A look to Malfoy could see that the boy was both quite annoyed and sullen.
Harry was surprisingly satisfied. He'd always thought the same and couldn't understand how the 'previous' staff didn't also see and understand that.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Just before the start of Transfiguration the next Wednesday, just after Harry sat down next to Justin Finch-Fletchley, the boy said, "I'm going home next weekend, from Friday to Sunday afternoon."
"Family business?" asked Harry.
"Yes," he replied. "I'm meeting with father, grandfather, Lord Ogden and Madam Bones at my parents' place, Bedford Castle. And, because me grandfather is my effective muggle head of house, permission has been granted for him to be let in on the secret of the wizarding world."
"I'm happy for you, Justin," said Harry. "Give my regards to both Lord Ogden and Madam Bones, would you?"
"Of course," he nodded.
Apparently, the boy had left directly after the last class on Friday and, as he said he would, returned on the Sunday afternoon.
Surprising Harry, he received a knock on their apartment door on Sunday afternoon. It was an auror, who had Finch-Fletchley in tow. "Lord Potter? Are you welcome to seeing guests?"
"Yes, thank you," he replied.
The auror stepped aside and let Finch-Fletchley past to enter.
"Come on in, Justin," said Harry, stepping out of the way to let the other boy in.
Of course, Finch-Fletchley instinctively looked all about as he stepped in, before offering his greetings to Hermione, Daphne and Fleur.
Indicating the boy to take a seat on one of the sofas, Harry asked, "Can I get you anything to drink or nibble upon?"
"No thanks," replied Finch-Fletchley. "I've not long eaten."
Harry nodded and took a seat, himself. "I trust your family business was successfully concluded?"
Finch-Fletchley gave a snort of amusement and said, "Can we drop the highbrow speaking, Harry? I just spent all weekend on that."
Harry grinned and said, "Yup."
Finch-Fletchley let out a sigh of relief, leaned back on the sofa and said, "Thank you. What a weekend."
"So; how'd your meeting go?" asked Harry.
"Meetings, Harry; meet-ings," said the other boy.
"Fruitful?" asked Daphne.
"Oh, that they were," replied Finch-Fletchley. "That meeting I had with Lord Ogden and Madam Bones was only the very tip of the iceberg of what they wanted me to know."
"A taster, yes," nodded Harry. "It was just designed to get you thinking about the subject. I daresay they're nowhere near finished, yet."
"They're not," he replied. "They've now tentatively set up meetings between them, my father and my grandfather for God knows how long.
"It was what they talked about this afternoon that's got me a bit worried, though."
"Care to share?" asked Daphne. "You're under no obligations to do so, though. And no one here will be unhappy if you decide not to."
"No," he sighed. "I... kind of could use the advice; and you four, plus Longbottom, Bones and Abbott; seem to be the best source for advice for this."
Harry grinned, chuckled and said, "They raised the subject of Betrothal Agreements, didn't they."
Finch-Fletchley gave him a slightly pained look and quietly replied, "Yes."
"Did they say with whom?" asked Hermione.
It was Finch-Fletchley's glance at Daphne that clued Harry in on whom they thought.
"Let me guess," he sniggered. "If I know Lord Ogden and Madam Bones as well as I think I do... I think I can guess who one of the lucky ladies could be. If they suggested more than one, was one of the names mentioned... Tracey Davis?"
That had Daphne immediately gasp in shock. Something quite unusual for her when around others outside of their clique.
That Finch-Fletchley only gave him a curious look told Harry he'd guessed right before the boy replied. "How the Hell did you know that, Potter?"
"They told you about the Potter-Longbottom Alliance, right?" asked Harry.
Finch-Fletchley nodded.
"Well, in the Potter-Longbottom Alliance there is only a couple of young women who are currently without partners and who are roughly the same age as you," he replied. "Narrowing that down, I also dismissed those who are the direct Heirs of existing Houses; as they would need Line Continuation clauses in Betrothal Agreements or Concubine Bond Agreements, like Daphne. That's a major risk that could end up with one House or the other ending, due to a lack of begotten Heirs.
"That left only one name; Tracey Davis, Heiress Secondary of the Ancient House of Davis.
"Tracey does not need to be wedded with a Line Continuation clause or enter concubinage, because she has an older brother, Edwin, who is the Heir Primary to House Davis.
"Then, marrying Tracey would be a very astute political move. The Davis family, being Ancient, would give the new House of Finch-Fletchley a near immediate acceptance into magical society. It also shows that Finch-Fletchley, while a new House, is also respectful of the traditions of wizarding Britain. Again, that would help with acceptance.
"Further, such a union would also show you to be firmly in the Potter-Longbottom Alliance 'camp'. And that the Potter-Longbottom Alliance are very welcoming of the new Noble and Magical House of Finch-Fletchley among their ranks and on the Wizengamot.
"It makes perfect sense they would suggest such. Hell, if I was there, I'd probably suggest the same just for those reasons. But I probably wouldn't have mentioned it so soon."
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