DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: This Chapter is Rated M for suggestive sexual situations. It's not nearly smutty, but not tame either.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: FAMILY MATTERS
SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1996 - Potter Manor
Harry woke up in what he would call the middle of a Witch Pile. Hermione was to his left and Minerva to his right with Luna sleeping on top of him in one big, group cuddle. It was very warm and comfortable, Harry thought, but he was also very sore.
The "girl sex" show that had followed Luna's "introduction" to the family was not the end of the day for Harry. His ladies wanted far more. The next Harry Play Time began immediately after lunch following a length conversation about the joys of sex in general and Astoria stating that while she had the pleasure of tasting and being tasted by all her "younger sisters," she didn't get to taste Harry or enjoy his wonderful tongue. This led to a marathon of three-ways. Astoria had decided she wanted Harry to have her for dessert and he was more than willing to oblige. But while he pleasured Astoria with his tongue, someone else decided to suck his cock. Thus began a long second sex session where he orally pleasured each of his women while another sucked him off.
He was sure they were all more than finished by the end, but how wrong he was. Soon, Daphne and Hermione were snogging each other while one rode him and the other sat on his face. He went through that "torture" seven times as seven pairs of witches rode him that way. Then, of course, they all insisted he take them while they pleasured another one of the witches (even the two older ones because it involved Harry directly and they knew it turned him on), and who was he to say "no." It took all of his teenage libido and developing metamorph skills to keep it going and make sure each of his women were fully satisfied. Yesterday, he was basically having sex all day long, aside from meals and occasional breaks for necessary but annoying interruptions. He was certain that his girls were spiking his food with something. Metamorphagus abilities aside, he was certain his monster should have died some time ago, or at least run off screaming in fear. By the time they finally let him head off to bed, he was convinced he could now rest. How wrong he was as his partners for that evening - Hermione, Luna and Minerva - made it quite clear they were not done with him yet.
By Harry's count, "Little Harry" had been asked to perform at least thirty-four times yesterday. That had to be some kind of record, he thought. But it was also more than he could truly handle if this morning was any indication. Despite waking up in a delectable pile of gorgeous, naked witch flesh, nothing was happening down there. Since this bizarre new life had begun, Little Harry always woke up expecting to play with a witch or two before breakfast. Not today.
"Hmmm," a female voice sighed. "This is nice." It was Luna.
"Mmmm," Hermione and Minerva tended to agree.
"I think you killed it," Harry said.
"Killed what?" Luna asked.
"This!" Harry said wiggling his hips. Luna was lying atop his sleeping member.
"Me?" she asked.
"The lot of you!"
This earned an evil sounding giggle from his three bed companions.
"It seems," Hermione said, "even our Master of Pleasure has his limits."
"Does this mean no Harry Time today?" Luna said with a pout.
"Er…just not now," Harry said. "I hope," he added.
"Oh goodie! Well, not about now as I wouldn't mind a Harry wake up but …"
"We can still take our bath with him," Hermione said.
"Oh goodie!"
"Look what the cat dragged in," Neville chuckled. Harry looked much the worse for wear as he entered the dining room for breakfast. Seated around the table were all of his witches along with Neville, Neville's parents and Neville's two witches.
"What happened to you?" Alice asked in real concern.
"They happened to me!" Harry said as he took his seat. He was pointing at the seven witches.
"Luna?" Susan asked. "She was involved?"
Harry nodded. "She became my Consort, Lady Luna Black Friday and yesterday was…"
"We welcomed her to our family," Astoria said, "with loads of Harry time."
"Congratulations," Susan said with a smile.
"Thank you," Luna said. "It's been nice."
"So why is Harry so knackered?" Neville asked.
"We experimented," Luna said. "We wanted to know if it was possible to tire our Harry out with sex and it is."
"Do I need to hear this?" Alice asked.
"No," Luna conceded. "But it's fun seeing how red Harry can get."
"And there only seven of you now," Harry moaned.
"You can't say you didn't enjoy it," Astoria giggled, "'cause we know you did. I enjoyed it too."
"You and me both, Sissy," Daphne added. "Relax, Harry. It's not like we expect that all the time."
"Just most the time," Astoria giggled.
"Please?" Alice said. "I am trying to eat and do not need to hear about the exploits of a teenage male. Neville please tell me you and yours are not so - er - active."
"I only have two witches to play with," Neville said. "But they have kept me busy."
Alice rolled her eyes. "There is a reason why young men should not have Concubines."
"Now Alice," Minerva said, "it's not like they chose this. They kind of stumbled into it. And, I am certain your son is a very decent young man and treats his ladies very well."
"He does indeed," Amber said. "He's taking us shopping today."
"And you and Dad," Neville added. "We all came here with the clothes on our backs and could use new wardrobes. That will include formal wear, I'm told."
"Excuse me?" Alice said.
"House Longbottom will be invited to various social functions requiring formal attire as guests and best friends of the Duke and his ladies," Hermione said. "You are going to be here a while, after all."
"I'm really not comfortable with…" Alice began.
"Alice," Frank said, "we are stuck here. I'd much rather this be our life than what we had only a few days ago. Who knows? I seem inspired by this people."
"How so?" Alice asked.
"We never wanted Neville to be an only child, did we?"
Alice blushed.
"So that's settled then. We Longbottoms are staying and Neville's gonna have a brother or sister."
"Well you may want to get to that," Susan said. "Amber and I are working on your grandchildren."
"Oh dear," Alice sighed. "I'm too young to be a grandmother."
"Too late," Susan said. "'Cause we're not waiting."
"Do tell me, Harry, that you are?"
"I could, but I'd be lying," Harry smirked. "What my ladies want, they will have and that includes little ones."
"But you said," Astoria began.
"You did say you wanted to wait a bit, Story," Harry said.
"I did. But not forever."
"No, not forever. Changing the rules."
