Christmas day dawned grey and cold, or maybe that was just how Draco felt to be here at his parent's French residence. To say it had been a fraught few days since his arrival was an understatement. His Mother tried to be cheerful and to try gloss over the fact that he and his Father only exchanged words when their deeply ingrained manners dictated it. She took Draco into the market district, speaking of the progress on the manor, showing him all the new furnishings, she had ordered and how much she was looking forward to seeing the final renovations at the manor when it was completed in March. Draco had been a touch concerned when he had seen the worried looks, she sent his Father and thought bitterly, if perhaps for her sake, it would have been better if Lucius Malfoy had been sent to Azkaban. Then much to his annoyance he had been racked with guilt of thinking such thoughts about his own sire.
He wished for the days, long since past of when he believed everything his Father did was justified and right. He was looking forward to being able to leave this place, not because he hated his parents, no he still missed them when he was at Hogwarts. He just couldn't stand this pretense of nothing having changed.
Everything had changed as far as Draco was concerned, they were not who the once had been. Draco just wanted to be able to more through life on his own, with his own achievements and dreams. He wanted his mother to be able to tend her gardens and be happy like she had been and his Father, he wanted him to apologize for nearly destroying them all for nothing more than a madman's bullshit ideals and be the man he used to be when Draco was a child, who ran beside him as he learnt to fly a broom stick, who laughed with his wife in his arms jumping into the lake, who made paper animals come to life in parades to cheer Draco up when he hurt himself.
He wondered if he sometimes returned to the old Lucius when it was just him and Mother at home? He hoped so, if only for his mother's sake. However, for now family ties bound them together and Draco would still take pleasure in being with them, even if he was longing for tomorrow to dawn so he could be with Harrie.
Just thinking about her had his loins stirring, he pictured her with her shirt ripped open, her tie bouncing, her skirt rucked up, her hands pulling at his hair as their mouths ravaged each other's in hungry kisses. His hands biting into her creamy skin, her shapely legs wrapped around his hips, while his cock drove into her wet pussy, her barely legible words as he drove her to climax.
His hand slipped under the covers and he groaned as he hand met the hard length of his erection, his grip tightened as he wished it was her hand bringing him this pleasure. He groaned as he slide his thumb over the head, feeling the silky drop of what was to come. He snorted at his own pun, and started working his hand, moaning with each slow glide….
"Master Draco… Hinkley be begging your pardon Master Lucius is wanting you in the front room..I is not seeing you" a squeaky voice said from across the room and Draco growled his hand dropping from his cock.
"Yes, thank you" He growled at the nervous wee creature that was hovering by the door, eyes hidden behind its hands "You may go, tell my Father I will be there shortly"
Morning wank thoroughly ruined Draco dressed formally as was his family's tradition and walked to the sitting room.
His Mother rose from her chair, wearing a long white dress that was a welcome change to the black ones she had taken to wearing the last view years. Draco smiled at his mother and she held her arms out to him
"Happy Christmas Draco" His Mother always hugged tighter these days and he welcomed her embrace. His Father rose as well holding his hand out, the two male Malfoys shook hands and Narcissa gave a small grimace at the formality that was always present between them now.
"Father" Draco said bowing his head in formal greeting
"Son, season happiness to you" Lucius replied, just as formally. Though Narcissa was someone pleased to note the way in which her husband rubbed his hand knowing he relished the simple contact with his son much more than he let show. He was slowly returned to the man he used to be, Narcissa hoped the change happened before it destroyed what ever regard Draco still held for the man.
"Also, to you" The heir gave the correct response and Narcissa putting her self between them in blatant disregard to the usual expectations and pulled her son towards the towering Christmas tree that dominated the room. It was colored with white, blue and
"Pink?" Draco gave his Mother a curious look "I have never known you to use pink before"
Narcissa smiled broadly and gave her son a one-armed cuddle "What do you think of it?"
"It's lovely Mother" He said quietly, and it really was. Draco could tell by the way his Mother was enthusiastically adjusting some slightly of centered decorations that she was happy he liked it.
"Mum" She said quickly, her eyes locked on the changing lights on the tree "I want you to call me Mum"
Draco hadn't called her that since he was eleven and his father had given him a lecture on what was expected of him. Time to put away childish things and grow up was the gist of it. Draco clenched his jaw with remembered pain at having to become overly formal to his own family.
