Chapter 6: Babies and Bets

"You are in big trouble" Hermione shouted. She was covered in sweat, hair sticking to her face. She was sitting against the head rest of the bed with her legs apart. Mrs Weasley was flitting around telling Hermione how she was doing. Charlie was by her side, holding her hand giving her words of encouragement. Bill was on the other side trying to support her back and rubbing at pressure points, this did generally help with the pain. Percy, Oliver and Mr Weasley were by Mrs Weasley with towels and water passing them to her when they were needed.

"Keep pushing 'Mi you are doing so well" Charlie told her. Hermione was squeezing Charlie's hand as hard as she could with each contraction. Hermione hated being in this state in front of her family, but they were trying to help. Her body shock each time she pushed.

"I WILL KILL YOU CHARLES WEASLEY" Hermione screamed. She knew it would not help with giving birth but it did make her feel better. She was just glad Charlie took it in his stride.

"I can see a head" Mrs Weasley said "Keep pushing" Mrs Weasley had a towel on hand ready to wrap the baby up. With four pushes Hermione's screaming was joined by the shrill crying of a baby. "A boy" Mrs Weasley called handing the buddle to Hermione. Hermione cried as she looked down at her son, Charlie's free hand came round to stoke the baby's cheek kissing Hermione's head as he did. Percy took the baby out of her arms to clean him up when the next contraction came. Hermione screamed with pain, the hardest part was the baby's head.

"Come on 'Mione last push now" Mrs Weasley was once again ready. With one last push the next baby was born. "A girl" Mrs Weasley said handing the baby to her mum. Just like before Charlie stroked the baby's cheek before the baby was taken away to be cleaned, this time by Oliver. "Ok, last baby, you ready?" Mrs Weasley asked.

"SURE" Hermione screamed as another contraction shock her body. She found this baby the easiest as the pain from the first birth had numbed the pain, along with Bill pressing her back.

"Another girl" Mrs Weasley said passing the crying baby to Hermione. All three babies were soon cleaned up and handed to their parents. Both Hermione and Charlie were crying while the rest had tears in their eyes.

"We need to think of names" Hermione said holding her son and one of her daughters.

"Well I have had some ideas" Charlie said looking down at his daughter. "What about Daniel, Hannah and Louise" He asked looking down at his wife.

"Love them" Hermione said tears still running down her face. It was nearing three in the morning when everyone left, they helped Hermione get the triplets into their cots now set up in their bedroom and change the sheets before leaving. Hermione was instructed to have plenty of bed rest, which in her opinion meant Charlie bringing food to her and giving her lots of foot rubs.

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The next morning a healer and a ministry official came to check on Hermione and the babies. The healer asked who had delivered the babies as he had never seen work like it. When asked why he told them the most experienced healers would not be able to deliver babies with the conditions Molly had. The ministry official went though the paper work with them and signing the birth certificates. Charlie took to his role of father like a duck takes to water. Hermione would catch Charlie looking fondly at the triplets while they slept. It was only a few hours later when Bill turned up with Fleur and Victoire.

"Where are the triplets?" Victoire asked boldly as ever. When Charlie and met them in the living room.

"Victoire" Bill warned her, looking stonily at her.

"Sorry" She said shyly "Is Aunt 'Mione well enough for us to visit?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes she is, but you have to be careful, ok" Charlie said looking at Victoire's big eyes. Victoire ran up the stairs and into the bedroom where Hermione was relaxing, her feet banging on the stairs. Over the next 30 minutes the rest of the family turned up. Katie and Angelina dropped their kids at their parents before coming over. Mr Weasley had 'found' a camera and started to take pictures of everyone with the babies. Everyone laughed at the pictures as Daniel, Hannah and Louise's eyes slowly turned to green. You could put the pictures in the order they were taken. Ron and Luna seamed to be the most thrilled about the new babies. Once they had left Hermione called Bill over.

"Bill, is that bet of Ron and Luna still on?" She asked, everyone in the room looked on at the conversation.

"Yes. Why?" Bill asked

"Well I have not put my bet down" She stated "I bet Luna in pregnant now and they will tell everyone at the next family meal"

"Ok" Bill conjured the parchment with all the bets on and jotted it down. "You sure about this?" He asked. "Once I have put it down you can't change it"

"Yes I'm sure"

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It was a month later and everyone was round at the Burrow for the family dinner. All they children were playing together in the middle of the den while all the mothers watched on talking. All the men were outside playing Quidditch, with Arthur refereeing. Luna was constantly smiling in a dreamy way while Victoire sat on her lap, reading to her. The men came in when dinner was called all of them muddy, they had to walk on the newspaper to the bathroom to clean up. Most of them cheated and used their wands. Laughter and babble could be hured over the table. Hermione was looking rather smug when Ron called for everyone's attention. Luna was sat beside him; she rested her hand on top of his.

"Luna and I have some news" Ron said looking at Luna. "Were having a baby" Everyone was looked on when Molly ran around the table and pulled them both into a bone crushing hug. Once they had been set free money was being placed on the table.

"What is going on here?" Molly asked rather shocked.

"Well mum" Bill began. "We had a bet to see when Ron and Luna would announce their pregnancy. And 'Mione won" Bill said passing four gallons to her. "The only women to bet as well"

"How did you know?" Harry asked, looking bewildered.

"Well if any of you have taken a closer look at Luna when the triplets were born you would have seen Luna was kind of glowing. When they arrived today the bump was only just visible" Luna nodded in agreement. Shocked that anyone looked that close. "How far gone?" Hermione asked, looking at the happy couple.

"Two months" Ron said placing a hand on the very small bump.

Hermione was rather pleased when she climbed into bed 32 gallons richer.

"Night love" Charlie said pulling her towards him.

"Night" Hermione fell asleep in his arms dreaming about the future.

(A/N. thanks for reading. Hope u all liked it. Please tell me what you think to it. Thanks to everyone following it and reviewed)