'The Wedding'

*******************************************************************

The following morning Harry only received one piece of mail in the owl post. Turning it over he recognized the Bell family crest was seal and knew the letter within was from Katie. He opened it and began reading the letter.



Dear Harry



I can’t believe I am writing this but yes I will come to your place this Saturday night and let you set me up with Malfoy. I cannot believe I am letting you set me up on a blind date, and with Malfoy of all people. He’s the last person I’d ever imagine to be set up with. My Mum has been trying to send me on blind dates for three years and I hexed her when she offered to set me up with a ‘friend’ of a ‘friend’ who is 20 years older than I am! You have no idea how lucky you are that I haven’t sent you a hex in this letter. Saying that I think I’d be hexed if I hexed the bloke who saved the wizarding world. I know you’re trying to help me find happiness Harry and I thank you for being a true friend.



Love from

Katie.



P.S. If Malfoy is an arse I will hex his balls off…Tell him that….ha ha



‘Yes!’ Harry hissed pumping his fist.



‘What’s gotten you so happy?’ Draco said looking up from his copy of the Daily Prophet.



‘It’s a letter from your date, Saturday’s on get out your best robes Malfoy there’s a black tie dinner on at the Manor six PM sharp’



‘Oh goody’



‘Oh and by the way she says if you’re an arse she’ll hex your balls off’



‘Oooh pal you better behave then’ John said with a snigger over his morning coffee.



‘Cast a Permanent Sticking Charm to your nether reigons and stick your balls to your body’ Neville suggested with a grin joining in.



‘A Permanent Sticking Charm wouldn’t save his balls if this girl decided she wanted them on a jar’ Harry said with a grin.



‘Are you three quite finished?’ Draco exclaimed ‘What is your obsession with my nuts anyway?’



‘We don’t have an obsession with your nuts’ Harry said ‘I think you’ll like Saturday night I do like a mean black tie dinner’



‘Since when? Neville said ‘You’ve never hosted one in your life’



‘I’ve attended plenty’



‘Oh you are so going to need Hermione’s help’



*******************************************************************



The rest of the week went much faster then Harry would have liked. He was reveling in his new job and woke every morning enthusiastic about passing on his knowledge of defending oneself against the Dark Arts to all the students that entered his classroom. He was making progress on his duelling club proposal and every day that week between the end of classes and dinner John, Draco, Neville and Flitwick joined him in his quarters to tweak the contents. Now it was a Friday at five PM and the five men had just finished another session.



‘Okay lads that ought to do it for the week, lets convene here on Monday and finish things off’ Harry said throwing down his quill ‘We’ll have it down in the actual classroom and I’ll invite the Head Boy along to see what he thinks of what we’ve composed. It was his idea and enthusiasm that got me to gather you lot together and write this proposal’



‘Does he know you’re going to all this effort? Draco asked packing away his own parchment, quill and ink.



‘No but I told him at breakfast this morning I had convinced four of the staff so far that a duelling club was a good idea and together we were writing up a proposal that I hoped would convince Minerva that a duelling club wuld be a good idea’



‘I tell you right now if Minerva doesn’t say yes to this after all the effort we put in I reckon we should go ahead and do it anyway’ Draco said.



‘And how do you plan to teach over a thousand students how to duel and keep Minerva out of the loop? Neville enquired ‘She’s not stupid you know she’d be able to sniff out any sort of conelement’



‘Yes I don’t think that would be such a good idea’ Fliwick said cautiously ‘And it would be difficult to organize such a number of students without Minerva finding out and if she did….’



‘She’d flip’ John said ‘Now I don’t know Minerva that well but she strikes me as the type of person one can’t deceive easily’



‘I wasn’t really serious’ Draco said ‘There’s nowhere to gather a thousand students all at once in the castle except the Great Hall. I doubt the Room of Requirement would expand that much’



‘Has anyone ever asked it to?’ Harry asked looking around at everyone gathered around the parchment-strewn table. I was in it once when it was twice the size of the Great Hall albeit full of all sorts of miscellaneous items, I don’t suppose it’s out of the question it could morph into another Great Hall’



‘It’s worth finding out’ Neville said ‘But it might not turn into another Great Hall if it knows Minerva is going to say yes to our proposal’



‘A room would know that?’ Draco asked in surprise.



‘Yeah apparently it’s part of it’s magic, it turns into what the person seeking it needs it to and if we don’t need it to turn into another Great Hall it won’t’



‘Excuse my ignorance but what the hell is this room of requirement?’ John asked in interest.



‘It’s a room on the other side of the seventh floor that turns into whatever the seeker needs it to’ Harry said.



‘Really? Sorry to sound like a little kid but that is so cool’ John said in amazement ‘It’s turn into absoloutely anything?’



‘Yup’



‘So if I were on hall duty one night and was busting to go to the bathroom it would….’



‘Turn into a loo yes’ Harry said ‘One of the past Hogwarts House Elves found it for me during my fifth year when I was looking for a place to teach a rebel D.A.D.A group. And during the final battle it was a gathering point for all the people who fought against the invasion. Apparently the house elves use it all the time’



‘Can you show it to me?’



‘Sure I have a bit of time before I floo home’



After Flitwick, Draco and Neville left his quarters Harry pulled on his cloak and he and John made their way into the castle via Harry’s classroom.



‘So how’s your first week gone? John asked Harry in interest as they made their way through the seventh floor.



‘Yeah really good I’m loving it!’ Harry said enthusiastically 'Teaching is something I never thought I’d do but it’s great to pass on what I know about defending yourself against the Dark Arts. It’s an unreal feeling’



‘Isn’t it? John said chuckling at Harry’s enthusiasm ‘And it’s good when you have a good bunch of students too, some that actually want to learn’



‘Yeah everyone I’ve had this week have been great no shitty students at all, I find that a tad weird’



‘I don’t’ John said ‘Harry you’re legendary in the magic world the world over kids want to learn from you therefore they behave, hell I want to learn from you and I’m a colleague’



‘You want to learn from me?’ Harry said in surprise ‘What can I teach you?’



‘Some of those kick ass hexes, the Dancing Hex? Hell I didn’t know that even existed, half the hexes you, Neville, Filius and Draco have written down I didn’t know existed. Only basic ones are taught back home at the Salem Institute’



‘Only the basic ones are taught here too but hardly anyone ever uses them even in the Duelling Society they do the advanced stuff, if I start up a duelling club I want the students to be able to get their teeth into some new defences and that means new hexes’



‘Are you a member of the Duelling Society?’



‘Yeah but only as a bog standard member, I don’t go to to the monthly meetings and just get their monthly newsletter in the post. I do go to the AGM’s though to vote on the board. If I joined every society or club I’ve been invited to or had an interest in I’d have about two seconds time to myself every day’



‘That bad eh?’



‘Yeah, I mean it’s flattering to be asked to join all these societies but I don’t have the time. I’m bringing up my godson and he’s my priority. I had to think long and hard about even nominating for the Dark Force Defence Leage Elections at the end of this month. If organizing Gin and I’s wedding wasn’t just a once off I wouldn’t do it. But once that’s over I’ll have a bit more time’



‘I know how you feel’ John said ‘Organising a wedding is such a head fuck you wonder if you’ll ever get to the actual ceremony’



‘Oh so it’s not just me then?’



