Chapter 7: Date interrupted
Le Chansonnier, Canals District, Paris, France
Jean Sebastian Delacour and his wife Ami were enjoying a quiet dinner at Le Chansonnier a small bistro in the canals district of Paris. It was one of the rare nights when he was not at the ministry taking care of god knows what disaster the minister might have accidentally steered France toward.
"Jean, you know I am not entirely comfortable with Fleur" Ami paused for a moment "dating that Weasely boy. I mean really his family is not even in the same class as ours."
Jean thought to himself 'It's going to be one of those nights.' "Ami, Darling, Light of my heart" He led off with a devilish grin "Have you forgotten what your mother said about me?"
Ami flushed red for a moment before regaining her composure "Well then what do have you managed to dig up on the boy?"
Jean noticing the shift in his wife's attitude and smiled at her. "William Weasely, Born March 13, 1970 to Arthur and Molly Weasley; eldest of seven children. Graduate of Hogwarts class of 1988, apprenticed to goblin ward master Harag Boneflayer right out of school. Completed his apprenticeship two full years ahead of schedules and is Gringotts lead human Curse Breaker. The young man consistently brings in more treasure than any other breaker they have it's like, he has a nose for tomb finding and Curse Breaking.
Moving on to his family he has five brothers and one sister. Charles 24, dragon handler in Romania, Percy 20 recently promoted to undersecretary to the minister of magic; Rufus Scrimgeour. Fred and George Weasley age 18 recently opened Weasley Wizard Wheezes a joke shop in Diagon Alley and appear to be well on their way to becoming rich, the word is they got six OWLS between the two of them.
The youngest son Ronald Weasely age 16. finally, Ginevra Weasely age 15. Both younger children are still in school and both are said to be friends of our youngest daughters crush Harry Potter, and it has been reported that Mr. Potter and five of his friends went into England's Ministry into the department of mysteries itself and battled 12 death eaters, and lord Voldemort to a standstill until help arrived."
Ami Gaped like a fish out of water at her husband "How?" was all she got out.
"How did I get all that information." Jean asked smugly enjoying the fact he had his wife severely off guard something that did not happen often. "Simple, I talked to Albus Dumbledore. Although I believe he may have embellished quite a bit there is no way six school children could take on 11 adult wizards and win"
Ami's eyes narrowed dangerously "Jean why would you talk to that barmy old man." She growled out. "He allowed that tournament to go on knowing someone was trying to bring harm to one of his students."
"Yes, dear I know, and last year it was even worse for the poor boy." Jean sighed. "From what I am led to believe he may have been tortured by a teacher " At this Ami paled. "The minister of magic tried to have his wand snapped and then failing that lead a smear campaign against Dumbledore and Potter." Jean stopped and looked at his wife 'she is going to pop if she hears anymore I think.
"Jean you still have not answered my question" she said exasperatedly "What did that barmy old man want?"
"He wanted me to teach defense for the upcoming term" He waited a moment before continuing "I have not yet agreed to take the post."
"Jean Sebastian Delacour!" Ami's Voice started climbing when both winced as necklaces they both wore burned so hot they seared skin.
Both cried out. "The girls are in danger"
Jean grabbed Ami by the hand and apparated away.
Delacour Manor
Fleur was in an absolute state of panic Gabrielle was gone, the wards had collapsed, and her parents were going to blame her. "Not exactly how I wanted to spend my last week in France." She was shaken out of her reverie by the sounds of multiple apparitions into the room where she was, and she noted it was her father's security team.
"Ms. Delacour, are you unharmed" asked the head of her father's security detail Franz Sonierre "Are you okay Fleur? Where is little Gabrielle?"
Fleur looked at him "I am unharmed, but do I look like I am okay?" she ranted breaking into tears "My sister transformed from a little girl into a beautiful woman right before my eyes and then just when I thought it could not get worse she was wreathed in flames and disappeared collapsing the wards. My parents are going to..."
