A/N: I don't recommend many stories but Of Power and Prestige By: Ell Roche and ExcentrykeMuse is a unique and lovely story that I love to read over and over. A very different take on FemHarry and Tom Riddle Jr. A must read. . ?uid=3990400

July 25

Everyone in the office of the Daily Prophet paused when the receptionist announced in a shaky voice, "Ms. Vaust, Lord and Lady Slytherin are here to see you."

Robin Vaust looked up from the article she was writing and swallowed as she caught a glimpse of the mysterious Lord Slytherin. Power and ire seemed to emanate from the man. She jumped to her feet and went to greet them.

"Lord and Lady Slytherin, how may I help you?"

Tom stared at the young reporter. "You have been writing some articles insinuating ugly things about myself and my wife. Myself, I would have ignored you. I will not tolerate the insinuations against my wife. We have come to set the record straight."

Robin shivered at the dark threat implicit in his voice. "I assure you I did not mean…"

"Yes, you did." Hari snapped. "The Prophet has always delighted in skewering me while expecting me to just take it and be a good little Savior."

Robin winced at the bitterness in the young witch's voice. It was easy to roast someone that was an abstract figure. Rita Skeeter had indeed written some very ugly things about Potter over the years before she had disappeared last year. Not one clue as to what happened to her had been found yet. Robin had taken the rumors and gossipy insinuations and ran with them. Sensationalism sold. "Perhaps we should continue this in an interview room?"

Tom studied her momentarily before nodding. They followed her through the silent office. Everyone noticed the possessive placement of his hand on his wife's back and the way his magic flared out warning everyone not to attempt to harm them. The female reporters also noticed his broad shoulders, trim hips, wavy chestnut hair and cobalt eyes. The man was gorgeous. The male reporters noticed long curling raven hair, bright emerald eyes, high cheek bones, nice sized breasts, tiny waist and curving hips. She was beautiful. Together they were stunning.

Robin waited for Lord Slytherin to settle his wife in a chair and sit himself before she sank into a chair. "Would you like tea?"

Hari nodded slightly. "Yes, please."

Robin called an elf and soon they were sipping tea. "I apologize if I implied something untrue in my articles. The public is understandably intrigued about the sudden marriage and the rumors surrounding the both of you."

Hari set her teacup down on the saucer in a very controlled manner. She looked up at Ms. Vaust with icy emerald eyes. "I understand that the entirety of wizarding Britain is full of gossipy old witches and wizards whose lives are obviously so boring that they have nothing better to do than dig up or create dirt on me. I understand that the magical people in Britain have felt free to make up stories about me ever since my parents died without concern about how they would affect me. I understand that you all feel free to imply that I either am already evil or going evil while at the same time expecting me to save you from one the most insane and powerful wizards of recent times. I understand that the Prophet could care less about the truth as long as sensationalism makes a better profit."

"Now see here, I don't care who you are, you can't come in here and insult the Prophet!" Robin exclaimed indignantly.

"Why not?" Tom asked, leaning back and crossing his legs. He rested his cup on his leg. "You do it day after day…hurting people, mudding reputations, spreading lies."

Robin glared at him.

Tom glared back. He was the Dark Lord. No upstart reporter would ever come close to out staring him.

Robin glanced away from the steely gaze. "The people have a right…"

"The people have no right to invade my privacy and spread malicious lies about me!" Hari shouted furiously. The floor to ceiling windows of the interview room exploded outward.

Tom watched silently as his wife lost her temper. In his mind it was about time she quit allowing people to walk over her.

Frightened gasps and shouts of pain filled the office. Robin, who had fell out of chair, cautiously regained her seat. She looked at the shattered windows and then, fearfully, turned her attention to Hari.

Hari glared at her. "Your paper has made my life miserable since I was eleven. You have printed lies and innuendos without even trying to discover the truth. As a minor, I had no recourse. I had no choice, but to let you lie about me. I am not a child any longer. You have questions. I'm here today to answer them, but from now on you will not print one thing about me or my family that has not been verified or I shall buy this paper, burn it to the ground and do my best to insure you never work again." She hissed. Her power flared out in a suffocating wave.

