Perfect As It Can Be by Sweet Lemmon Title: Perfect As It Can Be Author/Artist: Sweet-Lemmon/sweet_lemmon Rating: Very G for the art and PG for the ficlet Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Notes: This is my contribution for the fest. Thank you so much for this, Liss! ^.^ At first, it was only the artwork, but then...the ficlet just *showed up*. :P Harry and Hermione turned out a little different of *my* Harry and Hermione, but I hope you like them - and their children. Ah! And a huge thank you to zebraspots05 for the beta!
“Put her down right now, Harry Potter!” a 32 week-pregnant Hermione Granger-Potter squealed as she stepped in their living room and saw her dear- and oh, so close to be dead husband- Levitating their youngest child, a very giggly three year old Maggie. Jacob, the oldest, was jumping up and down, yelling, “I’m next! I’m next!”
And as soon as Harry heard the sound of his wife’s voice, he stopped dead, carefully putting little Maggie safely on the room’s floor. Mastering his best lopsided-grin, he turned to face his wife.
“Hermione, my sweetie! Are you already up from your na-”
Hermione held up a hand, causing him to stop. “Don’t sweetie me, Mister Potter! You know very well I don’t like when you use Leviosa on them!” She sighed. “It’s too dangerous, Harry.” Hermione’s voice was lower.
Harry came closer to his wife, wrapping his arms around her rounded waist. “You know I would never let anything happening with any of them.” He tightened the embrace. “They just want to decorate the tree. You know how excited they can get.”
Hermione nodded wordlessly against his chest, before take a half-step back, only far enough they could be face to face. “I know, love, but-”
“Jacob bad thing!” Maggie’s little voice interrupted her.
Hermione and Harry turned around to see their five year old son, on his toes, on a chair, trying to put a little candy cane in their-still empty Christmas tree. He was so focused on trying to put up the decoration, that he didn’t notice the chair tipping below him.
Everything happened in a matter of seconds.
Or half a second. Hermione would never be sure. The only thing she could say with certainty was that she was never so thankful that Harry was such a skilled Quidditch seeker. Quick as a flash Harry caught Jacob before he could fall, holding him tightly against his chest, eyes closed, in silent prayer.
Hermione just stood there, unable to move, a shaking hand covering her half open mouth. She couldn’t even imagine what would have happen if Harry didn’t...
They had only taken their eyes off the children for a second! How a little boy could be so fast!
“Oh god...” she sobbed loudly, as her body began trembling. “Oh god!”
“Mummy?” little Maggie asked, her green eyes tearing. “Mummy cry?”
Gingerly, Harry put Jacob down and went closer to his wife, and took her in his arms.
“Shhh...” he whispered, caressing her hair, “Shhh...everything is fine. Nothing happened.”
“But it could!” she cried loudly, breaking the embrace. “What if you weren’t here? What if...” Hermione stopped abruptly, suddenly becoming dizzy.
“Hermione!” Harry cried with fear, and scooted Hermione to the couch.
“Hermione, love...” Harry said quietly, conjuring a glass of water. “Here, drink a little of this. Shh...”
And while she was drinking the water, Harry whirled his head to his oldest son, who was deadly quiet near them, Maggie by his side, her lower lip trembling. “See what you did, young man?!” Harry said angrily. “Your mummy can’t get nervous!”
“I-I just want to-to help...make tree pretty,” the young boy babbled, the tears falling freely down his cheeks. “Mummy...”
“Harry...” Hermione spoke quietly, her heart almost broken as she saw the tears in Jacob’s eyes.
Harry heaved a sigh, cracking a little smile. “Come here, my boy,” he said, opening his arms. “You too, my little princess Maggie.”
Both kids didn’t need to be told twice, running towards their dad, practically jumping in his lap.
“Sorry, daddy,” Jacob said in a small voice. “Sorry, mummy.”
“Maggie is sowy too,” the little girl mimicked her brother.
“It’s okay, my sweethearts,” Hermione assured them.
“Jacob, Maggie,” Harry spoke in a calm yet serious voice, “we told you that your mummy is expecting a new little brother or sister.” Unconsciously, Harry grinned. “She can’t be stressed or expend any effort.” Hermione groaned by his side, but Harry pretended to not notice. “She needs to rest and...”
“Now, Harry, really...” Hermione cut him off, rolling her eyes. It was always the same thing: Harry being overprotective. “It’s not like I’m sick or something. It’s not like something will hap-” She stopped when she saw a shadow crossing his features, his eyes darkening.
