Death's Pride

by Paladeus

Harry dies, again, and his Death Angel is NOT happy. Sent back for the last time with his memories intact, he tries to do it right. And his Death Angel won't leave him or his soul mates alone. Challenge by Reptilia28; H/Hr/L Nev/Sus B/Han A

25. Clarity

Title: Death's Pride

Chapter24 – Clarity

Ship: H/Hr/L, Nev/Sus B/Han A, Draco/Pansy, Ron/Lav

Rating: M

Warnings: Forcible Non-Descriptive Sex (Draco/Pansy,) Suggestive Language, Nudity, Adult Situations, Adult Language

Key: "Speech", 'Thoughts', "Speech laden with magic", §Parseltongue§

xXxXxXx

[Author's Note:] - Butterfly Effect– It has been said something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. – Chaos Theory

Updated previous chapters.

I apologize to everyone who saw my notes still on the last chapter when I first uploaded it. That was all originally going to be a part of that chapter, but I decided I would post since it was at the month mark and I'm thinking that, unless I've been unable to write at all, I'll start posting whatever I've written by the first of each month. I admit I've been doing a LOT with my days for almost a year, so I don't know what it will come to, but I will try to do so. And if I get to 20K words, I'll just upload wherever it is, be it in a day or a week or a month.

If you have any ideas for something Harry can add to Hogsmeade, feel free to let me know. Something like a bowling alley or skating rink that would attract people. Things like another magical library are a no-go, same with a museum. I've also been given the idea of a dance club, but don't see that being a big hit for the society it's being introduced to.

Some asked some very pointed questions due to the last chapter. Most of those questions were answered here, which is why I got to a little less than I wanted here.

Next chapter will move over the course of a few months. There won't be an explanation-heavy scene like in this one. It should also be posted in a week or two.

Recommended Story of the Chapter: "At The End of All Things" by DLRP (Harry/Harem – Hermione, Luna, Lavender, Padma, Parvati. Fans of Hermione should note she had a "Canon" history with Ron before the time-travel occurs. Not for Ron fans. Not totally sure if more girls will join this harem or not, though.)

xXx Previously xXx

Draco makes a political move during his first Wizengamot meeting, Harry meets with Gringotts about various plans, meets Cordelia ward and has a conversation with Rita Skeeter. Algernon Croaker realizes he's old.

xXx STORY xXx

Friday – February 18, 18:05 – Leaky Cauldron after meeting with Skeeter

Harry yawned widely as he entered the Leaky Cauldron's main sitting area after his meeting with the animagus reporter and noticed Shade sitting somewhat stiffly at a table with her eyes closed, looking either asleep sitting up, or meditating. He assumed it was the latter, or something similar to it, since her eyes popped open as soon as his were on her and already focused on him in an intense look. She didn't even need to look around. It was honestly a little disturbing to Harry. "Er, sorry I'm late," Harry said after approaching the woman who watched him like a predator.

"I've only been here a few minutes, Lord Potter," Shade said, her eyes softening over the period of a few seconds. At least it appeared as such to Harry. He could have sworn the woman's irises were ... he wasn't sure how to classify what he thought he saw. It was like the irises were the most definable part of her. The young Gryffindor could swear the outside ring of the irises glowed unnaturally. And he couldn't decide if the light was white or black or something in between.

"I've let everyone know we're coming," Harry said, gesturing with his arm to invite her to the public floo. "If you wait about ten seconds after I leave, I'll have the floo open to accept you. Actually, never mind," he said with a blush. "My exits from this thing are ... well, follow me out to the alley and I'll just take you through the wards directly, if you don't mind."

Shade cocked her head to the side and nodded silently before following the boy. Training saw her prepping her magic for a quick defense to be released in a torrential wave of raw magic, despite believing the boy was honorable and not trying to be a threat.

xXxXxXx

Friday – February 18, 17:40, Amelia's Office

"Algie, she's thirty-six bloody years old," Amelia said through laughter while watching the man pout petulantly. "I assure you, as a woman who has experienced it, puberty is gone and past by the time we're in our mid twenties or so." The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement couldn't decide if she should be amused that the man seemed to be going through a mid-life crisis, or upset that she had to explain something about girls to the head of the Unspeakables.

"Maybe she's goin' through it again," the older man grumbled. "I raised this girl almost like my own flesh and blood! I don't want some young lord gettin' his paws on her." The man growled as he swished a brandy in his tumbler. 'His hormonal paws, at that! Bloody males,' he grumbled in his head.

Amelia rolled her eyes, despite feeling like it was a childish action that was below her. "Algernon, this is the first time the woman has found someone she can relate to in a way that makes her different than everyone else save house elves. You remember how she was when she was going to meet Dumbledore and thought he could perform real wandless magic? She accused him of being a charlatan and perpetuating his own myth! Just because he couldn't do much!"

Algernon smiled fondly at the memory of an eleven-year old brunette ripping Albus Dumbledore a new one with hands on hips and tapping a foot after asking him how he could accept such praise when the best he could do were what she called parlor tricks, and poor ones at that. Of course, coming from a girl who would normally be unable to do but one or two spells with a wand, but was able to create golems and complex charms with ease was perhaps a little unfair.

Not that the girl thought so, of course.

"My understanding is the girl has little to no interest in men, or women, or anyone really, sexually. I've not even heard of her being curious about it. She prefers to be alone," Amelia tried to sooth the man's amusing pity party and make him see logic. "She's an adult. So, even if she did have romantic interest in Potter, or even a purely sexual interest, that is their business. Our chicks have to leave the nest some time," she finished with a shrug, grinning as she taunted him a little. Opportunities like this came along rarely.

"Not if you can figure out how to lock 'em in their rooms," Algernon grumbled. "Do you think I should get her another cat? Maybe she won't turn it into twelve-foot mount and try riding it through the Ministry this time," he suggested.

"Like hell we're giving her the chance," Amelia growled. "People that witnessed that still swear they saw a nundu and it took us a week to get rid of Hagrid and his little net!"

xXxXxXx

Friday – February 18, 18:15, Potter Manor

Shade blinked as she felt Harry and herself seemingly slide to both sides at once as the world around them shifted and morphed into an attractive manor home's receiving room. Or, perhaps it was more accurate to say it looked like both locations at once to her as the alley she was in faded as the receiving room firmed up almost immediately. The floor was a curious crystal that looked just like marble that she felt was somehow a part of the manor's defense structure since she could feel it monitoring her from where her feet touched. She wasn't really overly aware of such things, but rather than high-backed chairs that looked incredibly stiff, the furniture was all plush and firm, meant obviously for comfort and durability. It also appeared much more welcoming.

"What was that method of travel?" Shade asked as she heard a rather pleasant baritone voice laugh from somewhere deeper in the house.

"A family trick," Harry responded, not wanting to admit to something outside of apparition and not wanting to lie to the woman. "It's just as fast, but with a little tweak, it apparently leaves an after image where you leave from and your vision of that location fades as quickly as the after image does. Feels much better than that squeezing tube sensation as well, I think," he finished with a smile, hoping she took it as a change to the apparition process. In reality, he thought that was exactly what it was, but with a different execution. One is forcing yourself to a new place suddenly, causing air displacement which causes the popping sound, while the other is, in a manner of speaking, occupying all the space in between points 'A' and 'B' and traveling through it and swapping yourself with the air which made it much quieter. At least, that's how he understood it. Hermione argued the point, but she also couldn't do it yet, meaning there was a chance he was actually the right one.

A slim shot, but he held out hope.

"Since I brought you through the wards, they won't do anything without hostile intent on your part," Harry stated, knowing he didn't have to say he could also just activate them on his own. But some were finicky things, like at Grimmauld Place. That house actually seemed to hate people.

"Hello, Master Harry Potter, Sir!" Dobby greeted as he popped in, still wearing the Spartan uniform. Harry really wanted to know where the tiny sword came from. "Yours Misseses is being here for about ten or fifteen minutes and is deciding to be waiting on you and your guest. Hello Guest to the great House of Potter! Dinner is being ready now and everyone is being here!" Dobby happily saluted with a fist to his heart and seemed pleased as punch to turn an about face, and then pop away to bring the food to the table.

"Dobby can be a little ... er, enthusiastic," Harry said with a grin, leading Shade to the dining room.

"I've seen worse," Shade stated simply, blinking at Harry as he looked at her wide-eyed before shaking his head. Deciding he was obviously interested, Shade was about to continue to explain before two girls, ones the elder brunette had noted at Hogwarts, dove through the air and grabbed the boy in tight hugs.

Hermione pulled back since she knew Harry had a guest and introduced herself. "Hello! I'm Hermione Granger! How are you?" She asked happily, shaking hands with the older woman who she almost thought was a cousin she rather disliked. But that cousin would kill for a figure like Shade's.

"I'm fine. You may address me as Shade, Miss Granger," the Unspeakable greeted back with a single pump of the hand. She turned to look at Harry and the other girl, who seemed content to keep her arms and legs wrapped around the boy as he held them both up.

"You can use first names here. And, sorry about that," Hermione said with a blush. "This is the first day since we got together that we haven't been together for more than half a day. I think she missed him." Turning to the younger girl, Hermione frowned. "Luna! Don't be rude!" Both had found a rising and falling need in themselves to be near Harry, preferably hugging the stuffing out of him, but had been unable to really feel it enough to acknowledge what they were feeling other than missing him. There was a feeling that made itself known much like an itch that was barely out of reach since they got to the manor.

"Sorry," Luna said, looking almost miserably contrite enough that Shade had to actually stop herself from offering to put a sticking charm between the two teens. The blonde unwrapped herself and instead wrapped Shade in a hug of her own and began speaking in a chipper voice as she switched tracks in her mind. "Welcome to Potter Manor! I'm Luna, of course, and it's dinner time! Are you hungry?"

Shade schooled her features before she allowed the panicked expression to reach her face. She couldn't remember ever being hugged, though she remembered plenty of attempts. She was not really a fan of physical contact. Had Harry tried this, his wards would have probably harmed her. But this girl was like some sort of cuddly ninja and just skipped right through her defenses and got her by surprise. Thankfully, Luna pulled away after a second when Shade didn't hug back, which befuddled the perky blonde who wondered if the girl just didn't know how to hug back or if perhaps her arms weren't quite working properly.

