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: I know after posting an average of a chapter a day, this was an interminable delay for some of you. :) But my muse was taking a break. She's back, though, and rubbing my shoulders and whispering in my ear. This is a relatively short chapter, but it's packed with stuff. We're also starting to wind down to the end of our story. I think Chapter 20 is going to wrap everything up...at least for this Harry/Pansy AU.
The entire family sat down to the dinner, which consisted of many different dishes that everyone took a portion of. Dinner was a rowdy affair, with the kids yelling and splattering food and the adults getting into joking arguments, and Harry had never, ever been happier.
After everyone had finished off their plates and some had had seconds, Harry stood up.
"Pardon me, everyone," he said, and they all turned to him and quieted down. "I just wanted to say a few things. I'm very glad you all came to dinner tonight, Pansy and I missed you and we really enjoyed having everyone over tonight. And no, you don't have to leave anytime soon. But I wanted to get this out where everyone could hear it."
"Tomorrow, Pansy and I will go to the Potter family vault, and search there for the Peverell box that my mother mentioned in her message. We will also be meeting with the barristers to discuss the options for combining the three family names. I have been reading up on family lines." Everyone gaped at him at this, and he grinned. "Never let it be said my wife and my best friend haven't rubbed off on me some." He reached over and put his hand on Pansy's shoulder, and looked at Hermione.
"But I've been reading, and I have a suspicion about what they're going to say. And since I'm not entirely positive, I can't say for certain. But I can say that I would like Hermione and Tonks to please be available tomorrow afternoon. I may need your help with some things, if you don't mind."
Tonks looked at Remus, who nodded, and at Hermione, who was looking at Ron, who also nodded. They both looked up and said "Okay," almost in stereo. Harry smiled at them.
"I promise, it will not be anything bad. And like I said, I'm not sure it will be necessary." He cleared his throat. "I also want you all to know that you are, truly, my family, and tonight has proven that. None of you by actual blood, but by chosen blood," and he smiled at Tonks, who was of the House of Black, "And others simply by being chosen." He squeezed Pansy's shoulder and looked at Ron and Hermione. "No matter what happens with my family line, you are ALL to be considered heirs-elect of the Potter, Black, and Peverell families. I have had a will made out to that effect."
He held up his glass of wine. "To family, of the truest kind."
Everyone raised their glasses, eyes glinting with half-shed tears. "To family!" they all chorused.
Harry and Pansy walked into Gringott's the next morning, hand in hand. They strode up to the main goblin, and Harry said "I'd like to visit our vault, please." He presented his key and they were led back, down, into a cart, that flew over rails, and down into the depths of the bank. They stopped in front of a different door than he remembered, and he asked the goblin about that.
"The Black and Potter vaults were combined into one, Mr. Potter, in order to provide enough space," the goblin said in answer.
"I understand," Harry said, and gestured for the goblin to open the door. Entering the vault, Harry was, quite simply, gobsmacked. Gold and silver glinted every direction he turned. Piles of coins, treasures on shelves on the walls, jewels and jewelry in cases hung on the walls. He looked around, and finally saw a large black trunk sitting in one corner of the vault. He had not seen this before. "Is that a Black family trunk?" he asked the goblin.
The goblin looked at him, confused. "What trunk?" he asked.
Pansy looked where Harry was pointing and smiled. "That's some powerful magic, love. I can see it, but that has be because of our bond." She turned to the goblin. She had learned something from Harry's treatment of the creatures, and knelt before him as a gesture of respect. "If I may touch your shoulder?" The goblin paused, then nodded, and she laid two fingers on his shoulder. His eyes grew wide as he looked into the corner and saw the trunk.
"No goblin has ever recorded that as content of these vaults, Mr. Potter. Mrs. Potter is correct. That is some power magic that it is hidden from us."
Harry strode over to it, and lifted the lock. At his touch, an audible click sounded and the lock fell open. Harry opened the lid, carefully, and looked down into a space much larger than the trunk would imply. "It's bigger, on the inside," he murmured, and felt Pansy kneel at his side to look into it. After a long, long moment passed, he turned to the goblin. "I'm going to need a bigger vault."
Harry and Pansy met with the barristers next, having gone through the contents of the chest and working with the goblins to have the vault expanded. Harry grinned at his wife as they walked into the room. "I can't wait to talk to your father, everything I dared plan, I can do. Everything, love," he exclaimed. She was infected by his excitement and squeezed his arm against her.
"I believe you, dear heart. But first, we have to take care of the name issue," she said softly.
They sat at the table with three barristers, and papers were shuffled around. One of the lawyers spoke. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter, we understand you are here to discuss the combination of the Potter and Black families."
