The make-up assignments from the days Harry missed due to his heat were as numerous as he feared. He gave serious thought to asking Dobby or Kreacher to help him cheat. But integrity held and Harry tackled all of them along with Monday's homework after dinner. Harry took a Pepper-Up Potion around 1:00 to keep going, telling his worried Dominants to go to sleep. What student in the world hadn't pulled an all-nighter at some point? Indy was a silent witness as Harry wrote on parchment with quill until his hand ached. By the time he dotted the last period on his last essay, there was light coming through the windows.
Harry fetched Cory from the nursery. The exhausted mother just held his snoozing son, soaking up the feeling of him in his arms, his clean scent in his nose. His sleep-deprived mind had an idea and he went with it. "Dobby, Kreacher."
The two House-Elves popped in and bowed. "Yes, Master Harry?"
"Would either of you be interested in a she-elf to marry and have kids with? Because I can make inquiries if you do."
Harry got to see two House-Elves blush. Kreacher answered first. "Kreacher is the last in a line of elves that have served the Blacks for centuries. Kreacher would like if the line did not end with him."
"Master Harry is too kind. But Dobby would not say no to a bride," Dobby said, twisting his foot.
"I'll see what I can do then. Maybe the LaFortiers have a couple child-bearing elves to spare," Harry mused. "That's all, you're dismissed."
Both popped away.
"You know, House-Elf breeding is strictly regulated," Og commented, padding shirtless to the kitchen to make the first coffee pot of the day.
"No, I didn't know. And what the Ministry doesn't know won't hurt them," Harry countered. "While I'm at it, I'll get Etienne to make them wands."
Og chuckled. "Oh, I married a crazy man. You're lucky you're so damn hot."
"And I make good-looking kids too," Harry smiled down at Cory, who was obviously the cutest baby on the planet. "Mine and the twins' kids will have that exotic Eurasian look."
"Didn't think about that." Og sat down next to Harry and looked down at Cory. "I can't believe how big he is already."
"Even normal babies grow fast, let alone part-giant babies." Harry popped his jaw yawning. "I'm taking a cold shower to wake up. Don't drop him." Handing their son to his father's grip, Harry made for the bathroom. 20 minutes later, he passed his stirring mates on their bed in a fresh Hogwarts uniform. The shower had helped, he felt marginally less like his brain had been microwaved. Harry gave Indy some belly rubs while the others got ready for the day. Cory woke up demanding formula and Minori ended up feeding him while Hisoka downed two cups of hot coffee like ice water. Cory left in the nursery under the House-Elves' and Indy's watch, the Potters went down for breakfast.
Harry got to the Gryffindor Table and saw bags under his three friends' eyes. "Why did you three have a sleepless night? My excuse was over a week's homework all at once."
"Some idiot set off a Dungbomb in the Common Room. The smell wafted up into the Dormitories all night. And Bubblehead Charms dispel once you fall asleep," Ginny all but growled.
"I almost want to pull an Umbridge and use Veritaserum to find the culprit," Hermione said darkly.
"Anyway, how's it feel knowing you're having 4 kids at once in the spring? Most families never even have that many total," Neville asked.
"A little daunting, but I have 5 husbands, 2 House-Elves, and the grandparents to help shoulder the load. I knew multiples would be a fact of life with a male harem. We'll just have to do our best," Harry told Neville.
They talked some more as they ate until the mail came. Harry skimmed the letters Hedwig brought him. Just as they were about to leave, there was a commotion at the Head Table. Dumbledore seemed to have collapsed forward onto the table.
"Morgan, you're a Healer! Help him!" Harry said immediately.
Morgan sprinted for the Head Table. He waved his wand in a frenzy. "Stroke! He needs St. Mungo's," Harry's mate declared.
"Fawkes!" Professor McGonagall called.
The phoenix appeared in a flash of fire and vanished with Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Harry felt like his heart was being squeezed in a vice. "Don't do this to me, Albus. Don't do this to me," he muttered.
The Heads of House conferred before Sprout shouted "All Transfiguration classes are cancelled! Otherwise, go about your schedules!"
