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 language.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: ROYALS
SUNDAY, JULY 14th, 1996 –Pottersport, Charenwell.
Dudley finished fixing his tie and looked himself over in the mirror. His mother had bought him this suit for his birthday and it was really the first chance he had to wear it. Before yesterday, he had not wanted to ever have a chance to wear it and knew if he did it would be for one of his father's amazingly boring dinners. How eating with people you did not know or like could be good for business was beyond him.
But yesterday he had met Clara and she wanted him dressed nice for today. That was something he was willing to do and he could only hope he lived up to her expectations. He checked his billfold and saw he had twenty pounds in his wallet. He was fairly certain he would not need to pay for anything as Clara said the buffet at the Castle was free and the brunch he was attending would be as well.
He stepped out of the bedroom and headed into the main living portion of the flat hoping to get out the front door without being spotted by either of his parents. His luck was not with him.
"Dudley?" his mother said as he was passing the kitchen. "Why are you wearing your suit?"
"Got a date," he said hoping to escape.
"A date?" he heard his father say. "You hear that! Our lady killer is here barely two days and already has a date! Who's the lucky bird?"
"Just a girl I met in town yesterday."
"And you're all dressed up?" his mother asked.
"She invited me to a fancy brunch," Dudley said. This was partly true. But he knew the suit was for later just in case and not for the brunch.
"Are we going to meet this bird?" his father asked.
"It's just a date," Dudley said, "and only a first one." This was true. It was a bit early to do the meet the parents thing, except that's exactly what he would be doing in about half an hour with her parents. But as she was a witch, he really did not think it wise for his parents to meet her – ever. She did not need that. "Look, I need to go."
"Where are you going?"
"To her place to pick her up and then out," Dudley said.
"And how are you going to get around?" his father asked. "We don't have a car and I've yet to see any public transport."
Because, Dudley thought, you haven't left this flat since we arrived and the buses don't stop on this street. "People walk here," he said as he reached the door and exited before they could continue the interrogation. Considering his comings and goings back home, he really did not expect them to ask many questions. I should have told them I had a job interview or something.
Walking down High Street a few minutes later, following the directions Clara had given him to her house, he spied a flower stand and stopped to pick up some flowers. He was trying to appear confident, but while his father had some impression he was a lady's man back home, the truth was this was only the second date he had ever been on and he was nervous. He really didn't care about the last one. But he didn't want to blow this one for some reason.
Clara lived on the other side of High Street from where Dudley's family was staying and about four blocks up from the waterfront. He found the place without difficulty. Her family lived in a building not unlike the one Dudley now called home, but they were in a first floor flat. Hiding the flowers he had bought behind his back, he knocked on the door and a man answered. Dudley guessed that this was Clara's father.
"You must be the Dudley chap from across the water," the man said. "Clara's been squirming all morning."
"Daddy!" and exasperated voice sounded from somewhere in the house nearby yet out of sight.
"Evan Jasper," the man said. "I'm Clara's Dad. Or at least I'm her Dad when I'm not embarrassing her to death. Come in."
Dudley followed the man into a large living area. There were several people there, but he only recognized Clara who beamed when she saw him. He did his best not to blush, failing miserably. Dudley was introduced to the rest of those present. Janet was Clara's mother, whom he made sure to compliment. Martha was her older sister who had apparently completed Healer training and worked at Mistress Agnes Hospital in town. Richard was an older brother who had finished school and had no idea what to do with his life now. There was an older couple as well: Edgar and Mary Jasper. Edgar was the non-magical, former RAF mechanic Clara had talked about the day before. Dudley knew he and Edgar were the only non-magicals in the room, but the family seemed very normal, arguably more than his own.
He handed his flowers to Clara whose eyes lit up when she saw them. She actually kissed his cheek! Then announced she was going to put them in water as the rest of the family headed to the dining room for brunch. For a time Dudley was bombarded with questions about his life back in Britain and what he thought about his new home. He answered as best he could, without revealing just what a malcontent he had once been and stating that until he met Clara, he really didn't know what to think of this new place, but now he thought it was very nice. Once the boyfriend grilling was over, the older man began speaking.
"So anyway, as I was saying, Jennings came up after the Duke left and said it's on."
"Okay Dad, what do you mean?" Evan asked.
"Well, yesterday our Duke was up at the Base for a look around. Didn't see him myself as we were tearing down a Merlin, but apparently the Duke took one of the Tiger Moths up for a spin and had a good enough time with it. Anyway, he landed and immediately began asking loads of questions that led to Jennings taking him out to the old storage hangers."
"The old RAF Base," Evan said to Dudley who was confused. "Our last Duke kept it up to house his collection of old warplanes. Dad worked there during the War and still does part time. Old coot loves being up to his elbows in torn down engines. I work there as well in maintenance, although I'm also one of the pilots that shakes the old birds' out. We've got bombers, fighters and some others…"
"I saw them," Dudley said. "We came across in an old plane and landed there."
"We have six squadrons of various kinds of aircraft in flying condition," Evan said. "It's supposed to be the largest collection of flying World War II aircraft in the world."
"And for each plane we have at the base," Edgar said, "the last Duke had at least two more disassembled, boxed up and in storage in case we needed parts. We never had to scavenge parts from storage, so they're just sitting there and have been for about fifty years. Anyway, Jennings showed the Duke that and the Duke tells him to get cracking. The Duke wants all the other Tiger Moths assembled and flying as soon as possible and then the rest of the lot."
"You're kidding!" Evan said.
"Nope. The whole lot of them. Jennings complained we don't have the pilots or maintenance staff, but the Duke tells Jennings to let him worry about that and says he's going to be assigning a lot more Elves to the base for the maintenance side. Jennings still has no idea where the Duke is going to dig up pilots. It seems the Duke wants to go full up. We got some sixty pilots and aircrew now and they're all part timers. Where he's going to find two-hundred and eighty-eight full time flyers is beyond me. Throw in the ground echelon; we're needing at least seven hundred, not counting the elves or a training staff!"
