H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 24
The Wedding
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Harry makes amends with Empress the Black Hungarian Horntail, the wedding and more...
--
Harry found himself landing in the heart of the new dragon colony. Grawp was sitting in the middle of a group of dragons. The Black Hungarian horntail was lying near a cave entrance and she had a chain around her leg.
"Hi Grawp. I see you've met some new friends." He greeted Hagrid's half brother.
"Harry back!" Grawp got to his feet then lumbered over to him sending dragons fleeing into the caves. "Hermi too?"
"She's back at the castle." Harry smiled up at the giant.
"Hagar and Ompe be mates." Grawp made conversation.
"I know and I want you to know that Hermione and I will keep you company while he's away." Harry reassured him.
"Met Charlie..." Grawp concentrated hard to think of what to say. "He new friend...bring dagons." Grawp was clearly not upset about Hagrid's impending departure.
"Charlie is a great guy and my big brother. So, uh, Grawp do you like the dragons?" Harry had locked eyes with the horntail.
"Me like friends." He nodded.
"They seem friendly enough." Harry took a step towards the horntail.
The enormous creature stood to her full height. The same height as Grawp and blew a stream of smoke at him from her nostrils.
"Okay so she does remember me." Harry tried to think of what to do to make amends with her.
:I've a suggestion clueless. Conjure a dragon egg just like the one that you stole from her nest. You ruined her life after that, so you make it right, or I'll not talk to you anymore.: Leo growled.
:I didn't get a chance! They rushed me away from her! Besides even if I could conjure an egg, which I can't! It won't be real!: Harry snarled back.
:Have confidence in your magic and you'll be surprised at the result.: Leo lectured.
Harry turned his back on the horntail, took out his wand, and concentrated on conjuring a real golden dragon egg with his wand. "I can't believe it. This is the real deal in my arms." He turned around so she could see her egg.
:And I thought my first student was clueless.: Leo muttered. :Well done young master. Now give her the egg before she turns you to ashes.:
The magnificent creature clawed at the ground with her massive talon like claws, as she caught scent of her long lost egg.
Harry kept eye contact with her as he slowly walked toward her. "I believe that I owe you an egg." He set the egg down at her enormous feet. "Sorry that it took so long."
The dragon sniffed at her egg to make sure that this wasn't a fake egg. Then when she was satisfied picked up the egg and took it to her nest in one of the caves. There were many caves carved into the Cliffside and several of the dragons were digging them out to make other homes.
"I never realized how perfect this place would be for a dragon colony." Berta walked over to him. "You really like it here don't you girl." He reached up to stroke her neck.
The horntail was watching the interaction going on between Harry and Berta. Berta didn't take to just any human and she really did seem to like this one. He had returned her egg, so maybe this one could be trusted. She left her precious egg to go get a closer look at the human boy. There was just something different about him. She decided to lie down just in front of him and see what happened from there.
Harry was now staring directly in the jade green eyes of the horntail and knew that she was waiting for him to make the next move. "You're one beautiful looking dragon and if I've hurt you I am deeply sorry. That was never my intention and I wish to be your friend." He took a chance and reached out to touch her enormous snout. "I like all creatures and respect them." She gave him a friendly snort that nearly blew him off his feet and he laughed.
Grawp happily clapped his massive bolder sized hands. "Harry likes friends."
The dragon allowed him to stroke along her massive neck. She could tell instantly by his touch that this young human was special, he could and would protect her colony, and that they would be safe here in their new home.
Harry had never felt a bond like the one he did with these creatures, it was like he could read what they were thinking. "You see I happen to be a prince in this realm, so I'll do my best to make sure that you, Berta, and your colony is well protected." He spoke in a soothing tone, as he stroked the shimmering ebony scales along her neck.
The rest of the colony saw that he had befriended the eldest of them all and came out of hiding to see him.
"Harry friend," Grawp assured them.
Harry found himself surrounded by dragons of all breeds and sizes. "Welcome to my home. You will be safe here." He remained calm as various dragons sniffed at him. He almost laughed when Berta sat in front of him as if to say back off he's mine.
After what seemed like an eternity sitting with the dragons. Leaning against the horntail, he found himself too tired to keep his eyes open, and fell asleep.
