Chapter Twenty One
Swelter'd venom sleeping got
Harry awoke early in the morning on the twenty-second of June feeling like he'd forgotten something. He lay there for a moment until Lisa put her hand on his abdomen right above his pubic arch. "Your signature on the Dursleys' house, Harry. We never did it. We've never figured out whether it was truly necessary, but better safe than sorry."
Harry nodded and popped away. Lisa sighed and opened an eye. Good, it was still dark. At least the naked, well endowed, apparent sixteen-year-old would have the cover of darkness.
Harry appeared in the back garden of number four Privet Drive and looked in the window. He saw only darkness. Smiling, he laid his hand on the wall of the house and concentrated.
Lisa grunted and then snuggled into Harry when he reappeared under her. "No alarms?" "Nope. That should keep Dumbledore convinced I'm there if he monitors me like we suspect." "Good boy. Sleep. I'll wake you in an hour or two." Harry smiled and caressed Lisa's fine, light blond hair. H "You have to turn the fire off, my lord. They will be insane," Amelia explained again. "Good." Sirius grinned.
"Yes, but then we can't extract more information from them, like who's responsible for this, what exactly happened, and what reparations are owed." Amelia sighed. Sirius was like a petulant child at this point. Probably better than Harry, though, as when he'd heard his eyes had flared a green like the Killing Curse and he hadn't said a word. That was ominous, to say the least. Bloody terrifying is what it was really. Those men and perhaps their sons were dead men, just like Dawlish. Dumbledore wouldn't be able to hold them forever if he didn't convict them, and Harry would kill them out of hand the first time he saw them. Dawlish was a perfect example. He would have to be let out, pre-trial, soon. Harry would kill him if Nym didn't. Oh, thinking of Harry, hmmm. Maybe Horace was right; no, not now--later.
Amelia opened her eyes and found herself staring into two knowing, deep black pools. Sirius smiled and waved his hand. "Fire's out, Amelia. For now." Sirius wasn't happy with Dumbledore at all. This would become a constant in his life.
Lester cleared his throat. "You've no heir, Sirius. You can't challenge Dumbledore yet. You and Harry need to practice more first."
"This has nothing to do with Harry, Lester; it's a Black matter."
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"Ha! Other than he now knows where a bunch of bullies are. The Coven will be researching Dementors and wards all summer until he can find a way to get to them and kill them, painfully. Dumbledore is responsible for this. No matter how he squirms and lies he's the Chief Warlock; it's in his brief. Harry is the closest approximation to you fighting Dumbledore, so therefore your best sparring partner. Oh, he doesn't know as much, but he's perhaps even more powerful and he'll learn as you go."
Narcissa yawned. They, the adults of the Coven, had been at this all night. "Sirius, you need to wait too. I can't see Bella letting that happen; she would die first. She would certainly starve to death before she serviced a less than pure-blood. She might have just used you to tip us or Amelia to what was going on. Her name hasn't come up in any of these interrogations yet. Something is odd about her, too. Anna, Donna, and David have her scans and we'll visit her again next week."
Amelia nodded. "The Aurors are rounding up the retired guards, administrators, and wardens. We'll question them all. Bellatrix is notable by her conspicuous absence from any reports of sexual abuse. Apparently she terrifies the guards--the human ones, anyway."
Sirius's black aura flared and Magda sat in the middle of it in his lap. "Ye, we know you don't like Dementors. Now, take me to bed; I need my rest."
Remus narrowed his eyes and Evangeline grabbed his chin, turning his face to her. She nodded, then shook her head nearly imperceptibly and looked down at her own belly and smiled. Remus leapt up. "Well that's settled. Night, all!" He dragged a chuckling Evangeline away. It was three in the morning.
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Lisa was as good as her word; she rolled onto Harry and woke him with a series of kisses. They even made it out of bed in fairly short order after a very nice session of lovemaking, not just sex, and headed down for PT in a tumbling mass of pleased witches and Squibs. Harry had no idea how he made them so happy, but he was pleased that he could.
After PT, breakfast, and some rushing around the tumbling mass made it to Knockturn; Harry was touring the facilities today. It turned out to be an exciting day for all involved as Harry didn't just tour ,he worked the machines, prepared ingredients, or stood on the packing lines as Victoria introduced him to product line chiefs and workers and he sat around talking to the workers in his shirtsleeves on their breaks. By the end of the day he was a popular smash hit. So was the Coven.
The werewolves were particularly enamored. Harry made no distinction between them at all and objected ferociously when the pack leaders suggested that payment for the Wolfsbane be taken from their pay packets on the grounds that it was unfair to the other workers, since it constituted a day's extra pay for the werewolves. This of course set off the normal lunch and pub argument that the werewolves could do more work so were inherently more valuable even with the Wolfsbane and their one-day absence each month. None of the foremen wanted to give up their werewolves.
Johanna Housholder looked thoughtful. Why couldn't they have health insurance like the Muggle government?
Knockturn and all its facilities were well turned out, the residents and workers glad to be there; Squibs, half-bloods, and magical creatures too. The children were overjoyed, as were the parents, with living conditions in the Alley. Harry was well pleased.
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H Beatrice frowned as Narcissa handed Leyland to Harry that evening. "That's so unfair, Cissy."
Narcissa smiled smugly. Beatrice gave her a flash of tongue and dragged Harry away. Harry handed Leyland to Hermione on the way past. Hermione sighed. "Cissy, you have to control this urge to torture Beatrice just because you have Leyland."
"Well that would be no fun at all, Ne. Besides, she'll be all knocked up and insufferable soon."
"Narcissa!"