‘Nah it happens to every engaged couple’ John said as Harry came to a stop in front of an apparently blank space of wall ‘Is this where this room is then? There’s nothing here’



‘Ah but there’s a trick to getting in’ Harry said ‘You have to close your eyes and walk back and forth in frontof that space of wall three times thinking about what you want then you open your eyes and the door appears. There’s a trick though if someone is already in there it won’t reveal itself unless you know exactly how they got in there’



‘Ah I see’



‘Now juast copy me’



Harry said.



Harry closed his eyes and began walking.

‘I want to show John what’s within you.’ He thought ‘I want to show John what’s within you’



Harry walked past the blank space of wall three times then opened his eyes. An elegant wrought iron and redwood door had appeared looking aged and as if it was a regular part of the décor.



‘Here we go’ Harry said nudging John for him to open his eyes.



John gawped at the door that had materialized out of nowhere.

‘Full on!’ He exclaimed.



‘Come on lets see what’s inside’ Harry said turning the burnished brass handle.



‘You mean you don’t know?’



‘No it’s different every time, if you want it to be the same every visit you have to be very specific with your instructions’



‘I see’



Harry walked through into the Room of Requirement and John followed. He had to bite back a laugh as John gawped at the interior.



The Room of Requirement had transfomed into what Harry thought was one of it’s most spectacular transformations. The floor was carpeted in a deep pile plush snow white carpet and the lounge suite was the matching color covered by a gold satin throw and cerise coloured cushions. The mantelpiece had two huge gold candlesticks on either end and in those two thick altar candles were burning. A huge portrait of a frnagipanni tree hung on the wall and in front of the fireplace stood a cast iron and brass cover. It was sparsely furnished but elegantly decorated. Upon the old ebony desk in the far corner stood a collection of parchment, ink and quills and next to that was a door exactly the same as the iron and redwood door they’d just entered in. The room had an air of old English opulence and a curious smell of burnt sugar lingered in the air.



‘Nice aye?’ Harry said with a grin.



‘You’re not kidding!’ John said as he began exploring the room making his way toward the second door ‘There’s everything one could want here. Parchment, quills, ink…..’



‘And if you wanted to shag your missus here a bed would appear’ Harry said ‘Another good thing about the room of requirement is that if you need something just think it and it’ll appear’



‘Really?’



‘Sure try it’



John closed his eyes and squinted slightly then he let out a cry of incredulity as he strode over to the desk and picked up a box labelled ‘Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans-Bogey Flavour’



Harry let out a great snort of laughter.

‘Of all the things you could’ve thought about you picked Bogey flavoured every flavour beans?’ He exclaimed struggling to control himself ‘Ha ha ha!’



‘It’s the first thing I thought of’ John admitted his cheeks colouring up slightly ‘Want one?’



‘Ew yuck no!’ Harry exclaimed making a face ‘You actually like bogey flavoured ones?’



‘Yeah they’re alright’



‘Oh you’re gross’ Harry said with a laugh as John dug into the box ‘That truly is disgusting, and here I was thinking I was weird for liking the seafood ones’



Harry followed John through the second redwood and iron door and entered a short hallway. There were two further rooms. One a large white and gold decorated bathroom and a bedroom decorated in the same style and colours as the lounge area.



‘This is extrodinary magic’ John said in amazement ‘There’s nothing like this at the Salem institutre. Well not that I know of anyway. Is this room used regularly?’



‘No few people know about it, even the teachers’ Harry said ‘The only ones I know of that know about it are Draco, Neville, Flitwick, me and now you. I used this room for my rebel D.A.D.A group during my fifth year. It was a huge empty room then. We needed it for practical work’



‘You’ll have to tell me about this rebel group one day, I’ve heard Neville mention it several times’



‘It’s a fascinating tale, now I hate to end things but I want to get back to the Manor I’ll see you Monday yeah?’



‘Sure have a good weekend Harry’



*******************************************************************



Harry returned to his quarters and packed a small bag. He then flooed back to the Manor. No one was home yet so he got to work up in his study marking papers and working out the following weeks lesson plan. He was jolted out of his concentration when he heard Teddy yell ‘HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREEEEEEEEEE!’



Vowing to resume his work later Harry apparated downstairs where Andromeda and Teddy had arrived and swept him into a tight hug.



‘Hello hello hello!’ He exclaimed ruffling Teddy’s violet hair ‘I’ve missed you loads’



‘You have?’ Teddy said with a toothy grin.



‘Uh huh, you and Gin and Ron and Hermione’



Teddy flung his arms around Harry’s neck and squeezed hard.



‘I’ve missed you too Harry, can I go play with Jellybean now?’



Okay but be careful with her’ Harry said letting Teddy down ‘She’s still got a sore leg’



‘Okay!’



Teddy skipped off and Harry turned to Andromeda.



‘Staying for a coffee ‘Drom?’ He said going to the stove.



‘Yeah just one’ Andromeda said sliding into the nearest seat ‘So how was your first week?’



‘Oh sensational I love this job ‘Drom I really do’ Harry said lighting the stove with a poke fom his wand ‘Every kid I have taught this week has been like a sponge. It’s very gratifying to have them hang on my every word’



‘Harry if you recited the Alphabet they would hang on your every word’ Andromeda said inamusement ‘But I’m glad you’re enjoying yor work. Much marking to do?’



‘No I’ve already done most of it’ Harry said ‘I’ve just got the fourth years work on the Cucio Curse to go yet. That’ll take me a couple of hours. But I’m half tempted to leave it til tomorrow. Or at least wait til Ted’s in bed. Gin won’t be home for a couple of hours yet so I could make a start on it’



‘How much parchment did you ask them to do?’



‘Three feet and that was on the first day’



‘That’s mean Harry’ Andromeda said with a laugh ‘Three feet on an Unforgivable on the first day of a new school year?’



Harry grinned.

‘They didn’t seem to mind much really’ He said waiting for the kettle to boil ‘And on top of that I’m writing a duelling club proposal for Minerva along with Flitwick, Draco, Neville and John our new Muggle Studies Professor. The Head Boy told me he’s been nagging her twice a week since his second year about starting one and it wasn’t until she threatened him with a full year’s detention with Filch last year that he decided to come to me when I was announced as a teacher and subsequently Gryffindor House head. We’ve been working every day after lessons and before dinner to draw up this proposal’



‘So do you think she’ll say yes?’



‘I don’t know I hope she does’ Harry said as the kettle began whistling ‘If this proposal doesn’t work I’m going to grovel’



‘I’m not sure Minerva is the groveling type’ Andromeda said.



‘I know that’s why it’s a last resort'



*******************************************************************



At 6PM Andromeda left the Manor and Harry got started on dinner for himself and Teddy. He put the omlette he was cooking under the grill when Jellybean and the other puppy came hooning into the kitchen closely followed by Teddy. Jellybean raced around on three legs totally unincumbered by her casted leg her enormous ears flapping.



