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Assistant: Title: Not with a halfblood!
        Author: anorc anorc 
        Chapter: 1/21 
        Summary: A post-war Harry and Daphne betrothal, but without magical contracts, ancient betrothal contracts or... Harry being unable to get out of it. Daphne Greengrass at a ministry party tells that famous half-blood about her imminent engagement and marriage to the new head of the house of Black, Draco Malfoy. Harry is confused.A saving-people-thing ensues.Where two British magicals get together by accident.The course of true love never did run smooth.The course of this story is once again more like a pinball on an improbable journey.By An Orc, The Harry Potter Wizarding world setting and characters by JK Rowling, with no intent to profit from this work.
        Contents: Chapter 1: It begins with a misunderstanding
    

    


      
        
          
          (See the end of the chapter for  notes.)
          
      
  

  
  
    
    Harry Potter had to attend the Ministry Yule Ball.That's what people told him.Ginny was excited; her first public outing as his girlfriend.Harry stood around waiting for Ginny to come back from the loo. She'd had too much pumpkin juice. Or something.Someone bumped into him from behind. Harry turned; a pretty blonde in a very nice robe glared up at him. He looked down at her; she was not the tallest person, and he'd grown a bit in the last year or so."Potter," said the woman in an aristocratic accent "What are you doing here?""I got an invite," said Harry. "I'm sort of famous, you know, the whole defeating Voldemort thing.""But you're a half-blood," sneered … Daphne Greengrass; Slytherin."Well, I suppose once you've saved the country, it doesn't matter," said Harry blandly. Some people.Greengrass looked like she wanted to say something."Thank you," she said politely. "For keeping Draco out of Azkaban.""Thank you?" said Harry "There are actually people who like that git?""I'm betrothed to … that git, as you call him," said Greengrass. "So I am thankful.""I thought, him and Parkinson," said Harry."Oh, Merlin no, after her little speech in the Great Hall, Pansy's had to flee the country," said Greengrass. "Father swooped in and got Draco at a bargain price, and as he's not going to Azkaban, our families won't be too ruined by his poor choices.""You are aware he's a complete Pillock?" asked Harry, wondering if the girl was a bit dim.Greengrass rolled her eyes. "That's not important," she said "His family wealth is what matters.""Oh, with Lucius in Azkaban, is Draco in charge now?" asked Harry, thinking for the first time of the consequences of his maybe too-generous treatment of Narcissa and Draco… though they both saved Harry's life…. So, he had owed them."And frankly, my sister actually likes him, so she can do all that … stuff," said Greengrass dispassionately."Your sister?" asked Harry, confused now. "I thought you were the one marrying Draco.""Oh, both of us, my sister and I," said Daphne. "That way one of us holds Malfoy and the other Black.""Black?" asked Harry, scratching the back of his head."Draco's Head of the House of Black, didn't you know, through his mother?" asked Greengrass."Er, Sirius Black was the Head of the House of Black," said Harry. "And he died.""Leaving everything to his closest male relative, Draco," said Greengrass nodding.Harry shook his head, "No, he left everything to me because I'm his Godson. I live at Grimmauld Place.""You live at Draco's house in London?" asked Daphne Greengrass frowning."Greengrass..." said Harry."Daphne," said Greengrass "Once I'm married, you're a relative though your great aunt Druella."Harry nodded, "Great Aunt Druella, Great Uncle Charlus" he replied.Daphne blinked, "You do actually know your family tree?" she said, sounding surprised."Bits of it," admitted Harry. Even Harry couldn’t ignore the bits of his family tree on the wall in the parlour. "But… I inherited everything from Sirius. We… the resistance used Grimmauld Place, Sirius's mothers old house as a safe house for years… since ninety-five.""Not Draco?" asked Daphne, looking confused."Look, before Sirius willed everything to me, Draco was going to inherit," said Harry. "But since … since… since Sirius died, and left it all to me, he's a sort-of cousin.""Sirius Black betrayed your parents, why would he have left anything to you?" asked Daphne, sounding irritated. She looked very… irritated. She had the face for it."Sirius was framed, never tried, spent years in Azkaban," explained Harry tiredly. "It was Peter Pettigrew who did it, and left a finger behind. He was a Rat Animagus.""Ew, a Rat!" said Daphne."He was viler in person. A Death Eater, he knifed me in ninety-four as part of resurrecting Voldemort," said Harry, sighing."An innocent head of an important house went to Azkaban?" said Daphne, sounding more upset by that, than Harry would think made sense."And my Godfather. I should have grown up with him," said Harry. "Got fobbed off on Muggle relatives that hated me instead.""And you own everything the Blacks had?" said Daphne."Everything including the name," said Harry. "Sirius had to adopt me in his will: otherwise, Draco would be Head of Black, and I'd have all the money and stuff.""But my father paid good money for that contract," said Daphne, looking cross. "It's worthless.""Worse than that, you have to marry that Pillock,” said Harry. Harry didn’t smirk, because he must have absorbed some manners from his Aunt Petunia’s endless criticisms. Or perhaps he was just smug."We shall see," said Daphne Greengrass, and she turned on her heel and strode off angrily. A remarkable figure, even if she was a snotty pure-blood Slytherin."Harry," said Ginny's voice sharply from behind him "What were you talking to that b@tch about?"Harry, who hadm’t been staring at Daphne Greengrass’s retreating figure at all, turned around and smiled at Ginny. "Just Malfoy being a complete Pillock. Daphne Greengrass there is betrothed to Malfoy: thinking she's going to be Mrs. Black. Ferret-boy's been lying about being the Head of the House of Black.""He's not?" asked Ginny."No, Sirius left everything to me," said Harry, "Otherwise Malfoy would have kicked us out of Grimmauld Place years ago.""So, you're… Head of the House of Black?" asked Ginny."Sirius put it all in his will," said Harry waving a hand dismissively. "Like I said to Greengrass; without that adoption in the will, I'd have all the money, but Draco would still be the 'Head of the House'. Sirius wasn't having any of that, so he fixed it. It’s not like it’s worth anything.""What a b@ll@nd," said Ginny. "I almost feel sorry for Greengrass. Malfoy, even a stuck-up Slytherin b@tch like her doesn't deserve that.""Did I do the right thing, Ginny?" asked Harry "Keeping him out of Azkaban?""He saved your life... and was a rubbish Death Eater,” said Ginny.Harry scratched the back of his head "The Malfoys have scammed the Greengrasses something awful. Both the Greengrass girls are betrothed to Malfoy. They thought he had two houses; Daphne was expecting to pick up the Black family and not have to touch Draco, apparently her sister likes him and wants to be Mrs. Malfoy."Ginny coughed "F@ck!" she said "They're b@tchy Slytherin b@tch@s, but that's very bad.""Were they… you know?" asked Harry curiously."Nah," said Ginny. "Pansy was a suck-up to the Carrows, it was Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy.""Greengrass said Pansy's fled the country," observed Harry wryly."If I see her again, I'll hex her," said Ginny. "Most of the… younger Death Eaters died in the battle. They weren't as practiced as us in the DA" she said proudly."I feel sort of sorry for her. Now they both have to marry Draco, or something?" said Harry. "Her dad was proud they got a good deal on Draco… but I think it's a bad deal now.""Bl@@dy Pure-Bloods and their paid marriages," said Ginny dismissively."You're a Pure-Blood, Ginny. The Weasleys are even in the Sacred twenty-eight" said Harry, jokingly."Mum and Dad don't do any of that stuff. We're 'Blood Traitors' don't you know," said Ginny, smirking."Just as well, your dad could never afford me," said Harry, and Ginny patted his upper arm. "Prat," she said lovingly. -==0==- Harry got up, a bit thick-headed from last night's Ball and got dressed and descended to the Kitchen.Kreacher had made breakfast for him."Master," croaked Kreacher."Did you spit in it?" asked Harry casually."Master is a good master and Kreacher doesn't spit in his food," croaked Kreacher. "Blood Traitor’s foods, of course.""Kreacher, don't spit in people's food," said Harry, shoving his glasses down and pinching the bridge of his nose. "No spitting, in anyone's food.""As you say Master," grumbled Kreacher.As Harry finished breakfast, an Owl flew in and dropped a letter on the table. Harry was just reaching for it when Kreacher clicked his fingers and the letter floated up off the table, glowed briefly gold and sank."Safe to open," croaked Kreacher."Thank you Kreacher,” said Harry, his fingers clawed up in surprise. He picke up the presumably safe letter and read it.
  'Harry Potter

