms tightened around me, keeping me in place against his chest.
“No, it’s okay. I was trying to find a way to bring that up, but I figured that you would think it a little strange. Since everything ended with Malfoy and things are better now.” He said, his head in my neck. “I would love to adopt them.”
I felt small movements in my tummy and laughed. “I guess that means that they agree.”
“Of course, they do, love. They know who their daddy is.” He kissed my cheek. Just like that the anxiety left me. I relaxed into him once again. Looking up to the stars, they looked a little different here than what I was used to in Britain. But I will wish on them all the same.
. . .. . .
“Come on Hermione, we should go to the burrow now.” Charlie told me from his place in the doorway of our bedroom. His tone was short, but that would be expected, I have not been in a favorable mood either.
“It’s too soon. I think we have at least another week before heading out.” I was arguing, but mostly scared. I was now 36 weeks pregnant, and very near my due date. Everything made me cranky, the August heat, not being able to see my feet, and the constant nagging. I knew he meant well, but I felt more like a child. Which angered me more because of my constant discomfort.
I had spent the last week in bed because Healer John said it was bed rest time. I could only get up if I really needed to. Which meant only to use the loo and shower. So, Charlie had to do everything else for me. He didn’t mind, but I did.
“I’ve seen your winces in pain. When you think I’m not looking. You’re having those false contraction things, aren’t you?” He raised his eyebrows. He was probably tired of having this conversation also. We had been going back and forth the last couple of days. He wanted to be near St. Mungos in case anything happened.
I didn’t answer, all I could do was give him a scowl. He was right, and that’s why I was scared. It was too early, and everything was new, and now it was becoming reality. I knew it was, but now it was beginning to feel real. I fought in a bloody war, and this scared me more, so much for my Gryffindor courage.
“I knew it. I hope you can forgive me later, but I have back up.” He moved from the doorway and Harry popped around the corner. His black hair was shaggy, desperately needing a haircut. He was wearing a plain shirt and jeans, which means that today was probably his off day.
“You called my brother?!” I threw my hands up. Harry would only make me see reason, and I for once, did not want reason.
“I had to, it’s for your own good.” If I had my wand, I would have used Ginny’s bat-boogey hex on him.
“’Mione, what’s going on?” Harry moved from the door to sit on the side of the bed. “Why don’t you want to go to the burrow?”
I looked back and forth between them. My annoyance and fear started to mend together. “Because I’m not ready.”
“What do you mean?” Harry asked.
“I mean that, I am not ready for them to come out. I’m scared Harry, what if something goes wrong? What am I supposed to do then?” Traitorous tears started to spill out from my eyes. “And I know that it’s ridiculous because Healer John already checked on me. But I can’t let it go.”
Harry moved to hug me. I missed him; he wasn’t able to come over in the last two months because of a mission. And when I went to the burrow, he wasn’t there.
“Hermione, you know you will be okay. Do you think I would let anything happen to you or the babies? That Charlie would let anything happen?” He placed his hands on either side of my face.
I shook my head. “No, I know you wouldn’t.”
“Okay then, let’s go to the burrow. If you are having the false contractions, then you know it’s best to go see the Healers.” I nodded.
“I know, I’m sorry. I was just being stubborn.” I turned to look at Charlie. “I’m sorry.”
He moved over to the bed and Harry moved away. “It’s okay love. But let’s head out.”
I nodded and he helped me out of the bed. Harry had one of our bags and Charlie had the other. Harry took the other bag because Charlie insisted on carrying me down the stairs. Harry went first through the floo. I looked around our cabin.
“The next time we come back, we’ll have our babies.” I told him.
“Yes, it will be a new adventure love.” We walked into the floo and left to the burrow.
. . ..
We were greeted by the entire family. They each took turns hugging me and asking questions. It was little Victoire who was the most curious.
“Aunt ‘Mione, what are you going to name the babies?”
“Charlotte and Charles.” I told her; I was braiding her hair. It was only the two of us in the living room. Fleur and Molly were in the kitchen and the guys and Ginny were playing quidditch outside.
“Are you and Uncle Charlie happy that there’s two of them?” I was a little shocked, but children will always ask what you least expect them to.
