Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any part of the Harry Potter universe.

Thanks to my Beta, Dark Lord Moridin for beta and britpick work

As the group felt the train begin to move, Harry remembered something he had been thinking about. Looking around at the other three conscious people in the carriage compartment, Harry said "As I know you're all aware, something strange usually happens to me during the year. First year it was Voldemort possessing Professor Quirell and attempting to get the Philosopher's Stone. Second year was Lockhart and the Basilisk. This year Sirius Black has escaped and Dumbledore thinks he'll be coming after me."

At this, Snuffles growled low in his throat. Neville pitched in "Grandmother said that the Ministry will be stationing Dementors around Hogwarts to try to catch him too."

At this both Harry and Hermione shook their heads, they both remembered what they had read about the Dementors of Azkaban. "That's another example of what I'm talking about" Harry said with a grimace before continuing. "Neville as one of my vassals, I'm putting you in charge of keeping my other vassals safe in case I'm not available for any reason or if I'm incapacitated. Hermione, I'm appointing you as my Seneschal and given this" Harry tapped her collar, "I formally declare you as my next of kin as my betrothed. If anything happens to me, you are the only one to have any say over what is done, and they will be required to give you a full disclosure of my injuries. As liege lord to the three of you, I am defacto, in loco parentis for you and the same applies to me.

Unnoticed to the four, the Potter crest appeared on Hermione's robes over her heart trimmed in silver and gold. When Harry mentioned that he and Hermione were betrothed, both Neville and Luna perked up "You're betrothed?" Luna asked. "When did that happen?"

Hermione giggled a bit, then replied "In France while we were on our holiday. It was the day after I got this." She said stroking her collar.

/Flashback

Hermione sat down next to Harry by the pool, turning to him she asked "Harry I'm curious, what was last night. What does this mean to you?" pointing to her beautiful new collar.

Harry turned to Hermione and gathering her into a warm hug said, "Hermione, I love you. You're the only person I know other than Professor McGonagall that sees me as just Harry. Everyone else sees either the Boy-Who-Lived, or sees me as Lord Potter. I'm not ashamed of my ancestors or my title, but you know I always only wanted to be just Harry. You're the first person whose touch hasn't meant pain. You're the first person that I can remember telling me that they loved me. Hermione the rest of the world could burn, and as long as I had you in my life, I would be happy. I could easily see us spending the rest of our lives together. But we are both too young for me to officially propose. I hope you don't mind, but I see last night as kind of like a betrothal. If next year, when you turn 15, we're still together as I hope, I'll speak with your father, and ask his blessing."

Hermione squealed in happiness then snuggled closer to Harry. "I'm so glad to hear that Harry. I hope we are together forever, and I would love to be your betrothed."

/end flashback

Luna let out an Aww, before embracing Hermione.

Shaking his head a little, Harry remembered the letter from Luna again. "Luna, you mentioned that you and your father were looking for wild Crumpled-Horned Snorkacks. What are those?"

Luna perked up happily, "Oh those are something our family has been working on breeding for a while. We used to have them back in the time of Merlin, but our entire herd was killed off."

"So you're trying to find wild ones?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, it would be much easier than trying to breed for them. That's very difficult, though I think we're only a generation or two away from them." Luna said happily.

Harry perked up at this a bit "Breed for them? What are they, and how do you breed for them?" he asked curiously.

Luna smiled happily "Well as to what they are, they're quite possibly the best war mount someone could have. Very strong, very powerful, and extremely loyal. They can turn both themselves and their rider invisible, and they can fly. As to how one breeds for them, well that's pretty difficult actually. You have to first breed a Unicorn stallion to a Nightmare. The resulting offspring are called Daymares. Daddy actually has a herd of those, so that part of it is covered. You also have to breed a Thestral stallion with a Unicorn mare, that's where we're having difficulties, as Thestrals are difficult to find. Thankfully Hogwarts has a domesticated herd of them. I'm hoping that I can get a chance to get that mix going. Incidentally that cross creates what's called a 'Black Unicorn'. It's very like a Thestral, except with the unicorn horn and visible. Then you breed the Black Unicorn with the Daymares, and that should give us the Crumpled-Horned Snorkack."

