Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or its characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.
This story is rated M for violence, language, & sexual themes.
A Special Thanks to my Alpha on this story Sakubato.
This story is a Horcrux free zone.
Warning: Manipulative Dumbledore & Weasley Bashing (Ron, Molly, & Ginny.)
Where the Wild Roses Grow 12
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
24 July 1995
Harry dropped to all fours on the ground, his field of vision turning red within seconds of the Portkey depositing him in an empty lot. Harry's body screamed with pain as he vomited up a mix of his blood and breakfast. But he didn't have time to process anything as he was grabbed roughly by the arms and had another Portkey slapped against his chest.
Outside Paris
Harry was hauled from where he landed into a room with a bed and a chair. He was roughly shoved into the chair, and his mouth was forced open as he was made to swallow a blood replenishing and pain relief potion. Once they were done, Harry slumped to the ground and passed out.
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
The occupants of the breakfast table shielded their ears as the ward alarms screamed, summoning Apolline's Auror guard. Apolline stood up, her eyes full of fury as she spoke. "Stand down!"
The guards sheathed their wands as instructed and waited for their next order. "Harry Potter was kidnapped via Portkey from my breakfast table, find out where he went, who has him and why a Portkey was able to get through my Wards!"
Tonks and Apolline's Auror guards rushed out of the room to begin the search. Hermione simply stared at the space previously occupied by her boyfriend as Fleur came around the table and wrapped Hermione in a hug. "They will find him, and he will be returned to us."
"I thought he was safe here... I wanted to believe we could finally relax and not worry about Dumbledore." Hermione whispered.
"They will find him, cherie, Maman has the best Aurors in the world working for her. They will not fail."
"I hope you're right."
An hour later, one of the Aurors returned with the letter in a plastic bag which she handed to Apolline. "We traced Mister Potter's magical signature to an empty lot nearby. There was evidence that Mister Potter was hurt after being pulled through the wards, but forensic analysis of the area says he was portkeyed again seconds after landing. We ran a trace, but the signature dissipated at the Paris city limits."
Apolline nodded. "Thank you Auror, continue searching. I want Potter found, and his kidnappers brought to me. Take the envelope and have it examined, I want to know how a Portkey got through my wards."
"Yes, Ma'am."
At this, Hermione stood up. "Madame Delacour, may I examine the envelope? I would like to do something constructive instead of just sitting here."
Apolline nodded. "This envelope is evidence Miss Granger, please don't let it out of your sight."
"Yes, Ma'am."
As Hermione left the room, Apolline summoned the Auror over. "Keep a watch over Miss Granger, Mister Potter's kidnappers have an unhealthy interest in that young woman as well. I do not want a repeat of this morning."
"You know who took Potter, Ma'am?" The Auror asked.
"I have my suspicions."
Outside Paris
Several hours had passed since Harry woke up, pulling himself onto the bed. Harry had used the sheet provided to wipe the blood from his eyes. He'd tried the door and found it locked and the same with the window. The bed and the chair were magically bonded to the floor. Harry's attention was drawn to the door when he heard the lock slid back. It opened to reveal Remus Lupin, wand in hand and Molly Weasley with a bowl of water and a washcloth. "Hello Harry, dear, I thought you might want to wash your face."
Harry glared at them. "Where is Dumbledore?"
"Professor Dumbledore Harry," Molly replied admonishingly.
"I'm not planning on returning to Hogwarts. He's just Dumbledore to me."
Molly placed the bowl on the chair and waved her hand at him. "Don't talk nonsense dear, of course; you're going to return to Hogwarts. It's the best magical school in the world."
"The best is debatable, but it's not the only school for magic. Beauxbaton is taking students. I could go to America and attend Ilvermorny. Or Brazil's Castelbruxo. I might even attend Durmstrung."
Molly placed her hand on her chest dramatically. "Harry James Potter, how dare you! What would your parents say if they knew you were considering going to that dreadful place!"
"I wouldn't know, because of Dumbledore, they're dead," Harry replied coldly.
Molly Weasley moved towards Harry threatening but was pulled away by Lupin, forcing her out of the room. Remus turned around and regarded Harry sadly. "You don't believe that do you, Harry?"
Harry crossed his arms and continued to stare Lupin down. "He didn't do anything to save them. He was the one who convinced them to take Peter on as the secret keeper, yes or no?"
"Yes, but we couldn't..."
"Couldn't you? Vertiaserum was a thing back when Voldemort was around."
"But he was our friend!" Lupin protested.
"So, it was a war! Friends were turning on friends all the time. If my Dad asked would you have taken a dose or an oath of your magic that you weren't a Death Eater?"
"Of course!"
"Then why shouldn't Pettigrew!"
