Disclaimer: Nothing's changed, Harry and Pansy are still the property of J. K. Rowling. Anthony, Sydney, Audra, Stephanie, Brittany, Holly, James, any other bar or hotel staff are my own creations. All other people, places, or things, are Ms. Rowling's moneymakers.
A/N: Look, nobody's forcing you to read this. I can accept constructive criticism or honest questions, but if you're just commenting to insult my choices or things unrelated to the story, door's to the left.
For a brief, fleeting moment, Pansy thought about saying no, but she couldn't do that to Harry. Instead, she dropped the blanket and basket and fell to her knees in the sand, reaching out for him. "Yes, I will marry you, you great git." She took his face in her hands and kissed him.
Harry sighed with relief. He had been relatively certain she would say yes, but there was still that little bit of doubt that it was the right time. He pulled the ring out of the box and slid it on her waiting finger, and then kissed her again. "I love you, Pansy."
"I know," she said, winking at him. He stood up, and helped her to her feet. She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "The ring is beautiful, Harry."
He stood with his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "It took a really long time to find the right one."
They stood together for several minutes, and then he picked up the basket, she picked up the blanket, and they walked back up the road to his building. Halfway there, she stopped, and caught at his wrist. "Wait. My PARENTS?"
Harry and Pansy sat at the bar in the mostly empty pub, glasses of wine in front of them. Pansy was staring at him expectantly, and Harry was too busy laughing at her reaction to actually speak. He finally calmed down and said 'Yes. That was where I was this afternoon. I had lunch with your mother and father to ask them for their permission. I was also asked to, after you said yes, inform you that if you don't come visit soon, they're going to tell your grandmother you're engaged to a Gryffindor."
He laughed again at the look on her face. She sighed, and took a sip of wine. "She's right, I guess. It's been several weeks since I've talked to them. At least they already knew we were seeing each other. I probably should have taken you to meet them already, but daddy can be such a pain when it comes to my boyfriends."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Boyfriends? Just how many do you have?"
She smacked him in the arm. "You know what I mean, jerk. Ok, spill. How did you arrange lunch, and how did you get in contact with them?"
He rubbed the back of his head with his hand, a little embarrassed. "Well," he started, "I'd like to say I had this long, thought out plan that took months of detail work, but honestly, I ran into him after I left your boutique one day. Not sure how, but he recognized me, and asked me what my intentions were with his daughter. I guess by then you had told them we were involved. So I told him I eventually hoped to marry you. He then said there were some things I needed to know, and I should come by his office. We made an appointment and I went there a couple of days later. I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure what he was going to say and I didn't want to make you upset."
Pansy smacked him in the arm again. "I know, I know," he said. "Can I finish, love?"
She stared at him intently for a minute longer and then relented. "Go ahead, so you went to his office, and?"
"I walked in and he had this scroll….it had to be twenty feet long if an inch...hanging on the wall and he was going over it with a magnifying glass, copying down sections on a parchment. When he was done, he handed it to me and let me read. In the Parkinson family charter, there are provisions laid down if the sole heir is a woman. It's outdated and ridiculous, as I'm sure you agree, and I think it's barbaric. But if the provisions weren't followed, our marriage wouldn't be recognized and you would never receive your inheritance," he said.
"What right does someone who lived hundreds of years ago have to tell me what I can or can't do with my life? That's ridiculous!" she exploded, loudly. The two or three people near enough to hear her turned and looked. She saw this and quieted down. "Sorry. That gets my blood boiling. Dad always told me that if I married someone it would have to be carefully arranged but never why. This was all before the Dark.." she trailed off as Harry looked at her. "Fine, Riddle, died and I thought he was just trying to curry favor with the dark houses just in case. At least I know it wasn't his choice, but this is going to have to change somehow."
Harry nodded. "You're right, and I agree with you, and that's one of the things he and I talked about. I think we came to an agreement that will fulfill the letter of your family's charter, and allow you and I the chance to make the changes to that charter that need to be. But you need to know what the requirements were, Pansy."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "What, then?" she asked. This mess frustrated her. She just wanted to be his wife and spend the rest of her years with him.
