The winter break was a relief. Staying with only family, Harry could relax a bit and not feel as if he had to think four times of each word he uttered. He didn't escape some teasing, of course.
They spent Christmas with the Delacour in France. The Granger and the Greengrass families joined for the traditional Christmas eve dinner and the Christmas morning presents sharing, as did Sirius. It was the first time Harry had spent Christmas with loving and caring relatives. He felt overwhelmed by his feelings, finding people who really loved him and cared for him. It would have been perfect, if only Gabi and Astoria didn't tease him to death with more than a bit of encouragement from Sirius.
They returned to England for the new year, staying with the Granger family, as was becoming their custom. They were invited to the Ministry's new-year ball and, as strongly suggested by both Sirius and Lord Greengrass, just couldn't decline the invitation.
Fleur and Daphne took upon themselves to teach Harry how to dance properly. "What you did at the Yule ball last year was barely passable for a fourteen years boy. As a Lord of several houses you must set an example. It won't do if you dance less than perfectly!" Daphne told him. Harry found she could be as scary as Hermione if she chose so.
Hermione also joined the lessons. "I didn't feel I did my best last year. Some more learning and practicing may prove quite beneficial. Besides, I want to take part in the fun..."
It was fun, really. Harry enjoyed hugging each of his wives for the dance and having each kiss him once it was over. He found he also enjoyed dancing with partners he had feelings towards, unlike dancing with Parvati, who was really beautiful but for whom he had no feelings.
They arrived to the ball a few minutes after nine in the evening. Most of the guests were already there and heard the herald announce, "Lord Harry Potter-Black, Lady Hermione Potter, Lady Daphne Black and Mrs. Fleur Potter."
"Why does he have to let everybody know I have three wives?" Harry complained.
"He's only doing his job, announcing each guest. He didn't even read out all your titles, or we'd be still hearing that list now," Daphne told him. "Besides, are you ashamed of being married to us?"
"No! Not at all! I'm proud to have you all as my wives. It's just... Well, I'm really too young to even have a single wife, am I not?"
"It looks like Magic has decided you're not too young and neither are we," Hermione said soothingly. "Now, just make sure to only dance with us and to say nothing but new year greetings to any other female. You can do it, I'm sure."
Harry nodded reluctantly. "I hope so. Just make sure that one of you is always with me."
Fleur smirked. "That didn't stop you from marrying Daphne, did it?"
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
It was a pleasant evening, eventually, despite many of the guests seeking to be introduced to the young Lord. Most were older couples, at least the age of his parents-in-law, and he didn't care about the few widows or spinsters, who seemed even older. He briefly noticed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley dancing together, Sirius holding a young woman very closely and even Dumbledore dancing with Lady Longbottom, whose head barely reached his chest.
Midnight kiss was a bit awkward for Harry, needing to simultaneously kiss three girls, but he managed to kiss them all and be kissed back with no complaints. "Happy new year!" they all shouted along with the crowd.
People started leaving soon after. "It looks like wizarding folks are not fond of staying out late," Hermione commented.
"True," Daphne admitted. "While muggles tend to start their outings close to midnight and stay out until early morning, mainly due to electric lighting available everywhere, magical folks find that the burning candles and torches make them sleepy quite early."
The ladies were already tired of standing and dancing on high-heels for several hours. They found seats, probably vacated by some of the older guests who had already left, and sat to rest a bit. "Harry, will you be so kind and bring us some drinks?" Hermione asked sweetly.
It was impossible for him to refuse, although his feet were also hurting from all that dancing. He walked to the long table where all kinds of beverage were ready to be taken.
"Harry?" a somewhat familiar voice called him.
He turned towards the voice, recognizing Susan Bones. He still remembered her as the shy little girl with dark red braids who had been sorted to Hufflepuff. She certainly wasn't a small girl anymore. The elegant evening gown she was wearing was accentuating a very feminine body and some impressing cleavage. Had he not been married to three gorgeous girls, he would have certainly found it difficult to look at her face instead of her cleavage, yet looking at her face he saw she was quite sad, not really appropriate for the festive mood of the ball.
"Hi, Susan. Happy new year!" he said, approaching her.
"Happy new year to you and your family," she replied automatically.
"What is it? Why are you sad?" he asked. They had never been close, but he felt a lot of compassion for this girl, who had lost her parents just as he had.