"Narcissa" Lucius warned his wife but she just sent him a dark look and he sensibly kept his mouth shut. Narcissa turned to her son and looked up at his prematurely solemn demeaner "Where has your smile gone my dragon?" she said quietly and Draco looked away, feeling the tell-tale prick of emotion, she hadn't said that to him in years. "Lost, but slowly being found" He answered quietly. It belongs to green-eyed girl his mind added. Narcissa nodded slowly as if she could read his inner thoughts, then as if remembering what today was, she stepped back gesturing to all the presents that were arranged under the tree.
"I do believe its present time" She announced
Draco looked at the larger than usual pile of presents that was obviously his.
"You look like you have out done yourself this year Moth…Mum" He said gesturing to the mound of gifts
"They are not all from us dear, there are quite a few from us to be sure but not all" His mother said, taking a seat on the settee and watching with clear delight as he looked at his gifts.
One of the presents he could recognize without removing the paper, he looked and there were several others in the same wrapping, silver paper with purple and white ribbons.
Draco turned the card over in his hand and it had a silver lightning bolt on it and the words
Now what will your excuse be? Happy Christmas
Harrie Potter had sent him a pile of presents! He couldn't help the smile that broke out across his face and he tore into them.
"Is that a Thunderclap?" His Father spoke sharply taking the new broom out of Draco's hand before he could even get a good look himself. The older Malfoy run his gaze over the broom with relish having only be able to see it in magazines, he narrowed his eyes at his son.
"It looks like it yes" Draco wanted desperately to snatch the broom back from his Father but knew that would only make him hold on to it longer.
"Who bought this for you? I am surprised anyone has the galleons for it" His Father handed the broomstick back to his son, as Draco took hold of it his father tightened his grip on it
"You best be minding yourself son. No foolish attachments" Lucius said, he ignored the glare he could feel his wife was sending him and locked eyes with his son.
Draco looked into the eyes so much like his own and briefly nodded, dropping his gaze to the best broom in the world that Harrie Potter had given him for Christmas.
"Is there anything you wanted to do while here darling?" His Mother smiled kindly at him
Draco held back the rather rude snort he wanted to give, his parents were basically housebound unless visiting a hospital, their lawyer or Hogwarts or for his mother, the small market district and selected family (which they had none of anyway) how much did his mother think they could do while he was here? He was incredibly grateful that his own travel wasn't restricted, just his magical usage outside of school and only for another couple of months. However, not wanting to lie his Mother he said
"I apologize Mum however, I will be leaving tomorrow, and I doubt I will return before school recommences" His words seemed to hang in the air
His Mother dropped her fork and looked most put out "So soon? But you only just arrived my dragon!" her blue eyes started filling with tears and Draco felt sorry for hurting her this way.
"That is disappointing. I sincerely hope you are not wasting time with Blaise. That young man needs to start acting the part of a pureblood" His Father said coldly, giving his son a warning look.
The younger Malfoy really wished he could punch his father sometimes. Draco did not want to speak to his Father, he didn't trust himself to keep the wave of vitriol that was longing to get out of his mouth, so he just took another drink from the goblet in front of him and could have sighed with relief when his Mother sensing his discomfort no doubt, changed the subject to some books she had been reading, as she tried to mask her disappointment.
Later that evening, Draco was standing at his bedside staring down at the gifts Harrie has sent him, he couldn't stop smiling at the items in front of him. The Thunderclap alone would have made his Christmas. The rest were just added bonuses. How could she know him so well already?
A light knock sounded on his door and his Mum glided slowly across the room to him
"Is this from a lady friend?" She wasted no time in asking him, he nodded, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt sleeves rather than meeting his Mother's gaze.
"She must be incredibly wealthy" She said stroking the surface of one of the gifts.
"So, it would seem, I was not aware of this level of wealth. Until I opened them all"
They both looked down at the objects grouped on his bed. The Thunderclap, a very old and incredibly rare book on potions that even his Father had never seen, a new potion making kit with stirrers, a cauldron and a set of scales all goblin made, all unbreakable. He didn't think even his parents would have spent such an obscene amount of money on him, it filled him with something indescribable and he wished he could be with Harrie at that very moment.
