A/N: Harry Potter is not mine, this is a story from a fan
Thanks for the reviews everyone. they greatly help my motivation

(BSC 1) C14 Lord Longbottom, lord Potter

It was at the end of the afternoon when professor McGonagall was staring at the sorting hat that was lying in front of her on her desk. Everything she had seen had been disturbing news for her. Nothing was what it seems, or had ever been. What she thought she knew had been nothing but a lie.

All the misery that Harry had lived through in his young life, and everything she had told Albus, had already been known by Albus. And yet he let it all come to pass, he had done nothing for Harry. On top of all this, the sorting hat had forbidden her to say something about it, especially against Albus Dumbledore.

That was the thing that was bothering her the most. In her heart, she wanted nothing else, then to go to the headmaster and give him a piece of her mind. "Sorting Hat when can I tell him what I think of him" she almost begged the hat.

"My dear Minerva, when the time comes you can have your revenge. When the time comes you will know. All we need to do now is to take care of young lord Potter. And you will take a big part in it, you and his friends. Young Mr. Neville Longbottom and young Ms. Daphne Greengrass will teach him what he needs to know. They are the ones who will teach him what it's like to be a lord, and how to behave like a lord. Have faith in those two children Minerva go along with their plans and ideas. Our young lord Potter will soon find his place in our world and you will know it too" said the hat to Minerva

"What do you mean by I will know my place to, you think I do not know my place already" snapped Minerva.

"Have faith Minerva, have faith, that's all I can say".

*#*

The friends were sitting in the common room on the seats in front of the fireplace. Bella was the first to break the silence. "Okay Neville, Daphne, why do you think that Harry here is Lord Potter."

The question came out of nowhere and surprise Neville and Daphne a bit. Hermione immediately got up and ran to her dorm to get a book about the lordship. In that book was everything they needed to know in order to teach Harry, Hermione, and Bella, all about the lordship. Neville stood up and asked them to come with him. Together, the friends left the common room to go to the classroom of professor McGonagall. McGonagall came out of her classroom and asked them what was going on.

"Can we use your classroom professor, Daphne and I want to teach our friends and mainly Harry everything about the lordship of a house. We think Harry is Lord Potter, actually we know for sure that Harry is Lord Potter. "Neville told her honestly.

The eyebrow of Minerva just shot up and she just nodded. "But if you do not mind, I want to check some homework while you tell the others about the lordship". The friends just nodded, they were happy enough that they could make use of the classroom. Professor McGonagall did not have any homework to check, but she heard the sorting hat say she had to listen to what Neville and Daphne were going to tell the others. At this time, she did not know what's going to happen, and just went with it. She took her place behind her desk and put the sorting hat on the shelf behind her.

Neville who was often uncertain, something he had with almost everything he did, asked if he could tell his story first. Then Daphne could assist him if he forgot something. Susan would intervene if there was something they both forgot, Or if she thought to add something. When they were finished, they could ask what they wanted to ask. Nobody said anything and waited for what was to come. Neville cleared his throat and began his story.

"My name is Lord Longbottom of the ancient and noble house of Longbottom". Neville held his head high as he told his story. McGonagall looked at him and was proud of the way he did it, he was a lord worthy. Neville threw a dignified look at his friends and went onwards.

"Because I'm the last man of my family, I have the duty to be lord of the manor. With this title also come many responsibilities. I'm not of age yet, but I do have the title because my father cannot do this duty. My grandmother has been conducting my duties until I'm old enough. After that, I will duly perform the task. My grandmother is teaching me everything that is associated with that task. So when the time comes I'm ready to take on my lordship.

I'm sorry that I have to say this now Harry", And Neville looked straight at Harry, before he went on with caution "But because your parents are deceased, you're the last man in the line of the Potters. That's why we think you're Lord Potter, of the ancient and noble house of Potter. My grandmother once told me that the house of Longbottom and the house of Potter go back many generations, almost to the time of the founders and that we have always been allies. And I hope to be able to continue working with you as allies in the years to come. The reason why I think you're Lord Potter. Is because no one has claimed that title as of yet. It also means that you are the only living Potter. This is also something that my grandmother has told me".

