Chapter 14 – Meeting the Greengrass's
A/N: Thank you to everyone reading and reviewing. I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter and will enjoy this chapter too.
To clear a few issues, I'm on the fence so to speak about Tonks so far, depending on if she should stay with Remus or become Harry's as a concubine, I will leave up to you guys. And girls! To a guest reviewer, ironically enough yes you did miss something, a small sentence before Remus and Tonks left the meeting showing Molly being intercepted by the goblin guards and taken to work in the Goblin Mines.
I'd like to thank three specific reviewers and to answer their questions I'll say this to keep you excited and guessing, your wand wish will be happening. As for another I hope this meeting answers why Harry needs heirs eventually. For the last one I'd like to say thank you and yes Dumbledore was weak, but I have my plans of course, please feel free to PM if you need help to understand any British isms' I used, I would be happy to explain them, as always hope you are all enjoying!
Disclaimer: I don't own HP, JK Rowing does.
Harry POV:
My hand firmly in Hermione's, I moved through the Bank before breaking out through the doors, the fresh air hitting me in the face as the sunlight shone in my eyes for a moment. The day felt amazing on my skin, after such a long meeting, four hours stuck inside with those robbing, fake fucking friends. My pause to appreciate the wind and sunlight soon became interrupted as I turned to see how Hermione felt and I became stunned, by how perfect she looked. Her hair bounced in the wind with the sunlight giving it fresh colour, while her eyes gleamed with the excitement from the meeting still as it looked over the crowd, we would soon be lost in. I tightened my hand on hers, she turned to me with her dazzling smile. 'Perfect. And she doesn't even know it.' I thought as I smiled back at her.
Moving her with me, I made sure to avoid any that would interrupt our break from the next meeting, like a certain Rat who was waiting outside the Bank. Her hand squeezed mine as we passed through the crowd towards the Ice Cream shop, making me slow to look back at her. I'd like to take a moment to say what happened wasn't my fault, I was a victim like everyone else to what happened next and that's the statement I will be sending to the DMLE. Take a minute and ask yourself, was it really my fault I walked into an owl cage after being starstruck by her? No! I was totally a victim. Her smile had hit me like a brick, and I forgot my own name never mind where I was walking, as my body hit several owl cages sending them crashing to the floor. Don't worry, they were empty. But the resounding clash from them hitting the floor caused several people to turn and see me at fault, Hermione having let go of my hand and laughing to herself at me. The owner of the Owl Emporium came out furious at me, telling me I would have to pay for the damages with a high and squeaky voice.
Safe to say, me and Hermione nearly cried trying to hold in our laughter as I explained I would be happy to pay for the damages to the owl cages, my hand slipping back to hold Hermione's as she squeezed it and laughed softly at me still. 'Did she plan that?' I thought with a smirk as I caught her eye, seemed like she knew what I was thinking as she pulled away warning me, she didn't do anything so I couldn't do anything back. 'We'll see about that.' I replied mentally, as I dragged her with me inside the owl shop to pay.
"Why Hermione, I believe now would be perfect to get you your own owl, don't you think?" I asked her, seeing her eye a particular small grey owl. Her eyes snapped to mine, thinking I was joking with her but seeing my genuine smile that I was serious made her smile back to me. Happily, she went over to check out her owl she was looking at as I made my way over to the counter. The owner looked at me sharply for the damage I had done to some cages, before realising who I was, Harry Potter of course, but also as a major shareholder of the store. He spared a second to move his gaze at my hand, checking for the ring he found and giving a high-pitched sound at them. I wasn't in the mood to have a long-drawn-out conversation, so I decided to cut it short and get to the point.
"The owl cages can be mended by tonight for tomorrows sales, take what you need to replace the ones too badly damaged and repairo the rest. That lady over there will be choosing an owl along with the best cage and owl supplies we can offer, understand? As for the stock," I paused, looking around the near empty cages littering around the store. It was more than half empty, which meant one of two things. Either the shop had just had a massive sale, or the supply stock was running dangerously low. "Things looks like they need a little boost. What's wrong with the supplier and their owl breeding program?" I finished letting the shopkeeper speak as he watched me, a 16-year-old, talk shop with him.
"Yes, that is fine, sir, the cages can be fixed for tomorrow and the young witch can choose any owl to take today. The owl breeders are each having their own problems Lord, one of them is being difficult by refusing to send the owls we have already paid for, another is demanding a higher amount of gold be paid in her contract with us and two are suffering from an unknown illness in their owl breeds. We have enough stock to last until the end of the week, most Hogwarts students will have to go short on supplies or even without a companion for their first year I'm afraid." He told me, stopping as Hermione came up to the desk with a short but strong looking, young Great Grey owl. The smile on her face matched any other first year student would have as they chose their owl for Hogwarts; I was glad I could give this to her like Hagrid had done for me. I turned back to the conversation as Hermione saw the items, I was getting her and argued she would get it, but what fiancée would allow that? In his own shop too, why it would be scandalous!
"Hermione darling," I softly spoke, my intention already working as Hermione stopped arguing and listened. "I own the shop; you don't need to pay for anything. It's already on me." I told her, wrapping my arm around her as I picked up the owl cage in one hand while she grabbed the supplies. I looked back to the owner, telling him I'll be in touch about the owl breeders and perhaps some other exotic species we could sell for a short time, as exclusive deals. His eyes widened thinking off the different birds he may be able to care for as he used my Gringotts card to take a small amount of 15 galleons from.
