H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 35
Dromi
--
Meet Princess Andromeda the oldest of James and Lily's children a gentle soul who is calm, intelligent, and fiercely protective of her own. Like Rory, she never got a start in this realm and it's like a clean slate to her. She's a fully trained and intelligent witch and like Harry, she has more fairy blood than mortal that like her siblings will give her an edge in the Wizarding World. She loves her new surroundings and is constantly trying to learn and discover everything about this new world. Dromi is shy unlike her twin. She will however join in with her sister for a worthy cause, case in point Sibyll and Severus. She isn't at all afraid to carry out her promise to the princess, as you will soon see...
--
Andromeda studied the castle corridors on her way to go check on her sister. "This castle is going to be fascinating to explore." She emerged from the secret passageway that opened on the third floor corridor.
Severus, on his way to the Grand Staircase, stopped as soon as she stepped out of the doorway. "You really are like your brother." He arched a brow at her. "You've been here less than a few hours and already you have discovered a castle secret."
Dromi blinked timidly at him. "Did I do something wrong? If so I am terribly sorry and it wasn't meant." She murmured in a soft timid voice.
Severus saw her eye color and knew that this one must be Andromeda. "No you haven't done anything wrong. It's just that I met your twin a while ago, and she seems to be quite a handful. So I just assumed that you were her."
Dromi rolled her eyes in exasperation. "If my baby sister did anything or caused you any trouble I apologize to you for that. I'm sure that she didn't mean to be rude if that was the case."
"Oh, she meant it all right." Severus smirked. "I was rude to my godson and she called me on it. You must be Andromeda Marie."
"Please call me Dromi." Dromi smiled. "And you are?"
"Professor Severus Snape, Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts." He liked this version of Lily. "You might wish to explore more in the morning, it's getting dark. If you don't know how to get there I'll show you to the Family wing."
"That's nice of you Professor, yes please show me the way to my new home." She smiled.
"I'll just be a moment there's a visitor in the castle and he was last seen wandering in this corridor." Severus looked around and spotted a young man, with strawberry-blonde hair, glaring out one of the third floor windows. "And there he is."
Dromi also spotted the young man and could sense that this one was highly upset with someone. "Is he a student here?" She asked.
"No. He's the cousin of one of our finest students and is obviously not happy with someone." Severus was not in the mood to deal with an angry rebel prince.
"Would you like me to go talk to him for you?" Dromi asked something inside her was drawn to this brooding young man. "I don't mind."
"Please do. It's getting late and he has yet to visit Hospital wing, where his father is visiting his brother, who as it so happens is also the cousin of one of our students." Severus was glad to let her deal with the brooding rebel prince.
"That student wouldn't be Hermione by chance would it?" Dromi frowned.
"Why yes. That young man brooding over there is your sister-in-law's cousin." Severus could tell that this one was like her mother. "And his brother and your brother rowed out on the castle lawn this afternoon, which is why they are both in Hospital wing."
"Harry's in Hospital wing? He rowed with the William and put him in the there as well?" Dromi gasped is horror. "He's just as bad as Rory."
"In his defense Wills started the whole thing. Harry was having a bad day and can't help it if he's a magnet for trouble." Severus did something that he never thought possible and defended Harry's actions. "Wills was previously injured in a car accident caused by Sirius driving him off the road and that's why he's laid up in Hospital wing that and he got roughed up by Harry."
"Enough, I don't need to hear anymore." Dromi took a deep calming breath and looked at Severus. "If I continue to that door at the end of the corridor does that take me to the Grand Staircase?"
"Yes, that's right." Severus nodded.
"I would think that there's a password that you have to say to a statue or portrait once I get up to the seventh floor."
"Once you enter the seventh floor corridor, after about twenty feet into the corridor there is a statue of a Griffin. The password is sanctuary and then you will be in your new home." He gave her directions.
"Thank you for all of your help and the offer to escort me there, but I think this is going to take a bit and I don't wish to keep you from your duties." Dromi smiled.
"If you're sure that you'll be all right." Severus didn't know if he wanted to leave her with the brooding rebel prince.
"I'll be fine. Have a pleasant evening." She walked over to the young man as soon as Severus left out onto the stairway.
--
"Excuse me are you okay?" She asked softly.
The young man turned to glare at her with blazing hazel eyes that matched his temper and his red gold hair. He was too furious with his brother and the truth that he had learned hours before to notice the fiery haired angel standing in front of him. "If you call being lied to my whole life fine then, yeah, I'm bloody smashing!" He snarled bitterly.
Dromi jumped a little after seeing his reaction and feeling the fury radiating from him. He was so hurt. She could see it in his heart stopping eyes and the way his face, which was also what her sister would say the face of a hunk, was clinched in an angry scowl. He was three and a half inches taller than her five eleven frame and very intimidating to someone who didn't know that his bark was worse than his bite.
"Do you want to talk about what's troubling you?" She took another chance at talking to him. This wasn't the carefree, fun-loving, and rebellious boy that Diana had lovingly described to her. This was someone who had just had enough and needed to roar at someone about it.
"Talk about it! I wanna fucking roar at the world for the joke that everyone played on me! I mean my own brother didn't trust me enough to tell me about this place! My cousin isn't who I thought she was! My father isn't who or what I thought he was either!! Hell, I'm waiting for something else to be pulled out from under me!" The young man ranted at her. "God, I wish that mummy were here, but then again here's that little fact that she lied to me too! I just wanna go somewhere and get fucking sloshed!! My life as usual sucks!!"
Dromi's heart broke. He was so hurt and she was at a loss about how to help him. Not only that but she could feel his pain as if it were her own. "I think that what you need is a friend you can trust, someone you can talk to whom won't lie to you about anything." She spoke in a soft soothing tone as if to an ornery child.
"THERE ISN'T A PERSON ON THIS PLANET THAT'S LIKE THAT AND IF YOU THINK THERE IS, THEN YOU'RE AS NAIVE AS THEY COME!" He roared down at her.
Tears of hurt and frustration pooled in her hazel eyes, Diana's son or not she didn't have to take that from anyone. "I am trying to help you, but if you are going to act like that then you can go get sloshed or whatever it is that you want!! I'll not stand here and take you venting your fury at me when all I am trying to do is help!" Her voice shook with temper and the first tear spilled down her cheek.
The young man swore under his breath, as the realization dawned on him, that he had just made the most beautiful girl that he had ever laid eyes on cry, when all she was trying to do was help him.
"I'm glad Mummy isn't here to see this, she would flay me alive for making a girl cry." He fished a handkerchief out of his pocket, that he never used, but had been trained to carry, and handed it to her. "Here you go please stop crying. You're beautiful as it is, but in tears it's just heartbreaking." His voice gentled and when she didn't take the handkerchief, he took it on himself to tilt her chin, so he could wipe them away with his thumb.
Dromi stared miserably up into his eyes that were filled more with concern than temper. "I just wanted to help you!" She sobbed, as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
Her tears were tearing him to pieces; it wasn't something that usually happened to him. Just touching her made his heart race and it was as if he'd been zapped by lightning that alone was staggering to him. "I know and I'm sorry that I let loose on you like that, but you were in the wrong place at the wrong time to ask me something like that." He didn't know what to do, if he went to hold her she might just haul off and slap him. On the other hand, if he didn't, he was going to go against every instinct that his body and mind were screaming at him to do.
