Thanks for all the reviews, it is great to be back. For those who are wondering about why Fleur isn't taking exams in her fifth year, it is because at Beauxbatons, they sit for their exams at their sixth year, read Half-Blood Prince, Fleur says so herself. If you don't believe me look it up or look up Beauxbatons Academy of Magic online.
Chapter 11: Rumors, 12 Grimmauld Place, Party Preparations
The last week of school was rather subdued, after taking their O.W.L.S, the fifth years found classes were rather free with the exception of Potions anddue to the fact that their Defense professor was permanently disabled, Defense class merely became another free period. Using his spare time, Harry trained with his four soon-to-be national teammates on the Quidditch Pitch, he was sure that if Ray would be less than impressed if their game had regressed. "Harry caught the Quaffle from a lob pass, crossed over to the left and threw the Quaffle with a powerful straight throw.
"210 miles per hour, that's gotta be a new record." Cho said in an as-a-matter-of-fact voice as Harry landed slowly near her and picked up his towel and wiped the sweat off his face and body, groaning with frustration as he heard girlish giggles not far away.
"Looks like someone's got girl problems." Elena said coolly as she suddenly appeared next to Cho.
"Turpin, already finished mopping over the fact that I'm going to be number one already?" Harry smirked and yelped when he received a knock on the head by Cho,
"Can you honestly start a conversation with Elena without bringing your academic competitions?" The hazel eyed Asian girl said with a sigh.
"Sorry, old habits die hard, forgive me milady." Harry retorted with a half bow to Elena, earning a slap on his arm from Cho. Elena glared at him but didn't say anything as her calculating brown eyes watched him kick off into the air once again.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Elena gritted out as she bumped into someone, the books in her arms flying all over the place. She was still fuming but she couldn't help but stare as she saw the person she had ran into. It was a boy, with messy black locks, with a well-sculptured face and the greenest eyes she has ever seen, she also noticed a Ravenclaw House badge on the front of his robes, he would have been cute looking if it weren't for the angry sneer on his face as he got up from the floor and swore loudly when he examined his broken book bag.
"I should be the one asking that, are your marks so hopeless that you have to read those books all the time." The boy retorted angrily as he waved his hand and his book bag repaired itself. To say Elena was outraged would be an understatement; both her parents had graduated at Hogwarts with distinction and from the moment Elena learned to talk, she was set on the path her parents went on.
"Me? How dare you! Might I inform you that I received all O's so far in all my assignments, including Professor Snape's essay on the Draught of Death!" She fumed loudly, her brown eyes glowering dangerously but the boy seemed to ignore her rant, simply slung his fixed book bag over one shoulder and walked off.
Elena was in a horrible mood the entire day, "That oaf is the most infuriating person I've ever met." She thought angrily to herself but she gasped when she realized why that boy looked so familiar, he was Harry Potter, brother of the boy-who-lived, and the only person not in Slytherin House that Snape awarded points to, she remembered him answering Snape's questions in boorish manner and Snape's irate, scrunched up face looking at Potter as if he wanted to kill him on the spot. She was still in her thoughts when she arrived at the Great Hall for lunch, she instantly recognized the familiar untamable black hair at a lone end of the Ravenclaw House table, reading furiously while taking bites out of a sandwich. She didn't know and still won't know why she did what she did that day but Elena found herself taking the seat across from the black haired wizard who immediately looked up without any emotion on his face.
"Listen Potter... I know we've had a bad start, I'm Elena, Elena Turpin." Elena introduced herself, sticking out a hand. Harry's eyes narrowed a bit but took her hand.
"So…reading over History of Magic?" Elena blurted out, noting that she would be the one to initiate conversations. Harry nodded and replied,
"Binns bores me to death, I can never concentrate one hundred percent plus I really hate History."
"Me too. Hey, how about I test you?" Elena said with a small smile, slightly happy that he had opened up slightly, however little did she know that the person sitting across from her would soon become one of her closest friends, rival and later, someone who she admired a lot; even if the dunderhead was completely oblivious to it.
"Hello, Elena, you there?" Elena snapped from her thoughts as she saw a concerned Cho waving a hand in front of her face.
"Oh, you want something Cho?" Elena asked.
"I was asking if you want to come shopping with me over the summer. You sort of spaced out." Cho asked worryingly.
