Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Fifty - Bye Ron
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Walking into the office and as they'd been there before, neither Harry nor Hermione hesitated. And Daphne only gave a very slight pause before she hurried forward behind them to catch up.
In the office was Marchbanks, of course; but also present were Samuel Greengrass, Ted Tonks and... Sirius.
Both Harry and Hermione grinned as they walked forward. As Harry started to step forward to get a hug out of Sirius, he was beaten to it by Hermione. So, he turned to Samuel just as Daphne pulled back from her hug with her father, and shook the man's hand.
"Lord Greengrass," he firmly said, offering his hand to shake. "A pleasure."
"Lord Potter," the other man returned, shaking his hand. "Thank you, very much, for doing this."
"My pleasure, sir," said Harry. "It is my fervent hope your Heir Primary, Daphne, finds security within the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter."
"As it is mine, Lord Potter," he returned.
Then Harry suddenly felt himself yanked sideways into Sirius's arms for a hug.
"Oi!" he mock-complained. "How am I supposed to give the impression I'm the big, bad, tough, no-nonsense Lord of one of the Seven if you go ahead and ruin it like that?"
Sirius laughed and released him while Harry also saw Samuel relax and smile.
Ted then gave a slight cough to get everyone's attention before he looked to Harry and asked, "Lord Potter, is it your intention... free of magics compulsing you... to enter a Concubine Bond Agreement between the House of Greengrass and your own, for Daphne Ophelia Greengrass to become your Concubine Presumptive?"
"Yes," Harry firmly replied.
"You are aware and accept that, based on the clearly defined situations and stipulations in the agreement, the agreement will become a contract if the as-stated situations come into effect? And that both the agreement and the contract requires you to provide for the health and protection of Heiress Daphne Ophelia Greengrass of the Noble and Ancient House of Greengrass?"
"Yes and I do," he firmly stated.
Ted gave a nod and small smile back. "Very well, as your Law-wizard of Record I recommend you proceed with signing the agreement."
Harry asked right back, "Edward Tonks, as Law-wizard of Record for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, do you attest to there being no additional alterations to the copy of the agreement you had caused to be sent to me and which I received early this morning?"
Surprised for a moment, Ted then grinned and replied, "I do, Lord Potter."
Harry grinned back and then turned to Daphne. "Last chance, Daphne. Do I sign or not?"
She immediately replied, almost begging, "Please sign it."
He gave her a nod and smile before spinning back. "Let's do this."
Less than two minutes later, it was done. Once Lady Marchbanks and even Sirius signed as witnesses, Ted created legal copies of them and distributed them, one each, to the four signatories.
Turning back to a clearly very relieved Daphne he was about to ask her a question when she jumped forward and tightly hugged him. Her head rested on his collarbone. "Thank you," she fervently squeaked.
"You're welcome," he said, moving her back out to arms reach. "With the behaviour of certain members in the House of Slytherin, is it your desire to move into the Potter apartments within the Lords' Quarters, in your own room, until things settle down again?"
Surprised at the offer, she hesitated and said, "I... yes. I think that would be for the best." And immediately looked to her father.
Harry also turned to him and asked, "Do you have a problem with this idea, Lord Greengrass? I will not be offended if you do."
"No, actually," he replied. "I believe it a very wise idea."
Relieved, Harry turned to Marchbanks and asked, "Headmistress?"
Marchbanks just smiled back and turned away for a moment, "Toby."
When the elf popped in she organised with it to move Daphne's effects out of the Slytherin dorms and up into the spare bedroom in the Potter apartment.
Turning back to Daphne, Harry said, "It will be easier for me to watch over you if you're in the apartment with Hermione and me. But, I'm sorry, I can do nothing along these lines for Tracey or Astoria."
Then he glanced at Samuel with a cocked eyebrow.
Samuel was no idiot. He knew exactly what Harry was implying. He gave a little throat clear and said, "Lord Potter, the House of Greengrass will be in your debt if you act with my authority to step in, when and where necessary, to protect from harm my Heir Secondary, my second daughter, Astoria."
"I accept, Lord Greengrass," Harry immediately replied. "If I am alerted to your daughter, Astoria, encountering danger or harm and I am able to step in to protect her, then under your authority I shall do so."
And both bowed to one another.
Sirius chuckled. "Very clever, Harry."
It now meant Harry could deal with any idiot who tried anything with Astoria, now that Daphne was 'unavailable' and legally untouchable.
As they were starting to talk a little, Harry heard a sob from behind where Daphne was standing. Suddenly, she burst into tears and Hermione had to jump forward to hold her up from collapsing to the ground.
The Headmistress was quick to conjure a sofa for her and Hermione. And Hermione guided her into it.
