As always, this is JKR's reality, though my world. If it is familiar, that's her. If is not canon, it's me.

Harry floated above the manor's Quidditch pitch, 300 meters aloft. He marveled at how light the sky was. Yes, it was high summer, but he hardly ever woke so early. Waking at 4:00 in an empty bed had been a shock, until he'd remembered why. Then he'd been in pain, unmatched except for the worst episodes as a small child in the cupboard. He rose, dressed in his Quidditch togs and walked out to the suite's small balcony. He took up his Firebolt and flew.

As he floated there, his mind was at ease. Flying had always been his refuge, ever since he'd first kicked off on a school broom to confront Malfoy, almost six years ago. He could take or leave Quidditch, but not flying. He found it a transcendental experience, his mind was active, but detached, without emotion. He knew, without being aware how he knew, it was now 6:15. Despite the time he'd been there, he wasn't cold. After flying in all sorts of weather, this air was delightfully mild.

"Reginald," and the sound of displaced air testified to the elf's presence.

"My Lord?" If the elf was surprised by his location, no one would have told by his voice.

"I would like to have a family meeting before breakfast, at 7:00. Please have the others told. Nightwear is fine, but everyone must be there. Whoever goes to the Grangers should do so discreetly, in case they are doing adult things. I will be in the parlor in half an hour." He hardly heard the Majordomo's reply. His mind had taken wing once more.

-WftF-

By 6:55, Harry had been sipping a mug of tea for five minutes. As the room began to fill, each found tea prepared to their liking, hot and ready. Em and Dani were first down, followed by Rose. They were surprised to see Harry alone and looked at him a bit askance. Clearly, this didn't jibe with their expectations. But there was something in his manner that forestalled the questions begging to be asked.

Ten minutes later, Amelia, Susan and Hermione had not come in. "Rose, please fetch your mum. Reginald, please see Amelia and Susan and tell them that they must come down." Before either could respond, the three missing witches entered and sat. Their expressions contained such a welter of emotions as to be unreadable.

-WftF-

"Yesterday, we had our first crisis. We didn't handle it well; I know for a fact I didn't. This won't work if we don't start to fix it, now, today." Harry's tone was unapologetic. He didn't feel that his usual reflex of apology and blame taking would help—in fact this would be his first chance to wean himself away from this destructive impulse.

"Last night after Susan and I went to my suite, we showered, separately, dressed for bed and I carried her to the bed. Susan asked me to make love to her, to make her my Lady Black. She told me life was too precarious to wait. When she convinced me she was sure, I claimed my lady's mouth with my own."

The silence was deafening. Everyone else was scarlet at his revelations. Too much information at its worst. Susan seemed mortified. Worse was Hermione, who seemed to not know whether to curse Susan into oblivion, curse Harry or to sink into the divan's cushions and vanish.

Harry continued, not appearing to notice, his voice implacably clinical. "We kissed for I don't really know how long, then I began to kiss her forehead, ears, jaw, working down. I undid a button, then two, worshiping my lady all the while. Then, she pushed me away. She said she wanted me, but couldn't. I redid her buttons and we talked. We eventually fell asleep, but she didn't hold me and I wouldn't force contact she clearly didn't want. About four, I woke to an empty bed and I felt miserable. I went for a flight and I thought things through, that's why I called this meeting.

"Susan," and there was something in his voice that forced her to look into his eyes, "You got carried away last night, that's OK, I understand. I'm not angry, not with you, not ever. I'm just glad you said something before we went too far. We both learned something last night; we won't make that mistake again—we'll find some new, different mistake to make." Harry's voice was so droll that the other six couldn't help but to laugh, breaking the tension.

"Hermione, I'm going to make some guesses. You stayed up for most of the night with Rose, crying. You felt Susan and I had left you behind, that you'd be a semi-forgotten third wheel unless you did things with me you weren't ready to do, right?" She said nothing, but the expression in her eyes told him everything. "You were trying not to resent us, but it was a struggle, wasn't it?" She couldn't hold back the tears now and Rose and Susan came to her aid. No one heard a word, but they felt Susan's apology and Hermione's forgiving her. Eventually the three of them regained their composure.

