A/N: Please check out the poll on my profile! Also, I have changed a thestral's ability, they can choose who they make themselves visible to, whether they have seen death or not. This clears up the question on how Daphne can see Bella in this chapter.

December 10th, Hogwarts

"Hey- hey mate wait up!" A boisterous redhead yelled out after Harry. Harry, who had been chatting amicably with Neville, Susan and Daphne, turned around, an aloof look on his face.

"Something the matter Weasley?" Harry asked coldly.

"Uh- Uh, I just wanted to know if you wanted to play a game of chess, you know get away from the slimy snakes and all." Ron replied timidly.

"Now just why would I want to do that when I have 3 perfectly good friends here who I was talking to?" Harry questioned.

"But she's a snake! And she's a duffer, and Neville, he's a good guy and all but he's basically a squib!" Ron exclaimed, pointing to Daphne, Susan and Neville respectively.

The hall grew cold as an icy fire elit up in Harry's eyes, "Need I remind you Weasley, that I am not your mate and I am also a Slytherin. These people on the other hand are my friends. Now then is there anything else?" Of course Harry didn't truly think of anyone other than Daphne as a friend, but no need to tell someone else that.

"N-no." Ron stuttered.

"Good, oh and Weasley?"

Ron looked at him questioningly.

"Tell the twins I say thanks." Harry said as he summoned a handful of spiders and banished them at the youngest male Weasley who squealed like a girl and fled.

Over the next week and a half Ron took to following Harry around and trying to join his conversations, which only annoyed Harry and provided great amusement to his friends. Eventually the list to stay at the castle was passed around and while some signed it, Harry did not, remembering his promise to Daphne.

"Mr. Potter." Professor Snape greeted crisply as he approached the table during lunch, "The headmaster wishes to see you after lunch."

Harry nodded stiffly and, having finished his lunch, got up from the table and headed to the headmaster's office. As he approached the gargoyle he ordered it to move aside, which it did. Harry went to knock on the door but a benevolent voice called out "Come in Harry."

The Potter Lord did as instructed, choosing to forget the incorrect title used to address him. "Headmaster." He greeted.

"Ah, Harry m'boy, I-" Dumbledore started to respond only to be cut off by Harry, "I am not your boy Headmaster, I am Lord Potter and you would do well to address me as such."

"Of- of course Lord Potter, I was merely curious as to why your name's not down to stay at the castle. I also must insist you hand the wards over to me, I have much more experience handling them and I'm afraid I may have to go to the board if you refuse."

Harry's eyes narrowed into slits, "Where I stay over the holidays is none of your concern. As to the wards, if you have so much experience handling them then why was there a Class XXXXX forbidden object, a cerberus, and Voldemort's FUCKING SPIRIT possessing a teacher?"

Dumbledore paled visibly, "I'm afraid I have to keep that information to myself, but I will have to go to the board about the wards."

"While I could probably fight it and win, it would be long and drawn out, not something I'm looking forward to. So tell you what, you must swear on your life and magic that you will not interfere with the lives of my friends or I in a negative way and that I get access to the wards while you control them. Agreed?"

"Lord Potter, you must understand, magical oaths are dangerous things, I-"

"I said do we have an agreement?" Harry ground out, a bit of his magic flaring.

"Yes, yes we do, I Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do hereby swear on my life and magic to not interfere with the lives of Harry James Potter or his friends in a negative way and I will give Harry James Potter access to the wards of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so I say, so mote it be." Dumbledore intoned defeatedly.

"If that is all Headmaster, I'll be heading to class now." Harry replied, smirking inwardly. Oh how he loved to ruin Dumbledore's plans.

"Yes that is all, thank you Lord Potter." Dumbledore sighed.

Harry gave a stiff nod before turning with a flourish and exiting the office.

Dumbledore felt the wards wash over him and was surprised to find that Quirrell was dead and the Cerberus was gone and the Mirror of Erised destroyed. Maybe he should go get the Philosopher's stone and use it for himself, after all he the great Albus Dumbledore deserved immortality if anyone did.

December 22, Platform 9 ¾

Harry and the rest of The Seven, were getting out of the Hogwarts Express, where they had talked about Harry's first Wizengamot meeting, "Daph if they give you any trouble even after you say you're going to a Black just tell them you're going to me, and please bring your sister, I'd love to meet her." Harry requested.

