Chapter 7- The Puzzle in the Library

Three bottles of chilled butterbeer were waiting in an ice bucket for the explorers when they eventually got back to the library level. Harry helped the girls off with their jackets and hung them over the back of the two overstuffed chairs that they sat in. Harry opened and handed each a butterbeer before going to the big desk that held the center spot of the room. As Harry sat in the chair that went with the desk, he took his first good look around the area that served as the library and retreat from the living area.

The room was about twenty five feet square and the outside wall held six three foot square windows spaced evenly across the side. There was a narrow slot carved beneath each window whose function Harry could only guess had something to do with the air circulation. The stairway from the living level came up on the left side front and the climb to The Aerie began on the opposite corner from that. There were two long couches and another overstuffed chair in addition to the two that Ginny and Hermione were currently occupying. All were made of some soft plush material that looked like it might be comfortable enough to sleep on. Small tables with lamps were placed next to most of the furniture so that the whole area or just part of it could be lit up.

Other than the rock surface that fronted the room, the rest of the walls of the study were covered in some sort of wood planking that had weathered to a nice deep tan color. The flooring consisted of a number of grey flagstones that matched the rest of the Lair. One could almost believe that they were in a normal home somewhere instead of an isolated connection of caves somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Harry opened up his own butterbeer and considered the desk he was currently sitting behind. It wasn't the largest or most ornate desk he had ever seen but it seemed to fit it very nicely with the other furnishings in the room. It was about seven feet wide and almost four feet deep. There were four drawers on each side with a center drawer that didn't appear to have a lock to it. Of course, locks were highly overrated when one could call on magic to seal or unseal anything one wanted to protect.

Harry saw something surprising on this desk that he hadn't seen much of in the magical world. A bible sat on its own little stand on one corner of the desk. Harry could also see a half dozen ribbons marking chapters or verses in the closed book and he stood up to examine it a bit closer. The very proper Dursleys were great believers in religion and diligently went to church every Sunday and holidays. That they didn't include Harry in any of these trips did not mean that Harry hadn't been made aware of the concept and principles of religion. Harry had done a great deal of praying while he had been growing up but only the arrival of his Hogwarts letters and Hagrid had been the first answers to his pleas.

Carefully opening the leather clad King James Version Harry saw that the ribbons marked individual passages rather than certain books or gospels. Harry closed the book up again and let it rest where it had lain. Although interesting there were a lot of other books that he needed to find answers in first. He saw that Rettus had brought up the books he, Ginny and Hermione had chosen from the workrooms and had laid them on the desk along with some paper, ink and quills.

Harry saw that Ginny and Hermione had finished their drinks and were waiting on him to begin looking through the library that took up most of the back wall of the level. There were three separate bookcases, eight feet high and seven feet wide. A half wall separated the library from the door to the passageway outside and Harry saw a small footstool that one could use to retrieve books from the highest shelf. He also saw a small sign in the center bookrack that he took great delight in reading aloud.

"Somebody must have known we were coming Hermione." 'Down to the basics then.Please only read one book at a time and refile it exactly where you took it from. The Outward Hebrides Librarian.'

"Guess we've been told" Ginny said. Harry looked at her for a second. He had been watching her carefully since her revelations and breakdown outside but didn't want to intrude too much on her privacy. He was a little glad when she slipped her hand into his to take a look at the books.

Hermione had been walking a little sideways to both catch the titles of the various books and to pick out any specific books that might be there about wards and warding. She stopped after 30 seconds though and looked at Harry and Ginny. "There's no rhyme or reason to this mess. It looks like they just unpacked a bunch of boxes and randomly put them up on the shelves."

Harry took a closer look at the one shelf before him and saw immediately what Hermione meant. Muggles books were interspersed with magical books and there was no common subject matter between two books that were next to each other. Harry saw that there were even a few comic books shelved along with everything else. In the five book group Harry reached with one hand, he read the following titles: The Standard Book of Knock-Knock Jokes, A Sorcerer and a Sword, Anne of Green Gables, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and The Little Engine that Could.

