Chapter Two: Trouble At The World Cup

James was walking to the Minister's Box with Sirius and Nymphadora, who was sour that she missed a chance to tease James about potential girlfriends. James was thankful she hadn't seen the Delacour's, or her teasing would be worse than Sirius'. They reached the box to see the Malfoy family had arrived and were sitting near the Minister himself. Minister Fudge was talking to two men that Sirius identifies as the Irish Minister and the Bulgarian Minister. Sirius showed James where to sit, jokingly leaving room for the two girls that were going to sit with him.

The Delacour's came in shortly after the Black's, Apolline and the girls sitting with James while Sebastian went to talk to the Ministers. Apolline noticed his look and smiled, "Sebastian is the French Minister of Magic. He didn't want you to feel intimidated by his job, so he didn't tell you last night. I hope you understand."

James nodded, "Of course. I don't hold it against him. I know how bad it can be to have people fear you."

Gabrielle sat On James' lap once again, a huge smile on her face. She looked at James, "Can you do your menace? I want to see it work."

James nodded, "Okay, but I've never tried more than one person before. Everyone hold on." When Apolline and Fleur each grabbed an arm, James activated his menace, surprised when it worked for the three of them around him.

He was drawn out of his excitement when she heard a voice behind him, "Jamie, are these women the Delacour's? I agree with Sirius, you are one lucky bastard."

James growled slightly, "Nym, watch your language please, there is a young girl here that doesn't need to hear that."

Nymphadora was taken back when she now noticed the young girl, "I'm so sorry. I was just trying to tease Jamie."

Apolline nodded, "I understand." She looked at James, "I thought you preferred James. Why is she calling you Jamie? We can call you that if you prefer."

James shook his head, "No, I do prefer James. Nym is my cousin, and teases me by calling me Jamie. I allow it because she is my cousin."

Nymphadora extended a hand, "Nymphadora Tonks, but please it's just Nym or Tonks. With a name like mine, can you blame me for wanting a nick name?"

Apolline accepted her hand, "Apolline Delacour. It's a pleasure to meet more of James' family. Are you stygian as well?"

Nymphadora shook her head, "No, it's only passed to the men of the family. I carry the gene, but I'm not stygian myself. I wish I were sometimes, that menace is a powerful tool."

Minister Fudge was now holding his wand at his throat, "Welcome to the Quidditch World Cup. Without further hesitation, may I present Ireland!" A team took the field, flying around the pitch while leprechauns danced around throwing gold into the stands. Minister Fudge continued his speech, "Now may I present Bulgaria!" Another teen to the field while veela danced provocatively. James noticed the anger of Fleur and Apolline and didn't say anything, thinking it would anger them more. Finally Fudge finished his speech, "Let the World Cup begin."

James found that Apolline was very much into the sport, yelling to the Irish to win while also yelling insults at the Bulgarians. While moving her free hand, she kept her other on James' arm. He smiled at her animation, "You must really like the Irish team."

Apolline shook her head, "Not really. I just hate the Bulgarians. Having veela as their mascots is an insult to our kind. I hope they lose."

The game was interesting, and ended in a surprise upset. The Irish won, but the Bulgarian seeker caught the snitch. Apolline and Fleur yelled in triumph at the Irish team, almost taking their hands off him to cheer properly. As the stands started to clear, Apolline and Fleur looked at James with Pleading looks in their eyes, "Please, can you walk us back. You know it works with the three of us now."

James nodded, "Okay. I'll walk you back if Sebastian is okay with it. I don't want to upset your husband by escorting his wife without him knowing."

Sebastian nodded, "Of course James. I'd prefer them with you than anyone else. I trust you, I know you would never let anything happen to them."

James nodded, looking at Gabrielle, "You want a piggyback ride?" She nodded vigorously, easily climbing on James' back. He looked at Apolline and Fleur, "Take my arms, please?" When the two women had his arms, he looked at Sirius and Nymphadora, "I'll meet you at the tent. I have to get them back to their tent."

Sirius nodded, "Watch yourself out there Pup. There will be a lot of drunk people, I know how that upsets you to be near them."

James pushed aside the thoughts that were associated with drunk people, not wanting to revisit that part of his past ever again, "I will Padfoot. You take care of Nym."

