H P Boy who livesYear 7- Summer
Chapter 37
The Queen
--
Wills and Henry sat in the posh VIP area of the Prestigious Carstairs Department store, while the girls walked in and out of dressing rooms, to show off the insane amount of clothing. Franc and his assistants had brought them to try on.
"Who would ever have thought that he was a squib? I mean granted he's as odd as they get, but a squib?" Henry took a drink of his Coke.
"This is one of London's oldest and finest department stores, so it doesn't surprise me. Besides, the man may be a might odd, but he has excellent taste when it comes to fashion and dressing his clients." Wills watched as Rory emerged in a hot pink designer original. "You look amazing Katherine."
"William, I can't sit down in this thing! Daddy would not approve of this dress! I seriously doubt that even your Grandmother would approve of it!" Rory was blushing crimson all the way to her toes. "Where in Merlin's name is the bottom part of it!"
"She would cause traffic accidents walking around in that." Henry choked on the drink he was trying to swallow. "Paris or Nicole she isn't. You see unlike Paris and Nicole our girls have fantastic figures which that dress barely covers. Don't get me wrong or anything she does look amazingly hot in that, but it just isn't what Princesses wear." He tried to be as polite as possible.
"That settles it!! I'm going to change into something else besides a nearly buttonless silk shirt with a belt!" She stalked back to the dressing room. "If it had leggings or slacks fine, but just this not a chance in hell!"
"William, will you get a grip and start thinking with your head instead of your johnson! She isn't a club hopper!! She is a princess!" Henry poured water into a glass and threw it in his brother's face. "Mother thought of them as her own daughters!! She would throttle you if she found out you were playing Barbie with one of her girls."
Wills brooded in his chair.
Dromi appeared in an emerald green strapless gown that looked like it was held up by sheer willpower. It was intricately cut in the front to hug her figure and there was a thigh high slit along her right thigh. "They actually wear these out to official dinners? It surprises me that anyone can. It has no back and what it does to my front is shocking." She was also blushing crimson.
Henry was speechless, it was as if he had lost the ability to think, let alone speak.
Wills poured a glass of ice water and threw it in his face. "And that is proper princess..." His voice trailed off when Rory appeared in the identical gown. "Have mercy..."
"Oh frazzle! He's gone catatonic again!" Rory walked over to where Wills was sitting and waved a hand in front of his face. "William, speak to me! Are you okay?"
Dromi noticed that Henry had done the same, so she mirrored her sister, and walked up to him. "Henry, is something wrong?"
"Not to worry girls they're just awed by your beauty." Franc came to check on them.
"That ones a keeper." Henry finally found his voice.
"Oh yeah, definitely wrap that one up." Wills agreed as he drank in the view.
"Gentleman, try to remember your upbringing." Franc ushered the girls back to the dressing rooms. "Now girls go back, and change into something less revealing. Regina no doubt added those to the other gowns that I had sent up."
"I could really use Glacius right now." Wills downed his entire glass of soda.
"Hello boys." Harry was standing in the doorway. "Did someone mention the word Glacius?"
Hermione wasn't pleased that they were there. "This is not a restaurant that serves cheeseburgers and fries!"
"I'm just checking on my sisters then we'll go eat lunch." Harry tossed his wand back and forth in his hands. "Why may I ask do you both need Glacius?"
"The, uh, girls are trying on gowns..." Henry was a moron and started to explain, which got Glacius cast on the two of them in about two seconds.
"Must be nice, Hermione never gave me a fashion show." Harry muttered.
"No if I remember right while you were up here I was getting WAXED!!" Hermione gave him a hotfoot with his old wand.
Harry hopped up and down as he put out his foot. "Point taken, my love."
"You had a total makeover!?" Wills hadn't a clue that she'd endured the works. "I know all about the waxing. It's not pleasant. You see when one plays a water sport like water polo you have to get rid of all resistance."
"Thank the gods for Quidditch!" Harry winced when she got him in the foot again. "Knock it off, angel!" He put out his foot again.
Dromi came out dressed in a captivating slinky fuchsia dress, with corset ribbon lace-up front, and satin pumps. "Now this one I like."
Rory came out in the same dress, only hers was sapphire in color. "This ones passable," She looked over at her sister. "At least you're in a different color, so we're not doing the whole twin thing."
"Harry, I want that dress." Hermione went in search of Franc.
"Feel free to go try it on, angel." Harry was sitting in another chair making sure his shoe wasn't damaged.
Hermione emerged five minutes later in a red version. "Well boys how do I look?" She did a twirl.
Think triplets Harry thought, as he stared at his princess. "Oh yeah, honey that ones a keeper. Go try something else on."
"Wow baby cousin you look amazing." Henry had never seen her all dolled up before. "You girls look hot too."
"Franc, this ones a keeper as well." Wills nodded to Franc.
"Wow Hermione you look great. How are you suddenly in full make-up?" Dromi followed her to the dressing rooms.
"Dromi is right what did you do?" Rory asked curiously.
"I did a glamour spell that matches my make-up and hair to what I'm wearing." Hermione chose a red dress with a keyhole neckline.
"Oh, so you're in the mood to make him squirm." Rory had one like Hermione's in Emerald green.
"I guess it won't hurt to make them squirm a little." Dromi had one in sapphire blue.
"Hermione, show us the glamour spell, so we can really blow their minds." Rory thought it was a wickedly fun idea.
Hermione did just that.
--
Sibyll was enjoying her day of being pampered. "I love my non-frizzy head of golden blonde hair. I have never been able to get it to do that, it looks so much better, and my new specs are so much smaller more flattering for my face. I even have contact lenses like Harry and James."
Trista had gotten a rinse that bought out the auburn in her chestnut hair that Beau had styled to fall in soft waves down her back. She also had new specs and contacts. "Regina was being a little vindictive with the waxing ritual; otherwise yes this has been quite enjoyable." She was enjoying getting her nails done.
"That might be because Regina has been trying to get you to do this for years and it took twenty minutes for the twins to get you to agree." Sibyll was having a facial.
"They didn't give me a choice, plus they happen to be royalty, how can one say no to that." Trista sighed. "Besides, they happen to be fellow artists"
"Oh yes, my dear, the three of you will be best friends that I have no doubt and a young man is entering your future." Sibyll smiled.
"The best friend part I can believe, but the young man don't count on it. I trusted one once and he burned me." Trista pouted.
"That is true, little niece, but when one is under the influence of others then that person has no control over their actions." Sibyll countered.
"The person in question is the complete opposite of me." Trista thought of what she was saying. "But you're right auntie he does value his siblings opinions.
"Years go by, people change for the better, or better yet one grows up." Sibyll suggested.
"Let's just enjoy the day and forget about the rest for a while." Trista was now enjoying a pedicure.
--
Meanwhile upstairs the boys are about to be entranced again by their ladies.
