Pansy Parkinson, Hermione reflected, had previously been a complete cow! Other than having a nice line in sarcasm, however, Pansy Potter only had her physical appearance in common with her previous self. Even said looks were transformed by her beaming smile. Hermione would never have imagined that she, Padma, Hannah and Pansy would be enjoying a large pot of tea in a reading room together.
Hermione had seen the Six Goddesses add some new wizard tents that afternoon. One was labelled as containing a library and reading room. The four young witches, all avid bibliophiles, had all gone inside to peruse the extensive collection. Once each of them had selected a book from the sizeable collection in the main library, Padma had found a small kitchen attached to the reading room. A large teapot of hot Darjeeling under a tea cosy was quickly prepared. Now, four elegant bone china teacups on saucers were on the large coffee table, as the four witches were read, drank and chatted together, with Hermione and Padma cuddled together on a sofa and Hannah and Pansy in armchairs.
"I never thought that I would be married to Harry Potter," Pansy remarked happily, "but couldn't be happier that I effectively am. Harry's kind, gentle and a fantastic kisser.
"Everyone, I'm sorry for having been such a bitch. I was under pressure from my father to be a proper pureblood lady, but that is no real excuse. All I can say is that I hope you see that the real Pansy is me and not her…"
"I'm sure that we shall," Hermione assured her. "You are making a great first impression, Pansy dear. The charming girl who has won Harry, Ginny and Parvati's hearts is not the old you! If we spend more time with this new you, I am sure that we will be close friends.
"You and the other four Slytherins are welcome members of our coven."
"Thank you, Hermione. I would very much like for us all to be one happy family."
"As would I! Group hug!" With that, the four witches got up and shared a four-way embrace.
Pansy was smiling through tears. Finally, I have a family that truly loves me…
Of course, Pans. We love you! Never doubt it!
Thanks, Gin. I owe you a long kiss.
I'll collect it later, darling!
We are having a date night tonight. Mum and Dad are setting up a romantic candlelight dinner for us at Greengrass Manor. If the pair of you share a comfy settee before the meal, there should be plenty of opportunities for snogging. Tori and Luna will be dining with Mum and Dad separately.
Thanks, Daffy.
Katie Bell smiled as she watched her soulmates' share a long kiss. She, Fred and Alicia were all on a beach blanket. Both witches had decided to wear their skimpiest bikinis. As a result, Fred had been even more attentive to them than usual.
"Fancy a swim, loves?" Katie asked, once Fred and Alicia had finally stopped snogging. "We need to change into more substantial swimwear first though. These bikinis are good for sunbathing and giving Freddy an eyeful, but not much else."
"Both you and Alicia have such great boobs and bums, Katie, that I just want to keep getting said eyeful for the moment. That cracking arse of yours looks so good in a thong-style bikini bottom.
"I am sure that a bit of snogging should take your mind off swimming…"
Katie quickly discovered that Fred was right. Of course, the fact that his swimming trunks were also on the skimpy side didn't make a bit of difference to her way of thinking!
"How are you and your True Loves getting on, Sis?" Pugsley asked.
"Very well, mon cher frère," Wednesday grinned, as the two were feeding Homer and Lucifer in a tent that had been set up by the goddesses as a menagerie. Nearby Harry was making a fuss of a proudly preening Hedwig, as was Ron of Pigwidgeon and some of the girls of their respective owls. Millie and Hermione were playing with their cats, whilst Neville was retrieving Trevor from the undergrowth. It was good, Wednesday thought happily, that they were surrounded by other animal lovers.
"I think that you will do us proud as a superheroine, mi querida hermana. Goth is a perfect nom de guerre for an Addams, of course."
"Thank you, Bro. I mean to live up to your expectations. Maybe you will get to be a superhero too."
"So, Diana," Thor asked as the two of them arrived at Nidavellir, "how many sets of armour are you after? What sorts of weapons do you have in mind? King Eitri likes to have some idea what potential clients are after."
"Six sets of armour with full magic belts to enhance both physical prowess and magical potency. We would also want shields, swords and wands.
