"Says the Witch that doesn't want any chocolate." Harry glared at the lass.
"Point taken." Tracy smiled at the Lad. "Well played my Lord." She walked off, a swing to her hips.
"Witches. They will be the death of me."
When he limped up to the Confectioner's Shop it was just him, Astoria, and Tracy. He opened the door, and let them proceed inside ahead of him. He limited them to a half pound of fudge, as he got a half pound each of ice mice, pepper imps, jelly slugs, and cockroach clusters. He also bought half a pound of each of his girls favorite flavors of fudge. He also selected a half dozen bars of chocolate bark.
As he herded them out of the store, he saw Hermione in a pair of wool stockings, a knee length skirt, and a knitted wool sweater. Two steps behind her was Greengrass in a silk dress that hugged her from the push up bust of her breasts to her swiveling hips, where the skirt split on her right thigh the length fell to her ankles, where her strappy stilettos glistened.
Two minutes later Neville Longbottom arrived with Hannah on his arm. "There you are Harry. All set?"
"One minute." Turning to Tracy and Astoria. "Head back to the Manor Tent. Astoria, I think Moony has a lesson for you. If you're finished by the time we get back, I will have a surprise for you."
The witchling turned and ran for the Tent where everyone was living until the Tower was finished. Tracy, kissed Harry on the cheek and walked away, a swing to her hips.
Harry took the arms of both witches and nodded to the Druid in training.
Neville led them around the block and up to the tree that towered this area of the Village. Among the Roots was a painted door. The paint was chipping and the brass knob needed a little polish. The glass windows needed a good wash.
The door creaked as Neville pulled it open. And as they entered they saw it was run down. The two witches huddled close to him.
"My Lord, you came." The villager from earlier scurried up to Harry.
Harry frowned as he looked about. "You really let this place go."
"In truth, I inherited this place from my uncle." The man bobbed his head like a human House Elf.
"Cuppi!" Harry called out.
A young Elf, a female by the head dressing, appeared by the Lord's knee, and once seeing the place, began to shake with glee at the prospect of Work.
"Before that, I need you to select five others." Harry petted her head. She popped off to round up other Elves. Harry turned to man. "I am seeing that this is more than I was led to believe. Not your fault, and fixable." Harry locked his Lord Black Potter gaze on the Man. "Just what are you asking for? Help to rebuild this place? Or are you asking to Sell?"
"If I could get… maybe … ten… twelve… thousand for it? " the man said hopefully and a bit intimidated.
Harry looked around, before looking at Neville and then Daphne. They both nodded, and Harry shook hands with the man. "Tomorrow morning. We will go to Gringotts and handle the parchment work. You try anything and you will be the first person I put my screws to."
Cuppi and five other Elves popped into sight, Harry snapped and the little guys went into overdrive as if dust bunnies were a sin against all things Holy.
"In the meantime, five menus and two tables please." Harry drawled.
LBDLP
Daphne frowned when she saw where Harry was going, the frown deepened as Neville worked the door. But the inside made her and Granger huddle closer to Potter.
Yes, she should call them by their given names but they had been Potter and Granger so long that she had to focus to remember to call them by such.
The own scurried, actually scurried like a two legged rodent, up to them. "My Lord! You Came!" Daphne could almost hear the relief, joy and only because she had to put up with Pansy and Malfoy for the last four years… the man's greed in his voice.
Harry made a snide remark and called a young female elf, who on seeing the sight of the place had the same thought as Daphne, but a totally different reaction. Where Daphne wanted to run, the Elf wanted to clean and spit polish the place.
Even the orders to gather others to help did not diminish the rapture of the little gal.
Then the talk turned to what the man wanted. On hearing that Lord Potter was willing to buy the place… the greed rose to the forefront.
Now that she knew that this was an investment… she could see the bare bones of the place… both as a Restaurant and as a medical clinic.
When she saw Longbottom give his nod of approval and Potter turned to look at her, she too, nodded.
Potter went Full Dark Lord, and that went chills down her spine to her core.
Just like that Morning a week ago.
[Flashback]
As the two Law wizards and Hermione haggled over the exact wording of the Oath, the two Healers stood watch over Potter as Daphne and Susan got comfortable with grasping his arms.
