The three Greengrass Witches were gathering in the welcoming parlour.
They were showing their particular signs of excitement and nervousness.
Annebeth Lynn kept adjusting her skirts so that she would look like she had just arrived. Having been in place for a good twenty minutes.
Daphne was still as stone. She was working on her Occlumency. She was both trying to give the impression that she couldn't care less about their incoming guests and to ignore the behaviour of the two witches in the room with her.
Tori was bustling about the room, chattering aloud to herself about the 'Gentleman Caller' and what it meant for House Greengrass, Daphne… and herself.
The Floo chimed…
And Narcissa stepped out and to the side. "I will explain."
The Auror rolled out of the Floo, before stepping the other Direction…
And Potter-Black arrived.
Lady Greengrass raised an eyebrow. "That's an interesting Entrance."
Daphne smirked. "Trouble with the Floo?" She stood to inspect the young Lord while her Mother smirked, then led Narcissa out of the room. "Are you trying to anger me, dressing as Malfoy?"
"That pauper?" Harry snorted. "No… Just playing Black the Bounder to the Hilt. Your mother seems to like the Pride Prejudice and Scandal storyline."
"Tea is in the Conservatory." Daphne turned and glided out of the room.
"What's the real reason that you have to roll out of the Floo?" Tori asked from his side.
"Hey Tori." Harry smiled at her, before he offered his elbow to the lass. "It has to do with my Core. I travel through the Floo faster and I land on the floor… or Tonks. As a Metamorph, her body is always shifting when she is in her base form. It's what makes her so clumsy. Then throw in Floo Mechanex and she is exiting faster then she entered. Because the Floo uses the Wizard's core, or witch's in your case, to power the travel, I too exit faster than when I enter. She uses the roll to allow her to control her exit, as I use it to break my velocity. Besides, if we are entering through a dangerous Floo, your spells would have impacted the hearth and we would have that extra time to draw, target, and cast."
"Still over the Top." Tori grinned. "Mom likes it."
"Once We get past these games, I will take you to see The Princess Bride. I am playing a cross of The Dread Pirate Roberts and Vencini. That is as Lord Black. Lord Potter is more Ingino. I am only doing this for your Mother… and the Press." He patted her hand on his arm. "Tell me dear sweet Tori, what do you know about Gildroy Lockhert?"
"He is… was a well known Author of Adventure, Daring Do, and all that." Her brow wrinkled cutely. "He was the DADA Professor the year before I came to Hogwarts… then he disappeared before the end of the year, never to be heard from again."
"He fell prey to the Curse of the DADA Professorship." Harry smirked. "He Mindwiped himself halfway to the Chamber of Secrets. Turns out all he was , was a pretty face with a skill in mind charming the real Heroes after pumping them of all the details of their exploits. Right now, he is in the Thickney Ward in St Mungo's. He should be real close to being able to sign his name again."
"You Jest!"
"Only when I can't be the straight man." Harry grinned. "But Lockheart is there, and last I heard, he was in need of visitors. He has a consistent watcher, and still he slips away."
"I want to know more, but we are here." Tori released his arm and proceeded him into the glass walled and ceilinged room.
"I like it. If I was not in the Middle of London, I like to believe that I would have something half this great." He looked over a room that, while all potted plants, was more Greenhouse than a tea parlor. "My Good Friend, Longbottom would be very happy here."
Daphne snorted. "Like that squib could do anything."
"He has the Highest Marks in Herbology. He has already been tapped by Sprout for an apprenticeship, before he has even sat his OWLs." Harry smirked at her. "Why he is doing so poorly, is that Regent Longbottom has yet to get him his own Wand. She is grieving so heavily for her son, she is forcing the lad to use a wand that is poorly matched to him."
That brought the five Witches about.
"You mean that…"
"Neville is forced to 'Draco'." Seeing the Greengrasses frowns, "Waving his Father's wand." the girls grinned while Cissi frowned. "Also He is more Druid than Wizard anyhow." Harry grinned. "And while He has always been timid… He has always been a True and Loyal Friend."
"Then why is he not at your side during school?" Daphne raised a well sculpted eyebrow.
"One Word. MoRon." Harry sneered. "He was the First Friend I had my age. And like the leech that he is, once he was in, he just drained me, while keeping everyone else at arms length. The only reason he let Hermione in, was so that he could copy her homework."
