HPWW131-140

Chapter 131

With eight sitting down to eat, the table didn't need to

be stretched or chairs be conjured. So seating was

comfortable.

Seating went clockwise: Wendell, Andromeda, Harry,

Tonks, Monica, Sirius, Hermione and with Ted on

Wendell's right.

"Alright, Harry," said Wendell, as they all sat. "Tell us

what we've got."

Indicating the dishes, Harry replied, "Slow-cooked

roast lamb in a water-based herb sauce; roasted

potato, sweet potato, carrots and brown onion

sprayed before final baking with a very light cannola

oil to give them crisp; steamed shucked corn and

peas; with lamb gravy. For dessert, it's my own

invention; pear cobbler in a pie flan with a rolled oats

crumble, with your choice of thickened unsweetened

cream or vanilla ice-cream dollops on top to cut

through the sweetness for those who prefer their

desserts with less of a sugary bite."

Tonks turned to look at him in awe and asked, "You

cooked this?"

"Yep," he smiled. "I found that I'm pretty good at it.

Before I got my Hogwarts letter I was going to see if I

could apply for an apprenticeship as a chef when I got

older."

"Please, help yourselves," smiled Wendell

remembering the wizarding custom, while also

reaching for one of the serving tureens.

After her first cut and bite of lamb Tonks quietly

moaned. When she swallowed her mouthful she said,

"Merlin! The lamb just dissolves in your mouth!"

She then very quickly sampled the rest before turning

to look back at Harry, again in awe. "Marry me!" she

begged.

Scandalised, her mother exclaimed, "Nymphadora!"

Ted snickered.

"What?" Tonks innocently asked back. "I can't cook

like this!"

Harry laughed and said, "Now you see why I had

aspirations of being a chef when I grew up."

Monica glanced to her own daughter and saw the

slight frown she was giving the Tonks girl. Her eyes

twinkled with mirth as she watched.

It was lost on Hermione, though. The girl didn't see it;

but Wendell saw both his ladies' reactions.

As the meal progressed, Ted and Wendell fell into an

animated discussion about the differences in law

between the wizarding world and muggle just as Harry

thought they would; Monica was quizzing Sirius on

the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, with

specifics of Harry's parents; Hermione was talking

across the table with Tonks about working in the

Ministry and as an auror and why aurors were now

conflicted about serving a duty or two in the Granger

home (the conflict was due to feeling like idiots on

one hand against the opportunity for a delicious meal

on the other); and Harry was talking with Andi,

jumping subjects between healing and cooking

techniques.

When the dessert was served the Grangers went for

the unsweetened cream while Harry, Sirius and the

Tonkses went for the ice-cream. Then Tonks also

added a dollop of cream, because she wanted to

sample both.

One of the subjects raised was Harry finding out from

Sirius that Lady Griselda Marchbanks of the WEA had

been appointed Headmistress.

"How'd they manage that?" asked Harry. "I thought

they couldn't fire him."

"The Wizengamot couldn't fire him, dear," said Andi.

"But, the School Board found a way around that."

"Well, they didn't actually fire him," said Ted. "Just

replaced him. Dumbledore is the only remaining

member of staff who holds tenure. However, his

tenure only applies to being a professor.

"So, they removed him from the post of Headmaster,

declared it vacant, invited Griselda Marchbanks to fill

the post, ratified that and she's now Headmistress.

"Dumbledore's back to being a normal professor; of

Transfigurations, I believe. And Griselda has no plans

on even allowing him to be Deputy Headmaster or a

Head of House."

Sirius added, "When he came here earlier today and

tried to get in, he had actually left the school without

authorisation. Apparently, Lady Marchbanks is

unhappy with him about that. And was even unhappier

when she found out he won't be able to return to the

castle until after lunch on Monday; which means he'll

have missed the morning, too."

"But, with no classes on―" said a confused

Hermione.

"Irrelevant," he grinned. "He's required to be at the

school on time and during school hours unless given

leave to be otherwise. Even if classes aren't on at the

moment, he still left the school during school hours

without authorisation from the new Headmistress.

He's in trouble with her for that."

Harry was snickering and said, "Therefore, he's now

either simply 'Professor Dumbledore' in the informal;

or 'Albus Dumbledore, Professor of Transfigurations'

in the semi-formal. He must really hate that."

"Worst than that," grinned Sirius. "He's lost control of

the wards of the castle. Marchbanks wrested control

of them from him, plus the Headmaster's...

Headmistress's... office and apartments.

"From what I've been able to find out, he was away

from the castle trying to go visit Minnie - where she's

now back living in her family village in the highlands

of Scotland - when the wards were stripped from him.

He quickly tried to apparate back to the castle and

bounced off the wards.

"When he bounced off yours it was the second time

that day he'd hit wards and bounced."

Harry outright laughed, but he wasn't the only one.

The Granger adults only appeared amused at the

laughter.

Wendell asked, "I take it it's a 'big thing' to bounce off

wards?"

"As well as being rude? Try it with some wards and

it'll kill you," replied Sirius, turning serious. "He was

lucky neither set of wards were set to kill. That's why

he was so battered and bruised after hitting the wards

here. He'd only just recovered from his attempt at the

castle a couple hours earlier."

"I just had these ones set to stun," explained Harry.

"He dislocated his shoulder when he landed on the

ground from bouncing off the wards. The wards didn't

do that."

"The poor Headmaster," said Hermione, a little sadly.

"No, Miss Granger," Andi firmly rebutted. "That's the

lingering effects of the potions speaking. You need to

accept that everything that has... and likely will...

befall that old man is entirely his own fault and cause.

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Chapter 132

"His own behaviour has caused him to lose his

multitude of positions, just as it has for quite a few

others who had fallen under his sway. His own

arrogance had him trying to apparate into the castle

when he knew he couldn't when he felt the wards shift

away from him; and when he tried to apparate into

your home, here.

"If he had any respect for you and your family he

would have apparated to the path outside your

property line and walked up to the door and knocked,

just as we did and Dora did later. It is the height of illmannered rudeness to do otherwise. The fact he felt

himself above such is arrogance in the extreme."

When Hermione sadly nodded that she understood,

Harry said, "I'm actually looking forward to what will

befall him yet.

"After all the manipulative things he's tried against me

I feel Kismet must be a god or goddess, after all."

"Harry, that's not nice," said Hermione.

"Hermione," he said back. "After finding out what he

did to you, what he did to me, what he did to a whole

lot of others, do you expect him not to be punished in

some way? He escaped what I firmly believe is a very

well-deserved prison sentence―"

"As do I," said Andi, while Sirius nodded.

"... So proper punishment has to come to him some

other way," he continued to explain. "If he is not

punished then he will go on believing himself to be in

the right."

"It is the foreknowledge of what punitive action will or

should be taken that should sway man from taking

unjust action which would be met with such. If it does

not, then that punitive action becomes the righteous

reaction and must be dealt," said Wendell. "If the

punitive action is not delivered when the unjust action

is taken then the strength of the law is weakened.

"It's one of the precepts I learned when studying to be

a JP."

"That's quite profound," said Ted.

"Which proves I did not come up with it," smirked

Wendell.

That had both men, and quite a few others, laughing.

Looking across the table, Harry could see Hermione

now understood.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Soon after dinner and with the thanks of the Tonkses

for a delicious meal - and the thanks back of the

Grangers for the alert regarding the potions issue with

Hermione - the Tonkses soon walked out the door,

down the path and apparated away.

But, before she left, Andi told Harry she'd have what

potions he needed to take delivered to him by house

elf the next morning, together with instructions on

when to take them and how often.

