Kapitel 245: HPWW141-150
Chapter 141
Happy as a niffler in a Gringotts vault, Hermione found
her mother reading through some documents on a
lounge.
She practically leapt onto the armchair opposite and
stared at her mother with a big grin on her face.
When Monica looked up in surprise, she saw her
daughter sitting on the chair opposite, the biggest
smile she'd ever seen on her face, her eyes
figuratively, if not practically, sparkling and behaving
as if she was a hyperactive six year old on a sugar
high dosed up with cochineal red food dye colouring
forced to sit still.
That was something Monica well-remembered from
back in the girl's first week ever of school - muggle
primary - when another child had shared a bag of 'Red
Frogs' lollies with her.
It had taken hours for the girl to burn through the
sugar and dye and, when she did at the dinner table,
fell face-first into her mashed potatoes instantly
asleep.
Wendell was chuckling so hard he was useless and it
was left to Monica to wipe her daughter's face clean of
her dinner with a face cloth before carrying her
upstairs to her room, which was then the room Harry
now had, and putting her to bed.
Setting aside the documents she was going over,
Monica made sure her features were under control
before turning to look once again upon her daughter.
"Hermione dear, you look as if―"
"Harryaskedmetobehisgirlfriend!" the girl blurted
before her mother even had a chance to reach
anywhere near the end of her own sentence.
Mentally slowing down what her daughter actually
said, Monica was a few moments before she calmly
said, "I see. And what was your response?"
"Isaidyes,ofcourse!" The expression on Hermione's
face implied a second sentence - 'Are you stupid?'
Forcefully smothering the snort of amusement that
tried to escape and nodding, Monica packed away the
documents into a neat pile on the coffee table
between them. She was using the time to properly
school her emotions and expression. She didn't want
to let on she both expected it and very much wanted
it. Finally, she said, "Let's go into the kitchen, make a
cup of tea, take it out onto the back patio and talk
about it."
Rising, while Hermione popped to her feet like a 'jackin-the-box', Monica led the way. However, they were
interrupted in their intent before even leaving the
parlour when Dobby popped in and said, "The Great
Master Harry Potter, Sir, be... 'cheffing'. Dobby be
bringings you tea out to patio." Then popped away
again.
"Uh-huh," muttered Monica. "Out to the patio, then,"
she said with a nod.
By then and in the kitchen, Harry was well on his way
into preparing dinner.
He was well into it when Dobby popped in and began
making up a service of tea.
"What're you up to, Dobs?" he asked.
"Missus and Miss Grangy be havings tea on the patio,
Master Harry," replied the elf.
Harry gave a nod, left the elf to it and returned to what
he was doing.
Thirty minutes later he called Dobby and explained
what he was doing and why.
"If I miss anything before something else has come
up, would you mind taking care of it for me, Dobby?"
he asked.
"Of course, Master Harry," replied the elf.
"Thank you," he sighed. "Now, where would I find
Wendell?"
"Mister Grangy be in his office, Master Harry," replied
Dobby.
"Thank you," said Harry, standing up straight as
Dobby popped away again.
Bracing himself for the... confrontation... Harry headed
to the office.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Finding Wendell in his office as he knew he would be -
Dobby knew where everyone he considered part of his
household to be at any given time - he knocked on the
door before entering. The door was open.
Wendell took all of about two seconds to realise
something was deeply worrying the boy.
Gesturing to the seat opposite his desk, he said,
"Come in and take a load off, Harry."
Watching the boy as he seemed to move cautiously
forward before sitting, Wendell realised the boy was
apparently somewhat afraid of him.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"Errr... there's no problem!" the boy was quick to
reply. "That is... I don't think it's a problem... I think it's
wonderful!... But... Ummm... You..." Then he sighed.
Wendell wasn't going to push the boy to hurry up
because he knew, from experience, that more often
than not it actually slowed things down. So he just
waited for the boy to get to what he needed to say.
"I thought a lot about what you said... you know, when
you said I needed to analyse my feelings."
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Chapter 142
Wendell nodded, starting to get an inkling as to what
the boy was on about. If he was right...
"And I reached a rather surprising... and I mean that in
a good way," the boy was quick to say. "I mean... I
figured out that... ummm... that... I'm-in-love-with-yourdaughter." Then winced.
Clearly, Harry expected to be yelled at, but Wendell
wasn't going to do that. Instead, he calmly said, "It's
about time you figured that out."
Giving a start of shock and gaping back like a stunned
mullet at the older man, Harry ineloquently returned,
"Hunh?"
The expression of shocked confusion on the face of
the young man, who often appeared wise beyond his
years, amused Wendell enough it had him smiling,
almost grinning, back. "Harry, I think you and
Hermione were the only two people in this house who
did not know that before dinner the first night you
were here was concluded. And, yes, I'm including the
aurors who've come and gone in that."
"You... knew?" asked Harry.
"Yes," Wendell immediately and simply stated back.
"Is that what..." Harry stated but stopped, unsure what
to ask.
"Is that what that discussion I had with you out on the
patio was all about?" asked Wendell. Then, not
waiting for Harry to respond, replied, "Yes."
With Harry still confused, having no idea this was how
this conversation would go and having no idea where
to go from here, Wendell gave him a moment to think
about it before he said, "I take it you've come in here
to ask if you can date my daughter?"
When Harry again gaped back in shock at how well
Wendell had sussed out what he'd come in for,
Wendell chuckled and said, "My answer is yes."
Then, when Harry immediately appeared relieved,
Wendell asked, "Have you asked her, yet?"
"Errr... yes," Harry softly replied. "When we were out
for our walk."
When Wendell nodded, Harry continued, "There was
this little old lady out working in her garden, I think
she was trimming her roses next to the front fence... I
never noticed her and I don't think Hermione did
either, at the time, because she must've been
kneeling... but, when I asked Hermione and she said
yes... Oh, she said yes, by the way..." he said,
glancing up for the moment. "Well, she... the little old
lady, that is... I think her name was Missus
Landringham?..."
Wendell immediately pictured the woman and
remembered her as someone who had once brought
his daughter home when she was a little girl and some
bullies had picked on her on her way home from
primary.
"Well," continued Harry, rambling. "She said
something about how Hermione had tackled me to the
ground and how it was improper for Hermione... that's
when she said yes, by the way... how it was improper
for Hermione to behave that way. Then she looked at
me and told me... well, reminded me, really... that I had
to come and ask you if I could court your daughter...
and, well―"
"And here you are," nodded Wendell.
"Errr... yes," replied Harry.
"Well," said Wendell, "I've already said yes, so that's
out of the way."
Harry nodded back.
"But, there are rules."
Harry braced himself up, took on a serious expression
and nodded once back.
'There's that young man, wise beyond his years,
again,' thought Wendell. "Rule One: I know the two of
you are likely to argue to the point tears are going to
flow, at some times; but, if you ever hurt my daughter
to the point she feels she has no choice but to run
home to her Mum and Daddy, I will hunt you down and
they'll never find your body."