"Firstly, you must marry the Lord, or Heir, of a family line that has been established for at least five hundred years. I am my father's Heir, and the Potter family line can be traced back to the 1100's, so that takes care of that. There is a later correction to this, that if a Lord or Heir of an Ancient and Noble House - that's one that goes back over 1000 years - is available, that marriage should take precedent over the first. I am Sirius' Heir as stated in his will, and the Black family is an Ancient and Noble House." He waited for her response.
"So that's why he wanted me to marry Draco after school," she said, understanding.
Harry nodded. "Because of Narcissa, Draco was the Heir to the bloodline, but Sirius' will negated that. Of course nobody but the Order would know that until after Riddle's death."
Pansy pursed her lips, nodded, and then sighed. "Okay, what's the next really bad decision my ancestors made?"
"You would only be allowed to marry someone who had distinguished themselves as a either a champion in battle, a prominent career, or a powerful wizard," Harry said, a glint in his eyes.
She couldn't help but grin. "Well there's no question you're all three of those!"
He rolled his eyes but nodded. "And so, I actually fulfill all these requirements for your future husband, including some minor ones regarding wealth, property, and the like. But, to fully qualify, I had to register for all those titles."
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out two rings, three pins, and an amulet on a chain. "That's where I was this morning. At Gringotts either signing my life away or accepting my legacy, depending on which way you look at it," he said, grinning.
He slid off the stool, slipped the rings on, hung the amulet around his neck, and bowed to Pansy. "M'lady Parkinson, may I present to you Baron Potter, Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, Slayer of Voldemort, The Man Who Loves Pansy Parkinson?"
She clapped her hands as she laughed, then presented her hand to be kissed. Then she frowned.
"Wait, Harry, does this mean you're going back?" She shook her head. "You can't make yourself do that for me."
Harry took her hands and looked at her lovingly. "Pansy, the agreements I signed today will allow me to claim my heritage, be who I need to be to marry you, but also to stay here, run this business and build my empire, as they put it. Your father will hold my proxies on the Wizengamot until he retires, at which time I will return fully to the Wizarding world with you at my side and any children we bear along with us."
He leaned forward and kissed her, ignoring the "Awwwwwww!" that came from behind him. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and if we have children, I want them to have both the life that you had growing up and the life that I had. Well, without the horrible hatred of relatives, but I mean the Muggle experience."
Pansy chuckled and nodded. "I understand. So, what agreements, exactly, did you enter into with my father?" She asked.
Harry sat back down, still holding her hands. "Your father is now a 15% partner in the pub and the hotel. He holds my proxies for voting in the Wizengamot, although he is required to have a signed physical copy of my vote in order to cast them. He has insisted on paying for the wedding although I insisted we have the reception here. The houses of Parkinson and Black will, after our marriage, enter into a number of future familial and business arrangements which I assure you will benefit both families, and our children, immensely."
He grinned at the look on her face. "Remember, love, I'm a businessman now. I know what I'm doing."
He kissed her. "And I love you, and I will do whatever I need to for us to be together."
She smiled up at him, her eyes closed. "And I love you. Wait," she said, as something occurred to her.
Looking down at the ring on her finger. "You said this took a long time to find...just...where did you find it?"
Harry smiled at her. "In an envelope, on a shelf, in my vault at Gringott's. It was addressed to 'My son's future wife'."
Pansy's eyes teared up. "This...this was your mother's ring?" Harry nodded.
"There's a spell on it. Tap it with your wand," he said.
Pansy drew in a shuddering breath. "Should I do this here, or upstairs?"
Harry smiled at her and squeezed her hands. "That's up to you, love."
She nodded. "I don't think I can do this in the pub. And you're right, I should visit my parents. Do they know about the ring?"
He shook his head. "I wanted you to be the first to know."
She nodded then, smiling at him. "Harry, would you like to visit my parents with me?"
Harry smiled at her. "Absolutely, my love. Shall we?"
Harry and Pansy Apparated to her parents house, and walked up the drive. Harry reached for the knocker while Pansy reached for the knob. At his look, she said "What? I live here. Well, lived here." She opened the door and yelled "Mom, Dad, I'm home."
"Mistress Parkinson," a very offended house elf interrupted. "You are supposed to use the knocker so you can be greeted properly!"
Pansy laughed, and patted the elf on her head. "Sorry, Nala. I got excited. Next time, I promise?"
The house elf muttered, but walked off. "Always next time, it is."
"Pansy," a voice said happily, and they looked up to see Pansy's mother descending the staircase. "And your handsome young suitor as well. Are you finally paying us a proper visit?"