"Well..." she seemed reluctant to tell, "...Aunty has just told me that I probably shouldn't marry..."
"Why should she say such a thing?"
"I'm the last of my line, just like you are. If I marry, I have to take my husband's name, thus ending my line. I should produce an heir without the benefit of marriage, she told me."
"But you have not been dating anyone until now. Why should you care at this stage? "
Susan smiled. "I haven't dated yet, but it doesn't mean I don't fancy someone. He's brave and sweet, but he's taken."
"You can wait, then. People our age tend to change their minds before finally settling down." Harry felt like he was channeling Hermione. "In a few months, you may fancy somebody else, or the boy you like may be free again."
"But anybody I may eventually like will have me change my name. That's how it is," she sounded defeated.
"Not necessarily. Only the main wife needs to do that. You see, Fleur, although she's called Mrs. Potter in most cases, can still produce the Delacour heir, as Hermione is my main wife." Harry blushed a bit. Talking about producing heirs was a bit uncomfortable, especially with a young attractive woman.
"Well, that could really be nice." It was her turn to blush. "Will you take me as your wife?" There was some hope in her voice.
"I need to consult my wives, but if they agree, I'll take you."
He knew immediately it was a mistake. The flash did not seem as bright, but it was definitely there, and he could feel another ring on his finger. 'I'm a dead man!' he thought in panic.
Before his eyes readjusted, they were surrounded by four women. Amelia Bones had her wand ready as she scanned the area, looking for any threat. His three wives only looked surprised and torn between fury and laughter.
"What was that?" Amelia asked.
Susan shrugged, indicating that she had no idea. It was Daphne who gained her composure first and answered. "I believe your niece has just married Harry, becoming his fourth wife."
"I what?" Susan cried in disbelief.
Hermione walked at her side, grabbed her hand and lifted it so that Susan and the others could plainly see the wedding band that was now resting firmly on Susan's finger.
By now, several aurors were cordoning the group, only allowing Sirius and the Greengrass parents to come closer.
Amelia was looking at her niece and was suddenly feeling as if her legs would not carry her any longer. She grabbed a nearby chair and collapsed on it. "Care to explain?" she asked the group, not addressing anybody specifically.
Hermione lifted her wand. Some aurors seemed eager to stop her, but Amelia moved her hand in a gesture they understood as 'leave her alone'. Hermione cast some privacy shields and a 'notice me not' charm, so that the few remaining guests would pay them no attention.
"We have already seen it happen. Each of us got married to Harry when we expressed our intentions and Harry's magic reacted. What was it this time?" The question was addressed to both Harry and Susan.
Susan still seemed unable to respond. Harry spoke. "She told me she couldn't marry, needing to keep her line. I said it was no problem, just as Fleur can keep her line. She then asked if I'll take her. I said it depended on your consent. May I understand you agree?"
Hermione smiled at him, relieving his stress. "We all know you can't help saving a damsel in distress and we could never refuse her." She now turned to Susan. "Welcome into the family, sister-wife," she said, hugging her. Susan was still a bit shocked. She didn't return the hug. She just kept staring at Harry and at her new ring.
Hermione's words were finally penetrating Harry's skull. As the full meaning downed on him, he felt his knees give up and fell on the floor. Fleur, who was closest to him, grabbed him, preventing him from falling heavily and injuring himself. Daphne sat immediately on the floor at his side and hugged him sideways, giving him some physical support as well.
"I... I thought I'll marry Susan after we graduated, unless she found somebody else," Harry finally said.
Daphne caressed his back. "You should already know how your magic reacts to damsels in distress." She now turned to Susan. "Do you love Harry?"
Susan was finally back to herself, although she was still looking at her new ring with disbelief. "Yes. I've kept it secret until now. I knew Hermione fancied him and I really wondered why he had taken you and Fleur as well. I don't understand what has just happened, but if that means I also have a part in Harry, then I'm really glad."
"Will you come home with us? It's your wedding night and you probably want to spend it with your husband, although it will be somewhat short." Fleur was looking at the clock as she talked, noticing it was past one at night.
Susan looked at her aunt. "May I?"
Amelia smiled at her. "You're a married woman now. You don't need my consent. Still, I'd say you follow your heart."