  Head of the House of Black'
was the address.The letter was a folded-up sheet of parchment, so Harry opened the green wax seal and folded the letter out to read it.
  'Mister Potter,

  My Daughter Daphne claims that you, not Draco Malfoy, are the Head of the House of Black.

  I need to meet with you most urgently to confirm this.

  Cyrus Greengrass

  Head of the House of Greengrass'
'Oh'. Harry thought for a bit and decided to help Cyrus Greengrass; Draco's family had done this… crooked deal, and nobody deserved to be married to Draco, least of all two girls. Harry had a sudden funny vision of Crabbe and Goyle in wedding dresses marrying Draco. Still… one of them was dead now, and the other in Azkaban.Harry took the letter and went upstairs to his room, Sirius's old room, and found the ledger on the bookshelf. It was a very large black leather-bound volume with a brass clasp to hold it shut. The cover was embossed with three ravens, which had something to do with the family Black.Harry opened it to the last page used; marked with a black ribbon.The page started with
  'Control of House assigned to Harry James Potter by the last will and testament of Sirius Orion Black.'
Then there were columns of numbers; all that was being deducted was Floo network fees and food. Money kept coming in from something. Businesses, rents. Something.Harry looked around for some convenient way to carry the darn thing. Nothing sprang to mind.Harry opened the desk drawer and took out a sheet of parchment, looked at the letter and wrote a reply carefully, and sealed the letter up with some old wax from the back of the drawer.No owl. Harry sighed. Since Hedwig's death he hadn't wanted another owl, there could be nobody to replace his oldest friend. On the other hand, he now needed to send a letter, and life stretched ahead of Harry. There would be lots of letters, and he needed an owl. He was going to go to Eyelops and buy an Owl. Harry sighed. Not a pet, just someone to carry the mail.-==0==-Harry put on a hooded cloak from the wardrobe and flooed to Diagon Alley.When Harry got to Eyelops Owl Emporium, the smell reminded him of the Owlery at Hogwarts.A white shape in the rafters drew his eye.A shopkeeper in a flat, wide-brimmed shiny leather hat came over. "That Snowy, eh?" asked the middle-aged man. "Got it in a few years ago actually, when Potter-mania was high in ninety-five. I sold a couple of Snowy's then the fad ended, and he doesn't have an owl now, so nobody wants it. Snowy's are a bit temperamental, after all.""I'll take it," said Harry, sure for once. "The owl and the biggest box of liver owl treats you've got."Harry looked at the counter."Eh, just a tick, have to get it down," said the shopkeeper, meeting Harry's eye."Blimey, you're Harry Potter," they said loudly in the deserted shop."Quietly please," said Harry. "Got any bacon, that worked on my owl.""Bacon?" asked the shopkeeper. "You must be mental."Harry rolled his eyes and went to the counter. A ten-minute scuffle between an owl and a shopkeeper later, the owl sat in a familiar looking brass travelling cage, glaring at Harry and the shopkeeper."Same model cage..." said the shopkeeper and then stopped."I remember it well," said Harry. "The owl treats?""Don't feed it too much, it won't fly,” said the shopkeeper."Yeah," said Harry. "I've had a Snowy before.""Well, this one's male," said the shopkeeper. "Smaller, and not so speckly.""Orion," said Harry suddenly. "He's Orion."The owl formerly known as that owl looked at Harry reproachfully. Harry took the letter out of his pocket and looked at it speculatively."Best to take ...'Orion' home and feed him before you use him,” said the shopkeeper.Harry paid a stack of Galleons and left the shop."I'm going to call you Orion," said Harry to the owl, who turned their back on Harry."Don't like that name?" asked Harry. The owl barked."Salazar?" asked Harry. The owl revolved its head to glare at Harry."All right, Salazar,” said Harry. The owl blinked."Now, can you find me once you've delivered this letter," said Harry, waving the letter."Prek," barked the owl stiffly."I know, you're a Snowy post-owl, you're smart," said Harry unselfconsciously.Salazar bobbed."Well, take this to Cyrus Greengrass at… Greengrass Manor?" guessed Harry.Salazar turned his head back away from Harry.Harry put the box of owl treats down and opened the cage. Salazar sulked.Harry rummaged in his pockets and took out the letter from Cyrus Greengrass."Salazar, this is the letter he sent me," said Harry, holding the letter out.Salazar turned and hopped onto the rim of the cage door.Harry held the letter to the owl's beak.Salazar tipped his head down and eyed the letter."Sender’s address?" asked Harry, and he turned the letter over.Salazar made a coughing noise."I forgot, alright,” said Harry.Salazar hopped onto Harry's free arm and Harry put the cage down, and shuffled letters, making sure to have the one he'd written."Take it to Cyrus Greengrass at Greengrass Estate," said Harry, imagining some vast building like Malfoy Manor.Salazar bit the letter and in a flutter of wings flew off. Harry, seeing no reason to hang around, Apparated home and put the cage in a quiet corner of the kitchen, and the box of owl treats on a shelf.Kreacher appeared noiselessly nearby. "New Owl?" asked Kreacher."A Male Snowy called Salazar,” said Harry."Another white owl," croaked Kreacher. "Soft hearted master""Salazar is a post owl, nothing more,” said Harry.-==0==-That afternoon, Kreacher popped into the library, where Harry was trying to learn some spells, to inform Harry that "The Owl Salazar," had returned, with a letter, which Kreacher handed over.
  'Harry Potter