"How soon?" Evan asked.
"End of next year at the latest," Edgar said.
"Well at least it's not end of next week. You think this has anything to do with the troubles back in Britain?"
"What else could it be?"
"Troubles?" Dudley asked.
"You're not magical, are ye' lad." Edgar stated. Dudley shook his head. "Fair bet ye' don't read the magical papers back home. I know I never even knew of them 'til I came here. Anyway, seems the troubles from 'bout fifteen years ago are back. The British magicals are at the brink of another civil war with each other."
"Another civil war?"
"Seems that way. Then again, maybe it's the first one all over again after a fifteen year Holiday. Players are same enough. The game began in 1971, or at least it became known then. Seems there was this right evil chappie who called himself Voldemort, don't ask me why or what his real name was – or is for that matter – but he was on nasty piece of work. He was a mass murderer plain and simple. He also believed that wizards were a super race of mortal, certain wizards were superior to all others by virtue of being aristocrats and believing in their heritage and right to superiority and he was superior to all and destined to rule all. He would be the supreme ruler with a ruling class of despots below him to handle the details. The rest of the magical race was to be the ruled, unless they had a non-magical parent. He believed non-magicals were animals deserving to be his new order's beasts of burden and those magical born from such beasts were unnatural abominations in need of extermination. Basically, he was a right nutter who also happened to be a stone cold killer and scary powerful wizard. Made Hitler look like a kindly man in comparison. Not a good combination.
"By '71, Voldemort had gathered a following mostly in Britain and mostly comprised of sociopathic killers who were mostly from the British magical aristocracy. They were called 'Death Eaters' which sounds more like a suicide squad then a group who got off killing people just 'cause they could. To join, you had to kill – usually non-magicals – and you had to show it meant nothing to you. Hitler's SS looked compassionate compared with those bastards. Their goal was to take over magical Britain as their first step to taking over the entire magical world and then destroying or enslaving the rest of the human race. Not a nice group of people.
"So this Voldemort chappie and his sick friends started causing trouble both in the magical and non-magical world. On your side of that fence, the trouble was blamed on accidents or terrorists and it's a fair bet that more than a few magical terror attacks were blamed on the IRA. It would be a few years before Her Majesty's Government figured out the truth, and even then there were not many cleared to know the truth. There was a genuine concern that direct intervention would only escalate things and allowing the general population to know that magic was real would either have the government officials claiming such nonsense committed or might lead to a return to the Middle Ages with witch burnings or worse.
"The magical government in Britain was even more useless, although for different reasons. Their legislative body is hereditary. Thus, those tasked to govern came from the same social class as the Death Eaters. A few might actually have been Death Eaters, but others either had family in the ranks or were at least somewhat sympathetic to the then stated cause. Besides, to take decisive action would have wiped out whole lines and seats would either be empty or become filled by wizards from the lower social classes and they couldn't have that, could they?" Edgar added sarcastically.
"It's different here," Clara said. "Our government is elected and being magical is not a job requirement. Granddad served on the High Council for years."
"Did anyone in Britain try and do anything?" Dudley asked.
Edgar nodded. "There was a group that did in the beginning. Kept the Death Eaters from walking in they did until the magical government woke up and realized the bastards would line them up against the wall once they took over. Still, the Death Eaters came really close to winning. Would have won had their leader not copped it. It seems as an organization, they were nothing without the bastard."
"So what did we do during this?" Dudley asked not realizing he used the term "we."
"Wasn't 'til around '77 that we knew just how bad things were. The magical government kept a lid on things in the press there. Didn't want to admit there even was a problem. All our government had before then were rumors and unconfirmed information from our own intelligence folks. Now as before, however, our magical children get their magical education abroad, mostly in Britain. (That's something our new Duke is of a mind to change). Thus, it was only a matter of time before something happened that involved our people. In the summer of '77, the Death Eaters attacked the largest magical shopping district in Britain which is somewhere in London. It was during the back-to-school shopping time and while most of our families do that shopping here, some do not. About seven of our citizens died in that attack. Needless to say we now sat up and took notice.
"Problem was at the time that was about all we could do. We don't really have and Army, just a group of men who parade around in ceremonies. We have warplanes, but that's more of a flying club than a military organization. Our country is protected by powerful magical wards. Our enemies can't find us and even if they could, if they're magical and even try to come here, they'll die crossing our magical boundary. We never needed a military and what passes for one is in honor of our sons who answered the call of the Crown in the past to defend the British (non-magical) Empire, not to defend Charenwell directly.
"Even if we had a military, there would have been difficulties. We have good relations with Her Majesty's government; always have in fact. But we are another country and to send our troops there without an invite would be considered an invasion. We have no relations with the magical government of Britain. Broke those off over four hundred years ago."
"Why?"
"Two reasons. First of all our Duke has a hereditary seat in their legislature. His office is our primary source of intelligence. As such, we used that office for our purposes. To be honest, we don't trust their ruling class at all and made a decision long ago that they not know of us. Anyway, as we have no relations with them, even if Her Majesty invited our help, our magical cousins would see our involvement as an invasion. At that time, we lacked the ability, need or desire to declare war on Magical Britain. We watched, planned and hoped they'd sort it out themselves.
"Now this brings us to the story of our current Duke and how that war ended the last time. In 1978, our Duke was Charlus II. His son Charles served in the RAF during World War II and was heir. Charles had a son named James, who was attending school in Britain. Place called Hogwarts. In '78, Charlus was murdered in Diagon Alley following a session of the Wizengamot where he proposed harsh measures for dealing with the Death Eater. James was finishing Hogwarts and immediately joined an organization that was fighting the Death Eaters. It may have been because of what happened to his Grandfather. It may have also been because his Wife and Consort was a First Generation witch born and raised in England.
