Chapter sixteen
"Shhh," Gregory whispered through his muffled laughter. Harry muffled his own laughter into Gregory's shoulder as he pressed closer to his fiancé.
"Where did they go?" The both of them stopped breathing as they heard Carina's voice close by.
"Huh they came in here, they had no other way out," Ron said.
"Oh my Hermione is going to kill them!" Remus snickered.
"Kill who?" Hermione's voice joined the others.
"Harry and Gregory have disappeared," Ron said slowly.
"What, but the only way out is passed all of us," they could hear the confusion in her voice.
"They've snuck out," Remus was laughing now.
"Why?! But we were in the middle of planning!" Hermione protested.
"Honey, you know how much I love you, and I do, so so much, but you were going a little over board, until Harry said about them getting more drinks neither of them had said anything in over an hour...honey," Ron coughed.
"What...they were offering opinions," Hermione protested.
"Maybe we could use a locating spell on them," Carina suggested making Gregory look at Harry side eyed, only for Harry to smirk mischievously at him.
"That wouldn't work, I knew I shouldn't have taught him the charm to block that spell," Hermione groaned.
"Honestly let the two of them alone, Ronald is right they haven't been able to say a word for hours," Marcus snorted. "Come on,"
"How long do you think before they go?" Harry whispered.
"Another half an hour or so probably," Gregory whispered back. He gripped Harry's hips and lifted him up onto the low cabinet that they kept in their kitchen cupboard before settling himself between Harry's legs.
"I can't believe that we are having to hide in here from them over our wedding plans, I thought they weren't going to stop, Harry groaned.
"I knew they were going to be excited about this but I didn't think that they would be this excited," Gregory huffed, he leant forwards to nose Harry's cheek. Harry turned and captured his lips in a soft kiss.
"Sure you don't want to run away?" Harry whispered.
"Don't tempt me," Gregory groaned.
"Ok...blue, green or turquoise?" Harry asked looping his arms around Gregory's waist.
"I like blue,"
"I like blue too, it reminds me of your eyes, what about with silver?" Harry suggested.
"I like that, seat covers?" Gregory smiled.
"Basic, I did not like all those ruffly, type thingies," Harry scrunched his nose.
"Location?"
"Here," Harry said.
"Here, really?" Gregory asked shocked.
"Yes, in the ballroom with maybe the ceremony in gardens?" Harry asked.
"In the rose garden," Gregory nodded.
"I would love that," Harry grinned.
"Small, no big fuss or trumpets," Gregory sighed.
"Family and friends only, something personal," Harry nodded.
"There, sorted," Gregory grinned.
"The coast is clear now my boys, and don't worry I will have a word with Carina, and I think Ronald is talking to Hermione," Marcus said through the door. Harry and Gregory froze staring at each other before they burst out laughing as they heard Marcus walking through the kitchen.
"How are there so many shades of blue?!" Harry groaned as he bounced Teddy on his hip.
"Welcome to the nightmare of planning a wedding," Andromeda laughed.
"Honestly there are so many decisions to make over choices I didn't know existed," Harry huffed.
"Have you started to put the food list together?" Andromeda asked.
"Oh that is all Gregory! I can cook but I have no idea what types of food you serve at things like this. I am just going to look over his list at the end and yay or nay it," Harry smiled.
"I love this shade and it will go lovely with silver," Andromeda held up a swatch.
"Oh I like that one," Harry nodded. He added it to the small pile of blue swathes that he liked.
"So aside from all the planning of the wedding how is everything going?" Andromeda asked.
"Perfectly to be honest," Harry smiled widely. "I love him, he is...perfect. Merlin I sound like a love sick fool," Harry sighed bouncing Teddy a little more.
"Of course you do, you're marrying him, I would be worried if you weren't sounding like a love sick fool," Andromeda chuckled.
"I have something to ask you about, something that I wanted to talk to you about," Harry said slowly.
"You want to move fully into the manor," Andromeda smiled.
"I...yes," Harry looked worriedly at Andromeda.
"Harry, it was always going to happen, you have been staying over here more and more. And so have we, I know you don't see it, but we gravitate to you, this place, this kitchen is becoming home and a safe spot for us more and more. This however means that you come and visit more! Don't think that you're getting away from me this easy," Andromeda smiled.
"I haven't even spoken to Gregory about this yet," Harry said sitting down at the table.
"You really think that he is going to say no?" Andromeda snorted.
"No, not really," Harry blushed.
"Harry? You here?" Gregory called through their rooms.
"Well now is as good a time as any," Andromeda blinked. "Gregory, I'm sorry I was just leaving," She smiled as Harry's fiancé walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, I hope I wasn't interrupting," Gregory looked between them.
"No not at all honestly, I shouldn't have stayed this long, I was only supposed to be dropping Teddy off, luckily Narcissa was running behind, as normal," Andromeda smiled.
"You're going out with Narcissa?" Gregory said brightly.
"Yes, we're having lunch together. Now, I had best be off," Andromeda pressed a kiss to Harry and Teddy's cheeks and then to a surprised Gregory's.
"Lunch that is good, it will make Narcissa's month," Gregory grinned.
"I know, they seem to be making good progress," Harry nodded.
"Everything ok?" Gregory frowned.