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Lupin turned away. "We should have been able to trust our friends."
"You couldn't, and my parents and Sirius paid the price. And you're compounding the error. My parents would be disgusted with you."
"How would you know?" Lupin bit back but then looked away, ashamed, shutting and locking the door behind him.
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Hermione sat with her head in her hands, the envelope that had Portkeyed Harry into the hands of his captors sat unfolded on the table. The only thing Hermione had determined from her examination was that the paper was enchanted with Runes to act as a portkey. What she hadn't figured out was what the runes said or how it was able to pass through so many hands before getting to Harry. There was a knock at the door, and Hermione peered up over the pile of books on the table. "Enter."
Hermione immediately frowned when Fleur stepped inside. "Merci, Hermione, I wanted to see if you needed any help?"
Hermione's face disappeared behind the books again. "No, thank you, I can figure this out on my own."
"Hermione, you've been studying the envelope for six hours. You need to rest."
"I can't, I won't, not until I figure this out. Your Mum put her trust in me to figure this out."
"Then, let me help," Fleur pleaded.
Hermione stared for several seconds before giving a reluctant nod and shifting over to allow Fleur room to sit in a chair. Fleur waved her wand, and a series of numbers appeared in the air in front of them. Fleur pulled a piece of parchment forward and wrote the numbers down before dismissing the spell and picking up one of the books. "What spell did you use?"
Fleur smiled, picking up her wand and performing the wand movements slowly so Hermione could mimic them. "Magia Ostende is the incantation. It's a spell that reveals the Arithmantic equation used in a spell. It's taught during the sixth year at Beauxbaton."
Hermione nodded and practised the movement four more times before turning her wand on the parchment. "Magia Ostende!" Hermione intoned, and the equation appeared over the runes once again. Fleur smiled. "Good work Hermione. I witnessed many of my fellow Sixth Years struggle when we were taught that spell."
Hermione returned Fleur's smile before looking away. "T-thank you… I think that's the first time you've said something nice about me since we met."
"No, I said you looked beautiful when we attended the Yule Ball."
Hermione blushed, pulling the parchment forward and looked it over. Hermione began writing out an equation under the one Fleur had jotted down. "One of my essays last year asked me to dissect the Arithmantic equation of a Portkey. I just don't know what this other equation is for…"
Fleur looked over Hermione's shoulder, her breasts pressed into Hermione's back, making the younger girl blush. Fleur reached out and grabbed a pen and began writing in a space next to Hermione's notations. "I think we have to ask ourselves why the Portkey only activated when Harry touched it. The only answer is that the other equation is related to Harry's magical signature."
Hermione nodded, pulling the piece of parchment towards them. "That would make this," Hermione began tapping the middle mark on the paper. "For Portkey activation. That would tie it into this rune, which based on the Arithmantic formula, is the one responsible for responding to Harry's magic."
"The first rune is responsible for hiding the purpose of the letter if anyone scans it all they'll find is a letter for Harry Potter for his Godfather." Fleur surmised.
"That makes the last rune a power rune, and someone poured a substantial amount of power into it to override the wards. Harry must have been in so much pain…" Hermione said, whispering the last part as Fleur took her hand.
Hermione looked up and gave Fleur a weak smile. "I know, I need to have faith."
"We will save him, Hermione, I love him too."
Hermione looked away with a bitter expression. "I know, I'm just having a hard time accepting it."
"I feel similarly, but I know Harry loves us both, I can feel that even if the connection is muted."
"Then why have you been acting the way you have?"
Fleur sat down again, looking at the floor. "My nature thinks you are a threat to my relationship with Arry. I want him, I need him, but I thought it was just us. I never considered that his love would push his magic to reach out to try and establish a bond with you. Even when my mother showed me the link, I couldn't accept it. I had to push you away as a threat. I couldn't see past my nature to who you are as a person."
Fleur stood up and walked away from Hermione towards the door. "When Arry returns, we should sit down and talk about where we go from here. I will always love him... but I want to make us work. You've been nothing but kind to me, Hermione, even when I haven't deserved it."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What brought on this change of heart?"
"The anguish I saw in your eyes broke your heart. I know Arry would be angry with me if I didn't try to help you or support you in this. That made me reconsider my recent actions. I've been a complete bitch recently because I was jealous. I can't promise I won't be jealous again in the future, but I'll try to be better."
Hermione walked over and took Fleur by the hand and smiled. "Maybe if we complete the bond, we'll understand each other better."
"If?"
Hermione withdrew her hand. "I still have my reservations."
"If it helps, we can talk about it. I am worried about what will happen if we don't complete the Bond, but I want to Arry to be happy."
