Disclaimer: JKR owns everything. Not I.
Author's Note: The first sequel is posted. Happy Birthday Aquila.
Chapter Seven – New Year
"Draco, Remus, get down here! The Snapes are going to be here any moment now!" Narcissa called up the stairs, a note of urgency in her voice. She was nervous about seeing her friends after the problems at the wedding and the illegal potion that Draco and Harry had been involved in. Not to mention the fact that Severus didn't like Remus in the best of times.
The rest of the Lupin-Malfoy family hurried down the stairs and they checked each other's appearances, adjusting robes and straightening collars.
"Here they are!" Draco called out as the flames in the fireplace changed colour and Ivy stepped out. She stepped towards Narcissa and the two women exchanged a fierce hug as the rest of Ivy's family stepped out and shook ash from their robes.
Once Narcissa felt more stable she let go of her best friend and pulled the Snape twins into a bear hug, tickling them lightly as she pressed them against her swelled stomach, not thinking about crushing them or the small child inside her.
"Aunt Cissa!" Eathan protested. "You are smashing me and the baby." He wriggled a bit more and Narcissa let go of him, smiling as she did so.
"Aquila wanted to give you a hug, Eathan." But Ivy could see something darker, a shade of doubt and fear in Narcissa's eyes as she smiled at the twins and Harry. "Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year Mrs. Malfoy." Harry said shyly. He wasn't sure if she was going to be furious at him for involving her son in the Hover potion. Luckily she just smiled and gave him a quick hug, so not to embarrass him.
Lysander cautiously reached with his small hand for Narcissa's swollen belly. Eathan followed his example. "Hey, baby girl," Lysander said and drew his hand back quickly when he felt something kick against it. "She kicked me! Does it hurt?" Lysander asked worriedly.
"Oh, no, sweetheart," Narcissa said and petted Lysander's head. "It doesn't hurt." When she passed Ivy, she muttered, "At least not much." The two women exchanged smiles and Narcissa had to squash a small laugh. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed speaking with her best friend.
"Just be lucky there's only one," Ivy whispered back, motioning towards the twins. "Two boys at once, it was very unpleasant." She chuckled as Narcissa did and headed over towards Remus to hug him and wish him a Happy New Year. "How are you doing, soon to be father?"
"Quite fine, Ivy. How was Christmas?" Remus asked while hugging Ivy. He got along with her quite well, they'd taken a few classes together after Hogwarts before she'd gotten a job as a professor and the Ministry had issued a decree that required Remus to put his werewolf status on all the job applications he filled out. It had been nearly impossible for him to find work after that.
"Beside the already known problems it was very nice," Ivy said. She wasn't too sure if the comment she was making was the right one. After all, Harry had been forgiven and the situation dropped. Continuing it would only make Harry feel bad and she did simply want to enjoy the night.
Remus threw Harry a measuring glance, now that he was about to become a parent, he had a lot to think about with every decision the parents around him made. So far, he thought that they were all much too soft and easy going on their children. A little discipline wouldn't hurt anything, if applied correctly and someone made certain that the force wasn't used excessively.
Harry stood all the time close to the fireplace, worried how to react. He didn't know if Draco was mad at him, so he taxed him with cautious glances.
Draco just stood at the other end of the room and looked over to Harry from time to time with an unreadable expression. He was slightly angry and frustrated with the boy, but at the same time it wasn't Harry's fault that Severus had found the potion formula. Certainly he could have thought ahead and not put the formula where anyone could find it, but Harry always seemed to have a lot going on and he didn't want to judge him unfairly.
"Lupin," Severus said dryly. The hair on the back of his neck still stood on end when Remus was around, but he wasn't nearly as frightened, or as hateful to the werewolf as he had once been. Any improvement was an improvement. Ivy was always bugging him, worrying that his bigotry would rub off on their children.
"Severus," Remus said teasingly. He knew that Severus had problems with him and had gotten over the fact years ago. As a marauder there had been difficulties between them, but that was ages ago before the Wolfsbane potion had been invented. And if Severus really hated him, he wouldn't go to all the trouble of making the Wolfsbane potion and refusing payment for it.
