Potter Couple and the Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 2: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
Despite being woken up at four o'clock in the morning to feed his twin infants, change them and put them back to bed, Harry was fully rested and ready for his birthday. He didn't feel sixteen but felt older than that as he went downstairs with Isabella in his arms. Hallie was breastfeeding Lucy in the sitting room and smiled at him when he sat down next to her. "You are a great mother, you know that?" he said as he gave her Isabella.
"And you, my love, are a fantastic father," she answered him. "I just wish I had more privacy when breastfeeding." Harry laughed but stopped when Ron came from the kitchen holding the day's issue of the Daily Prophet in his hand. "Hi, Ron. You look a lttle upset. What's up?"
"YOU CHOSE DRACO MALFOY AS GODFATHER?" he shouted. Harry stood up and tried to explain himself. Hermione ran down the stairs when she heard his shout and grabbed his arm. "Can you believe this, Hermione?"
Hermione took the paper, her eyes flicking across the front page article and then to Harry. "Are you sure he's the one you want to be your godfather? Think about how much he hates you, Harry!"
"I did," Harry said, "and I already talked to Hallie about it. She thinks it's a good idea." Hermione stared at Hallie as if she lost her mind, but Hallie didn't say anything. "Look, Ron, you're my best mate, but you're already cousins to my daughters. Besides you, who else do you think I should've chosen?"
Ron's ears went bright pink and the words that came out of his mouth were forced. "I was thinking Neville or Dumbledore or...even Seamus, but not Malfoy! He's a...a git, Harry! Bloody hell, mate, what is wrong with you? Are you off your rocker?"
"Malfoy is godfather and that's my final word." Harry said. "Now, I think our O.W.L. results should be in today, so maybe we should stop arguing about this and be ready for the worst, don't you?" Ron sighed and nodded, but his eyes widened when three owls landed on the kitchen window sill and let them in. The three owls held out envelopes, but one of them had two with Harry's name on it. Harry untied the envelopes from the owl's leg, dropped two Sickles into the leather pouch on its other leg and it flew off. Hermione paid for both hers and Ron's owls and they flew off after they took the envelopes. Harry opened the envelope with his exam results and read them.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR HARRY JAMES POTTER
Astronomy: A
Care of Magical Creatures: O
Charms: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: P
Herbology: E
History of Magic: D
Potions: E
Transfiguration: E
Harry liked his results, despite failing Divination and History of Magic, but he felt sad that he didn't get the desired grade for Potions which Snape told him was an Outstanding. So much for trying out for the Auror position after Hogwarts, he thought. "How did you do?" Hallie asked and he showed her the results. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey. Maybe things will get better if you take your N.E.W.T. for Potions."
"I thought about dropping it," said Harry, "but if you think I should take it again, I'll do it for you." She smiled and said it was his choice. "Thanks. Ron, how did you do?" Ron showed him his results and Harry smiled. Ron got an Outstanding in D.A.D.A. and Care of Magical Creatures, got Exceeds Expectations in Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration just like he did, and even failed in Divination and History of Magic. "Not bad, mate. Not bad." Ron asked how Hermione did in her results and she quietly handed over her results, her bottom lip quivering.
"Come off it," Ron said with a laugh. "See? You got Outstanding in almost every subject besides Defense Against the Dark Arts! That's nine O.W.L.'s, more than Fred and George got combined!" He kissed her cheek and said, "I'm proud of you." Hermione smiled and thanked him. "What's the second envelope for, Harry?"
Harry opened the envelope and read the letter inside it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I am happy to inform you that you have been made Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Enclosed with this letter is your Captain's badge. This gives you access to the Prefect's bathroom and I know you will train your team well. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry shook the envelope and a small badge with a large 'C' embossed in the gold fell into his hand. "I've been made captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," he said with a grin. "I can't believe it." Ron gave him a high five and whooped. "You do realize that I can't just let you on the team, right? You have to try out just like everyone else?"
"I know," said Ron, "and I'm going to try out for Keeper. I think I'll do great." Harry smiled. "Are you going to try out, Hallie? You'd probably make a great Chaser."
"I dunno," said Hallie, "but I can always try out, right?" Ron nodded. "What about you, Annie? Going to try out for the team?"
