Yuletide Blessing

Telling the News

"Where have you been?" Ron asked them, as soon as they came near enough to hear him.

"I've invited Harry to spend the vacation at my house," Hermione replied. "Is there any problem with that?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron whined.

"We were busy with preparation for the Ball and left the next morning. We really had no time to tell you."

Ron seemed to reluctantly accept the explanation. "Well, how was it?"

Harry replied now. "I needed to check a few things at Gringotts and Hermione helped me. We then spent a lot of time reading. We also joined her parents at a New-Year's Ball, dancing most of the evening."

This seemed to be the right response, as Ron grimaced. "You could have had more fun staying here."

"Well, maybe, but it's done and over now. How have you spent this time?"

Harry wasn't really interested in hearing about the different games played, the snow-fights (although they sounded like cold fun) and some clashes with the Slytherins. He was thinking about meeting his in-laws and then talking with the headmaster before confronting his friends with the news. He wasn't looking forward to any of these. Yet his grumbling stomach seemed to demand attention first. He filled his plate and ate heartily, failing to notice the fond smile on Hermione's face as she saw him eat. It didn't escape the attention of Ginny, though.

Hermione checked her watch. It was late enough for her parents to be already at home. She elbowed Harry and pointed to the door with her head. "I'm sorry to leave so soon, but there's something I promised Hermione to do once we're here," he excused himself and followed her to an unused corridor.

Diggy was just too glad to transport them. She deposited the couple at the Granger's entrance hall and vanished immediately.

"Mum, Dad, are you home?"

"In the kitchen, darling. Have you missed the train?" Jean asked worriedly.

"No, we were much earlier than usual, but while on the way, we found some news which we'd like to share with you first."

Harry wondered how Hermione could act so casually under the circumstances. He felt very stressed and feared that this stress, combined with the effects of the magical transportation, could make him lose his dinner.

They all sat down. Jean served a cup of tea for each and sat down to hear the news.

"We met a certain girl on the train," Hermione started. "She's probably some kind of seer, as she already knew about our titles and could also see my rings, although I kept them hidden. We were worried that she might tell this to others. Yet the most unsettling thing was that she said we were married."

Her parents looked a bit shocked. "But you aren't!" Dave said, not sure if he wanted to hear the rest.

"Well, that's what I told her. She then said that once we were engaged, anything that could be interpreted as marriage vows could make us magically wed. Even a simple declaration of love."

"So?..." Jean seemed anxious to hear the rest. Dave only looked ill.

"We asked Diggy to check at the ministry. She returned with this document."

Jean looked at the parchment in front of her. It stated that Lord Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger had exchanged their vows on the first day of January during the afternoon and were now legally married by magic.

Jean could no longer sit. She stood up, rushed to her daughter and hugged her tightly. She then added Harry to the hug, congratulating them both with tears of joy in her eyes. Dave needed some more time, but he also joined the hug eventually, not as enthusiastically, welcoming Harry into the family just like his wife.

As the hug dissolved, Hermione spoke again. "We need to return to school now and ask for a married couple lodging. I still don't know how to tell our friends about this, though."

"I'm sure you'll do fine, both of you," Jean assured them.

They had a few more hugs for goodbye and then Diggy took them back to the same corridor they had left, about half an hour earlier.

"We don't know the password for the headmaster's office," Hermione said as they were approaching the gargoyle.

"I don't think that should pose a problem. Don't you feel as if the castle is actually welcoming us?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "I did feel as if I heard somebody welcoming 'the heirs of the founders' when the carriage passed the gates, but … well, Luna was still with us..."

"You thought she was rubbing off on you?" Harry chuckled softly.

"Well, she is a bit... unusual. I don't think we should mention her to the headmaster, though."

"Sure. We have our document. It's the only thing that should matter right now."

The gargoyle moved aside as soon as they reached it. Hermione also felt as if it was greeting them, although she could hear nothing. Was it just her imagination?

The headmaster's door was open and his voice called them in.

"I was expecting you," Dumbledore said as he waved them to sit on the chairs in front of him.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"I've been informed of your change of status, and it does make the situation... interesting," Dumbledore said.

"In what way?" Harry asked. He was loathe of "interesting" situations.

"Well, now that you are a couple, I assume you'd like to move to the couples' lodging."

Both nodded.

"Yet, as it's well known, the Potters are Gryffindor's heirs. As such, you are entitled to live in the founder's suite."

"So?" Harry didn't see any problem with that.

"Nobody knows where the founders' suites are. As for the married couples lodging, they have not been in use for several generations..."

Harry didn't like the direction this was going. "I'm sure that the house elves can make any room ready in a matter of minutes."

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed, they've been working since early afternoon. Your suite is not yet perfect, but it could do for the night and would be improved tomorrow, unless you want to spend the night in the dormitories."

