CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: NEVILLE AND SUSAN
MONDAY, JULY 1, 1996 - Longbottom Manor, Lancashire, U.K.
Neville Longbottom had just had a wonderful day wandering the estate with his "secret" girlfriend. They had been officially dating almost a year now, although aside from their families, they both doubted anyone had noticed. It's not that Neville was somehow embarrassed being with the lovely red head at his side. He was not. And he knew that Susan Bones was in no way embarrassed about being his girlfriend. They both believed that their private lives were just that - private. It also helped that few people ever really paid them much attention.
Both of them had seen this relationship coming for some time. Susan had sat next to Neville in their very first class together even though she was in Hufflepuff and he was in Gryffindor. It seemed from then on whenever Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had classes together, she and he were a team. In many ways, they were each other's first friends at Hogwarts and their friendship grew over time.
They were very similar young people from oddly similar backgrounds. Both were from Purebloods lines (Susan's Mum was a Half-Blood), but from lines that abhorred Pureblood Supremacy and dark magic. They were both orphans in a manner of speaking. Susan's parents had been murdered when she was a baby and she had been raised by her paternal Aunt Amelia Bones - her father's equally dead and buried younger brother's wife - who was now the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. While Neville's parents were not dead, they had been tortured to the point where they lost their minds. They had lived at St. Mungo's in a long term care ward for as long as Neville could remember. Neville was being raised by his grandmother.
Although each of them considered the other their romantic interest well before, it was the summer after their Third Year when they really began spending time together. Neville would go and visit Susan and she would come here to visit him. They did their homework together and talked for hours at a time. Neville and Susan knew all about each other and each of them came to enjoy the other's company and friendship. Susan was the only person Neville ever told about his parents. He was not ashamed, he just felt what had happened was too private and did he not want pity. Susan, he knew, would not pity or belittle him
Fourth Year, the two began spending time together as friends at school. Oddly, even though they frequently walked the grounds together and went into Hogsmeade village together, no one seemed to notice. When the Yule Ball in honor of the Tri-Wizard Tournament was announced, Neville asked Susan to be his "date." She really wanted to, but she needed to ask permission from her Aunt to stay at school over the holidays. Her Aunt refused. Oddly, the two expected that. Aunt Amelia missed her niece terribly. When Susan reluctantly had to decline, it was she who encouraged Neville to ask another girl. He did and she was a little surprised at who he chose. She asked him why he asked Ginny Weasley. He told her it was because of her red hair. He felt he could at least pretend like he was dancing with Susan.
It was during the dance that it dawned on Neville that he really did have feelings for Susan. It took Neville over six months to work up the courage to tell his best friend that he loved her. They were eating ice cream in Diagon Alley on a sunny summer day about a week after the summer holidays had begun when he told her how he felt. He did not know how she would react to this. Her reaction sealed the deal. She kissed him senseless. He then asked her to be his girlfriend, and she said yes.
Neville had unofficially proposed to her the day after he was released from the Hospital Wing after the battle at the Department of Mysteries. She had unofficially said yes. The day after they left Hogwarts for this summer, Susan and her Aunt joined Neville and her Gran for tea at Longbottom Manor. It was then they told their guardians of their intentions for the future. They were both a little nervous when they told. They were still very young. Susan was sixteen and Neville would not turn sixteen until the end of July. They were both pleasantly surprised when the two older witches gave them their blessing - provided they finish school first before any public wedding or certainly any children.
What Amelia Bones and Augusta Longbottom talked about next stunned and mortified the young couple. They both got the "talk!" That was horrid enough, particularly because the two older witched had described certain sexual acts in graphic detail. But then the proverbial other shoe dropped. They were told that because Susan's father was dead and had died without a will and as she was, for all intents and purposes the last member of the House of Bones, her magical guardian was Albus Dumbledore.
Amelia told the couple that as the guardian, he had final say over whether they could marry - or at least ordinarily he did. He also had the authority to sell Susan off as a concubine. The women told the two what this meant and it horrified them. Worse still, Dumbledore almost always sold the better looking witches off the summer after they completed their O.W.L.s. Susan was good looking objectively speaking and this was that summer.
They were then told how to avoid either fate - as in not being able to be married to each other. Susan could, if she wanted, become Neville's Consort. They were told in detail what this meant and more importantly what they had to do for this to happen. They liked the idea of being magically bonded as husband and wife, but were very nervous about what they had to do to have that come to pass.
Afterwards, Susan told Neville she had wanted to do such things with him. He admitted to her that she was the only person he had thought about doing those sort of things with. They both admitted, however, they needed a little time. That was a week ago.
Neville and Susan had spent this day by a lake on the Longbottom property. She had not left the Manor since that day, except for the trip to Diagon Alley when Neville's Gran, proud of her grandson for what he had done that night at the Department of Mysteries, bought him a new wand. Susan was proud of him too. She told him had she known, she would have been there beside him and he knew it was the truth. The young couple had been inseparable ever since.
This afternoon, Susan told Neville she thought she was ready and she wanted to wake up tomorrow morning in his arms as his Consort and wife. Until now, while they were very close, their physical relationship had not progressed beyond kissing, hugging and snuggling. That had changed when Neville told her he agreed that if she thought it was time, then it was time.
