The sky was dark out, stars glowing each in its unique way. The silence was magnificent; you could hear a pin drop in the silence. The birds were asleep, the animals away resting, the insects peacefully sleeping on rocks, the grass, and in trees. Not a student was in the halls roaming, not a teacher giving out detentions. No publicity asking for autographs, no attacks, no violent adults.
Peace.
Harry's peace, though, was interrupted when a faint cry was heard in another room. He looked at the clock, 2:00 a.m., and over to Hermione, who was still sleeping peacefully. He quickly got out of bed, careful as to not wake up Hermione, and went towards the nursery.
When he walked in there, he saw James whimpering, seeking attention from his father. Harry walked up to him and picked him up carefully. He rested James' head on the nape of his neck, and put his tiny arms on his shoulders. With that, Harry started to gently pat his back, soothing his son.
He walked over to Lily's crib and found a pair of bright green eyes looking up at him. He brought his right hand down and started threading his fingers through her brown hair. It felt like silk, to him at least. He had never felt, nor carried, a baby since before James and Lily were born. It was so new and scary for him. He was scared that he'd mess something up and put their lives in danger. They were so young and helpless; Harry and Hermione had to do everything for them, not that he minded, though.
Once he heard James' breathing slow down to even breaths, he put him back into his crib, careful as to not wake him up again. He kissed his son's head and walked over to the other crib where his daughter lay.
He smiled at her, she was so small. She was normal, yes, but she seemed so much more fragile than James. It frightened him even more so. Seeing as she was not about to sleep without him, he picked her up. He cradled her in his arms and started rocking her back and forth. It was so soothing, just having a helpless little child in your arms. It made him feel at home.
Her eyes started drooping, giving him a sign that she was drifting off to sleep. He still rocked her, though much more gently this time. Once her eyes closed completely, he kissed her forehead and put her back into the crib.
He walked out of the room with a smile on his face. That is what true peace was.
0—0—0—0
Hermione was walking down the halls, towards the Great Hall. She usually only went there to get the Daily Prophet and her breakfast. Today, though, there were whispers spreading everywhere. Not that she wasn't use to it, today, though, seemed to have more people whispering.
Then, did she realize, that they were whispering about her and Harry. She found the Daily Prophet in front of her usual spot, near the middle of the table. She gave the owl a Knut and it flew away, leaving Hermione to gasp.
On the front page were the Champions. On it read:
HOGWARTS: HOME OF TWO CHAMPIONS?
Article by: Rita Skeeter
It seems as though our Wizarding Savior has done it again. Now at age 14, our beloved Harry Potter has entered in the Triwizard Tournament, a very dangerous tournament that only students above 17 are allowed to enter. Our FOUR Champions are: Cedric Diggory, 17, student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fleur Delacour, 18, student of Bauxbatons, Victor Krum, 18, student at Drumstrang, and Harry Potter, 14, fourth year student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Individual photos, interviews, etc. on page three
Hermione quickly gathered her breakfast, took the paper, and left the Great Hall.
She walked as quickly as she could without bumping into anyone. Luckily for her, she only ran into one person and he paid no attention to her.
"Prem," she said. The portrait opened and she walked in. Harry was currently spiking James' hair again, while Lily was slumbering away in her swinging seat.
"Hey," he said grinning. "I spiked James' hair again." He turned little James around and showed her his new hairdo. James was just clapping his hands and blinking.
She rolled her eyes and walked over to him. "Look at this." She showed him the news paper.
"I thought this'd happen," he muttered. He put James in the swinging chair next to Lily and picked up the news paper. His eyes scanned it and started muttering about 'evil reporters'. He quickly went to page three and nearly chocked on air.
As you all know, Harry Potter is the hero, getting rid of You-Know-Who at just the tender age of one. But do we know all of him? How exactly did he get his name into the Goblet of Fire? How his life is is when no one is watching? Well, I got the privilege of asking him. We asked him about life during school, life at 'home,' qudditch life, and yes, even his sex life. "Well, school is always hard, but since I've Hermione, I always pass," he says. What did he have to say about his life at home? "I love my kids more than anything, really. I'd give them anything." What about Qudditch? "Oh I love qudditch! Being the youngest player in over a century has its perks." And finally, about his sex life, which he answered with a laugh (and a twinkle in the eyes), "all the time." But, that's not all, the question that has been bugging students for sometime now. How did exactly did he get his name into the Goblet of Fire? "Well… don't tell anyone, but, I threatened, even hexed, a few teachers to get them to put my name in there. I thought 'hey, I can do it!' so, I told them to do it."
