Years of Struggle
Protocol
"James!" said Iere. She made a little backhanded wave toward the settee.
James took up the invitation and sat down. Iere remained standing, gave James a direct look, held it until she sensed he was becoming uncomfortable, then bent over and poured two cups of tea. One went to James.
"Please," she said.
James accepted the cup and saucer, then sat there. Iere sat down, in a chair across from the settee and picked up hers. She raised her heels, keeping her knees close together, holding her cup and saucer on her lap.
"Take anything?"
She knew he usually didn't, but he was entitled to change his mind.
"No," James said, barely above a whisper.
Iere took a sip of her tea.
"You mean business, James," said Iere, just making an observation.
"You're right," he said. "You always know."
"Mm-hmm," Iere nodded.
"You already know why I came," said James. It was a statement.
"I…It doesn't work exactly as you think, although, I have a pretty good idea," said Iere. "Just feeling your emotional state. It's kind of exciting, really."
She surprised herself with the power of her response. Her thigh muscles wanted to bounce her on her chair. Iere felt some heat followed by a slight chill and knew it meant she had some sweat on her upper lip.
"Right," said James. "Dad and I were having a talk about some serious matters and I told him I love you and want to marry you and he said a man usually talks that over with his fiancée before anything else, to make sure she feels the same way. At least that is what I got out of it. So, ah, that is why I wanted to come over. Thanks for the tea."
Iere smiled, a huge, crinkle-the-corners-of-the-eyes smile.
"You're welcome, and I feel the same way about you, James," said Iere. "Harry is right. We must talk. For my part, I have thought about marriage, to you, and a life together. We touched on those things just slightly but we need to go a bit further. It seems to me. Do you agree?"
"Oh. Yes," James said. "I know. There are things we have to do, before."
"We're spared some concerns other people have, people who aren't as fortunate as we are. A roof over our heads, a little financial cushion, all of those things," said Iere. "You have to finish school, though. You are going to return for seventh year?"
"No one has made me an offer for one of the elite programs, so, yes, it looks like I'll be going back to Hogwarts," James said.
"Good," said Iere. "I'd prefer that. You'll take your NEWTS?"
"Figures," James said. "I'm going back anyway."
"Do your best."
"I'm a Slytherin," said James. "You know about those."
"Cheeky young wizard," answered Iere, clearly delighted by it all.
"I have my projects, so I'll keep busy," she added.
One would have thought she was speaking of tatting borders on the quilt she'd just finished.
"You feel the same way?" James asked. "I love you and you're fine with that and you love me?"
"Yes, James," said Iere, "I do. I felt something drawing me to you, something powerful, the first time I looked at you. We were babies, practically. Afterwards, whenever I thought about someone, as a partner in life, it was always you. Never, ever, anyone else."
"Good," said James. "Will you? Marry me?"
"We talked about things we have to do first," Iere answered.
"When we get those done," said James.
"I'm a little superstitious about conditions," said Iere. "What if we said we are…"
She was thinking and trying to sort through feelings of joy and attraction mixed with caution and a searing experience of loss, all while searching for the words to anneal everything and not hurt James whom, she silently confessed, she loved above all else.
"…we are committed to one another. We are at a stage. We will work together on the things we need to do. I will support you and you will support me and we will get to the next stage together. Oh, and, not to pry, but do you have feelings for anyone else? Because, traditionally, once we're a couple we oughtn't have other interests. Of that sort."
"NO!" said James. His teacup rattled on the saucer. "Sorry. No. I never have."
James looked away. He wasn't much for opening up about the deeply personal. He wondered if he was looking foolish, or juvenile, in Iere's eyes.
"Then we're the same," said Iere. She stood, took James' cup and saucer and put them on the end table. Then she sat down next to him on the settee.
