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Few knew that the name Greengrass came from the feel of the family magic - lying in a verdant meadow at dawn, the cool air embracing you and the smell of the dew on the grass permeating your senses, only a shadowy light emanating from the horizon.
Even fewer knew how intimately familiar Cedric was with the cool sensations of his matrilineal family magic.
∞∞∞
The old ways were instilled into Cedric early, his mother being a Greengrass and his father being a Diggory.
The first time he realised something was wrong was after that disaster of a quidditch game, dementors ruining his chance at a fair game against the prodigious Gryffindor seeker. The misery of the conditions and the bleak horridness of the dementors swarming would have been enough, but for him to catch the snitch under unjust conditions rankled badly against his sense of justice. To hear that Potter had lost his broom to the accident was the icing on the cake.
He waited cautiously, only attempting to visit Potter in the hospital wing once he saw Granger and Weasley re-emerge. He slipped into the wing, as quietly as he could manage and made a beeline for the bed closest to the door of Madam Pomfrey’s station, assuming Potter would have been placed there for observation. Before he could enter the small curtained space, he saw two identical heads of ginger hair emerge, ringing with twin laughs that he knew all too well. He screwed up his face, not wanting to do this in front of them, but he had waited long enough; he composed himself before emerging into view.
“Hello Potter, I wanted to come and make sure you were alright after that nasty fall,” Cedric started, attempting to seem as carefree as he could manage. He took in the sight of the other seeker, noting the awaiting vial of skelegro sitting on the bedside table. The twins both eyed him suspiciously from their seats on one side of the bed.
“I’ve had worse,” Harry answered, looking up with a small tired smile. Fred and George scoffed simultaneously, Fred reaching to massage his temples.
“Most of the “worse” hasn’t involved dementors,” George quipped, shaking his head.
“I also wanted to say that I did insist on a rematch and for this game not to be counted towards the cup because of the extenuating interferences, but Madam Hooch wouldn’t hear anything about it. Sadly, I don’t think the quidditch rulebook has any rules about dementor interference and match disqualification,” Cedric started sadly.
“That’s very kind of you, Diggory,” Harry answered, looking up at the taller boy at the end of his bed.
“Call me Cedric,” Cedric replied instantly, trying for what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Then you can call me Harry,” Harry said, smiling with more warmth.
“I was really looking forward to playing against you properly, what with you being the seeker wunderkind and all, so I suppose we’ll have to have a rematch next year in the interests of fairness, hopefully dementor-free,” Cedric started with a jaunty smile, leaning forward to rest his weight on his arms on the metal rail at the end of the bed.
“That’s awfully noble of you, Cedric,” Fred stated, looking up at Cedric with a curiously analytical expression.
“He’s the Hufflepuff role model, it doesn’t get more noble than him,” George murmured, fiddling with a piece of fabric in his fingers, not looking up.
“I try my best,” Cedric quipped, flashing the twins with his best most winning smile.
“A fair rematch sounds brilliant. Maybe we can get some practice in before next year?” Harry suggested, looking up to meet Cedric’s gaze.
“Of course, as soon as you’re cleared by Madam Pomfrey and have a broom sorted,” Cedric answered smoothly.
He paused for a split second, feeling a flash of magic around his arm. As discreetly as he could manage, he glanced down to see a shimmering gold band appear on the plain skin of his left wrist. He swept his gaze to Fred and George, noticing their unaffectedness and lack of movement; the hospital wing with their essentially adopted younger brother surely would not be a place that they would set off a prank. He shifted his attention to Harry, and found a matching shimmering gold band now marking the skin of Harry’s small wrist. He cursed in his head and returned to polite conversation, making his excuses to leave as soon as he had seen enough to reason that Fred and George could not see the new shimmering gold items on two left wrists, which left him burdened with a sinking feeling, speeding towards his dorm.
∞∞∞
Before he bothered his mother about this strange occurrence, Cedric attempted to make one reasonable inquiry, which is how he found himself knocking on the door of Professor Lupin during his office hours the very next day. The professor beckoned him inside warmly after a few short knocks.
“Do come in Mr Diggory, what can I help you with?” Professor Lupin started, gesturing over to a comfortable looking leather seat opposite his own.
“I have a question about curses, if you don’t mind,” Cedric answered politely, tucking himself onto the leather chair.
“Fire away,” Professor Lupin responded with a jovial grin.
“Hypothetically, would it be possible for a curse to mimic the effects of something like a magical betrothal contract?” Cedric asked, carefully selecting his words.
