Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

-oOo-

A/N: I will plan on posting 2 chapters a weekend but can't promise that is a hard schedule due to life.

-oOo-

Chapter 7

Edited 08 Sept 2024

-oOo-

February 20, 1999

Nottingham, England

Daphne's stomach was gurgling with anticipation and fear. Looking in the mirror, she was finally accepting the reality of this day. The last two months had been a whirlwind.

She hadn't been lying to him that many others had desired her, either for her body, her money, her political power once she was married or all three. Men had tried to betroth her to boys as young as fifteen, the minimum age of marriage in their world, or tried to claim them herself. Most were in their thirties and looking for a second wife after their first had passed or was unable to bear children. She had been disgusted by them all, as much as she wanted to protect Tracey and Astoria, she couldn't bring herself to just settle for a man.

When it can to potential men, she had eventually landed on three. Neville Longbottom, Emerick Shore and Harry Potter.

Longbottom had the right connections. He treated women well. With the wealth Longbottoms had, she didn't fear him trying to steal hers. She had decided against it though as he was too timid, was unwilling to use the power of his family to rock things and had been courting that insipid Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbot. If he wanted to marry below his station like that, then he wasn't the man for her.

Shore was from a respected family that sent all their children to either Durmstrang or Beauxbatons. Being the second son, he was sent to Beauxbatons to become the financial arm of the family, while is older brother was the political arm. They may not have a Wizengamot seat, but they were just as large a mover in the background as Malfoy and Parkinson were… or used to be. The Shores were the main financial backers of the more moderate members, and since the defeat of You-Know-Who, had been petitioning for a Wizengamot that was finally going to be voted on in the Spring Equinox moot.

She had decided against Shore for a few reasons. First, he was rumoured to be a bit of a philanderer. If rumours were true, he already had an illegitimate child or two and would have no less than three mistresses at a time.

For the second, he was twenty-eight. She didn't want a man that much older than her. She also didn't want a man that much more experienced, afraid he would make her do things she either didn't want to or wasn't ready too. That was a real fear as the man had seemed to be undressing her every time he looked at her.

For third, her father had warned her about the Shores. They were social climbers. To land someone like Daphne would have propelled them into the very top echelon of society around England and much of the continent. She refused to be used that way, even if she was looking for something similar, but only to protect those she loved.

Which brought her to Potter.

Harry Potter, arguably the most powerful wizard in their world, magically, politically and financially, was nothing like all the cocked-up Purebloods and Half-bloods vying for power. Oh, he had power. It oozed off him. He had wizards and witches either flocking to him or fleeing from him. There was truly little middle ground.

What attracted her though was the fact he never flaunted it, or even seemed to want it, but he was using it. From the shadows and more blatantly when needed, he was using his power and changing things against the grain of their society. It was like watching a slow tidal wave building and eventually washing out the old pillars to be replaced with something new. To be frank, it was rather exciting.

Malfoy had been an idiot to scare Harry away from Slytherin. He was the epitome of what the founder stood for. If he had been in Slytherin, she would have attached herself to him on the first day and they could have started these changes eight years ago. She thought their might have been a potential that the Dark Lord never would have been resurgent, or that so many would have flocked back to You-Know-Who, if they had become the power couple of Slytherin.

She knew they would have been no way she wouldn't have tried to connect herself to him with what she knew of him now.

The other part of her attraction to him was that he saw her. She hadn't missed how he had taken her body in those months she had attempted to get his attention after making her decision. There was a desire there, but he never ogled her or made her feel like she was a slag. No, his glances had started to drive her mental with the way it made her feel. He desired her, and it was for her.

He also respected her. He liked her dry humour. He gave it back in much the same way.

Harry listened to her. She knew he did because he had acted on a few of her ideas. No one may have known who had done some of the changes, like putting all departments besides the Obliviators that dealt with Muggles under the Muggle Liaison office, but Daphne knew. She had mentioned it to him last summer, and by Halloween, it was done. No one else besides Dumbledore would have had that type of power to make it happen, and certainly not within a few short months.

