Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Author's Note: Thanks to my new beta: capctr

Author's Note 2: To all my friends out there that might be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: there is a portion of this chapter that has misrepresented your faith. It is merely a plot device, and should not be taken in an offensive manner. It is taken from the characters' wizarding references to the real world being a century or so outdated… I am placing this note to clear up any misunderstandings that might result from that. No insult was or is intended.

Sharptooth

Chapter Seven

Australia

He woke the next morning to find himself sandwiched between two beautiful witches. To say that it was a unique experience to Harry would be an understatement. He felt a momentary surge of pure bliss, but then the reality of just why he had both Ginny and Hermione sharing his bed struck him and he came crashing back to earth. Ron. His best mate and Hermione's boyfriend; the other portion of the bond shared by each of them, who was ripped away from them at Harry and Ginny's wedding reception.

Harry choked back the sob that threatened to rip its way out of his throat. The wound was still so raw. It felt as if a part of him was missing, as though he had lost an appendage, and not a person that he knew. He hadn't realized just how much he felt for Ron until the bloke was no longer there for him.

He decided then that the three of them needed some sort of closure. He disentangled himself from the two witches and scooted to the foot of the bed. Looking back he grinned as she saw that in his stead the two of them had reached out to each other and were snuggled up, still in a state of repose.

He quickly found his glasses and then it was a short search to find the moleskin pouch that Hagrid had given him for his seventeenth birthday. He dug out the Resurrection Stone and hefted it in his hand. Once the girls were up he intended to give them that closure. Being the so called 'Master of Death' had its benefits after all.

It wasn't long before his absence from the bed was noticed, and Ginny and Hermione were waking up. He waited for them to come awake fully and then gave both of them a hug and a kiss on the forehead. After each had taken care of the morning hygiene rituals he led them back to the bed.

"Gin, 'Mione, the two loves of my life, I think that we need to be able to move on, and this is going to be a stumbling block for us. I know what I am thinking is going to be hard, but bear with me, okay?"

"Alright Harry," both of them chorused.

Harry pictured his dead friend clearly in his mind, and then turned the stone over in his hand three times, willing both Ginny and Hermione to see Ron as the did so. They gasped as Ron came into focus.

"I wondered if you were ever going to get around to doing this, Mate," Ron said with a chuckle as he took in the scene before him. "First off, no more tears for me. I'm doing okay here. I have Fred, Remus, and Tonks to help me, and I've even gotten to meet your parents Harry. Also, Sirius sends his best regards to you."

Harry did his best to hold back his tears as he heard the names mentioned. Best to get on with business. "Do you have any idea why this happened to you?" he asked.

"It's being blocked for the most part," Ron said with a look of disgust on his face. "I can tell you that whoever arranged this is mighty powerful, and he's not from around here. I think he's from somewhere across the pond, one of the America's I believe.

"Anyway, he's after you, and we think that this was his way of sending a warning to you. It was a kind of message like: see what I can do if you don't bow down to me?" Anyway, I think you should be careful. He's hurt you, but he doesn't really know what you're capable of. Of course, you don't really know what you're capable of either. You've got a lot more power and ability than you've show so far, Mate. You're gonna have to use it, and you're gonna have to train up some more to take this one out.

"Hermione," he said looking at her. "I meant what I said in my will. You're bonded to them. Don't fight it, just go with it. Since I was part of that bond it probably would have worked out okay with us, but now that I'm not there, you have to follow your heart, and I know that it will bring you back to them. I love you, and I'm sorry that I had to leave you, but I know that you are in good hands, and you're right where you belong to be there for Harry and Ginny too.

"Dumbledore sends a message Harry. He says to remind you that your greatest gift is love. Think about it Mate. You're the only one I ever heard of that was soul bonded to more than one person. That kind of bond grants so much raw power you wouldn't believe it. Use that to your advantage. It's the one thing that you have going for you that no-one else can match. You have Ginny, Hermione, Luna and Neville with you. I wish I could be there to help, but I'm pulling for you from over here.

"One last thing that I never got a chance to tell you. What you did for Malfoy? That was a good thing Harry. I can only see good things coming from it. Don't forget about him. He's going to be your secret weapon. I can feel it. Nobody thinks that you and he can make a good team. Prove them wrong and he'll help you to defeat this enemy as well. Whoever this big bad guy is, he's not just trying to take over England. He's going for the entire world, and he sees you as his big stumbling block.