'They got away from me!' Teddy cried lunging for and missing Jellybean by an inch.



'How did they get out of the pen? Harry asked drawing his wand and flicking it at the door which slammed shut and cut off the puppies escape route.



'They pushed past me!' Teddy exclaimed his bottom lip trembling 'I couldn't hold 'em! Am I in trouble?



'No you're not mate but next time wait til Ron `Mione or I can be with you until you let them out okay?



The puppy Harry intended on giving to Hagrid bounded up to Teddy and began chewing on his sock

'Ow Dwagon sharp teeth owie!' He shrilled skipping out of the way.



'Dragon?' Harry said with a raised eyebrow 'Named him already huh?'



'Uh huh you said Uncle Hagrid likes dragons and his last dog was called Fang. Dragons have fangs so I thought Dwagon would be a good name. I know you said to let Uncle Hagrid name him but Dwagon isn't going to get him for a while yet and he can't have no name forever!'



'I suppose you're right' Harry said just as Jellybean waddled over to him. Harry bent down and scooped up the squirming bundle.

'You're a mischeif!' He decalered tickling the puppy's belly 'Bit like Tedmeister'



'I am not a mischeif!' Teddy exclaimed making a face and putting his hands on his hips.



'Yeah you are but in a good way' Harry said with a grin 'C'mon let's put Jellybean and Dragon in their pen then we can have dinner okay?'



'Okay' Teddy agreed picking up dragon with difficulty 'Where are Uncle Ron and Awnty `Mione?'



'Probably still a work' Harry said leading the way to the lounge 'They have important jobs you know'



'Uh huh I want to be an Auror one day' Teddy declared 'Like Mummy used to be then I can catch boogie men!'



'I thought you wanted to work in George's shop with Anthony?’ Harry said.



‘Uncle Ron says being an Auror pays better’ Teddy said with a toothy grin.



Harry snorted



Harry and Teddy put Jellybean and Dragon back in their pen then returned to the kitchen.



‘We’ve got a visitor on Saturday night’ Harry began checking on the ommlette.



‘Dudley?’ Teddy said.



‘Nope he’s coming on Sunday’ Harry said ‘On Saturday Draco is coming around, remember me telling you about him?’



‘Uh huh he’s Nanna’s nephew mummy’s cousin’



‘Which makes him your second cousin’ Harry said ‘I’m trying to set him up with Katie’



‘So they’ll be boyfriend and girlfriend?’ Teddy said with a giggle.



‘That’s the idea matey’ Harry said ‘Draco’s going to get here before Katie on Saturday but he doesn’t know the girl I’m setting him up with is Katie so no telling alright?’



‘Alright then’ Teddy said ‘But why the secret?’



‘Because blind dates are romantic’ Harry said with a grin



‘What’s a blind date Hawwy?’



‘It’s where two people go on a date but beforehand one or both don’t know who the other is’ Harry said ‘Understand?’



‘Sorta so Dwayco doesn’t know Katie is the girl?’



‘Got it in one’



‘Do Uncle Ron, Awnty Ginny and Awnty Miny know?’



‘Yep we’re all dressing up in our best robes and having a fancy dinner’



‘Awww am I going to hafta dress up?’



‘No matey you’ll be in bed by the time we all sit down to dinner but you can stay up long enough to greet everyone’



‘Okay!'



*******************************************************************

Teddy was long in bed and Harry had finished marking his fourth year papers when the kitchen fireplace burst into flames and Hermione arrived home right on the stroke of nine thirty looking harried.



‘You look stuffed’ Harry commented sitting down with a mug of coffee he’d just made.



‘I am’ Hermione replied as once again the grate burst into flame and Ron arrived home.



‘Evening mate long day?’ Harry asked flicking his wand to reheat the remaining water in the kettle on the stove.



‘Busy is a understatement!’ Ron groaned throwing his bag on the sideboard and flopping down into the nearest chair ‘Ever since you left it’s been stupidly busy’



‘So what held you two up?’



‘I had an arraignment to go to then some prat on a Firewhiskey bender smashed every window in Quality Quidditch Supplies trying to pinch a Firebolt 500 and I was his court appointed brief. Sometimes I wonder why I volunteered for the Ministry’s Legal Aid Scheme. As two I.C of the office I don’t need to, there are plenty of people in the office that can do it’



‘You did it because it’s a respectable and honourable thing to do’ Harry said with a grin ‘That’s the sort of thing you do. Think of yourself for once. You’ve been in the Ministry for four years and you’ve never been on a proper holiday, you need to relax’



‘She doesn’t know how to’ Ron said.



‘Sod off’ came the reply.



‘Have you two eaten?’ Harry asked getting up and starting to make his two friends a coffee.



‘No apart from donuts and coffee at the canteen’ Hermione said ‘How was your first week?’



‘Oh great and I just managed to get through my first lot of marking without any dramas’ Harry said ‘I’ve just gotten through sixty feet of fourth year work on the Cruciatus Curse’



‘So are they a smart lot?’ Ron asked standing up and taking off his cloak and robes.



‘Yeah they are’ Harry replied ‘Not that I expected them to be stupid. A lot of them are really enthusiastic about the whole Defence against the Dark Arts thing. They’re the group I think will be most enthusiastic about this dueling club. There’s on Slytherin girl who I think could hex the feathers off a Hippogriff’



‘Aren’t all Slytherins like that?’ Ron said ‘I’m jokin’ I’m jokin’!’ He added hastily after seeing the look on Hermione’s face.



‘I’m going to start them on a practical course next week, same with the sixth years. I’m starting them on non verbal spells then’



‘Bastard’ Ron said ‘I hated learning non verbal spells ‘Mione’s better at them than I am’



Harry noticed out the corner of his eye Hermione’s cheeks had turned a respectable shade of pink, deciding to embarrass her further he said….



‘`Mione’s better at all magic than we are’ He said with a deadpan expression.



‘Oh sooood off’ She said ‘That’s crap’



Harry grinned.

‘Luv ya ‘Mione’ He said taking two mugs of coffee over to the table.



‘Hmph’



‘But I was thinking if you’re free next week you could come along and help me with a non verbal magic lesson’ Harry said ‘I was thinking Wednesday if you’re not busy’



‘I’ll check my work diary on Monday but Friday is probably going to be better for me Harry’ Hermione said wrapping her hands around her mug ‘Thanks, If things get too busy I might have to take a raincheck and sed Ron instead’



‘I’m crap at non verbal spells’ Ron said.



‘Bullshit!’ Harry and Hermione chorused.



‘Ron you’re head of the Auror Department and before that were second in command. To be in either position you need to be good at non verbal spells, you have to be good at magic period’ Hermione said ‘You have to be good at all magic even to get through the training’



‘Look at Neville’ Harry said ‘He was the worst in out year at non verbal magic and look at him now he kicks arse in all branches of magic. If he can do it, you can. You’ll definitely be coming to the dueling club when I get it going no arguments about that’



‘Fair enough who else are you having helping with this dueling club?’



