Thanks to Satyr-Oh for doing the beta work on this chapter.
I don't own HP et al, JK Rowling does. I'm only playing with it. The story is mine however.
Thanks to the few of you still reading. I know it's a long fic, but hey it's my first time. When I finish, I promise to go back and fix a few glaring mistakes... Ginerva, Bilius, Luna's the same year as Ginny... I got it.
That said, I hope you enjoy...
It Begins..part one
The earlier evenings of late autumn were giving way to winters gloomy late afternoons and pitch-dark mornings. Frost was abundant on every exposed surface of natural and wizard made objects. Blades of grass shimmered in the early morning light, reflecting the suns brilliance in millions of different directions at one time. Harry and Draco were used to waking at the same time daily and enjoyed the ritual of watching the sunrise together in silence sipping tea, enjoying the closeness and peace the new dawn brought the pair of royal Thunderbirds.
Harry didn't seem to be growing at the same rate Draco did at the same time in his pregnancy, but the fact there were only three children this time probably was the reason for the lack of roundness. It was still very early in the prenatal wizard's term there was still plenty of time before Harry needed to adjust his clothes choices. Draco was keenly aware that he was going to be able to dictate what clothes Harry was going to be wearing and he was secretly deeply happy for luck at getting Harry to look 'simply marvelous'. It was less than a week before Yule and he could not wait to go shopping for wardrobes for Harry and the babies. Money was never ever going to be a source of contention and they could afford the best of wizarding tailors.
As dawn broke over the horizon finally peeking under the now red hued, grey clouds, Harry and Draco got dressed, sneaking in kisses and loving touches whenever the opportunity presented itself. They did not need to talk much because of their ever-forming symbiosis. Instinctively they knew what each other desired and did their damnedest to deliver.
Since it was so close to Yule and Voldemort had not attacked anywhere close to Scotland, the Hogwart's Express was going to make a trip to London to evacuate the students to their homes. Two battalions of aurors would be flying on the battle brooms guarding the train from different levels all the way from Scotland to southern England. Harry and the Thunderbirds were going to be riding inside the train with the students, their car tagged onto the back of the train like a target but it would be empty on the trip to London. The trip back would be a different story all together. Harry, Draco, Adam, Charley and the rest of the Thunderbirds were going to go shopping in the late afternoon.
The train to London was going to be leaving Hogsmeade two hours earlier than normal and its guard was already onboard waiting its passengers. Harry and Draco were the last to arrive ahead of the students. The wizard reporters and photographers were thick as thieves and tried several times to board the train. Blaise, Greg, Vincent and Draco discouraged them every time with memory charms they got close. Adam got in on the act with a few well-placed FMA's until the train made steam for London.
The aurors on the battle brooms were flying high and out of sight of everyone. The entire length of the track now had complete air cover that was invisible from the ground. The tension was palpable amongst the students as they boarded the train for a hopefully safe Yule with their families they did not know if Hogwart's would still be standing when or if they returned so leaving was bittersweet.
Students and guards had all boarded the train and the first puffs of steam to turn the wheels of the locomotive were released with a jerk to all of the cars. Slowly the train began to make some speed away from the throng of people left standing on the platform as it chugged out of the station. The woman with the sweet cart was not going to be on this trip. The house elves at the castle had prepared enough food and treats to last everyone the eight hours it was going to take to get to London and breakfast was the first order of the day. There were special devices installed in each of the coaches that would give the students what they wanted simply by requesting it. As long as there was food available, the requests were filled without question. Vince, Greg and Ron were especially happy because they remained and would always be, hungry.
The Hogwart's Express was making good time on its southward trek. The clouds gave way to blue sky. The aurors flying air cover over the train were glad to let up on some of the shield charms they used to keep them dry and warm. They were virtually impossible to see from the ground and the brooms they rode cruised effortlessly through the sky. They really loved flying the war brooms.
The mountains soon gave way to the undulating English countryside and the sun grew higher in the sky. The beams of sunshine through the windows of the train heated the crisp winter morning air inside the coaches making the passengers quite comfortable with the environment. Hermione and Luna were talking about shopping with Ginny without the men in their group for an afternoon of girls only. Adam was a different story altogether and they tended to include him in on the fun girl things to do. He was happy to go with them because they were looking for gifts for guys and he wanted to shop for Charley especially. The Thunderbird men were happy to let him go along just in case the girls needed some muscle. With Ginny in the group, it would have been safe enough because she took no shit from anyone. 'Muggles wouldn't know what hit them if they crossed her.' Adam had told the guys in the group and they totally agreed with Adam's assessment of Ginny's no nonsense method of dealing with 'situations'.
"The train is about a half hour from King's Cross you lot. The aurors flying above are going to be filling up the last car up until the time we're five minutes out. There will still be a dozen flying until the train comes to a stop and then they're going to land and then apparate back to Hogwart's. The ones still on the train are going to take stations inside in each of the cars until the final run up to Hogsmead tonight and the last passengers brave enough to ride are boarded and tucked in for the night time journey. There will be more provisions for a midnight snack and breakfast before the train arrives." Charley said to the Thunderbirds who had all crammed into one little compartment.
"I can't wait to go shopping with the girls." Adam said to his friends.
