AN: Welcome guys!
I am really happy with the response to the last Chapter.
Since I did publish this story in the Adventure / Romance category, I thought it was time to write another fluffy scene, simply to show how far Harry and Fleur had progressed in their relationship and how deep their trust runs.
I hope you guys enjoy this one just as much!
The recognizable sections belong to JKR
Chapter 95
April 28th, 1997
A sweet scent filled his nostrils. Sunlight shone through the small gap within the curtains of Fleur's bedroom and illuminated the room. He stirred to the familiar tickling of hair brushing against his nose. Harry finally woke up around noon, after having slept better than ever before.
Last night had perhaps been one of the best in his life and the soft weight on his chest confirmed that it had not been a dream. Images of their passionate time flickered before his eyes. Somehow, making love to his girlfriend, even after two years, was just as exciting as when they had first given themselves to each other. Last night was undoubted proof of that. It had certainly been the best sex in their relationship so far... The things they had done to each other... Harry could only grin at the memory and hope for a repeat performance.
He sighed contently and pulled the blond girl in his arms even closer to him, intertwining their legs. Looking over her head, he noticed two envelopes on the bedside table next to the candle that had burned down at some point during the night. Undoubtedly Mail for either him or Fleur. Dobby must have placed them there earlier this morning.
In an attempt not to wake up the Veela, Harry slowly raised his arm over her head and took the first envelope. He felt excitement at seeing the official stamp of the Depart of Magical Education. It looked like his NEWT Results had finally arrived.
Dear Mr. Potter,
attached you will find the final results for your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Levels (NEWTs).
Professor Tofty and I are very pleased to confirm that your spectacular performance has been unmatched during the last 50 years.
You have truly proven yourself to accomplish on a level rarely seen in a wizard.
We offer our earnest congratulations on your results and wish you all the best in your pursuit of a dual mastery and your prospective academic career.
You have a very bright future ahead of you, young, man.
Griselda Marchbanks
Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Levels Results:
Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeding Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades:
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)
Harry James Potter has achieved:
Ancient Runes:
Outstanding (O) +
Arithmancy:
Outstanding (O) +
Care of Magical Creatures:
Outstanding (O)
Charms:
Outstanding (O) +
Defense Against the Dark Arts:
Outstanding (O) +
Herbology:
Outstanding (O) -
Transfiguration:
Outstanding (O) +
Potions:
Outstanding (O) +
We congratulate Harry James Potter for the completion of TEN OWLs and EIGHT NEWTs
Harry grinned brightly. Those results were pretty much what he had been hoping for and expected. He even managed to scratch by in Herbology with an Outstanding Minus, while hardly studying for the subject. In all his other classes, aside from Care of Magical Creatures, he managed to get an Outstanding Plus, the highest possible grade.
He felt especially proud of his NEWT results in Potions. The Prince had certainly helped him out a few times over the year, however, during the actual exam, he had managed to apply all of the tips he had read about fully by himself without the book's help. Still, perhaps he should thank Snape for creating such a helpful book.
The realization hit him, that he was no longer a student. Sure, he had promised Slughorn to continue visiting his classes. Nonetheless, with all of his remaining NEWTs done, Harry could finally focus on his Masteries and redoubling his efforts to end this war as quickly as possible. Now that Greyback had been taken care of, Voldemort had lost another valuable asset and experienced a shortage in manpower once more. Regardless, Harry knew that the Dark Lord would find allies elsewhere and prove himself to be as cunning as the founder of the house he had been sorted into.
His thoughts strayed to the future and the challenges that still lay ahead of him... One more Horcrux needed to be taken care of and then Harry had to face the man himself. Before he could do so, he would need to finish the quest that might act as the backbone for his survival... The Hallows...
He did not match Voldemort in terms of magical power, yet. He knew he had the potential for it; however, Voldemort would hardly give him another ten years to improve... Harry had to stop him sooner. Over eight months ago, Dumbledore had given him a promise to have no more secrets and fully include Harry in his plans. Still, so far, the old headmaster had shown no intention to hand over the Elderwand.
