On the first of November, Harry Potter was sitting in a beach chair at one of the 'Club Sirius' chain of holiday camps. This one was located at Ellis Beach, north of Cairns Australia. The resort had its own beach, and convenient access to the Great Barrier Reef for those who enjoyed snorkelling, scuba-ing or using gillyweed.
Harry was expecting friends and family to arrive for the fourth annual celebration of what he had come to call the great 'Shooting Fish in a Barrel'.
When Jack Black heard of Harry's dealings with the rest of British magical society, he told Harry that he had proved himself worthy of the family name, and that he and Chrissie would be definitely joining the group for the celebrations. Mark and Janine would be coming just for the day and the fireworks.
Jack and Harry had negotiated with the local salties to leave their section of the beach alone. The big males got thirty chickens a month, and their harems and the smaller males got twenty a month each. Jack commented that with this bribe, they really didn't even need to get the crocs agreement not to attack as they, being cold-blooded and so not needing to eat as often as mammalian or avian predators, wouldn't be hungry any time soon anyway.
The two wizards had also had a chat with the local snake population, and worked out an agreement that the wards around the property would keep rodents out, so that the snakes could hunt at the periphery, and so did not need to enter the campsite (with some rather severe and painful consequences if they did). The wards, which extended several hundred metres into the sea, would also keep out other undesirable and toxic creatures, such as the jellyfish and cane toads.
Harry had long since reconciled with Ginny, now Mrs Dimitrov. She and Grigor had first gotten together at the World Cup of Quidditch, when in what was billed as 'The Family Feud', she and Ron (on the English team) had played against Viktor and Grigor (Bulgaria). She had met Grigor earlier at Ron's place in Sofia, as he was Sophia Krum's brother. . When Grigor was drafted by Liverpool in the English League, they met frequently and fell in love at the quidditch pub (The Broom and Snitch) in Blackpool when the Harpies, the Clippers and the Anglesey Angels hung out
When George Weasley heard of their engagement, he considered their positions on their teams, and fell over laughing. After a frustrating half hour trying to get a sensible answer from her brother, Ginny was informed that Ginny, as Seeker and sometimes Chaser, was given the task of inserting something into a round orifice, while Grigor as Keeper was supposed to prevent it. In George's opinion, if they were getting married, they would have to switch roles. Ginny quickly and very pointedly advised him that the Keeper's function would no longer be at all relevant once she was married.
Harry looked up the beach at the beautiful witch with a stunning head of long red hair approaching, holding little Tomas's hand on one side and that of her husband in the other.
He heard a giggle from behind him and turned to see Lady Black smiling at him. She looked up from little Giselle at her breast and said "Harry, you still love Ginny, don't you? I have no complaint, my love. You have enough love for us all." Harry nodded, and added "She always had such lovely hair."
Mrs Black, on his other side, laughed "Good catch, Potter". She was cradling little Jimmy, who had fallen asleep against Pansy's swelling belly, which the healers had said contained a little sister.
Gabrielle added with a light giggle, "Lovely like our little Giselle, no" – caressing her newborn daughter's blonde fuzz – the girl had inevitably inherited her mother's hair colour, but Gabrielle knew she would have to keep Giselle's hair long enough to weigh it down, as she had unfortunately inherited her father's unruly hair. When Harry first saw the wild bush on Gabi's third daughter's head, he commented that she might be the first Veela to have an 'Afro' style.
Harry looked around, and asked Gabrielle "Where are Coco and Debbie? I don't see them and I don't like them wandering down to the beach on their own. They're still too young."
Gabrielle shook her head in disgust at her husband's query, and responded "Mademoiselle Aldeberanna Black is at the beach with sa tante et ses cousines! And chéri, if you must shorten her name, please call her Anna – 'Debbie' sounds like the name of a girl who takes off her clothes for the entertainment of men. When she goes to school, she and her friends will decide what to call her as they create their own self-images and awareness of the world – if she decides at that time to be 'Debbie', qu'elle domage, I will not be happy about it but then, I am only her mother. Ultimately, the name we wear is our own choice. Anyway, she is at the beach with Fleur and Victoire and Dominque."
Harry smiled at his first wife, and asked "But isn't it a nude beach?" to which the Veela grinned and nodded and said "Yes Harry, and at the age of two and a half years, clothes are such an encumbrance, not as in later years when they will be a fine accessory to the beauty of our daughter."
Harry smirked a bit. "Gabi, for a Veela, you are sounding rather prudish."
Gabrielle looked at her husband sternly. "Ce n'est pas gentil, Harry! Tu moque de moi." To which her husband replied, "Oui, ma chére femme, un petit peu. After all, you are Veela. I thought Veela were creatures of love."