‘The first person I thought of after you two was your Mum. I want to show my students how she took out Bellatrix LeStrange’



‘You want Mum to murder someone in front of the whole of Hogwarts?’ Ron asked in surprise



‘Don’t be a prat Ron’ Hermione said rolling her eyes.



‘No I don’t want her to murder someone in front of the student body’ Harry said ‘I want to show them how intense a duel can be and how magic when used effectively can drop your opponent like a shot duck’



‘Without the shot duck bit’ Hermione said with a grin.



‘Exactly Molly is a closet dueller and she could really teach the students a lot. Plus everyone. Just about everyone in the seventh year wants to meet her’



‘Really?’ Ron said looking pleased that his mother was so popular.



‘Yeah the Head Girl said to me that she wants to meet the woman ‘Who took that bitch LeStrange out' I know few people know what transgressed and the truth has been embellished a lot but what does circulate Hogwarts isn’t too far from the truth’



‘Mum’s that popular?’ Ron said ‘That’s great I wonder if she knows?’



‘She wouldn’t make a big deal of it if she does’ Hermione said She’s too modest but more than once since the end of the war she’s featured in Witch Weekly and you have to be popular to some degree to feature in that publication’



‘True’



*******************************************************************



At three o’clock the next morning Harry was pulled from sleep by the crack of Ginny apparating into the room.



‘Sorry!’ She squeaked as Harry attempted to disentangle himself from the bedsheets, ‘I thought you might still be up, you normally are on Friday night’



Harry yawned widely.

‘Not this Friday’ He said sleepily ‘I finished all my marking last night and it zonked me out. How’d your shift go?’



‘Oh it was okay’ Ginny said taking off her cloak and hanging it on the back of the door ‘Nothing major happened, no babies to deliver so I spent the bulk of my shift studying’



‘Ah my little academic bookworm returns to me’ Harry joked.



Ginny rolled her eyes.

‘Oh ha ha’ She said taking off her shirt and revealing her breasts held up in a fine black lace bra ‘You crack me up’



Harry grinned.

‘All set for this dinner tonight?’ He said watching Ginny strip to nothing and head into the bathroom ‘I can’t wait to see Draco’s face when he see’s the girl I’m setting him up with is Katie’



‘He’s going to hex you into a blob if he doesn’t like Katie you know that don’t you?’ Ginny said as she prepared to brush her teeth ‘Especially after all the other unsuccessful blind dates he’s been on you told me about’



‘Yeah I know but I think he’ll like Katie’ Harry said getting out of the bed going over to the bathroom where he leant stark naked on the doorframe ‘Everyone likes Katie. At the very least, they could become piss up pals or fuck friends’



‘With all this effort you’re going to you’re going to want them to become a proper item not just fuck buddies’ Ginny said squirting toothpaste onto her toothbrush ‘You don’t get out the best Silver, China and order in that marinated lamb from the butcher in Hogsmeade just in the hope of matching up a couple of good fuck buddies’



‘I know at the very least it ought to be a pleasant dinner’ Harry said ‘Good food good wine, good company’



‘What do you reckon Lucius and Narcissa will think if Draco and Katie do hook up? Ginny wondered wetting her toothbrush under the tap and sticking it in her mouth.



‘Honestly I don’t think they’ll care who Draco hooks up with as long as he’s happy. That’s their main priority his happiness you know. Like any parent, I suppose. That’s my priority for Ted and our kids when they come along’



Ginny finished brushing her teeth then rinsed her mouth out

‘I was thinking about us having kids during my shift today’ She said wiping her mouth.



‘Yeah what about it specifically? Harry said.



‘I was thinking about when I should go off the contraceptive potion. If I go off it now do you want to start trying straight away? It could take up to a month for me to start cycling properly’



‘Well if it’ll take that long for your bits to start working properly maybe you ought to go off it now’



‘My bits?’ Ginny exclaimed ‘Oh you are so crass’



‘Yeah but you love me’ Harry said with a grin ‘My bits work, want to see?’



‘I saw them work two days ago I don’t need to see them work again just yet’ Ginny said with a grin slapping Harry’s bum and going into the bedroom ‘Plus I’m too tired to have a proper shag you want me to be awake don’t you?’



‘Yeah that would be preferable’ Harry said with a grin getting into bed ‘How about whoever wakes up first gets to wake up the other in the most delicious way possible?’



Ginny shook Harry’s hand

‘Deal she said with a giggle ‘Now let me get some sleep so I can shag the shit out of you in the morning’



*******************************************************************



‘You-are-terrible!’ Harry huffed nine hours later as he and Ginny finished a particularly vigourous lovemaking session ‘What is it with you tying me up like that?’



‘I like seeing you vunerable’ Ginny said with a grin sucking his left nipple ‘I got the idea from when we saw Oliver and Alicia shagging. It’s a turn on to see the savious of the wizarding world a tied up squirming mess. Do you have any idea of how many witches would give their wands to be in my position?’



‘Oh ha ha you’re the only with who’s wand I’d want’ Harry said with a grin ‘How kiss arse is that?’



Ginny slapped his chest.

Pretty kiss arse’ She said ‘Well I’m getting up I fancy an sandwich.



‘Not a creampie?’ Harry said with a grin suggestively wiggling his eyebrows.



‘Deviant’



*******************************************************************



When Harry ad Ginny made their way downstairs half an hour later they found Ron and Hermione already getting things ready fo that evening’s formal dinner. Teddy wasn’t present but sounds from the loungeroom indicated he was watching television. Hermione had charmed and old Silver cutlery set Harry recognized as being the Weasley family’s to polish itself and had an enormous old cookbook (A housewarming present to Harry and Ginny) out in front of her on the kitchen bench. Ron was eating lunch on the table.



‘Oh you’re up then’ Ron said ‘`Mione and I thought you’d never get out of bed’



‘No Ron thought you’d never get out of bed’ Hermione said shooting Ron a scowl ‘Oh we got a talking Patronus at ten this morning from Molly, Charlotte went into labour at half past three this morning’



‘Oh that’s wonderful!’ Ginny exclaimed ‘About time bub’s two weeks overdue’



‘Molly said in her Patronus she’d send up another patronus when the bub makes it’s appearance. She’s at the Den at the moment minding Anthony and Mark’



Ginny did a little dance.

‘Oh I can’t wait!’ She sang ‘I’m betting for a boy’



‘You are? Harry said in surprise going to the fridge ‘I thought you wanted them to have a girl’



‘Oh yeah I’d still like them t have a girl but I reckon they’ll have a boy. The Weasleys have more ‘Y’ chromosomes than ‘X’ chromosomes. Odds say a boy’



‘Floo George and see what his odds are on a boy’ Ron said with a snort ‘He runs a book on most things’



‘He’d run a book on wether his brother is going to have a boy or girl?’ Harry asked in surprise.



‘Harry this is George Weasley we’re talking about’ Ron said ‘The man who bet you wouldn’t ask Gin to marry you by the end fo the year’



‘Tha bastard! He did what?’ Ginny exclaimed.



Well `Mione ad I took him on and won ten galleons each off him’



‘Oh great guys thanks for betting on my love life’ Harry said ‘Did anyone bet with George?’



