AN: Hello everyone, I am glad to see that many of you have enjoyed the last chapter. Things seem to finally be getting somewhere normal again though I still hold no promises that chapters will be regular again yet. Back to the show shall we.
Harry sat quietly in his room, it had been a relatively normal day despite the fact that there was the impending dinner in just a couple of hours. He had received the invitation and responses from Amelia, who had wanted him to be in the loop on everything that the dinner tonight would entail. He had found the idea to be both great and daunting as everyone would be in the same room.
It will definitely be an interesting evening. He thought to himself as he looked at his watch to see that he should have gone to bathe nearly ten minutes ago.
You're just now realizing this? Hermione asked as she gently urged him to get a move on. Lateness is not a good example to set tonight love.
He laughed as he wrapped himself around her in their mental space. I know, but I want to not smell like a potion gone wrong. She laughed at his interjection. He sighed and stood from the bed. If I am not out in twenty minutes come get me.
He felt her nod and then she receded from him as he began to pull together what he felt would be an appropriate enough outfit. He sighed as he realized that the only thing he really had to go with that would be even remotely fitting was the suite he had received yesterday from Sirius' Solicitor. Surprisingly it had fit him well when he tried it on, but now he wondered if the black would be too formal.
Shrugging he finally decided that he'd pair it with his Hogwarts Robes and Gryffindor tie to at least give a little extra color. Gathering up everything he made his way through the quarters and down the hall that led to the bath.
He pushed open the door and stepped in, setting his gathered clothes off to the side as he began to get ready for the bath. He was just turning around and beginning to undo his tie when he realized with a jolt that he was not alone.
In the large pool that served as the tub Daphne was floating quietly on her back, her body nearly visible in the soapy water. He turned back around but was surprised further when she called out to him.
"There's no need to leave." She said and he heard her adjust herself. "I don't bite."
He turned back around to see that she had sunk back into the water allowing her privacy to return. He smiled awkwardly as he settled onto the chair he had been about to toss his clothing onto.
"Sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in here." He said as he kept his eyes locked on hers, refusing to allow himself to look down into the water.
"It's alright, I think we can all agree that at some point we will end up in a lot more intricate situations than this." She said, indicating their marriage and life together. "I can't say that I am used to a boy being the one to barge in on me though."
He smirked. "I said I was sorry." He cried, catching on that she was teasing him. "Though I am surprised that you are comfortable with me being in here."
She shrugged, "In Slytherin House, the bathrooms all have pools instead of tubs or showers." She said as she made her way over to rest against the side of the pool, staring up at him. "You get used to sharing I guess, though definitely not with someone of the opposite gender."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "The girl's all bathed together?"
She shook her head. "No, not always. Usually it was just those I was on good terms with, and really only those in my year."
Harry frowned. "I can't imagine that seeing Pansy Parkinson naked is a pleasant sight."
Daphne giggled. "No, but then again she isn't one of my friends." She said before imitating the girl in question. "Oh Draco, you're so beautiful. If that's your idea of a come on then please kill yourself bitch." She hissed with a frown.
Harry laughed. "I know, it's like does she have any idea how ridiculous she sounds."
Daphne nodded and smiled softly. "If you're going to bathe before dinner then I suggest you get in already, otherwise there won't be time." She said, indicating that the bath was already ready and that he needed to hurry.
"A-are you sure?" He asked, indicating that she was already in the large pool.
"You are going to ask?" She asked, rolling her eyes though still smiling. "Harry, as you are already well aware, we are eventually going to be married. Need I remind you, again, that eventually you are going to be doing a lot more than that with not only myself but Hermione and several others."
He smirked. "Hermione said much the same thing the first time we used this pool." He said with a sigh.
"Precisely, now are each of us going to have to remind you of this fact or are you going to get over your highly commendable modesty." She said as she pushed back from the wall and swam back across the pool, kicking her feet to propel herself. "Now, get in."
He shook his head at her antics and did as he was bid, knowing better than to argue. She and Hermione were very alike in some ways and he was glad that they got along so well.
Removing his uniform and quickly slipping into the water, he moved over to a corner of the pool and quickly began to wash. He knew she was right as was Hermione, but it still felt odd to be in a bath with a girl. He could hear her as she continued her enjoyment of the pool, keeping her distance despite her brazen comments.
