A/N: The usual disclaimers apply. I apologize for the wait, it's been taking a while to write this chapter as it has wanted to fight me every step of the way. I hope you all enjoy the new chapter and I hope that all of you are having a wonderful 2023.
Amelia sat quietly in her office as she reread the letter that she had received from Harry. She was surprised by his readiness to get to know Susan and his invitation for both her and Susan to join him and his other Betrotheds for the Christmas Holidays at Potter Manor. She sighed and set the letter down.
"Anything of interest?" She looked up as Rothbert walked in with the boxes of files she had asked him to bring up from storage.
"Just a letter from Lord Potter." She said as she stood to assist him with the boxes, drawing her wand and guiding those he was levitating to secure locations to rest.
"I see, was it in regards to the betrothals?" He asked, smiling gently as he settled into the chair in front of her desk. "I received one this morning as well."
Amelia nodded. "Yes, he has invited her to stay in his private quarters if I and she wishes."
He nodded, "Yes, he did the same with Daphne." he said and flicked his wand, summoning a brandy decanter and two glasses. "Can offer you a glass?"
She nodded and took the glass as he handed it to her. "I would like to say that I want to keep her on her own till they are older." She said and sighed, taking a sip before continuing. "But the specifics of their betrothal contract dictate that they must be married by his fourteenth birthday, something I am not sure he realizes yet as his letter indicated that he looked forward to having time to get to know us before our families are joined."
Rothbert nodded. "Yes, I remember reading that when I was Solicitor for your accounts a couple of years ago." he said and smiled. "I believe you won't have much of a choice if this is the case Amy."
She smiled, feeling a twinge of her old affections for him as he used the nickname he had given her many years ago. "No, because if they don't marry then on the stroke of midnight they both will die."
Rothbert nodded again and she could see his own sadness written there. "I read that as well, was that not included in the Potter Family copy of the contract?"
She nodded, "It is, though not as in detail as was recorded within the Hufflepuff Family vaults." she sighed, "I will have to go up to Hogwarts this week and have dinner with Susan and Harry so that they will both understand, I assume it would also be a good idea to invite all of the others as well and their families so that any necessary things that need to be brought to bear can be."
"I agree." He said with a nod, "Luckily the arrangements for the marriage with Daphne was fairly less complicated, only I stand in the way of it's dismissal and I would rather this be over with than allow it to continue to hover over my family therefor I will not allow the contract to be dismissed and to fester until it reaches a point where death or worse is a potential result."
Amelia nodded, she had known him since they were children and he had always been very firm and abrupt with business decisions or decisions that were businesslike in manner. "That is a wise decision, sadly both the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff Families allowed themselves to nearly die out before the promised union has ran the course that time will allow it before the contracts will enforce the punishments for not completing the obligations."
He nodded and sighed before they were interrupted as Arthur stepped in, closing the door to her office behind him. She raised her head in greeting as Rothbert turned and nodded his head.
"Amelia, I need your...oh hello Rothbert." Arthur said as he froze when he realized she was not alone.
"It's quite alright Arthur." She said with a gentle smile as she motioned for him to take the empty chair at her desk. "How can I help?"
Arthur nodded and settled into the seat, taking the offered Brandy that Rothbert handed to him. "Thank you." He said and took a sip. "I don't know where to start."
Amelia smiled softly. "Well, usually the beginning is best."
Arthur nodded and frowned. "Yes, you're right." He said and took another sip before continuing. "At the turn of the century my uncle Septimus married Cedrella Black." he began, watching as both her and Rothbert nodded, listening intently. "As we all know the Black's require that any family that marries into the Black Family intermarry with each other as well, a tradition that has also managed to find it's way to be enforceable by law."
Rothbert nodded, "Yes, my family also has a debt to marry a few other families." he said with a frown. "My daughters are both locked into arranged marriages with two different families that are both related due to marriages with the Blacks."
Arthur nodded. "Yes, I believe that your eldest is to marry into the Malfoys is she not?"
Rothbert nodded, "Yes, and Daphne is to marry Lord Potter as that is the next family in the line for us to intermarry with."
