Chapter 1: Revelations

A/N: This is the first chapter to a new story I'm starting. I'm not too sure how much I'll be updating it at first. My main story is still the Wizard and the Grimm, but this plot bunny just wouldn't leave me alone. I've read tonnes of fics with a Harry/Daphne pairing and a very few with Harry/Tracey. I've even seen a few that imply that Daphne/Tracey are together, so I thought why not, and started writing a Harry/Daphne/Tracey. This is my first Harry/Multi pairing so we'll have to see how it goes. At the moment, I am not planning on adding any more girls so please don't starting inundating me with messages asking for that.

This story will also make use of some common cliches but I hope it won't get too much for everyone. There will be some of Lordship stuff but for Harry it will only be Potter and Black. He won't have a hundred other family titles. This will also feature a sort of Manipulative!Dumbledore, and GreaterGood!Dumbledore. I don't usually like to bash Dumbledore, but it is sort of required for the story idea. It's more of a case of the road to hell is paved with good intentions. He will probably come off as a villain in this story, but I hope he won't come off as a cartoonish mustache twirler. He just has a set of ideals that he believes in, and will stop at nothing to see his plans come to fruition because he believes it's the only way.

The other main idea behind this story is I want something where Harry is on his own side. Where there is a legitimate war being fought, and Voldemort is one side, Dumbledore and the Order are another, Harry has his own allies, and the Ministry is of course its own side. There even be more players that enter the game, but I can't talk about that without spoiling some of this fic.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! I look forward to receiving constructive feedback in the reviews. I like to know what people like and dislike. If you really don't like my story for whatever reason, please just stop reading, don't flame for no reason. I don't mind constructive feedback but flames are pointless.

"Are you staring at Potter again Daphne?"

"No," she snapped back much too quickly. It was only with years of practice that she was able to stop herself from from blushing or showing any discernible change of emotion on her face. Well, discernible to most people that is. Tracey Davis, Daphne's long time best friend, could see right through her, which was why she was currently smirking at the Slytherin girls quick reply. "Oh come off it! I've seen you watching him this year too!"

"Well… as I told you before, he's the only boy in this school I'd be interested in going out with."

Daphne suddenly leaned closer to her friend, and started whispering furiously, "Oh! Is our relationship not good enough anymore. I know we can't go around in public, but we've been together for years now!"

"You know our fathers won't allow that to happen Daphne, especially yours. I love you, but we're going to be forced into a marriage eventually, and I'd rather choose the one I have to spend the rest of my life with. Plus, you already admitted the same thing earlier this year! That's why we agreed that neither of us would go after him, it would ruin our friendship if we were competing over him."

Daphne sighed, "I know… I know... I'm sorry. I'm just really stressed out. With the Dark Lord out in the open, he's going to come putting pressure on my family again. And, yes I do find Potter attractive, but that's not why I was watching him. I know we don't know him that well, but did you see his face. Something's wrong. He looks devastated, yet I can't figure out what happened. All his friends made it back from their little adventure to the Ministry, even if some were injured."

Tracey glanced over her shoulder at the Gryffindor table, "Yeah, your right. His eyes look red, almost as if he's been crying. Despite what Snape likes to rant about in the common room, I can tell he hasn't had an easy life, but I've never seen him break down before. Even after Diggory died last year, which I could tell got to him, he held it together."

"Well whatever it is, seeing how he always seems to be in the centre of things, it probably doesn't mean good news for the Wizarding World. I know we've been wondering this for years, but I still wonder what he's playing at. Even though he's a half-blood, he's the last in line of the Potters, which is one of the oldest families in Britain. He doesn't wear his heir ring, let alone have claimed his Lordship," Daphne was staring off into the distance. She'd been trying to figure out what Harry had been planning for years, but none of it made any sense.

"Well maybe he's planning on claiming it this summer. He only turned fifteen at the end of last July. Maybe he just decided to wait a year?" Tracey suggested.

"Technically you're wrong in this case. Normally an heir can have their Lordship passed down to them by the current head of their family when they turn fifteen, or if the current head of house is dead, whatever family member is the current acting head, can pass it down on that day. Harry is a special case. When the heir is the last in line of a family, like in this case with the Potters, the heir can take up their Lordship on their thirteenth birthday. Its an old law put in place by the Wizengamot to protect the old families. In these cases, the interim-head isn't a family member and so they have less powers over the family affairs."

"Well who's the interim-head of House Potter?"

"Dumbledore I think," Daphne scowled. "I heard my dad complaining about it once. He thinks Dumbledore has conned his way into getting control of too many old families."