The mums sat around smiling and shaking their heads.
Sirius looked at Daphne and quietly asked, "How is it Hermione tolerates all of this from all these women?"
Daphne smiled. "She loves them as much as Harry does, maybe because Harry does. We all--the inner circle, anyway--do. It's a little odd."
Sirius blinked. "Really? You love them?"
Daphne smiled. "We're in Harry's head continuously. We see ourselves and them from his perspective." Daphne blushed slightly. "Sure, it's not the burning, all-consuming love he holds for-- well, us, the inner circle--in all cases, but it is love. He doesn't know it, but it is. I would warn you, though, that he will destroy the world for Hermione if she hints that that's what she wants."
Sirius smiled. "Even I figured that out, Daphne."
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Harry stood in Knockturn Alley the next morning with Lester in front of the new Gringotts branch. "Yes, Harry, we built it. They actually owned the old building that stood here and commissioned us to tear it down and build this."
Harry grinned. "For next to nothing, right?"
Lester laughed. "Do I have a lump, Harry? Do you think I fell down and hit my head? For every dime I could get from the little tightwads. Oh, by the way, I want your Chinese girl--Chang, is it?"
Harry bristled. Lester laughed. "Not for that, bucko--interior design. Somehow the Goblins have seen some drawings she did and they're all gaga over that Chinese lacquer. The Goblins get loopy looking at them. Frightening really, all those teeth and that drooling."
Harry mumbled, "Sorry."
Lester looked at him. "Surprised yourself there, didn't you? She started out as a problem, I bet, and you've convinced yourself you don't care about her other than to punish her. Time to learn, Harry. We don't--we as in you and I--invest in them if there isn't something there, and I don't mean how pretty they are. Melba would just find me another one even prettier, and you have Nym."
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"I wouldn't ever use her like that, Lester."
Lester grinned and threw an arm around Harry's shoulders. "So she'll never stop trying to find one you like better. Witches are strange, lad."
Harry nodded and then winced. Lester laughed and dragged him into the gleaming white three- story building. "Come on, let's put you to work before you get in more trouble."
"Before you get me in more trouble, don't you mean, Lester?"
"Or that." Lester nodded. "Good idea, this branch bank down here. Of course the Goblins are going to connect the vaults somehow and install their own wards, but it feels more ours somehow."
Harry nodded. "I know. It's strange--I still don't agree about the human tellers thing, though."
Lester nodded. "Which if I didn't know you I would suspect was a ploy. It put the Goblins right in your corner."
Harry grinned. "I like Goblins. They're very focused."
Lester blinked. "If you say so, Harry. It's what they're focused on that worries me."
Harry laughed. "That's easy, Lester: gold, and how to get more of it."
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"Ginny, godsdammit! You perv! Quit sneaking up and licking me. You need a few of your own if you're going to be all curious!"
Ginny nodded vigorously as Hermione sat up with a rock-hard left nipple where Ginny had again sneaked up on her and given her a lick and a lips-over-teeth nip on the nipple. "Agreed. Which ones, do you think?"
"Me? Why me? I had to find my own. You and Nev find your own." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Neeeeeee!" "Ginevra Molly Weasley Longbottom, stop whinging!"
The inner circle lay suppressing their laughter. Ginny had adopted Hermione as her big sister, bi experimentation interest, and matriarch advisor, all rolled into one. It was very entertaining--unless you were Hermione, of course. They were all laid out on the lawn on a break between Nicholas's advanced potions and Bathsheba's advanced runes lecture, the Hogwarts instructors having once again jumped at the chance to tutor at Potter Castle over the summer.
Clementine Malfoi, fourteen, Beauxbatons student, one-quarter Veela, tanned, toned, and very, very cute with a completely innocent face that disguised a razor-sharp mind and a very mischievous soul, who was taking advantage of the tutoring for the summer, looked over interestedly. Ginny was very interesting with that flaming hair, milk-white skin, tight body, and hint of massive magical power lurking in there. Sure, she was a little flat and boyish still, but coming on nicely. Something might have to be DONE here. This Neville boy was interesting too; much too self-effacing but very competent, and he adored plants.
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Clementine nodded. She would need to speak to Mother, who would speak to Beatrice, who would talk to Narcissa, who would speak with Hermione. A contract could at least be arranged; after all, they had the trunks. Harry was marvelous, but really there was no sense even trying that. Oh sure, he would no doubt be massively skilled, but he was so involved with so many already. Including Aunt Beatrice, cousin Josephine, and a few of the older Malfoi witches and Veela. No, he wasn't a long-term prospect and a dalliance there would get you killed unless Hermione approved--of course Hermione would approve of anything he showed the least interest in--but no. He was committed, too committed to too many for any new ones to get in.
Daphne watched Clementine watching and smiled. Hermione sighed with relief. Finally! What took them so long? Neville is good-looking and Ginny's very cute.
And not the power couple here, Hermione. Narcissa smiled smugly. She was in the bond now, no question.
The inner circle turned and beamed at her and Narcissa shuddered from a very aggressive mental hug from Nym. Good, you're finally here with us full time, Cissy.
Yes, Nym. Uh, Nym, what was that you did? I mean, I am your aunt.
Nym's laughter filled the bond. Oh, now you think of that! Too late. I've ridden along every time he shagged you.
Narcissa's forehead creased. Susan sat up and reached up to rub her forehead smooth. You'll get wrinkles. Don't worry about it. After all, it isn't Padma riding along shagging Parvati.
Padma shrugged from where she lay on her back on a towel and her breasts shifted interestingly. Some moralities are outmoded by the bond.
Tracey distracted them by nudging Daphne. "Look at Millie."
