Emma sighed as she saw the two older girls and the two men looked in disbelief at her girl while her boyfriend looked at Hermione like he had never seen her before. "Hermione…" Emma said with clear disappointment. "We accepted you are a witch and I am smart enough to be sure a 'Campione' is not a title for the boy who has gotten you pregnant."
Hermione looked to the floor and mumbled. "I don't know how to explain it to you." Cressida sighed and cut off the response from Sirius and Remus. "Then why didn't you ask me Hermione. Do you really think it is the first time someone from Witenagemot needed to explain the existence of heretic entities to those of a religious background?"
"My precious daughter can be overly proud about her own intelligence." Dan noted as he kept his eyes on the road. "And we are not easily offended. Our daughter is a witch and according to the people who read too deeply into the good lord's book she should be burned. As you can see our daughter is haughty and hale."
Hermione shrunk into herself and Harry reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder. The rest of the ride was in a pensive silence and Dan parked the minibus in front of an upstate standalone home. The group rolled out of the bus and into the home as Dan gave a quick introduction of his house. Remus stayed behind to cast a few spells and Harry noted to himself to ask the werewolf what he had cast.
He also briefly wondered why there were no owls appearing before dismissing the line of thought. He highly doubted they would drag anyone in front of the Witenagemot for using magic in front of those in the know. And otherwise, he was a Campione so the rules had a rather loose relationship with him.
"So, let us clear this unpleasant subject before returning to more fun matters. I can leave the scolding of my child for a later moment." Emma said pleasantly and Hermione fidgeted for a moment in nervousness. "Uhm…" Hermione said out loud to cut off Cressida. "Do you remember after the first year how I explained there was a lot of the world hidden away?"
"Like how dragons existed and slipped into 'our' world's stories. And that there was a magical Hitler was behind the second world war?" Dan asked. Hermione nodded "This year I found there was another layer. I did say there were other magical societies that did not interact much with ours… until the first task forced the two in Britain together."
"The first task where Harry was nearly killed." Emma said with firm disapproval. Harry winced slightly. "In any other circumstance I would be killed." Harry said softly and he ignored Hermione's pleading look to shut up. "However becoming an Campione comes with a once in a lifetime full repair of your body."
Both Emma and Dan opened their mouths to ask a barrage of questions. "A Campione is a title for someone who killed a heretic 'god'. This is not the same kind of 'god' you believe in." Cressida interrupted. "These 'gods' can be best described as legends materialized. Only to rebel against what they once stood for in pursuit of a goal, usually endless hedonism."
"They are comparable in power to a natural disaster. Only to be stopped by a Campione, or in the rare case like Harry. An extraordinary individual who opposes them and succeeds." Cressida went on to explain how rare Campione were and Harry was silently impressed how it danced around the entire 'divine' part of the subject.
"I can see why you weren't trying to explain this through a letter." Dan admitted grudgingly to his daughter. "So Harry is now what… the magical king?" he asked with some disbelief. "As far I am concerned England has a queen." Harry grumbled. Remus stomped in Sirius's toes before the man could say anything. He pouted childishly at Remus as Dan gave an approving nod.
Emma clapped her hands. "Well. That solves that mystery. Regardless of why you are here I am glad my daughter considers you three her friends." her tone made it clear she considered the subject closed much to her daughter's relief. With that subject out of the way the group fell into relaxed talks about the rest of the year.
Plans were forged for what they would do this summer. The Granger elders were unwilling to commit to anything until they had actually seen and spoken to the people their daughter had often mentioned. Not willing to impose on them much longer Harry called it a day before it could get too dark.
They made their way to Sirius's ancestral home Grimmauld Place in a bumpy ride in the Knight Bus. Harry had half expected to see the scorch marks on the freshly painted halls as Sirius had described how a team of aurors with the help of an unspeakable backed up by a team of curse breakers hired from Gringotts had to fight the magical pests, traps and lingering curses to make the place safe for inhabitation.
"Welcome home Harry." Sirius said with grandiosity as he led the group into the living room. "Thank you again for lending Dobby's services. Kreacher is just counting his time these days." They barely had time to sit down when Dobby started to make food appear on the table. "Thank you Dobby." Harry called out and to his surprise he didn't have a frantically happy elf at his feet.
"Huh. He must be busy with all the work you give him." Harry said with a shrug. They were soon busy devouring the meal the loyal elf had prepared for them. With dinner behind them Harry was guided by his new room and he was impressed the man had resisted the urge to turn the place into a tribute to the Gryffindor house. Granted the colours could be found in the decor but it was left an at acceptable level.
A single look towards Remus confirmed that the werewolf had a hand in reigning in Sirius's excesses.