At this point in time, Harry was certain that he would need to wield the most powerful wand in history if he wanted a chance to beat Voldemort in a straight duel... How could he persuade Dumbledore to finally give him the wand?
He was so lost in thought as he absently stroked through Fleur's soft blond hair, that he almost forgot the second letter that had been placed on the bedside table.
Judging by the familiar expensive envelope and rich parchment, his troubles might soon be lessened by his latest spy within Voldemort's ranks. Narcissa Malfoy had already proven herself in Harry's eyes. Thanks to her, over 30 werewolves had been killed by Harry, Fleur, and Sirius and they dealt a massive blow to Voldemort. However, he did not need to tell the woman so, if she continued supplying him with information. Rather curious at what her latest addition to their correspondence might be, Harry opened the envelope and began reading.
To Harry Potter,
while I should have proven myself already and earned the protection of House Black, I am willing to supply valuable information once more as an act of good faith.
As you have no doubt gathered from our previous written correspondence, the Dark Lord has taken up residency within the Ancestral Mansion of my late husband's family.
However, approximately two days ago, he has set off to the continent. I cannot tell you what it is he seeks over there, since I do not know myself.
Still, judging by the behavior of his most trusted followers, he is not to be expected back too soon.
I would therefore like to offer you an opportunity to strike once more. As of late, the Dark Lord has shown growing concern for his familiar, the Snake Nagini.
She remains under heavy protection within Malfoy Manor with strict orders to feed her twice a day.
In an attempt to humiliate me, my late husband, and my son even further, I, the Lady of the House, was tasked to feed the beast like a common house elf.
I accepted the degrading task and performed it dutifully for two days now.
However, my thoughts have been with you, and I have kept my eyes and ears open to gather as much information as possible.
I truly believe that the snake holds more than simple sentimental value to the Dark Lord.
He has remarkably strong control over her, even as a Parseltongue, though naturally, I recognize that you are more knowledgeable in that field.
In exchange for information on how to enter Malfoy Manor undetected and kill the snake, I request secure passage with you to Grimmauld Place, where I know I will be safe.
I expect your reply.
Narcissa Malfoy ne Black
Lady of House Malfoy
Harry had to grant it to her... Narcissa Malfoy proved to be very astute about the situation. He pondered over what he had learned from the letter. Voldemort was on the continent, searching for something or someone. This snake had been left behind, under heavy protections within a mansion full of Death Eaters.
However, he had an informant within there, who, thanks to her position, was an expert on the mansions wards and how to navigate through it undetected.
Fleur stirred on top of him and pressed herself closer to him before stretching out her arms and legs. Her blues eyes found him: "You should not be frowning like that after everything we got up to last night... It did not seem like you went to sleep unsatisfied..."
"Don't worry..." Harry shook his head and grinned: "It's definitely not that... I just received some mail this morning... here."
He handed her the letter from Narcissa Malfoy and Fleur skimmed over it briefly: "I can't say I fully trust her yet, but it sounds like a great opportunity to take out the Snake."
Harry nodded, still deep in thought: "We should do it then."
"You know I will be with you, my love," Fleur whispered and gave him a searing kiss.
"I will send a quick reply." Harry broke the kiss and crawled out of the bed: "Hopefully we will have directions by tonight."
Fleur bit her bottom lips at the sight of her naked boyfriend walking over to the wardrobe. Watching Harry was candy for the eye. If only they could remain in bed a bit longer...
"Oh, and by the way, my NEWT results finally arrived." Harry added and gestured for the open letter on the bedside table: "Looks like I have beaten you once more." He grinned before disappearing into the bathroom.
Around 11:00 pm that night, an owl with a reply finally arrived:
To Harry Potter,
Remember the following instructions carefully. Both our lives depend on the success of this mission.
There is only one feasible way into my former home since there are currently over 50 Death Eaters stationed here and the remaining werewolves are spread around the Manor's perimeter:
In the field before our Manor, there is a shack with some empty stalls inside, used by the house elves to store farming equipment.
Walk over to the pig stall, search for the letter M carved into the stone tiles on the wall, and speak the words:
Pecunia Non Olet
It will open a passageway that will lead you all the way into the dungeons, deep underneath Malfoy Manor.
