H P Boy who Lives 7th year
Chapter 21
Ferria
--
Christmas even then there is never a dull moment in Harry's world.
--
Ron glared at Sir C in annoyance, "Listen you, old windbag! It's Christmas morning and we can't get started without the two of them!"
"I am bound by duty, Sir! None shall pass! So says Sir Cadogan!" Sir C pulled his sword on him.
"Are you telling us that there's no password used to gain entry?!" Draco wasn't pleased either.
"No password? So, Harry and Hermione are the only ones that can get through your portrait?" Ginny asked in a calm tone.
"Aye, fair maiden, only the residing couple may pass, until they command otherwise." The portrait liked Ginny.
"That settles it then. We'll have to wait until they surface. I'm going down to have breakfast." Luna headed down the stairs and back into the Pendragon Wing.
"Me too, I'm starving." Ginny followed her.
"Fine we'll eat, but then we're gonna see them." Ron grumbled.
"Remember third year and the Fat Lady's portrait? That bloody well can happen to you!" Draco glared at the knight, before the two of them stalked off to eat breakfast.
"Threat's do not scare Sir Cadogan! Away fat pony we ride! There are wenches a foot!" He left his portrait just in case.
--
Harry and Hermione frowned when they couldn't leave their new quarters the conventional way. "They must have threatened Sir C and he left his post." Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "This means that we're marooned in our new digs."
"Wolfe, its Christmas morning our family will be waiting for us." Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and spoke to him between mind numbing kisses. "You know very well that we can just leave here by apparating Merlin/Mab style."
Harry glanced at the time on his watch, it was going on eight. "So, I'll fix you breakfast in bed in our new Kitchen and we'll join them at noon." He gave her his best big bad wolf look. "You did say the magic word after all."
"Down boy. It's our first Christmas with your whole family. We will not keep them waiting." Hermione took a step away from him. "That and we have somewhere to be at by ten or has that conveniently slipped your mind?"
"It's the first morning of our honeymoon. I don't wish to share you with anyone yet." He pouted. "As for the other, well, not gonna happen in this..." Hermione gave him the look and he sighed in defeat. "You win, sweetness. Of course you're right. It is Christmas and the first one where everyone is alive to boot." He pouted like a boy denied a cookie before dinner. "It's just that I got what I wanted for Christmas already and wish to enjoy my present again."
"I know. I feel the same way, Wolfe, but today it's family before anything else." Hermione glanced down at the lingerie that she was now wearing instead of her slacks and sweater. "Behave yourself, Jamie." She changed into more fitting clothes, a sapphire blue lace camisole with a sheer silk sapphire blouse, velvet trousers of the same color, and ballet style flats caressed her feet. "We are going to church. We promised my parents and it wasn't a suggestion more like an order from Aunt Elizabeth."
"I can't help it. You called me, Wolfe. Besides, that outfit is sheer torture for me to see you in." Harry eyed her as if she were his last meal.
"Sweaters are too casual for church, besides this is more fun." She blew him a kiss and vanished.
"I had better get some choice presents for this sacrifice!" Harry grumbled before changing from pajama bottoms into a suit, suitable for wearing to Christmas services at St Paul's Cathedral. "If the press gets in my face they are beyond ashes!" He vanished.
--
Harry appeared in the Pendragon Wing common room.
Hermione was currently enjoying a breakfast of tea and toast.
"Happy Christmas, everyone. I trust that you had a nice time last night at the wedding. The reception sure wasn't dull. Wills outdid himself and we are going to do the same for Wills, Henry, Rory, and Dromi when the time is right. I'd say the same for Draco, Ginny, Ron, and Luna, but Aunt Molly and Mum wouldn't like not planning their weddings." Harry went over and hugged his parents.
"Uh, a little overdressed for Christmas morning aren't you?" James arched a brow at his son.
"I have to go to church. It was a royal summons." He sulked.
"I see, so that explains Wills, Henry, Rory, and Dromi as well." James chuckled when Harry flashed him the usual sign. "Happy Christmas, son. The boys wish to vandalize Sir C, for not letting them into your new private lair." James grinned at him.
"That portrait is rude, but he does do his duty that being to make sure the two of you have alone time." Lily hugged him. "Happy Christmas, baby."