Gabrielle nodded. "Oui, I am Veela, but my days of attracting or entertaining men ended before they could begin. And it was your fault, my dear husband! Because of what you did for me, and what that did to me, my undressing for the entertainment of men is for your eyes, and your eyes only, mon chér mari. And yes, the three beautiful daughters you and I brought into this word are Veela with all the blessings and pains that includes. I am Veela, and happy that our girls are as well, but neither am I blind to the unkindnesses and sheer evil which this world holds for beautiful girls, who must learn to make their way without you and I by their sides to protect them, and although we will teach them how to be safe, they are still innocent little girls, and I would like that they can enjoy it for a longer time than either you or I were given. I am their mother, and it is my role in life to worry about them."
"But at the moment, Tori and Niki are keeping their eyes on our petite Anna and making sure she gets into no trouble. And to finish my answer to your original question, Capella Colette is inside, most likely sitting contentedly on the lap of my mother, who is probably telling her fantastic stories about the fairies who, by the way, are her distant cousins."
Fleur and Bill Weasley had arrived that morning with their family, and Michel and Franni had come the previous evening. The two French women were overjoyed at their first meeting with little Giselle, while Michel smiled at his son-in-law and said "Mon vieux, we men, I am afraid that we are outnumbered, yes. At least you have the one boy", looking over at little James Cyrus (named for both his grandfathers).
Harry mentioned to Michel that Pansy's father had died a couple years ago, just before Jimmy was born, and so they could use his name again. At Michel's raised eyebrow questioning this concept, Harry explained that Moishe had told Harry about the Jewish custom of not naming a child for a living relative, as it would tempt the 'evil eye'. Harry told Michel that he had experienced enough evil in his own life, and although not being Jewish himself, he was not willing to take any chance of evil following his son. It had seemed a reasonable precaution.
As every year, he had sent a personal invitation for Hermione to join the party. Gil and Elly Granger had also been invited, as always, but so far had begged off.
As he had promised Gil and Elly when he asked for Hermione's hand, Harry had had Gabrielle and Pansy meet Gil and Elly, before he agreed to marry either of them. The non-maj couple had found this quite awkward, but were in part impressed that Harry was following through with the promise he made to them, even if the reason for the promise no longer seemed pertinent. Gil and Elly had discussed it at length, and could not decide whether it was just Harry being honourable, whether there was still hope for their daughter and him, or whether it was a sign of Harry's desperate inability to give up on the girl who had been one of his first true friends.
Hermione's description of what Harry had done didn't match what they knew of the young wizard they had come to respect, and they considered the possibility that Hermione, because of an abbreviated description of what happened which she got from her best girlfriend who had just escaped being raped, had gotten extremely upset and had not got the whole story straight. They knew their daughter was a proud and fiercely stubborn young woman, and now she might be in a position where her pride would not allow her to say she was wrong. Harry's continuing contact might just indicate that he was leaving that door open.
Hermione herself was also puzzled by what could be considered Harry's inability to get over her, but in the back of her mind, there were other thoughts as well.
Ron and Magda were supposed to arrive the next day with their three kids, but Molly and Arthur had come the previous day with George and Angelina. Farflenurg and his mate, as well as Grippinghand and her husband were to arrive in two days, officially on an inspection tour of the properties and the bank's investments, as goblins never took holidays (or so they said).
As always, Molly had refused to go topless at the beach, as most of the other women were doing, claiming that she needed the support, and she found that the 'bra' spell many witches used was rather uncomfortable. Instead she wore a white satin two-piece suit which resembled a bikini bottom and a French bustier above – Arthur thoroughly (and very obviously) approved of his wife's favourite swimsuit. When she first wore the suit, she had asked Gabrielle (being French) why it was called (as she pronounced it) a 'boost-yeah'. Ginny laughed and told her mother that it was because it boosted her 'yeahs'.
Neville and 'the harem' (Nev commented that Sue and Hannah might as well have been the world's only strawberry-blonde Veelas, as they seemed to produce only girls) had come in the previous evening, having left England that morning, and had stopped in Dubai to try out the artificial sky hill. Between the two witches, the family had seven daughters. Hannah jokingly complained that Sue had five to her two, and Nev had better pay more attention to her instead of always 'jumping Susan's bones' (Sue responded by saying that as Maddy Jenny, and Alexis had come as a package deal, she thought they were pretty even in production. She was just a bit more 'efficient' than Hannah).
By virtue of delivering her first daughter five minutes before Sue delivered hers, Hannah was declared Lady Longbottom (presumptive) while Susan became Mrs Longbottom. After that, as both witches were taking Healer training, each had delivered each other's children.
Neville was also bringing along Millicent Bulstrode, who had worked with Nev in the gardening club at Hogwarts. After a couple of very tough years undergoing detoxification and rehabilitation for injuries sustained, and seven suicide attempts with toxic plants, Millie was finally putting her life back together. She had taken some remedial training with Pomona Sprout, and completed her NEWT in Herbology (interrupted by the war). She still had some low points, but was starting to move on. She was now managing one of Nev's herb and plant greenhouses. Millie told Hannah that, now that Poppy Pomfrey had managed to remove most of her scars, and she had become a lot more fit, she was looking forward to trying out a skimpy swimsuit – she commented to Hannah that this would be the first time she would be almost naked, but where nobody would expect anything more than that from her, and she was really looking forward to this new situation.
