“You know I can’t return this unless we end our friendship, right?” Harry asked in surprise when the book-shaped package revealed Hermione’s copy of Hogwarts: a History at breakfast.
“Of course, I’m just giving up reading it until next year’s spring equinox. I don’t mind you keeping my copy.”
“Alright, I just wanted to be sure.” Harry said with a grin, handing over his present, “I hope you don’t mind. I couldn’t give up quidditch this year, so this was the next best thing.”
“I can’t take your photo album, Harry.” Hermione gasped in shock when she finished unwrapping the volume.
“I know you’ll take good care of it.” Harry said with a smile, taking her hand, “Thank you for your gift, Friend of House Potter.”
“Thank you for your gift, Friend of House Granger," she said, accepting the kiss he brushed across her knuckles with a blush. They ignored the gasps around them as they finished the ritual exchange and returned to their dinner.
“You and Hermione are doing a friendship ritual?” Neville asked from across the table, “I knew you were interested in them, but I didn’t think you’d start one that fast.”
“The friendship ones are fairly simple, and I like the fact that Hermione would gain some magical protection from House Potter,” Harry said with a shrug, digging into his plate like he had no idea the scandal he was causing. “Is it too soon to congratulate you on your own ritual?”
“Well, no, but most people wait until the rituals are completed in case someone backs out prematurely,” Neville said with a blush.
“I apologize for bringing it up then.” Harry said with a frown, “I’m still not understanding half the traditions in that book you sent for my birthday.”
“I’m not the best person to explain pureblood traditions, Harry. Maybe one of the prefects could point you to a better book.” Neville said slowly with a frown; he’d never sent Harry a book on pureblood traditions.
“No problem,” Harry said with a shrug, “I’ll look in the library later.”
The gossip made its way around the school in a flash, and there was an article in the Prophet the next morning on the dangerous rites and rituals that the Potter Heir might be tampering with. Harry took it in stride, noting the small article in the Ivory Quill about cleansing rituals hidden in a small historical essay on the various charms and rituals that had fallen out of favor in the last century.
“Is it true that you’re doing a ritual with Hermione, Harry?” Lavender asked, fiddling with her books as they waited on McGonagall to let them in the classroom, “Those can be dangerous.”
“It’s just a friendship ritual. I wanted Hermione to have legal protection in case she needed it. The Ministry still says the rituals are an allowed form of forming a legal binding between Houses.”
“So, it’s not an engagement?”
“What? No, most of my other friends have their own House magic to protect them in court. I wanted Hermione to have the same.”
“The Prophet was saying she was trying to trap you into a marriage bond.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Harry said with a snort, turning to Neville and Hermione as they joined him, “Do you think I should sue for slander?”
“For what? The Prophet?”
“Yeah.”
“You’d be suing for Libel, but I don’t see why you couldn’t.” Hermione said with a shrug, “You could at least force them to print a retraction.”
“You didn’t when they said you were a scarlet woman.” Lavender pointed out.
“I’m not the soon-to-be Head of a wealthy House, Harry has more to lose than I do," she said with a careless shrug. “They’ve been saying horrible things about him for years now, and it would serve them right to have to pay reparations to his House.”
“She’s got a point.” Neville said, blushing when most of the hall looked in his direction, “They’ve tarnished House Potter for years, Hermione was only called that because she’s Harry’s friend, making her a target in their eyes.”
“Which is exactly why she needs protection like the ritual. If she’s already being treated like a friend of House Potter, then she might as well be one.” Harry said with a snort, going back to his paper.
*****
Harry made his way quickly through the corridors to the statue of the humpbacked witch. Ten minutes later, he was out of breath as he crawled out of the tunnel into the sweet shop’s basement. Casting several cleaning charms with his black wand, he waited until he was presentable in his adult form before activating the portkey the goblins had sent.
“Thank you for coming in, Lord Thorburn.” Gold Kris said quickly, leading him back through the hallways
“It sounded urgent,” Harry said, taking the seat before Gold Kris’ desk once they arrived at his office.
“Several of the recent graduates from Hogwarts have requested sanctuary and the removal of their marks.”
“They got a taste of what Voldemort does when he’s bored or displeased then.” Harry said with a sigh, “Are they here?”
“Waiting on your pleasure, as are the Weasley’s and Prewitt’s. They wished to speak with you at the earliest convenience.”
“I also have a list of former Slytherins who would like to ally themselves with House Potter or Black. Many would like Dark Marks removed, a change of House, or even simply to vow themselves as vassals of your house, placing them under your protection.” The goblin said, handing over a scroll.
“Do you know what prompted the requests?”
