DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: No Snorkacks were harmed in writing this chapter.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: FAMILY REUNION
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1996 - Potter Manor
From Alice Longbottom's perspective, yesterday had been November 17, 1981. Yesterday, she woke up and found her darling fifteen month old boy waiting for her in his crib. He was such a dear child. She knew his blonde hair would darken as he grew older just as Frank's had as she was told. She didn't mind. He was such a wonderful baby and she knew he would be a wonderful boy. When she had reached his crib, he stood and held his arms out to be picked up.
"I see you've been doing magic again," she laughed as she picked the boy up. He never did magic outside of the house and she could not yet convince Augusta Longbottom that her Neville was very advanced for his age. But there in the crib was the evidence she had seen almost every day since he was six months old. When she put him down for the night, she always gave him his favorite toy, a stuffed dragon. Yet every morning, his crib was filled with his menagerie of stuffed animals.
The Neville Alice remembered might reach up to the knee of the tall sandy haired young man who had entered the parlor with two women, a red haired young woman and a dark haired older woman. She was certain the older woman was Amber, Neville's Nanny who was on holiday yesterday - to her. The young woman had to be the young man's girlfriend judging by the couple's arms around waist and other body language. This young man stood erect and confident. Alive knew it was her Neville - all grown up now. Tears began falling from her eyes as she stood up and walked slowly towards the young man.
"Neville?" she asked again.
The young man looked stunned as did the dark haired older woman. The younger red head was looking up at her boyfriend with concern on her face. Neville nodded.
"Mum?" he asked.
Alice nodded as she wrapped her arms around her son and cried into his chest. Frank had joined her.
"Don't know whether they should call you Longbottom or Longshanks," Frank quipped at his son who was at least three inches taller than he was.
"Dad?"
The man nodded.
"But how?"
Frank jerked his head towards Harry and Hermione.
"Thanks Harry," Neville said. His parents were back! Harry had something to do with it and Neville was once again certain that there was nothing known to magic that Harry was not capable of doing.
"Don't look at me, mate," Harry said. "All I did was ask that they be brought here so you could be near them. You're the reason they are back from wherever they had been."
"M-me?"
"They were under a curse," Hermione said. "A curse that could only be lifted when the caster died."
"Bellatrix?"
Hermione nodded.
"You saved their lives, Neville," Harry added as he and Hermione and the other two witches left the room. "Dinner's in an hour," Harry added as he departed leaving Neville surrounded in a great group hug with his real parents and his ladies.
Neville was a little conflicted. He was filled with joy that whatever had happened had brought him his parents. But, he was not sure how he would explain what had happened over the past couple of days. But that could wait. For the first time he could remember, his mother and father knew who he was and were hugging him. He did not know how long the hug lasted nor did he care.
When the hug finally broke, Neville looked at his father as he tried to remove the Longbottom ring from his finger. "I believe this is yours," Neville stared to say.
"Neville," Frank said, "the ring has passed on. Had I been Lord Longbottom, which I was not, it would still be yours now. Once the ring passes to the next generation, it cannot be passed back."
"But," Neville began to protest.
"You are Lord Longbottom now," Frank said. "From what Harry has told us, you will be a great one. When I get better I can assist and advise you, if you like."
"Thanks. Better?"
"The Healers say mentally we're fit. But physically, it will be a few months before we are where we should be."
"Oh."
"Magically as well. We've been told it'll be a couple of months before we can even begin to retrain with our wands."
Neville gulped. "Er…"
"What?" Alice and Frank asked.
"Um - I guess I have some explaining to do," Neville began.
"I guess so," Alice agreed thinking Neville was talking about the two women with him. Neville picked up on that and sighed.
"Looks like I have even more explaining to do," he chuckled. "Please have a seat?"
Once everyone was seated, Neville began: "Wands. I don't know where yours is, Mum. My guess is that it was at the Manor, but I don't know. And Dad? - it's so weird saying that - Gran gave me your wand before I started at Hogwarts. Did Harry tell you about the Department of Mysteries?"
The older couple nodded. "We're proud of you," Frank said.
"Gran said you would be. Well, your wand was broken so…"
"We can always buy new ones, Neville," Alice said. "Don't worry."
Neville nodded.
"Mum and Dad? I would like you to meet my wife and Consort Susan Marie Longbottom. She's the last of the Bones family."
Alice raised an eyebrow. She really was in no position to be critical. Neville was emancipated and Lord Longbottom. Still, she had always had a quick tongue. "Is it the custom now to marry so young?"
"Um - not that I know of. I mean, Harry and Hermione are, but we only found that out last night."
"Did Augusta know about this?" Frank asked.
"She knew we were going to," Neville said. "Kind of funny really."
"What do you mean?"
"I never thought Gran would actually encourage me to do that."
"She did?"
