Chapter 37 – And a Happy New Year

Draco looked around the room he was in and sighed in desperation. He had, once again, lost the three five-year-old's he was trying to get into the main room so they could join the party that was about to start. He heard a soft giggle and smirked to himself as he spoke; seemingly to himself as he turned to leave the room.

"It seems that they don't want to join the party and see Harry and Hermione again," he mused, hiding his grin as three gasps were heard, "And Harry was so excited to dance with everyone again. Oh well, it looks like I'm going to have to tell him three of his puppies are napping so they miss out."

He chuckled as the three mischievous boys ran past him with squealed 'No's' coming from them.

"That was nasty Draco," Hermione stated with a chuckle.

"Maybe, but it worked," he smirked before sighing. "How in the world can the two of you keep up with them?"

"Practice," Hermione answered with a smile, "and being raised with or by us is a big help as well. They know what they can get away with and what they can't."

The two of them entered a room full of people and they laughed outright as they saw Harry being bombarded by all the younger children as they watched him flicking through the CD collection. Everyone seemed to hold their breaths as one shiny disc was chosen and slipped into the CD player. Every one of them laughed when 'I just can't wait to be King' came out of the speakers.

Hermione shook her head in amusement as all the primary aged kids and younger stated dancing in groups with Harry moving smoothly between groups as though it was a normal occurrence.

"Harry decided to make a dance mix of kids' songs," she explained with a laugh at the look on Draco's face. "He decided he would rather the young ones' dance to music they could already sing because that way they can't butcher any songs the others like."

Draco's lips twitched in amusement and with a mischievous look in his eye twirled onto the floor with Hermione, laughingly telling her that since his mate was busy it was her job as sister-in-law to keep him out of trouble.

Hermione laughed as she allowed the vampire to lead her in a twirl around groups of kids, teens and one excitable black dog.

~~~I'malive…kindof…~~~

Lucius stood in the corner of the darkened room watching as Narcissa and Willa put the twins in one cot to sleep while one of the older teens set up a tea set on a nearby table for the women. He sighed and followed the girl out after giving Narcissa a kiss to the top of her head. Girl talk was NOT his idea of a fun time … maybe he could find Tom, Nicholas or Remus.