"I thought about trying out for Beater," said Annie, "or Chaser...depending on my strengths. I'll try out for both." Harry smiled. "Anyway, congratulations on making Captain, Harry. I'm proud of you."
Harry hugged his sister and said, "Thank you. I really hope you try out." He looked at his wife and said with a twinkle in his eye, "You should really try out for Beater. You've definitely got the attitude for it." Hallie glared at him but smiled all the same. "I love you, darling," he added in a sing-song voice.
Hallie replied in the same sing-song voice as she walked away with the twins in her arms, "I love you, too, but you're going to get it." Harry gave her a frightened look and she giggled. "I was kidding, babe. Honestly, you need to lighten up."
A few hours later, Harry and the Weasleys sat down at the kitchen table for his birthday dinner. Arthur was home for the dinner and wished Harry a happy sixteenth. "Thanks, Uncle Arthur," said Harry happily. "I'm just happy I'm alive to spend my sixteenth birthday with my wife, children and family." Hallie kissed him and held his hand, and his jaw dropped when he saw his birthday cake. It was in the shape of a Golden Snitch with the words Happy Birthday, Harry in red letters. "Wow! This is amazing, Aunt Molly." he said. After cake and dinner, the gifts were passed out. Ron's was a pocket Sneakoscope, Hermione gave him a broomstick service kit and he received many others from everyone else. "Thank you all," he said to the whole family. "The best gift I had all day, besides all of yours which are wonderful, are my children." He held Lucy on his lap and smiled down at her. "I couldn't wish for anything better than to have a family with Hallie."
"Well, there might be something better," Annie said and handed him a photograph album with the words Happy Memories in glowing red letters. "Open it." Harry opened it and saw his wedding photo along with many other pictures of he and Hallie celebrating their second, third and fourth anniversaries. "What d'you think, brother?"
Harry hugged her and said, "This is amazing, Annie. Thank you."
"Well, Mum and Dad couldn't think of what to get you so they decided a gift from the four of us," Annie said pointing at herself and Hallie, "would suffice." Harry laughed and hugged her again. "Well, I'm going to take a nap. See you two later." Harry and Hallie waved as she went upstairs and closed Ginny's bedroom door.
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The trip to Hogsmeade was boring in Harry's opinion. The whole lot of them had to ride in a car driven by a Ministry of Magic official. His boredom ended when he saw Hagrid. He woke up Hallie, who was sleeping on his shoulder. "Hal, Hagrid's waiting for us," he said smiling. She woke up and stared at the gamekeeper's large form outside her window. "Hi, Hagrid," Harry said after everyone in the car piled out.
"Hiya, Harry, Hallie," said Hagrid while pulling them into a hug. "I head the good news. Yer a father now, are yeh?" he said to Harry, who nodded. "Congratulations, then. Professor Dumbledore showed me the article about yeh in the Daily Prophet this mornin'. Couldn' believe it until he showed me the pictures. I gotta say, the girls look just like both of yeh."
"Thanks, Hagrid," said Hallie. "Did you see who Harry named godfather?" Hagrid nodded and said he supported Harry's choice. "At least someone besides me does. Ron thinks he's mental." Hagrid laughed and asked Molly if he could take Harry and the twins shopping. At first, Molly was skeptical about it, but Hallie convinced her. "Come on, Aunt Molly, it'll be a lot easier for you." She finally agreed and the four of them went on their way to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. After buying their school robes, Hagrid left them to do the rest of their shopping alone because he had to go to the school and get everything set up for the first term.
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After their shopping was done, Harry, Hallie and Annie stared at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. A purple sign was in a window emblazoned with gold lettering that said WHY WORRY ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO WHEN YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO! IT'S THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION! Harry's jaw dropped while Hallie and Annie burst into fits of giggles. "You've got to be kidding, right?" he said shaking his head. "U-NO-POO? Have they lost their minds?"
"Lighten up, babe," said Hallie still laughing from seeing the sign. "Dumbledore always said that happiness can come even in the darkest of times, right? Well, Fred and George decided to take his words to heart." They walked into the shop and, this time, all three of their jaws dropped. The shop was huge! "Uh, I know they said they have a lot of stuff, but this...this just freaks me out." Harry nodded without saying a word. Annie, on the other hand, pointed at two familiar people walking toward them. Hallie's eyes lit up and she said, "Mom! Dad!"
