Chapter 10:
Journey to Hogwarts
Draco and Harry woke up earlier than the rest of the household. Hermione had listed down a number of things they still needed to do. Harry entered the shower first while soon to be Mr. Potter re-read their list.
Ask Ron and Blaise to be best man
Ask Ginny to be flower-girl
Ask Dobby to be ring-barer
Ask Remus, Charlie, Cissy and Severus to be
their witnesses
Arrange attire
Discuss settings with Professor Dumbledore
Draco sat at their small writing desk in the corner of their bedroom, writing a letter to Blaise. There were several props of parchment littering the bedroom floor when Harry entered.
"Your turn, Love, to hit the shower". Draco looked up with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" the raven-haired boy asked.
"I can't seem to write Blaise an appropriate letter to ask him to be my best man. He's the only one I trust but we haven't been that close. Not like I am now with the Weasels and Granger."
Harry told him to go take a shower and he'd write the letter to Blaise on behalf of both of them. Giving into his mate the Veela left to shower and leave Harry to write the letter. The groom wrote a quick yet sincere note to the Slytherin and spelled the letter so that only Blaise would be able to read it. After pocketing the parchment he went down to the kitchen to join the others.
"Good morning everyone."
"Morning Harry", they greeted him.
Grabbing some eggs, toast and coffee he joined the others at the kitchen table. Soon Draco joined his side.
"Where are your trunks Harry, Draco?" Ginny spoke up from the far side of the table.
"Actually Gin, we're not taking the Hogwarts Express. We have an appointment with Dumbledore at afternoon teatime," Harry answered.
"By the way", Dray said looking at all of them, "we have a favour to ask from all of you. Ron, would you please honour us by being Harry's best man?"
Ron straightened his back before proudly affirming to their request.
"Ginny would you and Hermione honour us by being our flower-girls?"
Ginny rolled her eyes at the silver-haired boy.
"Of course we would. You're a much part of the Weasley family as Harry is."
"Dobby, son, how would you like to be our ring-barer?"
The house-elf squealed in delight, eyes brimming with pride, "Yes, fathers, Dobby like being ring-barer for fathers, sirs."
Now it was the golden boy's turn to ask, "Mother, will you give us the honours of being our witness?"
Cissy looked at her son's mate with contemplation.
"Mother", Draco cried in nervousness.
"What my dragon? Oh, of course I will silly. I was just wondering why Harry called me 'mother', I could never replace Lily", she said.
"No, that's true. No one can replace my mum and dad and Mrs. Weasley has been the closest thing to a mother I've ever had. However you are Dray's mum and I'd like to be able to call you mother too."
Harry started to shuffle with his feet. "I guess I want to be your son too," he whispered the last fearing rejection.
"Harry James Potter, you are my son now too," Cissy said in clear voice, "Lily would be proud of you, of who you've become despite of her sister's horrid behaviour and I am proud to have you as my son."
Beaming Harry asked them if they would wear their Muggle attire that they'd all had worn during their trip to Diagon Alley.
Hermione shook her head, "I hope you guys are aware of the fact that marriage ceremonies are in robes… dressrobes?"
Grinning at each other the two boys said rather cheekily that they were already going to break so many so-called traditions that one more wouldn't matter. Besides they were thinking about using a cloak to top the attire off, that way it would be a little Muggle and a little Wizard tradition.
Still shaking her head Hermione asked whose idea it was. Draco admitted that it was his idea and he wanted to show his house that there were also good things in the Muggle world. Sensing she wouldn't be able to change their minds the witch let it go.
"Oi 'Mione, could you do us a favour and give this letter to Blaise secretly? I'd send it by owl but Hedwig's to well known by everyone and since you'll see him at the prefects' carriage you'd have more opportunity to give it discreetly than she has. I've spelled it so that only Blaise Zabini can read it and if he accepts he needs to crumple the parchment before destroying it. If he declines he only had to incinerate it. That way we'll know his answer. Just in case he accepts could you please ask him his size for clothing, Ron can let us know by telepathy. Just picture me in your mind Ron, and I'll know what you are thinking. But please we need to know the answer by two if we want to get everything in order for tonight."
Just then Charlie came in to pick the three teens up.
"Oi, Charlie, we're in the kitchen." Harry called. The dragontamer entered the kitchen and grabbed some coffee while waiting for them to finish up.
"Uhm, Charlie would you please be our witness?"
"Sure Harry. I'd be honoured." Having finished their breakfast they all said their goodbyes and the group left.
"Mother, Dobby, we need to leave around noon as well. Harry and I would like to pass by Diagon Alley before heading to Hogwarts."
"Are you sure that's such a good idea, dragon? We'll be on our own and I don't know if I'd be much help yet if Deatheaters should attack. And Dobby is still bound by house-elf codes till you officially adopt him. "
"We'll do the same trick like last time mother and I can charm Dobby's appearance too. But we do need to buy some cloaks for tonight's wedding and I also want to buy a few books at Flourish and Blotts'."
"Al right then children we will go."
