A/n: You'll see Bobmin356's heavy influence in this chapter, and going forward with this aspect of the story. Their Sunset/Sunrise stories that were the inspiration for this bit is on another site, but there's a link on their author page if you're interested. I highly suggest them if you haven't already enjoyed them.
Chapter 10
Harry slung his broom over his shoulder, smiling broadly. He remained undefeated by his dad in races and obstacle courses, and wasn't above lording it over the man. He opened the door of his parents' cottage with a flourish, prepared to proclaim his victory over the forces of evil.
"SURPRISE!"
The wall of unexpected noise met him with an almost physical force, causing the boy to stumble backwards. James, finally catching up, steadied him with a laugh and pushed him into the house. Harry was immediately wrapped in a hug from his mom, and dropped his broom to return the embrace.
"Did we surprise you?" Lily asked with a radiant smile.
"Well yeah," Harry responded dumbly. "I haven't seen a clock or calendar since I got here, so it was pretty tough to guess."
"We all wanted a chance to celebrate, even if it's not the right day," she replied softly. "Your first birthday was during a pretty rough time, and I don't think I soaked it up quite enough."
Harry simply smiled and hugged her again in response, repeating the gesture with his father.
The bizarre passing of time was something he asked his dad about during their second flight together. Apparently, before Harry arrived, his parents' world followed a pattern more similar to their days spent alive. Day and night, seasons, the occasional bad weather- all were normal. There were also more people around to interact with. James guessed that Harry's circumstances were unique, and the place adapted to fit.
Harry only met a handful of people, and those he did either had things to teach him, or messages for him to carry. Time was also different, as it had been a perpetual sunny day since he arrived. Harry knew better than to question it, as this was clearly something beyond his understanding. He vowed, during that conversation, to simply enjoy his time here while he had it.
Harry looked over the party-goers, feeling a bit awkward at being the center of attention.
"You'll need to get used to this, Potter," Arcturus said, extending a hand from his place in the corner.
"What, surprise parties?" Harry asked with a smirk, accepting the handshake.
"Maybe," the normally dour man said lightly. "But I was referring to being the person everyone looks to. Your life won't be your own when you return. There will always be someone who needs something from you."
"Yes sir," he answered seriously. He didn't like the idea, but knew it was true.
"Buck up, Harry," Charlus said from his left. "It will eventually feel natural. Find time for yourself when you can, and just follow your instincts when you're the center of attention."
"I will."
"Good. Now leave the grumpy bastards alone and go mingle with your more entertaining guests."
—
July 31, 1995
Harry's party at the Manor, though less intimate than the one on the other side, was still a lot of fun. The Weasley's minus Percy were in attendance, as were his quidditch teammates and a handful of others from three of the four Hogwarts houses.
He played a few games of quidditch, without a snitch, but Harry was a bit disappointed he didn't get the chance to go up against the legendary Charlie Weasley. The two agreed to do so in the future, as Harry needed the freedom to drop in and out of the games to greet his guests.
Dobby spent the entire day popping people in and out of the property, while Winky was in charge of the food and refreshments. The final guests to arrive were Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, the diminutive man shaking Harry's hand somberly. Everyone, actually, had been a bit more demonstrative to the birthday boy, and he knew why.
The Daily Prophet released a special Sunday edition the previous morning, and every single page was dedicated to the chaotic happenings of the Wizengamot. They had exhausted the topic of the Tournament in the weeks prior, not having much else to write about, but the reporters had obviously been champing at the bit.
The paper was clearly biased, and very thorough. Pettigrew's questioning and death were covered in great detail, though the portion of the transcript the writer used didn't include the last few questions. None at the Manor were surprised. Sirius was given an entire page to himself, with articles detailing his history, his assumption of the Lordship, and his behavior during the small time he spent in the Chamber. A picture of the man hiding behind an earlier copy of the Prophet accompanied the stories.