Susan was lying on top of him under the shade of an oak tree when he agreed that they should bond today and wake up married in the morning. She kissed him passionately and for a long time, which he did not mind in the least. She also ground her hips into him mercilessly, something she had never done before and to Neville's embarrassment, she brought him to orgasm. When he shyly told her what had just happened, she giggled, before sitting up and straddling his waist. To Neville surprise and delight, she then proceeded to take her top and bra off. After giving Neville plenty of time to admire her this way, which thrilled her to not end, she told Neville she no longer wanted to wait. They would bond beneath this tree. They would become lovers and she his Consort before sunset. She formally offered herself to him and he accepted.
They had spent the afternoon naked in each other arms learning all sorts of ways to please the other with their hands and mouths. They lost their virginity together under that tree and made love four times before they decided it was time to head back to the Manor for dinner and their wedding night. They were, after all, now Neville and Susan Longbottom. Susan had offered herself to him and he had accepted and the bonding rites had been done. She now bore the gold collar only he could see as proof. It was a little earlier than they had planned, but the Longbottoms both believed it had been perfect.
They were walking down a path through the woods towards the Manor, arms around each other's waist and Susan leaning her head into his shoulder. They most certainly were in no hurry and strolled slowly, both content to be in each other's arms and feel the other beside them. They were both in their own world and the rest of creation had ceased to exist for them.
A loud noise from somewhere up ahead brought them back to reality. Neville recognized something. He immediately drew his knew wand and whispered "trouble," to his lover. She drew a wand too, hoping he would not charge in, but knowing she would stand with him regardless. Neville recognized the sounds of a magical battle ahead. He did not move.
"Neville?" Susan asked with fear in her voice.
"Someone's attacking the Manor," Neville whispered.
"What do we do?"
"Stand here," Neville said. "We have no idea what's up ahead and I am not going to risk your life on some fool's errand. If anyone comes this way, we defend ourselves, okay?"
Susan could only nod.
"Aurors!" a voice called in the distance. The two teens soon heard something or someone coming towards them through the surrounding underbrush.
"Shield charm," Neville whispered. Susan quietly cast the spell which would give them some protection from magical attack. Two figures dressed in black were running towards the teens but had not seemed to notice them. Neville knew these were Death Eaters and that was not a good sign. Still, having faced them before…
The two in black stopped short about ten feet from them, both breathing heavily. Neville recognized one immediately.
"Reducto!" he screamed, blowing the wand arm and a good portion of the witch's chest to pieces. The woman was dead before she hit the ground. The other witch was too shocked to react.
"Reducto!" Susan said, blowing the other witch's head to pieces.
"Wh-what just happened?" Susan asked.
"Death Eaters," Neville replied. "That one was Bellatrix Lestrange," he added pointing to the witch he had just killed. "No idea who the other one was."
Neville walked over to the remains of the woman who had ruined his parents, bent down and picked up her wand and placed it in his robes. Susan did the same thing with her victim. Neville saw a glint of gold on his right hand and looked. There was a ring on it that was not there before.
"Damn!" Neville said. He knew what the ring was. It was the ring worn by the rightful Lord Longbottom. That he was wearing it told him that he was now the Forty-Eighth Lord Longbottom and that meant only one thing. His grandmother was dead.
The same day that Neville and Susan announced their intentions to his Gran and her Aunt, his Gran took him aside and told him she was proud of him. She had always worried about her grandson and whether he would be a powerful wizard like his parents and grandparents. Until this past year, there had been a nagging doubt in her mind. But this past year, and especially the way he had fought against the inner circle of Death Eaters had shown her he was every bit the Warrior-Wizard his ancestors had been.
She told him she had changed her guardianship over him. He would come into his inheritance this summer, no later than his sixteenth birthday on July 30. He could come into it sooner should his Gran die. Neville was not yet sixteen. The ring had been charmed that night to appear on his hand the moment he became emancipated and that meant Gran was dead.
Neville looked at Susan and noticed she was throwing up. The remains of the two Death Eaters were fairly gruesome, yet oddly Neville felt nothing. He had just killed a woman - moreover the woman who had taken his parents away and had killed Harry's godfather and he felt nothing. There was no remorse nor any feeling of justice. All he felt was a pain of sadness for his Gran and sympathy for his fiancé who was now hugging him tightly.
He wept silently for his Gran, who lay dead somewhere up ahead.
"Nev? You okay?" Susan asked.
Neville showed her the ring. "Gran's gone," he said softly.
"Oh Neville," she wept. "Amber?"
How could I forget, Neville thought to himself. Then again, he had a reputation for forgetting things. He touched the ring and saw "ASH" appear where the family seal had been.
"She's alive," he whispered. He shifted his wand to his left hand and touched the ring. A few seconds later an older witch appeared. She had dirty blonde hair, pale blue eyes and was clearly crying. As soon as she saw Neville and Susan, she ran to them and hugged them both tightly.
