A/N: Thanks for the response to this one guys, I love reviews. As I said in the response to one of them, I was thinking about seeing what you all thought and then maybe, just maybe, when I need a break from Footsteps, I'll write more to this one. Anyways, keep those reviews coming, they're what I enjoy the most about this place.
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THREE: FULL HOUSE
"Treat her well" Harry whispered to himself, "And look what I've done"
"What was that mate?" Ron said from his chair.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about our wedding day"
"Alright mate, I'll leave you with your memories. But you better apologize soon if you want to make more. See ya"
"Bye mate" Harry said as Ron apparated away.
Harry moved back to his seat and poured himself another firewhiskey. He mulled over McGonagalls words. Not just the treat her well but all the words she'd said through the ceremony.
Two souls, one heart. They sure were. He thought about all their love making over the years, each time she had her chest pressed against his he'd feel their hearts pounding in unison. He didn't know if that was normal, but it showed how connected they really were.
He really had gotten lucky when she decided to love him, there weren't many women like her in the world. She was beyond smart, and after all these years she still had her stunning good looks. She was kind to everyone and everything, and she was dedicated. She was a wonderful mother and an attentive wife. She let him follow his dream and play Quidditch.
And like Ron had said she never once complained, she stuck by him. It was true, countless women had thrown themselves at him. He'd never touched another, but rumours still flew. There had been many scandals over the years, there weren't as many since he'd retired, but in his prime there was a new scandal each month.
He'd come home after a match, and after seeing his face on another paper with some witch claiming they were having an affair, and he'd go to Hermione and swear over and over that he hadn't and she'd just say, "I know dear" and left it at that. She trusted him completely and that was part of what he loved about her.
But he'd cocked it up, and she was hurting for it. He hated it more than anything when she cried, it hurt him so much to see her in pain and now he was the cause of it. He should hex himself.
Putting the glass to his lips and smelling the alcohol in the glass Harry immediately put it back on the table beside his chair. Getting myself pissed isn't going to help me any, in fact she'd probably get angrier if she knew Firewhiskey was how I'm handling the problem.
Harry sighed and put his head in his hands, pushing his glasses up and rubbing his tired eyes. He didn't look up until he heard the owl flap that he had put in the wall slap open and shut. Benny, their eldest sons owl, landed beside Harry and put his leg out. Harry untied the parchment and watched the owl fly over to the perch that was in the sitting room and help itself to some water. Harry unrolled the parchment and read.
Hey Mum and Dad,
Sorry I haven't written sooner but with NEWTs, Head Boy duties, and quidditch, I've been really busy. This year is just as tough as you told me it would be, Mum, but don't worry I'm studying hard. Quidditch is going good Dad, we beat Hufflepuff last week, but I've been thinking about giving up the captaincy because with everything else I'm being run ragged. Me and Jenny are going well and I was wondering if you two could give me some ideas on what to buy her for her birthday, I wasn't with her this time last year and I've never had a girlfriend to buy things for before so I don't know what to get her.
I don't know if the other offspring have been writing so I'll give you a brief update. The game last week that I mentioned, Katie managed to get twelve goals! Even I had to admit she played a great game. She and Lance Longbottom are still enjoying their happy, oblivious bliss. Seriously it's like they're the only two people in the world sometimes, sort of reminds me of you two when you go all lovey-dovey. Mum, close your eyes for a moment while I tell Dad this. You should have seen the prank the twins pulled on the Slytherins the other day! They must of bribed the house-elves or something, because just after the Slytherins finished breakfast they all sprouted little pig-tails on their rears. I think they got the idea of the story you told them about when you first met Hagrid. Everyone knows it was them, but I think the Headmistress may be turning a blind-eye to that one, since when I looked up to the teachers table she seemed to be barely holding her laughter in.
Anyway, I better go do my rounds.
Lots of love,
James
Harry smiled and rolled the letter back up and put it beside him reminding himself to give it to Hermione to read when she came back. James was the oldest of four and was the perfect mixture of Harry and Hermione, he looked just like Harry but with his mothers eyes, he was a seeker, and very popular, but he was also smart like Hermione and was focused on school.
Second was Katie. Two years younger than James, she was his polar opposite. Where James looked like Harry, she was the spitting image of Hermione except her green eyes. She was more focused on quidditch than school, a chaser, and couldn't wait for her brother to graduate so she'll be named captain. She too was popular, but didn't want to be Head Girl and got into her fair share of mischief.