--
When Harry failed to return after nearly three hours, they sent Charlie, Stephen, Daniel and Draco to look for him. They found it surprisingly easy to trek into the densest parts of the forest, because the centaurs and Grawp had made a trail for Charlie to get to his dragons. When they reached the colony, they found Harry sound asleep against the horntails neck. Berta was snoozing near his feet. The horntail was guarding her charge, and Grawp was snoozing against the Cliffside.
Draco couldn't believe his eyes. Harry was snoozing on a dragon and not just any dragon the very dragon that he had stolen the egg from in fourth year. He had brought along his camera and was taking snaps of what he knew was a once in a lifetime chance. "So, uh, Professor Pendragon, did the ring have anything to do with that? Because that just doesn't happen...I mean he's sleeping on a dragon."
"It's okay Draco. I think they really like him." Daniel couldn't believe what he was seeing either. He couldn't help but think of the scene that he had yet to film with the dragon for GOF. He had however read the script and knew the scene was going to be an adrenaline rush and would look thrilling on film.
"It happens when you have a natural talent around all creatures. James was the same way. Even though, he never did get to visit the dragons." Stephen grinned.
Charlie zeroed in on the nest of the horntail and noticed there was a golden egg in it. He carefully walked passed her and checked it out. He was shocked to find that it was real. "She hasn't laid an egg in two years. So where did she get this egg from?" He returned to the others without disturbing the dragon guarding Harry.
"The answer to your query is a simple one. Harry conjured the egg, gave it to her, and they bonded." Stephen answered his question.
"That would take serious magic and he's just seventeen! No that would take Dumbledore...no Merlin quality magic!" Charlie couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Lady Hermione you cannot just barge into a dragon colony! You will get yourself killed!" Firenze's shouts echoed around the clearing.
"I don't care about that I just want to know what happened to Harry!" She stalked into the clearing.
"The prince is fine. He bonded with the dragon that he wronged." Firenze was not usually so impatient with her, but then she was acting strangely.
"Hermione, I told you to stay at the castle!" Charlie snarled.
"Hermione obey not bloody likely." Draco muttered.
"Well?" She had her hands planted on her hips. "Where is he?"
The four of them pointed to the horntail.
"As I said the prince is fine. Now this forest is not where Dumbledore wants you to be, so I will escort you back to the..." He found himself grabbed by his red goatee.
"I go where I want to go!" She snarled.
"She's, uh, suffering from female problems."
"So I see then that explains her actions and why the prince fled to the forest." Firenze gently pried her hand free of his beard.
"Harry James you wake your ass up now!" She stalked up to the dragon and reached down to yank his hair. "Don't even think about it! He's mine!" She glared into the dragon's eyes.
Harry yelped in pain.
"Okay I'm awake!! Now quit trying to make me bald!" He snarled. "Where am I any...oh cripes did I fall asleep?" He noticed the five males staring at him.
"I HAVE BEEN WORRIED OUT OF MY MIND ABOUT YOU AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS DID I FALL ASLEEP!?" Hermione paced in front of the dragon.
"I was petting this beauty here and then before I knew it fell asleep." He got to his feet and found himself poked in the chest by his princess. "I'm sorry if I worried you now stop poking me!"
"WORRIED ME!? THREE HOURS! YOU HAVE BEEN GONE FOR THREE HOURS AND YOU ARE SORRY THAT YOU WORRIED ME!?" She slugged him in the jaw and followed that one with one to the midsection. "OUCH! Damnation that was stupid!" She held her injured arm in pain.
Harry went flying against the dragon. "Bloody hell, Hermione that really hurt!" He gasped for air.
"Ouch I know how that feels. She broke my nose third year."
"And I thought Lily had a right hook...Hermione's temper is lethal." Stephen tried to think of a way to get to Harry without incurring the wrath of Hermione on him.
"She scares me." Daniel gulped. "Emma has a temper, but nothing like that."
"You and me both kiddo," Charlie had never really seen her in a full-blown temper.
Hermione sat down on the dragon's massive foot and cradled her arm to her chest.
Harry got to his feet and rubbed a hand along his swore jaw. "Feel better now? I don't understand you at all! We share a link that tells you if I'm in trouble or not! Why the hell don't you listen to it! I mean all that you did by beating me up was injure my rib and hurt your arm again!" He glared down at her.
"You hate me." She burst into tears.
"Oh no you don't, not this time, the waterworks won't work on me!"
"You kicked me off the team!"
