Metamorphose Chapter 26

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any profits from posting this fanfiction.

Summary: Non-Epilogue compliant. After the war groups of disgruntled Wizards and Witches terrorise England's magical nation, sending them to the brink of civil war and a war against the Creatures. Harry is in Gringotts when one terrorist faction attacks causing Harry and other survivors to go into hiding. There is an interested repercussion of the potion they use to hide themselves and now Harry finds himself stuck in a foreign country, with people he doesn't know and living in a style he has never even dreamed to imagine.

Warnings: Gender change. Fem!Harry…after a potions accident. Name changes for characters. Hurricane Sandy (use of artistic licence over the damage it wrought)

Pairings: LM/HP. DM/AG. RW/HG.

(Chapter 26)

October 22nd.

The school day was over and Henri was exhausted. Her first full day was over with and Henri was ecstatic that it had gone well but was worn out. She hadn't been so active in such a magical way in ages and the kids were as trying as models were.

"Good day?" Bennett Fawley asked as he folded into the seat beside her holding a stack of parchment and a coloured quill.

"Yeah, really good! I really enjoyed it. Tired now."

"Yeah I'll bet. Don't worry, you get used to it and the attitudes will die down when the kids get used to you." He reassured her.

"That's a relief." She breathed and sighed. "Some of their attitudes today were horrendous...well, they were until I stopped a fight and then they all got out of my way."

"Ah yes I heard about that. Congratulations. That's one sure fire way to earn their respect, if a little risky at angering some of them."

"Yeah well I don't like unnecessary fighting." Henri argued back and Bennett smiled knowingly.

"Have you seen it?! Have you seen it?! I couldn't believe it when I read it! Has anybody else read it?!" Screeched a grey haired woman who would have looked frail, with her craggy walking stick and her messy bun in her hair, except for the ferociousness she was now waving her arms around with. Henri had seen the woman teaching. She was clearly putting on her age. She wasn't putting on her craziness though. She was hyperactive and eccentric, loud with her opinions and outrageous with her suggestions.

"Seen what Margareta?" Bennett said.

"THIS!" Margareta said and shoved a newspaper right in his face so that it folded in where his nose was. Bennett spluttered then snatched the newspaper from the woman to hold it at a reasonable distance to read it. Immediately he handed it over to Henri with a solemn look. She took it and when her eyes glanced over the title she was immediately gripped.

'Old Malfoy Manor, family estate turned museum.' Henri quickly devoured the rest of the article.

"That stupid new government of theirs turning a grand wizarding home into a museum! They call it sharing treasures with the world but what they really want is to sell the damn thing to line their pockets! Useless, idiotic politicians!" Margareta ranted but Henri tuned her out.

The old Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, Lucas' old home, had been turned into a museum providing the wizarding public with a look at the opulence that the pureblood family had lived in and an insight into the dark arts as well as outdated, bigoted and supremacy political views and wizarding traditions. Henri read that the government had attempted to sell the massive estate first as a whole then in different parts only there had been no interested buyers so they had turned it into a museum where the public paid to go inside of it therefore generating income from an otherwise useless estate. Henri read that the museum opened only a few days prior and that they had already enjoyed a good turnout.

"Henri?"

Henri couldn't speak for a minute. They had turned Lucas' family home, the home his family had lived in for generations, into a family attraction and a publicity point! It was outrageous! She had to tell Lucas immediately, see if they could put a stop to it all...

"Henri?"

No. She wouldn't tell Lucas. She wouldn't, not yet. No she'd keep it a secret and...yes, that was what she would do.

"Henri?"

"Bennett, do you think your brother in law would be able to arrange me a portkey to England?"

Bennett blinked for a moment, stunned by the question but then nodded slowly.

"Yes that would probably be possible. Why?"

"Because I have just found the perfect present for Lucas. Engagement, Halloween, Christmas and Wedding present all rolled into one!" She crooned and stood up. Reaching out she tapped Margareta on the shoulder. "Margareta?"

