New Marauders Hogwarts
Year one
Chapter Twelve- Setting things right
By Cindra
A/N: It's ough, but then it's been so long, and I don't think you'll mind any typos.
Shrieking Manor
Harry frowned at his three youngest who were not the least bit interested in their lunch. "Something wrong with your food, guys?"
"Yes, all of you were starving so why the sudden loss of appetite?" Hermione asked gently.
"No. It's fine, Dad." Jamie shoved a forkful of mash in his mouth.
"Yeah, we're just thinking is all." Rafe nodded between bites of food.
Annie wrinkled her pert little nose when her father fed her a bite of the food on her plate. "I thinking too."
"Well, out with it then." Hermione shot the three of them the look.
"Yes, what's got your focus off your lunch. It must be something major as turkey sandwiches and mash is one of your favorite things in the universe." Harry fed Annie another bite of food.
Everyone had finished eating, so it was just the five of them at the dining room table.
"It's just a feeling…."
"Yeah, that something's off…"
"Dani isn't right…" Annie whimpered.
"Yeah, it's like she's really cheesed off…" Jamie frowned.
"But not really herself, ya know…" Rafe shrugged.
Harry closed his eyes and focused on his oldest. :Chalk another milestone off the list. She's taking after Princess. The kids aren't all that confident about her and I doing a magic bit for the show tomorrow.:
:DJ got his fur ruffled as well that's what triggered her sleeping animagus form.: Hermione nodded then focused on her youngest. "She's just getting used to her new ability, sweeties."
"What do ya mean, Mum?" Jamie's brow furrowed.
"Yeah, is she like Prongs, Prince, or Princess?" Rafe tried to think of what ability their big sister had achieved now.
"She's a furry now!" Annie scooted off her booster seat and made a beeline for the archway. "I find her!"
"Holy Quidditch!" Jamie exclaimed, as he scrambled out of his chair and bolted after their baby sister.
"No kidding and you said my dream was nutters." Rafe was already out of his chair chasing after Annie.
"That explains why they didn't feel like spending the rest of the weekend at Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur's with their cousins. While all of us are at Music is Magic." Harry started clearing the table.
"Draco and Ginny should be arriving shortly, because DJ is in a frazzle as well." Hermione easily put everything away in the kitchen.
The Shrieking Manor kitchen made clean up a snap. Fred and George had devised a Wizarding dishwasher that washed, dried, and put everything back in its proper place.
"Bianca was napping back at the castle. I'd imagine that she would have gone to investigate as well. Her being an ace reporter and all that." Harry nodded.
"Poor Darius the castle must be in complete chaos with all of us spending the afternoon away, then again he did say that he could handle it." Hermione's eyes widened, as she felt their daughter's frustration. "Oh, Harry, she's so emotionally distraught it's no wonder she can't change back."
"I know." He pulled her into his arms. "We'll set her right again."
"Harry? Hermione?" Bianca called from the Dining Room.
"We're in here, Bianca." Hermione called.
"And about to see about our daughter." Harry walked out of the kitchen with his arm around Hermione. "Sean's getting Connor settled with the other little ones, so you're in the clear."
"Brianna and I are fine. Sean worries too much." Bianca sniffled. "Dani's far more important and someone had to supervise the kids while all of you were gone."
"Binky, you are his world so of course he worries and none of us saw this coming." Hermione crooned soothingly.
"They were all on a Quidditch high fresh off their victory and all was well in the castle." Harry arched a brow at the HD digital video camera in her hand. "You captured everything?"
"Yes, you must see what happened first and then see to our Dani." Bianca's mood went from melancholy to serious.
"All of them have much to learn and I thought Anderson Marcus was such a smart boy…" She handed him her camera.
"Anderson has no faith in me nor do the rest of the kids." Harry muttered under his breath.
"They are all still reeling over the Potions Lab incident, so their caution was warranted." Bianca sighed.
"I hadn't thought they would have such an averse reaction to my idea. The two of you share a rapport that allows you to draw on each others magic." Hermione worried her lower lip with her teeth.
"Us having a bit of fun with magic would not out our world. Anderson, Willow, and Ashley can all baby-sit at the castle tomorrow for that zinger." Harry frowned.
"Her patronus caused a rift between her and DJ…there's your trigger. He must have assumed she was hiding her animagus as well…Hmmm seems to me like DJ... "
"Damon and Carrie handled things brilliantly though." Hermione smiled.
