"No" cried Harry with anguish in his voice.

"Welcome back Mister Potter" Madame Pomfrey said pleasantly as Harry stepped out of the floo. "It is good to see you again"

Harry thought he really should check where Daphne was leading him before he stepped into a floo after her.

"Just a quick check up before I let you go to breakfast." Poppy paused to check the time "Oh my, let you go to lunch. Have a bit of a sleep in did we?"

"Miss Greengrass, how is the hand? Although it is a bit early to be expecting any change." She examined Daphne's hand "Well it is definitely not spreading. But I am sure you knew that."

"Yes, I have been keeping a close eye on it" Daphne replied "I know how to follow healers' instructions" she rolled her eyes towards Harry who stuck his tongue out at her eliciting a giggle from her.

"Now, let us have a look at you" Poppy said turning to Harry.

"What part of me would you like to have a look at?" he asked waggling his eyebrows at her.

"What say we start with your face and see where we go from there" He had the cheek of his Godfather, but staring into those eyes, they were pure Lily.

She gave a little start at that random thought. It was so easy to forget who his parents were, with him being raised by the Greengrass family. But looking at him closely, it was easy to see the Potter line desperately trying to escape from the restraint of the carefully groomed façade that Harry affected. He had the same square jawed good looks of his father, and his grandfather she thought a smile dancing on her lips at the memories of Charlus. Good looks now ruined by the burnt skin covering the left side of his face. The smile on her face was replaced by a scowl.

"Is everything ok?" Harry asked seeing her scowl. There was concern in his voice.

Poppy smiled at him "Just some old ghosts visiting. You are fine, your magic is stronger than whatever the curse is. It is just a matter of time before the healers find a counter curse."

"That is what they keep telling me" Harry said with only the slightest trace of bitterness in his voice. "However, you will be the first to know if anything changes. You know how much I love our little visits" he added with a smile.

"Get away with you" she said with a laugh, cheeky boy.

"Well, if you insist" Harry grabbed Daphne's hand hustled her out of the infirmary.

Poppy laughed again as she watched the pairs hurried retreat hand in hand.


As they had missed the start of classes and it was too early for lunch, they headed back to the common room to get their books for the first class after lunch. Harry noticed the change as soon as he entered the second-year boys' dormitory, all Draco's belongings had gone, his trunk was missing from the foot of his bed and all the dark arts books he liked to show off on his bedside table were gone. Well that would make for more pleasant evenings he thought.

Heading back to the common room he met up with Daphne who had a similar story to tell about Pansy's space.

"You think they have gone to another school?" Harry asked.

"Maybe" Daphne replied, unwilling to commit.

Harry shrugged "Come on, we can be first to lunch" he said with anticipation.

"Ahhh mister Potter, miss Greengrass" Professor Snape drawled as he entered the common room "Madame Pomfrey informed me that you were back. Although I was expecting for the first class this morning"

"All my fault professor, I got held up with some last-minute family business" Harry replied "We were just heading off to lunch." Harry tried to edge towards the door, sadly the universe was conspiring to keep him hungry a little longer.

"I won't take more than a moment of your time" Snape continued "if you would like to come to my office" he started walking, leaving no room for arguments.


"Please take a seat." Snape looked at Daphne's hand for barely a second, it would heal, he knew the curse and knew that it had been stopped.

"Mister Potter, do you mind me examining your injury?" He asked Harry.

"Why not, everyone else has" Harry replied but without any bitterness in voice.

Professor Snape took his time, casting various diagnostic spells on Harry's injury.

Harry got in before Snape could say anything "Before you ask, no it is not spreading, no it is not getting any worse, no it is not getting any better, prior incantato on Malfoy's wand showed the curse but not what it was, so no better than viewing the memory of the fight" Harry ended. He was not mad at Snape, just over the whole thing. He could not wait for exams to finish then the summer break.

"And of course, with Lord Malfoy claiming to have no recollection of the entire event, he wasn't going to say anything that would incriminate himself." Snape finished for him

Snape sat there for a while, he appeared to be resolving some sort of internal conflict. Finally, he said "It is Malfoy family magic. My position as Draco's godfather allows me that much knowledge." He held up his hands to forestall any comments "I don't know what the curse is, just the magic. You must be particularly strong for it not to have spread and taken over your whole body. The curse is still active with your magic fighting the Malfoy magic."

