Birthday Celebrations

“Stop wriggling so much Draco.”

“I’m not wriggling, it’s you.”

Then they heard a sibilant laugh.

H: ‘OK Sossogenese. What do you want? ’

S: ‘I expected you sleepyheads would have risen by now. Us snakes rise with the sun.’

D: ‘Well we had a rather tiring day yesterday. ’

S: ‘Yes, and a very intense evening also; your personal snakes were very excited in the water. Extreme salaciousness I think. ’

H: ‘You were spying on us? ’

S: ‘By accident. Unlike your other lissom associates, I was just wishing to swim.’

D: ‘Ron and Hermione were peeping at us? How gross! ’

H: ‘No more gross than us watching them. ’

D: ‘That was accidental, we were just passing by. ’

S: ‘I see humankind is just as devious as us snakes. ’

D: ‘Okay Sossogenese. Apart from practical jokes, I take it you came to see us with something on your reptilian mind. ’

S: ‘How perspicacious, how did you guess? Perhaps it was just for the joy of surprising you? ’

H: ‘Please Sossogenese tell us what we can do for you? Before Draco and you tear my mind to pieces having verbal vicissitudes. ’

S: ‘Sorry Harry I forget sometimes that we use your presence as interpreter. ’

D: ‘Yes, my apologies too Brother. ’

H: ‘Apologies accepted. Now to business, please? ’

S: ‘I am the only snake with permission to leave the snake precinct presently, I was wondering if you should give the rest of my extended family that permission too? ’

D: ‘Is that so you can show your newly beloved our beautiful grounds? ’

S: ‘Well there is some self interest in it I must admit. However, as you know I stayed out last night and saw so much vermin that I suspected you were overrun. I had much enjoyment in the chase last night, and fresh rat is so much more appetising that the dead ones we are given in the precinct. ’

H: ‘So you are offering to be our vermin control, is that it? ’

S: ‘Well we can spy for you too, should you want us to. ’

D: ‘You’ve already proved that you can do that. I hope you didn’t tell Mother. ’

S: ‘Well now … There’s a thought … There’s one drawback though … Your mother doesn’t speak Parseltongue. ’

D: ‘You had me worried for a moment. I have no objections, have you Harry? ’

H: ‘No, none. Although I think we ought to ask Mother first though. ’

So it was agreed, Harry and Draco went for their wakeup shower and Sossogenese joined them, revelling in the warm water at their feet. An odd trio slid downstairs for a late breakfast, only to find they were the first there. Sossogenese bid them adieu, and wriggled out into the garden whilst Draco and Harry indulged their Ron-like appetites. That person himself was soon in the morning room accompanied by his sleepy other half. Midway through the porridge course Mother and Uncle appeared chatting animatedly.

“Did you two have any sleep last night?” asked Draco, cheekily.

“There were all those splashing sounds at midnight, and then groans from a certain bachelor suite afterwards,” replied Narcissa, jauntily.

“Want to play any more?” asked Severus, with that secret smile of his.

“Perhaps not,” Harry said in a conciliatory tone. “We were hoping that Mother would give the snakes permission to patrol the grounds for us. Sossogenese says we are likely to become overrun by vermin soon.”

“Who’s Sossogenese, Draco?” Mother asked.

Draco went very red, so Harry stepped into the breach. “He’s the snake who helped Draco and I break Bellatrix’s curse. I speak Parseltongue and because Draco’s mind is linked with mine, the two of them can talk together in my head. It’s a very peculiar way of being woken up.”

“So he helped to put my sister out of the way, did he?”

“Yes Mother.” Uncle looked at Harry questioningly, so Harry added, “He helped in a secondary way, by weakening her before she arrived.”

Draco looked daggers at Ron who was having a hard time stifling his giggles.

“So Sossogenese is on our side, and can help with the pest control?”

“YES MOTHER!” was the unison Duumviri reply.

“Very well! I see no problem either. In fact I seem to remember Lucius saying that that was what he wanted them for. It was only Bellatrix intervening that had them all confined; except for one which she drew out occasionally. I think too, that it was reluctant. Knowing my sister’s little quirks I can quite understand. I suppose that was Sossogenese; Mmm?”

“YES MOTHER!”

Harry could see the snake’s head peering in through the window, and gave Sossogenese the thumbs up and a big smile.

“Now what are we going to do today?” Narcissa asked brightly.