No one's mind was on their lessons that Tuesday, not even the Professors. McGonagall returned on Wednesday with a grave expression and refused to answer questions. Harry already sensed the truth in his heart. So when he saw the front page of the Daily Prophet on Halloween morning, he could only cry silently instead of pretend to be surprised.
In Memoriam: Albus Dumbledore, August 30th, 1881 - October 31st, 1997
"Cursed be Samhain," Harry snarled as the tears fell into his scrambled eggs.
"I'm so sorry, Harry," Og said, rubbing his back.
Hermione was reading the multi-page obituary in her copy of the Prophet. "Well, at least they got a decent writer to do this. Skeeter would have dragged him through the mud."
"She'll do that in her tell-all biography next year," Luna said, appearing at their side. "They say he felt no pain," she said with uncharacteristic solemnity.
"Luna… where you see the things you see and you can't do anything to change it… how do you cope?" Harry asked his Seer friend.
"With the knowledge that everything happens for a reason, even if we can't see or understand it," Luna replied.
Harry wiped his tears and took a few deep breaths. "Death is a part of life. I guess it was just his time."
"And it was natural. Not a disease or a fight, just his body giving out. That's something," Etienne consoled.
"There was nothing I or any Healer could have done. It was a massive stroke," Morgan explained.
"Keep him in your heart but let him go," the twins said wisely.
Harry sighed and went back to eating. "The world does not stop. And he would have wanted us to keep learning."
Every student and Professor was in mourning all Halloween. Professor McGonagall announced that Dumbledore's funeral would be that Sunday. Not even free-flowing candy and sweets at the Halloween Feast could lift the mood. Friday was endured and then the weekend came. Harry spent Saturday writing letters to everyone he loved to tell them just that. He held Cory a long time, reflecting on life and death, endings and beginnings.
The funeral was a beautiful affair. Everything Albus deserved. Even the denizens of the Forbidden Forest and Black Lake paid their respects to the great man. Harry brought Cory and, when it was his turn to place a flower on the casket, Harry left a warm pair of woolen socks instead. McGonagall gave an involuntary chuckle at that.
McGonagall took over as Headmistress after a unanimous vote by the Board of Governors. Her first act was to banish Professor Binns. Transfiguration and History of Magic were on hold until new teachers could be hired. Harry urged Remus to take either post, he made for a gread Professor. The werewolf refused though, citing the fact his condition was public knowledge and no parent wanted a werewolf teaching their child.
A week after the funeral, Harry was summoned to McGonagall's office. She made the addendum that he could bring one of his husbands. Harry and Morgan went up to the gargoyle and said "Yellowfin Tuna." Password given, they went up into the office. Harry saw that there was a portrait of Albus now hung on the wall with the other Headmasters of the past. He was sleeping at the moment. Walking up to McGonagall's desk, Harry sat down while Morgan loomed behind him. "Yes, Professor McGonagall? You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore's will was read today. He bequeathed you three items," the cat Animagus said directly. She reached into a drawer and laid them out. "His wand, this stone, and a copy of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'."
Harry blinked. "Really? Why give me his wand? And what's so special about a rock or storybook?"
"No…" Morgan breathed. "Say, Harry, didn't you tell me you inherited an Invisibility Cloak from your dad?"
"Yes. It's a Potter Family heirloom. Why?" Harry asked.
"Invisibility Cloaks don't last that long. The average one fades within a decade. Yours works and it's been in your family for generations?"
Harry blinked. "Okay, why is my cloak so special?"
"The Deathly Hallows," Morgan said reverently.
"Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Potter," McGonagall scoffed.
"What're the Deathly Hallows?" Harry asked, lost.
"In 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', there's a story about 3 brothers given 3 items by Death itself: a wand that can never be beaten, a stone to summon the souls of the dead, and a cloak to hide from everything, even Death. Your cloak sounds like THE cloak. And then there's this wand and stone Dumbledore willed you. These could be the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone!" Morgan said emphatically.
"Nothing but a fairy tale to amuse children," McGonagall waved away.
"Um, Professor? We used to think the Chamber of Secrets was pure myth. Look what happened there," Harry pointed out.
"However apocryphal their origins, the story of the Hallows is based in fact. The Peverell brothers were great wizards who each invented one of the Hallows. I'm not saying Harry will become Master of Death if he claims all three. I'm just saying that's what these are," Morgan argued.