Harry looked horrified. "I-I'd never―" he spluttered.
Wendell immediately raised his hand in a stop
gesture, which immediately shut Harry up again.
"I never said you would, Harry," explained Wendell.
"These are rules I'm laying down so that you know
them and I know you know them."
When Harry calmed back down and nodded a few
moments later, Wendell continued. "Two: While in this
house you will never be alone in a room with my
daughter with the door closed. Actually, you can
expand that to be, while boyfriend and girlfriend you
will never be alone in any room with my daughter with
the door closed.
"Three: Between the hours of 10.00pm and 7.00am,
each of your rooms are off limits to the other.
"Four: At all other times you will never enter the room
of the other without being specifically invited. And,
again, the door is to remain wide open. Don't forget to
knock first if the door is closed.
"Five: Hands will never wander to inappropriate areas
on the other.
"Six: 'No' means 'Hell, no! Not going to happen!' And
you'll never push it.
"Seven: You'll never use any form of potion or other
magic on my daughter unless it is to protect her from
harm. And, even then, it will be with her freely given
prior consent. That's something the two of you will
need to discuss in advance.
"Eight: If you believe she is under such a potion or
charm or whatever from someone else, you will
immediately take her to get medical attention. Once
you've done that, you will then use your authority as a
Lord in your world to see that the person or persons
who did it to her are justly punished.
"Nine: My daughter is our greatest precious gift to
Monica and I. You will pro-actively, actively and
reactively do everything in your power, and beyond if
necessary, to protect her from harm.
"Ten: If you discover that there's a problem and you
don't know how to deal with it, come and see me,
Monica or... if you prefer... contact your godfather to
talk it over. While you are wise beyond your years and
have been declared an adult, you are still a fourteen
year boy.
"Got all that?"
Harry was thinking hard and eventually replied, "I'm
probably going to have to review this memory in my
pensieve; but, I think, for now, I've got it."
Wendell smiled back, picked up a sheet of A4 paper
off the desk blotter in front of him and handed it over.
Harry accepted it, flipped it right way round and saw
that it was the same ten rules in printed form. It was
headed with the title, 'The Ten Rules for Dating My
Daughter'.
Looking back in shock, he squeaked, "You knew?"
"I told you, Harry," replied Wendell, "Everyone in this
house, bar you and my daughter, knew you loved each
other. I'll also add your godfather and the Tonkses to
that list. It was only a matter of time before you two
figured it out. I also already guessed it would happen
within a day or two after that talk we had; and you
asked her to be your girlfriend."
"So, you prepared for it," said a surprised Harry.
"Working on writing down that," said Wendell,
indicating the paper now in Harry's hand, "Is what's
occupied me for the past couple of days."
"Now," he said. "I believe your godfather and I need to
talk. Monica was informing me of something in your
world that has to do with what happens when two
young people form a relationship.
"A Betrothal Agreement?" Harry exclaimed, once
again shocked out of his mind.
"Very good, Harry," smiled Wendell. "I'm led to believe
one is important, as it will protect both you and
Hermione from... interference in your relationship.
"Don't worry. As you're now an adult in your world and
as you're also the Head of your House, I'm assured no
one but you can enter you into such an Agreement,"
he said. "I just want to talk to your godfather about it
as I intend to wrack his brains about how one is laid
out. I have a daughter to think about - a muggleborn,
Unhoused daughter."
"Ah!" said Harry, again calming down. "I didn't think
of that. I'll contact him by mirror in a little while and
ask him to stop by tomorrow. I'm sure Cousin
Andromeda will let him out of her sight for a little
while for this."
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Chapter 143
"Thank you, Harry," nodded the father of his now
girlfriend, before the man seemed to want to return to
whatever else he was doing in the office before he'd
turned up.
"Thank you, Wendell," he replied, standing and
making his way out. He was holding the sheet of
paper in his off-hand as he left.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Meanwhile, Monica and Hermione were talking out on
the patio. At first, Hermione was talking a mile a
minute and Monica was just listening and trying to
make sense of it all.
Finally, the girl calmed down enough Monica was able
to ask her daughter the how, the what and the when.
She then got the story from her daughter what Harry
told Wendell, but from Hermione's perspective.
"I was sooo worried," Hermione said. "It wasn't until
he said he thought he might be in love with someone
and wanted to ask me something that I realised I loved
him!
"I thought he was going to ask me for help in asking
another girl - I would have, of course - I'm his friend
and that's what friends do for each other. But, I felt
like he might as well have kicked me in the guts for
how bad it made me feel."
"Buuuut―" urged Monica.
"But, he was trying to screw up his courage to ask me
if I would be his girlfriend. It made me just so happy! I
felt like I was going to float up into the air and away,
right there! That's when I knew I had to say 'yes'."
Then she sighed while staring off into nothingness.
'She's smitten,'' thought Monica. 'No doubt about it.
It's about time and this will make things easier.
'Wendell will be talking with Harry about calling his
godfather to come visit. No need to worry Hermione
about it. We'll let her know when it's practically a done
deal.'
Looking to her daughter she firmly said, "Now that
you two have finally recognised your feelings for one
another, there are rules you're going to need to
follow."
Hermione instantly blushed and looked away. "Mu-
uum!" she whined.
"No. Listen!" her mother pressed. "Your father will be
giving Harry a similar set of rules―"
Hermione immediately looked horrified. "B-but that
could scare him! He's... his relatives―"
"Hermione. Stop!" her mother firmly interrupted.
When the girl did she continued, "You know very well
your father and I are trained in how to handle children,
even one's as mature as Harry, who were the victims
of child abuse. Your father is not going to do or say
anything that is going to send Harry running for the
hills; and you know it.
"As I told you, you and Harry seemed to be the only
two people who have passed in and out of this house
over the past few days who didn't know you two loved
each other. It was only a matter of time before you two
figured it out."
"Harry told me Daddy told him he needed to analyse
his feelings," explained Hermione. "I thought it was
for another girl."
"Nope," said Monica. "Therefore, we've had a couple
of days of discussing it and working out how we were
going to handle it. And remind me to send a thank you
gift to Missus Landringham for sending Harry to your
father as soon as he got back."
Hermione just looked worried.
"He'll be fine," said her mother. "Now. Back to the
subject of rules―"
"Mu-uuum; I know the rules," she said.
"And I'm going to go over them and sharpen them up
a little," her mother firmly stated. "You and I have
already discussed how you're on birth control potions
and why. And, as I said at the time, I can see the
wisdom of that. However, just because you're on birth
control, does not give you licence to have sex."
Hermione blushed again and muttered, "I'm not ready,
anyway."
"Maybe not," said Monica. "But, your body is. And you
know there are certain chemical reactions that will
drive you to want to - 'Nature's imperative'. It will be
up to the both of you to ensure you retain enough
power of will to overcome it. And your knowledge of
you being on birth control may warp your thoughts
into thinking there'd be no consequences.
"Your father and I... mainly me, I guess... have worked
hard to instil in you the responsibility and courage to
stop before things get... out-of-hand."
