None, and I mean none of the new residents of Grimmauld Place would have imagine how smoothly their new living arrangements would work. To be fair, even if they did not broadcast it to each other, every single one of them were making their best effort to try and live peacefully.
The size of the house was a huge factor. Everyone had their own room, and the numerous extra rooms in the house guaranteed that everyone could be alone if so desired, allowing a modicum of privacy. Whenever someone wanted company, even if silent, the large sitting room turned to be the meeting point.
In what Draco was certain was either Harry's or Dumbledore's idea of a joke, they were always supplied with a decent food variety by a house elf, but said elf did not showed himself. To everyone surprise and Narcissa's secret shame, Draco turned to be a fairly decent cook, describing it as a "less explosive potion making", with a cheerful Astoria as his helper.
Daphne on the other hand turned to her uncle. Private tutoring from an unspeakable was something no sane person would ever turn down, and even with the amount of secrecy oaths Gareth had, he was fairly able to continue Daphne's education in theoretical magic and runes. Cyrus and Narcissa, on their part bonded over the dark tomes of the Black Library, previous safety check from the younger Greengrass brother. Isabella on the other hand, dusted of her wand to remember all the housekeeping charms she had forgotten as the Greengrass elves pampered her the last decades of her life. To Daphne's annoyance and Draco and Astoria discrete enthusiasm, they were forced to learned said charms.
Things were indeed going smoothly, till the eighth month began.
It was one of the few moments where everyone in the house was sitting in the salon. Narcissa was chatting with Isabella while Draco chatted with Astoria. The remaining Greengrass were reading, Daphne's volume carefully selected by her uncle. It was peaceful, until the alarm charm activated.
All the inhabitants jumped in their sits, before turning to look at the corridor leading to the door. With quick reflexes, Cyrus stood in between said corridor and his family, while Narcissa, Draco and Gareth pointed their wands to it. The unspeakable cast a silent charm, just to notify the rest. "Three"
Daphne cursed, as she had left her wand in her room, she knew that her mother and Astoria would probably be of no help, and she was frustrated of not being able to aid the others. At the very least they still had the numbers in their favour.
Draco widened his eyes however, as if he had realized something. "I believe I know who they could be".
At the questioning look of the others, Draco whispered. "Mother, Gareth, I need you to help me." Both adults nodded. "If I do anything other than immediately lower my wand, cast your strongest shield in between them and me Gareth." The man nodded once again. "Mother, pull me as fast as you can."
Taking a deep breath, Draco stepped carefully outside the room, just to lower his wand immediately, to the relief of the ones inside the room. "Of course."
However, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger reacted poorly, pointing their wands towards Draco. Harry Potter however, widened his eyes before remembering, closing them annoyed. Draco resisted the urge to snort. Or to do any sudden movement really.
"What in Merlin bloody beard are you doing here Malfoy.!" Yelled Weasley, pointing his wand towards him while Granger had a stunner enchantment in her lips.
Draco tensed up, but thankfully Potter intervened quickly. "Don't! I knew he was here".
Both of his companions stared dumbfounded at him. "What do you mean Harry?"
The young man sighed. "Remember that Draco disappeared near the end of last term? Dumbledore help him hide from good-old Tom. He asked me if they could use Sirius house to hide him and his mother. And some others. I don't really know the details".
"That's a bit suspicious mate" said Weasley doubtful. "Why didn't you tell us before coming here?"
Before Harry could answer, Draco said. "It is indeed a bit suspicious. Where did we duel in first year Potter?"
He hadn't levelled up his wand, but the threat was implicit. Harry glared at him. "We were SUPPOSED to meet in the Trophy room, but your coward ass never showed up".
Draco barked a laugh, confusing Granger and Weasley even more. Harry then turned towards his friends. "I am sorry, but the blond over there wasn't in my list of priorities when there were masked idiots firing at us."
Draco frowned at that comment, but let it slide for the time being. Granger turned towards him. "Why aren't you questioning us?"
