He tracked down Susan by the smell of her shampoo.

Big mistake.

The Harrods perfume counter was murder on his nose.

He soon found them in shoes.

"I knew you forgot something at the pet shop… chew toys." He grinned at the redhead trying on heeled boots.

"If Snuggles touches my new boots I will either neuter him or…" the witch glared at Harry.

"Of course you will be in need of new shoes… one for the pair you just lost and one for the pain and stress of your loss." Harry waved her off.

Susan thought about it, before nodding. "Acceptable."

"On that thought, I am afraid that we might be a little over the budget you gave us." Tonks was wearing a pair of head-stompers. Combat boots that came to her knee, lacing mid foot to the knee. Black with chrome accents.

"How little… Flitwick or Hagrid?"

"Sprout?" Susan pouted.

Harry sighed. "Okay, are you wearing those home?"

The two witches smiled as they allowed Harry to herd them to the register and purchase their selections. The total was around five hundred pounds.

Outside, in an out of the way, Harry had Sue call Tully to carry her shopping. Then hooking his arms through theirs, making sure to grab Tonks non-wand arm, and twisted into the void.

POMP

Tonks stumbled from the jump, but that was the only hiccup in his travel. There was no Crack, no sucking through a hose feeling. Just one second they were outside Harrods and the next they were on the lawn in front of the Ossuary.

"Now, miss Su-su, are we joining you for dinner or is this something that you want to only share with Hannah?"

"If you don't mind, just Hannah and I." Susan kissed his cheek. "But I had fun."

"No problem. You have Snuggle's idol. Call if you need anything. I have a set of twins to court. Patriarch Patil needs a little smoozing. I am taking Tonks with me… just in case."

"Night, Potter." Sue kissed his cheek and rushed inside.

"So…" Potter turned to his minder. "How does one find the House of the Man whose Daughters I am taking?"

"And why are you taking his Daughter?"

"Daughters." Harry smiled at the witch. "Twins. I have spent the last week wooing Bones. I am now going after The Twins. Next week, I need to prepare for Granger… and Greengrass the week after."

"So…"

"Two line Contacts, two mistress consorts, and a Lady Potter. That leaves me with a Lady Black to woo over the Winter." Harry huffed. "Being me is going to kill me."

Tonks mimicked McGonagall and her tight lipped frown.

"Yell at me later…" Harry checked his watch. "Given the time… I am going to do takeaway and write a formal letter to the Father and Daughters. Do you know what you want for dinner?" He turned and walked to the Door. He knocked softly.

Tully opened the door. "What you want?" Her ears tight to her skull under her wimple.

"A Potter always pays his debts. We might be a bit late, but we Pay." He dug out the four Cookbooks. "I got these for you. With your permission, I would like to assist you in making something for our Witches every Saturday. Leave word with Kreature or Dobby." He passed the books over and stepped away. "Good night, Tully."

She just smiled softly as she closed the door.

He returned to Tonks.

"I am feeling… Italian." Tonks smiled.

A flick of Holly. A ghostly Fu, twice the size of Fuji appeared at his side. "Message for Sirius. Surprise him if you can. Message reads: Getting Italian. Anything you want to request? Also hitting Tesco for a few sodas. Message ends."

The Ghost Dog barked before vanishing into the night, wagging its tail.

POMP

Sirius was in the Parlour with Remus and Cissi, talking about Albus and his Order using the Townhouse as Headquarters. The Elves were off doing what Elves do best.

A motion drew the eyes of the Werewolf and Witch but as Sirius was writing down the oath that the so-called members of the Order would have to take to be allowed inside the Wards.

The Ghost of Fuji appeared behind the Dogfather. It inhaled..

Bark!

Sirius went flying, powered by his magic and muscles, across the room. Seeing the two humans and the Patronus smiling at him, he stood up. "Remind me to thank the Pup."

From the Dog's mouth, came Harry's voice. "Message reads: Getting Italian. Anything you want to request? Also hitting Tesco for a few sodas. Message ends." the ghost dog popped.

