Chapter 17 – Here we go again
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The next month was quiet. Snape still ranted but without Ron and Draco in Snape's class the day was less challenging. Draco had his trial and got life in Azkaban while Cheryl and Luna got a lot closer to me and I them. The rumor mill said that Dumbledore had ICW business and was thankfully gone for most of the time. Bill Weasley was having some kind of troubles but all the rumor mill knew was he had received howlers a couple of times. Ron was not around to run his mouth so little was known about Bill's problems.
I think I am in love with two girls, what am I to do? Luna says I can have multiple wives according to old wizarding laws and my weekend is now being ruined by the Minister having another speech he wants me and Amy to attend.
"Harry my boy it great to see you again."
"Minister Scrimgeour it's my pleasure, may I introduce my friends Luna Lovegood and Cheryl Beauvais. Any special things going on I should know before your presentation?"
"Ladies" the Minister said with a quick nod. Turning back to me, "Nothing special a little speech to reinforce and give my assurances that everyone is safe whether it is in Diagon Alley or the Ministry."
"Yes we notice the Aurors in the Atrium." Cheryl commented.
"Definitely don't want a repeat of our last speech to the wizard world now do we? We have pulled in every Auror to guard the Ministry and Diagon Alley for this speech."
The Ministry and Diagon Alley were indeed safe but unfortunately Azkaban was raided by Voldemort's forces. Voldemort lead the attack to get his followers and of course Draco was included in those being freed.
/Scene Break/
"Harry, Harry! Harry you will never guess what happened?" Cheryl was definitely on a high.
"Due tell my gorgeous Veela."
"Bill has released me as his apprentice and got me a job in Gringotts."
"That's strange I thought…"
"Oh there is a lot more. Bill and Fleur are moving to America there appears to have been a big fight in the Weasley family so he asked Gringotts for a transfer."
"What am I a chopped flubber worm?" Luna pouted.
"No you are my gorgeous Nargal eradicator." I had told both girls that I was in love with them both. They both seemed receptive but not to my hormonal urges, at least not yet. Putting my arms around their waists as I escorted them to lunch where they chatted over Cheryl's new job.
/Scene Break/
Luna had joined us for NEWT testing so we were only waiting to finish the year and then reality hit me in the face. What was I going to do? Cheryl had her job, Luna was running the Quibbler with her father and I was standing around in the world like an idiot.
"You could always work for the Ministry or become an Auror." Luna suggested.
"I bet the Goblins would love to have you working for them." Cheryl stated.
"The Goblins at Gringotts, what as a janitor?" The idea of working for Gringotts confused me.
"Well you and Ragnok get along and so do you and Scrimgeour, maybe as a liaison?" You know how much the Goblins and the Ministry hate each other, I would prefer to live to see twenty, thank you very much ."
That running conversation came to a halt the following week, Scrimgeour needed to make another speech on how everything was great in the magical world. This time he assembled everyone at Hogsmeade as the last two times were a bit of a disaster. His last speech was not accepted very well in the magical community.
The speaking platform was setup across the street from The Three Broomsticks. 'Avada Kedavra' was the last thing that Minister Scrimgeour heard which ended his speech at mid-point. I was not fast enough nor was Amy around to save the Minister. The curse came from within the gathered crowd. Then came the Deatheaters followed by Voldemort.
Standing on a raised platform was suicidal but I had two girls to worry about who were standing on either side of me. I was about to call for Amy when she appeared.
Cheryl, Luna grab onto Amy I'll 'fade' right behind you!"
I of course lied and when they left I scanned the fighting to see where my best advantage to fight from. I was thinking of drawing the Deatheaters away from the panicked population who were running around in circles. Curiously Dumbledore was not wading through the sea of Deatheater to confront Voldemort, he was no where on the battlefield that I could see. I 'faded' to a place in front of Voldemort when everything stopped. Like before everyone were like statues, I scanned the area for Thanatos. Thanatos suddenly materialized in front of me and almost causing me to soil myself.
"Dam you Thanatos don't do that! I shouted.
"Alright Harry enough is enough, time has been suspended and the boss has told me to have you make a decision. You will dump that little red stone you wear into this mixture and then drink this Regeneration Potion made by the bosses people…or you will be forced to come with me right now ending your time here." Thanatos then laughed and continued in an attempt at humor, "You will come with me if you drink this but much later when the potion wears off... lets say in a hundred years or so."
"What is this regeneration potion?"