"Day after we got home from Hogwarts we had tea with her and Susan's Aunt Amelia Bones and asked them for permission to get married. We were thinking a wedding after we finished Hogwarts. They both told us to get married this summer and specifically that she should become my Consort. If you ask me, I think they both hoped we'd do it that night but…"
Frank started laughing. "That old witch!"
"Frank!" Alice scolded.
"Come on Alice! We had just finished Fifth Year when we announced our intentions. And what did my Mum do?"
Alice blushed.
Frank looked at his son. "Your Gran - once her parents and Dad gave us their blessing - your Gran led us to the large Guest Room and locked us in telling us we could not come out until your Mum was my Consort. Fortunately, Dad rescued us, although he did say there was really no point in waiting. Your Mum became my Consort a couple of weeks later. I guess we needed a little time to get used to the idea."
Neville chuckled. "We must have been channeling you. Gran told us to get busy last Sunday. Took us until yesterday before we felt we were ready."
"Was that before or after," Alice began.
"Before the attack. We were on our way back when it happened."
"Good. I was concerned you might have done it because you felt you had to or because of the stress of that. If it was before, then it was because you wanted to which is as it should be."
"On your way back?"
"I wanted someplace special and I thought my room at the Manor that's just…"
"Wrong," Susan and Alice said in unison.
"So where?" Alice asked.
"Under the big oak tree down by the lake," Neville replied innocently. "I always liked that spot."
"We always liked that spot," Susan added.
They heard a snort. Suddenly Frank was laughing and Alice giggling. After a moment Frank calmed down and looked at the confused people across from him. "Dad always said there was some kind of powerful magic about that tree. Told me that after your Mum became my Consort. Three guesses where that happened and the first two don't count."
"You're kidding!" Neville gasped.
"Not just your Mum and I," Frank said. "If what Dad told me was correct, you're the ninth generation of Longbottoms to bond under that tree."
"And you did not know this 'til after?"
"Part of the tradition. I was a little put off at the time thinking we had lost our virginity and bonded probably on the same patch of grass as my parents. But now? Now I think it proves two things: first that you're a true Longbottom and second that you and Susan are meant to be. Welcome to the family, Susan."
"Thanks," Susan replied. "And welcome back."
"Thanks."
"We're sorry we weren't there for you Sweetie," Alice said.
"Don't be. Not your fault," Neville replied. "I - well - I'm still wondering whether or not all of this is just a dream. OUCH!"
Neville jumped a little. "AMBER! She pinched me!"
"Still think you're dreaming, Nev?"
"Did you have to pinch me?"
"Less embarrassing than what I had in mind," Susan said.
"And what was your idea?"
"Amber and me snogging you senseless!"
"In front of my parents?"
"Amber's way was less embarrassing."
"But Susan's would have been more fun," Amber chuckled.
Frank and Alice both raised eyebrows at this repartee. "I take it Amber's yours now as well?"
Neville nodded. He saw an accusing look on his Mum's face. "What was I supposed to do, sell her? She practically raised me. She taught me to read and write and magic during the summer hols. She's my friend! She deserves to be treated like the wonderful person that she is and…"
"Thanks Nev," Amber said softly with a tear in her eye.
"But why would you need a …" Alice began.
"I don't! No one does! I learned what Amber was when I was nine or ten. It made me sick! Not sick of her, but sick that I live in a society that could do that to people like her! No woman deserves that! And yet, we condone as a society a system where women - all women - are little more than property and baby factories. The only women who are not are the ones who either become consorts or are too ugly to attract any wizard! We sell our daughters off as wives or we sell them off as concubines. And for a Muggle Born like Hermione? What are her options? If she had not become Harry's Consort, she would be some Pureblood's whore by the end of this month! That's sick and anyone who thinks it's right is sick.
"Amber is a smart, kind, caring, patient woman, not a whore! I am going to let her be the woman she was meant to be and whatever she wants to be. She's part of my family now and in my family women are not second class property! She's a Longbottom and we take care of our friends and family! And you should know this now! She and Susan will both bear MY children! And I expect Amber to be treated the same way as my wife - as a Lady!"
During Neville's outburst of righteous indignation, he never raised his voice, but the conviction behind the words was unmistakable. Alice's eyes were downcast. She was a little surprised to be scolded and chastised by her own son, but the thing was he was right. She felt guilty and disappointed in herself. She had accepted things the way they were and that included certain of the prejudices. While she did not look down on Muggle Borns, she did look down on Concubines. Was there really any difference?
"I'm sorry Neville," she said, "I didn't mean…"
"And just so there's no misunderstanding, in addition to us there are seven women living in this Manor. One is Harry's Consort Lady Hermione Potter. Five are his Concubines and he expects them to be treated the same as his wife. The sixth is probably going to become his Consort."
"How can he have two Consorts?" Alice asked.
"He's the Head of two Ancient and Noble Houses."
"Black?" Frank asked.
Neville nodded.
"How?"
"His godfather Sirius was the last Lord Black being that he was never convicted of a major crime. Sirius had no children and named his second cousin and godson as his successor."
