Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews from this and my other stories. I'm very grateful to all of view for writing and for your continued patience and support. MK-ONE
Chapter Twenty-one: Sorrow Filled Tones
Several weeks had passed without incident, normally this was an indication that whatever trouble existed had passed and things could return to a state of normalcy.
Not so for Knight Watch- seven. The seventh installation and crowning jewel in the Phoenix Foundation's family boasted the home base and stadium of the world cup champion –Marauders. It was also the home of the world's foremost Magical Knights, the first two of a new generation: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
One represented the sentient magical races and the other represented the Confederation of Wizards. There were other differences between the two, but not where it really counted. They were brothers in arms, brothers in strife- brothers for life.
Each shared a bond that transcended that which developed between soldiers and other forms of comradeship where one's life depended on the other.
They were family and by extension the teams they commanded were part of that same whole.
Close friends, comrades in arms, ...family.
And four of their number were getting married to each other, further cementing their ties to one another.
It was to be a Christmas wedding for George Weasley to Alicia Spinet and Fred Weasley was marrying Katie Bell.
It was to be Harry Potter's distinct honor to officiate their nuptials, and his curse, (as he saw it), to entertain at the reception and dance.
It was a curse to Harry for several reasons, ie... first and foremost, Harry had not entertained publicly since the night he'd vacated the British Isles and set out to make the Phoenix Foundation a reality. That night had been an emotional experience for Harry that had left its scars upon his mind and heart.
As a result: he had not sung either publicly or privately since that night. Singing to him was a very personal thing. He simply could not bring himself to bare his soul in that fashion anymore.
The night he'd left his surrogate family,.. the night he'd left her...was indelibly etched into the very fabric of his being.
His friends and family amongst the foundation had petitioned him on occasion, during private celebrations, to favor them with a song, but he'd been unable to do so, it just wasn't in him anymore, though he wished it were otherwise as did the rest of his associates, not to mention his fan base the world over.
He'd composed many songs over that time, some he'd published via other entertainers, others he'd kept in the vain hope that one day maybe...?
When Alicia and Katie had asked him to entertain at their reception, he'd fought that tooth and nail, much good that it did him. He'd offered them the moon and the stars as an alternative, but they'd been adamant.
Both wanted Harry Potter to sing at their reception. It was the only gift they'd asked for themselves.
Once they'd enlisted the whole of Knight Watch's female contingent to their cause, he'd conceded defeat.
They were right though. It was time he got over this,.. whatever this was?
Despite his initial misgivings, he'd begun to warm to the idea. That was before the Hydra had made her prediction that 'when next he brought voice, it would be in sorrow filled tones'.
Merlin, how he loathed prophesies. Though initially adding to his reluctance, he'd chosen to ignore said prophesy. He'd had plenty of firsthand experience in all things prophesy related and felt they were fickle things at best.
He wasn't going to live from prophesy to prophesy in a continual cycle of paranoia, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Lastly and, as far as he was concerned, most importantly- she was going to be there.
He'd managed to dodge the bullet that was Ginny Weasley many times over the past several years.
This time was different, however. Ginny would be attending the dual wedding of her twin older brothers, which put her in close proximity for an extended period of time as the Grooms' family was slated to arrive two weeks prior and stay through the New Year as the quests of the Marauders, Knight Watch, the Phoenix Foundation and yours truly, Harry James Potter.
It had taken him some time to get over Ginevra Weasley, some eight plus years and counting to be exact.
Not that he was counting-mind.
He'd gone through every step of the grieving process where Ginny was concerned, and more than once, though quietly and mostly to himself. Draco and Abby had some insight into his self imposed suffering, but he'd not allowed it to become an issue... Lives Came First.
Now He and Ginny were at a stage that could be considered; passively uncooperative with one another. They were polite, courteous and even friendly around one another, but in no way was either willing to meet the other half way when it came to their personal feelings- strong personal feelings, though neither would admit that to anyone, including themselves, or so they believed.