"Why did you not say anything before?" Daphne demanded.

"This is the first time I have seen Harry since the event. And as Draco's godfather I am in no position to be offering information in this situation. It is a delicate line I tread here miss Greengrass. I am only offering my opinion as Harry's Head of House"

"That is ok, professor" Harry said "I appreciate your situation."

"So generally speaking, how would you cancel a curse like this, the family magic component?" Daphne asked, already having a pretty good idea of the answer.

Snape looked at her with a shrewd look "Yes miss Greengrass, you have already guessed correctly, one way the curse would end would be the end of the Malfoy line."

Snape sighed, before continuing "In other news that is somewhat related to what we have just discussed. Draco has taken the Malfoy family head of house ring. He is, for all intents and purposes, Lord Malfoy. This means special accommodation and privileges for himself and his betrothed." Snape imparted the news he had been dreading telling them.

Harry's eyes lit up bright green at this news and his face flared the little flames.

Daphne sitting beside him, her eyes glowing an icy blue, a new development for her.

This will end badly, Snape thought.


"Hey Scarface" Draco's whiney voice rang out across the great hall causing every one gathered for lunch to stop talking and look.

Harry and Daphne were sitting at the first-year end of the Slytherin table surrounded by all their friends from the other houses.

This had caused quite the stir, whilst other houses welcomed visitors at their tables, Slytherin did not and objections were raised until Harry had drawn his wand and faced them down. He was beyond caring about Slytherin house unity at this point and it showed on his face with the left side bursting into flames at his annoyance. This had discouraged even the most vocal dissenters in Slytherin.

"Malfoy" Harry replied turning from Tracey who was filling them in on all the gossip they had missed while they were away.

"That is Lord Malfoy to you Scarface." Draco said displaying the Malfoy head of house ring on his right hand. "What are all these mudbloods and blood traitors doing at my table?" Draco sneered at their friends.

Colin leapt to his feet with his wand in his hand and a hex on his lips. "Colin." Millicent said shaking her head.

"You're no fun" Colin replied.

Millicent laughed "And I won't be if you carry on like that. Maybe next time when there are not so many witnesses"

Harry smiled at the dejected look on Colin's face. "Come on, let us leave 'Lord' Malfoy to reign over his minions. We have time for some duelling before next class"

Harry grabbed a bread roll and a couple of apples which he stuffed into his robes, turned and gave Malfoy an elaborate and extended bow "Milord" he said, before leading the group out of the great hall. Every one of them copying his example by giving exaggerated bows to Malfoy as they left with the sound of laughter deafening as the entire school stood to applaud the prank.


Draco was at it again, showing off the family ring to everyone standing around outside glasshouse two waiting for Professor Sprout to let them in for their herbology lesson.

Harry arrived a moment later arguing with Neville "Just because you can blow a boulder into tiny little pieces, that doesn't mean to say that you should. Not unless you can repair them afterwards." He admonished him "By the time you are finished at Hogwarts there will be nothing left of landscape bigger than a pebble" he shook his head at his best mate who had spent his time blasting everything that stood still long enough.

"Power is not everything" Millicent agreed. Everyone stared at one of the strongest power duellers in the group in disbelief.

"No, I am serious" she said laughing at their expressions "I have been working a lot on my charms lately. Hannah has been helping me." She smiled at the quiet unassuming girl. "She is very good, and so creative"

Hannah just blushed, not liking to be the centre of attention.

"Excuse me" Draco said loudly "I was in the middle of something before you lot rudely interrupted"

"Ah yes. I believe you were showing everybody your ring again." Harry said in a long-suffering voice. "It appears to be too big for you, even with the resizing charm. Are you sure it is real? Not something you won at your faire?"

Draco seethed "Why you… Wait until…"

"Wait until your father hears about this?" Harry asked "When are visiting days?"

Harry didn't wait for an answer, he turned to the rest of the student standing around. "Well you lot can line up and kiss Malfoy's ring if you want, but I am going to learn something, see if I can beat Longbottom for a change"

Harry took Daphne's hand and walked towards the greenhouse, the doors opening just as they got to them, Professor Sprout standing aside to let them in.


