The Betrothal Situation – Rating M

Chapter 01 – Finding Out

Summary – A visit to Gringotts Bank to claim his inheritance after the death of Sirius Black provided a really big shock to Harry Potter when he found out he was betrothed to his secret girlfriend, Susan Bones, plus the twin daughters of Alecto Carrow. Disregards HBP & DH.

Pairings – Harry/Susan/Flora/Hestia, Ron/Lavender, Neville/Ginny

Warnings – Contains some mild language and violence throughout. Contains some Hermione and Ron bashing in this story. Some of the characters may appear OOC.

A/N - Updated 6/5/16 to correct a couple of grammatical errors.

-The Betrothal Situation-

Office of the Head of Accounts – Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Diagon Alley, London, England

7th August 1996

Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One of a prophecy, meaning that he would be the only one who could vanquish the Dark Lord Voldemort was nervous. His Account Manager, Kicktail, the Head of Accounts for the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter had just given him news to which he was nervous and displeased about.

He had just been informed that he would be forced to marry three women, one of which was the girl that he had been secretly dating over the previous year, Susan Bones, with his two other wives being Flora and Hestia Carrow, otherwise he would lose his magic. The marriage to the Carrow twins wasn't even planned for Harry, but when his godfather, Sirius Black, died, the contracts reverted to Harry as Sirius had declared Harry as his heir, being unable to have children because of Azkaban making him sterile.

"Y-y-you mean that I have to marry all three of these witches, or I will lose my magic! Why me? All I wanted was to ask Susan to marry me in a couple of years, but instead of just Susan, I have to marry these two as well?" Harry asked, completely in shock. "Everyone knows that the Carrow family is a Death Eater family!"

"Lord Potter. Once you had agreed to take on the family lordship of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black and Potter, you activated the terms of the contracts, hence the binding of the magic within them," Kicktail said, in a matter of fact manner. "It could be worse, it could be Lavender Brown!"

"I mean, I have no problem with Susan. In fact, I have been dating her this past year in secret, aiming to avoid the looks that Madam Umbridge would have given me if we announced it!" Harry said, smiling at the memories of kissing Susan in the Room of Requirements, hiding it from his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

'It was interesting making Granger think I was in love with her but now, with Susan, I don't have to hide it. I did have a little crush on her, but Susan, she is a whole other person.' Harry thought, smiling to himself. 'The only worry is Weasley; his obsession of following me around like a love sick fan-girl is getting annoying!'

Harry stood up and decided to pace around the table that was situated in the conference room. Sitting back down, he looked at Kicktail. "How soon will it be until they arrive here?" he asked, nervous about meeting the relatives of his betrothed.

"Well, as the notices went out as soon as you enquired about your Lordships, Lord Potter. We took the liberty of attaching a Portkey to each of the letters so the other parties would arrive at Gringotts soon!" Kicktail said, giving Harry a feral grin.

Suddenly a thud was made, signifying an entrance by Portkey. Harry turned around in his chair and, upon seeing who it was that had arrived, stood up and ran over to them.

"Hello Susan," Harry said, kissing her on the cheek. He then turned to the lady who was standing next to Susan, looking at him approvingly.

'He will be a good nephew-in-law I think!' the lady who was accompanying Susan to the meeting thought, regarding Harry. 'He looks just like James, with his love of red-heads, albeit with Lily's eyes and sense of right in him.'

"Madam Bones," Harry said, greeting her, happy to finally get to meet the aunt of his girlfriend/betrothed. "How are you this fine day?"

The first time Harry had met Amelia Bones was at the trial that former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, set up, along with his Senior Undersecretary, Delores Umbridge. She, along with other members of the Great Alliance, voted for Harry's innocence, as they knew he would be required to take the seat of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter in the Wizengamot.

"Good afternoon Mr...Lord Potter." She said, noting the Head of House ring on the finger of Harry. "I assume that, by the way you greeted my niece, that you are in a relationship with her, and have been prior to the knowledge of the betrothal contract being made known to you?"

"That is correct Madam Bones," Harry said, brushing his lips on her knuckles. "And please, just call me Harry. I am betrothed to your niece am I not?"

"Well, in that case Harry, just call me Amelia." She said, smiling at him. Harry gravitated over to Susan and held her hand.

"So Harry, is this contract the only one? Or do I have to share you with anyone else?" she asked, playing with her hair seductively. "Not that I mind either way, especially as I know that you will give me some attention each night." She then winked at him, hinting at the way she wanted to progress their relationship in future.

"Susan!" Amelia scolded, shocked at how Susan was talking to Harry in her presence. "That is no way for a Lady to talk, especially in front of your elders!"

"Sorry Auntie." Susan said, annoyed at getting caught. 'I will aim in future not to let you catch me doing it again!' she mentally added on, knowing that she wanted Harry, badly!

Everyone turned around as they heard a snickering from behind them. "Potter! I thought that Malfoy would be the next Lord Black. Looks like he is going to have a shock at the Will Reading tomorrow!" the first person said, looking Harry over. "My name is Alecto Carrow, and I know that the DMLE is hunting me down, but I am willing to turn spy against the Dark Lord in order to repent for my sins."