Then were the twins, Remus and Sirius. They were second years at Hogwarts and already showed more promise at trouble than the Weasley twins. Minerva McGonagall had said she hoped to retire before the "mungbeans" as she called them got their Hogwarts letters but since she and their mother were the only ones who could reign them in, she had stayed, although she had had to send many letters to their parents. They were identical, a look somewhere in between their parents, and the only way they could be told apart was their eyes were different colours, but their personalities were much like the Marauders they were named after.
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"Boy who lived my ass." Hermione grumbled right before another contraction hit. Harry looked as if he'd
rather be anywhere in the world then in the delivery room at St. Mungos. He was paler than Hermione and felt like
he'd either throw up or faint.
After the contraction finished Hermione grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him until his face was just an inch from hers. "Suck it up and be a man, Potter." She growled and let him go. Harry nodded dumbly and thought, Alright, I can do this. Whatever I'm feeling Hermione's feeling it ten times worse and she's the one in pain, not me.
It had literally taken hours and hours for James to be brought into the world. Harry stayed by his wifes side and held her hand, which he was sure she'd break while the pain of labour tore through her body. He was still shaky, panicky, and feeling like he'd throw up by the end of it, but the moment he heard his new born son cry all of that faded away. The only thing that mattered was the tiny creature crying and the woman clinging to his hand.
When they laid the little bundle on Hermiones breast Harry was amazed at how tiny James' little hand was compared to his. Both Harry and Hermione had tears running down their faces when they first saw the child they had created.
"Miraculous." Harry whispered.
Hermione looked up at him and smiled. "He is isn't he? Can you believe we made him Harry? With nothing but love, sweat and misplaced DNA in the middle of the night. I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart." Harry told her, brushing some of the hair that was plastered to her forehead away and kissing it.
Over two years later Hermione had violently shook Harry awake one night. He sat straight up in bed and looked over at
his wife, who didn't look well at all. It had been a difficult pregnancy for her; there were a few complications
over the months, she had been constantly sick and in pain, and at least once they'd come close to losing the
baby.
"What? What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"My water just broke."
"Come on, we'll get you to St. Mungos." Harry told her as he jumped up out of bed and pulled a pair of jeans up over his boxers.
Hermione groaned as she pulled herself out of the bed. "This isn't right, Harry. I'm not due for over a month."
Harry slung the bag he had packed for the event over his shoulder and moved to his wife. "It'll be okay, everything is gonna' be fine."
Hermione made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs while Harry went and got James. Once downstairs he helped Hermione into a seat. "I'll be right back, okay, I'm just gonna' take James to Mollys."
He flooed to the Burrow and called up the stairs for Molly. She came racing down as fast as a woman her age could. "Harry, what's happened?"
"Hermiones water broke, we've gotta' go to the hospital. Can you take James?"
"Of course I can dear. Come to Grandma Weasley, little one." She said as a very sleepy James peeled himself off his fathers shoulder. "The baby's early, then?" Harry nodded. "It'll turn out alright, dear. I'll get the family together and we'll be at the hospital by the time it's all over."
Thankfully Mollys words had been right, it all turned out fine. Though the labour had been long and difficult it was all made worth it when they heard the screams of their daughter. Once more they placed the small child in Hermiones exhausted arms and the happy parents had again marvelled at the life they'd created.
When Hermione went to pass the baby to Harry he put his hands in the air and took a step back. "Hold your daughter, Harry."
"I don't want to break her."
Hermione gave a silent laugh, "You won't break her, love. You didn't break James, did you?"
"That was different, he's a boy."
"And she's a girl. Now take your daughter."
After seeing the look in Hermiones eyes Harry knew he had no choice so being sure to be gentle he carefully took little Katie into his arms. He knew then and there that she was the most precious thing in the world and he'd do anything for her.
Another few years later found them in the same situation, Hermione waking Harry in the middle of the night. Only this
time when Harry stood and grabbed the overnight bag Hermione, who still hadn't left the bed stopped him.
"We're not going to make it to St. Mungos." She told him.
"What? It's only a floo away."
"Harry, these babies are coming now, right now!"
Harry was well-known for thinking quickly on his feet. He went downstairs and flooed to the Hogwarts Infirmary where he woke up Madame Pomfrey and literally dragged her to the floo and back to his place.
The twins were born in the same bed they'd been concieved in, delivered by Madame Pomfrey and Harry, six minutes apart.
When Hermione had discovered she was pregnant this time they had decided it was to be the last. So the next day when James and Katie came into their parents bedrooms to meet their new brothers Harry had stood back and watched his wife and kids. His family was complete, therefore his heart was full.
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