"She has excellent taste" His mother ran a thumb over the surface of one of the stirrers, "You must mean a lot to her" It wasn't a question that Draco could answer
"She has not said so. Perhaps she just likes spending money" He said flippantly
"A woman would not part with this many galleons just for fun Draco. Does she mean a lot to you?" Draco looked into his Mums earnest blue eyes and knew he couldn't hide anything from her.
"Yes, immeasurably so" he admitted and saw shock and regret in her eyes that made him want to break something at the unfairness of what was expected of him and what he would have to sacrifice to up hold his family traditions.
Narcissa Malfoy nodded curtly and slide her arm around her son's waist, her blonde head resting against his shoulder. "Then make it count my dragon"
Harrie walked into the Borrow and nearly stepped back out again as a wave of heat hit her square in the face. She looked around and saw a very flushed Mrs. Weasley fanning herself with a hat and a very topless Charlie Weasley standing near the fireplace, fiddling with something.
"Happy Christmas Harrie dear. We have a heating charm playing up, not to worry though Charlie is working on it" Mrs. Weasley said giving her a wide smile
Harrie tried to drag her eyes away from the sight of sweat drop running down Charlie's pecs onto the ripped muscles of his six pack…. actual six pack, he had a rough patch on his chest where he had clearly either been hurt or burnt during his work, his chest hair sparse on the left side, he also had a runic tattoo disappearing about his right hip that she would gladly have followed as it disappeared into his waist band. Harrie felt like fanning herself too and not because of the broken charm. Mrs. Weasley followed Harries gaze and tutted at her blatant ogling of one of her sons.
"Go up the stairs, the temperature is normal up there" Mrs. Weasley said a tone of disapproval in her voice as Harrie's eyes kept flicking to Charlie. Charlie smirked and purposely hooked his thumb into the waist band of his worn jeans "Happy Christmas Harrie… you certainly... look well" Harrie blushed at his words and gave him a goofy smile as she hurried up the stairs.
Mrs. Weasley hit her second born with a tea towel and turned back to her vegetable preparation, giving the occasional huff of Motherly annoyance "Don't you even think about it Charles Weasley!" Harrie heard Mrs. Weasley snap at her son as she reached the next landing.
"Sacrebleu, do you see Charlie?!" Fleur demanded of Harrie when she crash into her on the stair landing outside Ginny's room and taking note of Harrie's rather dazed expression. Harrie nodded and both girls giggled in girlish appreciation of the dragon tamer.
"Whores" Ginny called out of her bedroom
"everyvone ez up…" Fleur started to say when Ginny seemed to rush suddenly to the door and said rather urgently "Harrie can I…um speak to you before you go upstairs?"
"Sure…" But Harrie was interrupted by a sharp crack and suddenly Harrie was being pulled into a patented Weasley bear hug by George, with Ron racing down the staircase and colliding with them, causing George to grunt in pain as he was shunted into the landing rail and Harrie to tighten her hold on George as she was tipped over sideways and only her death grip saved her from a very nasty fall.
"Ron you fucking idiot, I nearly dropped her!" George spat at his brother, loosening his hold briefly to slap Ron around the back of his head once he was in reach.
"Oi fuck you!" Ron retorted wittily and gave his older brother a shift kick to his lower leg causing George to stumble once again this time dropping Harrie unceremoniously on the thread bare rug and pulling his brother into a furious wrestling match. The three females watched on with varying degrees of exasperation until the austere figure of Percy Weasley appeared with another crack and had both of his younger brothers soon restrained with a barrier charm.
"Act your ages!" Percy growled pushing his glasses up his nose his ears going pink "You are grown men for merlin's sake"
"BOYSSS WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE," Mrs. Weasley shouted from in the kitchen, the group on the landing looked down the stairway and could her face glaring up at them "Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean I won't punish you lot. Now behave!"
Ron sent a glare at his brothers' way and offered a hand to Harrie, pulling her onto her feet
"Sorry about that, Happy Christmas" He said giving her a one-armed hug as Fleur tutted at him in rapid French and he looked shamefacedly at the floor. George seeing his little brother's distraction pulled Harrie away from Ron and gave her a wink before throwing his arm around her shoulder and ruffling her hair, that reminded her so much of Fred it had her stomach clenching. George as if knowing this tightened his hold momentarily and then much to Harrie's suspicion he started rummaging in his pocket for something. Ginny groaned at her brothers and stalked back into her room, shutting the door loudly. Fleur started having a furious yet quiet conversation with Bill, who had just appeared on the stairs and deciding to stem the look of sensor Percy had on his face Harrie said "Hello Percy, Happy Christmas" Harrie smiled, even as she had a one armed fight with George who was trying to either tickle her or stick something to her back. She knew not to trust him and gave a sharp elbow jab to his side.