‘Dunno you’d have to ask him that’ Hermione said ‘But I knew you’d propose to Ginny weeks before you actually did so I dipped into my funds’



‘And last I heard he opened a book on wether you’ll be invited to train with the nation quidditch squad by the end of the year’ Ron said I’ve put a hundred Galleons on that’



Harry made a noise like a stepped on cat.



‘I bet he’s scraped in the galleons on that one’ Ginny said



’So far he’s had loads of people reckon you won’t. Apparently on bloke put a thousand galleons on at ten to one you won’t be. The cut off is New Years Eve’ Ron said.



‘Mum would murder him if he found out he was running a clandestime betting operation’ Ginny said starting on making herself a sandwich.



‘That’s why he hasn’t told her’ Ron said ‘Dad knows but lets it slide because George rarely does it and when he does it’s generally only family and friends’



‘I’m going to bet him he won’t be able to stop betting on his friends love lives’ Harry said.



‘He wouldn’t take that on’ Ginny said with a grin.



‘I wonder on what odds he’d give on Seamus asking Lavender to marry him by Christmas’



‘Do you know something? Hermione asked in interest.



‘I might’ Harry said mysteriously.



‘You can’t just leave it at that’ Ginny said after a long pause during which she Ron and Hermione stared at him expectantly.



‘Well last week I literally ran into Seamus whilst getting some things in Diagon Alley and he indicated he wants to ask Lavender to marry him but wasn’t sure how. I told him to get a ring then ask her parents particularly her father for her hand like I did with Molly ad Arthur for Gin. He said he’s owl me when he’s done it. I haven’t heard back from him yet. I think he was going to speak with Hannah about getting a ring made and that takes a couple of weeks to finish’



‘Next it’ll be Dean and Padma and Lee and Pavarti’ Ron said.



‘And you and Hermione last because you’re too lazy to ask’ Harry joked ‘Harry and I will be great-grandparents before you get married. ‘Mione you might have to ask Ron it’s tradition for women to ask Men to marry them on the last day of February in a leap year this year is yours toots’



Ginny let out a great snorting laugh.



*******************************************************************



Two hours later Harry decided to go to Hogsmeade and pick up the last few things for that evenings meal.



‘I better head off to Hogsmeade’ He said getting up any pulling his cloak on.



‘I’ll join you’ Ron said in a manner that made Harry think there was something up.



‘Sure’



Harry and Ron made their way to the foyer and disapparated to Hogsmeade.



‘Okay what’s up?’ Harry asked as they set off the High Street.



‘Who said anything was up? Ron said very unconvincingly.



Harry rolled his eyes.

‘Oh come on mate I’m your best friend I know when something’s up with you’ He said ‘C’mon fess up’



Ron took a deep breath.

‘I’m thinking of asking Hermione to marry me’ He said very quickly.



Harry grinned



‘About bloody time’ He said ‘When are you going to pop the question?’



‘I was thinking about owling Hannah first about making a ring them popping the question on Christmas Day if front of her parents and all the Weasleys. Her parents are coming to the Burow this year’



‘Very romantic’ Harry said approvingly ‘Are you going to ask her parents for permission?’



‘Yes I plan to’ Ron said ‘When the ring’s done I’ll make a time to see her parents then I’ll show them the ring and ask. It worked for you with Mum and Dad’



‘How long have you been thinking about popping the question?’



‘A while now. I suppose the seed was planted when you asked Gin to marry you’ Ron said ‘I should’ve asked ‘Mione to marry me years ago I don’t know why I didn’t’



‘You weren’t ready’ Harry said ‘You probably just wanted to enjoy Hermione’s company for a while in a time where no one wasworried about being mown down by a homicidal death eater. That’s how I felt about Gin and I’s situation. ’

'Fair enough, with `Mione I want to do this properly I just don't know how. I can't do the exact same thing as you that would be unoriginal'

‘‘Oh aren’t you the epitome of puppy love’ Harry said dryly pushing open the door of the butcher shop.



‘You’ve gotta help me Harry I don’t know what the hell to do!’ Ron pleaded ‘I mean apart from asking her parents if I can marry her what else do I do? Up to this point we’ve just been comfortable in each others company shagging the shit out of each other occasionally I want to let ‘Mione I’m serious about us’



‘Do you think she thinks your relationship isn’t legit?’ Harry said ‘Because that’s not the image you two project. You two are the most in love couple I’ve ever come across. Even Neville and Hannah who come across as wanting to shag each other senseless don’t do the doe eyes and puppy love thing as much as you and `Mione do’



‘We do?’



‘Of course,you hold hands at every opportunity. You rub each other’s feet and you always give her scalp massages and you always feed each other, that bit is always nauseating’



‘Oh ha ha you and Gin do the same thing’



‘Look I can’t tell you what to do just follow your heart and do what feels right. However, I can tell you if you hurt `Mione I will kill you’



Ron gave Harry a look of alarm.



Harry laughed.

‘Not literally’ He said ‘Maybe a minor hex. `Mione is one of my best friends and I love her like a sister but I will bodily hurt anyone that upsets her that includes you. But seriously I wish the two of you the best and I want you to have eternal happiness I really do’



‘Thanks I was thinking along the lines of doing what I feel but I was looking for soe confirmation’



‘Maybe you and Seamus ought to get together and put your heads together’ Harry said ‘He wants to propose to Lavender but isn’t sure how either’



‘Might be worth owling him’ Ron said thoughtfully 'I mean I know what I want to do it’s just figuring out how to do it is the thing’



‘I know how you feel’ Harry said ‘I asked Hermione how I should go about proposing to Ginny and she told me what I told you. Just follow your heart’



‘Okay then I’ll do it!’ Ron said with conviction, ‘I’ll romance the arse off my girl til it kills me!’



‘That’s the spirit’ Harry said with a chuckle ‘Just so you know if you need it Grimmauld Place is yours to use if you want a bit of privacy. I know you have your quarters, which is half the Manor, but if you want a whole house to yourselves for a while maybe so you can shag the shit out of each other wenever the hell you like. It’s not in great condition though it’s full of Boggarts and I reckon the drawing room curtains are full of Doxys. I’ll fix it up before you and `Mione go there’



‘Thanks mate’ Ron said ‘Maybe we can rope the girls into helping us. You could always say you want it fixed up before the wedding’



‘Yeah we could do that’ Harry said ‘I could let Gin in on the motives for cleaning it up. I want it cleaned up anyway. I’m not doing it so you and `Mione can have your own personal shag shack’



‘Fair enough thanks mate’



‘No worries, I hardly ever use it. It may as well go to some use. Just make sure if you shag on the kitchen table clean it afterward’



‘Yes Professor’



‘Oh stick it up your arse’



*******************************************************************

Half an hour later Harry and Ron returned to the Manor to find Hermione setting the table with the Weasleys cutlery set and a nice dinner set Harry had recently bought for them to use should they have guests over. Covering the table was an old Egyptian cotton and fine lace tablecloth Ron instantly recognized.



‘That’s the Weasley family tablecloth!’ He exclaimed fingering the lace edging.



‘Yeah your Mum lent it to us especially for tonight’ Hermione said carefully placing a wine goblet at one setting.



