Joshua's green eyes scanned the horizon, crouched behind a rock outcropping at the very edge of camp. He hadn't been of age to fight in the demon wars until the very last battles, his blood was thrumming for the chance to prove himself in this new world. For now guard duty, but eventually he'd make himself known. All his senses on high alert, not wanting to miss anything. Even now he needed to prove himself perfect, he needed to live up to high standards after all. People like him didn't get chances like this.
His compatriot obviously had no such intention, leaning casually against the rocks. "You're one of them… What do they call y'all, newbloods, right?" He asked curiously. The man wearing a ridiculous cowboy hat of all things.
Joshua had indeed been part of the newblood generation. Shortly after the Legion invaded and magickind was facing possible extinction, the magical world instituted the newblood policy. Widows or unattached witches or squibs that were not on the frontlines were required to periodically give birth to new blood. It was up to them if they wanted to do it the normal way, or with the help of potions and spells. Equally it was up to them whether to raise the child, or give it to the government.
"Yes, I am." He said quietly. Hoping to leave it at that. He hadn't spent anytime alone with this particular member of the team before. The man was almost as new as Joshua. And painfully visible. Cowboy hat, trenchcoat and an accent that butchered proper English. Joshua hadn't had to deal with someone like him until joining up.
"So you're on a team like this one, you must have been one of the kept ones, yeah?" The man who seemed to have no idea what sentry and guard duty meant, asked.
Joshua had not been kept, had not had a family. He had grown up in the newblood community, run by the elderly wizards and witches that couldn't support the war. They could however raise and teach a whole cadre of children, sending them off to Hogwarts at 11, each newblood receiving their last name from the sorting hat, the old relic no longer having houses to sort. Joshua had received special dispensation to use his mother's name. A rarity, as most newbloods that were not raised with their family were not told who their parents were.
No family, no history, no support other than what you could make with your own two hands. The newbloods were the troops, not the officers. The bureaucrats not the minister. There was no open bigotry, it was simply how things were. Family was important in the magical world. Newbloods had no family.
Joshua shook his head fiercely, a scowl darkening his round, usually friendly face. There was no use in continuing to obsess over that. He had gotten to where he was by his own mettle after all. No family connections led to him being part of the wolfpack. He had never even spoken to his mother. The commander had approached him and offered the chance personally. Because he deserved to be here!
"No." He answered simply after the silence became oppressive. The other man looked like he wanted to ask another question. Joshua's ears twitched as he heard a bird call in the distance, he stopped the other man with a raised hand, listening intently. A birdcall from earth, a signal to gather at the commander's side. He exchanged a look with his compatriot and they both leapt into action.
Joshua sank into his mind, allowing himself to blend with the presence that was always there, stalking the pathways of his mind, protecting him, making sure he was never alone, roaming his dreams. He howled as the change came over him, the pain an old friend. Limbs elongating and growing fur, claws appearing, ripping into the ground, creating deep furrows, fur rippling down his torso as a snarling maw howled out for pack. His clothes resized and stayed on, his boots sliding open to let clawed feet out. With a jump he covered 30 feet immediately and set out at a fast pace on all fours to gather with the rest of the pack. His compatriot followed close behind.
The all werewolf squad of the special operative unit was on the prowl. Maybe now he'd have a chance to prove himself. Breaking duty to assemble was unusual, which probably meant a mission.
Four minutes later he approached the camp of their commander, slowing down, transforming back; he was one of the last ones to arrive, he noted with displeasure. At least his talkative compatriot had trailed him, so he wasn't the last or second last. He'd take any small advantage right now to prove himself.
"Took your time, Granger." Teddy Lupin, the commander of the wolfpack chided with a grin. Temporarily transforming his black spiky hair to a shoulder length messy brown, matching Joshua, before turning it back.
Being known as the godson of the Harry Potter ensured not many messed with him. From what Joshua had seen so far, mostly this team seemed to do so, he couldn't understand how they dared. He certainly wouldn't do it.