"Season happiness to you Harelayna" Percy said rather formally and shook Harries hand, even as he shook his head at his brother's behavior. Harrie knew that Percy had lightened up considerably since reconciling with his family but thought he would always have serious streak to him, despite spending a rather eye-opening afternoon drinking with him once.
"How's work?" Harrie asked. Percy took his glasses off and started rubbing them on the end of his shirt "Well, naturally it has been a major, and I mean major upheaval. I have been swamped, they have added all sorts of new limitations on imports, so I have been conduction some research into potion strength and longevity…" Percy went on enthusiastically, with Harrie nodding along pretending she gave a shit and found anything he was saying interesting at all.
"That sounds gripping Perc, but I've got something Harrie really needs to see. New product line, sorry to drag her away" George announced leading Harrie upstairs
Harrie sat down on the bed and George quickly took the set beside her, whispering "Percy won't leave me alone" True to his word, Harrie noticed Percy looking somewhat put out and was standing awkwardly on the landing obviously wanting to be with the remaining twin.
"Hurry up Percy, just get in there" Ron said overly loud, giving his brother a push into the room.
"Did you really have something to show me?" Harrie asked George suspiciously
"What? Yeah of course" George said waving his wand, a box floated over from the dresser and he presented it proudly to Harrie "I give you the pleasure line…name still being worked on"
"Oh, my fucking god" Harrie blurted as she opened the box and all sorts of adults only merchandise came into view.
Percy and Ron stood up to get a better look, both blushing slightly and Ron looking wide eyed.
"I need female testers though, so you wanna help me out?" George asked his eyebrows wiggling
"You can not be serious" Harrie said reading some of the instructions on the back on the packets
"Are they dangerous?" Ron asked, looking rather alarmed at some of the items that George and Harrie were lifting from the box
"Nah, of course not. We did all that scary testing ages ago" George said decisively
Harrie looked at George at the 'we' and he smiled sadly back "We started this line way back when we were at Hogwarts. But you know," he shrugged "wanted to establish a reputable brand first"
Ron sorted at that comment, reaching into the box and pulling out a golden egg. Harrie was reminded of the Triwizard tournament second task and as Ron shook it the egg started vibrating ferociously causing him to drop it in surprise. That one looks ok...Harrie admitted to herself, she would at the very least test that one out for George…Only in the name of science of course.
"Why do you need female testers then?" Percy asked, his eyebrows nearly disappeared as he pulled out a silicon phallus that was roughly the same size as his forearm
"Well it may have escaped your notice Perc, but I am not a woman, and neither was Fre…Fred so…" George reached into the box and pulled out a little leaflet, handing it to Percy "I want to see how girls like this stuff"
"I don't have to test it all do I?" Harrie said eyeing the thing in Percy's hand apprehensively, George held his hand out for the toy that his older brother was wielding and as it touched his hand it suddenly shrunk down to a more…reasonable sized appendage.
"How did it do that?" Ron asked unscrewing the top off a bottle of something and giving it a suspicious sniff
"It changes to what someone…desires" George smirked at Percy as he looked mortified, Ron's eye widened and his ears when very red. Harrie was biting on her lip so hard she was in danger of biting through it.
"Excuse me" Percy stutteringly said then hurriedly left the room. Ron stood there looking uncertain so Harrie kicked him in the shin "Go see that if he is ok" and after a lot of muttering he left to check on him. Seeing the look of mirth on Georges face Harrie asked
"What does it really do oh King Perv?"
"It has different size, just got to know where to tap it" He said demonstrating and the toy changed size yet again "Has seven different sizes" Harrie sniggered pulling out yet more items of interest from the box.
"A little bird told me you would like this stuff" George said with another smirk as he pulled out a little black box
"God do I even want to know what's in this?" Harrie stared at the box suspiciously. She opened the top and gave George a punch when the first words that she could see were "Back Alley players only"
"Fuck you" She said giving him a shove as he laughed, trying not to fall of the bed. "Fucking Ginny should keep her mouth shut" Harrie muttered under her breath
"Sorry Harrie, I am not at liberty to name my sources" George said holding his hand in front of him "So, you ok to test this stuff for me?"
