Chapter Thirty-Four:
Delilah stepped out of the floo at the Davis Manor. She was going to go shopping with Hermione for decorations and festive holiday things. She opened her mouth to call out, but froze at the sound of a piano. It was one of the most melancholy, but beautiful melodies she had ever heard.
Quietly, she followed the sounds to the library and found Daniel Davis at the keys. This particular Davis brother was an alluring mystery. The only Slytherin in a den of lions. The quiet one in a crowd of boisterous brothers. An intellectual amidst an army of athletes...and damn gorgeous.
All of his brothers looked a little bit like Hermione and someone else put together. But Dell had heard them say that Dan was the splitting image of his father. He had long, wavy, dark hair and deep blue eyes. Good Merlin, he was tall, a head taller than Eli even.
"You may as well sit down, if you are going to watch me like that," he said smoothly, not looking away from the sheet music as he played. He used one hand to pat the space beside him on the bench.
Swallowing, she complied. "When did you learn to play?"
"After I attempted suicide, my shrink suggested I find a creative outlet that not only expresses my emotions, but also stimulates my mind. And quite frankly I can't dance, my drawing doesn't extend past stick figures, and my imagination is...to clinical to write stories. Piano is therapeutic."
Dell watched his fingers a moment. "Well, it's very beautiful."
"Thank you...so I heard you had...an episode?" he asked softly.
"Yeah. I was suffocating...and I..." she couldn't put it in words for him.
"The only way to be rid of it was to give your life to it," he concluded for her.
She stared up at him, realizing that if someone as smart as Dan had fallen for that lie...then she wasn't as stupid as she felt. She leaned her head on his shoulder, smirking at the bad note he hit suddenly before continuing on. "Maybe I need a hobby. I used to take ballet to help with my grace on a broom..."
Dan swallowed, his cheeks flushing at the contact from his crush. "I'm sure you are a beautiful dancer," he remarked.
"By the way you were pretty wicked awesome in the match last month," she smiled.
Suddenly the melody blossomed from despair to hope, warming both teens.
Harry stepped into the Davis home and saw Hermione leaning against the doorframe to the Library. He went to ask what she was watching, but she held a finger to his lips and nodded to the source of the beautiful music. A gentle smile grew on his lips at the sight before him. He pulled Hermione into his arms, gazing at the pair.
"She's found a soulmate," he murmured.
"He's never played something so beautifully content since he began learning," she whispered.
The couple watched silently before Harry finally went to find the twins for their grocery trip. Hermione pretended to call the pair from the kitchen, inviting Dan to escort them in their shopping.
Gabby smiled happily as she watched the movie of Jacob's choice, curled up against Zane. Her boyfriend was cutting up with the other boy about the comedic moment in the film. He chuckled but paused when he caught her staring, kissing her chastely. He calmly took her sore feet in his lap and massaged them as he watched.
How in Merlin's name had she gone from the boyfriend from hell to the godsend she had now? Zane honestly considered the baby his...and he never was bothered with her mood swings or cravings...every now and then he would roll his eyes at her ludicrous demands when it was too late to do anything, but all in all she loved him.
She had found out the gender last trip to the healer, and kept it a secret from Zane. She didn't know why she had felt he didn't deserve to know...old habits. He was adopting the babe as soon as it was born, he wasn't going to leave her to clean up a mess that wasn't his in the first place...and he always showed up when she needed him.
"Zane?" she said softly.
He turned his attention from the screen to her face. "Hmm?"
"Lean over here, I need to tell you something," she said, waiting until his ear was close to her mouth. "It's a girl," she stated shakily.
Zane pulled away slowly to gaze at her. He understood what this meant. She trust him...completely now. Smiling goofily, he slid his large hand to her belly, kissing her lovingly. "Oh, we are so going to spoil our little princess rotten," he teased warmly. He leaned in for another kiss.
"YUCK!" Jacob gagged.
Zane turned from his woman. "You think that's gross, huh? Come here I'll show you gross! Wet Willie!" the blonde cried wetting his pointer finger with spit and aiming for the boy's defenseless ear.
Jacob shrieked in disgust, laughing for his older brother to stop. The two proceeded to wrestle on the carpet. Gabby giggled watching the fray. She shouted for Jacob to pin him and received a fake, appalled expression from her boyfriend. Zane was immediately pinned by Jake, laughing at his own predicament.