"Now it's getting good. She was aware of her surroundings, her course set, and then the terrible trio step out of the Great Hall and she sees red…"
"Well, those ghastly boys deserved it and Kreacher wasn't even fazed by any of it." Hermione sighed heavily when the scene changed and it was clear as day that their little girl was beyond miserable by just looking at how she was looking at her sisters, Aunt, and cousin. "She's so disconcerted by their lack of confidence in her ability to rein in her magic."
"DJ's only focus through all of it was on Dani. Poor kid stepped in it so bad that he confessed all to his chums…Who seem as clueless or in denial as I was at their age…as for the trio, well, they are lucky that she's so mentally stable or they would have been steaks." Harry watched the last of the footage. :Kid's insanely confident in his relationship with our daughter. Trust like this and their only ten and eleven…we're gonna be in for it when they're teens…:
"Carrie set them in their place, so did Damon. DJ has always been the braver of the lot. He's not nearly as terrified of you as Nate and Matt are, but then his intelligence ranks just under Danielle's, so that is to be expected." Hermione sighed, as she watched the interaction between her daughter and DJ at the willow tree play out on the screen. :Perhaps, then again she's so sensitive and could very well be wary of the next stage of their courtship when the time comes.:
:Your words to the powers ears.: Harry was all for his baby being skittish about the next chapter in her relationship with DJ. "He's number two on the Junior Mensa list and his power is not unlike his parents. And so he's able to stand toe-to-toe with our Dani, like he did a while ago at the willow tree. Poor kid's phobic about spiders, so him going down into the passage screams how loyal he is when it comes to our daughter."
"Harry, you are being so calm about everything. Is it surrender or are you just regrouping?" Bianca asked, brow quirked in her best inquiring minds wish to know reporter stare.
"The kid just went toe-to-toe with my emotionally distraught daughter while in her newly gained animagus state of mind. He's more than earned my respect and I trust him. He thought of her and not of the repercussion that may come down on him for breaking his punishment to go after Dani." Harry smirked when Hermione threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"You are being so mature about this and usually it makes you so ratty just thinking about anything like our girls in relationships with…"
"Mione, let's just go see about setting our daughter right again and worry about the rest much, much, later."
"All right, Wolfe. Let's go see about our daughter…as it is your idea for the two of you doing a bit for the show tomorrow might not be possible if she can't center herself." Hermione frowned up at him.
"Not a chance, Mione. The two of us are going to do a father daughter act and it's going to be brilliant." Harry said determinedly.
"Jamie raced into the kitchen with Rafe on his heels. "Dad, we need a huge bowl of milk…"
"Yeah, and maybe a steak." Rafe echoed after him, as they skidded to a halt in front of their parents.
"Guys, she's not a tiger that's not how it works…" Harry tried to explain. "She's still very much our Dani, only in animal spirit form."
"Huh? She's like this huge Siberian white tigress and everything…" The boys frowned at their father in confusion.
"What your father is trying to say is that once she calms her mind she will be able to right herself again." Hermione explained patiently.
"She seems calm enough, lying on the rug in the Common room…"
"Annie's cuddled up beside her too…"
"DJ's all gloomy, cuz it's his fault she changed…"
"Are ya really gonna do a bit with Dani, Dad?"
"I mean, isn't that risky?"
The twins finished their take on the situation, ending with a perplexed stare up at their father.
"Yes, I am and we're gonna be brilliant. There is no danger whatsoever of my performing a little magic with my oldest daughter. If it boggles their minds all the better for it. The very fact that she's in there with complete control over her mental faculties, all be that temporarily stuck in Animagus form, more than proves my point. All of you need to have a little more confidence in her ability to control her magic or mine to rein her in, if need be!" Harry narrowed darkening emerald eyes down at his sons, his tone lethally low.
They nodded but said nothing.
He stalked out of the kitchen and went to go see about his shadow.
"It was just a surprise is all…" Jamie warily eyed his Mum.
"We thought all the girls were gonna do their own thing…" Rafe nodded, mirroring his twins look.
"It's a last minute change, which we both decided last night. She hasn't had time to prefect her act with her sisters, aunt, and cousins. Your sister and father used to amuse all of you when you were babies with magic shows. Why would now being any different?" Hermione led her boys out of the kitchen.
"A few billion Telly viewers across the globe and the thousands of Music as Magic ticket holders watching at the pavilion." Binky reminded her. "Our Dani gets skittish around large crowds of Muggles."