After a few minutes he began to relax and he let his mind wander again over all the events of the last few days. So much has changed, I just hope everything begins to make sense again soon. He thought to himself as he continued to review everything.
"Are you always so pensive?" She asked, making him jump at how close she was, only a couple of feet away.
He looked up, catching her eyes again as she cocked her head to the side and watched him with an intrigued expression. "No, just not used to all of this." He said, realizing that the only real experiences she had had with him thus far had been just in the last few days.
"Good, because I do enjoy your company." She said softly and smiled. "And I want to get to know you, not just what you have shown but the you that the rest of the world doesn't get to see."
He smiled and sighed. "It's just a lot to take in, and a lot to try to understand all at once."
She nodded. "Well, I can see your point." she said with a sigh. "I guess having known all about this for most of my life has left me with little in the way of anything else to think about."
He nodded, she had spent most of the evening her first night discussing how she had been told from the time she was six that she would eventually marry him or whoever the next Lord Black was. Her parents had ingrained it into her very being due to the laws and necessities of everything there was little else that they could do.
"I just wish..." He said quietly and then shook his head.
"No, tell me." She said gently, encouraging him with her smile. "as I said I want to know you; what you think, feel, I don't want to know what it's like to be Bonded with Hermione, but I want to know you."
He nodded and sighed. "I just wish that I had been given the same time to become accustomed to this knowledge." He said and she nodded. "I am not upset or anything, but being given the time to process all of this would have been a lot more beneficial to me."
She smiled and moved slightly closer, leaving about a foot and a half between them. "I can't say that having the time makes it easier, just...gives you more time to prepare I suppose."
He nodded, keeping his eyes locked on hers despite the fact that the soap was virtually little more than a thin film now. She smirked as she looked him over though he noticed that her own eyes did not look beyond his shoulders.
"I can't say that I am not pleased with your modesty." She said quietly bringing her eyes back up to his. "But I am not going to hex you if you decide to let your eyes wander."
He could feel his cheeks turn red at her invitation and she laughed. "I-I-"
"You what?" She asked, teasingly despite her own pink tint to her cheeks. "You want me to make the first move?"
He blinked and shook his head. "It's not that." He said matching her tone. "I- it just doesn't feel right, not yet."
She smiled. "Oh you and your Gryffindor chivalry." She said before closing the distance between them until they were nearly touching. "I am yours, now will you accept that fact and get over this foolish ideology?"
He could feel the warmth from not only the water but also from her own body, their closeness causing him to have to look down at her. She gently reached up and hand a cupped it against his cheek before she stood up on her toes and kissed him. He felt her soft lips on his and he finally broke, his hands slipping around her waist as he held her.
"There now." She said as she loosely wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've made the first move, but this is all I am ready for...for now."
He nodded, he could feel her trembling slightly despite the warm of the water and their own body heat. "Me too." He said softly and she smiled.
"Good, I don't think we are ready for that yet." She said softly before moving back from him. "But when we are I want you to know that I have no set expectations of you, I just want you to be a good man."
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Harry stood in the entrance hall with Hermione and Daphne waiting for the others to arrive. He knew that all of the other girls were in the school, but they had not arrived yet. He wondered if they were waiting for their families to arrive or if they would be waiting in the room that had been setup for the dinner party.
"It's nearly 6:45." Hermione said as she looked down at the silver watch she had chosen to go with her crimson dress. "I suspect they will be arriving any minute now."
Daphne in her own black dress shrugged as he continued to stare out of the open front doors waiting. They had only arrived down here about ten minutes prior, but the waiting was beginning to wear on him as his anxiety at meeting the parents of the girls he was to marry grew. He wondered if the dinner was such a good idea after all, perhaps meeting them individually would have been better.
Maybe, but this will also give everyone a chance to get to know the people you will call extended family. Hermione said as she broke through his reverie. He smiled softly at her in their shared mental space and she closed the distance to take his hand despite their still being separated physically.
As they continued to wait he finally saw the first of the families arrive, Amelia and Rothbert came striding through the doors together. They stopped at the sight of the three of them and Harry nodded his head in greeting.
