Hedwig hovered in front of Harry and hooted at him, he lifted his arm and let her settle onto it, allowing the letter held in her talons to fall to the table. A quick glance showed the Potter crest in dark red ink, over the seal of the Potter Seneschal impressed into a matching dark red wax.
"Oh, what now?" Harry whined.
Harry considered tucking the letter into his pocket and reading it later, but the fact that it bore the Potter crest and the Potter Seneschal's seal, made him hesitate. He turned it over in his hand and read the address.
Lord-Designate H.J. Potter.
Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hmm… Full formal title. That's either going to be really good or really bad. Harry thought to himself.
"Well?" Hermione asked. "Are you going to open it? Or are you going to sit and study the envelope all day?" Harry huffed at her and continued to turn the letter over. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry, just open the damned thing."
Harry shot her a sideways glance and took a deep breath, before opening the letter, noting the smaller plainer sheet of parchment tucked inside the more formal letter. He tucked that into his pocket and beginning to read the longer formal letter.
Lord-Designate of House Potter
H.J. Potter.
My Lord,
In the process of unravelling the disorder that was left in the wake of the previous Lord Potter's death, a number of betrothal contracts were identified and investigated. Below is a listing of those contracts and results of the associated investigations.
Potter/Appleby – Cancelled at request of Lord Appleby. Suggest meeting Lord Appleby and instigating an Aid Alliance Agreement. Potter/Black – Valid. Have met with Seneschal Black and an agreement has been reached. See notes below. Potter/Bones – Specifically scripted for named individuals that are both deceased, rendering the contract null and void. Suggest meeting Regent Bones and instigating an Aid Alliance Agreement. Potter/Crouch – No suitable House of Crouch members, House Potter will not accept convicts as eligible. Suggest requesting a cancellation of contract. Potter/MacMillan – Contract stipulates male/female. Only age-eligible member of House MacMillan is male and already under contract. Currently no females within House Potter. Suggest meeting with Lord MacMillan and converting contract from Betrothal contract to an Aid Alliance Agreement. Potter/McKinnon – House McKinnon is extinct and as such the contract is null and void. Potter/Meadowes – House Meadowes is extinct and as such the contract is null and void. Potter/Prewett – Specifically scripted for named individuals, of which one is deceased, leaving the contract in abeyance. Have met with Regent Prewett and an agreement has been reached, as per my Lord's request. See notes below. Potter/Renquist – House Renquist is extinct and as such the contract is null and void. Potter/Shafiq – House Shafiq is extinct and as such the contract is null and void. Potter/Waterstone – House Waterstone is extinct and as such the contract is null and void.
As Seneschal to your House, I petitioned for meetings with the Regent of House Prewett and the Seneschal of House Black to discuss the above contracts.
The outcome of meeting with House Black, is that the Betrothal contract will be converted to a Voluntary Betrothal contract, left dormant but not cancelled, until such time as there are members of both Houses that request it be re-activated.
The outcome of meeting with Lady Muriel Prewett, Regent to House Prewett, is much as my Lord desired. The contract was found to be a gender-specific contract as well as identity specific, unfortunately, the Potter named is deceased and the Prewett named, is wed, having discarded the contract upon the first's death.
After many hours of negotiation, Lady Muriel and myself agreed to alter the selected nominees, from Charlus Potter and Ignatius Prewett to Hieronymus Potter and Fredrick Weasley. This then forced us to contact Lord Gareth Weasley, Head of House Weasley. Many more hours of negotiations were entered before the following agreements were reached.
Concessions were made in two directions. To House Weasley for the removal of Fredrick from potential contracts and to House Potter for House Prewett's discarding of the original contract, without contact with Lord Potter, Seneschal Potter or an appropriate legal representative of House Potter.
Concessions to House Weasley are as follows.
