A/N: I recently introduced a side story called "The Mudblood Revolution". At least, it was supposed to be a side story, but I screwed up and had the students living in the old House system rather than the Dorm system that I introduced in this story. I am hoping to get past that, I will probably have to do a rewrite to fix it, but if I can't, it will end up being a stand alone story with strange coincidences to this story..

Chapter 25

Harry and Helga

Gringotts Bank

Vault 4

Warcry was performing a very important duty today, he was opening up a Founder's vault for the first time in over 300 years. There was a small delegation from the Board of Directors there with him and Lord Potter-Black to witness this momentous occasion. Accompanying his client were the Lord's two betrothed, important witches in their own rights. Lord Potter-Black, or as he would now be known to the Goblin Nation, Lord Hufflepuff, heartily enjoyed the ride down to the vaults, asking Warcry to increase the speed of the tram. This did not please the two Ladies, but since Hufflepuff was so much more important than they were, it was tough luck for them and full speed ahead. It was so nice to be able to make someone that important so happy, but he would bet that the young Lord was going to pay dearly for that ride in the very near future. He smirked.

"Lord Hufflepuff," he said, holding out a silver ritual knife, "Please cut the palm of your hand and place it on this yellow square. If the magic recognizes you, the vault door will open."

"What happens if it doesn't recognize me?"

"There should be no problem with that, but in the unlikely event that should happen, you will be sucked through the door, and everyone else will go home with an interesting story to tell at the supper table. If you please…" Warcry motioned to the door while the Directors gave sly glances at each other; either way they would have an interesting story. The betting at the moment was running 60-40 odds against Potter-Black making the return trip to the surface. Harry gulped and took the knife, took a deep breath, sliced his palm and placed it on the square. There was a heart stopping moment while the square glowed, analyzing Harry's blood and magic, then a series of 'clanks' could be heard coming from the door. There was a groan, and the door swung open to reveal an almost empty room with a portrait on a stand facing an old, but comfortable looking couch. The witch in the portrait opened her eyes, looked around, and spotted Harry.

"Well, aren't you planning on coming in? You did pass the test after all." Harry went in and gave a bow in front of the portrait.

"Lady Hufflepuff I presume?"

"No, I'm Morgana. Lady Hufflepuff is three vaults to the right." Seeing Harry's shocked look, she grinned. "Got ya! Of course I'm Helga, but I've been waiting 300 years to pull that one over on somebody. Now for the important question, why did I have to wait 300 years? I assume that you had a father, a grandfather even? In fact, a lot of your ancestors could have qualified. And while we are at it, what is your name?"

"My apologies, my name is Harry Potter; as to why you have been waiting so long, apparently one of your heirs died without an actual heir, so your line went to a cadet branch with the new Hufflepuff not being told of their heritage., Your lineage was lost, with only the person responsible for their death knowing the secret. That person and their family hid the knowledge for a long time. I only found out by accident."

"Interesting, but before we can make this really official, I need to know more about you. I assume that Goddy's old hat is still sorting at Hogwarts?" At Harry's nod, she continued. "Open that box sitting in front of my portrait. In it you will find my tiara. It has the same charms as Godric's hat, but will also allow me to communicate directly in your mind. You do need some privacy for this after all."

Harry opened up the box to find a tiara laying on a black velvet cushion. Feeling somewhat ridiculous, he took it out and placed it on his head. He could hear Daphne and Jennifer giggling in the background and at least one goblin snickering. He vowed to get even with the girls later.

"Get even, eh? Sounds a bit Slytherin to me. And I see that you were sorted into Gryffindor. Loyalty to those who deserve it, good, good. But lazy, not good. At least not good for a 'Puff. Moderately intelligent, but certainly no Ravenclaw. All in all, I still think that you might bring honor to my line, especially if you can get rid of that lazy streak." Hufflepuff dug farther, then gave a disappointed sigh. "No more House system? And it was your idea? Oh, in that case, I really can't blame you, in fact, with putting all personalities in all dorms, you are actually making the entire school Hufflepuffs! Well done! You know, Salazar, for all his reputation as a schemer, was really not that bright when it comes right down to it. If he had, he would have never gone three to one against us and gotten himself thrown out. I assume that you know the real story about that?"