  Head of House Black

  Agree to meet you in a back room of Three Broomsticks, 5pm.

  Unable to Floo-call you.

  Cyrus Greengrass,

  Head of House Greengrass'
Harry nodded. The… Head of House Greengrass did need to talk to Harry pretty urgently.Harry went and got a coat from his room, the day was turning colder, and had a rummage in the desk drawer for that will-thingy. After ten minutes of fruitless searching, he called Kreacher."Master?" croaked Kreacher."Where's Sirius's will. It was in the desk drawer," said Harry, feeling pressured for time now."In the office, Master," croaked Kreacher."What office?" asked Harry."Your office," croaked Kreacher obtusely."Where is it?" asked Harry. "The first floor, behind the leather door" croaked Kreacher.Harry stomped down to the first floor and Kreacher followed him, finally, pointing to a leather-padded door Harry had not seen before."This had been hidden?" asked Harry."To keep the Blood-Traitors and Mudbloods out," said Kreacher.Harry groaned and opened the door. The office was the size of a bedroom, with a single bookshelf stuffed higgledy-piggledy with leather bound books, a large elaborate desk, a couple of very uncomfortable chairs for visitors, some couches with a floor-standing wooden globe and a fireplace behind the desk. Harry blinked. This was by far the nicest room in Grimmauld Place, and it lacked a certain… eau-de-mould."Kreacher, you've been keeping this clean?" asked Harry, feeling irritated."Of course," croaked Kreacher.Harry walked over to the desk chair "Where's the will. I need proof I'm the Head of the House.""The signet ring is better," said Kreacher, and Harry noticed, on the centre of the desk blotter, an ugly signet ring with the Black coat of arms on it. Harry picked it up and put it on, not noticing the look of disappointment on Kreacher's face when Harry did not die immediately."Thank you Kreacher," said Harry. "I suppose, bring the ledger and papers down, I'm going out, I'll get tea before I come home.”Kreacher faded from sight and Harry left the office.-==0==-Harry was ten minutes late to the Three Broomsticks, stepping out of the Floo, brushing off soot and heading for the back rooms.
  "Harry Potter?" said Madam Rosmerta cheerfully "Your party is in room two" she said and led Harry to the smallest of the back rooms, which had its door shut and a sign 
  
    'Private Meeting' 
  
