Amelia Bones was having a long day. She was dealing with a sharp rise in muggle-baiting recently, all attributed to the same small group of delinquents. She thought she had a lead, but it turned out one of them was the scion of an Ancient and Noble house, and therefore, nigh untouchable. She returned to her office for lunch where she was met by a grey and black plumed owl clutching a letter with a seal she did not recognise at first. The seal was one half purple, one half grey, adorned with a crossed sword and wand on one side, and a castle on the other.

The Ancient and Noble houses of Armstrong and Mason. She sighed as she thought back to fond school day memories, working with head boy Albert Mason as head girl. The two had struck up a friendship in Ancient Runes in 3rd Year and she had had a crush on him for a while, but they had happily kept their friendship platonic. She also remembered her run ins with the Gryffindor troublemaker Emma Armstrong, before Albert had straightened her out, and in return she removed the stick from his arse. It was a pity the families were so stuck in the past, how much bloodshed had occurred because of love.

Amelia had instead married her job, and she was now one of the most powerful women in England as head of the DMLE, but she missed her friends, her family, and her brother, whose daughter Susan she now cared for like her own. All had died because of Voldemort, thank Morgana he was gone.

Lady Amelia of the Ancient and Noble house of Bones,

It has come to our attention that your Godson was without guardian as of 13th March 1990. Our magics have indicated that according to the wills of the late Albert Mason and Emma Mason (nee Armstrong) and wizarding law you and Lord Marcus of the Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass are the magical guardians of:

Lord Samuel Albert Armstrong-Mason,
Head of the Ancient and Noble house of Armstrong
3 Wizengamot Seats
Head of the Ancient and Noble house of Mason
4 Wizengamot Seats
Inherited Marriage Contract Daphne Greengrass
Inherited Marriage Contract Susan Bones

The wills request that yourself and Lord Greengrass act as Lord Armstrong-Mason's Wizengamot proxies until he comes of age, with you controlling the 4 House Mason seats and he the 3 House Armstrong Seats.

Bring your godson and Lord Greengrass to Gringotts post-haste so the arrangements can be finalized and bound.

Irongut
Gringotts Will Department

"Merlin and Morgana!" Amelia exclaimed.
"Quite" Replied a face from her fireplace. Amelia turned to look, the head of Marcus Greengrass was poking out of her fireplace, looking quizzically at her.
"I had forgotten about that betrothal contract" He muttered.
"As had I" said Amelia, looking worried.
"Still, they're not binding, there are escape clauses built in, we should keep them for leverage, and who knows, our girls may grow on the boy" He grinned "Besides, how are you Amelia?"
"Should we tell Samuel and the Girls about the contracts?"
"Not now, they are too young to understand, Susan and Daphne were betrothed to his elder siblings, now he has inherited the contracts. Let us not forget the boy must take 2 wives besides, lest he merge the houses and invoke the wrath of half the wizengamot. TWO noble houses going extinct? It'd be a travesty!"
"Very true Lord Greengrass, and I have been well."
"Lord Greengrass? You wound me Amelia? What would our godson say?"
"I'm not quite sure Marcus, I've never met him"
"That makes two of us, shall we pick the little sod up this afternoon?"
"Marcus!"
"Tomorrow?"
"Now is fine, and you know that's not what I had a problem with"
"You're so much easier to get a rise out of than my wife Amelia"
"I'm sure she's just more used to it, how is she?"
"You may have a point, tell you what, I'll bring her with" he disappeared from the fireplace as the sound of someone being slapped upside the head "Merlin, Sara!"

-CHAPTER BREAK-

Amelia Bones and Marcus & Sara Greengrass walked up to the front gate of Armstrong Castle, its 3 great towers looming over the surrounding forests and fields, its great gate shut.
"So how do we get in?" Amelia questioned.
"Oh, we just shout our business up at the gate and if it's true it lets us in" Marcus stated. Sara slapped her husband on the back of the head.
"Ow, Merlin Sara, it's the truth" He said as she glared at him.
"Amelia Bones, Godmother of Lord Samuel Armstrong-Mason here to meet my godson"
"And Marcus Greengrass, His godfather, with my wife Sara Greengrass for the same reason"