‘Is Gin about?’ Harry asked going into the kitchen and placing the lamb from the butcher and the chocolate from Honeydukes on the bench.



‘No she went into London to get the wine’ Hermione said ‘She’s also picking up some no melt candles from that fancy housewares shop in Diagon Alley and she said she was going to visit George just to hex him but I think she may have been joking’



‘So what’s left to do apart from cooking the food?’ Harry asked unwrapping the meat and placing it in the oiled tray Hermione had left out.



‘Nothing the house is spotless’ Hermione said Ted’s even cleaning up his room ‘I moved Jellybean and Dragon and their pen to the room next to Ted’s so there’ll be more room in the loungeroom should we decide to retire there after the meal for a nightcap. Ted’s going to feed them at five’



‘So basically once the food’s on we just have to posh up in our dress robes?’



‘Yes that’s it’ Hermione replied placing the last wine goblet on the table ‘There what do you think?’



Harry and Ron cast an eye over the gold and silver setting Hermione had created. Each setting had a white, gold edged dinner plate, bread plate and soup bowl accompanying silver cutlery and gold edged crystal wine goblets’



‘Very nice’ Ron said ‘Almost seems a pity to eat off the plates’



‘I was thinking the same thing’ Harry said ‘Looks like something out of an interior decorating magazine’



‘It is’ Hermione said ‘Mum’s really into interior decorating and she owled me this magazine during the week. We were speaking on the phone when the subject of tonight’s dinner came up. I sent Pig to her and he brought back this magazine with the place setting in it’



‘Well aren’t you a creative little sausage’ Ron said slapping Hermione on the bum playfully.



‘You are so lucky I don’t hex your balls off’ Hermione said rolling her eyes.



‘Oh get a room you two’ Harry groaned placing the lamb in the oven



Hermione and Ron shared a moment during Harry thought they were going to sweep aside the tabletop decorations and shag then Hermione snapped out of her reverie and spoke to the both of them.



‘Also with the magazine Mum included an invitation to dinner with Dad and her Wednesday night’ She said ‘Harry can you make it? Ginny aid she can. Ted is welcome too’



‘Yeah I can it’s Neville’s week at the castle this week’ Harry said ‘Your folks still have that posh house in in Cheshire?’



‘Yes and they’ve just renovated it. I think they’re having us over to show it off’



‘Does anyone else in your family apart from you parents know about you being a witch?’ Harry asked in interest ‘I’ve never really asked’



‘Yeah both sets of grandparents, and Dad’s only brother and his wife and Mum’s sister and her husband. When the rest of the family ask what I do for a living I tell them I’m an administritave assistant in the public sector’



‘Have any of them asked to visit you at work?’



‘Of course but I tell them my employer doesn’t allow any family visitors period and that seems to keep them satisfied. I don’t see the family apart from Mum and Dad except at weddings, funerals, christenings and reunions because they’re spread all over Europe and America so I don’t have to try hard to encourage the rumor’



‘So it’ll just be your folks at this dinner on Wednesday then’



‘Yes the next Granger family reunion isn’t until next summer’



‘What if you and Ron get married? I’d assume you’d have a wizarding ceremony would you invite everyone in your family or just those that know about your magical abilities?’



‘Probably the latter’ Hermione said ‘I’m not really close to the rest of the family because they’re spread all over Europe and America. Those family members who know of my ability actually live in England so they’d be most likely to come. Jan my Mum’s sister has already met Ron and she said to me about him quote ‘Gee he’s a right hunk of spunk isn’t he?’



‘And she said that right in front of me too’ Ron said blushing.



‘Oh she did not’ Hermione said ‘Harry Ron was helping to clear the dishes after dinner one time and he walked into the kitchen just as she said that’



‘You ought to get that printed on the back of a set of robes’ Harry said with a great snorting laugh ‘That would go down well at Ministry functions Just imagine if you’re elected to the board of the Dark Force Defence League the lads there would loooove that’



Ron’s blush deepened and Hermione burst into loud unladylike snorts.



‘In fact if we’re elected onto the board I’m going to pass a rule that makes it compulsory for you to wear such a set of robes’



‘Get fucked you will NOT!’ Ron exclaimed as Hermione bent over from the effort of laughing ‘`Mione save me!’



‘Me? Save you? Now way you can save yourself’ Hermione said with a giggle ‘You’re an auror you’re in the business of saving people’



‘Oh fine be like that’ Ron said in mock anger.



*******************************************************************

At five thirty Harry and Ginny returned to their quarters and started getting ready for Draco and Angelina’s arrival. Harry charmed his shirt and pants to press themselves and even went as far as to clip and file his toenails.



‘Want some polish dear? Ginny teased holding up a small pot of glitter nail polish.



Harry rolled his eyes.

‘Oh ha ha’ He said pulling on his trousers.



‘You’re behaving like someone going on a blind date not setting one up’ Ginny said as she applied lipstick to her lips.



‘Am I?’



‘Of course we’ve been an item for four years now Harry and I’ve never once seen you clip and file your toenails. Draco and Katie won’t give a rats arse if your toenails are in alignment. If things go well tonight they’ll only have eyes for each other’



Harry pulled on a crisp white shirt and began buttoning it up.

‘How do you think tonight will go?’ He asked.



‘I think it’ll go well’ Ginny said performing a spell on her face so her makeup would stay as it was applied ‘Even if Draco and Katie hate each other they’re too polite and their manners are too well developed to hex each other in front of us’



‘I suppose so’



Harry buttoned up his shirt and pulled on his socks (Navy Blue with realistic twinkling stars) then the patent leather shoes he only ever wore for smart occasions. Over his shirt he put on an ivory cravat Ginny had bought for him during the week and a smart and a black Chinese silk waistcoat.



‘Have I tied that right?’ He said to Ginny holding his arms out.



Ginny tucked the cravat into the neck of the waistcoat and smoothed it out.

‘Very smart’ She said ‘You look nummy enough to eat’



Harry brushed a whisp of hair from her face.

‘You can do that later’ He whispered in her ear with a grin.



‘Randy Git’ Ginny giggled slapping his back ‘I can’t believe I’m marrying you’’



‘I can’t believe I’m marrying you’ Harry said pulling on the Blue robes Molly and Arthur had given him for his birthday nine weeks previously ‘I’m the definitive lucky bastard’



‘How do I look?’ Ginny asked slipping her feet into a pair of stiletto heels and standing up.



Harry fastened the clasp on his robes and cast an eye over Ginny. She wore a floor length floaty (As was he style, and the one that suited her most) red/moroon dress that merged into black from the knees down to the floor. Straps so fine they seemed to be made of spiders web criss crossed her shoulders in an elegant design and on her feet were fire engine red stilettos made of the same patent leather Harry’s shoes were made of. Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid held up by (Harry suspected) magic and an elegant black shark clip. Harry had to use all his self control not to rip her clothes off and bend her over the trunk that rested on the floor at the end of the bed.



‘Hubba hubba’ he said with a cheeky grin.



Ginny rolled her eyes.



