HP Life after Hogwarts
Chapter 24
Decking the Halls
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Dani continues to challenge her father and more.
Notes:
or Italic wording is ones inner thought also
: : Telepathic thought
( ) My little creation that I do in the stories it's called a twin link.
--
Harry glanced over at the playpen where Dani was trying to escape. "Daddy is working right now, so amuse yourself with your toys like your sisters."
:Want out!: Dani growled.
"That's tough because you're staying put in there while I try to work on this chapter." Harry kept his temper in check.
"Dada…" Dani whimpered.
"Sorry little miss, but the answer is no."
"Dada!" Ally and Mia could also say both Dada and Mama.
"No now play with your toys for a bit. I'm working." Harry tried to concentrate on the words on the screen.
"Dada!" Dani was getting mad because he usually gave in and picked her up. "Out!"
"Very good Danielle nice fourth word the answer however is still no." Harry praised her on her word, but didn't move from his chair.
Dani screeched in outrage and mentally threw her stuffed dragon at him. :You mean! I want out!:
Harry picked up the plushy that had hit his head and sat it beside the computer. "You just lost your dragon. Now cool it." He glared at her. "No means no. Now amuse yourself with your endless choice of toys, while I finish this chapter."
"MAMA!!" Dani screamed in fury. "MAMA OUT!"
"Mama is out Christmas shopping for you three naughty children, so stop screaming because you're staying put." Harry once again focused on the words on the screen.
Ally and Mia didn't wish to make their Daddy any angrier than he already was, so they chose to play with their baby gym.
"BAD DADA!" Dani screeched at him.
"No bad Dani. Now enough." Harry growled back.
"TUTUP…!" Dani screamed at lightning speed.
Harry turned around to glare at her. "What did you just tell me?"
Dani glared defiantly up at him. "TUT UP!" She screamed clearer this time.
"That does it! You are not going to tell me to shut up. No means no and shut up is not to be said to me or anyone again." Harry conjured another playpen beside his desk then added a baby blanket for her to lay on. "You're in time-out for a while." He went over and plucked her out of the playpen and then set her all by herself minus any toys in the other playpen.
Dani lie on her tummy and threw a temper tantrum screaming her lungs out, kicking her legs, and pounding her tiny fists in fury against the blanket.
"You had to push me, so now you're going to stay there until you calm down." Harry calmly spoke to his furious baby girl.
"Love Dada," Mia chimed from the playpen.
"Love Dada," Ally cooed.
"Very well done girls, love is a nice new word. Daddy loves you both very much. Now Tutup or shut up is a naughty word which is why Dani is in the naughty pen. She's being bad or naughty while the two of you are being good little girls." Harry smiled down at them. "Sorry is also a nice word it's what you say when you've been naughty or bad." He looked over at Dani who was listening to him.
"Dani bad," Ally nodded.
"Ally…Mia good." Mia pushed the butterfly button and out flew colorful butterflies.
"That's right good is another nice word." Harry praised them. "And yes Ally. Dani is being bad." He nodded.
Dani was sitting on her fanny reaching up her arms to him. "Dani sorry," She whimpered.
Harry sat down in his chair and turned to look down at her miserable tear streaked face. "Dani just because I'm preventing you from doing what you wish does not make me a bad Daddy. No means no. Throwing a dragon, a tantrum, and telling me to shut up only gets you by yourself in the naughty pen. You need to learn that all of you can't always have your own way and you need to listen when I say no to you."
"Sorry Dada." Dani sniffled. "Dani Sorry," She blinked up at him with enormous miserable teary emerald eyes. "Love Dada," She reached for him again.
Harry reached down and picked her up. "I love you too Dani. So, are we at an understanding now?" He held her up so they were looking eye to eye.
:Yes Dada. Dani understands now.: She could feel just how powerful her Daddy was and sensed that it would be wise to just not continue to challenging him. :I play with sisters. You work.:
"If you're hungry or need a new diaper then I'll focus on that, but if not I'm finishing this chapter, and then we'll play for a little while." Harry sat her back down with her sisters.
Dani joined in playing with her siblings.
Harry went back to work on his book.
--
A little while later
"Oi Harry! You home?!" Fred called from the entryway.
"Yeah, we brought you our latest creation to look at for our brilliant little darling nieces!" George echoed after him.
Harry took a deep calming breath before answering. "Yeah, you two, I'm in the study!"
"Eh, Fred we caught him working. Percy is gonna snarl at us." George smirked.
"Yeah, after reading the rough draft Percy is chomping at the bit to get them to finish." Fred grinned.
"Yeah, well, the yellow coward wouldn't daresay anything to either of them after his blunders during their fifth and sixth years." George opened the door to the study.
"So, how did you get out of going Christmas shopping with your wives?" Harry propped his elbows on his desk, steepled his fingers together, and rested his chin on his hands, so it appeared like he was someone who had been in the middle of something brilliant.
"We were both in the middle of finishing this, so they left us to our latest brainstorm." Fred set a miniature toy dragon on his palm.
"A figurine?" Harry was not impressed. "A figurine of Pendragon is your big creation?"
Fred set it down in the empty playpen. "No smart…" Fred paused when Harry narrowed his eyes at him then pointed to the girls on the other side of him. "Uh, one… it's not a figurine."
"Watch," George used his wand to grow it to its proper size.