"In late July 1980, James and his wife had a son. The lad was born in Britain and at the time we now know James and his family were in hiding 'cause the Death Eaters made the murder of his family a top priority. Duke Charles tried to have them returned home, but was rebuffed by the British Magical Government. On Halloween night, 1981, Voldemort attacked their hiding place. James and his wife were murdered. Our Duke – just a baby at the time – survived and for some reason, Voldemort was destroyed. Now the British magicals believe the baby killed the evil bastard. Rubbish! But those superstitious idiots will believe anything. Needless to say, the baby was a national hero and they were not about to let their hero move away. It wasn't until recently we learned what happened. The Head of their Wizengamot took it upon himself to keep their symbol in Britain. He ignored the Will of the boy's parents and the demands from our government to return our heir to his homeland and placed the boy with the non-magical relations of the boy's mother. The boy vanished without a trace for years.
"He resurfaced in the late summer of 1991 when he started Hogwarts. But again, all efforts to repatriate the boy were rebuffed. By then, Charles had died and we had no reigning Duke. The Lord Mayor acted as Steward, but lacked certain powers that might have forced the issue. Just recently, the Steward authorized a covert operation to get our Duke back. It was planned and organized by Lord Black, a British magical who was close, personal friends with the boy's parents and our Lord Mayor and executed by friends and concubines of the Black and Potter Houses."
"Concubines?" Dudley asked.
"For some reason, Magical Britain has far more witches and wizards. Long ago it was the norm in the magical world to arrange for a witch to be bound to a wizard so that the magical race could survive and thrive. The magical bond was to prevent the witch from leaving our society and disappearing into the non-magical world. In Britain, it became perverted. Young witches with a non-magical parent are sold into virtual slavery every year there. Most are treated as little more than slaves and often worse. A few buyers, however, remember the ancient knowledge and remember that the concubine is to be part of their family for life, to aid and assist it and bear the next generation alongside the wife and Consort as near equal in all things. Our Dukes historically have maintained the ancient tradition, being as they are part of both countries. The Ducal Concubines have historically been very accomplished women whose contributions to this country cannot be measured. They founded hospitals, libraries, and our primary school system. They have been elected to high office and served on our courts. They are revered here which is quite unlike their status in Magical Britain where they are the lowest rung in that social order.
"It is said that every witch or wizard born here in Charenwell is descended from a distant Duke through either his Consort or one of his Concubines. Our present Duke's Great-great grandmother was the Concubine of the Duke. I, of course, cannot claim that connection as I am not magical. But Clara has Ducal Concubines in her magical ancestors."
"I've been told that the new Duke has two Consorts," Dudley said. "He doesn't have any Concubines, does he?"
Edgar and the others nodded. "He inherited one from the last Duke," Edgar said. "She's been an educator both here and in magical Britain for ages and is now heading up the Duke's project to open magical schools here in Charenwell. About a month ago, our Duke and Lord Black (and others) fought in a pitched battle against the resurgent Death Eater movement in Britain – that being the current troubles. Lord Black was killed and our Duke was named his Heir as well. He inherited two women from Lord Black. One is named Mallory and she's both a Healer and non-magical Doctor working at the hospital here in town. The other's named Dora and is a combat trained witch who now heads security for the Duke's estate. He acquired two others who were apparently forced into bondage by the Death Eaters who thought one of their own was to be the next Lord Black. They are about your and Clara's age."
"Daphne and Astoria," Janet (Clara's mother) said. "They're sisters. Daphne is sixteen and Astoria is fourteen. I've met them on more than one occasion in the past couple of weeks and they're here in town almost every day. They do spend time shopping, as the Duke arrived here practically with just the clothes on his back and there have been some friends of his who have relocated here with even less. However, those two girls probably spend more time meeting and talking with people. Very engaging, those two and they're becoming quite popular. Our new Duke did not even know of his own country until he arrived here, much less that he was destined to become our Duke. His ancestors spent years, even decades in the wings as it were learning all they could. He and his Consorts have been trying to learn it all in but a few weeks so we seldom see him out and about. Daphne and Astoria have become the public faces of Houses Potter and Black."
"Potter?" Dudley asked almost chocking on a Danish. "You're Duke wouldn't be named Harry Potter, would he? You don't have a picture of him, do you?"
"He would be," Clara said, "and we do." She got up and left the room for a moment, returning with a newspaper from a couple of weeks earlier with a picture of the Duke and Duchess dominating the front page. Dudley looked at it and began to laugh. "What is it, Dudley?" Clara asked. "What's so funny?"
Dudley regained some control. "Remember about my wizard cousin my parents hate and I was mean to when I was younger?"
Clara nodded.
"My parents are so going to freak when they find out," he chuckled. He pointed to the picture on the paper and said. "That's my cousin!"
SUNDAY, JULY 14th, 1996 – Government House, Pottersport, Charenwell.
Hermione was trying not to become a nervous wreck. She stood at a mirror in a large tent erected before the towering walls of Potter Castle, not unlike two weeks earlier. She wore another deep blue gown, as it was the color of her House, and the diamonds Harry had given her only a couple of days earlier. The sash of the Order of the Round Table crossed her front and once again, the tiara of the Duchess graced her head and done up hair. She had to admit she looked elegant and knew her parents would be thrilled with the pictures, but that did little to calm her nerves. Nearby, the House Potter Concubines were also finishing. Their gowns were of a lighter shade of blue and they too wore Harry's gifts, along with diamond studded head bands to hold their hair.
Luna was having the finishing touches done as well. As the House Black Consort (and soon to be Countess of Darby), she wore an emerald green gown, a different style of tiara, and Harry's diamonds. Her House Concubines were in gowns of a lighter shade, and like the others had on their gifts from Harry and the diamond headbands. If nothing else, Hermione thought, we at least will look like we belong here. Luna, of course, looked like there was nothing of interest about to happen. Nothing seemed to make that girl outwardly nervous, Hermione thought trying to keep her knees from shaking.