Frank laughed. "Guess the Black Patriarchs are spinning in their graves!"
"Why's that, Dear?" Alice asked.
"Tojours Pur! Black family motto. 'Always Pure.' Marry a Muggle or Muggle Born and you were disowned. Now the Potters almost always marry Muggle Borns."
"Including Hermione," Susan added.
"The Blacks meant 'Pure of Blood.' The family was practically inbred. Guess that motto needs to be changed."
"Funny," Susan said. "That was discussed at breakfast. It was agreed by both Houses that the motto remain unchanged. The meaning however…"
"What do you mean?"
"The old meaning meant blood and bloodlines. But, can anyone say Harry is not pure of heart? Or that the Black Concubines are not? Or that the possible Black Consort is not? Harry is the heir of Sir Galahad who was pure of heart and he is as well. It is the perfect motto for his new Black family."
There a long pause during which Alice reminded herself that she should not be hard on Neville. She had not raised him after all and from what she had seen, he was turning into a wonderful young man. Alice decided to change the subject.
"So you and Susan?" she asked.
"Erm- what do you mean?" Neville asked.
"When did you meet? Start dating? That sort of thing."
"It was the first day of classes First Year," Susan said. "I'm in Hufflepuff and Neville's in Gryffindor and the first class of the afternoon was Transfiguration. We were to sit in pairs and it just happened that we kind of sat together. As it turned out, we would also had History of Magic and Herbology with Gryffindor that year and Neville and I just sat with each other. After a couple of weeks, we started studying together in the Library and became best of friends. On weekends during first year, we would take long walks together along the lake and talk.
"We wrote to each other all through the summer and even met at Diagon Alley a couple of times for ice cream. I don't think either of us considered ourselves boyfriend girlfriend yet, but looking back, I count those as our first dates."
"Me too," Neville added.
"Second year was much like first although we were a lot closer," Susan said. "Spring time walking along the lake was the first time he held my hand."
"I knew then I liked her a lot," Neville said. "Wasn't able to say that to her yet."
"Boys and girls were forbidden topics," Susan said. "We never said that they were, but we've talked since and realized we both had similar questions and the same problem. How to I ask my best friend about how to get a boy to notice me when the boy I wanted to notice me is that best friend?"
"Second summer, we were apart again aside from a few more 'dates' in Diagon Alley," Neville picked up the story. "I still had not asked her to be my girlfriend although we now both privately thought of ourselves that way. Third Year and we sat together in class, studied together and spent our weekends together as well. During the Christmas Hols, she invited me over and I invited her over. Her Aunt really seemed to like me and Gran was thrilled that I seemed to have a girlfriend from a decent family and all. Not that it mattered to me. Susan could have been a Muggle Born and I'd still be her friend."
"Thanks Nev," Susan said.
"Amber seemed to have seen something," Neville continued. "From the Christmas Hols on through the rest of the year she was talking to me or writing to me about Susan. She said Susan should be my girlfriend and I should not wait and such. I was concerned that Susan did not see me that way, but Amber kept saying she did."
"Because she knew," Susan said. "She knew because I told her what I thought of you and told her you didn't see me that way and she kept telling me I was wrong about that and I kept wanting to believe her but was terrified to."
"Amber wore us down," Neville said. "We were officially if not publicly boyfriend and girlfriend our first week back that summer. No, we were not shagging. Just a lot of kissing and cuddling under the oak tree at the Manor and the one we found along the lake at Hogwarts."
"Not the one by the three standing stones?" Alice asked.
Neville nodded. "It's our favorite place."
Alice smacked Frank's shoulder. "What is it about you Longbottom men and oak trees?"
"Erm," Frank began.
"I proposed to Susan under that oak tree at Hogwarts," Neville admitted.
"Frank! Is this some sort of conspiracy?" Alice said, but there was mirth in her voice.
"Erm…"
"You proposed to me beneath that very tree your son did. You bonded with me beneath the same tree he did. Sounds like a conspiracy!"
"Lest we not forget that Neville bonded with me beneath an oak tree by a lake," Amber offered.
"When?"
"This morning," Susan said. "It was so like our special places at Hogwarts and the Manor."
"And you let her," Alice said.
"I did," Susan said. "Bonding should be special. It should be something that unites a family. Hermione told me that. She and Harry bonded in their special place and Harry has bonded with all of his Concubines there as well. Hermione said it connects people when they share a special place and memory and I think she's right. With Neville, we have our oak trees."
"And Harry and Hermione and his women?"
"A comfortable couch in the largest magical library in the British Isles."
"Hogwarts?"
"No. Here."
"Really?" Frank asked.
"So we've been told. Haven't seen it yet."
"You haven't?"
"No," Neville said. "Haven't seen much of this place yet. We only got in last night following the fight. Today, I took Susan and Amber out to that tree I found for a picnic and a chance to relax and comfort each other following that fight. We only just got back."
"And just where are we?" Frank asked.