"Thank Merlin!" she said. "Thank Merlin you're okay! I thought…"
The new woman in his arms was named Amber Harker. She was thirty-three years old and had been Neville's Nanny and later teacher before he had started at Hogwarts. Since then, she had helped his Gran around the Manor when he was at school and taught him magic during the holidays. Amber was also a Concubine.
Amber Harker was a Pureblood witch. She was the youngest of three children and the only daughter of the Harkers. Her father, while not a Death Eater, openly supported them in the First War. Both of her older brothers would become Death Eaters. They were all gone now. Her parents had died years ago. One of her brothers was killed in combat and the other had died in Azkaban after the War. When she learned of the fate of her family, the irony of it all could not be ignored.
During her Fifth Year at Hogwarts, Amber had fallen in love with a Muggle Born boy in Ravenclaw. She was a Slytherin, but was generally not loathed by the other houses as much as her House Mates. She had lost her virginity to the boy that year and she had been caught by no less than her own Head of House in a compromising position with her lover in an empty classroom dreadfully late after curfew. In addition to detentions, her Head of House wrote to her father and told him not only that his baby girl was sleeping with a boy, but that the boy was a Muggle Born.
Amber's father believed in blood purity and no child of his would sully herself with what he considered filth. When she returned home following her O.W.L. exams that summer, as soon as she entered her home, she was summarily disowned and then handed over to a Death Eater whom her father had sold her to. She never set foot inside Hogwarts again and spent the better part of the next two years as little more than a whore for the Death Eater Corps. Her first Master was killed when she was eighteen and she was then placed for sale in the spring of 1980. Frank Longbottom bought her.
Neville's parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom were a very popular Pureblood couple in 1980 when Amber became Frank's concubine. They were aligned with the "Light" cause and were considered real up and comers in the Auror Corps. They were also generally opposed to Pureblood traditions and any notions of supremacy based upon heritage. Still, they were aristocratic and wealthy. Frank was the forty-seventh Lord Longbottom and could trace his line back to Sir Hector Longbottom, a Warrior-Wizard and member of King Arthur's Round Table.
When Alice Longbottom became pregnant with Neville, she and her husband were twenty-four years old. They had been Aurors for over three years and had been married for almost seven. Alice became Frank's Consort before the beginning of their Seventh Year at Hogwarts, the day after they learned they were to be Head Boy and Head Girl the next year, a privilege of which was they shared a common apartment. After they finished, they both entered the Auror Corps and trained hard for three years before receiving their credentials in the spring of 1977.
Four months before Neville was born, Alice took a six month leave of absence, but made it clear to her husband that she had every intention of returning to full duty once her leave was up. It was around then that Frank purchased Amber. As Purebloods, the notion of having a Concubine was not an issue at all. Wealthy Pureblood families typically had Nanny's for their children and most often these were Concubines. Amber was bought for that purpose, although she still had to sleep with Frank on occasion.
Amber had enjoyed her life at Longbottom Manor. When Frank and Alice were injured and rendered insane, she stayed on as Neville's Nanny and later his teacher. She knew one day he would become Lord Longbottom and did her utmost to ensure she would be retained as Neville's Concubine. She and Neville had become very close, but not yet intimate. When Susan started coming around a few years ago, she made sure to become the young witch's friend as she knew Neville might well fall for Susan. She had encouraged Neville to take the big step and become Susan's girlfriend, a step he might not have taken otherwise despite his strong feelings for Susan.
Neville had known Amber was a Concubine and more to the point would become his Concubine since he was nine. He didn't know what that meant at the time, but he did by the time he was thirteen. For ages it had terrified him. But over the last year, mainly due to Susan, he had come to accept it. Susan was not about to let him not keep Amber and he had recently promised Amber she would be a Longbottom for the rest of her life.
"I'm yours now," Amber said as she cried into his chest.
Neville could only nod.
"Who killed them?" she asked noticing the bodies of the fallen Death Eaters.
"Susan and I," Neville said softly. "Reductors at close range."
"Hmph! Well the one with the head is the bitch that got Augusta!"
"Bellatrix LeStrange," Neville said. "She also got my parents. Should have killed her when I had the chance a couple weeks ago."
"You did the right thing," Amber said. Neville could merely nod in reply. "Augusta killed two of the bastards before…"
They looked up when they again her someone crashing through the underbrush. Neville and Susan immediately were alert and their wands pointed in the direction of the noise. Amber followed, but doubted she could do anything useful in this situation. Neville motioned for the two to spread out and they complied. He knelt on one knee, wand at the ready and his two friends did the same.
"Halt!" Neville yelled out. "Identify or we will open fire!" Neville then tucked and rolled to one side as a spell coursed to where he had been. He fired a stunner back, just in case it was a friendly. He could only shoot at where he thought the spell had originated, but was rewarded with a 'thunp' indicating he hit his mark. "I SAID IDENTIFY!," he yelled.
"Aurors," a voice called. "Lower your wands!"
"I am Lord Longbottom! Lower your wands, advanced and be recognized or I will shoot you for trespass on my land!"