“We were hoping for a lazy day, Auntie.” Ron spoke for all the young ones. “We were all fairly busy yesterday and the excitement lasted for a long time after the main event, it helped us to come down from our high.”

“I’ll say it did.” Narcissa grinned wickedly at her two sons.

By this time Draco had gained some aplomb. “Mother, I hope you understand that Harry and I are lovers as well as Duumviri. The rest of our little family here already knows.”

“Yes Draco, I had guessed, but I’m pleased you admitted it to me. I take it that a low key approach is what you want. We could, of course, have a big family reception plus a colourful joining ceremony if you wished; shall I start the guest list?”

Draco and Harry looked horrified; then went red; until they realised Mother was gently pulling their legs.

“However there is a ceremony which we do have to attend to. Bellatrix was family and she is entitled to be put in the family vault. The sooner the better, I think.”

“Tomorrow,” Uncle asked, “Or do we want to get it out of the way today?”

“Are there any relatives that ought to be here, Mother?”

“Only the ones who ought not to know of her death yet, Draco.”

It was agreed to get it over and done with.

An hour later the family gathered in the chapel, plus some of the house-elves. Mother spoke a short eulogy. Draco could say nothing except a mumbled goodbye. Severus spoke three sentences, and with as little fuss as possible ex-auntie Bellatrix was laid in a remote corner of the family vault.

Her wake lasted about half an hour as it was coffee and biscuit time. Maybe it was slightly less; because Mother and Harry started to get to know one another. With Draco they made a trio and wandered out into the grounds, chatting and joking. Harry was told about Draco’s early childhood, much to Draco’s embarrassment. And Harry managed to tell some of the problems of living at Privet Drive. They all had a great laugh when Harry told them the story of his cousin and the snake house. They went to see the snake pit and, with Harry as interpreter, arranged to have Sossogenese’ extended family’s quarters, improved. They also found that the two house-elf snake masters spoke Parseltongue and were very pleased to put the new arrangements in hand.

Hermione and Ron had inveigled Severus to show them Lucius’s extensive library. Ron expected to be bored, but to his delight there was a big volume of press cuttings about Quidditch matches, going way back. Hermione and Severus worked on the communication problem for a while, but mainly played ‘have-you-seen-this-one-before’ as they admired the extent of the Malfoy Library. There was a section which, after they had peered at a few books and shuddered, they agreed was out of bounds for both of them. They made a concealing charm together, which could only be broken simultaneously if both of them agreed. Hermione felt that they may have to know some of that knowledge when they were fighting the Death Eaters, Severus was not really convinced and more inclined to burn them. However his love of books steered him away from such an extreme measure; so the joint concealing charm was the agreed result.

The two groups were served picnic lunches where they were, so it was not until teatime that they all met again. This was served under the trellised vines on a terrace overlooking the swimming pool, in which a number of snakes were enjoying themselves.

“We aren’t as tired or damaged as the last time; perhaps we ought to go to Hogwarts before attending my birthday party,” Harry suggested. “We have to introduce Draco to the rest of the team.”

“Harry, you didn’t tell me it was your birthday soon.”

“Sorry Mother, it seemed unimportant compared with our task.”

“Your coming of age is important, Harry. Do you wish to hold the celebration here?”

Harry felt confused, not wanting to hurt the Weasleys or his new mother.

Draco came to the rescue. “What a lovely idea Mother. However it might not be a good idea to let the other side know of Malfoy Manor’s changed status yet. Until we adopted Harry, Ron’s mother was standing in. The other problem is that it will be Hermione’s and Ron’s engagement party too, and plans have been laid for that some time ago. I’m sure that you would be welcome. Uncle wants to go back to his cottage, so we would have a spare en suite room in our tent.”

“Yes I understand. I think, like Severus, I would like a quiet time here enjoying the fact that I am my own mistress again. Your aunt was very demanding and cruel. I suspect I was being held prisoner really. On that horrible man’s orders, no doubt.”

“Yes Mother, you were being held prisoner, in order to blackmail me into becoming a Death Eater. The headmaster promised to protect you not long before he died. This was the other reason we came here.”

“It was as I suspected then. Are you both worried that it might happen again?”