"Oh yes?"

"May I keep this please?" Henri asked and shook the newspaper.

"Of course, you go ahead. Oh it's scandalous isn't it? I bet the late Lord Malfoy is turning in his grave with that news, I know I would be."

"I bet he'd be doing a damn site more than turn in his grave. But thank you. I'll see you Thursday."

Henri marched out of the staff room and all the way through the long corridors of the Salem Institute for Witches. She had some planning to do.

And she didn't mean the wedding.

October 26th.

Henri walked through the museum halls of the Malfoy estate looking around in amazement. She had been to Malfoy manor before but that was during Voldemort's occupation of it. She wasn't sure if she should be shocked or dismayed at the change to it. Hoards of people walked through the doors and looked at pictures along the walls but they weren't at all enthusiastic about it.

Bennett had accompanied her, as had Constance. Henri hadn't told anybody else where she was going. Lucas thought she was going shopping with Constance somewhere. Henri didn't like lying but she wasn't about to tell him the truth either.

"This is appalling!" Constance muttered as she pointed to a plaque detailing a tiny bit of history about the next room they were about to enter. It was the Portrait hall. Every portrait of every Malfoy family member ever to be painted had been placed in the one hall and silenced so they couldn't insult their betters – the muggleborns who the Malfoy's considered to be the lowest form of wizarding beings.

"I know." Henri steeled herself up and walked into the room.

The hall was filled, floor to ceiling, with portraits. Portraits from hundreds of years ago and some which were recent. Henri saw that some were animated and some weren't. She noticed one family portrait which was unmoving right in the middle of one wall showing Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. There was a plaque explaining who they were and what they did and Henri did not like the inadequacies in the facts. She could see a portrait of Narcissa was moving and scowling at everybody who passed. Many of the people in the portraits were silently shouting in their frames and waving things around angrily. Lots of people ignored them. Some of the people looking in the hall would point and laugh while others would just scowl at the people.

Henri felt her anger raise a little and had a brief thought that she perhaps shouldn't have come to Malfoy Manor when her temper was at its highest. Even with that logical thought Henri drew her wand, pointed it at the portrait of Narcissa Malfoy and sent her strongest 'finite' spell at it.

"Lady Malfoy?" Henri asked as she slid her wand away. Narcissa blinked before raising one imperious eyebrow. Henri wondered if Narcissa had picked that trait up from Lucas or whether he got it from her.

"Yes?"

"My apologies that you have ended up involved in such a farce." Henri said and Narcissa's eyebrow rose a little more before the woman nodded her head.

"Your sympathies are well received. I do not believe we have had the pleasure of being introduced."

"On the contrary. You saved my life, and in turn I protected your family. I look a little different but underneath I am still the same."

"I saved...oh. I see you have changed." Narcissa said, one delicate hand rising to her lips in shock.

"Yes my lady, I have. Your husband and son have changed to." Narcissa froze and in her peripheral vision Henri saw all the other portraits freeze in their frames and turn their attention to her. It was unnerving feeling so many eyes but Henri kept looking at Narcissa who held a shaky hand up as if trying to reach out imploringly.

"Lucius and Draco are alive?" She begged and Henri inclined her head once. Narcissa would have started crying except paintings cannot cry. She merely hung her head, holding her hands over her face and shook. Henri stepped back from the portrait and swept her eyes around the hall. All the portraits were still looking at her with unblinking eyes. Henri met as many of their eyes as she could then turned her attention to her companions.

"I believe we have some negotiations to open." She said and spun on her heel

"WAIT!" Narcissa called and Henri turned around once again. "Where are you going?"

"To return something to its rightful owner." Henri said and the smile that swept over Narcissa's face uplifted Henri's dark mood as she swivelled again and made a quick pace back through the museum to the front desk, a piece of furniture ill-suited to the luxurious main atrium. Henri marched straight over to it and looked the person manning it straight in the eye. The teenager blinked then quailed slightly under the look.

