"When did you Backstep?"
Harry leaned back. "June of Ninety Eight. I was promised that everyone would be safe if I surrendered. But I don't think he held up his side of the deal."
"Who?"
"Tommy Boy."
Hermione Granger sat back into her chair. "And of course you just walked out to meet him."
"Yes… and no." Harry looked away. "I need to keep it to myself for a bit longer. On the train, I will give you a list of books for a practice of the mind-arts."
Her wand came up, "And you think you can just buy your way out of trouble with a few books?"
Harry looked her in the eyes. "Yes… pending on the number of books." Before chuckling.
Hermione hissed at him, allowing her ears to pop up and lay back on her head. But she too grinned. 'hey…books.' She schooled her face. "No, you are buying the books."
"Then you will have to await my Owl."
Just then something hit the door with a thump, Ronald's voice was heard swearing from the far side.
"You didn't silence the door?" Hermione retracted her ears.
"No. It blocks both ways. This spell just makes everything a loud droning." Harry flicked his Yew at the door, canceling the spells on it.
"What did you do that for?" Ron snarled as he held his bleeding nose.
"I was trying to get Hermione out of her knickers… or at least her jumper." Harry retorted.
"And you didn't call me?" Ron gasped.
"Ron, when a bloke is hunting jumper-puppies in a dorm, he doesn't invite his posse." Harry sighed, before he snapped his fingers. "That reminds me, I need to apologize to Patil."
"Why would you need to apologize to her?" Ron asked, before he yowled as Hermione fixed his nose.
"Not 'Her', 'Them'. " Harry huffed as Hermione grumbled. "I did them a disservice during Yule and in thatSee they did me a Favor in first, being my date, and then allowing your cuddfan blêr* to escort her twin."
"Like that's going to matter." Ronald scowled, his nose having cleared up,
"It is… if I want to rub my face in four tits at the same time." Harry leered at the boy. "Or better yet, watch Hermione rub her face in four tits at the same time."
Hermione swatted Harry's arm, but the mirth in her eyes made him look at her twice.
Harry kissed her check, and headed out and down to the Common Room. Pavarti and Lavender were sitting in a love seat, looking through a muggle fashion magazine.
"Hey, Patil. Do you have a way to contact your sister?" Jumped the last three steps. "I have something to say to you both, but I doubt you two want me to do this before the whole school."
The Indian Lass shook her head.
Holly was flipped out, [expecto patronum] "Message to Padma Patil reads: Miss Patil. You are requested to join your sister for a private matter. No doubt you know where the portal is. Your sister awaits your arrival." Harry Frowned. "On a side note, bring Lovegood. Tell her Rotfang Revealed. Message complete, deliver." The Thestral dove into the ceiling of the common room.
POMP
Padma was frowning at Chang and Edgecomb harassing Lovegood. As Chang was a Prefect, there was little she could do right now…
A ethereal Thestral arrived through the wall. "Miss Patil. You are requested to join your sister for a private matter. No doubt you know where the portal is. Your sister awaits your arrival. On a side note, bring Lovegood. Tell her Rotfang Revealed"
The whole room heard the Thestral speak in Potter's voice.
She stood and closed her book. "Come on, Lovegood. We don't want to keep him waiting. He might come looking for us. We all saw what he did to the Dragon. We don't want him knocking on our Door do we?"
Chang and Edgecomb sneered, "Like he could get in." Cho retorted.
"Maybe," Padma returned, "But odds are he will have Granger on heels. The Knocker will be as a Luminous charm to her." She crosses her arms, That's if He bothers with the Riddle. He is after all a Gryffindor."
Luna slid around the older girls. "Wonder Potter has on the Rotfang Conspiracy." She skipped out the door and bunny hopped down the steps.
Padma shook her head. "Not sure if you noticed, Potter came out of the Maze Different. He was wielding two wands, his Holly and a Yew. He dropped Moody without looking." She approached the door. "You have seen him handle Malfoy. And He is only anoid. What happens when he gets angry?"
The door boomed shut behind her.
Chang snorted and retreated to do her Homework.
POMP
Down in the Slytherin Common Room, Draco was strutting around, blustering about some inane subject, most likely having to do with his Daddy's money or Connections.
"... and then on my sixteenth birthday, I will claim the Black Heirship, and Father will gain control of the Black Estate."
Daphne perked up at that. She had learned during the last Easter/Equinox Break that House Black had a Contract for a Daughter of Greengrass. 'So… why did Malfoy need to wait until he was sixteen?'
She stood from the table where she was studying, and stepped into the library alcove. The book she was looking for was easy to find. The section she needed was even easier.
The section she needed read: If a Heir is not declared by their sixteenth birthday, they can declare to Magic for the Heirship.
She frowned. Exchanging the book for another, this one dealing with the Twenty Eight Bloodlines and the 'Select Few'. Since Malfoy was pontificating about Black… she checked the Black Tree. "Sirius was the last named Heir… and the Ring of the Lord is broken which means he has not taken up the Headship. His Heir is…" She channeled magic through her finger. "... Potter, Harford."
She looked at the Potter Tree. The Last Heir was Harford. Also with a broken Ring. Born to James Charles out of Lily Evans. So…Potter's given name was Harford."
Now she just needed Harry to take up his rings.