"Erm - Harry's place?" Neville said.
Amber then handed the Longbottom's a paper.
THE POTTERSPORT JOURNAL
Monday, July 1st, 1996
SPECIAL INVESTITURE EDITION!
(A Keeper for all you scrap book folks)
NEW DUKE OF CHARENWELL HARRY THE FIRST!
Duke and Duchess Knighted By Order of Her Majesty!
All About The Duke's Wonderful And Beautiful Ladies!
New Duke Announces Bold Plans For The Future!
The Duke's Lost Sister Is One of Our Own!
OUR NEW DUKE: LORD SIR HARRY JAMES POTTER! TWENTY -SEVENTH DUKE OF CHARENWELL, FIFTY-FIRST HEAD OF THE ANCIENT AND NOBLE HOUSE OF POTTER, FORTY-SEVENTH HEAD OF THE ANCIENT AND NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK, ORDER OF HER MAJESTY'S KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE!
He insists we address him as just "Harry," just as his grandfather our last Duke and Lord insisted. Odd when you consider his story. He knew nothing of magic until he turned eleven and nothing of his heritage until just a week ago. Yet like his beloved Grandfather, he's just a normal bloke born to exceptional circumstances who does not wish to put on airs or lord over us lesser mortals as some might so endeavor. His first day out he spent at Martha's, our unofficial National Restaurant and hanging out with the crew of the Maggie Marie at the Sail Loft Pub in Pottersport. It is also said he may have done a spot of shopping, but that cannot be confirmed.
"He's a right regular lad," says Dickie Banks from the Maggie Marie. "A regular bloke. Mick invites him out for a spot of fishing - entry level mind you, kid's gotta earn his keep - an' our new Duke says he'll do it! Man's as rich as a King an' yet willing to pull his weight with the rest of us! We got us a real Duke again!"
"Flew up to me shop yesterday," John Richards of Potter's Vineyard said, "Very polite and humble lad. Had no idea he was the Duke apparent. His father was a right menace, but this lad was so humble and … well it was an honor to cut his hair. Didn't know he was the Duke 'til he drove up to my place this morning in one of Lord Charles' flash cars. I says to him he's so like his Granddad. No airs aside from flash cars. He says he really isn't into cars, just likes flash women. Met his Consort and his lovely concubines. The lad does have taste in that regard. Right proper ladies the lot of them." …
KNIGHTHOODS BRING HONOR TO THE DUTCHY
Before an estimated crowd of 10,000 packed into the courtyard of Pottersport Castle, the Investiture proceeded according to the time honored customs set forth in the Charter of 1217. The Pottersport Guards and Lancers escorted the carriages carrying our Lord Mayor, Lord and Lady Potter and Lord Potter's lovely ladies to the steps of Government House whereupon Lord Mayor Lupin, Second Steward of the Realm following the tragic death of Lord Charles in 1988, relinquished his status as Steward and invested Lord Harry as the Twenty-Seventh Duke of Charenwell. The necklaces were draped over the shoulders of the new Duke and Dutchess and we have our Sovereign again.
What was not expected was the participation of Sir Stephen Blaire, Ambassador from the Court of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain. Once Lord Harry and Lady Hermione had been invested, Sir Stephen was brought forward and then asked that Lord Mayor Lupin and Dora Tonks Black, one of the Dukes Ladies and Wife in all but Law, join the Duke and Duchess. Thereafter, Sir Stephen stepped forward on behalf of Her Majesty, the Prime Minister, Parliament and people of Great Britain. He read a citation honoring our four countrymen for services to the Realm, in particular for their heroism in combat fighting against the Death Eaters of Wizarding Britain in pitched combat June 14th last. The Late Lord Sirius Black, who named Lord Harry as his heir was also honored and pardoned by Her Majesty's Government, an act that by law must be recognized by the government of Wizarding Britain. Each received the Order of the British Empire and were inducted into the Royal Order of the Knights of the Round Table, the Order reserved for Magicals who defend Queen and Country…
"Something tells me this place is not in Britain," Frank observed.
Harry, Hermione, Minerva and Mallory had just left the Longbottoms. Hermione and Minerva were headed to the Library for some reading while Harry was heading towards his Study. Mallory and gone to check on Luna who was having a hard time. Harry and the others had all spent a little time with the distraught young witch during the day. She had spent the day in bed, crying for what she had lost and saying very little to anyone. When she was not crying, she seemed lost in thought.
Harry had sat down to write yet another letter to Gringotts. For the past week, his owl Hedwig had been a busy bird bringing letters to and from Gringotts has Harry learned both of his inheritance and of ways he would fight this war from afar. The Goblins seemed keenly interested in some of his plans as they were directed against Wizards and in particular Wizards whom the Goblin Nation despised. His most recent letter was from Ragnok, Chief of the British Goblins and Director of the London Branch of Gringotts suggesting an alliance both between the Charenwell Goblin Clan and the Duke of Charenwell and against Wizarding Britain and the Purebloods. Harry's reply was designed to be encouraging, stating the profits were such that he was going to discuss the proposal with an eye towards accepting with his advisors and the Chief of the Charenwell Clan.
