Chapter 21 - Integrating Number Three
Harry awoke with a small start, feeling someone shook shake his foot. He looked around to find Apolline smiling at him, and at her daughter who was still snuggled into him. "It is time to wake up," she said quietly. "Your other mates will be here soon."
Gabrielle startled Harry, who had not realised she was already awake, by replying so fast he could hardly keep up. «Mother, I think I understand what we will do, but I'm still worried it will not work and I will not be with Harry.»
Her mother smiled caringly. «You have nothing to be worried about. Everything will work out.
«Now, while you were taking your nap, I went to a few Muggle bookstores in Paris as the Wizarding bookstores did not have what I wanted. I found a couple of books on learning English for you, Gabrielle, and one on teaching English that I'll read. We will start on this tomorrow. I also bought a few potions that help you remember things better for a short time, so we'll use those at the beginning to try to give you a lot of experience quickly; then when the potions wear off, the experience and knowledge should stay with you.»
She was interrupted by a knock on the door which she opened to reveal Hermione and Ginny. The two looked resigned, but at least they did not look unhappy anymore.
There was a short silence after they came in. "Err, hi," Harry said, clearing his throat. "How was class?"
"It was fine," Hermione said. "People asked where you were and I told them you had something else to take care of after the task. They seemed to accept that. You're going to need to show up for dinner to prevent people from wondering too much, though."
"Uh, OK. I guess Gabrielle will have to sit next to me like you did," Harry thought out loud.
"That would probably be best. Also, I was thinking that it might be best to ask Professor McGonagall to come and get you at the end of dinner and tell you there was a family issue about the Tournament that you needed to take care of. That would allow other people to hear, so you wouldn't be missed tonight or tomorrow morning. That's assuming we can convince Professor McGonagall to help."
"That's a good idea, Hermione. Then we can use the same sort of excuse to help you and Ginny get away tomorrow as well?" Harry asked.
"Probably," Hermione agreed.
"Having our stories straight is always good." Apolline told them. She looked at Hermione. "Did your research show you what we need?"
Hermione brightened. "Yes! I talked to Professor Flitwick about it, without telling him what this was for, and he agreed it would work. He also gave me the spell without me having to get into the restricted section to find it."
"And what is it?" Harry asked, wondering when she would get to the actual answer.
"When Ginny said we needed to keep the secret hidden, that made me think of your parents, Harry, and then the answer was so simple," she said excitedly.
"Hermione," Harry growled lightly.
"The Fidelius charm, Harry," she said brightly. "It hides the secret of something or somebody from everyone who is not specifically told, and those who are told can't tell anyone that does not already know. Professor Flitwick also said that the magic essentially prevents anyone who doesn't know the secret from even guessing it. So even if we make a mistake and act too friendly around people, they won't think we're bonded because the magic won't let them. Magic will push them to come up with some other explanation, like Notice-Me-Not charms do."
"That means," Ginny picked up the explanation, "that we can tell my family, even my mother and Ron, and they will know why we're together, but they'll never be able to tell anyone outside of the family."
Apolline looked very thoughtful. "Exactly how would that work? I mean, who will perform the charm, who will hold the secrets, and how do you plan to tell people?"
"Well," Hermione looked a little embarrassed now. "We were hoping you could do the charm, actually. Because the secret is not known by many people, it shouldn't take too much power. Professor Flitwick said the bigger the secret is, and the more people that already know it, the more power it takes to cast. So if you could cast the charm on each of us, since we each have a secret to keep, that would hide what we need and with the few number of people who know now then it shouldn't take too much power. I think we might want to write the secret down so it's easy to tell people exactly and we can't be overheard. That will also mean that we'll want to charm the parchment secret so it will be hidden too. We can each be the other's secret keepers."
The French woman thought about that. "So, to use an example to make sure I understand… I use the Fidelius charm to hide the knowledge of the bond between Harry and Gabrielle…"
"Yes," Hermione interrupted, "and you could make Gabrielle the secret keeper so only she could tell people about it."
"And then we perform the charm one more time, but this time on the parchment that holds the secret she needs to tell people about the bond. Who becomes that secret keeper?"
"I do," Harry said firmly. "Since the secret affects both of us, that means it takes both of us to reveal it."
"Probably, but not technically true, Harry," Hermione said. "If Gabrielle can remember the secret key, then she can tell people on her own, but since the secret key will not be short and she won't be saying it often, you're probably right."
"Who's the keeper of my secret?" Harry asked.
"Whoever you want, but it should probably be one of us," Hermione said hesitantly, understanding this was tantamount to asking Harry to pick a favourite among them. "We should also do this as soon as possible."
"May I see the spell please?" Apolline asked, holding her hand out. Hermione gave it to her and she read it through carefully. "I've never heard of this, but it doesn't seem too hard. I believe we need to come up with the secret keys first before I try this."
They all worked on what their secret key should be, the girls talking together about what they wanted in it.
Hermione also told them, "Professor Flitwick said the magic allows people who know the secret to talk about it with others who also know, so only the facts we want to keep secret have to be in the key."
Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder as she finished and read:
Hermione Jean is magically bonded to Harry James Potter and is his magical wife. They are bound by magic and by love, never to be magically separated. They share magic, knowledge of the other, and will protect each other against all others not of the bond.
"That's not as long or as complicated as I expected it to be," Harry commented.
"It is the bare minimum."
The other girls finished theirs, with the same basic facts, but worded differently. Hermione thought that was good so that if someone knew one secret, they could not automatically guess the other secrets - if that was even possible.
Apolline pulled her wand out. "I'd do Gabrielle first, but that might cause problems with my husband not being here. Hermione?"
Hermione nodded and handed her parchment over.
Apolline gathered her magic and concentrated on the hiding charm. She then cast the charm using the secret key. A golden mist coalesced on the tip of her wand and then shot into Hermione. The woman stumbled back a step and then sank into the chair behind her. "That was powerful. I need to rest for a few minutes, but how do we know if the spell worked."
Hermione turned to Ginny. "Ginny, do you know anything special about me and Harry?"
"You mean that you're bonded like Harry and I are, as is Gabrielle?" she said with a smirk.
"Grr!" growled Hermione. "That means it didn't take."
"Wait, you're bonded like Gabrielle is?" Apolline asked, looking confused.
"But…"
Harry chuckled. "It's working fine, Hermione. You just asked the wrong person."
Hermione looked puzzled as she thought about it.
"Apolline, look at the parchment in your hand and read it carefully," Harry told her.
The woman did and then a look of understanding came over her. "I remember now. Yes, you are bonded to Harry just like my daughter."
Hermione shot Harry an "explain" look just before a look of understanding hit her. "Oh, I think I understand now. The spell caster forgot and only the secret keeper should know it now, except that we," she waved her hand at him and her bond-mates, "are an exception because we're part of the secret. It's just like how I can open the training room door that's keyed to your magic."
Gabrielle looked at her mother, who translated what Hermione said into French. «But I'm not bonded to her and I knew,» Gabrielle argued, pointing to Hermione but looking at Harry.
"Yes, but you're still part of the bond. You're hiding one part, but we're still a whole - or so it seems to me," he finished with a shrug. "The real test will be to finish hiding the secrets for Ginny and Gabrielle and then see if Fleur knows anything other than about my power."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, that makes sense - a surprise, but it does make sense. I was taking the spell description too literally at first."
"Are you ready to do the same for Ginny?" Harry asked Apolline.
