Chapter 4 – Estates and Cannons
After reuniting in front of Gringotts, Harry and the Greengrass met up for lunch. It was at lunch that Marie asked her flock what electives Harry and Daphne would be taking in the coming year. "I have no idea," Harry admitted during the end of the year feast at Hogwarts he and Ron decided to hold off making any decisions until they could think about the courses then reach a mutual consensus namely pick something they both thought would be easy.
"The electives are actually very helpful in determining what you wish to do when you leave Hogwarts," Robert stated. "I took Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies to help me run my businesses that cater to both the Magical world and the Muggle world, by beloved wife took Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, which helped alongside her natural potions talent to be a healer at St. Mungos."
Harry's eyes widen before rubbing his chin in thought, "what electives would be good to get started as an Auror?"
Robert face blossomed into a big smile, "Intend to follow in your father's and godfather's footsteps excellent, for those you would need to be well rounded, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures or Muggle Studies."
Thinking about it more Harry nodded, "I'll do Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies, not too keen on Magical Creatures considering three of them have tried to kill me," he smiled hearing Daphne and Astoria giggle.
"Nor would I my boy, a Cerberus, a Basilisk, and a Giant spider would sour anyone's taste for magical creatures," Robert chuckled. He looked at the time and they widen in shock, "Bloody bits, I need to go, Marie I got a meeting at Wizengamot to get to see you and the children at home," he leaned in a gave his wife a long passionate kiss that left Harry trying to look anywhere directly at them, he saw Daphne blush slightly. Then the couple broke the kiss Marie looked at her husband with a slight smile. "Love you," he stated before giving his daughters each a peck on the cheek and ruffling Harry's head and left the Leaky Cauldron. A few minutes later the Greengrass girls and Harry left by floo to the Greengrass Estate.
XXX
Yugi Moto had finished setting up his classroom for the coming year, just as a small green winged creature in from above, the star haired young man looked up, "Feral Imp, what news do you bring?" The small green creature spoke in hisses, chortles, and whispers before vanishing in a flash. "Seems our little friend has discovered not only the next two Horocrux both near where his father is buried."
"The difficult part will be getting the Horocrux out of the snake and not having it warn Voldemort what we're up to," Yami stated pursing his lips. "Yugi take De-Spell, Cursebreaker, Spell Binding Circle with you once we have destroyed the Horocrux will Obviliate the snake's memory and release her."
Yugi nodded, "That's two more down what about the one in St. Grimmauld Place?"
Yami smiled, "Use your position as Deputy Auror to ask the Goblin's I'm sure something can be arranged in the future." Yugi nods while he was always considered smart Yugi had a tendency to bounce ideas off people he knew and trusted; Tea had been his closest confidant. He winced thinking about her, holding his hand to his chest they had a long and happy life together after Yami or Atem as was his real name had gone back into the Shadow Realm to be at peace. However just as Yugi was about to pass on to the next life he found himself in the world of Harry Potter, no sooner had he arrived the world had begun to change in unpredictable fashion, Sirius Black had died three years sooner, Harry had not only been emancipated in a fashion but betrothed to Daphne Greengrass. While moving quickly up the ranks as an Auror, Yugi made contacts with several people he knew from the novels were members of the Order of the Phoenix, Tonks, Mundungus, the Weasely family, and of course the Hogwarts professors. He did this while earning the respect of other Auror's and weeding out the corruption in the Wizengamot, so far though he couldn't get anything on Lucius Malfoy or any known 'former' Death Eaters. Still it made many of them very frightening, they all felt he was the younger version of Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody which gave him a stronger allure to the Order, he was hoping by the end of the year he'd be asked to join. "Plus I think Nymphadora might have a crush on you."
"So do a lot of the girls," Yugi chuckled shuffling his deck and slipping it into the deck pouch grabbing his cloak and leaving the classroom, he was heading to the main doors.
"Going somewhere Professor Moto?" a crisp oily voice stated behind him.
Yugi turned and smiled at the darkly dressed potions master, "Yes Professor Snape, I'll be out on some last minute errands before the term starts, I'll catch a ride back with the children on the express."
"I'll let the Headmaster know," Snape replied watching the strange younger man leave.
XXX
Awe that would be the word Harry would describe himself at that moment staring at the room he was currently standing in. The foyer was huge easily the size of the Great Hall in Hogwarts, with a long banister stairway, it was elegant and kind of reminded him of Beast's Castle in the Disney movie he saw in grade school. Marie watched him quietly a warm smile on her face as he took in the room; she knew it would take her beloved godson some time to take in the splendor of her husband's home. A series of pops indicated the house elves had appeared, "Welcome home Lady Greengrass what can Tatters do?"
"Is Harry's room done?" Marie asked she had the elves renovate the room that once belonged to her husband's favorite brother for Harry after she heard he wanted to see her silently praying he would agree to stay with her family. The room was situated between the Main bedroom where she and Robert slept and where Daphne slept. She felt that being if the two were in close proximity to each other they could talk and get to know one another more during the holidays and breaks, this she hoped would gently bring them towards loving each other. A small hope thankfully because of Sirius's last will the constant pressure from the Malfoy's on a marriage contract between Draco and Astoria would die the natural death it should. No way is my little Angel going to be subjected to that stuck up arse.
Harry turned to his godmother and gave a slight nervous smile, "Thank you for taking me in, Aunt Marie."