"Can Eitri provide those?"
"That should be possible. Light armour, helmets, magic belts, swords, scabbards and wands should all be within his power
"King Eitri?! It is I, Thor of Asgard! I have work for thee!"
The dwarf-giant emerged. "Ah, Prince Thor, what does the All-Father request this day?
"An Olympian? It is many a long year since I last had dealings with Mount Olympus. What dost thou request, my friend?"
"I am Princess Diana of Themyscira. The Amazons are after armour and weapons for six young wizards.
"The Boy-Who-Lived needs protection against the self-styled Dark Lord Voldemort, King Eitri. He and his friends Neville Longbottom, Pugsley Addams and Frederick, George and Ronald Weasley need armour and weapons. I ask for helmets, armour, swords, scabbards, wands, wand holsters, shields and performance-enhancing magic belts.
"I take it that the wands are to be capable of immense power; the swords both keen and strong; the armour and shields capable of blocking even the Unforgiveable Curses; and the belts of enhancing the wearers' magical as well as physical strength? Yes, I can do that.
"The armour shall be automatically size-adjusting. Not only strength, but speed, stamina and agility shall be increased manifold. What level of increase were you looking for?"
"A hundredfold for Harry Potter and fiftyfold for the other five, please. That should be more than enough for the…
"Furies won't work for men. Heroes seems too generic. Argonauts is misleading…"
"What about Raiders?!" Thor boomed. "Since their armour and weapons are of Nidavellir, a Northern European title seems fitting."
"It sounds like a Viking landing party," Diana mused. "I like it, Thor! Raiders it is!"
"I can get all prepared quickly. Do you want to take me to the young wizards tomorrow?
"One thing that I shall attempt is a transformation into the armour from normal attire and back again based on your own method. Can you demonstrate it please?" In response, Diana performed her usual quick spin change routine. "Thank you, Your Highness. Excellent!
"The armour should be ready in one Midgard day. See you tomorrow, Your Highnesses."
Thor signalled to Heimdall for the Bifrost and took Diana back to Asgard, where she stayed overnight in Lady Sif's guest bedroom.
"Hi everyone!" said Sarah Greengrass, as Luna, Astoria, Harry and his soulmates came through the portal from Potter Island. "Welcome to Greengrass Manor.
"Harry, Pansy, Millie, Giles and Amelia should be getting the relevant paperwork to allow him to take over as your legal guardian approved shortly. Our house, therefore, is your house. Ginny, Wednesday, you are always welcome here, as you already were, Tracey. Soulmates are already effectively part of the family after all. Luna, as a good friend of Tori's, you are also always welcome in this house."
"Thank you, Mum," Harry said, hugging her. Is this what having a mother feels like?!
You have five, Harry. I know that none of them can ever replace Lily Potter, but they can be worthy stand-ins. My parents are your parents, as are Trace's, Parv's, Gin's and Weds', Harry.
Harry kissed Daphne as passionately as he could. I love you, my darling Daffy!
I love you too, Harry dearest!
Err, Daffy, I think your Mum wants a chat. As great as it is to be lip-locked and tongue-tied with Harry, it does limit your conversational skills…
Thanks, Trace. Sorry, Harry. We'll have to reschedule the rest of our snogging session…
I will hold you to that, Daffy.
"Well, my darling elder daughter, you are True Loves alright! I am very happy for you.
"Harry, are you happy to have at least one son take Daffy's maiden name?"
"We have discussed it, Mum. I am to take the surname Greengrass-Potter. Any sons will be surnamed Greengrass. Since Millie and Pans are already Potters and Gin and Weds both have brothers, I am sure that Harry will have sons to carry on the Potter name.
"I believe that we are in the front sitting room for the start of the evening and then the main dining room for our meal. You, Dad, Tori and Luna are eating in the family dining room."
"Quite right, Daffy. You won't want us in your candlelight soiree…"
"I always want you, Mum, but it would be awkward having you all around whilst I am swapping sweet nothings with my True Loves."