"I believe that you said that you hated flying! So sorry if you feel that you have to humor me! You don't have to be on the team! You just happen to be a natural at the game, but no one is gonna force you to play! I just let you off the hook, which means that I don't have to be a good boy all the time!" Harry paced in front of her.
"Oh shit the agreement." Draco groaned.
"What don't we know?" Stephen growled.
"It's nothing major. The reason that he's being a complete gentleman is that she agreed to let him teach her Quidditch every other day for a full year. Now that she's reneged on the deal...I don't have to draw you a picture do I?" Draco watched as panic flashed across their eyes.
"I thought that he was being a little too good." Charlie frowned.
Daniel didn't say a word.
"Then it's settled. She can't quit the team and he has to continue to be on his best behavior." Stephen proclaimed.
"I didn't quit! I like playing the game! I just don't like being forced to fly on things without being asked!" Hermione got to her feet.
The dragon separated her from Harry by putting her massive talon between the two of them.
"Yeah Empress, I agree the two of them need a time-out." Charlie chuckled.
"I think that all of you need to move your butts back to the castle, so some of us can get married!" Bill stalked into the clearing.
"That's easier said than done. You see Hermione is on meltdown and not even you want to mess with her." Draco growled.
"You know after getting decked and then sucker punched in the gut, I really don't have the urge to be a prince!" Harry climbed over the talon, jumped down in front of Hermione, and tossed her over his shoulder. "Sorry if this one disturbed you and your colony. It won't happen again." He told Empress.
Hermione hated being carried around like a sack of flour. "Put me down you beast!"
"Beast am I?" Harry swatted her on the rear. "Behave brat!"
"Ouch that hurt!" She pounded on his back in fury. "I hate you!"
"I don't like you very much either at the moment! You're acting as if I did this on purpose! I was told no ordered by you to bring Berta back, which I did! So knock off the toddler temper tantrum!" He swatted her again.
"You always twist things so you're the one not in trouble!"
"Because you're the reason I always got in trouble in the first place I wonder why!" He snarled back. "Let's go!" He glared at the others.
"You can't just order people around its rude!"
Harry reached for his wand and used it to make it so she couldn't talk anymore. "Sorry about this big brother. I really didn't plan on being gone that long." He apologized to Bill.
"It's because Empress wanted you to sleep. She has the ability to sense when there's something off with someone and uses her magic to make it right." Charlie explained. "Although nothing could fix Hermione, so don't even think about it."
"Actually, I wouldn't subject Empress to that kind of stress." Harry set off up the path with her now in his arms. "If the new medicine doesn't have any effect I doubt that anything would work."
:Which makes me wonder just which spirit is inside her ring.: Leo mused.
:Excuse me? Are you telling me that she has someone in her engagement ring?!: Harry was not pleased to hear this.
:You see I assumed that it was Guinevere, but now I'm not so sure it could be Mab.: Leo explained. :Mab never forgave me for helping the mortals or my moment of weakness...So she doesn't really fancy men very much.:
:You aren't Leo at all!! Son of a bitch you're Merlin!: Harry hated surprises and this one was not wanted. "Get off my finger you liar!"
:Hold on there and listen before you go off into a snit! I am in this ring, so that I can do good deeds! I have done more good in this ring than I ever did out of it! You think that female troubles did not exist at the beginning! Well the truth is that even Arthur's bride went off of it once a month, so she could be Guinevere! Magic was dying in the world of man, so I took over Uther, Arthur was born, and the rest went splendidly for a time! I created Excalibur and he created Camelot. Now Lancelot didn't help matters, but then it never occurred to me that Arthur wasn't with his soul mate.: Leo paused.
:Keep talking and I might not cut my finger off when I get back to the castle.: Harry snarled.
:You would do that wouldn't you!! Royal pain in my backside...ungrateful grandson...Look even I make mistakes and that one was big...although now Draco has Ginny and you have Hermione so that won't happen this time around. You see Draco is Lancelot's descendent no that is too broad a term, direct descendent is more like it: He paused again as if to think of how to explain the rest.
:He acted more like Mordrid at first, but now I can see that he might have some of Lancelot's qualities.: Harry frowned. "Son of a frickin bitch it's just one thing after another..."
