"Well, yeah, but Dumbledore wants international witches and wizards in case the war goes outside Britain," said George with a shrug. "Bill got a transfer here to the London branch of Gringotts. He wasn't too happy, but there are other compensations."
"Like what?"
"Remember Fleur Delacour? Apparently, she wants to be a curse-breaker herself. She applied to Gringotts for a job along with personal training in the field, was placed here in London and guess who she got assigned to?"
"Bill?" asked Dylan, his eyebrow raised.
"Spot on," said George, grinning widely. "From what we've managed to find out, they spent a few weeks together and decided to go on a date and, well, it seems to be going well."
"Yes!" Dylan cried happily as he pumped his fist in the air.
"She was never a problem, Dylan," said Harry wryly. "There's no need to be that happy."
"Speak for yourself! I can't wait to tell Daphne about this!"
Harry rolled his eyes as the door of the bedroom opened and Ginny Weasley walked in. It took her several seconds to realise that there were strangers in the room and when her eyes landed on Harry, her face turned pink.
"Hi Harry!" she said in a high-pitched voice.
"Hello," Harry greeted her politely.
"Well, if you'll excuse me," said Hermione standing up. "I'll see if I can get into the library again."
"You can't," said Dylan shortly.
"And why not?" demanded Hermione angrily.
"Because you are not Black by birth or have any close blood relatives who are Blacks. Unless the Head of House gives you permission, you won't be able to enter the library or any other family warded area."
"And how would you know that?" asked Hermione suspiciously.
Dylan simply raised an eyebrow. "My brother and I live with Uncle Sirius and Aunt Amelia half the time," he said. "I'm not a Black by blood so I needed permission. Harry already has Black blood because of his grandmother but his position as godson gives him automatic access."
Hermione sat down, looking frustrated. "What's the point of having a library if other people can't enter it?"
"It's a family library, Granger," said Harry quietly, "not a public library. Family books and grimoires are heavily guarded by the members."
"It's the same way at Potter Castle," Dylan shrugged. "I couldn't enter the library or the Lord's study until Harry keyed me into the wards."
"Potter Castle ?" asked Ron incredulously.
Harry shrugged casually.
Just then, the door to the room opened and Mrs Weasley poked her head inside. "The meeting is over kids, you can come down now. Be careful while coming down the stairs and don't make any noise. We don't want to wake anything."
" Wake anything?" whispered Dylan incredulously. Harry casually put an arm around Dylan's shoulders as they walked out of the room. Just as they were taking the last step to the ground floor, there was a loud sound.
CRASH!
"Tonks!" cried Mrs Weasley in exasperation as she set right the Troll's leg stand but before anyone could say anything, there was a horrible, ear-splitting, blood-curdling screech.
Walburga Black's portrait was screaming at the top of her voice and as she did, the other portraits began to scream too. Dylan covered his ears with his hands and looked expectantly at Harry.
BANG!
Harry shot off a cannon blast from his fingers as the portraits quietened down, looking at him in shock.
"If I hear even a whisper from any of you, you'll be very sorry indeed," said Harry dangerously, sparks coming from his fingers.
"And just who do you think you are, to demand that of me in my home?" screeched Walburga's portrait.
"Harry Potter."
"James' son?" she yelled furiously. "That blood-traitor married a Mudblood! Out ! The House of Black does not entertain filthy half-bloods like you! Filth! Scum! Oh what a surprise, my filthy blood-traitor of my son is also here! Shame of my flesh! Get out, Sirius, and never come back again! How dare you all befoul the house of my fathers -"
BANG!
People came running towards the source of the commotion and were startled to see Harry pointing his wand at Walburga's portrait, the tip glowing.
"Insult my parents again, Lady Black, and you'll see exactly how proficient and talented I am in the Dark Arts," said Harry coldly. "The wards you have put up might prevent any damage to the canvas against most spells, but I'd like to see if it holds up against something as deadly as Fiendfyre. I could burn this house down in an instant and I'm sure my father wouldn't mind at all. If I use you as an example, the rest of the portraits will think twice before insulting my parents."
"Your blood-traitor of a nephew married a Mudblood, yes," sneered Harry at the shell-shocked portrait. "But that Mudblood was actually the Heiress of House Slytherin. After my mother Lily Potter died, I inherited her title. You should be honoured that I have bothered to grace my presence in your home, Lady Black, because I am Lord Slytherin!"
Walburga's eyes bulged out when she saw the Gryffindor and Slytherin rings along with the Potter Lordship ring on his fingers. "That blood-traitor you call your son is also the Lord of House Black," continued Harry angrily. "I do not take kindly to anyone insulting the man whom I love as much as my own father. Sirius Black is the Minister of Magic and has brought more glory to this family than you and your ancestors ever did. You will remain silent and go to sleep, is that clear, Grandmother ?"
"Yes," said Walburga quietly.
Harry simply flicked his wand and the curtains snapped shut, plunging the corridor in silence. No one uttered a word, too awed or horrified to speak. Some were blinking in surprise when Harry referred to Sirius as his dad but none of them questioned him. The reason for the change in title was due to Harry coming to terms with what had happened at the graveyard; having come so close to death, with Voldemort having nearly manipulated him into joining his side, had struck a chord in Harry. It was only because of his family that he had managed to hold on and not be swayed by Voldemort's offer. Without Sirius and Amelia in his life over the past four years, things would have turned out much differently for him, not all of them good. This was the reason Harry had begun to refer to them as his Mum and Dad.
Sirius and Amelia had been reduced to tears the first time Harry had called them that. While Harry would always love and cherish his birth parents, he also came to regard Sirius and Amelia as his adoptive parents too and if someone were to so blatantly insult any of one them, either James and Lily or Sirius and Amelia, it was his duty as their son to defend their honour.
"That was bloody brilliant!" said George in awe.
"Scary, but brilliant," agreed Fred.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen is why you don't mess with Harry Potter," said Dylan, grinning widely.