Neville sighed deeply and was proud of what he had just told everyone. As a lord, he had to do it with dignity. But as a child he wanted to keep it simple. But he hoped that his grandmother would be proud of him. Mainly for offering his hand to the house of Potter. After so many years had gone by.

They all looked at each other. Daphne looked at everyone equally. Before she began to speak. "I will now explain to you what the title lord means and what it stands for. Then Neville will tell you again what a Lord of a house should do and must do. "If you have the title lord you must do the following. You are, after all, lord of your house.
This means that you are the boss of your house. You must make sure that everyone in your house, from your children to your grandparents, but also your uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, know that you are there Lord. You must protect everyone in your Family, at whatever level they are. You must decide whether someone is worthy enough to come into your house or worthy enough to be in your house. Even your aunts must ask your permission if they have found a potential husband for themselves. The same applies to the uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews of the family, each of them will need your permission.
You have to defend anyone in your house in danger or by insult. Like an insult to your family name. Is also an insult or threat to yourself, which you could immediately see as a threat to your house. These things can be fought in different ways. Which we will discuss a little later on. Is everything clear up to this point". Again Daphne looked at her friends one by one.

Bella was the first who understood everything that was said. "So Harry is Lord Potter. The owner of the name Potter. But also of anyone who bears this name. He protects and defends that name at all costs. And he will do anything for his name to keeps its honor. He also decides who is worthy enough to be allowed to use that name".

"That's the big picture Bella" Daphne told her with a smile.

Now it was again Neville's turn to talk to his friends. "Now you know what a lord of a house, in a nut shell does. Now the house is not just the name, it's much more than that.

There are five types of houses in the wizarding world. One is a no name, when someone is removed from his house by his Lord. He has no name anymore, all the protection and security that went by that name, he or she has lost them all.
The second is that houses have a name but nothing more, as the house of Hermione Granger. The Granger house is just Granger house and no more. Hermione was the first to introduce that name in our world.
The third is an Ancient house, these are houses that go back more than twenty generations like the Weasleys, too small to have any rights.
The fourth is a noble house, these are less than twenty generations, but big enough to have rights in our world. As a seat in the Wizengamot. These are houses like the David house and the house Patil.
And finally you have houses like ours. Noble and ancient house. Large enough to be Noble, and old enough to be called ancient. if you go further back than twenty generations and more than fifty generations. Then you are a most Noble and ancient House, which is House of Longbottom and House of Potter.

My house is house Longbottom, It Is centuries old. Under my defence are three smaller houses. I cannot mention them only because I forgot, but my grandmother can. The Lord of one of the smaller houses may decide on his own house. However, he can also make a commitment to a large house. Should that happen, I as the big house, have the following obligations. I have the duty to protect that house, defend and help in case of emergency.

In exchange for my protection, that smaller house has its own duty to perform. Those houses want to promise me and follow me in my ways of doing things. This is very important in politics. We will talk about that later. A smaller house can get together with a larger house in different ways. The first is by getting married. Imagine you and Daphne are getting married to each other".

Daphne blushed a little when Neville took her as an example. But in her mind she was hoping it would be true. She already saw herself in a wedding dress next to Harry; it was a highlight in many of her dreams

"If Daphne gets the approval to marry you, then her father will promise to be loyal to your house, and make a commitment to be one with your house. In exchange for that you have his daughter as your wife. There are also other forms of marriage contracts but who have nothing to do with this now. A different way is when a house consists of only women, like the house of Susan. Imagine the husband is deceased and they have no male descendants. In that case the woman can make themselves subordinate to your house. Or they could become concubines to you. Then they follow the way of the house. But now you are obliged to protect and defend them. You may further provide for posterity. Usually the child bears the mother's name in order to avoid the extinction of the house. In this case, house Bones

The last way is by a feud or conquest in war. Suppose someone insults your wife. Then you can defend her in a duel. These can be gain by preparing rules for the duel, or by killing the other. If you do that and you win then you are owner and lord of that house. And you may do what you want. Everything is yours. You are the owner of all his titles and women, but also of all his houses and vaults. At that point you have to take that house into your protection".

