Author's Note: Hello humans! I come bringing a new chapter with me, how awfully nice is that? I hope you all love it.
For those of you who haven't already voted, I want to announce that there is a poll opened for everybody to vote on whom they want on Harry's future family. The most voted girl will be in it for sure, but I won't reveal who that is until the time when she is chosen. Otherwise, it would ruin the fun. So please vote!
Lovely individuals who review my story, you are amazing and deserving of all the finer things in life.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter's universe, I'm only playing with it.
It was way too early in the day for any decent human being to be awake on a Sunday, that's for sure. The sun wasn't anywhere to be seen, and if one looked closely enough, the stars could still be seen in the sky. However, Harry was wide awake, despite the fact that he hadn't gotten any wink of sleep the entire night. Sleep evaded, he had no other option but to over analyze every single detail of what was to happen later on. The day had finally come when he would face all twelve girls that had been picked to, possibly, be a part of his family. A million thoughts crossed his mind, the next always a little darker than the previous.
Hermione suddenly tightened her hold of him and laid her head on the crook of his neck, pulling him out of his thoughts. Both she and Ginny were sound asleep, resting like he was supposed to. They were currently occupying the majority of their huge bed, squeezing him in middle and hogging all the three bed-sheets they had for that exact reason. It wasn't like he minded, not at all. After eleven years of sleeping in a cupboard all by himself in a tiny bed, sharing his amazing bed with the two people he loved the most seemed like heaven.
He reached forward and ran his hand through Ginny's messy hair, taking it out of her face carefully. This was what he was most afraid of losing, the peace they had in their lives, conquered with no small amount of hard work. Having a polyamorous relationship hadn't been easy at first, it still wasn't easy sometimes. Hermione's parents had the most difficult time coming to terms with their only daughter lifestyle. How were they going to explain that five other girls were about to join them when it sounded crazy even in his own mind?
"Stop thinking so hard; you're disturbing my sleep," Hermione grumbled from his right, not even bothering with opening her eyes.
"You're not one to talk about overthinking, honey," He softly replied, not wanting to wake Ginny up.
"Well, then if I'm sleeping normally in this situation and you're not it should be an indication of how much you're blowing this out of proportion, Harry Potter," She stated, kissing his neck and squeezing his waist.
"I'm not," He contested, kissing the top of her head back. "I have no idea how you both are taking this all so well, honestly. I thought you, at least, would be going insane in the face of all the possible ways this could go wrong."
At that, Hermione apparently gave up sleep and opened her eyes, stretching her legs and laying on her pillow again, next to him.
"I am, Harry. You know I am," She reassured. "But I'm choosing to think positively about it for now. We're not yet in the part where they start integrating into our relationship; we are just talking to them and getting to know their personalities. Maybe when they start to touch you or Ginny, it will drive me insane, but for now, I'm content with having our bed only to ourselves."
He looked at her, adoringly. "It will never stop amazing me how I manage to land an incredible girl like you."
"Please, you did not land me," She snorted, raising an eyebrow. "If anything Ginny was the one who made all of this work."
"She was not!" He denied, indignantly. "I so made you both fall hopelessly in love with me and beg for my attention."
"You did not," Ginny stated, apparently not being able to sleep through their conversation.
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Please Harry, stop lying to yourself," Ginny muttered back, not moving from where she was, which was basically on top of him.
"You're both ridiculous," Hermione affirmed, not looking impressed.
"You love it," They both answered at the same time, smiling at each other while they did it.
"Maybe a little," She conceded, not managing to keep a straight face. "It will truly suck to share you both, you know?"
"We'll always love you, Hermione," Ginny comforted, opening her eyes and reaching to hold her hand. "No matter what happens we'll always have each other, never forget that."
Harry could see Hermione's eyes watering a bit, though she tried to contain it, and it broke his heart. No amount of money and titles were worth a single tear of hers.
"Hermione..." He breathed out forcefully, bringing her close and hugging her.
"I'm fine, really," She protested. "I'm just emotional, that's all. I wish I weren't so jealous of you."
"Well, I, for one, am glad you are," Ginny spoke, poking him in the ribs. "Is nice to have at least one person who shows some possessiveness around here."
"I'm possessive. Too possessive sometimes, and you know it," He corrected, poking her back. "And I can get jealous; it's just not often."
"Come on, Harry, you're the least jealous person to walk the face of the earth!" She denied, looking incredulous at his blatant lie. "I'm yet to see you get jealous of anyone, ever."