"I would like to see your manager."

"I'm sorry Miss but..."

"Maybe I didn't make myself quite clear enough." Henri interrupted the teenager and tapped her fingers on the top of the desk. "I would like to see your manager right now. I do not care if your manager does not work a Saturday, I do not care if they are busy. I would like to meet them."

"I'm sorry but..."

Henri clicked her tongue and made sure the teenager saw her reach into her pocket. Just as the teenager began to sweat Henri pulled out a galleon from her pocket and saw the fright turn to amazement. She smirked at the teenager and tapped the galleon on the desk. "I would like to see your manager now. Arrange it for me and this will not be the only galleon I give you. Refrain from doing what I ask and the next time I reach into my robes it shall not be money I pull out. Do I make myself clear?"

"I shall get the manager. Just one minute please." The teenager scarpered into one of the back rooms and Henri stepped back straightening out her shoulders and her back. Constance hovered at her shoulder and muttered that some teenagers needed to learn to respect their elders.

"To be fair mother, Henri is not that much older than the teenager."

"That is beside the point." Constance argued and Henri hid a chuckle as the teenager returned with somebody wearing a 'manager' name tag. Henri flipped the galleon to the teenager and then another.

"Speedy work. You have my gratitude, next time don't make a customer repeat themselves so much." Henri advised and the teenager nodded cradling the galleons to his chest. Henri turned her attention to the manager. "I assume you are the manager of this museum?"

"I am Madam. I'm Bartholemew Jones, half blood."

"It's customary to name one's blood purity now is it?" Henri questioned but didn't await an answer. "Very well then. I am Lady Henrietta Black, half blood. You may call me Lady Black."

"Yes Lady Black. How may I help you? Do you have a complaint about the museum? If so we have forms for you to fill in." Henri shook her head at the man.

"No. I wish to buy it."

"You want to...really? Why?" Henri had debated that question coming up.

"My fiancée has studied the Malfoy Family in great depth." Henri started off by saying. "As a wedding present I thought this would be ideal. Now. Who do I speak to about purchasing the estate?"

A few minutes later Henri found herself ushered into the treasurer's office staring at Zacharius Smith over the large desk. Henri surveyed the man she used to know at school. She was gratified to see that, while he had obviously woken and recovered somewhat from the damage Bibi said she had inflicted, he still had some terrible talon wounds across his face marring the bridge of his nose completely.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Black."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mister Smith." Henri said slowly, emphasising the word 'mister' ever so slightly to make him feel somewhat inferior, a tactic she had learned from Lucas.

"May I ask your lineage, Lady Black?"

"You may. My father was a muggleborn and my mother a disowned pureblood. I shall not give you their names. Considering this is a business meeting and not a friendly chat I do not find such things necessary, do you?" She enquired giving Smith a look that dared him to say otherwise. His jaw clenched and Henri knew it was because the new Wizarding England ripped people off if they had only purebloods in their genealogy. The whole regime boasted muggleborn supremacy and halfbloods, because of Harry Potter, were the most treasured because they symbolised mixing the old with the new and therefore the slow elimination of 'unworthy' people.

"I agree." Smith said in a tone that very much suggested he didn't agree. "Now I understand from Mister Jones that you wish to purchase Malfoy Manor and its estates. May I ask why the sudden interest now after we have finished attempting to sell the place?"

"I did not know it was for sale. A colleague at Salem Institute of Witches showed me this article," here Henri produced said article and handed it to Smith. "This caught my interest as my fiancée," here Henri flashed her ring, "has studied the family in quite some depth. I thought this would be an appropriate wedding present."

"I see. Well we have finished trying to sell the estate and therefore turned it, at quite some cost, into a museum." Smith tried to haggle and Henri laughed and refolded her legs.

"Oh come now Mister Smith, you can do better than that. I have no interest in excuses or trivial word games. Name a figure."

