CHAPTER 13
Blaise grinned. "Well, that's for me to know and you to find out." She said cheekily.
"Lai, don't kid around with me. This is serious."
"No." said Blaise pointing calmly. "That is Sirius"
Harry was on his feet in a minute. "Sirius Black! Arabella Black! What in the name of god are you doing here? This is a Quidditch Party for crying out loud."
Sirius patted his godson on the head. "Relax Harry. We are here on duty rather than pleasure." He twinkled at Blaise. "Though, if Lai is agreeable we can combine the two." Arabella smacked him on the head and he continued on a soberer note. "Harry, we've been sent here to brief you. The Circle has disappeared. Malfoy told Dumbledore that in all probability he has come to France. If that is the case, then you'd better look out. If Malfoy is to be believed, this guy hates you. This is why, my dear Harry, four of the best Aurors in the business have been told to stick to you like leeches. Yours truly, of course, yours truly's loving wife and your ex-girlfriend and Quidditch player Blaise Zabini.
"Blaise is an Auror?"
"Not only is she an Auror, my dear godson, she is one of the best we have. And, you know Harry; we are trying to avoid suspicion. I am your godfather, Bella is my wife and Lai is an ex-girlfriend, who you're still very close to. We've come to see you play a Quidditch game. What could be more innocent than that?"
"But that's only three. Who on earth is the fourth?"
"Ah, the fly in the soup. Brace yourself Harry. Get ready to be presented to the fourth of your entourage, the famous and much beloved - Severus Snape."
Harry made a face. "Dumbledore must be off his nut. He sent Snape to guard me?"
"Well, seeing I've done that quite a few times without being asked, I may as well do it once more." Came a familiar acerbic voice. "Black, if you've quite finished being funny, perhaps you can give Harry the rest of the message."
Sirius looked a trifle abashed. "Oh, can it Snape. I was going to tell him, but you interrupted me. Harry, Dumbledore also said something about your being privy to some information Cheval was to give you. He told us to tell you not to act on that information right now. There seems to be some hitch there. The hitch is the reason the Circle has come to France."
Harry nodded, knowing that Hermione could be trusted to keep the facts about Gabrielle to herself. He turned to Snape again. "So Professor, how could your school spare you? Weren't they absolutely heartbroken?"
"Taking a leaf from Black's book and trying to be funny, Potter? You know as well as I do that Durmstrang has holidays the same time as Hogwarts."
Harry slapped himself lightly on the forehead. "Of course, Professor," he said with an exaggerated bow. "How could I forget?"
"Well, from the memories I have of your potions exams, Potter, you could forget quite easily."
"Though this meeting of old friends is touching, and the conversation is absolutely edifying, may I remind you that you are in a party, which is usually held in a public place and there are people with vested interests who could conceivably overhear us. And I know both of you. When you lose your temper, you'll say just about anything." said Arabella shortly.
Harry looked at her penitently. "Sorry, Bella. Won't happen again."
Snape nodded. "Yes, Potter and I aren't sworn enemies anymore. We just get on each others nerves. That, incidentally, goes for you too, Black." Sirius's marriage to Arabella had done a lot to improve relations between Snape and Sirius. Snape had always liked Arabella, and surprisingly enough, Arabella was extremely fond of him.
The three older people walked off to talk to some other people, namely the head of the French Magical Games and Sports Ministry. Blaise and Harry were left alone again.
Harry stared at her. "Why didn't you tell me that you were an Auror?"
"Well, Harry, the same reason you weren't going to tell me that you were the Phoenix. When we are doing a job like ours, we have certain responsibilities. We have people to protect and walls to guard. We can't go around blabbering our identities to people. It's just not possible. You, of all people, should appreciate that."
Harry looked suitably abashed. "I'm sorry, Lai. I was just a little hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me. But, of course you're right. You couldn't have told me."
