Harry's connection to Hermione seemed to reach new levels and they were both busy exploring them. Just as Hermione could let Harry look through her eyes, Harry found a way to let her look through his. It was fascinating, exciting, and quite a bit frightening. Although he'd already seen Hermione nude, seeing her wash her intimate regions was something he could do without.
Just like passing vision, they found they could also pass sounds, and Harry was subjected to Hermione getting an explanation about puberty and how it affected girls. He really didn't want to know that!
Hermione didn't mind that he could practically see and hear everything, if she didn't specifically try to stop that, nor that she could see and hear everything he was experiencing. She was actually trying to find a way to let him also smell through her nostrils. She was almost sure they could do it within a few weeks.
\/\/\/
Augusta was glad to tell Dylan that the renovation of the swimming pool at Longbottom Manor was done. "I was trying to find the most appropriate way to reopen it, and I think it would be by inviting all your club members and their families to join us in the pool at the Yule. Celebrating nude freedom on the shortest day of the year seems quite appropriate, don't you agree?"
Dylan was still a bit surprised by her openness. Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom was hiding a very young and adventurous character behind her stern façade. "Not all parents will be able to come. Dean's and Colin's have to work that day, I believe. The Dursleys shouldn't even hear of this, I'm sure. The Grangers and the Johnsons will probably be able to join us and the magical families will probably accept your invitation, if you formally invite them. As for Lora and me – that depends on her pregnancy. Her due date is at the new year, but since she carries twins, it may move a bit earlier."
Augusta nodded understandingly. Dylan thought that she was also thinking about how the younger woman would cope with two babies at once, especially without the help of house-elves. He wondered if he could ask for a nanny house-elf to help them for a while, after the arrival of the twins.
\/\/\/
Snow came early to the Longbottom Manor area that was in Northern England. By the time of the Yule celebration, the grounds were already covered in white. The guests arrived, all wearing thick winter coats. Even in Southern England, it was quite cold already.
Augusta invited her guests early enough to be able to enjoy some swimming even before lunch, and some more after it. She didn't mention it on the official invitation, but she made sure that the children informed their families of the expected attire at the pool – bare skin. None seemed to mind that. Actually, it even made Colin's mother decide to come, along with Denis, Colin's younger brother who was also magical. His father regretted not being able to join too, but his work interfered.
The renovated pool was quite impressive. It was large enough to be considered of Olympic size, Dylan thought, although he didn't take exact measurements. It was surrounded by a garden, with enough easy chairs scattered around to accommodate many more guests. There were several statues in classical style around the pool. It was all surrounded by tall glass walls that let in as much of the feeble winter sun as possible. The ceiling had nice paintings of nude swimmers and bathers, some of which Dylan considered borderline erotic. It was all very elegant and very stylish.
The children were the first to get rid of their clothes and jump into the warm water. The adults followed at a more leisurely pace. Dylan helped his very pregnant wife to walk the stairs into the pool, making sure she was sure-footed before letting go of her.
Lora was actually becoming the centre of attention of the younger women. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Granger, Mrs. Creevey, Lady Abbott and Lady Greengrass were eager to talk about their own pregnancies and give advice and encouragement to the expecting mother. There was no distinction of social or magical status at all.
Madam Bones joined Augusta, feeling a bit apprehensive at staying nude near the younger women. Dylan also stayed with them, not liking to join the men who were talking about business, mainly. Surprisingly, Selena Lovegood joined them, despite looking just as nice as any of the younger women. "Unfortunately, Luna is going to be my only child, so I'd rather not join that group or I might feel a bit envious," she explained.
"Why is that?" Augusta asked her.
"You know I work with experimental spells. One of them bounced back and hit me, when Luna was about a year old. It damaged me in a way that none of the healers knew how to heal."
"Have you tried to check with goblin healers?" Dylan asked.
"I didn't even know they had healers. Are they really good enough?" Selena was evidently surprised.
Since all present were under a vow and the Fidelius kept it secret from the rest of the world, Dylan thought he could talk freely. "Harry had that famous curse scar on his forehead, as well as some other problems caused by the less than welcoming environment he had for a while. It took them quite a few hours, but the goblins were able to heal it all. You can see how he is now."
Indeed, Harry was currently playing with the other children in the pool, looking completely healthy, with no scar or even a reminder of it on his forehead (or on his back, Dylan noticed).
Selena also looked in that direction. "I think I'm going to contact Gringotts quite soon," she said pensively. She glanced at Luna, who looked so happy, surrounded by friends. Luna caught her eyes and smiled back. Selena knew she would do all she could to give her daughter siblings.
The girl was really enjoying the pool, her friends and the warmth. Her special talent, though, wouldn't let her fully enjoy it. She suddenly left the group of children and approached the younger women. Lora noticed her and waved her to come closer, hugging the young girl to her large abdomen. Luna smiled at the expecting mother. "Are the cribs ready? You may need them well before the new year."
Lora smiled. "Yes, everything is ready. Don't worry about me."