"It would be more like swapping saliva, Daffy!" teased Astoria. "Still, if Harry were my soulmate, I'd want to snog him senseless all the time too! It would be the same for your other soulmates. You are a very lucky girl, Sis!
"Welcome to the family, everyone!"
"Thanks, Tori!" Harry laughed, hugging her tightly. "I shall love having you as a sister-in-law!"
"As I almost said, I shall have the coolest brother-in-law ever!
"Would you like me and Daffy to give everyone the guided tour of the manor, Mum? Trace, Pans, Parv and Millie have all visited before, but the others haven't."
"Please, Tori, Daffy."
"This is the life!" Angelina sighed, lying back on the bed. "Sun, sea sand and sex!
"Georgie, darling, get a move on with that next batch of contraceptive potion. I can't get enough of you in me! You have turned me into a nymphomaniac!"
"And I couldn't be happier that I have!" George grinned, casting lascivious looks at the naked young woman. "All I ever want to do is to make love to you…"
"Then get your arse into gear and finish that potion!
"I love you, George Weasley! Now I want us sharing that love as soon as possible!"
"It's ready, Angie.
"I love you too, Angelina!" He dropped his bathrobe and lay down beside her. "Now, bottom's up!" They each drank a large dose of the potion, before resuming their lovemaking.
"Ah, Princess," boomed Thor, as he and Diana met up the following day in Asgard, "King Eitri has said that he hath finished his craftsmanship on the weapons.
"Shall we visit that island this evening? I would wish to speak with the Boy-Who-Lived…"
"Harry Potter hates that title, Prince Thor. He feels that his mother deserves the credit. What could he have done as a fifteen-month-old human wizard baby to deserve such praise?"
"I can understand that, Princess Diana. To be celebrated for becoming an orphan as a toddler is what no child wants.
"If half of what we hear in Asgard is true, however, Harry Potter has earned his fame these last few years. For a boy not yet thirteen to have defeated a nearly millennium-old basilisk is a deed worthy to be sung in the banqueting hall of Valhalla for all eternity. Then for a boy shy of his fifteenth birthday to cast a Patronus capable of resisting dozens of those foul soul-sucking leeches is another feat worthy of immortal acclaim.
"It is for this that we are giving him and his friends the armour and arsenal that they might reach their true potential, Diana. Harry Potter is worthy of an eternity in Valhalla as a great champion already."
"There is a place for him in Elysium too," Diana agreed heartily, "should he so wish. Harry has all the makings of a great hero, Thor. The Powers That Be are taking an interest for a reason, Thor. Not those shadowy idiots that supposedly help the Watchers' Council and their latest Chosen One, but the Lion of Narnia, the White Wizard, the Flying Nanny, the Lonely Angel and others. They don't get involved directly for just anyone you know!
"With the young mages all fully armed, we can give them some proper training. With you, me, Jason Blood, the Doctor, Doctor Fate, the Ancient One and others, we should have plenty of experience on board."
"I am sure that Sif, Valkyrie and the Warriors Three would also be willing to train them too, Diana, as your mother and sisters would too.
"Now, I must go and collect King Eitri from Nidavellir. Farewell!"
With that, Thor signalled to Heimdall for the Bifrost to take him to Nidavellir.
Harry had enjoyed the tour of the manor and was now seated on a comfortable sofa in the main sitting room. Daphne and he were kissing passionately, as were Ginny and Pansy on another settee nearby.
A house elf appeared with an audible bang. "Mistress Daphne, please may you and your soulmates proceed to the main dining room. Dinner is to be served in fifteen minutes.
"Tonight's menu is a seafood cocktail and salad, followed by a ten-ounce Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak apiece, served with chips, peas, mushrooms, tomatoes and onion rings. Please let Dippy know how you like your steaks so that Dippy can tell Chief Cook Flower. Finally, dessert is to be Bramley apple pie with custard. Dippy assumes that Mistress Daphne and her soulmates are happy to have claret with their meal and has selected a particularly fine vintage."
"Thank you, Dippy," Daphne replied. "Pass on our thanks to Flower please. We shall be in the main dining room with time to spare."