My arm around Hermione, I carried the owl cage as we left the shop and moved further up the Alley to the Ice Cream store. I loved it here, ever since I was 11 and I was glad had some shares in the business I had spent a lot of sickles into. Much like many other wizards and witches when they were young. We quickly found a booth in the magically extended area outside the shop to enjoy the day as we ordered some sandwiches and some ice cream after. I might be 16 but who doesn't order ice cream at an ice cream shop? 'If you just said, me. As Hermione did,' I paused looking at her dead in the eye with a what the fuck expression plastered on my face, before continuing out loud.
"Somebody call ChildLine!" I called out, making Hermione blush as several witches looked at us and realised who we were and what could be classed as a date going on between us. She shoved me to get me to stop but I grinned and continued, "We got a case of an ice cream hater here! Call the DML-" I was cut off from yelling out as Hermione shoved her spoon into my ice cream and shoved it into my mouth. 'AH brain freeze!' I cried out in thought as my mouth suffered icy agony. 'Two can play at that came.' I thought grabbing my spoon from a giggling cute Hermione and digging it into my now, much smaller piece of ice cream. I made sure to smirk at her when her eyes locked on my actions before quickly placing the ice creaming in her laughing mouth before it could close.
"Hadrian Potter-Black! Ice cream is too sugary, and I refuse as a dentist's daughter to damage my teeth like that!" Hermione exclaimed to me after suffering the cold treat, looking ferociously attractive with her mad attitude. Her gaze and eyes pieced into me as she tried to stay angry at me before I started leaning closer to her causing her breath to shorten.
"Ice cream," I paused, letting the words linger as I stared into her eyes, "Can be used for more than just eating, Hermione." I continued, seeing her furious expression slowly slip away as she asked me what I meant. I told her straight out, "You'll have to let me show you sometime, to find out, sweetheart." I told her, the pet name making her all the more susceptible to my charms as she leaned in closer to kiss me. The kiss lasted a few seconds longer than I guess society deemed reasonable, seeing as some witches started coughing a little towards us. I smirked before I whipped a small piece of ice cream on Hermione's neck, who gasped at the cold sensation and nearly hit me for doing so. Before she could say or do anything, I quickly leaned into her ear, telling her this was a little example of what I meant, then lowering my head a little I licked up the melting ice cream from her neck as is dropped lower and lower. My ears tingled as I heard Hermione quiet a soft moan, my tongue sliding against her skin as her body responded pushing up against me. I knew I couldn't go any further as I let go and leaned back up, her eyes flashing with anger for a second and desire another. I knew she wanted me to continue a bit more, but then the public location came back into her mind and I saw a wild look in her eyes before it disappeared, making me think she was now planning something.
I pushed away my ice cream, being done with it since I had tasted it on Hermione's delicate neck and knew it wouldn't taste as good without her involved. I stood and called for Dobby, to grab our things and Hermione's owl she wanted to call Aegis, and take them home, before paying for our food and holding Hermione tightly by her waist as she went back out into Diagon Alley. We had just made it past two stores and into a small, secluded alleyway that was thankfully empty, before I was roughly spun around to Hermione, the next minute being kissed like there was no tomorrow. Pushing me against the wall, our lips met, and our tongues fought for dominance as the passion built and we kissed harder while our bodies collided forcefully against each other. My hands found her waist as I pulled her harder towards me, grinding my growing cock into stomach as she yanked my hair harder and pushed against me more. She stopped kissing me and spoke while I continued grinding against her and started sucking her neck.
"I think I like ice cream now, Harry." She spoke softly against my ear, sending shivers down my spine as my imagination worked harder with her words and my cock grew to a semi. I pulled her harder against me, looking into her eyes and seeing the desire dancing in them. My hands slowly snaked their way around hers and my body acted on its own, knowing what to do. I held her as I spun us round, so she was to the wall as my hands pushed hers above her head, holding them in place as I stared into her eyes seeing them become more excited, wanting more. I pushed myself between her legs, they spread themselves like butter and wrapped around me as my cock put pressure on her clit. She moaned making me growl thickly as she saw my eyes full of fire, wanting her.
"If you don't stop now…" I warned her, seeing her squirm at my words and voice. I licked her lips before giving her a rough kiss and continuing.
"I'm going to make our first time be here in this dirty alley. Where everyone can see as I pound you with my fat hard cock until you scream my name and cum around my big cock, understand?" I asked her, seeing her eyes widen as she became wetter and wetter on the tip of my dick. I knew she wanted more, even though a flash of fear and excitement passed through her eyes as I said that. I pressed harder against her and muffled her little moan as I kissed her, biting her lip a little.
"Or would you prefer our first time to be soft and gentle as you moan for me, building up again and again until you beg me to let you cum? My dick making you see stars as you clench around me, how does that sound, darling?" I asked, my hands slowly coming down to grasp her tightly against me before slowly easing up her chest to her thick bouncy boobs. I played with them as she moaned, my words making her shiver softly and wanting me more. I knew I couldn't go further though, as much as I wanted to. 'Damn I'm fucking cockblocking myself here?' I thought as I moved my dick back from her wet pussy. My pants had a nice wet patch in front of them as they tented, revealing the massive outline for Hermione to see.