"Mum," Pansy grinned, and hugged her mother. "I'm sorry it's been so long. I know you know Harry, but, I'll properly introduce you. Where's daddy?"
"In the library, still double checking these agreements your wise young man there has presented me with," her father's voice came from a doorway. Harry offered his elbows to the two Parkinson women and escorted them over to the library.
"I did have the goblins at Gringott's help me with those, so I think you'll find they're equally beneficial, Mr. Parkinson," Harry said.
"Nonsense, call me dad. That is, assuming my lovely daughter said yes?" Prentice Parkinson looked up as they entered and saw the glint on Pansy's finger. "And of course she did. Congratulations, daughter mine," he said happily as he stood and embraced her. "You have yourself a very, very bright young man here with a good head on his shoulders. With these agreements, we will enter into a very prosperous union with the houses of Potter and Black, even without the marriage to consider. Harry, did you know how many businesses you have a stake in?"
Harry shook his head. "That's why I brought those documents to you, sir….dad. I have a good business acumen but to be honest, I'm shite at investing." He turned to Pansy. "I also offered your father 10% of any stake I have in any business if he would help me sort out everything I own or invest in."
Pansy beamed at her financé. "You couldn't do better. Dad is an investment wizard. And I don't mean that literally."
Her mother cleared her throat. "Are you here for dinner, dear? We didn't plan on four, but I'm sure we can make do."
Pansy shook her head. "No, we already ate. But I did want you to share in something I'm about to do." She looked between her mother and father. "This ring, it was Harry's mother's. She apparently left a spell on it that I'm to see."
Her mother smiled. "Lily always was a sneaky sort. Leave it to her to think so far ahead."
Harry blinked. "You KNEW my mother?"
Kirsten put her hand on Harry's shoulder. "Your mother and I were friends in school, dear. And your father and Prentice were as well."
Harry stared at them both. "You didn't tell me that."
Prentice chuckled. "It wasn't as important, earlier. But now that we're going to be family, I promise you. We will tell you everything you want to know about your parents. It's actually fitting that their son and our daughter are now engaged. And, Pansy. You said something about a spell?" He turned to her.
Pansy nodded. "Well, Harry said…."
Harry put his arm around her and squeezed. "Why don't we all sit down, love?"
Harry and Pansy sat on the small sofa, while her parents sat in adjoining chairs. She looked at Harry. "Just...tap it with my wand?"
He nodded. "That's what I did. I expect you'll get a more useful message than I did. 'If you are in love, Harry, propose to her with this ring. And when you're ready, tell her there's a message for her'." He shrugged. "Nothing else happened when I tapped it."
Pansy took a deep breath. "Here goes, then."
She tapped the diamond with her wand, and a white whisp flared up from it. The smoke assumed the ghostly form of Lily Potter nee Evans. The image spoke.
"To my son's future bride, welcome to the family. I am sure that Harry loves you with all of his being, or you would not be receiving this message. If I am not there to give this to you directly, that means James and I have perished for some reason. Harry, I am sorry if that has happened. You were born into a difficult time, and I can only hope that you have lived past the threat that took us from you. And if your fianceé has invoked this message, then my hopes for you have proven true and you've found a soul bond. I warn you both, the road ahead of you will be difficult if you are so bonded. But the rewards, they far outstrip the trials. The two of you are joined in a way that very few wizards and witches have, or will, experience. You will share emotions at times, and you can never hurt each other. This is the bond that your father and I shared, and I hope yours has not come to you too late in life."
Harry's eyes were full of tears, and he looked over to see Pansy's were as well. But the image wasn't done.
It continued, "Know that your father and I love you both, very much, even though we will never meet. We wish you all the best that the world has to offer, and a long life of love and family. Once the two of you are married, you will be the full heir to the Potter fortune. I'm sure by now you've found the legacy of the Peverell brothers. My last message to you, my son, is that you are indeed the descendant of Ignotus Peverell, who changed his name to Potter. In your father's vault at Gringott's is a box, which you may only open once you have been married. In this box you will find the Peverell heritage. I love you, my son, and I love you, my future daughter."
The image disappeared back into the ring, and silence filled the room. Harry and Pansy embraced closely, both of them crying silently. Prentice and Kirsten clutched each other's hands and watched the young couple.