~~~Oh,Lucius,itdependsonthetypeofgirltalk~~~

Nagini watched Tom out the corner of her eye in worry. The older snake-demon's magic had been fluctuating wildly for the past week and it was starting to worry her. As they vanished from their camp, she decided to bring it up with the two snakelings if they didn't notice it themselves.

~~~boopboop~~~

Harry, Hermione and Remus were not in the room when the two snake-demons arrived at the party. A quick look around and at the clock was enough for them to guess they were either cooking the evening meal or aiding the younger kids in washing for it.

The smells that were coming from behind the closed door added proof to this theory. To Nagini's surprise, everyone converged on the tables as soon as the song that was playing ended. Within minutes the table had been set and everyone was at their place. Not too far behind the last bottom finding a seat found Harry, Hermione and Remus walk out plates of food that they started handing out.

First were the bottles and baby puree, then the youngest children. As she watched what was occurring, Nagini made note that it made sense since the older teens fed the youngest children and it ensured their food wasn't cold when they finally got to eat it. A soft, feminine chuckle drew her mind back to her surroundings and she turned her head to see the fair visage of Narcissa.

"It's like watching a well-rehearsed play," the blonde woman stated softly as she linked arms with Nagini. "Everyone has a spot to be and a job to do and no-one argues with their duty or position; they just do it because they don't want to disappoint any of their companions."

Narcissa lead Nagini to a seat at a table that held Willa and three empty seats.

"I want to know their secret," Willa laughed only half joking. "I can't get my two girls, Blaise and Nicholas to act like this at meals all the time and here there are so many more people of all ages and there isn't a single sound of discontent."

"It is because Mama Pea is here," an aged female said, making the three ladies jump slightly.

"Sorry about that," the woman grinned as a chuckling male teen helped her into the spare chair, receiving a loving pat on the hand and a smile.

"Arabella," the three women said with a welcoming smile. They had met the previous week as the Christmas Party and she had instantly got their respect as they watched her greet each and every child there by name with a tenderness only a grandmother could have.

"If Mama Pea wasn't here then I can guarantee you that the little brats would resemble demons more than the angels you see now."

"You are talking of young Harry, aren't you?" Nagini hissed with amusement as she got a nod and cheeky smile from the much older woman.

"Oh, we have to hear this story," Willa stated with a grin as Remus put plates of food in front of the women and Hermione followed with a platter of cups.

"Which story?" Hermione asked, slightly worried.

"How Harry got the name Mama Pea," Arabella answered, making both of them laugh.

"Oh, that is a good one," Remus stated once he stopped laughing. "It still surprises me that he responded to that."

"I think that it was mainly the timing," Hermione admitted, "He had been becoming more affectionate towards the younger kids around that time."

"What happened?" Willa asked.

"When he was younger we called him 'Sweet Pea' because he was the sweetest little thing we had ever laid eyes on," Arabella stated with a smile. "Soon the only people to call him Harry was Hermione and, on occasion, Remus."

She took a small bite of her meal and chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing.

"One day we got a new child in," Arabella's voice was soft and sad, "She was a pretty thing - all chestnut curls and hazel eyes that could make an iceberg melt. She was two, maybe three and had been found alone in an alleyway. It was the police that bought her to us while they tried to find her parents. She was well looked after and it was thought that she had either walked off on her own by accident or she had been separated from them in the crowd."

She took another bite, chewing slowly as she watched a memory only she could see.

"The only person she willingly went to was Harry. She wouldn't fuss if anyone else picked her up or did something with her, but she only approached Harry. We had her for almost two months before the police found her parents and that entire time she never said a word. By this time, Harry was nearly eleven and was called either Sweet Pea or Kitten and when the police turned up at the door saying they found the girl's parents, Harry growled at them and held her close. It was clear that if they didn't have a good reason for her being alone that day, then they wouldn't be getting her back."

Narcissa, Willa and Nagini laughed. Each of them had seen or heard how the black-haired teen acted around children and they could just see a mini Harry glaring and hissing in protective, possessive anger at a faceless man in uniform.

"Turned out the couple was walking with her when a driver had a microsleep at the wheel and ran into the crowd. Her father pushed her into he alley as his last act before being hit. His spine was crushed when he flew into the brick wall and her mother had broken an arm and her ribs from where she fell as she tried getting out of the way. She also hit her head. Both of them were frantic when the rescue teams got to them and when they heard them calling for their daughter, they assumed it was their dog and put them into a drugged sleep. Five minutes later, the girl was found and bought here."

Arabella sipped her drink and smiled softly.

"The littles name was Charlotte and after leaving several of the older teen in charge, Harry and I accompanied her and the police to the hospital where her parents were. We found out that they would be in there for another few months so we said we could continue watching her and her parents agreed when the Officers who were with us explained who I was and that for some reason Charlotte had latched onto Harry. Harry told them how he had been orphaned and left it at that. The day her parents came to pick her up was the first time she spoke since the accident. She said 'Bye-bye Mama Pea' and hugged Harry. The young ones who heard it started calling him 'Mama Pea' after that and it never stopped."

That was also the day I decided to become a Healer," Harry stated, making all four ladies jump. "Most people just dumped the kids off at the orphanage and didn't bother getting them checked so I thought I could get training to do it. At the time I foolishly thought I was going to stay at the Orphanage forever."

He Blushed slightly at the amusement that came from the women before him before turning to Nagini with a slight frown.

"Do you know what is wrong with Tom? He seems … distant."

"I was hoping you could tell me," she admitted. "His magic has been fluctuation since the party last week."

Harry and Hermione exchanged worried looks and held a silent conversation that amused and amazed those watching. Eventually Harry sighed and nodded before returning to the kitchen.

"Thank you for caring enough about him to tell us about this," Hermione stated. "We thing we know what is wrong with him, but Harry wants to check some things before we do anything."

Nagini relaxed into her seat with a thankful smile. She knew and trusted that Tom's hatchlings would be able to do something for him. It would be a shame for her older brother figure to be so flighty all the time.

~~~sorrytoallthosewhowerehopingforTomandNagini~~~

Harry watched Tom through slightly narrowed eyes and sighed in exasperation. What they had been scared of seemed more likely the longer he watched the older male. He growled softly and quickly wrapped his old teacher in shadows and vanished with him: Hermione following his lead.

As soon as they arrived in the quiet room Harry claimed as his healing room while he was there, Harry and Hermione got to work. Tom watched them in bemusement but said nothing, knowing from experience that opening his mouth would result in being silenced in an odd and often humiliating way. Eventually both teens pulled away with annoyance and Harry slapped Tom's arm hard enough to leave a red mark.

