Once they returned to Potter Manor, Harry kissed Amelia goodnight and flooed back to his quarters at Hogwarts to get some much-needed rest. Meanwhile, Amelia changed into something more comfortable before flooing to the Three Broomsticks to meet Minerva.
"Firewhiskey on the rocks, please," Amelia said as she slid onto a stool next to McGonagall.
Minerva glanced at her with a smirk. "Glad you could make it this time, Amelia. Busy day? Albus mentioned he'd be at the Ministry all day, but he didn't elaborate."
Amelia sighed as her drink arrived. "You could say that. There was the trial, Fudge's interrogation, and... well, I was elected Minister today."
Minerva raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Minister, you say? Congratulations, Amelia. I have no doubt you'll do a fantastic job."
"Thank you, Minerva. It's daunting. I only hope I can enact meaningful changes quickly enough to turn the tide in this war. We've wasted too much time already, and I doubt Voldemort has been idle."
Minerva nodded solemnly. "Indeed. You have a monumental task ahead of you, but if anyone can succeed, it's you. Will you focus on recruitment?"
"Yes, and battle training," Amelia replied, finishing her drink and signalling for another. "Harry's internship with Moody has already helped with that. Sparring with him has opened many Aurors' eyes to how unprepared they are for real combat. It's prompted a renewed interest in tactical training."
"Ah, yes, your fiancé," Minerva said, taking a sip of her firewhiskey. "How is he? I noticed he missed my class this morning."
Amelia's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Oh, he's very good." Her tone was laced with innuendo, and Minerva promptly choked on her drink, spitting it onto the bar.
Rosmerta shot a glare in their direction.
"You know that's not what I meant, Amelia," Minerva grumbled, dabbing at her robes. "And don't think I didn't read the Daily Prophet article this morning. You two are quite the topic of gossip."
Both women laughed, the tension breaking, and Amelia ordered another round. They sat in companionable silence for a while, sipping their drinks.
Finally, Amelia broke the quiet. "I know Harry already mentioned it, but I want you to stand with me at the wedding, Minerva. You're one of my dearest friends, and I can't imagine anyone else in your place."
Minerva's eyes softened, her cheeks pink from the alcohol. "Of course, Amelia. I'd be honoured." She hiccupped and smiled.
An hour later, Amelia's head was spinning as she attempted to slide off her stool. She misjudged her footing and landed on the floor with an ungraceful thud and a startled squeak.
Minerva burst into laughter at the sight, tipping off her own stool in the process and landing beside Amelia in a heap.
Amelia tried to steady herself, but the room tilted precariously. Finally, she twisted the stone on her ring, summoning Harry.
Seconds later, Harry materialised in the middle of the Three Broomsticks wearing only boxer shorts, his wand in one hand and a hunting knife in the other. His eyes blazed with a panicked intensity as he scanned the room for threats.
When his gaze landed on Amelia and Minerva sprawled on the floor, laughing uncontrollably, his expression darkened.
"Amelia," he said, his voice low and taut. "I thought you were in trouble."
Amelia hiccupped and grinned up at him. "I am. I've fallen, and I can't get up." Her quip sent her and Minerva into another round of hysterics.
Rosmerta crossed her arms, glaring at the trio. "Mr. Potter, get them out of here. Now."
Harry took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The absurdity of the situation hit him, and a smirk tugged at his lips. This was definitely going to be material for teasing later.
"Let me help you up, Amelia," he said, extending a hand.
Amelia took it, blinking up at him. "You know you're supposed to wear a shirt in places like this, right? Not that I'm complaining."
Harry flushed slightly. "Let's just go," he muttered, scooping her into his arms.
With a swirl of black smoke, they disappeared, reappearing moments later in Harry's quarters. He deposited Amelia gently on the loveseat and handed her a Sober Up Potion.
"Drink," he instructed, before vanishing again in a cloud of smoke.
Back at the Three Broomsticks, Harry returned for Minerva, who was still giggling softly as she tried—and failed—to climb back onto her stool.
"Come on, Professor," he said with a sigh, offering her a hand.
Minerva blinked up at him. "You're a good lad, Harry."
He shook his head, half amused, half exasperated. "Let's get you back to Hogwarts."
Once McGonagall was safely in her quarters with her own sober up potion, Harry returned to see Amelia standing in front of the love seat tantalisingly naked with her monocle in place. Harry gulped and with renewed energy quickly dropped his boxers to the floor and stepped out of them. He grabbed Amelia forcefully and turned her around, then swiftly leaned her over the back of the love seat. Harry kissed her back and shoulders, then licked up her neck to suck gently on her earlobe.
"You've been a bad girl minister," Harry whispered into her ear as Amelia moaned and rocked up into him. Then Harry bit down hard on her shoulder blade as he thrust into her deeply causing Amelia to scream his name in pleasure.
