Hey everyone,
So in this chapter, we are mostly going to cover the notes being discussed and written that will, eventually, become the Betrothal contract between Lea, Cedric and Harry.
I might dedicate a similar chapter to the contract that will be set up between James, Sirius, Lily and Remus, but that probably won't be for a while.
Let's keep going,
Venquine1990
Chapter 23
Contract Notes – Part 01
25th of June 1995
Potter Quarters, Hogwarts
Lily's POV
As I sit down, I notice that, yet again, the portrait hasn't closed. This time it's because of Hermione, who climbs in a moment later. Thankfully the portrait closes behind her.
"Good morning. Sorry that I came in like this. I know you have your meeting. But one of the older Muggleborns mentioned a question and now most of the other Muggleborns are starting to spread all kinds of rumors.
And this time, Parvati's all alone as the question piqued Lavender's interest. She's on the side of the Muggleborns this time and it seems as if they, like usual, care more about their gossip than about hearing facts.
It's just – the question concerns something even I hadn't thought of and I figured asking you guys directly would be my best shot. After which I could talk to Lavender and explain. Cause I felt she'd take the truth from a fellow peer, you know?"
I want to shake my head as the girl's nervous energy can be really dangerous for her to deal with, especially next year when OWLs are about to start.
Yet because of the respect I feel for what she did for Sirius last year – and Harry in all last four years – I just gently motion her to come over.
And when I ask her what this question is, she sends an intriguingly apologetic look at the three boys before she asks:
"Why aren't any of you upset that there isn't a girl in this bond? Aren't any of you worried about continuing the family and all that?"
Harry's face, like I expected, turns red like a tomato. Cedric looks at Hermione as if he doesn't understand her questions. And Lea looks startled, as if this was something he hadn't even thought about yet.
Which I know James considers a good thing.
James himself sighs and says: "Hermione, for the time being just understand that this is yet another thing that sets wizards apart from male Muggles, okay?
I'd explain the whole thing right now, history and everything, but I'd like to start and get through this meeting. Unfortunately, thanks to our years of absence, we now have a lot of catching up to do and very little time to do so.
So Lils and I want to get the notes of the contract done and then take that and Harry to Gringotts. There we want to see if our account, outside of Harry's trust vault, has either gone dormant or – if Dumbledore got his hands on it."
Hermione and Harry both wince at this at the end and Hermione nods. Then James looks at Amos and asks if he'd mind explaining the history lesson to her after they were done.
Thankfully Amos instantly agrees. Yet it seems as if Fate – or some other deity or being – doesn't want us to get things done just yet as Lea winces and says:
"Yeah, about that. I'm not against it, don't get me wrong. It's just – there's a reason the Minister wanted to meet with the King the other day."
Mickey nods and explains that Fudge suggested that they create Family titles based on the titles Lea and the others had in the rest of the universe.
I agree with this as it genuinely shows Lea's willingness – and that of the rest of his team – to be part of this world.
And then Lea explains why he winced as he tells us that, outside of Mickey, Donald and Goofy, none of the others had last names until last night.
"And while Axel and I spent almost 2 hours after the party thinking of one, we couldn't think of anything, anything, that really fitted the both of us
And that didn't sound stupid or childish."
This makes James grimace as, without a last name, Lea can't be entered into the contract. Yet Harry proves the same thing Lea did the other night;
That they're meant for each other.
"Liyore." He says and we all turn to him. He shrugs and explains that it's a combination of the words fire and loyalty with the letters mixed up and a few taken out.
Lea stares at Harry for several minutes and then whispers: "If I ever meet the deity whose power send me to this world, I am bowing at their feet."
This statement makes most of us either snicker or hold back a snort.
"Alright then, that's the biggest problem solved. I suppose we might as well start putting this contract together." King Mickey suggests.
We all nod and after I summon a bit of parchment and a quill from our private chambers, I ask Hermione if she'd mind writing down the notes.
The girl shakes her head, but before she can ask me for ink, I smile and James transfigures the parchment and quill into paper and a pen.
Hermione looks at this startled and James explains that no one in Elysium actually uses quills, though some people still use quill pens.