James activated his menace, and walked the Delacour's out of the quidditch pitch arena. Fleur looked at James, "Why don't you like drunk people?"

James refused to look at her, "It's a long story, and I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just say it's the past and I will never fully shake it off. I've talked with mind healers, and got over most of it, but there are still triggers, and a big one is drunk people."

Fleur kissed James on the cheek, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. I understand about complicated pasts. Just know that if you want to talk about it, I'll always be here for you."

James gave her a slight smile, "Thank you. I may take you up on that offer in the future." He stopped outside the Delacour tent, "Here we are. Can I do anything else for you?"

Apolline smiled at him,"Gabby seems to have fallen asleep on you. Can you please take her inside and help us put her to bed?"

James followed them inside the tent and laid Gabrielle on the bed gently. He kissed her on the forehead, "Since you can't give me a kiss." He looked at Apolline, "I'm sorry, I should have asked first."

Apolline waved him off, "As Sebastian said, we trust you. The fey and stygian have always had a curious relationship, but we feel connected to you. Sebastian can feel that connection and trusts us to pick someone who can protect us. You will always have a place here with us."

James gave her a simple smile, "Thank you for that ma'am. I appreciate the trust you are giving me. I swear, you can count on me to always be there if I'm able."

James gave Apolline a hug, as well as Fleur. Fleur kissed him on the cheek this time as well, although it was close to the corner of his mouth. He smiled at her and walked out of the tent, heading to the Black tent. When he got there he found that Nymphadora had found somewhere else to sleep again tonight, and he silently hoped it was the same guy so no awkwardness would follow them.

James was shocked awake by an explosion. He dressed quickly and headed out to see Sirius looking around, dressed in his Auror uniform, the protective armor fitting his body perfectly. He pointed to the trees, "I want you to take cover and stay there until I come get you." James went to argue with him, but Sirius gave him a stern stare with his steely gray eyes, "Trust me James, get to safety. I failed you when you were young, I won't do it again."

James nodded and ran to the trees, moving faster than normal because of his stygian nature. Once in the trees, he heard Gabrielle's voice not far from his location, "James! You have to help us."

James gripped his wand and took off toward the voice. He saw a group of men approaching Apolline and Fleur, cutting curses ripping at their clothes. With a roar of furry, James tackled one man, punching him with three quick jabs to knock him out. He was hit with a torture curse, but only gave a grunt of pain as he turned on the others. He fought like the beast he was, shrugging off spells that normal people would be incapacitated by.

James was finally finished with the men, pinning them to the trees with stygian ice before collapsing. Fleur and Gabrielle were at his side immediately, trying to stop the bleeding. James had been cut in multiple places by multiple curses, as well as summoned daggers and spikes piercing him in multiple locations. His eyes met Apolline's, handing her his wand, "Take it. You don't have yours. You have to protect us until I heal. Shouldn't be long."

Darkness took him, and Fleur held him close. She knew her fey blood helped her heal, but it wasn't quickly. It was faster than a human's healing factor, but not by much. Apolline held his wand tightly, scanning the trees for enemies. Suddenly blue robes appeared and Sebastian stepped into the clearing, "Non, that is my family. See to the men pinned to the trees." He approached, "What happened here?"

Apolline was crying, great sobs wracking her whole body, "I couldn't fight them. They had our wands. We were so scared that we couldn't shift either. James saved us. All of this was him. We couldn't do anything but watch as he took on six men by himself. It was remarkable Sebastian. I have never seen anything like it before. He shrugged off spells, ignored the pain, and kept fighting."

Sebastian pulled out a small bowl from his robes, his personal Pensieve, "Show me Apolline. I need to see." Apolline pulled out the memory, dropping it in the small Pensieve. Sebastian stuck in a finger, his eyes glazing over slightly. After a few minutes his eyes returned and he looked at the boy in front of him, "He truly is remarkable."

Fleur watched as the spikes and daggers were pushed out of his body as the wounds healed, frowning at the scars that remained. She also noticed older scars, some surprisingly deep. She looked at her father, "Papa, look. He was abused. Who could do this to someone as good and pure as James?"