The Dark Lord has taken control over the wards, however, by entering the Manor through the passageway, you can bypass them.
The escape route had been built at least a century before the wards had been upgraded for the last time, it is as old as the Manor itself.
With the death of my family, no one else besides me and now you know about this secret passage.
I will meet you in the dungeons.
The hallways in the Manor are patrolled so heavily by followers of the Dark Lord, that it is impossible to navigate unless you impersonate someone, who belongs to the inner circle and has clearance to any part of the Manor, apart from the Dark Lord's quarters.
Tonight, Serena Flint, the aunt of Marcus Flint, and Corban Yaxley will be patrolling the ground floor and dungeons.
Make sure to bring some polyjuice so the two of you (Since I assume you will take your girlfriend) can impersonate them and move freely within the Manor.
To both our freedoms,
Narcissa Malfoy ne Black,
Lady of House Malfoy
"She just expects us to have polyjuice laying around?" Fleur huffed in annoyance: "How are we supposed to find some on such short notice.
Harry merely grinned at her: "I will be right back with you." Then he vanished with a soft snap.
"Harry, it's good to see you." Slytherin's portrait greeted him from the wall behind the desk: "Are you looking for something?"
"Already found it." Harry grinned and held up a flask that he had stored for over four years, almost forgetting about it: "Tonight, Voldemort becomes mortal once more."
"You are going after the Snake?" The Founder asked curiously: "Perhaps you want to take some Felix, just to be on the save side?"
Images of the inevitable final confrontation with Voldemort swirled through his mind. In addition, he had played with the idea for some time, to use the Liquid Luck to take the Elderwand from Dumbledore. He shook his head: "There will be more important circumstances, where I might actually need luck. Tonight is all about stealth... a different potion will help us with that." He grinned as he held up the small flask.
"Be careful then." The portrait nodded: "And let me know once you are back and safe."
"I will." Harry nodded, just before he apparated right back into the living room of Fleur's apartment.
"You know I hate it when you do that, Harry James Potter!" Fleur went off on him, as soon as he came back: "I can't believe it would have hurt to remain a few seconds longer and to simply tell me where you are going!"
"Sorry, love." Harry shot her a cheeky smile: "Just making sure we are prepared for tonight..." He held up the flask and shook it from left to right so they could both hear it was still full.
Fleur looked at him in disbelief: "Are you trying to tell me that you have poly juice potion in there? Where in Morgana's name did you get that from so quickly?"
"Polyjuice, as long as one has not added the hair, does not go bad for years." Harry grinned: "I took this one from Hermione Granger, who brewed it in the second year, trying to prove I was the Heir of Slytherin."
"Are you sure it's safe to use?" Fleur asked suspiciously: "I have never heard of a second-year student attempting to brew such a difficult potion..."
"It worked perfectly well on the two test subjects who used it." Harry explained: "And I hate to admit it, but Granger is one of the best students Hogwarts has produced in recent years. It is a shame that she is also a stuck-up bitch."
Fleur chuckled and waved her rosewood wand. She produced two small vials out of thin air. Harry handed over the flask and she poured an equal amount into each vial.
"That should give us roughly an hour each." Harry noted satisfied: "It's rather ironic actually. Back then, Longbottom had expressed his frustration after they did not figure out anything about the Chamber of Secrets, even after impersonating my housemates. He argued that they should have followed through with his suggestion, of infiltrating the Slytherin common room instead, and checking if Malfoy knew anything about it."
"And now we use a potion that could have been intended to get information from Draco Malfoy to break into his childhood home." Fleur added with a smirk: "Rather ironic indeed. Should we get going then? Do you know where it is?" Fleur asked while fixing her long hair.
"I have been very close to it before." Harry nodded: "I saw the Mansion the night I killed Crabbe Sr. I will take us there."
Fleur glanced over herself once more in the mirror. She had tried her best to replicate a female Death Eater outfit, by wearing a long dark skirt, an equally expansive top, black heels, and a black cloak. Once she changes into Serena Flint, she could still perform some minor adjustments.
