"Hey, Sirius?" Harry asked at dinner the evening after his discussion with Cousin Narcissa. "Why weren't you ever betrothed to someone?"

Sirius choked, and then began coughing.

"Way to ease into the conversation there, Harry." Remus commented with grin, pouring Sirius some water.

"Sorry." Harry responded repentantly. "It just seems strange that Sirius wasn't betrothed."

Sirius gulped down some water. "I was." He answered in a strained voice. "But she was killed in the war."

Harry winced. "Oh."

"You were?" Remus looked surprised. "I had no idea."

"It's not something I liked to talk about." Sirius admitted. "She was six years younger than I was and we didn't exactly know each other."

"What was her name?" Harry asked.

"Elaina Prince." Sirius answered.

"Wait, Prince?" Harry stared at him. "As in Professor Snape?"

"She was his cousin." Sirius acknowledged. "Not that they knew each other. Snape's mother was disowned. Lord Prince only accepted Snape back after she died because, aside from him, he was the last living descendant of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Prince."

"That's horrible." Harry grimaced. "Why would Professor Snape have agreed to go back? I don't think I would have."

"I don't know." Sirius shrugged.

"So how did she die?" Harry asked. "I didn't think Voldemort went after purebloods. Well, unless they're in the Order."

"It was an accident." Sirius sighed. "I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but her whole family were killed. Including her father and younger brother. That's when Lord Prince brought Snape back into the family. She was ten."

"That's awful." Harry grimaced. "And your parents never tried to arrange another betrothal?"

"No." Sirius snorted. "Even if I hadn't been estranged from them by then, it wouldn't have been proper for them to have arranged anything for at least eighteen months. Surely Cissy's talked to you about mourning periods?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, but what about afterwards?"

"By the time the mourning period was over I was almost eighteen and had already joined the order." Sirius explained. "I think that at that point they were just waiting for me to die in a Death Eater attack so that Regulus could take my place."

Harry grimaced. "Your parents sound worse than the Dursleys."

Sirius looked grim. "Well, let's just say that we both have had terrible luck when it came to relatives."

"Your relatives aren't all bad." Harry reminded him. "Cousin Narcissa's great and so is Cousin Andromeda."

Sirius smiled wanly. "True. How did your chat with Cissy go?"

"She thinks I should say yes." Harry answered. "She pointed out that it would make Draco and me brothers."

Sirius looked confused for a second, before he nodded in understanding. "Oh, right, he's betrothed to the younger sister."

"She said it wasn't a good enough reason to do it though." Harry continued. "What do you think I should do?"

Sirius leaned back in his chair and gestured to Remus with a grin. "Why don't you take this one first, Moony?"

Remus shot his friend a dirty look. "It wasn't my opinion he was asking for, Padfoot."

"I do want your opinion though." Harry reassured him quickly. "What do you think?"

Remus was silent for a few seconds, before answering carefully. "Well, I have to admit that it doesn't make much sense to me. It all seems very outdated, but then so does a lot of traditionalism."

"That's why it's called traditionalism." Sirius pointed out with a grin.

"But," Remus continued, throwing Sirius another dirty look. "You are traditional and you seem to like the outdated aspects of it. So, it is part of your culture."

Harry considered that. "So you think I should do it?"

"That's up to you, Harry." Remus told him gently. "But I will say this, just because you like one part of a culture doesn't mean that you have to embrace all of it. You can like most of traditionalism, but decide not to be betrothed."

"Well said." Sirius grinned. "I completely agree."

Harry sighed. "Except, if I'm the only traditionalist who doesn't get betrothed then there won't be anyone for me to marry when I'm older." He paused and pointed a finger accusingly at Sirius. "And don't even consider bringing up Pansy."

"Surely not all your traditionalist friends are betrothed." Remus commented. "If Pansy isn't there have got to be others who aren't as well."

"Luna isn't." Harry admitted. "But, as much I love her, she would drive me crazy. But everybody else is. Even the girls I'm not friends with, like Susan Bones and her friend Hannah Abbott, are betrothed."

Remus shook his head. "Was it like this in school, Sirius?"

"It wasn't quite so bad." Sirius admitted. "Alice and Frank were betrothed, not that you would have known it. They were head over heels for each other since first year. Marlene McKinnon was betrothed to Gideon Prewett. Molly and Arthur weren't betrothed, she ran off with him and it was quite the scandal. She was very nearly disowned over it, but then her father died and Gideon became the Head of House. He was only seventeen at the time, but he stood his ground and refused to let his mother go ahead with disowning her. Amelia Bones was betrothed Fabian, Regulus was betrothed to Anthea Burke…"

Remus cut him off with a laugh. "I didn't need the entire list, Sirius. You said its worse now?"

Sirius looked grim. "There's nothing quite like fearing for the future of your House to have people scrambling to have betrothal contracts put together."