"Yes, commander Lupin." Joshua replied unhappy at being singled out as late. He joined the rest, everyone standing loosely in a circle waiting for orders, Teddy in the middle. Joshua was the only newblood among them.
The last one of them, Warrington, arrived. Taking his place in the circle. All in all there were twelve of them. Three teams of four.
"What's the reason for abandoning guard duty, Teddy?" Juanita growled, the 4'8 Spanish woman a werewolf no one tangled with. She made up for her short stature by single minded ferociousness and spite, no one took her on by choice.
Teddy grinned and rubbed his hands together, "The best kind of reasons! A hunt!"
There was some stirring at that, below everything else, even after taming and allying with their inner wolves thanks to Augustus Rookwoods experiments, they were predators. A hunt called to their blood.
"What are we sinking our teeth into?" Warrington hooted with a crooked grin.
Teddy wagged a finger admonishingly, "Now, now, we're not chomping down on anyone. Unless we find someone unsavory…"
"Good work in telling us what we're looking for Lupin, truly you are the epitome of efficiency." Jacques Cartier called out sarcastically. The white haired man, the elder of the group at seventy years old. He was also the only one of them that had been a werewolf before the experiments made it safe. Well, safer.
"You're French, your opinion doesn't count." Teddy shot back without hesitation, a normal back and forth between them. Nationality hardly mattered to Joshua, they were all from Camelot now. Although he could certainly do with more of their members speaking proper English. Honestly, it was the official language and all.
"Teddy…" Juanita growled, dragging a hand down her face in frustration. The short woman was closer to nature then the rest of them, having spent most of her life in the Amazon enclave. As such she followed her wolf closer then what most would agree was safe.
Joshua sometimes had to remind himself this was supposedly one of the elite squads of Camelot. This was one of those times, as Teddy stuck out his tongue at Juanita, making the tiny woman growl louder, teeth grinding.
"Fine, fine." Teddy acquiesced, "We're looking for two lost little lambs, James and Lily Potter."
Joshua groaned in unison with the rest of them. When they'd been told a hunt, their hopes had been raised. Instead it was brat catching duty. Joshua had only been on two, never seeing the teens himself, but it was damned annoying to drop everything to find two spoiled brats. Even if he had to quietly remind himself to never say so out loud. They were still royalty.
"What? Was the basilisk guard napping? We literally arrived in a new world, today!" Jacques complained. A sentiment shared by the rest of them. The elite basilisk guard. Constantly failing to nanny some kids. And they were supposed to have been the personal squad of Harry Potter himself! It either said a lot about the kids…Or the standards had fallen quickly.
Joshua had never even met them, from the stories he'd been told he wasn't surprised they'd slipped the leash today of all days. He was surprised the basilisk guard hadn't prepared for it and caught them before they slipped the perimeter. Speaking of…
"How did they sneak past us?" He asked seriously, it was a pertinent question. Not much got past their enhanced senses. Since Joshua had been turned, he could literally smell what someone from a hundred feet away had for dinner yesterday.
There are some mumbled agreements as everyone turned eyes to a grinning Teddy Lupin. His hair turning pink, a proof of him laughing on the inside if there ever was one.
"Weeeellll…." Teddy started, with a massive shit eating grin. "Turns out they lost the kids way before we were in position. And they didn't notice… Until now."
"Amateurs." Jacques sniffed, but even he was grinning ear to ear. The Wolfpack loved it when the basilisks showed themselves inferior, all in good fun of course. No one would stoop to messing about in a real fight.
Teddy started giving out orders, Joshua listening carefully, not overly worried. Apparently the Potter twins were complete hellions. He was sure they'd find them relaxing in some field somewhere. Perfectly safe and happy.
1 hours later.
"You know, this is all your fault." Lily told James matter of factly. Her black hair tied into a ponytail, emerald green eyes glancing at their captors. Her heart shaped face smudged with dirt. Dust and sand covering her entire body,
"Isn't it always?" James replied cheekily, winking at her, looking much the same as his twin. Styling his hair short and messy, twigs and mud stuck in it. "And technically this is the fault of that random dust storm that kicked up out of nowhere!" He complained, "If we hadn't lost our wands when the winds turned into a cyclone we would have easily handled these chumps.*
"If you hadn't been distracting me, I wouldn't have lost my wand, wind or not." Lily sniffed imperiously. Her hands twitched as she tested the strength of the material used to tie her up. She gave a disgusted huff as she failed to get any give, sharing a look with her twin brother. Both teens turned more serious as their captors approached.
