Chapter Twenty One - Betrothed?

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 Twenty One - Betrothed?

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After her own breakfast, where she spotted a clearly unhappy Albus Dumbledore sitting sulking in his seat as he glared about at the few students still remaining, Griselda Marchbanks made her way back to her office.

Dumbledore had left a frightful mess of the documents and records and she was slowly working her way through it.

Like Dumbledore before her, she preferred her mail to be delivered to her office and not at breakfast. She felt that reading mail at the table was disrespectful.

Carefully sorting through them - most were congratulations she was still receiving from various folks - she found one semi-formally addressed to her from the young man who initiated all these changes, Harry Potter; or, better still, Lord Harrison J Potter, as it was addressed.

She broke the seal with her wand tip and unfolded it.

Reading through it she was at first perturbed by what she was reading, then outraged.

'Did he?' she thought. 'Dare he? Yes, he bloody-well would!'

"Damn, the man!" she snapped.

Turning to her side where she preferred house elves to attend her, she firmly called, "Elf!"

When one popped in she immediately asked, "Did Albus Dumbledore, while Headmaster, ever ask you and or the other elves to spy on any student?"

"Yes, Lady Headmistress," the elf immediately replied.

With a thunderous frown that frightened the elf, she asked, "Any particular student or students?"

"Yes, Lady Headmistress," the elf replied. "Elveses being ordereds by Perfesser Whiskers to spy on the Great Mister Harry Potter Sir, Mister Harry Potter Sir's Miss Hermy Grangy and Mister Harry Potter Sir's Mister Pi- Rronn Weasy."

"Anyone else?" she demanded.

"No, Lady Headmistress."

She thought a bit and muttered, "Time to flip the wand on that son-of-a-squib."

Looking back at the elf she said, "How did you report to Dumbledore what your spying discovered?"

"Perfesser Whiskers would have elveses come to him, here at night, when he beings alone. We reports then."

Scowling, she ordered, "From this moment forth, the elves are to no longer spy on any student for anyone. If anyone gives you such an order you are to immediately report the matter to me, even if I'm not alone.

"Also from this moment, you are to use the same orders Dumbledore gave you to spy on the students to spy on him, instead. And report to me the same way he ordered you to report to him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lady Headmistress," replied the elf.

"Now, find the ghost of... Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington and tell him I want to see him in my office, immediately."

"Yes, Lady Headmistress," replied the elf, before it gave a bob and popped away.

Then she turned her chair to stare at the portraits. "Did Albus Dumbledore, while Headmaster, ever ask the portraits to spy on any student?"

While the portraits of the past Heads gave indignant huffs and splutters, the portrait of Dilys Derwent gave her own huff and replied, "We do not report on the matters of previous Heads, Griselda."

"Fine!" she snapped "Did anyone ever successfully order the portraits to spy on any student?"

The portraits all muttered among themselves before Derwent replied, "Yes. But, we cannot identify that person."

"It's irrelevant," she snapped back.

"From this moment forth, the portraits are to no longer spy on any student for anyone," she ordered. "If anyone gives any portrait such an order it is to be immediately reported to me, even if I'm not alone.

"Also from this moment, the portraits are to use the same orders, whoever ordered them to spy on the students, to spy on Albus Dumbledore, instead. And report to me the same way he ordered to be reported to him. Do you understand?"

When Derwent seemed to refuse, Black gave a chuckle and replied, "Yes, Griselda. It shall be done."

"Good. Make sure those orders are disseminated throughout the castle within the day!" she ordered.

"It shall be done," he repeated.

While she waited for the ghost of 'Nearly-Headless Nick' to arrive, she sorted through more of her mail.

He arrived about five minutes later.

"You wished to speak with me, My Lady Headmistress?" he politely asked, floating into the middle of the room.

"Sir Nicholas," she said, in greeting. "Did Albus Dumbledore, while Headmaster, ever ask the ghosts of Hogwarts to spy on any student?"

"Yes, My Lady," he replied.

"Damn and blast it all!" she snarled. "From this moment forth, the ghosts are to no longer spy on any student for anyone," she ordered. "If anyone gives any resident ghost such an order it is to be immediately reported to me, even if I'm not alone.

"Also from this moment, the ghosts are to use the same orders Dumbledore ordered them to spy on the students, to spy on Albus Dumbledore, instead. And report to me the same way he ordered to be reported to him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, My Lady," he immediately replied. "We ghosts of Hogwarts were never comfortable with the order the scoundrel Albus Dumbledore gave for us to spy on those three students. It was sickening.

"I will be most pleased to pass on your directive to the ghosts of Hogwarts. It will be... satisfying to 'turn the table', as they say, on that old... man."

"Good. Thank you," she quietly said.

Sir Nicholas gave a courtly bow that only dropped far enough his head didn't tip off, before withdrawing again.

Now she had a letter to send back to the young Lord Potter. She would write his reply first of those she would be writing that day.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After Sirius left the Grangers' he headed directly back to his temporary home at the Tonkses'.

He was still trying to do his best not to go out too often as he knew Andi would get upset with him. However, as he'd previously explained to her, sometimes there was no help for it. This was one of the times he had to go in person.

However, after reading Dumbledore's letter and Harry's response for it, he didn't want Harry risking his magic. Not when he could probably do something about it.

He walked into the Tonkses' lounge and used their floo to floo-call Ted.

"What can I do for you, Sirius?" the law-wizard asked. "Nothing the matter, is there?"

"I found out, today, that there's supposed to be a Yule Ball at Hogwarts this year," he replied. "I need to know a couple of things. As they're all legal issues, I need you to chase them up for me."

"Let me guess," said Ted. "You want me to get hold of a copy of the contract that concerns the Tri-Wizard Tournament, see if Harry is actually bound by it, see if he actually has to attend this Yule Ball and see if I can get the boy out of it; both the Ball and the contract."