"Fleur, Gabrielle, where are you? What is happened" could be heard coming in from outside as her parents stormed in. Ami looked at the destruction caused by the fire and magical backlash of a cascading ward failure. "Where is Gabrielle? Where is my angel?" she screamed grabbing Fleur and shaking her "What did you do?"
Fleur cringed in face of her mother's onslaught "Mother, I didn't do anything to Gabrielle. I swear on my magic." her magic flared after she gave her oath. Jean reached out and took his wife into his arms where she promptly broke down sobbing.
"Fleur, please tell us what occurred tonight leave nothing out even the smallest detail could mean the difference between life and death at this point." Jean said quietly he then looked at Sonierre "Franz could you have your men secure the grounds, and contact Gringotts. Have Mr. William Weasley and his team of Ward breakers here within the hour tell them we will offer 3 times the going rate with gratuity for prompt service."
He then turned to Fleur "Now my darling daughter please take me through the nights events."
Ten minutes later having given her father both a verbal recollection and a pensieve memory she was exhausted, and her mother and father were very concerned. "Fleur my darling flower what you have witnessed this night is said to be only a legend among the Veela." Ami said softly "It may be that she found her le plus Cher un. That could have facilitated the change but for her to disappear like that something must have been wrong." After that silence reigned for a time and finally the bell tolled marking the changing of the hour.
Sonierre returned escorting a very confused looking Bill Weasely, and three goblins however when he saw Fleur and the look on her face he went over to her "Fleur what are you doing here? I thought you were at home with." he trailed off as he saw Jean and Ami then weakly said "Your parents."
The three goblins snickered, and Bill gave them a reproachful look "Bonegnasher you could have told me."
"Ah But young William what fun would that have been? Besides Ragnot said he wanted you to be liaison between for this warding." Bonegnasher said smiling a toothy grin.
Jean and Ami watched the byplay with amusement and could understand why their daughter would choose such a man.
Bill looked uncomfortably at Jean and Ami before he spoke "Sir, Ma'am, while were being escorted here Mr. Sonierre explained to me the order of events tonight that led to what we call Catastrophic Cascading Ward Failure." He looked at them and saw their eyes glaze over a bit "Simply put a large magical disturbance centered around your youngest daughter occurred, and though I am not sure as to what caused the disturbance I can still feel the energy in the air."
As he finished a patronus message appeared in the form of a phoenix after delivering the message it faded and Bill developed a wild look in his eyes, Ami and Fleur missed it, but Jean caught it right away and he asked "William, is everything ok?"
"No Sir a young man who is like a brother to me was almost killed an hour ago by his insane muggle uncle." Bill paused to collect himself "His magic lashed out and caused a ward failure not unlike this one. However, in the throes of this fit he ceased living for the span of a minute."
Fleur gasped as she realized who he was talking about "No, No not 'arry."
Bill continued "However a most remarkable thing occurred then a beautiful young woman; matching the description of a Veela apparently apparated to Harry's side answering to the name of Gabrielle Delacour" His eyes teared for a moment "I Don't know what she did, but whatever it was she brought Harry back to us. Although we don't deserve him after failing him so badly we at least get a chance to make it right."
Jean Breathed a sigh of relief and Ami paled as she heard the tale it was her that spoke first "this young man you speak of is Harry Potter, non?" Bill nodded " I am to take it that my little Gabrielle is not little anymore?"
At that Fleur said "Mama, she went from age nine to fifteen in less than thirty seconds, and then she was gone taking the wards with her."
Jean spoke rather forcefully "Is my Daughter safe?" Bill nodded again "I am sorry for your friend, what is being done to young Mr. Potters uncle?"
"Sir if I had my way I would take him to Egypt and chuck his oversized arse in the vilest tomb I ever had the chance to break only I would ward him in." Bill said with a hint of heat in his voice. "Fortunately for him cooler heads prevailed he will be the first muggle to endure life in Azkaban, and that's before you get to charge him sir."
Ami looked surprised "Why would Jean get to charge this piece of filth with anything unless he also hurt Gabrielle?"