Harry was dressed equally in dark, almost pitch-black clothes. He also pocketed his Cloak in case of an emergency. The young wizard held out his hand and they vanished with a soft snap. The couple reappeared at the edge of the forest Harry had apparated to almost two years ago in the night before the legend of the pureblood killer began.
However, now, Crabbe's house looked abandoned. In the distance, they saw the dark towers and roofs of Malfoy Manor illuminated by the few windows and torches on the outside. Just as Narcissa explained, a few hundred meters in front of the Manor, right in the open field, they saw a lonely shack, slightly smaller than the Shrieking Shack at Hogwarts.
"Let's move," Harry whispered and gestured towards it. Since it might be easy to be spotted in the open field, the couple disillusioned themselves and walked down the small hill until they reached the edge of the field. A minute later, they reached the old, ruined shack.
"Homonum Revelio." Harry heard Fleur whisper beside him: "It's clear," She replied a moment later after the spell did not detect anything.
With a flick of his wand, he broke the heavy lock on the door and entered what Narcissa had rightfully described as a storage space for farming and gardening tools. They both dispelled their disillusionment charms and looked around. Towards one side of the shack, they noticed the wooden gates of former stalls. Each was labeled with a different animal, so it was rather easy to find the one which used to house any pigs owned by the Malfoy family.
A split second later, Fleur spotted the elegantly carved letter M for Malfoy on a tile on the wall. They each stepped right in front of it and it was Fleur, who spoke the words, which seemed hilariously ironic, loud and clearly:
"Pecunia Non Olet."
The letter on the wall began shimmering in a faint golden color, as a gap appeared underneath it, with a staircase leading down into its depths.
"If this passageway crosses the ward line but does not trigger any of its defenses, as Lady Malfoy explained, then using magic within it should be fine," Fleur deducted. Her wand flicked upwards in her palm and a bright ball of warm light hovered towards the entrance of the passageway and illuminated the many steps that would lead them deep into the ground.
"Clever thinking." Harry complimented her: "Are you ready for this?"
Fleur tightened the grip on her rosewood wand. The Veela's eyes gleamed with anticipation and she gave him a determined look: "For us... For our future."
"For us, indeed." Harry nodded and led the way into enemy territory. They walked in silence between the rough walls of the passageway. The stench was so bad that Harry played with the idea of casting a bubblehead charm on himself. Small, cracked bones of dead rats and mice were spread all over the slippery floor of the path. Next to him, Fleur wrinkled her nose in disgust.
The couple walked for another ten minutes until the path inclined and they encountered another set of stairs, this time ascending. Soon, they approached what looked like a solid path, marking the end of their journey. Harry gripped his wand more tightly, preparing himself for whatever could meet them on the other side, in case their informant was caught and the intrusion detected.
A few feet away from the stone wall, Harry felt them approaching a ward line. He looked over to his girlfriend expectantly. After all, she was the expert in this branch of magic: "It's a simple trigger ward, usually utilized to conceal a hidden entrance. I assume it will grant us access through the stone wall, as soon as we trigger it."
"Fair enough," Harry nodded. "Let's go then."
He took a step forward and crossed the threshold. Harry felt the ward activate around him and watched with a curious expression as the stonewall moved to the side by itself, revealing the outline of a single person that stood in a dimly lit room.
Harry was instantly on alert and pointed his wand at the person, a dozen spells on his lips.
"It's me, Narcissa Malfoy." The person spoke in a clear voice. The tip of her wand lit up and illuminated the pale face, hollow eyes of the youngest Black sister.
"What were the last words I exchanged with you and Draco when we met at Hogwarts after your husband's death?" Harry asked, pointing the tip of his wand at the woman's chest.
The woman gulped heavily: "You said: 'Think about whether your pureblood fantasies are really worth your life.'"
"I am glad you remember my words, Lady Malfoy." Harry lowered his wand after confirming her identity.
"Where exactly are we?" He looked around, while Fleur kept an eye on Narcissa, showing great signs of distrust.
"We are in a cellar underneath the dungeons" The woman explained and turned towards a heavy door: "I take it, you managed to find some polyjuice?"