"Look, I've got to go. I love you all. Use every resource you have at hand Harry. This could be tougher than Moldywart. Oh, and get Hermione's parents back. That's important. I'm not sure just why, but I know that it matters in the big picture. Bye, try not to miss me too much. I'll see you again when you finally come to this side. Try not to let it be too soon. You've all got a lot to live for." With that he was gone.

Once again the tears flowed, but this time there was a healing that couldn't take place before. Harry could feel it, and he was sure that both Ginny and Hermione could as well.

*0*0*

As they prepared to leave for the day, there was a knock at the Burrow door. Ginny, being the closest, went to answer it. Harry and Hermione both covered her with their wands.

A triple squeal told them that there was nothing to fear. Soon, Ginny was showing both Parvati and Padma Patil into their home. The twins looked to be quite recovered from the ordeal that was the Battle of Hogwarts, and all the goings on after.

A round of hugs and kisses later, they were all settled at the table. "So what brings you ladies here to visit us?" Harry asked, his curiosity piqued.

Uncharacteristically, Padma answered rather than her more outspoken sister. "We heard about Ron, even though we couldn't make the wedding," she began. "We were thinking that it might be a wise idea to reactivate the D.A., especially in light of a rather startling revelation that occurred last night."

Harry leaned forward, intrigued by what might startle the usually unflappable Padma Patil. He gripped Ginny's hand with his right, while his left sought out Hermione's. "What can you tell us?" he prompted.

Padma turned to Parvati and raised an eyebrow. All three of the others gave her their undivided attention.

"I know that you never put much faith in divination Harry," Parvati started.

"Actually, it was all because of a prophecy that I ended up hunted by Tom Riddle," Harry interjected. "Go on Parvati, I'm sorry."

"Right then," Parvati whispered. In a louder voice, though still soft, she continued. "I saw something last night that disturbed me Harry, and it concerned you. As I was getting out of the shower…" she stopped, and blushed as she saw the expression on Harry's face, "anyway, I had a vision. It wasn't really a prophecy, or anything like that. I saw a strange man, well, a being anyway, who looked like a great snake with feathered wings. He was standing on the top of a great pyramid, one with steps and layers, not like the ones in Egypt.

"He was standing at the top with his hands outstretched. He started chanting in some language that I didn't understand and a cloud started to form near him. There were pictures in the cloud, pictures of you, when you defeated Voldemort.

"Then, as he was standing there, a black panther jumped on him from behind, dragging him down and mauling him until he didn't move. The panther then changed into a man. He took the place of the other one, the one that he hurt.

"So he stood there and watched you in action, then he waved his hand and the pictures changed. There were pictures of him standing over your body, but on the other side it looked like you were victorious. In the victorious one you had both Ginny and Hermione with you, but in the other, both were lying near you.

"Oh, and stretched out as far as I could see were thousands upon thousands of people, all watching this, and all of them were chanting. It was creepy. So you can see, I had to come and tell you." She looked at him anxiously.

Harry looked away from her and at Padma. "So what do you think?" he asked.

"I trust my sister," she said softly. Parvati looked at her sister and gave her a weak smile of thanks.

"At this point, I would tend to agree with you," Harry said, surprising all there. He ran his hand through his hair. "Let's face facts. Ron is dead. As much as that hurts, bemoaning it won't bring him back. We're facing something here that is just as dangerous if not more so than Voldemort ever was. Ron's spirit already told us as much."

He turned to Hermione. "Do you still have the master coin for the D.A.?" he asked. At her nod he continued. "Could you get it and give it to Padma?" She got up and left the room quickly. They all sat in companionable silence until she returned.

Once the coin had been deposited in Padma's hand Harry went on. "Get the D.A. ready to go again. For the time being I would like you to help Neville and Luna run it, Padma. Also, go to my new business in Hogsmeade and get Draco Malfoy. He will be a big help to you, believe it or not. While Ginny, Hermione and I are off on an errand in Australia, I want the D.A. to dig up anything and everything it can on this mysterious winged snake and panther.

"Do nothing alone, everything in pairs or groups. It's safer that way." He stopped to think for a moment. "Kreacher," he said.

There was a 'pop' and then the ancient elf was in front of them. "Master has summoned Kreacher?" he asked.

"Yes Kreacher, I would like you to help Padma and Parvati while we are gone. Also, if Draco Malfoy needs anything, you are to help him as well, provided that he treats you with respect and dignity. I don't think that you'll have any problems with him, but you deserve to be treated well. Do you understand? If they need anything, you are to provide them with it. If they need funds, get them from our vault. Don't worry Kreacher, if they misuse the funds they will have to answer to me," he said with a smile and a wink to the twins.