Harry, on impulse, picked up the wand and stone. Nothing happened. "I'm just going to take these and go back to my rooms. Thank you for your time, Headmistress." Taking the book as well, Harry left with Morgan.
At their rooms, Harry walked up to Etienne and gave him the wand. "Here's the Elder Wand. Have fun playing with it."
"Qu'est-ce c'est?" the French Dracken asked.
"Morgan can explain. How does this Resurrection Stone thing work?" Harry asked his Healer mate.
"Turn it over three times while thinking of who you want to see," Morgan explained.
Harry turned the stone in his palm. On the third flip, his parents and Sirius appeared before him.
"Hey Mum, Dad, Padfoot. A lot's happened since last we met," Harry said faintly.
"We know, sweetheart. We've been watching," Lily said with a sad smile.
"Always knew my boy would be a stud. Five fit blokes at once," James chuckled.
"He gets it from me," Sirius puffed up.
Harry realized he was laughing and crying at once. "I miss you."
"And we miss you. But our times came. Yours is far, far away," Lily told him.
"Will… will we be together, wherever you are, once I pass?" Harry asked.
"Yes," James said with a father's reassurance.
"Then I can wait. I love you."
"Love you more, pup," Sirius grinned.
Harry turned the Stone over again. The apparitions vanished. He looked around and saw his mates staring at him.
"Did I just talk to ghosts or a figment of my imagination conjured by the Stone?" Harry asked.
"Your mind was clear. They were real," the twins said with wide eyes.
"Okay, so the Stone works. And the Cloak works. Safe bet the Wand works. But I don't need a wand that never loses. Etienne, you can crack it open to study it, I'm never going to use it," Harry stated for the record.
Etienne held the wand reverently. "This is the real Elder Wand? This is legendary in wandlore!"
Og cleared his throat. "This must remain secret. If it gets out our family has the Deathly Hallows, every power-mad believer will come after us. This stays secret as our species. Agreed?"
"Agreed," the Potters told their top-Dominant.
Then Cory cried for a feed and they settled back into domestic routing.
November plodded along, everyone at Hogwarts adjusting to the new normal. Harry was at breakfast one day when something occurred to him. "Og? Didn't your paternity leave end last week?"
Og stopped chewing before answering. "Yes. I've decided to quit my job."
"Why?" Etienne asked gently.
"Dumbledore's death made me realize I don't want to die with regrets. I'm not going to waste my life as a Ministry clerk anymore. I'm getting my Arithmancy Mastery."
"Congratulations!" Hisoka and Minori cheered.
"Great! I won't be the only one with a Mastery anymore," Morgan chuckled.
Harry stood on his bench to kiss Og on the lips. "I'm so proud of you."
December came, and Harry started to show. Four babies took up a lot more space than just one. Harry just focused on his classes and raising Cory properly. On the 15th, Og received a letter. "My parents have invited us to their house for Christmas."
"Remind me why we haven't met them yet? Ysabeau and Philippe Floo in from France to visit but we can't get a visit from Surrey?" Harry asked.
"They're both the type to believe that once a kid reaches 17, their job as parents is done. Plus my dad's a hardass you have to earn love from and Mum is stuck in the 1950s when it comes to how to raise a family. I left on my own and never looked back. Now that they're grandparents, I suppose I'm interesting again and worth their time," Og explained gruffly.
"I see. Well, I'll leave it up to you whether we go. I still want to see your grandpa's farm, by the way," Harry said with a hug. "Speaking of parents, what about the Shiraishins and the Hendricks? Any chance we'll meet them?"
The twins shrugged. "Tou-san and Kaa-san won't leave Japan. We'd have to go to them."
"And my parents expected my Submissive to be female. They're… a bit like Ron. I'm not sure how they'd react to you," Morgan said delicately.
"For the record, Maman and Papa sent an invitation to winter at the family chateau," Etienne chimed in.
Og considered that. "Let's do that. If my parents really want me back in their lives, they can come to me, not the other way around."
