Chapter 7

December 26th, 1999

It's strapless and leaves her shoulders bare, cinched under her breasts, then floating loose. The color, somewhere between blue and green, brings out her eyes. It's clearly intended for Summer, and, by then, she will be big as a house and the lower half of her bump will be in view. A light top, which, at the moment, is a very short dress.

I'm definitely a leg man.

Not that there is anything to complain about the rest of her either.

She's looking at me, a crooked little smile on her lips. Waiting for a comment. "Looks nice, Suzy."

"Then I suppose I'm taking it." She presses the top against her front and swivels to the mirror, checking her own profile.

We've been at it for three hours or so. It could have been boring, but watching Susan try maternity clothes has been... nice. She's aware of her looks, but doesn't seem to make much of it. Her taste runs towards simple, comfortable, just a tad provocative. A pleasant, stress-free morning.

The breakout from Azkaban the previous evening has been weighing on our minds. There is nothing to say, though. We are been kept on reserve, in case some heavy wand work is required.

Lunch is at a fish-and-chips place right across the street from the big M&S store. I visit the loo to call Tilly and have her collect the shopping bags. Susan is just placing our order when I get back. "What do you want to drink, Harry?"

"A large coke, please."

She looks back at the cute waitress. "Make that two." The girl winks at me as she leaves.

She sighs. "Must they always flirt? It's bloody disrespectful."

I raise my left hand. "We're missing a ring, luv."

She pouts a litle. "Maybe we should use one when we go muggle..."

"Does it bother you that much?"

"Nah. I'm a little insecure, I guess."

"I should work at it a little harder." She raises one eyebrow. "At convincing you that you're the one for me, I mean."

"Oh, please! Don't mock me."

"I'm dead earnest. I swear."

"Two houses, no, three houses to fill, and a little Veela waiting on the wings."

"I should have said that you're the one for Elle and me."

"Yeah. So you say..." She stops herself and gives me a long stare. "I know I must keep an open mind. But I don't really know Gabrielle yet."

"She helps, I promise. I'd be lost in the bottom of a bottle if it wasn't for her."

"I do get it, you know?" She looks at her nails for a moment. "I guess I envy you a bit. An empathic connection with a happy fourteen-year-old..."

"A snarky, hormone-addled fourteen-year-old."

She chortles, grabs my hand and squeezes it. "It's really fine, Harry. We will play our hand the best we can."

We are halfway through our meal when the call comes. I check the badge. "It's St. Mungo's"

"Fuck."

"You got that right."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

We apparate to a warded alley a block from the Hospital's entrance. From the outside, the place looks like a derelict department store, 'Purge and Dowse' in faded blue letters written over the entrance. We approach slowly and disillusioned. There's four rough-looking wizards guarding the entrance. Susan takes two of them out, casting two near-invisible, well-aimed expelliarmus in less than a second, sending their wands flying in our direction and both wizards straight into a brick wall. I put my two down with stunners from five feet away. I stun all four again, while Susan removes wands, portkeys and their clavicles.

Inside the atrium, there is a battle going on. Opposition is about a dozen wizards, including the six escapees, our old colleague Theo Nott and a few others. On the other side, a group of four aurors, led by my old boss Proudfoot and joined by a couple of hospital staff. They are split into two groups, protecting a pair of doorways. The only reason the good ones are still standing is group tactics. The aurors focus on defense, combining shields and material blocks, and the others do offense.

We arrive just in time to see our old friend Padma take a dark cutter to the side and go down in a spray of blood. We don't have much time. We have the bad guys flanked and distracted, and we use our tactical advantage to good effect. By the time they notice us, we have six of them down, three with Susan's deadly bonebreakers, two broken by bludgeoners and one mauled by transfigured dogs. I use the bodies to block their counter-attack, while Susan dodges a killing curse that got away and puts another one down.

The hospital defenders, down to four active wands go on the offense and take down two more. In a desperation move, Rookwood casts fiendyfire. Weakened and with a poorly matched wand, he manages to turn himself into a torch, and is put down by one of his companions.

"Wands down! Surrender!" Proudfoot yells, and two of three remaining attackers toss down their wands. That leaves Theo, who runs to the front door and yells. "Never! For the Dark Lord!" He points his wand at Susan and begins to cast "Avada..."