  hanging on the door. She knocked and there was a deep muffled "Come in" from inside.
Harry opened the door and entered; the room was lit fairly brightly by lamps. Three people were sitting at the table. Harry recognised Daphne Greengrass, and the older woman and man were probably her parents."Harry Potter," said the pointy-faced man with a goatee, who looked like he got part-time work as the devil."You must be Cyrus Greengrass,” said Harry. The man nodded. "My wife Roxanne, and you know my daughter Daphne.""Mrs. Greengrass, Miss Greengrass," said Harry, trying to be polite, and sat down. Mrs. Greengrass was a beautiful blonde woman with no facial expression. Daphne looked mildly contemptuous."Daphne says you claim to be the Head of the House of Black?" said Cyrus, in a polite tone.Harry laid his right hand on the table, the lights glittering off the Black signet ring."Oh," said Cyrus. Harry nodded and looked at Mrs. Greengrass. She was… blonde, like Daphne, and had hazel eyes. She looked now like she'd just eaten a particularly unpleasant Weasley's wheeze."You've got the ring?" said Daphne Greengrass. "You didn't have the ring before!""It was in the office," said Harry, trying for the sort of bland drawl Draco and other rich prats affected.Daphne Greengrass's face screwed up. She looked royally annoyed now. Mrs. Greengrass reached over and patted Daphne's hand.Harry looked back at Cyrus Greengrass. "So," asked Harry, "what do you want to do?""Get Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban, so I can wring his neck," said Cyrus angrily.Harry was surprised, "You signed that long ago?""Last year,” said Cyrus. "It seemed a prudent move at the time."Harry tried not to laugh. These people, the Greengrasses had sucked up hard to the Malfoy's when old Lucius Malfoy had been second in command of the Death Eaters, and now were left with both daughters engaged to a Pillock."So, you've got two daughters engaged to Draco Malfoy, Heir of House Malfoy," said Harry."Not… exactly," said Cyrus, sounding embarrassed. "Could we have our money back?""Your money back?" asked Harry."We paid the money for Daphne's engagement into the Black vault,” said Cyrus.Harry snorted. He just couldn't help himself. "You paid me," said Harry, chuckling."We didn't know it was you," said Roxanne Greengrass in the same aristocratic tone Daphne had used last night."And the Malfoy's didn't mind," asked Harry curiously."It was assumed… the Malfoys would have control over the Black accounts,” said Cyrus.Harry heard the words that weren't being said, 'by the time they marry, Harry Potter will be worm food.'"So, you, Greengrasses didn't know, and the Malfoy's assumed I'd be dead soon,” said Harry.Cyrus looked away from Harry."How much was it?" asked Harry."Eighty-five thousand Galleons," admitted Daphne."For the amazing bouncing Ferret's hand in marriage?" said Harry, chuckling. "What a rip-off.""Would you give us back the Galleons?" said Mrs. Greengrass, sounding strained."As long as that contract of yours, doesn't make me betrothed to her,” said Harry."Daddy?" said Daphne Greengrass nervously.Harry had been feeling a bit amused until now, and then it hit him; this girls’ parents had made a bet, bet a hell of a lot of money, and it had gone horribly wrong. Harry looked to Cyrus, who was shuffling papers in a leather satchel, and finally pulled out a bundle of parchment, bound in blue ribbon, He flopped it onto the table. There were ribbons, black and green coming out of the bottom of the pile.Cyrus glanced at the contract, then ran his finger along the cramped-old fashioned hand it was written in."The party of the first part being the Heir Black," said Cyrus glumly."Well, I didn't sign it," said Harry, and Cyrus flipped the whole thing onto it's back and folded the back page with the ribbons down onto the table. Above the Black ribbon was an elegant signature, nothing like Harry's writing at all."Signed by Narcissa Malfoy née Black," said Cyrus and sighed."Signed by Narcissa, not Lucius?" asked Harry."She's a Black, he's not,” said Cyrus."Well, my… sort-of-aunt can't sign a contract for me," said Harry confidently; eyeing the contract; Cyrus has signed for Greengrass."About that..." said Mrs. Greengrass awkwardly. "How old were you..." she stopped to peer at the contract. "On September the eighth, nineteen-ninety-six?""Ninety-six?" asked Daphne. "Two years ago, Daddy, you said you got it after the war."Cyrus Greengrass looked awkwardly at Daphne Greengrass. "Daphne dear, we had to keep you safe.""This is why Draco dumped Pansy," accused Daphne. "This contract.""I was sixteen," said Harry, swallowing."Under-age," said Mrs. Greengrass. "Your next of kin have to sign contracts for you.""Narcissa Malfoy wasn't my guardian, that was my aunt and uncle," said Harry angrily."Harry Potter-Black's next of kin was Narcissa Malfoy…. Or the other one, no she was disowned," said Cyrus."So, Bellatrix Bl@@dy LeStrange could have signed contracts for me?" spat Harry ironically.Everyone stared at Harry after this outburst. "I suppose she could have," said Cyrus slowly."So, this bl@@dy thing applies to me?" asked Harry."We will need to seek legal advice," said Cyrus, looking pained by the language."Daddy, no!" cried Daphne Greengrass, looking horrified. "Not with a