"We can't wait for you to go with them either mate." Blaise said with a mock look of relief on his face.
"I know you would rather go along with your wife to pick out your Christmas presents, but..." Adam said before he was interrupted.
"Nah, that's alright there mate. Here are two hundred galleons. Buy them all tea while you're out... and have a good time." Blaise managed to stammer out as he thrust a bag full of gold into Adam's hand.
"Smooth move there mate." Neville whispered to the tall Italian while he was recomposing himself.
"Right" Blaise said.
"Where are you going to go shopping with Adam Hermione?" Draco asked the barely showing pregnant witch.
"Well I thought that Knightsbridge would be a good place to start, Harrods and then perhaps the Oxford and Regent area and of course Bond street and if there is time, I'd like to browse for books on Charing Cross Road. Since Blaise has treated us, I think we'll take tea at The Ivy." Hermione said thinking about all those ritzy places to shop.
As Hermione was counting off the places she was going to shop, he could see his modest bank dwindle to nothing. He was not going to say anything to Hermione though because he knew she was cautious and prudent. His hopes of still having money left at the end of the day were not very high but it was still there. Hermione somehow sensed this and when she tiptoed up to kiss him on the cheek, she said,
"Don't worry love; I have a fair few galleons myself. I'll be careful."
"Thanks 'Mione. Don't worry about what to get me. I have everything I could possibly want or need right here in front of me." Ron whispered and sealed his words with a kiss.
"Oh, there is something I'm going to get you and I won't have you telling me it's too extravagant either. We can afford this. I've been saving for a long time." Hermione whispered back snogging Ron before he could stand up straight again.
The train was five minutes from King's Cross when the engine began to let off the steam and begin its slow approach at yard speed in the train yard. It was oblivious to anyone that was not wizard and did not exactly run on shared tracks but it was a train and it took a long time to bring it to a stop. The engine let the train coast to a very low speed before it applied the brakes to the forward going wheels. The cars of the train bumped into each other gently and the people inside the train began to get their things together because they were to be off the train sixty seconds after it stopped for security reasons.
The families that were waiting on the platform were limited to however many it took to apparate the children home or just one if they were going to be using the floo transfer center to get home. Students with muggle parents and no magical guardians at all were going to be delivered home by special auror escort. Each student was going to be given special rights to use magic at home. The fortunate students that had been in the DA were glad that they could practice at home and not worry so much about protecting themselves and their families while on winter break. The unsaid feeling was uncertainty among the students. Until the time they were to return to school, they didn't know if it would be still standing or if they would indeed go back at all.
The train stopped and the entire list of passengers was out of the compartments and on Platform 9 3/4 in way under a minute. Luggage and trunks were already being magically lined up waiting for its owners. The students had all crowded the windows of the train as it had pulled in and mostly had spotted their escorts. The muggleborns were each given a blue card to present to their auror escorts for their transportation home after they had claimed their belongings. The train and platform evacuation was over with in less than five minutes and the aurors that remained on the platform let out a collective breath.
The Thunderbirds had spread out along the train to oversee the disembarkation and were gathering close to the portal to the muggle train platform. The weather was cold in London and the clouds had crept back in the sky giving the late afternoon light a dim look to it. Hermione halted the Thunderbirds from going through the barrier to the muggle world while she transformed every ones clothes into appropriate attire for muggle London at Christmas time. Their outer robes were changed into long luxurious brushed thick woolens she had seen in a muggle fashion magazine. Draco already had dressed for London and he had seen that Harry was dressed for the day and evening as well. Ginny loved what Hermione conjured for her and Neville. The clothes looked great with her flaming red hair and Neville looked like a man not to be messed with as well. Blaise let Luna change what she wanted to which was nil, and the twins and Vince and Greg did not change anything either. It was almost like being in Arizona only here it was wet and cold and they were dressed nicely.
There were no reporters or photographers besides Colin Creevey around and he and his brother Dennis were gone with their parents for two weeks of skiing in Switzerland over the Yule and New Year break. Lucky blokes their baby brother Frankie who didn't look too put out by the turn of events called them. He did not like to ski anyway... he said when he said good bye to his brothers. Adam had leaned out of the train window to tell the two young Ravenclaw Thunderclouds that he would get them something nice for Christmas and waved his good bye. Adam's thoughts were interrupted when he felt his clothes change from Hermione's spell. He was stunned a bit and then he decided he liked what she did with his clothes and he modeled his new duds for every ones approval but mostly for Charley's.
"There we go; we all look like we belong out there. I think we should pop over to Diagon Alley and convert some galleons to pounds if we are going shopping out there. I think that four hours should be enough for any of us. How about we meet at Fortesque's and then go to a really nice muggle restaurant." Hermione said.
"How about we go to The Ivy for supper and you try the Savoy for tea Hermione?" Draco asked.
"I didn't know you knew about many things muggle Draco. That is a good idea. Where are you lot going to go for tea?" Hermione asked.
"I think we'll go to Vertigo." Draco said.
"You need reservations to go there don't you? I've heard its booked solid for month's in advance."
"It is. That's what I have one of these things for." Draco said showing Hermione his wand.
"Oh, clever; I'll remember that for when we go to tea." Hermione said.
