Authors Note

G'day readers, I just wanted to say thank you for the kind reviews/comments people have been leaving. It is always good to see people enjoying a story.

For those who have left negative comments, I want to thank those that have left constructive criticism. Now onwards to the story I never meant to write in the first place!

Disappointing Parents – Political Developments and a Tough Row to Hoe

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office with his head in his hands, he had had a grand plan of empowering the Light and dragging Magical Britian kicking and screaming away from its more archaic history towards a more modern enlightened era. His lovers Greater Good, without the need for the war and killing.

Unfortunately, it appeared he'd been outmanoeuvred. He had known the Potter's treatment of the elder son was not great, the wards of the castle informed him when students were experiencing higher than normal negative emotions, however he assumed that James and Lily would be able to push through and realise the mistake they were making before things went too far. He had not expected someone to step into the void the boy's parents had created to manipulate the Potter votes away from his coalition.

When he received the owl from Doge, he had been a little concerned however thought he would be able to get the boy back under control. He had assumed the Ravenclaw had gone to a lawyer and simply ensconced himself into the position, Albus had been wrong. The boy had gained the backing of a powerful block of traditionalists that would immediately close ranks around him if Albus attempted to reign him in. Then he was made aware of the betrothals and realised how far out ahead his opponents had moved.

Lord Greengrass had somehow isolated Harry Potter and convinced him to marry both of the man's daughters… Dumbledore had been lining the boy up with Ginny Weasley, even though the girl was apparently starstruck by the younger Potter, he wanted to tie the Potters more tightly to the Light and this would reward his most avid supporters by enriching them a little with the Potter vaults. These betrothals completely ruined this plan.

What truly worried Dumbledore however was the boy's political acumen. Dumbledore had watched a memory of the Wizengamot meeting, and the boy had handled himself more than adequately given Dumbledore had convinced James not to educate his sons on political matters, under the misguided belief that the boys should be able to enjoy their childhoods. He needed more information but being the middle of Summer and not being welcome in the circles the boy now frequented, Dumbledore was at a loss on how to gain it.

*Page Break*

Remus and Sirius stepped through the floo into Potter Manor. They had scrambled when Lily had called them over a week ago freaking out that her eldest son had gone missing. In her freaked-out state she just asked them to check with friends, and after hours of searching they would apparate to the house of Xenophilius Lovegood and be told in passing by Iris that Harry was at Greengrass Manor and that he likely did not want to be found.

Since that day, they had done their best to support James and Lily, however this was after Remus tore through the two of them.

Flashback – After the initial revelation but before the meeting with Dumbledore

Remus had been furious with the couple, to have not noticed their eldest son, his godson, hadn't been home in two weeks horrified him. The only reasons he wasn't aware is due to Dumbledore sending him on an outreach mission to the werewolf packs. He was done with the yelling however, now he just wanted his godson back.

"I have been warning you for years something like this would happen." Remus said in a tired manner. "The number of times Harry has just turned up at my place without warning wanting a place to stay made me realise how bad it was. I always knew you favoured Henry when we were around and I just assumed you made it up to Harry in other ways, but when he started spending holidays at my place, I knew something was wrong."

"We know Remus, people have been highlighting our failings since he went missing, but I've got to wonder why no one said anything…" James said frustrated. Remus figured the man had been torn down again and again by those they asked to help them locate their eldest son and he was getting sick of hearing about it.

"It was my place to comfort and provide advice to my godson when he turned up on my doorstep or asked for help, and I always treated our conversation as confidential in an effort to retain his trust …" Remus looked down at his shoes. "Look, I'll see if I can get in contact with Harry." Remus said. "Hopefully as his godfather I might be able to get through to him but just know that I will not be strong arming him to meet you. If anything, I will let you know how he is doing." Lily and James looked at Remus.

"That is all we can ask of you Remus…"

Flashback ends

Remus and Sirius had just returned from a rather formal feeling meeting at Greengrass Manor.

"It's like he's a different person, just in a good way…" Remus said dejectedly. Remus had noticed the moment he saw his godson that Harry had found his place. The way he sat comfortably with the Greengrass', to the way his two betrotheds seemed to want to move heaven and earth to keep him happy.

"I know what you mean Moony, I'm only realising now that I don't think I've ever seen that boy smile. Though it does worry me that he looks to Lord Greengrass for advice. I know he isn't dark, but the thought that Harry looks to someone other than his blood relatives for direction is concerning…"

Sirius stopped as they both walked into the dining area, where the Potter elf had directed them. Where the two bachelors found James and Lily sitting opposite Dumbledore, all three turning towards them as they walked in.

James spoke up first "Take a seat guys, although we're eager to hear how things went, first would you like a drink?"