Time moved on and out of nowhere it was the start of the winter holidays. The Potters were all packed and ready to spend 2 weeks in France. Cory seemed interested in the falling snowflakes as the Potters waited to board a carriage to Hogsmeade. Once the grumpy Mr. Filch checked them off his list, they got in the warmed interior. "So, Etienne, tell us about your siblings before we meet them," Harry prompted.
"Sebastian, 34, works as a Potions tutor. Do NOT get him started on catalysts and reagents. Robert, 26, plays cello in a Muggle Philharmonic. Little prick but I love him cause he's family. And Marie-Claire, 19, a spoiled sweet little princess waiting for Maman and Papa to marry her off. I should also warn you Maman breeds Kneazles as a hobby. They run all over the chateau," Etienne described.
"Indy, no chasing or biting the magical cats," Harry ordered.
Indy whined but nodded.
"Any extended family to worry about?" Og asked.
"Both Maman and Papa come from Dracken families. Of course there's extended family. I honestly lose count of all my cousins. Luckily the chateau is big enough to fit us."
"Just how big is Chateau LaFortier?" Morgan asked.
"4 stories, each a bit larger than the Chichester estate. Then there's the basement, the attic, the gardens, the greenhouses, the pools. It can host over 100 residents," Etienne said with familial pride.
Hisoka and Minori squinted. "You forgot to mention the Ball," they accused.
Etienne shrugged. "There may be a small get-together of family and friends scheduled for Christmas Eve. Trust me, it's a lot less formal than the Dracken Ball."
Harry shrugged. "So long as I don't have to put on dress robes."
They reached Hogsmeade. Rather than board the Hogwarts Express, Etienne took out a printed invitation that was also an international Portkey. Clutching Cory like a vice, Harry laid a finger on the card. Etienne said something in French and in a blur of magic they were in a huge room with marble floors. Tucked between two staircases was a massive pine tree decorated with magical ornaments. Harry whistled. "Now THAT is a Christmas tree."
"Cut it down myself," Philippe said, walking down one of the staircases towards them. "Welcome, Potters, to Chateau LaFortier. May your only worry be an overfull stomach during your stay."
"Papa, where's Maman?" Etienne asked, hugging his father.
"She went shopping with your aunts. The family coffers are about to get significantly lighter,' Philippe chortled.
"Thank you for hosting us, Philippe," Harry said gratefully.
"What is family for, no? Now, about your luggage. Louis!"
A House-elf wearing a butler's uniform popped in. "Oui, Master?"
"Take the Potters' bags to Etienne's old room. And make sure they have a bassinet and a dog bed."
"Oui, Master." Louis popped away along with all their trunks.
Reminded, Harry called "Dobby, Kreacher!"
"Yes, Master Harry?" the House-Elves reported.
"Same deal as in Chichester. Join the elves in this house and remember it's their house."
"Yes, Master Harry." They popped away.
"Thank you for that, Harry. Now, most of the family is in the Main Living Room. Shall we join them?" Philippe asked.
They followed Philippe through a maze of hallways to a room the size of the Great Hall at Hogwarts. A throng of adults, teens, and children stood or sat around, talking or playing games. There was a playpen for small children in the corner with a female House-Elf on duty. Harry wandered over there while Philippe and Etienne made introductions to his other mates. "Room for one more?" Harry asked the elf.
"Oui, Monsieur," she agreed, taking Cory from Harry with an expert's touch.
Leaving his son in good hands, Harry trekked back towards his mates. Harry was halfway there when a little girl of about 5 stepped in his path. "Are you Harry Potter? You have the scar," she asked in accented English.
"Yes, I am," Harry agreed.
"Why are you here? Only family's supposed to be here," she asked curiously.
"I married Etienne LaFortier so I am family," Harry explained.
"Oh. Will you play with me?" she asked with big, blue eyes.
Harry couldn't find it in him to say no. "Alright. What will we play?"
"Dollies. I'll have a doll and you'll have a doll and we'll play pretend," she said through a wide grin.
"Okay. What's your name, by the way."
"Bluebell LaFortier. It's a pretty flower," Bluebell told him while leading him to a pile of dolls.
Selecting a doll at random, Harry and Bluebell improvised a rich adventure. Just as the Prince and Princess of Eufloria were about to find the magic comb, Og and the rest found them.
"We were wondering where you were," Etienne grinned down at his Submissive.