"Yes, as discussed," Iere said. She put her hand on his cheek as James slid his arms under hers. James leaned forward, getting as far as the point where the tip of his nose contacted the tip of Iere's. They finished a short giggle together before tilting their heads in opposite directions. Iere's lips were right there, so James pressed his against hers. Iere expected to feel James's tongue reaching out but he didn't volunteer. She decided to take the initiative, because someone had to. Lips with a little moisture were much more kissable than the dry variety, they discovered.
"Woo…" James breathed after they pulled back.
"I agree," said Iere. "Woo. Woo-hoo!"
They turned slightly and put their backs to the settee.
"We will have a lot more to talk about," said Iere. "You know. Before."
"We don't have to hurry," James assured her.
Later on, James admitted to himself that he wasn't in any hurry at all, although he did understand THAT lay in the future somewhere. He was honest with himself—the idea, while exciting, was more than a bit intimidating. James put his arm over Iere's shoulder. She leaned into James, taking that hand's fingertips between her thumb and first finger. A mixture of scents, some from grooming products and some from James, blended and floated up, teasing her nose as their breathing synchronized
"Quite a day," James observed, looking at the ceiling, smiling.
"It's early," said Iere. She rearranged their positions, taking his arm from her shoulder, pulling it under hers and holding his hand between her two, putting her in perfect position to lay the side of her head on James' shoulder, her ear pressed flat against him. When she remembered the moment later, she thought, 'His heart is so strong!'
"Do we need to inform our relatives? I don't know what the rule is," said James.
"I think it would be for the best," said Iere. "We are a pair now, we agreed. A couple with a commitment. I would like to be included in your family things and always invite you to mine. That is how we ought to be treated, I believe."
"Good, that works," said James. "Do I get you a ring? You have some already, I know."
"I would be proud to wear your ring, James," Iere answered. "You don't have to feel obligated, yet. What do you know about our magical customs surrounding those things?"
"Little," said James, "Little to nothing."
"Same here," said Iere. "I know there is a bunch of jewelry-lore. What it means for a wizard to give his beloved this or that, the language of stones, family heirlooms and so on."
Each looked at the other.
"We'll work through that," James said.
"Together," answered Iere. "Our first joint project."
"At this stage," James clarified, finishing up.
"More tea?"
James picked up Iere's cup and saucer, then handed them over. He picked up the teapot.
"Just half," said Iere. "There are some shortbread cookies in the jar on the counter in the kitchen."
James understood, took his cue and left for the kitchen. Iere winked at the obsidian Daphne.
The cookies, two each, became three for James and just one for Iere, and second cups of tea passed in silence. Once the official business was concluded the participants were content, passing time in pleasant company, enjoyed together in the quiet country farmhouse.
"Anything you need done?" James asked as he stood.
"No, I didn't plan very well," said Iere. "Are you in a hurry?"
"Not so much," said James. "Feel like a walk? Something to do?"
Iere shot up from the settee. Apparently, she was very much in need of some physical exertion after the cascading emotions of the hour just past. She didn't answer James, crossing, instead, straight to the kitchen door, where she waited for him, hand on door handle.
The walk was brisk and fruitful. More detailed plans for the coming year emerged, interspersed with observations.
"Glad I came over today," James said.
"You're always welcome. Remind me to thank Harry for mentioning that it might be time for our serious talk," replied Iere.
"I suppose I should, too," snickered James. "I really do owe him, I suppose."
The talking died down as they walked. Field mice rustled lane-side stands of wildflowers and a few sparrows observed the hikers from hedgerows. Otherwise the walk went on silently, each of them content inside their own thoughts. James was happy to be with Iere. Her empathic gift told her and she projected her contentment outward. The only one near was James, making a closed circle and a very happy one.
"We should care for the fowl," Iere said.
"I'm at your disposal," said James.
"Is this yours?" he asked.
They had stopped at a stream. The lane continued across via a rough plank bridge.
"Yes," said Iere, then, "Well, it's my grandmother's, but I don't think she has any immediate plans for it. Why?"
"It's nice," James said. "I don't know how to say it. The stream, the field, the woods over there, put it all together and it's like one of those paintings. That guy who painted all the landscapes."
