As Harry and Hermione sat at the end of the Table, he made sure to invite Neville to join him. Luna sat across from Hermione, and beside Harry. Neville sat across from Harry.
Before the food was served, Harry passed Neville the wooden box. "A gift to cement our new Bond of Brotherhood."
Neville eased open the lid, before snapping it closed. "Bond Accepted." He seized Harry's forearm. "Anything you need…"
"The positions of My Best Mate and Second have become available. I would like you to take these positions immediately."
"And Why would you need me…"
"Weasley, in a fit of Petty Pride, has turned from my side. I'm going to need an advisor and a wand at my back." Harry laid it all on the table. "Followed advice from an unexpected sector, and saw my Account Manager. Long story short, I barreled Malfoy, and ended up under the hippogriff. I have asked for a meeting this evening in the library after dinner. I was advised to include you."
Neville stroked the box. "Okay, but you help me with my studies that I am doing poorly in."
"Governor, that's the main job of a School Mate." Harry grinned at his new Best Mate.
Just then, five barn owls arrived through the Mail Hatch and descended to four girls at the Slytherin table and one at Hufflepuff. All five were carrying Honeydukes Chocolate Shop bags.
Pansy squealed, kissed Draco's cheek, and bolted from the Hall.
Daphne frowned before looking towards Harry.
Harry smirked and flashed both rings at her.
Daphne nodded, before returning to pawing through her bag of sweets, swatting at Tracy's hand as the half-blood kept trying to snag a treat.
The twins further down the table, frowned before sharing a look, and then looked at Daphne, who was busy defending her bag from both Tracy and her sister by this time.
APLB
After dinner, the two witches and two wizards headed up to the Library. As Luna wondered off to find a book,(Ravenclaw, am I right?) Harry, Hermione, and Neville lurked in the shadows.
Four witches arrived looked about before settling together in the back. Everybody who received a bag of chocolate but Parkinson was at the table.
Parkinson jogged in a short skirt and a low cut top.
"Ladies." Harry stepped out of the shadows, Hermione at his side. "I see you got my invite."
Pansy gasped, and turned the other way looking for Draco. Instead she saw Neville and Luna.
"Ladies. Allow me to introduce myself. Harold James Sirius Potter. Lord Potter, Heir to Black. Acting on Greengrass's advice, I went to see Gringotts. They want me to return next week for a full Inheritance Test. But for now they have concluded that House Potter is bound to House Bones with a CCC. House Black, thanks to an Agent, has done the same for Houses Carrow, Greengrass, and Parkinson, with House Carrow providing the next Lady Black."
"Shit, Harry." Neville staggered to a seat beside the twins. "When you said you ended up under the Hippogriff, I thought it was just a figure of speech." The witches glared at Harry.
"Okay. So who here would prefer Draco… besides Parkinson?"
No one moved.
"And how do you get the Contracts?" Pansy asked.
"According to Ashraq, House Malfoy has made some deep shit misconceptions. Because Narcissa Black was the last free Daughter of House Black, her Son is believed to be the Heir. But because Sirius was Heir when he was incarcerated, and never faced trial, he is the unringed Lord of Black and he had Named his Godson his Heir. Because the Ministry, in their Great Wisdom and Greed, never tried Black, his guilt was never proven, so I am Heir until Black dies or side steps his responsibilities. Now at this minute, only way Draco becomes Heir or Lord Black is for me and Sirius to die. And he not involved in any manner. I have a will with Gringotts. That should I die before my next birthday, everything goes to Hermione and the Goblin Nation."
Everybody was a few shades paler.
"And when you said you barreled Malfoy, I thought you meant to the same level as the Hippogriff." Neville swallowed.
"He did." Daphne snorted. "It was just the size of the Hippogriff and barrel you misjudged."
Pansy glared at Potter. "As the Wife of Lord Black, I was going to be allowed certain… privileges. Are those still on the table?"
"Such as?"
"Command of the Black Society Calendar. Wardrobe…" she looked Potter over, " and the like?"
"Within Reason. Only Lady Black can overrule you. I expect from your sister's expressions that you will have the basics of our social duties." He sat at the head of the table. "Not knowing what each and everyone of you may have planned for after school, but know this. You want to do it and it doesn't interfere with your House Duties, please go for it. You need money, books, down Hermione, and even tutors, House Black will cover it. From Sue's look, Pansy might also have to run the House Potter Social Calendar as well."