"Yes Master, Kreacher understands."

*0*0*

Neither Harry nor Ginny had ever flown in a Muggle airplane before, and the experience was fascinating for them, at least for the first few hours. After a while though, the wear got to be a bit much even for their enthusiasm.

Eventually they all drifted off to sleep, as there really wasn't much to do on a flight of twenty plus hours. Harry, though he often didn't want to admit it, felt that he was a very lucky man. Anyone who saw him with two beautiful women sleeping on either side of him had to agree.

Unfortunately, some things were just too fresh in their minds to easily let go of. Ron's death had hit them hard, and all too soon they were suffering from their own versions of the same nightmare: the wedding reception. That portion of the trip was anything but pleasant.

Fortunately for them, time passed on while they fitfully slept, and eventually they were landing at Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney. A brief trip through customs and they were off to book a hotel room. They had agreed to check in as a Mormon family. While generally frowned upon, the Mormons were the only group that could openly flaunt a polygamist marriage.

Thus it was that Harry, Ginerva, and Hermione Evans found a room at the Swiss Grand Resort hotel on Bondi Beach in Sydney. After the long trip, all three of them agreed that they would spend that night relaxing before trying to find Hermione's parents. That they would be nearby was not questioned. Hermione had done her homework when she had modified her parents' memories, and had implanted a compulsion towards just this area of Australia.

When she was questioned why, she simply answered that she wanted to be able to find them easily. Looking at it that way, Harry and Ginny had to agree with her that it was the most logical approach she could have taken.

Ginny took the chance to crawl up onto the magnificent four poster bed that had been provided with the honeymoon suite that Harry had rented. It was almost reminiscent of their rooms back at Hogwarts. "Harry, Hermione, come lay down with me," she said softly. When they had both done so Ginny took stock of the situation.

"Hermione, you're trembling. What's wrong?" She shifted around so that she could gently rub the young witch's feet. She motioned for her husband to join in in relaxing their partner. Harry scooted so that he was sitting behind Hermione with his legs off to either side of her. He started to rub her shoulders gently.

"So Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny repeated.

"I'm not really sure," was her reply. "I guess that I'm just really nerved up over seeing my parents again. What if they're mad at me? What if they aren't willing to forgive me? What if they don't approve of us?" She swept her hands in a motion to encompass the three of them. "It's not like what we're doing is exactly conventional, now is it?"

"No, not really," Harry admitted. "But then, being a witch must have caught them by surprise a few years ago, but they seemed really proud of you every time that I've seen them over the years. Relax Hermione, your parents love you, and that isn't going to change because of what you had to do, or what you've chosen to do since."

"I guess you're right," Hermione sighed. "I just wish that once in a while we could have something normal in our lives."

"Hermione," Ginny whispered, "Potters don't do normal…" That earned a chuckle from the group which rapidly became a chortle. Shortly all three of them were laughing, letting go of an awful lot of repressed emotion that had to come out.

"Hermione," Ginny said again, drawing the older witch's attention. "Actually, Harry and I have something that we want to discuss with you." This caused Hermione to scoot up while Harry wrapped his arms protectively around her.

"Go ahead," she whispered, uncertainty in her eyes.

"You know that Harry went on a couple of errands while you booked the flight and the hotel room, and I packed everything?" She nodded in affirmation.

"Well, he stopped by the Ministry and did a little bit of research. It seems that there was some information there that kind of shocked him. I know that it did me," Ginny said softly.

"It seems my dear," Harry whispered in her ear, "that due to the bond that we all share, you are already registered as married to us. The woman that married Ginny and I registered it with the Ministry." Hermione's eyes went wide.

"I think you should know that Ron's name was there too, though he is listed as deceased." Harry tightened his hold on her slightly as she started to tremble once again. "So anyway, since it seems that it's a done deal, except for a ceremony," Harry continued.

"We will be having a ceremony," Ginny said in no uncertain terms.

"As I was saying before our wonderful wife interrupted," Harry picked back up. "I stopped by a shop in Diagon Alley and got this." He pulled a small box out of his pocket. It was covered in a deep Gryffindor red suede. He opened it and presented it to her.

"Hermione, you've been my best friend forever, and my darling wife has pointed out that I do indeed love you more than I ever thought imaginable. I know, as I know my wife, that she loves you as well. I looked it up, and wizarding tradition has it that in circumstances such as these, the husband presents the new wife to be with the engagement ring, in the presence of the first wife. So, Hermione, will you marry us?"

