oooOOoooOOOooo Chapter 16
The next couple of weeks passed quickly as the students finished their mid-year exams and prepared for the holidays.
The last Hogsmeade weekend before break was upon them. Harry, Hermione, and Gabrielle spent all of their free time together, getting to know one another and seeing if they could make a good fit with one another. Harry had already asked the girls to join him for another go at a Hogsmeade weekend. They gladly accepted.
As they walked down to breakfast with Fleur and Bill at their backs, they held hands and chatted about the winter holidays.
Gabrielle glanced back at her sister, who nodded encouragingly. Gabrielle took a deep breath and turned shyly to her new loves.
"Do you have plans for the winter break?" she asked.
Harry shrugged morosely. "Not really. I'll probably stay here. It's what I always do," he said, sadly.
Hermione squeezed his hand in sympathy. "My parents and I usually go to Paris for the winter break," said Hermione. "This year, we'd be glad to stay with you."
"Would you both like to come stay with me? Your families would be welcome to join us," said Gabrielle. She winced like she expected to be turned down. Harry glanced back at Bill. Bill winked and nodded.
"Bill, you would be welcome to join us, as well," said a fluttering Fleur. He grinned.
"I'd be glad to, after Christmas. They haven't announced it yet, for no reason that I can fathom, but there will be a Yule Ball this year. All of the Champions are expected to attend," said Bill. "We could leave on Boxing Day and return on January 7. That's the day before classes resume, I think." said Bill.
"Classes let out on the 22nd," said Hermione, helpfully.
Harry nodded, getting excited. "Yeah. Maybe, yeah! I've never been to France or anywhere really," said Harry.
Gabrielle grinned and bounced excitedly on her heels. "Bon. I will let mama and papa know. They are very excited to meet you," said Gabrille, shyly. Harry gulped. He had just agreed to meet his possible future in-laws. Bill knew it, too. He decided to take a chance. He knew Harry planned to give the girls a promise ring. He planned to ask Harry to wait until New Year's Eve or the first day of the New Year. It was like Fleur read his mind.
"Mama and Papa have a party every New Year's Eve. New Year's Day is just for family. Would you like to invite your parents to join us?" asked Fleur. She looked uncomfortable for a moment. "While most of your siblings would also be welcomed, I must admit Ron and Ginny might not be a good idea to include."
Bill sighed but nodded. He'd really like the chance to have their families meet. Bill knew this was the girl he wanted to marry. If the hints she'd been dropping were anything to go by, Fleur hoped for that, too. Bill wasn't under the gun like Harry but he hoped to propose on her 20th birthday. He wanted to give her a promise ring on her 19th. She was already 18 years old, so it wasn't really that long to wait. Twenty-one seemed the perfect time to get married to the man who was already 23 himself. It would give her time to finish her masteries and her internship at Gringotts.
"I'd love to invite my family to join us for the party and maybe for the day after," Bill said, looking at Harry significantly. Harry felt like passing out at the insinuation that this would be a good day to provide the promise rings to his lady loves. He glanced at the girls. Bill nodded in approval. "I agree Ginny and Ron would just be a distraction. Ron's on punishment, big time. Mum and dad are planning to home school him for the rest of the year after the Christmas hols. Ginny will be spending the holidays with the mind healers in Saint Mungo's, so it shouldn't be a problem. Mum and Dad can sneak away for two days."
Fleur grinned and jumped forward, kissing Bill's cheek. Bill grinned and pulled her into his side for a hug.
The group walked into the dining hall and took a seat. One of Harry's worst fears came true when Bill's prediction came to pass. Halfway through the meal, Dumbledore stood up.
"Dear students. As we approach the holidays and you prepare to go home and forget everything you've learned, I'm sad to say, I'll be offering many of you disappointment. Most of you will be staying here over the holidays," said the man wearing bright orange gloves and an orange and yellow paisley print robe.
The students started to grumble angrily.
"I'm sorry for the suffering, but I promise you'll be happy about it … most of you anyway," said the smiling Headmaster. "A grand tradition will take place this year over the winter hols. The Triwizard Tournament includes another exciting event! The Yule Ball. All fourth year students and above are welcome to attend. Third year students and below who are invited by an upper year student are welcomed guests."
The angry grumbles turned to shrieks of joy from many of the girls and grumbles of pain from many of the boys.
"As another joyful surprise, both Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th of December will be Hogsmeade days. Hopefully this will give you plenty of time to prepare your debonair attire. Oh, and to find a date," Dumbledore said, winking.
Harry looked at the two girls staring at him hopefully. He coughed until he had to stand up and walk away. Bill watched him go, concerned. The girls just looked disappointed. Harry turned and faced the wall. He called for Dobby.
