Because, as pretty as Fleur is, I really would love to make a part-veela oc with shiny dark brown or black hair and maybe hazel eyes... not like Fleur at all. Something a little less elegant and far more exotic.
Probably not even the same nationality as Fleur tbh lol
If all part-veelas look like Fleur, then are there equivalents of veelas in other parts of the world?
Too much Remadora age gap of 13 years, but then....
I just realised, that if Bill Weasley was born in 1970, and Fleur was around 18 when she went to the Triwizard Tournament in 1994/5...
Bill was 6/7 years older than Fleur.
And I realised just now...
I mean, not bad for the ages of that time, and they had three children, so they would be average, Remadora would be a bit slighter older than the normal.
Woman’s hood and face mask accidentally turn her into a Harry Potter villain | Watch
Honestly, not a bad look for her lol.
Mine are Fleurry (Fleur/Harry), Honks (Harry/Tonks), Fleurdora (Fleur/Tonks), and Fleuronks (Fleur/Tonks/Harry).
I made Harry Potter characters as bitmojis. Do y’all like them?
44 Votes in Poll
64 Votes in Poll
Why was Harry even making an effort with Triwizard Tournament? Why not just show up and twiddle your thumbs for the next couple of hours? What's the Goblet of Fire going to do, yell at him? Fleur probably could have tried harder on the second task, but the Magical Cup of Child Endangerment didn't hurt her.
So why isn't Dumbledore just having Harry show up and screw around for an hour or so, or work on schoolwork in the corner or something while the ones who are of age do the tasks? Dumbledore could've hidden him during the tournament while the tasks took place That seems like the safest thing to do.
70 Votes in Poll
1: Luna Lovegood
2: Dobby
3: Hagrid
4: Fred and George (They count as one)
5: Hermione
6: Sirius
7: Ron
8: Harry
9: Draco
10: Dumbledore
11: Remus
12: Bill Weasley
13: Fleur Delacour
Previous Chapters:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003804769
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003805533
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003806102
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003806803
Tags:
@SaphireStark @Missy Clara Oswald
Chapter Five: Preparations for the Hunt
The shock of losing Mad-Eye hung over the house in the days that followed; Harry kept expecting to see him stumping in through the back door like the other Order members, who passed in and out to relay news. Harry felt that nothing but action would assuage his feelings of guilt and grief and that he ought to set out on his mission to find and destroy Horcruxes as soon as possible.
'You can't leave to go look for you-know-what until at least the thirty-first, unless you plan to begin the hunt without magic,' said Tracey, and Harry had to admit to himself that she was probably correct. 'Speaking of the hunt, in the last month have you thought of any other locations some might be?'
'No,' Harry admitted.
'That's ok, while I was staying at Mould-On-The-Wold Cottage I noticed Theodore has basically non stop been studying different book the entire last month, it probably has to do with our mission. He wouldn't tell me though as he said he wanted to be sure he was right before he revealed anything.'
They were sitting at the breakfast table; Mr Weasley and Bill had just left for work. Remus had thankfully arrived home safe and had agreed to stay at the Burrow until after the wedding, along with Canini and Theodore, and was currently unpacking upstairs. Mrs Weasley had gone upstairs to wake Hermione, Ginny, and Canini, while Fleur had drifted off to take a bath. Tonks, Tulip, and Allison had returned to their home until the night before the wedding.
'The Trace’ll break on the thirty-first,' said Harry. 'That means I only need to stay here four days. Then I can—'
'We're here five more days,' Tracey corrected him firmly. 'Harry I'm ready to go on the hunt now if we could, I know the others are ready to, but we have to attend the wedding. I want to see Terence one last time before we're gone for who knows how long, he's arriving the day before as my plus one, and they will track you down and kill you before Voldemort even can if you're not at that wedding.'
Harry understood 'they' to mean Fleur and Mrs Weasley.
'It'll only be one more day,' said Tracey, when Harry looked mutinous. 'Its an important day too.'
'But don’t they realize how vastly more important what I'm—?'
'They do, you know they do,' said Tracey. 'But without the specifics they don't realize why you have to go as soon as possible, and they really don’t understand why all three of us have to go with you. Speaking of which, prepare for an ambush.’
Tracey glanced toward the door into the hall to check that Mrs Weasley was not returning yet, then leaned in closer to Harry.
‘Mrs Weasley has been trying to coax out of Theodore and I what we’re all up to, she’ll probably go after you next. Remus casually asked Theodore what we’re all up to but when he responded that it was something important from Dumbledore that could solve the war he didn’t ask any further questions. Mrs Weasley though is on a mission.
Tracey’s prediction came true within hours. Shortly before lunch, Mrs Weasley detached Harry from the others by asking him to help identify a lone man’s sock that she thought might’ve come out of his rucksack. Once she had him cornered in the tiny scullery off the kitchen, she started.
'Theo, Tracey, and even Miss Allison seem to think that the four of you are dropping out of Hogwarts,' she began in a light, casual tone.
‘Oh,’ said Harry. ‘Well, yeah. We are.’
The mangle turned of its own accord in a corner, wringing out what looked like one of Mr Weasley’s vests.
‘May I ask why you are abandoning your education?’ said Mrs Weasley.
‘Well, Dumbledore left me…stuff to do,’ mumbled Harry. ‘Theodore, Tracey, Allison, they all know about it, and they want to come too.’
‘What sort of “stuff”?’
‘I’m sorry, I can’t—‘
‘Well, frankly I think the Order and I have a right to know, or at the very least Remus and Mr and Mrs Davis!’ said Mrs Weasley. Harry had been afraid of the ‘concerned parents and guardians” attack. He forced himself to look directly into her eyes.
‘Dumbledore didn’t want anyone else to know, Mrs Weasley. I’m sorry, the other three don’t have to come, but all three chose—‘
‘I don’t see that you have to go either!’ she snapped, dropping all pretense now. ‘You’re not even of age yet, and the other three barely are! It’s utter nonsense, if Dumbledore needed work doing, he had the whole Order at his command! Harry, you must have misunderstood him. Probably he was telling you something he wanted done, and you took it to mean that he wanted you—‘
‘I didn’t misunderstand,’ said Harry flatly. ‘It’s got to be me.’
He handed her back the single sock he was supposed to be identifying, which was patterned with golden bulrushes.
‘And that’s not mine, I don’t support Puddlemere United. The Tutshill Tornados have been my favourite team for over five years.’
‘Oh, of course,’ said Mrs Weasley with a sudden and rather unnerving return to her casual tone. ‘I should have realized. Well, Harry, while we’ve still got you here, you won’t mind helping with the preparations for Bill and Fleur’s wedding, will you? There’s still so much to do.’
‘No—I—of course not,’ said Harry, disconcerted by this sudden change of subject.
‘Sweet of you,’ she replied, and she smiled as she left the scullery.
From that moment on, Mrs Weasley keep Harry, Tracey, and Theodore so busy with preparations for the wedding that they hardly had any time to think. The kindest explanation of this behaviour would have been that Mrs Weasley wanted to distract them all from thoughts of Mad-Eye and the terrors of their recent journey. After two days of nonstop cutlery cleaning, of colour-matching favours, ribbons, and flowers, of de-gnoming the garden and helping Mrs Weasley cook vast batches of canapes, however, Harry started to suspect her of a different motive. All the jobs she handed out seems to keep him, Tracey, and Theodore away from one another; he had not had a chance to speak to the two of them alone since the first night, when he had told them about Voldemort torturing Ollivander.
‘I think Mrs Weasley believes if all four of you are never in a room together again, then you can’t make the preparations necessary to go,’ said Canini quietly to Harry as they were washing dishes together after lunch. Harry turned to her in surprise.
‘You know?’ he asked.
‘I’m not a fool Harry, Theo’s been packing a bag for over a month with way more stuff than he’d need for a five day stay at the Weasley’s, and Tracey wouldn’t ask to stay with us for a month unless she needed to be closure to you and Theodore,’ said Canini. ‘I know wherever you’re going it’s for an important reason, something stupidly noble, but Mrs Weasley just sees it as stupid.’
The last little bit made Harry laugh, and Canini smiled to for a moment, but then her smile faltered and Harry could tell she was holding back a great amount of worry.