"And Peverell," Pansy spoke up confidently. The three others blinked at her. Harry lifted up a scroll and tossed it across the table at them.
"As the sole living blood survivor of the Peverell family, through my father's mother's line, I am also now the head of that family," Harry stated.
The three huddled together and looked over the document, and conferred. After several minutes they sat back in their individual seats. "Well then," the lead barrister said. "This document appears to be in order. Do you have any idea what is required to join together two, much less three families, Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded. "I think I have a general understanding of what is necessary, but please explain so my wife will understand."
The head barrister nodded. "You will essentially become a Duke. I know you were named as much in your wedding, but this would become in deed, act, and title, not just name. As a Duke you are the head of up to four houses. However," and the man paused.
Harry looked at him expectantly. It seemed to him his studies had been correct. Pansy looked a little confused, but took comfort in Harry's confidence. "Go on," Harry said.
"Each family will require a Lady to serve under the Duchess," the man said, with a nod to Pansy. "Mrs. Potter, you will be the Duchess. And you can choose one of the family names to take as that family's Lady. But Mr. Potter must take two other wives, one for each line."
Harry coughed. "I'm sorry. Shouldn't that have been 'designate a female of the family to be a Lady'?" he asked, very pointedly.
The lawyer frowned. "But you are an only child, Mr. Potter. That means.."
Harry interrupted "Family doesn't have to be blood. I am the heir of the Ancient and Noble House of Black by the Last Will and Testament of my Godfather, Sirius Black. Is that not correct?" He didn't realize he had stood, hands on the table, leaning over the edge of it.
The man on the other side nodded, glancing back and forth between his colleagues. "Technically, that is correct, but still…" and Harry interrupted again.
"Nymphadora Lupin nee Tonks, is a daughter of the House of Black, is she not, and therefore my cousin by designation?" he demanded.
Pansy tried so very hard not to smile at the sheer confidence her husband was exuding. He had studied, beyond what she realized originally. He knew exactly what needed to be done, and she began to see his plan. "If you'll excuse me a moment," she said, and Harry nodded. She didn't even look to the lawyers, but left the room.
Out in the bank proper, she sent a Patronus message to Hermione and Tonks.
They arrived at almost the same time. Hermione had brought Ron with her, and Pansy nodded. "Good, we'll need you too, brother Weasley."
She turned to Tonks. "Firstly. Harry is in there right now combining the three families. He is to be named a Duke, and I his Duchess and Lady of the Potter family. You will be named Lady Black, as you are a descendant of that line and his cousin by designation thanks to Sirius."
She turned to Hermione. "I gather he means for you to be named Lady Peverell, but I am not sure how. He's probably stalling that point, but we need to go in there now so he can finish up. Ron, you're going to be required." She reached over and took his hand, rubbing her thumb along a scar. "Understand?"
Ron's eyes widened and he nodded. "Of course. Let's go, then, ladies."
He walked over to the door and opened it for them, only to hear Harry yell out, "I am NOT taking another wife and that is final!"
The three of them entered, and arranged themselves behind and beside Harry. Pansy took his left arm and stood firmly by his side. Tonks stood to Pansy's left and slightly behind. Ron took up position immediately to Harry's right, with Hermione on his right arm. Harry turned and gave them all a tight smile.
"You have accepted my claim for Nymphadora Lupin to be named Lady Black-Lupin, based on her status as a descendant of the House of Black, my godfather's will designating her as my cousin, and my request, correct?" Harry said.
The barristers nodded. "But for the House of Peverell…" the second one began, and Harry cut him off.
"The Lady Hermione Peverell-Weasley will lead that family," Harry said, firmly.
Without a word, Ron lifted his right hand up.
The barristers looked confused. Finally, Ron spoke. "Do you all see this scar?" They nodded. "Harry has a matching one on his right hand." Harry held his right hand up to display it. Ron continued, "We are blood brothers, our oath taken on the eve of the Battle of Hogwarts, binding us together as family. My legally wedded wife here," and he put his arm around Hermione, "is therefore Harry's sister-in-law."
Harry nodded. "And as such, she is a member of my family and a valid choice for the family Peverell. Now. Draw up the paperwork. We will be available to sign it after we all have lunch." He turned to the goblins attending the meeting. "Please equalize the contents of my vault, with the exception of the books, between three separate vaults. The books should be delivered to the Potter Mansion in Godric's Hollow. I also want inspectors to look at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, to see what can be salvaged, and everything brought to the Potter Mansion."
He turned to his family. "Now, shall we all go to to the Leaky for lunch?"