‘Very nice’ Harry said placing his hands on her hips and kissing hrt on the lips ‘You look beautiful’



Ginny grinned

‘How about we head downstairs before Ted drives Ron and Hermione totally nuts?’ She suggested.



Harry laughed.

‘Let’s’ He said.



Harry and Ginny made their way downstairs where Hermione was checking on the cooking meal and Ron was retrieving bottles of wine from an elegant wine rack in the corner. Teddy was in the loungeroom and watching television.



‘Great you’re here’ Hermione exclaimed ‘Five to six Draco should be here soon’



‘You know `Mione the ‘Cooks Do It With Spice’ apron isn’t a good look over the fancy dress’ Harry said with a grin



Hermione blew him a loud raspberry.

‘Bite me’ She said taking off the apron.



Under the apron Hermione wore a knee length white babydoll halterneck dress with little red roses sewn into the skirt. She wore elegant neutral sheen pantyhose with a seam and on her feet she wore white point toed stilettos. She’d left her hair down but one side was swept up behind her left ear and held in place by a white hibiscus flower clip. Ron wore his deep moroon dress robes and an ivory cravat and waistcoat.



‘I haven’t dressed up this much since Angelina and George’s wedding’ Ron said pulling the cork from one bottle of red wine.



Suddenly the form of a great big brown bear (Mrs Weasley’s Patronus) seemingly as solid as the real thing dropped through the ceiling of the kitchen and landed on the dining table as lightly and gracefully as an Ice Dancer. Hermione and Ginny squealed, startled by it’s sudden appearance. The Patronus stood on it’s hind legs and opened it’s mouth.



‘’Charlotte had the baby’ said Mrs Weasley’s voice ‘Welcome into the world Sebastian Flynn Weasley, he weighed in at nine pounds nine ounces and measured twenty five and a half inches long. Mum and baby are doing well and Dad has totally lost his head. You can all visit from ten tomorrow morning’



Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry all burst into cheers as Mrs Weasleys Patronus dissolved into a formless mist. Ginny took Harry on an impromptu waltz around the dining table and Harry barely noticed the fireplace burst into green flame indicating Draco’s arrival.



‘No really all this sheering just for me really isn’t necessary’ He joked stepping out of the grate and running his blackthorn wand over his cloak to banish the magical ash ‘I’m not the saviour of the wizarding world you are Harry’



Harry shook his hand.

‘Good to ave you here’ He said with a laugh ‘We’re not chering for you we’re cheering for Gin’s second oldest brother his wife had a baby this sfternoon’



‘There’s another Weasley in the world? Draco exclaimed ‘How many is that now? Half a million?’



‘Ha ha’ Ron and Ginny chorused.



‘Congratulations anyway’ Draco said to Ron and Ginny ‘We can have a toast to the new arrival, is it a boy or a girl?’



‘Boy’ Ron said ‘Sebastian Flynn’



‘So is my date here yet?’ Draco asked removing his forest green traveling cloak and hanging it on a nearby hat stand.



‘No I told her to get here at quarter past’ Harry said reaching for the opened bottle of red wine ‘Care for a wine?’



‘Thanks I’d like to get rancid so I won’t care if this girl you want to set me up ends up looking like a horses arse’



‘Trust me she’s not a horse’s arse’ Harry said pouring the wine into Draco’s goblet.



‘Yeah she’s a babe’ Ron said with a laugh ‘But not as much as ‘`Mione’



‘Or Gin’ Harry added.



‘Saved yourself there’ Draco said with a grin accepting the goblet of wine ‘Thanks, how’d your first week go?’



‘Great no shitty students and my Gryffindor and Slytherin third years banished a boggart so violently it got Flitwick to come running the bang was so loud’



‘Great to hear Slytherin students featuring’ Draco said with a grin.



‘Ah but I should add it was a Gryffindor student that performed the final banishing charm’ Harry said ‘All the windows and all the torches in their brackets rattled so hard making such a noise I thought Flitwick was going to hex a hole in the wall’



Right on quarter past six while Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry were rushing about putting the final touches on dinner the fireplace burst into flame and Katie arrived.



Draco’s mouth fell open as he recognized his date for the night. He still stared incredulously as Ron, Ginny, Hermione and finally Harry greeted her.



‘Katie of course you know Draco Malfoy, Draco I’m guessing by the way you’re gawping like a goldfish you know this is Katie Bell’



Draco took Katie’s hand and with the grace and elegance of a nineteenth century squire he kissed the bac of her hand.



‘Echantee madamoiselle’ He said



‘Merci monsieur’ Katie said with a girly giggle.



‘Shall we get dinner started? Harry suggested gesturing toward the elegantly set table



‘Yes let’s’ Draco who was totally mesmerized by Katie said in a faraway voice.



Harry thought Katie was finally ready to give her heart to someone else going by the way she had dressed. Under her sky blue cloak she wore a black knee length cotton stretch dress with floaty chiffon shoulder sleeves with a plunge neckline that clung to her muscular but feminine frame. Around her neck she wore a thin gold chain from which dangled a horse head charm with a garnet eye. The shine of the jewellery contrasted perfectly with her pale skin and on her feet Katie wore matching black high hells with metallic silver heels. Her hair was pulled back into a tight plaited bun ad several gold chiffon ribbons trailed down her back. Her face was framed by a large sausage curl and she had applied a faint touch of makeup to accent her features. Katie looked beautiful and Draco judging by the dreamy expression on his face realized it too.



‘Did you see Draco’s face? Ginny hissed as she joined the others in the kitchen to serve dinner.



‘Yeah he likes her doesn’t he?’ Harry said with a grin



‘I never pegged you as a matchmaker Harry’ Hermione said scraping honeyed sesame carrots into a serving bowl ‘But they certainly seem to be hitting it off’



Across the room Katie laughed shrilly at something Draco had said.



‘Ten galleons they’re shagging by the end of the month’ Ron joked picking up the serving dish with the sliced meat in it



‘It’s official’ Ginny said.



‘What is?’



‘You are the definition of crassness’



‘Ha ha’



After a leasuirely but formal meal Harry took Draco and Katie on a tour of the Manor while Ginny. Ron and Hermione prepared dessert (Fresh fruit and melted Honeydukes chocolate in a fondue dip)



‘This is the library’ Harry said opening the double oak doors ‘Ron, `Mione, Gin and I all have our own section in here. Hermione’s section is the biggest of course it’s a combination of Defence Against the Dark Arts, Magical Creatures and Potions. Gin’s is all potions and Ron and I have defence books. All of mine are at Hogwarts at the moment and I have another half a dozen on order from Flourish and Blotts’



‘It’s beautifully decorated’ Katie said wandering thoroughout the room and running a hand along the huge butter cloured leather lounge.



‘That’s all Hermione’s work’ Harry said ‘She’s on an interior decorating thing going on. You know the table setting we ate off of tonight? She got that out of ‘Interior Today’ a muggle interior decorating magazine. She added her own touch with the wine goblets nd the floating everlasting candles’



‘Do you spend much time in here?’ Draco asked going over to the huge arched stained glass window that looked onto the grounds that was now cloaked in darkness.