He shrugged, giving up on that battle before it even began. "Maybe I'm just a free soul."
Hermione laughed at that, snuggling further. "Okay, Gandhi."
"Who?" Ginny asked, looking confused.
"Nevermind," Harry said, kissing her softly. "Is that you telling me you want me to get jealous?"
"Hell no," She replied. "Hermione is more than enough for me."
"I'm not that bad," She pouted, not convincing anyone.
"Yes, you are," They both answered simultaneously, grinning when she frowned at them.
"I hate you both," She declared, getting up and entering the bathroom.
"We can't have that, can we?" Harry stated, smiling at Ginny and getting up. "Perhaps we should go after her and make her love us once more?"
"Who am I to say no to some shower sex?" She replied, getting up too and jumping on his back. "Carry me, slave. I have a hot girlfriend waiting for me."
So he did what any strong, Alfa male would do in that situation. He complied and carried her to the shower on his back.
One finds oneself doing a vast plethora of things to get laid.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXxX
When they arrived, Blaise's living room was already skillfully decorated, and the bar fully stocked. A bar with a single person sitting on a chair, the true owner of the Manor, Pansy Zabini.
"Drinkin' already, bitch?" Ginny greeted, skipping the pleasantries, sitting on the seat beside her and grabbing the whiskey bottle.
"Fuck yes!" She answered, charming as ever. "One cannot stand social events sober; it's impossible."
"Please, you love these fancy gatherings. You live for it," Hermione corrected, picking a bottle of champagne and opening it with a wave of hands. Show off. "Me on the other hand..."
"Yeah, why did this have to be such a dress up night?" Harry asked, tugging the collar of his social shirt. "I hate wearing a suit. Couldn't we have done a simple dinner?"
"Has Pansy ever done something simple?" Blaise questioned, walking down the stairs in a flawless gray robe, holding a glass of his own.
Harry was going to be the only one sober at the end of the night, he could tell.
"If you are going to do something, better do it right," Pansy repeated the sentence they had all heard her saying, at least, a thousand times before. She did it while examining Blaise for any possible flaw. Merlin forbids her husband to be seen in any state other than perfect.
"Don't I look gorgeous?" He bragged, pointing at Harry. "Much nicer than the muggle here."
"Oh, fuck you Zabini, I look amazing," He argued.
"You'll do," Pansy shrugged, not looking impressed with Blaise's charm.
"What?" The Slytherin challenged, shocked. "I don't know why I married you."
"Because you're awfully gay and in need of heirs." She didn't even blink."Also 'cause I'm amazing and the best catch you'd ever get."
"I want to have babies with you?" Blaise wondered, sounding very confused. "That doesn't seem right."
"The true wonder is why Oliver wants to be a part of this," Hermione mentioned, gesturing to the space between the couple.
"I give great head," Blaise proclaimed, making Hermione choke on her drink.
"Ugh, too much information Zabini," The golden girl spoke. "Way too much."
"Try sleeping in the room next to theirs," Pansy complained. "Is like they don't know silencing spells."
"We get caught up in the moment," He explained, unaffected.
"They really do," Ginny confirmed. "Remember the time we caught them on our couch on Christmas's eve?"
"Vividly," Harry answered, moving to sit next to Ginny and hug her from behind, enjoying the way she immediately leaned back and squeezed his leg. "Is he coming tonight?"
"Why would he expose himself to your horrible love life drama?" The Zabini Lord questioned, filling Pansy's glass and moving to retrieve more ice.
"I don't know," He admitted. "I don't even know why I'm here..."
"Yes, being sought after by all these girls is going to be a huge problem for you, Potter." The Lady of the house mocked.
"He just suffers too much," Hermione agreed, rolling her eyes. "Now, let's get to it. Do you have new stuff for me?"
"In fact, I do," Pansy got up, grinning in a way he had only ever seen her muster when the subject was their obsession.
Hermione jumped from her chair, barely containing her excitement, before following the Slytherin up the stairs without a look back.
"I believe we have been replaced by shoes, my love," Harry told Ginny, not surprised.
"Yes, it seems we have," The ginger in his arms agreed. "Poker?" She suggested to the boys.
"You're perfect," He stated.
"Don't compliment her too much, Potter," Blaise whined, moving to the game room. "She's annoying enough as it is."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXxX
Daphne was living at the Manor, so it was no wonder that she was the first one of the girls he saw. The so-called Ice Queen was walking down the stairs, with an incredible amount of poise, looking every bit as unapproachable as she was rumored to be.