"Oh don't stop ye chattering now on my behalf." The tiny little person said mockingly. "Me and my friend here would love to hear all about who you are and what you're doing here."
"I don't know what you're talking about, we're locals, just traveling is all." Lily answered sweetly, making her eyes go big and wide, tears forming. "Please, we don't know what we did to deserve this!"
James snorted, "Sis, that was bad, even for you."
"You little goblin! You didn't even give them a chance to try and believe me! I'll kill you!" Lily roared, face red as she wiggled in the dirt to try and get a good kick in. Only succeeding in kicking some more dirt onto her brother.
James guffawed, rolling in the dirt. "Your face is so red!' He hooted, continuing to laugh and roll around while his sister fumed, spending a good two minutes mock fighting. Before suddenly spinning around, and up on one knee, tossing a handful of dirt into the eyes of the more dangerous looking of their captors. Having used the excuse of the little sibling fight to roll over the sharp rocks at the edge of the camp site, shaving his bindings enough that he could snap them off.
"Really, now." The tiny person complained. James ignored him, jumping over to his sister to break her bindings, but before he could the tall elf looking woman had already moved past the minor inconvenience of dirt in her eyes. James hitting the ground hard as she slid in before him, knocking him down with ease. And for such a lithe looking chick she sure packed a punch!
"Oh, come on… I gave you your opening James. Do I have to do everything by myself?" Lily laid her head on the ground, pouting as she looked at her brother's dazed expression. "We're going to be in so much trouble." She groaned. If they had to be saved everyone was going to hold it over their heads for like… Forever!
"Now you two settle down, we just want to ask some questions, is all. I'm Gaxim Rustfizzle and this is my companion Kaela Shadowspear. What might you lasses names be?" Gaxim asked while Kaela quietly tied James up again, this time tying his legs together as well. James wincing as she pulled the bindings extra tight.
Then he clued in to what was said…
"I'm a guy!" He groaned, putting his forehead against the rocky surface, cheeks red. Trying to ignore Lily's sniggering. Why did he have to take after his twin instead of being super manly and her looking like a guy? He couldn't help looking effeminate, it's why he kept his hair short. "Lily, you need to finally grow some big boobs so this stops happening to me." He begged, mourning his lithe build and lack of facial hair.
Lily spluttered, face burning, "Oh, you did not just go there!" She spat. "There is nothing wrong with my boobs!" They… are just waiting to come in is all, she told herself self consciously. Lots of girls had growth spurts after seventeen, right?
"We won't be falling for that routine again ya hear, now what's yer names? Let's keep it all polite like, aye?" Gaxim twirled his silvery moustache in amusement staring at them.
Lily harrumphed, glaring at the tiny person. Somewhat lessened by the fact she looked adorable, which made it hard to pull off a good glare. "Lily and James Potter."
James mentally griped to himself, seeing Lily's adorable glare. They were seventeen for Merlin's sake, when would they start looking badass like their dad! If he got called cute one more time… Well he'd do something stupid probably.
"What business does some potters have in the Stonetalon Mountains?" Came the melodious voice of their second capturer. The woman squatted down to be more on their level, as well as the tiny Gaxim.
"Potters…" James said with a strained expression. "You think… We do pottery stuff…" He turned to Lily in horror, eyes wide. "Lily, they think we're… Potters!" He hissed, horrified. Lily just rolled her eyes, full rosy lips twisted in amusement.
"Innit what ye just said lad?" Gaxim said with a confused expression on his face.