"A riding toy fashioned after Pendragon…Oh yeah, brilliant." Harry drummed his fingers on his desk. "I too am working, so if that's all…"
"No it darn well isn't all," George touched the saddle and the dragon came to life. Smoke or what appeared to be white smoke puffed from his nostrils, his eyes lit up, and his neck moved.
"Well now that's more like it." Harry got up to have a closer look. "Does it have any educational qualities to it?" The tail and wings moved creating iridescent bubbles.
"Yeah, we're all too aware of Hermione's constant need for them to have learning toys." George pointed to the neck. "It has shapes with colors for them to set into place. We'll show you how it works."
Fred took out a square.
"This is a red square. The shape is a square and it's colored red." Hermione's voice chimed the lesson.
"That's…"
"Hermione," The twins grinned. "We had the two of you read all those lines weeks ago and this is the result. The trick to this guy here is its personalized by having the parents voices teach their own kiddies."
Harry set the square back.
"Very good little one, you put back the red square." It chimed in Harry's voice.
"The wings have textures on them and stuff. It makes cute noises and the like, but it's also soft, so no little one can get hurt if they bump into it."
"Boy's this is brilliant, but does it only come in dragons?" Harry asked.
"No the dragon is for Dani, because she loves them. We have a unicorn for Ally and a Pegasus for Mia." George produced two more.
"Dada!" Dani pointed to her diaper.
"I'll do it." Fred walked over and scooped her up. "How would you like to hang out with your Uncle George and me while your Daddy works on his book?"
George set the other two toys by the couch. "Yeah, you three can try out your new rides." He easily scooped up both Mia and Ally.
"That's fine by me." Harry watched them go. "Uh, guys? The toys?"
"We made a few sets." The twins grinned.
"Oh thanks." Harry rolled his eyes at them.
"We aim to please." They left him to his work.
"Finally, now I might actually get this chapter finished." He went back to focusing on the screen.
Ruby flew into the room at lighting speed and buzzed around his face.
"What do you mean Wicked went for a stroll…" Harry listened to her chattering away. "And took Star with him…after he let them all-out of their stalls!?" Harry saved his work and focused on the problem. "I get it! You win! I'm not supposed to work today, but this is just plain cruel!" He grumbled up at the powers that be.
--
Hermione arrived home a few hours later. "Where's Harry?" She arched a brow at the Weasley twins, who were in the nursery with her girls.
"He's in the study hard at work on a chapter." Fred was rocking Dani to sleep.
"We volunteered to watch the munchkins while he focused on sixth year." George was diapering Ally.
Mia was already asleep in her crib.
"Mel and Katie said you were working in your workshop, so what brought you here?" Hermione was impressed by how good they were with them.
"Those," Fred pointed to the three new toys in the corner.
"They're too young for toys like this." Hermione frowned.
"Our creations move of their own accord, but only activate if you say a certain word, or you can pull them along while they ride." George explained.
"Incedo makes them move and desino to makes them stop." Fred grinned.
Hermione removed a block and listened to the lesson. "This is brilliant you two."
"Harry fancied it as well." George sat down to rock Ally.
"I checked in the study when I arrived home and Harry wasn't there." Hermione checked on Mia. :Lion? Where are you?:
:Rounding up Wicked after he set the whole horse barn free.: Harry answered back. : So, angel mine how was your day? Mine has been a complete wash.:
"Boys didn't you even think to go check on him?" Hermione's brow furrowed with displeasure.
"Are you kidding? No way were we gonna go down there when he was in story mode. I don't fancy getting my first taste of AK or Crucio, so we let him be." George shook his head.
"Why what's up?" Fred arched on fiery brow at her.
"Oh, nothing he's just been rounding up horses for a few hours. You see Wicked set all the horses in the barn free." Hermione told the two of them in a nonchalant tone.
"That settles that he's gonna be in some mood tonight." Fred and George gave each other a look.
:I got most of the shopping finished. Sorry about your day.: Hermione sent back. "All of us that included Uncle Paddy, Tom, and Manny were off doing errands today, so he had to round them up on his own."
:That's wonderful news, my angel. Mine consisted of Danielle challenging me, no work done on our book, and being called bad dada and Tutup by her wasn't very pleasant either. She mentally threw her plushy dragon at me. They can all say good, bad, up, love, sorry, and their names so that's a plus. Danielle was introduced to the Naughty Playpen and time-out.: Harry gave her a run through of his day while he secured Wicked in his stall.
:Do you need help?: Hermione asked as she checked over the girls new toys.
:No it's all done. I'll be right there. Paddy, Manny, and Tom are here, so it's their headache now.: Harry sent back.
"He should've asked us for help." George snorted in disgust.
"Yeah, that's what baby slings are for." Fred growled.
"It's cold enough to snow outside, so I handled it myself with the help of Xander and Uncle Cam." Harry appeared in the nursery. "So, yes big brothers I asked for help. Horses and I, well, usually don't mix, so I enlisted some competent back up to help me."
"We've got the girls covered, so would it be too much to ask if you could feed us?" Fred and George gave him a pathetic look.
"You've done wonderfully with the girls and with these new creations, so of course we'll feed you." Hermione smiled.
"Ya see we barely get to eat these days…Fruit and crackers just ain't enough to keep us going." George confided.
