CHAPTER FIFTEEN: DAPHNE AND ASTORIA
FRIDAY JUNE 28, 1996 - Potter Manor
Daphne and Astoria followed the witch into a large sitting room of some kind, one bathed in sunlight. They were both led to a couch where they were told to sit and await their new Lord Black. They did as they were asked and as soon as the older witch left, they clung to each other and cried silently. This was not what either of them had wanted in life.
Daphne was doing her best at being the big sister, but it was impossible. She and her younger sister were to become little more than whores as she understood it. Most concubines were little more than that and what really hurt her was not that she was one, but that her little sister would be one too. She wanted to save her Sis from this fate, but she had no idea how. It was the not knowing that was driving her spare.
The two young witches clung to each other weeping for their soon to be lost innocence. Even if it was not that git Malfoy, Daphne thought as she tried in vain to comfort her sister, it would still be terrible. She and her sister were still virgins in every sense of the word. She knew, as her sister did, that would end today and not as either had hoped. She would spread her legs for some man today, and not a man she loved and would have done that for willingly. The same would be true for her sister. The best that she could hope for was that their buyer could not bond with both on the same day. She still hoped he would be nice to them, but Daphne believed that was a fool's hope.
There was a faked cough that caught Daphne's attention. Two young people were standing before her and her sister. She recognized them immediately but was even more confused than she already was because they should not be here at all.
"Potter?" she asked, "Granger?"
The two nodded. They recognized something in Daphne's voice neither had expected. Slytherins had always referred to them by last names only, but always with derision. This time, while Daphne had referred to them by last name, there was something different in her voice. Confusion? Hope? They could not tell.
In Daphne's mind this was too good to be true. Sure, she still was about to become a concubine, but she had quietly observed the young man before her for five years. He might be titled and rich, but he did not carry himself with the arrogance common to the boys she knew in Slytherin or even some of the other Purebloods from other houses. He had always seemed to her to be kind and caring if a little shy. Of course, that attitude did not extend to all. She knew all too well that with regards to Malfoy, Potter was inclined to hex first and ask questions later. But Malfoy had brought such animosity on himself. Daphne's impression of Harry was that he usually gave people a chance. Would that extend to her and her sister? Was he really Lord Black?
Hermione had taken a seat across from the two girls while Harry remained standing. Hermione was wearing jeans and a light blue blouse, while Harry was in slacks and a polo shirt. Harry looked at the two Greengrass girls with a kind yet concerned expression as he could tell they were very scared.
"Good morning," he said as calmly as he could. "I am Harry James Potter, Lord and Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter by right and under the terms of the will of my predecessor in title, the late Lord Charles David Potter and I am Lord and Head of the Ancient and Noble house of Black…"
The two girls gasped in surprise.
"…by law and under the will of my predecessor in title, the late Lord Sirius Orion Black, my godfather."
Daphne could not believe her ears. Was it true? She hoped it was. She noticed the rings on Harry's forefingers and recognized them as House Rings. He had two! An odd sense of relief washed over her and she could not restrain herself. She stood and rushed into Harry's surprised arms and was immediately joined by her sister. She buried her face into his chest as tears of relief flowed freely.
"Thank Merlin!" she said softly. "W-we thought…" She could not finish the statement.
Harry held the two girls for what seemed like several minutes not saying anything. He waited until both of them calmed down before he released his hold. Looking from one to the other, he said: "Let me guess, you thought it would be Draco Malfoy?"
Both Daphne and Astoria nodded.
"Please, have a seat and I'll explain," he said. This was not exactly what Daphne had expected. She expected him to begin the bonding right away. "You do know why you are here, don't you?"
"Daddy sold us to you," Astoria said in a small voice. "Why would he do that? Didn't he love us?" she added to no one in particular.
"He does," Harry said softly. "This was not something he wanted for either of you."
"So why did you make him?" Daphne shot out.
"I did not. This was as much as a surprise to me as it is for you two."
"What do you mean? How could you not know?"
"I can assure you that before I met your father yesterday, I had no idea about this. May I explain?"
Daphne nodded.