“Interestingly enough, it appears to be the coverage in the papers of your ritual with Miss Granger. The darker Houses appear to be taking it as you aligning your House with the older traditions.”
“I’m not interested in adopting anyone into my House unless they are underage and wish to remove themselves from their House of birth. If they are interested in vowing loyalty as a vassal, we can explore that option. I’ve been researching the vows House Potter and Black used traditionally, but I’ll need vows of secrecy as well.”
“We’ve readied the ritual circle for your use should you need it tonight.”
“Thank you, Gold Kris. Please thank the Director as well. I know you generally don’t allow use of the ritual rooms.”
“Considering the damage to my office from the last removal, it was deemed prudent.” Gold Kris said with a grimace, gesturing for Harry to rise and follow him.
Several young men stood about the room in small groups or determinedly alone. Each looked worn and exhausted, their bodies thin and cheeks hollowed with the horrors they had experienced in the Dark Lord’s service. Harry entered and casually conjured a table with three chairs, one suited for the goblin while the other two were normal.
“If you would, sir,” Harry said, offering Gold Kris a polite smile.
“Thank you, Lord Thorburn.” Gold Kris said, taking a seat and giving a nasty smile to the waiting defectors, see how the House you are running to treats its allies, traitors.
“I am Lord Thorburn, I speak on behalf of House Black. I would speak with each of you individually, a vow of silence must be taken on anything said during this meeting before we may continue.”
“There is a rumor you are offering sanctuary from the war, can you confirm this?” one of the older boys asked, stepping forward.
“I am offering sanctuary to those who need it. I can’t say more without a vow.” Harry said, keeping his tone distant.
Slowly, each person gave their vow of silence. Marcus Flint came forward when it was clear the others would not be the first to approach. His hands shook as he folded his sleeves back, revealing the mark and setting his wand on the table out of his reach before taking a seat, putting himself at the mercy of the other man.
“The table is warded, so the others cannot hear our discussion, Mister Flint.” Harry said, settling back into his chair, “I need to know exactly why you are asking to have your mark removed and what your current beliefs are about muggle-born in wizarding society and the Dark Lord.”
“My family is supportive of the dark, sir. We have been for centuries. It was expected that I would join the Dark Lord when I graduated, and I went willingly. I thought the Light was too willing to compromise and discard the traditions I’d been raised with. They were too soft and blind to the threat of the muggle-born." he said, stuttering to a stop as his hands shook.
“And now?”
“I’ve never seen such death and pain. The Dark Lord is mad, he kills and tortures his followers without remorse or plan. He doesn’t care if we die to a one if he still takes his prize at the end. The magical world will be barren if he wins, the bloodlines he claims to protect destroyed, and the population decimated.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“What of your views on muggle-borns?”
“I thought at first they shouldn’t be allowed to join us, but… I don’t want them dead, but I hate how they flaunt their magic without bothering to honor the traditions that come with it.”
“How exactly do you think they are supposed to learn those traditions when the books and information are controlled by pureblood Houses?” Harry asked mildly.
“Potter introduced Granger to the rituals, and she accepted them. She’s one of the smartest witches in Hogwarts right now, if she can see the worth in the traditions, maybe the others can.”
“You wish the muggle-born to be taught the old traditions?”
“Yes, at a young age, maybe even before they start Hogwarts. Show them our holidays and our rituals, let them learn the small bindings the same as the rest of us did at home.” Flint said, voice firming as he finally met Harry’s eyes, “They expect us to blindly learn about their traditions and history, they should be expected the same.”
“If you are unbound and released from your vows, what would you do?”
“I wanted to work on a reserve like with dragons, but my father refused. He wanted me in the Ministry.”
“Are you willing to vow loyalty to House Thorburn and its allies, to become a vassal of my House and use your abilities to protect its other members?”
“Yes, sir. I wish to serve you, but I won’t give up my family name. I’m the Heir, and if my father dies in the war, I want my mother and sister to have something to come back to.”
“Very well,” Harry said, standing and offering the young man his hand. “My house has very specific expectations of its members; you are to work in the field you wish, study, and learn. The House will support your endeavors, but you must give any products made back to the House for sale.”
“Products?”
“Potions, spells, or anything you create during your career.” Harry said as the other man stood, “Products are sold through the House, and ten percent goes back to the fund to educate other members.”
“I can agree to that, sir,” Marcus said, shaking Harry’s hand with a firm grip.
“Welcome to House Thorburn, then Marcus Flint.”
The rest of the interviews were much the same. A few were brothers who had brought their younger siblings in hopes of sparing them the same fate. Harry and a group of goblin guards escorted them to the ritual room. Each was stripped of the mark and any painful bindings; those who wanted to ally themselves with House Thorburn were bound to the house with a vassal’s spell.
