A/N: Thank you for the reviews my lovely fans. Thank you my beta for your wonderful help.
"So what's with the hyphen?" Harry asked as he watched Snape write the initial segment of the contract.
He almost would have felt reprimanded at the deadpanned stare if it wasn't for the amused twitch in the man's lip, "My mother was the last of the Princes. While not disowned, she was kicked out into the muggle world; when she refused to marry Cadmore Longbottom. Of course, they tried to get her back when it was revealed that Cadmore was a serial rapist and that my mother had found out, only to be branded as a liar."
He paused and scribbled something in the margins of the parchment, "To their chagrin, my mother had already married my bastard father and was pregnant with me. I inherited their votes and estate seven years ago upon my grandfather's death. Sadly, he had gambled it all away except for the decrepit manor."
"My parent's estates were fine. I didn't really think that magical properties could decay. Well, except for Grimmauld, but the structure there had been okay. It was mainly just infestation and bad cleaning. There were dark objects everywhere. Is your's like Grimmauld's or something?" Harry asked, fascinated.
Snape sighed as he bestowed upon him an almost exasperated, but fond, look, "The reason your properties were in such good order was because you had multiple sane house-elves. Black's elf isn't mentally stable due to high exposure to dark objects, and that has led to Grimmauld's disrepair. My grandfather sold all of his elves and didn't bother renewing the enchantments in their stead. Not to mention, that he was so sick the last year of his life he was just unable to even use a simple cleaning charm. I , myself, have not seen it since my intial look so the manor is probably even worse off."
Snape tilted his head with an arched brow,"If anything I expected that feline like curiosity you have would latch onto my mother's circumstances, not abode decay."
"Sorry, I'm just fascinated with the idea of reconstructing an old manor with magic."
Harry glanced nervously at his shoes, which seemed less embarrassing at the moment, "So, are you ready to get started?"
Seeing the small nod Snape gave him as he focused on the start of the contract, Harry pulled off his invisible necklace pouch and pulled out his papers from Gringotts. Looking up, he watched as Snape twisted his Lordship ring, causing it to flash. Harry's eyes widened as Snape's own paperwork appeared. Grinning, Harry couldn't wait to use that function of his family's ring when he eventually got it. Growing serious, he started writing out the forms that would show his net worth in the contract as Snape did the same.
Once done, he nervously bit his lip as he saw Snape waiting for him, with his chin resting on his hand. Snape straightened and spoke in his smooth baritone. Forced to see his professor as someone he could be attracted to, he was surprised at how pleasant he found the voice. "What is something you want from this marriage, Mr. Potter?"
Harry grew pensive but there was a surety to himself that had been missing most of the night, " I want protection, I guess. I don't want to live with Dursleys under any circumstances, no matter how much I need the 'Blood Protection'. I don't want to live in fear of abuse any longer. So a clause that prohibits us from physically or magically abusing the other is required. That aside, I want to be put first for a change. I mean, I don't want to live as a being only meant as a means to an end. I want protection from Dumbledore's and the Order's plans. I'm not asking you to put me before your own safety just before them."
Snape nodded, "I understand that and will do so, but in your zeal to rebel against them, can I trust you not to be foolhardy with your safety?"
"If you wish you can screen bodyguards for me. I'm fine with that as long as they keep their opinions to themselves."
Harry paused and reconsidered, "Unless asked, and then they can't be connected to the Order. That brings me to my next demand. I want freedom. I want to be able to see more than Privet Drive, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Burrow. I want to visit my properties and see the places around them. I want to go to boring board and Wizengamot meetings, because I have a right to do so. I want to see the old Wizard God temples of the Greek. I would love to see the underwater city of Atlantis or the famous Bazaar in the Bermuda Triangle. I don't want to be tied down to only visiting places in a country where I'm expected to keep myself contained for their purposes. I- um..- oh Merlin- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to rant." Harry apologized, blushing.
He jerked in shock at Snape's deep chuckle, "Don't apologize. I myself have similar aspirations. You don't honestly believe that I wish to spend all my time in a potions laboratory? Did you know that deep in the mountains of Siberia, there is a marvelous flower called Cistoca Suza that only blooms four times a year during February? It is said, that a Unicorn gave up it's horn to the Grand Sorceress Celest Brunle, to cure the Black Plague created by Vucarr Bingleton. I've never seen it, just like I have never laid eyes on the ingredient-infested lands of Brazil. I am the youngest Potions Master, let alone one of the few Grand Masters, and yet, I have never been able to accept an invitation to any of the Conferences. You're not alone in your desire to see the world and experience what life has to offer."
