Thank you for 3,000 views, 44 Favourites and 69 Followers. Slightly dark content in this chapter, please read at your own discretion.
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A Wizards Life with Monster Girls:
Chapter 7
"If you truly care for Miia-san. You will NOT leave her here." Bernadette's shaking voice implored, face morphed into a mask of desperation. The cold feeling that had permeated him since meeting Miia's host increased in intensity,
"W-what do you mean?" Harry asked in quiet confusion, a cold, almost fear present throughout his body,
"I…" Bernadette began, but her head bowed and she avoided his eyes. Her whole form shook and she looked to be on the verge of tears for a moment, before taking a deep shuddering breath before continuing, "This place… is no place for someone so sweet."
Harry was confused even further,
"Can you please, tell me why?" Harry asked, but saw a look of fear flash across her face. Her eyes flicked back and forth and she kept looking down the corridor to where they had just come from, "What is wrong?"
"My husband… is not a good man." She stuttered out, still struggling to meet his concerned gaze, "And if Miss Miia stays here… she will not enjoy her stay at all."
Harry was growing even more concerned. Not just for Miia, but for Bernadette in front of him, the prospect of leaving Miia here in some kind of unknown danger was becoming all the more distant.
"Please, Bernadette-san. Tell me what is going on?" Harry tried, "I need to go back to Smith-san with a reason why we can't leave Miia here. Just… give me something. Please?"
Bernadette's desperation was now matched with Harry's own,
"Mister, this is hard to admit so you must understand why it is hard for me to put this into words. But you must trust me when I tell you that Miia-san cannot be left here." Bernadette said as resolutely as she could before scurrying off back the way they had come. Ignoring any further attempts at conversation. Returning him wordlessly to the lobby.
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When they returned, Smith was gone and Kazuto had taken his seat. Harry's eyes narrowed and a fiery rage burnt in his stomach as he saw Kazuto with his arm around Miia's waist and leaned in with a leering smile. Miia was stiff and uncomfortable, her eyes flicked around desperately looking for someone to help (the other customers ignoring the display), her amber eyes found Harry's own and she looked on the verge of tears as she pleaded silently for help.
"Hey Miia! C'mere, your hairclips are crooked." Harry said quickly, referring to the two D-shaped hair clips on either side of her scarlet head of hair. A pulse of heartache hitting him as she quickly wrested herself from Kazuto's embrace and almost flung herself at him, forgoing the excuse he had given and throwing herself into his arms. Her tail curling behind his feet and her arms wrapped behind his neck, "Silly girl, I can't see them now."
She laughed shortly, and Harry quickly noticed something warm and wet dripping down his neck,
"Did he hurt you?" Harry asked quietly into her pointed ear, squeezing her tightly to him, she pulled herself closer to him and shook her head. Feeling the movement against his neck,
"I don't like him." She said quietly, "He started looking at me strangely as soon as you left and sat down next to me when Smith-san left. I'm not looking forward to this."
Harry's teeth clenched painfully and he allowed himself a vicious glare at the suspicious and jealous looking Kazuto from his place on the sofa. Bernadette had taken a place behind the sofa, beside him and gave him a pleading and desperate look.
"I'm gonna have a word with Smith." Harry whispered to her, as his eyes spotted the black clad woman re-entering the lobby from outside. "Bear with it for a second now, ok?"
Miia went lightly stiff but gave a reluctant nod and released him, leaning back to see her worried face morph into a brave one, Harry gave her an encouraging smile. He quickly brought his hands up and actually straightened her hair clips and cupped her cool cheeks in his hands, feeling her soft skin and cool scales as he caressed them with his thumbs and told her,
"It'll be ok. I'll sort this out for you." Harry said softly and Miia was able to give him a small smile before Harry let her go and walked past her towards Smith.
"We need to talk. Now." Harry said sternly, turning her around by the shoulder and leading her back outside, speaking again when they were just beyond the door, with the three they had left behind still in sight, "Miia can't stay here."
Smith sighed, pulling the few sheets of paper to her chest and pushing her shades up her nose,
"Yuuki-san may not be the most… chivalrous of individuals. But he has been reported as a good host and holds no criminal record or any complaints made against him." Smith said, half-heartedly trying to placate him. She was moderately surprised as Harry's angry expression suddenly darkened and became quite drawn,
"Trust me. The family I grew up with had absolutely no criminal records between them and the people of the town had no bad words that they could send their way. But they were NOT model citizens." Harry said coldly, his eyes flickering over to the trio. With Miia ignoring Kazuto, as he impatiently tapped the space on the sofa beside him, "We have to bring Miia back with us."
