Chapter 20

The days following Christmas the Potter family walked on eggshells around the oldest son. Gellert had departed on peaceful terms Christmas night, and while Harry wanted to congratulate himself on a long accomplished goal he did not believe it was over. He expected his family would be looking for ways to circumvent the oath they were forced to make in order to expose Grindelwald for faking his death, and taking refuge in Britain for the last ten years. After all, Harry had little doubt that if Gellert was arrested he would be tossed through the veil. The Potter Heir almost believed it impossible to capture the man though. They would need Dumbledore and scores of the most powerful witches and wizards they could find to take the man down, and even then it was likely to fail with massive casualties. Harry could only hope his parents took his words into consideration, and opened their eyes to the fact that any fight his master may find himself in he would be there beside him.

The New Year was rapidly approaching however, and Harry had informed his parents he would be spending the evening in France to strengthen their alliance with the Delacours. Of course his father and the other Marauders teased him that he had more than an alliance in mind with the blonde veela that had been his date to the Yule Ball, but he would not rise to their bait.

He was in his room preparing for the evening when a knock at the door pulled his attention. Tech-9 was laying in the corner, and immediately perked up at the noise, but Harry hardly paid any attention when he called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and Lily Potter stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. Harry did not have to turn to see that it was his mother, but he recognized her signature the moment the door opened, "What can I do for you, mother?"

"I just wanted to speak with you before you left." The woman said gently.

The pair had hardly spoken since Christmas night, but that wasn't the family's fault. Harry had been very busy with training, and preparing for his battle with Grindelwald. Add that to the fact he was trying to prepare patents for inventions he planned to roll out as soon as he graduated Hogwarts, his schedule was filled to the brim.

Harry did not answer his mother's words, and after a few moments he turned to see the woman facing him with a worried look on her face, "What is it?"

The young man's question was not answered for a few moments before she sighed, "I think I am still reeling from the bombshell you dropped on us Christmas day."

Taking a deep breath Harry began attempting to button his sleeves properly not meeting the woman's eyes, "I do not wish to discuss my relationship with Master Grindelwald."

"But Harry, you know what the man is. You have to if you have spent so much time with him. He has likely killed more witches and wizards than any before him." Lily claimed with a slightly aggressive tone.

"Considering your esteemed leader of the light does nothing but offer second chances to Death Eaters and murderers at every turn I will not put much stock into that accusation. They were at war, and Master Grindelwald only crushed those who stood in his way. I can't say I would do much differently if I was fighting for something I believed in. I can't say I won't do the same when my hunt for the Dark Lord begins." Harry pointed out calmly.

"You're going to kill indiscriminately to put down a mad man? What exactly will that make you?" She questioned sharply.

"Let me ask you something, Lily. When you see a tsunami coming, what do you do?" Harry asked, still remaining calm.

"I don't see what that-"

"Just answer the question." Harry said cutting off his mother displaying a bit of his temper for the first time.

"It depends." She said after a few moments, "With magic I would apparate as far away as possible."

"Let's assume you are not. You stand no chance against what's coming. What do you do?" Harry asked, regaining his calm nature.

"Run. Get to high ground. That's what the governments tell you to do. Entire cities could be wiped out by a tsunami powerful enough." Lily said already understanding where her son was going with it.

"The same can be said about my magic. The cursed flames you saw nearly destroyed London in the 1920's. If I let loose I could easily do the same here, but obviously I have no desire to burn cities to the ground. I only want Voldemort dead, and the ones that I love safe. I will take every precaution possible, make it as loud and clear as I can to assure any that could be in our way is given a chance to run. However, If they stand to watch, if they don't run as fast as they can, then I will hold no sympathy for their deaths. If I have it my way the world will know when Voldemort and I meet for our showdown. If any others show up then they are fools, and their deaths will not be my fault." Harry explained carefully.

"What will you do if you win?" Lily asked carefully.

"Change the world." Harry said simply, "Teach and display magic many believe lost to antiquity. Bring about inventions that will shape the Wizarding World for the next several hundred years. Leave a legacy behind that will remove some of the stain that my master's path of war left on his reputation. Then rest over a grateful wizarding world when it's all over."

"Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. Someone will stand in your way." The woman said.