"Turner," said Iere.
"Turner," James confirmed. "If you just stand here and look…"
Iere stood beside James, looking at the stream, then across. She linked her left arm to his right. Each of them, through some instinct, knew to let their eyes lose enough focus to allow the patches of color, light and dark, to come forward and dominate their vision.
"See it?"
"I do."
Consciousness returned, driving out the bliss of standing together, standing in the middle of a Turner in three-dimensional nature, albeit one Turner himself had not had time to paint. There were chickens waiting, and ducks.
"Everything fine, then?" James asked as they returned to Owl Cottage and Iere's feathered friends.
"Perfect," said Iere.
James opened the door to the chicken coop and looked inside. Everything, and everyone appeared normal. He scooped up some feed and pleased the hens immensely with the generous distribution. While he was there he stepped out into their enclosure and inspected the wire, especially at the bottom where foxes and other predators might be working on informal entrances. Iere checked the nests and came up with three fresh eggs.
"Do you know if there are any anti-fox charms we could put around here?" James asked.
"No, I can't recall Mum ever saying she used any," Iere answered. "Do you think I could assign you to research those? Perhaps, if you discover some, you could get proficient and give the hens and me some piece of mind?"
"Consider it done," James said as they moved along to the ducks.
"Where's the goose?" James asked when he'd finished his duck inventory.
"Kind of sad," said Iere. "I came out one morning and he had died. He was just lying there in the middle, on his side."
"How'd the ducks take it?" asked James.
"They were very brave," said Iere.
"Brave?"
"Brave. You wouldn't have known from looking at them. Chins up, feathers preened. No moping about. We held a graveside, out at the far end of that patch there."
James looked at the fallow piece where Iere was pointing, half an acre or so, that must have been the garden in years past.
"I'll get that in shape for you next year," James said. "Grow you some veg."
"Oh, I would be very pleased if you did," said Iere.
They closed the door to the ducks' side. James checked their wire enclosure, just as he had the chickens. He didn't know if he could look Iere in the face after her last remark.
"Want to come home for dinner?" James asked. "It's no trouble. Bennie doesn't get much of a workout from the four of us."
"Love to, thank-you," said Iere. "Would he want these eggs?"
"Bring them, if you're sure you don't need them," said James. "We can leave from here, if you want."
"Oh, our first disapparition as a couple," gushed Iere. She divided her eggs, two in one hand and one on the side where she and James linked at their elbows.
Harry was at the grille when James and Iere walked out from behind the garden shed. He hadn't drawn his wand at the sound of apparition but he had his right hand inside his left cuff.
"No offense," said Harry. "Just…safer."
"Oh, and welcome, Iere. Come for dinner?"
"Yes, Harry, James invited me. He said Bennie would appreciate the extra work, but it looks like you're doing it all."
"He'll let me grille, as long as we make a respectable mess for him to clean up."
Lily popped out the back door and sprinted straight for Iere, who had to hold her hands and the eggs above her head so Lily could apply a bear hug.
"Why are you here?" asked Lily.
"Well, James and I were talking," Iere began, looking at James.
"Dad, Lily," said James. He stopped, drew in a breath and let it out in a great sigh. He gave Iere a long look.
"Iere and I have made a commitment. To one another. We have things to do, to finish school and NEWTs, Iere has projects, but we hope to get everything done and out of the way and get properly engaged. Then, of course…"
"Married!" shouted Lily.
"Well, like I said, eventually. We are a couple."
Lily looked at Iere, who nodded.
"Yes," she said. "We are."
Lily was beside herself, literally jumping up and down.
"You're getting married! You're getting married!" she announced to her future sister-in-law and whatever part of the world was within range of her loudest shout.
"Yes, yes," Iere repeated. She handed James the eggs so she could hug Lily and assist her in regaining her self-control.
Taking the food off the grill and putting dinner on the table in the kitchen helped even more in getting things back to normal. Lily talked around mouthfuls, prying out details about issues yet unconsidered, not to mention undecided.