"Yeah some of it anyway" She said pulling out some arse-less chaps that were currently shrunk to the size of a fashion doll. George smiled, bopping her on the name "Good girl"
"How are you anyway?" Harrie asked softly
"I'm…ok. Coping, I think is the word Mum uses" George said repacking the box, Harrie stilled his hand and he looked up at her
"Honest?"
He shrugged "I have better days than others. Charlie staying with me helps and Percy is over a lot too"
"That's good then. When schools out, you can come hang out at my place if you want" She said nudging him playfully with her elbow
"ohhh the reclusive Potter letting someone come to her domain. Ronniekins will never forgive you"
"Hes coming over for New Years so it will be old news by then" Harrie said flapping her hand
"What about you?" George asked quietly, helping her repack the box
"Me?" Harrie asked surprised, trying to get everything to fit neatly though a rather scary looking rubber thing was refusing to stay in place, George finally got it to be still by twisting something on the bottom of it
"Are you coping? You did go full messiah on us" George asked playfully as he bundled a string of large balls into the box
Harrie laughed "Yeah, I'm fine." The items pack away she pulled the box onto her lap
"You were distant for a while" George said quietly, giving the box a tap with his wand and resealing the top.
Harrie lent against him, cradling her box of filth on her lap "I'm…getting there" She still had the nightmares sometimes, that had her crawling into bed with Hermione and crying about those she failed. George kissed the top of her dark head "Me too"
"I've started seeing Angelina" He admitted quietly. Harrie smiled "Took you long enough"
George groaned "Don't I know it, anyway want to help me test out some pranks on my darling brothers?" he asked, holding up a purple sack and giving her an insane grin.
"Harrie…Harrie….HARRIE you deaf bitch come in here" Ginny hissed at Harrie. Harrie was just crossing the landing, having been ditched by George when she refused to help him prank his brothers with something that would of made Christmas dinner very awkward and not knowing where Ron was heading down stairs to offer Mrs. Weasley help with Christmas dinner. Harrie narrowed her eyes at the red head calling to her from in the bathroom. Never been one to duck away from intrigue Harrie took a cautious step into the narrow room.
To say the Burrows third floor landing bathroom was a tight squeeze was putting it lightly. There was a bigger one further up but taking in the bottles of potions and other female paraphernalia this bathroom which held a bathtub with a brass shower head over the top, a toilet and a sink and a magical window must just be for Ginny's use only. Harrie having only ever used the 'boys' bathroom before thought this one had a much nicer feel to it and smell.
Harrie finally looked at the figure in front of her and nervously asked "Hey is everything ok?" Ginny looked scared and was fidgety and was shooting edgy looks at Harrie every few seconds.
"Keep a secret?" The red head said bluntly "I'm late"
"What…Oh…" Harrie tentatively, sat down on the side of the bathtub "By much?"
"No…Well like a week or so" Ginny said quietly
"You got a test?"
"Yeah it's there" Ginny said pointing at the small green vial sitting on the bench top.
"What did it say?" Harrie asked
"I haven't done it yet. That's why I called you in here"
"Why me?"
Ginny shrugging "You are good to have in a crisis and I'm too chicken shit to do it"
Harrie stood up picking up the vial and the parchment beside it "What do I do then?"
"I drip two drops of blood into it and it changes colours"
"Ok, so blue for pregnant and pink for not pregnant" Harrie said nodding as she read over the instructions "Right give me your finger then" Harrie took hold of the needle that Ginny had sitting there and the two girls quickly put the required amount of drops in, swirled it counter clockwise as per the directions, placed it back onto the bench and stared at it.
"Now we have to wait ten minutes" Harrie set a basic tempus alarm and looked gracelessly around the room, swinging her hands.
"Take my mind of the wait" Ginny blurted after about thirty seconds, her frame taut with tension
Harrie asked the main question that was on her mind "Is this a Dean situation?"
"Umm…yes…maybe" Ginny said, her cheeks flushing slightly
Harrie looked away feeling awkward, she didn't know how she was meant to offer advice or help with that one. This was not how she thought she would be waiting out Christmas Dinner.