Daphne looked and chuckled. Millie was lying with her head on a washboard set of abs belonging to Greg Goyle, who had come a monstrously long way in a year. He would never be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he was smart enough and very proficient at the combat magics, as well as being built like a Mr Universe contestant. Also he was obsessively devoted to Millie. Millie was smiling all the way to her eyes. Harry beamed and the inner circle's breath was taken away by how happy he was for her. Millie was more of a very dedicated vassal; sure, she'd been getting her dose directly from the source, but she wasn't really into full sex with Harry, no matter that he could make her head cave in--well, nearly. It was just sex. Harry wanted her to be happy, all of them really. It was one of his life goals. And Millie was happy. She would forever be an ecstatic vassal. Her family were another story like Greg's.
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That evening Emma smiled as she gaveled the meeting to order in the firstborns' hub trunk. It was really the firstborns', Squibs', and magical creatures' hub trunk and they all used the mansion it contained for meeting rooms and parties. It did have an enormously expanded great hall that could accommodate hundreds, as it was tonight. "Good evening. This will be the last meeting for the summer. I'm sure we all have plans and want to spend some time with our children or families."
She waited for the clapping to die down. "We've passed out handouts that detail everything we
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know about the events at Hogwarts this year, and as always, Harry will gladly answer any questions you might have that aren't covered." They didn't need to know that it would be a group of the Coven unless they didn't know the answer; then Harry would get the question.
"The new students for next year have all met their sponsors." Emma nodded to the sixteen Potter vassals. "And the families that have recently had magical children have been contacted. They will be showing up in your groups over the summer. Please make them welcome. Now, unless there is any new business?"
Emma hoped for an early night tonight. Harry had been in rare form lately and so, therefore, had the bonded. Hermione was a complete joy to be around, the witch to know, erudite, beautiful, confident, and fully in charge of those Malfoi Veela. It made a mother so proud.
M. Thomas Atwater, a half-blood product line manager for SSWA, disappointed her. "Mrs Granger. While we appreciate what you, our sponsors, and His Grace have DONE, we are British. Understanding that the Magical world functions along manorial lines, we would like at least some formal representation before His Grace. To that end I have prepared a scheme I believe would satisfy our needs and allow us to better help His Grace provide for us and defend us, as is his charge under the manorial concept."
Emma blinked. Thomas took the vast silence as consent and launched into his scheme. Soon they were all rapt. Thomas had mirrored the current magical world and then streamlined it and put in the best people or creatures for each job. The werewolves were pleased to find themselves listed under Security Forces. Of course all lines flowed up to Harry, but oh my, this was good.
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Alastor Moody looked at Nym as they strolled down the magical alley in Manchester on a training mission. "I would speak to your lord, Tonks, not least to thank him for this leg. It's great to be out here without being recognized."
Nym blinked. Her eyes had a green ring around the light blue that they were today. "So, not buying the Matriarch thing, then?"
Moody tapped his magical eye and Nym winced. "Never have--well, not since I saw you and the Matriarch together. By the way, those contacts of yours--they helped you with that top of the class mark in Stealth and Tracking, didn't they?"
"Aren't you Dumbledore's man, though, Alastor? Yes. The contacts, like your eye, help me a lot."
Moody bristled. "The Moodys are their own! Sure, I've worked with Albus, but something's wrong with him. It's becoming more and more apparent. Your lord and the Black are the only real hope left, at least for those who don't want to be servants of the Light or the Dark. I'll not be a servant. Shouldn't you have been ready if you were going to be so blunt with that question?" He looked at her eyes. "Oh, I see. That won't save you from a close-range Killing Curse, him being ready to be here instantly like that."
"It might not, but I would hate to be the one who cast it. Harry would torture them for a thousand years before he let them die and moved on to their son. Even if this vest worked as planned. Sorry, Alastor, no offense intended with that Dumbledore comment. Harry will be glad to meet with you. Sirius too. After our tour today?"
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Alastor nodded. "Now let's go check this report on Jugson. Is that what he plans for Dawlish?" Tonks chuckled. "Harry says I can have him first, but he gets to kill him." Alastor grunted. "So no hope for Dale, then." Nym shook her head. "None. Harry wants people to remember. It will be spectacular."
Moody nodded and watched Tonks moving. She was well balanced and smooth. "How do you do that with the mass of that vest?"
Nym blinked. "Uh, mass? Oh, I got it." She shrugged. "I've always worn it. It's a part of me now; I'm used to it." She shrugged as Alastor grumbled. Amelia was working to get the money to supply the vests for all Aurors. He would have to train for a year to be proficient with that much extra mass on him.
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That same day, the twenty-fifth of June, late in the morning, Sirius and Remus fled the sitting room of Potter Castle and went to find a drink. Who knew you could talk about the paper a wedding invitation was printed on for three hours? Sirius sighed. "We'll never make an August twenty-first wedding at this rate."
Remus nodded. "It does seem more involved than I thought it would be."
Sirius barked a laugh. "Pity poor Harry. His wedding will be the worst ever. Every one of the mums will want to be involved."
H Frank, Alice, Augusta, and Neville climbed out of the limo Harry had provided in Ottery St Catchpole just at lunchtime, and Frank led them to the house.
Arthur had taken the day off, Molly had scrubbed up the boys, and Ginny was nervously pacing in a very pretty sun dress.
Frank looked at the house and smiled. Arthur was such a character; only he would have a house as crazy as the Burrow. He had to have made it lean like that on purpose. Frank raised his hand and knocked at the door.
