Chapter 14
"Why did it skip you?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrows.
The answer was nearly a minute in coming and stunned them all. "I'm sterile."
"I've always wondered why there weren't a lot of Black bastards running around." Marlene said, which made Sirius bark a laugh if not anyone else.
"I was a bit reckless." Sirius said with a shrug. "I never thought about that, maybe it was my magic telling me it didn't matter. So anyway, it didn't apply to me, though it had fallen to Draco Malfoy. When I named Harry my Heir he superseded Draco on the contract. I contacted Malcolm and we started re-working it, with Marlene and Hermione giving us input. Hermione insisted that there be one out-clause that would not cause any harm to them. And that she, or rather Lady Potter, be responsible for that decision. Since she clearly knows my Godson better than any of us, we took her advice."
"Thank you." Harry said, with Daphne echoing him a moment later.
"So Harry, you will become Lord Black at some point. Whether I live another year or a hundred, though I guess I could allocate myself a nice stipend and retire to the Black island in French Polynesia." Sirius said.
There was a rush to Sirius' chair to hug him. Harry, Hermione and Daphne each gave him a warm hug.
"Now as to the trial." Dumbledore said after everyone collected themselves.
"I will be at his side." Daphne said. "It is my right."
Dumbledore bowed his head in acknowledgment and then continued. "We have enough legal presence to certainly enable that. I myself will stand as your barrister, I have managed to persuade about thirty members, by reminding them of favors I have done for their families over the years, to return to our faction. With Miss Greengrass at your side, the neutral faction is also likely to vote in your favor."
"So, if it comes to a vote, it will be close." Marlene said.
"I believe so, yes."
"I'll have to sit my proxy." Marlene said.
"How do I appoint one?" Harry asked. "Tonks, can I offer it to your mother?"
"Proxies may only be appointed during normal sessions, and there will not be one before the trial. Though you can certainly offer it to Madam Tonks." Dumbledore said. "Now Fudge may not be aware of the charges being false. He is relying on his Senior Under-Secretary, a Madam Umbridge, to advise him. I strongly believe it is she who fabricated the charge to begin with. And she may be behind the smear campaign against us that I have finally stopped."
"Could it have been your success at stopping that, that triggered this?" Remus asked.
Dumbledore straightened his glasses. "I hadn't thought of that, but yes, it is possible."
"So the trial?" Harry asked.
"Yes, you will enter and sit in the accused chair. It may form chains to hold you, but should not."
"Chains?" Hermione asked.
"Magic restraining ones." Nym said. "Madam Bones will assign me and Kingsley to guard you. With your Betrothed at your side you must have a female guard as well. I can disable the chains."
"But as a Lord he can bypass that chair entirely." Sirius said. "Just touch your ring to the Ministry seal on the back of it. Though you will have to stand throughout then."
"Really?" Marlene said. "I was unaware of that."
"Yes, Pollux Black did it in the 1400's. If I remember correctly." Dumbledore said.
"The initial defense is simply that Mr. Potter did not cast the spell as he was not there?" Nym asked.
"Yes, but in that we have our first problem. We cannot reveal where he actually is." Dumbledore said.
"I think we're going about this the wrong way, there is a much better defense available to us. How about the fact he is legally an adult?" Hermione asked.
"He took up his ring after the incident, Love." Daphne said.
"No." Hermione said firmly. "He's legally been an adult since his Magical Guardian, Albus Dumbledore." She pointed at the Headmaster who looked surprised. "The Headmaster of his school." She kept her finger pointed at the surprised old man. "And the Ministry of Magic's senior representative, Barty Crouch Senior, insisted he participate in a tournament reserved for Of Age Students!"
"Oh my." Marlene said. "Can I kiss her Harry?"
"Brilliant!" He said in a daze, astonished no one had thought of this.
Hermione blushed quite prettily and turned to face the Headmaster, while Marlene licked her lips. "Well? That made him an adult. Didn't it?"
"Yes, I believe it would have." Dumbledore nodded quickly several times. "I'll need to check the register in the Ministry. It should show that date."
"Now, if none of this gets the trial tossed out I will reveal myself." Marlene said. "None will challenge my word, as a Hit Witch, vouching for what happened, the charges shall be dismissed."
"But only as a last resort." Harry said. For some reason he was standing and looking into her blue eyes until she nodded. And then with a mischievous smile the tall blonde stood and snatched Hermione from her seat beside Harry, hugging her, pausing briefly, their lips millimeters apart.
