Harry was officially the happiest he has ever been in his entire life, even if there was a giant cloud of dread hanging over him with the upcoming final task of the tournament. Over the last two months, Harry and his three fiancés' have been practicing new spells and techniques taught to them by the founders like crazy. At first, the girls were a little hesitant to use spells that are usually classified as Dark Magic, but considering what they could be facing in the very near future, they deemed it a necessary evil. Harry's relationship with the three also grew better now that there were no secrets between them as he could be his honest self, although he was actually afraid that they were going to go on a killing spree against the Dursley's with the more he revealed about his childhood.
However, today was the day that Harry's life changed forever, and for once, it was a positive change. The founders had told him that since he entered the tournament that was only meant for students over the age of seventeen and Dumbledore agreed to enter him, Harry had essentially become emancipated and was now a legal adult at fourteen. He had sent a letter to Gringotts to confirm that was the case and they wrote back saying to return to Gringotts at his earliest convenience to complete the process and accept his lordships. He and the girls agreed today was the best day to head to the wizard bank because none of them were needed anywhere.
It was decided that, to ensure their protection, the girls wouldn't tell their families that they were married until either Voldemort was defeated, or they had no choice; essentially, they decided to elope and have a big wedding with their families some other time. There are three types of marriages in the wizarding world: the standard one that most wizards and witches go through with the exchanging of vows in a similar fashion to muggles, the pureblood elites and their infamous marriage/slave contracts where no love is usually involved but rather politics and money, and finally, the uncommonly rare soul bonds that are formed when two people's love for each other is so strong that their magic connects for life and they become magically, and by default legally, married. That last one is what Harry needs to perform as it represents the very antithesis to a Horcrux and the soul bond it creates and will be needed if Harry is going to survive the removal process.
They came to the conclusion that while it was likely a guarantee that Penny would be Lady Ravenclaw once Harry became a lord and the magic of Hogwarts took over, but the main concern was Fleur and Tonks. The two of them only qualified for the ladyships of Potter and Black, and without the magic of Hogwarts, they had to rely on what Rowena called their pure love and hope the magic of the lordship rings connects them. Harry felt confident that he loved them both enough for the rings to activate and seek them out, but things have gone wrong in his life before; however, he promised that no matter what he would support and love them.
"Okay, it's time to head off to Gringotts you lot. I wish we could go with you, so you could have some family to support you today when you finally become the man you were meant to be but remember that we and your parents are with you in spirit. Try not to be overwhelmed when you read their wills and all of your inheritance today, lean on the girls for support.", said Helga.
That was another thing Harry was dreading, them reading out his inheritance and especially all that his parents had left him. No amount of money, property, or titles will ever replace the hole their deaths left in his heart. Maybe, however, the love he feels for the three amazing women standing next to him could fill it. Noticing his demeanor, the three moved next to him and embraced him in a loving hug and he immediately felt better.
"Thanks girls now let's get going before someone notices we're missing. It's early on a Saturday, so no one should notice us missing, but I'm not taking any chances.", Harry said.
The three nodded quickly and after a quick goodbye to the founders, he called for Dobby. The elf appeared and Harry asked for them to be taken directly on front of the Gringotts entrance, which had Dobby essentially jumping for joy that he could be helpful. The founders had promised that they, along with Tonks, would be teaching Harry how to apparate on his own next week as they told him it would be necessary to get himself out of trouble, but for now, he needed Dobby. The four grabbed onto the small elf, and within a second, they were transported to Diagon Alley and in front of Gringotts. They said their thanks and Dobby was on his way as the four made their way into the bank and went for the main teller.
"Hello, sir. Harry Potter here to see Griphook with three guests.", Harry said.
The Goblin moved to properly look at Harry, "Mr. Potter, we have been expecting you. We have honored your request and notified no one else about what transpires today without your permission. Please follow me to Griphook's office."
Harry nodded and he and the girls followed the goblin towards the office, where he found Griphook and surprisingly King Ragnok, who greeted them, "Greetings, Mr. Potter. It is good to see you in one piece considering all that has happened to you since we last spoke."
Harry smiled sheepishly and rubbed his cheek, "Well, the Potter Luck has certainly left its mark this year, more so than before."
Ragnok just nodded and the four took their seats across from the two goblins and the meeting officially began. After going over some basic pleasantries and understandings, Griphook pulled out a box and placed it on the desk. Harry opened it and he, as well as the girls, was in awe of the six rings that he saw inside. While they were of a very similar design as his heirship rings, though these were bigger, these lordship rings were mainly different in the magic he felt radiating off of them.