Stacey looked both elegant and terrified. Hermione stepped up to one of her newest sisters. "You okay?" she asked.
"This is all so much," Stacey said in a very nervous tone. "This time last week I was a …"
"Shhhh," Hermione whispered softly. "That was another life, Stacey, another lifetime. Today you're Stacey Marie Potter-Black, a Lady of House Potter and the Wife of Harry Potter, Duke of Charenwell. It should be as much their honor to meet you as it is your honor to meet them."
Stacey seemed to relax. "You must do this a lot," she said softly.
"Including today," Hermione replied, "this is my second time. Thinking that is what keeps me from losing my breakfast."
Stacey chuckled slightly. "Thanks Hermione. For Harry then?"
"For Harry."
"Ladies?" a voice called and Hermione could see it was the senior Elf Maiden who had overseen their hair styling, "it is time."
Hermione headed for the exit to the tent with the rest of the Potter Ladies following in order of "seniority," from the longest bound to the shortest, thus it was Ginny bringing up the rear as she was technically junior to Stacey as a Potter Lady by a little over forty-five minutes. Luna and the Black Ladies were behind her. The procession left their changing tend, crossed a short space of open lawn and entered into a much larger tent that was already filled with people. Harry was waiting for her and the others near where she entered dressed in a black dinner jacket and white tie, with his Order of the Round Table sash beneath the jacket, as was custom and his Order of the Round Table medallion and Order of The British Empire pinned on his chest and lapel in plain view. Hermione thought he looked amazing.
She recognized the others already gathered, or at least most of them. The three Weasley brothers were present, in nice suits and their ladies in nice dresses. Neville was dressed not unlike Harry and Susan and Amber were both dressed in scarlet, the color of House Longbottom. Neville and Dora's parents were there, as was Ms. Cissy Black. Hermione had been told she was released from the hospital just that morning. There were several others, all dressed very nicely, present. For now, the group was allowed to mingle with the guests and Hermione learned that not three, but four of the girls how had been brought from Britain as Concubines were actually from Charenwell. While they still remained bound to the three Weasley brothers (as Danielle Carter was the fourth and bound to Bill Weasley), today they were being reunited with the families that had lost them. Hermione was surprised at how grateful the families seemed to be. It was clear they were incensed that their daughters were taken. But they praised their Duke for finding a way to bring them home. Hermione didn't feel it was necessary to point out that it was just dumb luck that had placed the girls in a situation where they could be brought home.
Bill and Fleur had been talking with the family Samantha Johnson, a Charenwell girl who had been abducted through auction last year. It could have been a very difficult situation given that their little girl was now bound to Bill as a concubine, but one would not have known that by the reception. Bill was treated as if he had rescued the girl personally from captivity and practically declared an honored member of the family. In a way, Bill was grateful he wasn't one of his brothers. Fred's concubines and one of George's were also Charenwellian and they had been missing for much longer: between four and six years. Those families practically smothered the twins with their thanks.
"Bill?" Fleur asked. Bill saw her discreetly pointing. He followed her point and saw a young woman in a blue gown with long, brilliant red hair standing by herself and taking things in.
"That can't be Ginny," he said. He took Fleur by the hand and walked over. "Ginny?" he asked.
"Oh. Hi Bill," she replied with a smile.
"Has anyone told you how beautiful you look?"
She nodded. "Harry did a moment ago," she said with a blush. "But he said it to each of us… Really?"
"It's a good thing you're bound to Harry, Sis," Bill chuckled. "You'd have to beat the boys off with a stick."
"You look quite elegant," Fleur said. "Quite the lady."
"Thanks."
"And the jewelry?"
"Harry had it made. We all got our own sets," she said. "I think it's really a bit much, but…"
"It looks perfect on you," Fleur said.
"That can't be our little sister," a voice said. Fred and George walked over with Alicia and Angelina.
"Definitely going to need a bunch of pictures," Fred said.
"Indeed. Who would have thought one of us was that good looking," George added.
"You do look wonderful, Gin," Alicia said.
Ginny had never really been that girly to care in the past. She blushed furiously for it was perhaps the first time the twins had complimented her on something other than mischief or Quidditch. "Well," she finally said, "you can thank Arie the Elf Maiden for the Hair, Harry for the jewels and smile I guess and the shopping twins for the dress."
"Shopping twins?" Fleur asked.
"Daphne and Astoria," Ginny said. "It's a pain going shopping with them. My feet really hurt in the end, but they helped me get some wonderful clothes."
Fleur saw her left hand and held it up. "He gave you these?" she asked looking at the rings.
Ginny nodded. "We're his family and he wants the world to know it."
"You do realize he's saying you're his wife," Fleur continued.
Ginny nodded. "That's what he said as well. Funny when you think of it. Mum kind of got what she wanted, didn't she?"
"Except you're no longer an expendable baby factory," Bill said.
"The expendable part is true," Ginny said. "Harry would never treat us like that. But the other bit is more of a we'll see. That's up to me, really."
"You're not preggers, are you?" Fred asked in shock.
Ginny smiled. "No Fred. I hope so soon, but not yet."
"Not yet?"
"Been thinking," Ginny grinned evilly. "I really want to stick it to Mum. So I want lots of pictures of all of us today. Then, around December, I want one of me with a very obvious baby bump and to send her copies for Christmas with a big thank you for being such a bitch we had to leave and find a wonderful life."
"Evil," Fred said.
"And maybe," Angelina added, "we could really make it a group photo of all the Weasley girls in a family way."
"How is that getting even?" Fleur asked. "Not that I mind the idea but … she did want her daughter dead."
"We don't know what she really wanted," Ginny said. "She may have thought that was far enough ahead that she need not worry about Dumbledore. Then again, she might really be licking the nasties on his backside…"
"That's an image I did not need," Fred moaned.
