Be careful what you wish for

 

Title: Be careful what you wish for

Pairing: HarryxDraco; mentions of past HarryxGinny and past DracoxBlaise, RonxHermione

Fandom: Harry Potter

Notes: Non-Epilogue compliant post-Battle of Hogwarts fic. What sort of Future does Harry create by fighting for justice for Slytherins after he survives defeating Voldy?

---

Chapter 27

 

Draco had only agreed to share a shower so they could hurry so there was no time for pleasure since they took far more time in that interview then he had expected.

Thankfully, Harry had learned how to dress before he’d become Harry’s legal ward and their elves were rather fashion conscious so Draco didn’t have to worry about Harry or Blaise dressing in an embarrassing fashion.

They made it downstairs with twenty minutes before the guests arrived.

Then again it was a surprise when Fred and Hermione arrived early.

Hermione immediately was helped to a chair and Fred fussed.

Hermione offered him a wane smile, “I’m fine Fred. I’m just a tad dizzy but I’m not nauseous.”

Fred relaxed, “Promise me you’ll let me know if you are? I brought plenty of potions.”

Hermione blushed, “You don’t have to fuss so much.”

Fred coughed, “You’re my Rosie’s mum and I’ve got to take care of both of my best girls.”

Harry watched as Hermione’s blush deepened, he was pleased to see her so happy.

Draco proceeded to give them both directions to the nearest bathroom just in case.

Then Blaise commandeered Fred to discuss the transfiguration formula for a product he was having trouble with.

Draco went to check in with Harry’s head elf about dinner so Harry joined Hermione on the settee.

“So how are you really?”

Hermione beamed, “Fred and I put together the nursery. He was so patient with me, I wanted it to be perfect but he wouldn’t let me lift anything even with magic so he had to rearrange it five times but he didn’t complain once. I think I’m satisfied now. I was sleeping in George’s old room since he’s at Marcheness with Seamus so we turned it into the nursery.”

Harry giggled, “So you’re bunking with Fred…”

Hermione was now very pink, as she poked him. “I’m not a moron Harry James Potter, I know darn well that you’re doing the same with your Slytherins.”

It was Harry’s turn to blush, “They are sexy Slytherins aren’t they?”

Hermione coughed, “Perhaps, but I happen to think that my Beater trumps your Seeker and Chaser.”

Perhaps it was a bit odd to tease one another like this but they were close and Hermione seemed happier and less straight-laced away from Ron.

Before either could make another indelicate comment about the other’s sleeping arrangements, a wiry white haired wizard stepped out of the floo. He bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Weasley so Harry presumed this must be his father.

Harry rose to greet him but before he could, an imperious silver-haired woman appeared in the floo and the elder Weasley took her hand to help her out of the floo.

Fred excused himself from his conversation with Blaise and approached, “Harry, I would like to introduce my grandparents: Lord Septimus Remus Weasley and Lady Cedrella Azaleh formerly of the House of Black. Grandfather, grandmother this is my good friend Harry Potter who invested in our shop.”

Harry bowed awkwardly, “Lord and Lady Weasley welcome to Baskerville Hall. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Lady Cedrella nodded curtly but greeted him with a curtsey.

“So you’re Uncle George’s great-grandson. My Uncle Lyall joined the House of Potter just as my bearer joined the House of Weasley…” Lord Septimus mused.

Blaise moved to stand at Harry’s right just as Draco breezed in to take his place on Harry’s left.

Harry blushed, “My suitors Draco Lucius, the Malfoy heir and Blaise Gabriel Zabini, a wealthy pureblood heir.”

Draco and Blaise both accepted Lady Cedrella’s proffered hand and bowed low over it murmuring polite greetings.

While they greeted his grandparents Fred bowed to Hermione before holding out his hand and helping her up. Then he led her over to his grandparents, “Grandfather, grandmother this is Hermione Fern Granger.”