"So…"
"The twins are still Friends… but not because of their connection to Weasley but because they are Disciples of my Father and Uncles. Percy is a Bureaucrat that can help me while using me. William and Charle only visit once or twice a year. And Ginny… before the Contracts came alive, she was on the short list for Lady Potter." He joined Narcissa on a wicker loveseat. "Because of the three years that he Has been there, I will do him one last Favour. I will get him a chance to try out for 'Keeper' for the Cannons."
"Keeper?" Tori asked from where she perched beside her mother on a wicker footstool.
"He is a Die Hard Fan for the Cannons. And if we had Quidditch this last year, He would have been the Keeper." Harry made a show of Sliding his cane into his cape. "Ginny will get a chance to Chase or Seek for any team she chooses."
"So…" Annabelle Lynn smiled softly. "While my Husband has clearly forgotten that we were having company…"
"So…" Harry frowned, "That means that I need to wait before I hand out the bribes… I mean gifts." He adjusted his ascot, to undo his top button on his collar. "But the Chocolates are not going to last long in this heat." He pulled out a cloth bag from under his cape. From his bag, first he drew out the Fudge, the Bonbons… then he started to pull out muggle milk chocolate bars, bonbons and every flavor of lollipop and sucker that Tesco had. He even made a show reaching for the bottom of the sack, before up-ending it and shaking it.
"Damnit!" Daphne snapped. "Can't you be Serious?"
Harry froze, before slowly looking at her. In a Completely deadpan voice, "No, Sirius is my Godfather. I am Harry."
Tori snorted her amusement, as the rest just glared at him.
Harry tossed the sack to Tori, "Everything that is not Chocolate is yours."
Tori was quick to sort out the candy, and bag her loot. She then put one in her pocket, and had the House Elf, Jotty take her loot to her room. Then Lynn and Daphne did the same after sorting out who got what.
"Squiggy! Tea for Six please!" Lynn called out.
A male Elf in a toga made from a curtain, the tassel used as a belt, appeared floating a tray over his ears. His Toga was made from the Velvet outer Curtain, while Jotty had been dressed in a toga from the lace inner Curtain, with a ribbon sash-belt.
As the tea was poured and passed around, Harry waited quietly as the Ladies shared the latest gossip.
After a good twenty minutes, Cyrus walked in. "Sorry Ladies… Work got away from me." Harry had stood when the man had entered. "You must be Lord Potter."
"I am sorry Sir. You have me mistaken for my Cousin. I am Lord Black. My Friends and Associates call me Harry."
Cyrus frowned, before looking at his wife, and saw the smirk and sparkle in her eyes. "Oh… her game."
"Pride, Prejudge, and Scandal." Harry had gripped the man's hand. "Potter is a Poncy cad, Black is a bit of a bounder, but a loyal dog. They can't even be in the same room, they hate each other that much." He returned to the loveseat beside Cissi. "You have met my Matron of House Black." He waved to Cissi. "And her Niece, who is along to make sure I don't kill any more upstanding citizens."
"More?" Tori blurted out.
"He pinned the Undersecretary to the wall of the Dementor Control Sub Department." Tonks shook her head. "Bones assigned me to watch over him to keep him from offing anyone else. Then he kinda started a fire in a noble's house and the Director thought it would be better to keep him under surveillance."
"A Noble's House?" Astoria perked up.
"Official Story… I was Helping Cissi here collect a few things from the Father of her Son, and tripped over the carpet in the den. How was I to know that He had a hidden room filled with objects of historical significance under the floor."
"In a Panic, the Lord declared 'Family Magics' and the DMLE was forced to destroy all paperwork related to the investigation. Including the lists of confiscated items. Everything of Goblin Origin was returned to the Bank from the DMLE and everything else was put up for auction."
The Greengrasses laughed.
The next hour was spent in idle gossip, as the ladies shared stories of scandal and intrigue.
"... then Pansy runs into the Common room screaming that Draco was assaulted by a wild beast." Astoria cried in mirth."
"Dumb ass can't even understand that Hippogriffs are even more Proud and Vain then he is." Harry snarled. "Even when the Professor has Told the whole class to be respectful, and that not only was I able to pet the very same beast, but actually ride him around the castle. Flying on a Hippogriff is even better than flying on a broom."
"What happened to the Beast?" Daphne asked, a glint in her eye.
"Potter." Harry sneered. "He played a trick on the Minister, after Granger decked Draco. He and the Witch were heading down to see Hagrid and say goodbye to Buckbeak. When the Minister showed up with Luci and the Axeman, they sunk out back and stole the Hippogriff off into the Forest. When Snape caught Lord Black, Potter broke him out, and Black rode off on the back of the very beast Luci tried to have killed." He snorted in amusement. "Had Luci not bribed everybody, the beast would not have faced the Axe, and Black could not escape on him."