"Play nice, Severus," Ivy hissed at her husband. "You promised." She was referring to the conversation they'd had the night before. About anger management and being a good example for the children. Discriminating against those that were generally considered to be unlawfully declared second class citizens was not the way to start off a New Years Eve party.
"I am nice," Severus said through clenched teeth. Why did Narcissa have to choose Remus as her husband. There are plenty of eligible pureblood men, and halfbloods and even muggles! If she's willing to come off her pedestal and marry a werewolf, she would probably have no problem with a muggle.
"Yes, he is, Ivy. He didn't call me wolf or beast," Remus said, grinning. It was an improvement since the last time they'd spoken to each other. "Right Severus?"
"Exactly," Severus said and pushed his way past Remus to go into the hall.
Ivy sighed. "I'm sorry, Remus."
"No problem. He will get used to it. We got along at the wedding quite well," Remus assured Ivy while taking Narcissa by her hand and following Severus out of the small fireplace room. "Come along when you are ready, boys."
The adults left the room and headed into the adjacent small sitting room. On the low table surrounded by armchairs and couches was a plate of snacks and a tea set with the pot still steaming. House elves as wonderful things when they know their place. They do their work ever so well. Narcissa thought to herself, indicating for Severus and Ivy to take seats and enjoy the refreshments provided.
"Eathan, Lysander." Narcissa called, waiting for the boys to look up at her. "Would you like for one of the house elves to take you to the playroom? You may play with the toys there and if you ask politely I'm certain the house elves will bring you a snack."
The boys nodded eagerly and Narcissa snapped her fingers. Once all the children were gone, she settled down on one of the smaller couches next to Remus, leaning against the warm contours of his body. "Aww finally, rest at last."
"Long day?" Ivy asked, looking sympathetically at the tired woman. She remembered the last few months of her recent pregnancy. They'd been exhausting and trying to do too much had left her drained for days, making it nearly impossible for her to get all of her work done. It had nearly killed her.
Narcissa nodded. "Between planning the party and worrying about Draco and Aquila and the entire world. . ." She let out a long sigh. "It's just getting to be a bit too much."
I can think of a hundred men right off the top of my head that would be better for Narcissa than the beast. Severus was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice when Ivy asked him a question and that everyone's attention turned to him while he was lost in a world where he had married Narcissa, not that it would ever happen. He truly loved Ivy with all his heart. But Narcissa would be better off with him than Remus.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Severus asked, two small, bright dots appearing on his cheekbones, that was his way of showing his embarrassment. "I was simply thinking, my apologies."
Ivy looked over her husband carefully, checking him for signs of illness. "All right Severus, if you say so. We were wondering if there was a medical explanation for Narcissa feeling so tired now when she hasn't done that much work."
Severus thought for a moment. "Well the pregnancy contributes to some of it. The weight and stress of the child becomes greater each day. And the more stress she's under, the more quickly she'll become exhausted. At least, that's one explanation."
Narcissa nodded, "It sounds reasonable enough." She pushed her robes down so they stopped riding out her legs and leaned even more firmly against Remus' warm body, taking one of his large hands in her small one. "I do have very good news though. When James came to tell us about the Hover potion, he also told me about a cure!"
"A cure?" Ivy asked, not certain what her friend was talking about. "For stress and pregnancy? Please don't tell me it is one of those silly potions that supposedly allow men to become pregnant. They don't actually work and every so often someone thinks they do or develops a new formula the entire Wizarding population of Britain freaks out again."
Narcissa laughed, "No, it's not that. Although I do remember reading about several of those potions. Most of them were usefulness and a few were poisons. Anyway, it's a cure for lycanthropy."
"What!" Severus exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "You're kidding. If something that big was discovered, it would be all over every single page of the Daily Prophet. No one, not even The Department of Mysteries, could hide something this big."
Ivy pulled her husband back down to the couch next to her and stuffed a pasty in his mouth. "Severus, please. We're trying to have a talk with our friends here. This isn't an academic debate." She looked at him disapprovingly until he gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Thank you dear. Now Narcissa, you were saying. . ."
