Chapter Sixty Seven - Narcissa's Stance and More-Ron

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 Sixty Seven - Narcissa's Stance and More-Ron

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―==(oIo)==―

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The next morning, knowing Hermione would be up early enough, Harry flooed across to the Doghouse, out back of the Grangers'. From there, he walked up to the house and let himself inside.

Standing just inside the back door, he called. "Hermione! You here and up?"

He heard the running of bare feet on the stairs and had his wand out, just in case.

When she rounded the top of the stairs and stood there with her own wand in hand, she suddenly beamed at him. "Harry!" Then charged down the stairs.

He was barely able to get the back door closed before she practically slammed into him, causing him to crash backwards into the door he'd a bare moment earlier shut.

He'd only just got his mouth open to... well, it didn't matter to him as his brain went into shut-down as she proceeded to snog half the life out of him.

Finally pulling back when air became an issue, she gasped and said, "Missed you!"

Smiling, he returned, "I missed you, too!"

"Not that I mind," she said, "Because I really don't, but what brings you over here?"

He gave a mock pout and replied, "It's lonely in that big old house all on my own."

Leading him up the stairs to the main floor, she asked, "And you want to come and stay here?"

"No," he replied, following. "I made a promise to your father that I would not... do things... with you under his roof. Plus, there's also the issue of Daphne and Fleur, when she gets here.

"No. I'm thinking of going early to the Black Townhouse; rather than waiting a week."

"That... sounds like a good idea," she said. "Honestly, I didn't like the idea of you in that big mansion all on your own except for the house elves. I think I'd go crazy if it was me."

Not even realising he was doing it, he followed her up the next flight of stairs to the first floor. The room 'his' bedroom was on.

"Well," he said, "I wouldn't go crazy... I've had to give Dobby a talk about constantly blocking me from the kitchen. So I'd have spent some time cooking. The problem with that is... I'd only be cooking for myself."

"I'm glad you talked to Dobby about it," she quietly said. "It's obvious to everyone who's watched you in the kitchen that cooking is something you love doing."

Leading him up to the next floor, she asked, "How'd he take it?"

"I was surprised to find, quite well," he replied. "He thought it was great fun, but didn't realise how much I really did enjoy cooking. He's promised he'll back off from now on."

On 'her' floor, Hermione led him into her room and to the bed. Then, surprising Harry, she began to disrobe.

"Err... Hermione?" he asked, finally realising what she was doing and where they were.

"Yes Harry?" she calmly asked, as she unhooked her bra and tossed it aside, before then moving to undo the top button on the jeans she was wearing.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Getting naked, Harry," she replied. "What did you think I was doing? And, don't you think you're way over dressed?"

"Hermione," he whined. "I promised your father―"

"Think about what you promised him, Harry," she said, sliding her jeans down her legs and slipping them off, one foot at a time.

Down to just her knickers, Hermione stepped forward to Harry and started to unbutton the shirt he was wearing.

"Err―" he tried.

"You promised him a list of ten rules," she said, reaching out and reefing his shirt tails out of his slacks. "Have a look at my bedroom door, Harry."

Glancing at the door while she was pulling his shirt off his body, he saw it was open. "Ummm... yes?"

"It's open, Harry," she said, reaching for his belt, undoing it.

"I can see that," he said. His pants dropped to the floor.

Almost unconsciously he kicked his loafers and pants off, together.

"I carefully read the rules, Harry," she said, kneeling down and pulling his socks off. When she stood, she also had hold of his pants, which she tossed onto a chair in her room that seemed to be there just to have clothes tossed onto it.

"Nothing in the rules state you and I can't... have fun... if the door stays open," she grinned.

As he thought about the rules, he realised she was right. The rules only stated he couldn't be in a room alone with her with the door closed.

"Besides, I've always wanted―"

It was a far as she got before he almost bodily picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. As she squealed in surprise before suddenly laughing, Harry quickly ripped his undies down and stepped out of them.

Jumping onto the bed next to her knees, he was quick to get her knickers off her, too.

"Now," he said. "You were saying something about what you've always wanted?"

With a mischievous grin, she replied, "I've always wanted to... make love... in my own bed."

"Well!" he grinned. "Let's see what we can do to make that a reality, hmm?"

As he moved forward and began nuzzling her neck, she cried out in happiness.

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―==(oIo)==―

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After a good two hours in Hermione's bed - she claimed she wanted to make sure her dream was a true reality she could look back upon in happiness - they finally rose and used her ensuite to shower.

Harry thought the thrill of thinking her parents might come back home at any moment - just because of any reason, really - made it a little more enjoyable, risk-wise.

Once they were dressed again and heading downstairs, she said, "Thank you, Harry; for making my little fantasy come true."

"I'd say 'You're welcome', but I enjoyed it too," he replied, following her down. "Instead, I'll say, 'And, thank you'."

Back on the main floor, Harry headed for the kitchen to whip them up something for lunch. She followed him in.

Rooting through the cupboards, he asked, "What were you doing before I showed up?"

"Meditating," she replied. "I think I've finally got my memories all sorted. It took ages."