“Since the last threat we have become Duumviri, this means our magical powers are multiplied many times over, especially in the setting of protector wards. The new ones we have set here would take another set of Duumviri to undo them, or a lot of willing blood and old magic. We doubt that you-know-who would want to deplete his forces by that much. As you have no wish to leave and we have set the new protectors, Malfoy Manor is as safe as anywhere else could possibly be”

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll stay here. Like your Uncle, I too have some rethinking to do. Besides, two new converts to the side of light might just dampen the party spirit. Harry and Draco will have enough acceptance problems as it is, I’ll not make it any worse. However, know that if things get too difficult, you have a loving welcome here at any time, day or night. Not just me either, Gondolum and Sossogenese seem to have taken a liking to you both as well.”

“If you change your mind Mother, you’ll be most welcome.”

“Thank you dear, but I doubt I will. Now about Harry’s birthday present. Then there are Hermione and Ronald too, mmm?”

H: ‘Oh dear, now what?’

D: ‘Why not get a full set of clothes here. I have. Dobby and Sempra wouldn’t have to lug yours around. Besides I want a brother who can look smart. Jumpers and jeans are all right for messing around in. As junior staff members we have to look the part.’

H: ‘That’ll cost you far too much.’

D: ‘Not really. Part of my present to you was to be a new suit from Madam Malkin’s. Mother will want to give you more; she always piles things on me. Anyway the Malfoy millions can afford it.’

H: ‘Just for your personal information, this Potter has an extremely large vault full of gold in Gringott’s Bank. But that is very private information and only the two betrothed know.’

D: “I have an idea Mother, I’ll tell you later.”

“I believe Harry was trying to plan before we became diverted.” Uncle brought them back to the point.

“Oh Yes! Say we spend another day here, so then we know we’re rested. Go to Hogwarts for two days, that’ll get the team used to us Duumviri. Go to the Burrow on the following day. Again, we’ll have almost a day to bed us all in before our big day. How does that feel everyone?”

“We’ll need to get Draco on to the junior staff; otherwise you two will be torn apart.”

“Yes and we need to appoint a Slytherin Officer too. Who do you think would be suitable Draco?”

“Erm … Avoid any with Death Eater fathers. That puts those two bullyboys out of the way. Anyway they would remind me too much of the bad old days. Again let’s avoid those who were on the inquisitorial squad, they maybe are too aggressive.”

“That rules you out on both counts, Malfoy?” Ron smirked at his fair haired friend.

“Did you not know that I was a reformed boy, Weasley?”

“Oh! From which reform school then?”

“If you two start scoring points off each other, we’ll never get anything planned.” Hermione pretended a huff, getting a hug from both protagonists as a placebo.

“I think Blaise Zabini would be a good choice, with Pansy running a close second. Either of them is good hearted enough.”

“What if we asked your house mates to vote?”

“Nice try Ron; wouldn’t work though. The bullyboys would win through sheer intimidation. Uncle; what do you think?”

“If a bully didn’t get the job then a putative Death Eater would. I think Pansy would try to use her charms too much, and I don’t mean her magical ones. Blaise is your man; he’s tough and can think things through properly. To put it bluntly; a solid black Hermione type, with some of Harry’s bravery as well. He has a good African bloodline, some of his forebears were successful in resisting the colonial powers; they kept the true magical heart of Africa alive in difficult times.”

“OK! That’s settled then. Where does he live Draco?”

“It used to be Zambia but the political unrest had his family move out. His father bought one of the Montague properties; it’s about thirty-five miles away from here.”

“It would be a good idea to sound him out first, don’t you think? Why not ask him to come over?”

“We had talked about visiting, before the Astronomy Tower debacle. Yeah! I’ll go and floo him now.” Draco exited to use the fireplace in the entrance hall.

Ten minutes later he returned with Blaise in tow.

“Madam Malfoy, how good to see you.” Blaise bowed and kissed her hand.

“Professor, good evening.” Another small bow to Severus.

“Draco, you seem to be keeping strange company, are they prisoners or something?”

“No Blaise. I know you well enough to realise you have nothing to do with Death Eaters, or any of their adherents. You know also of my being blackmailed by you-know-who. Well, Mother is safe now, and Father cannot be interfered with in prison. So I felt brave enough to join with the powers of light. You saw the paraphernalia we went through to get you inside these wards when you arrived, that gives you an idea how safe Malfoy Manor is.”

“But three Gryffindors, Draco?”

“Harry came looking for me after the fight. He had his supporting team with him. Uncle knew that I had to team up with Harry in order to fight that terrible personage. Harry had been told the same. Have you heard about Duumviri?”

“Err … Yes … Err … Gay soul mates who make extraordinarily strong magic … What … You two? I thought it was only us Africans that did that! Well I never!”

“The very same.” Harry held his hand out.