"Got it all in one," replied Sirius. "I'd suggest targeting Ludo Bagman and getting it off him. The man is both a wuss and supposedly co-wrote it."

"How much do you want me to lean on him?"

"Go four-chaser press," replied Sirius. "Even use Harry is now One of the Seven, his godfather is One of the Seven and, if Harry even gets a nosebleed from any event related in any way with the Tournament, Lord Black will be declaring full-on blood feud with him, his family, his friends and the families of his friends."

Ted gave a low whistle. "The man's going to wet himself!"

"I don't care," replied Sirius. "So long as he gives you a full copy of any and all contracts related to the Tournament, I don't care if he then runs naked down the middle of Diagon Alley in terror. It'll only demonstrate it's not a good idea to upset the House of Black."

"I'll get it done today," nodded Ted.

"Next job," said Sirius. "Though, this one can take you a few days."

"Go on," nodded Ted.

"I... or, rather, Harry... needs someone to go to take a look at three different wizarding items to check on and write down something."

"And what would those be?"

Sirius listed the items off, what information he needed off them, where it should be able to be found on two of the items and where it should be able to be found regarding the third.

Ted looked at what he had written in confusion for a moment before he gave a bark of laughter. Chortling, he said, "I now know what Lord Potter's defence strategy is going to be in your possible case of Violating the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts laws."

"You mean―"

"Yep!"

Shocked, Sirius said, "That's―"

"Brilliant!" cut in Ted. "Yep!"

"He's going to make them all look like idiots!"

"Try... 'daft morons'," suggested Ted. "After all, he seems to have made a habit of that, of late.

"Plus, I'm going to add another such item to the list. But, that's because he clearly doesn't know of it."

Sirius laughed. "What is it?"

Ted told him.

"You're kidd... no; wait! It is, isn't it?"

"Yep!" replied the law-wizard; and laughed.

"Thanks, Ted," Sirius chuckled, before pulling his head out of the flames.

'My godson is a genius!' he thought, still chuckling. 'Prongs would be so proud! So would his mother, too, I suspect.'

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

When Andi arrived home from her early shift, she took one look at Sirius madly working through documents while still chuckling about the 'prank' his godson was going to pull on those 'stuffed robes' on the Wizengamot and barked, "Sirius Black!"

Being focussed on what he was doing and thinking, Sirius hadn't heard the floo or her arrival. Besides, as this was also her home, she didn't announce herself.

He almost leapt out of the chair at the table he was working at and gave a high-pitched yelp of surprise.

Trying to stay seated, while also spinning about immediately after getting the whoopies scared out of him, had Sirius fall off the chair and land in a heap on the floor. Parchment was scattered.

Quickly climbing back to his feet while his heartbeat raced, he glared at her. "Damn it, Andi!"

"You, Lord Black, are supposed to be taking it easy!" she snapped.

"I'm just doing parchmentwork!" he grumbled back. His heartbeat starting to drop back.

"Oh?" she asked. "So you didn't go rant at Bones before you yet again visited your godson, this morning?"

"Oh, that," he quietly said.

"Yes, that!" she replied.

"Dumbledore tried to kidnap him, Andi!" he near-whined. "I had to go and make sure he was okay and not stressed-out about it."

"Your mirror's broken, is it?" she asked.

"I needed to see him for myself," he muttered.

"If you don't stop gallivanting about the country while you're supposed to be relaxing as those potions you're on are working, I'll have you Incarceroused to your bed!"

When Sirius decided silence was the better choice than wielding his lordly power, he just pulled a face instead.

However, Andi wasn't buying it. She barked, "Stop trying to look like a 'whipped puppy'!"

Shaking it off he said, "If it makes you feel better, I've now got Ted 'gallivanting about the country', as you put it, in my place."

"Good!" she returned, a lot quieter. "It's why you hired him. Maybe I won't have to tie you to your bed, after all."

"How did you find out?" he asked.

"Healer's network," she replied. "We Healers keep each other informed of certain interesting happenings. Lord Black getting upset at the Director of the DMLE in the DMLE is an interesting happening."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Just before heading for lunch, Ted made a couple of floo calls to certain individuals who would be able to collect the information he needed about those particular items he and Sirius had discussed, together with Lord Potter's suggestions on where on the items they would be likely to find the specific information he was after.

A third call went to a contact in the Ministry, who would be searching Ministry records for the correlating information held there.

The gold it would cost him for the information to be collected and sent to him would be less than the cost it would be to his client for him to collect the information himself. And was, therefore, a valid expense.

He was still occasionally chuckling to himself about the audaciousness of the young Lord Potter's plan as he headed out for lunch.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

With a comfortably full tummy after a fine lunch at yet another client's expense, Ted then made his own way to the Ministry. It was time to talk to Bagman.

In the lift he even rode it with the contact he was currently working with and, as per usual, they never said a word to each other.

Ted only needed to travel one floor to the Department of Magical Sports and Games, so was first off.

Unlike the DMLE, the DMSG Director's office was connected direct to the publicly-accessible hallway outside the lift foyer; a hallway hung with posters of Quidditch matches and teams. It certainly made it easier for Ted to just walk in. Which is exactly what he did.

Being only a small department, one of the smallest in the Ministry, Bagman did not rate a private secretary - an undersecretary. Instead, he usually handed his secretarial work to one of the staffers in the Official Gobstones Club or Ludicrous Patents Office offices. One of them was, more often than not, sufficiently bored enough to do the work without quibble.

As such, there was no undersecretary blocking Ted's way direct into Bagman's office.

"Bagman," he said with a bit of feral smile.

Bagman, the wuss he was, saw the expression on the face of Wizarding Britain's top defence lawyer and blanched.

This was not a man to annoy, even if he was a muggleborn. Besides, scuttlebutt had it the new Lord Black had brought him, through his wife, into the House of Black when he brought the wife back into the family of her birth.

"M-Mister Tonks," he nearly got out without stammering. "W-what can I do for you?"