Remus shook his head. "I had no idea. Well, Harry, you could always marry a foreign girl."

"We're not the only country that has betrothals, Remus." Harry told him. "According to Cousin Narcissa, France, Bulgaria, Germany and Italy all have higher betrothal rates than we do."

"It's like there's this secret world within our one." Remus commented. "I would have never known this stuff if you hadn't been around to explain it to me."

"That's why I think there ought to be Wizarding Culture classes at Hogwarts." Harry explained.

Sirius snorted. "You mean Traditionalism classes. Yeah, I can see that going over with Dumbledore."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Muggleborns should at least have the choice to decide whether they want to be traditional or not."

"And halfbloods." Remus agreed.

Sirius looked at his friend in surprise. "Moony?"

Remus looked sheepish. "I'm not saying that they ought be forced to traditional, Sirius. But I wish I'd at least known about this stuff before now. Did you know traditionalists are much more accepting of werewolves? I didn't. If I had, maybe I wouldn't have spent the last decade being ostracised by anti-traditionalists."

Sirius looked as though he couldn't believe his ears. Which to be fair, was a sentiment Harry completely agreed with.

"And when were you planning on telling me that you had made me a vassal of the House of Black?" Remus asked with a frown.

"I haven't, Remus." Sirius protested. "I swear, I would never do anything like that."

"Well, let's say that I believe you, which I don't." Remus told him. "Why not? What's stopping you?"

Sirius opened his mouth and then closed it again.

"Last week I went to the Apothecary in Knockturn Alley and the shopkeeper practically fell over himself to serve me." Remus continued. "When I was leaving, he asked me to send his good wishes to you. It's not the first time that sort of thing has happened, everyone knows that we're friends. But normally they ask me to send 'Lord Black' their good wishes. Do you want to know what this man said?"

Sirius winced. "Liege lord?"

"Exactly." Remus pointed an accusing finger at Sirius. "Now, you can imagine that I was rather confused about the entire thing. So I went to see Tonks, to ask her opinion."

Sirius frowned. "You went to see Tonks?"

Remus ignored him. "And she had no idea why I was asking. She said she presumed I knew that you had made a vassal of the House of Black."

Sirius winced again. "I haven't! Not officially."

"Just unofficially?" Remus asked.

"Not even that." Sirius said quickly. "It's just that, with you living here, and working at Hogwarts, people started presuming that I might have done something like that. I just…didn't see the point in correct them. At least this way people will know better than to treat you badly."

Remus shook his head and Harry started wondering whether he could sneak away from the table. He really didn't want to present for the fight he was sure was coming.

"You're a good man, Sirius." Remus said eventually.

"What?" Sirius asked.

Harry silently seconded the question. That was not the reaction he had been expecting.

Remus looked up and gave him a crooked smile. "You're a good man. When should we make it official?"

Sirius's mouth fell open in shock. "Moony?"

"Don't look at me like that." Remus admonished him. "I've done my research. I know what I'm signing myself up for. Maybe this way I'll finally manage to find the funding to write that book I've been wanting to write."

"I'll give you the money, Remus." Sirius told him quickly. "You don't have to be my vassal for that."

Remus smiled softly. "I've been your vassal since we were eleven, Sirius, and we both know it. Might as well make it official."

"You're not my vassal." Sirius protested. "You're my friend. My best friend."

"Who benefits from the protection of your name and bank account." Remus commented. "But it's not just about that. You're traditional now, Sirius, You might try to deny it, but we both know that you are. And so is Harry…"

Harry tried to sink down in his chair when both men turned to look at him. He really felt out of place in this conversation.

"…and I don't want to be left behind." Remus finished.

"I would never leave you behind." Sirius promised. "Never."

"I know that." Remus agreed. "But at least this way people will understand why."

"You shouldn't have to swear an oath to me for people to understand that you're my friend." Sirius protested.

Harry sighed. "Remus is right, Sirius, he's pretty much your vassal already. You might not have gotten him the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but you definitely are the reason he's going to be our new History professor. It makes sense to make it official and it will offer Remus some protection against idiots. No one would be stupid enough to insult a vassal of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black."

"Exactly." Remus nodded. "Thank you, Harry."

"Besides." Harry smirked. "This way it will be easier for him to marry Tonks."

Sirius' mouth fell open. "What?"

Remus looked just as astonished.

"Oh come on." Harry grinned. "Anyone with eyes can tell that she's head over heels for you. If you're a vassal of the House of Black it will give you credence when you decide to offer for her."

"Moony?" Sirius asked in a high voice.

Remus was blushing. "I have no idea what he's talking about."

"Tonks?" Sirius asked. "Really? She's twenty years old!"

"She'll be twenty one in a few months." Harry put in quickly. "And it's not as though Remus is that old. He's younger than you, Sirius."