"I know we don't exactly like Dumbledore, but do you really think he'd block Potter from his heritage? They seem pretty close to me."

"I don't know about that. Haven't you noticed this passed week, let alone this passed year. I haven't seen those two talk all year. I've always noticed the Headmaster keeping his eye on Potter when their in the same room ever since first year. And then after the whole Ministry fiasco last week, I hear someone say they saw Potter leaving Dumbledore's office. Ever since then, I've seen him glaring at the old man at every meal. If looks could kill, I think the Headmaster would be six feet under right now."

"That is interesting. If Potter's actually breaking away from Dumbledore, that only increases his desirability in my book again," Daphne just shook her head at her friends antics.

"We'll have to watch him closely next year. There's more going on with this whole situation than there appears."

"Or you just want to stare at his arse more."

"Tracey!"

"Oy! Greengrass!" Daphne sighed once again. She really didn't want to deal with him again right now.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"I just wanted to let you know that my father and I will be stopping by your manor this summer. Now that the blood-traitor Black is dead, the Black Lordship will fall to me. I'll be needing a second wife. If your family knows what's good for them, they'll sign the contract this time."

"My father will never contract me to you," she eyed him in disgust. "We actually have standards. He said no to you last time, why do you think he'll have a different answer now. That's why you're stuck with pug-faced Pansy over there as the new Lady Malfoy." She waved her hand idly towards said girl whose face was turning red with anger.

"How dare you! My father and his associates will no longer allow anyone to remain neutral. Either you join or you'll be wiped away like all the other blood traitors will be. If your father wants the Greengrasses to be more than a name in the history books, he'll sign the Betrothal Contract and kneel before the Dark Lord."

"Really? The same old threats Malfoy?" She kept her face carefully blank though, these were legitimate things she'd been more and more worried about over the past year. She knew she couldn't show any weakness in front of them though. "Also, I fail to see how your father will be able to broker any deals from his cell in Azkaban."

The blond boy scowled, "Watch your tongue Greengrass. My father won't be there for long. Potter may think he's gotten away with it all. Assaulting purebloods in Umbridge's office without recourse, and getting my father captured by the Ministry. The only reason the Dark Lord didn't kill him is because Dumbledore showed up to save him. That'll change soon enough. He'll get what's coming to him." Malfoy glared at the boy in question across the Great Hall. "Remember what I said Greengrass, and make the smart decision."

Suddenly he leaned forward to whisper directly in her ear, she barely managed to contain her shiver of disgust, "If you don't make the right choice, I'm sure one of my fathers particularly unsavory contacts would find little Astoria a delectable little treat. It's a shame she most likely won't survive the experience." Daphne's fists tightened in rage at what Malfoy was implying, but no words came to mind as she saw red. His disgusting smirk dropped a moment later as he again leant in even closer, "I will have you Daphne. Even if I have to tie you to the bed and force your legs apart myself. I. Will. Have. You."

The blonde boy straightened, sent one last smirk in her direction, before sauntering away with his bodyguards in tow, leaving Daphne frozen in her spot.

"Daphne… Daphne… DAPHNE!" Tracey attempted to get her attention.

"Hmm?"

"What did he say? Daphne? What did he say at the end there?"

She didn't know how to answer Tracey. She knew she could probably take Malfoy in a fight, but she was terrified for her sister. She knew exactly who he had been referring to. Fenrir Greyback had a known inkling for young children. Whether it was rape, creating more werewolves, or both. She momentarily wondered if spreading her legs for Malfoy would be worth her family's protection, before remembering the sad truth. No one was safe, no matter what side you're on. It was known that the Dark Lord killed more of his own followers in fits of rage than Aurors or Dumbledore's order did combined. The very idea of Malfoy forcing himself on her disgusted her. She knew she'd now probably have nightmares for months.

"Come on Daphne, let's get out of here," she let Tracey pull her out of the hall, wondering what she was going to tell her. There had to be a better options for her future.

"Did you hear?" Daphne asked as she dragged her friend into her bedroom at Greengrass Manor and quickly shut the door. It had been about three weeks since her confrontation with Malfoy in the Great Hall.

"Hear what? Tracey asked exasperated by the fact that she'd been dragged halfway across the house as soon as she exited the Floo.

"Sirius Black named Potter as his heir. Malfoy's not getting his hands on the Black family Lordship."

"What?" Tracey nearly screeched. "I thought Black was out to kill Potter. Why would he name him his heir?"