He sent them to recover in a property that wasn’t too far from where Snape was staying. He would have them portkey over the next few days to discuss their options with the former spy and decide where they were going to work or if they were going to take up a field of study instead.
The deal that each person had to work or study seemed to be paying off. Draco had apprenticed to Snape, and the two had already produced recipes for twenty new potions that would soon start being produced and sold via the paper and a new catalog that was being distributed.
Lady Narcissa Black had previously studied healing and was teaching what she knew to several young women who wished to become healers. Right now, they were learning to enchant bandages and brew healing potions. Harry was looking into getting several more teachers to come in or to offer apprenticeships should they be needed. Several of the young men had agreed to apprentice with Master Pitman, but Master Simmons had yet to take any other students.
The twins had offered to sell any potions or tricks they invented for the war effort through a shell company that House Black was funding. It would be advertised through the Ivory Quill and in ads in other publications. Like the Quill, it would be offering items that would help in day-to-day life as well as those specifically for defense or protection.
The fallow farms were now planted with winter cover crops that would be tilled into the earth in the spring before the true crops were planted. House Potter used to be one of the main suppliers of wheat in the wizarding world, and Harry intended to start that production back on its way, if the wheat didn’t sell in Britain, he could always have it shipped where it would sell on muggle markets.
Wizarding Britain was too isolationist in its policies and thinking, Harry was finding. Almost nothing made in magical Britain was sent out into the world. Only a small supply of potion ingredients and some beer and alcohol were shipped anywhere, even when overstock sat in stasis or rotting in warehouses.
House Thorburn was in talks with several newer Houses to start a shipping business that would allow them to transport the excess around the globe. They would use muggle shipping at first until they started their ships staffed with squib and magical crews. He was finding that there were thousands of squibs or low-powered magical people forced out of work in the wizarding world who were desperate to return to what they thought of as home.
“Have the Weasleys and Prewitts shown in, please,” Harry said to a guard with a sigh once the last marked boy left. He could only hope they didn’t take one of the more extreme steps he’d researched; the last thing he wanted was to gain a pair of slaves.
“Thank you for seeing us, Lord Potter,” Bill said, bowing to the young man seated before them.
“I’m always happy to meet with friends, Mister Weasley,” Harry said, standing and moving forward to shake the older man’s hand.
“I would like to formally cement the relations between our two Houses if you would permit me, Mister Potter. House Weasley owes you a debt we can never repay in revealing the treachery within our House.”
“I could not stand by while good people were manipulated and harmed, Mister Weasley. In my eyes, there is no debt.”
“I cannot agree, Mister Potter. In generations past, it was known that those of House Weasley were fierce warriors loyal to the cause they supported. We have served many Houses and causes over the years, and I wish to pledge our House to your cause.”
“Are you certain?” Harry asked, needing to be sure before they started the official ritual.
“I am, Harry. I think House Weasley needs this.” Bill said, meeting his eyes firmly, the others behind him nodding in agreement.
“Very well," he said with a nod, pulling out his wand and crossing it with Bill’s, both holding their wands with the hand wearing their House rings.
“House Weasley pledges itself to House Potter, may we always support its endeavors. Let our Houses be linked in all aspects. We will be loyal to House Potter’s causes, fight in its battles, and support its decisions. Let there always be a Weasley ready to answer their call. Let us always protect and serve them until the last of our line.” A line of red magic swept from his House ring, linking their hands and merging with Harry’s ring.
“House Potter accepts the pledge of House Weasley, let them always have a place at our side in peace and war. Their victories shall be celebrated in our halls, and their defeats will be mourned together. Let both Houses grow through this mutual support and care.” A blue line of magic joined them together as he spoke, twining with Bill’s and pulsing a soft purple where the lines merged.
“So mote it be," they said in unison, the magic sinking in and disappearing with a small flash of light and heat.
“There is one other vow that needs to be made,” Bill said, nodding to where Fred and George waited to one side.
“Before we continue, there’s one thing I’d like to do first.” Harry said, offering his hand back to Bill, “I’d like to remove any painful bindings you have on your core and magic.”
“Bindings? Shouldn’t the purge and magic ritual have removed everything?” Bill asked, slowly taking Harry’s hand.
“Magic likes to bind magical beings together. Most of the time, the bindings are harmless, like the bonds between siblings, but sometimes the bonds can be used to harm or even drain vitality from those around them.” Harry murmured.
He centered himself and let his vision slid towards the grey mist. The bindings encircling Bill’s core were mostly benign, but there were a few forced bindings and harmful friendships that had left their mark on Bill’s magic. He shattered the bonds between Dumbledore and Bill’s mother, encouraging the ragged energies underneath them to start healing. The sickly line to Arthur he left alone for now since it seemed to be slowly recovering on its own.
