Chapter 14:
All eyes were on Harry. The demon that pulled the knife, walked to the boy. Harry couldn't help notice that she didn't so much seem to walk as glide across the room. She had ebony skin, and on her forehead skin, which bleed into her hairline was a dark charcoal snake skin-like pattern. Her head held high, she looked down her perfect aristocratic noise at Harry, and then spoke.
"You speak the serpent tongue?"
"If you mean am I a parselmouth, then yes." Harry was tempted to look away from her intense gaze, but held his ground and looked her back into her eyes, which had black vertical pupils.
She smiled and then gave a quick glance back to her companions still on the other side of the briefing table, the look her companions gave back clear ment something, then turned back to Harry.
"You'll do."
"Um, if I might inquire," Wesley interjected. "But, Harry you're a parselmouth?"
"I am."
Wesley's shoulders seemed to release tension and he looked to the ceiling.
"Thank god, Harry we're in a bit of bind. These demon's are called the Ture' Sh, and they've come to Wolfram and Hart to negotiate a land deal, the problem is we don't have anyone who can understand them. How would you feel about interning here this summer?"
"I'm not even 16, and you want me to intern."
"It'll look great on a college application. The negotiations, with luck should only last a week."
Harry hesitated.
"Please Harry, these are not human-aggressive demons, but they have a lot of pride. I'm afraid that if we slight them by backing out of negotiations they might retaliate in some way."
"Not human-aggressive you say? You'll have to clear it with Aunt Willow."
Wesley smiled, "Leave that to me."
"Absolutely not."
"Be reasonable Willow."
"I am Wes, Harry doesn't need to spend his summer translating demon-speak. What if they aren't as peaceful as you say?"
"I never claimed they were peaceful. Plus they view anyone who speaks their language as blessed by the gods, Harry included. He'll be perfectly safe."
Willow sighed; it would look good on a university application, but still.
"You also seem to forget that you represent a man who is part of an international magical hate group, whose leader I might add has made it part of his mission statement to kill MY nephew."
"The firm has dropped Lucius Malfoy as a client, considering Angel's close ties to you it was determined to be a conflict of interest and unethical to let Mr. Malfory continue to retain our services."
"If he says yes, then so be it. But I don't want him left alone with the demons for any reason."
"Done."
Xander was in the kitchen making stir fry when Willow walked in with desert.
"So Harry is going to translate for Wes this week huh?"
Willow put the bag on the counter.
"Told you did he?"
"As Soon as you dropped him off, Yoda. Speaking of Harry, did you know he's never had a birthday party?"
Willow's eyes which were moments ago smiling narrowed.
"One day I'm going to Little Surry and turning Petunia into a frog."
"So, no?"
"That's a no. So let me guess, with Harry's upcoming birthday you want to throw him a party. I'm not sure he'll have much fun, all his friends are in England."
Xander smiled. "Sexy Chad was telling me about something called Floo Powder."
After the first day of negotiations with Harry realized one thing, land deals were incredibly boring. He was looking forward to just relaxing on the couch and spending some time with Willow. But it seems that Xander and Willow had an emergency meeting in Orange County with its resident Slayer, leaving Harry on his own. Not wanting to be alone, Harry wondered down the Semi-Charmed to see how Bondy was doing.
"So, ever think of having ink done?" Bondy asked Harry, who was absent mindedly looking through a binder of tattoos in Semi-Charmed.
Harry gave a half smile.
"Aunt Petunia would never have allowed it. She said only freaks and sailors got tattoos."
"But what do you think?"
"I've always fancied the Gryffindor coat of arms on my shoulder." Harry said pointing to his left shoulder blade. "But I don't think Aunt Willow would approve."
Bondy smirked. "Your aunt has a dolphin tattoo on her ankle, so you might be surprised. You should ask her; just make sure to mention that it can be a charmed tat, increasing protection. That'll sway her a little bit."
"I'll give it some thought."
Bondy grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil then moved over to where Harry was sitting.
"What does the crest look like?"
"Well, it's got a rampant gold lion facing east. It's placed in the center of shield, the background of which is divided into four going red yellow, yellow red. Under the shield, I'd like the Gryffindor motto, fortis animi."
"Do you have a picture?"
"I can get you one."
"Bring it down, and I'll made a mock-up for you to show Will."
"Brilliant."
Willow's answer was no.
Harry tried to convince her otherwise, but she just didn't think a fifteen year old needed to get a tattoo.
"But we can charm it; give me a little bit of added protection."
"I'll think about it, but don't get your hopes up. I just think it's something that you'll want to think a little more about. Tattoos aren't something that just away, it's forever. Now it's getting late, and Wes expects you at the office first thing. So you should get to bed."
Harry's 3rd day translating was going the same as the previous two days. Wes would make a proposal, and the Ture'Sh would reject it. This would go back and forth until both sides agreed to give a little and take a little. At the rate they were going Wes was sure that they would finish negotiations by Friday, July 30st to be exact, and the day before Harry's sixteenth birthday.
Part of Harry was hoping to go to Wizopolis and maybe find a wand retailer. The other part wanted to wait to see Ollivander, after all he did craft the best wands in the wizarding world. He still was trying to convince Willow to let him get a tattoo, once Bondy implanted the thought into his head, he just couldn't seem to shake it.
He was picturing how cool it would be to show Ron, but then he pictured how Hermione would give him that patronizing look of hers while telling him that it was silly to disfigure himself for who she would call a passing fancy.
The fantasy would have continued if it weren't for the 7 foot demon apparating into the center of the board room and swinging an axe at his head.
"Lucius says hello."