Smiling, Harry watched as Snape added more of his elegant spidery writing to the sheets of paper. He felt a new anger at the bloody Headmaster as he truly considered Snape's life. For over a decade, the raven haired man had been imprisoned here. One of the brightest minds of the century was being forced to waste his talents producing easy made potions for a school nurse. He could have spent that time finding the cure for Werewolves or countering the effects to multiple dark curses. No wonder he had become a dark, bitter man, when he was just being kept as an informant for a side who treated him like scum.
"I've finished adding my demands. Specifically, the part of you absolving the mandate. Let's discuss how we're going to operate the mechanics of our blessed nuptials. Fidelity Clause?" Snape carried on.
"I want us to take a real chance at making this work, but I don't want us stuck in a loveless marriage unable to even find love outside it either. Any ideas?"
Snape hmm'd thoughtfully, "A time limit would do. We could write that it lasts for three years, with a chance of constant renewal."
Harry nodded, "How about a date night? Until the clause is up, what about we have a monthly date night? And we both wish to travel, so why not do so together?"
Snape leaned back as he considered him. Coming to a decision, he smiled slightly and nodded.
Light was beginning to peak over the Forbidden Forest by the time they finished. Observing the grounds, Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly. Stepping back, he bumped into Snape. Snape smirked, and ruffled his hair slightly.
"I'll get the paperwork to Gringotts for them to preview. Tomorrow or today truly, I need you to ruin your potion so I can give you a detention for the night. We'll go over how we're going to trick Dumbledore into marrying us. Now, go get some sleep and cancel your club meeting for today. I've heard that Umbridge is preparing a little raid on the seventh floor tonight."
Gaping, Harry watched, transfixed, as Snape's robes bellowed behind him as he glided out of the library. Shaking himself from his stupor, he wrapped himself with his cloak and left.
A/N: Below is the Marriage contract. The date part of the bonding will be filled in on the day they marry. This is just for anyone curious for what it has in it. I may later edit it if I find something is needed later in the story, but so far I don't see that happening.
The Nuptial Agreement Between the Families of Potter and Snape-Prince
Date and Place of Bonding:
On the day_ of the week, the_ day of the month_ in the year_ since the creation of the world, according to the Founding of Magic, which we are accustomed to use here in the Wizarding Town of Ravens Keep in Scotland.
The Grooms and Proposal:
Hadrian James Potter son of James Charles Potter of the family Potter said to this son of the Severus Tobias Snape-Prince of the family Prince"Be thou my husband according to the law and customs of Magic and the Goddess Hectate."
Promises Made From Hadrian James Potter to Severus Tobias Snape-Prince:
I promise never to abuse my husband, nor knowingly allow harm onto him when in my power to stop it. I swear to not commit infidelity towards him in the time constraint of five years, with the option to renew this vow. I promise to give this bonding a real chance and attempt to love my husband, if I am able. I swear to have the same residence as my husband, for the most part, for a time constraint of five years. I promise not to betray his secrets, nor to choose the Order of the Phoenix over him. I swear not to choose Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore's plans and desires over that of my husbands. I swear not to turn my husband over to the Dark Lord Voldemort, Thomas Marvolo Riddle Junior. I promise not to imprison my husband, nor neglect his well-being. I swear to absolve the mandate that makes him prisoner once I am a High Lord.
Promises Made From Severus Tobias Snape-Prince to Hadrian James Potter:
I promise never to abuse my husband, nor knowingly allow harm onto him when in my power to stop it. I swear to not commit infidelity towards him in the time constraint of five years, with the option to renew this vow. I promise to give this bonding a real chance and attempt to love my husband, if I am able. I swear to have the same residence as my husband, for the most part, for a time constraint of five years. I promise not to betray his secrets, nor to choose the Order of the Phoenix over him. I swear not to choose Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore's plans and desires over that of my husbands. I swear not to turn my husband over to the Dark Lord Voldemort, Thomas Marvolo Riddle Junior. I promise not to imprison my husband, nor neglect his well-being. I swear that I will not, nor allow others to use my husband as some sacrificial weapon. I swear I will not allow him to return to the Dursley Family against his will.
Ideals Hadrian James Potter and Severus Tobias Snape-Prince Wish to Uphold for their Marriage:
We wish to try and create a true romantic relationship in this bonding. We wish to travel together, if possible, to bolster companionship and common interests. We wish to instigate a date night that will happen monthly, so as to inspire a sense of intimacy with each other. We wish to join each other on events, if able, to show our support for one another. These wishes will have the time constraint of five years, with the chance that they will be renewed and expanded.