"I'll make a Slytherin of you yet Mrs. Weasley." Draco said to the suddenly stunned witch. She had not been called that except by Ron and Dumbledore and she liked it.
"Th-thanks Draco, I think," Hermione managed to say.
"I think that we should get ourselves out of here before the aurors have a conniption fit." Adam said looking at the same auror, he had been unknowingly tormenting since he had arrived in Britain.
"Aye, I have a ton of things to get for the children and all of you. Harry and I spent more than a few hours on our list. Now before you all go and try to get something for us, I just wanted to say... go ahead and have a ball. I have got oomph..." Draco said before he got a polite elbow to his ribs from Harry.
"Just kidding; it's Christmas so do as you feel. We don't need anything just so you know." Harry said almost admonishing Draco.
"You don't worry about us either." Hermione said.
"Hey, he's the one" "made out of bloody money." "Get wild Harry." the twins chimed in.
"I was talking about Ronald and myself you two," Hermione said.
"We know you were." "We didn't want" "Harry to get" "confused."
"He's the least of my worries about confusion even in his state. No offence Harry."
"None taken 'Mione. We ought to pop over to Gringott's to get some muggle money first thing." Harry said before disapparating with Draco in tow.
"Doesn't let the grass grow under his feet, that one. Come along Ronald. See you all at Gringott's." Hermione said disapparating with Ron.
Everyone followed Harry and Draco into the lobby of Gringott's and found the wizard King and his consort being lathered in welcome by the newly equalized by rights goblins. Griphook was still feeling beholding to the Thunderbirds for their part in saving the goblin bodies lost in the failed robbery attempt. The old goblin was going to take care of the King and his Consort himself. The other Thunderbirds were helped by management level goblins and their business was concluded after the Weasleys and Goyle were each given muggle purchasing cards. Harry and Draco had seen to it that there was no limit to the spending as long as the magical signatures matched the holders. Adam, Blaise and Neville were wealthy outright and did not need the money. Ron was about to protest when Hermione mentalled to him, 'they've got more money than they can spend in a hundred lifetimes, children included Ron. Let them do this.'
'I just don't feel right about it love.'
'Get used to it around them Ronald.'
'Right, what ever you say love.'
"We'll meet you all at The Ivy at seven. Maybe we can catch a film at the cinema after we eat" Draco said.
"Alright then we'll see you later then. Are you ready to shop Adam?" Ginny said for her little group of power shoppers.
"Lead on little sis. I got a ton of shit to buy." Adam said and he tagged along with Ginny on their afternoon shopping experience.
"I hope they stop long enough to see the lights the muggles put up for Yule." Harry said to Draco.
"I'm sure that one of them will notice. The twins are taking Blaise and Ron and Charley with them and Neville is going with Vince and Greg that leaves us on our own for the first time in well, forever." Draco said.
"I think we should get the babies their gifts at the jewelry store and then the toy store. If you find something that you like, please tell me and let me get it for you. I will do the same and we will be done with our family. We can get everyone else's gifts together. Sound like a good idea to you?" Harry asked.
"That's a good idea love. Now I'd like to start..." Draco began as the two of them walked out of sight and disapparated to a place on King's Road where they knew it would be safe to appear out of thin air.
"... to look for something for you first. We will come across something that we just cannot do without for the children and we will get it. You and I are very different. We're going into..." Draco continued to talk,and he did not stop talking, until they were out of the third store they visited.
Harry was very happy to go anywhere that Draco wanted. He was still a bit inharmonious and he let Draco lead him around by the arm anywhere and everywhere. He was very unconcerned that they looked like a gay couple. He was pregnant damn it and he needed help. Heaven help anyone that made a scornful comment within Draco's earshot. The two royal wizards had a list of things that they wanted to get for everyone on their list and were doing a wonderful job of shopping when it came time for tea.
Draco was used to the activity and Harry was not so he let his husband make the decision where to go. His feet were a bit sore from all the walking but he was holding up rather well considering he had triplets growing inside of him. Draco in Harry's opinion had to be a superman because he carried their first seven babies with very little communicated trouble. The two royals were soon in front of Fortnum and Mason and the door opened for them when they approached. Harry's senses were wonderfully assaulted when he stepped inside much to Draco's enjoyment. Draco had been coming to only this muggle establishment since he was a small child with his mother; the fact that it was a muggle restaurant and very private clothing store was kept from his father or it would not be standing. Draco's long straight platinum hair was a signal to the maitre de that one of their more desirable clientele had just come inside with a guest.
"Mr. Malfoy, it is so good to see you again. We have not seen yourself or your mother since last Christmas. You look simply breathtaking sir," the maitre de said.
"Thank you for saying so. It is Potter-Malfoy now. Is my regular table available?" Draco asked still holding Harry's arm.
The maitre de looked at the two men before him and raised an eyebrow before he said, "I shall see at once sir. May I invite you into the lounge to wait?" The maitre de inquired.
"I'm sure it won't be long. We'll wait here." Draco said imperiously.
"As you wish I will be right back" the maitre de said and he was off in a flash.