"Anything?" The Carrow twins chorused.
"Again, within reason, but yes. Anything short of killing muggles and the like."
"Crypto-Magi-Zoology?"
"Crumple Horned Snorkack?" Luna perked up.
"Not exactly." One said.
"We were talking…" the other,
"About the Vodai." They chorused.
Luna sat back. "Be Careful. They don't like it when most look for them. Wizards have vanished looking for them."
"That's why we will find them." The twins chorused again. "We're Witches.".
"I know Susan is interested in joining her Aunt and I want to study Medical Magic." Daphne leaned on the table.
"Good." Hermione swatted the back of Harry's Head, "Merlin knows that this one will need both kinds of Help in due time."
The girls laughed.
"One question." Susan spoke up. "What triggered this?"
"Simple answer." Harry looked her in the eye. "I was chosen. Because I was chosen, and declared that my participation was required, for this 'of Age' event, I was declared to be of age. With the help of Gringotts, an Agent who was trying to build himself an Empire, and my Potter Luck …" he shrugged, "I am now contracted to five girls, with the need for one more and at least three preparing to trip me and throw themselves under me."
Pansy frowned. "Draco and I have been contracted for years through our Mothers. Because I was going to be Parkinson of House Black, I put up with a lot. When his attitude grew more… elitist, I went along with it. Now while I do believe that Muggleborn are harming our way of Life, it is only because they ignore our Traditions and refuse to learn why we hold to them."
"And we ignore them," Harry jumped to cut off Hermione, "only because we don't know them and are not taught them. I know that certain days of the year require certain observations but what those are have been lost in Muggle Culture." A grin spread across his face, causing Hermione to groan.
"I propose that we cover our involvement in a club learning and exploring our Traditions, both Wizard/Witch and Muggle." Harry leaned in,
"Anyone can join…" Susan started,
"Unless they disrupt the harmony of the group." Daphne smirked. "Now to an important question. Which Teacher to oversee the club?"
"I say McGonagall." Hermione stood to lean more on the table. "Hear me out. While she does have favorites, She never gives us any slack and just expects more from us. She is completely fare, erroring against her Lions."
"Professor McGonagall does expect more from her House, and the only leeway she gives is in Quidditch." Susan added. "I vote McGonagall."
Luna traced a design only she could see, "Snape is out, due to Potter. Sprout is too tied up in her Greenhouses and Flitwick has three clubs of his own already."
"Then to McGonagall's office." The twins chorused as they stood.
Daphne looked at Harry, "And your vote?"
"One, I never argue with Hermione in intellectual matters, two McGonagall is the only one that has the history of practicing the traditional ways. I have seen her shrine." Harry stood. "And third, happy Witch, happy Wizard."
Everybody laughed at that one.
APLB
Minerva McGonagall was finishing up some last minute paperwork when a heavy knock sounded on her door. A heavy knock was from a male, but most male students saw her before dinner and the male staffers would have spoken with her during dinner.
"Come!"
The door opened and Harry Potter stood there. What was surprising was the witches behind him. He held the door as three Four year Witch's, a third year witch and two fifth year witches entered, only to be followed by Longbottom of all people.
"Yes?" Her brogue was thick with curiosity.
Hermione stepped forward. "Professor. We are convening a Witch/Wizard Traditions Study Group. We were hoping that you would oversee it."
"Why me?"
Greengrass spoke up. "Because the other professors are either too busy with other activities or clubs or were completely unsuited to deal with the core members of the group."
"Mister Potter, as you are no longer a Student of Hogwarts…"
"Yes, Headmistress." Harry gave her the Potter grin. "But the Triwizard Tournament is to build connections between our fair schools. I am bringing in outside sources, but we need someone from Hogwarts to help guide us during this time."
Her lips thinned. "Okay. We will meet in my classroom every Friday night. If we need a larger venue, we will handle it then. Dismissed. Potter please remain."
After saying good night to the ladies and reaffirming Longbottom, Potter closed the door and stood in a relaxed stance before her desk.
"Where did you end up?" She leaned forward.
"Lupin's old office and quarters. I'm two doors down from Moody. I presume that is okay. I don't think I could get away with anything with him just next door."