Harry knew they intentionally chose not to use a picture of Sirius in his family's seat, as it wouldn't show the man in the manner the paper, or the Ministry, preferred. The Minister's forced apology was squeezed onto the back of the edition, alongside the names of the new Wizengamot nominees. The article only mentioned that the Minister had been a part of an unpleasant conversation in the Chamber, and should be commended for owning up to his fault in the matter.
The pride of place, however, was dedicated to Harry challenging Yaxley to a duel. The front page, above the fold, held a side by side picture of the two men with the headline "The Boy-who-Lived… With a Deathwish?" The article below the slightly-moving photos briefly mentioned the fact he was now legally an adult, but everything else was pure character assassination. The writer even went so far to presume that Harry had suffered some sort of mental break, and was hoping to be killed.
The entire edition had been a lesson in partisanship, but Harry surprised his team with his lack of reaction. He figured it was coming, and couldn't find it in himself to care about what opinions of him were anymore. It was merely proof that Fudge was a much more powerful adversary outside of the Wizengamot than within.
His friends, however, assumed he would be upset, as nearly everyone at the party mentioned what garbage the article was. He spent the first part of each conversation assuring the person he was fine, but he didn't allow it to ruin his good time.
At the end of the day, as Dobby began popping guests not named Weasley or Granger back to their homes, Harry noticed Bill and Charlie speaking seriously by the pond. Harry finished saying his goodbyes to those leaving, and slowly made his way towards the pair, not wanting to interrupt if he had guessed wrong about their topic.
"Harry," Bill called as he approached. "Tell Charlie he's welcome to stay here if he comes back."
Bill mentioned to Harry the week prior that Charlie was back and forth on moving back to Britain. Harry felt guilty about it, but knew the man would prefer the tough choice to not being included.
"Of course you can, Charlie," he answered easily. "For as long as you'd like. There's like fifty-seven bedrooms in the damn house, someone should use them."
Harry was hesitant to bring Charlie into the fold if he chose to stay in Romania, as the sheer logistics of international travel regulations would make things a nightmare for the group. He selfishly hoped the man would come home, but wouldn't think badly of him if he chose to continue his career.
"It's not as simple as that," Charlie replied, running a hand through his hair. "No offense, Harry, but I need my space. It's the reason I chose the Romanian reserve as opposed to one of the others. At the Welsh reserve, for instance, all the handlers live in a large barracks while they're working, and rotate out every few weeks. After the Burrow and Hogwarts, that's just not for me. And if I burn the Romanian bridge, there isn't another reserve I'd be interested in."
"Charlie," Harry said with a look of commiseration. "I don't want you to feel pressured by the offer to join us. It's entirely your choice, and it's not something any of us should have to think about. But I won't pretend that we don't need you. We're going to need all the help we can get, and Bill says you've recently learned the Lumos spell. We could use that type of talent!"
Both Weasley's laughed, Charlie taking a swing that Harry easily dodged.
"It's not just the job," he answered after a moment. "I'd give that up for my family in a heartbeat. I just know that if I come back, and I'm miserable, I'm not going to be much help."
"We're having a meeting tomorrow," Harry offered, happy with the timing. "Stay the night and sit in for the first part. I'll have to kick you out after, until you decide whether to sign on or not, but I think you might like my plan."
"I can do that. And I learned another new spell the other day," he added with a mischievous grin. "It's called Wingardium Leviosa. Here, I'll show you."
Harry, knowing the man intended to throw him in the pond, rushed him. The two were quickly tangled, falling to the ground in a heap. Bill watched the two wrestle for a moment, before drawing his wand.
"Hey, I think I know that one, too."
A few minutes later, two slightly damp and smelly wizards glared at the oldest Weasley brother, who still wore a victorious smirk. They quickly dropped the act, however, as the twins' fireworks distracted them. Harry, sitting in the middle of the quidditch pitch, looked around at the gathered friends and couldn't help but smile. Sirius caught his eye with a wink, and Harry laid back to enjoy the show. It was a great birthday.