"As there isn't a password to guess, he does make the perfect do not disturb sign." Harry couldn't believe that Hermione wasn't in her usual mood to eat. "She's not eating..."
James noted the same thing. "She was the same way at your reception. Don't sweat it, son. It's too early to tell what you're obviously thinking, but if she is then savor this time while you can. There will come a time when she won't let you eat anything. You on the other hand need all the food that you can eat, if you get my meaning." He arched a knowing brow at him.
"Yeah, Dad, I get it so much so I'm gonna go fix myself a plate of breakfast." Harry went to load a plate up with food and then sat down next to Hermione.
"The boy is doomed." James chuckled. "I just don't have the heart to tell him yet." He sipped his tea.
Lily watched as Hermione suddenly got her appetite back and took the fork right out of his hands. "I know. We only eat during this time if it's off our husbands plates, otherwise food isn't appealing." She kissed his cheek. "Then there's that whole morning, noon, and night nausea that comes with it."
"Who knows maybe that part will skip him entirely? So far he's only moody as all get out." James placed a protective hand over her swollen middle and the twins kicked hello. "Good morning, Michael and Bell." He chuckled bending down to place a loving kiss on her middle.
Draco and Ron walked over to Harry and Hermione to give them their opinion of Sir C.
"Doors lock just fine. Why the annoying watchdog?" Ron grumbled.
"He's a pathetic excuse for a portrait door that's for sure. I mean didn't he let in Uncle Sirius third year?" Draco growled.
"Yeah, that's right! The cheeky, annoying, sorry excuse for a knight did let him in!" Ron snarled. "Why can't you both just have a floor here in this wing?"
Harry ignored their comments and glanced around the Common room. "Where did our doubles go to this morning? Logan and Thea and the rest, where are they?"
"Son, its Christmas and they have families. They're minors and were called home by their parents. I didn't think that staying until New Years, was really going to go over well, after a few days. They rarely see their kids as it is." James munched on a piece of bacon. "Now as for Logan, Thea and the rest, again it's Christmas. They popped back to France to break the news to Aunt Dora that he and Harley are packing up and moving here. They'll be returning this evening and I pray to the gods that they don't bring back Aunt Dora with them. She makes Olympe's actions tame and Aunt Minerva can't stand her."
Lily snatched the bacon from his hand.
"Alas, it was too good to wish for my eating breakfast this morning, so it's back to munching on apples." He took one out of his pocket and bit into it.
Harry gave up eating his breakfast. He let Hermione, who had eaten half of it, have the rest. "I've met Aunt Dora and all I can say is run for your lives. She's like a French female Franc and Beau combined. Now as for Sir C, he's doing what he's meant to and that's let us be able to have alone time when we wish it. I'm sorry if he annoys you, but he's staying right where he is. Come January we'll have a door, but for now not gonna happen. So, sorry if you don't approve, we earned it. Our place has a Kitchen. So we won't starve." Harry risked snagging some bacon off his plate and Hermione slapped it away.
"If you're hungry get your own plate." She bared her teeth at him.
"That is my plate, lioness." Harry, not wanting to row, calmly got up to see if any food was left on the buffet.
"I was really only hungry for tea and toast, then I saw your plate, and that looked better to me." She happily munched on the piece of bacon that Harry had tried to snag.
"Happy Christmas, Ladies." Harry smiled at Luna and Ginny.
"Happy Christmas, big brother." The girls kissed him, because he was standing under the mistletoe.
"Darling, Wolfe." Hermione narrowed her eyes at them. "Move you are standing under the mistletoe!"
Harry looked up then at Hermione. "I was trying to get some food. My bad okay! For Merlin's sake, Hermione, there is nothing going on between me and my baby sisters!" He looked at the buffet there was a bowl of fresh fruit, but alas no breakfast to be found. "Oh well, an apple is better than nothing I guess." He prayed that Hermione's moodiness and weird changes of appetite weren't omens of trials to come. He stashed two more apples in his pockets for later. "So, how exactly are the latest family members gonna fit in the Family wing?"
"I think I need to tell you something about your new place." James was dreading this conversation. "Now that Logan and Thea are going to be married as well and the castle is being testy about making two more floors... I think this area is near tapped out magic wise or the castle wants a break. The four of you will be sharing the Common room area, but will have separate floors. Just like this wing has."