As they were getting into their Muggle attire Draco suddenly started laughing. Confused Harry looked at him with inquiring eyes.
"Love, the furniture we bought is still shrunk in my pocket", he blurted out between laughs. Potter joined the laughter; they'd wanted to do their redecorating and ended up totally forgetting about it. The minute they were able to control their laughter the two boys finished getting dressed and set about placing their new furniture in their house. Then they waited for Dobby so Harry could charm him.
"Wow, Dobby you look just like an ordinary child wizard."
Looking in the mirror the elf hardly recognized himself. He saw a young human boy with black hair, tanned skin and blue eyes. He looked just like Harry and Draco. His blonde father shrunk some Muggle clothing so they'd fit his son perfectly. The four of them met up in the hall each complimenting each other on their gorgeous, yet unidentifiable looks. The boys had already shrunk their trunks and placed them in their pockets. Cissy, now considerably relaxed, signalled that it was time for them to go.
Charlie had seen the teens of to the Hogwarts Express. The three entered an empty cabin and began storing their trunk. After they placed their things Hermione took of to the Prefects' carriage. Ron and Ginny next to each other discussing the possible reactions to tonight's developments when Neville and Luna entered the compartment. Ron looked wide-eyed at Neville. The fat boy had lost his fat and across him now sat a lean, muscular boy. He'd grown several inches too.
"Wow, Neville, you've grown." the redhead said. "Yeah, I suddenly lost my fat and became muscular over the summer. My gran reckons it was just babyfat after all." the boy grinned sheepishly.
"Well, you look delicious love and you too Luna you're even more stunning now," Ginny said while licking her lips. Seeing her two lovers squirm in their seats eyeing her brother she told them Ron already knew.
"Yeah, mate I'm okay with the three of you. I trust you to take care of my baby sister," Ron said with a big smile giving Luna a wink. Relieved the two greeted Ginny with a passionate kiss each.
"Oi, you three, I said I'm okay with the idea but I can do without the visuals", Ron exclaimed with a mock-glare,
"I might start to feel sorry for myself here."
"You know Ron, you might get lucky after tonight", the youngest Weasley teased.
"Why? What's going to happen tonight?" Neville asked.
"You'll see Love, you'll see but I suggest you sit at the far end of your table nearest to the high table. I'm glad they finally saw it too," Luna added.
"Excuse me?," the Liger asked. As far as he could tell Ginny hadn't told them about Harry and Draco but he had a feeling Loony knew.
"Ronald, you know what I mean considering you are going to be part of it tonight."
His sister then explained that her female lover had become a seer on her sixteenth birthday at the end of last year. Sealing their cabin with privacy wards and silencing charm. The four discussed the special gifts they had received on their sixteenth birthdays.
Finally the meeting was over in the Prefects' carriage. Hermione Granger needed to grab hold of Zabini before he'd leave the carriage. She hexed his bag discreetly making the seams disappear. Swearing Blaise bent over to grab his parchments and quills. Hermione helped him of course and fixed his bag for him. Everyone had left the carriage now and it was just the two of them.
"Mr. Zabini", she started, "I am to give you this message discreetly with the instructions that in the event you accept you need to crumple the letter up before destroying it. Or if you should choose to decline; to incinerate this letter. I'll await your answer."
Blaise read the letter carefully
Dear Mr. Zabini, Blaise
Draco and I would like to ask you of doing us the honour of being Draco's best man. As you know, you are the only one Draco trust within Slytherin House and therefore I trust you as well. Though we may have seemed arch enemies throughout the years, we have also felt a strong attraction towards each other. Neither giving in to our emotions till this summer. To put it bluntly, in all honesty to you, I am Draco's mate. Understanding that this may or may not come as a shock to you I assure you that if you should decline neither Dray nor I shall respect you any less. If you choose to accept and be my love's best man we shall both be incredibly grateful to you.
Sincerely,
Harry J. Potter
"Are you serious?" the Italian Slytherin asked his Gryffindor counterpart.
"Yes, they've been together since Harry's near fatal accident this summer," Hermione answered after checking if anyone could hear them.
Blaise pondered a moment before crumpling the letter and destroying it.
"Thank you," the witch said simply and proceeded on questioning him about his clothes' size.
"Meet me at the same place where you caught me last year before the Welcoming Feast", she said then she turned around and quickly left before either her own hormones would get to her or he could ask her more questions which wouldn't be safe to answer in the train. 'Mione rushed to their cabin only to find it locked and spelled.
"Merlin, how the hell am I going to give him this information? It's already twelve-thirty."
'Ron, Ron open up this damn door,' she thought to no avail.
Zabini however had recovered quickly from her reaction and had stridden after her when he heard her desperate voice in his head. The Italian rushed to her side, his instincts taking him directly to her. Without a word he pushed the door open, though grazing her arm accidentally. The young witch who had been fighting her emotions for so long collapsed, her body couldn't take it any more. Blaise deftly scooped her up with one arm and carried her in.
The four teens inside froze when the door burst open.
"How? What? 'Mione!" Ron stared with shock. The Weasley's were ready to pounce the young Slytherin when Luna held up her hand to stop them.
