Please see chapter one for warnings/summaries and other necessary notes. Enjoy!

HOME FOR THE NOTT CIRCLE : KITCHEN

"Harry—oh. Thank you." George stopped dead in his tracks when Harry met him at the kitchen entrance, a steaming cup of life in his hand. He breathed in the favorite, rich scent of his preferred coffee brew and moaned in appreciation as the first hot sip slid down his throat. No one could brew a good cup of coffee like Harry could. Quinn could try, but Healers didn't drink coffee. It was something of a muggle habit, George supposed, but he did so love it. "Mmm. I love you." He snaked an arm around the brunet's waist, drawing him in for a coffee-flavored morning kiss. "Mornin, Ry."

Harry wrinkled his nose at the shortened nickname, but didn't protest. He accepted the kiss with a pleased hum and squeezed back the hug in return. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, I did. It was very nice in fact, even though-" George stopped. Hazel eyes narrowed faintly. He reached around Harry, aiming for the kitchen, only to find that Harry had turned into a lead weight, refusing to allow him any forward movement. "Harry."

"It's fine. I didn't…blow up the kitchen or anything. It's fine." Harry dodged the hand aiming for his forehead. "I slept well too. Isn't that good? Where's everyone else?"

George gave him a look, but took another sip of coffee when the sneaky brunet nudged it back up towards his face. "Fred is pretending it isn't his turn to make up the bed. Charlie's taking a shower with Theo—who locked the door by the way—and Quinn is already off on his morning run. He tried to hug me to death this morning." The redhead's arm around Harry slowly fell away as he reached up to tug at his bedhead. "Why?"

"No reason." Harry leaned up to kiss the corner of his Pareya's chin. "Could you come with me for grocery shopping today?"

"Harry-"

"You're much better at it than the others and you don't add unnecessary things to the list." Harry flashed his most angelic smile. "I only want to grab a few things. I believe Quinn already left his usual list. It wouldn't take long at all. I'll ask Theo if we can."

"Harry-"

"Please?"

George placidly downed the last of his coffee. He studied the hopeful face of the adorable wizard still wrapped around him. He could read everything that wasn't being said as instinct clamored within for him to agree. The coffee was not the bribe—but the kiss to the chin was—Harry was still carefully reserved with his own gestures of affection, even as his entire Circle showered him in acceptable affection. "…I see." He said, at last. "Alright then. I'll go. I can't wait to see how you'll manage to slip this one past Theo."

Dark eyebrows waggled suggestively. "Theo won't mind, if you're going."

George blinked as Harry immediately released him and headed for the stairs. He did not want to read into what those eyebrows said. Particularly since Charlie happened to be in the shower with said Theo. "What? Harry, what's that supposed to mean?"

There was no answer.

The Pareya stared at the steps and then down at his empty coffee cup. "You could at least have added a refilling charm," he began. The cup grew heavier and he looked down to see it refilling with the steaming liquid. A faint smile curved up on his face, unbidden. "Never mind." He turned on his heel and headed for the guest bedroom downstairs. Experience told him that the upstairs en suite would be occupied for quite some time.

A rather dazed Theo came down the stairs nearly an hour later. George had finally risen from the table, irritated, only to stop and stare at the odd trio making their way down the stairs. Charlie appeared far more relaxed and in better humors than when he'd wakened and Harry was between both Beta and Alpha, one arm looped around Charlie's elbow and the other hand guiding Theo downward.

Fred popped up from the table to come and see and shut his jaw with an audible click.

Do I want to know? Quinn's mental addition to the conversation prompted the twins to shake their head in unison. He'd returned from his run, but hadn't stopped for an actual shower, instead opting again for the personal hygiene spells he was so fond of. His wet hair glistened, evidence that he hadn't bothered with a drying spell. …Thought so…

"Er, Harry?" George tried as the trio made their way towards the kitchen table where breakfast awaited.

Quinn was still fixing the appearance of a few dishes, but the meal was complete. They'd been waiting for the missing circle members, but neither had expected the thoroughly sated shine in Charlie's baby blues or Theo's completely dazed look.

"Don't want to know." Fred mumbled. He kicked his twin under the table, shooting a warning glance when George opened his mouth to speak.

Quinn's teal eyes danced with laughter and his shoulders shook with the effort of holding it in as he took his seat at the table.

Harry pretended not to notice as he directed Theo to sit at the chair at the head of the table, then pointed Charlie towards the chair on the left. He took his own position at Theo's right and then turned grandly to Quinn to be sure of the meal's completion.

It's all done. Quinn's mental answer was echoed by the quick signs formed by his fingers. Make sure you all eat some yogurt.

"You tell us that every single morning." Fred reminded him, but he dutifully scooped out a portion into the small bowl beside his plate. "Anyone have anything they want to share-!" This time, he was kicked in turn as George smiled sweetly at him, yanking the yogurt bowl away from his hands.

"Actually, George said he would come with me to do the grocery shopping." Harry said, calmly. "It won't take long."