"Yeah, but Dani doesn't see Music is Magic as anything but fun…" Jamie countered.
"She's never frozen up since Mum and Dad've let her and our sisters be in the show."
"No one is saying otherwise, boys. Let's focus on the now and worry about tomorrow when it comes…." Hermione stopped in the archway, taking in her first look at her daughters animagus form. "She's gorgeous…"
"She's brilliant like her Mum." Harry was sitting beside the tigress.
"She's soft and cuddly." Annie snuggled against her sister's warms fur.
"This is my fault! She's been so swamped with homework that we hardly ever see each other and when I saw her patronus…It made me think she didn't need me and it stung, so I lashed out at her. Accusing her of even being an animagus…" DJ was almost in tears, beside himself at what he had done.
The tigress rubbed her cheek against his face to try to soothe him.
He buried his face against her neck, breaking down into tears. "Now she's stuck, because I was being a jerk over nothing…"
"Who's stuck and why is there a tigress in my brothers common room?" Ginny and Draco appeared beside Hermione.
"Damn! I should have picked today in the betting pool! Kreacher's gonna get the whole pot and it's a small fortune in galleons!" Draco wasn't the least bit surprised to see a tigress and knew exactly who it was.
"Draco! Exactly what have you men been up to?" Ginny cuffed him on the head with the heel of her hand.
"Oi! Gin! It's just a friendly wager that all of us went in on when she mastered her patronus while convalescing in Hospital wing." Rubbing the back of his head, he left Ginny to go kneel down beside his son.
"Dani stuck? Not likely. Why do you think it's your fault, kiddo?" He placed a hand on DJ's shoulder and his son started crying even harder.
"Harry?" Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, no don't glower at me, angel. I was, as has been the norm as of late, left out of the loop on that one. Which is bad form because she's mine and…" Harry grumbled in his defense.
"Wagering on our children is not going to be tolerated! All of you men seem to have developed a gambling addiction as of late and it's going to stop. Had you been in on it banished from our bed would you be! They are not prime racehorses! This is not the Royal Ascot! They are children and this will stop!" She was fuming mad.
"We are not addicts and it was not my idea, so stop shooting daggers at me!" Harry snarled back.
"Men will be men and they like to bet on things, as much as we like to shop till our feet scream for us to stop. It's just one of those things and odds are not only the men were in on that betting pool. The main focus here in any case is Danielle and her inability to change back, not a harmless betting pool." Bianca finally spoke her mind.
"She broken and it's all my fault!" DJ sobbed miserably against the tigress's neck. "She can't even talk to me using our link and that's never happened, ever. Not even when she's cheesed at me, well, there was that time in September but then she was…"
"Link as in soul bond link?" Ginny and Draco locked eyes this was news.
"Yeah, since forever, but that's not important helping me figure out how to make her better again is!" DJ glowered at his parents, eyes shining, mouth in a grim determined line.
"Oh for the love of magic!" Dani was sick of being thought of as broken and in an instant she was herself again with Annie curled in her lap. "I wasn't dying, DJ! I broke a promise to my parents by becoming an animagus before I reached my teens and that was what was making my mind not let me change back! You did nothing it just happened! I was upset at the others for having no confidence in my ability to rein in my magic around the Muggles and your little mental snit just sent me over the edge!" She set Annie in her father's arms so she could get up and pace in front of them.
"Now as for a betting pool on my milestones in magic, well, I'm a wild card. A complete paradox and you never know what I'm gonna do next, so of course the men of the family would take wagers on it. I'm not mad about it and hope that Kreacher enjoys his winnings. I only wish that someone had gotten footage of my escape, now that was more pleasure on my part than temper. Those three annoying prats are lucky that I didn't bite them in the arse and send them to the Great Hall in their underwear!" She found herself hugged by her mother.
"I'm not an ace reporter for nothing, kiddo." Binky winked at her, holding up her camera.
"Aunt Binky, you got it all, even in the Common Room?" Dani eyed her in surprise.
"Every last detail, which is gonna save DJ was Daddy's wrath for breaking his punishment. I mean, it's not as if we want you to shift again just for proof. You still aren't fully at hundred percent magic wise or you would have changed back sooner. Though, being animagus is more natural ability than it is magical. Nevertheless, I think you've more than proven to them all that you will be brilliant tomorrow at the show." Bianca smiled serenely at them all.