While Harry might have been a little confused as to why she suddenly reacted like that, the Headmistress wasn't.
"Hmm..." she muttered. "I believe, Miss Greengrass, I shall be excusing you from attending afternoon classes, this afternoon. A single of Potions, and another of Transfiguration I believe? Yes."
When Daphne didn't appear to react to the question, she continued, "I'll take that as a 'yes'."
As Samuel stepped forward to comfort his daughter, she then turned her attention to Harry and Hermione. "As you two only have a single of Potions this afternoon, I shall be excusing you from attending while you... assist Miss Greengrass to settle in to the Potter apartment. Yes."
Both Harry and Hermione replied, "Thank you, Headmistress." Harry didn't know if Daphne had heard, or not.
Harry asked her, "Can you call an elf to have delivered a note to Miss Tracey Davis, to inform her of where her friend will be? I do not wish to see her worry."
"I shall organise it," she smiled back.
After Daphne settled a bit and after not wanting an offered calming potion, the three gave their goodbyes and left.
With the two walking either side of her, they escorted Daphne up to the apartment.
Before entering though, Harry stepped her through being accepted as a resident of the apartment and quickly authorised it. "You can now come and go as you please," he explained to her. "You no longer have to wait to be allowed entrance."
She just nodded back.
As Hermione then practically helped the girl to her new room, she asked her, "What do you want to do now?"
"If you don't mind," replied Daphne. "I'd like to take a nap."
"We don't mind at all," replied Hermione. "Do you want to be woken if... when, I guess... Tracey comes up?"
"Can you just send her in?"
"Of course," replied Hermione.
After ensuring her effects were all in the room or in the ensuite, Daphne laid on the bed and was soon asleep. Hermione had left as soon as the girl dropped onto the bed and laid down.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Walking out and dropping onto the couch alongside Harry she said, "She's been terrified for so long. She hasn't shown it, but she has. I could tell."
"I know," he replied. "Hopefully, this will give her peace."
"How about organising some afternoon tea?" she asked.
"Mmm..." he muttered. But, before he had a chance to call Dobby, there appeared on the coffee table before them a full tea serving for two with little freshly baked biscuits.
Harry gave a snort of amusement, said to the air, "Thank you, Dobby." And sat forward to make a cup for them each.
Hermione quietly said, "Once we enjoy this, I think we should try to get our day's assignments out of the way. We may need that available time later."
He muttered, "Of course."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Within a few minutes of hearing the bell signalling the end of the last period of class, there was a soft knock on the door. Harry opened it and saw a fretful Tracey standing there. "May I?" she gestured in. She gave all the signs of having run the whole way from class.
Harry calmly stepped clear and said, "Of course you may."
Tracey stepped in and looked around.
From where she was sitting working on assignments, Hermione indicated Daphne's room and said, "She's taking a nap. She asked if you'd come in and see her when you got here."
Tracey gave a quick nod back and said, "Thank you." Before hurrying across the room, giving a soft knock on the door, opening it and walking in before closing the door behind her.
After seeing Tracey hurry across the room to the door, Harry just closed the 'front' door and made his way back to his seat next to Hermione. As did she, he still had a bit of work yet to do on the day's assignments.
About ten minutes later, Tracey stuck her head out the door and called, "Hermione?"
When both turned to look at her, she was looking at Hermione and gestured for her to come. "Can you come in? We want to have a 'girl talk' session."
"Of course," said Hermione. As Tracey again withdrew her head, both teens turned back. Hermione immediately packed up her things and said, "I don't think this is going to take too long. How about organising for us to have dinner here."
Surprised, he replied, "That's actually a very good idea. Dobby!"
The elf popped in and asked, "Dinner in, Master Harry?"
"Yes, please, Dobs," he replied. "I'll even let you cook tonight."
Dobby grinned back and said, "Master Harry is too kind to Dobby." And popped away before Harry could retort.
"Cheeky little―" he muttered. And shook his head in exasperation, returning to his assignments.
A few minutes later, Susan and Hannah knocked on the door; and, once Harry opened the door wide for them, looked hopeful.
Harry just gestured to Daphne's room and said, "In there."
The two girls grinned back and hurried to the door. This time, Harry decided to just leave the door open.
He was glad when, less than thirty seconds later and he'd just returned to sit on the sofa, Neville stood in the doorway. "Harry?"
"Come on in, Nev," he replied. "Your two are in with my two and Tracey in Daphne's room."
Coming over and sitting on the sofa opposite, Neville smiled and asked, "So, the signing obviously went ahead as planned?"
