"You'll need a lot of capital to bring Houses Mason and Armstrong back to what they once were my Lord, political and financial, even with your wizengamot seats and your vault."
"Oh Morgana no more financial or politics chat, please." Complained Tracey "We're going to school for Merlin's sake"
"That may be the case Heir Greengrass, but I shall need allies too, I'm going to greet the other children on the train. Good day to you both." Said Samuel as he left the carriage
"Did we just get ditched by Lordykins?"
"Don't call him Lordykins."
"It is a bit odd though, he's known us for months, he lives at your place half the time, does it not bother you he never uses our first names?" asked Tracey.
Daphne did not answer.
"Good day to you" Samuel greeted as he entered the compartment "Lord Samuel Armstrong-Mason"
"Oh... Heir N..Nevile L..L..Longbottom" stuttered a rather plump boy
"Hermione Granger, just Hermione thank you" stated a rather irritated curly haired witch
"Lily Moon" a small blonde girl said
"A pleasure to meet you all" replied Samuel "Heir Longbottom you say?"
"Y..Yes"
"I believe there was a time our families were allied. A strong light house was Longbottom wasn't it? Ancient and Noble? Who's your current Lord?"
"My Gran, until I come of age"
"The War?" Samuel asked, adopting an understanding face, Neville nodded. "My condolences for Lord and Lady Longbottom" Neville nodded again. "Miss Granger, Miss Moon, I do not believe I have come across your houses"
"Well I live in Hamstead if you must know, whereabouts are you from" stated Hermione
"House Moon is Newblood my Lord, 3 Generations." Added Lily, Hermione looked even more confused and frustrated than before.
"Pleased to meet your acquaintances Heir Longbottom, Miss Moon and Miss Granger, my property is on the south coast in Sussex, but I must bid you farewell" Samuel left the carriage, pleased he had met 3 new people. He wondered once again if Lord Potter was on this train, Samuel wanted a judgement of his character before he swore his oath. An oath should always be thought out before being made after all, as magic would often interpret the words in interesting and exceptional ways.
"Have you seen Harry Potter yet?" A blonde boy asked, behind him stood two large boys, blocking the corridor"
"I am afraid not, do you know if he is on the train Mr…?"
"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and this is Crabbe, and Goyle" clarified Draco, looking like he was cursing himself for forgetting his greetings, Samuel thought it must be embarrassing indeed "you'll have heard of my father of course, Lord Malfoy?"
"Of course Heir Malfoy, house Malfoy is an Ancient and Noble House after all, pleased to meet your acquaintance, I am Lord Armstrong-Mason" he said, extending his hand. Malfoy quickly threw his hand forward into Samuels
"My apologies… Lord Armstrong-Mason, I had not heard your debut" Malfoy sneered slightly
"I have not yet debuted Heir Malfoy, I did not seem it fitting, as I have house matters to attend to first. Crabbe and Goyle you say?" He held his hand out to the pair, they looked at Draco, then attempted to crush Samuel's hand as they shook.
"A firm grip sirs, I like that. Good luck to you Heir Malfoy, do let me know if you find Potter." Samuel looked at Goyle who stood out of the way for him.
"Back so soon Armstrong-Mason?" Muttered Daphne, "Gracing us with your presence are you?"
"I should think so Heir Greengrass, I had to retrieve my Robes"
"I met a pair of Heirs, a newblood and a muggleborn on my travels" he began pulling his Hogwarts robes out of his suitcase and undressing.
"Oh is that right? Well-Morgana Armstrong! Let us get out of here first!" Shouted Daphne seeing his shirt come off, and she dragged Tracey out of the compartment.
"Damn you Daphne, I've never seen him take his shirt off before, not even when we went swimming, is it true he does sword excersises every morning?"
"He does, too early for me to care of course."
"Of course" said Tracey "A shame, now, where are we going to get changed?"
"FIRS YEARS, FIRS YEARS OVER HERE"
"Merlin, that gentleman is huge, there must be giant blood in his line, not even Arnold Longbottom was that big" stated Samuel "Excuse me sir, do you decend from giantstock? You have an impressive build, I must say"
"Migh' Be, I dunno, Who migh' you be, ye a firs' year?" Replied the giant
"I am sir, Lord Armstrong-Mason, first year"
"Lord eh? Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the keys 'n grounds at Hogwarts"
"Pleased to meet your acquaintance" Samuel left Hagrid to another boy shouting his name and he went to the other first years.