"I was kidnapped by your prettiest relative," Harry smiled back. Playing pretend was oddly fun even for an adult.
"Hi, I'm Bluebell. Who are you?" Bluebell asked Harry's mates.
"We're Harry's husbands," Og told her with a smile.
"You're very tall. Are you a giant?"
"Only part-giant. Can we have Harry back?"
Bluebell considered it solemnly. "Okay. I'll play with my sister. Thank you for playing with me, Harry Potter."
"No problem, Bluebell." Harry gave her a quick hug and then stood up. "Where's Indy?"
"She's not chasing a Kneazle, she's stalking it. Technically not breaking the rules," Morgan chuckled.
The twins pulled Harry into a hug. "Warn us next time," they scolded.
"What was I supposed to do, cast Sonorus? Send up sparks? Conjure a Patronus? We're in a room full of family, relax."
"Well said," Philippe said, joining them. "Lunch is in an hour. We could fit a small tour in or stay here. Which would you prefer?"
"I'd rather stay within sight of Cory. Let's stay here," Harry answered.
Harry and his husbands spent the next hour meeting most of Etienne's extended family. Harry would have needed a memory strengthening potion to remember all their names and their exact relation to Etienne. Still, they were Drackens or humans born from Drackens or their spouses so Harry was willing to give them all the benefit of the doubt.
"Etienne!" a young woman about the twins' age called out when she spotted them. She ran over and gave Harry's mate a big hug. She babbled something in French, Etienne responded in the same tongue. Then she detached herself and turned to Harry and the rest. "Where are my manners? I am Marie-Claire LaFortier, Etienne's sister." She looked like a younger Ysabeau but with her father's eyes.
"Hello, Marie-Claire. I'm Harry, Etienne's Submissive," Harry grinned at the exuberant woman.
"The same Harry Potter who competed in the Triwizard Tournament. I was part of the party that went to Hogwarts from Beauxbatons, you know," Harry's sister-in-law grinned.
Harry blinked at that bit of news. "Really? Were you friends with Fleur? She's marrying a friend of mine."
"Fleur didn't have many friends. All the girls were jealous of her beauty and Veela allure. And really? I heard she moved to Britain but I didn't know she'd agreed to be locked down by an Englishman," Marie-Claire answered. "Now, who are the Dominants my brother has to share you with?"
Harry's other mates introduced themselves to Marie-Claire. They talked and found her to be a sweet, genuine young lady. Marie-Claire eyed Harry's bump. "I heard from Maman and Papa I'm an aunt already. And apparently I'll be one once more over next year."
"Four times over, actually. It's quadruplets," Harry corrected.
"Wow. The ancients have truly blessed your marriage bed," Marie-Claire gaped.
Then Harry heard a sound he hoped never to hear: his baby in pain. Harry blinked and Cory was in his arms, Harry's Dracken features were on show, and he was snarling down at a little boy.
"Monsieur! Monsieur! It was an accident! Master Jacques tripped and fell on your baby. It was not an attack!" the House-Elf cried out, apparently well aware of what Harry's instincts were demanding he do to the person who'd hurt his precious son.
There was a blur of moment and little Jacques was scooped up by his mother, her own Dracken features on display.
Harry took a few deep breaths, before sanity prevailed over his instincts. He retracted his wings and scales, aware his shirt was torn to shreds. "Sorry for scaring your son," Harry told the other Submissive.
"Sorry my son hurt yours," she said back, a growl underlining her words as she still eyed him warily.
Harry turned and saw the whole family eyeing what was going on in the playpen with bated breath. Harry walked silently over to his mates, holding Cory like he never intended to let him go. "Check him," he told Morgan when he reached them.
Morgan waved his wand over their son. "No damage. He's perfectly fine."
Louis popped in, unaware of the tension in the room. "Le déjeuner est servi," he projected so the whole family could hear.
"I'm guessing that means 'Lunch is served'?" Harry asked Etienne.
"Yes," Etienne said. "Are you sure you're okay? Most Submissives would have a hard time resisting their instinct to hurt anyone that touched their chicks."
"I'm too stubborn to listen to dumb old instincts," Harry joked. Harry felt a draft against his back and called "Dobby!"
