Harry Potter and the Marriage Contracts
Changes

By Clell65619

Previous Survivors The Outting Happy Together Changes Recovery Next

December 1, 1997

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Quidditch Pitch:

"Justin!"

The Muggle born Seventh year Hufflepuff looked up from the book he was reading. "Hello Harry."

"How's it going?" The raven haired Gryffindor sat down next to him.

Finch-Fletchly had been expecting this. Hermione's relationship with Potter was well known. "I'm good." He said placing a bookmark in his book, closing it and putting it into his book bag.

"So," Harry said. "Dating Hermione?"

"Yes. You know I am." He grinned at the guy who taught him to defend himself magically. "Is this the threatening the evil new potential boy friend talk?"

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "Am I that predictable?"

"I've got a kid sister mate. I did what you're doing over the summer, and we aren't nearly as close as you and Hermione." His smile got broader. "Harry, I'm not pushing Hermione to do anything she doesn't want to do. Not that it's really any of your business, but we haven't done much more than go for walks, talk and kiss. I don't know where we're going, but I'm looking forward to finding out."

"Right." Harry said uncomfortably. "So, you're sufficiently threatened then?"

"It will hold me until her father does the job proper,” the Hufflepuff grinned.

"Good… "the raven haired Gryffindor hesitated. "Justin, all joking aside. Ron hurt Hermione badly. She means everything to me, you know? She means enough that the prospect of spending a few dozen decades in Azkaban wouldn't stop me from doing some horrible things to the next guy that hurts her. I know you're a good guy, I've asked around, but still…"

"I understand Harry, I do. Don't worry; I won't hurt her if I can help it."

Harry nodded. "So, do you and Hermione have plans for this weekend?"

"Not really, we're going out for a bit, she's got Ernie holding down the fort. Dumbledore insists that at least one of them be available at all times. Not sure what we'll be doing."

"Well, see, I've got a couple of spare tickets to the U2 concert at Wembley for Saturday."

"You've got extras? That show sold out in about 20 minutes, where did you get tickets?"

"I uh… I sort of own a chunk of their production company. The Goblins like to keep the portfolios they manage very diversified, or so they tell me. I asked, and a few minutes later I had 10 tickets. Want a couple for you and Hermione?"

"Bloody hell yes!"

"It will be Daphne and me, Tracey Davis, Neville and Hannah, and you two. I'm planning on spending the night at my home, and offer that as an alternative to coming back to the school to anyone who wants it."

"I'll ask Hermione."

--oooOOOooo--

December 24, 1996

London England

Diagon Alley

Gringotts Bank:

Neville spent the day sitting next to Harry as the Goblin Healer used a mixture of Goblin runes, Potions and an odd lying of hands to remove the layered obliviations. It was evidently a painful process. Neville was repeatedly horrified at what Harry was going through.

Even after the Goblins were done, Harry lay shivering on the cot that had been provided to him. Watching his friend's face as Harry integrated the freshly unblocked memories Neville found himself becoming more and more concerned. Slowly Harry's expression shifted from pained, to confused, to surprised, to very angry. Neville found himself feeling sorry for whoever that anger might be directed at.

Harry sat up grimacing as he did so, "Nev, you'd best get home. Your Gran will be going spare"

"I don't care about some stupid Ministry function Harry."

"But your Gran does Nev. I'm not going to be ready to talk about this for a day or two. Go, have fun. There will be girls there, just remember, you're Longbottom of Longbottom."

"No one cares about that Harry."

"Sure they do. Get going. I'll make sure the Secret Keeper shares the location of… that place, with you."

"Harry…"

"Go on Nev," Harry said. "Go have a good time. I'll see you Boxing Day, Ok?"

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 6, 1997

Potter Manor:

The seven students arrived in the foyer of Harry's home, their ears still ringing from the amplifiers.

"That was a great concert!" Justin said loudly. "Thanks for setting all this up Harry."

"So that's a famous band in the Muggle world?" Daphne asked. "After I got used to the differences, I quite liked it."

"Oh, yeah. U2 is huge" Harry said, leading everyone into the sitting room. "They've been around for a few years, and keep getting more popular… you saw the crowds."

"Well, they certainly were loud." Neville said sitting on one of the sofas.

Dobby popped into the room "Welcome home Harry Potter Sir."

"Thank you Dobby. Could you bring in some drinks and light snacks please?"

"Of course Harry Potter Sir. Dobby and Winky have snacks ready for Harry Potter Sir and his friends." The elf popped away.

"Harry…"

"Dobby and Winky are not slaves Hermione." Hannah said.

"They're the highest paid House Elves in the World." Daphne added.

Dobby and Winky appeared in the sitting room with drinks and a tray of snack foods. "Winky ashamed to be paid. Harry Potter Sir should bond elves. Make honest elves of Dobby and Winky." Winky muttered.

"Ah, such excellent service. Thank you Dobby. Thank you Winky." Harry said smiling broadly. "Service of this quality should be rewarded… Time for raises I think."

"No!" Winky was aghast. "Winky work slower Harry Potter Sir, Winky take breaks. Please do not give Winky more money."

"Just a joke Winky, you and Dobby are the best elves in the world." Harry took his employee's hand. "Never forget how much I need your help."

Winky nodded, and then popped away.

"Bloody hell Harry." Justin snagged a bottle of butterbeer. "I've never seen anyone get along with house elves as well as you do. Even after seven years, they frighten me a bit."

"We get along with our elves." Tracey sniffed.

"I'm sure you do." The Muggle born Hufflepuff said. "I've been in several old line Pureblood homes and seen how the elves bonded to those families are treated, but Harry's different. Take the Bones family for example. It was at the Bones home the summer after first year I met my first elf. The Bones' are polite to their bonded elves, asking for things and saying thank you when they get them, but really, the elves are like animated furniture. If they aren't be addressed, they're pretty much ignored. It was like that at every one of the families with elves I've seen. Harry treats the elves that work for him like… well people I guess."

"They are people." Harry said. "Just a different kind of people."

"Is this one of those 'Muggles are more civilized' things?" Tracey asked.

"Good lord no." Justin shook his head. "My parents treat our domestics the same way… So did I for that matter, before I noticed that a lot of the Purebloods thought of me that way."

"Domestics?" Tracey was confused. "I don't know that term."

"Domestic Servants. People who clean and work around the house." Justin explained.

"You use actual humans for servants?" Tracey asked incredulously.

"Exposure to Harry and Hermione caused me to reconsider how I treated the Longbottom elves as well." Neville admitted.

"Neville was the first one to join S.P.E.W. after Harry and Ron." Hermione said proudly. "He never wore his badge though."

"Hermione, I joined because you were dead scary."

"Same reason Ron and I joined mate." Harry said.

The group fell into laughter at the look on Hermione's face.

…--oooOOOooo--…

An hour later Daphne emerged from the bath in the room that she and Tracey shared. She found Tracey looking at her in an amused way.

"What?"

"I'm going to spend the night alone here aren't I?"

Daphne smiled. "Am I that transparent?" Her smile took on an evil tone. "If you'd like, you could come with me."

"I suspect that if we both showed up in Potter's bed, the shock would kill him completely dead." Tracey laughed. "That would almost be worth it."

"It's not like I'll have many chances over the holidays…"

Her friend laughed. "Yeah I suspect your father might have a few words to say about that since Harry turned down his contract, even turning down his 'special' clause that would allow him to bed you… then sleeping with you anyway. Go on, get out of here… And if you're too noisy, I'll come in there with a bucket of water!"

--oooOOOooo--…

Justin emerged from the bath in his room to find Hermione sitting on his bed. She was clad in the blue t-shirt and slacks outfit she had worn to the concert. Her shoes were off; in their place were a pair of white bunny slippers. His mouth went very dry.

"Hello Justin."

"Hermione, what are you doing here?"

"Enjoying the view." She said with a smirk at his boxers and t-shirt. "Seriously, I wanted to talk about us."

"Ok." He wasn't going to flinch just because he was in his skivvies and she was fully clothed on his bed. He crossed the room and sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard. "We've been going out for a little more than three weeks now; I don't know if there is an 'us' yet, we're still Hermione and Justin."

"And I appreciate your take it slow approach, Justin. Really I do. I just wanted to know where you wanted to go if and when there is an 'us'."

"I don't know if I'd thought that far ahead Hermione. After we leave Hogwarts, I intend to attend Uni so that I can be in a position to assume my family responsibilities when the time comes. Having magic is wonderful, and I'll never give it up, but my life is out in the Muggle world."

Hermione nodded. "I will be going to University as well. I want to work in the Medical field, perhaps ultimately combining Muggle medicine with Healer skills…" she hesitated. "I love magic as well, but I've got a much clearer picture of the Wizarding world now than I did when I was eleven. I also believe my life will be in the Muggle world, with the Magical world being a place to visit, and perhaps learn from."