Robin became ghostly white and swallowed. "Of course, Lady Slytherin," she squeaked as she struggled to get air into her lungs.

Hari nodded grimly and slid her wand out and with a graceful wave and flick repaired the windows. She pulled her magic in as she leveled her icy gaze on the shaking reporter. "Ask your questions, Ms. Vaust."

Robin nervously pulled out parchment and a quill.

Tom pulled his wand and waved it intricately over the quill and parchment. "You will report what my wife and I say honestly."

Robin's eyes widened and she nodded. "Of…c…course, Lord Slytherin."

She glanced down and cleared her throat. "Could you tell us how you found out about the Line Protection Contract?"

"It appeared on my account manager's desk in mid-May. He immediately owled me. We have yet to determine what inherent guidelines made it appear at that time." Tom replied neutrally. "I was quite shocked considering the Ancient and Noble House of Potter has traditionally eschewed all types of marriage contracts."

"Neither of you were aware of its existence before then?"

"No."

Robin licked her lips nervously. "Since it is a Line Protection Contract should we be expecting to see children soon?"

"When we decide to have children is our business and not the public's." Tom said firmly. "We will only say that the contract does require two heirs. No time requirement is stated."

Robin glanced down. Her gaze riveted on Lady Slytherin's ring. "Your ring, Lady Slytherin…you've claimed your inheritance?"

"Yes, I claimed it after the bonding. Until Tom suggested going to claim it I wasn't even aware that I had an inheritance."

Robin choked. "Pardon? How could you not know? The Potters are an Ancient and Noble Family!"

"And I was kept in ignorance. I was raised by magic hating muggles, Ms. Vaust. I didn't even know magic was real until I received my Hogwarts letter. I was told my parents were drunk wastrels who died in a car crash. Then I turned eleven, found out about magic and had people expecting me to be something I wasn't and being exceeding cruel when I failed their expectations."

"But…but…your magical guardian…" Robin murmured faintly.

"Told me nothing. I did not know I had a magical guardian until the goblins asked what he had told me."

"And all the fan mail and thank you gifts sent to you after You Know Who's defeat? Did you not wonder why strangers were sending you things?"

Hari stared at her in confusion. "I've never received a single letter or gift from anyone until my Hogwarts letter arrived. I still haven't received fan mail or gifts from strangers. Are you certain I was sent things?"

"I know for a fact that you were. The question is where did it all go?" Ms. Vaust sipped her tea to regain some semblance of balance. "Who was your magical guardian?"

"Albus Dumbledore."

Robin's teacup clattered to the table spilling tea across the surface. "Oh! I'm sorry…I…"

"Do not worry," Tom murmured and vanished the tea.

Robin stared a moment in shock. "Albus Dumbledore was your magical guardian yet he didn't check on you as a child, didn't tell you about magic or your inheritance?"

"That's right and he had plenty of opportunity since he has been my headmaster for the past six years. Tom is now diligently filling in the gaps of my education as to my position, responsibilities and traditions. Until the 17th I thought all I had was what I now know to be my trust vault for my education. Perhaps you should ask him where my mail and gifts are."

Robin blinked and cleared her throat again. "Speaking of Dumbledore. He was overheard saying to Minister Fudge 'you have lost us the war.' Do you know what he was speaking of?"

Hari shrugged. "Who knows what he means half the time. Albus Dumbledore loves to speak in riddles and keeps what he knows to himself almost obsessively."

"You have, of course, learned of your relatives' brutal murder. We were all shocked that you didn't appear at the funeral."

Hari leaned back. Tom slid his arm around her back comfortingly. Hari glanced away the image of a powerful witch disappearing and being replaced by a lost young woman. "My relatives hated magic and everything related to it." She murmured softly. "They resented my existence and hated that I shared space with them. They never let me forget I was thrust upon them without their consent and that they would have preferred I died with my parents. They would not have wanted me at their funeral. I respected their preference."

