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Author: melray1228 Story: Precious Moments in Time Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 10 Words: 7,549
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character created by J.K. Rowling. This is fun, not profit, and any copyright infringement is purely unintentional.
Not long after the surgery began, Healer Smythe announced that the first of the twins would soon be born. Sure enough, within a few minutes, he gently pulled a baby from Ginny's womb. "It's a boy," he announced, holding the baby up for Harry and Ginny to see. The baby had Ginny's red hair and was screaming like a banshee. "Do you have a name picked out for him?" "We'll call him Edward," Ginny said softly with her eyes shining. A few minutes later, the second baby, a girl, was born. Harry announced that this raven-haired angel would be called Gwyndolyn. Her lungs rivalled her brother's, and Harry knew that he and Ginny would not be getting any sleep for quite some time. The mediwitches gathered up the twins to take them to the nursery for their first baths and tests. Harry gave Ginny a quick kiss and followed the mediwitches out of the operating room. Healer Smythe gave Ginny a reassuring glance over the screen. "I know that it's hard to be without them so soon, but they'll be brought to your room at about the same time that you arrive there. I'm sure that Harry is keeping a watchful eye on them." Ginny chuckled. "I'll bet that he's got his hand on his wand, ready to hex the first person who even looks at those babies funny. He's such a great dad!" "He certainly does look out for you," Healer Smythe replied. "It should only take a few more minutes for me to finish repairing your incision. The Healer trainee will take you back to your room then. I know that you'll feel much better once you are reunited by Harry and your beautiful new babies." In the nursery, Harry was indeed being the overprotective father. His eyes never left the twins as they were bathed and given the essential first tests for hearing, blood screenings, and reflexes. Little Edward was outfitted in a tiny nappy and a long light blue gown. Gwyndolyn was given a long pink one. Both babies had small white caps on their heads and white booties on their feet. Harry was in awe as he watched. As soon as the babies were ready, Harry accompanied the mediwitches as they returned with the babies to Ginny's room. Sure enough, Ginny arrived in the room only a few minutes after the twins. Harry was walking around the room with little Edward in his arms, gently patting his bottom and humming a lullaby. Edward squirmed as he tried to get comfortable. Gwyndolyn was being held by one of the mediwitches already in the room. She was just as fussy as her brother. After being helped into bed, Ginny wanted nothing more than to hold her new babies. "Come see Mummy, Gwyndolyn," said Ginny holding out her arms. The mediwitch carefully placed Gwyndolyn in her arms, and Harry sat on the side of the bed with Edward. He was finally starting to settle down. Instinctively, Ginny began nursing Gwyndolyn. When she finished, she handed the baby girl to Harry so that Edward could take his turn. "You are such a natural with nursing," commented a young mediwitch. "Most new mothers struggle with it at first." "I ought to be," replied Ginny absently, watching Edward feed. "I've done this twice already." Ginny rested in the bed with Edward sleeping quietly in her arms after his first meal. She looked up at Harry and gave him an exhausted smile. He returned her smile and sat down carefully in the chair beside the bed. "You did a great job, Mum," Harry said. "It looks like we've got two more beautiful babies to add to the bunch." "I can't believe they're finally here. I think that this pregnancy was longer than the last two put together," Ginny sighed. "I'm just glad that they made it here safe and sound, and I didn't have to do too much pushing. For awhile there, I thought I was going to have to tell you to never touch me again! Harry look startled for a moment and then start chuckling when he realised she was kidding. "Very funny, Mrs. Potter. Besides, you know you can't resist my charms," Harry replied. Before Ginny could respond, they heard a disturbance just outside the room. A familiar voice boomed, "Don't tell me to wait outside! My baby needs me." Within moments, Molly burst into the room. "Of all the nerve, telling me that I can't come into only my daughter's hospital room when she clearly needs her mother! Ginny! Harry! Babies!" Molly threw her arms around Ginny and Harry in turn, trying to not disturb her newest grandchildren. "Hello, Mum," Ginny said, muffled by Molly's embrace. "Allow us to introduce the newest Potters, Edward Charles and Gwyndolyn Rose." "Oh Ginny, Harry, they're beautiful! Look at little Edward. He's got Harry's eyes and your hair. And Gwyndolyn's got your eyes and Harry's hair. What a perfect blend!" "Thanks, Molly. We think they're perfect, too. I can't wait to see Jamie and Artie's reaction," Harry replied. Ginny just laughed. "Jamie will think that they're her new dolls and try to push them in her doll pram all over the house. Artie will probably just take a quick look at them and go back to playing with his trains." A few minutes later, Arthur stuck his head into the room. "Are you up to a little more company," he asked. Harry, Ginny, and Molly all turned towards his voice. "Sure," said Harry. "Come on in and meet your new grandchildren." Molly calmly took the baby from Harry and sat in the chair by Ginny's bed to coo over the new baby girl. Arthur walked into the room and was quickly followed by Ron and Hermione. Everyone congratulated Harry and Ginny on the new babies, and all agreed that they were beautiful. Hermione asked if she could hold one of the babies, and Ginny handed