"I believe so." She took Ginny's secret and did the spell again. A wave of tiredness came over her and she had to sit back down. Ginny prompted the woman to read the parchment she held in her hand and as before the older woman understood what she had just done.
"I wish my husband was here for this last one, but we shall have to tell him tonight, or he shall wonder why he's staying in Hogsmeade." Apolline took the secret from her daughter and performed the spell one last time. At the end, she sank into the chair. "I swear I'm not getting up from here for at least half an hour."
Gabrielle giggled as she made her mother read her secret key.
Harry took the parchment describing the spell and handed it to Hermione. "Do you think you can do this?"
"I think I can do this if I draw on your power, Harry."
Harry nodded and handed Hermione his secret key. His key phrase was much like theirs, explaining the bond from his point of view to a witch he was bonded with, but it also explained how he bonded to single witches, so as to hide that knowledge.
Hermione did the charm and after the golden light shot into Harry, she all but fell onto the bed behind her. "That spell uses a lot of power."
Turning to his newest mother-in-law, he asked, "Do you know that I'm magically bonded to Gabrielle?"
"Yes," she answered. "But how did you do it, Harry? I feel like I should know, but I can not think of how." She suddenly pulled her wand. "Wait, you didn't use any of the Dark rituals, did you? If you did…"
"Stop!" Hermione shouted. "Mrs Delacour, read this before you do anything else."
Apolline kept her wand trained on Harry, but took the parchment from Hermione and slowly read it. As she reached the end, she lowered her wand and put it away. "I'm sorry, Harry. I can fully understand the power in the hiding charm now."
The door to the room was opened and Fleur walked in. "What are you all doing 'ere? Mother, why did you let them in? They have no reason to be 'ere." She put her hand to her forehead as if suddenly dizzy. "But I remember them being 'ere before and it was right. I … I'm so confused."
"Come in, ma chérie, I will explain." Apolline made Fleur sit down while Hermione recast the privacy spells. They showed the girl all of the secrets so her knowledge would be restored.
Jean-Aimé returned a few minutes later, also confused. They repeated the sharing process with him.
Hermione looked at her watch. "It's almost time for dinner and we need to put in an appearance. How do we get Harry back out here later for Gabrielle? I don't think we need to tell the Headmaster our secrets now."
"I will take care of it," Apolline said. "Come, let's go to the castle."
Jean-Aimé went to his room in Hogsmeade while everyone else walked to the castle.
Apolline frowned when she noticed Harry and Gabrielle holding hands. "That won't do." Faster than her daughter could protest, she picked Gabrielle up and put her on Harry's back, where the girl wrapped her arms around his neck. "Play big brother, Harry. Gabrielle can touch your neck this way." She then led them out of Fleur's room and the carriage.
They passed several of the Beauxbatons students on the way to the castle. They pointed at Harry and Gabrielle and laughed.
"See?" Apolline said softly when they were alone again. "Make the absurd look natural and there will be no problems."
Walking into the Entrance Hall, some of the Hogwarts students laughed good-naturedly at Harry. Used to the attention, Harry ignored it; Gabrielle giggled. Hermione and Ginny walked behind and shook their heads at the pair's antics.
In the Great Hall, they took a seat at the Gryffindor table. Gabrielle sat on Harry's left, between him and Hermione. Hermione whispered to the girl about how to sit at the table so Harry could touch her bare ankle, allowing them both to eat and look mostly normal. They also noticed that Apolline was having a quiet conversation with Professor McGonagall.
Ron and Neville came in and took a seat on the other side of the table from Harry.
"Harry, where have you been?" Ron asked as he started to dish food onto his plate. Neville looked interested in the answer too.
"Oh, I was having to take care of a few things for the Tournament. Explanations and such for having rescued two people instead of one," he said with an easy grin, surprised at how easy it was to stretch the truth.
Both boys accepted the statement without questioning it. Instead they looked at Gabrielle. "Why is she here?" Ron asked and pointed to the little girl with his fork.
"Gabrielle is sitting here because we've become good friends. I've also promised to help teach her magic and English, while she teaches me more French," Harry explained.
"I thought she was only here for the task," Neville commented.
"Originally, but she and her mother want to spend a little time with her sister," Harry made up.
His friends bought the story and started talking about what had happened to each of the champions in the Tournament. Harry told them what it was like under water.
Ron made a big deal about his part. Harry did not bother to correct his friend, since their friendship was still very newly healed and it kept the focus away from Gabrielle. A glance at Hermione and Ginny showed they did not fully believe Ron either. Gabrielle listened but did not say anything, in French or English.
As they finished dinner, Apolline came over. "Harry, since you're done eating, you should get a change of clothes, and then I'll escort you home."
"Where are you going?" Ron asked. Neville looked a little curious, but he also looked questioningly at Ron for asking something that was clearly none of his business.
"I need to go talk to my parents about the Tournament. I don't want them to freak out when they read the Daily Prophet tomorrow. Not sure when I'll be back though, it could be tomorrow evening," Harry said casually, trying to not make a big deal out of it.
Gabrielle spoke up for the first time. Slowly, she said, "Me come?"
Harry looked down at her with a grin. "You want to come see where I stay?"
"Yes," she said brightly.
"Sure." He looked at her mother. "I guess we'll meet you by the carriage when I walk her back?"
Apolline agreed with a nod as she waited.
Hermione and Ginny left with him and Gabrielle. Ron stayed and ate more pie. Neville stayed as well, understanding that his presence was probably not wanted at the moment.
Once they were alone in the entrance hall, Harry spoke quietly to Apolline, "I'm surprised Professor McGonagall let you take me home. I would have thought she would have insisted on doing that."
She broke into a mischievous grin. "That's what I told your friends as I thought they would accept it more readily. However, I told your professor there was a complication from this morning between you and my daughter, and you had volunteered to come and stay with her, under my supervision, for the evening while we worked that out."
Hermione's eye went a little wider as she realized the woman had essentially lied to her Head of House. Ginny grinned and seemed to be holding in a giggle. Gabrielle's reaction was very similar to Ginny's. Harry chuckled and shook his head as he turned and led his group toward Gryffindor Tower.
All three girls followed Harry up to his dorm room. Gabrielle looked around wide-eyed with wonder.
«The girl's rooms are about the same,» Hermione told the girl while Harry quickly packed a few things in his book bag.
Gabrielle looked in Harry's trunk when she saw Harry put his shrunken broom back in. She pointed to it. "Fly Quidditch?"
«Yes, I'm the Seeker for our Quidditch team. Do you fly too?» he asked her. She nodded excitedly.
"Great," mumbled Hermione, "I'm outnumbered, three flying fanatics to one."
Ginny laughed.
Harry was glad to see his other girls acting more like their normal selves. He closed and locked his trunk before handing his bag to Gabrielle. «Hold this for a minute please. I'll hold your hand again very soon.» She pouted a little, but let go of his hand and took his bag.
He walked over to Ginny and pulled her into a hug. "Hey, I know today has been difficult, and tomorrow will be too, but I promise to spend some time with just you very soon. Everything will work out, I promise." He then kissed her, which Ginny eagerly returned.
When they broke apart, he moved over to Hermione and pulled her into a hug and told her the same thing. She kissed him and he returned it.
Harry let Hermione go and turned to Gabrielle to get his bag and to hold her hand again.
"Kiss," she said.
With a grin, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"No! Kiss!" she insisted.
Harry pulled her in for a hug, her head to his chest. "Sorry, but you're going to have to wait until you are, uh…"
«Thirteen,» said Hermione.
