⨳⨳⨳⨳SUMMER OF 1995 ⨳⨳⨳⨳
⫘⫘⫘ACCEPTANCE⫘⫘⫘
The week following Harry's date with Amelia was his birthday week. Though his birthday was on next Monday everyone in the house was excited about it and was preparing a party in secret.
Fleur was going to handle baking the cake. Susan and Daphne were on decorations while Amelia, Andromeda, and Apolline were on kitchen duty. They begged elves to let them cook for a day and after what seemed like hours of debate the elves conceded. Bella going to go with Sirius for a supply run while Rose volunteered to be assisted if any group needed it. Narcissa remained impassive in the whole affair.
The Sunday came in a blink of an eye and both of them were standing in the lounge area.
"You look….. stunning Dora!" Harry complimented Dora, wearing a simple white spritz mini dress with embroidery and for the date, she made her eyes white and her hair was Sakura pink.
"Aren't I always?" she smirked retorting which made him snort. Before she smiled looking at him saying "But you sure cleaned up good Mister" she said looking at his light blue t-shirt with white trousers.
"Yeah but I can't look stunning like you every day so I do what I can and this is all Sirius's teaching" he quipped at her chuckling and she joined him too.
She took his hand and interlocked her fingers with his asking "So where are we going Harry bear?"
"Well we are going to the Weird Sister concert!" he announced
She jumped in excitement hugging him and asking "WHAT! You are the best Harry Bear!" before breaking the hug and asking "But how did I check in with my friend yesterday just yesterday it was all booked?"
He smiled saying "Once again, thank Padfoot for that. I don't know what he did but I asked if he can see about booking them and he did it. It's about to start in 15 minutes we better get going," he said taking her hand and dragging her to the floo fireplace. He threw the floo powder saying the name of the venue and password then offering his hand to Dora asking "Ready?"
As a child she took it and both walked into the fireplace. They made their way to the concert and Dora was in the seventh sky but she ignored Harry who was squirming and trying not to have a breakdown in front of everyone.
It was after 3 hours when they were exiting the venue that she noticed he looked a little uncomfortable so taking his hand she asked "Harry Bear, are you okay?"
Taking a deep breath he smiled saying "Yeah just a little hungry" he was okay now that he was not in a crowded and loud place. He could see the face-splitting smile Dora had and only single thought came to his mind 'Worth it!'
"Now we can't have that can we, let's go!" she took his hand apparating both of them to a dark alley. She landed perfectly while Harry was just like the last date he was on the ground which made Dora laugh a little as she offered him her hand.
Jumping up on his feet he groaned "Why does Magical travel hate me so much?" as he dusted his clothes.
His comment made her chuckle as she took his hand saying "Come on I'm so hungry I can eat a whole Hippogriff"
They stopped in front of a small fast food joint named an MC Donald. She turned to Harry asking "So Harry ever had a burger before?"
Getting a negative answer she smirked "You are in for a treat, Mister! Come on!" as she once again dragged him into the store.
Harry sat on the chair as Dora went to order food and was back in five minutes. He gave a questioning look asking "What about our order Dora?"
"Oh! They will call us when it's ready, anyway, did you enjoy the concert?" she asked with her eyes gleaming with excitement. He smiled shaking his head and saying "No it was too loud and crowded, I don't like places like that. But I am happy that you enjoyed it"
"But Harry I am not alone on this date! We are together in this" she said concerned taking his hand and giving it an assuring squeeze.
He sighed saying "But I am enjoying it! The goal of these dates is to know each other a little. I now know you not only love Weird Sisters you are crazy about them and you know that I hate big crowds and loud noises, so yes we are in this together now I will try something new with you"
She smiled looking in his eyes asking "How do you do it Harry? Making the best out of the worst situation?" to which he simply shrugged as an answer. That's when a voice called out a number and Dora stood up saying "Oh that's our order! I will back" winking at him as she made her way to the counter adding an extra sway to her hip. She smirked knowing he was watching.