Sirius' voice spoke as he and some other Aurors stepped from the trees, "That would be the Dursley's. Lily's sister Petunia had custody before I could get to him. While he lived with them they did horrible things to him, things that still give me nightmares, and I only witnessed the memories. I swore to always protect him after what he went through, and I failed him once again. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me this time. I told him to come here, that it was safer here. He didn't want to come, but I forced him."

James slowly sat up, "It's okay Padfoot, I don't blame you. This one is on me. I heard Gabrielle scream my name, asking for help. I wasn't in danger until I chose to help. I couldn't let them hurt people that trust me, I told them they could count on me, and I keep my word."

Fleur hugged him tightly, crying into what was left of his shirt, "You idiot, you could have died. Don't ever do something so stupid ever again. I don't care if we are in danger, there is always another way besides head on. Think next time."

Sebastian nodded, "I agree James. You could have died, and where would that have left Apolline and the girls? What if there had been more in the trees, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack? Your strength and speed are impressive, but not infallible. Even a stygian can die if enough damage is taken." He then looked at James as his healing was greatly accelerated, "How are you doing that?"

James slowly stood, "My second year at Hogwarts, I fought a basilisk. I was bitten and almost died until a phoenix cried into the wound. My stygian nature used both the basilisk venom and phoenix tears to alter and strengthen every aspect of me they could. Apparently the tears greatly increased my natural healing factor. I am also immune to almost all poisons and diseases because of the venom."

Sebastian frowned, "I would like to hear more about this battle with the basilisk. Can I see the memories as well?"

Sirius cleared his throat, "They want us to clear out of the campsite early, but you can visit us at 12 Grimmauld Place. I'll alter the wards to allow you entry. I have a Pensieve of my own, so you don't have to bring yours unless you absolutely want to."

Sebastian nodded, "I'll be there tomorrow morning, possibly around 9:00 AM if you are up. We'll arrive by floo."

Sirius nodded his head, "Of course. I must warn you, I have a cousin that is recovering from mental wounds. She may shout, or say things she doesn't mean while you are there. Please don't hold it against her, or us."

Apolline reached out to her husband, "James told us the same thing about this woman. I don't think they both would lie to us about this. Allowances can be made."

Sebastian looked at James, the man he trusted more than Sirius, "She wouldn't physically harm us would she?" James shook his head, and Sebastian nodded, "Then allowances will be made. See you tomorrow."

Sirius looked at James, "Time to pack up and head home. Nym already headed back to Andi and Ted. It's just you and me and Bella tonight."

James helped Sirius pack up their camp, then allowed him to apparate them back to Grimmauld place. Bellatrix greeted them immediately, hugging James close after examining him for wounds that may need tended to. James smiled at his cousin, "Auntie Bella, we will have company tomorrow morning. I just want to warn you that the women coming are veela. Will you be okay with that?"

Bellatrix frowned, "We don't have enough time to ward your mind against their allure. I'll have to protect you."

Sirius laughed, clapping James on the shoulder, "James here is completely immune to the allure. It doesn't phase him at all, not even when projected at him. I witnessed it myself. The boy doesn't need protection from them. They actually crave his menace ability, apparently it masks their allure completely, so it affects no one."

Bellatrix smirked at James, "I always knew you were special. Immune to the allure and able to mask it with your menace. Come, tell Auntie Bella all about it before you go to sleep. I want to hear everything."

She led James up to her room, sitting on her bed while patting the mattress beside her. He sat and began to explain everything. Bella soon laid her head on his shoulder as he spoke. He knew she did this as a sign of faith and trust in him, not a form of attraction or proposition. She would never do that, she just doesn't know better because of her heavily fractured psyche. She lost all her knowledge of social norms and just does what makes her comfortable. James didn't mind, liking that she trusted him like she did.

When he was done, Bellatrix kissed James on the cheek, "Okay, time for you to go to bed. You have guests in the morning. Tell Sirius that I think I'll stay up here so I don't embarrass him."

James frowned, "You aren't an embarrassment to us Bella. We told them about you, not in detail just about how you may act. As long as you don't physically harm them they will understand."

Bellatrix sighed heavily, "Alright. I'll meet them. But I won't stay the whole time. I don't think I would feel comfortable with them eyeing me all the time expecting me to explode. But for you, I'll meet them."

James kissed her on the forehead, "Thanks Auntie Bella. I'll see you tomorrow." He exited the room and made his way to his room. Like every night, he put on a record and stripped to his boxers before crawling into bed and falling asleep to the music that played.

