FicWad

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Chapter 69: Auld Lang Syne

"I think you will not need me anymore soon." The girl in his arms pouted, however he could feel that she was not being playful and it scared him to his core.

"Don't say that Pet! I don't want you to leave me, ever. I know it isn't fair to you..."

She leaned up and kissed him as she fought her smile but the smile won out as she pulled away. "You mean it Master? I thought I would only get to stay until you had an epiphany and were able to accept that you had plenty of love in your life without me."

He shook his head, "Never Pet, I won't keep you here if you're ready to move on though." His eyes went just a bit dark but he smiled at her. "If it was your time to go then you can go. If that is the case then I've had more time with you than I was supposed to and I will be forever grateful."

"Non my Master, what good would it be to go to this paradise place without you? I will wait, and I had better wait a long time!"

He held up his hands to fend off attack. "Alright, you win. I promise to try not to die any time soon as long as you stay with me."

She climbed into his lap and kissed him deeply, for a few more minutes all was perfect in Harry's world but the darkness began to crawl toward them and he knew it was time to wake up. "I'll see you again tonight?"

She nodded, "Don't come early though, you have some sexy twins to play with first."

He shrugged, "We'll see. For now it's mostly just cuddling, but we'll see."

She smiled and winked at him as his vision finally blacked out. He blinked and looked at the clock on the bedside table, it was still before breakfast and he sighed at being wide awake. Some habits were hard to break; however as with Gin and Mione he was happy to be awake to enjoy the site of twin beauties lying on his shoulders. He tried to relax and go back to sleep but he could feel the muscles in his back urging him to move. He really shouldn't sleep on his back no matter how comfortable having a witch on each shoulder is.

He groaned a bit as he tried to only roll his hips to the side and got a bit of relief but at the cost of waking the girl on his left arm. She looked slightly confused for a second before smiling up at him. "Morning husband."

He looked confused for a moment before remembering that according to the betrothal this was a trial marriage. He sighed, "Good Morning wife, so from your confusion I assume your Parvati this morning?"

She nodded and smiled at him for catching on so quickly, "I fell asleep on that shoulder and I woke up on this one, we could switch if it's confusing you."

He shook his head, "No that's alright, I'll just have to get used to it won't I? Besides there is no need to wake her up."

"I'm already awake Harry, not much use trying to get back to sleep when your mind is wide awake a few feet away." He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of that statement. Though he couldn't fault the logic considering some of the loopy things he had done inside his own head.

"True, so...how do we handle this? You know I have Gin, Mione and Susie in my life as well..."

Parvati nodded, "We know Harry, having multiple wives is not common any longer in our culture but by no means is it outdated. We don't think we could have done any better picking a husband and honestly it is almost a relief to share the burden of loving you with so many."

Padma picked up at his confused look, "You deserve as much love as you can stand Harry, more than one woman would be able to provide. Though I suspect that two might have handled it." He nodded as Gin and Mione swam into his mind and a smile formed.

"But this way we aren't tied down to you, if Hermione wants to go off to Muggle University, if Ginny wants to play professional Quidditch, if Susan becomes the next Minister for Magic after her Aunt; there would still be one of us around to keep you from getting all sulky like usual."

"Hey!" He complained before catching them grinning at him. "I do not get sulky." He sulked.

They continued to smile at him until he couldn't help but smile back, "What about uh...you know, I don't plan to rush into an intimate relationship with you...either of you...both of you...well you know what I mean. No matter what the contract says I plan on making love to you our first time and I'm not quite there yet."

They both smiled at him again, "That sounds perfect Harry, we already tried a quick shag and it was alright but I hear making love is so much better."

He nodded, "It is."

They got out of bed and shared a look before holding their hands out to him. Despite the massage, which he had figured out the secret of, and the fact that they had seen him nude and had brought him off beneath the sheets the night before; he still blushed before climbing out of bed. The girls turned as one and slowly slid their knickers down their legs making his eyes go wide and his breathing shorten before heading into the bathroom. He heard the water running in the shower and smiled, yes this betrothal thing could be worse.

$$$$

It was a Sunday morning so they headed downstairs for brunch; they were soon joined by the Slytherins. Blaise, Daphne and Astoria congratulated them on their betrothal but Pansy completely ignored them. She went so far as to take a plate with her and return upstairs to her room. Daphne kept looking longingly at the seat to either side of him where sat a Patil twin and kept sighing out loud as if she wanted someone to ask her what the problem was. She was mostly ignored by everyone but Astoria who gave her the evil eye.