Arthur sighed. "I see, well my family is also set to marry a member into the Potter Family." he said as he turned to look at Amelia.
Amelia nodded. "Yes, though the contract was to be either a member of this generation or the next, are you considering offering Ginny to Harry?"
Arthur shook his head and frowned. "No, I have fought my entire time as the Head of the Weasley Family to undo the contracts and allow my family the freedom to choose once more." He said with determination. "No, I received a letter from Harry last night offering to marry Ginny so that their children and grandchildren would be free to no longer need to complete the contract."
Amelia smiled, "How respectful of him." she said softly as she held up her own letter. "We both also received letters from Harry this morning as he is also to marry Susan and Daphne."
Arthur blinked and looked to both of them. "I forgot there were contracts between your families as well. Are you going to allow Susan and Daphne to move in with him?"
Amelia frowned. "I don't have a choice in the matter due to specifics in the contract, they will have to marry before the end of next July or our families will end."
"I will be going up to the school this evening to ensure that she is moved in with him." Rothbert said, "I see no sense in not allowing it, they are to be married and they need to get to know each other. What better time than the present."
Amelia frowned. "You don't have to allow the marriage Arthur, or if you do you do not have to allow her to move in with him until they are older."
He nodded, "I wish that I could refuse the match but I would never be able to face my daughter or my wife again if I did." He said with a sigh. "Ginny has been in love with him, or at least the idea of being in love with him, since she was a child. Molly has always supported the kids and if it was found that I refused Ginny her chance to make her dreams come true I would never not be able to look at Ginny without knowing that I denied her something so precious as the chance to be with the one she wanted."
Amelia smiled and gently reached across her desk to warp her hand over his comfortingly. "Then you already have your answer Arthur, now the question remaining is will you allow her to move into his private quarters or will you ask that they remain away from such potentially intimate settings until they are older?"
Arthur took another sip of the brandy, finishing the glass. "I am afraid I do not know. Molly feels that they should be allowed to get to know each other and that living together is the best way, I feel that they should wait so that I can still have time and know that my daughter is not in a position where a situation that she is not ready for could occur. I like Harry, but I don't know how he will be with her."
Amelia smiled gently. "Rothbert and I can assure you that you will never have anything to fear in that regards Arthur." she said as she stowed her letter from Harry away in her desk. "I am going to be inviting all of his Betrotheds and their families to a dinner at Hogwarts later this week Arthur, now that you will be in that number I am inviting you and your family while you are here."
He smiled and thanked her for the invitation as she and Rothbert questioned if he had managed to find anything further about the things they had asked him to look into for Sirius' case. They settled into the files and boxes, reviewing everything as Arthur joined them. She knew it was going to be an interesting week trying to get the dinner planned and everyone there.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Susan sat quietly in a corner of the Hufflepuff common room, several of her housemates sat huddled in their various groups. She had spent the day mainly in the Library working to perfect the summoning charm that Professor Flitwick had assigned in yesterday's lessons.
"Another day lost?" Hannah asked as she looked up from the book she was reading.
"What?" She asked as she turned to look at her best friend. "Why would I think that today was a lost day?"
Hannah shrugged. "You tend to see days spent studying as a waste of time."
"No, I just believe that I am better suited to action rather than inaction." she said with a sigh. "No, today was not lost I did manage to finally summon the book I was working with though Madam Pence nearly threw me out of the Library."
"Well, see at least you managed to have some degree of fun." Hannah said with a gentle laugh. "I know you like to annoy that old bat."
Susan smiled. "Not as much as you do." She said and took up the day's Daily Prophet from where it lay on the table. "Have you read this to-" she stopped abruptly as she read the headline on the front page.
The New Lord Potter
Sources indicate that in the afternoon hours of Friday
that The Ancient and Noble House Potter announced the
ascension of the new Lord Potter. Since the Death of Lord
Fleamont Potter nearly two decades ago House Potter has
inadvertently faded into obscurity with the loss of a Family
Head. It would have been expected that Lord Fleamont's
Son would have followed in his stead, though this was not
to be the case.