«Yeah, wait until you're thirteen, just like Ginny is now,» Harry told her.
"No," Gabrielle said with a pout and a very serious glare as she stamped her foot.
Harry grabbed her hand to lead her out. «No getting angry about kisses or I won't kiss you until you're fourteen.»
She looked like someone had just kicked her kitten. "Please?" she pleaded sorrowfully.
«Sorry, but I can't kiss a girl on the lips who looks like she's nine; it's wrong for me,» Harry explained. «Even if you looked eleven, I still couldn't do it. You'll have to wait.» Gabrielle looked unhappy, but did not say anything else, so he led them out of the room.
Hermione and Ginny walked with them to the front doors, where they bid Harry a wistful good-night.
Apolline met them at the carriage door and led them in. Fleur's room had already been rearranged. The bed had been expanded to stretch wall to wall width-wise in the small room. The other furniture had been shrunk down. There was not much walking room at the end of the bed, as the room had only been eight feet by twelve, and the bed was now eight feet by seven.
Harry dropped his bag, pushing it under the bed with his foot, and looked at his newest "mother".
"Fleur is spending time with friends. I shall be visiting with the Headmistress for a couple of hours to inquire about tutors and smooth a few things over. You may visit in here and get to know one another, although I suspect you'll do most of the talking Harry," she said with a smile. "Perhaps you can teach Gabrielle a little English too."
"Err, OK," he said as she left.
He took his shoes off and crawled up on the bed. Gabrielle kicked off her shoes and followed him, sitting between his legs and leaning back against his chest. She grabbed his hand and put it on her bare stomach after she lifted her shirt. Harry froze for a second before remembering they had done this earlier today. He vowed to himself to make sure that his hand did not move.
"Um, story?" she asked, snuggling in.
"All right." Harry started telling the story of his life as simply as he could, using French when necessary, leaving some details out that she really did not need to hear until she was a couple of years older. He finished that and the girl hugged him tightly with a sad look. "Thanks," he told her.
"English," she told him.
"Err, all right, but first, I think I'm going to start calling you Gabi. Is that OK?"
She thought about it for a moment before smiling. "Yes. Ga-bi."
He chuckled and then started to work on English with Gabrielle, having to use French to explain sometimes. By the time Apolline returned, he had convinced her to say all sentences with a noun and a verb and gave some examples of simple sentences and he made her say them. She seemed to catch on quickly with only a few mistakes.
"It's time for bed. Harry, there are two bathrooms to the left at the end of the hallway. You may use either one."
"I'll be back in a minute, Gabi."
"Yes," she said. After she let go of his hand, she added, "Hurry."
Harry came back several minutes later and found Gabrielle and her mother had changed into pyjamas in the room. Gabrielle ran down the hall and quickly used the bathroom before bedtime.
"You have the far left side, Harry. Gabrielle will be next to you. Then it will be me and Fleur will be on the far right side." Apolline shooed them into bed as Fleur came in, also dressed in pyjamas and holding her clothes. Her mother pointed her to her assigned spot.
Harry was embarrassed when Gabrielle did not lie down and only hold his hand, but snuggled up next to his chest, spooning into him as he lay on his side, her back to his front. She held his hand in front of her. He heard a chuckle and mentally cringed some more.
"Do not worry, Harry, I know nothing will happen and I expected her to do that. However, please make sure it goes no further. Sleep well my children." Apolline turned off the lights.
Harry woke feeling very warm and comfortable. It only took a split second for him to realize that the biggest reason for that was a small body pulled up against his front. Without moving, he carefully evaluated where his hands were. His left was free, as his arm was fully stretched out; her head was on his arm, treating it like a pillow. His right arm was curled around her and they were holding hands. He felt relieved.
Now that he knew he was not in trouble, he opened his eyes. Disengaging his right hand from Gabrielle's, he reached up and grabbed his glasses to put them on. He felt the discomfort of not touching his newest mate. It was a little less than yesterday, but still strong enough that he wanted to resume the touch. Apparently Gabrielle could also feel it in her sleep as she started to stir. He quickly grabbed her hand again and she settled back down, her breathing slowing again.
Next, he looked up slightly and saw her mother. She was still asleep, hair splayed over her pillow. If Gabrielle took after her mother, and Harry thought she would based on current resemblance, she would be very pretty when she was grown.
A slight movement caught his attention, so he looked up some more. He noticed a sad-looking, or at least resigned, Fleur sitting with her back against the other wall watching them. Looking at his sister-in-law, to his chagrin, he realized her pyjamas must be made of silk and were quite thin, given the evidence on her chest. He could not help the blush of embarrassment that came over him, as well as the reaction in his crotch - which made his embarrassment even worse. What if Gabrielle woke now?
Fleur's chest jiggled very nicely as she silently laughed; he realized she had seen him look at her and then blush. That was making his other problem worse and he feared it would wake Gabrielle up. Being betrayed by his own body was a nightmare.
Closing his eyes for a minute and thinking of what he needed to do today and how Molly Weasley would probably react cooled his hormones and took care of his problem before Gabrielle woke.
Opening his eyes and being careful to look Fleur directly in the face, he saw that she was smirking at him. "Time?" he whispered.
Her smirk not lessening, she held up seven fingers and moved her eighth one a little.
He nodded slightly, taking that to mean a little after seven. Closing his eyes again, so he would not be tempted to look at Fleur's chest, he rested. It was not worth going back to sleep, as the alarm should be going off soon. Hermione and Ginny were supposed to meet them here at half past eight.
Thinking of his other two mates, he wondered what he would do if one of them was snuggled up with him now. The thought of doing anything with an eleven-year-old, especially one that looked only nine, turned his stomach. But what if this was Ginny? She was only one year younger than he was. After a moment, he decided he would not do anything with her. She was only thirteen.
But Hermione was actually almost a year older than him and fifteen now. Would he consider exploring with her? After a few minutes of soul searching, he decided the right thing was not to take advantage of a situation with her. Immediately, the question of "But what if she offered?" came to mind. Or what if she took his hand and put it up under her shirt like Gabi had tried to do? He was not so sure he could hold out in that case. His hormones would certainly cloud any effort he made to behave. He knew he should abstain, but could he?
The alarm went off, preventing him from answering that question. Fleur shut off the alarm. Gabrielle stretched and twisted. She gave him a bright smile. Despite her messed up hair, she was so cute it should have been illegal. Since he was enjoying looking at her, before he could stop her, she moved up and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Eww," she said with a scrunched up face. "Stink."
Harry had to smile and he heard two other chuckles. He reached up for his wand and did a quick mouth freshening charm on himself that Sirius had taught him. To be nice, he did the same charm on Gabrielle.
"Mmm," she said with a pleasant grin and then quickly kissed him again. "Good," she pronounced.
He blinked both eyes, surprised she had caught him unawares twice. "Gabi, no. Kisses on the lips don't come until thirteen," he admonished her, trying to frown at least a little; but she was already starting to pout and he was having trouble being upset with her.
"Very right," her mother said. "Be good or I'll send you to Grand-ma-ma's away from Harry for a week."
Gabrielle twirled quickly. "No, no, no," she pleaded, sounding hurt. "Harry stay."
"I do not want to send you away, but I will if you do not behave." Apolline sat up and swept the hair out of her face. "Harry, if you will take your things to the bathroom and change, we will get dressed here. Please take at least ten minutes."
"No. Harry hurry," Gabrielle begged.
