"Well," continued the reporter, "Monocle has already been in contact with Croaker to develop a way to block it. Croaker's not happy because, as you know, we use a very similar method to get through wards when and where necessary."
"And so we ward and charm masters are going to have to come up with an idea that allows the blocking of side-along elf-popping the Knight has figured out, while also allowing our special method of apparation through," snarked the warder. "Merlin damn it!"
Again his fellow section members showed him their empathy for him by laughing at him.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry had prepared another slow-roast, lamb this time, and talk was somewhat lively around the table at dinner, that night.
Sirius had told them about his meeting with Remus Lupin and how it didn't end so well; and about organising a cleaning crew for his old family home on Grimmauld Place in Kings Cross, inner south London proper.
"That's a pretty run down area," said Wendell.
Sirius shrugged and said, "With wizarding forms of travel and warding it really doesn't matter what the area is like. A wizard could have a high class mansion in the area and it still wouldn't stick out for the muggles. Muggle Notice-Me-Nots take care of that."
Hermione asked, "Do you think Professor Lupin will read those old editions of the Daily Prophet?"
"I hope so, yes," he replied. "He'll want to know what's going on and, since I wouldn't tell him, he'll go read those back issues."
"Why have him read the back issues and not just tell him?" asked Monica.
"Because, he won't believe me," he replied. "He'll just think I'm trying to prank him.
"With everything that's happened over the past three weeks I probably wouldn't believe it either, if someone had just told me."
After dinner, Monica pulled Sirius aside into the kitchen and told him about her fears about Harry's education.
Sirius heard her out and said, "Alright. I got your letter this morning and I'm going to ask you a question. Don't get upset with me about it, as I'm just doing my duty both as Harry's godfather and Hermione's magical guardian."
When she nodded back he flat-out asked, "Is your endgame here to have Harry and Hermione sleep together, have sex and for your daughter to fall pregnant, so it activates the binding portion of the Betrothal Agreement?"
Monica, at first shocked by the question, scowled and replied, "No. And I don't know how you could think I wouldn't get upset by that question."
Sirius nodded and said, "I'm sorry, but whether or not you got upset about it is not really my concern. My primary concern, here, is the protection of those kids and Harry's familial legacy. However, you've answered the questions and I believe you. I just needed to hear it out of your own mouth."
Monica, still frowning, asked, "So, does this mean you're going to talk to Harry or not?"
"Actually," he said, reaching into his robes and pulling out the book he purchased earlier in the day from Flourish and Blott's, "In the short time I've known him, it's already easy to understand he learns more by reading about it that listening to someone else talk about it.
"Besides, I have a very well-known reputation for pranking people; sometimes, unfairly, quite inappropriately. While the first part is true the second is not. However, that's what I'm tagged with.
"Therefore, I'm giving him this book and will impress upon him he and I will be talking about it once he's finished it."
Monica took the book and began to thumb through it a bit. "This is actually... surprisingly quite informative. It is not the sort of book I would expect to be found in the wizarding world.
"There's actually similar books in the muggle world, but this one seems a great deal better than those."
"The purpose of this book is not to educate kids on sex," said Sirius. "It's for kids to understand what it is and how it can lead to them being trapped in a loveless marriage. It's to protect Heirs, like Harry, from some witch with delusions of getting herself pregnant and trapping the heir into marrying them as a way to lift her standing in our world; or just putting the family of the father in a position where her family has to be 'paid off'.
"Actually, that second one is probably the main reason of the two, if I was being honest about it."
Monica gave a huff and said, "I shouldn't be surprised. Anyway, when do you want to give it to him? I think the sooner, the better."
Sirius gave a nod and said, "Now, then. How about you send him to me?"
Monica gave her own nod and said, "I'll go get him and send him in." Then she stopped and said, "Actually, to keep Hermione out of this, how about you go into the office and I'll send him there?"
"Good idea," he replied.
As the two separated, Sirius headed via the hallway into the office and sat at the 'discussion' table and waited. He put the book on the table and thought about how to broach the subject.
Less than a minute later, Harry came in. He appeared a little confused. "You wanted to talk to me?" he asked.
"I do," nodded his godfather. Indicating the other chair he said, "Take a seat."
Fifteen minutes later, Harry came out almost red with embarrassment and had the book tucked up inside his windcheater. He quickly went up to his room and put it there, stuffed between two of the folders of the stuff he received from Ted. There was no chance in Hell he wanted Hermione to see he had it.
When he came downstairs after giving his face a wash, Hermione immediately asked, "What's up?"
"Nothing," he was quick to mumble.
Sirius, realising Harry made a poor liar for Hermione, said, "Business between the Lord of Black and one of his Heirs, Hermione. Nothing for you to concern yourself with."
"Oh," she replied, "Alright then."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At just after breakfast the next morning, Harry received a letter back from the aurors. It was from the twins.
"When you're next in contact with Misters Frederick and George Weasley," he said. "Please impress upon them not to try to attach charms designed to prank the recipient to their correspondence. Depending on what it is, it can be seen as attempted assault."
Surprised, Harry said, "I'll do that."
With a mental sigh, he thought, 'Idiots. Trying to prank a Lord of one of the Seven? That can get you discovering what the inside of Azkaban can look like from the point of view of a prisoner as a prisoner.'
~ # ~
Harrikins,
Something is worrying Mum about what happened at the Wizengamot yesterday. We suppose that'll be two days ago for you. And it's worrying us that she won't tell us.
Since you should've been there, we were hoping you could let us know. Just in case it was something that we should know about, yeah?
Hope to hear back from you soon,
Gred and Forge
P.S. Don't get upset about the donkey ears. We don't want to see you make an ass of yourself. Ha!
~ # ~
With a sigh, he thought, 'Well, at least I know what the prank was meant to be.'
Thinking of what to write in reply, he called Dobby and asked him to bring down the stack of documents he was working on the previous day, plus fresh parchment, ink and quills. With the visit from Neville very little of it got done and he really needed to put some effort into it today.
With the documents set aside, he pulled parchment, ink and quill before himself and began to write his response.
.
.
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