Tracy and Hannah had gone home to check in, as Ginny and Astoria followed Luna home.
Neville had gotten lost in the greenhouse again, but Regent Bones was just allowed him to fight the flora back into place as she had allowed it to run wild as the watering charms were still active and she did not have the time. Little Susan was too young when the place was manageable and after she got back from Hogwarts she had no interest.
The twins and Lee were busy laying the groundwork for the triple W shop, as they worked to draw the eye off of Potter for the next few days.
Director Bones led the way up to the Counter.
Many Patrons moved aside as soon as they saw Director Bones, Heir Potter, and Healers Tonks and Greengrass approaching the counter.
Quickly the group were standing before the Teller. "Lord Potter-Black to see his account managers. We will be needing a board room. We await their convenience."
The Goblin peered at the Witch over his rimmed Binocles before turning his attention to the party behind her. "Does he know what lies before him?"
" Most likely not." The square jaw of the Director flexed as she fought to keep her face carved in stone.
The Teller grinned, showing his teeth. "I will send a runner. Bench by the back wall. Will there be trouble?"
" There shouldn't be any, but if half of the stories I have heard of the boy…"
"Oi!" The lad had objected, before he thought about it, and nodded. "Aye, and you only know the Highlights. But it's not like I go looking for trouble. It just finds me on its own."
The Goblin only smiled bigger, showing more teeth. "That almost makes me want to challenge Barchoke for your account. If not for the amount of Parchment work, I would too!"
The Adult Witches around Potter chuckled as they too knew the evils of paperwork.
The whole party gathered where the Teller Goblin had directed.
As her Father handed her a stiff piece of paper, Daphne gripped her wand and spoke the Oath, before passing on the card. Once everyone had sworn the Oath, Lupin had placed the card in his pocket.
After twenty minutes, a goblin came to lead them to a meeting room where three goblins stood waiting.
"Mister Potter, Heir to the House of Potter, Heir to the House of Black." The older goblin set a wooden box, 16 in by 16 in by 4 in with two inch feet at the corners, on the table before the young man. "As by tradition of your Houses, we seek to confirm by blood, by magic, and by conviction that you are not only who you say you are, but that you are ready for the responsibilities that are ahead of you."
He ran his talon along the center of the box, causing the lid to split in twain. As the box opened on a hinge that had nothing to do with metal, every adult in the room stiffened.
Sirius Black clapped his hand on Potter's shoulder. "Brace yourself. Every Lord, and Regent of the Twenty Eight faces this. This should be fun." He backed away, to sit in a seat three chairs to Harry's left. "Just not for you."
Harry glared at the Animagus. Before he turned back to the Goblin that was so old he had more grey hairs sticking out of his long ears than he had on his head. He kept it long, and styled.
Then Harry froze as his eyes locked on the black quill that the old goblin sent on the black sheet parchment. The whole room heard the young Lordling hiss in anger at the hated thing, and every eye was drawn to his left hand as he made a fist.
Potter turned to Director Bones. "The Toad Dies. One way or another, she is second on the Dark Lord's death list. The only place she will find safety is that lovely island resort my Godfather spent the last ten years in."
Turning back to the Goblin, "Tell me what to do." The cold of his voice chilled the small hairs on the back of her neck.
The Goblin waved a taloned hand at the black quill. "Use the Blood Quill to sign at the bottom of the page on the silver line. I can see that you are familiar with the effects of the Quill, but the use of a Quill in that manner is frowned upon by the Law Abiding."
Potter took up the quill and signed his name.
Harry James Potter.
Daphne could only read it by the wet shine of the fresh blood.
Then the Magic of the Blood and Parchment sheet took over and the True Titiles and Bloodlines of Harry Potter were revealed.
Lord Potter,
Heir Black
Regent Paveral
Lord Gryffondore
Lord Slytherin
And then she lost track of the names and titles that were spreading across the sheet.
The only reason she did not jump him and wrap her arms and legs about him was because not only was her Mother right there, so was her Father.
They Old Goblin nodded, repacked everything… and paused with his hand over the Blood Quill. The decaying Blood Quill.
"Just what is in your blood boy!" the old Goblin glared at the boy.