Lately, after she'd sent her brothers several pictures from her last vacation,(all of them in various forms of beach wear, posing in less than a demure and sisterly fashion), he'd taken to reminding himself that she was Fred and George's little sister, that and cold showers-often.
He had the cleanest cuticles in all of Africa,.. and the highest water bill too.
However much they might wish it were otherwise, neither was willing to compromise and make the first move. Both were simply too stubborn for their own good.
The twins delighted in working Harry on their end of things, whilst Hermione and Ron made sure that Ginny knew Harry was out there,.. and still available.
The coming nuptials would mark the first time in over two years that all concerned parties would be in close proximity to one another.
The twins and the rest of the Weasley family intended to make the most of the opportunity.
Unknowingly to Harry, Draco and Abby had conspired against him... for his own good, of course.
"So ,.. what do you think?" she asked nervously.
Hermione smiled knowingly. Fleur, next to her uttered a single, "perfect" without a hint of her telltale accent.
"Y-You think?" Ginny asked hesitantly.
Fleur rolled her eyes at that and Hermione circled around her appraising her choice of gown for the wedding.
"I think you're going to accomplish what no dark wizard or witch ever has." Hermione predicted with a predatory gleam in her eyes.
"What's that?" Ginny asked curiously.
"You're going to be the first person to force the illustrious Magical Knight, one- Harry James Potter- to surrender."Hermione chuckled, then caught herself as a dark expression ghosted across her face.
Thankfully, her two sisters in-law did not catch her change in response and she quickly pasted a smile back on her face, silently dreading the task that awaited her when next she met Harry.
Ginny sighed hopefully at that, critiquing her appearance in the mirror a final time. She wore a strapless pale orange gown of crushed velvet with a modest neckline, open back a hint more leg than she was used to , or was 'proper' for a young witch, so her mother had lectured.
"Hmm, maybe I should have my hair highlighted to bring out the color of my dress?" she suggested.
"Don't you dare?" Fleur gasped.
"I agree" Hermione added. "He's a Potter-man. For all his powers and abilities he's still just a man, and Potter men prefer red heads, or so I'm led to believe?" Hermione left off facetiously.
Fleur snorted at that.
"Maybe I should lighten it a bit more than?" Ginny chewed at her bottom lip. "So it's not such a dark shade?"
"Non" Fleur returned to her native French.
"Weasley red will do just fine. He's always been captivated by your hair." Hermione agreed.
"He said that?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"Never" Hermione answered truthfully, but added bracingly, "He's never had to. His eyes follow you whenever you're in the room and they always shift to your hair eventually. That's when he's the most unguarded that I've ever seen him."
Ginny ran a hand through her auburn locks, disappointed when they reached the end of their length more prematurely than previous.
"I shouldn't have taken so much of the length off. He's used to it being much longer. What if he doesn't like the shorter style?"
Though Molly Weasley might never get over her daughter having "butchered" her once long tresses, everyone else found it captivating. It gave Ginny a freer, more mature and approachable appearance.
"He will adore it, not that he'll probably even notice with the cut of that gown?" Fleur giggled.
Ginny's hand instinctively went to her bust line covering her modesty, but without any sign of her once trade mark blush.
"Oooh, do that again?" Hermione grinned conspiratorially. "When you pull your shoulders forward like that it cinches up your gown and hugs the curve of your hips deliciously, that'll drive him mad." She purred.
Now Ginny was blushing.
Once composed, the conversation turned more serious.
"Are you sure about this, I mean really sure, Ginny?" Hermione asked more to reassure herself.
Ginny nodded slowly with complete certainty." I've worked hard to get to this point. I'm quitting quidditch at the end of this season and going into my field of training. Being offered the position I have been is a dream."
"And having closer access to Harry an added bonus?" Hermione surmised and they all chuckled in agreement before the conversation turned more serious again.
"He is not a boy anymore, Ginny. Harry is a full grown man. He might not feel the way he once did? He might not feel anything for you anymore?"Fleur conceded.