"It is our name, not our profession." Lily clarified with another roll of her eyes. "And if we're doing question time anyway… What exactly are you?" Lily slowly scooted up into a sitting position, refusing to hold a conversation any longer while positioned like a worm. Ignoring her brother's dramatics and continued whimpers of potters. So he had a small traumatic experience with pottery when they were seven, he needed to get over it.
"Thought ye were locals." Gaxim responded immediately with a wry grin.
"Whatever, just a question for a question seems fair…" Lily said with a shrug.
"I am a Night elf. I would have thought after Hyjal all humans on Kalimdor would know at least that much." Kaela said, her eyes slowly moving from Lily to James, looking thoughtful.
"I am a gnome, the most amazing race in Azeroth of course. Obviously the smartest and sexiest too." Gaxim said, bowing with some flourishment. It took some balls to say that next to what both James and Lily believed to be a very pretty and dangerous looking being, while he was…. Well…
"Of course we knew that… We were just messing with you." James said weakly, "Haha, we… Got you…" He trailed off, seeing the disbelieving looks from their captors and his sister. He looked away, blushing. So he wasn't the best liar; they didn't have to be so rude about it.
"You're quite the puzzle. Humans, but you don't seem to know much of anything you should. Wandering around in an area where we haven't seen any humans at all. Unarmed at that." Gaxim pondered out loud, continuously twirling his moustache. Kaela simply crouched there, watching them like a hawk.
Was there a question anywhere there?" Lily answered tersely. They'd been playing around so far, but she wouldn't answer anything that could lead these strangers to knowing too much.
"Yes, I do hav-" Gaxim paused as Kaela sprung up to attention, bow unslung from her back, an arrow notched in the time it took the Potter twins to blink. "Trouble?" He asked seriously, eyes flickering around the small campsite, his hands falling to his belt where several gadgets and a few bottles hung.
"I am not sure… I think I felt something." Kaela whispered, glowing eyes peering around. Their campsite offered a great view of the surrounding area, in theory making it almost impossible to sneak up on without being heard or seen.
"Well I trust ye senses." Gaxim said determinedly. He grabbed a gadget, it whirring to life with several clicks. He sent the twins a stern look. "Don't go doing something stupid now kiddos. You'd regret it if ye cause trouble and some trolls come up and eat ye."
"We'd never." Lily promised with a saccharine smile. James nodded his head trying to appear serious but mostly achieved a look of constipation. He was resigned to what came next.
Out of nowhere ropes came flying, completely encircling and tying up the surprised gnome. The witch who had sent the silent spell dropping her invisibility to stand before the Potter twins. Causally waving her wand to cover them with a domed shield as Kaela shot an amazing number of arrows at her in just a few seconds. Before she also was tied up as well as stunned for good measure as more wizards and witches appeared from thin air.
Katie Bell turned her head and stared down at the two tied up and embarrassed twins. "I can't wait to hear this story!" She told them with a smirk, hand on her hip. " Losing your wands!" She laughed, the twins' faces reddened further as they heard the chuckles from the rest of the team.
"Most awesomest aunt and coolest of teachers, the badassest of badasses." James began, Katie stopping him before he got too far.
"Your dad already knows James." She said with a twinkle in her eyes. "You've really improved your bullshit game though, good work." She teased, nudging him with her foot.
She whistled, loud and piercing. Lionhearts answering shriek heard in the distance. "So Lily, what's your word on this, you've been awfully quiet for my little cutie?"
Lily groaned, "I was like six, please stop calling me that. I'm an adult now."
"Well, if you're adults now I guess I won't have a discussion about safe words and how to really play into this bondage kink you both have, you're old enough to play safe without an auntie embarrassing you further." Katie said mock innocently. With a positively filthy grin.
"It is not… That. Give us a break." James whined. They'd only ended up tied up like… thirteen times now. "It's not on purpose!"
"You're enjoying this!" Lily accused her, eyes narrowed. Trying to ignore how red her cheeks were from the insinuation. Pushing down the memories of Katie giving them the talk, both at the same time. The twins had not spent time in the same room for six months after that.
"Oh I am. Sooo much." Katie agreed cheerfully. Lionheart swooping down, trotting over to her side. "This is almost as good as when I found the both of you snogging the same girl behind each other's back. That was a classic." She said fondly, patting Lionheart's head.