"Well… Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears, then there was the Dragon spike, and there was …" Harry rambled
The Goblin Sanguine-mancer staggered back. "H-h-have you considered selling your blood?" The Goblin stuttered, causing everyone other than Harry to stiffen. "Your blood could be worth your weight in Galleons. By the Pint!"
The shaven headed Goblin cleared his throat. "It is not meant as an insult and he is offering an opening bid on a resource that would catapult his Craft into the Next Level."
Harry nodded. "I will think about it, and get back to you by the end of the week."
The Goblin nodded, and sealing the box, he picked it up and exited the room, leaving the decaying Quill on the table.
The tweed Goblin waved his hand over the Quill, causing it to be sealed into the slab of the Table. The Feather continued to dissolve, leaving an imprint in the stonework of a charred feather outline.
The Healers drew their wands and began scanning the boy. The Goblins frowned at them doing so without asking first…but as they were Healers in the act of a medical service... All they did was frown
The Shaven Headed Goblin asked, "Where and when did you meet a Basilisk?"
"Chamber of Secrets back in June of Ninety Three." Harry rolled up his sleeve and showed his scar from the tooth.
"Yes, it is about two and half years old, and while the Tears are countering the effects of the venom in his blood, it is still harmful if taken without permission. How did we not notice?" Tonks asked Greengrass.
"Ah, Here it is. His blood is actively counseling its signature, and the answer has to do with his Family Magic." Healer Greengrass turned to Black, "Your animagus form … did the Boy's Father…"
"A Stag. To my Dog."
Harry frowned. "Not a Dog." He grinned at his Dogfather. "A Grim."
That raised the eyebrows of everyone there.
Harry reached for his wand, before looking to the Goblins. "If I may…"
Tweed nodded. "You may."
[Expecto Patronum]
A massive racked Stagg landed on the stone table. Its Hooves clip-clopping as it paced the table, bumping noses with Potter and Black, before nodding to the shaven Goblin and Faded out.
"T-t-that's no Stagg!" Cyrus stuttered out. "That was a 'Forest Lord Hart'."
"And so, that means that we are swinging by Prongs's personal Vault." Black hissed. "We will need his notes on the Animagus Transformation."
The Tweed wearing Goblin cleared his throat. "Okay Black had cleared his test while everyone was watching Potters. If he would step over here while everyone else helps the Lad with his Potter estate, we can get out of here in time for Lunch."
Regent Bones and Lady Greengrass stood behind their charges, while the girls squeezed in to Lord Potter. Lord Greengrass hovered over the Lad.
First up was the Bones-Potter contract. While it called for Susan to be his Wife, with all skips on both sides spent, Amelia was asking for a line continuation clause. Harry agreed, with the caveat that three attempts be made as long as the Houses Stand, with no more than three generations between each attempt. If there was no Marriage within nine generations, the House Bones becomes a vassal House of House Potter, if not absorbed completely. Amelia frowned, but decided House Bones had two hundred and twenty five to two hundred and fifty years to find love.
She signed the agreement.
Susan bounced in her seat… and Harry watched.
Daphne swatted his head.
Next was the House expenses…
First he had the Bank in his Name, Sue the Ministry for back rent of the Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow. Then he allowed the Manager to take ten percent of the base amount in the Vault and invest it on the House's Behalf. When the investments made money, Barchoke(as he learned the Shaven headed Goblin was named,) would earn five percent of the profit in addition to the Bank's Share. But if the Investment lost money, Barchoke had to pay ten percent of the loss.
The Goblin sneered at the boy. "Are you insulting me, boy?"
"No. I am challenging you personally to make me profit. A wise and thrifty Goblin could ride the Their pay for managing My House. But a true Warrior of the Way of the Coin can ride my Accounts to greater heights than any other house in the Nation." He grinned, showing his teeth. "I make money, you make money. I lose money, you lose money." Then his grin turned evil, "I can even trade other favours to my Account Manager."
"Like say … Brokering the Sale of the Basilisk?" Barchoke scratched a note in his ledger, "Of course we will be taking a cut for hunting it down and killing it."
"It's already dead. She bit me as I was stabbing her through her Mouth." He tapped his arm.
"You killed her, and you are Sure it was a she, two and a half years ago." He Leaned forward, "And where exactly did you leave it?"