"Hey, Hal!" Nick Parker said with a wide smile. "How ya doin', kiddo?" Harry, whose hand was being held by Hallie, was dragged toward his father-in-law. "Hiya, Harry. Guess what?" He held up a wand. "Looks like my great-grandparents were magical people, too."
"Congratulations, Dad," said Harry approvingly. "I can teach you some spells if you want to. Why don't you come back to the Burrow with us and I'll teach you?" Nick gave him a smile and said he'd do that. "Great. So, what brings you two to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"
Elizabeth James-Parker said, "We were going to buy some clothes for your children when Nick saw the shop." She gave a small laugh and added, "It's kind of hard not to spot, to be honest, but here we are." Harry laughed and hugged her. "Harry, you're much happier than I've seen you lately. I believe being a father changed you and I like it."
"So do I, Mum," said Hallie. "So do I." Elizabeth noticed Hallie's haircut and mentioned it. "Oh, I decided to cut it so I don't have to worry about waiting for it to dry so long. Yeah, I can't do much with it, but I kinda missed having shorter hair."
"Well, I think it looks beautiful," Harry said giving her a soppy look. Hallie gave a small squeal and hugged him. "Funny. After these past five years, you still have that squeal." She laughed until Annie walked up to them with what seemed to be a small powder puff on her shoulder. "What's that?"
"A Pygmy Puff," Annie said patting the creature lightly. "I named him Peter." The little creature squeaked and rubbed its body against her neck. "Isn't he cute?"
"Yeah," said Hallie as she stroked his pink fur. "Very cute. Harry, we should go browse the shop and see what we can get." Harry nodded and they walked looked among the shelves, passing by Hermione and Ginny in the WonderWitch section of the shop talking to Fred and George. "What's going on there?" Harry shrugged and paused to listen.
"So, Ginny," said Fred as she and Hermione looked through some hair potions. "We've been hearing that you are dating Dean Thomas." Ginny glared at them but said nothing. "Of course, we understand the reasoning to finding someone to date, but why him?"
"Because he's nice, and he likes me," said Ginny, her eyes blazing with anger. "Would you rather I dated Neville or Seamus?" Fred shrugged and walked away. "Those two always get on my nerves and butt in on my social life. It's a wonder how any of the Hogwarts teachers ever stood them." Hermione giggled and continued to browse the shelves.
Harry and Hallie kept walking until they found a box labled 'Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder'. "What's all this?" he asked George.
"Ah, this will give you a quick getaway when in a pressing situation," said George. "Five Sickles for one rock, but you don't have to pay for it." Just then, Ron came up with his hands full of merchandise.
"How much are these?" he asked.
"Five Galleons," the twins said together.
"But I'm your brother!" Ron protested.
"Five Galleons," the twins said again.
"How much for me?"
The twins glanced at each other and said with a shrug, "Ten Galleons." which made Ron angry. He suggested they check out the rest of Diagon Alley, so Harry, Hallie, Annie, Ron and Hermione walked around the area looking around. Their first stop was at Ollivander's which was deserted. "Oh, no!" Hermione said as they walked in. "Everyone bought their wands at Ollivander's."
Harry was about to investigate the rest of the shop when Ron looked out the window and said, "Harry?" He stopped and looked out the window to see Draco Malfoy and his mother walking past it. "Is it just me or do Draco and Mummy look like two people who don't want to be followed?"
The small group of five followed Draco and Narcissa through Knockturn Alley and stopped at Borgin & Burkes, the shop Harry and Hallie accidentally entered during their first attempt at traveling by Floo. Looking through a window, Harry spotted Bellatrix Lestrange and other assorted Death Eaters talking to Draco until a Death Eater closed the curtain on them. "Still thik you should have Draco as your godfather, Harry?" Ron whispered as they went back to Diagon Alley. Harry glared at him but said nothing.
On the train, Harry and the others were sitting in a compartment. Hallie was holding Isabella and feeding her while Harry fed Lucy. "It was an initiation," Harry said confidently. "He's become one of them."
