Jay Morris

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just the gremlins in my head.

"Chapter 11: Surprises"

All students are invited to a party at Professor James Devine's house for a night of fun, commemorating one month in the "real world." I look forward to seeing you there.

P. James Devine

Harry and Ginny were sitting with Draco and Hermione in their dining room.

"Why is he throwing a party after all that's happened?" Ginny asked. Neal, her's and Harry's son, was sitting on her knee playing with a piece of string.

"Because not everyone knows what happened to us. He wanted to have a reason to give us a reason to have a good time," Hermione said. Janette, her's and Draco's daughter, was crawling around on the floor, chasing a floating toy that Draco had bought.

"You know, it makes perfect sense. We do need to have fun, even if it's just as a cover-up." Harry looked at Ginny with Neal. After she got out of the hospital she insisted on holding him as much as possible. Neal's hair had grown, and he looked to be about six months old. Janette's hair was blonde, and curled very well. She wasn't as old as Neal, so couldn't walk very well, but was close to walking. Both of the babies had limited speech, but could say "Mommy" and "Daddy."

"Well, are we going to go?" Draco asked. He needed to know how much sleep he was getting tonight. Because most parties he had been to were, to put it mildly, long.

"Why not go? Got something better to do? Wait! On second thought don't answer that." Harry closed his eyes against that thought. Seeing Hermione and Draco kissing was bad enough, but to think they had gone where Ginny's dad had thought Ginny and he had went . . . gross!

"So we're going right?" Ginny asked.

"Sure," Hermione said. "It may be a lot of fun. The only thing I don't get is what will we do with the children?" Hermione looked at Ginny and received a shrug in response to her question.

"I guess we'll find out when we get there," Draco said. Harry nodded his head in agreement.

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At the party . . . Harry, Ginny, Draco, Hermione, Neal, and Janette showed up to the party. Almost everyone was already there. Seamus, Pansy, Emma, and Scott were all dancing to a song by the Weird Systers. Ron and Tanya were playing a game of chess, and Ron was losing, badly. Professor Devine was talking to some woman, but none of them knew who it was. In the corner, Neville and Luna were running a kid's drop-off. And, surprisingly, nothing seemed wrong. Neville was very gentle with every child, and Luna dazzled the children with feats of magic. Harry and Draco took Neal and Janette over there, and didn't even have to say good-bye as they went and found something to do. Harry and Draco met back up with Ginny and Hermione, and looked around again. Yep, everyone was here, and it looked like a fun party. Even the ones as thick as Crabbe and Goyle were actually enjoying themselves without Draco. This thought made Draco smile. Draco turned around and found Harry, Ginny, and Hermione gone. He quickly found them over by Ron and Tanya intently watching their chess game.

"Queen to H5." Tanya didn't blink as she made this move.

"You're trying to draw me out aren't you?" Ron was smirking as he asked this.

"Of course. So what's your move dear?" Tanya batted her eyes flirting back at Ron.

"I think I'll have my King move to A2, and stay on the defensive."

"Oh but you want to attack me. You know you do." Tanya tossed her hair back.

"I know what I know I want to do. But we did that, and look what happened." Ron looked up. "Harry! When did you guys get here!?"

"We've been here for about two minutes, why?" Harry was curious what he meant by his reaction when he found out that they were there.

"I don't want you guys to see me lose."

"Ron, you mean you're actually really losing, and not just letting her win?" Hermione asked. "You never did that for me, or even Ginny, when we played you."

"So what would make me do it for her? She's won too many tournaments for all of us to count on all of our fingers and toes combined."

"Are you really that good?" Ginny asked.

Tanya turned her eyes on Ginny. Her voice was smooth and sweet. "Yes. My mother has made me play chess as long as I can remember. I've beaten, and been beaten in, international championships. And I'm one of England's finest chess players. The only person who's ever really beaten me was Albus Dumbledore himself."

"Well, you're kickin' the snot out of me. Can I surrender?" Ron begged.

"Not unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight Ron."

"Well then I guess I'll just have to play this out won't I?"

