Sunday, November 1st, 1994 ("Harry" = Lord Potter; "Hermione" = equals Lady Potter)
After breakfast, Harry and Hermione had retreated to their bedroom. Meanwhile, their Doppelgangers resumed working on their homework, as well as adding questions to their lists whenever a new one came to mind. When Harry entered their bedroom, he was surprised to find a writing desk now placed in a corner of the room.
"First, there was the table we sat at, that wasn't there last night," Harry said, as he walked over to the desk, and sat down "And now a writing desk." He opened a drawer in the desk, "And look at that, filled with writing material. You're right, love. These Quarters definitely have the same enchantments as the Room of Requirement."
"Indeed," Hermione said.
"I was planning on asking my Mini-Me if I could borrow some writing material," Harry said, as he pulled the writing material out of the drawer, "But now I don't need to."
Harry began writing his letter to Keeper Ragnok, the Sixth, the Vault Keeper for the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter (and Harry's other Houses).
"You think this room will give us… anything we require, love?" Hermione asked.
"You mean like copies of your butt plug and dildo from home?" Harry asked, telepathically, as he continued writing, "Maybe, but they'd likely only be temporary. They might disappear in the middle of your… playtime."
"Ugh, damn it!" Hermione groaned, "You're probably right, of course! That's it! We're going to that sex shop my Mum likes to shop at tomorrow when we go shopping, love! I want my toys! Even if I have to transfigure the dildo to look like your cock!"
"As you wish, dear," Harry said.
Harry finished his letter and rolled it up into a scroll. He took out his wand from its holster, pressed the tip of it on the scroll, and a red wax seal with the insignia of The Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter (a Large 'P' with Griffin's wings sprouting out on either side of the 'P') appeared in the center of the scroll.
"Thank Merlin I found that spell in the Potter Grimoire to conjure up my House Seal," Harry said, "I don't know what I'd do without it. Especially since I don't have the Seal Stamps handy. Do you know, Hermione, how lucky we are that we still have our wands here back in the past? We could have wound up back here with nothing."
"We wouldn't have had nothing, dear," Hermione said, "Not once you were able to get into your Family Vaults. We'd be able to buy new wands from Mr. Ollivander, in addition to all the stuff we'll be buying tomorrow. We'd be just fine. Of course, we might have had a few more issues, had we not had our wands. But we can perform wandless magic for emergencies, if necessary. So we'd be fine."
"Right, as usual, love," Harry said, "Alright. Time to call upon an old friend. Dobby!"
Only moments later, Dobby the House-Elf appeared in the middle of the bedroom. He gasped when he saw Harry and Hermione, and wet tears dripped from his large, bulbous eyes.
"Dobby heard rumors, but Dobby had trouble believing it until now," Dobby gasped. "Older versions of the Great Harry Potter and his Hermy! Dobby can sense the younger versions of the Great Harry Potter and his Hermy in the other room. So the rumors are true!"
"Hi, Dobby," Harry said, smiling, "It is very nice to see you again!"
"What can Dobby do for Future Great Harry Potter!" Dobby said.
"Well, first… can you just call me 'Harry', please?" Harry asked. "Or Lord Potter if you must. And my wife is 'Hermione' or 'Lady Potter'."
"Dobby can do that, Lord Potter, Lady Potter!" Dobby said, nodding, his ears flapping up and down as he did.
"Second of all, Dobby," Harry said, "I know a secret of yours. Something that my younger self doesn't know yet. Now, I don't want you to punish yourself… ever again. If you feel you must punish yourself, you tell me or my wife why first. And then we'll decide a proper punishment. Alright, Dobby?"
"Dobby will do so," Dobby said.
"Of course you will," Harry said, "And I know why you will. Because I've been your Master since I freed you from Lucius Malfoy, haven't I?"
Dobby nodded again. "Yes, Lord Potter. Dobby is sorry Dobby never said so! Lord Potter and young Harry were so happy that Dobby was free, and Dobby didn't want Lord Potter and young Harry to not be happy anymore."
"I know," Harry said, "I'm perfectly fine with that, believe me. Now, I need you to do a couple important things for me, Dobby." He picked up the scroll. "I need you to take this to Keeper Ragnok the Sixth at Gringotts, Dobby, and give it to him. This scroll will give you permission to enter the Potter Family Vaults. Then when you go into the Potter Family Vault, I need you to retrieve a jewelry box for me."
Harry described the jewelry box for Dobby.
"When you find it, bring it and anything that Keeper Ragnok gives you, back to me," Harry said, "Whether it is a written message, or a verbal one. Can you do all that?"
"Dobby can do that, Lord Potter!" Dobby said.
Harry tossed the scroll to Dobby, who caught it.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said, "You may go now. We'll be waiting for you."
Dobby bowed his head and vanished into thin air. Hermione had tears in her eyes as she stared at the spot Dobby had just been in.
"We're not going to let him die this time, Harry," Hermione said, sniffling, "This time, he can join the rest of our family of House-Elves at Potter Manor."
Harry swallowed and nodded, as he remembered Dobby's death in their timeline, as well as when he buried the elf – with a shovel, not with magic.
"Yeah," Harry said, "Dobby will be one of the lives we save."
Knowing Dobby's trip likely wouldn't take very long, Harry and Hermione waited in silence for the elf. Three minutes later, Dobby returned. He had the jewelry box and a scroll in his hands.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said, "Please give Lady Potter the jewelry box, and give me the scroll. Then you may be excused."
Dobby did as was told, before he vanished into thin air again. While Hermione opened the jewelry box, and looked through it, Harry opened the scroll from Keeper Ragnok, and began to read it to himself.
