Shadow - Sequel To Light

Chapter Five: News

We had just finished the sorting ceremony and I was checking on Lily and James in their pram when I got word that Krum and Lady Lorne, the new headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, had both arrived. I smiled broadly and leaned over to Harry.

"They're here, hun." I smiled and he helped me stand, bending to kiss the babies before we headed to the podium. We had decided to make the announcement together because neither of us thought it right for just one of us to do it.

"Attention." Harry called, his deep voice stopping the conversations that were going on throughout the Hall.

"Now that we are all settled, the headmaster and I would like to make a special announcement." I smiled. "Sporadically over the years, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, have put on a special competition called the Triwizard Tournament."

"The headmistress and I are pleased to announce that the Triwizard Tournament is on for this year and, as the victor of the last tournament and the new co-headmaster of Hogwarts, I have been asked to host it." Harry finished and there was a loud applause. I stepped back applauding with the crowd at our victor. He smiled, playfully grabbing me and pulling me back. "Thank you all." He said when the applause died down. "Now, as the host of the competition, Hogwarts will be home to the other schools competing. The headmistress and I both ask that you be welcoming to our guest. So, without further adieu, please welcome the lovely ladies from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress, Lady Lorne." Harry finished and the door opened for the girls to come in. After they were finally in their seats, it was my turn to announce our other visitor.

"Also, welcome the Durmstrang Institute and their headmaster, Viktor Krum." I finished and they came in. Krum stopped at the front where Harry and I stood and kissed my cheek then shook hands with Harry. "In addition to the competition, Hogwarts will be hosting events for the alumni of Hogwarts and the visiting schools. In between the events for the tournament, there will be alumni Quidditch matches and other fun activities to keep both students and alumni happy." I finished, just as I began hearing the babies fuss. I looked at Harry and he nodded so I excused myself from the rest of the announcements to take care of them. Harry finished speaking about the Goblet of Fire, how classes would be set up with our visitors and the rules of the competition then commenced the feast and came to help me with the babies.

"So Herm-own-ninny, I see you have child now." Krum commented as we ate and I cooed at Lily. I nodded with a smile and saw a tiny bit of disappointment flash in his eye. Harry kissed my temple, startling me, apparently I wasn't the only one who had seen that flash. Krum's eyes flashed to Harry and James, seeing the resemblance in them and the baby I was holding. "You know, I always knew something was happening between you two." He shook his head, turning to speak to Lady Lorne.

"That was a bit uncalled for, hun. He wasn't trying anything with me, he was just acknowledging a fact. He might have been disappointed by the news but he was going to deal. We could have broken it to him a little better than that, he probably thinks we lied when he and I dated." I murmured to him, bouncing the baby.

"Sorry, love, I got a little possessive." He grinned, not the least bit sorry.

I giggled, swatting his arm. We made it through supper without incident and, before he dismissed the students, Harry announced that all names needed to be in the goblet by supper at the end of the week. After the announcement, students were buzzing on their way to their dormitories. Harry helped me put the babies in the pram and we headed up to our bedchambers. I still had some work to do, so Harry put the babies to bed while I worked then he went to sleep. A couple of hours later, I fell into bed as well.

The next morning, the babies crying woke us both and I went to feed them while Harry got dressed. This week, Harry was taking them to class with him in the mornings and I was getting them in the afternoon so I got their bags ready to be in his classroom until lunch. Once he was dressed, he grabbed their baby bag and put them in the pram.

"Bye, beautiful." He murmured, kissing me softly before heading out with the babies. I laid in bed a few moments after they left then got up and dressed for my own classes and headed out.

"Good morning class." I smiled as I walked into my classroom. There was a chorus of good mornings from the students as I moved things around my desk.

"Where are Lily and James this morning, Headmistress?" One of the girls asked. All the students knew the babies' names since they had been born during last year and they went everywhere with us.

"They're with their father this morning, which gives me more time to teach this lesson." I smiled, steering them back to the task at hand. Although I enjoyed my classes, I couldn't help wondering if Kimber's killer was sitting in my class whenever a new class came in. It was getting nerve wrecking to think about but I couldn't keep my mind from it for long.

By lunch, I was just happy to see my babies again and to have a distraction. Teaching was a good time occupier but, since I knew what I was teaching like the back of my hand, it didn't stop my mind from wondering sometimes. I gave Harry a kiss before I sat down and was about to pick up Lily when Ron swept in and got to her first.

"Hey, what are you going on about?" I asked, my voice showing my annoyance.

"Sorry, Hermione, but Lily's been calling for me all day. Isn't that right, little bit?" He asked her in a goofy voice. I sighed accepting it and reached down for James but Hagrid beat me to him. I was going to complain about Hagrid but I let it go, if he wanted to hold James then he could, I could wait.

After lunch, I took the babies to class with me. All the students loved having them in class and I did love having them close. After my final class was done, I headed up to Harry's office to see what he was up to. I walked right in when I got there but, instead of Harry, I found a blonde haired man...., Draco Malfoy.

"Draco." I smiled, closing the door behind me and walking over to give him a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I had some news from down under so I'm making a visit. Nice job on the alumni activities this year, I can come more often under the guise of preparation or arguing with Potter." He smirked. I hadn't specifically made the events for that reason but I had figured there might be a chance we could work out our meetings like that, it had been an afterthought.

"Where is my amazing husband?" I asked, looking around the otherwise empty office.

"He had to go to the loo so I'm stuck here waiting. I can't really afford to be seen so I'm staying in here until I leave. Are these the lovely babies?" He smiled, leaning over the pram to play with James and Lily.

"Yep, these are the very same. They're getting bigger everyday." I smiled warmly. "You can hold them if you want, they love it." I unbuckled them and took each of them out. Malfoy looked a little scared but I coaxed them into his arms and he lit up. Unlike his father, Draco was going to be a great dad whenever he chose to have children. He sat down with the babies, talking to them in a soft, soothing voice.

I felt arms wrap around my waist and gasped until I heard Harry's voice in my ear.

"He's good with them." He sighed. "Who would have ever thought that I would even let Malfoy within twenty kilometers of my children, let alone holding them?"

"Times change, hun, people too. I think we just found our other Godparent." I grinned, glancing back at Harry and he nodded in agreement. "Draco," I started, sitting in the chair next to him. "what would you say to being one of our babies' Godfathers? We've already asked Ron and he's said yes but they can always have more than one." I grinned, rubbing their heads.

"I'd love that." He whispered, staring down at the babies.

"Good, because we would too." I murmured with a watery smile.

"Alright, alright, enough of the gushy. Let's get down to business. What do you got for me?" Harry broke the moment, his tone light but his red-rimmed eyes telling on him. Draco smiled then handed me the babies and reached into his jacket.

"Over the break, some strange things happened down under and I wasn't able to get there in time to figure out what was happening. I do know that we have a possibility of three new Horcruxes made." He started.

"Wait, three including the one that we're sure was made here or three on top of the one here?" I interrupted, taking the babies to the crib in the corner and laying them inside.

"Luckily, I meant three including the one that's believed to be made here. During the break, two wizards were killed while in the muggle world."

"He's getting stronger." I murmured.