A bit of backstory, if you'll indulge me. I never did yet go into detail of mum's side of things.
The Bagshot line, above mum, her parents were contracted to be married. There was no love, a bit of acceptance, but it was mainly political. Mum's father, Archibald Grace, married a squib, Stella Bagshot. The Grace family were a side family of the old magical royal line, hidden from the public when the Statute came into play and removed from the line of inheritance. The Grace family was being hunted, so to hide their descendants they were married off into various families adopting other names. Authority, is the inherited family magic from the Grace family.
While mum is known as a historian, her married name is Bathilda Bagshot-Prince, that last bit gets left off so often, only on an official document one might see the whole thing.
Moving on, Stella Bagshot, is the youngest daughter to Morris Bagshot and Joannes Valentine. The Valentine line is from Italy and Joannes was married and moved to England for a business agreement between the families. There is no further mention of her family.
Morris Bagshot, is son to Marhan Okleen and Juni Arkers. Notice how there is no Bagshot. Unfortunately this is the end of the written tree. There is no further written record before this. And while this feels rather short, it should be noted that Morris, was born in 1482. Morris lived a long time before marrying Joannes in 1691. Stella was born in 1712, and married young to an older Archibald in 1731. Mum, Bathilda Bagshot, was born in 1801. So, magical lives are long lived. And while I can't give you a written proof of Marhan and Juni, The spoken history from mum's childhood stated Juni was from the west, far across the pond, in what is estimated to be modern day Canada. How she came to this side of the pond is unknown. Marhan, on the other hand is thought to be descended from the Viking clans. Also unknown and unproven.
So, yes, I should have been aware of magical contracts and betrothal contracts. As for life debts, I read about them in our combined family library. I found the book beside it much more interesting, so I'm sorry if I forgot about it entirely.
If you're curious as to the topic of the book beside it, I'll give you a little peaksie.
True Soul Magiks of The True Soul Magus
By Marhan Okleen
The Overflow, the Condensing, and the Inverse
The overflow of a soul, results in twins, triplets, etc.
The condensing of a soul, results in a metamorphmagus
The inverse of a soul, results necromancy.
These are the basics of soul magiks.
Generally, most only see the necromancy of soul magik, and thus fear it. Further then, to differentiate it, they call overflow and condensing collectively, twin magik. Truly however, it is soul magiks. While anyone can inverse a soul, only those born with an overflow or condensed soul can perform magiks in these branches. Many of which can be shared with their twin branch; i.e. overflow to condensed and vice versa.
So. Yes, I was a little distracted. Whoops. And while this was written some 400+ years ago, today it's called Twin Magic. That 'k' was changed to a 'c' and that it's originally known as a part of Soul Magik was lost. That's all that changed in 400+ years.
Another tidbit: A Sound Mind's Fortress by Juni Arkers
Now you know where that book came from, too. I however didn't even bother to read that bit when I first read it in Gambit's Den. I also only now noticed that I met my kid. Crap. Let's not linger on that.
%^&*—line bar thingy—*&^%
Where did we leave off? Oh yes, a marriage contract. Two big things... One, I'm an idiot for accepting so readily, even if I don't see much of a choice and my parents think it best for me. Two, the Dumbledore Family is Matriarchal.
Again,
The Dumbledore Family is Matriarchal
Saving Ariana means a life debt and a life debt means marriage and marriage means Ariana will be Lady Dumbledore and I her husband. Now I know why it was phrased in such a way and why my best friend bugged off with his brother and Gellert. They have no say. Percival is a mouthpiece and not Lord Dumbledore. The Wizengamot is mostly a man's game in England, so we have 'Lord Dumbledore' doing a lot of the talking, but truly it's Kendra running the show.
I desire foul language.
%^&*—line bar thingy—*&^%
All that aside. Terms are being written up in proper and I already accepted it verbally. All that's left is to sign a contract. The contract must wait until the day after the day after my birthday. My first inheritance comes in tonight. Tomorrow I rest, and the following day I sign.
Perhaps a sum of what to expect? A tally of Possible magics I'll hold. Oh yes, and whatever the Dumbledore line will trade. Most of that won't come into play until after I'm 17. Some foundation will be applied after I sign, however.
In any case, from Da's side we already have: Occlumency, Parslemagic, and Metamorphmagic. From Mum's side we have: Authority, Metamorphmagic, and Occlumency.
Additionally, from my 'muggle' birth parents, as it would turn out, I have Empathy. Which explains a lot. However I won't learn of that inheritance until after I sign the contract, as it will list the shared inheritances and their sources.
%^&*—line bar thingy—*&^%
After settling in for the night, mum gives me some draught of peace. A drop only, as having multiple inheritances coming in can cause a lot of body stress, and while I can't take a dreamless sleep for some reason, a drop of peace will calm my mind and body. I haven't taken potions properly yet, I don't understand really. I won't question it.
So, I close my eyes and drift off into tomorrow.