The icing on the cake was Harry himself. Except for the two long scars on his face, he was exceptionally fanciable. And even the scars only gave him a rugged look. It showed that he had fought and saved them all. They were badges of honour that meant more to him than all the awards he had been given, and ones she would be proud of when he was her husband.

Even knowing her reasons, and the quick courting they had had, Harry had told her he loved her, and she was surprised to find she felt the same. It was what had her in a nervous anticipation and fear. It was the same feeling that had her standing before the crowds earlier this week declaring Dumbledore as the Dark Lord out to get Harry and destroy their world. It was an act of heroism she never would have imagined herself doing, but one that she had done to protect her status with Harry, to protect him and protect her family.

Looking in the mirror, she only hoped she looked good enough for a man that could inspire such loyalty and bravery in her, and who had already committed himself to her and her family.

The dress was of more modern wizarding fashion, meaning it was around eighty years behind the Muggles. She rather liked it though. The silky, ivory coloured material clung to her curves. The underdress left her arms bare and thin straps around a low-cut bodice that hinted at the top curves of her chest. Over it was a fancifully designed silk tulle with flowers embroidered into it that covered her shoulders and went up to her neck. Spinning, she watched as her body moved in it. She knew she didn't have the largest breasts, and felt her hips just a little too wide, but liked her body overall. Harry seemed to like it too. A small smile crept onto her face to think of how he liked her body…

A dirty blonde girl of the same height came to put her hands on Daphne's shoulders and her chin on top of them. "You look beautiful, Daffy. Harry will love you," Astoria told her. As much as they may get on each other's nerves at times, especially since she had been forced to become Astoria's guardian, they still loved each other.

Daphne put a hand onto her sister's. "I hope so."

Astoria got a slightly mischievous grin. "He'll want you out of it more though."

"Tori!" she said with a little bit of a blush. She wanted that too, but hearing her fifteen-year-old sister saying it just sounded odd. In a few more years she might not think about it.

"He will." The girl sobered. "Mother and father would have thought you beautiful too."

Daphne's hand squeezed Astoria's. "I would have liked them here. Do you think they would have approved of Harry?"

Astoria gave her a look in the mirror like she was mental. "Are you kidding? Father would have been trying to marry you off the day after he won. Do you have any idea who you are marrying?"

Daphne gave a watery laugh. "I think I do."

"Oh, good, I was afraid you didn't," Astoria teased. "Mother would have been happy for you. When she gave me the talk, she told me to never let father decide who I would want. It was my body and my life."

"She told me the same," Daphne confessed. Tears were welling up in both their eyes. "I miss them, Tori."

"I do too. Are you sure you don't want Tracey or I to walk you to the bonder?" she asked.

Daphne gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you. I'm sure. Are you sure you don't want to live here with us?"

Astoria kissed her cheek. "Not right away. Tracey will get lonely, and I'd rather not walk in while you to are going at it like rabbits all over the house."

Daphne laughed. "You're a bint."

Astoria gave her a cheeky grin. "Yep."

"Sod off," Daphne told her, giving her a playful elbow. Astoria laughed. "I love you, Daffy. You should spend some time with your husband. I know you two said I will always have a room here. It isn't that hard to come see you and you know Tracey will want you both over for dinner at least once a week. Besides, I still owe you for that last game of Monopoly."

"It's not my fault you landed on Park Place with a hotel," Daphne replied with a grin.

Astoria giggled. "I will win next time."

"It's a date," she told her sister.

When Tracey came over, she wiped off the little bit of lipstick Astoria had left on her cheek. "So, are you going to find me one like Harry?"

"If we come across another guy like him, I'll send him your way," she told her best friend and cousin.

Tracey looked her up and down. "At least you look presentable. Do you think Harry will have tamed his hair for this?"

Daphne grinned. "He said nothing he does ever does anything to it. I kind of like that messy, roguish look anyways."

"Well, as long as you were satisfied," she said before giving Daphne a hug. Tracey whispered into her ear, "I'm happy for you Daphne. I'll make sure Astoria doesn't burn the place down."

"I'm more worried you will," she whispered back, earning a chuckle from Tracey.