Marie walked up to him and gently kissed his forehead, "Dear, I know in my heart that Lily wanted to you be the happiest little boy you could be growing up, if it wasn't for that horrible night and that arse Pettigrew you would have grown up probably with a family as big as the Weasely's," she giggled. "Now while your life has been rubbish the last twelve years I intend to make it right from this moment on, so please indulge me as I intend to spoil you. Daphne I want you to see it that your betrothed keeps a level head, I might get over indulgent with spoiling him."
Daphne giggled, "I'll try but according to rumors around the school probably started by that prat Malfoy, Harry is an attention seeking git." She noted Harry face turned red and his hands clenched into fists. "I don't believe one lick of it, neither does Tracey, Zabini, or Tori do you sis."
Astoria shook her head violently, "Nope I saw him and Ronald Weasely stick for Hermione when Malfoy said," she paused looking scandalized. "The word mom said never to utter in her presence," looking at her feet.
Harry nodded, "Malfoy called Hermione a 'Mudblood', when she spelled something out for the git," he noticed Marie's cheeks get red and her blue eyes turned cold a second later. "Did Astoria ever say that?"
Daphne nodded, "Once at the start of my first year, she heard Lucius Malfoy say it while on the platform, he was referring to Hermione's family, and not knowing what it meant at the time she parroted it. Mom was livid, tore into Malfoy for it too."
Harry smiled dreamily, "Man, I wish I go could back in time to see that."
XXX
The last week with the Greengrass's was easily a zillion times better than any single second at the Dursley's or his two years at Hogwarts. Marie Greengrass had been true to her word about spoiling him while he was no longer interested in material things as he use to be, she still managed to give him several outfits both Magical and Muggle in origin. He got a life time subscription to Quidditch Weekly and Quidditch Through the Ages, as well as his own copy of Hogwarts, A History which he began reading through he noted it was charmed to update after every year seeing his exploits the last two years were in the book at the back. Groaning slightly at this which caused Astoria who had been reading it next to him to giggle.
Astoria had become enamored with her future brother-in-law, as she never had a brother so when she wasn't playing in her room, doing her own homework, or tormenting her sister she was found reading alongside Harry. Marie and Robert were also introduced to Harry's second familiar the large and intimidating Azure as Harry called his white dragon, needless to say the Greengrass's were blown away by it.
It was also during this time that Harry had mailed both Ron and Hermione his changed in fortune since it was kept out of the Daily Prophet, once he knew they were back in the country. He explained in his letter he would tell them all about it on their way to Hogwarts. A few days after he mailed his friends he received his booklist from Professor McGonagall. "Need to head back to Diagon Alley anyway, Ragnok wanted to see you Harry," Robert stated from his office.
"Um, any particular reason?" Harry asked.
Robert turned to him giving him a glare for a second, "Your father was a great prat for not telling me he owned the Cannons," his glare melted into a chuckle, "Ragnok stated it was Cannons business, seems your General Manager has been getting bribed by several teams to handicap the team for years now. Without the owner to launch an investigation on the bribes it's the reason they've been rubbish for the last decade. Plus I think the keeper cursed two of the Chasers for shagging his girlfriend six years ago."
Harry pursed his lips before nodding, "Well if the bribing stuff is true I'll sack the General Manager and hire a new one, if the cursing stuff is true Oliver Wood is going to graduate Hogwarts the end of this year wonder if he wouldn't mind signing up as the Cannons Keeper next Summer."
Robert grinned viciously he had seen the Gryffindor matches when he first heard Harry had entered Hogwarts. He went mostly to see how the boy was doing and to reassure his wife, but he also saw the boy play, "Maybe you can join the team as Seeker."
Harry shook his head, "Much as I like to, you think Daphne would let me, especially if she's anything like her mom. You guys can't go a full day without a snog," he smiled watching the older man look sheepish.
"I happen to love my wife very much," Robert stated. "I was one of the lucky ones, Marie and I were in much the same boat as you and Daphne, we were contracted to each other. Only her family put down a Dowry, this home and their fortune."
"Is it always like that, arranged marriages between pure blood families?" Harry asked.
Robert nodded and grimaced, "Yes and not all end up in love, the Lestrange family is a prime example. Bellatrix would rather spread her legs for that ponce Voldemort, than her actual husband. Poor Narcissa had to endure being married to that git Lucius and worse shag him for that little brat Draco. I count myself lucky Marie and I were arranged before we were born like you and Daphne, but unlike you two I was raised around her," the bald headed man leaned forward in his chair and gently placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, "Bit of advice my boy, be friends first and the rest should quickly follow. Always a fine line between friendship and love, one minute your laughing at a joke together the next she's snogging your brains senseless. Just don't start snogging right away don't want to be a grandfather too soon."
Harry blushed slightly nodding and giving a quick smile the two joined the girls to head to Diagon Ally. Once there Harry restocked his potions ingredients, got his books, and met with Ragnok. The meeting with the chief Goblin showed him what was already suspected. "Sack him," Harry stated once that was done the two went about looking for a new General Manager, which was exceedingly difficult since many were a bit fearful of the Chudley Cannons reputation, however Marston Johnson, Angelina Johnson father and offensive coordinator for the Tornados signed the deal to be GM for the Cannons just on Angelina's word alone. Harry would make doubly sure to thank Angelina for her word of support and ask her how she found out that he was the owner of the Cannons. Once the business had been concluded the family of five returned to the Greengrass estate to finish out the summer holiday in relative peace something Harry thought was a godsend.