—
August 1, 1995
The next morning Charlie found Harry in his office, rearranging some furniture, and jumped in to help. The rolling-chalkboard had become the focal point, with the chairs and couches gathered in front.
"How'd you sleep?" Harry asked as they finished pushing the last of the heavy furniture into place.
"Not terribly. The house creaked and groaned a bit, but it was nothing compared to a snoring dragon."
"I'd imagine."
The two took their chosen seats, as the rest of the team entered and settled in around them.
"How'd you manage to convince your mother to let you stay?" Arthur asked Charlie with a grin.
"I told her I was twenty-two years old," the man answered haughtily before grinning back at his dad. "And when that didn't work, I told her I'd come by for dinner this evening."
The group chuckled, knowing how much Molly loved when her kids were home. Harry took the moment to approach the chalkboard, spinning it vertically to show the map stuck to the back with a charm. Seeing that he had everyone's attention, he began his short presentation.
"This is our chunk of Strathmore. Pocky remembered where some maps of the property and the original blueprints for the Manor were, and dug them out for me. I'm planning on framing them eventually, but figured a visual representation would help out today. This is where the Manor sits," he continued, circling a small portion of the map with a spell, followed by a bigger circle, taking up around ten percent of the entire property. "And this is the surrounding land, with the pond, stables, pitch, and open green spaces."
"As you can see, we have a lot of land. Way more than we'll ever need, even if I find fifty more hippogriffs."
"Are you planning to?" Charlie asked. He had introduced himself to Buckbeak during the party, and the two quickly became friends.
"Probably not fifty," Harry answered with a grin. "But we have the stables. At some point I'd like to get a few more. Buckbeak would appreciate the company."
Charlie nodded happily, and Harry continued. "I've been thinking for the last couple weeks about how there isn't a lot we can do to protect the families Voldemort may approach. So far, he hasn't been directly involved, but it won't be long. And once he is, things will happen quickly."
His audience wore looks of varying degrees of understanding. Dumbledore and Remus, Harry noticed, seemed to realize where he was headed, and both looked skeptical. Before they could raise any concerns, Harry continued.
"My suggestion is that we take this land here," he circled the eastern half of the map. "And begin to develop it for people to live on. The forest extends to here," he finished, drawing a line on the map about halfway between the circled property of the Manor and the proposed section of land. Returning to his seat, he explained his reasoning.
"We would be separate from the new village, by about three miles, but the entire property is warded. Only the Manor and surrounding land is covered by the Fidelius, as the total land is too large, but the entire map has various repelling and visibility wards. The world, wizarding included, doesn't know this area exists. It's safer than anywhere but Gringotts, and we can add further wards as needed."
"Why, Harry?" Remus asked seriously.
"Because I can," Harry answered simply. "The land is mine alone, and according to the last statement you gave me from Gringotts, money for the construction isn't an issue." Harry took a moment to breathe deeply, wanting the others to understand.
"This is going to get ugly, and it could start tomorrow. It sounds like we may have until September, but I'm not willing to risk putting all our eggs in that basket. I'm going to end the coming war, but before I'm able to, people are going to die. It tears me up inside to think about, but I know I'm not ready to face him yet.
"I can't just leave the public defenseless while I'm preparing. I won't. I'm the last of the Potters, and my family has always protected those weaker than themselves. This is just on a slightly bigger scale. The land I'm talking about is just over ten thousand acres. If we plan well, and build efficiently, I believe we'll have space for anyone that needs to escape."
"With ten thousand acres," Charlie broke in softly. "You could house the entirety of wizarding Britain, and have space to spare."
"Then let's do it," Harry said passionately. "Let's take anyone who could possibly be at risk, and get them out of there."
"It's an admirable thing, Harry," Dumbledore began. "It truly shows the depth of your compassion, and your confidence in our abilities. But it's not that simple. Firstly, if Voldemort comes for a family, his first spells are anti-transportation. How would they get here?"
"We'll get to them before he does. We can start today." Harry refused to be talked down from this, as he knew it was the right thing. He felt it with his whole being.
