Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Posted the wrong chapter. It is fixed now.
-oOo-
This time on A Mid-Winter's Eve: The beginning of the end… or a Potter-Black's vengeance.
-oOo-
Chapter 15-oOo-
June 13, 1998Cornwall, England
Harry acted as though he was walking at the portkey let him out of the maelstrom. Besides him were Ted, Andi and Narcissa. Daphne and Hermione had wanted to come, but the danger to them and the babies was too great to have at this meeting.
The three things that Harry immediately noticed when they landed on solid ground was the way the sand gave way under his feet, the smell and sound of the ocean, and the cry of sea birds overhead. It was a nice June day on the Cornwall coast. Andi took his sleeve to turn him.
Harry turned to see Bill in nice robes. They were much finer than anything he had seen any Weasley wear before. To his right was a pregnant Fleur. She was further along than either of his girls and had a much larger belly. Her robes looked to be made of the same type of acromantula silk as Bill's and Harry's party. To his left was an old woman that was already giving Harry a hard look.
Just behind them was Fred, George and Ginny. Harry rose a brow to see Angelina Johnson standing next to Fred. They were all in their best attire, which was exceptionally fine. The joke shop was doing well, if the statements of what the twins put into his vault were any indication.
Behind then all, was a stone, two story cottage that was quaint and probably had three or four of bedrooms to it. To the side was a function tent that looked to have been set up for this meeting.
As they were the visitors, they approached the Weasleys. Bill bowed to Harry. "Regent Potter-Black, I would invite you to Shell Cottage."
Harry bowed back. "Mister Weasley, thank you for your hospitality today. May I ask who we are meeting with?"
"This is my wife, Fleur Weasley. She is also representing the Delacours of Toulouse today," Bill said.
Harry bowed to her, giving her a small smile. He liked Fleur and her family.
"This is my great-aunt, Madam Muriel Prewitt."
"Madam Prewitt, it is a pleasure," Harry said, moving to take her hand to gently kiss it. Where Fleur was part of the Weasley's, a non-Wizengamot house, Madam Prewitt was the last of her line and held a Wizengamot seat, meaning he needed to treat her differently.
The woman didn't look impressed. "I came only because of my ties to House Black, Regent Potter-Black. If this is a waste of my time, you will hear about it."
"I assure you, madam, it will only be a waste of your time if you think it is," he said, not giving any ground.
When he backed up, Bill cleared his throat. "Regent Potter-Black, I know you know the others. The only new addition to our family is the betrothed of Fred, Angelina Johnson."
Harry bowed to her. "It is nice to see you again, Miss Johnson."
She looked like she didn't really know what to do, so bowed back. He could almost hear the cringe from Andi and Narcissa. The scowl on Madam Prewitts face loudly declared what she thought of the situation. "Let me introduce my companions. This is Solicitor Theodore Black-Tonks. He will be our law wizard today and has offered his services should you need them. This is my regent on the Wizengamot for House Potter, Madam Andromeda Black-Tonks."
Bill stepped forward to kiss her hand. "Madam Black-Tonks, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"And this is my regent on the Wizengamot for House Black, Madam Narcissa Black, soon to be Greengrass," Harry told them. In just under two months she would be wed to Daphne's uncle.
"A pleasure, Madam Black," Bill said, kissing her hand as well.
"Are we done? This sun is warm," Madam Prewitt said. Harry was starting to get a feel for why Molly was the way she was.
Bill looked slightly annoyed for a fleeting moment. "Of course. We have refreshments. I hope you don't mind, but Shell Cottage is a little small to have us all sit and be comfortable for this conversation."
Harry indicated for Bill to lead the way. He followed after Madam Prewitt cut him in line. If this was a formal parley between houses, the Head of the houses and their spouses were to go first.
Inside the tent was a side table with coffee, tea, finger sandwiches, a variety of biscuits and biscotti. Harry helped himself, as it would have been impolite to do otherwise. Once they were all seated, Bill looked rather nervous. So far, he had done well to act like a 'proper pureblood', even if Harry knew this was not his normal routine. Harry hated it too, but this was not a normal meeting.
"Regent Potter-Black…"
"You can call me Harry for the rest of this meeting," Harry interrupted Bill.
Bill gave him a grateful nod. Madam Prewitt scoffed, but she was not the senior House here. "Thank you, Harry. Please call me Bill. You asked for this meeting?"