“In what sense?” The professor inquired, an inquisitive expression settling on his features.
“Can a curse replicate the betrothal bands which appear to the betrothed once magic has chosen them to fulfil the marriage contract?” Cedric replied, cautiously, fidgeting with his fingers.
“While I would ordinarily advise that anything can be generated via means of an illusion, I will say this: magical marriage contracts are so poorly understood in their implementation and magical underpinning that I know of at least three unspeakables who actively research it, despite it being largely phased out of use in magical communities internationally,” the professor answered convivially, leaning back into his seat. Cedric paused before talking any further. “So, what you’re saying is that this shimmering band on my left wrist is absolutely real, and you cannot see it,” Cedric stated, gesturing to his left wrist. Professor Lupin’s eyes widened, immediately straightening his spine. “I can verify that I cannot see it,” He responded, momentarily taken aback by Cedric’s statement. Cedric rested his head in his hands, wishing that he had actually been cursed.
“Thank you for your time and knowledge, Professor Lupin, I must go now,” Cedric started politely, swiftly rising from the chair and hurrying for the Hufflepuff dorms.
He had a letter to write.
∞∞∞
Several letters exchanged and one firecall so graciously facilitated by Professor Sprout later, Cedric was more confused than when he started.
His mother was certain that there was a marriage contract that could apply to an eligible Greengrass heir, but she clearly knew something she wasn’t sharing, if her pursed lips and tightness were anything to go by. She kept repeating that Magic herself had deemed you and Harry to be betrothed, so you will be. It was beyond frustrating.
His mother urged him to begin thinking about courtship process as soon as possible and that she would return with information soon, but he did not have it in him to bother the younger boy so close to his unfortunate mid-match run in with the dementors. So he waited, and watched and learned.
∞∞∞
Callista mused as she readied herself to go on a fact-finding expedition after a long week of evidence gathering and research, consequences be damned. She had a sinking feeling about the whole business, which never bode well. Her magic was itching to lash out, but she reined it in. It would not do to create an accidental crater in Hogsmeade, especially not one that swallowed a few choice individuals up. She twisted her long caramel hair up into an elegant updo, securing it with a decorative hair pin. Throwing on a decent weight of cloak embroidered with more runes than one could imagine, she was in two minds whether to tell her husband what she suspected; he was not unkind, but she knew that he would not fully grasp the implications of what she thought was going on, and may act indelicately before she had adequately secured the situation.
She was concerned for a moment that the wards to Hogwarts may have been too secure to allow her passage, but since she did not intend harm upon the students, she estimated that she could figure out whatever was presented to her on arrival. Raising the hood of her cloak over her hair, she made several apparition jumps, landing in the shrieking shack. The place was in distinct disrepair, and worse than she remembered it, but from what she recalled of Amos’ retellings of the board of governors meetings, she was not surprised that funds were not being spent to keep all areas of the school at appropriate levels of repair. Casting a quick scourgifyover herself, she quickly applied several layers of disillusionment charms. Using the nearest tunnel exit, she found herself on the green grounds of Hogwarts; she had to stop herself from pausing and reaching down to the ground, the earth magics of the land waiting for someone to pay attention. That’s a disaster to handle another day, she thought, discreetly silencing her footsteps and making her way over to the nearest secret entrance. She remained on high alert, expecting that someone would eventually notice an unknown entrant to the castle, or that the wards might eventually expel her from the castle, but found no such resistance. She dashed into the nearest back passage she could manage, taking the least walked halls to find herself outside the office and quarters of the defense against the dark arts professor. She only hoped that he had chosen to take dinner in his quarters this evening. She approached the door, but before she could even attempt knocking, the door swung open to reveal Remus Lupin, wand in hand, pointed at her. She effortlessly undid her disillusionment and slid her hood off her head.
“Hello Remus,” Callista started, slightly smirking at Remus’ wide-eyed shock. She took in his appearance, a more patchwork and scarred version of the boy she jokingly called professor in her school years.
“Lady Diggory,” Remus stuttered slightly, gesturing for her to cross the threshold of his quarters.
“I’m going to assume you are not in the habit of treating all guests this way and the wand point was only because you assumed I was Sirius, yes?” She stated, taking in the comfortable yet sparse quarters, delicately removing her cloak and draping it over a chair.
“You would be correct,” He answered, closing the door behind her and warding it against interruption. She sauntered over to the nearest bank of sofas and elegantly arranged herself on one. Remus hurried to join her.