"I just found out he was his godfather."

"B-b-but… that would mean he didn't betray the Potters. His oath as godfather wouldn't allow it."

"Exactly!"

"Merlin! This changes everything! How did he die?"

"I overheard from father that he was killed fighting Bellatrix Lestrange during Potters battle during the Ministry."

"Do you reckon that's why he looked so awful afterwards?"

""Most likely."

They both paused for a minute as they thought it all over.

"But if Potter was so upset afterwards, that means he knew his godfather was innocent. If he knew he was innocent, it's no stretch of the imagination that Dumbledore knew as well. Dumbledore was Chief Warlock, he could have easily called for a trial for him. I-it doesn't make any sense!"

"But that's the thing Tracey! I think it makes perfect sense. You said it a long time ago, but we brushed it off as we thought there was no way the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore, leader or the light, would stoop so low, but now I think you were right. In the conversation I overheard between my parents, I heard that Dumbledore showed up in Potters place at Black's will reading, saying Potter wasn't interested in going, and wasn't interested in taking up his Lordship yet!"

"What?"

"I know. If he doesn't claim it within the year, it will go to the next in line. If I know one thing about Potter, as much as it's obvious he hates all the attention, he wouldn't let his godfather's family fall into the control of Draco Bloody Malfoy."

"So what does this all mean?"

"Like I said earlier, I think you were right before. I think Dumbledore has been actively hiding Potter's heritage from him."

Tracey gasped, "B-but that would be construed as line theft!"

"I know, but who would ever suspect Albus Dumbledore." Daphne shook her head in disgust. "It makes sense. It would be why he hasn't taken control of House Potter, let alone even wear his heir ring. I know for a fact he hasn't made any contacts with House Potter's allies. I know he is somewhat friendly with Longbottom, but has never approached Susan Bones. The Bones and Longbottoms have always been allied with the Potters. My father is always watching that kind of thing. Dumbledore's been the proxy for their seats in the Wizengamot ever since his parents death."

"This is crazy! He probably has no idea he's being taken advantage of. What's Dumbledore playing at, he's making him an easier target for You-Know-Who!"

"Why Tracey, don't tell me your buying into all those rumours in the Prophet about Potter being the chosen one!"

"No! Well, I don't know. Maybe… he has survived him several times."

"He has," Daphne allowed, "but I think the whole idea of Chosen One is ridiculous. Knowing Potter's luck though, it probably wouldn't surprise me if I found out he was."

"So what do we do now? D-do you think we should tell him?"

"That's what I was about to suggest."

"Ok… well we'll have to do it in secret because if we're caught it's the same thing as openly declaring our family's against the You-Know-Who. Unless that's your plan?" Tracey said the last bit sarcastically. Daphne didn't respond causing her friends mouth to drop open. "Is that your plan?"

"He's the Potter and Black heir now."

"So?"

"He's… going to need two wives."

The room was silent for a moment.

"You think we should marry Potter?"

"I do. First of all, despite being a Half-Blood, his families' are old enough our father's probably wouldn't object. They're traditionalists but don't buy into the Death Eater notion of blood purity, hence why our families have always remained neutral before now. More importantly, we've already both agreed he's the only man we know who we're attracted to. If we do this we can stay together. We wouldn't be married ourselves, but we'd be sister-wives. We can keep our relationship, and just basically add Potter into it."

"Do you think he'd go for it?"

"Are you kidding me? This is basically every teenage male's wet dream. I've heard some problems wizards with multiple wives have had in the past is if they try to force more than one into bed at once. From what I know of Potter he probably would never try that, but it won't be a problem anyway. We're already in love with each other." Tracey blushed at Daphne's words.

"How will this protect our families though?"

"It won't, not at first, but it will buy us time. The Death Eaters will hold off trying to pressure us right away. Having Potter involved will make them hesitate, as they try to plan for this new situation. That time will be crucial for us to get things set up. We can teach him what he needs to know and help him gather his allies. The Potters were always known for their wards. I bet he has a highly protected manor out there that he doesn't even know about."

"Ok. If we're going to do this how will it work? You're not just going to owl him are you? Could you imagine that: 'Hi Potter. It's Daphne and Tracey. We're Slytherin girls from your year you've only spoken to us a couple times in the last five years. Please ignore how suspicious this letter is and agree to marry us both.' Like that would work." Tracey snorted.

Daphne narrowed her eyes, "I wasn't suggesting we owl him. We need to explain all this to him in person. There's no reason for him to trust an owl, plus owl post isn't secure anymore."