This was something they all understood. Harry, however, did not know if he would like to be lord of a house. Bella took his hand and whispered in his ear. "If you're Lord Potter I can be Lady Potter. And I will always be on your side".

This was something that Harry had not thought about. And with Bella at his side than it would not be so bad to be a Lord. Bella had always been there for him. She was the only one who did not run away because Dudley Dursley told her to. She was the one who hugged him because nobody else did. Hold him when he was crying from the pain and loneliness, and not laughed at him when he did. She was his rock in life, his life line to continue. No, Lady Potter would not be that bad, but Bella would be his lady, even when he would not be the Lord. He had the same feelings for Daphne, and yet the feelings for Bella were just a bit stronger.

Daphne stood up and took the position of Neville. Again she looked at everyone and began. "I'm going to tell you about politics and the Wizengamot. The size of your house determined the influence you have. Previously there was a lot of fighting to gain influence. Now it is more negotiating and making allies. But if you have a big house and a lot of minor houses at your side. You can determine a lot in the Wizengamot. The bigger your house, the more seats you have in the Wizengamot. All major decisions are made there by the big houses. Imagine Neville now has two seats under the name Longbottom. My family has one seat under the name Greengrass.
So when I marry Neville. My father commits Greengrass house to house Longbottom. Now we have one seat from house Greengrass and two seats from house Longbottom. Those are three seats that decide on the same thing. I know that the Potters have four seats on the Wizengamot. They probably have more there but I know of four. And which are all held by Albus Dumbledore".

Professor McGonagall heard those words, and knew immediately that something was wrong with those words.

Daphne had not seen that professor McGonagall had looked up and just went ahead. "Neville, has just said that house Longbottom has always been allies with house Potter. That means that House Longbottom and house, Potter now have six seats, which makes with the one seat of my house seven seats on the Wizengamot. There are fifty seats total, so the more seats you have the more influence you can have on our society. The Weasleys have no seat, they have one of the oldest families but never expanded, it's just a little family".

They also understood this. Harry still wondered how he could be a Lord like Neville; sure he was the last Potter. But it was never told to him that he could become a Lord. And that was something he immediately asked for. Neville and Daphne, however, told him only that they thought he was a lord. But they were not sure how to Become One.

Hermione, who had been reading in a book about the Lordship, looked up and coughed loudly, "Neville, you're the last of your family, you're a man, therefore you can be the lord of house Longbottom" she asked and Neville nodded. "Because you grandmother is your family, she may represent you as being Lord of house, Longbottom". Neville nodded again. "So if Harry would have a family member, Harry could become lord of his house, and that family member may represent him". Neville nodded again. "Can a magical guardian also represent a house?" Hermione asked.

Neville was thinking hard about it. However, it was professor McGonagall who answered the question. "No, Miss Granger Only a member of House Potter may do so. No magical guardian and no mentor. If there is no living family member of House Potter, Harry will only be allowed to Become Lord Potter when he is an adult, and that's when he's seventeen years old.

Daphne had raised her finger. And Professor, McGonagall smiled a little. "Miss Greengrass, we are not in class so just ask your question".

Daphne blushed but asked her question. "Well, Professor, I know from my father that Professor Dumbledore is using the four seats of House Potter, and he also represent those seats with that name. so that means that Dumbledore is a relative of Harry".

"Miss Greengrass if it's true what you say, then something is not right here. Professor Dumbledore is not a relative of Mr. Potter. So he can not represent those four seats in the name of Potter. This is something that we need to find out, it means that Albus is misusing the name Potter, only I do not know how we can know that for sure".