“While I can’t say it’s not a pleasure to see you, I cannot imagine that this is a social call,” Remus chuckled, taking in the form of the tall, willowy woman seated on his sofa.
“I imagine you remember Cedric coming to you a week or so ago about a matter he assumed was a curse,” Callista said, arranging her hands in her lap delicately.
“I do,” He mused, smiling softly.
“Unfortunately, I have done some research, and it’s definitely not a curse, however certain questions remain as to how this has occurred, and it will certainly impact you as the proxy guardian of Harry Potter,” She began earnestly. Remus went silent and she examined his blank face for any evidence of deception. He opened his mouth as to speak, then paused, whisking his wand in a pattern that Callista knew were more privacy wards.
“I’m not his proxy guardian,” Remus answered solemnly. Callista pursed her lips, feeling her eye wanting to twitch, and held her composure.
“Then who the hell is?” Callista responded tersely, staring down Remus in the seat opposite hers, leaning forward with a set jaw.
“I really don’t know. I have tried over the years to contact Harry and be in his life, but the powers that be have deliberately kept me away,” Remus replied defeatedly, massaging his temples with a hand.
“Wonderful! I was hoping to avoid this, but we’re definitely going to have to go to Gringotts,” Callista exclaimed, exasperated. Remus proffered her a knowing look. Callista leaned forward, a dangerous look in her usually soft sage coloured eyes.
“If that foolish flaming flamingo of a headmaster is found to have been exploiting his wartimein loco parentis status, Merlin knows I will make the ground under him swallow him whole,” Callista continued, her soft tone sending chills down Remus’ spine.
“I do not question your ability to execute that, but why?” Remus asked, bewildered.
“Because there is an old Greengrass magical marriage contract that seems to have taken affect in Cedric, and the person who has been chosen for him is Harry Potter,” Callista started gently, leaning back into the sofa. Remus squeezed his eyes shut and tilted his head. He swiftly stood and strode towards a cupboard, removing two crystal tumblers and the bottle of scotch Minerva gifted him when he signed his teaching contract. He’s almost certain that when she told him that he’d need this she never meant it in this way. He came back to the sitting area, placing down the bottle and glasses, swiftly pouring them each a finger and offering a glass to Callista.
“I would have offered you tea, but something tells me that the next words you say are going to make me wish I had drank this whole bottle already,” Remus started, taking a long sip from his drink. Callista offered him a cautious glance, taking the offered glass. “Go on,” He continued, gesturing with his hand.
“The marriage contract was something made between Arcturus Black and Aquila Greengrass, my grandfather, for one of each of their heirs, compatible as so deemed by Magic, to marry. I am fairly certain they thought that either one of Cygnus Black’s daughters might have been chosen to marry my brother Charis, or either Sirius or Regulus might have been chosen to marry myself or Charis. So you can see why I was profoundly confused, because my son was telling me that he saw the betrothal band appear on the arm of Mr Potter after that farce of a quidditch match, and not someone who may have made reasonable blood-relational sense such as Draco Malfoy. I knew that Sirius Black was very close with James Potter and yourself, and in my mind it was not out of the question that James may have used a magical guardianship ritual to install Sirius Black as Harry’s godfather in case of the worst during the war,” Callista stated, growing more and more animated, pausing to take a breath.
“He, he did do the ritual. James and Lily made Sirius Harry’s godfather by blood and magic,” Remus answered quickly, his eyes welling up with tears. He inhaled loudly, attempting to compose himself.
“I’ll get back to that part. I knew since Sirius had spent much of his youth casually shagging Charis that it was not out of the question that Sirius might have made Harry Potter his heir in an assumption that he might not live to see himself have heirs with a partner, so declaring his godson by blood and by magic his heir was the safest option to prevent the family fortune ending up in the hands of certain individuals who would have spent the lot on the idiotic dark lord,” Callista continued, animatedly, sitting forward in her seat.
“But Sirius was disinherited and blasted out of the family by his mother,” Remus stated, confused.
“His mother did not have the authority to do that therefore could not. Everyone in the old family circles knew that she did not carry even a drop of the family magic, which had rejected her, probably for abusing the heirs. Family magics want families to prosper, not to cave in on themselves, and while it can’t do much more to protect children, if you only knew how many pureblooded marked death eaters do not carry and cannot wield their own family magics because they have been rejected for an affront to the line. There is a good reason that many of them are ineligible for the Wizengamot seats of their family’s house, because you have to be accepted by the magic of the family to sit on your own accord. They have a loophole where they can be proxies for their offspring yet to reach majority, but it does run out, which is how they end up in proxy via Lord Malfoy,” Callista explained, casually smoothing her skirt over her crossed legs. Remus sat silently, his mouth agape.