: I was bored in Avalon and the humans had so much potential, so I took a chance. I was King of the fairies and Mab was my Queen...I was weak...the mortals mattered to me. Morgana took advantage of that and Mordrid was the result of that moment of weakness. He wasn't Arthur's son, as the mortals have written, he was mine. Mab could forgive all of it, but that crushed her. Now you see why you are called Half-Blood Prince. Arthur was my son by a mortal, which made him a Half-Blood King. Guinevere fled the castle out of humiliation, but she carried with her the heir which was Godric Leopold Arthur and the rest well you are standing in the forest outside his castle. Hogwarts is Camelot.: Leo finished his story.
"Unreal so that's Camelot?" Harry and the others stepped out of the forest and he took in the view.
"What's Camelot?" Charlie, Draco, Bill, and Daniel asked.
"Never mind," Harry shook his head and chuckled. "So you heard everything did you." He looked down at Hermione who looked shell-shocked. He released her from the silencing spell.
"We have to find out who is in my ring! I will not have some deranged woman in my head!" Hermione stared down at her ring.
"It could be Guinevere and not Mab." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "You haven't tried to kill me yet so that's a good sign."
"Would you mind filling us in on your conversation? Harry shouts that his ring lied to him and he wants it off...then he walks out here and looks at the castle calling it Camelot! Now she's going on saying that Queen Mab might be in her ring! Who the hell is Leo anyway! Is he Merlin!?" Draco hated being kept in the dark about anything.
"Merlin is in my ring...that's Camelot." Harry acted as if it was no big deal. "Queen Mab's married to Merlin and he stepped out on her, which made her go a little crackers."
"Queen Mab is in Hermione's ring...bloody hell no wonder she's acting off!" Draco went flying on his ass when Hermione took a swing at him.
"Sorry about that I think it's not Mab and you just insulted Queen Guinevere." Hermione rubbed her sore knuckles.
"You broke my nose again! All I did was state the truth!" Draco grabbed his nose in pain.
"Well, I said I was sorry!" Hermione pouted.
:He has a long road to follow before he is like his many-great-grandfather. I am sorry if I am causing you distress, but I have not been awakened in centuries. This world is new to me and I am a bit unsettled: Guinevere finally made her presence known. :Not only that but you are very emotional and to someone who has not felt that in centuries it's a bit aggravating.:
:I guess its strange to me that now I have everything that I have ever wanted and I can't seem to settle down enough to enjoy it.: Hermione sighed.
:I have been awake enough to know everything that you and my many-great-grandson have been through and I can understand why you are frustrated. You see in my day if you weren't married by sixteen you were a spinster. I find it amusing that here you are being told that you are too young. My grandson is like his grandfather, so it amazes me that he is being such a gentleman, but then he is also like my Godric.: Gwen mused. :I want you to know that I was always loyal to my husband. Although, Lancelot and I were close, it didn't happen the way it was written or as Merlin says. Godric was a wonderful surprise our youngest and only son born late in our lives, but our girls were the apple of my Arthur's eye and the jewels of the Kingdom.:
:Draco is like my brother. I would marry Harry today if they would let me. Harry is just as conflicted emotionally as I am. You know I should write another book setting everything right, because by the sounds of it nothing they wrote is even close.: Hermione was still in front of Draco, but she had a distant look in her eyes.
"Harry what's she doing?" Draco could tell that Hermione was off somewhere else and not with them at the moment.
"She and my many-Great-Grandmother Guinevere are having a nice chat. I guess nowadays is overwhelming for her. You happen to be the many-Great-Grandson of Lancelot. My Grandmother did not have an intimate relationship with him. Godric was born late in life, a complete surprise, and their youngest. Evidently their firstborn were all girls and the apple of my Many-Great-Grandfather's eye. Oh, it gets better. She's puzzled as to why I haven't taken what I wanted yet. Evidently, I take after both Arthur and Godric. Arthur being my James side, Godric being my sane side. I think I need a drink." He sat down in the grass and held his head.
"Remind me never to ask that question again my head hurts now." Draco groaned.
Emma and Ginny raced across the lawn.
"What happened to my Dragon?" Ginny growled when she saw that her man was injured.
"Did you hit my Dragon!?" She turned on Hermione.
"What?" Hermione blinked at her. "Um yes but he knows that I didn't mean it."
"Is he hurt?" Emma noticed that Harry was sitting on the grass holding his head as if in pain.
"Information overload, Em." Daniel explained.
