Harry Potter and the Sketchy Resorts

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Potterverse

Chapter 2

Severus Snape was laughing, This was pretty unusual for him but he had just discovered exactly what places Regulus had hidden the horcruxes in. Every time he thought of what Potter's face would be like when he heard Severus started to laugh. Eventually he stopped and went to call Albus Dumbledore on the floo, "I've found out where Regulus hid the things. I'll brief the brat and airhead if you'll manage the privacy spells. Trust me this is one mission we don't want any Weasleys hearing about."

"Are you sure Severus?" Albus asked.

"Oh yes indeed," Severus replied with a smirk. "I can almost hear that redheaded harridan screeching now. She'd be horrified and none of them would want Harry to go although for different reasons."

"If the locations are terribly dangerous then we should send more experienced members of the order," Albus said.

His smirk widening Severus said, "Oh the locations aren't dangerous. Unless they fall prey to the horcruxes themselves that is."

Albus gave the potions master a stern look, "If Harry was going to fall prey to such a thing it would have happened already."

'True enough," Severus replied. "Well I'll brief them about the mission then we'll see if they are still so eager to help. You can listen in and decide for yourself if it's too dangerous. Just remember to put up your strongest privacy spells. Privacy is very hard to come by in that house."

"I'll do that Severus," Albus said. "I'll see you there after lunch then."

Harry would be very surprised to know that he and Severus shared an opinion in common about the Burrow. It was true though, since Harry was also thinking that privacy was very hard to come by at the Burrow. He thought it was a fair trade for living with people who gave a damn about him though.

Molly and Fleur had not gotten along at all so she left and got herself a hotel room for the remainder of the days before she went on her mission. Molly thought Fleur was far too tall, blonde, sexy, and worst of all French. Fleur thought Molly was horribly prudish and possibly insane so she left rather than argue.

Five days after dropping Harry off at the Burrow Albus came back with Fleur and Snape. Albus was able to get everyone but Arthur out of the house by telling Molly this in advance and providing her with a place to take everyone if she just happened to not want to be there with her sons at the time the Veela was. She left Arthur behind to make sure Harry was okay.

Severus took Arthur aside and said, "This briefing will be completely confidential. The only way I can allow you to listen in would be to get a magical oath from you saying that you won't repeat it." When Arthur started to protest he held up a hand, "No, I am not expecting you to do that. I'm expecting you to go putter around in your shed while Albus and I talk to the young people. Afterward you can verify that Harry is unharmed for your wife and then we will leave. I doubt either of the young people will want to go on this mission so with any luck you'll have Harry here all summer. If he does decide to join us it will be of his own free will and after being properly informed of all dangers."

Arthur sighed and nodded, "And we'll be able to say goodbye before he goes?"

'Yes," Severus nodded.

"Alright then," Arthur said. "Off to the shed I go."

Albus put up his best privacy charms as he had agreed then sat and gestured at Snape, "Severus will brief you on your mission. Does everyone know what a horcrux is?"

Harry nodded but Fleur said, "Non."

Severus snorted and said, "The dark lord knew that everyone would be trying to kill him. Even his own people would do it if they thought they could in order to take over. So he used unutterably foul, black magic to split his soul several times and stored the pieces in what he thought were very safe locations." He scowled, "Being a moron like most people he was wrong. Regulus Black started stealing them and replacing them with decoys. Since he was a moron as well he didn't destroy them. He took each one abroad with him on vacation and hid each somewhere in a muggle resort. Why he didn't just brew a batch of Universal solvent I don't know but then most people are morons as I said. He had only two left to go when he was caught trying to steal the diary from the house of Lucius Malfoy."

Harry blurted out, "That's the diary I stabbed with the basilisk fang!"

Severus scowled, "Yes, let's all take a moment to focus on what's really important, Potter's fame. His head isn't nearly swelled enough."

Albus interrupted at this point, "Severus has through great effort found where Regulus went on those trips."

Harry sighed and held back the words he wanted to say. He needed to hear this briefing if he wanted to succeed and he also didn't want to look immature in front of Fleur. He still remembered her "little boy" comment and if he stormed out of the room or started a new argument after the headmaster had gotten things back on track he would be acting childish.

Severus smirked and looked at the new recruits, "These resorts are all over the world and none are cheap. The order has never been rich in and of itself so we do not have the means to send people to any of them. Since you both have the means to not only travel to these places but pay to stay there and you both wanted a mission to do over the summer we are willing to allow you to go and destroy or retrieve them."

Albus said, "As Harry has previously demonstrated Basilisk venom will destroy the things." He pulled out a large test tube full of an ugly yellow liquid, "I had Fawkes take me to the basilisk Harry slew and drained some of its venom into this vial I have charmed to be unbreakable." He stood and handed it to Fleur, "Please take good care of it."

"That's assuming she agrees to go on the mission Albus," Snape said. "She might decide she is too ladylike and modest to do any such thing."

Fleur's anger flared at that. She wanted to curse him but suspected he was waiting for that so he could disqualify her from joining the order and send her home. She contented herself with a glare at him then a smile at the headmaster as she accepted the vial, "Merci, M. Dumbledore." Sitting back down she decided she would try to show she had brains as well as beauty. Although for once her looks did not seem to be affecting anyone in the room, not even the teenage boy. It was odd but refreshing.

"I am sure you also have other reasons for assigning us," Fleur said. "If not you would be asking us for donations to the cause instead. Harry has apparently destroyed one of these already so it makes sense to send him for the rest. May I assume you wish me to go because at least one is in France or some French speaking country?"