‘Deep down though, I think she’s just worried about you. She’s known you since you were a toddler, she and the rest of the Weasley’s are like family, and she is scared something terrible is going to ha-happen to you w-while you’re out there alone on y-your journey,’ the longer she spoke the more her voice trembled. Canini’s live rivalled Harry’s own for tragedies, in some ways maybe even surpass, such as her having been old enough at the time to remember her own parents murder at the hands of Fenrir Greyback, and while Harry has had to deal with unbearable pain from his scar a couple dozen times, she’s had to deal with similar pain every single month when she transforms for nearly twelve years. After also witnessing Sirius’ death a year ago, Harry could understand that Canini more than anyone was afraid of losing another family member, and yet she wasn’t trying to convince him to stay.
‘I’ll be alright,’ said Harry, trying to sound confident. He put down the dishes he was holding and gently but firmly placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘I can take care of myself, but I also won’t be alone. Theodore has libraries of useful knowledge in his head, Allison is an excellent strategist, Tracey knows multiple healing spells, and all four of us can handle our own in a fight. We have to go, but we’ll be ok, I promise.’
And with that said she gave him a hug, it wasn’t her normal rib crushing tight hug, but one where you try to make a memory of that moment in your head. After a while they let go and Canini look a tiny bit more relieved.
‘I just wish we had more time to spend together, I didn’t get to see you all month and now you’re going to be gone in a couple days. We haven’t had any time to catch up,’ said Canini.
‘Well, then, let’s catch up, what’s been happening in your life while I’ve been stuck in the Dursley’s?’ asked Harry.
‘Well, when Tracey was staying with us long term we all decided to switch beds. Moony magically disassembled Theodore and your bunk bed and moved it into my room which I’ve been sharing with Tracey, Theodore got my old bed. It’s been fun having Tracey around, it’s been like them summer we were all stuck in Grimmauld Place, she’s helped bring some light into these dark times.’
‘That’s great to hear,’ said Harry.
‘Then I’ve been helping Remus stock up on things, incase we have to hide in Mould-On-The-Wold for an extended period of time. Preserved food, toiletries, potion ingredients even though neither of us are the best at brewing, and—‘
‘Oh, that reminds me, I read in the paper that there is a mass shortage of Fluxweed Syrup. That’s a main ingredient for your Casition Potions, isn’t it, people are buying it in a hope to use as last minute disguises to escape Death Eater’s. Have you stocked up on Casition Potions as you seem to still be looking like any other girl?’ said Harry, he knew his wording wasn’t quite right but hoped she’d know what he meant and forgive him.
‘I’d still be a girl whether I ever took those potions or not, they just were to help me more closely be who I am, but if you can keep a secret I’ve actually been off those potions for nearly a month,’ admitted Canini. ‘When the shortage first started Remus sat me down for a long private conversation, he told me that the next two years until I’m seventeen were going to be long and uncertain, and that he knew that ever since I told everyone I was really a witch that not once had I ever showed doubts that I might still be a wizard. He said if I was absolutely sure with who I am he’d hunt down a bottle of Feminalex Potion for me to take so I wouldn’t have to add worrying about morphing back into a boy-like body to my already long list of anxieties in these dark times. He got the bottle and I drank it and I’ve felt amazing ever since, it’s like I’ve become whole.’
‘I’m so very happy you got to take the Potion, it must really lift a pressure off your chest,’ admitted Harry, slightly happier than he had been before talking to his sister.
It was a tiny moment, but a happy one.
They were often joined by other Order members for dinner now, because the Burrow had replaced number twelve, Grimmauld Place as the headquarters. Mr Weasley had explained that after the death of Dumbledore, their Secret-Keeper, each of the people to whom Dumbledore had confided Grimmauld Place’s location had become a Secret Person in turn.
‘And as there are around thirty of us, that greatly dilutes the power of the Fidelius Charm. Twenty times as many opportunities for the Death Eaters to get the secret out of somebody. We can’t expect it to hold much longer.’
‘But surely Snape will have told the Death Eaters the address by now?’ asked Harry.
‘Well, Mad-Eye set up a couple of curses against Snape in case he turns up there again. We hope they’ll be strong enough both to keep him out and to bind his tongue if he tries to talk about the place, but we can’t be sure. It would have been insane to keep using the place as headquarters now that its protection has become so shaky.’
The kitchen was so crowded that evening was difficult to maneuver knives and forks. Harry found himself crammed beside Remus and Theodore, although the fact their arms were touching he wished he had more space. He could barely cut his chicken without elbowing someone in the arm or side.
‘No news about Mad-Eye?’ Harry asked Remus.
‘No, sorry Harry,’ answered Remus.
They were postponing holding a funeral for Moody in the hopes they could find his body, but there had so far been no luck. Bill and Remus had failed to recover his body. It had been difficult to know where he might have fallen, given the darkness and the confusion of the battle.
‘The Daily Prophet hasn’t said a word about him dying or about finding the body,’ said Bill. ‘But that doesn’t mean much. It’s keeping a lot quiet these days.’
‘And they still haven’t called a hearing about all the underage magic I used escaping the Death Eaters?’ Harry called across the table to Mr Weasley, who shook his head.
‘Because they know I had no choice or because they don’t want me to tell the world Voldemort attacked me?’
‘The latter, I think. Scrimgeour doesn’t want to admit that You-Know-Who is as powerful as he is, nor that Azkaban’s seen a mass breakout.’
‘Yeah, why tell the public the truth?’ said Harry, clenching his knife so tightly that the faint scars on the back of his right hand stood out, white against his skin: I must not tell lies.
‘Is nearly the entire Ministry full of cowards?’ suddenly asked Theodore quite harshly, although Harry suspected this out burst was brought on by Theodore learning his abusive Death Eater biological father was likely free from Azkaban.
‘Yeah, isn’t anyone at the Ministry prepared to stand up to him?’ asked Ron angrily.
‘Of course, Ron, but people are terrified.’ Mr Weasley replied, “terrified that they will be next to disappear, their children the next to be attacked! There are nasty rumours going around; I for one don’t believe the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts resigned. She hasn’t been seen for weeks now. Meanwhile Scrimgeour remains shut up in his office all day. I just hope he’s working on a plan.’
There was a pause in which Mrs Weasley magicked her empty plates onto the work surface and served apple tart.
‘We must decide ’ow you will be disguised, ‘Arry,’ said Fleur, once everyone had pudding. ‘For ze wedding,’ she added, when he looked confused. ‘Of course, none of our guests are Death Eaters, but we cannot guarantee zat zey will not let something slip after zey ’ave ’ad champagne.’
From this, Harry gathered that she still suspected Hagrid.
‘Yes, good point,’ said Mrs Weasley from the top of the table, where she sat, spectacles perched on the end of her nose, scanning an immense list of jobs that she had scribbled on a very long piece of parchment. ‘Now, Theodore, have you and Ron cleaned out Ron’s room yet?’
‘Er, no, not yet,’ admitted Theodore.
‘Because it doesn’t matter,’ exclaimed Ron, glaring at his mother. ‘Why does my room have to be cleaned out? Harry, Theo and I are all fine with it the way it is!’
‘We are holding your brother’s wedding here in a few days’ time, young man—‘
‘And are they getting married in my bedroom?’ asked Ron furiously. ‘No! So why in the name of Merlin’s saggy left—‘
‘Don’t you talk to your mother like that,’ said Mr Weasley firmly, ‘And do as you’re told.’
Ron scowled at both his parents, then picked up his spoon and attacked the last few mouthfuls of his apple tart. It was clear the stress of the was a lot on Ron, and the added stress of the Wedding wasn’t helping.
‘I can help, some of it’s my mess.’ Harry told Ron, but Mrs Weasley cut across him.
‘No, Harry, dear, I’d much rather Theodore sticks with Ron, you help Arthur muck out the chickens, and Tracey, I’d be ever so grateful if you’d change the sheets for Monsieur and Madame Delacour with Ginny, you know they’re arriving at eleven tomorrow morning.’
But as it turned out, there was very little to do for the chickens, ‘There’s no need to, er, mention it to Molly,’ Mr Weasley told Harry as they stood outside the coop, ‘but I actually just tell Molly the coop is messy so I can get an hour or so to myself each day. You can go have a little time for yourself to relax.’