Hermione walked in first, her hair and make-up were changed. "So do you think this one is a bit revealing?" She blinked innocently at Harry.
Harry's eyes all but popped out of his head, if he were that wolf in the cartoon, he would've been drooling and howling. "Uh no..." He finally managed to speak. "...That dress looks fantastic on you."
"Not going to happen! That dress is way too grown-up for an almost seventeen-year-old to even think of wearing!" Wills was in big brother mode. "Now go change!"
"She looks twenty-one. How the hell is she doing that?" Henry asked Harry who only had eyes for his princess.
"Oh, come now boys we think she looks smashing in that gown." Rory and Dromi made their entrance.
"You taught them the glamour spell didn't you?" Harry didn't like the way the guys were now drooling at his sisters.
"Maybe." Hermione walked over and kissed him on the cheek. :I have only just begun to torture you.: She hissed.
Harry got a good view of her bosom. :I've seen them in a lot less and with bubbles. Now go change or do you wish to be a mummy before graduation?:
Hermione beat a hasty retreat to the dressing rooms.
"Oh Franc," Harry gave him the thumbs up sign, while Wills and Henry were distracted.
"Rory, that dress is lethal." Wills loved his view.
"Talk about heart stoppers." Henry agreed.
The girls simply blew them a kiss and glided back to the dressing rooms.
"Is it me or are they waging war or something?" Wills arched a brow at Harry.
"Well, mates you know what they say all's fair in love and war." Harry conjured a Guinness, disguised as a Butterbeer, and took a swig of it. "Triplets that's all I have to keep in my mind."
When all was said and done the girls had a full gown wardrobe and Hermione would have something to wear for the Millennium masquerade ball that would knock Harry flat on his ass. Franc had shown her a ball gown design that mirrored the gown that she had seen in her dream.
The three of them had chosen to wear three different dresses. Hermione's was a dark red crochet dress with matching tricot slip, Dromi's was a lacy glitter halter tulle dress in pale blue satin, and Rory's was a captivating lacy glitter dress in coral with ribbon tie-up back.
"If you don't understand what this means boys then let me spell it out for you. We want fed, and not in a fast-food restaurant either." Hermione was going to get her date, even if it meant sharing it with the four of them.
Harry kept chanting the word triplets in his head. "Well then the three of us are gonna have to go change into something a little more semi-formal." Harry got to his feet.
"Girls what about Trista and Professor Trelawney we can't just leave them." Wills reluctantly got to his feet he was enjoying his jeans and sweatshirt day.
"Sibyll and Trista are getting the works and are enjoying their pampering. We're going to see them at our surprise party tonight." Dromi walked over and kissed Henry. "But, we could do with a small meal to tide us over."
"Ok angel, I'll feed you." Henry glanced over at Franc and his assistants, who were holding up three suits. "Oh hell, it was too good to last." He went over and took one of the suits.
Harry and Wills were already changing.
"I can't help think that this is a bad idea for some reason." Hermione walked over to look down at the busy street several floors bellow them and spotted what looked like an official royal car. Oh, no not the Men in Gray and to think I was this close to having my date with Harry.
"Relax we're faraway from the royals, they're still in Scotland brooding." Rory walked looked down at what she was looking at. "Big deal it's a fancy black car."
"Let's see we've been here for most of the day, which would give them plenty of time to return to London by private jet." Hermione watched, as someone got out of the car, it was one of the Men in Gray. "For the love of all that's magic, for once I just want one date is that too much to ask for!! Goddamn it! I haven't avoided those jackasses for years, only to be dragged there for a family chitchat! Serves them right if I give them donkey ears and a tail right now!" She lost her temper.
Harry ran out of the dressing area dressed in an Armani suit, "What the hell is wrong with Hermione?" He was hopping on one foot, so he could put on his dress shoe.
"Not a clue. She looked down there and then went off about turning someone into a donkey." Rory shrugged her shoulders.
Harry swore under his breath. "Just once is that to much to ask for!? One friggin date that doesn't get interrupted by Men in Gray, Dementors, or Dark Wizards!"
"Men in Gray!" Wills raced out of the dressing room with his shirt unbuttoned. "Where?!"
"Oh, don't button that on my account." It was Rory's turn to drool.
Wills, instinctively pulled her into his arms, and went to kiss her senseless.
Harry glared at Wills. "Will you focus on the problem and not on my sister!? We're surrounded by your frickin Men in Gray!"
Henry ran out of the dressing area fully dressed in his Armani suit. "Just jinx them so we can go somewhere else to eat. Hey, big brother! This is a public place and you're snogging her again!"
Wills forced himself to break off the kiss. "Yeah, I know that I'm broken now, but the hell if I care." He let go of a thoroughly kissed and sacred Rory. "Sorry Kitten, you said that and then I just forgot myself."
"Will you please focus and look out the window!" Hermione growled.
Wills walked over and looked out. "Son of a bitch!" He snarled.
"Be right back." Harry vanished from the room.
"Did he just ditch us?" Henry was not happy.
"No he went to get grandpa and the proof that your father has at the castle." Dromi walked over and kissed his cheek. "Harry does not ditch anyone in trouble. He's a hero."
"Uncle Sirius wasn't in a good mood maybe he went and got him as well." Hermione had an evil grin on her face that was just sinister looking.
Harry reappeared with a fat envelope, containing the information, in his hands. "Uncle Sirius is being a complete ass about the you-know-what's at the castle! I barely got a word in with Gramps and Dad. It looks like we're going to have to go along with them for now, because otherwise we risk disclosing our world to the Muggles. I did however manage to get this as leverage with which you can bring them down to their knees." He gave Hermione and apologetic look. "Look at it this way, honey; at least you'll get fed."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry. "Being your soul mate really sucks sometimes."
Harry glowered right back at her, "How the hell is this my fault?! They happen to be your relatives not mine!"
"It's like watching a TV-sitcom, those two act like they've been married for years not days." Henry shook his head in amusement.
"Watch it or you'll be braying like a mule again." Hermione growled.
"Technically they've been spending several summer's together living in the same house for at least a month since fourth year and then there's school where they've been together for going on seven years. I would say that could constitute their getting to know each other period. This would explain why even though they just started dating on August first that they didn't need to wait to move on in their relationship." Wills got philosophical on them.
"Analyze us later, after we deal with your starchy, pompous, anal-retentive, farce of a family. No offense to you, Henry, Andrew, Sarah, or the girls." Hermione was ready to do battle.
"Yeah, what she said." Harry wasn't in that great of a mood either. "I mean it's early in the day, the way my luck is going, maybe we'll run into Morgana. That would be strike two and triplets very well could be in my reality."
"Might I suggest that you get this messy business over with, so you can enjoy the girl's party tonight?" Franc and his assistants appeared again this time with dress coats for the guys and the matching accessories for the girls.
