Chapter 36 – And at Last A Dance

The morning of February 14th broke to the accompaniment of rain showers and thunderstorms around Hogwarts. However, Ginny and Hermione woke in the master bedroom in the Hearth surrounded by a number of vases of their favorite flowers. And no sign of their husband.

'Harry?'

'About time you sleepy heads woke up. Happy Valentine's Day!'

'The flowers are incredible. But where are you?'

'In the living room and I'll wait until you make quick trip to the loo before the second surprise.'

Harry heard the girls both squeal and ask questions hurriedly before the sound of the bathroom door closed cutting off their voices. He had been able to slip away from their embraces in bed just before sunrise and he and Dobby had had a pleasant hour chatting and getting things ready for the day. Ten minutes later the girls emerged from the bedroom with robes and slippers and applying drying charms to their hair. They found something new added to their collection of furniture. But maybe it was something familiar; a high table with three stools now graced a placed right next to one of the windows.

"Dobby is that our breakfast table from Griffin's Lair?" asked Hermione excitedly.

"No, Lady Herminny. I made a copy of that one for your Hearth for the special breakfast that the great Harry Potter wanted to make for you."

Ginny went over and gave the little house elf a hug. "Thank you Dobby. This is a very nice surprise; it's just like having a part of the Lair to remind us of our time there."

"So what's this about a special breakfast Harry?"

"Come over and seat yourselves. Everything is all ready for you."

Both girls came over and gave Harry a quick hug and kiss before hoisting themselves up to their seats. They saw that there were three plates set up and five covered dishes sitting on top of the table.

"So what are we having?"

Harry put hand over one of the dishes. "Go ahead and take a peak. I've got the most important part right here."

Both girls reach for the same covered dish and laughed. Ginny moved her hand sideways and lifted the cover of the dish closest to her. "Chocolate sauce. That's a very good start, whatever it is."

Hermione lifted her lid up to find warmed cut up apples in sauce. "This is good so far Harry" she said as she dipped a fingertip in and tasted it.

"Not done yet. Try the other two" Harry suggested.

Hermione reached for the next dish and uncovered it to find "Strawberries! Where did you find strawberries at this time of the year?"

Harry pointed to the smiling Dobby. "I had some help."

Ginny had lifted up the lid of the last covered dish and winked over at Hermione. "Whipped cream. Maybe our husband wanted us to cover him in all this stuff and then lick it off him. Is that your plan for breakfast?"

Smiling over the table, Harry shook his finger. "Hmmm, something to think about for sure. I could say I wanted to do that with you two lovely morsels but then I would have started in the bedroom. No, I have something else in mind."

Harry uncovered the last dish to display a tall stack of waffles. There was a tray of various juices nearby and Dobby brought it over and everyone helped themselves to it. The three loaded up their waffles and complimented Harry on his cooking as they began to eat. When they finished Dobby and the dirty plates vanished with a barely audible snap. Harry, Hermione and Ginny headed back to the bedroom to dress and get ready for the day.

Ginny flopped onto the bed with groan. "I shouldn't have eaten that last waffle. I'll just take a nap. Pick me up before you head down to Hagrid's class. Please?"

'No!'

"We have time for a short walk before heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast."

"We just ate Harry. You can't force me to take a bite more."

"Who said anything about eating? I just thought you'd like to be there for the morning Owls. You know, when all the cards and presents get delivered."

"Cards?"

"And presents?"

Harry smiled as he saw Ginny lever herself off the bed. "Cards at least. I thought we would exchange gifts before we went down for the dance."

Both Ginny and Hermione went rummaging through their dressers looking for socks and underwear. Harry liked this part of the morning's routine. He had originally left the bedroom the first week that they had moved into the Hearth to give the girls some privacy. When Hermione and then Ginny had asked him to stay one morning, he was a little confused.

"We don't mind if you're here when we dress. Frankly it's a little bit of a turn on for us that you're watching us. Besides then you won't be distracted all day trying to figure out what color knickers we're wearing."

Harry had blushed at Hermione's admission but he double blushed when Ginny had opened her mouth. "We get to watch you get dressed too. We can never get enough glimpses of Em you know."