"When did you decide? What did you say, James? When? Where?"
"Lily, there are a bunch of things we have to do," James began. "We don't have answers for everything, not yet."
"It's new to both of us, Lily," said Iere. "You'll be right here so you will get answers along with us. I think that's exciting."
Lily pondered Iere's assured comments and decided Iere knew better than she did, even if it would be even more exciting to get the complete information dump right now.
"Where's Albus?" James asked.
"Astoria took him along. Shopping trip in Diagon Alley," Harry said.
James looked across to Iere.
"Maybe they'll go by WHOOSH," he said.
"Maybe they will," said Iere. "They can use Auntie's courtesy discount card."
Something about Iere's observation seemed very funny to Lily. She had a question, when she stopped laughing.
"Do you charge your aunt anything?"
"It's a business, so of course I charge her something. I can't just give everything away. I wouldn't be in business very long if I did."
The good feelings went on and on. Lemonade toasts were drunk to long life, happiness, good fortune and one very quiet and sober tribute to 'Absent Friends.' No one had to say it. Everyone still felt the loss of Daphne.
After Lily went up to bed, Harry, James and Iere sat outside in the midsummer evening air.
"Harry, I've been wanting to ask you something," Iere began.
Harry looked up, waiting.
"Would you like to have the statue of Mum? The obsidian? She really doesn't fit Owl Cottage. I've enjoyed having her there but I think she needs to be someplace safe. Someplace with considerably more room."
"You mean bring her here?" Harry asked. He didn't think of his house as particularly roomy.
"No, although you could," said Iere. "I was thinking of Potter Manor. Those big rooms would work for her. She would have space around her and the volume would mean there wouldn't be a cramped feeling for guests."
Harry listened, thinking over the floor plan of Potter Manor. The place was livable, he was just getting through the football summer leagues and waiting for Hogwarts to resume before moving. Harry came to a decision.
"I'd be happy to take her to Potter Manor," he said. "A pleasure. If you're sure. What about Nott Hall?"
"Nott Hall wasn't a good place for Mum," Iere said, "She tried, twice. It didn't do right by her. She might not be compatible, even with a new building."
"I'm honored, then," said Harry.
Iere looked radiant. James seemed puzzled.
Hogwarts letters arrived in late July. James thought Lily would wear hers out before they made the annual shopping trip to Diagon Alley. Lily read her letter until she had it memorized. The family answered an endless list of questions, repeatedly.
"How does the wand know how to choose the witch?"
"If you are a headstall, what house colors do you wear?"
"Is there a table for vegans?"
"What do you do after dinner if your homework is done and ready for the next day?"
"Is Professor Binns a hologram?"
James mentioned to Iere that the letters arrived. Iere sent him back home with a congratulatory note for Lily, with a ten-galleon gift certificate to WHOOSH enclosed. When winter break arrived and Lily came home, she could shop jumpers, polos and scarves in her house colors.
As soon as the family was off to Hogwarts, Harry moved Daphne to Potter Manor. Albus and James had picked out rooms so Harry and Bennie moved their rooms, and Lily's, intact. There was no cleaning and sorting and choosing what to move and what not. Harry's view was the summer had been sufficient for sorting and choosing and if it wasn't done by the first of September, it probably would not get done at all.
Harry gave a good deal of thought to Daphne's place at the Manor. He planned to use the library as his study so he would have liked to have her there. Daphne's delicate condition argued for a less-public area, out of the traffic. The Potter Manor master suite was a design much-favored among the wealthy at the time of construction. There were two bedrooms with a full bath. The master and mistress could close the world out and do what they would in complete privacy, including choosing whether to sleep together or separately. Harry decided to give Daphne her own room, although one connected to his, as if Lady Potter had claimed her own territory contiguous to his lordship's.
Shortly after he moved, Harry arose and called out, "Good Morning!"
