Chapter 25

Lord Black

Lord Potter's Quarters

Lord and Lady Potter were entertaining unexpected company; Sirius Black, the new Lord Black, only recently released from St. Mungo's with a relatively clean bill of health after spending ten years in Azkaban as an innocent man.

This relatively mundane task was complicated by Harry's current tiff with Daphne. Apparently, Daphne was not best pleased with being put on the spot during the Great Hall Quidditch debate the previous week. 'Not best pleased' being a term Merlin suggested when Harry complained she was 'right pissed off' at him.

Strangely, to Harry, the issue was not using her as a threat to treat House Potter with the dignity and respect it deserves. The issue, in her words, was "using me as a blunt instrument where precision is demanded."

All this led to Harry sleeping on the admittedly comfortable couch since, which amused Merlin no end.

Merlin's amusement was another touchy point for Harry as he did not understand why he had been effectively barred from his own bed when his wife had her own bed in her own chambers. She could have used her bed instead of confiscating his. Harry considered sleeping in her bed, but for some reason thought that might make her angrier, a conclusion Merlin was happy to confirm, although neglecting to explain why. Merlin's lack of explanation resulted in some displaced anger in his direction.

Into this bubbling cauldron, some deity decided to toss in an unexpected guest, a Lord no less, who also claimed to be Harry's Godfather and best friend of his father.

This didn't seem a promising beginning to a new relationship.

'This is not a good day for this…' Sirius thought, 'but I've put it off as long as I can.'

"Lord Potter, I don't feel comfortable asking to call you by your first name. I hope one day we will be on a first name basis." began Sirius Black. "I have been assured you are informed I am your godfather, named so by your parents the day you were born."

Sirius took a moment to remember the day. Lily's exhausted but happy smile. James' look of concern when he looked to his wife and his wide grin when he looked to young Harry, already latched on. It was a wonderful moment in what should have been a long family history. His memory betrayed him, as it so often did these days, jumping to that night. James' and Lily's bodies all that remained of his best friends. The insane hatred for Pettigrew that allowed Hagrid to take Harry to Dumbledore.

Closing his eyes tightly for a moment, Sirius dragged his mind into the present and Lord Black opened his eyes.

"Lord Potter, I was wrongfully imprisoned, or I would have taken you to raise, as your parents intended. Evidence was produced proving my innocence and I was released recently. Since that moment I have hired legal and accounting firms to file the multitude of forms needed to bring the Black finances into alignment with the Law," Sirius took a deep breath before continuing, "and I have finished an inpatient treatment course to help deal with the issues arising from my wrongful imprisonment."

Harry looked to his wife sitting on the far end of the sofa facing Black. This was the closest she had willingly come to him in the last week. She looked perfect. Not a hair out of place. Makeup subtlety applied. Harry didn't think he was In Love with Daphne, but the last week had caused him an unexpected amount of distress. Hermione had verbally slapped him down for snapping at her, informing him he was not mad at her, so don't snap at her. At least that is what Harry thinks she said. Draw it out to a paragraph and elevate the vocabulary to barely comprehensible, then say it as rapidly as possible. So yeah, Harry thinks that is what she said. Since, he has kept tight control of his temper, only answering questions after a mental three count to avoid 'snapping' at people.

"Someone came to me with a deal," Sirius continued, drawing Harry's attention back to the now. "He knew where the proof of my innocence could be found and would provide it and make sure it didn't 'disappear' into the Ministry red tape factory. In return, a favor was asked… demanded actually. In return for my freedom I had to agree to be your advisor in all things until you reach thirty years of age."

Harry was surprised by this turn of events, but looking at Daphne and her obvious shock, it seemed this was a much bigger deal than he knew.

"Advisor. Not Regent. Not Guardian. Not Godfather. Advisor." Daphne spoke for the first time this morning; although stated as facts, the air of a question unmistakable in her tone.

"Well, I am his Godfather and would have been his guardian had he not emancipated himself. So, in answer to your implied question, if he accepts me, I will act as his advisor, confident, tutor in all things pureblood and head of house. I will not have any control of the Potter finances he does not explicitly give me. Hopefully I will provide him with a male role model, since I've heard Dumbledore placed Lord Potter with the Dursleys." Sirius' face indicated exactly what he thought of that decision.