'I think her hugger is broken,' Luna thought to herself. She then decided to begin a misguided quest to fix the older woman's hugger.

"I came to speak with Lord Potter about several topics, which he felt would be better-suited to dinner. So yes, I will eat," Shade acknowledged.

"Are you sure about this? What about Sirius?" Hermione asked quietly as Luna looped an arm with Shade and led her into the dining room a little faster than the other two, talking animatedly about one of the animals her father swore existed from his early days courting Luna's mother. A twelve-foot tall monstrosity that had victimized the Ministry and its master, a girl who had taken all of the strawberry pastries she was bringing him in the Unspeakables department that she affectionately called Alice, for the girl, and Mister Snuggles, for the cat. After checking, of course.

Something stirred, in Shade's memory, but was lost as the girl began talking about something called spandex and asking Shade if she thought Light-oriented wizards should wear it when defeating evil. If Shade knew what this spandex was, then she might have agreed with the blonde's decision to try and get Harry to wear it.

"Part of the good news," Harry whispered back with a smile. He leaned down and kissed the nervous brunette thoroughly. "I missed you," he whispered into her ear, kissing the lobe gently and making his First sigh in contentment, only to barely hold in a squeak of shock as he very firmly, and very deliberately, squeezed her bottom and stole another kiss before they passed the threshold into the dining room.

The bushy-haired one was now nervous for a different reason. Her mother's smile was a little too large.

"Welcome home, Harry," Emma greeted with a hug before Harry introduced everyone.

"I'm glad you could make it, Hagrid," Harry said with a smirk that would have done the Marauders proud. "Before we get to dinner, there is something I need to tell you. Two somethings, really."

"Tha's alright, Harry. I was wonderin' wha' you'd invite me fer," the large man said, sitting in a chair that Harry could tell right away Hermione had enlarged and strengthened for the added weight. It appeared to be steel instead of cast iron the magicals would have made.

"The first is the most important. I found out more information about the night of my parents' murders," Harry began, trying not to look at the furry mug of his dog father as the animal form peeked around a corner.

Hagrid looked a little confused, but nodded slightly to show he understood so far.

"So, the first thing is that Sirius Black didn't betray my parents," Harry began. "That was actually Peter Pettigrew. My parents and everyone was hoping to make a second layer of security by saying Sirius was the secret keeper so they wouldn't know who really was."

"Bu' Sirius is the one who ga'e me the se'ret," Hagrid said, shaking his head. "It was on the paper he ga'e me. An' the others, too."

"Which was given to him from Peter," Harry explained gently. "I have Sirius, here-" Harry was cut off as the very large mountain of a man rose from his chair, sporting very harsh eyes and a deep growl.

"You jes' tell me where 'e is, Harry. I'll make sure e'rything gets better quick like," Hagrid rumbled, sounding dangerous for the first time Harry could remember. Poor Emma had a flashback to a horrible canoing movie with dueling banjos as she saw the half-giant rise angrily.

"He took veritaserum I gave him and swore a magical oath to prove his innocence," Harry said, not seeing Padfoot cower and leave only his nose visible. Or the puddle on the other side of the wall that Dobby cleared up quickly with a disdainful sniff. This wasn't the first time the convict had done that... But it was the first due to fear, so he wouldn't scold him. This time.

"So, he really is innacent?" Hagrid asked confusedly.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "He wasn't given a trial, either. I've looked, just to be sure. Sirius? You want to come out now?"

Slowly, and ready to dart away in an instant, the somewhat terrified escapee inched into the room. "H-hey Hagrid," he greeted with a wave.

"You really did'na do it?" The half-giant asked, beginning to cry.

Feeling far safer now, Sirius approached Hagrid carefully. "James was my brother, Hagrid. Lily my sister. Harry my own godson. I could never betray them. I- URK!"

Everyone but Sirius, Shade and Harry laughed as Sirius began to get the largest bear hug of his life.

"I've got some more good news, too," Harry butted in. Once Hagrid had released Sirius and sat down again, Harry explained it. "Hagrid, since I got the Minister to give Sirius a trial, I feel I should also tell you I got him to schedule you one, too."

"Me?" Hagrid asked, wiping his eyes with one of his hankies. "Wha' would I need a trial fer? I didn'a do anythin'."

"To be allowed a wand again," Harry stated gently, making Hagrid's eyes widen. "You brought me into the wizarding world, Hagrid. I figured it was high time I reintroduced you to it, so to speak. And it's only a formality. Despite what they find, since we know they can be biased, I'll be ensuring you get a new wand myself. But if they don't allow it, you can only keep it on my land."

Shade watched with interest as the boy tried to calm the crying Hagrid. There was no manipulation, or want of favors. He simply did something to help the man. It gave her insight into Harry's character that she was sure was worth trusting. At least now that she saw the reasons he was being like everyone else in the Wizengamot, anyway.

Five minutes later, the table was laden with a veritable feast. There were two large logs of meat that Dobby affectionately called 'roast beastie', which were about a foot wide and two feet long. Harry didn't know how the little guy did it, but the meat inside was ridiculously juicy and tender enough to need only a light passing of a knife to part it while maintaining a ruby red coloring that had Dan salivating and thinking a betrothal contract was the best idea he had ever had. Steamed carrots, broccoli and artichokes were the primary vegetables with mashed potatoes made with heavy garlic, parsley and butter. Dobby had also, at Emma's request, made a sweet plum sauce for the meat along with white gravy and a fruit salad. After all the trouble from previous attempts, Emma was making damn sure to do everything possible to make this baby healthy. And coming to the end of three months of pregnancy, she knew she would need to start eating more fruits, vegetables and drink a lot more water.

She was also looking forward to using hormones as a get-out-of-jail free card the first time some idiot blew smoke in her face. Hermione hadn't learned to throw her punches from Dan, after all.

Due to 'negotiations from a position with far greater leverage because it sounds better than blackmail', as Luna liked to call it, there would also be several puddings for dessert. The exact same ones, incidentally, that Harry had seen in her dream the Saturday before.

"How've your symptoms been?" Hermione asked, doing a quick check on the baby's health while everyone was getting situated.

"Morning sickness never got bad, thank God," Emma said with a bright smile. "Had to buy some new bras since they've grown. I make your father bathe at least twice a day after work and have to be careful around mint and coffee. Those just make me want to ... well, you know," she said a little embarrassedly, not wanting to put people off their dinner.

"Anything else?" Hermione asked.

"Mm, not really," Emma considered. "My mood swings happened earlier than later, but that was true with you, too. And other than fruit, I've not got much in the way of cravings." Both girls ignored Dan's snort and his follow-up cough that sounded like 'fried chicken'. "Other than that, I've been drinking about half a gallon of milk a day to make sure there's plenty of calcium for the baby's bones. Plus, it's almost addictive to me right now."

"And she has to pee almost every ten minutes – Ow!" Dan yelped as he got a foot to the shin. "And she's abusive, too! You saw that!"

Hermione smiled and pulled her wand back. "Baby's healthy as can be and you look to be doing great, also. Madam Pomfrey said you shouldn't exercise, but I think that's been disproved by normal doctors. I'd ask one to find out. I've noticed the magical world still believes a few old wives tales regarding pregnancy. They still think heartburn will mean you get a hairy baby," Hermione giggled. "I see your stomach hasn't really grown much; just a slight pushing out still like you've eaten a lot recently. Shouldn't that be changing?" Hermione asked, having not looked up how quickly that would grow.

"Not this early," Emma said with a smile. "It can, but I expect it to start in a few weeks."

Seeing everyone eating their fill, Harry looked to Shade who was sitting next to Hermione. Since he was at the head of the table, and his girls on either side of him next under normal conditions, Hermione had offered the seat next to her so the parents could sit to the other end near Hagrid who was telling stories of Hogwarts and their kids. They had already gone over Sirius' and Hagrid's histories, both of which only really took a few minutes. Still, there was more he remembered she wanted to talk about. "So, what was one of the things you wanted to start off with about my wandless ability?"

"I suppose my first question is how much can you do with wandless magic?" Shade asked.

"Well, everything I've tried works except the Patronus charm. I only get a little mist, which is confusing me to no end. Most of what I've learned is for use in combat, so it can be messy. I've only bothered with a few things to help me get my wand back otherwise, like summoning charms, disillusionment and such."

"So you can do more of what I saw during the duel?" Shade confirmed, allowing a very small smile to grace her lips. Finally! Someone she could look upon as a peer!

"Oh, Harry is very good with his hands!" Luna chirruped happily, causing her father to wince before she continued. "He flicks his hand and does all sorts of things. His shields are quite impressive and he conjures some of the nicest things." The chipper blonde was about to ask if she wanted to see the very pretty panties he had made for her, but remembered Hermione's talk about what was and wasn't appropriate, especially in front of parents. She would have to wait for something more private first. Luna just couldn't get past that 'tie-dye' concept!

"What about you?" Hermione asked curiously. "I didn't see you use a wand at all during the duel."

"I am unable to use a wand for even the smallest of things," Shade stated simply. "Except maybe as kindling, anyway. I was born with a chaotic magical core. This essentially means my magic is not naturally as dense as a normal person's and can fluctuate wildly, hence the name. Wands will usually shatter when I try to use them since the magic pushed through them would be too unstable. What I might normally use for a simple lighting spell might in fact be enough to send a cutting curse through a quarter mile of forest or be as little as to all but do the spell without any magic being recognized as cast and get the same result either way."

"So you used wandless magic instead," Hermione nodded in understanding. "Harry's promised to teach us wandless magic. We should be starting it soon," she said happily.

"What are you waiting on?" Shade asked.

"We've been focusing on other things," Hermione said with a mischievous smirk.

"Our days have been stuffed with school-related things and side projects," Harry explained, wondering if maybe they should have been working on wandless magic earlier or not. "We've got etiquette lessons, dancing lessons, private projects, defense meetings and other stuff. But, we've figured out a new schedule to get some free time for it. That should allow us to practice wandless magic each day."

"I see," Shade said, sounding a little disappointed. "What kinds of exercises do you perform to enhance your control?"