Harry had chased her around the bedroom at that point but both turned on Hermione when she said that she enjoyed watching both her spouses jiggling and bouncing as they ran. Ginny occasionally still broke up at the word 'jiggling'.

Today however there wasn't much fooling around as they got dressed. They had a day of classes and then there was the dance tonight. As much as rumors went rapidly around the school, nobody knew who was going to be playing at the dance. Harry had tried buttering up Sirius and Dumbledore about who was playing but just got cryptic smiles in return.

But the Potters were walking around the castle getting a little bit of exercise and working off their treat of a breakfast. Harry was smiling as he held the hands of his loving wives. It was one of the little touches that nobody objected to in the slightest.

They were making their way down from the fourth to the third floor when Ginny slowed and then stopped suddenly. Harry pulled the gorgeous redhead around in a hug. "You're getting nervous about tonight aren't you?"

Ginny hung her head for a second and then nodded. "Can I un-volunteer?"

Hermione rounded on Ginny to complete the embrace with Harry. "I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind taking the lead if you really weren't sure. But you love that song Ginny and sing it really well. We'll both be up there beside you."

Ginny leaned into Harry's chest as she tried calming down. The three of them had been approached after Friday lunch by Professor Flitwick. He told them that due to some scheduling problems the band that had been booked for the Valentine's Day dance, the Warped Coils of Time, were going to have to cancel. Professor Flitwick was sure he could find a substitute group to perform but wondered if some of the students would perform and provide a warm-up or break for whoever they did get. Harry had a quick mental conversation with his wives and said they could do a song or two if they really needed someone. Professor Flitwick smiled, awarded them ten points and said he was going to talk to some of the other students in other houses about performing.

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had finally gotten their reward weekend at Hogsmeade with the removal of the Dementors and the Potters had gone to the Room of Requirement on Saturday to practice and have a little fun for a couple of hours singing together and playing their instruments. It had been a great time and Ginny had moved her spouses almost to tears with her quiet rendition of a muggle song she really like. They had persuaded her to sing in front of the school with Hermione playing her flute and Harry harmonizing with her.

Ginny was having second thoughts now. She felt Harry and Hermione reassuring her through their link and immediately felt calmer. "As long as you two stay with me, I'll be fine." Harry grinned and kissed Ginny on the forehead. There was a shout suddenly from close to them. "Hey get a room! That's my sister you're molesting."

The three turned to find Ron mock glaring at them from a few steps up with Luna chuckling beside him. Ginny broke out from between Harry and Hermione to go poke at her brother and Luna came down to give Hermione and Harry a brief hug.

"Happy Valentine's Day. You seem remarkably free of burlanzgers this morning."

Hermione had finally relaxed enough to let Luna have her say about some magical creatures. "It must be the special breakfast that Harry and Dobby made up this morning. Has Ron given you a present yet Luna?"

"No, he said he'd do that before the dance started tonight. We did have a very nice snog already though."

"I can see that" Ginny said as she laid her wand against Ron's neck and healed up a hickey that was showing. Ron blushed and grabbed Luna's hand before she could say anything further to embarrass him. They hurried down the stairs with the three grinning Potters following them.

The Great Hall was decorated with hearts and little cupids decorating the walls and flower bunches set up on the House tables. Harry commented as the three sat down that it was remarkably toned down from last year and Lockhart's influence. Neville and Susan sat down across from them and started discussing the previous year's Valentine's Day breakfast. It had been very dramatic what with Gilderoy Lockhart's flamboyant costume and the appearance of dressed up dwarves that delivered Valentine's Day messages to a selected bunch of wizards and witches.

"Think George and Fred will send a prank card to Professor Snape like last year Harry?"

Harry looked down the table to where the twins sat with Angelina and Alicia. "I don't think so. They've been very quiet this year as they are concentrating on their OWL's. But I'm sure he'll be getting one from Narcissa if he hasn't already."

Ginny spoke up then. "Mum's both happy and suspicious that she and Dad haven't had to come to school or send Howlers."

Hermione snickered quietly. "Knowing them they'll wait for the worst possible moment and spring something on the whole school."