Both Harry and Hermione's jaws dropped a bit, Luna was right. That would be an extremely dangerous mount, especially if it had the intelligence of a Thestral. "Dear Merlin Luna, that...that would be something I certainly wouldn't want to mess with. Are you planning on taking Care next year. It would certainly help with that plan. If you want we can also talk with Hagrid, to see if he'll let you work with the Thestrals." Harry said still slightly in shock.

"That would be wonderful Harry thank you!" Luna said excitedly.

After a few moments of thought, Luna turned to Neville and said "Oh, Neville I was wondering if I could get you to help me with something else."

Neville looked curious and replied "What would you need my help with Luna?"

Luna said in her usual dreamy tone "Well I need to breed up some more Blibbering Humdingers, and since they're a fungoid species, well your help would be appreciated. I know how good you are with plants and all."

At this, Harry and Hermione's eyebrows rose a bit. "Fungoid? Luna are you breeding Mi-Go?" Hermione asked a little nervously. The anxiety both teens felt at Luna's slightly manic smile did not help at all.

"You know what, I don't want to know. Just don't go breeding something that will wipe us all out okay?" Harry said with a touch of worry lacing his voice.

"Oh don't worry My Lord, they'll be trained to leave anything with the Potter crest alone, or I'll have the house elves fry them up like mushrooms." Luna looked lost in thought for a second, then continued. "You know that might actually taste interesting. I must speak with the castle elves about that."

Neville, Harry, and Hermione cringed a bit at that. Even Snuffles whimpered for a second.

Luna pulled out a copy of her potions book, and started reading through one of the chapters of preparing organic components. At this the other three started leafing through their books as well.

After a few hours, Luna looked up and asked "Hermione I'm curious about something I'm seeing here. This chapter says that there are three ways to prepare goat lungs, Why is that?"

Hermione looked up from her Runes book, and answered "Well it depends on the potion really. Drowning potion requires that they be just chopped, the Oxygenation perfusion requires that they be minced, and the Aeration solution requires them diced. What chapter are you reading, it should have mentioned those potions I would think?"

Luna grimaced a bit, then replied "Well this is just about prep, it doesn't really talk about the potions so much as the prep methods. I'm actually reading the section "On the Importance of Lungs, and their proper preparation". It's quite interesting, though I'm looking forward to the next section, that's got how to properly stew eyes."

Harry felt his stomach lurch a little at that, especially as he heard the trolley lady knocking on the door to their compartment. After purchasing some bar chocolate, the four started to look at their books again.

A few moments later, Snuffles started whimpering and hid underneath the bench Harry and Hermione were sitting on. Noticing Snuffles odd behaviour, Harry and Hermione shared a look, before noticing that the compartment had started to get cooler. "Right, Hermione you'll need to help me with it" Harry said as the two stood.

Surprising Luna and Neville, Harry pulled his trunk down, and opening it, removed a long thin case. As soon as Harry put the case on the bench, Hermione opened it, and removed a sheathed sword and belt. While she was unwrapping the belt from the scabbard, Harry replaced the case, and put the Trunk back up. The whole while, the compartment was growing cooler.

Neville could swear he heard screams and some kind of insane laughter, Luna heard an explosion and the sound of her mother's pained breathing. Harry and Hermione were too focused on their current task to be effected yet. The moment Harry's trunk was put back away, he spun around hands still raised, and allowed Hermione to belt the sword around his waist.

As soon as she had finished her task, Hermione nearly collapsed to the bench. Once again she heard Ron's voice "She's a nightmare honestly, it's no wonder she's not got any friends" and again heard a troll bursting through a wooden door.

Harry seeing Hermione slumping to the bench, looked worried for an instant before a blackness surrounded him "No! Not my Harry. Kill me instead" and a flash of green. This alternated with McGonagall's voice saying "There has been another attack...Another double attack"(1)

Harry could feel something drawing closer, and he drew Durendal. As soon as the sword was freed from it's scabbard, Harry could feel energy returning. Not much, but enough to place himself between Hermione and what ever was now attempting to open the door to their compartment. As the door opened, a flash of silver spell light flashed past Harry, and impacted on the door frame.