"I don't know if Harry―" tried Hermione.
"That is not our, or your, responsibility," said Monica.
"That is the responsibility of his godfather. And
Wendell will be telling Harry to invite him over so they
can talk."
Shocked, Hermione squeaked, "Daddy and Harry are
going to talk about―"
"No. Your father is telling Harry to invite Sirius over so
Sirius can talk to Harry about that," her mother
corrected. "Your father and Sirius need to talk about
something else. It's a business issue."
"About what?" she asked.
"A business issue, Hermione," Monica firmly stated.
"You know better than to ask questions like that. If
Sirius thinks you should know, he'll tell you."
Hermione blushed at the rebuke, this time; rather than
in mortification. The nature of her father being a JP
and her mother being a CD meant there were both
business and law issues she was not allowed to be
privy to - and she'd forgotten that.
"Sorry," she muttered. "I've been away for so long, so
often..."
Monica nodded and said, "You're forgiven. The
reminder was more than enough."
Of course, Monica also felt a little bad about it
because she was using the nature of their 'after hours'
jobs to keep something from her daughter. That was
not a little dishonest of her.
"Next," she said. "Your father raised a little girl to
almost twelve, when she suddenly disappeared into a
different world. After that, he saw her for two months
during the middle of the year, if that; then two weeks
over Christmas; and two weeks over around Easter.
Because of that, he hasn't had much of a chance to...
internalise... that the eleven year old little girl he
helped raise is now a fifteen year old young woman,
wise beyond her years. That's why he slips up every
now and then and calls you, 'Princess'.
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Chapter 144
"So, the idea of you kissing... and being kissed back...
by a fourteen year old boy he also knows is
recognised as an adult, is rich and famous and is
politically powerful might be a bit much for him to see,
for now."
"I've only kissed him like that once," she blushed.
"That was when he asked me to be his girlfriend and,
even then, Missus Landringham interrupted us."
Monica laughed. "So you told me," she grinned. "But,
I told you that so you can... save your father the
dyspepsia... of seeing his little princess effectively
snogging with her boyfriend."
Hermione grinned back and said, "I can see that...
yeah. Alright, I'll make sure we don't do something
that upsets Daddy's senses."
"Thank you," her mother said. "Next..."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry had gone back to his room and pulled out his
mirror. He sat there looking down at it for a moment as
he thought about what he wanted and needed to say
to the man.
With his mind still a little fuzzy from his asking
Hermione to be his girlfriend and then talking to her
father - who then up and surprised him, too - had him
hesitating.
'Right,' he thought. 'Another list, first.'
Setting the mirror aside he pulled parchment and quill
before himself and uncapped his ink bottle.
When he finished the short list of subjects, thought
about if he needed to talk about more than that and
not thinking of anything relevant for the time, he
picked up the mirror again.
"Padfoot", he called.
A few moments later Sirius appeared. "Prongslet!"
"Hi."
Sirius took a long look at Harry's face, and asked,
"Aaaaaallll-right! What's going on?"
"I'm going to tell you some big news, then I'm going to
tell you some surprising news, and then I'm going to
ask you to do some research for me," he replied.
"After that, I need you to come visit with us
tomorrow."
Sirius gave him a long look as a smirk suddenly
appeared on his face. "Finally asked her, did you?"
"Yes," he replied, before he realised. "Wait. What? You
knew? Damn! Wendell said you did, but I don't think I
believed it."
Sirius laughed and said, "Settle down, Pup. You asked
her. What did she say?"
"I was surprised," he replied. "She said, 'Yes'. Then
she tackled me to the ground and kissed me so hard I
think she bruised my lips."
Sirius laughed and then asked, "I take it that was the
big news?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't sound so big for you," said a
slightly dejected godson.
"It's still big news, Pup," replied Sirius. "What's the...
surprising news?"
"He knows about the wizarding world's Betrothal
Agreements, Sirius," he quietly replied. "He wants to
discuss the subject with you."
"He does?" asked a shocked godfather. "Then... wow!
That is surprising news. How'd he find out?"
"No idea, if you didn't tell him," he replied. "If it wasn't
you, then it must have been Hermione. And, if it was
Hermione, I'm wondering...
"Oh!" he suddenly exclaimed. "Of course! Malfoy and
Parkinson."
"Pardon?" asked Sirius.
"Back in First Year, I remember Hermione asking, in
general terms, why Parkinson - Pansy Parkinson, that
is - was fawning all over Draco Malfoy," he explained.
"Ron said something about 'They must be in a
Betrothal Agreement, I guess.' And a few other not
very flattering things, but that's beside the point. And,
that got Hermione asking more about them.
"She then must have told her parents all about them
in one of her letters home, or when she was home
talking to them."
"Seems the likely scenario," nodded Sirius. "But,
since he does, it's going to make things a great deal
easier."
"Easier?" he warily asked.
"Easier," his godfather immediately and firmly replied.
"Harry, you're a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient
House. As such, you really need one. Especially, since
Hermione is a muggleborn."
"So, I take it my parents had one?" he asked. "That
was going to be my next question, by the way."
"Yes," replied Sirius. "Your father had one drawn up,
with your mother sitting by his side as he had it done,
once they decided to make their engagement public.
"But, I want you to also remember that both of your
parents were of-age when they did it. Because
Hermione is not, it is up to her magical guardian to
complete one in her stead."
"And, who'd be hers?" he asked. "I thought it'd be
Dumbledore. But, as he's no longer headmaster―"
"As a muggleborn student attending Hogwarts, if she
didn't already have one by default, it devolves to her
Head of House," explained Sirius. "However, that was
Minnie McGonagall; and she's now gone. I'd have to
look it up, but it could still be her since her magical
guardian could be identified by name, rather than title.
If it's by title then, since there's currently no Head of
House for Gryffindor, it would devolve to the Deputy
Head. As there's no Deputy Head at the moment, it
then devolves to the Head. That would mean her
magical guardian would be Lady Griselda
Marchbanks."
"That's―" he began.
"Hold your horses, Pup," his godfather interrupted.
"Just a minute. There's something else you need to
know."
When Harry nodded, he continued, "I've had Ted
looking into what's needed to have magical
guardianship transferred from one person to another
without the current magical guardian having any say
in the matter. And I had him doing it with Hermione...
and this matter, truth be told... in mind.
"Your ructions across the hierarchy of Hogwarts have
presented an opportunity. As Minerva McGonagall has
now been found to be guilty of crimes against
children, she is no longer eligible to hold a magical
guardian position. So that covers the chance she was
Hermione's.
"Secondly, if it was by title, then without a current
Head of House for Gryffindor or Deputy Head in their
stead it has likely devolved to Griselda. And Griselda
would never refuse to allow a transfer of magical
guardianship to another if she believed the
muggleborn's parents wished it so of their own free
will.
"Even if she does, it can be lawfully argued that
Hermione's parents effectively signed over magical
guardianship to Minerva McGonagall and no one else.
Therefore, they would have the right to choose
another if they so chose. And the current magical
guardian would not even need to know until it was
done."