Hermione was at a loss for words. She didn't trust her vocal cords at this time. She simply held out her hand and Harry slipped the engagement ring out of the box and onto her finger. He then handed the box to Ginny. She reached in and pulled out a second ring.

"Tradition has it that the first wife always places the wedding band on the second wife's finger. She slid the band on Hermione's finger and up to the first ring. "With this ring, we thee wed," she said. There was a flash of magical light and all three of them felt the bond strengthen momentarily.

Harry slowly bent around and kissed her. Sparks went off in both of their heads. She had loved Ron, there was no doubt of that. He had matured so much and had finally realized what a treasure he had in her. She had accepted him despite his faults, for she had seen the good man that he had been. She knew that he loved her. That love was pale compared to what she experienced at this moment however. Here were two people that had accepted her immediately into their life and family. They certainly didn't have to. She loved them even more than she thought possible.

"You know," she purred, "it's my wedding night…" She sighed contentedly as she felt Harry unbutton her shirt and soft hands undo the clasp of her bra. All conscious thought left her as she felt soft lips and a warm tongue tease her nipple…

*0*0*

Harry woke early the next morning and disentangled himself from the two wonderful women that had been asleep next to him. He quickly showered and drew on a pair of swim trunks and his trainers, then headed down the elevator and out onto the beach.

He doffed his trainers, tying the laces so that he could loop them around his neck. He started off at a brisk jog, enjoying the feel of a run on the beach. He went up and down the beach, keeping an eye peeled for a certain couple that he remembered from seeing them with Hermione.

Just as he was getting tired of his running he spotted them. Veering off towards them he didn't pay attention to where he was going. He felt a sharp stinging sensation in the sole of his foot and went down with a yelp.

Before he knew it, there were a couple of people there at his side. He looked up into the faces of the two people he most wanted to see at that moment: Hermione's parents.

"Are you alright son?" the man asked. Harry flinched slightly at the irony of his question.

"I don't rightly know sir," he responded. "I felt a stinging pain in my foot. It was really sharp and…" what he wanted to say was cut off by a blinding cramping in his legs. "Er, what's going on?" he asked.

"Monica, hand me my gloves, will you luv?" he asked. Receiving the gloves he quickly put them on and reached for Harry's legs. "May I?" he inquired. At Harry's nod he took hold of Harry's ankle and turned his foot over. He peered down through spectacled eyes.

"Just as I thought. Monica, hand me the meat tenderizer," he reached up and sure enough she handed him a small jar with a red powder in it. He sprinkled some on Harry's foot and then carefully removed a small stinger. "Son, you've been stung by an irukandji jellyfish. We need to get you to a hospital. You're in for a very bad two to three days."

"I need to get to my hotel room first," Harry pleaded. "Please, Ginny and Hermione are there, and they're sure to be worried. I believe that Hermione has an antivenin kit there as well."

"You really need to get to a hospital," the man said.

"Tell you what, if you aren't one hundred percent satisfied with what happens there, we can get rescue on the telly and I'll happily go to the hospital, okay? By the way, my name's Harry, Harry Evans.

"Wendell Wilkins, and this is my wife, Monica. Pleased to meet you. So you're a Brit too, Harry. You sound Southern."

"Erm, yeah, Surrey, Little Winging," Harry replied. "If you don't mind, could we get back there, my back is really starting to hurt."

"Sure Harry, Monica and I are from Kent, not too far from Surrey. It sure is nice to find another Brit here. The folks here are wonderful, but your accent is like a piece of home."

"You have no idea," muttered Harry under his breath as he was helped up by Wendell.

It wasn't long after that they made their way into the rooms. As they opened the door a diminutive redhead streaked out and latched onto Harry. "Are you alright?" she asked, clearly worried to see him in such a state. He had started to perspire, and was getting red in the face.

"He was stung by a jellyfish, young lady," Wendell said. At that moment Hermione came out an let out a small "eep." She took in the scene quickly and rushed to Harry's side.

"What kind?" she asked.

"I believe it was an irukandji," her Wendell answered.

"That's going to take a lot of work, Harry," she said to her husband.

Harry loved her dearly, but she thought too much. She was exceptionally good at brewing potions, but she would never be a potions master, as while she was wonderfully analytical, she didn't have the intuitive side needed to understand what would make something better.

"Just get a bezoar, Hermione," he whispered in her ear. He let out a low groan at that point, and Ginny helped him to a couch. His arms and legs were beginning to spasm now.

