As the two hunters stood guard over the witch, she watched the goblins, trying to judge just what the lad did and how it would impact House Black and The Bank's relationship.
"He declared you an auntie. And the Grand Auntie at that." A gravelly voice snapped her out of her trance. Ashraq was standing close by, but out of reach of both males.
"Did he?" Narcissia stood with a grace that was drilled into her and her sisters from the age of six. "I confess I never learned the language, nor more than the basics for doing business between our two people. I allowed you all to keep your secrets, more because I didn't want to pry and cost the House a fee."
"Prudent." Ashraq nodded. "Follow." As he led them into the warren of the back offices, "Are you aware of what the title Auntie entails?"
"Not really." Narcissia frowned.
"There are three classes of Goblins." Harry responded. "They all originate from the same base stock. They are known as Warren, Crafter, and Warrior. What I see among these are a mix of Crafter and Warrior. The Warren class are little better than knuckle draggers. In all three, the Highest Ranked Authority is the Grand Auntie. You being called a Great Auntie, means that you have the Authority to issue orders to any male of the Horde, short of Sirius. Had House Black been Matriarchal, you, at this time, could be the Grand Auntie."
"You know alot about something we don't share with outsiders."
"Spent six months embedded with a warren of Warriors learning the basics of spear, sword, and legion. I was sent to the Goblins Rather than the humans, as both an insult and to get me out from underfoot. At the end of the six months, I was too big to join the phalanx formation. So I provided artillery support instead."
"And where were you during this training?"
"Ravnica. Under House Boros." Lupin supplied.
Ashraq stopped and turned first to the werewolf and then the lad. [Are you telling me that you can Walk?]
"I can." Harry answered in English. "I can take one unwilling or three willing for a small fee. I only have three planes that I know well enough to travel to, myself, but I know a couple of older Masters that can take me and others elsewhere."
Ashraq rubbed his long fingered hands together in anticipation.
Lupin snorted. "First and foremost, any Walking will be done by House Potter. You are House Black. I do know that Auntie has requested to see…" the long haired wizard trailed off.
"Barchoke." Harry supplied.
"You Rang?" A low rumble responded from behind the two leather clad hunters.
HATM
Two hours later, Harry led Lupin and Narcissia out of the Bank.
After doing his blood test, and having Barchoke take the reins of the House finances, send the contracts to him at Hogwarts, and inspect the properties and compile a list of needs and wants. He claimed his ring, and allowed Barchoke to see about Walking and to where.
With Ashraq, he claimed his Heir ring and had everything sent to his Lord at Hogwarts.
He withdrew twice the number of gold coins the Auntie recommended and followed her back into the sunlight.
Next stop was Olivander's. After twenty minutes of testing wands, the old man decided to craft him a new one.
In the backroom, Harry pulled things from his pouch that he thought might help with his wand crafting. And as the old craft master sorted through the items, he got excited. But the only thing that could be used for Harry's wand was a rabbit's horn. Harry ended up trading the rest for a new wizard's cuff and a deluxe wand care kit.
A blackthorn shank was selected as was a hydra heartstring. A crest feather from an Occamy and a string from the tongue of a dire toad were added. When everything was brought together… he walked out with a cane that morphed to fit his needs. He had power in the cane and staff modes, but tight control with the wand. The Rabbit horn was split and graft-fused into the hilt. And the horn grew and shrank as the wand morphed.
Then they went to the trunk store. Where Harry bought a black oak trunk with all the bells and whistles. Lupin also bought a Manor in a tent.
Narcissia watched the two of them as they inspected everything. And I do mean everything. Narcissia sent everything back to Hogwarts with Dobby.
First they went to Madam Malkin's where both males were fitted for robes for every occasion. Because they were members of House Black, and not Hogwarts she got them in Black silk and wool blends. Everything that was ordered was sent to Hogwarts by 'Owl post'. She Also 'forced' the two males to change into black silk robes. In fact, only their 'pants', boots and belts were allowed to be kept.