Hermione picked the envelope off the table and dropped it back into the bag provided. "We should take this to Madame Delacour. She'll want to know how the Portkey made it through the wards," Hermione explained, Fleur nodded, and the two exited the room and walked over to Apolline's office.
Outside Paris
The door to Harry's cell opened once again, this time Remus entered carrying a tray of food, Snape covering Remus and Dumbledore. Harry didn't know who to glare at so he decided to glare at Dumbledore as Remus put the food at the foot of the bed and Dumbledore sat down. "Good evening, Young Harry."
Harry glanced at the food and laughed. "You've got to be kidding. Do you think I will eat that?"
Dumbledore frowned. "Missus Weasley worked hard to prepare a meal for you, Harry. It would be insulting for you to turn it down."
Harry sneered at Dumbledore and kicked the food off the bed. Dumbledore shook his head, looking disappointed. "Very well."
Dumbledore waved his hand, and the food disappeared. "Young Harry, Missus Weasley told me the distressing news that you're not planning to return to Hogwarts. I can only say I am troubled by this news, particularly the idea you might attend Durmstrung, and I would remind you this is the school that produced a student that had an unhealthy interest in your friend Miss Granger."
Harry's face darkened. "Hermione is my girlfriend, not just my best friend. I haven't decided where I will go next year, except that I won't be at Hogwarts."
"But why Harry, Hogwarts is your home, your parents wanted you to attend."
"I don't know what my parents would have wanted; they're dead. But even if they weren't, I don't think they would have been happy that I've been in life-threatening danger every year since I began attending. You've done nothing to stop it from happening. I just want a quiet year to attend school with my girlfriend and enjoy being a student. I want a year where one of my Professors isn't blinded by jealousy and hatred. You've never done anything to stop Snape being a bully and you still won't if I go back to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore continued to sit in silence, his eyes boring into Harry as the younger man continued. "You've also proved once again. You have an unhealthy interest in controlling my life. Why? Why are you so obsessed with making me do what you want? Why can't you let me live my life as I want?"
"Harry, I am only doing what I think is best..."
"You think that kidnapping me and ripping me through the Delacour wards was the best thing for me? You're insane!"
A frown crossed Dumbledore's lips once again as he rose from his seat. "It is pointless to continue this conversation; you have no interest in listening to a reasoned argument. Maybe a night's sleep on an empty stomach will make you see a bit of reason."
Harry gave Dumbledore a hollow laugh. "I've spent plenty of nights sleeping on an empty stomach, thanks to you, and it won't change how I feel."
Dumbledore walked out of the room, followed by Snape and Lupin. Once they were outside and the door was locked and silenced behind them, Snape rounded on Dumbledore. "Will you listen now? The boy won't bow to your demands. He won't eat the food; the only way to regain control is to force him to drink the potion."
Dumbledore waved his hand. "Severus, we are not there yet. Harry is but a boy; there are other ways to entice him into doing what we want."
Lupin and Snape shared a look that agreed that Dumbledore's idea would not work, but the two men said nothing as they walked away.
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Emma Granger rushed out of her room and down the corridor towards her daughter's room. The entire house was roused by the screams being emitted by the young woman, as Emma approached, she paused when she spotted that Fleur had reached the door first. Fleur stopped and glanced at Emma and gave her a firm nod. "Please let me handle it. I promise Hermione will calm down."
Emma nodded reluctantly. She didn't trust this change of heart Fleur had claimed to have had. Emma wanted to believe the best about the older girl, but she'd seen the misery Fleur had inflicted on Hermione. Emma was slow to trust after that, but she was willing to give Fleur a final chance. "I will be out here if you need me."
Fleur nodded and entered Hermione's room, closing the door over so Emma could listen in discreetly. Fleur crossed the room and gently shook Hermione awake, the younger girl grabbed for her wand, but Fleur was quicker, catching Hermione by the wrist. "Hermione, please relax, it's Fleur, you're safe in my mother's house. Please be calm."
Fleur let her allure flare out slightly, Hermione's eyes softened, losing their panicked expression as Fleur withdrew her hands and let Hermione settle back on the bed. "Fleur, why are you here?"
Fleur brushed Hermione's hair out of her sweat-stained face as she sat on the bed beside the brunette. "You were having a nightmare Cherie. You were screaming for Arry, begging, and pleading with him not to abandon you."
Hermione nodded, sitting up, bringing her knees up against her chest. "It was horrible. We were back at Hogwarts and Harry was telling me he didn't love me. He loved Ginny. Then he walked away towards Dumbledore and Ginny while Ron dragged me away."
Fleur reached out and wrapped her arms around Hermione, gently stroking her back. "It's ok cherie. You're safe now. I would never let that happen to you or Arry."