"I'm Harry Windsor. I usually don't make angels cry, it just isn't like me. My mummy, may she rest in peace, would flay me alive if she knew that I made you cry." He took a chance and pulled her into his arms, so he could hold her. It felt like she had always belonged in his arms. Not even his former flame made him feel like this, was this like love at first sight?
Dromi didn't know how to react to his change in emotions or that she felt like she could stay forever being held in his arms. It was just so new to her and scary. "I'm Andromeda Marie Potter-Pendragon and all I wanted is to be your friend." She looked up at him with soulful eyes.
Harry stared down at her in surprise. "You're Harry Potter's sister?"
Now that was one that JK had missed in her books! He thought.
"He's my baby brother." She nodded. "Your cousin Hermione just got handfasted to him last night. Forgive me, but can I call you Henry, because it's going to confuse me to have more than one person named Harry."
"So you know who I am, do you." His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I usually get called that when someone is toasted at me, but when you say it I don't mind it at all. Now as for this Handfasting isn't that like marriage?" He scowled.
"In my world yes, but they promised our parents not to do anything until after they officially have the royal wedding next September." Dromi could tell that he wasn't thrilled that his cousin was promised to her brother.
"Royal wedding, I'm confused. You've totally lost me, since when is Harry a royal anything?" Henry was really in the dark now.
"It's a long and truly fascinating story that I will tell you when we're not standing in the middle of a creepy torch lit corridor." She was being spooked out by the castle.
Henry shot her an indulge me look.
"Long story short our first-Grandfather is Merlin, who possessed Uther, who fathered Arthur and to my disgust Mordrid. Daddy was what our world calls the Half-Blood Prince. After daddy died Harry inherited that title when he turned sixteen. He didn't claim that title until this August after the final battle and it gets complicated from here. Merlin rewarded him for vanquishing Voldemort by giving him back his family and friends that were killed by Voldemort and his Deatheaters. Grams, Aunt Jenna, Uncle Sirius, Mum, Daddy, my twin sister Rory, Ron, Luna, and even Cedric were all allowed to return to the land of the living. Rory and I weren't alive long enough to be anything in this world, but we were allowed to grow on the other side."
Henry stared goggle-eyed at her.
"I told you it's complicated. This means that although Rory and I are twenty-years-old tomorrow, in truth we have only been on this world for two days, and you thought that your life was complex."
"Did you get to know my mum?" Henry realized the only way that she could know who he was would be if she knew his mother.
"Yes I did. She's a special woman, who loves her boys very much. I was thirteen when I met her and she took my sister and me under her wing. We had our parents, but she helped us in many ways too. She was filled with hours of stories about her boys and her adventures. She misses and loves you very much." Dromi got teary eyed again.
Henry blinked back tears of his own, as he cleared his throat in an attempt to speak. "I miss her more than anything these days and I love her so much that it kills me inside. But, crying isn't gonna get you out of this creepy corridor. I half expect Dracula to come out of one of the doorways." He brushed away another tear with his thumb. "If I didn't know any better I would say that mum sent me an angel to look after me."
"I'm as real as you are, but you are correct in assuming that. She did send Rory to look after Wills and me to look after you. That is if you don't mind having me for a friend." Dromi found herself hugged, so hard that she could barely breathe.
"I'll settle for friend for now, as for the rest, well, we have all the time in the world for that." He felt at peace for the first time in his life and it was because he was holding his very own angel in his arms.
--
Rory was standing behind him with her wand pointed at his back. "You have ten seconds to let go of Dromi. I don't know who you are, but give me one reason I shouldn't jinx your sorry butt for making Dromi cry."
Henry looked down at Dromi and arched a brow at her. "I take it that your twin is the one who just said that."
Dromi nodded. "She's a little overprotective sometimes."
"You have five seconds left."
Henry turned them both so they were facing Rory. "Easy there, uh, Rory is it?" He almost lost what he was going to say, because she was Dromi's carbon copy, except for the eyes, and obvious attitude. "I didn't mean to make Dromi cry. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time to ask me what she did. I don't think that my dad could handle it if both his sons were laid up in the Hospital wing of this castle. I mean you don't know what kind of spin he would have to give Grams and the others." He pleaded his case to Rory.
"Honestly, baby sister, I think that I can more than handle myself!" Dromi gave Rory a look then pointed at the wand. "Where may I ask did get that from? Did you borrow that from someone in the castle? By the gods Rory you have only been here two days!"
Rory shot the same look back at her. "I didn't borrow it! This is mine! I popped over to Diagon Alley and this nice man named Mr. Olivander gave it to me!" She came up with a good zinger herself. "Since when do you fraternize with hunks in the middle of a foreign castle? I mean what if I had been Daddy!"
Dromi's face flushed crimson. "I was on my way to check on you, because you were upset. I saw that he needed someone so I stopped! I'm the oldest! I will fraternize with a hunk if I wish! I'm a grown woman!! I don't really care if Daddy approves or not!" She blurted out without thinking then blushed all the way down to her toes after she said that.
Rory gaped at her in shock. "Maybe we aren't so different after all."
She tried to squirm out of his arms, but he wasn't letting her go anywhere. "I'm flattered that the two of you, especially Dromi, think that I'm a hunk, but there's no reason for either of you to spit and claw at each other. It's getting late and I still have to find my way to Hospital Wing, then maybe the kitchens because I'm starving. We were on our way to dinner with Grams when I think your Minister of Magic, what had to be the Weasley twins, and Katie all arrived and told us that Wills had gotten into an accident in the Jag."
"That would be Grandpa. I can show you two the way to Hospital Wing. Mum and Daddy are up there checking on Harry and your Uncle... No I mean your father is with Wills." Rory had calmed down enough to want to go check on Wills again.
"So, you're the girl that Katie was talking about. The one that made him go all catatonic in front of everyone just by taking one look at you. Not that there's anything wrong with that, had I been sane at the time it probably would have happened to me when I saw Dromi." He was now holding Dromi's hand in his own.
"He went catatonic when he looked at you? Well, at least he didn't bite your head off when you first tried to talk to him." Dromi sniffed.
Henry felt two inches again. "I said that I was sorry about that." He sulked.
"Well, his-royal-pain-in-the-ass was rowing with baby brother, so at first we kind of had words. I called him on a few things that to him were shoving his mother's words in his face. He saw the error of his ways and we started again. Considering that I know more about him than most women that he has dated. This didn't last long because he passed out cold at my feet." Rory gave them the short version skipping what had happened hours later in Hospital Wing.
"His-royal-pain-in-the-ass, huh, Ducky calls him that and he hates it." Henry was amused that a girl had bested his perfect big brother. "At least you didn't call him 'Dreamboat Willie' others have died for calling him that.
Rory's violet eyes twinkled and she playfully wiggled her eyebrows at him and said. "I will call him 'Dreamboat Willie' as long as he calls me Kate, Kathy, Katherine, or Kat."
"How does he get Kate out of the name Rory?" Henry frowned.
"Rory is short for Katherine Aurora Lily Elizabeth Potter-Pendragon and she likes to be called Rory because Katherine is too formal." Dromi rolled her eyes at her sister.
