Harry idly fingered a few strands of blonde hair as his eyes were focused on the older female Hufflepuff across the Great Hall. While he and Daphne were still making public appearances of becoming quickly becoming a happy couple, he didn't disagree with the idea since he found her constant company becoming something that would be inconceivable to be without with every day that passed, his mind had been partially occupied by this other girl he was supposed to marry now that the title of Lord Black had been passed to him. He had observed the girl in question to be fairly well liked by her female peers and the boys though the lecherous leers & looks shot at her when she wasn't looking made him want to gouge out their eyes with battery acid.

"Hary? You're glaring into space" Daphne said as she reached a hand up and clasped his hand that was toying with her hair. It was an absent gesture on his part but it was a comforting absent gesture that she appreciated from him. It seemed her voice snapped the raven haired boy from his thoughts. "You want to talk about it?" she asked.

"Not here. Too many ears and we know too many of their loyalties are nefarious at worst and questionable at best" Harry said shaking his head. He squeezed her hand lightly before freeing it from her own. "So whats our schedule look like today?"

Daphne gave a mock sigh as she slapped Harrys arm. "I swear that you're useless and wouldn't know where to go without me" she said with a light scolding tone. "Charms, Nap time with Binns, double Defense with the insufferable Gryffindor canonfodder and a study period with the badgers to round out the day. Any particular reason you haven't yet memorized our year schedule? You're brilliant Harry and we both know that beyond every shadow of doubt."

Harry tore his eyes from Nymphadora who was tearing one of the younger year guys a new asshole because of a lecherous joke made to his friends about her and she just happened to hear it. With a glance around, the two of them were alone save the exception of Daphnes only seeming female friend Tracy Davis who he allowed in reluctantly a few days prior, he began to speak. "I've been partially focused on this Nymphadora Tonks. Observing her to see how she is perceived by her housemates and the student body at large" Harry confessed as he stirred his coffee with a finger. "While I'm pleased to see that she is well like by her female housemates and younger students given her seemingly outgoing & caring demeanor, I find myself less than pleased about what the male student body roughly her age say & want to do to her." He pulled the mug off the table and took a pull of the steaming contents. "Its disgusting enough to warrant having the offenders completely obliviated of such heinous thoughts about a person. That or have them put down like the animals they are thinking like."

Daphnes brow furrowed slightly at the confession. While she had noticed Harrys eyes wandering ever since their return from the Will readings and watching the older Hufflepuff she was confused as to what could be said that Harry could find heinous enough to worthy of being obliviated or killed for. While there was fledgling affection of the romantic sort that fluttered in her stomach, and in that same fluttering the jealousy of Harry looking at another girl despite knowing his hands are tied, she couldn't help find herself being just as guilty of putting an eye to consider the older girl given there was a reall chance they could end up being sister wives. As far as she noted of the older Hufflepuff known as Nymphadora Tonks the girl was a light-hearted, fun loving and loyal young woman. She seemed to compliment the reserved side that made up a lot of Harrys carefully maintained appearance to the public; carefully guarded except against her that was.

"Not to sound completely out of the loop here, even though I know I am, what could they be saying thats so bad to warrant having their mind blanked to nothing or them outright put to death?" Tracy asked with a frown marring her lips. She didn't know Harry too well and knew she didn't have his trust like Daphne did but that didn't mean she was the enemy he treated almost everyone in the school, save Daphne of course, like.

"The walls have eyes and ears Ms. Davis. Many of them who would carry what I say to the wrong people and then I'm left to field the flak because I'm in the manority of this backwards stagnant magical culture that isn't afraid to call a spade a spade" Harry said with a grimace. "Plus as I made it very clear a few days ago, I don't trust you. Daphne may and I trust her judgement but many of the children in this house are descended of the last wars Death Eaters." He raised a hand to cut the angry response he saw forming in her eyes. "I am not accusing you personally of anything. I speak of children like Malfoy and Nott who have taken their fathers rhetoric to heart about only those of pure wizarding ancestry deserving to wield magic." Harry stood from the table and drained the last of his coffee. "Given enough time my opinion of you will change if you continue on this current track. I'll see you in Charms Daph" he said leaning down and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek, partly to play up the ruse but also whispering something in her ear that earned him a nod, before leaving the hall after going over to Nymphadora and made the request to speak with her privately, a request she granted with a nod.