"And how do we convince them?" Arthur asked, coming to the point the others were stuck on, if the nodding heads were any clue.
"I don't know yet," Harry said a bit dejectedly.
"It'll be tough, kiddo," Sirius began sobrely. "You just got some very bad press, and those words were printed far and wide. For you to suddenly tell them they have to leave their homes, sometimes homes that have been in the family for generations, is going to be a tough sell."
"It will get easier by the day once the war breaks out," Harry retorted darkly.
"But, Harry," Bill began with a look of sympathy.
Unphased by the negative responses, and determined to get his way, he interrupted the redhead with a hand.
"Stop. Please. I'm sorry Bill, and I'd like to hear your concern at a later time. But let me have a chance to rephrase."
Harry stood, and approached the map, placing his hand on the circle he planned to develop.
"This is happening. I value your input, and I'll definitely need your help, but it's happening. It's my land and money that will be wasted if the plan doesn't work out. But it's happening. I understand that I have kinks to iron out, and I would like to do so later this week. If we can save just one family, I refuse to not at least try."
"I have an old friend who owns a contracting company," Arthur said after a moment of silence.
Harry turned his gaze from the map to look at his team, seeing reluctant acceptance in their eyes before Arthur continued.
"I trust him, but I'll make sure to not give many details away. I'll feel him out, and let you know if I think you should approach him."
"Thank you, Arthur," Harry said, grateful to the man for agreeing to help even if he didn't believe in the plan. "And thanks to the rest of you, too. I know what I'm suggesting is crazy, but I truly believe we can pull it off."
"We're with you, Harry," Sirius said with a smile.
"For better or worse," Remus agreed.
"Richer or poorer," Bill added with a grin.
The group chuckled, and the tension dissipated. As they prepared to move onto other things, Charlie stood to leave, promising to stick around the property to talk to Harry after.
—
August 11, 1995
Charlie agreed to be the first resident of the soon-to-be Marauder's Village, and he quickly picked out a piece of land just inside the edge of the forest. His house would be surrounded by the massive pines and firs, and would serve as a marker for the western edge of the Village. He regretfully submitted his resignation to the reserve, but was ecstatic to learn his boss didn't hold a grudge. The man replied that Charlie would be welcomed back if they had openings in the future.
He also signed the contract Remus had drawn up for the original six, and Harry was happy to have him join their daily training sessions. Harry, Sirius, Remus, and Bill had grown comfortable with each others' skillset, so adding a new perspective kept them from becoming stagnant.
Harry kicked his own training into overdrive, drilling himself on everything he had learned on the other side. Many of the spells began to feel second nature like they did when training with Charlus or Arcturus, and the list of spells he could cast silently grew quickly. Wandless was a bit slower, but he was making progress.
His power level, though higher than a typical fifteen year old's, was still too low for his liking, and Charlie was now the most powerful of the group by far. He knew Yaxley would be much stronger when their duel arrived, but Harry was confident he could make up for it with speed, stamina, and a good plan.
The constant training, and Winky's delicious cooking, had begun to have physical results, his frame becoming trim as opposed to skinny. Harry wasn't satisfied though, and was determined to keep pushing himself. Being good wouldn't be enough. He needed to be incredible.
Ron stayed after his own training Friday morning to escape the Burrow for a bit, and the two friends took to the pitch after a quick lunch. Ron was serious about his keeper practice, and Harry was more than happy to help.
"You're getting better, and you weren't pathetic to begin with," Harry commented playfully.
"Thanks, mate," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "I appreciate you working with me. Hopefully it'll be worth it."
"I think it will. You may not be on Wood's level yet, but you're on your way."
"I guess we'll see next month," the redhead replied. Harry noticed his friend had something on his mind, as he was usually much more talkative after flying.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," he answered vaguely. "Just thinking we don't do this much anymore."
"Play quidditch?" Harry asked confusedly.
"Nah, this. Just us, you know?"