Robin blinked back tears at the raw hurt in the young witch's voice. "She was your mother's sister." She murmured unable to comprehend hating family like what was implied.

"Aunt Petunia hated my mother. She wanted nothing to do with our world. Dumbledore left me on their doorstep at night with a letter. They were given no choice, but to take me in. That fact was literally beaten into me at every turn, Ms. Vaust. I have the scars to prove it. I have demanded truth from your paper. I will not lie and say I regret their passing. They were cruel, vicious narrow-minded people."

"Could we please change the subject, Ms. Vaust. My wife is becoming quite upset." Tom demanded gently rubbing circles on Hari's back. The images flashing through their link of the verbal and physical abuse she had endured her entire life was threatening his control. He could not let his eyes turn ruby red right now.

Robin nodded and collected her thoughts. "The question on most people's minds is: Who is Thomas Riddle? You appeared to come out of nowhere. Rumor has been spread that you are in fact related to…to…" she gulped, "You Know Who."

Tom looked her squarely in the eye. "Lord Voldemort, you mean."

Robin flinched.

Hari shook her head. "I can't believe how afraid everyone is to say his name especially since you are determined to believe he's dead."

"He is dead!" Robin replied heatedly.

"I won't debate it with you." Hari replied coldly. "Tell me do you have a pensieve, Ms. Vaust? Would you like to see the events that occurred at the end of fourth year? The events that everyone is convinced I made up as an attention-seeking brat? 'A mentally unstable witch', I believe the Minister called me while never offering poor Mr. Diggory a reason his only son was dead from the Avada Kedavra."

"Hari," Tom murmured, calling her down gently. The emotions were pouring off her and over him through their link. Anger, grief, outrage, loss, resentment, vengeance all swirled around them.

"No," she hissed. "It getsss old. I wasss there. He had Cedric killed and nearly killed me and it infuriatesss me that everyone refusessss to admit it happened. Merlin! How can Mr. Diggory ever put his son to rest when he can't get an answer to how he died?!"

Tom flinched as it was himself that she was talking about. When she started enumerating the things he had done as Voldemort he was amazed she was giving him a chance at all.

Robin shivered at the sibilant hissing quality that leaked into Hari's voice. She called for a pensieve. "While we wait, Lord Slytherin, care to answer the question: Are you related to him?"

Tom sighed and rubbed his forehead. "He is indeed my grandfather." He sighed when Robin gaped at him. "You have to understand, Ms. Vaust, that Voldemort and his followers conducted many raids. They did many unspeakable things. My grandmother barely survived his…attentions. She retreated to a remote village and was practically a recluse from what my mother has told me. Growing up, my mother had it stressed upon her not to tell anyone who her father was so the hatred toward him would not be visited upon an innocent child."

Tom paused and reached for his tea. His hand trembled slightly as he lifted it to his lips.

Hari watched under lowered lashes amused at his superb acting skills. She grasped his hand between hers in a show of comfort once he put the cup down.

Tom took a deep breath and exhaled. "My mother raised me to have impeccable manners and searched out books on Noble manners and responsibilities. She drilled them into me. She did not tell me until she lay dying about who my grandfather was and why she drilled everything into me. She told me it would be different for a man. That I should go to Gringotts and demand an inheritance test. And so I did."

Robin stared at him aghast at such a horrific story. She swallowed hard and fought to put her emotions aside. She was a reporter and she might not get a chance to interview these two again. "And what are your personal beliefs on blood status and the status quo in hiring in the Ministry, Lord Slytherin?"

Tom paused as if to organize his thoughts. "I can scarcely declare half-bloods inferior when I am one myself, Ms. Vaust. I do believe that we should have people that can actually do the job in those positions. I believe we should focus on skill and intelligence instead of whose blood flows through our veins."

"Do you think of yourself as a Dark Wizard?"