"Harry," Hermione began.
"I am the Duke," Harry said with mock seriousness. "When Story is as old as Luna, she can choose to become a Mum."
"So," Astoria said, "next summer?"
"If you want," Harry replied with a smile.
"Thanks Harry Love," Astoria replied with a smile. "But be forewarned, my sister and I are very competitive."
"Which means?"
"We'll each want to be the one with the larger family," Daphne said. "So don't be surprised if we have several kids each."
Harry could only roll his eyes. "And I got eighteen others to worry about."
"Eighteen?" Alice asked. "Surely not eighteen other - er - wives. You already have seven!"
"By the end of the summer it will be twenty," Hermione said.
"What? Why?"
"The Auction," Hermione replied. "A lot of friends are on the block and we do not want them … well, we know what might happen to them and they are better off here with us. But…"
"But what?"
"There are more witches for sale than I can handle," Harry said. "Hermione won't let me not buy them, but then what? I'll be hard pressed as it is with the twenty we're planning on. But that's not all and…"
"We were wondering, Susan," Hermione said, "whether Neville might help out?"
"You're suggesting we take on some additional concubines?" Susan asked.
Hermione nodded.
"How many?"
"Twelve for certain."
"Twelve?" Susan and Alice cried out.
"Well, if you don't want to help them, I can understand why," Hermione said. "I mean, it is a lot to ask of anyone and I know Neville would probably want to treat them right which means less time for you and Amber and such and that is a huge sacrifice and all."
"You seem to be willing," Alice said.
"I'm not thrilled with this twist in life," Hermione admitted. "Were it entirely up to me, none of this would be necessary. But we don't live in a perfect world and it would kill me to let them suffer the way others have in their situation when I could have helped. It would kill Harry too."
Susan sighed. "Just what are you asking of us?"
"Suze?" Neville began.
"Let's hear her out," Susan replied. Amber nodded in agreement.
"Well," Hermione said, "in addition to Luna and I and our five sisters, we are going to acquire Ginny Weasley this week."
"Why?" Susan asked. "How? The auction isn't this week is it?"
"No, next Monday," Hermione replied. "Ginny sent Harry some pies laced with a near overdose of amorentia."
"You're joking."
"I wish she were," Harry said. "We suspected her mother might put her up to something like this. I will admit, it does seem a little out of character for Ginny."
"Try a lot," Luna said. "The girl hasn't even made a run at you, has she?"
Harry shook his head.
"It's not her style to resort to love potions as a first option. She's been very good at getting the boys she wants without it. My guess is it was her Mum and maybe she knew about it. Personally, I think she simply looked the other way or didn't know. But none of that matters."
"It would be considered an attack on your house regardless of whether the girl knew," Frank nodded. "And you do have the right to claim a daughter as compensation so as to avoid a feud."
"Which I would not want in any case," Harry nodded. "Not all that family are a problem. Bill and his Consort have already relocated here and I'd guess the twins are not party to such things."
"Ron, on the other hand," Hermione growled.
"Probably knew," Dora added. "We have reason to believe he has designs on Hermione and they are not honorable ones."
"So, you're going to take their daughter in payment," Frank nodded.
"Yes," Harry said.
"It'll destroy their family reputation," Frank noted.
Harry shrugged. "Being dosed up on love potions is not my idea of an ideal life. Taking her and binding her as a concubine seems the lesser of evils under the circumstances. She'll be brought in as a full blown Concubine. The only thing I won't do is whore her out. If it turns out she's mostly innocent, she'll get the same offer my other witches have received."
"Which is?" Alice asked.
"She can continue her education. She can choose her career if she wants one and I'll support it. She can have children. She can become love bonded, if she wants. Same things my other wives in all but law have."
"All your women get that?" Alice asked.
"All will be offered it," Harry said. "So far, all have accepted."
"Neville?" Alice asked.
"Amber has the same rights," he replied. "Assuming Susan and Amber agree to more, I would offer the others the same rights."
"Good boy," Susan said with a smile as Amber kissed his cheek.
"Yes Dears," Neville said earning a laugh from the gathering.
"And what are your thoughts on this, Professor McGonagall," Alice asked.
"It's Minerva, please," Minerva replied. "And my tenure at Hogwarts shall end on Wednesday at the reading of the Will of Sirius Black. That aside, I support my family and my husband in this. And in case you have not picked up on it, Alice, Harry is now my husband. I may be a lesser wife as compared to Hermione and Luna, but I am still his wife and could not be prouder of him or the others. So much has been thrust upon him, and yet he is … well, he carries the weight with such aplomb that I cannot help but be enamored by him. That and when he found he inherited me, he accepted that and me into his family without seemingly any second thoughts. He had offered me a chance to bear his child and, while I'm not sure I can, should that come to pass, it will be my honor to be the mother of his child.
"I see your son in a similar vein. He is brave, this is true. He had blossomed into a remarkable young man and considering who he was but a handful of years ago, to see him as he is now is nothing short of amazing. His Susan should count herself among the luckiest women on Earth and Amber at least as much. I am certain he will continue to make the Longbottom name stand for doing what is right even if he should choose to expand his family by several witches."
Neville and Harry were both blushing under Minerva's praise. Before all this had happened, they respected her immensely. Yet to learn that she respected them as well? It was an honor neither expected.
"I was kind of hoping you might see my problems with this," Alice said.
"I'm sorry, Alice, but I cannot. The young women we are talking about are students of mine. I know what they might face if we do nothing. They are talented young people and face lives as at best domestic servants and at worst prostitutes because our society sees them as being worth no more. Yet they are worth more, Alice. And Harry will offer them more as I'm sure Neville would as well."
"What are you asking of us?" Susan asked.