“Honoured, Mighty One.” Blaise gave a small bow.

“Stop joking with us Blaise.”

“I’m not Draco … Ooh sorry … Mighty One!” and another bow.

Uncle was looking amused. “Draco and Harry, African magical circles have a long history of Duumviri, and special reverence is due to them. Perhaps I should have told you before Blaise arrived.”

“Perhaps you should have, Uncle.” Draco tried unsuccessfully to look peeved.

“Uncle … The Professor is your Uncle? You never said anything to us about that, Mighty One.”

“He’s an honorary uncle, since he saved my life, so our little group have become his honorary family, so to speak. Stop this title thing, I’m still Draco and this is Harry, got it?”

“Yes, but …”

“We want you to become part of a team defending Hogwarts. Apart from us four, there’s one from each of the houses, and you’ll need to recruit a few trustworthy Slytherins to become guardians.”

“Who me? Why me?”

“That’s what I used to ask, Blaise. People got fed up of it so I no longer say it out loud. It seems we get chosen to do things whether we like it or not. Anyway you are the best candidate. Now will you shake hands with me?” Harry asked, holding out his hand and smiling.

Blaise nearly bowed again; then he smiled back and took Harry’s hand.

“Do I get a chance to say no?”

“If two Duumviri asked you, would you dare?”

“That’s pulling rank on me.”

“So?”

“Yes, Mighty Ones, I have no choice. Besides, I’ve been itching to fight that awful monster and his malevolent minions since my fourth year. Now what?”

“We are resting here tomorrow; after that we thought of going back to school to introduce Draco to the other three officers, so we thought you might like to come along too.”

“Well, I had reserved time to be with Draco, messing around. This looks like I’ll be messing around with a purpose. I told my folks that I might stop over before I left; so why not for a few days.”

‘Pop’ – “Err … Two-masters?”

“Yes Sempra?”

“There’s a strange elf just arrived. We’ve got him restrained at the moment.”

“Could he be yours, Blaise?”

“If his name is Whimwham, then yes.”

“Oh dear … Sorry Master Blaise … We’ll let him go immediately.”

Blaise looked thunderclouds, then saw the funny side of thing and roared with laughter.

‘Pop’ – Whimwham appeared looking daggers at Sempra.

“Master; they tied me up, Master.”

“You did that to Montague’s elf didn’t you?”

“Yes; well we thought he might be bad. You know how things are, Master.”

“Exactly. Now shake hands with Sempra, he was only guarding his master, in the same way you guard me.”

‘Pop’ – “Mistress, I have given the new guest the Hawthorne Suite, is that correct?”

“Yes thank you Gondolum. I think Master Blaise will only be staying for a short time. He is joining the little team as an officer at Hogwarts.”

The three elves departed with a slightly louder unison pop.

“Auntie, I have a favour to ask.”

“Tell me, Hermione?”

“You know the house-elf that Bellatrix beat up and I healed, well, she’s asked to become my personal-elf. What do you think?”

“I think that would be very good. Let me find one for Ronald and they can be a small part of my engagement present to you both.”

“Congratulations Ron and Hermione, please tell me if I’m being too familiar.”

“Not at all Blaise, we do know each other quite well, albeit aggressively, so we’ll see the other side of each other now, hopefully. By the way, Uncle says you like books. We’re trying to find a charm that will let us communicate silently, like our Duumviri do. We think it might be useful in tight corners, have you any good ideas?”

“A couple of far out books spring to mind, Hermione, they aren’t black, what does the Manor Library look like?”

“Uncle and I have reserved about two hundred books which we want to read. We’d never seen most of them. Come and have a look.”

“Can it wait, children, until after we have eaten? Tea seems a long way away and I expect respectable clothing at the table for dinner.”

D: ‘You can borrow one of my DJ’s. I have more than one here.’

H: ‘Thanks Brother. What about Ron?’

D: ‘I reckon one of my Father’s would fit him snugly.’

H: ‘Better get his personal-elf to tell him it is a stock item, he gets touchy about hand-me-downs.’

D: ‘Point taken. I’ll tell Sempra.’

H: ‘Yes he’s sensible. Dobby would probably blurt it all out and then go and bang his head on something.’

D: ‘He’s not that bad, surely’

H: ‘No? I’ll tell you about it one day.’

Blaise was looking at the Duumviri intently.

“They do it quite often Blaise. It’s most disconcerting when they burst out giggling for no apparent reason.” Ron put a friendly arm round Blaise’s shoulder.

