Title: Unusual Inheritance

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: None

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Susan, or Su Li, or Tracey, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: While staying at the Leaky Cauldron after his 'incident' with Marge, Harry finds out that he has an unusual inheritance. One that could change the course of his life forever.

"Dig in." Harry said, indicating to the food in front of the four girls.

It was the following morning and he had been up and made breakfast before any of the girls had gotten up. The girls had claimed the four bedrooms up on the top floor the previous night, after Harry had ordered takeout. It had been an experience for the four magical raised girls to have takeout curry. Now they were all sitting eating, Hannah and Lavender having bacon and eggs, Tracey opting for pancakes while Su was eating an assortment of diced fruit with juice.

"Hannah. I was thinking that when we send Professor McGonagall the notification of the Retainer appointments, I think we should inform her that I am reconsidering my electives." Harry said.

"What electives did you choose?" Tracey asked.

"Care of Magical Creatures and Divination." Harry said, causing Hannah and Tracey to wince. "Yeah I know. I didn't know what the electives were about and I listened to Ron. Now I realise just how bad an idea that was."

"What about Granger?" Hannah asked. "I'm sure she would have given you good advice."

"I think she signed up for all of the electives." Harry replied with a shrug.

"Granger." Tracey said with a disbelieving shake of her head. "Well, I recommend dropping Divination. Care is an interesting and potentially useful course but the Professor just retired, so the new professor is pot luck."

"Ancient Runes is good for warding schemes or any Rune based magic, rituals and the like." Hannah added. "Arithmancy is predicting the future through numbers, and is used for the creation of new spells. Naturally, Muggle Studies would be pointless for you, given your background."

"So what electives are you taking?" Harry asked the girls.

"Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures." Tracey replied.

"Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies." Hannah said.

"My courses were the same as yours, but that was part of my cover." Lavender said. "I will probably take the same as Hannah now."

"My courses will be whatever you do." Su replied. "I will no be more than three feet you whenever we are in public."

"I think I will keep Care of Magical Creatures and switch to Ancient Runes." Harry replied. "And I want to contact Hermione. Let her know what is going on."

"Is that wise?" Tracey asked. "It would compromise my role."

"She owes me a life debt." Harry replied.

That got everyone's attention.

"You mean the Troll story is true?" Hannah asked in shock, getting a nod from Harry. "And the story about Ginny in Second Year?"

"True, but no Life Debt. I had a personal interest in that situation." Harry replied.

There were a lot of misconceptions about Life Debts, mostly because they were so rare. They were rare because there were specific conditions that needed to be met. There could be no personal interest in saving the person, and you could not set up the situation. With Hermione, she was entirely an unknown quantity when the event happened. With Ginny, he had a stake in that she was Ron's little sister, so that was why there was no Life Debt incurred.

Also, Life Debts were not as powerful as most people assumed. He could not make Hermione his slave for life or anything, but he did have some limited control. He could order her to keep one big secret or reveal a big secret, things of that nature.

"Still, why?" Tracey asked.

"It's Hermione. Have you met her?" Harry said. "She is probably the smartest person I have ever met, including the Headmaster."

"I get it." Su replied. "She is a strategic asset. Include her and we have a massive advantage. Exclude her and she will question every move Harry makes and become a threat."

That reluctantly got nods from the other girls.

"Ok, I will draft the letters after breakfast." Hannah said. "It will take about an hour to write them up, and then you will need to sign them."

"I'll write Hermione too. Arrange a time to tell her the truth." Harry said. "Assuming she lets me tell the whole thing before she kills me."

Harry led Hermione into the Living Room on the ground floor of the townhouse. Hermione was looking around in awe at the ground floor, and Harry had no intention of letting her look upstairs as the Girls were waiting upstairs in one of the bedrooms on to top floor. Hermione was the only one, besides the Girls, who had any inkling of what his life at the Dursley's had been like.

"Harry, this is amazing." She said. "Did your parents leave you this?"

"Yes." Harry said. "But that's not all. I know we have discussed this, and I promised I would not use it lightly, but I am calling in your Life Debt."

Hermione looked at Harry and saw the seriousness in his face.

"How?" she asked.

Everything Harry knew about Life Debts, her had learnt from Hermione's research, so she was well aware of the limitations of the Debt.

"What I am about to tell you, you can never tell anyone without my permission, and I want you to listen to everything I have to say before you say anything." Harry said.

Hermione thought about it for a second and then nodded her head. Harry recited the oath invoking the Life Debt with the conditions he mentioned. He briefly explained becoming Heir Presumptive of House Potter.

"I did not just inherit money and properties. I also inherited these." Harry said, handing over the four contracts, though the names were blacked out by a privacy spell.

Harry watched the gamut of emotion roll across Hermione's face. At first it was confusion, then when she realised what the contracts were it shifted to anger, then to contemplation when she reached the conditions. Harry knew that Hermione processed information better when she read it, which is why he showed her the contracts, and she needed to process the information in her own way. It was fifteen minutes before she said anything.

"Their education?" she asked.

"At least to OWLs, and if they want to their NEWTs." Harry replied.

"How exactly do you intend to use these contracts?" Hermione asked, cautiously.

"Not how they normally are used." Harry replied. "Unless the Girls want to do that later. Three have agreed to be sworn retainers. As for the fourth, well there are other considerations."

"Sworn retainers?" Hermione asked.

"Oh right. Sorry, forgot to explain that." Harry said, sheepishly. "Sworn retainers are considered to be part of House Potter. They act as advisors or bodyguards and such to myself as Heir Presumptive."

"Do they have to be slaves?" Hermione asked.

"No." Harry replied. "Anyone that the Lord or Heir Presumptive considers to be trustworthy and worthy of the role. They are magically sworn to act and advise to the benefit of the House they serve, and in return they get protection from that House."

Hermione thought for a few minutes, before looking Harry in the eye.

"Can I read the books on sworn retainers?" She asked.

Harry simply nodded, and retrieved the book from the coffee table beside his chair and passed it to Hermione. As she starts to read the book, he leaves her and walks up to the top floor and finds the four Girls in Hannah's room.

"How did she take it?" Lavender asked.

"I think she is still processing it. I did not tell her who you are yet." Harry said. "She did seem interested in becoming a sworn retainer. She is reading through the book on it."

"Think she will swear?" Su asked.

"I think so." Harry said. "I think she was always was more my friend than Ron's."

"When will she make up her mind?" Hannah asked.

"Once she reads the material." Harry replied.

TBC…