She turned in mid-stride asking "Want some extra Ketchup Harry?" in a seductive voice and saying 'p' with a pop. She chuckled seeing him entranced by her just as she anticipated and turned red in embarrassment shaking his head.
She returned with a tray pile of food almost a foot tall and keep it on the table. Seeing the shocked expression on Harry's face it was now Dora who turned red in embarrassment saying "I need 10000 Cal to maintain my energy, being a metamorph burns lots of energy"
He chuckled teasing "Oh now I know who raids the kitchen in the middle of the night"
She huffed saying "I am not the one who cooks extra and leaves a note which says 'Use warming charming before eating Dora or you will get sick' hmm I wonder who it is" throwing a knowing glance at him before saying "Come let's start before it gets cold" taking a burger and unwrapping it taking a bite and moaning in satisfaction.
Harry chuckled shaking his head at his date's antics before taking a burger himself unwrapping and eating it. He mirrored Dora's action of moaning.
Only 15 minutes later he exclaimed saying in an impressed tone " 20 burgers under 15 minutes! Woah that must be some kind of record"
She chuckled before burping which made both of them laugh as they exited the establishment.
Both started walking when Harry asked, "Hey Dora why do you call me Harry Bear?"
She looked at him with a confused expression asking "Why do you not like it?"
He shook his head saying "No I just wanted to know the story behind it"
"Oh!" Dora said before she chuckled saying "Well it was the Christmas after you were born so the whole family was gathered at Potter Manor it was a big celebration. Anyway, Sirius thought it would be a good idea to prank everyone with hair growing potion in everyone's pumpkin juice. He forgot the vial in your nursery after playing with you for the whole evening. You in your curiosity summoned the vial with accidental magic and drank it"
"WHAT? I drank it?" Harry asked incredulously
She snorted saying "Oh you did and the baby you regretted it instantly! Cause you started wailing from the taste! In a mere minute, everyone was in the nursery only to see a brown-hair-covered baby crying! While Dorea Mum was quick to gather you in her arms while Aunt Melania, Mum, and Lily were hexing the lives of your father, Remus, and Sirius. At that moment Aunt Melania holding you came up with a nickname that didn't only calm you down but cheered you up. So in short your grandma came up with your nickname"
He smiled saying "I would have loved to meet her, Grand uncle, Grand Aunt and Grandpa" telling wistfully.
Dora smiled saying "Yeah I hope you could but I know that where ever they are they are proud of you just like all of us" she took his hand in hers intertwining her fingers with his.
Harry nodded saying "I hope so"
Dora pecked him on the lips saying "I know so, Harry"
For about the next 15 minutes they were silent but Harry could see Dora was holding herself back from something until she spoke up in a meek voice which was uncharacteristic for her "Hey Harry"
He looked at her with a mix of concern and curiosity as he asked "What is it, Dora? You can tell me anything you know that, right?"
Stopping in her tracks Dora looked in his eyes and stammered asking "Wh..wh.. Why di…..did….didn't …y..you *sniff* yo..you ask me to cha…ange?" as she played with her dress with teary eyes.
Taken back by the question in confusion he asked "You wanted me to ask you?" hoping he didn't ruin the date by making a silly mistake.
Dora sheepishly shook her head saying "No it..it's just eve…everyone I went out with wanted me to change into someone else or change my body as per their liking. So I was just wondering why didn't you? Do you not l…." She was cut by Harry pressing his lips on hers with all the passion and love he has. It was not forced full but passionate yet gentle.
He broke the kiss only to see tears running down her cheeks which he wiped off saying "Dora I like you as you are as a person and not your body! I don't want you to change anything about you for me and I don't want to see how you really look cause that should be your decision and yours alone! So you can be whatever you want cause I will love you regardless of how you look!"
