Ride Along: Chapter Eleven: Dinnerbells.
Dinner with her family. Piece of cake.
Harry showers, puts on the robes Kreacher's laid out and floos to The Greengrasses.
Harry's made a pretty good floo landing for Harry, and his knees bent a bit.
Cyrus Greengrass is a tall man with dark hair and a black goatee. He looks down on Harry from a wing chair near the fireplace.
"Come, Sit" said Cyrus. "We'll have a little chat before dinner" He exuded menace.
Harry stood up properly and walked to a couch and sat. "Well, I'm Harry Potter" said Harry casually.
"Cyrus Greengrass" said Cyrus "I'm not sure you're a suitable suitor for Daphne. You're a convicted murderer."
"Ah, no" said Harry raising a finger "That conviction was repealed, once Lewisham confessed to having confounded me to think I was in Azkaban for four years, and then tried to murder me, when he saw Daphne and I at a Quidditch match, having fun."
"His post-mortem confession" said Cyrus.
"Still counts" countered Harry "I will admit to having family heirlooms that let me do that."
"Family Heirlooms?" asked Cyrus, looking confused.
"Hardwin Potter, the first Potter married Iolanthe Peverell. We inherited the cloak from Iolanthe, and since Tom Riddle died, I've had the stone and the wand" Harry said, and smiled. "There were Three Peverell Brothers, and I have the family heirlooms" Harry smiled again.
"They're real… the tale of three brothers..."
"Family of mine" said Harry "Though, so was Lewisham. Distant cousin though the LeStrange's via the Blacks. Now I've inherited all the LeStrange assets as well."
"Black, Potter and LeStrange?" asked Cyrus cautiously.
"And the Black family investments and my series of textbooks are keeping the grocery bills paid" said Harry. "I'm quite wealthy. Not as wealthy as Cousin Draco, but I'm not a marked Death Eater either."
Cyrus looked darklyat Harry "And you're apparently a bit damaged?".
"Look, stop." said Harry "Stop trying to be menacing. I like Daphne, we get on, I'd like to marry her. She likes me, I've killed dark lords… so just relax, be a Dad."
"Relax?"
"Look, I killed a possessed teacher when I was eleven. Stop being all tall and grrr. I understand you're nervous... Daphne's your daughter. I'm not going to hurt her; she's already said she'd apparate away if I showed a hint of violence, and she's not stupid enough to take a shot at me." said Harry.
"Eleven?" said Cyrus.
"The Aurors were really happy about that. Thought I was real professional killer material" said Harry "I don't like it, I'm not doing it. The war's over; I'm gonna write textbooks, watch Quidditch and have dinner with Daphne."
"They wanted you for that" said Cyrus "I thought it was as some sort of figurehead."
"Nah" said Harry "I'm really good in a fight, and quite powerful. But I quit the job after a few months. Someone else can do that; I'm done, all I want is to wake up next to the woman I love."
Cyrus blinked. "And the Wizengamot?"
"Don't care" said Harry bluntly "Hermione Granger, she likes that stuff. I just want to do my own thing, watch Quidditch, go home."
"You were good at School, Quidditch, I mean" said Cyrus, in a more relaxed tone.
"Not anymore" said Harry "A dodgy memory charm broke and caused a brain bleed; ruined my balance."
Cyrus stared at Harry "You say that remarkably easily."
"Can't change things" said Harry shrugging "But I've got a lot better; I don't need a cane any more."
"That Lewisham Chap?" asked Cyrus.
"Yes" said Harry "I think once a year, I'm going to go piss on his grave."
Cyrus looked embarrassed.
"Sorry, I was brought up fairly indifferently" said Harry "I do like to feel like I've won."
"And for … he-who-shall-not-be-named?" asked Cyrus, intrigued.
"I get up in the morning, my house is a reproduction of my parents old house." said Harry "Like he never did anything."
Cyrus looked at Harry curiously.
"Extended a lot now" admitted Harry "Ballroom, library, spare bedrooms, en-suite, that sort of thing."
"So not a small cottage" said Cyrus.
"It still looks like one" said Harry. "My grandparents house burnt down before I was born, might get it rebuilt one day. Depends really."
"On what?"
"How many children Daphne wants" said Harry. "Or if she wants it rebuilt."
Cyrus crossed his arms "I haven't approved of you yet" he said.
"Well, you should. I'm rich, and not one of the bad guys from the war" said Harry. "And more importantly, Daphne likes me… a lot" Harry smiled. "She is fantastic, you do know that?"
Cyrus snorted very slightly to hear his moody, headstrong sulky daughter described so glowingly.
She was a pretty girl, but her not wanting to run the family business rankled.
"She wants to be a healer instead of running the business" said Cyrus.
"Astoria's cured, she'll do fine at it" said Harry blandly.
"Cyrus interrupted "How do you know that."
"The curse on your family, it was the Peverells" said Harry "It's gone now."
"Did you..." said Cyrus, shocked.
"No" said Harry "But I saved your daughter's life, at least let me marry the other one."
"Not both of them" asked Cyrus nervously.
"No" said Harry "That's more Tracey's line of joke then mine, and Astoria can find someone nice; not Cousin Draco; who is in addition to being marked, a craven, violent brute."
"You've killed people" observed Cyrus.
"Because I had to. Draco's done it because he wanted to" observed Harry "He did me a big favour during the war; so he's not in Azkaban. Apart from that, he's not fit to clean Astoria's boots."
"You think that much of Astoria?" asked Cyrus curiously.
"I like Daphne better" said Harry. "So, is it time for dinner yet?"
"I haven't approved of you yet" said Cyrus.
"Oh come on" said Harry "Daphne wants me, I want her, isn't that enough?"
"For common wizards and witches, perhaps, Greengrass are in the Sacred twenty-eight"
"And by those rules, my children are pure-blood" said Harry "Though the most powerful three wizards this century have all been Half-bloods."
"Half-bloods?" said Cyrus doubtfully.
"Tom Riddle a.k.a. Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore, and me" said Harry.
"Modest too" said Cyrus.
"I vanished my parents old house" said Harry "To clean up the site."
"A house" said Cyrus incredulously.
"I will admit, I can't Reparo a whole house all at once" said Harry wryly. "The back wall fell off" Harry chuckled. "Would have saved so much time. It's so hard to get good builders; never hire Breeks."
Cyrus blinked. "You, of all people had trouble with a builder?"
"The house ended up looking how I wanted, but had an annoying tendency to fall apart; doors, taps, that sort of thing" said Harry.
Cyrus looked amused "did you curse or sue the fellow?"
"No" said Harry blandly "I'm telling my father-in-law, so he never gets work from Greengrass."
"Who else did you tell?"