After their repast they headed back upstairs and Harry led them through some Occlumency exercises, happy to note that Padma had been studying on her own and the sisters had basic shields already in place. Afterward they did some very light magical training, again by happy accident Padma and Parvati had already been granted provisional licenses at the beginning of the summer.

As they settled onto the couch Parvati sat on his left side and nudged him until he put his arm around her shoulders with a smile. He was surprised when Padma gave him a quick kiss and retired to the ladies suite leaving the couch open on his other side.

"What was that about?" He asked her sister quietly.

"Only one of us needs to relax at a time; not that it wouldn't be nice for both of us to cuddle with you but that would leave someone out."

"Huh?" His question was answered as Daphne happily sat down on the couch beside him as the lights dimmed and unabashedly snuggled into his side. He tried not to let his confusion show but turned his head to whisper in his betrothed's ear. "Not you two!"

Parvati giggled lightly before nodding, "We know the rules Harry, and since she is so obviously interested..." She trailed off and tried not to laugh as he shivered from her whisper of breath across his ear.

"You are all trying to kill me." He whispered back. She just shrugged and shushed him in response as the movie started.

It didn't take long into the movie for Daphne to make a move on him; unlike Pansy who pretended for a week that there was nothing going on, this snake had no compunction about letting her thoughts be known. It didn't take long for him to get painfully aroused once more as she ran her nails along his thigh or tossed her head just enough to tickle his cheek or nose with her hair. He was making a conscious effort to keep his hand to himself but when he would drift off into the movie he would find his hand working into her hair or trailing a finger along the girl's neck, seemingly of its own accord.

He wondered idly if it was his subconscious mind responding to the sexy witch, if it was his hormones forcing his hand...literally, or if it might just be Gabrielle trying to nudge him in a certain direction. He could swear he heard a giggle at that thought that did not come from the other girls in the room. He really needed to think about this.

"That's it, I think I need to take a bath and clear my head. You guys have fun..." He said as he got up and quickly headed for his room leaving confused people in his wake.

He quickly entered his room and disrobed before heading into the bathroom and turning on the taps. He slid into the hot sudsy water closed his eyes and moaned as his muscles began to relax in the hot water. My relationship with Pansy might as well be non-existent at this point, I have barely acknowledged my relationship with Padvati... He chuckled at his internal joke. Then there is Luna... lovely, loopy, loony, Luna who I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about half the time but can't seem to get out of my head... Why the hell is Daphne coming on to me and why isn't Blaise trying to kill me?

His mind continued to drift between all of his girls and wondering how he could be so lucky and so confused at the same time. He felt himself becoming aroused as memories of his encounters flooded him and enjoyed the flood of hormones for what it was. His fingers and toes were tingling in anticipation and he felt like bucking his hips in response. He smiled as he swore he felt a weight settle onto his lap and slip him into her wet hole. He lost his smile almost instantly as a pair of lips met his and he kissed her greedily before opening his eyes and only the girl straddling his hips with his member inside her prevented him from screaming and jumping straight out of the tub.

"Daphne what the hell!" He exclaimed as he recognized the girl through the steam.

"Mmmmm." She moaned lightly as he moved his hips trying to disengage from her only to me met with equal pressure. Despite his objections his body was making itself perfectly clear on the issue. He soon gave in to her moaning and writhing and pulled her closer so he could kiss her as he set the pace for the age old dance. She screamed out his name before long and he let himself go, filling her with his seed and collapsing back against the side.

"I..." He took a breath and tried again, "I repeat...what the hell?"

She laid her head against his shoulder enjoying the full feeling of having his member and his seed inside her. "Mmmm, I thought your idea to take a bath was a subtle invitation."

He shook his head but wasn't willing to push her off his lap yet. "No, I just wanted to get away from everyone to figure out what was going on...especially with you! How can Blaise be okay with this?"

"Blaise is Gay Harry." She whispered into his ear.

"Oh..."

"I will give him an heir eventually but that is the only reason he would want to have sexual relations with me. Even that can be avoided if I were willing to visit a Muggle specialist. In the meantime he knows we like each other and wants me to be happy. Our families are very open about such things after all. I couldn't tell you before, not until I had his permission." She said breathily in his ear.