"I see that you two didn't get off with short names either, so Dromi what's yours?" He looked over at Rory.
"Hers is Andromeda Marie Lorelei Michelle Potter-Pendragon, but if you ask me our parents missed the mark with Lorelei. I mean really does she look like a siren to you?" Rory smirked.
Henry thought about that for a second, "I don't think I'm gonna comment on that last remark, but her name is better than mine, which is Henry Charles Albert David Windsor-Wales. By the way why is the last part of your name Pendragon and not just Potter?"
"You weren't paying attention when I told you the short version were you Henry." She arched a brow at him.
"Sorry angel, but I got a little distracted by the view." He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.
Dromi's blush deepened even more. "Yes, well, um...Pendragon is like the Windsor surname it was changed to Potter because of trying circumstances and now that this world is at peace it is once again back to Pendragon. King Arthur was the first true Half-Blood King and it goes on from there."
"What in the name of Merlin are the three of you doing skulking around the third floor corridor?" Sirius growled from the shadows and all three of them jumped in terror. "The Bloody Baron likes it up here now that Slytherin is no more and he ain't a nice bloke."
"Uncle Sirius you scared the life out of us!" Dromi glared at him.
"This castle is friendly in most places during daylight hours, but at night it has its dangers, this corridor being one of them." Sirius emerged from the shadows.
Henry's eyes widened in surprise, "You're Sirius Black!!"
"Is that so boy? Thanks for telling me what I bloody well already know. These are my girls and you ain't exactly magically trained to protect them, if say a troll or worse decides to come out of the shadows. Seeing, as prince elephant ears never gave you the letter it isn't enough to have magic in your blood. You have to be able to use it." Sirius narrowed his eyes down at Henry.
Henry heard the words letter and magic in your blood and lost it.
"SON OF A BITCH! I SWEAR THAT I'M GONNA RUIN MY SURROGATE DAD FOR THIS!! I HATED NORMAL SCHOOL AND I COULD HAVE GONE HERE!! THAT DOES IT!! I'M POSTING ON THE INTERNET THAT HE SWINGS BOTH WAYS, ONLY THIS TIME I'M GONNA HAVE STREAMING VIDEO AS PROOF!!" He roared all the while still holding her hand.
"Damn it Uncle Sirius! I just got him calmed down!" Dromi hissed at him then glared at Henry. "If you're going to bellow like an angry lion with a sore paw then I do not wish to be around you right now!" She vanished in a flash of pink and lavender iridescent light.
"Wow she never loses her temper and it's happened like three times. Thanks Henry for breaking my sister." Rory smirked.
"Andromeda Marie that's not fair! Get back here and fight fair!" Henry's shout echoed around them.
"Like that's gonna work." Rory rolled her eyes. "She could have gone to another country to brood. I hear New York is an experience, maybe she went there."
Sirius was horrified at the thought that she could be right or the two of them were as strong magic wise as Harry and Hermione. "Ah hell... We have three Mab's and one Merlin, like we needed that kind of a challenge." He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"DAMN IT ANDROMEDA! IF I HAVE TO BOOST THE FAMILY JET TO GO FIND YOU I WILL NOT BE PLEASED! NOW BEHAVE AND SHOW YOURSELF NOW!" Henry didn't feel that she had even left the corridor.
"Bellowing until the three of us are deaf isn't gonna get Dromi back you know." Rory covered her ears with her hands to ward off the echoing response to his bellows.
"No frickin way!! He can actually sense where she is." Sirius watched as Henry opened the secret passage and stepped inside. "James is gonna go over the fine line of sanity over this one."
Henry emerged with a furious Princess tossed over his shoulder.
"No way did he just do that." Rory couldn't believe her eyes. "She doesn't get found, ever, unless she wishes to be found."
"Henry Charles Albert David, put me down this instant!" Dromi kicked her feet in protest and pounded on his back with her fists.
"Behave or I'll swat you one." Henry carried her towards the doors that led to the Grand staircase.
"You wouldn't dare." She hissed furiously.
"Oh, wouldn't I? Don't press your luck." He growled.
"Put me down you...you...beast!!" She seethed.
"Or you'll do what? Give me donkey ears and a tail?" He stepped out into the Grand staircase.
Dromi thought of what he would look like in what he had just described and to her amusement, that's just what happened. "Do you wish to have the full effect or are you going to put me down!" She growled.
Henry slapped her three times on the derriere. "That isn't nice Princess. You know very well that all I'm trying to do is bring you safely to your parents now behave."
Rory grinned at Sirius. "Sounds like Dromi may have met her match."
"Looks like." He agreed.
"So which way is it to Hospital Wing?" He paused in front of the steps that led up to the fourth floor.
"It's on the fifth floor and by the looks of it you're gonna need it that is if she gives you the full treatment." Sirius smirked.
Henry headed up the stairs. "She wouldn't dare because then I would have to pay her back later."
"Oh Henry, you shouldn't have said that." Rory giggled. "Have fun being a jackass."
"WHAT?!" Henry stopped at the fourth floor where he had to set her down, because he was being transfigured into a donkey.
"Damn it Andromeda this is not funny..." He didn't get to finish because he was now a braying mule.
"Shall we go to Hospital wing now?" She smiled serenely at them.
"You do know that he's gonna get you back for that." Sirius frowned.
"Right now I'm too peeved at him to care." Dromi was butted in the rear by Henry the mule. "Sorry you're stuck like that for a while."
"You know what remind me never to really get you mad." Rory headed up the steps.
"I'm not mad sister dear I am just a bit miffed." She countered. "Let's go Henry."
A not so happy mule followed her.
"The boy is doomed." Sirius surmised and headed up the stairs as well.
--
Harry awoke to Hermione snuggled in his arms. He felt like the Knight Bus had run him over. He was thankful that he wasn't sporting a cast or any bandages that he could see. The thing that had awoken him was the feeling that someone had used powerful magic, but he was at a loss as to whom it was.
"Mum has my other sister made an appearance yet?" He looked over at his mother, who was knitting pink baby clothes.
"I know that Andromeda is in the castle, because Severus saw her on the third floor corridor. I also know that he left her with a brooding young man..." She looked up at her son who promptly interrupted her in the middle of her explanation.
"Who else is in the castle besides us? Did Uncle Severus know the guy?" Harry was not pleased.
"Calm down Harry James or you will wake up Hermione, who just fell asleep." Lily glared at him. "Wills has two visitors Andrew and someone you have yet to meet, but go by the same first name."
"Prince Harry?! He left her with the rebel of the royal family!? Is he out of his mind leaving her alone with him in a temper?!" Harry tried to get up, but Hermione rolled so he couldn't move. "Not to mention that he isn't gonna take this whole, uh, situation as calmly as Wills."
"Dromi can take care of herself. She may act calm and serene, but under all of that is steel." Lily held up a colorful sweater. "So relax and tell me if you like this or not."
"Its great mum one of the twins will love it." Harry commented on the sweater. "Four to one I'm so doomed." He groaned.
"Honey, if it makes you feel any better if you do break that promise early you're looking at may be seven to one. Just thought you might like to know." She went back to knitting the baby clothes.
"Seven to one? Triplets?! Oh no that settles it then, I'm not gonna touch her! You can count on it! I'm not ready for three not by a long shot!" Harry felt like running for the hills.