Draco sent a hex to whoever was sitting where he wanted to be seated. Those people had been served a very expensive dish and were just tucking in when they all put down their napkins and utensils and made to leave. The maitre de did not have a chance to say a thing when they asked for the bill as they made for the door leaving their still steaming meals on the table. A snap of his fingers and the confused waiter brought the bill to his leader and the muggle group left without fanfare or an explanation. The still flabbergasted waiter cleared away the food and the bus staff put on a fresh flower, a tablecloth and utensils for two in a heartbeat. The maitre de, a stiff upper lip type did not miss a beat and he seated Draco and Harry as soon as he got back to them to do so.
"That wasn't very nice Draco," Harry said.
"They were eating much too slowly. They were already fat. They were wearing plaid. Pick a reason, they were there and I wanted us to be there." Draco said settling into his seat.
"You'll pay for their meal then won't you?" Harry asked.
"Yes dear, I'll pay for their meals." Draco consented without argument.
"Thank you. If we are going to eat a big meal later, why don't we just have a few biscuits and a nice cup of Earl Grey and keep on shopping. I swear I haven't had this much fun out here ever."
"We should make it a point then to mingle more. As long as we use these cards, we will not need to use our wands. A little less instantaneous than magic but if it will keep us away from the riff raff and make you happy, then I don't mind a bit." Draco said still scanning the menu he knew by heart.
"Draco, I'll just have a few biscuits and a cup of Earl Grey." Harry said while Draco still looked over the menu. He did not see what Draco had in his hand in front of the menu so he had spoken up.
"I heard you love. I just needed a moment to get this out." Draco said putting down the menu and handing Harry a small, long, thin box with a silver and gold bow on it.
"What's this? I know for a fact that you haven't had time to go shopping" Harry said taking the small package.
"Open it up and see. It's an early Christmas gift Harry." Draco urged.
"Alright I'll..." Harry stopped talking because he had just noticed the waiter standing in front of their table.
'Obliviate the last minute from him Draco' Harry said suddenly embarrassed.
'Bullock's I won't. I'm sure he's seen other husbands give gift's to their er... spouses.'
"Obliviate" Harry whispered and wiggled his fingers at the waiter's body.
'I'll be your wife if that's what you think I am Draco.' Harry's mental tone was a bit hurt when he thought that he'd hurt Harry's feelings then he realized that Harry had just used a memory charm on the waiter who still looked like he was put on pause waiting for one of them to speak.
"Very Slytherin Harry; let's see, to continue, after the caviar for myself, I'd like the iced raspberry sherbet and Harry will have the biscuits and a cup of Earl Grey. I'd also like a glass of water if you'd be so kind." Draco said as if he had been talking for a while to fool the waiter. He did.
"Yes... sir; the Caviar, Gin Freeze, iced sherbet raspberry and a plate of biscuits with a cup of Earl Grey. Have I been standing here very long sir? I suddenly feel like I have forgotten what I have just done. Odd really, Oh well, it must be the hour. Been a long wonderful day with all the holiday shoppers, I'll be right back sir." The waiter said.
"And you think I'm going Slytherin." Harry said after the waiter left.
"Open the box," Draco urged putting his hand on Harry's from across the table.
"Alright, Ah, the ribbon slips off. The box is beautiful Draco. What is it?" Harry said fingering the long ebony lacquered box.
"O-pen it" Draco commanded with a smile and wide eyes.
"You're no fun. Alright here goes." Harry said and opened the box.
When Harry looked down his emerald green eyes opened, as big as saucers when he was presented with four emeralds, princess cut for his daughters and three rubies for his sons. The princes on a pendant fit for a King or anyone else that loved jewelry. There was room on the "P and M" shaped pendant for many more stones. This was one piece of jewelry beside his wedding ring he would cherish above all others would always wear it.
He asked, "Put it on me Draco" and he handed the pendant on the heavy gold serpentine chain to his husband.
Draco had just finished clasping the chain around Harry's neck when the waiter stumbled up against him holding a hot pot of tea on a tray almost spilling the tray on Harry. If he did not have his hands in front of Harry's face, Harry could have been seriously burned and he let the poor waiter know he had just made a huge error in judgment.
"You fool! You could have burned my husband's face with your bumbling" Draco said quietly. He was still a gentleman.
"I'm terribly sorry sir. It is just that I have never seen a married male couple in this place before. You with your hands on him startled me is all sir. Forgive me. I should have kept my nerve."
'He seems genuinely sorry Draco. What's say we forgive him?'
"All right Harry, Obliviate" Draco said. He took the tray with the teapot from the waiter and set it down before the waiter could come round again.
"Yes, I get deja vu all the time too. Funny you should mention it." Draco said while he stirred his Gin and Harry stirred his tea giving the impression that they were chatting with the waiter further confusing him.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to join us? We're wizards and will grant you one wish." Harry said.
Draco's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head when Harry said that they were wizards and then he heard the waiter's polite laugh from behind his turned head.
"Wizards! Now that is rich. Now what would I wish for? Let me see. I'd like for my feet to never hurt again." The waiter said.
Harry just shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's not much of a wish but if that's your one and only wish alright. How do your feet feel now?" Harry inquired to the puzzled looking waiter.
"They don't feel bad. Quite good really for as long as I've been on them today" the waiter said.
"Well, they will never feel worse from this day forward." Harry said and waved his hand at the waiters feet and sipped his tea.