"Right then." Narcissa took a deep breath and wiped her eyes to make sure that she wouldn't suddenly start spontaneously crying. "It is an antibody that those born werewolves naturally produce. All werewolves have it for survival, it makes sure that they are born human by repressing the hormones that activate the change from human to beast."
Remus added the next part. "It will only work on the foetus or the newborn. After the brain is more than a few hours old, it won't accept the repressing antibodies. But with the proper treatments from birth, five werewolves have been cured. There's been some other experiments. I've just signed up to help in one of them. I take some different potions each month now. At least, after Aquila's born I will. If the potions aren't working the way they should be I could become very ill and Narcissa just can't deal with that right now."
Ivy nodded. "That's amazing news! If either of you ever needs any help, with anything, I'd be glad to assist. Between Severus, Minerva and I, we could look in on you every few hours. And Poppy would always be happy to help, James Smith too."
Severus harrumphed. "Remus, I'd help you organize the experiment and record details if you want. You should probably have a baseline exam and then several throughout your transformation as well as right before you become a beast and right after."
Remus nodded. "I was going to have Narcissa do that for me. But you've got some medical training. It would be great if you could help." He gave Severus a warm smile and for once the Potions Master didn't feel like the expression was at all predatory. It was simply a friend thanking a friend for help.
"It's nothing Lupin. You've done more for me. I'm grateful for a chance to repay you in anyway I can." See Ivy, I can be decent to the wolf. Severus tried to relax around the werewolf and do whatever he could to make up for his other bad behaviour.
Remus smiled. "Let's have some firewhisky, celebrate the occasion. I'll soon be the father of a girl without lycanthropy, we've made it through a year." He snapped his fingers and asked the house elf for three glasses of the drink. "Sorry love, you can't have any." He told Narcissa playfully. They both enjoyed firewhisky and he teased her since she wasn't able to drink it well she was pregnant with Aquila.
Ivy was about to propose a toast when Harry burst through the door and into the living room. She leaned forward, looking over him carefully. Something isn't right. What it is I can't quite place my finger on.
"Severus, can I please speak with you?" Harry said nervously.
"What's wrong?" Severus asked, alarmed by his son's behaviour. He set down his flask of firewhisky and leaned forward on his chair, examining Harry for obvious injures or signs of illness. "Are you quite all right?"
"Can we talk in the hall?" Harry said, already having trouble taking deep breathes.
"You should take your potion, Harry," Ivy said, worried. She recognised his symptoms and knew that if he didn't get the elixir soon, the entire night would be off. I hope Severus can handle him. Why doesn't he just go? He keeps putting off helping Harry and he's getting worse and worse!
Harry gulped and shook his head. "Can we please talk outside?" he pleaded in Severus' direction.
"Where is your applicator, Harry?" Severus asked sternly, realizing that there wasn't much time for Harry to take it before it was too late. He'd suddenly figured out that Harry was about to go into a full fledged panic attack and for some reason, he wasn't talking his potion.
Harry groaned and wriggled to find a way out of this without embarrassing himself in front of Remus and Mrs. Malfoy.
But Narcissa and Remus' thoughts were far from Harry's embarrassment. Narcissa was feeling pity for Harry. His condition, his progress and then running away and everything changing. She was glad Draco had never acted like this, it would have hurt her so much.
"Harry?" Severus stood up, asking again about the applicator. He grabbed Harry's shoulders to look deep into his son's eyes to check how far Harry already was into the attack.
"I forgot it," Harry whispered.
The three other adults watched, nervously, as Severus hustled Harry out into the hall and then down into a spare room before they turned back to each other. There were tears of sympathy in Narcissa's eyes and Ivy looked ready to have a panic attack herself.
Narcissa placed a hand on her swelling stomach. Her heart ached for Harry and she was all too certain that if her little daughter ended up cursed with the same condition as her husband that there would be many more days and nights of pain and anguish. Wishing her daughter was normal and at the same time, loving her for all she was.