-WftF-

"I have to share some things with you and explain how I see my life. First thing is I know I shouldn't be here. The Daily Prophet for 1 November, 1981 should have read like this:

"Tragedy in Godric's Hollow
Last night, yet another outrage was committed by 'You-Know-Who' and his DeathEaters. They attacked the home of James and Lilly Potter, both 21, after 10:00 pm. Despite protections placed to prevent detection, their home was attacked and all inside killed. The Potters, both of whom were outspoken against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had gone into hiding after learning they were being specifically targeted, having narrowly escaped death on three prior occasions.
The attackers, believed to have been led by 'You-Know-Who' himself, left the house in ruins. Besides the Potters, the attack claimed the life of their son, Harry James Potter, 15 months. No arrangements for burial have been announced.

"That sound about right, Aunt Amelia?" The older witch inclined her head in the affirmative, then buried it in her hands. "Well, that didn't happen, something else did. A miracle, we don't really know the hows or whys. But, when the spell hit me, I started living on house money.

"Of course, it being me, that 'miracle' meant 9 3/4 years of Hell, before learning even a bit about who I am or could become. Even then, my years at Hogwarts were nothing I'd wish on anyone, well, maybe Snape." A few giggles broke the funeral atmosphere some; Harry knew this was was heavy, but it'd defeat the purpose if the gloom were unrelieved. "I was blessed enough to make good friends, people for whom I'd go out on a limb and who'd do the same for me.

"And then, another miracle happened in my life, named Rosie. In the last twelve days, I've become rich and not the galleons, but in the important things. I went from being alone, as in without a family, to having two mums, a dad, a, I don't know what to call her, a niece/sister/friend/and daughter in all but blood, all in one. Most importantly, I have two beautiful, smart and talented young women whom I love and who return my love.

"I'm rich, I'm playing with house money now. Funny, when you play with house money, you're supposed to be reckless and not care if you lose. It's the opposite for me, really. I've got so much that I can't lose now. I've now have too many people whom I love, too many people I'd willingly die to protect." Harry paused and looked each of them in the eye. "Yesterday, last night, I almost lost too much, more than once, more than in just one way. I can't afford to risk that again.

-WftF-

"Dobby," and the elf materialized with two flat cases with which they all were acquainted. "Thank you." He squatted, taking Susan's hands in his own. He looked into her eyes. "Susan, that ring doesn't look so good anymore on your hand," the company gasped and Susan looked like she'd pass out, "you need to choose your engagement ring please."

Time stood still. Susan's dead white face suddenly resumed it's natural color. Those who knew the Auror, thought of Tonks, for only a chameleon could have changed color so quickly. Almost as if in a dream, she went to the case. Scanning the rings, she 'heard' one sing out to her. Grasping it, she gave it to Harry, who went to two knees.

Em had to be a coach, even now, "Harry, you propose on only one knee, son."

"Em, It's two knees if you're proposing to a goddess. Susan Amelia Bones, I wish there to be no doubt for you. I need you. I love no one more than you and only one other as much. Your 'yes' is my yes, your 'no' my no. I am in fragments and I wish with all by being to be whole. It is in your power to transform me. There will not be, cannot be a different Lady Black in this generation. I'll wait for your 'I do' for the rest of my life if I must. Will you marry me?"

Susan looked at Harry, looked at the stone in the ring he offered to her, then saw him in a new light. Harry was like the stone, one, but with many aspects, many facets. Unlike the stone, this Harry was not yet a single entity, he had to be brought together and made whole. She and the other could do this for him. And she knew too, that she needed to be whole and only her Harry could do that magic.

"So long as I breathe and you breathe, I shall be at your side. Yes, Harry James Black, I will marry you."

