CHAPTER 22

They decided to take some down time at his private beach house in the Bahamas. It was there that they could relax and let go because the whole island was under a fidelus charm and it was unplottable. Hermione watched Harry begin to relax a little more every day. It was at this point their discussion of a few months past hit home to her.

Harry could never relax, could never be free until the threats against him and his family were dealt with. Hermione chewed her lips as she watched him swim in the surf and tried to body surf. She watched him laughing as the spray and the water washed over him. She promised herself that she would help him feel safe.

After a week Hermione approach Harry in the den/library. "Harry have you thought anymore about the Ancient base?"

Harry looked up at her at first "Well, it still sounds good to me but I very much doubt that the Americans will allow us to trapse magicals through their star gate."

Hermione smiled "That is why we wouldn't use theirs." She told him "The database at the base had two gates listed on it for earth. One the Ancients brought here many, many years ago and the other brought by the Gaould. I didn't tell the SGC about the other one."

Harry sat up "That would certainly take care of a great many logistical issues and would give us a way to return from time to time."

Hermione added "If we put it under a fidelus it would be very hard for anyone to find."

Harry looked at her "Do you think by doing this we are running away from our problems, instead of dealing with them."

Hermione knelt in front of him and softened her look before taking his hands in hers "Harry I don't think so. I know you do not seek all of the attention from all of the people who are attacking us. You want peace and you can't do that in this world because you fear that as soon as you do, you will lose someone you love. I think it is a very noble indeed to create your own world."

Hermione kissed his hands "But the important question is the way you feel about it. Do you feel like you are running away?"

Harry looked into her eyes and then nodded "In a way I do but my head says I have done my bit for god and country and it is time for my piece of heaven."

Hermione looked at him "I agree with the last part and no matter what your decision I will stand by your side."

Harry sat up "But Hermione we are a team and this decision will have a profound effect on our lives. You can't ask me to make it on my own and I couldn't do that to you."

Hermione lean forward and kissed his lips "I know this Harry but last week I watched you begin to relax and it took you all week. How long before being constantly on alert will make you crazy? I don't feel this pressure like you do and I wouldn't and couldn't say no to you because it will make you feel safer and happier."

Harry leaned forward and held her face "I think I really want to make a new world for ourselves. A better world where magical and muggles can learn to live together." Harry looked at her for a couple of seconds "I think we should go back to England and at least try to reform this world. If it fails and we leave then at least we can say that we tried."

Hermione bit her lip in thought which Harry found adorable on her. Hermione looked at him tentatively "I am going to say something and it is just a thought and a request and it means nothing more than I want you to think about it, ok?" Harry looked at her and then looked confused before Hermione asked "Harry of all the people in Britain you are the most likely to be able to accomplish change but it would require you to use your fame."

Hermione watched his emotions and then began again "I know you hate that and are loathe to use it but I think you will have to and if the changes needed don't happen then your fame is what people will rally around to come to a new world."

Over the next few days they discussed this with Hermione's parents and together they developed a plan of action. In one weeks time they would move back to Potter Manor. From there Harry and Hermione would start discussion with the Goblins and the Ministry of Magic while Bill and Ellen would work with the other Potter Elves to locate the second Star Gate. Hermione had gotten the coordinates for the second gate and it is from there that they would start their search.

They entered Potter manor with little fanfare by the end of the week. Harry had spent little time there and over the last year and a half his study desk was a pile of unopened letters and correspondence that Lord Potter had not answered. Harry looked at it and moaned. Hermione came a moment later and chuckled at Harry buried behind a pile of letters.

Hermione coyly walked over and with a devious smile looked at him "My, my Lord Potter one could believe you have shirked your duties for far too long."

Harry looked at her with a mock scowl "I can blame some of this on you." Hermione looked at him in confusion before he finished explaining "You have been distracting me from fulfilling my duties."

Hermione smiled at him "Milord not once did I hear you complain about the distraction that you blame me for over the last year."

Harry sniped back as he pointed to the pile "I am complaining now!" Hermione laughed at him.

Harry looked at a letter and then gave a small smirk "Oh, look an offer of a marriage proposal." Harry read some of the letter "It says here that she promises to be loyal, obedient, and less cheeky than any other woman." Hermione stood with her hands on her hips. "This is rather an appealing offer."