Harry nodded and Ted opened his satchel. "I know that you were sent the official notification of a blood feud that will be enacted between House Weasley and the Houses of Potter and Black."
Bill frowned. It was his great-aunt who spoke. "That is preposterous. You can't just go around declaring blood feuds willy nilly. My niece says its baseless accusations that had her arrested this week."
Harry turned his glare to the woman. "Excuse me, madam, but this does not concern you yet and I have perfectly legitimate reasons to call a blood feud. I suggest you ask your nephew why when we are done."
"You will tell me now," Madam Prewitt demanded.
"Aunt Muriel, Harry has legitimate reasons," Bill said.
"Bill, what exactly happened," Fred asked.
"Perhaps you should tell them why, Regent Black," Narcissa said in an icy tone.
Harry looked to Bill. Bill sighed. "Mum, Percy and Charlie used a ritual circle in the orchard. They laid a curse on Harry and his blood line to be fallow and failed to cast a curse for eternal bad luck. We are lucky that one failed and exhausted them. Charlie told me the last curse would have been to have the children on Heiress Black and Heiress Potter to be born stillborn. Dad was there and did nothing to stop them."
Harry took in a sharp breath. He knew this, but his anger was hard to keep in check as the table shook with his magic. Madam Prewitt paled, as did most of the Weasleys present.
"She did what?" Madam Prewitt asked.
Ginny had tears running down her cheeks. "Dear Merlin."
"That… that… that…" George said, as though he couldn't find words for what he wanted to say.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Angelina said, getting up and hurrying towards the house.
Fleur had pursed her lips.
"As you can see, madam, I have legitimate reasons," Harry said in a harsh tone. "Now, my quarrel is with House Weasley and those that tried to kill my unborn children and harm my wives. Bill, you have made your oath that you knew nothing, and I know that my misguided sister-in-law had Ginny do the same. Are Fred, George and the other members of your family present willing to do the same?"
Bill looked to Fred and George. "Harry, you have to believe…"
"…us. We had no clue. You are like…"
"…a brother to us. Hermione…"
"…our sister. Like little Ginevra…"
"I like Ginny," Ginny said to her brothers.
"Enough," Harry harshly demanded. The stress of this, preparing for his owls, all the missed time to study because of trials lately… it was showing on him and his wives.
"Regent Potter-Black has asked for this meeting to get your oaths," Andi stated. "Give them now or I will advise my Lord to end this parley now."
"Fred, George, do it. Then go check on Angelina. She will need to make the oath too," Bill said.
"I will also need Madam Prewitts oath if we are to proceed to the next item on my agenda," Harry told them.
A few minutes later, after taking the oaths and retrieving Angelina, Ted finally gave the parchments to Bill. "What is this?"
"Paperwork to renounce the House of Weasley and join the House of Prewitt. As being a blood relation, Madam Prewitt can accept you all into her house," Ted said.
Bill looked to Harry. Madam Prewitt took in a sharp breath. "You mean to save my niece and nephews from this blood feud?"
"If they accept and you allow it. I will destroy the House of Weasley, root and stem. That is a solemn oath I give. Tonight, at midnight, I make the appeal to magic to grant me the rights for blood feud in the old ways. If you are still part of House Weasley, magic will decide if my vengeance is right or not and if it is, you will die," Harry said.
"Merlin, Harry, you are bloody scary when you want to be," Fred said.
"Shut it," Bill snapped. Madam Prewitt kept her tongue, as though understanding the full import of this moment. "You mean for us to give up our birth names, family magics and everything that is to be a Weasley and only go with our Prewitt bloodline?"
"That is a decision that is up to you and your family. I am giving you this one-time offer. I like you, Bill. I respect and like Fred and George. Perhaps if things had gone differently, I would have one day married Ginny. I don't want to see any of you hurt, but I won't hold back once this starts. I won't let my family be murdered by people I once trusted again. It is what happened with my parents and what almost killed my unborn children," Harry stated with emotion.
"I will become a Prewitt," Ginny said without hesitation.
They all looked to her.
"Bill, you know I have issues with mu… Molly and Arthur. It was why we broke up and why Molly tried to curse Harry at Christmas. I don't want to be a Weasley. I don't want to be called a blood traitor or other names anymore. If Aunt Muriel will have me," Ginny told her eldest brother.
"Alright, Gin," Bill said. He looked to the twins.