As Harry slipped the ring onto her left fourth finger, the betrothal ring on her right hand flared, then the ring vanished. Harry and Susan knew that the betrothal ring had merged with the engagement ring. Harry stood and embraced her, his lips now possessing his fiancée's. The glow that formed around them was again silver, but shot through with gold. It seemed a long time before it settled around them and fused with them. Harry scooped her up and placed her on the left side of their loveseat.

-WftF-

Harry then ensnared Hermione's eyes. "Dear Hermione, your betrothal ring isn't enough for us any longer. Your engagement ring calls for you, if wearing it now is your will. Whether we wed today, tomorrow, in our last moments together, it is yours to take whenever you wish." Hermione required no prompting. Opening the case, the ring chose her, it seemed to practically jump into her hand. She took his right hand, kissed it and placed it in an outstretched palm. Still standing, she waited as he dropped again to both knees.

"Hermione, when you barged, yes barged," the humor rolled off his voice, permeating the room, "into my compartment that 1 September noon, you became the most important person in my life, well, since my mum and dad. We've shared and done things that formed a bond only we can truly understand. Your place in me is one none can surpass and but one can match. Between us, you are sovereign, always shall be, the only Lady Potter I will or can abide by my side. Accept my supplication, take me as your husband."

Staring into his eyes, Hermione saw her friend and beloved in a different light. She saw him like a matryoshka doll set, with all of the nested dolls struggling to become one. She and her counterpart could do this for him, for them. Hermione suddenly knew. She knew what had to be done. She knew how it was to be done. The struggles they'd have. The joys of his being whole, of her being whole, of them being whole. Really, there was no doubt at all.

"Harry James Potter, you know I'll never give you up. You're too much a part of me. Yes Harry, gladly and joyfully I will marry you, whenever we are both ready." Placing the ring on her left fourth finger again brought the magic merging the rings into one. Their kiss was different, but as long, contented and as thrilling as his with Susan had been. Again, they were enveloped by an aura of silver, shot through with gold. Finally, he carried her to the love seat, next to Susan. The witches shared a look, nodded and embraced.

-WftF-

"I've one more thing to finish up," having to stop as his tummy roared, "and maybe that's good!" Harry chuckled, then sobered. Walking to Amelia, he held out his hand, drew her upright. His arms encircled her waist, then he kissed her lips. There was none of the passion of the night before, yet it clearly more than a peck too.

Breaking the kiss, Harry smiled lovingly at a slightly stunned Amelia. "I learned some things from you last night. First, you truly and deeply love me. That full kiss was mainly reaction, perhaps, but it couldn't hide the fact that you love me and I do love you and dearly, my aunt, my mum. But more to the point, you are a passionate, woman with a lot of love seeking an outlet. You lost a beloved in the first war." A statement, but her body language confirmed its truth. "I need you to do this for us, and yourself. Seek out a life's partner. Magical, non magical, British, French, from Kalamazoo or Timbuktu, doesn't matter. So long as you both share a love that will last your lives. I want my children and yours, their Bones cousins to grow up together. I want you to put muscle and sinew on House Bones and for you to have the same joys the three of us will. I wish you to pass House Bones to your children, and not to a child of mine and Susan's. Please say yes to this."

She looked hard into his eyes, then laughed. "Harry, what's another complication among family? Yes, I will. Just be ready for baby sitting duty, you three!" Laughter. Then, a final kiss a kiss of a mother to a beloved son.

They ate a rather late but satisfying breakfast, though Harry had to fend off two witches from occupying his lap.

-WftF-

After breakfast, Harry was told in emphatic terms that the rest had party planning to do and that he was to make himself scarce until dinner. After a long, content nap, Harry had lunch in his suite, dressed for trekking and went off to explore parts of the grounds he'd not been in before.

Meanwhile, the others broke into preassigned groups and made up invitations, consulted with the manor's staff for decorating the main ballroom and preparing quarters for their guests. Within a couple of hours, Potter and Black elves were off to deliver their invitations.

-WftF-

Out behind the greenhouse at Longbottom Manor, a young wizard and witch were taking a break from tending to the plants, officially. Unofficially, the wizard and witch were wrapped together, lips locked and hands roaming over the front of their clothing. If an occasional hand wandered beneath the clothing, neither seemed to mind.