"The Weasley clan know; there's lots of them; and I told Cousin Draco indirectly that he did good work." said Harry. "So the poncy git can suffer through doors that fall off or taps that break"
Cyrus was unable to suppress a smile "Subtle."
"Well, you can't jut kill everyone that offends" said Harry "That was more cousin Tom's line."
"Cousin Tom?" said Cyrus, looking confused.
"Tom Riddle's father was a Muggle, but his mother was Merope Gaunt. The Gaunt's were descendants of the Peverell's too" said Harry.
"He was your cousin?"
"Well, it's a small country" admitted Harry. "So, go on, I'll get her out of the house and take her to Quidditch matches." said Harry lightly.
"Who's your team?" asked Cyrus.
"Appleby, naturally" said Harry "I supported Puddlemere as a schoolboy, but The Arrows are a family team and I like being part of a big family like that, talking over the game at the Arms."
Cyrus swallowed. "I'm not totally happy about your prison record, but… if it's what Daphne wants."
"Thank you" said Harry.
Cyrus waved his wand and a drinks' trolley rolled over, and poured Harry a drink of what looked like firewhiskey. Cyrus gently floated it to Harry's hand; and got one for himself.
"I suppose I should thank you again" said Cyrus "For the war."
"The war" asked Harry, trying not to cough on the fiery liquid he was sipping.
"Why else would I have tolerated Malfoy's spawn sniffing around Astoria." said Cyrus resignedly.
Harry blinked, and his brain saw the implications. Awful implications. "So that's how you protected your family" asked Harry.
"No" said Cyrus sighing "That's how I protected Astoria. One of them would come calling and require... things; money, ingredients. To you, it must seem weak, but I had to protect my family."
"They're gone now" said Harry, suddenly imagining being a father, with Death eaters visiting, trying to get them to leave. "Happened to a lot of people, did it?" asked Harry.
Cyrus nodded "Not everyone is good at combat magic" he said, taking a belt of firewhiskey.
Harry nodded "My textbooks are going to change that, a bit" said Harry, a warm feeling in his stomach "I've left out the waffle, put in the bits you need when a dark wizard's trying to curse you."
Cyrus used a switching spell to refill his and Harry's glasses and said "How many of those have you written?"
"First through fourth year are published, I'm working on fifth" said Harry.
"Daphne says you use a pseudonym" said Cyrus, taking another belt.
Harry sipped some "I, er, didn't want my reputation tainting the books; either way."
"Al somebody" said Cyrus, waving his hand expansively.
"Al Norma" said Harry. Cyrus narrowed his eyes "Funny name to use."
"A Normal" said Harry "Got the idea from a film"
"A film?"
"Muggle film. Like a play, but recorded, with sound and played back at a theatre" said Harry.
"Saves on actors, I suppose" said Cyrus, half-pissed.
Cyrus took another drink. Harry sipped. What was Cyrus drinking so much for, wondered Harry.
"My daughter Daphne, she's a good girl" said Cyrus "We can't all be heroes like you were". Cyrus paused.
Harry realised Cyrus was pointedly not saying…. Before you started hitting your girlfriend and murdering your parole office.
Harry took a very large drink of firewhiskey; his head was feeling a bit floaty. In a good way, and his stomach felt very warm. He felt… well, Drunk maybe.
Cyrus had taken to staring at his glass. "Hogwarts, the last year of the war, it was hard. The Carrows and Snape were his, and it didn't do to step out of line. The made the students use the torture curse on one another, you know..." said Cyrus. "Daphne made sure nobody did it to Astoria. She's always been her sisters keeper. Till… well, till you cured her."
Harry reflexively emptied the glass of firewiskey. He coughed smoke.
"Fix you up" said Cyrus and waved his wand. Harry's glass refilled shakily.
Cyrus stood up and went to the trolley stiffly; and manually poured another glass for himself.
"I've often wondered" said Cyrus, taking a large belt of firewhiskey "When the gels were little, what talking to Daphne's suitor would be like." Cyrus swallowed the rest of the glass and exhaled flames upwards; and poured another. "I wasn't expecting Harry Potter, vanquisher of the Dark lord, well, what's done is done" Cyrus took a very full glass back to his chair and sat slowly. He took a sip.
Cyrus sighed "When you know, will you forgive her, forgive me?" asked Cyrus plaintively.
"I trust Daphne, she's great" said Harry, looking around the study.
Cyrus undid his cuff and rolled up his right sleeve. On his forearm was a scar; and Harry's throat tightened. A scar in the shape of a skull.
"It's not a full one, I wasn't one of them… just marked as approved." said Cyrus, staring at his own arm.
Harry blinked. Oh, he thought to himself. Cyrus collaborated, just to keep his family safe.
Cyrus explained how if you didn't get approved, your family were accidentally brutally murdered. Like the Boneses had been.
Harry nodded "You did what you had to" he said.
Cyrus looked anguished. "Harry… Daphne did what she had to as well."
Harry remembered leaving the study. Staggering around the Greengrass manor; finding Daphne in the library studying piles of textbooks.
Harry found his recently returned balance deserting him, so he slid into a chair.
"Hi" he said.
Daphne looked at Harry and smiled, looking worn but pleased to see him.
"I've been talking to your father, you know the official talk" said Harry, feeling disturbingly drunk. Or something else was making him feel so disconnected from himself.
"How did it go?" asked Daphne with a small smile.
"Pretty well." said Harry "I am quite drunk, your father and I had a heart-to-heart."
Daphne leaned her chin on one hand. She looked cute.
"Then Cyrus showed me his unfortunate scar" added Harry sadly.
Daphne paled.
"Oh, it's just what he had to do to protect you girls" said Harry. "Then he told me you did what you had to as well?"
Daphne sat up straight. "I… I did what I had to" she said.
"How did I miss it?" asked Harry.
"It's on the sole of my foot" replied Daphne. "How do you think I stayed safe?" asked Daphne. "How else could I keep Astoria safe?"
"Did you kill anyone" asked Harry, feeling terrible.
"No" said Daphne. "I only had a partial mark. Marked as approved by… well you know who ran things in Slytherin."
"What did you do for them" asked Harry.
"Covered up things" said Daphne looking down. "Alibis for the… the junior ones."
"Who were they ?" asked Harry.
Daphne shook her head "They're all gone" she said. "In the last battle."
Harry nodded.
"Is it all off?" asked Daphne.
"I can't make that decision" replied Harry.
Daphne looked determined.
Harry wondered, this felt like one of those moments, momentous, is that a word, where everything goes one way or the other.
Harry stopped and thought about… instead of the decision; what each fork would look like. Lonely Harry, proud in the knowledge that he'd shunned a woman for making the best decision she could, at the time? Or… married to the woman that made him happy from his head down to his toes.