"Don't judge me" Ginny said moodily crossing her arms and looking pointedly at the floor
"As if I would" Harrie nudged Ginny with her foot "I'm just…you know…"
"A one dick wonder?" The redhead said, smiling sadly at the older girl
"No…This is just…you know, big" Harrie said lamely
Ginny snorted "Scary you mean"
"That too" "You are normally really careful about everything" It had been Ginny, after all who had gotten Harrie the contraceptive potion before school started this year, though thinking about it knowing how sensible and practical Hermione she was probably the one to get Ginny to start on it in the first place.
"I know, I just…miss timed a dosage" Ginny admitted grimly, casting wary glances at the vial.
The two girls sat in silence, looking at each other uncomfortably. Both wanting to say something to take their minds of what was happening here.
"God distract me Harrie, this is torture" Ginny blurted, throwing her head back in annoyance "Tell me a story or something"
Harrie snorted "About what?" She could think of nothing that they could talk about right now
"How did you lose you v plates" Ginny asked, Harrie knew by the look on her face, Ginny had been dying to know since learning Harrie had been at it with Draco.
"Why the fuck do you want to know that?" Harrie asked rather harshly
"Just tell me," the red head demanded slapping Harrie good naturedly on the arm "then I will tell you about how I lost mine"
"Who said I wanted to know?" But Harrie shook her head in defeat and admitted "In a class room, against the door"
"Hot," Harrie sniffed at Ginny's answer, it was so much like Ron's it was painful.
"Did it hurt?" The redhead asked, her tone quizzical. Harrie was getting major deja vu
"A bit yeah, though it got way better" Harrie replied, thinking back to just how much better it got, Ginny interrupted her train of thought by saying "Lucky you, mine was absolute rubbish"
"Aww How come? Who was the guy?" Harrie asked in commiseration, she thought back to the whole Draco leaving the room before she could speak. Maybe everyone's first time was kinda disappointing in some way?
"Lee Jordon, just after…you know…the funeral" Ginny looked down into her lap. Harrie got it though, high emotions made people seek comfort. She had found comfort in a bottle of fire whiskey with George, Percy and Charlie in Mr. Weasleys garden shed, she vaguely remembered Charlie having to use his very impressive fire extinguisher spell after George accidently set some oily rags on fire when he fell off the bench while telling the story of how awesome his twin was.
Harrie grimaced at the idea of how Ginny had spent that afternoon "Oh well that's shit," She said climbing into the bath and sitting down (it was actually comfier that she thought it would be) "Was he rough with you or something?"
Deciding this was a good idea, Ginny took the other end and the girls shifted till they were both sitting comfortably.
Ginny snorted "No, the actual…deed was good, it was when he came that it got bad"
Harrie looked at her in confusion not really understanding how it could have gone that wrong at that point. Ginny drop her head into her hands and admitted "He called me Freddy" Ginny shuddered with remembered horror
"Jesus"
"I know man, it was so bad," Ginny's face said it all "Just what a girl wants for her first time"
Harrie bit her lip trying not to let the laughter out that was desperate to get out "Sorry…I.." she mumbled, pushing her fingers against her mouth. It was just such a horrible thing to happen but funny in an awful way.
"Yeah laugh it up bitch" Ginny said, meeting Harries eye and they both laughed at the absurdity of it all.
"It was a shitty day that just got shittier" Harrie said picking up one of Ginny's bottles of lotion and giving it a sniff. On the shelf above her head was an obviously well-read novel of some sort that she picked up. Harrie read the title "Love, the greatest magic of all"
"I adore that book," Ginny lent her head back with obvious relish "especially chapter eight…"
"Obviously" Harrie said indicating the damaged spine and water stained pages and the way in which it just happened to flop open to chapter eight told of how often Ginny had read that passage. "What's it about?"
"Love," Harrie gave her the look that answer deserved so Ginny added "It's like old legends and stories about soul bonds and stuff"
"Never heard of them"
"What?!" Ginny said sounding scandalized "Let me give you a summary then"
"Back in the day, there was this theory that every person shared a soul with someone else,"
"Not in a creepy way!" Ginny said seeing the look of revulsion on Harries face "Like a good thing, a soul mate, another half, a kindred etc etc,"
"Now this is where it gets weird because there are so many different versions and explanations, like, our magic is like a separate entity from ourselves and when we are being made, like in the womb and shit, magic chooses us, like a different colour light or like a strand or something, we each get one that picks us. Well there are some people who share the same strand of magic, like a soul mate. They will always want that person, they are meant only for them…like true love."
