Monday Morning, Harry stretched his arms and legs… dog like. He then shifted into the child pose before doing downward dog and then cobra.
"You know that I have a weekly yoga class… Tuesday Nights, 8 pm." Tonks was wearing a set of rose pink silk baby-dolls and bikini briefs.
"Will think about it." He raised an eyebrow at her clothes. "Are you offering me the option, or are you doing this for the old wolf?"
She looked at what she was wearing, before she smirked. "A bit of both. What's your plan for today?"
"While I have yet to receive an answer from Patil, I was thinking about seeing if Greengrass was open to my dropping by. I will of course need my Watch Dog along." Harry grabbed his dressing gown, and headed down to the dining room. Tonks followed on his heels.
When Harry entered the room he found Cissi, Sirius, Remus sitting at the table drinking coffee. Kreature was sitting beside Cissi, flicking sugar cubes at Sirius.
Harry caught the next cube. "Enough Kreature. We don't want ants. You will have to think of something else to annoy Sirius. See how breakfast is coming along."
"The other Elves won't let him in the kitchen." Sirius grinned, "Cooking is not a task for a Gampy."
"When I named him Gampy, I didn't know that they would take it this far." Harry sat beside Sirius as Dora sat across from Lupin. "Cissi, I need advice. I want to call on Greengrass to say Heir Black is Contracted to Daphne. I need to strengthen our bond. If Matron Black wants to join us… Remus should take Potter's Grim for a Walk… around the Burrow maybe."
Sirius perked up.
Remus was still watching the half naked Dora.
"Well… polite option would to arrange a meeting…" she pursued her lips. "Mippy. I need my Calling Kit. Kreature, Heir Black has a task for you." A wooden object appeared before her. Harry smirked at the fact that Narcissia Black, formerly Malfoy, had a wooden 'trapper keeper'. With a practiced and elegant hand, she wrote out a short note. She signed it and stamped it with a small carved scrimshaw stamp. She folded it and smudged a dollop of black wax on the open seam, before passing it to Harry. Harry pulled up the Heir Ring, and pressed it into the wax.
"Kreature, you will need your coat." Cissi smiled at the old Elf.
Kreature's ears rose to their limit. "Surely Master doesn't need that level…"
"Don't call me Shirley." Harry rebuked the Elf. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I am approaching the First Female Contracted to House Black. Now while the young Lady will never be Lady Black, she will be the Highest Ranked of the Wives of Black until I take a Lady Black. I take it that your Coat is a big deal. Just think, You are introducing the New House Black to Society."
"Mippy. I will need you to help with my coat." The two Elves popped away.
"What is this coat?" Tonks sipped her coffee as Moony continued to watch her.
"A Pagecoat." Sirius sighed. "Little more than a tabard with the House Crest on it. With him wearing it, he has the full authority of his Master. Now him showing up dressed in his Coat, to deliver the calling card…"
"It kinda forces Greengrass to respond. We will either be there for tea, or we will have a damn good reason for them turning us down." Narcissia frowned at the boy. "I think you and I are going shopping this morning. First to get you robes, then gifts."
"And when you say get me robes… you are talking about both of us getting new robes…"
"Well… you insist." She smirked.
Everyone but Lupin laughed.
POMP
Cyrus sighed as he sat across from his beautiful wife. He was a blessed man. A beautiful wife, two beautiful daughters, a dead mother in law, and an empire that rivaled anyone among the Muggles.
"Master. House Black send Elf." His Elf appeared at his side, offering a 'calling card' note on a silver tray. The card was high grade cardstock and the wax held the Black Crest.
"Shit." All three Witches looked at him. "House Black. And my day was going so well." He broke the seal… read the note. His eyebrows rose. "Heir Black and his… Escort seeks to join us for tea." He looked at his wife, "Why would he need an escort?" He passed the note to her.
