CH 39

Harry gave a shrug and small smile is response.

"Okay, Mister Smarty-pants!" she said, once she'd calmed down a bit. "What about who becomes your physicalguardian?"

Harry thought for a bit, thinking about how to broach the idea he'd developed over the past few days. Looking up, he asked, "As divorce is incredibly rare in the wizarding world, what does the wizarding world know of co-parenting?"

"It's unheard of but I understand, somewhat, how it works in the muggle world," she said, before stopping to think for a moment. "Let's see - the parents of children separate and/or divorce. The legal system then allocates parenting responsibilities as and when needed. Sometimes a child will be housed part-time with one parent, and the rest of the time with the other. Even if one or both parents remarry, the system can remain in place until such time as the concept is revisited, the child becomes of age, or one parent dies."

Nodding, Harry said, "I want to do something like that. Neville is my godbrother and, by rights, we should have grown up together as brothers. I want to establish that - by spending a greater amount of time staying at Longbottom Hall to develop that relationship. However, I'm also now betrothed to Daphne and I need to develop a decent relationship with her; so, I still want to spend quite some time at Greengrass Estate. I would also like to spend a little time with you and Susan, occasionally, at Bones Manor.

"Doing that will mean the 'Light' families will know I'm being raised by a 'Light' family; the Longbottoms. The traditionalists will see I'm honouring the requirements of the betrothal contract, and the 'Dark' families will see I'm honouring the Blacks, by being raised by a 'Dark Grey' family; the Greengrasses. And you're in a position to provide balance from a law and order point of view.

"I don't know how to break down that into logical allotments of time; but, I'm sure we can all work something out. And the time periods I'm talking about here, now that I've started at Hogwarts, aren't all that long. In essence, you become my co-parents. That is, of course, if any or all of you are willing to have me around underfoot." "Sweet Merlin, that's brilliant!" Amelia said softly. She took a few moments before coming to a decision of her own. "I'm definitely going to have to review this conversation through my own pensieve. Even I'm doubtful I'm going to remember this right.

"Actually," she said, thinking about it, "I'm going to bring a pensieve with me when I visit you again tonight. I'll also ask Cygnus, Isabel and Augusta to join me, I think. Then we can all sit down and discuss it before the Wizengamot session, which is likely to be held on the weekend.

In the mean time, she said, reaching into her robes, "I need those memories we discussed earlier..."

Tracey and Daphne walked side by side into the Great Hall to have breakfast still feeling a little lethargic from a midnight Astronomy lesson the night before. Slumping onto the bench seat at the Slytherin table she dropped her head to the table top and moaned, "Why did we have to come to breakfast, again? Everyone else is still asleep."

"One, because breakfast is the most important meal of the day; and, two, because I'm expecting a letter from Harry," said Daphne, no less tired and a little cranky because of it.

"Hedwig would have known to deliver your letter at lunch if you were still asleep," grizzled Tracey. "You know that. C'mon, as well as being Harry's personal post owl, she's also his familiar. She'd have known to wait."

"What's wrong with Tracey?" asked Susan, who'd approached and was taking seat opposite. "Tracey thinks it's much too early in the morning after an astronomy lesson to be out of bed," moaned the girl in question.

"Tracey didn't have an afternoon nap, as her Head of House suggested she do, early yesterday; so she wouldn't have as much of a problem, this morning," replied Daphne.

"I was talking to Blaise!" she whined back.

"And that's why Blaise hasn't joined us for breakfast, this morning," said Daphne.

With a sigh, the girl lifted her head from the table and said, "Alright. I'll have breakfast and pretend to be as chipper as Miss Bones, here. But, I'm skiving off History of Magic and going back to bed. You can come and wake me before we have Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall."

"Deal," said Daphne. The three girls chatted throughout breakfast with Daphne constantly searching the ceiling looking for the first approach of morning owls. As such, she was the first to see them starting to stream in through the windows.

"Here she comes," she said with not a little excitement.

Hedwig came soaring in on a gentle stoop glide directly down to the table top immediately in front of the girl. Daphne, for her part, already held a piece of bacon up in her left hand, ready.

As soon as Hedwig landed Daphne was handing off her piece of bacon to the bird and immediately removed the small piece of parchment tied to the owl's harness.

Excitedly, she unrolled the parchment and began to read; absentmindedly stroking Hedwig's scalp feathers as she did. "Harry says he's likely to be released tomorrow - meaning today, and will join us for dinner tonight," she softly squealed. "He's looking forward to being sorted and beginning his wizarding education - He'll finally be handing over his memories of that night and the next to Madam Bones tomor… today - because his Occlumency mindscape and shields are back in place, better than ever - and he misses me!" She gave another soft squeal crumpling the parchment to her chest."

"I guess that's why Hedwig left," said Susan. "She knew you wouldn't be sending a response with her, seeing as he'll be here tonight before he'd receive it."

"Huh?" said Daphne, not even noticing that the owl had already left. "Oh!" she said, when she did. "Well, that was exciting," Tracey deadpanned before begging, "Can I please go back to bed, now?"

"If you must," sighed Daphne. "Just - be careful heading back there. I don't see Malfoy or his two goons around here. But, I suspect the three of them are still in bed, anyway."

"Yes, Mum," the girl mocked in response. She then rose wearily to her feet, collected her book bag, and left the Hall.

Turning to Susan, Daphne asked, "So, any word from your aunt about what happened on Sunday night?"

With a bit of a shrug, Susan replied, "I know she's been really busy dealing with what she calls - the fallout of what happened. But, she's not discussed it with me. I do know she's been spending a bit of time with your Dad and Neville's Gran, though. That can't be a coincidence."

Before any more could be said, Professor Snape has hovering over them. "Is there a reason a Hufflepuff is sitting at the Slytherin table, Miss Bones?"

"Yes, Professor," replied Susan a little meekly.

Waiting a moment, probably expecting the girl to say why and then not, the Professor said, "Then, perhaps, if your business is concluded, you should return to your own table."

"Yes, Professor," she replied again, a little dejected, before rising to her feet and going to her own table.

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