Again Blaise looked thunderclouds and then burst out laughing, putting his arm round Ron’s shoulder.

“I hear you play a mean game of Wizard Chess?”

“So does Draco.”

“Yes I know. But he stopped playing me when I beat him ten times in a row.”

“Typical Draco!” Ron smirked across the room. “I’m one up on him at the moment, so a game or two should be fun.”

“You’re on, my friend … After Hermione and I have found those books.”

“I think I’d better challenge Draco.” Ron sighed in mock regret. “Hermione gets lost in her books for hours on end. Uncle says you are like her in that respect, so we’ll play one day soon, but not today I suspect.”

“Not until after Dinner, children. Now go and get ready.

“YES MOTHER/AUNTIE.”

Dobby and Sempra were in attendance in the bachelor suite, they ensured their masters had a shower and then were giving them an invigorating massage. Halfway through that, there was a banging on the door. Ron rushed in with only his boxers on.

“There’s this elf trying to undress me!”

“Looks to me as though he’s doing a good job; what do you think Brother?”

“Not much further to go, by the looks of it.”

Ron looked at the naked duumviri, and then took in their two personal-elves who were massaging them, blushed and ran out again.

Draco was quite particular as to how Harry looked. The evening shirt was fine, Harry was unsure about the ruffles though. Only on the sixth suit was Draco satisfied enough to let Dobby try to tie his master’s bowtie. It took only three suits before Draco was content, then he came and took over from Dobby to tie Harry’s tie properly. Sempra did an excellent first time bowtie on Draco. Next, came the low-cut brocade waistcoats, Harry felt imprisoned by his. Draco pooh-poohed this, managing to get his arm between Harry and the offending garment, as proof. Looking in the mirror, Harry had to admit that they looked quite a handsome pair. Dobby seemed to have tamed the tousled mop too.

Ron was still red in the face when they met him in the corridor.

“What’s your personal-elf’s name, Ron?”

“Do they do everything for you, Draco?”

“Yes, that’s why they’re called personal-elves, Ronald. But you still haven’t answered my question.”

“Oh … Err …”

“Lamamas Master;” said elf popped his head out of Ron’s door. “For some time I thought my new master was renaming me.”

“Really … What did you think he was going to call you?”

“Err … Gerroff!”

Draco and Harry collapsed in helpless laughter. Ron looked hurt; then he too saw the funny side and joined them. Hermione came out in a stunning sparkling light blue evening dress, showing more décolletage than the duo had ever seen before, her hair was bouffant and there was an exquisite necklace of diamonds round her neck. Blaise came out of his room as they passed, and his eyes nearly fell out of his head.

“Ronald, you are an extremely lucky man, to have such an adorable fiancée. I feel positively jealous.”

Blaise had the touch, all right. Hermione and Ron preened; the Duumviri had difficulty containing their laughter.

In the dining room Uncle was equally grand in a green brocade waistcoat. Mother wore an almost matching green chiffon gown, with jewellery sparkling everywhere.

D: ‘She’s a bit over the top; still she hasn’t had a decent dinner party for years.’

H: ‘Make her day for her then. Let’s not talk secretly for a start.’

Gondolum had had the elves put on long black gowns; Harry supposed this was their form of evening dress too. Everything in the dining room shone, crystal chandeliers, and a myriad of lights on the centrepiece candelabrum. Glassware and cutlery sparkled and winked. Sempra was the sommelier and Gondolum the butler. There were one or two minor mishaps, but nothing to spoil the atmosphere of refined enjoyment. Harry had so many different wines that he lost count, and he lost the memory of the scintillating talk too.

It was Uncle who challenged Ron to his game of wizard’s chess, Hermione and Blaise brought a few books into the drawing room afterwards. Mother and her two sons had some hilarious games of exploding snap. Nothing was terribly serious as everybody only half concentrated on what was in front of them. Draco and Ron had a mock verbal battle; Blaise found a humorous poem in one of the books, Hermione and Narcissa had chats about clothes and jewellery. Harry told them about Hagrid bursting into the lighthouse, and Dudley’s piggy tail. Draco told a couple of slightly risqué jokes, nothing to offend the homely atmosphere however. It was well past midnight when the party broke up and they wandered amicably to bed.

Draco and Harry were in that happy loving mood, where cares are forgotten and action foresworn. Undressed and nestling in each other’s arms, they chatted amiably and drifted off to sleep.