"Yeah, by three months!" Sirius returned. "You're fourteen years older than her, Remus."

Remus looked down at the table.

"Leave him alone, Sirius." Harry defended him. "It's not his fault. Tonks has been after him for months. He's been turning her down all year."

Sirius frowned. "How do you know all this? You've been at school."

"Tonks told me." Harry told him, trying not to sound too smug. "She wanted my help in convincing him."

Sirius stared at him for a few seconds, before turning his attention to Remus. "What's wrong with Tonks? Why haven't you said yes?"

Remus gave Sirius an incredulous look before groaning in horror.

Harry gave into his urge to laugh.

3-3-3

A few hours later, when Harry was lying in bed reading, Sirius knocked on his open bedroom door.

"Mind if I come in?"

"Of course not." Harry sat up straighter and put his book on his bedside table. "How may I help you?"

Sirius sat on the edge of the bed. "We didn't get to finish our conversation at dinner. You wanted to know what I thought about this betrothal business."

Harry nodded. "Cousin Andromeda seemed to think it was a good idea, though she didn't say it, and Cousin Narcissa thinks that I should agree. What do you think?"

Sirius frowned thoughtfully. "First tell me what you think. You've had a lot of time to consider it since I showed you the letter."

"I want to say yes." Harry admitted, looking down at his bedding. "This is going to sound silly, but ever since first year I've wanted to grow up to be like Lord Malfoy."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why?"

"No one would dare to push him around." Harry explained. "He's so confident and sophisticated."

"And I'm not?" Sirius grinned.

"You are too." Harry rushed to reassure him. "But you weren't in first year, when I first met you. You were sort of crazy."

"Yeah," Sirius grimaced. "I was at that."

"Besides," Harry sighed. "You're more charming than Lord Malfoy. I don't think I'm ever going to be as charming as you are."

Sirius chuckled. "Something I'm sure your future wife will be very glad of I'm sure. Now, what does all this have to do with Daphne?"

"Well, if I'm going to be like Lord Malfoy, I need to marry someone like Cousin Narcissa." Harry explained. "And Daphne is like her. She's really pretty, and poised. And she's intelligent, and funny."

Sirius grinned. "Sounds as if you really like her?"

"I do." Harry admitted. "I can't imagine ever meeting anyone better."

Sirius smiled. "Well, you definitely shouldn't agree because you think she's the next Narcissa Malfoy. That wouldn't be fair on her. But it sounds as if you want to agree."

"I do." Harry sighed. "But then I start worrying that maybe it's the wrong decision. What if we hate each other when we're older? What if I'm supposed to marry someone else?"

Sirius looked serious. "Those are some hard questions, pup."

"I know." Harry groaned, leaning his head back against the headboard. "But what if I say no and she ends us betrothed to someone else?"

"Tell me, Harry," Sirius started after a moment of silence. "Do you think there is any chance that you and Draco might hate each other by the time your seventeen?"

"What?" Harry shook his head in confusion. "No way. Of course not."

"Why not?"

"Because we're best friends!" Harry exclaimed. Surely Sirius knew all this?

"But what if you meet someone you like better?" Sirius asked. "Wouldn't you want them to be your best friend instead?"

"No!" Harry denied firmly. "I can't imagine meeting anyone I like better but, even if I did, I'd still want Draco to be my best friend."

Sirius raised an eyebrow expectantly. "And you don't think that might also apply to Daphne?"

Harry stared at him as he processed it all. "You mean that if I decide to be betrothed to Daphne it will be like it is with Draco?"

"Not unless you choose for it to be." Sirius told him seriously. "You would have to work to make sure that it happens. It doesn't always happen naturally."

"That's what Cousin Narcissa said." Harry admitted. "She said that she and Lord Malfoy had to work hard at their marriage."

Sirius looked pleased. "Good on Cissy! I knew I liked her for a reason."

They were silent for a few minutes and Harry used the time to try and figure out what he wanted to do. He did really like Daphne and he thought that he might have asked her to go to Hogsmeade with him this year anyway. But it still seemed weird to sign up to marry someone at his age – a fact he put down to the fact that he'd grown up with muggles.

"Sirius?" Harry said eventually.

"Yes, pup?" Sirius asked gently.

"I think I'd like to talk to Daphne about it, if that's alright." Harry admitted. "Do you think Lord Greengrass would be alright with that?"

Sirius smiled proudly. "I'm sure he would. I'll write to him in the morning."

Harry smiled softly, trying to ignore his growing sense of anxiety. What if Daphne said no? What if Daphne said yes?

3-3-3

Harry spent the entirety of the next day waiting for Sirius to tell him that Lord Greengrass had replied, but a reply never arrived. He knew it didn't mean anything was wrong. The Greengrass Estate was on the other side of Britain and it likely took the owl the majority of the day to deliver Sirius' letter, but it didn't help Harry's nerves.