"Thank you for that sir. May all the chairs you sit on be soft as well." The waiter said and walked off thinking that Harry was indeed insane. The holidays always brought out the barmy ones.
"Harry, what would you have done if he wanted something he could see?" Draco said.
Harry smirked and said, "He can see his feet."
"You know what I mean."
"I do. Thing is I put a pedal protego on his feet. He could stomp nails and it wouldn't hurt him." Harry said.
"And you told him you were a wizard."
"And he thinks I'm as barmy as Gilderoy Lockheart."
"Point, Alright. Let's just hope he doesn't remember us or your spell."
The waiter chose that time to bring the biscuits and the caviar and crisps to the wizard's table, overheard the definite use of the word spell, knew that the two of them were very daft, and hoped they were harmless.
"Your caviar sir and your biscuits sir is there anything else?" The waiter asked.
"Yes, Obliviaaaaate" Draco said with a long 'a' to add some time to his memory charm. The poor waiter was going to have a hell of a headache tomorrow.
Draco and Harry let the temporarily stunned waiter regain some color to his face when Harry hit him with an Evenerate spell to bring him 'round.
"Evenerate, Thank you so much for your kind service... Wallace. I shall tell the Maitre de you have been very kind and thoughtful. Your tip will show it as well." Harry said to the waiter as he quickly caught up to speed.
"Er... Thank you sir, you're very kind to say so. I'll just take your card and we'll have the bill paid and you on your way." The waiter said not really remembering what the hell had just happened and just where the bloody hell did these two guys come from? He didn't remember them even coming in to be served and where did the other group go? He was glad that it was almost time for him to go home. Unlike other late afternoons, his feet felt remarkably good, no small wonders.
The Thunderbirds bounced all over London, finally figuring out that they could apparate invisibly, they did so with great frequency as soon as they were out of one place they went invisible and apparated to another. Their spending was not abated much but the Weasleys seemed to still hold back somewhat when it came to using the credit cards that Harry insisted that they used. Draco said something to them and they were less intimidated using them when they were reminded who owned most of the galleons in Gringott's bank.
Ron was still the most stubborn to try it but he had found the nicest mahogany baby set he had to have it. It was several thousand muggle pounds and he did use the card for that but he figured that if Harry was going to get them a baby gift, he could say he already got it. He had to justify it to himself, no one else. He had got all the Thunderbirds the same thing from Hermione, himself, and several small things for the babies from their Uncle Ron. He picked out something that Harry was sure to like at a wizarding supply house in Diagon Alley next to Quality Quidditch Supply when they were there earlier in the afternoon. It was a tandem for children to fly with their parents on brooms. It was something that he knew that Harry and Draco loved flying almost as much as they loved their family and friends. His afternoon was spent in good company, his brothers and his mates, it was Christmas time, the stores were decorated and smelling of cinnamon and spice everywhere, they went.
Adam reminded everyone of the foot comfort spell he taught them in Arizona and soon their feet did not hurt. Blaise chuckled and shared, "You know, if we could spell feet to remain healthy for longer than a day at a time, we could get rich from that alone."
"You got that" "right mate." "Everyone has" "two feet." The twins said.
"We'll get" "on that" "right away." They added.
Stunned, Blaise said, "You-you're joking right? You could really do... something like that?"
"Oh sure mate." "Charmed insoles." "We've been working" "on that for" "a long time." "Mum's got" "sore feet." They said. "After Adam taught us" "the foot comfort spell" "it came" "to us when we" "Fred" "yeah, when I" "stepped in Pegasus poop." "Soft as sheep's wool" "it is." "Didn't smell either." "You interested" "in a partnership?"
"I might be. Between the wizarding travel planning we are going to try, this foot thing might work well with it. We could branch out into the muggle market if we do it right. If it is one thing that muggles cannot measure, its comfort. Come to think of it, I'm in when ever you two say the word."
"What's" "the word and" "we'll say it."
"Thunderbird seems appropriate for the likes of us to seal any deal." Blaise said.
"I'd ask Luna before you get into any deal with those two Blaise." Ron said.
"I think that the two of them are going to be very important to our world sooner than later Ron. Maybe you should have a bit more faith in your family."
Ron paled a bit and the group of wizards in muggle clothing went into another store to look around and spend some money if they wanted to. Ron sat on a chair in a bright store on Savile Road watching and waiting for the others to look around. He had a list provided by Hermione of things to get for people and he'd done well finishing it off in under two hours and a bit. He was still thinking of what Blaise had said to him about his brothers. It was time he came to a decision about them. Either support them in what ever they decided to do or who with or leave them alone and say nothing about them. He loved them too much to leave them alone so he decided, while he sat watching them hold things up to each other and mug for everyone while they modeled clothes, that he was going to support them no matter what and he would never denigrate them again.
Percy was another matter entirely. He loved all of his brothers and his sister but Percy was something else. He had almost crapped his knickers when Narcissa Black Malfoy took over as minister of magic and the war had been declared. When Harry had become King, Percy would not leave his parents alone unless they continued to tell him that they still loved him because he was only a lowly official with the ministry and had not done anything remarkable since he had been Head Boy a few years ago. He was going to still get a few noogies since he had learned about them in America. At least Percy was guaranteed some physical contact with his brother muahahahaha.
