Kansas 1875

Harry Potter was trying to fix his plow. The blade had cracked right in half though. He would need another one. Still he had tried to mend it. He couldn't afford another one, but he couldn't afford not to have one either. He knew he could go see his parents and they'd let him use one of theirs, but he felt like a failure if he did that. Other farmers sold extra produce. But he couldn't take care of the farm and tend a garden. If he had a wife perhaps he could… Unfortunately the closest girl to marrying age around here was Celia Bones and she was 12 (at least that he wasn't related to). He was hard up, but he wasn't THAT hard up.

He went back to his parents for Sunday supper. They still had his younger brothers and sisters at home. Lily Potter smiled and ran a hand over Harry's hair. "How's the farm?" She asked him while she spooned mashed up food into his little sister's mouth. There were five Potter children with Harry as the oldest. His brother Thomas Jefferson Potter was four years younger at 16, and then the twins, Amaryllis and Hyacinth at 12 and then the tiniest Potter 18 month old Snapdragon. There had been others between them, but they hadn't survived. Still, they were happy with what they had.

"Doing all right, Mum," he told her smiling. He was the only child that called her Mum, he had only been little when they came here from England, he had lost most of his accent, his parents still had theirs mostly though. "I've decided to send for a bride."

"Really?" His father, James asked, "A particular girl or one of those mail order ones?"

"I don't know really…"

"Well, your father's friend Sirius has a daughter your age. Maybe we could write to see if she's married yet."

He nodded. Sounded as good as anything he was coming up with.

The next morning Lily Potter sat down to write a letter to her friend Xenia, Sirius Black's wife. It could take months for the letter to get to England and then months for it to get back as well.

Erin Black was sitting in a tree reading a book and her father was sprawled at the bottom dozing when Xenia found them. Xenia and her friend Lily were both red heads, but of a decidedly different hue. Lily had the more classic orange color and Xenia's hair was red, like red bird red. Nowadays it stayed up in a bun, when they were young she'd left it loose though, how things changed. Everyone would stop and stare when she and Lily walked by. Those were the days. "Sirius," she said standing over him. The man appeared almost boneless, his long hair loose, like usual. She squeaked as he pulled her down into his lap. "Sirius, I have a letter," she said trying attempting not to laugh while he nuzzled her neck.

"I have something else…" he told her growling a little.

"Da, please, I'm right here." Erin said from above. "And I'm trying to read a romance. It doesn't work with my parents below me acting like children."

"You should be used to it by now, love." Sirius told her. It was just sad that they'd only had one child all these years. That was all right though, Erin was entertaining enough by herself.

"What's in your letter, Mum?" Erin asked ignoring him.

"It's from Lily Potter. Do you remember her, darling?"

"Vaguely," Erin said thinking about it. "Did she have a son?"

"Little Harry, yes! Which is why she's writing."

"Why's that?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Harry is looking for a wife. And they wrote to see if our beautiful and talented daughter were available."

"Is she?" Sirius asked. "Oy! Erin, love, are you available for marriage?"

"Since I'm bloody well sitting in this tree reading about romance, I would bloody well say so."

He chuckled. "Well, then, about time we saw James and Flower again."

"And getting away from your mum and dad isn't a consideration?"

He paused. "Good point, let us go home and pack right away."

"Now, dear, we have to discuss this calmly and rationally. Erin will need to pack her trunk with everything she'll need to set up her own house."

"I've had everything packed since I was 16 and going to marry cousin Draco."

"I am so glad that never happened." Sirius said shivering.

"We all are, dear." Xenia said shaking her head.

Once they left Erin lowered herself down from her branch and headed over to her friend Hermione's house. Hermione a different sort of girl, she was educated. A doctor, top of her class. And she had so many other interests since no one trusted a woman doctor. She let herself into the small cottage. "Hermione?" she called.

"I'm in the observatory!" She called.

She was in the sunroom actually. She had her telescope set up in there. There was probably some eclipse or something going on. She smiled a little as she maneuvered around the piles of books in the hallway. In the sunroom Hermione was looking through her telescope and taking notes. She was bushy haired and had slightly too large front teeth. "This is just fascinating!" She told Erin not looking up.

"I'm sure it is." Erin had no interest in whatever it was though. That hardly mattered. It was entertaining enough watching Hermione this excited about something. "I came to tell you. I'm getting married."

"Just fascinating…the way the—Excuse me?" She looked up wide eyed. "What did you say?"

"I'm getting married. An old friend of mum and da's wrote to see if I would marry their son. We knew each other as children."

"Well, where does he live? Is it close?"

"No, they live in America."

"You're going to America." She said. "When are you leaving?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Do you think perhaps he might have a friend for me?" She asked. "Not that I'm in any straights to get married…just, I figure with you getting married, I might as well too, and live in the same town you do."

Erin smiled. "I'm sure there's plenty of men that need wives there. Oh, I'm so happy you're coming with me!" She embraced her friend happily. "We're going to America!"

Harry had gone into town after being snowed in at the farm for the last few weeks. It was time to get out of there before he went stir-crazy. He really needed a wife, because talking to his dog Hedwig didn't help at all. He went into the general store for a few things. "Ah, Harry!" Mr. Ollivander said smiling. The old man was always happy to see him. "Just who I've been wanting to see. You've had letters here for a while now."

"A letter? For me?" Harry asked hurrying over to take it from the man. He was holding it up and handed it to Harry when he got close. Harry opened it up carefully seeing it had Erin Black on there as the sender.

Dear Harry,

My name is Erin Black. I am the daughter of Sirius and Xenia Black. I am 20 years old and I am not married. I would be pleased to come to be your bride. I am very excited to be travelling to America to meet you. I am tall with long dark hair and green eyes. I am an only child, but not from the lack of love between my parents. I love to read and I have been educated from governesses in genteel arts, but what my grandmother refers to as the 'peasant ways'. My parents insisted I have a complete education. I am strong and able and willing to help around the farm as well as taking care of a home.

My parents and I are sailing from Liverpool on the 15th of November and expect to be in New York by Christmas. We will be staying there with my uncle Regulus until after the New Year. And then we will send word when we can board the train.

My friend Dr. Hermione Granger is coming with us. I hoped you would know a good man that would marry her as well. I know this is short notice. Looking forward to seeing you.

Sincerely, Erin Black

"There was another letter?" He asked Ollivander.

"Yes, right here." He said handing it to him.

This one was a telegram. He almost ripped it open. "Harry Potter (stop) Coming in on the 12 of January (stop) on the 11 o'clock train (stop) Can't wait to see you. (stop) Erin Black.

The 12 of January, that was Monday! Just four days away! He had so much to do before they arrived!