Harry didn't remember until the very last moment to

give Ted his letter, so raced upstairs, grabbed it, and

returned with it before handing it over.

"I was going to mail this but, when I found out you

were coming over, I delayed sending it to hand it to

you," he explained. "Please consider it and let me

know when you can."

Ted quickly read it, gave him a nod and said, "As soon

as I can, Lord Potter."

Sirius informed Andi he'd be along in a little while and

hung back to talk to Harry.

"Now, Harry," he said, turning to his godson. "When

Andi looked like she was going to tear off and hunt

down Dumbledore, why did you choose to physically

restrain her?"

"How else..." he began to ask when it dawned on him.

"Oh, damn."

"You're legally an of-age wizard, Harry," he gently

reminded him. "That means you're legally allowed to

use magic outside of school."

Harry sighed and said, "I should have either petrified

her or tied her with an Incarcerous." He also only

remembered then that the property had a ward that

blocked 'The Trace' and he'd forgotten that, too.

"Exactly," said Sirius.

"My only excuse is that I'm not used to being able to

do that," he sighed.

"Something to work on, then," said his godfather. "I'd

recommend you start performing little bits of magic

about the place while you're here."

"I'd thought of that before but, with Hermione not

being allowed, I didn't want it to seem like I was

rubbing her face in it," he explained.

"No, he's right, Harry," she piped up. "You need to get

into the habit. I understand."

Harry nodded to her and said, "Thank you." But also

swore to tell her about the ward, so she could cast

magic, too.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The next day was a Sunday so, if it was like the

Dursleys, it would be a very laid back day. He had no

idea what times the Grangers would awaken but, if

Hermione developed her habit from her parents, then

they'd not be sleeping in, either. So he was up early to

try and beat Dobby to the kitchen.

He already knew he was wasting his time as he knew

Dobby knew when he woke. However... maybe... he'd

one day catch the elf flat-footed and beat him to the

kitchen.

Harry had just walked into the kitchen to see how

Dobby was getting on with breakfast - already started,

so he lost again - when he noticed Hermes, Percy

Weasley's owl, sitting on the window ledge looking at

him.

'Of course the damned bird would aim for the kitchen,'

he thought. "It's a Weasley owl.'

He grabbed an owl treat from out of the container left

on the fridge, moved over to the dinette and opened

the window there. And Hermes flew in before alighting

on the dinette table.

Harry removed the letter that was apparently for him

and gave the bird the treat. It immediately flew out,

again.

"Damned bird is as 'stuck-up' as its master,' he

distractedly thought.

After first checking to make sure it was for him and

not Hermione he unfolded it, sat at the table and read

it.

~ # ~

Harrikins!

Mum asked Ron to send you a letter inviting you to

come and stay with us for the break. With the Durlays

locked up she thinks you have nowhere to stay. Don't

know why.

But Ron refused. The git. He's now de-gnoming the

garden and isn't allowed back in the house until

dinner.

So, we said we'd write to 'Poor Harry' and let him

know he's invited.

You ready?

You're invited to come stay with us for the break that

has no end in sight! Yay!

There, done.

Of course, we know you're probably with Sirius,

catching up with one another and getting to know one

another all over again, but that's Mum for you.

To save us from Mum's shrill voice claiming we never

sent you the invitation because we never heard back,

please do us the righty by writing back.

We'd appreciate it.

F & G

~ # ~

With a snort of amusement he thought, 'Typical twins.'

He refolded the note and put it in his pocket. He'd

show Hermione when she came down for breakfast.

And, as if he'd called her down just by thinking about

her, he heard her bare feet trying to both run down the

stairs and be quiet at the same time so as not to

disturb her parents.

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Chapter 133

She almost gaily bounced into the room a few

seconds later. "Good morning, Harry!" she chirped.

"Morning, Hermione," he said.

"What's for breakfast?" she asked.

"I haven't had a chance to check," he replied. "I'd just

walked into the kitchen when I spotted Percy's owl,

Hermes, sitting on the windowsill, staring at me as if

I'd done something wrong.

"Hermes?" she asked, abandoning looking at what

Dobby was preparing and coming around the kitchen

bench.

Harry pulled the letter back out of his pocket and

handed it to her. "The twins somehow convinced him

to loan them his owl. I suspect their mother's shrill

voice in that."

As she read through it, she frowned. "So, Ronald's

still being a git. And they think you're with Sirius."

The venom she put in the name 'Ronald' pleased him.

"Yep, to both," he replied. "And I'm kinda happy with

everyone thinking I'm with Sirius. Less chance of

people turning up here uninvited, that way."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

A little later in the morning Harry was back in his room

when he learned Andi was back at the Grangers; even

though he'd already felt the ward that alerted him to

there being a magical on the property. When she was

let in by one of the aurors of that morning, Dobby

popped in to inform him she was there.

Setting aside his current letter, he went downstairs

and found her talking with Monica and Wendell in the

parlour.

"Good morning," he smiled. When he saw the rack of

potions she was carrying he snarked, "You're a little

tall for a house elf."

The look she gave him had Monica snickering at him.

"That's enough out of you, scamp," Andi sternly said.

Harry impudently grinned and gave a shrug back. "I

have to find my amusement, somewhere."

After she rolled her eyes at him she gestured for him

to come forward. "I've just been discussing with the

good doctors here your treatment," she explained.

When she showed him the potions and how the vials

refilled after it was taken each time, she explained,

"When it no longer refills it means that particular

course is complete. Hear me well; it is not complete

until it no longer refills. Got me?"

"Errr... yes?" he replied.

After another pointed look he sighed and said, "Yes,

Healer Tonks."

Then she used a charm to copy the instructions and

handed him one. He took one look at it and blanched.

"No way!" he quietly exclaimed.

"Yes way!" she shot back. "Or, you're coming home

with me, where I can keep an eye on you and make

sure you take them."

"He will," said Monica, who also turned 'that look' on

him.

'Jeez!' he thought. 'What is it with older women and

that look. Or, is it just mothers?'

"Fiiiiiiine!" he sighed. "I'll be the good little wizarding

Head of a Noble and Most Ancient House and take my

medicine."

"Good boy," said Andi, as if there could be no other

answer.

"When do I start?" he asked, defeated.

"Now," she replied. Handing the rack to Monica she

pulled two out and said, "Down these. You might want

to take the blue one first. It tastes worse and the green

one will help wash the taste out."

Harry gave her his own 'I'm only doing this because

you're making me' look, uncorked the blue one and

downed it. Wrinkling his nose at the taste, he then

uncorked and downed the green one. At least this one

had a slight minty taste to it.

Taking them back she said, "Now watch." And

dropped both, re-corked, into the rack in their right

places. A few moments later, they both slowly refilled.

"See?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," he quietly replied.

"Good," she nodded. Turning to Monica she said, "I'll

leave these in your capable hands. I need to head off

because I have a shift starting soon at Saint Mungo's."

"Take care," said both Grangers. Harry just gave her a

nod.

She was gone a few seconds later.

With a sigh and another look at the rack, Harry said,

"I'll be back up in my room writing letters."

"And I'll put these on the bench in the kitchen," said

Monica.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

He was only partway up the stairs as Hermione was

coming down. "Who was that?" she asked.

"Andi," he replied. "She came to personally deliver my

potions."

"She's gone again?"

"Yep. Had to get to Saint Mungo's to start a shift."

"Where're the potions?" she asked.

"Your mother's putting them on the kitchen bench," he

distractedly replied.

"Thank you," she said, continuing down.

As he continued up, Harry frowned for a moment

before he leaned over the bannister to call to her.

"And don't go playing with them!"

"I won't!" he heard her call back.