"I convinced Dobby to put a surprise for you and Harry under your bed. Enjoy," Tracey told her.

Daphne cocked a curious brow at the grinning Tracey, who didn't say another word. The knock at the door had her smoothing out the dress one more time. Astoria skipped over to the door. "Oh, hello Mister Delacour," she said.

They turned to look to see Jean-Paul in the doorway. "Hello, Astoria. I was hoping I could come in for a moment?"

Astoria looked to her. Daphne nodded her head.

Tracey understood this was something only for the two of them. "Come on, shrimp. Let's go make sure all the flowers are still set up properly."

Astoria stomped on the floor with her heels. "I am not a shrimp!"

Jean-Paul gave a small smile. When they left, he had a serious look to him. She waited for him to speak. "Daphne, I know that Bill has agreed to present you, but I was hoping to ask for the privilege instead."

She felt a little surprised. "Why?" she asked.

"It is a father's greatest fear, desire and pride the day he gives his daughter away to the man that will now be the most important one in their lives. I'm sure your father would have felt the same way. Bill is too young to understand the true importance of this occasion. I would never want to replace your father, but one day you will be one of my daughters. I would be honoured if you would let me stand in for a man that I am sure loved and treasured you," he said.

More than Astoria, she felt tears biting at her eyes. She didn't know what to say for a moment. "What about Gabrielle? Will this upset her? I mean, I'm marrying Harry. I will just be an in-law."

The man gave her an understanding smile. "Gabrielle will not be upset. She only wants to see Harry happy. If you are happy, Harry is happy, and my daughter is happy. I see it. And in my family, there is no distinction. There are few Delacours left. I was raised that all family is family. Harry will be my son. You will be my daughter, if you desire. I would like to give you the opportunity to have a father present you."

She returned his smile before dabbing at her eyes, not wanting her makeup to run. "I would be honoured, Jean-Paul."

He held out his arm for her, and she moved to be taken to her groom in the formal way a daughter should.

The courtyard, even though it was February, was warm, dry and full of flowers. She could admit that at one time she had had visions of a wedding as elaborate as any princess, with hundreds of guests, unicorns pulling a fancy carriage, a tulle train a mile long, the minister himself marrying them…

Then she grew up. The war and her parents' deaths had her realizing what was tremendously important. At nineteen, she understood better what life was about than many twice her age.

To her, all the people that mattered were here.

The Delacours, the Tonks, the Lupins, Tracey and Astoria. Tracey's grandmother had come too. This was her family. And in the centre of them was Harry. Her breath caught in her throat to see him there in a formal Muggle tuxedo with a green vest that matched his eyes. He filled it out nicely. His tousled hair just begged to have her hands run through it. The way he took her in, his mouth opened slightly in surprise and the intensity in his eyes had her knowing she had done the right thing.

Jean-Paul walked her up to the woman that would be the bonder for today. Iona Fezziwig was a middle-aged woman with plump cheeks, a slightly rounded body and bright brown eyes. Her brunette hair was let down. Daphne's hair used to be that long, but she found she liked her more shoulder length hair now. It had been Astoria to convince her to keep the two long tails that she often had draped over her shoulders with a ribbon holding them together.

Harry swallowed as she stepped up to him. Daphne was doing her all to keep the butterflies from getting to her.

"On behalf of the couple, I would thank you all for attending. This will be the bonding of Daphne Ophelia Greengrass to Harry James Potter-Black to the line of the Blacks. Should there be any objections or reservations, please bring them forward now. Once the bonding begins, it cannot be interrupted," Iona clearly said to the crowd.

After a moment, after no one said anything, the Bonder went on.

"Before magic, these two young adults are presenting themselves to be bonded. Who would give them away and give them the blessing of their families?"

Jean-Paul stepped forward with her. "I would present Miss Greengrass on the behalf of her family and friends. I have the blessing of her sister and cousin to approve of this binding and to wish the couple a long and happy life."

The woman gave them a small smile. "And who would present Mister Potter?"

Remus was next to Harry. He stepped forward, with Harry just a half-heartbeat behind him. "I would present Mister Potter as a friend of his family. He has the blessings of everyone that he considers family, and those present here."