"Love." Remus covered Narcissa's hand with his own. "Remember what James said, about the new treatments."
Narcissa nodded, wiping a hand across her eyes. "Remus, you'd better go see how Severus is doing. They might need something and someone should be there to help him and Harry through this."
Remus nodded and got to his feet, slipping out into the hall.
Ivy turned to her friend and crossed the space between them to sit next to her on the couch. "Was that wise? Wouldn't a house elf, or one of us do just as well? And then Severus won't freak out, he is always tense around Remus."
Narcissa nodded. "I want Remus to know that he is my equal, in everything. Soon I will have to return to pureblood society. People want to know how devoted I am to him and if we truly have a real bond or just one of convenience. I do have friends among these women too. They keep pestering me to attend their parties and socials."
Ivy shook her head. "I am very lucky. After the. . .incidents that occurred at the first social I was invited to, people spread around the word that Albus Dumbledore's daughter was as crazy as the old man. And I am free of all that pestering." She smiled to show Narcissa that she was only joking and meant no harm with her words.
"Of course. Now I need to arrange one of those incidents for myself." Narcissa smiled and the two women giggled, for a moment more like schoolgirls then mothers.
A few minutes later Remus slipped back into the room. "Ivy, Severus has returned to the house to fetch Harry's applicator. He gave him the emergency potion and Harry is sleeping now."
Ivy nodded. "Thank you Remus."
The three adults sat there was some time in silence. Eventually Severus came in, he glanced at Remus. "Thanks." His tone was rough and abrupt, but it was an apology.
Remus shrugged.
The four adults then sat in silence. Slowly the time slipped by, with none of them daring to disturb the air with words.
Finally Severus stood. "I'm going to wake Harry. It's been over an hour and he's not up yet." He left and the others flew into a flurry of activity, preparing food and things to do until midnight. And of course, the things to do at midnight.
"Children!" Narcissa called out into the hall. "It's time to get things started." She smoothed her robes down and smiled when Draco rushed into the room.
"It's not midnight yet." He exclaimed, looking rapidly around the room. "Where's Harry?"
Narcissa put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down Draco. Don't run in the halls or the house at all. Harry will get here soon. Severus has gone to wake him up."
Draco nodded and took a seat, staring unwaveringly at the door.
Ivy smiled and shook her head. Her hands were full of the twins and keeping them from the food and the activities that were to be saved for midnight, or at least until Harry and Severus returned.
"Finally!" Draco shouted when Harry and Severus entered the living room. Happily he ran over to Harry. "Come on, you must try the punch."
"The children punch," Severus said seriously, eyeing his godson critically. He knew that Narcissa often allowed Draco a glass of wine at dinner and at many of the pureblood rituals she still practised. That was not going to happen tonight, he didn't want Harry getting any ideas.
"Of course, Uncle Severus," Draco said and pulled Harry to the big buffet.
"What's that?" Harry asked while looking disgusted at some red creatures on the buffet.
"That are king pawns. They are great. Try one!" Draco said, excited. So excited that Harry wondered if Severus had a reason about telling Draco not to give Harry the punch of the adults.
"Eww, I don't think so. They are looking at me," Harry said, disgusted, and pulled a face.
Draco laughed. "Sometimes you are really silly, Snape. Like a girl." Draco grabbed one of the pawn and beheaded it. Then he struggled to keep a smile on his face. The pawn tasted a bit odd, and he hadn't been expecting all of the flavour it had.
Harry stepped back when he heard the crunching noise this action produced.
Narcissa noticed the crunching noise too. She turned her head at bit and said, "Give me a moment please," To Ivy before stepping over to her own son.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, how often do I have to tell you to use a plate. You soil the floor," Narcissa said reproachingly. Underneath her cool mask, she was mortified that Draco would do such a thing, in front of all the guests.
"Yes, Mum," Draco said, but when he turned his back to his mother, he rolled his eyes. "Here," Draco said and trust a plate in Harry's hand as well. "Take what ever you want, but you should really try the pawns." He smiled and tried to wiggle his eyebrows like he'd seen Remus doing, but the effect was lost when he nearly tripped over the edge of the table.