Ted saw and heard the fear and his grin widened. 'Too easy,' he thought.

"Bagman," he said again as he walked forward to stand before the desk. "You have something you're going to give me a copy of."

He'd even neatly sidestepped the chair that was for a 'guest' on his side of the desk. He wouldn't be sitting it, of course. He wanted the man to have to continue to look up to him. Dominance: Lesson One.

"A-and what would that be?"

"You're giving me a copy of the contract for the Tri-Wizard Tournament, plus all associated documents relating to the rules and requirements for competitors, judges, the schools and the Ministries involved," he replied.

"I can't do that!" Bagman blurted.

Ted frowned deeper. "I'm disappointed to hear that, Mister Bagman. Have you and your wife made out a legal Will and Testament, yet?"

"W-why do you ask?" Bagman squeaked.

"Well, perhaps I shouldn't tell you," he mused. "But, Lord Black did not tell me it was confidential―"

"W-w-what?"

"Well... it seems Lord Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black is most upset that his godson, Lord Harrison James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, is... embroiled... in this farce of a Tournament. He is, you might even say, furious!

"Lord Black was so furious in his ranting to me about this... he has told me in no uncertain terms that, if any injury above so much as a nosebleed were to occur to his godson, Lord Potter, he would be declaring blood feud on those involved, their families, their friends and even the families of their friends.

"I would... dislike... having to return to Lord Black and tell him that Mister Ludo Bagman of the DMSG was not forthcoming in providing me with the documents I'd asked for that may save his godson from that... nosebleed."

"Oh, Merlin!" Bagman whimpered.

"Also, Mister Bagman, you're the Director of a Department. Has not the Ministry's own law-wizards already informed you that anyone involved in a contract must be given a copy of the contract and related documents? Did they not also inform you that failure to hand over those documents could see the Ministry in all sorts of strife with the law? I could easily argue before the Wizengamot that due to your... blatant negligence... the contract regarding the Tri-Wizard Tournament is to be immediately voided. The upper tier of the Ministry... especially whoever will soon be the new Minister... would not be happy with you, if that came to pass."

Bagman was now so scared he couldn't even utter a sound.

"Now, Ludo good chap; those documents, please... Now."

Scrambling and almost toppling his chair and himself to the floor, Bagman shot to his feet, spun to a filing cabinet behind his desk and worked feverishly to pull out all relevant documents.

As he stood there, staring back, Ted thought, 'Oh, it's so good to be me.'

It took him almost a full minute, of which approximately three quarters of that time was lost due to his shaking and clumsiness, before Bagman had a haphazard stack on his desk.

Once he was done he stood as far back from his own desk as could while still having the desk between him and the law-wizard.

"Is this all?" asked Ted in a lazy drawl.

"Y-yes! That's all of it!"

"Do you mind if I make a legally-sanctioned copy of it?" same lazy drawl.

"N-no! Please!

Ted smiled back and, with a twist, swish and crossward flick of his wand, had an identical pile sitting alongside the originals.

Slipping his wand back into his wrist holster, he casually reached forward and picked up the copies.

Standing back up straight he tucked it under his off-arm, smiled at Bagman and said, "Thank you, Ludo. I'll let Lord Black know you were as helpful as you could be."

Then he gave a very slight head nod at the man and saw himself out.

As he closed the door behind himself he heard through the door the sound of Bagman crashing to the floor. It made him smile.

'Sounds like he clipped his chair on the way down,' he thought. 'Fainting at his age...' "Tsk!"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Sirius returned to the Grangers' for his second business meeting with Wendell at just before six. Even though Andi was upset about it, she knew this was yet another meeting Sirius couldn't skip. But, she at least lost some of her anger when he took Ted with him.

The Grangers were running a little late and had called ahead to let Hermione and Harry know they would be.

"With Wendell and Monica running a little late I'd like to run something past you, Sirius."

"Then, lead the way," said his godfather.

So, Harry grabbed their two guests and Hermione to take them into the office.

Once inside and sitting around the desk, Harry told them what he and Hermione were thinking of doing regarding their schooling.

"Attending a school overseas or hiring private tutors―" mused Sirius.

"Is there any legal reason, or any legal reason that can be employed against us, that would force us to attend Hogwarts?" asked Harry.

"The contract of the Tri-Wizard Tournament is the only thing there could be," replied Ted. "I picked up a copy of it just after lunch, today. And I'm currently going through it and the associated rules."

"I thought there might be some dusty old law that said something like, as the Heir of one of the Seven I would have to attend there," explained Harry. "If there is such a law, Dumbledore will know it and will use it. Guaranteed."

"If that's the case, then if you decide you want to switch to a different school or go with private tutoring and Dumbledore then sticks his beak into it, we'll handle it and counter it," replied Ted. "Me trying to counter any move Dumbledore might make in advance regarding that is pretty much impossible; because we don't know what he might try to use. It would be akin to trying to 'argue the negative'."

"Well, the reason I ask is because you're currently going through the Tri-Wiz contract," explained Harry. "If I am actually bound by the Goblet, then I'm bound by the contract. But, the contract would not just bind me, it would bind all the 'other' signatories - including Dumbledore."

"Oh, I see where you're coming from now," nodded Ted.

"For example," said Harry. "The contract might say there can be only one champion from each school. Diggory's name came out of the Goblet first; therefore, he's the recognised Hogwarts Champion. Where would that then leave me?

"Actually, thinking of that, can I even be a Hogwarts student, if that's the case?"

"That's a valid legal argument," said Ted, a little surprised. "I'll have to look."

"Getting out of Hogwarts semi-permanently, if not permanently, is a good idea, Pup," said Sirius. "With Dumbledore back there..."

"That's our concern, too," said Hermione. "And Harry says he could easily afford tutors."

Sirius laughed and said, "He could build his own school, if he wanted to. And it still wouldn't put much of a dent in the Potter fortune."

