Chapter 10

June 12th, 2000

Edgar Harrison Bones is born at ten past seven in the evening, weighing three pounds, seven ounces.. Adhara Suzanne Black is born ten minutes later and four ounces lighter. They are not what you might call beautiful. Five weeks premature, they are tiny, wrinkled and splotchy. Edgar is bald, and Adhara has a scraggly head of raven hair. They must be kept warm, but not too much. Otherwise, they are in fair shape, basically healthy, both in body and magic.

Sixteen hours of labor. Susan was a trooper. She could scream and rant, but no Not Auror Bones! Stiff upper lip and all. I just fall a little more in love with the witch.

Gabrielle arrives two hours in, and stays. Elizabeth is left with Andromeda, much to her annoyance. Fleur, Hermione and Ron, Luna, Neville and Hannah come by at various times, but don't stay. We promise to send a patronus when all was said and done. Finally, the twins make their entrance, their weak protests filling the room. Gabrielle and I both cry, similarly overwhelmed when we hold them first. Susan, bless her heart, is too tired to care and falls asleep holding them.

A few hours later we are moved to a third-floor private room, fairly large with a fake window spelled to show a view of Diagon Alley, a hospital bed, magicked to change shape with runes, a crib, with temperature control and monitors, an extra cot, a couple of chairs, a small table, a storage closet and a private loo. The walls are off-white, with a painting of a stern-looking witch opposite the window, tile flooring and a faint smell of harsh cleaning potions. Friends come, in ones and twos, and get introduced to the new family members. Elizabeth comes with Andromeda and Teddy, takes a peek at her new siblings and grumbles. "Ugly little things, aren't they?"

We all know she doesn't mean it unkindly. She just calls it as she sees it. "They came out a little too soon, dear," Susan explains patiently. "They will fill out and look like proper babies in a couple of weeks."

Elizabeth nods. "Edgar and... Adrastia?"

"Adhara." I correct her.

"What kind of name is that?"

"It's a star. Black family tradition."

"Ed and Addy." Gabrielle suggests.

Elizabeth nods sagely, and sighs. "It will do, I suppose."

Some time later, Susan is napping, still exhausted, and the twins are sharing the crib. I'm lying down on the cot, with my head on Gabrielle's lap.

I hadn't seen, or really felt her presence, since her birthday. We missed each other. A lot.

"You should go sleep at Andromeda's," I suggest.

"Hm." She ignores me, with a spark of amusement.

"I mean it."

"I'm not going anywhere, Magus."

"Suit yourself." I enjoy her fingers in my hair. "What about your exams?"

"History tomorrow, Runes on Thursday and Transfiguration on Friday." Another silence. "They are good names."

"A little grand for such tiny little things, hm? "

Gabrielle clucks. "They won't stay small..."

"True." I get up, and pull her by the hand to stand over the crib. "Close your eyes. Light trance."

Gabrielle knows the routine. She focuses inwards and quickly finds her inner flame and the bond. I guide her hand to little Edgar. His magic feels solid, like a pebble. Then to Adhara. Hers is a drop, formless, mutable.

"So, earth like Suzy and water like Beth."

"That's right."

"What does it mean?"

"There's plenty of talk, but nobody really knows. Some spells and crafts come easier to those with the right affinity."

"Why do you care, then?"

"No real reason. I just find it bloody fascinating."

"Ah!"

We go back to the cot. I lie down, and she lies on top of me. She broods, and her emotions become a complicated swirl. I wait. "Harry..."

"What?"

"I can't continue this." She sighs. "I'll take your ring." I snicker. "It's not funny!"

"I know, sorry. It's just... before you arrived, Suzy suggested something. A compromise. I was waiting for an opportunity to bring it up."

The swirl resolves into sharp curiosity. "What?"

"She suggested I offer you the Black."

"The Black? Isn't that just for purebloods?"

I shrug. "I'm head of house and a half-blood. And the bond... changes things."