Justin laughed. "You know when Hannah suggested that you and I were alike, I thought she was crazy. I mean plain boring Hufflepuff me, and the dangerous Gryffindor thrill seeker Hermione Granger. The only things we had in common was being Muggle Born and spending part of second year petrified." Hermione moved to end up sitting next to him against the headboard. Justin sighed. "I like you Hermione, a lot. The last three weeks have been about the best I've had at Hogwarts, mostly because I've spent what time I could with you. Where are we going? I don't know. But I look forward to finding out."

"I think I'd like that as well Justin." Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. "Would you like to come to my house for dinner Boxing Day?"

"Only if you'll come to mine the next day."

She dimpled. "Deal."

"Good." Justin paused. "I don't know if I should tell you this, but I will. Harry tried to give me the 'big brother' speech about you."

"The 'big brother' speech? What's that?"

"Ah, it was intended to be a generalized 'hurt her and they'll never find your body' threat. But Harry was, well, Harry. He couldn't be seriously frightening unless he was totally pissed at me. As long as I don't hurt you, I have nothing to worry about. It's funny, this summer I made the same speech, to my younger sister's new boyfriend, one would think that a threat from Harry 'I killed the Dark Lord, ask me how' Potter, would have been just a little more intimidating…"

Hermione moved to straddle him, took his face in her hands and kissed him. "Don't worry about Harry," she said breathlessly after breaking the kiss. "Worry about what I might do." And she kissed him again.

Justin just marveled at what she was doing to him, as he kissed her back for all he was worth.

"I'd best go." She said gasping at the sensation of his hands on her body. "Before I can't."

Justin watched her walk from his bed to the door, staring opened mouthed at her retreating body. As the door closed behind her, he thought about Ron Weasley.  The Gryffindor was certainly in the running for the title ‘biggest idiot in the world’ when he cheated on that woman.  Justin was simultaneously amazed at Weasley's stupidity, and thankful that Weasley had wasted his chance, ensuring that Justin would get his own.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 24, 1996

London England

#12 Grimmauld Place:

Standing on the street Harry looked up at the houses he stood in front of. The tall man standing next to him handed Harry a slip of paper. Harry unfolded the paper and read the message it held.

Harry Potter lives at #12 Grimmauld Place.

Following reading the note he looked up and watched the two buildings jump apart as #12 appeared as if from nowhere.

"Thank you Lojack." Harry said. "Could you come in for a moment?"

"Certainly Vault Holder Potter."

The pair entered the house, and the portrait of Sirius' mother immediately took notice

"Half Blood Filth! How dare you defile my home bringing this cavern dwelling troglodyte?"

"I guess your glamour doesn't fool her Lojack."

"I believe you are correct Vault Holder." The tall man removed a bracelet from his left wrist, and the tall man was revealed to be a short young Goblin. "Do you have a list of people you wish to be informed of your secret?"

"Yes, thank you. One second please." Harry stepped to the center of the room. "Dobby!"

There was a sudden pop and Dobby was standing next to Harry. "Yes Harry Potter Sir?" The elf looked around, confused "Where is we Harry Potter Sir?"

"Dobby, this is Lojack. Lojack, Dobby is one of the people who need to know the secret."

"Very good Vault Holder Potter." The Goblin gave a slip to the confused elf, who glanced at it, then became somewhat less confused.

"Thank you Lojack. In the short term I only need two people told the secret of this house. Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger."

"They will be notified before close of business today Vault Holder. If you need me I can always be contacted via the bank. Once again I thank you for this opportunity."

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 20, 1997

The Village of Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade Station:

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"I'm sure. I need to speak with my parents about you."

"About us." Harry said his green eyes burning into her violet eyes.

"About us. My father is going to be a bit put out that you declined his contract and we are together anyway."

"He can yell at me later." He leaned forward and kissed her. "Can I call you?"

She considered. "You had best wait until Monday. That will give my father a chance to calm down." This time she kissed him. "I think I love you Harry Potter." She stepped back and apparated away.

Harry stared at the point from which she had disappeared. He experienced a momentary sensation of emptiness with her leaving, then he finished processing what she had said, and his spirits soared.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 20, 1997

The Hogswarts Express

The Last Compartment in the Last Car:

Harry was the first in the car. Hermione had asked that he be aboard the train so that the Seventh years would have more representation than just the Prefects. At first Harry did it only grudgingly seeing the seven hours spent on the train as being something of a waste, but given the way Daphne had said goodbye, he was walking on air, and even the seven hours for the trip were now meaningless.

Neville and Hannah joined him after a few moments. Hannah fixed him with a look.

"Ok, what happened?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"You are entirely too happy Mr. Potter. What did Daphne do?"

"She just gave me a happy thought when she left."

Hannah raised an eyebrow. "A happy thought? How happy?"

"Oh, a thirty foot patronus happy…"

The door opened and Luna stepped in removing her cloak and scarf. "Hello everyone. No Weasleys?"

"Not this time Luna." Hannah said.

"Good, I am quite vexed with them over their behavior this year." She sat primly. "I expect no one is going to allow Ginny to forget her actions toward you when she believed that silly Prophet article. The almost every girl in sixth year is quite upset at her."

The door opened again, revealing Megan Puckle, the red haired Gryffindor first year that Harry had assisted back on September first. "Hello everyone. Could I sit with you?"

"Certainly." Luna said. "You allowed me to sit with you back in September, return the favor is only fair."

The young girl sat between Luna and Harry.

"Why here with the old folks Megan?" Harry asked. "Why aren't you with your friends?"

"Oh, for the extra credit." The firstie replied.

"Extra credit?" Neville asked. "Why would you get extra credit for sitting with us?"

"The Head Master promised extra credit if I could get Harry to tell me how he beat the bad wizard."

The compartment was silent for a moment.

"Well, why not." Harry said. "Let me tell you what happened. Not a lot of people know this, but the homunculus that Voldemort was using for a body since I destroyed his original body was actually snake based. It had human parts but it was mostly snake."

Megan looked up from the notes she was taking and nodded. "The third years were talking about that in the common room."

"Well," Harry continued. "Neville and I did a lot of research about how you would go about killing a snake, we tried to get samples of fast acting snake diseases, we tried to get hold of snake parasites, but none of that seemed to be what we were looking for."

Neville nodded. "That was when we realized that the reason that we had so little in the way of Snake related resources is that Britain is too cold for most snakes. So we said, why not use cold to kill him."

"But we couldn't just, you know, open the door, that wasn't fast enough, and besides it was May, and it wasn't all that cold anymore." Harry said. "That was when I remembered a film I saw in primary school about Muggle industrial processes."

"Neville found out where Voldemort was hiding." Luna put in helpfully.

"And Harry attached some timed portkeys to several Muggle devices called 'Cryo tanks'"

"Neville and I were hiding in the rafters of Voldemort's hideout when the portkeys activated, and dropped fifteen thousand liters of liquid nitrogen into the middle of Voldemort's meeting. Voldemort and his minions were something less than thrilled, but they froze solid in a few seconds. We waited for the nitrogen to boil off, and with bubblehead charms to protect us against the remaining fumes. Neville is the one who actually finished Voldemort off. He walked up and kicked him, making him shatter into several pieces."

Megan was writing furiously. "And that's how you did it?"

"Yep." Neville agreed.

"Thank you." she said. Folding her completed notes in half and tapping them with her wand. The pages disappeared with a soft pop. "I can't believe that I'm the one you finally told the real story!"

"Oh, that wasn't the real story Megan." Luna said.

"That was this week's story for the Headmaster." Neville explained.

"We'll most likely never tell him the truth." Harry said.

"But my extra credit?"

"You fulfilled his assignment, a story on how the Dark Lord was defeated. He can't be mad at you for not finding out the true story since he himself has failed to get it… How many times Nev?"

"Twenty three."

"Yeah, twenty three times." Harry nodded. "If you don't get your extra credit, come to me, I'll get it for you."

"Thank you Harry." Megan gathered her things, and exited the compartment, and headed forward to find her friends.

They waited until the girl was out of sight before the laughter started.

"I wonder how long it will be before Dumbledore figures out he's been had again?

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 25, 1996

London England

#12 Grimmauld Place:

"Harry?" The door opened to her touch and Hermione Granger stepped into the foyer of the ancestral Black home. The first thing she noticed was the portrait of Sirius' mother was gone. She wondered how that had been done; she had watched Sirus and Remus spend hours trying to remove it with no success. Then she noticed that they wall itself was new.

If you can't remove the portrait, remove the wall it is adhered too. Brilliant.

There was a sudden pop. Winky was suddenly standing in front of her.

"Good Evening Miss Harry Potter Sir's Hermie. Is you here to see Harry Potter Sir?"

"Yes I am Winky. Can you tell me where he might be?"

"Harry Potter Sir is in the Library."

"Thank you Winky." Hermione hesitated. "Winky, are you bonded to Harry?"

The elf's face clouded. "No. Winky is still free elf. Winky is much ashamed."

Hermione fought to keep the smile off her face. "Thank you again”

Leaving the elf to her business Hermione made her way to the library. She found Harry there, sitting in front of the fire in one of the high back chairs that she loved so much.