Half-Blood!""Harry," said Mrs. Greengrass softly, clearly attempting to be charming. "Can you tell us about Draco's secret role in the war?"Harry looked away from a distraught Daphne Greengrass to Mrs. Greengrass. "He was a Death Eater," said Harry bluntly. Were the Greengrass women a bit… simple?"But he did something important. That's why you protected him and his mother,” said Mr. Greengrass.Harry thought for a second about that and then just said, "Draco was home when we were captured, and pretended not to recognise me, when the Snatchers brought us to Malfoy Manor." said Harry."He wasn't a spy for the resistance?" asked Mrs. Greengrass."He's always been a little sh@t. He lied for me once," said Harry."And Narcissa?" asked Mrs. Greengrass."Oddly enough, she lied for me too. She was sent to check I'd died after a duel with Voldemort and lied. So, I told her where Draco was in the castle,” said Harry."One lie each?" said Mrs. Greengrass "Even after that mess with the Werewolves biting people?"Harry thought about this and then, couldn't contain himself, "F@ck!" he said."Language," said Mrs. Greengrass, but she’d sounded foreign."I forgot that time," said Harry. "I think I need to have a word with Shack.""Shack?" asked Cyrus Greengrass."Kingsley Shacklebolt," said Harry. "I think Aunt Narcissa's efforts with this contract, which was an extra death sentence for me, balance out her lie, as for Draco I'd forgotten about the Werewolves.""Forgotten about a Werewolf attack at Hogwarts?" asked Cyrus."I've had a lot on my mind since then,” said Harry."Daddy, I can't be betrothed to this ... this ..." said Daphne Greengrass, sounding strident and looking agitated."Don't worry Greengrass," said Harry to Daphne. "There's no chance this will hold up in court.""When exactly is your birthday?" asked Cyrus Greengrass."The thirty-first of July,” said Harry. Cyrus looked at Mrs. Greengrass pointedly."Are we done?" asked Harry."Ah, yes," said Cyrus Greengrass "We'll get a lawyer to check to see if you...""Owl me,” said Harry."You're Floo's unlisted, even at the ministry,” said Cyrus."It's secured," said Harry, and he got up and left, clutching the contract.-==0==-Harry wandered along Diagon Alley, wand drawn, looking for a sign that said Lawyer, people stared at him, eyed his wand, and kept their distance. Harry supposed that was the best he could hope for. Finally, next to a silversmith's shop, there was yet another black-painted wooden door, with a small sign that said 'Wilkes, Davis, Solicitors.' Harry knocked on the door, and nothing happened.With a sigh, he turned the doorknob, and the door opened, into a short, very steep staircase. Harry, feeling like a bit of a berk, went in and closed the door behind him, locking it - just in case, and went up the stairs to a small landing, off which were four doors- one labelled 'Wilkes, Davis', one labelled 'Staff', the third, more battered looking labelled 'Naismith Family', and the last, unlabelled, with three keyholes and no doorknob. Harry knocked on the door of 'Wilkes, Davis' and from inside a woman's voice said, "Do come in."The room behind the door was a fussy little room, with two doors off it, and a thin, nervous looking witch sat behind a small desk with piles of parchment and a quill. A sign on the front of the desk, rather redundantly said 'Reception'."Oh, my lord, it's Harry Potter," said the witch, her quill dripping ink on the document she'd been working on.Harry smiled nervously "I um… have a legal thing I need to know about."The witch glanced over at an abacus-looking thing in her desk "Mister Davis could see you quite soon," she said."Um yes,” said Harry.The witch flicked a bead on the abacus, and moments later, with a soft click, another bead moved on its own."You can go in," said the witch and pointed at the door to Harry's right "Mr. Davis will see you now." The door to Harry's right clicked open."Mister Harry Potter to see you, Mister Davis. A legal thing he needs to know about," called the witch, and Harry gritted his teeth; it sounded a bit stupid repeated like that.Harry went through the doorway into a sunny little room lines with bookshelves, all full of books, and a small desk, and a visitor’s chair behind which, a rather rounded-off brown haired wizard was standing and extending his hand "Edward Davis," said the man "Do sit down and tell me all about it. About your problem, that is."Harry closed the door behind him, took out the contract and put it gingerly on the desk, the green and black ribbons flopping about. "It's just," said Harry "I've got this marriage contract.""Oh, that's quite old-fashioned of you," said Mr. Davis, "May I?""Mr. Greengrass said it wasn't magically binding," said Harry, and Mr. Davis's hand, which had been reaching towards the contract froze, and Davis eyed Harry. "Greengrass. As in Cyrus Greengrass?"Harry nodded. Mr. Davis sat down, without picking up the contract. Harry's stomach twisted."I have to ask, before I take this on, in the strictest confidence, who is the contract for?" asked Davis."Daphne Greengrass," said Harry, and Davis sighed. "Oh dear," he said. "I have a responsibility, Mr. Potter, to warn you that I know Cyrus, he is my next-door neighbour, and Daphne is my daughter Tracy's best friend. I am still bound to act professionally, but