บท 141: Chapter 141

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-your-daughter." 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."