“Isn’t there a strict consent process to install a Wizengamot proxy?” Remus asked, his face contorting with confusion and despair.
“Hypothetically, but it is based in paperwork, and you do not need family magic to abuse your heirs and hold them to ransom unless they sign the drafted agreement,” Callista answered softly, a sorrowful expression on her face. She took a long sip from her glass. Remus hated to think what she had seen to know of all of this business.
“Keep going,” Remus gestured, taking a long sip from his glass.
“Arcturus was the only one with the ability to strike Sirius from the family tree, and I have it on good authority from my father that he didn’t do it. This marriage contract would have been signed around the time Sirius ran away,” Callista stated gently, worrying for the fragility of the man in front of her.
“Oh fuck,” Remus exclaimed, placing down his glass on the coffee table and reaching for the bottle to refill it. Callista nodded, passing her own glass for refilling. Remus kindly obliged.
“Now comes the part where I have done some heavy speculation,” Callista began, drawing a long sip from her freshly replenished beverage. “There is no way that Sirius is guilty of what they say he is. I speculated that if he was Harry’s godfather by blood and magic, which you have now confirmed he is, that there is simply no way he would be alive if he actually committed the crimes he is accused of. The contract of the godfather by blood and magic would have killed him instantly for betraying the family like that, and I doubt that James Potter’s foibles would have lead him to using any contract but the established one offered through Gringotts,” Callista started, vehement. She raised an eyebrow at Remus.
“They did it through Gringotts. I was a witness,” Remus quickly contributed. Callista smiled broadly.
“Even better. Aside from the contract of Godfather by blood and magic, I believe Arcturus would have called upon the family magic to judge him and strip him if he was guilty, in which case, I do not believe he would have had the capacity to escape Azkaban unaided. In more tangible evidence, I heard from my brother who heard rumblings during the last few Wizengamot sessions from the dark seats that Sirius did not serve the idiotic dark lord. Personally, I don’t think he could have served the idiotic dark lord and kept it under wraps because having Sirius’s allegiance would have been a trophy to that idiot. I’m of the opinion that it is much more likely that he had someone else more shameful and more manipulable as the traitor. Charis didn’t hear any names, but he’ll inform me when he does.” Callista continued, relaxing back into her seat. Remus raised his eyebrows, but did not ask more questions. “Outside of the gossip, I went to the trouble of having a meeting with my old friend Amelia Bones about the matter and requesting to read Sirius’ trial transcripts, and she essentially told me that they didn’t exist. She’s currently attempting to determine whether it is because the trial happened and the records were destroyed deliberately or whether there was no trial. Apparently, there is the paperwork of his arrest and his Azkaban intake with an alarmingly short amount of time between them, but nothing further. She gave me a look that says she’s unlikely to allow Bartemius Crouch Senior to see any sort of age older than he currently is,” Callista continued with a chuckle, taking another long sip from her glass. Remus snorted.
“You are alarmingly well connected these days,” Remus commented, standing up and sticking his head in the floo, returning with a cheese plate.
“Thank you. I always was, it just wasn’t so noticeable when we were all wearing the same uniforms,” Callista quipped, artfully arranging herself a cracker with cheese.
“I figured we better consume some food and avoid the need for sobering charms,” Remus said, casually scooping soft cheese onto a cracker.
“So, we need to go to Gringotts, preferably tonight, to sort this mess out,” Callista started casually, reaching for her drink.
A small smiling elf popped into the room, placing a tea service with a pitcher of water and glasses on the table.
“Thank you Dobby,” Remus said kindly, smiling at the odd smiling elf.
“Anything for you Professor Wolfy, just summons me next time,” Dobby answered, disappearing with a pop.
“Wolfy?” Callista asked with a laugh, fixing herself a glass of water.
“Some things never change,” Remus answered, a nostalgic smile on his face. Callista hummed. The nostalgia was bittersweet.
“Can I ask, why the urgency?” Remus continued, softening his posture into the sofa.
