Well my friends, the good reception of the prologue compels me to continue posting! I hope you like the new chapter, and I'll see you next week!

Lori

********** Chapter 1 **********

"Severus just left, Siri. You're safe from his solemn demeanor." James grinned as his friend waltzed right into the receiving room without being announced.

"Severus was here?" Sirius grimaced. "Why did he visit?"

"Your cousin's child was born yesterday morning, Siri." James frowned. "Weren't you told?"

Sirius laughed and scratched his neck. "That must be the owl my elf was nattering on about this morning! I was too occupied with thoughts of Harry."

James shook his head in amusement. "Well he was finally born yesterday morning. Two weeks late!"

"That's wonderful!" Sirius grinned as he sat down to eat the morning meal with his friend and king. "I worried about Cissa carrying this long."

"Severus also informed me of an interesting idea that Lucius has come up with. Severus is the boy's godfather, you know." James smiled as he passed over a plate of fruit. "Lucius wishes to betroth our sons to each other."

"James, are you sure you want to do that? Harry isn't even a year old. The Malfoy heir is just one day from the womb!" Sirius frowned. "Do you really want to plan their adult life already? You don't even know if they'll like each other! Hell, you don't even know whether they'll like men or women yet!"

"I'll take the chance that he'll ask to change the bloody contract, Sirius, even if there's a penalty. Lily and I will feel better if these things are planned. It'll keep Harry safe and give us peace of mind." James frowned. "If you'd rather we chose a different person to negotiate…" his voice trailed off as he looked earnestly at his lifelong friend, "...but you're his godfather, so I'd much prefer it be you…"

"Me?" Sirius felt pride fill his heart again as he assured his friend. "Of course, I'll do it. Narcissa is my cousin, so she and Lucius will deal well with me. I just...I just want you to be sure."

"I am. This is just a preliminary agreement," James explained, "We'll take the next year to settle all the terms and sign it on Draco's first birthday. If all goes well, they'll marry when he turns seventeen and bring the whole wizarding world together as one."

The other man nodded slowly. "That sounds pretty logical, actually. Alright, I'd better go if I want to get there in a decent amount of time."

"I want you to stay safe on the roads, Siri. Better yet, instead of horsing around, you should Apparate and use my invisibility cloak." James waved his wand to summon it.

"That's a good idea, James." Sirius let James throw the cloak over him and clutched it tightly as he turned in place and Apparated to his home, which was closer to the border of the two countries. He rested and ate a small snack before wrapping himself in the cloak again and Apparating further.

********** LTF **********

He arrived at the royal residence in London and only took the cloak off when the doors were opened to him.

"Master Black, sir! Their Highnesses are having luncheon, sir. Would you be joining them?" The elf asked.

"Yes. If they don't mind, of course." Sirius grinned at the creature.

"Please to be waiting, sir." The elf bowed to him and popped away. It wasn't long before he popped back and began to lead Sirius toward the dining room.

"Cissa! Lucius…" Sirius grinned as he approached the table. "Wonderful news! Congratulations!"

She waited for him to come closer and then threw her arms around his neck. "Cousin Sirius! How lovely it is to see you!"

Sirius chuckled and hugged her back. "Hello, 'Cissa..."

"Did you come to see Draco?" She asked pulling him along to the table.

Lucius stood and reached his hand out. The two men shook hands before taking seats.

"Of course I want to see your child, Cissa, but I'm here on royal business also." Sirius told her lightly.

"What type of royal business?" Narcissa asked.

Lucius broke in. "I assume that James has sent you with his answer?"

"Indeed. James and Lily have decided that it's a good idea to make a betrothal contract with Draco, but the details of that can wait until we've eaten." The raven haired man grinned as he began to fill his plate.

Narcissa frowned. "Our son is not even two days from the womb, Lucius...and theirs, just under a year! You want to marry them off already?"

"I said the same thing, Cissa. They say that it'll take a while to settle the terms anyway and, for now, it'll give them peace of mind." Sirius said holding her hand lightly.

"We don't even know if Draco will like women or men! I think this is foolhardy." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Cissa, relax..." Lucius interrupted as he took a thin piece of steak and cut it up. "I have called our solicitor – who also happens to be Draco's godfather – to join us here and we will all have a say. Then, Sirius may take our offer to James and Lily."

Sirius just nodded and he dug into the eggs, bacon and sausage on his plate. He had only eaten a snack after all.

"Good morning, Your Highnesses! I came as soon as I got your missive, Lucius." Severus Snape said as he hurried into the room. "Greetings, Lord Black..."

Sirius grimaced but somehow managed to make it look like a smile. He knew he had to be polite. "Hello, Mr. Snape."

"Severus is not just our solicitor, Siri; he's Draco's godfather." Narcissa smiled at the dark haired man. "I'll expect you both to be civil while this betrothal contract is being dealt with."

Sirius was unsurprised to hear the other man's voice join his as they both agreed.

Soon the dishes were cleared and they all gathered in the drawing room.

"Alright, Severus, how shall we begin?" Lucius asked as he sat behind his desk.

"I'll need parchment and a quill, first, Lucius." Severus began. When he had them at hand he turned to face Sirius while writing the first few words of the standard royal betrothal contract. "Who is Draconis Hyperion Malfoy petitioning for the hand of?"

Sirius tried not to roll his eyes at the pompousness of his old schoolyard enemy. "Harrington James Potter."

"Draconis Hyperion Malfoy petitions for the hand of Harrington James Potter..." Severus smirked as he wrote that down and began a new line. "He offers..."

"Draco has a dowry of almost one million pounds in muggle money. In addition to that, his Gringott's vault holds several million galleons and many heirlooms." Lucius listed for Severus to make note of.

"Harry's is more than double that. He has two million pounds in muggle currency and several hundred million galleons in his vault at Gringott's." Sirius' eyes sparkled as he added some information that he didn't think the Malfoys knew. "The blood and power of Godric Gryffindor runs through his veins... and his fortune has been growing since his earliest ancestors' time."

Both the king and his solicitor somehow remained stoic, but the queen's face quickly lost its color.

Narcissa gasped. "The Scottish magical throne is that old?"

Sirius smirked. "Indeed, Cissa..."

"And they're entertaining the thought of our joining their family…" She met his gaze. "It means all of us... I won't have my Dragon moving away and forgetting all about his mummy and daddy."

"I'm sure Lily will say the same when I speak with her and her husband." Sirius assured his cousin with an affectionate grin even as Lucius rolled his eyes.

Severus cleared his throat. "Let's get back to business so that you don't keep them waiting...shall we?"

Sirius had a satisfied smile on his lips while they wrote out the first draft of the betrothal contract.

********** LTF **********

The negotiations went on for months. Each side had demands and conditions to be met. Every detail needed ironing out before the final contract was ready and so James Potter's prediction proved correct. The betrothal contract was signed on Draco's first birthday.

Both England and Scotland celebrated for a time and, after a while; people began to live their own lives again. Sirius Black and Severus Snape were frequently called upon to escort the children to and from each of their homes so they could become friendly. The kings and queens were overjoyed with how well the boys got on.

Soon they forgot about the power hungry dark wizards of the world... security became lax and soon darkness fell upon the royal families of Britain…

Please keep letting me know your thoughts about the story! I love hearing what my readers think!

Lori