To Lord Harry James Potter,
Your letter did not surprise me. I was alerted to your mysterious arrival last evening, probably moments after you arrived. We Goblins of Gringotts have tools for discovering time-travelers (trust me, Gringotts has dealt with time-travelers over the years far more than you can imagine!), so I've been patiently waiting for this letter. Thank you for writing to me so quickly.
As you stated in your letter, I am, indeed, quite up-to-date with what has happened to your younger counterpart, and why he hasn't met with me over the years, even though he should have done so on his eleventh birthday. I know it has something to do with Albus Dumbledore. Due to Dumbledore's obvious interference, I also understand why you cannot bring him to meet me when you visit tomorrow. Be that as it may, you can expect that your young counterpart will be just one of the topics we'll discuss tomorrow.
As for when we should meet, I'm happy to meet at your requested time. Ten-o-clock in the morning will be fine with me. My assistant Rocktooth (perhaps you might be familiar with him in the future?) will meet you and your wife when you arrive and escort the two of you to my office. We can discuss whatever is on our minds then.
I will already tell you that you'll have open permission to visit your Family Vaults. So I imagine that you should plan accordingly to visit your vaults tomorrow, after we finish our meeting tomorrow.
May your adventures in the present and the future bring you great profit,
Keeper Ragnok The Sixth
Harry rolled up the scroll, and it obliterated itself, and its ashes, in a cloud of dust. He turned to Hermione, who had been rather busy, it appeared, since he had been reading his letter. She had a number of Lily Evans' various bracelets laid out in front of her on the bed.
"Keeper Ragnok has accepted my request to meet him at ten-o-clock tomorrow morning," Harry said, "Which means we should probably arrive between five and ten minutes early."
"I look forward to it," Hermione said, distractedly, "And now I need your help, dear. I need you to pick out a bracelet you think would look nice on your younger self."
Harry shrugged. "The ruby one. That's my birthstone, and it has Gryffindor colors to match the ruby."
Hermione picked up the suggested bracelet, "I suppose you remember this from when we looked through this jewelry box the first time around?"
Harry nodded. "It stuck out to me. My Mini-Me will like it. His Gryffindor pride will override any thoughts that it might be too… girly."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It does have a modified Notice-Me-Not Charm on it, you know. He can choose who can see his bracelet. He doesn't need to worry about anyone commenting on how 'girly' it looks. I'll go with the September birthstone. Sapphire. The fact that it also has periwinkle blue stones on it – my favorite color – is great too. She'll love it!"
"Wonderful," Harry said, "I trust you've checked that the appropriate enchantments are still on the bracelets? That they work?"
"They'll work, Harry," Hermione said, "As soon as our Doppelgangers put them on, they'll sync with their magical cores. The enchantments will sink into their very being and protect them from… well, they'll protect them from Dumbledore and Severus' nosiness, and the plots and plans of Ron, Ginny and Molly."
"More like Ginny and Molly," Harry said, "Ron just went along with it. It's just like Remus told me about Wormtail and the Marauder's Map. Wormtail went along with everything Dad, Sirius and Remus decided about the map, but made no additions himself. Can't believe it took so long for us to realize what type of bastard Ron really was. Ron and Wormtail really were two peas in a pod, even after Wormtail stopped being Ron's pet!"
"Indeed," Hermione said. "So… are you ready for our discussion with our Doppelgangers?"
Harry sighed, and rubbed wrinkles out of his forehead. "I imagine we'll start off with the discussion about the House of Potter. About family. Harry's really eager to talk about that. And… they're going to want to know about Ron… they'll likely ask if Ron is still our friend in the future, especially since I didn't put him in a great light when we told the first part of our story to our Doppelgangers, and Minerva and Albus. And, of course, that will bring to light the misdeeds of Ginny and Molly."
"And we already know that my younger self is suspicious of how we act around Albus," Hermione said, "And I'm pretty sure Hermione's going to ask us when and how we got together. In fact… that might happen during the discussion about Ron, given we're going to have to get into all the Potion stuff. Is that when we reveal the details of the Soul-Bond?"
"Depends on how my younger self reacts to everything by that time," Harry said, "Everything concerning… you know, romance."
"Right," Hermione said, "I suppose I can always bring up the Soul-Bond with my younger self, even if we don't discuss it with yours yet. She already knows she's in love with him."
"The ride on Buckbeak the night we saved him and Sirius," Harry said.
"Yes," Hermione said, "That is when I knew I was in love with you. And it will be the same for her, obviously. And Harry… even if he doesn't mention anything about… romance, during our group discussion, be prepared for him to bring it up during your private discussion. I think he'll be able to talk about things more… confidently… without me or my younger self nearby."
"Yeah," Harry said, "You're probably right."
"Remember," Hermione said, "If it turns out you do talk to him in private about romance, and the Soul-Bond is brought up. You need to assure him, he doesn't need to get together, or Bond with Hermione immediately… until he's ready. I'll say the same thing to my younger self. Even if she wants to kiss him, she needs to be sure he's ready. Because the Bond will form after one kiss."
Harry nodded. For the next few minutes, the couple discussed other possible questions and subjects that their younger selves would bring up. They also talked about stuff they didn't want to bring up yet.
"The deaths of some of our friends, Harry," Hermione said, "Who died between now and our present. Unless it is brought up by accident, I don't want to bring that up yet."
"Yeah, me neither," Harry agreed. "Besides, we'll do our best to make sure it doesn't happen this time. None of it."
Hermione nodded. She then put the rest of the jewelry back in the box, closed the box, and placed it in a drawer in one of the side tables next to the bed.
