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The next day, they had lunch with all the adults. After they were through eating, the adults sat down with the kids in the sitting room.
"We have something to talk to you about," said Annette. Her husband Jason Greengrass huffed and squirmed in his seat. She gave him a look and continued. "First, I want to cast the spell on you that I cast yesterday, is that okay?"
The kids agreed. Annette cast the spell and the same golden strands appeared, forming the equilateral triangle. The adults all looked grim.
"Have you ever heard of bonds? Between magical people?" Annette asked gently. The kids exchanged a look and decided to come clean on their knowledge.
"After you cast the spell on us yesterday, we researched what the results meant. We have a twin flame bond?" asked Daphne. Jason exploded out of his chair.
"You're too young to be married!" Jason shouted. He glared at Harry, who shrunk back in his seat. Sirius took offense to that and jumped out of his chair.
"Harry's just as caught up in this as your girl. Don't go blaming him!" Sirius bellowed. Jason's chest puffed up in anger. Annette became furious.
"Both of you sit down! I will not have you acting like Neanderthals! You're scaring the children," Annette said, scathingly. Both men's heads jerked towards the kids who did indeed look scared. They deflated immediately.
"Now, if we can talk like adults, I'd like to do so. Jason, we already discussed this at home. They're not married. They're affianced. There's a difference. They won't be married until after Hogwarts," she said this while giving the children the stink eye. They nodded immediately.
"Do you understand what's going on Harry, Hermione, Daphne?" Annette asked.
Hermione spoke first. "The twin flame bond means that we're connected on a spiritual, magical, and emotional level. As soon as we connect on a physical level, the bond will be complete. Because the other three levels of bonding are complete, we are considered inevitable to marry, hence, affianced. It is expected we will now negotiate a betrothal contract. Since Sirius is here and he is my magical guardian and Harry's, and Daphne's magical guardians are also here, we should try to do that," she said matter-of-factly.
The two men looked resigned and sat down.
"I want to get married on the Valentine's day after Harry's 20th birthday," said Daphne.
Everyone turned to look at her, surprised.
"I would have expected you to want to marry as soon as you were able," said Annette. Daphne shook her head. She looked at Harry.
"I think we all would want to be able to spend at least one more year with our parents before we got married. This way, we'll all be 20. Hermione will be 21. We can have our first years of university without the added stress of a marriage. We can also make sure we don't have any accidental babies before we're ready," said Daphne.
"We could also get married in the Mundane World, as well as the magical, if we wait," said Hermione. She really wanted to be able to share her wedding with her parents.
"Yeah. I like this idea. I want to be able to spend a little more time with my father before I move out for good," said Harry. The adults grinned at such responsible kids.
"Okay, that's the first thing we'll add to the marriage contract," said Hermione with her notepad out, taking notes.
"I want to live in Potter Hall when we get married," said Harry. "It's my ancestral home. I haven't seen it yet but I'm sure it's wonderful."
Hermione looked around for objections. She didn't see any so she marked that one down.
"I want one of Daphne's sons to be named Greengrass," said Jason. Everyone got quiet for a moment. "I also want her to take the name's Gryffindor and Peverell. Ms. Granger can take the name's Slytherin and Black. I think they should all be known as Potters."
Everyone sat quietly for a moment. "Why?" asked Andromeda, trying to understand the reasoning behind the request.
"The Greengrass line will die out with me, if one of my daughter's does not continue the line. It's Daphne's right as the oldest to do so. If we want to end the dark stigma attached to the Slytherin and Black names, the quickest ways to do that would be to make the muggleborn the matriarch of the family. It destroys the pureblood rhetoric out of hand. I'm afraid continuing those lines through the Greengrass name would only see a dark stigma attach to it as well," said Jason.
Hermione looked thoughtful. "I also want a son to be named after my maiden name. The Dagworth Granger line is long and illustrious. I'd like to see it continued, too," said Hermione. She knew her father would approve.
"Agreed," said Harry.
"But," said Sirius. "All the daughters of the both lines will be named Potter, as will the first son from each woman. The second son will be named for the matriarchal line, and the third and fourth son's after the Slytherin, then Black lines and the Gryffindor, and then Peverell lines. Ladies, this means you will be expected to have four sons each. Are you okay with that?"
The girls looked at each other and then at Annette.
"What if we don't have any sons?" Daphne asked.
"Then, the requirement passes down to your firstborn daughter's marriage instead," said Sirius. The girls looked thoughtful.
"Is there anything that says we can't adopt or use a surrogate?" Hermione asked.
"Not at all but a blood adoption that literally changes the genetic makeup of the child would be required," said Annette.