"Well," Harry replied, "Hermione thinks I should have a total of twenty women bound to me. I already have seven and can tell you I'm not sure about twenty. But she has said I should, so… With Ginny, that will give me eight. Currently, there are five Hufflepuffs, five Gryffindors, four Ravenclaws, three Slytherins up for action, as well as two girls from St. George's and St. Patrick's and one from St. Andrews. Well, two really, but the other one is - er - well, I won't be her first - er - well whatever. I'm buying the girls who did not go to Hogwarts, so that leaves me with room for six more. As I have already - er- bought two Slytherins… Well, okay, I did buy them but prefer to see what I did as rescuing them…"
"Thank you, Harry," Astoria said.
"And for the record," Daphne added, "you did rescue us. And you did a lot more."
"Which is one of the many reasons why we love you."
"Course it helps that he's so cute…"
"And loveable…"
"And … well, once we are alone again, we most definitely want everything else he is."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Didn't you two have enough of me yesterday?"
"No," the two girls answered in unison.
"There's no such thing as too much Harry," Astoria said.
"I beg to differ," Hermione countered. "I can tell you that there can be too much Harry. But it is a torment I was and am willing to bear."
After the giggles subsided, Harry cleared his voice. "As I said, I already have two evil and devious Slytherins…"
"We're not evil!" Daphne exclaimed.
"You might not be," Harry chuckled, "but a lot of what happened after lunch was Astoria's idea. Torture it was."
"You weren't complaining then," Astoria said sticking out her tongue.
"I am now," Harry whined. "My poor equipment. They done broke it!"
"You'll recover," Mallory said with a chuckle.
"Yeah," Harry said with a false pout, "I suppose."
"He's so cute when he does that," Daphne said to her sister.
"Girls!" Hermione and Minerva said in unison.
"Sorry," the two Greengrass sisters replied.
"Anyway," Harry said, "so that means I'll need two Gryffs, two Puffs and two Claws to complete my - er - collection. That would leave Neville with the rest. Now, I've already selected my two Gryffs and one of my Claws."
"Who?" Neville and Susan asked.
"From Gryffindor, Katie Bell and Parvati Pati and from Ravenclaw…"
"Don't tell me you took Padma as well," Neville said.
"Okay," Harry smiled, "I won't. But I did."
"Two of the hottest girls in our class," Neville started.
"Hey!" Susan said.
"It's you I love, Suze," Neville said softly. "Always has been and always will be."
"That's better."
"Am I chopped liver?" Amber said with a pout as Neville kissed his Consort.
"And you are my first best friend," Neville said giving her a kiss as well. "So who are we really talking about?"
"These are the Hufflepuffs," Hermione said passing a list to Susan.
"Hannah?" Susan shrieked. "But she's a half blood! Her mum is a Muggle Born. And her sister Patti? How? Why?"
"Can't say," Hermione answered. "It's not Dumbledore's sale number. Best guess is that their father is selling them for some reason."
"Why would you sell your own children?" Alice asked.
"Our father did," Daphne said. "He did it to avoid the Death Eaters killing us all. Then again, he did it after he knew Harry here was the buyer."
"Harry?' Alice shrieked.
"There was a plan to enslave us to Draco Malfoy," Daphne replied. "Little git and his father made it such that the real 'buyer' could only be Harry. Harry had to 'buy' us to keep us safe and our parents and younger sisters."
"The specific reasons why a magical guardian sells the girls under his charge vary," Minerva said, "but the bottom line is always money. We women are little more than chattel to many wizards."
"And we can't change the system," Harry nodded. "All we can do is help those we can."
"Neville," Susan said firmly, "you're not going to let my friend and her sister go, are you?"
"No dear," Neville sighed. "I guess I'm in Harry."
"Pick three of the Puffs," Harry said. "I'll take the other two."
"Hannah Abbott, age sixteen," Neville said as Susan nodded, "Patti Abbott age fourteen … and Megan Jones, age sixteen. The others are awfully young."
"That leaves me with Eleanor Bromstone, age thirteen and, yikes, Cathy Abrams, age twelve. You're right about her being a little young."
"She wouldn't be on the list if she wasn't physically old enough," Dora added.
"Oh goodie," Luna said.
Everyone looked at her.
"It means they probably haven't had the talk yet. We get to give them the talk!"
"The talk?" Frank asked. "You mean about sex?"
"She means about sexual release," Minerva replied. "Adolescent witches need such release as they mature for their magical development. Girls are encouraged to find such release on a daily basis. Of course, at school we do not recommend finding it with boys because of the possibility of conception."
"Do we have to talk about this?" Neville complained blushing.
"But I thought you liked giving me my releases," Susan said with a pout.
"I do," Neville replied blushing. "But do we have to talk about sex in front of my parents? It's too weird."
Alice giggled. "Thank you Neville. That's very thoughtful of you. But as you are married, you should not worry about what I think. So long as you treat your women with the respect they deserve, I won't hold societies problems against you."
"Thanks Mum. Who's next?" he added turning to Harry.
"You get the three Gryffs," Harry said. "That's Leanne Tinker, age seventeen…"
"She's cute," Neville said. "Was pretty nice to me as well.
"Lavender Brown, age sixteen…"
"The gossip queen?" Susan asked.
"One of the gossip twins actually," Hermione replied. "The other is Parvati Patil, who Harry took for some reason."
"Can't split up a family," Harry shrugged.
"You just wanted twins," Neville said with a smirk. "Don't blame you. I'd a taken them if you hadn't. That's okay. Lavender's got a nice rack on her."
"Boys!" Hermione and Susan huffed.
"My Mum said that nature gave us boobies so boys would notice us," Luna said.
"We would notice you eventually," Harry chuckled. "Those just makes us notice sooner. And speaking about boobs, your other Gryff is Natalie McDonald, age fourteen. She's starting to show a nice rack as well."
"The Ravenclaws?" Susan asked.