Ron had enough of watching his brothers have a good time and decided to join them with the sour look gone from his face. He was forever more going to look up to them, as it should be.
"Hey you two. What would you like from your 'ickle brov'er for Christmas?" Ron said as he approached from behind them with a goofy grin on his face.
"You know we" "like surprises" "Ronniekins."
"You guys are the best. You know that don't you?" Ron said to the mirrored pair in his arms.
"You getting hungry" "Ronniekins? Or" "are you just" "going barkers?"
"I am getting a bit peckish, but we're not to meet Hermione and Luna and Ginny and Adam until seven at some bloody muggle place. However, that isn't the reason. Can't quite say the words you know? Strange really. I'm not going barkers though." Ron said.
"Well then" "the more galleons" "you spend" "the better."
"I knew I could count on you guys. How about after supper with the lasses, we go and walk around Soho. I've heard there are a bunch of blokes like you there." Ron said innocently. Fred and George knew, he did not know, he was being insulting and they let it slide... a bit.
"There are," "red headed wizards" "in Soho" "Ronniekins?"
"I don't know that. I meant there are blokes there that like other blokes. That's all. I didn't mean nothing by it. Honest you two. If you don't want to go and walk around and.. and hold hands then, don't. I'm sorry, I thought it would make the two of you happy that's all. Vince and Greg look like they want to a bunch of the time. Adam and Charley and Harry and Draco just don't care who sees them." Ron said very clearly to his big brothers.
Instead of twin talk, Fred said for both he and George, "Thanks for that Ron. Forge and I really appreciate the thought. Maybe there is another pair of a soul for us, but until then, we will have to do for each other. Your words mean more than you know."
"What he said 'ickle brother." George added and hugged Ron before Fred had a chance to join in.
This called for personal attention. Fred followed suit as soon as George let Ron go and the three Weasleys had a private moment before they went to the clerk to pay for their items.
The boys were waiting patiently for Adam and the lady TBirds to show up at the snooty place most of the fellows decided it was. They had been watching who was going inside for the last twenty five minutes standing in the snow. They had all charmed themselves to repel the snowflakes and the water they were standing in but for show they held umbrellas aloft and let the precipitation drip off the edges.
They were looking up the street when a taxicab pulled to the curb throwing a huge splash of water towards them. The riders had spotted their group standing waiting for them and they heard the cab driver chuckle when he had gotten them wet. When it came time to pay the fare, Hermione read the meter and gave the driver exactly the fare and no tip. The driver decided to give Hermione some lip for stiffing him at Christmas time when a hand came through the window and grabbed him by the collar.
Ron had gone invisible to everyone except the muggle cabbie and yelled and slapped him around a bit for his thoughtlessness getting him and the others wet. For yelling at Hermione, Ron put a shrinking curse on the driver's bits and threw him back into his seat. His passengers had got out of the cab and he was not going to be staying around the mad man with the red hair. If he didn't know better he would swear he'd been kicked in the balls somehow.
Ron kept an eye on the cab driver as he sped down the road and turned a corner and out of sight. He had joined the others just after they had gone inside. Due to the look and size of their party, The Ivy let them join the muggle elite the paparazzi outside were anxious to photograph. The wizards were indeed very fit, very good-looking individuals and the seemed to shed some sort of... something the trio of muggles serving them could not put their fingers or anything else on. Harry's complexion was very rosy due to his condition most of the time but coming in from outside, his cheeks were positively glowing a healthy color and his eyes were gleaming bright emerald green. He was perhaps the most beautiful man on the planet at that very moment. Draco was still enjoying the aftereffects of giving birth and he was at least as good looking if not, as Harry.
Remembering the last waiter, Draco cast shielding charms on everyone seated. He cast an efficiency charm on each of their servers as they set about serving the water, tea, coffee, bread and butter and salads. The Thunderbirds and Charley decided to have the haute cuisine of the day and left the waiters to fall over themselves waiting to clear their table and ready the course. Wine was offered around and accepted by all but Harry and Hermione. Luna and Ginny said they would toast for them and the two pregnant ones had sparkling juice available for their wine course.
The evening's fare was "surf and turf", lobster with a slab of roast beef, baked potato and pudding. The waiters were serving the butter, chives, bacon bits, sour cream, horseradish and various sauces around the table and were gone quickly enough for Draco to start to enjoy his meal in peace. He had to admit though, he did not notice much change in the waiter's performance but he did notice they stopped touching them even briefly as they served them much to their mortal health's benefit.
When the bill came, Harry used a charm to make the waiter bring it to him. The server was happy he could approach Harry but somehow he could not bring himself to touch him even on the hand when Harry handed his card to pay for dinner. The waiter was back quickly enough with a slip for Harry to sign when Harry suddenly did not know what name to use so he made a scribble that looked like a signature and took his card and his copy of the receipt. At least he had signed Harry almost legibly and that was good enough for the goblins handling all the credit slips. It had to be good enough for the large party. The waiters were going to split a very large tip and Harry was very happy to give it to them.
The evenings last hour plus some minutes was going to be spent walking through Soho. Ron and the other Weasleys were fascinated by the traffic going through Piccadilly Circus, the muggle busses were not as tall as the Knight bus, which was spotted by them swerving round the circle of traffic before bolting out of sight in a different direction it, had been going in an obvious hurry to anyone that cared to see it.