After reading the note, then inspecting the note, She smiled. "It is from Narcissa. I was with her when she bought this stock… a year before her marriage… her hand writing… and…" Annabelle Lynn frowned as she reread the note. "Something doesn't add up. Why would Heir Black be using Narcissia's…"
"That's if Draco is Heir Black." Astoria smirked at her sister. "But there is another young Wizard that is in the running… isn't there…Daffy."
Both adults turned to look at their eldest. "Do tell." Mother's voice sparkled with the intrigue.
Daphne's warm smiling face turned to cold stone. "I don't think they want to know… I was hoping I had until the Solstice."
Astoria smirked evilly. "The question is are we getting six tickets or eight?"
"That's for the Thirty-first." Daphne snapped. "The three of us are getting six… but Mother and Father will need to arrange their own tickets."
"Do tell Daughter." Annabelle Lynn smirked at her eldest.
"I got Father's letter about the Contract a week before the end of school. A little research showed me who Magic said was Lord and Heir Black. House Malfoy has a Scion of Black, but as the Heir of the Last Lord was never stripped of his titles… he became the Lord and Lucius and Draco are dangerously close to committing Line Theft. I will let you two talk it out." She sipped her coffee.
"The Last Lord was 'Old Man Black… While he detested his son, he was fond of his eldest Grandson…" Cyrus snapped up. "Sirius Black."
"But he was disenheired." Annabelle Lynn frowned.
"By Walburga Black." Cyrus smiled. "She very publicly decryed his banishment…. But the Old Man just smirked. Malfoy was named Proxy not Steward nor Regent…"
"So Sirius is the Lord…" Annabelle Lynn smirked, "He told Marleen that he had named his Godson his Heir until she gave him one." Her smirk turned evil. "That means that all those Loans written in Draco's name…"
Cyrus snickered, "And with Cissi a Black again… he's on the hook…"
Annabelle shook her head to refocus. "Little bitch let us get off track. His Godson…"
"Only one who he was close to and had a child little alone a son was…" Cyrus locked eyes with his Wife as she lit up.
"Potter!" They chorused.
Annabelle Lynn smiled at her daughter. "My little Bitch is going to be Potter's Slut…I can't wait to tell the girls…" She frowned before looking at the note still in her hand. "Why did she not say anything about this when she was at tea the other day… wearing her Pin."
"Because while She is the Matron of Black… everyone knows that she is or rather knew that she was Lady Malfoy." Cyrus snickered. "That way everyone thought she was bridging two powerful houses, not stepping off one as it burned and sank."
"So… You are contracted to Potter." Mother turned to Daphne.
"No Mother. I am Contracted to Black… who just happens to be Harry Potter." She smirked into her cup.
"And she is not the only Bride of the Boy Who Lived," Astoria smirked. "He was escorting the redhead big busted Bones bitch."
"Don't call her that." Daphne snapped. "We want to befriend her… so when her Aunt has Questions for us… we can cut our bribes in half."
"So… how many does he have?" Annabelle Lynn asked.
"Bones, the Patil twins, Granger … and maybe Weasley… the daughter." Daphne sighed. "And that's not including his Mistresses and Preferred Whores."
Cyrus snickered into his cup… "So…"
"Jotty. Who delivered the Card and How…"
"Gampy Kreature in his Coat."
"Fuck!" Cyrus exploded to his feet. "She has us Barrelled."
"I thought you liked being Barrelled." His wife smirked.
"No!" Daphne snapped. "Explain…"
"By sending Kreature in his Coat… we have to invite Him and his Escort, because we don't have a reason Strong enough to pass." Mother sneered. "She gets to get a new robes, and we have to make do…" She froze. "Get your things, girls. We're going to Twilfit."
She smirked. "Go to the Office… Lose track of time and come home late for tea. Jotty, my writing kit." She looked at the girls. "Why are you just sitting there?"
"You have not dismissed us." Astoria smirked. "We are out of passes this week."