"Then they will be crushed under foot. A boot has no quarrel with an ant." Harry said now, taking a colder tone, "Grindelwald let his power corrupt him. He never allowed that to happen to me, and I have no desire to rule. I just want to make the world a better place."

"At what cost. Harry?" She asked quietly.

"Doesn't matter. You can rest assured that I won't try to conquer Europe, or murder babies in their beds, so even if you call me a Dark Lord I will be better than the last two." Harry said using occlumency now to keep his temper.

"I'm not calling you a Dark Lord, Harry." Lily said, clearly getting more wound up, "I just want you to see that your visions are dangerous, and that he clearly planted them in your head."

"YOU THINK HE PLANTED THESE THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD?" Taking a deep breath trying to reinforce his levels of calm he tried again, "You heard him on Christmas day, and I believe him when he says I would've killed all of you had he not come into my life. I held so much animosity and hatred to you all for just forgetting about me. Leaving me with Sirius all the time when clearly the man did not want to raise children. He took care of me, and gave me everything I ever wanted, but he was not a parent, and nor should he have been. He was the best godfather a boy could've asked for, but that was the extent of his responsibilities, and I don't blame him."

Lily flinched hard at the clearly furious young man before her, "We just wanted our family to survive."

"I could've died dozens of times along the way and you never even would have noticed." Harry said coldly.

"I thought we put all this behind us...I can only say I am sorry so many times, Harry." Lily said with a bit of a choked voice.

"We have, but if you attack my upbringing, or the man that made me into the wizard I am today then the repairs you have made to our relationship will shatter. You want to make things right? Support me, or stay out of my way." Harry said as he walked past the woman towards the door ready to depart for the evening, and get away from all the drama.

"Harry?"

The young man stopped at the door waiting for his mother to speak, "Happy New Year. We will all celebrate tomorrow as a family. Perhaps you could invite...Gellert back over. I think I would like to know the man who raised my son a little better."

Nodding his head, but not turning to face the woman he marched out of his room and down the stairs that led him to the front door. He was two steps out the door when he disapparated 300 miles to Paris.

Arriving in a familiar roundabout in an older section in Downtown Paris Harry strode forward towards a statue in between the four trees in the middle of the square. The statue was over ten feet tall, but very skinny. It depicted what appeared to be an angel holding up the ceiling, and the young man recognized it as the entrance to the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France. He stood next to the statue as vines began to surround him forming into a magical elevator that was quite the work of art by the time it began descending. As he descended into the Ministry building, large dome-like white rooms began to fill his vision with magical creatures, and other historical events were depicted on the walls in a beautiful display of art.

The green flooring was some sort of expensive looking emerald like glass. The last time he had entered the French Ministry of Magic he had been registering his wands for a dueling tournament, and there had been hundreds of people working on the weekday. Today a lone receptionist sat at a nearby desk, and a couple of matagots were sitting on each side of the desk. The receptionist was a lovely woman with her black hair styled in a way Harry had never seen before. It was shaped like an omega around her head, and looked quite unique. He hardly minded the magical guardians of the French Ministry. He had learned in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that as long as they are not attacked they would be peaceful in intention. The black hairless demon cats were quite unnerving, but they merely watched him carefully as he made his way towards the desk.

"Je Vous Aider Monsieur?" The woman questioned.

"Oui, je suis ici pour voir Monsieur Delacour. Il D'evrait M'attendre."

She gave him a smile, "Your French is not bad Monsieur, but perhaps we should stick to your native language. Monsieur Delacour is waiting for you in his office around the corner and to the right. Have a nice visit in Paris."

Harry returned the smile, and offered a slight bow of his head as he followed her directions down the hall which led to an office with the name, Patrice Delacour. With a knock Harry waited for the word, and when the door opened smoothly in front he stepped inside to see the man looking at some papers on his desk, "Ah, Harry. Welcome to the Ministère Des Affaires Magiques De La France. I am told you have visited here before."

Harry took the man's offered hand, "Once for a wand registration in a dueling tournament. I always liked the art work here. A display of culture and power."

"You see yourself as an artist?" The man questioned walking towards a nearby table that held a bottle of dark brown liquid.