Sirius then explained with a fairly convincing pout that Remus had blocked any attempts to ensure Harry had the same close attention of 'his' girls at Hogwarts and then showed the girls their rooms. Mia had shrugged and simply conveyed her gratitude to Sirius while Cressida had let out a very convincing sigh she wasn't allowed to sleep in Harry's room.
"Well, you could always sneak over during the night. Since the ward breakers smashed dear old mum off the wall nobody will notice." Sirius suggested with a grin. "Just remember to let Harry put up a silencing charm before he puts that Campione-grade stamina to work." "Horndog." Harry accused his godfather with a blush.
Sirius grin increased only for Remus to interfere with his fun with a well placed smack to the back of the head. "I believe Harry left the girl to do such activities with, back at her parents house." he stated firmly like a person scolding a dog. "And he is several years too young." "Oh come on Moony." Sirius whined as he rubbed his head.
"No. I am being the responsible adult you are supposed to be." "That sounds like being an adult." Sirius replied in a mock whine. "I got a manchild as a godfather." was Harry's despondent sigh. Cressida patted his head in a mocking way. "I will be your babysitter then." Harry mustered an halfhearted glance as Remus and Sirius got into a hushed discussion as Remus clearly wasn't in the mood to put up with Sirius's childishness.
"I am going to tuck in early tonight." Harry noted as he saw that Remus and Sirius wouldn't be hashing out their issues anytime soon. "Good night." "Good night." Mia and Cressida replied amused before heading to their own rooms.
Harry didn't take much note of the brown owl winging its way into the living room the next morning while he stretched muscles for the warm up with Mia. He curiosity was roused however as the avian made a beeline for Cressida and dropped a letter on her lap with all due haste before leaving just as quickly as it had come in.
The befuddled look from Cressida made it clear she wasn't expecting a letter and she quickly set to work getting the contents and reading them. "Oh." she said dumbly at the end of it with a wince when she thought it over. Sirius who was silently sipping his tea while scanning the Daily Prophet lowered the newspaper. "Bad news?" he asked worriedly.
"Not… exactly. The Japanese Campione has decided he wants a meeting with Princess Alice. He is open to visit but he did not have the courtesy to warn us through his own servants ahead of time. He will land in four hours." Cressida explained with a dismayed look. "So my 'twin' is coming over?" Harry asked in confirmation. He was surprised he would meet another Campione so soon.
"Yes Harry. He is. He will land in London City Airport." Cressida replied neutrally as she carefully watched Harry. Despite his admirable reasonable behavior compared to the other Campione, his kind could be downright territorial. Between Harry's liberal use of magic and Kusanagi Goduo's penchant for destroying national monuments today could turn into a very bad day for everyone around London.
"Huh. Any special preparations we should make?" Harry asked and Cressida shook her head. "Alright. I am going on our run then. Could you fetch whatever information the Witenagemot has on him?" he asked Cressida who nodded. "Alright. So you all in a bit." he called out with a wave. Sirius returned it with a bemused look as he watched Harry and Mia leave to exercise outside.
"Is this Kusanagi person trouble?" Sirius asked seriously as he put down his newspaper. "He is a well known lecher and has destroyed multiple national landmarks in his short career as Campione. But he does not seem to pick fights." Cressida answered as she rose to find Hedwig and a letter to write on. She was certain the appearance of the British Campione distinctive owl would ensure her request would be read and replied on with all due haste.
"Alright. I'll poke Remus out of his hidey hole." Sirius said as he made to follow. "I think it would be better if you stay away." Cressida replied as they walked down the walkway. "I am well aware that I…" Sirius started to protest but stopped as Cressida stopped and turned around. "It is not your childish behavior. Should it come to conflict you are just in the way. Both Mia and I possess certain magics that allow us to escape while your wizarding methods might fail in the face of all the divine energy a pair of Campione will release."
"Our magic is not that unreliable." SIrius protested but to Cressida's he slumped. "But I know what you are saying. I would try to punch this other Campione in the face if he tried to do something to Harry. Which would get me killed."
"I meant no offence." Cressida said carefully to make it clear this would be the closest he would get to an apology. Sirius waved it off and continued past her to find Remus and inform him of what their day was going to be.
Despite the oddity and general chaos it induced on the traffic control the small private jet was parked at the edge of the tarmac and a portable stairway was rolled up to the door. Harry glanced around and confirmed this was about the furthest one could get two potential disasters away from the densely populated city.
He was glad they had agreed Hermione would spend this day with her parents so that the Granger family could get caught up. He suspected Sirius was currently tied down by Remus back in the ancestral Black house. Or the pair were somewhere closer concealed under every hiding spell the pranksters had learned over the years.
The black haired youth leading a group of women approached his own. Harry kicked himself mentally. He was expecting some tower of a guy while he could look in the mirror and know a Campione didn't turn you into that. Harry's green eyes met the warm brown ones and Harry decided they were relatively friendly, although he also saw a glint he saw more often in the true Slytherins in Hogwarts.