Hermione snorted at that, but it went unnoticed to Ginny whose eyes strayed to the, now empty, box that lie on her dresser table. It was the box that Harry had gifted to her that fateful Christmas when he'd disappeared, wrongfully thought killed in the Final battle with Voldemort.
Ginny had opened the box this past year. She'd known how to open it, had for quite some time, but it was just this year that she finally felt ready to put her heart out there and do it.
She'd found more than she could have dreamed within. Harry was not a boy anymore, true, but what she found in that box had transcended any boyhood dreams of love and commitment.
What she'd found nestled within that box was a gift from the heart to someone who loved, truly loved her and trusted her above all others with something that was beyond priceless to a person like Harry.
The thing was; someone who loved and trusted like that never stopped caring about the person of their affections altogether. It may have changed, even diminished, but never stopped, not altogether.
She was finally ready for the gift he'd left her and so wanted to return it to him now. He'd given it to her and meant it for her, but someone dear to him had meant it for the both of them, as a family- together.
"Ginny...?"Fleur prompted, drawing her from her musing.
"Sorry..." Ginny apologized before acknowledging, "No,.. he's not a boy anymore, nor am I still a girl. I'm ready now. I don't feel the same way anymore, so why should he?"
Ginny turned her gaze to Hermione asking pointedly, "Do you still feel the same way about, Ron?"
"Well of course I do." Hermione shot back as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Are you sure? There's no change, no change at all in how you feel about him now as compared to when you first fell in love?"
Hermione's face colored slightly, but answered truthfully, "Well, of course it's not exactly the same. Maybe not as unsure. We're more confidant and mature about our feelings, they're deeper even...ohh?" Hermione caught on at that last as Fleur sighed in appreciation.
Ginny nodded. "That's how it is for me too. My feelings are deeper now, much deeper and more mature. I'm ready, finally ready to love Harry in the way that he deserves; with all my heart and soul."
"I'm proud of you." Fleur complimented.
Ginny nodded. "I'm a little proud of me too."
"Now you just have to convince Harry that you're what he wants?"
Ginny's eyes drifted back to the redwood box on top of her dresser, thinking she knew exactly what Harry wants.
Hermione caught the direction of her gaze and gasped."You opened it, didn't you?"
Ginny nodded absently.
"Was his mother's ring inside?" Fleur blurted out expectantly, while Hermione held her breath in anticipation.
Ginny pulled a face, incredulously shaking her head.
Fleur's face fell and she handed a galleon to Hermione's beckoning hand, having lost their private bet.
"What then, a priceless family heirloom?" she grumbled.
Ginny smiled wistfully as she answered vaguely. "It was something priceless all right,.. more priceless than anything to Harry,... anything except...?" She left off an unspoken and hope filled- Anything except me?
Both women shared intrigued looks at that.
It was two weeks before Christmas and despite the tropical climate of Madagascar the Phoenix Foundation's seventh and crown jewel installation was festively decorated for the holidays, complete with a perpetual light snowfall that melted on contact with the warm ground taking a slight edge off the warmth of the tropical climate.
Harry promised Katie and Alicia snow for Christmas and judging by the slowly changing weather, he was going to deliver.
The twins and their chosen brides were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their immediate families, set to arrive any minute within the facilities reception hall. They were dressed in their formal Knight Watch uniforms, complete with decorations of their few, but well earned citations. Alicia and Katie had both tried in vain to get Harry to wear his formal dress as well, but he'd scoffed at the notion, preferring comfort over showmanship. He wore jeans , a dark green tee that hugged his muscular frame and his trademark black dragon hide boots.
A brief alarm claxon went off signaling incoming port-keys. A moment later, The Spinnet family, Bell's and Weasley brood popped into existence, filling half the hall.
Katie and Alicia squealed delightedly, pulling their fiancés forward to greet their perspective in-laws, while Harry stepped up and gladly played host to the Weasley crowd.
