Minerva McGonagall walked nervously into Potter Manor on July 31, 1980. James greeted her friendly and lead her to the family living room. Her breath caught when she saw Harry nestled in Lily's arms. He had been born less than five hours and her heart already felt full. She sat next to Lily and cried tears of relief as Harry was immediately deposited in her arms.
"No tears," James said kindly. "It will be as it should this go around."
Minerva nodded her head as she pulled Harry up near her heart. She closed her eyes and sighed happily as she heard his steady heartbeat.
"Minerva," Fleamont drew her attention. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I have been working on something that will keep Harry safe but you won't like it."
Minerva frowned at the lack of explanation. "What shall I not like?"
Fleamont walked to the door and yelled for Sirius to bring the guests in. She raised her eyebrows up in shock as she saw Donavon and Ida Ross follow Sirius in the room. Donavon Ross was the current Lord Ross and Ida Ross was her grandmother, the grandmother she had never met before. "What did you do Fleamont?" she questioned.
"Lord Ross owed me and Ida Ross owed Euphemia a life debt," he explained calmly. "We called those in. Lord Ross reestablished your mother into the Ross Clan which means you and your siblings were reclaimed by Ross magic."
"Why," Minerva asked suprised. "How does this help?"
"Lord Ross is here to sign a betrothal contract on your behalf," he said firmly knowing Minerva would be rather upset about it. "Lord Ross is insistent on the Old Ways being followed which means you will be handfasted today. Harry will never be separated from you."
Minerva opened her mouth to verbally tear into Lord Potter; however, her grandmother spoke first. "I didn't push for your mother to be disowned for marrying a muggle. Her father was in betrothal talks with the LeStrange and Nott Houses. I couldn't allow her to saddled with those families. She would have been treated worse than a house elf to those barbarians."
Minerva stared at her grandmother in suprise at that. Her anger at the betrothal forgotten. "Did you ever reveal the truth to her?" she finally asked.
"No," Ida Ross admitted. "I did send her a new Gringotts key each time she gave birth. I might not have been able to be involved in your lifes but I made damn sure you would be educated."
"You paid for my masters too," Minerva whispered as she remembered her mother sending her a Gringotts key when she announced her desire to become a Transfiguration Mistress.
"I did," Ida confessed. "I used my dowry to fund your brothers and your education."
Minerva nodded her head in acceptance. "Thank you," she whispered emotionally. She wished her mother had known the truth.
"The betrothal contract will raise a few eyebrows," Fleamont said with a mischievous grin. Do all male Potters have that damn grin? she wondered. "The Ross Clan will be placing your dowry in a charity vault in your name. House Potter will match those funds. You are the head of that charity. House Potter will also deposit a monthly allowance of 100 galleons in personal vault."
"I don't want your money," Minerva protested, horrified at that notion of being kept up by the family of her soulmate.
"You shall have it regardless," Fleamont laughed. "House Potter has purchased a cottage in Hogsmeade so Harry can have contact with you frequently. House Potter also demands you stop wearing your permanent glamour."
"What glamour?" Minerva said confused. She wasn't aware of any glamour.
"The Morgan Ley Fey glamour," Ida Ross revealed. "Each female child in my line has it cast upon them at birth. It is undone on their wedding day. It is why we are requesting a handfasting today."
"Anything else?" Minerva asked sarcastically.
"Clan Ross demands Harry will obtain two masteries of his choice by his 25 year," Donavon Ross said. "Given your educational beliefs it seemed like a given."
Minerva didn't know what to say so she bit her tongue.
Minerva stared in the mirror wide-eyed. Her glamour had been removed for the first time ever and she was at a loss on what to think. She appeared to be so much younger than she really was. She could barely pass for 20 years old if she guessed.
A knock startled her out of our musings. She bade them entry and smiled when she saw Euphemia carrying Harry. She gladly accepted Harry in her arms and pressed a loving kiss on his nose. "I imagine the Wizarding World will be in for quite the shock tomorrow," Eumphemia commented with a smirk.
Minerva snorted at that. "Most likely," she said dryly. "I imagine a lot of Howlers in my future as well."
"Oh that reminds me," Euphemia said. "Heather," she called. A small female elf popped into the room. "Good evening Heather," Euphemia said friendly. She pointed to Minerva before speaking, "This is Minerva. She is Harry's soulmate. They were just handfasted earlier today." The little elf looked so excited about that and Minerva wondered why. "You will be Minerva's personal elf from now on. You will still be a Potter elf but Minerva is your primary responsibility."
"Yes Mistress," Heather said as she bounced about. "I's be happy to help you Mistress Min," she gushed before she popped out of the room.
"That wasn't necessary," Minerva commented. "I am more than happy to pick up after myself."
Euphemia nodded at that. "I belive that. I assigned Heather as your personal elf to protect you," the eldest Potter explained. "She will monitor your overall health and wellness including potions and curses. This is a safeguard for both you and Harry."
Minerva looked up sharply at that. "Voldemort's sympathizers will come after me to get to Harry," she said horrified she hadn't realized it sooner.
Euphemia nodded sadly. "They shall try but we will be ready for them. Hep," she called out.
A male elf popped into the room and bowed low. "Mistress needs Hep?"
Euphemia smiled at the young elf before introducing him to Minerva. "This is Harry's soulmate. They were handfasted today. Should an issue arise that needs immediate attention Minerva will be able to help. She is always to be considered a safe place for Harry."
"I's understand Mistress," Hep said as he popped away.
"Hep is Harry's personal elf," Euphemia explained with a smile. "He will always monitor Harry's safety especially when out of the wards. We bind them to us as family, not servants, so they protect us fiercely. I have a book that explains the differences. I will send it up here for you to read at your leisure."
"Thank you," Minerva said polietely.
Euphemia smiled at her future granddaughter in-law. "This is your set of rooms while you are here," she revealed. "You may change them anyway you wish. Once Harry and you marry, you will be moved into another set."
Minerva stared wide-eyed at that. "My own rooms?" she repeated suprised. "Why?"
Euphemia laughed at her suprise and nodded. "You are soulmates," the elder witch explained. "The draw to be near Harry will be overwhelming at times. Its logical for you to have your own set of rooms and possessions here for those times."
"Thank you," she whispered emotionally as she drew Harry nearer.
"Call for Hazel the nanny elf if Harry needs fed or changed tonight," Euphemia said as she made her way to the door. At Minerva's suprised expression, she explained, "Lily and I discussed it and believe Harry will need to be near you to settle the handfasting magic. Please call for Hazel if Harry needs assistance. I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate his future wife doing those tasks if there was another option."
Minerva snorted in amusement but agreed. "Thank you," she whispered sincerely as she picked Harry up and moved towards the bed. She called Hazel to watch Harry while she readied for bed. Within ten minutes, Minerva eased into the bed and pulled baby Harry close. She settled him on her chest and quickly dosed off to sleep. What a day she mused before she dosed off.