Parallel

Chapter 25 - Publicity/Interview/Harry's Dream

A week later, an article came out in the Daily Prophet that "The Boy Who Lived," "The Chosen One" and "Slayer of the Dark Lord" had become a father--and of twins, no less. Harry didn't recall doing any sort of article for them; it had just sort of ... appeared one day. He could only have surmised that Molly and Arthur Weasley, the twins' proud grandparents, had done it. He couldn't fault them, really; he just wished they had seen fit to ask permission first.

The headlines went something like this:

"THE BOY WHO LIVED IS NOW A MAN ... AND A FATHER"

"THE CHOSEN ONE IS THE FATHER OF TWINS"

"THE SLAYER OF THE DARK LORD HAS BECOME A GIVER OF LIFE ... Harry Potter Becomes A Father"

The text of the article, which was basically an interview with Arthur and Molly Weasley, went like this:

"This is Kingsley Shacklebolt, reporter for the Daily Prophet, speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley, who have recently become grandparents. Their daughter, Ginevra, otherwise known as 'Ginny,' is married to Harry Potter--aka The Boy Who Lived, aka The Chosen One, aka Slayer of the Dark Lord. Fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, were recently born to the young couple. I am here to find out the details.

KINGSLEY: Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for consenting to speak with me.

ARTHUR WEASLEY: Our pleasure, Kingsley. Now what would you like to know?

KINGSLEY: Just when were the twins born, and where? Any details you can give will be greatly appreciated.

MOLLY WEASLEY: From what we understand, the twins were born in the early morning hours of December 26, 2001. The boy was born at 5:45 a.m., the girl at 6:05 a.m. Harry and Ginny were staying at his godfather's former home on Grimmauld Place in London for the Christmas holidays, and had entertained some ... special guests ... earlier that evening, and he told us that after seeing them off, he joined Ginny in their bedroom. He woke up to find her in labour, and there was no way for him to get her to St. Mungo's in time.

KINGSLEY: So what happened after that?

MOLLY: Harry had to deliver the babies himself.

KINGSLEY: Your son-in-law is an Auror, correct?

ARTHUR: Yes.

KINGSLEY: He has no Healer's training, correct?

ARTHUR: Correct--but our daughter is a Healer. He said ... she talked him through it.

KINGSLEY: How long was she in labour, do you know?

MOLLY: Approximately twelve hours. Harry said he could not be sure, since he was unable to check his watch. All he remembers is that it started around 6 p.m. Christmas night and ended shortly after six a.m., the 26^th.

KINGSLEY: Do you know what the children's names are, lengths and weights and all that?

MOLLY: Certainly, but we didn't find out until after we'd gotten them and Ginny to the hospital and got them checked out.

KINGSLEY: May I have that information?

MOLLY: The boy is named Sirius James. His length is 19 inches; weight, six pounds, fourteen ounces. The girl is named Elizabeth Molly. Her length is 16 inches; weight, five pounds, twelve ounces.

KINGSLEY: Can you describe them?

ARTHUR: Little Sirius has red hair and brown eyes; little Elizabeth has black hair and green eyes.

KINGSLEY: In essence, their son looks like his mother and their daughter like her father.

ARTHUR: Yes.

KINGSLEY: Is it true that the boy was named for your son-in-law's godfather, Sirius Black?

MOLLY: Yes; he and Sirius were very close.

KINGSLEY: What about your granddaughter's middle name? I understand it is the same as your Christian name, Mrs. Weasley.

MOLLY: Yes. 'Molly' is also my daughter's middle name. It's a tradition in our family to do such things for first-born children, to give them the same-sex parent's first name as their middle name.

KINGSLEY: How long had you known Harry before he became your son-in-law?

ARTHUR: Since he was eleven years old and became our son Ron's classmate and close friend at Hogwarts.

KINGSLEY: And it's true that he often stayed with you and your family for the summer?

ARTHUR: Yes. We believed it best for him, because his only ... relatives ... were not kind to him, to put it mildly. But we have promised him that we will not go into detail on that; Harry does not desire any more publicity than absolutely necessary, and we respect his wishes.

KINGSLEY: When did he and your daughter first begin ... seeing each other socially?

MOLLY: In Harry's sixth year and Ginny's fifth. It officially began the day of the Quidditch Cup match, which their House won, approximately May 15, 1997. They dated exclusively for the next five weeks.

KINGSLEY: What happened to change that?

ARTHUR: Oh, a lot of things, most of which I have been asked not to go into here, in respect for our children's wishes ... and we do consider Harry to be another son to us. What matters most to us is that they found each other again, have married, are happy together and have become parents.

