Chapter 12

Beta-read by frustr8dwriter


His blue eyes widened in surprise when he saw the red wax seal on the regal looking envelope. Glancing through his half moon spectacles at the polite house elf in surprise, Dumbledore saw that it was wearing the same crest- the crest of the Ancient and Noble House of the Potters. He hurriedly opened the letter and found that it was an invitation to Lord's Potter formal introduction to the Wizarding Society. He was further astonished when saw that the event was going to be held two weeks' time. What game was Harry playing now? He thought as he looked at the invitation. No matter, it was the ceremony of the one of the oldest and richest families in the Wizarding community. Being the head of the Wizengamot, he had to make an appearance. He hurriedly wrote a suitable reply and handed it over to the elf that vanished instantly after bowing deeply. He did not like the way things were going and if his hunch was right, Lord Potter had something up his sleeve. He was getting exceeding difficult to rein in.


It was a week ago since Harry received the reply from Dumbledore among the replies he received from the other families. He was not surprised that he had accepted because even Malfoy had sent a polite response expressing his joy to be given the privilege to attend such an event. His eyebrows knitted into a frown as he stared at the pile of responses sitting neatly at his desk. Well, he asked to invite every single family to this ceremony. Earlier as he was casually flipping through the post, he'd discovered that most of the families would be bringing their oldest child to the event. He placed his signature on the last document. It was a request for his approval of the budget for the ceremony. The boy stood up and stretched as his house elf, Dobby, watched on curiously.

"My Lord, am I permitted to speak what's on my mind?" He asked timidly as he looked at Harry with his abnormally large eyes. Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise at Dobby's demeanour.

"Absolutely – but please drop the 'my lord' and use my name instead." Harry answered warmly as he glanced at the house elf kindly. The house elf looked very nervous.

"It has been an honour to serve my lord as his personal house elf," began Dobby timidly, "but could my lord please give this prestigious position to another more deserving house elf?" He questioned as he bowed deeply.

A frown ceased Harry's forehead. "Is something wrong, Dobby?" Harry pressed politely. He was so concerned about the reason for his request that he forgot to remind Dobby to address him by his name.

He began to fidget even more. "Well, it would not look good on you, my lord. I am, after all, a castaway from the House of the Malfoy. The other families will be speculating about it." He continued.

"That's something you shouldn't worry about, Dobby." Harry assured firmly. "I believe that it is my decision as to who I want to work for me and not the other Heads. Besides, who would better to take this position than a house elf, who despite serving another family, tried to warn me of the dangers that I might face? If the Malfoys say anything about it, they will regret it. I think you may safely keep the position." Harry added warmly. The eyes of the house elf were filled with tears as he bowed deeply and thanked him. He excused himself so that he could help out with the preparation over at Potter Mansion. The realisation that he needed to be somewhere dawned upon him and he hurriedly rushed out of his study room.

A smile graced his face when he spotted a girl speaking quietly to a white owl in the Owlery as he rushed up from his quarters. Her long golden hair cascaded down to her shoulders. "Good morning, are you Callan's owner?" Harry asked politely as he slowly approached her. The girl turned around at the sound of his voice. He recognised the face at once. It was Daphne Greengrass, the infamous Ice Queen of Hogwarts. He'd had several classes with her since first year but he never had the chance to speak to her. The Slytherin girl was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in his year and one of the prettiest girls in Hogwarts. He was surprised to see her. Who would've guessed that the warm, kind soul would be her? "We've never been formally introduced. I'm Harry Potter, owner of this beautiful white owl perching beside Callan." He introduced smoothly as he pointed to Hedwig. There was a warm smile on his lips as he looked at the emotionless girl.

"Good morning Potter, should I address you as Lord Potter instead? I'm Daphne Greengrass. How'd you know my owl's name?" She asked with mild curiosity while remaining detached.

"Hedwig told me. She's my familiar," Harry grinned brightly. "And it's neither, Greengrass. You can call me Harry." Harry answered simply as he raised his arm. Hedwig flew away from the stand and perched on his arm. His smile became affectionate when he looked at her and stroked the white snowy owl. Even though Callan had introduced himself to him later, he first learned of the name from Hedwig.

A small smile touched her lips. "How could I forget? Hedwig and your cat attacked Weasley on the first day, hence she must be able to feel your mood and understand our language. She is such a pretty owl. I've never seen female snowy owl that was this white." She answered as she stroked Callan gently. "By the way, it's Daphne then, Harry."

"Yes, she is very pretty. I realised how exceedingly rare she is when I read up on snowy owls. Female snowy owls tend to have a lot of spotting. It's only the male snowy owls that are pure white." He explained as he scratched her under her beak. Hedwig was very happy that Daphne had praised her. "Hedwig thanks you for the compliment and thinks you're very beautiful too." Harry said as he chuckled lightly. Daphne fondly stroked her at the spot under her beak and she hooted in glee.

"Why, thank you, Hedwig. It's the first time I'm praised by an owl." Daphne smiled cordially at the owl.

Harry swallowed visibly when he saw how stunning she looked with a warm smile on her lips. His cheeks pinked slightly. Darn those hormones. He thought. Hedwig turned her head to glance curiously at him.

You should be glad that Hermione isn't here with you. She admonished slightly.

It was a natural reaction I really couldn't help it. He admitted uncomfortably, I mean I always hear pretty she is. I never thought she was pretty until now.

Daphne gave Callan his owl treats before turning to Harry. "Well, I'm heading down for breakfast. I guess I see you around, Harry." Daphne said coolly. Hedwig flew back to her perch.

"Wait, Daphne," Harry said as he stood in front of her. Her blue eyes slightly narrowed with suspicion at being stopped. "May I walk with you to the Great Hall? I'm going that way as well and I'd like to talk to you about." He shot a side -glance at the snowy owls staring at him. "It's none of your business, Callan and Hedwig." He added. They hooted in annoyance.

"Well, I think I'll tell you about it as we make our way to the Great Hall." He added when she nodded apprehensively. He shot a glance at them to make sure that their familiars were not following them before he followed Daphne out of the Owlery.