"Ginny," Harrie said considering "I never took you as such a girl"
"Shut up! Its romantic" Ginny said giving Harrie a nudge with her knee "Anyway, the idea that I really like is that everyone is made up of seven strands or colours"
"Why seven?"
"Just because, so any person you meet in life, you might like share one or two of the same colours. Like your closet friend could have like four matching colours or something and the more colours that match the stronger the bond"
"What? so all marriages are these bond things?"
"No, well kinda, the person you marry doesn't have to be your true love, you still love them and what not, just it's not a soul bond. 'The Kindred' that's like the fairy tale bond is like all seven colours being the same…SUPER rare. Never happens"
"This sounds like total bullshit"
"Fuck you! I love that romantic crap. I reckon my parents are probably a six strander"
"Why not seven?"
"They can't use each other's wands probably and they have different form animals"
"What the fuck is a form animal?"
"You really know nothing eh, its like the form you would be IF you were an animagus. It's normally someone's Patronus too"
"But they can change, Patronus' I mean" "And mines a male, what does that say about me?"
"Yeah well I don't know. Ask Hermione, she knows more than me"
"Hermione's big on this shit too?"
"Hell yes she is, she tried getting me to read 'Bills and Tune' or something, but they aren't as good as Witch-Lit"
Harrie snorted remembered how much Hermione had tried to sell her on Mills and Boon books when they were younger, Harrie just hadn't been on for them…Maybe she would be now? She wondered how much a male soul fragment inside her for most of her life had affected her in different ways, maybe that explained why she had always been a bit of a gender neutral for so long. She shuddered thinking about it.
"Wait but if that's true why isn't everyone out there look for their rainbow matcher?"
"Because it's like a myth now. Like the 'deathly hallows' or 'the hopping pot', not everything is real" Ginny said, Harrie looked away from her with an odd expression on her face and Harrie breathed a sigh of relief when Ginny obviously just thought she was not buying any of this stuff and accused "How can you not like that idea? Someone who was made just for you?"
Happy to stay clear of any talk of the 'Deathly Hallows', Harrie asked rather quickly
"What if they are happy with someone else when you meet them? Or gay or a dickhead or dead?"
"They…no…You are thinking too hard about this, its just like the happily ever after everyone wants. A person who is everything you want, and you are everything to them"
"That could be any good relationship though"
"It's deeper than that. Oh, forget it, it's obviously too much for your tiny brain" Ginny said giving Harrie another knee nudge
"Sounds like it" Harrie said smirking
"I have a theory that if you had been a boy or lesbian, we would totally be seven stranders" Ginny announced suddenly, Harrie stared at her in disbelief "How do you figure that?"
"I just do" The red head said with a shrug, "You should have had a dick, then I wouldn't be waiting on this fucking pregnancy test" she added with a wave of her hand at the for mentioned vial
"Dude if I had a dick you wouldn't be able to walk straight" Harrie blurted trying to lighten the mood
"As if you could out fuck me" Ginny said with a playful glare
Harrie turned her nose up haughtily "We will never know now"
"Can't you just picture us? You short and sexy with a beard though because yum, and me with our three children" Ginny said wistfully
"Only three?" Harrie challenged her eye brow raised
Ginny nodded emphatically "Yeah, no way would I go for a Weasley score. Two boys and a girl, dark haired though the girl would be a mini me, but with your eyes"
Harrie huffed in amazement "Good god woman, how much thought did you put into this? Go on then what would we call these three kids of ours?" she asked
"I would let you name them because of your wonder cock would just have me screaming yes to anything you ever asked of me" Ginny said jovially
"Naturally" Harrie spread her hands in the acknowledgment that her husbandly duties would be something for the record books.
"Knowing how noble and sentimental you are, they would be named for your parents or probably Dumbledore"
"Not Fred?" Harrie asked surprised
"Nah it goes without saying the next Fred with be Georges" Ginny replied, smiling wistfully thinking about her lost brother
Harrie smiled sadly thinking that that sounded fair "Sounds like a swell little life I would have had"
"Yeah except you had to go and spoil it all by doing something stupid like being a chick"
"Add it to my list of stupid deeds" Harrie implored, resting her head back against a towel.