He slowly extracted himself from her embrace and slid her to a seat beside him. "That still doesn't make this okay! I didn't know it was you in the closet and you basically just raped me!"

She regained lucidity in an instant and looked at him, "You seemed to enjoy yourself well enough! I know I did, especially after you took over..."

"That’s beside the point!" He had to take a moment to gather his thoughts once more, as she actually did have a point.

"I have a right to choose what I do with my own body Daph!" She looked like she might cry if he left it at that and he growled as he rolled his eyes. "Look, I think you are sexy as hell, and I am not necessarily opposed to the occasional liaison like this with you. But you can't just have me whenever you want and you sure as hell don't just pow-wow with Pansy and decide how to divide my time between you! I am a human being!"

"You’re male! Any other boy at school would be happy to have the two of us fighting over him!" She complained.

"I'm not any other boy and you know it, I just got betrothed to a pair of magical twins, I am in love with three or four other women. My life is complicated Daph, you need to give me some space. I can't handle this!"

"What can't you handle?" She had lost her combative tone and seemed genuinely concerned.

He sighed. "I can't handle this many females wanting my attention. I love Hermione, I love Ginny, I love Susan, I am betrothed to both Parvati and Padma and plan to try to find love with them as well. I don't know what's going to happen with Pansy but most likely Malfoy is going to do something stupid and I am going to end up betrothed to her as well, Merlin help me.

"I have Luna who I definitely like, maybe even love, but she is a strange and wonderful person and she confuses the hell out of me most of the time. There is Tonks, who is now a teacher and is bloody scary when she gets inventive or vindictive during sex, and there is some other girl besides you and Gin who tried to molest me in the broom closet right after my Wife died on Halloween! I have too much going on in my life for you to just stroll in and think it would be alright to shag me when it's convenient just because I'm a teenage boy and any teenage boy should be happy to have all the sex he wants! I don't need or want any more, its bloody confusing and I can barely keep up as it is!"

She was taken aback at his little rant and didn't really know how to respond so chose to go with humor for the moment, "Professor Tonks? You're shagging a Metamorphmagus?"

He growled, "Stick to the point Daph."

"What is the point then Harry? You know you enjoyed yourself and I know you were bloody ready and willing when I came in here so what's the issue?"

He sighed, "Just go Daphne, if you don't understand then you aren't helping me with my problems at all. Like I said I'm not opposed to the occasional hookup but you can't just decide when you want it and expect me to put out."

She looked extremely hurt but nodded as she got out of the bathtub and dried off. Despite his misgivings he had to admit she was amazingly beautiful in the nude. "Your loss Harry." She said as she pulled on her Kimono and walked out of the bathroom.

The people in the surrounding rooms were disturbed by the light pulse of magic as Harry ducked his head under the water and screamed out his frustration.

$$$$

"Happy Birthday!"

"Merci Master! Though you know I do not get older now unless you want me to?"

"Doesn't matter Pet, this is a celebration of the day you came into the world which is directly responsible for you being in my life... Wait you mean you're going to stay fifteen years old for the rest of my life?"

"Oui, does this displease you? It is possible I can change my appearance ze same way I changed my accent before. Would you like me to look more like Maman and Fleur?"

He shook his head, "I just... so when I'm all old and wrinkly, you'll still look like an extremely attractive and mature fifteen year old girl? Won't that make me a pervert?"

She smiled at him, "What is wrong with being a pervert my Master? I rather enjoy our perversions." She purred at him as she walked on her knees up the bed to straddle him and leaned in for a kiss. "Besides, why would you let yourself be old in your mind? It does not matter to me what you look like or how old you are, you will always be my master. But things would be more fun if you stay zis way when you are with me, non?"

He could only agree as she slipped him inside her and they spent the next several hours making love. Alternating between slow and passionate, to quick and dirty...to extremely dirty. He was forever thankful that as a Veela she enjoyed anal sex, and that her nature kept her clean...of course it was his dream so he would not imagine any dirty little surprises once he was finished.

He made sure to respond to every one of Gabrielle's fantasy's and desires, most them proved to be his own which only made sense being that they were bonded and she was now a part of him in any case.

Finally the clock told him he would have to wake up soon and he frowned over at her. "What if I don't want to wake up?" He asked quietly.

