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“DAAAA! Play!”
“DAAAAAAA”
Oliver slowly opened an eye as he felt three small bodies bounce on the mattress around him. “Why are my three wee bairn bouncing and yelling in my bed before the sun has risen?”
“Because, mo leannan, the sun has risen, and I could not keep them out any longer.” Hermione tried not to laugh as she opened the curtains in their bedroom. “Your three children have patiently waited for you to wake up so they could play in the garden before they go to Nan Molly’s house.”
“I wouldna call what just happened quiet,” Oliver grumbled as he tried to pull the cover back over his head. “I dinna get home until after midnight, and it’s….”
“After 10 in the morning, love.” Hermione sat on the edge of the mattress, trying to control the three jumping beans disguised as their children that had attacked Oliver. “And someone promised he would play with his children before then went to Nan Molly’s for the weekend.”
“Mo ghradh, I canna,” Olver groaned as he felt the mattress dip beside him and small hands pat around, “What have you told the wee ones?”
Giggles rang through the room as his small bodies continued to crawl over the bed, hunting for their target.
“You might want to be prepared,” Hermione whispered over the covers near his head. “Mamam is going to the kitchen to fix breakfast. It does not sound like Da is under the covers. It sounds more like a grumpy tickle monster. We still have bags to pack before going to Nan Molly’s.”
“Da, come out and play.” Oliver tried to hide his grin as Micha pulled at the covers. “I’ll be good and help Mamam after we play, keeper’s honor.”
“Da, mine!’ Oliver felt the covers tug towards the foot of the bed as his littlest one joined the fray. “My payyyyy!
“Da, they won’t stop.” Anna’s voice was by his feet and sounded like she was trying to get between her brother and baby sister. “If we get in trouble, Mamam said no Nan Molly’s”
“Oi, my wee little terrors,” Oliver let the burr in his voice thickening. “Where are the sweet bairns that bring their Da tea and muffins before they pelt him with hands and voices?”
“I here, DAAAAA” Maisie pushed her way between her big brother and sister. “Not terror, I bairn. Micha terror, Anna MINE!”
Oliver sat up and held out his arms. “Alright, my wee three. Snuggles with Da before ye descend on yer Mamam like locus. Mama and I will miss ye while yer with Nan Molly and Papa.”
“Da, you can stay with us at Nan Molly’s. She won’t mind.” Micha snuggled up to Oliver and patted his face. “Unca Harry says the world could fit at Nan Molly’s with room left more.”
“The Burrow is not that big.” Anna scowled at her twin as she snuggled into Oliver’s other side and held her arm out for her little sister. “Mamam has to add extra spells when everybody is there, so the secret rooms show up.”
“Nana Molly and Papa,” Maisie added her thoughts to her siblings’ arguments. “Love me.”
“Now, my wee terrors, Nan Molly has declared this visit for wee ones only.” Oliver lost his battle with his laughter as his children tried to convince him to come. “Da has promised Mamam a quiet weekend while ye visit with your Nan and cousin at the Burrow. Can ye three handle that?”
“I see you three have gotten what you wanted.” Hermione sighed as she leaned against the doorframe and took in the scene before her. “There are plates of bacon, eggs and fruit on the table if anyone is interested, but the three wee terrors might want to hurry. Da played a big match last night, and I think I just heard a rumble.”
Oliver’s laugh followed his children out of the room as they scrambled to beat him to the breakfast table.
******
“The house is almost too quiet, mo ghrad.” Oliver snuggled into Hermione’s shoulder as he looked around their sitting room. “Are you sure we can’t just stay here? Quiet is just the same here as it is in Venice.”
“As much as I would love to stay snuggled with you on the sofa, mo leannan, we have a portkey to catch.” Hermione sighed as she felt Oliver’s lips slide along the sensitive skin of her neck. “This may be our last chance to travel for a while. At least travel without your team or our hoard. I want to wander the streets surrounded by brightly painted villas and watch beautiful ace being made without waddling. Just a quiet holiday for two.”
“I can see yer point, mo ghard.” Oliver gave a light nip to the back of her neck before he moved to get off the sofa. “Our portkey activates in an hour, and a villa on the canals of Buanno is calling out names. Are ye sure ye can travel?”
“I’m fine, mo leannan.” Hermione placed one hand on her stomach and the other on his cheek. “I have done this a time or two. Just take me on holiday to Venice while you can.”
******
Hermione looked around the Burrow at the chaos that was her family of choice. Her big brawler of a husband was tussling on the floor with her three not-so-little hellions as her two best friends belted out, “Baby, it’s cold outside,” to the supreme embarrassment of their significant others.
“So, this is what a family is supposed to look like?” Draco’s question did not surprise Hermione as he stepped up beside her. “I always thought Ron exaggerated his stories. But, the more time I spent here, the more I realized what was hidden behind those sweaters and hand-me-down robes.”
“This may not be what every family looks like,” Hermione patted Draco’s arm and returned to watch the activity in the sitting room of the Burrow. “But, this is what the family I got to choose looks like. Want to see something interesting?’
“What are you up to, Granger?” Draco raised an eyebrow as he watched a smile spread across Hermione’s face.
“Not Granger anymore, Malfoy. Do you know how to get a Weasley’s attention?” Hermione all but giggled as she started to wade into the tangle that was the activities on the sitting room floor.
“No, Granger-Wood, what magic do you know that I don’t.”
“Just watch…”
Hermione knelt beside Oliver and whispered. “It is time.”
Every person in the room turned to the sound of her whisper.
“My three wee terrors, shall we tell Nan Molly our secret?” Oliver gathered his three children on his lap and tried to settle them down.
“Secret, Da?” Maisie stopped trying to pull her sister’s hair and looked at her father with big eyes.
“We can tell now?” Micha and Anna whispered as they looked at their parents.
“Yes, but only if you whisper to your little sister.” Hermione braced for the noise that she knew was about to come.
Micha and Anna sat on either side of Maisie and put their lips to her little ears. “Mamam’s going to have a baby.”
Masie’s squeals of “Baby” were quickly drowned by exclamations of joy from the rest of their family.
“Magic,” Hermione whispered as she soaked in the love that filled the room and her heart. “Magic.”