"I must have time to adjust the room and all three of us have to get dressed. You will be fine, my daughter. Harry, if you would?" Apolline looked at him expectantly.
"Err, right. I'll return soon, Gabrielle," he told her as he let go of her hand and crawled out of bed. Grabbing his bag, he left the room for the bathroom. Because he had time, he took a shower before dressing for the day.
As soon as he returned, Gabrielle quickly grabbed his hand, giving a little sigh. She led him to the bed, which was now the width of a bench. The other furniture had been restored to full-size. Apolline and Fleur were fixing their hair and applying a touch of make-up.
Apolline stopped after a moment with a smile. Digging in a bag, she pulled out a small box and handed it to Harry. "Please use this to work with Gabrielle. It works best when a non-Veela uses it." She went back to fixing her hair.
Harry opened the box and found a teardrop-shaped stone, about the size of the end of his thumb, strung on a gold chain. It was an aquamarine colour with a few gold flakes that appeared to be suspended in the rock. "What is it?" he asked in awe as he pulled it out. When the stone touched his hand, it started to glow a little.
Apolline smiled as she saw it work and returned to her process of getting ready, talking as she did. "The Veela call it a Capture Stone. They are very rare and the process of creating one is highly guarded by the Veela Council. I can only borrow it for a year and then I must give it back. If you ever see one in the hands of a non-Veela, Harry, you are authorized to do whatever you must to retrieve it and then give it to me so I can return it to the Veela Council."
"Why? What does it do?" He was still staring at it in amazement, turning it slightly as he looked.
"We use it for the training of young Veela, which you can help me do while you wait. However, the reason you must retrieve any you find is because it can also be used to ensnare Veela. By international law, they are illegal and contraband to all others," she explained.
"But if they are illegal…"
"They are illegal for non-Veela. I am here and an appointed representative as an adult Veela. For the moment, hold it in front of Gabrielle so the stone touches you," she instructed him and turned to her younger daughter.
«Gabrielle, you are to feel your power, your inner-Veela. Control that power and make it diminish so the glow of the stone dims. When you do that, your Veela allure also dims.»
"Yes," the girl said as a look of concentration came over her while she stared at the stone.
"I don't understand. What is it doing? What is she doing?" Harry asked.
"The stone acts as a magnet for Veela allure. The glow shows that it is capturing her allure magic. Her exercise is to learn to control her allure and be able to turn it off, so she does not affect people in public. Since she is starting to mature, this is becoming an issue and why we have started this training very recently. I believe her bonding will cause this maturing to speed up a little, making this training more important."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" he said hurriedly.
"You are not responsible for your magic existing, Harry. You could not change this any more than you could change that you are a wizard," she said as she put the final touches on her make-up and began to put her things away. "Really, your skills are not so very different from being a Veela - it is something you are born with and have no say over. It would be wrong for me to resent you for that, when we are a family of Veela who have similar magics that cause others to treat us differently. The main difference is that we can learn to control our Veela magic whereas you cannot control your bonding power."
Harry considered what she had said. Her comments helped explain to him some of why she was so accepting of the situation, something he did not think either the Weasleys or his adoptive parents would take so well. "So, the stone is dangerous and can ensnare Veela because it can steal their allure, removing that as a weapon?" he asked, not quite sure he understood.
"That is correct. We are not helpless with one of those around, but it does prevent us from using our Veela powers, like the allure and our fireballs. We become much easier to defeat. But as I said, those stones are very tightly controlled." She sighed. "Nevertheless, a few do occasionally wind up outside of our control."
Harry nodded, understanding now. He noticed that Gabrielle was making the stone slowly waver. The training also appeared to be tiring her out quickly. Harry dropped the stone back into its protective box. "I think that's enough for now." Gabrielle gave him a big smile of thanks.
«That is good, my daughter. You are getting better. We will work on that for the next few months until you can consciously control yourself for long periods of time with ease.» Apolline saw that Fleur was ready. "It is about time to leave. We will have breakfast with my husband and go from there. This might be a good day to catch up on your studies, Fleur."
"Yes, mother," the older girl said dutifully.
Still holding Gabrielle's hand, Harry walked out of the carriage. Hermione and Ginny were there and waiting. He smiled and looked at Gabrielle. "Wait for just a minute." Letting go of her hand, he gave each of the other girls a quick hug and a whispered "Good Morning". Taking the little Veela's hand again, he led the group towards Hogsmeade in the quiet of a Saturday morning, when most people at the school were still asleep on a day when they could.
At the Three Broomsticks, they found Jean-Aimé waiting. He led them to a back room where they could have some privacy. Breakfast was already waiting.
"Did you have any trouble?" he asked with a smile and a glance at Harry.
"None at all," Apolline answered. "Did you?"
"My only trouble was missing you," he said with a roguish smile.
"Eww," Gabrielle said. Everyone laughed, causing the girl to stick her tongue out at them.
After breakfast, Harry led them back to the main room. Having already told them the location they needed to use, and knowing that Sirius should have already added the Delacours to the access list, he used the Floo Network to travel to his godfather's house.
Sirius grabbed Harry as he came out of the fireplace, preventing him from falling on the floor. "Harry!"
Harry gave him a hug. As he let go, the fireplace belched out Hermione and then Ginny in rapid order. Harry lent a hand to each. A moment later, Gabrielle, Apolline, and then Jean-Aimé came out.
"Sirius, I'd like to introduce you to the Delacour family." Harry held out a hand toward each as introduced. "Jean-Aimé, his wife Apolline, and their daughter Gabrielle. This is Sirius Black, my godfather and head of House Black."
"Feel free to call me Sirius," he said as he shook Jean-Aimé's hand.
"And please, I am Jean-Aimé. It is good of you to host this meeting in your home," Jean-Aimé said with bow from the neck.
Sirius took each of the Delacour ladies' hands as they held them out and he kissed them with his breath, causing Gabrielle to giggle.
"It's my pleasure." He gave Harry a mischievous grin. "So Harry, what is this about? Your letter was so very vague."
Harry grinned back. "If you'll go and fetch the Grangers, you can find out."
"Spoilsport," Sirius shot back good-naturedly. "Harry, please play host and take them to the formal living room. Ginny, if you would be so good as to wait here. Your parents should arrive in a few minutes."
As Sirius left, Harry glanced at Ginny, who nodded and said, "I'll take care of it."
Harry led the Delacours and Hermione into the living room where Hermione and Gabrielle took the largest couch. Harry started to serve tea. As he finished pouring for those present, Ginny led her parents in. By the look on her face, Harry thought she was already working to restrain her temper, causing him to wonder what could have been said in such a short time.
"Mr and Mrs Weasley, good morning. If you'll have a seat on that settee, we'll get started in a moment," he said as politely as he could.
"Harry, what is this about? Sirius said it was important that we come over today to talk," Molly said a little forcefully. She also looked at the Delacours, obviously wondering who they were and why they were here.
"If you'll be patient for just a few minutes…"
The Grangers and Sirius walked in at that moment.
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione jumped up and ran over to her parents as Sirius took a wingback chair.
Harry handed out the rest of the tea and then hugged his parents.
"I'm glad to see you survived the second task without any injury," his mother told him.
"Thanks," he told her with a slight blush, knowing he left a lot out of that answer.
When he went to sit down, the girls were all standing. Gabrielle guided him to the centre seat where she pushed him down before seating herself on his left, pressed against him. Hermione sat on Gabrielle's left and Ginny closely on his right. Gabrielle also threaded her fingers through his. He was trapped in his seat.