"Yep," he replied. He gave a quick glance to the door, leaned towards his friend and quietly said, "But, Daphne kinda... broke down... immediately after it. I think she's been so stressed with worry for so long that... when the signing was done and she became my concubine presumptive and, therefore, protected... it all caught up with her.
"As soon as we got back, she went into her room. Hermione said she did a quick check to make sure all her effects were here, collapsed onto the bed, laid down and almost immediately went to sleep."
"Understandable," said Neville. "The pressure that was put on Lord Greengrass has been going on for years. It's only recently that its really been brought to bear. I have no idea how he was able to hold out for so long. And he's not been one to keep Daphne or Astoria in the dark about that."
Harry said, "Mmm..." Then sat back again. "I'm organising dinner for just her, Hermione and I for tonight. I think we need a little alone time to start to get comfortable with one another. And, I'd definitely not leave Hermione out of that."
"Good idea," his friend returned. "My two and I will go to the Great Hall for dinner. I also have an idea I want to put to you."
Surprised, Harry asked, "Oh?"
With a grin, he replied, "In order for Daphne to be protected, others need to know that she's now in a Concubine Bond Agreement with you. I was wondering if you'd like my two, as you call them, to... let slip... to Parvati and Lavender about the truth of that."
Harry looked back in surprise for a moment before he let out a quiet chuckle. "Neville, that's brilliant! I know Ted left here immediately after the signing to go to the Daily Prophet to 'officially' inform them of the CBA; and Lord Greengrass will confirm it. But, it being 'confirmed' by rumours already within the castle? Hah!
"What a truly Slytherin thing to do. Just the right amount of political shenanigans to have others sit up and take notice you're a 'player', without pissing anyone off."
Grinning wider and clearly pleased, Neville said, "I'll let the girls know. They're looking forward to it."
After the time crept closer towards the scheduled dinner time in the Great Hall, Harry called Betsy to have the elf inform the girls that dinner would soon be served and they needed to get a wriggle on.
Five minutes later, the door to Daphne's room opened and disgorged witches.
As Susan and Hannah walked over to Neville, who'd just stood up, he said, "Harry said, do it."
That had both turn to Harry and grin. "This is going to be fun," said Susan.
"Just... don't go overboard," he warned. "Stick to the facts, no matter how much they try to demand more."
"Oh, don't worry so much, Harry," said Hannah. "We can handle those two witches."
The way she said 'witches' Harry knew it was with a silent initial 'B', not a 'W'.
As Neville and his two left, Tracey left with them. Which left Harry's two in the living room with him.
Following Tracey, he closed the door behind her and turn to face them. Looking to Daphne and concerned, he asked, "Are you feeling better? I hope you don't mind, but I've organised with Dobby for us to have dinner in here―"
It was as far as he got before Daphne quickly covered the intervening distance and wrapped him in another tight hug. She'd not said a word and still hadn't while hugging him.
Not knowing what else to do he wrapped his own arms around her and tried to rub her back in such a way it didn't come off as if he was trying to 'cop a feel'.
Hermione just stood back and watched with a small smile of contentment on her face. While Harry was worried she might turn a little jealous, she hadn't yet.
After a long few seconds, Daphne eased back until she was standing just close enough to have her hands holding him by his sides under his arms.
"You... are amazing," she firmly said.
Instantly blushing a little, he stumbled over his words before he said, "I... just... only know how to do the right thing. That's all I'm doing."
"No," she smiled. "Thank you." Then she leaned in and kissed him.
It wasn't a snog of an engaged or newly-wed couple. It wasn't the peck of a friend to a friend. It was... a simple lips-to-lips kiss.
His blush deepening a little, he tried to change the subject.
"How's the room?" he asked. "Is it alright? We can change it, if you want. Or, just replace the furniture. You can also add anything you want. If you still feel threatened, or anything, I won't even mind if you put a lock on the door, or something―"
As he kept trying to find something else to talk about she stepped back a bit more and turned with a grin at Hermione. "You're right. When he blushes he gets real cute and babbles."
Suddenly stopping, he asked, "Hunh?"
"I was telling her how cute you looked when you blush," replied Hermione. "She wanted to see it for herself."
"Oh," he softly said, and blushed again.
Daphne said, "In answer to some of your questions; I love my room. I don't think I'll change anything for a while. And, even then, only to put up some pictures or something. And, no, I will not be putting a lock on my door. I do not feel threatened by you; I actually feel a great deal safer."
Managing to not blush this time because of her remarks, he asked, "What about a personal elf―"
"Hermione's already offered to share Betsy with me," she replied.
He then gave a massive pout and said, "And here I was, hoping to come across a hero by asking Hermione to share her, and she beats me to it."