Hermione had worn a peacock blue dress with a flowing skirt to hid her pregnancy, she let go of his hand to take up her skirt to demonstrate a low sweeping curtsey worthy of meeting a queen as she murmured a greeting as well as her pleasure in meeting them.

Harry had never seen her quite so nervous and demure…

Demure…that was the right word, wasn’t it?

Draco and Blaise had taken stances beside him, both laying a hand on the small of his back. Rather then feeling suffocated, Harry felt supported…

Lady Cedrella sniffed, “At least she has better manners then Mary.”

Fred frowned, “Where is dad?”

Lady Cedrella scowled, “Septimus you should have come last to ensure that he came with us.”

Fred’s grandfather sighed, “It would be impolite to allow you to floo first ‘rella.”

Lady Cedrella tapped her foot impatiently; “You will go drag Arcturus here. If you both are not here in ten minutes, I will order his delivery by elf. I have had it with his sullen behaviour. He is nearly forty-five not fifteen!”

Septimus sighed, “You’re right of course.”

Then the elder Weasley stepped back into the floo.

No sooner had he left the floo spat out Dennis, Seamus who was holding Colm and George.

It must have been a Muggle-raised deficiency because Dennis sprawled and rolled nearly clipping Hermione.

Fred caught him with surprising reflexes for a Beater, “Careful there little cousin.”

Lady Cedrella frowned at the boy, “So you’re Dennis…a rather odd name. Then again your father’s nickname was Deon and Dennis is a form of Dionysus. Hardly the sort of name that would be chosen by a,”

Fred coughed, “Grandmother now is not the time…”

Lady Cedrella sniffed and held her arm out to Draco, “This room is getting too crowded.”

Draco bowed before taking her arm, “Yes of course if you will follow me. Oh Seamus, I have a play area set up and Andromeda is watching Teddy. You are welcome to place Colm there. Has he eaten?”

Seamus grinned at him, “Fed ‘em before we came, he inna sleepy yet but a bit of play never hurt a bairn.”

Draco nodded, “I think the drawing room is appropriate to wait in after all, it is still some time before supper.”

Out of the floo popped Bill and Fleur followed by a smug Viktor Krum and Charlie.

Harry blinked, “Viktor! You came!”

Viktor smirked, “Vell Charlie vas invited and vere ‘e goes I go.”

Harry giggled, “Maybe you need that charm again…”

Fleur greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks as well as a gentle embrace that had Harry blushing, he wasn’t used to females other then Mrs. Weasley in the past and Hermione really hugging him. There had been a few from Ginny but he didn’t wish to remember them…

Viktor kissed Harry’s cheeks and pumped first his hand and then he hugged Blaise giving him a manly thump on the back.

Harry awkwardly cast a tempus charm; Fred’s grandfather had two minutes…

No sooner had he cast the charm then Arthur Weasley tumbled through the floo and was grabbed by Bill before he crashed into Fleur.

The expression on the elder Weasley’s face was irritated, “Arcturus Colan Weasley don’t think because you are nearly forty-five that you are too old to turn over my knee. I AM the Head of this Family and you were never legally disowned, therefore you are still under my Authority. This depression of yours is unwarranted, unseemly and both I and ‘rella are sick of it. Three sons, three! One weak-willed, the other weak-minded but thank MERLIN that your brother Cador did not suffer from either deficiency.”

Arthur flinched.

“This vacation of Shacklebolt’s is folly, you threw yourself into work to avoid dealing with the apparent death of Fred and now that you actually have to death with a real death you can’t handle it. You’re to make an appointment with a Ministry Mind Healer tomorrow, if you don’t you shall not like how I shall deal with you. Your mother is right I have been far too lenient with you and that perhaps is where you began to go wrong.” Septimus sniffed before pushing Arthur out of the room leaving them rather shell-shocked.

Harry remembered the comment that Fred’s grandmother made about him not being fifteen. Harry didn’t have much experience in relationships but the visible depression did look more like hat he’d seen in girls who were dumped rather then those who did the dumpling. Or would it be more prudent to say that Mr. Weasley’s behaviour was more like Cho Chang’s after Cedric’s murder?

