Prologue

21 December 1979

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

8:30pm

Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Ravenclaw waited patiently outside his betrotheds common room. Their marriage, arranged at her birth, was meant to be one of convenience and alliance. However Jonathan found that he genuinely liked his young fiancé. In fact, they had been dating since her third year.

Now on her 16th birthday, he was waiting to escort her to the Founders Hall, where they would be married, like all the founders descendants before them. It would be officiated by the Chief Warlock of the Wizzengammot, followed by Samantha taking her NEWTS half a year early. She was second in her class. It rankled the Ravenclaws that Griffindors held the top three spots. That didn't matter to Jonathan; he was no longer in school.

As the scion to the Most Ancient Most Noble House of Griffindor, Samantha, whose mother had preceded her grandmother, Lady Griffindor, in death, had more responsibilities both within the school and without than anyone else. Her father was an American Wizard within their armed services who did not care that his children would not bear his last name in the wizarding communities of the world. Jonathan mused that he wasn't bothered by it either. His elder brothers could carry on that line, just as Jacobs's son, Edwin, from his first marriage could carry on the Carter name.

The portrait door guarding Griffindor tower swung open and Samantha and her friends, including two of the self-named Marauders, laughingly spilled into the hall. Jonathan took her hand, noticing her Heirs signet ring on her right index finger. Around her neck she wore the Griffindor locket, which holds the proving stone. Griffindors only married those who proved their lineage by causing this stone to glow.

Jonathan and Samantha had performed the proving ceremony on his thirteenth birthday. Both possessed the necessary gene to operate the ancient technology of their ancestors and so were educated in the mind arts that predate anything Wizard. Every summer for five years the teens were educated and tested until they had mastered each area of expertise in Wizardry and that which came before as well as the customs of Wizardry and Mundane.

The group traveled noisily to the Founder's Hall, every portrait they passed kneeling to the young couple, where they met Lady Griffindor, Lord Jackson-Griffindor, Lieutenant Colonel Carter-Griffindor, Lord and Lady Ravenclaw and Lady Griffindor's Vassals and their scions. As the wedding ceremony began, Samantha's mind wandered to her mother, wishing she were there. It was possible that Elizabeth Griffindor had ascended, like her ancestors had, but not likely. She had believed that there was something above the enlightenment that was sought by Merlin and his people. A true and loving God. Samantha had no doubt that her mother was right.

Founder's Hall was not as ornate as the Great Hall. In fact most students walked right by the door without noticing it. It wasn't warded just ordinary. Most of the professors didn't know it was there either. Not even Headmaster Dumbledore, even though it was right down the hall from his office. Proving that arrogance and extravagance blind even the most wise.

After the hour long wedding ceremony came an equally important and little bit shorter ceremony, the reaffirmation of the Griffindor fealty oaths, this time to Samantha rather than her grandmother. Lady and Lord Griffindor stood behind their granddaughter and her new husband as Lord Charlus Potter of the Ancient and Noble house Potter, his Heir James, and James' wife Lilly were the first to reaffirm their oaths. The Potters vowed to honor the wishes and protect the heirs of the House of Griffindor. Lord Longbottom, his son Frank, and Frank's wife Alice pledged the same, as did Lord Malfoy of Malfoy.

Before he could retreat, Lady Griffindor addressed him, "Abraxus Malfoy, where is your son?"

Shame filled his entire body as he responded; "Lucius has betrayed his family by swearing oath to Lord Voldemort and taking his Mark. Narcissa is currently pregnant with a boy. Upon his birth in six months, he will be named my heir and I will disown Lucius."

Lady Griffindor nodded, "I propose that, upon his birth, Samantha and Jonathan take custody of him. To protect him from his fathers new master and from his father." Lord Malfoy hurriedly agreed. Lucius was lucky to have such a light punishment of loss of heir and title. He could have lost his magic or his life instead. Fealty oaths were nothing to scoff at in the wizarding world.

After Lord Malfoy had retreated to the back of the room, James Potter stepped forward to address Lady Griffindor. "My Lady Griffindor," he began, kneeling. He continued after she had motioned for him to rise, " my friend, my brother really in all but blood, Sirius Black, Scion of Blackmoore, has sworn an oath of camaraderie to the house Potter."

A young man with long black hair and a charming grin came to stand next to James, "Lady Griffindor, I have a letter from my father, Lord Orion Black of Blackmoore, Conveying his blessing and permission for me to ally the house of Black and the Lordship of Blackmoore to Griffindor." He brandished the sealed envelope like a flamboyant fencer, nearly severing James' ear with his exuberance. Jonathan relieved the excited eighteen-year-old of the letter and handed it to Lady Griffindor with a silent bow.

Lady Griffindor regarded Sirius silently over the top of the letter as her husband questioned, "do you understand what this oath entails?"

Sirius nodded, "yes, my lord.

"You understand," Lord Griffindor continued, "that you are not only swearing your magic to the Griffindor line but that of your heirs as well?"

Sirius nodded again, "I do, sir"

"Then so swear it."

Sirius knelt before the nobles and swore the oaths of both Lord and Heir. Lady Griffindor nodded her head in acceptance and he moved to stand with James. Lady Griffindor addressed the assembled room, "I shall convey the happy news of Oaths new and renewed to Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth, as well as the unhappy news of Lucius' defection and what has been done about it.