As the knock reverberated inside the house, Molly had a flashback or mental review of the chain of events that had led to the present. Ginny had written her a letter hinting that she was interested in the Boy Who Lived. Molly had thought about it and smiled. That little black-haired, green-eyed boy who had kissed her the year before? He was a cutie, and the Potters were well off. She had spoken to Arthur and they had agreed that this could be fine. Then that party at Potter Castle, the birthday party--parties really. She should have seen it wasn't Harry Potter. That Granger girl and the Patil, Greengrass, and Bones girls had Harry's complete attention. Well, maybe not complete, all those other girls, but it was fairly obvious that Harry Potter was taken.
Neville Longbottom, the anointed Boy Who Lived, had captured Ginny. That service contract had not been a surprise, at least to her. Ginny could enter into it with a wizard within two years of her own age even without her parents' consent. Of course that was just not DONE, but it was allowed. Molly had sent back instructions, given her approval, and cried for two days when Arthur wasn't
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home and the house was empty. Molly had longed to talk to someone about it and had finally had to speak to Minerva. Even thinking of talking to Dumbledore made her physically ill.
Now Neville Longbottom had saved Ginny from a horrible fate at the hands of that Draco No Name. It was like a story book, really. Molly looked up. Arthur had opened the door and let the Longbottoms in. Molly shook hands with Frank, kissed Alice's cheek, curtsied to Augusta, and crushed Neville to her in a hug that stopped his breathing. "Thank you, Neville, for saving my Ginny."
Neville managed to extricate himself and smile. "I was very glad to, Mrs Weasley."
Molly wiped away a tear. Arthur cleared his throat. "Well, we have a lunch laid in the garden."
The families trooped outside and enjoyed a fine afternoon together. Neville and Ginny walked off holding hands with the other kids, and the parents watched, smiling. Arthur sighed. "Ginny is in a right state. We're going to Egypt the eleventh of August to see her brother for two weeks, you see."
Alice looked at Molly. "Ginny is bonding to Neville. It's not good to separate them now." Molly wrung her hands. Arthur looked at her. "Bonding?" Molly nodded. "No question. Accelerating now since the events at the end of term."
Arthur frowned. "I really wanted her to see Egypt and Bill. It's been a few years since she saw him, and this might be the only chance she has to see Egypt." He sighed. "So she could stay with the Duke and Duchess Potter?"
Molly nodded. "I haven't spoken to Hermione but I was going to ask her."
Frank cleared his throat. "I think Neville could travel to Egypt with or at the same time as you. A young man should see the world at least a little." Frank knew about the trunks, as did the twins; obviously the other Weasleys didn't yet.
Arthur smiled. "We'd be happy to have him."
Frank smiled back. "He'll pay his own way, Arthur, but I'd be happy if you could keep and eye on him for me."
Arthur opened his mouth to say something about the money and Augusta cleared her throat. "Fine idea, Frank."
Arthur clapped his mouth closed.
Down by the pond Ron sat with Neville and engaged him in conversation at every opportunity. The twins watched and chuckled. Ginny was going to explode any second.
H "GINNY!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Hermione! Neville is coming with us! I know it was your idea-- well, yours or Harry's."
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"Ginny! Oh gods!"
It was late the same evening and in the master bedroom of Potter Castle. Harry lay with his head propped on his bent arm and smiled. Ginny had burst into the room and dove on Hermione, and after her little speech she had slid down and was now face-down in Hermione's crotch. Hermione was resisting, but Ginny was really enthusiastic and very aggressive. Hermione wouldn't last much longer.
Padma wriggled her butt against Harry and he unfolded his arms and reached down and around, cupping both breasts. He pulled her over onto her back and began one of the detailed inspections coupled with lovemaking that he was becoming known for.
Narcissa looked at Susan. "Will her vassal oaths hold? I mean, Harry just shagged Hermione; Ginny has to be getting a belly full of him from Hermione."
Padma lifted Harry's head. "It will be like Marietta and Cho. When Ginny gets through playing with Hermione she'll go right on with or back to Neville. Randy as she is, she'll probably never stop with Neville. There won't be any permanent attachment; it will just reinforce her vassal oaths and that loyalty charm Harry hit her with." She let go of Harry's ears and giggled as he sought out a nipple again with his lips.
The Coven watched as Harry drove Padma out of her mind and Hermione wrestled Ginny to a massive loss; well, a loss if being driven completely out of your mind and succumbing to a muscle- pulling orgasm is a loss. Weasley could apparently do amazing things to a pussy with her mouth. Harry rolling over onto Hermione and reestablishing his claim afterward by Parseltonguing her erogenous zones while he slid her belly completely full before he took her ass slowly and gently had everything to do with Hermione staying in bed until one Saturday afternoon and Ginny walking around wide-eyed and clinging to Neville when he showed up at the castle.
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Monday the twenty-eighth of June found a new schedule in place, with Moody having an hour a day after six p.m. Moody had shown up with Nym on Friday before the bedroom shenanigans began and talked to Harry and Sirius. He was satisfied they weren't Dark or going that way but were willing to take the fight to the Dark wizards to even the playing field for normal witches and wizards. Interestingly to the Slytherin, he had also asked leading questions about the light. Narcissa finally pressed him. "Just what are you, Alastor? You don't like the Dark and you apparently dislike the Light equally."
Alastor laughed. "A wizard trying to make my way in the world."
Narcissa raised a brow. Moody shrugged. "It's the fanatics who cause trouble. They can be Light or Dark."
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If anyone in Britain would have agreed with that on Wednesday the thirtieth of June, it was Amelia Bones. "Albus, if you send Dawlish out there Duke Potter will kill him if Duchess Potter doesn't. There will be absolutely nothing we can do about it. He assaulted a claimed witch, in public."