There was a frown on her face when they walked quietly down the winding stairs. Harry made sure they were safely out of their owls' hearing range before he spoke to her. He noticed the frown and said, "Well, I must make my intentions clear. I'm not trying to pick up on you. I'm very happy with Hermione." He admitted honestly. "I just wanted to talk to you about Hedwig and Callan." Harry continued.

Daphne relaxed visibly and smiled. Her cheeks were slightly pink with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I noticed that you were becoming uncomfortable, the same way other boys do before they confess their affections for me. So you noticed that Hedwig and Callan are always spending their time together?"

Harry reddened. "Sorry, it was a hormonal reaction. " Harry admitted sheepishly. "Anyway, yes, I did, that is why I wanted to talk to you about it. It's rare that Hedwig found someone she likes that much since she is so different. I'm sure it's the same for Callan, too, since he's one of a kind."

"He's quite extraordinary," agreed Daphne wholly as she nodded her head. "He refused to leave after he'd recovered and I realised that he wanted to show his gratitude by being my pet. It's very unheard of in the Wizarding World that owls make decisions such as this on their own. For that reason, I decided to keep him. I've also got another pet named Katrina. They get along famously."

"Just like Crookshanks and Hedwig. " Harry grinned brightly as he recalled how his two familiars first met each other. "They had a staring competition. Hedwig won naturally since she has such big amber eyes." They exchanged interesting tales about their pets excitedly until they found themselves in the Great Hall. Daphne's closest friends Tracy Davis and Blaise Zabini, along with the rest of Hogwarts, were surprised to the two of them together. They parted amicably, with smiles on their faces after he promised her that he would introduce Hermione to her as soon as she arrived.

Harry whistled a joyful tune as he walked towards the Gryffindor table. He was certain that they would become friends. He had no doubt that Hermione would like her were a lot of people in the hall. He was surprised that his friends were not at the table yet. It was shaping up to be a good morning until he saw a lanky male redhead approaching him. Harry was about to greet him warmly when he saw that his face was as red as the roots of his hair in rage.

"What were you doing with a Slytherin? " He spat as he pointed a finger at Harry insolently. "I mean even if you want to get your hands under someone's skirt, you shouldn't do it with a Slytherin. I thought saving one of them was bad enough, now you want to date another one?" Ron demanded loudly.

His voice echoed through the silent hall eerily. Everyone had quieted down to watch the show.

Harry glanced around and realised that once again, all eyes were upon them. He sighed inwardly. "I don't have any such intentions towards Daphne. Besides, girls are not objects; they deserve our respect, Ron, so mind your words." He admonished. "I don't see why it was a big deal that I saved a Slytherin. I mean, it doesn't matter which house we belong to. We are all from Hogwarts. We should look out for one another. That's the way it should always be." He concluded firmly. There were murmurs of approval at that statement.

"You're barking mad." Ron declared as he walked to the end of the table and sat there. Harry caught the appreciative glances that Daphne and her friends shot in his direction and nodded. He walked to usual place at the Gryffindor table and waited for his friends patiently. Ginny, who'd heard them, walked over to join him. "Do you mind if I join you?"

Harry shook his head and gestured to a seat.

"I'm sorry about Ron. He doesn't think before he acts." She said apologetically.

"He's been that way since I've known him." Harry stated as he shrugged casually. "I can't believe he leapt to the conclusion that I want to sleep with Daphne when I'm with Hermione." He added as he drained the entire goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Well, anyone can see that things between you and Hermione have been going really well. Anyway, it's unusual to see you at the Great Hall without her. Is everything okay?"

Harry chuckled lightly. "Everything is fine. We each had to attend to different things today." He explained. "Now that you mention it, Hermione and I must seem like we've been joined at the hip since we started dating."

"Yeah," answered Ginny softly. A frown ceased her face briefly. She glanced at Harry and realised that he didn't noticed it. "Actually, that's not true. The two of you have always been close - it's been that way since first year. Now that you've started dating, it's almost impossible to see her without you."

"That was my intention," answered Harry enigmatically as he grinned. Before Ginny could question him further, she spotted Hermione, Luna, and Neville walking into the Great Hall.

"I've got to go to prepare for my classes. See you around, Harry." Ginny smiled sweetly and left.

"Okay, see you later," muttered Harry distractedly as he watched his wife. Her hair was clipped back and the masses of brown waves cascaded down to her shoulder. A warm smile graced his face as he stood up. She had smiled affectionately in return when she spotted him.

"Good morning," greeted Harry adoringly as he pecked on her lips. "Good morning, Luna and Neville. How was your lesson?"

For the first time since they had started their Occlumency lessons, Harry saw a smile on Neville's face. "I managed to calm down with a change of environment. I must say that mediating near the Black Lake in the morning is very relaxing. "

"I look forward to hearing that you've found your centre soon, mate. How about you, Luna? How are things coming?"

"Pretty great, actually - I'm half way there. I saw the Nettles this morning. I've just discovered today that they are attracted to lakes before dawn," replied Luna in her usual dreamy fashion. Harry smiled at her indulgently. "What about you? How was your preparation for the ceremony?" Luna asked curiously as she began to fill up her plate with food after drinking from her goblet.

"Ah, it was okay," answered Harry as he helped Hermione to get some food. Neville and Luna were so used to seeing this that they said nothing. Hermione flashed an appreciative smile at him. "I can't believe that the whole event is coming up this Saturday. I haven't really finished preparing an adequate speech."

Neville quirked one of his eyebrows and said, "You're thirteen. They don't expect you to say much." Neville took a bite of his food before continuing. "By the way, I'll be attending it with Gran."

"And I'll be attending with my father." Luna added.

"That's great!" Harry smiled as he rubbed his hands. He had additional plans since the day after the ceremony would be September 19th – Hermione's birthday. Hermione glanced at him quizzically at his sudden enthusiasm. Before she could ask him what was going on, a female voice interrupted them.

"I wanted to come over to thank you for defending me earlier, Harry." Daphne said as she came up to the Gryffindor table. "Plus, I'm here for the introduction you promised." Hermione's eyes had widened with disbelief as she glanced at Harry and found him smiling sheepishly at her before he stood up.