"Where the hell did you get those from?!" Harry noticed that he had some of the crown jewels with him.
"Stephen wanted you to be properly accessorized when you met the Muggle royals. They came with guards of sorts." Franc motioned for Tonks to come in. "Come now cousin you look smashing."
Tonks was dressed in a chic navy blue Chanel business suit with matching pumps. Her hair was flaming red and braided in a neat French braid. The official seal of the Pendragon family was pinned to the lapel of her Jacket. Chic designer Prada sunglasses finished her outfit. "I don't get paid enough for this tripe." She grumbled.
Kingsley stepped out in an Armani suit that matched Tonks. He had the official seal on the lapel of his jacket and shades to complete the outfit. "I must admit that I look good in this. Now why are we dressed like this anyway?"
Wills was the first to speak. "Wizarding Secret Service... Not bad. You might just blend in with the Men in Gray."
"Men in Gray?! What the hell did you do now!?" Tonks glared at all of them.
"Nothing we swear! They come with being around prince one, prince two, and yes even my princess!" Harry eyed Tonks warily.
"Harry James Merlin, when are you gonna understand that Kingsley and I are your royal guard?! Therefore, when you leave Hogwarts, we need to know where you are. That's what owls are for or even Fawkes will do in a pinch!" Tonks laid into Harry.
"Now wait just a damn minute, that's only for official functions not every day routine! I do not need baby-sitters..." Harry was about to lay into Tonks, but she cut him off.
"Newsflash dumb ass! We've been your guards since fifth year! Nothing has changed just the official job title! You got used to it before, so get used to it again!"
Kingsley spoke up his tone said he was dead serious. "Because where you go out of the castle we go and that is the end of this discussion!"
"That's Tonks and he must be Kingsley." Henry had his arms around Dromi's waist.
"Look, I know that everyone's paranoid, because I have Morgana on my ass right now, but the only ones that need guards are Rory and Dromi. After all, they happen to be completely new to this world!" Harry thought that he had earned his freedom.
"Look, all we're doing is stalling and those guys down there aren't going to go anywhere." Wills took a chance and stepped between them. "So let's call it a truce and just get it over with."
"William is right. Let's get this over with, so I can find out what the-you-know-what is that baby brother was talking about." Rory sensed there was a cute cuddly present in her future.
"Katherine Aurora, don't even try to read my mind or you'll find yourself with one hell of a migraine." Harry growled.
A man dressed in a gray suit walked into the room. "I tire of standing by the cars. Your presence is requested by her majesty as in now." He was the Muggle version of Kinglsey and Tonks.
"Wait just one moment there Jeeves. Just who do you think you're speaking to?" Tonks was now all business.
"The name is Stevens and I am speaking to their royal highnesses princes William, Harry, and Lady Hermione." He acted like talking to her was beneath him.
"Correction there Jeeves! There are more royal highnesses than just them. First this is Crowned Prince Harry James Pendragon and his wife Princess Hermione Anne Granger-Pendragon, and his sisters Princess Andromeda Marie and Katherine Aurora Pendragon. Now if they aren't invited then the other three aren't going anywhere." Tonks glared up at Stevens.
"Of course, I also meant the royals of the Wizarding World. Now as for her new title, as she isn't even of age yet, I have yet to see an official memo on the change." Stevens could see that this was going to be a long day.
Harry glared at Stevens. "I used to go by the name Harry James Potter. You know as in JK Rowling's books. I start my seventh year at Hogwarts in September, which means that I single-handedly killed the most evil creature on this planet with my bare hands and Avada Kedavra. I saved your sorry world from utter and complete annihilation. Just think of what I could do to you right now if you really piss me off."
"Your highness, I wasn't trying to insult you in any way. I have strict instructions to bring the princes and princess to the Queen." Stevens now knew the end of book six.
"Oh, we'll go lunch with the Queen, only because I promised my grandfather the King, who in our world is also the co-prime Minster, that I would not cause an interworld incident." Harry held up the thick envelope. "But, if I don't like what I hear and if we're treated with anything less than respect. This goes straight to the press. The whole royal line will be finished, because William and Henry are not the heir's biological sons, which means that they have lied to the people since their conception. I hear the guillotine still works in the tower of London. Regardless of the outcome you will be out of a job and the royal family will be finished."
"You wouldn't dare. It would throw this country into chaos." Stevens knew very well what was in that envelope.
"Why would I care? You live in an entirely different world than my own. You are nothing to me, since I am the heir to the Wizarding World throne. I know that Wills doesn't really wish to take the reins nor does Henry. They would be content to live in our world in peace with my sisters. I win no matter what your employers try to pull." Harry was in full prince mode. "Were you the one who carried out Princess Diana's murder? If so Hermione, Wills, and Henry would like just five minutes with you before we go."
"I see that you have done your homework, your highness." Stevens reached into the pocket of his jacket and found eight wands pointed in his direction. "Relax. I am only taking out my mobile."
"Answer the question Stephens were you involved in my mothers murder." William snarled.
"Calm yourself, your highness, what happened seven years ago tomorrow did not come from my hands. I work for the Queen not her son and if I had known what they had planned for the princess I would have stopped him." Stephens looked Wills in the eyes.
"Uncle is about to get a rude awakening." Henry snarled.
"I have no doubt that you will make his life and his mistresses utter hell. Now please, I need to make this call telling her majesty that we will be having more than she expected for lunch." Stephens made his call. "It's Stevens, your majesty; I have news on the princes. I have them right in front of me and their cousin as well. King Stephen's grandchildren are also with them...Yes, his Royal Highness Prince Harry James is standing here glaring at me, it seems that Lady Hermione and his highness have been married in the Wizarding World. Yes that would explain why Lady and Lord Granger left his highness after they finished fixing his and his lady's teeth on Saturday evening. There is something else. Prince Harry James has certain information that deals with the monarchy. I believe it is what Prince Andrew was going to show you last night. I see yes that does complicate matters... The Prince is in the mood to hand it over to the press...Yes, it would be wise if his highness was not there at lunch. King Stephen is there with his son already? We will be arriving in no more than twenty minutes, the boys were shopping for their princesses...Very good your majesty." He ended the call.
Harry took out his map again and went to activate it. "Show me Buckingham Palace." The map showed him what he wanted to see. "Dad, Mum, Gramps, Prince Andrew, and your parents are all sitting having tea with your grandmother. That does it. You people have fun. Hermione and I are so out of here." He cleared the map, grabbed Hermione, and tried to run for it, but Sirius appeared behind him.
"Oh no, you don't, consider this an official lunch. You aren't going anywhere." He grabbed him by the ear.