This was very confusing after the order and neatness of the Hogwarts library. It was especially upsetting for Hermione who was used to the Dewey Decimal System in the muggles libraries she went to and the Rowena Requirement for Books that organized magical libraries. "I could probably take a morning and resort these in some order for us Harry. It shouldn't take too long to find things then."

Harry nodded and took a step back to look at the bookcases again. His eyes opened in surprise. He dropped Ginny's hand and retreated back to the far side of the desk so that he could get a good look at the entire library. "I think we are going to leave things exactly how they are and follow the directions on that sign to the letter."

When the girls threw questioning looks at Harry, he just motioned for them to come join him. He grasped their hands and turned to face the bookcases again. He told the girls to close their eyes for a second and then open them. Harry called on the bond magic momentarily and they three opened their eyes to see something a little eerie.

Magic surrounded and infused the shelves and cabinets of the library. There was a pale blue glow that seemed to emanate from the edges and shelves of all the bookcases and it cast a weird backlight to each and every book in the library.

Harry let the magic fade out and the normal view of the book cases returned to everyone's vision. Ginny cast a worried eye at Harry who shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. It could be just a general ward to protect the contents of the library or something more important." He did walk over and plucked one book at random off a shelf to prove it wasn't dangerous to actually handle a book.

Harry looked at the book he had grabbed and made a face. "Beginning Taxidermy anyone? It's got pictures." Hermione emphatically shook her head no and while Ginny didn't know what taxidermy actually was, she felt the revulsion from the older girl. Harry happily replaced the book back on the shelf where he had found it.

"Well another puzzle to investigate. Maybe Rettus knows something about this." At the mention of his name the house elf appeared, slightly startling Ginny.

"My apologies Lady Ginny. You wanted to see me Mi'lord?"

"Yes Rettus. Thank you first of all for the butterbeers; they were delicious. Do you know anything about the magics concerning the library?"

"Only that they are under the control of the Master of the Lair for as long as I remember. This whole level can be and has been isolated magically from the rest of the Lair from time to time. How or why that happens is not something that I have been told of."

"Did it have anything to do with the casting of the previous wards?" Hermione asked.

"Sorry, but I cannot say yes or no to that question? Should I ask Llasol?"

"Yes, that would be good of you. If she doesn't know anything more, then just leave us here for a while. We'll try to puzzle it out for ourselves."

Rettus nodded and picked up the ice bucket and empty bottles. He disappeared almost immediately and Harry said he was off for a bathroom break. He returned from the living area about five minutes later to find Hermione still scanning the book titles but Ginny sitting quietly on the sofa just staring off into space.

Harry sat down at Ginny's feet and was a little saddened to see that she didn't seem to notice him at all. He eventually placed his hand on her knee and she jumped.

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry. Guess I'm just not good company right now. I'm not sure if I should go take a nap or lean on you and have another good cry."

"How about I just try cheering you up a bit?" Harry got up and sat next to Ginny and was suddenly holding his mandolin. Ginny smiled and called out to Hermione. "Harry's going to sing for us."

Harry turned and winked at Hermione who was walking over after she saw Harry produce the instrument. "Actually Hermione and I are going to be singing to you."

"Me?" squeaked out a surprised Hermione.

"Yes, I don't speak French and there's one verse in French in this song." Harry shut his connection down with Ginny and let Hermione know mentally what song he was planning on and what he wanted Hermione to sing.

She thought for a second and then nodded. "As long as it's just for Ginny. Don't expect me to sing for anybody else. I know you'll forgive me because my voice isn't as good as either of yours.

Harry waited until Hermione had sat down on the arm of the couch next to Ginny. He smiled over at both girls and took a breath. Both girls felt a little bit of the bond magic appear and then a saxophone hit a long note and Harry jumped into the fast moving song with the mandolin and his voice.