"Why do I have the feeling there is much more here than meets the eye?" Emma said softly, although she was heard by all, as she looked the teens over.
"Perhaps introductions are in order first?" Sirius asked, looking at Harry.
Harry cleared his throat. "Yes. Probably a good idea. Uh, I believe you all know Sirius over there, as well as Hermione and Ginny. On the settee are Arthur and Molly Weasley, Ginny's parents. And on the other couch are Dan and Emma Granger, Hermione's parents and who are also my adoptive parents. Unknown to most of you, sitting in the chairs are Jean-Aimé and Apolline Delacour. They are the parents of Gabrielle, who is sitting with me, and Fleur, who is the Triwizard Tournament champion representing Beauxbatons and who you've probably read about in the various papers."
Everyone was giving him their undivided attention and it was nerve wracking, but he had no choice but to continue on.
"We, that is, the four of us, have asked everyone here so we can explain a few things. You are here, Sirius, because it allows for privacy and because you're my godfather. We thank you for having us. I would ask all of you to keep what is discussed here to yourselves."
"As if they will have a choice," Ginny muttered, which Harry ignored.
"What could be so important?" Molly asked impatiently.
He looked down and took a deep breath. Gabrielle squeezed his hand slightly, which he appreciated. "Well, I have this special, ah, situation, but we didn't know what it was until Apolline explained it to me. But now that we know what it is, we think it's time to tell you." He glanced at Hermione and saw she looked as nervous as he felt.
"You've been hiding something else from us?" Emma asked, sounding a little hurt.
Harry winced.
"Mum, you have to understand. We didn't know what exactly it was, just that something unusual was going on. We searched all of the Hogwarts library and couldn't find an answer or even a hint as to one," Hermione said and spread her hands to show her helplessness.
Harry saw that almost everyone was getting ready to demand an answer, so he quickly let go to Gabrielle's hand and pulled out his secret. "Let me go first," he told them. As he stared at his secret, he realized he had forgotten to have someone seal the secret papers - a job for the afternoon.
Clearing his throat, he said, "Because it is extremely important this stays a secret, we've hidden the information under a Fidelius charm."
Sirius was immediately alert. "It's that important?"
Harry nodded and Sirius blew out a breath, now looking slightly worried.
"What is that charm?" Molly Weasley asked.
"The Fidelius charm," Hermione explained, "is a way to hide information, inside a person. We each have a secret and the magic will protect it and keep it hidden as long as the Secret Keeper doesn't give it away. In addition, once you know the secret, you can talk about it with anyone who already knows, but you can't tell anyone else. Only the Secret Keeper can spread the information."
"But what about the rest of our family?" Molly asked.
"We'll tell them later," Ginny replied.
"I'll go first, and then each of the girls will share theirs, then we can talk about what it all means." Harry looked at the girls and they pulled their secrets out of a pocket.
Harry cleared his throat again. "Harry James Potter is bonded to several witches by a special power known as a Rescue Bond. Each bond was created when he saved an unattached witch from dying. Because of the bond, they are his magical wives for the rest of their lives and he will protect them from all others not of our bond."
There were several gasps, Molly's and Emma's being most noticeable. Harry saw Sirius mentally struggling with a thought, and realized the power of the Fidelius. It was obvious that Sirius wanted to say something about Hermione and Ginny, but magic would not let him make that connection.
Hermione went next. "Hermione Jean is magically bonded to Harry James Potter and is his magical wife. They are bound by magic and by love, never to be magically separated. They share magic, knowledge of the other, and will protect each other against all others not of the bond."
"Hermione!" Emma cried as Dan sat there with a shocked but otherwise blank expression. The girl cringed.
To get it over with as soon as possible, Ginny read hers out: "Ginevra is magically bonded to Harry James Potter and is his magical wife. They are bound by magic and by love, never to be magically separated as long as they live. They share magic, knowledge of the other, and will protect each other against all others not of the bond."
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" Molly roared, while Arthur sat there thoughtfully. Ginny sat looking defiant.
Hermione leaned down to help Gabrielle read her secret, whispering the English words slowly into her ear to prompt her. Slowly but clearly, Gabrielle read: "I, Gabrielle Laure, am magically bonded to Harry James Potter and I am his magical wife. We share magic, knowledge of the other, and will protect each other against all others not of the bond."
Silence reigned for a moment until Sirius chuckled. "James would be proud of you, Harry, although Lily would be giving you the questioning of your life." Harry gave him a hesitant grin.
"I think I need to ignore Hermione's statement for a moment. What does your statement really mean, Harry?" Emma asked intently and focused on her son.
He did his best to bear her scrutiny. Here goes, he thought. "It means that my magic will reach out to any single girl who is in mortal peril … and if I save her life it will magically bond her to me … as a wife." He glanced around the room. His parents were looking at them with confusion. The Weasleys were thinking it through, as was Sirius. The Delacours smiled at him supportively.
His focus returned to Molly, who was looking like she was about to erupt. A glance showed Ginny watching her mother carefully and his bond-mate had her hand on the end of her wand, drawing it very slowly. Ginny had agreed during breakfast to watch her mother closely, and if required, take defensive action.
"What do you mean by…" Emma started before she was interrupted.
Molly finally had enough. "No, I forbid it," she said forcefully.
Ginny sat up a little straighter. "Mum! You can't…"
"Oh yes I can, young lady. You come over here right now," her mother ordered sharply.
"No, I can't, Mum. There is nothing to stop or forbid. I was bonded almost two years ago," Ginny countered.
"Wait!" Sirius shouted, halting the argument. He looked at Harry. "I now understand why you wanted to come here and for me to be here as well." He surveyed the room. "There will be no more shouting and we will discuss this calmly." No one said anything for a moment.
"Hermione?" Emma sounded worried.
Hermione looked down for a second to find her courage before she looked back up and carefully explained. "I was the first. As you know, on Halloween in my first year, a troll came into the school and trapped me in a bathroom. I would have been killed if Harry hadn't saved me. While we didn't know what was happening at the time, Harry and I magically bonded. It's why we've been so close."
"But…"
"I'm sorry, Mum. I'm sorry we hid it from you, but we didn't know what to tell you, let alone how to tell you. Also, it seemed so … private," Hermione finally said.
"I think everyone knows by now," Ginny quickly said to prevent an argument amongst the Grangers, "that Harry saved me at the end of my first year at school from a possessed diary and a basilisk." She looked lovingly at Harry. "We bonded when I came to and I've been very happy in this."
"When you were stuck in the Chamber of Secrets, you weren't really stuck, were you?" her father asked.
"No, Dad. Part of the bonding process is the need to be close for the first day or so as the bond settles," Ginny said, looking at Harry and then nodding at Gabrielle.
"It's true," Harry admitted. "It's why I'm holding Gabrielle's hand now. Our first day will end soon, but there is still discomfort if we aren't holding hands right now."
When Harry said nothing more, Sirius asked, "What happened to you and Gabrielle?"
"During the second task yesterday, when I went into the lake, I found Gabrielle was awake when she shouldn't have been, because the spell had been miscast on her. Since she was awake while underwater, she was drowning. So I saved her and we bonded."
"This is preposterous!" Dan objected. "Harry, you must undo this. You can't make slaves of these girls."
"No, Dad," Hermione stopped him. "It's not like that at all. We're not slaves: we're normal girls, except that we have our husband already decided for us."
Dan looked at his wife, who looked just as confused.