Harry closed his eyes and thought of the triplets needing a Dad and not someone in Azkaban, because the urge to kill someone was very great. "If this is your idea of payback, I bloody well helped bring you back into being and I can bloody well take you back out!"
"That went well... He took it better than I thought he would." James hid behind his very pregnant wife. "My gods are you going to carry the kids instead of her?!"
"I am not expecting the triplets yet." She wrinkled her nose at James. "Besides, even if I were, which I am not, it's way too early to tell."
"Bloody Hell! It's Christmas morning! Give us a break!!" Ron and Draco grabbed the girls and raced for Wills and Henry's rooms. "We'd rather brave the wrath of Wills and Henry than you!"
"Oh gods! I'm doomed!" Harry burst into tears. "Just shoot me and get it over with."
"Its okay, baby. I know that this makes one moody and you didn't mean to threaten to kill your father. It seems as though, that Fay blood running through your veins is stronger than that of your mortal blood." Lily shook her head at her son.
To Harry's dismay Hermione was on his father's side about this.
"I don't mind. I like Thea and as for Logan, well, he did save your life. After all, it's just the Common Room. We still get our own private floor for space. I thought that you and Logan were best mates." She walked over and kissed away his tears.
"What is this Prenatal Male Syndrome or something?" Harry was beyond the mood to panic and run for the hills. "I'll never survive!" He sat down and buried his face in his hands.
There was a flash inside one the presents, beside the Christmas tree.
Ferria made her appearance on his shoulder. Albus, Merlin, and Mab's present to him, a baby female phoenix with beautiful plumage of various shades of pinks and red's with golden wing tips. Her almond shaped eyes were the a shade amber and gold. She cooed and rubbed her head against his cheek.
"Harry! There's a phoenix on your shoulder." Hermione stared at Ferria in surprise.
Harry glanced over at his right shoulder and found himself eye to eye with Ferria. "Fantastic! Yes! Happy Christmas, to me!" He had her perched on his arm. "Do you have a name?"
"Her name is Ferria. She's a baby that Merlin, Mab, and Uncle Albus picked out for you in Avalon. That's why Fawkes is so cheesed off at you. He thinks that she's his replacement." James grinned. "The pups and cats adore her. We tested that out a week ago."
"She's been in our room for two weeks now. It's been a challenge keeping her secret from everyone." Lily laughed when she hopped off Harry's arm and landed on Hermione's head.
"She sure isn't heavy or anything. Hello Ferria, give me a moment and then you can sit on my shoulder." She thought of the suede poncho that matched her outfit. "There now that's much better isn't it?"
Ferria hopped down onto her shoulder and cooed at her.
"She's gorgeous. Are you sure that she's mine?" Harry walked over to the cage and read the card three times. "Hot damn! She's ours, Hermione! This is what I call a choice present! Sure no problem. We'll share our flat with Logan and Thea."
"She just learned to fly and hasn't even had her first burning day yet." James grinned when she flew over to Lily. "Oh and she tends to wanna protect expectant mothers."
"Well, that will be good for when I am pregnant, which I am not." Ferria landed on her head and stared down at her. "I am not pregnant baby bird, so stop staring down at me."
"Is it safe to come out...No way! That's a phoenix!" Draco and Ron saw what was sitting on Hermione's head.
"Oh wow! She's glorious!" Luna and Ginny gasped.
"You know if in fact she is pregnant, no amount of hiding is gonna make it go away!" Wills snarled at them.
"Shut up! We wish to live!" Draco, Ron, Luna, and Ginny hissed at him.
"Now that's what I call a choice present, sitting on top of baby sis's head." Henry ignored the five of them and chanced entering the room.
"That's Ferria." Dromi and Rory grinned. "We've been helping Mum and Dad take care of her."
Wills walked out into the Common Room to get a better look at Ferria. "She's as big as Pig is."
"She's a baby. You dumb ass." Hermione growled.
"Nope back to hiding we go." Draco, Ginny, Luna, and Ron raced into the media room.
"Happy Christmas!" Sirius and Jenna walked into the Common Room.
Ferria flew over to sit on Jenna's shoulder.
"Hello there Ferria, finally free are we." Sirius stroked her wing.
"You are just the most beautiful thing with feathers yes you are." Jenna cooed at her.
Ferria flew back over to sit on Hermione's head.
Harry buried his face in his hands. "I'm doomed." He chanted in misery.
