Luna didn't mind a dance. "You're the most sought-after boy here. Why spend your time with me when other, better-endowed girls want it just as much?"
He smiled at her. "I already have the best as my wife, you know, but I also like to make friends and you seem to be a worthy person to befriend."
That brought a brilliant smile to her face. "You think so? You want to be my friend?"
He nodded. "And so does Hermione. We appreciate smart people who think on their own and not just repeat what they hear or read. You seem to be one, even if a bit unconventional."
She smiled apprehensively. "Yes, unconventional. I prefer it to other words they use about me."
"Luna, they're not worth your time! Disregard them as if they said nothing. I'm sure you're worth much more than them in whatever aspect one checks."
"Are you sure? I'm not as pretty as some, nor as endowed as others…"
"You're prettier than you let yourself believe and the rest — well, you've not reached your adult proportions yet, have you?"
She smiled thankfully. "I'll keep your words close to my heart. Now, I think your wife can wait no longer and I got more than expected from this dance."
–..–
Despite his reluctance, Harry danced with some more girls. He found Hannah to be quite a good dancer and very pleasant company. He could honestly understand why Neville seemed to spend a lot of time with her. She could prove to be a good Lady Longbottom, eventually, although Harry thought that Luna could prove even better. Well, it didn't matter much to him anyway.
He didn't recognise another girl who wanted to dance. She was tall and wide, but well endowed, although not even close to Susan, and her face seemed quite nice, even if not really pretty. She also danced well enough.
"I don't think I caught your name," he said while dancing.
She smiled. "I didn't say it. I'm Millie. You probably know me as Millicent, just barely. I'm also in Slytherin."
"Bulstrode? You look much better than at school!" he blurted in surprise.
She smiled thankfully. "Don't most of the girls do? The school robes are anything but flattering, you know, and we also use more elaborate makeup for such occasions."
Harry's mind was still a bit slower than his mouth. "But why did you ask to dance with me? I'm a Gryffindor, you know."
She nodded, keeping her smile. He found that it made her look nicer. "I also heard that you're the true Lord Slytherin, not the fraud magical construct that claims to hold the title. I may be obliged to act differently at school, but you should know that I support you, despite my family, and whatever help I can secretly give you is yours for the asking."
His mind and his suspicions caught up. "What's in that for you?"
She shrugged. "A chance for a better life, without needing to hide my opinions, at least. Then, if you conquer, as almost everybody expects, isn't it the Slytherin way to try and stay close to the most powerful ones?"
Harry finally smiled. "You've given me a lot to think of."
–..–
He felt lucky that Cho Chang wasn't present. He really didn't think he could dance with her, not so soon after the events at the third task. Another Ravenclaw asked for a dance. "Padma? I almost thought you were Parvati."
She chuckled. "What gave me out?"
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. You both look practically the same. I can't even say you seemed more serious, since you giggled just as much as your twin, but… something is still different."
"And you can't say what?" she teased him.
"I don't know what. I only know there is something. It could be something magical."
"Or maybe just our different perfumes," she said teasingly. "Now, let's do some dancing and no talking."
Although he had danced with Parvati at the Yule Ball, this was very different. He still couldn't say why or how, but dancing with Padma felt much more natural than with Parvati.
That reminded him. "Isn't Parvati here too?"
Padma shook her head. "We were invited to another ball as well. I'm here with Dad. She went there with Mum. It's at the muggle Indian embassy."
"Muggle?" he asked, quite surprised.
She smiled knowingly. "In India, wizards and witches are just a part of normal life. They tend to keep to themselves more than the muggles, but most people know whom to look for when they need some magical help."
Harry turned pensive. "I wonder if it could work here too."
She shook her head. "No chance for that. I studied a bit about how that happened. It's due to the religious and common beliefs of many in India. The Western culture wouldn't support that."
"That's a pity," he said. She nodded in agreement.
–..–
Katie Bell was also there. She was glad for a chance to dance with "her Quidditch little brother" and Harry had no reason to refuse. Being a bit older, her dress showed more cleavage, which he liked, although he found her pretty face more interesting. He also liked holding this athletic girl in his arms. She was firmer than his previous dance partners and danced very well, adjusting to his leading with no effort, almost like Hermione.
Inevitably, they talked about Quidditch. "Are you going to play this year?" she asked.
"Why not? I still like flying, you know."
"I'm not sure your wife likes it. Have you noticed how she acts whenever she watches you play?"
Harry nodded. "She doesn't like it, I know, but she wouldn't stand in my way."
"That's good to know. I was made Quidditch captain for our house and I'd really like you to keep your position as seeker."
Harry shrugged. "That's alright. We should still try to find a younger candidate and train him or her for the position. It may be helpful to have a few reserve players, you know."
"I'll give it some more consideration," she promised.
–..–
Albus wasn't aware of all that was going elsewhere. He had never paid much attention to other countries, not unlike the Dursleys. He also didn't mind the media much. It was known that it was under the control of the ministry, mostly. The latest change of policy didn't seem significant to him. It wasn't something to worry about.
Yet Lady Potter's letter worried him. If she would not be occupied with her prefect duties, she could help Harry and advise him. Even with the binds he had cast on her, she was still a very intelligent girl. He needed to keep her away from Potter to still have any influence on the brat.
"Minerva, I need you to go to Miss Granger and convince her to accept the position of Prefect. I see nobody else who could fill that role."
"She's Lady Potter now, as you know just too well. It's not befitting you to ignore her position or it would backfire on you," Minerva admonished him as much as she dared.
"Of course, you're right, but after four years, I find it difficult to call her anything else. Now, I believe they're staying with her parents. You could arrive there shortly after dinner, when they're most likely at home."
"But what can I tell her? With her new positions, she may really have no time for prefect duties."