"So was he with the dragons?" Ginny knelt beside Draco.
"He was napping on one." Draco liked how she was cradling his head in her lap.
"Napping on a dragon?" Ginny looked down at him.
"That's right." He nodded.
"Anything else that I missed?"
"The mentor in Harry's ring isn't Leo its Merlin and that castle was once known as Camelot." Draco was only too pleased to comply with her question.
"Catch up later we have family to marry off." Stephen stopped their chat.
"Finally! I'm glad that someone here remembered that!" Bill growled.
"Sorry Bill, as usual work gets in the way of my day...it's a fact of my life." Harry got to his feet.
"I know that kiddo that's why I wish to get married ASAP just in case something else happens." Bill playfully put him in a headlock and tousled his hair.
"Good idea." Charlie grabbed his legs. "Let's carry him in just to make sure."
"Guys this really isn't necessary." Harry chuckled.
"Oh I think it is." Stephen grinned down at him.
"Oh I just bet you do, because you knew damn well who was in my ring the whole time, and didn't think that it was need to know information." Harry glared up at him.
"It's always Godric Leopold, so this is a surprise to me." Stephen looked over at Hermione who was trailing along behind them. "As for her ring that hasn't been seen in over a century and I'm not that old yet."
"Look just stop. If I hear anymore my head will explode." Harry closed his eyes.
"Mine too." Hermione sighed.
"Yes we shall take pleasure in grilling them for information after this wedding stuff is over." Ginny agreed.
"Like that's going to happen." Harry and Hermione muttered under their breaths.
Bill, Charlie, and Draco grinned.
--
The wedding was held out on the castle lawn under a conjured tent that was made of an iridescent fabric and real roses. Over a hundred guests were seated on chairs covered with the same fabric and adorned with roses. The Brownies and Sprites joined in the celebration by throwing fairy dust over the guests and each couple as they walked down the aisle.
Harry was dressed in his HBP finest with Excalibur sheathed at his side. The crown on his head was one of Arthur's and the color of his robes was still the colors of Camelot/Gryffindor red and gold. Hermione was dressed in her finest in similar colors, but a more demure gown than the one she had worn for the other celebration. Draco had found that he now had dress robes with the crest of Lancelot in blues and gold's and Ginny matched his with dress robes of her own.
The Brides each had different tastes in dresses. Genevieve wore a gown of silk and lace with pearls in the shape of stars and moons sewn into the fabric. It was full-length and heirloom quality. Olympe was wearing a pale pink designer original with a full-length veil and train. Minerva wore a champagne colored silk medieval style gown with a half-length veil. Fleur's gown was by far the most daring of all of them it was a strapless white creation of satin, lace, and pearls, with a daring neckline. It had almost no back to it at all, but it made up for that with its long lacy train. She wore opera length gloves and a full-length veil to complete her look. Penelope was tradition all the way her white satin pearl beaded satin and lace gown covered her from her neck to her toes and with its veil was the object of perfection.
Harry and Hermione watched together as the couples recited their vows to one another one by one. They held hands as they silently repeated their own to each other. Finally, it was time to kiss the bride and when that happened rainbows streaked across the clear sky, and the twins special Wedding Love Bangs filled the air.
--
Emma and Daniel were allowed to stay for the wedding, but soon it was time for them to return to their own world. Dan was going to take them back and was waiting at the gates for them with the limo.
"Now remember I gave you ours and Wills e-mail addresses, so try to keep in touch." Hermione hugged Emma.
"As I'm rarely without my laptop I don't think that will be a problem." She hugged her back.
"We film only a few miles away in September so please drop by the set in say wolf or cat form." Daniel grinned.
"We just might do that." Harry grinned. "Now take good care of your girl." He and Harry hugged.
"Don't worry I will." Dan winked at Emma and she blushed. "I can guarantee you that this next movie will blow the others away."
"I have no doubt that it will." Harry grinned. "Oh and before I forget I want you to have this." He handed him a small chest.
"Thanks well we have to go." Dan hugged Hermione.
"You will see us again I promise." Hermione hugged him back.
"Sorry to interrupt but its time." Dan S. opened the door.
"Well, until next time take care." The two of them got into the limo and then they were gone.
"Okay you. Fess up. What was in that chest?" Hermione pinned him with a look.
"It was just some wizard candy, snaps of us, some www things, an invite to our secret wedding, and my private journals for fourth, fifth, and sixth years." He pulled her to him and hugged her.