Dobby appeared. "Yes, Master Harry?"
"This shirt is rags. Could you vanish it and get me a new one from my bags?"
Dobby snapped and Harry was wearing a different shirt. "Done, Master Harry."
"Thank you kindly. Now go back to work," Harry instructed.
The family got over the moment and filed through the Chateau towards the Dining Room. The odd Kneazle padded alongside the group or watched from a perch on the furniture. Indy eyed them but behaved herself. The Dining Room had a massive long table like the House Tables at Hogwarts, every inch of it laden with food. Harry and his mates took seats and loaded their plates on seeing the others not waiting on ceremony. The food was all delicious, of course. Harry ate slowly because he could only use one hand, the other still clutching Cory.
"I'll take that tour now," Harry told Etienne as the meal ended.
"Okay. Might take a couple hours to see everything," the oldest in their marriage said.
"What else are we going to do all afternoon?" Harry asked rhetorically.
Etienne led the Potters on a guided tour of Chateau LaFortier. There was a parlor, where traditionally men smoked cigars and drank brandy after dinner. There was a two-story library that made the one at Hogwarts seem small. The indoor pool, big as one at the Olympics, interested Harry, along with the hot tub bubbling in the corner. The third and fourth floors were mostly bedrooms. Etienne led them to the Heir's Bedroom that belonged to them for the length of their stay. The suite was twice the size of the ones they had at Hogwarts. Harry finally laid Cory down in the bassinet and summoned Kreacher to not let the boy out of his sight and attend to his every need. The elderly House-Elf was happy to comply. Indy curled on her dog bed and took a nap.
A mountain lion Patronus appeared before them. "Etienne, please bring your husbands to the Music Room. Your cousins are going to put on a little concert," Ysabeau's voice said with a slight echo. Then the construct padded off, presumably to spread the message to the rest of the family.
"You heard Maman. Follow me," Etienne said brightly. The six of them went back down to the first floor and to a cavernous room with a full orchestra seating set up and every conceivable instrument hanging from the walls or packed into containers. A few dozen school-age children with a variety of instruments in their hands were seated while a man who looked like Ysabeau stood ready to conduct. What seemed like every guest at the chateau was standing waiting for the performance.
"Good acoustics," Hisoka and Minori commented as they listened to how the conversations in the room echoed off the walls.
"The architect paid special attention to this room," Ysabeau said, walking up to them. She embraced her son and did the same to Harry, kissing him on both cheeks. She cupped his bump. "The ancients were sparse with their blessings for me. You seem to be overflowing with fertility, Harry."
"Well, it's not like I had anything to do with it. Just biology doing its thing," Harry shrugged, not sure how to take that.
"I hope if Etienne has a child in there, it's a girl. We need strong women in this family," Ysabeau said passionately.
"Surely you're strong enough for all of us, Ysabeau," Harry complimented.
"You make me blush. Anyway, let us prepare for the show." Turning and leaving, Ysabeau took post beside Philippe while the orchestra began to warm up. After a few minutes, the show started. Harry had never been to a classical music performance, but he couldn't hear any obvious mistakes in the music as the children played. They played half-a-dozen Christmas carols, each one followed by applause from the family. After the last, the conductor turned and bowed. Then the children went to put their instruments away and rejoin their families.
"Doth my eyes deceive me? Could that be an old man without his cane?" asked a cocky looking man with a mixture of Philippe and Ysabeau's features that walked up to Etienne.
Harry's mate sighed. "Papa doesn't need a cane, Robert, why would I need one?"
The man embraced Etienne, implying it was all in good fun. "I heard you managed to snag a Submissive. Where is she? What's her name?"
"HE is right here. I'm Harry," Harry spoke up, not sure he liked Robert LaFortier.
Robert blinked. "Huh. A male Submissive. Didn't know those were a thing."
"Only because you never paid attention during Papa's lectures on Drackens," Etienne stated flatly.
"Who can stay awake when Papa goes on and on?" Robert asked sarcastically.
"I'm not too old to pull you over my knee, Robert," Philippe said, coming up behind his third son.
"Papa, we were just talking about you! All good things, all good things," Robert said brightly. Harry was fast getting the impression that little could get Robert down. Life was a joke to him.