"Well ... nothing really," Harry said slowly. "I work on making each spell work and then refining control by using it more and tweaking it the same way I learned with my wand. The book I have on it essentially says that I have to focus on the result I want and that I have to practice to make it easier. But, I might have misread that, I suppose. It gave exercises like levitating an object slowly and holding it in place with as few wobbles as possible and then moving it around and lowering it the same way."

"I read the book, too, and thought that it meant practicing the spell, just like Harry," Hermione explained.

Shade sighed heavily and was quiet for a moment before she looked first to Harry and then his two girls. "That will not do," she stated as though trying to make them understand. "Wandless magic does not, and can not function using structured spells like you would use with a wand. How have you been adapting wand magic to wandless?"

"Er," Harry stuttered, brought up short. "Well, I focus on how my magic works when I use the spell normally, then try to replicate it wandlessly," he explained. "The book we learned from never mentioned wands or compared them."

"That is wrong," Shade countered, realizing that not only were Harry's two girls listening in, but so too was Sirius. Actually, he didn't seem to stop paying her attention. It was ... awkward. "What you are doing is causing your magic to imitate the wand magics like an echo, which means it can only be, at best, as powerful as an echo. I suppose your 'tweaking' could better that, but it causes much more work for smaller and fewer results. A wand will make the spell come out with a unique ... shape, or signature. But that is something refined through the wand itself. It is not the raw form of magic. Therefore, you get that echo concept."

"What should we do?" Luna wondered aloud before mushing the soft steamed carrot through her teeth at Sirius and making the escapee shove out his tongue with thoroughly chewed ... everything on it to show her in return.

"You have been taught that wand-based magic uses a small number of basic movements, combined, to get an effect, yes? For charms, I believe the swish-and-flick is very common?"

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "There are seventeen recognized motions..." She trailed off as she noticed Shade didn't really care and only wanted confirmation. That woman could have an intense look.

"Those movements are based on rune patterns," Shade explained. "You may notice the design in part of one of the runes on the Futhark alphabet."

Hermione's hair gained a little additional volume as her shock hit her system. "Oh my."

"That is the nature of the focus a wand provides," Shade continued. "It can, of course, be enhanced with gem foci, inscribed runes on the shaft and the compatibility of the wand and core to your magic, which is why wands are used today since they will make casting easier and you can use less magic for the desired result." Shade looked at those paying attention to her and wondered if they would be capable of wandless magic.

"With wandless magic, you can affect magic you cast to make it do as you desire, free of all restrictions but your own ability to think and the limitations wands give you, which is substantial when it comes to powerful magic. The problem comes in having the focus to simply make your magic act out that desire. When you learn to do casting without moving your wand, you are, essentially, performing wandless magic. But most people only take it down as far as a simple flick of their wand, or using even less of a rune symbol than normal. Still, your most problematic issue will be your ability to focus. And as you've noticed, most magicals haven't got the strongest minds. The problem isn't even in that, though. Children can and do use wandless magic all the time. It is imposing your will on the world around you that few can grasp the understanding of. That desire to simply make something happen."

"How does the wand do that with a runic symbol, though?" Hermione asked.

"The wand movement, for all intents and purposes, inscribes the rune in the air using your magic. Then, it invokes that into the spell effect desires and releases it, which is usually the reason for calling out a spell's name, which is the nature of invocation. Silent casting usually involves the first step of all of this, which is invoking the spell without the verbal aspect of the focus. That is why they say it is ideal to remove all possible wand movements. This is why runic magics fell out of practice, along with rituals. It takes more time. But at the same time, those were greatly more powerful and potent results than one can get with a wand."

"And wandless magic is basically doing just that?" Hermione questioned, doing her best to commit all of this to memory. "No wand movements and silent casting while essentially keeping your mind firm on what you want?"

"Mostly," Shade confirmed. "It isn't quite the same, but essentially. That is a correct, but not entirely accurate, view. They tell you throughout school that you must want a spell to work, picturing what should happen. Your intent should be clear. That is the truth even more so for wandless magic. It is, in fact, the core of wandless magic. But so few people attempt to do so and fewer still have the ability to focus clearly enough on their desire to make it reality. The more complex your desire, the more magic or harder it will be. You can summon an item, for example, by asking it to find an opening in a wall, go down the hall, and not hit people on the way, or you can simply tell you magic to bring it to you and let the magic work itself out on the how. The latter is easier, simpler and requires less power and less focus as well."

"So what are your training methods?" Harry asked.

"A wand acts as a channel for your magic, while your body will do that same function for wandless magic. I assume you've noticed how your body aches rather than simply be tired after your practice sessions?" Shade asked, getting an affirmative. "Good. That means you're doing it properly for the most part. And the first thing you will need to learn is to channel this magic through your body, which also enhances all your physical traits such as strength, eyesight, speed and the like. And with your eyes, especially, but occasionally other portions of your body, you will sometimes notice special abilities pop up. Almost universal is what is known as 'mage sigh', which is nothing more than seeing magic, even if it is cloaked, inverted or ambient."

"Are you sure you can see inverted magic?" Harry asked, remembering Gryffindor's brooch and how his last death with Hermione had occurred.

"Yes," Shade stated immediately.

The next half hour was devoted to Shade explaining the best way she found to begin training for herself, then variations she had created. Hermione found the steps a little overly simple, but felt it may make the process easier to start off with. From Hermione's numerous questions, she realized the best thing was to learn it without trying to compare it to what she was used to.

The first thing they would need to learn to do was channel magic through their bodies, making themselves, for all intents and purposes, their new magical foci. This could be tested easily enough with weight lifting and timing a run over a set distance. Harry had also giggled like a fan girl when learning this was very possibly one of the first steps to learning to fly, though Shade was unsure as she hadn't tried it before.

Shade's methods could be easily incorporated into their morning exercise routines as hers was an extremely physical training process. She channeled her magic in her body to get better training in, which also explained a body that even had Hermione staring a few times.

Interestingly, the best idea of the group for their own starting ideas regarding control had come from Luna. "So, would it be a good idea to learn to levitate a blob of liquid and perhaps make shapes and act out plays now that we understand that book levitating was meant to be an aspect of control over the magic rather than practicing the spell? It would certainly be fun," the dreamy-eyed girl said with a bright smile before turning to her glass of lemonade and staring furiously. 'Float to your doom inside of my mouth,' the girl tried to command. 'Come to me...'

"That would certainly enhance your control," Shade agreed with a wider smile than anything she had provided thus far. She liked the perky blonde. A little too touchy-feely, but fun to interact with. Deciding nothing more could really be discussed about the wandless magic topic, and having obtained the majority of the information she wanted, to say nothing of giving more information about training methods than she really intended, she decided to focus on Lord Potter's bracelets.

"Might I ask about the power-limiting seals you have?" She asked, pointing at Harry's wrist.

"I think it's the 'in thing' these days," Sirius spoke through a mouthful of white gravy and potatoes. He didn't really care for bracelets, and had not been paying attention to their function, but there was finally something he could do to get the pleasant-looking woman to look at him. Well, look at him without disgust, that is. She didn't seem to like the game him and Luna were playing. And he doubted she would like the tricks he learned in Azkaban, though an army of roaches might still be a way to help out Harry. 'Could Harry use an army of roaches? I bet the dark wanker would never see it coming...'

His healing from Azkaban was almost purely physical. That was still fairly apparent.

"They're bracelets that have seals to limit my power," Harry corrected Sirius. He then went on to explain the situation as he knew it with Dumbledore sealing him and how it caused his core to expand about a hundred times, but his inability to control more than six percent, and even that was touch and go for him, so he usually kept himself at one percent unless practicing his control.

"Stop that," Shade demanded immediately upon learning that last fact. "If you do not keep yourself constantly dealing with higher levels of power, it will not grow to be second nature. It will also slow down your ability to learn to harness that power."

Hermione perked up a little at hearing that. She absolutely adored when Harry let his magic out to play. She could feel it around him and radiating out and loved the sensation being in his presence gave her. Only, since it was at one percent, she felt it because he pushed his magic outwards. She learned that was one of the things that she had been able to sense when Harry had broadcast his Patronus on the train, in the Great Hall to prove he could teach the spell and in the forest when they were surrounded by dementors.

Hermione scrunched her eyebrows as she tried to remember when they were in a forest together other than their first year. And there weren't dementors present at that time.

"But if I keep the seal open beyond that, then my magic will sometimes do things without me making it on its own," Harry explained sheepishly.

"That is the whole point," Shade stated with a flat look. "It will take you much longer to learn to control it, and never quite as well, if you continue on as you have. Maybe lower it by a percent or two, but never take yourself back down to one percent unless stealth is necessary, perhaps. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes," Harry said, feeling like he was being chided by McGonagall. He was also annoyed because it made too much sense for him to have missed it without feeling foolish.

"Out of curiousity, where did you get those bracelets?" Shade continued, allowing her curiousity to show on her face.

"I'm afraid that is something I can't discuss with you," Harry explained. "I think you're a great person and really enjoyed talking with you. But I'm afraid neither of us can honestly say we trust each other enough to provide that information. I'm sorry," Harry said, truly apologetic.

Shade knew immediately there was something about the bracelets that was suspect when she saw them. And the boy couldn't hide that fact in the slightest. Still, he was correct. That was enough.

"Oh, Hagrid," Harry began, getting the chuckling man's attention from where he was telling the adults, and Sirius, more of what he knew about their children. While the Grangers were scared at the description of a Thestral, to say nothing of what they ate, learning Luna had been imprinted as one of the foal's mothers and that it followed her around in Hogwarts where only a few could see it had led to some interesting things from her first year. Sadly, though, none of the students would believe her, which is where some of her taunting had come from, not that Hagrid knew that.

"Yeh?" The man asked.

"I'm going to need to speak with the Centaurs soon. Do you think you could tell me some customs and things so I don't upset them?"

"Sure!" Hagrid boomed out happily, rattling the dishes. "I'll even make i' one o' me next classes! I bet ol' Firenze would be 'appy to visit the class!"

Harry's eyes very nearly twinkled as his plan bore unexpected fruit. "That would be wonderful, thank you," he stated, thinking Firenze could deliver a message with his intent to be rid of the acromantula.

"Ah, that reminds me! Not that I know how," Sirius exclaimed, then mumbled in confusion. "But, I got the booze for your Auream Ball. You should be able to knock about six hundred people flat on their backs easily with this and still have some left over."