"Who is going to have triplets?" Dromi walked in with Henry the mule. "It can't be them because they made a promise. Are you having triplets, mum?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Now who is your friend?" Lily pointed her knitting needles at the donkey.
"Excuse me…I have to go see Wills! Oh gods, this is just so funny, but he asked for it!" Rory could barely contain her laughter as she walked passed the mule.
"Uncle Sirius what did you do?" Harry noticed the donkey was sporting a fancy gold collar that had the initials HCW on it.
"I didn't do a bloody thing the boy brought it down on himself." Sirius took a seat beside Lily.
James walked in and spied his oldest standing next to a donkey. "Andromeda Marie is there a reason why there's a mule in Hospital Wing?" He calmly asked his daughter.
"No reason Daddy." She smiled serenely at him. "He's taking a time-out."
"You turned...no way...without a wand..." Harry tried to keep a straight face.
Hermione opened one eye to look at him and growled. "What's going on and why are you so happy?"
"He's taking a time-out? He as in whom?" James walked over to get a closer look at the mule. "HCW?"
"Henry Charles Albert David Windsor-Wales." Dromi didn't act the least bit guilty for what she had done. "Otherwise known as Prince Harry."
Hermione's eyes shot open and she sat up in the bed. "That's my cousin? Why did you turn him into a donkey? He's going to be so cross and his temper is far greater than anything that Wills has shown." She got up and walked over to the mule, who brayed angrily at her. "Don't swear at me Henry Charles. I didn't do that to you. What did you do or say to upset her enough to do this to you in the first place?"
"She got mad at him for getting all pissed off again and vanished without a wand. Then that one is bellowing for her to get back there and fight fairly. We thought he was going crackers, but then he goes and finds her hiding in one of the secret passageways, not ten feet away from us. Now this ain't what she wanted because he carries her out over his shoulder and then goes on his merry way to Hospital wing. She gets mad and, well, he's a donkey." Sirius gave them the short version on what caused Henry to become a donkey.
"SON OF A BITCH THAT'S ALL THREE!!" James was not happy with Sirius' explanation.
"Hey Prongs, don't hex the messenger! I was just telling you what happened!" Sirius knew when to retreat and left Hospital wing to go find Jenna.
"That's ridiculous Daddy. He's not my soul mate or anything like that. I mean just because he and only he can...doesn't mean that... Does it?" She bent down to look into Henry the mule's furious hazel eyes and gulped.
"Oh, big sister. You so stuck your foot in it, if he didn't do anything to deserve that." Harry could feel the temper radiating off Henry the mule. "As for that other thing, well, yeah, it does mean what dad thinks it means and you're so gonna get it. If that look, those ears, and the fury in his eyes means anything. If he does have magic flowing through his veins then this will be more than enough to activate it."
"I don't even know how I did it. He wouldn't put me down, so when he went and growled the comment of donkey ears and a tail. I, um, thought of it, and there they were. He wasn't even really that upset either. At least not enough to put me down...so then Uncle Sirius suggested the full treatment. He goes and dares me... Poof I'm on my feet, and he's a mule." Dromi bit down on her lip clearly this might not have been the smartest of moves.
"And you worry about me." Harry rolled his eyes. "Looks like you've got two Mab's and a Merlin to me."
James grabbed his chest and passed out.
"James Harry Stephen Arthur Michael, you copout, this is no time to have a nervous breakdown!" Lily got up and snarled down at him.
Wills could be heard growling at Andrew to let him up, so he could go see what the hell they were talking about in the other ward. "I'm going to see what's going on regardless if I can stand or not! I mean Kat hasn't stopped laughing since she came back! Something is obviously up and I want to know what it is!"
"So how do you like mules...I mean it's a known fact that Henry can be an ass at times ..." She burst into laughter again.
Andrew raced into the other ward.
"Oh son, you went and did it this time didn't you. What did you do, make a move on the other twin?" He tried to keep a straight face, as the donkey was very ornery looking.
"Damn it Katherine stop laughing and help me up!" Wills snarled.
"Oh gods, it's just so funny." She helped him get out of bed. "And the thing is she doesn't know how to change him back!"
"Someone fetch the twins! I want proof damn it!! Pictures loads of them!" Wills got his first look at Henry the mule.
Harry decided to give that trick that he'd been doing all day another shot. I need a camera to make it so I can blackmail Prince Henry into not pummeling my ass! The camera appeared in his hands.
Hermione glared at him.
"It's not personal gain, Hermione, its survival. He'll be civil if there's evidence of this most embarrassing moment. He seems to be bonded to my sister, so that means that he'll be around our world, and he doesn't want this to end up in The Quibbler or The Prophet ." He took several photos and the mule glared daggers at him. "Look either she figures out how she changed you or you change yourself back."
Henry the mule gave Dromi a forlorn look and she burst into tears. "I don't know how to change you back...I'm new at this...I have the knowledge, but no practice at using it."
"Well, that settles it you're just gonna have to get out of that yourself." Harry shrugged. "I mean she's like Hermione, only she lacks the-know-how. This is bad for you because she has no clue how to set you right."
Dromi wrapped her arms around Henry the mule's neck and bawled even harder. "I ruined you!"
Henry sat down and closed his eyes and within minutes, he was holding her sobbing form in his arms. "Stop crying. I'm fine you didn't ruin me." He glared at Harry. "Now let go of me, so that I can cram that camera down your brother's throat!"
"You frickin changed back! How the hell did you do that?!" Wills couldn't believe his eyes.
"Son, he got a letter just like you did and evidently he's more magically inclined than you are." Andrew wasn't surprised that Henry had gotten himself out of the situation.
"Face it big brother now there's finally something that I excel at that you don't." Henry was very pleased with that fact. "This will come in handy trying to court this one here. For the love of god! Please stop crying! You're killing me here!"
Dromi was still bawling her eyes out against his chest.
"James you big goof ball. If he can get out of that without any training, he's worthy of our daughter." Lily, who was sitting on James, glared down at him.
"All that means is that he's a loose-cannon and needs trained." James grumbled. "All three of them do. Wills hasn't awakened anything yet, so he's out of the equation for now."
"Oh, thanks a lot. You just called me magically challenged." Wills grumbled.
"Oh, poor baby did Daddy just call you a squib." Rory giggled.
"If he can hold Excalibur then he isn't magically challenged." Hermione defended him.
"Excalibur, eh. Well son did you pull it from the stone?" Andrew arched a brow at him in challenge.
"No it came with the dress robes that I had to wear for the Celebration this summer." Wills grumbled.
"Well, big brother, that's sort of a copout, then isn't it." Henry smirked.
--
Merlin appeared in the ward. "Good god! The boy is not magically challenged. He has enough on his shoulders being the heir. Now let him be. As for the sword in the stone, well, there are two of you that can easily pull it from its resting place. However, the rightful heir does not wish to do so."
"Your fucking right I don't wish to do so! Morgana is enough of a pain in my backside! Let Wills have it with my blessing! I already am heir to this world's throne." Harry bared his teeth at him.
"Harry James do you wish me to scourgify your mouth!" Lily growled.
"I don't think that either of you can do it." Henry challenged. "I think the girls can, but not the two of you."