"Damn it Uncle Sirius! I'm not going to go where my ass is going to be put through a firing squad! Her parents are there! He just said married instead of promised! I know that I've been saying married, but we aren't because we promised everyone! They are going to flip if she congratulated them on the marriage of their daughter!" Harry glared at his Uncle.
"Not my deal, since you went and bought those things..." Sirius grabbed his hair when he tried to bolt again. "…And without so much as consulting any of us!"
"Damn it!! I thought of everyone, even the two of you, and my grandparents! Because, I knew how you would feel about it! Now let me go or I will go all Merlin on your ass!" Harry was not happy with his Uncle.
"We'll see the four of you at the palace." He looked at Henry, Wills, Rory, and Dromi who all nodded. "The two of you can get there by other means now move it or so help me I will take you up on your threat! I am a master duelist where as you dueled to survive. Now let's go!"
The three of them disapparated from the room.
"Let's go you lot, I have a date to get back to with Charlie." Tonks growled.
"I have a wife and newborn daughter to check in on when this is done." Kingsley growled.
Everyone reluctantly filed out of the room.
--
The three of them appeared outside the Queen's Music Room of the palace.
Sirius still had a hold of Harry's hair, as he led them into the Music Room. "Quit struggling, pup. I'm not letting go."
"Sirius, did he try to take Hermione and run?" James noticed how Harry was dragged into the room and tried to keep a stern look on his face.
"It's okay, son. No one is going to take you out and shoot you." Alex tried not to laugh at how Sirius was holding onto him. "We gave permission knowing full well what the situation was, but also knowing that we could trust the two of you to keep your promise."
Sirius finally let him go, "Oh yeah, the promise. What was that about three strikes, Hermione?" He gave her a look.
"I don't share and that's all there is to it. So if a certain someone wanders into what is mine, more than three times, then I will have no choice, but to claim what belongs to me." Hermione was still in a mood, so she wasn't embarrassed in the least. "As it stands its one strike down and two to go."
"Hermione!! Are you trying to get me killed here!?" Harry flushed crimson, his eyes widened in horror. He gave her parents his best it's not my idea look.
"Forgive my daughter your majesty. She is swamped with all of her duties at school and with her new title. She does not know what she is saying." Katherine glared at her daughter.
"My dear, I am an avid Harry Potter fan, so I know what it is that your daughter has gone through over the years. It amazes me the little girl that I have always seen as a great-niece is that girl from JK Rowling's novels." She remained sitting while watching Hermione and Harry.
"Contrary to what the two of you might think, I am not always kept in the loop, as the Americans are fond of saying, when it comes to my children's actions. However, I cannot speak for what my husband is aware of or has done." She paused to watch the two teenagers standing in her Music Room. "I have been very closed minded about your world and it seems that it has come back to haunt me. I have always believed that what JK Rowling was writing had nothing whatsoever to do with your own Wizarding World. That was until this summer when this young man was reported missing and then it all became clear that it was very much a reality."
Andrew stood up and took the envelope from Harry.
"Mother, I believe that you have a right to know what is in these documents, but I don't know if reading them is good for you." He handed her the fat manila envelope. "You can keep that one for you. I have more where that came from."
"Elizabeth, my grandson is usually well-mannered, but this is the third try at having a first date with Hermione that didn't go as planned. They start seventh year on Wednesday and with that goes their freedom." Stephen apologized for his grandson. "Sirius, please let them go, so they may sit down like a proper Prince and Princess."
"Please try and attempt to run. It will be my pleasure hunting you down, so I can drag you back here again." He growled into Harry's ear before letting him go.
"Honestly, Sirius Lancelot Phineas Nigellus, you are being a baby! Just because Harry bought home five kittens and one, barely out of kitten-hood, cat. My son is going to be on his best behavior. Aren't you Harry James?" Lily glared at her son.
"Yes, mother I will be a perfect prince." Harry went and sat down.
"I just wanted one date is that too much for a girl to ask." Hermione went to sit beside Harry.
Elizabeth gave them both a sympathetic look. "You two have been through so much, but even though you were triumphant over your nemesis, it seems that trouble still finds a way to interfere with your lives. I assume the reason the two of you underwent the Handfasting ceremony was because of this lack of being able to have any time with each other?"
"Morgana Le Fay was Voldemort's mother and now that she no longer has the ability to bring her son back, she wants another in its place. It explains Hermione's remark about not sharing what is hers." Harry reluctantly spelled out the situation to her. "I blame the relationship of my first-grandparents for this whole mess. If they had just talked to each other over a thousand years ago, none of this would have had to happen."
"If they hadn't had the feud then you wouldn't be who you are today. So even though it's been a strain on the two of you, both good things have come from the bad. You have your entire family back with you and the two of you found each other again." Elizabeth spun the situation a different way.
"You know I really hadn't thought about that way. I guess that Hermione, Ron, and I really did earn our Order of Merlin first-class honor." Harry took a sip of his tea.
"Stephen, you are giving them Order of Merlin first-class at seventeen?" Elizabeth nearly choked on her tea.
"The boy faced off with Voldemort five times and lived, before finally defeating him with his bare hands. What was I supposed to do when he woke up from his nearly month long coma? Pat him and Hermione, who was out of it for two weeks after the final battle, on the back?" Stephen gave her a look.
"Grandmother, I have two days until I go back to school to get to know my future Queen, so this had better be good." William walked in with Rory.
"Nice going kid that was really subtle." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Your majesty. May I present one of my daughters Princess Katherine Aurora and I believe you know your own grandson." James was the one to introduce his daughter.
Katherine curtsied in front of the Queen, "It is a pleasure to meet you your majesty."
Harry buried his face in his hands. "I am so sorry. I forgot to bow. I'm new at this whole royal protocol thing."
"That is quite all right young man. You are having a bad day, besides Sirius had a firm hold of both of you." Elizabeth smiled at him and then at Katherine. "I see that you have entranced my grandson into breaking his impeccable manners. Not even Katarina could do that."
"This is a change for the better. When he first set eyes on my sister he went totally catatonic for about ten minutes." Harry grinned when Wills glared at him.
"William went speechless and motionless when he saw you?" Elizabeth arched a brow at Rory.
"He got into a row with my baby brother over Harry being married to Hermione, which forced me to call him out on the carpet, but after that he really was the perfect prince." Rory babbled away.
William led her over to the couches beside his grandmother and sat down. "Katherine threw my mothers words at my face and that snapped me out of my foul mood. After that I realized the two of us had gotten off on the wrong foot and we started over."
"Yeah Grams, he's only broken the no kissing in public rule about five times now." Henry walked in with Dromi on his arm. "I think she broke him."
"Oh, my stars...twins." Elizabeth could never have predicted that her grandsons would fall for twin sisters and princesses nonetheless.
"She's my angel from mum, Andromeda Marie, has brought peace back into my life." Henry brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Andromeda curtsied before she was pulled back to Henry's arms. "Henry Charles, do you wish to become a mule again?" She growled.