Hermione lifted herself to press her lips firmly against the tall woman's, and her hands went to the back of her neck, pulling them tighter together.
"Oh." Harry said, feeling himself grow painfully hard in his pants, while Daphne moved in front of him, taking his hands and placing them on her stomach.
Everyone else froze at the exquisite sight of the two beautiful women locked together.
"Madam!" Dumbledore managed to get out a minute later causing them to part.
"We need to talk." Marlene said in a husky voice, not looking at anyone else.
"Yes, talk." Hermione said, a bit dazed, but she released the taller woman's neck and pulled her towards a corner of the sitting room.
Marlene tried to redirect them up the stairs, but the brunette tightened her hold on the woman's hand and kept her moving to the corner. "Not that kind of talk, though I like the eagerness." She said with a grin.
"Merlin." Harry whispered, echoed by Sirius, while the others seemed to be mesmerized.
}-{
The Headmaster cleared his throat. "Well then, yes. I'll wander off to the Ministry of Magic's labyrinth of bureaucracy and endeavor to locate that proof of Mr. Potter's coming of age. If I'm not back in a few days don't despair I can always call Fawkes."
With a sudden burst of flame the aforementioned immortal bird landed on his pet's shoulder and then vanished with the colorful man.
"Woah." Sirius said while the rest stood in shock at the sudden departure of the Headmaster.
"Sirius," Harry said, stepping beside Daphne. "The only part of that tale I believe is that you're shooting blanks."
"What?" Remus said.
"I have been greatly disappointed by the vast majority of adults in my life. From the Headmaster's decision to drop me on a doorstep in November, to the atrocious favoritism in our school and your petty bickering with Snape. The only adult who has made an actual effort to explain things to me is secluded with my witch, somewhere I can't think of at the moment."
"Hermione used a strong Notice Me Not, ward." Daphne added. "And no, I have no idea where they are, I just remember seeing the first rune she traced with her wand. Though the wards tell me they are in the house and safe."
"Harry." Sirius said, but drifted off.
"I'm tired of being manipulated and forced into things." When Daphne's hand tightened on his he turned to her, "I have no quarrel with you." He said quickly and turned back to his godfather. "I believe you created that document whole cloth with Malcolm to free yourself of this responsibility. While he likely profited from the large bribe you used to convince him to go through with it. If you've been sterile for years Malfoy would have been notified and he would have been bragging about it constantly."
"Ahh," Daphne said, catching on to what Harry was saying. "And your stipend is already allocated and filed with Gringotts. Yes, Harry I believe you are correct. So when shall you abdicate the title you have avoided since getting yourself sorted into Gryffindor?"
"I…" Sirius said and slumped onto the couch, holding his head. "Why are you all in Azkaban with me?"
"Oh Merlin." Remus said.
"I'll go get my mum." Nym said, heading out the door quickly.
"What's wrong with my son?" the portrait of Walburga Black asked from across the room.
"Remus, get him into his bed, Dreamless Sleep should be best." Daphne said and pulled Harry to the portrait while Remus levitated the dazed Head of House Black. "Stay with us Ginny." She called over her shoulder when the ginger looked confused.
"Lady Black, may I introduce my betrothed? Harry James Potter-Black."
"Lord Potter-Black." Walburga intoned formally and gave him a deep curtsy. "My son, please."
"We don't know." Daphne said. "When Harry confronted him on his recent actions his head appeared to hurt and then he seemed to become delusional. I've asked his friend Remus to put him to bed with a Dreamless Sleep potion. Andromeda should be here to provide a Healer's opinion soon."
"I don't need a healer, that's a clear sign of excessive obliviation." The portrait said. "Ask the ginger bint, she knows something." Walburga continued, pointing at Ginny who stood several feet behind them.
"What did you do to my godfather?" Harry said, spinning around.
"No." Ginny said, shaking her head so hard her hair hit her in the face.
"If not you, whom?" Daphne asked.
Ginny started crying but didn't move.
"Come with me." Daphne said. She took the terrified girl's wrist tightly in her hand. "We'll discuss this in private Harry. Come find me in thirty minutes in our suite." She added over her shoulder as she dragged the unresistant girl along with her.
When they reached the 4th floor she went to the door opposite her aunt's room. "I want you to move into this room." Daphne said as she pushed the door open. She hadn't ever seen it, but it was the on the Heir floor and should be equivalent to the room her Aunt had moved into.
"Oh." Ginny said, looking at the bare room.