"I was begging Harry to save me, Ron was so much stronger, and he wouldn't let go. I could see the lust in his eyes and hatred. But Harry didn't seem to care; all his focus was on Ginny. He looked at me like I was an unwanted nuisance in his life."
Fleur pulled back, shaking her head furiously. "Arry could never think that of you. Your claim over Arry's heart is absolute. Ginny Weasley will only ever be a fangirl, not worthy of Arry's time and attention. Not when we are in his life."
Hermione managed a small grin. "We do make a pretty awesome combination, your beauty and our brains."
"Non, cherie, our beauty and brains. Even in my most arrogant moments, I have never denied you are beautiful. From now on, we are a team. We will save Harry and love him together."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully as Fleur rose from the bed. "I will leave you to sleep if you wake up again, I can ask one of our House-Elves to bring you a Dreamless Sleep potion."
Hermione nodded again. "Thank you, Fleur."
"Anytime."
25 July 1995
Hermione spotted Fleur as she exited her room the next morning and smiled. "Bonjour Fleur."
"Bonjour, Hermione, did you sleep well?"
Hermione nodded. "After talking to you, yes, thank you."
Fleur approached, gently brushing some hair out of her face. "You are welcome, Hermione, please remember that we will save Arry. We won't let Dumbledore win."
Hermione noticed a weary-looking Tonks emerge from her room and was about to ask about the hunt for Harry when she saw Fleur's body go stiff. Hermione turned to speak to Fleur when the older girl pushed her against the wall. Hermione tried to push Fleur away, but the blonde's Veela heritage gave her a strength advantage as Hermione saw a dangerous lust in Fleur's eyes. "Fleur, stop! What are you doing!"
Fleur silenced Hermione with her lips, aggressively pushing her tongue against the brunette's mouth as her hand went from Hermione's arm to grope her breast. Hermione moved her hands against Fleur's body, trying to force Fleur back as Tonks looped her arms around Fleur's and pulled her away. The crazy lust in Fleur's eyes subsided as she regained herself, backing away as horror replaced desire and she retreated into her room, slamming the door. Hermione was panting slightly as she rushed forward knocking on the door hurriedly. "Fleur, what's wrong?!"
"Get away, Hermione; you need to run away and stay away from me; I am not myself." Fleur pleaded.
"Why, what's happened?"
"It's Arry; someone has fed him a lust potion, I can feel it through the link, the potion is unusually strong, his desire for you is overwhelming. I'll lose control again if I look at you, I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to do or are not ready for. Please, you need to leave."
Hermione glanced worriedly at Tonks, who motioned for Hermione to walk away. "I'll stay here and make sure Fleur stays put. You go tell your Mum and Madame Delacour."
Earlier…
Outside Paris
Harry groaned as he raised his hand to his head, his stomach growled demandingly as he woke up from a fitful sleep. The food had smelt good the previous night, but he knew Knuts to Galleons that it had been laced by potion by Snape. Dumbledore had stupidly tipped his hand by allowing Harry to see Snape. Still, even if he hadn't, Harry would have been dubious about eating anything Molly Weasley provided given her history of potioning Arthur Weasley.
Harry's eyes were drawn lower down the bed as he heard a rustling of the quilt that covered him, he threw the covers off to discover Ginny Weasley grinning manically, her hands the belt of Harry's trousers. "Good morning Harry."
"Ginny! What the hell are you doing?!"
Ginny pouted as she tugged on his trousers. "What does it look like? I know you're used to hanging around with that horrid little mudblood and that French tart…"
Harry growled, which seemed to excite Ginny as he pushed her away roughly. "Their names are Hermione and Fleur! You've lost your mind if you think that calling them that will impress me. Get the hell away from me! You're as delusional as Dumbledore."
Ginny frowned as she crawled up the bed, she shook her hips, allowing Harry a view down her low-cut top. "Don't deny it, Harry, I know you want me, all boys want me. But you're the only boy I will let have me, I can be Lady Potter in public and your little whore in private. You hang around with those other two, so I know what turns you on, the books Mum gave me told me how to pleasure men like you Harry."
"Men like me?" Harry asked incuriously as he pushed himself up the bed, pressing his back against the wall behind them.
Ginny grinned. "Men who have a taste for muggles girls, I can be your little whore Harry, behind closed doors I can be whatever you want me to be. When Ron and Granger get married, I can take some of her hair and put it in a bottle of Polyjuice potion so you can live out your fantasy of having your way with her. I don't mind, as long as you remember I'm your Lady Potter."
Harry dropped off the bed and backed away; he was genuinely scared of the way Ginny was looking at him; it was a frightening level of adoration she had for him. "Ginny, I don't like you that way; I will never be the person you want me to be. I am not the Harry Potter from those books your parents read to you; I am in love with Hermione. Hermione is my future if she'll let me be hers, we're never going to be together, I will not marry you. Dumbledore and your Mum have brainwashed you into believing this fantasy, it's dangerous and the person suffering is you."