"Say no more. I've been there big brothers, so what would you like for dinner?" Harry asked. "That's after I shower of course."
"Surprise us. Just make enough, so we can smuggle some home." Fred sighed.
--
"Harry are you up to helping me decorate tonight?" Hermione frosted her fourth custard filled chocolate cake.
"Is it just us and the triplets this weekend?" Harry had decided on hot turkey sandwiches, mash, and crumpets for dinner and was carving the turkey.
"Wills, Henry, Rory, and Dromi are attending a function at Sandhurst and Mum and Dad are visiting with the family at Hogwarts. They even took Fluffy and the pups with them, so yes we've got the place to ourselves this weekend." Hermione sprinkled crushed candy canes on top of her cakes as well as on the sides.
"Then I guess it's you and me decking the halls after dinner." Harry built three layered hot turkey sandwiches and set them on plates. "I was kinda hoping to decorate with Mum, Dad, and everyone." He drowned the sandwiches in rich gravy, before adding small mounds of mash on each plate.
"Well, after five Quidditch victories maybe they assumed that we needed some alone time." Hermione went about setting the dinner table.
"I know…" He tried to cover the hurt and disappointment in his voice. "It's just that I missed out last Christmas and thought we'd start a tree trimming tradition of our own." He set the plates on the table.
"Harry you did bow out of shopping, so maybe they assumed differently." Hermione poured hot sparkling cider into goblets.
"Dani wished to crawl today not be good around the muggles. Percy is getting antsy for more chapters. I just wished to relax, look after the girls, and work on the book today." Harry sighed in defeat.
"You know what Lil's!? Hang his feelings!" James could be heard snarling just outside the kitchen doors. "He needs to get into the holiday spirit and quit focusing on that blasted book!"
"James this is still so new for him, so maybe forcing him to trim all of those trees that we cut at Hogwarts isn't such a smart idea." Lily countered.
"No better time than now to introduce him to a family tradition!" James pushed open the kitchen doors. "Junior you may have ditched shopping today, but you aren't getting out of trimming the trees or decorating the manor!"
"Dinners ready on the table." Harry grinned at them. "Afterwards Hermione and I planned on doing just that."
"He was brooding about it not being a family affair." Hermione beamed happily.
"You're Grams and Dad will have a fit!" Rory growled at Wills.
"We made an appearance for nearly two hours." Wills growled back.
"Yeah, this is way more important than what we were attending." Henry was in full agreement with his brother.
"We danced three dances and then left." Dromi closed the front doors.
"To come here have a proper dinner and then join in trimming the tree and decking out the manor for the holidays." Henry countered.
"It looked like we were running off to…" Rory blushed.
"She's right it looked positively scandalous pausing to kiss for ten minutes under the mistletoe and then ditching the rest of the Ball." Dromi was also blushing.
"Let them all wonder." Henry winked at Dromi.
"You just looked good enough to devour in your red crushed velvet creation." Wills growled against Rory's neck. "And I plan to later tonight."
"And you in this golden creation are like a…" Henry was interrupted by Harry.
"Dinner is ready. Please don't spoil it with a so not needed visual of you and my sisters." Harry stood in the kitchen doorway.
"Yes, please change into something more casual and all of us will eat." James growled softly. "Oh and girls you look beautiful tonight."
"I want a portrait of you in those gowns." Lily had the camera. "Now stand in front of the staircase, so I can get some snaps."
They went about posing for pictures before changing using the glamour spell into more casual clothes.
The twins toddled over to them from the Common room. "We hungry," They chimed.
"Well, then let's get you two properly fed." Harry picked up MJ and James picked up Bell.
"Are we late?" The rest of the family arrived.
"No we're just getting ready to sit down." Harry was now feeling the holiday spirit and was looking forward to decking the halls with his family around him.
--
Ron eyed the enormous stacks of boxes sitting in front of the house. "She can't be serious." He scowled.
Harry was setting up a hotchpotch of air inflatable lawn decorations that Hermione had bought. "She wants the manor to be lit up both the muggle and wizarding way." He plugged the extension cord into an electrical box and they all came to life.
"That means physical labor and stuff." Ron pouted.
"Don't worry Ron. If you fall off the ladder at least you'll bounce." Draco was deciding on what went where.
"Oh, thanks a lot! I feel loads better now!" Ron watched as Harry and Logan set up other animated and lit up scenes. "Those are loads less complicated than stringing up the lights." Ron spread out the detailed diagram of what went where.
"This is for the babies' enjoyment, so quit your bellyaching and get to work." Sirius was adding net lights to the trees and bushes.
"Those long wooden things with rungs are called ladders. You climb up them to reach your destination, for example the eaves of the roof and the like." Wills pointed at the ladders resting against four different locations.
"These are hooks." Henry held up some clips. "They slide right into place and then you hang the strings of lights on them."
"Can't we just use our brooms to fly up there instead?" Ron wasn't keen on the plan.
"No you cannot Ronald Weasley. The front is to be done the muggle way." Hermione walked outside with Dani in her arms.
"But it'll take hours the muggle way!"
"Ron it's as simple as this. She wishes to set a good example for all the little ones." James scooped up MJ for a cuddle when Lily came outside with the twins.
"That's right I do. Besides, they need to be acclimated to both the muggle and Wizarding Worlds." Hermione walked over to survey Harry and Logan's handiwork. "These are marvelous and Dani loves them."
