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  This chapter was edited by Gdiusx. Check his works on HP and ASOIAF, I highly recommend them.

  Saturday, 19th of June.

  Potter Manor Foyer.

  Harry checked himself in the full-body mirror on the wall next to the firepce, ignoring Chiara's amused smile as she combed his hair. He had thought deeply about what to dress for such an occasion, and decided it wouldn’t be too difficult to outdo the baffling wizarding fashion. Still, that didn’t mean Harry would wear the exact outfit he wore during his outing with Narcissa. The Potter Lord retained the crisp white shirt he wore along with the bck trousers, but he decided to change his footwear to polished leather dress shoes. His vest remained, as it now held his House’s heraldry, but instead of his half-cloak, Harry opted for a bck tailcoat that reached his knees.

  Frowning a little, Harry couldn’t help but think something was amiss, yet he had to go in a handful of minutes.

  “No House colours?”

  Henry’s voice had Chiara pause, and he tilted his head in confusion. “House Potter never had a herald or specific colours. That's why I chose the white wolf with red eyes.” Harry pointed at his vest for emphasis. He decided to pay homage to Ghost by framing his glorious silhouette on the front of his vest, under his heart, howling at the moon. He heard Chiara giggle behind him and was reminded she was the one who stitched the wolf’s form.

  “No, no, d. I don’t get your fascination with wolves, but I meant something else. It’s customary for a Hogwarts Student to wear their house colours in some form for any formal banquet.”

  “What? But that’s…” Harry struggled to make out the words. “Wasn’t the point of these gatherings to forget the silly house divides of school?”

  “It’s tradition, and it helps in connecting more than you think. Then again, I myself did not care back in my day and simply wore a golden watch with red rubies.” Henry shrugged in his portrait.

  “Chiara?” He looked at his attendant in the mirror, finding her ever-present smile as her silver eyes reflected the firepce’s fmes.

  “Yes, Mr Potter?”

  “Any suggestions?”

  “I do believe I came across that specific pocket watch in the vault when I was sorting the pce.” At times like this, he was especially gd to have asked the werewolf to become his retainer.

  “Did you really?” He gnced at Henry’s raised eyebrow, “Could you summon it for me?”

  “Certainly.”

  The werewolf waved her wand towards the manor's interior, summoning a certain box he recalled seeing in the vault. Opening it, she produced the familiar glittering golden watch with red rubies that caused Henry to perk up.

  “Oh, I didn’t realise it was in the vault all this time. I gave it to your grandfather when he came of age, as tradition dictates. Your father must have left it in the vault, thinking it was too gaudy.” His ancestor smiled as Harry secured the watch in his breast pocket, allowing the golden chain to dangle. “You look dashing, d.”

  “You’d have to beat off many floozies trying to jump you,” Chiara’s smile turned teasing and Harry huffed, “Not like you need any help keeping them away.”

  “Indeed I don’t.” Harry grinned at the older girl before schooling his features. “Take care of the pce for me, Chiara, and make sure Dobby doesn’t do anything crazy.”

  “Certainly, Mr Potter. Dobby is a good elf, and you need not worry about him. Have a splendid evening.” Chiara bowed politely, and Harry waved to Henry before throwing floo powder at the fmes, turning it green.

  “Ministry Atrium.” He stepped through the fmes, and within seconds, he was walking out of the firepce and facing a familiar Auror sporting bright neon green hair instead of pink.

  “Wotcher, Harry.”

  “Tonks?” He quickly stepped away from the firepce in case more newcomers followed.

  “Yep, don't worry, this firepce was exclusively set for you. You look very handsome, by the way.”

  “Thanks, why the green hair?”

  “Some stiff neck organiser compined that my pink hair was too garish and demanded I change it. So, I made it the most annoying green I could.” Harry chuckled at the girl's wicked grin, “Now, if you would follow me before the press catches wind of you.”

  The Metamorph led him away from the busy Floos and towards one of several tents that blocked the hallway leading to the atrium. There, he found a pleasant surprise waiting for him inside.

  “Eleanor!”

  “Harry, so good to see you.” He quickly hugged the older girl when she spread out her arms. She looked much healthier and energetic than the st time he saw her, yet Eleanor was dressed in her standard blue uniform instead of a dress. “Oh, my. You’ve grown so much over the past week. A whole inch!”

  “You noticed? That’s why you're my favourite, Ellie.” Harry grinned at the still taller girl, for even though he had finally broken past five feet, he was just an inch or two shorter than her. “Did you pn this?” He looked from her to Tonks as they shared a knowing smile.

  “What can I say? Fawley and I are quite the plotters, don’t you know?” Nymphadora smirked at the giggling girl, “But no, we didn’t pn this, or well, not entirely. Madame Bones pnned to get you in quickly since the press would be hounding the Floo. They won’t be allowed inside the event in a formal capacity except for a couple of official correspondents. Nevertheless, some notable journalists were invited, so be careful whom you speak to.” Harry nodded seriously at the older girl’s warning, “Regardless, I volunteered to do it. Eleanor did her own magic to get the assignment as well, somehow figuring out we knew each other and got in touch with me to team up as your welcoming committee.”