Hearing himself calling out a greeting to Daphne's obsidian likeness made him feel a bit self-conscious, the first time. He had a good laugh at himself and started his day. The day went well. Harry discovered one of the farmers who rented from him had sheep. Harry had an overgrown fallow field that was perfectly sized and located for Welsh pony habitat. The fallow field hosted a dozen sheep for two weeks and the overgrowth was gone. The heads of the dried grasses shattered and the sheep's' hooves pressed the seeds into the soil. A few fall rains interspersed with sunny days had the field sprouting green grass just weeks later.
One by one, Harry completed his projects. By Christmas he had a functioning manor to which he could welcome his children and guests for seasonal festivities. Little by little, Harry's morning greeting to Daphne became habit. Once or twice a week, Harry would look through the door of the bath into Lady Potter's bedroom and check on the statue's condition. Bennie kept Daphne dusted. His house elf magic did not involve touching so Harry and Bennie agreed the no-contact, snapping-of-fingers cleaning routine was the safest way to perform the minimal maintenance necessary for something made of obsidian.
Harry looked in on Daphne one evening, just after putting his toothbrush in its holder. She was lit by a shaft of moonlight with some help from the lamp in the bath.
"Nox."
Once he'd put out the lamp, Harry was astounded at the lifelike figure in front of him. The moonlight filtered by sheer curtains and the obsidian combined to light Daphne in such a way to suggest she was a black and white photo, somehow projected in three dimensions. Harry walked toward, then around her, very much unaware of what his feet were doing. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he moved closer. Too close. Harry moved back.
With some trial and error, Harry found that between six and eight feet from Daphne, she looked exactly like herself, in black and white. Her smile never wavered. Her wand was as always, on the threshold of the 'Depulso,' the one she didn't get away, the one that would have saved both Iere and herself.
"I fell in love with you," Harry said. "I was just waiting for you to finish up your business with Nott and I was going to ask you to marry me."
He looked Daphne up and down, still marveling at how perfectly the moonlit obsidian preserved the details of the original. He felt like crying, caught himself and turned away. Harry imagined having the conversation with Daphne. He imagined hearing her response.
"I know."
With the return of the students, life among the Potters and their circle became quite hectic.
Iere and James wanted to maximize their hours together, as did Albus and Scorpius. Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley were often about, Rose taking an interest in Lily and giving her some help with her holiday assignments. Rose and Scorpius never conversed, beyond standard greetings, nor did either waste a lot of time, looking in the other's direction. Their distancing was pronounced enough to draw attention. James felt it but would not have announced his observation were it not for Iere's comment.
"They aren't an item," she said.
Iere had muttered, actually. Everyone was outside. Iere didn't point, but she did look James in the eye, then flick her eyes toward Rose, then Scorpius.
"Not yet."
James looked at Iere, then Rose, then Scorpius.
"Scorpius and Albus?" he whispered.
Iere gave a little wrinkling of her brow in answer, then went silent. Lily had arrived.
Everyone agreed Potter Manor was just the place for holiday headquarters. The ground floor salon was home to the Christmas tree. Iere went to Malfoy Manor for breakfast and present-opening, then took the floo to Potter Manor around mid-morning. Harry and Bennie talked about hospitality and decided to avoid the complications of a Christmas dinner at mid-day in favor of a brunch. That way the relays of guests could have as much or as little as they chose, whenever they arrived.
Iere opened presents with the Potters then transitioned quite effortlessly into the hostess of Potter Manor, greeting guests, seeing to outerwear, commending the visitors to Lily's ministrations and guidance in navigating the house. James watched her in action. Iere hadn't been trained as a pureblood witch, James knew. They had talked about it.
Daphne had discussed heritage and her peculiar makeup with Iere. By her tenth birthday, Daphne was fairly certain Iere would not be able to work magic. Still, she was definitely magical. There could be a place for her in magical Britain. Iere would have to want it. There might, no, there would be, moments of struggle. She most certainly wasn't to think it was obligatory. As a matter of fact, she might find her talents would lead to great success in certain mundane occupations.