He had just sent Hedwig off with his reply when there was a knock on the door to his study. Harry hoped it was Hermione. Her "icky time" had ended, but they had only managed to be intimate twice this day as both were very busy. He was thus a little disappointed to see it was Mallory.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
Harry waived her in. "How's Luna?" he asked.
"Still depressed. No surprises there. But she's beginning to cope with her loss and should be mostly right as rain soon."
"That's good."
"That's not why I'm here."
"Oh?"
"Do you know what this is?" she asked handing Harry a plastic stick of some kind.
"It's Muggle made," Harry said. Wizards did not use plastics. "Aside from that, not a clue."
"It's a home pregnancy test."
Harry stared at the stick in his hand. "Aren't there spells that do that?"
"There are. Most witches are taught them at some point. Problem is, most witches lack the finesse with the spell. Done properly, it can detect pregnancy after two weeks. Otherwise, four to six. I believe that the sooner a woman and her Healer knows she's pregnant the better. A pregnant witch needs to avoid certain kinds of magic. Being hit with certain spells, certain potions, handling certain potions ingredients can all harm her and her baby. Likewise, she needs to avoid consuming alcohol or caffeine, which means no tea or coffee…"
"Hermione's going to love you." Harry laughed. Hermione was a huge fan of coffee.
"There are other things as well," Mallory chuckled. "She should eat right, avoid too many sweets, and remain physically active unless it is contraindicated due to complications. Basically, she should really begin taking care of herself as soon as possible."
"So what's with this?"
"Our spell can tell you that a witch is pregnant and with what: boy, girl, twins, magical or non-magical. But only a skilled Healer can truly detect it early and the spell can be draining. This test can detect pregnancy within a couple of days and is rarely wrong."
"How?"
"A woman becomes pregnant the moment her fertilized egg imbeds itself in the lining of her womb and the lining accepts it. At that moment, changes begin and these include changes in her hormones that help her and her baby adjust to being pregnant. These hormonal changes manifest themselves in many ways, but they can be detected in her urine very early on. This stick detects those pregnancy hormones. The woman pees on it and if nothing happens she's not pregnant. If, however, a blue line appears then she is."
"This one has a blue line," Harry gasped. "A-anyone … anyone we know?"
Mallory nodded and blushed. She was worried how Harry would react. "Me."
"Y-y-you're p-pregnant?" Harry asked. He had known this was coming. As his Consort, Hermione could not use magical means to prevent pregnancy and clearly was not interested in trying and he had, after all, given Mallory and Minerva permission. As of the night before last, he could add Daphne and Dora to that list. He wondered how he would react to the first news. He had seen a few of the older students at school deal with this situation and most of the blokes did not handle it well at all if they thought their girlfriend was knocked up. Then again, they were not trying to get pregnant, were they?
What surprised Harry was his reaction. He actually felt joy! True, he would have liked it if Hermione was the first, but she would be here telling him the news soon. Harry stood up and walked over to Mallory, pulling her into a tight hug as he kissed her cheek. She was not expecting this reaction and she could not help but relax in his arms. She soon became the victim of the most tender kiss she could remember.
"I'm gonna be a Dad," Harry said with passion in his eyes when their kiss broke. Then, his face fell a little. "Guess this means no more Mallory Time for a while, huh?"
"Don't be silly, Harry," Mallory giggled. "I'm pregnant, not broken! As long as the pregnancy is normal, you can have me whenever you want practically until the final few weeks. Of course, at some point I'll be big as a house so you might not want…"
"Fear not fair maiden," Harry whispered. "You'll be big as a house with our child. Somehow that seems very sexy to me."
"You're incorrigible," Mallory laughed.
"Nope, just a randy teenager."
"Thank you, Harry. This is what I always wanted. You kept your promise and that means a lot to me."
"You're a wonderful woman, Mallory. You deserve to be happy."
Dora arrived back home shortly before dinner. She had spent the day arranging the transfer of goods from Longbottom Manor and the Bones' House to the Estate and reported that everything would be in a storage building nearby by the morning. Neville and Susan could then decide what to use in their temporary lodgings. The third floor of the Manor was being renovated for the use of House Longbottom for the foreseeable future, those renovations being under the supervision of Dobby who had returned to service.
Dora had also checked on Privet Drive. She or Remus stopped by each day to see if any mail had been delivered and to keep the Dursleys in the dark that their Nephew had gone missing. There had been a very rude letter from Ron earlier, a letter rude enough that Harry decided it was not worth a reply. Aside from that, there had been no letters whatsoever. Dora had actually been a little amused as she had, after all, used magic when she rescued Harry from that pit. Oddly, the Ministry took no action or never noticed. Today was different. There was a package and a letter waiting in Harry's room from Ginny. The letter was short and seemed innocent enough. The package, however, was another thing entirely. It contained cookies and other sweets for Harry, all laced with an overdose of Amorentia.