Harry thought about words. About spells. Dark magic. Why let things control him.
Harry drew his pale wand "Daphne dear, take your shoe off. I think you need a scar removed."
Daphne froze "You think I haven't tried. For me, for father?"
"I have something you didn't" said Harry. "Humour me."
Daphne coughed "I… I' can't just take my shoe off" she said. "I'm not wearing socks"
Harry shrugged "makes it easier"
"I'm wearing stockings, stupid" said Daphne.
"Well, I happen to know those come off" said Harry "I've seen that happen; and I'm looking forward to seeing at least one come off"
"Harry I can't just take my stocking off in the library" said Daphne "What if someone saw?"
"Well, compared to what we're really doing, that is a minor thing" said Harry. "And why not enjoy it. I can't guarantee it won't hurt a bit."
"It hurt a hell of a lot going on" Daphne said bitterly, standing up.
Harry waved the wand in a lazy circle and the doors to the library closed.
Daphne put her foot on the chair she'd been sitting on and undid her left boot, and dumped it on the floor.
"Well, are you going to stare?" asked Daphne.
"We've already established I love watching you" said Harry, smiling crookedly.
Daphne pulled up her robe hem, all the way to her hip. Harry gulped. Stocking-clad leg. Daphne fiddled with the front catch, then the second; Harry getting an eyeful of her knickers.
Then Daphne started sliding down the stocking, then stopped and started again, sliding her hands down her thigh. Harry felt very uncomfortable. The stocking finally slid off, Daphne put it in her right robe pocket, and slid her robe hem down.
Harry got up and walked over to Daphne, and held her foot backwards, like a farrier, Daphne holding the back of her chair.
Harry looked at the sole of her foot. A scar, the outline of a skull marring the ball of her foot.
Harry took the white wand, and cast 'episkey' with it, on the scar. The scarring twitched and Daphne hissed. "Episkey!" she said loudly. "I've tried that, it doesn't work on curses why is it hurting?"
"Because you used the wrong wand" replied Harry "What's the best spell to use on curse scar?"
"It takes ages to learn" said Daphne "And didn't work."
"Take this wand, and cast it on your own foot" said Harry "And whatever happens… know I chose you, even though you had to get marked."
"Whatever happens?" asked Daphne "Why will your wand even work for me?"
"Just try as hard as you can" said Harry, swallowing and handing Daphne the elder wand.
"It feels odd" she remarked immediately.
"Don't think about it, just remove that scar" said Harry urgently.
Daphne cast something long in Latin, and Harry saw the scar pucker and shrink, while Daphne winced in pain. The wand was shaking, but the scar kept shrinking till it was barely visible.
"Nearly done" said Harry, trying to be encouraging.
"Hurts" winced Daphne. Harry took a chance and put his hand on the Elder wand. The familiar power surged up Harry's arm, and he pushed with his magic. The wand warmed slightly and Daphne screamed, quickly gagging herself with her own hand.
Harry looked down at the pinkening skin where the scar had been, and knew in his heart the wand had once again done something impossible. Not without a price.
"Let go dear" asked Harry and Daphne collapsed over the chair, sobbing.
"Sorry love." said Harry "But it's gone."
Daphne sniffled, then got back upright and lifted her foot to examine it.
"How can that have worked" she asked. Harry noticed the bite-marks on her other hand, and epsikey'ed them away.
"What's wrong with that wand. The healing magic feels off" said Daphne, and checked her recently bitten hand; which was unmarked.
"It doesn't like healing" replied Harry, stowing the elder wand "I can say it's an old family wand"
"And it works for me" marvelled Daphne, standing gently on both feet. "OW" she said. "It's sore on the inside."
"Sorry" said Harry "I think you should put that stocking back on."
Daphne hopped to a couch and lay back "Really?" she drawled "while you ogle?"
"That sounds like a great plan" admitted Harry feeling more cheerful already.
Daphne took out her stocking and put it back on, with a fair bit of waving about of leg; Harry looking contentedly at her stocking clad legs and knickers. Damn she had nice legs.
Daphne did up the front hook, then got up and wincing, tried to get the back hook.
"I don't generally do this with robes on" she muttered.
"Kneel on the couch, I'll do it for you" offered Harry helpfully.
"Is that all you'll do?" asked Daphne.
"Depends. What else do you want?" asked Harry blandly, lifting Daphne's hem and baring her legs and bottom.
"You could just do up my stocking" said Daphne. Harry did, but it did involve a lot of straightening the stocking with both hands.
"Groper" said Daphne.
"If you want" murmured Harry.
"What sort of girl does that in her parents library?" asked Daphne.
"One who just had a very incriminating mark removed. You should stay off that foot for at least forty minutes" replied Harry.
"At least put my boot back on" said Daphne. Harry summoned the boot and slid it back onto Daphne's foot, and fiddled with the hooks.
Daphne impatiently drew her wand and tapped her boot.
"Are we done?" asked Daphne, knickers still exposed.
Harry gave Daphne's rear an affectionate stroke "Sadly I fear too much firewhisky has addled my brain. I'm seeing your behind in just knickers, and that makes me feel all… tense."
"Oh so now you want a blow job" asked Daphne.
Harry blinked "I was going to offer to kiss your arse?" said Harry, confused.
Daphne flicked her robe hem down, and rolled on the couch to sit facing Harry "We will not be doing that in my mothers library" she said hurriedly.
"Well" said Harry sitting down beside Daphne and leaning over "I think the talk with your father basically went, he didn't expect me, and though there were a couple of problems, but we've worked on that. So yeah. Are we getting married?"
"If you'll still have me" said Daphne.
"I'd be having you right now in a perfect world" replied Harry.
"Harry are you really drunk?" asked Daphne.
"I'm having trouble walking, yes" replied Harry feeling quite cheerful.
Daphne referred to a textbook then cast a long and complicated charm, that left Harry feeling suddenly deflated, and… not anywhere near as drunk. Daphne put her wand in her sleeve and pecked Harry on the lips "That was a blood-purification spell, it may upset your mood a little."
"I need more kisses" said Harry. "A healer told me it upset my mood."
Daphne kissed Harry again, this time lingering in a way that set a fire in Harry's chest.
"Is your mood returned?" asked Daphne.
"Much more" agreed Harry.
"I draw the line at snogging in my mothers library" said Daphne "But I do have my own rooms."
"Your foot?"
"I'm a witch. I can walk favouring the heel of my foot if I have help."
She ended up leaning in Harry a bit, but Harry was very okay with supporting Daphne.
The staircase was a slog, but Harry was heartened by the door down the first floor hall that Daphne locked behind her, and she sat down on a comfortable red velvet chaise-lounge. "This is my room" said Daphne. It was a sitting room of a sort with a desk against one wall.