"We should have Obliviated you." Lily muttered. Eyes closed as if she could close out the embarrassment. They'd never live down the fact the both of them had their first girlfriend and it turned out to be the same girl. That had been beyond awkward. They'd both dumped her immediately of course. But everyone remembered. Their dad still had the newspaper articles about it framed on his wall, just to tease them about it. Merlin, the girl still to this day was famous for snogging them both. What was the point of being a royal princess when you couldn't execute people embarassing you.
"You should have." Katie agreed, "If you were a hundred years older, as that's the only time you might have stood a chance."
"We've been embarrassed, you've laughed. Then we've been even more embarrassed and you've laughed some more. Can you let us go now?" James begged, trying to make his eyes big and puppy-like, sticking out his bottom lip. Going for a kicked puppy look.
"Nah, you're already prepackaged, saves me a hassle." Katie chuckled. She waved over to her team, "Cormac and Vyacheslav, grab the royal pains in the butt and apparate them back to camp, side-along, make it as spinny as you can." She ordered, to the twins dismay. She winked at them and walked off barking more orders. No doubt to deal with their prisoners.
"What about our wands?" James called out before they could be taken back to face their dad.
"Wolfpack found them." Vyacheslav answered with a cheeky grin, "I'm sure they won't give you a hard time getting them back." And with a pop he disappeared with James. Lily disappearing with Cormac seconds later.
Harry appeared immediately after, cancelling his disillusionment charm with a pained look on his face. "Do remember that those are my kids you're teasing, Katie."
Katie shrugged, "I've seen your place, your Majesty. I know what embarrassing articles and pictures and silly drawings you keep on your wall."
"About one incident of some harmless teenage snogging." Harry protested, "You really shouldn't go at them so hard with the teasing, it's embarrassing." Harry sighed, knowing she was utterly incorrigible.
Katie gave him a thoughtful look, "You really didn't figure out why I'm always making the cuties blush and stammer?"
"I figured for your own perverse amusement." Harry retorted dryly, Katie being quite well known for her exploits. Including Harry once upon a time. In his defence he had been drunk.
"They're the prince and princess of the realm now, Harry." She said seriously, "I'm trying to desensitize them a bit. The vultures will circle eventually, hoping a hormonal teen will be trapped into following their genitals instead of their mind."
Harry hadn't thought of that, he supposed it made some sense. He eyed her skeptically however. "Did you just make that up?" He accused.
Katie giggled, "Okay, so I do it cuz it's hilarious, but I'm totally right on that other stuff too!"
Harry shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Never change, Katie." He chuckled. He looked towards their captives, "I'll get back to camp, I'll have two disobedient kids to deal with before we settle down with our captives and your report of the area." My other kids better not start taking after the oldest ones… I'll end up ripping my hair out in frustration. He thought wryly.
Katie saluted him with a grin. Harry returning the salute, before popping away in apparation.
Soon thereafter there was no trace there had ever been a campsite there. Only the wind howling down from the mountains.
Fleur Delacour turned her head away from the patronus message advising her they had their first captives. The one time triwizard competitor now led the Inquisitorius. The organization dedicated to rooting out any demonic influence, or traitorous behaviour among the magical world. Which by necessity meant they had the best trained interrogators. They rarely had much work anymore. She had a feeling that would pick up again, new world meant new possibilities for corruption.
It was not a popular profession, Fleur having ended up in its clutches after the betrayal that had killed her husband Bill and their child. Also taking most of the Weasley family, due to a traitor having smuggled in portkeys that ripped them out of the safety of the protections of the magical enclaves. Which stranded them in the demon infested outside world. By the time Harry had been able to respond, they had all been long dead. It had not been a quick death. Fleur had dedicated her life to dealing with traitors in the aftermath. Becoming the most feared woman in the kingdom. It was a friendless, paranoia filled profession. She had eradicated those that would even think about cooperation with the Legion.