Susan is six feet away and I'm another six feet further. Time seems to slow down, as I conjure a block of stone between them and, with my left hand, throw my dagger at him, just as he finishes the curse. The stone explodes when the curse hits it, and Susan goes down when a couple of chunks hit her. With a thrown knife with my left hand, I could try it ten times and not hit it once. This is the eleventh time. The bone dagger buries itself in Theo's neck and he falls.

I kneel next to Susan. She's bleeding from a gash on her forehead, but her breathing seems to be normal. I get up and move to Theo. He's conscious, and has a hand on the hilt of the dagger. His fear is palpable, and so is my anger. This piece of dung just tried to kill my family.

"Pull it and you will bleed out in seconds." I say in a hoarse voice. He seems to understand it. "I stand up straight and project my voice. "I am Harry, son of James, Consort to the House of Bones." Theo's eyes go round, and several people around us focus on me. "You, Theodore, son of Acton and Head of House Nott have just attempted to end the Bones line. I defeated you in battle and I claim 'Praedicas Familia Bellum' ". A dull thrum of magic can be felt by everyone in the room. "By blood and magic, the House of Bones requires the end of the Nott name as punishment and the entailed wealth of your House as compensation." He tries to scream, but just gurgles. I complete it. "So mote it be."

A flash follows and a purple glow surrounds Theo, who arches his back and tries to scream in pain as his family's magic is removed. It lasts about five seconds before he passes out. The dagger comes back to its holster and he bleeds out a few seconds later.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

I'm sitting on an armchair, while Susan lying in a bed in front of me, potioned and asleep. Gabrielle is napping on my lap. Susan is bruised and concussed, but fine. So are the babies. Well, the plural may be just wishful thinking at this point, but, for a second, I thought I'd lost them. So, fuck it, I'm entitled. Gabrielle arrived at St. Mungo's about an hour after the skirmish, angry and worried, and has been glued to me since.

A soft knock, and Kingsley walks in, looking put upon. He looks at Susan for a bit and then turns to me, whispering. "Can we talk?"

I nod and I get up with Gabrielle in my arms and place her back at the chair. Then I conjure a small pillow and a blanket and make her a little more comfortable. I'm not willing to go far, so I point at the loo. Kingsley shrugs and nods.

It's tight, but be both fit. I cast silencing and privacy charms. "What can I do for you, Minister?"

"Don't 'Minister' me Harry." He looks down and passes his hand on his head. "You really stepped in it this time."

"I guess..."

"First, what you did, despite being legal, broke regulations."

"I'm aware of that, although I'm not sure how it plays out. My role with regards to my families did not end when I accepted the badge."

Kingsley shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. The Ministry can't appear to condone it. You are suspended for two weeks without pay and you are demoted back to Trainee."

I chuckle. Just when I was beginning to feel big enough for my breeches. "You could fire me, you know?"

He stares at me for a while. "No." He needs me. "The biggest problem is political. A lot of people are afraid of you. The conservatives are going to raise a mighty stink, and this could swing a lot of moderates in their direction. They are probably going to try to recall your Order of Merlin."

I sigh. There is something he needs to know. "She's pregnant, Shack."

He stiffens up. "What? Why am I finding out about this now? How far along is she?"

"Nobody knows and eleven weeks. We were going to tell our friends once she completed the twelfth week."

He looks up and mumbles something unintelligible, sounding a little like 'congratulations'. Then he looks back and shakes his head. "In that case, I commend you for your restraint."

I grin."Thank you."

"You are going to issue a public statement tomorrow, including the pregnancy."

"Yes sir."

"And you two are going to attend every single Wizengamot for the next two years."

"One year."

"Eighteen months. And you may consider yourself promoted back to Junior. Excellent job today, by the way."

"I'll have to check with Suzy about the 'mot, but I don't foresee any problem. And again, thank you."

"She will be parked behind a desk."

"She was about to request that."

"Very well, then. One last thing. What's with the little blonde?"

I smile. "She's the future Mrs. Potter, I hope." I don't wait for the comment. "She's fourteen and Veela."

"Ah! I see." He shakes his head and snorts. "Good luck with that." He stretches and looks at me. "Is there anything else?"