House Potter will fund the education of all Weasley children, currently under-age, consisting of the purchase of personalised expanded capacity trunks, all school supplies, uniforms, fees and one pet of child's choice, plus the maintenance of said pet. House Potter will repay the apprentice fees, already outlaid by House Weasley for the two eldest sons, purchase personalised expanded capacity trunks, wizarding tents and cover or reimburse all apprentice related costs. Or in the case of the eldest, William, who has returned to Britain, accommodation will be provided for the remainder of his apprenticeship and a sum of ʛalleons, to the same value as if the above items were purchased, will be paid into William's Gringotts' vault. A lump sum of ʛ10,000, to be paid in full, on or before Fredrick's next birthday on the 1st of April. A stipend allowance to all under-age children, of ʛ10 per month, from September to June, payable on the 1st of each month. Payment will be made to an allowance-only coin purse, purses to remain with each child, however each child is encouraged to manage their funds in a manner acceptable to Houses Potter and Prewett. Any under-age child that wishes to open a personal vault, will be escorted to Gringotts by the Seneschal to House Potter to do so. An additional ʛ100 will be deposited into any vault opened. Any child that wishes to, may divide their stipend allowance between the provided coin purse and a personal vault, with no forfeiture. Keys to these vaults will likewise remain with the child.
Concessions to House Potter are as follows.
Fredrick and his twin, George, will be educated in Estate Management, to the satisfaction of the Seneschal of House Potter and the Regent of House Prewett, Lady Muriel informs me that House Prewett is a Multi-Head title and that Fredrick and George Weasley are the only surviving members eligible to claim the title and will be named as Heirs on their fifteenth birthday and may claim the title on their seventeenth birthday. Due to Ignatius having discarded the afore mentioned contract, without contact or approval of House Potter or even notifying the Regent of House Prewett, House Potter is being given the opportunity to foster the Prospective-Heirs Prewett until their majority, pending my Lord's approval, of course. House Potter will be permitted to nominate and negotiate one contract on behalf of House Prewett, a time limit of thirty years has been instigated, before this concession becomes obsolete. While House Prewett may be an Ancient and Noble House, for the tenure of Lady Muriel and that of Fredrick and George, once they are of age, House Prewett will be subordinate to House Potter. This is to be only between the two Houses, in all other eyes, the two will be of equal stature. House Potter will be granted three uses of a goblin-made tiara, currently in the possession of Lady Muriel. These uses may be for a member of House Potter on their Marriage or for a member of an Allied House.
These concessions, I believe are in the best interests of our House, my Lord, and while as your Seneschal, I do not require my Lord's approval or consent to negotiate, agree to and authorise these amendments, I humbly believe that my Lord should be made aware of my actions on behalf of our House. I have also requested that House Prewett allow time for my Lord's approval or meetings to re-negotiate any issues that my Lord believes should be raised and discussed.
I am formally requesting an audience with my Lord and his chosen, that their Betrothal Contract may be signed and witnessed. Lady Muriel and I have taken it upon ourselves to petition permission from the Hogwarts' Board of Governors to attend the castle for the event.
I write in the belief that my Lord will approve my actions on his behalf, if however, my Lord has anything that he believes needs to be raised, I am his servant.
R.J. Lupin
Seneschal Potter.
"Oh…" Harry gasped silently.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I need to speak to Professor McGonagall." He stood and looked around the Hall, seeing the head of Gryffindor leaving the Hall, Harry grabbed his satchel and darted after her. "Meeting in the study in twenty minutes." He said, over his shoulder.
"Harry?" Hermione called, to his rapidly departing back, but his only action was to wave as he trotted out through the Great Hall's doors.
Twenty minutes later, Harry met with the Raiders in their study room.
"Harry, are you alright?" Fred asked sitting beside the smaller boy.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just needed to confirm a couple of things before we all got together and I explained."
"And what happened?" Hermione asked.
Harry didn't say anything, he just handed over the letter from Remus and waited while Hermione read it.
"Ah…" She sighed in relief.
"Well…?" Fred asked.
"Please read it aloud, Hermione." Harry directed.
Hermione took a deep breath and read the letter, her voice calm and sure. When she finished, she laid the sheet of parchment on the table and waited for the reactions.