It has come forth and been announced by Gringotts and
the Ministry of Magic that Harry James Potter has been
announced as the legal heir and Lord of House Potter, House Peverell, and House Gryffindor as well as preliminary Head and Hear of House Black. While we can expect many great things from the new Lord,we cannot claim to know what he will bring to our world afterso many years with so little news regarding the young Hero ofthe Magical World. I know I myself will be very much interested to see how House Potter will return to our midst and how it's newHead will lead.
~Rita Skeeter, Journalist for the Daily Prophet
She blinked and reread the article again before turning to look at Hannah with a mixture of surprise and dread mounting deep within her. She knew of her betrothal to Harry thanks to her Aunt who had constantly reminded her for years that she was to ensure that she kept herself ready for when the time came. She did not know the specifics, just that due to family ties and old laws she was to marry Harry or die.
"Have you read this?" she asked as she handed the Prophet over to her. "I must get in touch with my Aunt, forgive me I have to go find Professor Sprout."
She stood in her hurry as she continued to feel her rising panic, this was not supposed to happen for a long time yet. She tried to clear her mind as she crossed and exited leaving Hannah and the others behind in her wake. She didn't know where Professor Sprout kept her quarters but she hoped that the Green Houses was the most likely option.
She looked about in her haste and then started off in the direction she knew them to be, hoping that the Professor would allow her to use the floo in her office to call her Aunt. She passed through the halls, not taking in the fact that many of them were empty as the evening began to settle in. It was not until she stepped into the Green Houses that she finally took in her surroundings again.
Searching about she breathed a sigh of relief when she found her Head of House exiting Green House Four. She caught up to the robust woman as she was entering into Green House One, following her inside to ensure that they were alone.
"Professor, may I speak with you?" She asked as she waited for a response.
"Miss Bones." The older woman said as she turned to address her charge. "Of course, I was just locking up for the evening."
She nodded as the older woman looked her over, taking in her distress. "Professor, I was wondering if I could use your floo to call my Aunt." she said trying to keep her voice even. "I am afraid that it's a matter of great import after what I have read within the Daily Prophet today."
The Professor nodded and sighed, "I see, are you referring to the announcement regarding to Lord Potter?" she asked gently, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her arm. "I am familiar with your situation Miss Bones, I know you are to marry him and I know more about his situation besides."
Susan raised her eyebrows but didn't question, she had heard many times that Professor Sprout learned as much as she could about her students so that she could best help them and teach them. She was a rare talent and a rare person in her actions and beliefs and it made Susan appreciate her more than she ever could have realized.
"Yes Professor." She said softly as tears formed in her eyes, falling down her cheeks as she felt her panic and anxiety spike.
The Professor pulled her into a gentle hug, comforting her as she cried into her shoulder. She felt so foolish as she unraveled, quietly sobbing as her mind raced with images that were both pleasant and too much for her. She cried until she finally felt her nerves calming at the soothing words of her Head of House, though she knew she had to speak with her Aunt.
"There now, lets get you to my office and we can call your Aunt." Professor Sprout said as she gently stepped back while still keeping an arm on her shoulder in a gesture of support. "And I think you could use a cup of tea."
Susan smiled gently, reaching up to wipe her eyes as she apologized to the older woman for soaking her robes with her tears. Sprout shrugged it off as though it were nothing, assuring her that it was far more important to her that she was taken care of. They set off back into the castle and she followed her down into the basements to a door not too far from the Hufflepuff common room.
They entered into a sizable room that was filled with various plants, bookshelves, gardening tools and other various herbology equipment. Professor Sprout crossed behind her desk and began to prepare a pot of tea as she motioned for her to settle herself at the Professor's desk. Taking a seat she looked about the room amazed at the wealth of flora that grew everywhere.
"Cream and sugar?" Sprout asked as she set the pot and two cups on her desk before turning to grab the tray.
"Sugar, two please." Susan said as the older woman obliged and handed the cup to her before pouring her own.