POMP
In the Badger Den, a redhead huddled with her sister in all ways but blood…
POMP
As the two Ravenclaws approached the Gryffindor Gatekeeper, the enchanted painting swung open and the Twin's sister smiled at them.
As the two Ravenclaws climbed into the Porthole into the Gryffindor Aerie, a feeling of welcome swept over them both.
As the two twins were directed to a love seat, the Blond was collected by the only female Weasley.
The Golden Boy of Gryffindor smiled at the twins as the common room went quiet.
The Lad bowed to them. "My Ladies. I owe you both an apology and a boon within my power."
The twins look at each other, before answering in unison. "Take us."
Several wizards choked.
Harry blinked. "Clueless Guy says 'What?'." Harry blinked, again. "Please clarify."
Padma swallowed. "Our Father is old fashioned. He holds to many of the old ways. And he has had many offers for us. Our Mother has been able to hold him off until our OWLs."
Pavarti took up the tale. "But each of the Offers are for one of us and untouched. If you were to offer for both of us, and take us to a broom closet, it would foul up Father's Offers."
Harry gulps. "I would never ask a witch into a broom closet, but I can be ambushed and dragged into one. If you two really want me to claim you, I will need you to write to your Father and tell him that you have an interested suitor, and that he is wanting you both together."
He staggered back. Hermione charmed the armchair to slide across the room and catch him before he fell.
"You claim that you are interested in us both." Padma leaned forward. "But can you pay?"
"Pav probably knows more about my wealth than I do." Harry sighed. "I will be heading to Gringotts as soon as I step off the train. If your Father would meet me there…' He trailed off.
"So… You were not joking about rubbing your face in four tits at once." Ronald sneered from across the chamber. "Were joking about Hermione joining in?"
"Please ignore the mo-Ron across the room. He has come down with a bad case of 'The Git'." Harry smiled at the two witches across from him. "I will admit to having the teenage male dream of burying my face in your beautiful bounties. But like I said, I will not ask, but if I am ambushed… oh woah is me." He grinned at the twins.
"You are playing to the crowd." Padma challenged.
"Yes." Harry leaned forward. "But notice, the guys are just enjoying the show, while the lasses are ready to put us guys in our place. Ron is all roar, but he is rather toothless."
Ronald's ears went red. He went for his wand…
Harry spun to his feet, both wands blooming in his hands…
… Ronald was hit by a stunner from his sister.
Hermione just facepalmed.
"Wow. Maybe I should ask for a resort." Lovegood spoke up, "Gryffindor is so much better than Ravenclaw."
"No." Harry answered. "We are not usually this active unless we are celebrating a Quidditch victory." He looked around, "Or the end of the Year."
Pavarti surged to her feet and kissed Harry on the lips. "I claim this boy as mine. I share him with my sister Padma and Granger. Any who challenge will face the three of us as one."
"We can't just claim Harry like that!" Granger gasped.
Padma slowly rose to her feet and slinked up Harry. "Then if the boy objects he can say so. Or you can." She snaked her arms about his neck as her sister did the same to Hermione.
The twin kiss dropped a blanket of silence across the room.
Angela cleared her throat. "Before we do anything further to celebrate, make sure you are packed."
Luna groaned.
Harry cleared his throat. "Dobby." The little guy attacked his knee. Before the Elf could speak. "Dobby, my friend Luna Lovegood here, is spending the night here. She needs her trunk and all of her things packed and brought here. Some of her things were borrowed and she would like them back."
Dobby bounced on his toes as he 'scanned' Luna before, in mid bounce, he vanished.
McCormick pushed forward. "How do you get a House Elf?"
"Easy. I traded my house for the Elf." Harry smiled at the older wizard. "Because he was already inside the Wards, but not a Hogwarts Elf, he can hear my call."
"You are saying you gave up your House?" The pureblood sneered.
"Not House." Harry smirked. "Just the place I used to live. It was not a Home, this is Home. But My Elf will make anywhere I go, a home."
Dobby tackled his knees, causing Harry to fall into his chair, as he cried into the Human's leg.
Harry just rubbed the bald head. "I take it that you finished Luna's packing. I need a set of robes set out, but everything else but my owl packed." Harry looked over at Ronald stunned on the steps, "Also pack the Mo-Ron's things. He is in no condition to do so now, and we all know how he will be in the morning."
Only the Ravenclaws didn't chuckle.
With the promise of Celebration, only Harry and the two Ravenclaws were left in the common room three minutes later. Dean and Seamus having grabbed Ronald and drug him up the stairs.
"So… Padma, do you need to collect your things? Or are you staying the night?"
"Already packed. Been packed for the last week." Padma settled back. "I am debating asking for a resort myself."
"Don't bother. It's just easier for Harry to request married quarters, and the four of you to sleep in the one bed." The dreamy tones of Luna's voice floating past caused Harry to jump to his feet.
As Harry's arms wrapped around the girl, "Of course you can join us Luna. Cho and her gang will never bother you again." He kissed her crown. "The question is… are you joining the group or as my sister?"
"You are offering Sister?" The blond pulled back to peer up at the Lad.
"The details I leave to you, but I could use a sister, as my Witches seem to have decided that my Sister is now their sister."
"Your sister it is." The little blond snuggled close. "The eight of us will be happy."
TBC
cuddfan blêr Welsh for scruffy hide.