"Just reminiscing." Elena mumbled before her eyes found themselves following Harry on his broom, for someone as intelligent as him, he sure was a dumb bastard. The end of week came fast as it was again time for the summer holidays. Harry and his fellow Quidditch teammates cheered on as Ravenclaw narrowly defeated Slytherin. Draco had surprised his elder brother as he nearly caught the golden snitch, only missing due to an unexpected bludger hit towards his face; causing him to dodge and allowing Cho to catch it. Harry watched from the stands with his arms rested against the railing, smiling with happiness that the Ravenclaw House Team could move on without him and Roger; grinning madly to himself as he saw Snape politely shook Flitwick's hand in congratulations.
"Hello Harry Potter." A dreamy voice greeted next to him, Harry snapped from his thoughts and saw one Luna Lovegood, her wide blue eyes staring at the pitch beneath her.
"Hey Luna, how was your year? I hope people didn't do anything unpleasant to you…" Harry didn't finish his sentence as Luna turned to face him and smiled widely.
"No problem Harry, everyone's toned down a bit, even your brother." She said warmly and without waiting for Harry to reply, skipped off. That evening, the Great Hall was decorated with the blue and bronze colors of Ravenclaw as they snatched another House Cup. Making it three times in a row. Once again, all Ravenclaws tossed their pointed hats into the air and cheered. Then the feast started and Harry was eating a piece of pumpkin pie when Roger shoved the evening sports section of the Daily Prophet in front of Harry's face.
"Check it out!" He exclaimed excitedly. On the front was Harry posing in his white England team robe, one hand holding his Nimbus 2000 while huge letters above wrote,
Vratsa Vultures interested snatch up Potter
By: Alexandr Sharnov
Reports have been made that seven times European Champions, Vratsa Vultures has set their sights on the Best Player of the recent Under-17 Quidditch World Cup, Harry Potter. Potter has scored an impressive average four hundred points throughout the tournament and has been critical to England's recent trophy drought. Vulture manager and former Vulture keeper Sergei Ivanov has expressed his desire to bring the young chaser to Vratsa after their European Cup victory over Braga Broomfleet. "He's a natural leader as well as a fantastic player, in terms of attacking and defending." On another note, English Giant Puddlemere United and Welsh Behemoth Caerphilly Catapults has also expressed their interest in Harry Potter.
Harry read the report with great interest, the greatest team in history has expressed their interest in him. "Wow." Harry gasped, his pie forgotten.
"That's it? Wow? Hello! Vratsa Vultures, THE Vratsa Vultures wants you to join and all you can say is wow?" Roger shouted loudly, everyone was now whispering loudly as they skimmed their respective Daily Prophets and began chattering loudly.
"Wait a moment, is the Harry Potter actually rendered speechless? That's a first." Cho teased at Harry's wide-eyed expression while Elena let out a rare giggle as she plucked the Prophet out of his hands.
"I don't know, this is a pretty bad timing, I want to focus wholly on qualifying for the World Cup first." Harry muttered.
Roger immediately went ballistic, "Harry mate! THE Vratsa Vultures! A giant contract and Veela cheerleaders! VEELA CHEERLEADERS!" He practically yelled out the last part.
"Calm down Roger…won't do us any good if you suddenly have a heart attack." Harry said calmly.
Shaking his head, Roger said in a quieter voice, "If it were me, I would accept right away…you better not let this slip between your fingers." Harry noticed a bit of jealousy and sadness in his friend's voice, he didn't know what to do but to shut up so he kept silent.
Up at the staff table, the teachers were gobsmacked, none could react properly to the news. Flitwick felt extremely proud of his favorite pupil as he controlled himself to stop bouncing up and down his chair, Snape just stared at his nemesis' son with indifference. McGonagall, being the Quidditch fanatic on the staff could only stare at the son of her two favorite students with awe, Dumbledore, being the manipulative controller behind all things simple stared analytically at the black haired youth.
The chattering, whispering and finger pointing continued until Dumbledore announced his closing speech and bade them all goodnight. Realizing that he wouldn't have any peace as he strolled towards Ravenclaw Tower, he casted a disillusionment charm on himself and went towards the Astronomy Tower instead. The cool, summer breeze gently blew against his messy hair as he arrived at the top of the tower, it wasn't so long ago that he had been gazing through a telescope and filling a blank star chart for his Astronomy O.W.L.S. Harry stared out towards the Forbidden Forest, he wanted to enjoy Quidditch, not be the center of attention of the entire school. True, he felt ecstatic that the seven time European Champions wanted him on their team but that would mean leaving his long time friends behind, something that he never wanted. But again, as Roger had yelled out, this was a one time opportunity, if he turned down the offer, it may never come knocking on his door again.