"Why is it so bloomin difficult for the family to see that Daddy and I can easily entertain and enchant an audience with or without magic?" Dani grumbled darkly. "So far Aunt B is the only one who has any faith in us and that's just wrong."
"Sweetie, no one knew about our change in plans. You and your father are thick-as-thieves and because of that bond are easily able to play off each other. I've no doubt whatsoever that you'll be a smashing success tomorrow." Hermione hugged her fiercely.
"Maybe, I should just forget it entirely. I mean, DJ has zero confidence in my ability to pull it off. My sisters, cousins, MJ and Izzy all practically panicked at the thought. Their argument being that I'm too competitive and will forget myself, thus outing our world." She sighed miserably.
"I wasn't saying that at all. Your Patronus had me seeing red and what had you in a temper never registered." DJ said, voice hoarse from crying. "You left me out for the first time ever and it hurt a lot. I know you'll do brilliantly tomorrow. I'm sorry if you felt I was doubting your magical control, because nothing could be farther from the truth…"
"Darien James, if I thought that you truly thought what everyone else was thinking back at the Common Room…" She paused reining in her temper. Turning to shoot him a withering glare. "Then animagus form or no, you would have been transfigured into a braying jackass with my own specialty jinx added to the mix."
"You sure as Merlin acted like it at the Whomping Willow and I've got the bumps, scrapes, and bruises ta prove it." He narrowed his eyes, mirroring her glare.
"I was fine. Having all of you chasing me wasn't helping me get centered again. Being in that form in a temper makes it difficult for one to rein in the baser animal instinct to lash out." She stalked out of the Common Room to fix herself something to eat in the kitchen.
"Well, excuse me for being a lot concerned that my best mate was running around pell-mell as a cheesed off tigress!" He stalked after her.
Neither of them paid any attention to the amused looks from Binky or their parents or the silly faces the twins were giving them. Annie was snoozing against her Daddy's shoulder.
"Pell-mell! I was in full control! You were the one chasing after me like a guilty person running headlong for the Whomping Willow, before I even had a chance to hit the knot!" She slammed two plates down onto the kitchen island.
"Then you took great pleasure in watching me suffer until I'd had enough and made you stop!" He got out two Butterbeers from the fridge, slamming them onto the counter.
"Made me stop, please! I mercifully hit the knot, out of sympathy for your pathetic attempts at outfoxing a tree!" She divided the leftovers from lunch onto the two plates, warming them with her wand.
"It's me, Danielle Stephanie, not one of the others. Enough with the drama queen act! You were so not fine and scared out of your mind that you weren't gonna be able to change back!" DJ set a plate of double chocolate biscuits in the center of the island.
"DJ! That wasn't it at all! I knew that I'd eventually be able to change back. I was freaked out that I'd broken my promise to my parents and that I'd messed things up with you! Yes, it made me mad that you thought so little of me so I didn't intervene with the tree! Are you happy now, is that what you wanted to hear!" She sat down on one of the stools and dug into her food, signaling that she was done with the conversation.
"Did that look like they were cheesed about you being an animagus early to you and you could never mess things up with me. I'm your shadow and you're mine. We're a team…" DJ said between bites of food.
"No they seem really proud of my accomplishment and as for the other what you think matters more than anything to me. I think that's why I changed, it was my way of avoiding going rounds with you over my Patronus. You put that idea in my head of being an Animagus and my mind ran with it." She stopped in midbite, eyes as wide as saucers, his breaking his punishment finally dawned on her.
"What?" DJ frowned. "What's the matter now?"
"Uncle Max is gonna go mental…You're gonna be in so much trouble for breaking punishment and it's because of me…" She pushed her dish aside, so she could bury her face in her hands.
"You matter more to me than facing Uncle Max. I knew what I was doing and will accept anything he adds to my sentence." DJ reached out gently prying her hands away from her face. "No worries, all right?"
"We'll handle, Max." Harry and Draco growled from the doorway.
"Is that so? I'm hardly the pushover that my father was when it comes to the children under my watch." Max growled from behind the two of them.
Stephen was standing beside him. He'd come from Arthur and Molly's to see why his other three great-grandchildren were not with their cousins and was displeased to see that two of his oldest were not at the castle where they belonged.
"What in Merlin's name are Danielle and Darien James doing lunching here in the Shrieking Manor's kitchen? This is beyond out of bounds for two first years and DJ is grounded indefinitely to the castle. Specially the Gryffindor common room when not in class, taking meals, studying in the library, attending nightly detention, or early morning exercise therapy sessions."