There is one thing that's bothering me. "One thing. Do you know why they attacked the Hospital?"

"Yes."

"So?"

"Need to know, Harry."

"Bollocks!"

Kingsley laughs. "Wait until you make Head." I reply with a rude gesture. I'm really not sure I'll stick around that long.

December 27th, 1999

Susan wakes up with a throbbing headache and a full case of morning sickness. She registers, barely, that she's in St. Mungo's and that both Harry and Gabrielle are around. Susan rushes to the loo and Gabrielle comes after her, wets a washcloth with cold water and presses it against her forehead, while holding Susan's hair out of the way.

The washcloth actually helps a little.

The vomiting turns to dry heaves and finally stops, leaving faint nausea and bone-deep hunger in its place. Her head is still pounding. Susan washes her face and Gabrielle pulls out her wand. "Open up," she orders, pointing the wand at her mouth. Susan obeys and Gabrielle casts some charm that leaves a minty tingle.

Susan steadies herself, putting some weight on Gabrielle's shoulder as the walk out of the loo. Gabrielle is surprisingly strong. "Thank you.," Susan croaks.

"You're welcome."

"You're stronger than you look."

Gabrielle smirks. "I may look like a human nine-year-old, but I am neither."

While they were in the loo, I conjured a small table and chairs, and had breakfast delivered.. There's dry toast for Susan, a basket of croissants, coffee and a large pot of tea. There is also a vial of dark green potion. I'm a little concerned. "Hey."

Gabrielle helps Susan sit and I serve tea for Susan and myself, and coffee for Gabrielle. Susan nibbles on the toast and feels the nausea recede a little. "Pain potion?" I nod and Susan downs it with a grimace. "Thanks."

"The healer should come by in a few minutes. You had a nasty concussion. Babies are fine."

Susan raises an eyebrow and Gabrielle perks up.."Babies?"

"Just an assumption. It's too soon to tell." There is a lot to talk about, but first I let the potion take effect and Susan eat a little more. "What do you remember from yesterday?"

"Everything up to Nott casting the death curse at me."

"I conjured a rock in the path of the curse. The rock exploded when Nott's curse hit it and a fragment struck you on the head. Another fragment hit you on the side and caused a nasty bruise."

"Thank you," She knows I have more to say. "Did you kill the little shit?" I nod and she grins. "Good,"

"Before he died, I did a spoils ritual on his ass. With both you and your heir on the line, the magic caught, so the Nott name is ended and their entailed wealth now belongs to house Bones."

Her grin turns to a broad smile. "Oh, honey. You got me a manor," Susan says in a girlish singsong. Gabrielle giggles.

"Yeah. They were owing us one. Or two."

Susan snickers a bit, then turns serious. "This is going to have some repercussions."

"I talked to Kingsley last night and got some instructions. We must issue a statement today that includes the pregnancy." Susan flinches but nods. "We're also to attend the 'mot personally for the next eighteen months."

"That makes sense. People need to see you being reasonable."

"I'll try," I reply in a dry tone. "I'm also suspended for two weeks."

Susan clucks. "That's a slap in the wrist. You were way out of the reservation with the spoils thing."

"He was going to demote me, but the pregnancy has him thinking he can get away with just the suspension."

"Maybe. What about Padma?"

"She was touch-and-go for a bit, but she will make it."

Susan frowns and bites her lower lip, a sign of little wheels turning. "There's something off," she concludes.

I smile, and Gabrielle looks at us. My pride at Susan's cleverness surprises her a little. "What?" Gabrielle asks.

Susan looks at her. "It was too easy."

"But... you nearly got killed!" Gabrielle protests.

"That was pure spite," I explain. "The fight was over. We put them all down and didn't lose anyone."

Susan continues. "And that is very strange."

"I asked Kingsley if he knew why they attacked St. Mungo's," I add.

"And what did he say?"

"Need to know."

Susan yells "Ha!" and Gabrielle jumps on her seat. "I knew it!"

"And why exactly are you two pleased with that non-answer?" Gabrielle asks, puzzled.

"Very good question, padawan." Susan replies. That's a good nickname. I cast a charm at Gabrielle that makes a long, thin braid in one side of her hair. Susan doesn't seem to notice and Gabrielle plays with it a bit.

