CHAPTER 9
Disc: Do I sound like a millionaire? Well then I can't quite be J.K. Rowling, the genius behind Harry Potter, now could I?
Harry sat in his seat in the aero - plane and buckled himself in. Apparation over long distances was not advised and even the short distance between England and France was hazardous. Portkeys could be, and often were, organized for over-seas travel, but this time they were traveling muggle. Frankly Harry preferred the 'plane. Ever since his fourth year encounter with Voldemort, he disliked portkeys and avoided them as far as he could. His close friend and Quidditch mentor Jacqueline Murray; granddaughter of the illustrious seeker Eunice Murray was seated next to him. Jackie and he had been friends ever since he had tumbled into the Magpies office begging for an opportunity to try out. She was the captain and a superb Chaser, with an eye for talent that bordered on genius. She immediately gave him a chance, and Harry had never looked back.
Jackie was a tall auburn haired woman about 35 years old with a face both incisive and attractive. She had a magnetic, intense personality that made her a natural leader. She had slept with Harry once, and both had decided it was better to stay friends. They shared a unique relationship, bantering and teasing yet warm and caring. A lot of newspapers and tabloids had often tried to imply that there was something more between them - a sort of "Mrs. Robinson" relationship. Harry couldn't care less. She was the best friend he had made out of Hogwarts and he wasn't going to lose her because of some petty rumors.
"Knut for your thoughts, Potter." she said with a grin.
"Not even a galleon." he returned impudently. "They are worth way too much."
"Impossible." she retorted. "Nothing, but nothing you think can be that important."
Harry sighed. He wished he could tell Jackie his problem, but he knew that his position depended on the utmost secrecy. "Oh, just going over my moves, oh esteemed Captain. Would you want me to desist?"
"No, not at all." she said, suddenly sober. "You know as well as I do how good those damned Quafflepunchers are. I mean, sure, Simone is no Viktor Krum. But don't underestimate her. That is always a big mistake. I remember my days in Hogwarts, and how we were always overconfident about playing Hufflepuff. Remember your opponents may surprise you."
Harry nodded seriously. Then to lighten up the moment he laughingly looked at her. "Why is it that even the funniest, craziest person becomes a raging, obsessive fanatic the minute he or she becomes Quidditch Captain?"
"Thinking Oliver Wood, brat? Well if you think he was bad, thank your stars you never played under Charlie Weasely. He took compulsive to a new high."
"Well, if I remember rightly, neither did you. You were Bill's batch, weren't you?"
Jackie nodded wistfully. "Yeah, we were quite the item, Bill and I. They used to call us the Gingersnaps because of our red hair."
"Well, are you guys getting back together? I've been hearing all sorts of rumors, and some of them are very spicy."
"Ask nay questions and you'll get nay lies." shot back Jackie.
Harry backed down. He knew that Jackie was touchy about her relationship with the handsome Weasely. They had been on and off ever since Harry had known them and though Harry was perfectly aware that they both adored each other, he often wondered when they would realize it. Quickly racking his mind for a change of subject, he found that the plane was about to land. "Oh, good. It looks like we've reached. Lets go sleep off the jet lag." Then with a twinkle in his eyes, "Together?"
A stern look from Jackie made him raise his hand in a laughing apology. "Fin, fine. We are in France, you know. All I need to do to get a woman here is be suave. You don't know what you're missing."
"Actually, I know exactly what I'm missing. And you know what, I'm not missing it."
Harry pretended to burst into tears while Jackie genuinely burst out laughing. "We are here. Now try and behave your age. Ok?"
Harry nodded as he followed Jackie down the stairs of the plane. To his surprise he saw three men in dark suits detach themselves from the crowd to stride up to him.
"Mr. Harry Potter?" asked the tallest of the men, who also looked the oldest and weariest.
Harry nodded and was gestured to follow them. Muttering his excuses to Jackie and the rest of the team, he weaved his way through the thronging people, keeping pace with the men. They directed him to a small room with soundproofed walls. "We are Monsieur Pierre Cheval's men, Mr. Potter. Monsieur Cheval evinces a desire to meet you. Perhaps you could accompany us to his office."
"Certainly." nodded Harry, prepared for the meeting. The three men led him to a small grate.
"Well, Mr. Potter, we are going to use Floo Powder. You know how it works?"