So, what do you think of our hero now?
"What—but—no!" he said to himself. He'd never said those things. All of his 'errs' had turned into full fledged sentences. He ripped up the paper and threw it on the floor. He was so mad, how could that Skeeter woman say all of those things? He didn't even enter himself in that damn Tournament, and now everyone thinks that he hexed a teacher to put his name in there? No, he had to go. Now.
"I have to go. I need to think." He quickly ran upstairs and slammed the door shut.
He looked around the room, thinking about what he was going to do. "Okay, calm down, Harry. It's only a stupid article." After a few heavy breaths he decided that he needed a walk around the grounds. He quickly shed his clothing until he was in nothing but his boxers, and went towards his closet. He took out ripped jeans and a green shirt and put them on. He took off his school shoes and put his trainers on. He put his robe on over his clothes and left his room, heading down stairs.
"Harry! Wait!" Hermione shouted. He stopped mid-step. He took a deep breath and turned around.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Where are you going? Class starts in ten minutes," she said, narrowing her eyes a bit.
"I'm taking a walk. Tell the professors I'm sick or something." He walked over to the desk and picked up his wand, pocketing it. He then walked over to James and Lily and gave them a kiss on their foreheads. Then, he walked over to Hermione and kissed her gently before walking out.
She sighed. What was she to do now? Just then, Lily woke up, no doubt hungry. She walked over to her and picked her up. "C'mon Lily, time for breakfast."
0—0—0—0
"Watchya doin' outer class, Arry?" asked Hagrid.
"Haven't you read the Daily Prophet?" Harry asked. Hagrid just laughed.
"That stuff is a buncha mumbo jumbo, it is.
"Eh, 'arry?" he asked.
"Yeah?" asked Harry, who was currently throwing random twigs at the lake.
"I gotta show ye some'n. Follow me." Harry looked at him for a moment, and then nodded. "Now, I know ye surposed ter be in class righ' now, but that don' matter. Since ye aren' in classes, it's safer if I take yeh now."
They started walking through the Forbidden Forest. Harry hadn't been there too many times, but it was more than any other students. They walked some more until Harry heard people talking.
"W-what are they doing?" Harry asked. Hagrid didn't answer, but just kept on walking. Then, Harry realized, that the people were trying to stun… dragons.
"Dragons, arry," Hagrid said, "They're yeh first task."
Harry gulped. "D-dragons?"
"Ye, dragons, beuty, innit?" He said pointing to the big one with spikes on its back.
He gulped and squeaked, "Yeah."
"Righ', Harry." Hagrid turned around to look at Harry. "These aren' those little ones you see at the pet shop. They're big beasts, the lot of em. I can' tell yeh anymore, but this is enough." He turned around, looking at the dragon for a moment, then turned around and started heading back. Harry couldn't move. Dragons? Why dragons?
"Yeh comin, Arry?" The half-giant called back.
"Ye-yeah," he shouted, running towards him.
They started walking until they finally reached Hagrid's hut. "Arright, bye, Harry," he said.
Harry smiled, "bye."
0—0—0—0
It was Transfiguration and Potter was no where to be seen. McGonagall looked around; every student was there, except one. The chair next to Hermione's was empty. Doubting she didn't know where Harry was, she asked.
"Miss Granger, where is Mister Potter?" She asked. Hermione head snapped up and she started to panic slightly.
"He… well… he um… he was sick." She quickly buried herself in her essay after saying that. McGonagall knew that it was a lie, but decided not to ask her again. Perhaps it was about what was in the paper today. Perhaps he was too embarrassed to attend class.
She sighed, teens were so hard to figure out sometimes.
After class, Draco Malfoy walked up to her desk, carrying something.
"Um… professor," he asked.
"Yes, Mister Malfoy?"
"Well… um… I don't really know how to say this, so I'll just say it straight out." He paused for a moment. "Ginny Weasley has been making a love potion for Harr—Potter."
She looked at him, surprised for a moment that Malfoy had almost used Harry's first name, but quickly recovered. "Do you have any proof?"