Both men shook their heads as they sat "No thank you Prongs." Said Sirius "The Greengrass' were very hospitable, so I think I'm good until dinner." He followed on with a laugh.

Once they were seated, the small voice of Lily asked. "How is Harry?"

Remus had noticed that Lily had taken her sons disappearance harder than everyone else. When he left to find Harry the first time, she had appeared angry, lashing out at anyone that wasn't concentrating on getting Harry back, however as time went on it's as if the guilt that had no doubt been eating away at her since that fateful discussion with her daughter had finally won out. Remus figured that James was a few days behind his wife, as although he'd started out unconcerned, he shifted to anger at his son and now seemed to have taken over the drive to try to return him to the fold.

"Harry is…" Sirius started, appearing unsure how to continue.

"Happy." Remus said with a definitive tone. "Harry was always reserved and bookish, however seeing him with the Greengrass' it's like he has come out of his shell. Although Lady Greengrass appears to keep her distance, Harry looked to Lord Greengrass for guidance and suggestions which are given freely and with counsel on why he is offering them." Remus stopped to take a breath and look over the Potter's and Headmaster, all three appeared to be eating up the words, the Potter's with pure longing, however Dumbledore's appeared to be more calculating, like he was thinking through each statement.

Again, the quiet voice of Lily spoke up "What about his...be...betrotheds?"

Remus smiled and looked up to the roof in thought "They dote on Harry like the sun shines from him. The eldest one, Daphne, appears to have real affection for him and I can see that Harry reciprocates those feelings, however with the younger one… she looks to him as if he has saved her from something. It's more dedication than affection, while Harry treats her with kindness and warmth but not quite the same affection as Daphne."

Remus looks back towards the three and sees that although Lily is smiling, something she'd not done in some time, there were tears streaking down her face. "I'm… glad to hear he is happy…." With that statement trailing off, she stood and left the room. Remus saw James make to say something but appeared to think better of it.

"Remus." Dumbledore drew his attention. "Did the boy appear to be under the influence of anything, could you smell any potions on the him or did he seem cloudy as if under the influence of a compulsion or maybe Imperius?"

"No." Remus responded quickly. "Harry is simply happy. I'll tell you what I told James and Lily. Harry has been unhappy for quite some time, and it all relates to the way he has been treated, I did my best to try and fill that gap but as a werewolf I can't provide the familial affection he was after. He knows he's part of my pack, but that is more protective than anything and that's not what he was ultimately after."

"I see." Dumbledore replied "And you say he is getting this from the Greengrass family?"

"Yes, in spades Headmaster. The way he was treated in that house, you'd think he was a Greengrass." Remus replied sadly.

Remus noticed that this last statement seemed to have some kind of impact on James, as if he's realising this situation isn't going to be easily rectified. The way his best friend seemed to shrink in on himself made the wolf within him begin looking for solutions… none of which were useful. The wolf was great in a physical fight, but in this kind of emotional and political situation it was more detrimental.

"Did you have a chance to speak with him about potentially meeting with me at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked.

"It came up in conversation Headmaster, however if I'm honest it made Harry very uncomfortable. It appears his level of trust for you isn't very high. I don't think that is going to happen." Remus replied. This set everyone to thinking.

"Remus… did you… ask about whether we would be welcome to come and speak with him?" James asked.

"To be honest he was surprised it was Sirius and I instead of the two of you. Once I explained that we believed it best if I lead this first visit, he understood. I'm warning you though, he wasn't disappointed that it wasn't you. If anything, he was excited to simply introduce us to his betrotheds." Remus said warningly. "I just don't want you to get your or Lily's hopes up, this is going to be a long road for you. I wouldn't be surprised, if you don't make plans, that you do not see him until September 1st on the platform…" Remus left off that Harry hadn't used the words mother or father the entire time, it hurt even Remus to hear Harry call them Lily and James…

At this final statement from Remus James just stared ahead, Remus was both concerned but also glad, it seemed the gravity of the situation was finally weighing on him…

"James…" Remus said hesitantly.

"There is more, right Moony?" James said in a defeated tone.

"Your howler really hurt him Prongs, Lily is working her way back up from the bottom, however in his eyes you hit rock bottom and pulled out a pickaxe." Sirius chimed in, trying to throw some levity into what was going to be a painful topic regardless.

Remus cringed and then looked up at his best friend. "You've got a hard road to walk my friend. Lily might be able to work with Iris to squeeze her way back into being some kind of mother figure in his life, but he's effectively replaced you with Lord Greengrass. I'm sorry Prongs, but I thought it best I be honest with you…"

Remus saw James look up; his face made it look like he was searching for words that hurt less than those he had at his disposal. Suddenly Dumbledore spoke up.

"I believe it might be best if I leave your family to work through this challenging time James. If there is anything I can do, please reach out." He stood as he spoke and began walking out.