"I love it when I win."

"The game's not over yet."

"Who said I was talking about the chess game?"

"I think we're going now," Draco hinted to everyone else. They all nodded their heads, and walked off.

"What was that back there?" Harry asked.

"What? You don't know?" Ginny asked.

"Know what?" Draco inquired.

"Tanya's pregnant, and it's Ron's baby. And it's real. He hasn't talked to mum in a month, and hates to think of what will happen when dad finds out he's the only Weasley child to have a child." Ginny said this very calmly, but Harry knew she was worried about her brother.

"I thought Percy had a son or something," Hermione said. She had just returned with four cups of pumpkin juice for everyone.

"Well, um, Percy said that Penelope was pregnant to make himself look good. I found out from someone that he can't really have children, and that Penelope was just getting fat."

"Who'd you hear it from?" Draco asked.

"Fred and George. They listen in on his conversations sometimes, and for the right price they'll tell you anything you want to know about them."

"Even what they do in the bedroom?" Harry asked. He almost wanted to hurl.

"Yes."

"Do you think they get some kind of perverse pleasure out of it?"

"Gross."

"They're your brothers."

"Don't remind me."

Devine clapped his hands twice. "Thank you one and all for making this experiment work. I am pleased to say that the Ministry of Magic will allow this for next year's sixth years, unless you are already a fifth year." Devine looked squarely at Ginny, and heard laughter in the back of his mind.

"I would also like you all to thank Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom for providing Day-care for us tonight." The applause that filled that room was tumultuous. Neville waved shyly and Luna blushed.

"On a more serious note I would like you all to know that I have arranged for a special guest." Everyone turned to look at her. She was a pleasant looking witch with light brown hair, and she wore velvet looking red robes. Her eyes, hidden only slightly by glasses, were brown. "Her name is Laura Ravella Maurice, and is one of the best female singers in England, let alone in the world. She has agreed to perform for us a collection of songs, and I want you all to be very respectful. Laura has taken time away from a tour in Italy to come see us. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you; Laura Maurice."

"Thank you Professor Devine. Before I perform the pieces, I will answer a few questions some of you may have about me. Yes, you in the blue sweater."

Emma asked, "How do you know Professor Devine?"

"Well, that could go on for ages. Um, I met Jam-, Professor Devine, at Hogwarts. He was actually the person who discovered my gift of music."

"What do you mean?" Scott asked.

"Well, I was working in my family's restaurant; Ravella Cafe, when he came in. It was late, and almost closing time, and he just sat at a table eating a piece of pie and drinking a Butterbeer. As usual when I close, I sang to keep the time away. When he came up to pay for his food, he asked me if I wanted to sing for money. He hooked me up with a publishing company that really like me, and strangely it was Professor Devine that who helped me find my husband, Antoine Maurice. Antoine and I did a duet at school, and hit it off after that."

"What songs are you going to sing for us?"

"Well, there are a few songs I would like to do. One of them is called 'Caro Mio Ben', and the other is 'Danza, Danza'."

Devine conjured a piano from his wand, and stepped off the stage. He pointed at the ceiling and the lights dimmed down, and light increased on the stage. Laura bowed to the audience, and sat down at the piano. She played and sang, and as she did the audience was raptured by the way she sang and played together. When she was finished, once again applause filled the room, and echoed resoundingly throught the entire building. "Encore! Encore!" everyone shouted.

Laura put her hand up so she could speak. "I'll give an encore if your instructor will help me sing it."

"Go Devine!" Everyone wanted to hear this. Hermione turned to Draco and looked at him bewildered. Who knew that Professor Devine could sing?

Devine walked sheepishly up the stairs to the stage.

Laura turned to all the students. "Anybody know any good duets?"

"What about 'Spellbound'?"

"I know! Do 'Magical Love'!"

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom?"

"What about that American song 'Unchained Melody'?"

"An excellent choice. Devine?"

Devine nodded his head, but looked at her and asked, "Who will play?"

"I will."

