Toppers Wallow

Boxing Day had Ginny and Daphne plus the Greengrass parents all turning up in hunting pink for the traditional hunt. In deference to those of a timid frame of mind, someone had been dispatched on a horse, dragging a scent behind. All the farmers were mounted plus many of the parishioners, it was a grand sight as they milled around in the square; drinking the stirrup cup and then streaming off after the hounds, jumping fences, gates and hedges. Daphne had found a horse for Narcissa who rode side-saddle, third behind the Master of Hounds. Draco was not inclined, neither was Harry but quite a few of the DS Members and their parents had turned up to enjoy themselves. Lavender and Ernie were called upon to repair personal damage, when the hunters had fallen off, or been swiped by low branches, nothing terribly major.



The Parish Marquee was up again, this time to service the hunt ball. It was much the same as the one at the Ministry, but no attack, less verbal sniping, and a little more musical appreciation and dancing. Parishioners, students and parents, professors and friends, Muggle and Magical all mixed together in camaraderie, fed by an elfin running buffet, and watered by barrels of a variety of beers and wines.



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“All this partying is beginning to wear a bit thin,” complained Draco as they climbed into bed.



“Mmm yes!” Harry replied. “The rich food has me feeling slightly off. Still, we have a few days grace before the New Year, maybe we can gain our equilibrium in between times.”



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The Sunday service, the next day, was well attended. In keeping with most people’s feelings, the less boisterous carols were sung, including a beautiful setting to ‘Greensleeves’. The choir and instrumentalists performed a beautiful rendition of Berlioz’s ‘Shepherds Farewell’.



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The next few days were mild allowing family walks round the parish; a very necessary antidote the mountains of rich food that had been ingested. Dudley was collected by Millicent and side along Apparated to her parent’s home, much to his pleasure. Harry chatted with Narcissa and Draco for one afternoon, revealing their relationship to her. Instead of the expected adverse reaction she smiled.



“Thank you for being honest with me boys. You must live your own lives, both of you have had to fulfil roles that were thrust upon you, now you have a chance to choose. I will support you fully. However it seems a pity that two long family lines will come to an end when you die. Consider marriage just to produce heirs, I hear whisper of a pair of young witches who might be accommodating of such a proposal, but who prefer each other’s company. One of the reasons your Father and I got together was just that, Blacks and Malfoys were good breeding blood-line stock. Once he had done his duty by me, Lucius went off looking for fresh conquests; many of them were with young men and women who had cruelty streaks. That was definitely not my scene. We kept up a certain façade until he lost his reason. Then, unfortunately, he tried to obtain those kicks from me, but I wouldn’t play ball; hence my recent state. Remember to be gentle with each other; think of the other’s enjoyment, not just your own gratification and you won’t go far wrong. I’m not sure I want to return to the Manor once it’s cleansed, but then where would I go?”



“How about your childhood home at Grimmauld place? We could arrange an apartment there for you, if you didn’t want to take on the whole house.”



“Why thank you Harry, the idea is very appealing, but I’ll miss the garden.”



“There’s this one, only a portal would separate you there from the garden here.”



“A portal, what is one of those?”



“Something that we made when we were daydreaming one day, Mother. I was here and Harry was at Hogwarts. We’d been reading up on those vanishing cabinets and were practicing our mental link, looking at a portrait of Great Uncle Travis. Somehow the portraits became doors linking the two rooms.”



“We nearly killed ourselves, Auntie. Poppy revived us and we shied away of making any more until we had done a lot more research. The reason for cabinets is to contain the magical force so that we use less energy. We linked the London house to here recently using a temporary cabinet and a small cupboard. We were wearied, but not half dead as before. Thus you can walk upstairs here and step through our portal into Grimmauld place just like entering another room.”



“Well now that adds another dimension to my thinking. Can you still go to Hogwarts like that?”



“Yes Mother! We are considering making a portal to the Manor once it has been decontaminated and one between Milkwood and Hogwarts so our own portals become reasonably private.”



They had to explain about Milkwood and Woodyates, which led to the Duindhu heritage and the treatment of house-elves. Then to Kreacher as an elder, including his and their elevation to the Wizengamot, and to Hamish being made a professor.



