Strategy
"I can't work magic! I'm a squib, my own father said so!"
Iere was showing real distress, looking from Astoria to Harry to Anvil, brow wrinkled and eyes wild. Harry thought she must have thought the blood would fail and prove her claim lacked merit, freeing her from an inheritance and the associated political responsibilities. Instead, the enchanted parchment assessed the little puddle and affirmed that, yes, the thirteen-year-old Miss Iere Greengrass was the legitimate Head of the House of Nott.
"Iere, you may not be a witch, in the sense that you can't pick up a wand and levitate a feather, but you are a pureblood magical and a daughter of two more pureblood magicals. You're as magical as any member of the Wizengamot," said Astoria.
Iere looked at Harry, who leaned against the back of his chair, a big smile on his face.
"More than me," said Harry. "My mother was muggle-born. No one knows where her talents and abilities came from."
"Don't listen to him, sweetie, it's always the self-deprecation with Potter," said Astoria. "Besides, you don't have to prove anything. You can designate a nominee to hold the seat in the Wizengamot, if you want to get involved in that. Otherwise you can live at Owl Cottage, in a few years you might meet someone…"
Iere tried not to but her eyes flicked over to Harry, who was looking straight back at her. She already HAD met someone and they both knew it. She knew she'd let a little smile get away, a reflex she wasn't quick enough to suppress.
"I understand," said Iere. "What now? How do I learn this stuff? How does it all work?"
"Iere, don't worry about it now," said Harry. "You've got Astoria and Draco, they are your guardians, aren't they? They'll be great advisors. I think it is safe to say we can make sure you have the best legal advice available. The protocol stuff will get sorted. Anvil, I expect there are precedents for all of this? A thousand years of magical history means everything has happened at least one or two times before."
"That is correct, Lord Harry," said the goblin. "Lady Nott will be able to consult with her own solicitors, Ministry Protocol and Heraldry are available and Gringotts has some experience. Just forward any questions that come up and we will be happy to get to work. Now, security…"
Harry and Astoria looked at one another. Harry's face turned grim. He hadn't thought of that.
"It is not unknown for disappointed rivals to try to bring pressure," said Anvil. "You do need to think about that, Madam Malfoy."
"I'll be happy to help, Astoria," said Harry. "Anything you and Draco and Iere want to do."
"Well, I can't top that," said Astoria. "Thanks, Harry."
"Iere, just as an initial, temporary measure," said Harry. "I'll convey right of review in six months, so if you have second thoughts just don't renew. Anvil, you'll witness this, won't you?"
"Of course, Lord Harry," said the goblin.
Harry slid forward on his chair.
"Who is senior?" he asked.
"You are," said Astoria and Anvil together.
Harry extended his right hand to Iere, the one with his Potter signet on the ring finger.
"Lady Nott, the House of Potter offers alliance and support for your claim to your inheritance. Do you accept?"
Iere looked at Astoria, who nodded, leaned over and whispered something to her niece. Iere slipped off her chair to kneel before Harry and take his hand.
"I accept," she said, then kissed Harry's signet.
Iere began to get up but Harry intervened, holding onto her fingers.
"Uh-uh," he said with a smile. "Not just yet."
"Lady Nott, the House of Black offers alliance and support for your claim to your inheritance, do you accept?"
The House of Black? Iere looked at Astoria again, getting another nod and a smile.
"I accept," said Iere, kissing Harry's signet again.
She looked up. Was Harry done?
"Lady Nott, the House of Peverell, of which I am chief by descent from Iolanthe, daughter of Ignotus, offers alliance and support for your claim to your inheritance. Do you accept?"
"I accept," said Iere, kissing Harry's signet a third time.
"Just one more, I promise," Harry assured her when Iere, once again, started to rise.
"Lady Nott, the House of Slytherin, of which I am chief by right of conquest, offers alliance and support for your claim to your inheritance. Do you accept?"
The name of Slytherin got Iere's attention once more and once more she quickly consulted with her aunt and guardian. Astoria didn't know that Harry was the Slytherin clan chief. She didn't know there was a Clan Slytherin, for that matter. Astoria had to consult, this time with Anvil. The goblin nodded.
"Oh, yes," said the grimly serious and soft-voiced Anvil.
"I accept," said Iere. With her fourth kiss of Harry's signet a glow like a golden mist appeared around the two of them with a little tendril even reaching out to include Astoria.