"One of what?" Ron asked completely nonplussed.
With a sigh, Hermione said, "Harry thinks Draco is now a Death Eater."
Ron looked back at Harry and said, "You're barking! Why would You-Know-Who make Draco one of them?"
Harry shrugged. "If he isn't, then what was he doing at Borgin & Burkes? Browsing for furniture?" Ron scoffed and Harry looked at Hallie. "What about you? You saw it, too!"
"I don't know what I saw, Harry," said Hallie, "but I actually think you're right. Something was totally off about the whole thing in Knockturn Alley, and I'm going to ask you to find someone else as godfather." Harry sighed, handed Lucy to Annie and stood up. "Where are you going?"
"I need some air," he said and walked out of the compartment. About halfway down the train, he tossed the rock of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder in the air, which caused everything to go dark and made several people scream. Harry made his way to the Slytherin carriage, found Malfoy's compartment and hid in the luggage rack above him. Malfoy was talking to Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson.
"I always said Dumbledore's been the worst headmaster Hogwarts ever had," he said and Blaise snickered. "Something funny, Blaise?" Blaise quit laughing and shut up. "I honestly don't think I'll be going back to that pestulent school any longer. This may be my last year there." Pansy asked what he meant and all he could say was, "Let's just say that I won't be taking Charms class next year." The train came to a stop and Pansy held her hand out for him to take. "You go on. I have to check something." Once everyone was gone, Draco flicked his wand and the blinds magically covered the windows. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to eavesdrop, Potter?" He whirled, his wand pointing at the luggage rack. "Petrificus Totalus!" Harry fell from the luggage rack and landed on the floor still covered by his Invisibility Cloak.
Draco pulled the Cloak off of Harry and chuckled. "Oh yeah," he said with malice in his voice, "she was dead before you could wipe the drool off your chin." Draco stomped hard on Harry's face and Harry felt his nose break. "That's for my father. Have a nice trip to London." After that, Draco left the train leaving Harry alone and still immobilized.
Not long after Draco left, Luna Lovegood, wearing her Spectrespecs, found Harry and pulled the Invisibility Cloak off him, pointed her wand muttering, "Finite!" and Harry was able to move again. he stood up and the two walked along the path to the front gates until they met Professor Flitwick.
"Ah," said Flitwick holding a quill and a long roll of parchment in his hands, "I was looking everywhere for you two! All right. Names?" Harry protested that Flitwick had known Harry for five years and the little teacher's face went red. "No exceptions, P-Potter!" Flitwick stammered. Luna pointed to two wizards flanking the front doors and asked who they were. "Aurors," said Flitwick. "They're here for extra protection."
After Flitwick let them through the gates, Luna saw Harry's bleeding nose and said, "Do you want me to fix it for you? You look more 'Devil may care' but it's up to you." Harry asked if she knew how to fix a nose, and Luna answered, "I've done a couple toes, but what's the difference really?" Harry took only a second to think before he gave her the okay. Luna pointed her wand at his face, gave it a small flick with the incantation, "Episkey!" and Harry yelped, then asked how he looked afterwards. Luna looked closely at his face and said, "Exceptionally normal." Harry gave her a smile and they walked toward the castle together.
In the Great Hall, Hallie was getting worried about her husband despite the many Gryffindor students that wanted to see Lucy and Isabella. Even Cho Chang from Ravenclaw, Harry's former crush, asked to hold one of them. While this was going on, Hermione saw Ron eating ravenously and said while punctuating every word with a sharp smack to his shoulder with a book, "Will-you-ever-stop-eating!" She set the book down on the table and glared at him. "Your best friend is missing!"
"Oi!" Ron said rubbing his shoulder "He's right there, you lunatic!"
"He's covered in blood again," Hallie said concerned as Harry entered the Great Hall and walked toward them. "Why's he covered in blood all the time?" Ron told her to be lucky that it was Harry's own blood just as he sat down. "What happened to you?" Harry looked at her and her jaw dropped. "Who hit you? When I find whoever did this, they are so going to get my foot up their..."
