*Reedited for easier reading.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and the world they live in is the sole property of J.K Rowling. I'm just playing in her doll house here.

Chapter 5

The next morning when they came down for breakfast they where greeted with copies of the Daily Prophet, Quibbler, and Witch Weekly. All three had their announcement as their top headline. "Rita sure moves quick when you light a fire under her ass, doesn't she?" laughed Harry.

"Well, we may have taken one job from her but now we gave her another with a better future and more dignity then she had before." Hermione replied.

They sat to enjoy breakfast while looking over the papers. All of them showed the same headlines showing the Rita pretty much force fed them the information. This pleased the couple greatly.

Lord and Lady Potter Announce Soul Bond Marriage and results of Gringotts Inheritance Ritual!

Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, who normally avoids the press took a surprising step. He, and his new wife, employed Rita Skeeter to be their new Publicist. Mrs. Skeeter's first act as Publicist was to release an Official press release for the couple detailing the new facts of their lives. The following is that press release:

Lord and Lady Potter are pleased to announce their Bonding to the Wizarding world and the results of their Inheritance ritual.

By Rita Skeeter

In a surprising turn of events, young Harry James Potter (14) the Boy- Who-Lived and Hogwarts TriWizard champion, and his best friend Hermione Jean Granger (15) top of her year at Hogwarts and often touted to be the Brightest Witch of Her Age, are Soul Bound. Though the two young people have purported to being only friends over the years, they finally admitted their feelings for each other this summer and Harry finally kissed his girl. This kiss to show their love and affection for one another released magic in it's purest form joining the couple in a Soul Bond Marriage. The Ministries Department of Marriage's soul bond auto detection immediately registered the marriage, and also detecting the age of both parties, set up their emancipation. The official letter was then sent to Lord and Lady Potter and a notification was also sent to Gringotts. Lord and Lady Potter were surprised at the events but are very happy with each other and their marriage and hope that the Wizarding Community will join them in celebration of their bond.

The surprises where not over for the young couple though. Upon request of a Gringotts Account Representative, the couple went to the bank to have their inheritance test. The revelations of said ritual were shocking to say the least. The ritual proved that they held in common the head of the Pendragon Family. Further that Lady Potter, through direct lineage is Head of House of Ravenclaw and House Hufflepuff though it was previously thought she was muggleborn. Apparently she is descended from squibs. Lord Potter's linage was pretty much known or suspected. He is, obviously, Head of House Potter as well as Head of House Gryffindor. There was a surprise for Lord Potter though. He was also proven to be Head of House Slytherin.

Further documentation found in the Slytherin family vault shows that the previously thought "Heir of Slytherin", one Tom Marvolo Riddle, the half blood son on Morope Gaunt and Son of the Lord of the Manor Tom Riddle, self stylized Lord Voldemort, was in actuality not even related to Salazar Slytherin. The Gaunt family line was a bastard line descending from and illegitimate son of Salazar Slytherin's wife. It is also worth noting that this "champion" of the Purebloods is in reality not a pure blood himself. His father Tom Riddle was a muggle. Just goes to show you can never tell.

Lord and Lady Potter thank you for reading and will keep the community updated with any other important developments as they come along.

By the time they where done reading the rest had joined them in the dining room. Harry grinned at Hermione. "Do you think we will get lucky and he'll have a stroke once he reads this?"

Hermione laughed and said, "We can hope." The rest of the family read the article and laughed too.

Across the country, in Riddle Manor, Voldemort's followers where diving for cover. Something in this morning's paper had set their Lord off. He was yelling and screaming and hexing anything that moved. Even Nagini, his snake familiar, was hiding. Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lastrange accioed the paper to see what had so upset him. They both read the press release in shock. Their Lord wasn't even a pure blood? He wasn't even the son of muggleborn but of a muggle! He wasn't even related to Slytherin at all! They looked at each other trying to figure out what to do.

At Hogwarts, Albus was eating his breakfast while chuckling at his morning paper. He was joined at the table by his potions master Severus Snape who also unfolded his paper as he took a drink of his tea which he promptly sprayed all over said paper. Severus sputtered, "Is this all true Albus?"