"But until recently, she was all about family," Ginny continued. "I don't think it was an act. Seeing grandbabies she'll never meet will crush her."
"This can't be our little Dora," Ted Tonks said looking at the brown haired young woman before him in the pale green gown, the sash of the Order of the Round Table, and diamonds. "What happened to jeans and the spiked hair?"
"Hi Daddy," Dora replied. "The hair can't happen when Harry's around. As for the clothes, the fashion twins would kill me if I dressed like that."
"You really look lovely dear," Andy said.
"Thanks," Dora replied with a smile.
"I'd like to introduce you to my sister, your Aunt Cissy," Andy said.
"It's good to meet you." Cissy said somewhat formally.
"It's good to see you up and around, Aunt Cissy," Dora said as pleasantly as she could.
"Could you explain something to me?" Cissy asked. "Erm – just what are the relationships here?"
"Ah," Dora said. "Did Daddy or Mum tell you what happened to me?"
Cissy shook her head.
"The lovely head of House Black," Andy said with disgust, "decided that our House could not have a child with her parentage. Ted was forced to sell interest in her before she was born. She was given to Cousin Sirius – or at least her paper was – as a fourteenth birthday present."
"I was bound to Sirius by proxy about nine years ago," Dora said. "I was twelve at the time. Such a lovely society doing that to young girls simply because they can."
Narcissa paled. "I – I didn't know, Dora."
Dora shrugged. "So when Sirius died, I became the property of his heir. Harry took it pretty well under the circumstances. He finds the whole business repugnant."
"And yet he…" Narcissa began. She knew her husband kept concubines for entertainments.
"We are his wives for all practical purposes," Dora said. "We are his partners in all things, not his slaves or property or worse …toys. I am now legally Lady Dame Dora Black-Potter, primarily bound to House Black and secondarily to House Potter. Lady Luna Black," she said pointing out Luna, "is Harry's Consort and the Countess of Darby designate. His other Blacks are Lady Healer Mallory Black-Potter and Lady Daphne Black-Potter. Our children will be the children of the restored House of Black."
"Restored?" Cissy said.
"The old House was all about Blood Purity. None of the next generation will be Purebloods. Luna and Daphne are, but Harry is not. Mallory is a Muggle Born and I am a Half-Blood. So much for the old motto, eh?"
"I suppose. And the others?"
"The ladies in blue are House Potter," Dora said. "Lady Dame Hermione Potter is the Duchess of Charenwell and Consort. The others are Lady Professor Minerva Potter-Black…"
"P-Professor McGonagall is a…" Cissy started.
"She's been bound to House Potter for over fifty years," Dora nodded. "Next there's Lady Astoria Potter-Black, Lady Stacey Potter-Black and finally Lady Ginevra Potter-Black, although we all call her Ginny."
"She's the one from the Will reading," Cissy said. "She looks surprisingly happy. Are those her brothers with her?"
Dora nodded. "They are not ashamed of their sister. What happened fell squarely on the mother we've learned. Ginny is quite happy in many ways. I guess that applies to each of us. You see Stacey over there?" Dora asked indicating the young woman in a blue gown taking with several others not in similar attire.
Cissy nodded.
"She belonged to Lucius Malfoy as did a few of the other women in this room. I do hope you had no idea about how her life was as Lucius's little pet. I'm sure you've heard the horror stories of what the life of a British Concubine can be like, particularly a Muggle Born witch bound to a Pureblood arse like Lucius. I can assure you her life until a few days ago was that horror story. She knew her time with Lucius was up. He only kept his slaves for three years. She was certain he was going to dispose of her. It turns out killing his used toys was not one of Lucius's predilections. But she and the others, imprisoned naked in a dank dungeon for years and allowed out only for sexual entertainments, left without clothes wands or names for that matter, had been led to believe when he tired of them they would be killed."
Dora could not tell exactly what expression was on Cissy's face as she told the woman of her husband's behavior. It was a mixture. There was shock, disgust, resignation perhaps, and when she looked over at Stacey who was smiling with her friends, was it sadness or remorse? There were silent tears. Cissy then seemed to steel herself. A look of determination came over her and she silently walked away over to where Stacey was standing with Danielle, Verity, Mary, Samantha and their families; all the young women being victims of one Lucius Malfoy. The Tonks family stood watching in confusion. They watched in shock as she seemed to speak to Stacey and the woman then slapped her hard. Three more blows followed from each of the other young women and Cissy dropped to her knees wailing. The Tonks family soon hurried over as it looked like some of the other guests were getting ready to do worse.
Harry arrived at the same time with Hermione and Luna.
"What's going on?" he asked looking at the scene.
"This thing was married to the man who stole my daughter," a man said indicating Cissy. "She had the nerve to try and apologize!"
"This woman is under my House protection," Harry said.
"After what she has done? How could you?" a woman spat.
"And what has she done?" Harry asked in a calm voice. "She was married off against her will at sixteen to a right bastard of a man she had never met before for the sole purpose of bearing a son. Once she had fulfilled her purpose, her so called husband never spoke to her again outside of their social gatherings, much less acted in any other way one would come to expect from a husband. I'd be surprised if he ever kissed her, and even then more so if he actually meant it. She has waited patiently for my House to annul her marriage which I did at the first opportunity. Unfortunately, the first opportunity came after she was repeatedly gang raped by her so called son and his goons. In many ways she is as much a victim of that bastard as your daughter was. A different kind of victim, it is true, but a victim none the less. And she has been a victim for over sixteen years. No young woman deserves what happened to your daughter, Sir. Nor does any woman deserve what happened to Cissy here.
"While the bastard Cissy was forced into marriage with is a villain of the lowest sort and a stain on the undergarments of the human race, the real villain in this sick game is the bastard who sold your daughter off. That bastard was not Lucius Malfoy, although what he has done has ensured that his line will be extinguished, but Albus Dumbledore the head of the British Wizengamot who unlawfully claimed the right to sell our girls to line his own pockets after my Grandfather died!"