Meal times had become curious affairs. Instead of the great hall being filled with loud and boisterous conversations, it was filled with whispers. Everyone was talking quietly to those around them, but with one ear open listening for the now customary exchange between Draco, I mean Lord Malfoy, and Harry Potter.

It seemed at every meal Potter would come up with a new way to embarrass Malfoy over his newly claimed Lord status.

Sometimes funny, sometimes insightful and cutting, and other times just straight out ridicule.

And then there were the stories of Potter's pranks on Malfoy between classes, which were gleefully retold in the common rooms at days end by those fortunate enough to witness them.

Even the Weasley twins were in awe of the relentlessness of Harry's campaign against Malfoy which had been going on the entire week since Harry and Daphne got back. And the best thing about it, he hadn't yet used a single spell, so the professors were at a loss as to how to react to it.

"Daphne, could you do me a favour and slice off the end of this chicken wing" Harry said holding out a chicken wing just above the table "It seems to be under done"

Without hesitation Daphne flicked her wand into her hand and deftly removed the tip of the chicken wing using a very low powered cutting curse.

Harry then flicked his wand out and cast an incendio on the wing tip that had been removed, it turned to ash.

There was silence in the room. Everyone had heard the story about how Lucius Malfoy had lost the end of his right arm, and there it was, a recreation of the event. Right in front of them.

"Miss Greengrass, mister Potter, what do you think you are doing?" Professor Snape's voice appeared from right behind them.

"Cooking sir" replied Harry "But not very well. Maybe I need to practice more" Harry stared directly at Malfoy whose face had a look of horror at what he had just witnessed, staring at the table at the little pile of ash. Hearing what Harry said, his head turned, their eyes meeting. His face turned even whiter at the implied threat and the coldness in Harry's eyes.

"I see. Perhaps you should leave it to the house elves in future. No spells in the great hall, next time will mean detention. " Snape advised and turned on his heel and returned to the head table.


The group had just finished their Saturday afternoon practice session by the lake, and were lazing around in the sun taking advantage of the peace and quiet. End of year exams started next week, so this was the last moment of sanity for a while.

"Harry, is there a reason why you are antagonizing Malfoy?" Tracey asked "He is going to snap and have a go at you, you know"

Harry shrugged his shoulders and gave a little grin.

"Wait a minute, you want him to attack you" Tracey accused him.

"It would certainly solve a lot of problems" Harry replied

"He would be a lot harder to beat now that he has access to the family magic" Neville said "I mean if he is actually head of the family, he would have inherited knowledge of all family matters, including the knowledge of the family magic. Whether he could wield it or not is another thing, by why risk it?"

"Maybe he is head of house, maybe not." Daphne said "The marauders map can't make up its mind, it keeps switching from 'Draco Malfoy' to 'Lord Malfoy' to just 'Malfoy'"

Sitting off to one side Hermione, Luna, and Trixie were having an increasingly technical and heated argument ending with the little blue pixie pulling on Hermione's hair. "Alright, I will ask him" she said exasperated.

"Alright there Hermione?" Harry asked

"Certain people" she rolled her eyes towards Luna and Trixie "were wondering if Lucius hit you with a spell from the Malfoy's family magic? And that is why the healers could not identify it."

Harry just looked at them.

"Meaning that the head of the family could reverse it." Hermione pressed on "But if that was the case, you would need to get Draco's cooperation, so antagonizing him makes no sense"

Harry still said nothing just inwardly groaned that they had worked it out. Daphne saw what he was thinking and whispered in his ear "That is the price you pay for surrounding yourself with smart friends."

"Draco would never do that, not for Harry" Millicent said "He is too petty. Although I am pretty sure that if places were reversed, Harry would help Draco out, no matter how much they hated each other"

"There is another way" Theo said "All enchantments, spells, and curses powered by family magic end at the death of a family's head if there is no heir or named successor. End of family line, end of family magic"

Everyone looked at Harry in disbelief. "No Harry! Surely not" Hannah voiced what they were all thinking.

Harry leapt to his feet "And on that cheery note – thanks Theo by the way, good to have you officially back in the group – we should head in for dinner."

Harry started walking back towards the castle, the others quickly ran to catch up.


