The Betrothal Situation – Rating M
Chapter 04 – Memories
Warnings – Contains some mild language and violence throughout. Contains some Hermione and Ron bashing in this story. Some of the characters may appear OOC.
-The Betrothal Situation-
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
14th September 1996
Harry Potter was sitting in the Room of Requirements, his mind trying not to, but failing to avoid, overanalysing the events that led to the death of Amelia Bones, the aunt of his betrothed, Susan Bones.
He had spent several days thinking of what he could have done to stop the murder of Madam Bones, had he got Dobby and Kreacher to apparate the quartet of Susan, Flora and Hestia Carrow and himself to Bones Manor instead of sending them with a note to Dumbledore.
Susan had tried to get it into his head that he was not to blame and that he did the right thing, but that ultimately wars have casualties, and that her aunt was the casualty that they wanted to avoid, but couldn't.
To top off the day that Harry had, when the quartet of Harry, Susan, Flora and Hestia had arrived via Dobby Express at Hogwarts just as the Sorting Ceremony of the incoming First Years was about to start. Taking his usual place at the Gryffindor table, he was bombarded with questions and accusations by one Hermione Granger.
Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
1st September 1996
Harry tried to ignore, in the Great Hall, the bushy haired girl who had, following the arguments and disagreements at The Burrow and on board the Hogwarts Express, made him reconsider their friendship between the two of them. Starting a conversation with Neville, he notice that Hermione would tap her feet, trying to get his attention, annoyed with him for ignoring her.
He walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady, having decided to visit Dobby and Kreacher in the school kitchens before he turned in to bed when he saw the girl that he wanted to ignore. Before he managed to get to the staircase to the boys dormitory, he saw her approach, up in arms already with her left wing thoughts.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! HOW DARE YOU OWN HOUSE ELVES IN CONTRAVENTION OF YOUR S.P.E.W. MEMBERSHIP! FREE THEM NOW OR ELSE I WILL FORCE YOU TO DO SO!" The brunette haired witch shouted. "AND HOW DARE YOU LET THOSE HUSSYS THAT YOU ARE WITH TELL ME THAT YOU CAN MAKE ME YOUR CONCUBINE. I ONLY CARE ABOUT YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"
"In love with me? Don't be so stupid Granger." Harry scoffed.
"Yes Harry, I have been in love with you for over two years." Hermione said in tears, getting down on her knees, aiming to try and get him to repent over the decision to be with Susan, Flora and Hestia.
"Are you finished Granger?" Harry said, trying not to laugh. "First you complain over traditions that the Wizarding World have had for centuries like betrothal contracts, then you moan about House Elves. House Elves need our magic to live, as you have been told once before! You think that just because my betrothed are not here entitles you to try and split me up from them and then you claim to love me.
"The betrothal contract that Susan and I have was signed and sealed several years ago between mine and Susan's parents, the contracts between Hestia and Flora and myself were transferred to me following the death of Sirius." he explained to the bushy haired girl. "Had I not accepted them then the Ferret would have had them, as he would have been Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. Both Susan and I were dating throughout the majority of Fifth Year."
"But…but Ron and I were with you most of that year!" Hermione said, confused.
"Lets just say that the DA provided some cover for me and Susan, including Cho helping by throwing you and Ron off the scent."
"How very Slytherin of you Harry!" Neville said, overhearing the conversation.
"Thanks" Harry said, "Thank you Nev!"
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
14th September 1996
While deep in his thoughts and memories, Susan came over to her betrothed and snuggled up to him on the sofa that the Room of Requirement provided them with.
"Are you alright Harry?" Susan asked, kissing his cheek. Noticing the smile that came on his face when he saw her, she knew that she was onto a winner.
"I'm half and half Susan. I've been trying hard not to think about your Aunts death, yet when I am not thinking about that, I find that I'm thinking about the evening afterwards and the argument with Hermione."
"Listen to me Harry, I know that she is your friend Harry but you do need to do something about her as she is getting beyond a joke." Susan said, stroking his leg. "She tried to force Hestia to drink Veritaserum in order to find things that she is only imagining."
"SHE IS DOING WHAT!" Harry exploded, standing up.
"I know Harry." Susan said, comforting her betrothed. "Flora almost hexed the bitch when she found out about it!"