Harry then explained the nature of the war and the two Pureblood factions vying for control. He explained that their father did not wish to support either side and that while Dumbledore's faction left him alone, the Death Eaters would not. To remain "neutral" he had to pay protection money, for that's what it really was. He and others like him were victims of extortion, forced to pay or watch their families die. This had been going on since before Daphne was born and even when everyone thought Voldemort was gone forever.
Harry then explained what he saw as a recent plot between Death Eaters and the Malfoy family, particularly Draco Malfoy.
"Somehow, that idiot has it in his head that he's the next Lord Black," Harry said.
"How did you become…" Daphne began. "I mean you said something about a Will, but don't you have to be a blood relation?"
Harry nodded. "Sirius Black was my second cousin."
"So he could designate you as Head of House assuming he had no son of his own," Daphne realized aloud.
Harry nodded. "Draco is closer in kinship and had there not been a Will he would have become Head of House based upon that kinship. But Sirius was not about to let the House fall into the hands of a Death Eater family. And, although the Will has not been read, as his final act as my guardian he emancipated me allowing me to come into my inheritances as soon as the Goblins at Gringotts verified both the authenticity of the Will and determined that the Will would survive any challenge."
"Then why does everyone think it's Malfoy?"
"Because he's an arrogant ass and assumes that he as the closest male relation and a Pureblood is destined to become the next Lord Black," Harry said. "I'll never accuse him of having a brain.
"The fact that there is a new Lord Black is only known by a few. Outside of Gringotts and my Houses, there are only four or five others who know the truth, none of them are likely to tell Draco or anyone else for that matter.
"Anyway, the Death Eaters approached your father last Sunday demanding this year's payment. It was far more than he ever had to pay before and also more than he could afford. As I understood it, he probably could not have paid it even if he had wanted to. That's where you two come in. The Death Eaters made him make an Unbreakable Vow on his life and the lives of your mother and younger sisters that he would sell the two of you to the next Lord Black by the time the Black Will was made public."
"Not Malfoy?"
"Not Malfoy."
"That seems pretty stupid. He must have suspected there was a chance he might be passed over."
"You probably know him better than I do. What do you think?"
"He's arrogant enough to think that he must be the next Lord Black."
Harry nodded.
"Why didn't they just make it Malfoy?" Astoria asked.
"That same question crossed my mind when I returned from my meeting with your parents yesterday," Harry said. "Hermione here looked up the law regarding such things. As Draco Malfoy, he is still underage and under the Guardianship of his father, even if the git is in Azkaban. As such, he cannot consent to any kind of contract. But, had he become the designated successor to the Black estate, he would have been emancipated and could legally purchase concubines. Basically, the only way he could buy you was if he was Lord Black."
"He's in for a rude shock," Daphne chuckled.
"More than one," Harry said. "Under the terms of my godfather's Will, he will be disinherited and disowned as a member of the Black clan. I am to offer his mother the right to have her marriage to Lucius Malfoy annulled. Whether she does is up to her but…"
"Most of the Malfoy's money came from the marriage to Narcissa," Daphne said. "Malfoy let that slip once. That and the fact that 'Malfoy Manor' is a Black property that was part of the dowry."
"The Manor is still Black property," Harry said. "The contract between Lucius and House Black was a rental contract. I have recently learned that Lucius never paid so much as a knut in rent."
"You're going to impoverish him?" Daphne asked catching on to what Harry was planning.
Harry nodded, "and about thirty other Death Eater families that have not been paying their rents to my estate. But I digress.
"Because of the vow your father was forced to make, he had no choice other than to offer you to Lord Black. I could have refused the offer, which would have triggered the vow and left you orphans. Being one myself, I could not do that. That and the fact of the matter is had he broken the vow and had you been orphaned, in all probability your temporary magical guardian - Albus Dumbledore - would have sold you as concubines anyway."
"So there was no real avoiding this," Daphne realized.
"Unfortunately," Harry nodded. "I can tell you that it broke your parent's hearts to do this. They only did it to keep what was left of your family safe. I am sure that had there been any other way, your Dad would have done anything to prevent this from happening. But there was not."
"So we have to become concubines?"
Harry nodded sadly. "If there were any other way, I would take it. Unfortunately, the language in the vow your father took, while it resulted in thwarting Malfoy, requires that the contract be fulfilled. If I don't bond with you, the contact is not complete and your father will have broken the vow because you failed to become the concubines of Lord Black. Still, I have done what I can and will continue to do what I can to make the best of this situation for all concerned."
