CHAPTER ELEVEN: ENTER THE WEREWOLF
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1996. Potter Manor.
It was early in the morning and still dark outside. Harry had awoken from a very pleasant dream and was staring at the ceiling in the Master's Bedchambers contemplating just how bizarre his life had become. After bonding with Tonks, "Dora" as she was now called, and a filling dinner, Hermione invited Dora to spend the night with them. Nestled against his left side, her brown hair and head using his chest as a pillow slept the love of his life. That he was sleeping with her at all would have been unthinkable to him only a few days ago. That another head of brown hair was using his right side as a pillow was beyond any of his wildest, adolescent dreams. That Hermione wanted this, wanted to share him with another woman was - well, he never would have seen that coming. Not in a million years.
For the past week, Hermione had been a constant source of surprises. It had been almost a week since she woke up in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts following her near death in the desperate fight at the Department of Mysteries, an event Harry now knew had changed his life forever. From now on, his life would be defined in at least three very distinct phases: the Pre-Hogwarts Phase, the first five years and now this new one.
The pre-Hogwarts phase began before Harry could even remember. It was the only life he had known. It was a life bereft of love, affection, kindness and friendship, when he lived a lonely existence. Abused and neglected by his own family, he was denied any kind of childhood and was then convinced not only that he would never know love, affection or friendship, but that he did not deserve any of those things that most people took for granted.
He had been abused and neglected from the day he arrived at his Aunt and Uncle's house as a mere baby. He was beaten frequently and often for no reason, just because they could. He slept in a cupboard under the stairs on a hard piece of plywood and was often locked in there for hours and even days at a time. He thought that was normal, at least for him.
He was five years old before he knew he had a real name. Before then, he answered only to "Boy" or "Freak." He learned his real name while being beaten by his Uncle a week before they had to send him off to primary school. Uncle Vernon Dursley wanted to be sure the "Boy" would not embarrass his family by being ignorant of his name, although all through the beating he complained that his Aunt should have left Harry in the dustbin that Uncle Vernon dumped him in the day after he was found on their doorstep.
Harry had an innate love of learning. Vernon made sure he never used it. Harry was at the top of his class his first year in Primary School and his Cousin Dudley was at the bottom. When this little fact came to light, Vernon beat Harry mercilessly and made it clear that if he ever outperformed a real boy again, he would pay for it. Harry suppressed or did his best to hide his intelligence from that day forward. Hopes and dreams were now the things for real people. As Harry was a "freak," he did not deserve such things. Hopes and dreams were for normal people, not "freaks" like him.
Not long after his eleventh birthday, that phase ended abruptly. True, the Dursleys still treated him worse than an animal and had he been a dog, they would have been arrested by the BSPCA. But he learned he was not a "freak," rather he was a wizard. That revelation ended the first phase in his life.
The second phase in life began to rekindle his humanity. Almost from the start, he found acceptance and friendship. True, he also learned he was famous and suspected he was wealthy and could care less. It was his friendships that mattered to him.
It was at Hogwarts, where he found friendship, trusted Dumbledore, found his godfather and began to believe he was deserving of love. But a dark cloud hung over him and refused to go away. Voldemort was regaining power and wanted him dead. Harry had killed a man at the age of eleven, although he did not remember the actual death. People had died or had almost died simply because they knew him and were believed to be close to him, even if they were not.
Harry had fallen in love with a wonderful girl. He should have been dating her and looking forward to spending all his time with her, but he held back. Deep down he feared for her safety and his fear was based upon the fact that if they did become a couple, it would be a death sentence for her. He would rather not have her at all than be the cause of her death. He could not live without her in his life, yet he could not have her close.
Moreover, she was his best friend. Now that he looked back on it in hindsight, that alone marked her as a target. Keeping her away would never save her. He should have known, but the noble thing to do was love her from afar and hope for the best for her. He knew there was little if any hope for himself. He knew his destiny was to die at the hands of Voldemort one day and the best he could hope for was he'd take the bastard with him. He held his feelings for Hermione to himself.