"Oh, something else that's been playing on my mind," said Harry. "Do I own any property and can I live there? Can I make it my permanent address? As I'm no longer living at the Dursleys, I currently don't have a permanent fixed address.

"For instance, I'm led to believe the Potter cottage in Godric's Hollow has been... claimed... by the Ministry as a monument. Did they have a legal right to do that? Were I, or have they, paid me for it? Do I have a manor and it's yet another thing everyone has forgotten to tell me about?"

"Of course the Potter family has property, Harry," Sirius immediately replied. "What made you think you don't?"

"The goblins never raised it with me when I last had a chance to go there and see them about my finances," he replied. "Then again, I'm still waiting for them to get back to me with the response to a letter I wrote them asking them to collate all the parchmentwork I needed to do to bring the finances out of stasis, or whatever state it's currently in, ready to be picked up."

"Lord Potter," said Ted. "Write me an authorisation... actually, I'll write up the authorisation... for me to go into Gringotts to go into the Potter documents' vault to see what's there.

"Besides looking for the documents on what property you own, while there I'll see if there are other documents you need to know about now. After that, I'll visit with your account manager and see if he's already had some of the documents collected and collect those from him, too.

"Depending on what records I find regarding the Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow, I'll have an answer for you regarding the transference of Title Deed of the cottage from you to the Ministry. If they just took it without paying for it... well, the Ministry's going to receive a rude shock.

"Then I'll get the lot to you and you can go through them. Oh, and since I've forgotten to tell you until now, I'll be happy to act as Law-wizard of Record for the House of Potter."

As Ted spoke Harry's smile grew wider and wider. By the time he finished, Harry was grinning. "Thank you, Mister Tonks. I'd appreciate that. Please work out with Sirius your retainer and another of your first jobs for me will be seeing you get automatically paid that direct from Gringotts right from the start."

As the others talked, Ted pulled out blank parchment and an ever-full quill and began writing up the authorisation form for Harry to sign.

"I'm glad you're considering private tutors, Pup," Sirius quietly said as Ted worked. "You being in the same place as Dumbledore..."

"Yeah," he returned.

"Oh!" Sirius suddenly but softly exclaimed. "Ted figured out what your strategy is, regarding me possibly being charged for having my enchanted motorcycle. I think it's brilliant! Ted does, too!"

"Well, if you've figured that much out," grinned Harry. "Then I need you to track down the purchase documents and ownership papers for it, if you know where you can lay your hands on them. I trust you actually bought it?"

"Of course!" Sirius huffed, slightly offended. "It cost me a great deal of the entire year's worth of my then allowance to buy it, too!"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Late in the day, an Unspeakable walked into Scimitar's team 'bullpen' and handed him a short report before walking out.

Reading it, he frowned and said to the others, "White Beard tried to kidnap the young knight with an auto-portkey, this morning. His house elf caught it in time and avoided the young knight from being abducted. Monocle's been informed and acted. The watchers didn't need to intervene."

"Stupid old git," muttered one. "Is he trying to get himself tossed through the Veil?"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

When Wendell and Monica arrived home, Hermione once again had to leave the office. When her daughter looked annoyed, Monica said, "Come on, Hermione. Let the menfolk have their super-secret men's business while we ladies talk."

When she saw the looks that passed between her mother and father, she misunderstood the reason and assumed it was because of her accidental somewhat 'semi' nudity of that morning in front of her boyfriend.

With a quiet sigh she rose from the chair she'd been sitting on and followed her mother out.

They went to the dinette, where Dobby seemed to have anticipated their needs and had a serving of tea waiting for them.

Though somewhat reluctant to sit, Hermione did so. She knew she'd not be escaping this conversation.

"How was your day?" Monica immediately asked, picking up the small jug of milk for her tea - no sugar, of course.

Knowing her mother's usual 'circle the problem before addressing it' style, Hermione was having none of it, this time.

"Once Harry and I talked about the fact he'd seen my tits through my top, this morning... pretty good," she replied.

Monica gave her that 'mother' look and said, "There's no need to be crude, dear."

"Sorry," Hermione blushed and looked down, as she added her own milk to her tea.

Picking up her own teaspoon she began to stir it, "I just didn't want us avoiding the elephant in the room until you felt we were both comfortable talking about it."

Monica sighed while slowly stirring her own tea. She then used the time of lifting the cup to her lips and talking a sip to think about how to go from here.

"You deeply embarrassed him," she simply said. "And, angered your father when he figured out what happened."

"I... reacted without thinking it through," said Hermione. "I heard the shouting downstairs, thought we might have been under attack or something, grabbed my wand and ran down.

"I didn't stop to think about what I was wearing because, this time of year at Hogwarts, I'm usually wearing something less... transparent."

"I figured as much," her mother nodded. "And I've been thinking about how to stop it from happening, in future."

"I'm not going to be hot in bed just―"

"I'm not saying you should start wearing something else to bed," Monica quickly cut in.

When it looked like her daughter was going to hear her out, she said, "I want you to start getting into the habit of hanging your dressing gown on the hook on the back of your bedroom door.

"Seeing it there as you think of leaving your room should be enough to have you reminded you need to don it before leaving your room."

Surprised at the simple idea, Hermione could only say, "That's actually a good idea. I'd not considered that."

"I am capable of them," her mother wryly returned.

Lightly blushing again, her daughter said, "Sorry. Being surrounded by 'daft morons', as Harry would say, in Gryffindor Tower day in and day out has left me rather jaded about the intelligence of those I'm normally associating with."

Monica nodded and then immediately flipped straight to the next point. "What did Harry say to you when you spoke to him about it? I take it you apologised to him?"

Hermione gave a snort of remembered amusement and said, "He thought he'd done the wrong thing."

"I know."

"It took me ages to convince him he'd done nothing wrong."

"I'm not surprised."

"He was embarrassed, yes; but, not for himself," she explained. "He was embarrassed for me."

"I figured as much."