“Done,” Harry said, carefully letting go and checking the other man’s face, “Are you all right?”
“Am I supposed to feel lighter?” Bill asked shakily, letting Harry help him to a nearby chair.
“Yes, dark bindings weigh down your magic and soul.”
“Alright there, Bill?” Fred asked, coming forward to check on their brother.
“I’m good. It just surprised me.” Bill said, nodding to where Harry was waiting, “Don’t keep Lord Potter waiting.”
“Are you ready for us, Harry?” George asked, stopping a step behind Fred.
“Are you both certain this is what you want?”
“Yes, we’ve talked about it, and it’s decided,” Fred said, glancing at his twin and getting a firm nod in return.
“House Prewitt wishes to pledge itself to House Potter." they said in unison, pulling out their wands and presenting them so Harry could cross his wand along them, “House Prewitt owes a debt it can never repay, let one of our own in each generation stand by the Head of House Potter. Let us be his shield and his blade in times of trouble. Let us be his friend and protector in times of peace. Until either House falls, let us be bound together. House Prewitt will serve House Potter as paladin and protector.” The golden lines of magic from their rings linked them to Harry’s ring, pulsing with the sacrifice and power of the vow.
“House Potter accepts the pledge of House Prewitt, let them stand at our side in darkness and light, in birth and death, let them be bound to our line until either line no longer exists,” Harry said the ritual words, watching as a thick blue line twined and merged with the golden strands burning a bright white from the strength of the vows.
“So mote it be." they chanted, the flash much larger this time as the accumulated magic surged through them, forging a permanent bond between the Houses, binding the twins as paladins to the Potters. Harry held on a moment longer to clear both the twins of their painful bindings as well.
“I’ve got to get back to the others. Thank you for everything, Harry.” Bill said, returning to stand next to the twins, “Please let me know the second you need anything.”
“I will, thank you, Bill. Please let me know how Ron and Ginny are doing.”
“Of course, I’ll send a letter through the box," he said, giving the group a nod and heading back to the portkey room.
“I want both of you to stay at Potter Manor this summer. I have a lot of training to do, and I want you to learn from the Masters I’ve apprenticed to.”
“Keeping more secrets, Harry?” Fred asked with a grin, looking over the Potter crest that had been magically tattooed on his wrist, thick lines of runes wrapping the limb and sealing the vow.
“Not anymore, not with you two at least,” Harry said with a snort, noting that the lines of runes were different colors on each twin, green for Fred and a dark rust color for George. “You can’t act as my House paladins if you don’t know what’s going on.”
“Good, we don’t intend to be left behind.”
Harry conjured a trio of armchairs to one side and started filling them in on everything that had happened since Sirius died: the two prophesies, his inheritance, training, and plans for House Potter. It was very late when he finally trailed to a stop, unsure of anything else he needed to tell them. Fred and George glanced at each other before nodding.
“Is there room at the manor for us to move in and keep the catalogs going?” Fred asked.
“More than enough, why? You just got settled at the sea cottage.”
“We can still use the property for experimentation or even the mass production we need for the catalog orders, but we need to be near you if we’re going to have a chance in hell of catching up, Harry,” Fred said.
“We need to start studying as well. We’ve got Occlumency down fairly well, but we can start working with your Masters to brush up on our defensive skills and use the trance books to catch up on the book learning.” George said.
“I’d advise taking it easy on the trance books, only one or two a week. You need time to process the information to be able to use it.” Harry put in, “I’ll send a note to Master Pittman and Sword Master Simmons, and it will be up to them if they want to take you on as students.”
“That’s fair,” Fred said with a nod.
“If you have a moment, Mister Thorburn,” A goblin said, stopping him when they closed up the ritual room.
“How can I assist you?” Harry asked, glad that he’d remembered to change back into his adult form.
“Account Manager Gold Kris requested that you meet with him before you leave.”
“I’ll speak with him now,” Harry said with a nod, turning and heading back to the account manager’s office, at this rate, he wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight.
“There is one more matter that needs to be dealt with before you retire.” Gold Kris said, gesturing to a corner of the office, a small House Elf stepped forward out of the shadows.
“Hello,” Harry said with a small smile, “How can I assist you, House Elf?”
“You are the unbinder, the grey Lord who can free those the ancient wizards enslaved?” It asked with a high, delicate voice.
“I am; do you wish to be unbound?”
“No, Lisle is bound to her task." she said, shaking her head, “She would ask you to unbind another.”
“Who do you wish unbound?”
“Lisle cannot say; she is bound to silence to her task, but she can show you.”