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Smith summoned the three over to the door with a wave of the hand, watching Harry carefully as his arms crossed and his gaze fell on Kazuto with the utmost loathing,
"C-can I help you?" Kazuto asked nervously, quite aware of Harry's angry gaze and flickering his eyes to Bernadette suspiciously every now and then,
"May we have a word with Tara, please?" Smith asked casually,
"Erm, may I ask why?" Kazuto asked, his eyes falling on Bernadette's once again in an accusing manner before he schooled himself, "I mean, she is working right now."
"It's just so Miia can ask a few questions about how life is at the lodge." Smith said placatingly, though she was just as suspicious of him as he evidently was of Bernadette, "Just give her a call and we can put osme of Miia's concerns to rest."
"Oh? And what concerns would they be?" Kazuto asked genially, plastering a winning smile onto his face again as he turned to Miia,
"Call Tara over here, now." Harry snarled, causing the taller man to flinch and look over at Harry with a flash of terror in his eyes as he fumbled in his pocket for his phone. Miia flinched also, as she had been moving over to him and was surprised by his sudden anger. It rolled off of him in invisible miasmic waves that stunned Miia beyond speech,
'I didn't know people could BE this angry.'
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After five minutes consisting of a frantic phone call and Kazuto scurrying across the lobby like a headless chicken, he called the group over to some kind of check-in book and explained somewhat sheepishly,
"Y-you see…" Eyes drifting nervously to the unimpressed man still staring him down murderously, "T-Tara has an Independent Activity Pass and actually signed out to go into town a few hours ago. She doesn't have a cell phone so I have no idea where she has gone or when she'll be back."
He all but withered as Harry's glare intensified and he opened his mouth to launch into a vicious tirade about how blatant his lie was. But Miia's gentle touch onto his shoulder caused his anger to dissipate tremendously. He breathed in a steady breath and gave Miia an apologetic smile and laid his hand over hers for a moment before returning his attention to Kazuto. Smith looked unimpressed and excused herself to make a phone call.
"Look, Potter-san. I feel like I may have made a poor first impression or I must have offended you in some way. For that I am sorry. But I assure you, will take very good care of Miia-chan to the best of my ability." Kazuto said in a sincere sounding tone, as he stepped forth with his arms out to the side, body language open and seeming apologetic,
"If you don't take yourself out of my personal bubble, I'll be taking my foot and planting it up your ass." Harry said coldly, Kazuto backed up.
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On Smith's return five minutes later, her expression was grave,
"Miia-chan. I've had a word with my superior and they have come up with a proposition. You stay 24 hours with Yuuki-san and, once that period has elapsed, you can request a new homestay or to return home." Smith stated in an evidently irritated tone of voice. Miia looked heartbroken and Harry was incensed,
"What the hell? Why would the program force Miia to be in a place she doesn't want to be?" Harry almost shouted,
"Yuuki-san holds no negative records and that's all the higher up can really go off of. They can't just cancel a homestay because Miia's a bit nervous and you, a complete stranger, don't like him." Smith nodded her head towards the man they were rudely talking about, the man who looked as if he had just struck gold as he stood grinning ear to ear, "They've just chalked it up to nervousness at being in a new place and just told me the standard procedure. This is literally out of my hands and the bet I can do in the circumstances."
Harry balled his fists and took deep breaths, his gaze catching Kazuto's still grinning face not helping quell his rage,
"Listen here Yuuki." Harry said coldly, Kazuto turning his attention to Harry with a smirk of triumph that royally pissed the man off, "I'll be back tomorrow. And if even a single hair is out of place, they will never find you."
Kazuto responded with a chuckle,
"I'll welcome you back tomorrow with open arms, Potter-san. But I warn you that 24 hours is longer than you think. It is quite possible that your trip will be wasted and Miia won't want to leave." He said almost gleefully, "Because I have LOTS of fun stuff in store so that we can all enjoy Miia's stay to the fullest."
Oh how Harry wanted the man dead.
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"I'm scared Harry…" Miia said quietly, as she held onto him. They stood out on the driveway as they had been blocking the way. Smith was having a very stern, abridged talk with the still smirking Kazuto about the does and don'ts of the program.