"The rumor mill has it the lot of you beyond stepped in it with Dani. This in turn caused her to shift forms and take leave of the common room. Where DJ, Damon, Carrie, and the girls all gave chase. There seems to be a definite opinion there was a tigress loose in the castle. There are even trace pieces of evidence in the front Entry. Shredded pieces of robes where evidently 'the terrible trio' taunted said tigress and she retaliated in kind before making her escape out the doors." Max held up a piece of the robe in question, his gaze fixed on his great-niece.
"Guilty as charged, Headmaster Dumbledore. I came here seeking my parents guidance by way of the secret passage. DJ was under the assumption that my transformation was his doing and because if this shucked any punishments to come to my aid." Dani explained solemnly between bites of her lunch.
"Nothing and no one was gonna stop me either." DJ locked eyes with their Uncle and Great-grandpa, as he finished off his lunch. "Feelings were trampled on both sides and needed set right again."
"It being a Saturday, we were focusing on the little ones. Getting them settled before tomorrow's festivities while our oldest celebrated their triumph, Gryffindor style, by throwing a party in the common room." Draco spoke up in their defense.
"None of them were any the wiser of the change in tomorrow's program. It caught them off guard and feelings were hurt because of it." Harry added gravely.
"I see, and these hurt feelings led up to there being a juvenile tigress roaming the castle corridors?" Max arched a brow at Dani.
"No, a secret was the main reason. I've been so swamped lately that I haven't had any quality time with DJ. My performing a corporeal patronus in the common room cut his feelings to the bone. Orry freaked about it and mentioned something about hoping that I hadn't yet achieved animagus status yet. DJ said that my parents would flame me if I had broken my promise to them and then sniped at me using our link. His words cut me to the core and in a blink I went from this to being a tigress. They all freaked out. I mean, who wouldn't but none of them ran for the hills like the rest of the students did. I wasn't in the mood to hear any of their apologies, especially DJ's, so when Damon can walking through the portrait hole I took my leave of them." Dani bit into a biscuit, chewing thoughtfully. Not caring if her days of freedom were done or if Music is Magic was a memory. She and DJ were good again and that was all that mattered in her mind.
"I wasn't in the mood to play twenty questions with the others and left Merlin style to go find Dani. I just missed her in the entryway, but managed to track her down at the Whomping Willow. After a few rounds with the blasted tree, I called Dani on her temper snit, and she finally hit the knot on the tree with her paw. From there since she was still a Tigress and one look in her eyes told me what was what, we set off into the passage in search of our parents. And that is how the two of us ended here eating lunch in our Uncles kitchen." DJ downed the rest of his Butterbeer before standing before Max more than ready to face the music for his actions.
"Well, Max. DJ's quite the hero of the hour. Bravely giving chase of a furious Danielle, clearly not in her right state of mind and an animagus tigress noless." The two men exchanged looks.
"Quite right, Stephen. I suppose he feels a reward for his bravery is in order." Max turned to fix Draco and Harry a look. "What would you both suggest?"
"He can come with Dani tomorrow and we'll do an act with Draco, DJ, Dani, and I."
"But it's only a one day reprieve. His punishment stands as soon as we return to the castle."
"Agreed. His bravery though admirable doesn't warrant an early release for his prior offenses. One day should be more than enough of a reward." Max nodded, in full agreement.
"That's if Dani can prove to me that today's lapse in control was just a fluke caused by her temper." Stephen was far from convinced that this was a good idea. "Otherwise, neither of them is performing anything tomorrow and will just watch the show."
"Lapse in control my fanny! I didn't hurt anyone, Great-Grandpa! I was in complete control of all my faculties, even in a temper!" Dani sprang off the stool, spitting mad at Stephen.
"Danielle, lower your voice. You clearly stated not a moment ago that your mind was muddled with emotions, so much so you couldn't change back. My concern is more than warranted." Stephen walked over to cupped her chin in his hand, tilting it so she was looking at him.
"Wallace is still breathing isn't he? And so are his other the other two prats." Dani glared defiantly up at him. :Look for yourself. I was in complete control.:
"They were beyond horrid, Daddy." Bianca tried to mediate between them. "Uncle Stephen, just watch it all before you judge her as being a loose-cannon."