"Alright, Harry," Hermione said, "It's time."
Harry inhaled, and exhaled, and stood up. Somehow, he knew, the conversation they were about to have with their younger selves would be exceedingly more difficult than the one they had with Albus and Minerva.
Sunday, November 1st, 1994
Lord and Lady Potter stepped out of their bedroom, and found that Harry and Hermione were no longer sitting at the table. Now they were in the Sitting Room, sitting in two of the chairs. Hermione smiled when she saw them.
"Our lists are still on the table," she said, "We finished them."
"Are you sure, dear?" Lady Potter teased her younger self.
Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded. "Okay, here's a question not on that list. Why have you been treating me like that? You sounded just like Mum in the Headmaster's office!"
"I had to wear a… metaphorical mask… around Professor McGonagall," Lady Potter said. "I wanted to make her think I had a serious, mature attitude. That I was a lot more mature than I should be, especially since I'm only four years older than you are, my dear."
"So you haven't turned into Mum," Hermione said.
Lady Potter snorted. "Hopefully that doesn't happen until I have kids of my own."
"Hear, hear!" Hermione said, grinning.
Lord Potter collected the list of Harry's questions, while Lady Potter picked up Hermione's list. Then they walked over to the couch and sat down on it together. Lord Potter looked at the list of Harry's questions, raised an eyebrow, and made an exaggerated flip of the parchment, looking at the front and back of it, several times before he looked at Harry.
"Are you sure these are all your questions, Harry?" Lord Potter teased his younger self.
Harry blushed. "I figured Hermione was going to ask most of the stuff I thought of. My questions were… more about me, and our family and friends, and stuff."
"I understand," Lord Potter said, nodding, "I'm just teasing you. This is probably what I would have done too."
"Well, yeah, of course you would have," Harry said, confused, "You're me!"
"I'm you with four more years of life experience, Harry," Lord Potter corrected. "Mind you, they were a very… different four years, than your last four years have been, kid."
"Oh… right, good point," Harry muttered.
Lord Potter looked at his wife. "How shall we do this then?"
"Trade off back and forth on questions," Lady Potter said, "One of Harry's first, then one of Hermione's, and so on and so forth."
"Right," Lord Potter said, "Well, the first one's pretty easy, and predictable, because you brought it up during breakfast. You want to know about the Potters. The Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter."
"Yeah," Harry said, "When you introduced yourself last night, 'Lord Potter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. That was the first time I'd ever heard those words. That title."
"I know," Lord Potter said, "Believe me, I know. Would you believe it wasn't until about two months before my eighteenth birthday that I also had never heard those words before?"
"Why didn't we know about this sooner?" Harry asked.
"That is a… many-pronged answer, kid," Lord Potter said. "We'll get into more about him later, I promise. I'm sure he's the subject of one of Hermione's questions, after all. Albus Dumbledore… he's the main reason why we didn't know anything about our family legacy and titles earlier. Because he didn't want to tell us. I won't tell you why… yet. You'll understand more about the 'why' later. Right now, I'm just going to teach you what he should have taught us during our first year here at Hogwarts. Especially since he claims to be our Magical Guardian. Teaching us about our legacy is supposed to be his job, since our parents aren't around to do it, and neither was Sirius."
"Wait… why didn't Sirius teach you about our legacy then?" Harry asked, "Why didn't you learn it until you were almost eighteen?"
"Once again, you bring up a question that has to wait for those answers, Harry," Lord Potter said, "Sorry. Until Lady Potter and I speak to Madam Bones tonight – where I promise I will bring up Sirius – I can't answer that question."
"Alright," Harry muttered.
"So, our legacy," Lord Potter said, and Harry perked up again at that, "Before I can get into the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, you need to know what Houses are.
"Now, there are four categories of Houses, and a few subcategories as well. First, there is the Clan. For example, there is Clan McGonagall. Professor McGonagall has a younger brother who is Lord McGonagall. Her brother, his wife, children and grandchildren are the future of her House, because she has no children of her own. But, her brother - who doesn't have the patience for politics - has allowed her to take the McGonagall seat on the Wizengamot. Which is why she's known as Lady McGonagall outside of Hogwarts. A Clan is basically a Scottish House equal to a Noble House. However, Clans were named first before the creation of Ancient and Noble Houses, which is why the McGonagalls get to keep that name instead of changing it to the Noble House of McGonagall.
"Next is the Minor House. Minor Houses have no seats on the Wizengamot. Because of this, the Head of each Minor House is not given the title of Lord. The Weasley family is a perfect example of a Minor House, and also a perfect example of how a House can be demoted from Noble to Minor.
"The House of Weasley was disgraced two generations ago when Septimus Weasley, the grandfather of Ronald Weasley and his siblings, impregnated, and was forced to marry, the daughter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, who was lined up for an important Betrothal Contract that ended in disaster for the Black family. The Blacks were supposed to be given ownership of a company in return for their daughter's hand in marriage. They lost a large new source of Galleons because of Septimus Weasley.
"In revenge, the House of Black nearly destroyed the House of Weasley. They did successfully convince the Wizengamot to take away the Weasley's Noble status, demoting them back to a Minor House. The Weasleys also lost a large amount of their fortune. The House of Weasley has not recovered since. Yes, Hermione?"
"Is that story public knowledge?" Hermione asked.
"It is," Lord Potter said, "It is a morality tale, if a recent one, to remind a person never to disrespect a House above their rank. However, none of the Weasleys like to talk about Septimus Weasley. Ron will probably glare at you, tell you to mind your own business, and change the subject if you bring him up. Oh, and by the way, Septimus Weasley is proof that not all Weasleys are Sorted into Gryffindor. Septimus was a Slytherin."