Neville immediately came up with a solution for this. "We would have to ask my grandmother, she knows everything there is to know about the Wizengamot". Neville Said to professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall nodded that it was good and took a good look at Neville. Augusta Longbottom was an older friend of hers, and she had told her that Neville was shy and subdued. But you did not see that in this group of friends. Neville was a real Lord. He was still young, you could see that in everything he did, but he had the potential to be a big part of their society.

The friends were sitting there and looked at each other. It was almost dinner time, so they decided to leave the rest for another time. Already they had more information than they thought, and because of that They were really tired. Professor McGonagall had one more question and then they were allowed to go. "Mr. Longbottom, do you think your grandmother could come here tomorrow morning. So we can talk about this, I myself would like to know whether Harry is, or is not Lord Potter. But also what we should do to be sure of that".

Harry nodded that he too wanted to know it. Bella sitting next to him whispered in his ear that she wanted to know the answer as well. Neville told Professor McGonagall that she had to ask his grandmother, she would definitely do it if McGonagall asked. He knew she never did anything special on Sunday, so she did had the time for it. And that she would surely come because she loved to talk about the Wizengamot.

It was another half hour before they were allowed to eat. Together, the friends were also quietly walking towards the main hall. It was Saturday night so everything went slowly. Harry now had a lot to think about. Not that he understood much of the idea, but he did find something very interesting. Would he have more family? That was something he definitely wanted to know. And if you would look at him deep in his hard, then it was his deepest wish. Somewhere someone who could really love him just because he was Harry.

Because they had already finished their assignments for that week, and already had some work done ahead they had the rest of the weekend to simply enjoy. They knew they were not allowed into the Forbidden Forest, but they had been allowed to walk along the lake. That was something they did every day if they had the opportunity for it. It was a lovely walk for about three quarters of an hour. Hermione walked beside Neville and was obviously enjoying his presence. Bella was walking beside Harry and Daphne walked on his other side. Susan went to the other side of Hermione and just enjoyed the walk. With the six of them they had a lot of fun the first four weeks of school.

Bella was really pleased with their group of friends. Hermione was the one who could get the most knowledge out of a single book in record time. Neville, who knew all about plants, and how you should deal with them. Harry who was good at spells, especially in explaining it to others. Daphne, who knew exactly how to get something done with the grace and elegance of a lady, Susan kept everything under control; she was the peace factor of the group. No, she was pleased with the friends they have now. But most of it, she was happy with Harry. He was the opposite of what he was at home. Here he was a real boy, had fun and was happy. He did not have to look over his shoulder. Here he also took care of her even better than at home. "Harry?" She asked.

"Yes Bella" he said.

"Harry would you want to be a lord of a house."

"I do not know Bella, the only thing I want to have is a family, and not the Dursleys where I was left to live with".

Bella knew that Harry always had a difficult time living with the Dursleys. She even once asked Arabella if Harry could live with them. Arabella had just said that he could not, but she had never told her why. Harry was walking in the middle between Bella and Daphne. For the first time in eleven years, he had friends, and Bella was happy just to be one of them.

Back at the castle they encountered Professor, McGonagall. "Mr. Longbottom, Your grandmother is coming tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock in my office. As you can to be there at that time too, then we can ask her all the questions that we want". The friends said they would be there and went to their place for dinner. That evening they laughed and went for a pleasant evening back to their common room.

Sunday morning they were early risers. Harry and Bella left the castle because they had Quidditch training, and still had to change clothes for practice. They were a quarter into their training, when they saw their friends sitting on the sidelines. Hermione sat with a piece of parchment in her hands and wrote everything down what she saw. Susan looked over her shoulder at the parchment, and pointed every now and then to one of the players. Neville and Daphne sat next to them and had a second broom in their hands.