He nodded and placed the small vial in front of her. "This," he said, pointing at the vial, "was what Weasley made for him. This, of course, is a sample that I found."
"And how exactly, Mister Malfoy, is it that I know it was her that made it?" She asked.
"I was just snooping on them one day, and then I heard her and her Weasel bee brother talking about putting the love potions into their drinks one day. So I decided that she needed to be punished," he stated proudly.
She looked at the vial for a moment. "And did you consult Dumbledore?"
He deflated. "Yes, but he said that Harry liked Ginny and I just wanted to get rid of her to make Harry's life hell."
She sighed, she had a feeling he'd say something along the lines of that. "Very well. Was there anyone else with her?"
"Yeah, there was her brother, Ron." She nodded.
"Okay, I'll take care of this, thank you for informing me, Mister Malfoy. You may go now." He nodded and walked out of the classroom, beaming.
McGonagall sighed. How did she know this was going to happen? It was true, yes, that Ginny and Ron needed everything they couldn't have, but Harry and Hermione? Why were they trying to get in the way of love?
She sighed. A howler to Misses Weasley was going to be needed.
0—0—0—0
Day soon became evening and Harry had missed all of his classes. He knew that when Hermione got back that he was going to get a long lecture, but at the moment, he could care less. He was currently thinking about the first task.
Dragons. Dragons. Dragons. It was like a chant in his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about it. What was he going to do? Take something from it? Then that spell Hermione had suggested would come to good use. Perhaps he had to stun it? Kill it? No, that'd be too hard. The most logical thing he could come up with was taking something from it. But what?
He was interrupted by the low growl of his stomach. He just realized that he hadn't eaten all day. Deciding to change that, he called Dobby.
"Yes Mister Harry Potter, sir?" Dobby asked, eyes big with wonder.
"Do you think you can get me a few bottles of warm milk and some dinner for me?" He asked politely.
"Yes! Anything for Mister Harry Potter, sir and little Harry Potter babies!" Dobby answered excitedly. He quickly snapped his fingers and vanished.
Harry chuckled at the 'little Harry Potter babies' comment. He went to the nursery and picked up James and Lily. Making sure that they weren't going to fall, he went into the common room and placed them in their swinging chairs. They were wide awake, waiting for someone to feed them, looking around and blinking.
A minute later, Dobby appeared with baby bottles and a plate of steaming hot food.
"Here, Mister Harry Potter, sir. Dobby even find bestest type of milk for Harry Potter babies! Grow up like Harry Potter, sir, they will!" The elf said, nearly jumping up and down.
Harry laughed. "Thanks, Dobby. You can go now, thanks a lot." Dobby nodded and snapped his fingers and popped away.
He walked over to James, picked him up, and walked over to the couch. He put the bottle in his mouth and James started drinking hungrily. After a few minutes, the bottle was empty. He placed James back into his swinging chair and picked up Lily, bringing her over to the couch. He brought the bottle to her mouth and she, too, started drinking hungrily. After about ten minutes, the bottle was empty and she brought her back to her swinging chair. He walked over to the desk where his dinner lay, and started digging in.
Hermione walked in ten minutes after, looking positively frustrated. She looked at Harry then instantly started glaring at him. She walked over to him, giving her 'the look.'
"Harry James Potter," Hermione said through gritted teeth, "where were you today?"
Harry gulped. He never did like an angry Hermione, good thing she wasn't pregnant anymore, then she'd be murderous.
"I… um… went for a walk, like I said I would."
Hermione looked over his shoulder, to where her children were looking at her, and then sighed, trying to calm herself down.
"Okay." She sighed again.
"Look," he said getting up, "I'm sorry. I was just really mad at that Skeeter woman. I didn't mean to just walk out. Forgive me?" He asked, putting on his puppy-dog face.
Hermione's lips started twitching, then she sighed, giving in. "Fine, but only because that face is utterly repulsive," she said grinning. In truth, she really loved it when Harry did his puppy-dog face.
"No it's not!" He said grinning. He walked over to her and gave her a small kiss. "C'mon, I have to tell you a few important things."
He led her to the couch and told her about the first task. After he told her what he thought he was going to have to do, Hermione went into bookworm mode.
"Okay, I'm going to teach you the acciospell. Now, you may not get it on the first try, but you'll get it eventually." She to the desk and picked up an empty bottle and placed it in front of Harry.