Harry looked away for a second when his back hit the opposite wall from the bed to find out which way to move next. When he looked back, Ginny was on top of him, pressing her lips against his and forcing his mouth open, allowing the liquid to flow into his mouth. Ginny pressed her wand against his throat and muttered an incantation which caused him to swallow. Harry pushed Ginny away, spitting on the floor. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
Ginny grinned at Harry. "Soon you won't care about Granger, and you won't care about anything but fucking me."
Harry groaned and raised his hands to his head, he could feel himself getting painfully erect, his brain was being flooded with the urge to have sex, but he knew he had to resist. Firstly, because Ginny was fourteen and, no. But almost as important was that Harry didn't care about her that way, he wanted to be with Hermione and/or Fleur, and he wanted to wait until he was a bit older. Harry didn't want to regret his first time, he had so little control over his life, and this was one thing he could decide for himself. Harry wouldn't let Ginny or Dumbledore take that control away.
Ginny crawled towards Harry having discarded her shirt and shorts, leaving her in just panties as she licked her lips seductively. "Why do you deny yourself, Harry, you want it, give in."
Harry looked up at Ginny, and the walls shuddered as a pulse of magic threw the redhead from the room. Lupin quickly shut the door and locked it as Molly threw a blanket over her daughter. "It's ok, Ginny, dear, you did so well. Harry is just under the spell of that horrid Granger girl."
Ginny nodded as Molly rushed her away to allow her to change. Dumbledore watched from the end of the corridor with Snape standing beside him. "What will you do now, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore removed his glasses and cleaned them on his robes. "I am surprised by Young Harry's level of resistance. I regret we must resort to your plan. Is the potion ready?"
"It will be another few hours yet."
"Good, that will give me time to prepare Remus for what comes next."
Harry sat on the floor with his legs pressed against his chest and his head in his hands. Harry's head throbbed with the urge to have sex fighting with his desire to stay in control. "Hermione, Fleur, please, save me…"
Ministry of Magic, London, GB
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Amelia Bones Office
Kingsley Shacklebolt entered his boss's office and smiled, he liked Amelia, she was the best Auror he'd ever worked with, Mad-Eye Moody had handpicked her as one of his apprentices, which at the time was a rare honour. When Amelia looked up, Kingsley could see the hard look in her eyes and knew he was in trouble. "Have a seat Auror Shacklebolt."
Kingsley nodded and sat down as Bones looked at him over her hands. "We have a problem, Auror."
"A problem, Ma'am?"
"I don't know where your loyalties lie," Bones explained, raising a hand to forestall any protest. "Harry Potter was kidnapped yesterday from the Delacour breakfast table. I can't prove that Albus Dumbledore was involved but given the complexity of the runes used and the power required to rip someone through a ward array, coupled with Dumbledore's unhealthy obsession with Harry Potter, he seems a likely culprit. Auror Tonks gave me a list of the member of the Order of the Phoenix that she knew about, and an interesting name was at the top of that list. The man who recruited her to be part of Dumbledore's militia group, you."
Shacklebolt stared at his frowning boss, allowing her to continue. "As long as you continue to associate with the Order of the Phoenix, you cannot be an effective Auror. So, you have three choices, swear a loyalty oath of the department, you can be suspended without pay pending formal disciplinary proceedings, or you can resign. I will give you a day to consider your options, dismissed."
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Apolline descended the stairs into the dining room where Hermione and Emma were waiting. Hermione immediately stood up and rounded the table. "Is Fleur ok?"
"She will be, I gave her a potion to counteract the effects of the lust potion that was fed to Arry. I hope in the same way the potion affected Fleur via the link the reverse will be true as well."
Hermione nodded and walked away, wrapping her arms around herself. Emma sent a smile Apolline's way before she followed Hermione into the living area, enveloping her daughter in a hug. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I knew Fleur wasn't herself when she forced herself on me, I've seen how she looks at me, at least when she wasn't staring in jealousy. I know she's attracted to me, but I think that might be because of Harry," Hermione replied, blushing.
Emma grinned. "At least you know your boy has good taste, the way you tell it that it is a fierce attraction he has for you."
Hermione's blush deepened. "I never thought a boy would be attracted to me like that. I also didn't think a girl would feel the same."
"You are worried about Fleur, aren't you?"
Hermione nodded, allowing Emma to continue. "What prompted the change?"