"It was no problem, really." added Harry cordially. "Daphne, this is my wonderful girlfriend, Hermione Granger. Crookshanks belongs to her." He introduced. Turning to Hermione, who had stood up at his introduction, he said. "This is Daphne Greengrass, Callan's mystery owner." He deliberately stressed the fact that she was the owner of the male snowy owl since Hermione was speculating about when Harry had the opportunity to talk to her.

Was she the one you thought as pretty just now? You went to the Owlery to meet the owner of Callan just now, didn't you?

Well, yes to both questions. It's a hormonal reaction. I'm at the age to notice girls. By the way I prefer girls with brown, wavy hair, Harry thought.

Hermione smiled and shook Daphne's hand. There was real warmth in her eyes as she did so.

"Thank you for healing Callan, Granger." added Daphne with a smile. "It was good of you relieve his pain. I could see that he was ecstatic."

"Calling me Hermione would be fine, Daphne. It was really nothing. I couldn't leave him like that. He is such an adorable and proud owl, very much like Hedwig." Hermione grinned cordially. Daphne chuckled softly at Hermione's words and her joy when talking about their pets. Hermione frowned in confusion and glanced at Harry. The Ice Queen is laughing? There was an amused smile tugging his lips.

"I apologise for laughing, it's just that Harry made a bet with me. He was confident that I'd like you very much. Initially, I was a bit apprehensive, but now I realise that he was right." Daphne beamed. "I forgot to introduce my close friends to you. This is Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini."

Hermione took the cue to introduce their companions to them.

"These are our friends, Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom." Hermione introduced their friends to each other. They greeted each other affably. "Well, I guess that means I'll have to join you guys in the future?" Daphne asked as arched her eyebrow quizzically.

"Well, you did bet on it." Harry reminded with a grin.

Hermione stared at him as if he had grown two heads. "What would've happened if she didn't like me?"

"I'd lose the bet and I'd have to join her at the Slytherin table during mealtimes. However, I knew that I'd win the bet because of your common interest-both of you love animals." Harry quipped playfully and made room for their new friend.

"Well, that's a weird bet." Hermione laughed humorously as Daphne joined them at the Gryffindor table. Since Daphne was really like them- being more than what they seem to be, they got along famously and became fast friends.


It was one of the long breaks that third-year Gryffindors had so Harry and Neville decided to chill in the Gryffindor common room. For the first time, Harry realised just how isolated he had become from the rest of the house. Groups of Gryffindors either passed them by as if they didn't exist, or they would huddle in groups and whispered about him. He definitely felt disjointed from the house as he looked around the room.

They'd been spending too much time in the library or their quarters to really communicate with the rest of the house. In the past, Harry had the opportunity to talk to his fellow Gryffindors because they shared the same dorms but lately, he really didn't get to talk to too many of them. Neville was too absorbed with his book on Herbology to notice. Harry stood up and went to the entrance where he met the Weasley twins. He smiled and greeted them.

"Oh hello mate, it's rare to see you here," said one of the Weasley twins in surprise when they spotted Harry. "Don't have any Lord business to attend to? I heard from Ron that you've been very busy with it."

"No, there isn't much for me to do today. Do you know what are they whispering about?" Harry asked casually as he gestured around the room

"Why, I'm shocked that you'd ask us such a question-"

"-Very shocked indeed-" One of them added with great exaggeration.

"-We're sure it has got to do about saving Malfoy's ass and spending time with the Slytherins. Though, we must say that one of those Slytherin was hot." Both of them said together.

Their statement sparked comments from the other occupants in the room.

"It's right disloyal," called out Seamus from the corner as he played Wizard's Chess with Dean. "We were fine with having a Ravenclaw around, but now you're spending time with Slytherins. Isn't it bad enough that you've saved the offspring of a Death Eater?"

"What is wrong with Slytherin?" Harry demanded as he glanced around the room. "Slytherin is a house of Hogwarts like Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff."

"Nothing is wrong with them, Lord Potter, except that they are evil. I mean look what they've done to you in the past. You-Know-Who came from that house and the majority of them are offspring of Death Eaters." Someone added.

Before Harry could answer, he heard the sounds of chairs drawn out.

"Well, someone is now a high-and-mighty Lord, after all. He needs powerful connections. You can continue to boot licked them, but I've enough of the Slytherin lover. Let's head back to the dorm." Dean spat as he stood up and went up to the dorm. Seamus followed suit. One by the one they left. The Gryffindor common room began to empty, leaving only Harry, Neville, and the Weasley twins.

"You know mate, there has always been a heated rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin." The Weasley twins smiled. "They'll just need time to get used to the fact that things are changing. Don't worry, we'll prank all those who try to make an issue out of it." They smirked evilly.

Harry laughed lightly. "Don't overdo it." He grinned.

"We were thinking about making them really pro-Slytherin for a week.-"

"I don't think that can be considered overdoing it-"

"-We'll see you around, Harry. We need to try and see if it works!" The twins concluded excitedly as they head back to their dorm.

His mood lightened up considerably after talking to the Weasley twins. Besides the fact that speaking to them was exactly like watching a tennis match, they never failed to entertain him with their antics. With an amused smile on his face, Harry sat next to Neville, who had placed the book he was reading on his lap.

"It's not that I want to speak badly about them but Dean, Seamus and Ron are the main reason why things in Gryffindor tower are this way. When you moved out of the dorm and into your own quarters, Ron was complaining that you were Dumbledore's boy and that you got away with everything including punishment for injuring him. You missed an entire week of lessons and are now focused on Hermione, your studies, and your duties. You don't spend time with them anymore. Everything was made worse when you saved Malfoy. They didn't agree with what you were doing and thought that being Lord had really get into your head. The assumption solidified when the whole school watched you walking and talking with Daphne, a Slytherin." Neville added. "I'm sure it will all pass eventually. I mean everyone was talking about you last year when they discovered you could speak to snakes. Now, they've moved on to something else."

"Nev, how do you feel about everything? I mean you're friends with me. I'm sure they ignore you, too. I'm sure it's even worse since you share a dorm with them." Harry asked with concern.

Neville merely shrugged his shoulders. "I know who are my friends are, Harry. I don't care about the guys' opinions. Harry, after spending time with Daphne today and Luna for the past few weeks, I really believe that it doesn't matter what house you're from. We can still be friends." Neville grinned warmly.

