H P Boy who Lives 7th year
Chapter Seventeen
The tortoise and the weasel
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How much emotion can one guy or girl for that matter take before either of them snaps…
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Harry knew that he was gone. His silent tears streamed down his face onto Michael's still, what appeared to be sleeping face. He vowed to make his next go at life out of this world, as he vanished with Michael in his arms.
"Leave him be for a time. This is his first loss since nearly six months ago. Only this time there is no one to blame, but the powers, and that is a bitter pill to swallow." Merlin stopped anyone from going after Harry.
"What bites is that all the magic in the world couldn't save him." Draco growled hoarsely, as they all headed back inside.
Wills waited until they were all inside to say something. "Harry's life gave you fame and fortune. Now all of you are going to give back to something, that I feel Harry is going to be all for on. The Pendragon Foundation for Children's Welfare will focus on finding cures for all the diseases plaguing the children of the world like AIDS, cancer, and so on. Not only that, but will help orphans who have lost their families, and kids from broken or abusive homes." Wills was in full prince mode. "Royalties owed for not only the books and movie, but he did prevent all of you from being conquered by Lord Voldemort. This way his legacy will help make losing Michael easier for him. Not to be an alarmist to all of you, but his final battle with Morgana is on New Years Eve. He needs a clear mind and heart to focus on outwitting Morgana and Cho."
"Cho Chang?" Rupert and Tom stared at him in shock. "She went bad and Draco went good?"
"Cho went mental over Harry and Hermione's relationship. She's lost Cedric to Katarina Channing, Wills ex-girlfriend, making her even more crackers. Add that she's one of Morgana's great whatever grandkids and its all messed up." Ron explained.
"So, we provide the funding with proceeds from the book, movie, and merchandise...I'm game. It's a brilliant idea." Daniel was all for it.
"He is entitled to half of the Harry Potter Empire. I can't think of a better way for him to put it to good use." Jo was also all for The Pendragon Foundation for Children's Welfare. "I'll have my battalion of lawyers contact yours William. We shall get the ball rolling after Christmas."
"Harry would love that. In fact we all would." Lily hugged Jo. "Sorry about that I've got twins on board." Their bellies bumped.
"I've got one and that's more than enough." Jo blew her bangs out of her eyes.
"Now you can visit Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, or Godric's Hollow." Hermione hugged her.
"I really do wish to visit those places, especially your Sanctuary." Jo hugged her back.
"Here's all the info that you need, including their personal contact information." Wills handed her a thick envelope and a smaller more personal one.
"Listen to me. That little boy wanted us to celebrate our lives not morn his passing. So, you and Harry get married and enjoy your special day tomorrow." Jo hugged all of them then stopped in front of Hermione. "Well, I promised my better half that I would be home two hours ago, but I wouldn't have missed any of this, excluding Michael's passing, for the world."
Prince padded down the stairs and lay mournfully at Hermione's feet.
"Now, now none of that there will be no sulking young man. You are going to get married and enjoy your day tomorrow." Jo walked over and frowned down at him.
Harry transformed back into himself. He had a few minutes upstairs to have a good cry and was now able to interact with everyone again. "Thanks for giving him such a send off..." He cleared his throat, so he could talk. "I would like it if we could use some of the revenue that is made from my name, no actually a great deal of it to do something to help children."
"Already ahead of you baby brother." Wills put a hand on his shoulder. "We're forming The Pendragon Foundation for Children's Welfare. It's all in the works as of Monday morning. It will help orphans, kids from abusive families, runaways, and kids fighting serious illnesses and their families. It will focus on finding cures for the diseases plaguing the children of the world today. This will be your legacy as it were." Wills found himself bear hugged by Harry.
"All of it has to make a difference or what's the point. Voldemort and Morgana headaches yes, but nothing compared to the battles helpless kids fight everyday. If my name is gonna roll in the money then I want it to make a difference." Tears streamed down his face. "I'm just so done with things not making a difference. I'm just tired after vanquishing 1500 dark witches and wizards, with the help of 250 international hit wizards and Aurors, in a two-week period. I really haven't had much downtime since getting home Saturday night. Although, meeting Michael, fulfilling his wish, makes it all worthwhile." He turned to say good-bye to Jo.