"Only with magic sir. Though I can appreciate more traditional art when I see it." Harry said with a slight grin.

"Drink?" The man offered as he filled one glass.

"Please. What are we drinking?" Harry asked politely.

"Cognac. Made on my family's estate." The man said casually as he poured Harry a healthy glass.

Harry thanked the man as he passed the glass over, and took a sip. The drink didn't burn, but the taste still wasn't his favorite. He could tell it was potent though, but he kept an even face while the man asked, "What do you think?"

"It's very smooth sir. I admit I only recently began delving into any sort of alcohol, so I am a novice at best." Harry admitted.

"Good, that means I can corrupt you nice and young to show you the way a man should drink." The man said happily.

Harry sat down across from the man as he took his seat at his desk, and motioned for Harry to follow suit, "I am sure you are wondering why I corresponded with you to change our meeting place to my office instead of my own floo address like I originally intended."

"The thought has crossed my mind, sir." Harry answered with a half smile.

The man's smile suddenly disappeared, "It seems we have some things that need to be discussed. The least of which are your intentions towards my daughter."

Harry frowned, "You wouldn't have called me here for that. We don't know each other very well, sir, but your reputation precedes you. Plus with the state of our alliance that question wouldn't be necessary for quite some time. Not after one night. I don't like to mince words, Monsieur Delacour, just ask me what you want to know."

The man openly frowned at this, "Very well. I can respect that in a man. I have inquired as to the magic you used in the first task of the Triwizard tournament. When my results came up unsuccessful I began to chalk it up to family magic when I received this letter." With a flick of his wrist his desk opened in front of him and an envelope shot to his hand, "This letter comes from one Nicholas Flamel. One of probably only ten people in history could've possibly recognized the spell you used. Of those ten, three are still alive today. Mr. Flamel being one of those people identified it easily. It was a spell created by Gellert Grindelwald, and I would like to know from whom you learned it."

Harry did not show any outward signs of panic at the open accusation. It seems that his master was correct, and in his most recent displays of magic he was careless. If Monsieur Delacour had figured it out it was possible others had as well. He refused to fidget or cower under the Head of France's Magical Law Enforcements stare, "I speak in the confidence of our alliance that anything I share with you is not to be repeated outside of this room."

"I will make no oath, but you have my word." The man said sternly.

Harry nodded his acceptance, but knew he wasn't going to offer anything too specific, "From a young age I met a man who has tutored me in the magical arts. I have delved further into magic than most will in a lifetime. I was guided, trained, and forged into a weapon to smite my enemies if necessary. My teacher knew I was capable of controlling Grindelwald's spell and taught it to me when we discovered the first task was dragons."

The man did not attempt to question Harry just how he learned of the first tasks as Harry was certain he knew that Fleur had also known beforehand, but he let his words sink in for several moments before responding, "It is very dangerous magic you control. I am perhaps the most powerful wizard in France, and I am unsure I could have stopped those flames. Whoever this teacher of yours must be incredibly powerful."

"He is." Harry agreed, "And it is lucky we will never have to find out if you could control MY spell. We are, after all, allies."

Harry's emphasis on the ownership of the spell was clear. He had mastered it, and it was his spell now. The man schooled his features before him saying, "That is dangerous magic. A spell designed to kill all those disloyal to the caster."

"I learned very dangerous magic because I have very dangerous enemies, Monsieur Delacour. I would expect a wizard of your caliber to respect that." Harry said almost challengingly.

The man stared into the Potter Heir's eyes as he snapped his finger causing another envelope to float out of his desk and drop before him, "The cursed flames weren't the only spell created by Grindelwald you used. That purple shield was used by the man in a battle in Berlin. The black shield is the same story, but in Warsaw. If I didn't know the man was dead I would think he is teaching you."

"That would have been an interesting combination." Harry said mildly.

"Knowing Grindelwald is dead must mean one of his followers has been teaching you. My wife recently told me that a very powerful new face had arrived at one of the veela conclaves and spoke with the elders. I am told by her friends that they had never been in the presence of someone with so much power. It concerns me that such a new powerful player has stepped onto the board. In France nonetheless."