I finish Susan's thought. "You see, If something is strange, it's a sign that there may be more to the story, and that 'more' can always come and bite you in the ass,"

"And your boss' answer means he knows about the 'more' and has it handled." Gabrielle concludes.

"That's right. Less worries for us grunts." Susan add and turns to me. "Sharp little thing, isn't she?"

Gabrielle growls in annoyance. "Take your..."

Susan lifts her hands to stop her. "Peace, please. I was just teasing."

"Oh, all right. You can tease me all you want." She points at me with her chin. "As long as you keep our Harry happy and the babies safe."

Susan gives her an odd look. "You can count on that." She frowns a bit. "Cute braid."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

She is a middle aged, harried looking witch, who appears to have slept in her robes, with a young girl by the hand. They meet us as we are ready to leave St. Mungo's. "Auror Potter. Can I have a few minutes?"

"Yes, sure." I turn to Susan and Gabrielle. "Go ahead. I'll follow as soon as I can."

We find a small meeting room and I do the privacy warding. "What can I do for you, Mrs..."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She opens her purse and fishes out a round badge. "Anita Frobisher, Child Services. It's a pleasure to meet you." She looks at the little girl. "This in Elizabeth No-name, age eight. She used to be Elizabeth Nott, daughter of Acton and Camilla Nott. Until last night, her brother Theodore was her guardian. Now, at least according to the Ministry's records, she is a ward of House Bones. If the House is willing to accept her, of course."

I kneel in front of her. Thin, long straight dark chestnut hair, large brown eyes set deep in her face. Vacant expression. "Hello." No reaction. "What about her mother?" I ask.

"Her mother disappeared..."

She cuts Mrs. Frobisher off. "Theo killed her." No inflection, like she is talking about the weather. She blinks. "Are you Harry Potter?"

"Yes I am."

"You killed Theo." A statement, not a question.

"Yes."

She grabs me in a tight hug and whispers. "Thank you."

Those pesky unintended consequences. I wish to laugh, but I don't think Elizabeth would understand or appreciate.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

"I'm Beth." Hand extended for a shake.

Gabrielle takes it. "Elle. Nice to meet you."

Elizabeth looks at Gabrielle with a slight frown, like the blonde is a puzzle to be solved. They are about the same height and similar build, but where Gabrielle almost glows with health, Elizabeth seems faded. "Why do they treat you like a grown up?"

"I'm older than I look."

A long, cautious pause, as Elizabeth thinks. "But... do you still play?"

Gabrielle smiles, trying to be reassuring. "Sure."

"Would you show me your toys?"

"They are not here, sorry."

"I can show you mine." Elizabeth looks up. "Leeta." When nothing happens she tries again, a little louder. "Leeta!". Her shoulders slump and she looks miserable. "Oh..."

Gabrielle grabs Elizabeth by the hand and drags her along to the next room, where Susan and I are huddled up on a sofa, just talking. The two girls stop in front of us, Gabrielle very adult concern and determination making me smile. We exchange a knowing glance before she turns to Susan. "Would you please call a house elf named Leeta."

"Of course." Susan raises her voice a bit. "Leeta!"

There is a short delay, then a soft pop. A quiet sob comes from Elizabeth. A small female elf wearing a clean tea towel bows to Susan. "Mistress called?" Before Susan replies, Elizabeth jumps forward and hugs the elf. "Little Miss Betty!" Leeta pats the little girl on the back. "I can't find you. Leeta so, so worried!"

We watch, as Elizabeth cries silently. "Leeta," Suzan says.

She steps back from Elizabeth a little. "Y-yes, Mistress?"

"You are bonded to the House of Bones." Susan is a little puzzled.

"Yes, Mistress. But the bond is... weak." She pulls at her ears anxiously.

"Ah! Do you want to be properly bonded to my House, Leeta?" The elf nods emphatically. Susan looks at me. "Do you concur?"

"Yes, of course."

Susan speaks formally. "I, Susan, daughter of Edwin, Regent of House Bones, accept the house-elf Leeta as bonded elf to my House, so mote it be." A slight snap of magic follows.

"Thank you, Mistress."