She smiles. "I'll take it, if it works."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Susan is propped in bed, feeding the twins, with a faint smile and eyes half closed. Gabrielle and I stand, one in each side, after we helped positioning them. Gabrielle and I are captivated by the visual, their tiny mouths pumping eagerly, nearly filled with Susan's generous nipples. They tire quickly, and so the process slows to a crawl.

"Suzy." I call her softly.

"Yes, Daddy..." she replies, her tone mocking me a little. My heart skips a beat or two and Gabrielle giggles.

I shake my head and snicker. 'Daddy'. "I told Elle about your idea. She is fine with it."

"Good. I've had enough of your brooding."

"I don't brood!" I protest.

The women exchange a glance. "Right," Gabrielle adds sarcastically.

"Well, I don't," I mumble.

"Why don't you go grab a ring, Harry?" Susan asks, after ignoring my futile objection.

"I want to see how the wards at Number Twelve react to Elle, before trying a ring." Better go slow. Black family magic is harsh.

Gabrielle frowns. "I've been there, Magus."

"I don't recall the reaction, which is not a good sign. But you haven't been there since the ritual."

"All right. Next week, then." I nod in agreement.

Susan interrupts the feeding, with two tiny pops and tinny protests. She hands us the babies, pulls herself up and rearranges the pillows a little, lying back again with a moan.. She picks the twins back up and they latch onto their nipples, having exchanged their position. Susan looks at both of us, while we stare and giggles, as our expressions look more-or-less the same. "You two look like idiots."

"It's a big fucking deal, Suzy." Gabrielle replies.

"It's going to take some time..." I add.

Susan cuts me off. "It's fine. I'm just teasing you two."

A bit of a warning comes from Gabrielle, and I remember. "Ah, I almost forgot. We have a question to ask you."

"What?" Susan asks, puzzled.

"Well... will you be our girlfriend?"

Susan first frowns, and then her face slowly opens in a sunny smile. "That's right! Contract is done, isn't it?" She takes her time, looking at each one of us in turn. "What exactly is involved?" She asks with an amused tone.

"Usual girlfriend stuff," I reply.

Gabrielle giggles. "I want to play with the twins."

"You're a little too young." Susan says, smirking playfully at the little Veela. She turns to me. "We can extend the contract."

"Sure. No problem. But the question remains."

"Cohabitation?"

"Stop it. We are not talking business!" I exchange a grin with Gabrielle. "We're in love with you."

"Ah!" Susan blushes, but seems to hesitate for a moment. "I guess I'm in love with you two, or one-and-a-half, whatever."

"So, that's a yes."

"Just kiss me, idiots!"

I approach her carefully, so as not to bother the babies, hold her face and give her a long slow kiss. With the link wide open, Gabrielle is almost as much part of the kiss as Susan and I.

June 19th, 2000

It's four in the morning and I'm dragging myself back to bed, after feeding and changing the twins. It's not far. We've set up a family section on the new manor, and the Master suite includes a small common room, with doors leading to two nicely appointed bedrooms and the nursery. Both bedrooms have large canopy beds, and, in one of them, a beautiful redhead is waiting, with a welcoming smile.

"Ed was a little fussy, but they are finally asleep." I say as I walk in.

She nods. "The bottles?" It was the first time using them.

"They find it a little easier than your nipples, I suppose." I shrug. "They are getting stronger."

"Of course." She turns to me as I slide next to her. "Thanks for the extra sleep."

I pull her close and kiss her briefly. "Part of the job." Her response to the kiss is a little more enthusiastic than I expected. She shifts her weight towards me, passing one of her legs across my body and kisses me back, forcefully. We snog for a while, but it looks like she wants more. The healer did say a week for her southern girl parts to recover.

I caress her through her panties, and she moans. "Harry... hmm. Inside, please." She's wet and ready.

I take off my boxers and she removes her knickers and straddles me. We rub against each other while we kiss. It's been a couple of months, and I'm already halfway there. "I'm not going to last long."

"Just fuck me, Harry." She takes me all the way in and I moan. If anything she's tighter than I remember. It's either the magic of potions, or abstinence is playing tricks with my memory. She begins to move, and the pleasure drives away thought. I feel Gabrielle waking up and taking notice, faint with the distance and distinctly excited. Susan screams and moves faster. "Oh, fuck, fuck! So good! I missed this!" The last is a screech.

