Edited 2/2/2022
Chapter Three, The Contract

When Josie awoke the next morning she found herself alone in her bedroom asides from Merlin. As she lay in bed stroking him and kissing his head, the events of last night returned to her and the vision she hadn't told her family about, one she needed to tell Professor Dumbledore about. Looking at her clock she saw that it ten o' clock and knew she had to get up soon, as they were heading to Gringotts in Diagon Alley this afternoon meeting up with Lord and Lady Black, Arcturus and Melania Black, Sirius' grandparents to sign the Courting contract. Some may think this is all rushed but it actually wasn't, it was the Pureblood Culture to have Courting and Betrothal Contracts and for the male to start the Courting Process before they turn sixteen.

Some parents had Betrothal Contracts made from birth and Josie was forever thankful her parents weren't like that, hence why they are making one now that Sirius has started Courting her. As they wanted her and Jamie to find real love, like they have. The Courting process although more intimate than the Muggle term 'dating'. It is actually slower than 'dating' and there are more rules that are put in place by their parents or in Sirius' case his grandparents - (they had not been happy when they found out what Walburga Black had done to her own son according to the letter her father had received anyway).

But after last night and those horrifying visions Josie didn't want to leave her bed let alone her room. There was suddenly a loud crack and Lou-Lou appeared standing beside her bed.
"How're you feeling, Miss? Lou-Lou brings you a Calming Draft and a Stomach Soother. When you are ready your mother asks you to come down to breakfast." Lou-Lou said as she handed over the potions watching sternly to make sure Josie took them.

"Thank you Lou-Lou." Josie said grimacing after the last potion. "Can you tell Mama and Papa I will be down after I've bathed and dressed, please?" Josie asked kindly.
"Of course Miss." Lou-Lou agreed. "I shall run you a nice hot bath with some muscle relaxers in the water and scented candles. That will help after those horrific things, my poor Mistress." Lou-Lou crooned sadly as she stroked Josie's hair before she disappeared. Gently coaxing Merlin off of her lap with one last kiss to his head, Josie climbed from her warm bed stretching and sighing happily as her stiff muscles relaxed as she went over to her desk grabbing some parchment from the draw. Dipping her quill into the ink pot she started penning her letter.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I'm sorry to trouble you on your holidays but I have something urgent to tell you. I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not, but I am a Seer. The first one in our family since Ignotus Peverell himself.

The reason for this letter is; I've had some troubling and disturbing visions as of late. There is an increased number of Death Eaters (soon to be or current) within the walls of Hogwarts and not all are in the House of Slytherin.

The other reason and one I've told no one about, not even my parents is this: You-Know-Who has created Horcruxes. I do not know what they are or where they are as of yet, but I do know there are currently five but he wishes for seven.

Please Headmaster we have to find them and destroy them and therefore him as soon as possible. I do not wish to have the dreadful visions I saw last night to come to pass.

Please help, and I'm sorry for disturbing your holiday.

Kindly,

Heiress Josephine Alyssa Potter

Josie read over the letter again, feeling satisfied she had conveyed everything she needed to she quickly penned an envelope, and folded the letter once it dried, slipping it into the envelope and sealing with the Potter House crest. Getting to her feet quickly she opened the window and let out a shrill whistle calling for James' Eagle owl, Ares.
"Hello Ares," Josie greeted as she stroked his breast feathers. "Can you take this to Professor Dumbledore for me? Thank you." She said gratefully as he gave a hoot and held his leg out to her that had a leather letter holder tied around his leg. Josie gave him one last stroke before he took off back out the window with Josie's letter, after watching him for a few moments Josie shut the window and headed into the bathroom for a nice relaxing bath.

After washing her hair and body and doing all her other necessities Josie relaxed back in the warm water taking in the lovely aroma of her scented candles until the water started to turn cold. Deciding she'd been in the bath and put off going down stairs long enough, she pulled the plug from the bath and climbed out wrapping a towel around her body and around her hair and quickly brushed her teeth before she headed towards her closet to decide what to wear. Looking through her vast amount of outfits she decided on a sleeveless red blouse that had a black pattern on it, black jeans with black socks, red high heeled boots that had a bow on the side. Along with the opal necklace and earring set her father had given her for her last birthday, her Heiress ring and her white gold Courtship ring that was styled like a rose.