"Are you calling me a liar you little piss ant? I have crushed others for less." Merlin glowered down at Henry.
"I mean that would mean that you're Merlin and that isn't possible... Right?" Henry was still not getting that it was Merlin glowering down at him.
Dromi was calmed down enough to hear what was going on. "Were you paying attention to anything I said? That is my First-Grandfather Merlin and you just called him a liar!" She hissed in his ear.
"No way, you mean the whole Arthur thing was real." Henry looked at her then at Merlin.
"Arthur was my son, who sired Godric with his wife, and he established Hogwarts out of what was once known as Camelot. Yes, you little upstart, I am Merlin, but if I must prove it to you then I must." With a wave of his hand, the six of them were standing out on the castle lawn. "Now there's the sword in the stone feel free to take a try at it." He motioned to the stone in front of him.
"Holy shit he really is Merlin." Henry gulped.
"Now he believes." Merlin shook his head. "Well, girls I don't have all night."
"Grandpa this is just showing off and you know it." Dromi frowned.
"Yes well, what is being the most powerful wizard ever if you can't flaunt your power now and then? Now please indulge me and try to take the sword from the stone." Merlin arched a silver brow at her.
Dromi walked over to the stone, placed her hands on the hilt of the sword, and slid it out of the rock. "Was this supposed to be difficult?" She asked as she slid the stone back into the rock as if sliding it through butter.
"Fascinating," Merlin was impressed. "On the other hand a female has never tried pulling the sword out of the stone before."
Henry smiled down at her. "I knew you could do it, my angel."
"It has to have something to do with bloodline." Dromi grinned. "But thanks for the vote of confidence." She was rewarded with her first kiss.
"You're next Rory." Merlin looked over at Rory, who was giving her sister the thumbs up sign.
"I think this is silly, but sure I'll take a shot." She kissed Wills on the cheek before walking over, pulled the sword from the stone, and then put it back.
"Fantastic, Kat. You really are worthy of being my queen." Wills pulled her in his arms and kissed her.
Hermione looked up at Harry and grinned. "Girls two guys zero."
Harry walked over to the stone and within seconds had the sword in his hands. "You were saying, luv?" He slid the stone back in its resting place. "Wills quit kissing my sister and take your turn!"
Wills reluctantly let her go. "I prefer kissing you to being king any day. Nevertheless it's the principle of the matter." He walked over to the stone and had no problem removing it. "Henry come here for a sec I want to test a theory." He called over to his brother, who was still kissing Dromi. "Henry get your ass over here and leave the girl alone!"
Henry reluctantly broke off the kiss. "I'll be right back, luv."
Dromi was only able to nod she was still on cloud nine.
"What's this theory of yours?" Henry walked over to his brother, who was still holding the sword.
"Take this and see if you can hold it." He offered him the sword.
Henry took the sword from him and arched a brow at him. "It's an amazing sword." He looked down at the most famous sword in history.
"Ok now put it back in the stone." Wills grinned.
Henry plunged it into it. "Your theory is if you can hold it you can pull it from the stone?"
"I see the prince has discovered the key to the sword in the stone." Merlin was impressed. "You must be pure of heart and soul to wield the sword. However, you must be capable of assuming the throne of Britain to pull it from the stone."
Henry found that he could also pull the sword form the stone. "That's nice to know, but I have no problem giving Wills that job." He slid the sword back in its resting place.
"Hermione, do you not wish a turn?" Merlin smiled at her.
Hermione walked over and pulled it from the stone. "I'm one who believes in what this symbolizes to any who know its name and knowing that I can hold it is more than enough for me." She placed it back in its resting place.
"The lesson for tonight is that in the time of Arthur there was only one who was worthy to hold that sword. Now in this new era of magic their are six new wielders, who are worthy of that honor." With that said it vanished from sight. "Now back to the Hospital wing and your parents."
They were all back in the castle in seconds. Wills and Harry were tucked back in their beds in Hospital wing. Hermione, Rory, Dromi, and Henry all appeared in the Family wing where a small feast awaited them.
Henry's mobile rang. He took it out to see who was calling, it was his uncle. He answered it. "Hello the person that you are trying to reach no longer wishes to ever speak to you again. He knows the truth about whom his true father is. That you nixed his chances at happiness by destroying a certain letter when he was eleven and that you had his mother killed to get her out-of-the-way for your mistress. DNA is an amazing thing Uncle it can tell a person if they're truly your son or not. In short, you can just all screw yourselves. Wills and I will come home when we feel like it and things are going to change in the monarchy, but for the better. Pleasant nightmares, Uncle." He hung up the phone before his uncle could say anything. "God that felt fantastic!" He reached over and pulled Dromi into his arms again. "I feel free for the first time in my life and I love it." He kissed her.
"I'm going to go keep Harry company." Hermione saw them kissing and missed Harry.
"Wait up I'll go with you I want to be by Wills." Rory also had a sudden longing to see Wills.
Henry's mobile rang again, but this time he turned it off and shoved it back in his pocket, settled them both in one of the overstuffed couches, and all without breaking the kiss.
--
Severus glared at Sibyll, who would not leave him to his dinner. "There are two sisters Rory and Dromi. They're twins. Your vision was off by one sister. Now let me eat in peace."
"I had tea with Rory and Hermione for over an hour and not once did they mention that Rory had a twin sister. I would think that they would have mentioned her having a sister." Sibyll sipped her glass of wine.
"James and Lily lost twin girls which you bloody well know and if one is back running around then of course the other one is around as well! I left her in the third floor corridor to calm Prince William's younger brother! Now if you don't mind I would like to finish my meal in peace!" Severus threw down his fork and glared murderously at her.
"Well, I wish to see the other twin." Sibyll made his plate vanish. "Let's go Severus. You are going to show me the other twin."
"Woman, I was not done eating my dinner! Others have died for less you know!" Severus downed his flask of fire whiskey. "I will show you Andromeda, but only if you leave me in peace for the entire day tomorrow."
"I am going shopping in London all day tomorrow, with Rory. So I agree to your terms. Now get off your arse and show me this other twin." She narrowed her eyes at him that was an affect ten times worse when magnified by her specs.
"Very well, the sooner I show you Andromeda the sooner I can have some space." Severus got to his feet and the two of them headed out of the Great Hall.
--
James glared at Rory. "YOU LEFT YOUR SISTER DOING WHAT?!"
Rory had never seen her father this angry in her life and answered timidly. "She was, um, kissing Prince Henry."
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU I CAN UNDERSTAND, BUT HERMIONE! YOU BLOODY WELL KNOW WHAT YOUR COUSIN IS KNOWN FOR!!" James bellowed at the two of them.
Hermione turned into Princess and dove under Harry's bed.
"Silencio!" Harry glared at his father. "Cut it out! You scared her into her animagus form! "
James went to roar back at him that he should speak when spoken to and found that he couldn't speak at all.
"You no longer need your wand to perform minimal charms." Lily gaped at her son. "That's impressive however you do not use magic against your father! Now set him right again!" She growled.
"Mother as usual he's being an ass and blowing things way out of proportion! If Dromi turned him into an ass for picking her up then I can just imagine what she would do to him for trying something on her!" Harry growled.
