As though seeing Professor Moody cast the Unforgivable Curses on spiders wasn't bad enough, the retired auror spent their next DADA class casting the Imperius Curse on the students. Harry wasn't sure why he, more than his classmates, found the idea horrifying. Sure everybody else seemed a little uncomfortable, but no one seemed as horrified as he was. Though he had to admit that it was nice to know that, for whatever reason, he was somewhat resistant to the curse.

When Sirius flooed in for Harry's duelling lesson later than day, Harry told him about the classes. Harry wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but he was disappointed to discover that Sirius had known that it was going to happen.

Sirius explained that Moody had argued that it was important for them to know what if felt like so that, if they were ever on the receiving end of the curse, they would have a chance to fight it. Harry understood the argument, but it didn't make him feel any better.

The duelling practise went well though and Harry was delighted to be able to see actual progress. His daily left-handed practise was obviously paying off. His sword work with his left hand was still painfully clumsy, though it was getting better, but his wand work was much better. He could now cast all his first and second year spells effortlessly, but the small twists and jabs that their professors had introduced in third year still occasionally gave him trouble. He'd even started using his left hand occasionally in class – but only when he knew he wasn't going to be graded on the outcome.

As well as progressing with his left handed magic, Harry had mastered the Heating Charm wandlessly, in just a month and a half – which put his tally of wandless spells up to five. Now he was going to work on the Shielding Charm, though since it was a fifth year charm (which he wasn't technically supposed to know yet) he thought it would probably take a bit longer to learn wandlessly.

When it came time for Harry to meet Neville and Takashi in the Room of Requirement for their wandless practise, Harry was feeling nervous for two reasons. Firstly, he didn't want to have to admit that he had mastered yet another wandless spell, especially since Neville had only just mastered his fourth, and Takashi was still working on his first. The problem was that his friends would notice if he wasn't working on the Heating Charm any more, and Harry refused to waste his time by pretending to work on it. Secondly, he had given an open invite to his friends to attend the practise and, while he knew that Luna was coming and Draco was not, he had no idea if anyone else would come.

Harry pushed open the door of the Room of Requirement and hesitated in surprise when he saw George Weasley sitting on cushion next to Takashi. Of all the possible combinations of people to attend the practise, he had never considered that one of the Weasleys would come without the other. Harry knew that the twins were two different people, he'd even figured out how to tell them apart (though that was much easier to do when they were standing next to each other), but he rarely saw the one of them without the other.

Neville and Luna arrived together a few minutes later, something that Harry took note of. It seemed as though the two of them had been spending a bit of time together recently, something that Harry approved of whole-heartedly. He thought they would make great friends and it certainly didn't hurt that neither of them were betrothed.

They started the practise soon after, though not before Harry admitted his most recent accomplishment. His friends were, as always, very supportive of him, but he couldn't help but still feel a bit guilty for his success.

Harry offered to take first watch and then, while Neville and Takashi both immediately started meditating, he explained the basics to Luna and George.

"I can't believe mum never taught us how to meditate." George commented as Luna closed her eyes to begin meditating. "I've only been meditating for a month now and I've already noticed a difference in my magic. Though I can still barely manage ten minutes before I get distracted."

"It will get easier." Harry promised him. "I only learnt when I was eleven and by the end of first year I could meditate easily."

"See, you say that like it's supposed to be encouraging." George grimaced. "But knowing that it took a prodigy like you a year, is actually pretty depressing."

"I'm not a prodigy." Harry denied quickly. "I just work hard."

George looked sceptical. "Are you saying that Takashi doesn't work hard?"

"Of course he does!"

"And yet he hasn't even manage to learn one wandless spell in the time it's taken you to learn five." George pointed out. "You denying that you're a prodigy doesn't make anyone feel better."

Harry considered that. "I don't think I'm a prodigy exactly, but I'll admit that my magic is stronger than a lot of people's."

George grinned widely. "Alright."

Harry glanced towards where Neville, who had only been meditating for a few minutes, had already the brought the water in front of him to a boil. "Neville's stronger than most people too."

"Yeah," George followed his gaze. "He's nothing like Ron described him as."

Harry pressed his lips together at the mention of the youngest Weasley boy. While Ron hadn't tried to attack him or Neville again, he still seemed to take every opportunity to harass them.

"I know you and he don't exactly get along." George commented. "But he's not normally as awful as he is when he's around you."

"I know he's your brother." Harry acknowledged. "But he spent our first two years at Hogwarts alternating between staring at me like I was some amazing celebrity that was going to save the world again and staring at me like I was some kind of evil wizard because I was friends with Draco. Now he's going around and telling everyone that my friends and I are Death Eaters. Not to mention that he's an absolute arse to Neville."