He was also scared that she might not feel the same way about him. Again, he should have known otherwise. They both were very uncomfortable with physical contact and physical displays of affection. They both guarded their feelings and built walls to keep others from hurting them. Yet, between them, those barriers did not exist. Hermione was one of the few people who could touch him, hug him or kiss him without making him recoil or tense up and he now realized he was one of the few she had no problem showing affection to and certainly the only boy. Still, the fear for her safety and fear of rejection blinded him to that reality and mired him in a world without hope for his future or a reason to live beyond Voldemort. He was also concerned that if he and Hermione got together, he would lose his friendship with Ron. Now he wondered so what?
The new phase he found himself in was both very disturbing and exhilarating a the same time. It began in combat and with the death of his Godfather Sirius. The death had enraged him. He had so hoped Sirius would become a permanent fixture in his life and he had felt he led the man to his death. He would have dwelled on that and, based upon past experience, wallowed in guilt for months or years. Then, after a row with Dumbledore that momentarily convinced him he had nothing really to live for, he went to check on his friends in the Hospital Wing. That changed his life again and forever.
It was Hermione. Seeing her there near death broke him. His shields he had raised to evade pain came crashing down around him. They had tried to kill her. They had tried to kill her because she stood with him in the line of battle. But Harry knew that they would sooner or later have done the same to her just because she was not one of them. He knew when he saw her in the Hospital Wing that he could not live without her in his life. He knew then that she had to know how he felt about her regardless. He knew then that her life was all that mattered to him. He would not die! He could not die! He had to live to ensure that she would live. If she died, then all worth fighting for was lost. Even if she did not love him as he loved her, she was a future.
Then she awoke and she loved him! Ron had freaked out. Harry did not care. She loved him too! Now there was a future worth fighting and living for, Harry knew. He wanted to live! He wanted to be there for her tomorrow, next week, and a hundred years from now! The dream that woke him up was one of a distant future where he and his Hermione were surrounded by children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. She was his home, she is his home. She was worth fighting for and she was worth dreaming for a true future beyond the nightmare than had been his life.
She was the only woman he had ever wanted. Woman, he thought. She was sixteen! Okay, almost seventeen … still! They were so young! It didn't matter. If she told him today she was pregnant, he would not be upset at all. He could only envision one mother of his children and she was it.
But then this Concubine thing smacked him in the face. She stunned him by being open to the idea! She, the champion of House Elves and such was all but begging him to accept other bound women in his life! He would never have guessed that. Moreover, he would never had bound with Tonks at all had not Hermione all but insisted upon it.
What had really shocked him was her sexual openness. He had not seen that coming at all. She was a sexy young woman, a fact that he came to realize for the first time at the Yule Ball nearly a year and a half ago. When he saw her, he was floored by her and totally captivated. Were it not for his fear of intimacy and fear of losing her as a friend…
She had all but jumped him a couple of days ago. She told him later that it had been her dream for some time and as soon as she was sure he was not just about getting in her knickers, as soon as she knew this was the real deal, she knew she would not wait long.
What further stunned him was that while he had fantasized about her, and while he used such fantasies for "wanking material" ever since the night of the Yule Ball, his sexual fantasies were tame as compared to her. Hers were far more erotic than anything he imagined. It was a few of her fantasies that had led him to where he was now. He know thought of the two women in bed with him as "babe blankets." He never thought Hermione would share him with anyone and never thought she would be the one to suggest it, but she did and she was. He was supposed to be the horny teen! She was the one with the imagination. How did he get to be so lucky?
This new phase once again meant the destruction of the life Harry had taken for granted before. Such destruction had its physical manifestations in the death of Sirius and his now very physical relationship with Hermione. But it was also defined by the death of any trust or respect for Dumbledore and Molly Weasley, two adults he had looked up to in the past, as well as serious questions about two he considered close if not best friends: Ron and Ginny Weasley. These events should have sent him into a funk, yet that had not happened. Instead, Hermione happened. Her admission that she loved him as much as he loved her erased whatever grief he was feeling about what had happened at the Department of Mysteries. Her arrival here barely two days ago erased his ability or need to sulk. Their relationship erased the hopelessness he had felt most of his life and replaced it with the opposite: dreams of a future together and a desire to see that future come into being. Add in the sex part, and Harry was in total heaven. Moreover, the nature of her bond to him, as well as the bond he now had with Tonks and would have with other women in the near future meant that the deceipt and guile that had been directed at him in his previous life would not exists, could not exist in this new one. Not with his girls at any rate. Trust and family were two things Harry had always wanted in life. He now had them.