When he returned to the house, Mrs Weasley was nowhere to be seen, so Harry slipped upstairs to Ron’s attic bedroom where he, Harry, and Theodore were staying.
‘We’re almost done, almost don—! Oh, it’s just Harry,’ said Theodore in relief, as Harry entered the room. Theodore lay back down on his caught, which he had evidently just vacated. The room was just as messy as it had been all week; the only change was that instead of Ron in the room with him, Tracey was now sitting in the far corner, sorting books, some of which Harry recognized as his own, into two enormous piles.
‘Oh good Harry, you’re here,’ she said, as he sat down on his own camp bed.
‘And how did you manage to get away?’ asked Harry.
‘Mrs Weasley didn’t remember that she had Ginny and I to change the sheets already yesterday, so Ron and Hermione are relaxing with Ginny in her room,’ said Tracey. She threw Flesh-Eating Trees of the World onto one pile and Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts onto the other.
‘So, what’s with all the books Tracey?’ asked Harry curiously. ‘I thought you said it was Theodore going through books?’
‘His are in here now too, and I asked Allison to bring the ones she deems most important when she arrives before the wedding,’ she replied, her small emerald purse beside her. ‘Right now we’re deciding which books we’ll have to take with us on our journey.’
‘Yeah, we don’t know what we’ll encounter, so it’s best to have a little bit of everything,’ agreed Theodore.
‘Listen,’ said Harry.
He had sat up straight. Theodore and Tracey looked at him with similar mixtures of resignation and defiance.
‘I know you said after Dumbledore’s funeral that you wanted to come with me,’ Harry began.
‘I saw this coming,’ Theodore said to Tracey, rolling his eyes.
‘Alli said he would,’ she sighed, turning back to her books. ‘Should I take all seven volumes of The Standard Book of Spells, or just the last two as well as Advanced Charm Casting?
‘Listen!’ said Harry again.
‘No, you listen to us, Harry,’ said Tracey. ‘We all agreed on this a month ago—years ago actually.’
‘But—‘
‘Shut up, Harry,’ Theodore advised him.
‘—are you sure you’ve thought this through?’ Harry persisted.
‘Are we sure!’ said Tracey, slamming Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes onto the keep pile with a rather fierce look. ‘I’ve bought supplies and have had everything packed for a month now, as well as have over five hundred gallons and two thousand-five hundred pounds for emergencies. I’ve been studying a few different healing spells in case one of us gets hurt. I have done something I am not proud of in preparation for our journey. And I should go with you anyway as I don’t have a home to go back to, my muggle father has taken my mother and brother somewhere hopefully no one magical will think of and I asked them not to tell me where. If we succeed with our mission we’ll hopefully be able to find each other again, but if Death Eater’s find them or Voldemort gets me we’ll never know what happens to each other.’
Her voice was becoming shaky, so Theodore picked up where she left off.
‘Harry. You, Sirius, and Remus saved my life years ago from my father and his ideology, but now if we don’t put a stop to this war everyone we know and love would be forced to live how I was,’ started Theodore. ‘And Allison’s not here, so I’ll speak on her behalf. She literally chose you and the rest of us over the traditional views and expected associations of a Slytherin. We all made sacrifices, we all know the risks including that we might not all survive, but we also all know that no one we love or care about will survive if we don’t do something. We’re coming with you.’
‘At the start of our fifth year we all made a promise to each other. That we’ll stick with each other no matter what, that no one is getting left behind. I am not breaking that promise now,’ said Tracey firmly.
Harry could not think of anything to say, he had thought they would understand why he wanted to go alone, but they did bring up good points on why they should go even though he wouldn’t admit it.
‘I—guys, I’m sorry—I didn’t—‘
‘Didn’t realize we knew exactly what we were signing up for when we volunteered to join you after Dumbledore’s funeral?’ said Theodore with snark, his face than sank. ‘I had to tell Colin to take Dennis and the rest of the Creevey’s and go into hiding, it’s not safe for Muggle-Borns anymore. Terence will probably be safe a little longer because even people like Umbridge believe he’s half-blood, but everyone and their Crup knows Colin’s parentage…I needed to make sure he was safe. He might be halfway to New Zealand for all I know.’
There was silence in the room, broken only by gentle thuds as Tracey threw all seven volumes of The Standard Book of Spells as well as Advanced Charm Casting into the keep pile.
Harry looked from one of them to the other. The measures they had taken to protect their families and loved ones made him realize, more than anything else could have done, that they really were going to come with him and that they knew exactly how dangerous that would be. He wanted to tell them what that meant to him, but he simply could not find words important enough.
Through the silence came the muffled sounds of Mrs Weasley shouting from four floors below.
‘She must have found a tiny gum wrapper or something somewhere,’ said Tracey.
‘Well, while she’s still distracted there are some things the three of us should discuss. I’d prefer if Allison were here so it could be unanimous, but we’ll have to fill her in once she arrives back at the Burrow,’ said Theodore. ‘We need to decide where in the world we’re going after we leave the Burrow. Harry, you’ve suggested Godric’s Hollow, to visit your parents graves, but I really doubt there’d be a Horcrux hidden there.’
‘Except we don’t know where any Horcruxes are, so given that we have no other first places in mind to go I say it’s as good as anywhere else to go,’ said Harry, who did not believe that Theodore really understood his desire to Godric’s Hollow. His parents grave were only part of the attraction: He had a strong, though inexplicable, feeling that the place held answers for him. Other than a couple dozen visits to the graveyard as a child Harry had never explored the village, he had never even seen what remained of the house he was born in. Perhaps it was simply because it was there that he had survived Voldemort’s Killing Curse; now that he was facing the challenge of repeating the feat, Harry was drawn to the place where it happened, wanting to understand.
‘It might be dangerous though, Harry,’ protested Theodore. ‘Voldemort knows that you’re connected to that place, that you have a history there. He might be expecting you to go there at some point and have some sort of trap set.’
This had not occurred to Harry. While he struggled to find a counterargument, Tracey spoke up, evidently following her own train of thought.
‘The R.A.B. person,’ she said, ‘The one who managed to find the real locket and take it under Voldemort’s nose?’
The other two nodded.
‘They said both that they were going to die, but that they also believed they would succeed in destroying the Horcrux,’ she continued.
Harry dragged his rucksack toward himself and pulled out the fake
Horcrux in which R.A.B.’s note was still folded.
‘“I know I will be dead long before you read this—I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can”,’ Harry read out.
‘So, do you think it’s possible he or she did succeed in destroying it? That was have one less one to worry about?’ asked Tracey in a hopefulness that Harry couldn’t tell was real or not.
‘If they got far enough that they beat Voldemort’s challenges and swapped the lockets than its not out of the realm of possibility that they destroyed it, but we have to find evidence that they did follow through with what they wrote, otherwise Voldemort will still have a Horcrux protecting him,’ said Theodore, dead serious.
‘Even if the locket, diary, and ring are destroyed, that leaves three that are not. How do we vanquish Horcruxes?’ asked Tracey.
‘That’s where I might be of some help,’ said Theodore smugly. ‘I’ve spent the last month researching Horcruxes as well as Voldemort as a whole.’
‘How?’ asked Harry. ‘I didn’t think there were any books on Horcruxes in the Hogwarts library?’
‘There aren’t, at least not for several decades,’ said Theodore, his smugness now becoming a little hesitant. ‘Do you all remember how at the end of our second year Dumbledore admitted to removing just about all mentions of Tom Riddle from the main body of the castle, well he did something similar with books that covered Horcruxes, he moved them to his office.’
It took Harry and Tracey a moment to understand what Theodore was implying, but then Harry’s eyes widened and Tracey’s jaw dropped.
‘What? We’re Slytherins, if the worst thing I’ve stolen is a handful of books I think that’s pretty tame…and if we survive what’s to come I plan on returning them,’ Theodore admitted.
‘How’d you get them out of his office?’ asked Harry, who could only assume something that important of Dumbledore’s would have powerful spells preventing them from being stolen.
‘Oh, it was super easy, hardly any trouble,’ he said with a nervous laugh. ‘I just was very specific while using the Summoning Charm, and they immediately flew out of Dumbledore’s study window right into my hand. I did the same with three library books I thought we might need.’