Another spell shot towards him, and he ducked and rolled to his original position and fired back. Another thump told him two of whatever they were facing were down. A lone man appeared. He was tall and dark skinned and his wand was lowered and at his side. The man saw he was covered by three wands and there were two corpses on the ground. He looked at Neville. Neville recognized him from the Department of Mysteries and relaxed a little, but kept his wand aimed. Neville stood slowly, still keeping the drop on the man.
"I am Auror Shacklebolt," the man said in a deep voice. He then noticed the two death eaters. "I take it you killed them?"
"I killed LeStrange," Neville nodded. "My - my wife Susan killed the other," he added nodding his head towards her. Susan smiled. He had said it. She was his wife!
"Who was shooting at us?" Neville asked.
"A rookie Auror, hell bent for glory," the man shrugged. "The other is just an ass who's full of himself. Sorry."
"Least they can't shoot strait," Neville said lowering his wand and he noted his two friends did as well.
"Reductors?"
Neville nodded. "We made the mistake of using stunners at the Ministry. If you put a Death Eater down, keep them down."
The Auror nodded in agreement. "Well done, Milord," he said.
Neville gave the tall Auror a curt nod.
"You're in danger here," the Auror continued.
"You think?" Neville shot back. "And here I thought this was just another Monday!"
"Your grandmother…"
"Is dead! I know. What the bloody hell is going on?"
"Death Eaters sprang a rather elaborate attack. We think you were the target of this one, Neville."
"M-me?"
Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded. "About two hours ago, several Death Eaters attacked the residence of Amelia Bones, Head of Law Enforcement…"
"Auntie?" Susan exclaimed. "Is she okay?"
"She's her niece and is her ward," Neville explained.
"I'm sorry, Milady. I don't know. All of the on duty Aurors responded and then these attacks occurred. I can tell you they attacked the Weasley's, Lovegoods and a Muggle home we believe belonged to the Grangers."
"Bloody hell!" Neville croaked.
"We think they went after Madam Bones to draw the Aurors before hitting their primary targets, The Ministry Six."
"How many? How many here?"
"Four. All dead. The headless witch is most likely Alecto Carrow - a nasty piece of work. Your Gran offed her brother and another by the name of Stedley before…"
"Least she got her licks in," Neville nodded.
"You need to leave here…"
"I think I figured that bit out myself!"
Shacklebolt walked forward cautiously as Neville, Susan and Amber still had him in their aim. He held out a candy bar wrapper.
"Emergency Portkey," he said. "It will take you somewhere safe."
"Is there anywhere safe?" Susan whimpered.
"This place is. The total number of people who can get there and are not there right now can be counted on one hand with fingers to spare. And even we cannot get there if the owner changes his mind about access. I can assure you, it's as safe as anywhere in this country. More so, even. Not even Hogwarts is as safe right now."
Neville nodded. "They're going too," he said indicating the two witches.
The Auror nodded. "Grab hold you lot," he said. Neville, Susan and Amber did as they were told. "Lily's Boy," the Auror then said and Neville felt the uncomfortable tug behind his navel and the portkey activated and pulled them to wherever. Neville closed his eyes as he had learned it was less disorienting to travel by this method with eyes shut. When he felt solid ground beneath him, he would open them and decide whether to attack or defend. He felt solid ground again and even before he opened his eyes, a familiar voice called his name.
"Neville? Susan?" a young man asked.
Neville saw his friend and several others in what looked like a dining room to him. "Harry?" he asked. "Hermione?"
Susan wrapped an arm around Neville's waist and Neville responded in kind as he also took the hand of Amber. Others in the room who were paying attention could not help but see what had transpired before their eyes. Harry seemed to waive his hands and the three people sitting immediately across from him rose and vacated their seats to take other empty ones further down the table.
"Please Neville," Harry said, "have a seat."
The offer was obviously not for Neville alone, but applied to Susan and Amber as well. Neville nodded and guided the two to the three seats, although as they sat, his two girls scooted over so they could be close to him.
Suddenly there was a slight "pop" and the body of a young, blonde haired girl was floating a couple of feet above the table where the people were sitting.
"It's Luna," Hermione gasped! "Is she okay?" she added to no one in particular, as it seemed to Neville. Neville watched an older witch point her wand at Luna and the young woman floated to a wall and was soon seated against it.
"Stunned," the witch said. "Aside from that, no injuries of note."
"Can you wake her up?" Hermione asked.
"Eneverte," the witch incanted and the young woman's eyes fluttered open.
"What? Where am I?" Luna Lovegood asked in a curious tone.
"What do you remember?" the witch responded.
"I was down be the creek looking for some Freshwater Plimpies for dinner and didn't find any," Luna replied. "I was walking back through the woods to my home and then … just now waking up here. What's going on?"
"Are you in any pain," the witch asked?
"N-no," Luna replied.
"Can you stand up?"
"I - I think so." Luna stood and looked at the others in the room. "Harry? Hermione?" she began.
"Have a seat, Luna," Harry said. Luna took a seat next to Amber.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"Good question," Neville added.
"Potter Manor," Harry said. "Neville? What happened? Who gave you the portkey? There's no way you could get here without it."
