\u201cYou know, when we were kids, and you and I didn\u2019t talk, I never felt jealous of Ron and Hermione for being your friends\u201d, Lyra told Harry as they lay together in bed that night. \u201cI was frustrated that I was not the fourth person in the group. I was frustrated that they are your friends while I wasn\u2019t. 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\u2019t 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\u2019m 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\u2019m 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\u2019s one of the reasons why I was afraid of her \u2013 she would be a good wife for you, and the idea scared me more than anything, especially later, when you placed me in the \u201cother\u201d category, \u201cnot like other girls\u201d, and yet, it was Hermione who told you that I wasn\u2019t in the \u201cother girls\u201d category because I\u2019m in the \u201cwife\u201d category. So, my perception of Hermione was between admiration and mortal terror, because I felt she\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2026 I am sad, disappointed and hurt because of how he acted, and because it isn\u2019t 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\u2026 whatever it is that he is now. Jealous, nasty, malicious, hostile.\u201d Harry shrugged, obviously troubled. \u201cI\u2019m having very complicated emotions about this. Mostly frustration, betrayal and pain, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me cheer you up then\u201d, she smiled and nibbled his earlobe. \u201cMy period is two weeks late and I\u2019ve been having slight morning sickness. I think I\u2019m pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWoah\u201d, he smiled brightly. \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful. No more beer for you, though\u201d, he joked as he kissed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll survive\u201d, she snickered into his neck. \u201cBut let\u2019s celebrate this properly.\u201d She looked at him very suggestively as his grin widened.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you allow me to crush your hand again, some nine months from now?\u201d Lyra joked with Hermione.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re pregnant!\u201d, Hermione glowed and embraced her.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little bit\u201d, Lyra laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, this might be a good opportunity to reveal my little surprise as well\u201d, Hermione grinned impishly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Lyra gasped \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m almost three weeks late\u201d, Hermione glowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost the same\u201d, Lyra embraced her friend. \u201cI\u2019m so happy. Does Viktor know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but we waited until I was sure it\u2019s not a false alarm, and by now I\u2019m pretty sure\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to tell Harry\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me what?\u201d, he smiled as he entered the room and saw two glowing women hugging.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m three weeks pregnant\u201d, Hermione looked at him with a bright smile.<\/p>\n
Harry knelt down beside them. \u201cThat\u2019s amazing\u201d. All three of them touched heads. \u201cI love both of you so much\u201d, he whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWoah, I wish I had a camera\u201d, Viktor smiled as he walked in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe girls are both pregnant\u201d, Harry looked at him, smiling. \u201cI just found out about Hermione. I love all of you\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too, buddy\u201d, Viktor fist-bumped his shoulder. \u201cLyra too? Then congratulations are in order\u201d, he kissed Lyra\u2019s hand. \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just over two weeks late and I\u2019m getting queasy in the mornings\u201d, she smiled at him. \u201cIf all goes well, we\u2019ll be giving birth within a week of each other\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to notify the Ministry\u201d, Viktor smiled at the glowing woman. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u201d, he joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow thats\u2019 a drawback of doing your job too well, but I\u2019m not complaining\u201d, Harry laughed. \u201cThe three of us can always brush up and play Quidditch professionally, and Hermione can be our cheerleader.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never tried to catch a snitch in inclement weather while pregnant\u201d, Lyra grinned. \u201cThat might be quite something, but I think I\u2019ll pass\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSafety first\u201d, Harry nodded and kissed her forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait to tell Teddy and Andromeda\u201d, Hermione smiled. \u201cThey said they\u2019ll be here this afternoon\u201d.<\/p>\n
Crookshanks the cat came to see what the commotion is about. \u201cOh hello\u201d, Hermione cuddled with him. \u201cNice to see that you haven\u2019t forgotten about me altogether\u201d, she smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cKreacher\u201d, Harry whispered and the Elf apparated with a crack. \u201cI thought you\u2019d like to know. Both ladies revealed that they are pregnant again. We\u2019re going to have more babies in the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kreacher smiled. \u201cThis is very good. The family will go on. When Master and the Mistresses are ready, tell Kreacher how they want the nursery set up\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be at least half a year from now, but thank you, Kreacher\u201d, Hermione beamed at him. \u201cBut for now, I think Lily and James woke up; let\u2019s bring them down here\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cYou know, when we were kids, and you and I didn\u2019t talk, I never felt jealous of Ron and Hermione for being your friends\u201d, Lyra told Harry as they lay together in bed that night. \u201cI was frustrated that I … Continue reading