=== December 16 1995 ===
Harry stands inside the Room of Requirement. In front of him sits Atrunant on a crystal pedestal. Malachi sits nearby in a leather chair. His coat and gloves off leaving his metallic arm exposed. "Grab it when you are ready." Malachi says.
Nervously Harry takes a step forward and wraps his hand around the hilt of the obsidian sword. 'Who dares to wield me?' A thunderous voice echoes in Harry's head.
Harry winces slightly and responds aloud. "I am Harry Potter, Heir of Godric Gryffindor."
'I am Atrunant, Demon of Darkness. I slew your ancestor!' The voice laughs, forcing Harry to his knees. 'You are not ready to wield me yet, LET GO!'
Harry is thrown from the sword into one of the walls, which thankfully was well padded. "You all right?" Malachi calls out from his seat.
"Never better." Harry groans as he gets up and looks at his hand, burn marks show where he touched the blade.
"Don't worry about those." Malachi says as he hands him a healing chew.
Harry takes the chew and eats it, his burns immediately healing. "I thought wounds inflicted by dark magic couldn't be healed."
"That wasn't dark magic. The wielder and Atrunant have to work together to summon dark magic." Malachi explains. "Also some dark magic wounds can be healed, if you know exactly what spell was used. Lost limbs however can not be regrown ever." He actuates his cybernetic fingers for emphasis.
Harry nods as he watches Malachi carefully pick up Atrunant then will it to the void. "Does it talk to you all the time?"
"From the second I start to summon it until I dismiss it." Malachi says.
"Thank you for letting me try." Harry says.
Malachi nods. "You're welcome. We'll pick this up after break."
Harry nods. "Have a good holiday."
"You too."
=== December 18 1995 ===
Even with the twins Harry and Hermione were among the first to board the Express to return to London. Which works out just fine, Hermione steps into their normal train car and summons Rowena's grimoire to her free hand then with a whisper she modifies the car, making the seats more comfortable. They make themselves and the twins comfortable.
Luna and Ginny come in and sit shortly afterwards. Ginny looks around. "Amanda and Draco staying again?"
"Nope!" Amanda says as she and Draco come in. "Just took our time packing."
"I decided I wanted to see how muggles celebrate Christmas." Draco says.
"Hopefully you'll like it." Amanda says.
"I'm glad you're letting me join you again. Last year was nice." Luna says.
"Ginny sees you as the sister she never had." Harry says, "and that's good enough for us."
"Thank you."
"Are you looking forward to the twins' first Christmas?" Ginny asks.
Hermione nods. "I hope Dad has the camera, cause I'm going to want lots of pictures."
The Express stops and they quickly get off. Luna and Ginny each take a twin to give Harry and Hermione a break. This allows Hermione to nearly tackle her parents with a hug. Draco and Amanda follow behind.
"Easy there, Mione." Harry says. "You don't want to hurt them."
Hermione blushes. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Helen says.
"Though we are curious as to what we owe the extra strong hug." Richard admits.
"I really want to thank you for everything." Hermione says. "These last four months have shown me just how hard parenthood can be, and we're just at the beginning."
They both nod. "But it's worth it in the end." Helen says and they all pile into the car.
They all enter the house, Hermione looks around as they do. "Where's Grandmum?"
"She's not feeling well, and she didn't want to risk giving it to the babies." Richard answers.
Hermione sighs in disappointment. "Oh."
"Don't let it get you down." Amanda says. "It's still Christmas time."
Hermione nods. "You're right."
=== December 25 1995 ===
They all gather around the Christmas tree as is their tradition. Harry and Hermione each have one of the twins.
"So, which of the twins is younger?" Ginny teases.
"Iris, but not by much." Hermione answers. "Though I don't think either of them will be handing out gifts this year."
Ginny nods. "Me and Luna can do it again this year if you like."
"That would be fine by me." Hermione says.
Everyone nods and the gifts are handed out. Harry and Hermione move to sitting on the floor each of them have a package for the child they're holding. They are encouraging them to rip the paper off, by placing their little hands at the seams. Meanwhile, Richard takes plenty of photos.
Some time later, everything is cleaned up. Amanda and Draco are missing, the rest of the teens are laying on the floor playing with the twins when someone knocks at the door. "I got it!" Helen yells as she goes to the door and opens it. "Hello there, how may I help you?"
"I'm looking for Harry Potter. Does he live here?" A female voice asks.
"He does." Helen says.
Harry gets up, having heard his name and comes to the door. "Helen, who is it?"
"She hasn't said." Helen says as she moves so Harry can see Petunia Dursley standing there in her Sunday best.
"What are you doing here?" Harry manages to ask in a neutral tone.
"I was hoping to see my grandnieces." Petunia admits.
Harry moves to the side. "Come on in."
Petunia nods as she steps in. "Thank you."
"Would you like me to take your coat?" Harry asks.
"No, I don't plan to stay long." Petunia says.
Harry nods as he leads her into the family room. "Petunia Dursley, I'd like you to meet my wife Hermione."
"Hello Missus Dursley." Hermione says coldly.
"I suppose I deserve that." Petunia admits.
"Next I'd like you to meet my sister Ginny and her best friend Luna Lovegood." Harry says, pointing to each of them.
Petunia takes one look at Ginny and gasps. "You look just like Lily."
"That's what people tell me." Ginny says, "and who are you?"
"I'm your aunt, Petunia. Lily was my sister."
"You're the one that raised Harry." Ginny says.
Petunia nods. "I did what I could. Though I'm confused, I didn't know Lily had a daughter."
"We found out about her at our wedding." Harry says. "Mom had hidden her using magic."
"I'm glad you found each other." Petunia says as she reaches into her coat and pulls a photo album out. "I brought this, it's pictures from when me and Lily were young. I was hoping it would in some small way make up for Vernon."
"You never discouraged his treatment of me." Harry says as he takes the album, "but you never laid a hand on me either. Hence the reason I even let you in." He nods to Luna and Ginny and they move so the twins can be seen playing.
"Look at them!" Petunia exclaims. "They both have your eyes, Harry, and clearly Hermione's hair."
"We couldn't have asked for better." Harry admits.
Petunia nods. "Thank you, for letting me see them. "
"You're welcome." Harry says.
"I'm going to head off now, I don't want to overstay my welcome." Petunia says
"Wait!" Hermione says as she gets up and hands Petunia a picture of the twins. "I want you to have this."
Petunia tears up. "Thank you."
=== December 26 1995 ===
Draco knocks on the door to Hermione and Harry's room. Harry answers the door. "Everything okay Draco?" Harry asks.
"I was hoping to talk to Hermione about a private matter." Draco says.
Harry moves and Hermione comes to the door. "Come on, the other bedrooms are empty, we can talk there." Hermione says.
They go to one of the empty bedrooms and close the door. "So Amanda told me that she talked to you already about our.. problem."
Hermione nods. "I saw nothing wrong with her, so are you ready for me to check you?" Draco nods. Hermione casts the standard diagnostic spell. "I think I see something." She summons Rowena's grimoire. "Allow me to do a better test that requires blood?"
Draco nods and Hermione mutters an incantation and touches her wand to Draco's cut. A line of blood draws from him. "Somebody put a spell on you so you can't get anyone pregnant until after you turn 16."
Draco sighs. "Probably my father. Is it something you can undo?"
The grimoire flips pages rapidly then closes itself. "There's no spell in the grimoire that can do that, and I don't have the knowledge to risk it." Hermione says. "I'm sure Madam Pomphrey would know what to do."
Draco nods. "I'll keep that in mind."