"Bianca, I will view it in due time." Stephen never took his eyes off his Great-granddaughter, as he viewed her ordeal from Gryffindor to present. :I worry, baby. You're jumping hurtles faster than my heart can take. All I ask is that you show me yourself in Animagi form, just to be certain that you can indeed control it.: He hugged her fiercely.
:Fine, but Mummy's gonna skin you. She's not really all for my being able to shift, even if she says she is, she's not.: Dani hugged him back. "Proof positive coming right up, your majesty."
"Once was quite enough." Hermione growled her disapproval.
"Grandpa does make a good point. We're here, so there's no harm in it." Ginny gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"Wicked cool!" The twins grinned, beyond excited to see her transform.
"Something cuddly, sissy." Annie chimed from their mother's arms.
"Great a full audience. No pressure here. Nope not one bit." Dani left the kitchen, stepping outside into the back gardens. "Cuddly, huh. Not sure it works that way, Annie."
"Nonsense, focus and become whatever you wish." Merlin appeared in front of her.
"First-Grandpa? So it's reached all the way to Avalon, huh?" Dani rolled her eyes.
:Aye, Lass, that it has. Though, we expected nothing less. Age matters not, now focus and whatever creature you wish then you will be. It's just that simple.: Merlin winked at her.
"Anything? The tigress isn't my only Animagi form?" Dani gaped at him in awe. "Like Mummy and Daddy?"
"Exactly like them, only you've a while before taking on mastering being and speaking to them all. Simply close your eyes and focus on something a little less intimidating perhaps a Kneazle or a wolf."
"Got it." Dani closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and in a blink where she had stood now sat a young russet furred, emerald eyed, wolf.
"Well done, Lass. And a fine choice too. Now change back before your mother bites her lip off." Merlin spied the others standing in the doorway.
"That's all there is to being an Animagus? Focus? No spell at all?" DJ raced over to take in Dani's wolf animagus form. :Way better than the tigress. Though, you were wicked cool as her, this is more you.: He knelt down in front of her and she liked his face, her tail wagging happily that he liked her new look.
"Cut it out." He laughed when she playfully pounced on him, sending him on his back, as he fended off her doggie kiss attack. "You're gonna need a nickname. It's tradition, but what to name you…"
She stopped her attack and was staring at him quizzically.
"Diva. Yeah, it suits you. I mean, you are a bit of a diva magic wise." He laughed when she licked his face in approval of the name.
He playfully reached up to give her ears a scratch. :Like it do ya. Step back a sec. Let's really make Uncle Max and Great-gramps panic:
Diva rolled her eye, but did as he asked. The boy had to learn, then again he was nearly as powerful magic wise as she was.
"Lad, don't press your luck…" Merlin growled out a warning, but it was too late.
DJ was a silver-white wolf with moss-green eyes. Intelligent eyes with a wicked gleam in them.
"Darien James Draco! Don't you even think of it! Bravo on your accomplishment, now you will change back this instant!" Ginny stalked outside.
"You too, Danielle Stephanie. You've more than proven your point." Hermione was intent on nipping this in the bud.
The two wolves flattened their ears at their mothers. What could a run back to Hogwarts hurt? It wasn't as if they were gonna run off and never change back.
"Gin, he's been cooped up for a month." Draco didn't see the harm.
"They both have more or less. Mione, it's a brilliant accomplishment, so why not let them at least run back to the castle." Harry was beyond impressed with them, perplexed at her sudden ability to wield all of this magic when it was still on lockdown, but impressed nonetheless.
"They are my students and I say as long as you and Draco go along then it's fine by me." Max had viewed the footage and knew without a shadow of a doubt that Dani hadn't been in the wrong and DJ as well. "I might even shorten someone's groundation period."
"Better yet. The four of you can mesh out a game plan for your act tomorrow, but only after these two have their playtime." Stephen was satisfied that they were naturals, not unlike their parents.
The two in question stared forlornly up at their Mums, add in a whine for a heart melting effect.
"Oh, very well." Hermione was the first to crumble. She knelt down in front of her daughter. "Mind your father."
Diva licked her face.
"I love you too, darling girl. But please slow down. I'll help you in a bit, after I get your brothers and sister settled at Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur's." She hugged her fiercely.
"Listen, you little devil. Mind your father and no side trips." Ginny knelt in front of her son.
Devil, his tongue lolling playfully out of the corner of his muzzle, gave her a big sloppy kiss.