"Wassail?" Luna asked in obvious interest.

"No, of course not," Sirius stated, but nodded far too enthusiastically and with too wide a grin to be telling the truth. It'd be impossible to miss.

"Good," Xeno said with authority. "You're still far too young to be drinking that."

"What about food?" Hermione asked as Luna pulled over three bowls of pudding and pushed her plate back. 'It looks like Tammy is going to voice her displeasure again,' Hermione thought, still amused that Luna named her stomach. She wouldn't bring it up, though. Then Luna would bring up her naming her bottom cheeks Velma and Daphne again.

"I took your suggestions on a buffet-style spread," Sirius acknowledged with a nod and grin. "With liberal use of stasis charms, I'll be eating like a prince for weeks after the event."

"No you won't," Harry denied. "You can eat off it for dessert, if you want, but you need to eat healthy so you can look and be your best for your trial, at the very least. I'm hoping that will be before this, but if not, I need you to look the part of Lord Black. And if it is, then you'll ruin anything your exercising is doing to help you."

"Well, I could," Sirius grumbled, agreeing with his godson. Well, not agreeing, but going along with it. "Other than that, I sent a letter acting as your party planner and got The Weird Sisters booked, along with two other bands. Then you have the enchanted orchestra in the ballroom, so you can have some of the grandpa music in there, too, if you want."

"What about the guest list?" Emma asked with a chuckle.

"I've almost got the last of the invites ready," Sirius said with a blush, not looking anyone in the eye. Hermione was on the man in an instant, sensing weakness.

"What did you do?" She asked, knowing he was guilty of something.

"If you invited Malfoy, I'm going to see your animagus form neutered," Harry stated conversationally.

"I wanted this to put you off in the right way in society," Sirius explained hastily. "I invited those we agreed on, obviously, and not those you said no to."

"But?" Hermione asked, hearing one in there somewhere.

"I may have also tried to up the ante a little by inviting some others, as well...," Sirius mumbled.

"Who?" Harry asked with a sigh.

"Well, like I said, I was acting as your party planner," Sirius delayed. "I explained you still need to learn about your station and what is expected of you and, while learning at an rapid pace, you are still learning, of course."

"Out with it, Sirius," Harry demanded as the parents looked on in worry, not really quite sure what was going on since it sounded like Sirius did what he was supposed to do since Harry didn't know enough people to know who all to send an invite to.

"I invited all of the Holyhead Harpies, letting them know they're your favorite team," Sirius rushed out.

"But I don't have a favorite team," Harry muttered. "Is that it? And why them, specifically?"

"An all-girls Quidditch team?" Sirius asked, aghast. "What's not to like!? And, er, no ... Not all. I also invited a few other teams. I also remembered you trying to entice Slughorn into teaching, so I invited him. I also invited some of what you might call the middle-class people, particularly those that knew your parents."

"So, in short," Hermione began, "you invited famous people rather than politically important and some regular, every-day people and that's it? I don't really see any reason to be upset about it."

"I'd rather have more normal people, anyway," Harry grumbled.

"That's not why I was worried you'd get upset," Sirius sighed. "I invited about an extra sixty average people for this that normally wouldn't really see an invite. I also added that, as a gift for attending, and supposedly under the short notice, they are given a credit at Twilfit & Tattings, along with Aphrodite's Finery, to outfit themselves in some modest, but decent, outfits. Five galleons each. I plan on reimbursing you from my own account if that's a problem, I just didn't think you'd be okay with the added numbers and the cost."

"No, I'm perfectly okay with that," Harry explained. "How are they all getting here?"

"Timed portkeys onto the front lawn," Xenophilius stated. "I took care of that and the invitations themselves at Sirius' direction. As my little contribution, I also got a few hundred fairies from the forest behind the Rookery to detail the lawn and manor for you, while also visiting that night to light up the grounds. They were quite happy to do something for Luna's new family and for something other than Christmas."

"Thank you, Xeno," Harry and Hermione said warmly while Luna waddled over to hug her father. Hermione made sure to move her pudding back to the center of the table so Luna wouldn't overeat it again. She was back to looking pregnant. 'She shouldn't pull it off so well, though,' Hermione thought, thinking the girl looked radiantly happy. Granted, she always did when able to binge on pudding, but still.

"Er, would you like to come, Shade?" Sirius asked, looking at the woman who had been silent where she knew she wasn't needed and felt probably not wanted. The girl's shock was well-hidden, however, through an apathetic expression. Only her rapid blinking gave her away, though no one there noticed it.

"I am unsure. I ... don't do well in crowds," she admitted.

"Neither do I," Harry said with a smile, letting her know he was amenable with the idea. "But I'd be happy to have you here if you want. But you don't have to feel pressured and you certainly don't have to make a decision now. Choose whatever you're comfortable with."

Shade nodded, very unsure of what she should be feeling right then. She preferred to be alone most often because people looked at her oddly. She also just simply didn't trust people. The only ones she really felt comfortable around were Croaker, Amelia Bones and an Unspeakable named Timothy that was perfectly happy to be near each other in silence without talking, without interacting and stayed quiet.

Being with these people was different in a big way. There was everything she generally disliked with other people. Noise, interaction, talking, actual conversation where she had to talk and wasn't given enough time to simply watch and observe. Not to mention the little blonde hugger. That led to the one she was least fond of: touching. She didn't like touching.

She was ill at ease with these things, even with this group. But she didn't stop any of it. She allowed the blonde to hug her without pushing her away or blasting her into a wall, which was her norm. She conversed with these people despite a dislike of talking, though most of it was about what she wanted to talk about, so it was perhaps understandable there. The noise was ... it was like a rabble in her ears, but it was all friendly and happy.

When she observed others, she liked to be invisible and simply watch and listen. She could learn quite a bit. In the Ministry, there was always someone plotting with someone else about how to hurt someone or extort them. It was never happy, or if it was, it was overshadowed by something dark or sinister nearby. It was the same in public. Diagon Alley, people were rushed and sometimes angry.

Most of the time, she heard a buzzing, like thousands of stinging bees or wasps, just waiting for the opportunity to get at you. This, however, was a low, happy rumble. Well, unless the big one laughed. Then there was the occasional explosion. But it settled ... nicely ... upon her ears.

It all made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn't used to it and it felt strange.

"So, how did the Wizengamot meeting go today?" Sirius asked, trying to get away from the subject that made him feel like an insecure teenager again. 'Definitely too early to try picking up birds,' he thought.

"Well, Malfoy showed up for the first time," Harry said, annoyed. "He also managed to pass a law since we had a majority today, even though no one actually read the bloody law since it was submitted only a few days ago. I tried to get it held off, but couldn't. Too much risk of people making money as far as they could tell. And when I said it may be badly worded or something, everyone just told me that that was what amendments are for. Even Bones and Longbottom. I thought better of them than that."

"That's ridiculous!" The Grangers all exclaimed as one. Dan, though, kept going. "I know people in the muggle world may vote without reading something, but they don't all do so! And it still sits long enough to give them an opportunity to do so!"

"Something I've learned is that Hermione had the right of it. As a general rule, all magicals have little to no common sense," Harry said with a sad shake of his head. "There are some that do, but it seems just to be how they are raised. No offense, guys," he said to the others around the table.

"No, you are quite correct," Shade agreed. "Some are quite cunning and that provides a modicum of sense. But they, too, tend to not look too far beyond their plans, which are usually convoluted to an extreme. Just as we spoke of with wandless magic. Too complex and it crashes in on itself."

"What was his law?" Emma asked.

"Basically, I think it was like a debt collection thing," Harry said, scrunching up his face. "He is setting it up so that the Ministry can buy all sorts of debts, possibly at lower amounts than the debt is for, but then sell it for more or just use the debt for their own use."

"How would they use a debt on their own?" Hermione asked. Her brow was furrowed as she tried to figure that out.

Harry, with the help of Shade filling in a few blanks to clarify the actual law itself as described by Malfoy, went on to explain the meeting and details of the law. The young lord explained it how he saw it, which was simply debt collection. Once they were done, however, Sirius became the voice of caution.

"Harry, this is very important. Are you sure they are allowing people to barter life debts?" The animagus asked.

"Er, yea," Harry confirmed in confusion. "Why?"

"Do you remember telling me how you and Hermione became friends?" Sirius asked, ignoring Harry's question as far as the boy could tell.

"Of course! I'm not likely to forget."

"Hermione owed you a life debt from that," Sirius explained gravely. "And if the details you told me regarding that Ginny girl from last year are correct, then she owes you one, too. That may be why he wanted that three-year forfeiture period."

"Do you think that's why the little prick is doing this?" Harry asked, looking like he was getting ready to go to war.

"Possible, but I highly doubt it," Sirius said after a second.

"What exactly is a life debt?" Dan asked a little darkly.

"It's actually fairly difficult to explain," Sirius said. "Basically, when a magical person is saved from something, usually life-or-death, then they owe a person a debt that magic itself enforces. A cosmic balance or, as Lily liked to say, something called 'Karma'."

"Save a person's life, and they owe you?" Dan asked to confirm, getting an affirmative.

"Now, the difficult part is just what that means," Sirius continued. "Let's use Hermione as the example since that is most relevant and will give you the answers you want, I think."

"Continue," Dan stated.

"Their friend, Ron, said mean things and made Hermione go into the loo, right? Good. Now, that means he has at least some culpability for her being in danger. Maybe not the direct cause, but at least some. That means she cannot owe him a debt as severe as it could have been. But, because Harry said nothing, and I've learned never really said anything bad about her before that, it means she owes him pretty much nothing. Then Harry decided to rush after her and had to convince Ron to go with him. For Ron, helping with homework and not killing him will probably be more than is needing to pay off that debt."

"You had to talk him into going?" Hermione snarled. 'Just like those bloody dragons and the tent! At a drop of the hat, he leaves when things get tough!' She continued to listen, although she didn't pay so much attention to her thoughts as current rage matched and drew upon familiar rage from another time and place.

"Let's stay focused," Emma suggested, wanting to hear what was more important to the parents at the moment. "What about her owing Harry a debt?"

"Harry didn't say anything to cause you to get upset, right Hermione? No? Good. Did he ever really say anything mean to you? No? Good. That means Harry wasn't really at fault for Hermione being in the loo save for maybe not speaking up to his friend. That establishes that a person cannot be at fault for putting someone in danger and, if they are, then the degree at which they are at fault can impact the end result. With me so far?"