Annabelle Lynn snorted. "Dismissed." The girls ran so fast that one would think that they apperated. She inked a quick reply, folded it closed, smudged a dollop of wax, and pressed her Lady's Ring into it. "Give this to Kreature."
SPRB
Harry held the door to the finest dress shop in Diagon Alley
Twillfit and Tatting's Robes and Custom Accessories.
Cicci strolled in, as Tonks glared at him. Harry grinned as he entered so that she could watch.
"Cissi, what a surprise. We were just getting our Solstice Ball Robes. It's the to get ticket of the Season after all." Lady Greengrass twirled from the bolts of cloth hanging along the wall.
"Lynn darling. So good to see you." Narcissa kissed the air beside her checks, so as to not smudge the makeup of either lady. "And I thought Lord Potter's Birthday Ball was going to be the to get Ticket. So limited attendance I hear."
The two younger blondes snickered behind their Mother's back.
Harry had listened to enough old English dramas to see the game being played. "Ah, fair Greengrass… Ice Queen. I see you have not told your Mother the news."
"Of Course not, Lord Potter." Astoria smirked, "I am having trouble deciding on who will escort me that night. I know that Tracy has requested Zabini to escort her, you should be getting the RSVP by owl any day now. Daphne is still even wondering if she should have an escort… or chaperon."
Lady Greengrass twirled to glare at the girls. "And I am hearing about this now?"
Harry Frowned at the Lady. "No… you knew. Maybe only since the calling card arrived, but you knew. Of course the seamstress will talk, she will be properly bribed to pass on the rumour… that the Bounder Black is just playing with House Greengrass having paid the Full Brideprice… and should anyone dig deep enough, they will find that Lord Greengrass has the option to buy his Daughter back… by returning the full price to Lord Black by the Lord's seventeenth birthday. Now, while Lord Potter is taking his Twins to the Summer Ball, And he is escorting Heiress Bones to the Potter Birthday Ball, that Bounder Black is no doubt going to be seeking to…"
"Enough Potter." Daphne snapped, "You are ruining this for her?"
"Oh… So, as the Heir Black… I shouldn't shove you into the fitting room and rustle your bustle?"
"Mister Potter!" Lynn sounded horrified and scandalised.
"Where?" Harry drew his Yew wand… "That smug Bastard has a thrashing coming." He dashed to the Door. "Matron… get your robes… I think I will try to geld that pompous poncy prince Potter!" He slammed the door behind him.
The door slamming shit startled Tonks awake. "Shit! I don't need him gelding someone else!" She bolted after him.
"Damn… he is good." Astoria whispered to Daphne.
"Or just crazy." Daphne smirked back. "Either way, he is way better than Malfoy."
"Well… Malfoy is cute."
"And who would you prefer to be looking up at for the rest of your days?" Daphne asked her sister.
"Zabini. But talk about Bounder." Astoria smirked.
POMP
Once on the street, Harry waited for Tonks.
"What was that?" The metamorph asked.
"An excuse to avoid a robe fitting." Harry headed to the Bank. At the first available teller, "Heir Black and escort to see the Black Vaults."
"Reason for visit."
"Well, there comes a time in every Wizard's life where he needs to either bribe or barrel the in-laws."
The Goblin sneered, "And you think you can find an object to bribe them with?"
"Unless I find a Barrel." Harry grinned.
The teller just glared at him. "Just for that, I think I will take you personally." the teller slammed a metal sign on the counter as he closed his ledger. "Window closed!"
The groans brought a sneer to the Goblin's face.
The teller took the position of the cart driver and the humans screamed with joy as the cart dove and looped around the caverns below the Bank. After a good five minutes, the cart pulled up outside of a cart docking platform similar to the Express mine and three quarters.
"Hmm. I strangely feel at ease." Harry helped Tonks out of the cart.
She just snorted.
As the teller guided the party to the actual vault, Harry Frowned as he remembered the last time he was down this deep. As the teller raised the clanker, Harry put his hand on the device.