Tom blinked at her honestly shocked at her audacity. He smiled at her. "Dark or Evil, Ms. Vaust. What is your true question?"

"You think there is a difference?"

Hari snorted. "Of course there is a difference." She leaned forward bracing her forearms on the table. She looked at the reporter intently. "When I first entered the Wizarding world I was told that all evil witches and wizards came from Slytherin and that Gryffindors were Light and Good and Loyal. I was told Voldemort and all his followers came from Slytherin House. Yet, one of the bravest most loyal men I know is from Slytherin and the true betrayer of my parents came from a generational Light House…a Gryffindor. Voldemort has followers from Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Slytherin is full of neutral Dark families that never joined him."

"To answer your question…Yes, my magic's affinity is Dark. Anyone who sees my aura knows this. Do I think myself evil? No. I am hoping to change the public's opinion of Slytherin and Dark wizards, Ms. Vaust. I am hoping to better our world even if it is in some small way."

"And you, Lady Slytherin? Light or Dark?" Ms. Vaust asked after a moment.

Hari shrugged. "I never thought about. I was never really told what the difference was. I've never seen my aura. I do magic. I learn what I need to protect myself and my family. I cast the Patronus in third year. I can also cast the Emoraggia just as easily." She looked over at Tom. "What would you say my affinity is husband?"

Tom stared at her stunned. "First, I can't believe you just admitted to casting that curse. Secondly, You really have no clue?"

"Do you think I survived an encounter with Voldemort and his Death Eaters by tossing about Jelly Legs?" She huffed. "Maybe if everyone was taught them Cedric would be alive."

"You still don't admit it, wife." Tom reprimanded gently. He remembered quite clearly losing several lower level followers to her vicious and surprisingly dark curses that night in the graveyard. He looked at the reporter. "You will not print it."

"I won't, my lord." Robin murmured, eyes wide with shock.

Hari shook her head. "Everyone says Potters are a Light house, but no one has ever told me the difference in the feel of magic. Before I learned that Light isn't Good and Dark isn't Evil I would have said Light just because I didn't feel I was an evil person. Now I know that isn't an accurate description."

Tom shook his head. "We really need to fix those chasms in your knowledge, wife."

Robin watched the interplay. She could see the honest affection between the two.

Tom reached for her hand and tucked it between his two. He stared at her a moment. "I would say you are Gray both in your affinity and your beliefs. You never had prejudice influencing your beliefs about magic itself. You have the rare ability to handle each side of magic with equal ease. You see magic in its complete complexity and accept it as it is without bias."

Hari grinned at him, happy with his answer.

Tom almost forgot where they were. Lost in her joy, he raised her captured hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her palm. Her shock and pleasure rippled over him in warm waves.

He flushed as he realized they had an audience, but didn't release her hand. He glanced up at the reporter and saw they had converted her to their side with their open affection.

Then the pensieve arrived. Hari carefully selected the memories that they had decided on last night starting from the Tri-Wizard cup portkeying her and Cedric Diggory to the graveyard to the resurrection of Voldemort. She cut the memory off before he called his followers and started naming names.

Hari carefully pulled the memory from her temple and dropped it into the pensieve swirling it gently before lifting her wand and leaning back giving Ms. Vaust a challenging look.

Shaking, Ms. Vaust touched her fingertip to the silvery substance and was sucked into the memory.

She watched in horror as the two young kids were pulled out of the maze and dumped into an eerie graveyard. She cried out when the wavering voice stated calmly, Kill the spare.

She watched two school age children try to shield themselves from the Avada Kedavra curse. The curse hit young Cedric and he fell lifeless to the ground.

She saw the horror in Potter's eyes and the desperate lunge for cover as other curses and spells headed her way from two robed figures.

A stunner finally hit the girl and the memory went black. The next Robin saw there was a huge cauldron and the robed men were adding a bucket of some liquid and chanting. Terror clawed at her throat as the ritual progressed: bone of the father, flesh of a servant and blood of an enemy.

