Chapter six of my rewritten story! I love you all and review!
Orion grinned at everyone before bowing and motioning them all to get to the dance. Duke walked up to Harry and gently touched his shoulder. Harry looked at him and Duke felt awkward. He handed Harry a wrapped parcel and walked away quickly. Draco and Harry stared after him but Harry ripped the paper off and gasped staring at the cover of the scrap book.
He sat down on one of the chairs and started flipping through the pages tearing up. The first couple of pages were of his parents wedding. His mom looked so beautiful in the white wedding dress. Duke looked small in his father's arms and he seemed shy of the cameras unless he was in his mother's arms. Harry was surprised that Severus was there with the others, but Severus seemed happy so Harry just turned the page. The next were a few new born pictures of him in his mother's arms, his dad's arms, and even in 7 year old Duke's arms. Harry wiped some tears away and smiled shutting the book for later and hugged it to himself tight. Draco smiled and shrunk the book for him carefully and Harry put it in his pocket.
Duke stood around with his hands behind his back looking around with a serious look. Hailey looked at Keighley and nodded. Keighley grinned before skillfully disappearing into the shadows. Hailey walked over to Duke and stood beside him looking around.
"So it seems you and Orion are the only ones without dates." Duke just nodded.
"It's understandable considering the bad breakup Orion and Charlie went through." Hailey just shook her head.
"And your excuse?" She said. Duke shook his head and continued to scan the crowd swaying lightly to the music. George looked around and scowled scanning for his prey. Finally Orion appeared in the crowd and George ran up to him before he could disappear again. Orion looked at him and grinned.
"What's up Georgie?" Orion said and patted his back. George grinned and took his hand.
"Can you please give me one dance? A hero to a worshipper?" George said and puppy pouted at him. Orion blinked, but nodded allowing himself to be pulled to the dance floor just as a slow song started. Hailey looked at the shadows and grinned as Keighley returned in her wolf form and nodded. Hailey grabbed Duke's hand and pulled him forcefully over to the entrance of the dance. Duke looked at her strangely, but gasped and stared when his love walked through the entranceway.
Oak was a large chocolate brown centaur with strong blue eyes and even stronger legs. His silky black hair ran down his back and his head was always up like an alpha wolf. He flicked his black tail that had a white bow tie in it and tugged at the tux top's collar. Duke almost passed out, but a big boyish grin broke out across his face. Hailey gave thumbs up behind her back at Keighley who smiled and slowly backed up into the forest to go meet her own love.
"Oak you look so… Uncomfortable. But handsome. What are you doing here?" Duke said walking over looking up at the tall centaur. Oak scowled lightly.
"Hailey and Keighley said that this would mean a lot to you. And you always come to the forest to be with me so…" Oak shifted his hooves before scowling at Duke. "Just dance with me before the song ends. I don't know any fast song dances." Duke just grinned like a kid at Christmas and nodded pulling him onto the dance floor. Oak wrapped a strong arm around Duke and pulled him close. Duke closed his eyes feeling at rest and rested his head on Oak's chest enjoying the two heartbeats of his love smiling big all the while.
Hailey sighed happily and sat down on a chair feeling relaxed. All her siblings had dates and now she could relax and maybe try some of that wonderful pie. Grace gulped and slowly walked over to Hailey and played with her fingers. Hailey looked up at her and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes Miss Grace?" She asked. Grace looked down and mumbled. Hailey tilted her head. "What?" Grace took a deep breath and set her lip.
"Dance with me. Please." Grace said and offered her hand. Hailey blinked but then nodded standing up and took Grace's hand letting herself be lead onto the dance floor.
Sirius walked into the ball holding Remus's hand feeling nervous. It was the first time since he was acquitted that he went out in public. A happy upbeat song was playing now and everyone was dancing, having a wonderful time. Sirius looked at Remus for support. Remus smiled and led him further in. Harry looked at the entrance when Draco tapped his shoulder and gasped. Sirius grunted but smiled when he got an armful of happy Harry and held his godson tight.
"Hey Harry…" he said. Sirius looked up when Orion got his eye and he smiled softly slowly walking over to his son. Orion stared at Sirius straight faced and backed up lightly. Everyone stopped and watched father and son stare at each other. Sirius lifted his arms and hugged Orion tight. Orion hugged his father tight burying his face in his neck.
"Welcome back dad…" Orion said and looked at him smiling softly. Sirius smiled and kissed his forehead lightly.
"I'm glad to be back. Now come I wanted to ask you something." Orion tilted his head.
"Yeah?" Sirius grinned.
"I wanted to know if you, Hailey, Keighley, Duke, and your mother would like to come to my place for Christmas. And of course you too Harry. I got the house totally redone since I'm not on the run anymore. And I really want to spend my first Christmas with my family." Orion grinned matching his father.
"We would love too!" Sirius patted his back.
"Perfect!" Harry laughed and took Draco's hand tugging him over to Sirius.
"Sirius… I'd like you to meet my boyfriend. Draco Malfoy." Draco waved to him and gulped lightly. Sirius's eye twitch but he offered his hand to Draco.
"It is very nice to meet you Draco… I hope your treating my godson well." Sirius said. Draco shook his hand and smiled.
"I try my best sir." Draco said and pulled Harry close kissing him. Harry blushed but smiled and kissed Draco back. Sirius ground his teeth put pulled Remus close and kissed him.
"Well Remus and I are going to go dance. You two have fun but not too much fun. Got it?" Harry just smiled innocently at his godfather until he walked away and then grinned evilly at Draco who grinned back.
"Shall we go?" Harry said. Draco nodded and took Harry's hand leading him back towards the castle.