He looked at it oddly, not knowing to do.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "You just say acciobottle and let it come to you."
Harry looked doubtful, but just took his wand out and said "accio bottle!"
Nothing.
"It's okay, Harry. Just try again, this time really think about it coming to you."
He nodded, pointing his wand at the bottle again. "Accio bottle!"
The bottle moved a bit, but nothing else.
Hermione sighed. "Don't worry, Harry. Think about the bottle coming to you, like really coming to you. Don't just say it, think about it. Only the bottle flying towards you, then say it."
Harry nodded, "Accio bottle!" The bottle moved a little more this time. "Accio bottle!" he said with more force, really thinking about the bottle coming to him. Then, the bottle flew straight towards him, hitting his cheek. "Ouch," he muttered, rubbing his cheek.
"Good job Harry!" Hermione said, hugging him.
"Thanks," he said.
"Okay, let's try it once more. I want you to do it until you can do it in your sleep."
Uh oh, this is going to be a long night, Harry thought.
0—0—0—0
November 22nd didn't come soon enough for Harry. He was waiting for Hermione to finish feeding James and Lily, and then they'd be on their way to Hogsmead.
After a few minutes, Hermione came downstairs. She wore a purple sweater, khaki pants, and a small bag for her possessions (money, pictures of James and Lily, etc.), and her ever famous black winter coat. Harry himself had only worn a simple white shirt, white jeans, and a warm winter coat.
"Dobby!" Harry called. The house elf instantly appeared.
"Yes Mister Harry Potter, sir?"
"Do you think you can watch James and Lily for us today? We want to go to Hogsmead."
"Yes, yes, Mister Harry Potter sir! Dobby be delighted to watch over little Harry Potter babies!"
Harry smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he said, really meaning it. Dobby nodded and snapped his fingers, popping into the nursery.
"You ready?" he asked. She put a picture of James and Lily in her bag and nodded. "Yeah."
"Okay," he said, "let's go. Can't keep Sirius waiting, now can we?" he asked, grinning like a mad man.
She laughed and grabbed his hand. Together, they left to go to Hogsmead.
They walked around for a bit, just remembering the place. Hermione was the first to break the silence.
"Everything is different now, isn't it?" She asked, looking him in the eye.
He nodded, "Yeah… it will, I mean, it already has."
"Yeah, but now we'll be buying diapers, bottles, baby clothes, our lives will center on James and Lily." She sighed.
"Yeah, it will. But, it doesn't matter; I would give up the world for them." He looked at her, showing her that he meant it. "I know it's going to be hard, having kids at such a young age, but we'll manage. Hell, I might not even make it alive to next year. I want to have the best time, while I can."
Hermione glared at him. "Don't say that. Don't you dare say that. You're going to make it, and you know it." She started to tear up. "Please, please don't say that." Her voice had now gone to but a mere whisper.
He gathered her in his arms, "I'm sorry. I-I just don't know how long I'd be able to last." He looked at her, giving her a look that showed he was truly sorry. She sniffed and continued to walk, not paying attention whether or not Harry was following.
The walked in silence until they reached the Shrieking Shack. "Ready?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and they went in, making sure no one saw them while they did.
The door was rusty, creaky, and seemed to be half way off its hinges, but they paid no attention to that. They walked up the creaky steps until they reached a door with quiet a large hole near the bottom. They opened it and saw that Sirius was there waiting, still in his animangus form.
"Hey, Sirius," Harry said, walking in and sitting on the floor. Hermione smiled and Sirius and joined Harry on the floor.
Sirius barked and transformed back into his human form. He walked up to them and crushed them in a big bear hug. "Hey guys, long time no see." He pulled back a few moments later and grinned at them.
"Hermione, much smaller I see," he said grinning. Hermione glared at him playfully and slapped his arm. "Ouch!" he said, faking pain. Harry just chuckled. "Harry, I see you've grown a few inches, you're what now, 5'2''?"
"Shut up," Harry muttered, happiness gone. Sirius laughed and gave him another hug.
"I'm just kidding pup. Don't worry, you'll reach your growth spurt." Harry loosened up and smiled. "So, how is everything and everyone?" he asked.
Harry answered first. "It depends, James and Lily are great, and they're just about a month old now. Do you want to see pictures? I'm sure Hermione has them in her bag."