"What are you going to do about it?" a man asked.
"I have an idea," Harry said. "It's already being put into action. But it will be at least two years before it is truly visible. In the end, the criminals shall face justice, one which they have long avoided under their corrupt, immoral and inept government. The sick bastards who make the rules over there don't see what happens as a problem. They will learn the error of their thinking. The society over there looks the other way as girls are sold into slavery and Muggles are killed for sport. That society shall pay for its arrogance. But the Day of Judgment is not today, Sir. We are not ready to bring down that sick culture. For now, we prepare."
"War?" a man asked in shock. "But we've never…"
"There is no other way, Sir. I've demanded the immediate return of our women, even if it means binding them to families here, which by the way is how I got these women back. I've demanded reparations to be paid to the victim's families. I am going to cut off all travel to Britain of any nature with the exception of those necessary for our diplomatic efforts and government missions. I have directed that we seek to redirect our trade away from Britain to the Continent or elsewhere so that I might use an embargo against them without causing economic disruption here. But I've lived there. I anticipate our demands will fall upon deaf ears and our legitimate concerns scoffed at. They listen to no one but themselves.
"I've been here all of three weeks, Sir. Before I came here, all I wanted was a quiet life, a family who loved me and maybe a dog. I did not want fame, fortune or power. I found I was famous and wealthy – although I had no idea how wealthy. Were it up to me, I would have lived my life, watched my children grow and die with only friends and family to remember me. Unfortunately, that's not what life has thrown at me, is it? The bastards across the way covet power, wealth and fame. They covet it for their own selfish advancement. They rise in government not to see to the betterment of their citizens, but to see solely to their own self aggrandizement, power, social status and wealth. There are well meaning and decent people there. Unfortunately, those kinds of people get thrown under the bus, are the first to die in their infighting and never rise to their potential.
"I can see no solution to their ills, no solution that will occur that might even begin to heal the suffering our people have suffered at their hands, no solution that would see future generations of women in that land not become yet another victimized class, no solution that will punish the vile ones and ensure this never can happen again short of war. I will admit, Sir, I am biased. I've been at war over there practically from the day I turned eleven and learned I was a wizard. I have never known a day's peace as a wizard and cannot see peace as an option over there unless the entire rotten structure is brought crashing to the ground never to rise again.
"I will go to war, Sir, when we are ready. I will go to war for your daughters. I will go to war for my ladies. I will even go to war for Cissy here. I will go to war to see that what has been and is today shall never be again. I shall go to war for the future generations not yet born both here and there. It is the right thing to do. I regret that it is also the only thing to do.
"Come on Cissy," Harry said gently helping the crying woman to her feet who immediately threw herself into Harry's arms sobbing. That stunned many. When Stacey joined the hug, that stunned the rest for a moment.
It was Neville who began what was as thunderous an applause as the relatively small group of people could make.
"Didn't see that coming," Fred said.
"Which bit?" George asked. "The rant or the fact that our little Harry really is a Duke?"
Dudley and the Jaspers rode a bus from High Street up to the entrance to the fortress surrounding the castle. There were several buses running from the Floo Exchange to the castle to bring the guests to this second State occasion of the year. If anything, the news was reporting that even more people would be attending and the bus was packed. Almost as soon as they got off, Clara took Dudley's hand and they and the Jaspers walked towards the first gate where a queue had formed as tickets were check, along with wands or anything else security deemed inappropriate.
They passed through the queue pretty quickly and Dudley paled a bit seeing that the security people were using wands to search the people. Clara squeezed his hand and said not to worry. Unless he had a weapon on him, nothing would happen and to Dudley's relief nothing did. Their tickets were checked and they stepped through the gate into the outer court around the castle which was a huge, grassy field. Off to the left, Dudley saw soldiers in old fashioned red uniforms and horses with saddles that Clara explained were the honor guard that would precede the Duke and Queen's carriages into the Castle proper. To the right, several very fancy cars were parked and there were several tents set up which Clara explained was where the Duke and his party got dressed and would wait to meet the Queen before the whole things really got started. There was also a long line of fancy, open horse carriages, fourteen in all. Clara commented that the last time there were only something like two or three. She said those carriages would bring the Duke, Royal Family and official guests into the castle.
He saw two flags flying from above the castle gate proper. He recognized one as the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain. The other, he was told, was the flag of the Duchy of Charenwell itself which was red with a white "X" pattern crossing from one side of the flag to another. They were on either side of another flagstaff that was empty for now. Clara explained that the Queen's flag would be raised when she arrived.
As they got closer to the gate, Dudley heard Clara gasp.
"Dudley! We got one!" she said excitedly.
"Got what?" Dudley asked.
"See that?" she said pointing to a red dot on her ticket.
Dudley nodded.
"That means I win!"
"Okay," Dudley drawled.
"It means I get to go to the reception and ball and can bring a guest."
Dudley stopped in his tracks and Clara looked at him. "Dudley?" she asked.
"Oh, sorry. I guess I should formally ask you to the ball or is it you who asks me?"
"Well," she said, "I do have the ticket. But it's usually the boy who asks."
"Guess it's a good thing I wore this suit, eh?"
"It sure is."
"And I think I forget to tell you that you do look very pretty."
"Thank you."
"So since I'm all dressed up and you're so pretty, will you go with me?"
Clara hugged him. "Of course I'll go with you Dudley. But why so nervous? You do seem nervous."
"Um… well, my cousin will be there and I haven't really seen his since last summer and we were not exactly on the best of terms."
"It's not like you have to sit with him. He'll be eating with the Queen most like. But you'll probably have to shake his hand or something."
"I guess I can do that without making a fool of myself. Then there's…"
"What?"