"You know that what you've done has made a difference in both our worlds. Just keep your eye on the big picture that being your brilliantly happy future with Hermione, the little ones, and your family. Enjoy your wedding tomorrow and tell Sir Cadogan hello for me. He'll make the perfect do not disturb sign." Whispering that last part in his ear Jo hugged him.
"Mrs. Rowling the car is here." Worthington the butler announced.
"Well, keep up the excellent work and by that I mean all of you. I will be in touch. Happy Christmas and Happy wedding." She left for home.
"I'll make the calls, while the rest of you feel free to start dinner without me." Wills went off to make the calls about Michael.
"No offense, but I'm famished." Ron and Rupert said in unison.
Everyone laughed while the two boys gaped at each other.
"You kids play nice. We're calling it a night at the castle." The adults took out their wands and disapparated home.
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"Are you all right?" Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry and laid her head against his chest.
"Yes, heart of mine. I'm fine, just tired." Harry hugged her close. "Emotionally drained, but looking forward to our wedding tomorrow evening and our first Christmas together as a couple with our whole family."
"Or alone time just you and me sounds nice too." Hermione sighed.
Harry turned to look at Daniel and the others. "When do you have to be onset again?"
"On the third of January... Why what's on your mind." Daniel arched a knowing brow at him.
"You two are all clear for your Holiday at Hogwarts and for the wedding tomorrow. The two of them are welcome as well, if they want. You see Hogwarts is pretty much empty until just before New Years." Harry was content to rest his chin on Hermione's head.
"Don't you dare Harry James," Hermione growled. "They do not need to know that."
"What did you do now Hermione?" Daniel was beyond curious.
"I chased everyone out of the castle, because I became overly obsessed with Christmas. While Harry was away hiding...I mean on his first mission." Hermione was miffed that Harry had mentioned the castle, so she on purposely had a slip of the tongue as well.
"Hiding from what?" Daniel was enjoying seeing the two of them interacting with one another. It was clear that they were tap dancing around each other about something. "The two of you have kept your promise so far haven't you?"
Draco, Ginny, Luna, and Ron smirked, but said nothing.
"Yes, baby brother and sister do tell." Henry narrowed his eyes at Harry and Hermione.
"Since the two of us have been married for four months on the twenty-eighth of this month, at least in our world's eyes and I'm nineteen and she's eighteen... Our love life is none of your business." Harry with a steely look in his eyes dared anyone to challenge his statement.
"So, you were escaping Hermione...right got it." Daniel surmised.
"Daniel, this is not up for discussion." Hermione was itching to jinx someone.
"You turned into the Christmas Nazi, because Harry wouldn't break his promise to Mab, Merlin, and the others?!" Ron was not pleased, not pleased at all. "All of that hell for two weeks, all because you couldn't shag Harry when you wanted to!"
"Ronald Bilius Arthur Weasley! You tactless moron! Now she's going to jinx the tar out of you!" Luna kicked him in the shin.
"Hermione Anne, don't you dare even think of what I know you're thinking. We are in Highgrove, so don't trash it." Harry tried to keep a hold on her.
She jabbed her elbow into his solar plexus, slammed her heel down onto his instep, punched him in the nose, and when he still wouldn't let her go nailed him in his lower region. "Go chase your tail for awhile Prince!"
"She just made him S.I.N.G. I wonder if she watched that movie on DVD." Emma smirked.
"Cripes! Just watching that hurts." Daniel winced in sympathetic pain. "Sorry about that big brother. Emma remind me never to get you cheesed off."
She ignored the fury radiating from him. "You did run and hide for two weeks! Why don't you try being a tortoise! You can hide in there for a while!"
Harry was now a very pissed off giant tortoise
"Bloody hell, she's lethal when she's pissed." Tom could feel the sheer power radiating between the two of them.
"She didn't use her wand." Ginny gasped.
"So, I noticed and she's making sure that he notices it too." Draco stared down at the large tortoise glaring up at Hermione.
"It's a pity that Mum, Dad, and the rest left early. They really are missing a show." Luna murmured.