"HowaboutifImoveinherewithyou?" Harry blurted out. Even Teddy was blinking up at him a little confused never mind Gregory.
"I'm sorry what?" Gregory asked sitting down next to Harry.
"I have been thinking about things, the way things are going, and well I am here most of the time, and I was just thinking, well it seems a bit silly going back and forth and well I have been thinking about it and wondering if you would mind..." Harry squeaked when Gregory leant forwards to seal their lips together.
"Are you asking if I would mind you living in here permanently?" Gregory asked when he pulled away.
"Yes," Harry bit his lip.
"You really want to...Merlin yes!" Gregory tugged Harry forwards for anther deep kiss. "Oh sorry Teddy," Gregory pulled back to kiss the top of Teddy's head when he made an affronted noise as he was squashed between them.
When he looked up Harry was beaming happily at him.
"I love you," He said leaning forward to kiss Harry.
"I love you too," Harry said against his lips.
"Harry! Harry is it true?!" Marcus called excitedly hurrying as fast as he could into the room.
"Yes, yes I am making beef stroganoff," Harry said distractedly as he was chopping enough beef to feed an army.
"What really? Oh wonderful! No...no I meant that you're moving in? Fully, properly," Marcus said happily.
"Yes I am, nearly everything is here anyway," Harry smiled softly.
"Wonderful!" Marcus beamed wrapping his arms around Harry and hugging him tightly
"Marcus!" Harry laughed.
"I'm so happy my boy! This is wonderful, I was hoping that you would move in fully soon. You bring so much life to this old place!" Marcus said.
"Thank you," Harry smiled hugging Marcus back.
"Oh this is so wonderful, all my family under one roof!" Marcus grinned. He blinked when Harry leant over and kissed his cheek. "Harry?"
"Family...family is something important to me, more important than nearly anything else. I don't really think that I have said it before, but thank you so much for welcoming me into your family, and for making me feel a part of it. It means more to me than you will ever know," Harry said softly.
"Oh Harry, you have become a big part of this family, we're glad to have you, all of us," Marcus sniffed as he tugged Harry into a bone breaking hug.
"Everything ok?" Gregory asked confused as he stepped into the room.
"I was just telling Harry that I am happy he is moving in," Marcus smiled at his grandson.
"Dear Merlin how on the earth did you find out about that already?! I swear these walls have ears," Gregory groaned dropping down into a seat.
"Hard day?" Harry asked concerned.
"I swear they are all idiots! How hard is it to do what I pay them to do?!" Gregory groused.
"Well they do run several massive companies, and they don't have your brains and charm to help them do it," Harry grinned at Gregory's initial scowl and then appeased look. He placed his tea cup down in front of him before pressing his hands into his shoulders and massaged them gently.
"How was the rebuild?" Gregory asked.
"Busy, we're getting there slowly but surely, if nothing else I have a good option in building work," Harry laughed leaning down to kiss Gregory before he moved back to finishing supper.
"So, how much of the wedding have you planned?" Marcus asked casually as he sat down at the table. "Oh don't look at me like that, I am not an idiot," Marcus rolled his eyes.
"Most of it," Harry shrugged.
"And when are you going to put Carina and Hermione out of their misery?" Marcus asked.
"When they stop trying to plan our wedding for us," Gregory smirked,
"In a couple more days, once we get the important things booked," Harry corrected.
"Spoil sport," Gregory grumbled before laughing when Harry threw a bit of raw carrot at his head.
"Well?" Harry cleared his throat as he held his arms out uncomfortably. He shifted when they just stared back at him without saying anything. "Ok, you seriously have to say something here,"
"Harry!"
"Remus are you crying?" Harry asked concerned.
"You look gorgeous," Remus sniffed hurrying forwards to hug Harry.
"You look lovely, it's just...perfect!" Andromeda beamed.
"Looking good little brother," George and Fred chorused.
"Gregory is going to be blown away," Hermione rescued him from Remus' arms to hug him herself.
"He won't know what hit him," Ron nodded.
"Perfect, just gorgeous, so handsome," Tonks sniffed herself hugging him tightly.
"My grandson is a lucky man," Marcus smiled.
"Honestly it is very unusual to have so many people here," The owner complained, at least until Marcus levelled him with what Harry had termed the Malfoy glare. He all but squeaked and hurried over to Harry. "So are you happy with the design?" He coughed.
"Yes it feels comfortable," Harry nodded reaching down to tug gently at the lapels of the white robes. "Are you sure I look..."
"You look perfect!" they all said making Harry smile shyly.
"I like them," Harry nodded brushing his hand along the length of the robes.
"Wonderful, just let me pin your robes and I will get them into the right place," The gentleman smiled.
"You're sure they're not similar to Gregory's?" Harry asked Marcus.
"No, they're quite different in design," Marcus assured him.
"Well then, these are my wedding robes...Merlin that sounds really weird to say, so weird," Harry sucked in a quick breath glancing to the side to look at himself in the mirror.
"It's going to be a perfect day," Hermione smiled stepping up to his side as the owner stepped away.
"We will make sure of it mate," Ron nodded nudging his shoulder in Harry's.
"I can't wait for it!" Harry admitted with a soft smile peering at the image of himself in his wedding robes.