"Well, aren't you three a lovely sight." Amelia said as she crossed over to them and pulled each of them into a hug individually. "Daphne, it's been a long time."
Daphne smiled at her as she returned the gesture. "Good evening Madame Bones." She said as she was released. "It has been a long time since we got to spend time together." She continued, eyeing her father as if to say it was his doing.
Rothbert smiled and shook hands with Harry before embracing his daughter. "I had nothing to do with that." he said as he also embraced Hermione. "You're the one who didn't want to spend time with Susan once the two of you were sorted."
Daphne clicked her tongue at his response but didn't say anything which brought an amused smile to Amelia and her Father's lips. They were just finishing the banter when they were joined by another set of familiar faces.
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley called as she strode up to the group and pulled him into a tight hug. "It's so good to see you dear."
"It's good to see you too Mrs. Weasley." He said as Mr. Weasley shook his hand in greeting. "Mr. Weasley."
"Harry, I hope you are doing well." Arthur said as he turned to the others. "Amelia, Rothbert always nice to see you both. Is that Daphne?"
Daphne smiled warmly as she extended her hand and shook his. "Hello Mr. Weasley." She said, extending her hand to his wife as well. "Mrs. Weasley, it's a pleasure to finally meet you both."
"You never said your daughter was so pretty." Mrs. Weasley said as she turned to Lord Greengrass with a polite smile. "Though it's been years since we were in the same circles, I barely recognized her she's grown so much."
Rothbert smiled. "Yes, it has been a long time." He said with a sigh. "Perhaps far longer than we should have allowed it to be."
Arthur and Molly nodded and stepped to the side so as to be out of the way when the other families arrived. Just as if on cue McGonagall came striding down the grand staircase with Hermione's parents in tow, leading them as Harry guessed from her office after flooing to their home to retrieve them.
"Hello Harry, Hermione." Yvonne said as she hugged her daughter and Harry. "I am so glad you invited us. Hello again Amelia, Rothbert."
Peter hugged his daughter and shook Harry's hand as he and his wife reunited with the other people in the group that they had met both over the summer and in the last week. Harry watched with fascination as Mr. Weasley quickly interjected himself into the conversation and he was sure that it would not be long before he was asking questions of the Muggle world from them.
"Mom, Dad." Hermione said in way of greeting. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you met them over the summer briefly."
"Yes, we remember dear." Her Mother said with a smile. "It's lovely to see you again Molly, Arthur."
The four of them fell into conversation as Harry and Hermione continued to stand there with Daphne, waiting for the others to arrive. Just as they were starting to get a little nervous the last set of expected parents arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Patil in traditional Indian dress.
Harry greeted them both as they shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." he said in greeting.
"I am Parruk Patil." Mr. Patil said, introducing himself. "And this is my wife Ashala."
She nodded her head gently, her smile not faltering as she looked him over. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Potter, I am sorry that we have not met before."
Harry nodded and agreed that he wished that they had been able to meet before now. He was just starting to look around the room to see if the other girls had arrived yet when a large group of redheads came trooping down the stairs.
"What's this now?" one of the twins asked as they, Ron and Ginny stopped before the group.
"Surely we aren't late George." the other said with a wide smile.
"Boys." Mrs. Weasley said, raising a warning eyebrow at the two of them.
"Mother, Father." They greeted before turning to greet the rest of the adults, shaking hands and introducing themselves.
Ginny made her way over to her parents and hugged them tightly, her black dress matching the one Mrs. Weasley was wearing almost identically. Ron also joined them but did not hug his parents despite the fact that Molly began immediately to fuss over his hair.
Harry smiled and then turned to see Susan emerging from the basements as Padma and Parvati descended the stairs. They were all here now, Susan in a light blue dress that set off her features quite elegantly while Padma and Parvati were dressed similarly to their mother. He had not gotten to speak to any of the others in private so this would be his first time actually meeting them under the new circumstances.
"Hello Harry." Parvati said as she joined him, Hermione and Daphne while Padma joined their Parents.
"Hi Parvati." He said, smiling gently at each of them as Susan joined her Aunt.
"Well, I do believe we are all here then." McGonagall said as she looked over the gathering. "Shall we head up?"