"Study desk?" asked Harry curiously.
"The library has more room for spreading out books" explaining Daphne "Now, I draw the line at conceiving our first-born here."
Harry sat down next to his fiancée and snogged.
When he leaned Daphne back against the raised end and snogged her she giggled "Oh you brute" she murmured.
"Potter takes the field for the championship snogging event" said Daphne.
So Harry slid a pair of hands up her legs, lifting her hem and spread her legs, nuzzling her knickers.
"Oh Potter, Cobbing" said Daphne breathily.
"Potter's looking for the snitch" said Harry.
"Shut up" said Daphne. "This is not quidditch"
Harry rather cheated by vanishing Daphne's knickers. She was fairly quickly mollified.
"Mmm" murmured Daphne "What a lucky girl I am"
Harry took this as fair instructions, and helped Daphne to her actual bedroom though a door, where people made noises. Mostly happy ones.
Harry lay on his back, covered in his favourite person, who was looking very pretty indeed.
"I'm not making a regular thing of bonking at my parents house" said Daphne.
"Course not" agreed Harry.
A bell rang in the distance.
"Dinner in fifteen minutes" said Daphne, and started getting up.
Harry pulled his clothes back on and cast a quick charm on his clothes, which looked freshly laundered.
"One for me" asked Daphne, pulling on a new pair of knickers. "I liked that pair" she noted.
"They were in the way" said Harry, who did refresh Daphne's robes once she had them on.
Daphne hobbled a bit, but Harry and the banister helped.
Daphne and Harry were quite late to the table, where all the Greengrasses were sitting exceedingly patiently.
"You're late" said Cyrus.
"I had things to do" said Harry.
Dinner was pleasant. Daphne's mother looked pleased, Astoria turned up and was polite, and Daphne kept touching Harry's hand. Harry couldn't remember what the food was.
Daphne took Harry to the library after dinner, her mother trailing discreetly behind her.
Daphne took a quill and ink and wrote a list.
'MacBrides : Heating, Floo and Apparation locks.'
And folded it and handed it to Harry "You need to get those things done."
Harry pocketed the list, took her hand, and kissed it. "Good night Daphne" he said.
"Are you going to give Daphne a ring some time soon?" asked Roxanne Greengrass.
"I'll go and get something from Gringotts" Harry replied. "I'll have some rings in one of my vaults."
-==0==-
The goblin turned Harry's key in the lock, and there was a symphony of clonks, and the vault at opened in a cloud of green smoke.
Harry lit his wand and walked in, eyeing the familiar looking piles of galleons, columns of silver sickles, and scattered knuts. There just didn't seem to be any things in the vault except coins.
Harry tried a summing charm "Accio Ring" he cast, and the piles of galleons were disturbed as ring-boxes shot out and pelted Harry with their mostly velvet-wrapped wooden-boxness.
Harry relit his light spell, and eyed the small scattering of ring boxes lying randomly on the floor of galleons. Harry conjured a cane, and sat on a conjured chair. Then levitated the boxes into his lap and started looking.
The newest looking box was a plain red velvet box that felt too light to be wooden. Harry opened it nervously, and it hinged open and stopped, three rings glittering. One was a plain golden ring, one gold with a single emerald on it, the third had two diamonds on a gold ring with a bend in it, that… Harry realised fit around the emerald ring. Little paper tags fluttered on strings. Harry picked out the emerald ring, and the paper tag read '1ct emerald and 24ct gold. Lily Potter 1978'. Harrys' hand shook a little. This was his mums wedding ring. Er… engagement ring, the other one was her wedding ring. He felt like running off immediately with the set, but put the ring back and read the tag on the gold band. Dad's wedding band. 'Enchanted Gold wedding band (homemade) James Potter 1978.'
Mum's engagement ring was well.. a proper ring. He could imagine his dad having bought it. But… dad's band was homemade. And magical. Harry peered at it. In the inside of the band, some strange sort of runes were engraved. His mum might have made this. Harry pocketed the ring, Hermione might know what it was about.
Harry conjured up a shelf and started sorting through the ring boxes.
"Dont' mind me" snarled the goblin from the doorway.
"I'm inspecting my jewellery collection. All my things are under piles of galleons" said Harry.
"Give them to me then" suggested the Goblin.
Harry conjured a sack, bagged them all and left the vault. "Take me to the Black vault." Harry said.
"You'll have to use clankers" said the Goblin, closing the vault doors and retrieving Harry's key for him. A speedy trip downhill into deeper vaults, and Harry once again got to use clankers to ward off a pale, scarred dragon. The vault doors were huge and pretentious, made of Black marble, and the lintel was engraved with 'Tourjurs Pur' A smaller plaque was just numbered 583.
The goblin got out and Harry played carry-the-lamp again. This time, Harry had to touch the hand-siezed oval next to the doors, while the goblin stroked the door. The door swung silently open, and Harry went inside. The first time he'd been in the Black vault had been amazing and confusing, but there was a row of shelves with jewelery boxes, and the rings were all in one spot.
"I'm going to be ages" said Harry, summoning a chair, and starting to look at his other Potter rings.
The goblin said very loudly "Oh as you're going to be ages, I'll leave a bell then", and left, returning with a brass bell with a wooden handle, which they put on the threshold, and left.
Out of the other eight ring boxes the Potters had, only the oldest box, made of wood was interesting. A small, worn gold band, and a slightly fancier one, with a small red stone, looking more like red glass. Harry pulled out the womens ring and struggled to read the paper tag. 'A ruby of passing size on a ring for Iolanthe. 1353.' Harry stared. This was Iolanthe Peverell's ring. The ring of the first Mrs Potter ever. Harry put it back in the box. It was a bit fragile… but there _was_ magic for that. That box went in his pocket. If Daphne wanted an old ring, that was a sentimental choice.
The Potter ring boxes back in the bag, Harry looked in the Black rings. He soon got to recognise the subtly bigger boxes for marriage ring sets. There was a black leathery box the size of a rubiks cube, which looked like fine dragonhide. Harry opened it, and it had three rings, in silvery metal, with black stones. The mans's ring was large and engraved with repeated patterns of three birds. The Black family emblem, Harry assumed. The larger of the two womens rings had black… diamonds or something set into stickey-out bits in the shape of wings. The smaller ring had a black pearl, magically treated somehow to look like there was a raven looking straight out of the pearl. Which… Harry picked up the pearl and winged ring… made a raven once both rings were side by side. The black wings flexed gently under his hand… subtly animated. Harry put that one down, as it was a bit creepy to hold in his hand, it kept moving a little. The other ring with the pearl had a label on a thread '10ct enchanted pearl, goblin wrgt silver. Lady Black. 1522-' Harry put it down and checked the mens ring 'goblin wrgt silver Lord Black. 1522-'. These looked like the official, aren't we just great rings of the Black family. Harry opened the next box over, which was also black, but not made of dragonhide. Three rings, one black pearl, one small set of black diamonds, not shaped like wings, and a silver band with three birds engraved on it. Just the once, not over and over. Harry pulled that out… it looked less tasteless 'goblins wgt silver heir's ring 1587-'. Oh… for heirs. So grandpa and gradma black could show who was boss. And had more ostentatious jewelery. The dragon-skin box, and the two he'd found from the potters. Generations of Blacks had attempted to make rings flashier, and some even had colour. Mostly green stones.