While everyone else but the Potters was eating Harry took a good look around the hall. He saw that some couples were looking at cards together while other students were anxiously scanning the owl ports for the morning deliveries. Cho was sitting at the Hufflepuff table with Cedric and hid her head quickly when Harry caught her eye. Hermione had seen what happened and grabbed Harry's hand under that table. Ginny whispered that Daphne and Tracey were waving to them from the Slytherin table and the three waved back in return. It was a much different atmosphere then what Harry and the others had first experienced during their first year.

Harry noticed that it was Draco that started the unofficial card exchange this year. He handed one to Pansy next to him and she blushed and kissed his cheek when she opened it. Other witches and wizards soon followed as couples at tables exchanged cards or walked across to give cards to hopeful romantic interests at other tables.

When that flurry of activity stopped, Harry saw that Pansy was prodding Draco. With a little bit of reluctance Draco stood and walked toward the teacher's table in the front of the hall. He stopped before his mother and handed her a card; Narcissa smiled and opened it. She came around the table and gave Draco a kiss to his forehead much to the amusement of everyone else in the Hall. There were still catcalls coming from the House tables when Draco took a deep breath and flipped a card onto the table before Professor Snape.

Draco was almost back to his seat when Professor Snape stood up. "Mr. Black."

Draco stopped and turned. "Yes sir?"

"This is not quite as amusing as you think it is. But Thank you and take 1 point for Slytherin for sheer cheek."

Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers broke up laughing at that point and Draco returned to his spot with more than a smattering of applause from his housemates and the rest of the Hogwarts students.

'I'd give a couple of galleons to see what that card contained.'

'Draco looks a little shocked that he got away with it.'

Any further discussion about Draco's intentions was stopped as everyone heard the Owl ports open in the ceiling and a barrage of owls descended on the students to deliver letters and assorted packages. Errol made his usual graceless landing in front of Percy with a bundle of cards from the Burrow. Ron went over and grabbed the stack to run them around to his brothers and sister. He dropped one off in front of Ginny. "That one's addressed to three of you so don't hog it all."

Ginny took a swipe at Ron as he skittered away toward the twins. Ginny held the card from her parents and read the simple but heartfelt greeting from Molly and Arthur. When Hermione looked up from reading the Weasley's card, she saw that Hedwig had landed in front of her with three envelopes attached to her leg. Hermione thanked her husband with a quick hug about his idea of sending a card from the three of them to her parents. Hedwig must have stayed at the Granger's long enough to pick up the cards that Tony and Dee had gotten for them.

Tony had picked up a joke card for Ginny that had her chuckling and showing her spouses. Hermione's card was almost sickenly sweet but it did being a tear to her eye. She told Harry she would be sending a long letter off to her parents as soon as she could find time to write it. Harry threw an arm around her shoulders and squeezed them saying he would go ask Dumbledore if they could go visiting for an hour or so the next weekend. That brought a quick smile to Hermione's face and she gave Harry (and Em) a quick squeeze under the table. Much to his surprise.

Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to open the card from Tony and Dee in the middle of breakfast. Tony had been very supportive of their marriage once he gotten used to the idea but Dee was quite insistent about embarrassing Harry at every opportunity. He loved them both very dearly but Hermione's mother could be a bit much for a thirteen year old sometimes.

Deciding discretion was the better part of valor Harry held the card from Hermione's parents out to her and asked her to read it for him. Ginny leaned over Hermione's shoulder as she read it.

'Dad says Hi and hopes Ginny and I aren't distracting you too much from your studies. There's a hint here that he and Mom would like to come see the next Quidditch match Gryffindor has if you can promise him that he won't be scared to death by what happens to you.'

'I have no control over what happens out on the pitch. I'll ask Remus or Sirius if they wouldn't mind bringing them here.

'And Mom sends her love and , Oh dear… she says she hopes you are getting in plenty of baby – making practice as both her and Molly want be grandmothers as soon as we all graduate.'

Harry covered his face with his hands and slid under the table to the amusement of his friends and classmates around him. When Ginny and Hermione went looking for their husband they found him shaking his head. "Whenever dangerous animal Hagrid is showing us today, I'm going to volunteer! Hermione, please try to control your Mom."

Both Ginny and Hermione were laughing at Harry's expression and helped him up. "So where's our cards?" Ginny finally asked.