"Well…" Said George. "Welcome to the family, Harry. I'm guessing we'll get a letter from mum and dad, confirming our fostering."
"Oi, what about me?" Ron whined. "Why didn't Remus get me fostered with you, too?"
"We've other plans for you, Ron." Bill said as he, Tonks and Remus entered the room.
"What? What plans?" The youngest redhead present asked, looking at his eldest brother.
"I'm going to suggest that Archer adopt Ron, like he has me." Bill answered. "I think I can spin it for mum and dad, that as Archer lives with Ron during the school year, having both he and Harry there outside of school will give him the additional stability that he's been missing since his family were killed. Plus, there's the Family Lore lessons, Harry won't be attending with Archer, because Potter and Black have very different Lore, but if Archer adopts Ron as a brother, Ron can sit in on those lessons, meaning that Archer will never feel like he's been left alone."
"Yes… and no…" Ron hummed.
"Oh Gods, not again…" Draco moaned, closing his eyes and screwing up his face.
"Yes, for the adoption and the reasoning, but no, not you doing the telling. Have McGonagall talk to mum, woman to woman. It'll have more weight. Maybe raise the issue of Luna and the possibility of Harry adopting her and mention the Potter/Black contract. Maybe, maybe not. Not sure. Use your judgement on that." He said to McGonagall.
"No, don't mention the contract or Luna, not yet." Remus said sitting down and pouring himself a mug of tea.
"How will adopting Luna affect you- I mean us, Remus?" Tonks asked.
"I think Tonks means, you're still on the werewolf register." George clarified.
"Ah, but I'm not, anymore. On Wednesday, I went into the Ministry and challenged their registry. I said, that I'd just been informed that someone have placed me on the register without my knowledge or consent and I wanted my name cleared. In turn, they sent me to St. Mungo's, who tested me, using a charm specifically created to identify werewolves. Needless to say, I was clear. Something to do with me not turning into a werewolf but into natural wolf, I'm thinking." Remus sat back with a smirk. "It took an hour to do the paperwork and I'm free." The last word was whispered blissfully and greeted by beaming smiles. "So, me adopting Harry can happen both the muggle and magical worlds. And Harry adopting Luna as a sister won't have any effect on that, plus she still has her father, it will just mean that Xeno's going to have to get used to having us in his life, too."
"No." Luna disagreed. "Daddy's not stable and even after… St. Mungo's said the damage was irreversible. I love him greatly, but I… I... I think… I think it might be best… for him to go into care. It's certainly better for him physically, anyway. At least someone will see that he eats and gets dressed each day." She said, quietly.
"In that case, Luna, do you want me to start things moving?" Remus asked.
"Uh, wait until summer?" Luna shook her head. "I can speak to daddy about it, say how good it would be for me to have siblings… and for Harry, too. He's usually pretty good about doing what's best for me. Give me a week to say goodbye, then I'll come over to you and you can contact St. Mungo's, says something like how worried you are about me and daddy, and can they send someone to assess him?"
Remus nodded for a few seconds. "I can work with… Huh… What if I approached WFS and requested the forms for adoption? That may give us a reason for requesting an assessment."
"Ron?" Luna asked.
Ron's eyes were closed in thought, his head rocking from side to side with the occasional nod thrown in.
"Get the forms, go see Luna's dad, now. Get the quaffle in play. Then Luna spends the first week of the holidays at the Rookery. We go to get her, to come and stay with us at Horsham. Remus gets St. Mungo's involved, say that Xeno doesn't look like he's changed clothes, washed or eaten since Remus was there last." Ron answered.
"He probably wouldn't have." Luna sighed. "I love him dearly, but objectively, he needs help and I can't give it to him."
"Okay, we can leave that with Remus to get started. We'll reassess after exams. Back to Harry and Fred." Hermione directed. "Do we have any idea when the Contract Witnessing is to happen? Harry?"