O – o – o – o
The next morning, Harry woke up in his favourite position—Amelia wrapped around him like a koala. He smiled, kissed her softly on the forehead, and carefully extricated himself from her grasp. Stretching lightly, he changed into his running clothes and headed out for his morning run.
He was gradually returning to his pre-Lestrange pace. While his leg still twinged at times, the limp only made itself known in bad weather now, a marked improvement.
By the time Harry returned, flushed from the crisp morning air, Amelia was stirring in bed. He leaned against the doorframe, watching as she yawned and stretched languidly.
"Good morning," she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.
"Morning," Harry replied with a grin. He asked Dobby to bring breakfast and ducked into the shower.
When he emerged, dressed and ready for the day, he found Amelia seated at the table, the Daily Prophet open in front of her. She glanced up and smiled as he approached.
Harry pressed a quick kiss to her lips before settling across from her. "What's the news today?"
Amelia folded the paper, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Well, word's out that I'm the new Minister. The trial for Fudge is scheduled for tomorrow. Rita mentioned Lucius too, but only as a footnote at the end."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "That's unusually subtle for her. I assume Draco's staying out of the way for a while?"
Amelia nodded. "Yes, I'm not sure when he'll be back, but it won't be anytime soon. He's lying low."
Harry took a sip of his tea, leaning back. "What's your first order of business as Minister, then?"
Amelia's lips curved into a determined smile. "Aside from dealing with the Horcruxes? I'm implementing a ban on the Dark Mark in the Ministry. Forearm checks will be mandatory at all wand registration points for visitors. As for employees, every department will be checked individually. Anyone found with the mark will be immediately dismissed."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "That's... bold."
"It needs to be done," she said firmly. "A letter went out this morning notifying all Ministry employees of the new policy. Those who object are welcome to resign and not return. I suspect that will satisfy some of the more vocal critics. After that, I'm restoring the Auror budget to what it should be and combing through the other department finances for discrepancies. Merlin knows Fudge was likely padding a few accounts."
"Sounds like a busy day," Harry said, his tone laced with admiration.
Amelia shrugged. "We'll see how many employees actually show up after the letter. That will determine a lot."
Harry chuckled. "Well, I have Herbology this morning. I'll stop by the Ministry after lunch so we can handle the Horcruxes together."
"Sounds good," Amelia said as she stood, smoothing her robes. "Don't forget the Basilisk venom when you come. Oh, and say hello to my niece for me." She winked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Harry laughed as she walked over and gave him a lingering, passionate kiss. For a moment, he lost himself in the softness of her lips and the warmth of her embrace.
When she finally pulled back, she smiled. "Have a good day, Harry."
"You too, Madam Minister," he teased.
With a smirk, Amelia stepped into the fireplace and flooed back to Potter Manor.
o – o – o – o – o
Harry received even more stares than usual on his way to class. The gossip surrounding his relationship with the Minister of Magic had spread like wildfire, and his classmates now seemed unsure how to act around him. He was relieved to find that the members of Dumbledore's Army treated him as they always had, offering him a sense of normalcy amid the whispers and sideways glances.
At lunch, Harry sat with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, explaining that he needed to head to the Ministry and wasn't sure when he'd be back.
"Be careful," Hermione said, her brow furrowed.
"Good luck, mate," Ron added, though his tone was laced with curiosity about Harry's errand.
After nodding a farewell to Dumbledore, Harry returned to his quarters. Changing out of his school uniform, he floo'd to Potter Manor. From there, he apparated into Muggle London, deciding to stop at a flower shop to buy Amelia a bouquet of roses. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he stepped into the red phone booth that served as the visitor entrance to the Ministry of Magic. He dialled the familiar number Arthur Weasley had once shown him.
"Welcome to the Ministry for Magic. Please state your name and business."
"Harry Potter. I'm here to destroy Voldemort's soul pieces and, if time permits, shag the Minister," Harry replied, deadpan.
"Thank you. Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes."
Harry plucked the badge from the slot, smirking when he read it:
Harry Potter
Soul Destroyer and Minister Shagger
"Definitely keeping this one as a souvenir," he thought with a chuckle, pinning it to his robes.
At the security desk, a nervous young guard fumbled with his paperwork, his eyes darting repeatedly to Harry's badge. After Harry registered his wand and displayed his bare forearm for inspection, he leaned in slightly and spoke in a low voice.
"You should add a revealing charm to your checks. If someone has the Dark Mark, they might try to conceal it magically," Harry suggested.
The guard stammered, "A-Al-Alright," and Harry smiled reassuringly before asking him to notify the Minister of his arrival.
Making his way into the atrium, Harry found Amelia waiting for him at the elevator. Her eyebrows shot up when she caught sight of his badge, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
"Really?" she asked, biting back a grin as they stepped into the lift.
