[Fic]: Because It's the Custom

[ap_aelfwine]

Because It's the Custom
A Harry Potter ficlet by Andrew yclept Aelfwine
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The characters and situations of the Harry Potter series are copyright J.K. Rowling. They may not be used or reproduced commercially without permission. The use of these characters and situations is not to be construed as challenge to said copyright. They are merely borrowed for this work of non-commercial fanfiction, from which the author derives no financial benefit.
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PG-13; 720 words
Het warning, femmeslash warning, poly warning, AU warning, Halloween warning, yours truly warning
Triplings: Harry/Ginny/Luna; Kreacher/Winky/original female house elf character implied
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This was meant as a birthday ficlet for antoshevu, in response to the request: If inspiration strikes, perhaps a Nargle-themed ficlet/drabble on the subject of Halloween???.
Sorry it's so late!
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"Would you remind me again why we're doing this?" Harry said.

"Because it's the custom," Luna said. "Don't forget, rites such as these are developed for the purposes of propitiating the local land-spirits and maintaining the balance of nature. Living in America, it seems wise to do as the Americans do."

"Fine," Ginny said, "but I draw the line at playing Quodpot and drinking half-frozen watery beer-like fluid."

"And we're not doing either," Luna said. "This is simply a charming local custom. And quite aside from whatever benefits it may bring to our household over the course of our time here, the children will enjoy it. The fancy dress, the sweets, the decorations, the moonlit walk in the bracing autumn air, the sweets..."

"But surely we haven't got to put on fancy dress to take them from door to door," Harry said. "This stock is too tight, and I swear the fangs make my teeth itch."

Ginny stood on tiptoe and slid two fingers down Harry's carotid, ending beneath the neckcloth. "Vampires don't whinge, Harry. And it's loose enough. Besides, teeth don't itch. Certified Healer here, remember?"

"And you must realise, my love," Luna said, "that the fangs are decidedly... magnetic. You will leave them in, for a bit, after we've put the children to bed tonight? Won't you, please?"

"Only if you'll both leave yours in as well. And let me untie your corsets?"

"As long as we each may... help our lord to undress the other?" Ginny said.

"Of course." And quite suddenly, Harry found himself pressed up against the wall by his wives, with Luna's lips attached to his and Ginny nuzzling their cheeks. "Aren't you concerned for your makeup?" he said, once he was able to speak again.

"Silly Harry," Luna said, "we have magic to fix that with." And then Ginny had taken Luna's place. And thoughts of makeup were gone from his mind.

He was contemplating requesting Kreacher to distract the children for a few more minutes when he heard the mock retching. "Mum! Mama! Daaaad!" said James Xenophilus Potter.

"Beloved parental figures," said Molly Nymphadora Potter.

"Would you please get a room?" said Lily Minerva Potter.

"Master and Mistresses are being very naughty," Winky of House Potter declared.

"Sorry," Harry said, blushing. "Err... you'll understand when you're older."

"Winky is older, but Winky does not be sucking on Kreacher and Tinky's faces in public rooms."

"Hermione would be pleased to hear this," Harry muttered.

"Winky is surprised to be agreeing with She-Who-Knits."

"So," Harry said, "shall we be off treat-or-tricking?"

"They call it 'trick-or-treating,' Dad," James said.

"I rather prefer it," Lily said.

"The other way round," Molly said. "Not that I agree, mind you." Her twin mimed poking her with her pitchfork. Molly slipped her halo off her head and raised it as if to strike.

James brandished his cutlass. "Arr, me hearties! Ye'll be savin' yer weapons fer the scurvy dogs of the Royal Navy, or ye'll be marooned!"

"We are not--"

"Pirates, brother-dear."

There was a sudden pop. "Kreacher must warn the young misses and the young master that, if they are not moving out smartly, they may be reaching the De Burgh-Lee house only after the De Burgh-Lees are running out of the gourmet fudge and are switching to the Tootsie Rolls, which are being very similar to chocolate-flavoured wax."

"Not quite a fate worse than death," Molly said.

"But very close. Let us make all due haste." The children hastened towards the door, with Winky right behind them.

Harry offered each wife an arm. "Wait," said Ginny, "your whiteface--"

"Is slightly smeared." Luna slipped her wand out from behind her ear and repaired it with a quick charm.

Harry shook his head. "The Terrible Two would be outraged if they heard their own mothers robbing their act off them."

"Why? It is quite obvious--"

"That they have robbed it off us."

"We simply limit ourselves--

"Most of the time--"

"To nonverbal--"

"And non-sisterly--"

"Venues."

"Speaking of which," Ginny said.

"Let us depart," Harry said.

"For Halloween-enthused offspring await us," Luna said.

"And besides," said Ginny, "the American Teal-crested Snorkack is often seen spotted shadowing trick-or-treaters. Not because it likes sweets, but because it finds the plastic and waxed-paper wrappers absolutely delicious."

Here Endeð þe Fic

Comments

[pettybureaucrat.livejournal.com]

That was a very delightful treat. Most amusing.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[antoshevu.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Hey, I'm still 46—I'll happily accept this as a very lovely b-day present! :-D

I love the dynamic here—both that among the Nargles themselves and that between the parents and the kids. Can you imagine having Harry, Ginny and Luna for parents? It might be entertaining, but you'd never get away with anything, and all of that parental smooching? Bleh! XD

I particularly loved the twins, and Luna and Ginny's version thereof. Sweet and funny. My favorite!

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome!

Glad you liked the dynamics. Growing up with them for parents would be interesting, I expect.* I've never really thought about it before, probably cos I'm usually thinking about what it would be like to be them. ;-)

I particularly loved the twins, and Luna and Ginny's version thereof. Sweet and funny. My favorite!

Thanks again! I'm not sure where the twins came from, but once they'd shown up, it was obvious that they'd play the twin-dialogue game. The trickiest bit was figuring out what their full names would be. As well as what costumes they'd wear. ;-)

*In the sense of the curse?

[antoshevu.livejournal.com]

I had an image of Molly and Lily as shoulder-devil/angels.... :-)

And yeah, being them (H/G/L) is an intriguing thought, isn't it?

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I had an image of Molly and Lily as shoulder-devil/angels.... :-)

That's sort of how I was thinking of them, also. I thought of writing them as having each a little devil/angel pair on her shoulder (a charm, naturally), but I couldn't make it work. I also thought of writing them as being dressed as a pair of devil/angels--each with horns and a halo--but somehow that just didn't work, either.

And yeah, being them (H/G/L) is an intriguing thought, isn't it?

I certainly think so. ;-)

[dukebrymin.livejournal.com]

Rather sweet and fun to read.
Thanks!