Harry looks more interested to learn about this than Hermione, but James quickly reminds him, and his female friend, of why we're here.
The girl quickly takes her seat on the floor in front of the coffee table and pulls the paper close to her person as she looks up, pen in hand.
"Wait a minute."
Harry mutters to himself.
We turn to him and see that he has a thoughtful look on his face and his left hand lying on his lower abdomen. James and I share a look as we both wonder if he's already figured it out.
He turns to Hermione and the look in his eyes proves that he has.
"Hermione, back in September. Remember how sick I was in the last week of the month? I couldn't eat, I was constantly going to the bathroom, my mood was all over the place.
And the whole time it felt as if someone was messing me up from the inside, as if my organs were trying to fight something new growing within.
And when it was all done, a lot of the older students gave me this strangely proud look. Some even looked relieved, remember?"
Hermione is gaping at him as she probably realizes the same thing my son did. She turns from him to us, back to him and back to us.
James nods at her, while I silently curse both Minerva and those older students for not explaining the truth behind my son's illness to him back then.
Amos lies a hand on her shoulder and reminds her that he will explain the history behind this to her later, after we're done putting down the notes.
The girl nods and quickly focuses back on her notepad and pen.
James thanks Amos and then Lord Potter takes over from my usually laidback husband.
"Okay, let's get this done. And please understand that a lot of my decisions and requests in regards to this come from my desire to combine Harry's new relationship with his mates with my new chance to be his father and have a pro-active role in his life."
Amos, the king, Lea and Cedric nod in understanding at this and Harry sends his father a huge smile, while Hermione seems in awe at how James sounds both strong and powerful, but also has a voice that is full of care and a desire to be respected.
"First off, I cannot accept for you guys to be married – or bonded – before Harry graduates. Do either of you have any arguments that can convince me otherwise?"
Cedric shrugs and mutters: "NEWT's. I mean, would it really be fair to make Harry worry about both his final exams and the details of our ceremony or whatever?"
James winces and replies that the lad has a good point. But then Harry shrugs and mutters that he prefers a winter wedding, due to how beautiful one looks.
Instantly everyone agrees that the ceremony will take place around Yule 1998. And while Hermione looks up for a moment at the naming of the date, she writes it down.
"Next point and I know this will be a bit of an embarrassing one for you boys.
Lea, because you're starting a new Ancient House and because Harry and Cedric are the Primary Heirs to their own Ancient Houses, it will befall the three of you to continue our family lines.
In other words, while no one will argue against more, three heirs are going to be a required minimum. Though at the same time, the first one will not be born before Yule 1998, understood?"
Harry's face again resembles the Weasley's hair and Hermione even looks a little scandalized. Yet because I got to know her indirectly over the years and watched her over the last year, I shake my head and whisper not what you think.
Hermione looks at me and I send her a quick wink. Silently I tell her: "Just wait, I'll explain later. But it's not what you think. We don't work that way."
And while the girl only met me the other night, she nods in acceptance. This fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude.
"Okay, onto another important point to be added to the contract. Cedric, you'll be graduating next year. And Lea, you look old enough to graduate sometime next year as well.
So, here's my question; what do you plan to do once you have graduated? How do you plan to provide for the family you will soon be having?"
Lea winces, which worries me. Yet Cedric smiles and before his father can answer for him, he says: "I'll actually be starting on my new job this summer." And this shocks Amos, who turns to look at him with a wide-eyed look.
Cedric tells him that working at the Ministry was only his back-up plan. Amos blinks and Cedric turns back to the group at large.
"I'll be joining Professor Sprout when she goes to visit the new First Year Muggleborns. She shares this job with Professor McGonagall, who I will be joining after my NEWTs.
Why? Because I want to help the Muggleborns integrate. Give them a peer who is closer to their own age and who they can write to with questions about the new world they'll be entering.
And when it comes to next year, I'll be meeting with a few of them once a month to help them integrate as well. Though I'll only do so until March or April, depending on how much time I'll need to study for my NEWTs."
After this I want to impress Professor Sprout and McGonagall enough that they'll let me take over the job entirely.
Naturally I'll try and get a few others my age to join me in this whole thing – this new organization, I guess you can say.