Harry smirked. "You've been carrying them around for about an hour now. They're in your bags."

While Ginny and Hermione started looking in their bottomless bags, Harry put a finger to his lips to tell his friends not to say anything. A minute later the two Mrs. Potters looked up from their searches to find that their husband was nowhere around. Again. When they looked up they saw that Harry was leaning against the Great Doors and casually juggling two cards up and down; one in each hand.

The two girls stared at each other in both amazement and outrage; Harry had tricked them. Neville spoke up from his spot across from the girls. "Dean and I can bring your bookbags down to Hagrid's if you want to take care of Harry now."

Hermione blew Neville a kiss as she stood. "Thank you Neville."

Ginny was less subtle. She called out loudly so everyone at breakfast heard her. "That's it! We're coming after you Potter."

Harry Potter was grinning and then waved at everyone before he turned and ran. Even Professor McGonagall was laughing as the two wives set out running from the Great Hall after their husband.

Xxxx xxxx

Death Eaters aren't a very sentimental lot as people go but Bellatrix was hoping at least for a little something from her ex-husband Rodolphus. This day was a mudblood holiday but it was one of the few that had transferred successfully to the magical world.

Ever since her marriage had been vacated by that scoundrel Black, Bellatrix had felt more abandoned than normal. She had been a favorite of the Dark Lord and had even shared his bed on more than one occasion. But now without her name, connections and money both the Lestrange brothers were treating her as something they might have accidentally stepped in. It was a situation that filled her thoughts with schemes of punishment and retribution. She could probably take them on together in a duel but that was a dangerous gambit. She would have better luck splitting them apart but without the marriage providing leverage on Rodolphus, the two brothers had drawn closer during their reluctant reclusiveness.

There were five males remaining in this current group that had escaped together and had started rebuilding the legacy of Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Bellatrix discounted Peter Pettigrew as worthless and Dolohov as not ambitious enough. He was ruthless to be sure but he was content to just follow orders unless he was really pushed to take action on his own. He could only be a servant to the Dark Lord and Bellatrix would be not satisfied by aligning herself to a servant. She had desires and plans of her own. She wanted to be at Lord Voldemort's side when he finally ruled over magical and then muggle England. And then the world. It was an unbridled lust for power, prestige and position that drove Bellatrix onward.

It was this almost all-consuming drive that had driven her to do anything to retain her position as the Dark Lord's favorite. She would prove herself now in his absence by leading this band of his lieutenants to riches and fame; preparing the way for his triumphant return. But they had to stop the constant bickering first; it was a necessity rather than a want. Otherwise they would be more at each other's throats than they were currently. Her master would be very displeased if they were brought back to justice without obtaining her objectives. Death to Black and Potter and a total restoration of her vaults (to include one of Lord Voldemort's personal treasures).

So Bellatrix was faced with two unsavory choices if she was to find herself in a leading position again. She could try to get herself back in the good graces of Rodolphus and thereby his brother Rabastan. Bellatrix thought about that and mentally shook her head. She had already wasted enough of her life on the man; it wouldn't do to waste more of it when she wanted more out of life than what he or they couldn't provide.

The other choice was aligning herself with Lucius Malfoy. A devious self-serving pureblood who thought of nothing more than his own position and the power he could control. The man who had practically ran the Ministry of Magic with his advice to that buffoon Fudge. A wizard with enough ambition and lust for power to rival her own. Bellatrix wondered if the two of them could even coexist, let alone cooperate to their mutual benefit. It was something she would have to think about.

And Bellatrix realized that if she tried to align herself with Malfoy she would have to play nice. Bellatrix hated 'playing nice'. It meant guarding her normal tongue and paying the insufferable lout some compliments instead. It might involve flirting and even bedding Malfoy to secure his support. It was a cost of the game and Bellatrix played it better than most.

It was finally after supper that Bellatrix made her first move. She went to her room to adjust her looks and clothing to be more attractive. It didn't take much time but cleaning her face and slightly raising the hem of her dress and making sure a button here or there wouldn't close properly might go a long way toward making her seem more agreeable.

"So Malfoy, is there any of that excellent brandy left that you liberated from the Greengrass'?"