When Harry re-entered his room it wasn't to write

more letters, as he'd told the Grangers and Andi. Yes,

he had been writing letters, but most of the time he

spent analysing his relationship with Hermione and

the rest of the girls at school, as Wendell suggested.

He had been going through each of the girls he

actually had anything to do with and thinking about

how he felt around them, if they actually meant

anything to him, did he actually want to spend any

more time with them, if he thought they'd want to

spend any more time with him, did they see him as

just Harry, that sort of thing.

And, no matter how many other girls he thought about

while building his list, there was only one girl who fit

the bill of 'girlfriend material'. "Hermione," he sighed.

'Face it, ya git!' he thought. 'You're in love with your

best friend. And not as a "big sister", either.'

But, how did he tell her? And, if he told her, would it

ruin what they now had? Was it worth the risk? What

if she would be appalled by the idea? But, maybe she

wasn't. According to Wendell, she loved him back.

And, he was her father and should know, right?

He didn't know the main variable, so couldn't logically

solve the problem. Did she, or would she, love him

back?

He sat at the desk and leaned back on his chair while

fiddling with his quill. His list, now written, laying on

the desk before him.

He'd once heard Vernon say to Petunia, "Always make

a list when you're trying to work something out, Pet. It

makes it much easier. The trick is working out the

important categories. That's hard."

He found it actually worked. It was not something he

expected, truth be told.

Eventually, to clear his mind before he next analysed

his list, he decided to finally finish his letter to the

twins. His letter had to be carefully written because, if

any other member of the family got hold of it, he didn't

want them learning anything important he wouldn't

want them to know - especially Ron and Molly.

~ # ~

Fred and George Weasley

The Burrow

Ottery St. Catchpole

Devon

Hi guys,

I know you've probably been wondering, 'What

happened to Harry Potter to make him so different?'

So, I thought I'd let you know more of what's going on.

As I said in the First Task of the Tri-Wizard

Tournament, the Harry Potter everyone thought they

knew wasn't real. It was a personal façade I created

well before I started at Hogwarts to hide the real me;

to protect the real me.

When people in the wizarding world think of 'Harry

Potter', they think of all different possibilities. For

example, some think he's some mythical child hero

they read about in a fictional book (or books) about

his life and his adventures. Some think he's nothing

but a fraud, a liar and a cheat. Some think he's this

small, scrawny, underfed, innocent little boy, who

turned up at Kings Cross Station wearing what

amounted to little more than rags. Some think he's a

'Dark Lord Slayer', ready to go out and kill the next

one who pops up. Some think he's a Dark Lord

himself, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Some

think he was Dumbledore's personally-trained

replacement. And a very small few had no idea what to

think of him.

Of all those, the last is probably the most accurate.

They, at least, reserved judgement.

I am, in reality, Lord Harrison 'Harry' James Potter,

Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter,

Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of

Black, Member-in-waiting of the Wizengamot, by right

of blood 'One of the Seven'. I am the only born child of

James Charlus Potter and Lily Marie Potter née Evans.

I'm also, Marauder-wise, son of Prongs, godson of

Padfoot, honourary nephew of Moony and oncehonourary nephew of the since Marauder-disowned

Wormtail (Pettigrew). And known, Marauder-wise, as

'Prongslet', 'Pup' and 'Cub'. A war orphan.

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Chapter 134

Now, think about that name I wrote at the top of the

previous paragraph. That's my true name with the

diminutive of my first name included in quote marks.

Now think of what name came out of the Goblet of

Fire? See the issue? My real name did not come out of

the Goblet. Therefore, I am not required to compete.

However, Albus Too-Many-Middle-Names Dumbledore,

Igor Karkaroff, Olympe Maxime, Barty Crouch Sr and

Ludo Bagman all said I had to compete. In that room

at that time were also Cedric Diggory, Victor Krum,

Fleur Delacour, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape

and the one everyone thought was Alastor Moody,

retired Master Auror - adults all. Of those, I know for

fact Albus Dumbledore, Barty Crouch Sr, Minerva

McGonagall and Severus Snape all knew my real first

name is Harrison, not Harry. I'm also pretty sure that

Ludo Bagman also knew that and Karkaroff and

Maxime probably did, too. And yet, not one of them

said that, as the name was not Harrison Potter - or,

better still, Harrison James Potter - the contract

forcing me to compete was void.

Not one of them stepped forward to say something

along the lines of, "Now, wait a minute. His name's not

actually 'Harry Potter'."

Instead, something else happened that even I did not

foresee at the time.

Albus Dumbledore had claimed 'magical

guardianship' of me. We three, as do practically

everyone else now, know that he actually wasn't - it

was Sirius Black. However, Albus Dumbledore was

registered at the Ministry as my magical guardian,

legally; even though magically it was Sirius Black.

I now remind you of what Dumbledore said when he

first announced the Tri-Wizard Tournament coming to

Hogwarts on the evening of the 1st September. He

said, in part, "Only those who are of-age are allowed

to compete."

In that ante-chamber off the Great Hall after my alter-

name came out, he said, "I'm sorry, Harry. But, I'm

afraid you must compete."

He was then backed up by the others. Not one

stepped forward to say, "No" - except Snape. When

pressed, Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch Sr, Igor

Karkaroff and Olympe Maxime all individually agreed.

Therefore, on that night, the following legal entities all

verbally and individually declared me of-age: My

legally recognised magical guardian, the Supreme

Mugwump of the ICW, the Chief Warlock of the

Wizengamot, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Highmaster of

Durmstrang Institute, the Headmistress of

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the Director of the

Department of International Magical Cooperation of

the Ministry of Magic and the Director of the

Department of Magical Games and Sports of the

Ministry of Magic.

Of all those, I actually only needed the first one to

declare it and the third and fourth to agree. That they

all resided inside the body of one wizard, Albus

Dumbledore, is irrelevant. Because, legally, he is (was)

four different people; three of whom each had the

authority, with the backing of the other two. That all

those others were there and agreed was, as the

muggles say, 'icing on the cake'.

So, because I was declared of-age on that night, I

instantly became a full adult under Wizarding Britain

law; with all rights and responsibilities of an adult

under law. I cannot even be considered to 'only' be an

emancipated minor because of the legal definition of

'of-age'. As such, as the then Heir Apparent of the

Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, I also

instantly became a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient

House, One of the Seven.

In a written conversation with my account manager at

Gringotts, carried out through letters carried back and

forth for security and speed of travel by my loyal

house elf, the Goblins agreed. Immediately on their

agreement, I snuck out of the school - even though, as

a supposed champion, I was lawfully allowed to come

and go as I pleased - and went to Gringotts to

complete the necessary parchmentwork, take up my

Head of House ring and make a start on the massive

backlog of House business parchmentwork that

awaited me. A lot accumulates in almost fourteen

years.

Now to bring you up-to-date with recent happenings.

I know some of this has been reported in the Daily

Prophet, but I also know how much of a 'smotherer'

your mother is when it comes to 'her kids' being kept

up-to-date with what's going on in the wider world. I

would also be very doubtful if you haven't read it

since you've been home, anyway.

Sirius Black, aka my godfather, aka 'Padfoot', aka

'Snuffles', aka Lord Sirius Orion Black III of the Noble

and Most Ancient House of Black, has taken up his

Headship and, even though I no longer have any need

of one, is now my Acting Regent. He and I are now

'catching up on lost opportunities'.