James closed his eyes and concentrated on breaking the spell. "Your sister is new to everything and she's naive when it comes to what guys are capable of. I realize the two of them are linked, but I know from experience that it makes control over certain instincts damn near impossible." He was speaking in a calm level tone of voice.
"Now as for you! If you ever do that to me again! I swear that I will make it so you never do it again! I helped bring you into this world I can damn well take you out of it!" He gave him the look.
Harry didn't need to think twice, he knew that his father meant what he said. "You scared my angel, besides I didn't know that I could do that." Harry eyed him warily.
"No more making things appear for personal gain, as of now it's against the rules. You have a long way to go before you can control what has just started to awaken inside you. That includes doing a charm or hex without the use of a wand, unless the situation calls for it." James knelt down beside the bed and looked under it. "Sorry Hermione. It's safe for you to come out now. I'm just not used to my girls being with young men."
Andrew finally spoke up. "Henry has been given a bad reputation by the paparazzi. He really is a well-behaved young man, both of my boys are. He has just been around the wrong crowd, thus his wild ways. Then again Henry has never been entranced like he is with Dromi, not even his last girlfriend made him act this way, so checking in on them might not be a bad idea."
"I can understand why you want to panic, but my baby brother is trustworthy." Wills had Rory cuddled in his arms. "It was his last girlfriend who constantly got him into trouble and because she was his first real girlfriend, he let her lead him around by the nose."
Princess emerged from the bed and leaped up onto Harry's lap.
"It's okay baby. He's just having a nervous breakdown." Harry soothingly stroked her fur.
"James, if you're that wary of the boy, go check on them." Lily watched him pace the floor and it was annoying her.
"They're probably just talking," Rory suggested.
"One hour and then up to the Family wing you both go." James looked at Hermione and then at Rory.
"Dad need I remind you that..." Harry stopped in midsentence when his father gave him the look again. "Right one hour...uh one question where are the twins going to sleep?"
"You didn't just get bestowed those abilities of yours, you inherited them. I just let you think that you're better than I am. Your mother and I are the smartest witch and wizard of our class, so you'd best remember that from now on. I am not going to go easy on you period." James growled
"The Family wing compensates for the bedrooms needed. There's a floor above yours for Rory and Dromi." Lily answered Harry's question then gave James an exasperated look. "If you share in this pregnancy anymore, then you might as well carry these two. Because, so far you have the occasional all day sickness, the mood swings, and meantime here I'm breezing through this pregnancy. Honestly, James, you weren't this bad with the girls."
Not wanting to incur the wrath of James again Harry, Andrew, Rory, and Wills all tried to stifle their amusement.
"Oh button it, junior. Just wait till it's your turn." James stalked out of the Hospital Wing.
"Just think honey three is so much worse than two." Lily watched, as Harry turned white as a sheet, and buried his face under the covers.
Hermione was back to normal now and was laughing against his chest, "She does have a point and I'm not saying if she's joking with you or not."
Harry threw back the covers and glared at her, "Did you have another dream that I'm not aware of?"
Hermione got off the bed before he could grab her. "I'm not telling." Her eyes danced with mischief. "Night Wills and sweet dreams, Harry, I love you." She left the ward.
:Hermione!! Get back here!: Harry tried to get out of bed, but his body wouldn't let him. "That settles it then, I'm not breaking that promise period!" He grumbled. "Thinking triplets works a hell of a lot better than a Glacius shower."
"Honey, you did say the two of you could handle anything, so I guess someone wishes to see if that is true." She continued to go about her knitting.
"Three what… girls?" Wills looked over at Harry. "Oh, little brother, you are so doomed."
"Well, the prophecy does say that and I quote 'All will thrive and live happily. When these four continue their family trees', so I guess three girls is a good start to fulfilling that." Rory giggled.
"Katherine Aurora say goodnight to Wills. We're going up to the Family wing." Lily put away her knitting. "They need their rest and you and Dromi are going shopping in the morning with Sibyll. I imagine that Franc and Beau will wish to give you girls a new look and wardrobe."
"New look? No way. She's perfect like she is." Wills growled. "They'll cut her hair and I will not be happy."
"Night, Wills, sweet dreams." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Promise me not more than two inches off the hair." He gave her a pleading look.
"Night William," Rory left the ward with her mother.
"Night boys." Andrew followed them.
"She's gonna chop it off just to spite me now." Wills grumbled.
"Beau is not gonna chop her hair if he thinks it's already perfection. I mean look at Hermione's hair or mine." Harry rolled his eyes at him.
"Well since its coming off your tab we will see." Wills grinned.
"Oh well, I missed what seventeen birthdays and it is their birthday tomorrow." Harry grinned when Wills looked forlorn. "I guess Henry gets to escort the girls on their birthday while you're laid up here."
"Button it and go to sleep." Wills growled.
--
Meanwhile
Severus and Sibyll entered the main floor of the Family wing that at nine in the evening was unusually quiet. "The kids must be upstairs playing those Muggle video games." He walked further in the room and looked around.
"The others haven't come back for dinner yet." Sibyll noticed the table loaded with food. "The food hasn't been hardly touched. Maybe they're still down at Hospital Wing."
Severus pulled out his wand and pointed it down at something on the couch. "No not quite two of them are right here. Boy, you have two seconds to let her go, before I make you let go of her." He snarled down at someone on the couch.
"Severus, are Draco and Ginny or Ron and Luna spooning on the couch?" Sibyll went over to take a look. "Oh my, I take it this is Dromi." She glanced down at the two spooning on the couch.
"Yes and I am not going to be killed by James, because I left her alone with the Casanova Royal Rebel! I thought that it was just spin, but I guess not!" He poked at Henry with his wand. "End this at once boy or I will hex you!"
The two spooners were not paying any attention to Severus.
"Severus you'll hit Dromi." Sibyll frowned.
"I'll just use Rictusempra on them its harmless." He pointed down at them and used the spell.
The result of which was two startled but, laughing almost twenty-year-olds.
"What...was...that ... For!" Henry gasped between fits of uncontrollable laughter.
"I just saved your hide boy! You forgot yourself around an innocent!! She is not someone whom you can take advantage of!!" Severus snarled.
James walked in and caught what he was saying. "WHAT!? Oh, I had better have misheard that!?" He had his wand out as he stalked over to the couch.
"Daddy...we...were...um...kissing." Dromi managed between fits of laughter.
"I would say seriously snogging rather than just kissing." Severus muttered.
"WHAT?!" James roared. "YOU PUT THE ROYAL REBEL CASANOVA MOVES ON MY BABY!! OH, YOU ARE SO GOING TO REGRET TOUCHING MY DAUGHTER!"
"Daddy calm down I'm fine!" Dromi was back to normal.
"FINE!? You do not snog on the couch with a boy you just met an hour ago!! You don't know where he's been! Or what the hell he's been with! His tastes in girlfriends are questionable! I don't give a rats-ass if he's your soul mate or not! He knew better and didn't think!!" James was livid with them.
"Soul mate? Well, then that's all three isn't it James." Severus shook his head.
"Button it or this truce will be out the window!" James snarled. "Well, Henry Charles Albert David Windsor? What the hell do you have to say for yourself?"