"I will have Kreature clean it and you can help decorate." Daphne said without pause changing the ginger's frown into a trembling smile.
"So you're in charge here now?" Ginny asked when the door to the empty room closed them inside.
Daphne conjured a pair of stiff-backed wooden chairs and gestured the younger witch into one. She sat and straightened her dress before answering. "A Pureblood household is run like a Medieval manor. The Lord of the house, in this case Sirius, controls the broad picture, politics, armies, allies and enemies. But the Lady of the house, which doesn't currently exist, is responsible for the home itself. Everything from keeping it in good repair, making sure there is food for the winter and supplies in the house to hosting guests. Since I am the Heir's Lady, that duty and responsibility falls to me."
"What's it like being with Harry."
"No." Daphne answered a bit harsher than she intended, making the girl look up in fright. "Sorry, I did not mean to make that seem like an attack. You must get rid of this fixation on Harry Potter. The boy you envision is not the real one, but made of mist and fancy."
"But."
"No," she said again and this time it was as she intended, soft but firm. "I have been with him, he is to be my husband, but such things are intensely private and I will not break his trust by revealing it. I shall answer as I would for my sister Astoria, who is your age."
"Um, OK."
"This is not something to enter into casually. Our magic will entwine with the wizard, judge him, and if the two magics are compatible, can lock you together for life."
Ginny gasped.
"So you must think hard on it before taking that step. Will this person be someone you want to hang around for a century, do they have prospects for supporting you, or can you support them? Do you want to support them?"
"Mum never…" Ginny said but trailed off.
"Your mother told you that Harry could force you into anything, which is correct, but you should realize that only the most sadistic of men would do so. Do you place my future husband in amongst them?"
"No, Harry's great, he saved me."
"Yes, but he saved you as his best friend's little sister. And that is where your fantasy Harry Potter hangs. He did not risk his life to save Ginevra Weasley. He went to save Ron Weasleys little sister."
"Oh." Ginny said and tears started down her cheeks.
"I do not hate you, but I will not lie to you to make you feel better. Too often that causes more harm than the truth. Harry does not love you, and his magic is not seeking yours. You should seek other prospects and then discuss them with myself or Hermione. Not with Harry, we will know far more about the person than he does. He will make the final decision, as you are his Ward, but that will be on our recommendation."
"Why is this so difficult?" She cried.
"Because you have been lied to."
"By my mother, yes." The ginger said and took the conjured handkerchief the blonde girl handed her.
When Ginny was calmer Daphne pushed her point. "You know something and we must have that information. I saw your look when Remus and Nym were discussing taking the twins home. Will you tell me what that was about?"
"Yes." She blurted, but then spent a minute collecting her thoughts. "I saw my mum obliviate Sirius once, it was right after we got here, before Hermione or you arrived. She then told him he wanted to find a way to pass the Lordship of House Black to someone else and then leave, never to return again."
"The bitch!" Daphne blurted making Ginny flinch. "I'm sorry, my ire is not aimed at you. We are not responsible for our parents, or I would be in Azkaban for what mine has done."
Ginny nodded and continued after a moment to gather her thoughts. "Mums always told me that I need to be willing to use spells or potions to get the man I want. She did. And she tells the boys the same, at least Ron and the twins. I was too young when Bill and Charlie were living in the house to know. Percy, I'm not sure of. He's always to strict and follows the rules, something's not right there either, but I don't think it's the same."
Daphne was so shocked she was unable to respond for a minute as the young Ward of House Potter looked at her. "Do you understand that is illegal? To use either potion or spell to control another is an automatic trip to Azkaban. That's what the Imperius Curse is."
Ginny shrugged, "We're supposed to trust our parents right? I didn't understand it was wrong until…"
"What your brothers did to me, yes I know."
"What can we do?"
"We'll start by telling my aunt, she can decide how to proceed, but odds are very good your mother and brothers will be heading to an island in the North Sea. Now let's see if my connection to the wards will tell me where she is yet?"
Daphne closed her eyes, reaching out for that feeling that had come fleetingly earlier. There it was, she flinched when it felt like a birds beak clamped onto her shoulder, though nothing was there. Oh, her aunt was still in the parlor, but since she couldn't tell where she had to still be under the ward. Harry was standing in the corner looking through some curio's in a cabinet.
She stood screaming, "NO HARRY!" And vanished in a crack that made the house tremble with the force behind it.
}-{
Hermione built a quick ward in the corner with several carefully placed taps of her wand.