A tingle along my spine. "Coming, Suzy! Yes, yes!" I push her up with my hips and spasm. She is not done yet, but close. She slows down a little, tightening up.

Her walls pulse around me and her magic flickers, mixing with mine. "Yes! Oh, Harry, yes!"

We kiss afterwards, and we both pass out almost immediately after that.

I wake up feeling rested and happy, with a gorgeous redhead half-lying on top of me. Her hair smells of heather and lavender. I wake up fully when I feel that Gabrielle is already here. Susan wakes up as well. "Hmm... Harry?"

"Good morning, girlfriend. I think we overslept."

"Oh?" She sits up and stretches, yawning. "Wh'time?"

I eject my wand from the holster. "Tempus.". I blink, surprised. "Half past nine."

"What?"

"And Elle is here." Susan gets up in a rush, so I add. "Between Elle, Beth and the elves I'm sure they are fine."

Susan stops and shakes her head. "You're right. A quick shower?"

I get up. "Sure." Not an invitation I'll ever turn down.

We're getting dressed when Gabrielle knocks. "Come in," I yell, and she saunters right in, wearing summery light blue dress, yellow slippers and her hair in an odd diagonal cut from right below her chin in the front to earlobe length in the back.

Susan and I get a peck in the lips. "Magus and girlfriend, such a nice day!"

Susan replies with a lopsided smile. "It is now, that you've arrived." Gabrielle grins at Susan's ironic tone and curtsies. "I like the hair." Susan adds, turning serious.

"Thank you. It's all the latest, and Maman hates it, so it's almost perfect."

"Almost?" I foolishly ask.

She replies with a poisonously sweet tone. "You haven't commented on it yet, darling."

"You're a vision of beauty, and your hair complements your face." I reply in a dead tone. "Satisfied?"

She looks smug for half a second, and the three of us break into laughter. "My parents are here."

I raise one eyebrow. "Any particular reason?"

"Well... they wanted to check my new room, and maybe sign the Contract today."

"So, you really are moving in." Susan comments.

"If you don't mind..."

"Of course not!" Susan manages to squeeze into a pair of jeans shorts that looks painted on, while Gabrielle and I perv a little. She's also wearing one of my white button shirts, over a maternity bra. "Do you know when the twins nursed?"

"Beth was giving Addy a bottle when I arrived. It was around eight. She was going to wake you up when she saw my parents, but I told her not to do it. I figured you two needed a little extra sleep after your... activities."

"Just one activity." Susan corrects, showing a single finger. "And thank you."

"My pleasure," Gabrielle replies in a breathless drawl. Minx.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Gabrielle and I floo to Number Twelve after a nice family breakfast. It takes about ten seconds to figure it out. The wards purr like a kitten. "Can you feel it?" I ask Gabrielle.

"Yes. Cozy."

"It's a go, then." She follows me to the third floor study. Old Orion's picture wakes up when we enter. "Lord Black," the picture greets me with a gravelly voice. He became Head of the family during the latter half of Victoria's reign, and died a couple of years after her.

"Lord Black," I reply. "Let me introduce Mademoiselle Gabrielle Delacour."

"Welcome to the Black House, Miss Delacour."

"Thank you."

"The House is aware of your bond, Lord Black, and welcomes it, but Miss Delacour appears too young."

"She is Veela, and fifteen-years-old."

"Ah. Is she to be Lady Black?"

"Yes." I walk around the desk and open one of the top drawers and pick up the little black box. Then I get in front of Gabrielle and go down in one knee. She giggles, both excited and amused. "Dear Gabrielle, would you do me the honor of being my wife?" I open the box.

Gabrielle's taste is jewelry tends to simple and discrete. This one is plain Goblin silver with a half-carat old-miner-cut blue diamond, first used by an Italian witch engaged to a younger son of the main Black line in the late eighteenth century.

"Yes, Harry," she replies sweetly.