"Death Eaters," Neville said. "They attacked my home! Susan and I were in the woods when it happened. We were walking back for dinner and … and I heard spell fire! We held our ground not knowing what was ahead of us and soon two Death Eaters came running through the woods towards us…"
"Attacking?" Hermione asked.
Neville shook his head. "I think they were trying to reach the wards to escape. My guess is the Aurors had arrived then. Anyway, they saw us and we were ready for them. Dropped them dead. Both of them."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"How?" McGonagall added.
"Sorry Professor," Neville said acknowledging Minerva for the first time. "I…"
"Never mind, Neville," Minerva said.
"The how were reductor curses," Neville said, ignoring the fact that McGonagall had called him by his first name for the first time ever. "They really make a mess of a person at close range and Susan and I were about ten feet away when we opened fire. Mine blew off Bellatrix LeStrange's wand arm and a fair bit of her chest. Susan blew the head off the other one. They were both dead before they hit the ground."
"Why'd you use those?" a voice asked.
"If I learned anything at the Department of Mysteries is that when you drop a Death Eater, make sure they stay dropped!"
"And the spell isn't illegal," Hermione added.
"It's nasty at close range," Neville said. "Had I aimed for the bint's midsection I'd have cut her in half. Learned later that there were four of them. Gran killed two - don't know how - before LeStrange got her. Susan and I got the others before the Aurors arrived and I had to stun two of them Aurors before this Shack guy and I could talk. He gave us the portkey, Harry."
"Is it really safe here?" Susan asked.
Harry nodded.
"That Shack guy said they attacked my Auntie's first," Susan whimpered.
"And then yours, Neville?" Harry asked.
Neville nodded. "And then the Lovegoods', Grangers' and Weasleys," he added.
"Well," Hermione said, "attacking my parents' home was a waste."
"H-how so?" Susan asked.
"My parents left the country last week and won't be back anytime soon. And I live here now."
"And attacking the Burrow is a bust too," Bill said. "Fleur and I are here, Percy lives in London, Fred and George have a flat above their shop in Diagon Alley and the rest of my family left to spend a week at my Aunt Muriel's this morning."
"Sounds like they were going after the Ministry Six," Harry said.
"That's what that Auror Shack told us," Susan added. "He thinks the attack on my Auntie was to draw the Aurors away so the other victims would be defenseless."
"If that was Voldemort's plan," Harry said still annoyed that some people gasped at that name, "then it was a colossal failure."
"What do you mean," Susan asked.
"None of the Ministry Six were harmed," Harry said, "four are now under such powerful wards and protections that no one can get to them. At least four Death Eaters, including his top Lieutenant Bellatrix LeStrange are dead. It's a fair bet others may have been killed or captured. Regardless of what else may have happened, this was not a good day for the bad guys. They might now look back on the Department of Mysteries as a high point in their war."
The group heard voices approaching the room and they were soon joined by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody and Dora who took seats at the table. When Moody saw the new guests he actually laughed. "Definitely picked the right side this time," he growled before sitting.
"Well?" Harry asked.
"Bad day for the other side," Kingsley said. "They launched a very well planned and coordinated attack against numerous targets. Their first attack involved twelve Death Eaters. They attacked the home of Madam Bones, the Head of Law Enforcement. Since the Department of Mysteries, four Aurors are assigned to her as guards. All on duty Aurors were called in. In the end, five Death Eaters were killed, six captured and one was unaccounted for."
"And my Auntie?" Susan asked.
Kingsley shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry Miss. Madam Bones and the four Aurors assigned to her were killed."
Susan was again crying into Neville's shoulder.
"About an hour after that attack began, four additional teams hit targets throughout England. We believe they were after the Ministry Six. A team of four Death Eaters attacked Longbottom Manor. Madam Augusta Longbottom killed two before being killed. When we arrived, the other two ran off into the woods where they had the misfortune of running into Lord Longbottom and his Lady. That force was wiped out even before we arrived as back up. All that was left was for me to portkey Lord Longbottom and his friends here.
"A dozen Death Eaters attacked the Burrow. There was no one home at the time, but the attack tripped the wards we set up. Moody led the assault team on that one."
"Six of the bastards are dead," Moody said, "the rest are on their way to Azkaban."
"We think four attacked the Rookery - the Lovegood home," Dora added. "By the time we arrived, they were gone. We found Mr. Lovegood dead and one dead Death Eater in the front parlor. I found Miss Lovegood in the woods. She appeared stunned and I portkeyed her here. I'm pleased to see she looks okay."
"The only attack that was not a disaster for the enemy was the one on the Grangers," Kingsley said. "Of course, there was no one home at the time. By the time our assault team had arrived, the place was empty and the enemy had escaped."
"And what will the reports and papers say about Neville, Susan and Luna?" Harry asked.
"That they are missing," Kingsley said. "The others believe they may have been kidnapped by the enemy and, of course, who are we to correct that notion?"
Harry nodded and looked lost in thought for a moment.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a whisper, "I think introductions are in order."
"G-good idea." Harry stood up. "My wife believes proper introductions are in order. I'll begin with me, I suppose," he said looking at Amber, the only person in the room he did not know. "I am Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, and the new one - what was it those bastards at the Daily Prophet are calling me now?"