"While I've come to understand he's a great deal more intelligent than I'd been thinking he was for the past three years, when it comes to a woman's body he's utterly clueless!" she continued.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, in order to get him past his embarrassment of what happened," explained Hermione, "I talked to him about the make up of a woman's breasts. You know, the biology behind them. I had him start thinking of them and how they relate to their function, rather than as sex objects."

Monica was surprised by the concept and sat back in contemplation of what her daughter had said. 'Clever girl,' she thought.

"What made you think of going that route?" she asked, curious.

"When I finally got him talking to me... instead of being so tongue-tied he couldn't get a word out... he said, 'But, I saw your darker bits'."

Her mother cocked an eyebrow and smirked, "'Darker bits'?"

Hermione blushed, nodded and took her own sip of tea to try and cover it. "When I asked, 'Do you mean my areolae?' He was clearly completely confused by the term."

"Ah!" said her mother, understanding. "And, Hermione being Hermione, you launched into somewhat of a lecture about the breast, its various parts and its function in the cycle of reproduction."

"Yeah," she replied. "It took a bit, but he finally started asking questions back."

"Like?"

"How he thought the nipple would be bigger," she blushed. "I think he was thinking in comparison to a baby's mouth; or a pacifier."

"And?"

"I explained breast development and compared mine with the breast development of other girls," she replied. "He's genuinely curious without being... crude about it."

"I remember when you asked me about your own," smiled Monica.

"And his questions were along the same lines, without the worry I had," she added.

"Oh, yes," said Monica, remembering. "Your nipples. How are they, by the way?"

"Growing," she replied. "They're at least double the size they were a year ago. I'm just thankful the areolae aren't growing, as well. I'm comfortable with them the size they are."

Monica nodded, pleased for her daughter. "Now, once you got past that hurdle, what did you talk about?"

"First, we wrote a letter back to Dumbledore," she smirked. "Sirius dropped by to check on Harry just as we finished it. When he read it, he was laughing so hard Harry had to get Dobby to get a Calming draught for him."

As she continued, the two ladies sat back and talked about the day they each had. Of course, she never admitted to her mother she'd bared her chest to Harry while explaining those parts. It wasn't yet time to do that.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

In the office the proposed Betrothal Agreement had been pulled out and the three men and one boy-adult read through it and discussed what changes, if any, needed to be made.

Sirius said, "This is good work, Ted. Everything I think should be in there is there."

"Same," said Harry. "Are you sure how all either of us have to say to the other is, 'I now declare the Betrothal Agreement between us, void' is sufficient for the agreement to still be a valid document?"

"Lord Potter," Ted mock-sternly said. "I've been at this sort of thing for well over a decade. I know what I'm doing."

"Sorry," he blushed. "I just want to make sure someone... cough Dumbledore cough... can't come along later and declare the agreement is invalid because some legal 'T' was failed to be crossed, or 'I' dotted.

"This is to protect Hermione and, if someone does manage to harm her in any way, I want to be able to bring the full weight of the House of Potter down upon them as if the very Gods themselves decided to smite the idiot."

"It protects you, too, Harry," Sirius was quick to add.

"But I'm not agreeing with this to protect me," he firmly said back.

Wendell was carefully reading, yet again, the full text of the document. Employing all his reasoning as a JP, he could find no subterfuge or other trickery going on. There was no over-the-top 'legalese' in use. If anything, as a legal contract, the document was quite plainly written. There were no spaces of gaps where other words could be inserted later, or unhidden if they were there already - as the 'drafter' and 'otherwise uninvolved party' Ted had already given a magical oath to that effect. It was all above board.

Ted had also brought along similar Betrothal Agreements he had drafted, without names or families included to protect confidentiality, and this one reflected well against them. The agreement was both ironclad, to stop interference from outside parties, and had easy escape clauses for all parties involved. He especially liked the clause for each of the kids where it said, 'In the case of incapacitation of Miss Hermione Jean Granger to the point where she is unable to speak the words to dissolve the agreement if that is her desire on her own behalf, that responsibility then falls upon Wendell Marcade Granger.' An almost duplicate was also written for Harry with Sirius as the devolved.

He was, however, uncomfortable with the line, 'If the aforementioned betrothed enter into a consenting sexual relationship before the union, where both willingly enter the relationship to the point where consenting penile penetration of the vagina occurs and results in pregnancy, then the agreement is considered binding and becomes the contract. Both parties must then proceed with all due haste to the union. Such union must occur before the birth of the child or children resulting from the pregnancy.' But, he could also reluctantly see the wisdom of that and knew it was there to protect his daughter.

Indicating it to Ted he sighed and said, "That section makes me feel as if I'm giving my daughter permission to have sex."

"I doubt it would surprise you how many fathers of witches feel the same," replied Ted. "However, as the father of a daughter, I can tell you that's a line I'm making damned sure is in her Betrothal Agreement, when it comes.

"I'm not saying Harry is the sort of young man who would otherwise take advantage of your daughter, or who would not do the right thing if Hermione falls pregnant before they marry... if they marry... but that condition has needed to be enforced in the past against both reluctant grooms and reluctant families.

"Similar situations without Betrothal Agreements occur in the muggle world, do they not?"

"Yes," Wendell firmly nodded back. "I've all too often had to sit cases where a father has not done the right thing by the mother of his new child and had to put in place enforced pecuniary measures on the father, just to get him to help pay for the raising of the child, or children."

"Then your problem is one of a father having difficulty considering his daughter as... someone capable of sexual acts," said Ted.

"Yes," Wendell almost whined.

"How you internalise your acceptance of that is up to you, Sir," said Ted. "My legal advice is to include the condition, as stated. And my advice as a father is to do your best to forget you ever saw it." And wryly smirked back.

Wendell thought about it for a long while but realised he was only putting off the inevitable.

With a sigh he said, "Well, I can see nothing that needs to be removed or edited, or needs to be added."

Ted gave a firm nod back and said, "Then we have an accord. All that's left to do is to sign it."