"Very good. Harry. Daphne," Iona said to both of them. "Please step forward and kneel on the cloth while facing each other."

Jean-Paul helped her to kneel. Harry reached out a hand as well, taking her forearm until she was steady. "Please, take your right hands, then the left hands under them."

When they did, it made a cross of their arms. Iona put a white cloth over their hands. The silver rune work was for unions, happiness, fertility and longevity. This binding would be permanent, only breakable by death.

"Daphne Ophelia Greengrass, do you freely give yourself, body and soul, to the man before you?"

"I do," she said. She could feel the magic the cloth invoked start to pull at her.

"Do you pledge to love this man, mother his children, honour and protect his magic?"

"I do." The magic built up more.

"Harry James Potter-Black, do you freely give yourself, body and soul, to the woman before you?"

"I do," Harry said. The magic that had been building in her started to intermingle with the magic in Harry's hands.

"Do you pledge to love this woman, be the sire of her children, honour and protect her magic?"

"I do." The magic grew.

"Do you both pledge to never break the bond? To weather all hardships, grief, happiness and joy together?"

"I do," they said in unison. The magic had her feeling rather excited and jittery. Harry shifted as well.

"By the blessing of mother magic and her consort, I consecrate this bonding." Iona tapped her wand to the cloth. The magic that had been building suddenly coursed through both of them. She let out a gasp. Harry held her hands tight, or she might have let go of him at the surge.

After a moment, things settled. "Magic has accepted the bond. May I introduce Mister Potter-Black and Misses Black-Greengrass."

Everyone around them clapped. Tonks made a loud whistle, which earned her an admonishing look from her mother. Daphne just stared into the deep pools of emerald-green before her. "It is fine if you kiss now," Iona said with a knowing smile.

She launched herself at Harry, wanting to immerse herself into his magic.

-oOo-

February 25, 1999

London, England

Thirteen days ago Harry never thought he would be seated in the Wizengamot chamber's gallery in the middle of the night. As an heir, he was allowed to be here. Rotgnasher had notified them of this emergency meeting only two hours ago and was why they were here at the ungodly hour of three in the morning. Rotgnasher hadn't told him what was going on, but Harry knew this was big.

Next to him was his wife. He would have preferred to have Gabrielle too, but she had had to go back to Beauxbatons. He would be portkeying to see her in two weekends. It still didn't mean he didn't miss her, even with Daphne at his side.

He was sure he would miss Daphne just the same if they had to be separated too.

The heirs' section was relatively empty.

Neville sat a row behind them and to his left. They shared a nod, but that was about it. Harry didn't really have an issue with him, but they weren't really friends either. Harry just stayed on good terms with him because he was working with Madam Longbottom. Some day he might need to rely on Neville for the vote.

A good fifteen feet down on the same bench was Parkinson with a man almost double her age. Their betrothal had been announced last fall and they had gotten married over the hols. Like Daphne and him, they were waiting for the equinox to take up the Parkinson seat, though now it belonged to the Rosewarts. The man's first wife had passed from Kneazle fever a few years back, leaving him with a young daughter. The man was probably looking for a son, and probably had no issues voting for his wife. Harry had familiarized himself with the charters of each of the fifty-two families that had seats, though only forty-two of them had representation, sitting members or heirs old enough to appoint a proxy. Most family charters forbid guardians from declaring themselves proxy. He had been lucky his family had been one, or he figured Dumbledore would have used it.

The vulture section… erm… media section, had more than a dozen reporters and several photographers. A girl he only seen from afar the last year or so sat among the jackals. At least Harry liked this one. Luna was very discernible with her stringy blonde hair in all strange styles, wand over her ear and quill in her hand. He was fairly sure she was holding a Quibbler instead of a note pad. Even so, Harry knew she had taken over from her father as the lead reporter and the weekly publication was now turning out to be the most reliable source of information on the isles, even if the many stories were still about heliopaths or nargles or, his favourite, the goblin pies Fudge used to like.

It got Rotgnasher riled up every time he would drop one of those articles off to him, while Harry silently sniggered at the goblin.