Hermione yelled "What?"

Harry looked up at her "I am just saying is all. I mean cheeky women are a pain after all."

Hermione pulled her wand out "Mr. Potter, take it back or I will be forced to hex you."

Harry then gave her a lopsided grin "I was never serious Hermione but it was fun pulling your leg." Harry pulled her down in his chair and kissed her and they both came up needing air minutes later.

Hermione looked at him and smiled "I suppose I could be bribed to help you for the right incentive."

Harry kissed her nose "Incentive huh?"

Hermione kissed him on the lips "Oh yes, my Captain. Incentive is a wonderful thing."

Harry rolled his eyes at her "Let's get through some of this and I will see what I can do."

Five hours later and the house elves call for dinner was enough to break their trance they had been in. Harry looked at the smaller pile and commented "Well we seemed to have made some progress."

Hermione answered without stopping writing her hundredth letter "I am just finishing the last formal refusal for a marriage contract for Lord Potter."

Harry frowned "How many were there?"

Hermione looked up "There were two hundred and twenty total of which 179 were inappropriate either for age, too old or too young; wrong gender; wrong species; and finally just plain creepy. All of those were given a form denial letter signed by Lady Potter."

Hermione continued "Twenty-one were of the right age but were clearly politically motivated. I gave each of these a blanket denial based on the fact you would only marry out of love and saw no benefit to a political convenience."

Harry hugged her "Thanks!"

Hermione continued "Eight of those remaining are from classmates from Hogwarts and women in Britain. I think you should answer personally so as not to offend them as some of the families are well connected in the political circles."

Harry looked at her "Were any of them associated with death eaters?"

Hermione scrunched her eyebrows "I would have to research that to know for sure. I am sure they would deny it now but I believe some were." Hermione continued on her list "You had eleven more from overseas to include America. I sent these twelve a more personal decline so that nobody would be offended." Harry nodded in thanks to her.

Harry looked at the fire for a second and twirled to face her "There is still one remaining."

Hermione looked very concerned and then sat back with a multi-page letter in her hand "Harry, the last one you need to look at." Hermione hesitated and then looked him in the eyes "I think you should consider this one Harry."

Harry looked at her in shock and fell back against the wall "What? Are you crazy? Why would I even consider another person? I have exactly who I want to be with right in front of me." Harry noticed that Hermione had a slight smile on her face as he said this.

Hermione got up and walked to hug him and then she kissed his neck before reaching his lips. She finally leaned back and looked into his eyes "I love you Harry with all my heart and your exactly who I want to be with. I will always stay by your side no matter what. I couldn't leave you because I can't breath without you. I am always in your corner."

Harry looked at her and knew something he wouldn't like was going to be said "Go ahead Hermione, let the other shoe drop."

Hermione stepped back "I know exactly what you are going to do as soon as you get this information and I have fought with it all afternoon. I know your heart Harry and I agree that you will need to do this." Harry crossed his arms waiting for whatever was coming at him.

Hermione pulled the letter in front of her to read it "This one is from Fleur Delacour. She is a quarter Veela and once a Veela reaches maturity they reach their full Veela powers. When she reached sixteen she states that she felt a slight tug because of the life debt she owed you but because she was more witch than veela, she resisted it because she knew that we loved each other and she didn't want to come between us."

Harry's face was an emotionless mask as she looked up at him. Last Week Gabrielle, her sister, turned sixteen and her Veela powers manifested themselves. Hers manifested themselves as Veela and she lost the complete use of magic from her wand.

Harry banged his head against the wall "A Veela can't owe a life debt, they become bound in a slave relationship if they do." Harry's aura started to manifest itself as glass began to break around the room. His anger was getting out of control.

Hermione yelled at him "Harry listen to me, Gabrielle has set herself to die rather than have you know this. She knows that you do not believe in slavery and before she hurts you or burdens you with this she is willing to die." Hermione let a tear roll down her cheek "Harry we can't let that happen. We would never forgive ourselves by allowing another to die. This is not her fault and it is not your fault you did what was right and now two people are being punished for something out of their control."