"I believe the Slytherin lover club just added a new member." Harry joked lightly as he clapped on his back. "I'm heading over to meet Hermione. She's in the library, researching the chapter that Professor McGonagall is going to cover later. Do you want to come along?" He asked.

"Sure," Neville answered as he closed his book and followed Harry out.

By dinner, everyone in Hogwarts knew that most of Gryffindor House was in disagreement with Harry Potter because he was spending time with Slytherins. The Slytherins remained unusually quiet as the two other Houses became intrigued with it. The Gryffindors made sure that they sat as far away from them as possible when Daphne joined Harry's group at the table. Only Neville, Hermione, the Weasley twins, and Luna were willing to sit with him. Ginny wanted to join them but she was pulled away by Ron. Daphne was mildly surprised by the Gryffindors' reaction when she sat next to Harry. Everyone sitting near him had greeted her warmly.

"Have you had any problems with the Slytherins since started joining us at the Gryffindor table?" Harry asked Daphne as the rest were absorbed with their conversations. She merely smiled.

"It's a Slytherin habit to get good political connections and you're the Lord of the House of Potter. No one in Slytherin House would dare object to it. Once again the Gryffindors have proven to have courage and no wit. I mean it may be brave to take a stand and alienate a rising Lord, but I can't see what benefits they've accrued from it." Daphne scoffed slightly.

"You're sitting with plenty of Gryffindors, Daphne. I must say that some of the spirit of Gryffindor will rub off on you." Harry joked lightly.

"I'm certain I've already been moderately influenced. After all, I did the bravest and most Gryffindor thing by honouring our bet and speaking the truth. I could've pretended that I didn't really like Hermione and snake out of the whole deal," admitted Daphne as her eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Well, I found that I had the courage to speak up and told Professor Flitwick about my mistreatment in the hands of my housemates soon after I became friends with Harry and Hermione. Of course, I was intelligent enough to let the real Griffins confront the Ravenclaws." Luna added in her usual dreamy voice.

Everyone who heard the exchange of words, cracked up in laughter.

"Then I must say, Harry, that you're a true Gryffindor because you did the most foolhardy and brave thing by saving and making friends with a Slytherin." One of the twins joked as they roared in laughter.

There were tears in their eyes after they finished laughing. Everyone in the Great Hall had turned to look at them, wondering what had transpired between them. It was the first time they saw a group of students from different houses mixing so well together.

"So we now have pseudo-Gryffindors. I realised that all we need now is someone from Hufflepuff so that our group can represent all the four houses." Hermione observed keenly as she looked at the group.

"I always thought we'd one-" One of the twins added solemnly. The others glanced at each other in surprise.

"-Neville's so loyal, sometimes we forget that he's from the same house as us." The other twin continued as they cracked up in laughter.

"-Well, Hermione's too smart to be a Gryffindor-" Luna added as she smiled.

"Fred and George Weasley are too sneaky to be Gryffindors-" Neville commented. "So Harry is the only true Gryffindor, huh?"

"I beg to differ. He's too sly to be a real Gryffindor sometimes," added Hermione teasingly as she grinned at Harry. He flashed an amused smile in response.

The twins wore exaggerated expressions of shock.

"I didn't know-" One of them began.

"-You were a closet Slytherin.-" The other continued.

"-Explains a great deal, why you saved Malfoy and became friends with Daphne-"

"-since you are one of them after all."

"Shut up, fellow closet Slytherins." Harry said jokingly as he chuckled. "We shouldn't expose our real identities. It's not very Slytherinish to do that when we are supposed to be Gryffindors." Everyone howled in laughter. The corners of Hermione's lips lifted when she saw that dinner had taken his mind off the Gryffindors.


The week passed faster than he had imagined. His friends helped to take his mind off things as he spent all his time with them. Daphne was a great source of information regarding the Magical Society and he learnt even more from her. The rest of the week gave him the opportunity to learn more about his new friends. The Weasley twins had given their house one week to accept Harry's new friends since they took that long to develop a new prank. Harry couldn't help waiting to see the fruits of their labour after the weekend.

Most of the Gryffindors were still not on speaking terms with him, except the members of the Quidditch team, his friends, and Ginny. The Slytherins, however, continued to treat him well, much to the amusement of Lupin. He reminded Harry that this was unprecedented in the History of Hogwarts.

On the morning of Harry's formal introduction to the Magical society, a small group of students were allowed to go home since they would be accompanying their parents to the Potter Mansion.

Dobby took Harry and Hermione to the Potter Mansion. Upon their arrival, the new mistress and master of the house were swept into a whirlwind of activities. Hermione was taken away by the second in command, Gareth, so that she could finalise the details preceding the ball that night. Harry, on the other hand, was taken by Charles to do several important tasks like establishing the new blood wards in the Potter Mansion.

A large surge of magical energy surged through the house when the blood ward was established. The household burst into a loud applause when they saw that the large drape that hung prominently between the two large stairs reflected the new change. The emblem turned gold and Harry's name was reflected at the bottom of the Potter's Crest.

It was soon approaching evening and Harry was led to his bedroom to change into his formal outfit. Harry could not recognise the reflection in the mirror as he stared into it. The person in the mirror looked elegant and poised. The simple black tuxedo fitted the lean body perfectly and his short black hair was neat. Harry had decided to choose a black tuxedo that bore the Potter Crest instead of a dress robe because he felt it best suited him. His stomach felt queasy as he thought of greeting all his guests. Charles had informed him a few moments before that the guests had begun to fill up the place. Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax a little. There was a polite knock on his door.

"Please come in," said Harry as he checked his appearance again.

"My Lord, are you ready?" Dobby asked as he walked in. Dobby was garbed in formal attire that also bore the Potter crest. Harry wore the ring of the Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter.

"I think so. Do you think I look alright?" He asked nervously as he adjusted his bow tie.

Dobby told him he was perfect.

This is it, he thought nervously as he adjusted his bow tie for the final time.

Don't worry, love. You'll be great. Hermione assured through their link, as she sensed his apprehension. I'll see you downstairs.

He took a deep breath and walked out of his room with Dobby trailing behind him. He needed to do only one thing - welcome his guests. Everyone grew silent when the House elf had begun speaking. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honour to present Harry James Potter, Lord Gryffindor, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter."