"Since Harry was kidnapped, Fleur has been my rock, and she keeps reminding me that Harry loves me, and we will get him back. Fleur comforted me last night when I had my nightmare, I'm sure you were ready to comfort me but it being Fleur meant a lot. I know Fleur did it partly not to upset Harry, but she was there for me. I felt safe with her until this morning anyway. The only times I feel safe outside being with you is when I'm with Harry. It was different than being with Harry, but I still felt safe and comforted."
"Are you reconsidering your position on being part of the Soul Bond?"
"Maybe… I still want to know if Harry wants…"
"Hermione, stop," Emma said firmly, causing her daughter to fall silent. "You know that Harry wants you, the lust Fleur displayed this morning was an amplified version of what Harry feels, but that can't leave you in any doubt about his feelings. He loves you, he wants to be with you, he won't leave you for someone else, I've told you this, your friends have told you this, Fleur told you this, and most importantly Harry has told you. I know you're scared, its understandable, but sometimes the best things in life are worth taking a risk for."
Hermione nodded as she walked forward and kissed Emma on the cheek. "Thanks, Mum, I'm going upstairs, I… I need to think."
Later…
Outside Paris
Harry was lying on the bed, he could feel the lingering effects of the Lust Potion, but sometime after he'd thrown Ginny out the potion subsided. As he was alone, he'd been able to satiate his urges by thinking about Fleur and Hermione in their bathing suits, something he'd never admit to their faces. As he was beginning to relax the door to the room burst open and Lupin fired off a stunner, that hit Harry in the chest. Harry slumped over, and Snape and Lupin ran into the room, dragging him from the bed into the nearby chair. Dumbledore then swept into the room carrying the potion that Snape brewed. "Open his mouth."
Snape reached up and pulled Harry's jaw down as Dumbledore poured the potion down his throat and Lupin cast the same spell Ginny had used earlier to make Harry swallow. The three men stepped back as Harry slumped forward against his shackles that Lupin and Snape had secured. "We will let him rest while the potion does its work. Tomorrow we will return home."
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
26 July 1995
Hermione emerged from her room the next day and crossed the corridor to meet Fleur as she exited her room. Fleur glanced at Hermione reluctantly. "Hermione, I am desperately sorry that I attacked you yesterday, I've never lost control of my Veela side like that before. I am disgusted with myself."
Hermione shook her head. "You shouldn't be, you said yourself, someone fed Harry a lust potion and it travelled down the link to affect you. When you realised what you'd done, you locked yourself in your room and refused to come out until the potion subsided. You did everything you could to fight the potion once you realised what was going on. I don't hold it against you that someone was forcing Harry to submit to his lust. I blame them… Ginny, I blame Ginny."
Fleur raised a manicured eyebrow. "Are you sure it was her?"
Hermione nodded. "Dumbledore has orchestrated this with help from Remus Lupin, and I'm sure he asked Molly Weasley to help him. If Molly Weasley is involved, she brought Ginny with her to further push her agenda of getting Harry and Ginny together. Molly told Ginny and me that she potioned Arthur Weasley so he would marry her before we went back to Hogwarts last year. I'm sure Molly would have no issue with potioning Harry to get her way."
"And Ginny is obsessed with Arry and making him her boyfriend; I would feel bad for the girl if she weren't potioning our boyfriend into doing what she wants."
Hermione nodded. "Agreed."
Fleur grinned. "You didn't dispute that Arry is our boyfriend?"
Hermione shrugged. "I am coming around to the idea."
"I am glad."
The two walked downstairs into the dining room, where a regal looking woman sat at the head of the table. Fleur stopped, and her face lit up with a beautiful smile. "Grand-mère!"
Fleur rushed forward and kissed her Grandmother on each cheek. Fleur withdrew and turned back to face Hermione, who had been joined by Emma. "Hermione, Missus Granger, I am pleased to introduce my Grand-mère, Antoinette Delacour, Grand-mère, this is Hermione Granger, and her mother, Emma."
Antoinette observed the two women over her glasses as she rose from her seat. "Ah, Mister Potter's other woman and…" Antoinette ran her eyes up and down Emma. "Ah yes, I see."
Emma crossed her arms, frowning. "What do you see Madam Delacour?"
Antoinette leaned in and whispered something in Emma's ear, causing the woman to blush. Antoinette stepped back and glanced at Hermione, who felt small under her piercing gaze. Fleur frowned and marched up to place herself between Hermione and her Grandmother. "Grand-mère, stop, Hermione, is not Arry's other woman she is his girlfriend and the third member of our Soul-Bond if she wants it."
"It extends to Miss Granger as well?" Antoinette asked.
"Oui, the connection between Arry and I has been muted since the Bond was formed, Maman helped me figure out why. I didn't want to accept it at first, but Hermione is smart and beautiful, and Arry loves her. They have become my friends, and I care about them deeply, I have fallen in love with Arry, and I can see myself easily falling for Hermione too."
