I Want One, Can We Have Nine of Them?
August 2011
As the day continued its descent into night, the gathered group continued on with their celebration in the Nott Manor gardens.
“So you owe me fifteen galleons,” Theo grinned at his husband. “Both Pansy and Hermione started crying at the beginning of our vows and you thought they would hold it together until the end.”
Charlie gave Theo a look as they continued to dance, briefly looking over Theo’s shoulder at all of their friends and family.
“In my defense, Pansy didn’t cry during her pregnancy with Luca until she was seven months, so I thought she would have at least held it together.”
Theodore gave a chuckle, his head resting lightly on Charlie’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming home for Christmas one day and deciding to befriend the bushy haired swot in your living room and then pretend to date her.”
“Really?” Charlie chuckled, pulling Theo a little closer. “Not, thanks for loving me or thanks for putting up with my crazy group of friends?” he teased.
“Both of those… but also have you met your family?” Theo raised a brow, placing a small kiss on Charlie’s neck before looking up at him.
“I love you,” Charlie grinned. “And now you’re my family.”
“I love you,” Theo repeated, grinning back. “And now you’re my family too.”
“Uncle Theo,” Lyra said as she stood in front of her favorite uncle. She had a sweet smile on her face, twirling one of her long curls with her little fingers, a habit she picked up from her mother. Theo knew all of this, yet one look from that little girl and he was putty in her hands.
“Yes, my love?” Theo smiled brightly, bending down to her level. “What can your favorite Uncle Theo do for you?”
“Uncle Theo,” she started again with a giggle. “Can I help you pick your baby’s name?” Theo’s eyes widened and Pansy looked over with a snort, a knowing look on her face.
“Well little love, Charlie and I would love to have your input on a name,” Theo said, treading the subject as easily as he could, causing Hermione to laugh as she held little Dahlia Zabini close in her arms.
“Give her an inch and she will take a mile, Theo,” Hermione warned him.
“The baby has to have a name that starts with the letter L,” Lyra pointed out. “My name starts with an L, Luca’s name starts with an L, and Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny let me pick their new baby’s name. Lilly!”
“She does realize that the baby was named after Harry’s mum right?” Blaise muttered and Hermione waved him off.
“Well sweetheart we will definitely consider that,” Charlie chuckled. “We do know that we want to have his middle name be Arthur.”
“After your father,” Hermione smiled softly. “I think that is beautiful.”
“He’s been supportive of us since day one,” Charlie nodded. “We wanted to honor that. Honor him.”
“There are plenty of first names that start with an L that would fit well with the last name Weasley,” Pansy pointed out and Theo shot her a glare.
“Mummy Arthur starts with an A right?” Lyra asked and Hermione nodded. “And Weasley starts with W?”
“Yes sweetheart, very good,” she smiled before turning back and looking at Theo and Charlie. “They aren’t wrong though. An L name would go well.”
“It’s law,” Lyra smiled.
“A bit demanding there aren’t we?” Blaise smirked, giving Luca another bite of his snack.
“No,” Lyra furrowed her brow and crossed her arms in front of her. “It’s LAW.”
“Lyra, little dragon,” Draco chuckled. “I know your grandfather and possibly all of us have been instilling it in you but maybe tone down the Slytherin a bit.”
“Mummy!” Lyra said, looking over at her mom.
“It’s L-A-W,” Hermione smirked. “Your daughter has wit and you all do not.”
Pansy cackled, holding little Theodora close and Charlie buried his laughter behind his fist. Everyone knew Lyra had them in a chokehold and there was nothing they could do about it.
“Shit,” Theo muttered. “How do we say no to that logic? This is your fault. You turned your daughter into this little dragon.”
“Theo,” Draco laughed. “Your kid is going to be a Weasley. I don’t think you have any room to talk.”
“My son is going to be a Weasley,” Theo said slowly before his eyes bulged out. “Salazar Slytherin I’m going to be a fucking Weasley.”