"How so?"
"First off, I gave your parents 50,000 Galleons so they could leave this country and continue to support your sisters."
"Fifty thousand?" Daphne exclaimed! That was more than the average witch or wizard would earn in ten years. It was several times more than her father earned. "How much were the Death Eaters asking for?"
"Fifteen," Harry said. "Had he come to me before he made the vow, I would have covered it. At the time, however, he thought Malfoy was Lord Black so there really was no point as it was clear that a Malfoy Lord Black would not honor the alliance and wanted the two of you."
"If I ever see that git, he's dead," Daphne growled.
After a pause, Harry continued. "I made your parents a few promises I intend to keep. First off, I promised them that I would do my best to keep you safe. That means you will live here at the estate for the duration of the War. The wards protecting this estate are even better than those protecting Hogwarts. It is impossible for an enemy to cross into this land unscathed or undetected."
"So we're prisoners?"
"Not really. You are under my protection. You will have unrestricted movement within the estate and, if you must know, that's far more open than you may even be used to. The estate is approximately three hundred and ninety square miles, around a quarter million acres."
The two girls' mouths dropped. While the concept of a square mile was not easy for them to grasp, acres were.
"It's four miles from here to the 'front' property line, five miles to either side property line and an average of sixteen to the rear of the property which I'm told is on the coast. There's even a large town on the coast entirely within the boundaries of the estate which, I am told, has probably the best shopping outside of Diagon Alley."
"Bloody hell," Astoria started.
"You're told?" Daphne added. "You don't know? How could you not know? Professor Snape said you were rich and pampered and…"
"Snape has no idea about my life outside of Hogwarts," Harry snapped, trying but failing to control his temper. "This is my ancestral home! This is Potter Manor! Until last Sunday, I didn't even know it existed! I most certainly had never been here before! Yes I mean NEVER! I wasn't even born here!
"When my parents died I was sent to live with my Mum's sister who's a Muggle and who hates magic. I was never loved there. I was beaten frequently and sometimes severely just because of who I was! I cooked, cleaned and tended the garden and did any other menial task my relations thought needed doing practically from the moment I could walk. I didn't even know my real name until I was five! I thought I was called 'Boy' or 'Freak.'
"Until I started Hogwarts, I never had money. I ate nothing but table scraps for years! When I arrived at Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey had to place me on a series of nutrient and growth potions because I was suffering from prolonged malnutrition! For ten years, I lived in a broom closet under the stairs and the only clothes I wore were worn out hand-me-downs from my fat cousin. Pampered? Rich? House elves are generally better treated than I was!
"If you must know, at the end of First Year Hermione gave me a hug and kissed my cheek. That was the first time I can recall anyone doing that!"
"I-I'm s-sorry," Daphne whimpered. "I didn't know."
Harry looked at Hermione and saw she was crying. "You never told me it was that bad," she said.
"I'm sorry," Harry said. "At first I didn't want to scare you. Then I didn't want to upset you. Most recently, I was afraid that if you ever learned how horrible it really was you might do something silly."
"Like what?"
"Like kill them."
"I wouldn't blame her if she did," Astoria said. "I'd rather be a concubine than go through that!"
"Where was I?" Harry asked after a pause while he regained his composure.
"Safety," Hermione said.
"When the time is right," Harry continued, "when I think I can safely bring your family back to England, I will. It may even be before the War is over as there is plenty of room here at the estate. Hermione's parents have also been sent overseas for their safety. Hopefully, in a few months when the enemies have forgotten about them, they can return and live here. I have a fair few empty guest houses where they can live.
"When they return, you will continue to live here at the Manor, but you will be allowed to visit them or they you as your schedule permits."
"Schedule?" Daphne asked.
"Your father asked me to see to your education but added that he would prefer that you did not return to Hogwarts. My guess is he's concerned that it's too open to attack and that Malfoy will be there. For similar reasons, I agree. You will be tutored here at the Manor. That's already been arranged and you both will sit for your exams. Should you desire to continue your education beyond N.E.W.T. level, we'll try and arrange that as well.
"Tutors?"