"No! I will not allow it!" Molly objected loudly and started to stand, pulling her wand out as she did so.
Knowing she had no other option, Ginny cast a spell, with her wand that was already out and hidden in the folds of her robes. Her mother turned bluish and froze, falling back into her seat as her wand clattered to the floor. Only her head moved, and that was very slowly.
Emma gasped.
"Don't worry, Emma, it's a modified Body-Bind. She can still breathe and listen, but she can't yell or do anything to anyone until she's released," Ginny explained as she put her wand away.
Her father looked a little embarrassed for a moment while he looked at his wife, before he turned a proud look towards his daughter. "You did that silently and three years before being trained for it."
"Thanks, Dad," she said, a little embarrassed at the praise but glad he was not reprimanding her for having to stop her mother from making a fool of herself.
"But…" Emma was looking between Ginny and her mother.
"Don't worry about it," Arthur said. "She'll be fine," he said as if it was not an issue, but he also would not look at any of the other adults. Looking at his daughter instead, he asked her gently, "Ginny, why didn't you come tell me?"
"I'm sorry, Dad. Like Hermione, I didn't know how to explain the bond. I also knew Mum would make a scene of it and I didn't want to have to make you keep it a secret from her. If it helps, we were planning to tell everyone this summer, but, well…" Ginny looked at Harry.
"When Gabrielle bonded with me, her mother noticed. Apolline explained what was going on, which finally let us know the truth. We decided that we needed to tell you sooner than this summer so we could make any needed plans," he told them. "Plus, we were tired of keeping the secret," he said wearily.
Emma shook her head. "We are going to have to have a long talk, young lady." Realizing her mistake, she quickly added, "And you too, young man."
"Mum, there's not much more to talk about," Harry protested. "We're really sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but there's not really anything else to add or do. I've been trying to do little things for Hermione and Ginny so everyone will get used to the idea of me taking care of them, but what else is there to discuss? We can't change this."
"You talk like you'll be taking care of them for the rest of your life," Dan said.
"I will be," Harry replied. "Being magically bonded is permanent and to be magically married…"
"Explain that part carefully," Emma ordered.
"That's magically, not legally, meaning we have a magical connection for the moment," Harry said hurriedly, trying to head off more bad reactions. "We'll get legally married when we're of age, like normal. That means waiting about two and a half years for Hermione when I turn seventeen as she's older, three and half years for Ginny, and five and half years for Gabrielle. In the meantime, we'll only act like boyfriend and girlfriends."
Emma groaned and flopped back in her chair.
Hermione sighed, recognizing her mother had just passed her threshold and gone into emotional overload.
Dan looked at Harry for a moment before taking a deep breath and leaning back in his chair with a resigned look, as if not sure what to say.
"Ginny," her father said, as if treading carefully. "I know your mother would want to know, and I suppose I do as well. Exactly what do you mean by 'act like boyfriend and girlfriend'?"
"If I may?" Hermione spoke up and Arthur nodded to her. "We had already decided a few things, like no sex before we're married, but Apolline suggested we think everything through carefully since Gabrielle is so much younger. Therefore, we've decided that 'real' kissing can't begin until the youngest of the couple is at least thirteen and," Hermione blushed slightly, "other in-between activities need to wait as long as possible, preferably until just before marriage."
Arthur paled a little at the detailed information. "I see." He looked at his wife who seemed to be struggling to look at him and convey a glare. "I can tell that Molly would prefer that anything beyond kissing wait until you are married, but I suppose what you have outlined is acceptable to me given that you are already magically married." He looked at the Delacours, who were sitting there very calmly, and then at the Grangers and specifically Dan.
Dan cringed slightly at being put on the spot for such a delicate subject. "I will grudgingly admit that's probably normal for teenagers from what I hear," he said slowly and not very confidently. He looked at Emma, but she was still staring at the ceiling and trying to come to grips with the changes in her family. "In fact, waiting until marriage for sex is better than many normal teenagers from the reports I've read, so I suppose we should be happy for that; but this is all so much to take in." He sighed and looked down, not able to face his children at the moment. "This is far more than I ever wanted to know about my daughter's - and son's - intimate plans."
Arthur nodded his agreement and looked at the Delacours.
"That is acceptable to us too, as Veela view this bonding process differently," Apolline answered. "However, I believe Harry will have a hard time following through in regards to my daughter. Or perhaps I should say that I don't believe she will let him wait that long."
"Why is that?" Arthur asked.
"Fundamentally, Veela mature differently. Harry told me yesterday that he believed Gabrielle to be about nine." Apolline noticed the others were nodding their agreement with that guess. "However, she had her eleventh birthday in October. On the other hand, I believe she has recently started her maturation phase and will quickly change so that she is fully mature by the time she is fifteen."
"Holy Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed. "I didn't know that kind of growth was possible for anyone."
"It's a protection mechanism," Apolline said. "But because of her maturation, her Veela nature, and the pressure from their bond, I predict Harry will probably have to marry her at sixteen." Her husband looked uncomfortable, but did not contradict his wife.
Hermione and Ginny looked a little upset at that.
"I know, it's not fair to you," the Veela mother said sympathetically to the older girls. "It is something you four will have to work out."
"You have no other children, Dan?" Arthur asked.
"No, just these two," Dan said.
Arthur looked at the French couple. "Jean-Aimé?"
"Just the one other daughter, and she already knows, being Veela herself as well as being present when it was all explained," the man answered.
Arthur looked at Ginny. "When did you plan to tell your brothers?"
"I would prefer at the wedding, but soon would probably be better and this summer at the latest." Ginny's less-than-thrilled answer and resigned expression drew chuckles.
"This answers so much," Emma said, slowly sitting up as she started to come to terms with the change in her family. "About school … this means you still will go to Beauxbatons next year, won't it?"
"Yes," Hermione answered quickly. "We believe this breaks Dumbledore's promise so we can transfer to Beauxbatons next year. Headmistress Maxime said she would allow it if our French is good enough."
"Wait!" Arthur suddenly exclaimed in alarm. "What are you talking about?" Beside him, Molly was making a few low moans too, as she tried to yell something.
"Because of multiple examples of the school being unsafe for us," Hermione started explaining, "my parents made an agreement with the Headmaster. In order for us to return to Hogwarts next year, the Headmaster had to ensure that we didn't run into any deadly situations other than what was required by the Triwizard Tournament, Harry didn't have to save anyone's life, and we finished school in the same condition we started it. The first may not have been violated yet, but the last two have. Harry saved Gabrielle's life, and by doing so, he bonded her to him. It seems to me that being magically married to someone is big enough to break the agreement. Therefore, we are free to leave Hogwarts and attend another school, one that we all hope will be safer." She ignored the prophecy for the moment and hoped that particular problem solved itself soon.
"I see," Arthur said slowly.
"Also, Mr Delacour made a suggestion to make our schooling safer for the rest of this year that we plan to follow." Hermione noticed that all the adults were looking at her very curiously. She nodded to the man.
"Yes, once I knew of Harry's entry into the Tournament," a sly grin appeared, "it occurred to me that he should attend the school written on his entry form…"
"But there was no school name on his entry," Sirius pointed out, leaning forward as he listened carefully.
"Exactly," Jean-Aimé said with a triumphant smile. "His only requirement is that he participate in the Tournament. In the meantime, he and his bond-mates can leave Hogwarts and pursue independent study in a safe location, returning only for the third task. In order to help their French, I would suggest they come stay at our house where we will have tutors attend regularly to help them with their school work."