She gave a laugh, said, "You didn't need to do that to be my hero, Harry. You did that by the offer and wording of the agreement." Then she stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek before stepping back again.
As soon as she saw he blushed again, she turned to Hermione with a grin and asked, "Does that ever get old?"
Hermione smiled and said, "No."
Trying his best to clamp down on his blush he said, "I'm going to go see how Dobby is getting on with dinner." And left for the kitchen.
Or, perhaps it was better to say, fled to the kitchen.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a delicious Dobby dinner, the three returned to completing assignments. Or, rather, Harry and Hermione returned to them while Daphne made a start on hers.
When Daphne found out from Hermione Harry had caused for a great swag of Potter family library books relating to the subjects they were studying to be brought to the school to populate the bookcases in the library, she was quick to dash in there to look for herself.
Seconds later she gave a small, 'un-Daphne-like' squeal of joy; and Hermione grinned at Harry. He just smiled back and gave one of his half-shrugs.
He knew 'The Ice Queen' was as much of a façade as 'old' Harry. But, he had no idea she was or would be this free with her emotions when not forced to be her 'public' self. It was pleasing to see and hear. She wasn't even this free with herself when it was in the company of the Alliance. For him, it demonstrated she truly did trust him and Hermione.
They'd been at their work for almost an hour when there was a knock on the door. Harry rose and answered it to find the Longbottom's grinning at him.
With a smirk and cocked eyebrow he stepped back and gestured them within.
"It worked," said Neville moving to sit on the triple-seat sofa again. Both girls, of course, immediately moved to sit either side.
"It was funny!" declared Susan, who suddenly broke out in laughter.
"It went as planned, then?" asked Harry.
"Like clockwork," replied Hannah.
"We were lucky, too," said Susan. "We ran into Patil and Brown in the entrance hall, before we went in. Hannah also immediately saw the opportunity and, in a voice both could hear, said to me―"
"... Isn't it surprising Potter's entered into a Concubine Bond Agreement with Greengrass," finished Hannah in a 'stage' whisper.
Susan took it up again, "That had Patil and Brown in our faces as if they'd apparated there, demanding to know more."
Neville added his own bit. "I told them both, quite sternly mind... Parvati and Lavender, that is... that Harry wouldn't like them gossiping about his private life."
Laughing Hannah said, "Then he said, 'Besides, Daphne is a lovely girl and will make Harry very happy'."
"Thereby confirming it was true," grinned Harry.
Neville slightly blushed.
Hermione, who found out at dinner what the Longbottoms were going to do, thought it was a bit unfair to use Patil and Brown like that. Then decided it couldn't have happened to a 'nicer' pair of witches. Just like the two 'Puffs, Hermione sounded as if she put a silent 'B' to the last word.
Susan, now getting into it, explained, "That then led to what happened in the Great Hall."
Still laughing, Hannah said, "Both Patil and Brown practically ran into the Great Hall ahead of us. Before we even walked in they were already going from witch to witch in their gossip network across Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff."
Explaining, Hannah said, "There are two Ravenclaws who then spread the word to Slytherin."
"Uh-hmm," said Susan. "Thinking we might have had to help spread the word, Hannah and I were prepared to sit back at Hufflepuff. However, it was instantly clear we wouldn't have to. So, we sat with Neville at Gryffindor with our backs to the wall and just... watched it all happen."
Neville said, "It was astonishing. I think we'd only just sat down when Nott jumped to his feet and yelled, 'No! Greengrass is mine!' Which had everyone stare at him."
Hannah said, "It looked like Headmistress Marchbanks was going to berate him; but, before she could say anything, Malfoy jumps to his feet, draws his wand and snarls at Nott, 'Greengrass is mine, Nott! My father is organising it as we speak!'"
Neville, laughing, said, "It looked like there was going to be a challenge to duel, right there in the Great Hall, as Nott and Malfoy went at each other. But, the Headmistress stood and fired off a Cannonblast charm before things escalated too far."
"Spoil sport!" declared Susan, mock piously.
Neville said, "She then slowly stood and demanded, 'Who is responsible for the spread of this private information of two Noble and Ancient Houses?'
"Almost every witch in the place looked right at Patil and Brown."
Susan said, "Then Lavender, obviously realising even the Headmistress was now staring at her, stands and declares, 'Parvati and I were told by Abbott and Bones.'"
Hannah immediately added, "That's when Susan stood and said―"
Susan smoothly cut in and said, "We did not tell Miss Patil nor Miss Brown. Both... witches... overheard a private conversation of members of the Potter-Longbottom Alliance that was of a sensitive nature.
"Heir Longbottom, when they tried to demand more information, immediately warned both of them that the information was both private and that speaking of it would offend Lord Potter and he would not appreciate his private life being a subject of gossip.