George looked grim. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry." Harry said lightly. "You certainly haven't done anything wrong. In fact, you and Fred are both redeeming the Weasley name. Even Draco has admitted that you two prove that the phrase nauseating blood traitor isn't synonymous with Weasley."

"I feel as though I should be offended on behalf of my family." George commented, but he looked more amused than anything. "Draco does know that we're still blood traitors, right? Fred and I are still untraditional."

"Yes," Harry smirked. "To his eternal horror. I don't think he's ever met an untraditional person he hasn't hated with all his being before. But you're not anti-traditional, so that gives you points."

"Mum and Dad are furious at Bill for accepting the lordship." George admitted quietly. "Apparently mum sent him a howler at work and called him an embarrassment. Then he named Charlie as his heir and Mum sent him a howler too. I haven't heard anything from Percy, but Ron's been telling anyone who will listen that Mum and Dad should disown them."

Harry sighed deeply. "That sounds awful."

George clenched his jaw. "Charlie wrote to Fred and I yesterday, apparently Mum actually threatened to disown them if they didn't stop. He said that he and Bill both think that it's an empty threat, but he seemed really upset about it. I am too. It's like she hates traditionalism more than she loves us kids."

Harry reached out a hand and awkwardly placed it on George's shoulder. "What does your dad and youngest sister say?"

"Ginny doesn't seem to know what to think," George admitted. "But, she's much closer to Mum and Ron than the rest of us, so she's starting to take their side. I have no idea what Dad thinks, he usually just goes along with whatever Mum says."

"Will Bill and Charlie abdicate?" Harry asked softly.

"Charlie says no." George rubbed hard at his face. "He says that they're adults and that they both think that the good that Bill can do with a vote in the Wizengamot is worth something. I don't want them to either, they shouldn't have to give up their birth-right because Mum has a prejudice. But I'm scared that Mum and Dad really will disown them and our family will be split up."

Harry had no idea what to say. "That's sounds awful."

"Yeah," George rubbed at his face again. "Fred's furious at Mum, I thought he would blow a cauldron when we read Charlie's letter. Last night, he almost cursed Ron when he told everyone that he thought our parents should disown them."

"I'm sorry." Harry said, his stomach twisting horribly. "If I hadn't told you and Fred about the lordship, none of this would have happened."

George gave him a weird look. "You don't need to be sorry. I'm glad you told us, at least this way Bill and Charlie got to make the decision for themselves and, maybe Bill will be able to do some good in the Wizengamot."

"He will." Harry confirmed quickly. "Voldemort is trying to get all kinds of awful laws passed through the Wizengamot at the moment. Sirius has managed to stop most of them so far, but he could use all the votes he can get."

"Like what?" George asked curiously.

"A law discriminating against werewolves." Harry started. "Sirius managed to block that one last summer."

George looked incredulous. "Why would Voldemort care?"

"Sirius says that Voldemort wanted the werewolves to be angry at the Ministry so that they would join his side." Harry explained. "He's also tried to pass a law to ban muggleborns from holding Ministry jobs, and a law to make it illegal for aurors to cast lethal spells."

George nodded determinedly. "Then it's good that Bill will be able to help. Mum and Dad should be able to see that."

14-14-14

Their second Hogsmeade trip of the year was that Saturday and, as he had the month before, Harry used the opportunity to court Daphne. It was really the only time during the month that the two of them had the opportunity to spend time alone, since normally they spent time with their friends.

As they walked through Hogsmeade, Daphne's hand tucked into the crook of his arm, Harry found himself comparing this date with their last one. While Daphne still wasn't completely herself around him, things had definitely gotten a lot better.

"Professor Snape says that the other schools will be arriving next week." Daphne remarked as they passed the Hogsmeade Post Office.

"Really?" Harry looked down at her serene expression. "I wish Professor Flitwick told us those sorts of things."

"He said that it would be properly announced in a few days," Daphne explained. "But he gave us forewarning and reminded us that we need to have researched the visiting students' customs. He doesn't want us to embarrass him."

"How have you researched Durmstrang's customs?" Harry asked curiously. "They come from so many different cultures."

"I think that Durmstrang is a lot like Slytherin." Daphne answered. "No matter whether you're traditional or not, when you're in Slytherin, you act as though you were."

"So no matter what country the students are from, when at Durmstrang they adopt the Bulgarian customs." Harry worked out. "Don't you think it is strange that they follow the Bulgarian customs even though their school is in the Netherlands?"