"I spoke to Professor McGonagall." He gave Remus a dirty look that was answered by a, patently faked, innocent expression on his guardian's face. "Apparently, she received a letter on Wednesday, regarding the matter and met with the Board of Governors about it, yesterday. They've given permission for the signing of the contract to happen here on the solstice and have suggested the Long Gallery under the Central Tower, as it's where three of the four ley-lines that pass through Hogwarts, overlap."
"Solstice is…" Hermione hummed in thought.
"Thursday." Harry answered. "This coming Thursday.'
"Oh, my." Hermione's brows rose, sharply.
"Yeah…" Harry gave her a sarcastic grin.
The Contract Signing went off without a hitch, as did the rest of March. April 1st, the twins' birthday, being a Wednesday, also passed quietly. Gifts from their parents and housemates were opened and appreciated.
Before long the Raiders were gathered at Hogsmeade station, their shrunken trunks tucked away in their satchels. They stood patiently, waiting for Professors Snape and Sprout to give them permission to board the Express. Then it was a long quiet ride down to London, to King's Cross Station, their waiting families and the Easter holidays.
"I'm not sure I'm looking forward to this, it could be difficult. I don't think mum's going to be all that happy." Ron moaned.
"Nope." Fred grimaced.
"One last week, Freddie." George whispered. "We can last a week, surely."
"It's not the time, George, it's the volume. You know mum's going to go off on a rant, at some point." Fred replied.
"But we know how to cast a muffling charm, Fred, that'll take care of the worst of it." George countered. "And then, we're out of there."
"Yeah and leaving me to deal with the banshee that mum becomes." Ron muttered.
"Bill's already got the cauldron on the go, as far as Archer adopting you, Ron." Hermione reminded them.
"I hope he works fast, then." Ron pouted, spying his mother and father standing off to one side of the platform.
A few days later, Bill and Archer went out for the morning, as they did most mornings. Bill would escort Archer to London to meet with Andromeda Tonks and Cassiopeia Black. These mornings were devoted to learning all he could about the Black Family and their history, something that Sirius had been denied, once he'd been sorted into Gryffindor. With Arcturus' death the year before, Archer needed to learn as much as he could, before he claimed the Black lordship.
But it seemed that today was different. Instead of coming home at lunch time with sheets of parchment, today they came home much later in the afternoon with Ron and the twins. George and Fred quietly greeted Harry and went straight up to the room assigned to them.
"Ron?" Harry tilted his head in question, leaving George to settle, an obviously upset, Fred down.
"Hi, mate." Ron sighed in pleasure. "It's sure nice and quiet here."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "That bad was it?"
"Ooh, yeah. And then some, but for a change, it wasn't mum that was the screamer." Ron laughed back. "It started quiet, but… it didn't stay that way. Ginny's been a right bitch, these holidays. She's been giving Fred the cold shoulder and being real nasty. This morning at breakfast, she exploded. Went off on a rant about him stealing her Harry and mum was no help, she just sat there watching as Ginny tore strips off of him. I ended up going out to daddy's shed and told him what they were doing, he winced but did nothing, so I ran back into the house and used the living room fireplace to floo-call Great-Uncle Gareth. Uncle Gareth stormed in and… oh boy, did he let rip. He told mum and Ginny to sit down, shut up and listen. Then he explained exactly how the contract came into place and informed Ginny that as Head of House Weasley, he had to approve any contracts and that you, as Lord Potter, had specifically requested Fred and rejected any other Weasley's as suitable matches. That Fred knew, but only because Uncle Gareth told him." Ron winced. "Then he told them, that as he was head of House, he was the only one who could authorise betrothal and marriage contracts and if Ginny didn't get her head out of her ass, he'd see that she never got the chance to marry." He smirked. "Mum screamed, pulled out her wand and Uncle Gareth smacked her across the face. He told her she was incredibly lucky that Grandpa was the one to sign her and daddy's contract as, if it had been up to him, it wouldn't have happened. Then he turned around and told Fred, George and me to pack our things, while he'd been dubious about the fostering, now he was all for it. When daddy ambled in, Uncle Gareth laid into him, too, and reminded him that as Head of House, if daddy didn't uphold the Family Tenets, Uncle Gareth would be well within his rights to disown daddy. When daddy blustered, Uncle Gareth reminded him that Aunt Muriel had also mentioned disowning mum, so daddy had better get his head out of the sand and get control of his family. Before daddy could say anything else, Uncle Gareth informed them that Archer had petitioned to adopt me as a brother and after watching how daddy and mum treated Fred, George and me, he was going to agree with Muriel and approve it."