The following day they went to dinner at the Dursleys, nothing elaborate, for which Draco’s and Harry’s stomachs were eternally grateful. Narcissa and Petunia started what was to become a close knit friendship, based on many shared interests and prejudices. Dudley received advice about pure-blood attitudes, but it did not put him off his present amour. Vernon was a changed man, firstly in his attitude towards Harry and therefore other Magicals. Secondly in his new enthusiasm for miniature prosthetics and the quirky humour of George. Dudley reported that, according to student rumours, his father had been a practical joker at school, but one had misfired and affected him badly.



Vernon told them about it. “Now it’s well in the past and I’m developing a different outlook. I can acknowledge what a malign influence it must have had on me.”



“Yes dear, you’re much more like the young man who courted me, now.” Petunia added, “Our bad experiences turned us into mutual sourpusses. I’m surprised you managed to come out of it unscathed, Harry.”



“I didn’t, but it toughened me up for the task of defeating Voldie through an understanding his loveless mind. A task I was destined to do, whether I liked it or not. I prefer our present friendly relations to any hearkening back to the bad old days. We shouldn’t conceal things from each other now. You may have guessed already but Draco and I are lovers. We have intense mental and very active physical relations; on top of that we have been magically linked and combined we are about as strong as Merlin was; which is extremely strong.”



“Physically too?” Vernon sighed. “In my day that was frowned upon, wasn’t it Petunia? Our parents arranged our marriage; both of us had inclinations like yours. I envy you your freedom to choose. We’ll place our hopes on Dudley for grandchildren. How did you get on at the Bulstrodes, Dudley?”



“They were reserved to begin with, but thawed somewhat when Millicent said I was related to Harry. Even going so far as to ask if I would inherit a title.”



“If I don’t have any offspring then you just might Dudley. There is one problem though; we’re much the same age and Magicals tend to last longer than Muggles. I think the magic pickles us for preservation.” Harry’s remark lightened the mood.



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Another day found them at the Grumbleweeds, along with Hamish and Dolores plus Porlock’s and Tarmindale’s families. So there were hordes of excited goblin youngsters wanting to show off their latest presents.



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The cold set in the following day; therefore on New Year’s Eve it was crisp and clear for the Weasleys’ fireworks display to welcome the novo annum. The temperature eased slightly so, when the Blakes looked out of their window on that first day, it was a fairyland of snow that met their eyes.



Pops in the Apparating area announced DS Members with plans for snow fights in the woods. The temptation for the young professors was too great, so they joined in; coming back cold, wet, rosy-cheeked and roaring with laughter; very ready to drink Winky’s spicy hot vegetable soup. The ice on the village pond and on the pool near the temple had not melted thoroughly since the pre-Christmas cold-spell. The film of water from the slight thaw had re-frozen as smooth as glass; this gave another reason for indulging in unusual seasonal activities until lunchtime. In the afternoon Narcissa promised a big box of chocolates for the winners of a snowman competition. Draco and Harry failed to win it, being penalised for interfering with other people’s snowmen. Daphne and Ginny were magnanimous with their prize, sharing the sweet delicacies with all the competitors.



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The following day had a serious content, the funeral of the former Minister. The Blake foursome were on show again, with a supporting cast of Narcissa, Weasleys, Greengrasses, Dursleys and Grangers. Septimus made a musical farewell to his Father by playing Dido’s lament in an arrangement for wind octet. His clarinet playing was very poignant; bringing tears to the eyes of many. The wake was held in the grand hall of the ministry. The DS Members formed a protective barrier round their mate, his family and his close friends, keeping at bay the crass braying of the great and good; thus allowing him a space for private grieving.



That Christmas seemed to draw a line under the happenings of the last six months.



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Draco, Harry, Hermione and Ron all achieved ‘Outstanding’ in the subjects they had taken, including their teaching skills. Most of their compatriots passed as well. The two elfin tutors obtained OWL’s that season and NEWT’s two years later with all the teacher credentials needed to supplement Harry’s and Draco’s increasing absences to fulfil their Auror responsibilities.



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The Blakes made their portal to Malfoy Manor but did not inhabit the place regularly. There were too many ghosts for Draco or Narcissa to rest securely there. Narcissa took up Harry’s offer and had an apartment at Grimmauld Place, becoming a well respected member of the Wizengamot and chair-witch of quite a few influential sub-committees. As a result of the battle of Hogwarts and other lesser skirmishes, a number of Magicals were unable to properly look after themselves. Draco and Narcissa came to a decision; the Manor became the Potter/Malfoy Hospice, amply provided for by the corps of elves and their descendants. The first principals were appointed jointly: Mr Ernie and Mrs Lavender Macmillan.



