Chapter seven

Harry wanted to do something for Susan, so he dragged her into the jewellery store.

'What are we doing in here?'

'I want to get you a friendship ring. Isn't that something a boyfriend will give to his girlfriend?'

'You don't need to Harry, we only just began dating.'

'I know, but I want to. So will you allow me to get you a ring?'

Susan could tell Harry really wanted to do this, 'Okay, but nothing too expensive.'

Harry grinned, kissed her cheek then spoke to the man behind the counter. He explained what he wanted so he brought out a huge tray of rings for a young couple that had only just began dating.

'Oh, I like this one, what do you think?' Harry pointed at the ring with the beautiful blue sapphire. He thought the blue matched Susan's eyes.

'It's beautiful, I hope my finger doesn't get much bigger or it won't fit.'

'All are charmed to resize with you.' the shop assistance said.

'Then it's perfect,' Harry picked up the ring, 'The goblins said I can transfer payments when I can't get into my vault.'

'You can, all you do is sign your name on the receipt and tap it with your wand.'

Harry looked at Susan, 'Are you sure you like this one?'

'I'm positive, it's beautiful, thank you,' Susan blushed but she kissed Harry on the cheek.

Harry completed the transaction then very gently pushed the ring onto Susan's right ring finger. They said goodbye to the owner then headed back towards Hogwarts.

'What your aunt was saying about families that would want to align with others. They can't force me or anything, can they?'

'No, your legal guardian will have to sign any type of official marriage contract on your behalf until you are of age.'

'Good, then since…Amelia is my legal guardian she wouldn't sign, not unless she asked me. She knows we're dating now so she would know I wouldn't want to.'

'Aunt Amelia likes to go by the rules and the law, Harry, so you don't have to worry. I saw the look when she heard everything today, she is not happy that Dumbledore has broken the law.'

'No, she wasn't. I'm nervous about that though, he might make my life difficult after he's been charged.'

'What you have to understand Harry is that if he is found guilty then he will not be headmaster anymore. He won't be Chief Warlock or Head Mugwump either. No one in those positions can have a criminal record. He may not go to prison, he may use the argument of keeping you safe which could keep him from doing any time in Azkaban but he will still lose his jobs if he is found guilty.'

'Then he's really going to be pissed at me. But it's his own fault, he went against my parent's wishes. I had a rotten childhood, locked up, never being allowed to go anywhere. What I said, about the cupboard, it's why I hate small spaces. When I shower I always do early in the morning so I can leave the door of the shower stall open. I know it's open at the top and bottom but I still feel hemmed in.'

Susan stopped them walking then wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, 'I'm sure aunt Amelia will find out if they can be charged. What they did is basically child neglect, if not abuse, since they did hit you. Why are they so against magicals?'

'We're not normal, as far as they're concerned. They are just scared but they pretend they're not so they say we're freaks,' Harry looked into Susan's eyes then kissed her again.

Even though it was still a sweet kiss, it lasted a bit longer and their lips opened this time. Like in the Three Broomsticks, they did not realise they were being watched. It wasn't just students watching this time, but some of the staff were as well.

As Harry and Susan walked towards the castle, Hannah ran out with Neville. They grabbed Susan and Harry's arms and pulled them towards the lake.

'What's going on?' Susan asked.

'I overheard something so I told Hannah,' Neville panted.

'We thought you might have finally got together,' Harry said then noticed both blushed, 'You did.'

'Yes, but listen,' Hannah said, ' Ginny Weasley is really angry, she was yelling about you two dating.'

'She must not have realised I was in the tower. She said the marriage contract was signed so they had to get you away from Susan. She called Susan a lot of names that I won't repeat.'

'What?!' Harry gapped then turned to his girlfriend, 'You said only my legal guardian can do that, which is your aunt.'

'We will write to her straight away, she will be able to find out who sighed. You have to think Harry, it might have been done by your parents.'

'I was a baby when they died.'

'Some parent's will bind their kids with others the moment they are born, it's so the families are joined. It's also so the kids can grow up together, they hope spending all their time together will help them fall in love. Either way they get married but they end up close as they grow,' Neville said.