Perhaps he would need to connect with her again? After fifth year, he had drifted away from her, like he had everyone else. After the betrayal by two people he had trusted and loved, he just couldn't bring himself to really deal with any more heartache.

He was only lucky that Remus and Bill had saved him that summer.

Below them the members of the Wizengamot were either sitting, looking ready to fall asleep, or moving about to talk and figure out what was going on. Rotgnasher was sitting to the side with their allies. Augusta was awake and looking as hawkish as ever. Amos Diggory sat next to her. Harry hated what happened to Cedric and had found a way to talk with his parents shortly after breaking free of Dumbledore. After giving them the memory of what had happened, the man and his wife had become fervent supporters of Harry.

Gareth Cummerbund, an older gentleman with a bald head, sat next to Augusta. The man was a long-term friend of Augusta, and had been one of his grandfathers, so hadn't taken much convincing to join their small coalition.

Susan Bones sat next to Rotgnasher. She had silently given Harry her support soon after her aunt had been murdered. At seventeen she had been allowed to take up her seat as their charter passed to the eldest, regardless of sex, marriage status or any unusual circumstances. She had become more outspoken as she attended these meetings and had gotten the support of the ones around her. He knew Augusta would have liked Neville to marry her, but no offense to Neville, she would have chewed him up and spat him out, and not in the good way. She had become rather fierce since her aunt's death.

The last of their core was a slightly unexpected person. Tiberius Ogden, a long-time supporter of the darker aligned houses, had switched sides when his factory had been attacked during the war. Harry hadn't found out why the Death Eaters had turned on him, but the death of the man's eldest daughter and two grandsons in the raid had set the man against the Dark Lord and those around him.

Harry was still weary of him, but so far Ogden hadn't broken from them, and they did support the measures he wanted, like letting the wizards trade with Muggles, even if it was through the goblins. He knew the man's sales had grown enough to make him a fervent supporter of Harry now. The man's youngest grandson wasn't here, which didn't surprise Harry as the boy was maybe fourteen.

The rest of the Wizengamot was more split, but Harry had enough influence, and Rotgnasher enough blackmail, to make others fall into line when needed. Harry hated those tactics, preferring to work on a tit-for-tat or to come to a common ground. Rotgnasher knew that, and usually got a better deal for him and Gringotts than the other side did while leaving the other side feeling like they got the better of it. Between Andi and Rotgnasher, Harry couldn't have better teachers to learn the disgusting trade of being a politician. He knew it was a necessary evil though.

Daphne took his hand as the Minister, and the few that still supported him, entered the chamber. Dumbledore, Dearborn and Marshbanks were the only ones, where a month ago there would have been ten hanging onto Shacklebolt's coattails.

The noise in the chamber quieted and people migrated towards their seats as Shacklebolt moved the podium at the centre of the ring of seats. He didn't take his eyes off Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked up to Harry. He could feel the man's contempt for him even if the man's face was a mask of indifference.

Shacklebolt tapped his wand on the podium. The sonorous charm built into it magnified the sounds. "Please take your seats." It didn't take long for the forty-two members to sit. This was a formal sitting, so heads-of-departments were not in the chamber unless they were warlocks themselves.

"Thank you all for attending this rather late emergency session," Shacklebolt started.

"Why are we here at this Morgana forsaken hour!?" someone shouted. It took a moment to see an olde man sitting the Selwyn seat. Not all of them had been Death Eaters.

Shacklebolt looked tired. "Events of the last few weeks have led to a near loss of confidence in the ministry and the Wizengamot…"

"Leave us out of this! Most of the Wizengamot has been vocal against your arrest of the Potter heir and your mismanagement of our laws," a woman yelled from the centre. His brow rose to see her.

"That is Warlock MacMillan," Daphne whispered to him.

Theresa MacMillan had been raised into the seat after her brother had fallen ill a few months back and her nephew, Ernie, wasn't old enough to take the seat yet as their family required the heir to be twenty-one. Since they had never had an instance where that caused an issue, the charter had remained the same for generations.