"You're wrong." Hermione set her back on her shoulder.
"Wrong about what, baby sis?" Wills grinned.
"Nothing that you need to know about," Hermione glared at him. "Nosy royal pain in my back side."
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Wills chuckled. "We're gonna have to open presents later. We have to be in London in thirty minutes."
Remus and Gene walked in. "Happy Christmas everyone!"
Again, Ferria flew over to Gene and then looked over at Hermione.
"I see that you have a new charge to protect." Gene saw the way Ferria was glancing at Hermione and sighed.
"No wonder the boy's moody as all get out and muttering that he's doomed on the couch." Remus chuckled.
Tonks walked in with Charlie into the room. "Happy Christmas!"
Ferria flew over and sat on Tonks head. "Ferria, why is it that you love to land on heads." She set her on her shoulder.
Harry went from utter misery to grinning from ear to ear. "Well, I'll not be doomed alone."
Charlie narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Why? What's up with you this time, baby brother? Who did you threaten to kill, anyone I know?" He watched Ferria go from Gene, to Jenna, to Lily, to Tonks, and then to sit on Hermione's head. "Us parents?"
"I'm not ready for that yet..." Tonks fainted in Charlie's arms.
"Tonks too!! Oh gods! We're gonna die!" Draco exclaimed.
"That does it! We are so moving back to the dorms where it's safe!" Ron grumbled.
Hermione blinked up at Ferria, looked over at Harry grinning at her, and sighed. "So, they'll be born a couple of days early on Henry's birthday. We'll still love them anyway. I'm not going to go exorcist with you people! Honestly! You boys are such scare babies! It's not like you're the ones that have the buddle or bundles of joy!"
"Someone get me that pensive! We'll show her how Harry was yesterday!" Ron snarled.
"Unless you wish me to go exorcist on your ass, I would suggest that you drop it!" Harry growled.
"Please take him to church! Maybe it'll perform a miracle on his personality!" Draco was just not for mood swing round two.
"Oh bugger! If we're late Grams is gonna flay us alive!" Wills glanced at his watch.
"If Grams finds out about Hermione, she's gonna flay Harry alive." Henry smirked.
"I'd like to see her try! As it is after last night, she probably won't be up to going to church! She faced off with your Mum and baby sister, and then got to see King Arthur and Queen Guinevere to boot! We are going to go to the powered room! Then we can leave!" Hermione stalked up the stairs.
Harry suddenly felt the need to run to the nearest bathroom. "Damn she said we!" He ran passed her.
"Nope, he got that as well I see." James was grinning from ear to ear and Ferria was sitting on his shoulder.
--
Harry stared out of the Bentley's tinted glass windows, as they drove towards their destination. "I still think this is a bad idea. Shouldn't I at least use the Dissimulo Charm to disguise myself?"
"You have no reason to hide, besides this way we can walk around in public. We're here because we promised and like it or not they are family." Hermione was dressed in a blue dress that matched his midnight blue suit perfectly. "Wills also needed back up for when we wish to return to the castle."
"Relax, little brother. Just nod and smile. That's all there is to this." Henry grinned.
"The flashes from the cameras will blind you at first, but just carry on to the front steps." Wills coached him.
"Try not to let them annoy you into jinxing them too much." Rory patted his hand.
"Just ignore them. That's what I do. I focus on Henry and not them." Dromi advised, as they pulled up to the Cathedral.
They got out of the car one by one amid shouts from the media and fans of the 'Four Hearts' of the royal family.
"You're royal highness! Did you ask her to marry you yet?" A reporter shouted at Wills, as he helped Rory from the car.
"Harry! Did she say yes?" Another shouted at Henry, as he helped Dromi.
"Look! The princesses are wearing rings!" One of the fans screamed with excitement.
"Oh my, god! Who is that hunk getting out of the car! Is that Daniel Radcliffe? No! He's older and taller than him!" A girl shrieked with excitement when Harry got out then turned to help Hermione. "Who's she? She looks like Emma! No she's older too?"
"When's the official announcement?" The reporters shouted at the four of them. "Hang on a minute! They brought the mystery couple that was at the palace yesterday afternoon!"
All the press focused on Harry and Hermione.
"Your highness, who's the mystery couple?" Shouts rang out.