"It does, the first time. Or, so I'm told," he said. "But, you realise it's really not all that important to get them perfect, just organised and protected in a way you can easily recall them?"

"And when have you known me not to do it right, right from the start?" she asked. "A job worth doing is worth doing right."

He grinned back as he brought out the makings for a decent salad with cold cuts.

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―==(oIo)==―

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After lunch, Harry was just going to head over to the Black Townhouse on his own, but Hermione was having none of that.

"You realise I'm on my own here, too, while my parents are at work, right?" she asked.

"Well, I hope so," he grinned. "Otherwise, we might've just given your so-far-unseen-and-unintroduced guests a pretty good show, upstairs."

She grinned back and said, "No, silly. I mean, I'm on my own here, now, and I've decided I'm coming with you. And you also realise, don't you, we never got a chance to see what changes Sirius made to our rooms to make it so Fleur is included, right?"

Surprised, he replied, "Actually, I'd not thought about that. You're right, though."

"Then, let's go," she said, rising from sitting at the dinette.

Betsy had already cleared the plates away. And, based on his knowledge of house elves, she'd have had the dishes done, lickety-split.

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―==(oIo)==―

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Popping out of the floo at the Black Townhouse, something Harry was once again getting a handle on, Hermione called out, "Anyone home?"

"In the kitchen!" was yelled back. It sounded like Dorothy.

Not even commenting on the yelling back and forth, as it was what muggles did when they didn't have elves to give short messages back and forth, Hermione led Harry out the door, into the hallway and down to the kitchen. Besides, he'd only a few hours earlier done the same at the Grangers' when calling Hermione.

As she entered first, Hermione said, "Hi!"

Dorothy looked up and replied, "Hello, Hermione." Then she saw Harry step out from behind her, "And hello, Harry."

"Hello," he said back.

Dorothy was the only one in the room. She was doing dishes.

Harry said, "You know Sirius's house elves will do that, right?"

"I know," she replied. "I tend to use the time I do dishes to think things through."

"Anything we can do to help?" asked Hermione.

"No, dear. It's okay."

Harry asked, "Where's Padfoot, Moony and the others?"

"Padf― Oh!" she said, understanding. "Sirius is in his office, I think. He's been in there for a while, speaking with Narcissa. Remus went out for a while a while back. No idea where, though. Stephen's taken the kids out, sightseeing."

Hermione asked, "With everything that's happened, if you don't mind me asking, how're you holding up?"

Dorothy seemed to slump a little and sigh as both her hands came down to rest on the edge of the sink. After a long moment she replied, "It's a work in progress."

"Well, I hope I didn't scare you too much, the other day," said Harry, "When I told you of my fears concerning your daughter."

"Yes," she replied. "However, that does not mean we... my husband and I... do not thank you for alerting us to it. And that... alliance of yours, too. They were wonderful people to us."

"You're welcome," he replied.

She gave a little huff of amusement and said, "I've never met an Earl before."

"That was my first time, too," he grinned. "I know Justin, of course. He's a mate. Good bloke. But I had no idea he was a Viscount, that his father was an Earl or that his grandfather was a Duke, until earlier this year - January. If he outlives his grandfather and father, he'll become His Grace, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Duke of Kendal."

From her body language and the little looks Dorothy was sending Hermione, he thought she might want him to leave so the two could 'girl talk'. He decided to see if he could interrupt his godfather's chat with cousin Narcissa.

"Well," he said, standing. As Hermione began to rise, he said to her, "Stay here, please, Hermione. I need to talk to Sirius about me staying here. I'll only be a few minutes... I hope."

Hermione gave a nod and settled back down again as Harry excused himself and made his way back up the stairs.

Once he left, Dorothy said, "Now. Now that your parents aren't also here, I'd like to talk about what you really think of being betrothed to someone who has two concubines."

Hermione smiled. She'd just figured out what Harry had seen and why he'd left, asking her to remain.

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―==(oIo)==―

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Harry remembered where to find the office from his visit when Sirius showed him right throughout the house with Daphne and Hermione. As such, he was able to find it pretty quickly.

He knocked on the door and waited.

A bare moment later he heard, "Come in!" It was Sirius's voice.

When he opened the door he found exactly who he thought he'd find. Sirius was sitting behind a desk and Narcissa was sitting in a chair before it.

"Pup!" exclaimed Sirius.

"Hi," he said. "I need to talk to you for a few minutes; when you've got a chance."

"Is it private?" asked his godfather.

"Nope." Harry decided to get right to the point. "Is my room available?"

Surprised at the question, Sirius replied, "Yes, actually. Why?"

"I'm bored sitting at Pottermore on my own," he replied. "I've become so used to having others very close by I'm already going a little stir-crazy."

"And you want to move in here half a week early," said Sirius. "Sure! No problem. When do you want to move?"

"This afternoon, if it's alright," he replied. "I'll have the elves bring my things across before dinner."

"Done," said Sirius. "I admit to being a little worried about you being in that place on your own, too."

"Thanks, Sirius. Hermione expressed the same," he smiled. Looking to Narcissa he smiled and said, "Sorry to have interrupted your meeting, Dowager Malfoy."