“I don’t even know where to start on that,” Callista replied, a sigh weighing down her body. Remus watched her carefully and waited. “My son will be aged of wizarding majority next year and he deserves the opportunity to court his betrothed as sanctioned by magic without external influences like the foolish flaming flamingo’s interference. Having learned what I have and with the yet unknown status of Harry’s living situation and guardianship, I can only assume he is not aware. Magical betrothal contracts were already quite rare since they generally don’t care for blood purity and politics, only for the strength of magic, which makes them terribly inconvenient for certain people’s agendas. The foolish flaming flamingo will sell it to him as a terribly dark thing, to get him to try and dissolve it, but in reality, the crux of the betrothal agreement would not allow him to have the level of control he seems to try to exert over Mr Potter,” Callista explained, weariness sinking into her usual perfectly poised face.
“You seem convinced more nefarious activities are at play than I am aware of,” Remus expressed, sadness seeping into his tone.
“I have a terrible feeling that if Harry Potter was being looked after and raised according to the wishes of his parents, we would know. If he had gone to Andromeda, she would have told you. If he had gone to Augusta, she would have told you. If he had gone to any major family in the wizarding community, I would have heard it. The fact that the flaring fool kept you in the dark reeks of the idea that it was because you would not have allowed it to stand had you known. Not to mention, he never once stood up for Sirius, demanded an investigation or appealed for him, despite Sirius being a soldier for his Order. It is far too convenient that the sworn godfather by blood and magic was casually swept into Azkaban for a crime he did not commit. I don’t have the whole truth, but Cedric has told me bits of what has happened over the past years since Harry has been at Hogwarts, and with the limits of the information I have, it looks like he is trying to groom Harry into being the perfect martyr. The whole situation paints a horrifying picture,” Callista clarified, reaching for her scotch glass.
“Lily has a muggle sister, but she hates magic,” Remus answered, horrified and shocked. Callista nodded her head silently.
“You’ll have to fill me in on the Hogwarts years later,” Remus continued, taking a measured sip of water.
“I think it would be better if you heard it first hand,” Callista responded, a sad smile on her face. She could not help but feel sorrow for her old friend. Remus leaned forward, gazing at the floor.
“It is not too late to fix this. I’m fairly confident we can do it,” Callista said gently. Remus did not move. Callista stood and made her way to Remus’ sofa, embracing him from the side. She rubbed comforting circles on his shoulder.
“This is what we’re going to do: we’re going to go to Gringotts. We’ll install you as proxy Lord Black, find the copy of the godfather by blood and magic contract, make a copy for Amelia so she can free Sirius and humiliate several people. We will make sure that you are legally secured as the proxy guardian of Harry Potter, as he is a scion of the House Black. I would love to get the Potter wills out, but we will probably need Harry to be of age to achieve that, since I’ve heard murmuring that they were sealed by the foolish flaming fruitloop. We will figure out where Sirius is up to, and probably put him in my home and figure out some avenue of access to a healer for him. Then we can worry about Harry and Cedric,” She stated firmly, looking Remus in the eye.
“How can I possibly be the proxy Lord Black?” Remus asked, confusion evident on his face.
“Sirius might have run away from his bonkers family, but he was not stupid. He made secure plans, just like naming Harry his heir. You even have a right to the House of Black Wizengamot seat, but those of us who paid enough attention to realise that you were eligible for it and had not given it to the frivolous flaming flamingo in proxy said you either didn’t know about it or weren’t game to come into the chamber yourself, but did not want him to vote for you and were deliberately abstaining,” Callista explained softly, comforting her friend.
“But why me?” Remus chuckled, leaning into Callista’s comforting embrace.
“It’s very simple. Sirius wanted to look after you if something terrible happened and he couldn’t do it himself. And he knew that you would make sound decisions if you had to look after Harry, and that you would not do anything to destroy the house,” Callista answered gently.
“I still don’t…” Remus started, trailing off.
“Allow me to spell it out for you: Sirius loved you. He probably still does. He acutely witnessed the shit you dealt with for your status, and he did not want you to suffer in poverty when he could do something about it,” Callista stated, intently. Remus made noises of disagreement. “Remus, you were the only person Sirius stopped shagging other people for. I know he stopped shagging Charis when Charis got engaged to Demeter Macmillan, but I am not blind as to whose beds he was visiting instead,” Callista quipped, a knowing look on her face. Remus blushed, the redness betraying his composure.
“We have goblins to do business with,” Callista said, standing from the sofa and reaching a hand towards Remus, still seated on the sofa. Remus chuckled at the proffered hand.