"Now as for you, Ronald Bilius Arthur Weasley, whom I wish and when I wish to shag, as you so crudely put it, is none of your concern!" Ron was now a weasel. "Deal with that for awhile! It suits you!"
"Everything is taken care of..." Wills came back into the Common Room to join the others stopping dead in his tracks. There was a giant tortoise and weasel in Highgrove. "Do I even want to know what set her off this time?"
Rory and Dromi came out of the kitchen to see what was up. "Oh my, who's who?" They giggled.
"The giant tortoise is Harry and the, um, weasel is Ron." Emma smothered a giggle that was threatening to escape out of her mouth.
"I'll see all of you tomorrow. Right now I feel like going out." Hermione waved her hand in front of her and her school uniform changed to a red little number with matching faux fur cape. "Yes, this is much more suitable. Now as Grams loves to say blessed be." She vanished and not once during any of this did she ever take out her wand.
"Show off." Ginny rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Granted they did deserve what they got, but the other was just overkill."
"See ya later, handsome." Rory kissed Wills.
"But where are you off to?" Wills pouted.
"Someone has to keep an eye on her, besides it's a girl thing." Rory whispered into his ear.
"Do you blame her for being in a temper? I mean really. It wasn't all romantic now was it?" Dromi kissed Henry.
"What wasn't romantic, luv?" Henry asked, but it was too late the girls were gone.
"How rude of me," Hermione however was back. "Em, Ginny, Luna you can come with if you like."
"Where are we going Hermione?" Emma asked.
"It's not terribly late. We could all catch a movie or have a girl's only party at the castle." Hermione notice that Harry was still a tortoise and smirked. "You Merlin. Me Mab."
"All girls night at the castle sounds smashing." Ginny kissed Draco before going over to Hermione.
"Well, you were asking for it Ron." Luna stared down at the weasel. "I'm in." She also standing next to Hermione
"Try not to get into too much trouble." Emma kissed Daniel before walking over to Hermione. "I'm in big sister."
"I'll bring you things to the castle." Winky appeared in the room. "You be wantin some food and things. I happy to make it." She smiled up at Hermione with adoring eyes.
"Girls night, means girls night, you are invited too Winky." Hermione laughed when she hugged her leg.
"I make special treats just for us." She vanished.
"Good night, boys. Don't go all wild or do anything stupid. Okay girls everyone clasp hands and we'll be off." The four of them all held hands, and with a blinding sapphire blue flash of sparkling light, they were gone.
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"In Merlin's name four at once and without a wand." Draco stared at where the girls had just been standing. "She's really shoving his face in it. I mean that alone emphasizes the 'Me Mab' claim that she made."
"Is he stuck like that?" Rupert knelt in front of the two of them.
"Quite the opposite he remained in that form, so he wouldn't give into the urge to throttle her for kneeing him in the ballocks." Draco watched as Harry made himself into Prince and then into himself again.
"I want a drink!" He snarled darkly.
Lighting slit the sky outside from the sheer force of his temper.
"Would that be a Coke or Pepsi?" Wills arched a brow at him.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Wills. "Fire whiskey! I said that I wanted a drink!"
"That's tough no alcohol remember. That's what got you into trouble last August twenty-eighth." Wills met his glare with one of his own.
"I don't wish to think, feel, or care at the moment!" He conjured a bottle of fire whiskey and took a long swig from it.
"Guaranteed to burn the feeling out of a wizard's body," He coughed out, as the drink scorched its way down his throat and into his empty stomach. He didn't much care and took another drink before Draco wrestled it away from him.
"SHE'S BEEN HOLDING OUT ON ME... I CAN'T USE MAGIC WITHOUT A WAND! MY ASS!" He wrenched the bottle away from Draco and drank even more.
"ME MAB?! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?" Lighting flashed outside the windows and snow was falling by the inches.
"I BRING HER GLORIOUS WEDDING PRESENTS BACK WITH ME FROM MY TRIP TO EUROPE. WHAT DOES SHE DO? SHE DUMPS ICE-CREAM ON MY HEAD, BEFORE EVEN LOOKING AT THE PEACE OFFERING!" The bottle was half-empty.