"Apparently, they ignored that warning."
"Oh, this is getting better and better," said Harry.
Neville nodded and said, "That's when the Headmistress immediately docked them both twenty five points each and assigned them a month's detention."
Hannah said, "And then she said both girls should consider themselves very lucky that the information that Miss Greengrass was now in an agreement... but not what type... with Lord Potter was true."
Hannah said, "That's when both Malfoy and Nott were shouting, yet again, about how Daphne was supposed to be 'theirs'. And she docked both of them twenty five points each. Plus, assigned the same month's worth of detention."
Susan took it up. "When she turned her attention back to Patil and Brown she added they should thank Merlin it was true because, if it wasn't, Lord Potter would have the right to demand satisfaction from them both for defaming the Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House. And that she'd be unable to save them if he did, because you had the right under the law to deal with them, directly."
Susan said, "Both were crying, by that time."
Neville cut in again and said, "That's when she confirmed the real facts, but still left out it was a Concubine Bond Agreement, only saying it was a formalised legal relationship agreement and said she could only say that because she knew the public announcement of it would be in tomorrow morning's Daily Prophet.
"Then she warned everyone about the consequences of gossiping about the Nobles, how Lord Harrison Potter is not the meek young boy everyone thought him to be and told them, from that point on, anyone caught gossiping such sensitive information should expect to be sent home suspended, if not expelled."
Hermione mused, "It sounds like she was looking for an excuse to state that."
Harry turned a surprised look to her and said, "You know; I think you're probably right."
While Hermione looked back, pleased, he turned to see how Daphne was handling it.
When he saw her expression, he thought, 'Obviously alright with it, from that smirk.'
"So," he said, "We've been outed in a very cunning and beneficial plan by the House of Longbottom. Very well done, you three."
Neville almost preened he was so pleased.
"What's even better," added Daphne, "Is no one would ever suspect Neville Longbottom or two 'Puffs would engineer something so devious. Even if told outright what they'd planned and had done, no one would believe them."
Again, Neville was right pleased.
Turning her attention to Harry, she said, "Your cunning and deviousness has already been, as you would say, 'outed'. But, Neville's, Susan's and Hannah's has not. I recommend we keep that as quiet as possible, for as long as possible."
"You're thinking of using them to spread information and or disinformation in future," said Hermione. "Clever."
"Yes," she freely admitted.
"We can do that," nodded Neville, as both girls also nodded.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After the other four had left for the evening, Harry called on Dobby, whispered some instructions into his ear and sent him on his way. But, Hermione had seen him do it.
"Harry, if I may know, what was that about?"
Looking a little shamefaced he replied, "I sent Dobby to tail Tracey back to the Slytherin dorms while invisible. If she faces any trouble, he's to deal with it from cover or while being disillusioned or remaining invisible."
Clearly pleased, Daphne said, "Thank you, Harry."
Harry just gave a lopsided shrug and said, "If anyone does try to take advantage of the fact she's alone, they won't know what'll hit them. If they don't know it's a house elf giving them a magical spanking, they won't be able to protect themselves from it if they try again later."
"Are you going to have Dobby follow her everywhere?" asked Hermione.
"No," he replied. "Only when I know she's going to be alone. When she's moving about with other Slytherins of her year - such as, going from class to class, class to Great Hall, dorms to Great Hall, etcetera - then she's protected by numbers.
"Someone, sooner or later, is going to blatantly prove themselves to be a daft moron and attack one of us. I suspect it is likely to be either of you two or Tracey who becomes their target. As soon as they do, I want it nipped in the bud. Then, I'm going to turn into Lord Potter, one of the Seven, power personified, and go all feral on 'em.
"I'm going to come down upon them so hard it will be talked about, right across the wizarding world, as the day Lord Harrison Potter laid down the law."
While Daphne stared at him wide-eyed, her cheeks visibly pinked. Hermione, without her slowly building Occlumency helping, flushed a little and slightly moaned. When she realised she'd done it she snapped her mouth shut and her flush became a blush where she couldn't look at anyone.
Harry, ever so clueless, had no idea. But, it seems Daphne did. She just turned to look at the other witch and also blushed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
During the very early hours of the next morning, Hermione and Harry joined Neville, Susan and Hannah for the trip to the Astronomy tower for their single Astronomy lesson before returning back to the Lords' Quarters. They left Daphne to sleep, undisturbed. Harry had ensured, though, both Betsy and Dobby knew to come and get him if she had any problems.
After the hour on the tower, the five trudged their way back to their apartments and quietly wished either other a good night before entering their own.