Hermione and Daphne nodded at each other. They looked at Harry who also nodded.
"We agree," said the girls together. Hermione marked down their agreed upon terms, as did Ted. The negotiations continued on for some time. Things such as the bride price and the location of the weddings (the Greengrasses would choose the location of the magical ceremony while the Granger's would choose the location of the mundane ceremony. Harry would be responsible for choosing the reception location for both. He knew his papa would want to have one reception at his country club while Sirius would want to have the other reception at his house, Padfoot's Place).
The amount of the dowry for any of their daughters was traditionally set at the contract negotiation phase. Hermione and Daphne had it written into the contract that their daughters would be allowed to attend university before marriage, if they so choose.
They negotiated a few other items, some big and some small, before Hermione's and Daphne's checklists of items to negotiate had been satisfied. Harry had just considered himself the luckiest man in the world to get them both.
Andromeda promised to have the contract written up by the next weekend, the weekend before the children left for Hogwarts. Everyone would get a chance to read the contract and discuss it one final time before anyone signed.
Harry and Dudley spent the intervening week spending as much time with their father as they could. They followed him to the jewelry stores, on supply runs, and on important business lunches and golf outings.
One such day at the country club, Vernon was showing off his new silver line of jewelry and his sons at the same time.
Vernon flashed his gold cigar holder and his silver cigarette lighter as he lit a fat Cuban cigar for himself and a precious stones dealer who was in town visiting with a lovely shipment of rubies. Vernon had already decided to buy them when the stones dealer sealed the deal by making a connection with Vernon's sons.
"Yes, my boys will be attending the Loch Beannach School for the Gifted in just a few weeks now. It's a very exclusive school in …" Vernon was cut off by the precious gems dealer.
"Scotland. It really is a small world, isn't it? My son, Anthony, and his best friend, Terry Boot, will be attending this fall as well. My daughter, Cleo, will attend in three years. It certainly is a special place, isn't it? The man winked. Harry and Dudley looked concerned for just a second before they cleared their expressions. "Not many public schools for the gifted in the United Kingdom. My wife attended. She's a real treasure. She got me into the gems business. She was very close with her Head of House, Professor Flitwick. His family owns a mine. His brother, Filantius, is my supplier."
Vernon laughed a big belly laugh. "You know Filantius? He's my metalsmith. He and his family make all our fine metal items. They occasionally bring some jewels our way. I'll have to have a word with him for holding out on me, though I suppose he did introduce us, didn't he?"
Julius Goldstein laughed. "That he did. He's a crafty dodger. Keeps his fingers in all the pies while sharing good connections and excellent profits all around."
"Good man, Filantius. Where is your boy? We should introduce him to Harry and Dudley. Perhaps you can all come to dinner this Friday evening. I'm having a few people over for a dinner party. Your son and his friend Terry, and Terry's parents, if they're willing, are welcome to come. We'd be glad to meet more patrons of the school," Vernon said, slapping the other man's back. Vernon lined up to take his swing and let out a mighty yell of "fore!" as he let it rip.
Friday evening came quickly. The Goldsteins and the Boots were able to attend, including all five Boot children. Terry was the smack dab middle child while his brother who was four years older and his sister who was five years older, already attended the school.
Mrs. Goldstein was a witch but you couldn't tell it from looking at her. She just looked like a wealthy upper-class lady with two children and another on the way. Mr. Goldstein was a mundane person. He had no magic and no idea magic existed. This was a status quo Mrs. Goldstein hoped to maintain. She was quite shocked to arrive at Vernon Dursley's home to find Andromeda Tonks and her husband Ted, prominent law wizards, and Lord Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, two wizards she knew of though she had never met. They were first years when she was a seventh year. She'd noticed their pranking antics, everyone noticed The Marauders, but she'd never really paid attention to them. She just knew that Sirius was presently causing a stir as Lord Black and Potter Regent, as well as Regent of Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Peverell. He was a powerhouse that was staunchly on the light side of gray. To find them all at a muggle home was surprising indeed.
"Janet. So lovely to see you again. Or should I call you Mrs. Goldstein?" Sirius asked, as though they were old friends. Janet Goldstein was a looker and that was something Sirius always noticed and appreciated. So did Vernon Dursley.
"Lord Black, it's so good to see you again. It's been ages. Why I think the Purple People Eater prank was the last time I saw you at all," she said with a smirk. The Marauders had charmed the benches to cause everyone who sat on them to sing the Purple People Eater song. The then Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had turned into the Purple People Eater and danced around the head table. Janet heard that was why he refused to return for a second year of teaching. It had been a funny prank.