"Hell, Harry, if I could have, you'd have been the one person I would have told. You should know that. Anyway, now tell me, what is up with this Circle."
Harry knew now that he could trust Blaise with everything, so for the second time that evening he repeated all that had happened to him before he reached France and after. Blaise listened with an expression of deep concentration on her face. When he finished, she sat back with a sigh. "That is odd, Harry. I mean, about the animagus. I am an animagus myself and I know for a fact that after the first time you transform, it's a cinch. You can do it instinctively. It's only the first time that's tough. Did you have any trouble transforming into the unicorn?"
Harry shook his head. "Not at all. You're right, after the initial transformation it was a piece of cake. Maybe I should ask Fawkes, but the damn bird keeps disappearing."
"Talking about me, Harry Potter. That's not very nice. You shouldn't insult a poor innocent bird behind his back. Especially when he is trying his level best to save your worthless hide." Fawkes landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Who are you calling worthless, anyway? Try and remember I am the savior of the world and try and give me some respect huh? And what do you mean, you are trying to save me?"
"Well Harry, I followed that group of death eaters to their hideout and I saw the Circle. He has had a slight change in plans. Instead of killing Pierre Cheval, the newest target of the death eaters will be you.
I've demanded, I've begged, do I have to grovel? Please review this damned story already.
Thanks go to:
Miriam: Thanks for your wonderful loong review. I love long reviews. Well about the romance, they are twenty four, it's kind of difficult not to have romance. But I'm terrible at fluff, so don't worry about that. Also the next chapter will have a lot of action. I love your idea about the animagus form and I'm going to use it. Thank you.
Merlin's Wing: Thanks, keep reading
Magicalmischeifmaker: Thanks a ton, I wish I could post more often, but I have exams so...
Laurie Wood: Thanks
ADJ: Well you'll see more of nice Draco real soon. and try guessing who the leader is.
Darla Neighm: Oh Blaise is just a friend. She is a definite no no for romance. Just wanted to show that Slytherins can be nice and smart.
Me: Well lucky you.
Blaise grinned. "Well, that's for me to know and you to find out." She said cheekily.
"Lai, don't kid around with me. This is serious."
"No." said Blaise pointing calmly. "That is Sirius"
Harry was on his feet in a minute. "Sirius Black! Arabella Black! What in the name of god are you doing here? This is a Quidditch Party for crying out loud."
Sirius patted his godson on the head. "Relax Harry. We are here on duty rather than pleasure." He twinkled at Blaise. "Though, if Lai is agreeable we can combine the two." Arabella smacked him on the head and he continued on a soberer note. "Harry, we've been sent here to brief you. The Circle has disappeared. Malfoy told Dumbledore that in all probability he has come to France. If that is the case, then you'd better look out. If Malfoy is to be believed, this guy hates you. This is why, my dear Harry, four of the best Aurors in the business have been told to stick to you like leeches. Yours truly, of course, yours truly's loving wife and your ex-girlfriend and Quidditch player Blaise Zabini.
"Blaise is an Auror?"
"Not only is she an Auror, my dear godson, she is one of the best we have. And, you know Harry; we are trying to avoid suspicion. I am your godfather, Bella is my wife and Lai is an ex-girlfriend, who you're still very close to. We've come to see you play a Quidditch game. What could be more innocent than that?"
"But that's only three. Who on earth is the fourth?"
"Ah, the fly in the soup. Brace yourself Harry. Get ready to be presented to the fourth of your entourage, the famous and much beloved - Severus Snape."
Harry made a face. "Dumbledore must be off his nut. He sent Snape to guard me?"
"Well, seeing I've done that quite a few times without being asked, I may as well do it once more." Came a familiar acerbic voice. "Black, if you've quite finished being funny, perhaps you can give Harry the rest of the message."
Sirius looked a trifle abashed. "Oh, can it Snape. I was going to tell him, but you interrupted me. Harry, Dumbledore also said something about your being privy to some information Cheval was to give you. He told us to tell you not to act on that information right now. There seems to be some hitch there. The hitch is the reason the Circle has come to France."