Sirius had written that he should not place life on hold just because the times seem bleak. He would not. If Hermione or any of the other women wanted to start a family, he would not stop them absent a compelling reason. In Hermione's case, he could only think of one: school. But, he had a feeling that neither he nor Hermione would ever set foot in Hogwarts again as students. As long as their education could continued, why not start a family now? They were, after all, in the eyes of both magic and magical law married.
The truth was, Harry's only real worry right now was how were they going to explain all of this to Hermione's parents. Fortunately, that day was far off in a distant and murky future.
Pleasant thoughts of his new life filling his head, Harry gave the two women a gentle squeeze and was rewarded with a sigh from each just before falling back to sleep.
Harry and "his girls" as he now thought of them were in the private dining room having breakfast. The two women had their "just been shagged senseless" goofy grins on, although technically they had not really been shagged. They both woke up and complained of being a little sore, so Harry had to resort to alternative measures, which meant oral sex. Tonks had suggested a less time consuming way to accomplish this and demonstrated for Hermione to Harry's pleasure. Nothing like licking pussy while she blows me at the same time, he had thought. Hermione was now a huge fan of this method of early morning play time. Harry had allowed Tonks to speak freely and they were talking about their new game. Although Tonks did complain about having her bits bald. Harry had Hermione "fix" her after his morning game complaining that he really didn't enjoy picking her hairs out of his teeth. Hermione tried to reassure her that it wasn't so bad and mentioned she could now wear the barest of bikinis without waxing. All of this Harry found both somewhat erotic and definitely amusing.
"So Milord," Tonks began after a long conversation with Hermione about Harry's recently revealed talents, "why didn't you tell me you were a metamorphagus?"
"What?" Harry nearly chocked on his toast. "What're you on about, Dora?"
"A metamorphagus, Harry," Hermione said. "You know? Like Dora? Why'd you keep that a secret? I thought you were my friend," Hermione sounded hurt, but looked like she was messing with him.
"What makes you think I am one?" Harry asked.
"Couple of things," Tonks replied. "But first, let's rule out the more likely scenario, okay?"
"I guess," Harry said with caution.
"Can you do wandless, non-verbal magic?"
"Accidentally or on purpose?"
"Deliberately."
"No. Not that I am aware of."
"Then you must be like me," Tonks concluded.
"Why?"
"First off, you are either the most virile and horny fifteen year old wizard in history, or you must be like me."
"Why?"
"Turn around time, for one."
"Excuse me?"
"Hermione and I have both fucked or sucked you senseless, leaving you panting, spent and limp as a wet noodle. Yet again and again, within ten minutes you're ready for more. Either you're doing non-verbal wandless magic on your cock, or you're a metamorphagus and using that talent to reload your weapon quickly."
"Maybe I'm just eager."
"Harry," Hermione said, "the day we bonded, you had sex with me fourteen times! That is if you include your - er - accident and oral. Yesterday another fourteen between Dora and me, again including oral. By my reckoning, you managed that in eight hours or less per day. That means about two times an hour without much of a break!"
"That's serious staying power," Tonks said, "particularly since you never failed to get us to come and most often two for your one. Powerful orgasms, I might add. Wore us both out!"
"And this is relevant because?" Harry asked.
"I was tag teamed on more than one occasion by Sirius and Remus," Tonks said.
"Tag teamed?"
"They took turns with me until they couldn't keep going," Tonks said. "Best that they managed was seven times each in one day, and you equaled or exceeded both of them combined! The only reason I think it was not even more was you wore us out, not the other way around. That screams Metamorphagus!"
"Or horny, teenage bastard," Harry chided.
"Which brings us to point two," Dora said. "This one cannot be debated. You do things to us with that tongue of yours that is out of this world! No one has a tongue like that! I could feel it growing inside of me until it filled me! What made you do that?"
"Just wanted to feel what was inside," Harry confessed, "as much of it as I could."
"Well, it was no engorgio spell, I can tell you that," Tonks said. "You have the makings of a metamorphagus. We'll have to factor that into to our training program."
"Training program?" the two teens asked.
Tonks nodded. "Remus should be here in a bit. He's going to go over that and a few other things as well."
"Does he still have permissions to you," Harry asked with suspicion.