"The potion helps restore non-corporeal wizards to their bodies. Your soul has been stuck in 'limbo' and hidden from my grasp and since it was not ejected by you Harry it will happily return to you unlike intentionally made Horicux's. You were your souls Horcux in reverse, it couldn't move on while you were here but couldn't return to you until you were corporeal."
Besides a serious headache coming on I still had a question or two." You're telling me all of Voldemort's Horcruxes are worthless to him."
"Got it in one, as each container is broken the soul seeks another that is closest to merge with—it can't be returned to sender as it was rejected by it host and it remains rejected and unable to return. We will be picking up the entire lot of them when his wrath is toast."
"How do I know you are not lying to...?" Thanatos gave me a stupid smile and pointed upwards. At the moment he pointed upwards Thanatos disappeared.
I looked up and saw the largest lightning bold I have ever seen or heard of pointed at my head from the sky. Somehow everything didn't seem important other that dropping the stone into the potion and gulping it down. I dropped the stone which dissolved instantly and I gulped, that's when everything started again. That's also when my world went dark.
/Scene Break/
"Harry my boy you did it!" was the first think that hit my senses as I opened my eyes. The second thing was I was in Hogwarts hospital wing and I hurt all over. Waking up to Dumbledore's happy voice did not stop my brain flashing to the last thing I remembered which took a mille-second. Time had restarted; I had drunk the potion only to see a million curses headed at me, well, a lot of curses heading at me. Then I realized that Thanatos had given me false hope as the lightning bolt hit me ending my recall.
"You did it my boy you turned Voldemort into ash with your lightning bolt. The power he knows not killed every Deatheater surrounding you along with the Dark Lord."
"Mr. Potter it's about time you woke up, here, drink these two potions." I must remember to thank Madam Pomfrey for getting me away from the happy meddler. One of the potions put me back into a dreamless sleep.
/Scene Break/
I awoke to soft hands and beautiful faces. "How are you Harry, did the Wackadoodles get you?" That told me we were not alone.
"I believe they did Luna and I am fine. So what's this I hear about knocking Volde's shorts off and…?"
"Yes you are now back on the hero side of the ledger, so states the Dailey Profit." Cheryle added.
"Yes indeed my boy we are going to have to make some public appearances. The little people are demanding we make an appearance or two." Dumbledore it seemed could not leave me alone.
"Ah Mr. Potter I see you are awake. Lets remove that bandage off your arm and you should be free to leave." Madam Pomfrey was again saving me from Dumbledore and his monolog.
"What was wrong with my arm?"
"Seems you got hit with a nasty cutting curse, you bleed quite a lot. It must have been a dark curse as you bled for a while until we got it back under control."
I wondered if…no it had to be…if I bled then I was human again?
"Come on girls lets get me out of Madam Pomfrey's loving care and back to the Dark Lords Room."
"I'm afraid we must have a chat in my office first. There are a number of important things we must resolve. There is also our need to visit the new Minister of Magic Pius Thicknesse."
"Fine I'll meet you in your office in a few but right now I need to get dressed unless you wish half the school to see my bum."
Dumbledore left and I threw on some clothes, "Let's get out of here and head to Dun-Potter. I don't think any of us have any more use for this place."
"Amy?" She flew in and the girls grabbed a tail feather and were gone. I then found that I couldn't 'fade' nor could I turn into my spirit form. Oh well looks like I will have to bum a ride with Amy. A book hit me on the head about that time, all the pages were blank except something called 'Elf teleportation', 'Invisibility spell', and '64 pleasure spots on a female and how to use them'. I was about to say thanks to the gods when a piece of paper fell out of the book.
Harry
You have one month to enjoy your freedom. During this month I suggest you marry those two girls and fill a dozen trunks with Galleons. I have it from good sources that all heck is about to erupt. You have always trusted me so far, please continue. Dun-Potter will always be a safe haven.
Your friendly death reaper, Thanatos
While me trusting Thanatos was stretching things I couldn't argue that he had in his weird way saved my life and my soul. How could I not follow his suggestions? My only problem was convincing the girls. Thoughts of them in my life forever had indeed been on my mind but now I had to find a way to do this and not look or feel like we had to do this.
Re-opening the book I started talking to my self, "This is not real! Thanatos is doing a joke! This Elf teleportation is dead simple it's almost like 'fading'." I was in Dun-Potter a second later.
"Girls we need to talk." I needed to catch up on what I had missed while in la-la land and of course see if they wanted to get married.
Getting hit on the head with a bolt of lightning was not enlightening so between the Dailey Profit and rumors, I learned what happened from the girls.
"The bolt of lightning struck you but it splintered. A large splinter hit Voldemort and the rest splintered into small bolts that hit the Deatheaters and only the Deatheaters. Ash is what was left of anything that got hit by the lightning except you." Cheryl explained.
