The (Non-Marriage) Law

Summer

Lil still seemed quite worried even after her last exam.

"Why are you so worried? I'm sure you did very well in your exams. You don't need to worry," Harry said.

"Well, Cissy has already finished Hogwarts and you two are finishing now. Next year, I'll be all alone here, and that's what worries me."

Harry frowned. He had not given a thought to the future since becoming mated to three. Whatever free time he got was not spent on thinking. Now he had to.

"I'm not sure about the future, either," he confessed, "but I'm sure we won't leave you here alone. You'll have your baby with you, I'm sure, and if we can't live at school, we'll find a way to live nearby and for you to spend most of the nights with us."

She smiled reluctantly. "I hope you'll find a way."

They got their NEWTs results only a day before the graduation feast. As expected, Hermione's grades were the best. Professor McGonagall had also told her discreetly that even Lily Evans hadn't got as high scores.

Harry's results were marginally worse than hers, yet still way above the other graduating students. His wives were very proud of him.

Neville did far better than he expected, making both his mates very proud. Even Ron passed reasonably well, especially considering his attitude. Lavender still looked unsatisfied, having achieved much better grades herself, but both Pansy and Milly were quite proud of him.

At breakfast, the last morning before the graduation feast, a house elf popped near them. "The headmistress would like to see you after breakfast, Lord and Lady Potter, if it's convenient for you."

"Tell her we'll come as soon as we finish here," Harry replied with a smile, wondering about what caused the invitation.

McGonagall was waiting for them already. "Please be seated," she motioned towards the chairs in front of her desk.

She continued talking as soon as they took their places, with Harry helping Hermione, who was already feeling a bit clumsy with that big belly. "You're probably wondering why I called you here."

Both nodded.

"I've found I have some staffing problems for next year and I believe you may help me solve them. It's been extremely difficult for me to take the role of headmistress while still teaching. I'm sure I didn't do my best in both roles as I was torn between the demands each role had on me. I'd like Lady Potter to take the role of transfiguration teacher from now on, if you both agree."

Hermione looked flattered by the offer and Harry seemed confused, but the headmistress didn't finish talking yet. "We also need a new DADA professor, as the auror we got on loan from the ministry is also pregnant and wants to stay with her husband, once the baby is born. I think that you, Lord Potter, can do a very good job in that position, as indicated by the great work you've done during your fifth year."

'Lil will like this,' he thought, remembering her concerns about the coming year.

"I've already talked with Lady Black, suggesting she takes over teaching History of Magic, as Professor Binns has finally decided he had enough of teaching. She said she'll only consider it if she can stay with her family. Now, if you all agree, you may keep the apartment you're already using, feeling at home, or you may get another one, better designed for young children."

Hermione, although looking enthusiastic about the offer, had some questions first. "How can we care for our children while teaching? I'll probably want to breast-feed for a few months. Can you assure me the time and the facilities?"

Minerva smiled. "We're bound to have many young mothers next term, including a few teachers, and all will need such facilities. School schedule will be adjusted accordingly and the house elves have already told me how excited they are to have to care for so many babies while their parents attend lessons. I'm sure that would not prove to be a problem."

"Are you sure, Professor, that we can tackle the jobs?"

"You can call me Minerva now. You're no longer my students, and I hope you'll soon be my colleagues. And yes, I'm sure. You've both proven your worth in ways most adult wizards never need to. Any other candidates would seem lacking compared to you two. I really hope you agree."

Harry turned his eyes at Hermione. She smiled, and he could sense, 'Lil is going to like this.' He turned back to Minerva.

"We accept your offer," both said, making the old witch smile.

"I'll owl you all that you need to know or do before the term starts. I may also visit you during the summer. Where are you going to stay?"

Harry seemed unsure. "I'd like to find a place as close to St. Mungos as possible, to stay there until the children are born. We may then move somewhere else, more appropriate for babies. We'll let you know as soon as we can."

Minerva smiled. "Fine. Now, I believe your other wives are waiting for you. It wouldn't do to let pregnant women wait for too long."

They still spent the first few days with the Granger parents. For a fee, the Goblins were also able to find a nice, ground-level apartment, very close to the hospital. Harry and his wives moved there a few days later. It was a modern muggle house and only Cissy needed some time to feel comfortable in it.

Harry took his wives to the cinema, the day after they moved. Cissy was still fascinated by it, and the others just liked that specific film. They were apprehensive at hearing some noise from the kitchen when coming back. Harry grabbed his wand and walked stealthily to the kitchen. As he peeked through the half-open door, he saw two house-elves busy rearranging the kitchen, seeming quite content. He lowered his wand and walked in. None of the house elves seemed startled. They just bowed and one asked, "Does Master need anything?"

"I need to know who you are and why you are here," he said, trying to sound as strict as Minerva in class. It didn't seem to affect the house elves.

"Why, Master, we are taking care of your house, of course. We were sent here by your head house-elf as soon as he found that you no longer live with the Muggles."

"You mean to tell me that I own some more house-elves? I thought I only owned Kreacher."