Tonks shook her head. "The permission to me was from my former Master. It died with him."
Harry nodded.
"Are you going to restore them?" Hermione asked.
"No," Harry said. "Not unless Dora wants me to." Harry looked at Tonks. She shook her head. "No then."
Harry and Hermione were sitting in the library fully clothed for once. Harry found the thought amusing. He had spent more time getting shagged senseless in this room then in his own bed! Then again, Hermione was his Consort and she was turned on by books and such. They were both reading a book on the history of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter and Harry was doing his best to keep his composure. He found it difficult as Hermione was an exciting woman in his eyes and she was all cuddled up with him and…
"Down Harry," Hermione scolded! "Later," she whispered as Harry had attempted a gentle grope. "Remus does not get to see the show," she whispered.
"Ah," Harry whispered back, "so the 'I'll shag you in public Hermione' is really the 'I'll shag you in front of women Hermione'?"
"That's right! There is only one man for me! Only one who can see that!"
"And who would that be?" Harry said as he began kissing her neck.
"Harry stop!" Hermione protested. "You're driving me to distraction."
"That was the idea."
"And I'm getting tempted to jump you!"
"That was definitely the idea."
"And we can't - yet. You will need to learn a little self-control, Love."
"Pity." But deep down, Harry knew she was right. He was not sure he wanted another guy to see Hermione naked. No, he was sure he didn't. She was his and his alone!
"Morning you two," a gentle baritone voice called.
The two teens looked up and saw a tall and very familiar sandy haired man approaching.
"Remus!" Harry called out, but unlike so many times before made no effort to get up. He was not going to leave Hermione's side. It wasn't a protective thing, just an 'I'm too comfortable here' thing.
"Well," Remus said eyeing the obviously close couple, "Tonks did say you two have become and item." he chuckled. "Boyfriend and girlfriend. And about bloody time too!"
"Excuse me," Hermione began.
"It's been obvious to many for a while that you two were - ah - together even if you didn't know it or want it to be known."
"Actually, there's more than just that," Hermione said.
"Shagging her already?" Remus teased.
"I beg your pardon," Harry feigned being insulted. "Hermione and I have never 'shagged!' Made love, yes. Shagged? No."
"Ah, and the difference is?"
"Attitude!"
"Ah! Well, that should make things easier. Tonks tell you 'bout the Old Man' plans for you?"
The two teens nodded.
"Well, you'll need to bond to avoid it."
"Bit late," Harry said. "Remus, meet my Consort: The Lady Hermione Potter."
"Bugger! You already did it?"
"Well, it wasn't exactly the kind of ceremony one invites guests to attend," Hermione said returning to her former haughtiness for a moment.
"No, I guess not," Remus chuckled. "So, when did this happen?"
"Few hours after she arrived," Harry said. "She jumped me! What's a poor, hard up teenage boy in love supposed to do?"
Remus chuckled. "Yes, I can just imagine how horrified you were."
"I wouldn't say that," Harry started.
"The words eager and insatiable come to mind," Hermione began, "and mind blowing orgasms."
"You have no shame, woman," Harry mocked.
"I have you! No shame in that. You have the mighty sword and know how to use it!"
"Right," Remus laughed, "and now we venture into the realm of too much information!"
Harry and Hermione both laughed.
"So," Remus said, "was your bonding before or after you found out about the Old Man plans for you?"
"Oh, before," Hermione said. "Well before. Dora saw the final bit just as she got back from her errands. Honestly, I didn't know that the oath I gave Harry would wind up binding me to him. It was just a silly thing I read in a Wizarding romance novel, or so I thought."
"Hold on," Remus said, "you recited an oath from a novel?"
Hermione nodded. "Dora said it was THE oath. She also said and the books I've read confirmed that, although I did not - er - intend to become Harry's Consort and Wife at that time, we both intended it to happen sometime. That we both wanted it was all it took for the bonding to complete it seems."
"Smartest witch of her age," Remus said, "even if by accident."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked insulted.
"It means we were so worried you might resist taking the Consort Bond with Harry. It means we were worried you would have to be a Concubine. You are in a far better position to use that keen intellect of yours to help Harry as a Consort than as a Concubine. Harry can ignore the latter, he cannot ignore you."
"I couldn't ignore her before neither," Harry said, earning him an eager kiss from Hermione.