The wizard, Neville Longbottom, would be unrecognizable to anyone who only remembered the diffident, rather clumsy boy of his first few Hogwarts years. This young man now was just short of 1.83 meters in height and verging on well-built. More startling was the confident manner of someone comfortable in his own skin, ready to face the world on his own terms. He'd done many things in the last two years and been up to the task. He was ready to face whatever fate tossed at him with verve and competence.

People would have been hard-pressed to credit the witch in Neville's arms as Luna Lovegood either. Physical appearance aside (the school robes were deliberately tailored to hide the students' forms), the look of intense pleasure on her face sorted bizarrely with her notoriously dreamy persona. No longer a girl, this woman was doing her best to give to and receive every erg of pleasure from Neville Longbottom, her boyfriend of a month. "Neville, I don't think there has been a single wrackspurt within a hundred miles of us since we got together."

"Another reason to celebrate then", chuckled the herbologist, dipping his head to hers. They were interrupted by the 'pop' of a house elf, handing them each an envelope. "Ah well," Neville sighed.

Separating, each opened and read the message. They found an elegant invitation card.

You are invited.

Hermione Jean Granger and Susan Amelia Bones cordially request the honor of your company for the joint Birthday celebration of Scion Neville Franklin Longbottom of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom and of our fiancé, Lord Harry James Potter-Black of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses of Potter and Black.

We will celebrate these Birthdays with a house party, beginning at 6:00 pm Monday, 29 July, 1996 and ending at 6:00 pm Thursday, 1 August, 1996.

Please come prepared for dancing, swimming, Quidditch and other activities. We look forward to seeing you for the party!

To RSVP, kindly call for Dobby and tell him that you're accepting and how many for us to expect if there will be more than you.

On Neville's invitation was a request to bring his grandmother, on Luna's a request to bring her father. Entering the manor, Neville sought his grandmother and Luna floo-called her father. When both guardians agreed to come, they summoned Dobby, gave him a copy of the invitations with their RSVPs and the elf returned to Potter Manor.

-WftF-

In a mansion in the city of Manchester, an invitation was delivered to a recuperating Erik Flannery. Standing at a wiry 1.8 meters, the grey-eyed wizard was the scion of an uncommonly successful love match between a non magical and a witch. Jason Flannery was an up and coming young executive for a sporting goods and wear company in the US Northwest. When he met Julia Juicepod, a witch a few years out of Hogwarts, their attraction to the other was undeniable and they wed within eighteen months.

Jason's family had no problems with the world of magic; all they ever wished for Jason was to be happy. Both Jason and Julia were spectacularly happy, so they had no fears. By happenstance, Jackson Juicepod owned a small, struggling company that provided small contract sportswear to wizarding sports team in the United Kingdom and on the continent. Through the good offices of Jason's contacts, a cooperative agreement was forged, and both companies prospered greatly.

When he read the invitation, Erik called his two elves, Kobe and Beckham to him and he sent them to his parents, explaining the invitation and asking if they would attend too. He then called Dobby and RSVPed for himself and his mother.

He then pondered what presents to bring. Erik had never told anyone, but he had had a huge crush on Hermione Granger, ever since their first year. Just as early, he'd struck up strong friendships with Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. All three friendships crossed house lines, with Erik having been Sorted into Ravenclaw. After that first Halloween, Erik had no illusions; he might have a crush on Hermione, but she and Harry were going to be fused at the hip for life. That didn't hurt like he thought it should. Still, he was realistic and knew that by any comparison to Harry, he would come up a poor second best. So, he joined the study group and did his damnest to support them both. And for his efforts he'd pushed her out of the way of a dark cutting curse that just now was fully healed. Suddenly, he knew what he would give Harry and his fiancées. Calling for Kobe, he began to issue orders.