James stood and began walking Dumbledore towards the floo and Remus heard them talking as they walked away. "Thank you Albus, we'll keep in touch."

Remus leaned over to Sirius "Did you ever think you'd be playing diplomat between Potters?"

Sirius looked over. "Nah Moony, I always thought it was my family that would tear itself apart, but I guess with the crazier ones locked away or dead, we're now just the boring Blacks." He replied with a laugh.

*Page Break*

Daphne felt like she was caught in a dream every morning she woke up. She had been watching Harry Potter for five years. Five years of acting the Ice Queen to keep all other boys away, but she always kept an eye on Harry. Every class they shared, she sat near him. At mealtimes, she kept him in line of sight, and she was never disappointed. The way he nibbled on a quill while he thought about a question, brushed his hair out of his eyes when he was frustrated or lent casually while he read, to Daphne there was no one else.

The only thing standing in her way was that his brother was the Boy-Who-Lived, the Gryffindor Golden Boy and even though he was a Ravenclaw he came from a family of Gryffindors. Daphne being a Slytherin felt she had no chance, so simply continued watching from a distance.
As the years went by however, she started to notice a distinct difference between the twins, while Henry was the perfect example of the brash, stubborn Gryffindor, Harry stayed quiet and reserved. Then the bullying started, anytime he began outshining Henry in class he would attract "unfortunate" attention from the Gryffindors. It broke her heart to watch the boy of her dreams be continuously beaten down.

Then last year, she noticed a spark return to him one morning at breakfast after receiving an owl. Curious she listened in and heard him explain to his sister Iris about the advanced training he was going to received and his excitement to tell his parents. Daphne was both ecstatic but also broken hearted at the excitement in his voice, she'd thought it was just Henry that treated Harry poorly but listening to that little exchange told her his mother wasn't much better.

She bided her time, waiting to see what changes would be rort on Harry by this chance to shine in front of his parents, instead what she saw that morning was an even more broken boy. She waited to see whether someone would step in, but after two weeks she couldn't take the pain anymore and approached him, casting her concerns and fears to the wind for a chance to see that spark again.

Thankfully, all her concerns were unfounded. Harry didn't care she was a Slytherin, he just saw her as Daphne and that was proven with every date they had in Hogsmeade and each secret snog session they had in the library when they should have been studying…

Something that did make her feel insecure back then was during those study sessions that DID involve books, she felt like she was barely helping and knowing how wives we're viewed in the magical world she needed something special to offer Harry, which was why when it became clear he lacked any kind of knowledge around the politics of Magical Britian she leapt at the opportunity. Their self-study sessions became political masterclasses, covering historical House alignments, the differences between the three parties, why the sacred twenty-eight were considered so and where the Potters and Greengrasses fell within that. Unfortunately, this led to her one regret, asking her father for advice.

She had done her best to cover for Harry, slightly changing some of his questions and even leaving some out, however once Harry and her father were communicating directly, she received the letter… Her father directed her to bring Harry home for Yule and that she was not to do anything to destabilise her position as Heir Potter's girlfriend, if anything she was authorised to do anything short of actual coitus to keep him. Thankfully for Daphne, Harry had been the first one to use the "L" word, which left her secure in the knowledge that their relationship was real. The more disheartening part of the letter was the request to ensure he was well acquainted with Astoria, her younger sister, prior to the Yule meeting. Which to Daphne meant only bad news.

Her fears were confirmed when, during the Yule holidays, Astoria snuck into her room late one night and they had a heart to heart. Father had informed Astoria that she had two choices, the first was to be betrothed to Heir Malfoy, the second was to be Lady Greengrass in a Line Continuation Agreement with Harry Potter. If Daphne was honest it wasn't a decision at all, both girls on the night agreed that being betrothed to Draco Malfoy was to be resigned to a miserable life, although He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was no longer around, ex-Death Eater families still believed in some of the more archaic beliefs meaning Astoria would be effectively under house-arrest and at the beck and call sexually of her husband. Whereas Daphne knew Harry would treat her as a partner not a slave and she'd therefore quickly resigned herself to sharing him.

Watching Astoria throw herself at Harry had been a sickening thing to let happen, but Daphne swallowed the words and feelings and simply immersed herself in the warm affections that Harry freely provided and equally sought from her.

Right now, however, Daphne was waking up in the arms of that wonderful bo… no man that she was betrothed too. Her parents wouldn't be happy that she'd snuck into his room once they were all asleep, however Harry and her were sure to do nothing that either of them would regret, plus waking up next to Harry had become more of a rule than exception ever since both of them had begun sleeping in that Come and Go Room he'd shown her.

As Daphne lay there enjoying the warm embrace of her future husband, she began plotting how to get him away from her father….