Speaking key.
"English"
Thoughts
"French"
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter it belongs to J.K. Rowling
Chapter 2
The Lord End
and
The Charges
Harry stood in front of the door to the Grandmasters study, his study now. He took a deep breath and turned the knob opening the door to find, exactly what he expected. A simple room complete with a cabinets, a desk, and a chair with a portrait of a pale man with dark eyes and hair, the founder, behind it.
"How anti-climatic." It was then that the portrait decided to laugh and Harry knew that a headache was on the way. "Lord End."
By the time the portrait had stopped laughing Harry had already finished searching all the cabinets and desk, finding nothing he had decided to sit and wait out the laughing fit that had taken over the founder. It wasn't even that funny.
"I completely beg to differ, my boy. After being here with only Grayson, who by the way cannot tell a joke, that would be funny to anyone." He shifted in the frame as if to get more comfortable. "So now that you have entered it must mean that Grayson has finally passed?" Harry nodded, "Sad, unfortunate, but about damn time!"
Harry glared at the picture. "Oh don't look at me like that. You must understand that he was completely ready to go. Imagine this, you had a family of almost two-hundred, you saw them everyday and cared for each and every one of them. Then suddenly, your apprentice, the one you thought of as your son is forced to leave the family because of conflicting views in a war, then in a new war all the brothers and sisters that made up your family were killed in a single night, leaving you alone on a stroke of luck. He had enough of the world, can't really blame him either. This was a blessing for him."
Harry's head lowered before something in the words caught his attention. "He had another apprentice?"
The pale man in the portrait looked at him bemused. "Yes, it's customary to take one around the age of twenty-five to thirty. He never told you this?"
The four-teen year old assassin sighed, "No. He didn't like talking about his life." The portrait nodded to itself understanding. "So you said that his apprentice was forced to leave the family?"
End nodded a sad frown on his face, "Yes, it was during World War II. He was a native of Germany for the first ten years of his life before his parents were murdered. He was eighteen when the war started and refused to fight against those, he still considered countrymen." The portrait paused heavily sighing before continuing. "The current Grand Master, a man by the name of Henry Redding, was cruel and saw fit to give the poor boy an ultimatum, fight and stay, don't fight and leave. He chose the second choice."
"I had never seen so much unease in the family as the next day when the boy disappeared without a trace. The war went on and Henry died, his next successor sought to correct his predecessor's mistake by tracking down the apprentice, who would be twenty-three now, but there were issues. Whenever an assassin leaves the family they are tagged to make sure they don't become a threat. He somehow dropped his tag in the middle of the war."
"The Grand Master sent many search and recover missions throughout all of western Europe. Not a trace. So after three more years they gave up, sending out the odd mission every once in a while but it was thought that either the assassin had ended up dead or on the wrong side of the wall." A small grin tugged at the portraits lips, "Personally I think he is just good at hiding and is still out there. But that is neither here nor there." The portrait had a full-blown grin now. "Have you taken any interesting jobs yet?"
Harry stared at the excited portrait wondering if it was normal for anything to switch emotions so quickly, before answering. "Yes, I have taken a double protection contract to take up the majority of the next year."
The portrait seemed to consider this a moment, "I suppose protection is a good place to start. How much money and for how long, exactly,"
"800 galleons for the entire school year."
The portrait sat their blank faced. "800 altogether?"
"Each."
End considered this a moment. "I suppose that actually isn't so bad. I personally would have tried for at least 900 but that's technically up to you and 800 isn't light either." The portrait contemplated a moment more. "I approve. So who are your charges?"
Harry blinked,"Before I answer that, how would you know who I'm talking about?"
The painting looked at him seemingly delighted in his ignorance, "This portrait is actually beyond that of any other portrait ever created in that it's linked to the ministries of Britain, France, Germany, and almost any other country in Europe. I can look up almost anyone in the wizarding world that was born in Europe." The portrait was most definitely bragging and Harry could understand why, that must have been an incredibly hard feat to accomplish.