"Yeah I guess we haven't had much time to ourselves," he agreed carefully. Ron knew how busy things had been, but Harry hoped his friend wasn't feeling neglected.
"I get it. It just feels like with all the training, the Wizengamot, and everything, that we're kinda overnight-adults."
"I definitely feel that," Harry replied honestly. He had so many irons in the fire, he lived in a constant state of anxiety that he was going to miss something. It was overwhelming at times.
"How's the healing been going?" Ron asked, abruptly changing subjects.
He and Sirius had been seeing a mind-healer for a month now. Once a week they would floo to Grimmauld Place, as they didn't like the idea of going to St. Mungo's, nor having the healer come to the Manor. Harry thought it had been good, and liked Healer Wilson, though it was much different from his time with Dorea.
Sirius didn't agree. His first couple sessions were unbearable for the man, and he returned to the Manor completely broken. The next few sessions seemed better, but he still had a long way to go. He would've likely quit if Harry and Remus hadn't told him how much he seemed to be improving.
"It's going," Harry answered, trying to figure out what Ron was hinting at. "Do you think you might want to try it?"
"No," Ron said quickly. "I don't think I need it. But Mum has set up appointments for Ginny. She still has the occasional nightmare about the Chamber, and Dad mentioned how much you get out of it."
"I think that's a brilliant idea. It's definitely helped me work through some stuff. Tell Ginny I'd be happy to talk to her about it if she wants to."
"I will," Ron agreed, still seeming off.
"Ron. Spit it out, man! We have school in a month!"
"Sorry. Guess I'm pretty easy to read."
"Transparent isn't a strong enough word."
"Okay, well don't make fun of me if I stumble over my words, I feel really awkward about this conversation."
"I promise," Harry offered easily, wondering what was on his friend's mind.
"The night I apologized to Hermione, back at Hogwarts," Ron trailed off with a blush.
"I remember hearing about it. She really let you have it, huh?"
"She did, but I deserved it. After she ran out of things to yell at me about..."
Harry snorted sarcastically, drawing a glare from his friend.
"After she was done," Ron continued warningly. "We talked about some stuff,"
"You're in love with her," he interrupted dryly, finally realizing what Ron was trying to say.
"What!? I'm not in love…"
"Sure you are," Harry grinned.
"I'm not…"
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
"Huh?" Ron asked intelligently, clearly having never heard of Shakespeare. "Harry, just shut it for a minute."
He complied maliciously, grinning hugely with tightly shut lips.
"You look like a damn, chimpanzee," Ron said, unable to keep from laughing. "Would you just give me a minute, please."
He returned his face to normal, giving his friend the chance to say whatever he was worried Harry would find an issue with.
"Nah, that didn't do it. Still a chimpanzee," the redhead quipped before dodging a slap to the back of the head.
"Love is a big word," Ron argued, once the two regained composure. "I'm not ready to throw that around, so let's leave it out of this. Please."
"Fine. Just say what you need to say," Harry relented impatiently, happy for his friend.
"After we train the mornings we come by, she and I take walks around the grounds instead of going home."
Harry nodded. He felt pings in the wards when he wasn't distracted, so he had already known the two were still on the property when he moved onto whatever else he had scheduled that day.
"And we've been talking about the possibility," Ron continued vaguely. "Hermione feels something for me, too, but she's terrified of what you'll think about it."
"What? Why would I be anything other than happy?"
"Because you don't have any other friends," Ron said, hands held up in protection. "Her words, not mine. Don't kill the messenger."
Harry chuckled, rethinking his friend's Shakespearean ignorance. He motioned for the boy to continue, ready to set him at ease when he was finished.
"She's worried that if she and I are together doing… couple stuff, that you'll be alone. She said she's not willing to lose your friendship over anything."
"First of all, don't say 'couple stuff' to me ever again."
"That's not what I meant!"
"LALALALALA!" Harry stuck his fingers in his ears and shut his eyes until it seemed Ron got the point.
"You're a child."
"You're a child," Harry mocked childishly, forcing a grin from his friend.