"Well, I certainly hope you intend on discussing this
with Hermione's parents, first," Harry huffed.
"Of course," said Sirius. "Talking to her father about
Betrothal Agreements gives me the perfect
opportunity to talk to him and Monica about her
magical guardianship.
"Now, what's the... research you want me to do?"
Harry was a moment glancing at the written list before
he looked back and said, "I'd like you to have a look at
what hardcore Betrothal Agreements are in the Black
records. Only those you can share, of course. I want
Wendell and Monica both to have a full understanding
of just how... vicious... some of them can be.
Forewarned is forearmed."
Surprised, Sirius said, "I'll see what I can find. You
might also want to write an authorisation for me to
look into the betrothal records for the House of Potter,
while I'm at it. Write it down and have Dobby deliver it.
Then I'll head for Gringotts and go through the
records of both Houses, there."
"Good idea!" he grinned. "And, since my parents are
deceased, see if you can find that one, too. Since it's a
modern one between a Lord and a muggleborn it will
be a perfect example."
"You got it," nodded Sirius.
"You've got time, too," said Harry. "Tomorrow's a work
day, Monday, so both Grangers are going to be at
work until after 6.00pm."
"Only the one day, huh?" asked Sirius. "My! You must
be eager!"
"Sorry," he blushed. "It's just... I don't know how long
it's going to take you... And I just wanted to warn you
that for the next five days they won't be home until
after six. Plus, Wendell asked for it to be tomorrow."
"Home alone with the delectable Miss Hermione
Granger," Sirius mock-sighed. "Can you two be
trusted?"
"Alone?" he snorted, before wryly adding, "Hardly.
Not with three aurors watching over us."
Sirius laughed. "I'll get it done."
"Thank you, Sirius," Harry said gratefully. "I really
appreciate this."
"That's fine, Pup. That's what a godfather is for,"
smiled Sirius. "However, since Andi's going to go off
at me about gallivanting all over the country again;
when she finds out, I'm telling her you made me do it!
Ha! Mirror off!"
As Sirius's image blurred away to be replaced by his
own, it was a moment for Harry to realise just what his
godfather had done.
'Bastard!' he thought in humour. And chuckled. 'Oh,
well. All she can do is tell me off.'
Then he pulled a fresh sheet of parchment before
himself so he could write Sirius his authorisation for
access to the Potter family records at Gringotts.
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Chapter 145
Harry was up early as he wanted to be up when both
adult Grangers left for work. He was surprised when
they didn't leave until almost 8.00am and asked about
it.
"Harry, we're dental surgeons, not ordinary dentists,"
explained Monica. "On a Monday morning we have a
nine o'clock start at the hospital to go over the
surgical programme for the week. Then we do rounds,
then we have an early lunch. We finally start
operations at just after lunch.
For Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we tend to
follow a schedule starting at 8.00am of rounds,
surgery, lunch, surgery, post-op and wrap up with a
couple hours, if necessary, spare. We also try to fit
speaking with referred patients in among there when
we can. Some surgeries are long, some are short. That
gives us the time to see new patients. Friday is
paperwork, review and self study of new techniques
and the like in our field.
"Ah," he said. "That's why you were able to cancel
your day, last Friday, at such short notice."
"That's why," she smiled with a nod.
As Hermione joined them, having just come down,
Wendell stood up straight and said, "Now, you two..."
Harry focussed his full attention on him.
"I've spoken with the aurors and they'll be keeping an
eye on you," he firmly said. "So, no funny business
while we're not here. Got it?"
"Dah-deeee!" Hermione whined, while madly blushing.
"Yes, Sir," Harry immediately and firmly replied. "I
have your trust and will not abuse it."
"I know, Harry," he replied. "I'm just invoking 'Father's
Prerogative' by warning you."
"Yes, Wendell," said Harry, more relaxed.
That the senior auror had told him the aurors wouldn't
step in, even if the two decided to consummate their
relationship in the middle of the parlour floor, was
beside the point. He'd talked to them.
"Sorry, Sir," the auror had apologised. "But, we're
here to ensure the safety of Lord Potter and... now
that he and your daughter are soon to be in a
Betrothal Agreement, from what I hear... she's
included in that too.
"Under our law; they are both over thirteen years of
age, there is less than a two year age gap between
them, Lord Potter does not hold a position of authority
over your daughter and, if it happens, they would both
be consenting. As such, we would be required to
simply give them privacy."
"Understood. Thank you, auror," Wendell had replied.
He had what he needed, anyway.
"A reminder, Sir," said Harry. "My Lord Black is likely
to pay us a visit, this very evening, after the sixth hour
past noon."
While Hermione gave him a funny look for his formal
language, Wendell smiled and replied, "I well
remember, Lord Potter. Thank you."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With Wendell and Monica out for the day, both teens
spent more time together.
At her request, Harry began to educate Hermione
better on the roles the Houses played in wizarding
British society. It had started with her asking why he
had used the formal language he had used with her
father that morning.
"At that moment I wasn't 'Harry' speaking with your
'Dad' about 'Sirius'," he explained. "I was acting as
Heir Tertiary and Agent for Lord Black of the House of
Black, speaking with Doctor Wendell Granger, Justice
of the Peace, concerning a business matter between
Lord Sirius Black and himself. It was not my place to
be familiar in the role I was playing. Your father
understood that."
She firmly said, "I need to learn this."
"Yes, you do," he agreed. And smiled back.
That led to Harry getting what books he had on the
subject out and looking for what ones he needed to
teach her.
"At some stage we need an excursion to Diagon
Alley," he said. "Now that we're out of school, I can
spend time having a browse and looking for books
like this. The last time I was there I had snuck out of
the school and time was limited. And most of that was
taken up with what I had to quickly accomplish in
Gringotts."
He started with an overview of the Houses and which
was what.
"I know this, Harry," she exasperatedly said.
"I'm sure you do," he reasonably said back. "However,
I don't know that you know everything I'm trying to
teach you, so I have to go over it in case there's
something important you should know that you don't.
"However, at least your prior knowledge of a lot of it
will make most of this go faster. We can quickly skip
through what you know, as a sort of revision, and
focus on what you don't when we find something you
don't."
She gave a minor harrumph, but didn't object. "Fine."
"Wasn't that my signature response?" he teased.
She gave him a look and said, "Why do you think I
used it?" And smirked.
He chuckled and the two teens got on with it.
While Hermione knew all the 'ranks' of the Houses she
wasn't so sure about the terms relating to the Heirs.
"Why Heir Primary, Secondary and Tertiary, while they
also use Heir Apparent and Presumptive?"
"Apparent and Presumptive are sub-ranks of Primary,"
he replied. "Heir Apparent refers to the heir that will
ascend to the Lordship unless they predecease the
Lord, or they're Disowned. An Heir Presumptive can
be dropped down the line of succession by someone
born who would become the Heir Primary.
"For example, Andromeda is currently Heir Primary of
the House of Black... or, rather, Heiress Primary. But,
she can lose the position by Sirius becoming a father
by blood; which makes her an Heiress Presumptive.
