Shadow - Sequel To Light

Chapter Twenty-One: I love you too

"Good morning, beautiful." Harry smiled when I awoke, laying fully clothed and ready for the day. I stretched slowly, looking up at him with a huge smile. "Are you ready for today?" He questioned, rubbing my pregnant tummy.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready." I sighed with a grimace. "I can't believe it's the babies' birthday."

After the last Triwizard event, the students had had their Easter break and Harry and I had taken that time to search for my sister. Two weeks seems like so much time but it hadn't been enough to find anything substantial. When we got back, the following month had flashed by with different study events and lectures from guest speakers. The final Triwizard event hadn't even been set for a time yet but I couldn't worry too much about it. One major event was enough to have Harry and I cancelling everything else..., our babies' birthday party.

The twins were a year old and the time had slipped away. They were both standing and, just a week before, they had taken their first steps. James had been the first to do it, coming to me when I had stood at the door to their nursery watching Harry play with them. The second little James had seen me, he lifted himself up, calling out "Mama"and took shaky steps to me. I gasped, tears coming to my eyes as I clambers to my knees to get to his level. Being pregnant hadn't helped but I was going to experience him walking towards me no matter what.

Not wanting to be out done by her brother, Lily had pushed away from Harry and began making her way to me. Neither was making fast progress but they were walking on their own. I was so overwhelmed that I burst into tears, pulling them both into my arms. We had seen them standing on their own but walking by their self was different. I looked up at Harry, who's eyes had never left us and were a little glossy behind his glasses. He smiled down at me, pride in his eyes. These were our babies and they had just reached a huge milestone.

I pulled myself from the memory of their first steps, looking up at my husband. It was just amazing to me that we had come so far. Just months before we had celebrated being together and now we were about to celebrate the birth of our children while we had another coming right around the corner. Life had been crazy since the moment we gave in to our desires and slept together but I wouldn't choose to have it any other way. My husband and children were my life and I knew they would always be so.

"Is everything ready?" I asked, clambering out of bed. Being eight months pregnant had truly taken a toll on what I could and could not do. It was hard to believe that there was only one baby inside me with how large I had gotten, I hadn't even gotten as big with the twins.

"Yes, sweetheart. Mum sent word through the house elves that everything was ready last night. The arena's been set up to be like a carnival for the babies and the students. We have people set up to take photographs and everything else you've asked. Before the next Triwizard event, we just have to put the protection spells back up to standard, we had to loosen them to get everything set up. We'll hold the formal luncheon early then give people time to change and come down to the arena." He assured me as I headed to the loo to get washed up and start my day. "Don't worry, beautiful, I'll handle everything. I don't need you stressing." He insisted just before I walked into my shower. "I'll meet you at the arena. I'm going to go make sure everything's perfect."

I chuckled to myself, hearing him head out of the door while I washed up. I spent a little extra time, just relaxing my pregnant body in the shower. When I finally finished, I hopped out and pulled out the soft pink maternity dress I had bought for the party. After clambering into my underwear I slid the dress on, marveling at the fit.