"Damn Harry if I don't have you soon, I won't care where or how anymore. I just want that meat to do as you said and make me scream." She slowly said to tease me with her hand trailing down my chest to lightly press against my dick in my pants. 'Urgh, this feels so good.' My mind called out, demanding I do something back. I decided if I was going to be a good husband and Head of the House, she would be my Lady to, I should show her the best treatment I could give her. I slid my hand down her pants and then her panties and felt her soft wet folds, soaked to the touch as she moaned at my warm hard fingers.
"Harry either help me cum now or stop, don't tease me right now." Hermione told me, softly begging for her release already, I grinned as I played with her pussy, I pressed against her clitoris a few times as she arched her back towards me enjoying the pressure before I slowly entered one finger into her tight, grasping wet pussy. She moaned at me as I slowly felt out the deep wet hot pressure in her velvet cunt. My dick ached as I pressed it against her leg, her hand slowly rubbing me through my trousers.
"I won't be mean..." I started telling her, picking up a little faster as a sunk my finger back into the soaking space between her legs. She whimpered, my finger doing the work it was supposed to while I could feel my fingertip pressing against a soft barrier just a little in her tight vagina.
"As long as you be a good girl, Hermione." I told her as I withdrew my finger and added two and pushing them back in. My words made her pussy clench around my fingers as she nodded before gasping at the sensation. My fingers sped up, causing her to cry out softly before I captured her mouth in a kiss. I felt her gushing on my fingers as her orgasm rocked into her, my fingers furiously pumping into her while she held onto me and I gave a little flick of her clit. She screamed into the kiss as I made sure she experienced the most pleasure while keeping her quiet in the public setting.
As she finished and started to come down, I held onto her with my rock-hard dick standing at attention leaning against the top of her thigh. My fingers still buried knuckle deep until she came down and we finished kissing. I moved them around inside her, feeling her cum around them as it dripped out her pussy a little. 'Fuck I've never been so hard.' I thought as I removed my fingers from her pussy with a squelch and raised them to her mouth as I looked into her eyes. I saw her wonder what to do as she looked at the shiny clear substance she had cum, I knew now wasn't the time to let her taste herself and to be honest this was mine to enjoy. Hemione's eyes widened as she saw me taste my fingers, dripping with her wet fluids and suck them dry, her hand slowly finding its way back to my solid cock and helping to ease some built up pressure. I buckled up into her hand as it went below my waistline and wrapped around my thick, long shaft.
"Oh damn, Hermione you hand is so soft and warm, a little tighter." I told her while she adjusted her grip gaining her confidence as she worked my hard shaft up and down. The intimacy was intense, me making her cum and she about to make me blow, it felt right as if I was waiting for this my whole life. And we weren't even at the main act yet!
"Fuck how big are you Harry? My hand can't even fit around this thing." She said to me, her words in my ear while my mouth found her neck again. Those words… damn they hid me hard and I couldn't resist marking her, sucking her neck and giving a few bites I claimed her as Hermione squeaked at the pressure, her hand becoming just that touch tighter that I need to finish with. With a grunt as I sucked on her neck, my cock started spewing as it erupted with cum, straight into my pants. Jets of cum pumping out, I groaned in pleasure as the release hit the ecstasy level. I finished and let go of Hermione's neck, proud as I saw the nice love-bite hickey on there while Hermione pulled her hand out from my pants.
'Aw,' I groaned at the feeling of wet sticky cum in my pants as they snapped close, while Hermione studied the substance on her hand for a few seconds. It looked like thick, creamy milk on her pale silky hand. Full of potent sperm and heavy coated around her hand right now. Hermione gave it a second glance like she had decided something, before licking her hand to taste it. Her eyes widened and I wondered what she was going to say, about to say she didn't have to do that, but she beat me too it as she started licking her hand clean. As she did it my cock nearly came back up again as I watched her swallow my cum of her hand, but I managed to keep it down for now. My expression of shock made her laugh as she finished, giving me a sultry look as she innocently spoke.
"What? It tastes good, I like it more than ice cream." She stated as if it was milk instead of my thick seed she was talking about. 'Oh, fuck I'm not letting her go, ever.' I thought with a growl escaping my throat. It made me think for second how animalistic I was acting, I wondered if my Animagus side was affecting this or if this was helping me develop my animal instinct as it seemed to be. I pushed Hermione against the wall again, looking further into her eyes as my hands flattened hers out, trapping her with my arms.
"You are mine! Understand that?" I stated, my tone dripping with possessiveness as my heartbeat rose against her chest. Her heart rate responded to mine as her eyes glistened over, she grabbed my hands and squeezed as she nodded.
"I am yours; you are mine. Don't forget that Harry." She whispered against my lips before meeting them. I swear I could have seen flashes of light behind my eyes as my soul screamed happily in my chest. We kissed for what seemed like hours, never coming up for air as it got deeper and deeper, my heart bouncing as I felt Hermione's beat the same. I eventually broke it, looking into her eyes as my arms wrapped around her, pulling her steady against my chest; her arms wrapping around my neck and I knew I couldn't ever live without her, not like I had a few weeks ago, not after this.