She made a note. "The Headmaster said you left the wards just after breakfast and returned just before dinner. Do you care to explain?"
"Not really." Harry looked straight ahead. "I felt that as I was no longer a student of Hogwarts, I was allowed to Handle a few House Potter matters." He exposed the House Potter Ring. "That's why I threw my weight behind this club. Being raised completely Muggle, to the point that They tried to beat the 'freakishness' out of me, I have no idea of my Rights and Responsibilities to Wizard Society."
Her jaw went slack. Years of practice kept the shocked expression off her face. "I see Mister Potter. That will be all."
He smiled at her, and bowed his head. He left as he arrived.
Ten minutes later, Albus was at her door.
"Ah, Minerva. I noticed that Harry Potter was here tonight. Did you find out where he was today?"
"It seems that he was taking care of House Potter affairs."
Albus looked out her window. "Why would he need to…"
"Because someone who claimed he was the Lad's Guardian has failed in his duties." Minerva hissed.
Albus snapped about to stare at her in surprise at her unbridled anger directed at him. "Minerva…"
"Albus. It would be better if you came back tomorrow. Only our long friendship and my respect for you prevents me from fixing your nose… the muggle way."
Albus understood what she was saying and left as quickly as he could without running."
APLB
Outside a Brighton Beach Bungalow, a scared and ragged man was nursing a cup of Lady Gray tea while he watched a black shaggy dog try to Bury a hippogriff.
It was early in the evening, the sun would set within the hour.
Only because the dog was more built for digging was it able to half bury the bird horse hybrid.
Buckbeak would get half buried, before he would have upwards and roll the Grim into the sand or water, only for Padfoot to shake himself and trot off until Buckbeak had returned to sunbathing and try again.
A sharp flash of light caught the werewolf's attention. A white phoenix had arrived, and it had a letter for them as they were the only ones for half a mile and a phoenix had better flash control…
Then the Glorious Bird shifted… into a white owl.
The scared face broke into a grin. "Hedwig!"
The two beasts snapped their heads about to look at the human stand and extend an arm for the owl to land.
The Grim shook itself and bolted to the Bungalow.
The Hippogriff stood, shook the sand from his feathers and pranced into the surf.
Hedwig took the perch, but refused to allow Lupin to touch the letter. Padfoot blurred from galloping grim to halting human mid-stride. Hedwig barked and stuck out her foot to Black.
He took the letter, and as Lupin scratched Hedwig's itchy places, read it.
Black turned and yelled at Buckbeak, "Hey Birdbrain, we leave for Hogwarts in an hour!" He turned and slapped the letter and everything against Lupin's chest. "Get packed, I am going to get cleaned up and rummage through your trunk."
Forty five minutes later Sirius stood on the porch, fully washed, hair trimmed and beard shaved to a Van-Dyke. He was wearing one of Lupin's Professor Robes, adjusted to fit his taller, lankier frame.
Lupin was dressed in another set of Robes, his trunks shrunk and in his pocket.
Buckbeak had spent the last 30 minutes spread out on a Floating platform, sunning himself. Now he was preening himself before he knelt down to allow the wizards to mount up.
Buckbeak took a running start, and flapping his wings, took flight. Just as they reached cruising speed, Hedwig shifted and grabbed Lupin's shoulder in her talons, and as he gripped the Hippogriff, she Flashed to Hogwarts.
APLB
When [Reckless Chick] had tied his letter to her jesses, she knew where [Starving Death] was.
But when she embraced the Flame, she ended up in what the humans would call Peru.
She spent the next twelve hours flashing about the globe, learning to navigate by the where the Ley Lines ran under the surface of the earth.
She spent the last hour honing her 'Owl Sense' and converting it into her Flame-Flash.
Had she fully embraced the Phoenix, she knew that her Flame-Flash would be as easy as her Owl Sense… but at the cost of her Bacon.
Nobody messed with Her Bacon!
When she finally delivered the letter, [Starving Death] declared that they were leaving in an hour. Hedwig, or as she called herself [Snowfall Death, napped as the two 'human's groomed themselves.
When they mounted up, she shook herself and readied to join them. When they turned towards [Reckless Chick, she grabbed [Lost Wolf] and embraced the Flame-Flash.
They exited over the Castle and by the lights from the windows, Buckbeak was able to touch down between the Beauxbatons' Carriage and the Front Doors.
TBC