Harry kept his head up and gracefully descended down the stairs that ended in a wide landing in the middle as he felt all eyes on him. He stood at the intersection of the pair regal staircases, in front of a large bright red drape with a large golden Potter Crest in the middle, so that all his guests could see and hear him. Applause erupted when he stood there. He looked at the sea of formally dressed people in front of him and his knees shook slightly.

"Good evening Minister, Distinguished Lords and Ladies, honoured guests," Harry greeted formally with a bright smile. "I would like to welcome you to Potter Mansion, seat of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, and to this inaugural event. I want to thank you for taking the time to celebrate with me as I formally take my place as Lord Gryffindor. I hope I will be able to uphold the great tradition of service of my esteemed ancestors and make my own mark on Wizarding Society. Most of all, I wish that you will enjoy yourself tonight." Harry paused and looked for Charles' signal. "Without further ado, the let the festivities begin! The dining room is now open." He concluded simply. After another round of applause, the house elves immediately began to attend to the guests and ushered them into the other room.

Well done, my love.

Harry smiled in relief as he heard Hermione's voice in his head. I can't wait to see you. Where are you?

You have duties to attend to. Hermione reminded. We'll see each other soon enough.

Harry headed to where Charles was standing. "Thank you for everything, Charles. Please help me to convey my thanks to the other elves once this event is done." Harry smiled at the house elf warmly "I believe it's time for me to start mingling with the guests?" He asked as he searched the room.

"It was my honour to assist, my lord." Charles replied while bowing deeply. Yes, it is time. I'm sure Dobby will be able to guide you. I've got to attend to the kitchen."

"Please don't let me hold you up." Harry answered. Charles bowed again and disappeared with a 'crack'. He spotted Minister Fudge, wearing his usual bowler hat, standing near the entrance of the dining room talking to another person. Harry walked down the stairs and approached him when "Good evening Minister, thank you so much for coming." Harry greeted sincerely with a polite smile.

"Good evening, Ha- I mean Lord Gryffindor. How could I miss the event of the year? Everyone has been talking about it." Fudge said excitedly. "I was surprised to learn that you'd decided to leave the confines of Hogwarts despite the dangers you face." He continued gravelly.

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Oh? I wasn't aware that I was in any danger," answered Harry simply as he handed a beverage to the Minister from a passing tray before taking a drink for himself. "Please enlighten me."

Fudge fidgeted nervously. "I'm sure that this is neither the proper time nor place to talk about this. However, I'm sure you've heard about Sirius Black?" He said in a low voice as if he was afraid of being overheard.

Harry kept an expression of mild surprise on his face. "Naturally, he's been all over the news. I wasn't aware that his escape had anything to do with me."

"This is confidential. I visited him a few days before he escaped. He was muttering 'he's at Hogwarts'. Given his history, it's not surprising that he would come after you."

"You've confused me, Minister. I was only aware that he went to Azkaban for murdering thirteen people on the streets. I'm not the reason why he was imprisoned. It's hard to imagine why he would want to go after my blood." Harry replied simply.

Fudge peered around checking if anyone would overhear him. In an almost inaudible whisper, Fudge said. "He was a supporter You-Know-Who. He betrayed your parents and led them to their death."

"I see. Nevertheless, I'm sure I'll be protected here, Minister. Thank you for worrying about my safety." Harry assured cordially. "Please don't let me keep you, help yourself to the food." Harry said graciously. He nodded at the house elf hovering beside the Minister of Magic and he immediately showed him to the dining room, where a lavish buffet was set up. Glancing around restlessly, he spotted the person he'd wanted to see all evening. A loving smile touched his lips as he gazed at her.

For the night, she had decided to wear a simple, pink dress that clung nicely to the curves of her body. He whistled as he admired her looks and her deportment. She looked ravishing. Her brown wavy hair was pulled up into a chignon, highlighting the extravagant necklace that her father had given to her on her wedding day - a stunning choker with sparkling rubies. His duties could wait for a moment. Harry hurriedly walked towards her. Hermione was standing at the corner of the room, speaking to Neville, who was dressed in a simple and timeless black dress robe with the crest of the Noble House of Longbottom.

"Good evening, my lady." Harry crooned as he bowed deeply. An excited smile spread across her lips when she saw him. He took her hand and lovingly pressed a kiss to it. His lips lingered on her hand longer than necessary. Hermione smiled affectionately in return. "I must say that you look stunning." He praised.

Her cheeks turned slightly red. "You look pretty dashing yourself, my Lord." She answered shyly. Harry chuckled in amusement as he turned to his friend. He greeted him cordially.

"Good evening, Nev. You look sharp." He grinned playfully as Neville reddened. "If you two will excuse me, I have to get back out there. I was distracted by a certain somebody here. I still need to greet several families." Harry continued. "Do I look okay?" He asked worriedly.

Evening attire befitting a Lord. Hermione smiled tenderly as she moved closer to him. Hermione frowned slightly in concentration as she adjusted his silky bow tie properly.

You're so adorable, he thought as he admired his wife.

"Now you're perfect, Lord Debonair." She said teasingly. "Good luck, Harry."

"Thanks, I'll be back." Harry said. He couldn't resist giving Hermione a peck on the cheek before he left with Dobby.

"Who should I meet next?" Harry asked nervously as he searched the large dining room. He had invited every magical family to his place so the vast room was filled with people in small clusters, holding small plates of hors de oeuvres, and conversing lightly.

"The Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass and his family, my lord." Dobby answered as he led his master through the crowd. He saw his new friend immediately. She looked outstanding wearing a gown of royal blue that exposed her creamy shoulders. An imposing but dignified middle-aged man and a beautiful lady stood next to her. He had no doubt they were her parents, Lord Oswald Greengrass and his lady. Harry mustered his courage and approached the trio. "Good evening, Lord and Lady Greengrass. I hope the food is to your liking," said Harry genially as he greeted them.

"Yes, it's excellent, Lord Potter. I must say that you've done a good job in establishing control over the Potter Mansion." Lord Greengrass answered with a warm smile. Harry relaxed immediately when he felt his genuine kindness.