"How much?" Harry asked.
"Let's put it this way, Harry," Dora chuckled, "but for your bond with Hermione and to a lesser extent with us, if you had eaten her presents, the first moment you saw her afterwards you would have taken her right then and there regardless of where you were or who else was around. You would not be able to stop yourself."
"And if she wanted a little romance first?"
"You would be unable to control yourself."
"Basically, whether she wanted me or not, I would practically rape her?"
"Right then and there, yes. And over and over again, given your recovery time."
"Interesting."
Remus, Bill and Fleur had been invited to dinner at the Manor that night. Their invitation was not as a result of the package from Ginny. Remus was invited when Harry learned that Neville's parents had miraculously recovered and Harry knew they had been friends once. Bill and Fleur were invited because Harry and Hermione felt they needed support due to the falling out they had had with Bill's family. Luna, still very quiet, completed the guest list at the dinner table in the Private Apartments.
Remus was stunned to see his old friends. They still looked terrible, but they were in their right minds and their prognosis for a full recovery was excellent if not absolutely certain. Harry explained about the curse that had left them without their minds for over fourteen years and how the death of Bellatrix lifted the curse. He then introduced Alice and Frank to Bill and Fleur Weasley and explained their situation as well as Luna's. He then got to his own family and had to suppress a laugh as he watched the Longbottoms reaction to hearing about how it was he had gained six "wives" in about as many days.
"You were a Concubine?" Alice asked her favorite Professor in shock.
"I am a Concubine," Minerva replied with more than a hint of pride in her voice. "I have served my Lords Potter since 1943."
"It does not bother you that you're a …" Alice began.
"Not here. There is no stigma attached with being a Concubine here."
"Why not?"
"Because," Harry said, "every witch or wizard born here is descended from a Potter Concubine. My own Great-great grandmother was one. Prior to my Great-grandfather, the Lords Potter typically had more than one Concubine and all of them were allowed children. My Great-grandmother - a Black - did not allow this tradition to continue. I, however, will and already have. Four of my ladies have permission. The fifth, the youngest will receive permission if she wants it once she has taken her O.W.L.s in a year or so." Harry then introduced Daphne and Astoria and explained how that came to be his.
"I'm still having problems with how open you are about this," Alice said. "Aren't you ashamed?"
"At what?" Harry demanded. "At them? Absolutely not! I am ashamed that I am a wizard if this is how witches are treated by society! They are people, not property! Do you think any of them wanted to be a Concubine? Do you think that was their dream as a young girl? Do you think it's their fault they became Concubines? It's not. It's the fault of a society that devalues human life in general and women in particular. I'm playing the hand I was dealt. If I can make their lives better then that is what I am going to do! It is the attitudes that allow such a condition to exist that give rise to the Voldemorts of our world. I am going to defeat that bastard! That much is certain! But, lest you think otherwise, I will bring down this vile society and see to it that it can never exist again! Wizards will learn their place and that place is one where no sane wizard will ever again believe he is better than anyone solely because he's a wizard."
"You're talking treason," Frank started.
"No, not at all. As I am the sovereign head of an independent magical country, I cannot be accused of betraying a foreign government. I am talking about war! Voldemort is not just a threat to magical Britain, he is a threat to the entire human race! He and any who follow him must be destroyed. No more will those who stand against the light face only a lengthy prison sentence! The Death Eaters will one day learn what it means to Eat Death! The Pureblood Supremacists of all colors will learn that they are, by their own actions and beliefs, legitimate targets in this war. Those who support openly or covertly the Pureblood belief of Supremacy will be destroyed regardless of whether they are Death Eater or claimed champions of the Light. The Light, the true Greater Good, is to build a society where a person is what they make of themselves and not about who their parents were. If a few thousand must die for the vile society to cease and a new egalitarian society to arise from the ashes, their deaths are acceptable losses upon the altar of freedom, equality and respect!"
There was a long, stunned silence before Hermione spoke.
"You're getting better at giving speeches, Love," she said.
"Speeches," Harry huffed. "Until I can turn words into action, that's all they are."
"In time, Love, in time."
"I'm sorry Harry," Frank said. "My wife and I have missed fourteen years and it's still hard to realize this isn't 1981 anymore. I guess we have a lot of catching up to do."
Harry nodded. "It's okay. You'll have plenty of time here to do that."
"Why do we have plenty of time and where is here?" Frank asked.
"The Death Eaters attacked your Manor," Harry replied. "Got through your wards. Do you honestly thing you would be safe there? Neville? Are you willing to take your wife and Amber back home?"
Neville shook his head.
"Neville," Alice began. "It's our home! It's your legacy as Lord Longbottom!"