"What the bloody hell is his problem? I swear he needs to learn what the definition of the word. I mean for Merlins sake, all I asked was what the guys were saying that he thought they deserved to be killed or obliviated for. Its not like I aske-"

"Tracy, stop" Daphne said silencing her friend with a look. As much as she loved her female best friend there was too much she didn't know. "Harrys right, there are too many people who don't like him here among us in the other school houses. Then you have to consider in our own house theres people like Malfoy who had their hopes to be selected by the Welcome Committee and have me be given to them as their 'bride' only for Harry to get me."

"I sti don't understand why you're so calm about that! I mean we aren't cattle even if the laws-"

"I'm calm about it because Harry has been nothing but a gentleman about it. I'll explain more after dinner tonight but suffice it to say theres a bigger more important reason I'm alright with it" Daphne said cutting off the head of the snake, so to speakn before Tracy could launch properly into a tirade.

Tracys frown grew slightly. "So he hasn't tried to make you... Ya know?" she asked trying to allude to what she knew Daphne understood she was trying to say with a roll of her wrist.

"No he hasn't. Our quarters might have a bedroom setup for an actual married couple but most nights I sleep alone in the bed. Nine times out of ten when I wake in the morning to prepare for the day hes asleep in a reading chair with some political book in his hands and a blanket halfway in a dump across his legs. I'd hex him if he did try something like that Trace and you know it. I won't betray his secrets or confidence in me but suffice it to say the things those guys are saying about that Hufflepuff Nymphadora reminds him too much of things that have done to him before he got his school letter" Daphne said as she pushed the last remnants of her breakfast around the plate.

"I know he said at the sorting he got beat but-"

"I'm not betraying his confidence in me Trace so don't ask me anything like how bad it could of really been. It was bad. Really bad."


"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about? Advice about classes? Ways to sneak around the castle undetected with your little girlfriend for some alone time in a broom cupboard? Or maybe-"

Harry raised a hand and waited patiently for Nymphadora to stop. "None of the above to be frank" he said dropping his hand. He saw her eyebrow shoot up in question at that. "I've been observing you the past week or so and felt that now was as good a time as any to finally approach you."

"You know, its sweet and all but I don't think your girlfriend would be appreciative of you coming on to me. Plus I'm not into younger men. What was it muggles called women like that? Coujars I think" Nymphadora said tapping her chin thoughtfully. As fascinating as muggle culture could be she never really got into it despite her father being muggle himself.

"While my betrothed, not my girlfriend, is not happy she knows that my hands are tied. As are yours." Harry produced a copy of the marriage contract and offered it to Nymphadora.

Nymphadoras eyes were wide as plates as she literally tored the contract out of Harrys hands. This couldn't be right! Had her mother truly agreed to this for her sake?! But it wasn't fair! What about her choice of love! "This contract says I have to marry the Lord Black and.." Her heart sank as Harry raised his left hand and where nothing had been before the signet ring of Lord Black was there.

"I understand that this is not what you want nor is what I want" Harry began as he willed the ring invisible one more as he dropped his hand. "However, what we have right there is full of loopholes. The express wording says a marriage must be done on my majority meaning we have six years to get comfortable with the idea. Even though I find the politicking in that" he took the contract copy back and folded it up before slipping it back into his pocket "horrendous because of what your mother agreed to for you to do, it was done without malicious intent even if your mother was extremely short-sighted when it was drawn up & signed. I do not expect you to fall head over heels in love me but at the very least I hope that such a time comes we can be at the very least friendly enough. When obligations are met I very well couldn't care if you chose to take another lover of your choosing if that was what you wished. As long as we appear to the public as a married couple when its expected of us what you do in your own time and with whom is not my concern."