"There's Cho Chang, age seventeen," Harry said, "Su Li and Morag McDougal age sixteen and Laura Madley, age thirteen."
"Take Madley," Luna said. "The other three weren't very nice to me."
Harry looked at Neville. "Fine by me," Neville said. "That's three Claws. Who are my snakes?"
"Natasha Adair, age thirteen," Harry read, "Teresa Murdoch, age fourteen and Tracey Davis, age sixteen."
"That's not so bad," Neville said. "Aside from Daphne, Tracey was the only one in our year who didn't look like she hit a few branches falling out of the ugly tree."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Daphne growled.
"Sorry," Neville said sheepishly. "I meant that you and Tracey are the only pretty ones in that house in our year. Thank Merlin Millicent Bulstrode isn't on the list."
"You can't even say she has a nice personality," Daphne agreed.
"Okay, that's thirteen including Amber," Susan said. "When you suggested fourteen, did that include me?" she asked Hermione.
"No," Hermione replied. "But that's all the new ones. The others up for sale have prior experience."
"As did I," Amber said.
"So you want me to buy an 'experienced' woman?" Neville asked.
Hermione nodded. She slid over a page and Neville and Susan looked at it.
"Penelope Clearwater, age twenty," Susan read. "She was Head Girl a couple years ago, wasn't she?"
"I thought she was Percy Weasley's girl," Neville added.
"She was Head Girl," Minerva said. "As for being Percy's girl? He apparently bought her when they were fifteen."
"Don't you have to be legally an adult to purchase?" Susan asked.
"He probably used a straw man."
"A what?"
"He got an adult to buy her for him," Minerva explained.
"There's also a rumor he won her in a card game," Harry added.
"Which brings up another question," Frank said. "Harry and Neville are only fifteen."
"Harry is legally an adult thanks to his Godfather Sirius Black," Minerva said.
"And Gran emancipated me when she died," Neville added.
"I'll be making all the purchases," Harry said. "The asking price for these women is between two and three hundred Galleons give or take. They should sell for more at auction normally. I've already placed blind bids on the lot of them. Two thousand Galleons each. I'm told no one has ever sold for that much which pretty much means they are ours."
"And Neville has to pay you back?" Alice asked.
"Five Galleons a head should do it," Harry said. "I'm not buying them to profit. I'm buying them to give them a better life than they could expect and to basically mess up the entire market."
"This is going to be difficult," Neville said looking at Susan and Amber. "I mean how can I keep that many women - er - happy?"
"Aside from just being yourself, Neville," Hermione said, "it's just a question on scheduling. Luna and I will be working out a schedule for Harry so that he has time with each of his ladies, and sleeps with all of us on a regular basis."
"I was also thinking about how are we going to bring them here," Neville said. "You don't expect me to bond with all of them at once, do you?"
"That's up to you," Harry said. "As I understand it, our only deadline is September 1st. We can't take them for binding when they are in school, apparently. I'm thinking of bringing them in one or two at a time, beginning with the day of the Auction. Probably it will only be three bonding days a week, maybe less."
"Why?"
"I think it would go easier for them if it were not all at once or too quickly. One a day, maybe two. Certainly two when it comes to sisters. Probably bring them in on Monday's Wednesdays and Fridays. That way they have the weekend to relax and go shopping and stuff."
"Shopping?" Neville asked.
"Clothes," Susan said. "They'll need new outfits and such."
"Some may arrive with their possessions," Amber said. "Most will probably arrive with just the clothes on their backs like we did."
"Which is what we'll be doing today," Hermione said. "We were going to go last weekend, but with all that's been happening, it just didn't work out. While Dora has managed to get us everyday clothes if we needed them, Daphne has pointed out that we need more formal wear than most due to our status. Harry is a Duke after all. Luna and I are his consorts. And the rest of us are his Ladies and we need to look the part."
"And a shopping trip has the added advantage of allowing me to recover from yesterday," Harry added. "I swear even now it seems there are not enough hours to get things done. And it's only going to get worse!"
"Harry, a little scheduling should…" Hermione began.
"It will help," Harry replied. "But I'm not sure it'll find the time for everything, Hermione. With all the projects I've already started, my time is mostly filled. Add to that once my magic is unbound I'll have to retrain. Then there's school, which I know you won't let me skive off; although I can't do that because I need to learn as much as I can for when I have to face Voldemort and then Dumbledore, which is probably the only way we have to defeat the bastards. Eventually, once all is up and running and I'm finished with school and the war is over, I might be able to slow down. But until then, I think there not enough hours in the day. Then add to it your needs and stuff and … it's a lot, Hermione."
"Well," Hermione said, "I might have an answer to your time problem. It can wait because most of your time problems won't begin until August."
Harry raised an eyebrow. She knew something. He knew she knew something. He also knew it wasn't important right this moment. Still, he was curious. But before he could pursue the matter, he was interrupted.
"Milord?" a voice called and Harry turned and saw Dobby at the door.
"Yes Dobby?"
"Mr. Remus Lupin is here and requests to speak with you and your family."
Harry nodded. "Send him in."
Remus stepped into the Dining Room. He said good morning to everyone. "And I hear congratulations are in order," he said finally. "Harry sent me a letter Friday telling of your bonding as Consort, Lady Luna."
"Thank you Professor Lupin," Luna said.
"I've not been your professor in two years," he began.
"Oh, but you were such a good one," Luna replied. "One of the best I think. It was such a pity you couldn't stay on, but Daddy did say that Fudge has it in for Werewolves and just about anything or anyone who does not bribe him regularly. And thank you, Professor. I am very pleased Harry wanted me to be his Lady Black."
"Thank you Luna. Now Harry, I bet you're wondering why I am here this morning?"
"I wasn't expecting to see you today," Harry nodded. "Don't tell me I have another ball to attend today?"
"It looked like you enjoyed the last one, Harry."