"The Chosen One," Minerva replied.
"Brilliant," Harry said sarcastically, "famed wizarding hero of children's stories and comic books, basilisk slaying, dark lord defeating trouble making orphan, Tri-wizard Champion, Most Eligible Wizard in Witch Weekly fourteen years running, Leader of the Ministry Six and co-defeater of Toad Woman, the evil pink cardigan wearing monster of Hogwarts." By the end everyone was laughing as Harry had intended.
"Seriously, though," Harry continued. "This is Potter Manor and all the land for miles around belongs to my estate. Until a week ago Sunday, I never even knew about this, much less had I ever been here. I should have been born here and if my parents and I had stayed here, well the Boy-Who-Lived would never be, because for all intents and purposes, this Estate does not exist. The Ministry of Magic has no knowledge of its existence at all. Surprising when one considers it's about half the size of London."
"Blimey mate," Neville said.
"The boundaries of the estate are miles from here," Harry said. "Four miles to the front as a broom flies, five to either side and sixteen to the sea which is the back of the property. There are three towns entirely within the estate. Potter's Vineyard is about eight miles from here and produces Elf Wines for export. It is also where the Dairy is located. The estate is the largest supplier of wine and dairy products in magical Britain.
"Charlestown is about seven miles from here and is where our meat packing and produce packaging operations are located. We are the largest supplier of produce, eggs, poultry and pork products in magical Britain. That's where we also package herbal based potions ingredients. Neville? You should visit the greenhouses there! They put Hogwarts to shame.
"The largest town is Pottersport, located on the coast about twenty miles from here. It is a fishing port and our fleet supplies almost all the seafood in magical Britain. We also have a brewery and distillery there. Oh, and the shopping there rivals Diagon Alley."
"How many people live here," Susan asked.
"Over twelve thousand all told, most of them magicals," Harry said. "And this is not part of wizarding Britain. You are now in the Duchy of Charenwell and in addition to my other real titles, I am the Duke of Charenwell, its Head of State. The Ministry of Magic has no authority here whatsoever. We answer only to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith and so on and so forth.
"Anyway, I knew none of this when we left Hogwarts. A day after I got back to my Aunt and Uncle's, I'm here at the estate, I learned that Sirius Black was my Magical Guardian and I became emancipated upon his death and that I am now Lord Harry James Potter-Black, Fifty-first Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter dating back to Sir Galahad Potter of King Arthur's Court and by designation of Lord Sirius Black, my cousin, the Forty-Seventh Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Black."
Neville stood up. "I am Lord Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, Forty-Eighth Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom dating back to Sir Hector Longbottom of King Arthur's Court."
"Really?"
"My Gran made it so I would come into my inheritance upon my sixteenth birthday or her death, whichever came first. Unfortunately…"
"I'm sorry, Neville."
Neville shrugged and sat down.
"And this lovely vision of feminine perfection seated beside me," Harry continued indicating Hermione, "is my wife and Consort, the Lady Hermione Jane Potter."
"Since when?" Susan asked. "I mean, not like there much of a surprise, but you only started dating."
"She became my Consort the day after we left Hogwarts."
"Congratulations," Neville and Susan said.
"I always knew you two would," Luna added in a dreamy yet somewhat disappointed voice.
"You do know Milord," Susan began.
"Please, just Harry," he replied.
"You do know that as the head of two houses you can take another Consort."
Harry nodded glancing at Luna who seemed to be staring at him. "Asking for the job?"
"I'm already spoken for," Susan replied with a little giggle.
"Harry, Hermione?" Neville said, "may I introduce you to my wife and Consort, as of this afternoon, the Lady Susan Marie Longbottom."
"I didn't even know you two were dating," Harry said. "Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks," Neville replied. "Actually, we've been officially dating for a year although I think we both saw ourselves as dating sort of probably since the beginning of Third Year."
"I can't believe we never noticed," Hermione said. "Then again, maybe we just were not paying attention. I mean, you two always have sat together in class and…"
"There are certainly advantages to not being Harry Potter," Neville laughed. "Everyone watches him - and you Hermione because of him - so no one watches us."
"Besides, until today all we ever did was kiss," Susan said. "The 'boyfriend' thing at school usually involves broom closets and getting caught. An occasional kiss tends to go unnoticed."
Harry then proceeded to introduce the others. Neville and Susan remembered Professor Lupin from Third Year. They learned now he was a werewolf. He had lived at the estate for years and aside from his stint at Hogwarts and a few years as an Auror, he worked here as a manager. He was also the Lord Mayor of the Duchy, similar to the Minister for Magic. He was currently dating a lovely witch from Potter's Vineyard. They were then introduced to Kingsley Shacklebolt and the real Madeye Moody, both highly regarded Aurors.
"Next," Harry said, "are Bill Weasley and his wife and Consort Fleur Delacour Weasley. Bill is the oldest of the Weasley's and you may remember Fleur was the Tri-Wizard Champion from Beaubatons. They both work for Gringotts and until today lived at the Burrow. He and Fleur are now going to live here at the estate."
