The dark haired young man sat at his desk and wrote his thoughts and feelings into his heavily warded journal. It had been a stressful day and he was glad it was over. The past month had been confusing and as much a battle for survival as at Hogwarts, the Dursley's or in Prison. All that he had been taught and had taken as gospel since entering the magical world had been turned on its head. Harry was a survivor. He would deal with the hand he had been given. He needed to bend with the wind and be a player and no longer a victim.

He stood and wandered from the study to the basement kitchen for a snack rather than disturbed either Kreacher or Dobby. The new Head of House Black had grown to like the dark house in London. Black Manor was old, older than all the other regency houses in the street. In the late eighteenth century, the muggle neighbourhood had encroached on the heavily warded manor house and its gardens. The Blacks happy to sell the real estate as London grew, hiding a house where no decent pureblood would live. A House now, after much toil by the fanatically hard working elves, was clean, redecorated and restored. All the 'dark and dangerous' artefacts and books had been returned to their rightful places. Items hidden and saved from destruction by the Black family retainer, Kreacher. That old elf had felt the new Lord's magic, even from Azkaban. Harry had met the elf and fully bonded with his loyal but prejudiced servant. The bond had encouraged the old elf had restored the house for its new master, a powerful wizard, one the elf expected to restore the Ancient and Noble House of Back to its rightful position in society; obscenely wealthy, feared and respected. Kreacher had told his master of the previous occupants, the blood traitor son of his beloved mistress and his mudblood friends, all had vacated the property in a hurry after the death or Sirius Black, killed fighting in the Ministry over some Prophecy. The Order of the Phoenix, those responsible for his imprisonment, had used this house as the base of operations, but no more. Harry would never dance to their tune. To the boy who had lost everything, including his faith in all that portrayed itself as the good and just, when a Light Lord acts like a despot. Voldemort had not lied, even as a delusional spirit, he had stated there was no good or evil, only power. Power corrupts especially those on the path of greater good. The Dark Lord himself was saner, more balanced and Lord Potter-Black's ally in this new world.

Harry had read the books on soul magic in the Black library. Voldemort had only been able to resurrect himself because of the release of the horcrux in the Diary. The magics of souls returned the torn fragment to its originator, Voldemort or Tom Riddle, also known as He-who-must-not-be-named, You-Know-Who or his new pseudonym as Lord Slytherin. Another error on Dumbledore's part only a select few knew the true identity of Tom Riddle, the Head of the Ancient and Respected Houses of Gaunt and Slytherin. The man had busy, not with a war or raids and in two years had amassed a fortune and world renown from the spells, hexes and potions he had created and patented. A certified genius, and through his fame, everyone's friend and patron. No one dared besmirch the new Lord Slytherin.

Harry had accepted his own change in fortunes came with a price, but he himself had a better understanding of the first war and his parents folly of trusting Dumbledore. The late Headmaster had been willing to sacrifice friends, collegues and then children in his pursuit of a total victory over the Dark Lord. The truth was the man who murdered his parents had been the victim of the side effects of horrific black magic, a victim of Dumbledore like himself. Harry was the only horcrux now, the Dark Lord on his resurrection had realised the folly of his actions and the affect of his shattered soul was having on his psyche. Changing possibly the strongest and most talented wizard of the age into a mindless torturer and murderer. The image of Voldemort as a Dark Lord was still true but dark magic was about being in tune with your emotions and letting your magic flow through your entire body. So called light wizards only used wanded neutral magic. Learning this Harry had come to accept he was a Dark Wizard, through his talent with wandless magic. The fact both he and Voldemort were tied by the blood ritual used in the Graveyard and by the horcrux, the scar on Harry's head. He was too precious to destroy, for he would have to die to release the soul anchor. Harry was now protected by the most powerful wizard in Britain. Harry had returned the Locket, stolen and hidden by Regulus Black to the Dark Lord. This act had convinced Lord Slytherin of his Precious Horcux's loyalty and devotion. It had secured Harry's semi-freedom of movement.

Harry Potter was no toy or pawn, he had his own plans. Plans to humiliate and destroy all who had stood by and watched him suffer. He, like the Count of Monte Christo was going to reap what the good, the kind and the light had sown. Their supposed saviour and chosen one would see to their undoing. Harry had years to play as revenge was that dish was best served cold. Let all think of him as harmless, in the Thrall of fine living and pleasure. The image of a quiet, broken boy hiding from the world who would emerge as a playboy. No he would become the chess master, he just had to be patient for the long game. The first piece was on the Board, Molly Weasley and her plan to use her daughter to gain control of his vaults. If Dobby had not sought Harry, he would have starved to death in a cell at the end of that forgotten corridor in Azkaban. He had bonded with that elf as blood brother, Dobby was now full steward of House Potter. He could never repay the elf for his loyalty, his abilities and his friendship. A side affect of Harry's own immortality was his bonded elves would be his friends for all eternity as well.