"Well it's not like we know where he lives. No one does!"

"That's not true," Daphne looked particularly pleased with herself.

Now it was Tracey's turn to narrow her eyes, "Spill. Now."

"I may have snuck into my father's study, and looked through his copy of the minutes of past Wizengamot meetings."

"And?"

"And in one particular meeting last summer, Harry's trial was held. One of the standard questions asked at the beginning of trials are the defendant's home address."

"That's it? It was that easy? What's to stop Death Eaters from using that to go attack his home?"

"I'm sure there are wards in place to protect him from attack."

"You think they'll let us through?"

"Most likely. We don't bear Potter any ill will. I'm sure Granger and Weasley visit him there."

"Oh Merlin! I forgot we'll probably have to deal with those two if we go through with this."

"Not necessarily. Granger and Weasley worship Dumbledore like he's a god. If Harry ends up moving against him… I'm not sure what they'll do. Even if they do remain friends, we'll have to try our best to get along with his friends. It's only fair."

"I guess… so if we're going to do this, when are we going to go?"

Harry Potter grimaced as he traded one pare of his cousins ridiculously oversized castoffs for another cleaner pair. He'd just finished helping out with breakfast and was now getting ready to head out and mow the lawn before his aunt started screeching at him to do it.

Tucking his holly and phoenix feather wand into his waistband, he exited his room in time to hear the doorbell ring. Stopping on the top landing, Harry decided to wait and try and discern who was there. If it was one or more of Dudley's friends, he wanted to try and avoid the inevitable confrontation. His cousin hadn't actively tried to come after him in several years, but he'd witnessed several of his mates chomping at the bit to do so. They couldn't understand why Dudley didn't want to go 'Harry Hunting' anymore. Harry knew why though. He knew Dudley thought he'd curse him into oblivion if he tried.

He heard his aunt answer the door.

"Hello," the girl's voice sounded somewhat familiar but he couldn't place them.

"Oh are you here to see Dudley, I'm sorry to say he's out with hi-"

"No, we're looking for Harry Potter." There was silence in the house.

"Y-you're one of them aren't you?" His aunt's voice was trembling slightly.

"What?" It was another female voice.

"You two are more freaks just like him!" His aunt's voice rose in pitch. Harry was actually surprised she let herself get that loud seeing as the door was open and the neighbours could hear.

"Excuse me?" The first girl's voice had a dangerous edge to it now.

Realizing the situation was most likely going to get out of hand, he rushed down the stairs and went around the corner, only to come to a screeching halt. He was shocked to see some of the last people he was expecting.

"Greengrass. Davis," he acknowledged them.

"Potter," it was Daphne that spoke. Tracey just smiled. His mind was racing trying to figure out why they were here. His first thoughts were that it was some kind of Death Eater trap, but he soon discarded that. He didn't know the two girls that well, but he did enough to know they weren't involved with Voldemort. They were probably the only two Slytherins he'd spoken to that wasn't a result of some kind of confrontation. They'd always been polite, and he could tell they were both highly intelligent. Another point in their favor was the fact that he knew they hated Malfoy and his cronies almost as much as he did.

"What are you two doing here?"

"We have information for you Potter," once again his mind was awhirl. Information? The only thing he could think about would be if they had information about Voldemort. Maybe something they'd overheard from other Slytherins? He considered sending a note off to Dumbledore. The Order would probably like to know any information they could get there hands on, but he paused. Dumbledore had promised to keep in the loop from now on, yet he hadn't received any correspondence from him or his friends in weeks. He decided to hear them out first, then decide on what he wanted to share.

"Well come on in then." He heard his aunt stuttering something in protest, but he ignored her. If this really had to do with Voldemort, it would be important. His aunt could go and shove it for all he cared.

As they entered the house, he finally got a good look at the both of them out of their robes, and he had to admit they looked good. He knew they were considered some of the most attractive witches in his year. Even Ron, who hates Slytherin's, had commented on how hot they looked. Daphne was quite tall and slim. She had long pale blond hair that stretched all the way down her back to her waist, and bright blue eyes. What he noticed easier now, in their muggle clothes, was her medium sized bust and amazing behind. He thought it looked just as good in the tight jeans she was currently wearing than it did in the short skirts she usually wore as a part of her school uniform.

Eyes shifting to Tracey, he had to admit she looked just as good. She was shorter than Daphne, actually just slightly shorter than himself. Her hair was a darker strawberry blonde that was much wavier than her friend. It reached down just below her shoulders. She was curvier than Daphne, and was visibly larger in the chest. Harry couldn't help but notice that the shirt she'd chosen to wear seemed a bit strained.