  “As a former president of the Harry Potter fan club, it would be a disgrace not to do my best to greet you at such an important event personally.” Eleanor grinned pompously for a moment before schooling her features.

  “And you, Tonks? Were you a member of my fan club as well? Want me to sign your shirt?”

  “Ha, ha. Sadly, no, I was too busy beating Gryffindor in Quidditch.” The older girl deadpanned at him before licking her lips mischievously, “Besides, if I wanted your autograph, it wouldn’t be on my shirt.”

  Harry raised his eyebrow at the girl’s saucy grin, though he certainly wasn’t the only one to read between the lines.

  “Alright.” Eleanor coughed, “Let’s get you sorted out, Harry.” She handed Tonks a baton while she grabbed a clipboard from the table. “Tonks? If you would?”

  The Auror nodded and waved the baton around his body. “Just standard security measures. You're not carrying anything illegal or lethal on you, right?”

  “Aside from my wand? Nope.”

  The Metamorphmagus chuckled as she dropped the baton on the table, and Eleanor wrote on her clipboard before handing it to him. “Okay, I just need you to check that all the information is correct. Sign at the bottom, and you will be good to go, Harry.”

  “Sure, does everyone get the same treatment?” Harry skimmed through the form before scribbling down with his pen.

  “Oh, Merlin, no. Everyone has to go through much more intensive check-ups because of the recent breakout. Madame Bones was spitting fire when it was suggested the Minister would take over security, and by that, it would be passed on to the Undersecretary. The security for the event is entirely her work, but you're special enough to have two birds like us to fast-track you in.” The green-haired girl winked, and Harry nodded at the unspoken gesture. Both girls had clearly done a lot more than simply volunteering to be the ones to greet him, preferably away from the masses, and then send him on.

  “Thank you, Nymie. You and Ellie are the best.” The Auror's brows twitched while the other girl tittered. His teasing grin had Tonks sighing in exasperation.

  “On you go, then. You’re early, so there won’t be many people aside from those who finished work or stayed after the Wizengamot meeting. Don’t let the press catch you with your pants down, and have fun!”

  Harry smiled one st time before exiting the tent to the other side, halting for a moment as he beheld the magnificent sight.

  The atrium had been transformed for the Ball, for it was the only pce that could fit any number of people for such an event, and he whistled inwardly. Gone were the queue lines and security desk, instead, there were plenty of floral arrangements with pots of wildflowers floating zily with shining bugs flying around it. A garden was somehow pnted into the marble flooring where songbirds and cranes frolicked without worry around fruit trees, and Harry spied the familiar form of his twin cousins pying with them while their parents mingled nearby. A bonfire was pced beyond the Fountain of Magical Brethren, deeper into the enormous hall, where it fred in purple and blue fmes. Many round tables were pced strategically around the bonfire, yet with plenty of space for the dance to come.

  None of that awed him more than the massive fireball suspended in the air, acting like the sun in celebration of the Summer Solstice. Its brilliant rays shone down with warmth and comfort, honouring the bounty of summer and turning the enormous atrium bright and cheery. Upon further inspection, he found a phoenix roosting inside the confgration, occasionally trilling a happy melody that lifted his mood even further. It wasn’t Fawkes, for it was more gold than red, more eagle than swan, yet it was no less beautiful than Dumbledore’s familiar.

  As Harry wandered closer, he found the bugs around the flowers to actually be fairies that waved merrily at him, one of them even brave enough to nd on his shoulder and hug his cheek. It was difficult to fathom that the adorable little thing was reted to the doxies and other pests he had to clear from his house, and Harry found himself patting the little raven-haired critter on her head. The fairy giggled and flew back to her friends, and the Potter Lord continued past the Fountain and towards the bonfire, where a few people were already mingling. As Tonks said, there weren’t many people yet, and Harry was gd he decided against being fashionably te.

  He heard a familiar voice speaking nearby but in a foreign and fast-flowing nguage. Turning to the voice, he found a tired-looking Tariq Shafiq standing with a man he vaguely recognised from the cabinet meeting, both dressed in plum-coloured robes embroidered with a silver letter W. They seemed to be speaking animatedly, with many hand gestures and facial expressions. It was an interesting nguage that neither Harry nor Jon had ever heard the like. Shafiq caught his eye, and the young man smiled as he waved him over.

  “Hey, Harry. Over here.” Tariq was nursing a steaming mug of coffee, while the older man with a handlebar moustache looked at him with interest.

  “Good to see you again, Rick.” Harry approached the taller man with a handshake and nodded to the other man. “I remember you from the cabinet meeting, Mr Crouch, but I do not believe we were formally introduced. I am Harry Potter. A pleasure to meet you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, Mr Potter. Bartemius Crouch, at your service.” They shook hands, “I hope you've had a pleasant week since we st met.”

  “It was. I've been busy cleaning my home, but it was well worth the effort, as I enjoy having my own pce now.” The older man nodded, and Harry turned to Rick. “Interesting nguage you were speaking, I wasn't sure if you were arguing or joking. Was it Egyptian?”