"Mate, I'm being serious," the boy pleaded. Harry nodded and mentally sat on his hands. "She's worried about what happens if 'our trio becomes a pair'. Her words. She's worried that you'll start to feel neglected, or lonely or something."
Harry couldn't stop his amused grin. The conversation started with him worrying Ron was feeling neglected, and now it was Hermione thinking he would feel neglected.
"I appreciate that, Ron. Really. And before everything that happened after the Tournament, it might have bothered me. But now, it honestly doesn't. I'm happy for you two! I have enough going on with everything else, and I have Sirius and Remus now. You two are welcome to take all the couple time you need, and I'm saying that as truthfully as I possibly can."
Ron smiled gratefully and pulled Harry into a hug, a rare display of affection from the Weasley. He was practically tap dancing trying to hold in his happiness.
"You got it bad, my friend."
"Nahhh. This definitely isn't a 'bad' thing. Oh, and Harry," he continued, remembering something. "Hermione should be back soon. She wanted me to talk to you first, but she wanted to be here to answer any concerns you had."
"I know, Ron."
"How?" he asked, hysterically confused.
"She just got here," Harry answered mysteriously, trying to contain a giggle.
"Huh? How do you know?"
"Magic," Harry answered, wiggling his fingers in his friend's direction.
Ron shoved him, but Harry wasn't as light as he once was, and stood his ground. He grinned at his friend, who returned the expression, before tackling Harry to the ground. They wrestled for a couple of minutes, neither gaining the upper hand, before being interrupted by a loudly cleared throat.
"Harry, why do you seem to wrestle a Weasley every chance you get?" Hermione asked, having 'rescued' him from the pond on his birthday.
"It's good cardio," he answered dryly, shoving the redhead one last time before standing.
"Hello, Hermione," he said seriously, walking slowly towards his other best friend.
"Hello." the slightly nervous girl answered as he stopped in front of her.
In lieu of words, he pulled her into a hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around a few times.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU APE!" Hermione yelled while laughing.
"Hey," Harry whined, following her instruction. "You two are already acting alike. Nevermind. Acceptance rescinded."
"Huh?"
"Go on, Harry," Ron said with a laugh. "Show her the face." Harry obliged.
"Why are boys so easily entertained?" Hermione asked with a giggle.
"Okay you two," Harry said, his face his own once more. "Unless there's anything else that needs to be said, I suggest we move on. You two are thinking about dating, or are dating, or engaged, or whatever you are. And I am honestly happy about it. How 'bout we skip the rest of the awkwardness?"
"You're really okay?" Hermione asked.
"Really, really. I only ask that you don't hurt each other intentionally," Harry answered. "Neither of you deserves it, and I can't exactly threaten to immolate my best friends."
"It would never be intentional," Hermione agreed, Ron nodding behind her.
"Then go forth and prosper or whatever."
"I was thinking we could actually go forth to Diagon," Hermione said. "We could get our school shopping out of the way and be done in time for Ginny's birthday dinner."
"That works for me," Harry responded. "I need to meet with a guy there, anyway. Ron?"
"I'll have to check with my parents."
"Your dad's in the Manor," Harry said quickly. "He got here right after Hermione. Must be working on campaign stuff."
"How do you do that?" Ron asked with a huff.
"Let's go ask him," Harry responded, ignoring the question just for fun.
—
A half hour later, the trio plus Sirius were finishing massive ice cream sundaes. As they cleaned up and exited Fortescue's, Sirius stopped them.
"I want you three to enjoy your trip," he began, looking at Harry in particular, who hadn't really ventured into public since school ended. "So go and act like teenagers. You two hold hands. Share a kiss if the mood strikes."
Hermione and Ron both blushed deeply, shaking their heads.
"Uhhh, Harry? I meant you and Ron," Sirius said, confused at the response his joke received. "Something I should know?"
"They'll be good," Harry answered, laughing at the misunderstanding. "You two have the worst poker faces," he hissed at his friends. "I assume you'll be nearby?"
