The Third Time is a Charm

Posted: 13 February 2010

Chapter 71 Here come the Babies

Every since Dumbledore’s veiled threats, the Prince family and those extended family members had to be more careful. That day had become a turning point for the business and the Prince family personally. Harry and Salazar were successful in getting to the Chamber of Secrets undetected. They obtained the time mirror so at different intervals, when a window was open, they could watch past, current and future events. Sometimes the future events were murky and Sal said that was because they were not set in stone and could change with time.

Salazar’s beloved familiar was put to rights and that nasty old spell that Tom had used to control her was no longer a problem. It had been a good spell according to Sal and they ended up modifying it instead of removing it. Now it was attached to Salazar so Tom couldn't have power over her anymore. They fixed up a nice warm place for her in a huge fireplace in the Chambers. They had even managed to take two of the Hogwarts mirrors. The room with the viewing mirrors was almost identical to the one in the other time line. Harry was reminded how he almost lost Hedwig when she flew away just before the Headmaster came after her in his own time. Sometimes it was quite strange seeing things newer and other people younger than he remembered. It had a surreal feel to it while he was in the Chambers.

Regulus had found certain restrictive spells on Fawkes' perch, but not the one that chained him to the perch. He was able to disable the spells without the Headmaster finding out as the old coot had been engaged in a heated 'discussion' with Severus. He smiled at the memory. If he had attempted anything like that just four months ago he would have botched it disastrously. He and Moony both were trying to understand why the old man had threatened their boss. It just didn't fit with their version of their former Headmaster.

Harry would never forget the look of agony on Severus' face when they finally flew on the brooms out of the Forbidden Forest Exit. He and Sal had spent more than three hours in the Chamber and it was two hours longer than planned. The feeling of relief the older husband felt, on seeing Harry safe and sound, almost had his legs buckling. Harry hadn't realized just how worried Severus was about his well being. Not for the first time he thanked the Gods that they had found each other.

After a few of the Hogwarts graduating students applied for jobs with Prince Conglomerate, they caught three that were new Order of the Phoenix members. They had to immediately put a freeze on hiring anyone in the company except other magical beings until they went through the entire list of personnel, both magical and muggle, to catch any more of Dumbledore’s lackeys. There were a few that had some sort of tie to the Headmaster, but in order to keep their jobs, they took a Wizard’s Oath to not reveal anything that was going on within the company, or about the company to anyone outside their walls, or who was not a superior in the company. It seems the memo that had been circulated before somehow missed the newer people that had come to work since the notice was first sent.

Severus, Regulus, Moony, Harry and Salazar had been updating the text books that would be out for publication. The first year texts were almost complete and would be out before the supply lists were issued by Hogwarts. They already had orders for them in some of the other countries, so each text came with its own translation charms so the student would be able to read the book in their own language. Becca, when she wasn’t resting, was working on several children’s books, but they were waiting till the baby was born before trying to finish them or publish them. Everything was running very smoothly. It was almost a recipe for disaster; nothing every stayed smooth where Harry Potter was concerned.

On June fourth, just before dinner, they received a floo call from Lucius that Narcissa had gone into labor and he was taking her to St. Mungo’s. Becca volunteered to take care of the twins, but Lucius said for now he was letting the house elves take care of things as Becca was nearly seven and a half months pregnant herself and he didn’t want to further burden her. Walburga was going to stop over there later to check on things after seeing them at the hospital.

The Malfoy’s were still not officially associated with the Prince Company so the Prince family could not be at the hospital to support Narcissa and wait with them. They had to be content with waiting at home for the news that Draco Lucius Malfoy was born. According to the other time lines, the wait was going to be awhile as he was born on the fifth of June. Of course, Becca being pregnant with Evan and Harry pregnant with another child proved that they had changed some events in history. It was hard to predict what would and would not stay the same even with the time mirror.