Cissi smiled at her cousin. "Tell him something savoury and not too spicy. We are also going to need a proper wine."

Lupin flicked his wand. A faded wolf pounced from his wand. "Message reads: Good one. Cissi say's savoury over spicy. And Wine. Get the spread, and six orders if bread sticks. What we don't eat, Padfoot and Fuji will enjoy in the morning. Message Ends." The wolf turned and slipped away.

"Naughty Master has decided to deny us work again." Kreature sneered from behind Lupin.

"Well, it can be seen that way… or it could be that he is trying to teach you about the foods that you are not knowing how to cook. Tomorrow, I will get you some cookbooks on the foods that interest everyone."

"Nasty Master is going to make us eat with everyone." Kreature's voice held no malice. He seemed to like the fact that Harry was strict in his handling of his Elves.

"Everyone eats together. Unless we are hosting." Cissi smiled at the Gampy Elf. "But I understand the feeling. I was not allowed to make friends with my Elves as a Child, so I understand the separation… but I also understand the need to include the Elves in the Family Function."

"Now that you have that settled, Albus is asking to house the Weasley Clan here." Sirius returned to his seat. "The Yeah, it would give Harry someone his age to interact with. The Nay … Molly Prewett."

"I say yeah, for all I can vote. The Twins are mini Marauders." Lupin refilled his and Cissi's tea cups. "It will be a sore spot for Malfoy with you protecting Weasley. And Molly can either sit and work on her knitting, drink tea, or leave. This is Harry's Townhouse and he has asked for you to run it as you see fit. Luci was a Heavy in the inner circle, but he was not the only player. Even if the Lord is in Play, the Followers are beginning to move."

Cissi stirred her tea with the spoon. "Albus has his Order, The Dark Lord has his Circle, but does Potter have…"

"I believe the Term is a Coven." Sirius smiled. "Last I heard there are five Witches. A few Wizards are backing him, with their…"

"As my Alpha, and a registered Pack Master, there are a few lone wolves that are wanting to join up." Lupin sipped his tea. "I already have three petitions for membership, and only because he is the Alpha and Pack Etiquette dictates not to annoy the Alpha if it can be helped."

Cissi smiled, "Write back to them. Potter and I will meet them at the Leaky Cauldron. Of course you will be there to make introductions."

She turned to look at Kreature. "Gampy. See the dining room table set for the family. Elves included. Everyone who is legal, will be having Wine. My Niece has the option."

"Give Harry a wine glass also." Lupin spoke up. "Just because he is not drinking of the vine, doesn't mean that he shouldn't learn the dos and don'ts of proper table etiquette."

Cissi smiled. "You heard the Steward, Gampy."

"Yes Mistress." Kreature popped away.

"I noticed that he seemed pleased with Harry when he was calling him Nasty Master and Mean Master, but not Bad Master." Lupin asked the Blacks.

"He respects Harry." Sirius responded, looking up. "He had no Respect for me, and only obeyed because I was a Scion of Black. Now that I am Regent Black, and Harry has stepped up and taken the House into Hand, he feels the Harness of Service, but is allowed to serve as he sees is needed."

"Also, Harry see the Elves as more than Servants, more than Pets, and as family… and Almost Family," Cissi emphasized the difference, "But where Luci would have Dobby hurt himself for punishment, Harry takes away the things that the Elves like and need to do. He made Kreature stand at his side instead of Working and Serving." Again she emphasized the words. "Kreature suffered great pain, but respected Harry in his application."

"So, his use of those words means that he fears the power of the cub, and so respects him. Meanwhile he completely doesn't respect Sirius."

"Basically. That and he enjoys the freedom he is allowed to torment Sirius."

"That's the first one I owe the Pup for." Sirius Growled. "Now for the Patronus scaring me. Going to need to be something spectacular…"

"Bewared, Cousin. He has two loyal Elves, and your one Elf is going to be weak for a few months." Cissi smirked over her cup at him.

POMP

When Dinner with the whole family was finished, with Winky eating everything left when the Humans were done, Harry retired early.