Even when Dean was dumped by Ginny or broke up with her, whatever it was, he hadn’t brooded this much.

Out of the Weasleys and their partners invited; Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Viktor, Fred, Hermione, George, Seamus, Mr. Weasley, Lord and Lady Weasley, only Percy and Oliver were missing it seemed.

To their surprise, Luna popped out of the floo tugging on Asteria Greengrass’ hand.

“You were told to socialise more Aria, you just have to come. You don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t know well but you have to talk sometimes.” Luna chided.

Her more grounded nature was rather unnerving after one got used to her talking in riddles all the time.

Before Harry could approach Asteria, Blaise did.

“Hello Aria.” The half-Italian Wizard said gently.

The girl blushed, “Blaise…”

Blaise winked at Harry, “Why don’t we leave this stuffy room and go where there is more space. Would you like that?”

Asteria’s trembling lessened and she whispered, “Oh please can we?”

Blaise offered his arm to each witch, “Come along to the drawing room we shall go.”

Two elves appeared to open the double doors to the corridor, which Harry knew was more then wide enough for three wizards to walk arm in arm...

No sooner had they left then the floo flashed again and Oliver caught Percy who somehow managed to trip.

Oliver chuckled, “You still haven’t lost your clumsiness when it comes to all manner of magical transportation…”

Percy glared, “It’s not my fault!”

“You should be nicer to the person who made sure you passed your Apparition test. I did keep you from falling after all. Wouldn’t want you to fail a test and mess up your perfect record.” Oliver teased.

Percy turned red, “You shouldn’t have distracted me! I was going to cast a delayed sticking charm like I always do! But no you just had to snog me and join me in the floo!  Meddlesome prat!”

“Your Quidditch-obsessed, reckless, academically unmotivated, meddlesome prat.” Oliver snickered.

“I shouldn’t have had to bribe you to do your homework!” Percy said exasperated.

Bill threw an arm around Oliver, “So Oliver just how did Perfect Percy bribe you to do your homework, don’t tell me he resorted to using his body…”

Percy sputtered, “BILL! Don’t call me Perfect! And who told you to eavesdrop anyway…”

Bill coughed, “You always strive to be that, it is curious that you would stoop to bribery…”

Harry giggled, “You shouldn’t have announced it so loud.”

Percy groaned as he realised who all was in the room, “Merlin,” then he punched Oliver in the shoulder, “sometime I really can’t stand you…”

Charlie too was rather red-faced as if embarrassed on Percy’s behalf just as Harry was…

Poor Neville had the misfortune to literally stumble into this embarrassing situation when he too seemed about to tumble out of the floo.

Harry vaguely remembered an instantaneous sticking charm that was more like a jinx because it magnetised one’s feet to the ground.

Neville’s feet were immediately glued as it were to the nearest horizontal surface, in this case: the Receiving Room’s wood floor.

Neville bashfully thanked Harry for helping him.

Harry coughed, “No trouble at all. Since I think we are all here,”

Then the most unexpected person appeared: Severus Snape holding an envelope.

“What the devil! What am I doing here?” Snape barked.

Harry nearly fell but Bill caught him.

Harry stammered, “Pp…ro…fes…sor…Sna…pe?”

Neville screamed.

Bill coughed, “That was unexpected.”

Snape scowled, “I should expected that Andromeda had exterior motives; a letter that late in the day delivered by house elf? She knew I wanted to remain in the shadows! She had no right to force me here…”

Harry recovered, “Well you’re here…so you might as well stay?”

“Why should I?” Snape snapped.

“Draco and Blaise are here? Then there is Asteria Greengrass…who was mistreated by Muggles in an orphanage due to her parents and much her family being killed.” Harry offered.

Snape snorted, “It seems I have very little choice in the matter. A grandmother and still marshalling us about as if she were still the Queen of Slytherin and a prefect…”

“Theo isn’t coming?” Luna sighed as she popped back inside the room.