She extends her right hand and I slide it in. Magic swirls around, hesitating, examining Gabrielle. It burns a little, harsh. We open our link wide, and I feel the pressure on her magic. I respond, willing the magic to accept her. There is a brief struggle, but at the end, we prevail. The ring adjusts to her finger and Black family magic settles around her. "There!"

"Congratulations," old Orion adds dourly. Gabrielle and I are still taking it in while he continues. "You must make other arrangements for a male heir to the line."

I shrug. "There is a week-old female heir, Adhara Suzanne Black."

"Excellent choice of name, descendant. You should bring her over."

"Of course."

The portrait gives a shallow bow. "Welcome to the Black family, mademoiselle."

"Thank you." Gabrielle looks up to the portrait. "I will do my duty to our family, Sir."

Orion's lips curl up briefly. Gabrielle has many ways of being captivating. "I'm sure you will."

"I'm surprised about how well you're taking this." I comment to the portrait.

"About your intended being Veela?"

"Yes."

Orion snorts. "She will not be the first Black Veela, and her predecessors have done well by the family. Veela are powerful magical creatures, and ancient-lineage pureblood. ."

To say I'm surprised is an understatement. "Oh."

"I would like to know about previous Black Veela." Gabrielle adds.

"It's all available to you. I believe there is a portrait of Allena Black..."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Gabrielle's dowry will be a pile of galleons and a small winery north of Lyon, that produces a burgundy that Fleur calls 'acceptable'. High praise for the blonde snob.

After signing the contract at Gringotts, we celebrate with a family dinner at the Bones Manor. The twins stay in their nursery, with quiet visitors allowed. Elizabeth takes over distracting Teddy and Victoire, perhaps thinking of future minions. All others congregate around a large table.

"Did I hear it correctly? You are dropping Beuxbattons?" Hermione asks Gabrielle, incredulous.

"Yes." Gabrielle smiles, unwilling to humor Hermione's consternation.

Hermione directs herself to Jean-Paul and Apolline. "Really? And you approve?"

"Not exactly." Apolline replies sharply. "We 'ad a long conversation about eet.. She 'as 'er reasons. And eet's ultimately 'er choice, of course."

Andromeda gets into the conversation, supporting Hermione. "And what are these 'reasons'?"

All eyes turn to Gabrielle. She is not willing to humor Hermione, who she dislikes, but Andromeda is someone she both likes and respects."I have no friends there, and very little interest in the curriculum."

She presses her lips together and frowns, reluctant to expose herself in the present company. "I have other plans," she finally says.

She wants to try for the Opera Dance Academy, or one of the other elite Ballet schools. If she can't make it, then she plans to go to muggle university to read Dance and Art History. Eventually, to dance, to do choreography, set design and, in the long run, start her own dance company.

"Suzy and I are aware of Elle's plans and support them in full." I add.

Gabrielle relaxes a little and broadcasts her thanks. Jean-Paul, Apolline and Fleur nod their approval and the others take it as the end of the discussion. The silence that follows is broken by Hannah.

"What about the wedding?"

July 3rd, 2000

When one of the twins cries, it doesn't take long for the other to start as well. So, at the first whimper, I'm moving. Twenty seconds between open eyes and the bottle in Edgar's mouth. I keep watch, but Adhara moves a little, makes a little noise, and continues sleeping. Nine times out of ten it's the boy who wakes up first.

I stare at the painting Gabrielle did for the nursery. It's a woodlands scene, tall trees around a stony brook, rays of sunshine and small creatures moving about and hiding. If you stare long enough, you find a green-skinned nymph, peeking behind one of the trees.

Edgar is half-way done when Adhara wakes up crying. Gabrielle soon shows up, grabs a bottle, warms it up, picks up the crying girl and gives her the bottle. "Hey."

"Hi." Gabrielle squeezes next to me. "Suzy?" I ask.

"Dead to the world."

"You're tired." I see Gabrielle every day, and we even sleep in the same bed, but we haven't really spoken in a week.

"Yeah." She sighs. "Dance, magic and A-levels..."

"You could take a couple of days off."

Gabrielle shakes her head. "I'll take the afternoon off tomorrow. I want to visit Glastonbury Tor."