Bill had stumbled in the door, halfway through Ron's explanation and leant against the frame, waiting for Ron to take a breath, before entering the conversation.
"Yeah, Uncle Gareth was really not impressed with mum and dad. He threatened to release Ginny from House Weasley, her behaviour made it very clear that she took after the Prewett's, not the Weasley's and he wanted nothing to do with her."
"He said that, he wasn't sure that mum and daddy should be allowed to raise her, if they were not going to do it properly." Ron added.
"Ooh… ouch…" Harry grimaced.
"Yeah…" Ron nodded.
"And it got bad from there. Uncle Gareth showed me the memory and I'm so glad, I wasn't there." Bill slumped and slid down the door frame. "He floo-ed to wherever it is, that Charlie is and showed him, too. So now… Fred and George are Prewetts, Charlie, me, Percy and Ron are Blacks and Ginny is with Aunt Muriel until she starts school, then Aunt Muriel and Uncle Gareth will decide where she'd going to live until she comes of age."
"Don't say anything more, Bill. We'll have a meeting in an hour and you can explain it all then." Harry held up a hand.
Two hours later, Bill finished his explanation with, "… and mum and daddy are living with Uncle Gareth and Aunt Laura, until Uncle Gareth believes that they won't embarrass House Weasley."
"Woah…" Seamus exhaled loudly.
"Yeah, pretty much." Ron huffed.
"So, let me get this straight." Lucius held up a hand. "Fred and George have been released from House Weasley to House Prewett, on the understanding that they will take up the title when they come of age?" Bill nodded. "Percy and Ron have been released from both Houses Weasley and Prewett to House Black as brothers for the Lord-Designate?" Ron nodded.
"And as Seneschal of House Black, I hold their guardianships." Bill added.
"Right. And both yourself and Charles have requested release from both Houses, which Lord Gareth and Lady Muriel have both granted, and as Archer's Seneschal, you've accepted the four of you into House Black?" Lucius kept asking.
"Yes." Bill nodded.
"Which leaves Ginevra as Molly and Arthur's only child?"
"Possibly. If they don't clean their cauldrons right, they won't even have her." Bill warned.
"She's with Muriel?"
"Yes, and she'll stay there until school starts, but Aunt Muriel isn't impressed and is already talking about home-schooling Ginny, instead of allowing her to go to Hogwarts." Bill went on.
Lucius nodded to himself, before turning to Remus. "How does this effect Fred and Harry's betrothal contract's concessions?"
"Ah, well…" Remus sighed. "The concessions from House Prewett to House Potter still stand, but those to House Weasley? Well…. Ginny is sort of… in no man's land. Gareth won't acknowledge her as a Weasley and has requested that she be removed from the concessions. So, she gets nothing, no allowance, no school supplies, no pet, nothing. As for the boys? Because Fred and George have been released to House Prewett, conditional to the contracts being signed, they only come under the concessions to House Potter. Bill, Charlie, Ron and Percy have been released from both Houses Prewett and Weasley, back to House Black, so they don't come under the concessions, either. However…? Fred and Harry's betrothal contract wassigned almost a month ago and some of the releases weren't legal until today. Muriel, Gareth, Bill and I spent an hour working out the finer details. Ginny, like I said, she gets nothing, until her behaviour is reviewed in August." Bill nodded along with Remus. "Working through the clauses in order… The education clause? House Potter has already undertaken to provide some things. The trunk, the pet and we've reimbursed anything outlaid up to the end of this school year. But we won't be covering anything new from here on. Bill and Charlie and their apprenticeships? Gareth had to outlay ʛalleons for them and House Potter has already reimbursed House Weasley and we're both fine with that. Plus, we did give the two of them trunks that will access the basement, here. The Lump Sum? That stays, we did remove Fred from the possibility of entering a contract for House Weasley and it wasn't until later, that House Weasley released Fred to House Prewett, regardless, that has nothing to do with House Potter, it was purely an in-House affair. The Allowances? Like I said, Ginny gets nothing, until her review. And the other boys have been released from House Weasley, so no longer meet the criteria for that clause. However, part payment has been made, as the boys did meet the criteria, at least for a while. What has already been paid, is yours, but do I have to get the allowance-pouches back from you. Vaults opened are still yours, as are the funds House Potter put into them. If any of you don't have your keys, new keys will be provided, the goblins have already been informed that Molly and Arthur are no longer your legal guardians and as such, can no longer access your vaults." Remus stated and sat back, nursing his mug of tea.