Harry held his distance from all the ugly looking stuff that lay close to the pawns. When Draco slurped an oyster and a baby calamari, Harry thought he had to vomit. A hand was placed on his shoulder and he jump.
"Don't let Draco spoil your appetite, Harry. He is only showing off. Normally he wouldn't eat the oyster or the calamari," Narcissa said kindly. "Look over there is some chicken and salad." When Harry toddled over to where Mrs. Malfoy has pointed, she addressed her son," Really Draco, you behave like a boor."
Draco blushed and looked down.
Narcissa shook her head. "I thought you two were friends enough to not try to impress the other all the time."
That was one thing women will never understand, Remus thought while coming over to Narcissa and Draco. "Boys always have to impress each other or challenge each other, love. Come on let them have fun. A few crumbs on floor wont kill us."
Narcissa rubbed her belly, thinking that soon there would be no male dominance in the house when Aquila was born. Narcissa was really looking forward to have a girl that would behave like she understood. Sometimes she wondered about Draco's behaviour and was very happy to have Remus at her side.
Draco threw a grateful look at his adoptive father and ran over to Harry. After they had eaten, they drank some punch and played with the twins until Narcissa called them over to the adults.
"Time for the surprises!" Narcissa said and was delighted by the shine in Draco's eyes. Sometime he still is her little baby boy.
On the table lay eight presents and eight magical crackers. In the middle of them was a deck of cards.
When all guests were gathered around the table, Narcissa explained the rules. "One after another you will pick a card and do what is written on the card. When you have fulfilled the task you can choose a present or a cracker. So we all have two turns. Who wants to begin?"
"Me!" Eathan said and lifted his finger up in the air as high as he could.
"Okay, Eathan, then you will start the game," Narcissa said, smiling.
Eathan eagerly took a card and gave it to his mother to read it for him.
"Sing a song!" Ivy read and looked happily down at her son.
Eathan thought shortly and then started to sing.
Draco had trouble keeping serious and not laughing out. Harry didn't dare to look in Draco direction because he knew he would start laughing as well. It was just to funny how Eathan sang. He often didn't know how to go on and then started anew with a part he could sing well. Eventually he stopped in the middle of a sentence and declared that the song was finished.
"Very well done," Narcissa exclaimed, excited. She and Ivy were the only ones who really enjoyed this song, and Harry was sure they really thought it was good. It's like when babies fart and women think it is so cute.
Eathan grabbed a present and held it protectively on his lap. Obviously you open the presents after the game, Harry analysed.
Eathan was allowed to choose the next person and said that it was Lysander's turn now.
Lysander grabbed for the cards and gave it to his father, gnawing at his bottom lip.
"Draw a picture of a firework!" Severus read out loud.
Lysander smiled relieved. He was worried it was something he couldn't do.
"Here, Ly," Narcissa said and laid a sheet and some corals on the table.
With his tongue stuck out in concentration, Lysander drew the picture and was rewarded with a present.
Oh, please don't choose me, Harry pleaded inwardly and tried to avoid looking at his brother, who now started to look uncertainly around in the room.
"Mummy," Lysander said, and Harry relaxed.
Harry knew that it was irrational and childish to be afraid to have his turn, but again he was bothered by not knowing what would come and if he was able to do it.
"Tell us your New Years Wish," Ivy read out loud. She smiled at Severus in a private mental conversation before she turned to the other guests. Narcissa smiled knowingly at her best friend, but the children didn't seem to have notice the silent interaction between Severus and Ivy. Narcissa was a little worried about Severus' serious and concerned expression when Ivy looked in another direction, and so Narcissa looked quickly over to Remus. Her husband of course had noticed the whole thing and grabbed Narcissa's hand in comfort. It was his way to tell her not to worry and enjoy the day. Eventually Narcissa was pulled out of her thoughts by Ivy's wish.
"I wish that we will remain such a happy family or even will get more happy," Ivy said, happy that she didn't have to lie, but still didn't have to give her true wish away. "Remus you are next!"