"We have a fair few lined up," Harry said. "Four are qualified Aurors, one is a Healer, one a Curse Breaker for Gringotts, one has taught Transfiguration for forty years at a magical school, and one is a former Tri-wizard Champion who has recently received a Mastery in Charms. They can cover the entire Hogwarts syllabus except for Care of Magical Creatures, Divination and Muggle Studies, although as Hermione and I are Muggle raised, we can teach that as well."
"Arithmancy and Ancient Runes?" Astoria asked.
"They will be taught. In fact, I am probably going to take them as well. Should have done so in the first place."
"That's not so bad, then," Astoria said.
"Don't forget the library," Hermione said.
"Library?" Daphne asked.
"It's even better and larger than the one at Hogwarts," Hermione said proudly.
Daphne found this hard to believe, but would withhold judgment until she had a chance to check it out for herself.
"Your father asked also that you not be whored out," Harry continued. "As I have no intention of doing that with my existing concubines, I wouldn't have even considered it in any event."
"Existing concubines?" Daphne asked.
"Turns out I inherited two from my godfather and one from my grandfather."
"I take it they are older?"
"Minnie, whom I inherited from the Potter estate, is in her late sixties. Mallory, who is from the Black estate, is thirty-nine, and you met Dora earlier. She's almost twenty-two."
"Have you bonded with them?" Daphne asked.
Harry nodded.
After a pause during which both girls gaped at Harry, Daphne asked: "And where does Gr - H-Hermione fit in to this picture?"
"She's bonded to me as well," Harry replied.
"Concubine?"
Harry shook his head. "Consort. She is Lady Potter now."
"How? When? I didn't even know you were dating?"
"How was by accident," Harry laughed, "although we probably would have bonded anyway. When was Sunday afternoon. She offered herself to me and I accepted her. Would have under any event. I do love her and have for years but was afraid she didn't see me that way. Turns out the both of us were thinking that about each other. She almost died in the fight at the Ministry and I decided then, if she survived, I would tell her how I really felt. When she finally woke up, I did."
"It was wonderful," Hermione sighed.
"Which part?" Daphne asked. "The finding out he loves you or the sex?"
"Both," Hermione said with a smile. "Probably the fact that he loves me more. But the sex has been awesome!"
"Were you a virgin?"
Hermione nodded. "As was Harry. The most either of us had ever done before was a good snogging."
"And your first time?"
"Hurt at first. But he was patient and - wow!" Hermione blushed and giggled.
"That good?"
"Amazing! He's … well, you can ask the others. He knows how to please you. He knew from the very first," she sighed.
"Poor girl can't get enough of me," Harry chuckled.
"First of all," Hermione huffed, "I was walking funny for over a day! Secondly, I'm not the only one. The only reason I get more than the others is because as your Consort I get dibs on you!"
"Walking funny?" Astoria asked.
"Harry's pretty big," Hermione said. "Not too big, but the others say he's as big as they ever had. That might have been enough to make me sore. The fact that we made love over ten times that first day…"
"Ten times?" Daphne said in shock.
"A light day for Harry," Hermione giggled. "He can out shag any of us! Yesterday he only had the time for twelve. But the others? Fourteen and more! And that does not include oral sex or other ways. He's flat out amazing!"
"You suggested you have barely left the Manor since you got here," Daphne said to Harry. He nodded. "I can see why." She sounded a little disappointed in him, but there was a bit of a smirk on her face.
"How amazing?" Astoria asked. There was an eagerness to her voice.
"What do you mean?" Hermione replied.
"Er - orgasms."
"He's never failed us in that. Always one. Usually at least two."
"Really?" the two girls asked almost in awe.
Hermione nodded grinning.
"I confess I'm still a virgin," Daphne said. "Had I known boy sex could be - er - satisfying…"
"Okay, I'm listening," Hermione said.
"Most girls in Slytherin give it up by the end of Third Year. A fair few not by choice. I'd say almost half have been raped. The boys, however, they're not about - er - satisfying us. From what the other girls say, most cases the only way you'll get off is if you're gang banged by more than one boy. They all complain the boys are in and out before they even get started."
"And Draco?" Harry asked.
"The girls that have been with him call him 'noodle dick'," Astoria said. "You're better filled with your finger than with Malfoy. That and if he lasts more than a minute or so it's a bloody miracle. Not that I would know as I still haven't done that."