Harry nodded acquiescingly.
"Excellent. Then throw in a pinch, say Rue De Mon. Champignon and step right in."
Harry followed the instructions and found himself in a large bright room with antique furniture. It had some beautiful paintings on the wall, even Harry being able to identify the Monet and the Dali. The huge Louis XII chair was placed opposite to the door and in it sat a man who looked so preposterously young that Harry was unable to stop himself from saying, "You are Minister Cheval?"
The young man laughed cordially. "Mr. Potter, I presume. Yes, I am Pierre Cheval, but you can call me Pierre. You are probably surprised at my age. Well I assure I am not young as I look."
Still in shock Harry blurted out, "Well you can't be. If you were then you would be barely out of school."
"As a matter of fact I have been out of school nine years and I am 27. However I assure you I am perfectly capable of handling this office." Then with a rueful grin, "Not as capable as Mr. Weasely I am afraid, but capable enough. He has told me a lot about you Mr. Potter, as has Professor Dumbledore. Both praise you highly. And there is no mans judgment I would trust more"
Harry grinned, feeling at ease with this rather informal head of state. "Please call me Harry, Pierre. And that is a compliment I can return. They both speak very highly of you as well."
This exchange of pleasantries had broken the ice between them and Harry frankly studied the man who was the youngest Minister of Magic ever. He was tall; topping Harry by an inch, with a well knit compact physique. His eyes were pale blue, the color of the Seine on a sunny day. His hair was dark brown. He was not good-looking, but he had a wide smile, which naturally inspired trust. He wasn't an impressive personality or exceptionally brilliant like some of the Ministers Harry had met, nor did he radiate charm. But he gave an impression of solid good sense, integrity, intelligence and honesty which was very comforting.
"Harry", he said in unaccented English. "Let us not beat around the bush. You are as aware as I am of the danger that this character who calls himself the Circle poses to the Wizarding community. I hope you can help by ridding us of this threat. He is a maniac and must be brought to justice.
"I am afraid, Pierre, he is anything but a maniac. He is an intelligent man with a very set plan and that is far more dangerous. Arthur said you had some information to give me that could help in pinpointing his whereabouts?"
Pierre Cheval nodded. "The Circle's operations in France are being led by a young girl. She is extremely capable and because of her high contacts she is very difficult to touch. Even I cannot defame her without proof. I believe she knows more about him than any other person alive. If you can find some proof against her, we can take her in custody and we might be able to come into possesion of facts."
"Who is this girl?" asked Harry curiously.
Pierre went off in a tangent. "You know the Cheval family is a brilliant one. My father before me was minister of magic; his father was the headmaster of Beauxbaton. The women of the Cheval family also tend towards brilliance. They are also extremely strong-willed. My grandfather had a sister, a very lovely girl. She married against the wishes of the family, but my grandfather had a soft corner for her as he had for the rest of her family particularly her son. He was a nice man, my uncle intelligent, influential, but very gullible and very naïve. He fell head over heels in love with a most remarkably beautiful girl he met at a Quidditch game and married her soon after.
"They had two daughters. One was my age, an excellent student, a gorgeous person, and a fellow student of mine in Beauxbaton. The other was nine years younger, spoilt and lovely. The elder triumphantly topped her year at school, became a competitor for the Triwizard Tournament and then became a professor. The younger was even more brilliant. However when she was very young she was seduced by the Dark side and became potentially the strongest Dark Wizardess in the last century. Yes, Harry I see you know perfectly well who I am talking about. The girl I need you to pump is my nineteen-year-old cousin - Gabrielle Delacour.
Review my story for the sake of god and country and little old me. Please review my story.
Thanks go to:
Desiree: Thanks for the review. Well I did say Harry is a one woman guy but I'm keeping the pairing open for the time being. It could end up anywhere. I do like Cho myself. Maybe its just a prejudiced Hermione and Ron.
Blue jay, Silvershadow, Anja, The water warrior : I hope you guys enjoy this part too.
Marsisbrighttonight: Thanks for reviewing in the first place and I'm longing for an even better review next time. Also thanks so much for you review on my other story. It is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I want constructive detail on this one too.
Bill Weasly: I wrote that pathetic little note just for kind people like you, please please keep reviewing
Darla: I'll try to keep Harry and Cho together but right now I'll go for the popular vote
Disc: Do I sound like a millionaire? Well then I can't quite be J.K. Rowling, the genius behind Harry Potter, now could I?