Albus Dumbledore smiled at his potions master and said, "Yes Severus, every bit of it is true." Severus was speechless.

At the Burrow, Mr. Weasley read the press release out loud to the rest of the family. Molly signed, "How romantic." She did worry about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's response to the revelations. The twins laughed about Voldemort being a bastard. Ginny turned green at mention of the two kissing. Ron was getting redder and redder and finally exploded into another rant of how it wasn't fair, etc etc till everyone got tired of it and Molly took him by the ear and drug him upstairs saying he should be more supportive of his friends.

Fudge was in a panic. That blasted boy was heir to the Pendragons! Of all people to be heir to the wizarding throne it had to be him! Well the boy hadn't tried to take over yet so maybe he didn't know what he was heir to. Hopefully with Dolores there at the school she can keep the boy cowed enough he wouldn't be a problem. He just hoped she did her bloody job right.

Dolores Umbridge was outraged. A little half blood and his mudblood bride had claim to so many good houses. Including Slytherin! The whole Pendragon thing was to ridiculous to even mention. Well she would show them. They wouldn't receive an ounce of deference from her. She would make sure they knew their place.

A few days later, Fawkes arrived singing joyously. He had a note from the Headmaster for the young couple, Sirius, and Remus. He landed on the back of the couch and spoke to Harry and Hermione in there minds. "Greetings Lord and Lady. I am so very glad to see you free at last. Your love will lead to great things. May the old ones guide and bless you."

Harry and Hermione rose from the couch and gave Fawkes a stately bow. "Thank you Fawkes. We are honored to call you kin." Harry said. Fawkes let out another joyous trill. He then held out his leg so they could take his human's message.

"Thank you for delivering this message, Noble Fawkes." Hermione said to him while brushing his head with her hand. Fawkes bowed, left the couch and flamed out.

Jean asked, "What was that all about?"

"Fawkes was delivering a message from Dumbledore but he also gave us his greetings and prayers for us. Fawkes is true phoenix." Harry told her. Jean was in awe. Harry read the message. "Order meeting tonight at headquarters."

When they arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione asked Sirius about the house. He explained that it was his, past down from his crazy mother. The house elf that was supposed to be taking care of the place all these years and just let it go when he went crazy too. Harry and Hermione shook their heads sadly. Sirius and Remus led them to the kitchen where the rest of the order was waiting impatiently too see the couple. Sirius and Remus walked in first and sat down grinning. They couldn't wait to see everyone's reactions.

"Where are Harry and Hermione?" Molly Weasley asked.

Just then the door opened and Harry said, "Right here Mrs. Weasley." as he and Hermione stepped into view. There where gasps all around the kitchen. Even Dumbledore was stunned by their change even though he had known about it in advance. The couple walked up to Dumbledore. He looked at them both steadily and then suddenly drew them to him in a big hug.

"My children. I feel like a proud Grandfather right now. You both are so strong and powerful. Not to mention beautiful." he exclaimed while pulling them into another hug. They hugged him back and then Harry seated Hermione in the chair next to Dumbledore and then he took the seat next to her. There chairs where so close they where touching and he put his arm around her waist while she leaned into him and held his free hand. Everyone could see the love between the two.

Professor McGonagall's brain finally unfroze. She choked out, "How?"

Harry gave her a lazy grin and said, "Mi has worked out a theory on that but we don't really know how valid it is yet. Care to expound Mi?"

"Sure Harry." Hermione picked up. "The working theory at the moment is this. Harry parents and mine carried enough of the elven blood that when mixed together it created full blooded elves but as Phoenix Elves we would go through a mortal stage till we where 16 at the earliest or 18 at the latest. After Harry's dual with Voldemort last term it sent his magic into over drive; pushing him into an early change. My use of the time turner in 3rd year probably pushed mine forward a bit too but mine needed a catalyst to start this early since my magic wasn't in over drive. The fact that my Soul Bond Mate was starting his change early was the catalyst that kick started mine. The change started for each of us at the same time. We both where jerked from sleep at the same exact moment and where both in a lot of pain. The only thing that could ease it was each other. Even the thought of each other eased it enough for us to function but then when we kissed and the Soul bond activated the change became painless." Everyone was looking at them in awe. The couple found it rather embarrassing.