Harry nodded, knowing that Hermione could be trusted to keep the facts about Gabrielle to herself. He turned to Snape again. "So Professor, how could your school spare you? Weren't they absolutely heartbroken?"
"Taking a leaf from Black's book and trying to be funny, Potter? You know as well as I do that Durmstrang has holidays the same time as Hogwarts."
Harry slapped himself lightly on the forehead. "Of course, Professor," he said with an exaggerated bow. "How could I forget?"
"Well, from the memories I have of your potions exams, Potter, you could forget quite easily."
"Though this meeting of old friends is touching, and the conversation is absolutely edifying, may I remind you that you are in a party, which is usually held in a public place and there are people with vested interests who could conceivably overhear us. And I know both of you. When you lose your temper, you'll say just about anything." said Arabella shortly.
Harry looked at her penitently. "Sorry, Bella. Won't happen again."
Snape nodded. "Yes, Potter and I aren't sworn enemies anymore. We just get on each others nerves. That, incidentally, goes for you too, Black." Sirius's marriage to Arabella had done a lot to improve relations between Snape and Sirius. Snape had always liked Arabella, and surprisingly enough, Arabella was extremely fond of him.
The three older people walked off to talk to some other people, namely the head of the French Magical Games and Sports Ministry. Blaise and Harry were left alone again.
Harry stared at her. "Why didn't you tell me that you were an Auror?"
"Well, Harry, the same reason you weren't going to tell me that you were the Phoenix. When we are doing a job like ours, we have certain responsibilities. We have people to protect and walls to guard. We can't go around blabbering our identities to people. It's just not possible. You, of all people, should appreciate that."
Harry looked suitably abashed. "I'm sorry, Lai. I was just a little hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me. But, of course you're right. You couldn't have told me."
"Hell, Harry, if I could have, you'd have been the one person I would have told. You should know that. Anyway, now tell me, what is up with this Circle."
Harry knew now that he could trust Blaise with everything, so for the second time that evening he repeated all that had happened to him before he reached France and after. Blaise listened with an expression of deep concentration on her face. When he finished, she sat back with a sigh. "That is odd, Harry. I mean, about the animagus. I am an animagus myself and I know for a fact that after the first time you transform, it's a cinch. You can do it instinctively. It's only the first time that's tough. Did you have any trouble transforming into the unicorn?"
Harry shook his head. "Not at all. You're right, after the initial transformation it was a piece of cake. Maybe I should ask Fawkes, but the damn bird keeps disappearing."
"Talking about me, Harry Potter. That's not very nice. You shouldn't insult a poor innocent bird behind his back. Especially when he is trying his level best to save your worthless hide." Fawkes landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Who are you calling worthless, anyway? Try and remember I am the savior of the world and try and give me some respect huh? And what do you mean, you are trying to save me?"
"Well Harry, I followed that group of death eaters to their hideout and I saw the Circle. He has had a slight change in plans. Instead of killing Pierre Cheval, the newest target of the death eaters will be you.
I've demanded, I've begged, do I have to grovel? Please review this damned story already.
Thanks go to:
Miriam: Thanks for your wonderful loong review. I love long reviews. Well about the romance, they are twenty four, it's kind of difficult not to have romance. But I'm terrible at fluff, so don't worry about that. Also the next chapter will have a lot of action. I love your idea about the animagus form and I'm going to use it. Thank you.
Merlin's Wing: Thanks, keep reading
Magicalmischeifmaker: Thanks a ton, I wish I could post more often, but I have exams so...
Laurie Wood: Thanks
ADJ: Well you'll see more of nice Draco real soon. and try guessing who the leader is.
Darla Neighm: Oh Blaise is just a friend. She is a definite no no for romance. Just wanted to show that Slytherins can be nice and smart.
Me: Well lucky you.