Shaking himself out of these thoughts he began heading deeper into the house, his aunt finally spoke up more, "If they're going to be here, you can go up to your room. I won't be having any of your kind dirtying my house." She marched passed him into the kitchen, her mouth set in a thin line.

Rolling his eyes, he sighed. "This way then."

Heading up the stairs, he saw Daphne eyeing his clothes out of the corner of his eye. Pushing down his embarrassment, he led them into his room. Daphne continued to eye his room in the same manner, "Nice accommodations Potter."

"Well it's better than the bloody cupboa-" he began to snap, before he stopped himself. He'd been working lately on controlling his emotions, so wouldn't snap at people as much as he had the year before. "Nevermind. Why are you two here? You have information? Is it something to do with Voldemort?" He saw the two girls twitch slightly at the name, but it wasn't nearly as bad as he'd seen others do.

"In a way. It's all connected, but mostly this is about you."

"Oh… well do explain then."

Daphne was silent, thinking, for a minute before she asked, "How much do you know about your station?"

"My what?" Daphne sighed.

"Ok Potter. There's some things I need to tell you that are really important. They're things you should have been informed of years ago, but I need you to actually listen to what I'm saying without freaking out. My family are traditionalists. Always have been. That doesn't mean that we hate muggles or muggleborn. A lot of people label us the same as Death Eaters, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The Death Eaters have taken the Traditionalist ideas and corrupted them as an excuse to murder, rape, and torture. If the true traditionalists actually came into power, it would be more about teaching Muggleborns about our ways, and protecting our heritage. It's actually very similar to the muggleborn movement, except they want all of that and to tear down the old traditions. We're all for integrating new members into our society, but we won't let us lose our history in the process."

Harry was actually surprised about the passion with which Daphne spoke. He'd never seen her show this much emotion in Hogwarts. "I understand, and I'll listen to what you have to say. Just a word of advice though, any time someone starts with 'don't freak out' people tend to freak out."

"It's true Daph," Tracey giggled. That's probably the worst way to start things off.

Daphne just glared at the two of them, "Already teaming up on me are we?" Tracey laughed again, but Harry just felt a bit confused. "Ok, now for the even harder part. We don't have proof of any of the stuff I'm about to share, but if we're right, you will be able to confirm it all very easily. So please wait before you get angry. If you check and we are completely wrong, then you have my blessing to be as mad as you want, but please check first."

"Ok, now you're getting me very worried." Sighing he continued, "You might as well get on with it."

"Ok. As you know, the old pureblood families are very important in our society." Harry had resist the urge to make a comment. He was tired of all the bigoted pureblood politics, but he'd told Daphne he'd listen so he held his tongue. "The true reason behind this is that the heads of all those families are actually Lords."

"Lords? As in-" Harry interrupted.

"Yes, Lords. It goes back several hundred years to before the muggle and magical worlds split apart. The Potters are one of such families."

"What?" Daphne cowed him with a look.

"Yes they are. When you decide to take up up your post as head of house Potter, you will become Lord Potter."

"What does that mean?"

Tracey cut in, "Well, other than the fancy title, you'll be emancipated which will free you from the Restriction for Underage Sorcery. It will also allow you full access to your family vaults in Gringotts and give you control over your family seats on the Wizengamot."

"You probably won't have many more problems with the Ministry either. If they try to play games with the Lord of an Ancient House, the other Lords will get upset and turn on the Ministry. I know Fudge wouldn't have dared go through with that farce of a trial last year, if you were Lord Potter. The Wizengamot wouldn't have stood for it. They all know you're the Potter heir, even if you don't wear your ring, and that's probably more to do with why you got off last year than if they actually thought you were innocent or not." Daphne explained.

"B-but I didn't know. Why didn't anyone tell me?" Daphne and Tracey looked at each other.

"Now this is the part we were talking about, the thing we want you to listen to what we have to say about." At his nod they continued. "We think Dumbledore is purposely keeping you in the dark about your heritage for some unknown reason. He knows all of this and hasn't done anything. A lot of the crazy stuff that's happened to you over the years probably wouldn't have happened if you had been informed about this stuff."

Harry's mouth was gaping like a fish. "Dumbledore… you think- no. He-" The more Harry actually thought it through the less crazy it sounded, especially after everything he'd found out about lately. So much for no more secrets old man! "What else do you two know to support this theory?"