She straightened her pitch black uniform, hands fastening the buttons in the shape of a burning golden eye slowly, brushing against the intricate weave of enchanted thread that depicted the all seeing eye protecting magickind. Part of being the Grand Inquisitor was all about the look. And Fleur had never failed at looking good.
She stepped out of her temporary office, her adjunct immediately following two steps behind her. Fleur could hardly remember being that young anymore after all the heartache and hate. Narcissa Malfoy, the first born of Draco Malfoy had been too intelligent to let her be snapped up by the general forces or Merlin forbid, the civilian bureaucracy. A mind like hers needed to be cultivated.
"How are you settling in?" She asked clippedly, walking towards one of the most warded areas they currently had. It was a temporary fix, slapping enchantments and wards over a quickly dug underground cavern. It would have to do for now.
Narcissa raised an immaculate blond eyebrow, silver coloured eyes cool and calculating. "Small talk, Grand Inquisitor?" There was a tilt of amusement hidden behind the cool exterior.
"Fleur or Madame Delacour would do, Narcissa. As I've said. Repeatedly." Fleur reminded, not interested in training a flunky.
"Madame Delacour then," Narcissa said with a practiced demure smile, "And I believe I am being accepted amongst the group adequately."
Fleur nodded sharply, "I had no worries, the Malfoy name stands for loyalty nowadays." And loyalty was everything to the Inquisitorius.
"Father had certain other words for the family history." Narcissa offered with a blank face. Adroitly avoiding the surprise spell Fleur had fired off, constant vigilance being the organization motto. Training could take many forms after all. Fleur wasn't surprised the girl avoided it, she was a quick study, fast on her feet. She reminded Fleur of a younger her, except not as naive.
They arrived at the cavern. The both of them standing still, the guards checking them for mental influence, polyjuice, suspicious artefacts or demonic corruption. Standard for any Inquisitorius building, which this hole temporarily qualified for. Unfortunately not standard for every government building yet. Fleur was working on it.
Fleur hoped Veritaserum worked on these beings. She'd hate to get messy in Narcissa's first week. Although it would certainly show whether she had the stomach for it.
After her family died… She had found that she didn't even flinch torturing someone.
She nodded at the guards as they cleared them, "Death is a mercy." She intoned softly.
"Kill your mercy." The guards mumbled back the first part of the Inquisitorius code.
Darkness swallowed them up as they entered the cavern.
2 hours later.
"All stand for his Majesty Hadrian I!" Was called out by the guards as Harry entered the tent, Gabrielle following close behind, going from the modest camp outside to a giant conference room. A partial map of the area as scouted so far, hung on one wall, enlarged to cover the entire wall. A round conference table made out of shining crystal, a relic from another age. One of the surviving artefacts from the time of Atlantis. Found in a vault in the goblin tunnels during the sacking of said tunnels. They had more than doubled the magical world's artefact count from everything squirrelled away down there.
The table made it impossible to lie in its presence, glowing golden veins spread across the interior of the crystal table flowing up from its stand like branches off a tree. Very useful for meetings of the people who decided affairs of the new nation. Well the informal meeting of people Harry dealt with the most. The official council had a lot of representatives. And was also completely pointless to call for minor matters.
It unfortunately was useless for interrogations as it didn't force people to talk. For politics, it was invaluable.
Harry sat down at the head of the table, Gabrielle standing slightly behind him to his right. Even here, her eyes were scanning for threats, one hand fingering her wand.
"Anyone want to start us off?" He asked, tapping his fingers on the crystal, the table shining brightly for a second, the gold veins pulsing. The tables ability taking effect.
"I suppose I can kick it off if no one else minds." Ron Weasley said with an easy grin on his face. Harry's former best friend had grown up to be a dependable kind soul. And one ill suited for war. Ron had quickly ended up in a logistics position on Harry's word back in the day. The redhead not having the stomach for the absolute brutality needed for the war. As far as Harry was aware, the man had still not touched even an iota of dark magic. Instead he had lived up to the Weasley name. The man having fathered 14 kids in the last twenty years. If Molly had still been alive she would have been ecstatic.
