Unexpectedly Expecting

43: Baby Shower Time

Hermione

The Manor was decorated all festive and girly as any baby shower has ever looked. I know that I attended a few baby showers from distant cousins of mine in France, and it was all fun, and odd in a way because the party seemed to celebrate the pregnant lady's fertility, and how happy the occasion was that another life was coming into the world. Gifts are exchanged, silly games played, and food is eaten. Yay! I just never thought such a party would be centered on me, or my ability to have a child.

Luna helped me with planning the party, along with our other friends when they could get some time off school. Upon awakening in bed, I took the time to study my husband's face, and he looked so peaceful, and boyish; it was as if the burdens he carried in his waking life were set down, and he could look like a youngish wizard, instead of the hardened deatheater he had to play in public. I wrote him a note, and pinned it to my pillow before getting ready to leave.

I gave orders to the school house elves to have coffee and breakfast made, and I ate a bit before going off to deliver my homework to my teachers. I then networked a bit with my friends, and I saw Severus from time to time, but he was busy with his own work schedule that I didn't want to bother him.

I then went home with Luna via the floo network, and she remarked, "In a few months, I'll be having one of these silly parties as well, I guess. Are you excited that the twins are almost here?"

I rubbed my big belly. "I'm more excited to actually have a waist again, but yes, Luna, I do very much want to see my boys."

"I want to see my...girl too."

I clapped my hands together excitedly. "Really?? Does Draco know?"

Luna's grin was sly. "Nope."
"But you'll tell him?"
"At the shower."

"How exciting. Shall we do our yoga session? I think we have time before the guests arrive."

"I think that sounds ideal."

We separated to change into our work out clothes. I hated to look so big and about to deliver while she still had that cute quaffle belly that I quite liked in the beginning of my pregnancy. We went downstairs, and got into our routine of meditation, stretching, and relaxing before finishing up with a relaxing swim in the nude.

We changed into our exercise clothes afterwards, and I got ready for the baby shower by dressing as a pureblood witch would for such an occasion. The guests began arriving, and the house elves handled the gifts that seemed to be piling up at an alarming rate in my mind. Who needs this much crap? Certainly, not the parents that was for sure.

Our friends cooed and kept rubbing my belly and Luna's as well, and when Draco and Severus arrived they were awash in the ocean of estrogen, and their discomfiture was slightly amusing, because they were the ones to bring about the babies to begin with. After the fourth game of Guess the Baby Food, I ducked into the solarium after winking to Severus to follow me. His secret grin told me that he was just as fed up with this party.

I was halfway to the beach when he tapped my right shoulder. I turned around, and I hugged him. He hugged me back, and he gave me a soft kiss by way of greeting, but his face was troubled, although a lay person would say he was just as stoic looking as usual.

"Walk with me," He requested.
"Of course."

He laced his fingers through mine as we walked down the beach ramp to get to the beach properly. We walked in silence for a bit before he broke the silence, "I connected to our sons last night via legilimency."

"You mean like we connect sometimes?"

"Yes, you could say that. One will be a veela, the other....if events follow as they are currently, he will have a mage bond with a dragon, and so will I."