Hermione snorted. "No wonder Ron doesn't like to bring up his grandfather."
"Indeed," Lord Potter said, "His grandfather is even more taboo a subject than his Squib Accountant relative. Anyway, we don't have to worry about disrespecting elder Houses, however. The only rank above the House of Potter is Most Ancient and Most Noble, and, aside from the Houses of Peverell and Gryffindor – which I am also Head of, and you will be too in the future, Harry – I'm pretty sure the rest are extinct.
"Let's see. Well, there is no such thing as Most Minor, because - as you can guess - that just sounds silly."
Harry laughed. "That might be worse than a Minor House."
"True," Lord Potter said, "Next is the Noble House. If your House has 'Noble' in the title, it means you have a seat on the Wizengamot, and the Head of the House, and his wife, are referred to as Lord and Lady. The title "Most Noble" means one of the Lords of the House has received an Order of Merlin, First Class.
"Ancient Houses are those Houses who were members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight who founded the Wizengamot. The title "Most Ancient" refers to the six Houses of legend: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Emmrys, and Peverell. Each of these houses were once referred to as Legendary, however the Sacred Twenty-Eight thought that made themselves sound less important. So they only accepted these Houses to be called 'Most Ancient', which is the official name for the rank. Hermione?"
"The Sacred Twenty-Eight thought they were almost as important as Merlin and the Founders of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, incredulously.
"The arrogance of wizards, dear," Lady Potter said.
"Most wizards, not all of them," Hermione said, looking at Harry and Lord Potter fondly.
Harry laughed and blushed.
Lord Potter smirked. "Yes, most wizards. So there you have the ranks of the Pureblood Houses of Great Britain. The Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter means that they were members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, we have a seat on the Wizengamot, and one - actually several, in this case - of the members of our family were given the Order of Merlin, First Class.
"My various titles, including Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter – mostly they're the equivalent of a Prefect like Percy Weasley puffing out his chest like a popinjay to make himself look good. Aside from the Wizengamot, and during meetings with other Lords and Ladies of our society, those titles really don't mean much. Sure, I get a… fudge-ton of votes in the Wizengamot (not that I've actually attended a session of the Wizengamot yet. My first session – in my present, I mean – was supposed to be the Winter Solstice Session in December, where I would regain my family seats, and officially be a 'respected member of society', and all that rubbish.'
"Honestly, the best part about having all my titles is I can stick it into the noses of people like Dumbledore, or Lucius Malfoy. The Malfoys are a Most Noble House, after all. Barely… Cornelius Fudge gave Malfoy an Order of Merlin, First Class because he donated a bunch of money to St. Mungo's… and also into Fudge's own pockets. If those snobbish Purebloods who are part of Houses below mine (which is everyone considering I'm also the Heads of House Peverell and Gryffindor) try to get into my face, I can lecture them all about how 'You can't disrespect me! My House has been around since your great-great-thousand-times-great granddaddy squirted his seed in his Mistress! Yes, his Mistress, not his wife, because she hated his guts!', and all that jazz!"
Lady Potter rolled her eyes, and Harry and Hermione snickered.
"Will you attend the Winter Solstice Session in December?" Hermione asked. "In the present, I mean?"
"I suppose we'll see what's happening at that time," Lord Potter said, shrugging, "So, Harry, is that all you wanted to know about your lofty titles?"
"The titles, yeah," Harry said, "What about our properties? The Manor?"
"The Manor, yes," Lord Potter said, "Well, first off, I need to tell you about something else. Harry, you should have never met Griphook that first time you stepped into Gringotts. He has nothing to do with House Potter, nor any of our belongings in Gringotts. Keeper Ragnok the Sixth – who is also the Heir Apparent to the Goblin Royalty, by the by – and his Assistant Rocktooth. Those are the only two names you need to know when it comes to Goblins in Gringotts. Keeper Ragnok the Sixth is the Vault Keeper and Account Manager of our Family Vaults, and if he can't take you to your Vaults, Rocktooth will do it. Nobody else has permission."
"Also there's the fact," Lord Potter told his wife, "that Harry, and I, shouldn't have given our key to Molly this summer, but I can bring that up later, when we get into the troubles with Ron, Ginny and Molly.
"Right," Lady Potter agreed.
"The reason I'm telling you about them," Lord Potter said, "Is that Lady Potter and I are meeting with Keeper Ragnok the Sixth tomorrow morning to discuss certain things."
"And I'm not going with you?" Harry asked.
"Not until you can leave Hogwarts without having to tell someone you're going to an appointment at Gringotts," Lord Potter said, "Because word will get to Dumbledore about it, and… well, Dumbledore's the reason you only met Griphook at Gringotts during your visits there. He didn't want you to meet Keeper Ragnok, for various reasons I won't get into just yet. Anyway… Christmas Break. That is when you can leave Hogwarts, and that is when we'll try to arrange for you to meet him, Harry. Unless something else comes up beforehand that warrants an excuse to go to Gringotts."
"Like if Harry gained his Emancipation," Hermione guessed.
"Precisely," Lord Potter said.
"Or they decide to shag without us knowing it and end up Magically married before Christmas!" Lord Potter told his wife.
"Yeah, let's hope that doesn't happen," Lady Potter said.
"The other reason I brought up Keeper Ragnok," Lord Potter said, "Is because the first time I met him, that was the first time I learned all about our properties and other financial matters. For example, we own percentages of several businesses in Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and Hogsmeade. Such as the Daily Prophet – we own twenty percent of the stocks of that company."