“Technically Weasley-Nott,” Charlie laughed, wiping his eyes as he kissed Lyra on the top of her head.
Across the floor, Lucius Malfoy stood with his grandson in his arms, watching Lyra running around with the other children, a small smile resting on his face. He looked over at his wife who was holding Theodora close. “It was a beautiful ceremony,” Narcissa spoke before cooing at the little girl in her arms.
“I never in my life thought that I would be attending a Weasley wedding,” Lucius muttered with a chuckle. “But I suppose the best things in my life I never anticipated.”
“Hermione can’t stop crying,” Draco smirked as he wiped another tear from Hermione’s cheek as she swatted at him.
“It is the hormones,” Hermione grumbled but smiled softly as Draco pulled her close and kissed her temple. “He looks so happy. They both do.”
“Theodore had a rough childhood,” Narcissa said nodding, looking up and over at the young man fondly. “I’ve always truly believed he deserved to find this kind of happiness.”
“Even if it is with a Weasley,” Lucius groaned and Hermione giggled. “Promise me that Lyra will never marry a Weasley.”
“I think it’s a bit early to be worrying about who Lyra is going to marry,” Draco rolled his eyes. “Though I would be more concerned about her marrying a Potter.”
“You just can’t let it go,” Hermione shook her head, looking over at her daughter. Lyra was giggling, squealing as George twirled her around the dancefloor. “Jamie and Teddy are the closest to her age. Of course she is going to find herself drawn to them.”
“Oh no,” Blaise chuckled as he walked up, holding his daughter close to his chest. “They flock to her, not the other way around. Lyra is the center of their attention.”
“Of course she is,” Lucius stated proudly. “She’s a Malfoy.”
&&&
“Again Uncle George! Again please!” Lyra giggled, reaching her arms up. George laughed and picked her up, twirling her around the dancefloor in a dramatic waltz pivoting around the dancing couples masterfully.
“Am I your favorite now Little Granger?” George smirked.
“Malfoy,” Lyra scrunched up her little nose. “And no Uncle George, Daddy is my favorite.”
“But I’m your favorite Uncle right?”
“No that’s Uncle Theo,” Lyra pointed out, causing Bill to chuckle as he walked up. “Hi Uncle Bill!”
“Hello little one,” Bill chuckled. “I hear that you helped pick the new baby’s name.”
“Uh huh,” Lyra nodded, smiling.
“Charlie and Theo are being so secretive about it,” he chuckled. “But I know that you will tell me. Won’t you Lyra?”
“Uncle Theo told me it’s a secret. So no.”
“There you two are,” Molly smiled walking up to the two boys. “Between gathering all of you and pulling your brother away from Theo I am exhausted. Hello sweet girl.”
“Hi,” Lyra smiled at her and looked over her shoulder where Ron was standing. “Hello Ronald.”
“Hullo,” Ron said gruffly, barely looking at her.
“Would it kill you to look at her Ronniekins?” George rolled his eyes.
“It’s ok Uncle George,” Lyra said. “Daddy says Ronald is like a big troll. He doesn’t have a big enough brain to understand someone special like me.” Bill couldn’t hold back his laughter as George set Lyra down. With a giggle, she ran over to where Jamie and Luca were playing with Albus.
“Excuse me! Excuse me!” Theo suddenly shouted, a large smile across his face as he and Charlie reappeared out of nowhere. “I hate to cut this wonderful party short. No, honestly- stay, drink, be merry! But apparently, my child likes to be the center of attention just as much as I do!”
“Luna is in labor,” Charlie smiled and gasps were heard from around the garden.
“So we must be off! Please do enjoy it all! Cheers!” Theo shouted before apparating with Charlie.
Logan Arthur Weasley-Nott was born at midnight on the very same night of his fathers’ wedding. His godparents Hermione Malfoy and Bill Weasley were immediately in love with the little blue-eyed boy that captured all of their hearts.