"I love you, Hermione Granger." I stated, proudly and clear. She smiled at me, beaming at my words while her eyes teared up a little. She pulled me closer against her, so her face was against mine our lips almost touching with our eyes wide open. I felt like she could see into my soul and me hers as she gazed into my eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes warm and never ending as I lost myself until she spoke.
"I love you too, Harry" Those few words, a small collective bunch of words somehow made something in me snap. I kissed her, my lips pressing against hers as we felt the love, we had between us. For the first time in my life, I was absolutely beyond happy and nothing could bring me down from this. Pulling away I wrapped my hand around hers and told her this was one of my new forever moments as she now called them, I knew I could never forget this, or I would lose part of me with it if I did. She grinned, bright and happily at me as she held my hand, and we made our way out of the alley. Of course, before we were out, it hit Hermione what she had done publicly and she wrapped her head into my chest in embarrassment, I laughed slightly, telling her no one seen or heard a thing. I had put up some privacy and notice-me-not charms wordlessly as we started. I wasn't going to let anyone see our little private show, but the thought of it was extremely hot as you could tell. Hermione looked grateful for that, squeezing my hand as she agreed it was hot before she pulled me out of the side alley and back to Gringotts to meet the Greengrasses'.
I shook my head at the turn of events as me and Hermione entered Gringotts again. One minute I was finger deep into my girlfriend, making her cum around me and the next minute, I was off to meet my soon to a meeting to secure another wife to become my Lady for House Black. About to meet, I hoped, to be a nice and accepting father-in-law, wasn't this fun and exciting? I was a little nervous as to how this could go of course, he could end up screaming or even trying to curse me for the contact being activated or for having a Hermione as one of my soon-to-be wives already. Either way this was going to be eventful and I knew it, guess it was a good day for events like this though,' I smirked, thinking of the will reading where I got Ginny as a concubine and moments ago where I took Hermione to new heights for the first time.
I hoped Daphne could be opened minded since she was friends with Hermione before all this, or at least blamed me like her father likely would. I needed her though, and now with the contract she needed me, without us being together our magic would fail us from the contract terms and I, well I would lose the Black Lordship without a Lady to provide Heirs with including the fortune and the power they held as a Most Noble and Ancient House. I was grateful to have Hermione as my Lady Potter eventually, even though with her came her titles I had to become the Lord to as well, Ravenclaw and Le Fey. Though it would mean eventually we would have to have three children as Heirs to each house, I was wrong before, it had to be a son for the Potter House and two daughters for the matriarchal Houses their line would be following, God this was complicated.
Similar to Daphne, as Lady Black she would have to provide a son for line with me, but if her father died and left the Lordship to House of Greengrass to Daphne and thus me; I would have to make another son with her, no matter how many girls came out between that and the Black son. Of course, it was likely I wouldn't get that Lordship, if her father didn't like me, he could pass it down to Daphne's younger sister Aurora and her husband when she took one. I just hoped if he did that it wouldn't cause me any problems with him and Daphne with her sister. 'Oh, bloody hell, imagine if Daphne had unlearned of inheritances like Hermione in her bloodline…" My thoughts trailed to as me and Hermione reached the meeting doors pausing in front of them, my head spinning at the thought of the possibility and the power with it along with the pressure of having more children as Heirs to the lines. Snapping out of it, I squeezed Hermione's hand and looked at her, smiling to her when she looked back at me, a wicked thought racing though my mind.
"Take off your panties and put them in my pocket, Hermione. You're going to sit in this meeting and feel yourself getting wet, while I arrange another girl to take as a wife with you. Would you like that Hermione? To have Daphne as a playmate and watching me fuck her before I pound you?" I asked her, whispering the last question in her ear as I stepped close enough, her hands shook as she accepted my little challenge for her and pulled her panties off after looking around in case anyone was coming. Strangely enough the guards weren't anyway, but it worked for me as I watched Hermione have to cut her panties off to keep her pants on while giving them to me. I smirked at her, putting them in my jeans pocket and took her hand as we entered the room. Her skin tingling as her magic pulsed at the thrill of giving up her panties to me.
In the room sat three goblins, yet only two of them I knew while the other sat on the side of a table with three humans, a wizard and two witches, the Greengrasses' I believed. Obviously, I knew my Black account manager, Malock and the Chief, who sat at the head of the table. I greeted the goblins like the friend to them I was and moved with Hermione to the side of the table with seats next to Malock. Then I took my turn to look at the Greengrass' family. The wizard which I could reason to guess be the Lord Greengrass,
In the room were three goblins, yet only two of them I knew, with a three. Obviously, I knew my own Black account manager, Malock and the Chief, who sat at the head of the table before us. They all stood while we approached for the niceties, I saw Lord Greengrass standing next to the goblin I didn't know with the two witches on his left side while he faced me opposite the table. He extended a hand to shake with mine, thought I hadn't planned this I couldn't deny offering the very hand that had been in Hermione, not ten minutes ago, since he offered that particular hand. I kept my cool, refusing to show something was wrong while my hand curdled around him and Hermione noticed, looking down to avoid any looks while she blushed. I greeted him, as a fellow Lord and gave the goblins my greeting like the friend I was to them.
"Lord Greengrass, thank you for coming to this meeting. I hope you understand I have no real part in the making of this, but I am stuck in the middle of it as you and your family is. Chief Ragnok, Malock." I nodded to them, sitting down, being introduced to the other goblin as the Greengrass account manager, Balbone, who gave me a friendly nod before the meeting began officially.