Daphne nodded in understanding when a plump red headed woman approached the group, her arms wide open. "Harry dear," the woman said in a shrill voice, "Ronald has told me so much about you, come along you can stay with us at the Burrow, that's where we live. Ginny's been just dying to meet you."

Harry took a step back from the offending woman, immediately taking on a cold demeanor, "And just who might you be? And who gave you the right to call me dear, let alone my first name?"

"Oh my apologies, I'm Molly Weasley, but you can just call me Molly." She replied, completely ignoring the 2nd question.

"A Weasley hmm? I am not in any way associated with your family, I find your youngest son's behavior appalling, and Percival's behavior to be snobbish, the only Weasleys I respect are your eldest and the twins. Now if you'll excuse me I need to be getting home." Harry replied haughtily.

"Now, now a child should be at a home with a family, with a mother and a father over the holidays, not alone." Molly replied.

At this point there was a large group of people surrounding them, all having taken notice of the Boy-Who-Lived and Weasley matriarch. "Let me make something very clear to you, Mrs. Weasley, no one and I mean NO ONE can take the place of my parents. For you to just come in thinking that you can only shows that your family has not changed in 500 years, after all why do you think the Weasleys are labeled Blood Traitors? Hmm? They are called Blood Traitors because 500 years ago, the head of the Weasley family murdered his own daughter who was engaged to a Potter, because he was scared of the Weasley name being taken in by the Potter name. Now, before I truly lose my temper leave." Harry finished with finality, pushing his way through the muttering crowd.

December 26, Potter Manor

Harry was reading the article that the Prophet had printed about Molly Weasley trying to take over his mother's role when he floo chimed, signaling someone was coming in. Harry walked over, watching a brunette haired girl come out. The brunette was followed by her blond haired sister, both sharing piercing blue eyes.

"Daphne, how are you?" Harry greeted formally.

"I'm doing fine, this is Astoria by the way." Daphne replied, a small smile gracing her face.

"A pleasure to meet you Astoria." Harry said, taking the offered hand and brushing his lips on it.

"Thank you, Harry, do you mind if I call you Harry? You can call me Tori." The brunette responded excitedly.

"That's fine Tori." Harry answered with a chuckle. "Why don't I show you two around the manor, after all you'll be staying here for the next few days. Oh by the way, if you need something call for Flynn, he's a house elf but please treat him kindly." Harry then proceeded to give them a tour of the elaborate Manor before heading out on the warm, thanks to warming charms, yet snowy grounds.

"Fluffy!" Harry called as a cerberus bounded over to the group, causing the girls to scream in fear.

"Ha-Harry, what is that thing?" Daphne asked, trembling.

Harry gave them a puzzled look before realizing the problem, "Oh, this is Fluffy, he was on the third floor, but Dumbledore," he spat the name like it was poison, "was starving the poor guy, as for what he is, well he's a cerberus. They tend to be used as guard dogs, but there aren't too many in the world, so I have no idea how Dumbledore got one. He's really sweet and if you want you can ride him, or any of the other animals we have out here."

Tori, cautiously approached the cerberus and started to pet his surprisingly soft fur. "You're just a big softie aren't you." Tori giggled when the Cerberus whimpered in pleasure.

"If you guys want I can introduce you to all of our creatures, but be warned we have A LOT. Did you know that Newt Scamander came here to study some of the animals for his book Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them? If you look at the back there's a special thank you to the Potter family." Harry explained.

Daphne nodded her head cautiously while Astoria gleefully agreed, already playing with the cerberus. "Ok then, please whatever you do don't freak out." Harry warned, before putting two fingers and whistling loudly.

Creatures of all shapes and sizes approached the group, there were griffins, thestrals, abraxan, unicorns, salamanders, snakes, runespoors, ashwinders, pixies, occamies, murtlap, malaclaws, kneazles, horned serpents, hippogriffs, hippocampi, snidgets, firecrabs, demiguises, crups, auguries and even a manticore. However, despite all the different and dangerous species they were all calm and cheerful.

"Bloody hell, Harry, how do you have so many creatures, and how the hell are they all so calm." Daphne breathed in shock.