"Luckily, I always keep some in inventory... You know... for situations like this..." Harry shrugged and followed her: "Where are Flint and Yaxley right now?"
"I have timed it so they should pass the corridor in the dungeon above us in a few minutes. Let us get moving." Lady Malfoy stated and tapped the handle of the heavy door with her wand. It unlocked and swung open, to reveal a narrow staircase leading upwards into the Manor.
Narcissa unlocked another door and the trio found themselves standing in a corridor lit by torches. Harry gestured for them to wait behind a corner: "Where are you going to wait for us?" He asked Narcissa.
"I will remain down here and stay for your return," Narcissa explained, just when they heard the faint echo of footsteps.
"And how is young Markus doing?" Harry recognized the voice of Corban Yaxley.
"After Potter tricked the old muggle lover into expelling Markus, the family decided its best to send him to Durmstrang to finish his education. He managed to archive their equivalent to our OWLs and NEWTs. I assume he is out on the grounds with the rest of the recruits... Preparing himself for his next encounter with Potter's halfbreed. It will end differently than at Azkaban."
"Make sure he lets me have some fun with her too, before they dispose of her. That's all those creatures are good for anyways." Yaxley barked in laughter.
Heat radiated from Fleur and she shot around the corner. Harry watched in fascination as her wand flicked twice with incredible speed and two bright red lightning bolts struck the chests of the approaching Death Eaters almost simultaneously.
"Good job, love," Harry whispered in her ear as he summoned both their wands and snapped them.
There was still a fire in the Veela's eyes as her wand was trained on Yaxley.
"We will kill them on our way back." Harry stated: "I don't want to risk anything with the poly juice potion.
Fleur simply nodded and bent over to plug a single hair from Serena Flint's brown ponytail, while Harry did the same for Yaxley. The trio watched in silence as the vials bubbled when the hair was added to them. Harry clenched his nostrils together and down the vial in one gulp. It burned on the way down his throat, tasting like rotten eggs. A second later, he felt his bones starting to shift as a fire spread through his entire body.
He dropped a few inches in height and gained a slight belly. His hair grew longer and lost some of its colors almost blocking his vision. He looked over his shoulder and chuckled as Fleur glanced at herself in a small hand mirror while cupping her own boob with a frown: "Don't look at me, Harry. I am ugly!"
Her long platinum blond hair had shortened and she was close to a foot smaller in height. Her lovely curves were gone and she had also gained some fat on her belly. They each flicked their wands and adjusted their own robes to match those of the stunned Death Eaters.
"We will be back shortly," Harry said to Narcissa and received a frown in return. "I have not told you where the snake is yet!"
"I don't need you to." Harry smiled coldly: "I can sense her already."
With that, he tugged on Fleur's hand and dragged her with him, while Narcissa pulled her wand and levitated each stunned victim behind the corner. Harry moved through the corridors and hallways with ease as Fleur followed him. From their intrusion into Draco's mind, he had a rather detailed layout of the large Manor.
In addition, he had not lied when he explained that he could already sense the presence of Voldemort's familiar magic close to him. It did not feel like the man himself, but very similar to how the other Horcruxes had felt.
On the next staircase, they met the first person besides Narcissa. A filthy-looking short man, who quickly moved aside to grant them some space. Probably some cheap mercenaries, Voldemort hired to build his strength and manpower.
They reached a well-lit drawing room and Harry could make out its wide proportions. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, more portraits against the dark purple walls. Several figures looked up briefly from their chairs in front of an ornate marble fireplace and nodded shortly in greeting.
They took another staircase and walked up two more floors when they ran into someone Harry recognized immobility.
"Yaxley!" The man in front of him called out: "I was hoping to catch you."
Fleur stifled ever so slightly beside him and for good reason... Augustus Rookwood approached them, his cold calculating eyes shifting from Harry to Fleur and back to Harry.
"How may I help you, Rookwood?" Harry said, doing his best impression of Yaxley's body language. internally, he cursed the situation... Rookwood was, beside the Dark Lord himself, the one person it would be incredibly difficult to deceive. The man was too smart for his own good.