Hold on tight to your dream,
Hold on tight to your dream,
When you see your ship go sailing,
When you feel your heart is breaking,
Hold on tight to your dream,
It's a long time to be gone,
Time just rolls on and on,
When you need a shoulder to cry on,
When you get so sick of trying,
Just hold on tight to your dream.

When you get so down that you can't get up,
And you want so much but you're all out of luck,
When you're so downhearted and misunderstood,
Just over and over and over you could.

Hold on tight to your dream,
Hold on tight to your dream,
When you see the shadows falling,
When you hear that cold wind calling,
Hold on tight to your dream.

(Harry nodded and Hermione's voice took over the next verse.)

Accroches-toi a ton reve,
Accroches-toi a ton reve,
Quand tu vois ton bateau partir,
Quand tu sents-ton coeur se briser,
Accroches-toi a ton reve.

(Ginny hugged Hermione after she finished and Harry finished the song up.)

When you get so down that you can't get up,
And you want so much but you're all out of luck,
When you're so downhearted and misunderstood,
Just over and over and over you could.

Hold on tight to your dream,
Hold on tight to your dream,
When you see the shadows falling,
When you hear that cold wind calling,
Hold on tight to your dream.
(Electric Light Orchestra – 1981)

Ginny was smiling and clapping as Harry finished the song. She waited until he put the mandolin down before she launched herself across the couch and covered him in a hug. "That was great Harry. I've always loved hearing you sing. And I do have my dream now." She turned back to Hermione. "With you too Nonnie. Your voice is good."

"That song is going to cost you Ginny. I'd like a proper kiss for it." Ginny was all too happy to fulfill that request.

"And grant me a husband privilege. You and Hermione have called dibs or special wife allowances and I thought I'd ask at least one back for myself."

Ginny looked at Hermione and she just grinned as she nodded her head. "So what is it you want?"

"Are you agreeing then?"

"Without knowing what it is?"

"Yes. But how about this for a condition; if you don't like it after 90 days you can cancel it and I won't complain."

"Well that seems fair. Okay, privilege granted. What have I just agreed to?

"I thought that since we had just spent a bunch of time outside and gone through some rough bits of ground I would make sure you weren't hurt in any way. So I am reserving the right to inspect you for insect bites or to make sure you don't have any ticks attached to you. Anywhere."

Hermione broke out laughing but Ginny's ready grin made Harry think he had thought of something very nice for the both of them.

"And I suppose you want to invoke that privilege right now dear husband?"

"But of course." Harry stood up and held out his hand and Ginny made a show of reluctantly standing up and calling on Hermione for help. "You agreed to it Ginny."

"Big help you are. Jealous?"

"Maybe. I guess if Harry's not too tired from 'inspecting' you, I could ask him to check me out."

"I check you both out all the time Nonnie."

The three laughed together and Harry started pulling a 'reluctant' Ginny toward the stairway downstairs. It was at that moment that something big flew through one of the windows and landed on the desk.

Harry made a slight face as he recognized one of the Grey Ravens than Gringotts used to convey important messages. He called for Rettus again and the house elf appeared immediately. Harry asked Rettus to find some food and water for the bird while he read the letter. Rettus spared a quick look at the bird and disappeared. Harry had removed the letter from the Raven's leg by the time Rettus reappeared with a bowl of water and a plate of food that didn't have anything live on it.

Harry made sure that that the bird was eating and drinking before he sat down in one of the nearby couches. Hermione and Ginny sat beside him and looked at the envelope that just bore his name on the front of it. "This is a little surprising. I was expecting Fawkes or maybe Hedwig to arrive first in looking for us. I guess the goblins messengers can find things even if they are Unplottable. I hope nobody was following it."

"So are you going to open the letter Harry?"

"I guess I'd better. Merlin knows what kind of trouble we're in for our disappearance. I've still got to report to Wrotkill for my staff preparations and training. Maybe all this is just a reminder that I have to report in."

Hermione and Ginny both leaned in to look at the letter as Harry took it from the envelope. When he opened it to read it, all three pairs of eyes widened in surprise.