"Wow," Harry breathed.
"Yeah," Lord Potter said, "Oh, and we're also stockholders in the Three Broomsticks. So anytime you want to go there for lunch, bring that up, and you have access to a VIP room for you and your guests. Also, you can rent a room there for half-price. Same goes for the Leaky Cauldron. Just bring up House Potter, and suddenly you're a VIP."
"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.
"Also, something else you should know," Lord Potter said, "Harry, your Trust Vault is not our only Vault in Gringotts. That Vault was only meant to be used during your childhood and Hogwarts years. At least until you turn 17, or are Emancipated, whichever comes first. Then you get access to the Potter Family Vaults. One of the Vaults has a load of gold, jewels and other monetary valuables, and the other has all our physical possessions. For example…"
"A jewelry box," Lady Potter said, "Which is where I got… these from."
She held up the two bracelets then wandlessly levitated them over to Harry and Hermione.
"The ruby one is yours, Harry, and the sapphire one is yours, Hermione," Lady Potter said, "These are the gifts I mentioned earlier."
"They're beautiful!" Hermione said, grabbing her bracelet and admiring it, "Who made them."
"Mum did," Lord Potter said, looking at Harry.
"Mum?" Harry breathed. "Really?"
"For her Ancient Runes project in her Seventh Year," Lord Potter said, "Remus Lupin told us about them. She made several and gave them out to her friends."
"These bracelets are very special, Harry, Hermione," Lady Potter said. "Not only do they look great, but they have several enchantments on them too. Protections against Legilimency, for instance. Which is basically Mind-Reading. Protection against Obliviation. Also protections against nefarious potions, such as Love, Lust, Attraction, Veritaserum and other such Potions. They also have alarm charms on them. The bracelets will vibrate if something near you – a cup, a bottle, a plate – is dosed with Potions. If that happens, let us know, or let Professor McGonagall know."
"Okay," Hermione said, and Harry nodded.
"They'll also protect you against several types of Hexes, Spells and Curses," Lady Potter continued, "Put them on your wrist please – the same hand you use your wand with. When you do, you'll feel a pulsing inside your body, inside your very core. That is the bracelet's magic and enchantments molding with your body, protecting you as long as you wear them."
Harry and Hermione slipped the bracelets onto their wrists. Lord and Lady Potter watched as their eyes fluttered, as the enchantments sank into their bodies.
"You're right!" Hermione gasped, "I could feel that!"
"Me too!" Harry said.
"Great," Lady Potter said. "Now, only you can take your bracelet off, and you physically have to do it. No spells or accidents will make them fall off. And… only those that you give permission to can see your bracelet. Don't worry about getting them dirty or wet. They will clean themselves if they do. So there should be no reason for you to take them off. Now… promise me, you two. You will never take them off. At least not until you receive another piece of jewelry that has similar enchantments."
"I promise," Hermione said, nodding.
"Me too," Harry repeated.
"Excellent," Lord Potter said, "So, Harry, have I answered your questions about properties and such to your liking? I don't want to tell you all about Potter Manor and the other houses. I want you to experience them first-hand."
"Yeah," Harry said, "I'm satisfied with the answers to that question. Thanks."
"My turn!" Lady Potter said, then looked at Hermione's list. "I'll start with an easy one, and a similar topic. You wanted to know about my title, 'Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Dagworth-Granger'?
"Yes," Hermione said, "Does that mean we're related to Hector Dagworth-Granger? And why are we the 'Head' of the House? I thought this was a patriarchal society."
"Second question first," Lady Potter said, "Our society used to be a Patriarchal society. However, after so many Houses and families started going extinct, it was decided that things would be more equal… well, for some things. There are still Patriarchs and Matriarchs. For example, once I became the last remaining Heir of the House of Dagworth-Granger, I became its Head. And it became a Matriarchal House. So… I will be passing that title onto our eldest daughter."
"I understand," Hermione said, "So… how are we related to Hector Dagworth-Granger?"
"He's our great-great-grandfather on our Father's side," Lady Potter said, "We come from the line of his Squib Grandson. He was an only child, and his father – Hector's son – was also an only child. Hector's son was the last magical person in that line, before ourselves. If you bring up Dagworth-Granger to Daddy sometime, he'll recognize the name. Mostly because he receives checks every month, for money he gets from the partial legacy ownership of the Dagworth Bed and Breakfast, which used to be Dagworth Manor.
"Oh, and if you ever feel peckish and want Dagworth Manor back in your possession. Talk to Keeper Ragnok the Sixth – in addition to the Potter Family Vault Keeper, he's also our Vault Keeper. If the current owners of the bed and breakfast ever annoy you, Keeper Ragnok and his team can kick them out in an evening, and Dagworth Manor will become yours again."
"I'm guessing you never did that though?" Hermione asked.
"My husband and I already have a Manor, we didn't need another one," Lady Potter said.
Hermione blushed. "Oh, yeah, right. Okay, I'm satisfied with that."
"Next question for Harry – I'm guessing this is a question from both of you, actually," Lord Potter said, looking at Harry's list, "I'm guessing you noticed that I didn't have very nice things to say about Ron while telling my story last night, right? And you want to know why."
"Yes," Harry said, and Hermione nodded.
"Before we get into this question, we're going to give you a warning," Lord Potter said, "What we're going to tell you – it will shine a very bad light on not only Ron, but also Ginny and their mother. Everything we'll tell you will be extremely difficult to hear, but it will also be the truth. It will change your friendships with them. I'm sorry to say, after what you hear about them, you won't want to be anywhere near any of those three."