"Lord Potter, Miss Weasley, good evening," She greeted, bowing in a flawless manner.
Harry bowed back, trying not to grimace as he did. Pureblood rules were something he could do without. "No need for the Lord crap, okay? Just call me Harry."
Ginny elbowed him before adding: "Good evening Miss Greengrass, is lovely to meet you finally."
"It's great and shit, let's get to business," Blaise interrupted, rude as ever.
"Yes," Daphne agreed, sitting in front of them. "I believe my situation has already been explained."
"It has," Hermione answered, walking into the room alongside Pansy and sitting next to Harry.
If the sudden arrival disturbed Greengrass, she didn't allow it to show on her face, merely nodding her head in acknowledgment of their presence.
"Perfect," She continued. "That means questions must be asked. Fire away."
Harry didn't waste the opportunity: "You do realize that blood adoption isn't exactly legal, right?"
"I could care less about the law, Harry," The way she wrapped her mouth around his name should be illegal, he thought, trying not to lose focus. Slytherins weren't above seducing someone to get what they wanted. "I want my child to be protected, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes for it."
"Do you not care that it puts us at risk too?" He pressed, raising an eyebrow.
Harry knew for a fact that she did not give a shit about the danger they would be put in, but he wanted to see if she had the courage to admit it.
"No, I do not." She didn't stutter; she didn't beat around the bush. Slytherin to the core.
"Has the father tried to contact you?" Hermione asked, biting her lips in a very distracting manner. Was she concerned about something?
"No," Daphne shook her head. "And I don't believe he will. I was nothing to him other than a convenient body, and I doubt he'll have trouble finding another."
"Just give me a name, Daph. I just need a name," Blaise hissed, frowning darkly.
Seeing she had no intentions of answering or even acknowledging Blaise's plead, Ginny decided to move on: "Are you not the Greengrass heir?"
"I am, which is a bit of a problem," She agreed, crossing her elegant legs. "I only need one heir for my family, though. There are quite a few relatives of mine in Belgium, so we aren't at risk of becoming extinct. All your houses are, however, dying names, which will require at least two heirs. That means no less than three children."
"I don't have a problem with that," Harry assured. "But are you willing to bear them?"
"Absolutely," Daphne confirmed. "Although I'm certain a contract will be necessary."
"Yes," Hermione conceded. "While we believe in your good intentions, there's just too much at stake here to just wing it. After all, we are breaking the law for this. The contract will protect you too."
"I can ask Draco to write it," Blaise suggested. "But I need to know the conditions."
"I will blood adopt the child as soon as it's born and I'll extend all the protection my name can afford to both of them," Harry stated, looking deadly serious. "As long as you agree to marry me, take on one of my names and bear the children it will require. But bear something in mind before accepting it Miss Greengrass, I don't make promises lightly. Are you willing to be my wife, with all that it entails?"
"I wouldn't have approached you if I wasn't one hundred percent sure of my decision," She professed. "Will you father the Greengrass heir?"
"Of course," He agreed, reaching for a cigarette in his pocket and lighting it before inhaling deeply. Some situations just called for a smoke.
She relaxed and leaned back in her chair. "I can agree to those terms."
"I believe it covers the most important points," Hermione was already going through the others points in her head, Harry knew. "I'll visit Draco myself and explain it; I want to participate in the process."
"Wait," Ginny interrupted, sipping her drink before continuing. "I want a fidelity clause added to it."
"What?" Daphne's tone could freeze hell twice over.
"You heard me," The future Lady Potter wasn't backing down. "I know you're not doing this out of affection for Harry, and I understand, but I won't have his name dirtied by a wife who parades on the arms of somebody else."
"You insult me, Weasley," She replied. "I wouldn't degrade myself by cheating on my own husband, that you would even dare to suggest it... Add the fidelity clause for all I care; it's pointless."
"You must appreciate our position, Miss Greengrass," Hermione tried to placate the Ice Queen. "While we are very public and well-known persons, we know nothing about you other than what we saw at Hogwarts. You can't expect us to trust you so quickly."
"I don't," She explained, not showing a single expression on her face. "No Slytherin worth her salt would."
Merlin, if that was the beginning of the party, Harry already wished for it to be over.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXxX
The next person to arrive made Harry reconsider his previous thought. Maybe the party wouldn't be so bad, after all.
"Oh Harry, how wonderful! You haven't got a single Nargle," She exclaimed, jumping into his arms...
AN2: So... Don't keep me hanging, tell me what you think about it right now!
Next chapter will finally show everybody together and interacting. I'm super excited.