June 1st, 1993

To: Lord Harry Potter, Earl of Lincolnshire and Fife, Head (and Lord) of the Houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Potter, Kaddle, Gladney, and Valcommon.

From: Ragnorak Foebiter, Head of the Goblin Nation in England, President of Gringotts Bank- London

Harry (if we may continue on with our informal greetings),

I offer my congratulations and well wishes on the occasion of your marriages and assumption of the title of Lord Slytherin. May your coffers never empty and your enemies always suffer!

You and your wives are invited to come to Gringotts at your earliest convenience to discuss the matter of your marriage, inheritances, and newest titles. There are matters of finance and security that may only be resolved by your personal involvement.

We at Gringotts and the Goblin Nation in general hope that you will continue to conduct yourself as our Friend. We hope we can continue to serve and provide for your financial and other needs.

Please inform us when you would like to set up an appointment for the important matters we have mentioned.

Gold flows to the worthy and those that dare to take it!

Ragnorak

Harry folded up the letter and carefully placed it back in the envelope. "Another item for your scrap book Ginny. And I seem to be getting another headache on top of everything else."

Going to the desk Harry pulled a piece of parchment toward him and wrote a short answer to Ragnorak. He folded it up, sealed it and addressed it as a personal letter to Ragnorak and attached it to the Raven. The bird hopped up onto Harry's arm and he carried it to the window to release it.

The girls had watched all this in silence and then Hermione asked him what he had written. "I thanked Ragnorak for his well wishes and told him that we three would be returning to magical England in about a week. We would request an audience with him and Master Wrotkill at that time. I also expressed my sincere thanks for keeping this matter private and not disclosing it to anyone."

Hermione nodded. "That sounded very good coming from someone who just had another shock delivered to him."

"Who were those other three houses you are now the head of?"

Hermione answered Ginny's question since it was clear that Harry didn't know. "I think those are disenfranchised families that Harry got as a result of his marriage and new inheritances. Magical families that died out for whatever reason sometimes aligned themselves with older well-established families in the hope that their name and family line could be re-established in the future."

"And that whole Earl title?" Harry asked.

"A condition of heraldry sometimes hinged on the Head of House being married. It was a condition of gaining the title or taking possession of the office."

Harry swore once. "I'm going to kick great-grandfather Godric out of his picture when we get back to Hogwarts. And then I'm going to kick him right back in again. He could have at least said something to me."

Ginny and Hermione both tried calming their husband down. "He may not have known about it Harry. The Potters may have been granted the title after Godric died. It may just be an Honorary Magical title anyway; nothing to it but just the name."

"I hope so; I'd rather not be spending my and your free times at formal parties or other social commitments. Heaven help us if we have to put up with a social calendar on top of our Hogwarts classes."

Ginny tapped Harry on top of his head gently. "Speaking of commitments, weren't we about to head for our bedroom to take care of a husbandly privilege I just granted you?"

Harry looked up suddenly. "You still…?"

"As long as I get to check you out for ticks too."

"Well, I guess that seems fair. Hermione we'll be back in twenty minutes."

"Hermione, we'll be back in about thirty-five minutes; if we don't have to do the inspections twice."

Hermione laughed at the surprised look on Harry's face and went over to give him a kiss. "Don't let her take too much advantage of you Harry."

Harry grinned and then Hermione turned to Ginny and hugged her. "If you need any help at all.."

"I know who to call Nonnie."

The two girls giggled and Harry wondered if there was going to be a need for a pepper-up potion in his future.

A smiling Ginny led a mildly confused but hopeful Harry down the stairs toward their bedroom.

Xxxx xxx

Hermione looked up forty-five minutes later to see a cheerful Ginny come bounding up the stairway. The grin on her face seemed like it couldn't get any bigger.

"I take it the 'inspection' went well?' Hermione asked.

"Yes, twice for me and once for Jamie. I took my time making a really close and thorough examination of him."

