-oOoOo-A/N-oOoOo-

When you get to it, they're big. Really big.

This is somewhere around 1996 in Scotland. It's yet another part of yet another story I am working on.

If HP/HG/DG is a squick for you, fine. Be that way. Sheesh! But I warn you - you'll miss out on some major cuteness

There are no lemons, limes, oranges or tomatoes in this chapter. There are a couple of incredibly beautiful young women in it though, and yes, they love one another deeply. There's no point in being in a relationship if you aren't willing to tie your very soul to the people you love.

And now, on with the chapter

-oOoOo-A/N-oOoOo-

-oOoOo-

As they approached the gates of the outer walls, Harry was recounting them with the stories he had read from the Potter vaults about this particular property. It was the oldest property the Potter family retained. Much of the stonework had been done by Dwarf and Goblin craftsmen in an age before the Wars of Races which saw the Dwarves and High Elves leave these lands.

Once they were close enough to the wards, they recognized Harry as Lord Potter, allowing the castle at the top of the hill to become visible.

All seven of them stopped and gasped at the site before them. A castle that dwarfed Hogwarts in its grandeur and immensity appeared, centred atop the hill. Around it on the left was a long, pointed, stone tail with a large triangle of what appeared to be solid stone at the end. Around it on the right was a long, stone neck at least fifty feet in diameter to which a stone dragon's head some thirty metres wide and fifteen metres tall set. There were two tendrils of smoke coming out of the nostrils.

"Merlin's beard! That is some of the finest stonework I have ever seen!" Sirius shouted.

"I think it is clever how they made the head into either a kitchen or a study. If you squinted, you could almost swear it was a real dragon," Remus said in wonder.

The group continued walking up the hill towards what was clearly the main entrance to the castle. An immense portcullis was in the middle of the South wall. Remus and Sirius were bantering back and forth about the incredible realism the masons achieved, while Emma laughed with Hermione about it looking like a scene from one of the porcelain miniatures Hermione had in her room of a dragon resting around a castle.

The group was just about to enter the portcullis structure in the outer wall when seven house elves appeared wearing black tunics with the Potter family crest on them; one of the elves' tunics had gold embroidery around the edges. Hermione had not noticed the appearance of the elves, but her laughter stopped immediately when she realized a three-metre diameter, bright yellow eye opened on the "stone" dragon's head and the serpent-like pupil dilated and seemed to take focus on the group. Like a mouse caught in the gaze of a snake, Hermione froze in her tracks. She closed her eyes tightly and thought vehemently, "It cannot be! It cannot be! It! Cannot! Be!" She opened her eyes and the stone dragon once more had both eyes closed.

"What's wrong, Kitten?" her mother asked.

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" she said rather forcefully. She then noticed the elves whose attention took in the entire group but focused mostly on Harry, Hermione and Daphne.

The one with the gold embroidery knelt on one knee and bowed his head, as did the other six a half-second later, to Harry.

"Lord Potter, the grounds are prepared for your inspection," the head elf said and remained kneeling with his head bowed. None of the other elves moved or spoke.

Harry was unfamiliar with this behaviour and looked to Sirius. "Sirius, what is the protocol here?"

"I have no idea, Harry," Sirius said. "As far as I know, it is highly unusual to have more than one house elf per property, other than an institution like Hogwarts or St Mungo's. I only remember us ever having one house elf and that was Kreature," Sirius explained.

The smallest of the seven elves let out a gasp at the mentioning of the Black family elf but quickly composed herself once again.

"Does anyone here have any idea what I am supposed to do here?" Harry asked.

Daphne and Hermione looked at one another. Hermione shook her head indicating she had no idea what the proper, pureblood method was of dealing with this situation. Daphne nodded and spoke to Harry.

"Harry, you have to acknowledge the head elf's presence, ask him his name, then have him introduce the other elves. As the new Lord Potter, you then have to renew the bond with each of the elves," Daphne explained.

Hermione looked at Daphne with a shocked expression.

"What? I'm surprised you didn't know this protocol. Its in 'Hogwarts: A History' in chapter three hundred ninety-two, 'Headmasters Responsibilities to the Castle and Her Keepers'," Daphne explained.

"Daphne, you continue to amaze me!" Hermione exclaimed before giving her a less-than-chaste kiss.

Dan and Emma provided Hermione and Daphne their best goldfish impersonations, not quite understanding what the hell just happened.

Harry, in the meantime was taking Daphne's explanation to heart and had turned back to the kneeling elves.

"Greetings and Salutations. I am Lord Harry James Potter. Who are you?" Harry asked to the elf appearing to be the leader of these little beings.

The lead elf raised his gaze to his new lord. "Lord Potter, I am Garrote. I am the eldest Potter Family elf. It has been years since a Lord Potter visited this home."

"Garrote, what are the names of these others?" Harry asked.

Garrote stood and pointed at each of the elves. As they were introduced, they also stood. "Lord Potter, these are Dirk, Knife, Tang, Edge, Blade and Shank. We seven are the elves of the grounds and the keep." At the mention of "we seven", the other six elves appeared to stand a bit straighter.

"Are there other elves here as well, Garrote?" Harry asked.

"My Lord, there are also the elves of the manor, elves of the kitchens, elves of the towers and the elves of the borders and wards. In total, the Potter Family has one hundred three elves at this manor," Garrote said.

Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Sirius and Remus stood looking at Garrote with open mouths. Hogwarts had only between forty and fifty house elves.

Dan and Emma were watching these five wondering the reasons their reactions were ones of incredulity. After a minute of watching them look at one another then look at Garrote then look at one another again, Dan spoke up. "Garrote, do you know how much bigger the Potter ancestral home is than Hogwarts?"

"Yes sir. While Hogwarts is one hundred, ninety-seven thousand, six hundred and sixteen square metres when not magically enlarged. The Potter ancestral home's main structure is three hundred, forty-three thousand, twenty-seven square metres when not magically enlarged. Hogwarts is being able to expand various rooms to double the castle in size. I is not knowing how it was done by many Lord Potters ago, but the Potter ancestral home can grow as large as need be," the rugged little elf said somewhat abashedly.

Garrote squared his shoulders and asked the question that was on the minds of the elves present. "Lord Potter, will you do the honour of binding us once more to your line?" He asked, his voice filled with hope.

Hermione was prepared to speak but Daphne placed a finger up to Hermione's lips. "Shush, Mione, my love. These elves are only happy, healthy and viable with being bound. Without the family magics to support them, they would wither and die," Daphne explained.

Hermione nodded, understanding she was out of her depth.

With Daphne's prompting, Harry took his wand in hand and pointed it at the sky. She then coached him through the binding oath.

"I, Lord Harry James Potter, rightful head of the ancient and noble house of Potter, do hereby bind the Potter elves to my life and to my line from this hour henceforth until severed by my hand, death take me or the world end. So mote it be!" Harry, Daphne and Hermione felt the magical forces building to a crescendo as Harry spoke the words. With the end of the oath, they could feel a sudden release of power flowing from Harry, through Daphne and Hermione and rolling in waves towards the manor house. Several, smaller waves of power went in other directions. For a moment, the seven elves glowed with a golden aura. The magic was so palpable even Dan and Emma could feel it radiating off their daughter and her friends.

"Lord Potter has returned," Garrote said formally, then averting his eyes to the ground and taking a step back and to the left. The other elves lined up three on either side of the entryway as the portcullis opened. All of the elves stood a little taller; a little prouder. Their Lord had returned.

Hermione stared at Daphne for a moment. "Clearly the version of 'Hogwarts: A History' I have was heavily abridged," she said sarcastically.

Daphne laughed a delicate little laugh, darkening Hermione's expression. She saw this and explained, "Mione Love, I am not laughing at you. Since most blood purists have difficulty reading words greater than two syllables, I am not surprised they would choose to remove or modify the harder parts as well as abbreviate the remainder. Blood purists don't have much of an attention span. Likely they did it to increase sales as well as limit knowledge to those they deem unworthy. If they had known you would ever buy the book, they would never have published the current version for fear of all the information you would know is missing from it and would extrapolate some of it from the limited information in the 'Student's Edition'."

Hermione now had a small smile on her face, in silent agreement of Daphne's statement. Daphne, however was not yet finished.

"For example, Beloved, have you ever seen house elves mentioned in the edition you have?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Or perhaps it failed to mention the difference between the main kitchen, the staff kitchen and the secondary kitchens?"

Hermione was now listening intently.

"Perhaps it overlooked the weapons training rooms, used before wizards could make reliable wands? Did your edition mention the founders quarters or the many ways to enter them?"

Remus, Sirius, Harry and Hermione were looking at Daphne with shocked expressions.

"I take it, based on these four's expressions that they have no idea what you're talking about, Ms. Greengrass," Emma said.

Daphne was trying very hard not to laugh at the expressions on her lovers' faces, however she had to change one notion immediately. "Mrs. Granger, know that I have great respect for both you and your husband and would be honoured if you would address me as 'Daphne'. I hope, one day, to be permitted to address you less formally as well," Daphne said, no hint of the amusement she was feeling earlier.

Emma was about to respond, however Harry had other ideas. "Perhaps we should go inside, clean up a bit, possibly take a nap and discuss this during dinner?" he asked rhetorically. "Garrote, would you do us the honour of guiding us in our new home?" he said, gesturing for Garrote to lead the way into the manor.

"Lord Potter, it is not right that I walk in front of you. A house elf's place is that of a servant," Garrote explained in a halting way.

Harry knelt down so he was eye-to-eye with the elf. Garrote tried to look down but Harry called him out on it. "Garrote, please look at me when we talk." The elf raised his head and looked at Harry with fear in his eyes. Harry saw this and frowned a bit but continued on. "You are a living, thinking being. I class this as a 'person'. You and I are not all that much different, but I know some things are difficult for you due to your nature. I recognize these differences and, while I do not entirely understand them yet," he looked meaningfully up at Daphne for a moment, who was still looking between Hermione and Emma, "I will honour these differences and try my best to not cause any elf in House Potter to be uncomfortable. However, while I may be a lord, I was raised by people who treated me worse than Lucius Malfoy treated one of my great friends." Harry was briefly interrupted as all of the elves gasped in horror. The elves had heard stories from other elves about the way the Malfoys treated their elves.

Hermione felt she had to say something. "Its true, Garrote. While Harry wasn't tossed down stairs..." she stopped for a moment as Harry meaningfully cleared his throat. Hermione's face took on a countenance both Harry and Daphne had rarely seen in the past and never, ever wanted to see directed at them. Hermione's hair was suddenly blowing wildly and her fists clenched spasmodically. "I! Will! Kill! Them! SLOWLY!" Hermione screamed.

All of the elves cowered at the display of raw power as wave after wave of unfocused magic washed over the area.

Daphne pulled Hermione into an embrace and kissed her passionately. After a few seconds, Hermione's hair stopped moving of its own accord and her fists unclenched as she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Daphne.

Dan, who had been quietly talking with Remus and Sirius, was now doing a decent impression of a goldfish, while Emma stood closer to Harry and asked him in a whisper, "Does she get like that often and do these two kiss often like this?" as the two girls continued their kiss, lost in a world all their own.

"She only gets really upset when one of two things happens. Either when someone has written in or otherwise defaced a book or when she hears of my treatment at the hands of my mother's sister, her husband and their son," Harry explained easily then looked a bit timid of Emma. "As to them kissing often, that is something we should all talk about together."

Daphne and Hermione broke their kiss and just stared into one another's eyes before realizing that everyone, including the seven house elves were staring at them. The two girls were still embracing and it didn't look like either of them were ready to stop that just yet.

Hermione looked at Harry and smiled. "I think you were explaining something to Garrote, Harry," she said playfully.

Harry smiled at the two girls. "Thank you, Mione Love, for reminding me." He then turned to Garrote again. "Garrote, this is true for you as well as all of the Potter elves. My name is Harry. If it is causes too much discomfort to address me as 'Harry' then you may refer to me as 'Lord Harry' or, as a great friend of mine calls me, 'Master Harry'. Please reserve the honorific of 'Lord Potter' for formal events or when we are in public," Harry explained.

"M-M-M-Master H-H-Harry?" Garrote asked haltingly.

"Yes, Garrote, if that does not cause you too much discomfort," Harry agreed.

"Elves have never been given formal permission to speak the Lord's name before," Garrote said in awe.

"Surely my parents didn't want you to refer to them as 'Lord Potter' and 'Lady Potter' all the time?" Harry asked, uncomfortable with the answer he might receive.

"Your parents asked us if we could call them by their given names, but without formal permission, we could not do so," Garrote explained.

Harry understood that neither he nor his friends treated house elves the way other witches and wizards treated house elves, but he didn't understand the fear he was seeing in the eyes of the elves during this discussion, so he asked, "Garrote, did you explain to my parents about the need for permission?"

The youngest looking elf actually flinched at this question and covered her face with her hands. Garrote looked as if a basilisk was standing behind Harry. "Elves should not rise above their station and be explaining things to a witch or wizard, L-L-L-Master H-Harry," he said.