Hailey sat down with Grace laughing as the last dance ended. Grace laughed with her and looked up at the beautiful woman who had spent the entire dance with her.
"You're so pretty…" Grace mumbled. Hailey laughed and patted her back.
"And I think you're beautiful." Hailey said leaning back. Grace blinked staring at the woman.
"I'm not beautiful. I'm chubby and my hair is black and stringy!" Hailey looked at her confused.
"What does that have to do with beauty?" She asked. Grace blinked at her.
"What do you mean?" Grace asked. Hailey shook her head and turned fully to Grace.
"My mother always told me that it doesn't matter what a person looks like on the outside, but what they portray to the world. Since you started running with me and my siblings you've lost some weight yes but you smile more. And that I believe makes you more beautiful than any skinny girl in this school." Hailey said and kissed Grace softly on the forehead. "It's time for bed." Grace blushed and nodded running off for the castle.
Hailey smiled watching her go before walking to Duke and tapped his shoulder as he swayed with Oak. Duke looked at her and groaned before looking at Oak sad. Oak just smiled softly and leaned down kissing him deeply before patting his arse and sending him off for the castle. Oak waited until Duke was out of site before ripping off the tux shirt and taking out the bow tie out of his tail handing it to Hailey.
"This doesn't leave the ball." He said. Hailey smiled and nodded in agreement and waved her wand over the shirt making it disappear. Oak trotted off back into the forest disappearing skillfully in the shadows. Hailey shook her head with a smile and headed off to Orion who was now swaying with both Weasley twins in his arms looking like he was in heaven. Hailey tapped his shoulder and he groaned looking at her.
"Bed time for the kiddies." She said and waved the twins off. Orion groaned and waved as the twins headed for the castle. He scowled at her before started to wave his wand cleaning up the mess and transporting the chairs to the castle. Hailey walked over to her mother and father and tapped them both on the shoulder. Severus groaned and opened an eye looking at her.
"No more sleeping standing up. Go to the castle." Severus yawned and nodded. Lucius smiled down at Severus before leading his pregnant fiancée to their rooms. Hailey smiled at their backs before starting to help Orion and Hagrid pick up the ball.
The Room of Requirements a few days later…
Harry smiled at his fellow "Army Against the Dark Arts" members and patted some of them on the back.
"We won't be meeting until after the holidays everyone. Have a wonderful and safe Christmas." Everyone nodded and headed out leaving him a Draco alone. Harry smiled at Draco tiredly and leaned against him while Draco held him tight.
"Come on we have to get packed up. We leave tomorrow." Harry groaned and looked up at him.
"I wish I could see you for Christmas…" Harry mumbled unhappily. Draco chuckled and kissed his forehead. He couldn't wait to surprise Harry for Christmas.
5 days before Christmas at Sirius's house…
Sirius grinned as everyone piled out of the car and stared up at the house. It looked the same as before from the outside.
"Don't worry, don't worry the inside looks a lot better!" Sirius said and led them up to the front door. Orion grinned at Harry before racing after his dad. Severus grumbled and followed everyone up to the doors, hoping that Black knew what he was doing and that everyone would get their own rooms. He wasn't too keen on sharing a room with his four kids when he was pregnant.
Sirius opened the door and everyone gasped at the inside. The house was way more open and colored with white or cream paint. The hall was massive and it led to two wide rooms and some huge stairs. Harry couldn't believe how open and bright it was from the last time he saw the old house.
"The best part is the upstairs! Everyone staying here gets their own room!" Sirius said feeling very happy with everyone's reaction. "And the second best part is that I got that evil painting of my mother out of my house!" Remus appeared from the dining room with an apron on and the smell of pies following him. Sirius smiled and kissed him softly.
"Ok everyone lets go get our rooms" Severus said. Within two seconds all his kids were gone. Severus watched Harry climb the stairs a lot slower and rose an eye brow watching. Ignoring it he made his own slow trek up the stairs to get a good room before everyone took them.
Dinner…
The massive table was filled to the brim with the order members, the Weasleys, the Snapes, the Malfoys, Sirius, Remus, Harry, Dumbledore, and Oak. Harry had been happily shocked when Lucius arrived with Draco in tow. Severus explained that he didn't want to not be with his fiancée on Christmas but he also wanted to be with his kids. Sirius had agreed to allow them to stay at his house as long as Draco promised to sleep in his own room.
Everyone was happy with the new house and Sirius couldn't stop smiling as he spoke to his son and godson about Hogwarts then switching over to Remus to talk to him about the wedding prep. The twins would swoop in and talk to Orion when Sirius was distracted with Harry or Remus and Orion showed no sign of minding about talking to the twins about pranks.
Harry held Draco's hand under the table and slowly ate the dinner that Molly and Remus had made for them. Draco looked at Harry worried and started whispering to him.
"Hey are you alright? You've been acting strange all day." Draco said rubbing Harry's hand with his thumb. Harry nodded slowly and winced lightly.
"Stomach pains. I've been having them since the train. I think I ate something that doesn't agree with me but I'll be fine." Harry said and smiled. Draco smiled lightly and nodded letting it go. Sirius clapped his hands getting everyone's attention before standing up and smiling.
"I believe it is time for everyone under the age of 18 to go to bed, while everyone else can meet me in the living room for dessert and wine." He said smiling. The twins scowled at him but didn't argue as all the kids went up the stairs to their rooms.
The adults were enjoying a quiet night in front of the fire relaxing, enjoying the pies and wine, or tea in Severus's case, when a bloody scream ripped through the house causing everyone to shoot up.