Marlene sat and observed her spell-work carefully. She had never really seen the prodigy in action, working only from second hand reports from her niece. It looked like she had understated the girls skill if anything. When Hermione's notice-me-not ward shimmered into existence the Hit Witch added a silencing spell.
The brilliant brunette sat only a few inches away and met her eyes. "Let me make this clear, if it wasn't already, I am in charge here. Your magic wants Harry, his wants you. I'm perfectly willing to take you as my lover, I can't wait to experience your Parseltongue."
"What?" Marlene said, suddenly nervous.
"It's a family trait, I know my Daph has it, the world knows my Harry has it. I just wish I could bloody learn it!"
"Oh, yes." Marlene said and leaned forward on the couch.
"We're here because you decided to kiss me." Hermione reminded her. "I'm not going to dance around this. We have to wait a while. Right now you're an authority figure that can officially instruct and guide us. The minute there is a hint that you're in Harry's bed, it will fall apart. Once Harry is recognized as a leader, and we've learned enough to take the fight to the nose-less-wanker, then no one will bat an eye when you join us."
"How are you so certain he…"
"I know Harry. I can tell you precisely how he'll react. If you and I did go to your room right now he wouldn't say a word against us, though Daphne would drag him to our room to distract him." She shrugged. "Yes, I'm certain. I meant what I said in the heat of the moment downstairs, when you were manipulating me. You'll not fight alone. We'll be there, but he and I have to get better or you and Daph will just be hampered by guarding us."
"You know." Marlene said, suddenly smiling. "You're everything Daphne said you were."
Hermione blushed at the compliment, but only glanced away from her for a moment. "I've got to keep Harry alive so we can have a future. That's always meant I needed to learn far faster than everyone else. I'll not slack off just because you are well ahead of me."
"You should start with Occlumency."
"Daph started me on that back in third year. I'm well into my mindscape."
"Really?" Marlene said, her eyebrows rising dramatically.
"Yes, and I gave Harry the beginners book before summer, but he hasn't gotten far into it. We need to get settled down so we can study. Are we safe here now or should we leave?"
"I'd like to search the house, it feels cursed, perhaps with Daphne asserting her authority we can learn something from the portraits."
"That was brilliant wasn't it?" Hermione said, beaming at her lover's initiative and actions.
"Yes, it was well done." Marlene said. "I couldn't have pulled it off. As much as I hate the bastard she learned how to do that from her father."
And then the house shook yet again and they jumped to their feet. The Notice-Me-Not Ward did not prevent them from seeing the room, just stopped others from noticing them sitting there.
Harry was across the room at the curio cabinet with the door open and his hand inside. Daphne appeared in the middle of the room with a blinding light and a deafening thunderclap. He jerked at the sound...
}-{
Harry Potter was bored, he'd spoken with the portrait briefly, but she seemed terrified of him so he took pity on her and bid her a good day. He had at least fifteen minutes before Daphne had asked him to meet her. Hermione and Marlene were still missing.
That brought him back to why they were missing, that kiss. It had taken his breath away just to witness it. What could be taking them so long? No he was sure they hadn't left this room and Hermione had distinctly said they were going to talk.
He got distracted by the curio cabinet in the corner. It had been polished and dusted along with the rest of the room, but still seemed dirty to him. There were hundreds of little objects, made of metal, stone, and wood. There didn't seem to be two of anything. A blue crystal bird was on the top shelf, its wings poised to take flight, while beneath it ranged a collection of rings, some with stones, but most just a metal band.
What was the history of these things? Who had worn or made those rings? Had any of it been written down for later generations? And what of similar things for the Potters? He hadn't looked through the list from Gringotts, but there were several properties, and then the vault he couldn't access yet. What was in it?
He squatted to look at the lower shelves easier, a large pendant, with an embossed snake in the shape of a capital S caught his attention. It reminded him of something, where had he seen that before?
Without realizing it his hand had opened the door. Normally it wouldn't have opened, long ago having been sealed by the Head of the family. But he was the Heir, and the family magic had deemed Sirius unfit from when he'd first rejected the family decades ago. Since he hadn't done anything to redeem himself in its view, Harry held the authority of the Lord, as Daphne held that of the Lady.
The magic sealing the cabinet flickered over his Black ring and then opened without further protest.
Just as he was about to pick up the locket there was a tremendous crack behind him. He flinched and his fingers brushed the locket and his forehead exploded in pain.