‘But when did you do this?’ Harry asked, regarding Theodore with a mixture of admiration and incredulity.
‘Just after Dumbledore’s funeral ended,’ said Theodore. ‘Immediately after all four of us agreed to go on the hunt for Horcruxes with you. I told Remus I had to use the bathroom before we left so I snuck back into the castle and went to the courtyard. I knew I probably wouldn’t get the chance to do deep searches at Flourish and Blotts, the secondhand shop, Tomes and Scrolls, and I definitely wasn’t going to be allowed to go searching through Knockturn Alley, so I knew the only shot of getting the books I needed was from Hogwarts. I did a few Summoning Charms, and the books I needed flew right out his office’s window or through the library door.’
There was silence, and then Theodore spoke once more. ‘Do you think Dumbledore would have been mad?’
‘No, I think he’d understand,’ answered Tracey, in a quite serious tone.
‘So, what are in these books?’ asked Harry.
Theodore began rummaging through Tracey’s keep pile until he puled out an old book bound in faded black leather. He looked a little nauseated and held it as if it burned his skin to touch it.
'I took Magick Moste Evile just in case, but this was the only one I could find with detailed instructions on how to create a Horcrux. Secrets of the Darkest Art—I thought Magick Moste Evile is revoltingly dark, but this book makes it look like a bedtime story. I can't believe this used to be in the Hogwarts library, even if in the restricted section, because this is almost certainly the book Voldemort used to create his Horcruxes.'
'If the instructions are so clear, why did Voldemort have to go to Professor Slughorn with questions?' asked Tracey.
'He only approached Slughorn to find out what would happen if you split your soul into seven,' said Harry. 'Dumbledore was sure Riddle already knew how to make a Horcrux, and maybe had already created one, by the time he asked Slughorn about them. I think you’re right, Theo, that could easily have been where he got the information.'
'And the more I learn about those horrible things,' said Theodore, 'the more sick I feel, and the harder I find it to believe he was able to create six. Even in a book this dark there is a warning inside that states how unstable you make the rest of your soul by ripping it, and all that is just for making a single Horcrux!'
Harry remembered what Dumbledore had said about Voldemort moving beyond 'usual evil.'
'Do you know if there's anyway to remove the sole piece without destroying the Horcrux, it might be easier,' asked Tracey.
'Technically yes, but it isn't something we can do,' said Theodore. 'Voldemort would have to willingly want it back, and he would have to experience unbearable remorse over what he has done to do so, the remorse is so bad it can be deadly. So I don't see Voldemort doing any of those steps.'
'Yeah, neither do I,' admitted Tracey. 'If destroying them is the only option we have, how do we do so?'
'Well,' said Theodore, now turning the fragile pages as if examining rotting entrails, 'the book warns potential Horcrux creators that destroying a Horcrux is near impossible to do so once its done there really is no going back. We know the "near" part is accurate as Harry discovered one way to destroy a Horcrux at the end of our second year.'
'What, stabbing it with a basilisk fang?' asked Harry. 'Much good that'll do us, I doubt the Weasley's have any lying about the house or that they could be easily in Diagon Alley or even Knockturn Alley.'
'Thankfully the fangs are just one way, not the only way,' explained Theodore patiently. 'Substances or spells that are so powerful and destructive that they can eliminate something with little to no chance of reversing the damage are the Holcruxes weakness. The venom from a basilisk fang is only one example of what can destroy a Horcrux because it only has one exceptionally rare cure which is—'
'—phoenix tears,' said Harry, nodding.
'Correct,' said Theodore. 'The problem we're up against is while there are a handful of potential ways we could destroy a Horcrux, all are to dangerous to carry around or deadly to cast. We preferably don't want to die in the process of destroying them.'
'If we do manage to find a way to destroy the items that contain them,' said Tracey, 'what prevents the soul fragment from finding a new host?'
'A Horcrux in a host is not the same as a soul in a person,' said Theodore, trying to explain it the best way he could. 'I could blow Harry up with the Bombardment Spell, leave nothing recognizable behind, but his soul would be fine. For a Horcrux, if you destroy what its encased in, you kill the soul fragment inside, but that's why the host is so hard to damage.'
'That diary sort of died when I stabbed it,' said Harry, remembering ink pouring like blood from the punctured pages, and the screams of the piece of Voldemort’s soul as it vanished. 'Also, you used blowing me to pieces as an example?'
'Sorry, first way that came to my mine on how to describe the destruction of a Horcrux,' shrugged Theodore.
'I wonder how Dumbledore destroyed the ring?' said Harry. 'Why didn’t I ask him? I never really...'
His voice tailed away: He was thinking of all the things he should have asked Dumbledore, and of how, since the headmaster had died, it seemed to Harry that he had wasted so many opportunities when Dumbledore had been alive, to find out more...to find out everything...
The silence was shattered as the bedroom door flew open with a wall-shaking crash. Theodore yelped and dropped Secrets of the Darkest Art. Tracey jumped off the bed, tripping over her piles of books, and smacked her head on the opposite wall; and Harry instinctively dived for his wand before realizing that he was looking up at Mrs Weasley, whose hair was disheveled and whose face was contorted with rage.
'I’m so sorry to break up this cozy little gathering,' she said, her voice trembling. 'I’m sure you all need your rest...but there are wedding presents stacked in my room that need sorting out and I was under the impression that you had agreed to help.'
'Right, sorry,' said Tracey, looking terrified as she leapt on her feet, sending books flying in every direction, 'We’ll be right there...'
With an anguished look at Harry and Theodore, Tracey hurried out of the room after Mrs Weasley.
'These unrelenting chores are starting to make me feel like I'm back with my father...minus the beatings,' said Theodore. 'I barely even know Bill and Fleur, I can't wait for this wedding to be over.'
'Yeah,' said Harry, 'then we’ll have nothing to do except find Horcruxes...It’ll be like a holiday, won’t it?'
Theodore chuckled slightly at Harry’s sarcasm, but his laughter ceased at the sight of the enormous pile of wedding presents waiting for them in Mrs Weasley’s room.
The Delacours arrived the following morning at eleven o’clock. Harry, Canini, Tracey, Theodore, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were feeling quite resentful toward Fleur’s family by this time, and it was with ill grace that Theodore stumped back upstairs to brush his teeth, and Harry attempted to flatten his hair. Once they had all been deemed smart enough, they trooped out into the sunny backyard to await the visitors.
Harry had never seen the place looking so tidy. The rusty cauldrons and old Wellington boots that usually littered the steps by the back door were gone, replaced by two new Flutterby bushes standing either side of the door in large pots, though there was no breeze, the leaves waved lazily, giving an attractive rippling effect. The chickens had been shut away, the yard had been swept, and the nearby garden had been pruned, plucked, and generally spruced up, although Harry, who liked it in its overgrown state, thought that it looked rather forlorn without its usually contingent of capering gnomes.
He had lost track of how many security enhancements had been placed upon the Burrow by both the Order and the Ministry; all he knew was that it was no longer possible for anybody to travel by magic directly into the place. Mr Weasley had therefore gone to meet the Delacours on top of a nearby hill, where they were to arrive by Portkey. The first sound of their approach was an unusually high-pitched laugh, which turned out to be coming from Mr Weasley, who appeared at the gate moments later, laden with luggage and leading a beautiful blonde woman in long, leaf-green robes, who could only be Fleur’s mother. Harry had seen Fleur’s family once in the distance during the final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, but had never met them himself.
‘Maman!’ cried Fleur, rushing forward to embrace her. ‘Papa!’
Monsieur Delacour was nowhere near as attractive as his wife; he was a head shorter and extremely plump, with a little, pointed black beard. However, he looked good-natured. Bouncing toward Mrs Weasley on high-heeled boots, he kissed her twice on each cheek, leaving her flustered.
‘You ’ave been tru too much trouble,’ he said in a deep voice. ‘Fleur tells us you ’ave been working very ’ard.’
‘Oh, it’s been nothing, nothing’ trilled Mrs Weasley. ‘No trouble at all.’
‘Dear lady!’ said Monsieur Delacour, still holding Mrs Weasley’s hand between his two plump ones and beaming. ‘We are most honoured at the approaching union of our two families! Let me present my wife, Apolline.’