Daphne now felt the need to explain the situation. "Harry Love," she said. Harry turned to face her. "House elves' lives are tied to a family, an institution or an individual. Their magic is tied to and limited by the magical core of that individual. In the case of a building, such as Hogwarts, the elves' power is tied to a lode stone or the ley lines beneath or near the place. In the case of a family, the elves' power is tied to the head of the family, the lode stone or ley lines beneath or near the family property they are closest to and the magical core of the witch or wizard to whom they are most closely bonded."

"That makes some sense, I suppose," Harry said thoughtfully. This brought to mind a question about Dobby, but now was not the time to ask.

"But why is Garrote, and the other family elves looking like they're facing dementors?" Sirius asked.

Daphne nodded at Sirius and looked back to Harry. "Because they are being asked to explain something to their House's Lord and elves are only ever asked to explain their actions prior to being given clothes," she said.

Harry slapped his forehead then looked at Garrote. Garrote, as well as the other elves, had watched Harry slap himself. Garrote cringed and made himself still smaller, while the youngest one, Shank, who had previously covered her face, fainted.

"Garrote, I think I need to say this more formally, so here goes. I, Lord Potter, members of my family, members of my house, all whom are beholden to me, will NEVER give a Potter Family Elf clothes unless the elf specifically asks for them. So mote it be," Harry said this slowly and in an even tone of voice so as to not frighten the elves any more than they clearly already were. A mild wave of magic again flowed out of Harry, through Daphne and Hermione and washed over the elves. Harry was mortally offended that anyone would treat another person the way it seemed these elves expected him to treat them, yet he admitted to himself that the Dursleys had treated him as if he were a house elf.

The elves looked as if they had been expecting an explosion which had not gone off. They looked around at the people standing there then straightened up a bit, although still a bit hesitant.

"M-M-Master H-Harry punished himself?" Garrote asked.

This completely broke the tension and caused everyone except the elves to laugh. Sirius was holding desperately on to Remus to keep from falling on the ground. Emma and Dan were laughing more at Sirius' antics than anything else. Hermione and Daphne laughed a bit then cuddled in to one another and looked at Harry.

Harry was laughing due to him picturing himself trying to iron his ears, a punishment Dobby had apparently assigned himself when trying to warn Harry of Lucius Malfoy's meddling during Harry's second year at Hogwarts when Dobby was still beholden to House Malfoy. He then looked at Daphne and Hermione and smiled. He didn't think he would ever tire of seeing those two being so close.

The elves were in a bit of a quandary, although Blade, who was standing next to Shank, waved his hands minutely and roused the littlest elf. The Lord was laughing, but not at them. This had a different feeling to it. It felt almost like they, too, were elves and were sharing a joke with them. Like they were laughing with them. This was a most strange feeling, considering his thoughts at seeing his Lord strike himself. He was sure all the elves had been thinking something similar. "If he hits himself for punishment, what horrific thing will he do to us or make us do to ourselves?"

Harry turned back to Garrote. "Garrote, on occasion I do silly things. Regardless of that, however, I am not an all-knowing, all-powerful, always-right wizard."

Hermione stage-whispered, "...you've got that right..." to Daphne, earning her a feigned look of annoyance from Harry.

"Be that as it may. Garrote, what I am trying to say is that, from time to time, I will not know what the right thing to do is in a particular situation and I would ask you, or any of the Potter elves who are at hand, to either correct me if appropriate, or ask one of these two lovely ladies," Harry said, indicating Daphne and Hermione, "to let me know I am making an arse of myself. Can you do that?" he asked sincerely.

Garrote now looked completely horrified. Such was the level of his fear that he stared at Harry while walking over to Daphne and pulled on her skirt to get her attention. Garrote's eyes never left Harry.

Daphne knelt down to hear Garrote. He cupped his hands and, using elf magic, whispered so only Daphne could hear.

"Is Lord Potter knowing what he asks? He wants elves to correct him? Tell him how to do things? Can we be correcting him now? About this?" Garrote whispered into her ear.

Daphne pulled her head away from Garrote's head and cupped her hands in a similar fashion to Garrote's ear.

"Lord Potter is a unique wizard and does not understand all that there is to house elves. Whenever an elf is uncomfortable or unable to do as Lord Potter commands, they are to come get either Lady Hermione or myself and one of us will handle the situation. Let all of the elves know. Also, as far as when Harry asks you to walk in front of him, think of it as a way of protecting him. A witch or wizard might be wanting to ambush our Lord and it would be better if a house elf was guarding him from the front," Daphne explained.

Harry didn't know what the conversation was, but after Daphne whispered to Garrote, the relief and understanding the elf felt was clearly visible. "What did he say, Love?" he asked Daphne.

"He was just asking for some clarification," Daphne explained.

"And he knew you would provide it?" Harry asked, still somewhat confused.

"I am the one who has been explaining about house elves to you," Daphne said.

Harry nodded. "That makes sense. Always taking good care of me," Harry said with a smile. Daphne returned the smile.

Hermione knew Daphne wasn't telling the entire truth. Daphne had a habit of nibbling on her lower lip a moment before she would tell a small lie. She would tongue her teeth if it was a larger lie. Hermione wondered if Daphne even realized she had these, to Hermione, obvious signals.

"So, Garrote, how about that tour?" Harry asked.

-oOoOo-

After a clearly-abbreviated tour of the grounds by Garrote, the elf introduced the group of humans to Mint, the lead elf in charge of the manor. Mint was dressed in a similar uniform to Garrote and appeared with only three other elves.

"Master Harry, Lady Daphne, Lady Hermione, we did not know of your presence until just a short hour ago but the house and grounds," Mint paused, looking at Garrote, who nodded, "will be presentable shortly."

Mint was all business. "Master Harry, you and members of your party are tired. Rooms have been prepared for you," she said and motioned towards a grandly sweeping spiral staircase further into the middle of the room.

Harry was about to ask about a tour, but he was cut short by an overly-obvious yawn from Daphne. Noting Daphne's theatrics, Harry looked at Mint, "That would be appreciated, Mint. Thank you."

Once the group had all begun climbing the stairs, they found they were almost instantly on the ninth floor. Dan was not the only one who was surprised but he was the first to voice the question. "How did we get up here so quickly? I don't think we took more than 10 steps."

This time it was Sirius with the obvious answer. "Magic," he said with a hint of awe in his voice.

Mint, however, provided a more complete explanation. "Lord Timothy Potter the Third worked with Lithaldoren of the Western Vale," Daphne gasped at the name but Mint continued, "and his clutch to craft the enchantments on the manor thirteen generations before the cornerstone of Hogwarts was set. This staircase is one of many with fastwalking."

Daphne spoke with a sense of awe in her voice, "The moving staircases at Hogwarts are said to have been the only remaining enchanted works from the elves of the Western Vale. Those enchantments were said to have been done by Lithaldoren as well. I knew elves had long lives, but..." she trailed off in thought.

Mint led them down the hall. "Mr Lupin, this is your suite," Mint indicated a door on the right, "and across the hall is Lord Black's suite." The doors opened of their own accord. Both rooms were practical, if a bit lavish in the areas of comfort. Both men gravitated to the suites, the toll of their travels suddenly weighing upon them.

"Sleep well, Uncles," Daphne called after them,

Walking further down the hall, the group stopped at another door at Mint's prompting. "Master and Mistress Granger, this is your suite," Mint stated. The door of their suite opened onto a breathtakingly beautiful room with French doors opening onto a balcony looking out over the surrounding grounds to the East.

"Oh Hermione! It's beautiful!" Emma exclaimed, dragging a bemused Dan into the room. Harry, Daphne and Hermione stood in the doorway to the suite and watched as the two adults seemed to forget about everything but one another and the view of the surrounding land. Emma had opened the glass doors and stood on the balcony leaning into her husband, Dan's arms encircling her waist.

Daphne pulled the door closed, "I think they would appreciate some privacy," she said with a wistful smile on her face.

"The master suite is just at the end of the hall, Lord and Ladies Potter," Mint said.

Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione's and Daphne's waists and followed Mint to the end of the hall. The hallway emptied out into an immensely spacious indoor courtyard filled with greenery surrounding a central bubbling fountain with the occasional bench peaking out from beneath the leaves.

The trio was awestruck by the quiet splendour.

"This is the foyer for the master suite," Mint said in quiet, almost reverent voice. "Though the guardians are at rest, never fear they would not awaken to protect their family, should the need arise, My Lord," she said, as if this explained everything.

She led them to the cobblestone path around the fountain to the opposite side of the foyer, where two doors of mammoth proportion slowly opened. "This is the master suite, My Lord," Mint said simply.

Harry, Hermione and Daphne were thunderstruck. The stadium, as the word "room" did not do the architectural description any justice, was larger than the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Unlike the Great Hall at Hogwarts, the only columns in this room were are the edges. There was six metres between each of the two-metre diameter sculpted supports, no two of which were the same. The top of the domed ceiling was easily fifty metres from the floor. The master suite, too, was filled with greenery, creating a set of fourteen concentric circles.

Sensing the three were completely overwhelmed, Mint took Hermione's free hand and guided the trio through the low maze to the bed in the centre.

Harry seemed to come back to himself and noticed the large, round bed that was now directly in front of him.

"Thank you, Mint. I think the three of us will nap for a time," Harry said, his voice as distant as his thoughts were a moment before.

"Mint will come when you call, My Lord," she said.

"Thank you, Mint," Harry said absently as the little elf popped out.

Harry released the two young woman who were still looking around, clearly suffering from sensory overload. The aroma of lavender, heather, rosemary and sage gently filled the air. The foliage absorbed all sound and the room seemed to have the same silent quality as the forest on a cold morning, when the only sound was caused by the mist moving through the undergrowth.

Harry decided the best way for him to get the three of them to bed was to focus on what was right in front of him. He gently turned Hermione around so she was facing away from the bed and put a gentle, even pressure on her shoulders, assisting with her sitting on the bed. Once Hermione was seated, he did the same to Daphne.

This seemed to bring them back to the here and now.

"Harry, this place is amazing," Hermione said softly.

"I did not believe such a place could still exist," Daphne whispered reverently. "It was thought the last of the Circles of Ildsulald had been destroyed before the Ministry was formed."

Hermione and Harry looked at Daphne then looked at one another. Hermione found her voice first.

"Daphne-Love, when you have an opportunity, I would like to borrow your copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' please," she said.

Daphne simply nodded, still too overwhelmed by what she suspected this place was.

Harry, however was focusing. He knelt in front of Hermione and unlaced her boots before removing them. Hermione closed her eyes as Harry began gently massaging her feet.

"Mmmmmm...that feels so good," Hermione cooed.

Hearing this brought Daphne back to the here-and-now. Daphne leaned over and gently brushed her finger across Hermione's lower lip. "What was that for?" Hermione asked.

"Just wiping the drool off, Love," Daphne said with a wry smile. "Not to mention waiting on our Lord's gentle hands to give my feet equal time," she said as her eyes met Harry's and she licked her lips and blew him a kiss.

"As soon as I am done with Hermione-Love, your feet shall be the instruments of my love for you," Harry said with a hint of humor in his voice.

He hit a particularly tense spot on Hermione's arch, causing her to moan involuntarily in released tension and the pleasure derived from the physical gesture of love. Daphne pulled Hermione's head down to her shoulder and began gently but firmly massaging her head. While Daphne may have been on edge today, she realized Hermione must be all the more so tense with the upcoming conversation the three of them knew they were going to have with Hermione's parents.

Daphne and Harry continued to work on massaging the tension from Hermione's body. They both knew from their short time together that, while Hermione would probably like nothing better than to have a three-hour session of sexual abandonment with her two loves, the bone-deep tension would still be there and the three of them would be exhausted on top of it. Making love to Hermione by demonstrating their care for her through the manual release of her tension would do more good and she would know in the depths of her soul the love Harry and Daphne had for her.

They knew when to stop when Hermione began breathing the deep breaths of slumber. Harry stopped moving his hands and held her calves. Daphne gently laid Hermione down onto the bed. Harry levitated Hermione and moved her so Daphne could take off Hermione's clothes. Daphne had to concentrate on her task at hand as each time she let her mind wander around, she felt her self-control slip away and begin touching or fondling Hermione in some way. Her need to touch her two loves was still very strong.

Once she had Hermione undressed, she pulled the bedding down and Harry lowered Hermione onto the bed.

Daphne was watching Hermione with barely contained longing. "We're not going anywhere, Love," Harry whispered into her ear, startling her a bit.

"I know. I just...she's so beautiful and even when she's asleep, touching her is just..." Daphne was searching for the right word, when Harry offered his own.

"Intoxicating?" Harry asked.

"Yes, that's it. But I also feel like it could slip away. Like I am going to awaken and discover all of this...everything...has been just a dream. I think I fear the waking world more than I fear speaking with her parents," Daphne said, a tear running down her cheek as she gently brushed a sleeping Hermione's brow.

Harry wiped the tear from her face. He looked deeply into her eyes, his own glowing with his love for Daphne and Hermione, and cupped her cheek. "Daphne-Love, if this is a dream, I hope I never awaken from it, because I know I could never be happier in the real world than I am right now. I love you. I love our beautiful little sleepy-head here. Money means nothing to me. Possessions mean nothing to me. Fame means less than nothing to me. You and Hermione are my world. Without the two of you in my life, it wouldn't be worth living. Two years ago, I would never have believed if someone had told me I would be betrothed to two witches whose intellect was only surpassed by their beauty." Harry leaned in and kissed Daphne gently.