"Harry?"

"Hello Hermione."

"Harry, what's going on? The Weasleys are in an uproar, when I told Molly I was coming to speak with you she started screaming about my loyalty to the Weasley Family. Then Ginny accused me of trying to steal you from her."

"I won't be going to the Burrow anymore Hermione. Why isn't important. I'm just won't. This isn't about Ron, and it's not about you. I'm no longer dating Ginny, and I'm not going to have anything to do with her."

Hermione blinked. "But Harry, why? You've always said that they were the family you always wanted."

"I'm not going to talk about it Hermione. The Weasleys and I are done. Dumbledore and I are done. The Order and I are done. Remus and I are done."

"Harry, you've got to tell me what's going on."

"No, Hermione, I don't." Harry ran his hand through his hair. "Are you and Ron happy?"

"Yes."

"Look after each other. Molly is going to force Ron to choose between her and me. If the two of you are happy, you're going to have to stay away from me as well."

"Harry, I'm not going too…"

"Yes, Hermione, you are. You and Ron are happy. You both deserve that. If you continue to try to hang around me, you'll probably lose Ron. Ron is my brother in all but blood, but if forced to choose between his mother an me, he'll choose her."

"Harry…"

"No Hermione. Go back to Ron. Be happy. I'll be alright."

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 22, 1997

Potter Manor:

"Greengrass Estate!"

The fire turned green, Harry knelt and stuck his head in the fire and clearly said "Daphne Greengrass."

A green tinged House Elf clad in an immaculate pillowcase appeared before him. "This be Greengrass Estate, can Tilict help you?"

"Thank you Tilict. I am Harry Potter, may I speak with Daphne?"

"Miss Daphne is unavailable Harry Potter. Could you call later?"

"Thank you Tilict, I will."

Harry pulled his head from the fire and the flames lost their green hue. That was odd. Daphne had told him to call. Maybe she was shopping.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 24, 1997

Potter Manor:

Harry stroked Hedwig, stared dully at the package lying on his desk. His Christmas gift to Daphne returned unopened, the attached note, succinct and to the point.

Potter.

I've reconsidered our relationship and have determined that you are not what I am looking for in a life partner. Your repeated attempts to contact me have become tiring; please refrain from continuing in the attempt. We had fun Potter, but we are through.

Daphne Greengrass.

Some minor part of his mind was wondering if his life was going to go to crap every Christmas for the rest of his life.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 29, 1996

London England

Diagon Alley:

"Harry?"

Harry Potter paused outside Gringotts, and turned to see Nymphadora Tonks rushing up to him. Behind her came another. Harry felt his soul chill.

"Hello Tonks, how are you?" Harry turned his gaze to Remus Lupin. "This is your only warning Werewolf. Stay away from me, or I will kill you."

Tonks paled. "Harry?"

Remus puffed himself up. "Harry, you need to listen to Dumbledore, he knows what's best."

Harry stepped forward until his face was inches from the older man. "Dumbledore's memory blocks are gone Werewolf. I know. I know everything you did. I know everything he did. I have taken steps to ensure that I can never be obliviated again." The boy smiled when he saw how pale the werewolf had become since they have begun speaking. "The next time I see you, you die. For what you did to my parents, what you did to Sirius, what you did to me you gutless bastard."

The angry young man turned on his heel and entered the bank.

Nymphadora Tonks turned to her lover. "Remus, what the hell did you do?"

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 29, 1996

London England

Tonks' Apartment:

Tonks hauled a sobbing Remus into her apartment, and pushed him into one of her chairs. She then went to the sideboard and removed a bottle of Ogdens and two glasses. She poured two fingers of the Firewhiskey into each glass, shoved one in front of her lover, and downed the other.

"Drink it." She said.

Remus reached for the glass with trembling fingers. Tonks watched as he took a sip then set the glass back down on the coffee table.

"Now. Tell me what you did."

"You don't want to know."

"That kid is a friend, and the head of my family. He didn't need to, but he returned my mother to her place in the family, something that ate at her my whole life. He says you did something to him, to my cousin Sirius, to James and Lilly Potter. Tell me what you did, tell me now, or by Merlin's Beard I will haul you into headquarters toss you into an interrogation room and let the professionals sweat the truth out of you. I love you Remus, more than I could ever say, but you are going to tell me the truth."

The man sagged in the chair. He picked up the glass, downed the contents, and started to speak.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 29, 1980

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster's Office:

"Remus, it's good to see you, please sit down."

"Headmaster, I've discovered something horrible. It's Peter, he's the leak to Voldemort. I spotted him last night and something just wasn't right, so I followed him. Headmaster, he went to a Death Eater's meeting. He has to be the leak in the order."

Dumbledore looked pensive. "Peter? You are sure?"

"As sure as I'm speaking to you now."

"This could be useful, useful in deed." The ancient wizard mused. He looked up. "Remus, you must tell no one, as long as I know who the leak is, I can ensure that the information he has access to is… creative."

Remus looked confused for a moment as he put the puzzle together. "So we use Peter to feed bad information to Voldemort?"

"Exactly."

"But shouldn't James and Sirius and Lilly know?"

Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I think not, they might react differently toward him, and in doing so, raise his suspicions. No, for now, let us keep this between the two of us."

…--oooOOOooo--…

November 05, 1981

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster's Office:

"But Headmaster, Sirius is innocent, you know that. He's Harry's godfather, Harry should go to him. The only reason Lilly and James are dead is that we didn't take care of Peter when we had the chance. We can't do this."

"Remus, it has to be this way. There's a prophecy about Harry."

The discussion went on for several hours, in the end Remus agreed that Dumbledore's way was for the best. Nothing that Remus or Dumbledore could do would return James and Lilly to life, and Sirius was at least responsible for the Muggle's killed when he confronted Peter. Remus had never really been a believer in the greater good, but the debt he owed the Headmaster for allowing him to attend school in spite of his affliction pushed him to agree.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 25, 1993

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Defense Against Dark Arts class room:

"Well, what have we here?" It was common knowledge that Albus Dumbledore always knew what was going on in the school, what was less well known is that the reason for this knowledge was that the many portraits in the castle reported to him directly. He had received a report of a drunken Remus Lupin telling tales best untold to a certain trio of Gryffindors.

It was amusing the individual reactions of the three children, from Ron Weasley, fear, from Hermione Granger, disbelief, and from Harry Potter, rage. So much rage. His magic would be fueled by that rage when it came time for him to face young Tom again. Still the knowledge of why the events of October 31, 1981 played out the way they had couldn't be trusted to mere children.

With a flick of his wand, he petrified the trio, and then set about obliviating their memories, tweaking their personalities just a little bit. Perhaps, he mused, perhaps Harry shouldn't be getting too much help from Miss Granger… Perhaps her attentions would be better focused on young Mr. Weasley. Perhaps Ronald's bit of jealousy at his friends skills should be amplified, just a bit…

A quick warning to the Werewolf, then the three children were levitated to their common room, where they found themselves waking an hour later, believing that they had dozed off following a lovely dinner.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 29, 1996

London England

Tonks' Apartment:

Tonks listened to Remus' explanation of what he had done, and his reasons for doing so without expression. When he finished she looked at him for a full minute without comment. Finally she spoke.

"Get out."

"But 'Dora, I…"

"Get the hell out, and never, ever come back. Tell your master I resign from the Order. If I so much as hear that any of you approach within 50 meters of Harry Potter, I will arrest the lot of you. Moody, Shacklebolt and every other current or former Auror I know within the Order will be hearing this story."

Remus sat looking at her in disbelief.

"I said get out. I won't ask again."

The broken man shuffled out the door and out of her life. As soon as the door was closed and locked behind him, Nymphadora Tonks began to cry.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 25, 1997

Granger Residence:

"You're awfully quiet tonight, even for you."

Harry looked up from the sink. Invited to Hermione's for Christmas dinner it had been too late to cancel, following the meal he had pleaded to be allowed to help with the dishes. His time with the Dursley's had taught Harry that sometimes he could submerge his pain in physical labor.

"Daphne broke up with me."

"What?" Hermione almost shouted, bringing her hand to her mouth. "When? How?"

"Yesterday afternoon, by Owl. She says we're through."

"So what are you going to do?"

"What can I do?" he sighed. "I accept it and move on I guess. If she says it's over, it's over."

"Harry."

"What? If you told Justin that it was over and he kept bothering you, I'd remove his teeth, what makes me special? If Daphne is happier without me, I can live with that."

Hermione pulled him into a hug.

"What did you do when you found out?"

"Oh, I threw quite a tantrum,” Harry said with a wry smile.  “Dobby was deliriously happy with all the things that needed repair."

…--oooOOOooo--…

"What a difference a year makes "Martin Granger said. "Only last year I was praying that my beautiful genius daughter would pull her head out of her ass and see that that 'Ron Weasley' was no good for her"

"And I was sitting alone in a room wondering just where everything went wrong."