Everyone agreed and the older woman took the lead as she lead everyone up the grand staircase and along the first floor toward the room that had been set up for the dinner. Harry wondered if McGonagall would be staying for the dinner or if she would be only serving as guide and temporary hostess.
As they entered the room Harry was surprised to see that Sirius was seated at the table. "Sirius!" He called in greeting as he was pulled into a hug by his God Father.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun now could I?" Sirius said as the room began to fill with the others. "hello Amy, Rothbert."
Amelia and Rothbert smiled genuinely at him as they began to settle into the chairs around the table. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seemed somewhat surprised that he was there, though Harry could tell that they were aware of the changes in his current status.
"Where's Remus?" Sirius asked, turning to look at McGonagall.
"I think he's in his office, I asked if he was going to come down but he didn't answer."
Sirius shrugged and then returned to his seat as the table continued to fill up. Most of the Parents all settled themselves together or with their children in the case of Amelia and her niece. It wasn't long until everyone was seated and then McGonagall took one of the empty chairs as she joined them.
"Well, I am glad we all had a chance to meet at last." Mr. Patil said as he looked around the table. "Some of you I know from our daily lives, some I have not seen in years, but I am glad to get to meet all of you."
His wife agreed and then began to fuss over her daughters as everyone began to fall into easy conversation. Harry was surprised at the varying family dynamics on display before him. The Weasleys all loud in their own way, were surprisingly rather toned down despite Fred and George already falling into steady conversation with Sirius who he could tell was enjoying the laughter they provided. Susan and Amelia seemed more along the lines of Lord Greengrass and Daphne who, while relaxed, were keeping up to general appearances.
It was the dynamics between the Patils that seemed to be the most intrinsic, they were neither part of the upper echelon of society nor, like the Weasleys, hard pressed for wealth. He had learned from Hermione that Mr. Patil was actually an Indian Lord, but he kept a fairly simpler view on the world than what the Lords and Ladies of the United Kingdom exuded.
Conversation was just turning to himself when Harry saw the door open and to his utter bewilderment and horror four people entered. Two of them he knew, Draco and his father, though the older woman he guessed immediately to be Draco's Mother. The younger girl he had never seen before though he could tell that she was of some relation to the three Malfoys.
"Lord Potter." Lucius Malfoy drawled in his usual arrogant manner as everyone turned to look at the newcomers with distaste. "I, that is my family and I, apologize for bursting into your dinner unannounced but we must talk."
McGonagall stood from her chair and strode over to the door. "Lord Malfoy, might you and I discuss this elsewhere?" She asked as she indicated that the subject was not up for debate. "I am here as a representative of Lord Potter and would be happy to assist you however I can."
"I am afraid that this must be discussed only with Lord Potter, he may of course allow you to join us if you wish." He said as he indicated that he would not be leaving the room unless Harry was to accompany him. "This will only take a moment of your time."
Harry sighed and stood, taking in the room around him with an apologetic smile before slipping out of the door followed by the four and McGonagall. He lead the way to McGonagall's office and she opened the door allowing them entrance before closing it behind her as she entered last.
"What do you want Mr. Malfoy?" He asked as he turned abruptly on his heel and stared the man down.
"This." Lucius hissed and thrust a scroll into Harry's hand.
Harry looked down at it and then back at the man. "And this is?"
"Read it and perhaps you will find out." Lucius smirked, his gray eyes dancing with a wicked light.
Harry frowned and looked down at the scroll before unfurling it. He began to read, his mind nearly reeling with each word that he read.
Contract of Marriage
Dated October 27th, 1993
It is herein declared and written that the impending and legally binding contract of marriage between
Lord Harry James Potter and Lady Alexandrine Malfoy, Niece of Lord Lucius Malfoy, is to suffice for the
impending marriage to legally satisfy the ramifications required by House Black and Wizarding Law.
This Contract has been witnessed and signed by Lord Ragnarok, Head Goblin of Gringotts Bank,
London, United Kingdom. Whereas normal circumstances would intervene, it has been notified
within Houses Malfoy, Black and Potter that Lady Alexandrine of House Malfoy will stand in place of
the aforementioned union to House Potter instead of the intended next generation.
Agreed upon herein are the Titles bequeathed by Lucius to his Niece so as to present her in her rightful light.