She screamed and stumbled backwards fighting to leave the memory as Voldemort rose from the cauldron an unnaturally tall, snake-like being with a flat slit serpent nose, almost non-existent lips and ruby red eyes lit with victory.

The reporter came out of the pensieve screaming and shaking in fear. She fell to the floor and scrambled back from the table staring at the pensieve in terror.

Tom suppressed a smirk at the horror his presence evoked even in a memory. He wasn't that monster any longer and he shouldn't take such pleasure in uncontrolled fear at even the thought of his presence, but…

Hari gave him a sharp look, dark amusement drifted over their link making him give her a startled look. People rushed into the room, wands drawn.

Tom was on his feet, shield flaring out in front of him and Hari almost faster than the eye could follow. "She is reacting to a memory."

The two wizards kneeling at her side got her to her feet and settled back in her chair.

"It's….it's okay. The…memory just…" She swallowed, pale and shaking, eyes wide with fright as she stared at Hari. "You weren't lying." She whispered her entire body shaking with fear. "He's back."

Hari nodded grimly. "He has been since the end of my fourth year."

But…but why hasn't he…"

Hari sighed and sat down. Tom stood watchfully until the other reporters and clerks lowered their wands and gradually drifted back out except for an older wizard who sat down at the table with a grim look.

Tom settled next to Hari, wand lying casually on his crossed legs.

"Why hasn't he been raiding, instilling fear and chaos? You'd have to ask him. I've assumed he's been using the Ministry's denial of his return to quietly gather forces and allies."

"Philip Prater, Assistant Editor," The older wizard introduced himself. He nodded toward the pensieve. "May I?"

Hari nodded and the wizard dipped into the memory. He was ashen when he re-emerged. He swallowed several times before looking at Hari and Tom. "Do you mind if I keep this copy, Lady Slytherin? I'd like to print this confirming You Know Who has indeed returned."

Hari nodded solemnly. "I'm just glad to see the truth will be told."

HP/TM

Fred and George were vibrating in excitement as they stared in unadulterated awe at the two wizards standing in their living room. Marauders! In their living room!

Sirius and Remus exchanged amused looks.

"What do you think, Padfoot," Remus grinned when the twins whined in excitement. "Do you think these two deserve to know the secret of the Marauder's Map?"

Sirius eyed the twin pranksters. Hari had told him a lot about these two…stalwart, good natured, pranksters deluxe, but serious when need be. "I don't know, Moony. Hari says they are…adequate."

The twins traded wounded looks. "Adequate…!" "I'm wounded." "How could she?"

Sirius and Remus fell into chairs laughing hard.

"Sit, sit," Sirius gasped waving a hand. He finally got control enough to say. "Hari actually said you were extraordinary pranksters and stalwart friends. Where's the map?"

Fred pulled it from his pocket and out the thick folded parchment. He spread it out on the low table.

Remus started laughing. "Third year," he began, "I was patrolling at night and ran into Hari being harassed by Severus. The parchment was blank and he was trying to get it to reveal itself. It's spelled to insult whoever tries. He was livid."

Sirius and the twins laughed at the image of Snape being insulted by blank parchment, his face red with anger and embarrassment.

"Down to business," Remus finally told them. "You say you have rooms to add."

The twins nodded. "The ward room." "Room of requirement." "Entrance to the Chamber of Secrets."

Soon the four brilliant wizards were engrossed in updating the amazing magical artifact. By the time they were done, Fred and George were even bigger fans. The charm work and protective spells on the Map were beyond genius. Sirius and Remus were impressed and quite frankly deeply surprised at the intelligence behind the goofing facades of the twins.

July 26

LORD AND LADY SLYTHERIN GIVE INTERVIEW - SET RUMORS TO REST

Graciously taking time from being newlyweds, Lord and Lady Slytherin appeared at the Daily Prophet yesterday and answered many of this reporter's questions.

