The Last Protection: Harriett Potter's Legacy

Chapter 17: Bonds Forged in Fire

The golden light of dawn spilled into Harriett’s room, casting soft shadows across the intricately patterned walls. The faint aroma of lavender lingered, soothing her as she lay half-awake. The stillness of the morning was a rare comfort, one she cherished before the inevitable whirlwind of Black family politics began.

A sharp knock at her door shattered the tranquility.

“Harriett, are you awake?” Narcissa’s voice was calm but tinged with urgency.

“Yes, I’m up,” Harriett called back, throwing off the duvet and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

“Breakfast in the study,” Narcissa replied. “We’ve received news from England.”

News from England. Harriett’s stomach tightened. Such news rarely brought anything but trouble. Dressing quickly, she prepared herself for what lay ahead.

---

The study was a hive of tension when Harriett entered. Sirius stood by the fireplace, his hands gesturing animatedly as he spoke. Andromeda and Narcissa sat with impeccable posture, their faces masks of quiet resolve. Lucius leaned against the desk, his aristocratic features betraying nothing, while Draco lounged in an armchair, his pale brows furrowed in thought.

“What’s happened?” Harriett asked, taking a hesitant step into the room.

Sirius turned to her, his expression softening momentarily before hardening again. “The Ministry,” he said. “They’ve started targeting our allies—accusing them of harboring us, funding dark magic, undermining their authority.” He waved a letter toward her. “It’s a smear campaign, pure and simple.”

Harriett took the letter, her eyes scanning the bold script. It was a Ministry proclamation, its language full of veiled threats and insinuations.

“They’ve gone after the Greengrasses, the Rosiers, even the Selwyns,” Narcissa said coolly. “It’s a blatant attempt to isolate us.”

“Divide and conquer,” Lucius added. “Old tactics, but effective. They’re trying to make us a liability to anyone who might consider allying with us.”

Draco snorted softly from his seat. “As if they’d dare confront us directly.”

“And yet, their strategy is working,” Andromeda pointed out. “Families are pulling away, reluctant to risk their own safety and reputation.”

Harriett’s gaze moved from face to face, her mind racing. “So, what do we do?”

Sirius sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We stand by those who stand by us. I’ve already written to the affected families, assuring them of our support.”

“That’s not enough,” Harriett said suddenly, surprising herself with the firmness of her tone. “We need to show them that we’re not weak. That we’re not just surviving but thriving. If we can gather more allies—show our strength—it’ll send a message the Ministry can’t ignore.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Well said. Spoken like a true Black.”

---

The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. Letters were written and dispatched, reaching out to old allies and potential new ones. Narcissa and Andromeda focused on contacting the older generation—the matriarchs and patriarchs who wielded influence. Sirius and Lucius debated strategy, their voices rising and falling as they weighed each option.

Harriett, meanwhile, was tasked with reaching out to the younger generation—the heirs and heiresses who would inherit the future. The task felt daunting, but she tackled it with determination, her quill scratching across parchment as she penned letter after letter.

Draco, ever the opportunist, made it his mission to distract her whenever she seemed overwhelmed.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said, leaning over her shoulder as she stared at a half-finished draft.

“I just want to get it right,” Harriett muttered, tapping her quill against the parchment.

Draco rolled his eyes and plucked the quill from her hand. With a flourish, he added a line in his neat, slanted handwriting: ‘The strength of our bonds will withstand any storm.’

Harriett read it over and couldn’t help but smile. “Not bad.”

“Not bad?” Draco repeated, feigning offense. “It’s brilliant.”

“Fine,” she said, laughing softly. “It’s brilliant. Happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

---

By evening, the entire family gathered in the grand library. The room buzzed with a renewed sense of purpose, the earlier tension replaced by quiet determination. Sirius stood at the head of the room, a glass of wine in hand.

“To the House of Black,” he said, his voice steady and commanding. “May our strength and unity see us through whatever challenges lie ahead.”

“To the House of Black,” the others echoed, their voices ringing out in unison.

Harriett raised her glass, the warmth of the moment filling her chest. For the first time, she felt not like an outsider looking in but a vital part of something greater.

---

Later that night, unable to sleep, Harriett wandered into the gardens. The cool air was refreshing, and the faint scent of roses and lavender helped to clear her mind. She found herself at the fountain, the soft trickle of water soothing against the backdrop of rustling leaves.

She wasn’t surprised when Draco joined her.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” he asked, sitting beside her on the edge of the fountain.

Harriett shook her head. “Too much on my mind.”

Draco nodded, his usual smugness replaced by quiet thoughtfulness. “This… all of it—it’s a lot,” he admitted.

“It is,” Harriett agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a while, they sat in silence, the only sounds the fountain and the distant hum of crickets.

“You know,” Draco said eventually, “you’re a lot stronger than you think. You’re holding this family together, whether you realize it or not.”

Harriett blinked, surprised. “I’m just doing what I can.”

“And that’s enough,” Draco said firmly. “More than enough.”

She looked at him, her green eyes meeting his grey ones. In that moment, she saw not the arrogant boy she’d initially thought him to be but someone who, like her, was trying to navigate a world that demanded far too much.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Draco smirked, his familiar bravado returning. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

Harriett laughed, the tension of the day melting away. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she wouldn’t face it alone. Together, the House of Black would stand stronger than ever.

As they returned to the château under the starlit sky, Harriett felt a renewed sense of purpose. The House of Black wasn’t just a family—it was her family. And together, they would forge a legacy no one could tear down.