"One of the reasons I gave you those bracelets," Lady Potter said, "Is because of this story we'll tell you. Unless you wish to change your mind."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
Lord Potter raised an eyebrow. "If I didn't know better, I'd say they kissed without letting us know. Because the way they look at each other like that, it looks as if they're telepathically speaking to each other."
"Nope… not yet at least," Lady Potter said, "We used to do that too, you know. Look at each other, and know exactly what the other was thinking… without actually being able to read each other's minds."
"Fuck me, I was so oblivious back then!" Lord Potter groaned, "All those times I could have kissed you, and you'd admit how you felt about me.""Language, Harry," Lady Potter said, "This is not the time for bedroom language. Oh, and believe me, I agree. Looking at those two, it's really hard not to imagine 'what if'. 'What if I kissed you after we saved Sirius, moments after I realized I was in love with you. So many 'what if's.'"
Harry and Hermione turned to their older Doppelgangers.
"We want to know," Hermione said. "Please. We're ready."
Harry nodded. "After what I heard about what Ron did to you in your story. I'm ready for whatever you have to tell us."
"Okay, here goes," Lord Potter said; he inhaled and exhaled. "Harry, Ron Weasley has never been your friend. Ever. He was the best friend, and so-called sidekick of the Boy-Who-Lived from the moment you met him. He did not see himself as Harry Potter's best friend. Just the best friend of the Boy-Who-Lived. The very moment you met the Weasleys – specifically Ron, Ginny and Molly – you had already fallen for their trap. While you're sitting there, ponder this. Remember your first discussion with Ron on the Hogwarts Express. Even the very first thing he said to you as a lie."
Harry stared forward, obviously thinking back about the moment he met Ron.
"Ron opened the door of the compartment," Harry said, "And… that fucking bastard!"
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked, too worried to even scold him for his language.
"He asked me if he could sit with me, and said everywhere else was full," Harry said, "Our class of students is smaller than most of the other years. That right there proves there would have been empty Compartments! Also, if he couldn't find a seat, he could have sat with his brothers!"
Hermione growled. "Oooh, the nerve of that boy! A lie was the very first thing he said to you?"
"And what did he say when you introduced yourself?" Lord Potter asked.
Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head. "'Do you really have that scar?'" he opened his eyes and glared at nothing, "I understand what you meant now. He only wanted to be the best friend of the Boy-Who-Lived. Not Harry Potter."
"I'm sorry to say, Harry," Lord Potter said, "Our troubles with the Weasleys began before you even got onto the Platform. But to understand that, we have to go back a month prior, on your birthday. Harry, before last year, what job did Rubeus Hagrid have?"
"Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," Harry said.
"He was a Groundskeeper, Harry," Lord Potter said, "He had no business showing up and giving you your school letter. An official Professor should have done that."
Hermione nodded. "Professor McGonagall visited me and my parents. Introduced us to magic, and witches and wizards. And gave me my letter."
"Hagrid only did three good things that day, Harry," Lord Potter said. "He gave us our letter. Terrified the Dursleys. And he gave us Hedwig. Everything else was… basically rubbish. First off, let's start with the most obvious. Hagrid is a half-giant. He's a big man. Huge. So what was he doing walking around amongst Muggles? Practically breaking the Statute of Secrecy just being around them!"
Hermione's eyes widened. "I'd never thought of it that way."
"In the Leaky Cauldron, he did nothing to keep you away from all the grabby hands and what-not," Lord Potter continued. "In Gringott's… he should have given you your Vault key, Harry and then retrieved the Philosopher's Stone while you met with Keeper Ragnok. Instead, he kept you going at a solid pace. Because of him, a Goblin who had no reason to be near your Vault escorted you there. Because of him, you were only able to buy things on the booklist, and nothing else. You could have looked around other shops. Or bought more books. Oh, and speaking of more books, there was one book missing from your booklist: 'The Muggleborn and Muggle-Raised Introduction to Magical Society.' If you had gotten that book, Harry, and read it before you got onto the Platform, you'd have known how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters."
Hermione's eyes widened. "That book wasn't on your list! I didn't know that!"
"And Harry had no idea about the book, so he couldn't ask you," Lady Potter said.
Hermione sighed and nodded.
"And then… Hagrid gave you one last piece of rubbish," Lord Potter said, "A train ticket that did absolutely nothing. Actually, no, it did one thing. It had a Tracking Charm on it. One that led the Weasleys straight to you, and it was how Ron found you on the Hogwarts Express. So yes, that is why he wanted you to 'stick to your ticket!'"
Harry frowned, deep in thought.
Lord Potter inhaled and exhaled. "Now… have you ever wondered why the Weasleys are always late getting onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters?"
"Yeah," Hermione said, and Harry nodded.
"Because, Harry," Lord Potter said, "Until Ron went to Hogwarts, the Weasley Family used the Floo Network to get onto the Platform – like almost every other Pureblood and Magical-Raised Half-Blood students and their families do! I mean, really? Do you really think Draco Malfoy and his parents are going to want to walk through a crowd of Muggles to get to the Portal?"
"Oh, god," Hermione whispered, "Why has that never occurred to me before?!"
"But wait, there's more!" Lord Potter said, "Harry, think back on how you first met the Weasleys. How you met Molly, and Ginny specifically."
"I was trying to figure out how to get onto the Platform," Harry said, "When all of a sudden… oh, you have to be kidding me!" He looked at Lord Potter. "Really?! Really now?!"
"What?" Hermione asked, "What happened? I've never heard of this story. And when I asked Ron about how he met Harry, he told me to 'piss off!' I mean, I can understand why now, given the first thing he ever said to Harry was a lie. But what else happened?"