Harry took the three boxes, and rang the bell. A goblin came eventually and Harry left Gringotts.
Rather than try rings on Daphne, Harry went to see Hermione, by going to the ministry café at lunchtime.
Hermione was looking very… professional and a bit ink-stained. She was eating soup and reading a book at the same time.
Harry sat down opposite her. She looked up, irritated, then blinked. "Harry?" what are you doing here?"
"I found something odd in the vaults, I think my mum made it, and it has Runes. Can you tell me what it is?" asked Harry.
"Odd?" asked Hermione.
Harry got out the ring box.
"Harry. Not ever" she said "You're not my type." she said very firmly.
"Not for you… " said Harry.
"Are you going to pop the question?" asked Hermione. "To – "
"shh" said Harry. "take a look at this" said Harry and got out his father's wedding band, and handed it to Hermione. She looked at the tag, then the ring, then peered at the inscription and dropped the ring, looking horrified. "Oh my lord" she said very slowly. "I really hope that your mother was just a bit of a joker."
"What does it say?" asked Harry.
"Uh… I think it says 'Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.' said Hermione. "In english it's roughly 'One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them'"
"What the hell was mum doing?" asked Harry, swallowing. Hermione was scaring him again.
"Being a Tolkien fan" said Hermione. "A very famous muggle author, called Tolkien wrote some stories about a magical land, and one of the things in the books is this ring. It' called the one ring, and it uh… functioned like you-know-whos you-know-whats."
"Why would she use a copy as Dad's wedding ring?" asked Harry.
"Um… Tolkien fans are into the ring. Several characters have it, and all it does for them.. well mostly is make them invisible when you twist it."
"It is enchanted. I wonder if it does that?" asked Harry.
"That makes it a wedding ring… of Disillusionment" said Hermione. "Your mum had an odd sense of humour."
"Or she made it for dad, who was a real funny guy. Calling me Harry instead of Henry like my great-grandfather. I'd still be Harry… but have something serious to write down." said Harry.
"Well… what were your mums rings like?" asked Hermione ,and Harry turned the box and showed her. "Oh, those are quite pretty" said Hermione. "Not terribly expensive."
"Well" said Harry "I found these antique ones..." said Harry and showed her Iolante's ring.
"They look like they'd need charming imperturbable to use safely." said Hermione, picking up the box, then peering in and reading the label "These rings are five hundred years old" said Hermione, shocked.
"Well yes. Iolanthe Peverell, the first Mrs Potter." said Harry. "But I think Daphne might rather be a Black. So I got their official ring set."
"Is it hideous?"
"It's huge" said Harry "And enchanted, and about four hundred years old" He showed her.
"That is… impressively ostentatious. What does it do?" asked Hermione ,reaching out.
"It's probably not safe to touch if you're not family" said Harry. "Lots of the Black stuff is cursed like that."
Hermione's hand jerked back with an eek.
"Well, you'll just have to see which one she likes." said Hermione.
"What if she doesn't like any of them?" asked Harry nervously.
"Then go shopping with her for rings" said Hermione "Really. You're nervous about this?"
Harry nodded.
Hermione shook her head a fond smile on her face "She likes you right?"
Harry blushed.
"So stop worrying" said Hermione.
-==0==-
Harry looked at the iron lever MacBride's had added to his fireplace today. A lock. Then, nervously he pulled at the collar of his best robes and tried to get it to sit comfortably. He glanced over at the clock, it was nearly six. His pockets were full of ring boxes, and he reached out and threw the floo powder into the fireplace, and stepped over to the Greengrasses.
Daphne was in the library, doing homework, looking too tired.
"Uh… I come bearing rings" said Harry.
Daphne looked at Harry evenly.
"MacBrides have been" he said, walking over, not using a cane. "How' your foot today"
"Fine, and that is very curious" said Daphne, making some notes on a piece of parchment.
"It's uh – a family heirloom. As are these rings. If you don't like any of them – we could go ring shopping."
…
Daphne stared at the Black family ring set. "That is so over-the-top it's actually impressive" she said.
"Well" said Harry, and he got out the medieval Potter rings, and opened the box "There's this set… my um… first grandmother to be a Potter's set" he said haltingly "Or my mother and fathers rings… they're not very old or very impressive. Mum did make the ring for dad, from some muggle book. Hermione thought it was sort of interesting… though she twitted me by making out it was this awful ring of cursed power." said Harry.
"Those are just childrens stories" said Daphne surely, and Harry was uncomfortably reminded of Dumbledore, and the ring he could not resist. And the stone from it. Which was in his mokeskin pouch.
"I… I think it's very sweet offering your mothers ring, Harry" said Daphne "But it would be a little awkward at a formal event. It's a bit… muggle."
"Won't your mother have an opinion too?" asked Harry.
Daphne blinked at him "Harry, I'm shocked. You're being tactful?" she asked.
"I'm trying it instead of necromancy and homicide." said Harry deadpan.
Daphne rang a little bell on the desk and waited. The bell rang again.
"Mummy's coming" said Daphne. "She's got a bell-set on her chatelaine. Saves wandering around looking for one another."
Daphne's mother came in and Harry noticed, hesitated at the sight of Harry, then saw ring boxes and hurried up, arriving at the table not quite jogging. "You brought rings?"
Harry laid the boxed out in a row, open where Roxanne could see them "The big one is the offical Black family head's ring set, the old one is from my first ancestor that used Potter as a surname, and the little ones are from my parents. My mother made the band my father had... it's enchanted... but from a muggle story she or dad must have liked."
Roxanne sat down and looked about the Library "This is a complicated problem" she said. "If you use the Black Rings, you're clearly granting Daphne the status of Madam Black... but the light faction would expect you to be marrying Mrss Potter... and the Black rings wouldn't do for that at all. And that ancient set, well they're very old... but rather worn and would need charms to protect them, which is awkward for a Healer " shre trialed off.
Harry remembered his Aunt Andromeda's rather rude derision of Roxanne as a fence-sitter.