Lucius looked up from the ancient book he was reading and regarded their only female companion with a suspicious stare. Her tone of voice was almost normal and he knew enough about her to realize that that was the time she was the most dangerous.

Xxxx xxxx

"So what did you get us?" Ginny asked eagerly after they finished changing into some comfortable clothes and footwear for the dance.

"Well, that was all nice and romantic. Not 'Thanks for everything you did for us today dear husband' or 'I just need to tell you I love you before we head out'. You sure have a way of making a bloke feel special Ginny."

Ginny draped herself over her husband as they leaned on the side of the bed. "You know all those things are true Harry mine."

"Say that again. Please?"

"Okay. All those things are true."

"No, the other part."

"Harry mine?"

"Again?"

"Harry mine."

"That was brilliant. I'm going to count that as your present to me. I just got a bit of goosebumps hearing that come out of your mouth."

Ginny looked a little surprised that Harry had been moved by those two simple words. "Oh Harry, I'm sorry. Do Hermione and I not say little things like that to you enough?"

"Like what enough?" Hermione had seen the two having a quiet moment and had stayed in the bathroom doorway watching them. She joined them when she heard Harry asking for something.

"I said Harry mine and he got all emotional all of a sudden Nonnie."

"Harry?"

"I…hmmm… it just hit's me very strongly once in a while that we're really all here together and you two really love and want me for me. It's the best feeling in the world that you both love me like that. I hope you both feel the same amount of deep and steady love from me."

Hermione didn't have to mentally consult with Ginny about both of them thoroughly covering their husband with hugs or kisses. The three swayed a bit together before Harry reluctantly extracted himself. "I'd best get to the gift-giving before we're late getting downstairs."

"It can wait till later" Ginny said. "Really it can."

"I know but I promised you both that I would give you your presents before the dance. I intend to keep my word." Harry walked over to his dresser, opened a drawer and brought out a pair of small boxes for each of his wives. He handed a set to each and waited a little nervously while they unwrapped them. True to form, Ginny ripped into the first of her presents while Hermione carefully opened the ribbon and tape to get to the box within. She wasn't quite finished with that when Ginny held up a little bit of twisted wires with some small gems mounted at various places.

"So Ginny, what are these since I got a set of the same thing with diamonds instead of rubies?"

"They are…" Harry started.

Ginny eagerly finished Harry's explanation. "…ear cuffs Hermione. It's a different kind of earrings. These mount on or around the edge of your ear instead of dangling from your earlobes. Angelina had a set she wears sometime. I've held them once for her when she forgot to take them off before she showed up for Quidditch practice. These are really pretty Harry. Thank you!"

Hermione kissed Harry after he received a smooch from Ginny. The girls helped each other put the cuffs on and went over to the mirror to see how they looked. They were smiling as they came back and opened up the other pair of boxes. Ginny was surprised to see a thin belt made up of small golden chain metal while Hermione received one in silver. Both were extremely lightweight and flexible and seemed to be self-adjustable in terms of length.

"I'm going to wear this tonight" Ginny declared as she tugged the other belt she was wearing from her slacks.

"Okay but…"

"Yes Harry?"

"Both of you hold up those new belts by the ends for a moment. That's good. Now repeat after me 'Taj law'." Both girls did and were surprised at what happened.

"Wicked" said Ginny.

"We can't accidentally stab ourselves with these, can we?" Hermione nervously asked.

Ginny and Hermione were looking at the belts which now held a half-dozen sheathed knives. Ginny pulled one out and took a good look and feel of the sharp instrument.

"These are throwing knives" she finally said grinning.

"Yes" Harry said. "Pretty and dangerous – just like you two."

"This isn't a very romantic gift" Hermione finally said.

"I didn't mean it to be insulting" Harry said. "I just thought it was a wonderful side trick. You never have to transform them at all, you know. They'll revert if you say 'Taj law' again. They will look lovely around your waists."

"Even if we're not wearing anything else Jamie?"

Harry drew a deep breath as he thought about the mental images that Ginny just prompted. Hermione laughed and kissed Harry briefly on the lips.

"We'll have to model them for our husband that way later Gin."