Neville frowned, “I’m unsure, I did pass the invitation on to him since I knew that Draco and Blaise wanted to reconnect with him. I’m doing much of my Auror course work via pensive memories and other correspondence methods to keep up.”

 

Snape sneered, “You’re an Auror candidate? The world must be desperate.”

Neville flinched, “You may have a point? Kingsley offered it to those who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, even offered to waive having to have qualifying N.E.W.T. scores.”

Snape rolled his eyes, “Kingsley is Minister for Magic? Here and I thought that the world couldn’t get much worse.”

Harry frowned, “You didn’t know?”

Snape glared, “It’s not like I can openly purchase a Daily Prophet.”

Harry shrugged, “I’m sure that Draco will enjoy catching you up. Come on then professor.”

Harry did his best as a good host to usher his guests into the drawing room, which was far less stuffy then the receiving room.

It had a large flower arrangement; an open space in the centre of the room and the perimeter was lined with a variety of seating choices.

Cedrella was clearing vetting Hermione who was being backed up by Fleur…

Arthur Weasley was brooding in a corner while Septimus was inquiring after Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes with Fred, George and Seamus.

Colm was off with Teddy crawling in a warded area filled with a blanket and soft toys.

Andromeda looked up when they entered and smirked, “Draco someone to see you…”

Draco looked up from his conversation with Luna and whispered, “Uncle Sev…Uncle Sev!” the repeat was much louder.

Snape stiffened, “Draco cease this ridiculous, umph!”

Draco had torn across the room and hugged the former Head of Slytherin.

“You’re alive! I knew you were…I’m so glad…I was so afraid that I was just fooling myself. I lost mother…I lost father…thinking I might have lost you was too much to bear.”

“Draco just a display of emotion is unwise.” Snape grumbled.

Draco sniffed, hugging him tighter, “They are all family and they won’t say anything…most of them are Gryffindors anyway.”

“Excuse me young man I was a Slytherin.” Cedrella said curtly.

Draco then backed up and took a breath to recompose himself, “My apologies but since you have a Gryffindor for a spouse I’m sure that you have witnessed less restrained emotions.”

Cedrella glared at Arthur, “Unfortunately yes, I do.” Then she turned to Hermione again, “So you are planning on letting my grandson make an honest woman of you are not?”

Hermione swallowed inclining her head, “If you consent that is…”

Cedrella pursed her lips, “How do your parents feel about this match and the babe?”

Hermione flinched, “They don’t know? They are Muggles you see and I was afraid because of my relationship with Harry that they would be in danger. So I hid their memories of me, I removed myself from all of their photographs and I took everything that might remind them of me. All of my certificates, childhood drawings, report cards, nursery things and books. I stored it all in my trunk and took it with me to The Burrow. I never meant to hurt them and I hope they would forgive me…”

Cedrella huffed, “Given the current situation I’ll agree to the marriage and I’m sure that Septimus has no objection.”

Hermione whispered, “Really?”

Cedrella scoffed, “No Weasley has ever been born a bastard and I’m not about to let it happen now. I have little respect for Ronald and I think you were a fool to choose him over Fridricus even for a moment.”

Hermione flinched again and Fleur wrapped an arm around her.

Hermione swallowed, “I always had an attraction to Fred but he was so far above me that I thought he would never be interested. Besides, he had Angelina after him and I couldn’t hope to,”

“Miss Granger are you implying that Angelina Johnson was in anyway superiour to you? What happened to the arrogant brat who flouted me in lessons by whispering instructions to Longbottom to keep him from blowing up cauldrons? Or the bushy-haired know-it-all who insisted on volunteering herself to answer all questions even those unasked?”

Hermione recoiled, “Professor Snape…”

Fred snarled storming up to their former potions professor, “Snape I know that nice isn’t in your vocabulary but I’m sure that Lily would have words with you for talking like that to a pregnant woman.”