"Godou Kusanagi?" Harry asked as other Campione came into earshot. "Harry Potter?" Godou asked in reply. With gathered courage Harry stepped forward and stuck out his hand. "Pleased to meet you. You landed between the hourly showers the city takes." "As well." Godou replied unsurely at the welcoming joke.
Harry took in the other Campione once again and remembered they were considered 'twins'. Since the young man was quite handsome Harry was certain the witches in Hogwarts would be all over him like the wizards were with Fleur. This thought triggered a memory from another set of twins he knew. "Well... If you are the pretty one. I suppose I should be the smart one." he blurted out.
Godou blinked in surprise and Harry was certain Cressida and Mia were mirroring the anxious expressions Godou's entourage were sporting. He rallied however and grinned. "And I seem to have another annoying younger sibling." he said as he shook Harry's hand. Harry returned the grin and decided Godou was alright if he could turn a blurt into a joke.
"You are not going to lecture me on my so-called infidelity are you?" he asked with mock suspicion. Harry suspected it was a reference to either the younger sister Harry knew the other Campione had or his reputation. "You are free to do with your harem as you please. Just please adhere to English sensibilities and keep it within closed doors." Harry noted with the most serious voice he could muster.
Godou choked on air but Harry carried on regardless as he tried to stop himself from giggling. The mixed expressions from Godou's 'harem' showed not all were opposed to the idea. "And please try to keep your destructive tendencies in check. We have a lot of national monuments and we are rather fond of them." Godou kept sputtering for a moment before grumbling about something in what Harry suspected was Japanese. It was too low for him to hear properly.
"You are just as annoying. Just in a different way." Godou said after composing himself. "I'll take that as a complement." Harry said with a nod. "Well. Once again welcome to England. I understand you are here to see Princess Alice?" Godou nodded with a slightly worried look. "Then I believe the Witenagemot should have a car ready for you. Please give her my regards when you see her."
Godou relaxed. "I will. If things don't get too urgent I'd like to meet you again." "The same. Good luck with what you are doing." Harry replied and the pair shook hands again. One of the Witenagemot people took it as their queue and rushed forward to guide the Japanese Campione away while Harry turned around and walked back to the car he arrived in.
Once the car was underway Harry broke the tense silence in the group. "I like him. He seems like a decent guy" he said simply. "That joke was careless of you." Cressida scolded and Harry chuckled nervously. "I just blurted it out. Since the twins make that joke from time to time and well you know…" Mia chuckled as well while Cressida clearly didn't see the humor in it.
"Oh relax Cressida. No catastrophic fight broke out and Harry told Campione Kusanagi to not turn the Big Ben into a pile of rubble. Or unleash his lecherous desires on the unsuspecting maidens of this land." Mia scolded her fellow Witenagemot member. Cressida sighed and decided to let it go. Harry had shown that he could act properly when he sent the letter for Voban.
They were soon delivered in the general area where Sirius's house stood. People from limousines tended to attract attention and Harry felt no reason to push the magics hiding the house from the mundane.
He unlocked the door and soon found out the house was empty. This brought forth a frown as he was reasonably sure they had agreed to make this a lazy day. "Did they tell you two anything that they were going out?" Both girls shook their heads and the frown increased in severity. "I think they might have gone out as well."
"Despite the fact I asked them to stay here?" Harry asked annoyed as he wondered if they had truly followed him or they were being set up for an elaborate prank. They heard the heavy wooden door open again. "Dammit Moony. We still haven't found them. Harry might be fighting this other guy somewhere." they heard Sirius complain.
"If that had happened we would have noticed." Remus pointed out calmly. "So let's just act like nothing occurred Padfoot before Harry… finds…." "Out?" Harry finished for him and Sirius' head snapped around. "Ehehe… Hi Harry?" He greeted lamely and Harry for a moment wondered if this was like how professor McGonagall felt after she caught the twins in the aftermath of a prank.
"I am happy to let you know the meeting went splendidly. Godou Kusanagi seems to be an alright guy." Harry spoke and through his words he knew he would answer a few questions the pair of men had. He couldn't muster to feel really annoyed as he was too busy trying to get a handle of all the wriggly feelings for such a blatant display of caring about him. "The next time you might want to ask Cressida for directions."
"We knew where it was. A private plane isn't hard to find. We just couldn't get there without being spotted. A random oversized mutt didn't make anything easier as the guards they had out got suspicious." Sirius made to protest but he bit his lip under the withering glare Remus sent him.
"Being an adult sucks." Sirius said instead as he sulked. "Never grow up Harry." The Campione snorted. "If it was only that easy. I am just glad you didn't get yourself hurt."