Henry wiggled his eyebrows playfully and said. "I'll just turn myself back." He kissed her on the nose. "I love it that meeting you awakened the magic inside me."
"Long story short, mother. These two are angels sent down from the heavens just for the boys from their mother. You see not only did James, Lily, and the others get a second chance. In addition, their firstborn twins, who were taken from them not long after birth, by a virus created by Voldemort, were given another chance as well. Therefore, even though they are twenty years old today, and have been given all the knowledge that they need to survive in this world, in reality, they have only been here for three days." Andrew explained.
"Although, they have full backgrounds just in case anyone were to ever inquire about their early schooling. If anyone were to look, they would find that the finest teachers tutored them until the age of eleven, where they were then accepted into the finest private school in Scotland. So elite that even the princes of England couldn't manage a spot in it. Where they scored Top marks in all of their classes." Stephen went on to explain the family tree. "Pendragon's are the direct descendents of Arthur and Guinevere. That's where the royal bloodline begins. Now this is where it gets magical. Merlin wanted to bring magic back into the world so he took over King Uther, who fathered one son, Arthur. That is how the Half-Blood Prince line in the magical world came to be. Arthur was half mortal and half immortal."
"Uh, Gramps, that isn't entirely true." Harry thought it best to correct him.
"Is that so grandson? All right young man, so where did I falter in the history of our family tree?" Stephen arched a brow at him.
"Queen Mab took over Morgana's mother, so that makes him full-blooded wizard and not half as everyone has thought. First-Grams told me that herself. I think that it's best to keep on with the whole HBP thing though, because it's so much less complicated that way." Harry sipped his tea and wished that it was laced with fire whiskey.
"Quite so grandson and that's how it is going to remain." Stephen nodded agreeing.
"Stephen that would mean the myth was fact and that your line should be the ones sitting on the throne of England." Elizabeth stared at him in utter shock.
"But you see Elizabeth, we are only too happy to let you deal with the headaches of the mortal world, or shall I say Muggle world. If your son tries to take the throne, a famous sword in a legendary stone will appear in the middle of Trafalgar square or better yet right beside the Princess Diana Memorial fountain. Now we both know what that would do to your world if the historians found that it was indeed Excalibur or if the next in line couldn't so much as touch the ancient symbol of Britain. It would mean that he or she who drew the sword from the stone could indeed become the next King or Queen of the realm." Stephen was all business and meant every single word.
"That would cause utter chaos in this country. Subjects all over the land would line up to try to take the sword." Elizabeth couldn't believe that they were having this conversation.
"Now this is where the rules come into play. To pull the sword from the stone the bearer would have to be of royal blood, pure of heart, pure of soul, and able to rule the land with compassion for its people. As of today, six such individuals have in fact easily pulled that very sword from the stone, all of whom are standing in this room." Stephen eyed Harry, Hermione, William, Rory, Henry, and Dromi.
Harry choked on his watercress tea sandwich when his grandfather gave him that look. "Don't give us that look gramps. We unanimously agreed that it's Wills destiny and to let the poor guy have it and all the Headaches that go with it. Sorry, but I already have the Wizarding World's throne to inherit one of these centuries."
"There is that and don't forget that triple factor that we were all talking about last night." Wills smirked.
"Look, I have no idea what you're rambling on about, but unless you know something that I don't then you will drop the subject or start itching for a week." Hermione spoke in a calm cool yet very deadly tone.
"Now Hermione. They're only men and what do they know anyway." Lily sipped her tea.
"Rightly so, men can act foolishly sometimes and do very rash things." Elizabeth gave Stephen a look.
"Lily, is there something interesting that we need to chat about?" Katherine gave her friend a look.
Harry swallowed wrong causing himself to choke on his tea.
James got up and whacked him a little too hard on the back. "Why Katherine, we would never leave you and Alex out of the loop when it comes to the kids. Evidently, the odds are that their firstborn kids will be twins or so Lily has seen and that is in the far future..."
"Yeah, that's right about three years from now when we're both say twenty." Harry coughed.
"Oh, yes twenty." Hermione sipped her tea and gave Harry a look.
"Why am I the one suddenly on the hot seat when we were discussing the next in line for England?" Harry flushed bright red.
"Because it's so much fun to watch you turn funny shades of red and choke on your food." Sirius smirked.
"Look Snuffles! I am sorry that I went and bought six cats for various females in the family! Hermione couldn't choose! Live with it or I swear I will neuter you!" Harry lost his temper and his teacup shattered in his hand.
Reparo! He touched the cup with his hand and it was as good as new. "You know what! Since no one here is going to feed me anytime soon and all that I'm running on is a banana split! I think I will spend the rest of the day by myself eating fast-food! Or better yet I will spend until Wednesday in Avalon with first-grandpa!" Harry vanished from the sofa.
Hermione took out her wand and turned Wills into a braying mule. "Next time keep your big mouth shut! Whether certain factors are in our future is no concern of yours!"
She then turned to look at the rest of her family, "I want you to listen very carefully, because I am only going to say this once. There are only two strikes left until I don't give a damn what any of you think! You see seventh year is irrelevant! Harry and I have exceeded normal schooling and are starting training for our future careers starting on Thursday! We're married you do the math!" That said she disapparated from the Music room.
Wills was not pleased with his current state of being.
"Now look whose laughing big brother!" Henry grinned. "Well, what are you staring at us for change yourself back."
"William Arthur Philip Louis, you knew darn well that bringing up that subject was going to get you into trouble! I mean look at you!! You are what you were being, a jackass! She isn't coming back you know, so start concentrating on turning yourself back! It wasn't a jinx, she transfigured you, now just reverse it." Rory glared down at him.
"Hermione Anne still has quite a temper I see." Elizabeth was taking this new situation calmly.
"Grams, you read the books. Just think of what that must have been like for the two of them. I think that she has every right to be grouchy." Henry shrugged.
William wasn't one to be bested by anyone, so he did what Rory suggested and within minutes was back to normal again. "Remind me to never truly get her mad at me. I would not relish changing into a newt or is it Flobberworm. Hey! I did it I'm not magically challenged!"
"No that's what she changed Cho Chang into this summer." Stephen smirked.
"Cho Chang? My new liaison to the Wizarding World has an apprentice by that name." Elizabeth frowned.
"Well, dad now you know just how complex this year is going to get." James glared at him.
"Oh no! We are way too young to be grandparents yet!" Alex and Katherine glared at James.
"Don't give him those looks! You stopped rearing her the summer of her fourth year! After that you haven't seen her for more than a week since the end of their sixth year, when you were told that she was taken to St. Mungo's. Then you tried to bond with her those two weeks at your house this summer. Need I add that you weren't even there half of the time!! If anyone has a right to string up my son it is Molly Weasley!" Stephen glared at them.