"I did actually. But it's not something I want to do every week."
"No, I suppose not," Remus smiled. "And no, there is not one today so you can relax."
"Actually, we're going shopping," Harry said. "That's why we left the Manor last Sunday only to get roped into the Investiture and Ball. We still need to do this and last week was rather busy."
"Well, I'm not here to ruin your plans for today. But I am here about your plans in a broader sense. First of all, we need to talk about the status of Lady Luna here."
"She's my Consort," Harry began.
"A fact which can't be changed," Remus said. "What I meant is … well … Okay, I'll just tell you. In the past, when the heir became the Duke, it automatically 'raised' his siblings to titles nobility, assuming they were of age of course. The Duke's sisters, assuming they lived here, became Baronesses and the Duke's brothers became Counts. Basically, as it now stands your sister will become the Baroness of Broadmoor upon her seventeenth birthday."
"And what will that do to her?"
"Not much really. It's just a title. But should you entertain the Queen, for example, she would automatically be invited. The High Council has suggested we also elevate Luna. In her case, they propose she becomes the Countess of Darby."
"And I take it there's some sort of ceremony involved?" Harry groaned.
"There is," Remus said. "It's not unlike what happened for you and the Duchess Hermione last weekend. Then there's also the fact that Luna is one of the others slated to by knighted by Her Majesty's government as well. And not just Luna, Neville is eligible for those honors as will be Ginny Weasley, if you bind her to you as you're planning."
"Okay. Fine. When?"
"How's next Sunday look for you?"
"I'll have to ask my scheduling assistant…"
"You're free," Hermione said.
"Couldn't you find a way for me to be busy, say until sometime much later?"
"I could," Hermione chuckled, "but I won't. So get used to the idea."
"Great."
"I thought you liked the last one?"
"I did, surprisingly. It's all a bit much, though. Three weeks ago, I couldn't imagine any of this. I had no idea I was or would be a Duke or anything. I was famous, which you know I hated, but not all this. Now, I'm head of a bloody country and I suppose I'm stuck. Remus has told me that my ancestors were brought up knowing this stuff. I got chucked in the deep end without so much as a by your leave."
"Blame Dumbledore," Remus said. "Had he not taken a sick interest in your life, your parents would still be around and you would be decades or more away from the titles. Because of him, they're dead and you're the youngest Duke ever."
"Okay. Okay. I get it," Harry groaned.
"Great!" Remus said. "I'm sure you and your ladies will love it! And of course we can't forget the Longbottoms as Sir Neville will be a guest of honor as well."
"I have nothing to wear," Susan and Alice both moaned.
"Hence today's shopping trip," Daphne said. "Timing is perfect, don't you think? Astoria and I have been to Pottersport a few times. We know where the good shops are."
"Thanks," Susan said. "But it's not just the shops. I really have no idea what I need."
"You leave that to us," Astoria said. "True, there are no robes here like back in Britain, but they have wonderful clothes."
"We'll see you looking like a Lady," Daphne added.
"Thanks," Susan said with a smile.
"Actually, I'll probably help the girls. While I love Harry to bits now, something tells me he should not be allowed to shop for suits without a 'trained' eye and as Sissy here knows the shops as well as I do, she'll take the boys around."
"They will look grand," Astoria said.
"Fine," Harry grumbled. While he truly needed a decent wardrobe and while he had never really been shopping for clothes, he had heard over the years about women and shopping and knew this would be a chore for him. "Anything else Remus? Please say yes as I want to delay this fate as long as possible."
Remus shrugged. "I do have additional business, but I'm afraid it won't take too long."
"What business then?"
"You want to evacuate the Muggle Borns," Remus said. "And just how do you figure to accomplish that? And their families as well?"
"Er - porkeys?"
"Except our wards would require you to authorize each person by name, Harry. We're talking thousands! Kingsley got us a copy of the ledger from the Department of Mysteries. It lists all the Muggle Borns in Britain, and their families and where they live. We now know of ever Muggle Born who has been detected regardless of age. The Enemy will have access to this list eventually, if he does not already. To allow thousands to magically transport would require us to undermine our Wards and risk invasion."
"So how can we save them?"
"By non-magical means," Remus said. "You would be hard pressed to authorize each person by name, but if you authorize the flights carrying them…"
"Flights?"
"Airplanes Harry. The wards will let any approved flight in. It's how we move our children to Britain for school as those flights are approved. But you would need to approve additional flights to evacuate the Muggle Borns. Moreover, we need more planes."
"Planes? You mean a regular airline won't do?"
"We need special planes, Harry. Magic can muck up electronics unless the right charms are placed upon them to counter the interference. A plane load of wizards could well be a problem even if we confiscated wands for the flight. Many will be young and accidental magic is a problem against unshielded electronics. So, we need planes that are shielded. We have some, but not enough to run an airlift like you suggested."
"And why not magic?" Harry asked.
"It can be detected, Harry," Remum replied. "You can only Floo from Gringotts London to ours here. They may allow you some leeway for friends and such, but I doubt the Goblins will allow you to turn their Banks into a bloods travel terminal. Portkeys and apparition are monitored and the British Ministry would know something was up if we began a massive magical evacuation. But they don't monitor Heathrow or other airports and we have airfields. We have one at Port of Darby and there is RAF Pottersport, although with your plans for a new city, we have included a new airfield in those plans as well.
"What we need are planes. Our Transportation Minister has opened contract talks with a company called Bombardier Aerospace, who makes commercial planes. We just need your signature to seal the deal for eight Model 300 turboprops. They can carry up to fifty people a flight. Loads easier than anything as they are relatively short range commuter planes which even the Muggles would not suspect as being used for an airlift."
"And their belongings?" Hermione asked.
"The planes will be hardened against magical interference," Remus replied. "We can shrink and lighten whatever they have for shipment and not risk the planes."