"How is all of this going to affect the living arrangements?" Narcissa asked, filling the silence that Remus' explanation had caused.
Bill and Remus looked at each other and shrugged.
"I can't see that it will. Other than Ron and Percy will be living here, too." Remus answered.
"We should bring Percy into the brew. He won't be happy if we start cutting him out now." George huffed. "I mean… he's been great since last holidays, cutting him out now? Not good. But if we were to tell him? To trust him? That' all that Percy really wants, to be trusted."
"Ooh…" Ron breathed.
"What? What?" Draco leant forward, his eyes intent on Ron's face.
"Percy wants to be trusted… Fred and George want to run their shop…" Ron whispered.
"Yeah… and…?" Bill frowned.
"Have Percy go with them and do all the Prewett title training…, he can work with them as a… a… secretary for a while, then the twins can ease back to their shop and Percy can be their Seneschal… or something like that. Bill and Remus can help him if he needs it." Ron answered.
Fred and George had a lightning fast, silent conversation.
"And if we tell him about us and our 'travelling', we can say that this was a part of our plan from the beginning. I mean, he did come to work with Ron and I, in the shop." George said.
"Talking of Percy? Where is he?" Harry looked around.
"Oh, he's at Oliver's." Bill said. "Went over the night before last, said he was tutoring Oliver in History and Runes for their OWLs." He shrugged. "I floo-ed over and spoke to him about it, told him what Uncle Gareth had to say, he wasn't all that surprised, I don't think. I told him that I'd sort out accommodation and floo over and collect him, about lunch time tomorrow."
Harry looked at those gathered around the table. "Those in favour of bringing Percy into the Raiders?" All but Juliet and Oberon raised their hands. "Juliet? Oberon?"
"We don't know Percy, so we feel it better to abstain from voting." Oberon answered.
"Oh, okay, then." Harry nodded. "Fair enough. So…? Percy? Unanimously approved. Remus, if you and Tonks can sort out a room and a trunk for him, please?" The pair nodded. "Thanks, guys. Archer, Bill, Ron and I will sit down with him tomorrow and bring him up to date. Next on the agenda?"
"Dumbledore's been tentatively cleared, health-wise, but his core fluctuations are still worrying for the Board and St. Mungo's. It's been recommended that he not return to Hogwarts and he's agreed." McGonagall began. "He's decided that the stress of the war and being Headmaster has negatively impacted on his health and he's not prepared to suffer that again. And to top it off, as our ghosts stopped bothering him, the moment he left Hogwarts, so he's convinced it's something to do with the school. But the whole situation has raised doubts in his mind. He's dropped all three of his official posts, stating that he wants to concentrate of regaining his health and maybe writing an alchemy book."
"Yes, he said much the same to me." Snape added. "I suggested that he get in contact with Bathilda Bagshot and collaborate on a book on the modern history of Hogwarts, or a book of anecdotes of his time at the school."
"Regardless, he's decided that he won't be returning to Hogwarts as Headmaster." McGonagall said, her voice pleased. "Nor will he continue to be Chief Warlock or Supreme Mugwump."