The house elf looked at him in a way that made him feel like he was a small child who said some nonsense. "Master owns many house-elves. We were all wondering why master found us unsuitable to help in the war. Have we done something wrong?"

"No, not at all. It's... more complicated. I think we should all sit down and discuss it," he said, pointing at the adjacent dining area.

By now, his wives had already joined him. They all sat around the table. The two house elves seemed somewhat uncomfortable, though. "Is something bothering you?" Hermione asked them.

"No. It's just... Nobody asks house elves to sit at the same table with the masters."

Hermione smiled reassuringly at them. "Well, we believe that you are part of the family, and as such, you ought to sit with the rest of the family."

Both house elves looked at Harry, and he nodded his confirmation, yet they still seemed confused. Cissy was just barely able to refrain from laughing.

"I believe we should start with the introductions," Harry said. "You've probably already recognized me as Harry Potter. The ladies are my dear wife and soul mate, Lady Hermione Potter, my eldest wife, Lady Narcissa Black, whom you may call Cissy, and young Lady Leilani Peverell, who likes to be called Lil." Each of the women nodded when her name was mentions. They now looked expectantly at the house elves.

"Well... my name is Bello and this is my mate, Tink. We normally take care of some other apartments you have in London, in Muggle areas, and Twinkle, your head house-elf, sent us here as soon as he found that you moved here. We are to cook and clean and do all other household chores for Master and Mistresses."

"You should call me Harry. I'm not old enough to be called Master."

The elf's nervousness seemed to subside. "As you wish, M... Harry."

"Where are you going to live? There's no accommodation for house elves in this apartment," Hermione asked worriedly.

Bello smiled now. "We can stay in our old place, if you want, but we can make our own accommodation here, if you allow. No muggle will notice it and we shall remove it when the time comes."

"Alright. You have our permission," Harry said. "Now, can you explain why this is the first time I even hear about the Potter house elves?"

Both house elves shrugged. Cissy finally decided to intervene. "Everybody who grew up in the magical world knew about your house elves, so it seems. Everybody assumed, I think, that you didn't want their services for your own reason. I understand that you didn't know about them."

Harry looked at his younger wives. "Did you know?"

Hermione shook her head. She still seemed to contemplate what owning house elves meant for her. Lil shook her head as well. Harry sighed. "Why am I always among the last to know?" he asked at large.

Bello didn't bother to answer. Instead, he asked, "May we make dinner for you? Pregnant women need to eat well and regularly."

Harry had contemplated ordering a pizza or some other fast food for dinner. It took him a moment to change gears. "Yes, we thought of ordering something, but home cooked meals are better, I'm sure. Will you join us for dinner, please?"

The small creatures looked confused again, but nodded solemnly before returning to their work.

By the end of July, all three women were quite large, making even sitting or lying down turn into a chore. They slept fitfully and felt too heavy and too clumsy to even contemplate s*x, despite feeling extremely horny. It made them quite moody and unpredictable, and Harry was suddenly finding many errands that he needed to do, leaving the women alone.

They still had quite an active social life. Neville visited them about once a week, usually with his mates, as did Ron, Ginny and Luna. Harry also visited his friends a few times, usually accompanied by Hermione only.

Leaving home for many hours each day, Harry failed to notice that his wives, along with his house elves, were preparing a surprise party for him. They all visited Neville on his birthday, on the thirtieth of July, yet nobody mentioned Harry's birthday, which was due only a day later. Harry didn't really mind. His birthday had been a negligible event since he could remember, so he expected nothing. He was simply content to celebrate his friend's birthday along with his wives and his friends.

Harry didn't notice anything special even the next morning, when he woke up surrounded by his three wives, all naked. It was just as usual. He only wondered momentarily why he had some more elegant clothes prepared for him. His wives prevented him from leaving the bedroom before they were ready, but that was not unusual either. Only when he opened the door and saw the banners on the walls and the friends, whom he had seen just before going back home, he understood what it meant.

Harry's excitement mounted rapidly and he found himself unable to say a word, barely able to properly breathe. He only nodded his thanks for all the congratulations, his eyes getting so moist that he hardly saw who congratulated him.

"Let's have breakfast," he heard Hermione urge the guests to the large dining room, that they had not yet used since moving in.

Not everybody was present at breakfast. While some of his guests, like Minerva, had to leave soon due to other obligations, others came later, keeping the house full of guests for most of the day. All his (and Hermione's) dorm mates visited, and all surviving DA members as well as many from the Order. All Weasleys came, including George, who was accompanied by Alicia and managed to act like his previous self for a few minutes. Yet the house was getting empty by dinner time, especially since all young women were heavily pregnant and were tiring easily.

Harry closed the door after another group of guests and plopped on the sofa, grinning at Hermione who looked quite smug. He then looked at his other wives, each occupying a different couch. They all looked tired but content, smiling back at him. He then noticed two people sitting on the sofa, two he hadn't seen for quite a while. They looked somewhat apprehensive. He barely believed his eyes. "Dudley? Aunt Petunia?"