They received word at five the next morning that after eleven hours of labor Narcissa had a healthy baby boy and both mother and son were doing just fine. Becca envied her as she looked at the huge protruding ball that was supposed to be her nice flat stomach. She wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, but she really was ready to be over the pregnancy.

She looked over at Harry who was now sporting a good size baby bump of his own. Doc had guesstimated that Harry would give birth about a month or so after Becca would. Some guys had all the luck. The only thing they could think of is that, for some reason, the power boosts Harry and Severus experienced prior to and during the wedding, accelerated the gestation period for the infant. They hadn’t as of yet told anyone if they knew what the gender would be.

As spring turned into summer, Becca spent most of her time with Harry lying on the sofas in the sitting room with their feet propped up, and trying to think of weird things to eat to aggravate the men in the house. They were sure that Severus and Salazar had absolutely no sympathy as far as the carriers were concerned. Remus and Tonks would bring Teddy and visit with them sometimes, but Tonks knew the hyperactive two year old would be a little much for the two pregnant carriers, so their visits were few. Harry thought he might make Severus carry the child next time, but he knew that idea would never come to fruition.

“How about chips and sardines swimming in cream and chocolate?” Becca announced to Harry as they were both had just woken up from a light snooze.

“Maybe, but change the sardines to anchovies. That would do the trick.” was the comeback from the young man as he lay on the sofa shifting around a bit to get more comfortable.

“How about apples dipped in mustard sauce with chocolate sprinkles on top with diced onions.” Becca quipped back.

“I don’t know, I don’t think the baby likes onions, how about diced radishes instead?”

They were not even paying attention to the two men that had entered the room about five minutes ago.

“What are they doing?” Salazar whispered to Severus as they stood in a darkened corner to watch the two banter back and forth.

“Trying to make each other sick, it appears to me.”

“Do they really crave those things?”

“I don’t know and I really don’t want to find out. They have been keeping the house elves busy with their concoctions of odd foods. The other day I heard Becca tell one of the elves that she wanted pomegranates of all things, absolutely had to have some. She was most upset to know they were not in season and the elf could not acquire any. When she started crying, the elf was so distressed it contacted a cousin of a cousin with a good friend that had a brother to a house elf on a farm. They finally located some late blooming fruit in the southern most part of Europe. The season usually ends in May there but one grower was experimenting with making some of the trees bear fruit longer with weather charms. It also seems that in the Northern Hemisphere the season doesn’t start until September so she is demanding them in the middle of both seasons.”

“Pomegranates? What did she want with them?” Salazar asked.

“Apparently she wants to mix the seeds in with her strawberry ice cream and chocolate sauce with pickles. I have noticed that chocolate is always a running theme in these food fantasies of theirs.”

“Do you think we should put an end to it?”

“No, I think she and Harry have made a game of it to see who can come up with the most disgusting idea in hopes of gaining our sympathy or perhaps to punish us because we are not the ones pregnant, I haven’t decided which.

“We can hear you guys you know.” Harry said in a loud voice from across the room to where the two men were hiding in the corner. "Do you want to make a suggestion or just talk about us behind our backs?" He was acting grumpy, no not acting, he was grumpy but he couldn’t help it.

"Harry, love" Severus approached the young man cautiously. “We only thought you were asleep when we came in and didn't want to disturb you. We would never talk about you behind your backs." Severus was so praying to not have a repeat of last week when Harry put him out of the bedroom for three days because he suggested he get some new clothes as his old clothes were too tight. He then had Seamstress Sissy modify all Harry's clothes without him knowing about it so they would fit and he wouldn't be upset. He was thinking about that day as he unconsciously rubbed his left forearm where he swore he could still feel the effects of the stinging hex Harry threw his way.

"Come sit here Severus and give me your hand." Harry demanded softly. Severus approached the younger man warily and sat down on the small table in front of the sofa that Harry was laying on. He gave his husband his hand, not knowing if Harry wanted to hold it or bite it. He would be very grateful when he was over the pregnancy hormones. Doc said he thought Harry had it worse because of the accelerated pregnancy and everything happening too fast. Severus certainly hoped he didn’t go through this every time they had kids. He was sure they would want more, but right now he was willing to stop at two just to avoid the mood swings again.