"Did you have a good train ride Heir Bones?"
"I did thank you Samuel, did you bump into Malfoy on your walk?"
"I think everyone on the train did, Bones"
"Hello to you too Greengrass" said Susan, as Samuel gestured for her, Daphne and Tracey to get into the boat. They were quiet as they travelled across the lake, and the view of Hogwarts looming over them was very impressive, though it made Samuel miss Armstrong Castle a little, he hadn't seen it since his godparents had picked him up.
After being handed off from Hagrid to Professor McGonagall like a herd of cattle, the first years were corralled into the great hall, chatter erupted from the 4 house benches and the first years alike. Samuel did not know what to expect from a Hogwarts sorting, so kept his sword and wand loosened in their sheathes, Samuel felt the reassuring hum of darksteel in his wand and sword, the only company he'd had for 4 months, the magic from his Applewood wand left a faint taste of apple in his mouth, he must write to Mr Ollivander about that. Hannah being sorted into Hufflepuff snapped him out of his thoughts "Armstrong-Mason, Samuel" Called professor McGonagall. Samuel stepped up to the hat and it was put onto his head.
"Well, well, Half Armstrong, Half Mason, what a way to end the Feud"
"Indeed it is Hat"
"Well what do we have here in your head my Lord Armstrong and Mason, a great drive to rebuild your Houses, how very ambitious indeed, Slytherin would help you there, but you will do it with hard work and graft, not through more Slytherin methods, no, not Slytherin. A good mind, but no thirst for knowledge outside of History, Combat or anything relevant to your quest"
"I have no need of it Hat"
"It would appear not, definitely not Ravenclaw or Slytherin then, Brave, and willing to do what must be done, a true Gryffindor, but you lack the drive for greatness, you do this all for your house and family, not for yourself, so it better be HUFFLEPUFF! They will help you get over that which you fear most, which overshadows even your great and noble quest to rebuild the Ancient and Noble Houses of Mason and Armstrong, good luck little Lord, I look forward to seeing the fruits of your hard work.
The hat was plucked off of his head and he went to sit with the house of black and yellow. Daphne and surprisingly Tracey were sorted into Slytherin, Susan and Hannah were with him in Hufflepuff, Longbottom's whole compartment had been sorted into Gryffindor. He was sandwiched between Susan and a Boy named Wayne, who kept asking him about his sword.
"You're really allowed to carry that?"
"It is my right as a main branch Armstrong Mr Hopkins"
"Is that not against the Hogwarts charter?" asked Zacharias Smith
"200 years ago it was made legal by Wizengamot order."
"What's a wizengamot old chap?" asked Justin Finch-Fletchley a muggleborn who Samuel believed was finally someone who could talk correctly.
"The Wizengamot is the House of Lords of the British Wizarding Community" answered Ernie Macmillan "One of my squib great Uncles is on it
"I have an uncle on it too!" exclaimed Justin, and the two started chatting away with Hannah, who already knew Ernie from her youth, and found the whole subject of muggles fascinating.
"You seem like a good man Wayne, but I can only swear in non-lord purebloods as Armstrong Knights, thus train in swordsmanship. I don't judge on blood, but the the Armstrong family magic will only recognise those from noble houses"
"Ah well, I'll just have to teach you some things myself then"
"Sounds commendable" replied Samuel. The boy had stuck himself to Samuel after that, Samuel explaining things that wizards did and Wayne explaining things muggles did, Samuel found Wayne's fathers work as a civil architect fascinating
"So muggles built these massive structures hundreds of years ago, beneath London, to share?"
"They're called sewers Sam"
"What are they used for?"
"Well…"
-CHAPTER BREAK-
Hufflepuff house was not as united as people might have thought, it was an odd mix of small friendship groups that bumped into each other a lot and amicably caught up, before splitting back up. Hannah did not speak to Susan as much as she used to, instead always seeming to be catching up with Ernie who always hung out with Justin. Samuel was on good terms with both boys, who appreciated someone else who was as articulate as he. Wayne followed Samuel around as much as he dragged Samuel about, Susan, who was always quiet when out and about, had befriended a skittish welsh girl called Megan Jones. Zacharias Smith was often bouncing about on his own, he took an immediate dislike to Samuel after the whole sword debate, bullied Megan horribly until Susan hit him with a stinging hex. Megan, Susan, Wayne and Samuel often grouped together to work on homework right after it was given. Wayne proved to be a natural at transfiguration and was reasonable at charms, Megan enjoyed astronomy and potions, as she had been exceptional at maths in her muggle school. Susan was good at defence and charms, due to the amount of work her Aunt brought home, while Samuel they considered to be a better history teacher than Binns, with a much wider range of knowledge too.