George, well Harry was fairly sure it was George, spoke up. He was rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen, Bill, it doesn't really matter much to me. Harry has been more of a brother than Charlie or Percy ever was to us. I can't lose another brother. Not so soon after Ron," George said sadly and more seriously than Harry had ever heard from the man. "Mum and dad and them have lost the plot. Harry wasn't responsible for what happened. I don't want to be related to someone that could do that to family."
"And you, Fred?" Bill enquired.
Fred looked to Angelina. He took her hand. "Angelina has finally gotten me to realize how I care for her. If you think I'm giving that up, you are barking mad." He looked to Harry. "I have no doubt you will protect your family. And Ginny has a point, carrying the name of Weasley has kept some investors away and prevented us getting a loan or two. Being a Prewitt could have its advantages."
George grinned, though he still looked sad from mention of Ron. Harry suspected it wasn't hitting them all as badly though with most making peace that Ron was going to pass while in a coma, and then with how mental he was after waking. It was probably more a kindness he was gone now. Though the wound still felt fresh and raw with it only being eleven days since that night…
"I'm sure Aunt Muriel would like to have Bill be Lord Prewitt as well," George said.
Madam Prewitt sniffed. "I would like someone a little more formal, like Regent Potter-Black, but I would also like to see my name continue. If I accept them into the House of Prewitt, you swear no harm will come to them?"
"I swear that no harm will come to any member of your family by my hand or any of my family as long as you do not intend to or do harm to mine," Harry replied.
She nodded.
"Bill?" Harry asked.
Bill was frowning. "The name Weasley wasn't always such a bad name. At one time we were part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. There was a minister and a headmaster in our family. There are still a half-dozen potion patents and other stuff in our grimoires and home that I am loath to give up, especially since it helped me get where I am in Gringotts."
Harry looked at him a little surprised. Harry never thought Bill that attached to the old ways.
Bill looked to Fleur, who had been silent this whole time. "What do you think of all this?"
"Eef it was my family, I would do exactly what 'Arry is doing," she said. "Papa would not allow such things to harm my sister and maman. He would not be forgiving. The Delacours owe 'Arry a great debt for saving me and my sister and would honour it by siding with him. You are my husband, William, and I will stand by your side, but I do not want our child to be killed and would like you around long enough to have more children."
"William, there are many secrets the Prewitts have that were never revealed to Molly or any of you as you were no longer direct family, and she was not of the proper age before marrying that insipid Weasley boy. You may find they will help you at work as much as Weasley secrets may. I do not want to see any of you die, and I would like my family line to continue. As much as I may not have said, I also think my grandmother's tiara was fitting on Fleur and would like to see others wear it before I pass," Madam Prewitt said.
Bill let out a long breath. He bopped his head for a moment as though in deep thought.
Ginny got up and wrapped her arms around her brother's neck. "Bill, they aren't worth it. I don't want to see you killed and I don't want to see Harry do it. Fred and George are right. Harry's our brother. Family should stick with family."
Bill let out a long breath and put a hand on Ginny's arm. Harry felt a little sad. He felt like he had lost something good with Ginny, but what he had gained from Hermione and Daphne was far better.
Bill nodded. "How do we do this?"
"You have to magically disown everyone, including your wife, then you renounce your headship and your house. I have the forms to file the official banishment from the family here. Then, Madam Prewitt, you will have to recognize that they are of your blood and magically name Bill your heir. That will allow Bill to accept everyone back in and give them the last name of Prewitt. I also have those forms to file with the Ministry and Gringotts," Ted said.
"That requires witnesses and bonders," Madam Prewitt said.
"I am willing to stand as witness," Andi replied.
"I will be the second," Narcissa said.
"I am licenced to oversee such bonds," Ted added.
Fred grinned. "Well, isn't that convenient."
-oOo-
June 15, 1998London, England
Today, only a very downtrodden Arthur Weasley was sitting in the stands of the courtroom for Percy as he was escorted to the defendant's chair. Percy gave Harry a scathing look. Harry's eyes flared to see the look the man was giving him. The papers on the table fluttered as though a breeze was going through the courtrooms. He was already in a foul mood after getting into an argument with Hermione and Daphne. He had sworn to never do this, but he had put his down and made it clear he didn't want them anywhere near London today. It was short of an order. He knew that he would pay for it later, but knowing they would be safe at Hogwarts was worth it. The look Percy gave him made it doubly so.