"Well, best get this over with my Lords, the day is soon ending. I will begin us off and explain that the reason we are all here, is because a marriage contract between the House of Black and Greengrass has been activated. This contact is unbreakable, and must be followed through, understand?" Ragnok began, looking at each of us as to nod in understanding, he was about to begin again when Lord Greengrass asked a simple question.
"How can this contact be activated, this man is Harry Potter, the Heir or Lord Potter yes, but Lord Black? Why is this young woman also present in this meeting? I do not believe she should be present since the contract does not pertain her." The Lord spoke directly to Ragnok, sparing a glance to see how I would react as he spoke about Hermione.
"I am here, because this actually does pertain to my House business with my Lord, he can explain it better, I know this is complicated, but we can all understand it if we listen properly. Daphne, are you okay?" Hermione said to the Lord Greengrass, unflinching like the Lady she already was. Before turning to ask Daphne her question.
Daphne looked shocked but was hiding it well as the meeting revealed the real reason, a marriage contract was why they were all here. She looked like the beauty we all knew about in Hogwarts, the Ice Queen who could ruin any who crossed her, her face always the same icy glare but frozen with her beauty still. Her eyes were bright blue, seeking their way into any who locked eyes with her, her hair blonde, wavy and long like silk. She was beautiful, like Hermione but in her own way, she wore a long covering robe, emblazed with the Greengrass crest of course. The only change in her expression was when Hermione asked her a question, to which she did a little double take before nodding her head, almost as if something was on her mind. I decided I should jump in instead of staring at Daphne as the rest of the table looked to me to continue, Daphne seeing my eyes just before they came of her.
"Yes, I think I should explain actually. See Lord Greengrass I became Lord Potter and Lord Black, after Sirius Black blood adopted me. I am the Lord Potter-Black, as such you know I need two wives to each provide an Heir for the line. Hermione here, is actually my soon-to-be Lady Potter. With the contract terms met, the contract between the Black House and ours can now be completed, making the contract active, even if we disagree and don't want it to. I really am hoping however, that we do come to an agreement, the alliance between our collective Houses would be an advantage to us both, don't you agree?" I asked him, sitting straight, and speaking loud with my deep tone echoing my words, Lord Greengrass however sat listening intensely only now understanding how this left him no options. He looked a bit conflicted as his eyes looked over into his wife's, sharing a thought as a moment passed before he turned back to me.
"This is a most complicated matter than, Lord Potter-Black. I believe before we can go into any discussion about terms or conditions, I should make you aware of certain things. My House suffers from a blood malediction; a blood curse that passes own the line surfacing as it pleases in different generations, causing the victim to eventually die as their health and magic fades. It comes from our noble ancestor, who raised our House to Most Noble and Ancient, after defeating a most vile Dark Wizard… Ekrizdis." Lord Greengrass told me and the table, pausing before revealing the wizard's name as the tension built, the gasp that came from Hermione and the goblins, even Ragnok, surprised me though I had no idea why or who that was.
"Forgive me, Lord Greengrass but I don't know who that is. Please, call me Harry or Hadrian if you wish, and please extend on what you mean by this blood curse." I asked him politely, confused as to how their blood malediction was affecting their House and family right now, Daphne looked fine to me as though she was sitting, with a sad expression looking at the table. My mind started running through what I read from my Mam's journal on these things, they were nasty and near difficult to stop or slow from killing its victim, sometimes wiping out whole families and total Houses. That was a reason why many Houses considered it not just as Dark magic, but evil, never to be done even in a blood feud or other circumstances.
"Well than, Hadrian. Please call me Pollux. The blood curse causes the blood of the victim to fight against their magic, their health decreases rapidly or slowly depending on their strength as the curse attacks both while they attack each other. They become so weak they eventually die. It became dormant until recently, the last seven generations having no problem, but it seems my generation must try and fight against it once more… my youngest, Astoria…" Pollux looked down to the table, fighting his emotions as they threatened to show, I felt for him, how could you not? The man was living knowing his daughter was likely going to die from an inherited family curse. Pollux grasped his wife, Callidora by the hand, holding it softly for support while he spoke. She looked at me, calling me Hadrian politely to see if she could do so like her husband before continuing, Pollux silent as he let his wife speak.
"Hadrian, the curse came from Ekrizdis, the vilest Dark Wizard from the 15th century… He created Azkaban, you know and its believed that on that horrid disgusting island, he created the perfect conditions to give birth to a colony of Dementors, the first original colony. He isolated himself you see, capturing any who drifted too close to his island and experimenting the Darkest Magic his insane mind could create up. Even today we don't know just how far his he got in his dark magic experimentation, but we know if he were alive today, he could birth hordes of Dementors to attack us all…" Callidora announced, her voice solemn as she spoke of a dark patch in history relating her House. She started at me in the eyes, looking for my reaction which was being my mental shields. My mind was whirling with information as I thought of my Mum, her writings detailed things like this and provided notes on reversal magic and potions that would be needed to stop it, even possibly curing it eventually.
"Because of this, we decided we had to end the business rivalry we currently have the Malfoy House, our potion and apothecary stores have been losing interest recently into Malfoy's store. Our House has enough gold, all we want is Daphne to be safe, even more than for her to be happy." Callidora told me, her husband Pollux looking back up to me, seeing my hand entangled with Hermione's. Daphne met eyes with her mother, seeing her place in this begin to come up.