"And how is it you've managed to stay virgins," Harry asked. Based upon what they said and the fact they were both very attractive, he was surprised they had not been forced into it.
"They don't call us the 'Ice Princesses' for nothing," Daphne said. "Draco tried more than a few times. I hexed him. The last time he spent a week in the hospital wing. He tried my sister last year and he had blisters on his member for a week."
"Ouch," Harry groaned.
"Why so harsh?" Hermione asked.
"You do Draco, you do Crabbe and Goyle too," Daphne said.
"Yuck three times over," Hermione replied.
"Understatement. Those goons don't know what soap is. A troll might be better!"
"Well then," Hermione replied, "I can assure you both that Harry here will not be in and out - at least not when your pleasure is at issue. He's pretty quick when we're dealing with sucking him off though, also a good thing. And he does bathe."
"Good to know," Daphne said.
"Which brings us to the more intimate things," Harry said.
"As in?"
"Living arrangements, sleeping arrangements and the sex thing. Which would you like to discuss first?"
"L-living arrangements."
"Unless you're sleeping with me, you will have your own room," Harry said. "As you are sisters, you can choose either separate rooms or to be roommates."
"Roommates," Astoria said. "At home we shared the same room."
Daphne nodded.
"Done. For now, the two of you will room on the Second Floor, as do all the others. Second and Third Floors are all two bedroom guest suites. In time, I may renovate them or add a new wing, but that's for later."
"You are?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "This is a family. While we'll take at least one meal a day in the First Floor dining room, when the others have children we'll need more room…"
"Children?" Daphne asked.
"All my concubines will be allowed that privilege, including both of you," Harry replied. "Any woman who has completed her O.W.L.s has that right. Younger ones will have that right in time or at my discretion. But once you had taken your O.W.L. exams, all you have to do is ask."
"And what status will they have?"
"Their last name will be either 'Black' or 'Potter' depending upon which house their mother is specifically bonded to. The heir shall be either the first son of any woman in the house or, in the case of House Potter, the first son born should Hermione have no son. Should I have another Consort, her son will be the Black heir, unless she has none, then it will fall to the son of a Black House concubine. As for the others, they are my children and will be supported and looked after even after my demise. The title will pass to the heir; the property will be divided amongst all of my children."
"How many?"
"That depends upon each of you," Harry replied. "You want only one? That's your call. You want a dozen? Your call again. If enough of you need more room, I will build a new wing to the Manor."
"So if I wanted to have a child now?" Daphne asked.
"You've taken your O.W.L.s," Harry replied, "it's you're call. Of course, you still have to do the pregnant thing. I can't speed that bit up."
"And Hermione?" Astoria asked.
Harry shrugged. "Her call. Her Dad gave me his blessing provided that should we marry we do so before she got pregnant."
"And by becoming his Consort we are married," Hermione added. "As we are safe here, I am taking no precautions in that regard. I hope to be pregnant soon."
"And you're okay with this?" Daphne asked.
Harry nodded. "I've always wanted to be a part of a real family, even one as different as this one will be."
"Harry?" Daphne asked, "once we are bonded, I'd like that opportunity."
"To be a mother?"
Daphne nodded. "Maybe not right away, but in a few months, sure."
"Me too," Astoria said.
"Daphne?" Harry replied, "your wish is my command. Astoria? I'd still prefer to wait until at least your O.W.L. year, okay?"
"That's fine," she replied. "I didn't mean I want to be a Mum today. Just that I want to be one, one day. Thank you, Harry."
"You're welcome."
"You mentioned sleeping arrangements," Daphne said.
"You two better not be shy about sex," Harry chuckled.
"What do you mean?"
"It means that since I lost my virginity with Hermione Sunday, I've seldom ever had sex without a spectator."
"What?"
"There has almost always been another witch present when I've had sex and, once I bonded with the first of my inherited concubines, I have slept with two women each night."
"You mean we'll have to have sex in front of anyone?" Astoria said in shock.
"No," Harry replied. "Only those women who are or will be bonded to me."
"And our bonding?"
"Will be in front of the rest of my women."
Astoria paled.
"It's not that bad really," Hermione said as reassuringly as she could. "Harry does his best to make you forget that bit. None of the others mind at all."