January 2012
“Daphne Greengrass,” Theo smirked, walking into the office with Logan strapped to his chest just like he learned from Hermione and Draco when Lyra was little. “How long has it been hmm?”
“Well,” Daphne smirked. “I did see you at Blaise and Pansy’s beautifully grand wedding. So I would say about three or four years. Though I didn’t receive an invitation to your wedding.”
“Well,” Theo smirked. “We kept it small.”
“So I’ve heard.” The blonde witch smiled softly as she watched her old friend with his baby. She had always known that Theodore Nott would be an excellent father. He had learned how not to be a father from his own dad, in the hardest way possible. “Congratulations on your son. He’s beautiful.”
“He’s perfect isn’t he?” Theo smiled proudly. “Barely cries and sleeps through the night. He’s everything.”
“He’s very lucky to have you.”
“So Miss Greengrass,” he continued. “What do I owe this pleasure? Narcissa said that you had something you wanted to discuss with me.”
“Narcissa comes here to the orphanage from time to time,” Daphne started, folding her hands in front of her, taking a seat on the desk as she spoke. Theo smirked, admiring the lack of pureblood etiquette. “I’ve been asking to take meetings with her, learn a few things ever since you all opened the primary school last summer.”
“I’m sure Cissa loves that,” Theo chuckled. “I’m sure we could enroll the kids here in the school Daphne if that’s what you are concerned about.”
“No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “Most of the kids here are younger than the age of your youngest students. But… I do have one young girl I wanted to speak to you about.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” Daphne nodded. “How old is Lyra now? Draco and Hermione’s daughter.”
“She just had a birthday last month,” Theo chuckled. “She turned seven. Why do you ask?”
“There’s a young girl here,” she started, tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. “She’s been here for over a year now. She turns six in a few weeks.”
“She would be around Lyra’s age then,” Theo nodded. “Right in between her and the Potter’s kid, James.”
“I know you just got married,” Daphne said slowly. “And I know you and Charlie are still getting used to being new parents… even though with all the babies in your little close-knit group you both have had plenty of practice.”
“Oh don’t be jealous Daph,” Theo snickered. “If you want to spend time with us, all you have to do is ask.”
“What I want…” she began, smiling softly as she watched how loving he was with his son. “I want you to consider adopting her.”
“I’m sorry what?”
“You and Charlie are wanting more children are you not?”
“Yes but-”
“And I know that you literally all just had children, which I don’t think I even want to know how that ended up happening, but the point is none of them will be getting pregnant for you at the moment.”
“Daph I-”
“And I also know you’ve always wanted a big family,” Daphne pointed out. “And this little girl… she has no family. It breaks my heart, Theo. She’s alone.”
“Daphne,” Theo groaned and ran his fingers through his hair before looking down at his son. He knew that he and Charlie had talked many times about wanting a big family. He knew that he wanted their son to have siblings. He also knew that he should be discussing this with his husband first, but everyone knew that he was one for dramatics. “You’re going to make my husband a widow before my first year of marriage is up. To be clear, if my husband kills me, I will be coming back to haunt your arse. What’s her name?”
“Athena.”
&&&
“I’m sorry did you just say…”
“I know, I know,” Theo groaned, running his fingers through his curls as he paced in front of Hermione in the library at Malfoy Cottage. Theo knew that in the grand scheme of things he had made the right choice. He knew that even as mad as Charlie could possibly get, Charlie would eventually understand his madness. Charlie Weasley-Nott had more love in his little finger than anyone in the world, but Hermione Malfoy was Theo’s confidante. She would always be the person he would go to for advice and a dose of reality. “Charlie is going to kill me.”
“Well, I think that might be a fair assessment. How do you even adopt a child without your husband meeting said child?” Hermione asked in shock as she watched Theo. Of all the things she had ever seen Theo say or do, this particular one might be the craziest.