Harry noticed Daphne was getting fidgety.

"Pardon me for a few moments. I wish to discuss something with my wife."

Harry offered his hand to Daphne as she rose from the couch. He wasn't sure, but he thought he saw relief in her eyes.

*Harry's Bedroom*

"Harry, you need to accept him as an advisor!" Daphne insisted almost as soon as the door closed.

Harry looked at her. She was excited. Her face flushed and eyes dilated. He could thank Hermione for those tips. But mostly Harry thought, 'This is the first time I have been in my own bedroom in the last week and those are her first words to me?'

Harry counted to three, several times. He knew he had 'displaced anger' in this situation. He didn't want to snap at her, but… this was the FIRST time he had been in his own bedroom in a week.

His face losing all expression, Harry replied, "I will take the Lady Potter's wishes into consideration. Stay here until I send for you."

Harry turned quickly and left Daphne wide eyed at his curt words and abrupt exit.

Great Room

"I will accept, on the condition you make an unbreakable vow to keep my secrets, the secrets of House Potter, and never work against House Potter." Harry stated flatly as he returned to the room.

Eyes widened, "Unbreakable vows are very serious magic." Sirius said seriously.

"Then you should be quite familiar with it," Lord Potter attempted to tease.

"Walked into that one…"

"Indeed."

"Why do you want an unbreakable vow?"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, yeah, get it out of your system. There are a million of them and I have heard them all." Sirius snarked.

"You show up claiming to be my Godfather. I know Sirius Black was named my godfather, at least that is what I have been told recently. I don't remember ever meeting you. I don't know you. Yet, you want me to accept you as my advisor and pureblood tutor. I would have to be certifiable to accept you at your word. The closer you are to me the more likely you will have to have an unbreakable vow. You want to be very close, therefore, you will make the vow or you will not be my advisor."

Harry stood waiting for Sirius' response.

"You would like an old acquaintance of mine. He didn't trust anyone either. I'll make your vow. Who will be our bonder?"

Without raising his voice, Harry called, "Wife, I have need of you."

After a short pause, the bedroom door opened, and Daphne stepped out. Again, she was not best pleased.

"Husband? What need have you of me?" Daphne asked as her eyes darted nervously toward Sirius.

"Lord Black will make an unbreakable vow to me. He will vow to keep my secrets, keep the secrets of House Potter, and never work against House Potter. You will be our bonder." Harry stated flatly.

"As my Husband commands."

A short time later, with the vow completed…

"Okay Sirius. You may call me Harry in private. Sit down, have a drink. We have a lot to discuss…"

*Harry's Bedroom*

Daphne sat at her desk staring at the wall. This was not the way it was supposed to be. After a week on the couch Harry should be apologizing and promising to never do it again. Yet he showed no signs of caving to her. Although, he did let her kick him out of his bedroom. At that point Daphne was pretty sure this would work. After all, she had to get his attention and make sure he understood he was not to do that again. But after he started sleeping on the couch, things became steadily more distant with each passing day.

Today, when he escorted her to their bedroom and she did not complain about him being in it, she thought things would start moving in the right direction. Instead, he became even colder. He reminded her of her father when he was angry but had to maintain appearances.

'What has he to be angry about? I'm the injured party here!' Daphne thought angrily.

Drawing parchment and quill to her she began a letter to her mother.

"Mom said she would help me make this work. I have a feeling this will be the first of many letters I will have to send her in the next few years. Harry is just a boy. A simple one at that. He doesn't have the years of political intrigue and subtlety. Did I do something wrong?" Daphne muttered as she continued her letter home.

Great Room

Finally, Harry had brought Sirius up to date on his life.

"So, Advisor. Advise me," Harry quipped.

"Gladly Lord Potter," Sirius played the fawning court hanger on.

"But first," said Sirius seriously, "What did you do to annoy your wife?"

AN: Much shorter than usual chapter, but I thought that was a good place to cut it. Don't worry. More chapters to be posted today!

Oh… and…

Happy Halloween!