Daddy’s Boy

Christmas Break 91

Ron tried some more to reclaim his position as a friend of Harry Potter. Harry wasn't sure if it was Ron's will to come close to a "celebrity", or if it was due to Dumbledore's influence. He wasn't prone to forgetting Ron's behaviour and accepting him back as a friend. It was Hermione who convinced him, citing the old phrase, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

"We know he can be used by others quite easily, having no moral backbone and no mental shields. It's safer if we keep him close, so we can supervise him. You don't have to be really close to him, just close enough for him to be satisfied," she explained.

"That's a very Slytherin way of thinking," Harry commented.

"The sorting hat considered putting me there, but being a Muggleborn made that less than ideal choice," she smirked at him.

"Well, it also considered putting me there, but eventually agreed to put me in Gryffindor, as I wanted." Harry frowned for a moment, trying to recall the exact wording. "It said it was natural for me to want to be close with my betrothed."

He didn't notice Hermione paling. "Who could that be?" she asked.

Harry shrugged. "I have no idea. I only knew you at the time and I still don't feel close to any other girl. I need to ask Dad when we go home."

"Sure! If there is any contract concerning you, it's just right that you know everything about it," Hermione said, trying not to show her shock.

"Well, Dad should know, but that's not really important right now. We both have a few years to grow before anything about marriage should concern us. Now, about Ron..."

Despite his reluctance, Harry let Ron resume his position as a friend, mainly due to Hermione's advice. Ron also joined them on the train, going home for Christmas. Harry faked being extremely tired and didn't cooperate when Ron tried to start a conversation about Quidditch. Ron eventually gave up and went looking for his other dorm-mates, to Harry's relief.

Harry didn't give any further thought to the betrothal, considering it something that would only affect him in the far future. Hermione reminded him to ask about it as soon as they returned home, though, and Harry didn't want to disappoint her.

It was only on the second day of the Christmas vacation that Harry found James sitting idly in his study, looking like he was day-dreaming.

"Dad, I have a question," Harry said, startling his father.

"What is it?"

"You see, the sorting hat considered different houses for me while I wanted only Gryffindor. It eventually agreed, stating it was natural for me to want to be close to my betrothed."

"Betrothed? I know nothing about such thing. I'm sure my parents would have told me if they knew of any ancient pending betrothal. Are you sure?" James sounded alarmed.

"That's what I heard," Harry insisted.

James thought for a moment. He then grimaced. "This can only be resolved by a visit to the ministry. Are you really sure?"

Harry only nodded.

"Well then... We shall go tomorrow. Just remember to call me Jacques during our visit there. I still want nobody to know I'm alive, nobody who doesn't already know."

"Sure, Dad."

James was quite worried about some unknown betrothal. He remembered his own anxiety when telling his parents about his evolving relationship with Lily. He had feared they would tell him he was already promised in contract betrothal. His fears had been unfounded. His parents were glad for him and assured him that no such contract existed, that it was the long standing Potter policy to marry of love. His father even said that Potter men usually found love quite early and married young. Was this a betrothal they had been unaware of?

They went to the Ministry the next morning. James used a glamour charm to look a bit older and wore contacts, instead of his normal eyeglasses. He asked for the marriages and betrothals register. It was a small office with many large ledgers filling every shelf. A single witch worked there, not seeming very busy.

"My charge, Mr. Harry Potter, informed me that during the Hogwarts sorting he was told that he was betrothed. Can you verify this?"

The old witch responsible for that office nodded reassuringly. "Do you have any more details?"

"I only know that his late parents were not aware of any pending betrothal and I know of no such contract signed since."

"Very well. It would take a few minutes to find that contract, if it really exists," she said, pointing to an uncomfortable bench for them to wait on.

It took her more than a few minutes, though, as she had to look through several folders, each containing betrothals signed during a specific year.

"I believe I've found it," she said almost half an hour later.

"Who's responsible for it?" James asked. If it was Dumbledore, he was going to skin him alive.

"Why, it's Mr. Potter himself!" she exclaimed, looking somewhat surprised.

"Are you sure? He's still under age."

She checked it again and smiled kindly. "This is not a signed betrothal, as is common in our society. It is a promise made by both parties with full intention of keeping it, and sealed by their own magic. It is quite rare, especially as they were both very young at the time."

"So, who is he betrothed to?"

"One Hermione Jean Granger, a few months older than he is. Do you know her?"

"I do," Harry finally spoke. "When did it take place?"

She looked at the folder once again. "My, my – so young! You were only five years old then! I think that is a kind of first."