"Not at all, Lord Potter," she replied. "And, please, we're cousins. Call me Narcissa."

"Then, it's Harry to you," he smiled back as she gave a nod and small smile of her own.

"I'll leave you to it," he said, withdrawing and closing the door.

He headed upstairs to where he knew his room to be and checked to make sure it was, indeed, unoccupied. Thankfully, it was.

Inside, he also checked Hermione's and Daphne's room to find they, too, were also unoccupied. However, he couldn't find Fleur's.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he called for his loyal house elf. "Dobby."

With barely a pop, the elf appeared. "Yes, Master Harry?"

"Because I don't want to be bouncing around Pottermore on my own, I've decided I'll be moving in here for the next few weeks," he explained. "Can you pack my personal effects, clothes and toiletries and bring them here?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied Dobby.

He was back a few minutes later while Harry was checking things, such as the water pressure in the ensuite and the comfort of the bed. It was all good.

Within a few moments, Dobby had everything unpacked and where they should be to his liking.

"Thank you, Dobby," he said. "You've done well. Can you also bring the pot of soup I was cooking over and put it on the stove in the kitchen? Oh; and the food I otherwise cooked... bring it over and put it on the kitchen table, please."

"Yes, Master Harry." And was gone again.

He knew that, after the chat he had to have with the elf, Dobby was not in the best of spirits at the moment. So, he'd focus on thanking the little elf when he did something right and well.

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―==(oIo)==―

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Checking through everything, he also noticed Dobby had collected and brought over the Potter Grimoire. It was the book that was, until then, sitting on his bedside table with a bookmark in it, showing where he was up to.

"Oh, well done, Dobby!" he breathed. He knew the little elf would have heard.

Putting the book back on the bedside table, he checked to make sure everything else was as it should be. Once done, he exited the room, pulling the door closed behind him. And walked back down to the kitchen.

He had no idea why, from his experience, it was that many magical families all congregated in the kitchen or informal dining rooms, but it's what they did. The Weasleys were another example.

Walking back through the kitchen door he realised he had interrupted a private conversation. "Sorry," he said. "I can come back later, if you like."

"No, Harry," said Hermione. "It's fine. We were just having a ladies chat about a few things. There's plenty of time to continue it another day."

"Fair enough," he said, taking a seat next to her. "Sirius has given me permission to move into here in my room. I had Dobby bring my personal effects over and he's already unpacked for me. So, I'll be here for a while."

Indicating where the pot of soup now rested on the corner of the stove, he said, "I also had him bring over the soup I was cooking, so we can enjoy that for first course for dinner."

After both looked and saw it, he continued, "I'll need to write letters to the others to let them know, later. No... actually. I'll do it now. I wouldn't want them going to Pottermore, find the place empty and then worry what happened to me. You can continue your chat with Dot."

"Good idea," she said. "Were you responsible for the cakes and pies that turned up earlier?"

"Oh!" he replied. "Yes. That's the stuff I cooked yesterday."

She indicated the bench and said, "All of it's been moved there. Just... It near frightened us to death when it suddenly turned up."

"Sorry," he sheepishly replied. "I forgot you'd both still be in here."

Standing he said, "I'll be in my room, writing." Then headed back to his room.

Sirius made sure that each bedroom of the then 'Potter three' contained a study desk. He'd have to find where Fleur's room ended up, later; as he didn't want to go looking for it and look in rooms that were already occupied by one or more of the Wilkinses.

After he left, Dorothy grinned at Hermione, leaned onto the table a bit and conspiratorially urged, "So, you were telling me about how uncomfortable he is talking about sex."

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―==(oIo)==―

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Harry spent the next hour-plus writing to each of their friends. He first wrote a letter to Daphne, letting her know about his early move to the Black Townhouse; as she was the most likely to turn up at Pottermore looking for him.

That letter, he immediately sent off using Dobby. Then wrote to Fleur and set it aside, it would be for Hedwig to deliver.

Next, he wrote to the others; Neville, Hannah, Susan, Tracey and Justin.

A quick check of the time and he realised he had time to write a few more. He wrote to the twins, but kept information to the 'public' information. He made no specific mention of the Wilkinses, or what had happened at the bank.

And, thinking it through, he wrote to Ernie MacMillan. His letter to him was one of a quiet apology for continuing to shut the boy out after his formal apology. And explained it was more to do with a doubt of trust related to the boy's prior behaviour than anything else.

Once done he realised those who had gone out would probably start returning soon, plus Hermione would soon need to head home. He headed up to the owlery in the attic of the townhouse and was unsurprised to find Hedwig waiting for him there.

He smiled to her and gave her three of the letters to deliver - Neville, Hannah and Susan. Once Hedwig was on her way, he asked Sable to deliver the ones to Ernie and Tracey. He then called Raggy and had the elf 'surreptitiously' deliver the one to Justin.

Walking back down to the kitchen he saw it was Hermione, Dorothy, Sarah and CeeCee gathered around the table; which meant the group was back.

"Hi," he said, walking in. All of them looked to him and smiled, returning his greeting.

