Chapter 1: (1848 words)
With a smirk on his face and mischief in his eyes, Harry Potter was ready. Ready to go back. "Are you sure you want to do this, Harry?" Hermione asked him the previous day. He couldn't believe she would ask such a question. It was like a dream come true!
Yesterday, he had laughed. "Hermione, this is literally all I could ever want," he replied, a smile on his lips.
Hermione was like a sister to him, so of course he wouldn't go without her. It was the same situation with Ron. The redhead had asked him yesterday, away from Hermione while they were packing their things, "Are you sure you want to take me with you?"
Again, he had laughed. "Ron, you and Hermione are my best friends in the whole world. I can't imagine doing this without you there," he told him, and the redhead was happily surprised. "Don't worry about the money aspect by the way," he had grinned, "I've got it covered."
Today, the three of them were ready.
"Harry, before we leave, we need to go to Gringotts," Hermione said after they apparated from the Burrow. The other Weasleys would soon start to question where they were.
"Hmm, you're right," he nodded in acknowledgement. "Ron, you still have the… object?" Ron grinned at him, not needing to give a verbal reply. Harry sighed in relief, "C'mon, let's go to Gringotts quickly. There's a few things we need to do."
They quickly entered, though politely, and Harry asked one of the goblins if they could claim their Lordships. He, of course, did this in the politest manor, almost considered 'pureblood', and the goblin treated him in the same regard. "Your ages?" asked the goblin.
Simultaneously, they answered, "Seventeen."
"Ahh, soon off to your last year at Hogwarts then?" He was leading them to his office, while another goblin went to fetch the necessary rings. There was no need for tests of any kind, the goblins could sense the family magic and that was the truest sign of inheritance there is.
"Yes, sir," Hermione happily answered, though the three friends – no, they were pretty much siblings in all but blood – shared a smirk. Sure, they were going to their last year at Hogwarts, just not this year.
"I see. Here we are. Now all you have to say are the words 'I, [First Name/s] of the House/s [House Name/s], claim a Lordship over House [House Name] as so rightly earned. The Family Magics must accept me or else I shall swear my life on this ring, and die should it not allow my wearing it. So mote be it.' Does that make sense?" They all nodded, Ron and Hermione nervously and Harry with determination. "Now, who would like to go first?"
Hermione cleared her throat and asked, "May I?" Receiving nods from everyone in the room, she picked up her family ring and, starting to feel a bit queasy, she began, "I, Hermione Jean of the Houses Granger and," she paused a moment, smirking a little, "Prince, claim a Lordship over House Prince as so rightly earned. The Family Magics must accept me or else I shall swear my life on this ring, and die should it not allow my wearing it. So mote be it." Magic swirled around her. Though it was invisible, it was difficult to miss. The feeling disappeared after a few minutes and the three grinned.
It had been quite the surprise when they had all taken an inheritance test a few years ago and found out that Hermione's mother was actually a squib from the Prince line. All three had laughed, as she was actually related to Severus Snape. Oh well, hopefully he would be a lot nicer where they were going.
Ron looked at Harry, and immediately noticing that the ebony-haired boy would like to go last, the redhead requested that he go next. He picked up the Prewitt Lord ring and placed it in the palm of his hand, confidently saying aloud, "I, Ronald Bilius of the Houses Weasley and Prewitt, claim a Lordship over House Prewitt as so rightly earned. The Family Magics must accept me or else I shall swear my life on this ring, and die should it not allow my wearing it. So mote be it." Everyone in the room clearly felt his magic and the Prewitt Family Magic mixing until they could no longer feel it a few minutes later, invisible the entire time. Harry and Hermione shared a look: Ron was very easily overlooked, and therefore became all the stronger. Anyone who underestimated the teenager would have definitely made the wrong, and likely fatal choice.
"Oh, is it my go?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He almost didn't even want to go through all of his rings but he knew he had too. This was for his and his friends' safety.
Hermione and Ron nodded. "Which would you like to start with?" the goblin asked and Harry hummed.
"I'll go from the least influential to the most influential." With a nod, the goblin presented him with the Potter Lord ring, "I, Harry James of the Houses Potter, Black, Peverell, and Slytherin, claim a Lordship over House Potter as so rightly earned. The Family Magics must accept me or else I shall swear my like on this ring, and die should it not allow my wearing it. So mote be it." He repeated this with all four rings, the magic surrounding him increasing in power each time so that by the time the Slytherin Lord ring had accepted him, the magic was fully visible and flowing around Harry, a bright vivid green, the same colour as his eyes, and the Avada Kedavra curse. A second later, it had disappeared, willed to do so by Harry himself.
A smirk appeared on his face, as the goblin addressed them all, "Congratulations, Lady Prince, Lord Prewitt, and Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Slytherin, the Family Magics have all accepted you and you have now claimed your Lordships. Is there anything else Gringotts can do for you today?"