“I’m not that old yet,” He quipped back to Callista with a wry smile, taking her hand anyway.
∞∞∞
Gringotts was a bit of an event, but Callista could confirm that the Black family account manager Steelclaw had been most helpful and informative. The Godfather of Blood and Magic agreement was sitting in Amelia’s hands, Remus was wearing the ring of the proxy Lord Black and had the heir ring safely tucked on his person to put on Harry as soon as he saw him and the guardianship paperwork was filed and approved. Steelclaw had mentioned that the foolish flamingo had absolutely attempted to access the Black accounts over the years, but the sound proxy agreement protected it from tampering via his overstepping of the wartime in loco parentis. Bogrod, the representative from the anti-tampering and theft division had confirmed informally that flaming fool had however successfully tampered with the Potter accounts, but his division had a full list of unauthorised items removed and transactions ready to legally pursue through Gringotts when either Harry was able to take up the Lordship or was able to legally assign a proxy. Steelclaw thoughtfully informed them upon confirmation with the current Potter account representative, that Harry was yet to take an inheritance test, which was an issue they should consider of somewhat high priority. Callista was quite interested to know what they were alluding to, but it was not an immediate concern.
Flooing back to Remus’ quarters, they collapsed onto the sofas once more. Remus offered his floo for her to take home, but Callista kindly pointed out that as they didn’t know the status of the wards, it wasn’t wise for her to floo home. A professor could justifiably pop out to Diagon for supplies, but it was much harder to explain a floo trip to someone’s specific home address if it was ever found. Remus smiled, and pulled what Callista knew to be the marauders map out from his pocket to make sure the way was clear. Callista knew something was wrong when Remus sat silently studying the map. She came around to Remus’ side and saw what he was silent over - two pairs of footprints, both on the grounds of Hogwarts - one Sirius Black and one Peter Pettigrew. She shared a glance with him and they both scrambled to get down there before the foolish flamingo could interfere.
“Have you got a ritual knife?” Remus questioned Callista as she threw her cloak back on.
“Of course I do,” She quipped, with a knowing look.
They rushed as orderly as they could manage to get to the grounds near the great hall exit. It was their misfortune that the evenings saw more children outside with more light hours. They had much ground to cover and needed to capture both without the children harmed and any sort of alarm they could manage would tip off both the wizards.
“There’s no way we can get close enough to get a clear spell target on both of them, and we only really have one shot,” Remus started, panicking slightly as they filtered through the children outside.
“You keep the children away from what I’m doing, and I’ll try and put some of the earth magics to work,” Callista stated hurriedly. She reached a patch of ground that felt buzzing with natural magic and knelt, placing her hand on the ground. Her vision blurred momentarily taking in the sensations she could process. She felt the wards, tattered as they were and a sad web of incompletion. I must be on a ward nexus, that’s the only explanation I have for this, she thought, trying to strategise. Can you hold them for me? Don’t kill them, just trap them? she asked the wards and natural magics. She felt a slight buzz, but no reaction. Merlin fucking damn it, she thought, reaching for the ritual knife sheathed at her side. She sliced her palm, allowing blood to drip into the same ground she was touching previously, healing her palm before placing her hand back down. The wards fluttered back into her consciousness, more vividly than before. She still could not make her usual connection with the earth without accidentally killing both the men they needed alive. A small ethereal looking girl appeared at her side, with white blond hair and fair complexion.
“I can help you,” Her soft voice began. Callista turned her head, looking for Remus.
“Remus?” Callista called out, finding him shepherding a group of students into the building.
“Luna says she can help. She probably can,” He called in response. Callista turned back to the small girl.
“Is your family name Lovegood?” Callista asked, as gently as she could manage.
“My daddy is a Lovegood. Mummy was a Raven,” Luna answered in her soft lilting voice, kneeling next to Callista. This kid is absolutely a seer or I’m merlin himself, Callista thought, looking over the girl that could pass for a fae.
“A Raven?” Callista asked gently.
“Like my house,” Luna replied, gesturing to her blue hair tie. Callista nodded silently.
“You’re being much more understanding than most, but if I add my blood to the nexus you will be able to use the earth magic as a founder, rather than just a lady of earth magics,” Luna started, reaching for the ritual knife. Callista felt torn, but she did not have a better option.
