Harry Potter The Kiss

Harry stood as Hermione wrapped her arm around her husband while answering Ragnok, "we just have a different philosophy of wealth, to us a goblin wising to attend Hogwarts is worth his weight in gold and a free elf is priceless. There's also the fact that after seven years at Hogwarts we hope he'll consider working for Stag Industries, we're investing in the individual and hoping enough will take up our offer to make it profitable for all"

Ragnok laughed, "so you're trying to steal all my best workers right from under my nose, there is an old goblin saying 'when the gold flows, everyone benefits' so we all make a profit. I think we should be going, a party is just what we need"

All the goblins grasped the portkey and were gone.

Harry glanced up to the minister of magic and in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear spoke, "Amelia please believe me when I say we knew nothing of this, plan B was for when one of these arrogant arseholes insulted someone at our table and ended spending Christmas in St Mungo's. The enormity of the problem you have inherited is obvious but the choice is a simple one, history has taught us that any being unable or unwilling to adapt with it's changing environment will eventually die out."

With that both Potters disappeared leaving a perplexed Minister of Magic wondering just what in Merlin's name happened. She knew all hell was going to break loose tomorrow and needed tonight to be a success gaining some positive publicity before the pureblood backlash in the Prophet. Amelia couldn't help but think their world must be in worse shape than she thought if three outsiders all refused the top award the magical world had to offer.

.....

Harry and Hermione appeared in a splendid foyer and his eyes immediately fixed on a certain female elf, "Winky Potter, you little minx, couldn't resist having a little dig, could you?"

The elf in question was just a blur as she headed straight for Harry and wrapped her arms around him while sobbing, Dobby joined only seconds later with Hermione enveloping the entire group with her arms, all of them were now crying.

It was an enraged Ginny who drew her wand, "Harry James Potter, what have you done to upset Winky? In two seconds you're going to be wearing my bat boggie hex."

Winky was shaking her head while trying to speak, "no, Ginny, not upset, so happy"

It was Harry who suggested they all go and sit down before the other guests arrived, they headed towards a set of double doors that opened onto one of the most beautiful sights any of them had ever seen.

The massive ballroom was a winter wonderland complete with ice sculptures and hundreds of fairy's flying around the room, the magnificent Christmas tree in the corner complete with wrapped presents underneath completed the scene.

It was Emma who asked, the sense of awe clearly discernable in her voice, "Harry, what is this place?"

Harry answered, "Mum, Dad, Gran welcome to our home, this is Potter Manor."

.....

Albus Dumbledore sat on his stone bench imagining what he would normally be doing on Christmas Eve, certainly not sitting staring at four bare walls. The goblins plastered the other two cells with pictures of a happy Harry and Hermione to taunt the occupants but seemed to know he would rather have that than the blankness he was forced to endure.

Endure was a word the former headmaster was using more and more, really the only word he could think of in connection with the Dursleys, he was convinced they could survive anything unscathed by the simple trick of ignoring everything around them.

They spent all day filling bags with dragon dung and ate their meals out of wooden bowls with spoons of the same material yet the Dursleys were providing entertainment for the guards by demanding placemats and napkins. The shrill voice of Petunia declaring, "Just because of our new circumstances, there's no need to lower standards" had Albus wanting to commit murder.

The only thing saving the Dursleys was the fact that Molly Weasley was top of his list. She seemed to start every other sentence with the words 'when my Ginny and Harry are married' which was slowly driving Albus insane.

She spent her days fixated on this subject and never mentioned her husband or sons only 'her Ginny' and future husband, she had the wedding planned down to the h'orderves for Merlin's sake.

Albus knew he couldn't take much more of this, he would have preferred Azkaban with it's dementors rather than the demented Dursleys and mad Molly.

His options were escape or suicide and since the only method available was to stick his head in a sack of shit until suffocation, escape seemed the better option.

The difficulty would be getting these bloody bracelets off before his companions made the sack look inviting.

.....

Dan felt it was way past time for an explanation from these two, he thought they would be angry or embarrassed at his medal refusal, instead they seemed to have some kind of bet running – Daniel Granger was not amused.

"Ok you two, what's going on? I really don't appreciate being the subject of a bet" said a still angry Dan

A smiling Hermione tried not to laugh, "Dad, the bet had nothing to do with you though thanks for helping me win. Both of us knew we wouldn't last the night, hence the party arranged here"

Harry continued, "yes but I bet we would at least make it to the first dance so Hermione wins and now everyone suffers"

Hermione burst into a fit of giggles before a questioning raised eyebrow from her mother made Mrs Potter reveal all, "the loser of the bet has to get up and sing in front of everyone at tonight's ball." Hermione's giggles were infectious and soon laughter was ringing off the suspended icicles that were floating around the room.

Ginny wasn't even smiling never mind laughing, "I want to know what you did to upset Winky?"

"Oh Ginny, I wasn't upset, this is the happiest night of my life thanks to Harry and Hermione and I apologise for my dinner remark but I just couldn't help myself" Winky said with a voice so full of emotion it was difficult to tell if she was going to laugh or cry.

Harry took her hand, "that's ok Winky, I thought your speech was beautiful and it will really hit home tomorrow"

"Will somebody tell me what's going on in words I can understand?" Ginny almost shouted

Hermione sat on Harry's lap before explaining, "this marvellous husband of mine is about to give me the best Christmas present I could ever wish for, tonight at midnight all the elves in Britain become free"

Winky added, "and tomorrow those purebloods will have to cook their own Christmas dinner, assuming there's any food in the house"

Hermione began kissing Harry and it looked like they would be occupied for some time, taking over the role of hosts, the elves led the way to a dazzling assortment of food before the other guests started arriving.

....

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