Harry clutched his head as he cursed Dumbledore, Voldemort, himself, all he ever wanted was to be normal and live a normal life, "Is it too much to ask for?" He thought as his head ached. Harry didn't return to Ravenclaw until midnight, his eyes widened when he saw a curled silhouette figure sleeping on a sofa, the cracking fire lighting the common room with a warm orange yellowish light. Walking quietly to get a closer peek, Harry was surprised to see his fiercest academic competitor and friend Elena sprawled on the sofa with a small smile curled on her lips. For the first time, Harry realized that the cold, unsocial Elena had another side, a side that was hidden, completely unknown to the rest of the student population, even her own housemates.
"Who would have thought icy, Ms. I'll-Never-Admit-That-Potter's-Smarter-Than-Me could actually smile." Harry thought as he sat in an empty armchair. She was really beautiful when she smiles, Harry observed as he looked at the sleeping Elena. His eyes captured her form entirely, starting from her soft, shoulder length brown hair, slowly descending to her smooth cheeks, then her moist pink lips which made him blush slightly. He knew that he should wake her up and tell her to sleep in her dorm but she was already comfortably asleep. Faced upon a decision, Harry conjured up a blanket and as gentle as he could, covered the sleeping girl with it.
Then he walked slowly towards his own dorm, and as quietly as he could, Harry changed into his night clothes and got into bed but not before giving his sleeping companion a loving stroke. As he shifted sideways on his bed, he saw the picture of Little Rosy giggling on his shoulders, he still haven't decided if he wanted to leave Potter Manor or stay. Too tired to think, he fell unconscious as sleep overcame him. The next morning, students were busy with packing their trunks, saying farewells to friends,
"So, you going to join the Vultures then?" Elan asked as he entered their usual compartment near the front of the Hogwarts Express.
"They haven't actually made an official bid yet…I really don't get why people are getting all hyped up, it's merely a speculation." Harry said as he looked out towards Hogsmeade Station. Knowing that he would most likely be the subject in everyone's conversations, he snuck off towards the kitchens for breakfast, which the house elves were more delighted to do. A moment later, ten minutes before the train left, Roger entered the compartment with a pile of sandwiches and bottles of pumpkin juice in his arms.
"You planning to participate in a sumo wrestling competition or something?" Harry asked with one eyebrow raised as he eyed all the food.
"Of course not, I can't get fat even if I wanted to." Roger said haughtily as he opened a sandwich and took a bite. "Barbeque Chicken…not bad." He said.
"What's a sumo wrestling competition?" Elan asked, totally clueless. Harry and Roger shared looks of pity before telling their pureblood and prehistoric friend.
"So basically, it's a bunch of fat men wearing nothing but underwear as they try to push each other out of a ring?" Elan said confusingly after hearing his two friend's explanations.
"Yeah basically, from what my friend told me after she moved to Japan." Roger said with a shrug of his shoulder.
Harry, who had been stroking his familiar opened the train window and watched on as Rina flew out. "I'll be back momentarily, just to stretch my wings." She sang as she flew alongside the train.
"Anyways, where's Ced?" Elan asked, grabbing a sandwich and eating it in a very un-Malfoyish manner.
"Probably off snogging Chang again. They're totally attached to the hip." Roger said as he opened another sandwich, this time scrambled eggs with cheese. That being said, the compartment door opened at that moment, revealing a very flushed Cedric Diggory and hiding behind him, Cho Chang.
"Wow, speaking of joining at the hip." Elan said with amusement in his grayish blue eyes.
"Quite, Malfoy." Roger retorted, Harry just palmed his face.
"You mind if Cho sits with us?" Cedric asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sure, just keep your raging hormones in check." Elan said. Roger laughed loudly at the flushing faces of his fellow teammate and housemate as he pulled a fashion magazine and began flipping the pages.
The rest of the trip was spent on several games of Wizarding chess, Exploding Snaps and to Elan and Cedric's fascination, Black Jack and Poker with Roger's deck of cards. Since they didn't have any chips, they used the money they had in their pockets.
"Wow, those muggles sure are interesting. This is so much better than the games we have." Elan commented as he looked on interestingly at his hand. After several more rounds, the Hogwart's Express slowly arrived onto King's Cross Station, Rina had returned to her previous position on Harry's shoulder and was nuzzling his cheek with her beak.