Looking to Hermione, he asked, "By when do you need to be home?"

"Before six," she immediately replied. "That's when I told Betsy I would be returning."

"Who's Betsy?" asked CeeCee.

"My... or, rather, the Lady of Pottermore's house elf," she replied. "Harry foisted her on me."

"Foisted?" he asked, trying to act offended and failing miserably.

"Alright," she giggled. "He didn't tell me there was a Lady Potter elf-maid before introducing her to me and saying, since I was the Lady Presumptive Potter, Betsy would be my elf."

"Oh, wow!" said CeeCee. "I wish we had an elf."

Harry gave her a funny, curious, look and said, "I doubt, very much, you don't."

"What do ya mean?" she asked.

"You've just become the Head of the Magical House of Malfoy," he explained. "That means, you rightfully own the entire estate. That would include the house elves owned by the Malfoys."

That surprised the three Wilkins ladies.

"I-I... do?" squeaked CeeCee.

"Yes," said Harry. "There's something you need to understand about the Malfoys when comparing that family to others. Families like the Potters, the Longbottoms, the Greengrasses and similar have wealth, but do not flaunt it. Yes, we have big manor homes. But, that's because the home represents the Seat of the House, not the individuals who reside in it.

"Plus, for the most part, the Lords and Ladies, etcetera, who head those Houses tend to also work in normal jobs. For instance, my father was an auror, my mother... I believe... was an Unspeakable, Sirius was a hit wizard, Frank and Alice Longbottom were aurors, Griselda Marchbanks is an educator and is currently the Headmistress of our premier school of magic, Hogwarts, and Samuel Greengrass is an importer of rare magical ingredients.

"The Malfoys, however, were the sort to flaunt their wealth. None of them held a job - a Malfoy would never engage in something so menial as a job. Instead, Lucius Malfoy spent... from what I could gather... his entire time playing at politics, keeping an overview of his various illicit businesses and, when the Dark Lord was running about, trying to prove to one and all that purebloods are the crème of the crop.

"So, from what I understand, Malfoy Manor is one huge message saying 'Look how rich we are'. As an example, they supposedly have specially bred albino peacocks roaming the grounds. Also, from what I understand, Narcissa serves on a number of important committees; such as the Saint Mungo's fund-raising committee, for one."

"Correct on both counts, Lord Potter," said the voice of Narcissa from behind.

Harry turned grinned and said, "Hello, cousin Narcissa."

"Cousin Harrison," she smirked back. "And, he's right," she said to the room. "We did have albino peacocks roaming the grounds and I do serve on the Saint Mungo's fund-raising committee. I hated the first and enjoy the second.

"Those Merlin-bedamned birds made an absolute mess of everything; but, Lucius wanted them as a status symbol. They used to eat my prized roses. One of the first things I did after Lucius died was get rid of them.

"As for the committees, it was my one true enjoyment out of life. Sitting around with nothing otherwise to do was killing me."

"An old muggle proverb, or idiom if you prefer, comes to mind. 'Idle hands are the devil's workshop'," said Harry. "It means, when you have nothing better to do, there exists a tendency to get up to no good."

"That he did," she sighed, moving to take a seat.

Harry, watching her, finally asked, "How're you holding up, Narcissa?"

She gave a sad smile and said, "I am fine, thank you. My marriage to Lucius was one of politics. I never loved him. However, Draco―" And sighed.

"For what it's worth," he said. "I'm sorry. Draco, though I considered him a personal nuisance, was... I believe... somewhat forced to be there that night."

She sadly smiled and said, "Thank you for saying so. I fervently hope you are right. His father's influence upon him was greater than my own."

She sighed and added, "One day I will ask you to relate to me what his involvement was of that night. However, I do not believe I am ready to hear it."

Harry gave a nod and said, "Then, at that time, I shall relate to you in greater detail what happened."

Into the silence a few moments later, CeeCee asked, "Do you think I would have liked him? Draco, I mean."

"That's difficult to say," said Harry. "Living the life you have, I would say no. However, if you had grown up a Malfoy; then it is quite possible, even probable."

Narcissa looked to her with a look of pain and loss for a few moments before she said, "If I had been able to convince Lucius to let me keep you, you would have grown up blind and deaf. You would have also grown up hidden away behind the wards of Malfoy Manor, a lonely child.

"While I cursed Lucius for wanting to get rid of you, it was him leaving you in Australia that allowed the muggle healers to fix what magical healers could not. I just thank the memory of Merlin I forced him to make a magical vow that he'd not cause you any harm, either directly or indirectly. Otherwise, I do not believe you would be here, today; and we'd not be talking to one another."

That answered a question Harry had about why Malfoy chose to 'dump' the infant CeeCee, rather than just outright kill her and vanish the body. He did not voice it, though.

Into the new uncomfortable silence CeeCee looked to Hermione and asked, "What's Hogwarts like?"

Hermione grinned back and replied, "I'll tell you what Hogwarts is like if you then tell me what Dundee is like."

CeeCee grinned and replied, "Deal!"