"There really hasn't been too much effort on my part, I'm afraid. I'm blessed to have a team of efficient house elves under me." He admitted. He turned to Daphne. "Good evening, Daphne. You look lovely tonight," complimented Harry as he bowed. He picked her hand and gallantly brushed his lips briefly across her knuckles.

"I had no idea that you two were already acquainted." Lord Greengrass continued as he looked at them. "It's a pleasant surprise."

"We met by a stroke of luck, Daddy, bonding over owls of all things. We cause a minor uproar when we became friends." Daphne answered as she smiled. "By the way, that was very chivalrous of you, Harry." Daphne added, referring to his greeting to her. The older Greengrass were shocked to see their usually stoic daughter smile.

"I'm certain that you did. Historically, Slytherins and Gryffindors have never gotten along with each other. You're a definitely true Potter – the Potters tend to stir things up wherever they go. I'm sure that both of you must get along well enough to evoke that kind of tumult." Lord Greengrass said as he chuckled lightly.

"We found that we have identical interests, Lord Greengrass." Harry answered. "I think the whole pandemonium cemented our friendship." He smiled in amusement as he glanced at Daphne.

"That's great to know. I'm sure that you're familiar with the History of the Potters because of Charles. Ever since the pact was made a long time ago, the four Ancient and Noble Families have always been close. This is something that even Daphne isn't aware of because of certain circumstances, but I'm glad that this relationship won't end with your generation." He answered simply. "In fact, James, your father, was the younger brother that I never had. I carried him when he was still a baby since I'm ten years his senior. I know you've heard this many times, but you looked exactly like your father when he was at your age, well except for the eyes. You've definitely got your mother's eyes." Lord Greengrass continued affectionately as he looked at him.

Harry knew that the four Ancient Houses were connected because of a pact that bound them. However, he had no idea they were this close. The Greengrasses were seen as a dark family but they remained neutral during the war. He felt as if there were a lot of contradiction in Lord Oswald's words. His brows knitted into a frown as he tried to come into terms with what he'd heard. It still didn't make sense to him and he had plenty of questions to ask.

Daphne and her mother, sensing that the two Lords needed some time alone, excused themselves to speak to the other guests.

"If my father was like a brother to you, why is it that you've never helped him during the war?" Harry posed curiously.

"That's a long tale." He added solemnly. "I think its best if we speak of this in detail some other time. We might not be able to finish the tale if we start tonight. I can tell you that the deceased Lord Bones, your father, Sirius Black, and I were very close in the past. Personally, I was shocked when I didn't receive custody of you immediately after your parents' passing. James would've definitely given the custody of his child to the Head of one of the other Ancient Houses. Since Lord Bones had passed away and the last remaining Black was in Azkaban, it should've been my responsibility to take you in and raise you as my own. However, Dumbledore claimed that your mother, Lily, had written in her will specifying that you must remain with her muggle sister. I was suspicious of the validity at the time it since I was sure that they would entrust your care to us. However, Dumbledore made it clear that this was your mother's wish and I respected your mother. " Lord Greengrass explained.

It was too much for Harry to swallow. Dumbledore had denied him the opportunity to be raised in a family who wanted him and condemned him to years of suffering.

"My parents did entrust me to someone - they made Sirius Black my godfather so that he could care for me if something were to happen to them. Did you believe that he'd have betrayed my parents to Voldemort?" Harry enquired.

The eyes of the aged Lord became stormy blue with emotions. With a sombre tone, he replied, "Never. Not Sirius. I still find it hard to believe. His case was closed before it could even be tried. They claimed that there was no way to refute the charges. I had no evidence to prove otherwise."

Harry deliberated for a moment. He knew that because of the pact that the four Ancient Houses made in the past, they were not allowed to do anything to harm one another. He sensed he could trust him. "I've found new evidence. He is innocent."

Lord Oswald's eyes immediately lit up. "You can't be serious," he said in disbelief. Seeing that Harry's face was grave, he announced, "Wait, we must inform her. She has to know about this." He quickly searched the large dining room for someone. The room was crowded and they took a while to find her. Harry could guess who he was looking for - Lady Bones. Lord Greengrass and Harry cut through the crowd in the direction of a formidable looking lady, standing next to a girl he recognised from his year. Amelia Bones, Head of DMLE or Lady Bones, was speaking to several other adults. When she saw Lord Greengrass approaching her, her gaze turned icy immediately. Tension mounted when the two Heads greeted each other. He watched the two adults in confusion.

His schoolmate smiled at him shyly before excusing herself from their company.

"Good evening, Lord Potter. I'm pleased finally meet you." She said with a warm smile on her face when she turned to face Harry.

"Good evening, Lady Bones." Harry returned cordially.

Lord Greengrass immediately whipped out his wand and cast a spell to prevent others from eavesdropping on their conversation. Lady Bones' eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I know you've never forgiven me, Am. However, we have something important to discuss with you. It's about Sirius Black. Harry believes Sirius is not guilty of what he's been accused of. Harry, tell us about the new evidence you've found."

Harry began to share everything in detail as the two adults listened attentively. At the end, Lady Bones and Lord Greengrass were thrilled. "I think that might be enough to appeal for a trial of the case." She commented as she smiled.

"Yes, especially if we can capture that rat. We must discuss all of this in detail. You said that Professor McGonagall is in the know?" Lord Greengrass questioned.

"Yes, Lord Greengrass."

"That's way too formal. Just call me Uncle Oswald, Harry. I mean I was close to your father." He smiled warmly.

"Harry, you may call me Aunt Amelia as well. I was also very close to both Sirius and James. We were all the same age." She added affectionately. "I was never part of the Marauders, but I knew all of them. If you really want to know about your parents, I can always share memories some of my memories with you. Anyway, I never would've expected that Pettigrew would be the one to betray them. We must take him in for questioning soon."

"Yes, we need to come up with an effective plan to capture the rat and get his case tried. Lady Bones and I can be counted on to present it to the Wizengamot. Harry, you need to make sure that you catch the rat and bring him to us. I think my daughter and Amelia's niece can assist you since all of you are in the same year." Lord Greengrass said as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, Susan can definitely help you. I've heard from her that you and Daphne are now friends?" Lady Bones asked.

Harry smiled. "Yes, we are. I'll be glad to be given the opportunity to get to know her better since I've heard that the children of the four Ancient Houses have traditionally grown up together."