  Shafiq guffawed, careful not to spill his coffee, and even Mr Crouch smiled slightly. “Yeah, you're not the first one to think so. It's Egyptian Arabic, actually, lots of hand gestures involved.”

  “Fascinating.” Harry rubbed his chin. “I suppose a man of your position as Head of Foreign Affairs would be expected to know a couple of nguages.” Harry nodded to the older man in respect, who looked at him with amusement.

  “A couple? More like a couple of hundreds! Uncle here can speak almost any nguage, even Mermish and Troll.” Shafiq ughed again as he drank from his coffee, and Harry gawked at Mr Crouch, who now had a subtle smug smirk.

  Two hundred nguages?! He didn't even know so many nguages existed! It made Jon feel shame for never bothering to learn High Valyrian or the Old Tongue, despite his numerous chances. Harry vowed to rectify this deficiency as soon as he could.

  “Troll? I've come across a few tely, and they all seem to slobber and growl when they see me. I naturally took offence, but I hope I didn't mistake a common greeting in Troll for a challenge.”

  “I doubt it, Mr Potter. They were most likely decring how they would rip you apart, suck the marrow from your bones and use your ribs as toothpicks.” Bartemius Crouch had such a straight face that for a moment, Harry believed him… until Shafiq snorted into his coffee, spilling it over his front. Harry couldn't help but chortle along, even as Mr Crouch waved his wand and the young man was clean again.

  “And people cim you have no sense of humour, Uncle.” Shafiq shook his head as he grabbed another mug from a nearby table and muttered, “Coffee, Bck, Five Sugar Cubes.” His mug instantly filled up with his order, and the Shafiq heir inhaled the aroma.

  “They simply cannot appreciate an old man’s sense of humour.” Mr Crouch shrugged before turning to him. “We were just discussing the outcome of the Mot meeting before your arrival.”

  “Oh, don't remind me of that farcical py, Uncle.” Shafiq moaned dramatically as he rubbed his turquoise eyes, his accent causing him to drag the word a bit more than necessary. “Will every meeting drag into a pissing contest or a shouting match between everyone and their cousin? It's ridiculous that I am required to hear every single opinion and write it down as my Uncle's scribe. I thought I would be done writing essays once I graduate?”

  Mr Crouch looked at the younger man with amusement, “Come now, this was but your first taste in politics. Are you giving up already?”

  “Not at all, but I might have reconsidered taking up the heir position if I knew I would be nothing more than an errand boy for Uncle Shelby.” Rick drank deeply from the strong-smelling beverage and hummed in appreciation. “That hit the spot.”

  “So what happened in the meeting? And I didn't know you were reted.”

  “Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean to keep you out of the conversation, Harry. Indeed, Great Uncle Barty’s sister would be my grandmother.”

  “All pureblood families are reted in one way or the other, Mr Potter.” The elderly man repeated what Harry had heard a hundred times, but he nodded politely regardless. “As for the meeting, Dolores' proposal had caused a major upheaval, with many of her detractors rallying behind Dumbledore. Unknowingly or not, you have created a bloc for Dumbledore on the Mot, even though the man prefers to be neutral, as is expected from his position of Chief Warlock.”

  Crouch looked at him with respect, and Harry straightened a little at the compliment. He did not mean to create such an alliance, but he would certainly make use of it if he needed something from Dumbledore. Perhaps that's what the old man meant in the letter?

  “It certainly took half the day and a couple of recesses for the decision to be made. The only reason this proposal made it so far is because of the fear and paranoia of having Sirius Bck on the loose.” Shafiq drank deeply from his mug before whispering ‘refill’ at it, causing it to be topped off with more coffee. “Strange alliances were made, and former friends became bitter enemies. Amos Diggory was a staunch supporter of Umbridge's werewolf w st year, but now he looked ready to bst her to bits, especially when that bloc unexpectedly supported the woman’s proposal. I had such high hopes when he challenged Goyle to a duel when the man accused him of not wanting anyone overseeing his alleged poaching from the Forbidden Forest. Too bad Dumbledore put his foot down.”

  Goyle? And the emphasis on another bloc had Harry's mind in a flurry. So many sides with different agendas, yet he was clueless about it all.

  More importantly… “Wait, poaching? I thought the Forbidden Forest was open to anyone as a wildnd?” If it was illegal for Harry to hunt in it, that would be a severe blow to his pns.

  “It is, but protected species still call the forest home.” Crouch patiently expined, “Aside from the Unicorns, other creatures are protected by both the ministry and the ICW. Our retions with the centaurs depend on not encroaching on their territory, and many a reckless adventurer ignored the guardians and went too deep into the Forest, only to never come out.”

  Harry sighed inwardly in relief. He just needed to be careful during his future outing. “So? How did the meeting go?”

  “It came down to a Plurality Vote, with her draft narrowly passing by a single vote. It took us nearly an hour to get a sembnce of order before hammering out the details and amendments.”