“Go ahead,” Callista responded, gesturing to the knife and the nexus. As soon as Luna had sliced her palm and added her blood to the nexus, Callista reached to heal the girl. A quick episkey later and Callista was putting her hands back on the nexus, reaching through even more vivid wards and pulling up two animagi-proof cages made of the earth around the two fugitives. The two cages rose, trapping a fugitive in each one, the whole sight looking like a herbology experiment gone wrong.
“Will I need to stay here to maintain their security?” Callista asked, turning to face Luna.
“I don’t think so,” Luna replied in her dreamlike manner, standing up to walk back into the castle.
“Thank you,” Callista said, smiling at the fae-like girl.
Remus quickly had the pair of fugitives portkeyed off of Hogwarts grounds, one directly into the custody of Amelia Bones at the DMLE for veritaserum questioning, and the other directly into the west wing of Greengrass Castle.
Remus found Callista shortly after.
“I think that’s the most patronuses I have had to sequentially cast in a long time,” Remus started with a chuckle.
“How long before you think the foolish flaming flobberworm notices?” Callista asked, looking around as the earth cages sunk back into the ground as if nothing at all had occurred.
“It’s better if he doesn’t, because I won’t have to say I didn’t see you absorb him into the earth,” Remus joked, resting his hand on the shoulder of his friend.
∞∞∞
The next day, the board of governors assembled and reviewed the report submitted by Professor Lupin about the intruders and lack of action from Headmaster Dumbledore, leading to an immediate suspension of his employment, pending termination.
The governors were rightfully infuriated about the whole ordeal.
“He either knowingly weakened the wards and allowed the presence for an unknown duration of multiple fugitives or he didn’t know at all! I can’t tell which is worse,” Augusta Longbottom exclaimed, looking around the table of the meeting.
“He had financial approval to contract Gringotts curse breakers to review the wards and update them after the fiasco last year. The fact that he did not is despicable! Where is the money that was set aside?” Charis Greengrass chimed in, looking to watch the reactions of the other governors.
“He deliberately endangered the lives of the students by not updating the wards after last year and there were dementors on campus for a prolonged period this year? Outrageous!” Edward Macmillan stated, watching as the board came to a consensus on what to do with the erstwhile headmaster.
∞∞∞
The Daily Prophet
Breaking news: Sirius Black Framed! How James Potter’s best friend was framed for betrayal.
Breaking news: Man previously thought dead found alive, Sirius Black cleared of all charges.
Breaking news: Long-time Hogwarts Headmaster suspended on charges of negligence and child endangerment, Board of Governors reveals.
Breaking news: Suspended Headmaster of Hogwarts under investigation from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for alleged abuse of wartime in loco parentis status, Lady Bones leads the charge to restore appropriate magical guardianship for affected children.
∞∞∞
Between the headlines and the suspension of Headmaster Dumbledore effective immediately, the school had been buzzing ever since. Cedric didn’t quite know what to think, other than the fact that he knew his mother had something to do with the whole fiasco and that she was terrifyingly efficient. He noticed that Harry had received many letters, and he seemed more joyful than he had ever seen him, outside of catching the snitch and winning a quidditch game.
Cedric received a floo call from his mother a few days later.
“Daphne told me she saw you at Hogwarts on friday. She says you were responsible for freeing Sirius Black and arresting Pettigrew,” Cedric rambled, desperate for information. He had not witnessed the entire event go down, having been studying in the library.
“I was there,” Callista stated nonchalantly, smiling softly at her son.
“She said she saw cages made of the earth that rose from the ground, each with a fugitive in them,” Cedric continued, staring at his mother, hoping for an answer.
“That would technically be correct,” Callista replied, still smiling unchanged at her son.
“What in merlin’s name?” Cedric exclaimed, utterly baffled at the confirmation from his mother.
“It was an emergency, I didn’t have much to work with and didn’t want to spook either of them, and a spell at that distance might have missed,” Callista elucidated calmly.
“You could have just…” Cedric trailed off, knowing his mother’s capabilities with earth magics.
“We needed them both alive, or I would have had no qualms with sending them to the earth whole,” Callista answered, serenely.
“You’re going to have to teach me that earth cage business,” Cedric laughed, expecting pushback.
“Once you have the holes down, I don’t see why not,” Callista responded with a mischievous smile.
“Daphne will want to learn too,” Cedric said, thinking of his cousin.
“Her mother and father do not want her attempting the earth magics until she is sixteen, and I respect their decision,” Callista answered frankly.
“What of the betrothal contract?” Cedric asked, hopeful.