If Jean were mad about hearing of abuse of a minor, he was livid now. "He threatened my Gabrielle?" again Bill inclined his head "He laid his hands on her?" another nod "I want this man prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If he escapes prosecution in England I will come for him and his demise will not be pleasant."
Bill gulped and looked at Fleur who up until this point had been mostly silent leaning against his chest she looked up and pulled him down into a kiss. "Thank you for bring us good news we were so worried ma Cher." Bill blushed and tried to hide his face when Jean and Ami broke out into laughter.
"William, I look forward to seeing more of you, however if you hurt my daughter there will be no place in the world you can hide." Jean said with a light smile on his face Ami looked concerned though.
"Jean Sebastian, we have another problem now." Her brow creased in thought "For all intents our little girl is now 15 almost 16 and she is now with her le plus Cher un and that young man has been the repeated target of Lord Voldemort."
Jean considered "Tell me William, tell me about Harry Potter."
William looked at Fleur before continuing "Harry Potter he boy who lived, or Harry Potter the Boy I consider my little brother."
"Are they separate, can they be separate is he not one and the same?" Ami asked seriously.
Bill drew in a breath, but Fleur beat him to the punch "Yes mother they can be separate, and they are."
She looked down "At first I believed 'arry was a leettle boy who thrived on the attention he received from being the boy who lived. Mother that title has brought him nothing, nothing, but pain and anguish He tries to be strong for everyone. Yet no one not one person has truly been strong for him."
Bill took in the lovely young woman who had just summed up harry before he spoke "If he could He would give up all the money all the fame and most certainly the dark lord trying to do him in just to be normal. To be just Harry."
Jean looked bill in the eyes "William do you know why Lord Voldemort has taken such an unhealthy interest in Mr. Potter."
Bill looked at jean and then hung his head "There is a prophecy I do not know the specifics, but it concerned Harry and Voldemort. I can only assume that it has something to do with that."
"What of Dumbledore William, how has he been with Mr. Potter." Jean asked slowly gaging his reaction "Are they close or does Dumbledore keep harry at a distance?"
Seeing where Jean was going Bill answered simply "Until last year I would say they were close. However, last year Albus started avoiding Harry not even looking at him and then the papers tore them both up with the ministry support. Umbridge one of fudges lackeys used a blood quill on Harry and Occlumency lessons with Snape apparently made things worse in terms of exposure to Voldemort. But the final straw was the death of Harry's godfather, Sirius Black at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange in the Department of Mysteries."
'Sirius Black killed by Bellatrix Lestrange.' Jean thought to himself "Death eater killing death eater why should we care about that?" He said disgusted by the mere mention of the great betrayer.
At that Bill got angry "Because Sirius Black as many things, a prat, the joker, a loving god parent; he never ever betrayed the Potters and he died getting Harry out of the department of mysteries I will take it kindly that you never speak ill of him ever again because regardless of the fact that you are the head Auror in France I guarantee if Harry hears of it he will take you a part." Bill Rose and made to depart.
Jean was incensed by his tone "William somehow I doubt Mr. Potter would ever be my equal on the dueling stage or off he is 15-year-old boy."
Bill looked offended but before he could speak Fleur crossed the room and slapped her father and began Cursing at him in French; finally, she ground out. "Father if you had not been so involved with your career you might have seen the third task of the tri wizard tournament. Where Voldemort was resurrected. Harry dueled him to a standstill can you say you can do better? Personally, I am ashamed to acknowledge you as my father. Come William lets us go get some food."
As Bill left the room trailing "Harry does not duel he stands and fights which is more than most of the people British or French have done in the last 30 years!"
Ami looked at her husband with pity and dismay "Jean Sebastian for one of the most understanding men you can be really stupid go to the den; I will deal with you when I have sorted out our daughter and boyfriend."
'Damn I put my foot in it this time.' Jean thought to himself he looked up at Bonegnasher as the goblin walked through the door "Sir with all due respect you should not offend Mr. Weasely it could make your warding both take longer and be more expensive or he might leave and if he does I doubt you will get another warder team out here." Jean was taken aback by the goblins' straightforwardness "As for the matter of Mr. Potter do not underestimate him one does not walk into a pen with horntail and survive by luck alone... please keep that in mind."