"I want to try something." He stepped forward. $ Hello, anyone here?$
$* Who wants to know? *$ It was like someone speaking in a heavy Brogue.
$ I am Heir Black, Lord Potter. I have come to plunder my ancestors' hoard. Rather than suffer from the Gold Licker's device, I seek permission from my Loyal Guardian to pass.$
A massive Black serpentine head appeared out of the Shadows. $* Why now ask? *$
$ I am the first of the Black Line to speak with a proper tongue.$
$* If you can open the doors on your own, the rest may pass unharmed. If the Doors deny you, you are lunch. *$
"Stand here." Harry Walked into striking range of the beasts teeth, and found the door with the black crest. He pressed his palm to the carved stone…
A humming came from the doors, before they started clicking and swung open.
$* And I go hungry.*$
$ is there something that you want to eat? $
The black dragon looked at the lad.
Moo.
Harry started laughing. "Dobby!" A Pop had the Elf at his knee.
"I need an ox, like what Hogwarts uses. Be sure to compensate the owner. Feed the ox to the dragon." He pointed at the black head.
"Yes Master Harry." And the Elf vanished… and a count of three a pale ox appeared between Harry and the Dragon. Everyone looked away…
$* Thanks Boss! *$
Crunch!
"Lord Potter, would you be open to the possibility of working with our Dragons?"
"I would need to hire my own assistant." Harry entered the cavern that was the Black Relic Vault. "I need to finish first sit my Owls, social contract and all. I will use the time to talk with my assistant and get back to you by the end of next June."
"How many Owls do you need to pass for the job?" Tonks asked, half of her mind on the conversation.
"None, because of the Tournament, I was Declared of Age. So I just need to sit them. As I am as Rich as Rameses… I am taking the job more to piss on the Ministry than I need the money."
The Goblin sneered, "Don't you mean, Piss off the Ministry?"
"That too." Harry's grin flashed in the Lantern light.
Tonks and the Goblin laughed.
An hour later, Harry exited with a pocket full of items of great value. Not all of it was for gifts. As the door closed behind them, they could hear the dragon growling as it cracked the bones and sucked the marrow from within.
Harry shivered as he helped Tonks into the cart.
"What is it saying?"
"You know those things you want Moony to do to you? Now make it dirty and perverted and you might come close."
"How dirty?"
"Let's start with the Dragon is talking to its food." Harry hissed as the cart started to climb the rails as it returned to its starting point.
Green is not a good colour for a metamorphmagus.
They returned to the Dress shop, just as the three Greengrass witches were leaving. "Milady, that is another strike against that Cad Potter, he denied me the Joy of your company and that of your Daughters. I do hope that you are willing to allow me and my Escort to entertain you over Tea, this afternoon. Until then, my Beauties, I pine." He kissed Annabelle Lynn's hand, in an over the top bow.
"Of course milord." Lady Greengrass stepped away, waiting for her Daughters to fall in.
"If you are going to play that Role, Go full Lockhart, and get a silk cape. Mother likes the Game."
"I aim to please. May I ask for her favourite chocolates?"
Astoria giggled. "Mom likes the cherry bonbons, Daffy is taffy over a good mint fudge, and I just love a good… lollipop."
"I think you are after the wrong sister." Tonks whispered.
"The Greengrass Black contract is Line Continuation. If I pursue it, I can woo little Tori as Lady Black." Harry opened the door, looked around and entered, Tonks following.
"Did you catch Lord Potter?" A smirking Narcissa asked as Harry arrived at her side.
"No… the Bonny Bastard bounced." Harry removed his outer robes, preparing for the invasive procedure of being measured for new robes.
"Purpose Robes." The seamstress was all business.
"Right now. Matron Black knows best. I also will need robes to strut about the Alley and Ministry in a Malfoy-sk manner. The Solstice Ball is being designed by my Date…es. The Birthday Ball I am bringing my date and her Lady in Waiting… and it's too soon to worry about Yule."