Once inside and closing the door, Harry was about to head for bed when Hermione approached, slowly wrapped her arms about his middle and snuggled in before lifting her head for a kiss. A kiss that turned into a long snog on their feet.
Pulling back when he needed air, he asked, "Not that I'm complaining, mind. But, what brought that on?"
"Just keeping you interested," she replied with a smirk.
"You never need to do that," he said. "I've been interested in getting closer to you since I started... well... that was the point where girls went from being funny looking boys to 'Cor-blimey, I wonder what she looks like under her clothes?'"
She gave a little giggle and replied, "You know that now."
With a half-shrug he said, "I'd still like to learn more of what's under there, though."
"You will," she replied with a smile. "Just, not tonight."
Then she gave him a last quick kiss, pulled out of his arms, turned and walked away with her hips sashaying back and forth.
Staring at her bum as she walked away, he sighed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Early to rise again the next morning, hump day, Harry and Hermione were first to put in an appearance. When Harry kept looking towards Daphne's door, Hermione saw it and said, "I made sure she knows when we're likely to leave to head to the Great Hall, Harry. She should―"
And her door opened.
Harry was relieved as she stepped out, saw them both and smiled.
"We'd not have left without her, Harry," said Hermione. "I'd have gone in and woken her, if necessary."
Daphne had overheard, smiled again and said, "No need. Betsy did that, even though I was starting to get up, anyway. Besides, this is the normal time I rise, because there's always such a fight for the showers in the Slytherin dorms."
Hermione asked, "Nice to have your own ensuite, though; right?"
Again Daphne smiled, "Right."
So, as the Longbottoms were also early to rise and ready, they knocked on their door.
When Harry let them in he said, "Good morning, I thought you lot might be sleeping in.
"And miss seeing the reaction of you walking in with Daphne on your arm?" asked Susan. "Not likely."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
They again walked with the Longbottoms down to the Great Hall for breakfast - six, this time, instead of five.
Walking into the Great Hall, now that Daphne was 'known' to be with Harry, it allowed both her and Tracey to join them on the Gryffindor table. Tracey joined them when she walked in five minutes later. They sat with Hermione, Harry, Daphne and Tracey on one side with Susan, Neville and Hannah on the other, their backs to the Hall.
Once the other Gryffindors finished giving them suspicious or filthy looks, which both girls ignored, they were well into their breakfasts when there was a sudden shout down near the main doors and Ron Weasley came storming up the aisle with fury on his face. He was looking at Harry and the two Slytherin girls.
― ― ―
Over at the Burrow, Molly was at the sink while Arthur was finishing his breakfast before heading for the Ministry, talking about the article in the Daily Prophet. It reported Heiress Daphne Greengrass and Lord Harrison Potter were now involved in a written formal relationship agreement or contract.
Then the family clock suddenly went 'Dong! DONG!'
As Arthur spat out his mouthful of tea and whirled toward the clock in shock, Molly whirled in terror to also stare at the same clock. Ron's hand was now pointing at 'Mortal Peril'.
"Arthur!" she screamed in fear.
― ― ―
Harry gave a sigh and almost-whined, "Am I going to have to deal with this idiot, right now?"
When he was about ten feet away Ron jabbed his finger towards the two Slytherins and snarled, "Potter! What are those two slimy―"
"Mister Weasley!" barked Professor Babbling, storming down from the head table.
― ― ―
Arthur was up and running for the floo.
Molly yelled, "They'll all be in the Great Hall for breakfast."
"Right!" Arthur barked back.
He stopped for a moment, thought, and ran to grab the only remaining broom in the house. It always sat next to the back door.
Snatching it up, he ran back to the fireplace, grabbed a pinch of floo powder and tossed it in the grate.
"The Three Broomsticks!" he barked.
As soon as the flames turned green he stepped in and was gone.
Molly hurried back to the kitchen to stare at the clock - and prayed her husband would be in time.
― ― ―
Harry was so focussed on Ron he didn't even realise the little Runes Professor had also seen the idiot boy and was already moving to counter him.
Ron's eyes immediately snapped to see the clearly angry professor, his new Head of House with McGonagall gone, charging down towards him from the dais and paled only slightly.
"Professor," he snapped. "There are two slimy―"
"Weasley, be silent!" she barked.
― ― ―
Arthur came out of the fireplace in the Three Broomsticks and didn't even slow down in his run for the door.
As soon as he had the door open, he ran through - diving off the top step, mounting the broom as he went - and urged it as fast as he could for the gates. Diving through them, he urged the broom as fast as it could go for the main doors of the castle in the distance.