"Look, you four allowed the two of them to get married on Saturday, so what happens falls on your own heads!" Wills glared at them. "You would really have been panicking, if you could have seen them with Daisy. He's a natural father, and she's a natural mother."
"Which we have no doubt will be plastered on the front pages of The Daily Prophet and The Quibbler." Dromi ignored her father's glare. "Everyone in Diagon Alley was getting snaps of the event."
"Cho should never have been allowed to become a Muggle Wizarding Liaison apprentice under the Liaison to the Queen." Lily was not pleased.
"This all seems to fall under Morgana's plan. This means that as part of her training Cho will attend all the official Balls this year. Harry is going to go over the fine edge of sanity and Hermione might do something beyond rash when they find out." Rory was not pleased with this news.
"The first of which is the Halloween Ball to kick off the Hogwarts millennia celebration. If she were to try something there that would be strike two." Dromi frowned.
"Then there's the official Millennia Ball on New Years Eve, which marks the official thousand plus anniversary of the castle." Rory looked at Dromi and then at Wills. "Oh frazzle, that would be strike three and then..."
Wills mentally did the math. "Well, let's put it this way he'll never forget Hermione's birthday again..."
Seven pairs of eyes glared at him.
"I mean that is if they were to break their promise. Harry is such a boy scout and has never broken a promise in his life. Therefore it's a not gonna happen." Wills cleared his throat adding hastily.
"Although, if something were to happen to Harry that made Hermione think that she may have lost him all over again, then all bets would be off." Rory gave Dromi a look ignoring the eight pairs of eyes staring at her.
"Stephen, your family is far more complex than any royal family ever known, but the members of it actually think of each other instead of always of themselves. That makes the insanity worth it. I see that your family's influence has even rubbed off on my grandsons and great-niece, but not for the worst only for the better." Elizabeth seemed to be taking this all in her stride.
The maid came in and announced that lunch was now ready in the dining room.
--
Harry had gone to three different fast-food restaurants all of them very much American in origin. He had two Whoppers, onion rings, and fries from Burger King, twenty piece Chicken nuggets and a milk shake from McDonalds, and a large meat lovers pizza from Pizza hut with a two-liter bottle of pop.
"I've been denied this stuff all of my life, it's about time I saw what I've been missing." He bit into his Whopper and was not disappointed that he ordered that.
Ron having passed his Apparation test appeared in front of him. "Harry, it works! I thought about going where you and Hermione were and look here I am!" He looked around the hilltop where Harry was sitting under the ancient oak on a blanket-getting ready to try his next food. "Uh, so, where's Hermione?"
"She's probably finally having lunch with the others and the Queen right about now." He munched on his first onion ring, "Gods how could I have missed such fantastic tasting food."
"Uh, Harry, you left her with the Queen?" Ron plunked down on the blanket staring at him is disbelief. "You know how she feels about the royals! Are you insane?!"
"Look, first the Queen isn't that bad and second the reason I left is that instead of Wills and Henry being read the riot act all attention was focused on me! Not to mention that I was sitting there starving to death while they kept chatting away! So I left to go get me something to eat!" Harry reached for a slice of pizza. "I hope that Hermione went and turned William into a mule or something. That or Uncle Sirius, who's being an ass about what I bought today in Diagon Alley!"
Ron snagged a slice of pizza. "What did you do? Go and buy a shit load of cats?" He bit into his slice of pizza.
Draco Apparated on the beach, he was not happy. "Did I ask you to get a mate for Isis!? Ginny is all luvy over the two of them now! Hell I may as well not exist! Aunt Jenna brought the hamper downstairs, where the two of us were snogging, and it mewed! Ginny springs out of my arms, runs over to the Hamper, opens it, out pops this adorable silver white bluish furred kitten, and she's instantly smitten with it! Isis is off brooding with Crooks!! They think they're being replaced!" His rant done he sat down and snagged a slice of pizza.
Harry and Ron stared at Draco. "Draco you just earned yourself a Howler, when Dad and Uncle Severus find out that you Apparated without a license and a definite letter from Mafalda Hopkirk about underage use of magic." Harry glanced around for the owl that he knew would be soon to follow.
Draco stopped enjoying his pizza. "I lost my temper, went temporarily crackers, besides I'll just blame it on you for buying Tut without conferring with me first. I know that you and Hermione meant well by getting them for the girls, but six new cats! No wonder Uncle Sirius is going mental about it."
"Six cats!?" Ron glared at Harry.
"I got one for Rory, Dromi, Ginny, Luna, Mum, and Pepper is for Hermione." Harry was on his fifth nugget and almost finished with his shake. "I knew that if I went and brought only two home, the others would end up pouting, so I got all six almost full-blooded Maine Coon Kneazles."
"Yeah, well, I don't really much care for cats." Ron grumbled.
"Luna needs a companion." Harry munched on a fry.
"She has a companion!! Me!" Ron took a swig of pop right from the bottle. "Now this is way better than pumpkin juice."
Draco took his own swig from the bottle, "Hell yeah, let's stockpile this stuff in our rooms."
Harry managed to snag a slice of pizza. "Just think we've been missing gastric heaven."
Hermione made her appearance, "I have been looking all over for you! I kept missing you at restaurant after restaurant! That and I had to make a stop in the palace kitchens." Hermione had her own basket full of both fast-food and normal food. Cheese breadsticks and a two-liter bottle of Sierra Mist from Pizza hut. Fresh baked goodies and salad from the palace. Lastly, she took out containers of fried chicken, biscuits, and mash potatoes with gravy that she had gotten from home."
Harry watched as she laid out another blanket and began setting her food out on it. "So who did you jinx this time?"
"I turned William into a mule, told everyone where they could all go, and then went off in search of food and you." Hermione bit into a piece of golden chicken. "Ron must have gotten his license..." She smiled at Ron. "Now you brother dear are going to get it for Apparating without a license."
"Enough!! The two of you have both violated your probation, so many times that I'm willing to bet she doesn't care anymore, as long as you don't kill anyone, or hurt them too badly." Harry went to offer Hermione the other Whopper, but Ron was already wolfing that down. "Ron you pig, half the pizza is gone, not to mention the pop, and you went and inhaled the other cheeseburger!"
"Look, you be dead for nearly two months, not be able to taste anything, and then see how well you do around food like this." Ron snagged a bread stick.
"Let them have that you can share with me." Hermione loaded a plate with food.
An owl arrived with a Howler for both Hermione and Draco, but it also had a separate letter as well for Draco.
Draco stared at the Howler that was floating in front of his face. "It's addressed to Hermione and me from Mafalda Hopkirk."
Harry took the letter and opened it. "This is your license, so that has to be her rant about the two of you not following the rules."
Hermione flushed crimson. "I've never gotten a Howler in my life."