"Spoken by Miss I-Want-To-Watch-And-Be-Watched," Harry chuckled.
"What?" the two Greengrass girls asked.
"Hermione likes to watch and be watched," Harry shrugged. "You will find that unless we expect outside visitors, sex is very public here. Hell! Unless there's a visitor, my gals seldom wear more than a robe and slippers. Even then, the robe is often open."
"Only because you won't leave us alone," Hermione giggled. "Not that I mind."
"And as to sleeping arrangements, I don't sleep alone," Harry said.
"More importantly," Hermione added, "since he bonded with Dora - the first of his concubines - he sleeps with two women each night."
"Sleep with or have sex with?" Daphne asked.
"Yes to both," Harry smirked.
"At least two times a night each," Hermione added, "as far as the sex goes."
"It's a wonder you get any sleep at all!"
"We usually are asleep by midnight and get a good eight hours," Hermione replied. "Harry makes a wonderful pillow!"
"Hermione and I discussed this recently," Harry continued. "Each of my girls will have four nights a year with just me alone if they want. One night will be their birthday and the others roughly every three months after. Other than that, you will rotate with the other concubines. With you two, I have five now. By the end of the summer, I'll have at least eighteen."
"EIGHTEEN?" the two girls shrieked.
Hermione then explained the auction, who was up for sale and why, who Harry was planning to purchase and why and the significance of the number. What finally got the two girls smiling was the plan to drive up the price on concubines. Harry planned to start the bidding for his targeted witches at more than ten times the normal price in hopes that sellers would expect that price for their offerings in the future. Harry could afford several thousand Galleons for up to fourteen witches. Few others could afford it for even one. He hoped, as did Hermione, that it would permanently damage the market. The Greengrass girls thought it was very Slytherin of him. Harry took that comment as the compliment it was meant to be.
"Obviously," Harry continued, "even I cannot be with twenty women every day. I do have other obligations other than sex. I have been told that as adolescent witches, you both need at least an orgasm a day, preferably more. For now, that is doable for me as there are only the three of you. My other concubines don't need that from a magical development standpoint. But, when this plan comes together…"
"We'll still have to pleasure ourselves or something."
Harry nodded. "Once the bonding is done, you are free to do so whenever and wherever you like. Unless there are guests in the house, of course."
"You will find," Hermione continued, "that when there are no guests, we don't wear much. Just a robe for us women. Harry just wears a robe."
"While undressing a woman is fun, it becomes a pain if we're dressing and undressing several times a day," Harry said with a shrug.
"And you order them to please you?" Daphne said in an accusing voice.
"Aside from the two acts necessary to complete the bond, and only because the orders were part of the bonding, no," Harry said. "They have sex with me of their own free will."
"Really," Daphne replied in disbelief. It was well known that the concubine bond all but eliminated free will, unless… "You give them a choice?"
"Always," Harry said. "I prefer happy witches to slaves any day."
"And he makes witches happy," Hermione giggled.
"So basically, aside from the bonding, we can refuse sex if we want to?"
"In theory," Harry said.
"And what does that mean?"
"It means that while I've never asked or insisted, neither have I ever had a hard on that was not relieved since I bonded for the first time. Hermione would do me, but…"
"There is a limit to how many times I can. Harry easily exceeds it."
"And the others?"
"He's very good," Hermione said. "If anything, they might complain that they can't get enough Harry time."
This was a new concept foreign to the girls. In Slytherin, any time was too much for most girls. Then again, the Slytherin boys were not into seeing to the girls' pleasure. Everything Hermione had said suggested Harry was a polar opposite. Daphne decided to reserve judgment, but deep down she hoped Hermione was not either biased or exaggerating.
"Okay," Harry continued. "To fulfill the contract and ensure your father cannot break his vow, the two of you will be bonded to me as Lord Black initially."
"I-initially?" Daphne asked.
"Once I've fulfilled the contract, I can do with you as I please. I promised your father I would never sell you so no worries there. But I will transfer one of you to House Potter."
"Why?
"How?" Astoria asked.
"It's mostly administrative. I don't want the houses - er - unbalanced. It will also allow each of you the chance to give birth to an heir. If you were in the same House, that would not be possible. That's really the only distinction between one house and another - the last name of the child and what line they inherit from.