"Why not all of them, depending on what you're doing on the day" suggested Harry.
"Are you suggesting I take my wedding rings off every day?" asked Daphne "Like a hussy?" she continued... but was that a quick wink?
"Not in a hussy-like way. Just.. wearing whatever's appropriate." said Harry "On the day."
"On my wedding day, I'm not putting on three rings" said Daphne "My finger could barely fit that monstrosity as it is"
"The Black rings for the wedding... and the other ones... for later. I do have dozens of sets of rings in storage. The Potters along have another seven sets" said Harry. "Though one of the Black sets is for heirs only, so that's not applicable, I think."
Roxanne looked pained. 'That's how much of a fence sitter she is, decisons actively hurt her' though Harry.
"Which Engagement ring will I wear?" asked Daphne.
"Why not both?" asked Harry "Put my mother's on your right hand."
"Why don't I just wear both sets of rings all the time like that?" asked Daphne, looking a bit tired and irritable.
Harry grabbed both boxes, fished out the engagement rings, and got up and walked around the table to stand next to Daphne "Um… your hands?" Harry asked.
Daphne put her hands up, and Harry slipped the Black family engagement ring on her ring finger. It was a little loose, and then he put his mothers engagement ring on her right ring finger. It was about the right size.
"I'll never get that off" said Daphne "Without a lubrication charm" she said, and held her hands out to her mother "I'm engaged to Harry Black, and I think I'd like Harry to have dinner with us tonight?"
"Certainly dear" said Roxanne. "I'm sure your father will be pleased… and your sister can complain about it, rather than whatever he's making her learn today."
"Popworth!" she called out and a house elf appeared, wearing a green embroidered pillowcase.
"One extra for dinner, Popworth" said Roxanne.
Popworth nodded and vanished with a pop.
-==0==-
Dinner was actually quite good, though Astoria spent it complaining that Harry's proposal had been not romantic enough. Cyrus looked surprised really.
Harry thought to himself… he can keep his scar.
After dinner, Cyrus said "Well, Daphne and her betrothed can go to the blue parlour to talk"
Harry got into the hallway with Daphne who said "I'm going to the library, I have an exam tomorrow, and you can't sit there staring at me. You're distracting."
"Maybe you need a break before the exam" said Harry with some hormone-driven mindless optimism.
"I haven't covered the material yet, I need all evening to study" explained Daphne "Go on, bugger off."
Harry went home, stared at his writing desk, and ground out some textbook pages.
He went to bed after a few firewhiskeys, and fell asleep.
He woke up in the morning, feeling like he'd missed something important.
There was a definite lack of blonde in the bed. Harry got out of bed, and the room was pleasantly warm. He went to the loo and it wasn't cold either. MacBrides had really delivered.
Harry was sitting in the kitchen, having had dinner when Daphne yelled from the front hall "Harry! Where are you?"
Harry stumbled to the hall "Here" he said to a casually robed Daphne.
"My exam's over, we're going to the pub with some of the girls from the course" said Daphne.
Harry found himself a few minutes later wedged in next to Daphne at the Leaky Cauldron, where a group of slightly younger witches Harry didn't recognise, except that they all looked a bit tired, drank from tall fizzing glasses with tiny umbrellas perched on the rims.
"This is my fiancée, Harry Potter-Black. He does gardening and childcare" said Daphne, leaning against Harry.
"Yours?" asked one witch.
"Oh merlin no. His cousin's orphaned boy. Sweet little fellow, and a metamorphagus." said Daphne. Harry inhaled the smell of Daphne.
"Isn't he an ex convict?" asked one witch. "A murderer?"
"Self defence" said Harry quickly. "And cleared off my record. My parole officer memory charmed me to think days were months. He was a distant cousin, and stood to inherit."
"So is he rich?" asked a young witch tactlessly.
"He's capable of providing the simple necessities" said Daphne "Food, shelter, big green eyes."
"Battered snacks on a stick at quidditch matches" Harry suggested.
"Well that too" said Daphne "We met watching quidditch" she mused. Half the table looked disgusted.
"But he's Harry Potter… the man who won" said someone, who Harry thought sounded a bit dim.
"The patient has had multiple life-threatening injuries, causing comas. Has been tortured with dark magic, had his memory permanently damaged, been starved, tortured with knives, lost much of his balance and coordination to a brain bleed, and only just regained it. Does that sound like winning to you?" asked Daphne.
"How is he still alive?" asked the stupid sounding one.
"Sheer dumb luck" said Harry. "And bezoars. Always carry one. Phoenix tears are better, but a little hard to come by."
Harry got an affectionate slap on the tricep for that. "Don't act up" said Daphne.
A hour or so later, a drunk Harry stumbled home out of the floo, holding Daphne.
"Time for bed" said Daphne, and helped Harry to bed, out of his clothes, and got into bed wearing, Harry blurrily realised an old quidditch Jersey. As he fell asleep, covered in warm blonde, we wondered… no sex?
He woke up with a slight headache, which he was handed a potion for by Daphne. Once that had cleared up, he went to the loo, coming back to a sleepy looking Daphne in a quidditch jersey.
"See, our relationship isn't just about sex" she said and Harry snuggled up to her.
"I've got rounds in two hours" said Daphne "time for a quickie, some breakfast and a quick shower."
"But… not just about sex?" asked Harry.
"We didn't even shag when we went to bed" said Daphne "And you're so nice to sleep next to. But we've got time and well… a girl has needs."
"Kreacher!" Harry called out.
"Kreacher appeared with a pop "Yes Master?" croaked the old elf.
"Poached fish and caviar, the usual for breakfast in an hour and a half" said Harry.
"Mistress" said Kreacher, bowing, then disappearing with a pop.
Harry kissed Daphne on the nose.
"There are better places you could kiss me" said Daphne.
A very cheerful Harry went to Andromeda's house to look after Harry that day. Breakfast had been very nice, after all.
Teddy had breakfast, they gardened for a while, then Harry took Teddy home to garden there.
"Uncle Harry?" asked Teddy. "I smell a pretty lady."
Harry eyed Teddy, who wasn't a werewolf just the son of one. "Uh.. that's my fiancee Daphne. We had breakfast today."
"What's a fee ance?" asked Teddy, in his little dungarees, with green eyes and messy black hair.
"Daphne was my girlfriend, now we've agreed to get married." said Harry. "And I gave her a ring for her finger."
"So she remembers?" asked Teddy.
"So she can show people" explained Harry.
"Are you getting married tomorrow?" asked Teddy.
"I'm not sure when. She's studying to be a healer like your gran. When she has a few days off, I suppose".
"Will you have children?" asked Teddy.
"I don't know. Daphne is very busy for well, the next five years. Not till after that, I think" said Harry.