― ― ―
When she was only four feet away from Ron, just past Harry and the others, Babbling stopped and said, "You will keep your mouth shut, you will not say a word, you will not make a single utterance, you will listen with your mouth firmly closed."
When she saw the boy was doing exactly what she'd told him to, she said, "I do not know why it is that your ears suddenly snap close when food appears before your eyes, but you should know that if you had finished saying what I highly suspect you were about to say, there is no doubt in my mind it would have ended badly for you!
"Last night it was leaked by a pair of stupid girls that Miss Daphne Greengrass, one of those two witches wearing the green trim you were being scathing towards, has entered into a written formal relationship agreement or contract with your ex-friend, Lord Potter. If I had allowed you to continue to say what you were clearly wanting to say, I have no doubt Lord Potter would have dealt with you."
"Yes, Professor; I would have," said Harry, quite firmly. "I personally warned Mister Weasley... to his face... only a couple of weeks ago of the consequences of verbally attacking me or mine. It appears he is Hell-bent on committing suicide."
When Ron flicked his eyes to Harry's all he could see looking back was coldness that spoke of death.
"Pay attention, Mister Weasley," barked Professor Babbling.
That had Ron snap his eyes back to the professor's.
She was about to open her mouth again when Arthur Weasley came running in through the doors of the Great Hall, which had everyone turn their eyes to him. He was carrying a broom in his offhand with his drawn wand in the other.
― ― ―
As soon as he saw his youngest son, still alive, Arthur slowed down and visibly sagged in relief for a moment. Then fortified himself and strode forward.
The Headmistress called out, "Arthur? I take it you are here because of something changing on that famous family clock of yours?"
"Yes, Gr- Headmistress Lady Marchbanks," he clearly replied, still walking forward. "My youngest son's hand suddenly moved from 'At School' to 'Mortal Peril'."
By then he had reached about five steps from Ron and glared at the boy.
Ron turned ghostly white and began visibly shaking in fear, before he spun to again stare at Harry. Harry was grinning at him with a cold grin that still promised death.
'How could I have been so stupid!' he thought.
Forcibly pulling his gaze away from Harry, he was just in time to hear the new Headmistress ask, "And your intent, Arthur?"
Arthur's gaze flicked from Ron to Harry and then to Marchbanks. He replied, "It is my intent to immediately withdraw my youngest son, Ronald, from Hogwarts and enter him into a home-schooling environment in order to save him from his own fool mouth."
Ron closed his eyes and mentally groaned. He knew what that now meant.
"Granted, Arthur," said Marchbanks. "I believe it will be saving your son's life, withdrawing him from Hogwarts. I shall forward on the required parchmentwork as soon as I am able.
"I trust you to return it via floo with all due haste."
"Thank you, Headmistress," he nodded back, barely taking his eyes from Ron to look at the Headmistress.
"Professor Babbling," called Marchbanks.
Babbling spun on the spot to look at the Headmistress.
"Please escort both Misters Weasley to the Gryffindor tower, so Mister Ronald Weasley may pack," she said. "Then, see him on his way via the nearest floo, if you don't mind."
"Yes, Headmistress," replied Babbling, before she spun back to Ron and indicated the door. She simply but firmly said, "Go."
As Ron quickly hurried from the Hall, his father and Professor Babbling followed a little slower.
― ― ―
At the Burrow, Molly slumped into tears of relief when Ron's hand moved from 'Mortal Peril' back to 'At School' with a 'Dong! Ding!'.
Twenty minutes later it moved briefly to 'Travelling' before moving to 'At Home'.
Her youngest son was now a Hogwarts student only in name. When his father received, signed and sent back the relevant parchmentwork, he wasn't even that.
― ― ―
When Mister Weasley the eldest and Professor Babbling walked out the door after Ron, Harry had to yet again endure the stares of his fellow students.
That remark about some special family clock that showed Ron Weasley's hand at 'Mortal Peril', after getting upset about two Slytherins sitting at the Gryffindor table, was not lost on them. They might not know what magic was involved, but they knew magic did not lie. If the magic of this clock said Ron Weasley was in mortal peril, then Ron Weasley's life was in imminent danger.
Based on what they had been witnessing of the boy until then, that mortal peril had to be as a result of berating the Lord Potter about the two Slytherins sitting at the Gryffindor table. That meant Lord Potter considered both, one or the other to be under the protection of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter.
For those who hadn't realised until then that Lord Potter and 'his' were definitely hands-off, they did now.
Harry ignored it all and returned to his breakfast.
Neville quietly said, "The whole school is terrified of you again, Harry."
"Meh!" he blandly returned. "Been there, done that. Second year, remember?"
"I'm happy they are," said Daphne.