A suspicious note entered Nymphadoras eyes as she crossed her arms under her chest. "You're joking with me right?" she asked. "You know what I can do don't you?"

"Yes I do and its a magnificent magical talent that has many usuable applications in a vast amount of different occupational fields. Unlike animals that try to pass themselves as human men, who should be lobotimized or have their eyes gouged out ever so slowly with battery acid in my honest opinion, I don't think the ceiling of your abilities lies with you on your back changing your looks to suit some jackasses fantasy of screwing a girl he could never hope to actually speak to let alone be lucky enough to pull into his bed of her volition" Harry said bluntly as he rolled his eyes. "I thought I would take this time to introduce myself so we can work on at the very having some basis for a cordial relationship going forward for the future."

Nymphadora was surprised at how matter of factly that the young Slytherin, Harry Potter himself no less!, spoke about the situation they found themselves in. Not only was he betrothed to a Slytherin girl, and they seemed to be falling into slot with each other quite well, but through some means he was the new Lord Black & because of a contract signed by her mother they would have to be married when he turned seventeen. She did havd to credit the young boy though, the entire length of time, as short as the five minutes had been though it felt like an eternity to her personally, his eyes didn't waver from her face. "You really don't care do you?" she asked letting her arms drop.

"Not really. Living the hell I have with those filthy beasts called my magic hating muggle relatives you could have a harem of women calling you mistress obeying your every command as gospel truth and most likely the biggest reaction you might get out of me is a raised eyebrow & a request for you to use a silencing spell on the room while you entertained yourself" Harry said shrugging his shoulder indifferently. "Like I said, I wanted to introduce myself at the very least so we at least have the ball rolling forward."

"Nymphadora Tonks" she said offering a hand to Harry.

"I know" Harry said with a sort of sarcastic challenging smirk tugging at the edge of his lips as he shook Nymphadoras band. "Harrison Potter-Black but do call me Harry in public."

"Huh? But your name is Harry" Nymphadora said with a confused expression as her hair cycled through a rainbow of colors to reflect her confusion.

"I thought so as well but as I heard and saw at the reading of my parents will, my legal name is Harrison on my birth certificate. You aren't the only one to be thrown for a loop on that" Harry said taking his hand back as Nymphadora let his hand go to scratch her cheek like she was trying to work that one out. "Near as I can figure my mother would have gone simple but meaningful while my father was steeped in tradition from his upbringing with my grandfather so Harrison was a sort of middle ground where simple and traditional met in a compromise that satisfied them both."

"Ah, that would make sense. A lot of the old Houses are steeped in traditions when it comes to names. Something about your name being the first thing a person learns about you before you open your mouth to begin a social process" Nymphadora said nodding to herself like it was a spectacular academic revelation.

"I suppose." Harry turned and walked away as he threw his hand up in a sort of careless gesture of goodby. "Just like I had assumed of you when I first saw the contract. A name like Nymphadora implied to me that a part of you is a free spirit unbound by the shackles of conventions" he said turning a corner maybe fifteen from where the Hufflepuff girl still stood. "Observing you like I have in the limited capacity I have been able to during the dinner feast I'm able to say you do not disappoint Ms. Tonks. Free-spirited but loyal, fun loving and compassionate but fiercely protective" he turned his gaze as a glimmer of amusement entered his gaze. "You do your House more than justice. Let me be me the first to welcome you back to the House of your blood, premature as it right now." Just like that he was gone leaving the older girl with her thoughts unaware of the blush that sprouted on her cheeks at his words.


"So how'd it go?" Daphne asked as Harry entered the Charms classroom with the rest of the stragglers before the bell rang.

"How did what go?" Harry asked propping his text book open to the page listed on the board. He knew what Daphne was talking about and he knew she knew that he knew what she was talking about but it wasn't a topic to be discussed during class.

