Authors Note Hey guys sorry to hit you with another story when I have a bunch of them on the back burner but this one just grabbed my attention. As of today May 9th I have 20,000 words of this done which gives me around 4-6 chapters ahead. So I can GUARANTEE that it will be updated each week. And considering I wrote 20,000 in the last nine days for this I can focus on a Codex chapter of two before I get back to this. Let me know what you think about this mess! Rate and Review
The year had been a stressful one for Susan Bones, namely because of one Deloris Umbridge who did her best to make Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a living hell. And in doing that she had mostly succeeded, there were very few students who would be pressed to call the place Hogwarts even. Although, like all rules this one wasn't universal. Most of the Slytherins, namely Draco Malloy who was all too happy to terrorize the DA. She had been a part of the secret army, and even though nobody wanted to call it that, that's just what it was.
But she had not been part of 'The Ministry Six' as they were dubbed. A group of six students, lead by none other than Harry James Potter. The boy was a born leader, not that he even knew it. He had taught them all skills that would keep them alive if they came face to face with a death eater. She had learned the shield charm under him, as well as a good start to a patronus. And now, now Voldemort was confirmed to be back, not that she doubted her schoolmate ever since he had announced it on top of Cedric's dead body.
She had joined the DA because of him, she trusted him to be acting in their best interest. And considering that he was one of the only people alive to have survived Voldemort's wrath, there was nobody else more qualified. Harry wasn't the most knowledgeable student, but for where he lacked knowledge, he made up for in experience which none of them could say. During their first meeting he had answered any questions that weren't tournament related. In doing so he had admitted to slaying a Basilisk and fending off hundreds of Dementors trying to steal his soul. They were tall tales, but personally she believed them.
He had no reason to lie, his only goal was to teach them defense and that was what he had done. Other than that, the year had been rough, Umbridge had made it hell, she had not allowed any of the students to stand too close, to touch, to talk in large groups. It was unheard of, even in the darkest of times. But it was over now, Umbridge had met a fate unknown to her. And now it was the summer…. It was a time to relax at their ancestral home and relax with her aunty.
The home had been in the family for a few hundred years, which was relatively new considering some of the homes of older families had been standing for over a thousand years. It was a very nice home, not the largest by any means. But it was comfortable, especially because it was only that two of them… her parents, they had died long ago when she was only a baby. They had stood against the Death Eaters and it had cost them their life, like many others she had been left without parents.
Her father's sister Aunt Amelia was left as her sole caregiver, not that the woman would have it any other way. She had grown up with her aunt, and the only thing that stopped her from calling her mum was the fact that Amelia wouldn't want that, only because of how close Amelia had been with her own mother before her death. But they were like mother and daughter, them against the world. Her aunt was head of magical law enforcement which was always a good influence on a young Susan, seeing her aunt in such a powerful and revered position.
She had unpacked like she always had, and about now was time for her and her Aunt to have their traditional talk about the year. It was a chance to get everything put and for both of them to share what had happened during the year, because generally, neither of them had the time to exchange letters between Umbridge and the spike in criminal activity.
She made her way towards the sunroom, the redhead's hair shone, and her blue eyes sparkled as she entered the room. Her aunt, a woman in her mid forties still held beauty from her youth. She was similarly red headed and blue eyed yet more modest in figure when compared to her niece. Who to many was considered a head turner amongst Hogwarts students.
"Susan please sit, before we talk there is something, we need to talk about that is very important." Amelia said in a sad tone, while she motioned for her to take a seat opposite of her. Susan could feel anxiety rising, the only time her aunt talked to her in such a blue tone was when one of the family had passed away but now, she really didn't even know who was left to pass away.
"Susan, last week I received a notice from Gringotts. And it was something that I PROMISE you I had no idea about. The notice was about a contract that our family signed over two hundred years ago. See, Great Grandpa Arthur came from another time, a time where something like this was more natural than not. And it was never his intention for it to last this long or affect us this far down the road. See he signed a contract, a marriage contract between another family, much more wealthy and influential family and politically it made sense at the time and they all figured a union between the two families would be beneficial." Amelia started before Susan stood abruptly.