Luna then turned her eyes to Mrs. Granger. "You should remove the tumour in your left Fallopian tube, near the uterus. It could be dangerous if left alone."
Hermione's mother looked stunned for a moment, although Luna just smiled benignly at her and returned to the other children. "Is that real?" she asked nobody in particular.
Lora answered. "That girl has some inexplicable talents, but she was right in several of her predictions. I'd visit a doctor and use her prediction as a guideline. You know, better safe than sorry."
Mrs. Granger stayed pensive for much longer.
At noon, the house-elves made a buffet lunch along the short side of the pool. Nobody was expected to get dressed for the meal and nobody did. The children only dried themselves using some magic. The adults used towels for the same end. Each person took a plate and sat down on one of the chairs. The children had a different idea. Neville conjured a round table while Harry and Hermione conjured some form-fitting benches.
"Would you like some more such tables?" Harry asked Augusta, who seemed fascinated by their wandless and silent magic.
"Yes, if it's not a problem. I'd like two smaller tables with high-back chairs around them."
She barely finished talking, when she got what she wanted. Dylan had to suppress a giggle. These children were amazing, there was no doubt about it.
The atmosphere changed subtly after lunch. The children played more serious and less noisy games, yet they all seemed to use magic. One such game had a child throw a conjured ball and then shift to catch it. If one missed, the turn passed to the next. In a different game, they played a variation of "paper, scissors, stone" by conjuring various items instead of just using their names. Although Dylan had already seen them play many times, he was still fascinated by the ease with which they used magic that was supposed to be the realm of only very powerful and knowledgeable wizards. Augusta, who had also seen a bit of this seemed just as fascinated. Amelia, Cygnus, Xeno, Selena and Mrs. Abbott seemed to be stunned by what they saw. Most of them couldn't even replicate that magic while using wands, and it would have certainly tired them.
Dylan thought he needed to reassure them. "I've measured their magical cores. Most of the children are perfectly normal for their age, although slightly above average. I also have the impression that they're all becoming magically stronger as a result of taking part in this club. I'm not sure what causes it. Maybe it's just that they're growing up."
"But some are not conforming to that. You said 'most'. Who are the exception?" Mrs. Granger asked.
Dylan smiled apologetically. "I think it's safer not to tell. None of the children wants to be treated as different, and I tend to agree. Each child has different abilities in different fields, but they're all normal magical children, as you can see."
Before the winter sun started setting, they all left the warm water, dried out and got clothed, feeling a bit sad for having to finish such a wonderful day.
Lady Augusta wouldn't let the gloom take over. "You're all welcome to visit here whenever you like. You can call my Floo, of course, to make sure we're at home. I also plan to get a phone connection. Neville will let you know as soon as it is ready."
\/\/\/
Lora enjoyed the pool, the children and the parents. She felt a few slight cramps at the pool, but paid them no attention. She'd been having such cramps for several weeks already and knew to ignore them.
She had some more cramps after arriving home, but she felt so good after such a nice day that she didn't let them bother her. She ate a modest dinner with Dylan at home and then urged him to get a good night's rest. He needed to be ready for the Christmas prayers, which usually attracted a much larger crowd than usual. Dylan obliged.
He didn't feel like he slept more than a wink when he was awakened by a sharp cry from Lora's mouth. It took him a moment to gain his conscience and then he asked, "Are you alright?"
She shook her head, "I think it's time you drive me to the maternity ward."
As he got quickly dressed, he glanced at the clock. It was after four in the morning, so he'd slept about six hours. That would have to do.
Luckily, the roads were practically empty and it took only a few minutes for Dylan to drive his wife to the maternity ward, lead her in and move the car to a proper parking place. By the time he rejoined her, she was already in the delivery room, although not yet ready to give birth.
By eight in the morning, nothing seemed to change. Dylan thought this was a good time to inform his superiors of the situation and ask for someone to replace him for the holiday. He didn't expect himself to be able to handle it this time.
When he returned to Lora's side, nothing seemed to change. Her contractions were still not close enough, although the associated pains were steadily growing. Then, a few hours later, things started changing very quickly. Lora's water broke during a contraction. This brought the contractions much closer, soon turning into almost a single, continuous one. Dylan felt like it was only a few minutes from the time Lora's water broke until he held his first child in his arms and then the second. Only when he lifted his eyes to the clock on the wall he saw it was already evening.
Dylan couldn't stay there. Lora needed the rest and the medical supervision while the babies also needed to pass some medical examinations and then rest from the delivery. As one of the midwives explained, "They had just been squeezed through a very narrow tube that pushed them forcefully through. Luckily, they are still very flexible and can stand this without damage, but they also need to recuperate, just like their mother."
Dylan kissed Lora's forehead, while she was already dozing, and drove groggily home. He didn't think he could sleep at all, but he fell asleep as soon as he put his head on the pillow. Yet even while asleep, he kept wondering about the miracle of life, that brought him a boy and a girl. He knew that he would no longer feel as free as before. As a parent, he was suddenly shouldering a responsibility that only death could take away. It was still the best responsibility he could think of.