"I … well … I don't really know how to dance," he said with some embarrassment. "I don't want you to look … er …"
"Dudley don't worry. As long as you avoid stepping on my feet too much, I won't mind. I can even show you how, if you want."
"Okay."
"Great! Now let's see if there still good places up front to see the ceremony," she said dragging Dudley at a trot through the castle gates into the courtyard beyond.
The situation in the tent had calmed down dramatically in a few minutes although it seemed to take longer for Cissy to calm down and let go of Harry. Over the last three weeks he had somehow learned to accept both the notion of physical contact and that it seemed women (or at least his women) needed far more of it than he had thought. Still, Cissy was not what he had expected.
"Sorry," she said softly when she finally broke the hug. "And thank you. I needed that."
"No problem," Harry said.
"I think that's the first time anyone hugged me since I was a little girl," she said with a sad smile. "If you'll excuse me, I need to return to the dressing tent to freshen up a bit."
"I'll go with her, Harry," Stacey said.
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to me wasn't her fault. I don't blame her. She looks like she could use a friend."
"You did smack her one," Harry pointed out.
"Sorry. I was … well she was … she was trying to … I guess I overreacted a bit. What that man did is still a little too fresh."
"It's okay. Just bring her back in one piece please," Harry said. "And don't take too long, either. I do want you with us when they arrive."
"It won't be but a couple minutes," Stacey said following Cissy from the tent. Harry noted Andy was with them which eased his mind. A part of him was concerned that Cissy might not come back.
"Your Highness?" a voice asked. Harry turned and saw Remus in his Lord Mayor robes. A tall, dark haired woman was with him.
"Moony?" Harry said. "It's Lord Mayor today, right?"
Remus smiled.
"You got too many bloody titles," Harry quipped.
"Not nearly as many as you, Harry," Remus said. "Then again, I'm not the Duke. I'd like to introduce you to Miss Stephanie Riley. She's my – er – date for the ball today."
"That's wonderful! Miss Riley it is a pleasure to meet you. I dare say Remus almost looks respectable with such an escort. I would say he does look so, but that would be asking me to stretch the truth about this Marauder too far."
"Thank you, I guess," the woman responded with a questioning look.
Remus growled. "Channeling old Paddy, are you?"
"He wouldn't want to think you're getting a free ride," Harry quipped. "And I am supposed to be his Heir."
"Right," Remus said. "We need to get these folks lined up. I just received word Her Majesty's motorcade is five minutes from the fortress."
Harry nodded. A couple of Elves appeared and began arranging the guests for their pre-ceremony audience with the Queen and her party. They were soon arranged in rows on one side of the tent. Harry stood in the middle of the front row with Luna and his Black ladies to his right and Hermione and his Potter ladies to his left, including Stacey who had just returned. Behind them stood Neville, Susan, Amber and Neville's parents along with Bill and Fleur and Bill's two concubines. Fred and George were in the third row with their ladies. Behind them were the Tonks, Cissy, Stephanie and the four other families who had been invited to this pre-event event.
A band outside struck up Hail to the Queen. Remus stepped out of the tent. As Lord Mayor, he was to escort the Queen and her party into the tent once the honors were over. Had Harry been outside, he would have seen the cars coming up the drive at a sedate pace as the Royal standard was raised over the castle. As soon as the last note played a loud "Boom!" shook the air as the cannon's on the fortress walls began their slow, twenty-one gun salute just as they had two weeks ago. A part of Harry wondered what the "soldiers" thought about having to do this sort of thing twice in two weeks.
For him, as we waited, he knew what he thought. On the one hand, he had enjoyed the ball last time. He loved seeing Hermione and the others so dressed up and looking so beautiful and he certainly enjoyed dancing with them last time. He was also pleased Luna would see one of these events as he knew they were rare. On the other hand, he was not a fan of formal attire and Remus seemed to be having too much fun not telling him about these sorts of things in advance. While he knew about this event a week ago, it seemed that Remus had neglected the part about the Queen being here. Had he not heard Hermione panicking earlier in the day, he probably would not have known until just now. Fortunately for him, Remus had seen fit to give at least one of his ladies a heads up and from that hint; Hermione was able to get all worked up about it. He just hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself. But Hermione had told him to try and relax. No one expects a fifteen year old to be the model of royal etiquette.
The last gun sounded and cheers could be heard outside the tent. Remus entered and stood in from of the others, but off to one side. A few people Harry did not recognize entered, setting some chairs up facing the assembly. Finally, a gentleman in a suit entered.
"Your Highness! My Lord! Ladies and Gentlemen! His Royal Highness, Charles Price of Wales!" And a tall man entered whom Harry did recognize from pictures. "Prince William and Prince Harry." Two boys entered. The red haired one was clearly younger than Harry. Harry was told that the older one, William, was just about a year younger than he was. The three were all in dark suits. "His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh." A tall, older gentleman entered. "Her Royal Majesty, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith." The queen entered. She was dressed in a very nice and probably expensive dress, but was obviously not as formal in her dress as they were. Harry had been told that the custom here was that the Duke and his Ladies always dressed formal when welcoming the Queen even if she was not so formal. The Queen took her position in front of the tallest chair, but remained standing.
Remus left his position to the side and walked to a place directed in front of the Queen, bowing as he faced her. "Your Majesty," he began, "on behalf of the People of the Duchy of Charenwell, I welcome you to Potter Castle and Government House."
"Thank you, Lord Mayor Lupin," she replied formally. "We are pleased to be here again after all these years and pleased at the welcome we have thus far received."
"Thank you, your Majesty. Your Majesty, May I present His Highness, Lord Flying Officer Sir Harry James Potter, Duke of Charenwell, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Black?"
Harry nervously stepped forward. "Your Majesty," he said as he bowed.
The Queen looked a little surprised. "Perhaps our information was inaccurate?"
"You're Majesty?" Harry asked in confusion.