"And you were told of concubines?" Remus asked.
"Yes," Harry said.
"And what are your opinions as to that?"
"Hermione's opinion is all that matters," Harry said. "I will do what she wants in that regard."
"And what do you want, Hermione?"
"I'd prefer there was no such thing. I'd prefer a more egalitarian society. But these are the cards that are dealt. Dora and Mallory are House Black Concubines and I will not allow them sold or used. Harry has already bonded with Dora. I am okay with that. It's not my idea of perfect as I'd rather have my Love all to myself, but we learned a few things recently and I need help. Try as I might, Harry can run me into the ground sexually. He ran Dora and I into the ground yesterday. We should summon the others today, don't you think, Love?"
"Er," Harry began.
"Others?" Remus asked.
"Mallory and whoever 'MGM' is," Hermione said. "It seems there's a House Potter Concubine as well."
"Really? Never knew Charles had a concubine," Remus stated. "Any others I should know about?"
"I've asked him to consider some purchases," Hermione said. "We have friends who are in that catalog we were shown."
"You're okay with this?" Remus asked.
"No," Hermione said. "I find it all fairly barbaric. But it is the system we live in and I want to help people I consider our friends and allies. If there was another way, I would choose it. But from what I've read, they will be sold regardless and I'd prefer them to be part of Harry's family than part of any other I can think of. He will treat them well. Others might, he will."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, including me, there are two witches in House Potter and two in House Black, although Mallory and "MGM" are not yet bound. The Hogwarts witches we know who are up for sale are: Hannah Abbott, Katie Bell, Lavender Brown, Cho Chang, Padma and Parvati Patil, Sally-Anne Perks and Leanne Tinker. Of course, Sally-Anne did not return to Hogwarts for her Fifth Year and the catalog says she's now a student at St. Georges in London, still I knew her so she's on the list."
"That's twelve," Harry gasped in shock.
"That's only a start. The way I see it, ideally you should have one consort per house, one Matron and eight concubines."
"What? Why? And what's a Matron?"
"A Matron is an older concubine who acts as a sort of mother or big sister to all the other concubines in a house," Hermione exclaimed. "It's always the oldest or longest tenured concubine in a house. In House Black, this would probably be Mallory. In House Potter it would probably be this 'MGM'. Arguably, finding a Consort for House Black might be a bit problematic, but you should at least consider it."
"Why so many?"
"The total number of witches would be twenty. Including yourself, that's twenty-one bound members of Houses Potter-Black. That's a powerful magical number, Harry."
"But what about you?"
"As your Consort, I am above all of the others. I also am the one bound to you through love, so I will always be first in your heart."
"And my bed," Harry added earning a blush from Hermione. "Still, I am expected to have sex with all of these women, right?"
"And sleep with them from time to time."
"How the bloody hell can I do that?"
"Don't worry, Harry," Hermione cooed. "I will have a schedule drawn up."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Should have seen that coming."
"You may also want to factor in Ginny Weasley," Remus said.
"Why? She's part of a plot to do me in."
"Precisely! The plot has already failed now that you two are here and bound to each other. Still, the enemy does not know that yet and is moving forward as if nothing has happened. There will still be an attempt made against you. It will fail, but that's not the point. Under Wizarding law, an attempt against the Head of and Ancient and Noble House by another house creates a Debt of Honor when the attempt fails. The victim can claim spoils from the other house to erase the debt. It is one of two ways of obtaining a concubine without the permission of the guardian. The other is if the witch owes you a life debt."
"Ginny owes you a life debt, Milord," Hermione said softly.
"That's right, she does. Still, why would I want that bitch in my family?"
"Revenge," Remus said. "As your concubine, she is no threat to you and you can do with her as you please. About the only thing you cannot legally do to her is kill her. But, you can also get even with your real enemy, Molly."
"How?"
"Since Ginny owes you a life debt, you can take her at any time. You can either do it in secret, abduct her, or publicly claim her. Abduction would cause Molly more than a fair amount of pain. It's doubtful she would take losing her only daughter well. But if the bitches do go forward with their plan to try and potion you, it might be better to claim her publicly. That would require publication of the whole sordid affair in the papers, humiliating Molly, implicating Dumbledore and forever blackening the name Weasley. Ginny, of course, would be known as a concubine and would be looked down on as little better than a House Elf. She would bear that burden for the rest of her life. Throw in the fact that Molly and Arthur are not bound, rather they are married and given Arthur's honestly and integrity, he would probably have no choice than to divorce, leaving Molly with little or nothing."
