Moonlight Sonata

Hermione let out a sigh as she settled into bed beside her husband, smiling as he immediately cuddled into her, his hand on her now large stomach. She was content with him, relaxing herself enough to start to drift off.

Still, it was difficult. Due in only a few weeks, the public's curiousity had reached a fever pitch, and the Prophet was already declaring its victory in the war over the father of these as yet unborn twins. She shifted, scowling a bit as she hit her pillow in guise of fluffing it up, only to have her husband pull her close.

“...are you alright, dear?” He murmured into her shoulder, pausing a moment to yawn.

“...my back is a little sore, that's all.” She responded, blinking as he pushed himself up on one arm to lean over her. “What is it?”

“...why don't you go take a shower? That always seems to help when you're sore and frustrated.” He smiled a bit, sliding out of the bed. “...I'll go start one while you get undressed.”

He headed into the bathroom, turning on the shower and waiting for it to warm up. He stepped away to get towels out, setting out her hairbrush and a hair tie for the braid she would put it in after she got out. As he stuck his hand under the spray to test the warmth, he heard the door open behind him.

“It's ready when you are.” He told her, turning to see her standing and leaning against the bathroom counter, her hand on her back and a frown on her face. “What is it?”

“It's just...so sore.” She winced a bit, shaking her head. “I can't figure out what I did to it.”

“Here, come sit down.” He murmured, helping her over to the edge of the tub, only to freeze as she let out a quiet yelp and shoved him back. As he tripped and fell to land on his rear, he stared at the puddle at her feet, taking a moment before realization arrived. “Hermione! Gods! You're in labor!”

“...and my water just broke...” She managed, grabbing one towel to throw it onto the puddle, and another to mop up the mess on her legs. “...and I'm naked. ...Get the others, I'm getting dressed. I'll meet you in the birthing room.”

“Like hell you will!” He growled, helping her into the bedroom and throwing a nightgown to her, before stepping out the door and calling for one of the house elves, sending it off to get his parents and the healer first, followed by the Satoshi twins. As soon as the elf disappeared, Hermione opened the door behind him to scowl slightly. “Yes, I sent one of the elves. Now is not the time to berate me, it was the easiest way and you know it.”

“...I hate it when you're right.” She grumbled, accepting his arm to lean on him as they headed to the room just down the hall. A few moments after he had settled her on the bed, Narcissa, the healer, and both twins burst through the door, though the girls were considerably less graceful, both only two or so months away from this experience themselves.

“Alright, get out.” The healer ordered, only to glare as Draco ignored her and settled onto the bed behind his wife, rubbing at her back gently. As none of the others looked eager to support her, she set into preparing the room, putting up wards and silencing spells, muttering about the gall of young men these days under her breath.

“Draco. I hate this.” Hermione hissed, her hands clenching one of Eriko's and one of Akiko's, both girls sitting on either side of her while Narcissa prepared an area for the baby itself.

“It will pass.” He whispered, kissing the top of her head as he continued to knead her lower back. “And it will be worth it.”

“I know.” She whimpered slightly, her hands clenching. “...but it hurts.”

“You would be the one woman who doesn't set into cursing the anatomy of the father.” Eriko chuckled, brushing her friend's hair back out of her face. “This will pass. And just think, you get to watch us go through it too.”

“That's supposed to make me feel better?!” Hermione stared at her friend, who only started laughing harder at the look on her face. “Eriko, this hurts like hell! Why would I be happy that you have to go through it too?!”

“Because Akiko is going to set Fred on fire and we know it.”

“Hey!” Akiko protested, glaring over at her sister. “You'll end up demanding knives to castrate George with, so you don't have any room to talk!”

“I will not want to castrate my husband.” Eriko retorted. “...however, less enjoyable body parts may have to go. He doesn't need his ear, right?”

After several horribly nerve-wracking hours of Hermione's screams, she was down to whimpers and groans of pain, though this was not any easier for those in the room with her. Soon, Narcissa found herself being passed one of the children, hurrying to clean, dry, and wrap it. Though she could see it breathing easily, bleary eyes looking around in confusion, it did not cry. Akiko, detatching herself from her friend, hurried over as with a final yelp of pain, the second child emerged to fill the room with its own voice.

Hermione collapsed into Draco's arms, breathing heavily, her grip finally releasing Eriko's hand. The young woman stared at it for a moment, as though she had forgotten it was there, before shaking it out and reaching with her free hand for the damp cloth on the table beside her, wiping the sweat and tears from Hermione's face.

“...you okay?” Draco whispered, letting out a sigh of relief as she nodded. They were struck silent as Narcissa and Akiko rejoined them on the bed, Hermione extending her arms to have both children settled against her chest, staring up at her with bright silver eyes. That, combined with their blond hair, would leave no question as to who their father was.

“They have your nose, Hermione.” Eriko whispered, a small smile on her face. “And your cheekbones.”

“...but they have their father's chin.” Hermione smiled up at her husband, who was staring at the three below him, a large grin on his face. “...bet they'll have his smile too.”

“But...there aren't any markings.” Draco murmured, his head tilting to the side slightly. “...are they girls?”

“Oh, they're boys. And they definitely have marks.” Narcissa told them, reaching forward to pull down the blanket, revealing two perfectly symettrical markings on either side of his chest. They began thick at the shoulder, a short distance from the base of his neck, running along the outside of his collarbone. They narrowed to end in points just shy of touching. Draco stared a moment, reaching out to trail his finger down the one on the left side, watching as the child's eyes closed and he let out a contented sigh.

“...does the color mean anything?” He questioned Eriko, as his hand drew back and Narcissa replaced the blanket.

“Not yet. We won't find out what they are until they're older.” She told him, smiling down at the twin boys. “That's why they're black now.”

The group fell quiet, Narcissa passing the younger of the two to Draco, while Hermione fed the older boy. They traded off a time later, Draco sliding out from behind his wife to sit beside her, holding his oldest son with a smile on his face. When both children were fed, Narcissa got up to get Lucius, only for the group to blink in surprise as Luna followed him in.

“George sent for me.” She told them easily, moving to take Narcissa's place on the bed, a smile on her face. “He thought it might be a good idea to take the pictures now, while it's obvious they were only just born. ...they're beautiful, Hermione.”

“That was a good idea.” Eriko smiled proudly as her husband slunk into the room, obviously worried he was going to get yelled at. “Thank you, George.”

A short time later, after seeing the newborn boys settled into their bassinets in their parents' room, and Hermione into her own bed – after a shower she had to threaten half the family to be allowed to have – the others left the new parents to sleep while they could.

“...come along, Lucius.” Narcissa whispered, drawing her husband away from the bedroom door, where he had been watching over his family for the past ten minutes. “...we need to get to sleep ourselves...”

“You were right, Narcissa.” He murmured as he closed the door behind them, and they headed down the hall. “...she was perfect for our family.”