Wills turned to look at the press with a smirk on his face. "Mystery couple…" He laughed. "Harry, our Ducky is part of a mystery."
"They haven't seen her in ages, so I reckon she's a bit of a mystery to them." Henry chuckled. "Harry, I can understand, but Hermione...well, no I can see their point." He laughed.
"Go ahead or you'll never hear the end of it." Harry and Hermione paused at the steps to let them take pictures of them.
"Are you sure about this, baby brother?" Rory and Dromi frowned at him.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Go ahead, Wills. Tell them who we are, so we can join everyone inside." Harry nodded.
"There will be no questions. We have to join our family inside for Christmas Mass, but afterwards we might answer a few of them." Wills smiled at the press. "This is our cousin Lady Hermione Anne Diana Spencer-Granger and her new husband of less than a day his royal Highness Crown Prince Harry James Merlin Evans Potter-Pendragon. He also happens to be Princess Katherine Aurora and Princess Andromeda Marie's nineteen-year-old brother and is the third oldest of their siblings. They have a younger brother of seventeen, Prince Draco Sirius Lancelot and a sister of sixteen Princess Lunette Serena Diana. Both of whom are home at the family castle in Scotland enjoying Christmas with their parents, Prince James Harry Stephen Arthur Michael and Princess Lily Rosalyn Marie Evans Potter-Pendragon of the Isle of Avalon Monarchy. Now that is all that I am going to say. We're late as it is." Wills and the others rushed inside and the doors to the cathedral closed to the public and the press.
"Remind me to kill you later. Right now it would be bad form. Because we are in a church." Harry glowered at Wills.
"You blockhead!" Hermione hit Wills in the head with the heel of her hand. "You idiot!" She kicked him in the ass. "You tactless moron! You just completely disclosed our world!" She hissed at him slamming him with her purse.
"He said to tell them who you are! So that's what I did." Wills decided that standing behind Rory was a good idea.
"You asked for it. He goes all princely when he talks to the press and tends to tell the truth most of the time." Henry gave Wills a look. "She's right. You are so screwed, big brother."
"Look at it this way! How am I going to explain the billion or so pounds from Jo, unless some part of the truth comes out?! So that's what I did; besides Merlin disclosed you first! He put the Sword and the Stone in front of the palace on the island! I found that out from Dad last night!" Wills hissed back.
"Get your tails in here now!" Andrew was not in a good mood. "We will deal with William's slip of the tongue after church!"
"No. I'm going to kill him after church." Harry hissed back.
"You and Hermione were on the front page of every paper. Evidently, someone did see you appear out of nowhere in front of the palace. You are going have to learn the art of spinning a story really fast. Think about that while you sit there and behave with the family!" Andrew pointed to the closed doors.
"I'm good, but I'm not that good." Harry grumbled. "Gramps is gonna flay me alive."
"No one is that good not even your father, Sirius, and the twins combined." Hermione hissed.
"Oh well, I love a challenge." Harry started thinking of a way out of the mess that Wills and the event yesterday had gotten them into.
--
Harry stared at the sea of press that awaited them as soon as they stepped out of the church. "Don't make me do this! I'd rather fight you know who again than do this..." He gulped.
"I was afraid of this. It's like they breed like rabbits or something. Oh bugger, that Nanda from the Insider is here." Wills eyes narrowed as he spied someone in the crowd. "Oh shit, little brother, guess who showed up the Paris Hilton of South Africa and your Ex-party girl!"
"This is just going from bad to worse. Marietta is standing over there! Son of a bitch! That's just all I need a Cho spy/reporter!" Harry grumbled. "Our big brothers are here as well with Katie Bell."
"Oh cripes, I never broke it off with her face-to-face. This is gonna get messy." Henry groaned.
"Henry Charles Albert David! Which one is she?!" Dromi narrowed her eyes at the crowd.
"Oh, that's easy. She's the one that's standing on the church steps, dressed as a lady of the night. Like I said the Paris Hilton clone." Wills pointed out the blonde in the minidress.
"Harry, you are gonna talk to me right now! You're nothing but a coward not taking my calls!" Cassie stalked up to them.
Dromi stood between Henry and Cassie. "He's mine! Go back to Africa and find your own prince!" She growled.
"He was mine first! You stole him from me!" Cassie went to slap Dromi in the face, but she found her hand blocked by Henry.