"Please try and understand Hadrian, we aren't a Dark family, we do support the old ways and traditions but not the blood supremacy regime of the Dark Wizard behind this war. We're a neutral House but have done what we must to survive, including making alliances and deals with both sides to last out the previous one, as I believe you know. Our Houses, Greengrass and Potter made an alliance with the Longbottoms', my father and your grandparents decided it would be safest against the newly declared Lord Voldemort after the Monroe House was decimated. We swore to keep each other safe and to provide aid whenever one called, an oath I am sorry to say I failed to keep for my House. I failed to help you or the Longbottom House after the attacks on you both, as they failed to try and help you after you survived. You are the most afflicted House from this in this alliance, as such you have control over how it proceeds." Pollux told me in detail, watching as my expression changed with the amount of information I was learning through this whole conversation. I was intrigued one second than angry or shocked at the next, the whole thing seemed unfinished as if they were more to learn. Which there was as it became clear when Pollux continued more, taking my silence as agreement to go on.
"We made the alliance with you family and the Longbottoms to survive, and then my father made one with Arcturus Black, Sirius' grandfather before he died to make the Houses' unite their strength, wealth, and power if they met the conditions, they both believed their Houses would suffer getting rid of Voldemort and thought this may be the best way. I wish I had known you were the Lord Black a few days ago, if I known the contract between us could be activated, I wouldn't have started the process to have Daphne marry Draco Malfoy." The words had made it from Pollux's mouth and caused a deadly silence to fall on the table, my mind buzzed with what this could mean? Was the contract unable to go though, would it become void if Daphne were marrying someone else or would that meant I had to marry her sister, Aurora? Either way I knew I would have to do something to try and save her, I wasn't going to let Daphne's sister die if I could find a way to solve their family blood malediction.
Daphne was the first to break the silence, her rage showed that hadn't known about this yet as she cast her icy glare onto her own father and demanded him to explain what he meant she had to marry Draco Malfoy. The rage in her eyes sparkled with her blue eyes in the light of the room, she wasn't impressed and wasn't going to hid it like a good little Pure-Blood Princess. No, this was the Ice Queen that was showing instead. Her father actually looked guilty as he started calming her down to explain.
"Daphne, our House needed an influential marriage like to House Malfoy, if you aren't secure with another Lord by your side and uniting our Houses your sister would be vulnerable. It was the only option I believed I had after the death of the Heir Diggory." Pollux explained to his awaiting daughter, her arms crossed in fury before relaxing when she understood her father didn't want this just like her.
"Fine, if I must get married I will, for Astoria. But I will die before I marry that stupid idiot Draco Malfoy! Harry, please don't let me be forced into becoming Lady Malfoy, I can't stand Draco in Hogwarts never mind in a house and marriage. Please." She told her father before begging me, she looked at me like it was all my decision, my powerful choice that would determine her fate. I nodded my head to reassure her as I turned to the Chief, to see his suggestions on this.
"Ragnok, is there anything we can do? There must be something?" I asked him, worried for Daphne and her sister more than me and a marriage contract. His face seemed ready for poker as always when it came to business, everyone watching with a little hope as read a few pieces of parchment from the Greengrass manager, Balbone.
"Yes, we can actually. Though the contract has been signed by both Houses involved, the conviction of Lucius Malfoy and his association with the Dark Lord means a clause has been violated. Along with this the marriage contract between your two Houses is more ancient and binding, overruling a marriage contract like that with a Draco Malfoy. It is good this contract was not fulfilled, Lord Greengrass or the alliance contract with the Potters' and Longbottom Houses would have been severally compromised, with a marriage to a family associated with the Dark One breaking the basic terms of said contract. It would have allowed the two Houses demand compensation or result in a blood feud. Unfortunately, we goblins cannot help with a hereditary blood curse, or we would have already offered our services with a price, of course. All I can offer is that you are free, Miss Greengrass, to marry Hadrian if all parties agree." Ragnok said, offering a sad smile that he couldn't help Astoria, his hands clasped together in front of him on the table. The Greengrasses' sighed in relief at his words as they looked at me with worry, I would deny the contract from continuing from the blood malediction, it could pass onto my children, at least those with Daphne into the Black line and potentially the Greengrass one, if Astoria were too frail to give one as they said she was.
"I believe we only have the terms and conditions of the contract between us to worry about for now, Pollux. Should we continue?" I asked him, knowing he would server whatever tied he had been trying to build with Malfoy to survive Voldemort with. He accepted with a nod and I knew I had just gained a new strong ally in the wizarding world; he was ready to jump the Voldemort ship he was halfway into boarding back onto the Potter cruise.
"Excellent we can really begin now then. The contract states that the Houses will unite and support one another though the marriage of two pure-blood children, before you ask this condition has been met with Harry having being blood adopted, making him two thirds pure-blood and one third half-blood; he meets the condition as the two thirds would make as full blooded as any other pure-blood. The Lord of the House must provide an Heir for said House within the year of marriage, if the wife's House is under threat and must pass the Lordship over to her husband, an additional son must be provided to assume the position when ready. These terms have all been fulfilled, the conditions are yours to agree on." Ragnok explained the contract, before gesturing at us to start the contract conditions to agree on.
