[a/n]Sequel to#143-#148

Harry Does Different DXXXVl

Incest Is Almost The Best 7

There was little outside activity in Diagon Alley during the February cold. Paradoxically, Florean's Ice Cream was not quite filled to capacity. The Potter pair had a great deal to do in London. In fact, her status as a TriWizard Champion was used to keep her away from Hogwarts for the couple days related to the Snape trial. Business done for the evening, dinner they decided was ice cream. Here they learned essentially the same person could have notable, if unimportant differences. Of the waitress, Harry ordered "The largest chocolateyest shake you have. And add chocolate syrup."

"Eww! Keep that thing away from me." Complained Harriet with a twisted grimace "A dishful of vanilla, please. And not a hint of that Dementor medicine."

The waitress chuckled "How weird. You two look enough alike to be twins, yet here you are acting more like boyfriend-girlfriend. Except such different tastes? Weird."

"Put a rush on the order. I think we agree on liking it extra cold." Harry offered a Galleon, which represented a major tip. Mock-glaring at his female self "How could you NOT like chocolate?"

She kicked him under the table, and gasped in surprise when the attacking foot was trapped in place. Then sniggered when an only socked foot trailed up the back of her leg and into her knee-bend. Harriet squealed "Stop!"

"Sorry ma'am, can't take her nowhere." Harry was calmly addressing the returning waitress with their order. Only then, releasing the trapped limb. Easily ignoring the furious glare in favor of his giant chocolate shake. And quite some time later, digging into her vanilla dish; not at all bothered at having had his face pushed into it.

Quite late into the date, a rather intolerant voice interrupted "Perhaps the wrong time and place to seek a meeting, but honestly, a head of a Great House should be somewhat decorous."

"Oh pish." Harriet giggled dismissively.

Harry however, noticed the noble sigil on the rich robes and nudged her "A little fun is good for the soul. No disrespect intended. What can we do for you?" While sitting straighter there was no point in either Potter cleaning themselves.

"Under the circumstances, why not?" the man summoned a chair, not deigning to sit on either creamed bench "Warwick David Parkinson, at your service. Earl Potter, I find myself both in your debt and deeply curious as to why this is so."

After a glance, and with great dignity, Harriet answered "House Potter is grateful for your courtesy, Lord Parkinson. Might I inquire as to which specific deed you are referring?"

"I must clarify." The level of patience was aggravating his spleen "I am referring to HARRY, meaning no disrespect, and both his politeness and the defense of my daughter's honor during the recent Yule Ball. Given the less than cordial interactions between our respective charges and other …ahh older… situations I feel unsure of myself. A condition I am unused to."

Harry spoke, first to Harriet "If m'Lady will permit?" then to the older wizard "A clarification, HARRIET is the Earl of House Potter. So long as her schooling continues, I hold the Regency. Nothing more. And, so as to avoid rudeness on our part, neither of us is very well informed as to correct titles?"

"Should you have cause, I am Archduke of Leeds." Decidedly proud on many levels "Assuming your true ignorance in such matters, it represents a shameful neglect. I shall not take advantage of that. But I wish clarity, Pansy has not previously shown herself a friend of the young Earl; so why?"

Harry gave a regal nod that came up silly because of the streaks of ice cream, then answered "The teenager reason, I saw Draco mistreating Pansy and paying more attention to the younger Greengrass. Name escapes me. Harriet was very clear Pansy was his date. I thought she needed a bit of kindness, nothing more. Draco calling her quote Malfoy goods unquote got me looking. Funny she was in the company of one of his twin towers next time I saw her, not Draco. A marriage contract is what I learned. I merely treated Pansy as a man should treat a woman in his company. Depending on the circumstance, were I to see Harriet treated as Draco does Pansy it could be grounds for a duel."

"I find myself ashamed, as a father, that arrangement was made by my father." Said the Archduke "I would break it if I could. We could fundamentally shift the balance of power in the Wizengamot, Earl …forgive me… Regent Potter, with a marriage alliance."

This led to an angry outburst from Harriet that was stifled quickly, which an observer like the Archduke would interpret as a child having been told to mind the adults. Whatever passed between the Potters went unrecorded. The girl spoke imperiously "Inform me of the details of this meeting, my regent. Archduke Parkinson, a pleasure to have made your acquaintance."

Harry's mind raced, but still needed more time to think. After waiting for Harriet to be outside, he delayed further. Beside, while he knew of the man in his world there were differences them, so "Begin with the basics, bare your arms please, both of them."

"I have not now, nor have I ever been a Death Eater." Declared Parkinson, definitively, while complying. And he had a few tricks for this wet-behind-the-ears kid "There is something we share, House Potter is likely to lose status …and votes… for the 2001-2010 Wizengamot term. Supporting Dumbledore has been very costly, I believe?" and he smirked knowing he'd scored a hit. Then admitted "Bound by my grandfather's choices, House Parkinson finds itself not- dissimilarly weakened, except in funding the Dark Lord."

Harry gave a respectful nod "You're well informed. An alliance appeals to me. You have certain resources House Potter has long neglected, I believe. Wizards or witches who won't mind a little dirty, and dangerous, work?"

"Those are expensive, Potter. Even for those with regular contact." The Archduke answered, then cogitated "That would weaken Parkinson further. But a marriage alliance is still valuable, provided the terms are favorable."

That hadn't got the lord off his main objective. Harry had forgot he had a rather ridiculous look of dripping ice cream on his face, spoke formally "Archduke Parkinson, I do not know if House Potter participated in arranged marriages in the past." This not strictly true, his world's Potters indeed had "And I mean no insult to you, or your daughter; but and I would appreciate your discretion here; once Harriet is vested she and I will likely marry."

"True love in the space of months?" asked Warwick with a sneer.