"That sounds nice." It's the biggest magical tourist site on the Island after Stonehenge.

"Want to join me?"

I stop to think. I've been promoted to Senior, and put in charge of four new Juniors and half a dozen trainees. Mostly we stay at the training center. The Juniors lead first back-up if things get hairy, and I'm always on call, but only in case of some catastrophe. That also means I'm free to make my own schedule, to a point. And I've never been to the Tor. "Yes, I'd like that."

She smiles. "It's a date, then."

Edgar finishes his bottle, so I get up to pace around while burping him. My mind doubles back to Gabrielle's workload. "You don't have to do it all at once, you know?"

"There is a lot I want to do, and life is short." My inner reaction prompts her to explain. "Veela are not as long-lived as witches. We rarely survive past ninety."

Edgar burps loudly and I set him down for a change. I keep thinking about what Gabrielle said. Something, in the back of my mind... finally I recall a conversation with Hagrid. "I was told once that familiars live a lot longer than their counterparts."

She raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"A snowy owl lives ten to fifteen years in the wild, maybe twenty-five years in captivity. I was told I could expect at least twice that for Hedwig." I'm surprised that even saying her name still hurts.

Gabrielle, in turn, is very pleased with the idea. "So maybe there is more time..."

"Yes. You should write Yolanthe and ask."

"I will."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Susan is singing softly to the twins after nursing them. Three weeks after the birth, they've finally caught up to a typical newborn, both basically doubling in weight. Neither can be called chubby, but they are both very baby cute now. They are very fair, with Edgar still bald, and Adhara, having lost the scraggly hair she was born with, now has the beginnings of a raven head of hair. Adhara's eyes have a changing hue, from soft green, to gray and Edgar seems to have inherited his father's emeralds. They are also beginning to show different personalities. Edgar, loud and demanding, Adhara, shy and observant.

Susan thinks back to one of the first DA meetings, nearly five years before. She was casting stunners at Hannah, from ten paces. And missing. Harry approaches her and observes quietly through a couple of repetitions.

"You're pulling to the left at the end," He finally says.

"No I'm not." Susan is a little annoyed, not at Harry, but at her performance. She concentrates and tries again, missing Hannah's shield by a couple of inches.

He approaches closer. "Can I?" She hesitates, but nods.

From her back, he places a hand on her left hip and another over her wand hand. His hand is surprisingly rough. He pushes a little, adjusting her posture. "Hold it but don't squeeze it," he whispers in her ear, referring to her convulsive grip on her wand. "Ready?"

"Yes." He holds her in place and guides her hand through the wand motion. She incants 'Stupefy' and the pale red light splashes against the shield of a grinning Hannah.

He steps back. "Well done."

She does it again, careful to repeat the motion. She succeeds. "Thank you."

The flutter in her stomach would become a hopeless little crush over the years, leading to months of sweet torture as they grew close as partners, then a drunken mistake which turned into the best thing that ever happened to her. Who would have imagined...

A soft pop next to her. "Mistress!"

Tilly is distressed. "What is it?"

"It's the little Mistress." Gabrielle. "Something wrong."

"What?"

"She pass out. Book and clothes on fire."

Fuck! "Where is she?"

"Kitchen, Mistress."

"Keep an eye on the babies." Susan yells as she runs out. Where is Harry? Given the hour, probably running some of his minions through a scenario. Without stopping, she ejects her wand, focusing on Harry, which both creates the emotion for the spell and directs it. "Expecto Patronum." The silver wolverine seems to grin at her. "Gabrielle is in trouble at home." If the little veela is passed out, Harry might not feel it.

She is lying face down next to the breakfast table, naked. The elves probably removed her clothes to avoid fires. Tiny blue flames play around her arms. There is a scorched runes book and burned parchment on the table. Elizabeth is a few feet away, hiding her concern behind an impassive mask. "What's happening?" Elizabeth asks.

"I believe it's the change, sweetie." Susan places a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. The little girl leans against Susan. "Fleur says she burned down her whole dormitory at Beuxbattons when it started."

"So... she is fine?"

"She will be."