"You know what I'm talking about Harry" Daphne said jabbing her elbow in his side while Proffessor Flitwick was explaining the spell they would be learning over the next couple of lessons. "I saw her follow you out of the hall."

"Theres nothing to tell. I introduced myself to her and as bluntly as possible without being a bigger mechanical asshole than our head of house I explained we should get on a cordial level of respect for the other as far as a 'relationship' goes before we are forced to marry. She was on board with it from what I inferred though she was surprised when I told her if she wanted to take another lover or lovers once the obligations of the contract were met she could & I wouldn't be bothered one way or the other" Harry said shrugging.

Daphne palmed her face and groaned silently. "Harry... You're not supposed to be that blunt about something like that" she said rubbing the heel of her palm into one eye socket while her fingers rubbed her temples.

"Did you expect me to beat around the bush?" Harry asked while jotting notes down as Flitwick lectured them.

"No but a little finesse and delicacy to account for her feelings would have been nice."


In a dinky little cell in Azkaban a man in tattered robes barely more than scraps of fabric held together by loose strings barely keeping the patches together laughed darkly as he rocked in place. The time had come and soon he would be free. Yes, eleven years and soon he would be free to get his revenge. The sound of screams made the dark laugh evolve into a sort of manical giggle. The burning on his arm told him that things were moving as they should and now, now he could let the bloodbath commence. A particular scream made him cease his rocking and stand though the maniacle giggle still came from between his lips as three bodies dropped to the ground dead before his cell and a tall figure dressed head to toe in long black robes peered at him from the other side of the bars.

"Sirius Black. Betrayer of the Potters. Azkaban has been surpisingly kind to you" the figure drawled. To their surprise it was truth as unlike many of the other prisoners Sirius seemed to have added muscle and somehow gained weight to fill out his robes somewhat respectably unlike many other prisoners who were frail bone thin ghosts of their former selves.

The mad twinkle in Sirius' eyes was shining brightly as he spread his arms out as much as he could in the tiny cell. "I was born in Dark Magic. I grew up around Dark Magic and now it has come full circle to help me even though I turned my back on it in foolish youth. The irony is not lost on me" he said leaning forward so his face was only inches from the bars, stormy grey eyes gleaming with madness. "Are you here to let me out Lucius?" he asked.

"Our Lord has found need of you consider this your pardon."

Sirius smirked internally as he watched the bars spring open and a wand was extended towards him. It wasn't his wand but it would do for now. "Oh by the way Lucius, you are wrong. Your Lord has found need of me. He is not my lord." He paused after transfiguing his tattered scraps of robe and the singular small blanket in the corner to something presentable "I don't need you anymore." Before the long robed figure could react or speak he was on them and a sickening crunch as their neck was snapped in his bare hands filled the hallway. The body fell to the ground to join the three dead dead guards as the hood on the robe fell back revealing unseeing blue eyes, blonde hair and pale skin that identified the Malfoy Lord as the deceased victim. Rifling through the dead mens pockets Sirius hummed to himself pocketing alll that he found may be useful. With four spare wands, some money and Lucius' cane containing his concealed long dagger, or was it a sword his mind pondered, he left the corridor and began down to where he often heard certain mad cackles.

Bellatrix LeStrange was cackling madly to herself as the guard casting whatever spell was supposed to be hurting was getting more and more frustrated by the minute. A crunching of bone and feeling the flecks of blood on her person made her blink & stop cackling. "What the sodding... Sirius?"

Sirius had a mad expression glowing about his eyes as he dropped the corpse to the ground ignoring the half destroyed head. "Hello Bella. Lets have a talk" he said as the warning alarm went off at last. "A long overdue talk indeed."


A/N: so harry and tonks have had their introduction at last, absolutely mental sirius has his first scene & first slot of harry and daphs court grows to include everyones favorite slytherin half-blood hang-on. I'm sure everyone is going to ask one question to themselve, what mark is burning on sirius' arm? Is it the dark mark or perhaps something more? What does sirius want to talk to bellatrix of all people about?..

Some answers will be revealed next chapter. Til next time.