"Sounds cruel," Hermione said.
"It is. But Bill thinks it is the most effective way short of murder to destroy Molly and seriously damage Dumbledore."
"That's Bill's idea?" Harry asked.
"You can't tell when he's around them, but he is seriously pissed at his Mum and sister. It's the reason why he and Fleur are part of our little group."
"Remind me again who's in this group?"
"It was Minerva McGonagall, Mallory Grant, Nymphadora Tonks, Fleur Delacour, Bill Weasley, Kingsley Shackelbolt, Sirius and myself. Arabella Figg and Amelia Bones are also considered members, but they don't attend all of the meetings. Now that Sirius is gone, we've invited Alastor Moody to join and he has. He hates the Old Man as much as anyone now. Can't forgive the bastard for the months he spent locked up in that trunk.
"All of us have our reasons for doing this. McGonagall has been trying to get you away from the Dursleys since the night you were left there. the Old Man thwarted every attempt and she lost all respect for the man years ago. I have been looking for you and your sister from that night onwards. When you first went to Hogwarts, I then began trying to find a way to restore you to your birthright. Sirius has been doing the same thing practically from the day he escaped from Azkaban. Mallory and Nymphadora have been helping in part because they had no choice being bound concubines. But the more they learned, the more they are doing this because they want to. Kinglsey has never trusted the Old Man and was eager to take part in any scheme to bring the man down. Arabella knows how you were treated at the Dursleys and blames the Old Man. Amelia also knows more about the bastard and wants to see him meet justice, but he's too slippery. Bill and Fleur are our most recent recruits. They both joined because of what Molly is up to, although Fleur may have joined anyway. She considers you a good friend and says her honor requires it as you had saved her sister's life once."
"So what are your plans for me?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"To restore you to your birthright and to train you so that you can, if you so desire, take on your enemies and win. You are potentially the most powerful wizard alive. We intend to see to it that it's more than potential. What you do is up to you. We are here to help you, teach you and advise you, but not to control you. It's your life to live, not ours."
"So what is the plan now?"
"The immediate plan is to find you sister and keep the Old Man from learning you are no longer under his control. Nymphadora, Moody and I are assigned as your minder by the Order. We are supposedly watching you have yet another horrible summer at the Dursleys. In reality, we are looking for your sister and attending to the administration of the Black and Potter Estates.
"As for your sister, we are ninety percent sure of who she is, we just don't know where she is at the moment." Moody opened the auction catalog and turned to page 47. There was a picture of a young woman with long, black hair and green eyes. Beside the picture it read:
CLARICE ANNE JAMESON
Born September 5, 1981. MUGGLE BORN. Completed 3rd Year St. George's School of Magic. Stands at top of her year. Vitals: 5'6". Black hair, green eyes, 35-23-34, 118 lbs. Bra size - B cup. Believed to be unspoiled. Wand: Holly w/ unicorn hair.
Initial asking price: 200G
Seller 1276 (Dumbledore was written beside the number in pen)
Pre-Auction Bidding Interest Expressed:
Buyer 32168 (Us)
"That bastard!" Harry growled. "Why? Why's he doing this?"
"Tying up loose ends," Remus shrugged. "If she were to marry or become a consort and give birth to a son, he would have the ability to dispute any claims of inheritance. As a concubine, her womb is not a threat to the Old Man plans."
"Can we stop this?"
Remus shrugged. "We hope so. This Clarice was adopted by Michael and Margaret Jameson in November 1981 through an agency in London. We've known that much for a couple of years. Unfortunately, the Jameson's address is sealed and until this catalog entry, we had no clue as to where to look."
"But this doesn't say where she lives," Harry pointed out.
"Ah," Remus smiled, "but it does say where she goes to school. Her school will have a record of where she is currently living. McGonagall will be meeting with the Headmaster next week about a student transfer request. It's a forgery of course. She should be able to find out where your sister is.
"Once we know that, you'll have to meet with her and her parents, explain the girl's predicament and offer her the protection of your House. If she accepts such protection, you become her magical guardian and can withdraw her from the auction. Worse case scenario is that you buy her."