"My charges are a veela by the name of Fleur Delecour and the Girl-Who-Lived Alexandria Potter." The portrait stared. Then blinked. Then stared some more. Then yelled.
"Are you insane boy!" Harry completely caught off guard fell out of his seat. "Tell me do you have a VL?" At Harry's nod the man continued. "Tell me, assuming Grayson was correct, who is at the top of said list?" He saw where this was going.
"The Potters."
"Yes, and you come here telling me that you took a job protecting the daughter of the highest rated personal targets! I wouldn't trust even my most trusted assassin to do such a thing!" The portrait was snarling now and Harry now over his shock was getting a bit annoyed. Flicking his wrist he let his wand drop into his hand and waved it at the portrait silently casting a silencing charm.
"Listen here you old fleck of paint, just because you wouldn't do something doesn't mean that I'm not going to do it. You may be the founder, you may have hung here for centuries, and you may have more experience but don't assume that just because they are on my list that I'll compromise my mission. We need the money. Now I'm going to undo the silencing charm now and you will not start scolding me like I am three. Understood?" The man nodded and Harry undid the charm.
The portrait stared at him and burst into laughter only furthering Harry's new found annoyance of the man. "Grayson was right you have quite the short fuse." He was chuckling through the words. "Fine, I'll let the matter drop. Moving on now, Delecour is a very important name in France lately. Heard he will be running for minister, so it makes sense. Now since there is a week-and-a-half until the job let me offer some advice. Take an assassination job before you would help us by announcing that we actually are back and are serious."
Harry nodded understanding that it was beneficial. "I'll look over the other contracts when i get back from meeting the charges."
End nodded before grinning. "So, what look are you taking on for the job?" At Harry's blank stare he continued. "You know, using the glamour brace."
"What is a glamour brace?"
End stared at him as if not believing his words. "Did Grayson not give you one?" At his confirmation of no, "Look in the compartment under the desk." Harry did as he was told running his hand around under the desk until he felt an indent which he manipulated to open into a secret compartment. Inside was a simple silver bracelet with rune running around the interior.
"That is a glamour brace, tapping the runes around it will change the settings so that when you put it on and activate it, it will give you a glamour that is unable to be taken off by anyone but you, after all that hood and mask gets to be quite annoying after awhile of constant use."
"To change the settings, you first have to set it to your blood so only you can use it. To do this simply put it on." Harry did so and immediately it seized his wrist shrinking down to a perfect fit. He felt a prick and realized that it had just drawn his blood. "Very good now hopefully you know your basic assassin runes because that is what's used to show settings. The four left of the activation rune on the top are eye shape, eye color, base hair type, and hair color, which can literally be almost any color. The four to the right are facial hair, skin tone, ears, and nose. The one on the far right is for scars, the one on the far left is for general face shape, and the three on the bottom are presets for aristocrat, average man, and veteran."
"Now for almost every one you just tap it and the rune will switch to whichever one is next in the cycle. However for eye color, hair color, and scars you will want to be thing of a specific color and scar when you tap it." He took a second to make sure Harry was still listening. "Now dangers. It wont cover up dark curse scars so keep them covered by something, and be careful no one sees you without the suit or periodically shave because it does not effect the carpet." End held a grin throughout the entire explanation while Harry just nodded.
He took out his wand adjusting a few things here and there a bit smaller ears, a smaller nose, a sharper face, thinner lips, pausing at eyes. He actually liked his eyes, they were one of the few things he liked about his appearance, he dislike looking so much like his father, but his eyes. He couldn't put a finger on it but for some reason they always seemed amazing even if he had gotten them from his mother. He sight before tapping the bracelet and changing the eye shape to be a bit rounder with a deep blue color. Finally was his hair he changed it to be a bit longer and less messy so the it would fall over his forehead and cover his scar but not long enough that it would get in his way before coming to color. He looked at his arm before tapping it. Then he activated it.