"Uh, Chang, you might want to return to your own compartment if you don't want to see us do lap dances." Roger said as they began to change into their muggle clothes. Cho blushed a bright red and quickly dashed out of the compartment without a word, Roger and Elan sniggering as she dashed out.
Harry just shook his head as he switched into his skinny black jeans, a white t-shirt and a skinny black silk blazer. It was exactly noon when they filed out of the train and were surprised. The four Quidditch stars were startled and relieved that there were no signs of the press anywhere, usually, they had to have their wands ready when they boarded or exited the train.
"Better for us." Elan said as he tucked his wand back into its holster. The four walked confidently pass the mass of students and parents, ignoring all the eyes that were directed in their direction.
"I think I'm going to get a pair of shades from now on." Elan commented as they walked towards the area near the barrier where the Malfoys, The Diggorys, Mrs. Davies and Sirius were chatting quietly together.
"Hey Ace. How was school?" Sirius said pulling his godson in an embrace.
"Great, oh and Septima sends her regards….you might consider contacting her rather than sulk around in Number 12." Harry teased his dogfather about his crush.
"Ah worrying for little old me already? You're still a long way in becoming the Master of Love my young apprentice." Sirius said giving his godson a playful shove. After watching Star Wars, Sirius had taken up to calling Harry his apprentice much to his annoyance.
"Shut up, at least I kissed almost all the seventh year girls during my third year." Harry retorted.
Sirius' face dropped slightly, "Aye, you have bested me with that young one." He said sagely.
Harry nodded to Cedric and Roger as they waved in farewell before going pass the barrier. Then he felt someone pulling his jeans and smiled when he saw Little Rosy with her arms stretched out, her innocent green eyes looking expectantly at him.
"Hello little lady, don't believe I've seen you before." Harry said as he pulled the small red headed girl to his chest. Little Rosy merely giggled and began playing with his hair.
"Harry I have something to discuss with you." Sirius said eying the siblings. Harry, remembering the cursed diary nodded and proceeded to ask Lucius Malfoy for an audience at Grimmauld Place which he agreed to.
"Sorry princess, I have things to discuss with Uncle Padfoot, I'll come by once I'm finished." Harry said and placed Little Rosy on her feet and immediately the little girl wrapped her small arms around his legs in a tight lock.
"Rosy let go." Harry sighed tiredly.
"NO!" She replied and held on even tighter.
"Please Rosy, I promise I'll play with you and whatever you request." Harry pleaded, rolled his eyes when he saw the amusement in Rina's eyes, then the little redhead slowly unhooked her arms around his legs. Harry felt bad, he hadn't talked to his sister all year long due to the Basilisk attacks on the school and knew that Little Rosy had a reason to be unhappy.
Before he could say anything, a wave of bushy hair appeared in front of him and he saw a flustered Hermione Granger. "Hey Harry, I just wanna say….good luck on your Quidditch Matches." She then gave proceeded to give Harry a strangling hug and bolted off to where her parents were waiting at the barrier. Both flashed grateful smiles at him which he could only weakly returned; no doubt Hermione must have told them everything about him.
He was surprise to see Little Rosy glaring at the spot where Hermione had been standing before she went pass the barrier and smiled; his sister had always been a teensy bit jealous whenever there were girls surrounding her favorite brother. He bent down on a knee and wrapped his strong arms around the most important person in his life.
"I'm sorry for not being here on Christmas even though I promised. Forgive me, here I got you some crystallized pineapples." He whispered, pulling out a small box from his jacket pocket and placed it in her small hands, his face buried in Little Rosy's long flaming red hair.
After a moment, Little Rosy giggled. "I forgive you Hawwy but take me to park to play and call me princess always." Harry just kissed her temple before leading her to a tearful Lily Potter. To put it in simple terms, Harry thought Lily Potter looked awful, as if she had trouble sleeping or had been crying.
"Be a good girl until I come back okay?" Harry said as he released her hand. Little Rosy just smiled widely and nodded.
Ignoring his parents, Harry quickly walked back towards where Sirius was standing and grabbing his arm disapparated with a pop. Lily Potter could see a mixture of pity and sadness in Sirius' eyes before he vanished. Number Twelve Grimmauld Place was cold and dark as it always was as Harry and Sirius popped inside.
"Um, you might want to liven the place if you want to engage Professor Vector in a relationship." Harry teased as they walked through the long narrow corridor. Sirius just rolled his eyes and stopped when they arrived in front of the portrait of one Mrs. Black.
"Hello Mother." Sirius greeted his mother properly, Immediately Mrs. Black opened her eyes, revealing the black orbs that were everything but soft.