"I'd rather not."
"You don't have to bond with her, Harry. As long as you own the paper, you control whether she can be bought or sold. She never has to be bound. Once you control her paper, you can then offer her the protection of your House in lieu of bonding with her."
"So I really don't have to take on concubines?"
"This is a special situation, Harry," Hermione said. "Because she's your sister, you can choose not to bond with her. The others are not your immediate family. If you acquire them, you do have to bond with them and make them concubines."
"Aside from my sister, what else?"
"Well, we wait and see to a large extent," Remus said. "We believe Voldie and his minions might make a go at some of your friends. We know the Old Man and Molly are going forward with their potion plan. Aside from that, both sides are doing little or nothing. The Old Man and Voldie each seem to have things going on that will absent them from their lairs for most of the summer if not longer. Voldie is recruiting, as is the Old Man. The Ministry is in a shambles. We do not believe anything major will happen for at least a year, maybe longer. That gives us an advantage. We have time.
"Beginning sometime in August, you and anyone you invite are going to begin intensive study and training to prepare you for whatever the future has to offer. If you have not figured it out, you will not be returning to Hogwarts. Our Order has three Aurors, a Healer, a top notch Curse Breaker, two current or former professors, more than enough to provide you with an education that would make Hogwarts seem useless. You will study Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, Healing, Defense, Arthirmancy, Runes, Curse Breaking, Combat Tactics and you will also be trained in Muggle Combat. Marta your House Historian hopes to undo the damage you suffered as a student in Magical History. Basically, you will be tutored with the goal of having you at or beyond N.E.W.T. levels by this time next year.
"Between now and then we will try and let you have a nice holiday. But there are still things we hope you will agree to do."
"Such as?" Harry asked.
"As Head of two Ancient and Noble Houses, you are required to go over the status of your estates before the reading of Sirius's will. Both estates are large and this will take time. I recommend we go over the basics the next few days and then we can hit the details at the Gringotts branch in Pottersport.
"Also, you are going to undergo treatment for that binding on your magic. That might take a couple of weeks, during which time you will not be allowed to use your wand without supervision."
"Why not?"
"You will need to learn to control the increases in your magical power, Harry. Without learning such control, you could be dangerous. Even a stunning spell can be lethal if there's enough magic behind it. So you will train for about an hour a day to learn to control you magic and later how to use it at full force.
"We also recommend you get some exercise. Running, swimming and the like. Many witches and wizards don't bother. They either don't know or care that physical fitness enhances ones magic."
"I - I don't know how to swim," Harry confessed.
"I can teach you," Hermione suggested.
"I'd like that. Anything else?"
"We intend that the mornings will be dedicated to your training and fitness. At least until August, the afternoons and evenings will be yours to do with as you please. Go out and explore the estate. Spend time with Hermione. Whatever."
"Oh good," Harry exclaimed! "I like spending time with Hermione!"
"I think he means that at least some of that time should be spent with our clothes on, Harry," Hermione teased.
"Ahhh! That's no fun."
"I'll be sure to make it up to you."
"Looking forward to it."
"I'm sure you are."
"Sure is shaping up to be the best summer I've ever had."
Hermione smiled knowing she was a major reason why.
"Now," Remus said, "Tonks seems to have left out the bit about you two being bound. She did tell me something - er - unexpected happened to Harry. Mind explaining that?"
"It was when we bound," Hermione said. "We were making love and when we finished, it happened." She then described the event: Harry screaming in pain and passing out, the flash of magic, the other scream, the puff of smoke and the fact that he no longer had his scar.
"You were only having sex?" Remus asked.
"What do you mean?"
Remus explained what he thought had happened. "But, I'll need so see your memory of the event - all of it - to be sure."
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, age 15 (born 7/31/80)
Lady Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (9/19/79). Girlfriend/fiancé as of 6/18/96; CONSORT, HOUSE OF POTTER 6/23/96.
Nymphadora (Dora) Tonks, age 21 (7/12/74); Title of Interest to Sirius Black 3/18/74; Concubine By Proxy (Remus Lupon) to Sirius Black 6/20/87; Bound to Sirius Black, 7/22/93; CONCUBINE, HOUSE OF BLACK 6/24/96.