They still got along splendidly, and Ron was a doting uncle to Harry's kids. But there was a distance there. One coming from fighting a war, gaining new bonds with people that had your back. And Ron building a family and choosing a fully civilian life had not meshed with Harry's life.
Seeing no objections Ron continued, "Right, so far we've managed to get everyone situated with a tent that needed one. So shelter wise we're good. Food wise, we have enough stock for six months, which in a pinch we could spell to stretch out to thrice that number. So barring Neville cocking it all up we're golden on that."
"I'll cock you up." Neville threatened good naturedly, a smile on his face, sitting further down the table, still covered in sticks and dirt from communing with nature and paying no mind to it.
"Ask my wife first," Ron chortled, before getting back to his report, a smile still on his face. "With how magically rich the environment is, we haven't had to break out any supplies other than food and water. So logistically we're absolutely golden."
"Right, the boring shit is out of the way. Let's talk about the actual important stuff." Draco cut in with a sneer, staring down the mild mannered Weasley. Who true to his more mature mien, simply smiled back pleasantly and sat down, listening attentively. 14 children had given Ron the kind of patience and absolute ability to ignore bullshit that they could have all used back as kids.
"I think in light of our first captives and the potential information on this new world they'd hold, that we should allow the Inquisitorius to speak." Kingsley Shacklebolt stated calmly, interjecting before Draco could be his usual shit stirring self. Kingsley not changing much over the years, leading the DMLE throughout the past twenty years with a steady hand.
The head Auror standing attentively behind him, new to the position and somewhat intimidated tagging along in meetings like this. Harry had full confidence in Kingsley's choice. Even if Theodore Rookwood had a somewhat questionable parentage, he had never once showed signs of questionable morals.
Draco scoffed quietly, the drama queen he always had to be, Harry thought amusedly, but Draco sat back with crossed arms and didn't say anything further as the general murmur of agreement filtered around the table.
Fleur stood up gracefully, being handed a clipboard from her adjunct. Draco making a face at seeing his daughter standing behind Fleur in the black, heavily enchanted Inquisitorius uniform.
"Firstly, we were only able to reliably interrogate one of the subjects. Veritaserum proved ineffective on the woman." Fleur explained coolly. "As per royal guideline we asked for permission to use coercive methods to corroborate the information we were able to get out of the man, identified to be of the Gnome race."
"Which I denied," Harry stated for everyone's benefit, "We don't need to quite go that far on a possible neutral or allied race."
"Wishful thinking." Draco muttered, turning his head and giving Fleur a dirty look. "So, you got shit from one captive, great job, what did you get that's useful?" He completely ignored the piercing gaze of his daughter.
Fleur didn't deign to give Draco any attention, loyal he might be, he was still an ass. She looked directly at Harry as she spoke. "According to the gnome, his companion is from a race over fifteen thousand years old, practically immortal and occupies the land to our north and northwest. These Night elves practice druidism and have a mostly female military force."
"Druidism?" Neville asked, perking right up, sitting straight in his seat. "Do you have any more information on that?"
Fleur shook her head, "The gnome did not have a dearth of information on the subject." She said stiffly. Even without more information, Neville exuded excitement. Harry had a feeling he'd soon be denying multiple requests to head north…
Harry leaned forward on his elbows and sighed behind his hands, putting the impending problem of Neville's nature fixation aside. Fleur was becoming more and more withdrawn and formal for every year that went on. "It is fine, Fleur. Continue your report."
Fleur cleared her throath, "The most important piece of information gathered was that the Burning Legion had invaded this world previously, twice. Most recently through patsies. A demonic horde of Orcs. Which apparently now occupies the land to our immediate east." She stated, only how hard she was gripping the clipboard showed any emotional reaction to the information she had given them.
There was a pause where everyone took in what they heard.
Then pandemonium broke out.
So, some of the new generation introduced. Harry and Co, will still be a big part of the story. yet as King and other important positions for his friend he isn't exactly going to go dungeon crawling.
feel free to speculate who is the parents since I keep giving you just one part of parenthood!