Four wizards appeared out of nowhere, wands drawn. They were standing under an ornate colonnade that led to a grand home. Torrential, wind-driven rains swept across them. After surveying the surrounding area, Bill Weasley began waving his wand and muttering chants as he put is curse-breaking skills to use.
"These are some of the strongest wards I've come across," Bill informed the others, "predominantly wizard, with significant portions of Goblin and Elfin protections mixed in." Looking around once more, Bill turned back to the others. "Someone trying to get in here would have to spend a long, long time standing out in the open just to break through."
While that bit of news provided some comfort to the others, they slowly and cautiously approached the large oak front doors of the villa. They could see movement in the foyer through the doors' inlaid cut-glass windows, but they could not discern who or what they were about face. Stopping a few metres from the door, their guard up, the wizards watched as the door slowly opened. The two house elves appeared, but immediately and fearfully slammed the doors shut again at the threat of wands pointed at them. Shortly, Arthur lowered his wand and motioned the others to do the same. Peeking out through the cut-glass windows and seeing the four wizards lower their wands, house elves hesitantly reopened the doors and cautiously approached the wizards.
The older of the two elves spoke first, "Bienvenue. Vous êtes les invités de de que notre maître nous a dit de prendre soin?" *
Charlie looked at the others. "Was that French?"
"Yes, but my French isn't that good," replied Bill.
"Oi! Are we going to have a conversation with Fleur about that!" exclaimed Neville cheekily.
The four wizards sniggered as they stared at each other. After a few moments of indecision, Mr. Weasley finally turned back to the elves. "Do you speak English?"
"But of course! Welcome! Are you the guests our Master told us to care for?" the older elf replied.
"I believe so, yes. Well, some of us anyway. More will be on their way, assuming we find this place suitable for our needs." said Arthur vaguely.
"Yes, yes, you will! My name is Forcedyme and this is Affectueux," Forcedyme said, motioning to the relatively young elf next to him, "Please, please, come in out of the weather! Our Master has commanded us to treat you as we would treat him while you stay here!"
The four wizards followed the elves into the entrance hall and began waving their wands and muttering. Unable to detect any persons, curses, or other dark magic, the wizards finally faced each other and shrugged their shoulders.
Charlie turned to the elder elf and asked, "So, Forcedyme… Did I say that right… Forcedyme? Umm, just who is your master?"
"Forcedyme cannot say, Master… Umm…"
"Oh, sorry, Charlie Weasley. And this is my dad, Arthur, my brother, Bill, and our friend, Neville Longbottom."
Neville spoke up, "Forcedyme, are you saying you don't know who your master is?"
"No, no, no! Master has forbidden Forcedyme and the other elves from revealing Master's identity."
The wizards gave each other a wary look. Neville continued, "Er, Forcedyme, why does your Master not want you to tell us who he is?"
"Forcedyme is unsure." However, sensing the wizards' discomfort, Forcedyme quickly continued. "Please, please understand that Master is a friend and admirer. Master must be, as Master has not allowed any wizard to come here in over thirty years. Master's guests must be very special indeed!"
"Are Sirs in need of refreshment?" squeaked the younger elf, Affectueux.
Arthur spoke, "We're fine, Affectueux. What can you tell us about the place? How big is it?"
"Well, Sir," Affectueux began, "the home has six bedrooms, each with its own en suite. It can easily and comfortably accommodate twelve. There are two parlors, two studies, the library, two loos on this floor, the dining room, the kitchen and pantry, the potion lab in the basement…" After pausing a bit, Affectueux continued, "That is all for the inside, in the back there are two gardens, a swimming pool, and a quidditch pitch with locker rooms and equipment." Bill and Charlie's eyes lit up upon hearing about the pitch.
Satisfied with the fact that the villa was secure and large enough to hold them plus all of their fellow refugees, not to mention a bit overwhelmed by the affluence of the place, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and Neville informed the elves that they were leaving for a little while because they need to inspect another house. However, they assured the elves that some, if not all of the four would be back, and that others would be joining them. The four then portkeyed to Castellabate, Italy.
Kingsley continued to handle numerous other matters for the Ministry while awaiting the return of the four wizards. He insisted on keeping Molly, Ginny, Fleur, Augusta, and Luna, soon joined by Andromeda and Teddy Tonks, Percy, George, and Ron and Hermione, in his office. If matters needed privacy he used the conference room down the hall.