"Yes, for several generations. It was no different for my generation. We knew and treasured each other. Well, generally." She said as she cast a dirty look at Lord Greengrass.

She must have touched a nerve because Lord Greengrass hotly responded. "James, Sirius, and William were important to me, Am. Especially Will, since he was the same age as me. I was upset to learn that he had been murdered." He said.

Her nostrils had turned white at his statement. "Upset? You didn't do anything avenge his death. You maintained your neutral stance and went on with your business. If you were upset, you could have cut off all trade with the supporters of the Dark Lord. It could've crippled them before they killed James and Lily."

"Greengrasses are businessmen. We've never interfered with political issues because it makes it complicated for us to do our business. After all, it's our responsibility to ensure that the economy does not come to a standstill. Our families decided to take a neutral stand from the beginning. I didn't know that he would come after James and Lily."

"In a nutshell, you were more concerned about making profits rather than the well-being of your brothers." Lady Bones scoffed.

"Most of your parents were still the Head of the Houses back then. I was already Head of the family. You know that the old Lord Black was pro-Voldemort because of his wife's influence. In fact, Regulus himself became a death eater. The pact doesn't allow us to go against each other. So, the other Heads of the family could only declare that our stance was neutral even though we didn't like Voldemort and his cronies. After all, Lord Black refused to listen to us. William and James were not compelled to make this stand because they were not the heads of the family at that point. They were able to oppose him openly.

"You could've opposed them when Lord Black died from the guilt." She added.

"The new Lord Black was Regulus, remember? He killed himself after Voldemort died. There was never a chance for me to oppose them." He added sadly. "I know I could have helped to end Voldemort's reign early. If I had done that, maybe James and Lily would be still here." Lord Greengrass added sadly.

Lady Bones said naught and left.

Harry understood the animosity she bore for Lord Greengrass. However, he also understood his point of view. Lord Greengrass was bound by the pact made by their forefathers. Moreover, it wasn't prudent to offend an organisation that was primed to be the next government because it would pose a lot of problems to him and the society. He was the biggest merchant, holding a significant control over the economy of Magical Britain. Many social problems would arise if the government decided to be difficult to him.

"We lost a lot of people in the war. Your grandparents died from guilt. They saw your parents' death as their fault. That, plus the pain of knowing that their brother's family was nearly wiped out by the same person sent them to their grave. Lord Black and his wife were already dead by then." He said sombrely. The lines of age on his face became more evident as he talked about the past.

Harry felt upset. Voldemort was the main reason he was denied love since he was young.

"If I were given a second chance, I'd go against Voldemort for all the pain he caused." He continued with determination. "Despite what happened, I believe that he's still lurking out there somewhere. I don't think there enough human left in him to be killed by a simple killing curse."

Before Harry could say something, he noticed that most of the guests were being ushered into the ballroom. They were going to start the dancing soon.

"I think it's about time to start the ball. As host, you must have the first dance." Lord Greengrass smiled. "Good luck, Harry."

"Yes, you are right. Thank you for the information, Uncle Oswald." Harry answered. "Please excuse me. I need to look for my companions." He had no problems searching for his wife amidst the crowds. Neville, Luna, Daphne were with her.

Hermione was watching him from the moment he started making his way towards them. He knew that Hermione had sensed his misery from the way she was looking at him with concern. His spirits lifted up immediately when he saw her standing there, his beautiful and wonderful wife.

"Hermione," said Harry with a loving smile plastered on his face, "Would you honour me with this dance?" Harry extended his hand towards her and waited for her response.

She nodded. He led her to the centre of the ballroom, looking at her as if she was everything to him. Hermione could not tear her eyes off her husband who adored her as much as she did him. The moment Harry and Hermione walked to the centre of the room, the orchestra immediately struck up a melodic waltz.

He slipped his arm around her waist and held her hand in one fluid motion as they moved closer to each other. Worry was written on the slight creases on her brow as they began to dance. "I'm fine." He whispered softly.

"You were upset, Harry. What happened?" She asked with deep concern. Harry gently pulled her to him and lowered her as she did a dip. She felt his warm breath on her face when he answered.

"I was upset when I discovered Tom was the reason why I never had the chance to experience love from my Grandparents or even my 'extended family'. I realised that Dumbledore pretty much did the same thing by sending me to the Dursleys." Harry explained with a sigh. "My desolation faded away when I saw you. I might have been denied the love of a family when I was young but now I have you." Harry lifted her up and continued waltzing. Tears were in her eyes as Hermione watched him with unadulterated affection. There was no need for words or thoughts to express their love for each other.

The guests gathered around to watch the new Lord dance with his chosen companion. Entranced by their gracefulness and the perfect cohesion that the couple shared, none of the guests had blinked their eyes as they watched them elegantly twirl around the room. Anyone in the room could see that from the way they gazed at each other how much they meant to each other despite their young age. It was a stirring sight and most of the guests became lost in their own memories of their own early romances.

The beauty of sweet young love, Lord Greengrass thought as he watched them closely. He didn't expect that Harry would be such a wonderful dancer. He knew that he wasn't Harry's father but he heartily approved of his choice of girlfriend. James and Lily would be delighted if they were still here. James and Lily, he thought achingly. They'd do anything just to have the chance to see their son so happy. It looks like he's already found somebody, Jamie, but it isn't Daphne. So much of a wistful thinking on your part.I guess we were all already a family without inter-marriages. He spotted someone dressed in tartan green standing on the outskirts of the crowd and walked over to speak to her.

The song ended soon and other couples began to join them at the floor. Harry immediately led Hermione to the side.

"What skills don't the both of you possess?" Daphne asked harshly. A bright smile cracked her façade and her faux- annoyance faded away. "You two were brilliant." She continued. Harry and Hermione laughed brightly.

"Thank you, Daphne." Harry answered as he grinned. Neville was patiently teaching Luna how to dance. The sight made him smile since it reminded him of their wedding night. "Did you know that we've been tasked by your father to find the rat? Aunt Amelia will be asking Susan to help us out."

"That's great to hear. It means that the four families can be together again. You should introduce Hermione to my parents and Lady Bones soon, lest they attempt to become matchmakers." She added. "By the way, my father approves."