"Now for the rest of my family," Harry said. Neville and Susan looked confused. "When the last Lord Potter passed away, he left behind a concubine. When Sirius passed away, he left behind two. When I came into my inheritances, I came into them as well."
There were bouts of laughter from several at the table.
"Harry," Hermione said, "that was awful! Came into them as well! Just awful!"
"No pun intended," Harry laughed when he realized what he said. "Professor McGonagall here is Minerva Grace McGonagall Potter. She's been bound to the Lord Potter since bonding with my Great-grandfather in 1943. I bonded with her last Tuesday and she became my wife in all but law on Friday."
"What's that mean?" Neville asked.
"It means she love bonded with him, Neville," Amber said. "It means she loves him in a way and made a vow to him to love him and he accepted her that way. The nature of the love need not be romantic for the bond to take hold, but tends to become that way afterwards. It also means she's no longer really a Concubine. Legally she still is, but the nature of the bond and relationship is more like that of a Consort."
"Oh." Amber would know, Neville thought. Does she want that from me? Would Susan allow it?
"Here at the Estate, you may call her Minerva or Minnie. Both are acceptable."
"Yet you and Hermione still will not call me Minnie," Minerva chuckled. Harry tried to ignore the dig.
"This lovely lady," Harry continued, "is Dr. Healer Mallory Michelle Grant Black. She's been Sirius's concubine since 1974 and his wife in all but law since 1980. I bonded with her last Tuesday as well and she too is now my wife in all but law.
"This vision is Nymphadora Tonks Black. Of course, you call her by her given first name at your own risk. Everyone here calls her Dora. She was Sirius's as well and I bonded with her last Monday. She is an Auror and is also now my wife in all but law.
"Finally these two lovelies," Harry said. "You probably know of Daphne here and the other is her younger sister Astoria. The Death Eaters forced their father to sell them to Lord Black last week. Of course, we think they thought that Lord Black was Malfoy."
"No doubt Malfoy thinks that as well," Neville added.
"Well, Hermione convinced me to take them in. This is Daphne Renee Greengrass Black and Astoria Lynn Greengrass Potter. I bonded with them on Friday and Daphne was the first of these ladies to become my wife in all but law, followed immediately by her sister and then the others."
"And here I was worried that two women was a bit much," Neville laughed. "I'm sorry Susan. I should not have been so stubborn about Amber. I will bond with her if you want me to."
"And I do, Neville."
"This is Amber Selma Harker," Neville said. "For years, I knew her as my Nanny, my teacher and tutor and friend. Before leaving for Hogwarts, I was told she was my Dad's Concubine. As I am now Lord Longbottom, she can be mine. Amber, I will bind you to me if that's what you want."
Amber could only nod vigorously.
After the introductions were made, dinner was served to everyone. Luna barely ate or said anything the entire time. Harry and Hermione were both very concerned for their friend. The conversation was as light as it could be given the events of the day. Mostly, it was jokes at Harry's expense about managing a Harem. When the dinner ended, Remus, Bill, Fleur, Kingsley and Moody left. Mallory took Luna to what would be her room for now and gave her some potions to make her feel a little better and get a good, long night's sleep. Amber was treated to a tour of the Manor from the Greengrass sisters while Minerva and Dora relaxed in the Library with a book.
Harry, Hermione, Neville and Susan remained in the Great Room and talked. It was mostly Susan and Hermione and much of it dealt with what had happened to the Potters over the last several days. Neville learned that Dumbledore could not be trusted, especially when it came to Harry and himself and that anyone truly loyal to Dumbledore could not be trusted either, and this included at least three of the Weasleys. Bill did not trust Dumbledore and neither did Fleur and the way Bill's mother was treating them, well that's why they moved to the Estate. Bill and Fleur were married in the eyes of the law and magic, yet Molly Weasley did not see it that way and insisted they sleep in separate rooms. Hermione was convinced that Molly was hoping Bill would end the relationship.
Neville also learned that Harry and Hermione would not be attending Hogwarts again. Neither would any witch under Harry's House or protection. Their education would continue under the supervision of the older witches and wizards who were here tonight. They would also train and might well be able to qualify as Aurors, if they wanted to, in a couple of years if not sooner. Neville and Susan decided to join them. The Longbottoms had been allied with the Potters since the days of the Round Table. If Hogwarts was not good enough for the Potters, it was not good enough for the Longbottoms either. All Neville and Susan asked was that someone bring their family possessions to the Estate, and that task would begin in the morning under the competent skills of the Potter Elves.
The conversation then turned to concubines.
"You had sex with all those women?" Neville asked.
"Yup," Harry said somewhat smugly. "Usually at least once a day."
"And today?"
"Let's see," Harry said, "Dora and Daphne slept with me last night so they got a Harry Wake Up Call this morning. Actually, they attacked me. It was more them waking me up again and again. I must have done well by them because they did me again during our shower."
"Why weren't you with Harry?" Susan asked Hermione.
"Usually I would be but I'm having my period right now so I told Harry to share his bed with the others. When it's over, it'll be back to Harry, me and our witch of the night."
"You allow other women in bed with you and Harry?"
"Of course. While I would love to have Harry all to myself, I'm not about to deny the others some semblance of a life and that means sleeping with their man, as Harry is their man too."