Molly, Ginny, and Andromeda were in a right state. Ginny lost her brother Fred, as well as her one true love, Harry, all within a span of about thirty hours. Molly felt as though two of her sons had died – Harry was as good as a son to her; she'd practically raised him. Andromeda, for her part, lost her husband, Ted, during the resistance only a few months ago, and now she was preparing to bury her only child, Nymphadora Tonks-Lupin, and her son-in-law, Remus Lupin, both of whom died in the final battle. On top of that, Andromeda now had to raise her infant grandson, Teddy. At one month of age, Teddy alone was oblivious to the sadness and distress around him. Augusta, Luna, and Fleur gave their best efforts in keeping the other three from completely falling apart.
Andromeda did feel somewhat relieved by the safe-house arrangement after Kingsley explained it to her. The stress of caring for an infant who was not yet sleeping though the night was enough to take its toll on anyone, let alone an elderly someone who had just lost the last of the rest of the people in her life. She was grateful for the opportunity to get some help with Teddy, and the Weasleys were grateful for the distraction of having a little one to care for.
Several footsteps were heard outside Kingsley's office doors moments before the doors flew open to allow Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and Neville to stride into the room. With a nod to Kingsley, everyone gathered around the conference table once again.
Mr. Weasley began, "Well, we checked out both houses. The wards around them are exceptional; the homes are free of dark magic and are fairly comfortable…"
Neville snorted while Charlie cried, "That's an understatement!"
Mr. Weasley started again, "Yes, well…," then hesitated.
Kingsley interrupted, "I sense a 'but' coming."
Once again, Mr. Weasley started, "Yes, 'BUT', do you have any idea how or through whom Harry found these places?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just that we asked the elves at each home and they all told us that their Master has sworn them to silence as to who owned the property and who their master was. I appreciate the fact that we have a very kindly patron, but to be quite honest, I'm a little unnerved by the fact that we don't know who that patron is. Also, there's something about the house that's just a little too... 'sanitized'. For example, when I go over to your home Kingsley, I see pictures of you and your sister and your niece and nephew. There's nothing like that there. There's nothing… 'personal'… in either house. Kingsley, do you have any idea who Harry's source was for finding these safe-houses?"
Kingsley shook his head, "The only time Harry would have had to find these places was during his Gringotts meeting. Perhaps he struck a deal with the Goblins. I'll speak with Vidagore."
"Well, Mr. Weasley, the elves did say no one's come to either villa in over thirty years. Maybe that sort of stuff was put away at some point." Neville noted.
"Perhaps, but still, I'm not comfortable taking everyone there. I just don't trust it."
After sitting back the entire day and taking in all of the discussions, reading all of the letters, and listening points and counter-points on the various topics of discussion, the old warhorse that was Augusta Longbottom finally spoke up. She cleared her throat and when she did, the room went silent.
"While I have only had the privilege of meeting Harry Potter once, I have it from excellent secondary sources," she said as she stared firmly from Ron and Hermione to Neville and Luna, "that he is not one to knowingly or willingly place others in danger, most particularly his closest and most beloved. In fact," she paused to pick up Healer MacSorely's letter from the table, "his history proves just the opposite. He is willing to go to the greatest extremes to protect the ones he loves. So the question for you, Arthur, and for the rest of you, is this," Augusta paused to give Arthur a soul-penetrating glare, "do you trust Harry's judgment?"
In mere seconds, Augusta Longbottom made the decision for everyone.
After some minutes of reflection, discussion turned to the funerals. It was decided to keep Fred's funeral at eleven and to have the funeral for Tonks and Remus at one o'clock in the afternoon on the same day. This way everyone could stay together. Also, it solved problems for Kingsley as the protection unit assigned to everyone could be kept together.
Just prior to leaving, Neville spoke up. "I was thinking about the portkeys. Because Teddy has to be carried past the wards anyway, why don't you give me his and once we're settled in Castellabate, I port over to Salon-de-Provence. I leave two Castellabate portkeys at Salon-de-Provence, and take a second Salon-de-Provence portkey back to Castellabate. That way, we have a way of visiting each other, and if we get stir-crazy where we are or if we just want a change of scenery, we can simply go to the other villa."