"I have to hand it to you Malfoy, Head of the family, I hope you at least got advice before taking it on" Harry called out along the table to the head of the table where Draco had taken to sitting. Draco looked up. What now he thought.

"Wearing the ring is one thing" Harry continued "But to accept responsibility for all past actions of the family is another"

"What are you on about Potter?" Draco was sick of Potter's harassment and belittling of him, constantly undermining his position.

"Retribution and Reparations, Draco. Retribution and Reparations"


That night all the common rooms were abuzz discussing what Potter had told Malfoy.

While Malfoy was wearing the House Malfoy ring, and was calling himself Lord Malfoy, what did that actually mean.

He was still too young to vote at the Wizengamot, but could assign a proxy. Even that was fraught with danger as it would give another family, probably a dark family, added power.

And as he had accepted the mantle of Lord, he is also responsible for all debts and, as Potter had said, retribution and reparations.

Retribution and reparations, which Potter and Greengrass would be more than entitled to after a very personal unprovoked attack by the then head of the Malfoy family, Lucius Malfoy. This meant the very real chance of facing off against Lord or Lady Greengrass in an honour duel. Or Lord Black, given Potter is his godson and named heir.

And if by some miracle he avoided that, Malfoy could have his vaults cleaned out paying reparations for injuries caused.

All of a sudden being Lord Malfoy didn't seem like such a good thing to be after all.


Sunday morning, a time for sleeping in and lazing around. Except today was different, every student was up bright and early and was seated quietly having breakfast. Anticipation was high, what would Potter do today? What would Malfoy's response be?

Harry was sitting in his usual spot at the table, Daphne on one side and Millicent on the other. Tracey and Theo were sitting opposite, with Tracey regaling them with her plans for the summer holidays.

Draco and Pansy were nowhere to be seen causing a lot of speculation amongst the students, the noise level rising as time passed without the appearance of Malfoy.

Harry and Daphne ignored them, laughing at Tracey's excitement of going on another muggle holiday with the Grangers.

The tension in the air was broken by the arrival of the morning mail.

"Hey there girl" Harry said as he feed Hedwig a bit of bacon. Hedwig squawked and refused to take it, pointing her beak to the letter she had just delivered.

Harry got the message and opened it quickly before Hedwig made her point more strongly, she wasn't above giving Harry a nip on the finger if he didn't read mail straight away that she considered urgent.

Harry quickly read the letter from Sirius. He handed it to Daphne and secretly drew his wand, just in case.

Hedwig took her bacon now and gave Harry an admonishing stare before departing.

There was a brief pause once the final letters had been delivered, then the Daily Prophet owls descended delivering today's edition to subscribers. There seemed to be an awful lot of them. It appeared that the subscription rate had dramatically increased since the Harry and Daphne edition.

Harry unrolled the newspaper to look for the articles that Sirius had warned him would be in there. He was still gripping his wand unseen by anyone, he noticed Daphne was doing the same.

He didn't have to look hard for the articles, they were on the front page.


Black Demands Satisfaction

By Rita Skeeter.

In a move sure to send shivers down the spines of his enemies, Lord Black has demanded that the Malfoy family account for the unprovoked and cowardly attack on his godson and heir.

He has today presented the head of house Malfoy with a list of demands to be met as part compensation for the attack.

This reporter understands that these demands include that the Malfoy family forfeits their Wizengamot seat to the Black family, an unspecified amount of gold, and transfer of their shares in this newspaper.

Lord Black has been overheard saying that swift action on these matters would be the only way to stop a blood feud.

On a happier note, Lord Black has welcomed the return to the Black family of Narcissa Black after annulling her marriage to Lucius Malfoy for breach of their marriage contract.

This reporter has been unable to determine if the new Miss Black shares Lord Black's joy at this development. It is worth noting that it was revealed in the trial of her now ex-husband, he had transferred a substantial proportion of the Malfoy wealth into her name. The status of this is yet to be determined and may now fall under the Black family control.

And in related news, Lord and Lady Greengrass, the parents of the other unfortunate victim of the cowardly attack, have also presented the head of house Malfoy with a list of claims, considerably more modest if this reporter's sources are to be believed. They are said to consist of a demand for the new Lord Malfoy to honour previous commitments and oaths made by the Malfoy family, notably the transfer of the Malfoy seat on the Hogwarts Board of Governors, and the sale of a lucrative dragon hide importing business.