"No, sir. I'm sure the suite is in good enough condition. Now, if you'll excuse us, I think we need to tell our friends about this." Nobody would mistake his expression for enthusiasm. Harry was quite worried about that conversation.

"Of course, Lord and Lady Potter. Ask one of the house elves for direction to your suite once you're ready to go there."

They were approaching the Gryffindor dorms when Harry stopped. "Shouldn't we let our Potter rings show, now that we are married?"

"I think we can. Do you think they'll even notice it's just the engagement ring?"

Harry didn't answer. As he let his ring become visible, he noticed that Hermione's was also fading into existence, only it wasn't the engagement ring – it was the very elegant and extremely expensive Lady Potter ring.

Hermione, who was still looking at him, noticed the surprise on his face. She glanced at her finger and understood it. "Well, it looks like this problem is resolved," she finally said, still admiring her new ring.

The portrait of the fat lady didn't ask for a password. She just bowed deeply and swung away, letting them in. The common room was as full and as noisy as always, yet it silenced down as soon as Harry and Hermione were spotted.

"What is it?" Harry asked, sounding confused.

Ron, looking furious again, answered. "Just a few minutes ago, two house-elves popped in to, 'take the belongings of Lord and Lady Potter to their suite', as they said. Don't you think this needs some explaining?"

Harry sighed as he walked to the stairs and mounted two steps, so that everybody could see him. Hermione followed, standing proudly at his side. Harry looked around, noticing that all Gryffindor students were waiting for him to speak.

"Let me tell you what happened chronologically," he started. Some groaned, but most just stayed attentive. "During our preparations for the Yule Ball, Hermione suggested that my participation in the tournament made me legally emancipated. She had her parents invite me to stay with them for the winter vacation, so I could check my status with Gringotts. Once there, I found out she was right. I was now legally adult, and as the last of my house I was the Head of the House, hence – Lord Potter. The goblins suggested I wear my Lord ring, as it would give me some protection. Seeing how good a friend Hermione was, they suggested giving her a promise ring which would give her almost the same protection without creating any lasting obligation. During the following days, as we got to know each other under different conditions than at school, we started feeling closer. I knew she was more than just my best friend, yet I didn't understand my feelings."

Some girls looked starry eyed at the romantic story, although Ron and Ginny didn't seem to share that feeling. Harry continued. "It was during the New-Year Ball, when we were dancing together most of the evening, that I finally realized my feelings. Once back, I asked if she would like to marry me and gave her an engagement ring. We stayed together most of yesterday, reading and watching entertainment programs. We also talked a lot, declaring our love to each other. It seems that some of what we said was interpreted as wedding vows, since today we were already addressed as a married couple. I had a house elf check it for us at the ministry. It returned with this document." He held the document high, for everybody to see.

There was a lot of noise now. Most of the girls had already noticed Hermione's ring, while the boys just envied Harry. He let them talk for a bit before he continued. "As some of you may know, a Lord has the right to get his own private apartment at school. That is also true of married couples, although there have never been many of these, and most were seventh year. This is why we have been allotted an apartment at school. I don't yet know where it is, but I assure you that all my friends will be welcome to visit us."

They stepped down. Neville seemed to be most enthusiastic about them. He grabbed Harry's hand, shook it vigorously and repeated his congratulations several times. He then took Hermione's hand and kissed her knuckles, congratulating her just the same. The Weasley twins followed suit, making a big production of shaking Harry's hand and hugging him and then kissing Hermione's hand, making everybody laugh. Ron congratulated them a bit coldly and so did Ginny, although she hugged Hermione fiercely. Most others congratulated as well, some of the girls whispering, not quite discreetly, "Do consider me if you need an additional wife," in Harry's ears. He only blushed at that.

A few girls involved Hermione in a bit of "girls' talk", trying to find some more interesting stuff, which Hermione refused to supply. Harry was similarly involved with the boys, but he also refused to talk about anything more intimate than hugs and kisses.

It was becoming late. "I think we need to go to our apartment before curfew," Harry noted.

As soon as he said this, a house elf popped in. "Lord Potter, Lady Potter, please follow me to your lodging."

Harry expected to be led out of the tower. Instead, the elf led them to a statue, standing between the stairs to the boys' and the girls' dorms. The elf whispered a password and the statue moved, revealing another set of stairs, leading down.

Their apartment had a common room, much like the one shared by the dorms, a large master bedroom with a luxurious bathroom attached, and two guest rooms, each having its own toilet facilities. Their old trunks were positioned at the foot of their bed, yet there were two large wardrobes ready to accommodate their clothes. Hermione took their new trunks from her bag, unshrunk them and floated them into the wardrobes.

"Well, Lady Potter, I believe this has been a very eventful day. Don't you think it's time we retire to bed? We have school to attend tomorrow morning."

"We sure have, my dear husband. Would you like to help me undress and take a bath?"

Harry was sure this was going to be a wonderful night.