She took a sip, feeling the cinnamon warm her thoroughly as her nerves began to settle and she relaxed. "Thank you." She said as she could feel her hands absorbing the warmth from the cup.
The Professor smiled and then took a sip of her own cup before setting it down on her desk. "We have never spoken much before have we Miss Bones?" She paused as Susan shook her head to confirm. "I can't say that I truly understand the situation that you are in, but I have and have had students who were in arranged marriages."
Susan nodded, she had heard about the arranged marriage between Cedric and Hannah though for them it was a far easier relationship as they had been getting to know each other their entire lives. She had only spoken a handful of words with Harry in the three years since they had come to Hogwarts, it was very much going to be like bedding a stranger because in all aspects he was.
She signed and nodded. "Yes, the arrangement is not what has me so worried ma'am." She said quietly, looking down into the tea cup she was holding though not truly seeing it. "In three years I have barely spoken to Lord Potter, I believed there would be several more years before this happened. I thought that there would be more time."
The Professor smiled gently and nodded. "Yes, I do understand." she said softly as she pointed to the door behind her desk. "You can use the fireplace in my chambers, there is powder on the mantle. I will give you an hour before I have to escort you back to the common room."
Susan nodded and thanked her before making her way into the rooms on the other side of the door. She noticed that Professor Sprout styled her rooms in a more practical manner than she had her office, the bed and other furnishings served their purposes and very little else aside from some small oddments and a few photos adorned the room. She crossed over and knelt down beside the fire, grabbing the pot of Floo Power on the mantle.
She gently stoked up the fire that was smoldering low in the hearth and then tossed a pinch of the powder into the fire as she pressed her head forward and stated her intended recipient. She closed her eyes as the grates flew passed until she felt the connection and she opened them to find her Aunt reading in her armchair.
Susan gently cleared her throat and her Aunt set aside the book to stare at her for a moment before she smiled softly. "Good evening Sue." She said as she came and knelt closer to the fire.
"Hello Aunt Amelia." She said as she could feel her voice hitching again as everything rushed forward into her mind once more.
"What's wrong sweetie?" her aunt asked as her expression changed from pleasant to worried.
"Have you read the Daily Prophet today?" she asked, hoping that she had she knew that her Aunt hated reading the news.
"Yes, I expected it to be posted in yesterday evenings honestly."
"What do you mean?" she asked, incredulous that her Aunt knew before even the paper it seemed. "You already knew he was the new Lord Potter?"
Her Aunt sighed and smiled. "Sweetie, I can't tell you everything tonight. I will be coming up to Hogwarts on Thursday evening to have dinner with you and Harry and a few other people."
"I see, I take it the others have all been informed?" Susan asked with a frown.
"You know?" the astonished look on her Aunt's face was surprising. "When did you look further into the matter?"
"Last summer, I wanted to know if he would be mine alone or if I would have to share him." Susan said with a frown. "So many, and the one that died..."
Her Aunt nodded and frowned sadly. "Yes, she was a sweet child, you would have went to school with her at Hogwarts if things had been different."
"I am not sure that would have made a difference." she said pointedly. "I don't see that there is much of a choice in most of his matches, the ones that do seem to rely on someone who we all know will not concede to allow the betrothal to be nullified."
Her Aunt nodded and she thought that she could see a hint of pride in her eyes at her own thoroughness. "Are you mad at me?"
"Mad?" Her Aunt laughed gently. "I'd be more worried if you went into this blindly or refused to know more until it was already too late."
She nodded and they both let out a long sigh before her Aunt began to explain some of the further complications of the betrothal between herself and Harry. She was horrified when she learned that they would have to marry by the end of next July or else they would both die. As they talked her Aunt answered her questions and gently guided her through understanding everything that was to come in the near future.
"I was hoping for us to be working first." She said quietly.
"Life works in funny ways, not everything that happens is without a reason." Her Aunt said with a smile. "Now, don't worry everything will be alright. You will see, Harry is a very polite and honest young man and I am sure you will both be quite happy."