As Hermione began to explain what Hogwarts was like from the perspective of a muggleborn witch in Gryffindor, people started to relax from what had proven to be an uncomfortableness of talking about Lucius and Draco.

It wasn't long before Narcissa began adding a view from the position of a pureblood witch in Slytherin. Surprising Harry, she even told a little bit about the time she, as a Prefect in seventh year, berated both his father and Sirius for pulling a prank that hurt a couple of first year Slytherins.

"Yes," Harry sighed. "I have come to a better understanding of just what sort of person my father truly was. Severus Snape was right to call him a pampered, arrogant bully. However, I also believe he got over that in his last couple of years at Hogwarts. I do not believe my mother would have married him if he hadn't.

"For what it's worth, the House of Potter apologises to the alumni of the House of Slytherin for the harm it's previous Lord, while Heir Apparent, caused to members of the 'green'."

That seemed to surprise Narcissa. She nodded and quietly said, "Well said."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

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As it was getting on to when her parents would get home, Hermione had to return home before she was anywhere near finished talking about Hogwarts. She did promise to return to talk more about it the next day. And CeeCee was still willing to talk about what Dundee was like.

Harry had escorted her to the floo and they shared a slow kiss before she pulled back and whispered, "I better go before I decide my parents can worry and drag you up to your room."

Then she was gone.

When he returned to the kitchen, he dropped into 'his' chair and sighed.

Dorothy looked at him, smiled and said, "You really do love her, don't you."

"Yes," he replied. "I'm led to believe it is a trait among the Potters for the Potter men to meet their future spouses at a young age. I just didn't realise I actually loved her that way until Wendell, Hermione's father, practically forced me to analyse my feelings. It only took me a few days after that to figure it out the love I felt for her wasn't the love of a brother and sister sort of relationship."

He gave a little snort of self-deprecating amusement and wryly said, "I can be a little dense, when it comes to girls."

Dorothy gave a knowing smile back.

"Well," she said, "Time to get dinner on, unless we want to eat at midnight." She looked to Harry, smiled and said, "Perhaps you'd care to assist?"

Harry perked right up at that.

"Oh, good," said CeeCee. "It means I won't have to."

As Harry rose to round the table and head for the pantry, Harry asked, "You don't enjoy cooking?"

CeeCee replied, "No. I find it boring."

"Boring!?" Harry cried. "Philistine! When the great chef 'Monsewer Potty-air' prepares cuisine; it is nev-air bor-eeng."

That had even Narcissa lightly snickering, while the Wilkins ladies laughed or giggled.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Sirius finally came out of the office to, as he claimed, investigate why someone was trying to strangle a cat in the kitchen. As Harry was singing at the time, he expressed mocked-offence at the remark.

Sirius smirked and said, "Well, at least we know there's something you're pretty terrible at."

It hadn't taken Dorothy more than ten minutes to understand Harry really did know how to, as she put it, 'use a kitchen'. What started off with Harry helping her, turned into a role reversal with her helping Harry.

Dinner, that night was, of course, delicious.

"Wow," said Patrick, after yet another delicious mouthful. "Can we keep him?"

Grinning, Harry turned to CeeCee and said, "And that, my dear, is why I call it 'cheffing', rather than 'cooking'.

"No side of meat, no potato, no chicken egg, no tab of butter... shall escape the Harry-touch when he has access to a kitchen," he declared.

Sirius smirked and said, "A little full of yourself, aren't you?"

"It is one of the skills I have I can honestly say is 'me' and 'mine'," he replied. "I developed the skill without it being something to do with being either a Potter or a wizard.

"My magic is because I come from a long line of Potters, combined with being the son of a muggleborn; or, as I prefer, newblood. I think the injection of new blood into the Potter line is why I seem to have a bit more magical power than the average.

"Both Dumbledore and Tom Riddle were also the progeny of an existing magical line and a muggle line. And both were also quite powerful. I also think Grindelwald was similar.

"Anyone with a knowledge of animal husbandry can tell you it is a major precept to never use a sire from within your own lands to expand your flocks or herds. The same applies to humans, even magicals. It's a pity the pureblood propagandists don't understand that."

Narcissa had paused in her dining and looked at Harry in shock.

"Oh, they can remain purebloods, for all I care," he continued. "However, the lines within magical Britain have reached the point they need to seek partnerships from outside magical Britain if they remain determined to marry only purebloods and don't want to see a further weakening of the magics within their lines.

"Witches and wizards in Britain should be looking for partners outside magical Britain - even outside Australia, New Zealand and MaCUSA, as those three communities are rooted in magical Britain only as far back as two centuries ago. However, those three nations should be considered the most minimal separation now sought. Personally, I'd be looking at Eastern Europe, the Asias and Africa if they want to marry only purebloods; just to be safe."

"There would also be an increased number of birth defects," said Dorothy, the qualified 'medical' of their group. "Your hospital must have records that prove that."

Sirius asked Harry, "Is that why you thought Justin Finch-Fletchley as a possible wizard for a relationship agreement, rather than Ernest MacMillan."