"I love you too, clever boy." She hugged him before giving his ears a good scratching. "I'll check in on you after I get back from Mummy and Daddy's." She kissed his muzzle.
"So, we've got ourselves a Diva and a devil and what a smart looking pair you make." Binky smiled behind her camera.
"Now for one last bit of business…" Merlin focused on the twins and little Annie, erasing what they had just seen. The how to part more than anything from their minds.
"That should do it. I'm off to report all of this to the family. Xander's had to practically sit on Daisy, as she's eager to check on her baby sister and brother of sorts. We'll talk more about reaching your milestones in moderation after the show tomorrow." He winked at the two wolves, gave them each a playful pat on the head, and vanished.
"Bogarts, First Gramps whammied us." Jamie grumbled.
"Yeah, I can't remember what or how they did that." Rafe sulked.
Annie was sleeping in Stephen's arms. "Let's go, boys. I'll get you settled at your Nana and Grandpa Weasley's."
"But we thought…" The twins cried in protest.
"Yes, I know, nevertheless there will be no Music is Magic for you. You'll be perfectly fine watching at your Nana and Grandpa Weasley's with the rest of your cousins." Hermione hugged and kissed each of them. Then went to brush a kiss across Annie's brow.
"You two are still on probations, don't press your luck." Harry looked down at his sons, giving each of their heads an affectionate tousle. "Mind your sister and your manners. We'll check in with the three of you in the morning."
"Yeah, we know." The twins sighed heavily. "We'll watch Annie. We promise."
"Your Uncles will keep you busy enough. They had your cousins making gift bags for the audience members. Harmless samples of their creations, all Muggle friendly or so they promise me. I have my doubts, but then fatherhood has given them a more serious outlook on keeping our world a secret. The thing I can't fathom is why now? We've never needed care packages before, even if these are for a giggle…those two are up to something…they've been too good for too long and need to pull a prank…" Stephen had that final say before he was off in a blink with his charges.
"They say it's for an act or something along those lines. Who requested them I've yet to find out, we'll no doubt see tomorrow." Harry shrugged when Hermione gave him a look.
"The gift bags seemed harmless enough. Trick wands, Wild crackers, Cheering mints, Belching Butterscotch, Laughy Taffy, Mood Candies, Tweaked Muggle Magic tricks. I believe the deck of cards was one. Basically their less aggressive creations. No form altering edibles to be found." Ginny gave them a hint of what was in the bags.
"I'm surprised their Truth or Consequence line wasn't added. It's their favorite or top of the list at the shop." Draco arched a brow.
"What they've included is quite enough." Hermione frowned.
"The audience will get a giggle out of it all and that's what matters." Binky grinned.
"Yes, well, focus on the now and worry about tomorrow later. These two aren't going to be patient for long. Bianca needs to sneak back home and into bed before Sean returns. Hermione and Ginny need to check on the others. I came here straight away, because all the students, and I do mean all of them, were bunkered down in their dorms. And the portraits and resident ghosts were all gossiping about what had transpired." Max returned their focus to Dani and DJ and not about the show tomorrow.
"Ginny and I will go see about sounding the all clear at the castle with Uncle Max. You and Draco can take that run with our two…" She stopped in midsentence for the fur on her daughters coat was now just as jet-black as her father's was as Prince. :Tell me that I'm not seeing this!:
Diva, wagging her tail playfully, blinked innocently up at the adults.
Devil rolled his eyes, groaned, laid down, and covered his eyes with his front paws.
"Um, did either of you know she could do that?" Ginny bit back a giggle when Dani's fur turned fiery red then back to black again.
"No, this one is new as well." Harry knelt down in front of his daughter. :I've got this. Just try not to panic. What I don't get is why she's suddenly a mini-Mab all of a sudden when you locked down her magic until she was well into her teens.:
Diva licked his face.
"All right, baby. We'll go for that run." He chuckled, giving her ears a playful scratch. "Just cool it with the milestones. Three is more than enough for one day."
Diva barked then whined at him.
Devil grumbled something profane of his own.
Diva stared wide-eyed at Devil then at her father, as if to say what's his problem.
"No, he's not ribbing you about your changing fur and I can understand why he's cheesed off. You see, that's one ability that he can't study up on and master. It's like being an Animagus you either are born to be one or you aren't. Though, in our bloodline on the Avalonian side, it's not as rare as is in the Wizarding World. Then again it runs in the Black bloodline and one never knows." Harry answered her silent question.