Harry momentarily blushed but then grinned. "Are the presents okay then?"

"Very okay love."

"You're a real dear. Thanks for trying to protect us even if you wouldn't be around."

"Well, I'll be around the two of you all night. Let's not try to wear ourselves out dancing. There's still a long day of classes tomorrow."

"We know. Aren't you curious about what we got you?"

Harry's eyes lit up. "You got me something? Really?"

Ginny slapped Harry's arm lightly. "Why would you think we wouldn't get you anything?"

"I just didn't think of it. Honestly I didn't; I was worrying if I made the right purchases for you."

Hermione had gone to the closet and pulled out a two-foot square box and laid it on the bed. She and Ginny watched Harry as he unwrapped the box and opened up the lid. What he saw made him turn and hug them in turn. "This is brilliant! Really."

What Harry saw was a set of dress robes in deepest black with green trim that matched his eyes. Embroidered on the chest was the Potter Crest and below that were the crests of all the other Houses that Harry was the head of. It was a very impressive looking piece of clothing. Harry sort of understood that it was going to be reserved for very formal occasions or when he rarely wanted to go out of his way to intimidate somebody.

"This is totally great you two. Thanks."

'He hasn't looked underneath the robe yet.'

'Maybe he shouldn't.'

Harry picked up the robe carefully and set it on the bed. Underneath the formal dress robe were two sets of the most sheer silk material Harry had ever seen; one in white and the other in dark green.

"Wow!"

"Like our new negligees Jamie?"

"Wow!"

Harry's grin threatened to break his face muscles but Ginny reached and picked up the robe and placed it back on top of the girl's new lingerie. "Later husband."

"But… but…"

Hermione pushed her husband out of the bedroom. "First things first. You owe us some slow dances first Mr. Potter."

"Well, if I really have to.. Oww! Hey?"

Ginny shook her hand where she had slapped Harry's bum hard. "We're going to be late. If we don't get there, we can't come back here."

"Okay, let's go."

"One more thing Harry" Ginny said.

"What now?"

There was no answer to that question. Harry looked at his two wives staring back at him and then slapped himself mentally. He reached and pulled Ginny in first and snogged her for about a minute. Then he released her and turned but it was Hermione that grabbed him up for a searing kiss.

"Happy Valentine's Day Mrs. Potters."

"Happy Valentine's Day Harry."

Harry held out his arms and each girl took an elbow. They walked out of the Hearth together but Harry was wondering if his wives were thinking about cutting the evening a little short to return back to the Hearth.

Xxxx xxxx

The Great Hall had already been rearranged for the dance by the time they arrived there. The house tables had been pushed back to the walls and a number of small tables were arranged around the center space that was left open for the dance floor. The teacher's table had been brought down to the lower level and was loaded down with various snacks and punches, butterbeers and water.

The floor and tables were pretty well full of students and Harry saw that a bunch of the first year boys had gathered together to look nervously across the hall at the first year girls. Whoever was going to be brave enough to cross the space in between and ask a member of the opposite sex to dance first was just guesswork at this point. George and Fred were already trying to talk Angelina and Alicia into something they didn't look too happy about.

Harry made his way through the crowd of students up to the front where Professor Flitwick was testing out the magical microphones and speakers. George had explained to Harry once that there were 'Sonorous' charms on the equipment to magically enhance and broadcast voices and musical instruments. It was almost identical with the muggle system except that there wasn't any electricity involved at all.

Professor Flitwick finished up whatever adjustments and checking was need and walked to the side of the stage to look at the three Potters. "I'm glad you're here. The dance is about to start off. You'll be third in line and just before the surprise group."

Harry and the others nodded and watched as Professor Flitwick walked over to the side of the makeshift stage to talk to the Choral group. It consisted of about twenty members from all the houses that liked to get together and sing. They were all wearing their white and blue performance robes tonight and it looked like they might be leading off the performances.