It hurt. It felt like lightning crawling around his head. Then it was over and he sat sat there on his hands and knees catching his breath before standing up and looking at the portrait and asking him for his opinion.
"Think about the answer a moment. Do you want my honest opinion?" At Harry's nod he continued. "Feminine. You my friend look like a girl who has bound their chest." Harry stared at him raising a now white trimmed eyebrow. "First the main thing is that your already built for speed not strength which means that you already could have pulled this look off without any face changes." Harry stared blankly at the portrait. "Now second, the hair when in that style is used by both men and women. Third, the eyes are distinctly feminine, no way around that, and finally the way you put your face together brings the image of a noble with harsh knowledge of the world. Though now that I look, you carry your self quite differently and without a chest people will just think your confused."
The eyebrow was still raised. "Over all good, feminine, but good."
Harry shrugged.
WA-WA-WA
Harry appeared next to Hedwig in front of the Delecour home. Brushing some dirt off of his cloak he looked up to see his familiar eyeing him, not believing this was what he looked like. "What do you think, girl?"
Though she didn't speak he could feel amusement coming from her as a message was sent through their bond. The white hair is an interesting touch. His mouth lifted in a grin, "I thought so to." He raised his hand and knocked on the door of the house.
He waited a few moments hearing rapid chattering in French and footstep before the door was opened by Sebastian Delecour, who looked him over confused, "Yes?"
"Good day, sir. I am the assassin that will be protecting your daughter and am here to meet my charge." He spoke his voice clear.
The male Delecour stared at the boy in front of him, astonished. "You are an assassin. But you are so young!"
Harry frowned taking offense, "I assure you Sir I've been training many years and am a ranked assassin sent by the Grand Master."
"Zee Grand Master was the one I talked to correct?"
"Indeed."
"So then why isn't 'e 'ere?"
Harry hesitated a moment before answering. "The Grand Master looks over the contracts and chooses them, meeting with the contract writer if need, but never does any actual missions unless the situation absolutely calls for it."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "Such as being the only assassin?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand where such an accusation came from." He failed at covering himself. He could hear it in his own voice. The Delecour just looked at him a small unnoticeable smirk.
"Biggest zing that gave it away was your voice. You 'aven't disguised it at all. Zee second was zhat no one has seen any signs of assassins for years. Zhird, well you're wearing the same armor as the man I met and I'd 'azard a guess that the silver bracelet on your had is the reason for your odd appearance."
Harry gave and annoyed huff before responding, "Right, so are you going to allow me to meet your daughter, Holmes?"
Sebastian, still smirking led him into a dinning room where it appeared to be about to start. He immediately throwing off the veela allure that attempted to envelop him. He noticed Sebastian looked vaguely surprised as did the two women seated at the table while the little girl sat there looking at him with curiosity.
"Linny!" A house elf popped into existence in front of the father Delecour.
"Yous called for Linny, Master Delecour." The small female creature said standing up-right.
The man smiled at her, "Yes, would you set another spot at zee table. We 'ave a surprise guest." The house elf left popping a plate and silverware into existence. Sebastian led him to the seat, sitting him down before moving back to the vacated seat.
"Perhaps you would want to introduce yourself, Monsieur?"
Harry nodded feeling nervous for some reason. "A pleasure to meet you all, I am Harry Creek." His cover name, a final commemoration to his fallen master.
Sebastian nodded before motioning to the woman seated to his right. "Zhis is my wife Apolline," He nodded, while Sebastian motioned toward the little girl on his left, "Zhis is our youngest Gabrielle." She smiled at him waving which he returned, before finally moving his gave to the witch next to her, across from him, "And zhis is my daughter, Fleur."
So that was his charge. He looked her over, easily seeing her veela heritage in the silvery blond hair shared by her mother and sister. She had beep ocean blues eyes that were quietly observing him. He opened his mind barriers letting a small amount of allure in, and promptly slam it shut as he felt an over-whelming need to prove himself somehow. No one noticed his brief lapse in control.
"You are not affected?" Her voice was soft and somewhat musical, likely also from her heritage, yet carried no small amount of relief and a bit of annoyance.