'Dora remember you don't have to change for anyone cause you are awesome as yourself. I and your mum love you for who you are, so you don't have to change every time we are around if you want to have violet shoulder-length hair then keep it that way. Be you and not what people want. Change cause you want to not cause anyone else told you to. It should be your decision and yours alone. Now finish the cake and go to bed before mum finds us' the memory of her father flashed in her mind hearing Harry's words.
She smiled wistfully wiping her eyes of tears saying "You, Harry James Potter are the only person other than my father to say something like that to me. He is the reason I am as I am today. I thought you will ask me to change something about myself. But I should've known that you don't do normally before thinking about all this hippogriff dung. I used to hate my natural self cause I look too much like Bella but knowing she is innocent I am ready to accept who I am and that's all thanks to you my soon to be Husband" she kissed him gently
As the kiss ended he smiled saying "I am glad to help Dora and…." He paused pecking her lips and tasting a familiar sweet and tangy taste like berries.
"I know you don't have to say it Harry take your time," she said seeing him looking hesitant before he heard her words and relaxed. She cast a Non-verbal 'Tempus' which showed 11:50 in silvery floating numbers.
"Oh! Merlin, we are so late" she exclaimed before turning to Harry and saying "Let's go I have an early shift tomorrow" holding her hand out for him which he took. As he did she disapparated.
Both appeared in the apartment he took Rose for a date and they flooed to the Black Manor.
As they exited the fireplace only to enter the dark room only source of light was the moonlight flitting from the windows. There was no noise in the house whatsoever only pin-drop silence.
"Were is Every…" Harry was cut by the grandfather clock chiming three times as the hour hand struck the 12 and at that cue, everyone in the family came out of the kitchen singing 'Happy birthday' with Fleur in the front with cake in her hand.
He turned to Dora who was smiling coyly saying "Why do I have a feeling you knew about this?"
"I don't know what you are talking about Harry Bear" she replied before joining everyone else in singing the birthday song. As they ended the song Fleur placed the cake on the tea table.
He smiled at everyone before looking down at the cake that read 'Happy Naming day Arthur' it was not as neat as other aspects of the dessert and he knew who wrote it by the nickname. He looked at Rose who looked at him nervously until he flashed her a reassuring smile.
He looked at everyone present for his birthday and he was not able to control himself from tearing up a little. Fleur saw it and took him into a loving hug saying " 'Appy Birthday 'Arry" before pecking his lips.
Shaking his head and wiping his eyes of happy tears he smiled saying "Thank you Fleur" hugging her.
"Come on I want to eat the cake" both Astoria and Gabrielle whined at the same time which made everyone chuckle.
"Yeah me too! Let's cut it I want to eat it too" Harry said taking the knife, blowing the candles, and cutting the cake as everyone cheered for him. He took the first piece dividing it in two he gave them to Astoria and Gabrielle with a Cheshire grin on his face seeing the pout on all his fiancee's faces and his godfather's.
Seeing this two younger girls giggled hugging him and wishing him Happy Birthday while blowing a raspberry at all his fiancee's
"Looks like they have our fiance wrapped around their fingers" Dora quipped making others chuckle and nod in agreement.
Then one by one everyone ate a little cake before they all turned in for the night while both Astoria and Gabrielle slept with Harry in his room cause they didn't want to leave their big brother's side.
Next Morning.
Waking up early Harry made his way out of the bed carefully so that he won't wake up two younger girls sleeping in his bed. Both were cuddled up with each other and he smiled seeing this. In the past three weeks, Both became sisters to him and they loved him as a big brother too.
So after his workout, Harry made his way to the kitchen to make some breakfast as he did twice or thrice a week only to find Amelia and Andromeda done with cooking breakfast while Apolline was setting the table.
She saw him and greeted him with a hug saying "Bonjour 'Arry 'appy birthday once again"
He hugged her back and returned the greeting before taking a seat at the table. He looked at the grand spread made by all three women and was dumbstruck. There were multiple types of muffins, French Toast, Pies, Beacons, Pancakes, Scrambled eggs, fruits, etc.