With the mist lingering over the two Heads of House, Harry stood, shifted his hands and brought Iere's two hands up, leant over and kissed them both, one after the other.
"Blood and magic," muttered Anvil.
"Blood and magic," agreed an astonished Astoria.
"So it is written, so it shall be," Harry intoned in his best, ceremonial Wizengamot voice.
No one wanted to break the silence and spoil the drama, but someone had to. Eventually, the duty fell to Astoria.
"Well, sweetie, that's not something we see every day of the week," said Astoria as she wrapped an arm around Iere.
"There is one more thing," Anvil began, then backed up and began again. "There are a number of things but this one is time-sensitive. The Notts had house elves at Nott Hall and perhaps some other properties. I wouldn't necessarily be aware of those. You might want to visit the Nott Hall property and see if the elves are around. They probably weren't harmed since they have the same self-preservation instinct we all do. I expect they'd have apparated out of a burning building. They might need assistance with food and shelter, perhaps onward employment? What do you think, Mr. Potter?"
"Good idea," said Harry, who thought of his old house elf savior, Dobby, every single day. "I didn't even think of that. We've been so busy. Merlin! We should have sent someone over that day or the next. They're the same as refugees."
He looked at Astoria.
"I don't know the way," Harry said. "I was never there. Not too surprising, I suppose."
Astoria smirked just a little at the thought of Harry Potter, slayer of the Dark Lord Voldemort, strolling up to the front door of Nott Hall and delivering a message: "I just killed your leader. Thought you should know."
"There will be a way," said Astoria. "Give us a little time to think. Anything else?"
"Not unless Lady Nott has something pertaining to the accounts," said Anvil. "The lady's claim will be tabled before the Wizengamot, I trust?"
"Between us we should be able to identify a member to do that little chore, don't you think, Madam?" Harry asked Astoria.
"Will you hoodwink the stooge you select or will you finagle an ally into doing it for you?" Astoria asked in turn.
"That evil plan is still in development," said Harry. "Lady Nott?"
"Thank-you, Anvil," said Iere. "What a day, I must say. I look forward to working with you."
"Of course, milady," said Anvil, throwing in a bow over his desk.
"Hmph," thought Astoria, who had yet to be called milady or be bowed to by a goblin.
The three humans gathered up the documentation they'd be taking and left Anvil to his account managing. Exiting by Gringotts' front door, they strolled to the alleyway entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, Astoria and Harry each with an arm across Iere's back. The trio had just been through an emotional tilt-a-whirl so no one wanted to linger.
"Can we just pass through today?" Harry asked Hannah Abbott who was behind the bar. "I promise I'll bring everyone to lunch when James is home."
"Hi, Astoria, hi, Iere," said Hannah. "No need to justify your comings and goings to me. Come here, though, just a sec."
The three crossed to the bar and waited for Hannah, who had ducked into the kitchen, to return. Hannah handed an envelope to Iere.
"Some personal thoughts from all the staff, love," she said.
"Thank-you Ms. Abbott," said Iere, volunteering a hug for their hostess. "Can I read it at home? I don't want to start crying in here."
"Of course," said Hannah, before she lost a few tears herself.
The group took the floo to Jasper Farm where Draco waited with Scorpius, Albus and Lily.
"So?"
"You…" Harry said with a wave toward Astoria. "You're the legal guardian and aunt and so forth."
Astoria tried to look skeptical but that is hard when grinning uncontrollably.
"Husband, I have the honor to present my niece, Lady Nott," said Astoria. "Seriously, Draco. Show you know something about the protocol in these situations."
Iere was very red as Draco stood up from his kitchen chair and bowed from the waist.
"A pleasure, Lady Nott," he said as he straightened up.
'Hand, hand,' whispered Astoria as she pantomimed extending a noble lady's hand to a gentleman. Iere got it and indulged her aunt and uncle. Draco cradled the hand in both of his and bowed over it.
"Honored," he repeated.
The other children stood, slack-jawed, unsure of what they had just witnessed. Iere saw her route of escape clearly, gathered up the youngsters and strode out of the kitchen to the living room. The words 'Bagshott' and 'read' and 'book' were heard.
"Tea?" asked Astoria.
"We'll have to make it," said Draco as he stood up again. "You should have given me fair warning."
"Sit down, I'll do it," said Astoria. "I need mindless labor right now."