Sirius stared at the man for a moment before he broke out in laughter. "Brilliant solution! I should have thought of withdrawing him and hiring tutors. I can't believe I missed that." He looked at Emma and Dan who had thoughtful smiles.
Dan nodded at the Frenchman. "I can appreciate that solution. So you would use your home like a boarding school?"
Jean-Aimé returned the nod. "You may think of it that way. In addition to your children staying and being educated there, I will get a permanent Portkey for you between your home and mine so that you may come visit when you desire. You'd be welcome any weekend and even for an extended stay in the summer, if they stay with us and do not travel to your home," he said graciously.
Emma looked at Dan. "We've never been able to visit Hogwarts, so it would be a real plus, beyond their safety from Dumbledore and Hogwarts."
Dan smiled at his wife, understanding her answer, and turned back to Jean-Aimé. "We'll accept and happily help pay for the tutors. Hogwarts should owe us a refund for the rest of the term."
Jean-Aimé looked pleased. "Very good." He turned to Arthur. "I will make you the same offer to visit as the parents of Ginny."
Arthur sat there for a moment. "I can see the appeal for Harry and Hermione. Ginny?"
"Of course I want to go. I'll be with Harry for the rest of my life and that includes whatever school he goes to. Besides, he and Hermione are my best friends at school … well, apart from them I only have two other real friends."
"But your brothers are there," her father asked with a wave of his hands.
"They are there, Dad, but we all sort of ignore each other except for when we need to do something together, like when I play on the Quidditch team and Fred and George are doing that, too. In fact, I now get along better with Fred and George than I do Ron," she explained.
Arthur looked resigned and not entirely happy, but he did not argue. He looked at Harry for a moment before he reached over and picked up his wife's wand off the floor and put it in a side pocket of his robes. Then with his wand, he ended the binding spell on his wife. "Molly, what do you think about Ginny changing schools?"
"Ginny will not be changing schools!" Molly shouted as she slowly sat up on the settee. "She will not be going with them! She will be coming home with us immediately! She will…" A blue aura briefly engulfed the woman cutting her tirade cut off and freezing her in her seat.
Arthur put the wand in his hand away and turned back to everyone else. "My apologies, I had hoped she had cooled off by now, but apparently this latest information was too much for her." He ran a hand through his thinning hair as he thought for another moment. "As it seems we are the only family not wanting our child to change schools, although it's mostly because we're used to sending our children to Hogwarts…" He paused for a moment. "But then Ginny needs to…" He broke off his thoughts again.
He worked his mouth for a moment, but could not get any words to come out. Finally, in an almost strangled voice Arthur said, "Mr Potter, I think the best thing would be…" He paused yet again before his voice dropped to a ragged whisper as he looked down, "…would be for you to, uh, to call in your debt…"
Harry closed his eyes for a moment. He had been afraid it might come to this. He felt a hand on his right shoulder and Ginny's whisper in his ear. "It will be all right, Harry." He nodded and opened his eyes again. Her father still looked like he wished there was another way and he understood a bit of the scope of the problem the poor man was dealing with. The Delacours, however, clearly waited for an explanation. A quick glance at Sirius showed his godfather to be giving him a supporting smile, fully aware of what was being requested. His parents were giving him a look of sudden understanding.
"Mr Weasley, while that would solve the problem, are you really sure you want me to?" Harry really did not want to hurt the man. "I don't want to cause any more problems than I have to…"
Arthur nodded. "Thank you for understanding, but I think it would be for the best," he sadly said as he looked up, his eyes shiny from unshed tears. "Ginny, I knew I would be giving you away one day, but this is not the way I had imagined it. I'm sorry I haven't provided for you, that…" He broke off, unable to continue and tears started to run down his face.
Ginny practically ran over to him and enveloped him in a hug. "Dad, you've done your best and it's always been good enough. This isn't your fault." Her father patted her back as he returned the hug. "I love you so much." They held each other for a long moment.
With effort, Arthur released his daughter and stood as tall and as proudly as he could. "Mr Potter, if you would?"
"Since you insist." Harry stood as well, letting go of Gabrielle.
"Harry?" Dan said a little loudly, standing too and looking back and forth between his son and Arthur.
"He is completing an agreement we have. It must be this way," Arthur answered stoically, as if that explained everything. He stood a little straighter, pulling up his dignity.
"You're really going to go through with it?" Dan asked his son.
Harry looked at his parents and at the Delacours, all of whom were looking at him expectantly, although Jean-Aimé now had a look as if he understood what was about to be said. "It is a Wizarding tradition that when the head of a family, and I am the head of the Potters, risks his life to save someone, that a Life Debt is created. In that way, and to be very specific, all three families owe me a Life Debt. However, I've only approached Mr Weasley about it because of the need to protect Ginny." He looked at Ginny and smiled lovingly.
"To protect me from my mother's manipulations and control," Ginny said quietly, causing her father to wince at the exposed family secret.
Harry mostly addressed the Delacours, but he also explained to remind his parents and godfather. "I approached Mr Weasley a year and a half ago and informed him that I knew about the Life Debt and that I would allow it to be postponed indefinitely as long as Ginny was treated well and could spend time with us. I, uh, I understand that he doesn't really want this to happen just as I don't, but it would solve all of Ginny's problems. She will become a part of my family and I would become her guardian. Where she goes to school and everything thing else about her life will become my responsibility. She will become a Potter a little sooner than she would have otherwise and I will be taking care of her sooner than otherwise." He looked at the Delacours.
Jean-Aimé nodded and rose. "I can be your witness if you need me to be."
Harry smiled a little grimly. "You and your wife have been very accepting and supporting of all of us, and we thank you."
"Apolline and I recognize you as our son-in-law and we will support you in these transitions where you desire." He turned to Harry's father with a look of friendship, which Dan returned.
"Thank you," Harry said and bowed at the neck.
"Mr Potter, if you will?" Arthur asked before he leaned down slightly and whispered into Ginny's ear as she stood in front of him. Ginny nodded and smiled, looking demurely at Harry.
While he wished it had not come to this, Harry nodded and stepped forward. Taking a deep breath and recalling what he had read about this tradition, he said. "Mr Arthur Weasley and head of the Weasley Family, I, Harry James Potter and head of the Potter family, call in the Life Debt your family owes to mine for risking the head of this family for one of yours."
"Name your price, Mr Potter," Arthur replied, as tradition demanded. His eyes became very shiny again.
"I demand the life I saved."
Arthur turned Ginny to him and gave her a hug, which she returned. He whispered to her before turning her to Harry and holding her by the shoulders at arm's length. Ginny smiled at Harry before she knelt down on both knees. "I present to you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, to become a part of your house in full payment of the Life Debt. Please take care of her and love her as your own," he said, his voice breaking at the end and with a tear slowly streaking down his face. "As we have," he added in a gravelly whisper.
"The Debt is paid in full. She shall be as our own," Harry said with much emotion as he bent down to grab Ginny's shoulders. "Rise Ginevra Potter." When she was standing with a large happy grin, he pulled her into a hug. He was not sure who was holding on more tightly.
Ginny stretched up slightly and whispered in his ear before stepping to the side.
Harry grinned at her and then turned to her father. "While I may be responsible for her now, Ginny wants to know if you would still give her away at her wedding."
"I would. Thank you, Harry." Arthur could not help but feel elated that his tie to his daughter was not fully cut. Her beaming look helped cement his feeling.
Ginny kissed Harry on the cheek and then gave her father another hug before stepping back to Harry's side.
