Chapter 101

Both witches gasped with their eyes wide open and their mouths in matching 'Oh' shapes.

"Now that our unusual relationship has become quite public," he began, "And we've been making strides in strengthening the bonds, I thought it prudent for us to show our devotion to one another to the world.

"Would both you ladies do me the honour of wearing these promise rings to show our status to the world?"

Both nodded back, and both had tears in their eyes.

Harry reached in and removed the first ring. It had the aquamarine stone at the top, and held it with his left hand gripping it with the tips of his fingers around the edge. He reached out, took Daphne's left hand and gently slipped the ring on to her ring finger. As soon as it reached the webbing it immediately warmed a little, resizing itself to her finger.

He then reached in and took the other ladies ring, the one with the sunstone at the top, and slid it onto Hermione's ring finger; where the same magic adjusted it.

Finally, he offered the two the ring box and asked, "Who would like to do the honours?"

The two witches looked from the box to the ring on their fingers and finally at each other. "Together," said Hermione, to which Daphne nodded.

Hermione reached in, removed the ring and held it between thumb and finger on the outside. Daphne then reached out and did the same, crossing her fingers with Hermione's as she did so. Then, together, they slid the ring onto Harry's ring finger on his left hand. Again, he felt the warmth as the ring resized itself. His ring, of course, had the emerald at the top.

"They're quite unusual," murmured Daphne.

"The three stones, of course, represent the three of us. In this case, I was trying to get close to each of our natural eye colour. Emerald, for me; sunstone, for Hermione; and aquamarine, for Daphne.

"The three hearts then form a bit of a hexagon... if you look at it right... that has the significance of the items we're trying to clean. For us, it unifies. The rings are as unique in their design as our relationship is for us."

Hermione and Daphne were both staring at the rings. It was Daphne who softly said, "They're beautiful, love." And Hermione, who nodded, was unable to speak.

When the three sat at the Ravenclaw table opposite Luna, she was quick to spot the rings. Both girls were happy to show her theirs. And the show of the rings to Luna brought other girls over to look. Some of them were happy for the two, but others looked on with other, less kind, emotions including anger, disappointment, sorrow, envy and others.

Harry took careful note of who reacted the worst, and swore to keep an eye on them. They came from all the Houses and all years. Some of the ones he intended to keep a close eye on included Romilda Vane and Fay Dunbar from Gryffindor; Morag McDougal and Shirley Fawcett from Ravenclaw; and Megan Jones from Hufflepuff. The others he didn't see as direct threats.

Luna was happy for them, of course. As were Harry's three ex-team-mate chasers from Gryffindor, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell; though, Katie did look a little sad. For the most part the other girls, and even some of the blokes, were interested in the look of the rings and what they meant; but, did not appear to be a threat or threatening.

As the day progressed, Harry became a little anxious as to what the night would bring. He'd promised Hermione they'd talk about all those little private things from their childhoods. He already knew a lot of Hermione's she'd shared while they were on their near year long hunt for horcruxes.

It was Daphne who was the enigma. She was a true pureblood coming from long lines on both sides of the family. Yet she did not support, even despised, the pureblood dogma. Finding out why would be interesting.

Soon enough, the last class was finished and the three retired to their apartment.

Entering the apartment Daphne suggested they get the initial homework assignments out of the way before they changed and got dressed nice for dinner. But, Harry had to sheepishly admit he only had the formal robes Mrs Weasley had 'lent' him; which were supposed to be for the Yule Ball. She then went through his wardrobe and declared that, first chance they got, Harry was buying a complete new wardrobe; and that he could stay in his school uniform.

Both girls entered their rooms to shuck their robes.

While they were gone, Harry called Dobby.

When the little elf popped in, he asked, "Are we set for the meal tonight?"

"Oh, yes, Master Harry," he replied. "Winky and I has everything ready."

"Excellent," said Harry, grateful. "I'll set up a table for three for us, then."

Dobby looked a little embarrassed, which led Harry to ask, "You've already arranged for that, too; haven't you?"

"Yes, Master Harry," the elf sadly said.

Harry just chuckled and said, "Of course you would; because you're a very smart and loyal house elf. I'm sorry I didn't think of it before. Thank you, Dobby."

Before he could start blubbering away again, the little elf popped away.

When the girls returned, they set to work on their assignments until they decided it was time to stop for dinner.

Packing their school work away, the girls returned to their rooms to change while Harry, once again, called Dobby.

When the elf popped in, he said, "The girls are now getting ready. Can you set up the table for us, please?"

With a firm nod, Dobby popped in a small round dining table that could nominally sit about six, three chairs spaced equidistant around it, a white linen tablecloth, centrepiece, place settings for three and condiments. He then ensured the fire was properly banked and dimmed the gaslights a little. Finally, he lit the candles and Daphne's rarely used wizarding wireless started up playing light music in the background.

"Wow, Dobby!" Harry softly exclaimed. "This is brilliant!"

Pleased, the elf popped away.

Instead of sitting down while he waited for the girls... his two ladies... to return, he quickly ducked into his own room and smartened himself up. He did up the top button of his shirt and pulled his tie all the way up against it, smoothed down his hair as best he could, straightened his sleeves and made sure his shirt was properly tucked in to his pants with his jumper pulled down to low on his hips. He looked like a prefect without the badge; or a Slytherin wearing Ravenclaw colours.

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