"Kiss two persons in the room," Remus read out aloud. "Not a hard choice," he said grinning and leaned over to his wife to kiss her deeply.
"Eww," Draco whispered in Harry ear. "Isn't it awful to see you parents make out?"
"Whom do you tell this. Mine are behaving as if they haven't seen each other for weeks whenever they see each other," Harry replied in a soft voice.
Draco stepped back horrified when Remus went over to him. Chuckling madly, Remus turned directly in front of Draco and marched over to Ivy and Severus. "Severus my—"
"Don't even dare to try it or the little bit of friendship we have built up is ruined this instant," Severus spat.
Remus stopped shocked and couldn't say something for a moment. It wasn't the nasty way in which Severus had spoken to him, that he expected. It was the word friendship.
"What? You didn't even think that I would let you kiss me?" Severus asked, puzzled.
"No, I was just joking, but you caught me a bit off guard with you friendship comment. Never mind," Remus said, still positively shocked that Severus saw him as a friend. "Ehm... I originally wanted to aim at you wife or is this ruining our friendship as well?" Remus asked teasingly.
"Beginning friendship, I said, Lupin," Severus said, realizing his slip of tongue.
"Friendship nevertheless, Severus. You can't beg out of it now. So what about you wife?" Remus asked.
"Oh, please, you never ask me before when you kissed her. Or wait... how do you plan to kiss her," Severus asked sceptically.
"Really, Severus," Ivy said and hit him playfully on his chest. "Come over here, Remus!" Ivy stood up and opened her arms.
Remus grinned and went over to hug Ivy and kiss her on her cheek. Eathan and Lysander giggled. "I want to kiss you too, Mummy," Lysander said, excited.
"Me too," Eathan added and bounced. When all the kisses were exchanged, Remus announced the next person to play the game.
Harry was caught of guard when Remus said his name because he still was transfigured with all the playful exchanges. So when his name was called he jumped and the attention was fully on him. "Ehm... okay." Nervously he went over to the cards and took one. Please not singing!
"Tell a short children story," Harry read out, relieved. He was good in telling stories because he had done this quite often the last months for Eathan and Lysander. They loved his stories and so Harry was confident when he told a story about a little dug in a big pond, who met a lot of friends.
When Harry had chosen a gift, he told Draco that he was next.
"Dance with someone!" Draco read out and grinned at his mother. "Would you give me the pleasure to dance with me, Mother?" Draco bowed in front of his mother.
"It will be my pleasure, Draconius," Narcissa answered playfully. She let him take her hand and place another in the small of her back.
Remus let the background music change into a waltz because he knew that Draco was very proud that he had learned the dance extra for the wedding.
After a while it was again Harry's turn. Some things were twice in the deck of cards and so Harry pleaded again that it was not singing and added dancing as well.
"Kiss three persons in the room," Harry said and blushed wildly. At least better than singing or dancing he tried to convince himself.
First he choose the easiest targets, his brothers. "Okay, little monsters. Let your big brother kiss you!" Harry said playful and grabbed Eathan who squealed delighted by the play. After Harry had planted a very noisy kiss on Eathan's cheek he chased after Lysander, who was running away, giggling. He caught him easily and gave him a noisy kiss as well. Then he blushed and went over to Ivy. "Mum?"
"It's my pleasure, Harry," Ivy said and opened her arms.
Harry quickly kissed her cheek and wanted to draw back, but Ivy was faster and pulled him closer again. "Oh no, that was all?" Quickly she gave him a noisy kiss on his cheek.
"Mum!" Harry protested and wiped his cheek with his sleeve. That all guest were chuckling didn't help his redness at all.
"You turn, Dad," Harry said while passing Severus on his way to the table. Quickly Harry grabbed a cracker and went over to Draco again, who made kissing gestures at him.
"Be happy I didn't chose you," Harry said teasingly which made Draco stop shocked. "That was a joke!"
"I hope so, or I really have to wonder why you didn't want to speak with the girls on the lake," Draco said teasingly, even so he knew that Harry was straight like he was. Harry had told him about his crush on one of the Ravenclaw fifth years.