Daphne had unshed tears in her eyes. "He really does love us. He really loves me," she thought. Daphne felt her body melt underneath the onslaught of Harry's gentle kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and slowly opened her mouth and her need to him. The kiss took her breath away and caused a warmth to spread from her centre out to the tips of her fingers and toes. She pulled back from the kiss and breathlessly whispered, "Harry, make love to me?" It was hesitant, uncertain, but with an edge of need and desire.

He did not want to reject her but he wasn't ready to break a promise to Hermione. "I will, Love, after I've pulled the tension from you and let you two sleep," He said as he began undoing the buttons of her dress. "Do you have any idea what it means to me to have someone who doesn't make demands of me? Who wants me for whom I am and not what I am? Do you know how important it is for me to feel the tension leave your body as I run my hands over your tired, aching muscles? Do I want to make love to you? Most definitely. But I want our first time together to be gentle, tender and caring. I want to make love to your mind as much as to your gorgeous body. Do you understand?" While he spoke, he had removed all of her clothing and began taking the tension from her, starting as he always did, with the feet.

Daphne closed her eyes and nodded, feeling the tension leave her body and knowing without a doubt that Harry loved her as much as she loved him; as much as she loved Hermione.

-oOoOo-

Hermione awoke. It was dark. She was spooned around someone and in turn was being spooned by another. She was relaxed, warm, comfortable. She had a bone-deep sense of safety, as if nothing and no one could bring harm to her. At the moment, she did not know the reason she felt this way. Her logical mind could find no proof for this feeling, yet her instinctual self knew this. The same way she always knew which direction was North. She turned her head and looked up at the night sky. This bothered her but she didn't know why. She looked back at the sleeping witch in her arms. She felt Harry cuddle in closer and then felt him kissing the back of her neck.

"Hey there, Beautiful. How are you feeling, my Beloved Hermione?" Harry whispered, his lips gently blowing his warm breath across the fine hairs of her neck, sending chills up her spine.

"Loved." she sighed softly.

Harry gently ran his hand up her side, up her neck and slowly and gently began to softly rub her ear.

Hermione emitted a barely audible moan as the warmth and gentle pressure from Harry's finger and thumb seemed to pull her worries away and put her into a light doze.

-oOoOo-

Hermione woke again to the sound of a soft chime. It was still dark. "Daphne must have gotten up,"she thought as she was still being spooned but was no longer spooning Daphne. She felt lips kissing her shoulder.

"Hi there, Love. Where did our Daphne get off to?" Hermione asked sleepily.

Hermione was slightly shocked by the answer.

"I'm right here kissing you, Beautiful. Our Harry awoke and is entertaining your parents, Remus and Sirius," Daphne said, punctuating each word with a kiss on Hermione's neck or shoulder.

"My parents..." Hermione's voice trailed off, a note of sadness in it.

Daphne felt the fear Hermione was feeling. "Love, they are your parents. They may not understand. They may need some time to adjust. They'll still love you. Harry loves me, and I love him. You, however, have our very souls. There is nothing either of us would not do for you, Love. Do you understand how much you mean to us? How much you mean to me?" Daphne asked softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Hermione rolled over to face Daphne, a little smile on her face. "Then I'd better be careful what I ask for as the two of you mean more than life to me," Hermione said, pulling Daphne into an intimate kiss.

The chime sounded softly again.

Hermione looked up, trying to find the source of the chime.

"You won't find it," Daphne said knowingly, "it seems to come from every direction. I think its Harry's gentle reminder of our needing to get up and be presentable for dinner."

Hermione nodded yet pulled Daphne into her embrace again. "I don't want to let go of you," Hermione said, "I want us to be able to go away somewhere, just the three of us, somewhere where the outside world can't intrude upon us. Even if its just a month, or a week."

"I wish the same," Daphne whispered into Hermione's ear.

The two young women held one another closely until the chime sounded for the third time.

Daphne sighed, pushed away from Hermione and kissed her on her nose. "Come on, Lazy Love. Harry is waiting on us and I know you miss him as much as I do," Daphne said playfully and sat up on the edge of the bed.

Hermione sat up, perched behind Daphne, and wrapped her arms around Daphne. "We could just wait him out and make him come to us," Hermione said brightly.

"If I didn't want to make a good impression on your parents, I would consider the merits of that idea. While I don't expect your parents to love me, I don't want them to hate me for keeping their 'Kitten' away from them," Daphne said, a little smile playing across her face. She stood, pulling herself out of Hermione's embrace, and turned. She pulled Hermione to the edge of the bed and then pulled her off the bed to stand. "Come on, you lazy witch. Remember – good impressions with your parents!" Daphne said with a smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dear," Hermione responded playfully while rolling her eyes.

"Mint!" Daphne called. The elf popped in a respectful ten feet away.

"Yes, Lady Daphne?" Mint asked.

"Please tell Lord Potter his Ladies will join him shortly," Daphne said politely.

"Certainly, Lady Daphne," Mint said, then disappeared with a pop.

Daphne absently clasped Hermione's hand while she looked through her pile of clothing for her wand. Upon finding it, she cast some freshening spells on their clothes and helped Hermione dress. Once that was done, Daphne focused on herself, but never let Hermione stray out of arm's reach. When both of them were dressed, Daphne called for Mint once more and asked her to fix their hair.

Both of them closed their eyes as Mint took her instructions perhaps a shade too literally. Mint snapped her fingers three times. "Hows does that look, Ladies?" Mint said.

Floating in front of and behind their heads were two full-length mirrors, slightly curved so they could see both the front and back of their hair. They both gasped in surprise.

While Harry had washed both their hair just this morning, the natural waviness of Daphne's hair had straightened during their nap, even though she had kept it braided most of the day. Now, however, it was beautifully styled; forming a graceful cascade down her shoulders to the middle of her back giving the appearance of a waterfall of lush, soft hair. Framing her face were two stray curled locks. While she had dressed in her jeans, boots and blouse she had worn previously, they had been changed. She now wore a green strapless evening gown with silver trim. The gown was slit on both sides up to the top of her thighs.

Hermione's hair, which she would have described as unmanageably bushy on the best of days, was now styled into a complex weave of straight and curled hair atop her head, giving her the look of the most beautiful princess imaginable. Hermione's clothes had been transformed into a gown matching Daphne's but in red with gold trim.

Both women were speechless, giving concern to Mint that they may not like what she had done to them. "Is Ladies liking? I can set it differently if you would prefers," she said, wringing her hands in fear.

Daphne recovered from her shock first. "You are amazing, Mint!" she exclaimed.

"I should have you dress me and style my hair every day, Mint. This is fabulous!" Hermione exclaimed. She reached down and pulled Mint into a brief hug.

Mint was crying. "Only Lady Lily ever hugged Mint before. Mint just think pretty Ladies should be having nice clothes and nice hair. I would be honoured to help you every day, Lady Hermione," she said between sniffles. Mint snapped her fingers, causing the mirrors to disappear and popped away.

While Harry, Hermione and Daphne all felt a need to be in physical contact, Daphne believed her sense of need was stronger. What she didn't realize was that all three of them had the same level of need. Harry had a will of iron, though, and didn't want to seem a bother by, in his mind, always pawing his women. Hermione could impose her will unconsciously by focusing on her research or reading, however during times of strong emotion, her barriers would get torn asunder and her need became ravenous.

The two stood and Daphne turned to Hermione and ran her finger around Hermione's ear and down her neck. "You are so incredibly beautiful, My Love," Daphne said.

Hermione closed her eyes at the touch and felt Daphne's sweet, warm breath on her neck. She let out a soft sigh as Daphne gently kissed the cleft of her neck and shoulder. She opened her eyes as Daphne pulled away.

"We should get going or I will lose all my willpower and call for Mint to deliver Harry here so that I can ravish you both," Daphne said with an edge of frustration and fear in her voice.

"Love, when my parents see how irresistibly, stunningly gorgeous you are, they may try to steal you away from me out of selfishness," Hermione said lightly with a smile, trying to pull Daphne from her downward spiral.

Daphne clasped Hermione's hand and gently pulled it in a gesture of affection. Hermione wrapped her arm around Daphne's waist. "Come on, Beautiful, let's go meet the parents," Hermione said. Daphne nodded slightly.

"Mint," Hermione called. Mint popped in. "Could you please take us to where Harry and my parents are?" Hermione asked.

Mint nodded, taking hold of them and popping them.

-oOoOo-

While the master suite had been extravagant, the room Hermione and Daphne found themselves in could only be described as intimately cozy. It reminded Hermione of the Gryffindor common room. There was a large fireplace with enormous windows on either side. In front of it was a sitting area where Harry, Dan and Emma were situated. Remus and Sirius were sitting on a wide couch facing the fire, Dan and Emma were sitting in a loveseat and Harry was sitting facing them on a chesterfield with an empty seat on either side of him. Between the couch, loveseat and chesterfield was a low table covered in hor d'oeuvres.

"Well, I am pleased Hermione is safe here, but..."Dan had been speaking to Harry and was mid-sentence when he heard the pop of Mint's entry and turned toward the sound. "Holy...! Kitten!" he exclaimed as he stood, ignoring the plate on his lap that would have hit the floor if not for the quick intervention of Trix, the house elf serving them. Dan had never seen Hermione look so pretty. His emotions had gone from even keel to a complex mixture of love, awe and over-protectiveness in less than a second and had tears in his eyes. Here was his daughter as he saw her in his mind's eye, personified in the beautiful woman she had become, with another, equally-beautiful woman standing next to her.

At the same time, Remus and Sirius looked over. Both men's jaws dropped open and Sirius managed to spill his drink all down his front but didn't notice. While both of them had healthy appetites for beautiful young women, both of them knew in one look just how lucky Harry was. Sirius was fairly certain even James would have turned his head away from Lily to ogle these two stunningly beautiful, young women. In fact, Remus was certain Lily wouldn't have noticed James' attention on the two women as Lily herself would have been drooling after the two.

Emma had turned to look when Dan stood. While she knew her daughter was pretty, the sight before her was overpowering. This was not her bookworm daughter who grew up without friends to play with. This was Lady Hermione Potter in front of her, standing with her arm around the waist of another young woman whose beauty so well complemented Hermione's that is was almost too painful to view for Emma. She felt as if she was having an amazingly surreal dream where everything was too perfect to be real.

Harry looked over at Dan's exclamation and was struck speechless when he took in the vision of Hermione with her arm wrapped around Daphne. The two of them standing there were literally glowing in their beauty. While he thought both Daphne and Hermione were beautiful and had thought Hermione was the most beautiful girl at the Tri-Wizard Tournament Yule Ball, here was not one, but two women whose beauty was radiating outwards, projecting it into the room. They were, quite literally, glowing. Harry slowly stood, setting his glass down on the table, unable to take his eyes from the sight before him.

"Hi Sirius, Remus. Hi Daddy. Hi Mum." Hermione said conversationally then turned to face Harry and her voice changed to sound like liquid sensuality, "Hello Harry." Hermione moved her arm from around Daphne's waist and took her by the hand. Leading a demure Daphne, Hermione walked over to the sitting area. She approached Dan first, who was clearly of the verge of tears, kissed him on the cheek and gave him a brief one-armed hug before turning to Emma and repeating the process. She then gestured towards Daphne, "Mum. Daddy. I want you to meet someone who is as equally important to me as Harry is. Someone Harry and I will be spending the rest of our lives with. This is Daphne and I love her and Harry with all my heart," Hermione said, as she looked into Daphne's eyes. Daphne was nearly paralysed with fear, although that was forgotten the moment she looked up and saw the love in Hermione's eyes.

There was a full thirty seconds of silence before Emma reacted. She looked at Daphne and clearly saw the love Hermione had for her. While this was not unexpected after watching the two of them kiss earlier, she had not entirely put together what she could see of the complexity of Hermione's relationship until now. While this was not the future Emma had envisioned for her daughter, even after Hermione became absorbed into the magical world, she would admit to herself later that she would be the last person to stand in the way of her daughter's happiness. Emma reached out and embraced Daphne in a gentle, motherly hug. "Welcome to the family, Daphne," Emma whispered to Daphne then kissed her on the cheek.

If Daphne had made a list of all the possible scenarios she had foreseen about this moment (and she had), this would not have been on it. Revulsion, hatred, disgust. These things she had envisioned. Emma's genuine and immediate acceptance had broken through all the emotional barriers she had built up for this moment and Daphne could not contain the release. She began openly crying on Emma's shoulder.

Hermione, having heard her mother's whispered welcome, also could no longer contain her emotions as she, too began crying tears of happiness and relief and joined in a three-way hug with her mother and Daphne.

Sirius, Remus, Dan and Harry, who had moved to stand next to Dan in the event of an emotional explosion, looked on at the three crying women. For Dan, it wasn't so much an explosion as a realization his daughter had grown up and had not one, but two people who loved her the way he loved Emma.

Dan looked at Harry and, wiping his eyes said, "I still get to do the scary father with you," and pulled Harry into a one-armed hug, returning his gaze to his wife, daughter and the young woman he would quickly think of as his second daughter.

Harry returned the hug, looking as the three women continued to hold one another.

"Since Sirius is his godfather, shouldn't he give Harry 'the talk'?" Remus asked jokingly, which it seemed neither Harry nor Dan had heard.