Madame Delacour glided forward and stooped to kiss Mrs Weasley too.
‘Enchant ́ee,’ she said. ‘Your ’usband ’as been telling us such amusing stories!’
Mr Weasley gave a maniacal laugh; Mrs Weasley threw him a look, upon which he became immediately silent and assumed an expression appropriate to the sickbed of a close friend.
‘And, of course, you ’ave met my leetle daughter, Gabrielle!’ said Monsieur Delacour. Gabrielle was Fleur in miniature; eleven years old, with waist—length hair of pure, silvery blonde, she gave Mrs Weasley a dazzling smile and hugged her, then gave Harry a hug as well that he hadn’t been expecting. Though he had nearly forgotten about Gabrielle, he had not forgotten that he had once saved her life…at least in Fleur and Gabrielle’s minds.
‘Well, do come in!’ said Mrs Weasley brightly, and she ushered the Delacours into the house, with many ‘No, please!’s and ‘After you!’s and ‘Not at all!’s.
The Delacours, as it soon transpired, were helpful, pleasant guests. They were pleased with everything and keen to assist with the preparations for the wedding. Monsieur Delacour pronounced everything from the seating plan to the bridesmaids’ shows ‘Charmant!’ Madame Delacour was most accomplished at household spells and had the oven properly cleaned in a trice; Gabrielle followed her elder sister around, trying to assist in any way she could and jabbering away in rapid French.
On the downside, the Burrow was not built to accommodate so many people. Mr and Mrs Weasley were now sleeping in the sitting room, having shouted down Monsieur and Madame Delacour’s protests and insisted they take their bedroom. Gabrielle was sleeping with Fleur in Percy’s old room, and Bill would be sharing with Remus and his brother Charlie, his best man, once Charlie arrived from Romania. Opportunities to make plans together became virtually nonexistent, and it was in desperation that Harry, like Mr Weasley, volunteered himself, Tracey, and Theodore to feed the chickens just to escape the overcrowded house.
‘We didn’t have this many chores when we were at Grimmauld Place, and it hadn’t been cleaned in over a decade!’ snarled Tracey, as their second attempt at a meeting in the yard was foiled by the appearance of Mrs Weasley carrying a large basket of laundry in her arms.
‘Oh, good, you’ve fed the chickens,’ she called as she approached them. ‘We’d better shut them away again before the people arrive tomorrow…to put up the tent for the wedding,’ she explained, pausing to lean against the henhouse. She looked exhausted. ‘Millamant’s Magic Marquees…they’re very good. Bill’s escorting them…You’d better stay inside while they’re here, Harry, just incase. I must say it does complicate organizing a wedding, having all these security spells around the place.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Harry humbly.
‘Oh, don’t be silly, dear!’ said Mrs Weasley at once. ‘I didn’t mean—well, your safety’s much more important! Actually, Remus, Arthur, and I have been trying to plan your birthday and I’ve been wanting to ask you how you want to celebrate, Harry. Seventeen, after all, it’s an important day…’
‘I don’t want a fuss,’ said Harry quickly, envisaging the addition strain this would put on them all. ‘Really Mrs Weasley I just honestly am looking forward to Allison, Tonks, and Terence arriving. A normal dinner would be fine…It’s the day before the wedding...’
‘Oh, well, if you’re sure, dear. I’ll still make some of your favourites. Oh, and how about I invite Hagrid over for the evening?’
‘That’d be great,’ said Harry. ‘But please don’t go to loads of trouble.’
‘Not at all, not at all...It’s no trouble...’ She looked at him, a long, searching look, then smiled a little sadly, straightened up, and walked away.
Harry watched as she waved her wand near the washing line, and the damp clothes rose into the air to hang themselves up, and suddenly he felt a great wave of remorse for the inconvenience and the pain he was giving her.
(A lot of plot reveals this chapter, can't wait for you all to read it.)
Previous Chapters:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003768423
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003769317
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003770117
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003771789
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003772695
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003774876
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003775746
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003776170
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003776958
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003777821
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003778655
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003779874
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003781975
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003784137
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003786670
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003788477
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003788958
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003789922
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003790766
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003792515
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003794298
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003794299
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003795416
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003796242
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003796873
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003797451
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003798336
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003798337
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003799052
(I have finished writing Raised By Wolfstar: Slytherin Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, final chapter will be out sometime Wednesday)
Chapter Thirty: The Phoenix Lament
‘C’mere, Harry…’
‘No.’
‘Yeh can’ stay here, Harry…Come on, now…’
‘No.’
‘We should go,’ said Tracey, her voice shaking. Her arm around him had lost its grip.
‘No.’
He did not want to leave Dumbledore’s side, he did not want to move anywhere. Hagrid’s hand on his shoulder was trembling.
Then another voice said, ‘Harry, you’re hurt, come with me.’
A much smaller and warmer hand than Hagrid's had enclosed his and was pulling him upward. He obeyed its pressure without really thinking about it. Only as he walked blindly back through the crowd did he realize, from a trace of Aloe Vera scent on the air, that it was Allison who was leading him back into the castle. Incomprehensible voices battered him, sobs and shouts and wails stabbed the night, but Harry and Theodore walked on, back up the steps into the entrance hall. Faces swam on the edges of Harry’s vision, people were peering at him, whispering, wondering, and Gryffindor rubies glistened on the floor like drops of blood as they made their way toward the marble staircase.
'We’re heading towards the hospital wing,' said Allison.
'I’m not hurt,' said Harry.
'...Harry you're bleeding,' said Allison in as sturdy of a voice as she could. 'Anyway, injured or not we're going, McGonagall has ordered everyone from the battle there. Luna, Neville, and nearly your entire family is there, including Remus—'
Fear stirred in Harry’s chest again: He had forgotten the inert figures he had left behind.
'Allison, who else is dead?'
'Someone else on our side died?' said Allison, genuinely confused.
'But the Dark Mark—Malfoy said he stepped over a body—'
'No one else is dead Harry, don't worry,' said another voice right behind them, probably Tracey if she had followed Harry and Allison. 'The body Draco probably thought was dead was Bill Weasley's, but he's alive and should recover.'
There was something in her voice, however, that Harry knew meant there was more to the story.
'Are you sure?'
'Yes...he just now will share come facial features with Remus and Canini...' said Tracey really hesitantly.
'Greyback mauled him,' said Allison bluntly. 'Because its not a full moon and he wasn't transformed Bill won't turn into a werewolf, but Madam Pomfrey still had to treat his injuries with silver and dittany which shouldn't be the case. Its like Greyback has managed to be partially transformed all month long...but the point is he's alive.'
'But the others...There were other bodies on the ground...'
'Neville and Professor Flitwick were both hurt and knocked down, however Madam Pomfrey healed them right away' said Allison. 'The only one dead other than...other than...Its a Death Eater. One Death Eater, the big blonde guy, missed his target and hit him instead. He missed everyone in fact, I think Theo was wrong about Felix Felicis, that potion is a miracle worker and we'd probably all be dead without it, so thank you.'
'Yes, thank you Harry,' agreed Tracey.
They had reached the hospital wing. Pushing open the doors, Harry saw Neville lying, apparently asleep, in a bed near the door. Ron, Ginny, Colin, Theodore, Terry Boot, Susan Bones, Terence, Luna, Tonks, Canini, and Remus were gathered around another bed near the far end of the ward. At the sound of the doors opening, they all looked up.
Theodore and Canini ran to Harry and hugged him; Remus, more hesitant, slowly made his way over to Harry and hugged him to and than spoke.
'Are you all right, Harry?'
'I’m fine...How’s Bill?'
Nobody answered. Harry looked over Remus’ shoulder and saw an unrecognizable face lying on Bill’s pillow, so badly slashed and ripped that he looked grotesque. Madam Pomfrey was dabbing at his wounds with some harsh-smelling green ointment. Harry remembered how Snape had mended Malfoy’s Sectumsempra wounds so easily with his wand.
'Can’t you fix them with a charm or something?' he asked the matron.
'No charm will work on these,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'I’ve tried everything I know, but there is no cure for werewolf bites.'
'But he wasn’t bitten at the full moon,' said Ron, who was gazing down into his brother’s face as though he could somehow force him to mend just by staring. 'Greyback hadn’t transformed, so surely Bill won’t be a—a real—?'