Molly Weasley threatened the Statute of Secrecy," Lord Potter said, "And they were the first words Harry ever heard from Molly Weasley. 'Packed with Muggles, of course! Now what's the Platform Number?' She asked Ginny that question, and Ginny said 'Platform Nine and Three Quarters."
Hermione blinked. "I don't even know where to start with that. She said the word 'Muggles' in a crowd of Muggles? And she probably said it in her 'loud' voice."
"Yeah," Harry said, "She was pretty loud."
"And then… she asked about the Platform, when she'd been using it for how many years?" Hermione asked, "And then Ginny basically risked the Statute of Secrecy too, by answering her question?!"
Hermione looked around at Lord and Lady Potter, then to Harry, then back to Lord Potter.
"Why?!" she asked.
"To lure Harry in," Lord Potter said. "You see… on our birthday, we learned two specific keywords from Hagrid. 'Muggle' and 'Platform Nine and Three Quarters'. The same two phrases the Weasleys used, while we were there nearby, trying to find the Platform. And do remember now… before that day the Weasleys used the Floo Network to get onto the Platform."
"It was a god damned set-up!" Hermione growled. "You were set up to meet the Weasleys, Harry. Why?"
"Because they're close friends and Allies of Albus Dumbledore," Lord Potter said, "Who, by the way, was also the boss of Rubeus Hagrid. Everything Hagrid did with you that day, Harry, was ordered by Albus Dumbledore. And of course Hagrid would do it. He trusts that 'great man, Dumbledore!'
"As for the Weasleys, Albus wanted Harry to make friends with a Light-sided family who could keep an eye on Harry during the summers. The past three summers, Harry, you spent some of August with the Weasleys. Even when you weren't at the Burrow, the Weasleys came to you."
"At the Leaky Cauldron before our third year," Hermione muttered. "The Weasleys are your glorified babysitters, Harry!"
"The Weasleys would prefer they be called 'Harry's new family'," Lord Potter said. "Of course, Molly would prefer it if you were also her future son-in-law."
"She wants me to marry Ginny?!" Harry asked, looking horrified, "Why?!"
"I told you," Lord Potter said, "The Weasleys are a Minor House. Not only that, but they're a disgraced house too, thanks to Septimus Weasley. Also the Prewetts are a Minor House too. Molly was a Prewett before she was a Weasley. But you, Harry, you're going to be the future Head of not one but four major Houses. That's a lot of power on the Wizengamot. And with Ginny as the future Lady Potter?"
"This is a power-play?!" Hermione asked.
"Power play and get-rich-quick scheme more like," Lord Potter said. "Ginny is Molly's ticket to putting Houses Weasley and Prewett back in the Wizengamot, and back in popularity with the Noble Lords and Ladies of our society. Oh, and there's the fact that Molly happens to think you'll be dead before you're seventeen, Harry."
"What?!" Harry and Hermione asked.
"Voldemort's still around, isn't he?" Lord Potter asked. "He ain't dead yet. He's still out there, biding his time. Waiting to return. Hagrid told us that, didn't he? Voldemort will return, and you, Harry, the Boy-Who-Lived, will have to face him. Or, that's what Albus told Molly. So Molly planned and plotted this whole scheme. She wants you to fall in love with Ginny Weasley. It doesn't matter when. As long as it is before you kick the bucket. Well, maybe a few months, if not years before you kick the bucket. Because, before you die, she wants you to put a baby in Ginny's belly. Of course, when you find out Ginny's pregnant, you ask her to marry you. Bam, shotgun wedding. And then… wow, you're dead before Ginny's baby is born. Oh, and Ginny's an underage mother. Suddenly, Molly Weasley has control over the family fortune of Ginny's late husband: the Potter Family Fortune."
"I don't understand," Harry said, "I don't even like Ginny that way!"
"It doesn't matter," Lord Potter said, "Love Potions exist. So do Lust Potions, Attraction Potions. Let's not forget Revulsion Draughts, so that suddenly the only other girl in your life who might be a romantic interest doesn't look all that hot anymore! Ta da… you're in love with Ginny Weasley, when yesterday, you weren't!"
"That happened to you… didn't it?" Hermione asked, her eyes full of tears.
"Yeah," Harry said, "It was supposed to happen next summer actually. Those yummy cakes and sweets Molly likes to give us… they were supposed to be filled with Potions. But… her plans changed. An event that happened at the end of the Triwizard Tournament caused me to become 'Enemy Number One' in the eyes of the Ministry and the Magical Society. The Daily Prophet painted me as a liar and a warmonger, and whatever else. Suddenly, I wasn't so popular. Molly decided it wasn't the right time for me to fall in love with Ginny. Besides, Ginny needed a practice boyfriend, so she would know what to do with me when I was finally her boyfriend. So she dated Michael Corner for most of fifth year, her fourth year. When her mother refused to go through with her plans yet, after breaking up with Michael, she started dating Dean Thomas.
"So, instead, all of those plans took place during the summer before our Sixth Year, after my name was no longer dragged through the mud. Oh, I didn't immediately fall in love with Ginny. First it was those peculiar feelings inside my tummy whenever Ginny was around. Turns out that was actually an Attraction Potion. Ginny was dating Dean, as I said, so she could continue being a 'practice girlfriend', and I was getting jealous and uncomfortable whenever I saw them snogging, thanks to the Potions. When Ginny started to realize the Potions were really doing their work on me, she broke up with Dean, so she'd be available for me.
