"Oh," said Hermione. "I didn't think of that."
"Hmm!" said Marchbanks in a verbal nod.
When Hermione didn't seem to want to ask any further questions she stopped and waited for the two teens to stop as well, they did only two paces forward, and looked back at her. Both were looking at her with quizzical expressions.
She was a moment before she quietly said, "Alliance Secret."
That had Harry give a little start of shock as Hermione looked even more confused.
Marchbanks looked to Hermione and said, "That means, what we discuss here cannot be discussed with anyone outside of the Alliance, dear."
"Oh," said Hermione, understanding.
Marchbanks then looked back at Harry and said, "I have received correspondence from Lord Longbottom. He has informed me that he is currently in negotiations with Mister Abbott about a Betrothal Agreement between Heir Neville Longbottom and young Miss Abbott. Further, he is in simultaneous negotiations with Madam Bones about a Concubine Bond Agreement between Heir Longbottom and Heiress Susan Bones.
Both were surprised, but not so much.
"I see this is not news to you," said Marchbanks.
"Not that it would happen, but that it is happening now is," replied Harry.
"Hmm," said Marchbanks. "Lord Longbottom has requested that, when the Agreements are signed, I call on you to suggest you recommend Heir Longbottom request Lord's Quarters of his own for he and the two young ladies. I will approve it."
That surprised both.
"Why?" asked Harry. "I mean, why me?"
"Lord Longbottom does not want it to seem as if he's over-fathering his son. However, if the suggestion comes from you..."
Harry nodded and said, "Then Neville won't think it's an order from his father. It'll be his choice. He wants Neville to make these sort of decisions on his own."
"Precisely," she nodded.
"Uh-huh," muttered Harry. "I'm happy to do so. I also expect Neville will leap at the opportunity if he doesn't think it'll get him into trouble. The other three boys in the dorm are all slobs, whereas Neville and I are not."
"Then you'll need to convince him it won't hurt to ask," she said.
He nodded and said, "Will do."
She then hesitated again and asked, "Do you know why you've been offered an apartment with three bedrooms?"
Both teens immediately looked shocked. "Errr... you know something about a possible approach for a Concubine Bond Agreement for me, don't you?"
"I do," she firmly stated. "However, since that approach does not appear to have already been made, it is not my place to expand on that."
"Noted," he said. "Not even a hint?"
She smirked back and replied, "I'm sure you can figure it out, if you haven't already."
"Greengrass," he sighed.
She just smirked back. "Shall we continue to the Great Hall?" she innocently asked.
As she walked between the two teens and continued on her way, both turned to again follow her. Both teens, at the same time, glanced at one another.
A few seconds later and as he followed, Harry softly but firmly said, "You're an evil woman, Lady Griselda Marchbanks."
She just cackled. It was so much fun 'tweaking' the youngsters.
'Oh, how I missed this!' she thought.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Walking the long way, so they'd walk in through the main doors of the Great Hall from the entrance hall, it was about ten minutes before they arrived.
As soon as they walked in following the Headmistress, the Hall fell silent. Marchbanks just ignored it and continued on her way between the tables to the head table, while Harry and Hermione peeled off at the head end of the House tables to go to the Gryffindor table. They already saw Neville was sitting there waiting for them with a grin on his face.
They'd no sooner separated from the Headmistress before the first of the other students tried to approach. It was Angelina Johnson.
"Harry!" she exclaimed. "I want―"
"Back off and let us sit down!" he snapped out.
That immediately brought her to a sudden halt. Though he wasn't looking at her, she had an expression of shock on her face.
Reaching a grinning Neville, Harry made sure Hermione walked around the table with him, so their backs were to the wall, sat her first next to Neville and sat alongside her on the other side. They'd sat next to the other boy, who had also chosen to sit with his back to the wall, to show solidarity. They didn't know, however, he'd saved them seats.
"Morning," grinned Neville, just after they sat. "Making waves, already, I see?"
Having already eaten before they flooed to the castle, both teens only dragged over a cup and saucer and began to make cups of tea each. Both knew they were going to be immediately bothered by other students all demanding answers to their questions and wouldn't get much of a chance to eat before they had to go to class.
From an inside pocket of his robes, Neville drew out two small sheets of parchment, checked them and offered one each to the two. "Your class schedules," he said.
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