"Even cars?"
"We are magical, Hermione."
"What about pilots?" Harry asked.
"We have enough, Harry," Remus said. "We just need the planes. We figure there about twenty-thousand Muggle Borns. Not all will or can evacuate, but many will. Throw in their Muggle families, and we could well be looking at double the current population. We'll begin with the younger ones; those who have yet to send any kid to magical school. They and their families don't yet exist as far as the magical government is concerned and won't be until they fail to show up for school. We can then evacuate the families of older ones, the ones still in school getting that lot on the Holidays. Finally, we can seek out the older ones. The point is with planes they can get here simply with your authorizing the flights, not the names Harry. They can get here and be safe."
"How long?"
"It'll take some time, Harry. Convincing many to pack up and leave, even those who know how bad it is, this will take time. The planes means we can move them, not that they will be moved. But without the planes, we can do nothing really."
"And the wards? I've been told they're impossible to penetrate."
"The pilots can fly through them," Remus replied. "Your grandfather gave them leave to."
"That's all well and good, but the passengers?"
"If you authorize the flights, they can pass through as well."
"And if one it a Death Eater? What about under polyjuice or the Imperious Curse?"
"A Death Eater under any guise will die at the ward line, period," Remus said. "An innocent under the curse will be freed upon crossing the ward line if the curse was aimed at you or against your country. The enemy's attempts to invade are doomed to failure. This is why this country has never feared attack or war."
"And the Muggles? We had a base full of them once. What about them?"
"We can't be found by them, Harry." Remus said. "Our own ships and planes bring them here. Without those ships and planes, they can never find this place. Anyone who is a threat to you or your country can never find this place or come here and live past the wards, even if you invite them. It's brutally effective, our wards. So you can be rest assured, no one who desires you harm will ever live to set foot in this realm. All we need to care about are those who would be safe here, that being the Muggle Borns and their families. For that, we need planes."
"What do you need from me?" Harry asked.
"Your signature on some forms. The first is to authorize us to buy the planes. The second would allow them to clear the wards with passengers."
"Fine," Harry said. "I'll sign. Anything else?"
"You've said you wanted to raise an army to take back Britain if need be?"
Harry nodded.
"What kind of army?"
"Er … well an army. Is there a difference?"
"Perhaps. It would take years to train an army of Aurors, Harry. You can train them short of that in a couple of months. But to expect fully combat trained Aurors? Not likely anytime soon. But, if you are willing to cross the magical with the non-magical, that's another story altogether."
"Oh?" Harry asked. "How so?"
"Muggle weapons are quite effective against magic," Remus replied. "A gun can always defeat a shield charm. True, the charm can defeat the gun once. The first bullet will break the charm but not harm the caster. But muggle weapons fire a lot faster than a spell caster can replace a shield. Moreover, rifles are deadly at far greater range than any wand. Magical skills are still useful. You need magic to defeat wards and to prevent magical transport. But to fight? A gun is as good as a wand in most cases and better than one in the others."
"What about transfiguration?" Hermione asked. "Surely we could change the gun into a rubber chicken or something?"
"At a hundred yards?" Remus replied. "You can't hit them with a charm at that range and they can kill you from there. Transfiguration is not a ranged attack. You have to get up close and personal with your target for it to work at all. The Killing Curse is not much use outside of twenty meters … ten if you care to hit the target … transfiguration? Five meters or less. Guns are the reason we hid from that world. We can't fight them with magic. Not if they have enough of them at least. One Muggle with a gun, yeah we could take him. Two? Doubtful. We'd get one and the other would kill us.
"You want an army Harry? Think guns."
"Guns? I'll admit I was thinking along those lines but..."
Remus nodded. "A very efficient killing machine they are. Most wizards lack the respect for them. Their best bet if they see them is to run. Guns have an added advantage. It takes years to train a hit wizard who fights with only magic. The Muggles take far less time to turn out a soldier. We're not magical Britain. There, ownership of a gun is illegal 'cause it's even easier than the Killing Curse and far more flexible in a way. But we have no such restrictions on learning. Still, guns don't grow on trees. We need to buy them. I'd like to talk with Sir Stephen about the possibilities.
"But even then, Harry, unlike magic, guns require ammunition. You can't really conjure that. True, if you have some, you can conjure more. But you need some to begin with and the ideal way to get more is with a form of replenishing charm. You need a fair amount for that to work.
"Fortunately, you own a controlling interest in a company that makes ammunition, among other things. Their plant is antiquated and they can't afford to upgrade it or build a new one back in Britain. But we can offer deals here that would make a new munitions plant quite attractive for them and for you, as you are a majority shareholder. It's one of the plants I'd recommend opening in Jamestown both for the jobs, and because we can get their product cheap. Projections are, we could be quite competitive on the international market as well."
"You want me to sell ammo?"
"After stocking for us, yes."
"And how honest is the arms trade?"
"Not very. But most of the less than savory types buy Russian. Your company manufactures NATO standard ammo. The seedy market is less interested in that stuff as there is not a huge market surplus from the Cold War. So basically you'd be supplying the legitimate governments of Europe, once your own needs are met."
"I see," Harry said. "You recommend this?"
"We can make ammo for far less cost than making the guns. But ammo still isn't cheap. I would recommend it as we can sell the surplus for profit, if my numbers are right. And as the Goblins have confirmed them, they are probably right."
"So you want an ammo plant?"
"It would also supply jobs, Harry," Remus said.
"Fine," Harry shrugged. "Does this company have a name?"
Remus nodded. "Grunnings," he said.
"That's my Uncle's company," Harry said. "I thought they made drills."
"A division does. It's another division that makes bullets."
"Okay. I suppose you want me to sign something for that as well?"
Remus nodded.