And I definitely want everyone who will join me is at least a Hogwarts graduate. But I also want to keep my eyes out for the Purebloods.
You see, my end goal is to visit the Muggleborns one year before they go to Hogwarts, give them someone to get to know and trust who is closer to their own age and then be the liaison between them and the Purebloods.
Basically, I want to make it easier for Muggleborns to integrate into our world and have a better understanding of our world before they start Hogwarts.
I want to decrease the gap that is growing between Purebloods and Muggleborns and take Blood Purists like Malfoy their reasons for being Blood Purists."
As Cedric speaks, a grin grows larger and larger on my face. And while the same counts for everyone in the room, I know that, down in Elysium, Dorea Potter née Black is also beaming.
Suddenly, as I think of my mother-in-law, I realize that I am being given a golden opportunity and so I speak up.
"Cedric, your ideas are brilliant. Beyond brilliant even. And it reminds me of a theory that my mother-in-law, Dorea Potter, had.
She wanted to publicize it, but by the time she had worked her theory to the fullest, both the Prophet and the Ministry were heavily infiltrated and she knew that her theory would increase the target that was already on her back.
She told me about it and now, now that I've got this chance, I want to realize her dream. And because her dream concerns Muggleborns as well and can even help them against the instant bias of Blood Purists, I hope you'll let me combine this theory with your plans for the future."
Cedric is beaming back at me and suggests that we further specify the details later. I stretch my arm across the table and happily shake his hand on this.
"What about you, Lea?"
Lea's grimace worries me and he starts talking:
"Okay, I'm not going to waste important time with my backstory, even though that will explain what I'm about to say. I will do it later, though, so keep it memorized.
Basically, for the majority last 8 years I've been doing lots and lots of, as I called it a few days ago, icky jobs for Xemnas.
It's only been the last few months that I have, I guess you can say, been able to regain my heart and even then, I've been busy trying to make up for the mistakes of my youth.
Basically, like the book described our beloved and his friends, the last near decade of my life has been filled with hardships and – well –."
I really don't need to look to my side to know that Harry is looking at one of his two mates with sincere concern – as I feel the same strong sense of concern.
And while Lea keeps quiet at the end, Mickey speaks for him: "He just needs time to learn how to use the skills he has been gaining in the last decade in a regular life."
And the fact that Lea smiles at the famous being fills me with a sense of relief, before he thanks the mouse and says that he didn't know how, in the end, to vocalize his thoughts.
Mickey nods and James speaks up: "Okay, I have one condition and two questions to all this.
My condition is this; that you explain your backstory to us after the first book is read.
My first question is; are you willing to mix this desire of yours with a study for your NEWTs, which is a wizard's final exam at Hogwarts, and the obtaining of a wand?
My second question: Are you willing to, within the next five years, find a profession through which you can use your skills – both old and new – to not just obtain a maximum sense of happiness, but also provide for the family you will one day have with my son?"
Lea blinks at James for a moment and I wonder if my husband might have overwhelmed the teenager who looks to be only a year or so away from being an adult – or who might already be one.
Yet then he smiles and strongly states: "You'll hear my whole backstory the day after the reading is over. You can keep that certainty memorized.
I will gladly take up those studies as they'll probably help me in my goal and I'm definitely curious to see if someone chosen by the Keyblade can wield wizarding magic.
And trust me when I say this; Axel and I share one thing in common more-so than our looks; our desire to be there for our friends."
We all beam at how confident and strong the redhead sounds as he speaks and James reaches his hand across the table as he tells Lea – his future son-in-law – that that was exactly what he wanted to hear. Lea gladly shakes his hand, while Hermione busily writes notes down.
Yet then suddenly James starts to grimace.
For a moment everyone holds silent as we watch the one person who has, more or less, been in charge since we all sat down.
James seems to come to some kind of silent decision and mutters: "Dobby, if you're still here, can you ask Bill Weasley to come over? We kind of need his help?"
This statement confuses all of us and James explains: "I'd rather send Bill to Hogwarts with several statements and orders of what I want done there than to give Dumbledore a chance to keep us up or to cause a scene by traveling through Diagon Alley.