Thomas Riddle informed us of his tragic family history. In a way, Thomas Riddle is a victim of You Know Who's first Reign of Terror though he in no way perceives himself in such a manner. His grandmother, a rare surviving victim of a raid, moved to a remote location and raised the child produced in that night of terror. The child, a daughter was raised to keep the truth of her father a secret. She grew up, married and had a son. She kept her history secret, but raised her son to be a noble. It wasn't until his beloved mother lay dying that she told him the truth and begged him to go to Gringotts and claim whatever might rightfully be his.

What was his, it turns out, was the title, Lord Slytherin and all assets attached to that name. He set himself the task of familiarizing himself with all that involved. In mid-May a Line Protection Contract appeared on his account manager's desk.

Shocked, he held off notifying Harika Potter until the contract was verified as valid and he had time to think of what the Contract could mean to both of them.

What was almost as shocking as the parentage of the charming Thomas Riddle, Lord of Slytherin, is the fact that Harika Potter had no idea that she was heir of an Ancient and Noble line.

"I was kept in ignorance. I was raised by magic hating muggles. I didn't even know magic was real until I received my Hogwarts letter. I did not know I had a magical guardian until the goblins asked what he had told me." Lady Slytherin informed me.

She also stated that she never received any of the thank you letters or gifts the magical world sent her. She seemed honestly surprised at the idea.

She went on to say that the unknown magical guardian was none other than Albus Dumbledore and that "he had plenty of opportunity since he has been my headmaster for the past six years. Perhaps you should ask Dumbledore where my mail and gifts are. Tom is now diligently filling in the gaps of my education as to my position, responsibilities and traditions. Until the 17th I thought all I had was what I now know to be my trust vault for my education."

I was beyond shocked. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Defeater of Gellert Grindelwald…Harika Potter's magical guardian never checked on her health and well-being that she knows of; never told her that she was Heir to an Ancient and Noble Line. Provided her with no training for her future duties as Lady Potter.

When asked about her unusual silence and absence from her relatives' funeral she became quiet and morose.

"My relatives hated magic and everything related to it. They resented my existence and hated that I shared space with them. They never let me forget I was thrust upon them without their consent and that they would have preferred I died with my parents. They would not have wanted me at their funeral. I respected their preference. Aunt Petunia hated my mother. She wanted nothing to do with our world. That fact was literally beaten into me at every turn. I have the scars to prove it. I have demanded truth from your paper. I will not lie and say I regret their passing. They were cruel, vicious narrow-minded people."

It was touching, my readers, to see the honest concern and affection between the newlywed couple. Lord Slytherin was extremely considerate of his young bride's emotional distress and requested a change of topic. A request I gladly granted. Who would want to dwell on such heart breaking memories?

The concern and affection is obviously returned by young Harika Potter for when Tom Riddle was speaking of his tragic heritage she clung to his hand giving him silent support.

When questioned about children, the atmosphere chilled slightly. Lord Slytherin point blank said it was not any of the public's business. And after having been chastised by Lady Slytherin about the past behavior of the Daily Prophet and the public I have to agree.

Lady Slytherin pointed out quite passionately that we have indulged ourselves at her expense over the years not taking time to consider how it made her feel to have no privacy, to have every one believe ugly things about her without proof.

We celebrate October 31st as the end of You Know Who's reign of terror. We celebrate being able to go about our lives without fearing death at every moment. Harika Potter mourns the loss of her family, her heritage and her childhood.

And how have repaid this tremendous sacrifice? A horrible life of abuse. Her heritage hidden. Her life paraded about. Rampant gossip.

I hope that wizarding Britain is as ashamed of themselves as I am of myself.

Robin Vaust

Tom leveled a steely gaze on Draco. "You will treat her with respect."

Draco swallowed. "Yes, my lord."

"Quit terrifying possible friends, Tom." Hari huffed.