"I didn't know that you kept a journal." She looked up at him in surprise.
"You don't know everything about me, my love. You see even I'm allowed a secret or two." He kissed her.
"Don't even try escaping. The anti-Apparation spell has been extended to the village border." Draco knew them too well.
"Us ditch. Now whatever made you think something like that?" Hermione blinked innocently at him.
"Don't start with me brat. Now we've more pictures to take and the feast is about to start." Draco growled.
"Good I'm ready to party." Harry scooped Hermione up into his arms and ran up towards the castle.
The celebration lasted well into the night. The girls caught the bouquets and the guys each caught a garter. Harry and Hermione danced until almost dawn. Neither of them thought of the ceremony that they would have to attend the following day. They were all having way too much fun to care about much of anything.
--
The next morning Harry awoke to the smell of breakfast and to Hermione kissing him. To him this was weird because he had been dreaming of a similar situation.
He opened one bleary eye to find himself looking into her smiling face. "Angel? How is it that you're in my room and we're alone?"
Hermione reached out and brushed the bangs out of his eyes. "Did my prince have a good dream?" She purred kissing him again.
He was nearly fully awake now enough to know that she really was real and that they were alone. "How did you get in here without setting off the security measures?" He wasn't wearing his contacts, but he could see that his door was closed. "Not that I'm complaining because this is a..." He was silenced by another long kiss.
:They trust us especially after yesterday, so now I can come in here and snuggle with you.: She used their link to talk to him instead of breaking off their kiss. :There's a secret passage that connects our two towers. Luna showed it to me this morning.:
:In that case come here.: Harry pulled her down into his arms and answered her kisses with ones of his own.
:Dobby and Kreacher made me and Ginny breakfast trays to take up to you two, but this is nice too.: She was on cloud nine.
:We'll get to breakfast after the two of us seriously snuggle for a while.: Harry savored his morning surprise.
"Dobby and Kreacher makes special breakfast for Master Harry and Mistress Hermione and you no want what we made for you?!" Dobby appeared on the bed. He was so upset that he looked like he was going to burst into tears.
That was enough to shatter their little piece of heaven.
They both sprang apart and gave him the guiltiest looks.
"Not true Dobby we were, uh, saying good morning to each other...Wow that breakfast looks really good." Harry floated the tray over to the bed and onto his lap.
"Kreacher told Dobby that Mistress Hermione was up to no good again! She's always gettin Master into trouble!"
Kreacher appeared next to Dobby. "They trust you don't bungle it."
"Kissing isn't against the rules!" Hermione glared at the two house elves. "I do not get him into trouble..." A strawberry that Harry set in her mouth shushed her.
"Thanks for the breakfast and the advice." He wasn't in the mood to anger two little friends that could toast the two of them with magic of their own. "Hermione wasn't doing anything to get me into trouble. You see you two, kissing isn't against the rules." He put on his specs, so he could see everything around him.
"That was more than kissin." Kreacher smirked.
Hermione turned bright red. "I beg your pardon it was so kissing! I have no idea what other thing you may be referring to!"
"I'm not blind! Keep those hands to your person! You'll get the Master into trouble!" Kreacher glared at her and then disappeared.
"Kreacher is older, wiser, he speaks his mind, but Dobby can see that he's right." Dobby vanished before Hermione could say a word.
"That was interesting..." Harry tried not to chuckle, because Hermione clearly did not think this was amusing.
"Interesting! Interesting! After all that I did for those two ingrates!! They're spying on us!! My hands are not lethal weapons! The way they talk I'm going to be your end or something!" Hermione fumed.
"They're only trying to help in their own awkward kind of way...now as for your hands, well, no comment on that one." Harry risked a glance in her direction then focused on his plate of breakfast.
"Coward," Hermione growled before focusing on her own breakfast.
"Of you when you're in one of your moods you bet your ass I am." He muttered under his breath.
Hermione narrowed her eyes menacingly at him. "What was that?"
"So finally you're awake." Stephen opened Harry's door just in time to save his grandson's hide. "I see that she managed to figure out the secret passage fast enough. The rules might have changed, but next time try to dress in something besides his pajama top and a pair of his shorts. It might look less than innocent to other people's eyes."
"Give me a break grandfather! We're both dressed!" Harry growled.