Chris sighed happily as she strolled lazily hand-in-hand with Eli through Hogsmeade. He glanced at her smirking. He suddenly pulled her to him, kissing her hungrily. Between his brothers, the Quidditch Team, and his dorm-mates, he'd had very few opportunities to just be with her.
Chris pulled away, a goofy grin on her perfect lips. Merlin, he loved her. ANd now, he needed to find the perfect gift to show that. He wasn't as impulsive as Zane, proposing to his love...then again Zane and Gabby's situation was completely different. There was a third party. Speaking of which...
"Hey, want to know a secret?" he asked softly.
"What?" Her green eyes lit up in curiosity.
"Zane is going to propose tonight," he whispered.
A smile bloomed in her excitement. "That's brilliant! She needs him so much, not to mention she's impossibly in love with him! ANd she's only ever really wanted to be a wife and mother! Plus, he obviously loves her very much! That is truly a wonderful Christmas Miracle," she breathed out wistfully.
"So...you won't be offended if I don't propose too?" he asked nervously. He was stepping into a minefield with that question. He'd either miss the bomb or it would explode in his face.
Chris gazed up at him lovingly. "We're not ready yet, love. We still have school and they're graduating this year. Plus there's the baby coming." She cupped his cheek, noticing how worried he was. "I don't need to be engaged just because my sister is. And I'd rather be engaged for a short time, than for years until we're both finished with school and settled in our careers. I want to marry you just...in our own time."
Elijah exhaled in relief. "I agree...just double checking is all."
She smiled, kissing his cheek. "Now I need a dress for Gran's party..."
Dinner was great. Harry couldn't help chuckling at the way the twins went through the meal as zombies. After the family effort of washing the dishes and putting everything away, the mob congregated in the living room.
Hermione sat on the arm of the sofa next to Harry. "Well there is a lot of us so instead of having each of us buying ten gifts we though we'd do a Secret Santa," she explained. "So as the tin comes around, draw a name out, and then spend the next few weeks trying to figure out what to give that person. Just because we're doing this doesn't mean we're discouraging you giving to more than one person, but we thought it would be easier for us to learn more about each other this way."
"The key is to keep it secret and fun. You can write anonymous notes and clues over the weeks if you want. But Christmas Day we will reveal who drew who," Harry stated as he drew his giftee.
"So we're spending Christmas Day together?" Eli asked.
"Yes. But we'll have Christmas Morning separate," Hermione replied.
"Is there anything else anyone would like to share while we're all together?" Harry asked.
Gabby glanced at Zane and then raised her hand. "Uh...we just thought you'd like to know...I...We're having a girl," she smiled.
Zane smirked in pride as his brothers patted him on the back. Harry smiled as he gazed at his oldest...young woman in affection. He really loved babies. His attention focused on Hermione as she stood, smoothing out her dress. "Well, we'll be off then," he said happily offering the woman his arm.
The ten children waited until they were certain the couple were gone. Chris cleared her throat and spoke. "We need to get them something nice."
"No, they need a vacay," Jonah said matter-of-factly.
They kids all nodded in agreement, thoughtful silence growing between them. "Well let's give them one, then," Jacob stated calmly.
The others stared at him in disbelief. Of course! The kid was a genius. "My family has a flat in Paris. We used it like once. I can have my house elf get it set up as a love nest for the week after Christmas and they can spend the New Year there," Zane suggested.
"We could have the jet ready for the Christmas Night," Eli added.
"Dell and I could put together a book of suggested things to do and see while they are there," Dan stated, looking to the girl for approval. She nodded.
"And I'll have their bags packed and new clothes ready for them to take," Gabby said with a smile.
"We'll do all the chores while they are gone," Samson said motioning to his twin. Jonah rolled his eyes.
"And I'll ask The Blacks if they'd stay here to chaperone and The Snapes at our place," Chris finished. "Well it's settled Operation Love Nest is a go."
Diagon Alley had taken up the custom of decorating with twinkle lights at Christmas time after the war. Couples would come and stroll around just to see the beautiful displays and drink hot coco as they window-shopped. Harry and Hermione had made it from one end of the Alley to the other. Laughing, Hermione ducked into a cafe, sighing at the warmth. There was guitarist playing holiday songs jovially.