"Look, you were a fling; I was sewing my royal oats as it were. You were an outlet away from my Uncle and his mistress, and nothing more. I didn't know what love was, until I met, my angel. She doesn't make me want to drink, smoke, or pressure me into doing any of the tripe that I used to do! Now get back on a plane to South Africa and party till your brain fries, for all I care! Just never come near what is mine or my family again!" Henry was cold as ice with Cassie.
"You are nothing but a playboy user and that's just your latest play toy!" Cassie shrieked at him in outrage.
"That's what you call a five-karat pink diamond, one of a kind engagement ring on Dromi's finger! She's more than a fling, as you so crudely spat it! I love Andromeda Marie and in four years, after training, and I get out of the bloody army will marry her! Now get out of my face!" Henry snarled at her.
"See isn't it the most beautiful ring that you ever saw. That's Russian Alexandrite by the way. He's mine and for that comment, I believe I will do something rash." Dromi slapped her in the face, adding a jinx to the mix, in two minutes Cassie would be a blemished heiress with a nasty rash that would last for a month. "Get away from my Prince you two-bit tart!"
"What is going on out here?" Andrew snarled.
"Daddy! I told you that I wanted to see it and I missed everything!" Bea glared at her father.
"Would someone please remove this rubbish from the church steps and escort her out of England. She is no longer wanted here." Elizabeth was standing behind Andrew.
The Men in Grey hauled a screaming Cassie away.
"There will be a press conference at the palace in one hour. Now let my mother through." Andrew announced to the press.
"Let us adjourn to the palace for some tea and Andromeda nicely done." Elizabeth smiled.
They all obediently followed the Queen.
--
"Now to make this easier on everyone, His Royal highness Prince Harry James of Avalon will be referred to as Jamie during this conference. There will be no shouting. You will be civilized. It's Christmas. They are doing this for your benefit on their own time." The press secretary briefed the press, as the royal family, minus the queen, took their seats at the front of the room.
"Jamie and Hermione are only doing this to humor you. So when they say enough it's over." Wills growled. "We're interrupting their honeymoon after all, so this is a gift. See it as such."
"This is for 'The Four Hearts' did you get engaged?" A reporter asked.
"Oh, that's right you dubbed us 'The Four Hearts'. All right, I like it. Now to answer that question yes we are..."
The room went wild with conversation and shouts.
"Hang on a minute! Let me finish! However, there will be no wedding until after Harry and I finish our year at Sandhurst and then our time in the Royal Forces. We will not put Katherine Aurora and Andromeda Marie through the same hell that my Aunt Sarah endured when she married our Uncle Andrew. Next question."
"This is for Prince Jamie. Is it a coincidence that you look like a certain character from a famous book or that you share almost the same name?" Nanda from the Insider piped up.
"I have always had this name. My parents gave it to me when I was born. So, I had no choice in the matter. If you ask me it's too long, but then I was a baby in diapers at the time so I had no say." He grinned and the press chuckled.
"I know of the book and I know Jo Rowling, she's a good friend of the family. Who knows your guess is as good as mine. Maybe she took our names just for the fun of it. I find it amusing that she took our school Hogshead School for Gifted Children and changed it to Hogwarts. She changed the names of the teachers' surnames to that of the names of the halls in the school, and integrated them into a story that has charmed the world. You see there is no Wizarding World. There is no Voldemort who's out to get me. Draco is my younger brother and Luna is my baby sister. Ron and Ginny are good friends of ours. Their brothers, well, you might say that they are exactly like the book. We use owls like you would as homing pigeons, because the school is an old castle in the hills of Scotland, where it's hard to gain access during storms, or in the winter. I do have an owl. I got her with my letter, her name is Hedwig. The groundskeeper of the school has the same name that Hagrid does in the book. In fact he's just as tall in size. My guess is that she was a student of our school and used that to spin a tale that enchanted millions. However, as it is our name and likeness that was used, she, William, Rory, Henry, Dromi, Hermione, and I are taking a billion or more of the revenue from that empire, and creating a foundation for children. It will all be announced officially sometime next week." Harry thought he had covered his ass nicely. Fred and George were sitting in the back bowing and he tired not to laugh.
"Michael Andrew Evans touched us all with his courage. We wish to make sure that everything possible is done to help others like him." Hermione spoke up.
