Persona

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. J.K. Rowling does and she has the right to do whatever she pleases with them. However, what I do own in the story is the plot. So, please do not sue me...

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Chapter Two: Pity for the Wealthy

 “Lord Black has come to pay you a visit, Your Grace.” informed his employer, who was seated behind a large mahogany desk with piles of paperwork scattered all over its length.

The young man didn’t even look up from what he was reading, his eyes focused and brows furrowed. Without missing a beat, he said. “Show him in.”

“Right away, sir.” bowed in submission. He turned around, noting the heavy draperies around the room and wondering still, after six years of service, the reason for his employer’s aversion to anything that was bright. He took a step forward to see to his master’s orders, but turned about again when a deep voice was carried across the room.

“I’ll be leaving for the ’s Masquerade Ball at dawn. Have my valet put together something for me before then.”

“Very good, sir. I’ll advise Atkins right away.” When his young attendee didn’t say anything after that, he asked. “Would that be all, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

nodded and then bowed. He then made his way out. The heavy opening closed with a slight thud and left to go about his duties with a poignant look on his face. He was dimly aware that as an old butler with no place to say so, he should not feel pity towards someone so highly regarded, amassed with so much wealth and fortune, but that was exactly how he felt at the moment.

As took the staircase that led to the chambers of the manor’s valet, the old butler caught a glimpse of the grand balcony overlooking the dance hall. Vaguely, he remembered a particular day when he had observed the arrival of his youthful employer.

It was during an irriguous October afternoon that he had been about his daily routine on seeing to the other servant’s duties when the door towards that balcony had opened, revealing a man in his late 40’s with long dark hair. Behind him, stood a much younger one with unruly tresses and unshaven face.

The young man, dressed in those awful clothes had instantly attracted ’s disapproval, yet by sheer irony, the boy turned out to be the one he was waiting for.

could still recall the reaction on his young master’s face when Sirius Black, his godfather, introduced him as the Duke of Godric’s Hollow.

The staggered look on Harry Potter’s face as he took in that piece of news was proof that he had no knowledge of himself actually being the lord of the manor. That was when realized that the young man was kept in the shadows until he had arrived at his home.

But then, couldn’t blame the astonishment of the boy who had been extremely young then. In fact, 20-year-old Harry James Potter was the youngest duke who ever had on his shoulders the burden of a full estate (all 500,000 acres of it) and a house full of servants, who tended to rooms with purposes he had not the slightest idea.

But after six years of guidance from Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, Harry Potter’s wealth tripled before his third year as the duke of the manor had ended.

Unlike the other gentlemen of nobility who were contented to squander their money on useless gambling and bets, Harry Potter had taken a step away from what was considered conventional. He engaged himself in a shipping business and was constantly out of the country, on trips, managing it himself whenever he could.

After a year of that, his wealth prospered and he extended his lands and properties to massive heights. He bought two more houses (a townhouse just outside the City and another mansion situated in Hogsmeade, lying near his former school), hired more employees, and purchased at least fifty horses, the best from Tattersalls, to raise and breed.

His massive wealth, good looks, and repute for being elusive as hell to marriage were more than enough to launch him into society as not just one of, but the most eligible bachelor in . But even after six years of being pawned to the society’s successful matchmakers, he still remained a bachelor.

found it difficult to breathe whenever he was reminded of the duke’s status. Anybody who would hear such a story would be thunderstruck to learn that all that transpired within a few years, but for him, it was not surprising at all.

Having witnessed firsthand and in private the struggles of his master and the sacrifices he made each day, he couldn’t find it in himself to doubt how much Harry Potter deserved to be in his position.

If truth be told, what really doubted was whether this was all that Harry Potter deserved or was there more to his life than fame and fortune.

In ’s opinion, the duke had something better in store for him, something more than just wealth and reputation. In the three years that his state had been prosperous, and his status high among the nobility, had yet to see him happy.

Even after six years of service, the old butler still had no clue what happened to his employer that made him quite cynical in life, or what the reason for his absence in Godric’s Hollow was. He also feared that he will never know the answer because the gentleman was quite foreboding and kept to himself all the time.

was not alien to the deficient life his master lived. In fact, he was convinced it had something to do with the broken pieces of his past, as well as his heart. Somehow, he knew that everything would be all right when Harry Potter was whole again. But that would only happen if he fell in love.

And right now, was not so confident that the Duke of Godric’s Hollow wanted to love.

Or, if he did, perhaps he believed he had no right.

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Inside his office, Harry Potter dropped his pen to rest his head on his hands, weary as he had been all day. His only wish was to have it end soon, but as if that was too much, there was the gala that required his presence that night.

The ’s Masquerade Ball was the last thing he wanted to appear in. Aside from his exhaustion from having to solve a haulage that had gone awry with one of his ships, he wasn’t up to facing the haute ton tonight. He knew that despite the disguise that he would be wearing, the domineering mamas of the young debutantes would somehow discover who he was and push their daughters to him the entire evening.

Turning down young hearts was not a favorite pastime, but it seemed that it was all he did lately. And that night, he wouldn’t have the energy to do so.

But as much as he would like to miss out on the fun, the ’s were a longtime family friend of his and he would be quite the austere person Sirius and Remus were telling him he was turning out to be.