Lady Alexandrine, Marquess of Paravon, in the duchy of Avignon is to inherit the title Lady Paravon
upon her marriage to Lord Potter, thus reinstating House Paravon with its own Lord upon their Son's eleventh Birthday.
House Paravon in its own right will resume their rightful place in French Society, and as a gift of good fortune
Castle L'ustre de Malfoy, ancestral seat of House Malfoy in Avignon will be received unto Lord Potter upon
their marriage as the new seat of House Paravon. This contract has been approved by all necessary
Parties and is as of the date listed above, legally and arbitrarily binding and unbreakable. Set
forth in stone and writing, the impending nuptials are set legally and bound by magical law to be
performed on Saturday 29th October, 1993. If this marriage has not been performed by
presented dates, Lord Potter will thus relinquish all Tittles, Properties, Rights and other such
indications and will be handed over to Azkaban Prison, marked as a felon for lifetime imprisonment and judicial reprimand.
The contract was signed by Ragnarok, Harry's Solicitor, the Minister for Magic, and several other important figures within the legal standing of the magical world. He reread the contract again before looking back up at Lucius, his insides boiling.
"I believe." Lucius said with a sneer. "That you see the point Lord Potter."
Harry didn't say anything, refusing to rise to the bait that the man before him was attempting to ply him with. McGonagall took the scroll from him and read through it, he watched as her eyes narrowed with each word until she handed it back.
"And who." McGonagall asked as she looked at the white-haired snake. "Did you manage to coerce into forcing this contract?"
Lucius smiled at her. "I never coerced anyone, I simply called upon my rights as a Lord and as an Uncle to find a suitable husband for my Niece. The rest of the matters were drawn up by myself, Lord Ragnarok and Lord Potter's Solicitor."
Harry frowned. "You seem rather eager for this wedding, what with the sudden date."
Lucius smiled coldly. "I have little time to plan weddings Lord Potter, what with my own Son's rather impending marriage of his own and the many intricacies that entails." He said pointedly. "I am sure you are aware now of his marriage to your soon to be wife's sister Astoria, well I simply decided that since you were already so destined for greatness that my own family could not wait another generation or two before basking in it with you."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "First you and your son insult me in every manner you can think of." He said, his tone steady despite the anger he felt. "And now you entrap me in a marriage to your Niece."
Harry turned to see the new Malfoy he was now to marry, she stood beside her Aunt in a pale lavender gown. Her pale blond hair and porcelain skin definitely matched that which he had come to know as Malfoy, however her stern exterior did not match the other three at all. He could sense that despite her relations, perhaps she was not as like her relatives as she seemed.
"Greetings Ms. Malfoy." He said politely as he turned to her. "I am pleased to meet you."
He watched as she blushed, a gentle pink tone coming to her cheeks despite her stoic expression. "It ees a pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Potter." Alexandrine said in a heavy French accent.
"Well, my business is complete here." Lucius said, handing another scroll to McGonagall. "Her School transfer information as well as immediate inclusion into Lord Potter's private quarters, if he does not have them then this is also the approval needed to appoint such."
He turned and his Son and Wife both followed him as he strode from the room, leaving Alexandrine standing there with Harry and McGonagall. As the door closed behind them, Harry immediately felt Hermione in their mental connection and knew that she had been listening intently to the entire exchange.
"Well, I guess that settles that." McGonagall said as she strode over to her desk and stored away the scroll from Lord Malfoy. "I'll give you two a moment then we must head back to the dinner."
Harry watched as McGonagall busied herself to allow the two of them some privacy. He turned back to Alexandrine, watching her as she took him in. After several seconds of silence she finally crossed the room a little closer, her delicate features enhanced as she moved.
"I must say, you are not quite 'ow I imageened you would be." She said, looking his suit up and down. "You seem freendlier perhaps, zo I am not sure eef zat is just your tone or your eyes."
Harry stared at her for a moment. "I'm sorry?" he said, confused by her statement.
"Well, to 'ear my cousin Draco talk about you, you are ze devil." She said, smiling softly. "Zen again, 'e really eez a devil zo in his own way."
Harry laughed at the candor. "Well, at least you have one thing right." He said softly. "He is a devil. Then again his father is far worse than that."