"We should join them and not let them forget we're here," Dan whispered to Harry, squeezing Harry's shoulder and moving to stand behind Emma and gently rub circles in her back.

Sirius and Remus gave them some space as Harry followed Dan's lead and moved to between Hermione and Daphne and gently rubbed circles in their backs. "Hey. Can we join in this group hug?" Harry asked with a smile.

-oOoOo-

Daphne felt surrounded by warmth and knew she was spooned around Hermione, who seemed to enjoy flower essences instead of the rather odd potions muggles brewed into perfumes. She inhaled deeply, filling her senses with the scents of heather, lavender, rosemary and sage from the indoor forest and a closer, slightly stronger scent of jasmine, invoking a memory from ten months ago, the morning after Hermione, Harry and Daphne bonded in The Wedding of Three.

-OoOoO-

As was tradition of the ceremony, Daphne had given Hermione a gift of the heart; a collection of flower oils and essences, as well as a set of books on their manufacture as a bonding gift. Although Hermione was still not entirely comfortable with having a three-way relationship with Harry and Daphne at the time, she chastely kissed Daphne on the cheek with a shy, whispered "thank you" before handing Daphne her gift: a Tome of Remembrance with instructions on its use; essentially a pensieve in book form. Hermione had already placed copies of all of her memories of Harry (with a suitable note of warning before some of them) and, surprisingly, all her memories of Daphne up to that day. Daphne had been too stunned to speak. While she had only spent a couple of hours at the herbalist assembling Hermione's gift, she realized Hermione had to have spent days copying the memories and placing them in the book and writing the descriptions of each of them. Harry had given both Daphne and Hermione Never-Dying Bouquets. While the bouquets had been almost identical, with yellow and red roses, whose stems were intertwined and surrounded by honeysuckle blossoms, Hermione's had a single red carnation while Daphne's had a single white carnation. The only reason Daphne had known these had a deeper meaning than being merely beautiful floral arrangements was the way Hermione had become tearful and had gently but passionately kissed Harry. Seeing her lack of understanding, Hermione had provided a whispered explanation to Daphne, after which Harry received his second, tearful, gentle and passionate kiss.

-OoOoO-

Daphne nuzzled into Hermione's neck and began softly kissing her bare neck and shoulder. Hermione had left her hair braided, making for easy access to her delectably sensitive neck. As Daphne was gently administering kisses, an act which had become automatic for her when she woke up spooned around her beautiful, brunette witch, she felt Harry shift in his sleep. She stopped what she was doing and carefully and slowly sat up so as to not awaken her two loves. She removed her wand from beneath her pillow and cast a silencing and a feather-light spell on herself. She paused a moment to grasp the bedding then lifted herself from beneath the covers and repositioned so her feet were on the ground before cancelling the feather-light spell. She checked on Harry to make certain he was not dreaming darkly again.

While their bonding had destroyed the Horcrux embedded within Harry's head, and Tom Riddle was finally dead and his followers utterly destroyed physically, politically and financially, Harry still had dark memories from those times when Riddle had slain innocents just to torment Harry. While he may have logically understood he was not to blame for their deaths, emotionally, Harry felt each innocent death most dearly. When Harry had these dreams, Daphne would spoon in behind him and Hermione would pull him into an embrace with her so that he was surrounded by two warm and loving witches.

Based on his expression, Harry was having a pleasant dream. The corners of his mouth were turned slightly upward in the barest of smiles and his entire being exuded a peaceful calm. He likely had other physical indicators, but he was currently under the blankets.

Daphne put a slight pressure on his shoulder and, in his sleep, Harry moved to spoon around their Hermione. "Our Hermione," Daphne thought. For as long as she had known about the little brown-haired genius, she had coveted her intelligence, her research ability, her courage, her beauty, her perfect smile and, most of all, her friendship and protection provided by Harry Potter. As Daphne grew into her teenage years, something had changed her feelings towards this amazing girl. Instead of coveting Hermione and the things she had, she began to admire Hermione. While she had a crush, of sorts, on Harry, she began to crush on Hermione as well. While she knew Harry was brave, he'd been sorted into Gryffindor after all, she hadn't ever believed the balderdash people would spew about him. From the too-perfect stories "everyone knew to be true" about him vanquishing Voldemort at fifteen months of age to the outrageous adventure stories written by charlatans during his pre-Hogwarts years to the absurd allegations made against him while he attended Hogwarts. They were all painfully-obvious lies and fabrications.

When she'd been accepted as a true, trusted friend by Harry and Hermione, she never imagined how horrific a dichotomy the stories about him versus reality were for the years Harry endured before coming to Hogwarts. She had not yet discussed her plans with Hermione on how to reward the Dursleys for their malevolence, but she would need to do so shortly less Hermione make their justly deserved reward too quick and painless.

Daphne had sat quietly while Harry spoke of the tenderness with which he had been raised; he stared at his shoes as he spoke of the nine and a half years before Hogwarts and his first four summers. She was told later that night by Hermione that Daphne had frightened Hermione nearly witless as Daphne's eyes had turned to bottomless pools of deep black while Harry recounted his story. Daphne worked on hiding her silent fury both to prevent frightening Hermione and to prevent so obvious a sign of emotion. She hadn't been sorted into Slytherin for nothing.

Looking down at Harry and Hermione laying spooned together, coupled with the memory of Hermione's parents accepting her, filled her with such an overwhelming sense of love that the surge of it across their bond woke first Hermione then Harry.

Hermione looked up into Daphne's eyes and could see the tears forming. "Darling," Hermione whispered and reached out to Daphne, "come lay with us," and held the blankets open.

Harry rolled onto his back to give Daphne space to lay down between them. "We sandwiched you in for a reason, Beloved."

Daphne nodded then felt herself lifted and slid beneath the covers between her two loves.

While Harry and Hermione had experienced this intense sense of belonging before, this was the first time for Daphne. She could always feel the love, strength and trust across their bonds before, this was the first time Daphne had been the source of the surge.

Harry took hold of her, pulled her on top of him and held her head against his chest as he spoke softly to her. "We love you, too, Little One. I know my love for you two grows every day," he said softly, kissing the top of her head.

Hermione moved closer, snuggled into Harry's side and softly stroked Daphne's cheeks. "I never thought it was possible for love to continue to grow, but being with you two causes my heart to have no boundaries," she whispered. She sat up a bit and kissed Daphne briefly.

As Harry gently stroked her back and Hermione deepened her kiss, Daphne felt chills go up her spine as spikes of lust and desire began flooding her bond from both Harry and Hermione. Daphne began moaning into the kiss as the feelings of being wanted began to overwhelm her.

Hermione gently pulled away and looked into Daphne's half-lidded eyes. "Are you ready, Love?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

Daphne nodded slightly then slowly looked up to Harry. Harry was looking down at Daphne and moved her so she was straddling him. All three of them were at a heightened state of arousal and carnal desire.

Their driving need to touch one another became an overpowering need to join in passionate, intimate love.

For the next six hours, they slowly and gently explored the limits of their sexual knowledge and desire. It was an exhausted but sated trio that fell asleep.

The trio were asleep when Mint popped in. She saw the three asleep and frowned. "Lords and Ladies must not awaken in discomfort," she thought and snapped her fingers. The trio briefly glowed a light blue and the glow faded. Mint nodded with approval and popped away.

-oOoOo-

The light streaming through the trees gently woke Harry. For the absolute first time in his life, he felt completely at peace with himself and the world. He had a happy little smile on his face and felt both Hermione and Daphne using his chest for a pillow. He opened his eyes and looked towards his two loves. Hermione was cuddled into his right side and Daphne on his left. Whenever he was in the middle, this seemed to be the configuration the ladies preferred. He had asked them about it at one point early in their relationship and received an odd, stereo response from the women, "It's the way we fit!" followed by a burst of giggling.

It was then that he had a sudden realization. He had no urgent need this morning. Normally, after sleeping longer than six hours, he would need to make a dash for the loo, especially with the weight of two heads on his torso. This morning, however, no such emergency reared its head. As he thought about this, he absently began running his hands over Daphne's and Hermione's scalps and running his fingers through their hair. He didn't know what Mint had done to Hermione's hair but instead of his fingers getting hopelessly tangled, her hair was soft and flowed about his fingers like water. The same was also true of Daphne's hair. He heard a soft pop but even his hunting-honed reflexes did not react to this, such was his sense of safety and comfort. He looked up and saw that Mint and Twix had popped in some distance away and were walking towards him.

Mint held her finger in front of her mouth in a gesture for Harry to be silent. Once she was next to the bed, she cupped her hand to Harry's ear so that her whispering would not disturb Hermione or Daphne.

"Master Harry," she whispered, "you and the ladies have slept twelve hours. Lord Black and Master Lupin made to sneak in to your chamber to awaken you but the guardians have taken exception to this and are detaining them in the foyer. In the past, it was enough for either myself or Garrote to give the guardians orders but it seems now that you have returned, they will only take instructions directly from you or Lady Hermione or Lady Daphne," she explained.

Harry had seen Daphne speaking to Garrote earlier and tried the same with Mint. He cupped her ear with his hand and asked, "Mint, are Lord Black or Master Remus in any danger?"

She again cupped Harry's ear, "Only if Lord Black or Master Remus attempt to harm the guardians, attempt to enter the master suite or leave the foyer, Master Harry," she answered.

Harry again cupped Mint's ear, "Can I call the guardians to me?" he asked.

"When they have prisoners, the alpha guardian will respond to Master Harry's call," she whispered in his ear.

"How do I call the alpha guardian?" he whispered back.

"Just say or think 'Guardians of the House, come to me' and the alpha will come," she explained.

"Should I wake these two before I do that? I don't want them startled," Harry whispered back.

Mint stood back and put her hand on her chin and thought for a moment. She then nodded and whispered to Harry, "I think that would be best. The guardians would feel badly if the alpha scared the Ladies of the House."

"Thank you, Mint," Harry whispered back.

Harry moved his hands to the Ladies' backs and began running his nails in gentle circles on their backs.

Hermione began making noises of awareness first. "Mmmmmm. Oooooh. Oh gods. To the left. A little more. A litttttle more. Ooh! There there there. Mmmmmm. Down. A bit more. There. Oh gods that feels good."

"Morning, Mione-Love," Harry said softly. "Could you help me wake Daphne? The three of us need to deal with a problem," he said quietly.

Hermione got an evil smile on her face which Harry could not see. Hermione had not yet noticed Mint was standing next to the bed. She moved to lay on top of Harry and continued sliding until she was spooned behind Daphne. She began kissing Daphne down her back while running her hands gently up the backs of Daphne's legs. She was about to touch Daphne in a most sensitive place when Harry brought her back to reality.

"Um, Hermione, we have an audience at the moment, and as much as I am sure Daphne would like to wake up to that, I am not sure she would appreciate company," he said.

Hermione looked up, straight into Mint's face. Hermione immediately turned a beet red in embarrassment and quickly moved her hands up to Daphne's shoulders. Although she intended to verbalize an apology, all that came out was, "Meep!"

"What did you do wrong, Mione-Love?" Daphne asked sleepily, waking up to Hermione's exclamation of embarrassment.

By way of an answer, Hermione said, "Good morning, Mint. How are you today?"

"Good afternoon, Lady Hermione. Mint is doing well but is concerned for Lord Black and Master Lupin and have asked Master Harry to intervene. I is sorry for having to awaken you, but I did not want Lady Daphne or you to be frightened," Mint said nervously.

"That was very thoughtful of you, Mint, as was the Ago Eluo you must have cast on us," Daphne answered, "Thank you, Mint."

"Daphne-Love, do you know what to expect when I call the alpha guardian to me?" Harry asked.

Daphne looked up at Harry with wide eyes, "The House has more than one guardian?" she exclaimed in a squeak.

"Apparently so," Harry answered.

Mint nodded animatedly, "The House has many many guardians, Lady Daphne," she said.

"Mother of Merlin!" Daphne exclaimed in a shocked whisper.

"What is it, Daphne?" Hermione asked in concern. It was extremely rare for Daphne to curse.

"Mione-Love, you have to prepare yourself. As both you and I are bound to Harry, the guardians should be equally protective of us, but to be safe, don't make any sudden moves and whatever you do, don't yell or scream. Guardians are VERY protective of the Lord of the House," Daphne explained fervently.

Hermione nodded and, as a protective measure, put her fist in her mouth.

"Okay, I am calling the alpha then," Harry said.

"Guardians of the House, come to me," Harry said in a calm voice.

The massive doors of the master suite opened outwards and struck their stone stops at granite-shattering velocities, although the great doors and their stops were undamaged.

Harry and Hermione were imagining some huge, dementor-like creature of darkness based on the way Mint had described them. Daphne thought she would faint away when she finally saw the guardian based on what she had read in the ancient tomes she had inherited from her great-great grandmother.

The books had all agreed that the guardians of ancient and noble houses were all fierce, but the absolute worst, most powerful, demonically fierce guardians were those of the Founders' Families, of which Potter was one. From the doors to the bed were fourteen layers of foliage, from mere hedges to great trees. It was clear each time the alpha guardian had passed through one as they would shudder violently in its passing. It was about to enter the final circle of foliage. Hermione and Daphne both suddenly buried their faces into Harry's chest, fearing what they were about to be faced with.