Looking at his expression Apolline chuckled saying "See somezzing you like 'Arry?"
"Not something Apolline I like everything and I …" choked as as memory started to play in his mind
'It was Harry's 4th birthday. The first one he remembers at least. He was excited as he had seen how his cousin Dudley was spoiled by his Uncle and Auntie on his birthday. He was excited that morning so with a little jump in his step he headed to the kitchen from his room (Cupboard under the Stairs).
He asked his Auntie "Good Morning Auntie Tunia!" with a smile on his face. Petunia gave him a disgusted look before huffing and giving him stale bread and a glass of water as breakfast. His smile flattered as he saw it still it was his birthday so he ate it happily.
After that, he spent most of his birthday dusting the house, and during his chore, he took a toy car, a broken toy car of Dudley. Later that night he received his present in the form of Beating by his Uncle after Dudley accused him of stealing his toy.'
He was brought out of his memory by Apolline's voice asking " 'Arry are you okay?"
Blinking he answered "Hmm! Oh Yes I am okay!" with a smile but he failed to notice tears on his cheeks.
Apolline closed the distance between them before saying "Oui, zen tells me why are you crying?" as she wiped tears from his cheek.
Once again he smiled saying "Oh I just miss Mum and Dad, it's nothing really"
She took him into her embrace without saying a thing. She knew he was lying about what really was bothering him but still she knew her mate was hurt and she didn't need to know what was hurting him to comfort him.
The warmth of her body made Harry sigh in comfort it was the same as when he hugged his fiancee's mother which was weird but at the same time, it felt right to him. He hugged her back before breaking it saying "I needed that thank you Apolline" kissing her on the cheek on instinct before blushing red and Apolline mirrored him.
With red cheeks, she stepped back saying "I will go wake up Gabby, it's already very late" turning as she thought 'I got it bad for him'
Soon everyone was up and greetings went around as everyone once again wished him before settling down in around the table for breakfast.
The rest of the day was the same as others till evening. The sword training for that day was shifted to next Sunday cause there was a party organized by all the adults.
At six Hermione came out of the Floo after Dora picked her up along with her parents Dan and Emma Granger. She ran up to him taking him into a hug saying "Harry! Happy Birthday!"
"Thanks Mione" he said hugging her back and turning his attention to her parents. He stiffened as he saw them coming toward him. Dan came first greeting the teen telling "Happy Birthday Harry! It's nice to finally meet the boy we heard so much about!" offering his hand which he took shaking it and saying "Thank you Sir and I am lucky to have Hermione as a friend" cause the bushy-haired girl to beam at him.
"Oh, you are flatterer" Emma quipped offering her hand to him which he took and brushed his lips on her knuckles. Mrs. Granger quirked her eyebrow saying "And a gentleman too"
The Granger family was followed by Weasley Twins along with Katie, Alicia, and Angelina who arrived via Portkey which Sirius sent them in a letter yesterday.
"Happy Birthday Harrikins" both of them greeted him together and the girls followed.
After that were House Abbot and Tracey Davis and her mother who was the family of his fiancee's best friends. He greeted them with a curtsy not knowing them very well. Both girls were quick to find Daphne and Susan.
The last to come was Neville with his Grandmother and regent of House Longbottom Augusta Longbottom. Neville's birthday was yesterday and so Harry sent him a book on herbology!
The party was nothing special to others but to Harry, it was the best thing that had ever happened only second the contracts that made introduced him to the lovely ladies who were his fiancee.
During the party, Harry noticed Narcissa was absent and so was Bella. So he took a leave from his talk with Neville about quidditch league to look for them.
First, he made his way to Narcissa's room which was on the ground floor but not finding her there he made his way to Bella's room.
He knocked asking "Bella can I come in?"
"Come in Darling" Bella's voice came from behind the door.