The Longbottoms left first as they were going shopping for wands for Frank and Alice and promised to meet up with Harry's party later in the day. Remus was about to leave when Hermione asked him back into the room, pulling her wand and closing the door behind him with a charm. Harry had not seen that look on Hermione's face since she had arrived here. He hadn't seen it since before he became her boyfriend. He knew she was angry about something and whatever it was, it involved more than just something between her and Remus.
"Why'd you do it, Remus?" she asked in an icy tone.
Remus looked perplexed to say the least. "What?"
"I've been meaning to talk to you ever since Dora told us," Hermione continued. "Why'd you do it?"
"Hermione," Harry said, "what are you talking about?"
"Don't tell me it didn't bother you too, Harry James!" Hermione said. "It must have! I saw your face when she told us!"
"Hermione," Harry said, "I love you more than anything and they say our bond might let us see things others can't. But I can't read your mind yet. What are you so upset about?"
"She was not even thirteen, Harry!"
"Oh," Harry said remembering Dora telling them about her first time.
"You can't say you were not shocked to learn that someone we trusted would do something like that to an innocent girl!"
"I … it was … It was upsetting," Harry admitted.
"IT WAS SICK!"
Harry nodded in agreement. He was too stunned by everything that was happening at the time to give it much thought, particularly since Dora never brought it up again and thankfully Remus never was foolish enough to ask him for permissions. A part of Harry was grateful that had not happened.
"Why'd you do it, Remus?" Hermione demanded. "Was it because you could? Was it because you wanted your own sex toy – a young one at that? Why?"
"It wasn't like that," Remus began.
"And I should believe you?" Hermione said. "Everything I've learned says to me you're lying. Everything I've learned says that British Pureblood Wizards … and you are one, right?"
Remus nodded.
"Everything says many of your types grow up thinking that a concubine is their right! They are born to deflower our girls for no other reason than they can and society turns a blind eye! Why did you do it?"
"It wasn't like that…" Remus began.
"Then what was it like? You just couldn't wait to get your paws on her could you? It was either a concubine like her, or wanking off and you chose her virtue! You figured violating her was not nearly as degrading as doing it yourself!"
"THAT'S NOT IT!" Remus shouted. "SHE HAD TO BE BOUND!"
"HAD TOO?"
"She was under contract! If she wasn't bound, she would be sold at Auction and Merlin knows who would have bought her and what would have happened to her. I tried to find another way, Hermione! Her contract opened three months before I Bound her. What do you think I was doing for those three months? Counting the days until the Hogwarts Express returned?
"Okay. I was," Remus admitted, "but not for the reasons you seem to think. I tried to find a way to release her from that contract! I didn't find any. There were suggestions in some of what I read that Sirius could have. But then there was this little problem of his being locked up in Azkaban, wasn't there?"
"You thought he was a Death Eater," Harry noted.
"Everyone thought that," Remus said. "I couldn't believe it deep down, but at the time I couldn't prove otherwise.
"Sirius was the only one who I thought might be able to void the contract and spare Dora from her fate. If he was a Death Eater, he wouldn't do it. If he was not, he couldn't do it! One way or another, he was in Azkaban and there was supposedly no way out for him!
"So, he was of no help. If what I learned was true, Dora would become a concubine regardless of what I did! If I didn't bind her, her contract would be magically transferred to the Auction House at some point and I knew from Mallory what could happen to her. When I was certain there was no other way, I did the best thing I thought I could do; I used my permission to bind her to Sirius. I thought with me, she would at least be spared the worst of it. I vowed to treat her well and allow her as much of a normal life as I could, which was more than she was likely to get otherwise. It was all I could do."
"You didn't know that the six month rule only applies to women who are already concubines?" Hermione asked incredulously. "You didn't know that had you done nothing at all, she would never be bound because that contract actually prevented anyone else from doing so?"
"What?" Remus asked.
"She was contracted to Sirius," Hermione said. "Only Sirius could break the contract or allow it to transfer. So long as Sirius lived, she was safe unless he chose to bind her himself and assuming she had not become a consort by then."
"Hermione," Daphne said, "we didn't know this until a few days ago and that was after Merlin knows how much research and with full access to both the Potter and Black private journals. What he said is what is in the published works."
"They're wrong!"
"We know that. But if that's all he had to go on, you can understand his reasoning."
"Doesn't make it right," Hermione began.
"No," Daphne agreed. "The whole thing is wrong. We know the bond was not meant to be used the way it typically is used. The way it's used is and always has been wrong."
"What do you mean I didn't have to," Remus began. "Everything I could find was clear that once Sirius accepted the contract she had to be bound to him within six of bonding age months or the paper could be sold to another purchaser."
"That is what the recent works on the subject would lead you to believe," Daphne said. "It is also the custom. But it is neither the magic nor the truth. All contracts for sale of a witch as concubine where the witch has not attained bonding age are merely the right to bind her. The right need never be ever exercised. It was originally used as a means to prevent another wizard from selling your daughter or forcing you to do so.
"Take Neville's Consort Susan. Her father died when she was a baby and her House had no Head. She became the ward of another wizard who obviously intended to sell her. Hundreds of years ago, she would have been contracted to a wizard who could be trusted not to sell her ever. That way, should she lose her father, she would not wind up as a concubine. Or, if like Dora, her father fell into debt, she
could not be sold as in theory she was no longer his property. It was a limitation on the power of a magical guardian by taking away that right and giving it to another. If the wizard who held the contract did nothing, the witch could never be bound or sold as a concubine since that right was his alone. And should she become a Consort, the threat would be over.
"The reality was and remains that a one year old witch – for example – is not worth much. You buy her at that age for what? It will be over a decade before you can even think of taking possession of her and by then you might not want to anyway for whatever reason or you may be dead or you may have a wife or Consort who will not allow the deal to go forward. All the deal did was give the buyer the right to decide her fate years and years later. Such a deal was never viewed as an absolute promise to bind the girl. As such, there was never a requirement to do so at any time.