"It's just a day. I'll come and get you myself tomorrow, ok?" Harry said as he pulled back reluctantly from her hug, "But you're stronger and faster than him. If he does anything untoward, kick his ass. Forget about the Exchange Programs rules. You have your entire life to see the humans way of life. Don't let that fool get away with anything."
Miia nodded. She looked over at the man in question and flexed her talons reflexively. If push came to shove, she'd shred him. She took a moment to remember and revel in the strength she knew she possessed and began counting down the seconds until Harry came to her rescue. Already imagining returning to the city and his home with him. She almost felt like a princess, lying in wait for her prince.
Harry was stunned when Miia's cheeks pinkened, her eyes softened and she have him a soft, low kiss on the cheek,
"See you tomorrow, Harry-kun." She said sweetly and the blushing man could only nod and smile softly himself. The two extracting themselves from one another and partng, Harry moving over to Smith and Miia to Kazuto.
With one final reminder of the 24 hour deadline, Kazuto began to lead a reluctant Miia back inside and Harry reluctantly turned and walked down the driveway towards Smith's car. Trying to keep his head held high as he regretted ever step he took across the gravel and away from Miia, but sure that Miia would be fine and able to take care of herself,
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'Please, sir. If you truly care for Miss Miia. You will NOT leave her here.'
Harry stopped dead and flew around. Miia wasn't facing him anymore, she was heading back inside, Kazuto's hand on her waist again and he was talking to her. As she looked over at him, Harry got a view of her face. Uncomfortable, forlorn and resigned. A fire burnt in his stomach at the picture, this wasn't right.
But then his gaze was pulled beyond them. Locking eyes with the silver haired, full Veela Bernadette as she stood in the doorway. Imploring eyes bearing into him, desperately ordering him not to leave without saying a single word.
But why? Evidently, something was going on. Something she, for some reason, could not reveal. The cold feeling that had settle over him like a blanket the minute he'd seen Kazuto's face grew in intensity. It went far beyond simple jealousy and his brains desire to find some reason to stop Miia from leaving him. There was something painfully wrong here. But what? He had seen nothing out of place, felt now ill will. And he could not march over there and snatch up Miia simply because Kazuto made his skin crawl. He needed a reason THEN he needed a plan.
"Coming, Dearest-kun? It's a long drive and the sooner we get back the sooner I get to bed." Came Smith from beside him, but her voice was growing distant. His mind was elsewhere, a plan forming that was (probably) really the stupidest thing he would ever attempt. A feat he was becoming accustomed to.
A flick of his wrist and his wand fell into his waiting grip, released from a hidden holster on his wrist and humming its willingness to cooperate. A voice in his head reminded him of the two flaws to his plan: one, he was not very good at what he was attempting to do and two, the very thing he was about to attempt was the height of illegal. Not just as a breach of the Statute of Secrecy, flagrantly performing magic in front of so many Muggles, but also as an unethical, Azkaban worthy breach of privacy.
But that voice was drowned out by his fury at Kazuto's drifting hand and his fear that if Miia crossed that threshold with him she may be subjected to something she shouldn't.
So ignoring the impatience and growing concern of the woman to his side, he narrowed his eyes in concentration and muttered aloud the incantation he needed as he stared down Kazuto's wife.
"Legilimens." And a rush of images and noise assaulted him as the real world faded away and the fractured, tortured mind of Bernadette Yuuki neé Astre became all he could see.
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"What do you want?" a younger Bernadette asked, very aware of the locked door and her own swimming vision,
"Nothing too difficult. Just a different kind of payment for the room." Kazuto crowed, the back of his hand caressing her cheek slowly and his uneven teeth bared in a sneer.
Bernadette lay in a large, dark room, knees hugged to her chest as she sobbed on the floor. Light rushed into the room as a door flew open at the top of a tall wooden staircase,
"Please. Not again." She begged and Kazuto descended the stairs,
"Evening, dear." He snorted.
"You may kiss the bride." A suited vicar decreed and Kazuto grabbed her by the chin and turned her head so he could capture her lips.
"To the rest of our lives." He whispered smugly as hot tears streamed down her face.
"The name's Tara." A large, voluptuous minotaur with sharp black horns and a flittering cow tail peeking out of the back of her stylishly ripped jeans greeted her.
Bernadette flicked her eyes over to her reluctant husband, he stood leering over at Tara who evidently didn't appreciate it.