Edward to her. It wasn't long before each of them had all held one of the twins. "Hey Harry," Ron began. "Remember Fifth year when Trelawney made that prediction about your future? You know, the one about living to a ripe old age, becoming Minister of Magic, and having twelve kids. Well, looks like you're a third of the way there!" "Um, Ron," Harry replied, noticing the look on Ginny's face. Undaunted, Ron continued. "Yeah, Mate! It shouldn't take too much longer for the other eight to arrive if you keep up this twins thing. What do you think Ginny? Ginny, why are you looking at me like that?" Ginny responded in a calm manner, too calm. "Harry, hand me my wand." "Love, you didn't bring your wand. You didn't think you'd need it here." "Harry, hand me your wand." Everyone, including Harry and Ron began to slowly back away from Ginny. "Now Ginny dear, don't do anything rash," Molly said quietly. A wicked grin grew on Ginny's face. "Mum, I'm not being rash. I would just like to show my git of a brother the new hex that I've been working on, the Nappy Bat Hex. It will cause them to fly not from his nose, but from a much more delicate area. We're in a hospital, so he wouldn't have far to go for relief." Ron suddenly felt an urge to leave the room. "Um, Hermione, I, er, left something in the waiting room. I'll be back, um, tomorrow. Bye!" With that, Ron made a hasty retreat out of the room. The sound of the laughter that followed Ron's departure caused a pair of wails to erupt. "I think that's our cue to leave," Arthur said. "Ginny dear, we'll come back tomorrow and collect Jamie and Artie to meet their new brother and sister," Molly said as she placed a fussy Gwyndolyn back in Ginny's arms. A look of panic crossed Harry's face when he suddenly realized that he hadn't Flooed Neville and Susan to tell them that the twins had arrived. Covering, he said, "Er, I'll walk you to the Apparition Point. I'll be right back, Ginny. Bye, Hermione!" He planted a quick kiss on Ginny's forehead and hurried out of the room after Arthur and Molly. Hermione looked a little puzzled. "What was that all about?" "I'm sure that he forgot to let our other two children know that they have a new brother and sister. I guess he got too excited with their arrival." "Are you going to give him a hard time about it?" Hermione asked with a grin. "Perhaps not today. I think that I'll save that one for a more useful time in the future." The two shared a good laugh and then talked quietly until Harry returned. Hermione handed Edward to Harry and gathered up her cloak. "I'll be round tomorrow for another visit. I'll check with you then to see if Ron's allowed back." "I think he can come back if he promises to keep his comments to himself," Harry replied. Ginny smirked. "I know a good charm for that." "Ginny!" Harry and Hermione said at the same time. "What?" Ginny tried unsuccessfully to look innocent. "I meant a Silencing charm." After Hermione left, Harry laid each of the twins in the cribs that the mediwitches had left in the room for them. He then transfigured the chair by the bed into a recliner and stretched out on it. He looked from the babies to Ginny, and a smile spread across his face. "You know, Gin, we're pretty lucky. We've got four beautiful children and a huge home to share with them. We're surrounded with a wonderful family that loves us very much." "Most of all, we've got each other. I'm so thankful to have you to share all of this with you." Ginny glanced over at the babies just as her stomach let out a big growl. "Hmm, must be time for lunch! Not even childbirth will stop a Weasley appetite!" Harry laughed and then was quiet for a minute. Ginny noticed a silent tear on his cheek. He looked over at her and said, "Growing up, my only wish was for a family that loved me. I never knew what love was until I met you and your family. You've given me so much, and I want you to know that I love you and the kids more than anything." "We love you, too, Harry," Ginny added softly. Then her tone became more teasing. "You just make sure that you don't get any ideas in your head about what Ron said. Eight more children, indeed!" Harry cracked a grin as he wiped his eyes. "But Gin," Harry teased. "The house is so big, and you know how much family means to me!" He had a hard time repressing his smile as he slid to the edge of the recliner so as to be closer to her."Potter, if I didn't know you were teasing me, I'd …" Harry silenced her with a kiss. Ginny gently pushed Harry off of her and said, "As much as I love kissing you, my stomach is demanding food. How about checking to see where lunch is?" Harry laughed again and walked out of the room to check on lunch. Sometime during the night, Harry awoke to the sounds of stirring coming from the babies. He hated to wake Ginny, but he knew that the twins would need to be fed. He changed their nappies as quickly as he could. He saw that Ginny woke with a start when the babies began to fuss. He carefully handed Gwyndolyn to Ginny to be fed, and he rocked Edward until his sister had her fill. He could already tell that she was going to be quite an impatient little girl who would keep her siblings on their toes. When Gwyndolyn finished, Harry and Ginny traded babies, and Gwyndolyn was soon sound asleep. After the babies were both fed and placed back in their cribs to sleep, Harry laid back down in the recliner. He smiled quietly, watching his wife as she drifted back off to sleep. As he felt himself also surrendering to sleep, one thought filled his mind. It was precious moments in time like this that made life worth living. Fin Author's Note: Many thanks again to all who have reviewed. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it! Special thanks to Bring and Fly for being such a wonderful beta. You're the best!
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