Harry handed her the roses with a smile. "Thought you'd like them."
"I wasn't questioning the flowers." Amelia accepted the bouquet with a smirk, placing them on her desk with a wave of her wand. Then she stepped into his arms, kissing him deeply. When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Thank you for the flowers, Harry, but I think I like the delivery person best." She smirked. "Now, let's deal with these Horcruxes— then maybe we'll have time to check off the other item on your apparent to do list."
Harry grinned, following her down to the Department of Mysteries, where they were met by Unspeakable Croaker.
"This way," Croaker said, leading them into a dimly lit chamber. The locket and the cup sat on a table in the centre of the room, the only items present.
"How do you plan to destroy them?" Croaker asked, her expression skeptical.
Harry pulled a vial of basilisk venom from his robes and handed it to Amelia.
"We're destroying them simultaneously," Amelia explained. "I'll open the locket and pour the venom inside while you cast the Killing Curse on the cup."
Harry nodded and sat against the wall, casting a cushioning charm on the floor before beginning to meditate. He focused on clearing his mind, preparing for the inevitable connection with Voldemort.
Moments later , a sudden flash of bright light forced his eyes open. He saw a thick cloud of smoke rising from the locket, swirling to form an image. Amelia froze as the image solidified—a scene of her weeping over Harry's lifeless body. Tears streamed down her face, and she couldn't seem to move.
"Amelia! It's not real!" Harry shouted, his voice sharp. "It's just trying to scare you. You're stronger than this—destroy it!"
Amelia's gaze flicked to Harry. She took a shaky breath, squared her shoulders, and nodded. Pouring the basilisk venom onto the open locket, she watched as it hissed and began to dissolve. At the same moment, Croaker cast the Killing Curse at the cup.
A piercing scream filled the room, echoing in Harry's mind like a blade of fire. His scar throbbed with agonising pain, and he doubled over, clutching his head.
As the Horcruxes were destroyed, Harry was bombarded with flashes of Voldemort's memories. He saw an eighteen-year-old Tom Riddle hiding a crown in a cluttered room at Hogwarts. The image shifted to a dark forest, where Voldemort performed a ritual with Nagini. The visions ended abruptly, leaving Harry gasping for breath before the pain overwhelmed him, and everything went black.
Harry awoke on the sofa in Amelia's office, his head pounding. Amelia rushed over from her desk the moment she saw him stir.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
He rubbed his scar, wincing. "Still stings, but I'll live."
Amelia pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "What happened?"
"He's furious. I think he felt it. If I had to guess, a fair number of Death Eaters probably died today." Harry grimaced. "We need to move quickly. The Horcrux at the Gaunt Shack is the only one he can move. He knows we're hunting them now."
Amelia nodded, her face grim. "That leaves the one at Hogwarts and Nagini."
"Yeah," Harry said, his voice heavy. "Three more pieces. And then..."
Amelia faltered, unable to finish the thought.
Harry looked at her solemnly. "And then it's just me."
o – o – o – o – o
The next two weeks passed in a blur of activity for both Harry and Amelia. They spent as much time together as they could, but their responsibilities often kept them apart. Amelia's days were dominated by Fudge's trial, which, to her relief, concluded more smoothly than anticipated. Fudge received a twenty-year sentence in a Dementor-free cell at Azkaban—a compromise allowed by his remaining supporters, though Amelia would have preferred life imprisonment.
For Harry, October was just as hectic. Between training sessions with Moody and leading the younger years' Defence Club, his schedule was relentless. Then one evening, as he made his way back to his quarters after training, he got the unsettling feeling that he was being followed.
Instead of heading straight to his room, he ducked into an empty classroom, pressing himself behind the door. Wand drawn, he waited, ears straining for any sound. After a moment, he noticed a shadow fall across the doorway.
When the figure crossed the threshold, Harry moved swiftly, grabbing them by the collar and slamming them against the wall. His wand jabbed into their chest as his gaze locked onto his pursuer.
"Malfoy," Harry hissed, fury flashing in his eyes.
Draco sneered at him, though his pale face betrayed his nerves. "You don't scare me, Potter. Do what you want—it'd be a mercy compared to what the Dark Lord will do if I fail."
Harry's grip on him tightened. "Why are you following me?"
Draco hesitated, then spoke quickly, as though afraid to lose his nerve. "I need your help."
Suspicious, Harry lowered his wand slightly but maintained his grip. His Legilimency skills had grown considerably, and he pushed into Draco's mind without preamble, searching for deceit. To his surprise, Draco's thoughts were honest—desperate, even.
"You're telling the truth," Harry muttered, releasing him. Draco rubbed his neck, his pride visibly bruised.