"So, who's the other possibility?" Harrie asked her curiosity getting the better of her
Ginny sighed "Aaron Ashwin"
"The Puff beater?" Harrie asked, trying to remember which one he was
The red head nodded
"He's fit" Harrie admitted, rubbing some moisturizer on her arms that smelled like vanilla ice cream
"Yes, he is. I like him…A lot" Ginny agreed, organizing the various bottles of shampoos, soaps and whatever else that she had lined up along the edge of the bath
"So, is he like an on the side type of thing or are you and Dean…?" Harrie trailed off not really knowing how to phrase what she was asking
Ginny started playing with a fraying thread on her jumping, and shrugged "Kind of a 'he was nice to me and definitely isn't into dudes' kind of thing"
That comment had Harries jaw dropping "You think Deans into dudes?"
Ginny shrugged "I think he might be yeah. He likes to role play…a lot"
"Role play?" Merlin did Harrie really want to know?
"Yeah, just silly stuff mostly just sometimes…it's just weird" Ginny murmured as she got a far away look in her eye obviously thinking about something that Harrie didn't know if she wanted to ask about, so she tentatively asked, "A good weird?" just to ease her thoughts
"Oh yeah, just I think he would like it more if I had a dick" Ginny replied with a shrug and asked with a smirk "What's Malfoy into?"
Harrie thought about it then said "Me?"
Ginny gave her a look "Aside from that, any kinks?"
"Not that I have noticed…well he's very forceful I guess, and he has a thing for 'cream pie' which is really fucking hot because he makes this kind of growl when I..." Harrie met the redhead's eye at that and at the look of incredulity hurriedly added "It's hot and I like everything we do" blushing slightly.
Ginny gave her a knowing smirk "That's good, I would have to kick his blonde arse otherwise"
The red head said suddenly "Aaron likes public stuff like in the library, the hallways even once in the great hall"
Harrie laughed "Really?" thinking to her own adventure in the great hall.
"Yep, good thing we can out run Filch" Ginny said dismissively
"So, you don't think it will go anywhere?" Harrie asked and dismayed at the way in which Ginny's face fell at the mention of the other Gryffindor.
"Maybe? I've got to give Dean the official flick first" She replied distantly
They fell into a silence that wasn't exactly awkward, but it was stilted because neither girl really knew what else to say at this point without making Ginny feel worse. Lucky they were saved from speaking when the tempus charm buzz.
"Moment of truth" Harrie said, getting to her feet and exiting the bath and giving Ginny a hand up, before they both hovered tensely above the vial waiting for the colour to change. They stood there still as statues staring at the small vial
"What colour are we hoping for?" Harrie asked tentatively, not really sure what her friend was hoping for right now
Ginny bit her thumb nail "What colour is not pregnant?" she asked not taking her eyes from the vial as it started to swirl.
"Pink" Harrie said abruptly, her voice sounded deafening in the suspenseful quiet.
The two girls watched as it slowly changed to a vivid pink.
"…Pink…that's good then" Ginny trailed off, picking up the vial and looking at it close up, as though it would suddenly change to something else. Harrie put her hand on Ginny's back
"You hesitated" She said gently
"No, I didn't" Ginny denied, tipping out the vial and bundling up the discarded rubbish and empty vial into the sink.
Harrie wished she had Hermione nearby to be the supportive one "Yeah you did…don't we want it pink?"
Ginny shrugged, huffing slightly "It wouldn't have been the end of the world if it wasn't pink, I suppose," Harrie turned the younger girl to face her and tucked some of her red mane behind her ear, her expression sympathetic.
"But it's good it wasn't because yikes me having a baby in seventh year? I'm happy it's pink" Ginny said, voice quiet
Harrie looked at her friend's rather pouty expression "So you are ok with pink then?" It turned out to be more of a question, but Ginny nodded in response, even as she looked crest fallen.
"Give me a hug, you silly sausage" Harrie said resignedly pulling the red head into an embrace
"I am actually happy I'm not up the duff" Ginny said after a while, even as her eyes watered and her breath hitched. Harrie shushed her "Look on the bright side, we can get drunk on the eggnog now"