"Sirius, I see that you are well as always." She said and her eyes became gentler when they identified Harry.
"Hello, Lady Black."
"Potter! I see that Kreacher has grown some meat on you and finally made yourself presentable to the magical world." She observed. Harry just nodded, not knowing what to say to respond to that.
"Let's go, Lucius will be arriving soon." Sirius said nodding at the portrait Mrs. Black and walked off.
Harry began to follow but was stopped by an "And Potter? Do come around and chat, being surrounded by curtains can be quite lonely." Mrs. Black called out.
"I shall…." Harry responded and followed Sirius into the kitchen.
"Butterbeer?" Sirius asked as he opened the refrigerator taking out two bottles and tossing one at Harry, who caught it, wrenched the bottle cap off and drank deeply. Harry then took out his shrunken trunk from his pocket and casted a wandless enlargement charm, which caused his trunk to swell back into its original size.
"Ah Harry, what is it that you require my expertise?" Lucius said in his silky voice as he and Narcissa appeared in the kitchen, being a former Black, she could key in the wards anytime she wanted.
"This." Harry said as he fished out a black leather diary with a giant hole in the middle.
Lucius took the diary and his eyes flashed in recognition. "Where did you get this?" He asked, his gray eyes wide with surprise as Harry handed him the charred diary.
"Found it in the Chamber of Secrets. Apparently one Ginny Weasley was carrying it all year around." Harry explained.
"It can't be, Slytherin's chamber was only a myth." Sirius sputtered.
Harry just shook his head and said sadly, "I wish it was, surely you have heard something about students getting attacked around the school. I've been in the Chamber myself, the entrance is in a bathroom haunted by a ghost called Moaning Myrtle."
"What? And why the hell didn't you tell us about that?" a voice shouted surprising everyone in the kitchen.
"Elan I thought I told you to stay in the living room." Lucius said with an eyebrow raised. Narcissa just scolded him for using such crude words.
"Well Elan, if you want to face a fifty feet serpent with venomous steak knife fangs and eyes that can kill you before a blink of an eye then next time there is a Basilisk I will gladly take you along." Harry said sarcastically and Elan immediately shut up.
"Bloody Hell…Fifty Feet." All color on Sirius' face had drained.
"Would it be alright if we watched the memory of the event?" Lucius asked. Harry nodded and Sirius immediately bolted off to find his pensieve.
Pulling out his wand, Harry drew a single silver strand from his temple and casted it into the shimmering basin. All of them dove into the pensieve and found themselves in a long, dim corridor, lined with monumental statues of snakes, including two towering stone pillars with more carved serpents that brace the ceiling. A colossal statue of Salazar Slytherin, looking ancient and monkey-like was at the centre. The Chamber of Secrets made the normally vapid and depressed looking Grimmauld Place look like Disneyland. All of them save Harry was shocked at the Chamber, during their school days everything they heard about the Chamber was only speculation. Then they watched as a short boy ran to a figure on the ground followed by a much taller, leaner version.
"Ginny, please don't be dead." Eric Potter sobbed. "Her hands are cold. Please wake up." Lucius and Narcissa gasped when she saw a tall black haired boy leaning against the nearest pillar. Lucius had a bad feeling in his gut when he heard the black haired boy talk about being a memory preserved in the diary for over fifty years, no wonder the diary had a malevolent aura to it; even though the memory had been destroyed. His fears were confirmed when he watched with horror as Tom Riddle wrote his name in flaming letters and watched them rearrange themselves into I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
"Bloody Hell, that's You-Know-Who?" Elan exclaimed with his jaw dropped to the floor. Harry just remained stoic as he watched Riddle call out the Basilisk and the mouth of Salazar Slytherin open, a dark green serpent of fifty feet long slithering out. Narcissa clutched her husband's arm tightly as the snake uncoiled itself, Elan swallowed loudly. Sirius watched in awe as his godson's familiar came to the rescue, clawing out the Basilisk's eyes, making it possible for Harry to fend off the monstrosity on his own, his wand a quick blur as he kept the gaping jaws of death at bay. The four people gasped when an orange beam of light shot out of Harry's wand and slammed into the King of Serpents. All of them covered their ears as the Basilisk let out a terrible cry of pain as it thrashed about helplessly before keeling over sideways and fell, twitching to the floor. Lucius was thoroughly impressed as he watched Harry conjured up a long silver sword and embedded it through the roof of the dying snake. Riddle or Voldemort then clapped at the show and raised Eric Potter's Wand but before he could utter a syllable, the silver sword; which previously was still embedded in the Basilisk was in Harry's hands and before anyone could react, he plunged the sword coated with Basilisk straight into the diary. There was a loud inhumane scream as Riddle writhed and twisted before exploding.