Henry was being shielded by Dromi, who wasn't about to move. "I know that you're upset and rightly so. It's just that I'm not what the press spins me as. Well, not usually unless I'm drinking then I'm a bit of an ass...This is new to me, so I guess when it comes to kissing ones soul mate, all that trained control goes out the window..." He feared for his life because James was glaring murderously at him.
"I would never take advantage of her and have never taken advantage of anyone in my life. I just don't have that in me. Now on the other hand, others tend to take advantage of my wild-side, and get me to do things like drinking and such. I'll admit that my last girlfriend basically sprang for everything and that I did take advantage of that. She had a thing about wanting to be a princess, because her rich daddy couldn't buy her that title. Dad filled me in on what she was up to and it opened my eyes. It smarts finding out the only thing someone wants out of you is your title, but meeting Dromi has completely opened my eyes to what true feelings really are. If I ever did that to a girl, I know that my mother would come down here and kill me with her bare hands. My father...no my uncle... Could careless, because he treats woman like trophies. My mother raised us with values and morals."
"Good answer Henry. You get to live another day." James put away his wand.
"What happened to the James that I remember?" Severus was impressed.
"He grew up and had kids. You should try it sometime. It does wonders for the deflating ones overblown ego. Ok you two let's go up to our floor. Goodnight Sibyll, Severus. Oh, by the way there's a full moon out tonight might want to go catch it." He herded the two up the stairs.
"I've got a shopping trip to prepare for, night Severus." She left the wing.
"I have a bottle of vintage whiskey to down." With a swish of his robes, he stalked out of the wing and Princess streaked passed his leg. "Well now trouble in paradise again." He shook his head and continued again. "If those two can't get it right why even try."
--
Lily and Rory entered their floor and found all of them eating dinner.
"So you panicked for no reason." Lily walked over and sat on James lap.
"Let's just say that Henry and I have a common understanding now and leave it at that." He fed her a bite of his Shepard's pie.
Lily glanced over at Dromi and Henry, sharing dinner over on the couch. "What did they do?"
"They weren't snogging downstairs were they?" Rory fixed herself a plate of food.
James shot her a withering glare.
"We were kissing and lost track of time." Dromi gave them her most innocent-angel look.
"Kissing is fine anything else is not." Lily gave Henry a seething look.
"We have an understanding, my flame. He has a serious problem choosing friends, girlfriends, and giving into peer pressure. Word of advice kid drinking, smoking, not a good idea. Harry learned that lesson last night that drinking isn't that good of an idea." James pinned Henry with a look, "It seems that he might just have an unearned reputation. Now having been the rebel prince myself, I can say that I understand how the press can spin a story that is totally false. I'm willing to trust him with her on a trial basis, the same goes for Rory and Wills. If they screw it up, they die and that will be the end of it." James fed her more off his plate.
"That seems fair to me." Lily agreed.
"That's all the incentive that I need to not screw anything up with Dromi." He changed the subject focusing on Dromi. "So what do you want to do for your birthday tomorrow?"
"Dromi and I are going shopping in London with Professor Sibyll Trelawney. I believe we're going to Diagon Alley and then to Franc and Beau's to get a makeover." Rory munched on her food.
Henry dropped his fork on the plate and looked at both of them. "Trelawney needs a makeover in the worst way possible. Whereas, the two of you are perfect, a stylist would do something drastic to your hair, and that would be criminal to say the least. Now a new wardrobe that's fine, anything else is completely unnecessary. Just to make sure that they don't cut off your hair, I'll go with the three of you."
"Fine, but if we get dragged into the palace I'm gonna Incendio your ass." Rory did not wish to meet his or Wills immediate relatives not without him with her.
"They're all at Balmoral, so that wouldn't be a factor at the moment, enjoy your day tomorrow." Andrew was sitting across from them eating his dinner and checking his voice mail. "Sarah called, big brother called ten times, and mother left three. Henry did they call your mobile?"
"Uncle called it. I told him off, and then I shut it off for the night." Henry fed a piece of cherry crumble to Dromi.
"You told off big brother?" Andrew took a deep calming breath. "What did he say?"
"Don't know. I didn't let him say anything. I just hung up." Henry didn't care what his former father thought.
Andrew swore under his breath, "We agreed not to doing anything until all three of us presented an untied front! Why did you go and pull something like this, all it does is complicate matters more than they already are!"
"I don't give a shit what the bloody hell any of them think or how they feel! I've been deceived all of my life! I had the ultimate opportunity taken away from me, so I could blunder my way through a normal school, when I wasn't normal! Thank god, I had sports or I would have bloody well gone out of my mind!! I'm not going back to that Dad! I found where I belong and it's not at Sandhurst or in the Army! That's what they want not me!" Henry let loose how he felt to his father. "I had to lose Mum because he wanted her out-of-the-way! I can't forgive that not ever! They killed mum... No matter if the Men In Gray did their dirty work... They did it!" Tears burned in his eyes.
"Henry is right! They deserve to sit and stew for a while! They did those awful things just to save face or because they were too good for everyone!! They are awful hurtful people and killed a woman, who was the heart of this country's people, for that alone they deserve to be shot!" Dromi spoke out her feelings on the matter.
"I know what kind of people my family are, but you can't change who your family is, no matter how much you wish it to be so." He dialed a number and waited for someone to answer it.
"Mother it's Andrew...I know that Harry was harsh with him, but the fact is that he isn't his father... I have the DNA proof in my suit pocket to prove that I am their father and not him. I know what it would mean if that were to be leaked to the press, and the boys could careless what any of the family wants at the moment. Wills can't talk to you, because he is recovering in bed after his car accident. No he's fine. Just got knocked on the head is all. They know everything mother, about the letters that never were given to them, but most of all about the truth surrounding Diana's death, or should I say murder. They will come to you when they are ready and as for him, he is to declare Wills as the next in line to the throne, or all of his dirty laundry is hung out to dry. That is not a threat mother. That is a promise and the boys have new girlfriends, who are princesses of the Wizarding World their last name being Pendragon. I thought that might make you think twice about sending any Men In Gray after any of us, Sarah, and the girls. Goodnight mother." He hung up the phone. "For the first time in her life my mother has no control over anything. We shall see what happens from here."
"I would love to see all of them finally put in their place." Hermione came out of the library with a stack of Merlin's books in her arms.
"Can you ever just relax and play a video game or something?" Henry pointed at her books.
"Video games are a challenge, but these books are Merlin originals. You can't possibly compete with that and I wish to be prepared for class on Thursday, so Goodnight everyone pleasant dreams." She was in true Hermione form as she marched up the stairs with her nose stuck haughtily in the air.
"Be nice to her. She gave me Harry's stash of coins and an insane amount of Muggle cash. Where she got it is beyond me, but it didn't even put a dent in her stash of Muggle money. She assured me that it was more than enough to get us three complete makeovers and anything else that we needed." Rory munched on an apple.
Henry stared at Rory in surprise, "Where did my baby cousin get that much cash from?"
"She trades treasure for cash. Wizarding money is created from ancient gold, silver, and bronze coins not worth anything to us. However, to Muggles the unprocessed coins are worth a fortune or priceless." Lily explained. "Harry and Hermione cashed in 10 coins for a cool three million pounds. Wills took control of that small fortune, but he also let them have a small chunk of it."