"Master you have many witches who love you and need you in the waking world. I will still be here when you come back, but only if you are a good boy." She leaned in and kissed him softly as the world began to dissolve around him once more.

$$$$

The three days between Gabrielle's birthday and New Years Eve were a blur of fun with the Twins, brushing off advances from Daphne for the time being, and avoiding the cold looks from Pansy. Blaise and Astoria seemed immune to the strange post-Yule atmosphere but as the New Year approached everyone seemed to loosen up. Especially Harry who was anxiously anticipating having Gin and Mione back.

He had received a large package via Hedwig from Professor Slughorn and was ready to give his bonus gifts at the celebration where he would be exchanging gifts with the Weasley's in any case. Pansy's bitch façade was beginning to crumble slightly once more and Daphne had resumed indifference to him for the time being. Padma and Parvati were constantly laughing at the going's on of their betrothed's sex life, but thankful that he was not pressuring them in any way. Finally the day was here and Harry was nearly bouncing off the walls in anticipation as he waited in the kitchen for the floo to activate.

The flames turned green and he was thrown right off his barstool as first a redhead and then a brunette rocketed from the fireplace. They ended up on the floor in a tangle of limbs as both girls held him tightly and Ginny rained kisses all over his face.

"Oi! How is it I end up sprawled on the floor even when I'm not the one flooing?" He asked getting a chuckle from them as the fireplace flared once more and the rest of the Weasley's began arriving including Ron sans Lavender.

"Happy Christmas Mate..." Ron said shyly even as he attempted not to comment on his sister and his ex slowly pulling their boyfriend back up off the floor.

"Happy Christmas Ron, I would have thought you'd be with Lavender?" Harry asked.

"Oh I spent the last few days with her family but she doesn't know this place and I thought I would be a pretty crappy friend if I didn't show up for your shindig." He shrugged.

Harry disentangled himself from the girls and walked over to give Ron a quick manly hug. "That really does mean a lot Ron. Despite our differences I still consider you a brother and I'm very glad you could come for the celebration."

Molly was not looking all that great as she watched the proceedings from near the fireplace, when Harry caught sight of her she seemed to have dimmed from the bright soul he had met so many years ago to something less. He knew it had been bad when she realized she had an empty nest but was even more convinced now than ever that he had to do something about her situation. He released Ron's hand and walked over to engulf the woman in a hug.

"Happy Holidays Mum." He whispered and was rewarded by tears at the endearment, which she quickly wiped away and smiled awkwardly at the teenagers.

"Well then, off with you to get caught up, I'm just going to find Winky and see about tonight's dinner." At her name the elf popped in.

"You calls Winky Mrs. Weazey?"

Harry took that as their queue and pulled the others from the room and up the stairs to join the rest of his guests who were watching a television program already in progress. "So Harry, what have you been up to?" Ginny asked with a raised eyebrow at the presence of the Twins.

"Uh...well I told you it might be a possibility..."

"Your Betrothed?" Hermione asked in shock. "I thought you said you were going to take it slowly and see how it might work out!"

"I did!" He defended himself and noticed Ron's brain had engaged and he was currently looking anywhere but at the rest of the people in the room as he arranged his thoughts. At least he wasn't bursting out in indignation which was an improvement over old Ron. "I tried, but their brother visited on Boxing Day and it sort of fell into place... but the girls are Happy and things are going slow for now. It really was about keeping them from an arranged marriage they had no choice in, and there are other considerations we can discuss later."

"But Harry I thought Parvati hated you?" Ginny asked.

"Later." He said firmly, when his eyes flicked toward Ron, Ginny nodded in understanding.

"And what about your other projects?" Hermione asked looking at the rest of the female's in the room.

He shook his head as he felt a headache returning he had been fighting for a week. "Later... Though I did find out some things you will be very interested to hear... Uh, Ron?"

The redhead snapped his head up at being addressed directly. "Huh?"

"I hope you don't mind but Pansy is in the suite you were using before. She is rather fanatic about her showers..."

"Oh... no problem really, I'm only staying for gifts and then I need to get back to Lav's before midnight for my kiss."

Harry's eyes widened in comprehension as a thought hit him. "Bugger..."

"Language Harry!"

"Sorry..." He trailed off again as he tried to figure out the logistics of the problem. He had at least four girls to kiss at Midnight, but how was he supposed to do this..."

"Harry?" Ginny asked in concern.