"So, we don't have to worry about him, anymore. Lovely." Draco sighed in pleasure.
"I agree." Harry smiled. "Next?"
"The adoptions?" Remus raised a hand. "I lodged the paperwork to adopt Harry in both muggle and magical worlds. The muggles are pushing it ahead, they are under the impression that I was Harry's father's foster brother and so far, no one is objecting. The magicals…? There were a few objections, but with me being cleared of being a werewolf and having been James and Lily's best man and Harry's muggle guardian, the objections are shrinking. And as I've said that I would prefer to keep Severus as Harry's Crisis-Guardian, objections are shrinking even further."
"And I did the same with Archer's adoption, too." Bill added. "I've got approval from the WFS to go ahead with the magical adoption. The muggle one, I'm told that it will take a bit longer, but the fact that they think that I'm Archer's mother's cousin and hence his only blood relative and that I already have guardianship of him? The Muggle Family Services case-worker seems to think it should go through just fine, but we have to go through each step, that can't be avoided."
"My contact said he can bump Archer's file up the lists, he doesn't want to move him to the top of the list, that may draw too much attention, but in the top half-dozen or so? Yeah, he can do that." Moody grunted.
"Good, we can work with that." Harry nodded.
"Next would be Neville's parents." Bill spoke up. "Disowning Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers helped, but there's still a way to go. I've got an appointment with healer Strout to discuss the matter further, on the first Monday of term. I'm hoping that by the end of the school year, we'll know exactly what we're facing and how to deal with it."
"Great, keep us posted, please." Harry waited for Luna to jot down the details in their minutes journal. "Next?"
"Fleur?" Bill flushed at the smattering of chuckles his almost pleading request got.
"We have that." Lucius replied. "Narcissa and I spent a lovely weekend with Bertrand and Apolline, just last month. With your approval we discussed the matter and it's been decided that Narcissa and I will foster Fleur, starting on the 1st of July. And Bertrand has completed the betrothal contract between Fleur and William, ready for signing. I suggest getting that done, before moving ahead with Archer's adoption."
"Oh, brilliant." Bill sighed in relief.
"And I've news, too." Moody cut in. "Last night there was a raid on Barty Crouch's place, in response to a tipoff, we found a convicted Death-Eater under imperius in his basement and scans connect it to Barty's magical signature. The Death-Eater received the Kiss at midday, today and Barty's in the cells waiting on a trial."
"Excellent news." McGonagall gave a small smile.
"Plus, I've the plans on the Carrow estate for the Raiders and their… outing." Moody frowned. "You really think you're ready for this?"
"We are." Harry nodded. "But you can test us, if you like." The other Raiders and Archer, all nodded.
"I'd like that, just to make sure. The Carrows are a pair of right nasty little buggers." Moddy grumbled.
"They might be, but we're the Raiders and we know how to deal with their type." Harry replied calmly.
"Tonight, then. Malfoy? Can we use your duelling room?" Moody grunted.
"Certainly… if I may watch, of course." Lucius added.
"Sure." Harry nodded, after looking at the other Raiders, who shrugged.
"You… but… how…?" Percy stammered.
"We've no idea, Perce." Bill sighed.
"We still haven't figured that out." Harry huffed. "Mione and Draco are working on it, but they're not confident that we'll ever know."
"Oh. So… um… why are you telling me? Now? When everything almost done?" The Gryffindor prefect asked.
"After Hogwarts, you went to work in the Ministry for a few years, then then shortly after Ron went to work in the twins' shop, you quit the Ministry and joined them there." Harry answered. "But last time, the twins didn't take the Prewett title and were able to concentrate on the shop, this time, they haven't that luxury. Being the Lords Prewett is going to keep them very busy, too busy to run the shop. Unless… they have help."
"The way we look at is… Bill's Seneschal Black. Charlie's doing his CoMC apprenticeship with Scamander. Fred and George will be the Lords Prewett, but they still want their shop. That leaves you and me, Perce." Ron continued. "So… we were thinking that… I will do the Black Family stuff with Archer and you do the Prewett stuff with the twins. Wait!" Ron held up a hand to stop Percy's objections. "The idea is, in the long brew, that you become Seneschal Prewett and the business manager for the three titles, Black, Prewett and Potter."