This seemed to be the right thing to say, as Susan sprang into action, showing she was a real redhead. She grabbed Harry by his armpits and helped him to his feet. Once standing, she grabbed his head and kissed him passionately on the lips. Harry responded willingly. He engulfed Susan with a hug and kissed her back, almost as passionately. Susan felt as if he was promising her love, support and family, all in one kiss. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with happiness.
It took them a few more minutes to settle down. Hermione removed her shields. The ballroom was almost empty. Only a few aurors were still moving around, looking as if they had lost something.
"Shouldn't we inform your parents?" Harry asked Hermione.
"No. They're probably asleep already. Besides, we don't need another room, you know."
Susan, blushing heavily, felt compelled to ask, "What will the sleeping arrangements be?"
Hermione smiled at her. "Tonight, what's left of it, you'll sleep with Harry while we three sleep in the adjacent room. We may talk some more tomorrow, after we all wake up."
"What about my things?"
"You don't need anything for tonight. Your aunt may have your things sent tomorrow or we may all come and help you pack, if you like. This can also wait for the morning."
Susan blushed some more just thinking of what the first sentence meant.
Soon enough she was experiencing it. The three other girls kissed Harry goodnight, pressing their bodies into his quite explicitly and hugged Susan as well, adding a wink. Daphne also added, "Don't exhaust him," to her goodnight hug, before leaving Susan and Harry alone in the room.
Susan was looking at the floor as Harry came closer. "Harry, I've never been close with anybody. I've not even kissed a boy until tonight, when I kissed you. I..."
He didn't let her finish. He lifted her head and kissed her lips tenderly. "Don't worry, love. I've been the first to the other three as well. I'll do my best to make it a night you'll always want to remember."
He kissed her deeply again. Although he had not been close to Susan before, he now felt very close to her. He felt that he really loved the shy redhead. His hands roamed her back, unbuttoning the top of her dress. She was also unbuttoning his shirt. When he stepped back to remove his shirt, she let the top of her dress fall, revealing her bra-less breasts, standing proudly in front of him. She unhooked the rest and wiggled out of her dress, staying in only her knickers.
The view in front of him made Harry's body react impressively. Susan was a bit frightened by the size of the tenting in his trousers, but still waited patiently for him to remove them. "Do you want me to finish undressing you?" she asked, her cheeks turning even redder.
"If you let me undress you," Harry replied.
Susan bent down, grabbed his boxers and slid them slowly down. She gasped when she saw his erect member standing freely. "Are you sure it would fit?" she asked worriedly.
Harry smiled reassuringly. "I'm not really that big. Some boys are much bigger than me. Yet I'm sure we can work it out."
As she stood up, still eying suspiciously the "monster" she had set free, he bent down and swiftly slid her knickers along her smooth legs to the floor, revealing a nicely trimmed patch or dark red hair above her crack. He rose slowly, letting his hands caress her legs, her buttocks and her back before he grabbed her face in another tender kiss.
After his previous experiences with deflowering his wives, Harry felt quite confident, yet Susan didn't. He made sure to compliment every part of her, to caress and kiss and tease until she started breathing heavily, indicating she was becoming highly aroused. He sucked one nipple, causing Susan to moan her pleasure. Harry let his thumb caress her sensitive spot, while his other hand and his mouth were giving due attention to Susan's breasts. She soon started writhing under him, grabbing his head and whimpering. Harry waited until she passed her peak before plunging in.
Susan was ecstatic. She laughed and cried as she grabbed Harry into a searing kiss, hugging him with her legs as well, pushing him in deeper. She didn't even seem to notice when Harry passed her barrier, making her fully his. As their movements got wilder, Harry felt himself approaching his peak. He used his fingers to tease her sensitive spot, bringing her to another peak before letting go, reaching his own peak.
It was much later, actually early in the morning, when their sated bodies could carry the mating dance no longer, that they collapsed into sleep.
Harry woke up to the familiar sensation of being sandwiched between two sets of female breasts. The one on his back was definitely Hermione's. It took him some time to recognize the one in front, as Susan opened her eyes and looked lovingly at him. "It was the most wonderful experience I've ever had," she said. "Thank you for making my wedding night unforgettable."
Harry was still only half awake, but a nagging thought pushed him up. "Oh! We didn't use a contraceptive charm!"
Susan smiled at him. "Fleur did it for me before she left us alone. I want to bring a Bones heir, but only after graduation, you know." She now smiled mischievously. "Still, we need a lot of practice until then, don't you think so, my dear husband?"