Oliver wood was trying everything he could think of to do. From Professor, McGonagall he had received four old school brooms. Those, brooms were there for Neville and Daphne. They were allowed to do whatever they wanted with those brooms. They were also the brooms that Harry and Bella had to try over and over again. Just as long until they found, the broom that suited them the best. Harry knew he could easily buy a broom for him and Bella. He only hoped that Professor McGonagall had succeeded in convincing Dumbledore so that they could really buy their own brooms.

After training they quickly went back into the castle, to be able to eat for the last hour of breakfast. Neville was the only one who was more nervous as time for their appointment became less and less. His grandmother was after all a strong tenacious woman. Neville also admitted honestly that he was sometimes quite afraid of her. But he also knew that she would do anything for him, and made it all worthwhile. It was just after two o'clock when they walked to the office of professor McGonagall. Neville knocked softly on the door.

Hermione grabbed his hand and said it was good and immediately let go of the hand. What happened next surprised even Neville.

The six of them walked into the office of McGonagall. Harry was the last to enter the office just after Bella. Augusta Longbottom, Neville's grandmother stared at Bella. Professor McGonagall had told her who Bella really was and had shown her the memories of her and Neville by the sorting hat. For years she had thought that she had tortured Neville's parents. Now she knew she had actually Saved Neville, from out of nowhere she dropped to her knees and hugged Bella.

Bella did not know what happened to her, so the only thing she could do was to hug Augusta Longbottom back. Augusta then turned her face to Harry, and glanced at his scar. This was something that everyone did when they saw Harry for the first time. For everybody the scar was a proof of the disappearance of Lord Voldermort, for Harry it was the knowledge that his parents were truly dead. His scar was more famous than he knew himself and he hated every moment of it. She looked into the green eyes of Harry and took his hand in hers.

"Lord Potter It is an honor that I can finally meet you. On behalf of Lord Longbottom, I Augusta Longbottom, spokeswoman and deputy Lady of the ancient and noble house of Longbottom. You Lord, Potter of the ancient and noble house of Potter, I'm really proud to say welcome back in our midst. Me as a spokeswoman And Lady Longbottom inform you that the ancient and noble house of Longbottom, for generations we have stood by your side. Also, now that you're back in our midst, the house of Longbottom will stand once again on the side of the most noble and ancient house of Potter, and together we will take a point of view against the rest".

Harry looked and listened to what Augusta was telling him and just nodded. This also proved to be the right thing he had to do as a lord.

Harry on the other hand did not know what it all meant and just nodded, because he thought that was the best thing to do. "Just call me Harry, I do not know whether I am a lord or not." Harry a little bit shy told this to Augusta Longbottom.

"That's good Harry, but then you must call me Gran Gran. Like Neville, and that's for all of you, call me Gran Gran ". The six smiled and introduced themselves one by one. Hermione who had a book about the lordship in her hands had looked slightly embarrassed up to Augusta. "What's girl, just ask me, I do not bite."

Hermione was greatly bullied at her Muggle school, and here she was a mudblood. She knew Mudblood was a curse word in the wizarding world. But she also knew that a lot of purebloods really thought in those lines. She was, after all dirt and of no value to the wizarding world. "My parents are muggles is that a problem for a pure blood, as you" Hermione asked, almost in a whisper.

Augusta smiled kindly and looked straight at Hermione. "Girl, there are a lot of wizards who think That Way. But the house of Longbottom and the House of Potter only see Witches and wizards. We see magic just like magic, whether you're a goblin, house elf or wizard, for us everyone is equal. Take the house elf as an example; many pure-blooded wizards see them as slaves, We the Longbottom's and Potter's, see them as an employee and friends. They need our magic to live, and they thank us by providing us. This answer was enough for Hermione to once again take the hand of Neville. Augusta watched with a raised eyebrow to her grandson and his hand. Then she looked at McGonagall and smiled at her. "I see what you mean Minerva" she said with a smile. Professor McGonagall already had a great conversation with Augusta before the children were there, and smiled back.