When Hermione gave her a funny look around Harry, she explained, "The more people are scared of him, the more you and I are protected, Hermione. And that fear to have Harry turn his attention upon them also means Astoria and Tracey are safer right along with us."
After thinking about that for long few seconds, Hermione gave a single firm nod, looked to Harry and said, "In that case... You go right along continuing to be scary, Harry."
Harry just smirked at her for a moment before returning to his breakfast.
Susan said, "I'm glad I was proven correct to come to breakfast, this morning. That certainly was entertaining."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When the owls came in, with Hedwig as usual carrying Harry's copy of the Daily Prophet, Harry was quick to free her of her load and offered her the choicest bacon rashers. She took two, as her due, and flew up to perch on his shoulder as she ate them.
As soon as Hedwig had chosen her bacon, Harry was quick to open the paper to find the relevant article. It was on the second page. Harry thought it was only on the second page and not the front because of some massive riot at a Quidditch game in Ireland that said there were a few witches and wizards dead.
~ # ~
LORD POTTER ENTERS ANOTHER FORMAL AGREEMENT
Through official notification delivered to our offices yesterday, your preferred and trusted daily newspaper, the Daily Prophet, has the news that Lord Harry Potter (14) has entered into a second formal relationship contract, reports investigative journalist Kate Erister.
This time the lucky girl is the gorgeous Heiress Primary of the Noble and Ancient House of Greengrass, Miss Daphne Greengrass (14).
Speaking with Lord Greengrass, the father of Miss Greengrass, he tells us, "I am very happy to confirm my daughter is now in an ironclad relationship agreement with Lord Potter. I know Lord Potter to be both a trustworthy and honourable young man and know he will provide and care for her as well as my wife and I would."
When he asked if he had been approached by others for such an agreement, he replied, "Of course. However, Lord Potter's offer was far above and beyond the offers of all others. As such, I simply could not turn it down. It would have been an insult to Lord Potter to have done otherwise."
Lord Potter had a pre-prepared statement where he had this to say, "I am very happy to have successfully earned the hand of Miss Greengrass from fellow Potter-Longbottom Alliance member, Lord Samuel Greengrass. She will make a wonderful addition to my household and I am grateful to her she is as accepting of me as I am of her. I would not have gone ahead with this formalised relationship if she wasn't as agreeable to it as I am."
Though neither stated, nor appeared willing to state, the nature of the agreement, we here at the Daily Prophet believe it to be a Concubine Bond Agreement or contract. We remind you, the Daily Prophet was the first to bring you the news of Lord Potter's Betrothal Agreement with the muggleborn witch, Hermonie Ginger (15), a few weeks ago.
Law-wizard Ted Tonks, Law-wizard of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, also stated it is a serious offence to defame or otherwise attack a Lord of such a House. And warns he will seek to prosecute all those who attempt to do so.
{The Daily Prophet was required to include that last paragraph to absolve ourselves of guilt of fomenting such an attack if any of our readers attempt to do so.}
~ # ~
After reading the article he went to pass it to Daphne, so she could read it, and realised she was already reading her own copy. So, he passed it to Hermione.
"Alright, folks," he sighed. "This means, from this point on for at least the next week or so, we are going to be careful what we handle of mail."
"Oh, yeah," said Neville. "I remember what happened the day after the article about Harry's first task came out. All those owls with Howlers, tainted mail, death threats―"
"And you, with one massive overcharged Stunner, knocking them all out," said Hermione.
Harry snickered and said, "Think you can do it again tomorrow, Nev? It'd save us having to stun each one, separately."
Neville blushed a little and replied, "Sure, Harry. I can do that."
Tracey leaned forward and asked, "So the rumour you stunned all those owls with one charm was correct? Wow. And there was Malfoy, accusing you of being a squib."
Hannah, who was pointing to the article in Susan's copy of the Daily Prophet asked, "Shouldn't this last paragraph mean you won't get any of those sort of letter's Harry?"
"If everyday wizards and witches had a lick of sense, yes," he replied. "But, there'll be a lot because there's more than you could image who think they'd either never get caught, or the paragraph didn't mean them because they consider themselves a light witch or wizard or whatever. You'll see."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With no classes for the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff members of their little group until after morning tea, they bid the two Slytherins a happy class in Herbology and Transfiguration and would meet up with them at the first break. Then left when the time for the first class approached.
Returning to their room, Hermione pulled out a sheet of parchment from her inner robe pocket and dropped it onto the coffee table. When she saw Harry glance curiously at it, she said, "Tracey's notes from the Potions class we missed yesterday afternoon, together with the assignment."
"Ah!" he said. "I guess I'll need my stuff, then." And headed for his room just as Hermione had already headed for hers.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