KINGSLEY: I suppose I can understand that. Again, thank you for your time, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley ... and congratulations on your becoming grandparents.

WEASLEYS: Thank you.

Once Harry learned who had interviewed them, he requested that Kingsley Shacklebolt get in touch with him, which he did. He was kind of afraid at first, because he'd heard of Harry's temper and hoped he hadn't done or said anything to upset him. But it was nothing like that at all. When they met for their own interview, he didn't even mention the interview with the Weasleys; instead, he had questions of his own about an entirely different--but still quite personal--subject.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Shacklebolt," Harry stated politely, shaking hands when Kingsley first Apparated into the room.

"Kingsley. And it was a pleasure, Mr. Potter," Kingsley replied with a smile as they seated themselves in overstuffed chairs across from each other in the living room at Grimmauld Place. "What did you want to speak with me about?"

"Harry, please. I have some questions about a ... possible relative of yours."

"A possible relative?"

"Do you have any female relations named ... Rose?"

"Why, yes. My younger brother's daughter is named Rose. Why?"

"Have you ever met her? Can you describe her?"

"Many times. She's very beautiful, slender and petite, with a dusky complexion, long black hair and brown eyes. Why?"

"Was she ever ... romantically involved with anyone that you know of?"

"Naturally. As I said, she was ... is ... quite beautiful, even today."

"Could my ... godfather Sirius Black have been one of her ... suitors?"

Kingsley flinched with a mixture of shock and surprise at the name, and his reaction was not lost on Harry. "Yes. They were involved for quite some time. They were even ... engaged for a time before he was arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban."

"What did you think of him?"

"Despite his reputation, he seemed nice enough to me ... not to mention very much in love with Rose."

"Did her ... parents approve of him?"

"If they didn't, I didn't know about it. They always seemed friendly enough whenever I was in proximity. Why?"

"Just curious. What would you say if I told you that I have evidence which indicates that Rose and Sirius were not only married, but ... parents?"

Kingsley was stunned. "What? How can that be?"

"I don't know myself. Sirius never mentioned anything to me either, and as my in-laws have told you, he and I were quite close. However, I know that Rose has an eleven-year-old son named James, whom I have met and spent time with; he is the image of Sirius. I have even spoken to Rose recently, and she said they had been married barely a month before Sirius was arrested and sent to Azkaban. I even have a wedding picture of them, and a copy of their marriage licence, if you wish to peruse them ... not to mention a copy of the boy's birth certificate, indicating that Sirius is his father." Before Kingsley could refuse, Harry handed over the documentation and allowed his guest to examine it.

For a long time there was silence, then Kingsley looked up at Harry and their eyes locked. However, he spoke only one word: "Incredible."

"Yes, indeed. It's incredible ... but nonetheless true. Since my discovery, I have given Rose a large share of Sirius's estate, including this house here on Grimmauld Place, if only as an inheritance for James when he comes of age in six years. I figured it was the least I could do for them, to ease their financial burdens, since Rose has shouldered a lot of responsibility for many years, raising a son by herself, and deserves whatever help I can give her, if only for Sirius's sake."

"Have you a theory as to why the boy is named James?"

"My father, James Potter, was Sirius's closest friend. I can only assume that he named the boy for him, to honour their friendship."

Kingsley handed back the documentation. "Indeed. Most thoughtful of him."

"Sirius was a very thoughtful person," Harry recalled affectionately.

"Have you any further questions ... Harry?" Kingsley asked.

"No, thanks. I think you've answered all I had."

"In that case, I'll be on my way. It was nice meeting you ... and congratulations on your new children. You must be very proud and very happy."

Harry smiled in spite of himself. "Yes. Ginny and I are very proud and very happy ... and I'll be sure to tell her you offered congratulations."

Kingsley walked to the center of the living room. "If you have any other questions, send me an owl and I'll do my best to answer them. I must get back to work now."

"I'll keep that in mind ... Kingsley. Thank you again for your time." With that, Kingsley Apparated out of the room. Shortly thereafter, Harry did the same, returning to the flat he shared with Ginny and their children ... but this was only a temporary thing. He had discovered that Spinner's End was presently vacant and for sale, so he made inquiries and found out its asking price.

Rather dear (two hundred thousand pounds), but he had the money and then some, so it wasn't that much of a hardship. In fact, escrow had just closed the day the twins were born, although in all the hoopla following their birth, Harry had not had the chance to tell anyone that he now owned his family's ancestral home. Just wait until he did, though!

* * * * *

Like many times before, shortly after falling asleep, Harry began to dream. But the dream on this night was unlike the others: it did not involve Voldemort, and it was not a nightmare. Quite the contrary, in fact ... In the dream, his parents James and Lily were alive, as were Sirius and Dumbledore. Even Rose and James were there, not to mention Molly and Arthur Weasley--and Ron and Hermione.