As if on cue, the door opened to his office and his godfather came striding forward with a semi-smile plastered on his face.

“What do you want?” Harry asked gruffly, pushing back his chair.

Sirius took the seat in front of his godson’s desk and crossed his legs before speaking in a pleasant tone. “How have you been this past few months, son?”

“All right.”

Noting the broadsheet lying passive on the edge of his desk, Sirius continued in a chastising tone. “I wouldn’t consider succeeding in a business merger as just “all right”, my boy.” A pause and a knowing look came upon his face. He looked more amused than annoyed with his godson’s responses. “I suppose the ton has heard about it and are now more than eager to remove you in this year’s marriage market?”

“So what else is new?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

Tired of playing verbal chess with his godfather, Harry shoved himself away from his desk and stood up. “Look, Sirius. I am not in the perfect state for idle chitchat. I’ll be leaving in a couple of hours and I want to take a rest before heading out.”

This didn’t seem to deter Sirius a bit. “And where are you going? If you’re so tired, why leave?”

“The ’s will have a masquerade ball. I’m sure you got invited to that one as well.”

Sirius looked thoughtful. It had been a long while since he graced a ball with his presence and it had been too long since he read any invitation sent to him. Perhaps the ’s invitation was on the top of the pile he had already acquired over the years.

“Actually, I do not know nor do I have the slightest concern about it. I have no interest in going to balls, as you know. Alicia insists on staying at home and I have no complaints in doing.” Sirius said.

“I can’t see why you can’t go alone. It’s not at all out of the ordinary.” Harry said, thinking of Sirius’ wife and how she had managed to tame his godfather. From what he remembered from the tales Remus had told him, Sirius had been a complete rake ever since he turned thirteen.

He was out every night, seen in places like White’s, Tattersall’s and the Mermaid Tavern. But after he had lost a bet with one of his friends and was forced to go to Almack’s (being somewhat a handsome bachelor himself, stepping into such a lion’s den was a nightmare), he had the biggest change of his life.

It was how fate would have actually worked for them. He met and fell in love with Alicia Southcott, a first-time debutante. They got married a few months later and ever since then, his godfather had never been out of control. He still went to gentlemen’s clubs before but he didn’t go overboard like he had years earlier.

“I can’t see why. ’s at home with the grandchildren and I adore every minute I spend with them.” Sirius said, referring to his daughter who got married 7 years ago and had three children, one being his godson.

“How is Conner, by the way?” Harry asked.

“He’s doing great, I suppose. He’s learned the rules of the ton and has been talking of marriage ever since he arrived. He’s even more eager than you, you know.”

Harry rolled his eyes and not for one minute did he believe that a 5-year-old will be talking about such things, much more, know what the word “marriage” meant. It was just a plot that Sirius had decided to execute for him to talk about settling down, a setting that he wanted least.

“And the reason you’re telling me that is?” Harry asked him.

“You have a duty.” Sirius pointed out for the hundredth time. He stood up and walked over to the cabinet where Harry’s brandy had been minding its own business. He laid out two glasses and poured the content in them until they were both a quarter empty.

He handed the wineglass to his godson and sipped from his own, waiting for Harry to respond. When he didn’t, Sirius sighed heavily. “You have a duty to beget heirs so your lineage wouldn’t die down.”

“I’m not the least bit concerned.” Harry said bitterly, setting down his glass and turning to face the window.

Sirius looked outrage by this. “If you have to have a grudge against a family, then let it be the Dursleys, you fool!” He bit out venomously, impatient with the constant offense and rejection of Harry towards his family title. “The line of the Potters is a respectable one and it doesn’t deserve to be discarded. Your parents never wanted you to end up in such a situation. They sacrificed their life for you and they left you a fortune to get you started for a better one. I think they need to be thanked than spitted at.”

“I do not have the notion that I am doing so, Sirius. But I will not be coerced into doing something I am against. I will not surrender freedom to some chit who would just throw away the money I worked hard for to buy some ridiculous outfit or hat that her other giggly friends find fitting for her.”

“Is that what this is about? You don’t want to share your wealth?” Sirius asked.

“No. That’s not it.” Harry shook his head, realizing just that moment how selfish and foolish he sounded. “I just don’t want a wife…”

“Who is a dimwit, and only cares about her social status?” Sirius finished for him, hoping that that was what his godson meant.

Harry glanced over his shoulder, catching his eye and without having to tell him through words, his godfather knew.

Sirius sighed. Somehow, he understood what Harry was trying not to tell him.

He didn’t only want a wife. He wanted a wife whom he could love and who would love him right back.

And Sirius couldn’t blame him for carrying such a hope. He and Alicia had that. And knowing that Harry grew up in squalor without experiencing how it felt like to love and be loved, that was exactly what Harry deserved and wanted.

Finally, Sirius gave him a nod. The boy was young; he had plenty of time to find that love for himself. But Sirius sure as hell won’t wait till he dies to see his godson happily married. He’ll see to that. But he’ll make sure Harry was not aware of it.

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A/N:

There you go! That’s the second chapter. I hope it’s good enough to get you interested. Please tell me what you think and I’ll get back to you right away. Thanks and have nice day!