A Bundle of Easter Joy

Art by the wonderful @AnantaAI99

A year ago, Malfoy Manor was a far different place.

Today, Harry and Dracaena Potter's plans were coming to fruition.

Harry, with his new wife's support, had managed to convince both Lucius and Narcissa to have Harry's entire adopted family to come to Easter dinner. Both of the Potters had insisted, and both Lucius and Narcissa could easily see why. Harry and Dracaena had been avoiding them since their last visit to the Burrow for Christmas, but they had agreed to end that isolation now.

The Weasleys arrived in pairs, with Molly and Arthur arriving first. Lucius and Narcissa met them at the door. A stiff handshake and a curt nod was all the welcome the hosts could muster up, but it was far better than both sides expected.

Next came Charlie with a crack, Ginny by his side as she had not passed her Apparition Test just yet. Unsure of whether or not to enter, they each jumped as Ron and Hermione Granger appeared with a small pop.

"Blim- Ron, there you are!" The brothers hugged as Ginny and Hermione did as well.

"Ginny, how's your final year going? Ready for your N.E.W.T.s yet?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, actually. It's not as difficult this year, and in fact, I've been rather bored. All I do is schoolwork." They both laughed.

All four jumped this time as a crack and a bang broke the evening. Percy and Audrey Weasley, along with George and his girlfriend Angelina Johnson appeared just down the drive.

George immediately walked over to Percy and put him in a headlock.

"There you are, you bloody twat. Couldn't manage to drop by the shop and say hello? Had to get dragged out to this gloomy place just to see us all?"

Percy was able to push George off (with some effort) and then fix his hair.

"I've been busy with the Ministry. Shacklebolt has put a lot of trust in me and there's been so much to clean up since-"

A deep voice cleared his throat and all eyes moved to the front of the manor. Lucius and Narcissa were there, door open and watching as the pairs arrived..

"-the war." Percy finished.

"We'll have no talk of that here. The past is the past. Welcome to our home." Lucius spoke with disdain for the oncoming headache that he knew this night would bring.

The hosts and guests all stood there, unsure of what to do next, when the final pop of the night with Bill and Fleur Weasley appearing.

"Ah yes, the last of the extended Weasley... clan. Come in."

The pairs walked in two by two. Percy and Audrey walked up first, followed by George and Angelina. Bill with Fleur were close behind them, Bill pausing to stare at Lucius before continuing. Charlie and Ginny walked by without even a glance.

Ron and Hermione lingered as memories from their previous visit settled down. Hermione, after taking several deep breaths and with Ron's hand in hers, followed Ron approached their hosts.

"We... regret our lack of hospitality the last time you were here." Narcissa tried her best to be sincere, but years of animosity left their mark on her voice.

Ron was about to speak, but Hermione stopped him.

"Thank you," was the curt reply that Hermione could manage to say. A second passed as the two couples stared each other down, then Ron and Hermione turned to enter.

Joining the rest of the Weasleys in the foyer, there was surprising silence from this rare moment of the reunited family. Years of fighting had sharpened many of their senses, but this was a night of peace and there was no need for those long-useful skills.

"You are all here tonight at the request of my son-in-law and my daughter. I assume we will all keep that in mind." Lucius addresses their guests, waiting for the air pressure in the room to drop.

"They are okay, right?" Ron asked with the precision and courtesy of a sledgehammer, dripping with contempt.

"Ron!" whispered Hermione and pulling on his arm. Ron shrugged her off.

"I assure you, I would never harm a hair on my daughters head, Weasley. Nor would she allow me to harm a hair on Harry's head," Lucius walked over to Ron, looming only slightly over him. Arthur began to move towards his son, but stopped as Ron responded.

"Take us to them, then."

"In due time, Weasley. In due time." Lucius abruptly turned, offered his arm to his wife, and then the two Malfoys began to lead their guests down the halls to the dining room.

The dining room in Malfoy Manor was a welcome sight, compared to a year ago.

In that short time, the entire manor was transformed from a heart of darkness and the chief base for Voldemort. Warm colors filled the dining room, with bright green curtains along the high radius windows that flanked the main table. That table, draped in a light blue silk tablecloth, had silver candelabras along the center. Along each side was a squadron of tall-backed black wood chairs, with cloth seats matching the tablecloth. Sconces lit with magical orange flames flanked the windows and lit some of the walls, but they paled in comparison to the massive chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.

Each Weasley was guided to their seat, the men helping their dates. Charlie and Ginny giggled as they did it as well, exaggerating it for dramatic effect, That was the only break in the silence, save for the sound of chairs moving in and out. Lucius and Narcissa took their place at the head of the table and joined their guests in uneasy silence.

It was at that point that the side doors opened, and Harry walked in alone.

An ensemble of "Harry"s erupted out from the mostly red-haired bunch and all tried to stand, but Harry held out his hands.

"Please, sit. We'll have time for pleasantries later." Harry's terse command bewildered the Weasleys as they all returned back down from their half-standing positions.

"I'd like to welcome you all to Malfoy Manor, our home," Harry was entirely straight-faced, looking remarkably like his in-laws and even moreso like his wife. That is, except for a slowly growing Potter grin gaining steam as he spoke. "I've learned a lot here, and I'm happy that we get to spend Easter together. Both Dracaena and I have missed you all dearly. So without further ado, let me introduce my two favorite people: Dracaena Potter."

Dracaena walked in right on cue, failing just like Harry to hide her Potter grin. Harry reached out a hand to take one of his wife's, as her other was holding her now impossible-to-hide six month baby bump underneath her dress.

There was nothing anyone could do to stop the impending stampede.

Every single person in the room ran to the Potters (with a light huff from Lucius as he and Narcissa stood to join them), with Molly Weasley pushing her kids out of the way to make it first. Molly threw her arms around the two of them, pulling both of them in as tightly as she could manage.

"You two kept this a secret for this long? How..." Harry and Dracaena lost track of what Molly was saying as the rest of the Weasleys (and soon-to-be Weasleys) fired a crescendo of congratulations and questions.

"Congrats, Harry!"

"How far along, Dracaena?"

"I'm going to kill you for hiding this from us."

"Beat ol' Percy to the punch, didja? Well done, Harry!"

Harry held Dracaena close to his side as they answered each and every question and properly greeted everyone with either one-armed hugs or handshakes. The silent thanks from Dracaena came from her leaning her head on his shoulder, which was reciprocated with a kiss on top of her head when Harry had brief break from talking.

After several minutes of the pre-planned miniature press conferences, Harry was finally able to break the crowd apart.

"Alright, enough standing. My wife is tired and needs to sit. Besides, dinner will be getting cold. Please, sit." Harry led Dracaena by her hand, who frantically squeezed it three times for rescuing her from Hermione, Ginny, and Angelina taking Dracaena through an extra N.E.W.T.

Once again, the entire party made their way back to their seats, with Harry helping Dracaena sit beside him near the head of the table. Lucius rang a bell and Easter dinner appeared before them.

Now that the dam had broke, the rest of the evening was filled with the raucous din that Lucius was expected (and lacked the headache was also expecting). Looking over at his daughter and Harry, discussing with Arthur, Molly, Ron, and Hermione about what their plans were for the child, Lucius let himself smile.

Prospects were finally looking up for the future of the Malfoy family.