Suddenly all of them found themselves in Grimmauld Place again as the memory ended.
No one spoke for five minutes until Elan broke silence with a loud whistle. "I changed my mind, I really don't think I want to be in your shoes mate." He joked lightly.
"Yea, lucky Rina was with me." Harry muttered quietly.
"That diary, I saw Nott Senior holding it when we went to Diagon Alley to get Elan and Draco's school materials for this year." Lucius said suddenly. Harry and all those in the room gave the elder Malfoy surprised looks.
"When did you see it father?" Elan asked.
"When we entered Flourish and Blott's. You still remember that Nott Sr. and Arthur Weasley were just finishing with their brawl when we arrived, no doubt that Nott has been taunting how poor the Weasleys were?" Narcissa and Elan nodded.
"Nott Sr. placed the diary along with another book in the Weasley's bag, I saw him with my own eyes." Lucius said. Then he turned to his wife and said, "Remember to warn Draco about Theodore Nott. I do not wish for him to mix with the wrong crowd." Narcissa, her face paler than usual, nodded.
"Why would Nott Senior carry the Dark Lord's diary?" Elan asked no one in particular.
Lucius suddenly looked uncomfortable as with Sirius, "Nott Senior is a Death-Eater and was one of the most loyal servants of the Dark Lord in the war." Sirius said quietly.
"What? How come he's not rotting in Azkaban then?" Elan asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Harry mumbled, causing all heads to turn to him. "Blackmail, Bribery." He said simply.
Lucius nodded, "Nott Senior is incredibly cunning and resourceful, he knows how the Ministry functions, the corruption within it and uses it to his advantage. He uses his huge network to uncover who in the ministry is corrupted and blackmails them into serving him."
"Which pretty much gives him almost total control in the courts." Sirius said bitterly and then barked, "Kreacher?" An old house-elf with large tennis like eyes popped out of thin air and bowed deeply.
"Master summoned Kreacher?" Kreacher croaked.
"I did, please put this object in the room where all the dark objects are placed." Kreacher took the diary, bowed deeply and disappeared with a pop. Silence then engulfed the large kitchen but was broken when Narcissa, deciding it would be best not to dwell on such matters and dropped the bomb of an upcoming party to celebrate the new French Minister of Magic.
"Why do we have to go there? It's not even relative to us and World Cup Qualifiers are coming real fast." Elan complained and received a smack to the head from Narcissa.
"Its an opportunity to show the other European nations that not everyone from the British community is pathetic." Narcissa said in a frighteningly voice that resembled the late Mrs. Black whenever she was irate. All the males surrounding her gulped loudly, Narcissa wasn't Slytherin Ice Queen for no reason in her former days in Hogwarts.
"Why am I invited?" Harry asked with confusion.
"You're an international superstar Harry and you might need an agent to manage things like this. And since there is no one better fit for this job, I submit myself for the position." Sirius said with a grin.
"What about your auror job?" Harry exclaimed.
"Running after dark wizards might seem like an exciting career but it gets a bit dull after a while and besides as your agent, I can go to all the parties you go to. Imagine all the young sexy ladies I can charm up." Sirius said with a gleam in his eyes and yelped when Narcissa kicked him hard in the shin. Harry just palmed his face but couldn't help but grin widely.
"I think the boys would need new clothes for the party don't you think Lucius dear?" Narcissa said with a dangerous edge to her voice.
"Yes dear, what say you take the boys out to London and have a good time." Lucius stammered for once, his confidence nowhere to be seen. Narcissa just smiled widely and before anyone could stop her, pulled Elan and Harry into headlocks and marched them out of the kitchens, Lucius and Sirius shuddered at their cries of mercy as Narcissa took them for a trip of clothes shopping. Both had experienced a shopping trip with Narcissa and would rather fight dozens of dark wizards rather than experience it again.
It was every man's nightmare when Narcissa informed both boys that they would be going to six stores. Both Elan and Harry were red-faced the entire time whenever they came out of the changing rooms due to the fact that Narcissa would immediately 'request' for them to go back in immediately after asking them to strut around like a model. The giggling of many muggle teenage girls certainly did nothing to help. Everything became even worse when Elan and Harry saw Cho, Elena and Anna Zabini walk into Zara along with their mothers.