Ginny was starting to giggle when two hands suddenly went around her waist and she was picked up totally off the ground. Hermione saw that she was struggling feebly as Harry had nuzzled his mouth hard into the side of her neck and began chewing on a very sensitive point.

Ginny eventually cried 'Uncle' and Harry set her carefully down on the ground. "I've just thought of an appropriate nickname for our gorgeous redhead here Nonnie."

"What?" came from the two females.

Harry gathered Ginny back into a gentle hug and spoke to both her and Hermione. "Vixen. Think about it; it's totally right for her. A vixen is either a female fox or a feisty woman. Ginny is both and a totally ravishing female; that hair especially calls to mind something of a wild animal. Crafty, cunning and beautiful. That's Ginny – that's our Vixen."

"I like it Harry. It does fit her. What do you think Gin?"

Harry especially held his breath as Ginny thought about her new nickname. "As long as it's just between us and the twins never, ever hear mention of it – I'll take it."

Harry whooped once in celebration and picked up Ginny and swung her around. "Yeah!"

"You idiot – put me down." Harry did what Ginny requested but saw that she wasn't really mad. "And what has my other lovely wife been up to?"

"I looked and found two books on wards in the library and started reading the one I took out. It's a very fascinating subject; starting with the simple Protego spells that we've learned already, the books even describes some of the spells that went into the making of Hogwarts and some buildings in Diagon Alley."

"There must be some complex spells that are on Gringotts and Ollivander's I would guess."

"The book I took off the shelf was pretty thorough. There's primary and supplementary wards. All sorts of help on placements and bindings, runes and shield generation. There are wards for general protection and for specific dangers."

"Sounds like you've found a good source to start our studies, Hermione."

"Do you want me to continue reading Harry? You said something about getting to our 'needs' list.

"How about you take a break and we'll all start fresh on the wards in the morning. I'd like to get some idea of what we're going to do for the rest of the summer first. As much as I'd like to stay here with just you and Ginny for company, I think we have a lot of things to get done before we head back to school."

Hermione nodded and put a marker in the ward book she had been reading. "I have to make a quick trip to the little witch's room. I'll be right back."

After Hermione headed down the stairs, Harry went over to have a private word with Ginny. "Thank you for what we just did."

"You don't have to thank me Harry. We both enjoyed that bit of making out."

"But I never want you to think that I'm ever taking you for granted or taking advantage of you."

"If you're worried that I'm scared or worried about you turning into something like Riddle, you can relax. You are my Harry Potter; a great kind, loving wonderful husband."

"I love you a lot Vixen."

"Back at you Jamie." Harry rested his forehead against Ginny's for a second in their already familiar comfort pose.

When Hermione climbed back up the stairs a few minutes later, Harry was waiting at the head of the stairs. He wordlessly held out a hand and Hermione followed him to the nearest couch. Harry sat down and pulled her into his lap.

"Feeling especially cuddly this afternoon Harry?"

"Maybe, but I'd like a quick word or two with you since Ginny has started working on her list." Ginny heard her name being mentioned and turned and waved briefly to the both of them.

Hermione threw an arm across the back of Harry's neck. "Have I worried you somehow?"

"Not really but I .. I'm not sure about what I'm thinking right now. Part of it is a little guilt for having some time with Ginny and ignoring you. I'm wondering…"

"Yes?"

"I know it's silly but I hope you're not feeling like a third wheel or not as cared about as Ginny."

"Just because I'm not as outgoing as Ginny doesn't mean I don't feel as loved and as special. I do love you very much you know and know how much you love me. Ginny has had a rough time this year and needs a little more attention now. That's okay; she'll pull through and be okay."

"She needs you as much as she needs me Hermione. I'm probably saying this wrong but I hope she and you can regain your closeness and intimacy. In all ways."

"I think I understand what you mean; I think we're okay on that matter. Don't worry too much about us."

Hermione squeezed Harry and just enjoyed being held by him for a few minutes. It was something he didn't have to do but she felt better that he had taken some time to make sure that she was okay.