"Nonesense, Amelia. Dawlish is a trained Auror. He will be able to protect himself until his trial,
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which will, I am sure, satisfy Harry."
Amelia glared at Dumbledore. "It will cost Dawlish his life, but I'll be there to tell you I told you so and I will inform the press this was DONE over my objections, Dumbledore."
Albus waved her concerns away; as a matter of fact, he smiled. That would only help to paint the Duke and Duchess Potter as loose cannons. "Now these good wizards you're holding at Azkaban, Amelia...."
"No. I have the evidence on them. They will be convicted and sentenced. The Wizengamot will pay reparation to the families of the inmates involved or those inmates' estates, and they will be incarcerated in the high-security section of Azkaban after their wands are snapped. The Wizengamot has a clear conflict of interest here, so Minister Fudge has agreed with me and appointed an impartial panel of judges."
Albus frowned sadly. "Hardly impartial, Amelia. Four of the five are witches."
Amelia smiled. "I'll tell Augusta, Griselda, Rosmerta, and Minerva you feel that way, Albus. I'm sure Arthur Weasley will be interested in your comments too."
Dumbledore flinched. Amelia continued, "Meanwhile, the Wizengamot will continue to pay for the Aurors guarding Azkaban until it can come up with appropriate and acceptable candidates who can survive the vetting process the Ministry and the DMLE will undertake."
Dumbledore nearly growled. "This is a complete usurpation of the Wizengamot's authority."
Amelia smiled. "Which they ABANDONED willfully, allowing or purposely putting deviants into positions of power over the powerless. Sell that one to the people, Albus, please at least try. I would like a new Chief Warlock; you have become a problem." Amelia caught herself. That was a little too blunt.
Albus narrowed his eyes. "I see. I shall take my leave, then." He stood and left. Amelia sighed. She needed a rest. She had let her temper get the better of her there. She leant her head back and listened to her inner voice telling her that, yes, a little rest with a gorgeous young green-eyed, black-haired wizard was just the ticket.
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Dale Dawlish made it all the way out of the ministry and halfway down Diagon Alley before he spotted Nypmphadora Tonks. He made a beeline for her. "So, been waiting for me, then? Well, let's get going. I have a place round the corner," Dawlish announced loudly and then laughed.
"No, Harry, you promised," Nym said with a smile.
Dale Dawlish looked at her. "Nice try, girlie; old trick, though. Come on; I hate to be kept waiting. You'll be a nice toss for a start."
The gathered crowd looked at each other and took a step back, then another. Nym smiled brightly and waved and a dueling shield sprang into place. "All right, Dale, no waiting then. Incendio!"
Dawlish grinned and skipped to the side. First he would beat this bitch and then he would fuck her right here in the Alley. "Stupefy! Reducto! Incarcerous!"
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Nym swatted the curses down with one hand and returned, "Confrigo! Flagro!" and an entrail- expelling curse left center and right. Dawlish backpedaled.
Harry said from behind him, "Remember, Nym, I get to kill him," and went back to work conjuring parts and assembling his slingshot as Hermione pouted and put the Coven to rounding up the kids in the Alley and sending them away.
"Yes, Harry. I'll do field medical spells on him to keep him alive long enough for you to kill him." "Thank you, dear. Almost ready."
The wizarding press had now gathered and were recording every word and snapping pictures like mad. Sirius popped in and conjured a tray and started selling popcorn. He soon had the Black elves selling cotton candy and butterbeer.
Dawlish tried every trick he knew and got nowhere. He also only got marked twice, but once was a full-on hit in the ass with a Incendio that burned him badly. He caught glimpses of the building carnival atmosphere and his constant stream of lewd taunts and comments grew even worse.
Finally he had had enough and cast Fiendfyre at Nym. While she was BUSY extinguishing it he charged her and got hit with a quick Incarcerous just after she got the Fiendfyre controlled. Nym extinguished the Fiendfyre through main effort and the crowd cheered wildly.
Harry ran to her, kissed her, and levitated Dawlish down the street ten yards and into a set of stocks he had conjured. Nym leaned on Susan and Daphne--she was exhausted--and watched as Harry skipped back to his ballista smiling. "Witches and wizards, this being the second time Dale Dawlish has accosted my fiancée, I take exception. If I were you I would close my eyes."
Harry turned to his ballista and loaded it with a long wooden spike, six inches at the base. He lined it up and looked up. "Really, I'd close my eyes now."
Harry checked his aim and jerked the lanyard. Five meters of sharpened pine trunk crossed the ten meters to Dale Dawlish's arse and a meter of it disappeared. Dawlish's strangled scream rang over the retching noises that filled the Alley. Harry released the stocks and levitated the trunk into a hole that appeared in the middle of the cobbled alley. He turned to the reporters with his aura unsuppressed and his eyes glowing a weird green. Cameras flashed. "Next time I won't be so nice." The crowd was silent as Dale Dawlish's death rattle settled over them. Harry looked into their eyes and disappeared. The crowd exploded in screams and protest. The Magical Law Enforcement squads were overwhelmed and had to call for reinforcements.
Amelia Bones arrived with them and was set on by the press. "Madam Bones, when will you arrest the rising Dark Lord Potter?"
Amelia sighed. "Harry Potter is the Duke Potter, Rita. Nothing he has DONE today or up to today exceeds his authority. He can in fact dispense high justice, as he has DONE today. In fact, he warned the Wizengamot that if the former Auror Dawlish was released he would kill him. I myself warned the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot just this morning that releasing the former Auror Dawlish was tantamount to a death sentence, Rita.