Molly crushed him in one of her trademark hugs, marveling at how much he'd grown and filled out over ht scrawny teenager he'd once been. Stiffly, he accepted Mr. Weasley's hand in polite greeting. The noticeable lack of warmth in this was not lost on the rest of the family, nor by Mr. Weasley whose smile drooped disappointedly. He couldn't blame Harry for his response, though he'd hoped that over time that things would mend between them, but for that to happen they needed regular contact with one another and logistics favored neither in that.
Next, Hermione came squealing into Harry's outstretched arms. They hugged for several long moments murmuring to one another. Whatever Harry had said had her snuffling softly as he pulled out of her embrace and gently kissed her forehead. The rest of the family had arrived at that time, but instead of greeting each other, they were silently watching the display in awe.
Hermione's book chronicling the 'Golden Trio's' adventures had proven a worldwide phenomena over shadowed only by the two sequels she'd wrote, this time with Harry's consent and full endorsement as long as half the proceeds went to charitable institutions.
Hermione had donated the whole of the two sequels sales gross to the Phoenix Foundation.
She'd made such a large sum from the proceeds of "My Two Loves" that she would be able to provide for all of her growing families needs and then some, for years to come. Besides, Ron was making a handsome sum as star keeper, captain and general manager of the Cannons that they wanted for nothing, not that she'd let he or the children spoil themselves, certainly not!
Ron soon joined the two in a a three way hug, passing off his youngest, Rosalie, to his mum- who did spoil her grandchildren, much to Hermione's chagrin.
She held her tongue over it though. The Weasley clan had done without for so long that she could hardly deny them the pleasure of spoiling their grandchildren a little, now that they had the means.
Harry was the first to break the spell and reluctantly pulled out of their embrace, the spell broken by a camera flash.
His eyes scanned the area behind them as if searching for someone in particular. His gaze eventually fell slightly in disappointment. It was very subtle response, but Hermione was sure she'd saw what she thought she had.
He recovered well, stepping back a half step and carefully scrutinized Hermione's appearance, taking in the slightly showing bulge that she was trying unsuccessfully to hide beneath a loose fitting blouse that barely contained her growing and more matronly figure. Harry went so far as to walk around Hermione, commenting off handily about how he figure had matured these past few years.
Hermione rolled her eyes and scoffed half embarrassed, "You try squeezing out three Weasley sized babies from your bottom and see if your figure matures, mister!"
"Here-Here!" Katie Bell's mother, Diana, sang out in agreement.
Harry pulled a face of reluctant agreement, but ventured further..."Still...?"He made a grasping motion with his open hand, expectantly eyeing Ron and his brothers.
With grumbles of agreement; Ron, Fred, George, Charlie, Bill, Percy and even, Mr. Weasley himself, rummaged in their pockets and each extracted four gold galleons that each placed in Harry's waiting hand.
Harry smirked triumphantly and pocketed the small mound of gold.
"What's all that about?" Hermione asked with narrowed eyes, the rest of the women eyeing their male counterparts suspiciously.
The men surreptitiously shot him a silent pleading looks to which he smiled cunningly, eliciting fleeting glances to nearby avenues of escape.
"Er, nothing." He responded facetiously. "Just a gentleman's bet."
"A bet about what, Arthur?"Molly asked her husband suspiciously.
Arthur Weasley paled slightly, but his role as minister had coached him well in performing under pressure, still Molly Weasley's close scrutiny was quite off putting.
"Oh,.. er, jus a friendly bet on the er,... the 'first to four'."
"First to four?" Katie Bell asked.
"First to four,.. ah, four children." Fred clarified next to her a little too quickly, raising suspicions.
"That's stupid. Who would have ever even thought that Hermione Granger would have had four children,.. no offense, Hermione." Alicia commented.
"None taken and.. thanks, I think?" Hermione returned uncertainly, eyeing her husband dubiously.
"Harry did." George put in.
Hermione did a double take at that in sudden realization. "You bet against Harry even when you're the father of our children?"
