The four ladies then set about writing down the list of just over two dozen names, before running through the rest of their wedding plans.
Once the wedding planning was out of the way, that was pushed aside.
Deece then delved straight into the next topic.
She turned to both girls and asked, "You two are still taking your contraceptive potions, yes?"
"Yes, Mum," both replied, blushing a little.
"And you're also casting the contraceptive charms?" she pressed.
"Yes, Mum," both replied again, blushing a little more.
"But, I really don't understand why both," continued Hermione.
"As soul bonded your magic is so closely linked that it practically thrums between you," explained Deece. "Magic knows you're compatible. On top of that, it's also clear Harry is quite the magically powerful young wizard. And that will carry across to his seed.
"Powerful seed, with magic recognising the bonding, means magic will want you to reproduce. It knows, from such a union, your children will also be magically powerful.
"Taking the potion and casting the charm is a fervent hope magic's desire for you to conceive is not as strong as the potion and charm combined to prevent it."
"We do that," said Daphne, a little confused.
"Good; but, what Cele and I want to talk to you about, now, is muggle methods to prevent conception."
"Oh, Gods," winced Hermione. "You want to give us 'The Talk' again."
"Think of this as... The Talk, part two," smirked Cele.
When the girls were finally able to escape, they disappeared into their room upstairs. Both were madly blushing away.
With an embarrassed giggle, Daphne said, "I don't believe Mum and Mum Granger felt they needed to give us that talk."
"I know!" Hermione softly exclaimed. "It's not as if we were thinking about having sex for the first time. We've been doing that for a few months now!"
"We can't take the muggle Pill, because it could interfere with the potion; and may not work on witches, anyway," said Daphne. "And the Rhythm Method only allows for a few days each month to have full sex. I don't like the sounds of that. And, Harry's allergic to the powder, or whatever it is, of those com-com things."
"Condoms,"
Hermione
unconsciously corrected. "I also don't think it's wise for either of us to be fitted with an IUD if we're planning on convincing Sirius to teach and help us become animaguses; and there's no evidence it would work for a witch, anyway. Finally, there's spermicide. However, it has no evidence of success working on the seed of a wizard; so is probably a similar moot point to other muggle methods."
"So, we're stuck with continuing doing what we've been doing and hope for the best," said Daphne. "Sorry, but, thank Merlin for that! We'll just have to get Harry to also remember to use the wizard's sterility charm as a third anti-conception method and that's going to be about all we can do."
Hermione nodded back, just as relieved.
After Sirius, Matthias and Deece left; Harry called for Dobby, who fetched their trunks. Then he and Winky unpacked them.
The three changed out of wizard casual wear and into muggle casual wear in case Ant and Cele had unexpected visitors; or they wanted to do a quick run down to the shop.
Then they plonked themselves down in front of the television for a while and watched a video on the VCR. They didn't even notice Winky dropped off popcorn and soft drinks for them.
When Ant returned as the credits scrolled up the screen, he asked, "So, no plans for the summer?"
"No, Dad," the three said.
"But, we do hope you won't mind if we have friends over, now and then, for a visit," said Hermione. "Of course not," said Ant. Turning to Harry, he said, "Now, son; the ladies will be spending a lot of their time occupied with wedding planning. I, for one, am happy to leave that up to the ladies and those angels of yours.
"Instead, I wonder if and when you're not doing anything else, you'd like to work with me in building an elevated deck out the back door."
Surprised, Harry said, "Yeah, that'd be nice. But, I don't really know much about how to operate electric tools. I only know how to use ones like a hammer and stuff."
"That's quite alright," smiled Ant. We'll figure it out together."
The next day Ant and Harry disappeared for a while. They went to the local timber and hardware supplies store to purchase up on what they needed. Ant had with him a book on home construction jobs and a sheet with written measurements.
Taking a look at the notes and numbers, Harry said, "You've had this planned for a while."
"Guilty," smiled his father-in-law. "This has been a major home improvement project for a couple of years, now. It's only recently, with your mother-in-law falling pregnant, that I decided I should remove the ol' digit from the rear and get on with it."
Harry thought about it for a few minutes before he said, "The house faces north, so the back deck will always be in the sun. You'll need hardwearing timber for the deck, and use a lacquer that's sun resistant." Surprised, Ant grinned back and said, "The entire structure will be made of hardwearing timber, Harry. I'm also building it with an eye to roofing it over later. So it has to be built with enough strength to support a roof, as well."
With the aid of a tradesman shop assistant with a depth of experience in home construction projects, Ant discussed what he wanted to build and what he felt his needs were. The shop assistant made a few suggestions, and also referenced Ant's book as they went.
Once they were finished choosing timber and concrete for the footings and deck, Ant paid for the lot and organised for it to be delivered later that day. Then they headed for the tool section. Again referencing his book, Ant chose good quality tools specific for the job. They included a circular saw, an electric plane, an electric drill with enough strength to power a half-inch drillbit through four inch thick hard wood, and an electric screwdriver with power to drive two inch long 3/16th wood screws through hard, pre-bored, timber. He then added a selection of nuts, bolts, and timber screws; a large tin of creosote and two similar sized tins of outdoor wood decking oil; and a long-handled post hole digger.
"I already have the rest of the tools and drill bits we need, so no need to buy them," Ant explained to Harry.
A little concerned with the costs involved, Harry took Ant aside and softly asked, "You know us three can magic a deck up for you, don't you?"
Ant grinned back and said, "Building it is part of the joy of it, Harry. We get to work hard, escape wedding planning and, at the end of it, we can stand back and admire our handiwork. Besides, it's also something I can tell my friends and our non-magical family about how it came to be. Its 'bragging rights', son! I get to tell people my son-and-law and I built it ourselves."
"As a bonding exercise?" asked Harry, better understanding.
With an even bigger grin, Ant slapped him on the back shoulder and said, "Exactly!"
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