He looked uncertainly at Remus and Canini. Canini subconsciously touched the scars on her own face.
'No, I don’t think that Bill will be a true werewolf,' said Remus, 'but that does not mean that there won’t be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely ever to heal fully, only close, and—and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on, although I can't be sure.'
'Dumbledore might know something that’d work, though,' Ron said. 'Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore’s orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can’t leave him in this state—'
'Ron...' said Ginny, but she choked up.
'Dumbledore is dead,' Allison finished for her.
'No!' Remus looked wildly from Allison to Tracey to Harry, as though hoping the latter might contradict her, but when Harry did not, Remus collapsed into a chair beside Bill’s bed, his hands over his face. Just over a year ago Harry had never seen Lupin lose control before, but in the last six months alone he'd seen him now break down twice; he felt as though he was intruding upon something private, indecent. He turned away and caught Ron’s eye instead, it seemed that Ron to had to look at Harry before he could believe the news.
'How did he die?' whispered Tonks. 'How did it happen?'
'Snape killed him,' said Harry. 'I was there, I saw it. We arrived back on the Astronomy Tower because that’s where the Mark was...Dumbledore was ill, he was weak, but I think he realized it was a trap when we heard footsteps running up the stairs. He immobilized me, I couldn’t do anything, I was under the Invisibility Cloak—and then Malfoy came through the door and disarmed him—'
Tracey clapped her hands to her mouth and Canini groaned. Luna’s mouth trembled.
'—more Death Eaters arrived—and Greyback—and then Snape—and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra.' Harry couldn’t go on.
Madam Pomfrey burst into tears. Nobody paid her any attention except Ginny, who whispered, 'Shh! Listen!'
Gulping, Madam Pomfrey pressed her fingers to her mouth, her eyes wide. Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turned magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows.
How long they all stood there, listening, he did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning, but it felt like a long time later that the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the ward. Like all the rest, she bore marks of the recent battle: There were grazes on her face and her robes were ripped.
'Molly and Arthur are on their way,' she said, and the spell of the music was broken: Everyone roused themselves as though coming out of trances, turning again to look at Bill, or else to rub their own eyes, shake their heads. 'Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he—when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some—'
'Snape killed Dumbledore,' said Harry.
She stared at him for a moment, then swayed alarmingly; Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have pulled herself together, ran forward, conjuring a chair from thin air, which she pushed under McGonagall.
'Snape,' repeated McGonagall faintly, falling into the chair. 'We all wondered...but he trusted...always...Snape...I can’t believe it...'
'Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens,' said Remus, his voice uncharacteristically harsh. 'We always knew that.'
'But Dumbledore swore he was on our side!' whispered Tonks. 'I always thought Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn’t...'
'He always hinted that he had an ironclad reason for trusting Snape,' muttered Professor McGonagall, now dabbing at the corners of her leaking eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief. 'I mean...with Snape’s history...of course people were bound to wonder...but Dumbledore told me explicitly that Snape’s repentance was absolutely genuine...Wouldn’t hear a word against him!'
'I’d love to know what Snape told him to convince him,' said Tonks.
'I know,' said Harry, and they all turned to look at him. 'Snape passed Voldemort the information that made Voldemort hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore he hadn’t realized what he was doing, he was really sorry he’d done it, sorry that they were dead.'
They all stared at him.
'And Dumbledore believed that?' said Remus incredulously. 'Dumbledore believed Snape was sorry James was dead? Snape hated James...'
'And he didn’t think my mother was worth a damn either,' said Harry, 'because she was Muggle-born..."Mudblood," he called her...'
Nobody asked how Harry knew this. All of them seemed to be lost in horrified shock, trying to digest the monstrous truth of what had happened.
'This is all my fault,' said Professor McGonagall suddenly. She looked disoriented, twisting her wet handkerchief in her hands. 'My fault. I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us! If I hadn’t alerted Snape to what was going on, he might never have joined forces with the Death Eaters. I think he knew they were there before Filius told him, I don’t think he knew they were coming.'
'It isn’t your fault, Minerva,' said Remus firmly. 'We all wanted more help, we were glad to think Snape was on his way...'
'So when he arrived at the fight, he joined in on the Death Eaters’ side?' asked Harry, who wanted every detail of Snape’s duplicity and infamy, feverishly collecting more reasons to hate him, to swear vengeance.
'I don’t know exactly how it happened,' said Professor McGonagall distractedly. 'It’s all so confusing...Dumbledore had told us that he would be leaving the school for a few hours and that we were to patrol the corridors just in case...Remus, Bill, and Nymphadora were to join us...and so we patrolled. All seemed quiet. Every secret passageway out of the school was covered. We knew nobody could fly in. There were powerful enchantments on every entrance into the castle. I still don’t know how the Death Eaters can possibly have entered...'
Whom does everyone believe to be the most criminally underrated character in the whole Harry Potter mythos?
My choice is Fleur Delacour.
We hardly know anything about her, ranging from her family ancestry on both her mother's and father's respective sides of the family apart from her being part-Veela, her own likes, dislikes, hobbies, favorite foods and pastimes, etc.
I believe that she should be at least descended from at least some Viking wizards who first came to France years ago during the Viking invasion of some European countries and she would have at least one ancestor on either side of her family that served in the French Foreign Legion before being honorably discharged.
We don't even know what kind of professions her parents have in wizarding France, whether her father works in the French Ministry or perhaps her mother might be a fashion designer in France.
And Fleur deserves to have at least one best friend (aka bestie or BFF) who stood by her side every day at school about her being part-Veela and trying to shoo away all of the jealous girls who could have also served as her maid of honor at her wedding to Bill.
I also believe that she should have a favorite fairytale, which I can see being Beauty and the Beast.
As for her family, I have some names for whichever relatives that we never given:
Father . . . Anatole
Paternal grandfather . . . Étienne
Maternal grandfather . . . Raoul
Previous Chapters:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003768423
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003769317
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003770117
Tags:
@Teddy.J.B @Pervaza972 @CatsAndRoblox @Missy Clara Oswald
(sorry for the bit of delay, I have this chapter finished a while ago but I made a cascading error in the following chapter and until I was sure both chapters were free of my mistake I had to hold this one back. Hope you enjoy.)
Chapter Four: Catch-up and O.W.L.s
Harry woke up the next morning to the smell of a mushroom and bacon quiche, as did Theodore. Looking at his watch he realized it was nearly eleven.
‘I guess we really were up late last night, huh,’ said Theodore as he got changed.
Harry put his day clothes on and the two headed downstairs where the breakfast quiche was waiting on the dining table and Remus and Canini were already eating. Alongside the quiche was also a stack of toast and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.
‘Ah, you boys are finally awake, I was starting to think I’d have to make you lunch instead of breakfast. Come, eat,’ said Remus, looking slightly more cheerful than he had been the previous night.
‘Yeah, before it gets cold,’ said Canini as she took a bite of toast.
Harry and Theodore didn’t have to be told twice, they drew up a chair and Harry took a little of everything. Harry hadn’t had the pleasure of Remus’ cooking really since Christmas as for the funeral all Harry really ate was sandwiches and cereal before he had to head back to the Dursley’s. They all mostly ate in silence, but only because their mouths were too busy eating the delicious food. Then when Harry was finished Remus smiled and put his hands on his shoulders.
‘I never got a chance to tell you before, but you have grown so much since Christmas,’ said Remus, with a hint of pride in his voice, ‘Theo had his big growth spirt last year, but over the past several months you and Canini have shot right up. Once we get the supply list for the year we’ll probably have to get you both new robes. The Weasley's want us to go the same day they do.'
As he and the others moved to the living room that made him remember something and he asked.
‘That reminds me, while I have been receiving letters and the daily newspaper I’m still a little out of the loop. How are the Weasley’s?’ Harry asked.
‘Well Harry, there has been some big news over there,’ said Remus with a smile. ‘Arthur finally got a well deserved promotion.’
‘Oh, that’s great,’ said Harry, who knew just as well as the others that Mr Weasley was probably the most hard working employee at the Ministry of Magic and yet his department had been understaffed and underfunded. ‘What has he been promoted too?’
