As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.

Chapter 11A New Years Surprise Pt 1

After a quiet Christmas spent mostly in Alan & Jane's suite everyone went to bed relaxed and ready for a week full of all Paris had to offer. Boxing day morning Sirius checked with the hotel concierge and a few other staff members regarding the best places for a New Year's Eve celebration receiving various recommendations he shared with the group upon his return. After a bit of discussion everyone decided a night of dancing at one of Paris's hot spots was a great way to ring in the New Year. Dancing of course meant new dresses for the women and they weren't going to let the men off without new clothes either.

"But last time we went shopping you went off by yourselves." Sirius said looking at Jane although why he was trying to get out of going with them was a bit confusing to Harry. Although he did note that Alan seemed to be in agreement with this course of action.

Jane shook her head saying, "No, this time we are going together. Hermione and I will pick out our dresses. Then we'll go to a men's shop and get Harry and Alan something that won't clash with them. You and Remus can go off on your own but Alan and Harry need to be with us."

Remus decided to end the discussion slapping Sirius on the back as he said, "Come on old dog. You did it with Lily and now you get to do it with Harry's future wife and mother in law."

"At least you didn't say it would be fun." Sirius grumbled as the two of them followed the others out of the hotel.

They were in their third dress shop when Remus sat down beside a confused Harry Potter asking, "What's going on with you and Hermione?"

"Nothing why?"

Remus shrugged knowing this was more a talk for a godfather to have but it was also one Sirius Black would never have with his godson more because he still didn't get it himself than any other reason. "I've noted a bit of tension between you and Hermione. Just wondering what was going on," Remus asked.

Harry mirrored Remus's shrug replying, "I'm not sure she seems alright when we are alone but around anyone else… well you've obviously seen it."

"Yes, is it is a reoccurring problem?" Remus asked inclining his head towards Hermione.

"No, that was just before we left Hogwarts," Harry replied a slight coming blush to his cheeks at the discussion of such a topic.

"It appears you are not totally clueless."

"I wouldn't bet on that." Harry countered with a glance towards the shop's changing rooms.

Remus thought for a moment wondering just how to broach the subject before asking, "How do you view Hermione right now?"

"What?"

"How do you see Hermione is she your intended or Jane's daughter?"

Harry thought that was a daft question. Hermione was both of those things. Still his former professor appeared to be in teaching mode so he gave it some thought only to be interrupted as Hermione came out of the changing room in a beautiful dress that drew his eyes to her fantastic shoulders and great legs. Harry's quick glance to Jane brought a frown to Hermione's face that Harry didn't see and answered Remus's question for him.

"Don't bother you just answered the question." Remus said as the women returned to the dressing room.

"What did I do?"

"You looked to Jane to see what she thought. Harry I'm going to explain a difficult point to you and you need to understand me because it will really affect your relationship with Hermione. When you proposed you made the biggest commitment an adult wizard can make. You told Hermione you wanted her to be your life mate. What that meant to her is you promised to put her first when it was needed and to always consider her feelings and needs in any decision you made. You need to understand women are different than men. They are not just men with different parts. Women are unique beings with their own thought patterns. Most men don't think beyond she looks great and we get along well, let's get married. For a woman it's different, oh they have the normal, do I love him? Does he love me? Thoughts but beyond that their thoughts include; can he support me and a family in the future? Does he look at other women? Will he be a good father? If it comes down to it will he put me first? Will he stand with me against the world? When she said yes she was thinking the answer to those questions were yes. The only thing close to a proposal of marriage is when the two of you decide to have children. When that happens you need to put her first for nine months then be prepared to back off while she concentrates on the child at least until that child can sleep through the night. Glancing at her mother to see if she approved of what Hermione was wearing when Hermione was looking to you for your opinion was a big hint that you might not stand with her against the world. Harry you need to become what the goblin told Sirius. You are Lord Potter of House Potter and right now House Potter is you and Hermione. Not you Sirius, Alan, Jane and Hermione. It is just you and Hermione and that's the way it should be." Remus said watching Harry's eyes intently to see if he understood.

Harry took it all in his back straightening as Remus's words worked their magic. Looking at Remus he asked, "What about the wedding?"

Remus shook his head before saying, "The wedding is nothing. It's all show and pageantry developed over millennium. The true wedding occurs when both of you decided to marry. For years before weddings became the big thing they are today all that was needed were for two people to decide to be married then inform their friends. What Hermione needs to see in you right now is a man not a teenager looking to others for guidance. She needs Lord Potter."

"How did you get so smart about women?" Harry asked Remus's words still working through his mind.

"Your mother actually. I was feeling particularly down seventh year as most of my classmates were pairing up and she took me aside explaining her points using the various pairing that were occurring. She also explained that Severus's problem was the one woman he wanted had already paired up with another leaving him feeling like the proverbial odd man out. Now what are you going to do?"

"I guess it's time for Lord Potter to appear," Harry said looking Remus in the eye.

"That it is. Don't forget Sirius, Alan and I will still take you to task should Lord Potter start becoming a prat."

"Don't worry I believe Lady Potter will beat you to it and do it far more effectively. Like was said once about her by a friend of ours she is brilliant, a bit scary, but brilliant none the less." Harry said as a smile came to his face. Moments after they finished Hermione stepped out wearing a sexy dress that, unlike the dress she wore to dinner with the Delacours, appeared to be made for dancing in. Harry looked her over letting his love show before nodding.