"So, Hermione being in danger by a troll was like a danger worth one hundred points," Dan said, bringing out some of his Dungeons and Dragons days. "Harry, not really at fault but possibly speaking up, could have maybe two points for not stopping Ron from being rude. Ron, perhaps, eighty points responsible, so saving her would leave Hermione owing them ninety-eight points and twenty points, respectively?"

"Correct," Sirius agreed after a moment of thought. "Now, on top of that, is accountability as friends, acquaintances, enemies, lovers, family and the like. Ron was openly mean to Hermione most often and Harry not really at all, but they weren't friends until this event, correct?" Sirius asked.

"Right," the two teens agreed. "I am sorry I never spoke up in your defense," Harry continued, making Hermione smile and give him a kiss as she waved it off.

"We're betrothed and it's great," she said happily. "I think we're good."

"Well, the point is," Sirius continued with a grin. "Harry was in no way accountable other than a peer and acquaintance. Ron even less so, really. So, because of that, you'd put Hermione's debt a little larger to the both of them. But, because Harry had to drag Ron there, you'd take some of that debt away from Ron."

"So, in short, she owes someone a larger debt in this case because they had no reason to seek her out and save her?" Dan asked. 'Other than perhaps guilt,' he considered to himself. He was just smart enough not to mention it out loud.

"Yes," Sirius confirmed. "An auror, or magical copper, would have almost no debt at all because it is their job, for example. The next is the level of danger. With a mountain troll averaging ten to twelve feet tall, and about as big and strong as Hagrid over there," Sirius pointed out the sheepish-looking half-giant, "and with only two months of magic education under their belts, plus I understand it had a club which would have been basically a tree without branches, then the danger is quite high."

"Right on all counts," Hermione agreed, looking to her parents. "Plus, when they got in there, it was just about to crush me, and Harry jumped onto the thing's back." Seeing both parents look at Harry gratefully, Hermione considered her little boast there worth it.

"Well, onto the rest," Sirius explained. "A debt is then weighted on the importance of the people involved. I don't mean for this to sound bad, but this is how magic will see things, so please keep that in mind," the escapee began with a wince.

"Hermione has no known magical history. So, she has no overt financial wealth, she is new to magic, and thus has less history to suggest she will continue on to do something special like magical texts or experiments and the like, like the Potters do, for example."

"I get it," Dan growled. "Continue."

"Well, Harry is the Head of several families, controls massive amounts of land and the servants who take care of that land, or perhaps serfs would be better. He has great financial wealth. His family is still the most famous for their warding with designs and schemes that are still spoken of in whispers. In short, in relation to the world, he is more valuable to it."

"That isn't even the worst of it," Hermione stated in an awed whisper. Her hair was quite a bit poofier as realization hit her.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

"Harry still has an active prophecy around him that will literally decide the fate of the world," Hermione said quietly. "He has-"

"Hermione!" Harry barked out, snapping the girl out of her shock. "Please remember there are some things that no one here is allowed to know," he demanded gently, causing the brunette to wince.

"She is still right, though," Luna said, in a similar state to Hermione. "There is something even far more important than that prophecy that leads to his importance. We cannot discuss it, but please rest assured that anyone owing Harry a life debt will owe him anything he demands of them."

"Er, right," Sirius blinked owlishly. Harry's girls were weird.

"It isn't that we don't trust you guys," Harry said with a sigh. "But I'm under a magical oath of sorts that I cannot tell anyone about what they're suggesting and really shouldn't be talking about."

"Sorry," Hermione whispered.

"It's okay. Just try not to let it out again, okay?" Harry said calmly, trying to soothe his First from the short distance Shade's presence kept between them. The earlier kiss had her getting up for it, but neither felt like doing that since it would draw more attention to them.

"Well, to continue on," Sirius began again.

"There's more?" Dan asked incredulously.

"Just paying the debt off," Sirius explained. "Since they became friends, and Hermione's been with him through thick and thin, that would reduce the debt owed, though I have no idea by how much. Stuff like that is subjective to them and magic both. Becoming betrothed likely means the debt would be virtually non-existent, but depending on what they were talking about earlier, I don't know for sure. But, certainly, nothing that can be used by this bill. Unless whatever they're talking about is public knowledge like the rest, then it won't be considered when they try to judge that and, even then, they usually accept it if someone says it's paid off and consider most debts paid in full with marriage or some other sort of bond," he finished, deciding it would be wisest not to mention the types of bonds that were considered legal for such a situation.

"That's a relief," Dan and Emma sighed. "In essence, the entire situation is weighted based on the who, the what, the why and paid off with the how."

"Though, that one with the Weasley girl is another thing entirely," Sirius continued, looking to Harry. "You were friends with her family, so that helps, but a basilisk and whatever that diary was that did it, then going and getting her medical attention, still not really being friends like you are Hermione ... There's no doubt a debt still exists there."

"Would that also be why the entire population doesn't really owe Harry a debt?" Hermione asked, ignoring the thing about Ginny as unimportant. They could deal with that, later. "Because they weren't in direct danger?"

"Yup. There are few rules of magic, but those that do exist, are ironclad," Sirius stated. "A person must be in direct and immediate, life-threatening, danger. That basilisk is a prime example(1.) The students were in danger, but not direct danger yet."

"That is so convoluted," Dan whined, wrapping his head around everything.

"It's magic," Hermione rebutted with a snort. "If it isn't, then you can bet it's probably fake."

"Speaking of convoluted," Sirius switched gears, sighing sadly. "I've been looking over the Black family grimoires."

"Find anything for the Longbottoms?" Harry asked.

"It could be one of two or three spells," Sirius stated. "But I would have to see them to find out which. Needless to say, that would be a little difficult."

Harry turned to Shade, who was contentedly watching the group until she noticed him looking at her. "If what we have to discuss here could heal the Longbottoms, but discusses some slightly less than legal options to find out if we can, are you going to tell the wrong people?"

"Not if it can heal them," Shade stated, tilting her head to the side. "I am not an auror, nor am I affiliated with law enforcement. I am called out to fight against demons and worse-"

"-There's worse than demons?" Dan and Emma asked each other.

"-thus, I have no reason to reveal your plans. On top of that, you would be party as a conspirator and you are too intriguing to allow to go to prison."

Harry turned to Sirius with a grin, even while Hermione eyed Shade with a little more interest than she normally would have. "Dobby!"

A few minutes later, Sirius and the excitable critter were off. This time, Dobby elected to wear a black suit that appeared to have been ... appropriated ... from a muggle science lab for warfare technologies. Either that, or he had been watching some movies from somewhere and decided to recreate something that looked like it belonged a few decades in the future. It even had spots for his ears to fit in to.

"Still think you've seen worse?" Harry chuckled.

"Yes," Shade admitted, finding more interest in her carrots.

"How?" Harry asked.

"I've seen the process for making the house elves," Shade explained, placing her silverware down. "When they are first created, their magics must settle. Before it does, they create all sorts of fantastical things and usually imprint onto a random object and gain odd fixations on them. Normal-born ones don't have that issue with their magic though they will still bond to an item rather than their mother, but sometimes, they must still be created to assist with the potential for breeding problems or to incorporate new genetics."

"What do you mean first created?" Hermione asked.

"House elves were created by wizard-kind," Shade explained. "Their base is that of a brownie, with some goblin resilience thrown in. Bat genetics to allow greater hearing and abilities I am unaware of as I didn't care to learn them. They also use some fairy, human and a couple other creatures. This allows for selective-trait-breeding, such as the symbiotic bond they require with a magical human to stay alive. It is also usually only done if a quick increase in numbers are needed. Otherwise, normal breeding suffices."

"That's horrible," Hermione whispered.

"They are currently the only legally-allowed chimera to be created," Shade continued. "Before, house elves, squibs and lower-class magicals were used to fill such roles, usually bound for some imagined slight or for a debt gone out of control. This helped to stop such things," she explained. "This is also one of the reasons knights of old would try to save women in trouble as it was hoped to be a witch who would then owe a life debt they could call."

"But you shouldn't create a living, thinking being just for the sake of enslavement!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Do muggles not do this with dogs and cats?" Shade asked in confusion. "Those, they use to show off. And they do the same thing for farm yard beasts, do they not? Just for the sake of being butchered and eaten?"

"That! That!" Hermione spluttered, unsure of how to respond. "We don't enslave them, though!"

"What about fighting?" Shade asked, still confused. "My understanding is that you also breed dogs for guarding and fighting one another."

"It's generally not an accepted practice, but we understand what you mean," Dan butted in, trying to get off the subject. "Honey, didn't you tell us that you've learned most house elves are treated very well and are happy with where they are and that cases such as Dobby's are unique?"

After a few moments of silence, Dobby popped in, bouncing on his feet, while Sirius stood there, actually serious. "I know how to fix them, but it will take three days each. And I've no idea how they will handle being out of it for so long. Also, er ... the two nurses on shift at night are romantically involved."

"Dobby is being having to drag Master Harry's dogfather away from them, too!" Dobby harrumphed before marching away, head held high.

"That's great news!" Harry exclaimed while ignoring his godfather's peeping antics. "We'll figure out a way to get you the time with them."

"What else did you do with your day?" Luna asked. "You were meeting with the goblins and that reporter today as well, right?"

"Well, the reporter was Rita Skeeter," Harry began. "I explained any exclusives I provide should be offered to the Quibbler, first, just in case you want it. I also bought her off since she has a tendency to make up stories and write whatever strikes her fancy. I also wanted to let her know just how badly doing that with me could come back to haunt her."

"Blackmail?" Hermione asked, having a vague recollection of his plans.

"Mostly," Harry said with a grin. "Since there aren't libel laws in place, there's nothing to stop her except the threat of violence and ending her career. Libel and slander are only able to be fought under the pretense of a magical duel. But due to laws in place, a person is allowed to select a champion to fight on their behalf, so most don't do this since there is no telling who you may go up against. Especially when it's the biggest newspaper in the magical world and they have a few dueling champions they sponsor who agree to fight on their behalf if called upon."

"Maybe you could introduce them," Xenophilius suggested. "It provides a method for you to get into the political game while protecting people as well. Win-win for everyone."