  “Oh, don't just skip the good part, uncle. That deciding vote? It was none other than Mr Crouch here.” Shafiq grinned cheekily as his elder uncle frowned before shaking his head in amusement.

  “Wait, truly? You gave me the impression that you were not one of her fans during the cabinet meeting.”

  “I am not, yet I could not disregard that the w she proposed had merit.” Crouch straightened his back and narrowed his eyes. “For too long, the defence of Hogwarts, and by extension Hogsmeade, was left solely to the discretion of the headmaster. In its zenith, Hogwarts could have over a thousand students calling it home. The next batch of first years will be the rgest the school has seen in over two decades. If you include the permanent popution of Hogsmeade, at least three thousand lives depend on the headmaster and his staff for protection.”

  Harry hummed in thought, the older man certainly made excellent points. He did not know the protection of Hogsmeade relied solely on Dumbledore, but something didn't seem right, and Shafiq seemed to agree.

  “Hang on, I remember reading about the Death Eaters attacking Hogsmeade, but the Aurors were there to beat them back.”

  “And that was possible because the residents flooed to this very atrium screaming for help once the killings started, and no help arrived from the school. I was head of the DMLE at the time, and we took matters into our own hands since Dumbledore was out of the country for an ICW meeting.” Crouch shook his head sadly. “He did manage to join us mid-battle with that wonderful phoenix of his, but he was still te and couldn't prevent the needless deaths that happened.”

  “Dumbledore did seem to be always busy when I'm in school,” Rick muttered as he drank from his mug. “I wonder who he will give the Head Boy badge to. Some accuse him of favouritism and believe Weasley will probably get it.”

  “Percy Weasley? He wouldn't be a bad choice considering how diligent he is.” Harry gave his two knuts, though he had to admit that the headmaster easily favoured him and the Gryffindors over others. While Harry enjoyed the benefits, he also had to consider what others thought about the matter. Not to mention, accusing Dumbledore of being busy would be an understatement, considering his many commitments.

  “One of Arthur’s boys?” Rick nodded to his uncle, who pced a comforting hand on his great-nephew’s shoulder. “We shall see, but have confidence in yourself, Tariq. Dumbledore is many things, but unfair is not one of them. If he chooses someone for such an important position, they deserve it.” Rick nodded earnestly as Crouch patted his shoulder before gncing away. “I think I shall leave you youngsters to mingle. I spy Mrs Malfoy arriving with her son, and I need to discuss her husband's absence. The man had not bothered to show up to work for weeks without even sending an owl. After pestering me for so long about…”

  Crouch seemed to be talking to himself as he walked away, and only Harry's incredible hearing allowed him to listen. Shafiq shook his head in exasperation as they watched the older man greet Mrs Malfoy. Harry tried to catch her eye but caught Draco's instead. He grinned at the blonde ponce, who visibly gulped before getting nudged by his mother to greet Mr Crouch. Harry turned back to Shafiq, who was refilling his mug yet again. The man either loved his coffee or was just that tired.

  “I didn’t know Malfoy worked in the ministry.”

  “It's a safe presumption, as a man of his wealth does not need to ever worry about working.” Rick started walking and motioned for him to join. “But what Lucius Malfoy gains from working in the Department of International Magical Co-operation is worth far more than any sum of gold.”

  “Connections and information” Harry nodded in understanding. This might expin why the ministry seemed so bloated with useless staff.

  “Indeed, Uncle Barty, however, never liked him. He might have mellowed out a lot now, but back in the day, the name Bartemius Crouch was a terror to any who were suspected of sympathising with the Dark Lord, let alone his followers.”

  “I heard he tossed a lot of people into Azkaban without trial.” Harry didn’t mean to sound accusatory, but he couldn’t help himself, for justice would always be dear to his heart.

  “That he did, yet just as many were given a trial afterwards when their families called on their behalf.” Shafiq retorted, “You need to understand, Harry, the chaos of the times back then, and it was Minister Bagnold who pushed the idea. Uncle Barty had too many responsibilities, and the people were wary of the war and dragging out such trials. Swift justice was more practical than that drudgery until the war ended. He depended a lot on the reports of his Aurors and other ministry staff, so any bme for injustice should not be pced solely on his shoulders.”

  Harry hummed non-committally and reminded himself that Shafiq would naturally be biased towards his uncle.

  “What brought this on?”

  “Hmm? I just learned that Sirius Bck never got a trial, and his entire case is built on the testimony of muggles, who were promptly obliviated.” Harry shrugged, causing the tall man to gawk before shaking his head.

  “Well, Sirius Bck had living family members that could have vouched for him or demanded a trial, yet none came forth. Neither his mother nor his grandfathers protested, and they could have made it happen. Now that the man is on the run, it would be even more difficult to call for such a trial, if any official even agrees to such a suggestion.”

  Harry frowned as he recalled Henry’s words. While some would consider the silence of the House of Bck towards their imprisoned son to be an admittance of guilt, Sirius Bck was estranged from his House, so why would his old family care about him? Regardless, he had more pressing matters to discuss with the only reliable source inside the Wizengamot who would be candid with him.