:Pretty me likes! Wants more pretties!: Dani approved wholeheartedly about the Christmas décor. "Dada!" She pointed at Harry. "Love dada!"
"Daddy loves you too pumpkin, but he's busy at the moment putting up pretties."
Hermione kept a firm hold on her daughter. "So we'll watch."
"Want Dada!" Dani reached for him.
"In a little bit angel," Harry smiled at her.
:Want more pretties!: Dani pointed at all the animated and lit up creations. :Dani likes!:
"You heard her boys now get to work." Hermione arched a brow at them.
"So far this looks lovely." Lily approved of mélange of characters, and topiaries on the front lawns.
"Pretty." Bell pointed at everything.
Ron reluctantly let Wills load him up with strings of lights. "I've got a bad feeling about this." He started to climb up the ladder.
"Henry and I have set the clips, so all you need to do is string the icicle lights across them." Wills instructed.
"This isn't difficult." Draco was stringing lights along his section of the roof.
"No the muggles have simplified this to an art." Henry was working on hanging snowflakes and stars across the front portico.
"Net lights for bushes, tree wraps for tree trunks, and LCD lights for the perfect lighting effects," Wills was lighting the windows.
"Fluffy!! No bad boys!!" Ginny and Luna shouted at Fluffy, who was determined to see what they were doing to his domain. Fluff knew how to open the doors, so he was out of the house with Rad and Lady. "No!! Pups not you too!"
Fluffy saw Ron's ladder and decided that it would make a nice chew stick, so he bounded over to it, and all three heads took a big bite of the ladder. The ladder went one-way and he ended up clinging to the roofs edge. The ladder then fell towards Henry's ladder knocking him off into the front hedges. His ladder fell towards Draco's ladder causing him to go flying into the hedges as well.
Fluffy dragged his prize off to the backyard and the pups gave chase after him.
"Oh, now this is just bloomin marvelous!" Ron was not pleased with this turn of events. "I really didn't wish to test if I bounce or not anymore!"
"Hang on Ron!" Harry called his broom to him. "You two okay over there?!" He shouted over at Henry and Draco.
"Oh, yeah right, like I'm going anywhere!" Ron was losing his grip.
"No sense on three of us being broken focus on getting to Ron!" Draco managed to shout back.
"Yeah, what he said!" Henry echoed.
"Need a lift?" Harry flew up beside him.
"Thanks mate now let's get this done the easy way." Ron went about hanging the lights.
"Ouch that's gonna leave a mark." Henry winced in pain as Wills and Logan helped him to his feet.
"Henry!" Dromi raced outside.
"I'm fine beautiful nothing broken…" He yelped when he tried to move his wrist. "Or maybe not…"
Draco had landed badly as well, only it was his leg that was broken. "Bouncing doesn't count if it's into some rose hedges…" He groaned when James and Sirius untangled him from the hedge.
"I'm so sorry Dragon…" Ginny blinked back tears.
"Fluffy was only playing, no harm was meant." Draco managed a weak smile.
"James, bring Draco into the house, so I can tend to him." Lily handed Stephen her daughter. "Sirius you do the same with Henry."
"We're one step ahead of you my flame." James was already carrying Draco inside with Ginny on his heels.
"I've got Henry." Sirius easily carried him inside with Dromi and Lily following him.
"Hey, Logan send up some more lights." Harry called down to him. "We'll finish this the easy, not to mention safer way."
Thirty minutes later Hermione's instructions were carried out to the very last detail. "I'll go flip the light switches and then you will all see your hard work in all its illuminated glory." Hermione stepped inside.
"Well, now this makes it all worth it." Ron stood at the front gates with the others as they surveyed the results to their work.
:Ooh Dani likes pretties!: Dani cuddled closer to her father's shoulder.
"I'm happy that you approve." Harry decided that snow was in order and called up a storm.
"That was excellent thinking lion. Snow was most definitely what was needed." Hermione smiled at Harry.
"Look girls." Anna stepped outside with Ally in her arms.
"Isn't this just lovely," Molly was holding Mia.
:Ooh we likes pretties!: The girls were entranced with the front yard.
"The backyard is alight with our magical means, but this is impressive as well." Remus also liked the light and animated show on the front lawns.
"Well, now this isn't gonna do at all…" George frowned.
"Muggles can't outdo magic. It's just not done." Fred agreed and they headed back to the backyard.
"But my list!! You can't go all willy-nilly!! It's not part of my plan!" Hermione shouted after them.
"Let them have their fun. We've got the inside to work on next." Harry pleased with his and everyone's hard work headed back inside.
--
"Dobby, Winky, and Kreacher are decorating up a storm inside." Hermione followed him.
"Angel mine, I've seen your list. I have no doubt that there'll be plenty left for us to do." Harry stepped inside and what he saw took his breath away. "This is beyond brilliant…"
He took in the front entryway decorated with Ever-twinkling, what appeared to be iridescent icicles on the archways leading to various parts of the manor and the banisters where adorned with garland with its own iridescent Ever-twinkling stars. It looked as if a designer had decorated for Christmas with little ones in mind; none of the decorations were hung where curious little fingers could reach.
"It was decorated similarly to the Yule Ball, but I had them tone it down a bit." Hermione was pleased as they entered the Common room that was also decked with similar holiday glory, but the enormous Christmas tree had yet to be trimmed.