Hermione's father had invited Harry out on to their backyard deck for 'a breath of fresh air.' It was substantially warmer down here in England than the winter weather he was used to from the School in Scotland, but it was still very cold fresh air.

"I like you Harry. I speak, you seem to be frightened. Any chance of you dating Hermione?"

"No sir. For a lot of reasons, but mostly she knows me too well."

"I had noticed that. So, tell me about this Justin."

"Justin's a good guy, Muggle born like Hermione, his father's in finance or something, I don't really remember. He was sorted into the house known for its cooperation and team work. Like I said a good guy."

"Is he good enough for Hermione?"

"No."

"No?"

Harry shrugged. "It's not Justin's fault, no one is good enough for Hermione. He'll try to be, that's what's important."

"Alright, I know why I think no one is good enough for my daughter; tell me why you think that."

"She's a bossy little know it all, who cares enough about me to save my life more times than I can count and kept me from killing myself stupidly more times than that. When I think perfect, I think Hermione." Harry shrugged. "I am lucky to know her."

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 26, 1997

Longbottom Manor:

"I swear to Merlin, Harry you have to be the most clueless individual on the planet."

Harry looked up from his feeling sorry for himself, somewhat hurt.

"I have to agree with Neville, Harry. When it comes to women at least, you are more clueless than most men." Hannah nodded from Neville's side. "Surely you don't really believe that the note came from Daphne."

"It is her handwriting." Harry protested.

"She may have written it, but it wasn't FROM her you prat." Hannah said dismissively. "Think about it. If Daphne was going to dump you, she wouldn't do it by owl post; she'd do it to your face." Just to watch a little piece of your soul die she added to herself.

"If it's wasn't Daphne's idea, then who could make her do this?"

"I don't know the man, but according to Gran, Cyrus Greengrass is one of the biggest asses to ever walk the face of the earth Harry." Neville explained. "Gran says he was furious that you declined his contract, and then had the temerity to date his daughter. Without the contract he doesn't get his Bride Price, but still has to cough up her dowry." Neville took on a look of frustration. "This is my fault. I should have explained all the intricacies of family line rules and politics, but honestly Harry, I never thought that you would get so involved so quickly."

"Quickly? Me?" Despite his pain, Harry found himself laughing. "This from Mr. "Harry, she's the one" after your second date?"

"Harry!" Neville protested.

"Second date? Really?" Hannah kissed her fiancé lightly. "We'll talk about how romantic that is later. Explain this family line politics thing."

Neville blushed. "Cyrus is the Head of the Greengrass family. Under strict interpretation of the rules of the old lines, family members are practically property of their Head of House. Only women have an out to this, and then only when they marry. At a traditional marriage between the Great Houses, for all practical purposes the woman is sold to her husband's Head of House to become his or her property."

"But Daphne's of age!"

"So was Andromeda Black when she wanted to marry Ted Tonks, if you recall. It doesn't matter." Neville sighed. "She could be fifty, in the eyes of the old laws; she belongs to her father, who is her Head of House, until she marries. Refusal to cooperate could cause her to be cast out."

"So?"

"So it's a huge deal for some people." Neville hesitated, trying to think of a way to explain. "Being cast out is thought of by some people as being worse than death. Think about how it affected Andromeda when the Blacks cast her out. You saw how she broke down when you reinstated her to the family, almost thirty years after the fact. Hell, you saw what Cyrus subjected Daphne to when you got her photos and he offered you her body on a trial basis. You must have noticed how vulnerable Daphne is behind her defenses. I intend no offense to Daphne, but Daphne Greengrass isn't as strong as Andromeda Black was. She will do what her father tells her to do. As far as she is concerned, he owns her body and soul."

"Daphne is no one's property" Harry stood suddenly, furious.

"Harry, mate. I agree." Neville stood as well, putting his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Say the word and I'll help you storm the Greengrass castle. We'll go to gaol, but I'll be with you all the way."

"Castle?" Harry asked.

"Actually it's more of a smallish manor house. The Greengrass family is a relatively new one."

"But 'storming' the manor would be a mistake Harry." Hannah added.

"You think I should wait until we go back to school?"

"So that you can talk to her before you decide to do something illegal, yes."

Harry sat back down and sighed. "It was so much easier when all I had to contend with was a homicidal maniac and his minions."

--oooOOOooo--

December 26, 1997

Granger Residence:

There was a quiet crack in the Granger back garden. Martin Granger looked through the back window to see his daughter and a young man.

"They're here Eve." He said to his wife.

Eve glanced out the window. "She's giving him his last minute pep talk. You be nice Marty. Don't scare him off with your sense of humor."

"Eve, this 'Justin' was raised in the real world, not like that Weasley boy. He'll recognize a joke when he hears one."

"Marty…"

"I swear to god Eve, if this one is as condescending as that Weasley boy, I'll kick him out of here, and FORCE her to date Harry Potter."

"I like Harry too Marty, but I don't think Hermione could be forced to do anything."

"Heh." The dentist chuckled in agreement. "That's my girl."

--oooOOOooo--

Standing on the pathway that led from the Granger's back door to their Garden shed, Hermione looked into Justin's eyes.

"Are you ready for this?"

"As ready as I'm going to be I suppose. Your dad hates me doesn't he?"

"He hasn't met you yet Justin." She dimpled. "He hated Ron though."

"You're not helping."

"They're going to love you Justin." Hermione reached up, pulled his jacket's zipper down half way, and straightened the knot of his tie. "We'll get through this, and then do it again tomorrow at your home. You wore my Christmas present." She rose on her tip toes to lightly kiss him.

"It's my new favorite jumper. Did you like your present?"

"Oh, yes. I'd never even heard of antique bookmarks, they're lovely." She kissed him again. "We'd best get inside. My dad's been watching since we arrived."

--oooOOOooo--

"Mum, Dad, this is Justin Finch-Fletchly. Justin, my parent's, Martin and Eve Granger."

"Welcome to our home Justin." Eve Granger said. "Dinner won't be ready for another thirty minutes, so you have a choice. Would you rather wait for the traditional interrogation by my husband, or get it out of the way before the salad?"

"My father always told me that the only way to go is forward. If you'd like sir, why don't we get it out of the way?"

"Right this way Justin." Martin led the young wizard from his kitchen to the sitting room. "Take a seat." Justin sat on the sofa, as Martin crossed the room to his wet bar. "Drink?" he asked raising a bottle of Johnny Walker Red.

"Water would be nice, thank you." Justin said.

"Good choice Justin. Ok, you carefully avoided my fiendish trap, tell me about yourself."

"I'm a seventh year, like Hermione." The Hufflepuff said accepting the tumbler of ice water and taking a sip. "I'm the first magical in the family and Cricket is my favorite sport, though I'm not much of a player. My family has been in finance for ever, my father runs his own brokerage."

"I know, I'm one of his clients.’Finch-Fletchly' isn't the most common name around, but I never made the connection until I saw you in the kitchen. You look just like Miles." Martin Granger. "Saying that he 'run his own brokerage' is a bit of an understatement wouldn't you say? You make it sound like he works out of a spare bedroom at your home. Odd that Hermione doesn't seem to know this. She is under the impression that your father is some kind of bank manager."

Justin paled a bit. "Are you going to tell her?"

"That depends on why you haven't."

"Money changes things. Girls hear about the money and they don't care much about Justin anymore, they're interested in the Finch-Fletchley heir. What I love most about the Wizarding world is that no one has the faintest clue about who my father is."

Martin Granger smirked. "That is precisely why Harry Potter likes the mundane world. You're worrying about nothing you know. Harry is Hermione's best friend and has, according to her, more money than god, and she doesn't care about it."

"She got to know Harry before either of them knew about his family's money." Justin pointed out. "I want her to know me before she finds out."

"From what I understand, your home is a sight to behold. How are you going to explain a bank manager living like that?"

The young man's mouth opened and closed several times without making a sound. Finally he spoke. "I hadn't thought of that. I think I've got some explaining to do."

This was harder than Martin expected. Of the three young men his daughter had brought home in her life, he had actually liked two of them. "You know what I do for a living, right?"

That question startled Justin a bit. "Hermione told me you were a dentist."

"I am. Just remember, I know all about pain." Martin flashed a small grin. "Feeling sufficiently threatened yet?"

"Yes sir."

"Relax Justin." The older man laughed. "I have to threaten you; it's in the rule book you get when your daughter is born. You should thank my wife; I wanted to put you in my chair to have our little talk. Eve wouldn't let me. She thinks I scared Ron Weasley off last year." The Dentist's manner changed. "Hermione won't tell us what happened with Ron. I know he hurt her, but she won't talk about him."

Justin knew that his best move at this point would be to keep his mouth shut, but he couldn't. "I'm sorry sir, I only know the rumors that flooded the school the day after, and those rumors are probably wrong. Even if I did know, it isn't my place to tell you. Let's just say that as far as I'm concerned, Ron Weasley is an idiot, and I'm glad he is. If he wasn't such a fool, I would probably never have had a chance to get to know Hermione."