"Both Hestia and I really do like Harry, having seen him at Hogwarts several times." the second person said, confident in her convictions. "I know that he knows the truth about the Dark Lord, that he is a product of a Muggle and a Squib."

"Not to mention that he is quite cute!" the third person said, looking much like the second person. "Especially with his messy hair and his lovely green eyes! I am so glad that I am able to meet him without his 'bodyguards' in place."

Harry regarded the twins and smiled. "Flora, Hestia. It is a pleasure to meet the two of you formally. I can see that your beauty is inspirational."

The negotiations for the contracts lasted for a while, with Remus and Arthur Weasley coming into the bank to wait for Harry, and Harry telling the five of them the prophecy that was made by Sybill Trelawney, forcing the Carrows to make an Unbreakable vow not to tell Voldemort. Eventually the negotiations ended, with it a promise that he would write to the three of them over the summer.

The Burrow, Ottery St Catchpole, Devon, England

31st August 1996

Harry was lying on his bed at The Burrow, reading the latest letter that he had received from Flora and Hestia, when Hermione Granger came into the bedroom, looking at what he was doing.

"What's up Harry?" she said, hugging her best friend. She knew she had feelings for Harry, and she thought he had feelings for her, but she was not sure if it was genuine or if he was leading her on. "Who has been writing to you?"

"A friend or two," Harry said, not committing to an answer. "Why should I talk to you when you didn't listen to me when I told you about Malfoy a couple of weeks ago in Diagon? Why do you and Ron keep following me around like a pair of lovesick bunnies? And don't think I have feelings for you Hermione, I am merely a friend…or so I think we are, that is between your actions in Third Year and Ron in Forth Year. I am in love with someone else, and it is not you!

"The only reason I ran the DA is because you railroaded me into doing it." Harry continued, getting the stress off his chest. "Then there is me almost suffering a life or death situation each year, and Ron being absolutely useless most of the time. It is getting beyond a joke!"

"But…but…" Hermione started, shocked at the change of attitude that Harry displayed. "I thought you loved me. Hell, I know I have feelings for you."

"And that is the crux of the problem. Firstly, how could I love someone who bosses me around, interferes in almost everything I do!" Harry started, looking at the letter still. "Secondly I am dating someone at the moment, and thirdly I would be unable to marry anyone else as I am subject to three betrothal contracts, all of which are fully enforceable. Hell, if I don't marry them, I lose my magic!"

"That's totally barbaric. Why should you be forced to marry someone without your own choice the matter!" Hermione argued, stretching to her full height. "Who are these…these hussies?"

"First thing, Susan isn't a hussy, she is a very respectable young lady. One who I have been dating for a whole year, right under the nose of you and Ron." Harry said, getting angry with his friend. "Even though I don't know much about Flora and Hestia, I know that even though their mother and uncle are Death Eaters, they want out of it, and they are willing to help by naming names and spying for us.

"Secondly, in the Wizarding World, it is a tradition that pure-blood families like the Potters, Longbottoms, Malfoys, Blacks and the like to create betrothal contracts," he continued, watching the bushy haired girl closely. "They are mainly used for the heirs of the houses, for example both Neville, Bill and I have contracts in place to marry. It also means that the families don't lose out on their seats in the Wizengamot, along with some other important things, like preventing the inbreeding that families like the Gaunt family practised.

"In fact, it is only Muggle-borns that don not get involved in betrothal agreements because, to the Pureblood traditionalists, they are seen as flaming liberals." Harry concluded, hoping that Hermione would understand his point. "Even though I was effectively Muggle-raised, I find that it is in this case that it is best to respect traditions like this as they won't go anywhere?"

"But…but your father married a Muggle-born even though he was the heir to your family. How did he get away with it if it is traditional that they get betrothed?" Hermione asked, confused, "And surely traditions like that are the reason why Voldemort and his followers are in the state they are now? I mean, he killed your parents because of your mother being a Muggle-born!"

"My parents only got married because of my dads betrothed, Molly Prewitt, getting pregnant with the son of Arthur Weasley. This meant that the contract was voided and Dad was free to marry Mom." Harry said, trying to explain to his friend the facts. "And the reason that Voldemort killed my parents was because of a prophecy, one which all three of my betrothed, and their guardians know of now as I have told them."

"But…but you said that Flora and Hestia's mother and uncle are Death Eaters." Hermione said, worried, as she didn't want the information to get into the wrong hands. "Surely they would tell Voldemort the prophecy?"

"They would, if I did not make them undertake an Unbreakable Vow not to do so." Harry said, assuring his friend. He picked up a piece of parchment and a quill. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to send a letter back to Flora and Hestia, as they love my letters, according to what they have wrote to me."

Hermione, noticing the unceremonious dismissal from her friend, walked off in a huff at the disgustingness of her friend was treating her.

-The Betrothal Situation-

A/N - Story based on characters and storylines introduced in JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. The Great Alliance was based on an idea by Vance McGill. All rights to their various owners/creators.

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Anyway...Coming up in Chapter 02 – Susan's Aunt Amelia is threatened and Hermione goes off at the deep end!