She smiled softly. "Lucius 'as always been a razer funny man." She said with a frown. "Zen again, why he wants you to marry me eenstead of waiting ze required generations for his grandchildren or great grandchildren ees beyond me."
Harry shrugged, he had a few ideas but didn't want to potentially ruin what seemed to be a pleasant enough chat. "Are you aware that we are to marry this Saturday?"
She nodded and he could tell from the expression in her eyes that she was both thrilled and scared. "I 'ave been avare of zis for nearly zree days now." She said and he nearly jumped in shock. "I only arrived een London yesterday zo, so I must say zat I am still getting used to ze idea zat I am to be your wife."
Harry nodded, it seemed that a lot of lives were suddenly being overturned so quickly. "I must ask though, are you aware that I am to marry others as well?"
She nodded, "Yes, I 'ave been instructed of zis, zo I must say zat eet is not zis common in France." She said with a frown. "While I can understand ze reasons, I must confess zat I am somewhat saddened zat I vill 'ave to share you with ozers."
Harry nodded, he understood how she felt. "Well, I hope you will get along with the others, some of them have already joined me in my private quarters while the others should be joining soon."
She nodded, "I see, well zat vill definitely make ze transition eazier zan I was expecting." She said, and he realized that she would be joining them this very night.
"I guess you will be staying with us right away then." He said, as she brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
"Yes, zo I am not sure if any of my zings 'ave arrived yet." She said with a frown. "I vill 'ave to get new robes, ze powder blue of Beauxbatons will not likely be accepted 'ere."
McGonagall smiled softly as she joined them. "Yes, I am sure Harry will be happy to help you with your school wardrobe." McGonagall said with a nod as she suddenly saw three trunks appear in her office. "No Zeldrik, take them up to Lord Potter's quarters please."
A faint squeak was heard and then the owner of the squeak and the three trunks vanished. "Was zat a 'ouse elf?"
"Yes, he's one of the Schools." McGonagall said with a nod. "He was bringing in your trunks. Until next semester you will be welcome to wear your Beauxbatons Uniform, after which time you will require your new Hogwarts robes, we will get your sorted into your new House before then."
Alexandrine raised on eye. "'Ouse? Vat eez zis 'ouse you speak of?"
McGonagall smiled. "At Hogwarts there are four School Houses, each student is sorted into one of the Houses that serves as their school family."
Harry nodded. "I am in Gryffindor as are a couple of the others. Susan is Hufflepuff and Daphne was in Slytherin until a couple of days ago."
"Exactly 'ow many girls are you marrying Lord Potter?" She asked a shocked expression on her face.
"Well, there's Hermione she and I are already married though." He said, counting on his fingers. "Then there is Susan, Parvati, Padma, Daphne and Ginny."
"And now me." She said, and he could see her mind working through her pale blue eyes that sparkled in the candle light of McGonagall's office. "Zis eez quite strange indeed zen."
"Yes." He said and sighed softly. "Yes it is."
She smiled quietly. "Well, shall we go and meet zem zen?"
Harry nodded and turned to McGonagall who took the lead and led them back to the dinner where everyone turned to look at them. He could feel several eyes on him and Alexandrine as she settled herself beside McGonagall. He allowed McGonagall to explain the situation as he was unsure exactly what to say in regards to what had just happened. Several of the Parents were surprised that Lucius had managed to wrangle a marriage though Rothbert was furious that it was only two days away.
"He could have at least given her time to get settled." He said frowning in thought.
Amelia was just as outraged for Alexandrine and swore that she would look into finding a way to try and delay the marriage until a somewhat more reasonable time. Alexandrine thanked her but said that she did not believe that her Uncle would be willing to rearrange the date.
Hermione to Harry's surprise took to conversation with Alexandrine, talking animatedly in fluid French which delighted her. The two of them soon fell into their own small group as Harry returned to the rest of the party. Despite the events of the last several minutes everything seemed to be getting back into order.
"Speaking of a hasty marriage." Amelia said as she brought the subject back to the main reason for the dinner. "I am unsure if you are aware of the full details to the marriage between you and Susan."
Harry raised an eyebrow in concern. "I know that we are to marry due to a legal alliance between Houses Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." He said with a frown.