--oooOOOooo--

Justin pushed back his plate.

"That was wonderful Mrs. Granger. Thank you."

"Thank you Justin. So, are you two men finished bonding? I hope Martin didn't threaten you too much."

"Daddy!"

"Hermione, your father didn't threaten me at all." Justin said with a wide smile. "He just showed me some photos."

Hermione's eyes went wide, and a blush ran up her cheeks. "What photos?"

"Oh, just some baby pictures… That cute one of you in the bath."

"DADDY!"

"Calm down Hermione" Martin said trying not to laugh. "Justin is just having you on. I didn't show him any photos."

"Then how does he know about the pictures in the bath?"

"I didn't until you confirmed them Hermione." Justin laughed. "Everyone has those pictures. I think all parents take them."

"I know we did." Eve said. "Want to see them Justin?"

"MUM!!"

--oooOOOooo--

December 29, 1996

London England

Diagon Alley

Gringotts Bank:

"Good afternoon Harry."

Harry stopped with his hand on the handle that would open the door to Gringotts.

"Hello Headmaster."

"Harry, your little rebellion is over. It is time for you to return to the Burrow."

"I don't think so Headmaster. There is nothing for me there, other than Ron, not even friendship." The old man's eyes widened in surprise. "Haven't you figured it out yet Headmaster? I've got my memories back. All of them. I know what you did to us. I know you allowed my parents murder. I know you allowed Sirius to go to Azkaban knowing he was innocent. I know what you did to Ron, Hermione and me. I know that you expected me to die like a good little soldier taking Voldemort with me."

"Harry…"

"Save your empty lying words old man. The Goblins tell me that I can't do a thing about the money you stole since you somehow made yourself my guardian. That spigot is now closed. I have managed to become emancipated. It's amazing what you can get out of the Ministry for just a little gold. If I see any of your Order near me I will have them arrested."

"Harry you have to understand, it was all for the greater good."

"And still you tell lies old man. How was filling your pockets with my inheritance for the greater good? All you are to me is the Headmaster of my school. Nothing more. I have the political power of two ancient and noble houses behind me now, that and more money than the Ministry. Annoy me in anyway and I will destroy you."

"But Harry, Voldemort will…"

"Fuck Voldemort old man. And fuck you too. You two deserve each other. He can have you."

With that Harry entered Gringotts leaving a confused Albus Dumbledore behind him.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 27, 1997

Potter Manor:

Harry stroked Hedwig gently. His pretty girl's feathers still showed signs of the blood that had come from the wounds she received when attempting to deliver his latest note to Daphne. She had been attacked by something; Harry didn't know what and had returned with his note still tied to her leg.

He offered Hedwig a few bits of bacon, which she nipped at.

"I'm sorry girl. You rest ok?"

The Snowy owl bobbed her head in an affirmative manner.

Despite his discussion with Neville and Hannah, Harry had attempted to contact Daphne, and Hedwig was injured because of it. It had to be intentional.

"Dobby?"

The Elf appeared with a pop. "Yes Harry Potter Sir?"

"Dobby, could you take this note to Daphne Greengrass?"

The tiny being's ears drooped and tears formed in his large eyes. "No, Harry Potter Sir, Dobby cannot do this."

"Why not?"

"Master of Greengrass house tell Greengrass elves to keep all communications away from Harry Potter Sir's Daphne. Pillet of Greengrass elves tell Dobby to stop Harry Potter from trying. I tells Pillet that Harry Potter Sir is great wizard and will talk to Harry Potter Sir's Daphne when he chooses. Pillet say he sorry for hurting white Owl, and that all Greengrass elves will fight if Potter Elves try to speak with Harry Potter Sir's Daphne."

"I see. Thank you Dobby."

The elf disappeared with his normal pop. Harry stared into the fire. The Elder Greengrass had certainly gone out of his way to keep him from speaking to Daphne… Maybe Tracey… No, she hated him, she wouldn't help.

…--oooOOOooo--…

December 29, 1997

London, England

Tonk's Apartment:

"Harry, I don't know what to say."

"Just tell me what you think Tonks. Am I doing the right thing?"

"You're doing the legal thing Harry. Is it the 'right' thing? I don't know, only you can decide that."

"I thought…" He hesitated. "I thought that we were just having fun. But it's been nine days since I've seen Daphne, and I… I can't stop missing her. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I go over the last time we were together over and over and over looking for anything I might have done to push her away."

"Harry."

"I know. I'm being an idiot." Harry ran his hand through his hair. "How did I manage to get this pathetic?"

Tonk's hair went blood red and she had a huge grin on her face. "It is fairly sad."

"Thanks." He grumped.

"Sirius would be calling you a girl."

"Sirius would be helping me kidnap her."

"Probably, yeah. While calling you a girl."

…--oooOOOooo--…

January 5, 1998

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Entry Hall:

Harry had not ridden the train back to Hogwarts following the Christmas holidays; rather he had Apparated to Hogsmeade at noon, and was waiting for Daphne.

Neville checked on him in the hall from time to time, but mostly left him alone. The first of the students arrived via floo and apparition to Hogsmeade by four p.m. No Daphne. The minutes crawled by. The Train pulled into Hogsmeade station early at 5:30 pm. The carriages delivered them to the entry hall. No Daphne.

"She isn't coming Mr. Potter."

Harry turned to face his Transfiguration Professor. "Not coming? What do you mean Professor?"

"I received notice today that Miss Greengrass was withdrawing from Hogwarts." The Scot said.

"No."

"Mr. Potter… Harry. I know you and Miss Greengrass have gotten close this year…"

"Harry?" Neville had come back to remind Harry about dinner, the presence of their Head of House surprised him.

McGonagall straightened her shoulders. "Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Potter has gotten some bad news, make sure he makes it to your dormitory."

"What's going on Harry?" Neville asked after McGonagall was gone.

"Daphne's withdrawn from school Neville. She's gone."

"Withdrawn? Why?"

"POTTER!" a woman's voice rang before Harry could tell Neville that he didn't know.

Tracey Davis rushed forward with Daphne's large purple stuffed rabbit under her left arm, a roll of parchment clutched in her left hand. Her wand was drawn and pointed between Harry's eyes.

"This is your fault Potter. Daphne's gone because of you, you selfish bastard!"

"I don't understand, where is she? What did I do?"

"When you turned down her contract, her father found someone else to sell her to. She's marrying a Romanian Count named Neacsu! Because of you, I'm losing my best friend!"

Neville reached out and pushed Tracey's wand arm down so that her wand was no longer pointed at Harry's face.

"When does she get married?" Neville asked.

"The Reading of the Bans before the Wizengamot is tomorrow, the ceremony Wednesday."

"Married?" Harry said slumping against the wall. "She's getting married?"

"Yes." The dam holding back Tracey's emotions broke; tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Daphne's father has destroyed every single thing you have given her. She asked me to get her rabbit and your contract and hide them until she's left her family's home so that she'll have them to remember…"

"She kept the contract?"

"Yes." Tracey nodded. "She said that refusing to make your relationship a business proposition was the most romantic thing you could have done. Damn you Potter, why didn't you just marry her and save her from this?" The girl's expression changed. "You're Harry Fucking Potter. You're the Chosen One. You're the Man-Who-Won." Her wand came back up again, not trembling this time. "You fix this. You fix this now. Or I'll kill you."

…--oooOOOooo--…

January 6, 1998

Greengrass Manor

Daphne's room:

5:43 a.m.

Daphne stared at the clock on the wall. She was to be married in twenty eight hours and seventeen minutes. She was to be married to a vile man sixty years her senior. She was to be married to a man with a son older than her father. She shuddered and hugged her legs closer to her body.

She had been informed of her upcoming nuptials the day she returned from Hogwarts for the Christmas Holidays. Daphne's first reaction was to run. Being offered to Harry had been one thing, to be sold (her father made much of the bride price she was bringing) to this… ancient man she had just been introduced to… it was just too much. Quickly discovering that anti-apparation wards had been erected since her arrival, she almost made it to the front door of her families' home before she slumped nervelessly to the floor following a stunning spell.

Daphne woke several hours later, her mother fussing over her. Eunice Greengrass nee Moody explained that Daphne would not be returning to Hogwarts, that she would be leaving for her new life in Romania after the first of the year. With empty, haunted eyes Eunice spoke of advantages of linking the Greengrass family to the Romanian Neacsu clan.

Daphne tried to tell her mother that she wanted not thing to do with the old man negotiating Daphne's future with her father, that she loved someone else. Eunice wouldn't listen saying that her father had everything arranged.

Daphne listened to her mother go on about her duty to the family, and realized that her future was set.  She had always known that she would be offered to the man who made the best offer…  It was just that when she had been with Harry she had allowed herself to forget.

Duty.  This was her duty.  Childhood was over.  It was time for the reality of adulthood.