That son or daughter would then be Heir or Heiress
Primary. If it's a girl she would be Heiress Presumptive
because Sirius could then have a boy, who would then
be Heir Apparent, while the girl moved down to
Heiress Secondary.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 146
"With each child Andromeda would also drop back
one, with Nymphadora and me also dropping back
one as well. In the aforementioned order, on the birth
of the girl she'd drop from being Heiress Primary to
Heiress Secondary. And on the birth of the boy, she'd
drop back from being Heiress Secondary to Heiress
Tertiary. And so on.
"However, below Heir or Heiress Tertiary we're simply
known as an Heir. Clear, so far?"
Hermione nodded, "That makes more sense than what
I read."
"And, what about the heirs of the House of Potter?"
she then asked. "Do you have any? What with you
being the last of your line, I mean."
Harry smiled and said, "I wondered when you'd ask.
There is no one of the main Potter line left. I'm the
last. Therefore, we had to go up the line until we found
someone who carries Potter blood today, off a cadet
line. To do that we had to go all the way up to my
Great Grandfather's younger brother. He was one of
the first aurors in what became known as MaCUSA.
Then we came down that line until we found someone
still alive.
"The next in line is someone in America who, when
the goblins researched them, has shown himself to be
a bit of a scoundrel. Therefore, I've ensured he's not
been informed of his status. And he will only be
informed if something happens to me before I've
married and had children of my own.
"However, I've identified him as Heir Presumptive of
the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter with
Gringotts so, if I should die without progeny, the
Ministry cannot seize the Potter fortune; as they
would, if I didn't. I'd rather the scoundrel have it than
the Ministry seize it.
"He may not be of the main line but he's still a Potter
by blood. A condition has been set in place that
means he'll have to change his address to a British
one, though. That is, he'll have to move to and live in
magical Britain."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
While Harry and Hermione were sitting at the dinette
table going over the 'who's who' of the nobility of
wizarding Britain and nibbling away at the remains of
their lunches, Amelia Bones was walking into the
holding cells area at the DMLE.
After first ensuring herself the old man was sitting on
his bunk and was well away from the door, she
nodded to the auror with her to open it. As soon as he
did she immediately stepped inside.
"Finally," the old man muttered as a barely audible
sigh.
"Mister Albus Dumbledore," she said. "I find I have
sufficient evidence to charge you with trespass.
However, I'm going to hold onto the charge, for now,
and stick it in my drawer in my desk in my office.
"There it shall remain... until you again break the law.
Because, I know damned well you will."
"If you're done, Am- Madam Bones; I believe I'm free
to go," he quietly said.
"I have a message for you, first, from Headmistress
Marchbanks - your boss," she smirked. "It is now
'school hours'. You are expected to leave this place
and head immediately and directly for Hogwarts. You
are not to deviate from that order. You are not to stop
off anywhere along the way.
"She expects you to be stepping into her office in no
more than fifteen minutes from now; so you'd better
hustle."
"That gives me insufficient time to shower or change,"
he grumped.
"She knows that," she said. "She wants to make sure
you're back in the castle and report to her before
you'll get to do that."
Stepping aside she added, "Now you'd best get a
move on. One minute of that fifteen has already
gone."
Already dressed, he only had to pause long enough to
pick up his wand, glasses, money pouch and ring
portkeys, sign for them, and be on his way.
Back at the castle by way of the public floo system in
the Ministry lobby direct to his office, he then knew he
had to immediately head to his... Marchbanks's office.
It would take him almost the entirety of the time he
had remaining.
As he walked up to the gargoyle about thirteen
minutes after he walked out of that infernal cell and
was about to ask it to step aside for him, it did it
anyway. And that proved to him that the woman was
monitoring him as he made his way to her office.
Walking up the stairs he knocked on the door, waited
barely a moment, then opened it and walked in.
The new Headmistress - and, Merlin, did he hate that -
was sitting at her desk waiting for him.
"Come in, Albus."
As he approached the desk he saw no chairs before it.
This meant he was going to have to stand.
Once he stopped about ten feet shy of the desk, she
said, "You left school grounds without authorisation
early on Friday afternoon, Albus. That will never
happen again.
"You are now the last member of staff who has been
informed that, if they leave the school grounds during
a school day without my authorisation, it will be
grounds for dismissal.
"Your tenure has certain conditions in it that allow me
to fire you. One is bringing this school into disrepute;
another is conduct unbecoming of a faculty member.
You did both by trying to trespass upon the property
of a young, female muggleborn student and getting
yourself arrested in the process.
"That behaviour reflected badly on me, the school and
your fellow staff members. That's called bringing the
school into disrepute, Albus.
"So, this is one of your final warnings before I fire
you. If something similar happens again, I will fire
you." She then gave him a wave off gesture towards
the door and said, "You may leave."
Powerless at the treatment and what he felt was
disrespect he was being shown, Dumbledore bit his
tongue and kept silent as he spun about and stormed
from the room. Again, he never bothered to close the
door behind himself.
Marchbanks was waiting to flick her wand to close it,
anyway.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 147
Back in his Professor of Transfigurations office and
private apartment, Dumbledore was unable to take a
long soak in a bath, this time. The apartment only had
a shower. So, he took a half-hour shower, making sure
to scrub himself clean.
The robes he wore was yet another set he had to
throw away. He felt, as he had to wear them for three
straight days, he'd never get them truly clean again.
Properly cleaned and dressed, he called for a house
elf to bring him a decent meal as he sat at his desk
and sat back.
Now stuck in the castle, especially on and during
'school days', he had to figure out a way to get to
Harry Potter and get the boy back inside the castle as
well.
That's when he hit on an idea. He couldn't go to young
Harry, so why not bring the boy to him! It also had the
bonus of killing two birds with one stone. Getting the
boy brought to him would get the boy back in the
castle, too.
Finally deciding to do it, Dumbledore pulled out a
sheet of pre-charmed parchment he had created a
stock of in case he ever lost control of the wards, his
quill and an ink pot. He took a few minutes to draft the
letter in his Occlumency-enhanced 'mind's eye' then
set to writing.
Once he was done and had signed it with a flourish he
realised his mistake. He'd signed the damnable thing
with his old titles.
"Blast!" he muttered, before he began to rewrite the
letter on another pre-charmed sheet of parchment.
Done, he lightly blew it dry. Then he drew his wand
and worked to make a minor modification to the
portkey charm. As he'd cast the original with the Elder
Wand while it was still bonded with him, it took him a
fair bit of power to adjust it.
After taking a deep breath and lightly dabbing his
handkerchief over his forehead to absorb the moisture
he'd generated there adjusting the charm on the
parchment, he folded it as was proper and turned to
Fawkes.
"Fawkes," he firmly said.
As the bird looked at him, he held up the letter and
said, "I need you to take this to young Harry Potter.
Off you go."
Fawkes stared at him for a long moment, let out a
threatening screech and flamed away. The letter was
still in Dumbledore's hand.