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Dudley married his Millicent, he carried the Blake magical gene, and they had a horde of little witches and wizards.



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When Samantha retired Petunia became the church organiser in her place often being assisted by Narcissa when she was not in London.



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Blaise married Gilda and they took over the chemist’s shop in Godric’s Hollow, branching out into various magical medicines and their ingredients, supplied from Woodyates and Harry’s wood. The Zabini Apothecary developed a better reputation for supplies that the apothecary in Knockturn Alley.



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Vernon made a small workshop where Harry\'s bedroom might have been had their new house still been at Privet Drive. He became a partner in WWW creating all kind of amusing little inventions, some serious, others humorous.



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One day when John was instructing the choir boys David stated: “I didn’t know our Godric Gryffindor was a saint.”



“Why do you ask?”



“Well the church is dedicated to Saint Godric, and I supposed that it was because of him.”



“I think you’ll find, Dear Boy, that our Godric was a hermit living somewhere near Durham. He was a very wise man and legend has it that important people would rely on his counsel. Maybe your Godric was named after him.”



“Oh yes … what a good idea.”



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Gregory courted Pansy for years until she finally gave in and married him.



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The loving musical octet had enough offspring to form a magical orchestra.



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Hamish and Dolores [the organist – not the nasty one] formed a partnership based on their love of music. There was no formal arrangement, but in time when one was asked to a meeting, party, etc: the other one was assumed to accompany them.



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Ginny played for the Holyhead Harpies, succumbing to a star’s sexual predilections and becoming pregnant. Harry married her almost immediately in order to preserve her reputation. At the same time Draco grasped the pure-blood nettle and wed Daphne. Their matrimony was sealed by John in a joint service, as was the baptism of the various offspring when they appeared. A secret portal between the private bedrooms of Magnet and Bagshot cottages kept all four of them in the beds they wished to normally sleep in. It became impossible to separate the four of them. No one of them would accept any official engagement unless the other three were invited as well.



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Francis coached Hermione well, she practiced at the bar in both Muggle and Magical courts eventually marrying Ron, who had joined Harry in his quest for the reform of the Auror department, in line with Arthur’s thorough purge of the unwholesome elements within the Ministry.



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Draco’s tenure of the magical forensic department went from strength to strength. A number of nasty potions came his way which required his undivided attention, when that happened he developed a distant attitude to all those around him. Harry tuned in to the preoccupation and counselled patience until the solution returned a relieved lover/husband/partner to their foursome.



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Eighteen years later on the first of September Harry and Ginny bought tickets from Douglas and boarded a train bound for Saint Pancras Station.



“Dad, why are we going to Saint Pancras Station, I thought the Hogwarts Special left from Kings Cross?” young Albus asked.



Because Saint Pancras is next door to Kings Cross and we have all this awkward luggage plus young Scorpius’s.”



“Where’re Scorpius, Uncle Draco and Auntie Daphne?”



“Scorpius and his Mum went through the portal to our London home. Your uncle is working on something important, so Auntie Daphne has gone to get him out of his laboratory. Don’t be surprised if he fails to talk to any of us.”



“Is he in one of his thinking dreams, Dad?”



“That’s a nice way of putting it, Son. Yes! Those thinking dreams make the world a safer place for us all to live in, so we make allowances for him, don’t we?”



“Yes Dad. Were you and he good friends at school, like Scorpius and I are here?”



“Not really, but we made up for it later. Now, don’t let Uncle Ron kid you into forgetting your friendship, even if you are sorted into different houses.”



“Okay Dad, Uncle Ron’s funny like that, isn’t he?”



Harry chose to hold his tongue, helped by the fact that they were arriving at the terminus. It was a short walk to Kings Cross and a number of people bid the family ‘good morning’ as they passed.



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NOW GO BACK TO THE LAST CHAPTER OF HP&DH.



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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or films. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.



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However I had to make conjectural maps and diagrams of the imaginary places in Godric’s Hollow. I would be pleased to share these with any one interested and who owns an excel programme. Please email me. [jmwt@blueyonder.co.uk]



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This last chapter draws the many themes together. However if I have left some loose ends, or if any of you would like to suggest ideas for new episodes I might be tempted into writing chapters to fill in the blanks between the Christmas mentioned and the meeting at Kings Cross.



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NO IDEAS FORTHCOMING - - - - NO MORE EPISODES - - - - IT IS UP TO YOU