"I was like the hell with this shit, let her fume for all I care, and left!" His voice all but spent from snarling he took another drink.
"Lot good that did! We're linked! So, of course I go back and make nice, because I for one was practically dead on my feet and really grouchy. She was miserable from missing me. I tell her all the trouble I went through for her and she pounces on me after that..." Harry's mind was shutting down from the effects of the drinking. "I can't for the life of me remember. My mind went off-line for a while..." Harry was out like a light and would have hit the floor if Will's hadn't caught him.
"Well, that explains a lot. The two of them can't remember themselves, uh, christening their marriage." Henry helped his brother get Harry to the couch.
"That explains the cuts on his back. They were paper cuts from fancy wrapping paper." Draco grinned.
"If that's right then they'll never look at fancy paper the same way again." Ron now back to normal chuckled with amusement.
"That explains a lot. The blessed event comes to be because of an interesting and unplanned union." Wills sat across from Harry and tried to relax. "This is actually a good thing. He'll be out cold when they arrive for Michael. I didn't wish for him to have to see that."
"Blessed event?" Rupert, Daniel, and Tom all frowned.
"August 28, 2005 between 12 and 1 in the morning, we will be uncles three times over." Draco grinned.
"That's news to me. I thought it was on Hermione's birthday?" Henry's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Yeah Draco, it's the September 19th not the August 28th. Harry saw the whole thing." Wills and Ron frowned.
"Look, I don't advertise it, but I can see things too. Trust me mark your calendars for the 28th." Draco smirked. "Just don't tell big brother there that I said anything okay."
"Sure not a problem," They all promised.
"Oh, bugger. I forgot all about what you wrote about Merlin's warning." Daniel paled at the thought. "Three of what exactly?"
"Girls," Ron grinned. "He's seen it."
"God help him one Hermione is more than enough." Tom groaned.
"You said it mate." Rupert agreed.
"The thing is that he isn't apprehensive or terrified about any of it." Draco conjured a case of Butterbeer and set it down in front of Wills.
"That's because it hasn't dawned on him that he'll be outnumbered four to one yet." Henry helped himself to a bottle.
"So, can Ginny do all that without a wand too?" Daniel asked Draco.
"She hasn't around me as of yet, but she is one of First-Grams students, so anything is possible." He took a swig from his bottle of Butterbeer.
Fred apparated into the room, "Everything's cleaned up as promised, Wills. And no we didn't singe your precious Highgrove."
George shook the snow off him, after Apparating into the room near the fireplace. "Bloody hell! It's like a blizzard outside now! Who the hell pissed off, baby brother!?"
"Hermione kneed him in the ballocks, because he didn't wish to have her trash big brother's precious Highgrove." Henry was enjoying his Butterbeer. "Then she turned him into a giant tortoise."
"Bugger and we missed all that?!" Fred pouted.
"Oh, there's more. Ron mentioned her wishing to shag with Harry and she turned him into a weasel." Daniel grinned.
"Ron, you have a death wish mentioning anything like that to Hermione." George walked over now that he was dry and knocked him upside the head.
"Hey, enough with the abuse, I learned my lesson." Ron winced in protest when Fred did the same thing.
"Oi, what's with Harry?" George bent down to check on him.
"Why's he smell like fire whiskey!? Uncle James said no Stag Party period." Fred glared at Wills.
"He did that all by himself, before I could stop him. She isn't being entirely truthful with him and he doesn't have recall of a very significant personal event in his life...Add Michael's passing and he wanted to be numb for a while." Wills shrugged his shoulders, as if to say hey it's his right.
"NUMB?! Look, outside William...He can't control the storm that he called up, because he's sloshed! Hermione's gonna skin you alive for not stopping him! Uncle James and Aunt Lily will be off the charts! He can't drink! His Marauder side takes control and he goes wild!" George paced in front of the fireplace.
"I'm aware of that George, but this time it just knocked him out. Where as last time he drank Marauder tea laced with fire whiskey in the morning, went hiking, then before eating had a beer, ale, and then Guinness. During his attempt to bond with his dad that was a volatile mixture thus the reaction." Wills helped himself to another Butterbeer.
"As long as he sleeps it off it will be fine." Henry agreed.