"Better believe it, bucko," Sirius said, waving the trio out into the street.
"Alright lovebirds," Harry began as they set off down the cobblestone road. "If you're going to freak out everytime that happens, I'm leaving you here for your parents to pick up. Can we just be three friends doing their school shopping for the day, please?"
"Sorry," Ron mumbled, clearly embarrassed by the situation.
"I think I just need to find you a girl, Harry Potter," Hermione countered, not willing to be laughed at. "Then we can make jokes at your expense!"
"No thanks," Harry laughed as they neared Flourish and Blotts. "I'm a happily single man. We'll get the textbooks, you go explore," he said to Hermione, her eyes lighting up at her favorite store.
Harry and Ron, having found and paid for their various texts, and delivered Hermione's to her, found a bench outside as Hermione continued to browse. Harry had dropped Divination, and received permission to drop further classes if needed, as 'adults' didn't have to follow the required course list. He decided to stick with Magical Creatures and was looking forward to it. Now that grades didn't matter to him, he was excited to learn leisurely.
When Sirius had explained that OWL's and NEWT's wouldn't matter to his future because of his status, he was relieved, but promised not to be arrogant about it, or skip classes without a good reason.
Ron, the newest Gryffindor male prefect, was still taking Creatures and Divination, not happy about the second class without his best friend, or the grief he had received from the twins about his new badge. Hermione dropped Creatures, so her schedule would be a bit less hectic this year. She was also named as Ron's counterpart, surprising no one.
As they chatted, Sirius window shopping nearby, Harry noticed Daniel Greengrass heading towards the bookstore with his family. The man noticed him, and turned in his direction. Harry stood, extending a hand.
"Lord Greengrass," Harry began formally, knowing he had a part to play.
"Lord Potter," Daniel responded, shaking his hand. "Early school shopping?"
"Indeed," Harry responded, feeling like an idiot. "And you?"
"The same. May I introduce my wife Emily," the man said, gesturing to the beautiful woman. She was dressed elegantly in a light blue robe, her short blonde hair coiffed around her neck.
"A pleasure, my Lady," Harry responded formally, taking the offered hand and bowing over it. She smiled softly in return.
"And my daughters," Daniel continued. "Daphne and Astoria." Harry repeated the gesture, starting with Astoria, who blushed prettily. As he moved to Daphne, no hand was offered. Harry looked up, and couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped his body.
Her long blonde hair flowed gracefully to the small of her back, and her blue eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun. Harry realized she was gorgeous and briefly wondered why he didn't notice before. Her lips were raised in an aloof smirk, her hand remaining firmly at her side.
"Potter," she said, her voice light and slightly hesitant.
"Miss Greengrass," Harry responded with a small bow.
"A beautiful family, Lord Greengrass," he managed, recovering slightly.
"Thank you," the man said with a pointed look, noticing the teen's moment of awkwardness. "I trust you two aren't here alone."
"No, my godfather is around," Harry responded easily, seeing relief in the man's eyes. "I'll let you continue with your shopping."
"I look forward to seeing you at the next session."
"As do I," Harry agreed, glad the awkward interaction was coming to an end. Daniel was a wonderfully open and caring person, behind closed doors. His outward-facing persona, however, was more than a little intimidating.
He and his family entered the bookstore, and Harry retook his seat. A snickering Ron to his right.
"Shut up."
"I said nothing," the redhead replied with a laugh. "Good thing Ginny is over her crush, though. She'd be devastated by that exchange."
"What exchange?" Harry asked warningly.
"Miss Greengrass," he whispered dramatically. "Mi'lady. Your ladyship."
"Oh shut it, Ron."
"Gotta give it to you, Harry," the boy continued, chuckling. "She's not bad, for a Slytherin."
Harry chose not to respond to the gibes, and noticed his godfather winking at him from across the street. He dreaded the grief he was going to get from the two over a three-word exchange.
The two friends lapsed into silence, and Hermione joined them shortly after.