Antoinette walked up to Fleur and cupped her cheeks. "I shouldn't have insulted your friend, I am sorry," Antoinette glanced at Hermione, her expression softened. "To both of you. I love and worry about my eldest Grand Daughter, but I mistreated you."
"I understand, I worry about Fleur too."
"So, where is this boy you've been bragging about in your letters?"
Hermione and Fleur glanced at each other, frowning. "Arry was kidnapped by Albus Dumbledore a few days ago. Maman and Madam Bones are trying to find him."
Antoinette crossed her arms and gave Hermione and Fleur a hard stare. "What are you doing to help?"
"Grand-mère there is nothing we can do, I am connected to Arry, but I can only feel strong emotions from him. I can't see what he sees or communicate, I know those are things you were able to do with your first husband, but until the Bond is complete, I can't do those things."
Fleur rolled her eyes slightly at the expression on Hermione's face at the idea of learning more about Soul Bonds. Antoinette shook her head and waved for Fleur and Hermione to follow. "If I'd known you were entering a Soul Bond, I would have come sooner. Even in an incomplete bond between the two of you, you should be able to help Apolline find your boyfriend."
The three entered Apolline's office, and Antoinette opened a cabinet and retrieved a map of France. Antoinette rolled the map out on the table and removed a pendant from around her neck. "This is a charm that has been in our family for many generations. In the past a Soul Bond between a Veela and a chosen Wizard was more common, there was also more competition for our affections. If a love rival kidnapped one or the other, we would use this pendant to find the other person in the Soul Bond."
"Will the Soul Bond being muted affect the pendant?"
"Non, if the two of you join hands while holding the pendant, it should react the same as if the Bond were complete. You simply need to pour your magic into the pendant and let it do the rest."
Outside Paris
Dumbledore entered Harry's cell and observed the younger man over his glasses. "Good morning Harry, how are you feeling?"
"Captive, what about you?"
"Are you ready to return home?"
"Back to Chateau Delacour, sure? When do I leave?"
Dumbledore blinked glancing back at Snape who shared a surprised look with the Headmaster. "No, Harry, to Britain, and Hogwarts?"
Harry sighed. "I have already told you, I am not returning to Hogwarts, why can't you understand that? You are going, senile old man."
Dumbledore shook his head and walked out, allowing Lupin to close and lock the door behind him. "Severus, what happened?"
Snape pondered the question for a moment. "The only logical conclusion is that Potter's magic counteracted the potion."
"It would take a Wizard of incredible power to resist the influence of the potion," Lupin added.
Dumbledore shook his head again. "No, that's not the case."
Lupin raised an eyebrow. "How can you be sure?"
"There are things I am not ready to share yet, but I am certain they are holding back Young Harry's potential. Severus review your potion ingredients and when you are ready triple the potency of the potion. Harry must fall into line, failing to do so could doom our world."
As Dumbledore walked away, Lupin called him back. "Headmaster, why can't you just explain your reasons, if you calmly talked out your differences, I'm sure a compromise could be reached?"
"I wish I could, but Harry's immaturity and his unhealthy interest in Miss Delacour and Miss Granger force me to take these actions. They don't have Harry's best interests in mind; we cannot trust he would do what is required for the Greater Good."
Once Dumbledore was gone Lupin turned to Snape. "Do you ever wonder if he's wrong?"
"Constantly, but I have no choice but to help him, and neither do you."
The two walked back into the kitchen and the middle of an argument. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, for the last time, I do not have any food for you. You will have to wait until dinner time!" Molly roared.
"But Mum, I'm hungry and bored, there's nothing to do in this dumb house, you wouldn't even let me bring my Quidditch magazines with me!"
"You were needed here to help your sister and me. We will return home soon enough, and we will bring Young Harry with us."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Why should I care about that stupid jerk?"
"Because your sister is in love with him." Molly reminded.
"Molly, if I may?" Lupin asked, to which Molly nodded. "Ron, there is a Mixed cafe nearby, why don't you go there and get some sweets for yourself."
Ron's eyes lit up as Remus handed him a small bag of Galleons. "Cheers Professor."
Ron ran out of the house, leaving the three adults alone. Once Molly had gone to check on Ginny, Snape glanced at Lupin. "Was that wise?"
"Possibly not, but his constant complaining was giving me a headache."
Outside Ron ran down the street towards the cafe when something gold and shiny attracted his attention. A Galleon sat on the ground in a nearby alleyway. Ron smirked to himself, pleased that it wasn't just Potter who could spot something small gold and shiny when the need arose. As he entered the alley and leaned down to collect his spoils, he was hit in the back by a stunner.
Several minutes later, Ron blinked and glanced around, wondering what happened. He glanced at the empty ground of the alley and puzzled over why he was standing there. "Oh, right, sweets!"