"No," disagreed Wendell. "We've got one more thing to do, first. I know it's not a legal issue for your world; however, my daughter needs to be made fully aware of this before I'll sign. I don't want her to later blame me for entering her into such an Agreement without her prior acceptance."

Sirius gave a nod and said, "I'll get them. I take it you want Monica in here, too?"

"This idea started with her," he replied. "So, yes. She can shoulder some of my daughter's... wrath."

"I know you want to get this over with, Wendell," said Harry. "But I think we should have dinner first.

"Once Hermione is told about this, she's going to freak, call us all names, finally start to calm down, then demand a long and detailed explanation."

"Yes, she would, wouldn't she?" said Wendell. "Very well. Though I'd much prefer to get it out of the way, I can see that's probably a very good idea."

Turning to Ted he said, "I hope you don't mind staying for dinner first?"

"Nope," smiled Ted. "Any excuse I can find to enjoy one of Harry's meals, I'm going to take."

All bar Wendell realised he was speaking easy to relieve the light tension. He did figure it out later, though.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As dinner was winding down and they were finishing dessert, a particularly delicious crème brûlée served in ramekins, Monica was describing the comeuppance of a particularly up-himself patient.

When it appeared everyone was done, Sirius almost formally said, "Doctor and Doctor Granger, Miss Granger, would you please accompany Lord Potter, Mister Tonks and I to Doctor Wendell Granger's office? We have news for you."

When Hermione stared back in shock, Monica's expression slowly turned into a smirk. "Thank you, Lord Black," she replied, rising. "That is agreeable."

When Hermione's head whipped about hard to stare at her mother, her shock deepened. "Whaa...?"

"Come, Hermione," said her mother. "You're about to discover what these secret evening meetings have been about. Just, please; just don't lose your temper and take at least a moment to think about what you're hearing."

Hermione rose and followed after her mother, with the menfolk quickly and already rising. With Sirius leading the way the womenfolk followed the menfolk to the office. She was now both completely confused and not a little worried.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

"A bloody Betrothal Agreement?!" she screeched, leaping to her feet from the chair she had only moments ago sat upon. "Have you lot lost your bloody senses!? Is that what all this has been about?"

"In order; yes, no and yes," replied Harry.

Standing there gaping like a fish, incredulous at what she'd just heard, it dawned on her that her mother must have also known of this. She spun on her and screeched, "You're in on it!"

Her mother frowned back and firmly said, "Hermione! That's enough."

As she stood there still shocked to her socks, Harry walked over to her and firmly said, "Hermione, I trust you. Do you trust me, as you previously stated?"

Clamping her mouth shut as she visibly reined her temper in she venomously asked, "Why?"

"To put it simply; to keep you safe," he replied.

"Safe for you, you mean," she snapped.

"No, safe for you!" he firmly rebutted. He gave a sigh and said, "Think it through, Hermione! Stop reacting in outrage and think!

"Do you honestly believe your parents would be involved in something like this, concerning you, if they don't think it benefits you? Do you think that poorly of them you would think otherwise?"

Now confused again because she could see the logic of his argument, she replied, "At the moment... I don't know what to think. But... a Betrothal Agreement?"

"Then, in such a situation, shouldn't you be trying to gather more information so that you can then figure out the answer?" he asked. "We're trying to give you that information, but we can't if you're not willing to listen!"

Confused and wanting to be angry, wanting to rage at them all, but also wanting the information as to why they would consider this, she stood there for a few moments trying to figure out what to do.

Monica, seeing the problem, took charge. "Hermione; sit down. You will listen. You will not 'back-chat'. You will gather information, as Lord Potter suggested. Then you may rant and rave at your father and I, if it's still your desire to do so. BUT... you will not be rude to our guests."

Hermione glanced down at her mother, back to Harry, to Ted and Wendell, back to her mother and snapped, "Fine!" And dropped herself back into her chair before folding her arms across her chest in a huff and glaring at anyone she noticed looking at her.

Her mother gave a nod and a smile clouded by tension at Harry. Harry gave a satisfied nod, before returning and sitting back in his own chair on the other side of Ted.

"Excellent," said Ted. "That went as I have come to expect."

Hermione just glared even more at him, but didn't say a word.

Monica gave Ted a wry smile before turning to Hermione. "Alright, dear; I'm going to start to tell you what's going on because, believe it or not, this all started as a result of something you've told me."

When Hermione looked back in surprise, Monica smiled and said, "Don't seem so surprised. As I reminded you earlier I do pay attention, you know."

When her daughter gave her a very brief but silent head nod, she continued, "It was you, who first told me about Betrothal Agreements. And it was you, who first told me about the Houses and the treatment of muggleborns..."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After a good hour, Hermione began to calm down to the point she could see exactly why her parents had reached the decision to do this, why Sirius also thought it was good idea and why Harry was willing to 'subject' himself to one to protect her.

Knowing she was going to lose this argument over half an hour ago, she was still digging her heels in anyway. "It's my choice!" she declared.

"Legally, no," replied Ted. "By our laws, the laws you willingly subjected yourself to by consenting to attend Hogwarts, it is your magical guardian's choice."

"I don't have..." then she stopped, frowning. "Do I have a magical guardian?"

"Yes," he replied. "Every child in Wizarding Britain has a magical guardian. For those who have a magical parent, or are already existing wards of at least one magical, it is that person who remains their magical guardian when they attend Hogwarts.

"For muggleborns, their magical guardian is their Hogwarts Head of House, once they are sorted into their Houses. Until that time, it is the Head of the Office of Wizarding Children's Services at the Ministry.

"Because of Lord Potter causing staff at Hogwarts to be fired or otherwise, there currently is no Head of your House, Gryffindor. Therefore, by rights the guardianship passes to the Deputy Head of the School. You would then think that, since there is no Deputy Head, it would pass to the current school Head, Headmistress Lady Marchbanks.