Harry shrugged and replied, "No. I just happen to have trust in Justin, whereas I don't in Ernie. As I explained, I believe such a relationship should only exist as a way to protect CeeCee. I do not expect it to, nor do I urge it to, progress to a physical relationship. I'm strongly of the belief CeeCee should be allowed to marry, when the time comes, out of love. However, I would urge her away from a relationship with a current so-called pureblood of magical Britain for the reasons Dorothy just put."

"I like Justin," said CeeCee. "He's nice."

Harry smiled back and said, "He is."

"Merlin!" breathed Narcissa. "Is that why?..."

"I believe CeeCee was born with the birth defects she was born with?" Harry prompted. "Yes. Is that why I believe the Blacks are now born with shorter lifespans? Yes. Is that why, in my opinion, the number of pureblood births have dropped off over the past couple of centuries? Yes. Is that why the number of illnesses have increased within the pureblood lines? Yes. And a heap of other points that add to it and prove my point.

"The pureblood wizarding community in Britain are in desperate need of a geneticist coming in and giving them a swift kick in the pants, by way of teaching them a wizard and witch version of 'animal husbandry'. If it doesn't happen soon, the pureblood community will, I believe, be pretty much extinct within about five generations. They will have bred themselves out of existence."

"That will happen eventually, yes," said Sarah. "But, in five generations?"

Harry smiled back and said, "They haven't just started doing this, Sarah. Most of them have been doing it for centuries, already. The Gaunts and Peverells have already done it to themselves. Others are, even now, on the edge of extinction."

"Centuries?" breathed Dorothy. "It's a wonder it hasn't happened already!"

Listening to what was being discussed, Narcissa was horrified and, from it, realised she had a new project. She'd be trying to get those records from the hospital and the birth and death records office at the Ministry. Though Lucius was dead, the name Malfoy still carried weight in political circles. She'd be using that to get the information.

She did not doubt what she was hearing; as none of them, except Sirius, seemed surprised by what Harry and Sarah were telling them about increasing birth defects and the like. And the only things that the Wilkinses and Harry seemed surprised about was that the wizarding community did not already understand this.

This was a disaster waiting to happen. No, this was already a disaster! She would learn the truth of this; or may Circe have mercy on the souls of those who tried to prevent her!

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Over at the Burrow, Ron Weasley had only been home from his Aunt Muriel's for a few days. It proved to be, as he expected, a huge relief. As far as he was concerned, the woman was a dragon in witch form.

From the time he'd been pulled from Hogwarts and sent to live with her the next day she had been at him, day after day. Study, work, study, sleep; day after day after day. It was even worse than the short stint with her after Christmas.

She'd even cut down on the amount of food he'd been allowed to eat, calling him a 'pig' and a 'glutton'. She'd ripped his first meal with her away and tossed it in the garbage when he'd simply been eating; though she'd referred to it as 'shovelling food into your mouth and swallowing with nary a mastication in sight!' - whatever that meant.

Each meal, thereafter, was always a small portion of food, which he was not allowed to finish until she finished hers. She even switched his cutlery for those used by small children, telling him that was all he was allowed to use; and that he'd not be allowed to use 'adult' cutlery until he learned to taste, chew and swallow each mouthful before taking the next. However, he considered each spoon- or forkful was more a nibble than a mouthful.

That was only the changes for mealtimes, though. The amount of study he had to do was, he thought, what would be required for NEWTs. He was only a Fourth Year, for Merlin's sake!

Each time he'd managed to escape her clutches by running away, his mother or father quickly found him and took him straight back. He'd even begged the chance to go home and have a decent meal before he was forced to return. However, his parents had become cold-hearted and refused to listen to his entreaties about how he was being turned into a bookworm slave and starved. Potter had obviously turned them against him.

Each day was torture. He'd be woken at 7.00am and forced to do chores for half an hour. Then he'd have his meagre breakfast - only one serving. Then it would be school work until a break, two hours later, for morning tea. Again, he was only allowed one cup of tea and two biscuits or one small slice of cake. Then back into the drudgery of school work for an hour and a half before a short half hour break for lunch; again, only one serving. Another three hours of school work, then chores. Dinner was also another single serving, but at least he got a small dessert added to it. Then a half hour of more chores and two hours of further study. After that, bed.

There was absolutely no time for the important things of life, such as playing chess, flying, practicing Quidditch, or 'resting' and thinking about what he was going to do when he became rich, wealthy and important. The only times he got to do any of that was on the weekends; but, even then, he was only allowed a single hour before lunch and two hours after lunch. It was, without any doubt, cruelty.

And it was all Potter's fault! The problem was, each time he began to make plans for how he was going to deal with that traitor, his mother would contact the dragon and tell her about his hand on the family clock. Then she'd bring out that damned wooden spoon and, soon thereafter, he'd not be able to sit down for the rest of the day on anything but a very soft cushion.

However, 'Aunt Muriel' was also teaching him Occlumency. She'd explained it was a way he could get his temper under control and get a better wand grip on focussing on study. It did that. But, what was better, was he was able to suppress his anger towards Potter in such a way the clock didn't send his mother or father running to the floo to call his aunt as often. That saved him sore bum cheeks.