“Yes, sweetheart. We are very happy.” I told her.
“Do you think the babies will have Uncle Charlie’s Hair?” I paused for a second. It had been a while that I considered who the babies would look like. Over the last few weeks, I forgot about that very important part. The children might look like Draco, which would be a difficult thing to overlook.
“I don’t know hunny, we will have to wait to see.” I finished the braid. “Why don’t you go see if your mum and gran need help?”
“Okay, thank you.” She gave me a hug and ran into the kitchen. I leaned into the couch and wondered about what would happen. I might only be able to keep my children a secret for so long, but if they look like Draco, people will talk.
In the middle of my contemplation, I left something trickle down my legs. I looked down and realized that my water must have broken. Which meant that they might come early.
“Molly!” I called out for her.
Her and Fleur came running into the living room. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Molly, I think my water just broke.” I looked up at her. “What do I do?”
“Oh dear, you might deliver soon. I had the twins the same day my water broke.” She came over to me and helped me up from the couch. “Fleur, please call them in, we need to go to St. Mungos.”
She ran out with little Victoire following her. Her little voice screaming about the babies. She would probably scare them before Fleur had the chance to explain what was happening.
Just then a contraction hit me, it was more intense than the false ones. “Molly, this is happening way too quickly. I’m scared.”
“It’ll be okay dear.” She told me; her calmness was welcomed. I knew Charlie was going to come running through that door any moment and it will be chaos.
I was right, no less than a minute later Charlie was barreling through the door with all the Weasley’s. following behind. All of them out of breath and panting.
“Is it time?” He asked between breaths. I laughed at his flustered face.
“I think so. We should go to St. Mungos.” Molly told him.
. . . .
“Ugh. It’s been five hours.” I moaned in between contractions. They were now a minute apart, and so was my patience. I thought that I would be able to keep calm and collected, but I realize how foolish that thinking was, I was in pain.
“You’re doing perfect love. Hopefully it’s not too much longer.” Charlie tried to calm me down. But for some reason that only made me more aggressive. I would probably regret this after they are born, but for the moment I don’t care.
We were the only people in the room, I made everyone else wait outside. I normally love their company, but right now I would probably just be bitchy to everyone. And I would hate to be that way to Molly, considering how nice she’s been to me.
I felt another one come, and I gripped his hand. I heard him grunt, I probably gripped his hand too hard. It was all I could do to keep from screaming. When it passed, I let go, a healer came into the room. Her name was Joyce.
“I’m going to check you, okay?” She asked.
“Yes, that’s fine.” I gritted out.
She looked down there and came back up. “It’s time to start pushing Ms. Granger.”
I looked at Charlie, his hair was tied back, and his blue eyes were wide. “It’s time, Charlie.”
He moved to kiss my forehead. “Yes, love.”
. . . . . .
It was an hour later that both Charlotte and Charles were asleep. I screamed so much that the healers were worried about me. Charlie was particularly worried, I don’t blame him, if Harry or Ron were outside the door, they probably would have had flashbacks to Malfoy Manor.
I was now holding Charles and Charlie was holding Charlotte. Charlie was sitting next to me in the bed, Charlotte in one arm the other around me.
They were perfect, each had a full head of hair. It was too early to see if they had my curls, but their hair color was undeniable. Charles and Charlotte had ginger red hair, perfectly matching Charlies. Both had blue eyes, just like my mother and the Weasley family.
“They’re perfect.” Charlie said. I looked up at him. He looked like he was about to cry.
“They are.” I looked over at our little girl in his arms. “It looks like they decided who their daddy was.”
“I bet they did. Do you have anyone in your family with red hair?” He asked. I shook my head.
“No.” I looked towards the door. “But it fits them perfectly.”
I took a long breath looking at them. “We should let the family in now.”
“Okay, I’ll go grab them.” He carefully placed our daughter in my free arm.
He walked out of the room, and I heard some yelling. I did hope that they would be quite coming in. The first to pop their head on was Harry. He had a stuffed animal in each hand, one pink the other blue.
I enjoyed seeing his eyes pop when he noticed the babies. His mouth hung open, at a loss for words. Everyone pilled in after him, each one copied his expression. Charlie was the last in the room, he sat back with me in the bed.