Susan nodded and she could feel her mind easing over the stress that the Daily Prophet had brought. She still was not entirely ready to stop worrying, but the talks with both Professor Sprout and her Aunt had helped greatly. After the call ended she returned to the Professor and thanked her for allowing her to make the call before she was escorted through the now darkening corridors back to the Hufflepuff common room where she bade her Head of House good night before deciding to head to bed.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Harry and Hermione were sitting quietly cuddled together in the common room of their quarters discussing the events from lunch when Professor McGonagall arrived. She informed them that they had a visitor who wished to discuss some topics of immediate interest with Harry. They had followed her quietly down to her office where she also revealed that there were others in the meeting as well.
"Well then, now that everyone is here." Came a familiar drawling voice and Harry felt himself immediately on edge.
"What is Professor Snape doing here?" Hermione questioned before they entered and he could tell that she was trying diffuse the situation.
"Lord Greengrass and his Daughter are also inside as well." She said, indicating that this was what they had been expecting.
"I see, well then lets get this over with." Harry said, he liked Daphne and her Father; but Snape was an entirely different story.
They followed their Head of House into the room and Harry noticed the surprise in Snape's eyes at Hermione's presence. He smiled politely at Lord Greengrass and Daphne as he and Hermione settled into the empty seats opposite the two Professors.
"Good evening Lord Greengrass, Daphne." Harry greeted, nodding to each of them in turn. "I suppose you are here in reference to my letter yesterday?"
Harry shook the hand that was extended to him as the man greeted him warmly in exchange. He had met him briefly the night of his and Hermione's bonding, but aside from a feeling of good will and a desire to get to know his new found family members, he did not really know him well yet. He inwardly sighed and prepared to hear what his future Father-In-Law was going to say.
"Harry, please call me Rothbert." the older man said with a smile. "Yes, I am here to express my wishes and ensure that Daphne is moved into your private quarters with you. I know you would rather have had a choice in the matter to this union and while, I am really the only thing stopping it from not happening, I would like to explain my reasoning to you."
Harry nodded, he was somewhat surprised that he was going to get an answer to this question despite how open the man seemed to want to be with him. "I would be lying if I did not say that I was curious."
Rothbert smiled and chuckled. "Yes, well I can understand." he sighed and Harry could see that he was trying to get his words together. "Every Noble or Ancient House is required by law to only have a single Lord presiding as the Head. When one Lord holds more than one title this begins to cause a strain on the actual number of Lords and Noble Houses as well as on the consensus within the Wizengamot."
Harry listed as the man began to describe the impacts that not having one Lord per House and multiple Titles per Lord consistently seemed to have upon the Magical World. Harry was not surprised to find that this is what lead to the political shifts that swayed those on the Wizengamot in their decisions for making Laws and ruling over trials. More than that it lead to extreme vast differences in the wealth of individuals, a privileged few was always a healthy and honest way to run society while there were still others who could rise to greatness on their own joining those few."
Harry nodded his agreement as the older man continued on. "However, when only a few truly hold most of the vast wealth within the Magical World then those few truly rule it." he stated pointedly. "It is better to have the power and wealth spread out over all."
Harry nodded. "I can respect that opinion and I can agree with it, having all wealth and power in the hands of one or a small few would cause worse problems."
Rothbert nodded. "The next reason I have is this, I have never been one for postponing important matters." He said with a smile toward McGonagall who nodded her agreement. "If you and Daphne did not marry then the contract would pass along to the next generation and so on until it reaches a point where it would then become a curse and if our families did not marry we could face extinction or worse."
Harry frowned. "So it's better to simply get the contract out of the way and as I am also Lord Black what better way to restore the Black Family to their own line again."
Rothbert nodded. "Yes, as such I refuse to allow the contract to reach such a drastic and dangerous point and would rather we ensure that the potential for such be eliminated."
Harry nodded, "I can see the logic." Harry agreed again and could sense Hermione's own agreement and acceptance.
"Well while this has all been rather pleasant, can we simply get this over with?" Snape said as he looked between the two and it was evident that Snape also disliked Rothbert.