Once he figured that out, he was more willing to learn the art and, over the past month, had not even one 'incident'. It did not stop him from thinking of ways to hurt Potter for the harm he'd caused him, though. He just got better at it not showing on that blasted clock.

No matter how long it took him to devise a way, he'd make sure Potter would pay!

Since returning to the Burrow he'd raided Bill and Charlie's DADA and charms text books to learn defensive spells. Both had kept them as they knew the books might come in handy for the gold-strapped family when each of the next children reached that Year in Hogwarts. The DADA textbooks, especially, he did not think anyone would miss, as each year there were new professors in that subject and each new professor had their own choice of which texts to use.

What he was thankful for, was that Potter hadn't stolen all the gold off him he'd gotten from Dumbledore by claiming it was his, only what was in his bank account at the time; which, admittedly, was the majority of it. Plus, he'd also received a little more off Aunt Muriel for the chores he did at her place. He felt it was a good investment, though, to use the little gold remaining he'd gotten off Dumbledore to buy dark arts books he could learn curses and hexes from.

When the opportunity presented itself, he'd be using those against Potter and his whores. For now, he'd try and memorise as many defensive spells as possible for his future confrontation. The dark offensive spells could wait until he got those books.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After waking at his usual time, Harry realised the bed Sirius had bought for him was wonderfully soft, but not too soft like the beds at Hogwarts. The top few layers of the mattress were like a pillow but, underneath that, there was a firmness that meant he didn't sink too deeply when he lay upon it. It was similar to the mattress he had at the Grangers.

After tending to his morning ablutions, he headed down to the kitchen and was surprised Dot or someone else hadn't beaten him down.

With a pleased smile he began to work on preparing yet another variant of his decent 'English-lite' breakfast for the denizens of the townhouse.

After he got the fire in the grill of the oven started and heating up - it was a 'modern' gas grill but without the gas rings for burners on top, the gas burners merely replaced what used to be the firebox part of the stove - he made a start on preparing what he would be cooking; poached eggs, grilled bacon, a concoction he called 'train-smash', potato cakes, sausages and toast. The potato cakes were first as he needed to thoroughly cook the potatoes, before mashing, balling, flattening and breading them like rissoles. He added a small white thoroughly diced onion to the potatoes to mix in with them. His version of 'train smash' consisted of egg, tomato, another small white onion, a little ham and herbs and a dash each of tomato and Worcestershire sauce, all cooked and blended together. It was wonderful on toast with salt and pepper.

While the diced potato and both onions were in a pot and boiling he placed a dozen plates in the oven to warm them up before making a start on making the train smash. That's when Dorothy came in.

"Wow!" she said, looking at what he'd laid out in order.

"Any allergies I need to know about?" he asked, smiling back.

"None," she replied, "Except 'hard work' for the kids."

Indicating what he was doing, she asked, "Won't that be too much?"

He shrugged. "Only if I over-estimate the eggs, tomato or the train smash. Everything else can be eaten cold for morning tea, or just to have as snacks. Merlin, even the train smash is nice cold on bread as a sandwich; so too is the eggs if you add in curry and cayenne pepper and mash them for curried egg sandwiches."

Nodding along, Dorothy was quick to check the apron she was wearing was secure before she said, "I'll start cooking the sausages, bacon and tomatoes. Then I'll make the hollandaise sauce for the eggs."

"Excellent," he said. "That leaves me to work on making sure the heat stays at just the right temperature, getting the train smash ready for the pot and that should be just about right for the potatoes to come off to be mashed with the other onion, balled, flattened and breaded."

Harry actually found it was quite easy to work with Dorothy. Unlike Dobby when he helped, she didn't keep trying to take over and do everything.

"When do your lot start making an appearance in the mornings?" he asked.

"As soon as they start smelling breakfast being cooked," she replied. "Well, that's true for Stephen and Pat. The girls usually take someone going up and waking them up."

"Well, I'll leave that to you," he smirked. "You can tell them they won't get a 'Harry' breakfast if they're not down on time. And, I happen to think my breakfasts are a bit better than my dinners."

She grinned back and said, "You are evil."

"Nope," he replied with a small grin. "Just demanding of my diners not to waste my time."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Dorothy was right in that the Wilkins males soon made an appearance, but she had to go wake Sarah and CeeCee.

When she returned, she snickered and said, "They both started with their, 'Just five more minutes, Mum' routines, before I told them that Harry was cooking and he had no intention of holding breakfast for them. They were both out of bed before I was out the door."

He chuckled back.

'Hmmm...' he thought. Turning to the side he called, "Chuckles." When the elf popped in with a crack, he said, "Could you please go wake Padfoot and Moony and let them both know, if they want a Harry-cooked breakfast, they'd best get down here pretty quick."

"Yes, Young Master Harry," replied the elf, before it popped away.

Even Harry was surprised when Sirius almost ran in less than five minutes later. Clearly, he'd just pulled a robe on and ran downstairs. He looked like he was still asleep.

"Really, Padfoot?" asked Harry upon seeing him.