"Birthday Ball?" The chubby witch licked her lips.
"Renting Dunning's for a Buffet Ball. The list is limited to sixty people. Only got sixteen invited so far. Call it twenty. That leaves forty invites, or rather twenty with a plus one. Of course those who are invited will have to buy new robes… Rita Skeeter will be there. You know that she will call out anyone who wears something again this season." He took the position on the stool as the seam-witch and her tape took the measurements.
"Today, midnight Acromantula with pewter accents." Cissi reclined in the chair. "Think of my Grandfather… With a penchant for picking fights. And not losing or standing down."
"Have a Black Acromantula cross woven with unicorn hair, but it is not midnight."
"Midnight for the Robes. Duelist Cape of the unicorn mix." He pointed at a velvet pouch on the table beside Cissi. "While I was robbing the Vault for gifts for the Greengrass Tea, I saw some items for the Dandy Dude. Find something to out Malfoy Luci."
After selecting the accessories for him to wear…, Cissi pawed through the other sack on the table. "Great Aunt Picesia's Pearls… Great Grandmother Hydrella's Emeralds… Great Lord Black's trimming knife… and…" Cissi swallowed. "Lady Taurus's Tiara." She looked at the lad on the stool. "The Tiara alone is more than thrice what Lucious set the Bride price at."
"Then it is a good thing I doubled it."
"And what's to prevent them from selling these items?"
"Lord Black's Wrath." Harry turned at the poking of the witch's wand. "If at anytime until my Death, if they can't produce the items on demand …. I can declare breach of social contract and just plunder and pillage House Greengrass." He moved again so her tape could find a new reading. "Of course, by this same contract, I AM invested in the good health of House Greengrass and their profits." He made his wave salute. "The Gold must Flow."
"The Gold must Flow." Tonks parreted.
"What?" Cissi asked.
Harry and Tonks shared a look, before they began to chuckle.
An hour later, Harry and Narcissa were carrying a bundle of brown paper and twine. Harry would have carried hers, if she trusted him with it.
"So… gifts." Harry smiled at the two witches. "I have the jewellery, the sweets are going to be a mix of muggle and Honeydukes. As I remember, Afternoon tea is about three… that gives us three hours. So… I say, we hit the closest muggle market, and get a selection of sweets including ice cream, before we jump to Hogsmead, for Honeydukes and a light late lunch, before we get changed and floo to the Greengrass Manor."
"I will meet you at the Three Broomsticks in an hour." Narcissa grabbed the package from his hands and vanished.
Forty minutes later, Tonks and Harry popped into the square of Hogsmead. Harry looked about and decided that he needed a few kerchiefs. Seeing that Gladrags was open he drug Tonks over… and found a few things like 'pirate boots' in a glossy black. In both his size, and Tonks. Gloves… A black Tri-corner hat, with a faux Occomi Feather. he also found a lot of cheap schoolgirl jewellery and hair accessories. As a gag, he bought everything that the shop had.
Then they went to the inn, for a quick private bite.
As the witches ate, they watched as the giggling lad stuffed the gift bag with the cheap stuff. Then it was time for Harry to get dressed.
The effect was a bit like a Murderous Fop. Black boots, midnight black six piece Suit Robes, a Duelist Cape, black with shimmering white pinpoints. With his glasses tinted to cause his eyes to flash darkly. His Gloves, Hat, and the Platinum and Black Sapphire cufflinks… he carried the Blackthorn Shaft in his off hand.
"Damn. You definitely can dress the part." Narcissa hissed as she walked about the lad. "And if we use the Floo… you two are going to do that rolling thing, aren't you?"
"The best way for us to Floo, Matron." Harry smiled, "But both of us can follow your apperation. I am going to go play Heir Black the Bounder. In about, what, ten minutes, come call me to heel and we can leave."
"Twenty minutes." Narcissa smirked. "No killing." She looked at Tonks. "Watch him."
TBC