"This is about your mother?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded stiffly. "She's all I have left. My father is dead, the Ministry's seized everything, and—" He faltered. "You're the only one who can help her. You're the new Lord Black."
Harry exhaled heavily, considering his options. "Come with me."
The two walked in silence to Professor McGonagall's office. After a brisk explanation, she allowed Harry to use the floo in his quarters to leave Hogwarts temporarily, eyeing Draco warily.
Once back in his quarters, Harry outlined his plan. "We'll floo to Potter Manor first. From there, you'll bring your mother. Once she's here, we'll figure out what we can do—with Amelia's help."
Draco agreed, following Harry into the fireplace. After their arrival at the manor, Harry left Draco to summon his mother in private while he called for Jekyll.
"Is Amelia home yet?" Harry asked the elf.
"Not yet, sir," Jekyll replied with a deep bow.
"Please ask Alice to prepare refreshments. We'll be having guests shortly."
When Draco flooed away, Harry used the opportunity to contact Amelia. Sticking his head into her office fireplace, he found her at her desk, monocle in place as she pored over documents. Harry couldn't help but sigh appreciatively, making Amelia jump.
"Harry," she scolded, though her tone was amused.
"Sorry to disturb you," Harry said, clearing his throat. "Draco and Narcissa are on their way here. Draco's asked for my help, and—well, you know me."
"You have a saving-people thing," Amelia quipped with a smirk. "I'll finish up here and meet you in ten minutes."
Harry withdrew from the fireplace, set the wards to allow the Malfoys entry, and waited. When Narcissa and Draco arrived, Harry greeted Narcissa with impeccable formal manners, surprising her. She responded with equal decorum before slipping into her usual mask of indifference.
Harry led them to the drawing room and poured drinks for everyone while they waited for Amelia. The tension in the room was palpable. Narcissa broke the silence first.
"Thank you, Lord Potter-Black, for receiving us."
Harry nodded. "It's fine. Amelia will be here shortly," he said.
Before the conversation could grow more awkward, Amelia stepped through the floo. Her expression hardened briefly at the sight of the Malfoys but softened when Harry took her hand. She sat beside him, her presence grounding him.
"What can we do for you, Mrs. Malfoy?" Amelia asked.
"I—" Narcissa hesitated, glancing at Draco.
"I asked Potter—Lord Potter-Black—for help," Draco said, his tone begrudging. "He suggested we meet to discuss it."
Harry turned to Draco. "How do you think I can help?"
"You're the head of the Black family. You can restore my mother's status and provide her with a home. I don't care what happens to me, but I need to protect her."
Narcissa opened her mouth to object, but Draco's pleading look silenced her.
Harry leaned forward. "You've taken the Dark Mark?"
Draco's face drained of colour. "Yes," he admitted. "I thought it was the right thing at the time, but... I know better now. The Dark Lord doesn't share power. He'll kill me when I'm no longer useful."
"And your current task?"
Draco swallowed hard. "He wants me to kill the headmaster and find a way to bring Death Eaters into the castle. But last week—" He faltered. "He gave me a new task: deliver you to him."
Amelia's grip on Harry's hand tightened, her anger palpable. "Over my dead body."
Harry smiled faintly, squeezing her hand in reassurance. "Does anyone know about the second task?"
"Snape knows about my original task, but not about my new one. I haven't had a chance to tell him," said Draco.
"Over the summer, he made an unbreakable vow to me that he would help Draco and complete the task if he could not," shared Narcissa. Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, but nodded.
"Are you in love with Astoria Greengrass?" Asked Harry turning back to Draco.. Everyone raised their eyebrows at this but again Draco answered honestly. He knew from experience that Harry could find the answers if he wanted to so there was no point in lying.
"Yes," said Draco. Harry looked over at Amelia who nodded for him to do as he saw fit.
"I think I can help your mother and perhaps you, but I have some conditions." Draco breathed a sigh of relief, but his face stayed tense.
"Which are?" He drawled causing Harry to roll his eyes.
"I will make you both wards of House Black, I will give Narcissa her pick of the Black estates and a generous monthly allowance that she can do with as she pleases. In return, I want intelligence on Voldemort. In essence, you will be my spy, and I also want a marriage alliance with House Greengrass. He keeps asking me to sign a betrothal agreement with his daughter Daphne, but Amelia is not one to share," finished Harry with a cheeky grin. Amelia promptly slapped him on the back of the head.
"Ouch," said Harry and Narcissa covered a giggle with her glass of fire whiskey. "Anyways, if you are a Black and under my protection perhaps he will be satisfied with a marriage agreement with you in my stead."
"So you want me to spy on Voldemort and agree to a marriage contract with the woman I already love, that's it?" Said Draco incredulously.
"There are some bits of information regarding Voldemort I am looking for specifically, but essentially yes," replied Harry unconcerned.