Tom had been a little put out that she had asked someone else to help her with this project until she had pointed out that Draco was helping her with the groundwork. He had the task of helping her discover the Potter Family alliances, explaining them to her and educating her on the other families if he knew of them. She knew Tom was extremely busy and didn't want to add to his already heavy schedule more than she had too. Tom was the one who had to work visits to them into his schedule unless he wanted her going alone or with Sirius.

She stretched up and bussed him on the cheek. "I'll add you to the wards when we get there. Come on, Draco." She dragged him into the foyer and touched her signet ring. "Thuas Sa Speir."

A moment later the two of them were in a foyer with gleaming wood floors and rose colored walls.

"Okay, Patriarch Study…" Hari turned slowly.

"You don't know where it is?"

"I didn't even know the place existed until the 17th. I was here once for a few hours in the library."

An elf popped into the room. "Welcome Miss Hari!" He exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands. "I am Gage."

Hari grinned at him. "Nice to meet you, Gage. This is my friend, Draco. He's helping me do some research. We're looking for the record of alliances. Do you know where it is?"

"Master Charlus kept it in his study."

"If you would lead the way."

The house elf nodded and trotted across the foyer and down a hallway. The gleaming wooden floor continued down the hallway. The walls were a creamy yellow up to a chair railing then a deep sage to the ceiling. Pedestals dotted the way with sculptures and vases on them. Landscape paintings hung on the walls.

The elf finally stopped in front of an ebony door. He pressed his palm to it and the door swung open. Leading Hari and Draco in the elf made his way over to a bookshelf behind the massive mahogany desk.

Hari saw where the elf was pointing and pulled the book off the shelf. "Thank you, Gage. If we could get lunch in an hour or so that would be great."

"Yes, Mistress." Gage disappeared with a pop.

Hari placed the book on the desk and opened it. "I hope it isn't an alliance per page," she muttered.

Draco chuckled. "Possibly, but not likely. Many will have been voided as time passed or the Family involved died out. This book isn't just Charlus Potter's alliances, but Potter alliances from the time they became a Family."

"Alright, pull up a chair." Hari sighed and sat down.

Draco levitated a chair over to the side of the desk and sat down. "See this at the end? Family Whitmore extinct February 3, 1023. Whatever alliance the Potters had with the Whitmores ended on that date."

Page after page families gone extinct, alliances broken for one reason or another. Occasionally, they found one still intact. These Hari noted on parchment with the page number.

"House Potter enters into a non-combative alliance with House Meridan. A Potter shall not attack a Meridan with intent to permanently maim or kill nor shall a Meridan attack a Potter with intent to permanently maim or kill. April 11, 1421." Draco looked at Hari. "This is still active, but I do not know any one named Meridan. Surnames change over time or perhaps it was a daughter's line that survived. You need to find out who the Meridans were and more importantly who they are now. Then you need to reaffirm the alliance or formally break it. Another option is to post a public notice in several wizarding papers stating that you've discovered the alliance but have no knowledge of who the Meridans are and that they need to contact you within a certain timeframe or consider the alliance broken."

They made steady progress finding other alliances – mostly minor. Non-combative, non-competitive from when the Potters still ran businesses; neutrality.

They broke for lunch. Draco expounded on the ramifications of the alliances they discovered. "Be sure and let the Dark Lord look all of these over, Hari. You don't know what alliances he has in place and you do not want to reaffirm ones that will interfere with his."

"So I need to bow to him?" Hari growled.

"Muggle raised," Draco snapped back. "You have a contract with him. What happens if you reaffirm a non-combative alliance with one of his sworn enemies. If they attack him, you won't be able to defend him against them. What if a Neutral alliance forces you to abstain from voting on a bill that you both need passed? On the other hand, if the Potters have an alliance that will be more beneficial than one he has in place, he may decide to break his alliance in favor of yours."

Hari ducked her head. "Sorry I snapped. I've always had to be the one to give in, to bow down…it grates."

"I get that."

After lunch they returned to the book. It took until the early evening hours to get through the book. By the end Hari had a list of five different alliances still active.