"Now what do we have in here?" Wills walked over to a long deluxe leather case and opened it. "Nice choice Ducky, but a train will draw the attention of curious little hands.
"Is that a model train of the Hogwarts Express?" Harry had never had a toy train, so this was something new to him.
"Draco wanted to set it up, but we're waiting for all of you." Henry was lounging on the couch with Dromi.
"I've never seen one before and I was curious." Draco growled from the LuvSac where he was lounging with Ginny cuddled up beside him.
"So, how'd the two of you like Skele-fuse?" Harry set Dani in her swing.
"That stuff is vile, but it works." Draco grimaced. "We'll be better than ever in a week."
"Your efforts produced smashing results, so your injuries were not for naught." Hermione arched a brow at them.
"That's nice to know." Henry and Draco were both sporting casts.
:Love Pretties!: Dani happily swung in her swing.
"Yes boys, you did a smashing job." Anna and Molly smiled.
:We love pretties.: Mia and Ally cooed.
"What in Mab's name are they up to?" Molly looked outside.
Fred, George, Vincent, and Greg were still hard at work out back.
The twins were conjuring iridescent lights which they placed in the various trees and bushes. Bluebell flames that danced in festive containers made of iridescent glass were lighting the walkways and patio. It created on intimate holiday feeling and less commercial like it was out-front.
"I love it." Hermione opened the doors to the patio and stepped outside. "The ice sculptures are glorious you two."
Greg and Vince were finishing with their fifth ice sculpture. "We thought the kiddies would fancy them."
"Fella's those are works of art." Harry surveyed the Unicorns both winged and otherwise, the fairy reaching up to pet one, and the family of dragons standing watch over the Guest cottage and on both ends of the patio.
"These were easier than the ones out-front." Vince grinned.
"Yeah, we had to make 'em fit in with the muggle stuff." Greg set a container with a bluebell flame inside it under his dragon sculpture. The effect was that it lit up the sculpture revealing its intricate detail.
Vince was doing the same with the other sculptures. "So, we came up with snow people, uh, reindeer, and uh…St. Nick."
"Well done boys this is top-notch work." James walked outside.
"Oh, I love it!" Ginny came out to see for herself. "You must do some dragons, fairies, and unicorns for the manor, oh and the lights as well."
"We plan to fixing up everyone's places." The boys were proud of their achievement. "Uh, where's Draco?"
"Right here…" Draco with the help of some crutches gimped out onto the porch. "You've been holding out on me. This goes far beyond doodling. These are works of art."
"Ya really mean it?" Greg was beaming with pride.
"Yeah, you used to hate it when we did stuff like this." Vince thought he was hearing things.
"Malfoy is dead." Draco rolled his eyes heavenward as if asking for patience. "I'm a Pendragon-Black now and I think you two deserve a raise."
"Sorry 'bout that we forgot." Vince grinned sheepishly.
"Don't think anything of it, so how's two hundred galleons a day sound?" Draco laughed when the two gapped openmouthed at him.
"Uh, yeah, sure that'd be great." Greg finally noticed the crutches. "How'd you get broke, a few hours ago ya were fine."
"Henry and I fell off the ladders and landed in the hedges after Fluffy over there saw Ron's ladder as a chew toy." Draco spied Fluffy and the pups under the weeping willow.
"Fluffy's just sore cause we didn't do one of him in ice." Vince smirked.
"Fluff is as curious as they come and being a fire creature doesn't fancy ice." Harry countered.
"He's also vain and wouldn't end up fancying his likeness in ice." James smirked.
"More like he wanted it so he could destroy it later." Sirius was pleased with the backyard. "Good show to all of you."
"It reminds me of the Yule Ball." Luna sighed dreamily.
"Oh, you're right Luna it does." Katie smiled.
"No this is more enchanting than that." Trista loved what they had done to the backyard.
"Nice going this looks great." Ron and the others also stepped outside.
"Wait till we set off the pyro's on Christmas Eve then it'll be brilliant." Fred pulled Katie into his arms.
"This is brilliant, but Fred's right the pyro's will be the finishing touch." George cuddled Trista to him. "Tabitha is active tonight." He placed a protective hand on her middle.
"She loves the sound of her Daddy's voice." Trista smiled.
Katie laughed when Fred knelt beside her and laid his head against her middle. "Yes Fred our daughter is inside there and loves to kick when you talk around her."
"Fiona is daddy's little wonder." Fred didn't care how it looked he was fascinated with what they had created inside Katie. "Daddy loves you."
"Ron you have to feel this." Luna had just felt the boys kick her for the first time and giggled. "It tickles."
Ron's face lit up with delight and wonder. "They're kicking you!"
"I know isn't it wonderful." Luna was over the moon with happiness.
"This is so cool." Ron felt the twins doing summersaults and occasionally kicking their mum. "I felt fingers that time…now its tiny little toes…"
"It's an amazing feeling…" Hermione and Harry grinned knowingly at the six of them.
"I feel the occasional flutter every so often, but DJ hasn't started moving around like that yet." Ginny couldn't wait until her son was doing the same thing.
"Luna is further along than you are, so just give him time." Lily smiled at her.