"It's just a simple transference Severus, all we need is for you to sign as well myself, Lord Greengrass and Harry and then Daphne will be moved out of your House into mine under the protection of Lord Potter."
Snape nodded and picked up the quill, smoothing out the transference form before he signed his name in the appropriate location. "There, now if you will excuse me."
They watched as he stood and left the room, his robes snapping out the door as he vanished from their sight. McGonagall shrugged as Daphne and her Father rolled their eyes.
"Now I sign as I am taking her into Gryffindor House as a ward, she will still wear her Slytherin robes for the remainder of this semester. You will have to get them refitted to Gryffindor scarlet and gold before the next semester or you will face issues with being out of uniform."
Daphne nodded and Rothbert smiled. "This is going to be an interesting turn of events, there hasn't been a Greengrass in Gryffindor House in nearly three centuries."
McGonagall nodded, "Yes and that is how we found ourselves to be related through a long and extremely convoluted line of misadventures."
Rothbert burst into a round of laughter as McGonagall signed her own name and passed the form to him. "All you need to do is sign and then Lord Potter will sign. This simply shows your approval of their new arrangements and Harry's acceptance."
Harry turned to Daphne as her father read through the form and sighed. "I will get you the new robes." He said softly as he smiled apologetically. "It's my fault that you are having to transfer."
Daphne grinned. "It's not your fault." She said with a playful smirk. "But I will gladly let you do so if Daddy isn't against it, it will give us a chance to spend time together over the Christmas holidays."
Harry nodded, "Actually I have already invited you and your father to Potter Manor for the Holidays, as well as the Bones', Patils and the Weasleys. You are also invited Professor." He said as he turned to look at their Head of House with a respectful smile.
"Thank you Potter, I will be glad to join you." She said as the form was handed to Harry. "Now, you sign as you accept responsibility of Miss Greengrass while she is here at Hogwarts and not under the care of a Professor or other medical or legal professionals. You also accept the change in her status from Slytherin to Gryffindor and the transfer of her and her belonging into your private quarters."
Harry nodded and signed, handing the form back to McGonagall who filed it away in her cabinet and then returned to her desk. "Now that the paperwork is out of the way, Miss Greengrass your belongings have already been moved up to your new residence."
"Thank you Professor." Daphne said with a frown. "But I don't understand, I thought that you could not change your House?"
McGonagall nodded and smiled. "Normally this is the case as it is usually a destined choice, however due to the innate animosity between the Houses when it comes to Slytherin House and especially their own prejudices; we felt that it would be safer to transfer you into Gryffindor House instead of leaving you open for potential attack or insult."
Daphne nodded. "A wise and somewhat surprising course of action, especially considering most of Slytherin would love to see Harry suffer or worse."
McGonagall nodded. "Precisely." She said and sighed.
"Was there anything else we needed to discuss?" Harry asked as he turned back to Rothbert. "I am sure you will have questions."
Rothbert smiled. "I would love to chat at some point, but unfortunately I must be on my way this evening. I may try to come up to join you for dinner soon."
The three of them expressed their excitement before Rothbert left leaving them with Professor McGonagall. "Well, unless you have any questions you are all free to return to your quarters."
Harry nodded and together with Daphne and Hermione he exited the office and they began to walk. Harry was surprised that Daphne was joining them just a few hours after they had met for Lunch, but he was glad that they would now have a better opportunity to get to know each other.
"Well that was unexpected." Daphne said as they reached the stairs, breaking the silence. "I expected Daddy to be here today, but not a transfer of House."
Harry nodded and Hermione smiled gently. "Yes, well I can understand Professor McGonagall's thoughts." Hermione said as they began the climb up to the seventh floor. "Besides, now you won't have to worry about what the Slytherins will say or do."
Daphne smirked, "True, though they will still be there anyway." She said reminding them of that unpleasant fact. "But I am more curious to see how the Gryffindors will take having a Slytherin in their House."
Harry and Hermione both laughed at that realization and they settled into easy conversation as they made their way up to their quarters. He wondered if the others would following as swiftly as Daphne had but he hoped to at least get a chance to meet with the others beforehand like he had with her.