Ron pulled a face and stupidly used the defense that..."Yeah, but Fleur's half veela and all?"
This elicited a string of French profanities from Fleur ending with. "But we have three children, How do you know I am not pregnant as well?"
"What?" Molly Weasley exclaimed excitedly. "Oh, Bill, Fleur... This is so thrilling."
Bill rolled his eyes. "It's rhetorical question, Mum, Fleur's not pregnant,.. er, Are you?" He did a double take at that, seeing his wife's facetious smirk.
"She is," Harry clarified, "but she's about two months behind Hermione, give or take a week."
Molly squealed again clutching a smiling Arthur as Bill staggered to a chair feeling faint- poor sod already had three veela daughters and most likely a fourth on the way.
"How did you...Oh?" Hermione began to ask Harry how he knew, but then recalled his empathic abilities.
"What else have you divined oh all knowing Knight?" Hermione asked in a perturbed voice, adding with a glare towards her uncomfortable husband. "Any other bets in the offing?"
Ron's eyes snapped to Harry with a pleading look that his friend too willingly ignored, venturing:"Actually yes. We bet a single galleon at three with double or nothing at four." Harry clarified.
Ron scowled and made a move toward the side exit, mumbling something about needing to use the loo.
Hermione did the math too quickly and Ron bolted when she declared.."Hey, that makes it a two galleon bet, how come you got four galleons?"
Harry smiled winningly as the Weasley men began to inch toward the exit doors, sensing their impending doom.
"That would be because it was a double or nothing bet twice over. It wasn't just 'first to four', it was 'first to four-tee'"he dramatically emphasized the 'tee' on the end.
"First to four-tee?" Hermione was foolishly curious enough to ask at her own expense.
"First to four children with a second 'double or nothing' bet on a; first to forty figure!" Harry crowed disappearing from the room before the hexes started flying in his direction.
Moments later he materialized next to a simmering Hermione and chortled. "I've got the whole pot riding on you for a triple or nothing on first to five with a double-double on a first to fifty with a fifty galleon bonus on fifty bust/hips. It's a trifecta!"
Hermione's mouth fell open in outrage at that as Harry disappeared again before she could even think to launch herself in his direction.
The first day continued much that way with Harry fading in and out at opportune moments to take the mickey out on Hermione, occasionally at Ron's expense. The final straw had been when Harry had innocently prevailed upon them to let him make it up to them by letting him take their three children along with Benjamin (Draco's son) for the evening, providing his friend's some "Adult Alone Time" .
The evening started off pleasantly enough; Ron and Hermione joined Draco and Abigail for a candle lit dinner at the five star French restaurant located on the Phoenix Foundation's entertainment complex grounds.
No amenity was spared for the Phoenix Group's defenders of the light.
It was over the dinner conversation that Harry's 'supposed' generosity, in taking the children to give the parents a night to themselves, came up.
"Stop worrying,'Mione," Ron chided his wife for the umpteenth time. "I'm sure Harry's taking good care of the kids." With that Ron shot Draco a pleading look.
Abigail Malfoy came to his rescue reassuring Hermione that Harry was very good with children."He was a natural with our Benjamin. The man's made for fatherhood, not that that'll be happening anytime soon?" she groused good naturedly, missing the conspiritorial look exchanged between Draco and Hermione.
"But Rosalie's so inquisitive. Her curiosity gets the better of her and she tends to wander off." Hermione whined.
Ron snorted at that. "Just like her mother."
Draco and Abigail chuckled appreciatively as Hermione blushed slightly.
They were just enjoying their desserts when a dark shadow passed over the Restaurant's picture windows, briefly interrupting the magnificent sunset casting it's glow across the jungle line outside.
At seeing their guest's startle, Draco reassured. "It's just one of the complex's dragons making a security sweep. We have them monitoring the complex's perimeter; it's just a standard precaution.