"Ah, precious memories," Sirius said, with a charming smile. "The pleasure is definitely mine. Are these two gorgeous children your own?" Sirius asked, offering her his arm as he led the beautiful woman into the dining room and helped her into her seat. The children were guided into their seats by Remus.
"Who are your friends?" Sirius asked, gesturing to the Boots.
"These are Abigail and Charles Boot. Their children attend Loch Bean, as well. Terry will be in the same year as Anthony and your godson, I believe," Janet said. Abby sat beside Janet, while Charles sat beside Janet's husband.
"Please, everyone, call me Sirius," he invited. Everyone murmured the return sentiments. Vernon Dursley entered the room, followed by his Driver/Butler, carrying the first round of drinks for everyone. The children all received Coca Cola in fancy goblets. The adults had the choice of a white wine spritzer, a glass of cognac, or a glass of brandy. Once everyone was seated and had a drink that pleased them, the first course was served. For the adults, the first course was a delicious duck soup with lentils and fresh green onions. For the children, it was mozzarella sticks with a marina or ranch sauce for dipping.
Little did Janet and Sirius know, they were needlessly anxious about the same thing all throughout dinner. They were afraid they'd be outed and the magical world would become known to the people they wanted kept in the dark. They had no need to worry, not one person present would dare bring the truth of the wizarding world up to the other people present. It was an open secret amongst the Boots, who were mundane born witch and wizards themselves. Abby worked as a Healer at St. Mungo's while Charles was a postman for the British Postal Service. He served Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and was under strict secrecy oaths all his own.
"It's lovely to meet so many fine families. To think, we share so much in common. Our children are gifted individuals attending a prestigious school," Vernon boasted. All the parents said here here and toasted to that. "We are also blessed to be in the fine jewelry business, in one way or another. Even Lord Black was glad to share his illustrious network with us to help build our business. To our future success!" Vernon said. Everyone toasted again.
Talk turned to diamonds, gold, and silver for some time after that. Vernon's favorite thing to do was talk shop. Sirius and Remus sat by the kids to keep them entertained and to be entertained by them for just that reason.
After dinner, Vernon invited everyone outside to the patio for a smoke and an after-dinner drink while the children, Betsy, and Dippy went up to the playroom. Sirius got Janet off to the side alone with Remus and said the words that had been burning in his mind.
"Please don't mention magic around Vernon. He doesn't know and we want to keep it that way," Sirius said.
Janet almost fainted from relief. "Thank goodness. I was afraid one of you would mention magic to my husband. He doesn't know either! His life is much happier if I keep it to myself."
"Do the Boots know?" Remus asked.
Janet nodded. "They do. They're both first generation witch and wizard. They live in the muggle world and work in a hybrid situation. Their children are all magical."
Sirius nodded. "First gens often pass magic along. Just look at Harry! His mum was a first gen and he's a right cracker of a wizard." Sirius was always looking for the opportunity to brag about his godson and his friends.
"Harry. You don't mean Harry Potter, do you?" Janet asked with a gasp. She knew that James Potter was Sirius's best friend but she hadn't registered that the godson he was so boastful about was Harry Potter.
"Yes, the Harry Potter," Sirius teased.
"The Boy-Who-Lived just had dinner with me," said Janet. Sirius looked uncomfortable.
"Please don't let Harry hear you call him that; he doesn't like that title. It reminds him his parents didn't live, you see," said Remus gently.
Janet looked chagrined. "I won't. I promise. How is he doing? Is he ready for Hogwarts?"
Sirius perked right back up. "He is. Remus here has been educating him and his friends for years now. He's got them ready, right and proper. If he hasn't already taught them the first two years' worth of the Hogwarts curriculum, I'll eat my hat."
Janet grinned. "Sounds like they'll be a bunch of Ravenclaws, then. I think my Anthony and Terry will go that way, too."
Sirius groaned. "Don't say that. I'm still holding out hope they'll go to Gryffindor, though I doubt Harry will go anywhere Ms. Dagworth Granger and Ms. Greengrass don't go. They're three peas in a pod."
Janet looked slyly at Sirius. "Is there a contract in their future?" Janet knew Harry would be able to take multiple wives to help carry on so many lines. It would even be legal in the muggle world, due to the antiquated laws in relation to the upper crust.
Sirius grinned and laughed. "That would be telling. I can say there's currently no contract in place. That's all I can say."
Janet's interests were piqued. "Hmmm," was all she said to Sirius before changing the subject but she promised herself she'd take a good look at the three children and see just how deep that connection goes.
The party was a huge success. The families promised to meet up for breakfast in London the morning before the children left for school. Vernon promised to make a reservation for a private room at Wilton's, his treat. Everyone was very amenable to that.
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