"What did I miss?" she asked, noticing the weird tension.
"Nothing," Harry responded a little too quickly.
Thankfully, Ron let it drop and the three continued down the Alley, checking things off their lists. As they finished at the apothecary, Harry realized the contractor's office was a few shops down across the street.
"You guys go share a bowl of spaghetti," he joked. Ron, not understanding the reference, nodded agreeably, while Hermione blushed slightly. "I'll catch up. The guy I need to meet is just up the Alley."
Harry approached the nondescript office, the sign on the door reading 'Griggs & Associates'.
Harry entered into a lushly appointed lobby, ringing the bell at the empty front desk. A middle-aged witch with short brown hair appeared from a door behind the desk, smiling warmly.
"How can I help you, my dear?"
"Harry Potter for Mr. Griggs, ma'am."
"One moment, Lord Potter," the woman replied, her eyes widening slightly. "He's been expecting you."
Harry took a seat, grabbing a copy of The Daily Prophet. Before he could learn what the paper was saying about him today, the office door opened again.
"Lord Potter," the man called, entering the waiting area. "Come on back."
Harry stood and followed the middle-aged wizard without thought, having briefly met the man a few days ago at Grimmauld. He had agreed to Harry's request for absolute privacy, and Remus wrote up a confidentiality agreement after the meeting.
"Mr. Griggs, I'll need your signature before we get into it, sir."
"Of course, Lord Potter," the man replied, his dark green eyes showing interest.
Harry produced the document, and Griggs read it over carefully. After a moment, he grabbed a quill and signed with a flourish, the magic flashing brightly.
"I appreciate your desire for privacy," he said lightly. "My crew signs a similar contract upon being hired. The plans, Lord?"
"Call me Harry," he replied, producing the documents.
"Jim," the man agreed with an easy smile. He looked over the plans, taking careful note of the topography of the proposed site.
"Leveling the land will be the trickiest bit," he mused. "How many houses did you say you wanted?"
"I didn't. I'd like it to be a standing contract, if possible. We'll start with fifty if you can swing it."
"Aye, we can swing it. It'll be expensive, though."
"Money is no issue," Harry replied, feeling a bit awkward at the statement. "I'd like you to get started as soon as possible."
"We'll be there Monday," the man said with a nod. "Probably get the first few up by Wednesday, the rest before the weekend."
"That fast?"
"Of course," Jim said with a smile. "We're the best, and we charge it. It would be a bit easier if you had a load of elves to help."
"I can only spare one," Harry said, knowing the Manor would suffer without Dobby or Winky.
"You can hire a temporary staff from the Elf Registration Office," the man offered. "They've always got a few on hand, and they'll be cheaper by the hour than me and my boys."
Harry's eyes widened in a moment of clarity, having found his solution to a different problem. Though he quickly tried to refocus on the matter at hand.
"I'll take a look."
"Now that I've signed your agreement, can I ask what this is for?"
"I'm worried things in our world may get a bit tense, soon," Harry said, not willing to divulge his reasons completely. "There's some unpleasantness coming, and I want people to have somewhere to go if they need it."
Jim nodded seriously, deep in thought. "I think I know what you're not saying, Harry, but we can leave it there. I'll keep an ear out for people that may need to contact you, though. Yeah?"
"I'd appreciate it," Harry said with a smile. Arthur trusted the man, and Harry could see why.
"I now have a contract for you to sign," Jim said, producing the paperwork for the job. "Price is a bit steep, but the work'll be as permanent as I can make it."
Harry signed quickly, noticing the large total price and ignoring it. He'd empty his vault if he needed to. The men stood and shook hands.
As Jim moved towards the door, an explosion in the distance rattled the office. And another.
"I think your unpleasantness may be early."
A/N: Finally getting into a bit of action, and I'll start editing the next chapter tonight. After that, my updates will slow a bit so I can spend more time writing the rest of the story. It's still flowing relatively well, but I want to get as much out onto the page while it is. Thanks for reading!