The small family was able to return to Grimmauld Place, rather than the castle, as term was officially over the following day, and Hermione and Harry had both finished their exams.
The nursery at Grimmauld was just big enough for everything they needed. Sirius had added a door between the room that Hermione and Harry would share and the nursery so that they could easily get to the babies at night, but still have privacy.
Hermione put Branwen in her crib and turned to hug both Sirius and Remus. "Thank you both for setting this up, and for letting me stay here with the twins. It will be so much better having Harry here at night too."
Harry ushered his tired fiancé to bed for a nap, as Sirius took Ardin into the nursery to rock the little guy to sleep. "Rest love, you've just given birth to our little ones, and now you're using your body to feed them. The least I can do is to watch over them while they sleep." With a kiss to her forehead, Harry left Hermione to rest.
The young father stepped into the nursery just in time to see Sirius gently placing Ardin into his crib. "You're good with them," Harry commented.
"I had a little practice when you were a baby," Sirius commented. "I just didn't know that you, were YOU, ya know?"
Harry nodded. "It's so crazy that mum and dad got me, when you and dad were actually my parents."
Sirius agreed. "James and Lily would have never taken you from us, had they known, but with things the way they were, we had no chance of keeping you, so we didn't tell anyone."
Harry hugged his dad and they quietly left the nursery, so they wouldn't waken the twins or Hermione.
A couple of hours later the worried papa went upstairs to check on the babies, and began to freak out when Branwen wasn't in her crib, until he noticed the door between the nursery and his and Hermione's bedroom was open. He went through the opening and found Hermione sitting in a rocking chair in front of the window, nursing their daughter.
Harry was almost mesmerized by the sight. His beautiful, strong fiancé had been through so much since they had become a couple, but she said there with a serene look on her face, nourishing the body of their beautiful daughter.
The first part of the summer was spent in much the same way as their first day went. Harry fussed over Hermione, Hermione fed the babies, and the proud grandfathers spent much of their time fussing over either their grandchildren, or Harry and Hermione.
Hermione's parents were over quite often, and Sirius or Remus was quick to offer to fetch them anytime Hermione needed or wanted to see them.
In late June, Sirius and Remus took Hermione for her apparation test. She had spent most of the late summer with Harry and hadn't taken it before school, and during school breaks she was pregnant and unable to take it, so she had to wait until after she had healed from the birth.
Hermione was a bundle of nerves, but of course passed with flying colors on her first try and came home that afternoon beaming, showing Harry, who opted to stay home with the sleeping twins, her license.
The summer flew by and before they knew it, Ardin and Branwen were rolling over and chewing on their toes, and it was almost Harry's seventeenth birthday.
Unknown to Harry, Sirius and Remus were planning a big party. Hermione was in on the planning, and had been sending owls out in the early morning hours when Harry was sleeping and she was up with one of the children.
Harry awoke on July thirty-first to a very quiet house. Ardin and Branwen were both sleeping, Hermione was in the library reading and book, and his fathers were no where to be found.
"Good morning love. Happy Birthday." Hermione said, leaning up from her book to kiss him.
"Thank you," Harry said, a bit surprised at the quiet. "Where's everyone?"
"Oh Remus and Sirius had to go into town to get a few things, they said they would be back around one and we should be dressed and ready to go somewhere with them," Hermione said with a grin.
Harry spent his morning snuggling with the twins and otherwise being lazy. Around noon he put the twins down for naps and headed for the shower.
By twelve thirty Harry was ready to go where ever they were going and was sitting in the living room, puzzled.
Remus and Sirius arrived home at exactly one, and Hermione headed upstairs and came down shortly, with a twin in each arm.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked.
"First, to take your apparation test," Sirius answered.
Sirius side-alonged Harry to the ministry while Remus waited for the Knight Bus with Hermione, because the twins weren't old enough to be side-alonged yet. They promised to meet up once Hermione and Remus made it to town.
After Harry and Sirius left, Hermione took the babies out into the backyard, and put them in their playpen. Using her wand, Hermione decorated the back yard in Harry's favorite colors, red and silver.
While Hermione was decorating the back yard, Remus was busy directing everyone through the floo and toward the back yard, and helping Molly Weasley levitate Harry's cake to the big table that Hermione had set up.
Harry took his apparation test at the ministry, and due to his nerves, passed it on the second try. Sirius insisted that he had forgotten something at home, so about one hour after they left, Harry and Sirius apparated back to Grimmauld place. It was almost eerily quiet as they walked to the kitchen.
"Hey Harry, look at this," Sirius said as he peeked out the door before walking into the back yard.
"What?" Harry asked, following his father.
"SURPRISE" everyone yelled as they jumped up from behind bushes, chairs, tables, trees and some removed concealment charms.
Harry was surprised, he hadn't expected to have a big party, considering he had children to take care of, but thrilled that his fathers and fiance had taken the time to plan this for him.
They spent the afternoon eating cake, catching up and watching out for the Weasley twins' pranks. Everyone had a great time, and by the end of the day Harry, Hermione and the twins were all exhausted, and for the first time since they were born, they all got to sleep through the night.