(Valhalla, 6 weeks into summer)
Harry and the girls had spent the past several weeks training, fighting and feasting in Valhalla, Harry could honestly say it was the best summer of his life. Harry spent most of his time training with Thor in various weapons, or studying law and justice with Tyr, while Njord taught him about finances, Harry hadn't even known he was going to be a lord, and a very wealthy lord at that, of course with three ladies to provide for he might well need that family fortune.
Harry had been overjoyed when the girls finally arrived in Valhalla, thinking back on it brought a smile to his face as he remembered their arrival, and his greeting.
(6 weeks prior)
Harry stood nervously waiting, fidgeting with his tunic and robes, the finest clothes he'd ever worn. His mum and dad waited with him at the Bifrost Gate.
"Stop fidgeting son, two of these girls are already your friends, and I'm sure that the others will like you as well. " said James Potter, his hand resting on Harry's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"I know, but it's different." Harry said.
"It'll be ok son." James said, gently squeezing Harry's shoulder.
Just as Harry was about to respond, there was a flair of rainbow light, and a small group emerged. He heard a his name yelled just before he was impacted by a bushy haired missile. Harry returned Hermione's tight hug, warmth filling his heart.
"Oh Harry it's so good to see you, I was so worried about what your relatives would do, and then everything happened with the nightmares and all of this and." His bushy haired best friend rambled.
Harry smiled, it was so Hermione, his nerves disappeared instantly, only to return when he realized she hadn't let of of him, and he was still holding her. Harry's nervousness vanished after a moment or two, holding Hermione was nice, she was soft and warm, and felt nice in his arms. Harry looked at her for a moment, and in his mind he confirmed his words to his mother the other day, Hermione was pretty. These thoughts and the warm soft girl in his arms changed something in him, girls were nice, not strange, and he found himself looking forward to a future with them. In his heart Harry knew that Hermione would be one of his girls, it just felt right.
Hermione realized after a moment that she was still in Harry's arms, and her face warmed as it became the color of Ginny's hair. She felt something else as well, a feeling of belonging, as if this was her place, in Harry's arms and in that she knew she would be one of the three.
Ginny approached after Harry released Hermione, she was nervous, she barely knew Harry, but felt drawn in.
"Hi Ginny." Harry said with a smile that warmed her heart.
"Hi" she said back, trying to hide her nervousness and embarrassment, she was still painfully shy around Harry. Ginny decided that she would have to work on that, it wouldn't do for her to hide every time she saw him.
Harry was introduced to a petite raven haired girl next, Harry had seen Pansy Parkinson from time to time around school, but she always seemed to be doing her best to fade into the background, as if she was afraid to be noticed.
"A pleasure to meet you, Pansy. " Harry said, looking into her gray eyes. Harry could see intelligence and cunning in her eyes, that wasn't surprising, she was a Slytherin after all, what surprised him was the stress and even fear in her eyes. Harry was confused and concerned, he hoped she wasn't afraid of him, he didn't think he ever gave her a reason to be afraid. He didn't think she was friends with Malfoy, he'd only seen them together in class or in passing. He decided that he'd have to figure it out later.
"Hello, it's good to meet you too. " she said while extending her hand. Harry noted that she had a surprisingly gentle voice, it was a pleasant sound. Harry took her hand, and as their skin touched they both felt something spark, it was almost like an electric shock, but warm and comforting instead of painful.
Pansy gave Harry a small guarded smile as he released her hand, she stepped back letting Daph move up.
"Hi, I'm Daphne." The pretty blue eyed blonde said, extending her hand to him.
"Hi, it's my pleasure. " Harry responded, oddly he didn't feel a spark or anything like it when he took her hand. Harry was slightly confused about it, as she gave him a warm friendly smile. Harry decided that he liked her, he felt that they could definitely be friends.
Lastly Harry was introduced to Luna Lovegood. He noted that her intelligent silver eyes seemed to see much more of the world than he could, she didn't extend her hand for a moment, she simply stared into his eyes. Harry began to feel self conscious after a few moments, wondering if something was wrong.
"You're not for me, I'm going to be someone else's. " she said after breaking her intense gaze. Harry felt gobsmacked, he had no idea what to make of her. Astrid's words came back to him, he remembered that Luna was a seer, she must have seen something. Luna seemed to shake herself out of something.
" Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, you're Harry Potter, I'm Luna Lovegood." She said, suddenly to his surprise.
"Yes I am, it's a pleasure to meet you Luna. " he said after he recovered.
He shook Luna's hand as he had with the others like Daphne, there wasn't a spark, but Luna seemed to find something disturbing, her eyes drifted to his scar, and for a moment he thought he could see fear and disgust in her eyes, but it disappeared so quickly he wasn't sure. Luna gave him a brilliant smile, and a brief hug before she stepped back.
Afterwards his parents were introduced to the girls, each received a hug from his mum, and a smile from his dad. The group made their way to the hall afterwards, and a night of feasting, fighting, and celebrating followed as the girls were treated like the returning heroes they were.
(Presents time, Valhalla.)
Harry and Thor finished another round of training, Harry had actually managed to disarm Thor a couple of times. Harry was happy with his progress, he felt a slight bounce in his step as he and Thor made their way to the feasting hall to meet up with his parents and the girls.
Ginny felt disturbed as she and the others made their way to the feasting hall after training with Lilly and Astrid. She and Luna had been friends in their present lives for years, and Ginny knew that they had been part of a close knit group in their previous lives. She couldn't understand why Luna seemed to be avoiding her, and she had caught Luna looking at her with something like fear and even loathing. The looks had never lasted long, and Ginny could almost convince herself that she was imagining it, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ginny walked into the feasting hall next to Pansy, at least that was something that felt right. She felt as close to the other girl as Fred was to George. She knew she and Pansy weren't blood related, but it didn't matter, Pansy was her sister as far as she was concerned.
As the girls walked into the feasting hall, the spotted Harry sitting with his dad, and Thor, they were laughing at some story one of the other warriors was telling. Harry looked over and his eyes locked with Hermione's for a moment. Emerald green stared into chocolate brown, and Harry and Hermione both blushed.
The girls sat and joined the feast after exchanging greetings with Odin and those setting with Harry. Hermione took the seat next to Harry who was setting across from James. Next to James was an empty seat reserved for Lilly. Ginny sat on the opposite side of Harry and Pansy sat next to Ginny. Ginny noted that Luna sat next to Hermione and seemed to be doing her best to avoid looking at her or Harry. Ginny had also noticed that Pansy was very quiet, not her normally warm if slightly reserved self, as if she was crushed under some great weight. Ginny decided she would have to do something about Luna and Pansy both, she just didn't know what to do, she decided she would talk with her mum in the morning, she would know what to do.
Lilly entered the feasting hall with Astrid, and took her seat next to her husband, that seemed to be the signal for the feast to resume.
Thor leaned over the table to talk to Harry.
"Harry, I am quite impressed with your progress, and Astrid tells me that the girls are also making great progress in their training. I believe the time will soon be here to take you and them to Alfheim for your own weapons. A great warrior needs his own sword, and only the dwarven smiths are better than the elven smiths, but the dwarves rarely make anything these days, and haven't made contact with us in centuries. " Thor said.
"You really think we're getting good enough?" Harry asked, excitement clear on his face .
"Indeed so." Thor responded, his voice carrying no small amount of pride.
It was a night of feasting and celebrating, Harry felt at peace here surrounded by love and friendship.
In a dark stone cell someone else could have done with some warmth and friendship, his bowl of gruel nowhere near as satisfying as a Valhalla feast. Sirius Black transformed from Padfoot, and lay back on his stone shelf, the thin straw mattress doing little to soften it. The dementors had left for the moment, so he decided enjoy being human for a moment. He was still kicking himself for his rash decision to chase down the rat instead of doing his duty to look after his godson, self recrimination and gruel, not exactly his favorite feast.
His introspection was interrupted by a pop, and for a moment he thought he'd finally lost it. Standing before him was the strangest house elf he'd ever seen, it was wearing a pair of horribly mismatched socks and holding a picnic basket.
"Mistress instructed Dobby to bring Padfood food and grooming supplies, Mistress says Padfoot has been a bad dogfather, but she won't hold it again him because he's suffered enough. Mistress also tells Dobby to tell Padfoot that help is coming and that they has a plan to get Padfoot a trial so he can be Harry Potter Sir's dogfather again. She also tells Dobby to tell Padfoot don't do anything stupid, again. " the little elf said setting the basket down.
Sirius was stunned.