The blond smiled. "If someone managed to supplant any of you, they wouldn't bother tricking Harry. They would curse him in the back as soon as possible to take him to the Dark Lord".
Leaving Hermione slaw jacked was no easy feat, and Draco took the opportunity in stroll. "Come on. I will introduce you to the rest of the inmates."
Daphne felt understandably nervous while Draco conversed with the unknown visitors, even if she could piece together their identity by the details they let slip. Harry Potter was Lord Black? What was he even doing there? Why now?
The golden trio entered the salon, the rest of the residents staring at them warily. The three looked reasonably elegant, albeit dishevelled, with dirt in their faces and their robes wrinkled. They also looked quite tired.
Draco made his way dragging Potter by the arm until they both stood in front of her father. "Harry Potter, may I introduce you to Lord Cyrus Greengrass. Lord Greengrass. Lord Black." Draco moved near Potter and whispered something in his ear, to which Potter responded with an awkward head bow.
To Daphne's surprise, Cyrus smiled. "I appreciate your attempts Lord Black, but my family owes you more than we could ever repay. It's me who should be bowing" he said, as he honoured his interlocutor with a deep head bow. Her uncle, at his side, did same wise. "Gareth Greengrass Lord Black. I want to reiterate the words of my brother. My complete gratefulness."
The two young man made their way towards Isabella and Narcissa, where Draco once again whispered something to the raven-haired boy, whisper that was followed by a barely adequate kiss in the knuckles of Daphne's mother. She frowned. Not only Harry Potter was Lord Black, but he also was completely unaware of magical tradition, if Draco's emergency guidance was a clue. A lot of assumptions she had made in her early years in Hogwarts where crumbling under her very feet.
Narcissa however, didn't extend her hand. Instead, the elegant woman did a small curtsy, before doing a mid-bow and remaining with her gaze to the floor. "My Lord. A daughter of your house greets you."
Potter looked towards Draco with a slightly panicked face, just to find the blond completely puzzled. "You have him at a disadvantage mother. Not even I know how to respond to that."
Narcissa raised a mischievous smirk, but before she could explain herself an annoyed woman could be heard. "Can someone explain to us what the fuck is going on!"
Daphne returned her gaze towards Potter companions, as both Weasley and Granger stared at the other, exhaustion an annoyance clear in their faces. Draco had the common sense to interrupt the formal introductions to guide the newly comers to a seat.
Draco and Potters tale was unbelievable, if Granger and Weasleys expressions were something to go with. Even so, with the raven-haired boy confirming and expanding on his point of view, the two looked to be relatively convinced, even if they still regarded the rest of the group with caution.
Visitors calmed, it was time to ask questions from their side, so Daphne wasn't surprised when her father acknowledged the erumpent in the room. "May I ask Lord Black to the motive of your visit" ha said politely.
Daphne almost snorted at how out of place pureblood tradition felt in this moment. However, any slice of amusement she could have felt evaporated as Potter started to explain.
"We were at a party when Death Eaters attacked. As far as we know, the Ministry has fallen".
Both Tori and her mother gasped, and not even Daphne could control the widening of her eyes. The men and Narcissa however, were way less surprised.
"Bu-but how did Dumbledore allowed something like that?" managed to stammer her mother.
A sharp look from Granger angered Daphne, but the answer pushed her a bit into despair. "Dumbledore died months ago. Snape killed him".
The venom in her voice was evident, but Daphne didn't miss the concerned looks exchanged between the two Malfoys. On the corner of her eye, she could see that Potter hadn't miss them either.
"It really isn't that surprising." Sighed Gareth
Weasley and Granger snapped to attention, gazes pointed towards her uncle. "What does that supposed to mean?"
The Greengrass brothers looked at each other, before Cyrus waved his hand at Gareth, signalling him to explain.
"The main problem with Voldemort pureblood agenda is that it resonates with the worst kind of people, racists with power." Started the unspeakable. "Unfortunately, that involves a good portion of the Ministry. There are departments like the Goblin Liaison where Cresswell have managed to employ a majority of half-bloods and muggle-borns, but then there is Magical Transports, which has a vast prominence of new purebloods with grandeur delusions."