"Duly noted sir." Jean said and then his face became shrewd again. "What do the goblins think of Mr. Potter."
"The lad is brave, to be sure however he is brash, headstrong, and remarkably refreshing as far as his attitude goes." Bonegnasher said his smile leaving his face "Why do you ask?"
"Well Bonegnasher, it has to do with our youngest daughter Gabrielle, she is somewhat taken with the boy. Only now she is not nine years old anymore she is grown into a teen age woman in one night this is going to be the death of me."
Bonegnasher looked at the human "Mr. Delacour, I myself have two daughters and I live in fear of the day when I will be replaced by another man in their lives. But I also have hope that they too will find their hero. A man, who will treat them like a goddess on earth." The old goblin paused "Most people when faced with Voldemort or his inner circle would run away in fear. Not that young man, He drew his line in the sand and he stood and never wavered. It is his example by which Goblins now judge the wizarding world."
Jean could read between the lines, basically any treaty with the goblins would be made through Harry Potter. Jean left the room to seek out his wife, daughter, and guest only thinking 'I must do some more research into this boy.'
Bill Stalked from the house cursing under his breath "Everyone always underestimates Harry and when they don't they expect him to do near godlike feats. Damn it fleur people can't have it both ways Either he is a hero, or he is just Harry"
Fleur looked at bill and was about to respond when a phoenix Patronus burst to life in front of them Bill listened silently before becoming paler and shakily slid to the ground muttering "It's not fair he is to damn young. We should have protected him from those evil bastards."
Fleur approached Bill wrapping an arm tenderly about his shoulders "It will be alright ma Cher, it will be alright."
"No, it won't Fleur Harry's Core is collapsing they do not expect him to live through the night." With that statement they both began to cry desperately holding on to one another for support.
It was like this that the formidable matron of the Delacour family found the two young lovers. Ami found them locked in an embrace crying 'Why are they both crying?' she wondered "Children why are you both cry?"
Fleur looked at Bill and whispered, "It would be best if you told her."
"Madam Delacour" Bill began as if searching for the words "We received another patronus message Harry's Magical core has been collapsing and expanding erratically and he is now in a coma thankfully he cannot feel any pain but Gabrielle refuses to leave his side even though the amount of magic swirling around is dangerous on a level madam Pomfrey has never seen before. They do not believe he will survive the night!"
Ami was shocked "How can he still be alive?"
Fleur looked at her mother like she had grown a second head "We don't care how or why we are just thankful that he is still alive. I can only imagine how Gabrielle is feeling! We should be there not here!"
"I agree" came a voice that startled them as Jean came striding into the garden "William, Fleur I am sorry I never meant any disrespect it was an old man's folly to get up in thinking what can and cannot be done. However, we will have time for this later I think it is time we checked on our youngest, and the one she calls her most cherished one."
Ami smiled 'I was concerned for no reason William Weasely is a good man.' "Come then we must go to Scotland."
Bill pulled out his phoenix medallion "Grab on to this." As they did he said, "Burning Day" and the portkey whisked them away.
Bonegnasher stepped out of the shadows took a mirror out of his pocket it glowed white for a moment before an old voice asked, "what do you need my old apprentice?"
Bonegnasher looked thoughtful for a moment "We need two more warder teams here at Delacour manor, and two teams of shamans dispatched to Hogwarts as soon as possible. We may have another emergence about to occur"
"An emergence?" The older goblin queried "Who would be ascending in to the ranks of the mages."
"Harry son of James and Lily Potter" Bonegnasher said quietly "He was dead Ragnot and now he lives, and his core is unstable. the potential energy his core could release would be devastating to both Hogwarts and the surrounding country. I implore you send two teams of shamans."
"it shall be as you say Bonegnasher" The mirror went dark and Bonegnasher went to work