"I want another card," Severus said protesting when he had read what was standing on his card.
"Oh, no, no cheating, Severus," Narcissa said teasingly.
"What is it?" Ivy asked and leaned over. She grinned when she saw what it was.
"That's not funny!" Severus glared at his wife.
"Oh, don't be a spoilsport," Ivy said, patting Severus shoulder and then snitching the card out of his hand. Before Severus could protest she read out, "Sing a song!"
Remus grinned and Severus glared daggers at him.
Harry felt with his father, but couldn't suppress a grin.
"Okay, okay, just remember you asked for it," Severus explained and then started to sing in a deep baritone.
Oh he ought to be an admiral, a sultan, or a king
And to his praises we shall always sing Look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer lord bless Charlie Mops, The man who invented beer"Severus!" Ivy said reproachfully and bopped Severus in his ribs. "How many firewhiskys did you have?" Her question might have been casual, but underneath it was a real tone of concern. Narcissa bought good firewhisky and Severus had been indulging himself earlier.
"You wanted me to sing. You didn't say what!" Severus protested. He caught his wife's eye and gave a tiny smile to let he know he was fine. He hadn't had that much firewhisky. Eathan and Lysander giggled wildly, and Draco and Harry tried hard to stand straight, but failed when they snorted with laughers.
"Time to open the presents," Narcissa declared and everyone ripped the paper of their presents.
Harry looked shocked at his present. It was one of the awful books Severus had forced him to read for punishment when he eavesdropped on his talk with Draco. Rosaly Meadow's Garden of Eden.
"I think I have yours, Harry," Remus said and pulled Harry out of his shock. "Here!"
Harry grabbed the snitch Remus pressed in his hand. Still dumbfounded, he looked at the snitch.
"Look, you can activate him here!" Draco said and push a small button.
Immediately, the snitch became alive and made an angry sound. After a few second it bit Harry in his hand and Harry let go.
Draco laughed hard. "That expression is almost as good as you looked when you bumped on the ice. It bites when you don't release it quickly enough or turn him off. "Come on, catch it!" Draco demanded playfully and finally Harry grinned and raced after the tiny golden ball. When he caught it at the other end of the room, Draco was behind him.
"I chose it. It only hover low enough to still get caught. Do you like it?" Draco asked, smiling proudly.
"Sure! It is great!" Harry said happily.
"I have one, too!" Draco said and pulled his snitch out of the pocket. "We can play who catches his one first."
"Yeah, that sounds great," Harry said excited, but then realized the book in his hand. "Oh, I think I have to find the one whom this book belongs to." He ran over to Ivy and looked around if she had a gift in her hand. The book could still be Narcissa's present.
"Ah, there it is," Ivy said when she saw the book. "Or did you change your mind about Rosaly?" Ivy asked teasingly.
"Yes, we would happy to buy you a whole series of Rosaly, Harry," Severus said in a sing song voice.
Harry pulled a face at Severus and stuck his tongue out.
When Severus tried to grab his tongue, Harry quickly drew backwards and ran giggling away. The time until midnight Draco and Harry played with their snitches and the twins played with their blocks. Their colours changed every five minutes and when two or more blocks with the same colour touched each other they vanish and appear on the loosed pile of blocks again. That made each building very unstable and the boys giggled happily each time it broke down.
"Time to go out for the firework and the countdown," Remus announced. "The house-elves have prepared everything."
The two families hurried outside, dressing up in their coats and winter clothes to sit on the blankets that had been put out on the balcony for them. The snow gave everything a peaceful sort of feeling and the fireworks reflected beautifully off of it.
Remus leaned on Narcissa, one hand around her shoulders, the other on her stomach. It had been a magical year. True magic, that of family, of love and of creation. He kissed his wife gently, looking forward to all the new year held in store for them.
That's it everybody. The next story in this series is also posted. Its a short story about Aquila and her birth and the pureblood ceremonies and customs that surround it. The title is Happy Birthday Aquila. Thanks for reading and many thanks to grugster for letting me play in her universe and for writing the chapters that this is based off of.
