CH 46

"I do not know if that's because of the magic of the contract or not. But, I find myself not caring one way or the other. I am, however, very happy to discover I've gone from being an orphan with no family to speak of, to now being part of a newfamily, and treated as if I'm adopted by them."

It was getting pretty late, so the Prefects called an end to the talk and hustled all the First Years, including Harry, off to bed.

The next morning Harry met Hermione and Neville in the grand staircase as he was about to descend towards the Great Hall, when Hermione raced up to him like a bushy-haired missile and grapple-hugged him.

She quickly released him and stood back, then said, "Sorry, Harry. But, we were all really worried about you. It's good to see you back. I've read those books you gave me and want to know if you have any others. And I hope you really are alright."

"Wow!" said Harry. "Information all over the place there. Let's see if I can respond to each."

Pausing a second he said, "That's okay. Thank you for worrying; it shows you care. Thank you. Yes, I do; and yes, you can borrow them. And, yes, I'm really alright."

Hermione stood there blinking in confusion for a few seconds as Neville snickered a little, before Harry could see her work through his responses. When she was done, she looked at him and grinned. "Sorry," she said a bit sheepishly. "That really wasall over the place, wasn't it?"

Harry grinned back and nodded. He then asked, "Now, perhaps you can tell me why I've discovered, over the past couple of weeks, that young ladies have apparently decided they can run at me, grab me, and then proceed to hug the stuffing out of me."

With a matching grin she replied, "Well, I don't why you've only just discovered this, Harry. But, you're a pretty 'huggable' bloke, alright?"

With a bit of a shrug Harry said, "Well, I suppose so." Changing the subject he asked, "Are you coming down to breakfast? I promise to put on some pretty good entertainment for you. Since you've read those two books I loaned you, you should be able to easily enough follow what gets said and done." "Alright," she said, a little confused.

As they approached the doors of the Great Hall, Harry softly said to both Neville and her, "I'm going to sit you at the Hufflepuff table with Susan and Hannah for breakfast. And, yes, you're allowed to do that. It's in the rules. I'm going to be sitting at the Slytherin table with Daphne and Tracey. Sitting with Susan and Hannah will get you close enough to have a ringside seat of the entertainment when it starts."

"You're not out to get into trouble, are you?" asked Hermione, a little worriedly.

"Yes," replied Harry. "However, I actually won't be. Someone's in for a very rude surprise."

When they walked into the Great Hall, Harry, followed by Neville, led Hermione over to the Hufflepuff table. Susan and Hannah were already there and wearing wide grins.

Daphne had also arrived earlier and she and Tracey left a spot at the end of the Slytherin table. As Harry approached, Daphne subtly indicated to him the free spot for him to sit right next to her. Harry plonked himself down and, without a care in world, proceeded to happily make a breakfast for himself.

He was busily hoeing into a poached egg on toast with a side of bacon and calmly talking to Daphne between bites, when Professor Snape finally had enough and stormed over.

"Potter," he sneered. "What are you doing sitting at the Slytherin table?"

"Eating, Professor Snape; and talking to these two lovely ladies," he calmly replied, before returning to his breakfast. "Go back to your own table, Potter," snarled Snape. "You're notwelcome at the Slytherin table."

"Excuse me?" growled Harry.

"You heard me, Potter," Snape almost yelled. "Go back to your own table! And that will be twenty points from Ravenclaw for your cheek."

Changing targets to Daphne, he sneered contemptuously "And you, Greengrass; I would expect better of you than to mix with the likes of Potter."

Harry paused for a few seconds before carefully placing his cutlery down on his plate. Then he slowly stood in place and glared right back allowing his magic to flare as he did so - something he practiced while in hospital.

Snape at least had the gumption to only take half a pace back. "Potions Master Professor Severus Tobias Snape!" barked Harry loud enough for the entire Hall to hear. "You are interfering with the betrothal practices of not one but two - Noble and Most Ancient Houses..."

That made the man blanch a bit. The Hall was now dead silent. Not even moving cutlery could be heard as everyone watched the drama unfold.

"...You will immediately apologise to my betrothed, Miss Daphne Ophelia Greengrass, Heiress Presumptive of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Greengrass; and myself, Mister Harry James Potter, Head and Heir Apparent to the Lordship of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter; or I shall be forced to act accordingly, as per the old ways!" Snape visibly flinched and paled. Harry almost expected him to pass out. He heard from just along the Slytherin table a male voice softly mutter, "Oh, bloody hell!"

Keeping an eye on the man out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw that as soon as Dumbledore heard 'betrothal practices', the old man rapidly got to his feet and began to hurry over. He arrived just as Harry said 'old ways'.

"Now, Harry..." he began.

Harry, already knowing the old man was going to stick his beak in, was ready for him.

Snapping his head around to glare at the Headmaster, he barked, "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore of the Minor House of Dumbledore! You will not interfere in the business of two Ancient Houses. Back off or also face the consequences!"

Dumbledore, no fool, did actually back up a couple paces. However, he immediately turned to Snape and rapidly said, "Now, Severus; you really must apologise. What you did was wrong and against the school rules. There is no requirement for students to sit at their own House tables for any meal except the Sorting and Leaving feasts. I'm immediately reversing the points you took from Mister Potter as they were uncalled for. Now, apologise so we can be done with this matter."

As soon as Dumbledore backed up Harry immediately swivelled his glare back to Snape. He remained staring unblinking at the Potions Master while Dumbledore rapidly spoke. It took a few seconds after Dumbledore finished speaking before Snape finally muttered with a snarl, "I apologise."

Harry waited a beat or two before he roared back, "That was not acceptable! You will provide a proper apology that reflects the severity of your crime!"

A few moments more and Dumbledore softly said, "Severus..."

"I apologise to both you and Heiress Greengrass, Heir Potter!" Snape half-snarled a little louder. "My words were ill-thought and rude. I retract them, unreservedly!"

Harry paused for a long moment before turning to look down at Daphne. "Lady Daphne?" he softly asked.

Daphne gave a gentle nod in response, her face a mask.

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