Even so, James became more impressed by Iere as the day went on. Having grown up with witches and wizards, besides having a number of muggle acquaintances, he had observed the spectrum of at-home entertaining. Potter Manor Christmas was too wild for the stuffier Magical Britain formalities but Iere poured out graciousness from some bottomless ewer within herself, much to nearly everyone's delight.
Ginny Weasley arrived at Potter Manor in mid-afternoon, Dean Thomas in tow. Dean gravitated to a small circle of wizards around Harry, accepted a cup of punch and was immediately at home. Ginny exchanged pleasantries with Draco, Astoria and Scorpius Malfoy, shifted to Albus, who was standing next to Scorpius, and dispensed one hug and a kiss on the cheek. Albus seemed a bit put off, but any discomfort was manageable. James stayed near the dining room table, the location of the buffet. He didn't have assigned duties but he kept current with Bennie's deliveries and was ready to serve as Iere's runner, if needed. Lily apprenticed herself to Iere, of course.
"James, Merry Christmas!" Ginny nearly gushed.
"Thanks, Mum. Merry Christmas to you," James replied. He hadn't prepared a follow-up so they stood, looking at one another.
"How is school?" Ginny managed.
"Going very well, thanks," said James.
"Good," said Ginny. "The quidditch columns…"
"We're three and two," said James. "The three were blowouts. The two, the other guys got to the snitch first. Not much a beater can do about that."
"Mmm…" Ginny said. James wondered if it was a murmur of agreement or if his analysis did not meet the Harpies' coach's standards.
"When did you get moved up?" James asked.
Ginny was the current head coach, had been for some weeks, possibly months.
"September," smiled Ginny.
"I knew I read about it in the Prophet," James said. "Didn't remember when. I would have sent you something, congratulations, you know."
Ginny didn't seem to grasp the nuance. James had gotten used to it but he still thought it was a little sad. Ginny moved on to Lily, and Iere.
"Sweetheart," Ginny said, giving Lily hug. "Did the presents get here in time?"
"Yes, Mum," said Ginny. "I got the jumper and it fits."
"Good," said Ginny. "It's the same one the players wear for travel, just smaller."
Lily acknowledged the background information with a nod.
"And Miss Greengrass," said Ginny. "Merry Christmas."
"Miss Weasley," said Iere, giving just the slightest inclination of her head. "Welcome to Christmas at Potter Manor."
Ginny's head snapped back just slightly. She managed it well, but James saw her and waited for the inevitable reaction.
"So you've been assigned hostess duties? How nice," said Ginny.
"Mum, no one assigned anything," said James. "Iere doesn't work here. She likes helping."
"I'm sure," said Ginny.
Scorpius and Albus had turned to see what the strained voices were all about.
"Oh-oh," said Albus, leaving the Malfoys to find Harry.
"Working your way into a position here, then?" asked Ginny.
"Mum," James tried.
"Oh, no, I've enough on my plate," said Iere, smiling.
Astoria looked at Draco, her eyes fierce.
"Wha…?" Draco mouthed as he turned his palms up.
Astoria jerked her head toward Iere and Ginny, twice.
"It's Potter's place…" Draco croaked, before Astoria gave him a last look and began to cross the room.
"Oh, I thought you'd be interested, well, prospects are so limited these days, interested in a permanent situation," Ginny said.
"Mum! Merlin! Iere, may I offer you a glass of wine or some pumpkin juice," James said as he attempted to get his arm under Iere's and escort her from the room. James didn't understand how but he knew if Iere was properly provoked she could project a cloud of depression and shut down Christmas.
"I might have been, under other circumstances, had I not a manor of my own to manage," Iere smiled.
"That's ridiculous!" Ginny spluttered, her face getting redder.
"Mother!" James said, his voice hoarsening. "You're addressing Lady Nott. You're going to have to mind your manners."
"You…" Ginny began.