"How did the two of you meet?" Fred asked a question he and was dying to know how he was gonna spin this.
"He and I have been best friends, since we were in diapers. He moved away after an accident that caused him to have the scar that on his forehead. We eventually found each other again at the age of eleven in secondary school. We fell in love, just got married, and plan to living happily ever after." Hermione smiled. "Neither of us embraces the public eye. I wasn't really too keen on my family, so none of you ever knew about it."
"You wouldn't have, but Wills went catatonic when he saw my sister and with Harry it was snarl first then love at first sight, when he saw my other sister. So, our little monarchy and island became disclosed to all of you." Harry was in the mood to leave now. He was starving.
"That's it conference over. Now why don't you go home and have Christmas with your family that's what we're going to do." Wills ended it.
"Wait one last question!"
"One question, ask it." Harry snarled.
"How was it that you and your princess appeared out of the blue in front of this very palace yesterday afternoon?" Marietta smirked.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Marietta. "My last name is Pendragon. It would be crazy of me not to want to study magic. I'm a fan of the great illusionist like Houdini, Blackwell, Copperfield, Henning, and just naming a few. I'm also really good at it. Ask my sisters. I drive them insane with my illusions and tricks."
"That's right. He does and he's mastered vanishing and reappearing to an art." Rory nodded.
"So what you saw was magic. Magic is everywhere, in nature, in technology, and in dreams. Now some lucky few are just naturals at it like me. Cheerio and Happy Christmas everyone." He and Hermione vanished in a cloud of fancy smoke.
The press was all gobsmacked.
"Over here!" Harry waved at them from the other side of the room. "See its magic. Now if you will excuse me, I skipped breakfast and I'm starving."
"One last question… Is there a little one on the way? Is that the reason for the rush into marriage?" Marietta shouted.
Harry stalked up to Marietta. "Hermione and I were surprised by William last night when he arranged a private family wedding for us. We will have the huge royal circus for the public in the late fall. The two of us are more than happy to have kids, but at the moment are content to have time to us. I need to have a chat with your boss or my grandfather does. You are breaking the restraining order just by talking to me. Oh and tell Cho. Nice try but sorry. Once again I win. You lose. I look forward to seeing her and her ancient grandmother at the Ball. It will be checkmate and I will be the one to say it." His voice was low lethal and told her he was serious. "Now get out of my sight, before you land yourself in the hoosegow...or worse."
Marietta had never felt the wrath of Harry vented at her and found herself once again breaking out in hives and pox marks. She ran screaming out of the pressroom.
"You really should get your shots more often! It looks like most of you are coming down with the same rash and spot marks." Harry smirked. "Good thing that all of us keep up with our shots. Cheerio and happy scratching," He left the room with Hermione.
"Yes, please leave. The sight of you is making me nauseous." Rory wrinkled her nose.
"I recommend lots of calamine lotion." Dromi smirked.
The press ran out of the room itching and scratching as the rash and spots got worse.
"It's so entertaining to watch him when he's in a temper. That was pure genius that was." The twins grinned.
"Come on you two. We need to make sure that he gets fed. Why the hell did he skip breakfast anyway?" Wills frowned.
"My guess would be that Ducky only likes what's on his plate these days. It was that way last night at the reception." Henry grinned.
"Poor baby brother. He's just stressed. His brains fried, after coming up with the yarn that he spun to keep our world secret." Rory smiled.
"Please feed me." Harry appeared in front of Wills.
"Ok kiddo you'll get fed." Wills chuckled.
"I'm not hungry though, food isn't my favorite thing these days." Hermione appeared beside him.
"Ok sweetie, then we'll share my food. Just let me eat some of it." Harry sulked.
"What happened at breakfast and the reception was a fluke. Of course you can eat your own food." Hermione shook her head at him.
Harry was looking at the others shaking his head no, "All right if you say so."
"Let's go. This is the first of three holiday meals that we have to eat today." Henry was hungry.
"Well, then baby brother, odds are one of them will be where you get to eat." Rory chuckled.
"Just feed me." Harry's stomach growled loud enough for all of them to hear.
They all headed for holiday meal number one with the Queen.
--
Logan paced the Common Room floor with Ferria on his shoulder "They should be back by now."
"It's only three. They have to eat Christmas lunch at the palace first. Then they'll be home and we can finally open the loot." Ron grumbled.