Sitting with them today was a barrister from the DMLE. If things played out the way he thought this might, then this hearing should be over in about five minutes and this afternoon Percy should be bleeding to death.
When Chief Warlock Brown entered the chambers, there was only three Wizengamot members with her. This had the courtroom stirring at the implications. She didn't waste any time at calling the courtroom to order.
"This tribunal has been called today for the civil case of House Potter and Black versus Percy Weasley. Since the hearing on May twenty-third, there have been developments that will move this case from a civil trial to a DMLE prosecution…" Chief Warlock Brown was interrupted.
"I object, Chief Warlock," Solicitor Tillings announced.
Chief Warlock Brown was not in the mood for the antics of the American. "Sit down, Solicitor Tillings. This is not an objectionable matter."
"You cannot just throw out one case and then change the charges against my client like this. Wizengamot law states…"
"I don't care what Wizengamot law says in this matter, Solicitor Tillings. The accused has committed heinous crimes against a member of this community and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Do you understand what that means?"
"This is discrimination against my client. He is being portrayed as a lower-class citizen than some mythical people that are unfairly elevated in this society," Tillings argued.
Harry was enjoying Percy pulling on the sleeve of this solicitor, motioning for him to sit. Percy understood what this meant.
Chief Warlock Browns nostrils flared. "Sit. Down. For your education, and this will be the only time I will do this, as I know you were disbarred in the MACUSA for violating court orders, Solicitor Tillings, the Sacred Twenty-Eight were founding members of the Wizarding Council, and then founding members of the Wizengamot and ministry. They are every bit as important as your own founding fathers and the magic they used to bind the laws and magics of the land. If you dare to impinge on the rights they have, the rights they have defended for us all through the years, you will find yourself in gaol cell and being disbarred in this country as well."
Tillings swallowed hard and sat.
"As I was saying, this case is moving to a full DMLE prosecution against the entire house of Weasley. This tribunal is called today to decide if Mister Weasley," she said with much contempt, "will be given the opportunity to live long enough to see that trial or grant the request from Regent Potter-Black to have an official duel at five o-clock today in accordance with the blood feud that now exists between the rival houses," Brown just about spat out.
"You can't!" Percy cried out. "I have a right to defend myself."
"And you will get that right, either with your wand or with this incompetent oaf you call a solicitor. If you would wish to forgo the tribunal, then you can declare your intentions now, Mister Weasley."
"Percy, don't do this," Solicitor Tillings said in a panicked whisper.
Percy looked to Harry. Harry was finding it hard to not jump over the table at the man. The papers were still fluttering even if his face was impassive. Harry saw the moment of indecision on Percy's face before his eyes hardened. "I will face Potter, but a standard duel has a two-week notice."
"This in an honour duel under a blood feud. Be thankful you have until five this afternoon to be ready. This court recognizes Mister Weasley's choice."
Percy looked panicked. "No! It is two weeks. DMLE and Wizengamot laws…"
"Don't apply here!" Chief Warlock Brown bellowed. "You have until five this afternoon. This tribunal has made its decision and considers its obligation fulfilled. Court adjourned."
As she was sweeping out of the room with the other Wizengamot members, Percy looked ready to shite in his pants. Harry just held his burning green eyes on him.
Percy was yanked to his feet by two burly Aurors. Tillings was protesting the rough treatment of his client and the barbaric ways of this backwards country. The man had no idea what would be coming for him once the Daily Prophet wrote about this. Though, the headlines that were surely coming in the morning would overshadow Tillings.
"You are sure you want to do this?" Ted questioned.
Harry pursed his lips. "I have too."
It was like Draco, he had to do this. Though, unlike Draco, this would be a match to the death, and Harry had no intentions of dying.
-oOo-
About 5:00 PM…London, England
Percy's hands were shaking.
When he had originally hatched his plans to ruin Potter, he had had the ministry and the minister behind him. With a power base like that, Potter should have folded that first day he had tried to arrest him at Hogwarts. What he had done to Ron, and then the rest of his family after throwing Ginny away and sending his mother into a twist over all this, Percy knew he had to stop Potter.
He had never liked the boy when they were in Hogwarts. Potter had lost them more house points than anyone. He had spent more time in detentions than anyone else in the house. He had gotten Ron into trouble more times than he could count. The battle in the Ministry wasn't even the first time his brother's life was in danger. He didn't believe that Harry had saved Ginny. More than likely, he had put Ginny into that chamber and then gotten cold feet.
