“You know, when we were kids, and you and I didn’t talk, I never felt jealous of Ron and Hermione for being your friends”, Lyra told Harry as they lay together in bed that night. “I was frustrated that I was not the fourth person in the group. I was frustrated that they are your friends while I wasn’t. I was locked out, and most of it was my own fault for insulting your friends in your face, as if any normal person would do that and expect anything different to happen. But I felt the injustice of it all, of not being allowed to make amends and break through to you any more. I never wished Ron or Hermione to go away so that I could take their place with you. I didn’t want their place; I wanted my own. I wanted you to want me, as me. I was afraid of Hermione, because she could have easily ruined me. I felt she could easily take you, because she was a trusted friend and I was an enemy. She could tell you things against me and I would lose any chance with you, forever. I was incredibly happy, and also impressed by her, when I realised that she never did any such thing; in fact, she argued my case with you. I’m so happy to have such a wonderful woman as my friend, I could squeal. But Ron, I must admit, feels like someone who merely lucked into meeting you early on and making a good impression, and your friendship persisted because you were loyal, generous and kind. I feel that you deserve having Hermione as a friend, and since I’m also very protective of her, I feel that she deserves having you as a friend, too. You have a friendship based on virtue, loyalty, mutual support, kindness and intellectual compatibility. That’s one of the reasons why I was afraid of her – she would be a good wife for you, and the idea scared me more than anything, especially later, when you placed me in the “other” category, “not like other girls”, and yet, it was Hermione who told you that I wasn’t in the “other girls” category because I’m in the “wife” category. So, my perception of Hermione was between admiration and mortal terror, because I felt she’s a true threat. She could say a word and she would be your wife. I will be forever grateful to her for letting me have you.”
“I agree with you about Hermione. She was always a true friend. There has never, ever been a single moment when she betrayed me, turned on me or acted as anything other than the best friend I could wish for. As for Ron… I am sad, disappointed and hurt because of how he acted, and because it isn’t the first time. He turned on me several times before. He would be the best friend I could wish for, and then something tripped a switch inside his mind and he would become… whatever it is that he is now. Jealous, nasty, malicious, hostile.” Harry shrugged, obviously troubled. “I’m having very complicated emotions about this. Mostly frustration, betrayal and pain, though.”
“Let me cheer you up then”, she smiled and nibbled his earlobe. “My period is two weeks late and I’ve been having slight morning sickness. I think I’m pregnant.”
“Woah”, he smiled brightly. “That’s wonderful. No more beer for you, though”, he joked as he kissed her.
“I’ll survive”, she snickered into his neck. “But let’s celebrate this properly.” She looked at him very suggestively as his grin widened.
…
“Will you allow me to crush your hand again, some nine months from now?” Lyra joked with Hermione.
“You’re pregnant!”, Hermione glowed and embraced her.
“Just a little bit”, Lyra laughed.
“Well, this might be a good opportunity to reveal my little surprise as well”, Hermione grinned impishly.
“No!” Lyra gasped “How long?”
“I’m almost three weeks late”, Hermione glowed.
“Almost the same”, Lyra embraced her friend. “I’m so happy. Does Viktor know?”
“Yes, but we waited until I was sure it’s not a false alarm, and by now I’m pretty sure”.
“We have to tell Harry”.
“Tell me what?”, he smiled as he entered the room and saw two glowing women hugging.
“I think I’m three weeks pregnant”, Hermione looked at him with a bright smile.
Harry knelt down beside them. “That’s amazing”. All three of them touched heads. “I love both of you so much”, he whispered.
“Woah, I wish I had a camera”, Viktor smiled as he walked in.
“The girls are both pregnant”, Harry looked at him, smiling. “I just found out about Hermione. I love all of you”.
“I love you too, buddy”, Viktor fist-bumped his shoulder. “Lyra too? Then congratulations are in order”, he kissed Lyra’s hand. “How long?”
“I’m just over two weeks late and I’m getting queasy in the mornings”, she smiled at him. “If all goes well, we’ll be giving birth within a week of each other”.
“We’ll have to notify the Ministry”, Viktor smiled at the glowing woman. “It’s good that work has been incredibly slow lately. Dark sorcery went out of fashion, the Death Eaters have all been dealt with, the Dementors are extinct, and all other threats are minor. We may all end up being fired”, he joked.
“Now thats’ a drawback of doing your job too well, but I’m not complaining”, Harry laughed. “The three of us can always brush up and play Quidditch professionally, and Hermione can be our cheerleader.”
“I never tried to catch a snitch in inclement weather while pregnant”, Lyra grinned. “That might be quite something, but I think I’ll pass”.
“Safety first”, Harry nodded and kissed her forehead.
“I can’t wait to tell Teddy and Andromeda”, Hermione smiled. “They said they’ll be here this afternoon”.
Crookshanks the cat came to see what the commotion is about. “Oh hello”, Hermione cuddled with him. “Nice to see that you haven’t forgotten about me altogether”, she smiled.
“Kreacher”, Harry whispered and the Elf apparated with a crack. “I thought you’d like to know. Both ladies revealed that they are pregnant again. We’re going to have more babies in the family.”
Kreacher smiled. “This is very good. The family will go on. When Master and the Mistresses are ready, tell Kreacher how they want the nursery set up”.
“It will be at least half a year from now, but thank you, Kreacher”, Hermione beamed at him. “But for now, I think Lily and James woke up; let’s bring them down here”.