-WftF-

All across the United Kingdom, witches and wizards received their invitations. All were part of the 'Granger-Bones study group' or the DA. Altogether 40 witches and wizards were invited (the glaring exceptions were Fred and George Weasley, more out of consideration of their feelings than of any unease on Hermione or Susan's part).

For many of the invitees, this was the first formal news of the changes in Harry's, Susan's and Hermione's status. Although many had kept in touch over the summer and there were suspicions, 'official' word came as a surprise to many. There were not a few witches jealous of Harry's fiancées. Harry never had had enormous self-esteem, but from fourth year on, he'd been on the radar of many witches a year or three to either side of his age. Indeed, a number of them were not boy-who-lived groupies, several had truly fallen for the person beneath the hype. Much time was spent in devising presents that might communicate their interest without triggering the ire of either of those formidable witches.

Jealously and disappointment didn't lie solely amongst the witches though. There were a number of wizards harboring 'A Jones for the Bones', or a desire that 'Granger not be a stranger', aside from Erik. These wizards put as much thought into 'congratulation' presents for Susan and Hermione, presents that might hint to them the existence of other possibilities, as they did for the birthday boys' presents.

Truth be told, there were a few wizards wishing closer relations with Harry and witches wanting the same with Hermione or Susan. Some even desired ménages with some combination of the three. For these individuals, there was a universal urge to practice the better part of valor.

-WftF-

At the Burrow, Arthur Weasley was an unhappy man. His house faced ruin, both in standing and, inevitably, financially. After talking to Molly at the DMLE, he had no doubt that the charges were true. Also, he knew that they were in as bad a spot as Lord Potter-Black wanted to put them. Were it Malfoy, or Parkinson, or Nott, no mercy at all would be expected. Houses of this status would seek to make a statement, particularly houses that were just taking back their places in the British Wizarding World. Harry might still feel well enough disposed to not make them an example, but would Hermione? Or for that matter Susan or Amelia Bones? Amelia Bones was going to be the next Minister, without question. She certainly would feel protective of Harry. He hoped that sacrificing Molly might save Ron and Ginny. Perhaps even his job.

The visit with Molly was difficult.

"Why Molly? First, you insured that Harry will not be happy with either Ron or Ginny by telling them to keep attacking him after his name came out of the Goblet. Ron's jealously, was a given, unhappily, but you egged him on and drew Ginny into it as well. And you did this without talking to me, so by the time I knew, it was too late to do any repair. Is there a reason that will make sense?"

"I miscalculated. I hoped that he'd feel so alone that after the first task he'd welcome them both back after that. Then Ginny would get Harry as a date for the ball and..."

"You stupid, stupid woman. Harry Potter has had a support system in place ever since Ron's envy at anyone smarter or better at magic than he put Hermione Granger in that bathroom on Halloween in their first year! Harry saved her—Ron got no credit, he bullied her there in the first place. Hermione's study group adopted Harry and has been for him ever since! Harry was never isolated in the TriWizard and all you did was to insure that Ron's name and Ginny's name were mud. By the end of the first task, he and Hermione were tighter than ever. There was no chance he'd take anyone else but her to the Yule Ball and if not her, then there were another eight witches he could've asked before Ginny would ever have crossed his mind.

"All you did was to sow distrust of them in Harry's mind. Last year, Ron and Ginny would've been the last people they'd have trusted to join that defense group of theirs. And then you decided to try to potion them this summer. You took advantage that they still like the twins, Bill and Fleur, Charlie, me, and yes, you so that Harry would have fallen for Ginny and Hermione for Ron. Did it ever occur to you that with so many smart kids looking after them, your scheme had no chance of not getting caught? Your plot had no chance past the first week or two.

"So, for the good of the family, you are going plead Guilty at the trial. No defense, no excuses. I've been told that Bones hasn't decided whether to charge the kids as co-defendants yet or not. I can't get anything out of them, that life debt Harry called in means they act like they've never heard of him or his friends. But that doesn't stop Veritaserum. I was there for their questioning of course, and both were all for your plot and ready to keep feeding them the potions. Maybe, just maybe, they'll be content with you. That is a gamble, but I've no other choice. So, Molly Prewett Weasley, by my power as Head of House Weasley, you shall plead guilty at your trial next month. That is an end to it!"