They were indeed. The dining room was lit by candlelight alone and was tastefully decorated. All the cutlery was polished silver and the crockery was Crown Derby of a rare design. The claret was of the highest quality and the food was cooked to perfection from the finest ingredients.
Harry had rarely had wine before, although Parvati and the Slytherin girls were used to having alcohol with meals at home. Wednesday wasn't, given her American upbringing. The Burrow was not exactly noted for serving expensive wine.
Once their meal was over, they met up in the drawing room with Luna, Astoria, Giles and Sarah. After coffee and mints, the young mages hugged Giles and Sarah goodbye and returned through the portal to Potter Island.
Shortly after Harry and his soulmates had arrived back on the island, a rainbow appeared, and three figures stepped out. One was Diana, the other was a very tall bearded blond man carrying a massive hammer and a craggy giant. "Everyone, this is Prince Thor of the Aesir and King Eitri of Nidavellir, the world of the Dwarf-Giants."
"King Eitri made my hammer, the Mighty Mjolnir," boomed Thor, "and many other items for my father the All-Father, my mother, my brother and me, as well as our fellow Asgardians. He has provided the young wizards from your number with armour and weapons almost unmatched on Midgard." With that, Thor raised Mjolnir heavenwards and five forks of lightning flashed from it to strike each of the six wizards. Harry, Pugsley, Neville, Fred, George and Ron span rapidly to the right and a vortex, flash of light and a thunderclap later were dressed in plate armour on their arms, torsos, flanks and legs; red cloaks; thick leather belts from which broadswords in scabbards and wands in holsters hung; helmets; and shields were slung across their backs. Rather than the hoplon shields of the Furies, however, these were closer to Scottish targes, with a spiked brass boss in the centre of a round iron shield. The boss would be almost as lethal as the bladed broadswords.
"You are the Raiders," Thor continued. "Those swords, shields and armour are made with vibranium. Your wands contain leaves from Yggdrasil itself as cores and are made from ash cut from that tree. The belts enhance Mr Potter both physically and magically a hundredfold and the rest of you fiftyfold.
"Use these gifts well. That so-called Dark Lord is one of any number of magical threats that need a good smiting!"
"Prince Thor is right," King Eitri agreed. "I asked Prince Loki himself to charge the wands with great magical power. Wield them and the rest of my creations well and only in the cause of good."
"We shall start your training in the near future," Diana promised. "Thor and some others from Asgard will be among your instructors."
"Thank you, King Eitri, Prince Thor," Harry bowed smartly in their direction. "These are welcome gifts. I feel as if I have a real chance of bringing down Voldemort once and for all!
"Thank you as well, Princess Diana. We shall all strive with all our enhanced might to be worthy of your great gifts to us."
"I can see a Great Spirit in you, Mr Potter," Thor rumbled approvingly. "Stories of your deeds are being said and sung in Valhalla. You have all the attributes for becoming a Mighty Champion.
"All of you have great potential! What we can do is ensure that you realise that potential.
"Do you have any ideas for codenames, Diana?"
"I was thinking of Champion for Harry, Strength for Ron, Brawn for Pugsley, Courage for Neville, Marauder for Fred and Berserker for George. The latter two have a nicely Norse feel to them, I think."
"I approve. Welcome to all my new comrades in arms. You shall do us all proud.
"Now I have to take King Eitri back to Nidavellir, before returning to Asgard." At that, both Asgardian and Dwarf-Giant entered the Bifrost, which disappeared with them. Diana flew back to Themyscira. The Raiders span themselves back into their civilian identities and escorted their ladies back to their tents.
The following morning, the four witches of the Potter Island Book Club, as Hermione had dubbed them, were again enjoying a pot of hot tea (this time Earl Grey) in the library tent's reading room. I am now a superheroine, Hermione mused, effectively married to both a witch and a wizard. Well, I would never have imagined that!
You are happy, though, right? Padma mused. She drew her soulmate in closer as they sat on the cosy sofa together.
I couldn't be happier, Pads. You and Ron are the Loves of my life. How could I not be happy?!