Hermione mentioned maybe they should look in on the kids and Abby reassured her that: "Stop worrying, I'm sure Harry has them on some age appropriate adventure or other?"
"Well he did say something about taking them for pizza and then over to meet Fiona and Ebon. Are those friends of his; children or another couple?" Hermione asked curiously.
Draco and Abby shared a look at that. Abby jumped up making to leave as growled something unintelligible with "Harry" and "arsehole" in the same sentence, while Draco just sighed in regret and tossed his napkin on his half eaten dessert.
"Something wrong?" Ron asked not picking up the thread of their sudden concern.
Abby was already at the door by the time Draco dragged himself to his feet and mumbled that maybe they'd better 'check' on the kids after all? Unbeknownst to Ron and Hermione he was including Harry in that statement.
"Of all the irresponsible, childish ..." Abigail groused heatedly as she stomped down to the facility's creature complex, with Draco, Ron and Hermione hurrying to catch up.
"What did he do?" Hermione asked Draco pointedly as they trailed after a fuming Abby.
"Er... well he likes to,.. that is he and Fiona ... they.. well, maybe it's better just to show you?" Draco mumbled nervously.
Abigail led them past several enormously expansive pens housing a variety of unique and somewhat dangerous magical creatures, stopping at the largest where she put her fingers to her lips and blew a shrill whistle.
Moments later a young Welch Green Dragon of about twelve feet in size, came lumbering out from the tree line like some dog answering its master's call.
The dragon came up to the railing that Abby had straddled, its head bobbing back and forth and its tail wagging in anticipation.
"No time to play now, Briar, have you seen Fiona and Ebon?"
The young dragon's head drooped disappointedly at that, but Abby quickly promised she'd bring his a nice goat to play with tomorrow and the dragon immediately perked up at that, licking its chops in anticipation.
Ron chuckled at that.
Abby reiterated to the now distracted dragon. "Fiona and Ebon?"
"They're not dragons? Tell me Harry didn't take the children into a dragon pen for Circe's sake?" Abigail tuned out Hermione's worried lament concentrating on the end goal.
Unmistakably, the young dragon's ridged tail curled upward and bobbed up and down as if pointing skyward.
"Oh, for the love of...?" Abigail growled, while Draco put in bracingly, "Well, at least he's not playing water polo in the lake again."
Abigail shot him a glare that had her husband immediately wishing he'd kept his mouth shut.
Before she, or a now panicking Hermione, could so much as comment; a titanic shadow fell over the gathering and with an ear splitting roar and squeals of excitement their questiion was answered.
With buffeting winds as its mighty wings slowed it descent, while tearing at the women's carefully styled hair, only serving to infuriate them further.
An obsidian dragon with glowing green eyes and several delighted children shouting from their perch on its back landed with a deafening-Wumph!
Hermione was the first to recover her shock and stammer the obvious "Is that.. are those my children on Harry's back?" she shouted in absolute outrage.
Harry, or Ebon as was his marauder name for his animagus form, lowered his neck and three young boys slid down chortling with glee..
Benjamin Malfoy, Harold Weasley and Jacob Weasley- Hermione and Ron's middle son who tended to take after his father- reckless and impulsive.
Ebon's wings folded against his body and lurched forward on its hind legs transforming back into Harry Potter in the space of a few scant seconds.
"Again-Again?" Jacob Weasley begged, jumping up and down, his brother and new friend bobbing their heads in excited agreement next to him.
"You most certainly will not go again!" Hermione scathed in outrage, climbing up on to the pen's fence, but not daring to enter the pen itself with the Welch Green still hovering nearby. She couldn't be certain but she could swear the damned thing was leering hungrily at her.
"W-Where's Rosalie?" Hermione shrieked at seeing her daughter missing from the group.
Harry made a show of twisting back and forth as if searching for the lost child, before holding his hands up questioningly and shrugging as if stumped.
Hermione fainted at that and fell off the railing, Ron's quidditch reflexes easily catching her up, as he shot Harry a withering glare, himself not worried knowing his friend, all too well, despite the circumstances.