A man, a little taller than Laura, walked on from the back of the stage. His deep purple robes contradicted greatly the bright stage lights. His hair was blonde, and his eyes blue.

"Antoine!"

"James."

Laura moved her brown wavy hair from her shoulders to her back, and waited for Antoine and James to finish shaking hands. When they had finished, Antoine sat down at the piano and started playing. Devine walked over to Laura, and in perfect unison sang the song. Everyone was in tears, including Antoine. After they were done, total silence filled the room. Then, slowly but then quickly, everyone applauded. Antoine came over to Laura and Devine and collectively they bowed.

"Thank you all for coming to this party. As it is now ten o'clock the party is now over. So I hope you enjoyed yourself, and I look forward to our next one next month." Everyone clapped as they picked up their children, and headed home. Harry and Draco went to go talk to Devine, Laura, and Antoine; while Ginny and Hermione picked up the children to meet them as well. Devine, Laura, and Antoine were walking down the stage when Laura saw Harry's scar.

"Is that Harry Potter?" Laura asked. Her eyes were wide behind her glasses.

"Yes, actually it is. Laura, Antoine, allow me to introduce you to Harry Potter, his wife Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and his wife Hermione Granger. Now for the young ones they'll have to introduce them." Devine beamed at his friends.

"This is Neal, and that's Janette," Harry said.

"Can we ask you kids a few questions?" Antoine asked. He wanted to know a lot about the boy wonder Harry Potter.

"Only if we can ask you some questions too. You guys go first."

Devine, conjured chairs, and a table for them all to sit on. Laura went to go get them some goblets, and a pitcher of pumpkin juice. Antoine looked at all of them, only for a few seconds, and when Laura got back he asked, "What happened to you kids? Devine told us you all have had some traumas, but he didn't say what."

Ginny looked at Harry. Harry took her look for it's right meaning, 'don't make me say it.' Harry looked at Draco and Hermione, they gave him the same look. Harry sighed, and told Antoine everything that happened from the beginning of their stay here. As he gave specific details, Laura slipped her hand into Antoine's and gasped at all the appropriate places. At the end Antoine and Laura were both in tears. Harry looked down when he was done, and Draco asked, "How did you, all four of you, actually get hooked up?"

Devine looked at Draco, then at Laura, and looked at his cup as though it were tap dancing. Laura looked at Antoine, and began their story. "Well, it was actually not as you see it now. I started dating Devine after graduation, he and I had done the duet I mentioned earlier. I wanted to do a blind group date, where we'd each bring a friend for the other's friend to date. Sound interesting? He brought Antoine, and I brought Moriah. We ended up dating the one intended for the other, and it's worked like that ever since."

"Wow," Hermione said. Draco and Harry were still trying to make it all make sense.

"Hermione, were you actually attacked by Draco's dad? Did he actually physically attack you?" Laura asked.

"Well, he tried. Devine threw him to the other side of the room, and waited for the Ministry wizards to get here."

"I knew that part, but I was talking about the second time." Laura's eyes didn't move from Hermione.

"We think that's who did it, but there's no real evidence to support it."

"You poor dear. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." She looked at Draco, who was playing with Janette's hair as she slept on him, and smiled. Devine noticed too, and looked up.

"I think it's time for all of us to turn in. Harry, as I understand it, you and Ginny are staying at Draco and Hermione's house?"

"Yes. I've talked to the construction company, and we've agreed on a payment to get our house back. All the memories and other stuff can't be rebuilt, but, at least we'll have a place to call our own again."

"James, can Laura and I stay the night here with you? It's kind of late to be traveling, and I wanted to talk to you privately." Antoine's eyes darted toward everyone else, and Devine nodded.

"Sure. I always enjoy having company here. Good night everyone."

N/A: This is only a builder, there is something bad coming. I don't want to even hint at what it is, but if you want to guess, just post a review with a guess. You'll find out soon enough if you're right. I'm sorry that not a lot happened in this chapter except that you find out who the Slytherin and Gryffindor friends of Devine's are. Yes, it's Laura and Maurice; Laura was in Gryffindor, and Maurice in Slytherin.