Harry gently pulled his husband’s hand toward his belly. The baby had started kicking up a storm earlier and he was sure Severus would want to be a part of that. He carefully moved Severus’ hand around until he felt the baby move again. Then Harry put his own hand on top of his husband’s so he would not move it. After a few seconds, the little slugger kicked a good wallop into the palm of his father’s hand.

Severus nearly jumped he was so startled. Harry’s stomach was moving and visibly kicked his hand, nearly knocking it out of place. He looked at the younger man, who by now had a huge grin on his face. Harry nodded to him and moved Severus’ hand again to where the fetus had moved. Again Severus was kicked.

“Is that the baby?” He asked incredulously.

“Yeah, I am betting on a beater with that kind of activity. Sometimes the baby wakes me up at night with the acrobatics going on in there.” They still didn’t know the gender as Doc said every time he threw a spell at Harry to get a reading, the magic interfered. He had even tried a muggle machine to do an ultrasound and it shorted out. They would have to wait until the birth to find out if it was a boy or girl.

“Is that why you have been sleeping so much? Is there anything we can do to quiet the baby? Let’s ask Doc if there is something you can take to settle the little one down at night so you can sleep better.” Severus started babbling as he started to worry about his lover.

“Sev!” Harry interrupted his mutterings. “You are mothering me, again. There is nothing wrong and the more the baby moves, the healthier it is. This is just something all carriers have to go through. Becca has the same problem, which is why we take naps.” They already had the argument about Harry feeling mothered and after Harry blew up one of the labs, Severus was very careful not to repeat that offense.

Is there anything I can get you now? Anything you need?”

“Yes, Becca and I would like some strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce and pickles.” Severus had seen this combination and knew it was their favorite. He glanced over at Becca and saw her nod her head in agreement. Sal, he noticed, was sitting on the sofa with her feet in his lap giving her a foot massage.

“I will get it right away.” Severus answered Harry. But as he started to leave the room he heard Harry yell, “Don’t forget the pomegranate seeds on top!”

“Yes, my love” was the reply that could be heard from the hallway as Severus made his way to the kitchen.

As time moved on and it was getting close to the middle of July, there was a tension in the manor that just didn’t seem to let up. Doc was monitoring both Harry and Becca very closely as their times drew near for birth. Harry, being a male pregnancy was especially at risk, but Doc was sure that magic herself had a hand in what was happening and he didn’t worry or alarm the two men. He thought things would be just fine.

Becca was two weeks away from her due date, when she cried out in pain as she and Harry were once again lying down in the sitting room, keeping each other company.

“Oh not now!” she cried “It’s too soon. Not yet. Salazar!!!” She started panting and the cramping was bad. “Harry, get Severus!” Before Harry could even move, Seventh Born was making her way to the floo and transported herself to the lab. Meanwhile a house elf popped into Doc’s office. The elf only said “Mistress Becca needs you!” before grabbing his hand and popping him back to the manor. All in all, it only took three minutes before the young woman had an entourage clamoring to help her.

Doc looked at his long time patient and asked “Becca, honey, do you think you can move to the bedroom?” Becca quickly shook her head no. She was not moving until it quit hurting.

Doc quickly transfigured the sofa into an examination bed and put up curtains all the way around it. Then he spelled silencing charms in the enclosed area. He wanted Becca to have as much privacy as possible for the examination.

After he looked at her and finish his exam, he quietly told her that she was not really in labor, but this is what they called false labor. She was only dilated two centimeters and would have another few weeks wait from what he could tell.

“Are you alright to see the family, or do you want me to leave the spells as they are.”


