Unexpectedly Expecting

21: A Very Luna Christmas

My next ultrasound appointment had been a hastle for Severus to get time off of work to attend with me. But to his credit, he did attend, and despite my growing crankiness due to my lack of sleep, Doctor Jade was a balm in helping us both acquire better pictures of the twins. Part of my crankiness was hormones and having to take bitter tasting potions that were better for me than the synthetic pills the hospital kept prescribing me, no doubt, and part of it was the morning sickness that broke my sleep cycle, even with the potion to deal with that. The smallest factor in my fatigue was simply the workload required of me as a sort of homeschool bound Hogwarts student. Lots of school work never phased me before, and I didn't let that phase me now. But sometimes, yes, the stress did get to me, because I needed my husband home by my side to do his part of running the estate, and I had to owl message him on what needed to be done.

Draco was in Hogwarts, and he helped where he could, but even so, he wasn't my husband, and I still wanted to be the Brightest Witch of Her Age who could do anything she sent her mind to, and all that wonderful girl power crap I wanted to still believe in. But even so, I hated to admit that I could not do it all.

I finished up my NEWT Herbology, Transfiguration, and DADA homework, although what Professor Carrow assigned was more grim than any of my previous instructors had ever assigned me. I learned way more about obscure curses that used to be Unforgivable, and the history of why the three main ones were listed by the Ministry of Magic was fascinating in and of itself. However, I doubt that most of the seventh years would agree with me. But then again, they didn't have a deatheater as a spouse either.

I was researching how the Cruciatus Curse was first used by Ragnok the Rebel in the 1890's, and so the Ministry decided that no magical citizen could use this form of magical manipulation to inflict on people, and beings after Ragnok's Rebellion was taken down. Of course, no one bothered to use the self flagrante curse any more, because hey, let's not copy religious mania in muggle sects to 'purge thy sin from thy unclean flesh.' I took thorough notes at one of the library study tables when one of the Manor owls flew in from one of the hidden upper passageways and gracefully deposited an envelope for me.

I pet the tawny brown Barn Owl and fed it a treat before it nibbled my fingers affectionately before taking flight once again. I used a letter opener after seeing it was sealed with the triangular seal of the Deathly Hallows.

The letter read:

Hermione,

I don't know who else to write to during this time but as the wife of the Headmaster, I think you can help best. My dad has been taken by You Know Who's scum bags, and I'm not sure where. He wrote nice things about Harry Potter in the Quibbler, and I know you are an Order member too. The Lighthouse is not safe, and gets lonely at night. I want to stay with you, even though Neville and everyone says I'm Looney for even writing to ask this of you. Draco was always nice to me in private, and I know you and I are friends. Please say I can visit! We will have so much fun. Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top.

Love You As Much As Nifflers Love Shiny Things,

Luna

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

I chuckled at her last line, and wondered what Severus would think of such an arrangement. I looked outside the windows, and saw that it was snowing heavily outside. I summoned Smocky, and wrote out a note to Severus.

"Yes, Mistress," She popped in, rubbing at her slightly rounded belly. "What can Smocky do for you?"

"Can you take this note to one of the owls for Master Severus?" I asked.

She nodded. "Of course, Mistress. Is there...something else you needed?"

I grinned, "When did this happen?"
She blushed at my noticing her belly, "Oh...um...you know the floo cleaner master Cecil?"