I'd rather just let either Fudge or Amos tell the world about our return and let them come to terms with that before I make a public appearance. Or at least more public than last night."
We all nod in agreement and understanding.
Bill appears, a loud pop preceding his arrival, and instantly he asks James what he can do for House Potter.
"I'd like you to do a few things, William, depending on whether or not they fall within your job description.
First, I'd like you to examine Mickey and Lea's currency and determine how much it's worth in Galleons. That'll help them when they open vaults in their new family names.
Second, with a statement I will be writing down later, I'd like you to visit my family Account manager and request for a full survey of the Potter Family fortune.
I want to know if it's been left untouched for the last decade and a half or if Dumbledore has been in charge of it. And if so, what he did with it."
Bill nods and thankfully tells us that all this falls within his skill set and job description.
Mickey pulls a small pouch loose from his suite and pulls a couple of gold gemstones that look to have eight sides and that come in three different sizes.
"Here Bill, this is about 26 Munny. We call our currency that. M-u-n-n-y. The small one is worth 1, the medium is worth 5 and the large one is worth 20 munny."
At this, while Bill takes the medium bit of currency and studies it, I can't help myself and turn to look at Hermione with a playful grin and a wink.
The girl suppresses a snort.
Bill's eyes widen in the meantime and he seems to really study the bit of gem-like currency. He even holds it close to his ear as he taps against the surface with the nail of one of his fingers a few times.
He then repeats this with the other two bits and verifies with Mickey that he pulled 26 Munny out of his pouch.
Mickey nods and Bill astounds us all as he says: "Your majesty, you're holding 106 Galleons right there." Instantly everyone's eyes are on the three inconspicuous bits of gold gemstone in the royal's gloved hand.
Bill is the first to recover and he says: "This is great. As of 1988, a person needs to be able to exchange enough of their own currency to own 500 Galleons.
Yeah, I know.
Still, you guys seem to definitely have about 100 Munny on you, so if you're willing to let me take pouches with the required currency and a written statement from each of your Houses with me, I can open these vaults with you.
That way, you guys can follow in Lord Potter's example."
Mickey nods in agreement to this, while Lea pulls his Gummi phone from his pocket and seems to call one of his friends.
He greets the person – Sora – on the other side and quickly explains what was discussed. From the other side, I hear both Sora and Master Yen Sid. The latter suggests that they wait for William in his quarters.
Lea nods and William quickly tutors them on what needs to be in the statement. Master Yen Sid assures him that they will have the required items and Lea greets the lot of them before he turns off the phone again.
Yet James, who quickly wrote his own statement while this all took place, hasn't stopped grimacing the entire time.
"Okay Bill, would you mind getting that survey done before you do the rest? It's just – I don't feel comfortable working on the financial bit of my son's Betrothal contract without knowing the status of my family fortune."
Bill proves that he is as loyal to my family as his youngest brother is to my son. He quickly takes the statement and requests Dobby to take him straight into Gringotts.
A loud POP and the redhead is gone again.
"Okay, instead of finances, let's discuss easier subjects.
Considering how important it is that you guys get to know each other and grow close before you tie the knot, so to say, I think a good agreement would be the following.
Every month, preferably during the weekends, there will be one date between Cedric and Lea, one between Cedric and Harry, one between Lea and Harry and one between all three of you guys.
Yes, that will take up one day or night every weekend, but I think that that's the best course of action, especially considering that next year is Harry's OWL's and NEWT's for you two."
Everyone agrees to this and Hermione happily writes down the agreement.
Yet then James grimaces and tells us that, right now, we can't do anything but wait for Bill to come back with the survey.
Hermione asks if he's sure and James nods as he says: "I'm sure that some people would be expecting us to put down things like escape clauses or something of the sort.
But these three are soul-bound and this whole thing is just meant to keep the loudmouths off our backs. We just want to appease them, not dance to their tunes."
Everyone nods.
Well said, James.
And yeah, I'm going to end it there. I would have just gone on and described what would happen once Bill returns.
But this chapter is already five pages long and I just know that more is still to come. And yeah, Dumbledore DID get his hands on the Potter fortune.
Uh oh,
Venquine1990