They would never forget....
Two years ago, during the same time of year, Harry and Hermione were also excited to be expecting their third child. Hermione was six month pregnant by then, even though her tummy was bigger than now.
They were expecting twins.
Jacob was four and Maggie, just a toddler.
They all were so happy...
And she just wanted to put the five-point star in the top of the tree.
Harry had told her to be careful, that he should do that for her.
She had argued she wasn’t an invalid.
Hermione closed her eyes painfully.
That day, Harry couldn’t be fast enough.
Why god, didn’t I listen to him?”
Sighing heavily, Hermione shook her head to vanish the sad memories, and mastered a smile on her face. It was Christmas time, a period of happiness, in a little more than a month, they would have another child; it wasn’t time to remember sad things.
“Now, why don’t we all decorate this Christmas tree? I was planning to do this tomorrow but I guess we can do it today.”
“Yah!” both kids cried, happily, jumping out Harry’s laps and running to get the box of Christmas decorations.
“Hermione...”
Hermione shook her head. “Now, Mr. Potter, could you please help your fat wife to stand up?”
Harry helped her and was about to say something when Maggie’s voice could be heard.
“Daddy! Want put bell in high! Help Maggie, daddy!”
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, a broad smile appearing on their faces.
That night, Harry and Hermione were lying together in their bed. The snow that had been falling earlier had been replaced by a heavy rain. Hermione had her head resting against his chest, Harry’s arms protectively holding her body.
“I-I’m sorry, Harry,” Hermione spoke quietly, breaking the silence, looking down. “I know you never said anything, but we all know it was my fault that-”
Harry put a finger under her chin and lifted her head, making her look at him. “Love, what happened was nobody’s fault.”
“But you told me to be careful...” She whispered quietly as the tears began to fall. Looking seriously at her, he gently cupped her face and murmured, “It was an accident” His fingers started to gently caress her wet cheeks. “We have Jacob and Maggie...and soon...this little one.”
“And-and today...you were just concerned about me, and even then I snapped at you...”
Harry smiled at his wife, taking one of his hands of her face and placing it on her rounded tummy. “I know you feel frustrated with my protectiveness-” Hermione raised an eyebrow through her tears. “Okay, over-protectiveness. But I guess you’ll need to stick with me, huh?” he grinned.
“Well, I think I can manage it,” she said playfully. “After all, you have to deal with a bossy pregnant woman!”
“I’m so happy, Hermione.” Harry gazed at her, smiling. “Despite everything that happened- and I won’t pretend that I will ever forget- I’m a happy man. You make me a happy man.” His fingers began to gently caress her wet cheeks. “You make me a complete man.” Harry leaned down and softly kissed her on the lips.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her; his arms falling down around her waist, fingers caressing her lower back. His mouth traveled from her mouth, to her jaw-line as he began to place small, soft kisses on her face and collarbone.
They kissed for a good minute or so when Hermione, breathing heavily, finally broke the kiss, but kept the embrace. “I love you, Mr. Potter.” Hermione whispered into his ear, burying her face in his neck
Smiling slightly, he bent forward so that his face was pressed against her curls, his lips moving slightly against her skin as he whispered back, “I love you too.” He kissed softly behind her ear. “I love you too, Mrs. Potter,” he whispered in a husky voice, his hands falling to her hips, her bum....
“Mummy! Daddy!”
With their hearts beating fast, Harry and Hermione pulled apart. They looked towards the doorway and saw Maggie, her lips trembling. Her eyes were puffy and red, even though she wasn’t crying. Pressing hard a stuffed red dragon against her little chest, the little girl sobbed quietly, “A monster under my bed.”
Smiling, Hermione said in a smooth tone, “Come here, Maggie.” She looked at Harry and they both turned to look at the door. They could see Jacob trying to hide around the doorjamb.
Rolling her eyes, Hermione spoke loudly, “You can come here too, Jacob.”
Without waiting for another word, Jacob jumped in the bed.
“Jacob!” Harry scowled his son. “Your mum!”
“Sorry,” the boy said sheepishly.
“Okay,” Harry said, taking his wand from the bedside table. “Enlargium.” he said, making the bed tripled its size. “Now, it’s good for all of us, but remember: no jumping, okay? Be careful with your mummy.”
Both kids nodded wordlessly, drifting off to sleep.
Between Harry and Hermione.
The couple traded a look, an obvious laugh on their eyes.