Setting her outfit on the stool she quickly dried herself off, put on some deodorant and perfume before she slipped on her underwear, rings and jewellery before finally getting dressed, as she was drying her hair she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in." Josie called as she sat at her vanity table running a brush through her curls.
"Josie, darling?" Her mother questioned.
"In here Mama." Josie replied. A moment later Euphemia entered the closest.
"Oh Josie, you look beautiful." Euphemia said, smiling softly at her daughter. "How about I do your hair and makeup." She suggested, knowing her daughter didn't want to talk about the visions but needed her mother.
"Thank you Mama." Josie said gratefully, that bonding time with her mother is just what she needed, and it'll be like when she was younger.

"You know you can always come to me, sweetheart. For whatever you need." Euphemia said breaking the comfortable silence that had befallen them.
"I know." Josie said softly, connecting her hazel eyes with her mother's cobalt blue ones through the mirror. "I love you Mama."
"I love you too, baby. Your father has asked the Goblins to see if there is anything in the vaults that might help you." Euphemia told her daughter, assuring her that everything would be alright. "There we go. You look beautiful." She said, kissing her daughter's forehead. Euphemia had twisted Josie's hair up into a waterfall braided ponytail with a few strands to frame her face. Her makeup was done beautifully with a golden smokey-eye eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascara and red lipstick.

"Thanks Mum." Josie said hugging her mother tighter than she normally did. If Euphemia noticed she didn't say anything.
"You're welcome, darling. Now, come downstairs and have your fruit porridge then we have to go." Euphemia instructed as she passed her daughter the wand holster with her unique wand inside it and her cream bag. Once the wand holster had been strapped to her arm and she had given Merlin a stroke, she followed her mother downstairs. Upon entering the dining room she saw her father sitting at the head of the table reading the paper, and James was talking to Sirius and Remus about something.
"Josie!" James cried, scrambling to his feet and enveloping his sister in his tight but warm bear-hug. "Are you alright?"

"Jamie let your sister eat." Fleamont said sternly, though his own hazel eyes shone with concern.
"Sorry." James apologised letting go of Josie who was smiling softly at her big brother. Just as he went to pull out her chair for her, Sirius beat him to it.
"Your chair Milady." Sirius said with an exaggerated bow making Josie giggle.
"Why thank you Milord." Josie giggled before tucking into her breakfast. Feeling content and at peace for the first time since last night.

***

As soon as Josie had finished they all headed into the parlour where they would be flooing directly into Gringotts and would then be heading out into Diagon Alley to shop for their school supplies. First Euphemia went through the floo, then Josie, Remus, James, Sirius and finally Fleamont each called out 'Ragnok Potter Account Manager Office, Gringotts' before they vanished.
"Ahh Lord Potter I see everyone is all here. We thought you were going to be late." Ragnok greeted as soon as Fleamont stepped out of the fireplace vanishing the soot from his clothes.
"Apologies, Lord Ragnok, King of the Goblin nation and our Account Manager." Fleamont apologised cordially.

"There was a situation. Did you manage to find anything?" Fleamont asked, sparing a glance at Arcturus and Melania who were apologising to Sirius. They may be his and Mia's dear friends but that didn't mean he wanted to broadcast that his daughter was a Seer. The Daily Prophet would have a field day.
"Of course." Ragnok said as he slid over a black velvet box that held a white golden necklace that held a large amethyst in the middle. The amethyst had tiny runes carved all over the jewel. "Your Ancestor Ignotus, had this made so none of his descendants would have to go through what he did. It will help ease the visions and the effect they have on Josephine, but it won't rid her of them." Ragnok explained.

"Thank you." Fleamont said with a bow of his head. "Josie sweetheart." Fleamont called, pulling her from her talks with her mother, Remus and James. "Come here darling. We've found something that will help you." He said as he closed the clasp on the necklace at the back of her neck. As soon as the jewel rested against her breasts she felt a dull ache in the back of her head - (that was always there due to prophetic powers) - ease slightly causing her to let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you Ragnok, thank you Papa." Josie said gratefully with a relieved happy smile on her face.
"Now that that's settled. Let's get down to business." Ragnok said, causing everyone to take their seats.

"Now, Lord and Lady Black. What you are about to find out, you must not share with anyone, including your family. Is that understood?" Ragnok asked sternly, his black beady-eyes boring into the pair.
"Yes, Lord Ragnok." Arcturus and Melania agreed, before they swore on their magic.
"Good." Ragnok said, with a smirk before he turned to Sirius and Josie. "I see you have already gifted the ring, Master Black." Ragnok stated. "I want you both to answer honestly. This is crucial for the Courting Contract as you are both going to be sixteen and for the Betrothal Contracts once you are seventeen, have you ever been intimate with each other? Or anyone?" The Goblin asked sternly.