Suddenly it was through the final barrier and leapt onto the bed.

Harry looked on at the guardian in shock. Although he could feel his sense of safety grow stronger as this creature had gotten closer, it was all he could do to not react when it finally leapt onto the bed.

It was only then that the three of them heard an excited little girl's voice in their heads.

"The Lord really is back! The Lord really is back! And he has two mates! We are so happy!"

This mental exclamation broke through Harry's shell. He began giggling.

Hermione and Daphne looked up at Harry. Hermione then felt a light weight suddenly on her back and a soft, gentle, furry pressure on her cheek and a very loud purring sound in her ear. She turned her head to look, and there just walking off her shoulder was an adorable green-eyed, black kitten.

"Isn't she a little cutey," Hermione said in a cooing voice. Daphne couldn't see the kitten because it had walked onto her back. Hermione slowly sat up and picked the kitten off of Daphne and cradled the kitten in her arms. "She's so soft," Hermione said in wonder and started scratching the kitten's chin and ears..

Daphne rolled over and looked at the little ball of fur Hermione was holding and could clearly hear, "Oh yes. Right there! Right there! Haven't been scratched by the Lady of the House in too long," in the same little girl's voice.

"This is the guardian, Mint?" Daphne asked incredulously of the elf.

Mint was staring at the kitten in horror. "Lady Daphne, I has never seen the alpha guardian picked up before. I is not knowing if this is safe for Lady Hermione," Mint said, quivering in fear.

"We would never hurt the Lord or Ladies of the House," all three heard in their heads as the kitten rubbed its head against Hermione's hand.

Harry had finally controlled his reaction to the guardian although he still had a smile on his face. "Guardian, do you have a name by which we may address you?" he asked aloud.

"We are Amunet, daughter of Asenath, daughter of Dalila, Alpha Guardian of House Potter and we answer to none but you, my Lord and Ladies," they heard in their minds. The kitten had stopped its rubbing and was looking directly at Harry.

"My apologies for laughing, Amunet, daughter of Asenath, daughter of Dalila, but I had been expecting you to be more...impressive," Harry said.

"My Lord, you need but refer to us as Amunet. The full honorific is only used for blessings, remembrances, challenges and introductions and, as my Lord, we would always submit you as the victor of any challenge you would call for against a guardian. It is our code. As to being more impressive, we had not wished to cause the Ladies of the House any reason to attack us or challenge us as we would not harm them so. Unless we need respond in their presence to a threat, will always come into their presence in our family form. When we are asked to be present with guests, we will appear in our pride form. And when we are called upon to protect, and the need is great, we shall appear in our dire form. We see the Lord and Ladies have these forms as well, though do not seem to know them yet," Amunet said, again, speaking into their minds.

"Would you show us these forms, Amunet?" Hermione asked.

Amunet turned her gaze to Hermione, rubbed her arm one more time then jumped down onto the bed, rubbed against Daphne then moved towards Harry who also pet the little kitten for a moment. The kitten then stood on the edge of the bed.

"This is my family form," she said.

She then jumped down onto the floor. As she hit the floor, she grew so that her head, when standing on all four feet, was two metres above the floor, her head was easily four times wider than Harry's with her canines or fangs reaching nearly 30 centimetres. Her eyes were the same jade green as Harry's eyes.

"This is my pride form," she said, "We cannot demonstrate our dire form in these confines, but we have only ever once been called upon to appear in our dire form in the defence of our House,"she explained.

Timidly, Daphne asked with a sense of awe in her voice, "May I touch you, Amunet?"

"We are happiest when in contact with our Lord and Ladies. We are content to be close to our Lord and Ladies. We live but to serve," she said.

Daphne sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. She stood and slowly approached Amunet, who stood literally head and shoulders above the young woman. Amunet carefully lay down at Daphne's feet so her head was level with Daphne's shoulder.

Daphne could not believe how safe, truly safe, she felt in the presence of this majestic being. She reached her hands out and began gently scratching Amunet's chin with her fingernails.

"Lady Daphne, we do not know what we have done to deserve such a blessed reward, but please tell us so we may do so it again and again," Amunet said. Her purring in this form was a loud, reverberation, sounding as loudly as a muggle lorry idling. It was a deep, pleasing vibration. Daphne was amazed at the softness of Amunet's fur and could feel her worries and stress bleed off as she gently scratched Amunet's chin and ears.

Hermione, too, slid off the bed and began scratching her ear and the bridge of her nose.

"Your fur is so soft and you are so beautiful," Hermione said.

"It is kind of you to say so, Lady Hermione," Amunet said, "It is our nature to be pleasing to our Lord and Ladies. Were an enemy of the House foolish enough to come near us or attempt to touch us, our fur would be like barbs, our breath like poison and fear would grip their heart, freezing them in place."

"I don't think I have ever felt safer in my life," Daphne cooed. "It's Harry's luck again, Mione-Love," Daphne said with a smile.

"What do you mean, Darling-Love?" Hermione asked quizzically.

"I never equated it before meeting Amunet, but only Harry could have a pride of Nundu as guardians," Daphne said then giggled. Hermione joined in the giggling for half a minute before Harry also moved off the bed and Hermione and Daphne moved so he, too, could scratch an ear and pet a shoulder. "You are truly amazing, Amunet. House Potter is truly blessed to have such a fine alpha guardian," Harry said.

"Thank you, Lord Harry, but it is we who are honoured and blessed to be guardians of House Potter. Before our pride was accepted as members of the House, we were hunted by dwarves, slaughtered by goblins and nearly annihilated by Wizardkind. They misunderstood and feared us. Only the elves understood us and, when they passed from this land, entrusted us, the pride of Auset, to House Potter. In return, we swore an oath to uphold our code to the House. We became the guardians. For many ages of Wizardkind we have been vigilant in protecting House Potter." She paused and became sad, it seemed. "We failed in protecting your sire and his mate and our hearts have been heavy with grief. Bast, daughter of Bennu, daughter of Dalila, blessed Great Alpha Guardian, flew to your sire's mate's side but was too late to save her. When we saw what that abomination of nature was doing to her now-Lord, we used our life force, and entered into our shadowfire form to ensnare the abomination and tear his magic open. We were strong, but his magic was great and his spirit broke free." Her mental voice broke and the large head sagged in sorrow. "We are sorry, My Lord. We failed you when you needed us most," Amunet cried in utter despair.

"Amunet, return to your family form," Harry said gently. Suddenly he had a kitten laying on his arm. He pet the kitten with long, gentle strokes. "The guardians did not fail me or our House. I am here. My Ladies are here. We do not feel the guardians have failed us. We do not feel you have failed us, Amunet. House Potter is proud to have such powerful, dedicated, loving, honourable, diligent guardians protecting the House," Harry said earnestly, trying to convey the complex feelings he was having, seeing such an indescribably beautiful creature clearly in such emotional pain. He couldn't explain how, but he could sense his words were easing Amunet's emotional distress. "In my greatest hour of need, Bast, daughter of Bennu, daughter of Dalila, blessed Great Alpha Guardian, did, without hesitation or fear of death, give her own life so that I could live," Harry said, with tears in his eyes. "There is no greater gift than to give one's life for one's House and House Potter is humbled by her sacrifice," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. He stared off into the distance for some time, absently petting Amunet. He was taken from his thoughts as Mint drew his attention.

"Master Harry," Mint whispered loudly.

"Yes, Mint?" Harry asked, turning his attention away from his petting of the kitten.

"Lord Black and Master Lupin are still..." she began before Harry cut her off.

"Quite right, Mint. Remind me to smack myself in the head later," Harry said.

Mint looked at Harry in horror then looked at Daphne and Hermione Daphne just shook her head and mouthed, "No need, Mint," to the elf.

"Amunet," Harry began, "it seems two men came into the foyer..." but was cut off by a venomous, loud hissing sound from the kitten and an angry little girl's voice in his head. Daphne and Hermione also heard this.

"Those...those...those...WIZARDS were going to commit a heinous crime against our Lord and Ladies. We were about to consume them when this one," the kitten looked at Mint, "told us we were not to do so as these WIZARDS were thought to be friends of the House. We do not understand how this could be true but stayed our hunger to insure we were not damaging the reputation of our House," Amunet explained, with evident hatred for Sirius and Remus in her soul.

"What was this heinous crime they were going to commit, Amunet?" Daphne asked.

"They were going to commit an act most foul. An act worthy of a slow, exquisite digestion. Their feeble minds thought they would pour buckets of iced water onto our Lord and Ladies. We are currently awaiting our Lord and Ladies' pleasure concerning them. While WIZARDS," she said this word with intense hatred, the kitten hissing and spitting each time the word was said, "taste foul, we would gladly consume them to prevent them from harming our House," she said.

"Amunet, why don't the five of us go out to the foyer and discuss this with our friends. They really are our friends, although we are pleased the guardians prevented them from harming our person and are not at all upset you prevented them from carrying out their intended actions," Hermione said.

"Mint, would you please help us dress and pop us out to the foyer," Daphne asked.

Mint nodded and snapped her finger three times. Harry was now dressed in a soft, cotton tunic. Both Hermione and Daphne were dressed in diaphanous white gowns and their hair was styled as fit their station and attire, cascading down their shoulders.

Looking lecherously at Daphne and Hermione, Harry said, "Very nice. It is no wonder my Ladies speak so highly of you, Mint," causing Mint to blush brightly.

"Thank yous, Master Harry," Mint said. She snapped her fingers once more and the five of them appeared in the foyer.

The scene they came upon would have chilled them to the bone if they had not known Sirius and Remus were in no danger. It was clear from their demeanour, the odour and the obviously-soiled robes that neither Remus nor Sirius knew they were in no danger. Each man was pinned face-down on the ground with their heads held in the mouths of two clearly-angry, massively large, growling, drooling guardians, easily half again as large as Amunet in her pride form.

"These are Bomani, son of Bahiti, daughter of Bastet," Amunet said. One of the guardian drew its lips back in what could only be a smile, "and Chike, son of Eshe, daughter of Femi," the other guardian drew its lips back.

"Bomani, Chike. Our Lord has said Mint spoke truth, as she always has in the past, and that these two are truly Friends of the House," Amunet said to the two guardians.

Bomani, the cat holding Remus, questioned this instruction. "Alpha, this one tastes of blood of the shadow dogs," he said. "We should kill him to keep our Lord and Ladies safe."

"Does he taste of the blood of children or cub?" Amunet asked.

"No, he does not," Bomani answered, "but there is another taste of calming grass and dream leaves."

"We know of this about this one and know of his affliction and do not fear him for he is a friend," Harry said.

The big cats opened their mouths and moved away from the two supine wizards and moved to lay at Harry's feet, between him and the two soiled marauders.

"We apologize, Lord and Ladies of the House. We submit to your punishment," The trio heard in stereo male teenage voices.

"You did not know and so no punishment shall be given," Harry said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Our Lord and Ladies are generous and kind,"Bomani and Chike said.

Remus and Sirius were coming out of the lingering effects of the presence of the cats. It was Remus who found his voice first.

"Oh thank Merlin! Harry! You saved us! I thought for sure we were going to die!" Remus exclaimed while rising to his knees and holding himself tightly, sobbing out each word.

"Harry! We thought we were done for! I couldn't even switch to Snuffles! I thought we were going to get eaten!" Sirius exclaimed, beginning to move towards Harry when Bomani stood back up to his full height and growled. Sirius quickly retreated. Seeing the wizard had moved back to a respectful distance, Bomani lay back down at Harry's feet.

"Can you hear me if I think to you, Bomani and Chike?" Harry thought.

"Yes, Lord. We can hear you speak to us in the silence of our minds," Amunet replied.

"Bomani, Chike, do you think you could turn your heads and growl angrily at these two when I say 'Now'? I want them to know how poor an idea it was to think of pouring iced water on my mates," Harry thought to them.

"As you command, Lord of the House," he heard in reply.

"Sirius, Remus, how did the two of you get into the predicament with the guardians?" Harry asked them innocently.

"We were coming to check on you as the three of you hadn't shown up for supper, breakfast, brunch or lunch," Remus began, "and we were worried."

"Now," Harry thought.

The two enormous cats stood and began growling and pacing between Harry and the two Marauders, their eyes never leaving the two wizards.

"I don't think the guardians would have responded as they did if you were just checking on us, Remus," Hermione said, her gown and the vision beneath it causing his breath to catch when Remus looked up at her. It also caused his brain to leak out his ears.

Remus swallowed loudly. "Well, Sirius also thought it would be a good idea to prank you," Remus said then put his hands over his mouth.

"Now," Harry thought.

The two cats drew their ears back and began looking from Remus to Sirius, growling and stopped their pacing.

"Really. Godfather? How were you intending on pranking my husband, my sister-wife and I?" Daphne asked with a low growl in her voice. Both of the male guardians looked at Remus and Sirius and also let out a low, yet powerful, growls for only a few seconds before lowering themselves as if to pounce.

"It wasn't anything really mean, Daphne. I assure you..." Sirius began, only to note that Harry was petting a kitten. A black kitten. A bristling, green-eyed, black kitten that was staring right at him and looked on the verge of leaping down and tearing his eyes out and eating his tongue. It hissed at him with its ears drawn back.