He waved his hand in dismissal. "It's nothing important, just a stray thought. So why don't we go get comfortable on the couches while we wait for the rest of the Old Guard to get here?"

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that name Harry... it makes us sound a bit dated yeah?" Ron spoke up as they headed for the TV area.

"What do you suggest then?" Harry asked truly interested, he had only chosen the name to distinguish between the DA and those from last year.

"Well we were Dumbledore's Army last year, and that won't work since Defense Association would be the same abbreviation. But we really are a fighting force, not a school club and I doubt you would want it to be Potter's Army..."

Harry made a disgusted face at the audacity of that name, "So I was thinking, why not the Black Guard?"

Harry was speechless; the name paid homage to Sirius and struck a chord within him he couldn't identify. "Ron that’s...I don't know what to say really. It's..."

"Perfect..." Ginny said and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Well I don't know about perfect..." Ron said now blushing slightly. Ginny moved to hug her brother and surprisingly Hermione did the same before kissing him on the cheek. Harry knew better than to be jealous and just smiled at his circle of friends coming just a bit closer to being whole again.

"Really Ron, that is perfect. You know how much Sirius meant to me, and he and Ginny got to be really close last year as well. I just... thank you." Harry ran out of words and simply nodded. Ron understood, a hug in greeting downstairs was fine. But a hug of feeling at the moment, no matter how manly, was just too much for either of them to handle.

"The Black Guard it is then..."

Pansy perked up as they sat down at an angle to the television. "That sounds rather regal and fitting for a Lord of your station."

"It was Ron's suggestion." Harry said to deflect the Witches attention.

She turned her attention to the uncomfortable redhead and raised an eyebrow to appraise him. "Indeed..."

"Uh yeah..." If Ron had been standing Harry would have half expected him to be toeing the ground and saying 'Aw Shucks'. He smiled at the strange intimacy of the moment, as if these two might have finally found some common ground. It really raised his respect for both of them.

Pansy turned her attention to Harry for only a moment before turning back to the television. Padma and Parvati got up and crossed the room heading for their couch and Ginny and Hermione made as if to get up but Padma held out a hand to stay them before both girls sat on the floor at Harry's feet. "Don't move on our account ladies, we know where we stand in the hierarchy." Padma began.

"It has been discussed at length between us and we have no problem with either of you taking the position of First Wife, we want to fall in love with our Betrothed but for the time being he is simply protecting us from our former fate." Parvati continued.

"In the mean time you two are his primary consorts and as such you take precedence..."

"No matter whom is betrothed first..."

"Nor who is married first in the eyes of the law."

Parvati nodded at her sister and they finished in unison, "The order in Harry's heart is more important."

"That was bloody scary!" Ron exclaimed. "Since when do you two talk like Gred and Forge?"

They both gave him the evil eye. "Just because you never took the time..."

"to actually get to know us..."

"let alone apologize for your actions at the Yule Ball..."

"you wouldn't know what we were really like."

"But Harry does." They said smiling at him from their position on the floor.

"Harry?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"We'll explain it later Hermione, we promise." Padma said and Parvati nodded.

"Harry do you still have some of that Firewhisky? I can feel a headache coming on." Ron asked with pain in his eyes.

Harry nodded, "One shot only WonWon, you wouldn't want to disappoint LavLav later now would you?" Harry commented and gained a blush from his friend.

"Dobby?" A pop, "Can you get a shot of Firewhisky for Ron please?"

"Right away Mister Harry Sir!"

As Ron nursed his glass Harry felt the wards flair as the Portkeys began arriving for the Black Guard. He excused himself to head downstairs and greet his guests and lead them upstairs. Once everyone was settled around the tree in the now renamed multi-purpose room gifts were exchanged. As everyone smiled and chatted Harry went and got the package he had received from Slughorn and brought it into the room before he began levitating the little packages to everyone present.

"Well go on, open them! You should all recognize these from earlier this year."

All the students from Hogwarts opened the wrapping paper and the room was almost silent as they stared at the golden liquid in the unbreakable vile on an unbreakable chain. Tonks thought she recognized it but Molly, Arthur and Remus were lost.

"Felix?" Seamus asked in surprise?

"I thought everyone could use a bit of luck, this isn't for frivolous use though. Next time we engage death eaters, and I'm sorry but there will most likely be a next time, I expect everyone to have their liquid luck with them. There should be about two hours worth here. If we need more than that, then good luck is the least of our worries." Harry said trying not to sound dark.