"No Ragnok." Sirius and Josie answered as a quill scratched away drawing up the contract. "We've only shared a kiss on the cheek and I held Josie's hand in comfort." Sirius continued.
"Excellent. As you both know the Courting process will last for nearly two years until you're both seventeen. We will meet again this time next year to draw up the Betrothal and then it is amongst yourselves to discuss the marriage. Now, you are not to be intimate with each other until your wedding night. Pecks on the cheek are fine, a peck to the lips is acceptable if there is a chaperone present, and hand-holding is also acceptable. Sirius, as you may know you have to present Miss Potter with gifts. Not just any gifts, but gifts that show your affection and adoration for her so I suggest you start soon." Ragnok continued as they went over the rules that Fleamont, Euphemia, Melania and Arcturus had sent on ahead.

Once they had gone over and refined everything they finally came to the other crucial point of this meeting.
"I'm sorry you had to vow on your magic, but you must understand; Mia and I only want to protect our daughter." Fleamont apologised to his dear friends.
"What is it, Monty?" Arcturus asked, confused.
"Josie is a Seer." Euphemia replied with a pained note in her voice as Melania gasped a hand covering her mouth. "They have been taking a great toll on her. It's why we had Ragnok search the vaults for that necklace." She continued pointing to the runic necklace around Josie's neck. "She's the first in our Line since Ignotus Peverell."
"Don't worry Mia." Melania said, as she rested a hand over her friends giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Turus and I will not breathe a word of it." Melania promised.

"We'll also keep an ear out and make sure no one suspects anything." Arcturus added before he turned stern towards his grandson. "You best look after Josie, Sirius. I mean it. I will not let your mother disown you or blast you off the tapestry, but you are to help Josie when she needs it and to treat her right."
"I promise I'll never hurt Josie. She means too much for me to do that." Sirius swore. Once all final discussions were done Arcturus, Melania, Fleamont and Euphemia signed the contract as parents/Head of House, James and Remus signing their name in the witness section and finally Josie and Sirius signed the contract before it was tripled; with one copy going to be filed in the Potter vault, the other in the Black vault and the final copy to be filed at the Ministry.

"Gringotts thanks you for your visit today. May your vaults continue to fill with everlasting gold." Ragnok said as he bowed his head to them.
"Thank you Lord Ragnok, may your gold forever flow and your enemies tremble at your feet." Fleamont and Arcturus said before they all left the office.
"Mel, Arcturus, would you care to join us?" Euphemia asked.
"Thank you Mia, but we need to have a talk with our son and his wife." Melania said apologetically. "Sirius, behave yourself." She said, sternly before kissing his forehead and saying her goodbyes.

Once they had bid goodbye to Arcturus and Melania Black, they finally left Gringotts and went back out into the bright sunshine.
"How about an ice cream before we start our shopping, hmm? My treat as Remus was made Prefect." Fleamont declared, while Euphemia just smiled fondly at her husband.
"What?" Fleamont asked, seeing Euphemia's look.
"Nothing." Euphemia said, fondly as she kissed his cheek. "Where's Sirius running off to?" She asked, noticing the grey-eyed boy was no longer in between James and Remus. At her question everyone spun around looking for him, when Remus found him, walking back towards them.

"Where did you disappear off to?" Josie questioned. "You worried everyone." She said with a scowl on her face.
"Sorry," Sirius said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck, the other holding something behind his back.
"What you got there, mate?" James asked curiously.
"Err," Sirius cleared his throat and tried again. "Josie, these are for you." Sirius said, as he pulled a bouquet of bright red roses out from behind his back, a blush forming on his cheeks like the one on Josie's.
"Thank you, Siri." Josie said, as she took the roses and inhaled the sweet aroma. "They're beautiful." She said, as she kissed his cheek.

Sirius smiled happily. Glad he had cheered Josie up after last night.
"I had been planning to get you some before that meeting." Sirius assured. "I just wanted to see that smile back on your face." Sirius said sincerely. Euphemia beamed at them while Fleamont tried and failed to scowl at him but his lips kept twitching upward at seeing his daughter happy.
"Lou-Lou." Euphemia called. A second later there was a loud crack and the House-elf appeared before them.
"Yes, Mistress?" Lou-Lou asked, with a curtesy.

"Could you take Josie's flowers and put them in some water, please." Euphemia asked.
"Of course Mistress." Lou-Lou said, with another curtesy before she took the flowers gently and disappeared with a loud crack.
"Right, ice cream." Fleamont said, as he descended the steps with the boys right behind him with loud cries escaping their lips. While Euphemia and Josie just shook their heads fondly at the strange men in their life. But they wouldn't have it any other way.