"Are you really? It looks to me as if you're missing a shirt and I wager that you're only wearing your shorts, so no kid you are not dressed!" Stephen made the tray vanish.
"Hey, that was our breakfast and we weren't done!" Harry gritted his teeth in frustration.
"It is now eleven thirty, you have to be dressed for the day and in the Great Hall by noon. There is a portrait sitting first, the press conference, the ceremony, and then the feast." Stephen sounded off their schedule.
"Excuse me, but where is Quidditch in this whole plan for the day?" Harry was not pleased.
"Your hobby will have to wait until the official business has concluded; besides you don't have a team to play or practice with and your Chaser is still in a cast. I think that we will manage to fit in some flying time for you between your Half-Blood Prince activities." Stephen had to force himself to remain serious, as he watched the emotions play across Harry's face. "Now you two need to go your separate ways for a little while. There has been a change in bathroom locations for the four of you."
"Oh great we're so overjoyed new bathroom locations." Harry grumbled.
"Try to curb you enthusiasm kid. The Prefect bathroom incident showed Uncle that a change was in order, so they moved one of the classrooms. I believe it was Arithmancy, down a floor, and had that location made into two separate private bathrooms, one side for you and Draco, the other for the girls." Stephen watched as Hermione's mood changed a little.
"Ginny and I get our own private bath?" Hermione was grinning now this was just too much to ask for.
"Oh, so now I see that vanity is important to you after all." Harry smirked.
"Yes Kitten, you get your own fully stocked bathroom that makes the Prefect Bath look like a normal bath." Stephen chuckled.
"Did I see Uncle Albus' gargoyle statue here on the seventh floor on my way up to bed earlier this morning?" Harry yawned.
"The north study area is now Aunt Minerva and Uncle Albus' quarters and office." Stephen nodded.
"Oh yeah, Hermione they trust us so much that they moved all the way up here from the second floor!" Harry threw back the covers and reached for his robe.
Hermione took in her view. "I never tire of that look." She grinned.
Harry hastily pulled on his robe and belted it closed. "I'm not some meal or dessert!" He flushed crimson.
"You have everyone in this castle fooled, but me. Behave Kitten or I will seal the passageway again." Stephen warned.
"You aren't any fun! Are you sure that you are really James Potter's father?"
"Hermione!" Harry gaped at her in shock.
"Actually, young miss the fun left my life when all of my family was taken from me about, oh say sixteen years ago, so forgive me if I'm not as fun loving as my son was." Stephen was deadly serious.
"I didn't mean anything...I mean...I have to go get ready!" She jumped off the bed and raced out of the room passed Stephen.
"She, uh, didn't mean anything by that. We got a lecture from Kreacher and Dobby and she's still smarting from that." Harry paused in front of his closet. "Half my clothes are gone."
"You'll find them in your new bathroom. Now as for the lecture what were the two of you doing to get a lecture from two of your most loyal comrades in the first place?" Stephen pinned him with a look.
"Nothing..." Harry rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "We were saying good morning that's all." He eyed his grandfather for a reaction, but he wasn't giving away any emotions. "I mean kissing isn't against the rules."
"No kissing is not against the rules, but serious kissing in this location is pushing it." Stephen told him.
Harry stalked passed his grandfather. "You know what go to hell!" He flipped his grandfather the bird and stalked out of his room.
"WE ARE SO GONNA ELOPE WHEN SHE'S SEVENTEEN AND YOU'LL HAVE ALL OF YOUR RULES TO BLAME FOR IT!" His shouts echoed throughout the tower.
--
"Way to go dad!" James appeared next to him not pleased. "Not only have you just alienated my son, but he also gave you the finger salute as well. Why don't you just go personally book that little chapel in Godric's Hollow? I'm sure that Vicar Finnigan would love to do the ceremony."
"James when I'm done with the boy he won't be able to move let alone do anything else. He will be lucky if he has the energy to play Quidditch!" Stephen snarled.
"I'm warning you father don't treat him the same way you treated me. It isn't going to work on Harry." James warned.
"It reined you in and it will do the same for my grandson. All he needs is a little discipline in his life."
"Harry is not a challenge, Dad. He is your grandson. Don't blow this like you did with me. You have a chance to get to know him, so try that before turning into his majesty the-pain-in-the-ass-do-my-bidding King." James didn't wish for his father to blow this with Harry. "I don't relish watching your mistake turn my son dark, because you've frustrated him to the point that he doesn't care anymore!"