"Well, yes that is part of the contract." She said with a sigh. "I know that the Potter copy contained a clause that her Children could fulfill, however this is not the case. If you and Susan do not marry by your fourteenth birthday then the death clause of the contract will be enforced."
He froze, this was beginning to get crazier and crazier, at least he was finally getting information that should have already been known to him long before now. "I see, so this explains a lot of why the contract could not be broken."
Amelia nodded. "Yes, we tried to circumvent the situation with adding an extra generation but only your family's contract took the additional clause but due to ours being the original copy yours was nullified before the clause could even stand a remote chance to succeed." She said with a sigh, smiling sadly at the both. "Fleamont, your father, and I wanted to present a chance for one more generation to have peace, but it was not to be sadly."
Harry nodded and gave her an understanding smile. "Magic can be just as much of a pain as it is a blessing."
Everyone at the table laughed and then the conversation turned on to the expectations of each of the Parents regarding whether the girls would be moving into his quarters. Mr. and Mrs. Patil both expressed their wishes that Padma and Parvati should decide as they felt it only right to allow their daughters some say in the matter.
"I think moving in would be best." Padma said as she looked surprised at her freedom of choice. "I know that living with him will present a better chance of getting to know him than staying in Ravenclaw tower."
Parvati immediately jumped at the idea, clearly more excited than her sister despite the fact that they were identical at least in appearance. "I agree, though I would have begged to be moved in with him anyway just to get to be with Hermione if nothing else."
Hermione smiled, she wondered if the twins actually knew of everything yet or if Harry had even mentioned their marriage. "How much do you know about Harry and I?"
The room fell silent as everyone but McGonagall, Amelia, Rothbert, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Daphne and Ron all looked at her and Harry. Harry was mildly surprised to find that Ginny and her Parents seemed to already know what she was about to say.
Parvati and Padma both shook their heads. "Nothing that we know of, other than that you two are quite close." Parvati said with a frown.
Hermione sighed and nodded. "Well, first I must ask that everyone in this room promise not to tell anyone what I am about to reveal."
Everyone, including those who had already swore, promised not to reveal anything shared with them in confidence. Harry smiled as he knew that most of the people in the room would keep this promise, though he wondered just how much Alexandrine would reveal to her Uncle or Draco. It wasn't that he did not trust her, but he didn't know her though he knew both of them well enough.
"A few days ago Harry and I started dating." Hermione began as he felt her sifting through her memories, trying to place the whole week in order. "When we shared our first kiss, Harry and I formed a Soul Bond."
There were mixed reactions all around the room, the Patils looked overjoyed while Alexandrine and Ginny both looked confused, Susan seemed to be on the same level of understanding as Daphne. It was weird the amount of support, and confusion that the room held.
"A Soul Bond?" Alexandrine asked with a frown. "Vat eez a Soul Bond?"
Hermione smiled and then said softly. "We are bound together, forever." The young Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "We share a soul, though we are ourselves we are inextricably linked together for life as Soul Mates."
Her eyes widened at the explanation. "So, does zis mean zat you are inseparable?"
"Yes, we share our soul, our mind and our life cycle." Hermione said with a nod. "We can hear each other's thoughts, sense and see what the other is thinking, seeing hearing, feeling."
Ginny looked moderately intrigued and surprised. "I am sure that's hard to get around." She said with a smile.
Hermione nodded. "We can shield our thoughts from each other." She said with sigh. "But unless we are concentrating then everything is shared."
Susan smiled softly. "Well, then you are both already married and adults." She said, displaying a bit of knowledge that shocked her Aunt.
"Yes." Harry nodded, "Though we are intending to have a larger ceremony when we eventually let the public know. Hermione is Lady Potter we made that official the day I became Lord Potter."
Everyone nodded in understanding and he could tell by the expressions on most of their faces that they all approved. He smiled softly at her before returning his attention back to the group.
"Lady Potter, an honor it is to meet you." George said with a playful air of haughtiness.
"Acquaintance and honor it is to make yes." Fred said with a grin at his twin's antics.
Hermione shook her head at their teasing and sighed. "You two never change."
"Never" they both echoed in perfect unison which made the entire table burst into laughter.