"I think I will," Harry mused thoughtfully. "I'll probably have to look into the muggle laws to get an idea of what I'm in for, though."

"Isn't blackmail a little ... over the top?" Emma asked hesitantly.

"Not with this woman," Xenophilius refuted. "I don't know how, but she gets dirt on everyone and uses that to allow her to write articles that smear everyone's good name and infer anything she wants, usually to show people in the worst-possible light. And everything she writes is taken as truth. Same with everyone in that paper, to be honest."

"What Xeno is not saying," Harry picked up, "is that the woman smears everyone's name if she can. She goes for the biggest story to fit whatever facts she can, or makes facts up to support her claim either way. But, she gets all that dirt because she's an illegal animagus. A beetle, to be precise."

"Why not just report her?" Emma asked. "Why blackmail?"

"Because blackmail allows her to be on my side," Harry explained with a shrug. "All she has to do is register her form and she can attack me with impunity, which is why I had to point out I could, and would, fight an honor duel if she lied about me or any of you. In short, she knows I can legally kill her if I really wanted to. Or at least make the attempt. The law allows for that since she would still have to legally be the Second unless she has family willing to stand in for her. But if she works with me, then she doesn't have to report her form, and she can keep writing how she wants otherwise. In short, it's the most profitable solution for her. I also offered to pay her a salary that should see her positively gushing about anything regarding us. And that is going to be needed in the future, regardless. I've got big plans and she could ruin them within the next few months."

"What plans?" Luna and Hermione asked as one, though Luna did so through a yawn and stretch that was decidedly feline.

"I've got big plans for Hogsmeade that I expect to have finished by the end of the summer," Harry said with a proud grin.

"Such as?" Sirius pressed.

"There isn't a lot to do there for students. It's mostly visit the pub, the candy store, or wander around. I intend to add some new shops and magical versions of muggle entertainments."

"Bringing the non-magical world to the magical?" Dan asked with a raised eyebrow. "Can't say I'm against that. It'd be nice if Hermione didn't have to forget her roots."

"What are you planning?" Emma, Hermione and Sirius asked.

"First, I'm going to either hire aurors to supervise or chaperon on weekends to ensure added safety and security, or find some retired aurors or hit wizards to police the town. Nothing major there, but they'll need a barracks for whichever option is taken, or combination. Bringing in more people means more homes, as well. So, I've got plans for a few dozen homes."

"Not a bad idea," Xenophilius said with happy agreement. "Auror response time is sometimes lacking."

"I'm also doing something similar for a Gringotts bank branch."

"The goblins will never support that," Sirius disagreed, shaking his head. "Their land is sovereign and they can do a lot. They can't do that elsewhere. Plus, they enjoy making people go to one central location in Britain for their money."

"I already got them to agree to it," Harry said, shocking the magicals, even Shade. Hermione just took it in stride, however, since she didn't realize just how impressive the feat was. "For the revamped Muggle Studies class, they agreed to create vaults for free, to the student, with an initial deposit of a galleon or more, with a free money bag of two galleons or more. I've also agreed to make the soil theirs for as long as the agreement is in place, but it isn't much land. I can't explain it for security, but they're using a Potter Portal device to make things easier."

"Oh, like those things you got us for Christmas?" Emma exclaimed. "I love those," she said wistfully, beyond happy at seeing her daughter each weekend.

"What else?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I'm also planning on a community center that should introduce bowling, roller skating, a magical gaming arcade if they exist and, if not, then I plan on making one. I'm also setting up a muggle literature library, go-cart track, paint ball arena, basketball and football courts and a beauty salon and boutique. There'll also be a movie theater that I hope will be a hit and show what muggles can really do. Educational films and documentaries will be free to watch, but entertainment movies will be very cheap. Then, I hope to have a muggle candy store in the theater to sort of give the full experience. I'm also planning on building a restaurant for various ethnic cuisines and, most importantly, pizza."

"That'll do, boyfriend. That'll do," Hermione said with a grin.

"I'm also looking to hire a few dozen muggleborn, muggle-raised, or magicals knowledgeable about the muggle world with knowledge of Runes and Arithmancy to create some of these things and for a technomancy lab I hope to create to marry muggle and magical devices to try and help bridge the divide."

"How so?" Dan asked. "Isn't there that secrecy thing that keeps us from talking?"

"The Statute of Secrecy is meant to keep people form learning of the magical world," Harry explained. "But, there is a stigma of non-magical ideas, even though they are fairly well taken in many ways. A muggleborn invented the wizarding wireless network after non-magical radios. But it could only pick up magic, not radio waves. The Ministry has cars, but they are so heavily modified as to be like something from Star Trek. Take a ride on the Knight Bus some time and you'll see. I've also learned that most of their textile goods are from the muggle world, like cloth. Unless it's magical in nature, anyway. I mean, the Weasleys will sometimes wear jeans, for example. They can't get that in the magical world."

"So you plan on exploiting that?" Sirius and Emma asked in stereo.

"Yup. Hermione's already got a long list of ideas like televisions, microwavable meals modified with magic since they don't have microwaves, data storage devices to help with libraries, communication devices. All sorts of things."

"How did-," Hermione began to ask before she realized it was probably his future knowledge. She would ask him tomorrow where and when she brought this up, though. She had given up on it at the end of last year when her teachers found her ideas 'quaint' and 'amusing'. "Never mind. I think I remember."

"Well, I'm looking forward to hearing ideas if any of you are curious."

"Zoo!" Luna exclaimed quickly. "Preferably of the petting variety."

Harry laughed, along with several others before Hagrid spoke up a little nervously, raising his hand. "Er, I reckon I migh' agree with 'er on this 'un."

"A zoo, unfortunately, isn't something I know how to plan. But, if you'd like one, then we can always see about field trips in the new Muggle Studies class. A few will be expected, regardless. But for now, I don't really have anyone to take care of the animals we would get."

Luna pouted, but agreed with him. Hagrid pouted and sniffled.

"What are your goals with doing all this?" Dan asked, trying to be sensible about what he just heard his daughter's fiancée talking about creating. The costs associated would be enormous. "You're talking about a lot of money while some of these ideas aren't too reasonable just to merge magical and non together."

"It is that, in many regards," Harry agreed. "But it is also for money. Right now, I can do a lot of things that others can't just because the Ministry can't enforce as many rules on me at all. One of those is a generalized ban on anything muggle. For the most part, it's a view of what is on one side, stays on one side. The wizarding world hasn't really had any innovations in a long time. Especially anything impressive or big. I hope to draw others into my land to spend their gold doing things that are fun and entertaining while also not letting them know directly that what they are enjoying is muggle. I hope to make all of this as a magical equivalent so they just think I took ideas. That, they can support, but not do, due to the laws."

"So you expect to see a return from this?" Dan asked, feeling a little better.

"I have little doubt I'll see massive returns," Harry said with a grin. "After all, look at how big the television became, and how quickly. My Potter Portals, once I go public with them, should see me make back a decent amount of what I am investing into this, alone. Throw in other things I hope to make real through the technomancy side of things, and I hope to come out drastically ahead."

"Not to mention," Hermione suggested, "that with movies playing and being accepted, you could magically create all sorts of things that the non-magical world can't. Inventions from a movie would be easily recreated, or hopefully not too difficult."

"I suppose we can try and think up a few things," Emma offered. "Though, if you're really looking for money, you could probably look into amusement park ideas and gambling if that's legal."

"The goblins definitely won't be happy with the gambling, but nothing says they've got the monopoly on it," Sirius said with a shrug. "But, I've been to an amusement park. I don't see that being something that can be put in Hogsmeade too easily. Could be fun, though."

"We'll think of something," Dan said.

"I think it's time for bed," Harry said, letting out a loud yawn as he noticed his blonde Second already resting her eyes. "Shade, would you like to use the floo, or would you like me to Shift you somewhere?"

"I'll floo, thank you," Shade stated, feeling a little apprehension now. She wasn't sure about the etiquette in leaving something like this. "Thank you for the dinner, Lord Potter." Somewhat relieved, she followed the tiny house elf who led her away.

"What an odd woman," Emma muttered once she was sure the girl had gone. "I like her, though," she continued, unaware that Shade was away from the room, but able to channel magic to her ears and listen to everything that was said.

"Me too," Sirius said with a too-wide grin.

"Down boy," Harry laughed tiredly. "She's a good person, and I agree. I like her, too. She seems to have a problem interacting with people, but then again, so do I."

"Harry," Hagrid said, laying a large hand on the boy's shoulder with enough force to make his knees buckle slightly. "I wan'ed ta thank yer for invitin' me over an' helpin' get me name cleared."

"You were the first one in the world to see me as a person, Hagrid," Harry said with a grin. "You didn't deserve to suffer for what happened. However, if you want to bring any animals onto the land that aren't native, you'll need to get permission first from now on, okay? Aragog, for instance, let his family try to eat me and Ron last year, saying we weren't protected like you were."

"Aw, they was jus' messin' with ya, I'ma sure of it," Hagrid said with a grin.

"Thousands of them chased us, some the size of lorries, and tried to bite at our legs with their pincers," Harry stated flatly, making the much larger man look a little sheepish. "Anyway, I just don't want to risk something like that again."

"I un'erstand, Harry," Hagrid mumbled, scuffing the toe of his massive foot on the marble-like, crystal floor, looking like a child that got caught trying to filch a cookie from the jar. The large man then accepted Dobby's offer to return him to his hut rather than flooing to the Three Broomsticks and taking a long walk.

"Are you staying here or going home for the evening?" Harry asked of his girls' parents.

"I'm meeting with Sarah," Xenophilius said with a blush and smile. It was amazing how having feelings for a girl could make someone feel like a blundering teenager again.

"We've got work," Emma said, hugging the girls.

"Thanks for the meal, son. And we'll see you next weekend," Dan said as he ruffled Harry's hair and went to kiss Hermione on the forehead.

After everyone was gone and Sirius bounded off to his room in his dog form, Harry and the girls elected to spend the night in Harry's room. They were too tired to bother with bathing and decided to hold off until the morning for that. They undressed and fell into bed, Harry and Hermione falling asleep as soon as they got comfortable.