"So I've met Marie-Claire. And now I've met Robert. Where's Sebastian?" Harry asked.
"Here. Did I miss the concert? I came as soon as I could," said a frizzy-haired man who reminded Harry of Etienne's grandfather on Philippe's side that he'd met in the Main LIving Room.
"Let me guess, you volunteered to restock the potion cabinet and you've been in the Laboratory all day," Etienne chuckled at his younger brother.
"A fully stocked potion cabinet can save lives," Sebastian said gravely.
"That and you're addicted to the fumes from brewing all the different potions," Robert teased his older brother.
"There's no empirical evidence that potion fumes can cause addiction," Sebastian protested.
"It was a joke, Sebastian. Laugh," Robert fired back.
"Hahaha. Now, I believe Etienne went and got us five brothers-in-law since last we met," Sebastian asked. If he had glasses he'd have adjusted them.
"Harry Potter, the Submissive. These are Og, Hisoka, Minori, and Morgan, my other Dominants," Harry introduced to both Robert and Sebastian.
People were beginning to filter out of the Music Room.
"Let's continue this in the Living Room," Philippe suggested.
They returned to the huge Living Room and Harry got to now his brothers-in-law and vice versa. At around 7:00, Louis announced dinner was served. They had the feast in the Dining Room and then Harry, exhausted from a long day, begged to go to bed. Etienne and his mates agreed immediately and helped Harry to the Heir's Bedroom, into the shower, and then into bed. Kreacher reported that other than a couple nappy changes and a feed, Cory had done nothing but sleep. Harry nodded, dismissed the elf, then collapsed in the middle of Etienne's childhood bed.
Harry and the Potters had an eventful few days leading up to Christmas. Ysabeau surprised him the day after their arrival to go shopping at Place Cachee, the French Diagon Alley. And there was no turning Ysabeau down. Taking Cory, Harry went and bonded with his mother-in-law as they bought last-minute gifts for the family. Ysabeau assured Harry he didn't have to buy presents for EVERY member of the family at the chateau, just those he knew by name. Harry got a pretty doll for Bluebell and presents for Etienne's siblings. And he got a sample of joke products to send home to Fred and George so they could know what the competition was selling. There was a family excursion into the snow-covered gardens behind the chateau, complete with a hedge maze made of rose bushes. Magical rose bushes, so they bloomed even in winter and in every conceivable shade of the rainbow. Harry found an orange and blue rose that shared a stem and gave it to Hisoka and Minori; they looked touched. Cory, who was just starting to be able to sit up, sat in the snow and examined this new texture. Indy loved the chance to run fast around the gardens. A few kids begged to play catch with her and Harry allowed it; she needed the exercise. Harry shamelessly asked Dobby to take care of Cory for a few hours and joined his other mates in ambushing Etienne and christening his childhood bed.
Christmas Eve arrived and anticipation filled the chateau for the Ball in the evening. Apparently it was tradition for every member of the family to get to open one gift at the Ball before saving the rest for Christmas morning. Harry and his mates entertained themselves around the chateau before 8:00 pm arrived. Dressed formally but not in dress robes, Harry and his mates went to the Main Hall they'd arrived in where the Christmas tree was. The room was even more packed than normal, friends of the family having been invited as well. Harry, by chance, spotted a familiar face. "Fleur?"
His fellow Triwizard champion looked up. Her face lit up. "Harry!" They embraced, Harry unconsciously doing the kiss on both cheeks he'd gotten a lot over the last few days from every woman in the family he met. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"One of my husbands is Etienne LaFortier. We came to spend the winter. What about you? I thought you were planning your wedding to Bill back in England?" Harry asked back.
"Papa and Maman begged I come back for the winter. Probably just as well. A few weeks without me will make Bill miss me so much," she chuckled coyly.
"So I guess your family is friends with the LaFortiers?" Harry assumed.
"Anyone who's anyone in Magical France is friends with the LaFortiers. They're only the richest family in the country!" Fleur said like it was obvious.
"We count our change," Etienne said, holding Cory and coming up behind them along with Harry's other mates.
Fleur curtseyed on recognizing the LaFortier heir, then peered at Cory. "Is this your enfant? I didn't get to visit Madame Weasley when you let her babysit."
