Ceremony at the Conservatory

Harry decided to attend the ritual with Draco. Even if he wasn´t thought to be gay he still wouldn´t have been able to get a date. At least not one he could bring to a family-celebration-thing where his entire extended family would be present. He was Harry Potter after all and this was the sole reason why someone wanted to be seen with him.

The young war-hero was nervous. He had an essential role to play in this ritual. Not only did he lack experience since this was the first time he partook in an ancient wizard-rite but also it was the first time he didn't have Ron by his side. While his best friend was attending the ceremony, he was there as a guest with Susan and not as part of the family. Draco told Harry what to do one last time.

The first guests arrived. Dudley greeted him smiling. Cho had no intention of attending an event held at Malfoy Manor but it was the first time she was allowed to bring her now fiance along and Dudley was looking forward to seeing Harry again and finally getting to know her world.

Charlie returned from Romania to pay the newborn his respects and to see his family again. Less than half a decade ago being invited to the Malfoy Manor was unthinkable for the entire Weasley-clan now they were family of sorts. Ron announced proudly that he was going to be a dad to his brother introducing him to Susan.

Hermione was at a reading room showing her parents her baby-boy while Lucius greeted his ex-wife.

"You do realize there are children present, I do hope you can tolerate this obstacle."

"This is what I love about you," Narcissa said kissing his cheeks, "you never fail to remind me why I divorced you."

The dark wizard kissed her hand, "The pleasure is mine. By the way, your in-laws are already present. Have fun."

Percy looked at the floor and followed his wife silently to the table were Andromeda and Mrs. Zabini were seated. The three purebloods must have been Britain´s most beautiful witches only Percy didn´t seem to fit in.

Draco introduced Ms. Goyle to Theo since she hoped to get in contact with her last living relatives and he was married to Gregory´s wife´s younger sister Astoria. Bill, Charlie, and George watched the children play Quidditch in front of the vast conservatory. Since it was summer and likely to have a thunderstorm in the afternoon the tables were inside the impressive building made out of glass with an iron-frame.

Ginny and Pansy used the occasion to check out wizards while Molly and Arthur tried not to look not completely misplaced. Harry stood next to a newly planted walnut-tree trying not to gag knowing that Hermione´s placenta was buried beneath it.

Richard was lying on a red blanket. Mr. Malfoy was the first to lift the baby up. He raised him above his head and mumbled an ancient spell signifying his accepting his son into the family before laying him back on the ground. Draco repeated the action.

Now it was Harry´s turn. While he had actually practiced he was still afraid of screwing up. Even after abandoning her, Hermione had, reluctantly but still, taken him back as a friend and welcomed him into her family. Now it was his turn of formally accepting his godson. All eyes were on him.

The young war-hero still hated being the center of attention but wishing didn´t make the crowd and cameras disappear. He lifted Richard up and luckily didn´t drop him. He even remembered the words he was supposed to say and a sigh of relieve left his lips as he felt the magic binding him to the boy. He handed Hermione her son and she smiled at him.

Once the ceremony was over they sat down and enjoyed the feast. Sitting down next to Draco and Rose, Harry watched his best friend dig into his food at the table in the opposite corner of the green-house. He wished he could be sitting with the Weasleys and Susan. Even though he wasn´t afraid of the old Malfoy he didn´t feel very comfortable in the death eater´s presence either.

It was hot and the air was thick. A giant tortoise scratched the glass-door with his leg trying to get back in. the bushy-haired witch had wanted to have a kneezle or a cat but her older husband wasn´t fond of them. He probably wasn´t into getting hair on his fine dress-robes and the couple adopted reptiles instead.

The conservatory was not only home to orange-trees and tortoises but also rhinoceros iguanas. They were mostly vegetarian and only occasionally subsidized their diet with insects. Feeding them with bare hands was still not advisable. Unsurprisingly Hermione knew all of her monsters by name. To her defense her 'cuties' were less ugly then Crookshanks had been.

All in all, it was a great party and having spent so much time with Blaise and Draco over the last weeks, Harry enjoyed their proximity. Luckily there wasn´t an instance and Ron didn´t even scream when one of the iguanas bit his finger. Probably because he was dating a healer who whispered the right things into his ear.

Dr. and Dr. Granger handed their daughter an envelope. Inside were four tickets for swan lake. Hermione hugged her mom.

"Thank you, it´s perfect. Draco is looking forward to babysitting."

"Am I?"

"You are."