Because she knew about the Yule Ball that was coming she drug the two men to Twilfit and Tattings, where they each were fitted for formal robes.
Again everything was sent to Hogwarts by Owl.
Then Lupin took the lead and wandered to each and every store and shop on the street. They bought a little bit of everything.
At the Emporium a snowy owl landed on Harry's shoulder and would not move until Harry had her carry a letter to Sirius.
At the Manaigery, a snake popped up from her nest, tested the air around the lad, and told him to come back when it was warmer. As a joke Moony bought a rawhide bone and ball for Padfoot and a catnip mouse for Harry.
At the bookstore, Lupin started selecting one copy of each book for about a third of the store. As Harry and Narcissia waited at the counter for the werewolf to finish his shopping, the shopkeeper asked why the wizard was collecting half the store.
"He just got a traveling library." Harry sighed. He turned and flashed his rings at the man. "While I doubt that I have the Gold on me for the total, can you offer another option?"
The man looked at the rings, raised an eyebrow at Narcissa, and at her nod, bolted from the counter to help with the shopping.
As they exited back into the street, Harry spotted a second hand shop. "Knic-nacs." And Lupin sighed, before following the boy into the junk shop. In the end Lupin's pile outnumbered and out weighed Harry's.
Narcissia beat them both, combined. As she was digging for her coin pouch, Harry paid her due.
"As a thank you, Auntie." He smiled at her. "For taking this young male in hand and showing me what is needed." He paused. "Something a couple of breeders mentioned this morning. Continuation Contracts."
"Who?" The head female of House Black frowned at the youth.
"Greengrass was on my arm, and Parkinson was resting Her chin on my shoulder when Draco asked me to deliver the note.
She pulled the scroll from her sleeve. She reread it. "Tell him I will see him this weekend. Hogsmead. I will be having brunch at the Roosting Gryphon. As for the girls, should I be contacting House Parkinson?"
"She was talking about Line Continuation. From what I understand, Draco has separated from or spurned Pansy and she is covering her perky yet firm ass."
Lupin snorted.
"I will have lunch with the ladies, and find out who is looking for what." Narcissia smiled demurely.
The Wolf grunted.
"And you, Mister Lupin. I will be expecting your owl." And the witch was gone.
"What was that?" The Cub asked.
"That was trouble knocking at the door." Lupin adjusted his ascot.
"And are you going to answer it?"
"Oh Hell Yes." Lupin draped his arm across the Lad's shoulders. "Come, let me show you the best wingman you will ever have. The Duke of Honey." And Lupin pulled him into the Floo.
HATM
In the Three Broomsticks, the Wolf ordered a fish and chips with a pint of butterbeer for each of them. Harry really liked the fish, going so far as to snag half of Moony's.
After the late lunch, Lupin led the way to Honeydukes. While there, Lupin bought a pound of Narcissia's favorite fudge.
Harry asked the Sales-witch about the favorite flavors of his witches, and bought a half pound of each. He got a pouch of ice mice and a handful of blood pops for himself.
The two hunters slowly climbed the hill to the Castle. At the Gate, they waited for the Lumbering Form of the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Hagrid.
Lupin had Potter sit at the table of his choice and write out what they did today.
When dinner rolled around he was waiting by the doors for his ladies.
He was standing just outside the doors when the first sign of trouble raised its head. Hermione and Ronald were yelling at each other as they descended the great staircase.
"Why can't you just accept the fact that you are my girl?" Weasley was vocal as he was visible with his mop of red hair.
"Mostly for the same reason you won't leave me alone!" The crinkly haired witch snarled back."You are too thick to get the hint to leave me alone!"
Harry drifted to her side and pulled her into arms. {Easy there my queen.} He rubbed his head against hers. {Has he insulted you to the point where I need to go monkey shit on him?}
Hermione heard the rumble in his chest, and rubbed her head along his jaw, the tension bleeding from her shoulders. "No, there's no need to go full primal on him… yet."