With a wand to boil the water in the kettle, Astoria had the tea steeping in the pot in a minute or less. Keeping the voices down so the children in the other room could enjoy story time, Harry and Astoria gave Draco the news, then the details, finishing up with half-baked plans and pure conjecture.
"So she is the last of the Notts?"
"For inheritance purposes, it certainly does appear that way," said Astoria. "Of course, the succession has to go through the formalities. I suppose Theo could always withdraw his self-banishment but I don't think that is very likely. He's said to be doing very well in business, flying off to Nice and Cannes and Malaga."
"That's the word around the Alley," said Draco. "People come in the gallery, want to talk. I don't know what score you want to give them for credibility."
"Excuse me, gallery?" asked Harry.
"Yes, we're evolving," said Draco. "Astoria's idea. No more second-hand Dark or cursed items on consignment. Instead we're a gallery, magical objets d'art for discriminating collectors."
Harry didn't know whether to laugh out loud or award full marks for vision and cheek.
"Brilliant!" he said.
"Moving along," announced Astoria. "Two more things. One, Anvil suggested someone make contact with any Nott elves who might be around Nott Hall, disoriented and awaiting instructions. Harry doesn't know the way, so could you do that?"
"Sure," said Draco. "I should take Iere, if she can tolerate going back. Then the elves can accept her so she can give them orders. At least that is what I think ought to happen. Barclay and Mathilda and Llewellyn are all dead, so if Iere is their successor, they ought to feel it and bond with her. Right?"
"Sounds right to me," said Astoria. "The second thing is Lord Harry over there is in a tentative alliance with our niece. He's handling security for now. He gave her a sixth-month trial period and then she can go her own way or sign up with Securitas or whatever. You might want to mention that at Malfoy Manor on your next visit. Narcissa likes to keep up with these things and she doesn't get out and around to keep up with her sources nowadays, poor thing."
"Oh, that's a great idea!" said Draco. "Now, Theo—does anyone think it would be a good idea to put out a feeler about the title? Would the courteous thing be to invite him for tea and bring it up in conversation? I'm thinking he might not want to be taken by surprise."
"Good question, Draco," said Harry. "I don't recall seeing him around the Ministry, when we've had to vote on something. Does he have someone who keeps an eye on government and politics for him? He probably does if his business is doing as well as everyone says."
They had to hold that in abeyance, though, because no one knew and there wasn't anyone nearby they could ask.
Eventually, Harry gathered up Albus and Lily and prepared to head for home. Iere came out of the living room, obviously wanting to speak to Harry before he left.
"Iere," Harry said.
"Mr. Potter, or Lord Harry…"
"Mr. Potter is fine between us, Iere," Harry said. "Unless you want to be Lady Nott."
"NO!" said Iere. "I've been Iere Greengrass my whole life. I can stick with that, unless there is some legal thing. Anyway, thank-you. I know Mum would be very happy right now, the way you and Auntie and Uncle Draco have taken charge. I'm going to miss her terribly, but I can kind of feel her when all of you are around, helping me. So I guess that is it. Thank-you!"
"I'm glad to do it, and you're right," said Harry. "Somehow, it feels like she is here with us when we do this family stuff, doesn't it?"
He looked at Astoria and Draco who both nodded agreement. Moments later the Potters went up the floo.
"Auntie, Uncle Draco," Iere said, dispensing short hugs. "Busy day. Thank-you for everything."
Iere was overnighting at Jasper Farm so she climbed the stairs and went to her bedroom. Teeth brushed and changed into pajamas, Iere crawled into bed and slipped James' letter out from under her pillow.
"Dear Iere," she read. "I have never had to write one of these before. I don't know what to say so please don't be angry if I say something wrong.
"I really liked your mum, Daphne. I thought she was going to marry my dad or at least bring you and move in with us. Now that won't happen. I still want to see you. I hope you want to see me. Hogwarts is okay but there isn't anyone here at all like you.
I'm really, really sorry about your mum.
Sincerely,
James Sirius Potter"
Iere smiled and folded the letter. She rolled over on her side and slid her hand up under her pillow, the letter flat between the sheet and her hand. Iere could feel James, just faintly, as she lay with her hand on his letter. He wasn't the most skilled writer but he wasn't bad for twelve. Iere was a year and a bit more older than James. She knew she would have to be patient. James had potential worth waiting for. Iere might not be a magic-working witch but she was a powerful empath. She could feel things.