"Dobby? Can you bring me a bouquet of pink and a bouquet of yellow Casa Blanca lilies? Also, two boxes of chocolates. Don't let the girls see them, okay? Maybe pop under the table?" Harry said, quickly.
He heard a "Yes, Mr. Harry," that was almost as quiet as a breeze. Harry coughed a few more times and turned to sit down. The girls, Bill, and Fleur were watching him. Harry's face was already red. He sat down and took a big drink of his juice and coughed one more time.
"You alright there, bud?" asked Bill. Harry gave him a furtive look and winked. Bill just shook his head and turned back to Fleur. The girls patted Harry's back and offered him water. He shook his head.
A few minutes later, Harry felt something appear in his lap. He glanced down and saw two small bouquets and two boxes of Honeydukes finest chocolates. He took a deep breath and glanced furtively at the girls. Bill was busy whispering in Fleur's ear. She had a gorgeous candy striped rosebud behind her ear.
Harry pulled his gifts out and looked at his two ladies. "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Yule Ball?" His voice cracked on the word ball. He blushed but held the gifts out to the two lovely ladies beside him.
The girls grinned and accepted their gifts. "Yes, I'd love to," said Hermione.
Gabrielle kissed Harry's cheek and said, "Oui. You honor me," right in his ear.
Harry shivered. Hermione kissed him gently on the cheek and snuggled into his side.
Harry grinned and let the warmth of his ladies fill him up.
"Finish your food, Casanova," said Bill, playfully. "Let's get this show on the road."
Harry shoved some bacon, eggs, and toast into a sandwich and ate it in four bites. "Ready," he said, almost choking on the large bites. He chugged his juice and stood, offering his hands to his ladies. They quickly accepted and stood as well.
Neville noticed Bill and Harry's suave moves. He decided to follow suit. He was meeting Hannah and Susan to spend the day together in Hogsmeade. He ran off before it was time to meet them and picked two double purple devil's trumpet flowers, one for each of them. Susan's rather frank discussion of what she and Hannah were hoping for had really opened Neville's eyes. He was glad to try to give them what they desired.
Harry was walking out of the Great Hall when he saw Neville holding out the flowers to Susan and Hannah. He couldn't help but overhear.
"Ball you with me? Please?" he stuttered. Hannah giggled and accepted the flower. Susan boomed out a laugh and accepted the invitation for both of them. She tucked Neville under one arm and Hannah under the other and led the way to Hogsmeade.
The two groups converged and walked together. The girls all giggled and spent half of the trip with their noses in their flowers and the other half talking excitedly about dresses. The boys didn't care. Their hoped-for companions agreed to go to the ball with them. They were too grateful to be put off.
The trip to Hogsmeade was relatively unremarkable. The couples split up for a few hours to do their own thing and met back up for a late lunch before they walked back to the castle together.
They were laden with bags as Harry's group said goodbye and made their way back to Harry's trunk. Remus and Sirius were playing with the babies on the playset.
Harry went over to kiss his kids and greet his pseudo-uncles. Tonks popped up behind Harry, scaring him half to death. She laughed loudly and tripped, falling into Harry and knocking him into the sand. She laughed again and pulled him to his feet.
Harry gave her a disgruntled look while he dusted himself off. She just made exaggerated silly faces at him, causing the babies to giggle madly. Harry's annoyed expression softened. If Tonks could make his kids laugh, she wasn't so bad.
"Where are Dan and Emma?" asked Harry.
"Taking a little day to themselves. Uncle Pads and Moony agreed to watch the little tricksters. Yes, we did!" said Sirius, dropping a prank on himself. His eyes went wide and spun like corkscrews in his head. The babies laughed so hard, they could barely breathe. The prank ended and the boys grinned and said Papapapapapa.
"You want old Pads to do it again?" asked the grinning man. The babies shrieked in joy. Padfoot dropped another prank on his head. He turned into a giant rubber chicken and squawked loudly for a few minutes. The babies started trying to cluck, too.
"Bababababa!" they babbled, flapping their little arms in their best imitation of a chicken.
"Just you wait. Someday you'll be old enough to get pranked, too," said Padfoot, tickling their little toes. Remus shook his head but smiled at the man.
Tonks came over and nosily started trying to peek in the bags. That led to all the girls disappearing together. Harry just smirked and watched them go.
Harry sat with his boys and his uncles, passing time on the swingset until the girls returned. The Grangers came back around the same time, looking refreshed and in love. Hermione decided to extend the invitation to join Gabrielle and Fleur in France for the winter holiday.