"In the last few years, a callous disregard for witches has crept into Wizarding society in Britain. I would advise all those who practice that callous disregard that those days are over. The Black and
Duke Potter have both expressed their displeasure.
"I would hope that Duke Potter does not continue to dispense high justice in such a spectacular manner, but that remains to be seen."
Amelia turned to Dawlish's impaled corpse and shook her head; then she Apparated away almost silently. Harry had to let her remove this; it was hideous, something from the Dark Ages.
The press looked around and their eyes fell on Sirius. "Popcorn, peanuts! Get your popcorn right here, folks." Sirius cleaned them out of their pocket change through the simple expedient of holding out a bag of popcorn or peanuts every time they asked a question and fixing them with his all-black eyes. They couldn't leave him alone and they couldn't not pay when he looked into their souls. He never answered a single question. He did, however, make a comment after his tray was empty and just before he disappeared. "Did you all notice former Auror Dawlish had his wand in his hand the whole time?"
H "You will not do that again, ever, Harry!" Amelia stood watching quietly as Hermione was angrily hysterical. Harry nodded. "I shouldn't have to, Hermione."
Hermione burst into tears in her position in his lap. "Ever, Harry, never again! You won't! That was inhuman."
Harry hugged her. Daphne said, "As compared to the real method of impaling someone it was actually quite humane. Dawlish lasted less than a minute; historically it took days for impaled people to die sometimes."
"DAPHNE!"
Daphne sighed as Hermione's harsh scream that was mostly retching penetrated the room, but she replied, "It had to be DONE at some point, Hermione. Now perhaps the casual idiots won't try Harry or us and won't have to die. Dawlish had his wand the whole time. The press will have seen it. It will scrape off the idiots, and since they have no way of knowing who we are...."
Harry pulled Hermione tight to him and a single tear tracked down his face. "I don't want to hurt you, Hermione, but I'll protect you if it kills the whole planet. I I didn't want to do it, I know you think I was trying to be funny, but it had to be horrific. Just killing him wouldn't--wouldn't--" Harry couldn't continue and laid his head on hers.
Amelia stood silently watching and thinking. Good, he isn't a complete unfeeling beast. She had never seen him stutter before. This might take a while to get over but it was good that way, right?
Moody stumped into the sitting room. "Amelia, what are you doing here? Fudge is trying to issue arrest orders for Duke Potter."
Amelia growled, then barked, "I came to ask Harry to take down that Horror in Diagon." Moody harrumphed. "Leave it,I say. Good object lesson for idiots."
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Amelia rolled her eyes and opened her mouth, but Harry cut her off. "Otto is seeing to it, Madam Bones."
Amelia started. "What happened to Amelia, Harry? We had made so much progress!" Her outraged pout brought a laugh and she smiled. "Now I'm off to the Ministry to stop Fudge from committing suicide, though I don't know why."
Sirius stood and raised Narciss,a and Susan joined them. "I'll--uh, we'll go with Amelia." Moody nodded and stumped along behind. H
Cornelius Fudge had presented an opportune target for the press and had reacted in a way that made them nearly orgasmic with glee when he saw Dawlish's corpse impaled in the middle of Diagon Alley. He had Flooed to the Ministry, trailed by the reporters, and ordered the immediate arrest of Harry Potter. The Auror Captain on duty looked over her pince-nez glasses and refused that order in no uncertain terms. "No." It wasn't her fault the idiot had brought the press along and refused advice, instead giving orders that couldn't be followed. That he was about to get a lesson in magical Britain's real system of government wasn't really her concern either. If the idiot fired her she could get a job at SSWA tomorrow for more money, with better benefits, retirement, and equipment. Plus she could sue him stupid--well, stupider--for wrongful termination.
Cornelius fairly glowed red. "You are refusing an order of the Minister of Magic!"
Martha Masters sighed. "An illegal order. The Black and Duke Potter can dispense high, middle, and low justice as they see fit. They're outside the system. No, that's not right--they are the system. The authority of the DMLE devolves from the Queen to them and from them to the DMLE. If Duke Potter walked in here and blew your head clean off I would call for an elf with a mop and bucket and ask him what else I could help him with. The Dukes of Magical Britain are not signators of the Magna Carta or any follow-on treaties or agreements. Magical Britian is Manorial, the Six Dukes' Manors, in fact. All power derives from the two Dukes; well, unless the Founders' heirs are found, then it would be six Dukes again."
Cornelius Fudge's eyes rolled back in his head and he went straight over backwards. His head sounded like a pumpkin splitting when it hit the floor. Cameras flashed and Martha sent a Patronus message to the duty medic. The press turned to her. "So the Wizengamot and the Ministry have no power, then?"
Martha snapped, "I didn't say that, Rita! In this case they would advise the Duke of what the people thought and they could possibly censure Duke Potter."
Rita's eyes glittered. "And what would this censure do?"
Martha rolled her eyes. "Get me a better job, because the Duke would probably not take their verbal admonishment well and he might withdraw his authority and his grace, leaving at least half of the Wizengamot without titles, therefore seats, and the Ministry without authority. I suspect his godfather the Black would back him up completely and remove his authority and grace also, and that would take care of the rest."
Rita looked about frantically. "So who can protect us from this rising Dark Lord?"