"That's the onset of iurkandji syndrome. The poison in the sting is very dangerous. He needs to be hospitalized, but he insisted on coming here. He said that you might have an antivenin kit," Monica explained.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, Hermione's gone to get it now. As she spoke Hermione rushed back in and seeing that Harry's hands were spasming she put the bezoar into his mouth and pushed it back until he swallowed it. The Wilkins watched in fascination as he swallowed what appeared to be a small golf ball. It made quite a sight going down his esophogas. As soon as it hit his stomach Harry let out a contented sigh and his muscles relaxed. He wanted to pass out but clamped his iron will on himself and hung on. His vision blurred for a few moments but cleared shortly.

"Thanks, Mione," he whispered.

"You're welcome, Harry," she answered with a blush. She turned to face the Wilkins. "Thank you so much for bringing him back to us. I'm Hermione and this is Ginny, and I guess that you've already met Harry." As she introduced Ginny she caught her sister-wife's eye and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Wendell and Monica Wilkins. Pleased to meet you young ladies. I have to admit, whatever you gave him seems to have done the trick. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. It was almost like magic."

Harry's eyes had a twinkle that was reminiscent of his old mentor as he answered. "Yes, wasn't it? Wendell, Monica, I think that you'd better sit down, we have something to tell you that is going to knock you off your feet."

Both of them took a seat on the love seat. "Ginny, could you get us some tea please?" Harry asked.

"Of course, Harry," she replied.

"Now son, what do you have that's so important to tell us?" Wendell asked. Harry again winced at his father-in-law's word choice.

"If you would be so kind as to direct you're attention to Hermione," he said with a gesture.

As they looked at her Hermione pulled her wand and flashed it at them. "Finite Incantatem," she said as they were enveloped in a red glow. As the glow subsided Hermione looked at them, apprehension evident upon her face.

"Hermione?" Jean Granger asked, recognition in her eyes.

"Mum!" Hermione squealed as she launched herself into their arms. "Merlin but I've missed you two," she cried into her father's hug.

Jean looked up at Harry, the questions evident in her eyes. "Harry Potter, what's going on?"

At that moment Ginny came in with the tea, and seeing the scene in front of her set it down and joined her husband on the sofa facing the love seat where Hermione had joined her parents.

"Well ma'am, you see, it's a rather long story. Suffice it to say that a long war has come to an end, and with that ending we've come to Australia to find you two."

"Hermione, what's going on?" Robert Granger asked.

Hermione launched into the telling of the brutal tale of how Harry fulfilled his destiny. It took many hours to tell, and sometimes Harry or Ginny would take over so that Hermione could rest. While the Grangers weren't really happy with everything, they agreed that Hermione had acted in their best interests. Eventually the story was told up to the few days before the wedding.

"So then what happened?" Jean asked. At this both girls broke down in tears, and Harry had to take a moment to collect himself. "What is it dears? What has hurt you so much?"

"You have to understand something first," Harry answered. Have you ever heard of a soul mate?" Both Robert and Jean nodded. "Well, the power that Voldemort knew not was my ability to love. Apparently I have an immense ability to love, which is strange considering how I was raised."

"It was awful, Mum," Hermione said, reaching over to pat Harry's knee with obvious affection. "They treated him as a slave. They kept him in a cupboard under the stairs for the first ten years he was with them."

"It's worse than that," Ginny whispered. "Harry, show them your legs. Harry canceled the glamour that he usually kept up, drawing shocked looks and gasps from all the Grangers.

"Surprisingly, my childhood was remarkably like Tom Riddle's. He later took the name Voldemort. Dumbledore always maintained that it's our choices that matter. I guess he was right. Anyway, as I was saying, when Ginny and I decided after everything was over that it was time to quit pretending any longer and get married, we had Ron and Hermione stand up at our wedding. I had figured out that Ginny and I shared a soul bond, and I had the minister reveal that bond during the ceremony.

"What I didn't realize was that unlike any other wizard in history, as far as we can figure, I wasn't only bonded to Ginny. I also shared a bond with both Ron, Ginny's brother, and Hermione. I guess that love truly is the greatest magic that I wield. It certainly was something that Voldemort couldn't counter.

So, imagine my surprise when the other day I stopped at the Ministry of Magic to get a copy of the marriage certificate and I receive this." He handed over a paper to the Grangers.

Certificate of Marriage

Co-Husband Harry James Potter

Co-Husband Bilius Weasley (deceased)

To

Co-Wife Ginerva Molly Potter nee Weasley

Co-Wife Hermione Jean Potter nee Granger

"As you can see, the soul bond in our world is binding evidence of a marriage. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier having Hermione with us, but it did come as a shock."