"You won't want me then" said Teddy glumly, his hair going brown.
Harry picked up a mopey Teddy and held him in a big hug "Teddy, you're the next head of the house of black. Uncle Sirius left it to me, and when … I can't any more, it will be yours."
"But you'll have your own children and won't want me" said Teddy.
"I'll always want you Teddy, you're like the son I never had" said Harry soppily. "We might never have children, it's up to Daphne."
"Is she nice?" asked Teddy.
"Very nice" said Harry. "We met her mum once at their house."
"The old blonde lady?" asked Teddy.
"She's not that old" said Harry, unable not to grin at that.
"I'll be Harry and Daphne's Teddy" said Teddy surely.
"Um, Teddy, we'd have to have had you before we left school. That would have been messy and complicated. Mummys and Daddies have to be a bit older to bring up children properly."
"Or they are bad like Uncle Harry" said Teddy, all too perceptively.
"I won't be bad again Teddy, I promise" said Harry, holding Teddy and crying a little.
"Uncle Harry, who's Ginny Weasley?" asked Teddy.
"Um… when I was at school, and just after the war, Ginny was my girlfriend. A bad thing happened and we had a fight. Now Ginny and I don't talk to one another." said Harry, while thinking … and I killed her.
"Uncle Harry, did you kiss Ginny Weasley?" asked Teddy.
"Yes Teddy, I did" said Harry.
"Why do girls want kisses, uncle Harry?" asked Teddy.
"Uh… you'll find out later. It's like… Yule but… a bit further away" said Harry.
"Vic wants me to kiss her" said Teddy, his hair going blue.
"Well, maybe don't do that till later" suggested Harry.
"But she's so pretty" said Teddy, his hair going red.
"Well, Victiore's Aunty Fleurs' daughter, so of course she's very pretty" said Harry.
"Is Daphne as pretty as Aunty Fleur?" asked Teddy.
"Aunty Fleur's special" said Harry.
"You should have married Aunty Fleur, she's the prettiest" said Teddy simply.
"Aunty Fleur and I met when I was at school, and she didn't think too much of me, I was fourteen and she was seventeen and a lot taller than me, and much more grown up" said Harry. 'And Bill Weasley won that one' thought Harry with a sense of amusement "Uncle Bill is tall and very handsome and very good at magic" said Harry.
"Uncle Bill has scars on his face" said Teddy simple-mindedly.
"Well, Aunty Fleur loved him before that. And He's still very handsome" said Harry, feeling the sort of vague envy he usually felt of Bill Weasley.
"Uncle Harry, if you're so famous, why aren't you as handsome as Uncle Bill?" asked Teddy.
"Ah..." said Harry, unsure where to go with that.
"I suppose if Daphne's not as pretty as Aunty Fleur it doesn't matter" said Teddy.
"Teddy" said Harry, trying to nip this in the bud "People like each other for more than just being pretty."
"My dad had scars" said Teddy. "Lots of scars but my mum married him."
"Your dad was one the kindest, most helpful people I ever met" said Harry "Your mum appreciated him for that instead of a pretty face". Not mentioning Remus's episode of cold feet.
The fireplace flared green and a witch stopped out; the chestnut haired Astoria.
"Harry, where is Daphne?" asked Astoria. "And who is this little fellow?"
"My Godson Teddy. He's the heir to the Black family." said Harry.
"Aren't you Daphne?" asked Teddy "Uncle Harry, she's pretty, but not as pretty as Aunty Fleur."
"Teddy, this is Astoria Greengrass, Daphne's little sister."
"She's not very little" said Teddy. "Is Daphne prettier than … Astorya"?
"Yes" said Harry, to a glare from Astoria. "I am considerably taller and more elegant than my sister. Did she stay here last night? Mother was provoked."
"Daphne and I went to the Leaky with some of her friends from Healer training" said Harry. "Then we cane home and went to bed."
Astoira looked at Teddy "You're lucky he's here" she said.
"We had a sleepover, Teddy" said Harry to Teddy. "We went to sleep, and in the morning, she went off with a simple breakfast."
"Simple Breakfast?" asked Astoria "My sister?"
"Poached fish and caviar" said Harry. Astoria rolled her eyes.
"So where is my sister?" asked Astoria.
"Healer training or back at your house" said Harry. "I suppose."
Astoria left via floo.
"Uncle Harry" said Teddy "She should be nicer to you. You're famous."
"Astoria remembers the bad things I did, Teddy." said Harry. "So I'm famous to her, but for doing bad things."
"But… why doesn't Daphne not like you?" asked Teddy.
"Um… we were friends for quite a long time before I did bad things" admitted Harry "And she remembers the good things, and um… found me when I did the bad thing. She um..." Harry ran out of words. Daphne loved him in a way Harry suspected he didn't really deserve. "She's too good for me but don't tell her" said Harry.
"Like Aunty Hermione and Uncle Ron?" asked Teddy, and Harry had to bite his lip. "Uncle Ron is really messy. Gran would send me to bed without pudding if I did that."
"Your Gran is trying to make sure you grow up to be the best young man you can Teddy." said Harry.
"Touching" said Daphne Greengrass, who must have come in without Harry noticing. Teddy sniffed "Hello Uncle Harry's fee ance Daphne" said Teddy proudly.
"He recognised my perfume?" asked Daphne.
"Daphne, Teddy. Edward Remus Lupin, heir to the Black family. Teddy, Daphne Greengrass, who I'll marry one day and she'll be Daphne Black."
"I think Potter-Black" said Daphne "The same as you."
"She's not as pretty as Aunty Fleur" pronounced Teddy. Harry scratched the back of his head, trying to come up with something.
"Fleur Who?" asked Daphne intently.
"Fleur Weasley nee Delacour. She married Ron's big brother Bill, who got twelve NEWTs and is a cursebreaker at Gringotts. That's how they met, doing cursebreaking somewhere for Gringotts." said Harry carefully.
"Aunty Fleur?"
"He spends a lot of time with the Weasleys, Molly looks after a couple of the grandkids and Teddy they play on the farm" said Harry.
"Uncle Bill has scars on his face." offered Teddy "But he was pretty before that, according to Uncle Harry."
Harry sighed. "And your cousin Victiuore?" asked Harry.
"An... Uncle Bill and Aunty Fleur have Vic, she's my age." said Teddy. "She's really pretty."
"And wants you to kiss her?" asked Harry, unable to resist humiliating his semi-child.
"Yeah" said Teddy, his hair going blue.
"Oh Merlin!" said Daphne "that's so cute."
"Are you getting married soon?" asked Teddy. "Uncle Harry said when you have time?"
"I'm very busy learning to be a healer" said Daphne to Teddy. "But maybe in spring, there'll be time."