Daphne laughed lightly. "Yes, a little. But then Hogwarts was built in Scotland and we speak English."

"So does the rest of Scotland." Harry reminded her with a smile.

"Now maybe," Daphne acknowledged. "But when Hogwarts was first built, they spoke Gaelic."

"Who is to say that Hogwarts students didn't speak Gaelic back then too?" Harry argued mildly.

"Well, 'Hogwarts: A History' for a start." Daphne smirked. "Not to mention that I haven't met a single ghost or portrait at Hogwarts that speaks Gaelic rather than English."

Harry looked down at her in surprise. "'Hogwarts: A History' says that? I don't remember having read it."

"Alright then," Daphne's tone was amused. "Maybe 'Hogwarts: A History' doesn't mention the language at all, but my second point still stands."

Harry's mouth fell open. "You mean you made that up?"

Daphne's expression looked tight for a moment as she looked up at Harry's expression appraisingly, but then she smirked at him. "And it would have worked too, if you weren't such a bookworm."

"A book worm?" Harry gasped theatrically. "Me? Never!"

"Really?" Daphne challenged. "Just how many books have you read since we started back at Hogwarts?"

"I don't think I want to answer that question." Harry admitted with a smile. "I've been told that ladies are rarely impressed by bookworms."

Daphne laughed softly and Harry found himself comparing the sound to tinkling bells. It was beautiful – she was beautiful and he had never been so glad that he had agreed to the betrothal contract.

"So, do you feel fully prepared for the arrival of the new students?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"Of course," Daphne's tone turned slightly snooty. "Mother has tutored me on all the important European cultures."

Harry grinned down at her. "What are your thoughts on the clothing that they wear in Bulgaria?"

"Absolutely nonsensical!" Daphne declared. "It's terribly cold there and the girls still wear scandalously short skirts. It's indecent!"

"I wondered the same thing," Harry admitted. "Though I have to admit, I don't mind the shorter skirts."

Daphne looked scandalised. "Harry!"

"What?" Harry grinned. "It's an equal opportunity thing, you know. I've heard the girls in Ravenclaw ooing and ahhing over pictures of Victor Krum in traditional Bulgarian clothing – it's much closer fitting than our robes."

A blush was spreading across Daphne's cheeks. "Harry!"

Harry chuckled lowly. "Alright, I'll stop, but not before pointing out that Beauxbatons has shorter skirts as well."

"Yes, well, they're French." Daphne replied disdainfully. "One hardly expects that they would know any better."

Harry raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Merlin, Daphne, whatever did the French do to you?"

"Do you not find French culture rather…pretentious?" Daphne asked.

Harry laughed loudly, drawing stares from other students walking near them.

"What?" Daphne narrowed her eyes indignantly.

"It's just a little ironic because that's what anti-traditionalists think of us." Harry explained with an apologetic smile. "If you were to ask Ron Weasley what he thought of traditionalists he would call us a lot of horrible names, none of them being pretentious, because it has too many syllables for him, but all meaning about the same thing."

Daphne curled her upper lip into a small sneer. "We are not pretentious, we simply respect the traditions of our ancestors."

"I know that," Harry agreed. "But don't you think that the French would say the exact same thing?"

Daphne considered that silently. "Perhaps."

"Besides," Harry smiled. "I very much doubt that any of the visiting students will outrank you even slightly."

Daphne looked sceptical. "I am only the daughter of an Ancient and Noble House."

"Well, yes," Harry acknowledged. "But you are also the betrothed of the Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Black and Potter."

A shy, but pleased smile appeared on Daphne's mouth. "I hadn't thought of it like that."

"If you like, I could ask Sirius about finding the Potter Heiress ring." Harry proposed nervously. "I considered giving it to you before we came to Hogwarts, but I didn't want to without talking to you first."

Daphne stopped walking, forcing Harry to stop as well. She dropped her hand from his arm and turned to face him. "Really? Draco hasn't even given Astoria the Malfoy ring yet and they've been betrothed since she was an infant."

"I know it's early," Harry admitted, his stomach twisting nervously. "But we aren't two people who were forced into this by our parents, we're friends who agreed to be betrothed."

Daphne's eyes looked shiny and Harry really hoped that she wasn't going to start crying. He had no idea how to deal with crying girls. "You're serious?"

"Very!" Harry answered firmly, though he was starting to doubt himself. If Daphne was this surprised by the idea, maybe it hadn't been such a good plan.

A flush spread across Daphne's face and she looked down shyly. "I would like that, Harry, thank you."