"I am sure, considering you are unwed, that you would not have the appropriate funds to purchase such a large estate."

Henri raised her eyebrow knowing full well that she had at least the figure that the wizarding government had paid Lucas in her bank account and that since they were, despite what they were saying, desperate to sell the place Henri was sure she could negotiate a lower price.

"A figure, Mister Smith, if you please."

Smith's jaw clenched and he rattled off a sum that had Henri raise her eyebrows.

"Now you cannot be serious. The building is in need of repairs as it has not been well maintained. The estates are in desperate need of some tender, loving care and nearly all the enchantments and wards on the estate have crumbled down since the Malfoy family is no longer around to maintain them. That at least knocks off several thousand galleons and I will not even get started on the other things." Henri argued and Smith's jaw clenched again and he looked down at his piece of paper. Henri could see, just about, that he had a list of figures written there with notes next to them. From what she could read upside down the number Smith said next was the second number down on the list. He wasn't even haggling properly. He was reading a list. Henri smiled. Maybe this would be easier than she thought.

Haggling, it turned out, was a lot easier than she had anticipated especially since Smith was such a poor negotiator and was clearly under instructions to sell the place. In the end Henri had negotiated him down to the last price on his piece of paper and had him saying that he was not authorised to negotiate any lower and he would not even consider going lower anyway.

That had Henri try her next tactic. She upped her price which stunned Smith stupid. He looked like a gawping fish.

"Of course that is under the condition that all the furniture, paintings, portraits and other belongings of the Malfoy family come with the house."

That had Smith stumbling and faltering. He started blubbering that he would have to check with his superiors but as he stumbled to the fireplace Henri threw out a higher number and started studying her nails uninterestedly. Completely thrown by the abrupt change in negotiation Smith bumbled his way through the floo called to his 'superior'. A few minutes later Henri had it in writing, signed and sealed, that she was now the owner of the Malfoy Estates in Wiltshire assuming the money went through to the treasury on Monday.

Henri could do one better than that. She apparated straight to the bank and withdrew the entire sum, before delivering it by hand back to the Treasurer who went so red Henri was sure he would burst a couple of blood vessels. Henri was sure Bibi would have liked that outcome to her ex-husband.

"An exemplary job negotiating! You had him eating from your boots." Constance praised and Henri smiled and breathed in relief, completely dropping her holier-than-thou attitude.

"Oh Merlin I'm so glad that's over! I can't believe I got it!"

"I can dear, you were marvellous!"

"Oh I can't wait to tell Lucas! Oh this is so exciting! He will be so happy. Thank you for coming with me Constance, I couldn't have done it without your support."

"Oh any time, Henrietta!" Constance patted her arm and Bennett just smiled in amusement and offered his other arm to Henri so she was escorted on both sides by a Fawley. "Now what do you say to a little bit of dress shopping? Perhaps we can find you the perfect dress on this side of the pond."

"Well since the portkey doesn't leave until seven, sure."

October 26th.

Henri burst into the house through the front door.

"Lucas! LUCAS!" She yelled and threw down her bags and boxes.

"Lord Mercury is upstairs in his study, Lady Black."

"Thanks Zuza. Could you take those up to my room please?" Henri asked and pointed at the numerous bags she had been carrying. "Oh but not that one!" Henri quickly snatched her hand bag up.

"Certainly Lady Black."

"Thanks, you're a star!" Henri said then ran for the stairs as fast as she could in her heels. "LUCAS!"

"Henrietta why on earth are you shouti-mmph!" Lucas' question was interrupted as Henri threw herself at the man in excitement. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. His arms came up reflectively around her back then he readjusted his grip to hold her tighter. "What on earth is the matter? What happened?"

"Nothing...well, everything! Nothing's the matter, everything's fine. It's better than fine. Or at least I hope it is!" Henri blurted and pulled back from the hug. Lucas looked so completely confused that Henri felt her heart swell at the handsome lost look. She kissed his cheek.