"Hey, Pup," he said, trying to wipe the sleep out of his eyes. "There was no way I was going to miss one of your breakfasts."

Harry smirked and, between he and Dorothy, had the servings on the table in short order. Narcissa came down a little while later. Harry didn't know for sure if she was also staying at the townhouse and hadn't thought to ask.

Remus was down five minutes after that. At least he looked like he'd attended his ablutions first, even if is hair was still wet and his robes looked like they were stuck to damp skin. And the girls were down a further seven after that.

Again, the food was well received.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After breakfast the Wilkinses, Sirius and Narcissa left to go to the Alley. They were going in to see Ted Tonks. Harry was pretty sure it had to do with protecting CeeCee from political or legal shenanigans, but it wasn't his place to ask.

They'd barely been gone half an hour when Hermione turned up. "Where is everyone?" she asked.

"The Wilkinses, Sirius and Narcissa have all gone into the Alley to see Ted Tonks," he replied. "I think Remus is up in the library. Leastwise, that's what I've been told is his usual haunt when he's here."

"Why've they gone to see―?" she began before she gave herself a little shake and said, "No. It's not my business. If they want me to know, they'll tell me."

He smiled and gave her a nod.

"I'm getting better," she sheepishly returned. 'And I'm sorry it's taking so long."

"You are," he agreed. "And you're forgiven."

"I was hoping to talk to CeeCee more," she said with a pout.

"You will, I'm sure," he said.

"When are they due back?" she asked. "Do you know?"

"No," he replied. "However, as they're speaking with a lawyer - who, family or not, charges by the quarter hour - I expect them to be back well before lunch. That is, of course, if they don't decide to go sight-seeing after visiting Ted; or, go into Gringotts and sort out finances there; or, I don't know what.

"However, as I first said, I think they'll be back well before lunch. I hope so, as I'll be preparing lunch in the expectation they'll be back to eat it.

"Why don't you go up and chat with Remus, raid Sirius's library while Remus is there so he can make sure none of the books are harmful to you or go visit one of the others?"

She paused to think about it for a few moments before she seemed to reach a decision and said, "I'll go talk to Remus and raid the library. I want to talk with CeeCee again and I'll need to know when she returns so we can chat."

As Hermione headed to the library to go speak with Moony, Harry headed back to the kitchen.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As Harry thought they would, the Wilkinses and Sirius returned before lunch. Harry had already prepared a decent spread of a thick beef and vegetable stew with crispy bread dinner rolls to 'soak up the juices' for lunch.

As he was ladling out a bowl each, with urgings to go for more if they were still hungry after their first bowl, he asked Sirius, "Narcissa not come back with you?"

"She's gone to Malfoy Manor to put it in stasis," replied his godfather. "She doesn't want to be there on her own and I've offered her room and board here until she's got her feet under her again."

"I'll save some stew for her, then," he said.

When the Wilkinses were at the table and enjoying their bowls of stew, Harry quietly asked Sirius, "Is Narcissa going to cause any trouble for CeeCee?"

"No," his godfather just as quietly replied. "At least, she's assured me she won't. She just wants to be a part of her life, from here on."

Harry gave a nod as he handed Sirius his bowl. Then, as Sirius carried his bowl and bread plate with roll upon it to the head of the table to sit to eat, he went via the stairs up and yelled, "Oi! Moony! Grubs up, if you want to eat!"

"Coming!" he heard yelled back.

Hermione was already down and sitting alongside CeeCee. Apparently, they were able to continue their discussion from the afternoon before without a problem.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The next morning and after breakfast, Harry decided to go visit Neville. He floo called first, to see what the other boy was up to, when Alice saw him and demanded he come over.

"Alright, Alice," he said. "Give me a few minutes to let Sirius know I've gone out for a while and I'll be right there."

Pulling his head out of the flames he went and did exactly that and, as promised, a few minutes later he was stepping out of the floo into Longbottom Hall... and tripped over his own two feet.

"Damn it!" he softly cursed.

It didn't help that Alice laughed at him for it.

He grumbled, "I get to the stage where I think I've got a handle on flooing and, next thing I know, I'm trying to kiss the floor again."

"That's because you're letting your concentration slip," she explained. "You're a Potter. You need to always concentrate when using the floo."

With a sigh he let her vanish the soot off him and asked, "Where's Nev?"

"Greenhouses," she said.

"The girls not here?" he asked.

"No. They only stayed a couple days for Frank and I to get to know them better," she replied. "Neville will go and stay with Susan and Hannah at Bones Manor next week."

He gave a nod and said, "Then I best go track down Neville and make sure a Venomous Tentacula or something isn't trying to 'do' him in."

That earned him a laugh before she said, "Go."

Grinning, Harry walked to the back of the Hall and out into the 'backyard'. He found Neville by the simple expedient of seeing him though the glass wall on the middle greenhouse, directly ahead.

Apparently, Neville saw him by the same method and was up and off his stool, holding the door open as Harry got there.

"Harry!" the boy happily cried out.

"Hiya, Nev!" he grinned

"Come on in!" said Neville. "I'm just finishing up re-potting some of my cross-bred Dittany."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