They did stress that this in no way mitigated the need for house Malfoy to atone for the attack on their eldest daughter and further action is being considered.

Where this leaves the new Lord Malfoy is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain, the Malfoy family has made some powerful enemies.

See page three for a recap of the trial of Lord Malfoy.


"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU POTTER!"

The voice rang out clearly over the chaos of the entire school arguing over the Daily Prophet article.

Harry leapt up on to the table searching out Malfoy who was standing by the door. "You can try, Malfoy. Any time you like, you can try"

"Mister Potter, get off that table and sit down." Professor McGonagall shouted at Harry

"I will Professor when Malfoy stops making death threats and backs up his words with his wand." Harry responded.


While McGonagall was dealing with Harry, Professor Snape had reached Malfoy and had dragged him out of the great hall.

"Let go of me, don't you know who I am?" Draco said not even noticing who had dragged him out the door. He just wanted to get to Potter.

"Yes, I do Draco, I know exactly who you are. And if you want to survive the next week you will listen to me" Snape forced the boy to look at him. "I am your godfather and it is my duty to help you get through this."

"But you must calm down. By making a very public death threat, you have played into their hands, giving them a chance to accept your challenge, and using it as an excuse to kill you in a duel. If you want to come out of this with anything at all, you need to be smarter than you have been." Snape tried to reason with him.

"They have taken everything" Draco whined.

"Not yet they haven't, there is a lot you can salvage if you play it smart" Snape pointed out.

"You really have two options left to you now." Snape continued "you can lose your wealth, your position, and your life. The Malfoy line would end at the hand of a Potter, or a Greengrass, or a Black." Snape let that sink in. "Or you could lose a little pride, a big chunk of your wealth, and your position in society. BUT you would be alive, and still be a Malfoy."

"I would have nothing" Draco said, the rage in his voice slowly abating.

"I don't believe Potter would do that to you" Snape said carefully choosing his words, again treading the delicate line between the duties of a godfather and the head of house. "I know you hate him, and your reasons for hating him probably make sense to you, but the few interactions I have had with mister Potter lead me to believe that he would not hold your father's actions against you"

Draco looked at him incredulously.

"I mean it Draco, you do the right thing now and you will live to have the chance to rebuild the Malfoy name and fortune" Snape was trying his best to make his godson see reason "Otherwise if you keep pushing him, Potter will kill you before the term ends. Believe me when I tell you that what you have seen Potter do with a wand is a mere fraction of what he is capable of."

Draco by this point had just about got his emotions back under control. Yes, he had seen what Potter could do with a wand, more so than what Professor Snape realised, the same went for Greengrass who is just as dangerous. It was a simple choice really, lose everything including his life or start again. It was no choice in the end, he was a survivor.


"And so, I apologise unreservedly to mister Potter for my outburst, there was no excuse." Draco was standing on the platform in front of the entire school in the great hall. "I also apologise to both miss Greengrass and mister Potter for the cowardly and unprovoked attack on their persons by the previous Lord Malfoy, my father. I will of course honour any and all claims of recompense that the family finances are able to endure."

"Lastly, on a personal note, I realise that my recent behaviour is not befitting of a head of family, and does not bring honour to the name Malfoy. I will endeavour to do better in the future."

He looked towards Harry and Daphne and gave them a deep and prolonged bow before exiting the hall.


Harry was leaning back against the seat in their favourite carriage on the train home, Daphne snuggled against his side. He looked at his reflection in the window, the scarring had almost healed. Once Draco provided the counter curse, Harry had gone straight to see Madame Pomfrey, it was the least he could do for her, allowing her to cast it to heal Harry. Despite his grumbling about seeing her so often, he had developed a little soft spot for her. Not that he would ever admit it.

"So how do you think you went in your exams?" Hermione asked him. Harry rolled his eyes at her, after everything they had happened that year. "You will find out at boot camp, three weeks this year remember. If you think you are up to it."

He watched Hermione's eye narrow as she mentally accepted the challenge. Her attention turned to Neville allowing Harry some peace.

He was watching Daphne's damaged hand laying in his, the stone cold against his palm. The little finger moved again, it had been doing so most of the train trip. It was one of the most pleasing things he had ever seen.