The cloaked being recoiled a bit, and suddenly, the man whose luggage identified him as Lupin, was standing, wand drawn and approaching the door to the compartment. "Back! Get Back! Sirius Black is not in this compartment, BEGONE!" before firing the silver spell again, driving the Dementor away.

As soon as the Dementor flowed away from the compartment, Harry slumped down next to Hermione, though his sword was still drawn. As Lupin turned, he looked at the four students. Thankfully for the most part, they were unharmed, but the effect of the Dementors was not entirely physical.

Remus pulled a large slab of chocolate out of a coat pocket, and breaking it into chunks, offered it to the four students. "Here, eat some of this, it will help. Dementors attack the mind and try to draw out your happiness. The chocolate will help with that."

Slowly the students each took a chuck of the chocolate. Crumpling the wrapper and slipping into a pocket, Lupin said "I'm going to check with the conductor. Hopefully we're nearing Hogwarts. I'll be right back. I've not poisoned the chocolate, it's safe." before turning and exiting the compartment.

Sharing a look with the others, Harry took a bite of the chocolate, he could feel the warmth returning to his fingers. After a few moments of watching him, the other three began to eat the chocolate as well. Soon the four were back to normal though still a bit restrained due to the effects of the Dementor.

After another few minutes, the door to the compartment opened to reveal Professor Lupin. "We should be arriving at Hogwarts within the hour." Seeing Harry still had his sword drawn, Lupin said calmly "Harry you can sheath your sword, it's safe now." Still a bit dazed from remembering seeing Hermione petrified in the Hospital Wing, and hearing what he now assumed was his mother begging for his life to be spared, Harry slid his sword back into it's scabbard. As his hand left the hilt, he slumped against Hermione and finally lost consciousness.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

An unknown amount of time later, Harry came back to consciousness with Hermione gently patting his cheek. His head resting in her lap, Harry looked up and saw tears in her eyes. "Mione, what happened love?" he asked softly.

At the sound of his voice, Hermione gasped "Harry! Oh Merlin we were worried about you. Just as soon as you sheathed Durendal, you passed out. Professor Lupin is speaking with the conductor to see if we can make it to the school any quicker."

Harry shook his head for a moment, then Hermione helped him to sit up. "I think the usual happened Love. As soon as the danger was past, I passed out. It's like what always happens. I'm in danger, I fight through it, and after I survive and reach safety, well night night world. I swear it's like the Potter luck draws on my energy or something."

Hermione and Luna thought for a moment before Hermione replied "You know Harry, you might be right. If it's something like an inherent gift, like Neville's skill with plants, it very well could. It would explain why Potters almost always win through unless they're sacrificing themselves. Then the luck goes to ensuring the best possible outcome. Of course, that would explain so much!" the bushy-haired teen said excitedly.

A few moments later, they felt the train slowing down as it approached the Hogsmeade station. The four stood, and carefully made their way to the carriages waiting for them. Amazingly a path opened between the group and the carriages. It seemed that no one wanted to interfere with the group.

This was the case at least until a very familiar voice drawled "Awww did wee little Potty pass out?" Harry's eyes blazed, but he refused to acknowledge the source of the insult. Unfortunately, this only seemed to encourage the person.

As the voice drew closer they heard "Well good job on dropping the weasel, but really Potter. Hanging around with a squib, a loon and Mud..." Before Draco could finish the last word, he found a sword at his throat.

"If you so much as finish that word Malfoy, I will have your head!" Harry growled out, eyes glowing green like the killing curse.

Draco stuttered "W-w-when my father hears about this." but was again interrupted before he could finish his threat.

"When your father hears about this, he will be grateful that he still has a son! How stupid are you to insult the betrothed of one of the Four Lords of the Marches Malfoy? And in the presence of her Lord at that. It's no wonder that you weren't placed in Ravenclaw if you're that stupid" Harry said coldly.