"Yes," said Iere as she crooked the arm that was linked to James. She brought up her other hand and wove her fingers together in front of her solar plexus so that Ginny could see her Nott signet and the little onyx on her left pinkie that said she, too, had a Black connection.
"Yes I am, and an ally of Lord Black."
James got Iere moving, and kept her moving, out to the kitchen, through the porch that led to the outside and on to a gazebo in the formal gardens.
Astoria arrived in time for Iere's exit line: "But James, I was having fun."
She left Ginny to the former husband and current boyfriend who had come from the library at Albus' summons and followed James and Iere out to the garden. James palmed something as Astoria arrived. Iere massaged her temples with a thumb and middle finger, her hand obscuring her eyes. James seemed a bit red in the face to Astoria.
"Everything alright?" Astoria asked. "Did James handle it all before he whisked you away?"
Astoria's comment, innocent though it was, changed the mood in the gazebo.
"Were you in the middle of something?" Astoria went on.
"We were, actually, but why don't you sit down on the bench there? Won't take but a minute," said James.
The item in his hand was a little box, the kind that often hold a ring.
"We aren't engaged, but we've talked," James explained to Astoria.
"This isn't an engagement ring, then, but a token of my esteem and love for Iere, if she will do me the honor…"
James opened the box, which held a very large, clear, blood-red ruby set in a gold band.
"I told dad it was time to make Iere a Potter, or a prospective Potter, so he took me to our vault at Gringotts. This ring was given by my great-great grandfather to my great-great grandmother, Dorea Black Potter. It is a ruby, which according to the lore, symbolizes strength and faithfulness."
"That…that IS a ruby, James," gasped a wide-eyed Astoria. She looked at Iere.
"The honor is mine, Mr. Potter," said Iere as she extended her left hand.
James held her hand with his own left, his right sliding the ruby onto Iere's left ring finger, right next to the onyx.
"Until we make it permanent," said James.
"No…no," Iere objected, frozen, looking at her new ring. "I think, perhaps, forever, James."
Now Astoria was mouthing 'Kiss him! Kiss him!" and giving Iere little bumps with her elbow. A gauzy, golden glow rose around James and Iere, complete with a tiny tendril that reached out to Astoria. The same had appeared when Harry offered Iere alliance and Iere accepted with her obeisance.
Iere got the message and gave James a long kiss on his lips that she finished with an audible, 'Smack.'
"Thank-you, James," she said.
"Blood and Magic," whispered Astoria, her eyes sparkly.
James looked at her, asking, "Are you okay, Madame Malfoy?"
"Oh, yes," said Astoria as she did some minor dabbing at the corners of her eyes. "Just too much love in this confined space, it makes me woozy."
James was relieved to see that Dean and Ginny had left while he and Iere were handling their personal Christmas business. He was free to lay his hand on Iere's back or slip it under an arm and escort her around to let all the guests discover how lovely her left hand looked, graced by Dorea's ruby ring.
Iere stayed until nearly all the guests were gone. She needed one more consultation with Harry, which she accomplished in the kitchen.
"Mr. Potter?" she asked.
"Harry," said Harry. "Christmas to remember?"
"Oh, yes," Iere giggled, calming herself before plunging ahead. "I have to get home to the chickens and I thought James might want to join me. If he says yes, I think you might not want to wait up for him."
Harry worked the convoluted sentences through twice to be sure he understood.
"Iere," he said, "It would be indecent of me to object. Thank-you for everything today."
"Thank-you, too," Iere whispered, leaning and pantomiming a little cheek-bump for Christmas and the gift of her beloved.
Harry was so tired by the time he was able to head to his own bed that he nearly skipped his evening greeting to Daphne. He remembered, though, and entered the second bedroom.
"Just so you know, your daughter took my son home tonight. She told me in advance that she didn't plan to bring him back. I am trying to decide whether I believe she sent you here to get you out of her house so she could live like a young adult. Good-night!"
"Good-night," Harry heard. He assumed the responses he got from Daphne were the sounds of his subconscious idly filling in the blank spaces.