"First, did House Nott have other elves?"

"Yes, Mistress. Four others. Teany be head-elf."

"Leeta, the wizard is Harry Potter, my consort, and the blonde is Gabrielle Delacour, a friend of the family. Answer their calls and obey them. You will take care of Elizabeth.

"Yes, Mistress. Thank you."

"Tilly."

Susan's elf pops next to Leeta. "Yes, Mistress?"

"This is Elizabeth. Please see her installed on the second guest room. Leeta, please bring Elizabeth's things from her former house and arrange them as she wishes."

The elves reply in unison "Yes, Mistress" and pop out..

Gabrielle takes the young girl by the hand. "Come, Beth. Let me help you with your room. We can play later." Elizabeth follows Gabrielle quietly.

I kiss Susan in the cheek. "Love it when you're all in charge."

She colors a bit. "Stop it." She addresses the ceiling. "Teany."

An older elf pops up. "Yes, Mistress." Susan asks for the other former Nott elves and rebonds them. She keeps Teany behind and dismisses the others.

"So, Teany, which properties do you oversee?"

"Manor and Summer House, Mistress."

"What is the state of the wards?"

The elf is a little anxious. "They is active, Mistress, but weak. Very weak." Apparently, either the spoils ritual or the dissolution of the Nott House weakened family wards and elf-bonds.

"Is there anyone left in either property, Teany?" I ask.

"Just the poor muggle in the dungeon, Master Harry. Miss Lizzie was the only family member left."

Susan and I look at one another, both of us beyond furious. "Just go." I tell her and head to Elizabeth's new bedroom. Gabrielle races down the stairs, looking pale. "They have a muggle locked up in a dungeon."

"Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"I completely agree. I'm going to help Suzy. Can you keep an eye on Elizabeth?"

"Of course." Gabrielle has an ugly thought and frowns. "Do you think she knew?"

"Merlin! I hope not." I grab her and give her a hug and a kiss on top of her head. "Thank you. I know this isn't easy, luv."

"Anything for you, Magus." she whispers.

The girl is about the same age as Susan and I. She's reading economics at Warwick, and got abducted outside a party, about a month ago. A nice girl from a good family, her disappearance made it to the front pages for a while. And things are as bad as they could be. She's been raped, tortured, starved and cursed to near catatonia.

St. Mungo's won't deal with a muggle, even with problems of magical origin. The solution comes from an idle comment off a smuggler I arrested a few months back. There is a small private clinic outside Geneva, run by a couple of muggleborn healers. They will work on magical damage to muggles A few inquiries, an international floo call, and in an hour someone comes. They cautiously offer hope that, after treatment, she will be able to resume her life. The fee is steep, but not unreasonable.

We would gladly revive Theodore, just to kill him again, slowly this time.

What is worse is that we know this is by no means exceptional. Many death eaters did things like this routinely.

It's late afternoon when we get back. Elizabeth is asleep and Gabrielle is stretched on the couch, a muggle comic in her hand, and Sammy balled up on her stomach. Veela run a couple of degrees warmer than humans, and Sammy likes it warm.

"The Amazing Spider-Man?" Susan asks with a slight shudder, probably imagining some kind of hybrid.

"It's just a boy with powers, Suzy." We sit on the opposite sofa. "I didn't know you liked comics, Elle." Susan sidles up to me and leans her head against my shoulder. I hold her with an arm across her shoulders. We are both pretty rung dry from this last day, and can use the cuddling.

"A muggleborn from my year collects them. He lent me a couple. Do you like it?"

"Yeah... I only read a few, that my cousin left lying around. We can find a store later and buy some."

"Sure." Gabrielle pets Sammy's head. "So, what happened?"

"About what you would expect." Susan replies with a grimace. "The girl will live."

"Good, I guess..." Gabrielle lets her sentence trail off. We fall silent, all lost in thought. Most of the time, when I get gloomy, Gabrielle's feisty warmth pulls me right out. But, if we are both feeling down, then things will just reinforce. It's the down side of our bond.

The little blonde gets out from under Sammy and climbs onto our laps, seeking comfort. She cries a little, while Susan and I hold her. "It's just... things can be so, so harsh." A wet half-laugh. "What am I saying? You two know all about harsh."