"Sure," Sirius replied. Hermione went into her bag and brought out a picture of the four just a week ago. James' hair was spiked (Hermione still had no idea how it stayed that way for so long) and being held by Harry, while Lily was being held by Hermione.
He smiled, "that's my grand god-children. I like James' hair, who did it, Harry?" Sirius asked. Harry grinned and nodded while Hermione rolled her eyes. He gave the picture back and asked about school.
"School, that's another story," Harry said.
Hermione nodded. "Dumbledore attacked Harry. I'm sure you've heard of it?"
"Yes," Sirius said, "something about an ancient curse, right?"
Both Harry and Hermione nodded at that.
"He survived, though. That was good," Hermione said quietly.
"Sure… if you call hovering between life and death for three days good," Harry retorted. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that." It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes now. "Don't roll your eyes at me Harry James."
"Okay," Sirius interrupted. "Let's talk without hexing each other, shall we?"
Harry sighed and nodded, as did Hermione. "Okay, what do you want to know?"
"First, I want to know why you were in the Hospital Wing, and why it was in the Prophet," Sirius said.
"Well, it all started with me being a champion. My name came out of the Goblet of Fire, making me a champion, and Dumbledore thought that I couldn't handle it. So, one day he wanted to 'talk' to me and Hermione, and then he suggested that we give up Lily and James, something which I'd never do. He also said that we had to go to our relatives homes, being as we can't stay with you since you're a murderer."
"No I'm not!" Sirius shouted.
"I know," Hermione said calmly. "But everyone else thinks that you are." Sirius huffed and let Harry continue.
"Well, after he said that we couldn't stay with you, I got really mad. I started shattering things in his office." Sirius rolled his eyes. "I wasn't the only one!" he said, looking at Hermione.
"Anyways," Hermione started, "Dumbledore used some sort of ancient spell on Harry. He nearly died!"
"That bastard, he's never setting foot in my home ever again," Sirius mumbled.
"What did you say?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing. Continue," Sirius said. Hermione nodded and started talking again.
"Well, then he just barely lived. A few days later, he was hit with some other curse, which one, I don't know." She sighed. "I just don't know what's gotten into Dumbledore."
Harry got up. "Can we please stop talking about that bastard?"
"One more question, pup; what's this I hear about you being a Triwizard Champion? From what I've heard, you have to be at least seventeen to enter," Sirius said.
"I don't know. I was just watching the Champions go up, and next thing I knew my name is called." He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I don't know if Dumbledore did this, though. He seemed really surprised when my name was called out. I don't know who did it, but I'm pretty sure they want me—" Harry was cut off by Hermione.
"Don't say that, Harry. You're not going to die!" She said, getting up and throwing her arms around Harry.
"But it's true, and you know it Hermione," he said.
Sirius got up. "C'mon, I bet we've been gone for a long time, let's go."
Hermione let of Harry and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
Sirius walked over to them and gave each of them a bear hug. "Take care and watch your backs." With that, he turned into his animangus form and trotted downstairs. Harry and Hermione walked down stairs not too long after.
0—0—0—0
Once Harry and Hermione got back to the castle, it was nearly dark. They discussed what the two other challenges could be. They also discussed what they were going to do during the holidays.
"I think that we should visit your parents, Sirius, and my aunt," Harry said, putting James in his crib.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Well, no, not really. I mean, Sirius I want to see for sure, but I'm not so sure about your parents." He walked over to Lily's swinging chair and picked her up.
"I think that we should see your aunt and Sirius. I don't really want to see my parents," Hermione said, taking Lily from Harry. She started whimpering. "Shh, here, you can eat. I bet you're hungry," she said to Lily.
"I… I think we should see everyone, including your parents. After all, they are James and Lily's grandparents. They might not like it, but they still are," he said.
She sighed. She was in no mood to argue right now. "Okay, we'll see my parents. I just hope they won't start yelling at us again."
"Yeah, that wouldn't be good." He walked to the couch and sat down. "Accio blanket," he said, pointing his wand at the blanket sitting by the desk. It came zooming towards him at once. He grinned to himself.
"Lazy," Hermione said playfully.
"I just wanted to see if I could still do it," he said seriously, though he was still grinning.
She rolled her eyes and got up. "C'mon, help me put Lily back and then we can have dinner."
"Sure."