"Mum, Dad, Gabrielle's invited us all to join her family for the holidays in Paris. What do you think?" Hermione asked, excitedly.
"Have you spoken to your own parents about this, dear?" Emma asked Gabrielle.
"Yes, ma'am. It was my parents' idea. You are all welcome," said Gabrielle, looking at everyone present, including Tonks, Remus, and Sirius in the invitation.
"I couldn't leave my mum and dad behind for the holidays," said Tonks, shaking her head.
Gabrielle looked at Fleur who tossed her hair and nodded. "They would be welcome to join us for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Our parents host a formal party on New Year's Eve. New Year's Day is spent together as a family. The rest of you would be welcomed to join us from Boxing Day until January 7, when we return to the school."
"My family, minus Ron and Ginny, will be joining us for New Year's Eve and Day," offered Bill. Molly had been very sad to think of leaving Ginny alone in the hospital for two days but Arthur convinced her it would be good for them all. Ginny needed to focus on her recovery and two days away would be good for Molly and Arthur. What really convinced Molly was the thought of spending the days with her grandbabies.
Tonks looked excited. "A party? Sounds legit," she said, glancing at Remus. The two had started a clandestine relationship. The 22 year old woman was relentless in her pursuit and Remus was lonely.
"Would you like to accompany me to the party, my lady?" Remus asked her, quietly. Her hair turned a lovely magenta shade. Her blush matched.
"I would," she said, trying to curtsey in jest. She tripped and fell into his chest. He caught her. She rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek.
Bill turned and genuflected, trying to up the ante of the joke. "Fair maiden, could you grace me with your hand for the gathering like the sun graces the sky with its light?"
Fleur laughed but her flush was genuine. She put her hand in Bill's and curtsied much more gracefully. "I would love to, kind sir." She even managed to pull a light blue handkerchief from her bosom and handed the fragrant item to her suitor.
Harry glanced at his ladies warily. They giggled.
"Er, would you please let me accompany you to the party? Please?" he asked, his mind blanking on potential hilarious and chivalrous declarations.
"I'd love to," said Hermione, smiling.
"Oui, that would please me," said Gabrielle with a grin. They both leaned in and kissed Harry's cheek.
Dan turned to Emma and raised his eyebrow. She chuckled and took his hand with a nod.
"We'd love to accept the invitation, ladies," said Dan.
It took Gabrielle a moment to break out of her loving gaze to turn to the Grangers. "Hmmm?" she asked.
Everyone laughed. "We'd love to join your family for the holidays and for the party," said Emma.
"Oh! Yes! Bon. I will let mama and papa know. They will be very pleased," said Gabrielle, blushing once more.
Sirius looked a little sad. "Would I be able to come? I don't want to cause any trouble. I can stay behind if it will," he said. He dreaded spending two whole weeks as a dog but he also didn't want to spend the holiday alone.
Fleur straightened. "I would like you to know I would never betray your trust. However, I would like permission to speak to my father about your situation. You could seek asylum in France, you know. Justice will never be carried out by the Engleesh."
Sirius looked uncertain.
"I think you should do it, Padfoot," said Harry, seriously. "You deserve to have your day in court."
Bill agreed. "No one has to know you've returned from France. If you're adjudicated innocent there, no one would ever expect you to return here."
Harry glanced at Hermione and Gabrielle. "We're thinking of going to school in France after this year. You know I'd want you to come, don't you?"
"You could be free, Sirius," said Hermione. "We all want that for you."
Sirius looked torn. Remus put a hand on his shoulder.
"I think you should, old friend. Fleur's right. You'll never see justice here. The Wizengamot and Dumbledore have no intention of seeing you free, right or wrong," said Remus.
"Wouldn't you like to be able to actually live?" asked Tonks. She looked at the other in deep thought. If they all left, Remus would go, too. She had some serious thinking to do.
Fleur noticed her looks. "You know, France is very sympathetic to the lycanthrope's plight. They offer a safe space for transformation and require all citizens afflicted to take the Wolfsbane Potion. It is provided by the national health care system, free of charge."
"It is?" asked a surprised Remus.
Fleur nodded firmly. "Oui. It is," she turned to Tonks. "Our auror force is one of the best in the world. You would have to train in France to understand French laws and procedures, but it is a possibility." She grinned, cheekily. "Especially if our father is on your side."
Tonks laughed but looked at the girl thankfully. She looked at Remus who was watching her with desire in his calm gaze. She felt a spike of heat. "That's definitely something to consider." Her parents would need to come, too. She wouldn't leave without them but they would be open to the move. Tonks knew the only reason they stayed was because of her. A pair of healers would be welcomed anywhere.