Because of this, Harry made sure to spend an hour meditating before he and Sirius left for Neville's birthday dinner. Meditation always calmed him down and he was worried that if he wasn't in complete control of his emotions he might curse Lord Longbottom.

Lord Longbottom was, in Harry's opinion, one of the most insufferable men Harry had ever met and not just because he was horrible to Neville. No, Harry's dislike of the man was primarily due to the fact that he reminded Harry of his Uncle Vernon (though admittedly, the fact that Lord Longbottom had dropped Neville out of window when he was child went a long way to Harry making the connection). Lord Longbottom seemed to be persistently drunk, cheery, and slimy all at the same time.

Thankfully, Sirius disliked the man just as much as Harry did (probably because Harry had told him about the window incident) and so was always at his most snobby and traditional around him – which was definitely a sight to see.

The first time it had happened, Harry had been worried that Neville might be upset by it, but Neville had seemed to enjoy the show as much as Harry had. And this occasion was no different.

"…Harry began attending with me last year." Sirius commented evenly.

Harry, who was seated down the other end of the table, looked up at the sound of his name. What was Sirius talking about?

Lord Longbottom snorted disparagingly. "No point taking the boy. He wouldn't understand a word of it."

The entire table fell silent and turned to look at Sirius took a large mouthful from his goblet, before swishing it around in the air. "Oh, that seems hard to believe. Neville seems to be a very bright young man to me."

"Yes, well, your lordship with excuse me if I cannot agree with you." Lord Longbottom grimaced. "He's nothing like his father you know. Just the sight of him makes me wish that my Elaina hadn't died so young."

Harry turned to Neville in concern. He couldn't imagine how he would feel if he ever heard Sirius say something like that about it. Neville was looking down at his plate with a stony expression.

"Merlin, man," Sirius' fingers tightened around his goblet. "What a bloody awful thing to say."

"We weren't sure he was even going to get into Hogwarts, you know." Lord Longbottom continued absently. "Boy didn't show any sign of magic until he was eight."

Harry gritted his teeth at the man's casual mention of the time when he had dropped Neville out of a window. He couldn't believe that people thought that the Malfoys were horrible, but considered the Longbottoms to be perfectly respectable. Lord Malfoy would have never dropped Draco out of a window.

"They say the same thing about Helga Hufflepuff." Sirius pointed out evenly, though Harry could hear the anger in his voice. "Perhaps you're right though, it is a great responsibility to introduce one's heir into the Wizengamot. With your permission, I would be willing to have Neville attend with me. I wouldn't want to over burden you."

Lord Longbottom choked slightly on his wine. "What? I couldn't accept. Wouldn't want to burden you…"

"Not at all." Sirius interrupted. "Neville wouldn't be a burden, I would be happy to have him with me."

Lord Longbottom looked around the table desperately, as though looking for an ally, but nobody would meet his eyes. Not even Neville's gran. Harry wasn't sure whether it was because they thought Lord Longbottom was being horrible too, or because they could sense the danger in Sirius' voice.

"Surely you understand that I couldn't have my heir accompany anyone aside from me to the Wizengamot, my lord." Lord Longbottom protested weakly. "It just isn't done."

"Let me make this perfectly clear, Algie." Sirius wasn't even attempting to mask the anger in his tone now. "Neville ought to have begun attending the Wizengamot with you last year, it is a shame on your House that he didn't. Now you may not care about that, and you certainly don't seem to care about Neville, but I will be damned if I allow Harry's godbrother to grow up uneducated as to his role in our society. Either you bring the boy to our next Wizengamot session, or I will bring him for you."

There was a long silence as Lord Longbottom stared at Sirius in horror, before hushed conversations started up around the table. Harry watched Sirius in concern for a few seconds, his godfather was glaring murderously at Lord Longbottom, before turning to Neville who was staring at Sirius as well. Neville didn't look as though he knew whether to be horrified or grateful.

"You alright, Neville?" Harry asked quietly.

"Yes, of course." Neville's expression looked pinched.

Harry grimaced inwardly, before deciding to change the subject. "Do you know what Sirius meant by us being godbrothers?"

Neville's expression shifted to one of surprise. "You don't know?"

Harry shook his head. "I've never heard anything like that."

"Your mother was my godmother," Neville explained. "And my mother was yours."

"Really?" Harry smiled. "That's brilliant. Who is your godfather?"

"Andrew MacMillian." Neville replied glumly. "He was Ernie MacMillian's uncle, but he died in the war as well."

Harry grimaced sympathetically. Neville sometimes reminded Harry of himself when he was still living with the Dursleys, but unlike Harry, Neville didn't have a godfather who could rescue him.