"Grocery shopping? Today? By yourself?" Fred frowned. "Harry, I don't think that's a good idea with what happened last week, you don't know that-"

"I'll be with George." Harry said, matter-of-factly. "He's safer in public than you and Theo said it was fine."

Fred's cheeks pinked. "That was once." He half-hissed. "And I wasn't—you were wearing those ridiculous-!"

"Ahem." Theo cleared his throat, awareness returning to his glimmering golden eyes. "George volunteered. I already agreed. Harry asked me this morning and he assures me that there is nothing to worry about." The sharp-eyes zeroed in on George. "Absolutely nothing to worry about, correct?"

George straightened almost at once, understanding the question within a question. "Yes, Alpha." He murmured, soft enough for Theo's hearing alone, with a nod for the others.

"Good. Now then, the blessing so Quinn will stop reminding me just how much of an appetite can be gained from a morning run?"

"Harry?" George stood at the doorway, casting a tempus with a single arched eyebrow. If there was one thing he did love about his Circle, it was the excess magic that was always handy for simple things like a quick spell. While his own was not the least bit lacking, it helped to know that there was something to fall back on. A security blanket that had once been true with his family, but now was no longer the case. He bit back a sigh and turned, searching for Harry. He could hear the younger wizard bustling about in the next room.

"Just…a…minute." Harry's reply floated back, several minutes later, he came hurrying through, bundled in his respective winter robes, Gryffindor scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Uh, Harry?" George hesitated.

"What?"

"It's not that cold out there."

"I know."

"But-"

"I just feel like wearing them today, that's all."

"…alright then. Shall we?"

"Harry!" Charlie's multicolored head poked around the corner.

Harry's face softened and he smiled, turning and readily walking forward for the warm, full-body embrace that would come. He held Charlie a little closer, a little harder than usual, but didn't comment with more than a wide smile. "See you in a bit."

"Be careful." Their Beta reminded.

"Always are." George intoned. "Harry?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Harry released Charlie and trotted over to his Pareya's side. He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing when George snatched up his gloved hand. That had been one of the compromises he'd had to agree to-not that it had been any hardship, of course.

"Not a word." George growled. Twin spots of pink dotted his face as he curled one hand into a fist and drew up his magic. "Temptrificus Saurenth!-"

Flames burst to life at their feet and danced upwards at their waists, before the portal opened wide. Harry subconsciously pressed closed to George, even though he knew his Bonded's flames would never hurt him. The 'portal winked out with Charlie's serene expression being the last image both of them could see.

They landed in the bustling market, with Harry immediately taking charge. He did not drop George's hand, but rather, simply moved about, tugging George with him. The taller Pareya opened his mouth to protest and then thought better of it, when that bright, green-glitter gaze snapped up to look at him.

"…where to, first?"

Harry's angelic smile was eerie. "First stop, a tree."

"A what?"

"Keep up, George. We have a very busy three hours ahead of us."

George groaned.

It turned out that Harry was craftier than George had ever given the brunet credit for. He must have called in the orders ahead of time. The groceries were waiting for them as they passed the market stalls and Harry only paused in the pick-up lines to collect the preordered packages. He handed them to George in turn, holding up a wooden tile that dangled from one wrist, by a scarlet ribbon.

The token was magically scanned, the appropriate monies transferred. George dutifully shrunk the received packages and deposited them in the wooden, woven basket that Harry balanced between them in the crook of his elbow. The basket held several compartments and the food section was protected by extra preservation charms and such.

They passed through the Marketplace fairly easily, Harry was greeted warmly by certain frequented vendors and a few threw in extra things for the holidays, another rack of rib, a baker's dozen for the breads and pastries, an extra fruit with the usual sack and so on. Harry thanked them all and tipped generously as he felt like it, exchanging the holiday greetings with ease in both Dragel-speak and the Queen's English.

George was mildly surprised, but he was happy to see Harry in better spirits. There was a faint glow around the smaller wizard as they bustled through the rushing crowds. The shopping was done within the first two hours and Harry finally stopped for a rest, beside a marketplace stall where he purchased bags of warmed, muggle chestnuts.

Harry tugged the glove off one hand and fed the nuts one at time to George, with laughter in his eyes and mischief in the fingers that teased at his lips. George nibbled the proffered fingers in appreciation, enjoying the nuts and the flavor of the earthy, crunchy taste and texture. Harry said something of candy next and George just nodded.

Theo said he'd allow them three hours and no more.

The third hour was already fifteen minutes passed and George wasn't sure where Harry was headed next.

"Harry?"

"A tree." Harry reminded him. "There was a big line when we came in," he gestured towards the marketplace. "So I figured we could come back. We need a tree."

"Er," George said, intelligently.

"Good boy." Harry patted his arm. "Something that will fit in the sitting room, right?"

"…right."

~*~*~*Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you feel so inclined. Quinn and Co. will send you warm fuzzies if you do. ;) ~*~*~*~