Ragnok spoke, "Now Harry, as you know, thanks to Dumbledore and the foolish Ministry of Magic agreeing to enter you into the tournament which could only be participated in by those of age, you have become magically and legally emancipated thanks to the Goblet of Fire's magic recognizing you as such even if you didn't enter your name. Thankfully, Dumbledore remains oblivious to this little loophole, and we have a few contacts in the Ministry to complete the necessary paperwork in secret away from prying eyes. The arrogance and foolishness of you wizards truly never ceases."
Harry chuckled and nodded as Ragnok continued, "Therefore, as you are now an adult, the lordship of your six houses now falls to you take up here and now. If you accept, you take on all the responsibilities and benefits of becoming a lord, but you must also know the downsides as there will be a target on your back for holding so much power."
Harry just stared at the rings, he knows he needs them to survive the Horcrux removal, but there is a small part of him that remains hesitant because of the danger he is going to face once everyone finds out, and not just from Voldemort and his Death Eaters, but also men like the Minister and even Dumbledore. Then, suddenly, three hands on his arms and he looked to see Penny giving him a determined and fierce look, Fleur giving him a beautiful smile and small nod, and Tonks giving her signature grin and a wink. He smiled back and silently thanked them for their support and he knew that he wasn't in this fight alone anymore.
"I know…and I'm ready.", Harry said.
Ragnok nodded and motioned for Harry to take the rings one at a time to connect its magic to his own. Harry took off his heirship rings, which would be stored in his vault again until his future children became an appropriate age and took the Potter lordship ring out of the box and placed it on his right index finger and Harry was almost overwhelmed by how strong the magic was and was struggling to catch his breath. The girls were very concerned, but he just waved them off after a few minutes as he picked up the Black ring and placed it on his right middle finger and again was hit with a large dose of powerful magic. The founders had warned him that the body would only be able to handle so much magic and would take time to adjust properly as Harry got more used to the ring's effects, He repeated the process, through sheer will and the girl's support, four more times with the Hogwarts House's rings with each finger on his left-hand minutes his thumb. After a few minutes, Harry got his breathing under control and the meeting continued.
"Congratulations, Harry. I, King Ragnok, hereby witness them ascension of Lord Harry James Potter-Black-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Slytherin or Potter-Black-Hogwarts for short. All wealth and property that come with the titles are now yours, your wives', and your future children's less you disown them. Now let's begin with your parents' will first.", Ragnok said.
Harry nodded and listened as Griphook read out the will, "Last Will and Testament of Lord James Potter and Lady Lily Potter. We, Lord and Lady Potter, of sound mind and body hereby bequeath all of our wealth and property to our son, Harry James Potter, in the event of our untimely demises. We have already named you our heir and upon reaching the age of seventeen, you will become Lord Potter and receive all the responsibilities and benefits that come with that title. We have a trust vault set up already with a small amount set up already for you to use while in school and for your guardians to use to take care of you. Our son is to be left with his godfather, Sirius Black, upon our deaths and is not to be left with Vernon and Petunia Dursley under any circumstances. We love you, Harry and know we are always with you in your heart. Signed, James and Lily Potter.", Griphook finished.
Harry felt the tears fall down his face before he could even have a chance to stop them as the girls embraced him. When he stopped, he realized something and asked, "Wait, how was I placed with the Dursley's if it states in my parents' will otherwise?".
Ragnok looked apologetic before answering, "Well, with Mr. Black's imprisonment and no one else being willing to take you due to some reason or another, Dumbledore and the Minister at the time secretly came to an agreement to hide you away at the Dursley's far away from the magical world. Whether or not anyone was checking in on you occasionally is unknown to us."
Harry could feel, not only his own anger rising, but also the three girls next to him, but he kept it in check until later. Griphook gave him a sheet of all that he owned as Lord Harry Potter-Black-Hogwarts, and he had a small heart attack when his saw his total combined net worth from all six houses and forgot to breathe until Penny started shaking him. As for properties, he owned Potter Manor (currently destroyed) and Godric's Hallow which is now a museum of sorts, Black or Shadow Manor depending on who you ask (also destroyed) and #12 Grimmauld Place in London, and the only property still standing or in his possession from his Hogwarts houses was Hogwarts school itself. Harry frowned slightly at the news of having both manors being destroyed but, he supposed a small townhouse in London will have to do but he was still unsure if he should live there while still in school since Dumbledore would grow suspicious of him.