Expecting the bird to flame back in within a moment, it
was over ten seconds before Dumbledore lowered his
hand. Fawkes had not returned.
"Gods damn it!" he snapped to the air. "Blasted bird!"
He jumped to his feet, strode out of his office and
made his way to the owlery.
'Maybe it's better to use an ordinary school owl for
this, anyway,' he thought as he strode along, letter still
in his hand. 'It may take longer to get him, but Harry
won't instantly recognise Fawkes and be wary.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
In the Department of Mysteries at the Monday morning
'Fire-side' - a name for which whose history was lost
to the annals of time - the Unspeakable Section
Leaders gathered in the largest meeting room to
verbally report to their superiors and the others what
the sections would be focussing on for that week.
Some were surprised to see Scimitar attend with none
of 'Management' being surprised to see him there.
At the end of the usual reports, Croaker said, "You've
noticed, by now, we have a new Section Leader -
Scimitar. Scimitar leads a small team working on a
'Deep Secret' project. Scimitar?"
The Unspeakable stood and said, "As Croaker stated,
this matter is classified Deep Secret. its code name is
'Spectral Threat'.
"It has been discovered that one Tom Marvolo Riddle,
better known as Lord Voldemort, is still with us."
After waiting for the sudden susurrations of noise to
cease, what would be loud exclamations of shock
anywhere else, he continued, "It has been discovered
Riddle... as that is his real name, that is how we
address him... employed the use of soul magics in the
form of the creation of Horcruxes. Worst still, he has
created quite a few of them."
"That's crazy!" said one. "One, alone, is enough to
warp the mind. To create multiples―"
"We're aware," nodded Scimitar. "Nevertheless, that is
exactly what he has done. My team and I have already
located and collected four of them and are aware of a
fifth that was destroyed around June of 1993."
"Sweet Merlin!" one of the others softly exclaimed.
Continuing, Scimitar said, "There is another issue
related to this matter and it involves Harry Potter; or,
as he is now more properly known, Lord Harrison
James Potter. Due to the disruptions Lord Potter has
recently caused..."
That earned him a few snickers, even though they
were nervous in nature.
"... Amelia Bones has assigned Lord Potter a rotating
protection detail. This is mainly because of the threat
'White Beard' represents to the young Lord. We have
been urging her to continue with it.
"Thankfully, we have a deep agent within the DMLE
already assigned to Lord Potter's detail and hope to
get at least another... if not another two... assigned to
that detail within the coming weeks."
"Why is he important to this?" asked one.
"That you do not need to know about," Croaker
jumped in and replied.
Scimitar gave the man a nod and turned back to the
group. "This information has been provided you for
two reasons," he said. "First, for your sections to be
vigilant of the employment of soul magics. However,
they are not to be informed of why. Second, that Lord
Potter is now a DoM Protectee... you know what that
means... and he is not to be aware of that. That
operation is also Deep Secret and is code named
'Knight's Shadow'. Lord Potter's codename is now
'White Knight'."
A DoM Protectee would be watched over by agents of
the DoM - usually individuals, working alone. That he
was not to be aware of it meant that the DoM agents
would be doing so in hidden surveillance. And that
their job would be that much harder, due to the DMLE
protection detail. Subtlety would be the name of the
game. Having at least one person 'inside' made things
easier; but, more would be better.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After it looked to Harry that Hermione was beginning
to flag under the rapid flow of information, he checked
the time using a Tempus charm and realised they'd
been at it, including a short break for lunch and while
Harry ate snacks, for almost five hours.
"I think we should leave the nobility lessons there, for
the moment, Hermione," he said. "I think we should
focus on something else for the time being."
"Kissing?" she asked.
He laughed, walked around the table and took her into
his arms. Pausing only a moment to make sure it was
alright, he ducked his head forward towards hers with
his head tilted slightly to the left as she did the same.
Already, they'd figured out a left tilt, rather than a right
tilt, felt more natural for them both.
After a lingering kiss they slowly broke apart.
"I can get used to that," she grinned.
"Me too," he happily said.
"But, not in front of Daddy," she firmly clarified. "I
promised Mum."
"I know," he sighed. "You told me."
"And now I'm reminding you."
Giving her another kiss, he pulled back and walked
back around the table.
Sitting down again he said, "There's an idea I have
that I want to talk to you about. It's become even more
important for me to talk to you about, since we're now
boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Oh?" she asked, intrigued.
"With Dumbledore escaping a prison sentence," he
began. "And the Wizengamot and School Board not
able to get him out of the castle yet, I've more and
more come to realise I do not want to go back to
Hogwarts. It's too dangerous for me."
Frowning in worry, Hermione asked, "But, what about
your schooling?"
"There's plenty of options, Hermione," he replied. "I
can go to one of the schools in Europe, such as
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic; I can go to the main
school in the United States, Ilvermorny School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry, which I've discovered is
modelled after Hogwarts; I can go to a completely
different school in another part of the world; I can hire
private tutors and study at home; or I can hire private
tutors elsewhere in the world. I have plenty of
possibilities open to me.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 148
"However, now that we're boyfriend and girlfriend,
your opinion is even more valuable to me. And, don't
forget, whichever I choose, you're welcome to join
me."
Hermione's first instinct was to try and tell him, 'No!'
However, she held her initial reaction back and
decided her boyfriend needed her to think it through.
So, that's what she did.
After a long moment she started. "Well, I can't fault
you for believing it would be dangerous for you going
back to Hogwarts. And, you've got the money to go to
a school outside of the country, or even hire private
tutors. However, not returning to Hogwarts means not
seeing friends again."
"Friends?" he pointedly asked.
"Valid point," she nodded. "I guess the only ones still
there that could be called 'friends' are Neville, Ginny
and the Twins. Or maybe even just Neville, really. You
know he never turned his back on you, don't you?"
"Yeah; and he probably would have become an even
better friend if it wasn't for Ron and his own
grandmother interfering," he agreed. "But Ginny, to
me, is just a 'fan girl' and Ron and the Twins' sister,
who I rescued from the Chamber. I have nothing in
common with her and I know she wants me to be 'The
Boy-Who-Lived' for her. I can't ever do that."
"I don't like the idea of you going overseas to go to
school," she said. "And I don't think my parents will
be happy for me to go, either."
"You'd be surprised about that," he disagreed. "I don't
think they're happy about you going back to
Hogwarts. They're now well aware of just how
dangerous it's been there. And the ructions I've
caused in the school staff might well have been the
last straw for them."
"You don't have your own place, at the moment," she
tried. "So where are you going to stay and where are
you going to get the private tutors willing to tutor
you? And where would they do it?"
"In order," he began. "I do have my own place. The
Goblins told me about it. I just haven't been there to
see what condition it's in yet. If it's non-habitable at
the moment, then I'll simply buy another place and
live there. As for willing tutors; I'm the 'Boy-WhoLived', remember? I don't think they're going to be
hard to find. And, where? I'll either find and buy a
remote place and use that, or I can come to some
other arrangement with them. Nothing's
insurmountable when you have the gold to throw at
the problem."