"Well, if we're going to a party, we'll need new dresses!" said Tonks, grinning.
"I have a catalog from France!" said Fleur. The girls disappeared again.
Sirius looked thoughtful while Harry decided to deal with another issue he had planned to resolve while they were in France. He reached into his pocket and fiddled with the ring box.
He cleared his throat twice. Started to talk and cleared it again. Everyone was staring at him. He pulled at his collar, sweat trickling down his forehead.
Dan laughed. "This must be big," he said smiling, having a hunch about what Harry had to say.
Emma looked at him with concern, but her eyes were sparkling. "Are you alright, Harry dear?"
Harry croaked and nodded, then shook his head, then nodded again.
Sirius grinned. "Are you going to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage or something?"
Harry looked like a deer in headlights. Bill rolled his eyes. "Just spit it out," he said.
Harry couldn't. Instead, he pulled the rings out of his pocket and showed them to everyone.
Emma gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, Harry!" she said, rushing forward to look at the rings. "They're gorgeous."
Dan peeked over Emma's shoulder and grinned. "These will do. What are these stones and this metal? I've never seen anything like it."
Bill answered, "The stones are hexagon cut black fire Opal. The metal is mithril. Mithril was said to be crafted by the high elves before they left these lands."
"It's a beautiful set," cooed Emma.
"New Year's," squeaked Harry. Emma turned to him with joy and compassion in her gaze.
"You're going to ask them on New Year's Day?" asked Emma.
Harry nodded, starting to sweat again. Dan looked thoughtful.
"I'm not against New Year's Day but you might want to consider New Year's Eve before the party. I'm sure Gabrielle's parents would want to turn the celebration into an engagement party. There won't be another chance, if you really do marry before the end of the school year. My guess is you'd need to plan your wedding for spring break," said Dan. He glanced at Bill. "The Weasleys could plan to arrive for brunch, couldn't they?"
Bill nodded. "Sounds reasonable. Might not be a bad idea."
"Spring break? That's early April?" asked Emma, getting a wild look in her eye. "That's only a little under four months from New Year's! That's not much time to prepare at all." Even if her daughter would be a teen bride, she wouldn't let her miss out on the full wedding experience. She and Dan had been saving for this day since Hermione's birth, as well as for her education.
Harry looked like he was going to puke. The guys all laughed at him. Emma was busy thinking of the invite list. An engagement party for their friends would be a must as well. Maybe January 6th, before the return to Hogwarts on the 7th?
"Could I convince you to return home on January 6th, instead of 7th? We'll want to hold an engagement party, too!" said Emma, excitedly.
Harry wobbled woozily on his feet. He looked like passing out was a very serious possibility. Sirius put an arm around him. "Get used to it, mate. The girls deserve to be celebrated and so do you. For this if for nothing else."
Harry gulped in air but nodded faintly. "Whatever the girls want…"
Dan squeezed Harry's arm. "That's the spirit, my lad. This is something special and important to the ladies. If all goes well, it'll be their only chance in this lifetime. Let them enjoy it."
Emma grinned. Surprise engagement party ideas already whirling in her head.
The girls came back with satisfied looks on their faces. They walked over to their men and kissed them on the cheek, whispering sweet words in their hot ears.
"We ordered appropriate robes for all of you, including you, Sirius. We hope you don't mind. Dan, Emma, if you'd like to look at the catalog and choose, we will include you in our order," said Fleur, smiling brightly. She loved shopping for party clothes.
"How about you pick them out for us? We've just remembered a small gathering for our friends on January 6th. If you don't mind, we'd like to invite you all to attend. It's a mundane event. I've got some catalogs we can look at together, our treat. If your family feels comfortable, they would all be invited to the party, too," said Emma with sparkling eyes. The girls all quickly agreed. Another party? Another dress? Yes!
The observant Fleur noticed the sick look on Harry's face and the cheshire cat grin on Bill's face. It was no secret that Harry would ask the girls to marry him soon. She had a hunch what kind of party it would be. She whispered to Bill. He looked at her in awe and nodded. She looked smug.
"I would be delighted. Mama and papa would be glad to attend. Our auntie, her daughter, our younger sister, our uncle, and our grandmere and grandpere would also be glad to attend, I am certain," said Fleur.
"Are you alright, Harry? You look a little green," asked Hermione. Harry started coughing again. Hard.
"Let me get you a pepper up potion. I think you might be coming down with a bug," said Gabrielle, hurrying away.
"Yeah, the marriage bug," murmured Sirius. Bill and Remus heard and snorted a laugh. Harry took his pepper up potion and gulped hard as steam shot out of his ears.