"I must be going soft, but that gets me right here," Sirius said as he lightly pounded his fist over his heart. Everyone chuckled lightly as the moment lightened slightly, except for Molly who was still frozen on the settee.
"This is all so difficult to believe," Dan said while shaking his head.
Sirius snorted. "We can lay all of this at Dumbledore's feet," he said, shaking his head. He still had not totally forgiven the old man for leaving him in Azkaban.
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.
Knowing that the man held Dumbledore in high regard, Sirius spelled it all out. "It is Dumbledore's job to keep the school safe, including keeping trolls out," he said as he indicated Hermione. "It is also his job to keep Dark artefacts out of the school, not to mention defeating magical monsters." This time he indicated Ginny. "Hell, he was at the school the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, so he should have known where it was and sealed off that part of the castle. It was Dumbledore's fault there was a Death Eater at the school, living there as an Animagus last year. Now we have this Tournament Harry should not have been a part of, except that Dumbledore's safety precautions failed, and Gabrielle should not have woken early, except that Dumbledore miscast the spell on her."
"It's terrible how many horrible things have happened to Harry and Hermione there. We've wanted them to change schools since the end of their second year," Emma said, finally rejoining the conversation again.
"And now you'll get your wish," Harry told her before looking at Arthur. "I really am sorry, Mr Weasley."
He nodded. "I believe I understand now. This has opened my eyes in a new way. And why don't you call us Arthur and…" He looked as his wife for a second. "Call me Arthur. Molly will probably need to stay Mrs Weasley until she completely accepts this."
Harry buried his face in Ginny's hair as he thought very sincerely about how grateful he was that none of his mates were like Mrs Weasley. He also considered that magic probably would not take personality into account, so if he saved someone like Pansy Parkinson, he would be stuck with her - eww.
"It seems like we have this problem explained and solved," Sirius said jovially. "How about we adjourn to the dining room for some lunch? Afterward, I can go to the Ministry to get the proper form and we can make it all legal." He rose and led them all through the house.
Arthur stayed behind to release his wife and to have a quick discussion with her in private. When they joined the others, Molly was still fuming, but she did not say anything - literally.
Food was ready and waiting for them due to a house-elf Sirius had purchased, since the old one his mother had owned had died. Gabrielle was holding Harry's hand again, making both of them a little happier and more relaxed. The lunch discussion was more carefree, centring on what living was like for each family. By the end, it was agreed that they all would come to France for at least part of the summer as a holiday, except for the Weasleys as Arthur declined.
Sirius went to the Ministry and returned with a form. "Let me quickly fill this in."
Harry and Ginny watched him. When he was at the spot where he was about to fill in Ginny's new name, she stopped him.
"Harry, since my name is changing anyway, do you mind if I change my middle name?"
He shrugged. "If that's what you want. What would you pick?"
She looked at him nervously, then turned to the Grangers. "Emma, do you mind if I use your name for my new middle name?"
Emma rushed over to envelop the little redhead in a hug, beaming. "Not at all, Ginny."
When Ginny turned back to Harry and Sirius, she saw that her father was trying to give her a supporting look; however, most of his attention was on having to keep hold of his wife's arm. Fortunately, she was still magically silenced.
"That would be 'Ginevra Emma Potter'?" Sirius asked.
"Please," Ginny said happily.
Sirius finished with the form and then signed it as witness. He offered it to Arthur and Harry for each to sign. At the end, he made two copies, one for each family. Looking at the official copy for a moment, he finally handed it to Harry as well. "It's your call, Harry, but instead of taking this to the Ministry on Monday, you do have another option and I think you should consider it."
"What?"
Sirius glanced at Arthur before he said, "You could hold onto that and not turn it in unless you really have to. Because this is not done often, and more importantly, because your name is on it, this will be on the front page of the Daily Prophet the next day. That will cause some questions to be asked you probably won't want to answer, nor will Arthur…" He raised an eyebrow as he looked questioningly at his godson.
Harry looked at Arthur and saw a small look of hope. He suddenly realized this "claiming" had even bigger ramifications than he had understood at first. This could potentially wreck Arthur's reputation, even if he was not at fault. "Thank you, Sirius, that's very interesting. So I really don't have to turn it in straight away?"
"No, it really becomes important only if you need to prove Ginny is part of your house. In fact, you can keep it and only show it to those who need to see it, such as the Headmistress of Beauxbatons when you register Ginny there," he explained.
He looked to Arthur. "Would it be all right with you if I didn't turn this form in any time soon?"
Arthur smiled gratefully. "I would appreciate it. Thank you, Harry." He reached out and shook Harry's hand.
"Are there any more secrets?" Dan asked his son and daughter.
"No, you really do know them all," Hermione said. "I'm sorry we kept it from you, but we didn't know what or how to tell you and didn't think you'd like being told about something so vague."
"What she means is that we thought you'd pull us out of the Magical world," Harry said.
"There are days I wished both of you were not magical," Emma said in honesty. "I haven't decided whether this is one of those days or not." She fixed her daughter with a stare. "There will be a wedding for you, right?"
"Of course, Mum. All three of us will want a wedding," Hermione said with a bright smile, echoed by the other two girls.
"Tough luck, Harry," Sirius said in a jolly manner as he clapped the boy on the back.
Harry only grinned, deciding that was the safest thing to do at the moment.
Arthur looked at his daughter. "Ginny, you can wait a short while before telling your three older brothers, but when do you plan to tell the three that go to Hogwarts? They're going to wonder why you're leaving school."
Ginny sighed and looked at Harry, who shrugged. "I suppose I can tell them when we return and before we leave. That probably would be easiest on them."
"Thank you. I think we should go and let you plan the rest of your day." Arthur held open his arms and Ginny came over and gave him a hug. "Take care of yourself and the rest of them," he whispered to her. "And don't forget to write occasionally."
She nodded against his shoulder. "I will." When she let him go, she looked at her mother, wondering what to do.
The disapproving look Molly had been wearing for most of the day softened and turned sad. She held her arms open too.
With a little fear, Ginny tentatively walked over and gave her mother a hug as well. To her surprise, her mother gave her a comforting hug. "I'm sorry, Ginny," she whispered. "That you want to leave makes me wonder if I've failed you as a mother. I really do love you."
Not sure what to say, Ginny only whispered, "I'm sorry, but I do think this is for the best - for both of us … and I love you most of the time." She felt her mother stiffen a little before she let go and left the room. Ginny felt sad for saying that, but did not feel this was the time to lie.
Arthur kissed her on the forehead. "I'll let you know when I can get Bill and Charlie home, as well as bring Percy." He said good-bye to everyone and followed his wife out.
Harry looked at Ginny, who was now struggling to maintain her composure as she watched her father and mother walk away. He pulled her to his side and held her in a one-armed hug. Ginny put her arms around his waist and held on tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. Everyone gave her a moment and Gabrielle even moved over and softly patted her on the back.
"I believe Arthur is correct, we do need to plan a few things," Sirius said softly, as if afraid to intrude on Ginny's feelings.
"We do," Hermione agreed as she pulled out her little notebook and pen. "Why don't we sit down and discuss this." An hour later, everyone was satisfied with the plan for the next few days and what would generally happen through the end of June.
Harry, his mates, and the Delacours returned to school, while the Grangers remained at Sirius's house. The first part of the day had gone a lot better than he had thought it would. He even decided that as long as he kept everything on the 'friend' level, he had to admit that he liked spending time with Gabi.