-WftF-

In the headmaster's office in Hogwarts Castle, Albus Dumbledore conferred with his right hand man and spy in Lord Voldemort's camp, Severus Snape. "I've finally convinced Horace to return to teach Potions. That will leave you to teach Defense. From there, you can continue to mold Harry and try to separate him from his friends and allies. You must sow distrust and discord among him, Miss Granger and Miss Bones at the least. Perhaps a lust potion or two might break them to the point of isolating him. I no longer feel I'll be there to guide him, but before I pass on, I can get him into the frame of mind a sacrifice requires. You will have to stage manage the rest."

"Yes, so you say Headmaster, but how I'm to do that trick is unclear. If the repeated mind attacks of last years didn't do the necessary, I am running out of options. I will try to mold his gang's opinions, but with so many of them, it will be hard to do so and not raise questions. Still, I'll do all I can. There are times I wish I'd never come to Hogwarts as a student, let alone teach here." Without waiting for the old man's response, he swept out of the office, robes billowing.

Dumbledore thought his unhappy thoughts. To an outside observer, it might be hard to determine whether he was the Dark Lord in Britain or Tom. This was the burden of having so much knowledge, of having no peer with whom to share that knowledge and evaluate it. For good or ill, he was the only one who could make the hard choices required to end the menace of Tom Riddle, once for all. Hard necessity had forced him to forfeit the lives of people he genuinely liked and respected. But no one else could share his task. Potter learning of his lordships, taking betrotheds and assuming his place in their world was a disaster. A Harry with someone, something to live for, simply would not give up his life at the proper time and in the proper way to finish Tom. Worse, he'd been hamstrung by the oath he'd been forced take. He knew he'd have to step carefully to get Harry back on his destined path. Damn that Granger girl! His plans unraveled when she met and attached herself to him. If he'd known, he'd have bound her magic and Obliviated her and her parents!

-WftF-

In the once grand Malfoy Manor, the Dark Lord raged at what was left of his best DeathEaters. So few of them were free that he'd have to forebear punishing them as their failings warranted. "Your jobs were so simple, so simple. You had to summon me when the Bones bitch was at home, unprotected by the Ministry. We were to bring down the wards, storm the manor and make an example of her and her brat to all who might oppose my new order. But she wasn't there! No one was. We destroyed manor and raised the Mark, but for what? The prey survived. I doubt that we can now stop her from being the next Minister. We will bide our time, and free our best and competent servants, then kill the Potter spawn. All of you, excepting Wormtail will keep a close eye on the Ministry. If her guard should slip, we will finish her and as many others as we can catch.

"Wormtail! You will journey to the Potter places and seek the boy. When you have located him, you will bring him to me at a proper time and place. I will put him out of my misery. Do not fail me, Wormtail! That failure will be assuredly your last. Now go, all of you.!

A/N: Thanks again to texan-muggle for fantastic Beta work. For some Merlin forsaken reason, FFN will not replace my original update with my Beta's corrected chapter. I am forced to delete the chapter and update again. This is a treat for all of you in that you get his fixes. I really wanted to get this chapter up be the 26th for personal reasons. By doing this you get a clean chapter to reread.

Thanks again to my friend who puts up with a lot from me.

I'd like to thank my fellow writer, Old Crow for a most perceptive review. While we were already on the same wavelength, I went further along that route due to the review.

Story recommendation: No Thanks by Old Crow (id: 2275101) Another way to handle the end of the fifth year and beyond.

This posting marks the one year anniversary of my first published story, Harry's Challenge. Since then, I've offered you six stories. Those stories have totaled some 96,992 words, collected 105,626 views, 977 favorites and 1,697 alerts. I am humbled and grateful. Believe me, they make me feel rich!

Posted: 05/26/2015

Reposted 05/29/2015

Words: 5,158