Harry looked down at the kitten and stroked it, making cooing sounds at it. Amunet looked up at Harry, her entire countenance changing to that of an adorable little ball of fur.

"Really, Sirius? Because I have it on good authority you were going to dump iced water onto my bed," Harry said seriously, trying his best not to laugh. Sirius and Remus both gulped loudly.

Harry continued. "While I might find it amusing, at some later date, being essentially dunked in cold water, you were going to step over a line. You were going to dump iced cold water on my wives," Harry thought "Now" to the guardians once more. Bomani and Chike may have overdone it a bit. They hated swimming in cold water and could only imagine how long it would take their Lord's mates' mane to dry since it was so much longer than their own fur. They had been taught from cubs to hate wizards and goblins to their very bones. That these wizards would dare to harm their charges caused them to bristle to their very sinews. They bunched themselves as if on the verge of pouncing, their muscles rippling as they began growling, their lips peeling back from their fangs. Bomani looked at Remus. Chike looked at Sirius. As one, they roared, spit flying off their teeth and drenching the kneeling wizards' faces. Sirius feinted. Remus wet himself again.

"Please don't consider pranking my wives again in any way which might embarrass them. If you think the guardians are upset with you, Remus, think about how upset Daphne and Hermione would have been if you had been successful," Harry said. Remus; eyes rolled into his head as he fainted at the thought of BOTH witches seriously cheesed off at him.

"Nicely done, guardians," Harry said. "I think that was worthy of scratches. Bomani? Chike? Would you object to Lady Hermione and Lady Daphne scratching your ears and chins?" Harry asked.

"We are not worthy of such a reward, Lord," Bomani said.

"Ladies, do you feel they deserve to be scratched?" Harry asked.

Hermione didn't say anything. She simply walked up to Bomani, who looked down at her, reached up and began scratching his chin. She did so for about thirty seconds before he lay down in utter bliss.

Daphne walked up to Chike. "Could you please lay down first, Chike? I don't like to be interrupted when giving rewards," Daphne explained.

Chike lay down, not knowing how to reply, and Daphne began scratching him. Both males were clearly enjoying the attention as both were purring easily twice as loud as Amunet had done before.

Harry continued to pet Amunet and scratch her ears and chin. He clearly had the easier job as petting and scratching a kitten was a lot less work than petting and scratching a great cat that likely weighed more than most sports cars.

After fifteen minutes of providing attention to Bomani and Chike, Amunet hopped down from Harry and walked between the two cats, changing to her pride form. She could see Hermione and Daphne were getting a bit fatigued from giving attention to such large creatures.

"Enough!" she gently exclaimed, more to let the Ladies know they should stop being so indulgent. Although Bomani immediately opened his eyes and managed to look a bit guilty, Chike had rolled onto his back a few minutes prior and Daphne had begun scratching his chest. When Daphne stopped, Chike let out a warning growl without even thinking. Daphne moved away quickly, drawing her wand and putting herself between Chike and Hermione, fearing the great cat would attack. Amunet, however, was already between Daphne and Chike and had her mouth wrapped around his throat and her own growl helping to set the tone of the conversation they were having.

"We DARE threaten a Lady of the House when she has been rewarding us?" Amunet yelled.

"Forgive us, Alpha. We forgot our place and meant no disrespect," Chike replied fearfully.

"It is not us to whom we owe an apology. We have frightened a Lady of the House. A Bearer of Cubs. A Great Daughter. We are unworthy," Amunet said.

"Allow us to do what is necessary to make amends. We swear it," Chike begged.

"Very well," Amunet said, releasing his throat and allowing him to roll onto his feet and crawl over to Daphne.

"Great Lady of the House, we forgot our place. We had no right to threaten you. We shall leave and never return. We hope that, in time, you will forgive our line," Chike said quietly. He stood and turned to leave, his head hanging low.

"Stop," Daphne commanded. The great cat stopped walking but did not turn around. "Return to your family form and come to me," Daphne said.

Chike shrank to the size of a kitten, turned around and walked to Daphne, his head still hung low.

"You need not bloody your hands, Lady Daphne. We will end our line for you," Amunet said.

"What?" Hermione exclaimed.

"Shush, Mione-Love. Amunet, it is not my intention to end his line, or to have you end his line today," Daphne said, picking up Chike by the scruff and looking at him in his eyes. Chike looked back at Daphne, sitting limply in her hand. Daphne took her other hand and gently thwacked Chike on his nose with her index finger. "Bad kitty! Apology accepted. Don't let it happen again, ever," this last word she growled. "I understand you have not been around wizardkind for some time. Should it happen again, I will not be so easily forgiving. Do you understand?" Daphne asked seriously.

"Lady Daphne, we are unworthy of your kindness and forgiveness," Chike replied.

"Nevertheless, I am forgiving you. This time," she responded.

"Lady Daphne, we thank you with our life for your forgiveness. We would rather end our line than to ever attack a member of the House," Chike said.

"Well," Harry said, trying to sound nonchalant, "now that we have that all sorted out, I have a question. How many guardians are there?"

"All of us are guardians, Lord," Amunet replied.

"How many is all of you?" Harry asked.

"We do not understand, Lord. All is all. If one is, that one is a guardian. All of us are guardians," Amunet said, as if that answered the question.

"Amunet, our Lord is asking for an explanation for Wizardkind. Is there enough guardians for one to be in each room of this castle at the same time?" Daphne asked.

"Yes, Lady Daphne. Is this what you would like us to have done?" Amunet asked.

"No, Amunet. I am just trying to help answer our Lord's question in a way he will understand. Is it possible to meet all of the guardians at one time, Amunet?" Daphne asked.

They could sense Amunet's surprise and fear, "This has not happened since the time of the Elves. Is our Lord so displeased with us he wishes to release us from our oath?" she asked.

"No, Amunet, our Lord wishes to simply convey our greeting and House Potter's thanks to their honourable, brave work," Daphne said, nibbling her lower lip.

"This can be done in four cycles of the Great Mother Light," Amunet said. "We will need to meet in the plain to the North for all to be in one place," she continued.

"Mint, Lady Hermione, Lady Daphne, Amunet, Bomani, Chike and I will be going downstairs to eat dinner. Could you please wake these two overgrown boys, get them showered," Harry was interrupted by Hermione.

"Showered in ice-cold water," she said with a vicious grin, looking at an equally vicious grin on Daphne's face.

Harry continued, "Yes, showered in ice cold water, dressed in clean clothes and brought to dinner, please."

"Mint will do as you ask," she said.

Bomani returned to his family form and looked up at Hermione eagerly.

Hermione's face melted into a little smile, "Oh what a cutie!" she exclaimed and picked him up.

The trio walked downstairs for dinner with matching white outfits and matching black kittens.

-oOoOo-

Dan and Emma were in the library, having an energetic discussion many parents have.

"He's sleeping with our Little Baby and our Little Daphne," Dan complained for the third time, as if that was all he needed to say.

"Daniel Robert Granger, Hermione is nearly an adult, it is clear the three of them love one another, if I understand correctly, all three of them are married to one another. I don't really know why, but I think of Daphne as my daughter as well. What possible objection could you have to our daughters sleeping with Harry?" Emma asked incredulously and rapidly running out of patience with her own life partner.

"They're too young. He's a teenage boy. I know how they are. All physical with no depth of emotion whatsoever, saying anything to get into their knickers," Dan said vehemently. "He just wants to fuck them!" he exclaimed.

Unbeknownst to Dan, Harry, Daphne and Hermione had quietly walked into the room, and had overheard Emma's previous comment.

Dan turned when he heard Hermione and Daphne giggle. "Kitten?" he asked in a panicked voice.

"Daniel Robert Granger! Language!" Emma exclaimed.

Harry was stone faced. He would let Hermione take the lead in this matter as Dan was her father, but Harry was deeply hurt. Here was a man Harry respected who had just called into question his honour, integrity and intentions.

Dan took in the scene in front of him. His daughters, as he now thought of Hermione and Daphne, looked like goddesses in their gowns. They each had a kitten climbing up their blouses to perch on their shoulders. Harry, also dressed in white, also had a kitten who had already reached his shoulder. Unlike Hermione and Daphne, who were giggling, Dan noted, Harry and the three kittens were staring at him with unblinking eyes.

"Girls? What had you so amused?" Emma asked, trying to understand the dichotomy of Harry's demeanour to that of Daphne and Hermione.

Hermione and Daphne took a moment to compose themselves. Hermione looked at Harry for a moment then reached up on her tip-toes and whispered something into Harry's ear. Harry's entire countenance changed which was clearly obvious to all present as his stature changed from one of rigidity and tension to a relaxed stance with a slight smile on his face. Hermione then turned back to face her parents with an arm around Harry. Daphne snuggled into his side. The kittens continued to unblinkingly stare at Dan.

Hermione looked into her mother's eyes and with an honest smile on her face spoke to her. "Mum, Daphne and I should apologise. It's just that between last night and the absurdity of the comment, it was just too funny." She then turned to her father and the smile faded to a hurt look. "Daddy! Do you know how long it has taken Daphne and I working at Harry to get him to be physically affectionate with us? Do you know how much respect Harry has for Daphne and I? Do you know anything at all about how much your opinion of Harry counts to him? How much he respects your perspective? How much he had hoped you would be supportive of Daphne's and my relationship with him? It had taken us ten months to get him from kissing us to last night. You can do the scary daddy thing to him if you want, but you will never ever question his honour and integrity when it comes to Daphne and I." Hermione finished, unshed tears of anger and frustration in her eyes.

"But, Kitten..." Dan began but was immediately cut off by Daphne.

"Don't you 'But Kitten' my Hermione. Harry would walk through horrors unimaginable, battle trolls, slay basilisks, kill dark lords and slaughter evil men by the dozens to keep my Hermione safe, so don't you dare 'But Kitten' her. Both of us are very upset with you at the moment. I want to call you 'Daddy' and you," she turned to Emma briefly with a genuine smile, "Mum," then directed her attention back to Dan and frowned again, "but you may have ruined all of that with your thoughtless words and your arrogance. Besides," and Daphne's smile grew as she turned to Hermione, "as far as I know the only one whose ever fucked our Hermione is me."

"Daphne!" Harry and Hermione exclaimed scandalously.

"Well, okay, maybe not 'fucked' per se because I did love her at the time, but we both enjoyed ourselves and my goal was to make her have as many orgasms as possible," she said, causing Hermione to nod and blush beet red. She turned back to Dan and asked innocently, "Does that count as 'fucking'?"

Dan was brought out of his shock at what this beautiful young woman was saying by Hermione.

"Daphne Ophelia Potter! Language!" Hermione said, still blushing.

"It is English, Hermione Jane Potter, but I would have thought you knew that," Daphne said with an unrepentant smile.

Dan looked at Daphne. "Potter?" he asked weakly. Daphne nodded.

He turned his head to Hermione. "Potter?" he asked. Hermione emphatically nodded.

Dan hung his head in shame. "Harry...Son, I apologise for thinking the very worst about you," he said then looked up at Harry and walked over to shake his hand.

Daphne and Hermione released Harry with a squeeze and Harry moved to take the offered hand.

Dan took his hand and pulled him into a hug. "Forgive me?" Dan fervently whispered into Harry's ear.

"I forgive you, Mister Granger. You're just looking out for my girls and I appreciate that," Harry said.

Dan released his hug and looked at Harry. "Please call me 'Dan', Harry." Dan said.

"Okay, Dan," Harry responded.

"Can I still do the 'father of girl children' scary thing? I've been practising it since Emma became pregnant," Dan explained sheepishly.

"I'd like that, Dan. I'll need to know how to do it for our daughters and I would like to learn from the best," Harry said honestly.

Dan smiled. "Harry, I think I am going to like you," he said

Emma then asked the obvious question as she walked up to embrace Hermione and Daphne, "Where did you three get these adorable kittens?"

This caused Harry, Hermione and Daphne to all giggle.

-oOoOo-

The four adults and three teenagers sat down to dinner. The kittens remained perched throughout dinner on the teenagers' shoulders.

Harry was in the middle of explaining to Emma and Dan the reason Remus and Sirius had taken so long to find them and why they were so late coming to dinner.

"Where did your family get Nundu from anyway, Harry?" Remus asked. "I nearly soiled my trousers when I saw it come at me!" Remus exclaimed.

"Nearly?" Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile.

"I didn't soil my trousers until it's teeth touched my forehead and even then, it wasn't until I realized it's fangs had completely missed my head and it was the 'little' teeth in between that were dimpling my forehead and the base of my skull. THEN I soiled my trousers."

Daphne was laughing loudly and trying not to snort as Sirius tried hiding under the table in an effort to hide his embarrassment.

"Now Remus, please don't faint on us again," Harry began, causing Daphne to snort and tears of laughter to run twin rivulets down her cheeks. Hermione was laughing openly as well.

"What are you saying, Harry? What could be that scary here?" Remus asked.

"Don't be insulted by what I am about to say, guardians," Harry thought quickly.

"As our Lord instructs," Amunet replied.

"Those were two of the baby Nundu's," Harry explained.

"Ta...ta...ta...two of the ba...ba...ba...baby Nundus?" Remus asked, turning white again.

"Oh he's having you on, Moony. This is Harry. Those were enormous animals. They were probably the largest Nundu ever recorded," Sirius said confidently.