Hermione has informed me she has learned she was

under a loyalty potion that dates back somewhere at

either end of first year or the beginning of second

year. It was keyed to Albus Dumbledore and your

brother, Ronald. On learning of it she was at first

shocked, then appalled, then furious. Now, she's

joined what I'm sure is a very long list of individuals

who, if they get the chance, will kill Albus

Dumbledore. Little Miss 'You Must Respect Authority'

Granger is gone; now, she's Miss 'Screw You! You

Wrinkle-Arsed, Manipulative, Potion-Dosing Wanker!'

Granger. Fair warning, guys: Don't piss her off.

While I no longer consider Ronald a friend, I do you

two; so, you'd best let him know - or not. I've warned

you, so I'm free of guilt if he falls afoul of her. The

same sort of guilt Ronald should be feeling in not

telling me a week in advance that I'd be facing a

dragon in the First Task, as your brother Charlie

bloody well told him to.

Sirius has also kept me apprised of what's happening

at the school, as has Madam Bones.

Dumbledore has been ousted as Headmaster. As he

holds tenure as a Professor, the only member of staff

still there that does, they can't get rid of him

completely until he does something so egregious

against the school that they can terminate that tenure.

But they could, and did, boot him all the way back to

'just' a Professor.

Lady Griselda Marchbanks has been appointed

Headmistress. She's the lady that normally Heads the

Wizarding Examinations Authority. She was once

Acting Deputy Headmistress, before Minerva

McGonagall ascended to that position. And was also

Head of Ravenclaw House, before Filius Flitwick

ascended to that position. She is not only this little

thing who walks with a cane, she is a powerful little

witch. Do not expect her to be as forgiving as Albus

Dumbledore regarding your pranks. I have been

informed she will not hesitate to hand you over to the

DMLE if you harm someone with one or without. She's

also not adverse to using that cane of hers as

something the Irish call a 'shillelagh' - a long-handled

cudgel. I've been told even sitting Lords have found

themselves whacked across their shins with it when

she felt they deserved it.

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Chapter 135

McGonagall's gone, completely, never allowed to even

visit. Flitwick has lost his position as Head of

Ravenclaw House - due, in part, to the bullying that

Luna Lovegood has suffered - and is never allowed a

position above simple Professor ever again. Snape's

gone, prison for life. Sprout has managed to retain her

positions, the only one of the senior staff to do so.

Hagrid is back to being only the Groundskeeper and

Keeper of the Keys and no longer CoMC Professor;

and is forever banned from another position in charge

of children, including leading the first years from the

train to the castle over the lake. Binns has been

exorcised, finally. Pomfrey, after finding out

Dumbledore had dosed her with loyalty potions (like

Hermione) and been Obliviating her, came all-tooclose to losing her magic through breaking her oath

as a medi-witch, so has quit.

If you think I'm the slightest bit sorry to have been the

trigger that started all that happening, you are - like

I've been calling a lot of wizards and witches, of late -

daft morons.

I did not 'set' any of them up to take a fall, as some

I've heard about think and have said. Each and every

one of them, with the exception of Poppy Pomfrey,

made their own choices and they were the wrong

ones. I just brought it into the light of day. Now they're

paying the price for those wrong choices. Therefore,

for each of them, it's their own damned fault.

I have no idea when classes are going to recommence

- and, therefore, the school returns to being a school

again - but I've been assured Headmistress Lady

Marchbanks will be working hard to see that happen

as soon as possible. Just don't expect it to be until

after the Christmas break at the earliest.

As for the invitation to come and visit, I don't think

that would be wise due to Ronald's recent behaviour

and my actions leading to your mother being fined for

breaching the Statute of Secrecy back on 1st

September, 1991. However, thank you, anyway.

Now that I know Dumbledore will still be a professor at

the school, even if it's in a much diminished capacity,

I'll be in talks with Lord Black and others as to

whether or not I'll ever be returning to Hogwarts. As

an adult, I have no legal requirement to. However, I do

wish to complete my education. That may now very

well be through private tutors. It's not as if I cannot

afford them.

Because of her feelings towards Dumbledore, I'm in

negotiations with Hermione's father about her joining

me. As my best friend, bar none, I'm determined to

protect her.

Take care, you two.

Harry

~ # ~

Because he wanted to make sure the twins received

the letter and it wasn't first intercepted by Molly, Harry

called Dobby. He felt safe doing so as Hedwig was

already out delivering a letter to Angelina Johnson, in

which he apologised for what he said about quitting

the Gryffindor Quidditch team. But, stood by his

decision.

"Yes, Master Harry?" asked Dobby.

Harry handed him the letter and said, "Sorry, buddy. I

need you to act as an instant delivery mail owl again."

He handed him the letter and said, "Can you please

put a charm on this so only Fred or George Weasley

can read it and deliver it into their hands? They

should be at The Burrow. Just don't do it until one or

the other is alone, or the two are together alone. Got

that?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf. "Dobby

understands." Before he popped away.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At The Burrow, Dobby had handed Fred the letter from

Harry and the twins had read it together.

"What do you think?" asked Fred. "Do we tell Mum

about the letter or show it to her?"

"I have a better idea, my slightly more daft brother,"

declared George. "Let's take it down, call a 'Burrow'

meeting of those here and read it to them."

"Capital idea, my uglier brother!" replied Fred. "That

way, we get to see the expressions on their faces as

they hear what Harry has to say."

"Brilliant!" cried George. "We can switch off reading a

paragraph each so we can take turns watching their

expressions!"

"Also brilliant!" cried Fred. "It will take time, though.

Harry sure wrote a lot."

"Do we have anything better to do?" asked George.

"Nope!" grinned Fred. "Lets!"

And the two dashed upstairs and down, knocking on

bedroom doors as they went. At each door they

yelled, "Meeting in the kitchen!"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After everyone at the Burrow at that time assembled

around the kitchen table, demanding to know what the

twins thought they were doing calling a meeting,

George brandished the letter from Harry.

"We have, here, a missive most massive," he

declared.

"A note most notable," added Fred.

"Written by the personal hand of..."

"Lord Harrison James Potter of..."

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter!"

"What?" asked Molly, quickly wiping her hands clean

of baking flour.

"I thought we were clear," said George.

"It's from Harry," said Fred.

Molly immediately rounded the table and plucked it

from George's fingers.

"Hey!" they chorused in indignation.

However, before she even had a chance to read it, the

whole text immediately blurred until it was illegible.

"It has a secrecy charm on it," she grumbled,

thrusting it back into George's hands. "You're going to

need to read it to me."

"That was our plan," said George.

"Until you snatched it away," said Fred.

"Don't be rude!" she snapped back. "Now, read it to

me!"

The two glanced at each other with both thinking,

'And she calls us rude?'

With the text back to rights, George cleared his throat

and began to read. "To Fred and George Weasley, The

Burrow, Ottery Saint Catchpole, Devon. Hi guys..."

Fred began, "I know you've probably been wondering,

'What happened to Harry Potter to make him so

different?' So, I thought I'd let you know more of

what's going on."

Then George took over again.

As they each read, the other watched the rest of the

family. Sitting at the table was Ron, Percy and Ginny

with Molly at the counter and Arthur having just

entered, wondering what was going on, hearing the

boys read, quietly finding out from Ginny it was a

letter from Harry and then just as quietly taking a seat

to listen. Bill and Charlie were both out of the country

again.

As they read they had to stop at one point when

ordered to do so by their father, who was getting sick

of hearing Ron muttering snarky comments, and said

to him, "You will keep your opinions to yourself, or

you can go and wait for me in the shed to come and

deal with you."

Ron immediately clamped his lips shut, folded his

arms across his chest, scowled and shut up for the

rest of it. Even listening to a letter from Harry being

read aloud was better than the alternative.

Fred finished the last line with, "Harry."

The table was silent for a moment before Molly shrilly

stated, "He can't just quit Hogwarts! What about his

education!"