…--oooOOOooo--…

The pattern was set. During the day she would be given language lessons by the Count's Valet, and then be instructed on what was expected of her in relationship to the Count's estates by others of Benedikte's party. Evenings she would be instructed in proper behavior and conduct for the Romanian Magical Court. Any errors in any of these lessons were punished by the activation of a pain cursed bracelet that she could not remove.

On the third day the punishments became so severe that she tried to run away. Daphne had gotten almost half way to the ward line when the cursed bracelet triggered and she thought she was dying. The counts retainers retrieved her, and returned her to her suite, where, Daphne was beaten, all the while Benedikte’s retainers were screaming at her about 'embarrassing the Count'.

Duty.

…--oooOOOooo--…

On Christmas Eve Cyrus Greengrass entered Daphne's suite.

"Daphne, I need you to write a letter to Potter."

Daphne didn't even look up. "Why do I need to write to Harry?"

"He keeps trying to contact you and sending you gifts. You need to break it off with him. Write him a note telling him you don't want to see him. Tell him to stop trying to contact you."

Daphne nodded, and sat at her desk. She took a fresh piece of parchment, inked her quill and wrote:

Potter.

I've reconsidered our relationship and have determined that you are not what I am looking for in a life partner. Your repeated attempts to contact me have become tiring; please refrain from continuing in the attempt. We had fun Potter, but we are through.

Daphne Greengrass.

Cyrus snatched up the note and read it, nodding approvingly. "Thank you Daphne, I'll get this owled immediately."

…--oooOOOooo--…

After dinner that day Daphne was allowed to have a visitor.

"Daphne? Morgana! What's happened to you?"

"Hello Tracey." Daphne said dully. "It's nothing. I've just been tired."

"Daphne, talk to me."

"I'm getting married Tracey, married on the 7th of January. You'll be back at school then, I'm sorry you'll miss it. I'll write as soon as I get to Benedikte's estate and let you know all about the Wedding."

"Getting married? You're getting married?" the strawberry blond asked.

"Yes, my father offered my contract to Benedikte a week ago, and after meeting me on the 20th, Benedikte accepted it." Daphne said in a lilting voice.

Tracey wasn't fooled for a moment. "Should I tell Potter?"

"NO!" Daphne bolted upright in her chair, showing her first real emotion since Tracey had arrived. "Leave Harry out of this."

"Ok Daph, I will."

"Tracey," Daphne's voice dropped to a whisper. "When you go back to Hogwarts would you get the bunny Harry won for me, and keep it safe until you can send it to me? Oh and underneath my pillow is the Marriage Contract Harry declined. Would you hold that one for me as well?"

"Of course, but why?"

"My father had destroyed everything Harry has given me; he says keeping any of it would be disrespectful to Benedikte. But I want those things to remember Harry by."

"Alright, that's no problem Daphne, I can do it. Do you mind my asking, why the contract? I understand the rabbit, but the contract?"

"The contract is a symbol of what might have been Tracey. If Harry had wanted he could have had me, but he didn't want me like that, so he waited until I gave myself to him. That is possibly the most romantic thing I have ever heard of." She looked deeply into Tracey's eyes. "I'm not returning to Hogwarts Tracey… After today, I will probably never see you again. I love you Tracey.  I will write if I’m allowed." She hesitated, and then continued. "I know you don't really like Harry, but please if you can, tell him I love him, and that I said goodbye."

…--oooOOOooo--…

7:19 a.m.

"Young Miss?"

Daphne pulled her eyes away from the clock on the wall to look at the house elf standing at the foot of her bed.

"Yes Tilict?"

"Tilict is here to help Young Miss be ready for her Reading of the Bans this morning."

Daphne nodded. Twenty six hours forty one minutes until she got married. She stood from the bed. "Thank you Tilict."

…--oooOOOooo--…

Daphne sat in the Wizengamot chamber, and waited for the session to begin. Her father and Count Neacsu were off politicking. Tracey stared at the floor at her feet, just wanting it to all be over.

"Good morning Daphne."

She looked up into the smiling face of Neville Longbottom. "Hello Neville, how are you?" Daphne asked dully.

"Oh, I'm fine Daphne. We missed you at the welcoming feast last night. I understand that you might not be returning to Hogwarts?"

"No, I'm not." Why was Neville here? "Why are you here Neville? Skiving off school?"

"No Daphne, depending on how a few things work out this morning, I might have some business before the Wizengamot."

"What the hell do you think you're doing bothering my daughter Longbottom?"

Neville looked deeply into Cyrus Greengrass's eyes. His manner changed from smiling geniality to cold distain. "I think perhaps the advancement of the Greengrass Family to the status of Noble House had given you ideas above your station Greengrass." He said in a voice that dripped ice. "I am Longbottom of Longbottom, who are you to speak to me in such a manner?"

Neville's voice carried throughout the Wizengamot chambers, the room went deathly quiet.

"My apologies Lord Longbottom, I misspoke."

"Indeed you did sir." Neville turned his attention back to Daphne his tone softened. "Tracey Davis said that you might not be returning, so, since I was here anyway I thought I'd return the book you loaned me." Reaching into his robes Neville withdrew a leather bound book, and presented it to Daphne.

"Thank you Lord Longbottom." Daphne said quietly. Privately she wondered what Neville was up to, he had never borrowed a book from her. She placed the book in her lap.

"No, thank you Miss Greengrass" Neville said, still playing to the crowd. He gave Daphne's father the slightest of nods as he left. "Greengrass."

The book in her lap began to lightly vibrate. Daphne looked around, and then sure that no one was paying attention to her opened the book.

Inside the cover was a small self inking quill, the facing page was blank except for a hand written sentence.

Hello Beautiful… Did you miss me?

Daphne realized what the book was. It was one of a pair of charmed journals. They were children's toys used to allow children to send 'secret messages' over short distances, usually less than 30 meters.

She took the quill in hand and wrote Harry?

Aw, you guessed. The words appeared in his sloppy scrawl. So much for finding your secret boyfriend's name.

Harry, you can't do this. She wrote

Daphne, seriously now, answer me two questions and I'll leave you alone.

First question:  If I can stop this from happening, do you want me to?

Up on the dais Dumbledore gaveled the room into silence.

"Before we begin this morning's session of the Wizengamot, it is my pleasure to announce that this morning we will be Reading the Bans to announce the impending marriage linking our own Greengrass family to the family of Count Benedikte Stefan Florinel Georghiu Neacsu of the Romanian Imperial Court."

Daphne looked down at the book. Harry had added another question mark to his first question.

She wrote: YES YES YES

Thank you. Now, the second question is important and will decide what I do next. Please, don't think about it, just answer.

Daphne, will you marry me?

The question stunned the Slytherin. She wrote: Harry, Dumbledore's about to read the banns… I'm to marry…

Tic Tic Tic Daphne. I don't need a lesson on current events, I need your answer. Will. You. Marry. Me? The new text shimmered into existence on the page beneath her words.

Daphne wrote: YES

…--oooOOOooo--…

Up on the dais Dumbledore gaveled the room into silence once more. "The Reading of The Banns:" The ancient Wizard announced theatrically.

"I publish the banns of marriage between Daphne Ophelia Greengrass of the Noble House of Greengrass and Count Benedikte Stefan Florinel Georghiu Neacsu, the Head of the Romanian Imperial House of Neacsu. If any of you know any cause or just impediment why these two houses should not be joined together in magic, in tradition and in blood, ye are to declare it now. This is the first and only time of asking." Dumbledore paused dramatically to allow the customary time for the protest. The question was a bit of political theater that amused him to no end, as no Reading of the Banns had been objected to before the Wizengamot in more than five hundred years.

"I object." A single voice sounded in the abject silence of the chamber.

Every head in the chamber rotated to face Harry Potter.

"What is this Greengrass?" The Romanian nobleman thundered from his seat in the gallery. "Is some trick to increase Bride-Price? Who is this boy?" Now every eye was on the Count as he turned to Daphne. "This is boy you spread legs for?" the old man raised his hand as if to strike the girl, only to suddenly grasp his right arm and scream.

"Striking a woman is the surest sign of a barbarian old man." Potter said from his place across the gallery as he lowered his wand. "I would stop you from hitting any woman. Attempt to hit that woman again and I will kill you. If I find out you've struck her in the past, I'll still kill you."

"Greengrass! Who is this boy?"

From the dais, a startled Dumbledore attempted to reassert control of the chamber sputtering. "Mr. Potter, what are you doing here?"

"In this setting Chief Warlock, you should be calling me Lord Potter-Black, should you not?"

An expression of anger flickered across Dumbledore's face. "Very well then, Lord Potter-Black, what are you doing here?"

"I believe that should be obvious, Chief Warlock." Harry said, as if explaining himself to a particularly slow child. "I am protesting this proposed marriage."

"On what grounds are you protesting Lord Potter-Black?"

"Line-Theft and Fraud."

Dumbledore's eyebrows threatened to climb above his hairline. "Those are serious charges, Lord Potter Black. Approach. Cyrus Greengrass, Count Neacsu, you both approach as well."