"As you know, the Dark Lord has given me temporally control over the wards while he is gone." Rookwood explained slowly: "The wards in this Manor were in a bad state, to begin with..."
"Get to the point, Rookwood." Fleur snarled beside him, doing a fairly good impression of how Serena Flint might react if someone was wasting her time.
"But of course, Flint." Rookwood bowed mockingly: "I just came to notify you that two unknown people have triggered my latest addition to the wards. I assume it is simply Scabior who brought some more filth to our doorstep, or the werewolves have taken some living prey this time. I simply wanted you to look out for anything suspicious... But you have seen nothing so far, have you?"
"Can't say we have." Harry shook his head and held the man's piercing gaze.
The former Unspeakable regarded each of them for a few more seconds before shooting them a cold smile: "Very well, carry on then." he walked backward a couple of steps, his eyes not leaving Harry's bevor he disappeared behind a corner.
A small sigh of relief escaped each of them and they continued their path through manor greeting other Death Eaters on their way up. The Snake's presence grew closer and closer. Harry knew he was on the right floor already, and increased his pace.
The long corridor he now stood in, seemed very familiar to the one Draco had walked through on his way to receiving his last mission to pick up the Diadem at Hogwarts. If Harry was not mistaken, then Voldemort's private Quarters should be all the way at the end of it.
They approached the final door, of which Harry knew Nagini would be behind. He took a deep breath and tightened the hold on his wand. then, Harry pressed down the handle and entered the room. His eyes took a second to get used to the darkness, as the corridor they just came through, had been especially bright.
Suddenly a shiver ran down his spine and he felt some kind of magical presence accelerate at them. Just in time, he saw two bright yellow slits of eyes and a loud hiss, then something heavy and powerful slammed into the hastily erected shield in front of him. Harry was pushed into Fleur by the knockback and they both stumbled and fell.
A bright green light flashed from Fleur's wand and briefly illuminated dark green smooth skin and a powerful muscular body. Harry cast another shield around them and they felt something slam into it, knocking them back once more. Almost as if she read his thoughts, Fleur cast her Lumos spell behind him and they finally got a chance to see their attacker:
Nagini, the great thick snake, was suspended in midair, twisting gracefully within the enchanted, protected space that was made for her, a starry, transparent sphere somewhere between a glittering cage and a tank.
Again and again, Nagini wrenched her mouth wide open, flashing sharp fangs, and slammed into Harry's shield, which he had luckily enforced to a point where it could withstand the attacks.
"Killing curses after I drop my shield!" Harry yelled at Fleur, who had her wide eyes trained on the snake that still desperately tried to find a weakness in her intruders' defenses.
Harry waited just after the Snake bounced off his shield before he dropped it and flicked his wand. Next to him, Fleur mirrored his movements and two bright green curses fizzled through the air. Harry had no idea which one of them had landed the strategic blow, but the Unforgivable tore through the transparent sphere surrounding the reptile.
Unfortunately, it missed the Snake within it, but at least they had gotten rid of her magical protection. Nagini hissed angrily after she dropped to the ground with a loud thud and attacked Harry once more.
He managed to sidestep her attack and brought his wand upwards in one fluent motion. A fiery whip wrapped itself around the snake's thick body, burning through the smooth skin of Nagini's torso. She hissed in pain, as she dropped to the floor, where Fleur managed to connect with a cutting curse. Still, Nagini showed remarkable resistance despite her injuries.
Harry grew annoyed... They were running out of time and making too much noise... He took careful aim:
"Avada Kedavra!"
Another green flash surged from the tip of his wand and connected with the snake's head. Its heavy body slammed to the ground and remained motionless. A thick black substance leaked from the reptile's eyes, nostrils, and its powerful jaw.
"We did it!" Fleur gasped beside him, panting heavily.
Indeed... The Horcrux was destroyed... As of right now, Voldemort was mortal.
However, there was no time to enjoy the rush of euphoria Harry felt surging through his body. A dark purple spell missed Fleur's head by a hair's breadth. He swirled around to the door and was met with the sight of a grinning Augustus Rookwood:
"It's over, Potter." The man smiled coldly as his long white finger pressed into the Black tattoo on his arm.