'Command our magic to do what we wanted, hm?' The quirky blonde thought to herself, lifting the covers to see her favorite toy. 'Rise, minion! Rise!' A moment later, with nothing happening, the blonde sighed and let the comforter drop. 'Bugger!'

xXxXxXx

Friday – February 18, 16:15, Malfoy's marriage quarters (earlier in the day)

"Gentlemen," Draco began as officiously as possible, pride swelling his chest and causing a grin to stretch over his face. "Step one was an even greater success than I hoped for. Please, partake," he offered, indicating the firewhiskey Pansy had poured for the three of them.

"So you can get away with things, now?" Crabbe asked, throwing back the shot quickly so they wouldn't see him suffer the burning sensation. "Er, M'lord. Sorry 'bout that. M'lord."

"No, you simpleton," Draco sneered, grabbing his wife by the hair and dragging her down to her knees where he felt she belonged. She wasn't allowed a chair save for in public. He also enjoyed letting his first two minions see just how much control he had over her. He began to lightly pet her hair absently, much like a dog. "This was just the opening salvo of my plan. That is my long-term goal."

"Oh, right," Goyle spoke up, proud of his memory. "You're plannin' on buyin' Granger's debt next year, right, M'lord?"

"It would certainly be amusing to walk her about, assuming I let her off her back and not servicing Slytherins in the common room," Draco chuckled. "But that is not a part of my end goal, either. It would simply be a delightful bonus. Especially if I were to make her misery public," he stated almost wistfully.

"The blood-traitor Weasley girl owes him one, too," Goyle continued. "I don't s'pose'n my lord would offer her as a boon should he ... uh, acquire her, too?" The boy asked hopefully, his gaze drifting off as thoughts drifted through his mind's eye.

"Hm," Draco considered, dropping a hand to painfully grope his wife's chest. It always helped him think. "I suppose I could be bothered if a minion proved deserving enough. Therefore, I'll make a game of it," the boy laughed sinisterly. "I'll acquire her, or some other plaything for whomever provides the best idea for my title as a dark lord between the two of you."

"Your compassion knows no bounds, M'lord," Crabbe gushed. He had asked his father about using that phrase for when he was rewarded. The boy hadn't actually thought he would get to use it so soon.

"I know," Draco drawled.

"So, when d'you get to make them let you get away with breaking the law?" Goyle asked.

"Did you understand nothing of what I explained to you before, you simple-minded fool?" Draco scowled. "I don't intend to break the law. I intend to make a safety net of laws that should act as loopholes to serve me in case I get caught while allowing me to do more than would otherwise be permissible, legally speaking of course. In other words, I am making laws that shall work together to allow me to get away with things that I can't right now."

"How long will that take, M'lord?" Goyle asked again after determining he wasn't totally sure what the newest dark lord was talking about.

"As long as it takes, you fool," Draco said flatly. He then waved his hand to shoo them out while he grabbed Pansy's hair firmly with the other. "Leave us. My wife will be attending to me."

Pansy's hands frantically flew to her master's robes so she could please him, knowing he was not a patient man and his punishments were nothing if not severe.

Draco tilted his head back with a sigh as Pansy used her mouth for the only good thing he had found it to be of use for. Much better than her mindless blabbering. "I will become the newest dark lord. And those bloody fools will pass the laws to give me the power," he groaned, grabbing the girl by the head as he quickly neared his end and shoved it down to get as deep inside of her as he could, finishing with a weak spurt to hit the roof of his pet's mouth. He looked forward to the day he could go further than four inches into her.

"Remove your robes and accept me, Wife," Draco commanded harshly. "If you cause me to finish too soon again, I'll prove my threats of allowing Crabbe and Goyle to use you were not idle!"

Pansy did as she was ordered, calling out enthusiastically about how wonderful her husband was, just as she was ordered, while internally, she mourned that he had ordered her not to cry again as that was all she really wanted to do. Her mind was her own, but her body was her husband and master's to control.

She had tried to fight the magical contract after her first night. Poison was pointless, as she was under orders to do everything in her power to keep him from harm. Attempts to use it had ended in the poison's destruction. Any method of physical assault, such as knives, forks, spoons, drowning or even giving him spoiled food was impossible for her. Using magic against him was impossible unless she was authorized or it was an authorized reason, such as healing.

Pansy had always spoken highly of Draco. Always doted on him and proudly told anyone who would listen that he was being trained for politics. She had just never assumed he was smart enough to give her a whole slew of orders immediately following their wedding, even before they bought the bloody elves, to essentially make her his perfect slave, physically at least. She did what he said, regardless of what it was. He had even proven it by making her please him in all the ways he could imagine in front of his two best friends, or minions as he now called them. Then he made her sit on the floor, naked and bared to them, while they relieved themselves on her before ordering her to stay there until the morning where he then ordered her to bathe herself thoroughly.

Outside where people could hear her, she moaned and begged for it like a whore in Knockturn Alley.

Inside her mind where it was silent, she screamed.

xXxXxXx

Friday – February 18, 22:20 – Department of Mysteries: Outside live-in dorms

"You're rarely back this late unless dealing with something rather dangerous or 'misunderstood'," Croaker greeted Shade as the woman entered the hall to her apartment. He had been waiting for the woman for almost four hours now.

"Lord Potter invited me to dinner with his family," Shade explained simply, having seen the attachments the boy had created in Hagrid even though the man wasn't family or in any way going to be while everyone else, but her of course, was soon to be his wife or an in-law. "It was a meeting I requested that had to be put off due to previous engagements on Lord Potter's behalf and was a suitable compromise for my request and met both of our needs for a mutually beneficial evening."

Croaker's face soured as his mind took that in a very ill-thought out manner, but he ignored it, feeling Amelia probably had the right of it and he was simply just paranoid. "Is that so?" He asked, sounding unenthused.

"Please be aware, as well, that I will be likely making a modest withdrawal from my Ministry account soon," Shade said after a moment's pause, sounding only slightly unsure of herself. It was enough to catch the wrinkled geezer's attention, however.

"Oh? Not that it's my business, of course, but might I ask why?"

"Lord Potter invited me to his Auream Ball," Shade stated, brushing past her mentor as she decided to throw her hesitancy behind her since she still hadn't quite made up her mind and she greatly disliked that feeling of insecurity.

Working on her own insecurities like that, she didn't bother to notice Croaker scowl. She was also already in her apartment by the time he started to grumble about boys not knowing their place and trying to get their hooks into his little girl.

Had she heard that, it would have given her an entirely different set of priorities to try and come to terms with. Thankfully, she didn't, so she just had to decide if she was willing to play dress up and visit again with Lord Potter. And his overly-hugging girls.

xXxXxXx

Saturday – February 19, 09:05 – Potter Manor, Next Morning

Harry woke up to the delightful sensation of one of his girls sucking the breath from his body and his tongue being teased by theirs, while the second of his girls was kissing up and down his chest.

"Good morning," Luna said brightly, pulling her face from his just enough to smile at him as her long hair tickled his cheek.

"Good morning, Harry," Hermione greeted before Harry could speak, trading places with Luna and stealing a kiss while his mouth was open so she could suck on his tongue, which she knew did delightful things to his body. Especially since this was the first time they were each fully naked.

"Morning," Harry greeted back in a daze as Hermione shifted on top of him while Luna grasped her favorite toy in a gentle grip, simply delighted to hold her fiancée in her hand. "What's got you two so chipper today?" He asked after coming to his senses while Luna followed Hermione's lead and they cuddled up to his side.

"I think that has been the best night's sleep I've had in months," Hermione explained, stretching languidly. "It's about nine in the morning. That means we got almost twelve hours of sleep and it feels delightful," she purred, nibbling on Harry's shoulder. "Hold your girlfriends, boyfriend," she whispered, cuddling into his shoulder.

As it was their first time on their new schedule, they agreed they would be lazing about for a little while in bed after waking up. On top of that, they had been so tired recently that their personal time together was generally some light snogging, very light petting and almost nothing but cuddling. Harry's arms wrapped around his girls and slowly stroked their tummies gently, occasionally rising to softly cup their breasts and retreat while he turned his head back and forth to share lazy kisses with both so that whoever was waiting for a kiss was still getting some form of enjoyment without breaking that morning haze that made them feel isolated from the world as if it were just the three of them.

"Best. Idea. Ever," Luna sighed in contentment after a few minutes of bliss. It was shattered, however, as the svelte blonde muttered an angry, "Bugger!"

"What is it?" Hermione asked, tracing a finger over Harry's chest from where she was occasionally slipping it down to tease hers and Luna's shared boy toy.

"Oh," Luna pouted. "I just realized I will have to change my title."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused. He had been playing with her bottom and knew she rather enjoyed that, but her exclamation had made him unsure if he had crossed a line.

"First Hogsmeade weekend," Luna explained. "I can't be the Mistress of Time. Hermione has a time-turner, and you were actually hurled backwards in time like a blitzed-out nargle. And now I'm simply doing these things with you."

Hermione giggled, despite herself. Today was just too good a day to not find the good in everything as far as her world was concerned right then. "Then we'll just have to find something else for you to be mistress of," she proclaimed.

"Can I be Mistress of the Heaving Bosom?" Luna asked after a moment. "I'd very much like to have a heaving bosom for you and Harry to play with. I know I've got far to go, but I'd like for you both to enjoy them."

"Urk," Hermione spluttered, red faced.

"Huh," Harry grunted, staring at his Second's lovely breasts. "I haven't actually noticed, but they're larger than before."

"That happens over time," Hermione said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"No. I mean since we've been together in the last two months," he defended, gently taking Luna into the palm of his hand and kneading in the way that caused her to shudder and quite literally let out a deep, throaty purr. "When this started, I could cup them and cover them entirely. They've nearly doubled the last few months."

Rather eager, and with a positively lecherous grin, he looked from Luna's breasts to Hermione's. "Yours have, too, though not quite as much. You look about the same, now. Luna's like large lemons and you're apples."

"Fruit, Harry? Really?" Hermione teased.

"I spent a lot of time in a kitchen," he shrugged back.

"In your general memories, I seemed to grow quite a bit this year," Luna stated happily, bouncing her chest with great amusement. "It's just difficult to tell how much since robes aren't exactly flattering and you never focused on me until I was already as large as the various mes roaming about your noggin.