‘A new position created by the new Minister, to help deal with Voldemort and his Death Eaters,’ answered Theodore. ‘Mr Weasley’s division is called the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.’
‘And get this Harry,’ said Canini, instead of just one underling he now has I think ten people he is now in charge of.’
‘What exactly does his department do?’ asked Harry, as while it sounded important he had a hard time seeing Mr Weasley being proficient in something that didn’t involve magical items in some way.
‘Ever since the public learned that Voldemort has returned low-life that are out to make a buck have been selling fake protective charms and potions that at best do nothing but at worse cause actual bodily harm,’ explained Remus. ‘Times like these people can’t be putting their faith in items that will do nothing to help them, and St Mungo’s can’t handle much more addiction injuries, so it is Mr Weasley and his department’s job to separate the fakes from the real deals and confiscate the ones that don’t work.’
‘That does sound like a job he would enjoy,’ said Harry.
‘Oh, and speaking of jobs, Fred and George fully opened their joke shop in Diagon Alley,’ said Theodore.
‘Yes, they sent me an owl saying whenever I get to see it for the first time I can try out whatever I want,’ said Harry excitedly.
‘How come they did that?’ asked Remus, Harry had never told his guardians that he had given most of his tri-wizard tournament prize money to the twins to use in their shop and the rest to Theodore to grow his independence.
‘Er, just from being such a supporter of them over the years. You know that not everyone supported their dream,’ said Harry trying to sound as convincing as possible.
‘Yes, Molly has told me many times that she did not approve of their career choice, but in recent conversations she seems to have come around and given them her approval,’ said Remus.
‘If only she’d give approval to her other son’s choices,’ said Theodore sarcastically, although Harry didn’t fully understand.
‘What? Did Percy do something?’
‘No, Percy still isn’t on speaking terms with his family. What Theodore is referring to is that Bill has gotten engaged,’ explained Remus.
‘Oh? Good for him,’ said Harry, although he still didn’t understand the disapproval comment Theodore had made. ‘Who’s the lucky person?’
‘Your fellow tri-wizard champion, Fleur Delacour, she is Bill’s fiancée. The wedding is to be sometime next summer,’ said Remus. Harry remember Bill saying something about Fleur beginning working at Gringotts, though he couldn’t remember if Bill had mentioned they were an item.
‘Well that’s nice, Bill is a good man and she has a kind heart, I’m sure they’ll be great together. Why doesn’t Mrs Weasley approve?’
‘I think it’s her Veela heritage,’ said Canini, ‘as much as it makes hetero men practically drool over her, it seems to have the opposite effect on hetero women. Mrs Weasley isn’t the only one who dislikes her, she’s stay at the Burrow right now and Ginny and Hermione Granger also dislike her. Ginny does make some good points about Fleur being a bit full of herself and that they’re rushing into things, but I think it’s mostly the anti Veela charm magic happening.’
‘While it might a little fast, I have seen faster during the previous war,’ said Remus. ‘Couple’s who don’t know how much time they’ll have so get to living life as fast as they can. James and Lily were married only a short while after Hogwarts and had Harry when they were only twenty, Andromeda and Ted were even faster with their marriage and having Nymphadora, and Molly is one to talk as she and Arthur eloped not long after their graduation as well. At least Bill and Fleur are having a long engagement before they tie the knot.’
‘I think that’s one of the reasons Ginny has against Fleur,’ said Canini. ‘That if it was true love they would be married a lot sooner, but I don’t understand all this romance at the best of times anyway.’
That seemed to exhaust the topic of the Weasley’s, Remus’ expression went a bit more serious as he asked Harry a question.
‘So, you helped Dumbledore convince Horace Slughorn to come back to Hogwarts?’
Harry nodded, it would appear that Dumbledore confessed to him the contents of the previous evening, ‘Really I didn’t do much, just being at his house seemed to convince him.’
‘He was still at Hogwarts when the Marauders were there,’ said Remus. ‘In fact, I think he might have been teaching at Hogwarts for the same amount of time as Dumbledore. I wanted to know Harry, what was your opinion of him?’
Harry was still not sure of what his opinion of Slughorn was, he didn’t seem to be malicious, but his blood status remarks were off-putting. Harry shrugged and gave a non-committal jerk off the head.
‘Yes, I understand what you mean,’ said Remus, nodding wisely. ‘He was a nice man and an excellent teacher, but none of us Marauders really liked him all that much. If you didn’t already have famous connections or were a decently skilled Slytherin you would have to be an absolute prodigy to get his attention. Sorry, I guess even after nearly twenty years I’m still jealous because I was one of the highest performing students of my year, but I believe because I was a Gryffindor Half-blood skilled in subjects other than what he taught that I never really caught his eye.’
This confused Harry as Remus was very gifted in Defence Against the Dark Arts which must be what Slughorn taught as that was the position that was open, but he didn’t press him for clarification. Something else popped into his mind that he wanted Remus specifically to answer.
‘Moony, you wrote me to say that Susan survived, but Amelia was the only family she had left and she isn’t of age yet so she can’t live on her own, what happened to her?’ Harry wanted to make sure one of his oldest friends was going to be ok.
‘When the attack first happened I went to Susan and offered her to stay with us actually, that she could stay in our spare bedroom or bunk with Canini. However she knows I am in the Order, and what happened to-er-Sirius, and she said she didn’t want to emotionally risk moving in with someone who will likely be killed as well,’ Remus paused for a moment when he saw the terror on his children’s faces. ‘She was in shock and grief, I’m being as safe as I can and I won’t be gone any time soon, I promise. Anyway, her girlfriend’s family, the Moon’s, offered her to stay with them until she’s of age or longer if necessary and Susan decided to move in with them.’
Harry thought that was probably for the better, while everyone seemed to be slowly recovering from the loss of Sirius, they still weren’t ready to add another person to their household. Perhaps Remus was just looking to fill the space that was missing in the home.
‘Well, it’s a nice day outside,’ said Remus. You three should go out and enjoy the sun, just try and stay within the property so that the Fidelius Charm keeps you safe.’
So Harry grabbed his Firebolt and the others picked up a spare broom each, they all put their shoes on and made their way to a clearing in the trees on the cottage's property. From the outside it looked like a thick orchard, but just past a couple trees it was a big open field where they could fly around as long as they didn't go higher then the tree line. They kicked off and flew around a bit, which cheered Harry up greatly, but he still had questions he wanted answered, so while still flying the three flew in close to one another.
'What is going on with Tonks?' Harry asked. 'I've only seen her with brown hair once before and it was at her grandmother's funeral, but even then a couple days later while still sad her hair was back to being colourful.'
'I think its because her grandmother had a more natural death, Sirius' death was anything but, and we think—' began Theodore.
'No, I know,' said Canini. 'She blames herself for his death.'
'How does she work that one out?' asked Harry, in spite of himself.
'Just before Sirius began dueling Bellatrix Lestrange she had been battling me and Tonks, and I know Tonks thinks that because she is an Auror she should have been able to defeat Bellatrix or at least distract her long enough for Dumbledore to deal with her,' explained Canini. 'Bellatrix though sent a spell so powerful at us that while I was able to shield us it still knocked us over and stunned us a bit. There was nothing we could have done but she doesn't see it that way.'
'And it doesn't help that they were close,' added Harry, now thinking from Tonks' point of view. 'We think of her as our cousin, but Sirius had acted like a second father to her since she was nine, she's known him nearly as long as I have.'
'Like many forms of magic a Metamorphmagus' shape changing ability can be effected by their emotions,' said Theodore. 'Being calm often results in the most control, anger or excitement can cause unintended changes, and it would seem grief and depression can make it near impossible to use their powers entirely.'
'Do you think her having trouble with her powers will effect her missions in the Order?' asked Canini in a worried tone. 'As most of her tasks relied on the fact that she could disguise herself however the Order needed.'
'I don't know,' admitted Harry. 'Though I'm sure Dumbledore will find tasks for her, as the Order need all the help they can get.'
Theodore and Canini looked at each other and then Theodore spoke.
‘Did Dumbledore mention anything else to you while you were recruiting this years teacher?’ he asked.
‘Well, he is going to be giving me private lessons this year,’ said Harry.
'Shut up? Really?!' asked Canini both excited and nervous.