"And you're okay with this?"
"I am not okay with the whole idea of concubines, Susan. I think it's disgusting! But Harry had to take on Minerva, Mallory and Dora otherwise they would have to have been sold to goodness knows who. Since I knew Harry would treat them decently, I thought it was best for them to remain his. Then, when we learned what the Death Eaters had planned for Daphne and Astoria, well I couldn't let Harry not do something about that as well. You should have seen how happy they were when they learned they had been sold to Harry and not Malfoy. They still were not happy about the fact that they had been sold, but.. Besides, it's fun watching Harry make one of the other girls toes curl."
"She likes it when the others are watching her too," Harry chuckled.
"Girl sex?"
"Girl sex?" Neville asked.
"I'll tell you later," Susan replied.
"No," Hermione said. "At least not that I know of. Daphne and Astoria are teens, but so far Harry has met theirs and my needs without problems. Still, it may be in our near future. I'm not opposed to the idea, I just haven't done it. There were few I felt close enough to trust with that before. Now? We'll see. He won't order them to, will you Dear?"
"Nope," Harry said. "Haven't had to order them to do anything to or with me. They all seem quite eager for their daily or more Harry time."
"Besides, Harry is quite capable of wearing any one woman out. He did me our first day, we made love ten times on the day I became his Consort. It's a lot harder to wear out six."
"Where do you do it?"
"Aside from his bedroom, well it can be just about anywhere. Usually it's in the dining room, Great Room or Library. Some of us are researching things, so Harry can always find a witch in need of a break in the Library and it's convenient when we're busy for there to be a Harry time before and after meals, and sometimes during. I think most of us prefer the Library during the day, but that's probably because Harry bonded each of us to him there and three of us lost our virginity there."
"You held all bondings in the same place?"
Hermione nodded. "And whenever possible all of us were there. I think it makes us all feel more connected than might otherwise be the case."
"Interesting idea," Susan said. "We should try that, Nev."
"Suze, we should not go back to the Manor…"
"No, but I'm sure we could find something similar here."
"Anything for you, Love."
"What about children?" Susan asked.
"Harry and I will not deny any of my sisters that right," Hermione said. "And I do consider them my sisters. Four have already asked and received permission to have children. Astoria wants to wait a bit, and had she asked, Harry might have said no for now."
"Any woman who has taken their O.W.L.s in my Houses will not be denied permission at all," Harry said. "Those who have not, may be denied until they do. I would not be a bit surprised if Astoria asked the night after her last exam."
"Especially if Daphne is or already has been pregnant," Hermione agreed.
"And you, Hermione?" Susan asked.
"I hope to be pregnant before the summer is over."
"And what do you think of this, Harry?"
"I have no problems with it - yet," Harry said. "I might change my mind if there's too much hormones about. Still, I won't deny them. Sirius said that despite everything I should try and have a life. That means a family and that means children. Am I ready to be a Dad? I don't know. Then again, is anyone really? I know I can provide for them and I know here they can be safe and have a happy childhood. Honestly, the thought of all of my lovely women having children… They'll never be lonely and always have someone to play with, the children that is."
"And who will be the heir?" Neville asked.
"Hermione's son - should she have one - will be the next Lord Potter. I hope to find a woman who wants me and wants to be my Consort for the Black line…"
"I'm sure Ginny Weasley would love to volunteer," Susan giggled.
"I'm sure she would too," Harry agreed remembering that while they had told Neville and Susan about their trust issues with the Weasleys, they had not told them of the plot. "But there are reasons why that will never happen. For now, I'll leave it at that."
"We are actually hoping for someone else," Hermione said.
"Who?"
"Luna."
"Really?"
Hermione nodded. "She's my best girl friend and has been for a couple of years. She likes Harry and is not one of those Harry Potter Fan girls. She likes the real Harry, the one she considers a close friend."
"When you mentioned I could have two Consorts," Harry said, "she smiled for the first and only time tonight. But the decision is hers to make. I will not even make her an offer in that regard. But if she asks…"
"You don't find her a little off?" Neville asked. "Don't get me wrong, I think she's a lovely person. Still…"
"She's never 'Loony' Lovegood when it's just me and her," Harry said.
"Same with me and her," Hermione agreed. "I think that's a defense mechanism. There's a lot of pain in her past and she'd rather not feel that feel pain again. She puts up that front to keep people away and feel safe. But it comes down when she trusts you. The real Luna is quite a different person, although she still believes in things without proof."
"Not necessarily a bad thing," Harry added. "With her as my Black Consort, I would have two brilliant and beautiful women keeping me in line. One would assail me with logic and the other with philosophy. It would be a perfect combination."
The conversation continued for at least another hour before Neville and Susan began to fade. It had, after all, been a long day for each of them. Harry and Hermione led them to their room for the evening, before they too headed off to their bedrooms for the night.
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.
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 21 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
3. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
4. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
5. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
6. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
Lord Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom, age 15 (Born 7/30/80).
Lady Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16 (2/24/80) (Hu-5); CONSORT OF LORD LONGBOTTOM (7/1/96).