Of all who had been his friends at Hogwarts, only Fred and George had reestablished contact, collating rumour and news of all that had taken place over the last two years, when catching up with their silent partner. The twins confirming all that Voldemort and Lucius had told Harry. The act of imprisoning a supposedly dangerous and delusional Boy-who-Lived, was to protect the poor boy from himself. This one act, had created a third neutral side in the war between dark and light. Harry was happy to settle for the quiet life as a neutral. A Life in seclusion for now, but of his own choosing. He would keep all at arms length. He had few friends. The twins had kept faith but they stood alone. They refused to take their NEWTS at Hogwarts after Harry's exile. Their joke shop had acted as a centre for the disaffected. Small number of rebels in a world viewed in either black or white. Harry stood in neither camp, but his neutrality came with a price. He knew he belonged to Voldemort, he was the Dark Lord's most treasured possession. Only the fact he was a Lord in his own right had meant he could live in his own home and not in a gilded cage.

...

With a sharp crack, Arthur Weasley arrived at the edge of the wards protecting his family home. He looked at the smoke trailing from the chimney, the bright lights in the windows and felt the lump in his throat. His family was about to break apart. His wife had betrayed him and his daughter. He had been forced to fulfill a contract, when he would rather have laid down his life than subject any of his children to a cold, loveless union. Oh, his daughter may have once been infatuated with the Boy-who-lived but Harry's reputation had been tarnished by Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster had painted a picture of a boy who had cursed his own cousin under the influence of Lord Voldemort. That had been a a complete fabrication. Dementor's sent by Delores Umbridge had nearly killed Harry and his cousin. No one had bothered to take either Arabella Figg's, Dudley's or Harry's statement. At the scene the Auror's had snapped an innocent wizard's wand and thrown him into prison without a formal hearing nor a trial. Arthur had listened to Dumbledore's explanations, but had never believed Harry was mad or bad. He had always been such a sweet child, one who had saved Ginny's life. He'd stayed silent in the past, never voicing his doubts, to placate his wife. His backstabbing, conniving, greedy wife.

He nodded to his guest, Penelope, and motioned to her that it was safe for her to cross the wards. He guessed his daughter would leave in the morning for her new life as a betrothed pureblood princess. A life she had no training for. He envisioned his daughter being crushed by the strict society she was about to enter. Her life as a free and carefree young girl was about to end.

It was a man with a hard face and steely heart that strode into the Burrow and up the stairs to collect Ginny and to tell her just what her mother had done.

Ginny stood dressed in shorts and a muggle t-shirt with her mouth gaping open in shock. She collected her thoughts and then blurted out "What do you mean I have to get married? No woman in this family has married due to a contract for two hundred years. Weasley's marry for love. Its tradition." Ginny knew it was the reason most other preblood's called then blood traitors as no Weasley ever accepted a formal betrothal. Their ideals were just so muggle.

Arthur cleared his throat. "In 1993, a contract was drawn up by Albus Dumbledore and your mother, your are formally betrothed to Harry James Potter in payment of a life debt. I had no knowledge of this. I would never have signed your life away my precious flower, my only daughter, my baby." He looked away trying to hide the tears in his eyes. He coughed and then carried on. "Harry did not know either. He came to see me today. He will honour you. You will be his wife. He is your family and Head of House. Your wedding has been set for 21st December 1998. Penelope Clearwater is your chaperone. I will let her tell you of your future education."

Molly stood still and silent, noting the hateful looks sent her way by her husband. He, himself, stood rigid and aloof, he was no longer responsible for Ginny. Molly had emasculated her husband and betrayed House Weasley by the act of a contract betrothal. Mrs. Weasley listened as Penny spoke of great opportunities and responsibilities for Ginny, to accept the mantle as a Lady and Matriarch of two Ancient and Noble Houses. The fact The Anna Schnidenwild Hexen Schule near Gstaad was the best school for Young Witches for etiquette, politics, estate management and finance in Europe.

The middle aged witch knew from her own experience as only daughter to House Prewitt, all that Ginny's life was destined to be. A life she herself had run from, when she had eloped with Arthur rather than accept a betrothal contract with House Flint. Her daughter was to marry a boy who had no love for her, who did not know her and according to tradition would only see her for the Engagement Ball and their own wedding. Ginny would be expected to be the public image of all that she had grown up to despise. Harry Potter had emerged from prison and embraced his magical heritage as Lord of two Ancient and Noble Houses. Molly wondered if love would blossom or if Ginny would work hard, bear her required heirs and know no love and comfort in a world where Harry could have mistresses but any dalliance on his wife's part would be viewed as line theft.