"Gran's a healer" offered Teddy, hair changing to black.
"My mother is a healer too" said Daphne. Squatting to get a good look at Teddy, who reflexively changed his hair to blonde, and his eyes to blue.
"Oh my" said Daphne, shocked. "Does he always do that?"
"It's all up to him" said Harry., patting Teddy on the shoulder. "Don't tease people by changing to look like them, Teddy"
Teddy looked up at Harry, and in an instant, he had Green Eyes and blonde hair. Harry's heart skipped a beat. Looking like… a possible child of theirs. Daphne gasped. "oh my" she said softly.
Harry patted Teddy on the shoulder some more "Come on Teddy, if Daphne's here it must be nearly time to cook dinner at Gran's." Teddly toddled with Harry over to the fireplace, where Harry fumbled for floo powder.
"So you're going off to Andromeda's to cook dinner?" asked Daphne. "I just got here?"
"You can come with us" said Teddy. "Gran's house is pretty big for just us two. Uncle Harry stayed when he was sick." Meanwhile, Teddy's hair had gone black and messy, then his eyes had gone blue. Daphne bit her fist gently then said quietly "It's very disconcerting when he does that."
"Teddy, try to stick to looking like Teddy for a bit please?" asked Harry.
Teddy screwed up his face and his hair went purple, his eyes grey-blue.
"Tonks Place" said Harry, and Teddy and he went off by green flames.
Harry hustled Teddy away from the fireplace, and Teddy followed obediently, then stopped and took off his shoes, and started slipping about in his socks.
The fireplace flared green again, and Daphne Greengrass stepped out, looking unsure. Harry meanwhile had gone to the kitchen bench and started cutting up vegetables.
"Whatya making Uncle Harry?" asked Teddy.
"Ratatouille" said Harry "But I'll leave out the rats, okay."
Teddy nodded seriously then went back to scooting about on the polished wooden floor, sliding in his socks.
"Is that safe?" asked Daphne.
"He has his fathers coordination, thankfully, so fairly" said Harry, slicing vegetables.
"You're actually cooking, even though Kreacher cooks everything at home?" asked Daphne.
"Its... relaxing" said Harry "And who knows, maybe you'll stay for dinner and try my cooking."
"Teddy?" asked Daphne "Is Uncle Harry's cooking any good?"
"Sometimes" said Teddy, stopping after particularly good slide.
"Teddy, Gran will be home soon, so maybe less sliding?" asked Harry.
"Okay Uncle Harry" said Teddy, and he wandered off, to come back from the corner of the room with a large plush wolf , which he threw across the floor, and it slid along. The he padded over, picked up the wolf, and threw it again.
"What's the wolfs name?" Daphne asked Teddy.
"It's mooney" said Teddy. "You can go get padfoot if you want to play too."
"Padfoots the plush dog" said Harry from the chopping board.
"How long does Ratatouille take to cook?" asked Daphne.
"Ages the muggle way" said Harry. "I charm the last simmering for forty-five minutes instead."
"What else is for dinner?" asked Daphne.
"Oh some bread" said Harry. "I'll bake up some rolls."
Daphe watched with bated breath, but Harry just grabbed a double handful of rolls from an airtight box in the cupboard and threw them onto tray in the oven.
"What do you call that?"
"Muggle pre-baked buns. You just finish them" said Harry. "They're really easy."
"I was hoping to see you make bread buns from scratch" said Daphne.
"Oh that's hard" said Harry. "And takes hours. Oh yeah, your sister was looking for you. You mother is apparently excited about your sleepover with me."
"I like sleepovers with Uncle Harry" offered Teddy.
"I do too, Teddy" said Daphne, looking mistily at Harry "So much I'll move in once we're married."
Daphne was watching Harry's cooking when the fireplace flared green and Andromeda Tonks stepped out.
"Oh. You brought your Daphne for dinner" said Andromeda.
"We got engaged" said Daphne.
"Really" said Andromeda "How helpful, Harry to tell your Aunt who is the eldest Black witch."
"Yes" said Harry, stirring a tall sided pan of steaming vegetables "We decided to use the Black head of house rings, and Mum and Dads."
Daphne walked over to Andromeda and held both her hands out for inspection.
"You still a have a little hellebore syrup under your fingernails" observed Andromeda. "Try soaking your nails in warm water, then using the nail brush, it is the dickens to get out. Your mothers ring is quite muggle-friendly. Unlike that monster. I recall Grandma Melania wearing it, but it had wings."
"The wedding ring has the wings" said Daphne. "Together they're huge."
"Well, it let people a long way away see how rich we Blacks are." said Andromeda. "And obsessed by ravens."
Daphne was directed to the bathroom, while Andromeda sat at the kitchen bench "I'm glad you brought her" she said. "She's working very hard on the course. She'll be a credit to the family."
"Someone will for a change" said Harry, putting the lid on the pot and casting a charm on it.
"Uncle Harry, are you going to have a sleepover again tonight?" asked Teddy.
"Really, sleepovers?" asked Andromeda archly.
"We came home from a few drinks at the Leaky with fellow trainee healers, and slept the night away" said Harry, quite honestly.
"Don't have a child before the course ends" said Andromeda "It's very difficult to finish with a baby. I made that choice… and Nymphadora was a treasure, but it was a hard four years. A married five years, I'll add."
"Daphne thinks a spring wedding" said Harry. Said Daphne came in at that point and sat on a stool near Andromeda. "Spring, during the break between introduction to healing and introductory specialities" Daphne explained.
"Spend some of that improving your potions-making. You're adequate, but being confident will make speciality potion-making easier and that's a quarter of the year." suggested Andromeda.
Daphne nodded quietly.
"And you'll need lots of potions if you're living with Harry full time" said Andromeda blandly. "As I said to Harry, don't do what I did and conceive your first-born before your last year as a registrar is over."
Daphne went a bit pink at that.
-==0==-
Harry Potter-Black married Daphne Greengrass in the last Saturday of spring at a private service at St Jeromes in the fields, Appleby. The bride wore a French gown from the Stridenwuisse collection, and the rings were apparently the Black family head of house rings. The reception was at Greengrass estate, and was attended by family and friends. Daphne Potter-Black is in her second year of Healer's training at St Mungos and Harry Potter-Black is apparently a gardener and childcare worker.
A rumour has reached the Daily Prophet that Harry Potter-Black's wedding ring is actually a ring of such unimaginable power, that it's mere presence confers magical benefits. Harry Potter-Black did not respond to the Daily Prophet's owl regarding this 'One Ring.'
In other news, The Holyhead Harpies new Chaser, Ginervra Weasley was arrested for attempting to break into a building in Godric's Hollow.
THE END of Ride-Along.