Harry smiled thinly "Something like that. Certainly not something I would go into detail with a new acquaintance. But there are both political and other reasons that apply. Couples sometimes marry when their families believe a magical power might appear."

"I concede your point." He acknowledged begrudgingly "What, then, is House Potter offering to this proposed alliance?"

A part of Harry's mind had been on that subject "The major source of Malfoy's recently developed power is Voldemort." He wasn't surprised by the accompanying flinch, just slightly disappointed "Harriet has been right all along. He's still alive. My activities have been focused on truly killing him. That gets you out from THAT bill and you can tell Malfoy he's no longer good enough for your little girl. Or, would not mind delivering the message to the brat."

"Curious thing, that unconfirmed report in The Quibbler that Lucius is missing." Parkinson commented, then "Any word on that?"

It was always better safe than sorry, Harry didn't come close to looking him in the eye, and blandly ignored the question "Another advantage you'll see is knowing what I'm up to whenever I use your people. In fact, share …in a backdoor way, so it gets there too late… what I might be doing. Then we'll have a fair idea how they might react to my next move."

"Sounds like you would have landed in Slytherin if you'd gone to Hogwarts. Earl." The Archduke was still probing.

Harry knew it, of course "Harriet explained your Sorting Hat to me. I can accept that. But consider, since my arrival I have deliberately thrust myself into several life-or-death situations. Caught myself up, as best I could, averaging a book a day. And, repeating my earlier point, if I am EVER Earl of House Potter I will view myself as failure as a Regent. My sole ambition is to see Harriet in the seat of power some three years from now."

"Managing to mention the dominant trait of every Hogwarts House, to attempt to confuse the issue further." Parkinson gave a slight bow.

Harry returned it and then sweetened the pot "I understand you've fronted the two-front attack to get Dumbledore out of the Chief Warlock seat. Impeachment and a No Confidence bill. Hasn't got out of committee, have they?"

"You'd be joining a MAJOR Death Eater agenda, Potter." Parkinson was highly suspicious.

Smirking, his response was "Beginning in January, it gets my full public support. Something more, you mentioned both our loss of votes for the 2001-2010 session. How would you like it all back? 2031 at the latest."

"You can't possibly create wealth out of thin air! How can you know?" demanded Parkinson.

Harry sat back "Magic. Now my House is having to rebuild its magical fiefs, but I am investing as much of the rest as I can in the Muggle world. For a cut of the profits, you get my list."

"Muggles! If you're wrong I could get wiped out!" the older wizard was appalled.

Harry was unmoved "I'm not telling you how much to invest. Do as you like. Assuming I'm right, House Potter deserves a cut of the profit. If not? Well you can gloat over me and Harriet losing our shirts." He didn't know every little swing in the Muggle stock market, but his few-years-time-difference was already paying off.

"I will consider it." Parkinson decided, the confidence was hard to ignore "Save that for a future session. I still would prefer a betrothal."

Harry shook his head "I won't budge on that, Archduke. Short of a change with Harriet. Though, if my outsider point of view - - maybe I can suggest a match for Pansy."

"An interesting suggestion, Regent Potter. Whom have you in mind?" this was something he really did want.

Harry demurred "In truth, the idea is too new. I do not know yet. Meet me again in two weeks. Send an owl to me at Gringotts with the details. I'll need at least three of your people for a task, in return you'll have the name of one of House Potter's investments. Good day, Warwick Parkinson." He slid out of his seat, executed a brief bow and departed.

Abcij

"Harry Potter! Harry Potter!" came from halfway down the street. A loud red-haired woman was approaching at rapid pace. The raven-haired green-eyed girl behind her was not making much effort to keep pace "A word with you young man! Do you know I found this girl you are supposedly responsible for wandering the Alley instead of school! Where she belongs!"

He couldn't help but grin, even if it made him feel like twelve all over again. Smiling and ambling up, he captured Harriet's hand and almost gushed "You must be the famous Mrs. Weasley. My lady has had nothing but good to say about you. Well, mostly."

"That is fine." Some of her temper deflated "But never mind that. Why are you keeping her from her education?"

He had to refrain from hugging her "You may know that …well… Snape hasn't been convicted so I can't call him a criminal yet. Besides, there's quite a bit to learn here. Oy Harriet?"

"I found her emerging from Knockturn Alley." Complained Molly.

Kissing him chastely, Harriet shrugged "Seems they're more scared of me now than last time. All I done is take on a horntail. Piece of cake. Vanilla of course, eh Harry?"

"Bad girl." Harry playfully poked her waist.

Disapproving of the romantic interplay, Molly however stuck to a new concern "And Professor Dumbledore is spending far too much time on that than the important matter of the Tournament."

"We're already in that too." He cooled "And this is only part of my activities."

Crossing her arms over her chest, the Weasley matriarch gave an annoyed grunt but lowered her voice to a discrete level "Yes, I was told of your Parkinson meeting. Have you not been cautioned about Slytherins. Been there longer than Malfoys."

"And how do we know, in another world, that I might not be sorted into Slytherin?" Harry kicked Harriet's foot when she snorted.

The older witch didn't even notice "Ridiculous! Not a witch or wizard went bad who wasn't in Slytherin!"

"Well that's where Ron got that." This time it was Harry's spleen victimized by an elbow jab "So was Sirius in Slytherin before, or after, he allegedly betrayed my parents? And what House was Pettigrew in?"

Harry shrugged "Don't look at me. I just got here a few months ago." And after Mrs. Weasley's departure, scolded his female self "Kitty kitty sheath the little claws."

Abcij

Snape's trial resumed the next morning. The Potters knew something was wrong. Dumbledore was not merely absent from the defendant's table, he was not in the courtroom. Replacing the venerable Chief Warlock, etc. was a witch but little older than Harry.