I thought I should warn you of a potential conflict-of-interest."Harry shrugged "As long as you're honest." he said, his gut telling him that this was a terrible idea, and he should flee to America. With Ginny - and then barricade himself in to protect himself from Mrs. Weasley – the same witch who'd killed Bellatrix LeStrange in a duel. Harry swallowed painfully.Mr. Davis picked up the scroll and unrolled the top. "I take it you're the Head of the Black family?" he asked.Harry nodded; his mouth too dry to speak.Mr. Davis unrolled the scroll, all the way across his desk, barely glancing at anything until the bottom, where his brown eyebrows shot up. "Narcissa Malfoy Nee Black," he said. "On that day, were you – ""I was underage, yes," Harry interrupted."Oh dear," said Mr. Davis, and he drew his wand, and cast a strange charm on the scroll, which glowed light blue, and at the end, where the signatures were, a glowing Ministry of Magic logo sat."Registered with the Ministry the same day,” said Mr. Davis. "To save time, my I ask, what did Mr. Greengrass say?""That it was all done to safeguard the girls," said Harry. "I need to know what to do.""I will have a report for you with a summary of your options as soon as possible," said Mr. Davis."But?" asked Harry."Pleased don't just declare Daphne unacceptable," said Mr. Davis "She's a nice girl, really just shy, and gods – girls have killed themselves over this before.""Is that all?" asked Harry."I'll ah… invoice the Black family, shall I?" asked Mr. Davis.Harry lifted his hand and showed off the signet ring "That's me," he agreed, and Davis nodded."I’ll have that report for you as soon as possible then," said Mr. Davis, standing up.Harry stood "Keep it safe,” said Harry. Mr. Davis nodded and looked a bit pale.Harry left, and Apparated home to Grimmauld Place from Diagon Alley, and the rest of the day was a horrible blur. It felt like a prison.-==0==-"You what!" said Ron, spitting butterbeer across the kitchen floor at Grimmauld Place."My aunt betrothed me to Daphne Greengrass,” said Harry."Why on Earth would your aunt betroth you to some stuck-up Slytherin bitch?" said Ron."My aunt Narcissa Malfoy née Black. She was my next-of-kin on the Black side after Sirius died, until I turned seventeen, she could sign contracts for me." said Harry. "Aunt Petunia would have sold me for fifty pence. Less if I was going to get beaten or killed.""You need to get that undone" said Ron sternly "Ginny has expectations.""I have expectations!" retorted Harry "Once you know… things settle down after the war, and stuff, we'll … you know…""Get engaged to my sister,” said Ron."Yeah that,” said Harry."How much was it?" asked Ron."Eighty-five thousand,” said Harry. Ron went still "Bl@@dy Hell" he said "That's… so much money.""I'll have your sister instead,” said Harry."Can you not say it like that!" said Ron. "I don't like thinking about you touching my sister.""It's not like I'm ... you know,” said Harry."I should bl@@dy think not. That's my baby sister." said Ron indignantly."She's a grown woman" said Harry, thinking about some kissing and cuddling of Ginny.Ron was about to make some sort of protest when an owl flew in through the open window and dropped a red letter on the table in front of Harry, flew a circle and flew off."Is that a Howler?" asked Harry."Wrong red,” said Ron. "That's a red letter.""Wot?" asked Harry."Haven't you heard of red-letter-days" said Ron "Day's you get a red letter. Something really important."Harry waited till Kreacher had floated the letter and made it glow, then opened it."Oh B@gg@r,” said Harry. "B@gg@ry buggering hell."Ron looked disconcerted "Steady mate!" he said."That f@ck@ng contract's legal and binding and worse." said Harry."Worse than binding?" asked Ron "How could it be worse than binding?" he said petulantly."It's expired. I'm engaged as of… f@ck." said Harry, throwing the letter down."As of when?" asked Ron, standing and peering at the letter. "Last Year?" his voice strangled off.Harry bent over, his face in his hands "Ginny's going to kill me" he sobbed."You've been snogging my sister when you're engaged to someone else" said Ron angrily."I didn't bl@@dy know. Neither did the bl@@dy Greengrasses." said Harry "It depended on when our birthdays were, and they thought they were getting Malfoy. It was a month later, which is odd because I'm much more mature than Malfoy.""You need to come tell my mum, “said Ron."No, I don't" said Harry "I need to go see my new to-me mother-in-law. Apparently, they want to have a proper wedding quickly. God my life is so f@ck@d. Greengrass despises me and now we're got to get married.""Well, you did get eighty-five thousand Galleons" said Ron tactlessly."Ron, imagine, for a second, being married to Pansy Parkinson, and given eighty-five thousand Galleons,” said Harry."Harry, Daphne Greengrass is miles better looking than Pansy, and let's face it, she's got a pretty face, decent t@ts and @rs@." said Ron. "Parkinson though… I'd gnaw my own arm off.""Ron, that's my wife, so can you never ever say that ever again?" said Harry, holding his head and rocking. "Imagine being told you're married to Pansy instead of dating Hermione?""I dunno Harry, it's not the same, Mum and Ginny are going to go mental." said Ron.
  -==0==-