He entered the room only to both black sisters having tea. He looked at them in confusion before asking "What are you guys doing here come on let's go join the party!"
Both looked at each other before Narcissa said "It's just that people down there still think of us rather poorly cause of our past and us going down there will only spoil the mood of the party"
"Oh! Okay but how long are you going to be in here?" he asked them quirking his eyebrow
Bella smiled saying "Until the party is over and guests are gone"
He sighed shaking his head and saying "I am not talking about party Bella I am talking about both of you in general. I mean it's been a 6 months since you have been declared innocent Bella and you haven't stepped out as yourself since then. I mean you must be going crazy sitting in here and the same goes for you Narcissa"
Both women were stunned to silence before Bella huffed saying "I know Harry..." she paused before sighing and saying "Alright! But it isn't like I can do…"
She didn't get a chance to finish Harry cut her by saying "But there is! You are both Amazingly talented with wands and could easily get any job you want. I know you are afraid of facing the world due to your past Bella but it was not your fault! So come on let's go down and enjoy the party" holding his hand out for her.
Bella bit her lip and hesitantly moved her hand to take him but was startled when he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him only to kiss her on the lips with passion and love showing her that he will be always by her side. Harry for his part did what he thought was right and what Bella needed at that moment also his curiosity to taste her lips played a major part as he relished in the taste of Sinful Cinnamon.
Narcissa watching this couldn't stop her heart from beating faster than ever. Her mind was already starting to fantasize about how it would be if she was in place of her sister? What would Harry's lips taste like? How would his hand feel around her waist?
Her train of thoughts was broken by the voice of the same teen who has been subject of her fantasies since her first class with him as he asked "And what about you Narcissa?" he held his hand out.
She nodded accepting his hand with a little pink grazing her cheeks. She gingerly took his hand anticipating him to repeat the action he did to her sister with her but to her disappointment, he simply helped her to stand. This was clearly shown on her face which Bella noticed and smirked before turning to Harry and saying "Okay Harry Bear we will be down after changing you go ahead will join later"
"Why the long face Cissy?" Bella asked with a smirk on his face after Harry left
"No- Nothing!" Narcissa said a little too quickly which her sister picked up on
"Oh really?" she asked walking closer to her sister before continuing "so you were not imagining how it would be to be in Harry's arms? Or how his lips taste and his hands feel around your waist?"
Narcissa looked at her sister stunned thinking 'how does she know all that?' before stammering an answer "N- N- No I….."
Bella cut her asking "Really Cissy cause Harry has a thing for you know? Just another day he asked all of us if we can include you in our little family." She mocks a sigh saying "Such a shame I will inform him that you're not interested, well it will ruin his birthday but I better rip the band-aid and get it done with" she turned to move towards the door slowly.
"What!? No, I am! Yes, I am, Yes, Yes I want" Narcissa jumped up to grab Bella's arm stopping her.
Bella turned to exclaim "HAHA! I knew you like Harry!"
"Yeah so He loves me too…" she accused before pausing only to now realize that she was played by her Sister, turning red from embarrassment she said "YOU You! I will…."
"Uh Uh, Cissy you won't do anything cause I simply helped you accept what you already felt" Bella cut her with a smug smile of satisfaction.
"No, you just… just….Arrgh!" Narcissa growled in frustration before saying "Fine I am I like him and I want what you, Dora, Bones… all of you have!" huffing loudly
"Oh so you just want him like physically?" she asked her quirking her eyebrow 'Come on Cissy you know it just say it out loud"
"No it's not that I just that I…" she tried but was cut by Bella asking in frustration
"You what Cissy?"
"I…..I …"
"Damn it! What is it, Cissy?"
"I…." Narcissa was at the cusp of admitting it she needed a little more so Bella gave it to her by yelling in mock rage
"Out with it Damn it!"
"I like Harry! He cares about all of you, he cooks for you, he takes care of all his fiancee and he never asks anything in return! He simply loves you and adores you! The way he looks at you like you are the only thing that matters to him! I want that I want to be in his arms! I want to feel the warmth of his skin on mine and I want to snog him senseless! I like him so much! Lucius never did any of it he never cared about me, he never loved me other than physical need and he was cold as ice to touch! So yes I like Harry Potter and I want to be with him!" Narcissa said with teary eyes in a trembling voice. She felt an invisible weight lift off of her chest.
Bella beamed at her and took her in her embrace saying "I know Narcissa I just wanted you to accept it yourself"
Narcissa broke the hug glaring at her sister saying "What?"
"Yes Oh, dear sister of mine! I told you, you will fall for him and you did! But you were denying your feelings! And it's not only me, Dora saw it too and suggested me to do this!" Bella answered smiling at her sister's shocked expression.
"When did she become master in matters of the heart?" she asked with mirth in her voice
"No she isn't but it was her experience with Fleur who much like you was fighting her feelings for Harry but when confronted all those feelings came flooding out. But it's understandable. You were scorned before by Lucius and so you were afraid to accept a man once again. You like him, Cissy, not duty-bound to love some but actually like him and that is a good thing. You like Harry James Potter and someday like me you may even love him" Bella answered
Narcissa blushed like a school girl hearing the last sentence asking "Okay but what about him he is extremely loyal to all seven of you and won't even think about cheating, so how will it all happen?"
Bella shook her head saying "Don't worry! Just be yourself and let things progress naturally. As for the rest of his ladies, you already know about his multiple soul bonds. Let me ask you where were you on the night of the Quidditch World cup?"
"I was there at the world cup in Malfoy family tent" the venom audible in her voice as she continued "When I heard all the chaos outside the tent that's when one of the death eaters fired a curse at auror behind me. I was in a crossfire when the wave hit me and knocked me out the….."
She realized what is her sister insisting she gasped asking in a low voice "He saved me back then didn't he? That was the day I got to know that the death eater was there to assassinate me on Lucius's order to kill me so he can marry his cousin and Draco's real mother Uriel his cousin"
Bella smiled saying "Yes he did" before standing up "Okay now let's get dressed and go down to the party Harry is waiting for us" delighting in blush forming on her sister's cheeks
After 45 minutes both were down and joined the party. But as they did the atmosphere tensed up a little but only until Bella was greeted with a hug by Augusta saying "Good evening dear, you look healthier than last time I saw you" with a rare smile on her face.
A little startled by the forwardness of the old witch Bella smiled saying " I am good thank Madame Longbottom"
"Come along dear I would like to introduce you to someone," Augusta said gesturing for her to follow and so Bella did at the same time Narcissa noticed Evelyn making a beeline towards her. She gulped knowing this could be the confrontation about her ex-stepson trying to rape her daughter and she braced herself.
"It's pleasure to see meet you here" Evelyn greeted a little frostily
Narcissa gave a fake smile with practiced ease before saying "It's a pleasure to meet you too Lady Greengrass" with a curt nod
Evelyn sighed saying "Narcissa I don't hold you for your son's action as Harry informed me that he is his father's son to the tea. So please be at ease and enjoy the party" with a smile before making a beeline to Harry leaving behind a stunned Narcissa.
She simply looked in awe at the teen who she was falling for deeper and deeper with every minute. He resolved her fears without even knowing them. 'Maybe this is what love feels like, Maybe this is what feels like to have someone who cares about you, Maybe this what having the support of a person feels like, Maybe this is what feels like to be…Happy. MAYBE?'
Hello, People so that was Harry's Date with Nymphadora and his Birthday Party!
A date of both getting to know there like's and dislikes. Accepting each other as they are!
If you like it, Review It. Constructive criticism is most welcomed. I am working on the sequel and I have 6 chapters down.
So, ladies and gentlemen, that's the chapter, this is Griffin's Prophecy and I am Drakpacer, See you In the Next Chapter!