"Harry, what happened to Ron? It says here that he's deceased." Jean looked at her new son-in-law sadly.

Harry gulped. Hermione buried her head on her father's shoulder and sobbed. Ginny turned ashen and clung to Harry for dear life. "He was shot and killed at the wedding reception along with several others by a terrorist trying to strike back at me. His mother was also killed at that time." Harry couldn't stand it any more and the tears came. He wept openly for the loss of his friend.

"Harry, Ginny, Hermione, we are so sorry for your loss," Robert said. "If you can, I have a couple of questions though." He waited while the teens composed themselves.

"Harry, do you love Hermione?"

"Mr. Granger, I love Hermione with all my heart. I love her every bit as much as I love Ginny. That's what a soul bond means. Our souls are intertwined. Please understand, to lose a soul partner is a heart wrenching thing. It is like twins, when one is killed and the other must go on. We've seen that up close as well. Ginny's older brother Fred was killed in the war, and his twin hasn't been the same.

"I am bound to both Hermione and Ginny. I was bound to Ron as well. He was my best mate, my first friend, and my brother. I would have died happily for him. He meant the world to me. When he died, a piece of me died with him. It literally threw us into a coma for days."

"I see," said Robert. He turned to Ginny. "And how do you feel about sharing Harry with our daughter?"

"Daddy!" shrieked Hermione, appearing scandalized.

"No Hermione, it's okay. It's a fair question," Ginny replied. "I love her Mr. Granger. It doesn't bother me at all, because to deny her to Harry would devastate him. All I want is his happiness.

"Let me put it this way. I loved Harry first, since the moment I first met him. Hermione was his friend first. She was also the first to love Harry just for Harry. I, unfortunately loved him for being 'the-boy-who-lived.' Harry loved her first, I know that. He just couldn't understand or admit it. Hermione helped me to get Harry to notice me for Ginny, not Ron's little sister. Hermione sacrificed everything for Harry, in order to help him in his hunt for the horcruxes.

"I was tortured for information about Harry. Hermione was tortured to get to Harry. Hermione has been my best friend and sister for as long as I can remember. I love her almost as much as I love Harry. I will do everything in my power to make sure that she realizes that she is an equal third of this family. She kept Harry alive when I couldn't. I owe her everything because she brought him back to me.

"I'll admit, I thought that I had lost him when he went away with Hermione. But she brought him back to me, and even though she loved him she gave him up so that he could be with me. I believe that you Muggles have an expression. If you love something let it go. If it comes back it's yours. If it doesn't it never was. That explains the three of us. We all came back to each other.

"I know that it's really unusual, but it isn't unheard of for there to be a multiple marriage in the wizarding world. For us, it simply gives us more love, and more options in our lives."

"Ginny's right Mr. Granger," Harry cut in. "I never thought that I could have a chance to love Hermione. She has been so much to me over the years, but she and Ron seemed to have this thing going on, and well, I didn't want to interfere in their happiness. Her happiness means more to me than my own. I just so happened to also fall in love with my best mate's little sister." He gave Ginny's hand a small squeeze.

"I've been told that never before has a wizard had a soul bond with more than one witch at a time. I don't know about that. I do know that I share one with two witches, and had one with another wizard. There was nothing sexual there, mind; but if it had made Hermione happy, I wouldn't have kicked him out of our bed. I loved Ron. I never understood love before. I think I'm starting to understand it now, at least a little bit." He grinned foolishly.

"Harry, you and these two young women have given us a lot to think about. I can't say that we were expecting this from Hermione. However, she has always had a very good head on her shoulders, and we trust her to make good decisions. We love her very much, and we want her to be happy. We're a little disturbed by the attack at your reception however." Robert and Jean's faces were grave at this. Harry's matched theirs.

"We'll not lie to you. Someone out there wants at me. We haven't figured out who it is yet. I thought that I could settle down and live a quiet life, but it doesn't seem to be my fate yet. Believe me, if the girls would let me I would hide them away under the thickest set of wards and spells you've ever seen. I don't think they'd let me though."

"Too right mister," Hermione muttered. Ginny just snorted derisively. Hermione turned to her father. "Daddy, I did what I had to in order to insure our family would survive the war. I hope you and Mum can forgive me. I hope that you want us in your lives. I need you there. But know this, if you don't want to come back, I shan't blame you. I'll not turn my back on Harry and Ginny this time either. Someone took Ron away from us. I want that someone's head on a stick." As she said that the magic rippled off of her. Everyone in the room could feel it.