Harry made his way to the open section of the chamber before the assembled Wizengamot and stood tall, looking every inch the Man-Who-Conquered. Cyrus Greengrass and his proposed son in law stomped their way to stand beside Harry.

"I don't know what you're trying to pull Potter."

Harry put the tip of his wand under the elder Greengrass's chin. "Never piss off a Potter old man. No one takes from me what is mine. I followed your fucked up rules, I did what I was supposed to do, and you expect me to put up with this? I don't take kindly to being defrauded. When I'm done with you Greengrass, you won't have a pot to piss in."

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's magically amplified voice boomed out, quelling all discussion and conversation in the cavernous room. The ancient Wizard looked about to satisfy himself that the chamber would remain quiet. "Now then Lord Potter-Black, what is the basis of your objection to this marriage between Miss Greengrass and Count Neacsu."

Harry stepped away from the elder Greengrass, lowering his wand. "Unless Daphne has a sister she hasn't told me about there is no 'Miss Greengrass'. Her name is Daphne Potter. We married on November 15th of last year. I signed his insulting contract, and his Bride-Price was paid the previous day." From his robes Harry produced several rolls of parchment. "Here are copies of all the appropriate documentation from Gringotts detailing the transfer of the Bride-Price to the Greengrass vault, as well as my signed and sealed copy of the Marriage Contract binding the Noble House of Greengrass to the Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Black."

"These Documents appear to be in order Mr. Greengrass." Dumbledore intoned from his dais.

Cyrus Greengrass paled. "You and Daphne are married?"

"There was however, no reading of the Banns for a marriage between yourself and the House of Greengrass Lord Potter-Black" Dumbledore noted.

"Neither Daphne nor I needed or wanted a dog and pony show to announce our relationship to the world. Everyone in this chamber is aware that this ceremony has no legal standing. It exists as a tradition simply to promote the political standing of minor houses looking to advance."

"Chief Warlock?" The Clerk of the Wizengamot spoke up hesitantly. "The Book of Records indeed shows the marriage between Harry James Potter and Daphne Ophelia Greengrass at 3:38 pm on the 15th of November last year."

"What is this? What trickery is this? Who are you boy?"

Harry turned his attention from Dumbledore to the blustering nobleman. "You would be well advised to shut the hell up old man. If you had actually struck my wife you would be dead now. The ease with which you made the gesture of hitting her suggests to me that you may have already done so, if she tells me you have, you die today." Harry stepped back from the man, his expression clouded. He glanced over at Daphne sitting in the gallery. She wouldn't meet his eyes. A sudden look of realization crossed Harry's face.

Harry took hold of the front of Cyrus Greengrass's robes and pushed him against the dais. "Did you give this man access to Daphne in his contract? Did you offer him Clause Nine? Did you allow him to put his hands on my wife?" Harry's magic flared into a visible aura, the granite floor beneath his feet indented.

"Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore said from his dais.

Cyrus Greengrass sputtered, "No.  That was simply to entice… She never told me…"

"Didn't you wonder why your vault suddenly had an extra sixteen thousand Galleons on November 14th? I was not obligated to tell you that I had accepted your contract. Did you give her a chance to tell you before you gave her to that man? If he’s as much as touched her, I'm going to destroy you Greengrass, anything you love I'm going to take away from you."

"Calm yourself boy." The Romanian rumbled from behind Harry. "All this fuss over girl? Lays like dead fish anyway."

Harry released the elder Greengrass. "Get your wand old man." He turned to face the Romanian. "I've already killed a couple dozen dark bastards; another one won't make any difference."

"You dare challenge me boy?"

--oooOOOooo--

"Daphne!" Tracey hissed in her friend's ear.

"Tracey? What are you doing here?" Daphne glanced out into the chamber where Harry was still threatening the Romanian, then toward the Count's Valet. "I don't understand what's going on. What is Harry doing?"

"Getting you out of this."

"YOU!" the heavily accented voice of Neacsu's Valet diverted the attention of the chamber from the entertainment before the Wizengamot to a smaller drama in the gallery. "Stand away from Count Neacsu's woman before…"

The man stiffened in his seat. The only voluntary muscles that still obeyed his mind were those that controlled his eyes.

"Now, there's no reason to be so rude." Neville Longbottom said in a conversational voice from behind the petrified man's left ear. "Imagine how embarrassing it would be back home if you had to tell everyone that you missed seeing Lord Potter-Black, the slayer of Voldemort, the Man-Who-Conquered, kill your Count because you were too busy trying to stop a couple of young women from whispering?"

--oooOOOooo--

Hearing Neville's casual statement, the Romanian Count's eyes went wide. "You are Man-Who-Conquered? You kill Dark Lord?"

"He certainly is." Neville said, still in his conversational tone of voice, crystal clear in the silence of the chamber. "And I'm Neville Longbottom, the Man-Who-Held-Harry's-Cloak-While-He-Killed-the-Dark-Lord." The head of House Longbottom smiled widely. "Do you have a hyphenated name Count?"

"Enough of this!" Dumbledore bellowed from his dais. "There will be no dueling in the chambers of the Wizengamot!"

"My apologies Chief Warlock." Harry said, turning to face Dumbledore. "I was simply defending my line, in the traditions of pureblood culture."

"Mr. Potter, you cannot…"

"In this chamber I am Lord Potter-Black Chief Warlock." Harry snapped. "Good men died so that I might hold those titles and uphold the pureblood traditions you all hold so dear."

"Fine. Lord Potter-Black, you cannot simply attack someone in the chambers of the Wizengamot."

"Son of a Bitch!" once again the attention of the chamber went to Neville Longbottom. "Lord Potter-Black. We have a problem." The look on Neville's face was one of fury. "Someone has placed a proscribed torture device on the Lady Potter." Neville indicated a rune covered bracelet on Daphne's left wrist.

"What is it?"

"It's what's called a Bridal Submission bracelet, Lord Potter-Black." Kingsley Shacklebolt said stepping forward to examine the cursed jewelry. "We find them occasionally in caches of dark artifacts. It causes pain. If triggered it can incapacitate and even kill."

"Can you remove it?" Harry asked.

"I think so. It would be easier all around for whoever placed it on her to remove it." The tall Auror looked pointedly at the Romanian aristocrat.

"I will not remove my gift from the stricat until the bride price I pay is returned." The old man sniffed.

"You aren't going to live to spend that money old man." Harry leveled his wand in front of the Aristocrat's face. "Remove it. Now."

"To hell with it Harry, I just need a bit of his blood. I'll arrest him for use of a proscribed dark artifact and force the issue." Shacklebolt took on an annoyed look as he stood up from Daphne and her pain.

"Blood?" Harry perked up. "Is that all you need?" He lowered his wand, and drove the heel of his left hand into the nose of the Romanian, smashing it to one side. Harry's right hand took hold of the older man's hair, pulling the man's head forward so that blood from his broken nose pooled in the palm of Harry's left hand.

Harry crossed the chamber to where Shacklebolt stood. "Is this enough? He's got plenty."

"Damn it Harry," Shacklebolt said softly, "If you make me laugh I'll likely lose my job." With a wand gesture and murmured incantation the big Auror levitated the blood from Harry's hand to the bracelet encircling Daphne's wrist. The bracelet enlarged at the urging of Shacklebolt's incantations and wand movements. The bracelet floated over Daphne's hand when Harry felt rather than heard Neacsu cast a cutting curse.

Harry's reflexes took over. Whirling he cast a Protego Praecise charm and watched as the shield blocking the Count's weak cutting curse propagated as a wave of force that smashed Neacsu's body into the wall of the Wizengamot's chamber. The man slid down the wall to the floor, trailing blood and other fluids.

"I said no dueling!"

Harry shook off the shock of what his shield had done. "All I did was cast a shield in response to his attack Chief Warlock. Evidently a shield needed to fight a dark lord is a bit too energetic to use on a normal Wizard."

"That was a shield?" Madam Bones asked in a shocked voice from her seat.

The Clerk of the Wizengamot knelt next to the fallen Romanian. "The Count is dead."

Silence ruled the chamber for a moment, and then Dumbledore spoke from his place on the dais. "Lord Potter-Black. Surrender your wand to Auror Shacklebolt."

"Might I ask why?"

"So that we might confirm that you indeed only cast a shield charm."

--oooOOOooo--

From his seat in the gallery Alastor Moody watched as Potter's wand was tested, and the Praecise shield was confirmed. The old man shook his head. Back in his prime, when Moody was still whole he had found and worked for more than three years to be able to cast Praecise… Moody had never managed more than a pulse of energy.

After the confirmation was noted by the Amelia and Dumbledore, Potter had gathered Daphne and his friends and left the chambers, leaving a very subdued Wizengamot behind. Somehow Potter had lied and cheated his way to saving Daphne from that Romanian Bastard. Eunice had come to him this morning pleading that Moody somehow save Daphne from the hell that Cyrus had sold her into, so Moody was here. He had intended to approach the girl and portkey her away, then Potter appeared on the scene and Moody decided to sit back and see what the boy had planned.