"Hermione, I thought you locked all of her advanced magic down when the two of you switched, until she was older and ready to handle it all?" Draco was just as perplexed by all that she'd been doing all week, it didn't make sense.
"I did lock it all down until…" Hermione bit down on her lip, eyes wide with the realization that she'd stated a specific year for when it would all return to her. Her eleventh birthday. "Oh Frazzle…I said eleven…"
"Eleven!" Five pairs of eyes stared at her in horror.
Diva was just as shocked as they were. No wonder it took her forever to lock it all down. She had it all back.
"She was growling at me. I was distracted. I was locking down her magic and reining in her using mine at the same time!" Hermione cried in her defense.
"Fifth or Sixth year, Hermione! You should have shot for a higher number than her first year at Hogwarts." Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"It's a wonder the Potion's Classroom didn't explode…" Max muttered under his breath. "How the hell are we supposed to…all of her magic back in full…"
"No wonder the bracelet is useless…" Harry muttered under his breath. "All of it back…I'll go insane at this rate…"
DJ was back to normal. "That explains everything! How she was able to port to the Abyss and why she was able to heal after her breakthrough…Crap, she could have cast AK worse on…"
"All of it! I don't need all of it now! I mean, I'll end up hurting someone! Lock it back down, before I do! The Potion's Classroom is proof positive of that! I mean, DJ is right. I could have cast AK on any of them in the Common Room. I wanted to…but my conscience talked me down! I'm not ready for all of it yet and until I am I want it locked down!" Dani was pacing in front of all of them.
"Easy, baby. You aren't gonna hurt anyone. It's not in you to hurt an innocent, and when you do you feel guilty as hell for weeks. You seem to be handling it all amazingly well, minus an incident or two. But that was our fault for not seeing the signs and allowing you to finally see that it was all right to fail in something. If you want your magic locked down again then we'll do that, but not because you've done anything wrong. You haven't. Yes, your Mum and I are having a time of it trying to keep up with your achievements, but that has nothing to do with your being able to wield your magic properly." Harry pulled her into his arms and hugged her fiercely.
"We'll lock away a portion of it, not nearly as much as when you were nearly five. You're older now and have a greater grasp on the responsibilities of wielding your magic. Plus, you have six years of AP Magic classes under your belt and that above anything is why having it all back hasn't caused hardly a ripple. You are ours and this is to be expected. Your father and I need to learn not to panic when you achieve things like you've done today." Hermione joined in the hug.
"I see no harm with having most of her magic free, just nothing dark or beyond advanced where she could hurt herself using it. She's been amazing so far and we hadn't a clue that it was all back." Ginny thought it through and they were panicking for no reason.
"Yeah, well, when you put it that way. She has been amazing and did figure out what was what after her bungle in the Potions Lab." DJ was calmer about it now. "I mean, all of us are in one piece and she was beyond cheesed at all of us."
"Fine, but if I show any signs of not being able to control…"
"It would have happened by now if you had, not to worry, Danielle. The first sign that your magic is too much for you to handle will mean that the bulk of it will be under lockdown again." Max was calmer now as well.
"It's not going to happen, cuz she's brilliant. Now can we please go for that run now or is that not happening anymore?" DJ asked his tone doubtful.
"I don't see why you can't." Ginny hugged him.
"Nor do I and I could use it as could Harry." Draco eyed his brother to see if he was game or not.
"Yeah, a run sounds like a good way to clear our heads." Harry didn't want to think about it anymore.
"We'll need it when we lock down her magic tonight. We'll check on the kids while you both take them for a nice long run. They've earned it." Hermione kissed the top of Dani's head.
Dani didn't need told twice nor did DJ. They both shifted back to their wolf Animagus forms and their father's followed suit.
"Clear your heads, we'll have the castle back to order when you return." Max grinned, when the four of them took off at towards the forest.
"Let's go, Ladies. I seriously doubt that Darius and the others have even begun to coax everyone out of hiding. It's going to take bribery. I have Winky and Dobby whipping up a feast for dinner tonight, but I still have my doubts."
"The sooner we do. The sooner I can focus on Dani." Hermione was devising what would be needed locked down and what not to in her head, all the while focusing on how to calm all the students out of hiding.
"We'll bribe them all with dessert it's win-win. They won't be able to resist a decadent pudding." Ginny grinned.
The three of them vanished.
Chapter 13
Audience participation
I do not claim any of Jo's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
Cindra 2004-2011