"She wanted to see all the sortings," Hermione said with a smile. "We were both curious to see if your changes made anyone this year get into a different house, but they didn't."

"Would you like to play with them?" Luna asked hopefully, thrusting her chest out with a proud smile.

"I've got my own," Hermione refused with a laugh.

"I would, but I think I promised my lovelies breakfast in bed," Harry said. "Why don't you get on some gowns, or at least a shirt, and I'll see if I can get Dobby to let me make you two some-"

"-Waffles!" Luna cried out gleefully, clapping in delight. "Don't we have such a wonderful, thoughtful boyfriend, Hermione?"

Fully in agreement with the younger blonde, Hermione grinned evilly at Harry. "Assuming he knows what to do with the whipped cream and berries, then yes."

"We still need to turn back time," Luna reminded in a sing-song voice as she slid out of bed and slid up to Harry and attached herself to his left arm. Sheepishly, having forgotten the need to do so, the three got their things together, leaving nothing behind, and turned time to the previous morning where Harry was heading out to the Wizengamot meeting and Hermione was talking Luna out of going without her panties to surprise Harry with later. She then had to talk Luna out of a pair with a drawn map to her buried treasure.

She almost failed that argument.

"Remember not to let Sirius see you," Hermione warned. "He knows we're currently at school and won't show up until later. We should probably go ahead and move to the other house, actually."

"After breakfast," Harry commanded gently, kissing both girls and giving a pinch on their bottoms just because he liked to hear their shocked squeaks. "I promised you breakfast in bed and we're already here."

While Harry was downstairs and having failed to convince Dobby of the reason he wanted to cook, Harry made an appointment to see Clara Zabini before lunch. He wouldn't realize until days later that asking Dobby where his sword was turned out to be why the little guy in his Spartan uniform would have it later in the day.

xXxXxXx

Friday – February 18, 11:15 – Zabini Home (Previous meeting was Fri, January 14)

"Amante," Clara Zabini greeted Harry after brushing his shoulders off from the soot his floo travel had generated before bending and kissing his cheeks with as much happiness as she could portray. "Welcome back to my home, Lord Potter!" The woman's honey bronze hair appeared to have extra luster that morning compared to their first meeting and her eyes were just as mesmerizing, making Harry feel he was correct in that they were somehow enhanced. He also did his level best to ignore the dark green dress that showed far too much cleavage in his opinion. He was fairly sure the woman would literally pop out of her top if she breathed too deeply due to how strained she looked.

"Thank you," Harry said, blushing lightly. He could snog his girls all day and not blush. But a fully-grown, adult woman, especially a highly attractive one, still brought out the little boy in him. He wasn't enticed in the slightest, but it was still outside of his comfort zone considering she was a stranger. "How's Leonora?"

Clara's eyes lit up in glee. "Oh, she's quite well, thank you! As I mentioned during our first meeting, I'm teaching her my craft. But what I've been working on for you recently is far too advanced and dangerous for her, however, so she has been a bit put out."

"Welcome to our home, Lord Potter," Leonora greeted with a little curtsy again, this time in a silk dress that was such a pale blue it was almost white with silver lace along the neck and hem while it left her arms bared. There was also a heart cut-out over her chest that was filled in with golden lace. Harry couldn't help but acknowledge the little girl was a vision to behold with her pale green eyes and her mother's hair and lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Leonora," Harry said, shaking his head to clear it of the cottony, stuffy feeling as he accepted the girl's hand and kissed her knuckles to her delighted giggles of amusement.

"I apologize, Lord Potter," Clara said as her necklace began to buzz from the alarm she set on it when she heard the floo activate. "I've been working on your Felix Felicis and the next step is ready. Leonora, please entertain Lord Potter until I return," she suggested, quickly stepping away and leaving the two in the sitting room she had led Harry to. It was smaller, and hopefully, the Veela lust pheromones added to her daughter's earlier bath would hang better in the air.

"So, do you actually enjoy potions, or are you simply learning because your mother knows the craft?" Harry asked after the two sat down and Leonora had poured them both more lemonade.

"I truly enjoy the art," Leonora said. "It is highly lucrative and has a tendency to do far more than spells and charms ever could."

"How so?" Harry asked, letting his gaze drop to the girl's flat, undeveloped chest before he darted them to the side and turned his head slower so as not to draw attention to himself. 'What the hell is wrong with me? I just keep picturing Hermione or Luna in her place and can barely fight this semi!' Through sheer desperation and fear, Harry forced a compulsion on his robes to ignore anything abnormal about his physical state, specifically anything related to his near arousal.

"Well, it might be more accurate to say they last longer and are harder to reverse," Leonora said with a blush. She set her drink down and took a seat next to Harry, smoothing her dress perhaps a little too much and bending down too slowly to sit. The nine-year old was definitely too close. "See my skin?" She asked quietly, holding his hand and forcing her own into it to be held while forcing his other hand to stroke her forearm gently. "How soft and smooth it is? I use potions to keep it clear and like this. A spell would do this as a temporary thing, but a potion will do this ... all over my body," she stated, shocked at her own forwardness.

"I see," Harry said, pulling his hands away and grabbing his drink and gulping it all down before pouring himself another and sipping it.

"My hair is the same," Leonora said, lifting her hair and letting the silky tresses fall. "Sleek-Easy is temporary, but my mother brews a long-lasting version."

Harry's eyes narrowed as he actually felt his arousal spike when he got a whiff of the little girl's shampoo. He cast a bubblehead charm on himself with a waggle of his finger and felt it leveling off. "Leonora, I'm going to ask you a question. It demands an answer."

The pink on the little girl's face darkened to red as she nodded enthusiastically. Harry had seen enough of Ginny Weasley to know the girl was abnormally excited. Hopefully, not the way he was. "Alright."

"Are you using some form of attraction agent against me like an air-based lust potion?" He growled out, fighting the urge to release the power on his bracelets against a little girl.

"What?" Leonora asked, looking hurt. "No!"

"Then why was I being affected by something like that until I put a bubblehead over my face?" He asked more loudly, rising to his feet to tower over the shorter form on the couch.

"I ... I don't know!" Leonora stuttered, looking frightened. She darted up and then ran from the room in the direction her mother had gone. Harry took the opportunity to quickly check the lemonade, just in case, and found it to be clear of anything magical.

"What is going on here?" Clara asked as she entered the room with her daughter behind her, looking terrified. "Leonora says you accused her of something vile!"

"Her, or you," Harry snarled, deciding now was the time to release his limiters to five percent. A miasma-like cloak burst forth from his body like a flame, burning the magical aphrodisiac from the air around him and his own system whilst scaring the woman and girl in front of him. "I was being affected until she got too close and it was too quick! I want answers!"

"It was me, Lord Potter," Clara stated after a brief pause. "Leonora is innocent in this and knew nothing of it. It was affecting her in the same manner."

"Why would you do that to your own daughter?" Harry asked angrily. "Does she mean so little to you!?"

"On the contrary," Clara stated more calmly. If he was yelling, he wasn't killing her. At least not yet. "She means the world to me, as does Blaise. However, I wasn't lying when I said we should have had suitors for her hand. But we have had not a one. We have wealth, but not in great excess such as yourself or the Malfoy line. We are beautiful women, to be sure. But my husbands, all of them, have died shortly after marriage. Some believe it to be a curse, though we have been unable to find one."

"Sad, but not answering my question," Harry growled.

"I believe Leonora will not have any suitors after her hand, though many will possibly offer that to bed her before leaving after getting what they want. As a mother, it is my place to find the best option for my girl if I can. What you sensed was nothing more than an amplifier, increasing what is already there-"

"I have not once had sexual thoughts regarding your daughter until today," Harry growled, though the older woman's only sign she was interrupted was to wait for him to finish speaking to finish herself.

"-and as such, it will amplify feelings of love, should they be there, lust if that is there as well which it seems is the case here, anger, animosity and the like. That may even be why you are reacting so negatively now."

Harry had never kept his power so open while listening to someone, trying to determine their motives and thoughts. Off and on, he noticed he was gaining an ability to sense those things, along with truth and lies. While he never figured out what made that ability come and go, he recognized it was there at the moment, which is how he knew what to say next. "You're lying," he snarled. "I can feel it! Oh, the first bit was true, but you lied about it amplifying everything except lust!"

Clara was silent and still.

"Please don't hurt my mother," Leonora whimpered as Harry's expression hardened.

Harry stared at Leonora long and hard as he came to a decision. "Tell me the truth. Did you know of her plan?"

Leonora shook her head quickly, causing her hair to fly about. "No," she said honestly. "The last time you were here, she may have done the same thing because I ... uh ... responded the same way, but she told me it was because I liked you and my body responded," she whispered, horrified at telling him such things. But she didn't want to get her or her mother in trouble for not telling something she suspected.

"I believe you," he said, turning to Clara. "You will either give me a magical oath to stick with our deal, ensuring you will continue to do your best with my potions and not do anything to them that will cause the drinker any form of harm as if none of this happened and you brew them legitimately so I know this won't cause you to do something to what I am purchasing, or we walk away from this deal here and now and I don't show you just how pissed off I am."

"I had no intentions of breaking my end of the bargain, Lord Potter," Clara said, providing the oath with the understanding Leonora would no longer be helping so she wasn't required to take the oath as well.

Once done, Harry went back home where him and his girls finished their homework from the day before and worked on their occlumency to patch up anything their near-constant lethargy weakened. They then cuddled the rest of the day after Harry explained what happened at the Zabini home before telling them they would be entering his mind the next day to see something that had been developing over the previous week.

xXxXxXx

[Author's Note:] – (1) – Basilisk and Life Debts – In some of my stories, I will change this to fit (such as the one-shot in "Into the Rabbit Hole" entitled "The Only Thing".) However, when I write, I try to keep a certain set of rules for magic, and this is the only way I can see life debts making sense. Especially since this SHOULD have been a HUGE plot development or concept. Peter Pettigrew owing Harry a debt, but able to use his blood (thus, cutting Harry up) to resurrect his arch enemy? Doesn't sound like something a person in a life debt would do, and I THINK I remember someone saying Peter owed Harry one. Then, Hermione does, Ginny, Arthur ... in THEORY, one could claim the world, or at least Magical Britain. Unless there are rules, such as these. But nothing happens with them.