Moody had been amazed when the boy's plan turned out to be little more than standing before the assembled Wizengamot and lie his ass off. The one thing that the old Auror couldn't figure out was how the boy had managed to spoof the Book of Records. Still it was a bad plan. It shouldn't have worked, but work it did. Killing the bastard that hurt Moody's little Daphne was just icing on the cake. The boy certainly had a pair. Hopefully Daphne wouldn't end up tearing them off.

Moody heaved himself up from the chair. It was time to tie off a few loose ends. Better do it before Daphne did. That girl took after him in so many ways, it warmed his old heart.

--oooOOOooo--

January 6, 1998

Potter Manor:

The quartet appeared in the foyer of Potter Manor with an echoing crack.

"Sweet Merlin's Mother! We got away with it." Neville said leaning against the wall. "I can't believe we got away with it. Merlin Harry how did you manage to keep a straight face while you stood there in front of Dumbledore and everyone."

"Calm down Neville, you're babbling." Daphne said softly.

There was a sudden pop and Dobby and Winky appeared in the foyer. Dobby stepped forward and bowed. "Mistress Potter, The Potter Elves welcome you home."

Daphne's breath caught in her throat. Whatever Harry had done had the elves convinced that they really were married. "Thank you Dobby. Thank you Winky." She thought about how her mother had treated new elves when the family acquired them. "We will meet soon to discuss the running of the house."

"We is bonded Mistress?" Winky asked hopefully.

"What is one of the things we will discuss Winky. Could you prepare a light lunch for the four of us please? And get Mr. Longbottom something to drink please?"

Winky nodded. "Dobby Elf, go start lunch!" Dobby popped away, Winky looked to Neville. "Mr. Longbottom sir?"

Neville had yet to calm down. "Butterbeer please."

Winky nodded and popped away.

"Why don't you two go wait in the sitting room while Harry and I discuss a few things?"

"Just remember," Tracey said smirking, "I made him come save you. He was going to sit in the Gryffy common room and cry."

"Thank you Tracey. Go on." She watched as Tracey entered the sitting room, then took Harry's hand and led him up the stairs to his bedroom.

"So, we're married? How did I miss that?"

Harry looked a bit embarrassed. "I sort of bribed the Goblins to backdate the marriage contract, and the payment your bride price."

"They can do that? And how much did that cost?"

"Yeah, and not as much as you'd think. The Goblins really hate the Wizengamot."

"How much? " She asked again in a tone of voice that suggested that it would be in Harry's best interest to answer.

"A half million." Harry said.

"Galleons?" Daphne asked incredulously.

"Yeah."

"And if I'd not said yes when you asked?"

"Well, plan 'B' was for Neville to slap a portkey to here on you, then we get out of the country as soon as we could. Activating the Portkey would tell the Goblins that the marriage was off and they would reverse whatever it was they did originally… for a small fee." Harry took on a thoughtful look. "You know, it's probably a good thing you said yes, that bracelet thing might have killed you if we portkeyed you would while it was still on you."

"You spent half a million Galleons to save me?"

"I had it, so why not?"

He said it so casually. "So, I'm your property now."

Harry looked horrified. "No! You're your own person. Daphne, I'm barely capable to looking after myself. This 'marriage' I've forced on you was the only way I could think of to get you out of having to marrying that old bastard and still remain in Britain. There may have been better ways, but this is all I could think of."

Daphne drew him into a hug. "You saved me." She whispered. "We'll need to figure out what we're going to do, but never doubt for a moment that you saved me."

--oooOOOooo--

Winky called Neville and Tracey into the dining room for the lunch she and Dobby had prepared saying that 'the Master and Mistress' would join them shortly. Neville looked up from his soup bowl to catch the strawberry blond regarding him.

"What?"

"Where do we go from here? I'm pretty sure that you can I can just return to school, take our detentions and meld back into the school. What about Daphne and Harry?" The Slytherin shook her head in a worried fashion.

The Gryffindor shrugged. "If they want to return to Hogwarts to finish, I'm pretty sure that they can. Dumbledore wants to know just how Voldemort was defeated far too badly to send Harry away. If they don't want to, then it wouldn't take either of them much effort to prep for their N.E.W.T.s on their own or with tutors. In reality it doesn't matter. Neither of them will ever need their N.E.W.T.s, even with the deals Harry made today only put a minor dent in his fortune. He and Daphne can do whatever they want with their lives."

"I'm glad we didn't just grab her, but I wish we hadn't used the contract."

"Maybe it's just as well… Something seems to be keeping them from their lunches." Neville waggled his eyebrows at the girl.

"Oh please you pervert. They're just talking. Daphne's been through a lot in the last two weeks. They both need to decide how they're going to deal with the situation they've found themselves in."

"Have you ever wondered?" Neville said changing the subject. "Wondered what it might have been like if Hogwarts was set up differently? I mean what if we weren't divided into meaningless teams by an ancient hat deciding who your friends should be based on cultural mores a thousand years old? What if, instead of separating us, all forty of us had been grouped together in a single cohort able to easily make friends with anyone else in the class?"

"I've never been a fan of 'what if's Longbottom." Tracey shook her head. "You might as well ask 'what if Draco and Pansy's parents were decent human beings' or 'what if Goyle and Crabbe were intellectual leaders instead of moronic followers' or 'what if Harry Potter joined the Dark Lord'. None of those things happened. Wondering about them is a waste of time."

"Don't you have any dreams Davis?"

"Of course I've got dreams Longbottom. It's just that I recognize that they are dreams and I'm not surprised when they don't come true."

--oooOOOooo--

January 6, 1998

London England

Kockturn Alley:

Cyrus Greengrass had returned to his home to find his wife was missing. Not only was Eunice gone, but so were all seven of the Greengrass elves, and even the furnishings of his manor. It was the cap stone of a very bad day.

Immediately following the debacle at the Wizengamot, he had gone to Gringotts to investigate Potter's claim of having deposited Daphne's bride price, he discovered that the deposit had indeed been made. However his vaults were empty. He was informed by a smirking Goblin that Lord Potter-Black had purchased every outstanding debt that the House of Greengrass owed, and had called them all due.

So much for thinking that the Potter boy had been making empty threats before the Wizengamot.

He had been told that he was being allowed to return to his former home to collect his personal effects, and that anything left in the house at close of business that day would be destroyed. Cyrus found his personal papers and collections of photographs neatly boxed and waiting for him.

It had taken the head of the Greengrass family almost an hour to confirm the old Wizarding homily of 'A man in need has no friends'. Once news of his financial situation had spread, none of his long time friends and acquaintances had time for him. Left with only the clothing on his back and the coins in his pouch, Cyrus quietly rented a cheap room in a small inn off Knockturn Alley.

Sleep came slowly alone in an unfamiliar bed. Waking suddenly when the room’s sole candle was lit was jolting. Though not as jolting as the sudden realization that Alastor Moody was sitting in the chair at the foot of the bed, staring at him with both his natural and magical eyes.

"Alastor? What is it?"

"I just thought you should know Cyrus, the boy was lying."

"What? What boy? Lying about what?" Cyrus had never been one to wake up gracefully, today was no exception.

"Potter of course. What other boy has fleeced you recently?" The gruff retired Auror grumbled. "He lied. He falsified the date on that marriage contract. He spoofed the Book of Records. The Goblins like him, they helped… for their usual fees. The things he did today that were real were love your daughter enough to risk it all for her, and his magic. His Magic… Now THAT was sure as hell real."

"He was lying? Then I can recover from this. Together Alastor, we can do to him what he tried to do to me. We can ruin him."

"That might work. But why would I want to? The Boy could put me in the ground without serious effort on his part. As far as you go, well as I see it, you deserve everything He's done."

"What?"

"Over the years I've seen how you treated my little girl, how you broke her spirit. But I told myself I raised Eunice to take care of herself, she chose you and she chose to stay with you despite how you treated her. Then you tried to do the same to Daphne. You sold my grand-daughter to that fat bastard to use and torture. For that alone I was going to kill you. You running to this shit-hole just made it easier."

Moody waved his wand lazily and Greengrass felt his body stiffen. "You know it's amazing what you can buy for a few sickles… This wee lass for example." The old man levitated a spider the size of a dinner plate from his satchel to hover over the paralyzed man. "Horribly poisonous, the only reason the Ministry allows their importation is that their fresh venom is so very useful in so many potions. If I were to guess, I believe that when the Aurors find you, they'll believe that either the little lady here escaped from a previous tenet of this room, or climbed in the open window from the apothecary down stairs."

Moody lowered the spider carefully onto his son-in-law's chest, and then canceled the paralysis. Wide eyed with terror, Greengrass immediately flinched. The spider, startled by the sudden movement, sunk it's fangs into the man's chest.

Moody waited until his son-in-law's struggles stopped, then quietly left the room, taking with him all evidence that he had ever been there.

--oooOOOooo--

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