"He said he's looking at hiring private tutors for him

and Hermione, Molly," said Arthur. "Therefore, he's

considering his education."

"Hogwarts is the premier school of magic in the

world," declared Percy. "He won't get that with tutors."

"Hogwarts is nothing at the moment except a... a...

boarding house!" declared Ginny. "Where's the

education?"

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Chapter 136

"And that's Potter's fault," sneered Ron. "He's the one

who had everyone arrested and taken away."

"Ronald!" snapped Arthur. "Stop speaking like a... daft

moron! It's thinking like that is why Lord Potter is of

the opinion the rest of the wizarding world are such!"

"He explained what happened in the letter in extensive

detail," said George. "You were obviously not paying

attention or refusing to listen."

"Do we need to read the relevant parts back to you?

Slowly?" asked Fred.

"Pausing after each sentence to see if you

understood?" asked George.

"Boys; that's enough!" snapped Molly.

"Is it?" asked Percy.

The fact he'd just 'back-chatted' his mother had

immediately shut everyone up. Percy never did that.

"Whether he likes it or not, whether he understands it

or not, Ron must accept the fact the boy he knew as

Harry Potter had everyone fooled as to who he really

was - including the man who used to be Headmaster

of his school, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and

Supreme Mugwump of the ICW," quietly said the boy.

"And he managed to do it before he even started at

Hogwarts. Which means he did it starting back to

when he was ten years old or earlier.

"Do any of you have any idea just how incredibly

smart you would have to be to pull something like that

off? He was in close contact with Dumbledore, more

than any other student I've known including the Head

Boys and Girls, for over three years. And the man

never once had any clue.

"It's no wonder he thinks the rest of us 'daft morons'

because, compared to him, we probably are!

"To top that off, the boy is the Lord of a Noble and

Most Ancient House and Heir Tertiary of another. He is

'One of the Seven', so is his godfather and he's

friends with the Heir Apparent of a third, Heir Apparent

Neville Longbottom, that we know of at least!

"It is also well-known that almost immediately after

the First Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Lord

Harrison James Potter - at fourteen - swooped in and

wrenched control of the Potter-Longbottom Alliance

right out of the hands of Dowager Lady and Regent

Augusta Longbottom of Longbottom, a powerful

political heavyweight that the Dark Houses fear for

good reason.

"With that control he then dragged the Heirs of the

allianced Houses who attend Hogwarts into a private

meeting and effectively laid down the law with them.

When Heir Secondary Ernest MacMillan apparently got

upset about it and verbally abused Lord Potter in that

meeting, Lord Potter did not hesitate one moment in

kicking the entire House of MacMillan out of the

alliance due to the insult - made in private. And then

proceeded to make sure that news was very publicly

known.

"And Ron, here, wants to insult him? He wants to

verbally abuse him? Publicly?"

Percy gave his mother and father a moment to absorb

all that before he quietly asked, "Knowing, as you now

do, the following facts: One, the Harry Potter you

thought you knew was a lie; two, he is now a full adult,

with all the responsibilities and rights of such; three,

he clearly knows and understands the law and he

apparently demonstrated that knowledge during the

First Task; four, he is now the Lord of a Noble and

Most Ancient House, one that makes him 'One of the

Seven', and the Heir Tertiary of a second of the same

rank; five, he has already shown he knows how to

wield that power by wrenching back control of the

Potter-Longbottom Alliance right out of the hands of

Augusta Longbottom, with no effort at all; six, he

knows Charlie told Ron to tell him the First Task

involved getting past a dragon and Ron didn't tell him,

putting his life at risk; and seven, he knows that whole

thing on the First of September in 1991 at Kings Cross

Station was a set-up and, apparently, has known that

all along - do you really not think he knows that, if

Ronnie-boy here continues to insult and or verbally

abuse him, he has the right by our laws to kill him?

Seriously?

"If you want Ron to live past the first twenty four

hours he's back in Hogwarts castle when classes

restart, if Lord Potter is also there, then you'd better

do something about his behaviour and attitude - fast!

"If you don't believe me..." He then indicated the

family clock, where Ron's clock hand was pointing to

'In Danger'. "Look there!"

Molly's eyes snapped to the clock where her eyes

verified for her that Percy spoke true. She blanched.

"Awww... That'd be right!" Ron loudly complained, not

even looking at the Clock and leaning forward a little.

"Harry-Bloody-Potter writes a letter and everyone

jumps to do his bidding! Can't you see―"

That was as far as he got before his mother's open

right hand connected with the left side of his face so

hard it knocked him completely out of his seat and

onto the floor. She'd had to lean all the way across the

table from where she was standing to reach him; but

the table wasn't that wide, just long.

Into the deafening silence following the loud 'crack' of

palm meeting cheek flesh, followed by the sound of

Ron crashing to the floor, Molly quietly said, "Arthur;

take Ron out to the shed. Keep him there until you are

informed his clock hand no longer points to 'In

Danger'. If that means you have to decide that Ron will

be taken to Muriel's, where he will remain until she

manages to get it into his head why it's a bad idea to

upset the Nobles, then so be it. At that time you can

also inform her, in Ron's case, corporal punishment is

a valid teaching tool."

"That... is a damned fine idea, Molly," Arthur just as

quietly said.

He then turned to look down on the floor where Ron

lay, rubbing his cheek with unshed tears filling his

eyes. The hand-print from his mother's hand was

already blooming red on the skin of his face, in detail.

"Ron," he said. "Go out to the shed and stay there...

Right now... I will be out to join you and start to deal

with you, in a few minutes."

"B-but―" started Ron, before his father rode right

over him.

"NOW!" bellowed Arthur.

Ron scrambled up off the floor and, nearly tripping

over his own robes in the process, bolted out the back

door; flinging it open, causing it to bounce off its stop

and swinging back nearly shut as he ran.

A few seconds later, Molly quietly - almost plaintively -

asked her husband, "You don't really think Harry

would―"

As he looked back at his wife with a worried

expression, Arthur merely pointed to the clock.

None of their other four children present said a word,

except Percy. As quietly as he spoke before, he said,

"Your five youngest children were all sitting at this

table. Of that five, only Ron's was pointing at 'In

Danger'. Of that five, only Ron seems intent on

upsetting Lord Potter.

"It could be for another reason, of course - one we are

all unaware of. However, if after Dad has spent time

with him in the shed his clock hand suddenly moves

back to 'At Home' with the rest of our hands, you will

know.

"If after that his hand again moves to 'In Danger', then

it is likely he is again thinking of upsetting Lord

Potter."

Arthur looked to his eldest still living at home and

pridefully said, "I can see why you've been moved

from International Magical Cooperation to the

Minister's Office."

"Actually, I'm currently on loan to the Wizengamot

Administration Services, at the moment. They needed

more wands to take care of the massive amount of

work brought on by the dozen trials that've just

happened," replied Percy. "But, thank you." He was

pleased to receive the recognition.

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Chapter 137

"That experience across multiple departments will

stand you in good stead," smiled Arthur. "It'll get you

moving up the ranks in no time, if that's your desire."

"Thank you, Dad," blushed the young man. "That was

my thought, too."

Arthur sat there for a few more moments finishing his

tea. With a sigh, he finally said, "Well, now that I've

calmed down a fair bit, I'd better go deal with Ron."

He rose and slowly left out the back door.

Ron's clock hand moved back, for the time being,

about five minutes later.

Molly saw it happen and sighed. She sent Arthur a

messenger Patronus telling him that.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Once he'd eaten his lunch and taken his potions, after

being reminded, Harry gave that a little while to settle

in by reading more of the Weekend Daily Prophet;

before he returned to his room to go over his 'list'.