  “You mentioned Dumbledore’s bloc in the Mot as well as another one. Could you eborate, please? I find myself grossly uninformed on matters of politics.”

  Shafiq hummed as he waved at a few acquaintances, Harry recognising some of the Hogwarts staff mingling as well. Further away, he found Albus Dumbledore and McGonagall speaking to two people who looked even older than Dumbledore if that was possible. Shaking his head, Harry scanned the crowd for anyone he knew and nodded to the Carrows when he caught their eye. There was no way he’d miss the chance to speak to his cousins and spoil the twins rotten, but it could wait for now.

  “As my uncle said, Dumbledore does not necessarily have a faction. He is highly respected and feared by all sides, yet the man has adopted a hands-off approach to all matters of politics. Instead, he relies on a few of his most outspoken supporters to present his viewpoints.”

  “Such as?”

  “Elphias Doge, a school friend of his, could always be counted on to be on his side. That’s him, over there.” Rick nodded towards a wizened old man with a comically tall pointy hat approaching Dumbledore who greeted him warmly. Harry thought him familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he met the man. “This time, though, the Minister had stepped on too many toes, and plenty of attendees who normally would stay out of the spotlight have appeared to provide support to Dumbledore. Even Arthur Weasley showed, in his capacity as head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office, and gave a loud endorsement for Dumbledore despite people expecting him to have the biggest grievances with the man.”

  Harry was surprised that Mr Weasley made an appearance and hoped he could meet him here. He wagered his unexpected appearance was a major blow to Umbridge's point of debate. “If there were so many people against Umbridge, how did she gain support?”

  “And that's where the other blocs come in. There are many groups in the Wizengamot, yet for simplicity’s sake, and because frankly, I barely know surface knowledge about them, you can divide them into three factions. The Ministry, with its hundreds of employees and department heads, represents the common witch and wizard.” Harry snorted at the idea of someone like Umbridge or Fudge representing anyone apart from their own interests. “The nobles with their storied traditions and hidden power, and finally the minister himself and whomever he allies with.”

  “Wait, so Fudge has no control over his employees?”

  “Of course not. He isn't like those muggle monarchs whose words were a divine mandate,” Shafiq shook his head in amusement. “True, his position gives him a lot of authority, but more importantly, it allows him to make friends and allies more easily. Those allies would then help him in events like approving an unpopur w that he gets to benefit from somehow while he provides kickbacks and other benefits for them.”

  Harry rubbed his brow in thought. It appeared the system here was simir yet much different than he had expected compared to Westeros. A trill from the phoenix above banished his solemness. “What about those blocs? I take it those three factions are not truly united.”

  “Exactly. You have the ministry employees who aren't concerned about Hogwarts unless they have children or close kin there. Fudge would normally be capable of swaying them to his side if not for the thorny snag that is Director Bones.”

  “Amelia Bones? I fail to see how she would deny a chance to station more of her Aurors to protect the students.”

  “That's the thing, Harry. The DMLE is facing one of its worst shortages in history and has been relying a lot on issuing bounties to Hit Wizards to do their job for them.” Harry filed away the term for ter, it sounded like something he might be interested in. “In the past three years alone, there have only been five new Auror recruits, and they each need three more years of training to be qualified.”

  “I take it the ck of Aurors has to do with budget cuts?”

  “Indeed, but that has been ongoing since Uncle lost his job, so it has to be something else. With the end of the war, the ministry had slowly but surely chipped away at the powers of Law Enforcement. It was one of the concessions they had to promise Madame Bones for the w to pass, but it will take years for an effect to show. The opposition forced so many concessions that Fudge looked openly regretful for starting the whole thing.”

  “I see. He must have had to pay a lot of political capital to get that far.”

  “Yep, so much so, especially when going up against Dumbledore. He managed to amend the w so that the ministry only had the right to enforce security in Hogsmeade, but not the castle itself. With the DMLE getting a budget increase, the wily old man had gained an even better standing with many figures.”

  “Interesting. What about the other blocs?”

  “Well, as I mentioned, you have those who normally support Dumbledore. Then, there are those who sit on the sidelines and watch where the wind is blowing before pcing their lot behind the stronger party. And finally, you have the most traditional and conservative wizards. They are not limited to noble houses, with a few department heads subscribing to their narrative. Whether by design or coincidence, they also happen to be former supporters of the Dark Lord who were either acquitted from ck of evidence, used the Imperius defence, or simply followed a rigid interpretation of their traditional values.”

  “I take it they all voted for the w?” They had circled the bonfire and ended up where they started, finding many people had started to trickle in.

  “Not all, but enough that it had a solid base. Lucius Malfoy would be their nominal leader, but with his extended absence from public view, Theodore Nott appeared to try to cim his pce.” Tariq pced his mug on a table, then yawned and stretched. “Sorry, this day has been longer than I expected. I don't think I'll stick around for the dance.”

  “I appreciate all the help and the information, Rick. I doubt many would be willing to take me as seriously as you.”