Hermione didn't know what had changed with Harry but the sexy smile on his face combined with the fact he didn't look anywhere but at her sent a tingle through her body. 'Oh yes this dress is going in the buy pile.' She thought returning to try on another dress.

Harry for his part was both cursing and thanking the clothing dictated by Hogwarts. He'd discovered just how much of a woman his betrothed was and the Hogwarts robes and uniforms hid that forcing both male and female alike into drab and unflattering robes. He was also grateful the robes and uniforms hid her beauty from other males who, in his opinion, lacked the maturity to truly appreciate the woman his Hermione was.

Clothes shopping for the males in their group was done quickly despite there being four of them. Jane took her husband while Harry was lead off by Hermione leaving Remus and Sirius to fend for themselves. The trying on was more to make sure the clothes fit than a check to see if the style and color flattered the wearer.

With everyone's clothes selected, paid for, and safely back at their hotel the group settled in spending portions of the days between Christmas and the New Year visiting a few of the many museums, tourists attractions, and coffee houses that Paris offered. Moving from one to the other as whim hit. What they were unknowingly doing was merging three individuals and one three member family into an extended family that would shortly evolve into one young couple with two godfathers and one set of parents for the young couple.

New Year's Eve Pansy Parkinson was walking the same path she traversed several times every night and day since leaving Hogwarts for the winter holidays when she felt a pull on her magic noting where she was and what she was thinking she did as her future mother-in-law had directed making her way to the apparition site before returning to Malfoy manor where she entered Narcissa Malfoy's sitting room saying, "I think I saw something starting to appear but nothing did."

"What were you thinking of at the time?" Narcissa asked. her future daughter in law.

After a bit of struggle that Narcissa reconized as the Fidelus trying to protect the secret Pansy managed to say, "The order of the Phoenix is located at 12 Grimmauld Place," Before falling down exhausted from the effort.

"Very good, now let's work on variations of that phrase," Narcissa said reaching for parchment and quill.

One day later Narcissa was walking slowly down the street walking a house elf transfigured to be a dog when she observed Number 12 Grimmauld Place appear. Knowing she now had the pass phrase she continued down the street to the apparition point hidden in a now imperiused family's back yard.

Lucius saw the smile on his wife's face before asking, "You have it?"

"Yes my husband. I now know Dumbledore's secret."

"Who else knows?"

"Other than Dumbledore's group I am the only one. Draco and Pansy were working with me. Both know several close phrases but only I know the right one." Narcissa replied.

"Good, Draco and Pansy must stay in the mansion until our lord decides on a course of action. You will accompany me tonight to a meeting with our Lord incase he wishes to know the location." Lucius said smiling and rubbing his hands together.

"Why can't you just tell him?"

Lucius sighed sometimes his wife for all her social intelligence didn't understand precisely how the more complex charms and spells worked. "Who can tell the location of a house under the Fidelius?" he asked her.

"Normally only the secret keeper."

"How do you know it then?"

Narcissa looked confused before replying, "I figured it out. Didn't that break the Fidelius?"

"No, you became a co-secret keeper. Only you and their secret keeper can tell anyone the location. Now that's a good thing if it had broken they would have been warned and could take action to save themselves. This way they think they are still safe. If anyone else wants to find the location they would need to go through all that you did. I bet if you check with Draco or Pansy they can't remember much about the search, I know I can't."

"What about Draco and Pansy they'll be in the manor without supervision when we attend the meeting."

"The manor is well warded against intrusion and as for those two they are betrothed. Giver her a dose of the anti-pregnancy potion if you're that concerned. Now get ready our lord is not patient. We are bringing good news but still he has been quick to anger lately." Lucius said dismissing her concerns and trying to do the impossible, rush his wife.

Voldemort looked over his Death Eaters assembled for tonight's raid. None but Lucius knew of their target and he intended for it to stay that way until just before they left. "My Death Eaters tonight target is a difficult one. You will be port keying directly into a residence in teams of three. Some teams will arrive in different rooms. This is to maximize the terror you will cause. Study the layout you are given closely and be sure of your targets when you arrive. Two groups will be tasked with taking a guest each. The rest of you leave no one alive in the building. You will port key in with the killing curse on your lips. Cast it as soon as you arrive and have a target. Your port keys will be time activated returning you here one minute after arrival. Don't bother to save strength cast your curses knowing you will return to a place of safety a minute after you start. Don't release your port key the capture teams will be casting Incendio as they leave. Lucius has your port keys and will give you the information you need. Show the wizarding world why I should be feared and why you are called Death Eaters. Once you are back we will party like the old days!"

Once the group had left Lord Voldemort turned to Snape petrifying and binding him in ropes before Snape had a chance to notice his lord's attention was on him. "Severus this is for your own good. Should you be interrogated later you can truthfully say you were bound and petrified when the raid occurred. You will be here when I receive the report on the raids success.

Severus Snape supposed spy for the Order of the Phoenix was pondering the target of tonight's raid. He knew there was a meeting of the Order tonight in fact he was the one who'd told Voldemort of the meeting with Dumbledore's permission. Confident in the Fidelius Charm cast by Dumbledore himself protecting the secret of their location he assumed the order meeting was safe. Perhaps it was a ministry official's home that was due to be attacked. After all Lucius had been a guest at most of those homes over the years and would be able to provide enough information for an attack.