"If you are talking about how you drugged him so Gryffindor could finish him off, then yes. It gave me a whole new outlook on history. It showed me that history really is written by the victors."

"Of course it is; now, go out and bring in your young ladies, it is time for some family business." Harry took off the tiara and placed it back in the box. He then went out and took the girls aside.

"She wants to talk to the three of us together." He led them in the vault and once they had entered, a clear shield slid down the front of the vault, silencing their conversation from the waiting goblins. The portrait instructed the girls, one at a time, to try on the tiara. There were silent conversations between Helga and the girls, then after Daphne had placed the tiara back in the box, a small box appeared next to the box holding the tiara. Helga directed Harry to open the box, inside were three rings, two small and one large.

"Now, you put a ring on each of your girlfriends and they are to put the larger one on you. The two smaller rings are tied to your ring, they will allow you to see what is really in this vault. There you go, that's right." The portrait gave a satisfied smirk as Harry and the girls eyes widened with wonder. There was no longer an empty vault, it had money stacked around all of the walls, there were chests with jewelry, books and a series of trunks from different eras. "If all three of you are seeing it, then everything is all right. I couldn't have just anyone knowing what was in here, not even the goblins have any idea what is here, other than interest on the money they have paid in over the years. The only ones who can see the true contents are the Heir and his or her immediate family."

"But we are not immediate family," Daphne said, confused.

"Oh, I must have forgotten to mention that small item. When you wore the tiara, I made sure that you were compatible and serious about your relationship. Then when I had you put on the rings, it effectively married the three of you together. Welcome to the family, girls."

"WHAT!?" The three were stunned, but Helga just smiled and winked at them.

"You can't say you weren't warned that I was sneakier than Salazar. Now, you three go on home and make me a whole bunch of new 'Puffs. Go on. And Harry…."

"What?" Harry was almost afraid to hear what was going to come next.

"Take them out somewhere nice to celebrate your honeymoons." With that, Helga shooed them over to the door, the shield disappearing. When they had stepped outside, the door closed and locked firmly behind them.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Well, that was unique," Harry said wryly as they got out of the cart on the main floor.

"You don't say," drawled Daphne. "Not only do you keep getting into outrageous situations, but now you have dragged us with you. So now we're married, but which one of us is Lady Hufflepuff, Jennifer or me?"

"Actually, you both are," said Flickaxe, hurrying up to catch this last question. "Notification just hit my desk while you were on the way up; I hurried to congratulate you on your nuptials." The goblin had a satisfied smirk on his face, mainly due to the fact that he had just become, by default, the account manager for the Hufflepuff vault as well as Harry's other vaults. There was a good possibility that he could pick up the Greengrass account also, after all, the present manager had allowed Voldemort to tap into it through Daphne's father. "I went ahead and filed the paperwork with the Ministry."

"Oh no, you mean that it's legal for a portrait to marry people?" Daphne asked, clearly unhappy.

"The portrait didn't marry you, it just facilitated you in marrying each other," Flickaxe said. "The details are a bit fuzzy, but you three are not the first ones to be married in that vault. I have read of at least three other occasions that it has happened. It's strange, before Lord Hufflepuff claimed the vault, I knew nothing about the history of the vault or contents, but once it made me account manager, I suddenly knew everything I needed to know about it. That is some powerful magic."

"What can you tell us about these rings?" asked Jennifer.

Flickaxe thought a moment. "Hmm… they were created by Lady Helga to make sure that she would have an heir. Once on, they stay on until death, then revert back to the vault. They are spelled to ensure that the wearers of the set remain loyal to each other and, in your case, where there are three of you, remove any possibility of jealousy. They are also designed so that you will become completely comfortable with your mate, ensuring a happy love life. Oh, and they of course have a fertility charm on them that will last at least until two children are born of the union."