"These are all the important dates, the Soap Blizzard of 1378 was actually caused by a Mason Ward that went wrong, the fine was immense, but the ward was corrected and the large cold room for Greengrass Imports was finished on schedule. The fine was 1000 galleons for mass obliviations…"
"And the ruling was by a Smith, you're not the only one who knows their family history Armstrong-Mason, and some people's Houses could survive wars AND do their jobs right, no wonder Mason Masons fell apart, shoddy wards…"
"Speak another word Heir Smith, and I shall duel you with darksteel drawn." Samuel stared the boy down, hands on his sword and wand. Zacharias opened his mouth, then stormed off out of the Library. Megan emerged from behind a bookcase
"Is he gone?"
"He's gone Megan, come sit down" Susan patted the chair beside her, opposite Wayne and Samuel
"God he pisses me off" Muttered Wayne
"I'm glad he stopped treating Megan so badly, she spilt ink on his diary once, so what? Megan is a little clumsy"
"I said sorry" murmured Megan
"There was also the time where you tripped in Potions and pushed him into Snape though" Wayne reminded them, "you know, that might be it"
"The idiot deserves it." Muttered Susan
"He may be an Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Smith, but Merlin is he a buffoon" Finished Samuel. "I shan't be coveting an Alliance with that House with a future like him"
-CHAPTER BREAK-
"Are you still going to swear fealty to Potter Samuel?" asked Susan "You said you wanted to get a judge of his character for a month."
"He keeps to the company of the Gryffindors a lot, I speak with Heir Longbottom more, the boy is an excellent Herbologist. Lord Potter seems to be coveting a Weasley Alliance, but otherwise seems sensible, if a little quiet. He doesn't make a physical impression, but I'm sure he will be a good liege"
"That's why you're doing so well in Herbology"
"Did you not hear anything about my future Liege-Lord, Hopkins?"
"Go swear your vassal bond Sam, you heard what he did in flying lessons, he's the real deal, then you can shut up about this perceived debt of yours"
"He avenged my entire family Hopkins!"
"Lord Armstrong-Mason, I will not have shouting in my Library, by Muggleborns or Wizengamot Lords!" Called Madam Pince from the reception desk.
"My apologies Madam Pince, how is your son, Lord Pince?" Samuel went over and said after bowing
"He is well, now would you, Miss Jones and your friends be quiet?"
"Certainly." He conceded, turning to his friends "I shall go find him, and swear the vassal bond."
"Are you looking for Harry?" Sniffed the curly haired witch Samuel had met on the train, as she poked her head around a bookshelf "He was taken for Quiddich practice, hello again Megan"
"Hello Hermione" replied Megan meekly
"Thank you Miss Granger" Samuel replied, remembering her name, just. "I owe you one favour, so mote it be"
"It's nothing" she said, but he had already run off.
"Are you alright Granger?"
"Again, It's nothing"
Samuel bumped into Harry Potter just outside the great hall
"Lord Potter"
"Hello, who are you?"
"I am Lord Samuel Armstrong-Mason, I owe you a debt, you destroyed the beast who annihilated my family, leaving me the only survivor of Houses Armstrong and Mason. In doing so, you performed the vengeance that I could not."
"Oh, you too, I was a baby, it wasn't me"
"A modest lord is one I would be proud to serve, I hereby offer my service as vassal to the last member of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter- Harry Potter, in payment of this debt, my sword and wand shall be his, his enemies and allies mine. So mote it be." Samuel kneeled and placed his sword point down on the floor in his right hand, and wand facing directly upwards in his left"
"Okay?" questioned Harry, very confused, not quite knowing what was going on, then Samuels wand flashed. It was done. A small coat of arms appeared on Samuel's sleeve, above his own, the Potter Coat of arms. Meanwhile a potter coat of arms also appeared on Harry's sleeve.
"You had not accepted your Lordship my Lord?" asked Samuel, "Well, you have now"
"Wicked" said Ron, who had just come out of the great hall, where a small crowd had appeared.