Others around the chamber muttered their agreement. The Daily Prophet and the Quibbler had made quite clear who supported the minister and who didn't.

Shacklebolt went on as though he hadn't been interrupted. "The loss of confidence has…"

"Not to mention the loss of profits, betrothals and the shuttering of Gringotts," Warlock Selwyn heckled.

"…led to the following decision. I am stepping down as minister as of nine this morning and nominate a trustworthy man to replace me…"

"Why wait!"

"We had to get up at three in the morning for this!"

"…I am nominating a trustworthy man to lead the ministry until the Spring Equinox."

Harry had an awful sinking feeling in his stomach. Daphne's hand grew painfully tight around his.

"Warlock Dumbledore will step in as interim minister…"

"That is against all traditions!" Augusta yelled, standing up.

"You can't appoint someone like that!" Selwyn yelled out.

"By ministry decree, the normal transition of the Head of the DMLE or Chief Warlock has been superseded as both have said they will step down at the same time…"

The yelling was getting loud. Members on all sides were yelling. Dumbledore looked upset at the lack of decorum. Even over the sonorous charm, he couldn't hear what Shacklebolt was saying. It was only the clear ringing of blades being drawn that had most silencing and looking towards Rotgnasher. He had drawn his blade. The three goblins that had been standing at the top of the stairs had done the same.

Rotgnasher slammed his knife into the back of the chair before him. "I call a vote to override this decree, exile this filth and censure anyone that supports it to be voted on immediately, then I call for an immediate election of a Minister pro-temp."

Harry had never wanted more to be able to vote.

-oOo-

Daily Prophet

February 25, 1999

VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE! The Shacklebolt administration falls apart at late night Wizengamot meet!

About three in the morning, the former Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, 48, called an emergency meeting to announce he was stepping down and the forced retirement of the Head of the DMLE, Monroe Morrigan, 69, and the Chief Warlock, Warlock Cecil Brown, 52.

This was a shock to the body.

More shocking was former Minister Shacklebolt's last act in office. The former minister tried to supersede the Wizengamot's authority with a decree placing Warlock Albus Dumbledore, 138, into the minister's seat.

This prompted an immediate outcry of Wizengamot members led by Warlock Rotgnasher.

Warlock Rotgnasher, representative of the Potter seat, called for an immediate vote that saw the Minister cast out with a vote of no confidence before his resignation was made legal, an illegal decree overridden by the Wizengamot with a super-majority vote, other department heads put into forced retirement and three members sanctioned with fines for supporting the decree.

By 4:00 this morning, the ministry was short the minister, the chief warlock, the Head of the DMLE, the Head of the Control of Magic Creatures and the Head of Magical Education as the Shacklebolt's government fell apart.

Debates on who to fill these important positions is still underway in what is promised to be a marathon session. At time of printing this late morning edition, the only thing that is known is that Warlock Augusta Longbottom has been elevated into the Chief Warlock position and she is already running a tight ship on organizing the best way to resolve the current crisis…

-o-

Gringotts announces that all accounts and contracts have been restored.

In the most positive news since the arrest of Harry Potter-Black on February 12th, Gringotts has announced that all accounts will be open and clear of any investigations related to betrothals and marriages by tomorrow, Friday, February 26th. The ministry has agreed to pay all fines occurred during this challenging time according to a representative in the Goblin Liaison Office…

-oOo-

February 26, 1999

Wessex, England

Daphne hung to his arm as they came back into existence. They were both tired after being in the ministry for much of the last day and only getting a few hours of sleep this morning. More tiring was that the Wizengamot was still in full session, just that it was in recess for the rest of the day and would meet again tomorrow to finish filling the vacant department heads and other key positions.

"You going to make it? I can watch Teddy on my own," Harry concernedly told her.

Daphne straightened up. "I'll be fine. Remus and Tonks asked us to watch him."

Her hand entwined with his. "I know. They'll be staying over Tuesday too," he reminded her. Remus refused to be around Tonks and Teddy on the nights he changed, so they were often guests at his place.

"And miss seeing the cute guy today? I don't think so. Besides, I'm still on my honeymoon break and don't intend to be anywhere that work can get hold of me," she told him.