"You just collapsed and we took you to Madam Pomfrey." Luna moaned.
"They think that you threw the lightning but we are not complaining because Voldemort is dead. The Wizengamot appointed Thicknesse as Minister the next day." Cheryl added.
"No one knows much about him but he does appear to be popular." Luna added as editor of the Quibbler.
"Girls I have a request for you and you too Amy, we need to do some shopping in Diagon alley tomorrow and then do a bit of withdrawing of Galleons from my vaults. Then I would like you two to make reservations at the most romantic place you know. I know this is not overly being romantic but we need to do a number of things and quickly. So is everyone ready for another wild ride in our lives?"
"Dam!"
"Dobby!"
POP
"Yes Harry Sir."
"Dobby there is trouble on the horizon and would you insure the castle is prepared for a siege. Make sure the larder and Dun-Potter is ready for a siege of a year, that should be enough."
"We will prepare Harry Potter Sir."
POP
/Scene Break/
The next day was a whirl wind of activity. I found out that I could 'Elf Teleport' both girls and myself at the same time which was nifty. We hit the trunk shop next and got a trunk each with auto-shrinking, expanded interiors and weight-less charms. We then headed to Gringotts.
I had no sooner entered the bank when I heard, "Harry have you time for a word?" Since it was Ragnok I bowed and smiled and accepted. We were on the main floor and protocol needed to be observed. One does not say no or not now to the Goblins Managing Director of Gringotts. We entered a conference room and Ragnok asked, "So Lord Potter has finished the Dark Lord Voldemort!"
"Yes that is what they say Ragnok but I was not conscious at the time so I will have to take your word."
"So what brings you to our bank at this joyous time?"
"I have been informed by a reliable source that in about twenty-nine day all heck was going to happen so I have need to obtain a large amount of Galleons. If I knew what was to befall me I would be happy to say but my source was not specific. We are preparing for a siege of one year at Dun-Potter."
"You sound quiet serious about this Harry."
"Let's say my source is not to be ignored if one cherishes life."
/Scene Break/
Later that evening at a private booth in the Dragons Breath restaurant a proposal was being made for two. After much humming and hawing not to mention some stuttering Harry Potter asked the question, "Will you marry me by the end of the month?"
I am definitely now sure that there is somewhere buried in every girl a Rugby Scrum front rower. I was tackled and crushed but unlike Rugby I found the kissing part quiet uplifting and stimulating. That's when the planning started and I was ignored, left to the sidelines to observe. Owls were sent and the girls coordination would make professional chasers in Quittage take note.
While the Quibbler's editor and father of the bride raced in to stop this abuse of his little pumpkin, he ran into a wall of Veela and ended on the sidelines drooling. I have never thought that coordination of flowers, colors or arrangement could take so many people and such intense discussions. The Goblins might have thought that our removing three trunks of Galleons made a large withdrawal of funds until they found the cost of the Potter's wedding. At least now there was a walkway in one of the vaults that I owned.
As a gentleman I will not go into the coordinated effort of my brides that wedding night. I will however state emphatically that if Thanatos had not provided me with the book with '64 pleasure spots on a female and how to use them' I would have been in big trouble on our wedding night.
/Scene Break/
Luna made our honeymoon a huge success as she directed us to places and beaches that always seemed to be devoid of people and problems. Alas there came the time when Cheryl needed to return to Gringotts and Luna to the Quibbler. I was looking forward to a break from the bedroom at least during the work day. I however ran into Dobby's new work load and of course my problems plus a few new ones.
As the hero of the world I received fan mail and other important scribbling. On the first day I was alone I asked Dobby for the owl post and got a shock. In the den was three grouping of parchment and letters, one from the Ministry, one pile from Dumbledore's and his group. Off to one side was a stack of marriage contracts. Out back there was a small hill of mail from everyone, their relatives, solicitors, and requests for my endorsement of their products. Leaving the mountain of mail to rot in the back yard I went to tackle the three piles in the den.
"Harry Sir, this end is the oldest and this end is the newest to arrive. The ones with the red ribbons contain port-keys or compulsion charms."
"Great job Dobby. Why don't you bring the other elves in so we can tackle all this garbage?"
And so we started. At first there were request that I contact the Ministry or Dumbledore. The Ministry requests soon became demands while Dumbedore's letters started laying guilt trips on me, then we hit the port-keys. I had a marvelous idea and sent piles of letters from the hill of mail in the back yard with the returning port-keys. At least it was fun while it lasted.