As the redhead retreated, he was watched from the shadows by a group of Aurors. It wasn't difficult to extract the information they needed and then Obliviate the stupid boy. They knew how many were involved in the kidnapping of Harry Potter and the exact location of the house.
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
"Well done, thanks to your efforts we're almost ready to rescue Arry," Apolline explained, looking at her daughter, mother, Hermione, and Emma across the desk with Tonks standing beside her. Between them was a map of Paris with the pendant Fleur and Hermione used pinned to the spot in the Aubervilliers Commune the Aurors were monitoring.
"When will you go?"
"My Aurors are simply waiting for me to arrive. I will send Auror Tonks back with news once the operation is complete."
Without another word, Apolline and Tonks turned and left. Fleur wrapped her arms around Hermione, resting her head on her shoulder. "Soon, we will have our Arry back and safe."
"I hope so."
Aubervilliers Commune, Seine-Saint-Denis department, Paris France
"Dumbledore, the Aurors!" Snape warned as he continued to hold Harry's mouth open while Dumbledore poured the triple strength potion down his throat.
"As long as Harry is under my control, we have nothing to fear from them," Dumbledore assured him, tossing the vial away as the door burst open. The three men stepped back as Apolline Delacour, and Nymphadora Tonks entered, flanked by half a dozen French Aurors.
"Albus Dumbledore, you are under arrest for kidnapping," Apolline announced signalling for the Aurors to cuff him after searching him for Portkeys.
"Dear lady, I think if you speak to Young Harry, you'll find he doesn't consider what I did kidnapping."
Tonks walked back to Apolline with the vial in her hand. "They potioned him."
Apolline nodded. "Take him to the Hospital. I'm sure Mister Snape will be happy to tell us all about the potion he used on the Lord of a Most Noble and Ancient House."
Snape blanched as he glanced at Dumbledore who continued to smile serenely as the three were dragged away. Remus caught his foot on the door frame and leaned back to address Tonks. "Why did you betray us?"
Tonks snorted a laugh. "I didn't betray anyone, and I chose my family over the machinations of a stupid and senile old man."
"Get him out of here." Apolline hissed.
Tonks walked back to Harry, pulling him free of the straps and cradling his face with a gentle smile. "It's ok, Harry. We're here now, and you'll see Hermione and Fleur soon."
Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
Magical Treatment Wing
Andromeda emerged from Harry's room an hour after he, and Tonks landed at the Hospital. "Harry is going to a horrible night, but by tomorrow morning the potion should be purged from his system."
Hermione smiled brightly. "Thank you."
Andi returned Hermione's smile. "You're welcome."
"You should all return home and rest. Harry won't be ready for visitors until tomorrow."
The women gathered and began moving towards the Floo station, but Tonks hung back for a beat. "Are you going to sleep, Mum?"
"Soon, I need to run a few tests on the potion in Harry's bloodstream."
"Do you think something is wrong?"
"Probably not but I want to be sure."
"Ok, goodnight Mum."
"Goodnight Nymphadora."
"Don't call me that!"
27 July 1995
Harry awoke feeling awful, it had only been a couple of hours since the purging potion had run its course and it would be a few yet before he would be able to keep food down. But Harry knew he was in danger, Headmaster Dumbledore had warned him of how Granger and Delacour weren't right for him, and now his precious Ginny was locked up in a French jail. Harry needed to escape and return to Britain immediately and speak to Cornelius Fudge. Only Fudge had the power to free his precious future wife, his future in-laws, the Headmaster, Moony, and Professor Snape from their captivity.
Harry quickly and quietly changed out of his hospital gown into some clothes Granger and Delacour had brought him. Harry realised he'd have to ask Missus Weasley to buy him some new clothes and discard the ones those girls had bought him eventually, but they would do for now.
Once Harry had knocked out the unsuspecting Auror Guard who didn't think much of the threat posed by someone who had a purging potion poured down his throat earlier in the day, using a fluid stand. Harry moved the Auror into his room and tossed him on the floor of the bathroom and threw a blanket over him. Harry had initially wanted to lift the man into his bed, but he was too heavy, and Harry didn't want to risk using magic.
Harry walked out of the room and in the general direction of the entrance Delacour had led him to the first time he was here. Harry had to duck into various rooms as he walked to avoid the doctors and nurses that were checking on patients but eventually, he made it out of the Hospital.
"Please hold on Ginny. I'll be back for you."
Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Hermione woke up with a start when she heard someone pounding on her door. Crossing the room, she found a slightly manic Fleur standing on the other side as Tonks, and Emma emerged into the corridor. "Fleur, what's wrong?"
"Something is wrong with Arry!"
To Be Continued...
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