"That," he growled before Tom could open his mouth, "was for playing with magic you don't understand. Now you stay right there while I get everyone this affects. Rinie, barbeque him if you have to in order to keep him here."

As the shadows swallowed Harry, Hermione grinned and raised a hand, resulting in Tom gulping and sitting as still as possible.

~~~hehehe,HarryandHermionecanbescary~~~

"Let me get this straight," Sirius stated, doing his best to understand what was going on even though he was the only human present. "The Ritual/Declaration/whatever is interfering with Tom's magic because he was the one to cast it in the first place?"

"That is what we believe is occurring, yes," Harry replied, rubbing his temples. "Because Draco's more stubborn than him and is overcoming all attempts at making him break our contract, the magic is trying to make a rift between us by interfering with Tom's logic; things like trying to provoke him into attacking him verbally or physically; separating us for important days of the year … that type of thing."

"That means he is going to be acting like this until we are bonded, isn't he?" Draco asked from where his face was hiding in his arms after Tom tried to 'accidentally' fling acid into his eyes because the blonde looked at Harry without his permission.

"Yes," both Harry and Hermione deadpanned, making Draco groan in exasperation.

"As if this wasn't hard enough," he mumbled just loud enough for those close to him to hear. "I don't need to be dodging an over-protective, magically warped parental-type figure as well."

Harry laughed and nuzzled the top of Draco's head with his cheek.

"That is why we are no longer allowing him anywhere near you without at least three others close by," Hermione stated, "and if he tries anything he will be taken down by those around you – unless he targets Harry, then by all means feel free to tear him apart."

Draco went completely still.

"You did NOT just say that he could make Harry a target," Draco stated with a scary calmness about him.

"It is unlikely, but possible," she stated with all honesty. "In the past it was always a blood relative that cast the Declaration. Tom is not a relative by blood; nor did he adopt us. This could mean that the magic in the Declaration will enforce Tom into acting as a challenging dominant."

"It will only make him that way towards you," Harry said firmly at Draco's feral growl. "He still acts parental towards me and if I am in the room with you he will only come at you as the father from Hell. It is only when I am not present that he will try to kill you."

"That is reassuring to hear," Lucius stated, voice full of sarcasm.

"It is actually," Remus stated with a grin. "Due to this behaviour, Tom can no longer decide the tasks. That responsibility falls to me and Sirius."

Draco's head made a loud THUD! As it collided heavily with the table.

"Save me the trouble and kill me now," he moaned, "No one deserves to have Sirius decide their fate."

Everyone laughed at his reasoning, causing him to pout: He had been completely serious.

~~~poorDraco~~~

The adults watched in amusement as the older children and teens that were awake gathered around the T.V. in the sitting room and joined in on the countdown that was coming from the crowd it showed. As the final second of the year passed, everyone in the room – as opposed to the cheering and shouting that the T.V. crowd were participating in – went completely silent as the watched the iridescent flowers of the pyrotechnics display.

Once the fireworks display was over, Hermione turned off the T.V. but no one moved. Softly, Harry's voice drifted out of the room and caught everyone in its spell.

"My glass is filled, my pipe is lit,

My den is all a cosy glow;

And snug before the fire I sit,

And wait to feel the old year go.

I dedicate to solemn thought

Amid my too-unthinking days,

This sober moment, sadly fraught

With much of blame, with little praise."

Without hesitation, Hermione took over.

'Old Year! Upon the Stage of time

You stand to bow your last adieu;

A moment, and the prompter's chime

Will ring the curtain down on you

Your mien is sad, your step is slow;

You falter as a Sage in pain;

Yet turn, Old Year, before you go,

And face your audience again."

As Hermione finished, the gently spoken girl who helped with the babies and toddlers spoke up.

"That sphinx-like face, remote, austere,

Let us all read, whate'er the cost:

O Maiden! Why that bitter tear?

Is it for dear one you have lost?

Is it for fond illusion gone?

For trusted lover proved untrue?

O sweet girl-face, so sad, so wan

What hath the Old Year meant to you?"

After a short pause, the aged vocals of Arabella sounded, almost as if she was lost in visions of the past.

"And you, O neighbour on my right

So sleek, so prosperously clad!

What see you in that aged wight

That makes your smile so gay and glad?

What makes your smile so gay and glad?

What opportunity unmissed?

What golden gain, what pride of place?

What splendid hope? O optimist!