"Can I send you images the way we talk, Amunet?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Lord. Simply think of the memory you wish us to see and we will experience it," Amunet replied.

Harry thought of his encounter with Fluffy, the Cerberus Hagrid had provided to Professor Dumbledore's plan to protect the Philosopher's Stone from Voldemort. Harry could feel all four paws' worth of Amunet's tiny claws sink into his shoulder.

"Are your dire forms larger than this creature?" Harry asked.

"My Lord, this creature would not even fill our mouth when in our dire form. We would need to be most careful to not swallow it whole," Amunet explained.

Harry looked over at Sirius with a steel glint. "No, Padfoot. They were nearly new-born kittens, much like these three little cuteys," he said, indicating the kittens.

"Yeah right, whatever. Speaking of which, where did you get those little heart-breakers. They're darling?" Sirius asked.

Harry chose to wait until Hermione was taking a sip of her water, "They were hiding in the master suite's foyer when we came out to rescue you two from the Nundu kittens," Harry said, timing his response perfectly. Hermione managed to spray the water out her nose all over Sirius.

Hermione coughed twice then in a very lady-like fashion, blew her nose into her napkin. "That stings like the dickens!" she exclaimed then turned to Harry and joking exclaimed, "Bastard!"

Simultaneously, Daphne and Emma exclaimed, "Language!" then looked at one another and said "Weird," in stereo. Daphne then covered her mouth with both hands, afraid but not sure why.

Hermione just laughed at Daphne's antics.

"Amunet, would you like to help reward Sirius and Remus again for their dastardly attempt to pour iced water on the Ladies earlier? It would involve going outside and changing to your dire form," Harry asked.

Remus was looking over at Harry and asked, "Harry, why is your kitten smiling?"

-oOoOo-

After dinner, Harry insisted they all go outside to feed the adult Nundu who lived on the grounds. The trio carefully put their kittens down just inside the door and the seven of them walked outside.

Harry pulled the doors nearly closed behind them,leaving a wide gap, insuring Amunet, Bomani and Chike had gotten outside. He then waited a few moments.

"Okay, no matter what you see and no matter what you hear, do not yell or move quickly," Hermione said, queued by Harry squeezing her hand.

"They won't hurt you if you do exactly what we say," Daphne explained.

"Mint," Harry called and the elf appeared. "Mint, please bring the platters for the Guardians," he said.

The elf popped away and less than a minute later, popped back outside twenty metres in front of the group. On either side of the elf was a four-metre diameter bowl filled with pieces of bloody, raw meat. Mint popped away and a minute later popped back with three other elves and set down a bowl that was easily ten metres in diameter and well-lit by the light of the waxing gibbous moon.

"Now, stay quiet and move slowly," Harry said.

Sirius had originally thought this was an elaborate hoax, but now was no longer certain. He still had some hopes it was a hoax when Harry next spoke.

"Hereeeee Kitty Kitty Kitty. Heeeeerrrreeeeee Kitty Kitty Kitty," Harry called out shrilly. He then made a loud kissing sound.

"Bumani, Chike, please come eat," Harry prompted.

Suddenly the sound of crickets quieted. It almost seemed the wind was afraid to make a sound. Emma looked to her left where she thought she had seen motion out of the corner of her eye. Harry watched her as she stuffed her mouth with her fist and began shaking and whimpering. Out of the darkness came Bumani and Chike in their pride form. Harry noticed Hermione holding on to her parents and was quietly speaking with them. Daphne walked over to join Hermione and helped with the explanations to Dan and Emma. Remus and Sirius were both so white Harry was afraid one or both of the wizards would faint.

It was all he could do to not laugh as he called out once again.

"Heeeerrrreeeeee Momma Cat. Heeeerrrreeee Kitty Kitty Kitty. Come on out Momma Kitty," he called shrilly.

"Amunet, please come eat from the largest bowl," Harry thought.

He noted that Hermione had a firm grip on both Dan while Daphne had a similar grip on Emma and both were more fervently speaking with them, which seemed to calm them a great deal because neither of them fainted when Amunet walked in to eat from the bowl.

Even Harry had not seen her until the light of the moon was blotted out of the night sky. Even he had thought the legends Daphne had read were exaggerated. If anything, they paled in comparison to reality. Harry was honestly surprised the cobblestones of the courtyard weren't breaking under the weight. While Amunet's pride form clearly dwarfed him, her dire form dwarfed everything in his experience. He was sure she would have been able to easily fit one of the Hogwart's carriages in her mouth, thestrals and all, without noticing. Now that he knew where to look, he saw her claws were his height, if not a bit longer. When she lowered her head to eat, the bowl was only half again the width of her head. If the pride form was obvious death, the dire form was undeniable annihilation.

Amunet emptied the large bowl in three bites and licked it clean. She then took a step back, stretched and yawned then turned and rapidly vanished into the night. She then changed to her pride form and walked back into the courtyard.

Clearly Emma's perspective had been completely changed because instead of nearly screaming, she was cooing when she saw Amunet walk in. "Oh there's a third kitten. But it's so much smaller than the other two. They'll never let her eat," Emma said.

"Alpha Guardian, we offer up this poor meal offered by our meagre hunting skills to help nourish us," the two males said to Amunet formally, but clearly heard by Hermione, Daphne and Harry.

Much to Emma's surprise, Bumani and Chike moved away from the bowls and let Amunet finish the contents of both bowls.

"Isn't that just so darling!" Emma squealed quietly. Even Dan was warming up to these immense "kittens".

"It is darling, Darling," Dan said, holding Emma in a one-armed embrace, both to display his affection for his wife and to keep her from running out and trying to pet these killing and eating machines.

Much to his horror, Hermione was clearly going insane. "Would you like to pet them, Mum?" she asked.

At the same time Emma asked, "Can I?" Dan was whisper-shouting, "Are you insane?"

Hermione looked at her mother and said, "Yes," taking Emma's hand.

Daphne looked at Dan and said, "Yes," then smiled and took Emma's other hand.

The three of them walked slowly towards the three Nundu as Daphne and Hermione were whispering instructions to Emma.

Meanwhile, Dan was gesturing to Harry. "Are you nuts? They'll kill them!" Dan whispered loudly to Harry.

"Dan. Dan. Dan. Neither Hermione nor Daphne have anything against those little darlings. Why would you think they would hurt them?" Harry asked.

"I could smell it earlier, but you are this one's daughter," Amunet said as Emma reached up with the back of her hand for Amunet to sniff. Amunet performed the obligatory sniffing of her hand then lowered her head and rubbed the top of her head against Emma's hand and began purring. She then lay down and lifted her head so Emma could scratch her chin. "She's so soft," Emma said with awe in her voice.

Dan began sputtering then looked over at Emma, Hermione and Daphne. True to Hermione's word, the three of them had three very happy Nundu getting their chins and ears scratched.

Harry and Hermione already heard Daphne's silent warning to Chike that there would be no repeat of earlier and that any growling or aggression towards Emma would be met with swift, unforgiving punishment.

Hermione was standing close to her mother as Bumani also lay down and lifted his head so Hermione could scratch his chin.

Chike very carefully lay down and bowed his head so Daphne could scratch his ears.

"Do Wizardkind really enjoy doing this?" Amunet asked curiously.

"Dan, would you like to go pet one of them?" Harry asked.

Dan looked at the three loudly purring monsters. "I'm more of a dog person, Harry," Dan said somewhat meekly, "besides, there's three girls and three of them so I wouldn't want to take one away from our girls," Dan said, trying to sound nonchalant

"Of course. Mustn't take one away from the girls," Harry agreed with a grin.

"Yes, Amunet. I would happily do this any time my Harry or my Daphne were too busy to spend time with me," Hermione thought to the cats.

After half an hour of communing with the cats, Amunet again announced, "Enough! Chike, are we calm?"

Chike responded immediately, "Yes, Alpha Guardian. Lady Daphne, thank you once more for giving us a reward we so clearly do not deserve." He then rubbed the side of his face against Daphne's hand one last time before standing, backing away, yawning and giving a great stretch.

Bumani also spoke. "Thank you, Lady Hermione. we, too, feel we did nothing deserving of this reward and we would always willingly keep you company should you find yourself in need of companionship while our Lord and Lady Daphne are elsewhere," he said. He, too, rubbed the side of his face against Hermione's hand before standing, backing away, yawning and giving a great stretch.

"Away with you. Change to your family form and return to the edge of darkness near the wizard home," Amunet said. Then she rubbed her head against Emma's hand and very carefully licked the side of Emma's face before she stood, backed away, yawned and gave a great stretch. All three of them disappeared into the darkness.

Emma stood in place for several minutes, holding the side of her face where Amunet had licked her. Hermione, used to her mother's moods, had never seen her behave like this before. "Mum, are you okay?" she asked, putting her hand on Emma's shoulder.

Emma shook herself for a moment, then her look of awe transformed into an ear-to-ear grin. "That was brilliant! That was amazingly, fabulously, indescribably brilliant!" she gushed.

"We should go back inside now," Harry said. "Mint," he called out, the little elf appearing immediately, "could you please waken Master Lupin and Lord Black and let them know we have retired to the study," he said, looking at the two wizards who had fainted when Amunet appeared in her dire form.

"Yes, Lord Harry," Mint replied.

Harry and Dan gathered up the women and entered into the manor, Harry being careful to insure the kittens had gotten inside through the door he had left opened a crack.

-oOoOo-

Emma awoke to Dan's hands gently massaging her calves and feet.

"Mmmmmm, that feels so nice, Honey Bear," she moaned. She opened her eyes and noticed it was still dark outside. "What time is it?"

"I'm glad you enjoy it, Cuddle Cat," Dan responded. Really it was his way of bleeding off stress and he figured if it was mutually beneficial, all the better. "It's probably about two or three in the morning. I couldn't sleep and thought you were probably still a little tense from earlier and I wanted to begin apologising to you for my stupidity earlier. I was an idiot for thinking Hermione would fall for a boy's tricks and I was a fool for thinking Harry would ever hurt our little girls," he explained.

"Oh, Dan. Yes, you were an idiot, but not a fool. You just need time to get to know him through more than just Hermione's letters. Honey Bear?" she began, "Does it seem at all odd to you that both of us accept Daphne as being almost a daughter and feeling protective over her?"

"I think she means the world to our Hermione and I was programmed from birth to be hyper-protective of children and women. The fact that she's intelligent, beautiful and has captured Hermione's heart has something to do with it. What my logical mind is challenged with is so rapidly accepting their sexuality," Dan said thoughtfully, continuing to work on the balls of her feet.

"Have you accepted it or are you merely ignoring it?" Emma asked playfully.

He finished with her feet and started in on her arms and hands.

"You don't want to run those magic hands over my back?" she asked sleepily.

"I would disturb our guests if I did that," he replied then laughed softly. "You've got quite a collection of little fur balls this morning."

Sure enough, six black kittens were sleeping on and next to Emma.

"They seem to tolerate me well enough, but when I pick one up, they'll let me pet them for a couple of minutes before they want to get down and fall asleep on you again," he said, amused at Emma's predicament. He finished massaging her hands then picked up one of the kittens and put it right next to her face. "This one," he said, indicating the kitten, "really seems to like you."

It certainly seemed to be the case as the kitten proceeded to walk up to Emma's cheek and rub its face against her while purring loudly. Emma slowly moved her arm and began petting the kitten. Just before she touched the kitten with her hand, it closed its eyes and butted its head against her hand.

"I see what you mean. Six kittens? Really?" She asked, somewhat amazed.

"Yes, Love, six. I wonder how many of them they have," Dan said, gently running his fingers through Emma's hair.

"I don't know and if you keep doing that, I am going to fall back asleep again," Emma said, feeling completely relaxed.

"Then I guess I should keep doing this, then," Dan replied with a small, satisfied smile on his face. "Yes, my Love, this is so relaxing for me, too, not to mention very nicely changing the subject," he thought. He continued to rub her head until her breathing once again returned to the slow, deep breaths of sleep. The kitten near her face was already curled against her ear, sleeping quietly.

Dan rolled back down onto the bed and put his hands on his chest. He was about to close his eyes when he felt a slight disturbance on the bed. He looked down at his feet and saw that two more kittens had jumped onto the bed. "Eight of them? Wow! That is one prolific momma cat," he thought with a smile. The two newcomers sniffed at his feet then walked up the bed and curled into the crook of one of his arms. He got a self-satisfied smirk on his face then closed his eyes. He was asleep within moments.

-oOoOo-

Daphne gently woke to the feeling of fur under her chin and Hermione spooned up behind her. She opened her eyes. The moonlight was streaming into the room. She began to sit up but heard, "Our apologies, Lady, we did not intend to disturb you," Chike said.

"You did not disturb me, Chike. I was dreaming and my dreams woke me," Daphne thought back.

"We are already beginning to return here. Many of us have returned and are gathering. We will always be present with you unless you wish us to only be close at hand," Chike explained.

"Do you always sleep in your family form?" Daphne asked.

"It is the easiest form to find a warm space to sleep in. Mothers with young sleep in pride form to provide protection, food and warmth for the young," Chike explained. He got up from beneath her chin and moved so she could see him. "You should sleep, Lady. We will be here for you."

