Title: Strings of Fate

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: Being raised only by his Aunt, Harry comes to Hogwarts not only knowing about the Wizarding World, but with a kind of training no one at the school is expecting.

A/N: I have had some reviews stating that I should warn that this fic has Slash in it. I did not realise that two quick kisses counted as Hardcore FemSlash. By that logic Goblet of Fire and Half Blood Prince should be reclassified as Hardcore Porn because Harry gets his shirt off in one and kisses Cho in the other. Come on people, let's get real here. Ok, you want a warning, then here goes. Warning: this fic contains acts of humanity, in all the crazy, wonderful and horrible aspects that entails. Of course, if there are sex scenes or graphic violence I will put a warning in the chapter but otherwise… not going to warn for acts of humanity.

Harry stood holding a champagne glass full of sparkling water and supressed the urge to beat on the Ministry flunky who was nattering away at him. Of course, they were not talking with him, but at him.

This was the first of three 'Must Attend' Ministry Sponsored events over the Christmas Break. Harry had been lucky the previous year that he did not have to attend, but this year he had to come. Looking around the room, Harry spotted Neville standing over with his Grandmother. Susan was escaping from a pair of young and cocky Ministry interns. Draco and his parents were huddled in a corner with a few other 'dark' families. Daphne Greengrass was over at the refreshment table. Amelia and Aunt Petunia were standing together as Minister Fudge backed away from them while trying not to look like he was running away from them.

Harry could not help but let a small grin flash across his face at his… were they both classified as his Aunts now that they were dating? Well maybe not yet, but he was happy for them. Both Amelia and Aunt Petunia had been put their lives on hold to raise Harry, Dudley and Susan, so anything that made them happy was a good thing as far as Harry was concerned, and it turned out that the thing that made them happy was each other.

"What do you think, Mister Potter?" The Ministry Flunky said.

"To be honest, I don't think that regulations to lower the length of Auror Robes by one sixteenth of an inch is the most pressing issue facing the Ministry at the moment." Harry replied

"So, what do you think is more important?" The flunky said seriously.

"Hum…" Harry replied, faking being deep in thought. "The Budget review for the Auror Academy. The six mid-level Ministry Officials who recently went missing. Or even the accusation relating to a pair of Field Obliviates who are accused of taking bribes to Obliviate witnesses of crimes."

The flunky simply rolled his eyes and decided that he was required elsewhere. Seeing that he was by himself, Susan quickly joined Harry in order to get away from the interns.

"Oh god." Susan said as she joined Harry. "Those interns are monumentally stupid, and a bit grabby."

"I had a guy explaining why Auror's robes being too short is going to lead directly to the end of civilisation as we know it." Harry countered.

"Oh, Hargrove." Susan mused. "He cornered me last year."

"How much longer till we can go?" Harry asked.

"About twenty minutes." Susan said. "The Minister's Senior Undersecretary should be making an ass of herself in ten minutes then the Head of International Co-operation and the Head of Treasury will get into a massive fight. After that we can go."

Just as Susan predicted Senior Undersecretary Umbridge made a complete fool of herself over basically nothing and then the 'traditional' fight between Crouch and Williamson broke out. Once that happened, Amelia and Petunia came over and the group left via floo.

Kelpse was waiting in the entry hall of Bones Mannor.

"Welcome home, Mistress." Kelpse said as they came through. "How was the party?"

"Same as always." Amelia replied.

"How is Dudley?" Petunia asked.

"Master Evans is fine." Kelpse explained. "He did some of his homework and went to bed an hour ago."

"Wouldn't want to wake him." Harry said.

By choice, Harry and Dudley had been sleeping in the same room, each with their own bed, so they could chat on the developments in their lives.

"Harry can stay with me." Susan said with a small grin.

"You know we have about ten spare bedrooms." Amelia replied, raising her left eyebrow.

"So, you'll be sleeping alone?" Susan countered. "Didn't think so."

Susan grabbed Harry's arm and pulled Harry away by his arm. Amelia and Petunia shared an amused glance before they headed off to Amelia's bedroom.

Harry awoke the next morning with Susan wrapped in his arms, kind of like how she often slept during the trips on the Hogwarts Express. She snuggled into his arms, relaxing in the warmth.

"Good morning." Harry said as she opened her eyes.

"Morning." Susan replied. "I kind of wish we could wake up like this at Hogwarts."

"Maybe we could." Harry replied, enjoying the feeling of Susan in his arms. "Hannah wouldn't say anything."

"Might give people the wrong idea." Susan pointed out.

Harry instantly knew what Susan meant. While there may have been rumours, and possibly betting pools, speculating when Harry and Susan would get together as a couple, they were not romantically interested in each other, unlike their Aunts. Instead they considered each other to be siblings. Ok, sleeping in the same bed as your sibling was not exactly 'normal', but then nothing had been exactly normal in either Harry or Susan's lives.

"We should head down for breakfast." Harry mused.

They went downstairs to find Kelpse putting two fresh plates of crepes on the island bench in the kitchen where Amelia and Susan usually had breakfast. Dudley was already sitting at the bench eating his own Crepes.

"Morning." Dudley greeted as they sat down and began their breakfasts. "Guess I was asleep when you all got in last night."

"Yeah." Harry replied. "Thought it was better not to disturb you."

"Mum and your Aunt?" Dudley asked Susan.

"Still asleep." Susan shrugged. "And even if they're not, they're still asleep."

"Egyptian Holiday." Both Harry and Dudley said together.

"What?" Susan asked, confused.

"In denial." Harry explained.

Susan looked at them both in confusion for a moment before she broke out laughing.

Ten minutes later both Amelia and Petunia came down together. The three children looked at each other for a moment before they all broke out laughing, earning them a confused look from the two adults. A second later Kelpse popped in with breakfast for the two women.

"Oh… Crepes." Amelia said.

TBC…