Harry sat in his seat in the aero - plane and buckled himself in. Apparation over long distances was not advised and even the short distance between England and France was hazardous. Portkeys could be, and often were, organized for over-seas travel, but this time they were traveling muggle. Frankly Harry preferred the 'plane. Ever since his fourth year encounter with Voldemort, he disliked portkeys and avoided them as far as he could. His close friend and Quidditch mentor Jacqueline Murray; granddaughter of the illustrious seeker Eunice Murray was seated next to him. Jackie and he had been friends ever since he had tumbled into the Magpies office begging for an opportunity to try out. She was the captain and a superb Chaser, with an eye for talent that bordered on genius. She immediately gave him a chance, and Harry had never looked back.
Jackie was a tall auburn haired woman about 35 years old with a face both incisive and attractive. She had a magnetic, intense personality that made her a natural leader. She had slept with Harry once, and both had decided it was better to stay friends. They shared a unique relationship, bantering and teasing yet warm and caring. A lot of newspapers and tabloids had often tried to imply that there was something more between them - a sort of "Mrs. Robinson" relationship. Harry couldn't care less. She was the best friend he had made out of Hogwarts and he wasn't going to lose her because of some petty rumors.
"Knut for your thoughts, Potter." she said with a grin.
"Not even a galleon." he returned impudently. "They are worth way too much."
"Impossible." she retorted. "Nothing, but nothing you think can be that important."
Harry sighed. He wished he could tell Jackie his problem, but he knew that his position depended on the utmost secrecy. "Oh, just going over my moves, oh esteemed Captain. Would you want me to desist?"
"No, not at all." she said, suddenly sober. "You know as well as I do how good those damned Quafflepunchers are. I mean, sure, Simone is no Viktor Krum. But don't underestimate her. That is always a big mistake. I remember my days in Hogwarts, and how we were always overconfident about playing Hufflepuff. Remember your opponents may surprise you."
Harry nodded seriously. Then to lighten up the moment he laughingly looked at her. "Why is it that even the funniest, craziest person becomes a raging, obsessive fanatic the minute he or she becomes Quidditch Captain?"
"Thinking Oliver Wood, brat? Well if you think he was bad, thank your stars you never played under Charlie Weasely. He took compulsive to a new high."
"Well, if I remember rightly, neither did you. You were Bill's batch, weren't you?"
Jackie nodded wistfully. "Yeah, we were quite the item, Bill and I. They used to call us the Gingersnaps because of our red hair."
"Well, are you guys getting back together? I've been hearing all sorts of rumors, and some of them are very spicy."
"Ask nay questions and you'll get nay lies." shot back Jackie.
Harry backed down. He knew that Jackie was touchy about her relationship with the handsome Weasely. They had been on and off ever since Harry had known them and though Harry was perfectly aware that they both adored each other, he often wondered when they would realize it. Quickly racking his mind for a change of subject, he found that the plane was about to land. "Oh, good. It looks like we've reached. Lets go sleep off the jet lag." Then with a twinkle in his eyes, "Together?"
A stern look from Jackie made him raise his hand in a laughing apology. "Fin, fine. We are in France, you know. All I need to do to get a woman here is be suave. You don't know what you're missing."
"Actually, I know exactly what I'm missing. And you know what, I'm not missing it."
Harry pretended to burst into tears while Jackie genuinely burst out laughing. "We are here. Now try and behave your age. Ok?"
Harry nodded as he followed Jackie down the stairs of the plane. To his surprise he saw three men in dark suits detach themselves from the crowd to stride up to him.
"Mr. Harry Potter?" asked the tallest of the men, who also looked the oldest and weariest.
Harry nodded and was gestured to follow them. Muttering his excuses to Jackie and the rest of the team, he weaved his way through the thronging people, keeping pace with the men. They directed him to a small room with soundproofed walls. "We are Monsieur Pierre Cheval's men, Mr. Potter. Monsieur Cheval evinces a desire to meet you. Perhaps you could accompany us to his office."
"Certainly." nodded Harry, prepared for the meeting. The three men led him to a small grate.
"Well, Mr. Potter, we are going to use Floo Powder. You know how it works?"