The gates swung open slowly, and shut again once the guests had entered.
"So where is he?" Asked Sara
"Where is whom?" Called out a voice. Samuel walked out, wearing a grim expression, with his hands hovering over his left hip where his sword and wand were sitting
"Are you Lord Samuel Armstrong-Mason?" Asked Amelia
"Yes" He replied, hands not moving.
"I'm your godmother, Amelia Bones"
"Lady Amelia Bones, of the Ancient and Noble house of Bones, Ally to the House of Mason?"
"Yes"
Samuel walked up to Amelia, kneeled and kissed her hand
"My Lady Bones, I welcome you to Armstrong Castle, I trust you have been well?"
"Thank you my Lord, I have been." She made a face, the boy did not speak like it was the 1900s "May I introduce your godfather, Lord Marcus Greengrass and his Wife Sara Greengrass"
"Lord Marcus of the Ancient and Noble house of Greengrass, ally of House Armstrong?" Samuel extended his hand
"I am my boy, and your godfather to boot" Marcus replied, accepting an unusually firm handshake from a 10-year-old. Some of his business associates could take notes from this child.
"And Lady Greengrass, a pleasure, I welcome you both to Armstrong Castle also" he kissed her hand, bowing. The adults exchanged worried looks.
"Who looks after you Samuel" inquired Sara, looking about the deserted courtyard, noticing just how quiet it was.
"I look after myself now, I have an elf who cooks too, Bugsy!"
An old looking elf wearing a well worn purple pillowcase appeared
"Would you make our guests some tea Bugsy? We'll take it in the great hall"
"Certainly sirs, right aways" the elf disappeared with a crack. Samuel led them into the keep and toward the great hall.
"We are always supposed to welcome guests into the great hall, well, that's how I understand it my Lord and Ladies. The wards state that you are here to meet me, is this just a social visit or is there something to discuss?" The group all sat around the end of a huge table which shrunk down to an adequate size, cups of tea and scones appeared in front of everyone with a milk decanter and pot of sugar on a tray in the middle.
"Very cosy, excellent service" Marcus remarked "you should be very proud of your household members"
"Household member Lord Greengrass" Samuel corrected "Bugsy is all I have left, Old Mary, the nurse passed away when I was 7, and Sir Wilhelmsson passed on in March.
"Merlin, you were raised by two fossils?" Exclaimed Marcus, who was slapped on the back of his head by his wife "Hang on, who's been looking after you? Guardianship papers arrive immediately upon the death of the previous Guardian."
"You are my first visitors since March when Mr Ollivander constructed my wand, the day after that Sir WIlhelmsson passed."
Sara and Amelia looked shocked
"You've been alone here since March? It's June!" Cried out Amelia
"Are you aware what your parents will says happens next?" Asked Sara
"Yes, I got a letter saying I should meet with you, Lord Greengrass and you, Lady Bones, as godparents and house allies, and confirm you as my magical guardians.
"Would you like that?" said Amelia
"Like a vassal or ward?"
"We will be family" corrected Marcus
"I'd enjoy that, my Lord."
"Marcus."
"Lord Marcus."
"Godfather"
Samuel Nodded. Marcus sighed.
"May we call you Samuel, Godson of mine?"
"If you desire to, my Lord Godfather."
"How about Sam"
"Don't push him Marcus" Sara edged in.
"Worry not Lady Greengrass, I take no offence"
Sara sighed.

-CHAPTER BREAK-

It was agreed that Samuel would alternate weeks between Bones Mansion and the Greengrass Estate for a few months before he decided where he wanted to live. Samuel looked forward to meeting children his age, and Susan Bones and Daphne & Astoria Greengrass sounded like wonderful girls. At least he wouldn't be alone.

Samuel wore his very best robes, he needed to make a good first impression, he doubted he'd made one on his Godparents: He hadn't had time to straighten his robes, clean his boots and fully wipe away the dried tears of relief that someone had finally come. It had been a bad 4 months on his own. He had only the books of the library for company, Samuel had been pouring through his family histories, both Armstrong and Mason, and Wizarding Law, to prepare him for taking the mantle of Lord Mason and Lord Armstrong, something no 10 year old ever had done before. There was of course, Lord Caesar Armstrong, who had claimed the lordship at 15, but your father being eaten by the last Sussex Widesnout Wyvern before it being slain is something you cannot really prepare for. Caesar had then made it his life's goal to continue his father's work to eradicate the Sussex Widesnout, and succeeded. Samuel's parents had been killed by the Dark Lord Voldemort when he was only a couple of months old, but Samuel he could not work to avenge them, as their killer had been destroyed by Lord Harry of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter.

Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, Wizarding Saviour. Samuel could not find anything else out about the boy who he had so much in common with. Both orphaned months into their lives, both last male heirs to their lines, and Samuel owed the boy a debt for slaying the beast who caused the death of the rest of his extended family. He looked forward to meeting Lord Potter.

"Are you going to come in Samuel?" Asked Lady Bones, snapping Samuel out of his thoughts
"My Lady Bones, I deeply apologise, I was deep in my thoughts" He replied, stepping through the door, the home wards sliding over him. "you have extremely powerful wards my Lady Bones"
"This is our ancestral home, many Bones' have added to the wards over the years, are you interested in warding my Lord?"
"I have made it my life's goal to rebuild the fortunes of both my houses, I intend to restart the Mason Construction and Warding Company when I finish my education."
"A lofty goal my Lord, sorry, Samuel"
"No apology is required My Lady Bones, you are my godmother after all, as well as my guardian. I am also a Lord, so formal tongue is facilitated."
"As you wish Samuel" said Amelia. In truth, she was worried- the child, her godson, spoke years above his age, she had yet to hear him speak casually, she hoped when with people of his age, and station, he would slip back to normal.
"Good Day to you Lord Armstrong-Mason" Came a voice from the far end of the Room "Hello Auntie!"
"Hello Susan, this is your God-Brother, Lord Samuel Armstrong-Mason, Samuel, this is your God-Sister, Heir Susan Bones"
"Pleased to meet your acquaintance Heir Bones, you are as beautiful as the tales of Bones women say, the spitting image of Mary Mason nee Bones, and of course your Aunt Lady Bones." Samuel saw the hint of a blush as he complimented Susan, all truthfully of course, a Lord must be courteous to Allies and Ladies, and an honest compliment was part of that, well, that was what he had read a few weeks ago.
"Mary Mason you say Samuel?"
"Mary Bones was a beauty like no other, and won the heart of my great-great uncle Malcolm Mason, who wed her in the 1800s I believe. She was described as kind, loyal, and endowed"
Amelia spluttered "Endowed?"
"I believe the term means to have excellent personality Lady Bones, as Malcolm was described as fair and honest as well as endowed. I hope in my future to be well endowed"
"I hope I will be well endowed too then Lord Armstrong-Mason" Susan replied and smiled. Amelia looked between the two and sighed
"Lets get you settled in the Samuel shall we?"

The week went very quickly, and Samuel settled in well enough, but did not loosten up. He spoke a very formal tongue to both Amelia and Susan, but seemed very happy and got along well with them both. She hoped that Marcus could get him to open up a little when he had Samuel.

"Hello to you my favourite godson"
"Lord Greengrass, how pleasant to see you"
"Now Samuel, I thought we agreed on Marcus" he said, noticing the frown on Amelia's face
"If that is your wish godfather"
Marcus sighed "We'll see you in a week Amelia, come Lord Armstrong-Mason, we'll be using the floo to get to Greengrass Manor.

Greengrass Manor was just as grand as Bones Manor, as he came out of the floo, Samuel was greeted by the Greengrass ladies. Marcus was about to introduce them
"Lady Greengrass, how pleasant to see you again, have you been well?" Samuel started
"I have thank you my Lord, these are my Daughers"
"Heir Greengrass, you are as beautiful as your mother, with your father's eyes" Daphne did indeed have her mothers features and silky black hair, but her father's eyes, though without the cheerful glint his always seemed to have. Her features were schooled into a neutral expression.
"Lord Armstrong-Mason, you flatter me, it is a pleasure to meet you. I trust the Boneses treated you well?"
"They did indeed thank you my Lady, and this must be Astoria Greengrass, you take after your father, but are no less beautiful than the rest of his ladies." Astoria blushed and giggled
"I think we should keep this one daddy, does he have to go back?"
"Sadly he does, but he'll be here for every other week." Marcus stated, he looked at his wife, who met his gaze with a pensive look, his daughter looked at Samuel with her well trained formal mask on (same as her mother's, of course), and Astoria seemed to be trying to jump on the little Lord and extract a piggy back or a cuddle or some sort.

