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65Chapter 3: Talking with the Twins

Back in Time

Chapter 3: Talking with the Twins

Harry was resting on the bed, no longer in pain. Melania and Orion had left him to rest five minutes ago and he was trying to prepare himself mentally and emotionally for his upcoming conversation with the twins.

Not that he thought he could handle it. No matter how much time he gave himself to prepare.

He sighed shakily, running his trembling hand through his hair.

Just as he was about to call for Death a wave of magic enveloped the room and Death was standing there, in front of the bed, the twins next to him with pleading expressions as they looked at Harry.

And it tore at his heart.

"I need you both safe. You won't be safe here. Not now. Not until I have things sorted," Harry said, trying to keep his voice firm, and yet it wavered nonetheless.

"Harry, you will keep us safe," Fred said.

"We know you will," George said.

"I would try, certainly. But I am pretty sure that being pregnant out of wedlock is rather frowned upon in this time, more so than in our time. And if I am going to sort out the mess the country becomes then it won't help me if I am pregnant,"

"You could say you're a widow," Fred suggested.

"I could, technically, fake some bonding papers for you," Death said, and Harry shot him a look, "And some papers that show your partner is dead,"

"That still won't protect the twins," Harry said, "They need to be safe, and they won't be at the moment. In a few years, maybe, when I have sorted things out in regards to Dumbledore and Tom, but I won't be able to keep them completely safe right now. Imagine what Dumbledore could do, or Tom, or anyone else. I need time to place myself firmly in this time, to build some protection for myself, and for my children. I can't do that as well if I am a pregnant widow with no one to help,"

"There's always Orion, and the rest of the Black family, I am sure they will help us," Fred said.

"Harry, we just want a mum who will love us for who we are, and who will be able to tell us apart, and who will see how we really are instead of thinking of us as troublemakers all the time. We want a mum who will care, and look after us, and protect us, and not look at us as bad people, or blame us for everything, or overlook us as if we never existed. We know you can do all of that for us because you have been since the moment we met you," George said.

Harry really tried to get his emotions under control, but the tears came anyway.

"You know I love you, right?" Harry asked, and they nodded, "Then know that I would love, more than anything else in the world, to be your mother. To love you and cherish you in the ways that Molly never did. But I need to make sure that you will both be safe first. And even if people believe I am a widow, it won't protect you, or me, from anyone who wants to use us for my bearing abilities and the power that you will both have. I need a family to bring you into first, I need some protection for us. I need to make sure that the world is a bit safer, first. For everyone, but mostly for you two. When things are safer, when I have found us a family, a proper family, we can reconsider okay. But I want to keep you safe, and I can't do that right now. I'm sorry,"

Harry didn't know how he was able to hold them, but he didn't care. They all fell to the floor, and held each other. Harry tried to comfort the two, and they tried to comfort him, but Merlin did it hurt.

"There are other options," Death said after what felt like an hour of them on the floor.

"Like what?" Harry asked nervously.

"Lucretia, Orion's sister, is getting married in a month to Ignatius Prewitt. She has been told by Healers that she is barren, but that isn't technically true. She will just have an incredibly hard time getting pregnant, if she were to try, but she isn't wanting to due to what the Healers told her. However, I could ensure she gets pregnant with the twins after her bonding. It will be a shock to the family, for sure, but not an unpleasant one. And the twins can grow up loved, and appreciated, as the miracles they are. They will have a large family, which you will be a part of, Harry. Just as their uncle rather than their mother," Death said and Harry looked at the twins with sad and yet somewhat hopeful eyes.

"Does that… Would you both be okay with that? Or do you want to wait for me?" Harry asked gently.

Fred and George looked at each other and seemed to be talking to each other with their eyes.

"We want you, Harry," they said together.

Harry's heart stuttered in delight. No one had ever really chosen him before. Not for something this amazing feeling anyway.

"Don't get us wrong," Fred said.

"We are sure that Lucretia will be a wonderful mother," George said.

"We have seen bits and pieces of your new time," Fred added with a nod.

"But we want you," George said.

"You have been kinda like a mother to us since we met, in a weird and yet wonderful way," Fred said.