"Very well." Said Draco after a moment. It was silent for a moment until Harry stood.
"I have something that might interest you in my study Draco. Come with me for a moment" Said Harry as he walked towards the door. Draco followed after a nod from his mother. When they got to the study, Harry opened a large trunk and searched through it. Eventually he found what he was looking for and handed it to Draco. Draco's eyes widened when he saw what it was.
"It is a Black family heirloom. I believe it belonged to your grandmother. You should give it to Astoria after the agreement has been signed. It will prove to everyone that you are truly a member of House Black and should satisfy Florian," said Harry. Draco nodded and put the ring in his pocket.
"Why are you helping me so easily Potter? We're not friends. I didn't expect you to be so accommodating," said Draco. Harry sighed.
"No, we're not friends, but we don't have to be enemies. I may not completely trust you, but your intentions are true and your determination to protect your mother says a lot about the man you could become. I hope you will take this as a chance to make different choices. You are a very capable wizard and let's face it you are much more a Black then I will ever be. Walburga will be ecstatic to have you in the family, I'm sure." Said Harry with a smirk.
"However, before you agree to become a Black, I want to make sure you understand what it is I am asking of you in return. Voldemort will assume you came to me and he probably will no longer trust you so you will need to be careful, you will be in even more danger then you were before," said Harry. Draco nodded.
"There are two things I demand of you Draco" said Harry sternly. "I don't care how you get the information, but Voldemort has hidden something very valuable in his gaunt ancestral home. I need to know the moment there is any word that he plans to move it or is sending someone there. Second, and this is most important, when I tell you to, you must take me to Voldemort. No questions asked." Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Very well, Potter." Draco nodded, subdued. When they returned to the lounge, Harry addressed Narcissa. "You'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll visit Gringotts and finalise everything."
As the Malfoys settled in, Harry finally pulled Amelia into his arms. "Think I made the right call?" he asked.
Amelia smiled, brushing a kiss to his forehead. "You're a natural leader, Harry. I just hope they're worthy of your trust." Harry nodded in understanding.
"Well since I'm already here perhaps I should stay the night," said Harry as he kissed her neck and moved his lips down towards her shoulder.
"Hmm, yes, I think you'd better." Said Amelia with a smile as she pulled him to the bedroom.
o – o – o – o – o
Harry and Amelia were finishing breakfast when Narcissa entered the dining room. Harry pulled back from kissing Amelia with fervour to greet her.
"Good morning, Narcissa. Did you sleep well?" he asked, his tone polite but warm.
"Yes, thank you," Narcissa replied, settling gracefully into a chair.
"Help yourself," Harry offered, gesturing to the spread of food on the table. Narcissa filled her plate with quiet efficiency, a hint of gratitude in her expression.
"Have you decided which property you'd like?" Amelia inquired, setting down her teacup to give Narcissa her full attention.
"Yes," Narcissa said, her tone more confident now. "I've decided on the manor in Cornwall. Living by the ocean appeals to me."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "I haven't had the chance to visit that one yet, but if I recall, it's in decent condition. After our trip to Gringotts, we can go inspect it together. If it needs any renovations—or if there's anything you'd like done—I can arrange it."
Narcissa inclined her head, her eyes softening briefly. "I would appreciate that, Lord Potter-Black."
"Just Harry," he corrected with a smile.
Narcissa gave him a faint but genuine smile in return and turned her attention to her toast. The three continued their breakfast in companionable silence until the quiet was interrupted by the soft rustle of wings. Hedwig soared gracefully into the room, landing on the back of Harry's chair and holding out a note tied to her leg.
Harry untied the parchment, quickly scanning the hastily written words:
Harrikins,
Come quick. We've had a breakthrough.
Gred and Forge.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "It's from the twins. Apparently, they've made a breakthrough with something."
Amelia arched an eyebrow. "Do they mean one of their inventions, or something more... perilous?"
"With Fred and George, it's hard to say," Harry admitted, grinning. He folded the note and tucked it into his pocket. "I'll send them a note and let them know I'll stop by later today after we've dealt with Gringotts and the manor."
Amelia nodded approvingly before checking her watch. "Speaking of which, I need to get to the Ministry soon. Are you nearly ready to leave?"
"Yes," Harry replied, finishing the last sip of his tea. He glanced at Narcissa. "Let me just send this note then we'll head to the bank together and finalise the transfer. Then we can spend some time at the Cornwall property."
"That sounds perfect," Narcissa said, rising from her seat with a small, dignified smile. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry gave a quick nod and turned to Hedwig, stroking her feathers. "You did great, girl. Rest up."
As Hedwig hooted softly and flew off to her perch, Harry headed for his office.