"As to how, well it means one of you will go through the bonding rite twice. I'll let you decide who. If you can't decide, I'll probably just flip a coin to keep it fair."
"And what does this bonding right entail?" Daphne asked sounding nervous again.
"Two sex acts at a minimum," Hermione answered. "At the very least, you have to perform oral sex on Harry and have intercourse with him."
"Perhaps it would be best if you asked us both to do it twice," Astoria suggested.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well," she blushed, "if we find it - er - difficult the first time, it won't seem like such a burden to become a Potter witch if the other has to do it again to. And, if you are as good as Hermione says, then the Black witch won't feel left out. It would be easier for us to decide, I think, if the sex bit was not at issue."
"Works for me," Harry said. "The bonding rite will be after lunch. Lunch is in little over an hour. An Elf will show you to your room for now so you can - um - unpack or whatever. You'll be dining with Hermione, Dora and me on the veranda.
"And with regard to the Elves, they are literally part of my family. I don't know how you treated House Elves, but these are not House Elves. You will not harm them - ever. Hurt them and you hurt me. You will treat them with courtesy and respect. They are practically like mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters to all of us. Disrespect them and you disrespect me. Understand?"
It was the only time he had talked down to them. They both knew he was serious on this point and nodded in understanding. There was no point in telling him that that's how their Daddy saw their House Elves at home.
An elf maiden named Tarla led the two Greengrass girls to their rooms. The two girls saw at once they were not dealing with a House Elf. Tarla was almost as tall as Astoria, which meant taller than any House Elf they had ever seen. She was dressed in a nice blue dress that matched her eyes. Unlike House Elves, she had hair on her head, in her case blonde and curly. Only her large eyes and pointed ears suggested she was not human. She spoke perfect English, another thing that differentiated her from House Elves.
She led them to a huge, marble stair case and up to the second floor describing rooms as she went. The girls learned that the First Floor was the Master's apartments, but that as a member of the family, they had near full access. The Second Floor had been guest suites, and that's where they would sleep for now. In the center of the floor was the guest common areas that included a Dining Room, huge lounge and smaller sitting rooms. Of two either side were ten guest suites, each with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a large common room. Tarla lead them down a long corridor until they came to a door with a large numeral four on it.
The room they entered was huge for a private sitting room. There was a large fireplace set against the far wall framed by two large windows and a set of French doors leading to what they were told was a private balcony. There was a table that had six chairs around it for private meals. Three couches and several comfortable chairs also graced the room and allowed for two distinct sitting areas. There was even a piano, which both girls had learned before they went to Hogwarts.
The two bedrooms were at least as large as any they had ever seen. Each had a large, four poster and canopied bed flanked by a night stand on either side, it's own sitting area, fireplace, large windows and doors to their balcony, dressers, a dressing table and vanity, a desk and chair. Each seemed to be decorated to their own taste, and how the elf knew that was anyone's guess. They each had a walk in closet that clearly could hold more clothes that anyone ought to have a right to own and a large private bath with a huge bathtub, private shower and more. In their rooms they found their trunks and suitcases, carefully lined against a wall and unopened.
When they returned to their common room, they saw a note had been left on what had to be a dining table - the one with all the chairs around it - and it was on top of a book. Daphne picked up the note and read aloud:
Daphne & Astoria:
The book is a catalog of paintings in storage here at the estate. Feel free to look through it and pick some with which to decorate your rooms. My personal recommendations are the French Impressionist works and there are three Monet's available! They are Muggle, but are considered amongst the world's finest works of art. Make your selections and let me know.
We are really happy you two have joined us. It will be a pleasure serving such wonderful young women! For now, I am your interim handmaiden, but I have hopes that one or both of you might consider it a permanent appointment!
Tarla.
The two sisters soon found themselves sitting out on their private balcony enjoying the lush, green landscape. Yet each was lost in her own thoughts and fears.
"Daph?" Astoria finally asked, "are you scared?"
"Terrified," Daphne admitted.
"Of what?"
"Of being a concubine? Of the fact that I am probably going to be raped today…"
"Harry Potter won't…"
"He won't be brutal," Daphne agreed. "But are you truly going to admit that you would strip down and let him take you right now?"