"Yeah, be grateful that your little ones are growing at a nice normal leisurely pace." Harry grinned. "At least all of you have a definite idea about when your little ones are making their appearances."
"Dada!" Dani appeared in her fathers arms. "Dani love Dada." She blew raspberries up at him and smiled her toothy grin.
"No worries baby brother. They can take their time." Fred and George gaped openmouthed at Dani.
"No way did she just do that." Ron stared goggle-eyed at his niece.
"That's scary is what that is." Draco was gobsmacked.
"She couldn't have done that, because the bracelet is still on her wrist." Ginny frowned.
"Dani is the next generation and their daughter, so nothing that she or her sisters do should surprise any of us." Luna was her normal serene self.
"Dani has been determined to be held by me all-day. Add the fact that she can't stand being left out of anything and her determination is off the scales." Harry wasn't the least bit flustered by this turn of events. "Look at the pretty ice sculptures that Uncle Greg and Uncle Vince made and the pretty lights and lanterns that Uncle George and Uncle Fred created." He situated her in his arms, so she could see the backyard and how it had been transformed for the holidays.
:Dani likes pretties.: She pointed at the things in her backyard and happily kicked her legs.
Jenna raced outside in panic. "Dani's missing!"
Sirius caught her in his arms. "Easy Babe, she's right over there with Harry."
"But…I don't understand…she's wearing the bracelet…" Jenna stared-wide eyed at Dani.
Merlin appeared with Ally cuddled in his arms. "The bracelet is merely a temporary measure meant to allow her to excel naturally as well as magically. She learned to crawl as well as speak, so the bracelet granted her a boon by allowing her to go to her father by magical means. It is rewarding her for her accomplishments as well as for being a good girl this evening." Merlin took in the newly decorated backyard and then looked over at the boys who had decorated it. "Well done Lads well done indeed."
"We saw it as a challenge." Fred and George grinned.
"Uh, thanks…" Vince and Greg were seeing Merlin for the first time and were at a loss for words.
"This is class all the way where as the front grounds embrace the muggles commercialized view of the holidays." Merlin arched a brow at Harry and the others. "Not that it looks terrible mind, you just a bit on the excessively extravagant side of things."
"I happen to disagree. In my eyes both grounds are equally lovely." Mab appeared with Mia in her arms. "Although, those ice creations are breathtaking and by far my favorite's of all the finery. My compliments to the two newest young men of our family, for a job well done."
Vince and Greg blushed, but were still speechless.
"You told us that it would rein her power in for at least two years!" Hermione was beyond frazzled by what her daughter had just done. "You never once mentioned anything about rewarding magic to her as she excels at every step of her first everything!!" Hermione stalked over and let her temper loose on Merlin.
:Mama Mad…: Ally began sucking her thumb. (Magic no good if Mama be mad…)
(Mama mad cause Dani use magic.) Mia was also sucking on her thumb. :Magic no good if Mama mad.:
"She can only go to you or Harry when you happen to be in close proximity to her. It's nothing for you to fret about nor is it anything to cause such anger. All that you are doing is frightening your children." Merlin was calm and cool towards her.
"FRET! FRET! THAT TRINKET GAVE ME SOME PIECE OF MIND AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT IT RELEASES MAGIC!! SHE'S FOUR-MONTH'S-OLD IN A FEW WEEKS! SHE DOESN'T NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT POWERFUL OF MAGIC UNTIL SHE IS MUCH OLDER!!" Hermione ignored the comment about her scaring her children and continued to rant at him in fury.
"Mama mad," Dani clung to her daddy in terror. "Mama! Dani sorry!" She whimpered.
"Oh, no. Hey, now angel face, this is not your fault." Harry set her against his shoulder to try to calm her. "Your Mummy is a little surprised and at the moment extremely miffed at First-Grandpa Merlin." Harry could see that his other two girls were just as terrified and that made his temper go on slow boil. :Magic is not bad and none of you did anything wrong. This is just your Mummy overreacting to the situation and Daddy is going to take care of it straight away.: He sent to all three of his girls.
"Dani bad…" She burst into tears as did her sisters. (I stop magic.)
(No more magic Mama mad.) Ally sent back to Dani.
(We no do magic.) Mia agreed.
"No Danielle you weren't being bad." Harry was becoming beyond furious at Hermione.
:Dani no do magic. Dani bad. Dani no do magic. Mama mad.: Dani started to suck her thumb, because her Mummy was still ranting away at Merlin.
"Hermione Anne Diana!! I would cool it that is unless you wish to sleep alone for a week!!" Harry kept his tone low, but it was clear that he was barely holding onto control of his temper. :Dani you are not in trouble. Girl's magic is a part of whom and what you are. Dani you instinctively wished to find me and did nothing wrong.:
"I WILL NOT COOL IT!! THIS IS SOME SICK GAME FOR HIM AND I'LL NOT HAVE IT!!" She fumed.
Harry decided that he had heard more than enough. "SILENCIO MAXIMUS!!"
She was now unable to utter a single sound.
"Magic is in their blood there is no hiding from it and that's the end of it! We will deal with their magic as they embrace it or discover new things in a calm rational unthreatening manner!! I have had more than enough of this tantrum and it ends right this minute!!" Harry was in full HBP mode.
:This is not funny Harry James Merlin!!: Hermione snarled in his head when no counter could reverse his magic.