The man cleaned his glasses before continuing. "The majority of the departments are in between. The aurors selected by Amelia Bones, Merlin bless her memory are competent and fierce wizards and witches who will die before siding with You-know-who. The other half, entered by Fudge recommendations or other external pressures are incompetent at best, active Death eaters at worst".
Silence reigned in the newcomers, who seemed to be blissfully ignorant of the real state of the Ministry of Magic. Daphne wasn't. her father had never cuddle her in the real-world business, showing her from a safe distance the corruption and dangers of pureblood politics.
Said father coughed discreetly. "Given what you have told us, I think is safe to say that there will be an important bounty on you three. There is fair enough space for all in this house." He elegantly nodded towards Potter. "We have checked".
Granger opened her mouth before Potter told her sharply. "We need to rest Hermione. At least for a couple days." Clearly unhappy, the witch nodded before turning towards Draco. "If we are to stay, I need more assurances that just your word Malfoy."
The aforementioned blond sighed. "I assumed so. Let's talk privately?"
Privately apparently meant Granger, Draco AND Weasley, with Narcissa hovering close to her son. At the expectant look of her father Daphne sighed. "I will show Lord Black our organization father."
At Cyrus nod, Daphne looked expectedly to the raven-haired boy, who simply shrugged and followed her towards the rooms.
They walked for a bit in silence before Potter broke it. "So, is this your duty?"
Daphne was puzzled. "Pardon me?"
The young man shrugged. "Is this a weird tradition that I don't understand? Like the heiress is the one to show the house? The elder unmarried woman?"
Daphne finally caught up and answered. "Not really. There isn't really a written rule about showing the Lord his own house."
Harry chuckled. "I'm still not used to the whole Lord thing. It feels so backwards".
The blonde looked puzzled once again. "But- There are Lords in the muggle world, aren't they?"
"Of course, but they don't really have that much power any longer."
"Seriously?" asked the witch. "Are they completely equal to the average citizen?"
Harry looked conflicted before smiling "Good point".
They had arrived at the stairs, so Daphne started explaining the arrangements. "So, my Lord, I-"
She was briefly interrupted by Potter, who asked nervously. "Sorry, I don't know the proper way to ask, but it would be way easier if we could call each other by our names. It will be hard enough to not screw up in some form with your parents."
That actually made Daphne smile, as she asked with a jot of humour. "If you allow my impertinence, my Lord, could I call you Harry?"
The raven-haired looked relieved, as he answered. "Only if you allow me to call you Daphne". Close enough.
A small, shared chuckle later, Daphne continued. "As far as we know, there are thirteen rooms thought as chambers. Three of them were completely destroyed or have too much residue of unstable magic, so we didn't even attempt to fix them. There are two others that have personal objects and have a plaque with the owners name, so we also decide to avoid them."
They were slowly climbing up the stairs, approaching said two rooms. "There is the main room, which I suggest you claim for yourself." At Pott-Harrys protests, the blonde just raised her hands. "It is proper, and it will simplify the arrangements, but its completely your choice."
They had arrived at the main living floor, and Daphne finished the statement. "Other than one small room ready to be habitable, the others are occupied individually, except for my parents of course. If you don't want to occupy the named rooms, I can share room with my sister, but that will only work if you use the-" Daphne suddenly realized her companion wasn't at her side, but rather transfixed by one of said named rooms.
"Daphne, I'm probably being extremely rude right now, but I would appreciate if you could bring Ron and Hermione here."
Daphne blinked, but the sheer seriousness in Pott-Harrys normally calm voice made her walk quickly towards the salon, knowing that somehow that was really important. Her mind was completely puzzled as she tried to think what could be so urgent about Regulus Arcturus Black old room.
AN1: We are reaching overbooked hotel levels of occupation over here.
AN2: Incredible. A clue for an Horcrux in Grimmauld. So shocking. What a twist.