0 – 0 – o - o
Amelia and Narcissa sat in companionable silence while Narcissa finished her breakfast. After dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, Narcissa glanced at Amelia, her expression uncharacteristically hesitant.
"I have to admit, Minister Bones," she began shyly, "I'm a bit envious of you."
Amelia blinked, surprised. "Envious of me? Why?"
Narcissa looked down briefly, gathering her thoughts. "I don't think Lucius ever looked at me the way Harry looks at you. And I like to think that, at least in the beginning, Lucius and I were in love. I felt fortunate when we were betrothed—I was young and already attracted to him. But what you have with Harry…" She paused, a wistful smile gracing her lips. "It's beyond anything I ever hoped for in an arranged marriage."
Amelia blushed. "It wasn't love at first, I'll admit, but it's become the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've been incredibly lucky."
"I'm happy for you, Amelia. Truly." Narcissa's tone was light but genuine as she stood and smoothed out her robes. "May we all be so fortunate." She offered a small smile. "I'll just fetch my coat."
As she disappeared, Harry stepped into the kitchen. Amelia gave him a quick peck on the cheek before standing to prepare for work. Moments later, Narcissa returned, now wearing her coat, and joined them. Together, the trio departed for Gringotts.
When they arrived at the bank, a goblin led them through the grand marble halls to Griphook's office. Narcissa's eyes widened as every goblin they passed bowed respectfully to Harry. Harry, on the other hand, blushed furiously, clearly uncomfortable.
"Quite the reception," Narcissa murmured, amused. Amelia smirked but said nothing.
Inside the office, Griphook greeted them with a sharp-toothed smile. "Lord Potter-Black, what can I do for you today?"
Harry stepped forward. "I'd like to formalise some arrangements for House Black. First, I want to make Narcissa and Draco Malfoy wards of House Black, granting them full rights to the name. Second, I'd like to gift the Black Manor in Cornwall to Narcissa and the cabin in Rockcliffe to Draco—though the latter will only transfer upon his marriage to Astoria Greengrass. Lastly, I want to set up monthly allowances for both Narcissa and Draco, drawn from the Black family vault."
Griphook nodded, and with a wave of his clawed hand, a thick stack of parchment appeared on his desk. "Sign here and here, Lord Potter-Black. Mrs. Malfoy—" he paused, correcting himself, "Miss Black, you will need to sign here for yourself and here on behalf of your son, as he is still underage."
Narcissa smiled softly at the title "Miss Black" and moved to sign where indicated. When the paperwork was complete, Griphook glanced at her. "The Cornwall Manor is liveable, though it has not been maintained. I cannot guarantee there isn't damage. If significant repairs are needed, do let us know. We'd be happy to assist."
Harry rolled his eyes at the greedy glint in Griphook's eyes. "Yes, I'm sure you would. Just get on with it."
Griphook smirked and continued. "How much should be deposited into the vaults, Lord Potter-Black?"
Harry turned to Narcissa. "How much do you usually spend in a month?"
Narcissa hesitated, clearly unused to discussing such matters openly. "I'd estimate about 1,000 galleons."
Amelia's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but Harry simply nodded. "All right, let's set 1,500 galleons per month for Narcissa and 750 galleons for Draco." He glanced at Narcissa. "That should cover any unexpected expenses as well."
Griphook noted the figures on a separate parchment. A moment later, two keys materialised on the desk. "The gold key is for your vault, Miss Black, and the silver is for Draco's," he explained, passing them to Narcissa.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"Anything else, Lord Potter-Black?" asked Griphook, his tone almost eager.
"Yes, I need a fair marriage contract drawn up between House Black and House Greengrass. I'll return next week with Lord Greengrass to finalise the terms."
Griphook gave a small bow. "We will be ready for you."
Harry inclined his head. "That's all for today. Thank you, Griphook."
As they exited the bank, Amelia kissed Harry on the cheek. "I need to get to the Ministry, but I'll try to be home for dinner," she said warmly before apparating.
Harry turned to Narcissa. "Shall we?" She nodded, and with a firm grip on her hand, Harry apparated them to Cornwall Manor.
The old manor stood proud but weathered against the coastal backdrop. Its stone walls bore the marks of age, and the once-pristine gardens were now wild with overgrowth.
"It's about what I expected," Harry remarked as they entered the grand yet dusty foyer. Narcissa moved methodically through each room, jotting down notes as they inspected the property.
"It's a beautiful space," Narcissa said as they reached the master bedroom. The large window framed a breathtaking view of the ocean. "I'll need some time to get it in order, but I'm grateful for the opportunity."
"It shouldn't take more than a week to make it liveable," Harry assured her. "You're welcome to stay at Potter Manor until then."
"Thank you, my—" she caught herself, smiling faintly. "Thank you, Harry."
Harry chuckled. "Please stick with 'Harry.' If Amelia hears you calling me 'my lord,' she'll never let me live it down."