They had all come over to Spinner's End to see his and Ginny's new children and congratulate them. The younger couple, friends of Harry's, simply observed the others, smiling affectionately in everyone else's direction, knowing that however important their own news was--that Hermione herself was now pregnant--this was Harry and Ginny's day to shine as new parents, and they should let them have it.

As Harry had surmised, James and Lily positively doted on their grandchildren, commenting many times on how much little Elizabeth resembled her daddy. "I bet she's going to be a real daddy's girl," Lily, still beautiful in her forties, laughed as she cuddled the child and made her coo happily. Harry joined her and basically did the same thing; Lily smiled knowingly at his actions. "See, James, I was right. Little Elizabeth is going to have her daddy positively twisted around her little finger, and he's going to spoil her rotten."

"Yes, dear, I noticed," James--essentially an older version of Harry--replied, smiling indulgently at his wife. "I'm sure he loves his boy just as much, though."

A moment later Sirius walked up, Rose and James on each side of him. He had an arm around each of them, and one could tell immediately that he and Rose were very much married and deeply in love ... and that Rose was pregnant again. He began doing basically the same thing as Harry and James, making baby Elizabeth coo with happiness at all the grown-up attention.

"I understand you're going to have another baby, Rose," Lily said, still cuddling baby Elizabeth.

Rose smiled at her, then looked up lovingly at her husband. "Yes. We're hoping for a daughter this time."

"Lucky thing that Harry and Ginny had twins, then, huh? Two kids from one pregnancy," Sirius smiled, laughing his unique barking laugh. "Seriously, though, I'll be happy with as many as Rose is willing to give me."

"I agree wholeheartedly," Molly Weasley put in, walking up to them and giving Lily a look which told her to hand over the baby immediately or else. But Lily smiled when she did it, since she knew that Molly's bark was often worse than her bite. "Arthur and I love our big family. I only wish we could have had at least one more daughter."

"Didn't you and James try for a daughter after Harry was born, Lily?" Molly asked.

"Oh yes, many times. It just never happened. We finally accepted the fact that Harry was not only the only child we'd ever have, but the only one we needed. He's given us more pride and joy than a dozen ordinary children could have!" Lily smiled at her son and gave him a loving hug.

"Thanks, Mum, but I'm not that special." Harry tried to shrug it off upon extricating himself from his mother's arms.

"You are to your father and me," Lily insisted. "And don't ever let me hear you say otherwise again, young man!"

"What's going on?" Ginny asked rhetorically, walking up to everyone, carrying baby Sirius. Spotting his namesake, she all but pushed the child at him. "Sirius, say hello to your namesake."

But before Sirius could speak, Dumbledore walked up and joined them. "I saw your children, Harry. Congratulations. Your daughter is the image of you."

"Thank you, sir." Harry smiled. "What do you think of my son, Sirius?"

"Looks just like Ginny," the older wizard smiled, touching an affectionately indulgent finger to the tiny boy's perfectly shaped nose and making him smile while still in his mother's arms.

This was when Rose spoke again. "Sirius, did you ever tell James that our son was named for him?"

James seemed to catch this, for he swung around and joined his friend. "You named your son for me, Padfoot? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Haven't had the chance," Sirius all but mumbled. "Just the same, I hope you're pleased that I did."

"That I am, my friend," James smiled. "I just would have preferred a little warning instead of having it sprung on me all at once."

"Sirius, aren't you going to say hello to your namesake?" Ginny's voice held impatience.

"Oh sorry, Gin. Got distracted. Where is he?" Sirius returned apologetically.

"Right here." He held out his arms; Ginny placed her small son in them and from then on, Sirius positively doted on the boy. He loved little Elizabeth, of course, but his special favourite was Harry's red-headed, brown-eyed son ... after Harry himself, that was.

"Oh, something I was wondering about, Harry," Dumbledore remarked, smiling knowingly at his favourite student as he placed an affectionate hand on his shoulder. "Do you and Ginny plan to have any more children?"

"Not at the moment, sir, but I'm open to the future. We might even end up having as many children as Molly did; who knows? For the time being, though, I'm content with two."

"Don't have children simply for the sake of having them, Harry. Every child should be meticulously planned and loved for the individuals they are. Just have as many as you feel you can handle, both emotionally and financially."

"Oh, I have every intention of loving my children, Dumbledore, you may be sure of that," Harry assured him, certain that he could never be happier than he was now, surrounded by all those he loved and all those who loved him best. Surely no man could ask for more, now or ever!