“The recent fiascos are tangentially tied to that situation. It was a very messy situation, but Harry’s new magical guardian will talk to him and inform him of the expectations of the agreement and what he should and should not do, then you will be clear to court him,” Callista explained briefly.
“I don’t think I want to know,” Cedric replied earnestly.
“The only thing you need to think about now is what you wish to give him as the first courting gift,” Callista responded, beaming at her son.
Cedric smiled.
∞∞∞
It was by good luck that Remus had any rapport with Harry, and that he could get him to sit and speak with him without it being mightily awkward. Several explanations of the recent news headlines and their relevant histories to him later, Harry began to grasp the new reality. The Black family heir ring sat on his left hand, and Harry waited patiently for the explanation to come as to why Callista Diggory had been so helpful to him.
“You see the gold band shimmering on your left wrist?” Remus asked, gesturing to Harry’s left side.
“You can see that?” Harry asked, wide eyed.
“I cannot, but I know it’s there,” Remus answered kindly.
“How? Nobody can see it,” Harry exclaimed.
“The only other person who can see it is Cedric Diggory, because you have been chosen by magic to fulfil an old betrothal contract between the houses of Greengrass and Black,” Remus responded, patiently.
“Cedric’s a Greengrass?” Harry asked, puzzled.
“His mother is. The point is, that magic choses two wixen for a marriage contract that she believes will strengthen magic. You don’t have to court him, and it is dissolvable, but ideally you would court him. It grants you further magical protection, as if something were to happen to myself, or Sirius, you are always protected by House Greengrass,” Remus explained softly. Harry simply nodded; all the information he had been given as to how he ended up at the Dursleys made him see that more protection could only be a positive with how people had already tried to use and harm him in the three short years he had been in the wizarding world.
“I guess I’ll give it a try,” Harry replied, a small smile on his face.
∞∞∞
It had been a very strange year for Harry.
He had a wanted fugitive (his father’s friend) who allegedly wanted him dead, the dementors were making life at school miserable and then he had that godforsaken quidditch match that never should have been allowed. Cedric was so kind to him, and Harry couldn’t help but feel warm at the thought of the boy others called Pretty-boy Diggory (he definitely didn’t think of Cedric like that himself). Just before Cedric left the hospital wing, Harry noticed the shimmering band on Cedric’s wrist and a matching one on his own. The twins must have pranked us, he thought, smiling at his sort-of brothers. He could have explained it away if it had not persisted, but the shimmering band stayed on both their wrists, and no-one seemed to be any the wiser. He started patronus lessons with Professor Lupin so he could defend himself, and he was glad to finally meet someone other than Hagrid who had known his parents. Then one strange weekend dawned where everyone was talking about something strange having happened on the grounds in the evening, the Headmaster was suspended and Professor Lupin wanted to talk to him about something important. All in all, his life was turned on its head in the space of one weekend, but he was surprised to learn that the Sirius Black fiasco had been handled without him needing to do anything, which was most unusual for the disasters he usually found himself in the middle of. Professor Lupin, no, Remus, his guardian, told him that he needed to have the space to be a kid and not worry about trying to fix adult problems and that he was going to do his best to make sure that Harry got the best magical youth possible. Harry could have cried. Remus explained the magical betrothal and what that was going to mean, and Harry did his best to absorb all the information he could.
The next evening, sitting down for dinner at the great hall, a parcel arrived for him carried by an owl he didn’t recognise. Hermione, sitting next to him, immediately shot several detection spells at the parcel. She nodded, gesturing him to take the parcel and open it. It was a small wrapped box, and removing the wrapping revealed a shiny wooden box. He unlatched the box quickly, finding a gold practice snitch and a small note.
What do you say we practice this weekend?
Harry smiled warmly, filtering his gaze across the great hall to locate the particular Hufflepuff fifth year. Their eyes met, and Cedric gave a cheeky smile and a thumbs up. Harry returned his gesture, grinning widely.
The twins eyed the gift on the table and Harry’s wide grin.
“Methinks we might need to prepare our shovel talk, Fred,” George started, grinning jovially.
“I think the Professor has that covered for us,” Fred answered with a chuckle, pointedly looking up to the Professors’ table, where one Remus Lupin had a studious eye on both boys. Harry rolled his eyes jokingly.
“Cedric doesn’t need a shovel with family magics like his,” Harry quipped, raising his eyebrows daringly at the brothers. Fred and George quickly caught the insinuation, cackling together in their usual manner, the table lively with banter and laughter.