Hermione finally got out of Harry's lap and said that they should get to their list before Ginny finished before them. Harry went to grab a quill and some paper and saw that Hermione had gone to sit next to Ginny and that the two girls were quietly talking and laughing together.

Harry sat down on and starting working on his list. He had thought a lot about it a lot in the last day or two and found he couldn't just stop at five or six items so he wrote down everything. When he had finished he took another piece of paper and rewrote the list starting at what he thought was the most important.

Finishing much later than Hermione and Ginny, Harry wondered if he should try to get a consensus on what they needed to do first or they should just discuss things as they came up. Hermione asked to just exchange the lists they had so they could get an idea of what the others were most concerned about. Harry was surprised when the two witches pushed their two lists across the desk together so they could look at his.

Aside from a small difference in order, Ginny's and Hermione's list read about the same. Harry mentally sorted them together and saw what his wives wanted to get done:

1. Wards for Griffin's Lair/Potter Mansion

2. Reunion with families; protecting Harry from mothers, fathers and brothers

3. Accommodations at Hogwarts – all three staying together

4. Trip on cruise ship – visiting Bill while they were close?

5. Exploring the bond magic/powers

6. Shopping for school and their new sized bodies

Both Ginny and Hermione were a little surprised at the size and direction of the list that Harry handed to them. While they knew some of the concerns he had about everything, this was the first time he had been more specific about his goals for the summer.

Harry's list:

1. Wards for the Lair and Potter's Mansion – protecting his family

2. Telling the world that Harry Potter was married /emancipated?

3. Surviving meeting the Granger's and Weasleys again – making sure nobody tried separating them.

4. Going to Gringotts to learn about tittles/vaults?/protections?

5. Seeing Sirius Black at Azkaban.

6. Weddings?

7. Making sure we stay together at Hogwarts – Vika?/Dumbledore?/McGonagall?

8. Exploring Tom/ Voldemort's memories

9. Bond magic training/ capabilities?

10. Summer cruise

11. Shopping – new clothes to fit everyone; special clothes for the Countesses?

Harry looked across the desk to see some dumbfounded looks on Hermione's and Ginny's face after they had read his list. "Questions? Problems? Something I forgot?"

Hermione found her voice first. "Why are weddings on your list? We already have the official notice from the ministry."

Harry got up from his chair and came around the desk to sit on it, right in front of the girls. "I may be a bloke and ignorant but we did get married already through some very unusual circumstances. I thought it would something nice for us and your families to have an official ceremony to celebrate. Flowers, wedding dresses, the official cake – the whole nine yards! A chance to tell and show everyone how much we love each other and want our commitment to last."

The appearance of tears was not something Harry had anticipated but both girls were quickly crying and then burying him in hugs and kisses. Harry held them and then realized that they were both happy and sentimental that he had thought of something so essential to every young girl.

"My Mum may actually forgive you for everything else if she has a marriage to plan for" Ginny exclaimed.

Hermione nodded her agreement. "My parents would love the idea of something like that."

"I couldn't begin to imagine not having a wedding and showing off my gorgeous wives. You deserve everything I can give you."

"You are just the sweetest man Harry. But who are these countesses that need special clothes?"

Hermione giggled. "That would be us Ginny; if Harry is an Earl now then we are addressed as the title of Countess of whatever as his wives."

Ginny got an evil grin on her face at that fact. "I can really have Ron and the twins bow down to me for real? This just gets better and better."

Harry laughed. "Don't forget about them having to get dressed up in uncomfortable suits for the ceremonies. We'll talk about everything else on all our lists every day from now on. Agreed?"

The three hugged for a bit and then Hermione grabbed Harry's hand. "We still have a little time before supper Ginny. How about we go snog our husband senseless?"

Ginny winked at Harry. "I've already had some time alone with him today so I'll reward him later. You go have some fun Nonnie. I'll go down and talk to Llasol and Rettus for a while."

Harry sheepishly grinned and let Hermione lead him to the nearest couch.