Jean turned to Ginny. "You mentioned a ceremony for Hermione. What did you mean, dear?"

"Here's what I propose," Ginny replied. "Harry and I were married in a wizarding ceremony. It turned out that Hermione and Ron joined us. By the way, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood also are bonded to Harry, but in a lesser way. Anyway, what I propose is that since Harry and I were married in a wizarding ceremony, I think that Harry and Hermione should be married in a Muggle ceremony. I could serve as the matron of honor, and since we are already married in the wizarding world, no-one would be the wiser. That way Hermione's relatives that don't know about her being a witch could be there, and the few witches and wizards that we would invite would be in on it from the start anyway."

Hermione looked shocked yet delighted with this idea. "Ginny, that is positively Slytherin of you. Draco would be very proud." Harry snorted. All eyes turned to him.

"I never did tell you about my time with the sorting hat, did I?" He looked at his wives. When they shook their heads he continued. "The only reason that I ended up in Gryffindor was because I refused to go into Slytherin." At their shocked expressions he expounded. "I asked Professor Dumbledore about it. He said that I have many qualities that Slytherin house held dear. I have great ambition and wanted to prove myself. I can be very cunning and coldly calculating. I also have a certain disregard for the rules. The sorting hat said that I would have done very well in Slytherin, but since I didn't want to be there it put me in Gryffindor. I'm rather pleased that it did."

"So are we, Harry," said Ginny, a broad grin across her face.

"Actually, while I'm thinking of it, I should dig out the boxes from our luggage. I bet your parents would like to see what you earned during our little adventure." He got up and went into the bedroom, returning quickly with a few small boxes. He set them down on the coffee table in the middle of the room.

Hermione's father almost choked when he recognized the royal seal on the boxes. There were four boxes altogether. "Hermione, is that what I think it is?" he asked.

"Yes Daddy," she replied. "When everything was said and done, we had to go to a lot of ceremonies. Harry, Ron and I each received the Order of Merlin, First Class for our actions from the Ministry, and the students who were a part of the fight got the Order of Merlin, Second or Third Class. Ginny was there and fought Bellatrix LeStrange with me. She got a Second Class medal." Ginny beamed at the praise.

"Yeah, and it almost got her killed. I almost had a heart attack when I saw that curse just miss you," Harry remarked with a smirk.

"Serves you right after what you put Hermione and I through," she replied.

"So then," Hermione went on, "We had to go before the Queen. Harry, Ron and I got these medals." She opened three of the boxes.

"Those are for the Order of the Bath, they signify Knight Grand Cross," Robert whispered reverently.

"Yes, and Ginny, Neville and Luna all got these," said Hermione as she opened the other box. It held the medal for Knight Commander.

"So I guess we have to call you milady," smirked Hermione's mum.

"Actually, her official title is Lady Dame Hermione Granger-Potter-Black," said Harry. This was greeted with raised eyebrows. "Seeing as my official title is Lord Sir Harry Potter-Black, Earl Black of Kent. The Queen saw fit to make me a Peer. I didn't want it, but you can't really say no to the Queen." He shrugged.

"In the wizarding world I am just Lord Potter-Black, but it means that by law any child borne to me by Ginny will be a Potter, and any child that Hermione has would be a Black. That way both lines go on. Because I officially married Ginny first by choice, and I was first and foremost a Potter, her children gain the Potter name. Hermione, being my second wife, with me being adopted into the Black family, her children gain the Black name. I didn't make the rules." He shrugged.

"I don't really care, I just want to be with the both of them, and happy. I just have to take care of the occasional Dark Lord now and again."

"So what happens now?" asked Jean. Like her daughter, she had a very sharp mind, and the possibilities and probabilities were running through her head.

"Well," said Harry, glancing at the clock. Quite a few hours had passed since their initial encounter in the morning. "First we should go and get something to eat, as I for one am starving. Then, we should get some rest before we start considering all the possibilities. I would like to get back to England sometime soon. We have some unfinished business with this being that wants to make our lives difficult. Mark my words, he shall pay dearly for what he has cost us. Ron and Molly can't be brought back, and I am very tired of losing the people that I love."

*0*0*

In the end, they had decided to leave the hotel and take up temporary residence in the Granger's beach house. It was a lot easier on Hermione and her parents, and it gave them the luxury of being able to plan what they were going to do without either group having to travel to consult with the other.

Jean Granger woke up late in the night, not really sure of why, but with that motherly premonition that she was needed. She wandered out into the kitchen to see a young redhead that she was coming to care very much for sitting bleary eyed at her table. There were tear tracks down Ginny's cheeks, and she looked like she hadn't slept well that night.