Astoria shook her head. "Not that he's a bad choice, but…"
"We'll never have a husband," Daphne said. "Even if he freed us, which he can't because that would be cruel…"
"I admit, that scares me," Astoria said. "But he did promise Daddy and us we would never be whored out. That's not too bad, is it?"
Daphne thought for a moment. "Under the circumstances, no. But you can't tell me you want this."
"This over Malfoy!"
There was that, Daphne thought. Malfoy would have already taken them brutally. She had heard him boast to his mates about what he would do with a concubine, about how his house had cells so awful that the women begged to have sex just to leave them for a time. He bragged about how he would whore his women out. This was paradise in comparison. Still, it was not what she wanted for herself or her sister. Worse, she feared they would never leave and she would never see her family again.
"Still, I'm not sure I want to …"
"To what?" Astoria asked.
"Do you want to lose your virginity today?" Daphne said. "We're going to in most likelihood. We are going to become his lovers whether our choice or not!"
"I'm not sure I'm ready, Daph. But if I must … You have to admit he's a dish!"
"Still…"
"Daphne, he did tell us why we are here. He seems to care, which is more that we should expect, right?"
Her sister had a point.
"So the sex does not scare you?" she asked.
"I'm terrified," Astoria admitted. "Of all the boys in school, why him?"
Why indeed, Daphne thought.
"In a couple of years, maybe," Astoria went on, "but why now? I'm still a girl on the outside! Only my insides are woman! Why couldn't he wait…"
"Sissy?"
"Daph, I have a huge crush on him! Not that Boy-Who-Lived nonsense - HIM! He's a nice boy and a looker and he can play Quidditch with the best of them. That year when he took on a dragon…"
Daphne nodded.
"And yet he's still a nice boy. He's only mean to people who are mean to him. I dropped my books once. It was sort of on purpose and he stopped and helped me pick them up! He was with that Git Weasley who yelled at him about helping a snake like me, but he ignored him. He's nice and a little shy and… Well, aside from Granger, he can barely speak a sentence around a girl and…"
Daphne nodded in agreement. She too had a bit of a crush on him.
"What if he finds me revolting?" Astoria said. "I'm not sure I could handle that!"
Daphne thought for a long while. "You know what scares me, Sissy?"
"No," Astoria said.
"We might never see Mum, Daddy, Rachel, Maria or Pattie again. I think I can handle the rest, but that scares me."
The two sat in silence until Tarla called them down for lunch. They both loved their family and both felt this meant they would never see them again despite what Harry had told them.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how. Someone suggested I tighten this up a bit and made a good suggestion as to how. From now on, details beyond name, age and bond status will only be included when they are either new or change.
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16; CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Nymphadora (Dora) Tonks, age 21; CONCUBINE (BLACK).
3. Minerva Grace McGonagall, age 68; CONCUBINE (POTTER).
4. Mallory Michelle Grant, age 39; CONCUBINE (BLACK).
(Hope that's easier)
To answer some questions (partially):
Minerva's age. Yes, she's 68. But she's also a witch. Physically, they age like us until sometime in their twenties when it slows down. Their life expectancy is about twice that of the rest of us. True, Minerva looked stern when she was a professor, but in such intimate settings she looks younger (roughly ½ her age, maybe a little older).
Concubine Property Rights: There are no laws one way or another. Basically, Concubines are and have what their "Master" allows them to be and to have. They can be quite wealthy in their own right (if allowed) or have nothing. They can have jobs (unrelated to sex) or not. They can keep their earnings or not. It all depends upon their wizard. (Which means many of them are not well treated.) (This also answers another question about why there are accomplished women. If they are allowed to be, they can be. Amelia is a widowed Consort – and the Consort Bond promotes partnership as a couple.)
How can Susan Bones be up for Auction if her Aunt is still alive? It is a wizard who makes that decision.
Why aren't Hermione's parents here? There have been many hints. There is some question as to whether they could pass through the wards prior to Harry taking his Potter Ring (Hermione gets through because of their emotional relationship, something Harry has barely begun to develop with her parents). But the letter from Sirius was a huge clue. Sirius hoped they would bond as Consort and Husband. That would be rather difficult if her parents were milling about.
Where's Dumbledore? First, it's been less than a week and he left watching Harry to others (who saw to it Harry was moved to his Estate, and they're not telling.) Second, right now he's out of the country anyway.