Harry sat down and breathed deeply. Sighing, he turned to Susan and smiled. "You know Susan, I still remember the first DA meeting in here, the one where I kissed you and then we almost got caught by Umbridge!"
"That was a good DA meeting" Susan said, her eyes going all dreamy.
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
10th October 1995
The first meeting of Dumbledore's Army had just finished, and the members of the initial meeting were leaving to head to their respective Common Rooms. Having noticed things during the meeting, Harry felt he needed to hold Susan back in order to speak to her.
Susan noticed Harry was going to hold her back and she turned to her best friend, Hannah Abbot. "Wait for me in the Common Room Hannah, I think Harry needs to speak to me."
"Why Susan? Is it so you can give Mr Potter there a kiss?" the blonde haired girl asked her friend. "I know you fancy him and that you want to snog his socks off!
"Hannah Abbott! Please don't put your nose into things that don't concern you!" Susan said, trying to hide a smile. "It is very unbecoming of a lady!"
"Oh Bones!" Hannah said in a sing song voice, smiling at how she was trying to wind her friend up, "Just make sure that his Snake is very well protected!"
"Behave yourself Abbott or I will let Justin know about how you was staring at his arse throughout Herbology," the redhead countered.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"I would if it stopped you from getting on my back about my feelings for Harry!" Susan said, going as red as her hair. Hannah suddenly left the Room of Requirements without her friend knowing. Suddenly she heard footsteps approach her.
"Hello Susan." A voice came from behind her. Susan turned to see that it was the leader of Dumbledore's Army himself, Harry Potter.
Harry looked at the redhead and felt a knot forming in his chest. Not knowing why he was approaching the girl but he felt funny during the DA session, only when he was around Susan. He knew he had to say something to her, lest he be a fool to himself.
"Hello Susan" Harry said, smiling. He saw Susan turn around, looking into his eyes. 'Why do women always do that, look into my eyes as if they wanted me?' Thinking of the first thing that he could say, he decided to complement her. "You did very well tonight Susan, better than people like Hermione or the Chasers."
"Thanks Harry. My Aunt Amelia taught me a little bit, as she is head of the DMLE, as you know. That means that she is in charge of the Aurors and Hit Wizards." Susan said, returning Harry's smile. "She wanted me to be able to protect myself in case You-Know-Who is back."
"So…so she believes me?" Harry asked, hoping what he was saying was true.
"She does." Susan confirmed "She also taught me things so I could look after the man I have feelings for."
"Who is it Susan?" Harry asked, the knot in his chest tightening. Closing her eyes, Susan sighed.
"You see Harry, he has these emerald eyes which I find really, really cute," she said, going red at the sight of seeing her crush. "He also has hair which is really messy, yet extremely windswept, like he had just come out of a dive hunting for a Snitch. I just really-"
Susan suddenly stopped because she felt Harry melt his lips into hers, his one hand on her waist, the other cupping her face. Feeling his tongue move across her lips, she opened up, her tongue forming a duel for dominance. Harry let his eyes open when suddenly he observed the name Delores Umbridge appear nearby on the Marauders Map which he had open.
Straightening their uniform, they left the Room of Requirement, Harry clearing the map so Umbridge would not be aware of what it was, heading in separate directions to their common rooms.
Heading to Gryffindor Tower, Harry bumped into Umbridge. "Well…well…well," Umbridge said in her sickly sweet voice, smiling, "What are you doing out of your Common Room at this time of night Mr Potter?"
Room of Requirement, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
14th September 1996
Rubbing his hand where he had a scar from his detention from Umbridge, annoyed at how she had treated him. "The bitch used a blood quill on me in that detention." Harry said, the memories coming back to him.
Harry snuggled closer to his betrothed when they saw the door of the Room of Requirement opened. Fingering his wand, he saw that it was only Flora and Hestia coming into the room.
"I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BLOODY BOOKWORM!" Hestia thundered. Harry and Susan noticed a red bruise on her cheek and a cut on Flora's forehead, looking as if she had been hit.
"I know Granger is your friend Harry, but she has gone too far!" Flora said.
Harry looked at his ladies and nodded, his eyes deep in sadness. "I didn't want to have to do this, but it seems that I must."
-The Betrothal Situation-
A/N – This story uses themes and characters from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, whose rights as author are respected.
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Coming up in Chapter 5 – Hermione needs to watch herself…