"Merlin, Hermione, why didn't you think of that!" teased George, and Arthur immediately handed over Teddy's portkey.
Harry awoke to what sounded like trumpeting elephants. Sunlight shining through the windows pierced his eyes and the bed felt like Peeves the Poltergeist was flipping it topsy-turvy. He quickly but unsteadily rose to his feet and bolted for the loo, where he proceeded to empty what little substance his stomach contained.
Returning to his room, holding his ears to drown out the sound of a screeching, rusty looking ball of feathers, Harry yelled, "WILL SOMEONE GET THAT RUDDY OWL OUT OF HERE!"
With two pops, Steinig appeared, grabbed the newly purchased owl that was still in its cage, and disappeared. A third pop accompanied the second as Brillare appeared.
"Pardon Brillare, Master Harry, but Steinig pick-it-upped some hang-you-over potion while at Diagon Alley yesterday, believing Master Harry might be needy of it today." Harry snatched the vial from Brillare's hand and quickly drank the potion.
Brillare asked, "What would Master Harry like for breakfast?"
"Whatever, and where the hell did that owl come from?" Harry asked irritably, his brain still aching and foggy. The potion hadn't yet kicked in.
"Well, Master Harry asked Steinig to 'Go der an fine me da raresdest birdy owl ting dey got', Sir," Brillare said flatly, mimicking Harry's voice spot-on without a hint of humour or sarcasm, "and Steinig, him brought home 'da raresdest birdy owl ting' him could find, Sir. It a Guatemalan Pygmy Owl, Sir." After a moment's pause, she continued, "Owl is still needy of a name, Sir."
Harry's rebelling head and body started to settle as the potion kicked in, and he began to laugh maniacally as Brillare's imitation of him. Brillare nervously recoiled a little at Harry's outburst. She failed to see the humour he felt. Harry now remembered why he asked Steinig to purchase the owl.
"I'd like to name him 'Pain in the Arse'!" Harry laughed maniacally again.
"As Master Harry wishes, Sir," Brillare said cautiously, "but begging Master Harry's pardon, Sir, Brillare thinks maybe perhaps Master Harry might consider another name, Sir? Others might think Master Harry crude if Master Harry names him owl 'Pain in the Arse', Sir."
Harry let out yet another maniacal laugh. "Well, what do you suggest Brillare?"
Brillare was taken aback. Never had she been asked for her opinion on something, leave alone by a wizard.
"Well?" Harry asked, awaiting Brillare's response.
Timidly, Brillare responded, "Brillare thinks 'Entusiasta' is a rightly name, Sir. It Italian for 'Enthusiastic'."
"'Entusiasta' it is then." Harry quickly replied, but then his face took on a somewhat gloomy appearance.
Harry agreed that of what little he'd seen of the bird, it certainly seemed enthusiastic. However, the word 'enthusiastic' reminded him of another enthusiastic owl he knew, and that owl was Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl. And thinking of Pigwidgeon made Harry think of Ron... and Hermione… and Ginny… and all of the other Weasleys… and of Neville and Luna and all of his other friends… and then back to Ginny, where his thoughts dwelled for quite some time. Soon, without consciously realizing it, Harry was standing in the middle of his bedroom with tears streaming down his face.
He walked over to the bedside table, picked up the mostly-empty bottle of firewhiskey, and downed what little was left. At least with the firewhiskey, his nightmares, guilt, and sorrows were held somewhat at abeyance. They were still there, but they were less vivid. Perhaps with enough alcohol, he could slay that part of his brain where grief resides.
After breakfast, Harry searched the pantry for another bottle of firewhiskey and walked to one of the studies. Sitting in a plush leather chair, Harry search through the beautiful hand-carved mahogany desk to find some ink, a quill, and a piece of parchment that did not already have the Potter family crest or Lionheart Manor crest emblazoned on it. Finally seizing a blank piece of parchment after several minutes of searching, Harry wrote his communication plan to Kingsley.
After giving the letter to Steinig for Entusiasta to deliver, Harry and his new best friend, Firewhiskey, left for his bedroom to kill the sadness and pain inside him.
A/N: *Literally translated: "Welcome. You are guests of that our owner told us to take care."
Another chapter is up and running, I hope you guys enjoyed it and I'm sorry for the two month delay. Please leave a review! They are very helpful!