Harry chuckled. "I'm sure they can survive without you."

She held a finger to her mouth. "Shhhh… don't let them know. The world will fall apart."

"Now I know you're over tired. You're never this silly," he said, pulling her towards the nice cottage in the woods. Harry understood why they lived here, but he never stopped thinking it was cliché. He always looked for a girl in a red hood.

"I'm always this way. You're just too stodgy to see it," Daphne told him, pulling on his hand to kiss his cheek. Except for the Wizengamot moot yesterday into early this morning, they hadn't really gone far from their bedroom in the last week.

"Alright, a strong cup of tea for you before you get my godson."

She gave him an unimpressed look. He knocked on the door. The laughter of a ten-month-old came to them as the door opened. "Merlin, you couldn't be late?" Tonks greeted them.

"It's great to see you too," he said, giving her a hug. Tonks returned it, then hugged Daphne.

"I had a bet that you and your blushing bride would be so busy shagging you'd be late. Remus said you would be on time or early," she told them.

"And you yell at me for using that language around my godson?" Harry put to her, though he knew he was fighting to keep his face from heating.

"Nah. We were at the ministry for almost twenty-four hours yesterday. Too tired to shag," Daphne told her.

Tonks laughed at her.

Remus came into the room holding his son. His eyes were rolling. "Harry, it's about time you learn that you do what the women says and not what they do."

"Damn right. The paper hasn't gotten to us yet. What happened?" Tonks questioned. Teddy's hair changed to an unkept black mess, then took on blonde streaks when he happily squealed towards Daphne.

"Da. Da. Da," Teddy chanted before saying, "Har. Har."

Harry moved to his godson, pleased to take the happy boy. Remus gave him a thankful look.

"Oh, sure, he's all happy for you. He was a right terror at four this morning," Remus said.

"He's teething. Mum said this might happen. Now, no more distractions. What happened? I need to know if I need to go into the office tomorrow," she told them.

"Longbottom is Chief Warlock. The minister-pro temp is Olson. The Wizengamot agreed to have a full election in April. Law requires a six-week run up. Dumbledore was trying to block all our other recommendations. The only one that we were able to get posted was Hammerstone to Head of the DMLE," Daphne told them.

"Oh, thank Merlin. She's been a good Auror and then investigator for years. She'll have the department behind her. But wasn't Olsen the Deputy Head of Accounts and Payroll?" Tonks enquired.

"After Morrigan stepped down and Selwyn managed to get Marchbanks and Diggle out of their offices, Olsen was one of the few senior people that anyone could agree on," Daphne explained.

Teddy ran his fingers down the scars on his face. "Grahh," he said.

Harry grinned at him. "That's right. Uncle Harry took care of the grah."

Teddy giggled and his hair cycled from Daphne's dark blonde to all black and wild. Remus shook his head. "The last thing I need is to have him running off like you and James. Tonks, we need to get going in about twenty minutes."

"Right. Just tell me that Dumbledore is out," she said.

"He's a Wizengamot member. Unless he is found guilty of a crime, he keeps his seat," Daphne said bitterly.

"Don't worry. Andi will bring him to trial. His support is almost gone," Harry said soothingly.

Tonks gave Teddy a raspberry on his cheek as she went by. He squealed and laughed, his hair going pink like his mum's. Daphne came over and tickled the little man. He squirmed as he laughed in Harry's arms.

"He's crawling all over the place now. We try to keep him in the sitting room or the kitchen. The gates open and close with a tap of your wand. He's also taken to picking up anything he can from the floor and putting it into his mouth. Like that," Remus said with a chuckle when Teddy grabbed one of Daphne's tails and pulled it to his mouth.

"Ow! Give me that," she said a little playfully as she was dragged to Teddy.

"Har. Da, da, da," Teddy happily said.

Harry helped her get her hair back. "Strong grip there, Teddy. This is your Aunt Daphne."

"Da. Da. Da," he repeated, his hair going blonde now and growing out some.

"I think he likes you," Harry said with a grin.

"What isn't there to like?" she replied in a deadpan, before smiling and moving in to rub her nose against Teddy's.

