A few seconds after 9.00am, Harry shot out of the floo into the Bones Manor welcoming hall... and crashed into a side table.
"Ow!" he exclaimed, once he came to a stop.
Before he could do more than roll back onto his back he heard Sue Bones lightly laughing at his misfortune. She was standing just behind the first auror - the one who stepped through the floo ahead of Harry.
That's when Neville, followed by Hermione, followed by the second auror, all stepped out of the floo in quick succession.
As Harry gingerly climbed back to his feet, Neville was grinning at him. "I think I should step through first next time, Harry. Just so I can clear a path for you for when you... arrive."
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, massaging the shoulder he'd collided the side table with.
Still snickering, Sue said, "That was hilarious!"
Harry just grumbled and said, "I just don't understand it. How is it that doesn't happen to anyone else?"
Harry then heard, "There's a trick to it, Lord Potter. You need to be taught."
When he spun to the voice it was to see Amelia Bones standing behind a couch.
"Sorry, Madam Bones," he said. "I did not see you there when I..."
She smirked and asked, "Landed?"
When he gave a sheepish nod back she said, "That was intentional. I always use disillusionment when expecting guests. I'd only just dispelled it before I spoke."
Finally shaking the embarrassment of his arrival off, Harry cleared his throat a little and turned to Susan. "Miss Bones, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to visit with you, today."
She just laughed again and said, "You don't need to be so formal, Harry."
""Ummm..." he muttered. "First meeting―"
"That was at Hogwarts, Harry," she interrupted him. "Remember? You yelled at us all for failing to keep to the intent of the Alliance Charter."
"Ah!" he said, blushing a little. "Yeah... sorry about that."
"Don't be," she replied. "You were right. We did all deserve a kick in the bum and you were the one to give it to us."
"Well," he said, "I hope the others are as forgiving as you."
"They are," she smiled. "We've been talking, since that day. We all recognise you were in the right. And we all recognise you could have come down a lot harder on us all.
"I know that Hannah, Daphne and Tracey have all spoken to their parents about it. And, between us, we know that their parents are quite relieved you didn't ask for more than you did."
Neville cut in and said, "She's telling the truth, Harry. I was involved in some of those discussions."
As Harry nodded, Amelia cut in, "Now that you three have safely arrived, I need to head into the office."
Then she turned to Harry and, with a slight scowl, said, "I'm still dealing with the problems relating to having to rebuild the Floo Network Authority. I ended up having to arrest, charge and-or fire almost everyone who worked there."
Harry didn't bother to reply. He knew that whatever he said, wouldn't make a difference.
She kissed Susan on the crown of her head and exited via the floo direct to her office in the DMLE.
After she was gone, Harry perked up and said, "Now, where are my manners? Susan..." Indicating Hermione he said, "I know you and Hermione already know each other. But, this is Lady Presumptive Hermione Granger magical ward of the Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black and betrothed of the Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter."
Susan gave a short excited squeal and jumped forward to hug Hermione. "Congratulations!" she exclaimed.
Hermione blushed and said, "Well, it came as a bit of surprise to me." As Susan backed off again she frowned at Harry and continued, "It was arranged between Harry, Sirius and my father before I even knew what was going on."
Susan shrugged and said, "That's normal."
The way she said it had Hermione speechless.
"It's normal?" she squeaked, partly in shock and partly in outrage.
"Yes, Hermione; normal," the other witch calmly replied. "At least, it's normal for the wizarding world."
"But... that's... that's―" stuttered Hermione.
"Normal," Susan firmly cut her off. "I understand it's not normal in the muggle world. But, this is not the muggle world, is it?"
Hermione didn't know what to say, so just stood there.
Into the sudden silence, Harry said, "I've also told Hermione about Line Continuation clauses and Concubine Bond Agreements and Contracts. She's been having even more trouble with those two."
After a quick glance at Neville, Susan turned her attention to Harry and said, "Yeah; I can understand that."
Harry had noticed the quick glance to the other boy and determined from it he was right. Bones had her sights on Neville for a Line Continuation or Concubine Bond Agreement/Contract, or both.
As she guided the other three to sit on couches and armchairs, Susan looked to Hermione and asked, "Did Harry explain why such exists?"
As Hermione gave a pretty accurate rendition of what Harry had told her, Susan had called for a house elf to serve them a light morning tea.
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