"Makes sense," Daphne muttered. "An Heir and a spare. She really was a sneaky old broad." This was said with some admiration. "The big problem I have with this whole thing is that I had planned to have a large formal wedding to celebrate the joining of our two families."

"Me too," said Jennifer. "Mum is going to go spare when she hears about this. She has been planning my wedding since I got out of nappies. I don't think she will be very happy if I show up for it preggers or tell her 'never mind, sorry you missed the wedding'"

"See, that is the great thing about being a guy," said Harry. "Wedding plans just sort of take care of themselves. All the guy has to do is show up at the right time, reasonably sober, and it's all good." He ducked as both of his brides threw punches at him. "What did I say?" he asked with mock injury.

"Were you born with that foot in your mouth, or did you have to learn how to put it there?" asked Daphne. Turning to Jennifer, she said, "We need to talk. We can bring your mum into it and have her speed up the wedding plans, and I will speak with my mother and have her do the same. I doubt that we can keep this under wraps, but I suppose we can minimize the damage. Let's get back to the school and start sending owls out. Do you want to flip for who goes first?"

"We'll work that out later. What do we do about Mr. Clueless here? I mean, we are married as Hufflepuffs." Harry got a hopeful (and somewhat lecherous) look on his face.

"Simple. We may be 'married', but he is still sleeping by himself until the weddings. I'll be damned if I am going to wear a maternity wedding dress." Harry's face fell.

"You tell 'em sister. That doesn't mean we can't tease him to death between now and the ceremonies though." Jennifer smiled seductively and 'accidentally' gave Harry a slight brush with her hand just south of his waist. Flickaxe just grinned and shook his head. He hoped for Lord Hufflepuff's sake that the weddings would not be too far in the future.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dumbledore Manor

"This is outrageous!"

Jennifer had just broken the news of her surprise marriage to her mother; Violet's reaction was understandably negative. Her little girl, the lynchpin of the family's plan to join the Dumbledore fortune to the Potter estate, was threatening to run off the rails. The rings Helga Hufflepuff had tricked onto Jennifer's finger would ensure that Jennifer could never be manipulated into betraying Potter and getting him out of the way. The other problem was the clock, at least the biological one. The first girl to give birth would bear the Heir of Hufflepuff, a much better option than just hooking into the Potter fortune. She absolutely could not stand it if Daphne's child became the Heir, especially if Jennifer gave birth to a female child. The inheritance rules simply would not allow it.

"Oh, don't start Mother!" At Violet's disbelieving look, Jennifer continued. "I know that everything you and Jon have been doing this year has had the aim of putting Harry and I together, and not for any benevolent means. I'm not stupid, and I'm not as naïve as you think."

Not denying it, Violet shot back, "Then why did you go along with it, Daughter? I haven't heard any objections from you."

"That is because I wanted to get together with Harry. He is a nice, sweet guy, and has never done a thing to us, no matter what yours and Grandfather's delusions are telling you." She stopped when Violet slapped her.

"How dare you! That bastard almost ruined this family by framing Uncle Albus!"

"Don't give me that. Albus built his own coffin and dug his own grave. For Merlin's sake, he testified under Veritaserum, even if he did try to stack the deck. Even Jon knows the truth, even if he won't contradict you. I also know what you have planned with your little maneuvers, and it won't work. I saw a pensieve memory from Harry when he did the negotiations and I know all about Jon's little problem, and why he won't produce an heir. So now you have a choice; you can either back off and let us work this out, or I will divorce myself from this family and leave you hanging out to dry. Jonathon can put aside his discomfort and produce his own heir, or the family can die out. I don't have to worry, I am already Lady Hufflepuff." She turned to leave, then stopped, turned around and said with a sickly sweet voice, "Mother?"