"Harry this must have cost a fortune!" Molly complained.

He shrugged, "Everyone in this room is special to me, some more than others. I have had enough made to supply the Order and the entire DA with two hours of luck apiece. I have too much money as it is; what good is money if I cannot spend it on my family and friends?"

She simply nodded as she stared at her bottle. "That brings me to my next announcement, I stopped by Gringotts the other day and acquired premises and set up a Trust to be used for my new charity. There are too many homeless and orphaned kids between the last war and this one. Some families were left completely destitute when Death Eaters burned down their homes or killed the bread winner for the household. The Black Trust will now be running a shelter and Orphanage for all magical people. The orphanage is my main concern."

"Of course dear, if only you could have come to live with a family, anyone in the magical world would have adopted you if you weren't sent to those dreadful Muggles." Molly answered him with compassion.

"That's true, but it is a little known fact that Tom Riddle grew up in a Muggle orphanage and it had a hand in making him the twisted bastard he is today. I don't want to see another magical child follow in his footsteps, I am also making a large contribution in the name of the Black Trust to every orphanage in Muggle Britain as well."

"That has to cost a fortune!" Arthur spoke up, "Who are you going to get to manage all that money?"

Harry smiled, "I thought that the person to handle the money should be the person in charge of the orphanage as well."

"But who could you trust with that much responsibility! Raising children is not something you should hand off to just anyone! And then to ask them to handle that much money as well!" Molly complained.

"That's why I only have one person in mind that can handle it and I know she will do a wonderful job." Ginny and Hermione were smiling now as they caught on, and seeing their faces Remus and Arthur soon figured it out.

"Who?" Molly asked.

"You." Harry said with a grin.

"Me? But Harry I... I mean I..."

"You are a wonderful mother, and a wonderful person. You have put seven children through Hogwarts on the pittance that Arthur used to make and before you got any inheritance from Sirius so I know you can handle the money. I also know you have felt like you don't have a purpose now that your children are grown. While I promise we all still need you I know you are the right person for this Mum."

There was that word again and a speechless Molly crossed the room and pulled him into a hug as she began to bawl. "Of course Harry, I would love to! Oh thank you so much..."

He hugged her back as he struggled to breath, finally catching enough air to speak. "Of course Molly...air..."

She quickly released him and looked chagrined as she joined her husband once more. "I also have one more announcement and two more gifts. Padma, Parvati?" He called the confused twins up to the front of the room.

"I would like to formally announce my betrothal to these two lovely girls and bestow on them some of my most treasured possessions." Everyone in the room with the exception of The Slytherins, Ron, and his girls were stunned into silence as he pulled two of his jade necklaces from his pocket.

"These necklaces are charmed personally by me to protect those I love, I lost my wife because I failed to put certain protections on her necklace but since then I have added even more layers until hopefully these will protect you when I cannot."

"Damn straight!" Susan commented as she rubbed the scar on her chest, nobody else said a word.

"I know what we have we cannot call love yet, but I hope in the future what we have will grow into love. Will you accept these as our promise to grow into this together?"

Both girls nodded and he placed the chains around their necks and fastened them before they turned and each gave him a sweet kiss. The atmosphere in the room was entirely too sedate so he walked over to the A/V cabinet next to the TV and opened it. "Enough serious stuff, let's party!" He called before pushing the button to turn on the Muggle radio station.

The party quickly picked up and he joined the Twins in receiving congratulations all around. Both Molly and Arthur seemed confused but a smiling Ginny standing in the receiving line after the twins helped set aside at least the fear that their only daughter was going to be hurt by this, they remembered what he had said about these necklaces and now noticed the others in the room. Ginny was wearing hers proudly outside of her blouse and standing next to Hermione who was doing likewise. Apparently the trend had caught on as both Patils were displaying theirs proudly and looking around the room Arthur found Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones both fingering their necklaces as they spoke to some of the other guests.

They retired to a corner where Remus and Tonks were chatting happily and broached the subject. "Arthur there are six girls here wearing those necklaces! How can we let Ginny be a part of this?"

Arthur looked up at his daughter and smiled in defeat before answering. "Look at her Molly, she has to know and yet I have never seen her so radiant or so full of life, at least not since before the Chamber incident."

Molly looked hard at her daughter and finally had to agree, "It just doesn't seem natural..."