Harry suddenly felt awkward and he searched his mind for the lessons Cousin Narcissa had given him and Draco on courting. It took him a few seconds, but eventually he remembered a comment that she had made the year before. His stomach twisting nervously, because what if he messed it up and looked like an idiot, Harry picked up her right hand and gently bestowed a kiss to it.

"It would be my pleasure."

14-14-14

That evening, Harry composed two letters: one to Lord and Lady Greengrass asking their permission to give Daphne the ring and one to Sirius asking for both his permission and the ring. Both the letters were more of a formality than anything, but Harry still couldn't help but feel sheer relief when, two days later, he received a letter expressing the Greengrasses' surprise and delight.

Sirius' response to his letter came later in the day, and in person, when his godfather flooed in for their duelling practise.

"The Heiress ring, Harry?" Sirius asked, as Harry entered the classroom. "Already?"

"Merry meet, Sirius." Harry greeted him with an amused smirk.

Sirius, who was sitting on the edge of Remus' desk, waved a hand dismissively. "You've only been betrothed for two months, don't you think it's a little too soon?"

"I know it's not how it's usually done." Harry admitted, replacing his smirk with a serious expression. "But I'm going to be Lord Potter in less than a year, so in a way it is like I'm giving the ring to her when we're sixteen. Besides, it's not as though we hardly know each other – we're friends."

Sirius looked unconvinced. "Last month you told me that she was terrified of you. Things don't change that quickly, Harry."

"She wasn't scared of me." Harry argued. "She was scared that I might turn out like Eugene."

"And you've managed to completely reassure her that you won't in one month?" Sirius asked sceptically.

"Mostly." Harry nodded. "She still gives me worried glances sometimes, but we had a really great time together at Hogsmeade on Saturday."

"One good date, does not an Heiress ring make."

"That makes no sense." Harry replied in a strained tone, he hadn't expected Sirius to have a problem with him giving Daphne the ring.

"Tell me why you want to do this." Sirius suggested, his expression softening.

"Because I really like her." Harry started. "Because she's going to be Lady Potter one day and she shouldn't have to curtsey to Draco, Theo and Neville just because I haven't given her the ring yet. And she definitely shouldn't have to curtsey to any nobility who comes from Durmstrang or Beauxbatons. Because I want everyone to know that we're betrothed."

Sirius turned his attention to the ceiling and stared at it silently for a minute. Despite being used to his godfather's need to think serious things through silently, Harry struggled not to shift impatiently while he waited.

"Alright." Sirius said eventually. "You can give her the ring. I presume you've asked her parents' permission?"

"Yes." Harry answered quickly. "They think it's great."

"But before you give her the ring, we're going to have a conversation." Sirius grimaced. "Sit down."

Harry moved a chair out from behind one of the desks and sat uncertainly, what could Sirius want to talk about?

Sirius cleared his throat. "Now, I presume that you know how, uh, witches and wizards, um, get it on?"

Harry froze, his face immediately heating up. "Um, yes, sort of."

"Sort of?" Sirius repeated in horror. "Merlin, uh, well, alright, well…witches have, um, Quidditch hoops, and wizards have quaffles. Sex happens when the wizard throws their quaffle through the Quidditch hoops, but, uh, sex is also anytime that a witch interacts with the quaffle and anytime the wizard interacts with the Quidditch hoops."

Harry slid down his chair, he didn't think he had ever blushed so hard in his life. "Merlin, Sirius..."

Sirius was fiddling with the sleeves of his robes and was looking everywhere but at Harry. "There are different kinds of marriage bonds, but if you want the deepest one, there can't be any interaction between your, uh, quaffle, and Daphne's…"

"I get it, Sirius!" Harry interrupted quickly.

Sirius sighed in relief. "Okay. But if you do decide to, uh, play Quidditch together, you have to be careful. If your quaffle goes through any, uh, hoop, there's a chance that you will end up with a, uh, goal that you'll have to look after."

Harry's shoulders curled in as he rubbed at his face. "Sirius..."

"And there's always the chance of one of you getting, uh, a disease." Sirius continued relentlessly. "So, uh, you should probably just make sure that you don't go anywhere near each other's, um, Quidditch equipment until you're bonded."

Harry nodded quickly, anything to get out of the conversation. "Got it."

"Okay, good." Sirius grimaced.

At the sound of someone laughing loudly, Harry and Sirius both turned to their right to see Remus standing in the doorway of his office. Harry slid further down in his chair. Merlin, could this get any more embarrassing.

"Kettle calling the pot black there, Black." Remus chuckled. "Or should I come up with an awkward Quidditch analogy for that too?"

Sirius groaned loudly and rubbed at his face. "Shut up, Moony."

14-14-14