Normally, Hermione wouldn't have been as concerned, but with her current pregnany her hormones had her emotions running high.
A second red hued dragon; a Scottish razor tail by the look of her,(Fiona), landed gently nearby, his happily squealing daughter nestled between the female dragons horny ears, held secure in a miniature saddle.
"Daddy-Daddy-Weee!" the young girl called out ecstatically to her father who was rubbing his forhead as if trying to ward off a coming migraine.
The female dragon's tail curled up around his daughter and gentled the child to the ground with a mother's care.
"Unca Harry... Unca Harry" The toddler waddled over to Harry with her arms extended. Harry scooped her up and carried her along with the boys to their waiting parents.
Hermione, just revived and relieved that all of her children were intact, gratefully accepted her youngest into her embrace.
"Unce Harry take us play wata polo tomaroww, mama!" she happily announced.
Hermione eyes went wide in alarm, but Abby beat her to the punch as she warned...
"You most certainly aren't taking our children to play in that lake with your friends!" Abby dawaled that last sarcastically.
"Harry Potter, Have you lost what little sense you were born with?" Hermione rallied along with her in alarm.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" he returned off handily, commenting further. "They'll be perfectly safe."
"With dragons?" Hermione shrieked.
"Certainly not." Harry scoffed, rolling his eyes. "They're too big for the lake. "
"What then?" Ron asked curiously.
"Water horses, o'course. There's a nice herd of kelpie in Tangren Lake. "
Having few recollections of his own mother, he was still surprised at how unfailingly over protective they were want to be.
The next day, the entire gathering of families met for a lovely brunch catered by the facilities, paid Elvin staff. They were initially disappointed that their host was unavailable this morning, as Abigail made his apologies while Draco seamlessly assumed the role of host.
Harry did meet the the gathering for an informal luncheon where they discussed the impending nuptials, making tertiary plans for the rehearsal.
The Weasley family was slightly alarmed by his rather haggard appearance, but chalked it up to the stressful responsibilities of his office.
Hermione watched him more carefully though, noticing the way Abigail hovered nearby, occasional murmuring some concern to him though he waved off her concerns with a pleasant smile that didn't quite wholly reach his eyes.
She noticed how his eyes had initially drifted over the gathering as if searching for someone in particular, before giving up with a hint of disappointment ghosting through his eyes.
She knew he was watching for Ginny, but was too stubborn to ask after her.
Part of her wished that Ginny was here now to help with what was to come, part of her was glad that she wasn't as none of them could adequately predict how he would take the news she was tasked with delivering.
She knew she should have told him right away yesterday, but he seemed so happy, especially when he was taking the mickey out on her.
She marveled at the installation they now occupied and all that he'd accomplished since his abrupt departure from British shores. As Fleur had predicted, Harry was in the process of changing the world and the world was becoming a far safer place for it.
Their own ministry was reporting an all time low in the incidents of criminal activity, even though Harry's group was notably absent from British shores.
Hermione hand gentled across the face of the envelope she carried within he robes. She'd have to do it today, delaying would only make it that much harder.
Hermione's eyes found Draco and she nodded almost imperceptibly, his gaze hardened slightly, his eyes mimicking her own trepidation as he nodded his agreement, then broke contact to whisper in his wife's ear. Abigail visibly faltered at that, but steeled her resolve and shared a knowing glance with a few select others around the room.
After lunch, Hermione hesitantly approached Harry and asked if they could share a moment alone. Something in her eyes unsettled him, but he, of course, immediately agreed and ushered her toward a nearby lounge that over looked the game preserve.
Hermione smiled wistfully as she cast her gaze around the comfortably designed room, reminiscent of their own Gryffindor common room from Hogwarts.
Several others trailed into the room behind her, surprising him.
Draco and Abby, Fred and Katie, George and Alicia, Angelina, Ron and his other brothers.
"If this is about Yesterday... it was only a bit of fun, the children weren't at anytime unsafe I..."