"Quick, hide!" Elan whispered to Harry and the two started to walk back into the changing rooms when Narcissa grabbed them both in a tight grip and said enthusiastically
"Eve, Emily, Jen, what do you think?" Both Harry and Elan thought, "Please kill me." At that moment, both boys wished that they could just disappear into thin air.
"It's nice to see that you haven't lost your touch Cissy." Eve Zabini said with a smirk, it would hard to believe that Eve was actually Anna's mother, their resemblances were terrifyingly similar, the same short cropped blonde hair, ocean blue eyes and an aristocratic face. Harry thought that she could pass off as Anna's older sister.
"I can't believe it, Harry Potter and Elan Malfoy. I am a big fan." Cho's mother, Emily Chang greeted in perfect English with excitement in her voice.
"Pleasure to meet you too Lady Chang." Harry replied the greeting and held out a hand to shake.
"Such a charmer, just like your handsome devil of a father." Mrs. Chang said with a sigh.
"Er…Thank You?" Harry replied, glaring at Cho and Anna, who were struggling to keep themselves from laughing. Sirius had told him that his father along with himself were quite the players in their days at Hogwarts which was totally the understatement of the millennia.
Then he felt himself being pulled away and smiled gratefully when he saw it was Elena.
"Let me have a look Potter." She said, her keen brown eyes as serious as they were when they took their O.W.L.S.
Harry tensed when he felt her hands on his shoulders. "What are you doing?" He asked, green eyes temporarily meeting brown.
"Try this one." Elena simply said and thrust a silk midnight blue suit into his hands, along with a white shirt and a straight, narrow silk silver tie. Not far away Narcissa was chatting animatedly with Jennifer Turpin as they watched Harry sulk into the changing room with a smirking Elena watching him.
"Don't they look great together?" Narcissa said excitedly.
"I can see why my daughter likes him. She never will admit it but he's all that she talks about." Jennifer Turpin replied softly with a smile. Finally, after what seemed like to be an eternity, Harry sighed in relief as they exited Zara with their clothes in their bags and a very happy Narcissa walking in front; she had insisted that she pay for all the clothes of both boys, which Harry was about to complain about but was quickly shut up by a glare.
"It was a bloody nightmare." Elan whispered to Harry as they waved goodbye and said their farewells to their friends. But Harry was in deep thought about the hug Elena gave him, her warm breath tingling his ear as she whispered that she knew that it was him who covered her up with a blanket. Soon Narcissa apparated them back to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.
"How was the shopping?" Sirius asked from his whiskey and received two blank, vacant stares in return.
"What did you do Cissy?" Lucius asked fearfully, Narcissa just gave him a sly grin that sent cold shivers down the Malfoy patriarch's spine. After shrinking his trunk and slipping it into his jean's pocket, Harry said his goodbyes to the Malfoys and he allowed Sirius to apparate him back to Potter Manor's front door.
"Alright, Good Night Harry, tomorrow, at four thirty, Lucius and his family would be here to pick you up. They will take you to Number Twelve, I have a portkey which will take us to the Ministry of Magic in Paris. Remember to get dressed early and don't worry too much about the transfer rumors. Just focus on qualifying for the World Cup." Sirius said and then after a quick hug disapparated into thin air.
Harry just sighed as he pulled out a key and unlocked the front door. Immediately, a red bullet slammed into legs, locking them together in an iron grip. Setting his shopping bag aside, Harry pulled Little Rosy into his chest where she contentedly buried her face in.
The little redhead then proceeded in dragging her brother into the living room where a doll house and several dolls were lying on the floor. Harry looked at it and at Little Rosy, who was looking up expectantly up at him with wide, cute green eyes and a small pout on her lips. "Damn that pout…" Harry thought as he took off his black silk blazer and took one of the male dolls and started playing, when he was younger, this was an acceptable thing but now since becoming a global superstar, he didn't enjoy it as much but he would and always be willing to make his sister happy, no matter what it took.
Meanwhile, peering from the edge of the kitchen doorway was a crying Lily Potter, her eldest son's joyful smile was the most beautiful thing she could imagine. Maybe because he always wore a sneer or scowl in the house, when he smiled, it was if that smile could inspire hope; no matter how sad or in despair a person is.
It disappeared as soon as he spotted her staring, "Dinner's ready." She said quietly. Harry merely nodded and holding his sister's arm, walked into the kitchen.