‘Nah not really my study is closer to my and Gin’s room and where I keep the bulk of my gear. Hermione spends the most time in here of the five of us.



‘No surprises there’ Katie said with a grin ‘I don’t have a library, every book I own is in miscellaneous piles around my house. I used all of Lockharts books from my school years as a footrest.



Draco laughed

‘Bookcases are a great invention’ He joked ‘Let me go about finding you one’



‘Thanks’



Harry took Draco and Katie on a tour of the second floor then downstairs to the back porch.



Katie lit up when she saw the spa.

‘Oh you have a SPA?’ She exclaimed ‘Oh wow can we all have a dip in it?’



‘Sure if you like’ Harry said amused at Katie’s enthusiasm ‘The spa is Hermione’s baby and she’s in it all the time’



‘I haven’t got any swimmers with me’ Draco said who was also amused at Katie’s enthusiasm.



‘Are you a wizard or not? Katie joked ‘Transfigure something into a pair of shorts or I’m sure Harry or Ron could lend you something’



‘Yeah go on’ Harry said cathing Katie’s mood.



Draco grinned

‘Oh I suppose I can dangle my feet’ He said ‘But only if the others agree to join us’



‘Don’t worry they will’



Harry led Draco and Katie back into the house a few minutes later to find that dessert was ready.



‘Katie saw the spa and suggested we all go for a dip after dessert’ Harry said to Ron, Hermione and Ginny as he speared a piece of banana with a ondue fork ‘How about it are you three up for getting your toes wet?’



Hermione agreed enthusiastically

‘I am’ She said ‘But what about swimming costumes?’



Katie pointed her wand at her linen napkin and with a silent spell transfigured it into what appeared to be a pile of formless material resembling a bathing suit. She picked it up between thumb and forefinger to reveal a very brief string bikini top.



Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione fell about laughing while Draco just blushed and occupied himself by spearing a piece of orange and dipping it into the fondue pot.



Katie shrieked totlly mortified by her actions and dropped the bikini top as if it were a hot coal.



‘A little distracted are we Katie?’ Harry teased.



Katie quickly turned he bikini back into a napkin.

’Ohmigod!’ She hissed her blush resembling the setting sun ‘Of all the bathing suit designs in the world my magic would have to pick that one! My hanky has more material!’



‘Katie you’re a skilled witch you should know by now one needs to concentrate on a spell for it to be truly sucessful’ Harry said in his best ‘Professor’ voice.



‘Fuck off Harry’ Katie shot back now blushing harder than ever ‘You’re embarrassing me’



‘Mwah’



‘Oh eat your dessert’



Sweets lasted for a good forty five minutes then Hermione and Ginny ushered Katie upstairs to find an appropriate bathing suit.



Harry and Ron pounced on Draco who had collapsed back in his seet a goofy expression upon his pale features.



‘Well?’ Harry said



‘ Katie Bell?’ Draco exclaimed running his hair through his white blond locks ‘Katie Bell??’ Not that I paid much attention to her at school, we moved in different circles but hell I don’t remember her looking like that’



Ron laughed

‘So she’s not a horses arse then’ He said.



‘No Weasley she definitely isn’t a horses arse’ Draco relied ‘She’s the complete opposite’



So is she someone you’d like to get to know better?’ Harry asked.



Draco paused looking thoughtful.

‘Yeah’ He said ‘Yeah she is. It’s weird but all throughout tonight I’ve felt this connection with her that I’ve never felt in any of my previous relationships. She’s laughed at my jokes and appears to be listening to what I say. I can’t remember the last time a girl did that’



‘When was the last time you were…you know with a girl?’ Harry asked



‘Two years’



‘You haven’t had a shag in two years?’ Ron exclaimed loudly ‘Bloody hell I’d die after going without one for two days!’



‘Ron shut up!’ Harry hissed ‘I was trying to be discreet’



‘No I’ve shagged in that time but I haven’t been in a serious relationship for two years’ Draco said ‘Since Astoria Greengrass and I split. It’s probably been six months since I’ve done it. But sex isn’t the be all and end all you know Weasley’



‘I know that but hell even six months is a while’



‘Well maybe Katie is the girl for you’ Harry said ‘She’s told me she’s not a fuck on the first date type so you’ll be able to develop a relationship based on friendship first’



‘I’m not the fuck on the first date type either’ Draco said ‘I like the way she looks I mean look at her tonight she’s beautiful and now four years after the war I’ve realized I want to be with someone who wants to be with me and not my money’



‘So Greengrass was after your money?’ Ron asked.



‘Well she never came out and said it but I guessed she was more interested in my vault than me as a person. If I wanted to be with someone like that I would’ve stayed with Pansy. She didn’t give a shit about me as a person either she was all into social status and Galleons’



‘What ever happened to Parkinson?’ Ron asked in interest.



‘Last I heard she’s working int the Improper Use of Magic Office in the American Ministry and was dating some American wizard. But that was well over a year and a half ago’



‘And Greengrass?’



‘She’s in France with the asshole I caught her in bed with’ Draco said with a scowl.



‘So that’s why you broke up?’ Harry asked.



‘Yeah I came home to the Manor to find this frog bending her over the foyer stairs banister fucking the shit our of her. A banshee doesn’t cream as loud as she did’



‘Well Katie wouldn’t do that to you’ Harry said ‘She’s faithful and loyal to all her family and friends. She hasn’t been in a relationship since Fred died during the final battle and she told me during training before the pre season Cup semi final against the Kestrels game a few weeks ago she’s only been on a few dates. I think you two could make a really cute couple’



‘Well I’m willing to give it a go’ Draco said ‘We’re getting along like a house on fire tonight; I’d like to see if it can go any further after tonight’



‘Well just tell her that and wait and see what happens’ Ron said getting up ‘C’mon transfigure something into a pair of shorts and come test out the spa. You can see if Katie wears that skimpy bikini she transfigured earlier’



Harry groaned and Draco blushed furiously.



*******************************************************************

Three hours later Draco and Katie left the manner thus ending a successful evening.



‘Well Harry I think that was quite a successful evening’ Hermione said as they gathered in the kitchen each with a hot cup of tea ‘I quite enjoyed myself’



‘I think Draco and Katie did too’ Harry said leaning on Ginny and resting his head on her shoulder ‘Pity I don’t know any other single people I quite fancy tring that matchmaker thing again’



‘What about Dudley?’ Ginny asked ‘Is he single? You could fix him up with one of the girls in the Auror office, they’re all single apart from Frankie’



‘Gin I want to repair my relationship with Dud before I attempt setting him up with anyone’ Harry said ‘I think I need to concentrate on that first’



‘Yeah true probably’



‘Give it a few weeks then see if he’s open to the idea of a blind date’ Hermone suggested puttng her feet in Ron’s lap ‘I agree with Ginny I think it would be better to concentrate on your relationship with him first before you worry about his relationship with anyone else. Plus there’s only so much you can do at the same time’



'Yeah true' Harry said draining the last of his tea and levitating the mug over to the sink 'Well I'm going to hit the hay see you all in the morning'



'Night Harry'

*******************************************************************

A/N: Review review review!