"What's wrong dear?" Jean asked, sitting down next to her daughter-in-law. She wrapped an arm around the petite woman.

"I… I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I would see Ron's back explode and Neville standing there covered in his blood. Then everything goes black and it starts over…" She sobbed quietly as tremors ran through her. "I'm sorry, I just…" She tried to catch her breath. "I just miss them so much." She looked up at her new mother-in-law. "Harry and Hermione have been so wonderful to me. I don't know what I would do without them in my life. I just know that I'd be nutters by now."

"Ginny," Jean whispered. The diminutive redhead looked up at her. "It's alright to let it out. Anyone in your position would be narked too. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Robert or Hermione. Goodness, now I can add Harry and you to that list. I never thought that I'd become a mother-in-law at such an early age, and here I've gone and done it twice over!" She smiled at Ginny.

"Thanks Mrs. Granger," Ginny replied.

"Ginny, seeing as we're family now, I think we can dispense with the Mrs. Granger bit. Please call me Jean. I understand that right now you are sensitive about this, but hopefully someday I can earn your thinking of me as another Mum in your life."

Ginny threw her arms around Jean and sobbed into her shoulder. It seemed like exactly what she needed. Jean patted her sadly on the back, and looked up to see Harry and Hermione standing in the doorway looking at them with such naked love in their eyes. "Ginny," she whispered. When the younger woman looked up she motioned to her spouses. In seconds Ginny was being enveloped by two sets of arms.

"We love you Ginny," Hermione murmured to her as Harry gently kissed the top of her head. "We miss them too."

"I love you two too," she whispered. She soundly kissed both of them. "I haven't felt like this since the Chamber," she said when she'd finished kissing Hermione.

"Erm, the Chamber?" asked Jane. Harry looked at Hermione before answering.

"The Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. During Hermione's and my second year Ginny had a very bad year. She was possessed by the spirit of Voldemort's younger self and she opened the Chamber of Secret and let out the monster that was imprisoned there. It terrorized the school for most of the year. Hermione here figured it out and managed to get a warning to me about it before she was attacked."

"Hermione!" shrieked Jane Granger.

Harry looked at his wife. "You never told your parents?" She blushed and shook her head no. "Why not?"

"Why do you think Harry? I didn't want them to pull me out of the school. I would have had to leave you, and I couldn't do that. You and Ron were my only friends." The tears had started to run down her cheeks.

"Hey now," he murmured to her has he swept her up in a hug. "Its okay you know. I love you." He turned to Jean. "Anyway, it ended up with Hermione petrified by a basilisk and Ginny dragged down into the Chamber to be sacrificed that Voldemort might regain his body through her death. I ended up being very lucky and stopped him, saving Ginny in the process."

He looked down at the two women in his arms. He resumed with his story. "I think it was then that I first fell in love with both of them. Of course, since I was raised by the Dursleys I had no idea what love really was. McGonagall saw it with Hermione though. She let me go into the hospital ward and spend every night next to her, holding her hand and talking to her.

"And then in the Chamber when I saw Ginny something broke in my heart, and I think I fell in love with the little girl that had been so taken with me when I visited her home during the summer. It took me a lot of years to come to grips with what I was feeling, and we've had to endure more than our share of heartache, but now I have the only two women in my life that I can honestly say that I couldn't live without.

"I tried to live without Hermione, but then, I had only sussed out the link between Ginny and me, not the one between Hermione and me." He shrugged his shoulders. "It took Ron's will and Ginny to convince me that I could let my feelings for Hermione be what we needed them to be. I was prepared to have her as a sister for the rest of my life. Now things have worked out differently, and I feel almost complete for the first time in my life."

"Almost?" Ginny and Hermione both asked at the same time.

"Ron isn't here," Harry whispered. "That and we haven't had any children yet. You both know how much I want a family."

*0*0*

After a couple of days the group of them decided to return to England. Harry had to get things going with the D.A. and his business venture with Malfoy, and Hermione and Ginny needed to get ready to get on the Hogwart's Express in three days time.

Thus, it was a tired and drained group that landed at Heathrow airport on the next to last day of August. Truth be told, Harry wanted nothing more than to pack up his family and stay in Australia, it being about as far as one could get from England and the nasty business that was going on there; but he couldn't abandon everyone else either. Also, he had a nagging suspicion that wherever he might go, the trouble would eventually track him down. Better to meet it head on, on his own terms than while hiding and out of touch. If he learned nothing from his parents' example, he had learned that much.