"How do you know all this?" Daphne glared at the lad.
"The Ghosts. Horrible Gossips."
"You said something about… gifts?" Astoria asked.
"Oh yes the Bribes… I mean gifts." Harry grinned as pulled a leather drawstring bag from under his cloak. "As these are betrothal gifts… it is understood that I can demand that you be able produce them on demand until Daphne is wearing my Consort Ring. It is also understood that House Greengrass is now considered an Alley of House Black, and as such, her problems are our problems. Her enemies are my enemies… and vice versa."
"House Potter?" Daphne smirked at him.
"Also an Alley. I just happen to have a rivalry feud with Heir Potter. Feel free to snub him in public, but not me. If you have an issue, not with me, and need help, feel free to call on him. Especially if it has to do with Malfoy." He opened the bag, and began to dig through it. He started pulling out items that were flashy, nice, and would be acceptable wear for child and adult in most social gatherings… but not of the value of betrothal gifts.
Daphne and her mother noticed that the items were being piled in front of tori rather than in front of them. Daphne snorted, while Lynn smirked. Something caught Daphne's eyes, and she snagged it. Lynn also collected a piece of loot from the pile.
Then Harry handed an item to Cissi, before digging more baubles from the sac. Soon the pile was bigger than the sack… and he was still pulling things from the sack.
When he had handed the fourth box to Cissi, Harry upended the Leather Sack to dump a few more things on the pile. "There, that should be the last item…, no… still missing one." He made a show of patting his pockets. He pulled out a ring box. "Miss Daphne." Harry took a knee before the lass. "Do you consent to be my Consort Greengrass."
The Ice Queen of Slytherin tried not to show the smirk she felt as she allowed Harry slide the ring onto her hand. "I Do."
Harry stood, and took a step closer to Tori. Again he took a knee. "Miss Astoria. Will you take my Ring of Intent?" He held out a small pea of emerald in platinum. "With your Father's Permission, I would like to declare my intent to woo you for Lady Black… unless you find a better offer before your fifteenth birthday."
Tori shot her father a look, and he nodded. She accepted his ring, blushing.
Harry returned to Cissi's side, where he threw the leather sack at Tori. "Be a Dear, clear the table."
Like a niffler, she scooped the pile of shiny into her pouch… only for it to disappear into her skirts.
"Lord Greengrass, I Saw this, and knowing that you are a busy man, always in need of a sharp quill…" Harry took a box from Cissi's hand. "A Black Heirloom…"
"A trimming knife?" The older Lord, "You do know…"
"I know three customs on this." Harry sighed. "A silver to prevent the blade from severing the bond between us, unless we swear a new bond. Either I am going to kill you, or that I am going to have you killed. And I heard that you are going to be attacked, and I am offering you a method of protection."
A silver sickle was flipped in his direction. "The only reason for you to kill me is because my Daughter and Heir need me out of her way."
"Besides, it's easier to just kidnap you and your wife and ship you both off to a private island in the south west pacific ocean." Harry smirked. "Cheaper too."
That caused Cyrus to almost drop the knife.
"Lady Greengrass…" Harry took the box handed him by Matron Black. A Peek. "While these are Green, I do believe that they are not glass." He presented a string of emeralds, half carat each, with a four carat Emerald in an emerald cut. The String was long enough to place the four carat stone at the top of her cleavage.
"Little Tori. The first time a woman is given jewelry by someone who is not family, is a big day in her life." The box in his hands was opened to reveal…
A triple line of perfectly spherical pearls.
[flashback]
The Goblin walked at his side as he inspected the glass cases and cabinets filled with items of the finest craftsmanship from around the world. He knew that Emeralds were a Slytherin stand by. The Tiara with clear diamonds around an oval cut emerald was a must for this trip.
But something kept drawing his eyes to a triple string of pearls, each line of thirty-six perfect spherical pearls, a perfect mix of half white and half black. The string was in a constant fight of absorbing the light and reflecting it. He knew that Black was a Dark House, and they had a history of cursing everyone, even their own family members.
"Tonks! I Need you to check something for me!" He looked about. She was trying on a cloak, a century out of date. She swept to his side. "These Pearls. Are they cursed? They keep calling to me."
She waved her wand over the string… "Not cursed as such. They are enchanted. I can't tell you what the enchantments are, they are Japanese, and … there is something funny about them."