I reply, the best I can. "Harsh is not normal. Even for us." Even with the bloody cupboard.

"Yeah." Gabrielle concurs, shaking her head. Another broody silence follows, until a familiar voice comes from the fireplace.

"Harry? Are you there?"

"Oh, fuck!" I say.

"What?" Gabrielle asks.

"We had a dinner appointment with Ron and Hermione. I completely forgot." I leave Gabrielle in Susan's lap and rush to the fireplace. "I'm sorry..."

"What happened, Harry? We were worried."

"It slipped my mind. It's been balls-out crazy the last twenty-four hours."

"Are you and Suzy coming?"

I glance at Susan, who is following the conversation from the couch. She shakes her head. "I don't think so, sorry."

"Can I come?"

I sigh. "Sure."

Hermione walks out of the fireplace and cleans the soot with a spell.

She puts her fists on her hips. "What happened?"

Before I reply, I walk back to Susan's side and Gabrielle sits next to me. Hermione follows, a little frustrated. She begins a rant. "Harry James Potter! What is the world..." A tiny fireball flies right in front of her face, singeing her eyebrows and dissipates. Gabrielle has very little love for female Weasleys. Hermione pulls back, surprised. "What?"

"Sit." Gabrielle orders, pointing with her left hand at the couch in front of ours, a second tiny fireball on her right hand. Susan and I smile.

Hermione sits, looking at the little blonde with wide eyes. "Gabrielle?"

"Shut your fucking trap and let them talk, you stupid cunt!"

Hermione opens her mouth to complain, then thinks better of it, glares and presses her lips together in a thin line. A fair McGonagall impression. "We'll need to watch our language now." Susan comments in a very amused tone.

"Yeah, I guess," Gabrielle agrees with a pout and a French shrug.

I tell Hermione the story, from the attack at St, Mungo's to the muggle girl now recovering in Switzerland. She asks a couple of questions, and then shakes her head and snickers. "Only you, Harry..." she then turns to Susan. "I guess congratulations are due."

Susan touches her nonexistent bump. "Thank you."

"And what about this Elizabeth girl?"

"That's up to Suzy," I reply.

Susan gets a little upset. "Don't be stupid. It's a family problem, so it's up to you and Elle too." That earns her a pleased kiss from Gabrielle and a puzzled frown from Hermione.

I hold my hand up to stop Hermione's next question. "We might want to get in touch with her mother's family."

Gabrielle puts in her newly acquired two cents. "I say we keep her."

Susan is surprised. "Why, for Morgana's sake?"

"She may be broken but she seems sweet." I smile, Susan and Hermione look at her with raised eyebrows. Gabrielle looks defiant. "I like her, all right?"

I agree with Gabrielle, but I still put in words the obvious concern. "We are all teenagers, Elle. I'm not sure we're really up to helping Elizabeth."

"She already trusts you, and I can get her to open up," Gabrielle has raised a pair of good points.

Hermione contributes with her voice of reason. "It's a difficult burden, Gabrielle. You are in school, and Harry and Suzy have a lot on their shoulders." She turns to me. "What is her mother's family?"

"Sosa." I reply. "It's got be be pureblood if Nott's father married her."

Susan and Hermione look uncertain, and Gabrielle adds. "It's s Spanish family. There is an Amyr Sosa a year ahead of me. Snotty little ...hm. "

Susan and Hermione's glare stops the appellation from being uttered. I snicker, and I get my own three-light glare for my trouble. "Eh... we need to know how Elizabeth feels about it."

"She's eight, Harry!" Hermione complains.

That gets to me. I give Hermione my own baleful glare and growl. "Nobody ever asked what I wanted!"

Neither Gabrielle nor Susan really know about the Dursleys. Susan looks confused. Gabrielle just knows a harsh button got pushed and gets upset. She climbs on my lap and hides her face on my chest. Hermione looks apalled. "Oh, I'm...I didn't... I'm sorry, Harry!"

"That's fine, Hermione. It's not up to you, anyways."

Susan gives me a half-embrace and caresses Gabrielle's hair. "For the record, I agree with you, Harry."

"I'm really sorry. I know you are right." Hermione purses her lips and stares at us for a bit."I don't know how this came about, but the three of you make a cute family."