"So if I had done nothing?" Remus began.
"Assuming Sirius did not seek to bind her when he got free of Azkaban, she would not be a concubine today," Daphne said. "But the custom of selling unborn or infant girls to keep them safe from forced sales died out centuries ago. The notion that the contracts can be void continued as they are usually entered into before it is known whether the girl is magical or not and the bonding magic will not work with a Squib. The books that talk about the bond are from more recent eras when it was falsely assumed that if the girl was a witch and of bonding age she had to be bound. My thinking is this was one of the ways wizards changed history to perpetuate their sick, little trade."
"So what's that mean?" Dora asked.
"It means Remus was misinformed," Daphne said. "Based upon what he could have read, he thought he was doing the best thing for you. But the truth is not in any books you would find at Flourish & Blotts. We only found it because we have journals going back over a thousand years and the Potters especially documented all that could be known about the bonds. The truth is Sirius should never have given such open permissions or should have withdrawn them all and, even if he had not done so, Remus should have left well enough alone even after learning you were the daughter of people Sirius considered the only real family he had."
"I'm so sorry Dora," Remus said with tears in his eyes. Dora did not reply.
"Next you're going to tell me I didn't have to bind with any of the others," Harry groaned, "or you or Astoria, or any of the girls up for sale."
"Different situations, Harry," Daphne said. "Astoria and I were a private sale. Ordinarily, you're right about that. There's no way for someone not party to that contract to know whether you bound us or not. But Daddy took that Unbreakable Vow. That made it impossible not to bind with us unless you wanted us all to die."
Harry shook his head.
"Dora, Mallory and Minerva were all bound concubines before you attained any rights to them," Daphne continued. "They are therefore subject to the 'Six Month Rule' which means you had six months from the time they became your right to bind with them or they would have been sold at public Auction. I still haven't figured out the how of that one, but the record is clear that would be unavoidable."
"But Minerva's previous bonder died eight years ago," Harry said. "Why didn't that happen with her?"
"Because Charles left me to you in his Will, Harry," Minerva said. "When your father died, he did not own much in his own name. What he had he divided equally between you and your sister. But as Duke, Charles could not do that. His properties here in Charenwell cannot be divided. It was only his gold and properties in Britain that were passed to James and divided between you two under the terms of James' Will. Well, all except me. Were I to pass that way, you would have had no choice but to sell me. (Actually, the Executor would have sold me years ago and the money from the sale placed into your respective Trust Accounts.) But I was passed to you directly as Charles did not wish me sold and hoped you would do as you have done. Because I was transferred to an underage wizard, the Six Month Rule did not come into play until the moment you attained your majority."
"What about Neville's Amber?" Harry asked.
"Neville got a similar interest in her when his father was declared legally incompetent in 1982," Daphne said. "Same rule applied. She was 'under contract' to him from that date and the Six Month Rule did not begin until he attained his majority upon the death of his Gran. She, of course, had no right to sell Amber at all. Only Neville could do that and only after attaining his majority."
"So because they were bound already and had been transferred to Neville and me, we had to bind them to us or they would be sold anyway?"
"That's correct," Daphne said. "Basically, unless you wanted us to be sent to a hell on earth, you did the only thing you could have done."
"What about the girls at auction?"
"Different kind of contract. Once they're paid for, they're concubines. You either bind with them or they can be sold to someone else next summer."
"Crap!" Harry exclaimed. "I was hoping for a way around all this!"
"You used your only way out with Clarice," Daphne said. "As Head of her House, you can negate any sale contract unless she is already bound. Once a woman is a concubine, there's nothing that can be done to undo the bond. It can be transferred, but it can never be undone. I don't think any of the girls set for Auction fall under your jurisdiction as Head of the House of Potter or Black – or Duke for that matter as you have similar authority over your subjects. None of the girls up for sale are from here. Sorry Harry."
Harry shrugged. "Guess we can always hope some get lucky and find their Consort," he said.
"Harry," Astoria said, "being your Concubine is very lucky too."
"I got two madmen who want me dead…"
"I still don't get that," Astoria said. "That prophecy thing is most likely about Dumbledore and not Voldemort, yet Voldemort wants you dead just as bad and Dumbledore seems to be more after your money, although over your dead body, of course."
"Voldemort was led to believe the prophecy was about him," Harry said. "That's why he and his followers want me dead. And I can't ignore that little problem. Add to that I am a powerful wizard who wants nothing to do with him and that's two reasons for him to be shot of me. As for Dumbledore, of course he wants me dead. But the bastard doesn't want to get his hands dirty. His whole plot with Ginny was as a fall back in case Voldemort and his Death Eaters failed to kill me before they get knocked on the head. Well that and to get control of my estate."
"So what do you want?"
"To live a nice, quiet life with a large family," Harry said. "Although this is getting a little ridiculous. Not that I'm complaining – well not much anyway. But I can't have that life with those two out there. Voldemort is the more immediate problem. I'm not worried about either of them right now, but that bastard isn't just after me. The sooner he and his followers are dead, the better off the rest of the world will be. Once he's gone, I can turn on the other bastard. Who knows? They're both trying to kill each other. Maybe they'll get lucky and I won't have to do anything at all regarding them. But it seems I've never been that lucky."
In the end, Harry would actually appreciate just going shopping for the rest of the day.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Key:
Names in Italics = OCGr – Gryffindor, Hu – Hufflepuff, Ra – Ravenclaw, Sl – Slytherin. (Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Luna Celeste (Lovegood) Black, age 15 (Ra-4); CONSORT (BLACK).
3. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 21 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
4. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
5. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
6. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
7. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, age 15.
1. Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16 (Hu-5); CONSORT (NEVILLE).
2. Amber Selma (Harker) Longbottom, age 33 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (LONGBOTTOM).