In the end, Harry took them.
He rounded the bend from the 'Witch' section of the jewelry to the 'Wizard' section. From the turn of the century silver and platinum accessories he picked a selection of cufflinks, tie pins, pocket watches, and snuff boxes. On his way around the vault, he found the trimming knife. He also found a sword-cane with a raven head, a wardrobe filled with Ollivander's Wand boxes.
As he walked around the piled coins and bricks of gold, silver, and bronze… he kept an eye on his companions. He noticed that Tonks really liked the cloak, and seemed dejected when she hung it on the hook as she was leaving.
Their Goblin guide kept looking at a broken dagger sticky-charmed to the back of a displayed case.
Harry Black opened the case, and removed the dagger, and handed it to the goblin. "Either have it reforged and returned, or …" He sneered in distaste. "If I am going to display a broken weapon like this, it would be in my Den, with a placard detailing its Crafter, Its Wielder, and how it was broken. Hiding it in my Vault like a murder weapon in the dark is all kinds of Wrong." He turned his head to spit. "Let the fires cleanse it of the dishonest way it was handled."
"And if it is not returned?"
"If what is not returned?" Harry turned to collect the Cloak from its hook. "Batty!" a pop behind him, caused him to see the elf that rarely ventured outside her mistress's Quarters. "Be a luv, and take my Cloak and Cane to my bed. As you are Miss Cissi's elf, I have no authority to order you nor, in this case, dismiss you. But I can ask."
"Batty take." She pulled her ear.
"Thank you, luv. You get to decide our next Take away."
The elf vanished, taking the cloak and cane with her.
[Flashback end]
"Little Tori. The first time a woman is given jewelry by someone who is not family, is a big day in her life." The box in his hands was opened to reveal…
A triple line of perfectly spherical pearls.
Astoria gasped… as did her Mother and Sister. She reached for the jewelry… and like the snake fashioned clasp, it coiled from the box and lunged for her throat … before curling about the child's neck and biting its own tail.
$The Curse is buried deep in this Line. Master feeds his pets very well. It will take years for me to eat this Curse out of the Bloodline. Mmm, Yes, it is in all three Females, but this once it is active… it is through her that I will fed!$
Harry fell back in the wicker seat. "A Curse? A Bloodline Curse?" The Greengrasses paled. "It's in all three of you, but only Tori's is active."
"How do you Know?" Cyrus hissed, his hand gripping the hilt of the knife tightly.
"The Pearls." Harry liked his lips. "Daphne. Year two, Lockhart's little club."
Daphne's eyes flickered back and forth, "Lockhart calls Potter to the stage, tries to choose Weasley, but Snape dismisses the Git due to his wand damage. Draco is called up. Ends up summoning a cobra… it tries to strike the closest student, but Potter hisses at it…" She swallows. "It obeys." She blinks her eyes clear. "Parseltongue."
"A trait that my Cousin and I share." Black smiles gently at the family across from him. "The Pearls are going to be feeding for sometime, which means they're not coming off without a fight."
Tori strokes the necklace, "Hide." The pearls shimmered and vanished. "Already breathing is easier."
"And it will also be 'eating' the curse out of all of you. It is very pleased to be around her throat." Harry closed the box, and leaning forward, set it on the table. "Now Daphne. My Ice Queen, My Prized Princess. Do me the Honour of wearing this During the Solstice Ball, While I can't be there, Lord Potter will be there with his consorts from House Patil. I am hoping that you can aid him in crushing Malfoy, for you are engaged to me."
"You really don't like him, do you?" Tori asked.
"It was because of him, Potter was sorted to the Scarlet over the Emerald." Harry snarled. "It was because of him, I can not be in the same room as Potter!" He tightened his fist, drew a deep breath, and exhaled as he relaxed. "Now where was I… My Ice Queen, My Prized Princess…" He took the last box from Narcissa. "But a token of my devotion."
He opened it to reveal the Tiara in the light of the setting sun.
POMP
That Night when Harry fell into his bed, he fell further than his pillow to end up in the clearing again.
This Time Grimm was wearing cold weather gear and a climbing harness.
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"American Mountain Climber in Chile. You know how I am; Work, Work, Work." the sexy female smirked at him. "Why did you not go get the Stone?"
"Because I did not remember that I was supposed to go." Harry sighed. "There is only a ten percent chance to remember your dreams, and with my Nightmares… even your beauty is drowned out."
"Then tonight, you will not have nightmares, and remember in the morning." She snapped her fingers…
TBC