Griphook decided to speak, "Now that that's all settled, we should move on to your other request that you told us about concerning your marriage through soul bond, which as you know, can only be achieved when two people love each other so much, their magic connects, and their souls are then bound. We already told you in the summer that the magic of Hogwarts will do this for you at least four times as their needs to be at least one wife per House, but you also wish to do the same with House Potter and Black, correct?".
Harry nodded and Ragnok spoke this time, "Well, if you and your ladies' are sure. These marriages are incredibly rare and happen only once or twice every few dozen years or so. Simply gaze into each other's eyes, which are the windows to the soul, and allow your magic to flow into one another while thinking of all the good times you have had together and the love you feel between you."
Harry decided to start with Penny as he took her hand and looked into her eyes while flaring his magic subtly. He thought about when they first met and how she was the most beautiful girl he ever met, when she tutored him through all the times he struggled in school, when she comforted him during second year when everyone had turned their backs on him, and about how he finally realized how much he loved her during that first kiss they shared six months ago. She, in the meanwhile, was thinking the same thing and how brave, kind, and warm he made her feel. Harry decided to be bold and kissed her again right there and in an instant, the blue Ravenclaw lordship ring glowed brightly and their magic and souls became connected as a ring materialized on Penny's ring finger. They both smiled brightly and simultaneously said, "I love you."
They broke apart and Harry turned toward Tonks and took her hand as his magic seeped out to touch hers. He thought about all their crazy stories they shared with each other about their adventures, how they loved messing with people without caring what others thought, but most of all, about how he loved that he could be free could be totally free with her as the weight of his responsibilities and hardships didn't matter around her free spirit. She, also, was thinking about how he made her feel appreciated and was not judgmental towards her. They came together to share their first kiss and then the Black lordship ring glowed a dark purple as a ladyship ring appeared on her finger. When they broke apart, Harry said "We're gonna kick ass and have a lot fun while doing it, babe.", which had Tonks grinning and she began to French him right there much to the amusement of Penny and Fleur and the cringe of the goblins.
Harry reluctantly pulled back to finally turn towards Fleur and locked hands and eyes with her. He thought about how she challenged him in all the right ways as the respect they had for each other to better themselves grew each day, their love of dueling and improving their magic, but mostly, how their history of loneliness makes them understand each other's pain in a way others never could. She was thinking about the same things, while also, thinking about how she felt unburdened by her heritage when around him with her long-built walls around her heart finally coming down. They leaned in and kissed, and upon doing so, the Potter ring glowed a crimson light as a ring appeared Fleur's ring finger. After they broke apart, Harry looked at her seriously and said, "You'll never be alone again. I promise."
Fleur smiled through tears of joy and gave him a small kiss and he turned to see the stupefied faces of the two goblins, who were of course in shock at seeing this teenager pull off an impossible feat of creating three soul bond marriages which has never been done before. They eventually came out of their shock and Ragnok spoke.
"Well Lord Potter, you really are the most unpredictable wizard of the age. With the soul bond complete, you are now magically married and by extension, legally married, as our new records now show. Marriage certificates have likely appeared in the Ministry's Hall of Records, but fear not, our contact will keep them well hidden, even though I doubt anyone will look for a marriage certificate between a bunch of teenagers. Well, I think our business is concluded, here Lord Potter, we wish you luck in the final task of the tournament and with your new titles and ladies'.", he said.
Harry nodded emphatically and said goodbye, then exited with the girls. While standing outside the bank, Harry looks at each of his wives and smiles brightly. Finally, after all the hardships and betrayals, he had real family and with them, a place he could call home no matter where they were. They seemed to have noticed his staring.
"What are you staring at so intently, Harry?", Penny asked.
Harry shrugged with a smile, "Just thinking about how nice it feels to finally have something to live for, or rather, someone."
The girls' eyes widened, and they smiled before bringing him into a group hug, followed by individual kisses. They whispered in his ear, "And you always will."
Harry smiled as they broke apart as he called for Dobby to take them back to Hogwarts, and the little elf quickly appeared and jumped for joy when he saw the rings. Harry made him swear to secrecy of what transpired today, and his strange but loyal friend agreed and then with a pop, the five were transported back to Hogwarts, where no one has noticed their quick adventure according to Dobby. The four made their way to the chamber, while Harry was lost in thought about how, even though he knew dark times neared, he was ready to defend his light that kept him going and fight for his freedom and theirs.