"Harry has enough money to support ten wives Molly, and apparently, enough love for at least six. Each of those girls looks happy and in love, even the Patil Twins are happy with their lot in life. It is not normal per se, but it is legal and if they are all happy, I have no objections." Remus answered her.

Molly noticed how close the two of them were and raised an eyebrow at Tonks. "How exactly do you feel about this young lady?"

Tonks blushed but quickly hid it before looking up at Remus who nodded. She and he had spent a lot of time together at Hogwarts over the last week and she felt like she might be able to give it another go. Harry had told her multiple times that she needed to follow her heart, and then there was the fact that she was not wearing one of those necklaces.

"Harry was good to me Molly, he helped me through my difficulties with Wolfy here..."

"And he helped me through mine..." Remus interjected before being elbowed by the pink haired Auror for interrupting her.

"I love him, and I think he loves me...but we both know we belong with other people...in fact he continually told me I needed to get my head out of my rectum and follow my heart. Wolfy here finally apologized enough that we are making another go at it."

Molly sighed having lost the only ammunition she had, she turned and looked at Ginny once more before making up her mind to butt out. If it was a mistake, then Ginny needed to make it on her own, and if it was not then Ginny looked to be in for a life full of love. Plus think of all the grand babies!

"Hermione!" Harry called to her and she turned around.

"Yes dear?" She asked mockingly.

"Help!"

She laughed as she sat her drink down and pulled him onto the dance floor. "How can I help you Mr. Potter?"

"I have six girls and only one set of lips. Who do I kiss at midnight?"

She laughed at his predicament, "Tell you what, I'll get everyone organized and everyone will get a New Years kiss alright?"

"You're a life saver. I'm not superstitious or anything, I just didn't like the idea of having five angry witches after me." He said with a smile, and they continued to dance.

Harry was passed around the girls in the room, the girls he noticed were dancing together as midnight approached. They were switching with the music but somehow Pansy ended up in the rotation and as the thirty second mark hit and they began to countdown it was Susan and Luna, Hermione and Padma, Ginny and Parvati leaving him with Pansy in his arms.

He turned to her, "Uh... look..."

"15...14..." The crowd shouted.

"Yeah...I..." She said trying to hold a serious conversation in less than twenty seconds.

"10...9...8..."

"I'm sorry, but you know I'm not giving them up." He said desperately.

"5...4..."

"I know, it's okay!" She said quickly as both their eyes danced back and forth nervously at the other's lips. He pulled her closer.

"3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

He pulled her close and gave into the urge that had been bugging him since she had snuck into the shower with him a month earlier. In Hogsmeade they might have come to an agreement and sealed it with a kiss if it hadn't been for the dementor attack. The cuddling on the couch might have turned into a snog if he hadn't informed her so abruptly of his betrothal to the twins. As their lips met fireworks went off in both of their heads as well as outside the window Dobby had charmed into the wall so they could see downtown London. They were lost in each other as her tongue touched his lips and he welcomed her to deepen the kiss. As everyone else in the room began singing and hugging each other.

"For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Pansy pulled back and looked into his eyes and he smiled back at her melting her heart a bit, a line of girls had formed and she looked nervously at the redhead who was first in line. Ginny smiled and pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the cheek before turning and full on snogging Harry. Hermione was next and repeated Ginny's gesture leaving Pansy teary-eyed at her sudden acceptance. Each girl in turn continued down the line in the same way until they were all grouped around their wizard. Pansy didn't know exactly how to react, or what she had really gotten herself into, she just hoped that there might be one of those necklaces in her future somewhere.




A/N:

Forgive the long absence but my muse was stolen by a Xander/Dawn story I have been helping a friend out with, that combined with knowing the end is near has left me a in a bit of a lurch and I am afraid if I write too much I will rush toward the ending.

I wouldn't do that to you, the story will finish in its own time and no "80 chapter" prediction by me will force it to end early. Rest assured the story is not abandoned and will not be, nor will it go on a long hiatus, I just have to reexamine where I am and where I am going.

Incidentally if you want to read the other story it can be found on FF.net or Twist the Hellmouth by an author Godogma entitled "Just a Bit Old Fashioned" Its a crossover Buffy/True Lies story and Dawn is older than canon. His muse disappeared for a bit so I and another of his friends had to find her and beat her into submission while he borrowed ours. Thankfully everything seems to be back on track so I can get back to work on SFTP.