When Violet snapped her head up, Jennifer hauled off and slapped her mother's face hard enough to snap her head back. "Never lift your hand to me again or I will hex you to the point that you will think that house elves have blessed lives. Now, I will take care of my own wedding, be happy if you are even invited."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Greengrass Manor

A very different scene was taking place at the Greengrass home. While Daphne's mother was a bit disappointed, she was alternately thrilled that her little girl had made such a good match. Her focus was to help her daughter put on the wedding of the century.

"This is so exciting! Lady Hufflepuff; my daughter is now in a Founder's family! Come here baby." She drew Daphne into a hug. "And such a nice boy! I wonder if he and your co-wife would like to have a joint ceremony? I mean, the magic has made you co-equal, you should lay aside your competitive nature for your and your husband's sake."

"Mother, are you sure that you were a Slytherin? I mean, I have no problem with it, but I thought you would go through the roof."

"In any other circumstances, I might have, but the magic overrides all of that pettiness. And remember, Slytherin means ambition; what better result could you have than a successful marriage with two such wonderful people? Money, power, fame and love? You have done the family proud and I believe that you will remove the stain that your father left on our name. He may have been declared innocent and possibly even a hero, but you and I both know he was a very disturbed man who kissed the robes of that mutant master of his. I don't know what happened that night, but I thank Fate every night that I didn't lose my daughter's soul along with my husband's. The wizarding world may have been told that your father was innocent, but they will always wonder. You are the new generation, you have a sacred duty to make the best of it."

"Mummy, why haven't we ever talked like this before? Not that I don't agree, but it is not what I have been raised to believe about you."

"Honey, your father was such a dominating presence I never felt comfortable mentioning anything. I was literally sold to the Greengrass family, I was the third daughter of a pureblood family, not wealthy, and with no noble background. I was however, beautiful, and was considered good marriage material. With the Greengrass name came wealth and respectability, even a nice Ministry position for my father. The best thing to come out of the marriage however, was you. Now, go on back to school and talk with Jennifer and find out what you girls want to do about the ceremony. I will even work with that insufferable mother of hers to make you girl's special day the best that the wizarding world has ever seen."

Another hug later and Daphne was on her way back to Hogwarts.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Noble's Dorm

Soon after their arrivals back at school, the girls had worked out a mutually agreeable arrangement in regards to their upcoming nuptials. Violet Dumbledore was to be cut completely out of the loop and Martha Greengrass would handle all of the arrangements. The girls would wear identical gowns, and the wedding would be held in Westminster Abbey under a special arrangement with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Minister of Magic jointly performing the ceremony. During the wedding and the week leading up to it, the historic structure would be 'closed for maintenance'.

The Queen, who was very aware of the magical world, would be there, as well as the muggle Prime Minister. The Queen came from a long line of magically aware monarchs going back all the way to Arthur. Her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I was the last registered magical in the royal family, but they were, by nature, very secretive and could have had other Royal wizards and witches, privately educated. It would explain a lot about Britain's survival in a hostile world. As independent as the Ministry of Magic pretended to be, they were still subjects of the monarchy, as were all magical beings in Britain.

Everything was going swimmingly until time for bed; when Harry and the girls headed for their separate rooms, each of their doors opened into one large, joint bedroom, with one large bed. It seemed that the castle recognized the married state of the three and decided to do some friendly meddling. This suited Harry just fine, but alas, his fantasies were not to be realized this night. Daphne, after a few futile attempts to eject Harry from the room, conjured a cot and the two girls ordered him into it while they took over the bed. Harry was threatened with a full body bind should he attempt to join them. This did not stop the girls from performing a slight bit of torture, giving him glimpses of future pleasures while changing into their nightclothes. Daphne and Jennifer crawled into bed, snuggling up together while Harry weighed the risks of disobeying his present and future brides. Two of the three people in the room slept soundly that night; neither of them were males.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Somewhere in Belgium

Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord, He Who's Name Must Be Hyphenated, while on his way to the new Albanian command centre, suddenly got a very uneasy feeling and a splitting headache.