"If I may I will begin, Hadrian?" Pollux Greengrass offered. His daughter and wife looking at him, while I nodded and agreed, after all I am marrying their daughter so they should have some decent conditions to make sure of. Callidora grasped her daughters hand, making sure she felt steady as it would seem like she was being bargained away.
"Firstly, Hadrian I would like you to agree to the usual conditions, you will not harm or abuse our daughter even while she is your wife, and treat her with the respect, love and honour a wife deserves. Following that I ask you to be honest with her, she is after all a most amazing witch, cunning enough to find out the truth eventually anyway. I will set Daphne's dowry as 150,000 galleons but in return would like the Black House to pay 1,300,000 galleons in reparations to our House in the case of the Dark Wizard winning this coming war against you, Lord Potter-Black." Pollux began politely but soon moved into the formalities as the meeting became about Lord business. I wasn't appalled at his request, but I was a little mad he wanted to claim that much gold from me for 'just in case you die'; quite shocking to hear on the table of negotiations. Hermione and even Daphne looked at Pollux with a shocked face, wondering why he wanted such a high price.
"Well Pollux, the usual conditions and being honest with Daphne are easily agreed to, I wouldn't harm her or treat her wrong even if I were tortured with the Curse itself. As for Daphnes' dowry I would like to double it, she can use it however she likes along with the gold you are giving for of course. The gold for our own House though, I am afraid a subject we should discuss further, among others. Other than that, my own conditions are this; Daphne remains loyal to me in all ways, the House of Greengrass will provide any and all support it can against Voldemort and in the event I, Hermione or Daphne passes, you or your House take any children we have including those I may have with Hermione, agreeable?" I offered the table, Pollux looking at me with wonder why I would add more to Daphnes' dowry, before agreeing to my terms with a short nod from Daphne that she could remain loyal to me. Malock, my account manager began the topic of gold we had yet to agree on, as he pulled out some old looking documents of contracts.
"I have these documents from Bloodfang, the Potter account manager, stating the contracts of sale between the House of Potter and House of Greengrass, Balbone please review and offer your opinion after I finished informing us how these affect the sum of gold condition for the Black marriage contract." He passed a copy to the goblin on the opposite side of the table to him and then a copy to the Chief and me. Balbone made a copy for Pollux as I shared with Hermione to let her see, I saw Daphne look a little left out, so I made herself a copy and pushed it down to her, catching her eyes and giving her a smile.
"The documents show the details of sales regarding the recipe and selling of multiple potions the Potter House has invented and sold to the Greengrass House, including the initial price of a newly invented potion, ranging between 240,000 galleons and 670,000 galleons, before the percentage of 7.5% of the sale of each individual potion. These documents in particular, show the debt of gold regarding the buying of several recent potions such as the Pepper-up potion as well as the sale cut that remains to be fully paid to the Potter House. Balbone, do you disagree with the statement and argue of the debt owed by House Greengrass?" Malock asked aggressively at the end, seeing as denying and arguing his statement would mean his honour would be called against for making the claim.
Balbone shook his head, agreeing the claim could be made and offered his financial advice to Pollux and his wife, after they listened and understood what he had told them; that they owed me gold that had built up interest over the years they thought they didn't have to pay it and now it could wipe them out if it were called it all at once. This meant whatever gold I would pay to the Greengrass vault would then be paid back to me; I would essentially be paying part of their debt back to myself. I like to think I'm kind, I was willing to do it. But the goblins, what more do I need to say? Goblins weren't going to let this slide under their nose, it could cause loopholes for future contracts and they really hated loopholes. Ragnok himself put it down on the table I would not be paying any other gold than Daphne's dowry increases since I wished it.
"Lord Pollux Greengrass, you and your House will not be claiming any gold within the terms of the Black and Greengrass marriage contract, as we believe this gold will be used to pay the debt to the House of Potter you owe. You are mistaken if you believe we, would allow you to use any gold from the Black Vault to pay the House of Potter, as if to make the Lord Potter pay his own debt to his House. It is quite a quick witted, thought out swindle however, well done for trying." Ragnok cut through Pollux, making it clear Pollux had no room to argue with him and then keeping the peace with his cunning little compliment. Pollux looked back down to the table, thinking deeply for a moment before meeting my eyes.
"Hadrian, I am sorry I tried such a trick on you. I confess I hoped I could do it and pay of the debt without my House becoming bankrupt. Please, I can organise payments to begin paying the debt, or even pay it off now if you wish… but that will leave us with nothing. So please, Hadrian. I need you to not ruin my House for gold, please wait, you will get it." Pollux, a pure-blood Lord, looked ready to get on his knees as he asked me to spare his House from financial ruin. His features lacking the emotionless mask a Lord, or any other prestigious family would raise you to have, to become almost fearful that I would call in such an enormous debt. His wife and daughter moved their eyes to me, watching me stiffen as the tension grew with Pollux as he spoke, Hermione grasping my hand again squeezing, knowing I wouldn't ruin them but wouldn't accept him trying to swindle me.
"Lord Greengrass," I began, pausing to let the tension reach a little breaking point. I let my thoughts stretch out, thinking about the possibilities and their roads I could choose to follow in this moment. I didn't let myself dive to deep in them to become lost longer than a moment, I just had to hope the one I had chosen would work out, as best as it could. Keeping my eyes locked onto him, I saw a small bead of sweat running down his forehead as I kept him waiting.