"You would know, little brother." Wills laughed when Henry flashed him the universal up yours sign. "Hey, I'm only stating the truth."
"Yeah, well, that was then and this is now. You weren't mister boy scout either when it comes to the drink." Henry grumbled.
"Uh, Draco have you cured Ginny of her wandering ways?" Rupert and Tom arched a brow at him.
"I cured her of that last May, after my team got crushed by Gryffindor. She saved my life from MacNair, out by the Quidditch pitch. Yeah, I was an ass sixth year, but I wasn't about to do as my father had commanded. I was smart enough to know that I didn't have a chance at besting Harry. I followed him one night to see where he was sneaking off to and saw that he was training with Aurors and besting them. My former father saw that as betrayal and sent MacNair after my ass. The DA was like Dumbledore's eyes and ears so any of them were always on the look out for Deatheaters. Ginny must have spotted MacNair and went to investigate. I wasn't paying any attention, because I was in a foul mood. We'd lost 30 goals to 10 add the 150 pts and we got hosed. Even Crabbe and Goyle didn't wanna be around me that day. MacNair had almost gotten a perfect shot at me, when Ginny sent Expelliarmus at him, sending his wand flying under the stands. Then she used Stupefy, Immobulus, and Petrificus Totalus on him, just to make sure that he wasn't going anywhere. I stared at her in disbelief. It floored me that my father had disowned me and sent someone to kill me for not going with his plan. Add to the fact that it had been the youngest Weasley that saved my ass, not to mention that she was stunning to look at in a temper, and it was surreal. Ginny stalked up to me and demanded to know why it was that I was suddenly persona non grata with the Deatheaters and Voldemort. I glared at her and said it was none of her bloody business. She Stupefied my ass, then asked me again." Draco smirked. "Well, what can I say I was a prat. So, she got the same answer and I got Rictusempra shot at me. Now that got me to admit that I wouldn't follow my father's wishes and kill Harry. After that she gave me the oddest look and said that because she had saved my ass I now belonged to her. I was to be a good boy or else. Then we went to go see Dumbledore about MacNair, but when we returned to the pitch with Kingsley, he was gone. My life however, was forever changed. Ginny and I became secret pen pals as it were."
Harry was grinning in his sleep.
"You were the secret admirer for two months? You sent her that pin for her birthday? No wonder Harry had to go and fly Buckbeak. He knew that it was you." Fred and George gaped openmouthed at him. "That piss ant knew the entire time and didn't say anything."
Harry chuckled in his sleep. "Damn straight I knew."
"He can't be awake! He drank nearly a bottle of hard liquor!" Daniel, Rupert, and Tom stared over at Harry in surprise.
"He's still out of it. That's just something he does. He sleepwalked through sixth year. He never really sleeps and is always aware of his surroundings. That's what makes him such a good Hit Wizard/Auror." Ron grinned.
"Valentines Day is gonna be dull without the Kissing Bandit this year, since the Kissing Bandit has met her match." George smirked.
Draco choked on his Butterbeer. "Excuse me? Did you say that Gin was the Kissing Bandit?" He coughed out.
"Yeah, it was a game she played every Valentines Day. You can't tell me that you didn't know." Ron stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh, I knew about the Kissing Bandit, but didn't associate her with my Peaches. I mean she's a bloomin blonde, not a redhead!" He glared at the three of them.
"Makes sense to me. After Valentines Day sixth year, she wasn't into dating anything that walked. So, she went and kissed you and that was it. You were already on her target list and didn't know it..." Harry was highly amused.
"She went and kissed a Slytherin!? She swore to us that she would never... Well that just ain't right!" Fred huffed.
"No offense or anything Draco. We know that Malfoy is dead inside you, but it's the thought of what you were at the time." George wanted to make sure that he wasn't getting cheesed at them.
"No worries you two. I know how I was back then. Uh, just Valentines Day, are you sure about that?" Draco frowned.
"Yeah, as far as we knew," Fred frowned. "Why did she keep sneakin up to you or something?"
"No comment on that one." Draco grinned. "Her and I are gonna talk later that's for sure."
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Chapter 18
The letter
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008