  Chapter seventeen sixteenths: Arguments
Harry, having spent a day thinking about it, Flooed to the Burrow, and fell onto the floor. As he lay there, he thought… I hate Flooing."Harry's here!" called out Ron, from the couch.Harry nodded to Ron and dusted himself off headed for the kitchen.“Harry’ s here!” called out Ron, from the couch.Harry nodded to Ron and dusted himself off headed for the kitchen.Molly Weasley came out, jam-spoon in hand.“Oh Harry” she said, with a concerned look. “You look hungry, have you had lunch yet?”Harry thought about that for a second. “Erm… I need to talk to Ginny actually,” said Harry.Mrs. Weasley’s eyes narrowed minutely, and the jam-spoor raised like a wand “Oh” she said lightly “Well, I’m just making blackberry jam. GINNY!” she shouted, and Harry winced.Thumps from up the stairs started, and Harry looked up, Ginny’s head appeared, peering around a corner on the Burrows’ stairs.“Harry!” said Ginny, and she smiled. Harry’s heart filled with... warmness or something and he smiled, awkwardly.“Harry’s here to talk to you… at the kitchen table I think,” said Mrs. Weasley.Ginny started moving and quickly arrived next to Harry, smiling, and Mrs. Weasley went back into the kitchen proper, giving a large pot of jam on the stove an exploratory stir.Harry walked over to the kitchen table and sat down and took a preparatory breath.Ginny sat down at the other end of the table, where she could, Harry realised see her mother and Harry at once.Ginny smiled fleetingly then said “Now, Harry, Ron gave me this ridiculous story about you being engaged to someone else. Having been engaged to someone else since sixth year. That’s not true, is it?” said Ginny, raising her eyebrows.“Um” said Harry, not knowing where to start.“Um?” asked Ginny, crossing her arms, wand in her right hand, pointed upwards.“Sirius seems to have adopted me,” said Harry.“Oh, that man!” said Mrs. Weasley, pointing the dripping jam spoon at Harry “He irresponsibly engaged you to some witch, just to safeguard the Black family, didn’t he!”Harry felt that that deserved a … thing you said to counter that... whatever that was called (Harry, it’s called a rebuttal). “Um, Sirius only adopted me, made sure that Malfoy didn’t inherit the Black fortune. And Grimmauld Place.”“That place is a dump” interjected Ginny.“Hey” said Harry softly “It’s miles better than my parents’ house.”Ginny’ s brows furrowed, and she shook her head “Doesn’t count” she said, “Everyone knows your parents’ house is a ruin.”“So how” said Mrs. Weasley, dripping jam from the spoon that was pointed at Harry “Did you end up engaged to someone that is not my daughter.”Harry noticed that Ginny blushed at that. It put a slight smile in Harry’s face and warm feeling in Harry’s chest.“It’s Mrs. Malfoy’s fault” said Harry “After Sirius died, she was apparently… as an adult in the Black family able to um sign things for me while I was still underage.”Mrs. Weasley turned to the jam-pan, gave it one last stir, and leaving the spoon in, drew her wand and with a silent swish and flick, levitated the jam-pan off the stove, onto the bench.“Ginny, get a crate of jars from the pantry” she said. Ginny got up, flicked her wand, opening the pantry door, and summoned a beer-crate of jars, which she grabbed, and plonked onto the table.“I expected you to pick those up, what if you made a mess on the back shelves,” said Mrs. Weasley.“I’m of age, I can summon things” said Ginny, and she sat, with a smug smile.“Well, miss of-age, you can unpack and clean all the jars. Harry, dear, do explain why Mrs. Malfoy engaged you to someone.” said Mrs. Weasley, crossing her arms, wand in her hand, point upwards.“Oh well, that was a deal with the Greengrasses, one engaged to Malfoy as Malfoy, and the other to me, as Black… on the expectation that Voldemort would have killed me before the contract matured, and Malfoy inherited everything. Course… I won, and their cunning plan failed.” said Harry. Ginny, meanwhile, had used an unpacking charm on the jars, cleaned them with Scourgify and Tergeo and banished the crate back into the pantry.“Get out of the contact” said Ginny simply, and with a flick of her wand, closed the pantry door.“There’s no exit clauses” said Harry “I paid a lawyer to check. And divorce is ruled out, they were dealing with the Malfoys, and wanted to be sure they weren’t double-crossed.”“And you’ve been engaged to someone else while you have been seeing Ginevra?” asked Mrs. Weasley.“I didn’t know” said Harry, exasperated “And even Daphne Greengrass didn’t know; she thought it was still Malfoy.”“Daphne Greengrass?” asked Ginny sharply “The blonde? With the pathetic Crucio’s?”Harry thought about that for a second – Hogwarts must have been weird last year – “I’m really sorry, it’s just a legal stuff-up, and I’m going to make sure Mrs. Malfoy… and Malfoy get a retrial, a fair one.” he said.“Azkaban?” asked Ginny.“I was thinking non-adjoining cells” said Harry “Shack’s prepared to do things for me.”“And a ministerial decree?” asked Mrs. Weasley. “To end this engagement.”“Apparently that’s um… outside the powers of the Minister. My lawyer was quite thorough” said Harry glumly.“Well, MY daughter’s not carrying on with a man married to someone else.” said Mrs. Weasley.“I’m not married yet” slipped out of Harry’s mouth.“Not funny Harry,” said Ginny, “What about me?”“This situation is unacceptable, Harry,” said Mrs. Weasley.Harry met Mrs. Weasley’s eyes, and she gave a minute nod. Oh Bugger, thought Harry; Mrs. Weasley wants me to declare Greengrass unacceptable.“Ginny, when did you feel that Greengrass girl’s torture curse?” asked Mrs. Weasley.“In Defence against the Dark Arts class” said Ginny “Neville used to be used as the target a lot; if you had detentions, you got to be on the receiving end, and everyone knew the Slytherin seventh year girls couldn’t manage a decent torture curse. Well, Parkinson could, obviously.”“An unforgivable” said Mrs. Weasley, and Harry felt a flush of guilt- he’d cast or tried to cast most of them. Failed, mostly, and been ridiculed by Bellatrix for it.“Wasn’t illegal mum, it was for educational purposes,” said Ginny. “I tried to keep Colin from biting his tongue off, moderating the spell, you know.”“Colin?”“Extra detentions, they got paraded into class to practice on” said Ginny “you just don’t try, and hope they’re a good actor, ‘course Carrow mostly made us curse other Gryffindors.”“Oh” said Harry.“You should lean on Kingsley” said Ginny “There’s only power and those too weak to use it.” she added.Something about that phrase rankled, but Harry pushed that down and ignored it.Ginny evidently lost patience with Harry’s silence and said “So… you can’t divorce her. What if she dies after you marry?”“Ginny!” said Mrs. Weasley. “Don’t say that. Poisoning Harry’s new wife would have you as prime suspect.”Harry smiled weakly and looked over at Mrs. Weasley; but she, Harry realised didn’t look like she was making a joke.“HARRY!” said Ginny sharply, and he looked over at Ginny, who ran a hand through her hair.