Snape was running the whole thing through his mind. He knew the girl had always been brilliant but to work that out was shear genius on her part. Then he recalled something she had said, "Phoenix Elves?" he asked.

Harry smiled and said, "Yes Professor. Phoenix Elves. I'm surprised no one caught on to that with us being of the Pendragons." Snape mentally slapped himself. Of course! Pendragon. Elven Royalty. He looked curiously at Potter and asked,

"Don't Phoenix Elves have wings?" Harry stood up turned his back to the group and raised the back of his shirt. It looked like he had black wings tattooed on shoulder blades. He then dropped his shirt and turned around. Hermione stood with him and both flexed and their wings appeared. They spread them out overlapping each other on one side. Then they pulled them in, shrugged their shoulders and the wings where gone.

"When they are retracted they look like tattoos. Mi's is the same but I'm not letting her raise her shirt." Everyone came out of their awe with a laugh. The couple sat back down. Harry turned to Minerva and asked, "Professor can I drop divination and take ancient runes and arithmancy instead?"

"Of course Mr. Potter, though you will have to test into the classes."

"That will be fine, thank you Professor."

She smiled at him. They answered a few more questions and then the meeting was let out. As everyone was leaving an awful looking house elf came in the room muttering about blood traitors, mud bloods and filthy half breeds messing up his mistresses house when he got to Harry and Hermione he stopped and looked up at them in awe for a moment then he was bowing and scraping, "I is very sorry My Lord and Lady. Pour old Kreacher didn't know we had Royalty visiting. Please forgive the state of the house and of myself."

"Calm down Kreacher. We are not as concerned about the house as we are about you. You really must take better care of yourself." Hermione told him.

"Kreacher will do better my Lord and Lady. I promise. Can Kreacher ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Why is you here in the company of these types of people?"

Harry sighed but answered gently, "Kreacher, we are going to answer that question because we feel you need to be taught the right way and the poisoning of your mind corrected. These are good people. They are working against a mad man who wants to kill us and turn this world to nothing but blood and darkness. Blood Purity doesn't make you a good person. Your deeds is what makes you a good person. Do you understand?"

"Yes, My Lord and Lady. I understand. I will take better care of the Order now that I know."

"Thank you Kreacher. Please take better care of yourself as well."

"Kreacher will. Kreacher promised."

They each touched his head gently and Kreacher straitened and got to work. Sirius looked at them gratefully. "If you can do that with him, do you think you could sooth my Mother's portrait?"

"We can try." Harry told him.

Sirius led them to his mother's portrait and opened her curtains. Mrs. Black started screaming obscenities like usual till she caught sight of Harry and Hermione. She immediately stopped and actually blushed. She curtsied to the couple and said, "Forgive me, My Lord and Lady if I have offended you. Though I'm sure my son's offense of bringing you around such creatures as these is even worse then my foul language." She glared at Sirius.

"Actually Mrs. Black we came here because we wanted to. These people are our friends and are fighting on the side of Light. Voldemort will drowned this world in blood and rebuilt it with bones of the fallen. He will leave nothing but darkness. You yourself have seen the evidence of what he is capable of. Tell me? Do you think him to a powerful wizard?" He continued after she nodded. "Yet, you believe only pure bloods are powerful?" She nodded again. "Well at least he is good for something then. He himself disproves that only those of pure magical blood are powerful. Voldemort is a half blood Mrs. Black. His mother was Morope Gaunt but his father was a muggle named Tom Riddle." It took some time for her to process this since she was only a portrait and therefore limited. Slowly the magic in the portrait rewrote itself and the madness left her eyes. "I'm sorry Sirius. So sorry."

"It's okay mum. Why don't you take a nap." Sirius closed her curtains and then hugged Harry and Hermione. "Thank you." They then returned home to Potter Manor.

The rest of the summer was spent in peace with lazy days of just spending time with the family, exploring the grounds of Potter Manor and a few other properties. There was also several shopping trips including the one for school supplies once their letters arrived even a visit with the Queen whom wished to meet her newly discovered cousins. There was also alone time. Just the two of them; just talking or making love. All too soon the summer ended and September 1st rolled around and it was time to board the train and head to school.