Snape stumbled back as if struck, “What did you say? How dare you,”

Then Andromeda appeared out of nowhere grabbing him by the front of his robes, “No how dare you Severus Snape! Fred’s right you’ve got no right to talk to Hermione like that! A woman’s not herself when she’s pregnant, Hermione will prove herself just fine after she gives birth and her hormones settle. I’m a Birth Healer I know what I’m talking about so you just go sit over there and talk to your godson. Move!”

Snape stormed off to pout in an armchair.

“I thought this was supposed to be a celebration or did I misunderstand?” Andromeda said sharply.

Then the strangest thing happened, Cedrella chortled with laughter startling them all.

“Oh I like you Andromeda Tonks, I knew there had to be something interesting about you when Walpurga blasted you out of the family. My blasting was due to Arcturus over there and maybe I deserved it for not raising him right. I’m sure that you raised your Nymphadora up right and you’ll be sure that your nephew and his betrotheds do the same by your grandson.”

Andromeda smirked, “Oh I plan to, Harry’s a fine young man and both his suitors have proven they’ll do right by him and by my Teddy. Remus and Nymphadora were right to chose him even if he were young for it. I’ve grown quite fond of those three and I plan on being Nana to all of their children since it seems like they haven’t anyone else. Not that I mind,”

Before the two former Slytherins could continue, two house elves appeared.

One announced that dinner was served and the other Theo Nott.

Harry was observant enough to notice that Luna turned pink at the name.

They headed into the dining room where Draco had little cards with their names on them.

Andromeda at one end of the table and Draco on the other with Harry and Blaise on either side of him while Severus and Cedrella sat on either side of Andromeda…

Luna sat between Neville and Theo but across from George and Seamus.

Dinner had less distressing topics and it seemed that the Weasleys present were enjoying reconnecting with current family members as well as the prospective ones like Oliver, Seamus, Viktor and Hermione.

Draco was smug, with the noted exceptions of Arthur Weasley’s depression and Uncle Sev’s abrasiveness everything seemed to be fine.

Draco hoped that his godfather would agree to pick up his potions studies.

Draco and Harry were coming along on their NEWT studies thanks to Andromeda and Blaise.

As for the shop between Draco, George, Fred, Harry, Blaise and Seamus the products were coming along quite well…

It should be ready to reopen around the end of the school year which would have them open for last minute solstice shoppers.

After the Diagon Alley store was reopened and they’d purchased Zonkos, they could use the two-point spell until they were ready to use the Zonkos  proper in Hogsmeade as an independent store.

It shouldn’t be long before the Remus Lupin school was ready for students like the nursery and eventually the pre-Hogwarts primary school that was planned.

With everyone here involved it wouldn’t be hard…

 

---

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?

Anon - Thank you!

starr - I didn't forget. I just got a little lost after Sev stumbled into the chapter but here it is!

SlythindorMalfoy - Italy? I never sent anyone to Italy. Blaise was staying with his maternal relations in Turino after leaving Britain when he first wrote Harry to ask permission to court him but he invited Harry and Harry's choice of guests to Santorini which is in Greece. Angelina's baby was never Fred's, she just thought it was. Fred was too much of a gentleman to break up with her when she told him she was pregnant even when he was sure it was Lee's rather then his. It would be cruel to tell her she slept with Lee and that it wasn't Fred's so he didn't have to care. They were friends first and Fred knew that Angelina had feelings for him. Fred was never in love with Angelina; though he did think she was sexy, funny, talented and smart. He was planning on breaking up with her when she told him she was pregnant and he felt trapped. He knew that if he was thought dead that Lee who was most probably the baby's sire and who was in love with Angelina would step in to marry her. Leaving Fred free to bond to Hermione, eventually when Fred is sure that telling Angelina wouldn't be hazardous to her health he'll contact Angelina, Alicia and Lee. They've been friends since their First Year, I can't se Fred turning his back on that friendship anymore then Harry would want to abandon Hermione.