The Thunderbirds walked past Piccadilly, Carnaby Street, Berwick Street and Wardour Street to Leicester Square and the National Gallery. It was past the closing time and on a whim, the Thunderbirds went invisible and apparated inside to take a short walking tour. Charley had been given use of Harry's invisibility cloak and he hardly ever went anywhere without it when he was with the Thunderbirds for occasions just like this. The group walked silently not speaking or thinking words to each other just looking at the magnificent paintings and sculptures.
There were several paintings that had almost nude people as the subjects in them and Fred and George put their little sister up to changing a painting before they left. Never backing down from a sibling's dare, the red headed witch charmed the sheet covering a naked man off him and left him almost sporting an erection. It was barely detectable and it was totally in the artist's brushstrokes. The twins decided it would be a good thing to bet on and started a pool on the spot to see how long it took the muggles to notice.
The time was approaching ten p.m. and time for them to head back to King's Cross station and the nighttime ride to Hogsmeade. The group apparated straight onto platform 9 3/4 and boarded the train noting another rail car with the royal crest on the side of it. They were curious about it until an older higher-ranking auror they were used to dealing with approached them. They remembered him from Draco's lawn party that summer. He was one of the diplomatic aurors. They were not used to meeting officials without introductions first and were apprehensive of him instantly. He began to talk to them explaining about the royal rail car and how it came to be on line to transport war material north to the battalions that were stationed there to defend Hogwart's government.
Adam decided to do a little snooping in the aurors head and began to look around when he was asked nicely to stop. He saw what he was looking for and the auror knew it so he asked him to leave before he was slammed out forcefully. Adam complied but seriously doubted the aurors magical skill level and power to try. The two of them did not say a word to each other but the auror did continue speaking to the Thunderbirds but his eyes stayed on Adam, the reason he was there in the first place. The Thunderbirds left the slightly miffed man standing on the platform and boarded the car with Harry's royal crest on it. The car behind the royal car was still the Thunderbird car but was full of war materials, verified by Blaise and Neville. The compartments that opened on the outside were inspected as well and given the seal of approval before the train made steam.
The passengers brave enough to be going to Hogsmeade and a possible wizarding battlefield, boarded the train and quickly found that there was enough room for each of them to lounge comfortably across the benches in the compartments. There was tea and biscuits available in each compartment. The woman that used to push a cart up and down the train was spending a long holiday with her family and the magical servers on the train worked easier than she did for the last sixty years. Breakfast was being served early to those awake at five in the morning. There was always going to be plenty of food on board the train thanks to some very dedicated elves that vowed to take care of the Thunderbirds. Everything and everyone else was simply something more for them to do while serving their charges including serving a trainload of people. In this case, it was mostly aurors that did their bit earlier that day. It was up to the new batch to spread out over the distance of the tracks while the train lulled them to sleep on the trip north.
The aurors flying cover that night found it fortunate was clear and not snowing or raining. In the morning if their charms were off even a bit, the fog in the lowlands of Scotland was going to make their rides miserable. The Hogwart's Express was making extra good time hauling mostly empty cars on its journey into the Highlands. It managed the same speed uphill as it did down hill and the ride was almost a half hour shorter. The Thunderbirds settled down rather quickly in separate compartments between each of the seven pairs. Hermione the ever-thoughtful one transfigured facial tissue into tasteful curtains for each of the compartments for both sides. The house elves had left pillows and blankets and there was a note on the window to enlarge the little squares into mattresses for sleeping. Everything was perfect for a night of romance if that was what pleased them.
Draco and Harry transfigured their clothes into sleepwear and enlarged the tiny mattress to fit between the seats. They put their pillows up against the window to the outside and charmed the lights to dim to a very soft glow. The train's vibration and the distant sound of the engine puffing its way north as smoothly as it ever ran carried the two wizards, wrapped themselves in the blankets and each others arms and settled in for a few kisses before sleep claimed them both. The cars on the train were jostling its passengers ever so gently and soon everyone but the guards were asleep.
High above the tracks, as soon as an auror caught up with the next one ahead of he or she as it were, they would fly side by side or at different altitudes until the train reached the next auror and so on until the train was at the station in Hogsmeade. The aurors were thankful for more than the environment charms, they were happy that the battle brooms had wide seats as well. The clever ones looked up softening charms and were quite comfortable and happy to fly the wonderful, powerful brooms. This was more like an adventure to them than a serious job. The things that they were forbidden to do were out race the train and try acrobatic flying while they were on duty. Most of them had a few training sessions with the Thunderbirds and were quite fond of their training partners. A nighttime broom ride was something they would gladly do for them, the reason they were in the sky was all too clear to them and they chose to not think about ... that. They were ready to defend, no matter what their duty.
Dawn was later as usual for that time of day at that time of year in the Scottish Highlands. The air was heavy with moisture and the low fog of morning was covering the last fifty miles of the train's tracks. The light was at its worst and the lights on the train were barely visible to the lowest flying auror. Half of the aurors that had accumulated in the force guarding the train over the night were dispatched to fly the tracks at a very low altitude. None of them was to be out of sight of the one behind them. Security was tighter the closer they got to Hogsmeade.