His mouth lifted in a grin, "No, one of the gifts I was born with was being a natural occlumens. Things such ass a veela's allure shouldn't affect me. Well passively at least."
"Oh." It was a simple word ye it promised hell. He looked up his eyes narrowing at her smirk. He opened his mouth.
"Don't yo-" Suddenly he had the compulsion to open his mouth and confess to this 'angel' how he was the first wizard to reach the moon and that he would bring her there on his next trip. He opened his moth before shutting it with and audible click. Don't even speak you fool. I will never forgive myself if I fail to keep my cool. His hands were white under his gloves as he clenched them. He felt blood enter his mouth as he bit his tongue. Don't give in!
And just as suddenly as it had started, it was gone and he was left quietly gasping. He looked up slowly from his plate glaring at the young woman who had dared attempt to allure him. She seemed impressed.
He glanced around the table Apolline was definitely staring at him impressed as was her husband. He looked at Gabrielle who was squirming in her seat staring at him. He raised a brow which she took for permission to speak. "Why do you sound like a boy but look like a girl." She spoke in soft french.
He surprised them all by responding in the same language. "It was my first attempt at creating a disguise. Apparently, I'm not very good."
"You speak French." The question was asked by the patriarch of the family.
Harry grinned tiredly still exhausted from the direct allure attack. "Assassins are taught every major European language just in case we are sent abroad. Though i prefer my native language." He nodded understanding before the room fell quiet again.
"Monsieur, if I might make a suggestion? Shorten your hair and you will likely look a bit les feminine."
Harry just sighed.
WA-WA-WA
He apperated into Godric's Hollow, his hair now in its original style and covering his scar, sometime around ten having sent an owl with instructions on what to have ready for his visit. He was tired, exhausted really, and didn't want to have to put up with the Potters for longer than he absolutely had to.
He approached the small house and knocked on the door, which was answered by James potter almost immediately. Harry said nothing just walked in and allowed him to show him to the kitchen where his twin sat with his mother and Albus Dumbledore.
He took the open seat, slumping, next to his sister grateful that he wouldn't have to stand.
"Are you alright sir?"
He looked up to his mother, who had spoken, and felt his throat tightening. His mother had always paid attention to him when she could, even if it wasn't as much as Alex, and her betrayal had killed him most.
"I-I'm fine madame." He cursed his shaky voice and turned attempted to speak once more. "I am here to meet my charge and discuss where I shall be staying in Hogwarts."
He looked at Dumbledore when he said this you took that as his que, "I assure you my boy, that I will have the old assassin suite prepared for you." Any other time he would have questioned the addition of an assassin suite in a school but he was too tired. He was going to get back at the veela for what she did. He just needed to figure out how.
"Thank you." His words felt like sand. He turned toward Alex wo was focused on her hands. "Hello."
She looked up, she looked a lot like their mother, same eyes even, she was more of a clone than him, muttered a quick 'hi' back to him before refocusing on her hands again.
He frowned. "You'll have to forgive her, she is a bit shy and there have been a number of issues coming up lately." He looked toward his mother wish he was four again. Pushing the thought out of his mind he nodded.
"It's alright, not everyone is a butterfly." He yawned. "Is there anything important that you want to know?"
James opened his mouth but a glare from his wife caused him to close it. She looked at him and gave a smile, "It's alright go home and rest."
He looked at her gratefully. "Thank you m-" He caught himself. "Ma'am."
He got up and walked toward the door not noticing the look Dumbledore was giving him.
AN: Well there we go chapter 2 up and running. Thank you to all who read and reviewed last chapter. I don't really have a set schedual, but write as the feeling strikes and reviews actually help the feeling strike. Fun fact for the Delecour part of this chapter when writing it I forgot to write it with the sccent and had to go back and comb through it twice. Anyway let me know what you think.
-RoL
*A VL is a list of personal targets that have wronged the writer of the list. These are generally people that will end up dead one day.