"My legacy?" Neville said. "My legacy is not bricks and mortar. My legacy is HERE! My wife! My friends! Our future! That is my legacy and I'll be damned if I am going back to bait Death Eaters! One day it may be safe for House Longbottom to return to its lands. That day is not today nor anytime soon. I stand with House Potter. House Longbottom remains here where it is safe until we can reclaim what is rightfully ours, but not before. When the Death Eaters and those who support them are gone for good, then we shall return. Until then, Britain can ROT!"
"And where are we?" Frank asked?
"The Duchy of Charenwell," Harry replied. "It is the Island of Shen, located approximately a hundred and fifty miles southwest of Lands End. My family owns the whole bloody island. A hundred and seventy miles east to west, eighty miles north to south at the extremes. Thirty-five hundred square miles all told."
"But Harry," Hermione complained, "you said it's only about a tenth of that!"
"My main Estate, where we are now, which is known as the 'West Farm' is 387 square miles. Since my investiture, I've looked it all up. West Farm is where this Manor is and where the towns of Charlestown, Potter's Vineyard and Pottersport are located. It has close to 13,000 human inhabitants of which over 11,000 are witches and wizards.
"Sixty miles to the east on the north coast is a broad peninsula called 'North Farm.' It is about four hundred and fifty square miles all told, but with only about 5,000 inhabitants, over 4,000 or so being magicals. There are two smaller towns there: St. George and Norseton Moor. The land is mostly farms where they grow grains, mainly wheat and barley.
"'East Farm' is located on the east coast closet to England. It is a little over a hundred miles from the east boundary of West Farm to the west boundary of East Farm. East Farm is the smallest in area with only about 325 square miles, but the largest in population. The Port of Darby alone has over 14,000 inhabitants, of which well over 12,000 are magical. It's our shipping port for import and export to England and beyond and the home of our merchant fleet. An additional 9,000 live in the Farm and its smaller towns and work the fields and such. It's pastures and fields not unlike here.
"Then there's the 'South Farm' located on the southern coast. It's only about twenty square miles or so. The Queen has a Manor there which is pretty much the only reason it exists. It has a population of about 1,500. The remaining two thirds of the Island are undeveloped, uncultivated and uninhabited. Half of that is a dedicated nature preserve for magical creatures, most noted among them being the only breeding colony of Charenwell Reds known."
Harry noted Luna perk up at that.
"Charenwell Reds?" Neville asked.
"Daddy wrote about those once," Luna said, already saying more and with more life than she had since she arrived. "They are a rare breed of dragon. They are the only ones that feed exclusively on sea food - fish, seals, sea birds and the like. Something to do with the salt, some have supposed. So long as you stay clear of their eggs, they are quite docile for wyrms. Oh Harry? Could it be there may be Snorkacks here?"
"I've read there may be," Harry replied. "They live in the reserve the sources say."
"Can we go see?"
"Sure. Sometime soon, Luna, we can go look for your Snorkacks."
"Thank you Harry. Daddy always thought they were in mythical Charenwell, but of course he never could come here."
"I am sorry 'bout that, Luna."
"Don't be. It's safe here. If any tourist could come it wouldn't be. Still…"
"Remember to bring your camera when we go. You can take pictures and publish them in the Quibbler," assuming they are real, Harry's thoughts added.
"Oh goodie! But…"
"But what, Luna?"
"With Daddy gone…"
"Tell you what. I'll buy his paper and you can see to it that it still publishes."
"You - you'd do that for me?"
"I'm your friend, right?"
"Thanks, Harry."
"And the rest of the land?" Frank Longbottom asked after a long pause.
"The rest can only be developed if the Duke - in other words I - authorize it," Harry said.
"So why is this place safer than our Manor?" Frank asked.
"And why haven't I seen anything about this island before?" Hermione added.
"The Island was ceded to an ancestor of mine in 713. He and his descendants began warding the hell out of it. The entire island is now under some of the most powerful wards in the known world. It is totally unplottable. It is protected by anti-portkey, apparition, animagus and elf wards. While I can authorize a portkey, no foreigner can do likewise. Those who were born here or are authorized by our law or my leave can travel here by magic. Even then, only the most powerful could apparate here as apparition over water is difficult at best. We are near the outside range of that for even Dumbledore, although as he has not been authorized, he'd bounce off and find himself far from land.
"There are also disillusionment, Muggle Repelling, and Notice-Me-Not wards over the whole island. Basically, this place does not exist outside of here itself. Then again, it most certainly does as we supply sixty to seventy percent of all food stuffs and ninety percent of most common - and several uncommon - potions supplies to Britain. Half of the dragon stuff or more comes from here as East Farm actually has Dragons in captivity for that purpose. They are bred in captivity so the wild ones are left alone. Even if a bad guy could get passed those wards, there are also Death Wards and Anti-Dark Wards as well. If you're a threat to anyone who lives here, you'd die trying to attack."
"Those wards are illegal!" Frank protested.