Susan holds us close and smiles. "It's a work in progress."

January 3rd, 2000

Elizabeth's mouth opens slightly as she takes in the room. Gabrielle giggles, aware of the impression her bedroom gives. She has not made much progress in getting Elizabeth to open up. Yet.

Still, Gabrielle finds herself enjoying playing big sister and showing off Maison Delacour is fun.

The bedroom is actually two rooms, separated by a wide arch. On one side, a princess bedroom, with a huge canopied bed in dark wood, a dresser, a full body mirror, a bookcase with stuffed animals, toys and trinkets and another one full of books. One wall is painted with a forest scene, a chiaroescuro with dozens of animals both evident and hiding. The ceiling is painted dark blue, with a large full moon and a few stars.

The other side is Gabrielle's atelier, with a desk, a large table with clay sculptures, wood carvings, about two dozen drawings and paintings hanging on the walls or leaning against a wall, a couple of deep armoires and two easels with work in progress. To one side, a bay window facing the back of the house and two doors in the back lead to her closet and the bathroom.

"So, do you like it?" Gabrielle does a pirouette as she speaks.

"It-it's nice."

"What do you want to do? There is all kinds of art, games toys..."

Elizabeth grabs the hem of her dress and twists it around her hands. "When is Harry coming back?"

Gabrielle gets closer, places her hands on the other girl's shoulders and looks her in the eyes. "They should be back by dinner."

"Ok..."

"What do you like to do, Beth?"

She gives the bookcase a shy look. "Would you read me a story?" Elizabeth's education has been somewhat neglected. She's a slow, hesitant reader. Gabrielle picks up a book, one with plenty of pictures and easy words.

She sits, legs crossed on the bed and pats a place right in front of her. "If you will help me read it..."

"All right."

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

"I am Don Miguel Oliep Sosa." A short, roundish wizard with long white hair and whiskers and clever eyes. "Head of House Sosa." He kisses Susan's extended hand, shakes mine and leads us to a pair of couches.. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Bones?"

The house is a two-story pale stone fortress on top of a low hill, and surrounded by olive trees, scrub and a few cows. Inside, it's dark and a little oppressive, with heavy tapestries, a few paintings and weapons. The head of a black bull is mounted above the fireplace.

"Thank you for receiving us, Don Miguel. Jean-Paul sends his regards."

"Ah! Thank you. Please send him my regards as well." He looks at us and waits.

"Our visit concerns a relative of yours, Elizabeth, daughter of the late Camilla Nott, nee Sosa."

"Yes, yes. I heard you recently... disposed of her brother and his House. I presume she became your ward as a result?"

Susan corrects him. "Actually, she is a ward of House Bones. I am the Regent and Harry is my consort."

"I see. Camilla's father Hector would be her closest family, then. He is the son of my younger brother Amyr."

Susan proceeds. "We have two questions concerning Elizabeth. First, she is currently nameless, and we would regard it as a kindness if you would receive her in the Sosa family. The second question is whether there would be any interest in having her back with her blood family."

Don Miguel sits back and appears to collect himself to reply. "Your first question can be answered immediately. Yes, House Sosa will receive young Elizabeth back. Now, our family is large and our income is not what it once was, so she should not expect a dowry or a stipend."

Susan nods. "Thank you, Don Miguel."

"Your second question should be rightly addressed to Elizabeth's grandfather, but I can advance that he will probably not push for custody, His current wife is young and not very motherly. Besides, Elizabeth's connection to a Death Eater family, even if extinct..." He lets the sentence trail off into silence.

"We understand." I reply.

"I will have paperwork concerning her membership in House Sosa sent to you through Gringotts."

"Thank you."

"Do you mind telling me what are your plans for Elizabeth?"

"We do not know yet. Unless something changes, she will be staying with us," Susan explains.

"I see. We hope young Elizabeth will join us for one of our reunions, to get to know the family. Perhaps even a stay here at the Hacienda over the Summer, learning about the family magic." He gets up as he speaks, and so do we.

"That can probably be arranged. We will talk to her. Thank you again, Don Miguel."

He smiles. Nothing lost, and a little goodwill gained. All in a day's work. "It was a pleasure."