Potter had destroyed all he worked for in a single day, sending his attack dogs after him and Fudge, then earning two Orders of Merlin from his lies. The paper earlier today said Potter would be awarded them over the summer at a special ministry summer cotillion. Ron had been right. Potter gets everything and gets away with murder. He didn't doubt Potter had killed Ron now.
It was this anger at Potter that was keeping his bravery up and fear down to face off against him.
The anger made his hands shake.
It wasn't fear.
He was a Gryffindor. Gryffindors didn't know fear. Right?
In the very back of his mind, Percy had to admit, he feared Potter. The magic that was just barely contained in the courtroom earlier was not something that felt nice, and he knew it was focused on him.
When a knock came at the door of his holding cell, he jumped. The door flung open. "Come on, Weasley. You have a date."
Weasley snorted. "I think I'll pass. He's not my type."
The Auror gave a nasty smirk. "I saw him duel Malfoy a few months back. I'm not sure I could beat him, and you are no Auror. This should be fun to watch."
Percy paled some.
He was led down to the ninth level and through a side passage that led to the old duelling rings. At one time the Ministry would host duelling championships, but that had ended shortly after the Blood Wars. Which was also about the time that DADA started to decline at Hogwarts. He had a fleeting thought the two were related, but he didn't have time to ponder why.
Unceremoniously he was shoved into a room. The Aurors took up on either side of the door as it closed.
"Percy!"
"Dad?" he said, standing up. He was engulfed by his father in a tight hug.
When his father stepped back, Percy was waiting for him to say something, not to be punched. "You stupid fool. I told you not to do it! I told you not to drag your mother and brother into this!"
Percy staggard back, his hand going to his jaw before looking up at his father dazedly. "What?"
His father was in a rage, a rare sight, with tears falling down his face. "Out of all my children, pride and arrogance were always your weakness. What were you thinking to go after Harry, especially after you were already facing a lawsuit, and to drag your mother and brother into this. Harry is going to duel you and Charlie today, and I doubt you will win."
Percy was holding his sore jaw. "I'm going to kill him."
"You have already tried and failed. You have no clue what Harry is, do you?"
"He's an arrogant little prick that killed Ron after having him spend almost two years in a coma, not to mention what he did to Ginny," Percy spat. There was blood in his mouth.
"Percy, I love you, like all my children, but you are a fool. Harry is a mage level wizard. Albus warned us about it years ago that he would come into his power. You pissed off one of the most powerful men in our world, both magically and politically. You and your mother have destroyed this family. Do you know what Bill and the others have done?" his father said angrily.
"What? I was surprised he wasn't in the courtroom," Percy said.
"Because of your childish games with the minister, Bill, Ginny, Fred and George left the family. Once the duels are over today, I think only your mother and I will be left and I doubt she will be given any leniency. You have upset almost every one of the old families. She is facing a dementors kiss at her trial," his father said, tears were still streaming down his face.
"ITS ALL POTTERS FAULT!"
His father's fist connected with his face again before he realized it was coming.
"Bloody Merlin!" his father swore, and Percy fell to the floor. His father was shaking his hand when Percy looked up at his father disbelievingly. He had never hit any of them before today. "It's not Harry's fault! Do you know how many life debts this family owes him? We have gone back on every one. We are truly blood traitors now, Percy."
"Potter didn't save anyone," Percy said venomously.
His father looked at him in a way that made Percy feel uncomfortable. It was a deep disappointment mixed with anger. His father was still shaking his hand. He looked like he wanted to say something a few times before shaking his head. "Percy, I don't know where we went wrong with you, but you are wrong."
His father reached into the pocket of his robes and tossed a wand onto the floor. "This is your wand. I have already mourned one child this month. I now will mourn you all for I have lost you all due to you and your mother."
"Dad?" Percy said as his father turned away from him. The man looked truly broken. "Dad?"
Percy got to his feet as his father walked towards the door. The Aurors let him out. Percy was stopped short when he went to chase after his father. "DAD!"
"You are next, Weasley," one of the Aurors said as he was shoved back into the room.
Percy stood there for a moment, feeling absolutely lost. He had distanced himself from his family to save them, then to get ahead because of his family name. Only now, as he started to really understand his life and the way his father had just turned away from him, did he start to understand that his ambition had blinded him to many things.