:Oh, I agree Hermione Anne Diana! You terrified our girls! They don't ever wish to use magic again, because it's naughty in your eyes!!: Harry snarled back. "Dad would you take Dani for me, while Hermione and I have a chat in private."
"Sure son, but go easy on her. This floored all of us." James took Dani.
"She's my daughter nothing should shock any of you! They are all my girls that make's them special, so learn to live with it!" Harry grabbed Hermione by the hood of her cape and they both vanished.
--
Harry ported the two of them to the Guest Cottage. Where he quickly cast an Imperturbable Maximus Charm and locked the doors with Colloportus Maximus. "You disappoint me! I never thought that you would ever pull something like this!"
:I have a right to want what's best for our girls!! Magic be that in their blood should not be their main focus at this critical stage in their lives!! Crawling and trying to talk is fine! Calling a toy, pacifier, or bottle to her is harmless!! Appearing in your arms is not!! Walking, eating baby food, and potty training comes before any of that!!: Hermione's eyes were dark Cognac in color because of her temper.
"That may be for a normal muggle or perhaps a muggle born, but it doesn't apply to wizarding children!! Magic is to be embraced not shunned and that's bloody well how it should be!! She innocently used magic to achieve her goal of being cuddled in my arms, while she saw what all the fuss was about outside!!" Harry let her have it.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, as he continued to lay into her with his harsh words.
"SHE DIDN'T DO IT AS A CHALLENGE, HERMIONE! DANI IS THE MOST CURIOUS OF THE THREE AND NOW SHE'LL MOST LIKELY BE AFRAID OF EVER USING MAGIC AROUND YOU AGAIN!! NICE GOING!! I HOPE YOU ARE PLEASED WITH YOURSELF!! YOU BEYOND TERRIFIED THE THREE OF THEM INTO THINKING THAT ALL MAGIC IS NAUGHTY!!" Harry roared down at her.
:She scared the life out of me!! So sorry that I had a normal human reaction!!: Hermione bristled. :She had some form of normalcy for a while…: She didn't get a chance to complete her statement, because Harry's temper snapped and anything glass or fragile shattered by the sheer magnitude of it.
"NORMALCY!! SHE HAPPENS TO BE OUR DAUGHTER!! YOU CAN'T READ ANY OF THOSE BOOKS ON MUGGLE BABIES AND THEN GO AND COMPARE THEM TO OUR GIRLS!!"
:Books are a good source of information!!: Hermione snarled back she knew that he would never lay a finger on her, so his temper wasn't scaring her in the least.
"MUGGLE CHILD REARING BOOKS HAVE NO INKLING HOW TO RAISE WIZARDING CHILDREN!! THEIR IDEA OF AN ENJOYABLE OUTING IS A BORING WALK IN THE PARK OR RUBBISH LIKE THAT!"
Hermione continued to glare at him, but wisely said nothing.
"They're talking at three and a half months! She's been using magic since she was born and her sisters followed suit!! You can't apply those books to any of our girls!!" Harry was beyond displeased with her, but managed to lower his tone, so he wasn't roaring at her.
"She's sucking her thumb!! They all are!! Why is that you ask!? Because you terrified the three of them into submission!! I grew up in a family where all magic was taboo!! I'll not have that around my kids!! It isn't going to happen, so you'd best learn to live with it!!" Harry finished his rant.
"Now if you'll excuse me my daughters need their daddy! Who would never think of terrifying them into doing anything!! Figure it out Hermione and do it fast or you and I are going to have problems!!" He vanished from the cottage in a blindingly brilliant flash of turquoise and gold light.
--
Hermione sat down on a divan and buried her face in her hands.
"Hermione?" Ginny and Luna called through the door.
:Go away I just muddled everything up and wish to be alone!!: Hermione still unable to talk sent that miserable plea back to the two of them.
"Hermione dear," Molly used Reparo on the cottage doors repairing the glass that had shattered because of Harry's temper. "Are you all right?"
"The door's been magically locked." Lily tried the door. "Sweetie every couple has its rough patches."
:I terrified my girls into never doing magic again and Harry is beyond furious with me!! I do not call this a rough patch!! I call this a disaster!!: Hermione focused on the door and it finally opened.
"Nonsense you just had a bad reaction to Dani's latest surprise and overacted a bit." Anna walked inside. "Oh my, he does have a temper doesn't he?" She set about using Reparo on all the damaged things in the Cottage.
"He's just comparing your reaction with how he was treated by Petunia. She punished him whenever he did anything magical and that's just not something he's willing to have happen again." Lily sat down next to Hermione.
"Darling girl you can't panic every time they show their magical sides or you'll give yourself a nervous breakdown." Molly sat down on the other side of her.
"Magic is a gift that should be embraced and never shunned. The bracelet will never allow her to do anything that will cause her harm nor can she use any magic in the muggle world." Mab appeared in the cottage. "And it harm none is a very strict rule in our world. There was no need for such a reaction nor was there reason to terrify your little ones. Harry has every right to be furious with you."
:Harry is never going to speak to me again!: Hermione burst into tears.
"Harry loves you." Ginny knelt down in front of her.
"Harry's just upset, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love you anymore." Luna agreed.
Mab ended the Silencio spell, so Hermione could once again speak. "No the two of you share an unbreakable love that no amount of fighting or disagreements can break apart."