Draco and Harry were standing close together with their heads sticking out of the window a bit for some of the fresh morning air. The enchanted mattress provided an excellent sleeping surface and was easily stored back in its spot on the window. The two royal wizards had dressed but not with their robes and the blankets they slept with were wrapped around them both. The wind blowing nicely through the pair's long hair. Draco's hair mingling with Harry's black in the wind. They both noticed that there was an auror almost out of sight ahead of the train flying low in the fog and decided to lift the morning weather from over the tracks.
The aurors were visible flying through the fog because their shield charms deflected the air keeping them in relative comfort. They were glad that they showed such dedication to be flying low enough to be hexed off their brooms. Their mission was to deliver the Hogwart's Express. The passengers were only along for the ride and traveled at their own risk. When the fog lifted, so did they fly up and out of sight but still leading the train. The Thunderbirds could take care of themselves and so could the hiding aurors. There were only twenty witches and wizards going to Hogsmeade from London to visit family and friends. Five minutes before the train chugged its last few chugs into the station, it blew its whistle, in a code that Draco recognized and he was quite alarmed.
'Have any of you known the bloody locomotive blow it's whistle before it got into Hogsmeade and in a pattern?' Dracothought suddenly to everyone.
'Come to think of it, no... You don't think that...' Hermione began to think to her companions.
'Only when we're going full speed over a bridge and we crossed the last bridge an hour ago. We better go and see what's happening. If there is anything going on, get the passengers off. The aurors have orders to protect the cars at the rear of the train, not us.' Harry said pulling Draco out of the compartment and towards the head of the train. The two of them went invisible, changed themselves into ravens, and flew out of the window racing to the engineer's compartment.
What greeted them was a gruesome sight. The engineer operating the train had his throat cut and was held to his seat by ropes keeping the dead man's switch from being thrown. The red steam locomotive had its throttle advanced and the train was once again picking up speed. The train was a runaway. The two ravens flew through the window of the locomotive's operator cabin and pulled the dead man from where he was seated. The train continued to pick up speed even though the switch had been thrown. They had little time to accomplish a lot. The apparated into the coach that they were riding on and mentally yelled for the Thunderbirds to join them. They were instantly with Harry and Draco in the middle of the train wondering why the Express was going faster instead of slower.
"What's going on Harry is the driver dead?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Yes he is and we can't figure how to stop the train. We need to get everyone off. Hermione, you yell for the aurors and we will head to the last to cars and try to separate them. After everyone's off the train, I'm going to try to shrink it so it doesn't do any damage." Harry said before he made for the back of the train and the coupling.
"Attention. The train is a runaway. Go to the nearest auror and be evacuated immediately. Auror battalion to the end of the train" Hermione said with the sonorous spell.
"I want to know who slit that man's throat. Surely one of the aurors saw someone." Ginny said.
"The aurors couldn't see if the person responsible had an invisibility cloak." Ron said.
"I think it's safe to say it must be about to begin. Have you got that coupling undone yet Blaise?" Draco said watching his old friend manipulate the old part and the new one.
"Not yet. Whew this is tough work." Blaise said.
Luna was getting very nervous and the time was approaching that they needed to leave the train. She would have preferred to stay aboard but she realized the gravity of the situation. She was cool as she ever was when she pointed her emotional fingers at the huge steel lock andyelled , "El Bombarda!" letting the coupling separate and the train lurch forward. They now had less time to leave the train. The aurors had flown the passengers off quickly after Hermione's warning. The aurors flying above and in front of the train were startled to see their counterparts fly out of the train with other riders and even more stunned when the last two cars of the train separated itself with a wizarding blast.
The lead auror flew down to see the man that was supposed to be driving the train and thought he saw something but it was not the driver. He pulled his wand and threw the reducio curse through the window. He struck something with his hex and the train began to come to a hurried stop. The auror flew inside the engineer's cabin and found a long time criminal in two pieces on the floor. The hidden driver was wearing an invisibility cloak when he killed the engineer it seemed. The man was examined to see if he wore the dark mark. He did not have the mark but he had amazingly enough, identification that showed him to be a Romanian. The name jogged the aurors memory and this man was known for his stealth. He was a significant kill. When the train stopped finally, the rail cars that had been separated were moving at quite a clip and they had no breaks. Hermione remembered their third year when Dumbledore saved Harry from becoming a griddle cake and she shouted, "Arresto Momentum!" At the cars. The two heavy cars came to a smooth stop and if the coupling had not been blasted, it would have rejoined itself.
Luna was impressed with the mass that Hermione was able to keep from crushing them all and since she had blasted the train in two, the least she could do was repair her own damage. She did and she eased the train back together to boot. The aurors assigned to guard the train were shocked to find someone had somehow got past their security and the man in charge of the battalion of flyers entered the train from the first car.
As the auror made his way to look for the Thunderbirds, the Thunderbirds were making their way forward looking for any sign of trouble. The doors to the fifth carriage opened at the same time and before he made a thought about who was entering the carriage the auror shot off another reducio, this time at... Harry.
Oh my a cliffie. What happens? Does Draco kill the guy first and ask questions later? Stay tuned...