Harry smiled warmly. "That's great to know.I must find the chance to introduce Hermione to him soon. Anyway, I need to speak to the other guests." He said when he spotted Dobby approaching him. "I shouldn't have invited so many people." He grumbled as he walked off.

He managed to complete his task quickly since he approached them while they were still in groups. Technically, he was of a higher rank, so he didn't need to greet them individually. Harry felt awkward when he spoke to a courteous Lucius Malfoy. After all, Harry was his son's saviour and a Lord of one of the four Ancient and Noble Houses, so Malfoy couldn't afford to be rude. He also spoke to Neville's formidable grandmother and Luna's interesting father. He found that he liked the parents of his friends. Molly Weasley was trying to mother him as usual, but with the strained relationship with the two sons, it was difficult for him to recipocate with much warmth. She had a reason to treat him well since he was a good friend of her youngest son a month back. However, she no longer had the reason to. The previous words of Malfoy played in his mind as he interacted with her.

What if this was a part of a carefully crafted plan to gain the trust of the Boy-who-lived? Harry kept their conversation brief. He spoke to Dumbledore after he finished speaking to everyone. With all evidence stressing Dumbledore's manipulative nature, Harry dreaded spending any time with him. They didn't converse for long before Lady Bones saved him by dragging him off to him to meet her niece.

Harry had seen the redhead many times in school but he never had the opportunity to get to know Susan. Lady Bones left them alone so that they could use the time to learn more about each other. She wasn't in awe of his fame and his position in Magical society the way most girls would be. He found her easy to get along with.

"I'm glad that someone is making effort to make friends from other houses. I think it's very brave of you to do that, especially since the rest of the Gryffindors are against it. I don't think I'd be able to do it if I were you." Susan said as she smiled meekly.

"This is precisely why the sorting hat didn't put you in Gryffindor. You don't look as if you are foolish enough to jump into places where angels fear to tread." Harry joked and Susan laughed. "I'm surprised that you actually support my actions. I had the impression that most people would not want to move out of their conclave."Harry continued.

"Plenty of my friends feel that way. However, like you, I feel that we are foremost students of Hogwarts." Susan answered simply. "You and Granger dance very well. It looks as if you both have been dancing together all your lives."

"That's nice of you to say – I'm sure you exaggerate. Hermione has always been a good dancer since she really loves to dance. I'm just forced to master it so that I don't look like the clumsy guy with two left feet standing beside her." Harry returned. "Why don't you come with me and I'll introduce you to the group?" He asked suddenly.

"I don't think that they'd like it-"

"-Nonsense, I think they'd be excited to have a real Hufflepuff in their midst." He grinned as he led her to them. Neville and Luna had returned and stood with Hermione and Daphne. Neville's face was bright red from the exertion. Harry introduced the meek Hufflepuff to the others. Everyone had genially greeted her. Neville had blushed when Luna had quipped that it was great to meet a real Hufflepuff finally. The rest had roared in laughter. Susan looked really baffled until Hermione explained the joke and she laughed.

"I think as Lord Gryffindor, you need to dance with several other ladies before you can call it a day." Daphne reminded.

"Alright then," said Harry obediently. He realised that Daphne and Susan had not had the chance to dance. "Would you like to dance with me?" Harry asked as he extended his hand to Daphne. She laughed brightly.

"I don't mind being the tool to finish your duty, Potter." She said as she placed her hand on his. Harry led her away.

"I hope you're a proficient dancer." Harry joked as he slipped his arm around her waist and held her hand as they danced. He was surprised that Daphne could follow his lead smoothly. "I suppose its part of your upbringing."

"Naturally, Potter, especially when you're the daughter of one of the oldest and most influential families." Daphne replied haughtily before smiling.

"Harry, I have this feeling that you're hiding things from everyone. You and Hermione are more than just a dating couple right?" She said suddenly. Harry was taken aback that she'd sensed that and gaped momentarily. It was enough to confirm her suspicion.

"What makes you think so?"

"It's the way you act with each other. The feelings you have for each other appear to be more developed and intense than the simple love between a dating couple."

"You're uncannily observant and great at putting two and two together." Harry grinned.

"I'm not as perceptive as Luna though nor am I as intelligent as Hermione." Daphne added.

"Well, of course not, since you're comparing yourself to a Ravenclaw and the smartest witch of our time." Harry said as he chuckled brightly.

"Have you ever thought the reason why I'm in Slytherin is because I'm more ambitious than clever? I could be more intelligent than a Ravenclaw but I wasn't placed there simply because I have a greater thirst to excel?" Daphne queried as she quirked a brow.

This made Harry laugh even more. "I have no doubt that you're a true Slytherin, Daphne. I mean that was a very Slytherinish way of putting things."

"Why, thank you, Lord Potter." Daphne added in mock annoyance. "Do you need me to curtsy for the wonderful compliment?"

Both of them laughed companionably.

Harry had an enjoyable time dancing with all his female friends. Susan was not a brilliant dancer but he had fun talking to her as they spun around the room. He could see her as part of his small circle of friends. He was tickled when he saw the similarity between Luna and himself when they first started dancing. He didn't mind it when she had accidently stepped on his feet but smiled indulgently. He lost count of the number of times he had stepped on Hermione's feet. In general, Luna fared well for a first timer.

When he and Luna rejoined his friends, Harry was surprised to see that Hermione and Susan were talking. Harry knew that she never really had any female friends before. Within a short span of about a month, it seemed that she was going to have three very good female friends.

The night was drawing to a close. He was glad to see that all the guests had enjoyed themselves. Most of them were dreading the end of the evening since it had been a long time since they'd had such a large enjoyable social event. Most of them were still going strong and it looked as if they would only leave at midnight. However, the star of the day was looking forward for the end of this night since the main highlight of his week would only begin once the clock strikes twelve.

After all, when the clock strikes twelve, it would be September 19th.


A/N:Hi, hope everyone has a great week. The story will strictly stay as H/Hr. There will be no romances between Harry and the other characters. Thank you for taking the time to review. By the way, I've edited the previous chapter. I didn't like the idea of Harry and Hermione killing. Thank you frustr8dwriter for editing my chapters. Please tell me how you feel about the new chapter.