“To be fair… this adoption is a little bit different from Draco’s adoption of Lyra. She was an orphan, there was no one who had to sign over parental rights. Besides Daphne said-“
“Daphne? As in Daphne Greengrass, your ex-girlfriend?”
“Ex-betrothed but semantics,” Theo pointed out. “We clearly were an arranged union and she doesn’t have the right equipment for me.”
“Any equipment is the right equipment for you,” she laughed.
“Hermione, I am a married man. You can’t just offer yourself up to me like that,” Theo scoffed. “What would our spouses say?”
“Well your spouse is going to kill you so, I don’t see a problem.”
“Ruthless,” Theo gasped. “You really should have been in Slytherin.”
“Semantics,” she mimicked with a smile on her face. “If I were you though, I wouldn’t worry so much about Charlie. That man would probably follow you anywhere. Lyra on the other hand…”
“And why would I need to worry about my sweet, precious Lyra? She could never hurt a fly!”
“Oh Theo,” Hermione laughed, unable to stop the sound from leaving her throat. Theo was Lyra’s favorite person in the entire world, besides Draco and Lucius. She was always his little girl from day one. Hermione knew that when Logan was born, they had all dodged a bullet as far as Lyra was concerned. He was a little boy, not a little girl coming in to take her place. “You do realize how territorial my daughter is of you, yes?”
“Oh it’s one of my favorite qualities about her,” he smirked smugly.
“And now you’re bringing in a little girl to take her spot in your life. You do remember her reaction when she saw you with Theodora the first time, yes?”
“Bloody hell,” Theo groaned, running his hands down his face. “Maybe when we tell her, we keep dragon Mione locked up in her egg yeah?”
“Probably for the best.”
February 2012
“Mummy, can I wear my blue dress?” Lyra asked, fluttering around her room as she followed the tiny dragon flying through the air. Hermione chuckled, watching the smile on her daughter’s face as she looked through her closet and pulled out the blue dress for her. She was a little worried about how the dinner was going to go. That was why after a long conversation with Draco and Theo, they decided that keeping it just between the four of them would be for the best.
“You’ve absolutely lost your last piece of sanity if you think this is going to end well,” Draco laughed, sipping his firewhiskey.
“Watch your tongue,” Theo snapped. “Athena is a beautiful, sweet girl. Just like Lyra.”
“Athena is beautiful,” Hermione agreed. “And she is so sweet and kind. And she is a perfect fit for the two of you.”
“Thank you love,” Theo smiled proudly and Charlie squeezed his hand.
“That being said,” Hermione continued. “Lyra is possessive and has a temperamental side to her and will eat her alive. She grew up in a home where you and Draco and Blaise and Pansy were wrapped around her fingers. She was the center of the universe for us all. Do you remember what happened when Blaise and Pansy moved out?”
“Do you remember when we moved out and you and Charlie stayed at the manor?” Draco pointed out.
“We all remember that day,” Theo groaned. “So what do we do? How do we go about this without the mini dragon roasting my daughter or Lyra shattering all the windows again?”
“Well… I say we do it on the neutral ground then,” Charlie suggested. “We have dinner at the cottage. Just the four of us and all the kids.”
“We keep Mione locked up in the bedroom,” Theo said. “Please.”
“Lyra sweetheart,” Hermione started as she helped her into her dress. “Let’s put Mione away for the night yes?”
“Ok mummy,” Lyra smiled, scooping up the little dragon and putting her in her egg. Beckoning her over, she laughed as the little girl skipped over to her. She helped her sit in her little vanity chair and began brushing through her curls.
“Lyra honey,” she started, smiling softly at her in the mirror. “Uncle Theo and Uncle Charlie are bringing someone very special over to dinner tonight. You will be on your best behavior I know. But I want you to be very kind and sweet, just like your daddy and I know you are. Sweet just like you are to Scorpius and Theodora. You can do that for me right?”