Narcissa smiled. "I'll try."
As she surveyed the room, her expression softened. "My mother brought me here once when I was a child, with Sirius and Bella. I have fond memories of this place."
Harry regarded her thoughtfully before nodding. "I'll arrange for a house-elf to help, and I'll notify the goblins about necessary repairs." He gestured toward the door. "Shall we head back for lunch?"
"Yes, thank you." Narcissa followed him, her mood lighter.
Back at Potter Manor, they sat across from each other in the cozy dining room. After a few bites, Narcissa broke the silence.
"You surprise me, Harry."
Harry glanced at her with a grin. "Not what you expected?"
She laughed softly. "Draco's letters painted a different picture. I think he's always been a little jealous of you, though he'd never admit it."
Harry smirked. "Probably not. Though if I'm honest, I used to be jealous of him too."
Narcissa arched a brow, intrigued. "Oh?"
"Don't think I didn't notice all the care packages you sent him," Harry said lightly.
Narcissa flushed but held his gaze. "Amelia is the only person who's ever told me she loves me. Draco has something I never had—a loving mother. I can understand why he's so protective of you."
Touched, Narcissa nodded. "Thank you for saying that." After a thoughtful pause, Narcissa added, "You know, you were the only one to ever get under Lucius' skin. He constantly raved about your interference in his plans. I think he underestimated you. So does the Dark Lord. That may work in your favour."
"I hope so," Harry admitted. "I'll need all the advantages I can get."
After a beat, he asked, "Narcissa, why did Snape agree to make an Unbreakable Vow to help Draco?"
She hesitated, then said softly, "Severus is Draco's godfather—and I believe he is in love with me."
Harry's eyebrows shot up. "Snape? In love?"
Narcissa gave him a faint smile. "I know it's hard to believe, but Severus is capable of love. He's loved your mother for years."
Harry stared, stunned. "Snape loved my mum?"
"Yes," she said simply. "There's more to Severus' story than you know. Before judging him, perhaps you should ask Dumbledore for the whole truth."
Harry frowned, then nodded. "I'll think about it."
o – o – o – o – o
By the time Harry arrived at Weaslwy's Wizard Wheezes, he was thoroughly exhausted. Stifling a yawn, he muttered to himself, "After this, I'm going home for a long nap before Amelia gets back."
Stepping inside, he spotted Fred and George behind the counter, chatting amiably as they rang up customers. Both brothers gave him a friendly nod but didn't pause their work. Harry took the opportunity to wander the shop, admiring their latest creations until the last customer left. Once the shop was clear, George flipped the 'open' sign to 'closed' while Fred gestured for Harry to follow him upstairs to their apartment and workshop.
As Harry entered, he gave the space a once-over, eyebrows raised at the organised chaos. "You know," he said with a smirk, "with all the money I gave you two, you could probably afford a proper lab for your experiments. Maybe turn this back into a liveable apartment?"
Fred answered with a flourish of his wand, conjuring a pristine, royal-red throne. "A seat fit for our greatest investor," he said grandly.
Harry laughed and sat down. "Alright, show me what you've got."
George walked in a moment later, chuckling at the throne. He grabbed a chair, cleared off some papers and a glob of blue goo, and sat down nearby.
"Fred," George prompted.
"Right, brother!" Fred replied with enthusiasm. He headed to a large Muggle-style safe near the kitchen, opened it with an elaborate twist of the handle, and pulled out a small box.
Returning to Harry, Fred handed him the box with a flourish. Inside, Harry found three small pin badges shaped into the elegant lettersD.M.L. the letters was the word'Honoured'engraved in a neat script.
Harry's eyes lit up. "These are perfect—small, inconspicuous. Exactly what I wanted!"
"Of course," Fred and George said in unison, clearly pleased.
"How do they work?" Harry asked, turning one of the pins over in his hand.
Fred took the lead. "Well, we couldn't completely get rid of the need for a blood bond—there's no magic strong enough to bypass that entirely. We had to link all the pins to a single magical signature. That's where things get interesting."
George picked up the explanation. "Remember that memory you gave us? The one where you were talking to Hermione about wizarding traditions?"
Harry nodded slowly.
"You mentioned how goblins explained that, as the holder of two titles, you could technically have more than one wife."
Fred grinned mischievously. "Which got us thinking: if you had multiple wives, you'd have multiple rings magically linked to yours. So, we applied that concept to the pins—they're all connected to your magical signature."
"Mine?" Harry asked, surprised.
"For now," George confirmed. "We're working on a way to let you transfer the bond to someone else at will, but we're not quite there yet."