A minute later Susan feels Harry's arrival through the wards, and, a few seconds more, Harry comes into the kitchen, in trainers, sweatpants and a muscle shirt. He's sweaty, his eyes are glowing with unexpressed magic. Susan humms in appreciation when she sees him. He nods and smiles to Susan and Elizabeth in passing, heading straight to Gabrielle. Gabrielle's fire makes some of the sweat in Harry's skin turn to wisps of steam.

"The change?" Susan asks.

"I believe it is." Harry replies. "We'll be at Number Twelve." Susan nods. They've discussed this. "Will you inform Robarts? It will be two weeks."

"Of course. Keep us informed."

He departs through the floo, with Susan and Elizabeth watching. "He doesn't burn?" Elizabeth asks.

"Just a little, and he heals fast. It's part of their thing." Susan hugs Elizabeth and kisses her on the top of her head. Next time she sees Gabrielle, she will be a grown-up blonde. Her girlfriend. Susan shakes her head and laughs. She will still be the same. Painfully intense, potty mouth ballerina with a piece of Harry inside. Susan loves her, no doubt about it, but exactly how this love will be going forward...

July 10th, 2000

Pain. Muscles, tendons, bones... From fingers to arms, toes, feet and legs, spine and skull, everything twisted and stretched. Very little fire left. Thirst. I close the link a little, enough to be able to move. I feel her clinging to it, like a lifeline. I grab the aluminum bottle. Water, sugar and salt, slightly cooled. I hold her up a bit, and dribble the water down her throat.

The basement of Number Twelve, exercise equipment pushed aside, a raised stone platform and a fireproofed square futon on top. My dear Gabrielle, stretched and in pain, her avian nature evident in feathers, talons and a sharp face. Eyes pressed shut.

She whimpers and opens her eyes. I open the link, and the pain hits like a wall. I lie down next to her, pull her to me. She is burning hot. Gabrielle seizes the link, and focus on me, my body. She can't escape the pain, and neither can I, but between us, there is some measure of relief.

Hours later, Fleur comes by. I'm, barely aware of her presence, and Gabrielle is oblivious. She sits next to Gabrielle, caresses her and sings a soft french lullaby, which turns to humming. Her voice has a hypnotic quality, and, like the Welsh Green, we fall asleep.

Minutes, or hours later I wake up, and Fleur is giving Gabrielle a sponge bath. "Hello, 'arry," she whispers when she notices I'm awake.

"Hi." I look at Gabrielle, lying asleep next to me. "Thank you."

She dismisses me with a simple wave of her hand. "You're past ze worst of eet."

"That's good to know." Fleur finishes her task and stands. "This is too harsh, Fle."

"Eet is. The good news is zat you can hardly remember eet afterwards."

"Like a nightmare?"

"Yes."

Hearing that, I feel a little sorry for myself. "I don't think I'll get that benefit."

Fleur smiles softly. "Elle is lucky to have you."

"Not more than I am to have her."

Fleur gives me a peck in the cheek. "Stay strong, 'arry."

"Give my goddaughter a kiss from me."

"Bye."

July 17th, 2000.

I feel Gabrielle waking up, pain-free for the first time. I rush down to the basement, to find her sitting on the bed, elbows on her knees, hands on her head. "Everything is spinning," she whines.

"Slow down. You're been lying down for two weeks, and your body is basically brand new."

She throws herself backwards, eyes closed. "So?" She grabs her breasts. They just about fill her hands, maybe with a bit to spare. She frowns. "B-cups?"

"Or thereabouts." I let the silence stretch as her elation about being pain-free and grown mixes with confusion and curiosity. "You look nice."

"Nice? I'm Veela, for fuck's sake! Of course I look bloody nice." She stretches an arm towards me. "Help me up."

I pull her by the hand and hold her with an arm around her waist. She is weak, wobbly and magically spent. "Kreacher." I call.

He pops next to us. "Master and Mistress."

"A full body mirror, please."

"Yes, Master." Kreacher pops out and comes back a minute later, with a stand-up oval mirror in a dark wood frame. From the Black vault, if memory serves.