"Potter," he spat out after a few minutes. Potter had cost him everything.
Turning, he stormed over to grab his wand. When he spun around, he found both Aurors pointing theirs at him. "Don't try anything, Weasley."
Percy stood to his full height. The pridefulness of his character coming out. Once he killed Potter, he would bring his family back together because he would be able to show them that he and mum had been right.
It was this building rage that helped him march into the large duelling arena with his head up, his pride on full display and his heart stopping as he saw three Aurors and a green robes Healer placing a sheet over a bloody and broken body. Percy's mouth dropped open.
Charlie was the largest of them all. After having spent the last nine years as a dragon handler, he needed to be. He was also the toughest. Except for Bill, Percy would have thought him the best brawler and dueller too. To see the broken body of his brother on the floor had all the anger in him draining.
"Stay there. It will be a few minutes and then you will be up, Weasley," an Auror told him. He didn't move as his brother's face was covered.
Across the room, Potter was limping around as another Healer was trying to tend to his wounds. In the stands behind him were the two chits that represented him in the Wizengamot. Looking at Potter, Charlie must have gotten a few good hits in.
That didn't matter though as he watched three other Aurors returning the stone duelling pitch back to normal. It had been blasted, transfigured and torn up. When he looked back towards Potter, the boy had stopped pacing. His blazing green eyes were boring into him, and the Healer was finally able to start running his wand over Potter.
Percy tried to swallow but found his throat dry.
It was nearly ten minutes before someone in Wizengamot robes stepped out onto the pitch. "As a matter of honour and blood, Regent Harry Potter-Black has formally challenged Percival Weasley to a duel to the death under the blood feud rights. No spell shall be off limits and no prosecution of the victor will occur. Will the contestants step up to the circles?"
Percy looked at a magical circle made of blue glowing mist that was twenty feet before him. A hundred feet separated the two circles. Potter, still limping a little, strolled up to the circle. Percy didn't miss that he had forgone any armour. He also didn't miss the magic radiating off the boy.
The vision of Charlie being floated out under a white sheet was playing through his mind.
"Mister Weasley, step up to the circle," the man in the centre demanded.
Percy started, recognizing the man as Lord Abbott.
Unwilling to be a coward, Percy walked into the arena. He felt the magic of the wards as he crossed over the rune line and then walked into the circle.
"Gentlemen, good luck and let the best man win. On the count of five you may start." Lord Abbott stepped out of the arena.
"Five."
Percy noticed they hadn't cleared the blood from the floor.
"Four."
Percy was suddenly realizing he may have really screwed up.
"Three. Two."
He gripped his wand and rose it up. He would not submit to the boy that destroyed his family.
"One."
Percy was moving. He wouldn't let Potter get a spell in.
As his spell was leaving his wand, Potter had already cast two piercing hexes and a bludgeoner. Percy's spell went wide as he dove out of the way. He rolled and came up to have his wand arm hit with a bone shattering curse before his wand even came to bear on Potter. He screamed in agony as the bones in his lower arm blew apart, piercing through his skin and leaving his lower arm a bloody mess.
He just had time to take in his ruined arm and wand clattering to the floor when he was launched off the floor. The bludgeoner was so powerful he was flung back into the barrier of the ring while he was still a good five feet off the ground.
Screams he couldn't contain left him as he fell and the bone fragments in his mangled arm were crushed under him. He didn't have to suffer long as he looked up to see a white blade of magic rushing towards him. He had time to make out the furious green eyes of death and realize that if Harry had meant to kill Ron all those years ago in the Department of Mysteries fiasco, this boy could have done it.
A second later, he was spinning. His head bounced off the floor. His nose crushed some as he rolled over. It was a second or two for his head to come to a stop. The last sight he knew in this world was to see his own body crumpling to the ground…
-oOo-
That night…Hogsmeade, Scotland
Harry was well on his way to being totally pissed. Sitting at the bar in the Three Broomsticks with three shot glasses before him and a thing of mead in his hands was a fairly good indication to anyone looking at him that he was more than on his way to being totally pissed.
He was looking into the half full tankard when a large blonde man sat next to him. Harry didn't say a thing as Rosmerta put a shot of some strong goblin rum, or something like that, before the man before moving to fill a tankard of his own.