"Uh ok, thank you Dobby?" He said, not completely sure what else to say. The little elf popped away leaving the basket behind. Sirius opened the basket and found it had expansion and preservation charms on it, and it was stuffed with ready to eat food. His mouth watering he sat down to eat the best meal he'd had in a decade. Before he did, he had a stray thought.
"Oh, and thank your Mistress for me too." He said. There was a pop.
"Dobby will." The little elf said before popping away again. Sirius shook his head, digging in to some chicken and bread. He noticed a folded note, picking it up he read as he ate.
'To Sirius Black, AKA Padfoot.
Mr Black, my name is of no consequence at the moment, in time I hope we will meet and you will understand my secrecy. For the moment know that your godson Harry Potter is important to me and my associates. We are aware of your innocence, and unlawful incarceration. Please know that we have a plan to prove your innocence and reunite you and your godson. We will shortly be in contact with associates who have a vested interest in your released, and in your investiture to your rightful place as Lord Black head of the House of Black. Again, I must ask that you be patient and wait for us to release you through legal means, the future health and happiness of your godson and others depend heavily upon doing things the right way.
Your benefactor and future associate.'
Sirius felt his head spinning, he was certain he'd lost his mind, and just before Fudge's annual visit too, wouldn't that just make the corrupt bastard's day. Sirius decided that if he was still sane he'd just have to be patient and wait for this unknown benefactor to help, not that he had a lot of other options, and if he was crazy, well at least he could enjoy the delusion of a full stomach.
(The Burrow)
Arthur Weasley stared at the notice he'd received with unbelieving eyes, they'd won a thousand galleons in the Daily Prophet galleon draw.
"Oh Arthur, isn't it wonderful. " Molly Weasley said as she prepared their breakfasts, she had decided not to make Ginny help her this morning, she let the girl rest after the Chamber and now her nightly training in Valhalla of all places. Molly had been unsure of that, it seemed strange her daughter was doing something like that, and frankly it scared her. Every instinct she had told her to wrap her daughter in cotton wool and protect her, the poor girl had been through so much already.
"Yes Mollywobbles, it is wonderful." He responded.
"We could go see Bill in Egypt." She suggested, and Arthur thought it over, he decided it should be a family decision. They would all discuss it over dinner later. Arthur headed for work with a smile on his face.
(Parkinson Manor, UK.)
Malcolm finished his breakfast, his wife and daughter would be shopping this afternoon, Pansy was a growing girl and her robes, and muggle clothes were once again too short on her. Of course Sarah could have used clothing charms to fix that, but she and Pansy needed some girl time to bond, and just get away for awhile. Pansy had been under so much stress already do to Malfoy, and she needed to just get away a be a young girl for awhile.
Thoughts of his daughter's misery, brought him back to the present situation. He had yet to figure out how to handle Malfoy, he had some ideas, but the least messy were also the most difficult to carry out, and covering Malfoy's untimely demise would be difficult at best, though arranging it would be easy enough.
He was brought out of his thoughts by his wife and daughter walking into the room.
"Malcolm, we're leaving, if you need us we'll be either in Diagon Ally or at Harrods." She said, giving her husband a kiss
"Bye daddy, see you this afternoon. " Pansy said, hugging him and kissing his cheek.
"Have fun you two, but be safe, and call an elf if you get into trouble. " he said, as the most important girls in his life nodded before going to the floo and disappearing in the green flames. Malcolm sat for hours after contemplating the situation, he was brought out of his musings by a ping on the wards. He stood wand in hand, when the door to his study opened.
"Hello Mr Parkinson, please call Mr Greegrass, we have much to discuss. " Sif said as she and Thor walked in.
(Author's Note)
Ok, it has definitely been longer than I anticipated since the last update, in my defense, my health gave me more issues, and my muse abandoned me. That said, I'm back again and I hope to keep updating with some consistency, no promises. Again, I thank everyone for their reviews and responses.
(AN2)
I would like to address something I'm sure will come up, in this story Pansy Parkinson isn't yet the simpering Draco fangirl we see in POA. I'm taking the view that she only put up with him out of fear and her sense of self preservation, and that she was a decent person deep down hidden under a veneer of pureblood supremacy she used to protect herself. So yes, she and others are going to be different from canon, but there will always be a logical reason for it.
Once again, thank you all for your support and patience.
GM.