"However, the law does not specify that. It only states that in the instances where there is no Head of House for guardianship purposes, the Deputy Head fulfils that role until the position of Head of House is refilled.

"At present, your Magical Guardian is still listed as Minerva McGonagall. However, both that she is no longer Head of your Hogwarts' House and the Wizengamot have ordered she is not to be in authority over a child ever again, that then means you do not have a magical guardian. And yet, the law states you must have one.

"So, that puts you currently in a 'grey area' within the law. A grey area, Lord Black here is asking you if he can fill."

Sirius gave a nod to Ted and said, "Hermione, Harry has discovered something regarding the law that has everyone who now knows of it, worried.

"Basically, by the Hogwarts Charter, Minerva McGonagall should never have held the position of a Head of House and as Deputy Head at the same time. It was a breach of the Charter.

"If someone like... say... Lucius Malfoy had figured that out for himself, he could have gone to 'his good friend' the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, and made a... shall we also say... contribution to the man's re-election campaign fund; then more gold changes hands with members of the School Board and, before you know it, he's appointed Head of Gryffindor and, therefore, your magical guardian.

"With that authority he could then have all the muggleborns of that House signed off into unbreakable Concubine Bond Contracts and sell them off to the highest bidders. He'd have made a small fortune; and you, my dear, would now be forced through a magical binding to... provide pleasure to someone like Olaf Goyle."

When Hermione paled and started to shake a little, she quietly whispered, "Nooo."

Harry quietly said, "It would be a completely legal way for the Death Eaters to own you and all the other Gryffindor muggleborns as sex slaves, Hermione. It would then take time for the light family Seats on the Wizengamot to gather enough votes to get the law rewritten to put a stop to it. However, by then it would have been too late for you and the others, who would have also been caught in the trap.

"Part of the reasons that started your parents looking into this was to keep you safe," he firmly stated. "But, even we were worried when I told Sirius and Ted I suspected the existence of that particular loophole. Ted confirmed it, today.

"I've just never verbalised, or even written down, that suspicion because I didn't want to go giving people 'ideas'. And, because I couldn't go and do the research myself into the laws regarding magical guardianship, I had to hold off doing anything about it.

"The laws regarding this have been on the books for centuries. I was trusting in the fact that no one seemed to have even considered the possibility before now, to keep everyone safe until I could act; and have others I could trust act on my behalf."

Getting her shock and fear under control, Hermione looked to the adults and asked, "What do we need to do?"

Sirius gave a firm nod back and replied, "First, I need to become your magical guardian. Then, as your magical guardian, with it being co-signed by your father in case anyone quibbles about it, I sign the Betrothal Agreement here on your behalf―"

"I want to read it first," she cut in. "But, as long as Mum and Daddy are okay with it, I think you should at least become my magical guardian.

"While you're doing that, I'll read the Agreement. I want to know what you're all getting me into."

Ted smiled and said, "That's quite wise of you."

Half an hour later, with Sirius as her magical guardian, Harry and Hermione were betrothed.

"Now, Miss Granger," said Sirius. "As of me signing the magical guardian documents you became a daughter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, with all the rights and responsibilities as a member of my House. My only order to you as your Lord is that you are to remember that your behaviour now reflects on me."

"Me, next," said Harry. As Hermione turned to look at him, he said, "Hermione. As you are now my betrothed, you have now become the Lady Presumptive of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. As such, you are to remember at all times that your behaviour now reflects on both the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter in general; and on me, personally."

"Wow!" she quietly said in not a little awe. "I felt that. Both times."

"Good," said Ted. "It means both the magical guardianship and the Betrothal Agreement have been accepted by magic. It's always nice to hear confirmation I've properly done my job."

Shortly after, the meeting broke up, with Ted and Sirius both heading back 'home'.

After they were gone and the remaining four were in the foyer before the front door, Hermione whirled on Harry and firmly said, "I saw that line about me getting pregnant, Harry. This Agreement does not mean you get to have sex with me."

As Wendell nearly choked on his own spit and Monica grinned at her husband's reaction, Harry immediately and seriously replied, "I wouldn't dream of it."

She was about to say he was allowed to do that and possibly add that she hoped he would, but noticed her father's reaction and wisely held her tongue.

Monica sweetly asked, "Alright there, 'Dell?"

Wendell just muttered something unintelligible and stalked up the stairs. It was quite late.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

A/N:

Fans of mine know this is not something I normally do. However, through my occasional perusal of 'reviews' I've come to the conclusion I need to include a large note concerning the psychological profiles of my characters.

I'm doing this because I believe people are getting confused with keeping separate the identities of canon characters and how JKR writes them, with the 'fanon'ised characters as written by other authors (and even me in my other stories) and how the characters are portrayed in this story.

Harry

In canon he's portrayed as an alpha personality with forced beta tendencies. Such tendencies, I believe, are what was caused by his being raised by the Dursleys. An example is, he's willing to go down into the Chamber of Secrets and rescue Ginny Weasley. However, when he tries to tell Dumbledore of how he's treated by the Dursleys when Dumbledore tells him he has to go back to them, he caves. Dumbledore's alpha personality swamps his own, forcing Harry to submit and making Harry come across as meek. It is this part of canon where Harry tends to frustrate the readers and, I further believe, is a leading example of why there is so much fanfiction written where Harry stands up for himself.

In this story, he portrays being the above but, in reality, almost all of the meekness is part of the facade. Harry can stand up for himself, but faked the beta tendencies when interacting with most of Hogwarts. However, he still has a lot of problems; almost all of them psychological and related to emotion. This makes him an actual omega personality type.

Due to his upbringing his emotions have developed in a forced-repression state. He can look at thinks quite clinically, but has a lot of difficulties looking at things emotionally. That was what that talk with Wendell out on the back patio was all about, hinting at that difficulty. This has led, in some regards, to him developing a more logically driven personality. (You'll see more of it later in the story, especially relating to sex as an act.)