We both look at her image, a swirl of emotions. The top of her head reaches my chin. Her hair is shoulder length, uncut and white. Very fair skin. Her face is heart-shaped, with large cornflower-blue eyes, high arched eyebrows, sharp cheekbones, a small, slightly upturned nose, broad mouth with the lower lip thicker than the upper and a pointed chin. Long neck, an athletic frame with long limbs, delicate hands and feet, modest-sized high breasts, with bright pink nipples and galleon-sized aureola, flat tummy, thin waist, a barely-there triangle of white hair above her slit. Overall, a petite, elegant frame with toned muscle and an expressive, mischievous-looking face, beautiful, but not pretty. A perfect fit for Gabrielle, but very unusual for a Veela.

We laugh like idiots.

After a while we get a hold of ourselves. "What?" Gabrielle asks.

"You look very close my ideal for a woman, Elle. I suspect some hidden intent."

She looks at the mirror. "It feels right. And looks like a great body for a dancer too." She smirks at me, at my heart skips a beat. "If your intent helped, thanks."

"You're welcome." I hold her with one arm, while I pull her chin up and kiss her. Finally, our first real kiss. It takes her a moment, but she responds enthusiastically, deepening it. There is no allure, she is too spent for it, but with our connection wide open, it's a very interesting experience, kissing and being kissed. We forget ourselves for a while, lost in one another.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

We are both waiting at the floo when Susan arrives. Gabrielle is still a little wobbly, steadying herself with her arm on mine. She is wearing a simple light blue summer dress, muggle flip-flops and has her hair tied in a ponytail. Susan straightens herself, removing soot from her own pink summer dress with a wand sweep and checks Gabrielle out slowly. Gabrielle preens, and Susan responds with a tight smile.

"Now, this is a surprise, isn't it?"

"A good one?" Gabrielle asks, uncertain.

Susan is not sure. She can't help feeling a little insecure, looking at the striking little blonde. Still she nods, unwilling to hurt her or Harry. "A good one." She offers her arm to Gabrielle, who takes it. "Hairdresser of clothes first?"

"Hairdresser, then clothes."

Susan turns to Harry and kisses him, letting it linger a little. "Tell Fleur to meet us at Alberto's at half past one."

I grin. "Will do, m'am."

"Prat."

Fleur is waiting at the reception area when Susan and Gabrielle come out. Fleur stands up, staring at Gabrielle in amazement.

"What is zis?

"A compact-model Veela?" Gabrielle replies with a grin.

"Hmpf! 'ow did zis 'appen?"

"Harry suspects some hidden intent."

Fleur frowns a little, but nods. "Per'aps. Whose intent?"

"Probably both of us. We are quite pleased."

"I like it too," Susan adds. The new Gabrielle is growing on her.

Gabrielle gives Susan a peck in the lips. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Fleur walks around them, studying Gabrielle intently. "Eet looks nice, actually." She gives her sister a light slap on a buttock. "Tight. One question, zough. What's wizz ze 'air?"

Shopping takes until dark, and Gabrielle is visibly exhausted. Fleur apparates to Shell Cottage, and the others head to Bones Manor by portkey. Harry meets them at the kitchen, stops and stares at Gabrielle, visibly amused. "Well, well, Ms. Quinn."

Gabrielle giggles. She came home wearing a scandalous pair of jeans shorts, a white tank top and canvas boots. Her hair is parted midway, into a pair of pigtails, whose tips are tinted blue and pink. Harry is amused, and Susan is clearly missing the joke. Harry pulls out his wand, conjures a large wooden mallet and hands it to Gabrielle, who bows in thanks. He then transfigures Susan's dress into a tight dark green one.

Gabrielle and Harry laugh. "Perfect."

"I hope you two crazy ones will explain soon."

They ignore her. "Am I the Clown or the Bat?" Harry asks Gabrielle.

"Neither. You ain't crazy enough, Mister. You're Gordon." Gabrielle is using a strange drawl from the colonies.

"Aw, shucks!" They laugh again.

"I hate you two."

"Simmer down, Ivy dear. It will come to ya."