Katie and Seamus and their families were going to come when they could, but would definitely be there in time for the commemorative fireworks show that George had planned for the anniversary (after all, light is a form of radiation, so Harry had not really lied to the wizarding public), and the Krums and the rest of the Weasleys and were coming the day after next.
Gabrielle looked at Harry carefully, as he continued to look towards the floo connection. She said quietly, "I don't think she is coming, Harry. Not this year, maybe not ever. I am sorry, my love, but we Veela can look into the heart, and you have a hole in yours. I don't know that it will ever heal."
Just then, the floo connection flared green, and two young women stepped out gracefully, while Gil Granger stumbled out, holding his wife up to prevent her from falling, saying loudly to his daughter, "Hermione, I don't care how many times we do that. That's just weird!"
Harry rose to greet the newcomers, when he was swept into a hug from a short blonde witch with the little-girl sing-song voice. Luna looked up into Harry's eyes, and said simply "They approve of me. They have given their approval."
Harry stood stock-still with his mouth hanging open, as the implications of Luna's statement hit him.
He turned to face the bushy-haired witch who was standing in front of him.
Hermione said simply "Hello Harry. Do you have another hug for an old friend?" She was instantly swept into a crushing hug, and managed to croak out "You don't quite need to put the five years worth into one single hug."
As Harry released her, she was swept into hugs from the entire crowd. Ginny was first, saying "Hi Sis. We missed you! We missed you terribly."
Harry called for an elf, to arrange for a room for the Grangers (who were not really expected), and turned to Luna and asked "Would you prefer a cabin of your own, or are you sharing with Hermione?"
Luna smiled in her quiet way, and said, "I think you need to discuss that with Hermione."
Again, Harry stood there looking a bit stunned as additional implications became apparent.
He turned to his first female friend and asked simply "Hermione?"
She looked at him with sad but determined eyes. "I notice that the position of Mrs Potter is still vacant. Can I apply for the job? Please?"
Harry looked over at Gabrielle and Pansy, who were nodding vigorously.
With a bit of a wicked smile to his 'Black' wives, Harry turned to Hermione, and said, "No, I don't think so." As the shock and hurt began to show on her face, he added softly and lovingly, "However, if you are willing to settle for the more senior position of 'Lady Potter', I think I can accommodate."
Harry was again on the receiving end of a vigorous hug, as Hermione mumbled into his shoulder through her tears "That was nasty, Harry! Even if I deserved it. And I did. And thank you."
Hermione took Harry's head in her hands and turned his face towards her again. "Harry, it took me a long time to think it over. A long time. I knew you were a better man than what I was accusing you of. You could not more turn into a monster than I could grab a piece of the sun and hold it in my hand." She was momentarily distracted when Pansy started to choke and laugh at the same time.
"When I saw Luna's and Skeeter's articles, I just couldn't reconcile what I knew of you, and what they were saying. I was still hurting so badly about the elves, and so put it behind me for a long time as I was finishing my Healer training, but my mind kept coming back to it. Finally, I arranged a meeting with Pansy and Farflenurg, who explained things."
"Harry, I am a proud woman, and perhaps a foolish one. I have been blind, but I think my eyes are open now. The hardest part was getting past my pride – sometimes pride is just too damn expensive. Can I retract my statement of a couple years ago?"
The long hurt was still in the back of Harry's eyes, as he looked over at his approving wives, and an altogether too eager Luna Lovegood. A bit of a twinkle came into his eyes, and he asked, "Which statement? The 'yes', or the 'no'?"
Hermione said quietly, almost shyly and sadly, "The 'no'. Please." She then looked over at Ginny and George, who looked like they were starting to laugh, and said, "You have definitely been hanging around the Weasleys too much!"
Harry smiled and said "If you remember, we are both ex-officio Weasleys, because they adopted us both."
Harry looked into Hermione's deep brown eyes. "Hermione, you were the first girl I was ever friends with. You were the first I fell in love with. I know you realized that I had very little chance of surviving Voldemort, and by the time it looked like I might live, you had set your heart on Ron. I couldn't come between you, I just couldn't. I couldn't do that to you, and I couldn't do that to Ron. Hermione, I tried to be what Ginny wanted, what Ginny needed. I couldn't. When she sent me back the ring, I was relieved. In my heart of hearts, 'Mrs Potter' has always been you. When I found out all the legal obligations I inherited, 'Lady Potter' was you. Only you."
He then dropped to one knee, and held out his right hand which was holding the Potter family engagement ring. "Hermione Granger, I ask again. Will you marry me?"
Before Hermione could speak to make it official, Harry Potter found himself and his first girlfriend wrapped in a multi-person hug with at least five blondes and a whole bunch of red-heads.