With a sad sigh she said, "You're right. All options are
open to you if you have the gold; which, you do."
"I'm actually more worried about the pros and cons
that aren't gold based." he explained. "The big 'con' of
private tutelage is that we won't get to mix with
children our own age. The big 'pro' is that we will be
taught at the pace we can learn. We won't be held
back. That means we can learn what we need a hell of
a lot faster."
"We can get our OWLs earlier!" she exclaimed.
"Exactly," he grinned. "Another 'pro' is; with the two
of us we won't feel as lonely as we would have if
either of us had lone tutoring. But a 'con' is; we won't
have access to the massive Hogwarts library."
"You like the idea of private tutors, don't you?" she
logically guessed.
He nodded and said, "Another 'pro'; you won't be
effectively blocked from seeing your parents for a
whole term, term after term. You'll be able to visit with
your parents - and maybe even they will be able to
visit you - as often as you or they want."
"You've practically got me sold on the idea, already,"
she sighed. "But I'll miss the Hogwarts library."
"Then I'll buy one," he replied. "As long as I can find a
place to buy that'll have enough room, I'll build the
shelving and racks for one and stock it by buying
lorry-loads of books from every wizarding bookshop
in the world."
She smiled and said, "I don't think you need to go to
that much trouble, Harry; but, it's appreciated."
He shrugged and said, "Well I can at least buy a copy
of every available different book in Flourish and
Blotts. I also know there's lots of antique books in the
Potter documentation vault, too."
She laughed. "Alright. You've practically got me sold
on the idea. Just give me time to think it over. I might
have other problems with it I can't think of right now."
"We don't have to make a decision right now,
Hermione," he lightly chided her. "I doubt, very much,
we're going to see Hogwarts re-open before
Christmas... New Years, even."
With a firm nod she mentally put that idea aside and
asked, "Alright. What's next?"
"Well, now that I know Lady Marchbanks has taken
over as Headmistress, together with Dumbledore
being back in the school, I think I need to write a letter
to her to let her know a few things," he replied.
"What sort of things?' she asked.
"Dumbledore used to use the ghosts, house elves and
portraits to spy on everyone," he replied.
"He what?" she exclaimed.
"Used to use the ghosts, house elves and portraits to
spy on everyone," he repeated. "I figured that out, I
think, in second year."
"How?" she asked.
"How what?" he asked right back. "How did he use
them or how did I figure it out?"
She gave him a look and replied, "Both!"
"Well, the first part is quite simple, if you think about
it," he replied. "Ghosts can move freely about the
castle. They can get anywhere and everywhere. When
you think about it, you probably even said things near
one of them you wouldn't have said near a living
person. However, they are freely able to verbally
communicate with us.
"House elves are the same with a couple of added
advantages; they can elf-pop - apparate - anywhere,
including through wards, including inside Hogwarts.
And they have this ability they call 'fade', which is a
far superior version of a witch or wizard's various
disillusionment charms. We could have a house elf
standing on the table between us right now, who
popped in to right there directly from the
Headmistress's office, and we'd never know about it.
Elf-pop and elf-fade are just... that... good.
"Now, how difficult would it be for such an elf to then
have been sent by old wrinkle-nuts to pop in under
fade, carrying a long sheet of parchment and an everink quill and for it to write down what we say that it
will then pass on to Dum-dum-bore?"
"Oh, Gods!" she moan/whined.
"Now the portraits are a little different―" he began.
"No; stop," she interrupted. "I think I've got the idea."
When Harry just gently smiled back, an expression
she was coming to learn meant 'real' Harry was truly
sorry he had just destroyed your world-view, she just
sighed.
"And, you think Dumbledore did this at Hogwarts?"
she asked.
"I know Dumbledore did this at Hogwarts," he
corrected. "There were a couple of things he said to
me he couldn't have known by having been told either
directly by a human, or having it read from their minds
by Snape. It took me about a year to narrow it down to
the elves, portraits and ghosts by saying little things
when no one was with me to a ghost or a portrait, or
even just saying it in my bed as if I was pretending I
was talking to my parents out loud as if they were
there.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 149
"For example, I know one time when it must've been
an elf who told him something when I sat in my bed,
late at night, and pretended to talk to my parents. I
said how all the crap I had to put up with as everyone
called me the 'Heir of Slytherin' was making me
seriously consider running away. The next day
Dumbledore summoned me to his office and told me
how Hogwarts was 'the safest place in all of wizarding
Britain' and how 'the children' were just being children
and would soon realise how silly they were being. He
said he told me that because he could 'see I was
feeling very troubled about it and worried I might do
something truly foolish'."
"That was the one that confirmed a house elf was
watching and listening to me at the time. It then had
me later confirm the ghosts and portraits were also
watching."
Slumped in her seat a little, Hermione sadly said,
"Wow. That's just... that's a little sickening."
She suddenly blanched and looked back at Harry in
not a little horror. "That means..."
"That means?" he pressed.
"That means... almost everything we went through, he
knew about in advance! He knew about the basilisk
well before you went down into the Chamber... hang
on, he'd have known it was Ginny! He also had to
know it was Sirius coming into the castle in third
year!"
"Hermione," he gently said. "You know Albus
Dumbledore, as Headmaster, had control of the wards.
I'm sure you would have read about that in 'Hogwarts
a History'. Think about it, for a moment!"
"Yes, that's what it says," then stared at him in shock
again. "He had to have known a dark artefact, the
diary, was brought in and, highly likely, by whom on
the first day of the school year."
"Correct."
"And he had to have known it was Sirius Black; and
that he was on the grounds and when; because of the
ghosts, portraits and house elves."
"And the wards," he added. "Plus, he deliberately left
a way for Sirius to bypass the dementors and get in."
"Huh?" she asked.
"The tunnel from the Weeping Willow to the Shrieking
Shack. Dumbledore built it to give a way for Remus
Lupin to be removed from the school to the shack on
the nights of the full moon," he explained. "He
couldn't have not known Remus's three best friends
didn't also know about it - one of them being Sirius
Black. However, he made no move to block it when
people thought Sirius was heading for Hogwarts.
What does that tell you?"
"Oh, Gods!" she moaned. "How have I been so blind?
How did I not figure that out, myself?"
"Because you hadn't considered Dumbledore was
capable of Machiavellian machinations," he explained.
"So, you didn't go looking for such moves or illintentioned motivations.
"I knew what sort of man he was from before I even
entered Hogwarts. So, I was looking for them. That
then made it easy to find them. Dumbledore was so
assured about his image as the so-called Leader of
the Light he didn't consider the possibility someone
would go looking and could find evidence of the truth
behind his actions.
"Secondly, that loyalty enhancement potion was
probably having a more... deleterious effect on you, at
the time.
"And don't go thinking I'm blaming you for not
figuring any of this out, either. For all I know... for all
we know... you might have figured it out about the
tunnel, for instance, and gone to Dumbledore with it.