"You can't do this, I'm a Malfoy!" Draco exclaimed. "You can't threaten me."

Harry looked at Malfoy like he had just proven his stupidity, which he had though he knew it not.

"You are a peasant Malfoy. The only claims your family has are its wealth and it's 'pure blood' status. In short, you're inbred and rich. I am EARL Potter! You are nothing to me, I could gut you where you stand for what you've said, and there is nothing your father or the Ministry itself could do to me."

Seeing the very real possibility of death in Harry's eyes, and knowing that if Harry spoke the truth about being Earl Potter, then he was also correct about the lack of any punishment that would occur. Any Head of an Ancient and Noble House could call a Duel of Honour, with no repercussions to the victor. As these thoughts passed through what could be laughingly called Draco's brain, he whimpered and backing away from the sword, ran to an open carriage and prayed that Potter would accept this without killing him.

As he sheathed his sword, Harry turned around. Seeing Neville looking at him in shock, and Hermione in exasperation, Harry said calmly. "He insulted my vassals and attempted to insult my betrothed. Those actions are legal grounds for me to call a duel of honour if I chose. I'll let him go with the warning this time. But if he opens his mouth again, he'll find he regrets it."

Neville nodded in understanding, but Hermione replied "But won't you get in trouble for threatening him like that Harry? I mean Hogwarts does have certain rules about things like that."

Harry shook his head as he wrapped an arm around Hermione, before responding "'Mione love. Like I told the Ferret, nobody can say anything about what I've done just now. This falls outside of school rules or technically even Ministry law, though Ministry law does touch a bit on it. By insulting the betrothed of the Head of an Ancient and Noble house, he cast aspersions on the Honour of House Potter. That gives me a perfectly legal right to kill him. I also have a legal right to warn him, in case he was not aware of what consequences his actions may have. Now that said, I have no doubt in my mind that he'll be whinging to Snape the moment he sees him. I almost hope he does. I've been looking for a way to put that bully in his place, and this gives me the perfect chance to do so." Harry finished with a feral grin.

As the carriage pulling the four approached the school, they could see Draco talking with Professor Snape who had been waiting at the entrance hall. Seeing the greasy, sallow man's face beginning to contort with rage, Harry knew that things were going to be getting very interesting very quickly. Harry whispered to his companions "Heads up, the little ferret just spoke with Snape, just follow my lead and everything will be fine. Neville, if I get called up to the Headmaster's office, keep an eye on 'Mione and Luna. Oh and if it becomes necessary, the three of you have my full and complete permission to call a duel of honour if it involves Snape or Malfoy. I will act as champion, so don't worry. If you need to defend yourselves, do so with the utmost prejudice. You're all under Potter protection, so they'll have to come through me."

As the carriage pulled into the roundabout in front of the school, Harry reached down and petted Snuffles on his head, before climbing down, and offering his hand to Hermione to assist out of the carriage.

Hermione took Harry's hand as they walked to the entrance of the school, with Snuffles ranging to the side, and Neville and Luna behind. As the approached the entrance, Snape snarled out, "Well Potter you've done it this time, I've got you right where I want you. Detention for a month, and I think 100 points from Gryffindor for that little display at the station."

Hearing this, Harry's lip curled into a smile, before responding. "Oh I think not Snape. That was nothing to do with school, and with all due respect, you've no business sticking your nose into things."

Hearing the Potter brat being this arrogant, enraged Snape to the point, where he reached for his wand. Before his hand could close around the handle though, a very loud growl drew his attention to the black dog whose attention was focused solely on him. Keeping eye contact with the beast, Snape said "Call off your mutt Potter, and besides, dogs are not permitted at Hogwarts, so we'll just need to send the beast home."

Harry just smirked before replying, "Oh I'd advise against drawing that wand Snape. Snuffles there has been trained to take down a threat, sadly he was trained to use lethal force, so I'd be very careful removing your hand. He might consider you one. And actually the Headmaster not only knows about him, but I've been given an exemption to have him with me at all times if I chose. What with Sirius Black after me, the Headmaster is of course concerned with my well-being."