"The Potters have always been about helping all creatures but also on making a lot of money, that's why they're one of the Most Ancient and Noble houses, they maximized their money by supplying apothecaries and all these creatures were either rescued or born to rescued creatures. Take the manticore for example, his name is Charles, in remembrance of my grandfather, my Dad saved him from being skinned alive for his pelt. If you didn't know a manticore's pelt is very magically resistant but only if it's taken when the manticore is alive." Harry easily responded.

"Awh look at this kneazle, it's so cute." Astoria said, picking up a gray and white kneazle who seemed very fond of her.

"Tori do you mind if I check something? It won't hurt I promise." Harry reassured her, noticing that the normally shy kneazle was allowing herself to be cuddled.

"Sure I guess." The youngest Greengrass replied.

"Nota cognoscere(familiar verify)" Harry intoned while holding out his wand. A light grey light shot out of his wand, before hitting Astoria, from whom the grey light left and attached to the kneazle in her hand.

"Congratulations Tori, you just found your familiar." Harry laughed.

"Do you have a familiar Harry?" Daphne questioned.

"Two actually." Harry said with excitement, "This is Bella, my thestral, and this is Dante, my griffin." Harry pointed out each one. "Bella's actually the one that provided hair for your jacket Daph."

"Well thank you Bella." Daphne said as she petted the thestral.

"Come on let's head inside and I can give you guys my gifts, although technically Tori has two now because of the kneazle. Speaking of which have you figured out what to name her?" Harry asked.

"I'll name her Stella." Astoria responded as she cuddled the kneazle.

"A lovely name." Harry agreed.

Once they arrived back in the manor, Harry and Daphne having chosen to take a ride on Dante and Bella respectively, while Tori rode Fluffy, Harry grabbed some gifts from under the christmas tree. "I hope you like them, I wasn't really sure what to get you." Harry said as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.

Daphne opened her gift to find a pair of dragon hide boots that matched her jacket. "They're beautiful," Daphne gasped.

Harry grinned back, "I'm glad you like them, they work hand in hand with your jacket, if you say silent then it creates a silencing field with a 5 foot radius. You just have to say loud, to disable the field. They will also creatre a more powerful disillusioning charm when worn with your jacket"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Daphne squealed, having dropped her mask as she hugged Harry.

"Your welcome." Harry chuckled.

"What's this?" Astoria questioned, looking at the necklace in front of her. It was a simple silver necklace with a locket that seemed to heat up a little when touched.

"Well, Daph told me how much you like magical creatures, so that necklace will create a hologram of whatever magical creature you say, so long as you have seen it in real life, but if you give it to someone else and they have seen the creature then it will still be there. For example, if I had seen a thunderbird and put the necklace on then gave it back to you, you would just say Thunderbird and it would appear in front of you. I've already put it on so it should have a few creatures in there. In case you didn't know, a hologram is like 3D picture." Harry explained enthusiastically.

"Thank you so much!" Astoria shrieked in joy, giving Harry a tight hug.

"You're welcome." Harry laughed.

On new year's eve, Harry had taken the girls back to Greengrass Manor, before quickly leaving. After that he had spent time in the Potter Library as well as with his animal friends before he boarded the Hogwarts express on the 5th of January.

On the train The Seven were sharing what they had done over the holidays.

"I went to Italy to visit my mother." Blaise was explaining to the group.

"I just stayed at home over the hols." Tracey said boredly.

"Astoria and I went to Harry's place for a few days, it was brilliant, you should've seen all the creatures that were there!" Daphne exclaimed exuberantly.

"Oh? What types of creatures?" Hannah questioned curiously.

"Griffins, thestrals, abraxan, augureys, kneazles, occamies, snidgets, demiguise and others." Harry replied nonchalantly.

"Don't forget the cerberus and manticore!" Daphne reminded excitedly.

"What the hell? How do you have all those creatures?" Neville questioned in awe.

"Newt Scamander, in fact I'm meeting him this summer, he told me he has a thunderbird, a couple crups and a diricawl for me to add to the manor." Harry answered offhandedly.

"Can we meet him? Pleaseeeee?" Susan begged.

"I don't think so, only because he doesn't really like interacting with others, unless he knows them well. I've met him 3 times before." Harry said, guessing their next question. "Anyways, I wonder if I can convince Hagrid to let Bella and Dante stay here during the school year..." Harry wondered, leaving Daphne to explain to the rest of the compartment just who Bella and Dante were.