Harry took her jacket and scarf as she slid into a booth. As he scooted in to keep her warm with his closeness...or so he said that was the reason, she ordered some coffee and pastries for them and cuddled into his body. He listened dutifully as she explained all the gifts she had in mind, paying the waitress when she delivered their treats.
When she ran out of things to say, Harry bent his head to nuzzle her jaw line, grinning at her hum of approval. He nipped her earlobe as he told her how much her adored her, how happy he was to have her back. Smiling, Hermione lifted his head and kissed his warm lips, combing her fingers through his thick hair and nibbling at his bottom lip tenderly. She gazed into his intense emerald eyes, but turned at the ringing bell on the front door. Much to her dismay, she stopped his next advance.
"What?" he questioned in confusion.
"Skeeter," she replied, taking a sip of her coffee.
Harry slid his eyes to the door and indeed it was the salacious reporter and her nosy photographer. He glanced back down at the woman, unsure why she cared at all. Hermione recognized his concern. "I want the every woman in the magical world to know that you are taken, love. But I want that news to be on our terms, not something she splashes across the front page from a chance encounter."
Harry grinned, kissing her forehead. She was right. And at the moment they were unnoticeable in the crowd. He hardly went out so fewer and fewer could recognize him on sight. Sighing he pulled her against him so that she could tuck herself under his chin and they watched the entertainer in content and happy silence.
"So where are we going?" Gabby asked happily.
"That new dessert bistro in Hogsmeade," Zane replied. "I hear they've got extremely good pie." He grinned roguishly.
"You know me too well," she chuckled, as she passed through the glass door.
The two indulged in the dessert, stealing sweet kiss every so often...until the eldest Potter girl called young master Peters' bluff. "What's wrong? You're off...somehow."
"Well...it's just-" he swallowed looking away.
"Oh my god, you're breaking up with me! I should have known!" she breathed in despair.
Zane shot his eyes to her, "What? Wait-"
"What did I do wrong? Merlin I knew I shouldn't have given in," she started to sob.
Zane looked around at the disapproving looks he received. "Gabby I'm not-"
"Zane Peters you are an asshole! You take me out on this romantic dinner only break up with me? What kind of prick does that?" Her voice rose, causing a commotion.
Zane growled in irritation and shot to his feet. "The kind that's trying to fucking propose to the girl of his dreams you crazy woman!" He flushed in embarrassment as he glanced around at the shocked audience. Collapsing back into his seat, he massaged his temple tiredly. "I think I need a drink..."
His attention was stolen by the hand on his forearm. His green eyes gazed at her teary, mascara run brown eyes. He sighed. "This isn't how I pictured this going."
Wordlessly, Gabby climbed into his lap, cupping his cheeks and kissing his worried brow. "Say what you wanted to say," she whispered.
Zane blinked sliding his arms around her. "Ever since...I met you I've been captivated by you...in fact even before then you were mentioned by Eli in a conversation and I was intrigued. I thought it would be a fun affair and then we would burn out a few weeks tops...but I fell in love with you and then I figured out you were pregnant and all I wanted to do is take you and protect you from the world..." He cleared his throat. "My day isn't complete until I see you and I can't imagine not having you...or the baby. I love you both very much. So would you please marry me?" He summoned a little box from his coat and wandlessly flipped it open. "If it helps your decision, I didn't mean to call you crazy a moment ago."
Gabby had the surreal realization of how much she had changed in the last few months...because she didn't even look at the ring. She held her hand up to mouth to hide her goofy smile of extreme happiness and then kissed him deeply. As she pulled away the man's eyes actually crossed. "Yes. I love you and I will marry you," she purred.
Both jumped at the applause that came from around them, blushing. Zane chuckled taking the ring from the box and sliding onto her finger. Finally she glanced down at the jewelry and did a double take, her mouth falling open. "Holy snitch, it's huge!" she squeaked excitedly.
Zane smirked proudly, slamming some galleons on the table enchanting their cloaks onto their bodies and then walking her out into the snow. She looked up at him. "We're going home? It's early still."
"Your father is turning a blind eye to the fact that I reserved a room at The Camelot tonight. But if you want to go home, we can," he said innocently.
"I love you," she grinned, kissing him adoringly.