When the Potter brat again cheeked him, Snape realized that at no time had the brat used his proper title, and he had flat refused to acknowledge the detentions or point reduction. "Potter, you will show me the respect I deserve. I am a Professor here, and you will acknowledge that. And you will serve those detentions with me!" he again snarled.

At this Harry laughed mockingly "I have been showing you the respect you deserve Snape. It is you that are not showing proper respect. I am LORD Potter, you will address me as that, and that alone. As to your claim of being a professor, well I think our first and second years together has put paid to that idea. The prime requirement to being a professor is that one have the capacity to teach. The phrase "Instructions are on the board, you have an hour" does not qualify. I'll acknowledge that you are and were the youngest Potions Master in the last century and half, and I will respect that accomplishment, but currently Potions Master Snape, you do not qualify as a professor except under the loosest definition. As to the detentions, well those will not be served. As for the reason, it is because a pure-blood student under your charge chose to insult my betrothed. Now as I'm sure that as head of Slytherin house, you know the pure-blood traditions and laws. What is the consequences for insulting one betrothed to the Head of a Most Ancient and Most Noble House?"

Professor Snape had been growing angrier and more enraged with every word that Potter had said until he asked the last question, at which point his nearly puce expression had paled to near albinism. "Oh bollocks" Snape thought to himself "If Draco did that, then Potter would be well within his legal rights to gut the little pillock. What's worse is the arrogant little bugger is right. That was a matter of Familial Honour. Even if Potter gutted Draco in the Great Hall nobody could say anything."

After that brief moment's consideration, Snape responded. "Your pardon Lord Potter. You are of course correct, that incident has nothing to do with the school. I was not given all of the information. Young Malfoy simply said that you had threatened him with that blade. I imagine that it is an Heirloom blade, and that is why you're wearing it displayed as such?"

Snape's voice was still inflected with distaste but he was using the proper forms, and Harry would accept that. "Yes Professor. He insulted Hermione in my presence. As he was not aware that I had claimed my title, and that we were betrothed I decided to give him a warning. And yes, this is an ancient heirloom."

Snape was astonished at the near instant 180 that Potter had preformed. He had expected the arrogant little shite to press, but he had actually been somewhat respectful. He would need to think on that.

"Very well, I'll be sure to inform the rest of the faculty. Oh Professor McGonagall said that she need to see both you and Ms. Granger in her office before the feast." Snape said. He'd be damned if he had to call the brat LORD anything, and if the only way to avoid that, was to avoid saying his name, well he could do that too.

Harry turned and nodded to Neville and Luna, before saying "'Mione and I will see you guys at the feast. Save us a good seat, yeah?"

Neville nodded back. Unbeknownst to the three males, Snuffles had snuck behind Snape and lifting his leg, emptied his apparently overfilled bladder on the mans leg. The two young ladies watching this had to fight to contain their laughter. Thankfully the light rain kept the professor from noticing what was happening.

Harry turned back just in time to catch Snuffles lowering his leg, and had to fight to keep a smile off of his face. It seemed his dog had about the same opinion of the greasy potions professor as he himself did. "Well 'Mione, Snuffles, shall we go see what Professor McGonagall needs before we eat?'

Hermione using her best high class tone with only a bit of humour apparent in it replied "We shall MiLord" before giggling lightly.

As Harry and Hermione started towards their Head of House's office, with Snuffles following closely, Neville and Luna entered the Great Hall. As they sat, Neville ensured that he saved room enough for Harry and Hermione. The Ravenclaws seeing the Potter House crest on Luna's robes, decided that last year was the only year that they would hide Luna's possessions. Obviously this girl had a very highly placed patron, and they weren't the house of the intelligent for nothing.

Seeing the crest on one of her newer housemates, Penelope Clearwater made a decision. She needed to talk with Lord Potter, and ensure that he knew some of the things that would need to be known. This would indeed be an interesting year.

/\/\/\/\/\

from CoS when McGonagall tells Harry about Hermione's petrification