Once he'd checked everything through yet another

time, he gave a sigh, decided the Hat allowed him in

Gryffindor for a reason, 'manned-up' and went looking

for Hermione.

Finding her about to make her own way up to her

room, he asked, "Care to take a walk with me? We've

been pretty much cooped up inside for―"

"I'd love to!" she suddenly interrupted. Then smiled at

him.

Relieved, he said, "Great! I believe you wanted to

show me the neighbourhood?"

With a smile back she said, "We'd best let the aurors

and Mum and Daddy know. Come on." And grabbed

him by the hand, leading him out of the kitchen.

Finding Monica first, she said, "Mum. With

Dumbledore 'on ice', he's not a threat at the moment.

So, Harry and I can go for our walk. I want to show

him where I went to primary school."

She smirked and said, "I'll let the aurors know."

After both teens raced upstairs for Hermione to grab a

cardigan and Harry to grab a 'hoodie' - it was a little

chilly outside - they quickly ran back downstairs

again. And met two aurors waiting for them at the

door.

Harry sighed and said, "No need for you to tail us with

Dumbledore out of the way. We need a bit of privacy

to talk."

Hermione gave him a curious look while the aurors

glanced at one another. The senior said, "I think that'd

be alright. How long do you think you'll be?"

Harry didn't know but Hermione replied, "About an

hour, I think."

The senior gave a nod and said, "If you're any longer

than an hour and fifteen, we'll come looking for you."

"Thank you," said Harry, grateful and with a relieved

little sigh.

The junior auror held the door for them and they

passed through.

Harry said, "See you soon!" And they were walking up

the path to the front gate.

Before they'd even reached it, the Senior Auror said to

his female partner, "Follow them under

disillusionment, Weston. If they don't get into trouble,

don't let them know you're there. Step in if they do,

but only if it's something they can't handle."

The female auror gave a nod, quietly said, "Will do,"

then raised her wand to tap herself on the top of her

head and faded out.

To the male auror, a moment later the door looked as

if it pulled itself shut.

He then went looking for the Grangers, finding

Wendell in his office.

"Dumbledore's currently locked up so Lord Potter and

the young Miss have gone for their walk," he

explained. "They don't know, but Auror Weston is

tailing them under a disillusionment charm."

Wendell gave a relieved smile back and said, "Thank

you."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As they walked down the street outside of Hermione's

home, while Harry was trying to think of what to ask

her and talk to her about, Hermione beat him to it.

"I suppose you were wondering what Dobby and I

were talking about, yesterday morning," she said.

"No, actually," he replied. "I'd actually forgotten about

that. And I don't mind if Dobby talks to you, or if you

talk to him. If Dobby feels I need to know of what you

talk about, he'll tell me."

"Even if it breaks a confidence of mine?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Because he's bonded to me, he

must answer to me. It's the nature of the symbiotic

bond."

She thought about that for a moment and said, "I

wanted to know more about the bond. How it is that he

is able to tell you off, like he did our first night home."

"Because I ordered him to," said Harry. "For the past

little over three years I've had you telling me off when

you knew I'd done something wrong, or when you

thought I was going to do something wrong. But, you

also explained why you believed or felt that way. I

might not have always agreed with what you said, but

I appreciate both the care you demonstrated by doing

so and giving me a different viewpoint.

"However, house elves are bred and raised... and it is

enforced by their bond... to do exactly what they're

told by their masters; those to whom they're bonded.

There are a few exceptions to that rule, and one of

them is killing a human, but it's generally a pretty

absolute rule.

"Just before I bonded with Dobby I told him I had

some pretty firm rules that he had to obey. And that I

was not going to bond with him without a change to

the wording of that bond. Dobby agreed to them.

"The first thing you should know about our bond is

that I bonded him to me, not as a servant, but as a

loyal friend with servant being only secondary to that.

But, what neither of us knew would happen, was that

it made Dobby significantly magically stronger. It's

been years and he still looks like he's one step away

from bouncing off the walls with magical energy. He

told me it feels as if he's fizzing with magic; whatever

that means.

"Now for the orders I gave him right from the start:

First, he is not allowed to punish himself for any

reason. Second, if he's done something wrong or

made a mistake with something he's to come to me to

talk about it and we'll figure out how to fix whatever it

is or was between us. Third, he is to make sure he

stays healthy and doesn't overwork himself; and I

included working until he was exhausted in that. And

fourth, if he thinks I'm being an idiot about something

he was to tell me and not put up with my complaining

about it. That last one was what you saw.

"I've also been working hard with him on his diction

and how he refers to me. I ordered him to call me

'Harry' but he said he couldn't because it was against

some Code of Life house elves live by. The way it was

explained, it sounds almost religious. I then argued if

he had to call me 'Master' then he was to call me

simply 'Master Harry'. He slips up with that every now

and again and appends 'Potter Sir' to it. But, I've at

least got him to stop adding 'Great' or similar words to

the front of it."

"He told me he's not happy that you stopped him

doing that," she smiled. "He thinks everyone should

know just how great his master is."

Harry blushed and said, "Yeah, but it's embarrassing!"

"Is the Great Master Harry Potter, Sir, blushing?" she

teased.

He stopped and turned to her with an almost horrified

expression on his face, before he blushed so deeply it

looked like he had third degree sunburn.

She freely and gaily laughed with that high tinkling

laugh she had, before slipping her hand into his elbow

and saying, "Come on. I wanted to show you where I

went to school, remember?"

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Chapter 138

Back at the Granger house, with the two teens out of

the way, Wendell hunted down Monica. She was going

around the house with a small watering can and

checking to see which plants needed watering, only to

find they'd all been done.

With a sigh she thought, 'Dobby.'

"Hi love," he said.

"Dobby's watered and trimmed all the indoor plants,"

she half-heartedly complained.

"House elves are apparently quite handy," he smiled.

"And annoying when you're looking for something to

do," she smiled back.

"How'd your talk with Hermione go, yesterday and this

morning?" he asked.

"She's clueless," she sighed. "It's clear she loves him.

But, she seems to think it's the sort of love one has

for a little brother. I think she's wrong and she's lying

to herself so she doesn't get hurt."

"And he thinks he sees her as a big sister," he added.

"I even had to talk to him about considering his

feelings for her so he can get over the problem of not

recognising love those Dursley people beat into him."

"They're both clueless," she grumbled.

"Here I was, thinking I'd have to keep an eye on the

pair of them just so they wouldn't go running off to

find somewhere behind a closed door, and neither

thinks like that," he said. "On one hand, I'm relieved.

But, on the other, it's disappointing."

"She's fifteen, 'Dell," she frowned. "And he's fourteen.

They should both be wanting to hump away at each

other like rabbits!"

He blanched and said, "That's one image I really didn't

want passing through my mind."

"I didn't say they should be doing it," she smiled. "I

said they should be wanting to do it."

"Errph!" he shuddered.

She laughed a similar tinkling laugh to Hermione.

"You know how the wizarding world is about a century

behind ours, right?" she asked.

"Sometimes it looks even further than that," he

returned. "However, I understand what you're getting

at."

"Well, during my talk with Hermione I found out that

Harry's parents married right out of school. That

means they were eighteen," she explained. "So did

that Ronald boy's parents, so do a lot of magicals.

"For many in the magical world Hogwarts is a place

parents can send their children so they can interact

with other children and find their future spouses. She

even told me there are some children that are

betrothed in marriage contracts, similar to our

nobility, before they even arrive at the school."

"That sounds..." he tried.