* * * * *

But strangely enough, even as happy as the dream was, Harry found himself unable to stop crying upon awakening. His mum had looked so beautiful, and she and his father were obviously still deeply in love, as was Sirius with Rose ... not to mention himself and Ginny. Best of all, however, had been seeing Dumbledore again. It was as if they had somehow all told him how happy they were for him and how pleased they were at his beautiful wife and children. How he wished it could all truly have been so, that they could have been granted the love and lives they deserved, instead of having had them cut so tragically short!

A short time later, Ginny awakened and observed her husband's shoulders shaking ... and was sure she had caught quiet sobs accompanying them. "Harry? What's the matter, luv? Why are you crying?"

"I ... had a dream," he confessed.

"A bad one?"

"No, quite the contrary. It was a very nice one. My mum and dad were there, Sirius was there, Ron and 'Mione were there, even ... Dumbledore was there." Harry's voice almost broke, but he made himself continue. "They ... positively doted on our kids. Mum even said once that she was sure little Elizabeth was going to be a 'daddy's girl,' as she put it. Rose and James were even there, and Rose was pregnant again. Sirius was even holding our son in his arms and ..."

This was when Harry's sobs overwhelmed him, and all Ginny could do was hold her husband in her arms and let him have his grief. It sounded like a lovely dream; what about it could possibly have provoked tears? It was fortunate that they were alone right now; Molly had taken the twins for the day, her first real chance to babysit, and she wanted it to last as long as possible.

Ginny could only surmise that since the dream showed all the loved ones Harry had lost being alive and well, showing happiness at his and Ginny's marriage and children, the emotional overload had been too much for him to endure all at once--especially in view of the tragic, undeniable fact that in real life, they were all gone.

Once he seemed cried out, she tried for more information. "It sounds like a lovely dream, beloved ... and I'm sure it means that they're all happy for us and dote on our children."

"It ... all seemed so real, Gin. Mum even hugged me and scolded me affectionately; said she didn't want me to ever put myself down in her hearing again. I mean, I smelled her perfume, felt the texture of her dress, for Merlin's sake! How could it have been so real, and yet just a dream?"

"I've heard that happens sometimes, when dreams are provoked by intense emotion," she returned soothingly, lovingly stroking his hair as his head rested on her breast.

"It was about as intense as you can get, then. I even felt ... Dumbledore put his hand on my shoulder while congratulating me on our children. It felt warm and strong, and he seemed to smell of ... sandalwood incense. And Sirius ... he looked so happy, so pleased to have a namesake. I even recall Dad asking him why he hadn't told him that he'd named his son for him; Sirius said he hadn't had a chance to tell him yet. Dad said he didn't mind; he just would have preferred to have had a ... bit of warning. It was all so wonderful, as if nothing bad had ever happened. As if everyone's life had been ... perfect."

"That's why you cried," she suddenly realized. "Oh, luv, I'm so sorry for your sake that it cannot be so, that it was just a dream ... and that in real life, they're all gone."

"It's not your fault, Gin. I guess I'm just so not used to having ... nice dreams that I don't know how to appreciate them."

"Of course you do," she dismissed. "It was simply a result of ... emotional overload, the result of seeing all your loved ones alive again, if only in a dream."

"You ... really think so?" Harry asked, lifting his still-wet eyes to face his wife's loving and compassionate gaze; she gently patted his cheeks dry with a tissue.

"I'm positive," she assured him. "Now go back to sleep, luv. You haven't had very much lately, you know."

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Around ten ... but don't worry about the twins. Mum's taken them for the day, so we can have a lie-in if we like. Just the same, we'd better get used to losing sleep, at least for a while. Mum says that babies sleep a lot, but also tend to wake up in the middle of the night screaming. And two babies are even tougher to raise at a time than one!" she exclaimed, a touch of anger in her voice, but not directed at him ... although in the mood Harry was in, he seemed to think so.

"Sorry," he mumbled, feeling tears fill his eyes again.

"Oh, luv, I meant nothing against you. You had no control over how many babies I was carrying. I was just expressing an opinion. Go to sleep, now." She stroked his head tenderly; after a time Ginny felt the weight on her breast increase, and knew that he had done so. She herself was not tired, but knew that Harry was not only tired but emotionally drained, what with the dream and all had happened the last few days with the twins.

He had had no idea that raising children could be so tiring, especially babies. And to think they were only two weeks old! If he could be this tired after two weeks, what would he be like once they were grown--especially if he and Ginny had other children in the meantime? Harry was beginning to wonder if he would even be able to survive fatherhood at this rate, much less anything else having to do with raising children. Meanwhile, he had best get as much rest as possible, so as to actually look forward to the coming day instead of dread it.