"What are we drinking to tonight?" Neville asked.
"Hermione and Daphne being really upset with me," Harry said.
Neville nodded sagely and downed his shot. "I'm finding that happens often when you have two girls to please."
Harry snorted, then started to chuckle more than he should. "Troubles in the bedroom?"
Neville grinned. "Hardly."
"Sounds like something Hannah would say if you aren't hard."
Neville laughed as he slammed the shot glass down. "I don't think that's an issue. Care to tell me why Daphne and Hermione are so upset with you?"
"I ordered them to stay here today," Harry told him.
Neville nodded. "Yep. That would do it. Explains why Hermione was biting the heads off of the first years that were just playing an excited game of snaps after dinner."
Harry winced. "She's that upset with me?"
"I would say so, mate."
Harry wallowed in guilt he hadn't felt in a long time. Neville just sat there, nursing his own tankard of mead.
"They sent you, didn't they?"
Neville took a good long swig before answering. "Daphne talked with Susan. Susan sent me. They are worried about you. You should have been back to the castle hours ago."
Harry sighed. He looked at the shot glasses.
"That won't solve the issue tonight," Neville told him.
Harry sighed again. "It can help," he said hopefully.
"I doubt it. What happened today?"
This sigh was the longest yet. Harry took a drink before saying, "I duelled Charlie and Percy."
"And you aren't in Saint Mungo's why?" Neville asked, sounding a little concerned himself.
"Neville, it wasn't really a fight. Charlie got off six spells. One of them almost shattered by pelvis before I bludgeoned him to death," Harry said. Neville didn't say anything or question what Harry said. He accepted it as fact, and it was pretty near the truth.
"And Percy?" Neville asked after a few.
Harry closed his eyes. There was no way he was going to let either of them live. Not after what they had done, but in his rage, he felt he had lost something. "It was an execution. Percy was no dueller or fighter. He got off one shot before I cut his head off."
Neville nodded. "You did what you had too, Harry. He tried to kill you and your wives. I'm surprised you let him get one shot off."
"He jumped the count and I had to act fast," Harry said.
Neville grunted in dissatisfaction. "Bloody coward."
Neville made a motion to Rosmerta. She nodded and a moment later she put two more shot glasses on the counter. Harry didn't even look at what Neville got them. Harry picked it up. "You did what you had too, Harry. I would have done the same if Hannah or Susan were threatened like that."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, still shaken by what he had done. He tipped the shot glass up as Neville did the same. A second later he was spluttering as the foul-tasting potion washed down his gullet. "What the bloody hell!"
Neville slammed his own shot glass down. "You are going to go back to the castle, tell those two women that you married you loved them, shag them senseless, then apologize for the next month for making them worry and setting Susan and Hannah on me about it."
Harry glared at his best mate as the sober up potion was starting to take effect. "You're a bloody dick! You know that, right?"
Neville grinned as his alcohol was taking effect. "A Longbottom always has your back. Now come on before they send McGonagall after us."
Harry cringed. "I'm not sure what scares me more…"
"What is that?" Neville asked.
"Having to face Hermione or having McGonagall coming to get us," Harry said.
Neville laughed. "They have nothing on Hannah. She really means she will banish me to an empty greenhouse if I piss her off."
Harry laughed at the horrified look on Neville's face.
"And I think it's Daphne that is going to be more vindictive if you don't make this right or do it again," Neville said with a cheeky grin.
"Bloody hell," Harry muttered, unsure if he should go back or not. He doubted he was going to have a fun night ahead of him.
Neville patted his shoulder as they left the inn. "Cheer up, mate. Makeup sex is always good."
"Yeah. I doubt that is happening soon though."
"I give it a month or two before they cool down enough," Neville egged him on.
Harry scowled. "I'll be lucky if it's a year or two."
Neville's cheeky grin didn't leave his face. "I doubt that. Have you noticed that they get really frisky while pregnant."
Harry gave a little chuckle. "Is that all you do is think with your dick now, Longbottom?"
"Hannah doesn't complain and Susan's mouth is usually too full to talk," Neville replied with a wink.
"I'm telling them you told me."
Neville shrugged. "I'm not complaining she likes that, especially when one of our tongues are in her at the same time."
Harry laughed. Neville was never this open unless you got a few drinks into him.
-oOo-
Next time on A Mid-Winter's Eve: The ending… and a few last minute tie-offs.