"And the reason why you are cuddling my witch?" Weasley sneered at the well dressed wizard.
"First, this morning, House Potter and House Granger began talks." Harry smiled at the boy. "Don't tell me that you are poaching my prey?"
"What does that mean for us?" A female nasal voice asked from behind Harry.
Harry grinned into Hermione's hair, before he straightened up. "As I understand things, you are House Black's prey."
"Good answer." A cold tone floated across the hallway. "We are dining at Slytherin tonight. Granger and Davis will sit with Black."
Harry tucked the mousy witch under his arm and extended his other arm to the chipper hyper witch. Once everyone was seated, Malfoy swaggered by.
"Cousin Draco." Harry called out to him. "Auntie sands her greetings and says she is brunching at the Roosting Gryphon this weekend."
Draco paused, nodded and continued on.
Tracy pouted,"But I wanted you to give him the Weasley treatment."
"If I had not invoked Auntie, he would have opened his mouth and been backhanded." Harry ripped the roll in half and laddled the Bouillabaisse over the split rolls before he grabbed another one and began to enjoy the fish stew.
HATM
Albus Dumbledore frowned into his beard. Where he was hoping for a lump of iron, he received a forged blade of steel. Where he wanted a weapon he got a warrior. Where he wanted a puppet that answered only to him, he got…
Harry Potter.
As he sat on his throne, he watched the boy laugh and talk with the witches around him.
He turned to look at Severus, trying to gauge the Potion Master's reaction. But the man made stone gargoyles look expressive. Looking the other way he saw his right hand witch, twitching.
Igor had chosen to sit with Severus and Olympe was testing the waters by sitting between Hagrid and Fillius.
Ron had just burned the bridge between him and Harry before it was even built. Longbottom was just sitting there watching everything.
Malfoy was quiet and Zambini was observing everything and everyone.
Lovegood was happily playing with her pudding. Thank Merlin when he found out about her little vice and had the kitchen elves fix it for her at every meal. He even had them make him a small cup each meal as well. Tonight it looked like strawberry and cream.
His thoughts returned to Harry Potter… and how to bend the boy to his will…
HATM
Narcissia returned to her Home. The Black London House. Number twelve of Grimmauld Place. As she exited the Floo into the Plush Velvet upholstered Victorian style parlor. Waiting at the side of the Floo was Kreature, the old Elf that had waited on the main bloodline of House Black for the last century. She had traded Dobby, a young and hyper elf, for Kreature. Sirius and Kreature were very happy with the trade.
She and Kreature kept the House in vogue with the social circuit that Black was known for. She ran the Day to Day, planned the Balls and Social events that she would then follow on the heels of her Lord.
When she asked Sirius to declare the Contract void, she knew that she was going to lose her son, but he was so determined to be the second coming of Lucius that she had already lost him. Lucius refused to give her any more children, going so far as to threaten her with the castration curse.
She quietly asked Sirius to declare her Contract void. She was to provide a second child that could take House Black if Siri and Reggie were unable to. But Lucius didn't want Draco to have any competition in the race for the title of Lord Black.
By Declaring the Contract void, Draco lost the rights to House Black. Especially when Andromeda was returned to the Fold.
As a student of Hogwarts, she had found the quiet friend of her cousin to be cute and wickedly intelligent. Had he had any ambition, he would have been in Slytherin. Unlike most of the British Magical Empire, she knew that werewolves were only dangerous one night in twenty eight. And only during the night. During the day they were strong and hardy laborers. She even went so far as to find her Animus Form, and embraced its freedom.
Now that the Wolf was back from wherever he was, and she was free to do as she pleased… After all, she had a reputation to maintain. First was the fact that she left her Husband of over ten years for a life as a spinster… but now she was going to be having a werewolf lover…
Oh the Scandal!
And now who to get the gossip flowing…
Then she remembered that she needed to talk to Primrose Parkinson about the fact that her Daughter had found a new male to pursue.