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Sirius entered the Duty Auror office. "Rita, if that gets printed nobody will protect you because I will kill you and then give you to Harry for him to kill you some more. My godson reacted to former Auror Dawlish's multiple extreme provocations with great restraint. He could have killed all the males in the house Dawlish and taken the witches for his chattel. He regrets that former Auror Dawlish pushed events to this extreme, but he will not tolerate the abuse of women or children, and neither will I. He especially will not tolerate the abuse of a woman he is affianced to through contract, and I will not tolerate the abuse of a Black witch, full stop. The wizarding world should be glad it was Harry. If it had been me, Dawlish would still be burning and screaming in the middle of the Alley. Anyone care for a demonstration?"
The reporters backed against the wall away from the black-eyed Sirius, who had black flame dripping from his hands.
Amelia, Narcissa, and Susan looked at each other. This wasn't going well at all. Obviously Sirius and Harry had to be kept from contact with the press. Amelia stepped forward. "Any questions?"
Rita immediately fired off, "So will you be pursuing the dark lord Pot--AAAAIIIIIIIEEEEE" Her scream went on and on in the silent room as the flames crawled over her body.
H
Several hours later Dumbledore was actually whistling as he went about the halls of the Wizengamot section of the Ministry. By all reports Potter had impaled Dawlish, in public. Now the Kneazle was truly out of the bag and the press would vilify the little beast. Oh, he would survive, but the sheep would flee screaming from his presence and he, Dumbldore the Lord of the Light, would be there for them to rally round with the other Boy who Lived at his side. He threw a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace in his Chief Warlock office. "Rita Skeeter!"
The call bounced and his head popped back into his office. That was odd; Rita was normally so reliable. Ah well, a letter then.
H Melba rolled her eyes. "They'll be fine. They had a spat, scared each other. They'll work it out."
The mums looked at her with raised brows. Hermione was still curled in Harry's lap in the overstuffed armchair. The inner circle was gathered around them silently. They hadn't moved other than for slight shifts of position in hours. Emma frowned, worried. "Shouldn't we be to the make- up sex by now?"
Melba sighed. "Remember your first married spat, dear, the bad one where you told him not to do something and he totally ignored you in public?"
Emma nodded. "Yes. This will take a while. Amazed she's sitting in his lap." The other mums nodded. H
Dumbledore waited for the morning papers with great anticipation at his house in Hogsmeade. The Prophet owl arrived and Dumbledore grinned and snapped the paper open. Instead of the three-inch
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black headlines he expected, he saw a normal headline: "DUKE POTTER ANNOUNCES HIS RETURN". What? Dumbledore quickly perused the article that mentioned--just mentioned--Harry killing Dawlish for his second assault on Harry's fiancée while it castigated Dumbledore viciously for releasing Dawlish, against advice and counsel, pending his trial. What the hell was this? Why, the second headline was even bigger: "NYMPHADORA TONKS, FIANCÉE OF DUKE POTTER, A BLACK WITCH". The article was longer, too. Details of the rogue Chief Warlock, page two. Is Dumbledore at fault for the shocking lack of knowledge of our political system? Op ed, pages five through nine. Dumbledore promotes the abuse of witches? Page eleven! What? This was going too far! Dumbledore flung the paper down with a snap and strode to his fireplace, throwing in a pinch of Floo powder. "Rita Skeeter!"
"We are sorry, but this Floo address has been disconnected."
Dumbledore stood and turned and came to himself in the dooryard of Rita Skeeter's modest home. He knocked on the door. Rita opened it and then tried to slam it closed. Dumbledore had the door in an iron grip, though. "Good morning, Rita."
"What the hell is good about it? Every time I even think of the rising Dark Lord Pot-- AAAAIIIEEEEE!"
Dumbledore stumbled back as the woman burst into flame, black flame. "I see." Godsdamned Sirius fucking Black! How had he learned about that power of his House? "Well, I will take my leave, Rita. Try not to think of it, dear."
"AAAAIIIIEEE, BASTARD! GET OUT, OUT!" H
Cornelius Fudge looked at his office door. There had been a noise, he was sure of it. He kept his wand in his hand. How was one supposed to rule, for the greater good of course, when these Dukes could just sweep in and kill him and everyone would sit around drinking tea and commenting on their technique? He needed more guards. Somehow he had to break these Dukes' power, now!
H "Aunt Amelia?" "I asked how we were, Susan." "We? So, admitted it then?"
"Susan!"
Susan, lying on her towel, rolled over and laughed. "We're fine. Hermione and Harry are in their own private little world but they let us, the inner circle, in too and they're fine. Just don't expect much activity out of them for a while. Well, not external activity. They're very focused on each other and us right now. Classes will be fine. Victoria is moving on the purchases of the properties with the Goblins. Padma and the other 'Claw types are working on the ward sets and so many projects I don't think even Padma can keep them straight. Daphne and Tracey are working on the marketing and sales end. Lavender, Parvati, and Kristen's No Secrets line is shooting their adverts with the so-inclined Malfoi witches and some of the Squibs as models. Harry will never approve them going in magazines or the paper, but they're very nice. Fudge has lost his mind and is
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desperately seeking a way to break Harry and Sirius's power. We don't think he'll be able to subvert magic, though, so we're fine and that's giving me an opportunity to work. I think I can have Fudge firmly in Sirius's vest pocket by the end of the summer. We're fine."
Amelia nodded. "Speaking of Sirius, I need to talk to him. I need him to terrorize Cornelius a little for me."
Susan frowned. "Perhaps we should start thinking long term. Instead of terrorizing Cornelius, perhaps we can appear to be conciliatory without giving him anything of substance. I'll talk to Eliza."
Amelia smiled and stroked Susan's hair. "Such a good girl, always thinking." H "Now Sirius, no lighting people on fire this time. I want a chance to talk to Bella." "Like I don't, Cissy?" "Well, don't light the guards on fire, then." "Grrrrr." Narcissa laughed. "You aren't Harry, Sirius." Sirius pouted. "How come he gets all the respect?"