  “Don't mention it. You're my investment, after all, and it’s important to teach you these matters when young. I know I wished someone did the same for me. I have a feeling that you will grow up to–”

  Harry halted when he noticed his companion freeze, and looking at Rick, his eyebrows twitched as he sighed deeply.

  “Of course, she would be here…”

  The Potter Lord followed his gaze to find a group of people ahead. Two looked simir to Shafiq, a father and daughter if he had to presume, while the other two could not look any different. They were a couple: a tall and powerfully built blonde man with an easy smile and a shorter, yet still tall, beautiful woman with chocote brown hair and familiar blue eyes flecked with grey. Tariq seemed eager to change course but, whom he assumed was either his sister or cousin, saw them.

  “Ricky! There you are.” The girl hurried over to them, and Harry thought she would have looked like an Arabian princess if not for her pale skin and turquoise eyes. Her exotic dress was a myriad of colours, with slightly provocative cuts at the shoulders and hips, but was rather modest with long flowing sleeves that reached down to her shins. She wore an assortment of jewellery such as a gold neckce with a blue stone of some sort carved into an eye, as well as an elegant headdress over her raven locks that had a transparent veil fall over her face that did not hide her beautiful features. The rest of her group also approached as the girl grabbed Rick’s arm, hugging him sideways. “You’ve been speaking for so long with Uncle Barty that I thought you were avoiding me.”

  “Never thought of it.” Rick deadpanned. “It’s good to see you again, cousin.”

  “Oh my, always reminding people that we are cousins, even though we are to be engaged soon?” Harry’s eyes widened slightly, even as Rick ran a hand through his hair tiredly. “Don't give me that,” the girl’s mischievous tone switched to stern as she pinched her cousin’s sides. “You're the one who is dallying about finding a good wife, and Papa does not want to repeat what happened with my brother. He is trying to hook you up with someone respectable, but he does not mind you marrying me as soon as you graduate. You’re handsome enough, I suppose.”

  “Yeah, yeah, and you're one hell of a catch yourself, Fay.” Tariq’s reply was sarcastic as he gnced at his uncle speaking with the couple, but the girl didn't seem to mind as she giggled.

  “Of course I am. Now, who might this be?” The girl finally noticed his presence, and he inclined his head in greeting.

  “Harry Potter, a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Oh my, the pleasure is all mine, Mr Potter. Fayrouz Shafiq, at your service.” The girl curtseyed and gave him her hand to kiss, which he obliged. She might dress as a foreigner, but there was no doubt in Harry’s mind that Tariq’s cousin was more British than him. Even her accent had a cockney quality simir to Nymphadora’s compared to Rick’s drawl, and he recalled his older friend mentioning he grew up abroad.

  “Harry Potter, you say?” He turned to the three newcomers, the speaker being the brown-haired woman. Up close, Harry found the likeness in the woman to be uncanny. “A pleasure to meet you, dear. I am Andromeda Tonks. My daughter Nymphadora has spoken highly of you.”

  Harry kissed the woman’s offered hand, and now that he knew her name, he could easily see the strong resembnce to Narcissa Malfoy. Not with Nymphadora, for who knew what the girl actually looked like with all the transformations she made. Both sisters were the same height, and aside from the different hair colour, they could have been twins, except Andromeda had this warmth about her, with her kind smile and expressive eyes compared to Narcissa's cold and haughty demeanour.

  “A pleasure to meet you, madame. Nymphadora has been good to me every time I meet her, and it's an honour to meet her parents.” A deep ughter emanated from the blonde man who could only be, “Mr Tonks, I presume? A pleasure to meet you as well.”

  “Good to meet you, d. Edward Tonks, but call me Ted.” Mr Tonks shook his hands, and Harry noticed the man’s hands were calloused and rough from hard work. Add to that the powerful build that reminded him of a Cnsman, complete with the beer belly, Ted Tonks gave the air of being diligent yet boisterous. “Not many can call my daughter by her first name and avoid getting hexed.”

  The Tonks couple wore traditional Celtic attire for the event, with Andromeda wearing a simple blue dress with a green cloak while Edward dressed in bck robes under a yellow cloak. Both of their customs had Celtic knots, triquetras, and other Druidic symbols sewn on. Harry admired the intricate work for a moment before answering the man.

  “I suppose I’m special, if she has yet to try hexing me, though perhaps I should not let my guard down.” He shrugged before turning to the st of the group, a man who could be easily mistaken for Tariq’s father because of how simir he looked. “A pleasure to meet you, sir, I am Harry Potter.”

  “Lord Shelby Shafiq. Tariq would be my nephew.” The man had cold eyes and a no-nonsense tone, yet he shook his hands firmly. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr Potter.” He let go and turned back to the Tonkses, “Congratutions once again on attaining the position of Head Healer, Edward. The director of Saint Mungo’s is a dear friend of mine, and he had nothing but good things to say about you. My offer is genuine, and all I ask is an opportunity for my nephew to meet your daughter and see if they are compatible.”