"I've found my dress!" She said, delaying the true reason for her excitement but still feeling some excitement over that. "It's perfect and I'm not having a veil. I know we talked about it but I'm having a..."

"No, don't tell me. A groom should not know what his beautiful bride will look like on their wedding day."

"But we are doing this together."

"Yes but some things should be a secret. I wish to be stunned by your beauty on the day. I don't want to marvel at what you might look like in my imagination." Lucas assured her and gave her a gentle kiss. She beamed at him.

"Okay. Well at any rate I think we better have emerald and ivory as our theme." Henri said and closed her eyes as she imagined it. When she had found the dress, the dress, everything had fallen into place in her mind. Hermione was right you needed to find the right dress, the one. You knew somehow when it was the one. Somehow the whole experience had been like finding the perfect wand for her, she had got a rush and felt so happy that everything had fallen into place and her mad thoughts had cleared leaving only her true wants. She just had to talk to Lucas about them. "Oh and I had some ideas about the wedding too, I wanted to see if you liked the idea first though!"

"Okay, would you like to go downstairs and discuss it?" Henri shook her head at the offer and opened her bag.

"No. What I really want is to give you your present."

"Present?" Lucas queried with a deep frown and a puzzled look. Henri fished out the certificate and receipt of purchase from her bag along with the deeds. She held them out to Lucas but didn't allow him to take them yet. When both of their hands were on the down-turned documents she looked him dead in the eye.

"It's your engagement, Christmas and wedding present all rolled into one. I hope it's perfect. I know you said that money wouldn't be an issue for us but this thing nearly wiped out my accounts!" Lucas' eyebrows shot up and he glanced down at the papers in astonishment. She hastened to add, "I still have money left, don't worry".

"Gracious Merlin Henrietta, what on earth have you bought?" He asked and Henri released the papers letting him take them. He slowly pulled them back to him and turned them over then staggered backwards in shock. "Henrietta! This is..."

"Yes." Henri said both confirming his thoughts and urging him to continue his words. He flicked his eyes up to her then back to the papers. He walked over to the chair with them, flicking through them all then he leaned forwards and spread them out on the table scanning over them all and comparing one sheet to another.

Henri slowly walked over to sit next to him. She watched him read everything and run his finger to one digit on one piece of paper then to another one. He pointed to some pieces and mumbled under his breath as if he was checking things against a mental score of information. A whole fifteen minutes later he finally looked up from the papers. He leaned back in his chair and chuckled. Then he leaned forward looked at the papers again before throwing his body backwards. He looked up at the ceiling, wide eyed and slightly open mouthed. His eyes were bright, suspiciously bright, but happy too. He finally looked over at her, eyes burning and an expression full with a brilliance of emotion.

"My dear, you..." He trailed off as if his words deserted him.

"Do you like it?"

"More than words can possibly express." He whispered, voice cracking with emotion. He leaned towards her and pressed his lips to hers in an almost desperate expression of his emotions. His lips were burning hot against hers and moved with frenzy. His hands, shaking as they were, rose up and caressed her face, her neck, her shoulders then her waist. He tilted his head to the side and opened his mouth to the kiss, urging her to do the same. They had never kissed so deeply. He pressed harder and she made a small involuntary noise as she gave in and opened further to the kiss. He devoured her.

When he pulled back they were both breathless and Henri could barely bring herself to open her eyes. When he whispered to her she met his gaze and could do nothing more than smile at his devoted and impassioned declaration.

"My greatest gift is having you for a fiancée."

Authors note: This chapter was really hard to write. I have gone over it several times but this is the best I can do. Her moods fluctuate rather a lot here so I apologise for that. I only decided spur of the moment that these events needed to happen in order for something later to happen. As it is, this is the starting point for an earlier problem to be resolved. It couldn't have happened without the events of this chapter.