This would be an interesting week.

-BREAK-

It certainly was an interesting week, Samuel seemed to enjoy Astoria's company, but he did not alienate Daphne. The two established some sort of professional working relationship, Merlin knows what, how or why. He saw Amelia's suspicions and worries very quickly. The boy settled in well, but did not abstain from formal conversation no matter how many times he was permitted to.
"I still can't work out why" muttered Amelia through his floo
"He was left alone for 4 months, that'd damage any child Amelia"
"He's not damaged Marcus!"
"I know Amelia, but you know what I mean, It might be just a quirk, lots of wizards have some, and some have many *cough Dumbledore cough*"
"I suppose, perhaps he'll grow out of it."

-CHAPTER BREAK-

Four girls stood clustered together at the portal to Diagon Alley in late August while their parents spoke, argued, caught up or whatever it was that adults did.
"I can't believe Samuel got his wand when he was 10, how unfair is that? Auntie said I had to wait until I was 11 and got my Hogwarts letter."
"Like all of us Heir Bones, it's hardly unfair" stated Tracey Davis, an associate of Daphne's.
"Well he didn't have to wait" complained Hannah Abott, one of Susan's friends, at Daphne
"Instead he had to spend 4 months in an empty castle with books for company." Daphne deadpanned, "what's the longest you've ever been alone?"
"4 months? That's horrid!" Hannah looked to be tearing up "Poor Samuel"
"Lord Armstrong-Mason was strong enough to cope with it, and he had to receive his birthright before his guardian passed away"
"His birthright?" said Hannah and Tracey at the same time
"Oh come on, have you never read a history book? Armstrong knights, striking like lightning, wands in their left hands, darksteel in their right, striking down enemies of the family, and at their head, the Armstrong Lord, with a wand core of bonded darksteel." Daphne quoted smugly at the impressed looks on Hannah and Tracey's faces.
"You'll have to lend me that book Daphne"
"Oh? And what's in it for me Davis?"
"Just give her the book Greengrass, don't be so Slytherin"
"Then she should stop being such a Hufflepuff and embrace her Slytherin side."
"There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff" said Hannah, lots of my family has been in Hufflepuff
"As have mine, good day to you Heir Bones, Heir Greengrass, Miss Davis, Heir Abott" spoke Samuel, they all greeted him back.

The day went quickly, they all visited their vaults at Gringotts, bought their school robes with noble coats of arms on the shoulders, the girls were all 11, so got their wands finally. As they were buying potion supplies in the Apothecary, Samuel talked to Daphne about her Family's potion supply company. Greengrass Ingredients had survived the war by selling to both sides and staying neutral. Staying neutral had cost the Armstrongs and the Masons much of their wealth and business.
"The Mason lands used to be worked by our vassals and villagers" Stated Samuel, "We even have an abandoned village with houses and a few shops, all abandoned when Voldemort attacked"
"You use his name then" Stated Daphne
"Whose? Voldemort's?" Samuel asked, as Susan and Tracey jumped when they heard
"Morgana Samuel, don't say his name" Tracey whispered, "You can't just drop you-know-who's name in an Apothecary!" Susan looked like she was going to cry and Hannah was looking extremely jittery.
"Did you not find anything you wanted in the Magical Menagerie Sam…Lord Armstrong-Mason?" Hannah corrected herself, changing the subject quickly.
"No, I have no need of an Owl currently, and I do not want a cat or a toad"
"You're the Lord of a Noble House, they'd make exceptions for you surely"
"Perhaps they would, but there is not currently an animal I came across that I desired, and I have no need to waste the galleons my family has left on a pet"
"It would give you company though" uttered Susan. A worried look flashed across Samuel's face
"I am fine, Heir Bones, thank you for your concern" Samuel schooled his features. He would be fine, he had godparents and godsisters, and 2 acquaintances in the form of Miss Davis and Heir Abott.