"Neville love, be a dear and seal the door. He's the one," the Ravenclaw said simply.
Ron wanted to rush to Hermione's side but stopped dead in his track when he saw two glaring golden eyes trained on him.
"She's your mate isn't she?," the Liger said simply while taking his seat again. The dragon looked back at him.
"How do you know?" he grunted.
"Oh dear", Ginny said, "she fought it. Merlin, she's the smartest witch this century and she fought mating magic. Blaise, please let me tend to our sister. Your mate didn't want to believe you could actually love her so she's fought it for years."
Reluctantly the Dragon of Slytherin sat next to Ron thus allowing Ginny to tend to her sister. Neville added extra security on the door by letting vines cover it. He then cast several privacy spells and silencing charms. Ron took the liberty on filling Blaise in on what happened over the summer. Occasionally both glanced at the muggleborn witch. Remembering that he was supposed to pass on Zabini's measurements to Harry he inquired whether the boy had accepted or declined the offer. Scrunching his face in concentration Ron past the measurements through to Harry.
Harry had felt the jolt that meant that Zabini had accepted the offer. They had found cloaks for everyone and where at Flourish and Blotts buying some books with regards to the Magical beings their group consisted of. When Ron's message finally came through. They hurried into London to buy some stylish Muggle clothes for Blaise and rushed back to Diagon Alley to buy him a matching cloak. It was nearly two o'clock when they apparated into Hogsmeade wearing their robes thus concealing their Muggle clothing. Dobby, who had apparated directly into the Shrieking Shack greeted them upon their arrival. "Dobby, calm down. We've only been apart for ten minutes," Draco admonished his son while embracing him.
Inside Harry removed the glamour charms while Cissy transformed herself back. They walked around the house, which still had looked like the run down haunted house on the outside, admiring the work the Hogwarts Professors had put into the Shack. The rooms were brightly lit and were decorated in a warm homely style. They immediately recognised for whom the bedrooms were intended, save one.
The group assumed that it would be the guest room. Draco and Harry's room was decorated in silver and green. Showing little Veelas and Pegasi on the wall. Ron's room was yellow and red with little Ligers. Then they went on to a red and gold room with a blue ceiling the design showed little versions of the astral sign 'Libra'. The last identifiable bedroom was decorated in both Gryffindor and Slytherin colours sporting tiny dragons. The last bedroom however only contained a single four poster bed. It wasn't really decorated at all; the walls and ceiling were white.
They had a magical fireplace in the living room that only gave of warmth and the illusion of a fire. The living room resembled more the idea of the commons thus they called it the common room. They went to their room and restored their trunks to their original size. While the boys unpacked their stuff, Cissy and her grandson laid out the newly bought items in the respective rooms.
At three-thirty the family went up to the castle. They passed by the dungeons first to ask Lupin and Snape to be their witnesses. As godfather Severus could not refuse however it took quite a bit of coaching from Remus and Cissy to get him to wear Muggle clothing. The head of Slytherin was already appalled by the idea that he wouldn't be able to wear his traditional black clothing. Nonetheless, he finally gave in and the family left to meet up with Dumbledore.
Dobby opened the Gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office. They found the professor waiting for them at the top of the stairs.
"Good afternoon Narcissa, Harry, Draco, Dobby. Have a seat. Lemon drop?"
Only Dobby accepted a lemon drop. As it was the Headmaster wanted to know how they had arranged their betrothal. They explained who their participants were and their respective roles during the wedding. Then Albus asked them if it would be all right if the Wizengamot were to be present during their ceremony as he had already taken the liberty of informing them that the Potters would like to adopt a house-elf as their son. The Wizengamot made it clear that although they were not opposed to the idea they would be honoured to be present at the ceremony and upon the couple's prompting, give them their final answer.
After they agreed to allow the Wizengamot to be present they left Dumbledore's office. Seeing they still had time to spare the family took a walk by the lake before returning to the Shack to ready themselves.
Just when the train was about to stop Hermione came to. "'Mione, you need to stop fighting your feelings," Ginny told the brown-haired girl who had closed her eyes again.
"Why?" she cried. Large tears fell on her cheeks.
"Blaise could never love a 'Mudblood' like me. It's hopeless Gin. There is no way he could love me."
It broke Zabini's heart hearing her say these things.
"Hermione", he whispered softly in her ear, "you have to believe it. I do love you. I have since the first time I saw you back in first year. I want to be with you, spend eternity with you."
When she only started to cry louder he took a step back.
"Merlin, Ginny your sister's going mad. I can even hear him whispering to me," Hermione wailed.
Before anyone could tell her otherwise Blaise kissed her. Startled she opened her eyes.
"Blaise, uh, Mr. Zabini.."
"Blaise will do just fine, love. I'm never letting you go now I've got you."
The other occupants quickly gathered their things and Ron even accio'd Zabini's stuff while the dragon explained everything to his mate during their ride in the coaches. Feeling a pang of jealousy now that everyone seemed to be with their mate but him, he really hoped his mate would be flushed out tonight.