Harry Potter : Flash Forward

She took another deep breath and looked a somewhat surprised Harry right in the eye. "The House of Bones offers the services of its Heir Apparent... myself... Susan Amelia Bones, to the House of Potter to provide whatever service or services the Head of House Potter deems necessary. The House of Bones only asks that the... virtue... of its Heir remains pure."

Daphne let out a quiet gasp of shock at Susan's words. Quietly, she whispered in Harry's ear. "Harry, she's offering herself to the House of Potter for anything except full sex."

Startled, Harry's breath hitched in his throat for a moment before he quickly cleared it and used a few moments to try and think of a way out of the situation. With an outward appearance of calm, when he was feeling anything but calm on the inside, he said to his Hufflepuff year mate, "You have given me much to consider, Miss Bones... Susan. Perhaps, it may be wise if you were to pay us a visit in our apartment after classes today where we can discuss this further. This is not an acceptance of your offer, nor a decline; we just want to take time to consider the full... ramifications of your offer, before we decide anything further. Is that alright with you?"

With a relieved slight slump to her posture, Susan replied, "Yes, Mister Potter; and, thank you."

With a final nod from Harry, she turned and walked away.

That started the almost cavalcade of Heirs and other members of families allied with House Potter coming and giving their own formal, verbal and public apologies. Hannah Abbott was next and would join Susan Bones in their apartment immediately after class; Michael Corner, while not offering himself per se, offered his wand in the form of support, as did the other males; some of the witches gave the same as the males but a few were similar to the apology from Susan by offering themselves.

After each gave their apology, Harry told them he and his bondmates would meet them all in their apartment immediately after the last class of the day.

As expected, the bondmates all arrived at the door to their apartment just as the first of the small group of students also arrived. Daphne gave the password to the statue of Professor Whittaker and opened the door for everyone to follow her in. Harry held back outside the door to ensure the last of those who were told to come had arrived and entered.

Once inside, he saw that both Dobby and Winky had organised drinks for everyone.

"Alright," he muttered. As he was about to enter he said to the stone Professor, "If Albus Dumbledore comes along before our guests have left, inform the doddering old fool we're indisposed and will see him, if he needs to see us, after dinner."

"Right you are, Mister Potter," the statue replied, as Harry walked in and closed the door.

In the informal meeting Harry, with the support of his bondmates, effectively laid down the law to the other students who, one way or another, did great damage to their families' alliances with House Potter. His demands were quite simple, but direct. For the alliances to remain House Potter would, at times, call on their Houses to provide support to House Potter. It might be by being an extra wand in a fight, or it might be something to do with getting certain legislation passed, failed or overturned. But, the House would do it. They could do nothing else. After all, that was part and parcel of being part of an alliance. They appeared to have forgotten that.

Once the other students left to head down to the Great Hall for the evening meal, before then sending off owls to their various Heads of Houses about Harry's decisions, Harry turned to the girls and asked. "What did you think?"

"Handled just like an experienced Head of a House would have handled it," Daphne quickly replied. "You now have a solid clique of those who are beholden to you with which to use to fight or make changes at the Wizengamot or Ministry level."

"She's right, of course," added Hermione. "You could have demanded practically anything of them, and they'd have had to give it to you. Instead, you've reminded them of their obligations as part of the alliance and ensured their support."

He sighed. "Still, it seemed to almost be like I was pretty much blackmailing them."

"What some call blackmailing, others call politicking in backroom deals," smirked Daphne. Rising, she continued, "Come. It's time we headed down for dinner."

The three headed down to the Great Hall. This time, it was a much less hostile welcome.

Only a few days after the first task, Professor McGonagall approached Harry to 'remind' him that, as a champion, he was required to open the Yule Ball.

"Oh, that's alright, Professor," he replied. "I don't think we'll be going. Daphne's invited Hermione and I to Greengrass Farm for the holidays."

"But, Mister Potter," she exclaimed. "As a champion..."

"I'm not a champion, Professor," Harry interrupted. "We've been through this, remember? I'm just an unwilling contestant."

"You're still expected to attend,

Mister Potter," she tried with a stern commanding voice. "It's tradition!"

and

"I have no idea why, Professor," he shot back. "I've been rather upfront and clear about this. You have your three champions there to open the Ball as stated in the contract. I suggest you read the contract for yourself. I, and my bondmates, have other plans."

Of course, this led to Dumbledore hunting Harry down and pulling him aside during the evening meal.

"Mister Potter," he began, "As a competitor, you're expected to open the Yule Ball. Your attendance is, therefore, mandatory."

"No, Headmaster, it is not," retorted Harry. "I suggest you review your copy of the contract to rectify the errors in your knowledge. Nowhere in there does it state I have to attend the Ball. My legal representative has already gone through the contract with a fine tooth comb and agrees with me.

"The contract specifically states 'the three champions'. As I would make a fourth, and as I'm not actually a champion as defined by the contract anyway, my attendance is most certainly not mandatory. As I said, I and my bondmates have other plans. We'll be visiting both Greengrass Farm and the Granger parents on Christmas Day. They're all looking forward to our visiting."

"Christmas Day, Headmaster.

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