"A marriage contract? What! Are you serious! It can't be me! I'm…" She started before she lost her train of thought, maybe more so because she didn't know what she could possibly say to that.
"Please, let me finish. Well the contract was written and signed and then they waited. But as you know Great Grandpa Arthur never had a girl which was part of the contract. He had two sons, one of them never married and the other was Grandpa Albert who then had me and your father Samuel. But at the time I wasn't eligible to fulfill the contract, or so I expect due to me being unable to bear children. But I can only speculate because I had never seen or heard of the contract. But then Sam had you, and you are the first fertile daughter of bones in two generations." Her aunt finished explaining to the shock of her niece, who's jaw remained slack in revaluation.
"W-Who is it…?" She asked, gripped with fear, her whole life had been derailed. If he was the heir of a large and old family, then she was doomed. She would need his permission for anything she wished to pursue, she was at his mercy. Typically, magical marriages don't work like that anymore, and the only time you heard of things like this were from the largest and the oldest of families. Age and accomplishments throughout the ages along with wealth determined a houses prestige. Age being the most important, and if the family was of higher standards than hers then she was worried.
"I don't want to beat around the bush dear, you know that is not my way. So, I'm just going to say it. The contract was made with The Potter's" She ripped the bandage off the wound. For a moment, time stood still. Nobody took a breath, not a word was exchanged. And Amelia was beginning to wonder if she was going to have to enervate the young woman.
"Aunty I can't… I can't do this. Harry? Harry is a great man and I think any witch would be grateful to have him. But I want to fall in love! I want to be swept off my feet! I want to chose who I marry!" Susan lost it, tears flowing down her snow kissed cheeks as she clung to her legs trying to hide from the world.
"I know, I know sweetheart. And believe me I'd take your place in a second if I could. But this is what it has to be. I did all the research I tried and tried to find a way out for you before I told you. But there is no way, failure to comply with all the conditions will lead to both of your magic being taken and death for you. I have the contract here, and we'll go over it together. Then we have to find Harry and tell him, because it's doubtful he knows." Her aunt explained before reaching into her leather bag and pulling out a heavy load of parchment.
"This is our copy; the Potter's have the original." She said while offering her niece a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
"There are more than a few… stipulations and please, please don't get anymore upset. They are… barbaric. And the Potter's were and are an amazing family, the stipulations at the time were almost standard amongst families as old as them, seeing as they are in the 'big four'." Her aunt explained before they began to comb through the ancient text. Any amount of hope that either of them had were crushed.
"Marriage within 3 months of the Potter's 16th birthday… and a child born before his 17th… you have to be kidding me, Aunty I haven't even kissed a boy and they want me to make a baby in a couple months! This is crazy, this is actually crazy." Susan said before she began crying uncontrollably once more.
"Well it wasn't always like that, but it stipulated that if two or more generations passed it was to be like that. Originally it was by the age of twenty. And the contract does say that the magic it was signed with, will make it easier for you two to get along and trust one another. I know it's not what you want to hear, darling I know that but it will help both of you come to terms with this" Her aunt explained
"I'd rather die!" She finally yelled which seemed to spark something in her aunt.
"Don't you say that! Your mother and your father, my brother died defending you! And that is in no ways your fault, not one bit. But don't do their memory shame by letting yourself die! That's not the woman I've raised all of these years! I raised a fighter! And I raised someone who makes the best of bad things! And I'm not going to pretend to know ANYTHING about what you are going through right now! I can't begin to imagine what that feels like! But I know that isn't the way!" Amelia shouted when she heard the latest comment from her ward.
"Just… my life is going to be ruined!" She said between sobs.
"I'm sure that it's not ruined, I'm sure that we can work something out. I'm going to write Dumbledore; he is the only one with Harry's location for security reasons. His birthday is at the end of July, but I think it would be best for the marriage to take place before school starts considering the hassle that would be. But it gives you a month…? I'm sorry that's all I can give you." Her aunt replied sadly.
"Can I floo Hannah? I just… I need someone to talk to. Please find Harry… it's better that we get to know each other I guess." Susan said before receiving permission and marching towards her room.
"I'm sorry Suzy."