Seamus Finnegan was standing nearby with Shirley Torrence, a fourth year from Hufflepuff. She was holding a violin a little nervously while Seamus was talking and waving his penny whistle around as he talk to her. Harry ducked under the recorder and started up a conversation with the pair. Shirley told him, Hermione and Ginny that Seamus had heard her practicing one evening in the fall and had surprisingly joined her with his instrument. She said that they had been meeting about once a week to just hang out together and play some music. Seamus blushed when Ginny kidded him about holding out on 'special gossip' from the rest of his housemates. Seamus was spared thinking up a response to that when the lights in the hall flickered twice and then went out.

A spotlight appeared on stage and Remus Lupin walked into everyone's view. "Hello everyone. I drew the short straw so I guess I get to be the Master of Ceremonies for tonight's dance. There's some surprises, some familiar faces and I'll give five points for whoever catches the Weasley twins spiking the punch bowls."

There was a general laugh from the dance floor accompanied by two very loud protests from the redheaded pair. 'Notice Remus didn't say that Fred and George couldn't spike the punch Harry?'

'Yes, I caught that. We better stay with some bottled butterbeers tonight.'

Remus waited for the snickers to die down before he spoke again. "Leading off we have the Hogwarts Chorus led by Filius Flitwick."

The spotlight shifted to the group of students and the Charms professor that stood on a little stand before him. Professor Flitwick blew into a small tuning harmonica for the starting note and raised his baton. In five seconds Harry was grinning in surprise. He, Ginny and Hermione had only heard the group singing Christmas carols and the Hogwarts song once a year. This wasn't anything standard like that. Four part harmony surprised everyone with "Ouga Chaka, Ouga chaka" and then the group was off and singing 'Hooked on a Feeling'. Most of Slytherin house didn't get it but everybody else was clapping and singing along. The Chorus slid into 'For the Longest Time" and then finished up with 'Listen to the Music'.

The students dancing and in front of the stage clapped like crazy when the Hogwarts Chorus finished. The group took a couple of bows before filing off stage to remove their robes and join the rest of the students for the dance.

There was a minute of buzzing from the crowd and then Shirley Torrence walked on stage with a folding chair. She sat down in it and looked around. Remus came out carrying a chair and put it down facing her. He looked around and then went back to one side of the stage. Seamus came out next with Professor Lupin's hands firmly on his shoulders, pushing him. Seamus quit resisting about 4 feet from Shirley and took his seat. He whispered something to Shirley and she rolled her eyes. Three seconds later she started playing a lively reel that Harry hadn't heard before. Seamus joined in about a minute later. Harry dragged Hermione out to the dance floor and tried copying the fast moves and jigs other people were doing but didn't have much luck with that.

'Remus just said we're up next guys.'

'Be right there Ginny.'

Harry let Hermione and Ginny move up the steps ahead of him to the side of the stage. Shirley and Seamus had gotten to the point of playing back and forth against each other and then finished up together with a flourish. Seamus seemed surprised by all the applause but he was even more surprised when Shirley pointed to him and then gave him a one-armed hug. The two walked off the stage and Harry saw that all his old dorm mates were waiting to congratulate Seamus. Professor Flitwick was the first to shake Shirley's hand when she met her friends.

Remus walked on the stage still applauding the duo. He waited until the noise died down and held up his hands. "I just received word that our main act has arrived and are getting into their outfits for the performance. So we have one more group to listen to before they hit the stage. You all are aware of these three for some reason or other. If you haven't been with them in classroom, you've seen at least one of them scaring or thrilling the rest of us with his antics as the Seeker for Gryffindor House. You have also been turning them in for inappropriate behavior in the halls. Harry, Ginny and Hermione Potter."

Harry shook his head at Remus as he passed him out to the center of the stage. Harry was holding his mandolin and took one of the folding seats. Hermione pulled her flute out of one of her pants pocket and expanded it before she sat down in the other. Ginny went to the lead microphone and took it off its stand.

Harry stood to let the spotlight hit him instead of Ginny. "We're going to do something a little different now so you can have a hopefully good slow dance with the one that means something special to you."

The flute played a nice long lead in to the song and Harry picked up on the melody with the mandolin.

'Ginny, just sing to Harry and don't worry about the audience.'

Ginny nodded to let Hermione know she had heard her and turned and faced her husband. There was a pause of two seconds when Hermione and Harry paused in her playing and then Ginny opened her mouth and sang.

We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun) (Harry started softly singing harmony in the background.)

Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
And yes, we've just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun

Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together

And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun

(Roger Nichols & Paul Williams, The Carpenters and others,1970)

There was a couple of seconds of silence after the three finished and Ginny didn't dare open her eyes to see the reaction from the audience. She was first relieved and then happy when the cheers and applause rose from the people in the room and she saw Harry standing and applauding before her. Hermione came over from her chair and hugged Ginny from behind. "Great job wife."

The three took a bow and prepared to get off the stage. They were heading for the side when a loud voice came out from the audience. "That all you got Potter? I bet you can't play anything else decently."

'Draco.'

'Figures. Let's get going.'

Harry continued on the way but Remus stopped him. "I think I heard a challenge there Harry."

"I think it's time for the main act professor."

There were a lot of calls for "Another Song" that came from the audience and then a new voice from the side of the stage in the shadows. "Go ahead. We'd like to hear another song from you too."

Ginny was already pulling out and expanding the drum set she had in her pocket. Remus brought another chair out for her to sit on and Harry silently asked Hermione if she was up to coaxing a little saxophone sound from her instrument. She smiled and nodded and sat back down.

Harry waited for Ginny to give him a downbeat and then he played a couple of rapid chords that came out as a loud guitar. He stepped up to the microphone and played the riffs again. Ginny and Hermione played in just as Harry opened his mouth.

I've been working so hard
I'm punching my card
Eight hours for what?
Oh, tell me what I got

I've got this feeling
That time's just holding me down
I'll hit the ceiling or else I'll tear up this town
Tonight I gotta cut

(Ginny and then others quickly joined in to sing the chorus.)

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes (shut down that lame excuse)
Please, Louise pull me off a my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues everybody cut footloose

And you're playing so cool
Obeying every rule
I dig a way down in your heart
You're burning, yearning for songs

Somebody to tell you
That life ain't passing you by
I'm trying to tell you
It will if you don't even try
You can fly if you'd only cut

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Oowhee, shake it, shake it for me
Whoa, Milo c'mon, c'mon let's go
Lose your blues everybody cut footloose

Cut footloose
Cut footloose
Cut footloose

We got to turn it around
And put your feet on the ground
Now take a hold of the song
Whoa, I'm turning it loose

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me off a my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues now everybody cut footloose

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me off a my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues

Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody everybody cut footloose (Kenny Loggins, 1984)

Harry was drained as he finished the song but he had seen how everyone was dancing and moving to the beat of the song as he sang. The applause rolled over the stage and Harry turned to point to Hermione and then Ginny. They all took a bow and then turned to leave. Ginny came back out to get her drum set and the applause caused her to drag her spouses back out for another bow. The three waved and moved through a bunch of congratulations as they made their way to get something cold to drink.

Harry was pulled around and had barely time to recognize Sirius before he was engulfed in a hug. Harry looked over his shoulder to see that Gracie was also being greeted by Ginny and Hermione. They got their drinks and went and sat down at an empty table.

Sirius was still patting Harry on the back as they sat down next to each other. "Almost didn't make it in time to see that. Gracie changed her mind at the last second but I told her it might be a while before she saw the three of you singing again. That was really good Harry; Lily would have been proud of you. She had a nice voice but your dad couldn't carry a tune if he was given a wheelbarrow."

Harry laughed then and went over to ask Gracie if she would consent to have a dance with him later. Her eyes got real wide and she said she didn't know how to dance at all.

"You just watch us and then you can have a slow dance with Harry. He's gotten pretty good since we started teaching him."

Gracie laughed and watched as Harry took a swipe at Ginny's ribs. They all turned toward the stage when Remus started speaking again. "You all know that our feature band, the Warped Coils of Time had to cancel. Professor Flitwick thought for a bit and then contacted an ex-member of Ravenclaw house. She and her friends had a free night and said they wouldn't mind coming. Ladies and gentlemen, Celestina Warbeck and the Weird Sisters."

Ginny almost exploded out of her seat and immediately dragged Harry to the dance floor as the opening chords of 'The Witches are Here' rocked out over the Great Hall. Harry didn't think the three of them would be heading back to the Hearth any time before the last note of the last song died. And he really didn't care.