What read you in that withered face?

Next came the deep, soothing voice of the boy who watched after the feeble owner of the orphanage.

"And You, deep shrinking in the gloom,

What find you in that filmy gaze?

What menace of a tragic doom?

What dark, condemning yesterdays?

What urge to crime, what evil done?

What cold, confronting shape of fear?

Oh haggard, haunted, hidden One

What see you in the dying year?"

Once again Hermione's voice flowed softly around them.

"And so from face to face I flit,

The countless eyes that stare and stare;

Some are with approbation lit,

And some are shadowed with despair.

Some show a smile and some a frown;

Some joy and hope, some pain and woe:

Enough! Oh, ring the curtain down!

Old weary year! It's time to go."

It was no surprise for the adults that Harry automatically continued when Hermione had finished.

"My pipe is out, my glass is dry;

My fire is almost ashes too;

But once again, before you go,

And I prepare to meet the New:

Old Year! A parting word that's true,

For we've been comrades, you and I –

I thank God for each day of you;

There! Bless you now! Old Year, good-bye!"

(The Passing of the year by Robert W. Service)

There was silence for several heartbeats then, with quiet but cheerful 'Happy New Year's', the small crowd began to dissipate, though not before everyone there had given both Harry and Hermione a hug.

"What exactly was that?" Narcissa asked Remus and Sirius softly.

"That," Sirius responded just as softly, "was something Arabella started when she first created the Orphanage. She had noticed how despondent many of the kids were that they didn't have any traditions, so she created some for them to carry on to their new families."

"Every year one person gets to choose a poem, song or short story that either farewells the previous year or welcomes the new. This year was Arabella's and she must have decided for the oldest four of her kids to join her."

"She did," one of the younger teens said, overhearing the discussion on her way past them. "With Mama Pea leaving, Mama Figg has been nostalgic."

She gave a half-smile at the group.

"Since he and 'Mione left, nothing feels right; Even the young one who don't understand what is going on pick it up. They've been part of our lives for so long that now they aren't here, nothing feels right."

"Which is why we are happy that we still get to see him," another voice said from behind them. "Come Felicity, time to sleep."

The group turned to see the young lady who had participated in the midnight poem.

"Coming Lizzie," the younger girl said with a smile, "I was just finishing off my milk. You know how Anna is when she sees food or drink on plates or in cups."

The newly named Lizzie just laughed.

"Yes, I do know what she is like," she replied, "Just as I know what you are like. You would drink all the milk saved for breakfast and tea in the morning if we let you, now off to bed with you."

Felicity gave a cheeky grin and kissed the older girl's cheek before running off with a 'Yes Mother!"

"Oh, that girl!" Lizzie said with a fond growl.

"She's still keeping you on your toes I see," Harry said with a laugh as he hugged her in farewell.

"She will be keeping me on my toes when I am well into my nineties I'm afraid," she laughed softly. "You take care of yourself and don't be a stranger."

Harry laughed softly and with one last hug, the Hogwarts group left without a sound.

Two days later Draco was desperately wishing he was back on party duty again as he looked at the letter before him in horror. Beside him, Blaise was rolling around as he clutched his stomach with tears of laughter gathering in his eyes. Draco put the parchment down and rubbed his closed eyes rigorously before looking at the offending paperwork once again. He whimpered softly as the words remained unchanged.

"Do you think anyone will notice if Sirius and Remus go missing?" He asked his still laughing companion, "and if not, do you think Harry will hate me for killing them?"

"Don't you think that is a little extreme?" Severus asked from the doorway. "I would however, say that yes, Harry would indeed hate you for killing them."

"Why were you even contemplating killing them in the first place?" Lucius asked, sending a slowly calming Blaise into hysterical laughter.

Draco growled at his friend in annoyance.

"This month's test was owled to me," he said with a slight growl in his voice. "I have to get medical tests done. Blood work, Physical performance, strength, mind, heart – the works."

"That doesn't sound too bad," Severus said, "definitely nothing to kill over."

"When he says The Works he means THE WORKS," Blaise sniggered. "One of them is an STD test and the other …"

"BLAISE!" Draco yelled as both older men coughed and spluttered.

"What is the other?" Lucius managed to gasp out.

Draco growled and then huffed angrily when he faced the no-nonsense looks on his father's and godfather's faces.

"I have to do a fertility test," he growled in embarrassment.

The silence was quickly broken by the laughter that came from the two older men.