"One would think that with you having a Soul Bond you would be immune to having to marry all of us." Padma said with a frown. "Surely that's true?"
Harry shook his head. "Unfortunately not, while Soul Bonds are rare and highly valuable, they do not grant immunity to laws or marriage contracts."
Everyone seemed astonished by this except Amelia who simply nodded before explaining that while they were rare, they were also governed by the same Laws as what already existed. While Harry and Hermione were made adults by their Bond, the Bond itself could not override contracts made that held a death clause or the potential for a death clause should those contracts not be fulfilled.
"Until about five centuries ago, your Bond would have very much overruled any contracts." She said with a frown. "Sadly several families kept having to push back contracts due to either Male heirs, deaths of the chosen child, or in rare cases Soul Bonds. It was eventually decided that Soul Bonds would no longer share the weight of voiding a contract or forcing it to wait another generation for fulfillment and a new Law as set in place which strictly bound the Bonds to be overruled by marriage contracts."
"Indeed." Sirius said as he spoke up. "It was one of my ancestors who wrote that Law, the Death Clause it was so ineptly nicknamed."
Amelia frowned. "Lets not be funny Sirius, the Soul Bond Reformation of 453 was not a laughing matter."
Sirius shrugged, and took a sip of his wine indicating that he was not going to argue with her. She nodded and then continued her explanation, describing the major aspect of the Law was to continue to promote Blood Purity, while still honoring and upholding Soul Bonds as a whole.
As desert began to wind down, and the conversation turned back to the subject of who would be moving in.
"Susan I am going to ask your opinion, I am unsure how best to proceed." Amelia said as she turned to her Niece.
Susan looked surprised. "Um...I guess moving in would be easiest to get to learn to be with each other." She said as she looked between her Aunt and him. "I would rather he not be a stranger when I marry him at least, not that you're a stranger now Harry."
He smiled at her addendum. "But I am." He said with a gentle shrug. "It's true, we've never really known each other well."
She nodded and sighed before turning back to her Aunt. "Then that settles that, I guess moving in it is." Amelia said with a gentle smile of her own.
"Ginny wants to move in with you as well, though I asked her to wait until this weekend." Mr. Weasley said with a sigh. "I will be submitting the paperwork to have her transferred over the next few days Minerva."
McGonagall nodded. "I will be on the lookout then."
Alexandrine frowned at the conversation. "I wish zat I could 'ave 'ad ze choice, zo I can understand ze want to move een with 'im is a wise decision." She said. "So, if I 'ad been given ze choice I zink zat I also would 'ave asked to do so. A stranger ees no eezy zing to come to terms with."
Everyone nodded and Harry could sense solidarity around the room. It was pleasing to see that everyone wanted to ensure that they all got to know each other, at least to an extent, before they all jumped in together. He realized with a jolt that Alexandrine would be left out of the surprise that he had coming for his other wives. He would have to rectify that.
"As an added bonus." Harry said looking around the room. "I am inviting all of your to join Hermione and Myself, and now I must include Alexandrine as we will be married come Saturday, to Potter Manor for the Christmas Holidays."
Everyone grew immediately excited by the prospects of getting to spend the Holidays together. Sure most of them seemed to expect that they would have been sent off to him for at least a portion of the Holidays, but now their parents and siblings if they had any where invited as well.
"This will be an excellent time to celebrate various family traditions." Mr. Patil said as he smiled. "I will be sending the forms to have the girls moved in tomorrow morning so that you can get to know each other better."
The rest of the evening was spent mainly in pleasant conversations on various topics. Finally at around ten McGonagall directed everyone back to their common rooms and the Parents all left, leaving Harry, Hermione, Daphne and Alexandrine to return to the quarters. Harry and Hermione quickly made the adjustments to provide Alexandrine with her own room and then everyone entered to depart to their own rooms, though he was surprised when Hermione joined him for bed.
AN: Well, I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. I know it is a lot longer than usual, but it did not want to stop. I do have a brief announcement to make that I am actively looking for a new beta reader to aid in writing both this story and the alternate version Forever Always. If you or anyone you may know would be interested, please DM me and we can discuss the details. Again everyone I am sorry that it was such a long break, but as I said I am hoping that now things will get back to a more normal pace.