'I only just remembered,' said Harry honestly. 'He told me last night in these very woods.'
'Goodness, I can't believe you're going to get to learn under Dumbledore himself,' said Canini, practically star struck. 'What do you think he'll be teachi..?'
Her voice tailed away. Harry saw her and Theodore exchange looks again. Harry flew down to the soft grass bellow and the other two followed, his heart beating rather fast . Dumbledore had said to do it...Why not now? He fixed his eyes on the grass, which was gleaming in the sunlight from above, and said, 'I don’t know exactly why he’s going to be giving me lessons, but I think it must be because of the prophecy.'
Neither Theodore or Canini spoke. Harry had the impression that both had frozen. He continued, still speaking towards the ground, 'You know, the one they were trying to steal at the Ministry.'
'Yes, but no one knows the message it contains, as it was destroyed,' said Theodore quickly. 'Although that wasn't you and Neville's fault.'
'But Theo, you know that the Daily Prophet thinks—' Canini began, but Theodore hushed her.
'The Prophet’s got it right,' said Harry, looking up at them both with a great effort: Theodore seemed frightened and Canini amazed. 'That glass ball that smashed wasn’t the only record of the prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore’s office, he was the one the prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. From what it said,' Harry took a deep breath, 'it looks like I’m the one who’s got to finish off Voldemort...At least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives.'
The three of them gazed at one another in silence for a moment. Then Canini started crying a little.
'Oh Harry, you've had this on your chest for weeks,' she said giving him a quick hug. 'Are you ok, oh Harry...'
'We had all wondered, Tracey and Allison included, after we returned from the Ministry...' began Theodore. 'But we had all promised not to ask you about any of it, however I was very curious after what Lucius Malfoy had to say about what the prophecy contained. He had mentioned that it was about you and Voldemort, so we all speculated it might be about you and his destiny, but I never imagined "neither of you can live while the other survives". I agree with Canini, are you ok, are you scared?'
'Not as much as I was,' said Harry. 'When I first heard it, I was...but now, it seems as though I always knew I’d have to face him in the end...'
'When Remus said Dumbledore would be collecting you personally, we thought he might take the opportunity to tell you something about the prophecy,' said Canini eagerly. 'While we were wrong about when he told you, we weren't wrong that picking you up had a couple extra agendas. And you shouldn't worry Harry, think of it this way, if Dumbledore thought you stood no chance he wouldn't be spending time out of his day on you—he must really believe in you, Harry!'
'I guess, but I still don't know what he plans on teaching me, just that its not Occlumency,' said Harry, a warmth was spreading through him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction in his chest seemed to be dissolving. He knew his siblings were more shocked than they were letting on, but the mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking bracing words of comfort, not shrinking from him as though he were contaminated or dangerous, was worth more than he could ever tell them. 'Possibly some very advanced defensive magic like the type he used against Voldemort at the Ministry.'
'Well, its good to know at least one of the lesson's you'll be able to attend this year,' said Theodore. 'The wait for my O.W.L. results is killing me.'
'I'm sure you did fine Theodore,' said Canini in a tone that made Harry think he's brought this up several times before.
'Hang on,' said Harry, as another part of last night’s conversation came back to him. 'I think Dumbledore said our O.W.L. results would be arriving today!'
'Wait, really‽' squealed Theodore. 'As in today today? Oh my goodness! I'm going back inside to see if any owls have arrived yet...'
And with that Theodore ran back through the woods towards the cottage.
'Am I going to be like that in two years?' asked Canini as she watch Theodore disappear in the trees.
'Maybe, though Theodore is a bit hyper when it comes to grades,' responded Harry. 'I'm going in too, I want to write Allison and Tracey about the prophecy.'
Harry then went inside and took the time to tell Remus about the prophecy as well, and while nervous for Harry, he too was quite supportive of him. He then helped Harry craft two letters to Tracey Davis and Allison Runcorn explaining the prophecy to them and what it meant to Harry, though despite his promise a couple weeks back Remus was still hesitant when Harry sent Allison's letter.
During this time Theodore was pacing like crazy, Harry was starting to regret telling him their results were on their way.
'I know I've probably gotten my "Outstanding" in Potions, but I need one in Herbology as well for most of the positions I'm interested in,' he ranted. 'And while I try my best in that class it doesn't come as naturally to me as mixing brews does.'
'Theodore, there is only a single student in our year who does better than you do,' blurted Harry eventually when he had heard enough. 'You are going to get more "Outstanding"s than the rest of our friend group.'
'Remus, what does happen if you don't get sufficient O.W.L.s for the career you want?' Canini asked.
'For some classes there can be make up courses if the teacher is willing and the student is desperate enough, there are also lessons outside of Hogwarts that some employers count as equivalent credits, finally, sometimes the O.W.L.s a job says it requires are just a suggestion and if you're skilled enough they'll still take you and train you on the job. It won't come to that though Theo, I know you did fine.'
The conversation didn't get to continue though as Theodore was now pointing through the kitchen window. Two black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.
'Pretty sure those are owls,' said Canini, looking through the window.
'And there are two of them,' said Harry, hastening to her other side.
'One for the both of us,' said Theodore in a nervous wreck. 'I can't take this...'
Theodore gripped Harry tightly around the elbow.
The owls were flying directly to Mould-on-the-Wold Cottage, two handsome tawnies, both of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.
'Oh goodness!' panicked Theodore.
Remus squeezed past his three children and opened the kitchen window. The owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. Both of them lifted their right legs.
Harry moved forward. The letter addressed to him was tied to the leg of the owl in the middle. He untied it with fumbling fingers. To his right Theodore’s hands were shaking so much he was making his whole owl tremble as he detached his letter.
Nobody in the kitchen spoke. At last, Harry managed to detach the envelope. He slit it open quickly and unfolded the parchment inside.
Harry read the parchment through several times, his breathing becoming easier with each reading. It was all right: He had always known that he would fail Divination, and he had had no chance of passing History of Magic, given that he had collapsed halfway through the examination, but he had passed everything else! He ran his finger down the grades...he had passed well in Transfiguration and Herbology, he had even exceeded expectations at Potions! And best of all, he had achieved "Outstanding” at Defense Against the Dark Arts!
He looked to Theodore, who had his back to him and his head bent.
'Well, how'd you do Harry?' asked Remus, seemingly giving Theodore more time to read and reread his results.
'I passed everything but Divination and History of Magic, I got an "Acceptable" for Astronomy, everything else is "Exceeds Expectations" except for DADA which I got an "Outstanding".
'That's amazing, I am very proud of you Harry!' said Remus beaming.
'What about you, Theo?' said Canini tentatively, for Theodore still hadn’t turned around. 'How were your results?'
'Fairly well...I got an "Acceptable" in Divination though...' he began, but then Canini ripped the paper out of his hand.
'Besides that passing mark he has three "Outstandings" including the two he needed and the rest are "Exceeding Expectations".'
'Give that back, oh you can be so annoying,' said Theodore trying to get his marks back. 'Even though its a pass an "A" means I can't continue that class.'
'You didn't want to take Divination anymore anyway!' laughed Canini, finally giving Theodore his marks back, he smiled to.
'Well I am proud of you too Theodore, and you did very well in your third year exams Canini,' said Remus with pride. 'My three kids are geniuses! I think this calls for dessert before lunch.'
While the other two cheered, Harry looked back down at his results. They were as good as he could have hoped for. He felt just one tiny twinge of regret...This was the end of his ambition to become an Auror. He had not secured the required Potions grade. He had known all along that he wouldn’t, but he still felt a sinking in his stomach as he looked again at that small black "E".
It was odd, really, seeing that it had been a Death Eater in disguise who had first told Harry he would make a good Auror, but somehow the idea had taken hold of him, and he couldn’t really think of anything else he would like to be. Moreover, it had seemed the right destiny for him since he had heard the prophecy a few weeks ago...Neither can live while the other survives...Wouldn’t he be living up to the prophecy, and giving himself the best chance of survival, if he joined those highly trained wizards whose job it was to find and kill Voldemort?
110 Votes in Poll
65 Votes in Poll
70 Votes in Poll
76 Votes in Poll
I just learnt why Bill and Fleur named their daughter Victoire I can't believe I didn't know that before ahhhh