"Like about one to two centuries out of date; at least,

socially?" she finished. "Yeah, it does. But, what did

we just determine?"

"That they're one to two centuries behind our world,"

he nodded, seeing what his wife was getting at.

"Now, think of this," she continued. "If wizarding

adults tend to marry soon after they finish school, and

that age puts them at or about seventeen to eighteen

years of age, how old did you say Hermione was

again?"

With a start he breathed, "Bloody Hell!"

"Next issue," she said, moving on while her husband

was trying to get his head around the idea his little

princess could easily make him a grandfather within

five years. "She told me their school doctor... mediwitch... was under some form of loyalty potions and

compulsion charms.

"When I pushed her on those she told me about more.

Love potions are a fact of life for witches and wizards.

Soon after she got to the school back in 1991, the

medi-witch warned all the girls about them and how to

spot signs of it in themselves and those they were

friends with. And, if they thought themselves or their

friends were under one, to immediately bring it to her

attention. And yet, she was discovered to have been

under a similar one; and no one noticed a thing. We

also now know Hermione was under a mild one back

in 1991/92. That has me worried."

Wendell was deep in thought.

"Moving on," she said. "We both also know the

wizarding world has two hierarchies. There is one

based on blood status and one based on House

status.

"The one based on blood status, starting at the top,

goes pureblood, halfblood, muggleborn, squib and

muggle. The one on House status goes Noble and

Most Ancient, Noble and Ancient, Ancient, Elder,

Minor, Magical, Unhoused and Disowned.

"There's a third but it's not as important compared to

the first two. It goes Lord, Lady, Heir Apparent, Heir

Presumptive, other Heir, Member and those who don't

fit in any of those categories.

"As a muggleborn and Unhoused, Hermione sits right

down the totem pole on both the first two; while Harry,

as Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House, even

though he's also a halfblood, sits about as close to

the top as it gets. There's only six people in their

society that could be higher and they're all pureblood

Lords. Sirius is one of those. And Hermione tells me

another is currently a permanent resident in their

hospital and is highly unlikely to ever recover. His son

is a good friend of them both and is due to the inherit

the title when he turns seventeen in a little under three

years. That leaves four."

"So, what are you looking to achieve if you're telling

me all this?" he asked.

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Chapter 139

"Don't bite my head off for the idea," she carefully

replied. "But, I want to know how you feel about the

idea of Hermione being better protected?"

"I'm all for it, of course," he replied. "Why?"

Taking a deep breath she screwed up her courage and

explained, "I want to talk to Sirius about floating the

idea of Harry and Hermione becoming betrothed to

one another."

"What?!" he loudly exclaimed. "Y-you want to give our

daughter―"

"No!" she firmly and immediately cut in. "A Betrothal

Agreement, from what I can gather, is a promise

statement. However, it can also be written with escape

clauses. That's the first important part.

"The next is, when a witch or wizard is in a Betrothal

Agreement, both are protected under the auspices of

the senior House. In this case, that would be Harry's;

the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. To

interfere in a Betrothal Agreement, including dosing

one or the other or both with mind altering potions or

charms, is considered interfering in the private

practices of a House or Houses. At the level of Harry's

House, that could see you executed; so, people are

going to very wary of trying such a thing. It would

protect them both!"

"I don't believe this!" he declared.

The voice of the current senior auror on their 'detail',

Senior Auror Horatio Cummerbatch, was suddenly

heard to say, "Believe it, Doctor Granger." He was

quite firm.

Spinning to the door leading to the kitchen, Wendell

looked at him in shock. "Horatio? You mean, she's

right?"

"Yes, Sir," replied Cummerbatch. "It's actually quite a

clever idea, too."

"But, what if Harry..." began Wendell before he

stuttered to a stop unable to find the right words.

"A formal Betrothal Agreement is not a licence to have

sex, Sir," replied the auror, walking more fully into the

room. "A Betrothal Agreement is a statement to the

other Houses, plus individual witches and wizards,

that these two... in this case, Lord Potter and your

daughter... are, not just off limits to any form of

courting, but most especially what your wife was

describing.

"As your wife said, they can include clauses that allow

the Agreement to be dissolved. It can be as simple as

either party saying, 'I hereby dissolve our Betrothal

Agreement' for it to be ended. For your own piece of

mind you can also include a clause that states you

can say, 'I hereby dissolve the Betrothal Agreement

between Hermione and Harry' for it be ended."

"That's all?" asked Wendell, still doubtful.

"Yes," nodded Cummerbatch. "But, a Betrothal

Agreement must include stipulations, just as any

contract does in the muggle world. Normally, they

would includes things like, 'The bride must produce at

least one male heir within thirty-six months of the date

of the union and another heir, whether male or female,

within seventy two months'; or 'On the bonding of the

marriage the House of Potter agrees to pay bride price

of ten thousand galleons to the Head of the family of

the bride and fifty thousand galleons on the birth of

the first heir of the House of Potter resulting from the

union'.

"It can also include business arrangements, as these

usually do. 'As of the date of the union the House of

Potter agrees to loan House Granger, at the interest

rate of zero point one percent calculated yearly, the

sum of two hundred and fifty thousand galleons. Such

loan to be repaid in full, together with the interest,

within five years to the day'. That sort of thing."

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion at the auror, Wendell

said, "It sounds like you have experience with these."

Cummerbatch smiled and replied, "They're quite

common in our world, Sir. They're practically

mandatory at Lord Potter's level."

"His... parents?" asked Wendell.

"It is not known for sure by the wizarding world atlarge," shrugged the auror. "But, it is believed so, yes.

However, it is also believed that they didn't enter a

Betrothal Agreement until after Lord James Potter

proposed, if they did. And that was also after both

reached of-age.

"Like your daughter, Lady Lily Potter was a

muggleborn. The trial showed that her parents passed

soon after she graduated from Hogwarts. However, as

she was 'Unhoused' she did not need her parent's

permission once she was of-age, anyway. And, by

then, Lord James was also both of-age and rightful

Lord of the House of Potter. So, he could sign such an

Agreement off his own authority, too.

"If there is anyone who could truthfully tell you

whether they entered such an agreement or not, it

would be Lord Black. Before being Lord Potter's

godfather, he was Lord James Potter's supposed best

friend. They attended Hogwarts together in the same

year. So, too, did Lady Lily Potter née Evans."

The auror stood there for a moment before he said,

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have intruded on your

conversation. We're taught not to do that and I'd be

hexed into next week if The Boss ever found out. I'll

leave you to it." And, with that, spun around and

strode out the door.

Wendell stood thinking about what he'd been told for

a long, long moment before he looked at his wife and

asked, "Could it be that simple?"

"What I was going to suggest was, we speak with

Sirius... Lord Black... when he next drops by," she

replied with a smile. "The only thing I ask is that we

discuss it... as adults."

He gave a firm nod and replied, "We'll do that. But,

we'll do it away from the kids, first."

"Good," she said. "I don't want to discuss it in front of

them yet, either."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After being shown Hermione's old primary school

through the security fence - especially the library, of

course - the two headed for the local small shopping

district.

Harry used the opportunity to 'pick up some things'

from the supermarket for the pantry, fridge and freezer

at the Grangers that were either lacking or he felt he

needed to contribute to. In Hermione's mind, though,

Harry had basically bought a week's worth of grocery

shopping.

Once out of the shops, Harry led Hermione into the

back lane-way behind the supermarket and, checking

by looking about first, called Dobby.

Dobby popped in, saw the bags Harry and Hermione

were carrying and popped away with them.

"That's so useful," said Hermione. "I first thought we'd

have to carry them all back ourselves and was

dreading what my arms and hands were going to feel

like well before we got back."