“Harry, why didn’t you take me camping with Hermione and Ron?” She a s ked.Harry thought about that for a second “Um. Well, Hermione’ s plan only had enough ghouls for Ron.” he said. “And you had to be safe.”Harry, Hogwarts wasn’t safe,” said Ginny. “Torture curses, imprisonment. I was really good in the Department of Mysteries. You could have done with someone who could… help in a fight.”“The trace” said Harry “I was still underage. You’d have had the Ministry down on us like a ton of bricks.”“Oh” said Ginny, and she sighed. “I wanted to help” she said.Harry nodded.“And you dumped me” continued Ginny.“To keep you safe!” said Harry.“The Carrows didn’t believe it,” said Ginny. “Snape pretended to read my mind – I thought of the grossest things I could while he did and told the Carrows I knew nothing.”“You did” said Harry “To keep you safe.”“They gloated about that,” said Ginny.“Did they…” asked Harry.“Nah, I just got more detentions, course, I was putting up posters all over school, so I wasn't getting caught doing nothing,” said Ginny. “And running DA meetings with Neville.” she added.Harry nodded.“What are you going to do, Harry?” asked Mrs. Weasley, with a glare that reminded Harry of the one she gave the twins for stealing their dad’s car.“Nothing I can do, really,” said Harry. “Just live with it.”“What about me,” said Ginny.“It won’t kill you; you wouldn’t kill yourself?” asked Harry.“Course not, you @rs@.” said Ginny.“I’m used to having family that hates me, and we can still see each other” said Harry.“MY DAUGHTER” said Mrs. Weasley quite loudly “Is not being a bit-on-the-side.”Harry made eye contact with Ginny, who looked innocently at Harry. Harry nodded minutely.“Don’t worry Harry, as long as you don’t catch something, I’ll take you back after her tragic death” said Ginny with a smug smile.‘Ginny wasn’t seriously suggesting she would murder Daphne Greengrass, was she?’ thought Harry and his brows furrowed.“Don’t worry Harry, I’m used to getting dumped by you now” said Ginny in response. “There’s always Michael.”“Didn’t he not care about Quidditch enough?” asked Harry, quite seriously.“At least he hasn’t dumped me twice” said Ginny, sweetly. Harry smiled nervously.“Well, that’s all sorted then” said Mrs. Weasley “Are you staying for dinner?”“Um?” Harry thought about that – “I’ve got to do some cleaning today, I think,” said Harry.“Harry?” called Hermione.Ginny waved sweetly, and Harry suspected sarcastically, and Harry went to see Ron, now reading Quidditch Weekly.Ginny tapped on Harry’ s back, and he turned.“I’m off out to practice for a few hours.” said Ginny “Don’t go snogging her, and I won’t hex your lips off.” Then Ginny smiled sweetly, but her eyes were narrowed “And get Kinglsey to fix it.”And with that, Ginny flounced out the back door towards the broom-shed.“She’s taking it better than I ex p ected” said Ron.Harry waited.“Probably, she’s sick of being mucked about. You didn’t... muck my sister about, did you?” asked Ron.“Um” said Harry, unwilling to admit to anything. Ron probably didn’t need to hear about certain classrooms, and Ginny’s shirt. Harry’s fingers twitched at the memory.Harry shook his head.“So … going to do something reckless?” asked Ron.Harry jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen.“Well,” said Ron, flicking his wand, and closing the door, and silently starting a privacy charm with the sign of practice “I was expecting more yelling, honestly. Neither one went mental.”Harry shrugged uncomfortably.“Did mum hex your tongue?” asked Ron.“I just… I can’t drop Daphne Greengrass in it. It’s not even her fault.” said Harry.“Oh, Merlin’s saggy Y-Fronts” said Ron “You’d best go home – Ginny’s expecting you to come up with a last-minute save. You have a reputation for it now, you know.”Harry sighed. “I don’t have that in me anymore” he said, meaning the fluke in the forest, but also… the war was over. Why couldn’t things just settle down?“Well, like I said, could be worse. At least she’s pretty.” said Ron.Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to clear his mind. It was, as usual, hard work, and finally, his mind felt like … like the pond at the Burrow. Quiet, still, and he didn’t feel angry – or anything much. He opened his eyes.“Crikey” said Ron “That’s bl@@dy impressive. You’re like some old-school Pureblood, all poised.”“I am the Head of the Black family” said Harry, “mostly arseholes like Malfoy and his mum, but… I’ve got everything. Creepy old manor house, vaults full of God knows what, house elf, and arranged marriage to some Pureblood witch that hates my guts.”Ron snorted. “That’s bl@@dy surreal” said Ron “You voice has this… nothingness to it, like you don’t give a f@ck about anything.”“Occlumency” said Harry, with a single shoulder shrug – the dragon spike injury making him bite down “Snape’s lessons worked eventually.” he managed through nearly closed teeth.Ron blinked “What happened just then?” asked Ron.“Horntail spike” admitted Harry, “Snuck up on me when I shrugged.”Ron tilted his head “That’s never troubled you before, though?” he asked.Harry lied “Course not. Probably I need a bit more rest.”Ron nodded. “So, um do you um… need help with Greengrass then?” asked Ron awkwardly.“Help?” asked Harry.“Well… like Ginny said…” said Ron uncomfortably “Maybe you can encourage Greengrass to I dunno, take up pro-duelling, beast hunting, or something else risky?”Harry glared at Ron, “what?” ‘Ron, you didn’t actually just suggest that?’ thought Harry.Ron smiled awkwardly “Just um… kidding, unless you think it’s a good idea.” he added.“Ron!” said Harry “I can’t go around killing her or encourage her to die in an accident.” said Harry, feeling a pain in his stomach.“It’s just…” said Ron “Kingsley could help. Legally.”“He’d lose his position as Minister” said Harry sharply “And where would that leave us, leave the country? They’d put up a candidate, there’d be scandal on our side. We’d lose all Kingsley could do, and he’s honest. Ron, an honest, law-abiding Minister. It’s worth some small sacrifices.”“Your life with my sister is not a small sacrifice.” said Ron.“Come on Ron” said Harry grimly “I can cope. I’ve had worse for years, and I don’t have to walk to my death. Course, if I died of poisoning… I’d expect measures to be taken.”“Goes without saying” said Ron “George’d help.”Harry rolled his eyes “Don’t tell me that!” said Harry “Plausible deniability.”“Plausible what?”“If I don’t know, it can’t be Veritaserum’ed out of me,” said Harry.Ron looked at Harry oddly. “What do you mean, walk to your death?” asked Ron.“Nothing Ron, don’t worry about it,” said Harry.“You did, didn’t you.” said Ron, “You didn’t have a plan.” Ron’s eyes were wet for some odd reason.“Dumbledore had a plan, it worked” lied Harry.“Oh” said Ron “He told you a lot in sixth year, apart from where they were.”Harry nodded. “Lots of complicated magical theory.”“Oh, right” said Ron, clearly prepared to drop that.They stood silently for a bit.“Staying for dinner?” asked Ron.“Nah” said Harry “Have to go visit the new enemy.” AN: Chapter was updated to include chapter seventeen sixteenths, to explain what's going on in Harry's head. 
  
  

    
      
        
        
          AN: Chapter was updated to include chapter seventeen sixteenths, to explain what's going on in Harry's head.'
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
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