Future Offspring Plans:
If we come to the decision to have children, and are capable, we swear never to abuse, nor neglect the child/children. Hadrian James Potter will bare the child if possible, but Severus Tobias Snape-Prince agrees to do so if he is unable. Severus Tobias Snape-Prince promises to brew the needed potions, if able. In the event of multiple children, the first child will be the heir of the Potter family, and the second will be the heir of the Prince family. This will hold true unless one of these children commits a felony, goes against the family morals, or proves to be incompetent at managing the family holdings. In this event, the heirship will go the child not named an heir first, unless that child does not exist, in which case, the heirship will go to the child holding the other families heirship.
These children will all receive lessons necessary for a lord or lady, including: etiquette, grammar, dancing, finances, politics, and family history lessons. These children will not be treated as pawns, nor will their free will be taken. The names James, Sirius, Peter, Remus, Tobias, Albus, Thomas, and Eileen will not be given to any of these children.
These children will be provided with a trust vault of 25,000 Galleons each, and in the event that Albus Dumbledore is still headmaster, then none will go to Hogwarts.
Separation Clause:
Since according to the stipulations of a magical bonding where there is no divorce allowed, we agree to the following separation terms in the event that we no longer wish to be near each other after five years. We will share custody of any possible children. Our joint accounts will separate, and we will be allowed to seek love elsewhere. Severus Tobias Snape-Prince will take custody of Prince Manor, Spinners End, and any property Hadrian James Potter deems to give, if he so wishes. Severus will receive 200,000 Galleons and a monthly stipend of 10 Galleons a month. Severus will be allowed to take with him any personal belongings, as long as they are not Potter family property. Everything else, will belong to Hadrian James Potter except the Prince family votes.
The Partner Accepted the Proposal:
And Severus Tobias Snape, consented and became his husband.
Net worth of The Potter Family
Total Net worth:
over 1.000009392 Billion
Number of Coins:
- 64,876,934 Galleons and 3 Knuts
Jewelry Count and Value:
- 539 Pieces including; 123 necklaces; 71 non-wedding rings; 150 bracelets, 25 anklets, 25 broaches; 146 pairs of earrings; 78 Hair accessories; 3 circlets; and 12 tiaras.
- Value is 32,994,329 Galleons
Magical Relics Count and Value:
- 14 Pieces
- Value is 3,000,004 Galleons and 1 Knut
Book Count and Value:
- 8,943 Tomes
- Value is 57,083,732 Galleons
Weapons Count and Value:
- 301 Items
- Value is 1,000,657 Galleons
Materials Count and Value:
- 92 Crates
- Value is 43,881,440 Galleons
Furniture and Item Count and Value:
- 93,225 Pieces
- Value is 3,732,991 Galleons and 2 Sickles
Family Controlled Businesses and Estimated Individual Annual Profits:
-Poittre' Family Wine Villa = 300,204 Galleons
-Wales Gryffs Quidditch Team = 293,009 Galleons
-Potter Family Pottery = 10,049 Galleons
-Moonlight Resorts = 598,331 Galleons
Combined Business Profit:
1,201,593 Galleons
Business Shares and Estimated Annual Profit:
-10% Quality Quidditch
-31% Comet Broom Manufacturing
-2% Nimbus Broom Co.
-6% Zonko's
-33% Daily Prophet
-21% Quibbler
-9% Adventurous Apothecary
-Total Estimated Profit is 1,000,007 Galleons
Properties and Estimated Value:
-Potter Manor in Wales is worth: 15,338,834 Galleons and 1 Sickle
-Poitre' Family Vineyard Villa in Tuscany Italy is worth: 15,982,295 Galleons
-Selena's Cottage in Cabot Cove is worth: 45,000 Galleons (First person who identifies which TV show Cabot Cove comes from gets to choose how they spend their first date night)
-Potter Cottage in Godrics Hollow: 23,500 Galleons
Net worth of the Snape-Prince Family
Total Net worth:
-6.543,730 Million
Number of Coins:
- 127,981 Galleons and 1 Knuts
Jewelry Count and Value:
- 14 Pieces including: 2 necklaces; 3 rings; 6 pairs of earrings; 1 circlets; and 2 tiaras.
- Value is 779 Galleons
Magical Relics Count and Value:
-None
Book Count and Value:
- 93 Tomes
- Value is 53,732 Galleons
Weapons Count and Value:
-None
Materials Count and Value:
-None
Furniture and Item Count and Value:
- 32 Pieces
- Value is 13,977 Galleons and 3 Sickles
Family Controlled Businesses and Estimated Individual Annual Profits:
-none
Business Shares and Estimated Annual Profit:
-None
Properties and Estimated Value:
-Prince Manor in Dublin is Worth: 6,333,761 Galleons in current state used to be 12,000,500 Galleons
-Spinners End in Coneworth is Worth: 13,500 Galleons