  Harry froze as the man’s words registered, and even Tariq seemed shocked. Andromeda bowed politely with a stiff smile. “I shall convey your intentions to my daughter, but it shall ultimately be up to Nymphadora to decide.”

  “That is all I ask. Come, Tariq. We have people to meet, and you need to change out of those robes. Good day to you, Mr Potter.” Mr Shafiq nodded to him, while Tariq resignedly waved farewell to him, even as his cousin dragged him away.

  “What a pleasant man.” Edward nudged his wife, his smile not reaching his eyes. “His daughter and nephew didn’t seem all that bad, either. What do you think, Harry?”

  “Tariq is alright, and I suppose Nymphadora could do well as the dy of a noble house.” He replied diplomatically, even though he felt conflicted for some reason.

  “She shall not!” Andromeda decred abruptly, her kind eyes gring at the retreating figures in a bzing fury. For once, Harry remembered Henry’s words about madness in the Bcks, for the formerly kindly woman looked ready to shoot fire from her eyes. “I have done everything to steer our lives away from the entropic clutches of the nobility. Nymphadora shall only marry a man she loves and loves her back, or help me–”

  The phoenix’s melody sang from the artificial sun, and the woman stopped abruptly, her clenched jaw rexing, yet she still seethed. Ted’s hands gently settled on his wife’s shoulders as he drew her into a hug. “It’s okay, Meda. They are not like the Bcks, and Nymphadora would most likely refuse anyway.” Andromeda’s face instantly turned impassive, but she possessively wrapped her hands around her husband. “Sorry, you had to see that, d. Meda has plenty of reasons to detest the nobility, but it’s not a blind hatred. Don’t worry, she has a soft spot for the Potters.”

  “Oh, hush you.” Andromeda spped her husband’s shoulders pyfully, her demeanour mellowing out in a blink of an eye. “Don’t worry about us, Harry. Nymphadora is old enough to understand what she wants in life, but I don’t want her to be pressured into anything I escaped from.”

  “I understand, Mrs Tonks. I believe Tariq was not informed of the matter and that Mr Shafiq understood your reluctance to a traditional betrothal; It was most likely why he approached it that way. Regardless, I am confident Nymphadora would be able to snag any husband she desired, for she is a very remarkable witch.” Truthfully, while Harry understood Andromeda’s aversion to the nobility, he did not accept it.

  Just because she had a bad experience with the House she grew up in did not mean that all houses were simir. He did not know how the House of Bck treated its members, or if the problem itself stemmed from Andromeda truly hating Malfoy so much that she abandoned her duties. Things were rarely so simple, and he refrained from drawing any conclusions based on hearsay.

  “You would be surprised by how many people have come to us for Nymphadora’s hand since her gift was known. The chance to have that ability introduced to a bloodline…” Andromeda shook her head in dismay, “Metamorphmagi have not been seen in the British Isles in over three hundred years, and no one knows how it appeared in my daughter. No member of House Bck has been recorded to have the ability, so it had to come from Ted’s side.”

  “Oh? Did you discover your ancestry, Mr Tonks?”

  “Nope, abandoned at an orphanage when I was born. Spontaneously appeared out of nowhere, if you believe the caretakers.” Ted shrugged carelessly, like the truth of his birth mattered little to him, as he gazed lovingly at his wife. “Never mind that. Tell me, Harry. How goes life in that manor of yours?”

  The conversation grew smooth and light from there, and Harry learned many things about the Tonkses. He already knew Ted was an accomplished healer, especially as he recalled he was the one who treated Astoria for her illness. The man studied muggle medicine and incorporated what he learned in his treatments with quite some success. What Harry didn’t know was that he was also a powerful duellist, as Andromeda regaled him of how they met in school.

  It involved Malfoy being too much of a berk, Andromeda rejecting him one time too many he got violent and Ted challenging him to a duel, where he defeated Lucius in under a minute. Truly a scandal of the ages for the pureblood wizard to be humiliated so thoroughly by a lowly muggleborn. Andromeda, while a formidable witch according to Ted, preferred the womanly arts as she was a very accomplished seamstress with her own little shop in Diagon Alley.

  “By the way, Mr Tonks–”

  “Harry, please. Call me Ted.”

  “Very well, Ted.” He smiled at the jovial man as they entered the botanical garden, past shining bugs and scurrying beetles, leading the Tonkses to where Reginald was pying with his daughters while Rosalia seemed to be gring at someone in the distance. “Are you looking to accept apprentices?”

  “I am always happy to accept new students, even if not many people are joining Saint Mungo’s these days,” Ted mented, “Why do you ask? Do you have a recommendation?”

  “Indeed, I do. I have an associate who is an excellent potion mistress and an incredibly talented witch. She is a friend of your daughter's, her dorm mate in school, and confessed it was her dream to become a full-fledged healer.”

  “Oh? And I have not met such a fascinating witch? Do tell me, who is she?”

  “Her name is Chiara Lobosca.” Harry frowned when Andromeda’s eyes widened, and she bit her lips in worry. “I can vouch for her character; she has my full confidence. Nymphadora met her a few days ago, and they seemed friendly.”