He noted that Daphne and Tracey looked shocked at his answer, and he figured, even with their warning, he would have reacted worse than he had. "You should have been given the option to claim your heir ring when you turned eleven and then your full Lordship at thirteen. It's the job of your current magical guardian to explain this to you."

"Magical guardian?"

"Dumbledore."

Harry just shook his head. Of course! Then he suddenly had a thought, "How do you know all this Daphne? And you too Tracey? Shouldn't all for this information be kept confidential?"

Harry was shocked when he saw Daphne blush slightly for the first time, looking embarrassed, "My father's on the Wizengamot. I snuck into his office, and looked through his files and read the transcript of your trial last summer. It had all the information there."

Tracey laughed at her friend's embarrassment, "It's where she found your address too."

"I was wondering about that. Now, I'm sure you've got more. I'm not sure if anything would surprise me about Dumbledore anymore. Hit me with it." Daphne again, shared a surprised look. "Dumbledore's also been using your family's seat on the Wizengamot as your proxy ever since your parents died."

"Ok… is that all?"

"Errr… no," Tracey hedged.

"Ok, whatever you have to say is obviously big, so just get on with it."

"Your godfather named you his heir." Harry froze. Sudden flashes of Sirius flowing through his mind.

"H-his heir?" His throat felt strangely tight.

Daphne continued on, "Yes, his heir. You're next in line to be Lord Black. This will make you one of the very few wizards with more than one Lordship, and probably the richest Wizard in England."

"How do you know Sirius named me his heir?"

"I heard my dad talking. It all came out in his will reading last week."

"Will reading? There was a will reading?"

"Yes, my father also said that Dumbledore attended. He claimed he was there in your stead, and had your permission to represent him. He even had supposed signed documentation to prove it. After it was finished, he claimed you had too much on your plate at the moment and were not currently interested in taking up the Black Lordship. This now means you have under a year to claim it, or it will be available to the next in line, who just happens to be Malfoy. His mother was Sirius' cousin. Your grandmother on your father's side was born a Black. The Lordship would have actually gone to Malfoy first by default, but since Sirius, the previous Lord Black, named you his heir, it trumped that."

Harry jumped to his feet, trembling. He was trying to force down the rage he felt burning in his chest to little effect. He'd been angry at Dumbledore after everything he'd learned at the end of the year surrounding the prophecy, but he had still trusted him for the most part. Now that trust was broken for good. The stuff he'd learned about the Potter Lordship had been bad enough, but it was the this last bit about Sirius that had pushed him over the edge. Sirius had been the closest thing he'd had to family in his life, and finding out that Dumbledore had been trying to keep him away from things Sirius had wanted him to have infuriated him. He'd been laying in bed just the other day wishing he had more stuff to remember him by, especially after he'd broken his mirror in his earlier grief.

So lost in his thoughts, Harry didn't notice the wide eyed looks the two girls were giving him, as he leaked a visible aura. Eventually, he was able to start settling down, as he forced himself to take deep, slow breaths. Taking a seat he turned back to his two guests, "What can I do to fix all this?"

"The main thing you need is to get to Gringotts, and accept your two Lordships. It will open a lot more doors for you. You'll also be able to inquire about your other properties. I know the Potters have a manor out there somewhere, and from what I know of your families speciality with wards, it will be just as or better protected than here." Daphne explained looking relieved that he'd calmed down.

"Well, Gringotts it is then, but now I've got to ask why you're helping me? Why did you come all the way out here to tell me this? What are you getting out of it, or what are you wanting in return?"

"Oh I see your understanding how the world works Potter? Maybe you would have made a decent Slytherin after all."

"The hat did want to want to put me there. Just decided I didn't want to deal with a poncy git like Malfoy all the time so I begged it to put me in Gryffindor."

"What!" Both girls exclaimed in unison, wearing equally shocked expressions.

Harry laughed at their expressions. Probably his first laugh since Sirius had died, but he soon turned serious, "So what do you two want in return?"

"It's not that we want something in return so much as- OW!" Tracy had smacked her arm. "Oh fine! We do want something, but we probably would've come and helped you anyway. It's more that we just happen to need your help with something."

"Geez Daph you're gonna put him to sleep, if you keep evading the subject!" Said girl just huffed in response. "What she's trying to say is that once you claim your Lordship we would like your help protecting our families."

"Protecting your families?" Harry was shocked.

"Yes, the Death Eaters are coming down on them hard to join up. They won't be able to refuse much longer and stay safe," Daphne added.