Hermione's doleful shake of the head choked off his words.
"What then..?" he asked with a hint of worry pulling at the corners of his eyes.
Hermione pulled a yellow envelope from the folds of her robe and hesitantly held it out to him. His eyes drifted around the room cautiously,... only Draco, Abby, Ron and Hermione met his gaze without wavering.
"That bad, huh?" he sighed in resignation as he accepted the envelope.
He began to break the seal when stationary's scent reached his nose and his eyes drifted out of focus before widening in recognition.
He immediately tore open the envelope, hurriedly scanning the contents of the letter composed within.
Wounded eyes looked up from the note that was trembling in his hands, he could tell by the moist eyed gazes of the others that they all knew what the letter said.
They all knew and had said nothing. He instantly knew why they had said nothing- to protect him, .. but still..
"She's... she...?" his words trailed off.
Hermione nodded gently. "She passed a week ago last Tuesday. She asked me not to give you the letter until after she passed. She... she didn't want you to needlessly risk herself in her behalf. There was nothing you could've done. It was just her time, Harry." Hermione consoled.
"Was she,... did she suffer..?" he asked dolefully.
Ron stepped forward at that. "No, she was very comfortable, Poppy Pomfrey made sure of that. She knew you would want the best so she personally supervised her care at ... Some of her last words were about you, she cared about you very much." Ron was fighting the moisture that threatened at the corners of his eyes, as he added haltingly, "I-I'm sorry, Harry."
Harry nodded at that, slightly relieved.
Many watched with tearful gazes as he blew out a cleansing exhale, struggling not to lose his composure as still trembling hands refolded the letter and returned it to its envelope.
He walked up to Draco, who visibly steeled himself not knowing what to expect.
"If the family needs anything, anything at all...?"
Draco nodded. "It has already been done."
Harry nodded gratefully.
Draco reached out and grasped his shoulder supportively. "Brother to Brother, yours in life and death." He pledged, reminding him of the knights sacred vow to one another and that it carried over to all things.
Harry did something then that would have shocked the others had they not known the two of them so well: he kissed Draco's forehead in heartfelt gratitude of the bond they shared.
He smiled wanly toward the others, thanking them for their concern and asking them to give him a bit of time alone to sort out his thoughts, and then he left the room without further comment, other than to nod gratefully to reaching, supportive hands as he passedf from the room.
Susan Bones Finch-Fletchy had died of Breast Cancer. Though not as common in the magical world, it still occurred and was almost always fatal. It was one of the avenues of research for the Foundation's medical division.
Even magic could not stay such tragic diseases from their dread course. It was a fact that all wizards and witches were all too aware of.
Susan had expressed in her letter that she'd asked Hermione to not let him be informed of her illness as she did not want him risking his magic, or his life, if he were to come to Britain in the vain attempt to try and heal her. It was her decision and their friends had kept her confidences.
She wrote him how she was sorry for the way she'd left things between them. The accusations and hurtful comments she'd made; she hadn't meant them, explaining she was, at the time, striking out in her anguish and disappointment.
Her own heart had been broken as much as his.
She wrote him how she felt that in the face of her mortality she was very fortunate to have once held the heart of such wonderful man, but knew in retrospect that she wasn't the one that he was meant for.
She told of how his strength and self sacrifice had entrusted to her the love of another very good man who'd given her himself and the world in their three children who would become her immortality.
She asked him to not grieve overlong for her and what might have been as she was sure that love was waiting for him and it deserved joyous tears, not those of sorrow.
Lastly, she asked if he would honor her memory by singing for her the song he'd composed and sang for her in concert long ago while they were vacationing in America. She promised that she would hear it and smile a last smile for him, and him alone.
That night, as they stood upon the balcony of their suite, an ethereal voice ghosted across the Foundation grounds singing a song that Ron and Hermione remembered well from another time, another place.
Unlike that night long ago, this time the voice sang of love in sorrow filled tones.