Once back out on the street the two slowly made their

way back to the Granger house.

And Harry finally screwed up his courage enough to

ask what he desperately needed to, but still feared to,

ask.

"Hermione," he began. "How do you know if you've

fallen in love with someone?"

That stopped the girl in her tracks. And her stopping

caused him to stop a step later and turn back to look

at her.

She gawped back at him. "W-what?"

"How do you know if you've fallen in love?" he simply

asked.

"I... what? I... don't know," she replied.

With a sigh he muttered, "Pity."

"W-why do you ask?" she asked a little fearfully.

Looking away and blushing a little he quietly replied,

"Your dad said he believes I've fallen in love with...

someone; but, because I never experienced love as a

child growing up, I don't know what to look for to

determine if I've fallen in love or not."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 140

"He said that?" she squeaked. 'Oh, no!' she thought.

"Yeah," he almost morosely replied. "I spent a long

time thinking about it, analysing it, and I can see his

point."

"And... as a result, you think you're in love with

someone?" she carefully asked.

'I've lost him!' she thought. 'Oh, Merlin! I'm in love

with him!... Where did that come from?'

"Yeah," he sighed. With a gesture he got them both

moving again as they continued to walk up the path of

the street that would take them back to her place.

"Can I ask who?" she asked. "If you want to tell me,

that is."

Inside she was thinking, 'Whoever it is, I'll help him

any way I can. But, I'm going to hate it.'

"It's the one person I know who cares for me, not who

I am to them, not who I could be for them, not who

they think I am," he replied. "Oh. And they're also

female; just in case you thought I might've batted for

the other team."

'Cho?... Possibly,' she thought. 'Katie?... Maybe...

Ginny?... Merlin, no!―'

Screwing up her courage to hear her doom, she said,

"It'll help if you stop beating about the bush and tell

me who we're talking about, Harry."

"At risk of our friendship being irreparably harmed,"

he said. "And please believe me when I say I really,

really, really hope that this doesn't hurt our

friendship―."

"Harry―" she almost growled.

"You!" he suddenly blurted. Then cringed away,

expecting 'Mount Hermione' to erupt.

That brought the girl to another sudden halt.

Again taking an extra step when she suddenly

stopped again, but also stepping away in case she

was going to hit him. He stood looking at her,

blushing and expecting her to hit him.

She was again gawking at him.

"H-Hermione?" he tentatively asked. "Y-you're not

going to hit me, a-are you?"

Suddenly, her jaw snapped shut and she dived at him.

That drove them both to the ground.

"Oof!" he exclaimed, hitting the ground. He felt lucky

his head hit the little grass strip between the path and

the curb of the road.

"Oh, Harry! Oh, Harry! Oh, Harry!" she was babbling.

The female auror following them, Auror Second Class

Weston, wanted to check the time right then but

couldn't. She'd just have to try and figure out how

long it was between now and when they got back to

the house. There was a betting pool someone in the

'bullpen' was going to win.

Harry, though, was confused. Hermione was

apparently trying to crush him to death with one of her

hugs, while also trying to wrestle with him on the

ground, all the while crying into his pullover 'hoodie'.

"Ummm... Hermione?" he asked.

Suddenly, everything stopped for a few moments.

Hermione had stopped her babbling, wrestling and

sobbing.

Again suddenly, she sat up on his upper thighs with

what he quickly realised were her bits and had both

her hands pressed flat on either side of his upper

chest.

With a serious expression on her face she firmly

asked, "Do you know how badly you scared me? I was

going through my mind wondering who it was! Cho,

Katie, Ginny, even Lavender!"

"Sorry," he quietly said. "I was trying to build up the

courage to let you know it was you. You're not really

angry with me, are you?"

She stared at him for a long moment before she said,

"No. I can never stay mad with you."

Harry relaxed in relief.

"However," she said. And he tensed up again. "Don't

you have a question you should be asking me?"

Confused, he lay there thinking about it, not wanting

to ask the wrong question.

"Ummm... y-you're... okay with that?" he carefully

asked.

"No, you git!" she snapped back and then actually did

hit him lightly on the chest.

Harry felt devastated. She didn't like him loving her.

She didn't love him.

"That's the wrong question!" she snapped again.

"You're supposed to ask me if I would be your

girlfriend!"

"Oh," he said, confused, before he understood what

she meant. From the sudden swooping drop into the

depths of despair his heart soared in joy. "Oohh!"

"Well?" she asked.

Neither teen had moved to stand up from the ground.

Harry was still laying on his back on the footpath with

Hermione sitting on his thighs with her hands on his

chest.

"Hermione Granger," he more formally said. "Will you

consent to be my girlfriend?"

"Yes!" she immediately and gaily cried, before diving

forward and mashing her lips to his.

They were like that for a few long seconds, with

Hermione crushing his lips with her own, before both

teens heard a loud and pointed throat clear, "Huhhmm!"

Hermione sat up straight again and both teens turned

to the sound. Harry noticed on the other side of the

front fence of a property they were passing, a little old

lady wearing a wide brimmed straw hat, threadbare

dress, light unbuttoned cardigan, wearing gardening

gloves and holding a pair of garden scissors in her

right hand.

"Oh! Hello, Missus Landringham!" said Hermione to

the woman.

Harry could see the woman had obviously been

kneeling in the garden along her low brick front fence

and both of them had missed her. He could also see

she was trying to put on a stern expression while

trying to hide the fact she was happy for them. Her

eyes were twinkling.

"Miss Granger," said the woman. "A young lady does

not sit on her young suitor - on the ground, mind - and

then try to bruise his lips with her own! It is

unbecoming!"

Hermione blushed and said, "Ummm... Sorry, Missus

Landringham." Then she slowly climbed to her feet.

Before Harry could move, the old woman then cast her

stern gaze on him and said, "As for you, young man;

don't you think you should be escorting Miss Granger

home so you can ask her father if you may court her,

first?"

Harry blushed scarlet before he scrambled to his feet.

"S-sorry, Ma'am!" he exclaimed.

Then he quickly grabbed Hermione by the hand and

tried to run back to her house while dragging her

behind.

"Harry!" screamed Hermione within the first half

dozen steps, as she was dragged along. "We don't

need to run! Slow down!"

That brought Harry to an almost stop before he

squeaked, "Sorry!"

Out of earshot, the old woman's expression turned

into a smile. "Tch! The children of today. No sense of

the proper proprieties!" she wistfully said. Then she

giggled, before she dropped back to her knees and

returned to her trimming.

'Wait until the bridge club hear about this!' she

thought, cutting away a particularly misbehaving

branch. 'Right on the outside path in front of my

roses!' Then she giggled again.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As soon as they got back into the house - Hermione

almost dragging Harry inside, this time - she ran off

looking for her mother.

"MUU-UUM!" she two-tone called up the stairs.

Then was startled when her mother's voice called

from her left in the parlour. "Don't shout, Hermione!"

The girl first whirled on locating where the voice came

from before she then whirled on Harry and demanded,

"Go find Daddy!" Then dashed into the parlour.

Standing there, Harry blinked a moment before he

decided talking to her father was not something he

wanted to do, just yet. Instead, he headed for the

kitchen.

'I'd best go make sure Dobby's put all the groceries

away, first,' he thought. 'And, hopefully, he's not

started preparing dinner yet.'

He also knew the chances of Dobby not putting the

groceries away, or that the elf had actually started

dinner already considering the time, had nothing to do

with it. Was he avoiding talking to her father? Of

course not!

Then used the time to consider what he would be

cooking for dinner that evening. He was muttering

various recipes as they passed through his head while

he was head down and bum up in the ice chest.