"No, dear goblin," Ron answered this time, "We understand how precious your time is, so thank you for helping us. We will be taking our leave now." If the goblin was surprised by their politeness and respect, he did not show it.
"Then let me escort you out."
"Thank you," they simultaneously responded again. They now perfectly understood the twins' love of twin speech. It definitely worked to creep people out!
Once they had left, they held hands, Ron in the middle, and they apparated to Hogsmeade, which was pretty empty so early in the morning. Hermione let go of Ron's hand and stepped forward, "Are you guys ready?" They nodded and Ron took off a time turner that he had been wearing around his neck. "If you would do the honours, Harry."
"My pleasure," he returned jokingly as Ron dropped the time turner on the floor, the numbers '1977' written on it in black marker clear in the sunrise brightness. Locking eyes with his two friends, Harry smiled, "See you there, guys. Love you." And with that, he stomped down on the time turner, breaking it apart, and in the explosion they left behind, the three friends vanished without a trace, appearing in Hogsmeade village, just as early in the morning.
They grinned at each other, and Hermione grabbed both of their wrists and apparated them to Prince manor, where she knew no one would be living in. It was the first thing she could think of but she didn't particularly regret it. The wards allowed their Lady access, along with the two wizards with her. Immediately, a house elf popped from nowhere and her eyes widened, "Lady Prince? Mistress? You's finally come home?"
Hermione's eyes softened as Harry and Ron held back groans. While Hermione had learnt a lot more about the Wizarding World and how purebloods worked, there was always a spot in her heart left solely for house elves, "Yes, I have. My name is Hermione Jean Granger-Prince, what's your name?"
The house elf looked surprised that she had been asked for her name, and that her Mistress was acting so kindly towards her. Hermione's gaze softened even more while Harry and Ron finally lost it and went off to explore.
"My name be Twinky," the house elf sniffed. "Other house elves be mean to Twinky, Mistress. They be calling Twinky horrible names, and hurting Twinky's legs and arms."
Hermione gasped, "They hit you, Twinky?"
The house elf nodded, embarrassed of admitting it, and she never would have if her Mistress hadn't been acting so nice towards her. For a moment, she regretted telling a witch. Surely she would finish what the other elves started, like how Twinky's previous masters had done, but that feeling of regret instantly vanished when Mistress Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and announced, "I will deal with those house elves, Twinky. You just carry on being amazing, okay? What's your job around here?"
Twinky had started crying tears of joy and relief but she ignored it in favour of answering her Mistress Hermione's question, "I's be cooking the food, Mistress."
Hermione quickly lightened up, "Ah, really? Did you see those two boys behind me when I first showed up, Twinky?" The house elf nodded. "The one with black hair, he's called Harry and he loves to cook. Would it be okay if he would join you every once in a while? It would make him, our other friend, Ron, and I very happy."
After hearing that, Twinky rapidly nodded at her Mistress, "Master Harry and Master Ron be free to do what they's be wanting, Mistress, with your permission."
"I know," Hermione gave Twinky a hug, "But I would feel better knowing that you were okay with it? Harry's a really lovely and sweet boy, he's like my younger brother, really."
Slowly, Twinky nodded at her Mistress like before, but it felt different now than it did then, "Twinky has never been asked what Twinky wants. Twinky's would be enjoying Master Harry helping Twinky cook, Mistress."
Hermione's caring smile soon turned into a delighted one, "Thank you, Twinky! You can meet the others in a bit. For now, can you go back to whatever you usually do? Ron, Harry, and I will just explore the place a bit for now I think. I'll call you if I need anything. If Harry or Ron call, could you go to them too, please?"
"Twinky's be doing all that you says, Mistress!" and she popped away, delighted that the Lord or Lady Prince has returned back where they belong.
Harry appeared from behind her and smirked, "My my, look who's befriending the house elves now."
Hermione spun around and whacked him behind the head, "Honestly, Harry, stop being so rude. I even asked Twinky if she would be alright with you cooking with her every once in a while." Harry's eyes widened as he blushed slightly.
"Thanks, 'Mione."
"No problem. Now let's go find Ron before he breaks something."
A/N: Hey peoplesssssssssss. Now, of course, this is exactly what you're going to expect: Harry, Ron, and Hermione travel back in time to the Marauder era and make friends with everyone and they have lots of fun. I suppose it could be classed as crack in a way but it's all in good fun and hopefully it makes sense? And of course, lots of Harry/Sirius fluff! Who do you want Ron and Hermione to end up with though? Each other? I guess I've always liked the idea of Remus/Hermione? Who would Ron go with though? Or Snape? And should James and Lily still end up together? It's all up to you! :)
Enjoy!