  Ted looked interested, but his wife looked worried. “Mr Potter–”

  “Please, Mrs Tonks, call me Harry.” He had an idea of the woman’s fears, but the first step to assuage them was to prove the merit of his own judgement.

  “Call me, Andromeda, then.” The older woman smiled kindly at him. “How do you know Ms Lobosca?”

  “I met her at the Leaky, and she impressed me. I offered her a job, and she now lives permanently in my manor as my attendant.”

  “And you trust her?”

  “With my life.”

  Something must have shown on his face, perhaps his determination or maybe Andromeda was simply a good judge of character, for she nodded after a moment of deliberation. “Very well then. I think that would be a wonderful idea, Ted.”

  “We will have to meet her first, of course. Perhaps we could meet over dinner sometime.” Ted looked strangely at the back and forth between him and his wife but shrugged. The man trusted his wife enough not to care about the details, and Harry couldn’t help but feel envious of the couple having so much trust in each other. It reminded him of Eddard Stark's retionship with Catelyn. A marriage any man ought to strive for.

  Shaking his head, Harry focused on the present. “Certainly, I will send you an owl. Now, how about I introduce you to my favourite cousins?” Harry led the couple to where Reginald had his daughters sitting on each shoulder as they tried to pluck some fruit from a high branch.

  “Ah, it’s Harry!”

  He smiled as Flora saw him and their father turned to him, Hestia sulking as she was just about to grab the green fruit. “Hello, Reginald. So wondrous to see you here. And are those my favourite cousins? Come here!”

  Flora jumped from her father’s shoulder. Harry effortlessly snatched her mid-air and spun her around, much to her delight, while Hestia tched onto her father stubbornly. Harry hugged his cousin, rubbing their cheeks together, as she bbbered about many things she had seen and done for her first-ever Ball; he couldn’t help but nod along and smile at the bubbly little girl.

  “Come on, Hestia. Say hi to your cousin.” Reginald tried to coax the other twin to join him, Harry even moving Flora to one arm as he spread his other arm for her. Hestia pouted and covered her cheeks as she muttered something that caused her father to ugh. “Don’t worry, he won’t pinch your cheeks this time, won’t you, Harry?”

  “Absolutely, now come here.” Hestia finally smiled as she joined him in a hug, and Harry carried her and her sister in each arm, not shy about showing his strength.

  “It’s good to see you, Harry.” Reginald nodded to the Tonkses, shaking hands with Ted. “A pleasure to see you again, Mr Tonks.”

  “Please, Reginald. Ted is fine. I’m gd your daughters are doing better now.”

  “All thanks to you. Murtp bites are usually benign, but their reaction had me worried.”

  Andromeda smiled politely as she greeted Reginald, but her smile grew when Rosalia walked over when she noticed them. “Rosie! It’s so good to see you.”

  “Happy to see you again, Meda. I haven’t seen you since you brought that old kneazle of yours for a check-up. How is he?”

  “Getting on with the years, but still strong and as clingy and warm as ever.”

  “Good to hear. Your sister might not feel the same, though.”

  Harry frowned as he turned to where Rosie was looking and found Narcissa Malfoy looking hesitantly at him before sneering at both Andromeda and Rosie. She turned away, dragging Draco with her, as they approached another group of witches and wizards. Harry recognised a couple of Slytherin students from school and safely assumed they were that bloc. What was even more interesting was the way no one seemed interested in speaking to Narcissa Malfoy more than was required for polite company.

  “Cissy…” Andromeda looked heartbroken, and Ted pced a comforting hand on her shoulders.

  “Good riddance, I should say.” Rosalia did not hold back her disdain, even as her husband gave her a warning look. “It’s hypocritical of her to hold a grudge for so long when she ended up benefiting so much from marrying into the Malfoys.”

  “But she is still my baby sister, and I wish things would have gone differently.” Andromeda sighed longingly at her sister before shaking her head and gncing at where a rge crowd was exiting the inspection tents. “Oh? Aren't those your yearmates from school, Harry?”

  Harry, who had been busy kissing Hestia’s cheeks, much to her chagrin, turned to look. Andromeda was right, as he spied Neville sporting a healthy tan, walking behind his grandmother and other members of his house, mostly older folk. Behind them were more students from the other houses and their families, as well as his other friends; Tracey and Daphne held back an excited Astoria who looked around in awe, Luna seemed to be skipping along looking completely out of pce, until a young boy joined her as they greeted the fairies. His eyes settled at the beguiling sight of Susan Bones walking with her family, as she caught his eye with a smile. How she could tell where he was from so far away and in such a crowd was a mystery.

  A sudden gong sounded, and everyone turned to a podium rising from the ground, where the minister of magic stood, his arms spread in welcome.

  “Welcome, welcome, one and all. Please have a seat at your assigned table, and dinner shall be served before the dance commences.”

  This chapter had gone way beyond what I pnned, and it’s still not over yet. Consider this chapter to be the business and politics side of the Ball while the next one will be the fun and pleasure.