She handed the bag of shrunken semi dark items to Kreature to sort as she hitched her hood up. "I am going out for Tea. Scandal is coming and we don't want to have anyone taking our place."
Kreature tic'd his tongue at her. "Mistress is so naughty. Bad Mistress needs a wizard to take her over his knee. Yes she does."
"That's half the plan, my good elf. I am hoping that the wizard has me tied down and screaming as he ravishes me by the end of the year." She smiled at the Elf. "I will be doing the ravishing."
"Bad Mistress. Shall I clean out the Master's playroom?"
"Yes. It will need to be aired out, and the leathers oiled." She patted the hatchet nosed Elf on the head and returned to the Floo. "Parkinson Palace."
HATM
As the Female Head of the House of Parkinson was sitting down to tea with business partner, Annabelle-lynn Greengrass, the Floo chimed. They were dealing in spiced and scented beauty products for the pampered housewife.
She sent the elf to find out what was going on. Almost immediately the elf returned with Narcissa Black. "Cissi, I was not expecting you this week." She stood and exchanged air kisses of both checks.
"I know that I am crashing your tea," Narcissa sat uninvited beside Annabelle-lynn. After exchanging air kisses with the blond, she turned back to the Hostess. "I bring gossip that I believe that you both are in need of knowing." A third teacup and saucer appeared on the table and the number of biscuits doubled. "What do you know about what happened last night at Hogwarts?"
Both ladies had blank expressions.
"I thought not." Narcissa poured tea to the halfway line of the tree cups, and looked meaningfully at the cabinet that held the liquor. As the disreputed member there, she was the lowest of any social standing. "I think you are going to want some rum to go with the tea today."
The Elf, small for her breed, peered over the couch arm at its Mistress. Primrose, nodded and waved a hand at the Elf. A squat bottle of rum appeared beside the tea tray.
Narcissa poured about two fingers of rum into each cup, restoppered the bottle, and passed the teacups and saucers to both ladies. "Last night, the Goblet of Fire chose the Champions for the Triwizard Tournament. Milord did not tell who was chosen for the three schools…" she sipped. "But a fourth name was called." She stirred her tea, as she looked at her audience through her lashes. Both ladies were hooked, and her skill of building suspense was starting to show in their shaking hands.
"Does the Name, Harry Potter, mean anything to you two?"
"Morgana's teats!" Annabelle-lynn nearly exploded.
"No!" Primrose hissed.
"I see that I have your attention." Cissi smirked."I see your 'teats' and raise you. The Lad was summoned from wherever he was. Seeing the witches were losing interest, she raised the stakes. "Milord had me meet his Heir this morning for him to get his Heir ring. I went looking for Draco, instead I found someone who looks like James but with the deepest green eyes." Annabelle raised her chin. Cissi drew out the scroll Daphne had sent, and passed it to the witch beside her. "Lord Potter is now also Heir Black."
"Daphne says that Potter-Black has accepted the opportunity for Line Continuation and is Open to House Parkinson joining as well." The pale blond read from the scroll. She looked up at Prim,"You never said that Draco had rebuffed Pansy!"
"It was decided that it was a ploy to improve the terms of the Contract." Prim tried to play it off.
"So, how does your Husband feel about Pansy being Lady Consort Parkinson?" Cissi asked.
Prime froze, before bolting her spiked tea. Anna was quick to mimic her.
"Now, you girls remember that scruffy boy that ran with Siri and James? Lupin?" Cissi held up the bottle of rum and the ladies were quick to offer their cups for a splash of rum before the tea was poured. "He looks like a cross between Hagrid and Greyback, but at the size of Lucius. Now pour him into a set of leather robes. I swear the robes were at least one size too small. You could see the muscles in his arms and legs flex as he moved."
Prim frowned."Wasn't he the one rumored to be a werewolf?"
"Yes. I even have confirmation of that fact." Cissi smirked. "And as he is only dangerous one night a month, He can use me the other twenty seven."
TBC