Then he Obliviated the knowledge of it from your mind
and added a termporary compulsion redirecting your
thoughts elsewhere before you could say anything to
me."
Hermione, even more dejected, sighed while looking
at the tabletop between them and nodded.
Harry made his way back around the table, sat next to
her and kissed her again. Pulling away, he softly said,
"Understand, Hermione Granger, I do not consider
you culpable in any of this. I know that if you could
have told me, you would have told me."
Relaxing a fair bit, she kissed him back and smiled.
"Thank you, Harry. But, I can't help feeling I let you
down."
"You didn't," he immediately shot back. "I know you
didn't."
Again moving back to his own side of the table he was
sitting down as Hermione said, "We should write to
Headmistress Lady Marchbanks and let her know how
Dumbledore used the house elves, the portraits and
the ghosts to spy on us. Unless she's countermanded
that order, they might still be doing it."
Harry grinned and said, "Well done, Hermione! Now
that's what I call thinking logically!"
Happier, Hermione pulled a fresh sheet of parchment
across, uncapped her ink pot again and picked up her
quill. Harry would not tell her that he'd said that exact
same thing just before he started telling her about
Dumbledore using them as spies. He wanted her to
have the 'victory' of coming up with it, herself.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Later, with Harry working in the kitchen preparing
dinner, Hermione sat at the dinette table and took
notes as he talked.
Coming at the subject he knew Sirius would be
coming to talk to Wendell about after six, he spoke
about the concept of the laws that were in place for
the Noble Houses. Then gave a few examples.
"Hang on," she said. "If someone publicly insults you,
as you're the Head of the House of Potter, that would
also be seen as an insult on the House of Potter."
"Correct; because I am the physical embodiment of
the House of Potter, irrespective of how many Potters
there are alive."
"And, at your level... the level of the House of Potter, I
mean... such an insult can lead to you challenging
someone all the way up to a duel to the death and no
one can do anything about it?"
"Other than try to talk me out of it? Correct."
"But, what about Malfoy?" she asked.
"Malfoy thought himself the Heir Primary - Heir
Presumptive - of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Black. And further thought that, with Sirius currently
being hunted down by the dementors, he thought it
was only a matter of time before he became outright
Heir Apparent. That put him on par with me.
"However, what slipped his little mind after the First
Task was that, during the First Task, I proved my claim
as Lord Potter, not Heir Apparent Potter.
"Now that Sirius has been cleared and has basically
stripped the little ferret from the line of succession of
the House of Black, if we return to Hogwarts you will
notice an immediate and significant change in the
little... tosser's attitude towards me. He's gone from
what he thought as him being the Heir Presumptive of
the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, to only
the Heir Apparent of the Magical House of Malfoy.
That's a huge drop in stature."
He gave a snort and added, "Actually, now that me
being a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House has
had a chance to 'sink-in' into their daft little moronic
minds, you'll notice a significant change to how all the
students treat me - except, maybe, Neville."
"Why Nev... oh," she said. "Because he's the Heir
Apparent for the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Longbottom, which means he's really only one 'rank'
below you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 150
"While that's true," he agreed. "I meant, Neville always
treated me as a fellow Heir Apparent. I just never
completely realised he was doing it."
When he saw she understood he said, "Now, there's a
way someone can go from almost near the bottom of
the... political food chain... to almost the very top in
one swift move. Do you know what it is?"
"You mean 'Betrothal Contracts'," she firmly replied,
happy she knew the answer to that one.
"Betrothal Agreements," he returned. "An Agreement
does not become a Contract until the conditions of the
agreement that would change it to a contract are met
in full."
"'Agreement' is just a soft word used for people afraid
of the word 'contract'," she said. "At least, that's what
Mum and Daddy say."
"In the muggle world and in almost all situations in
the wizarding world, they'd be right," he nodded.
"However, Betrothal Agreements are more a combined
promissory note and list of conditions needed to
make a contract come into effect. To save issues, the
Betrothal Agreement is written in such a way that it
becomes the Betrothal Contract once the agreement
conditions are met."
"What sort of conditions?" she asked. "What was
contained in the Hogwarts library, when I tried to delve
deeper, only said in general that it would be matters of
importance between the two Houses of the
betrothed."
"In other words, a Dumbledore answer," he said.
"Answered the question without providing any useful
information."
"Exactly," she said.
"Examples, then," he said, then stopped peeling
potatoes to think about it. "Leaving out listing the
definitions used first... a condition could be... 'Upon
the evening prior to the date of their union, the
prospective bride must be confirmed by a certified
Healer to be a virgin'.
"If that condition is found not to be... confirmed... then
the wedding will not take place and the Agreement will
lapse. That is, it will not become a Contract."
"A virgin?!" Hermione asked a little shocked.
"It's just an example, Hermione," he gently said. "It
doesn't necessarily have to be part of any Agreement.
Think about how backwards and out-of-date the
wizarding world appears to be when compared to the
muggle world.
"Another could be... 'The aforementioned betrothed
groom must attain at minimum three NEWTs of
Outstanding level in any three subjects as graded by
the WEA... And such attainment must be within twenty
four months beyond the prospective groom's
seventeenth anniversary of his birth'.
"That way, if the groom-to-be proves himself to be a
dum-dum, then the family of the bride-to-be can void
it."
"I see," she mused. "That... kind of makes sense. I
don't like that bit about being a virgin, though."
"As I said, it was just an example and one that was
often included to ensure the prospective bride didn't
turn into a... let's face it... 'doorknob' for all the boys at
school."
"Doorknob?" she asked.
"Everyone gets a turn?" he replied with a grin.
With a huff of stifled amusement, she grumped, "I
noticed you didn't choose to say the groom had to be
a virgin."
"Out-of-date, male-dominated society, remember?" he
returned. "Besides, the bloodlines are important to the
Houses. It would not do for the new 'Lady' to suddenly
give birth to what the 'Lord' believes to be his Heir,
only to discover later the child is not his by blood.
"That's happened in the past and led to both the death
of the 'Lady' and the infant and blood-feuds between
Houses. Not a good thing to go through."
She nodded and said, "I can see that."
"But, even the Contract can later be voided due to
conditions not being met," he went on. "Sirius has
told me he's used a clause in the Betrothal Contract
between Bellatrix LeStrange née Black and Rodolphus
LeStrange to void theirs. Their Contract stated that an
heir had to be birthed as a result of their union within
five years and a second within ten. It's now been more
than ten years and there hasn't even been a first one."
"So, what does that mean?" she asked. "They have to
get divorced?"
"Nope. Voiding the contract was the divorce; or the
wizarding world equivalent of it." he simply replied.
"But, back to the original point about sudden
elevations due to Betrothal Agreements," he said. "I
found out my Dad and Mum entered one around the
time they became engaged. In one swift move my
Mum went from being 'just a jumped-up muggleborn'
to the 'Lady Presumptive Potter'. As the betrothed of
the then current Lord Potter, she was seen in
wizarding society as that. That she was a muggleborn
no longer had any meaning, as her position as 'The
Betrothed of Lord Potter' trumped it."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein