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"When are you going to turn us into grandparents?" Dave asked after he finished reviving his knees.

"During the summer, probably in August. Suzy is going to give birth at about the same time. I wonder if it will really be at the same time."

"About that…" Dave seemed reluctant to ask but did it nevertheless. "Why did you accept sharing your husband? You were already married then, weren't you?"

Hermione smiled. "Sure. We were already married by then, and I was quite reluctant to accept this. I knew Suzy meant it when she said she would not come between us and I couldn't really fault her logic or her feelings. Now I'm glad I accepted her."

"And you?" He turned towards Harry.

"I would have been happy with only Hermione and I was certainly not looking for any additional women. I was just as reluctant as Hermione, but once she agreed, I couldn't really oppose it. Suzy is certainly a great friend and much more." Despite his initial fears, Harry was now confident enough to speak boldly.

Dave looked at the buxom redhead. He was sure that no young man (or an older one, either) would refuse such an offer – shag her with no strings attached – yet Harry and Hermione treated her like she was his wife as well. It was a bit confusing. He barely heard Harry talk some more. "I hope both children will grow up like siblings, even if only one will be officially Potter, and I hope to become a good father for both." It made things only a tad clearer.

Jean proved more practical. "How far along are you both?"

"We stopped using the contraceptive charm only five weeks ago. Neither of us got her period since. The healer said we were both about three weeks since conception," Hermione replied, sounding quite clinical. Suzy blushed, though.

"Did your healer tell you about the morning sicknesses? You may suffer them as early as the New Year, I think."

Hermione smiled. "She taught us a spell and gave us a certain potion that should keep us well until we return to school."

Dave thought of another problem. "Don't you have many stairs at Hogwarts? They may prove quite a problem, once you're getting heavy with child."

Susan had her reply ready. "The Potter apartment is easy to reach, with not too many stairs and a few magical shortcuts. It won't be much more difficult than passing it here." Her eyes pointed at the staircase leading to the upper floor, where the bedrooms were.

"And where will you live, once your children are born?" Dave continued.

Hermione replied. "We're not sure yet. We shall stay at school, of course, during the term, and Harry has inherited a big house in London, only it needs some modifications." Harry cringed at that. "Then, according to what we were informed at the bank, Harry owns some more places we could live at, but we didn't give that much attention yet."

Susan also spoke. "My aunt's house was destroyed when she was attacked, but my Parents' house still stands, and the family also had some summer houses and other assets that I'm not fully aware of. We may need to visit Gringotts to get the full list of options."

"So, am I right in assuming that you are quite well off?"

Susan smiled. "I'm not as rich as Potter, but the Bones family has always been quite wealthy. Your son-in-law will never need to financially support me."

This seemed to take another weight off Dave's shoulders. He just sat silently, wondering how fate was playing tricks with him.

The weather turned nicer as the day progressed. Soon after lunch, they all put on their winter coats and went shopping for Christmas. Hermione knew that this was the first time for Harry, as he had never joined his relatives when shopping and had never been asked for his opinion before. He seemed to love taking part in the activity, feeling like he was really a part of the family and enjoying the acceptance of his in-laws. They first shopped for Christmas decorations for the house and for the tree and then parted, letting each person buy presents for the others – another first for Harry.

It was evident that Susan was also enjoying this experience, as she had never spent much time in Muggle areas and never went shopping for presents in Muggle shops. Hermione assumed that Susan was also excited about buying presents for her new family, as she was already feeling very close to Harry and Hermione, considering them family, and she was glad to be accepted by the Granger parents, as they also seemed to become the family that she had always missed.

Finally, they all went shopping for a Christmas tree. Dave checked several trees and then asked for the opinion of the others. Hermione cringed internally at seeing the surprised look on Harry's face when he realized that his opinion counted. It only made her resolve to never let the Dursleys near Harry much stronger.

Harry also seemed delighted when asked to help carry the tree inside, although everybody else helped just the same.

They were all quite tired after their intensive shopping trip. Jean served them a hot meal, which all ate with gusto. When finished, Dave stretched in his chair. "Tomorrow we're going to start decorating. We'd like this Christmas to be very special, considering the changes in our family." He tried to cover a yawn. "I think Harry and I will hang the decorations where a ladder is required. We shall then help you with the rest, as needed."

Hermione frowned a bit. "Don't you want me to help too, like every Christmas?"

Dave smiled and shook his head. "I always knew I could trust you to stay safe, as a child, but as a pregnant woman, you shouldn't use ladders if they can be avoided."

Hermione's frown deepened. "I'm pregnant; I'm not ill, you know."

Dave smiled again. "Of course, honey, but a pregnant woman shouldn't take any avoidable risk, especially during the first trimester. Didn't your healer tell you?"

"She only said we should refrain from exerting ourselves, but we could do everything as usual," Hermione insisted.

"Of course, but can't I pamper my future grandchild?"

Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled a bit. She knew he meant well, and that she also needed to adjust some of her behaviour for the pregnancy. She still didn't like it.

Susan smiled fondly at the exchange and then spoke quietly with Hermione. "Let yourself enjoy the pampering. When you become a mother, most of it will go to your child. Enjoy it while it lasts."

–..–

Christmas turned fabulous. All five enjoyed the warmth of family love. Hermione was happiest when seeing how much Harry was enjoying it. The fact that Suzy enjoyed it just the same was like the frosting on a cake for her. When she stopped to think a bit, Hermione realized that she seemed to love Suzy like a sister, or maybe like a co-wife. Well, not having any siblings, it was hard to discern the exact type of love. Still, Hermione no longer felt any reluctance about sharing Harry with Suzy. Even when making love, it seemed better when Harry was paying them both his attention. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, she still liked to have his complete attention, although she didn't mind letting Suzy have her own "alone time" with Harry, and Suzy didn't even ask for it that often.

Celebrating the new year was a bit awkward. Harry tried to kiss them both at the same time, making each get access only to half his mouth. Yet it was quite funny too, making them all laugh as soon as the new year was in, and then Harry gave her a good snog, followed by one to Suzy before they retired to her bed, where they celebrated it some more, very intimately so.

–..–

Returning to Hogwarts was just normal. They were even spared Malfoy's regular visits. Harry wasn't sure why, but he didn't mind it anyway. Whatever caused Draco Malfoy to skip his annoying visit on the ride was good in his books.

That didn't mean that Harry stopped suspecting Malfoy. He was very sure that the git was secretly doing something that could end very badly. He didn't hide his opinion from his wives.

"Why don't you ask Dobby to spy on the git?" Susan asked. "You know that Dobby can become invisible and undetectable, if he likes, like all house elves, and he's extremely loyal to you. He would be glad to help you. You can't possibly do that, even with your map, unless you skip all your lessons, your training and almost everything else."

"But why should Dobby obey me? He works for Hogwarts now."

Susan smiled. "Just ask him. He may be willing to help out of admiration to you or he may have other reasons."

At first, Harry didn't like it. His previous life experience didn't teach him to trust others with what he needed or to delegate some of his work to others. He took some time to think of that and then agreed that it was a good idea. The fact that Hermione agreed played a large part in his decision.

He then called Dobby to give him the task, but he first needed some answers. "Dobby, are you a free house elf?"

Dobby looked appalled. "Of course not! A free house elf dies in a matter of weeks, or, if at Hogwarts, may live up to two or three years at most."

"Then who is your master?"

Dobby seemed proud to answer. "The Great Harry Potter Sir is Dobby's master."

"But Dobby, how can I be your master? I set you free from Malfoy. I didn't bond you to me!"

Dobby looked as if this was self explanatory. "When Master helped Dobby be rid of nasty old master, master created a new bond, one based on gratitude, not slavery. Dobby is now proud to be a Potter house elf, along with the rest."

"You mean that I have more house elves?"

"Didn't Master know? The Potter house elves all envy Dobby for meeting the Great Harry Potter Sir so often. They would like it if Master and Mistresses visited the Manor once in a while."

Harry could barely remember hearing about Potter house elves at Gringotts, but he thought this conversation had derailed too much. He'd get to the bottom of things at another time. He put aside the nagging thoughts and concentrated on giving Dobby his task. "I'd like you to follow Draco whenever he's not in class, in his dorms or the Great Hall. I'm sure he's plotting something to help Voldemort, maybe even control Hogwarts, and I need to stop him. You may ask for help from other Potter house elves if you need it."

Dobby considered the task before answering, "Dobby can do it. Dobby needs less sleep than Draco and can eat when he's in class. Dobby may call others to pass messages to Master if needed."

"I suspect he goes to the Room of Lost Things or another aspect of it. Can you follow him there?"

Dobby seemed delighted to give a positive answer.

Harry smiled at the small creature. "Thank you, Dobby. I'm sure you're going to do a great job."

–..–

Indeed, within a few days, Dobby found out where Malfoy was disappearing each evening and even what he was doing. When hidden, Dobby could easily apparate to the other side of the door to the ROR without making any noise.

That gave Harry an idea.

"Dobby, I'd like one of my house elves to go each evening to the Room of Lost Things during dinner and disable others from opening the door. While there, I'd like him to start sorting through the items in the room. Anything of value should be saved. Everything dark or cursed should be put aside for either cleansing or destruction. Whatever is damaged beyond repair should be vanished. I want the room to be kept inaccessible until an hour after curfew. You should continue to spy on Draco, of course. Can you do that?"

Dobby smiled. "That's no problem. What would master like to do with all the items salvaged, especially those of value?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not yet sure. I'll have to see what is found there before deciding."

"Does Master like to make sure the cabinet Draco was working on is damaged beyond repair?"

Harry gave it a thought and smiled with mischief. "Not yet. I think of letting him continue his work about once a week. You should undo any advance, but make him believe he's reaching closer to his goal. I'll need to think some more about how to proceed."

Dobby nodded his understanding and vanished.

–..–

The semester continued well enough. Harry had a few more meetings with Dumbledore, returning very frustrated after each. Hermione, though, was expecting this, commenting, "That man can't talk straight even if his life depended on it. He's so accustomed to keeping secrets and disclosing only the minimum necessary, as he sees it, that he's useless. What have you learned from him about Voldemort until now?"

Harry gave it a thought. "He was born Tom Marvollo Riddle, although I knew it since I faced him in the Chamber of Secrets. He was sorted to Slytherin and became a prefect and then a Head Boy, despite Dumbledore suspecting him of turning dark. Well, he seems to have been dark from early childhood. He then worked for a while for Borgin in Knockturn Alley and probably stole some of the founders' artefacts from their legitimate owners, although the blame was never put on him. He then disappeared for several years, returning as Lord Voldemort, recruiting supporters and starting to terrorise magical Britain. We already know he used Horcruxes to keep himself from fully dying, and that's how he could return. The rest is more anecdotes and opinions than real information."