Augusta glanced at the six children and smiled sweetly. "I just had a conversation with Professor McGonagall and know what's going on. I've also heard what Ms. Greengrass and my grandson have told you. Well the things I do are basically all the things Neville should do as a Lord. And I do this as Lady Longbottom in the name of my Lord, Lord Longbottom, that's Neville here. Well despite that Neville is not yet of age, he is the lord of his house. Our house has two seats in the Wizengamot. And it is also true what Ms. Greengrass has told you all.

Albus Dumbledore does represent those four seats of your house, young lord Potter. And like McGonagall I also know that he's not related to you in any way whatsoever. So he cannot possibly represent those seats as a family member. There is one possible way he can do that legally, and that's only if he had permission through the will of your parents. Therefore I ask my good friend Amelia Bones, the aunt of Susan Bones, but you know that already. If Albus has been authorized through that will. She, however, has been able to tell me that the will of Lilly and James Potter is opened by anyone. Only you, Harry Potter can do that. So I ask you Lord Potter, why have you not done it already". Her eyes were now pointing straight at Harry's.

However, Harry himself looked at her quizzically. "I did not even know there was a will," Harry told her right away.

"Who is your magical guardian" Augusta asked.

Harry looked equally uncomprehending. "What is a magical guardian" He asked her. The eyebrows of Augusta and McGonagall immediately went up at that question. It was as if he had asked the dumbest question he could ask, Harry thought to himself.

"A magical guardian Harry is someone who accompanies you in our world, and teaches you everything you need to know if you're here for the first time. In your case and that of Hermione, I think it is Albus Dumbledore. A magical guardian arranges and takes care of everything you need in our world, and of everything you need here at school".

Harry again looked uncomprehendingly at Augusta. "But I do not know who it is. The first wizard I met was Hagrid, "Harry said.

Hermione told them that she only received a letter, and that if she wanted to go to Hogwarts, that she had to go to Tom the innkeeper at the leaky cauldron, and he would help her with everything that she needed to know.

"That's not the way it's supposed to go" professor McGonagall told them. "A magical guardian must be present at all they have to do in the wizarding world, until the moment they stepped into the Hogwarts Express".

The six watched the older ladies briefly. They were muttering and whispering very much between the pair of them. Bella could see that something was not right, or just not what it ought to be. "Auntie Mini, have we done something wrong." She called through the conversation of the two ladies.

Minerva looked at her a little shocked and answered. "No, darling you have done nothing wrong. But if Albus Dumbledore really is the legal magical guardian of Harry and Hermione here. Then it cannot be that he can do all those other things that he is doing now. And if he really is your magical guardian, then, he was meant to be at your side from the moment that you had received your letter". The result was that everyone was silent after those words. Nobody knew what to do or to say about it.

It was Bella who was the first to break the silence. "Harry wanted to know if he's Lord Potter, and also whether he can perform that task, just as Neville does. If that is possible in anyway. Then Harry has another magical guardian or a living family member. Is there a anyway that Harry could find out if it could be so and also that he could become Lord Potter, just so that he can know the truth about it".

Augusta thought about it deeply. "Yes Bella, there is a way. If we can get all of you to Gringotts, without anyone knowing we are there. Then they can see if Harry is the true Lord of the house of Potter. They can also see who his magical guardian truly is. I tell you, they have ways to see and check everything". Again Augusta thought hard for a moment before she continued the answer.

"But I think we should do that without Dumbledore knowing, about it. Perhaps we can also see who the magical guardian of Hermione is. Because if it is Dumbledore than he has already done quite a lot of things wrong. What we have to decide now is if and when we can go to Gringotts, and which excuse can we use for it" Augusta Said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Professor McGonagall had the answer to that question. "I think we can go best after Halloween. In mid-November you have your first match. For that game you need a new broom. I think we will be able to arrange a trip to Diagon Alley, just to buy new brooms".

Bella and Harry really liked the idea to buy new brooms, but that they still had to wait so long, that part was less fun. But they decided to just say no more about it.