“Yes mummy,” Lyra smiled and watched her mum as she put a ribbon in her hair to match her dress. “Who are they bringing mummy? Victoire?”
“No honey,” Hermione shook her head and bent down beside her daughter. “You know how Uncle Theo and Uncle Charlie have a baby of their own now? Little Logan?”
“I love Logan,” Lyra gasped, eyes going bright and wide. “He’s so sweet and little. Just like Luca was!”
“He is,” the curly-haired witch agreed. “Well…your uncles have so much love in their hearts that they adopted a little girl,”
“A baby?” Lyra asked.
“No honey,” Hermione shook her head, tucking one of her daughter's curls behind her ear. “Athena is a little younger than you. I think you two could be really good friends. Cousins.”
Lyra sat quietly as her mother tried to decipher her body language, waiting to see how the little girl reacted to the news. It was a good few minutes before she spoke again.
“Does Uncle Theo not love me anymore?” Lyra asked, a curious look in her eye that Hermione hadn’t quite seen before.
“Of course he still loves you. That’s why he wants you to meet her,” she said, soothing her daughter best she could. “You are one of the most important little girls in his life and he wants you and his daughter to be best friends, just like Uncle Theo and I are.”
“Ok mummy.” Taking her hand, Hermione went down the stairs with her, smiling at her husband who was managing to handle both twins. With a soft kiss, Draco handed over Scorpius to her and kissed the top of Lyra’s head.
“You look beautiful my little dragon,” Draco smiled.
“Prettier than all the other little girls?”
“Of course you are,” Draco chuckled and gave a questioning look to Hermione.
“HELLO MALFOYS!” Theo’s voice echoed as he bounded into the hall from the library with Logan in his arms. “I smell something delicious cooking.”
“We borrowed Milly for the night,” Hermione smirked.
“You mean to tell me that I do not get one of Hermione Malfoy’s home cooked meals?” Theo gasped. “I am truly offended. So is Logan.”
“Hi Logan!” Lyra giggled, waving at the little baby in his arms.
“Switch with me Draco. My girls require my attention.”
“Wanker,” Draco muttered under his breath and handed over Theodora as he took Logan.
“And how are my favorite Malfoy girls today hmm?” Theo asked, kissing Lyra’s cheek and then Theodora’s.
“Fine,” Lyra said, a slight glare in her gaze. Draco tried not to laugh at the look on her face.
“We brought tarts from Missy,” Charlie walked into the room, holding a little blonde girl's hand. “She was unimpressed that she wasn’t called to come and cook dinner for us.”
“Lyra’s favorite tarts,” Theo pointed out, winking at the little girl. Lyra stuck her nose up in the air and turned back towards her parents. Giving him an ‘I told you so’ look, Draco chuckled and ran his hand through Lyra’s curls.
“Lyra,” Charlie smiled. “There’s someone here we really want you to meet.” Smiling down at the little girl who was partially hiding behind his leg, he squeezed her hand. “Lyra, this is Athena. Athena, this is Lyra, Aunt Hermione’s daughter.”
“Hi,” Athena said, waving shyly with her free hand.
“Hello,” Lyra said quietly, not quite making eye contact with her. “Mummy, can we eat now? I’m hungry.”
“Ok honey,” Hermione nodded. “Charlie, Athena, why don’t you come with us? We will let the other two handle the little babies.”
“Let’s go,” Charlie nodded, following Hermione and Lyra into the dining room, Athena clinging to his hand with her own. Draco looked at Theo, who looked dumbstruck as he stared after them.
“To be fair… I told you she wasn’t going to take this well,” Draco chuckled.
“She just cut me to the bone with that look in her eyes,” Theo gasped. “I think I’m having chest pains.”
“You’re being dramatic,” Draco rolled his eyes. “Just give her time. She will come around.”
“How much time?”
“Oh not much,” Draco shrugged, smiling at his daughter in his friend’s arms. “Just until she goes off to Hogwarts…. maybe after she graduates.”