Original note was about the pairing thing, just enjoy and review folks, take care.
The late afternoon sun shone down on Harry as he tossed a small ball back and forth with Iris, the pair largely ignoring Ron as he paced about the back garden, while the redheads siblings and Luna had gone home he'd stuck around obviously wanting to talk about the days earlier revelations.
He had already decided to let his best mate stew for a bit, honestly he was feeling mildly vindictive when it came to his sisters besmirched reputation and the fact that Ron had pursued her angered him on a few levels.
Sure he was being a bit over protective but when someone willingly let everyone in her life think she was a mentally deficient scarlet woman for the singular purpose of protecting you, well, you wanted to return those affections.
Eventually Iris let out an exasperated sigh, "Ron for the love of Morgana just say what's on your mind already, your going to kill that stretch of grass if you keep pacing like that."
Ron paused, a dozen emotions sliding across his face at once before he sighed out in disgust, "It makes so much sense now."
That got the pair of Potters attention.
"What makes sense mate?" Turning to Harry Ron scratched the back of his head obviously trying to figure the best way to word his thoughts.
"See, you know how Lillith had a reputation," face darkening Harry nodded slowly as Iris reached up and grasped his shoulder, glancing up she met his eyes and shook her head slowly. Getting the message he forced a calming breath out and let his friend continue.
"Well most blokes were kinda looking forward to getting approached by her, easy or not she's drop dead gorgeous, but that was the thing, the rumors had it that she'd just randomly grab a bloke and shag him senseless with no rhyme or reason. That doesn't sound like a high born lady now does it? But..." he looked incredibly ill before continuing, "if it was a bunch of blokes who got off on that kind of thing while at the same time making a light family look tainted..." Harry suddenly felt bad for the gangly ginger.
Crossing his arms he shook his head tsking, "You do know what they say about being careful what you wish for."
Ron rubbed his face while nodding, "Don't I know it mate, don't I know it. I'm going to head home and getting cleaned up...and see if George wants to go see a mind healer with me...you guys take care, tell the others I said bye yeah?"
The siblings escorted Ron to the floo and said their goodbyes as they went to search out their sister and Hermione, wandering the halls of the manor Iris took Harry's hand and began swinging their arms back and forth.
After a few moments she asked, "Is this all that is going to be talked about at school? I mean apparently it was a big deal considering how our friends reacted, I was kind of hoping we wouldn't have to deal with drama with the truth out and all."
Harry pushed his glasses up with his free hand as he considered his answer before responding.
"It...will be big news for a few days, at most, when her polyjuice scandal hits the rumor networks well, I think certain people are going to want to make the entire situation and all related rumors disappear quickly. Plus with the Triwizard Tournament being forced through there will be more than enough going on to bury it," Iris pursed her lips and scrunched her nose cutely as she processed this. Eventually she let his hand go and crossed her arms, she looked contemplative a moment before asking,
"Are you going to try and compete? From what daddy says the ministry vetoed everything the Headmaster tried to put into place as fail safes, anyone of any age is going to be able to submit their name." He looked down at his dear little sister and stopped their walk, taking a knee he grasped her shoulders and gave her a knowing look,
"What has you worried Iris?" Sighing she tried to bury her concern behind a scowl but it failed, unfortunately when you're adorable that tends to happen, eventually she met her forehead to his as she finally responded.
"I don't want you to compete, we finally have our family in one piece and I don't want to lose it over a stupid tournament, but I know you Harry, you live to compete. You don't like attention but you can't stand not challenging yourself...and...and..." she let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes in an obvious attempt to collect her thoughts. "People die in this tournament Harry, and I don't want you or Lillith to end up in it..."
Smiling at the concerned girl he separated from her and lifted her chin to meet his eyes, "Tell you what little flower, you promise not to put your name in the cup and I'll promise not to put mine in either, deal?"
Smiling quickly she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Deal big brother."
That crisis averted the pair began the search for the ever elusive resident bookworm and hidden serpent, after a time they arrived at Lillith's room and they could clearly hear both girls speaking behind the thick oak door. Brows raising Harry knocked and when he heard 'come in' he pushed the heavy door aside, much to his surprise a towel clad Lillith was sitting at her desk chair long legs extended with her feet resting in Hermione's lap.
The young lady in question was painting Lillith's toe nails emerald green and while a bit confused Harry couldn't help but blush as his eyes wandered up and down his sisters toned legs. Coughing he caught a knowing smirk from Hermione but Lillith thank Merlin was oblivious,
"Hello my lovely little sister and dashingly handsome brother, Hermione and I were just discussing what shenanigans are going to happen this school year, my money is dragons and or sphinx's, Hermione here thinks we're going to end up a bit too close to the Black Lake's Merfolk for our comfort, thoughts?"
Iris let out a squeak as she rushed over to Lillith and grabbed her hand shaking it energetically, "There's mermaids at school?!"
Snorting Lillith patted the small girls head with honest affection before responding, "Yes, but they're ugly as sin, fish people for the most part, their voices are beautiful though...err...under water that is, above they sound like..."
Hermione snorted and continued the thought, "Imagine one of Padfoots worst metal rock albums being played at double speed while scratching the needle across the tracks, it's...something to avoid."
Nodding in agreement Lillith looked over Iris's shoulder and met Harry's gaze with a brilliant smile, "So anyway what brings you two here?"
Harry leaned against the door and looked between his sister and best friend before raising his brows in question, laughing Lillith pointed down to Hermione, "All yours 'Mione."
The bushy haired brunette cocked her head to the side a moment before sealing the nail polish bottle and standing up, cracking her neck a bit she turned to Harry and smiled.