“Everyone I would like you to meet Charlotte Avery Weasley and Charles Lucas Weasley.” I announced.
The room was filled with smiles. Molly was the first to say something.
“They are so precious.” She looked close to tears.
“Their hair is so red, just like the Weasleys.” Harry commented. Everyone else agreed. “I can’t believe you had two of them Hermione.”
I laughed; the vibrations woke them up. Luckily, they didn’t start to cry but they both opened their eyes. Everyone went silent for a moment, noticing the color of their eyes.
Everyone’s eyes looked back and forth between Charlie and me.
“I believe it has something to do with our magic being combined, as well as Malfoy breaking the bond between them.” Charlie answered. “So, they are mine.”
Arthur walked over to hug Charlie. “Well of course they are, son. Look at them.”
“They choose to be Weasley’s.” Bill said. I nodded; they sure did.
Everyone took turns holding and looking at the babies. George and Fred promised to give them all the toys they could ask for. That earned them a scowl from Molly. Once Charlie said that they could make good on their lost bet, they stopped talking.
I asked for them to call for Kingsley in the morning so that we could get the official paperwork for the twins. Not that it would be super necessary, the Healers told us that both Charlie and I’s magic were in the babies. I needed it to be official though. Arthur agreed and would write Kingsley a letter and owl it to him in the morning.
“I just can’t believe it,” Molly said. She had Charlotte in her arms. “They look so much like Charlie.”
“I know, I was surprised. But honestly I should have known.” Charlie said. “It was so strange, whenever I would touch Hermione’s belly, I would feel a pulse. I thought it was just our magic.”
Bill and Arthur shared a look between each other, and Molly had a soft smile. They looked down at Charles who was in Harry’s arms and Charlotte.
“Son, that was the bond being created.” Arthur said. “I felt the same thing when your mother was pregnant with each of you. Bill felt it when Fleur was pregnant. It’s a father building a magical bond with their child. No one else would feel it.”
Charlie and I looked at each other. I always thought it felt more after Draco broke the bond, but I didn’t know what to make of it.
“That doesn’t make sense.” Charlie said, his brows were furrowed.
“But it does, you see, when you and Hermione were bonded your magical cores were mixed. Which meant that you were a part of her magic being shared with them. And once he broke his bond with them, it was essentially taking away his portion of the magic.
“For wizarding genealogy, it’s mostly about whose magic can be linked through the children. Since the bond was broken while they were still growing, it would appear that from that moment, they started to take more of your magic, son.” Molly calmly said.
I looked at Charlie. We had also begun having sex that day. Though I doubt that his sperm had much to it, the magic that was attached to it might. I laughed.
Of course, my children would find ways to become Weasley’s in more than name.
“Well, Isn’t that something?” Charlie remarked. A small cry filled the room, it was our daughter.
Charlie stood up to grab our daughter from Harry. The moment he took her, she stopped crying.
“Already a daddy’s girl.” I rolled my eyes. Everyone else started to laugh. Molly handed me back Charles. I stared down at him taking in all his features. The hair and eyes were all Charlie, but he looked like he had my nose, Charlotte too, it came to me like a minor relief. Looking around the room, there were little conversations and fussing over baby stuff.
“How’re you holding up?” Charlie asked me. He returned to sitting next to me on the bed.
“I’m perfect.” I told him. Looking down at Charlotte in his arms.
“We should get a photo of the little family.” Arthur said. He pulled out a camera from a bag that they brought. He took a photo of us in the bed, and soon everyone wanted a photo together. Of course, George and Fred wanted a photo of them and the twins.
“Of course, we have too,” George complained.
“Yeah, it’s the proper thing to do. The new twins with the older twins.” Fred said taking Charles from me, George collecting Charlotte from Charlie. I rolled my eyes but nodded in agreement. It probably meant something significant to them.
Then they all crowded around the bed and asked a healer to take the photo of us. Harry of course was right next to me. George and Fred handed us back our children. As I looked to the camera, I couldn’t help but feel like everything was right as it should be. I looked to Charlie, and he looked back at me, his face full of adoration.