"Pollux please calm yourself; I won't ruin your House and claim the whole amount right this second. If you hadn't tried such a thing, maybe I would have tried and wiped the debt away but now, I'm afraid I will be taking what is owed to me and my house, in instalments of course. Don't worry Pollux, after the contract is complete, I plan to try and find some new potions to invent, perhaps I will have one soon enough to help you against the Malfoy's Apothecary since I wouldn't be selling the recipe rights to them like my family have in the past. On that note I believe I also have a debt of gold with the Malfoy's, I would like that to be called in effective immediately." I calmed Pollux from what looked to be a close call panic attack, telling him soon he should have an increase in business and profit to pay me back and still have gold in his Family Vault. My words caused shock as I called for the Malfoy debt, I had to me, if it were large like the Greengrass debt – though I had yet to find out how much, it would probably likewise end up emptying their vault.
"New potion recipes? Are you sure you think you could make up some new recipes? As if they were rabbits to pull out of a hat! I will believe you Hadrian, as a sign of goodwill where others would laugh and remind you that you're 16, a young, emancipated adult and Lord in this magical society: but I will believe if anyone can, it will be the boy who survived a killing curse." Pollux told me, I was glad he wasn't laughing and gave him a smile at his words, Daphne looked thoughtful but interested as if she had some ideas on the matter, I would have to check in on that if I could later.
A part of me wanted to tell them know I may have a cure for blood curses, for those like them that were stricken with it, but I really didn't want to just leave them hanging with their hopes up if I failed or couldn't do it. It was dark magic after all and not just by any wizard, but by a Dark Wizard Ekrizdis himself. It may be impossible, I didn't know yet, but I had hope with my mother's notes, perhaps I could make a cure with both intense spell work and a potion as they had detailed. I knew I should be able to get the spell work down, I could start that tonight although it may take a while, the potion making though, that was something that worried me. Even though I had found out potions was in my blood, I knew that I had hated the subject because of Snape, but my mind went to Dumbledore with his plan to lure Slughorn to collect me as his potion student; it may make the subject decent again to try learning, enough to make a complex potion like this for Daphne's sister.
The three goblins were smirking, like they had found a secret treasure they had been looking for as they ruffled through some summoned parchments, I knew it must have something to do with the gold debt my House was owed. Malock and Balbone began shuffling the papers individually while Ragnok explained, the total debt of the Greengrass House was currently: 8.3 million, the interest having built up a large part of that as it rose in the last 16 years. Among the same note was the Malfoy House debt to me, the sum of 10.7 million galleons since they had already stopped paying the debt before the Greengrasses', stopping the payments to my House after Voldemort rose to power and soon came after my parents. 'So at least they are smart enough not to pay their enemy during war, good for them.' I thought with my smirk, thinking Malfoy would be crushed when he discovered he wasn't rich anymore.
Malock finished reading his parchment, making Balbone stop while Malock explained how the Malfoy's couldn't pay the debt in full instantaneously, though a large part of it could be if I accepted some of the items like books and artifacts inside their vault in payment. Ragnok smiled as he ordered Balbone to inform Bloodfang and the Malfoy manager of the events taking place, the Malfoy Vault would need auditing while Bloodfang arranged payments with the manager and Balbone himself, for both House debts to begin paying them. Pollux watched as his manager left the room, nervous at how friendly they were to me as they went out of their way for my sake. He knew he had nothing to worry about, seeing as his daughter would make this powerful and possibly dangerous wizard family, an ally to his House that could provide safety and support against Voldemort. He just hoped this wasn't a deadly mistake… that much was clear on his face.
Seeing as the marriage contract was basically complete, without us having any more matters or terms to discuss, Ragnok had us seal the contract with our names with a blood quill, though not as painful as the ones I had discovered last year with Umbridge. Pollux signed first before Daphne, as Lord of his House while she signed under it, nothing happened, and they passed the contract parchment to me. I signed my name but as soon as I was done the contract it glowed white with magic before erupting in the familiar flames as it was taken to the contract record department. I thought it was nothing before Hermione whispered in my ear.
"It means the contract is activated, Harry. The terms are all met and agreed on, it was unbreakable before now, but the light showed that Magic itself accepted the contract as valid, you and Daphne are legally betrothed as we are." My breathing shook as she told me, breaking into a smile that I was meeting the steps I needed to take as a Lord to before the realisation that I was betrothed sunk in. 'Two! Two witches and a concubine! By Magic I knew this day was going to be mental, but this?' I thought as my eyes moved to meet Daphne's, she looked a little shaken that the contract was complete and accepted as the betrothal become official. I reached over ignoring her parents eyes as I held her hand, her skin a little cold to the touch and smiled when she looked at me. Maybe my eyes were kind, or they just reminded her that she wasn't alone or going to be in a horrible marriage, like she could have been in with Malfoy, and she smiled back.
A/N: I think this is exactly how I wanted this scene to go, there are some bits that feel not complete to me, but I think this is the best I can make it right now, perhaps I'll edit this in the near future if you all feel it needs some more work.
Please let me know what you think on this chapter, next chapter may take a few more days but thanks for reading.