"Uh, yes, you have my heart. The three of you made me open the ones this summer remember." Harry took the Howler from Draco and it burst open in his hands, so that it could scream at Hermione and Draco.
I HAVE HAD IT WITH THE TWO OF YOU!! BLOW YOURSELVES UP FOR ALL I CARE!! YOU BOTH HAVE APPARATION LICENSES NOW!! TRY NOT TO END UP IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE!! AND STOP JINXING AND TRANSFIGURING OTHERS JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE IN A TEMPER PRINCESS!! ONE OF THESE DAYS, YOU ARE GOING TO REALLY HARM SOMEONE!!
The Howler tore itself up into a thousand pieces.
"I think the three of you are gonna give that poor woman a nervous breakdown." Ron was now munching on the chicken nuggets.
"Ronald, did you read the books that I gave you to read?" Hermione changed the subject.
"Good thing they aren't that thick those blimey things are dull as dishwater to read. I mean you get ta chapter three and it's like watching paint dry." Ron snagged a cookie from the basket. "And, bloody hell, it doesn't really say anything except look into yourself for your inner animal spirit. Crikey what the hell is that suppose ta mean anyway?"
"I'll make a constructive comment on this one." Draco was at a loss as to what Ron was going to do in school this year. "What is it that you are trying to take on seventh year? If you can't grasp the idea, that to become an animagus you have to look into yourself, then how do you expect to get any N.E.W.T'S in any of your classes?"
"DRACO!!" Hermione and Harry glared at him.
Ron's ears were beginning to turn red and he glared at Draco. "Are you calling me daft!? I ain't bloomin stupid! And I will prove it to ya Black!" He was seething mad.
Draco hit himself in the forehead with the heel of his hand. "Son on a bitch!! Weeks of reining him in, out pops Malfoy to give Ron a zinger! Sorry about that Ron."
"It's understandable that your darker side would react to Ron that way, I mean you two were always bitter enemies, and Ron really did say something less than brilliant." Hermione tried to intervene, but blundered badly at it.
"Crikey, woman! This from a girl, who kept throwing herself at me, then threw Harry at Cho fifth year, and then at Luna and Ginny during 6th! You have some nerve calling me less than brilliant!" Ron let her have it.
Hermione bristled at that low blow. "Interesting concept you primate!! Gods you are the densest moron that I have ever met! It amazes me that you even passed sixth year!" She got to her feet and stalked down the knoll towards the building site of hers and Harry's future home, then turned to snarl at Ron. "Oh no, wait a second that isn't entirely accurate now is it! You copied off my work all last year, well, news flash carrot top! I'm on strike! It's your turn to take notes!"
"Ron! Why in the name of Merlin did you go and bring up something that doesn't matter anymore? It had nothing to do with the subject! Hell it was way out of bounds! Hermione was doing all of that, so I wouldn't get dead! She thought that I didn't need the distraction, so she waited until everything was finished!" Harry got up to his feet. "The fact is that she didn't wish for you to be left out, so she wanted you to read up on being an animagus! Deal with it! Try it! I don't give a shit what you do right now!" He stalked down the knoll after Hermione.
Ron just gapped at his retreating form in utter shock, for the first time since he had known him Harry had actually sided with Hermione. "What the bloody hell gives! Since when does he go chasing after her!?"
Draco took a deep calming breath and reined in his darker side. "It's like this Ron. Those two are married. The good ole days when you two agreed on her moods and rants has come to a crashing end. Now let's leave the two of them be for awhile, so I can coach you on how to become an animagus."
"That just ain't right...he was mine...she stole him...he's ruined..." Ron was no longer hungry.
"Oh yeah, you could say he's a whipped puppy, but since she's the only thing that stands between him and the dark side I'll take her any day." Draco patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll show little miss fancy-pants! I'll become an animagus, and then she'll have to see that I ain't daft like she thinks I am!" Ron got up to his feet.
"Ginny got it on her first try...so anything's possible." Draco and Ron disapparated back to the castle.
--
Hermione had found something to distract her from her row with Ron and was conversing with Marcus about how Sanctuary was coming along. "Um, we're going to need this room here bigger." She pointed at the room that adjoined the master suite.
"Wills just called me on that a while ago, something about fate changing things, and the number three could be in yours and Harry's futures..." Marcus fixed her with a parental look.
Hermione flushed a little knowing that Wills was doing his usual. "He got it wrong, as usual; I wanted it bigger to accommodate Uncle Sirius and Aunt Jenna's newborn baby girl, Uncle Remus and Aunt Gene's newborn baby boy, and Uncle James and Aunt Lily's newborn fraternal twins. I want to be prepared for when Harry and I are baby-sitting them. Knowing them it will be more often than not."
"To accommodate everyone we added east and west wings and another floor to the plan. I had a long talk with my cousin James. We went over the designs, then the plan, and he really is impressed with how this is going to end up turning out." Marcus pointed out the floor on the plans.
"Could we just keep that little bit a secret? Harry is really touchy about his father messing with any of his original plans. We'll just say that I asked for that extra floor and the wings." Hermione looked up and could see the framers were putting up the framework for the fourth floor and the two wings. "It's amazing how fast things are coming along in almost a month."
"Well, we have the advantage of using magical means, so it cuts building time in half. Wills was thinking of a fairy theme in the nursery, but I wanted to run that by you."
Hermione smiled at him, "That sounds absolutely smashing just send me the designer's ideas by e-mail and um design it with girls in mind."
Marcus narrowed his eyes at Hermione. "What about your promise?"
"Honestly cousin, would Harry and I do anything to incur the wrath of our parents, grandparents, and the rest of the family?" Hermione blinked innocently at him.
"I would say that it would depend on the circumstances and on just how far a certain Miss Chang has pushed in the upcoming months. It's clear as day the witch is after Harry." Marcus having been in Diagon Alley on Sunday with his wife and kids had seen the whole situation firsthand.
"Yes, well, I don't share." Hermione growled.
"What say I show you what's been done so far?" Marcus wisely changed the subject.
"I would like that." Hermione followed him towards the building site.
Harry wandered around the site checking out how his home was coming along. It had the makings of a staircase that led to the various levels of the house. He was standing in what would one day be a nursery. It was only a framed shell, but he could visualize exactly how it would look. The walls in an aurora borealis design, with fairies adorning the walls that would guard over the three little girls snoozing in their cribs. There would be two rocking chairs side-by-side near the window. An amazing carpet of brilliant midnight blue seemed to have stars and constellations winking in it, one wall full of books and toys, while another contained anything that they would need for the girls. He could almost smell the talcum powder as he stood there. Triplets...Amelia, Allysia, and Danielle...my three little miniature Hermione's. He was so lost in what he was seeing that he didn't notice Marcus or Hermione standing behind him.
"He really is what they're saying about him isn't he." Marcus looked over at Hermione.