"So, Harry, I heard that the Vratsa Vultures are on their way to sign you." James Potter said excitedly. Harry, resting his head on an arm just rolled his eyes and replied, "It's just rumors, Sirius will take care of all that."
"Padfoot? What does that mean?" James Potter asked with confusion. "I needed an agent to represent me for the press. Sirius volunteered willingly for that position." Harry said with a lazy shrug, spooning mouthfuls of lasagna into his mouth. James was about to say something but was cut off by a glare from Lily.
After scrapping the last of the lasagna into his mouth, Harry flicked his wrist and his plate became shiny and clean. "And another thing I would like to announce so you all know in advance, I'm invited to a party held in Paris in honor of the newly elected French Minister of Magic. I'm expected to leave at four-thirty, so no need to lay out an extra plate." Harry said simply and left his startled family at the table, Little Rosy, not knowing what was happening, bounced after her big brother.
Harry massaged his temple as he walked into his room, and smirked when he saw the magically enchanted poster of Angeline Jolie smiling seductively at him, her eyelashes batting. Sirius had given it to him as birthday present when he turned twelve. He had even managed to place a modified version of a permanent sticking charm which only he or Harry can remove. Harry would often cast a disillusionment charm on it so that Lily Potter wouldn't make a huge fuss about it and start giving him 'The Talk' when she found out. Listening to it once from Sirius was enough for a life time.
He then sat in his comfortable chair in front of his desk and smiled when he saw his first year photo. Hagrid had taken it for them using Roger's camera, they had their backs to the castle, arms looped around each other's shoulders, forming a line. Harry chuckled when he saw Elena, now that he thought of it, she was actually quite cute. Then he compared it to the one they took together after their O.W.L.S. The changes were so great, Elan's once innocent smile became more haughty, Roger's became more mischievous, Cedric well, not much has changed, he still had that really queer smile . Then he saw himself, he was the shortest in his year when he first came, but now he was reaching six foot. Also, the unfriendly, cold mask had worn off and a genuine joyful smile replaced it.
Harry then pulled out the ballerina photo Fleur had given him at the beginning of the school year and framed it with a silver frame that he had bought earlier in the day.
"She's purty." Little Rosy chirped as she climbed onto her brother's lap. Harry just chuckled lightly and patted Little Rosy on the head. Harry's head snapped up when he heard a knock on his door.
"Who is it?" He asked nonchalantly.
"It's me, Harry you left your jacket in the living room." Lily Potter said carefully. Harry set his little sister on her feet and opened the door, and without a word, tore the jacket out of Lily Potter's grasp.
"Anything else you need?" Harry asked with an arched eyebrow. Before he can shove her away, Lily Potter planted a soft kiss on his forehead, whispered, "I will always love you Harry even if you want me to die." and tears began to slide down from her eyes again as she left. Harry felt disgusted by it and went into his bathroom that was connected to his room and began washing his face with some facial gel.
"Hawrry has bubble face." Little Rosy chirped as she broke into laughter watching Harry cleaning his face. Smiling mischievously, Harry splashed water at the little redhead, making her squeal in fake fear as she was pelted with water. Rina saw the whole bubble war with amusement in her eyes. After surrendering and cleaning up, Harry came out of the bathroom refreshed with a jumping Rosy behind him.
"You might want to go back to your own room, Rosy, its bedtime. You brushed your teeth in my bathroom, go back to your own bed." Harry said but to his amusement, Little Rosy just bolted towards his bed and climbed under the covers.
"No!" She chirped happily as she poked her head out of the end of the covers. Harry, sensing defeat just sighed as he climbed under the covers and was shocked to see his sister cuddling up to him immediately.
"Good Night Hawrry." Little Rosy said sleepily and dozed off. Harry smiled at the red bundle in front of him and closed his eyes for the night.
Meanwhile in France, "FLEUR! FLEUR!" A small silver blonde haired girl shouted as she jumped onto her older sister's bed.
"What is it Gabby?" Fleur said from her pillow.
"Oh My God, I can't believe it, Papa has invited Harry Potter to tomorrow's party." Gabrielle squealed in excitement.
Immediately, Fleur shot up from her bed, "Really?"
Gabrielle nodded, "I overheard Mama the other day telling Papa that he MUST invite Harry Potter. Oh I can't wait" Gabrielle was now jumping up and down on her sister's bed.
Fleur just reached for the photograph of Harry on her nightstand, his smile never ceases to make her happy. Now she had a reason to look forward to the party.