"Tell him what Draco said to you at the end of the year."

"What?" Daphne looked bewildered at her friend, and to his surprise a little fearful.

"He deserves to know, Daph," Tracy pressed.

"Fine. Do you know who Fenrir Greyback is?"

"Werewolf Death Eater right?" She nodded. "He's the one who bit Professor Lupin as a child," he muttered to himself. Then realizing what he'd just shared started to panic. "Please keep that to yourself. I shouldn't have shared that. It's private."

Both girls nodded and Daphne continued, "At the end of the year, he was threatening to set Greyback on my little sister Astoria if our family refuses to join the Death Eaters. Draco and his father have been trying to set up a marriage contract with my father for me for years. Luckily, he never gave in. Draco then said even if my father still continued to refuse, next year he'd take me no matter what. He said h-h-he'd tie me to my bed and force himself on me." Daphne's voice was cracking at the end, and he wished he knew how to comfort her. Tracey took care of that a moment later when she pulled her friend into a hug.

Once that was taken care of, he felt his anger start to bubble up again. Malfoy sickened him. He couldn't believe he thought he could get away with stuff like that. "I can't believe that little git! I've been telling people for years he's bad news. I've been saying it for years! But of course no one ever believes me! Now he's going around threatening to rape people, and pretty much admitting to other students that he's a Death Eater! Has he been arrested? Or at least expelled? No! Of course not! He even gets out of detentions all the time cause he's got Snape looking out for him at all times!" Harry was breathing heavily at the end of his rant. "What do I need to do to protect your families. I'm not sure how I can help, as I barely seem to be able to protect myself, but I don't care what it takes. I will not let that slimy little bastard lay a hand on either of you!"

"Well protection doesn't necessarily mean physical protection. A lot more could be done by aligning our families."

"And how do we go about doing that?"

Both girls paused again for a moment before Tracey spoke, "As Lord Potter and Lord Black you're going to be required to take two wives." Silence descended over the room, as Harry slumped back on his bed watching the two girls. "Well, at least he hasn't said no outright, eh Daph."

"I...I…I need more than one wife?"

"Yep," Tracey popped the 'p' loudly. Daphne remained silent watching harry apprehensively.

"You… you both want to get married to me?" He asked weakly.

"Yep!"

"B-b-but we don't even know each other that well… I… two wives! How will we... you're both ok with being in a three way relationship?"

"Tracey and I have already been seeing each other in secret for the last two years."

Harry took a moment to absorb that new information," You… you're both… you're-"

"We're bisexual Potter."

"Oh… I see," he managed to say. Harry couldn't deny that the two girls before him had starred in more than a fair share of his fantasies, like they had in most of the male population of Hogwarts, but now as he struggled to keep his mind on the conversation, it started conjuring sensual images of the two girls in front of him together. He crossed his legs and shifted on the edge of the bed to try and to hide his body's reaction.

"And you two want to add me to your relationship?"

"In effect yes, out of all the prospective males in the school, you're the only one we both find attractive. It also helps that you are one of the few who will have two Lordships which would allow us to stay together."

Harry felt Daphne's response sounded a little too clinical for his tastes which wasn't very reassuring. Luckily Tracey seemed to have felt the same thing and quickly jumped in, "What Daphne means to say is that while we love each other and are happy in our relationship, we both fancy you." She blushed a little. "I've had to constantly remind Daphne all year to stop ogling your arse so openly when we see you."

"Tracey!" Daphne seemed appalled at her friend's, or Harry guessed girlfriend's, admission. Harry too was blushing at this point, and had begun to sit a little bit straighter. There was nothing quite like the confidence boost achieved when two attractive girls tell you they fancy you.

"Oh… err… thanks, but you wouldn't rather stay in your relationship on your own? This isn't all because you want protection for your parents?"

"We just told you why we want this Potter! Are you insinuating that were trying to use you for our own ends?" Daphne's voice started to raise a bit at the end, making Harry wince as he realized he hadn't been very tactful in his last question.

"Daph, calm down!" Tracy interjected.

"No I won't calm down! He's trying to say that we'd sell our bodies like common whores to get what we want!"

"That not what I meant!" Harry's voice came out louder than he intended, and he didn't notice the flare of magic that came off him as he did. He continued speaking softer, "I'm sorry it came out like it did. I'm not insinuating anything. After the things I've learned lately, especially after what you told me today, I've been having problems trusting people. I'm sorry if I seem paranoid, it's something you pick up when your number one of Voldemorts hit list."