Albus sighed. Why did he have to do all the thinking? "Remind her that her friend Ron can help her with that."
Minerva shook her head in disbelief. The old man didn't even think! He only saw what he wanted to see and disregarded everything else. "I don't think that would work. He never helped her until now. It was always she who helped him. He probably expects it to continue that way, doing nothing to justify his position."
Dumbledore grimaced, wearing his displeased expression. "Now, Minerva, you know that the Weasleys were always on the light side. It wouldn't do for Ron to be the only one who didn't get a prefect badge. Molly wouldn't stand for it."
"The twins didn't get it either, and they're much better students," she insisted.
Dumbledore had enough of this rebellion. "Minerva, go talk to her. You won't know until you do it." He put as much command in his voice as he could.
Minerva was aware of his tricks, but he was still her boss. "Fine, I'll go talk to them, but I don't expect she would change her mind."
–..–
There was a knock on the door shortly after dinner. Hermione went to open the door. Harry took a protective stance a few paces back, his drawn wand hidden by a raincoat hung on the cloth hanger.
"Good evening, professor. Please come in," Hermione greeted her favourite professor.
"Good evening, Lady Potter. I was sent here by the headmaster to persuade you to accept the position of a fifth-year prefect. He doesn't believe your other duties will take much of your time."
Hermione smirked. "He'd never been married, had he?" She then turned serious. "When I realized that Harry isn't the other prefect, I thought about who could have been chosen instead. None of the other boys seems good enough for the position, the way I see it. That will also mean that I will have to shoulder most of the work since none of them will be willing or able to do that. I trust Neville to try his best, but his best is not enough, in this case. The others won't even try. And then, I also have my duties as a wife and as a member of the Wizengamot. I believe they can take much more time than the headmaster expects since I'm very serious about my duties. I won't neglect these duties and there's a lot I have to learn to do them well. That means that I can't take the offered position."
Minerva could easily understand the main reason. "Would you have accepted it, had the other prefect been Mr Potter?"
Hermione didn't need to think much. "It would have made it a bit easier, but I'm not sure it would have changed much. You see, Harry has similar obligations in his position as a Lord of several houses. That may not leave enough time for prefect duties, and he still wants to play Quidditch too."
Minerva sighed. "Would you even consider changing your mind if Mr Potter is assigned the other prefect position?"
Hermione smiled sadly. "Had it been that way from the start, we might have considered it, although I doubt we would have accepted it. Now, knowing it's all the old man's manipulations, there's no way I would accept any position that would keep me away from Harry for any length of time. We're no longer his playthings."
Minerva frowned at the disrespect for the headmaster but she couldn't fault it. The old man had really acted in ways that were unbecoming for a leader, especially one who is considered light. "Then, may I understand that you will not accept this position, regardless of what the headmaster may say?"
Hermione nodded. "Your understanding is perfect. Now, would you care for a cup of tea?"
Minerva smiled apologetically. "I wish I could stay longer, but with the school opening in a few days, I struggle to have everything ready on time. I hope to be able to accept your offer some other time."
–..–
The last Ball of the summer was held at Bones Mound — the official residence of the Bones.
"We don't live here," Susan explained. "It's way too large for our needs, but it's useful for large events."
It really was a very large event. Without counting, Harry had a feeling that there were more people at that party than there were at Hogwarts. Luckily, most of them only came for some chat, made sure to be seen by whoever was important to them, and then left. Some even went to another party. The Malfoys were also holding a party that same evening. Harry felt thankful that it spared him their presence, although he had already gotten an invitation to the Malfoy Ball and had politely declined, stating he couldn't possibly go to both parties and he got the Bones invitation first.
–..–
Susan enjoyed dancing with Harry again, after talking a bit with Hermione. "You know that you can take a few more wives, one for each of your titles, don't you?"
He shrugged. "So? I'm perfectly happy with Hermione only."
She smiled. "I know a few girls who would gladly become your second, third or fourth wife. You're dancing with one, you know."
Harry almost stopped moving. "You?! But why would you even consider it?"
"Why not? You're a good man, very powerful — magically speaking, very rich and quite handsome. And you're a good dancer." Her expression changed, showing some mischief. "Besides, judging by how Hermione clings to you, I'm quite sure you're a good shag, maybe even a great one."
Harry blushed at the compliments and at the mention of sex. "But why share when you can surely find one to be fully yours?"
"What would you prefer? A quarter of a large meal with multiple large servings, or a full meal made of a small serving of lettuce? I know what I'd choose. What would you?"
Harry nodded understandingly. He could understand her choice when stated that way. It still didn't go well with how he felt. "Well, despite the bond, I don't feel like I need to already think about that. I'd better wait until after graduation, at least. I hope I'll be readier and more knowledgeable to decide about such matters. I don't feel I can do it now."
She smiled teasingly. "Of course. Why choose only a few when there are so many to choose from?"
He turned serious. "I only care about Hermione, you should know. I don't feel like I need anyone else. Still, if I have to choose more, then I'm sure you'll be among the top candidates, assuming you'll still want that."
She chuckled. "Very well phrased, and quite prudently, as expected of Lord Slytherin. I'll keep that in mind, you can be sure."
"And we still need to cooperate about the DADA teacher. Do you already know who got that position?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. We may only find that tomorrow, at the feast, or even later. Don't expect anybody worthy, though."
"Then, we shall have to remove that teacher quickly." He then smiled with some mischief. "The more we cooperate, the closer you'll become to us, giving you better chances at another kind of cooperation."
Susan chuckled again. "Had you not been such a noble git, we could have already cooperated a bit, very pleasurably, as I've heard. But… Well, I can wait until we're readier. I'll surely cooperate about the school, regardless."
"That would be very welcome," he agreed, finally moving his attention to dancing.