"In Britain, yes," Harry agreed. "And inside the Farms they are as well. But we are not under the Ministry for Magic. We are an independent magical realm and can decide our own means of defending ourselves and protecting the secrets of magic from the outside world. Over ten percent of our population is non-magical. They all know about magic and we all keep it secret from the rest of the world, except the Queen and her government - or at least those within her House or Parliament who are already in the know."
"And how do you know all this, Harry?" Hermione asked in an accusing tone.
"Erm…"
"Harry?" she growled.
"Yesterday," Harry began, "erm - yesterday I went into Granddad's special pensieve. I mean with that Investiture and such! A bloody Duke? A bloody Sovereign and all that? Why didn't I know? So I went in and had a long, long chat with granddad. Yesterday morning I was in there for forty minutes. For my mind it was forty days. I learned so much, Hermione! I learned about my family and who my ancestors were and about magical heirs and such. Remember Second Year when everyone thought I was the Heir of Slytherin because I speak to snakes and when I was able to draw the Sword of Gryffindor to save me from the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets?"
"I wasn't there for the sword," Hermione protested.
"But did you believe me when I told you?"
Hermione nodded.
"You ever wonder how that happened? I certainly did and Dumbledore either did not know or did and refused to tell me."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"Those two events meant - as I learned - that I am a magical heir of Gryffindor and Slytherin."
There were several gasps at that.
"Salazar's house motto was not Pure of Blood as the current Snakes have been told, it was Pure of Heart. That's what he wanted," Harry said.
"So we were right?" Daphne asked. "We suggested - my sister and I - that the Black Family Motto should not change because 'Always Pure' can now mean Always Pure of Heart?"
"It was, apparently, the original," Harry said. "Sal wanted those pure of heart. He liked the ambitious as well. Bravery, studiousness, loyalty to others were not his type. He wanted people who were true to themselves and to others. All the rest would come from that, he felt. Over the centuries, that became perverted and convoluted into our current problems by those whose ambitions overwhelmed their hearts and we now stand where we are today. Sal was my ancestor through my great-great grandfather. My Godfather was his true magical heir and with his death, as second in line and having the heart he deemed necessary, I became the second even though Malfoy is closer in descent. His heart is neither true nor pure."
"And Voldemort?" Hermione asked.
"Legal, not magical heir," Harry said. "A magical heir descends from oldest child to oldest child without regard to gender. Should an heir not have a child, but be named as a father or mother to a child by designation in the event of the death of the real parent, that child becomes the magical heir upon their guardian's death. Legal heir is oldest son to oldest son, period! One reason Concubines came into existence was to ensure males in the order of succession. Under some family traditions - such as Slytherin's, the last name died if the son's mother was not the wife or Consort of the father. The son, while heir, took the name of the mother and not the father. Hence, the demise of the founders' names."
"So Sirius, by becoming your godfather, became your magical ancestor?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "And as he was at the time the magical heir of Slytherin and, apparently, was already unable to have a child of his own, upon becoming his godson, I became his magical heir. Apparently, his inability with Mallory predated his time in the Azkaban Resort."
"You're saying that he could never have children?"
"So it seems. Consider his close relatives. His first cousins are or were all married and only two of them had a child. One child. Dora's Mum married a Muggle Born as did my Dad, but she was a Pureblood. One child. My dad was not, two and goodness knows there may have been more. Fair few true Pruebloods are one and out. Not a smart way to preserve the lines really. The Greengrasses and Weasleys are the exception it seems, not the rule."
"Hold it," Daphne said, "while our parent's do love us, they kept trying for a son. Gave up, it seems, after five daughters."
"So then look at your Slytherin housemates," Harry said. "How many reproduced after a son was born?"
"Point taken," Daphne replied. "Most generally did not."
"Unlike me," Harry said glancing at Mallory. "Your mother time is yours. If your first born is a son, it's up to you and not me as to whether there are others. You want only one or many, not my call. I think each of you could be wonderful Mums so who am I to deny you that?"
"Thank you," several voices answered.
"Besides," Harry smirked, "it's a bit late for me to whine about babies."
"What are you saying, Harry?" Dora asked.
"Mallory is expecting!"
The rest of the dinner coversation focused on her confirming this and her getting heartfelt congratulations from the others. What warmed Harry's heart was how Hermione did not seem put out at all an genuinely pleased that one of Harry's Girls was expecting, stating she had no intention of having an "Icky Time" any time soon as in she expected to be expecting before the summer was out. This may have come as a shock to some, namely those who were not Potters or Black or Neville and his two ladies, but they accepted it.
"What's life without a family?" Harry mused at one point during the dinner.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Key:
Names in Italics = OCGr – Gryffindor, Hu – Hufflepuff, Ra – Ravenclaw, Sl – Slytherin. (Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 21 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
3. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
4. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
5. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
6. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, age 15.
1. Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16(Hu-5); CONSORT (NEVILLE).
2. Amber Selma (Harker) Longbottom, age 33(Sl-5); CONCUBINE (NEVILLE).