"Cormoran 'Cory' Potter. The first of at least five," Harry said, rubbing his prominent bump. He looked at 2 months pregnant with quads how he'd looked at 4 months with Cory. He'd taken to giving his tummy a nightly cocoa butter rub to avoid stretch marks.
"Five kids in less than a year? Careful, Harry, or you'll have more kids than you can keep track of," Fleur gaped.
"The Muggle record for most kids by one couple is 69, and 67 of them lived to adulthood. Records were made to be broken. And I've got five husbands, not just one. I'm having at least 10 kids," Harry said with a confident grin.
"Well, bon chance then. Come, meet Gabrielle and my parents!" Fleur said, grabbing Harry's arm and pulling. Harry went along, his mates trialing silently behind him. Harry met the Delacour family, getting the strong sense Fleur's little sister had a crush on him. Well, he hoped her heart wasn't too broken seeing him with his bevy of husbands. Making farewells and promising to be at her wedding, Harry and his Dominants wandered into the rest of the party. They sipped mulled cider and ate cookies as they waited for the clock to countdown to midnight.
At the stroke of midnight, Philippe cast Sonorus and said "Joyeux Noel!" while raising his cup in a toast. They all echoed him and sipped their drinks. Then a proper single-file line formed leading up to the mountain of presents under and around the tree. A couple House-Elves, dressed like Santa's elves for the occasion, were passing out the gifts. Harry and his mates patiently got in line, taking Cory from Etienne as he waited. When he reached the front of the line, he said "Harry and Cory Potter," to the House-Elves. They nodded and popped two small presents that he could hold in his hand to Harry. Harry got out of line and waited for his mates to join him. As one, they opened their presents.
"Who got me this ring?" Harry asked. Emblazoned on the ring was the colored pentacle he'd drawn on his birthday, the one Og said he'd make the family crest.
"That would be me," Og admitted. "Like it?"
"Love it. Just wonder which finger to wear it on," Harry grinned. Harry opened the small gift for Cory and chuckled. "Who got him a dummy?"
"We did. For when we're too busy with the quads and future babies to see to him right away," Hisoka and Minori confessed.
"Fine, but it's getting tossed or handed down on his 3rd birthday. Dudley didn't give up his dummy until he was 7, made a big tantrum over it," Harry declared.
His mates admired their own gifts and then it was to bed. The next morning, they had a breakfast where Harry could practically taste the anticipation in the air coming from the children and some of the adults. There was a mass exodus from the Dining Room to the Main Hall. The House-Elves were still in costume, popping each person who reached them in line all their presents in a burlap sack to take open at their leisure. Indy saved the Potters a spot by a pillar, chewing on the rawhide that Harry got her as a present. Harry's sack was almost too heavy for him to lift. He needed his mates' help for Cory's bag.
"Okay, I think we went a tad overboard for a 4-month-old," Harry said as he helped unpack the 11th or 12th present for his baby son. This one was a cashmere blanket from Morgan with a dragon emblazoned on the surface.
"Maybe in future we should do a Secret Santa. Each of us only gets one gift from one person," Og offered.
"Perhaps that would be best. I don't ever want to hear '36? But last year I had 37!' come out one of my babies' mouths," Harry shuddered.
"This Dudley of yours intrigues me. How much of his attitude is how he was raised and how much his core character?" Etienne mused.
"Nurture vs Nature, like asking who makes the music: the instrument or the musician. Who knows?" the twins shrugged.
"If I ever run into him after he's been away from his parents' influence a while, I'll let you know," Harry shrugged. Harry opened his own present and grinned. "Ah, a Weasley jumper. My old one is a bit small now. Thanks, Molly."
They all got up, having Dobby and Kreacher teleport their gifts to their room. Harry went to the Main Living Room and settled in with a book on spellsong he'd found in the LaFortier library. Conversation and the sounds of humanity, or rather Drackenkind, flowed over him like a comforting river. Bluebell went up to him and said "Thank you for my doll," politely. Lunch and dinner were relaxed affairs, and Harry decided to go to bed early. The quads took a lot of energy to grow. His mates joined him and their arms around him made him feel safe and loved as he nodded off.