In his/Reggie's room, he set about writing three letters. To Master Patil, he expressed his appreciation for raising two fine Witches, and explained that because of his immature mindset at the time of the Yule Ball, he had mistakenly offered insult to the girls. When he offered to make amends to the girls, they asked him to… 'and i apologize for the uncivilized term,' buy them. I have read your offer, and I find it agreeable. I have spoken to the Potter Account Manager, and began the escrow proceedings. Send all correspondence to my Steward Lupin. I seek to begin courting your Daughters. As such, I am hoping that you will be accommodating to my taking the girls out for the day once per week, and to them being my escorts to my Birthday Ball. As such, I will be needing Pavarti's expert advice in clothing and accessories. To the extent that I am offering to take both girls… dare I say it… shopping. Both Muggle and Magical. After all, we need to look the part. I am also having a Ball for the Solstice where I will introduce myself and my future brides to the Society Elite… and demonstrate the Fate of those who Insult me… or my House and Family. PS: I have a chaperone in the Mantle of an Auror. Her purpose is to prevent me from killing the Inbred members of our Society.'

He pressed his Rings in wax at the bottom of the page.

To each of the Girls, his letters were of the heading, 'Hey Beautiful. A quick note, asking for permission to come courting. At least once per week, schedules permitting. I am throwing two Balls this Summer. One on the Solstice and one on my Birthday. On the Solstice, I am introducing my Brides, with Susan Bones my Escort. On my Birthday, I seek to request for the both of you. To this request, I offer you both a day of shopping, together or separate, so Pavarti can coordinate our outfits. Both Witch and Muggle… Clothes and Books. (Yes Padma, you can insist on Granger for your book shopping.) (For your solo shopping, Brown can be invited along.) Send all responses to Steward Lupin.'

He just signed off with 'Harry'.

He turned to Hedwig to find her already extending her leg. With a ribbon, he tied the letters to her jesses. He opened the window and allowed her to fly off into the night.

He settled down to meditate, closed his eyes and…

POMP

He landed in the forest glade. Three ladies with berries in their hair stood on one side of the glade, the core of Fuji sat about a third of the way around the glade circle.

But he sensed something behind him …

He turned to see Grim… in a bikini.

He raised an eyebrow at her attire.

"What?" She smirked at the way he was giving her the once over. "I have a three o'clock off Trinidad. You have made a bit of a muck up. Albus still has the wand, the Stone is still in play and the Unspeakables have Tom Riddle."

"Until I burn or scrub his phylacteries, he is immortal. Of course if there is a member of the Department that you want scrubbed, walk him through the room, or just send his soul through the veil. In fact… you can walk out of the Veil and take it…"

"Or I could steal it and shatter the Arch on my way back."

"Remember to take a piece with you. The Wizards of the Ministry are better and worse than you would think. And they will try to rebuild it."

"Good to know." The Reaper, wrapped a sheet of black silk around her waist, and tied a knot over her right hip. "Now what are you planning on doing about the Wand and Stone?"

"I am going to Hangleton, tomorrow. I will raze the Shack, Cleanse and Dust the stone, and by the Manor on the Hill… as I am a cousin of the Last Ower." Harry smiled. "As to the Wand … seal it or break it?"

"We will see." Grim snapped her fingers. "Sleep."

POMP

In the few hours of the Working Day of the Department of Mysteries, when only a handful of people were there, a Shadow stepped out of the Veil in the Arch, and followed by string of the soul shard that was taken when the Master arrived at the Graveyard.

The Encrusted Baby was floating in a bath of clear liquid in a glass Jar on the table in the lab. A swipe of the shadow hand, hit the shadow of the Jar, the Jar flew across the Lab, smashed into the stone and then the body was lifted into the air as the Shadow carried the Homunculus by it's shadow towards the Arch, but three steps short, the Homunculus died … fell to the floor, and the Arch exploded.

There was no sign of the Shadow or anything that could have cast it…

This was all Croaker could substantiate.

He was not looking forward to the Floo call he now had to make.

TBC