"While Ron will be our marketing manager," Harry said, "we need to turn the Black name around and make it a reputable name. And House House Prewett has become almost invisible, so we need to change that, too." Harry said.
"And the Potter name is well known, but the actual estate is… well, pathetically rundown is the best we can say." Bill added.
"Yeah." Harry nodded. "It's been let fall by the wayside and that's going to take a lot of work to fix. Same with both Black and Prewett. It's going to be a long-term project and require more than one person working fulltime to do it."
"And you want me?" Percy tapped a finger on his chest.
"We do." Archer nodded.
"We figured that if you can run Fred and George's business and keep their Ministry certifications up-to-date in a Voldy-controlled economy and keep them in profit, you can resurrect three semi-dormant Houses." Bill grinned.
"You're doing the right subjects at school. You're hard working and studious. You're family, so there's little chance that you'll try and rip us off. And you know our secrets, so when we suggest something, you won't vanish the idea without an explanation." Ron listed.
"And you're pretty much the only person the twins, Ron, Bill and Charlie all trust." Harry added.
"But it is up to you." Ron said. "If you're not interested, we'll work around it. We'll probably hire someone, because we do need someone. I can do so much, but I haven't the patience or the meticulous nature to handle the finer details."
Percy just looked at Ron. "I… this…" He took a deep breath. "This is a chance of a lifetime, Ron. Of course, I'll do it. The chance to take an Ancient and Noble House from nothing to one of the most well-known names in our world? Oh, yes, I'm in." Percy nodded sharply.
"Good stuff. Every morning we have House lessons, Ron and I go to London with Bill to meet Andi Tonks and her Aunt Cassiopeia Black. The twins go to Uncle Carlyle, he and his brother were supposed to become the Lords Prewett, but Addison died when he was sixteen, just a week before they claimed the title, so Aunt Muriel stayed as Regent. Harry and Luna go to the Potter Wheelhouse, Harry's Great Grandfather Charlus, has a wizarding portrait there." Archer explained.
"Luna?" Percy asked.
"Oh, yeah, we didn't get that far, did we?" Ron frowned. "Harry's in the process of adopting Luna as a sister. It's… Luna's dad isn't doing well… Remus spoke to him about it and while he was happy for Luna, the next time Remus raised the subject, Xeno didn't remember the first conversation. So, Remus spoke to WFS about it and they're investigating. That means having Luna's father assessed by St. mungo's, but while all that happens, Luna is at a loose end, so Remus got St. Mungo's to appoint him as her temporary guardian and pending the investigation, it may be made permanent. But they did approve Harry adopting her as a sister, regardless, so she's staying with us."
"Is she…? Like you…?" Percy asked.
"Yes. The only ones that aren't 'travellers' are Snape, Lucius and Narcissa." Archer answered for them all.
"Uh… who?"
"Oh, right." Archer grunted. "Harry, Hermione and Ron, of course. Then there's Fred, George, Bill and Fleur. Neville, Seamus and Dean. Luna, Draco and Cedric. Me, Remus, Tonks, Moody and McGonagall. We've told Snape, Lucius and Narcissa. Andi and Ted Tonks. Juliet and Oberon Granger. And now you."
Percy nodded. "Are you planning on telling anyone else?"
"We hadn't. Why?"
"I think it might be a good idea to bring Charlie in on this. He was telling me that that Welsh Dragon Reserve was going downhill, fast. That Scamander thinks the Ministry are going to sell it. It might be a good buy for our Houses, particularly once Charlie's finished his apprenticeship, set him up there and he'll keep it going. We all know Charlie loves his dragons, imagine what he'd be like if he had a share in it?" Percy answered.
"Ooh…" Ron whistled. "Yeah, that'd work."
"See, Percy, that's why we want you to work with us." Bill patted the latest addition to the Raiders, on the shoulder.