Daphne reached out and scratched Chike's chin for a few moments, causing the kitten to close his eyes and start purring. "I think I shall, Chike. Thank you for your diligence and thoughtfulness. Good night," Daphne absently pet the kitten for a few more minutes before once again getting comfortable and falling into a deep, sound sleep.

-oOoOo-

The light steaming in from above woke Harry. He opened his eyes and from his vantage point, it was clear that he and Hermione had moved around a bit during the night. He was laying on his back and she was currently using his chest as a pillow. Daphne was curled into Hermione and had her head nearly hidden by Hermione's 'morning hair'. No matter how she tried to tame it, Hermione's hair was always a giant, tangled bush in the morning.

Something he didn't expect to see was a black kitten asleep on his chest or another he could feel curled up next to his arm. Both were clearly asleep. With his one arm being held onto by a sleeping kitten and the other being held onto by a sleeping Daphne, he couldn't move without disturbing someone.

He felt a slight pressure on his legs. Moving as little as possible so as to not disturb anyone, he looked towards his feet and saw what appeared to be a fat, grey, tiger-striped adult cat finishing a stretch. It then began cleaning itself. It did this for about five minutes before it looked over at him and became obviously startled.

"Lord, we did not intend to awaken you. Our humblest apologies for disturbing your sleep," Harry heard in an older woman's voice. The cat moved to jump down.

"Wait, please," he said and the cat paused and turned to face him.

"I have seen the family form, the pride form and the dire form. Yours is a form I have not yet seen," he continued.

"Lord? This is our family form. We are about to grow in strength and numbers," she said with pride.

"We are glad for this. You honour us with this knowledge," Daphne said.

Harry looked over to see Daphne peeking her head up above Hermione's bushy mass.

"May we know your name, Lady?" the cat asked.

"I am Daphne, daughter of Ophelia, daughter of Persephone," Daphne said.

"We are honoured by your grace, Lady. If we may be so bold, are you Alpha?" the grey cat asked.

"We are not. The brown-mane is Alpha," Daphne answered.

"May we know her name, Lady?" the cat asked.

"She is Hermione, daughter of Emma, daughter of Grace, Alpha," Daphne said, formally.

"Huh? Wha? Don't wanna get up..." Hermione said sleepily then rolled over onto her back.

Daphne looked down at Hermione with a smile. "Hey Beautiful. Love you," Daphne cooed to Hermione.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at Daphne and smiled. "I love waking to your smile, Darling," Hermione said, reaching up to palm Daphne's cheek.

"May we know your name, Mother?" Harry thought, looking from the two women to the cat again.

"I am Dalila, daughter of Nailah, daughter of Auset, Mother of Alphas," she responded.

Daphne, who's attention had been firmly fixed on kissing Hermione senseless, sat up and looked at Dalila, then looked to Harry, then back at Dalila. "We are honoured, Mother, with your presence," Daphne said.

Hermione sat up as well to see to whom Daphne was speaking and saw Dalila. "What a pretty kitty! She's about to have kittens," Hermione said, reaching over to pet the cat. Dalila tensed and Hermione stopped moving.

"She intends no harm. She meant but to pet you," Daphne explained.

"Can the Alpha not hear our words?" Dalila asked, getting up and gingerly walked up to Hermione.

Hermione reached her hand out, allowing Dalila to sniff her. Hermione then began petting her head then scratched her ears, muzzle and chin.

"Alpha?" Hermione asked.

"That would be you," Daphne said barely holding in her giggles.

"I can hear your words, but I was asleep," Hermione thought.

Hermione looked at the cat in deep thought. "Isn't Amunet related to a Dalila? And Bast?" she asked, then regretting her question when she felt anguish and looked at Harry to find the source.

At the mention of Bast again, Harry's emotional shields, too long holding in the grief he felt all too acutely for all of the innocent lives Tom Riddle had taken, crumbled into nothingness and the pain ripped through him like a tidal wave and his tears freely flowed.

Daphne, too, felt Harry's pain but she also felt another's great sadness in the room. Hermione was already moving to get to Harry and Daphne had begun moving as well, but her eyes were drawn to Dalila. It was from Dalila the sadness was coming. Hermione moved the two kittens out of the way and began comforting Harry, pulling his head into her lap. Daphne also moved next to Harry and put her head on Harry's chest and held him.

"I'm...sorry...feel...so...pathetic," Harry whispered between sobs.

"Let it out, Harry. We're here for you," Hermione whispered to him, running her hand over his brow and hair.

"Harry, my Love, you've been holding this in for far too long. Share your grief with us," Daphne said.

Harry had begun shivering and his lips began turning blue.

"He's going into shock, Daph! Help me!" Hermione yelled.

Daphne moved off Harry as Hermione attempted to pull him up closer to get him warm. Daphne then moved to his other side and began vigorously rubbing his chest and arms.

One of the kittens suddenly filled the bed in her pride form. "Bring him to me Ladies, so I may help keep our Lord safe," Amunet said as she lay down on her side.

Hermione began trying to pull Harry over to Amunet but it was Daphne who instead grabbed her wand.

"Corpus Mobilus," she said, casting at Harry. His body levitated off the bed, allowing Hermione to easily manoeuvre him over to the waiting cat. Once there, Daphne cancelled the spell and the two women lay against Harry, sandwiching him between Amunet and Hermione, with Daphne hovering over. Amunet had begun gently licking his head with the barest touch of the tip of her tongue. "He is sick with grief. While we can keep him safe, we cannot heal him. He requires a blessing," Amunet said.

"How do we get him a blessing?" Hermione asked aloud.

"We must get him past this moment of grief. Should he survive, we shall provide him a blessing," Amunet explained.

Harry was gripping Amunet's fur and crying incoherently. After fifteen minutes, with Hermione occasionally catching a word or two of what Harry was saying, he stopped crying, his shivering had subsided and his lips gained back their colour.

"He recovers quickly. He will sleep for a time. The small ones have a drink he will need when he awakens. It will provide him the strength of body he needs," Amunet explained. "One of you must remain until he awakens. It would not do for him to awaken without the sense of one of you protecting him," she continued.

"Mint!" Daphne called, being the one on the outside. The little elf popped in.

"Yes, Lady Daphne?"

"Mint, Amunet spoke of a potion. I think she meant a Pepper-Up, but is there a potion which is similar which house elves make?" she asked

"Yes, Lady Daphne. We have an Elixir of Mending being made for Lord Harry. It will be ready soon," she explained.

"Thank you, Mint," Daphne said with a relieved smile. Mint popped out.

Daphne curled back around Hermione and reached over her to touch Harry.

Harry's breathing calmed and, after a few minutes, began the slow, deep breathing of sleep. He still held his arms around Amunet's neck as he slept, looking for all the world like a small child cuddling a life-sized grizzly teddy bear.

"Mint," Daphne called. Mint popped in right next to her. "Mint, would you please cast Ago Eluo? Neither Hermione nor I will be leaving Harry's side any time soon," Daphne explained.

Mint cast the spell and popped out.

"What is that, Daphne?" Hermione asked.

"Ago Eluo is a spell used at St Mungo's for patients who are bed-ridden for whatever reason. It takes care of their personal elimination needs," Daphne explained.

Hermione thought for a moment and then smiled. "What a wonderfully useful spell," she said. "Thank you, Love," she said, turning her head to look at Daphne.

Daphne sat up and kissed her. "Anything for you, My Love," she said then lay back down, cuddling into Hermione.

Amunet lay her great head down and over the course of the next fifteen minutes her purring grew softer and softer until she entered into a deep sleep.

The soft purring helped to put both Daphne and Hermione to sleep as well. Their internal sense of safety told them they had nothing and no one to fear.

-oOoOo-

Harry awoke with his face buried in the softest hair he had ever felt. "Hermione must be using a new shampoo," he thought. He then remembered what had happened and realized he was laying on and in a couple of places covered up by the same soft fur. He opened his eyes and could see nothing but black fur.

"Our Lord awakens," Amunet stated.

Harry felt an arm around his waist tighten and then realized at least one of the girls was spooned tightly into him. He also realized he was quite naked and whomever was spooned into him was equally naked.

"Harry, are you feeling okay?" Hermione asked and slightly released her grip around his waist.

Amunet lifted her head and Harry realized he had his arms wrapped as far around the neck of the great cat as he could manage. Harry tried to sit up and immediately fell back, almost blacking out.

"Sit up slowly, Love," Daphne said, reaching past Hermione to rub his shoulder.

Hermione helped Harry to slowly sit up. Daphne handed Hermione the steaming mug Mint had popped in with earlier.

"Harry, drink this slowly. It will help to make you feel better," Hermione said, putting the mug into his hands and helping him hold it.

To Harry, even lifting the mug to his lips was a herculean effort and could not have done it without Hermione helping him. He presumed this was some type of potion, but the aroma was that of a savoury stew. He tilted the mug back and tasted the contents.

"Slowly, Harry. It's warm and we want to make sure you drink it all and don't spill any," Hermione said in a motherly fashion.

Harry didn't even nod. The flavour was amazing and he slowly but surely continued drinking from the mug, taking a breath every three or four swallows.

As he drank from the mug, both Hermione and Daphne could see a physical transformation in Harry. His skin went from being pasty to a healthy tan. His frame, shortened from being malnourished for so many years of attention from the Dursleys, began to fill in and his chest, arms and legs began to develop in ways most interesting to both girls. But what struck them both was the curse scar on his forehead began to fade and finally disappeared. Watching Harry drink, it was also clear that the mug was larger on the inside than on the outside as Harry likely drank ten times the volume of potion than the mug could hold. When he finished, the overall changes were astounding. Daphne and Hermione had found Harry physically attractive before, but now he had the body that better reflected how the young man should have developed if not for years of malnourishment.

"Wow! That was the first potion I've ever had that didn't taste like boiled grass and socks worn for a week," Harry said with a smile.

Both Hermione and Daphne were looking at Harry with wide eyes and slack jaws. Both were utterly speechless.

Harry looked back and forth between the two. "What's wrong?" he asked. When he got no coherent response, he asked again. "Hermione? Daphne? You're scaring me, now," he said, a look of concern on his face.

Hermione recovered first. "Dibs!" she exclaimed.

At this, Daphne recovered. "Not fair. Rocks, Paper, Scissors," she said. Then she looked at Hermione, who was staring at Harry. Then back at Harry. Then she whispered something in Hermione's ear which Harry could not hear.

Clearly though, it pleased the brunette witch very much. "Oh Hell Yes!" Hermione exclaimed then captured Daphne's lips in a passionate kiss. Daphne had clearly been prepared for this as she had already closed her eyes in anticipation. They continued their kiss until they had to part to breathe.

"I will certainly never get tired of seeing that," Harry said with a goofy grin on his face.

Daphne leaned over and whispered into Harry's ear while looking at Hermione. Harry's eyes grew wide and shocked. "All three of us? Me? Hermione? Like that? With you doing that to her?" Harry asked, his eyebrows rising into his hairline and his complexion reddening from embarrassment. Daphne whispered to him in reassurance in a sultry voice, "You and Hermione like that and me helping Hermione along."

Harry slowly stood. "Amunet, the three of us need some privacy. Can you insure we are not disturbed?" Harry asked cordially.

"As our Lord commands, it shall be done," Amunet answered.

"Thank you, Amunet," Harry responded.

"It is our pleasure, Lord," she responded. Amunet transformed to her family form and leapt from the bed.

-oOoOo-

-oOoOoOoOoOo-

Omake – the way I originally wrote the scene with Emma and Dan having an energetic discussion concerning Harry, Daphne and Hermione.

I like the way I wrote it above better – it speaks of a greater strength of character and force of will than the scene below.

I also just realized the omake is the only part of the chapter which tells the reader when this is and how old they are.

-oOoOoOoOoOo-

Hermione and Daphne were in tears almost immediately. Forgetting about the kittens in their arms, they began sobbing, but not before Hermione asked, "Daddy, how could you?"

Dan turned around to see the two girls with their heads buried against Harry's chest. "Kitten?" Dan asked in a panicked voice.

Harry had an arm around each of the girls and was alternating between whispering comforting words and kissing the tops of their heads. Dan then noticed that each of the three had a black kitten on their shoulders and all three of them were looking directly at him. As their crying had not abated, Harry looked up at Dan. Dan noticed Harry and the kittens had the same colour eyes and all four pairs appeared to glow as Dan's eyes met Harry's.

"Mister Granger, unlike the non-magical world, there are laws in place in the magical world which make it a crime for unwed women to have relations with a man before they are married. Additionally, as Mrs Granger stated, Hermione, Daphne and I are not simply married. We are soul-bound and have, only just today, well, yesterday, finalized our bond. Under normal circumstances, Hermione would have been an adult in the magical government's eyes a year from now, while Daphne and I would normally be two years from being so recognized. With our bond complete, we are now recognized as adults by the magical government. I was unaware, based on our conversation from the other night, that you objected to me marrying my Hermione and my Daphne. You, sir, have upset my wives and caused them a deep, deep hurt. They have already had an intense, emotional day and you dare question my love for them. You dare question my commitment to them. You dare question my honour and my integrity when it comes to them. I had been led to believe you were a better man than that, Sir," Harry said, anger and contempt clearly standing out in his voice.

-oOoOoOoOoOo-