Hermione placed him in a hug "And now Harry we are going to do the right thing again. We must go to Gabby tonight before it is too late for her. Feel your link to her and follow it and take me with you. We must help her."

Harry looked at her and nodded his understanding "I am sorry I wanted normal so much with you."

Hermione laughed "I wanted Harry Potter because I love him and Harry Potter just doesn't do normal. Life with you is never dull and I wouldn't have it any other way."

As they kissed, Harry apparated them to the Delacour house and they arrived in a well furnished room to the surprise of many people crowded around a bed with a deathly pale girl.

They turned to see a man with very green eyes holding on to a bushy brown headed girl in his arms. Before anyone could say anything Fleur jumped up "Harry, is that you?"

Harry looked at her and saw the tears falling freely around her face. As he looked around the room he saw Fleur's father and mother holding the girl hands on the bed crying over her. He held Hermione's hand "I am sorry about this. Had I known I would have been here sooner. How can we save her?"

Appoline Delacour looked at him "Lord Potter you are willing to accept my Gabrielle?"

Harry looked down "I am and I want you to know that it is my wife Hermione's encouragement that we came as soon as we knew."

Fleur looked surprised at both of them "Hermione? You are ok with this?"

Hermione looked at her "I don't like slavery and I didn't expect to share Harry but it wasn't Harry or Gabrielle's fault that this happened. Harry and I are a team and we have to share what life throws at us. The three of us will work this out so everyone is happy, safe and cared for."

Harry came around to Gabby's bed and knelt beside her "What do I have to do to help her? This is not her fault and she doesn't deserve to be treated this way."

Appoline replied "Non, she believed her fate was to die. To stop her progress she will need to bond with you. Do you know what this means?"

Harry gulped and looked into her eyes "You mean have sex with her?"

Appoline smiled "That is a part of it but not what needs to happen tonight. She needs her mate to be near her for a few days so that the bond can develop." Appoline looked to Hermione "If you are to be her sister mate then you will have to bond with her too. Tonight undress and hold each other with Gabrielle between you. Tomorrow her condition will improve."

Gabrielle Delacour awoke to a pressure on her back and front. She blinked her eyes to clear her vision. She found Harry Potter, the man she owed a life debt to in front of her. She turned and found a very naked girl behind her and when she saw her facial features she recognized her as Hermione Potter, Harry's wife.

She continued to look around the room and realized that it was her room. She knew she was still at home and in France. She knew nothing about how Harry and Hermione came to be in her bed. She breathed in deeply as she was not dead. She remembered falling asleep sometime ago and believing that sleep would be her last.

Harry moved a little to snuggle closer and Gabrielle felt his hardness nestle right against her. She then realized that her left leg was over Harry's body and that had left her wide open. She tried to move away a little but gasped as she felt him at her door. The sensations made her shudder.

She felt Hermione shift behind her and then a whisper in her ear in French. "Do you feel better Gabby?"

Gabby quickly answered "Oui!"

"We are sorry we didn't get here sooner. Had we known we would have helped you much sooner." Hermione told her.

Gabby turned to look at her "I am sorry for this. I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to come between you and Harry. I could feel how much you loved each other three years ago."

"We know and understand that. You will not hurt our marriage." Hermione told the girl. "We, the three of us, will work this out together."

Gabby turned with a smile "You will allow me to participate, to be with him too?"

Hermione pulled her one hand up on Gabby's arm and smirked "Maybe if you are a good girl." Gabby turned to fully meet her eyes and then looked into them. She saw warmth, caring, and concern and she smiled up at her. Gabby, without thinking reached behind Hermione's head and pulled her into a kiss. Hermione seemed to resist at first and then suddenly gave in to it. After a moment Gabby pulled away.

Hermione sat up and touched her lips and then looked at Gabby as the girl stated "I am a sexual creature Hermione and I can be as good or bad as you want me to be with Harry or you. I will not force my needs on you but I can sense another's desire as easily as I sense their Aura's."

Hermione seemed to contemplate this for many seconds and then turned back to the girl "You need to complete your bond with Harry, is that correct?"

Gabby answered "Oui, I do but I must bond with both of you."