Daphne nodded her acceptance of his apology, but it was Tracey who spoke, "It's ok Harry. We understand. A healthy dash of paranoia is what lets students survive their seven years in Slytherin house. Like we said earlier, we both like you. We actually contemplated approaching you a while ago before any of this happened. We've both always known that our fathers will end up marrying us off. They'll never allow us to be together in a relationship. We are both the heiress' of our families. We have obligations to fulfil. Before now, you were only in line one for one Lordship, so you wouldn't have been able to marry us both, and we couldn't start any kind of short term relationship with a boy before we were betrothed. We'd also agreed not to pursue you since we both liked you. We didn't want to ruin our relationship by trying to compete for your affections. Now it's different though. You're allowed to take on two wives. Apart from that, it comes down to the status of the war. We don't know if you really are the Chosen One, prophesied to take down Voldemort like the Daily Prophet is suggesting, but we both know you'll be central to this war. We don't trust Dumbledore, and we'll never join You-Kno- err… screw it… Voldemort! We want to join your side! Whether you believe us now or not, once you've claimed your Lordships and reconnected with your allies, you will be your own side in this war!"

Harry sat there aghast at everything she'd just said. It was like a short speech in and of itself. He was surprised to hear that the Prophet was printing rumours about the prophecy. He wondered how they had come across that information. He briefly considered that some one on Voldemort's side had leaked the news. He knew Voldemort probably wouldn't want anyone to know that there was someone out there who could beat him, but Harry could also see the benefits of leaking it as well. If the public found out that he was the one who had to defeat Voldemort, they would probably started clamoring for him to get on with it. He'd start getting pressured from all sides, and most likely the longer he took to finish him off, the more the public would turn against him. Harry knew he'd need to think on this some more.

"Wow… err.. Wow! I don't know what to say."

"I guess it would best to tell us if you're even interested in marrying us." Tracy actually looked a little vulnerable after asking the question while Daphne's emotionless mask seemed to harden even more.

"Yes of course I do… well… I don't know…. I do... it's just," Harry sighed and took a deep breath. "I do like you two… a lot. I know we don't know each other that well, but I've always known you weren't members of Malfoy's posse. You never harassed me or my friends, and the few times we've spoken you were both always nice. I could tell you're both smart too and then there's the obvious fact that you're both… err… very… beautiful." Tracey smiled brightly at his words, and even Daphne allowed a small upturn of her lips. "It's just the thought of marriage that scares me a little bit. I'm only sixteen!"

"We'd just be signing a betrothal contract Potter. We wouldn't have to get married right away."

"Oh right. I forgot about that. The other stuff about the alliances is really attractive for me. I don't agree with how Dumbledore or the Ministry is handling this war. I don't want to have to kill, but the current methods aren't working. Now, on the rare occasion they actually manage to capture some Death Eaters, and they get thrown in Azkaban, Voldemort just breaks them out the next day to murder and rape some more. They need to be put down permanently. Even if at least captured properly. Right now all the Aurors and Order are using are stunners while the Death Eaters are throwing around Killing Curses. Even if they aren't going to use the unforgivables, mending an allies broken bones is harder than simply enervating them."

Harry noted that Daphne's smile seemed to be growing the more he spoke, and by the end it was actually quite predatory, "I think this could be the beginning of a great relationship. I couldn't have said the words better myself. If we truly want to protect society, it might be a good idea to arrange a little accident for Draco next year. I misplaced severing charm to the groin will do everyone a world of good." Despite Harry's hatred for the boy, and his disgust at the threats he'd made to Daphne, he could help but shudder at the casual way in which she contemplated her revenge. One thing was certain, he never ever wanted to piss off Daphne Greengrass.

"So what's next then? Do we head to Gringotts?"

"I believe that would be best."

"Well if we're really going to do this, you can start calling me Harry, and if its ok I'll call you Daphne and Tracey."

"Of course Harry!" Tracey jumped in.

"I'm sure that would be fine under the circumstances Pott- Harry." Daphne's voice had softened considerably as she said this. She still didn't seem as relaxed as Tracey, but it was a start.

"Great!" Harry began gathering his things before he had a thought. "Say, how did you two sneak passed the Order guard?"

"Order?" Tracey asked.

"The Order of the Phoenix."

"Ah yes. I heard about Dumbledore's little vigilante group. They guard you here? We didn't see anyone."

"Well there was that one gross drunk guy asleep in the bushes. Daph thought it might just be some muggle thing, but I wasn't sure."

Harry just facepalmed and groaned.