Walking into the office and as they'd been there before, neither Harry nor Hermione hesitated. And Daphne only gave a very slight pause before she hurried forward behind them to catch up.
In the office was Marchbanks, of course; but also present were Samuel Greengrass, Ted Tonks and... Sirius.
Both Harry and Hermione grinned as they walked forward. As Harry started to step forward to get a hug out of Sirius, he was bea0en to it by Hermione. So, he turned to Samuel just as Daphne pulled back from her hug with her father, and shook the man's hand.
"Lord Greengrass," he firmly said, offering his hand to shake. "A pleasure."
"Lord Potter," the other man returned, shaking his hand. "Thank you, very much, for doing this."
"My pleasure, sir," said Harry. "It is my fervent hope your Heir Primary, Daphne, finds security within the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter."
"As it is mine, Lord Potter," he returned.
Then Harry suddenly felt himself yanked sideways into Sirius's arms for a hug.
"Oi!" he mock-complained. "How am I supposed to give the impression I'm the big, bad, tough, no-nonsense Lord of one of the Seven if you go ahead and ruin it like that?"
Sirius laughed and released him while Harry also saw Samuel relax and smile.
Ted then gave a slight cough to get everyone's attention before he looked to Harry and asked, "Lord Potter, is it your intention... free of magics compulsing you... to enter a Concubine Bond Agreement between the House of Greengrass and your own, for Daphne Ophelia Greengrass to become your Concubine Presumptive?"
"Yes," Harry firmly replied.
"You are aware and accept that, based on the clearly defined situations and stipulations in the agreement, the agreement will become a contract if the as-stated situations come into effect? And that both the agreement and the contract requires you to provide for the health and protection of Heiress Daphne Ophelia Greengrass of the Noble and Ancient House of Greengrass?"
"Yes and I do," he firmly stated.
Ted gave a nod and small smile back. "Very well, as your Law-wizard of Record I recommend you proceed with signing the agreement."
Harry asked right back, "Edward Tonks, as Law-wizard of Record for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, do you attest to there being no additional alterations to the copy of the agreement you had caused to be sent to me and which I received early this morning?"
Surprised for a moment, Ted then grinned and replied, "I do, Lord Potter."
Harry grinned back and then turned to Daphne. "Last chance, Daphne. Do I sign or not?"
She immediately replied, almost begging, "Please sign it."
He gave her a nod and smile before spinning back. "Let's do this."
Less than two minutes later, it was done. Once Lady Marchbanks and even Sirius signed as witnesses, Ted created legal copies of them and distributed them, one each, to the four signatories.
Turning back to a clearly very relieved Daphne he was about to ask her a question when she jumped forward and tightly hugged him. Her head rested on his collarbone. "Thank you," she fervently squeaked.
"You're welcome," he said, moving her back out to arms reach. "With the behaviour of certain members in the House of Slytherin, is it your desire to move into the Potter apartments within the Lords' Quarters, in your own room, until things settle down again?"
Surprised at the offer, she hesitated and said, "I... yes. I think that would be for the best." And immediately looked to her father.
Harry also turned to him and asked, "Do you have a problem with this idea, Lord Greengrass? I will not be offended if you do."
"No, actually," he replied. "I believe it a very wise idea."
Relieved, Harry turned to Marchbanks and asked, "Headmistress?"
Marchbanks just smiled back and turned away for a moment, "Toby."
When the elf popped in she organised with it to move Daphne's effects out of the Slytherin dorms and up into the spare bedroom in the Potter apartment.
Turning back to Daphne, Harry said, "It will be easier for me to watch over you if you're in the apartment with Hermione and me. But, I'm sorry, I can do nothing along these lines for Tracey or Astoria."
Then he glanced at Samuel with a cocked eyebrow.
Samuel was no idiot. He knew exactly what Harry was implying. He gave a little throat clear and said, "Lord Potter, the House of Greengrass will be in your debt if you act with my authority to step in, when and where necessary, to protect from harm my Heir Secondary, my second daughter, Astoria."
"I accept, Lord Greengrass," Harry immediately replied. "If I am alerted to your daughter, Astoria, encountering danger or harm and I am able to step in to protect her, then under your authority I shall do so."
And both bowed to one another.
Sirius chuckled. "Very clever, Harry."
It now meant Harry could deal with any idiot who tried anything with Astoria, now that Daphne was 'unavailable' and legally untouchable.
As they were starting to talk a little, Harry heard a sob from behind where Daphne was standing. Suddenly, she burst into tears and Hermione had to jump forward to hold her up from collapsing to the ground.
The Headmistress was quick to conjure a sofa for her and Hermione. And Hermione guided her into it.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/gokublack444🎉