His 'good' behaviour regarding the adult Grangers, for example, is almost entirely due to respect developed through logic. He respects them because they've proven, through becoming surgeons and holding other important positions in society, they should be looked up to and admired for what they've accomplished and continue to accomplish. This is why he was immediately subservient to them when he arrived at the Grangers'. They deserve his respect and he willingly gives it.

Amelia Bones is another that fits in this category in Harry's mind by becoming Head of the DMLE. However she is hindered, in his eyes, by being a witch (who, as a magical, have in general shown Harry they're all daft morons). So have Ted and Andi. Sirius, however, is seen is an overgrown child doing his best to be an adult.

Hermione

I see Hermione as a beta/gamma striving hard to be an alpha. She does this by over-achieving with her 'field of battle' being academia; knowledge.

On her field of battle she's a dominant alpha, challenging all-comers to attempt to knock her off her earned pedestal. Take her away from that environment, she tends to fold like a house of cards against any challenge; except in rare situations where she loses her temper (as we all do). Prove your knowledge in an area exceeds hers, though, and she immediately backs down. For example, Harry knowing more about house elves and their bonding than she. That's the beta personality coming to the fore. She then endeavours to know even more about the subject than you, so she again becomes the alpha in that subject.

This is why, in my opinion, she instinctively and reactively tends to try and move any confict to one where it's one related to academia/knowledge. For example, when the issue surrounding Harry catching a glimpse of her breasts through her baby-doll nightie reared its head, she confronted the issue by making it clinical and educational. It was just as much her comfort zone as Harry's in that situation.

That situation, by the way, was to start leading Hermione towards coming to an understanding of the real mind-set of Harry; and his utter cluelessness when it comes to understanding 'girls' and the social and personal interactions with same.

I see Hermione as originally being an alpha but, due to the ongoing bullying she suffered as a young child, being forced back into a gamma personality type.

Sirius

A complex character. I see him as a sigma personality type trying hard to be an alpha for the sake of Harry.

I've portrayed him almost as I see him in canon, but with improvements due to him obtaining his freedom and getting proper medical treatment.

Wendell

A true alpha with Gryffindor tendencies. The epitome of the knight in shining armour mindset. With Wendell, what you see is what you get. Easy to like.

Monica

An alpha with Slytherin tendencies. In many ways she has the 'dark side' of a sigma personality. Where Wendell is more 'confront you full on', Monica stands back, analyses you and acts with cunning. She's a manipulator, but not in the evil manner of Dumbledore. Her manipulations are to shape things for the betterment of her family while also holding to moral and ethical standards.

She not-so-secretly espouses the belief that 'behind every great man stands a better woman' and is content with being Wendell's 'foil' when and as he needs one. She is also actively trying to shape Hermione into falling into this role.

Neville

An alpha who has been forced-repressed into becoming a beta similar to Hermione. However, he has lacked until now the 'confrontationalist' mindset Hermione has developed.

Very soon a massive change in Neville's life will occur, which will lead to the boy's alpha tendencies coming back to where they should have been from the start.

Harry has been subtly trying to drag the 'inner Lion', the alpha Gryffindor, out of Neville since first year; seeing Neville for who he should truly be, based on his own life experiences. He recognises himself in Neville and feels a kinship with the boy for that. It explains, in part, why he's so angry with Augusta Longbottom for her handling of the boy.

Andromeda

A straight-up alpha Slytherin, who really should have been in Gryffindor. She's displayed no guile, but does display cunning. However, her cunning is more to do with doing what is right, rather than what is easy; making it a Gryffindor trait. I believe, if she hadn't been raise a 'Black', she'd have never gone anywhere near Slytherin House.

I think she was more of a 'legacy' Sort into Slytherin, rather than that she displayed more Slytherin traits over Gryffindor.

Ted

How much more of a beta Hufflepuff with alpha tendencies do you need than Ted Tonks? Hard working, loyal, confident in himself and his abilities. Is it no wonder someone like Andromeda fell for him?

A rock-solid character it would be hard not to like.

Ron

A flat-out gamma personality with sigma tendencies who wants to be an alpha, but won't get off his arse and work hard to achieve it. Instead, he employs the bad side of the sigma personality type to attempt to manipulate things his way.

He believes an argument can be won by s/he who can shout the loudest, or is simply more determined to be right even in the face of all evidence to the contrary. This comes from his mother. When that doesn't work he then works to cut his opposer down with his words or not-so-subtle actions.

He has self-entitlement issues and, instead of bettering himself by lifting himself up by his own bootstraps, employs tall poppy syndrome tactics in cutting others down to his height. He's bigotted, lazy, slovenly and host of other unpleasant traits.

He sees people as tools to help or work for him to make him better, or as enemies that stand in his way on his path to achieving that. That makes him somewhat like Voldemort, but without the intelligence, guile and power to back it up.

Until recently, he saw Harry as a tool to better his position in society without having to put in much effort. When Harry's star waned with his name coming out of the Goblet, he saw Harry as becoming a liability to his desires, so tried to separate himself from the boy by getting him out of the way.

He's a Gryffindor because he lacks sufficient cunning, let alone guile, to be a Slytherin and lacks sufficient loyalty and willingness to put in the effort to be Hufflepuff; and he's the complete opposite of a Ravenclaw. However, he also lacks the 'nobility' of righteousness needed to be a true Gryffindor.

Ron is the epitome of someone who has none of the traits of any of the four Houses; but the Hat had to stick him somewhere due to its limitations, so into Gryffindor he went.

Conclusion

*sigh* Anyways, that's most of the 'main' story characters, for now. I hope it gives readers a better idea of just what subtle changes I'd made to the psyches of each of the main characters for this story.

Yes, they're somewhat damaged. I find it shows them to be more 'human' and more interesting. For a start, a Harry that's just 'perfectly pure alpha Gryffindor' is way too unbelievable and, quite frankly, I find it somewhat boring. Foibles, weaknesses and failings add character.