Line Break

James was standing with Bellatrix in the den waiting for the Delacour's to show. The hearth suddenly flashed green, then Sebastian stepped through, followed by Apolline holding Gabrielle's hand, then finally Fleur. James smiled, "Hello Sir, Ma'am. This is my cousin Bellatrix Lestrange. I call her Auntie Bella. Auntie Bella, this is Sebastian Delacour, his wife Apolline, their oldest daughter Fleur, and their youngest Gabrielle. Sir, Padfoot is waiting for you I the study with his Pensieve. I'll be in shortly."

Sebastian nodded and made his way to the room James had indicated. Apolline followed dragging Gabrielle with her. Fleur smiled timidly at Bellatrix, "Nice to meet you Mrs Lestrange. I hope my being here isn't stressful for you."

Bellatrix nodded slightly, looking at James, "Tell Sirius I'll be upstairs. If he thinks I require a sitter, he can send either Kretcher or Dobby if he must." She kissed James on the forehead and headed toward the stairs.

Fleur frowned as she watched Bellatrix climb the stairs, "Was it something I said or did? I didn't mean to upset her."

James sighed, "No it wasn't you. She doesn't understand the social norm anymore. She doesn't want to embarrass me or Padfoot. She'll be fine, and you did nothing wrong. Come on, they are waiting for us."

They walked into the study, where Fleur, Apolline, and Gabrielle grabbed onto him as he projected his menace. Sirius shook his head, "Thanks Pup. I was starting to lose myself." He waved James forward, "Come, let me take you memories of your first and second year at Hogwarts."

James thought about his first and second years, all the important stuff and nodded. Sirius pulled out the memories. A thick stand of silver, longer than any memory the Delacour's have seen extracted before. It swirled in the Pensieve, showing some imaged before blending in. James looked at Sirius, "Before we go in, Auntie Bella said she was going upstairs. She said if she needed a sitter, send Kretcher or Dobby."

Sirius nodded, thinking about who to send. Eventually he knew who she would prefer, "Kretcher!" The house elf appeared before Sirius, "Go watch over Bella please. If she needs anything, come to me and tell me what she says she needs. If I allow it, you may get it for her, but only if I approve. Do you understand?"

Kretcher bowed low to Sirius, "As you wish Master. I will care for Mistress Bellatrix for you. I will come to you with any and all of her requests." He then popped out, leaving the Delacour's alone with James and Sirius.

James chuckled to break the tension, "So who's first into the memories?" Sebastian stepped forward first, lowering his face into the liquid. Apolline followed.

Fleur looked at James, "You don't mind if I see what you have been through? You didn't want to talk about it at the World Cup."

James shook his head, "This is different. I don't mind this, this is about school, after Sirius found me and freed me. I don't like to talk about before Sirius found me. You are welcome to see this if you wish to. I'll keep Gabrielle here with me."

Fleur stepped forward, entering the memories as well. Gabrielle stepped forward to enter, but James kept her back, "No, I don't think you need to see that right now. Maybe when you're older I'll let you see them. Right now why don't we play a game?"

Gabrielle chose chess to play, and James decided to take It easy on her. He soon found she was a great player, and gave him more of a challenge then he thought. Sebastian was the first back, followed closely by Apolline and Fleur. Sirius finally emerged, looking at James, "You didn't tell me everything Pup."

James nodded, "I know. It was hard to believe, I didn't fully believe it myself and I was there. I knew you may not have believed me, so I left out some stuff to make it more believable. Sorry Padfoot."

Sebastian looked confused, "Why does he call you that? Your his father, why not a title that shows that?"

Sirius shifted into a dog form, them back again, "I'm an animagus, that was my animal form. My nickname was Padfoot to my friends. Yes, I'm James' father, but him and I agreed that the title didn't fit yet. I suggested Padfoot, and he liked it. After all these years, I don't see why we have to change it. He sees me as his father, that's enough for me right now. If it changes, we'll talk about it like we did the first time."

Sebastian nodded, "I get why you call him Pup now as well." He turned his attention to James, "You did incredible things in such a short time. I don't know any Aurors that would be able to do half of what you have accomplished. I wish to offer you a reward for saving my family during that crisis last night. How about the Ordre des Templiers? It's the highest honor the French can offer. It's only equivalent is the Order of Merlin First Class."