"What time does he eat," Harry asked. This wasn't the first time he had watched his godson.

"He just got done with breakfast. Probably will want a snack about ten. If he falls asleep, don't let him sleep much past 14:30. You should have a pretty easy day," Remus told him. "If you two have him, I should finish getting ready."

"We got him. I'll make sure Harry keeps him out of trouble," Daphne assured Remus, taking Teddy out of his hands and moving towards the sitting room.

Remus nodded. "So, you still like your wife? It's been a week now?"

Harry followed him into the kitchen. Harry had a silly grin. "It's been brilliant."

Remus chuckled. "Still that honeymoon phase, I see. Thank you for watching Teddy today."

"You know we'll do it anytime you need," Harry replied. "There are also house elves that wouldn't mind helping. You work with them all day long."

Remus shook his head. "Thank you. I know they are there and that they want to help, but I would feel too much like I was taking advantage of them and your kindness."

"Remus, it's not generosity if you are family. I have so many that I think some of them don't know what to do," he told him. "You know they aren't happy if they aren't working, and they need to be around magic."

Remus looked to be teetering. "I'll talk with Tonks."

"Remy and Aida will be the best with children, or so Dobby tells me."

"I'll talk with Tonks."

He wished that Remus wasn't so stubborn. The man was finally doing well for himself managing some of Harry's farms with the elves and he still looked at everything as generosity and that he needed to earn it.

"There is breast milk in the cold box. Tonks already got a few veggie and fruit mashes together. He can gum some of the icy pops if he starts to fuss. I feel like I'm forgetting something," Remus told him.

"Remus, I've done this a few times now. I know how to make his bottles, change his nappies and I swear I won't have him hanging from the chandelier again," Harry told him.

Remus's eyes narrowed. "We don't have a chandelier."

Harry snapped his fingers. "Well, there goes that game."

Remus growled at him. Harry held up his hands. "Teddy will be fine. I swear. Daphne would have my balls if I did anything bad before you get to me."

Remus made a snort of amusement. "I can believe that. Alright, let me go get a nicer shirt on and some dress robes. Are you sure you don't want to do this instead?"

"This is all you and Tonks," Harry told him, knowing they were going to talk with Andi about their wills and then the goblins and finally out to a nice afternoon, or so Harry hoped.

Daphne was on the floor, playfully chasing a happy and squealing Teddy as he crawled everywhere. He leaned against the door frame with a smile on his face to watch his hot wife chasing after his favourite little man.

It would be close to four when Tonks and Remus returned to find Teddy asleep in his crib and him and Daphne asleep on the couch. He was leaning back, his mouth wide open with an arm on the back of the sofa and Daphne's head on his lap.

Tonks chuckled softly. "Do we tell them now or later that this is the easy part?"

Remus smiled softly to her as she went over to put a blanket over the pair. "Let them find out on their own. My feeling is it will be soon enough."

"Is that another bet?" she asked with a hand on her growing stomach. At five months she was really starting to show. As much as she loved kids, she was a little disgruntled that she was confined to a desk job in the Auror department. At the same time, she had been getting involved in some management and squad leader training, so it was equalling out.

Remus pecked her cheek. "By the end of the year they will be expecting their first."

"I give it until Summer," she countered.

"Same stakes?"

She grinned, loving the way he used his tongue. "You bet, Wolfie."

Remus gave her a smile that always had her feeling randy. "I'll get Teddy up so he sleeps tonight if you want to get something cooking."

"Sure," she told him. It was this stupid attraction she had to him that had caused her current problem, so she shouldn't be all worked up, but like with Teddy, she found herself wanting him more.

Looking at Daphne curled up on the couch in Harry's lap, she gave a contented smile towards them. She was happy he had found his happiness, wondering how things were going to work once Gabrielle joined them. That was his problem though. "Poor sod, he's going to have such a neck ache later."

She heard Teddy fuss upstairs before heading off to the kitchen.

-oOo-

Next time on the Angels of the Black Knight: A date with Gabrielle. A Warlock is born. Dumbledore finally pushes too hard.