"Ron, you just got back an hour ago from The Burrow. So button it. I haven't opened any, apart from this lovely knitted scarf that Ginny made me." Draco smiled at Ginny. She was happily knitting with Luna, what appeared to be clothes for elves or babies, but he had no clue who they were actually for.
"Hermione taught them to knit. Now they like doing that more than cuddling or snogging with us." Ron pouted.
"I say we open Harry's new broom and take it for a test run." Draco saw the long wrapped present at the foot of the tree labeled to Harry from Cedric.
"Then I would have to kick your ass and we wouldn't want that now would we, baby brother." Harry and the others arrived back from London.
Ferria flew over to sit on Hermione's head.
"Hello to you too, pretty feathers." Hermione set her on her shoulder.
James and Lily came down the stairs.
"Welcome back. I trust you had an uneventful time in London." Lily arched a brow at Harry.
"We were watching the Muggle news and from the looks of it you seemed to handle the press like a pro." James grinned. "The yarn that you wove was very impressive Griff shit, but they bought all of it."
"We recorded it just in case you wished to see it." Draco grinned.
"Yeah, you were brilliant. Now let's open presents." Ron grinned.
They all converged on the Christmas tree.
--
Harry surveyed the booty the two of them had gotten this Christmas then grinned at Hermione. "This is my best Christmas ever. I've never gotten so much stuff in my life."
He had gotten clothes, video games, DVD's, books, Dark Wizarding gadgets, music CD's, Ferria, and a Tornado 2005 prototype broom from Cedric. Best of all he had gotten to marry Hermione, it was all but a given that she was carrying their three little miracles, and he was getting his first Christmas with his family.
"I know, my lion. Why don't you go out with the boys? You can try out your new broom, while I take the pups out for a walk." Hermione happily put away the gifts in their proper places. "We have time before having to get ready for Logan and Thea's wedding."
"Or we could just walk them together and burn off the first of three dinners, before having to get ready for the wedding in an hour or so." Harry pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck. "You're far more important than a new broom, as are the pups."
"I love you so much and might I just say that you did smashingly today against the press." She put her arms around him and kissed him.
"Hey Harry! I can't keep my mind off Thea! I'm taking the pups for a run, before I have to get ready for tonight!" Logan called up the steps.
"Okay Logan! Just don't try to run! I wouldn't want to have to drag you back!" Harry called back.
"You kidding!? This is nervous energy! I can't wait to marry Thea!" Logan shouted back. "Let's go pups time for a nice run!"
"Well in that case come here." Harry thought of another more pleasurable way to burn off their first Christmas dinner.
--
Later that evening
"Now that was a beautiful wedding." Hermione smiled at Harry.
"And to think he didn't even faint once." Harry chuckled.
"I'm sorry that we had to turn in early. I just got really tried and fatigued suddenly." She yawned sleepily.
"You my princess have had a long day." He kissed the top of her head on his way to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Hermione followed him. "If they're going to make me exhausted all the time, then I'm going to be falling asleep in class." She felt drained of most of her energy.
"You took the N.E.W.T'S when I did. Why continue with another term?" Harry felt at ease with her and her with him, so that he was in the shower wasn't bothering her in the least.
"Yes, but I didn't ace them like you, Rory, and Dromi did and that means I need to study more and take them again." Hermione brushed her teeth.
"You missed twenty questions and still scored O's across-the-board. That's not failure in my book. Those tests consisted of a written exam of 150 questions a piece and the practical was just as long and tedious." Harry went about his nightly routine.
"I know that, but I see it as room for improvement. If you can get them all right then so can I."
"I have two extra years of knowledge and more thanks to Grandma Mab. I had an edge. You did smashingly, angel, but if you wish to take another shot at it, then who am I to stop you. I just think that by June you won't be in the mood for that kind of stress." Harry was dressed in his pajama bottoms.
Hermione now dressed in the matching top was crawling into bed. "We'll see how I feel when the time comes." She found herself snuggled in his arms. "Some honeymoon all I want to do is nap."
"All I wanna do is hold my girls in my arms and sleep, so no problem there." Harry kissed her nose.
"I love you so much." Hermione drifted off to sleep.
"I love you more." Harry also drifted off to sleep.
--
Chapter 22
Millennium Ball
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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