Fred chimed back in. "You're the only one who can activate the link. But once you do, it's simple: the person wearing the pin pricks their finger to bond it with their magic. Then, if you initiate the link, the pin will summon them to your location. It doesn't matter where they are or how heavily warded the area is—they'll be brought to you."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "So, I can summon anyone wearing the pin, but they can't summon me—or each other?"
"Exactly," George confirmed. "But there's a catch—you can't pick and choose who gets summoned. If you activate the link, all of them will come."
Harry frowned for a moment, then shrugged. "It's still brilliant. You've outdone yourselves. Why make them look so fancy, though?"
Fred grinned. "We figured Amelia could distribute them as a sort of commendation for Aurors. That way, people wouldn't find it odd to see one on their robes. She could tell them it's required on duty."
"That's clever," Harry admitted. "How long will it take to make more?"
"Now that the prototype's done, not long," George replied. "We can probably get you a dozen within two months."
"Perfect. Send me the first dozen as soon as they're ready. Can we test these now?"
Fred and George exchanged a wicked grin. "We were hoping you'd ask, Harrikins," George said with glee.
The next hour was spent in a madcap game of magical tag across the United Kingdom. Harry activated the pins several times, summoning Fred and George from increasingly creative hiding spots. By the end, the twins were sprawled on the floor of their workshop, panting from exhaustion.
Fred groaned. "Merlin's beard, Harry, how do you still have energy?"
Harry leaned back in the throne, grinning. "I'm not the one apparating all over the place."
George laughed weakly. "The pins work, but they definitely pull more magical energy than we expected."
Harry nodded, serious now. "Probably best not to use them back-to-back unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Agreed," Fred said, sitting up. "But they're solid. A few tweaks, and they'll be ready for production."
"Thanks, guys. You've outdone yourselves." Harry stood, stretching. "Let me know when you've got the first batch ready. Now, I really need that nap."
Fred and George waved him off as he apparated, their grins wide despite their exhaustion.
o – o – o – o – o
When Harry returned to Potter Manor, Jekyll informed him that Narcissa had gone for a walk around the grounds. Grateful for the solitude, Harry headed upstairs to finally take the nap he'd been promising himself all day.
Once in his room, he placed the pins on Amelia's wardrobe and stretched out on the bed, fingers laced behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.
"Sirius," he called out.
"Yeah, pup?" Sirius's familiar voice echoed back immediately, warm and curious.
"What do you remember about Narcissa?" Harry asked after a pause.
Sirius let out a thoughtful hum. "We spent a lot of time together growing up. She was a big fan of mine back then—always following me around. Our mothers were both awful, but hers was easier to deal with than mine, so I spent as much time at their place as I could before Hogwarts. Narcissa was curious, ambitious, and had a laugh that could light up a room. But she was her mother's daughter through and through. She clung to that pureblood ideology harder than either of her sisters."
"And after Hogwarts?"
"We drifted. Once I was sorted into Gryffindor, she barely acknowledged me. When she did, it was usually to sneer. The last time I saw her was at her wedding to Lucius." Sirius's voice turned bitter. "That was the end of the Narcissa I knew."
Harry frowned. "I've made her a Black again—her and Draco. Do you think I can trust her?"
Sirius was quiet for a moment, then spoke firmly. "Yes. Narcissa puts family above everything. If you're the head of her House, she'll be loyal to you. She'll protect you with everything she has."
Harry mulled over Sirius's words, trying to reconcile the image of the loyal, laughing child Sirius described with the cold, sharp woman he knew. Eventually, sleep overtook him as his thoughts drifted to imagining a young Narcissa Black.
After dinner, Harry and Amelia relaxed in their favourite loveseat in the sitting room. Amelia was curled up in Harry's lap, a book in hand, while he ran his fingers idly through her hair.
"It's hard to read when you do that," Amelia murmured, lifting her chin to look at him.
Harry grinned, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Should I stop?"
"No," she said with a small smile, closing her book and setting it aside. "That's alright."
She leaned back against his chest, looking thoughtful. "That was generous of you, what you did for Draco today."
Harry shrugged. "I suppose. I have no interest in being the-boy-with-the-most-titles. If Draco proves he's more Black than Malfoy and actually does something with the opportunity, I'd consider passing the title to him."
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
Harry smirked. "Then he can deal with the responsibility of having a horde of Black children to carry on the family name. That leaves us free to focus on Potter and Bones children."
Amelia laughed softly, her smile warm and genuine. "I like that idea." Her voice turned wistful. "I never thought I'd be in a position to have children of my own. But since meeting you, well… sometimes it's all I can think about."
Harry kissed her temple. "We can have as many children as you want, Amelia." His voice dropped to a low murmur. "Shall we try to make one now?"
Amelia laughed, her cheeks flushing as she turned to straddle his lap. Her book tumbled to the floor, forgotten. "If you wish," she said teasingly before pulling him into a deep kiss.