James was not happy about it. He tried to remember what had happened that year. Well, he had finally got together with Liz, marrying her soon after, but what had triggered it? He needed to think some more. He finally remembered the children talking about love and marriage, just as Liz had taken his hand and cuddled to his side. It seemed so innocent... Could that be the promise?

"Can you give us the full details?" he asked, trying to put some French accent into his voice.

"Of course Mr...?

"DePoitiers, Jacques DePoitiers. We moved here for Harry's sake."

She nodded her understanding. They left the office a few minutes later, holding a parchment with all the details: "Betrothal between Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger, verbal mutual promise sealed magically at the tenth of November, 1985. To be fulfilled after both reach adulthood."

James was still very anxious, yet he noticed that Harry had a small smile on his lips. "Are you OK with this?" he asked his son.

Harry shrugged. "I feared it was someone else. Now I'm fine. I can't think of having anybody else as my partner for life."

"But you're too young to know! I've had several girlfriends before settling with Lily and each time I was sure that the one I was dating was the right one for me. How can you be so sure you won't change your mind?"

Harry smiled. "We've been a couple for more than five years now, and I feel our bond is getting stronger with time. I don't believe I could ever create a stronger bond with somebody else." There was so much conviction in his voice that James found it impossible to argue.

As soon as they were back, Harry went to visit Hermione.

"We've just been at the ministry, checking my betrothal," he told her.

Hermione tensed at once. "So? Who is she?" she asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. Whoever this betrothed might be, she was the one who would take Harry away from her.

Harry took her face in his hands, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. "Her name is Hermione Jean Granger. I..."

She didn't let him finish. She grabbed his head and kissed him straight on the lips. Harry was utterly surprised. He knew she could be emotional at times, but still... and they had never kissed like this... Well, it was nice and it gave him a very good feeling...

He responded, kissing her back with slightly open lips. Her tongue slipped in, caressing his tongue before he returned the favour. They eventually stopped, both red with excitement, embarrassment and some unknown feeling beating in their hearts.

"Do you remember, when we were still in kindergarten, that we promised to marry each other?" he finally spoke.

"I do. It's still one of my sweetest memories."

"Well – it was magically accepted as a betrothal. Now you'll have to marry me."

Hermione pretended to think hard. "You'll still have to court me just as if we weren't promised. I won't accept anything less."

"Only the best for my lady," Harry beamed at her.

It was some time before Hermione calmed down enough to think properly again. "Shouldn't we tell my parents?" she asked. She then thought some more. "I'm not sure they'll be happy for us being tied to each other so young, though. They each dated several others before coming together. Maybe we should not tell them yet? There's still time until... When do we need to fulfil the promise?"

"After adulthood, which is only after I turn seventeen. We still have more than five years to go."

"That's barely enough time to court a lady," Hermione informed him with mischief in her voice.

"I promise to do my best, Milady," Harry said solemnly, before they both started giggling and then laughing.

"What are you two laughing about?" they heard Jean's voice.

"We're just happy!" Hermione answered, surprising Jean.

'Isn't she too young to find happiness by just being with a boy?' she wondered.

James also decided not to mention the betrothal to the Grangers. He knew this was an alien concept to them and it might upset them. He knew that he himself was not quite fine with the idea. At least Harry seemed content. Both couples of parents really had nothing to do until the children reached maturity, and even then – it would be up to the two only. James even considered not telling Liz, but he eventually told her, unable to keep a secret from his beloved wife.

"I believe we heard them promise to get married," she said. "It was during that barbecue visit at the Grangers, shortly before you first hugged me."

James needed a few seconds to recall the scene. He then smiled tenderly. "Well, it seems like two couples were formed during that visit."

"Yes," she smiled back. "Isn't that wonderful?"

Both families spent Christmas together. They used the Floo to go to the castle in France, where a huge Christmas tree had been prepared with presents for each and every member of both families. The Grangers enjoyed the large library more than the rest of the castle. It was clear where Hermione got her love for books from. Although most of the books of magical nature were protected to be unreadable by muggles, there were still enough books, both magical and mundane, which were accessible to them. They could spend months in that library and never get bored.

The children were also able to exercise their animagus forms. This was especially welcome for Harry, as he was able to freely fly as Snow within the boundaries of the castle, and if soaring high enough – even farther away, something he couldn't do at home and only barely at school.

Soon it was the new year and then Harry and Hermione headed back to Hogwarts, more aware of the connection they shared and quite pleased with it.