"It's not just Harry!! I terrified the girls into thinking that magic is naughty!! I muddled it all up!!" Hermione wailed miserably.
"You can't do anything sitting here feeling sorry for yourself now go fix it." Mab arched a brow at her.
"I don't know if I can." Hermione wiped away her tears with the heels of her hands.
"Go for his weakness use that as a peace offering and then see how it goes from there." Thea suggested. "But I'd hurry, because Logan says that he's taking the girls to Hogwarts. Did you really say that magic comes second or that's it's not allowed until the girls were in nursery school?"
Hermione now had some idea about how furious Harry was at her. She also knew that running up there and trying to make it right while he was still in a temper was going to get her nowhere. She needed to work out a plan of attack. "I'll let him calm down for a bit before I try to make up with him. Meantime I've got some errands to see to." Hermione vanished.
--
"Errands to see too? Harry is leaving with the girls!" Ginny couldn't believe what had just happened. "She needs to fix this not run off and go shopping!"
"She's giving him his space to cool off before trying to talk with him. Otherwise, he won't listen to a word she says." Lily remembered all too well her fights with James. How angry that he had been with her for giving up on the love that they had shared together for three years, because of a fear that something terrible would happen again.
"My baby clings to normalcy as though it's a security blanket and even though she may claim to have embraced the Wizarding World completely that's not entirely true." Katherine dressed in all her finery had arrived after Wills had gone to fetch her from the Holiday dinner that she had been attending with Elizabeth.
"My Hermione has lived in the Muggle world far longer than she has ever lived in the Wizarding and so normalcy or stability that she is used to is no longer there for her to fall back on. She's also a Mother to three darling little girls and a wife to someone who she has always thought was out of her reach." She sat down on the divan. "She's still not secure in this new life that she and Harry have created and is afraid that something or someone is going to make it all go away. In her eyes the girls in this case Dani, is doing magic that could hurt her and that terrifies her. She buries herself in books to find a solution and no one has written a guide to bringing up children like her little angels. When she's lost she lashes out at anyone whom she thinks is the reason that her plans or ideas aren't working correctly and it's as simple as that."
Harry stepped out of the shadows, "Dad and Uncle Sirius thought I overacted and kicked me back out here to make things right with Hermione. Having heard what I've just heard everything is making sense to me now. She needs normalcy which means that she isn't happy about something and I doubt that it's the girls performing magic. I did however have a talk with Dani and she knows that any magic that is Mummy and Daddy type magic is off-limits and she won't do that again unless the situation calls for it." Harry raked his fingers through his hair. "Therefore, we're going to see if being at Hogwarts for a week is the normalcy that she needs."
"What's at Hogwarts?" Luna asked softly.
"Family who love us and an opportunity for her to teach Potions while Uncle Severus focuses on Aunt Sibyll and little Cindy. He needs time off to recharge and will only agree to it if she's the one to teach his classes." Harry arched a brow at Katherine and his mother. "So where exactly do you think she went?" He then narrowed his eyes at Ginny. "No Ginevra I am not taking the kids and running away. I would never do that."
"It's just that you were way over the red line and then Thea said that you were taking the girls to Hogwarts…" Ginny hated it when he looked at her like that, she felt like she was two or something.
"Logan never sticks around for the full story and usually jumps to the wrong conclusion." Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I do not runaway from my problems that only gets you nowhere. I left because I needed to calm down, check on the girls, vent at Dad, and then return to an I hope more reasonable Hermione. Now where did she go off to?"
"To get you some sort of peace offering." Luna yawned.
Ron came out in search of Luna. "I'd love to stay and referee between the two of you, but I need to tuck my lovely bride and our little ones into bed." He scooped Luna up into his arms.
"That's what I'm about to do with my Ginny." Draco appeared beside Ginny.
"Everything will be fine between Hermione and me. So by all means tuck my sisters into bed." Harry thought it a good idea as well.
"Send us Ferria with a message as soon as you get it all sorted out." Ginny frowned.
"Yes please or we'll worry." Luna nodded.
"I'll do that." Harry smirked.
The four of them bid everyone goodnight and then vanished.
"She went to go get me a peace offering?" Harry glanced at his watch it was going on eleven at night. "In the states?"
"Well son you were extremely put out with her." Lily sighed.
"What in all that's magic can she get you as a peace offering in the States?" Molly frowned.
"She would wish to make whatever it is special." Katherine mused.
"He's like his father and his grandfather, so I have an idea what Hermione went to go get." Anna gave him a knowing smile.
"I told her to focus on your weakness and use that as a peace offering." Mab arched a brow at Harry when he grinned happily.
"I've got to get back to the girls." Harry also had an idea what Hermione was getting in the states, but was more than happy to let it be a surprise. "So, does she think that I'm at Hogwarts or still here at home?"
"You disappoint me grandson use your link, after all that is what it's for." Mab vanished.
"I have them all ready to go, so Hogwarts it is." Harry vanished.
"That boy never ceases to amaze me." Molly shook her head.
"Harry wants what's best for all of his girls and that's all that's ever going to matter in his eyes." Lily smiled.
"Shall we go back inside and trim a very special tree for them to come back to?" Katherine smiled.
"That's a lovely idea Katherine let's." Anna was happy the situation had turned out for the best.
They all headed back to the main house.
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Chapter25
R. A. B.
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008