"I've known about Lillith's ruse for awhile now, I was honestly the only person she could talk to about it, and since she was doing it all to keep you safe and I owed you my life for that troll incident I decided to keep her secret. I will admit acting like I hated her for four years got old but well..."
Iris's eyes bugged out of her head as she took an incredulous tone, "Hermione Granger, lied, no no, Hermione Granger is capable of subterfuge?"
Hermione for her part gave the girl a questioning look, "How is it a eleven year old even has subterfuge in her vocabulary? And yes, I can in fact lie if its for a good cause, as things stand now though I must head home, my parents will be wondering were I went off to."
While she muttered "I'll be twelve September second..."from Iris Hermione gave her a hug, kissed Lillith on the cheek (which did things to Harry's brain that he was not going to address at the moment) and did the same to him, before she left the room she whispered into his ear "take care of her" before walking out into the hall.
Lillith stood up and seemed completely unperturbed at her state of undress, she grabbed some lacy undergarments from her dresser as she called out,
"Iris, lady time, make the boy leave," the petite redhead giggled as she pushed Harry out of the room throwing him a wink as she slammed the door, rubbing his temples the young man decided on a proper course of action.
"Cold shower, yes, very, very cold shower," nodding in determination he marched off with this goal in mind and he was most certainly not going to think about either Hermione or Lillith in the process.
The rest of the month was spent more or less having fun, Harry's friends had quickly adapted to Lillith's freed persona while she and Hermione had begun making a concerted effort to cause Harry to blush as much as possible, Iris thought it was hilarious so the pair kept it up for that if no other reason. As mid August approached the Potter family plus Hermione made their annual trip to Diagon Alley, Lily was fretting about much to the chagrin of her children.
"Now remember don't talk to anyone offering to sell you enchanted goods off the street, if it isn't a forgery it's likely cursed, also, what do we do if a hag approaches Iris?"
Harry, Lillith, and Hermione all spoke as one with equal levels of resolve, "Curse first, ask questions after we bury the body."
Nodding in approval Lily continued on, "Very good, now I know you three will be spending more than a little time at Flourish and Blotts so I'm going to take Iris to get fitted for her robes first, James would you take care of the rest until we meet back up?"
Her husband shrugged a bit but nodded his agreement, "Sure hon, not that they really need their old man holding their hands at this point."
With that they split off, as Lily and Iris disappeared in the crowd James spun around grinning widely, "So how would you three like to be cut lose and let an old stag have a pint with his best mates?"
Snorting the three didn't even give him a response as they turned and walked away, laughing he parted with "Be good!" before heading off to the Leaky Cauldron. Shaking his head Harry was about to walk to the book store when Lillith turned towards Ollivander's.
Giving his sister a questioning look she chewed her lip a moment before speaking, "Aunt Bellatrix gave me a wand, one that practically sings with my magic but I have absolutely no idea what its made of, Ollivander is creepy as hell but he knows his stuff sooo..."
Harry nodded as Hermione hooked her arm through his, the brown eyed bookworm smiled knowingly, "Just be quick or I might buy all the good books before you get back."
Rather maturely sticking her tongue out at her friend she weaved her way through the foot traffic and entered the dusty old shop, the bell rang and as always Mr. Ollivander seemed to materialize behind her.
"Ah Miss Potter, willow, nine inches, unicorn hair, a bit swishy, how can I help you?" Eyeing the old man Lillith reached into her bag and extracted the Black Wand as she'd taken to calling it, Ollivander's bushy eyebrows rose in interest as she handed him the heirloom.
"My Aunt had this fly at her in the Black family vault, she was compelled to give it to me but I have no idea what it is made of and that concerns me."
Humming to himself the old man had a strange smirk on his face as he mumbled, "My my how time flies eh Morgana?"
Speaking up louder he smiled at her knowingly, "Ebony, thirteen inches, only chooses those who have absolute faith in their own ideals, unrelenting. The core is unique, a thread of basilisk optic nerve soaked in a virgin maidens blood. A very old wand for very powerful deeds, I'm sure you'll do your ancestor justice Miss Potter," hand shaking slightly Lillith took the wand back and eyed it with new appreciation.
"Thank you Mr. Ollivander, err, do you mind if you keep this between the two of us for the time being? My mum will be here with my little sister soon and well..."
Waving her worries off he began sorting boxes in an absent minded sort of way. "Of course my dear girl of course, honestly I'm just pleased I don't have to fit you with a new wand, you dimension jumpers are always a rough fit, why Charlie Weasely had to have his new wand custom made after he showed up here. You're quite lucky, quite lucky indeed."
Lillith was fairly certain she just made a noise only dogs and Ollivander could hear, the wild haired man soon shot her a knowing smile, "Don't worry Miss Potter, your secret is safe with me and I'm quite sure you are far more suited to live this life over what your counterpart would have accomplished. Do please tell Miss Granger to stop by though, while her wand is still in sync with her it is due for a full servicing job, now move along the young shouldn't waste time listening to old men natter on."
Leaving the shop in a bit of a daze Lillith shook her head trying to process what just happened, he knew...he knew some how, yet didn't care...and what was that about Charlie? Having too many questions without nearly enough answers she slid the Black Wand up her sleeve letting it lock into her wrist holster, heading towards the book store she decided that the only thing to clear her mind was to tease her brother. Plan decided she grinned and marched on, sometimes no longer having the weight and responsibilities of being the Dark Lady on her shoulders really, really made her life more enjoyable.
Next Chapter, September First, back to Hogwarts and Lillith dealing with her bodies unlamented former tenants fallout, also what happens when Malfoy picks on Iris within earshot of the Twins, find out next time! As always please review