"And it just wouldn't feel right for us not to choose you," George said.

"Even if it means we have to wait for it to be safe," Fred said, though he seemed rather blue when he spoke.

"But we understand. And we can wait," George said.

"So long as it isn't too long," Fred said.

"And you talk to us sometimes," George said.

Fred nodded.

"Of course I will talk to you sometimes, and Severus, and everyone else. I promise. And I will be as quick as I can. I don't like the thought of you both being up there, even if you aren't alone," Harry said, kissing both of their heads gently.

"Then we can wait," they said cheerfully.

"Thank you. I really wish I could have you both now, but your safety is my top priority. And until we have a family to help we won't be safe. Not in this time. Not when there will be so many out to control us or…"

"We understand, Harry. We're sorry for trying to get to you now," they said.

"No, you have no reason to be sorry. I understand how life was for you both with your mother, and I know why you did it. You will be safer up there for now though, as much as it pains me to think of you both being there. But Severus and everyone will look after you,"

"We know," they nodded.

"Honestly, Severus is hilarious when you get to know him without his masks and position in the way. Regulus is also," Fred said.

Harry smiled, though his heart hurt, especially at the thought of Regulus, "I'm sure he is. Sarcasm is one of the best forms of comedy after all,"

"I should probably send them back to the others, they have been on this plane long enough," Death said, and Harry's heart hurt more.

He didn't want them to go back.

He didn't want them to be dead.

Any of them.

He held them closer to his chest and kissed their heads again, his heart aching as his arms let them go and they stood back up next to Death.

"See you soon, mummy," they said, grinning sadly at him.

The words tugged at his heart even more, "See you soon," he whispered, his voice shaking.

Then they were gone, but Death was still there.

"Thank you for letting me speak to them," Harry said as he stood shakily, clinging to the footboard of the bed for some kind of support.

"You can do so at any time. With any of them," Death said.

"Is there a way for you to make sure Lucretia can have children, and that Severus or someone can live the lives they deserved?" Harry asked shakily.

"There is. Though I am wondering why you want me to do so when you don't even know her," Death sounded intrigued.

"Yes, well, if she's anything like Orion or Melania, then she deserves her miracle. And from what the twins said, they think she would be a wonderful mother, and I am sure I will agree once I know her. No one deserves to have hope for a family ripped from them like that. The Healers were wrong to tell her she was barren if there is still a chance she could fall pregnant, no matter how small," Harry said.

"Hm, I much agree," Death said, "I can ensure she, or yourself, gets pregnant with your people, Harry. So long as you ensure you look after their selves from this timeline. They will need you, too,"

"Of course, that is what I came back to do. To make sure everyone is safe. Though why are you allowed to do this? Surely this goes against the way of life," Harry asked, confused.

"Usually, yes. But I am Death, so realistically I can do whatever I want. And you are my so-called Master, so if you want something done and it is technically within my means, I can do it, depending on what it is. I know I said you weren't my Master in the way that you can tell me what to do, and you aren't. However, Ignotus and I have been watching everything that has been going on in the world since he died, though I have obviously been watching for a lot longer. And we are disgusted by what has happened to your friends in their lives, they deserve the best. I won't tell you everything, that is up for them to tell. But, they deserve better, and I was going to ensure they got it anyway. So long as you promised that their selves in this timeline would be looked after, as well as their new selves born from either yourself or Lucretia. From what we have seen, you both deserve the large families you desire but have thought impossible for so long,"

Harry just nodded, mostly in thanks.

Then Death was gone, and Harry crumbled.

Hiya, how are you all?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, despite it being a bit shorter than the previous ones. Things are very hectic in the family at the moment, however, and with work, so time is fleeting. Hopefully the next chapter will be longer, though. So what kinds of things are you hoping to see in this story? Is there anything you are guessing at happening? Anything you want to see? I am interested in hearing your thoughts. 

I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you want to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have an update schedule of sorts, and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, both original works and fanfics. So if you are interested then I am more than happy to accept any of you. 

I hope you are all having an amazing day!

Kind regards, 

Paige xx