"Because. Now here we are." The Auror opened the cell and stood well back, wand at the ready, suppressing his grin. The cell was scrubbed clean and so was Bellatrix. Bellatrix looked at Sirius. "Who would have thought a malformed blood traitor like you would mature into the Black, and wielding the powers too?"
Sirius grinned. "And you, you cow, who would have thought you'd spend all these years in prison rather than on your knees entertaining pure-blood faggots?"
Narcissa's mouth opened and closed soundlessly as Sirius took Bellatrix in his arms and hugged her bony frame to himself, crying in her hair as she wet his shirt with her tears. It was as if they had just left a Black family function a few moments ago, the same harsh words and tender touches. Narcissa shook her head; so it was still that way, then. She should write a book; all this unrequited and unrequiteable love, she'd have virgins in tears for years.
Bellatrix finally pulled back. "What took you so long, Siri?"
"Sorry, Bell. It's been hard to get here."
Narcissa looked at her sister. "Bellatrix, do you know what's happened? What you did?"
Bellatrix snorted. "Of course. My lord turned to Voldemort and took me with him. I've been faithful to him. I took Voldemort's Mark and helped my lord in his work."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes. "And you suddenly are lucid and fairly calm. Still our parents' child, apparently, though a howling blood purist."
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Bellatrix shrugged. "Rodolphus has lost his mind. The Dementors, I think. I have him boxed off in a corner of my mind or I'd have been vulnerable to those deviants outside my cell. Who else's daughter would I be, Cissy?"
Sirius looked into her eyes. "So you never had to...." "No, you pervert!" She looked at him. "It excites you, though. I always knew you wanted me."
Sirius blinked. "Bell, how did you make that particular leap? I never laid a hand on you and we fought like cats and dogs."
"Because you want me, Siri. You've always shown your interest in me that way." Bellatrix pouted. "I'm married, though, and until something can be DONE about my bond, well, we can't, Siri. Rodolphus may be mad but he's still powerful. Even then we're first cousins, Siri. I mean, it has been DONE, but too much in our family." She sighed sadly.
Sirius leaned his head into Bellatrix's shoulder and his shoulders shook. Bellatrix patted his head. "There there, Siri. We'll figure it out."
Narcissa covered her mouth. She could actually see Sirius's silently laughing face. She shook her head. "Fine, Bell. Now our Healers say you're fine, in all respects. How is that?"
"Narcissa, do I look stupid? Dark magic makes you sterile unless rigidly controlled and limited. Really, a Cruciatus or two a day is all you can get away with of the Unforgiveables. The Killing Curse is nearly instantly addicting and the Imperius rots your brain like a banana in the sun. That's why we always took some lower-ranking Death Eaters with us and I taught them the blackest of the black arts as quickly as possible. The Crucio is a great motivator. They never lived long in service, well most of them; a few made it for years. I mean really, why would I risk one of the old lines' Scions? Poor Rodolphus is already very confused and thinks he loves his brother Rabastan. I was just making headway when Rodolphus's lord was killed and we were captured. Shame really, a few more months and he would have taken me."
Sirius had sat up and Bellatrix reclined across his lap. He rubbed her ribs gently. He looked at Narcissa, whose face was a mask. The Auror stepped up to the bars. "Lord Black? Time, sir."
Sirius nodded. "Bell, we'll be back next week. Keep well, smelly git." Sirius kissed Bellatrix on the temple and stood handing Bellatrix to Narcissa, who took her time leaving and held the Auror's attention, hugging Bellatrix as Sirius left the cell. While the Auror was distracted Sirius ran scans on both Rodolphus and Rabastan in the next cells down. He turned and looked in the cell behind him and smiled. Severus Snape glared back at him like a demented scarecrow. Sirius hadn't felt so good in days, months. It was better than sex; well no, but it was close. Snivellus looked absolutely like shite. Pale, rail-thin, sores leaking pus over his visible skin. It was a glorious moment. Narcissa shook her head and towed Sirius away like a little boy from a candy store window.
H
Back in Grimmauld Place Narcissa looked at Andromeda and Sirius. "Okay, so at first blush she seems quite mad." They had already shown Andromeda their memories.
Sirius shrugged. "No worse than she ever was. There are levels and levels to Bell. She was perfectly rational explaining it all to us, but the explanation is mad."
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Andromeda nodded. "She was always a bit like that. She could accept any rationalization that reinforced her perception of the purity of blood. Except for taking you, Sirius. Somehow she got it in her head that you were to close to providing viable offspring. She was also very, erm, cagey I think they call it. She reads people really well and can adapt and tell them what they want to hear. I learned how to see through it. Perhaps I should visit her."
Sirius rubbed his hand through his hair. "We'll need professional help with her. Meanwhile, you visiting might get us closer to the truth, Andi. And I never laid a hand on her."
Andromeda blinked. "For what? She's a life sentence, Sirius. Oh, and we know but you can't deny she interests you, or did when you were young."
Narcissa chuckled. "We've decided not--a life sentence, I mean. As soon as we can get her in shape we're going to take her and the Lestrange brothers from Azkaban, mate Bell to Harry, and kill the Lestranges like we did Lucius. We'll save the names and lines and everyone will be happy. The girls and I are working the whole thing out. Harry will agree once we get two or three candidates for each of the Death Eater wives to marry, either cover or for real. Sirius might have liked her like that once, but not any more."
Andromeda actually pounded her head on the table they were sitting at. Sirius and Narcissa looked on, concerned.