Snape nodded in grudging admiration, "Yes three locations have French as their official language, one in France itself, one in the Seychelles, and one in French Polynesia. The fourth was in Jamaica which even a Potter should realize as being English speaking."

Albus interrupted, "Now Severus you know young Harry is well aware of that." He turned to the two young people, "I shall myself teach you a spell to locate a horcrux. It's range is not the greatest but it should be enough if you stay where he stayed and wander about like any tourist. I would suggest Harry take an aging potion so that he is not barred from any locations based on his apparent age but that is merely a suggestion. You can arrange your own cover story and I'll help if you need any official backing for it."

Snape smirked, "All that is left now is to tell you where you are going and see if you are really as mature as you are pretending to be."

"Are these places so dangerous then?" Fleur asked.

"No," Snape said. He smiled, "The first place is in France so you may know it. It is in the region of Languedoc-Rousssillon," he was watching their faces closely, "in the department of Herault on the Mediterranean sea. It is the seaside resort named Cap d'Agde." His smile grew sharper when her eyes widened, "Naturally you will have to stay close to Harry since he does not speak the language. Will this be a problem for you?"

She glared at him again understanding his humor at last, "Non, it shall not be a problem." She considered adding 'as long as I don't have to see you there' but that would not be professional. She turned to Harry and noticing that he was looking puzzled said, "It is un plage naturiste. You English would say a nude beach. Indeed there is even some nudity on the streets in good weather."

Harry's eyes widened and he looked panicked. He was on the verge of calling it off when he happened to notice the expression on the face of Severus Snape. Snape was enjoying this and if he declined this undeniably important mission for personal reasons Snape would never let him forget it. Dumbledore wouldn't be nasty like Snape but he also wouldn't ever believe Harry was able to handle himself. This was his chance to show them he was as mature as any adult and should be included in the planning against Voldemort. He sighed, squashed his nervousness through sheer willpower, then spoke, "I'm fine with it as long as Fleur is. This is indeed an important mission and as the only person in the order who has destroyed one I should be the one to see to the others."

Snape scowled then handed Albus a list, "These are the remaining locations. I'm afraid I must go to my lab now. I have a potion brewing." With that he left in a swirl of black robes.

Fleur applauded his exit, "Bravo! We have routed the bâtard. He was hoping we would be distressed by these locations and flee but our professionalism caused him to flee instead." She looked over at Albus, "Why do you keep such a salaud in your order?"

Albus replied, "He is an excellent potions master. I have yet to find something that he cannot make. He is also an excellent dueler. I am sorry if he rubbed you the wrong way."

"After facing a dragon in the tournament I can not be intimidated by a salacious cochon like that," she replied. "Besides it seems most of his animus, not all mind you but most, was towards Harry."

Harry nodded smiling at the idea of having gotten the better of Snape, "Yeah, and most of that is because of my father. He can't let go of a grudge even after the object of it is deceased. You're lucky you never had him as a teacher."

Albus said, "Come now Harry, Severus is an excellent brewer of potions."

"That doesn't make anything we said wrong headmaster," Harry said.

Fleur added, "Could you read the remaining locations to us and do you know what horcrux is in which place?"

Albus nodded and scanned the list, "It seems that there is a locket with an S on the front somewhere in La Palmyra Golf Hotel in Cap d'Agde. Next listed is a private Villa he rented with it's own private beach where he brought a gold cup with a badger on it. Third listed is the Manava suite Resort in the city of Punaauia on the island of Tahiti where he took a diadem. Last is a resort called, oh dear, Hedonism III."

"I am no longer surprised by this Dumbledore," Fleur said. "The vacations of this Regulus were probably all of a piece. Just tell us what he brought with him so we can find it and destroy it."

Albus nodded, "Quite so, he brought there a ring. The diary is already destroyed as you have heard Fleur but there will be one left even if you manage to destroy all of these. It is the snake he normally has with him. Once you have destroyed all the rest though it should not pose an insurmountable obstacle."

"Very well then," Fleur said. She stood and took the list from Albus, "I shall have my family's travel agent see to the reservations and flights. I brought mostly cold weather clothing with me here so I shall need to go shopping again but that is no hardship. Do you have a passport Harry?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, it's in my trunk. I suppose I need to do some shopping as well. I'm not sure what to get though."

She smiled, "Well enough. I am expert on shopping according to my friends so I will be able to help you. Can you meet me tomorrow early at the Leaky Cauldron? We won't be shopping in the magical world but it is the easiest place to reach from here."

Harry nodded, "I can be there by nine a.m."

She nodded, "Bon. Is there anything else you require?"

Harry looked at Albus, "Can I get a permit to use magic before I reach my majority?"

Albus sighed but nodded, "I can do this by my authority as Chief Warlock and co-signing as your headmaster. It may be necessary but I caution you not to go overboard with it while still in Great Britain or it may be revoked."

"I was only thinking of using it to shrink my trunk and any purchases to make traveling easier," Harry said.

"Ah," Albus said. "Yes, I can see that." He conjured a form, filled it out and signed in two spots. He handed Harry the self inking quill and had him sign in a third spot. "There we go, keep this on you in case you need to prove you're allowed to do magic. As long as you are going to the Cauldron you may wish to make a trip to the alley even if not for clothes. Some sort of disguise or glamour may be useful to make you look older."

Fleur shrugged, "If he wishes to buy a potion he may but I am confident in my ability to make him look older with charms. He won't need a disguise in the non-magical world otherwise."

Albus stood, "Very well then, I believe we have covered everything pertinent. Good day to both of you." He took down all the privacy charms then and left.

Fleur said, "I will see you tomorrow at nine Harry." Then she left as well.

Harry took a deep breath then went out to the shed to tell Arthur they were finished with their meeting.