"We were advised that you are married. You seem rather young."
"I – er – I guess I am both then, Your Majesty. I am married under magical law and shall be sixteen at the end of this month."
"An emancipated young wizard may marry of his own accord at fourteen, Your Majesty," Remus said. "A minor wizard may accept a Consort Bond from a Witch at the same age and such bond is binding."
"And young women?"
"There is no set age, provided they have the consent of their Magical Guardian – usually but not always their father, Your Majesty. They may enter into a bond or marriage six months after they are physically old enough to bear a child. That age varies from woman to woman, of course. They require no consent to become a Consort."
"Of course," the Queen said. "And as we understand it, there are more than one legally recognized bonds between a witch and a wizard?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty. A Wife at Law is identical in all respects to a non-magical marriage. It is, however, more likely the result of a contract between families – an arrangement – done for the political or economic benefit of the families and not necessarily based upon the desire of the couple. It is the weakest bond as it can end in divorce or annulment. A Wife and Consort is a consensual and magical union between a witch and her husband predicated on mutual love and affection. It is reinforced by both magical contract and by the couple's magic and is the strongest bond. The rite creating the Bond is usually done in private with just the couple present. A public wedding may follow sometime later."
"Strongest bond?" the Queen asked.
"As I understand it, your Majesty, the magical bond is unbreakable. There are no known cases of marital infidelity or divorce in history between a Consort and her Husband."
"And if they are or prove to be incompatible?"
"That has never been known to happen, your Majesty. The magic of the bond prevents such things. If there is any drawback to that Bond – and one might argue it's no such thing – it is that the couple must love each other and already be compatible as a couple. Lust will not do, nor will a rational belief that they should bond. If the emotion is not present, the Bond will not take. While the Consort Bond is not uncommon, you will find witches and wizards who married at law because the Bond would not take hold and many of them have long marriages."
"Interesting," she replied. "And Lord Harry, do you have a Consort?"
"Uh – two actually, Your Majesty," Harry replied blushing.
"We do not understand. You say the Consort Bond prevents infidelity, and yet Lord Harry has two Consorts? Is that not a contradiction?"
"It is quite uncommon," Remus said, "but not a contradiction. Both the magic and the laws that support it recognize the need to preserve family lineages. Should a Wizard be the sole surviving male heir of more than one Ancient House, that being a magical line unbroken on the male side for at least a thousand years (and in Lord Harry's case, both lines in question date back at least as far as King Arthur's Court), such wizard may take a Consort for each line to preserve it. In Lord Harry's case, he is the sole surviving male in the Potter line and, by virtue of the fact that he was designated as the sole Heir of the Black line as well, he is entitled to two Consorts, provided he could find two."
"And he has?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Harry said. "May I introduce them?"
"Please."
"You Majesty, my Wife and Consort, Lady Dame Hermione Jane Potter nee Granger, Duchess of Charenwell."
Hermione walked forward and curtseyed. "You Majesty," she said.
"And how old are you Dear?" the Queen asked. "How long have you been married?"
"I'm sixteen, Your Majesty," Hermione replied. "I'll be seventeen in September. Today is our three week anniversary, to be exact."
"And your parents? Are they aware of this?"
"They gave us their blessing to marry," Hermione said. "They and we thought it would be later than it was. We bonded sort of by accident yet on purpose. As the Lord Mayor said: if we were neither right for each other or ready, the Bond could not have happened. I said the Oath, thinking it was a nice thing to say and not realizing at the time its full implications. But I do not regret it for it was my intention to marry Harry even before, as it was his intention to marry me. So we were bonded. But with the troubles, my parents had to leave the country. They are not yet aware of our Bond."
"I see. And your other Consort, Lord Harry?"
"May I present my Wife and Consort Lady Luna Celeste Black nee Lovegood, Countess Designate of Darby?"
Luna walked forward and curtseyed. "Your Majesty," she said. "I'll be sixteen in September. My mother died in an explosion when I was nine. My father was murdered two weeks ago tomorrow and I've been bonded to Harry for nine days. And, I am both very lucky and very happy to be Harry's Consort."
"We are sorry to hear of the loss of your parents, Lady Luna."
"I was and am fortunate to have friends and now a new family who stand with me," Luna replied. "Sometimes one must have a dark day to appreciate the sunlight."
"Indeed," the Queen said. "Our Ambassador advised me you also maintain concubines, Lord Potter. We are curious. With two lovely wives, why do you feel the need for additional relations? How is that not infidelity?"
Why do I feel like I'm back at school trying to explain why I broke a rule to Professor McGonagall? Harry thought to himself.
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. SG – St. George's School, PE – Prince Edward School, SA – St. Andrew's, SP – St. Patrick's, SD – St. David's.(Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
P = Pregnant.
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 22 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
4. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).P
5. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).P
6. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
7. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
8. Ginevra Molly (Weasley) Potter-Black, age 14 (Gr-4); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
9. Stacey Marie (Campbell) Potter-Black, age 17 (SA-5); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
1. Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
2. Mary Ellen Howard Weasley, age 18 (Ra-5); CONCUBINE (BILL).
3. Samantha Christine (Johnson) Weasley, age 17 (SG-5); CONCUBINE (BILL).
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).P
Fred Weasley, age 18.1. Alicia May Spinet, age 18 (Gr). CONSORT (FRED).
2. Verity Nicole (Smith) Weasley, age 21 (SG-5). CONCUBINE (FRED).
3. Danielle Louise (Carter) Weasley, age 20 (SG-5). CONCUBINE (FRED).
George Weasley, age 18.1. Angelina Olivia (Johnson) Weasley, age 18 (Gr). CONSORT (GEORGE).
2. Shelly Ann (Parker) Weasley, age 22 (SD). CONCUBINE (GEORGE).
3. Ellen Suzanne (North) Weasley, age 20 (PE). CONCUBINE (GEORGE).