"Wills has to be Mr. Responsible. It's drummed into his head. Rory, if you're gonna be with my brother, then you are gonna have to have a ginormous wardrobe for any occasion. Are you willing to give up the tomboy look to make the right impression?" Henry tried to give her an example of what she could expect.
"I am well aware what is expected of a princess. After all, I am a princess myself, and it's not that I don't like gowns, skirts, dresses, and such." Rory yawned tiredly. "Daddy, do Romi and I have rooms yet or are we bunking on the couch?"
"Top floor is yours ladies; by the way you do have clothes. Your mother knew that you would eventually show, and when they went shopping bought you both a complete wardrobe. If you ask me she peeked into the future again, because they're both designed as if the two of you were dating your own prince charmings." James chuckled when the girls ran over and hugged them.
"Mum you're the best!" Rory squealed. "Now we can focus on Sibyll's makeover instead of ours!"
"Sibyll?" Lily quirked a brow at Rory. "What are you up to this time?"
"She really is a nice lady and it's time that she got some happiness for a change. I thought that I would give someone else a present since it is my birthday tomorrow." Rory had a determined look on her face.
"I'm game if you are." Dromi grinned. "All she really needs is a new hairstyle and new specs."
"It's gonna be interesting to say the least tomorrow." Henry grinned. "So, uh, where are Dad and I gonna stay tonight."
"We have guestrooms down here on this floor." Lily got up and showed them a set of doors. "Right through there is three separate suites. Wills has the one on the right, but the other two are free for you to use." She then walked over and opened the entertainment room doors. "Ok you four just don't play till dawn again ok."
Draco, Ron, Ginny, and Luna were all playing a racing game on one of the systems.
"We won't. So how are 'Wonder boy' and 'Prince Perfect' doing?" Draco arched a brow at her.
"Wonder boy?" Dromi walked over to stand beside her mother.
"Prince Perfect?" Rory stood beside her twin.
"Well, you have to admit the names kind of fit." Henry walked over to look into the room.
Draco blinked at them in complete surprise. "So that one must be Dromi and she gets the Muggle royal Rebel Prince Harry?"
"No son he's like Wills." James corrected him.
Draco thought of this for a second. "Oh, right then, welcome to the family. However, I don't think that calling you Harry here will work..."
"I'm Henry in your world. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but you're Draco right?" Henry was at a loss why Draco would be with the good guys.
Draco nodded. "I'm Draco Sirius Lancelot Pendragon-Black; the one that you're thinking of is dead. All the Malfoys are so Harry's family took me in adopted me as their own. Luna lost her father and they took her in as well. All of us are really one big happy family now."
"I get it. So you and Harry called a truce, because he doesn't want anymore bad wizards like Voldemort. It was either that or he would AK your butt and you don't want that. Besides, your Dad is dead and your mum is probably in prison or has disowned you. You decided to embrace the good side and so far it isn't that bad of a deal, plus you get Ginny in the process." Henry thought of what would have to happen for Draco to change and laid it all out to see if he was right.
"Bloody hell, you must have seer blood running through your veins! That was all on the mark! You need to talk to Uncle Albus and get trained. It's a waste if you don't. As it is Harry, Hermione, and I are all the only ones in our classes this year, so maybe they could train you three in the process." Draco was very impressed with Henry.
"I, um, got miffed and turned him into a donkey, but he got himself out of it." Dromi grinned.
"That's more than I've seen your brother do." Draco smirked.
"Yes, well, William has yet to lose his temper like Henry did, so what William can do remains to be seen." Rory stated in his defense.
"He rarely loses his temper, being heir to the throne it's not something that he's allowed to do. He had a strict set of rules that Grams set down for him to follow. No smoking, alcohol, or drugs. No kissing girls in public. Avoid being photographed by the media. Arrive and leave with royal aides. Be accompanied by detectives and a trustworthy friend. Get permission to attend the party, and be home on time. That he followed so he could go to discos, parties, and clubs with his friends. He was a prisoner and couldn't wait to get away for his gap year." Henry stuck up for his big brother. "For the first time in his life he's defied everyone for the past three weeks to be around all of you and it looks like it's been good for him."
"He had to give Harry a crash course on being a prince." Ron smirked.
"True, but then it was more chaperoning Harry and Hermione for the first week or so. Those two couldn't keep their hands off each other, let alone stay out of the front page of The Daily Prophet." Ginny grinned.
"Wills acted more like a parent around them than anything. Especially, when he caught them rolling around in the grass in broad daylight. This also got front page the next morning and earned them three Howlers." Draco chuckled.
"Ducky really has changed a lot in four years." Henry couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I would think trying to stay alive, almost dying a few times, losing your friends, and then almost losing your soul mate will do that to a person." Hermione was standing on the steps.
Those words stopped their little chat.
"None of you have any clue what we went through. If Harry and I were, as you so crudely put it, all over each other after he finally woke up from a nearly month long coma, then we had good reason for it!" She got all icy with them.
Ginny and Draco felt lower than low.
"We are not as young as we are in age, far from it. In fact, we stopped being kids after our second year at Hogwarts!! The two of us finally got to let loose and have a little fun this summer and it got blown way out of proportion by everyone!! I know that we're the spotlight couple of the Wizarding World, but that doesn't mean that we like it!!"
It was clear that she wasn't happy that they were making jokes of hers and Harry's lives.
"Try not to make fun out of our lives until all of you have faced off and survived against the meanest cruelest villains imaginable!! When you have withstood Crucio and Imperio about a dozen times or when you have taken Avada Kedavra at point-blank range over and over again, just so your friends don't die, like Harry had to endure against Voldemort!! Then and only then can you make fun of our lives!!" Her face flushed red with temper, she ran back up the steps.
"That does it everyone time for bed, before she comes back down and turns you into mules with a bad case of boils." James got up from the couch and rounded up the kids.
"I forgot how touchy she was about this." Draco wanted to kick himself for being so tactless.
"She's always touchy get used to it mate." Ron offered his hand to Henry. "I'm Ron Weasley by the way and this is my girl Luna Pendragon-Lovegood."
"Nice to meet you Henry," Luna smiled.
"It's nice to meet you as well." Henry shook his hand.
"I'm Ginny and this blockhead as you well know is Draco." Ginny slapped him upside the head. "Welcome to the family."
"Ouch!! Yeah, welcome to the family." Draco rubbed at the back of his head and gave him a sheepish grin.
"Thanks." Henry couldn't believe the he was getting to watch his favorite characters actually interact with one another as real people.
"Off with the lot of you." Lily pointed to the stairs.
"Goodnight."
The four of them headed up the stairs to bed.
"That means the two of you as well." James growled at his oldest.
"Goodnight Henry." Dromi kissed his cheek.
Henry kissed her on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, my angel. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night Mum and Dad," Rory gave each of them a hug and kiss.
"Night Daddy, Night Mum." Dromi did the same.
"Night luv's see you in the morning." James smiled.
"Yes girls sleep well." Lily watched as they headed up the stairs, and their guests went off to bed. "Pirate you and I have some alone time what do you say we make the best of it." She gave him a look.
James scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the steps. "I love it when it's me you crave." He looked down into her eyes.
"I think that it's best to go with the cravings don't you." She laughed when he put the Colloportus spell on their doors.
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Chapter 36
Princess Daisy
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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