Hermione tore her gaze away from her lion to answer him. "And that would be?" She inquired absently in a breathless voice.
"That he's the next Merlin." Marcus watched her for a reaction to his statement.
Hermione smiled serenely and sighed. "Oh, he is that and so much more."
"It's like he's seeing what will be by just standing in here." Marcus had never seen a seer in action.
"Marcus, could you please leave us here for a little while? He's sort of moody today since our third try at having a first date was decimated again. If he were to come out of that and see anyone watching, his reaction would not be something that you would want to feel." Hermione gave him a pleading look.
"I'll just have the guys on this floor take a break." Marcus left her to watch over Harry.
Hermione walked over to where he was standing in the middle of the room, walked up behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
:A Knut for your thoughts.: She purred in his mind.
:Yes, but if I were to tell you that, then how would the future be a surprise for you?: He turned around so he was looking down into her eyes.
:So you saw the twins did you.: She smiled up at him.
:Twins...hmm...no didn't see the twins.: He lifted her up so they were nose to nose.
:Harry James, what exactly did you see that has you in such a playful mood?: Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck.
:That, my heart, is my little secret.: He kissed her.
:Very well, keep your mysterious little secret, but I will find out eventually, after all I always do.: She lost herself in the kiss.
James and Lily were standing in the doorway.
"I told you that he would come here to sulk." Lily smirked at James.
James had a copy of the designs in his hands. "Red, we're standing in what will eventually be the nursery for our future grandchildren." He took in his son kissing his bride and then the location of where they were kissing and swore. "He saw something again."
"He is the next Merlin. It's only natural for him to be able to walk into this place and see what will be." Lily kissed his cheek. "He probably saw the twins."
James looked around size of the room and shook his head. "No way in Godric is this for the twins. This is going to be big enough for..." He couldn't finish the sentence.
"Now James don't panic. Hermione must have plans to use this at first for when they watch the twins or their cousins. They would need room wouldn't they?" Lily smiled serenely up at him.
"Dearest, do you think that I've forgotten what Hermione said on Sunday or what you said..." James found himself silenced by Lily's kiss. :It's not gonna work, my flame. This has something to do with the two of them. She mentioned girls and then you mentioned triplets, so I know that something is on the horizon.:
Marcus came back ten minutes later and found the two couples still kissing. He used a Muggle air horn to break the spell. "Not that I'm not a fan of truelove or anything, but I have a schedule to keep, and that means the four of you need to let us get back to work." He chuckled when four pairs of eyes glared at him.
"Crikey, Marcus! Are you trying to make all of us deaf!?" James snarled at him.
"Well Cousin, it seemed like the only way to break the spell over the four of you." Marcus grinned.
"Cousin?" Harry stared at the two of them.
"That's right me and James are third cousins." Marcus motioned for them to leave the room.
"Not surprising. It seems like family tends to pop out of the woodwork at random these days." Harry and Hermione strolled hand and hand out of the room. "This place is coming along great Marcus; the two of us have to get back to our lunch under the oak tree."
"Mattie made us a whole load of scrumptious food and goodies." Hermione smiled at them.
"In that case consider this a double date." James followed them. "Dad sent us in search of the two of you, so we have yet to eat lunch. You wouldn't let your mother and your unborn siblings starve now would you son."
"I'm hungry, but then I don't want to crash in on your first date." Lily gave her son a look.
"Oh, very well, you can tag along, after all Draco and Ron crashed my lunch a little while ago when they Apparated to the Oak Tree. Besides, who am I to let my mother and siblings starve." Harry sighed in defeat. "I hope, he didn't take all the food when they went back to the castle."
"Ron would. He's such a piglet when it comes to eating." Hermione growled. "Hmm maybe that's what his Animagi will be. It would serve him right if it was."
"Draco Apparated to the Oak tree without a license!" James and Lily weren't at all please.
"Yeah, it's really my fault, as usual, or that's gonna be his defense when you get home. I got those kittens. Now Ginny loves Tut more than she loves him. So he got so steamed that he went hunting me, not thinking that even trying to Apparate would get him into boiling oil." Harry didn't stop walking, as they exited the building site, and just continued to converse. "Only here's the real kicker. They got a Howler from Mafalda Hopkirk. She's near a nervous breakdown at this point over their constant use of magic when they aren't really supposed to use it..."
James glared at Harry, so he got right to the point. "Anyway, she gave him his license and told them that they could blow themselves up for all she cared."
"This lead to Ron making a comment that we were out to make sure that she was going to have a breakdown, so I changed the subject to the animagus books that I had loaned him. Stupid me, Ron read…I mean seriously what was I thinking..." Hermione rolled her eyes causing Harry to make a halfhearted attempt to try not to laugh and ignite her wrath again. "Anyway, Draco goes and makes a cheeky comment, which angers Ron. I agree with Draco, which really maddens Ron, who comes up with a zinger of his own. I called him something not so nice and the densest moron that I had ever met. Before telling him that he was going to have to take his own notes, and do his own homework this year, because I was going on strike. Now after that I left them to go down to the building site." Hermione finished the story just as they reached oak tree.
Harry finished the story. "I sided with Hermione. I told him that he was out of bounds with his comments, that she only wanted him not to be left out, and to deal with it... Try it...That I didn't really give a damn and went after Hermione." Harry finished the story.
"No offense to him or anything, but even if Ron figures out how to become an Animagi, he wouldn't know how to revert to normal." James lectured the two of them. "It took a certain rat a week to figure out how to change back the first time. Not to mention that this is not a game and very serious magic."
"Hermione, I know that you meant well, but maybe egging Ron into becoming and Animagi wasn't such a good idea." Lily agreed with James on this one.
"Draco is probably feeling guilty over his slip of the tongue and is helping him as we speak. I just hope that his animagus isn't a big orangutan or something like that." Harry frowned as his parents packed everything up. "Hey, what gives?"
"We're going back to the castle. The two of you can start studying up on all the rules and passwords for the entire castle. After all, you have a train to catch on Wednesday and the Head Boy and Head Girl set the passwords for the portraits to the Common Rooms." Lily was folding up the blanket. "We also have a surprise party to set up for your sisters."
"Don't look at me like that Hermione." Harry winced at the glare that Hermione was shooting in his direction. "This time it isn't my fault that our date got canceled again."
Hermione knew that was true, but she didn't have to like it. "Very well, we can study in your room." She launched herself into Harry's arms.
"I think that can be arranged." Harry vanished with her in his arms.
"One thing about Hermione is that she knows how to turn things around into her favor in less than a heartbeat." James grinned at Lily.
"That's because she's female and that's what we love to do." Lily kissed his cheek and the two of them disapparated.
--
Chapter 38
Folly, Calamity, and Redemption
--
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.
--
Cindra 2004-2008