"Was it that bad between us?" Stephen stared at the ghostly image of his son.
"I focused all of my frustrations towards you into my marauder alter ego and that let me vent some of it away. You were the best Auror in centuries. You were legendary or another Albus Dumbledore as they said in some of the press. I guess the fact that you weren't around to see any of my achievements after my seventh year, none of the pro games, the World Cup win, or even my wedding kind of hurt dad. Yet when Harry was born you suddenly became available to me again. He was just a baby and you could see all of potential of what was to be, yet you didn't even once tell us! It kills me to think that you knew about the prophecy and didn't even bother to warn us about it!" James let his father feel his wrath.
"There are rules son you know that..." Stephen started to speak but James cut him off.
"Screw the rules dad! This was my son's life that was on the line and you just sat on your hands and let all of that shit happen to all of us! Mother and Sis, hell she was picking out her wedding dress with Mum when the end came! Where were you Dad!? You were out hunting Karkaroff!! You should have told us then to get the hell out of England, but did you! No you just sat back and watched as Voldemort carried out his side of the prophecy! You let us die, so no I can never forgive you for that! You weren't a King! You weren't some great Dark Wizard hunter! What you were and are is a fraud and Harry is going to find that out one day! You are nothing but a pathetic old man that inherited a ring! Harry is more of a ruler than you ever could be! He doesn't need your version of discipline! He needs love and I don't think you have any of that anymore!" James knew that he had gone too far but he didn't care.
"I did nothing to ensure that this world and its people would be able to survive. Forgive me son, but that makes me not a fraud, but a King who puts his subjects' well-being over his own family. I had no choice. Yes, I regret it every second of the day, but would I do it again. Yes, because the end result is peace in the land for over a millenniums and the end of the Dark wizards, and witches. Harry has all the qualities of being a great leader and future King of the Wizarding World. If he had been raised as you had this world would have been doomed. You son were a spoiled rotten prat prince, who always got his own way. When it came down to everything getting deadly serious you still treated it like a game. It only became real when friends and family started dying right and left. When Lilly got sick it almost destroyed you, then when she was carrying Harry and little accidents started occurring around her it was game on because this was real. Life bites the big one son, especially when you're born a target like Harry was. Now that he has some sort of peace I will not repeat the same mistakes that I made with all of you. He will be happy you have my word on it." Stephen left the room in a flash of indigo and gold light.
"Damn it! I hate it when he does that! Now it makes sense, all of that shit that we went through has a purpose, and I can't be pissed about it anymore!" He vanished.
"Talk about having the weight of the world planted on your shoulders." Harry had been talking with Ginny and Draco and had heard every word of their conversation. "Now what do I do?"
"Buddy you're screwed either way." Draco shook his head.
"Just think about it you have to be a Prefect for the rest of your life. So much for fun...How do you live up to what they were snarling about?" Ginny patted Harry's hand.
"Somehow I don't think the James side of me is gonna go for being Prefect for life." Harry raked his fingers through his hair. "I have all the qualities of being a great leader and future King of the Wizarding World. How do you live up to a statement like that?"
"You now know why we hunt Karkaroff in the future, what he said clears that clears up. The fact is that when you lead others fall in line. It's what irked me about you. Everyone followed your every lead all the time. I had idiots around me and you had a real team at your disposal." Draco munched on a piece of bacon.
"As much as I'm enjoying analyzing my messed up life, if I'm late my grandfather will be on my ass again, so later." He got up and headed for the steps.
"We're all gonna be late for our portrait sitting and Mum is still here!" Ginny jumped to her feet and dove into the Merlin portrait.
"Oh, good I won't suffer alone."
"I'm getting Order of Merlin second class with Ginny and Neville. The thing is I don't understand why." Draco got up to join him on the steps.
"You're kidding right? You turned your back on the dark side, changed everything that you were raised to believe in, and embraced the good inside you. Not only that but you have provided back up to Hermione and I many times. You deserve that honor as much as Ginny and Neville do. Hell I'm only getting mine because we didn't get dead. You survived six years of hell, so hey here is this grand honor the Order of Merlin first-class." Harry stared down at his ring. "The truth is when you have the real deal on your finger this other thing is not really that big of a deal."
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Chapter 25
The bathroom
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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