"Chamber of Secrets. Under Hogwarts." Harry frowned before smirking. "And yes I am sure it was a she. It has to do with the pitch of their voices."
Ashraq froze. "You can hear them?"
"Yeah. Sorry, I keep thinking everybody knows ever since Lockhart's Dueling club."
Daphne starts chuckling. "Malfoy finally does something no one else in our year can do and summons a snake. and this dum-dum called it to heel."
"And scared every Hufflepuff, fifth year and below." Susan snorted.
The two goblins exchanged looks, before Barchoke remembered what he was talking about. "We will need to collect it in about … three months."
"Doable." Harry smiled, "Getting into the Castle is the easy part. Getting out is tricky, and without being noticed… not impossible." He frowned. "Owl either Hermione Granger, Susan Bones, or Daphne Greengrass, when trying to reach me. I have come to think only certain owls can find me."
"So… you have not received anything from Gringotts in the last fourteen years." Barchoke sneered.
"Nope."
"And who is responsible for this slight?"
"If anyone is, it would be Dumbledore." Harry snarled.
Daphne drew back in surprise and then smiled as the boy showed his true colours. He was a snake in Lion's clothes.
LBDLP FB
As the group exited out into the sun, Black returned to Padfoot and everyone was trying to decide where to go eat. Harry only knew the Cauldron and the Ice-cream Parlour.
Lupin knew a few cheap places down Knockturn but did not think they were wanting to visit those types of places.
Then Healer Greengrass gave a wicked grin, and took Padfoot's leash and handed it to Harry. She then moved both Susan and Daphne to Harry's arms. "With His soon to be in-laws, his Lawyer, and his Tutors, the New Lord Potter - Black is taking his ladies to Lunch… Before shopping." She hooked her arm through Cyrus's and led the way to a large open cafe… the size of the Great Hall.
Hermione whistled and raised an eyebrow at the harmonics.
Annabelle-Lynn did not even wait for the Host to greet them, as she herded the group to the centre of the Café.
The Host frowned at first before seeing Director Bones. He frowned again at Lupin and Padfoot, but then he saw Andromeda Black and Harry Potter. He knew as did everyone that the centre table was for those who were going to cause a scene and wanted to have some control over the Gossip.
"Too bad Rita is taking a sabbatical." Cyrus huffed, "It would be the Galleon among her Scikles." He smiled at Harry, "She hasn't been the centre of attention since 'Tori went to Hogwarts. Rita's skill with a quill…"
Harry drew his wand. [Expecto Patronum]
The White Stag drew every eye to the group. Harry whispered in its ear and the Stag bounded out, through a wall.
Harry turned to Lupin. "Steward. Take my Father's Grim Familiar. I will bond with him later. Right now, I have my hands full with my Brides to Be."
The whole Cafe heard Harry.
Cyrus looked at him. "You know what you are doing?" He whispered.
"Yeah." Harry flashed a Gilderoy Class smile. "As my Mentor has Advised me, You need to both milk and flaunt your Reputation. As I am the Number One Bad Lad in the Kingdom, I must flaunt that you and I have come to an Agreement that I may Court your Daughter and House Bones has agreed to my Courting their Heir. The Details will be delivered via the Best Reporter in all of England."
LBDLP
Rita was sulking in her flat, sipping Muggle Rum as she thought about what she was going to do for more funds…
A Glowing Ghastly Ghost Galloped into her Kitchen, and bowed its massive rack at her.
Then to her surprise its mouth opened and that pesky Brat's voice emitted from it's lips.
"Rita. Collect your Reporters Purse. You are invited to bug me at Dunnings. Write only the truth, and you will have Gossip Galore. I am buying Lunch, but you only have until we Order. Clock's ticking."
Three waves of her wand , and her hair was its usual bright golden curls, her lips red, and her green robes were switched the Housecoat.
Snagging her Emerald Green purse, she hit the floor running.
"Rita Skeeter is off her Sabbatical!!!"
[End Flashback]
LBDLP
Delores awoke and found herself restrained by cuffs aronde her upper arms, and wearing only a hospital gown.
"Miss Umbridge. You are awake." Annabell-lynn Greengrass nee Selwyn, smiling down on her. "So good to see you awake…Cousin."
TBC