'From what I've heard about my parents, especially my mother, she would never do that. It's like what Amelia said, she believes Susan can make up her own mind, it should Susan's decision not her aunts. My mother would never do this, not tie me to someone. What if I ended up gay, they had gay friends, so they would know a relationship with the opposite gender would be impossible. But think of this as well, Ginny is more than a year younger than I am, so if they did which I don't believe they did, then it would have been within those few months before my parent's died and they were in hiding at that time. Only a handful of people knew where they were and only five could get past the fidelius charm. But I know they didn't, they wouldn't.'

'Let's go write to Aunty,' Susan kept hold of Harry's hand and dragged him into the castle with Hannah and Neville following, also holding hands.

Susan had Harry write the letter then they walked up to the owlery. Harry called Hedwig down again.

'This is to go to Amelia Bones again Hedwig, wait for a reply,' Harry gave his owl a pat then watched as she flew away, 'Let's hope she can stop this, I will leave the country before marrying that…witch.'

Susan, Hannah and Neville laughed, 'I don't blame you, but Aunt Amelia is your legal guardian and your godmother, she will make this right.'

'What's that on your finger Susan?'

'Oh,' Susan blushed as she lifted her right hand, 'Harry bought it for me, its beautiful, isn't it.'

'So, is that a promise ring?' Neville asked.

'A friendship ring, I figured we're a bit young for a promise ring, and we only just began dating. But it's basically like a promise, we're engaged to be engaged to be engaged,' Harry smirked making Hannah and Neville laugh, Susan looked surprised.

'Let's go back outside, while it's still sunny.'

'Good idea Neville.'

The four friends, two couples held hands as they walked towards the black lake. They sat under the shade of the tree.

'The first task is in two weeks, who do you think will win?' Neville asked.

'I know Cedric is a seventh year and is good at quidditch but I don't really know him. I saw Krum at the world cup, great flyer, but will that help with however he decides to tackle the first task. I don't know, the twins are taking bets but I wouldn't know who to back. I will back Cedric as his a puff and he represents Hogwarts.'

'I will back Cedric but I really don't know how they will go, not until we know what they have to do,' Susan said.

'You know they have warded the quidditch pitch, we can't see it or enter it,' Hannah said.

'So they plan to use that, I wonder what for, maybe a flying competition. That would be cool. Oh Susan, is there enough room to fly at your place?'

'Yes, there's plenty, the Bones manor is huge so are the grounds.'

Harry grinned hugely making the other three laugh. They knew how much Harry enjoyed flying, he was also very good at it.

As the friends enjoyed their afternoon Ginny was furious and writing to her mother. Amelia Bones looked up when Harry Potter's owl flew in, she wondered what was going on now.

"Sorry to disturb you Amelia, but Neville Longbottom overheard Ginny Weasley going on about me dating Susan and how the marriage contract was signed. Susan and I are hoping you might be able to find out who did it and when. If it was my parents then I'm stuck but from what I know of my mother, she doesn't seem the type. If it was after my parents died then it would be up to you and you said that you believe Susan should make her own choice. I know you would never sign one for me, especially when you did not know you were my legal guardian. I'm panicking right now, I hope you can help. I have to apologise as well, it seems since things always happen to me that now involves you. Sorry to pull you into all my drama's. All I ever wanted was to be normal. I hope to hear from you soon, with good news, Harry."

'Damn, wait here girl, I will be about half an hour,' Amelia rushed from her office, straight to the contract department, then to magical binding marriages. She went straight to the P file and began to go through the contracts. She found one in Harry's name, pulled it out and headed straight back to her office.

Amelia read the file, she was furious, so she performed her charm to prove she was Harry Potter's guardian and never signed the marriage contract. Once she sent it off which would mean it was legal within seconds, then instantly cancelled. She wrote a note to Harry, then tied it to the white owls leg.

'Let's hope nothing else happens, especially right now, I have enough to do,' Amelia shook her head in frustration, but her frustration was aimed at Albus Dumbledore. She knew he had broken the law but she also knew he was up to something, she just didn't know what. She knew Molly Weasley would be notified very soon that the contract was cancelled as it was done illegally. Amelia just hoped that Albus Dumbledore didn't find out everything she was working on before she got him in front of the Wizengamot.