Bernadette cleared the private dining table of the dishes as Tara lay face down on it. Unconscious but breathing. Kazuto leering over her in triumph,
"Dear, do tidy up after us please. Oh. And make sure we aren't disturbed."
She left the room, knowing he'd be taking her down to the basement shortly.
She and Tara looked up at Kazuto from their usual position on their knees as he addressed them,
"This lovely specimen is called Miia. And she'll be joining us in the coming months. I look forward to your cooperation in her training." He said through dark chuckles. Bernadette knelt with a look of horror on her face, quickly shifting to one of determination. Though she had not had it in her to rescue Tara, she would be brave enough to save this Miia girl instead.
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Harry rocked on his feet as he returned to the real world. A few second having passed in the real world as he had been inside Bernadette's mind.
"Hey, Dearest-kun. I know she's pretty, but it's still rude to stare." Smith said humourlessly.
Harry ignored her. He just flew off down the driveway towards the two. Bearing down on Miia and Kazuto with inhuman speed. Kazuto had time to turn and look in surprise before the hand he was slowly snaking down to cup Miia's backside was caught in a vice grip and he was yanked away from the lamia entirely. The sudden movement sent Miia falling onto her rear end, but Harry ignored her as his fury had him entirely focussed on the hand he was holding.
A quick reposition saw Harry now grasping his wrist. A swiftly executed stamp to the back of he leg had Kazuto fall onto his knees where Harry used the change in height to pull Kazuto's arm painfully behind his back. Then, with an inhuman snarl and his face a mask of pure fury, Harry viciously yanked Kazuto's arm upwards with a strength that exceeded his form. Dislocated his shoulder instantly and then tearing tendons and muscles before Harry let go. The man falling to the ground with a scream that could wake the dead, grasping at his ruined shoulder and flailing in pain.
"Silencio." Harry spat, his wand having been put away but his single minded rage allowing him the control to perform the spell without it. "Petrificus totalus."
The first year jinx saw Kazuto's body parts snap to against his torso and force him to lie on his back. Tears of agony welled in his eyes but Harry paid the scum no heed. For the second time in those coming minutes, as Smith tore after him, Harry cast the spell,
"Legilimens."
"Bernadette!" he roared after a split second, having found what he was looking for almost immediately, "The combination to the safe in his office is 661320. Open it and bring out the contents."
Bernadette didn't move. Frozen in near horror at the display and the very idea of openly defying her husband.
"Bernadette. I am giving you this chance to end this, right here and now. But you have to help me." Harry called up, his face and tone softened as he saw her terror, "Please."
Tears welled up in her eyes and after a full minute of indecision, she ran into the lodge. That minute was all the time Smith needed to catch up to him,
"Harry Potter, what on earth-" Smith shouted, a handgun he didn't know she was carrying in hand as she stood enraged and unbelieving,
"Miia is not staying here." Harry growled resolutely, he bent down quickly and (with a bit of shuffling around) snagged a piece of string that hung from Kazuto's neck and yanked it, and the key attached, free. "The reason Tara wasn't coming up is because she's chained up in the cellar."
Smith's eyes widened at the accusation before flicking her gaze to the key dangling from string in his hand,
"The cellar is accessible via Kazuto's study. At the top of the staircase and immediately on the left. She needs releasing. Bernadette is in there right now, she'll help you." Harry said, his voice losing some of its edge as he thrust the key toward Smith. The coordinator confused on what she should do, leave the violent man outside with his victim, or go and see if Harry was telling the truth indoors (and thus rescue an abused liminal being held against her will). Against her better judgement, Smith snatched the key up and bolted inside, leaving Harry, Kazuto and Miia outside with a group of customers and visitors muttering in a loose circle a few meters away.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, looking over his shoulder at Miia on the ground. She gave a mute nod and looked up at the man with a trace of fear. Harry did not like that, but felt there were more pressing matters.
Harry withdrew hiss wand once again and threw it into his left hand. He tapped the tip (which was now glowing a soft silver) on the back of his right hand and watched as the glow transferred onto his skin. He cleared his throat and addressed his hand in the same way one addresses a walkie talkie,
"Auror department. This is citizen Harry James Potter and I have a situation."
Jesus Christ this was a hard one! I didn't know where to end it and the topic of the day wasn't quite the most comfortable to write about. Still, we're done for today and I'll probably upload again on Thursday. Thank you for reading and have a good day/night xxx