Harry nodded acquiescingly.
"Excellent. Then throw in a pinch, say Rue De Mon. Champignon and step right in."
Harry followed the instructions and found himself in a large bright room with antique furniture. It had some beautiful paintings on the wall, even Harry being able to identify the Monet and the Dali. The huge Louis XII chair was placed opposite to the door and in it sat a man who looked so preposterously young that Harry was unable to stop himself from saying, "You are Minister Cheval?"
The young man laughed cordially. "Mr. Potter, I presume. Yes, I am Pierre Cheval, but you can call me Pierre. You are probably surprised at my age. Well I assure I am not young as I look."
Still in shock Harry blurted out, "Well you can't be. If you were then you would be barely out of school."
"As a matter of fact I have been out of school nine years and I am 27. However I assure you I am perfectly capable of handling this office." Then with a rueful grin, "Not as capable as Mr. Weasely I am afraid, but capable enough. He has told me a lot about you Mr. Potter, as has Professor Dumbledore. Both praise you highly. And there is no mans judgment I would trust more"
Harry grinned, feeling at ease with this rather informal head of state. "Please call me Harry, Pierre. And that is a compliment I can return. They both speak very highly of you as well."
This exchange of pleasantries had broken the ice between them and Harry frankly studied the man who was the youngest Minister of Magic ever. He was tall; topping Harry by an inch, with a well knit compact physique. His eyes were pale blue, the color of the Seine on a sunny day. His hair was dark brown. He was not good-looking, but he had a wide smile, which naturally inspired trust. He wasn't an impressive personality or exceptionally brilliant like some of the Ministers Harry had met, nor did he radiate charm. But he gave an impression of solid good sense, integrity, intelligence and honesty which was very comforting.
"Harry", he said in unaccented English. "Let us not beat around the bush. You are as aware as I am of the danger that this character who calls himself the Circle poses to the Wizarding community. I hope you can help by ridding us of this threat. He is a maniac and must be brought to justice.
"I am afraid, Pierre, he is anything but a maniac. He is an intelligent man with a very set plan and that is far more dangerous. Arthur said you had some information to give me that could help in pinpointing his whereabouts?"
Pierre Cheval nodded. "The Circle's operations in France are being led by a young girl. She is extremely capable and because of her high contacts she is very difficult to touch. Even I cannot defame her without proof. I believe she knows more about him than any other person alive. If you can find some proof against her, we can take her in custody and we might be able to come into possesion of facts."
"Who is this girl?" asked Harry curiously.
Pierre went off in a tangent. "You know the Cheval family is a brilliant one. My father before me was minister of magic; his father was the headmaster of Beauxbaton. The women of the Cheval family also tend towards brilliance. They are also extremely strong-willed. My grandfather had a sister, a very lovely girl. She married against the wishes of the family, but my grandfather had a soft corner for her as he had for the rest of her family particularly her son. He was a nice man, my uncle intelligent, influential, but very gullible and very naïve. He fell head over heels in love with a most remarkably beautiful girl he met at a Quidditch game and married her soon after.
"They had two daughters. One was my age, an excellent student, a gorgeous person, and a fellow student of mine in Beauxbaton. The other was nine years younger, spoilt and lovely. The elder triumphantly topped her year at school, became a competitor for the Triwizard Tournament and then became a professor. The younger was even more brilliant. However when she was very young she was seduced by the Dark side and became potentially the strongest Dark Wizardess in the last century. Yes, Harry I see you know perfectly well who I am talking about. The girl I need you to pump is my nineteen-year-old cousin - Gabrielle Delacour.
Review my story for the sake of god and country and little old me. Please review my story.
Thanks go to:
Desiree: Thanks for the review. Well I did say Harry is a one woman guy but I'm keeping the pairing open for the time being. It could end up anywhere. I do like Cho myself. Maybe its just a prejudiced Hermione and Ron.
Blue jay, Silvershadow, Anja, The water warrior : I hope you guys enjoy this part too.
Marsisbrighttonight: Thanks for reviewing in the first place and I'm longing for an even better review next time. Also thanks so much for you review on my other story. It is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I want constructive detail on this one too.
Bill Weasly: I wrote that pathetic little note just for kind people like you, please please keep reviewing
Darla: I'll try to keep Harry and Cho together but right now I'll go for the popular vote