James looked at Sebastian, "What would happen if I refused? Would there be negative feedback?"

Sebastian sighed, "Sadly yes. The French would see it as a British man saying a French reward wasn't good enough. I have talked to your Minister as well, with these memories I can get him to offer the Order of Merlin First Class. I can convince him to reward you at the same ceremony you will receive the Ordre des Templiers."

James looked at Sirius with doubt in his eyes, wondering if he is good enough for the rewards given to him, "What do you think I should do? You know politics better than I do."

Sirius smiled at his son, "I would accept them. With both the Order of Merlin and the Ordre des Templiers, you will gain political power without joining the Ministry. You will have the unofficial backing of both the French and British Ministries."

James sighed heavily, "Fine, I'll accept the rewards. Tell me about this ceremony, how fancy will it be, will I be able to dress comfortably?"

Sebastian nodded, "Think semi-formal like the dinner we had. Others will be dressed in suits or dress robes, but for you and your stygian nature allowances can be made."

James took the opportunity, wanting to make sure he heard right, "I can wear what I wore to our dinner? Dress shorts and a button up shirt untucked? Will I have to wear a tie of some sort?"

Sebastian shook his head, "No, no tie will be needed unless you wish to wear one. If you do where one, you can wear it loosely for comfort."

Sirius looked at James, "He's doing a lot for you Pup. I'd accept the offer and dress as nice as you can within the perimeters he has set."

James nodded, "I'll go. Do I have to bring a date? I don't have a girlfriend or anything like that right now."

Sebastian smiled, "We have already assigned you a date, if you don't mind. Fleur will accompany you to the ceremony. We just ask that you dance with her when the time comes, to show that we aren't forcing you to be there."

James looked at Fleur, "You are okay with this, with being my date to a ceremony where people will be staring at us?"

Fleur smiled shyly, "It was my idea actually. I requested it. Your menace will make sure we aren't stared at all night. Please say yes. I'll dress more like you so it won't stand out, I promise."

James sighed heavily, putting Gabrielle in check for the final time, "Okay, I'll do it. Tell me when and I'll be there with Sirius. Give us enough time to find someone to sit with Auntie Bella while we are gone."

Sebastian nodded, "Of course. We'll send you days that are acceptable with us and you can chose one that fits."

Sirius nodded, "That will work. Would you like to stay for awhile and have lunch with us? We are going to be in contact for some time, we might want to get to know one another better."

Sebastian looked at his wife, then at his oldest daughter. He already knew Gabrielle would want to stay. She had talked about nothing else but James since he saved them. He had made quite the impression on all the women in Sebastian's life. He could tell something inside Fleur had changed, but she wouldn't tell him what it was.

Apolline looked at James, "Do the stygian races have bonds? Acts that connect one person to another?"

James thought about it for awhile, them smirked slightly, "There's imprinting I guess, but the male's don't really know when it happens. It's used to build a harem for the stygian, so lots of children can be born. I don't actually know much about it myself, just the basics."

Fleur reached out to James, "What are the signs someone if under an imprint? What had to be done to solidify the bond once it has been done?"

James stood and crossed the room to the book he had been reading before Bellatrix had joined him that morning, "It's all in here. It's the diary of Arcturus Black. It details all he knew about his stygian nature, all the research he did into his bloodline. Maybe it can help you understand. Why, what's wrong?"

Fleur looked away from him after taking the book, "I don't understand yet. Let me learn more about it and I'll tell you. But something is affecting my mother, my sister, and myself. Something involving you."

James was shocked, holding up his hands, "I'll undo whatever it is if you want me to. I didn't mean to do anything to you."

Apolline stepped forward, trying to calm the boy, "We know. We don't blame you, we just want to understand what's going on. We'll stay if you allow us to read this diary, but we ask for privacy, or at lease for James to leave the room so we can concentrate."

James turned and left without another word, causing Gabrielle to shed tears as she watched him go. Fleur felt the pain to, and knew it wasn't theirs, not fully. They were feeling James. She turned to her mother, "Maman, what should we do? He feels hurt."

Apolline sighed, fighting the feelings inside her and the want to aid him, "We must read and understand. Then we can help him."