"Before the end of my Sixth Year, I was Ginny's boyfriend. We snogged in hidden corners, cuddled up with each other, whispered sweet things in each other's ear. And… well… other stuff I won't get into. We didn't have sex, though looking back on it, that was probably a miracle that it didn't happen at that point in time.
"When things got really dangerous, Ginny even convinced me that we should fake breaking up, so she wouldn't be in danger. She was scared for her life. And thought she'd get killed because she was the girl I loved. Even then… the next time I saw her, I couldn't help but kiss her. I was still under those Potions. And then well… let's just say that events took place that… if they didn't happen, Ginny and I would have had sex sometime that summer, and she likely would have taken Lust and Fertility Potions so she'd end up pregnant..
"Of course… those events did take place and I didn't see Ginny for many months. By the time I saw her again… all I wanted to do was kill her. But it would be a long road before that came to be. You see I was still being fed those Potions. But they were being given to me, by my so-called best friend."
"Ron," Hermione said.
"Ron," Lady Potter said, "Harry wasn't the only one being given those Potions. I was being dosed too. Except… towards Ron, instead of Ginny. Except… for reasons I won't get into at the moment, the Potions barely worked on me. They made me act out of character. Our Sixth Year was a rough year when it came to mine and Harry's friendship. We fought a lot. That was the Revulsion Potions doing their work. But I never ended up kissing Ron, or becoming his girlfriend, like what happened with Harry and Ginny. You see, Ron didn't actually want me as a girlfriend just yet. He had the hots for Lavender Brown. And they became a couple. When I saw them kissing, I got all sorts of jealous, because suddenly I felt like… I wanted that to be me. That was the Attraction Potion working. For those reasons I won't get into yet… the Love Potions never worked on me."
Lord Potter smiled. He knew why they didn't work on her. She was in love with him… the magic of the Soul-Bond was protecting Hermione even back then.
"Last night you learned that Lord Potter and I never took our Seventh Year here at Hogwarts," Lady Potter said, "That was because Harry, Ron and I were on a mission, a mission that would hopefully end the war we were involved in during that time."
"We'll talk about the war sometime in the future – not in the near future, however," Lord Potter said.
"Anyway… things happened, and once again, Halloween showed its ugly face in 1997," Lady Potter said. "However, it turned out… what happened on Halloween would change our lives forever. That was the day Ron Weasley stopped being our friend. After that, we hated him. We got into a huge argument, because – well – he thought Harry and I were romantically involved. Mind you, he had still been feeding us Potions at the time, and he thought those had stopped working. Turns out… he was almost right. They would stop working a couple days later. We figured out later that the reason he started that big fight with us was so he could have an excuse to leave, go home and get a new batch of those Potions. However… he couldn't find us again, for more than two months. And the next time he did find us… we took away the toy he was using to Track us, and we left him face down in a pile of snow. The next time we saw him was months later and… well… Harry nearly killed him. It was a close thing. That was the last time we ever saw him.
"Two days after Ron left us… those Potions wore off," Lord Potter said, "Now, the funny thing about Love Potions, and all those types of Potions. When they wear off, the user suddenly gets put in a state of euphoria. Memories started to come back. Just like that, we realized exactly what had been going on for the past year and a half or so. Because, during that year and a half, those Potions basically had us acting as if we were under an Imperius Curse.
"So to summarize… Ron, Ginny and Molly aren't your friends. They just want you for their evil plots. Also… you can bet they'll be most interested in what you talked to us about."
"But you don't have to worry about bad Potions," Lady Potter said, then tapped her wrist, "Not as long as you wear those bracelets. However…"
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Be prepared for Ron and Ginny to try something with the two of you," Lady Potter said, "Because you can bet… they did not react well to discovering Harry and I are married in the future. Us being married in the future will tell them that their plans were ruined at some point in time in the future. You can bet they're probably writing to their mother today. Soon, she'll know about us.
"The plans they want to start next summer. I think they're going to move up those plans within the next few weeks. Be on the look out for bad Potions. Maybe in your drinks or food. Especially if Ron or Ginny hands you something, like a bottle of butterbeer or a chocolate frog. I said this earlier, I'll say it again. Your bracelet will vibrate if something near you, or something you're holding, has bad Potions in it."
"Alright, thanks," Hermione said, and Harry nodded.
"Alright," Lady Potter, "Let's move on to a new question."
She looked down at her list, and then looked at her husband. She showed him the parchment, and pointed her finger at a question. Lord Potter read the question to himself:
When and how did you two become a couple?
Lord Potter nodded at his wife. "Go ahead."
"So, Hermione," Lady Potter said, "You wanted to know when and how Lord Potter and I became a couple?"
Harry's eyes widened, then he looked rapidly back and forth between Hermione, and Lord and Lady Potter. Lord Potter could tell that Harry wasn't sure he wanted to hear this.
"Yes!" Hermione said, "I would very much like to hear that story!"
"What about you, Harry?" Lady Potter asked, "If you don't want to hear that story right now, I can tell it to Hermione in private."
Harry looked at Lady Potter, then to Hermione, then back at Lord and Lady Potter. He gulped.
"That's okay," Harry said, "I think I'd like to hear it too."
"Okay," Lady Potter said, then grinned, "How about I start with the very first moment I fancied my future husband?"
Hermione's eyes widened. Lord Potter snickered. Hermione had obviously realized… they weren't going to just talk about the future. But about their past as well.
"Oh, great idea, my love," Lord Potter said, "Turn the question on her. If this doesn't end with Harry realizing that the girl he fancies actually fancies him back… then well… he's more hopeless than I am!"
Lord Potter smirked at Hermione, who also realized exactly what kind of game her older self was about to play.
This was going to be fun!