"No need for that," Harry said hastily. "I don't want my wife to kill anyone." Hallie sighed and handed him Lucy whose hands were reaching for him. Harry gladly took his daughter and fed her some formula from a bottle. "Weening the kids early, are we? We only had them for two weeks, Hal."
Hallie shrugged. "I don't want them to get too dependant on my milk," she said. "The doctor in London recommended this formula so I asked Mom to get a few cans of it so we can at least feed them for a couple weeks." Harry was quite happy she was prepared for this but felt somewhat down that he wasn't. When he told her this, she said, "Don't worry, babe. I got this under control. I talked to a witch in Diagon Alley and asked her to send us some of her products by owl order."
"Have I ever told you how amazing you are?" Harry said in a slightly dumbfounded voice. "You are truly amazing, you know that?"
Hallie blushed. "Um, I'd rather not say where I hear those words, okay?" Harry looked away in case anyone heard their conversation but before she could say anything else, Dumbledore stood and addressed the school.
"Welcome to another year of magical education," he said with his arms open wide as if to hug them all. "To our new students, welcome and to our old hands, welcome back. As you probably noticed, we have two new staff appointments this year. I am pleased to welcome an old colleague of mine." Dumbledore gestured to Horace Slughorn who was sitting beside him. "Horace Slughorn has agreed to resume his old post as Potions Master." There was a smattering of applause and Slughorn stood up. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, however, will be taken by Professor Snape." Barely any applause except from the Slytherins were heard. Dumbledore raised his hand for silence and addressed the school again. "You are all wondering, I am sure, why there is so much protection added to the school. Well, the reason starts with a young man who walked these corridors, ate in this very hall, and even slept in the dormitories. His name: Tom Riddle." The students listening started muttering and talking to each other at once at the name.
"You see, darkness is among us once again. We are at war with darkness and it's most powerful weapon...is you." Dumbledore looked at his students, raised his hands and said, "Just something to think about. Now, off to bed. Pip pip!"
Harry and Hallie went to the boys' dormitory to find the place one bed short. "Uh," said Hallie scratching the back of her head, "where's our bed?" Professor McGongall tapped her on the shoulder and led them to a door hidden behind a portrait of a man with an ear trumpet.
"What is the most powerful magic of all?" he asked.
"Love," Harry said and the portrait slid sideways to admit them. Once they entered their new bedroom, Harry's and Hallie's jaws dropped in astonishment. "Bloody hell!" Harry gasped. There was a queen sized four-poster bed and two twin-sized cribs for the babies. An wizard's wireless radio system stood on a dresser and an old oak wardrobe held their clothes. "Did we just die and go to heaven, Hal?"
"If we did, someone better pinch me." Hallie said and winced when Harry pinched her arm. "Ow! I meant hypothetically!" Harry apologized and looked through their wardrobe. "Harry, you're not going to believe this!" He turned to see what she was looking at and smiled. Two golden goblets and a bottle of Parker Knoll wine sat on a table under a pair of floating candles. "Care for some wine?"
"Thanks," Harry said sitting down once he put the kids to bed. "D'you think anyone else but McGonagall knows about this room?" Hallie shrugged, pointed her wand at the wireless and some music started playing. "Getting into your romantic mood, are you?" he teased.
"Yeah," Hallie said with a smile. "I'm beginning to wonder who exactly did this, but I think I can guess." Harry smiled as Dobby the house-elf appeared beside them. "Hi, Dobby! I thought you were working in the kitchens!"
Dobby bowed to them and said, "Dobby is working, miss, but Dobby wanted to surprise Harry and Hallie Potter with this room! Dobby created it with Professor Dumbledore's permission."
"Aw," Hallie said hugging the small creature. "Thanks, Dobby. You're the best house-elf anyone could ask for. Why the Malfoys treated you so badly is beyond my comprehension." Dobby smiled, thanked them and returned to the kitchens. "I thought it was him." Harry laughed as she poured some wine into their goblets, clinked her goblet with his and drank. After two more glasses, she kissed him, dressed in her pajamas and crawled into bed. Harry dressed in his own pajamas and did the same. "Let's just hope Dobby or anyone else doesn't wake us up until morning. I'm beat." Harry agreed, wished her good night and fell asleep quickly with his arm around her.