“No, I want to see them. That’s why Harry and I stay in this room. It’s too confining in our bedrooms when we have to rest all the time.” He knew that even as a small child, she always liked to have a small cot in the library with one of her grandfathers rather than be in her room when she was sick.

“Alright, honey. Let’s let them know what is going on before someone else needs me because they had a heart attack.”

He removed the spells and took down the curtains and charms. When he told them what exactly was going on, he could see all of them breathe a sigh of relief. It wouldn’t hurt the baby to be born two weeks early, but the nine month gestation was best.

Almost two weeks to the day, the cramping started again. It was the thirtieth of July and Becca had been having back pains all morning. She didn’t feel like eating lunch and was restless and out of sorts. As she was lying in the sitting room with Harry while reading a book, she shouted as the pain in her back traveled to the front with a hard spasm.

“Harry, I think it’s time.” That was all Becca had to say before Seventh Born once again went to the floo and activated it to get to the lab. The house elf popped into the medical ward to get Doc. He was in the middle of seeing a patient when the elf came in and grabbed his hand and transported him back to Mistress Becca without a word. It was a good thing his assistant was in the room with him and could take care of his appointments.

“So, little girl, are you ready this time?” the Doc asked his favorite patient.

“I” Becca stated firmly, “was ready two months ago. I think the correct question would be ‘is the baby ready’. All I can say is it better be; I want to see my feet again.”

Doc let out a chuckle and asked Becca, “Do you think you can get to your room?”

“You will have to help me. I don’t want to have the baby in this room. Severus, Harry and Sal should be in there also.” Becca said. She wanted the men to experience the birth of their son, but she wanted Salazar to be there for love and support.

“That can be arranged. I will call to the clinic and make sure a nurse comes when the shift changes. For now we just need to monitor you and track your progression.”

When they got into the bedroom, Doc checked Becca and was surprised. “Becca” he said quietly, “the baby hasn’t dropped into the birth canal. We may have to do a caesarian birth. You are ready to give birth, but the baby is too high.”

“I don’t know what that means. Is the baby ready to come out or not?”

“I would say the baby isn’t ready, but your body is. We can wait a little while before making any decisions, but you need to get up and walk around to see if he will drop lower for a natural birth.”

Doc then explained to the men what was happening. Severus and Salazar took turns walking with Becca for the next few hours. She couldn’t take it anymore.

“That’s it, I have had enough. Go tell Doc we are going to do the caesarian birth and quit all this waiting and walking. My feet hurt and I can’t stand any more.” She then turned to Sal who just so happened to be the one by her side. “Please” she almost begged “take me back to my room and let me lie down.”

Salazar looked into her face. Her cheeks were flushed from the exertion of walking, her hair was sweaty and matted and there were dark circles under her eyes and to him she was the most beautiful person he ever met. He did as she requested and told Doc that she could not wait for the natural birth, she wanted to have the baby now.

Doc had taken the time Becca was gone to sterilize the room and make it suitable for surgery. He had a feeling it was going to be this way and he wanted to be prepared for anything. When Becca got into the bed, it was a hospital bed in place of her normal one. She sighed with relief as she lay back down on the mattress.

“Becca, I am going to need a nurse to come and help with the surgery. I also want a backup in case there is anything that needs taken care of while we perform the surgery. Are you alright with this?”

Becca nodded her head and closed her eyes. She was so tired.

By the time everything was in place and Doc felt Becca was ready, it was approaching midnight. She asked Doc to put it off for fifteen more minutes so the baby would have the July thirty-first birthday. At exactly 12:01 AM on July thirty-first, Evan Sebastian Prince was born.


A/N So, can you believe that there are now 22,084 hits on this story? That is so awesome. Thank you to those who wrote a review, I really appreciate them. Our list continues to grow kaasan, Birdie, tamikolee, water, Erin Lanette, Shadowwolf03, and nari-chan. Some of you have reviewed more than once while I was ill. You guys ROCK. I also want to say that there are over 200 votes, thank you to all who really take the time to read this.