Harry froze at this information. He knew his master had been traveling, but he had no idea that the man had been in France, or for what reason he may have been visiting the veela elders. It was something he would inquire about later, but for now he shrugged, "If my teacher came through here it is news to me though I can affirm that his aura would likely send the veela into a frenzy. To say he is a new player however would be false. He is an old man these days, and is beyond his magical prime. That isn't to say he wouldn't pave the streets in blood if he had to, but his interests lay more with me these days, and seeing to my success."

The man offered a nod, "Perhaps he means to ally the veela with you. Or set up an introduction between yourself and the leadership of the conclaves using Fleur as a way to get there."

"I assure you I would not use your daughter in that way." Harry said immediately.

"I believe you. I also know she wouldn't agree to something like that unless she thought it would be beneficial to you, and the others. I would like to be frank with you and admit I know little of your history, but if you are in some type of danger, or in some type of magical contract with this teacher. I would like to help in any way I can." The man said passively.

Harry blinked multiple times at this. This was not the direction he was expecting this conversation to go. In fact he was already getting ready to pull out his wands and fight his way out of this, "Monsieur Delacour, I assure you that no one is capable of making me do anything. The only magical contract I am in is with the Goblet of Fire, and I assure you if it was truly a threat to me I would've burned the artifact to a crisp that night. Any training I volunteered for, and all my magical abilities were things I desired and sought out to protect myself, and now my family."

The man kept passive, realizing he had caught the young man off guard, "Fleur tells me that you have an acute sense of magic. Stretch your senses for my magic, and tell me what you feel."

Harry had done this a few times since he met the man, but decided to humor him, "I have known since we met, Monsieur Delacour, that your magic is quite-"

It was then that Harry felt it. The stain. The magical stain that Harry himself held. He had never felt it in another. His eyes widened, and his composure was lost, "How...How did you hide this from me when we first met? I can sense it clear as day now."

"A family secret. Perhaps one I will share with you one day." The man said honestly, "You see I too studied magics beyond what most ever dreamed of. I saw the shadows growing up, and I knew when I was older that a revolution would plague our country. I lost my parents at a young age to the Great War, and I threw myself into my magical training at a very young age. I would push myself to exhaustion, pass out, and do it again the next day. By the time I was a man I could take down anyone who stood against me. I was a young auror when the revolution started, and I crushed those who sought to hurt my friends, and people I saw as family."

Harry felt a twinge of compassion for the man. Monsieur Delacour didn't have what Harry had been blessed with. A teacher, a mentor, a master, or even a friend that understood him. He said nothing as the man stared at him clearly trying to get a read on the younger man, "I tell you these things because I recognize your drive, and most importantly, I recognize the stain upon your magic that I too hold. There is a sort of solace in finally discovering someone like me. The difference between us is that you grew up with a clear talent for magic, while I forced mine to form. Had I been born with your abilities I have little doubt we would be closer in power, but I am certain in a fight to the death...I would not emerge victorious. Do not mistake this admission as a weakness, because if we ever found each other on opposite sides of the battlefield I would not submit quietly, but I recognize just what this magical stain can do for someone such as yourself."

Harry knew that was likely very hard for the man to admit. A man who crushed his enemies under foot in the name of his country just admitted to a seventeen year old boy that he could not best him in magical combat. Harry respected Patrice Delacour more in that moment more than he respected anyone else before him other than his own master, "I don't understand what you want, Monsieur Delacour."

"Honesty. We are allies, and I have now seen the way my daughter looks at you. When a veela wants something it is very seldom that she does not get it. When I met my wife I was not looking for a lover, wife, paramor, or anything of the sort, but she desired me, and the power I walked with. I now see my daughter, who is much more magically talented than either of her parents, look at you that way. I have seen the look since you saved her at the world cup, but even more so after the first task. You are likely one of the most dangerous wizards I have ever encountered, and if I am to bless the partnership between you and my daughter I must know that you will do everything in your power to keep her safe for as long as you pursue each other."

The way the man stared at Harry made him slightly uncomfortable, but he agreed, "You have my word. I saved her life at the World Cup, and I would hate to see my efforts wasted while she is at my side. Though I must say after only one evening together, and her returning to France when this is all over I don't know how long our...partnership as you called it will last."

This made the man finally break into a smile, "Powerful, young, and humble, but still very unaware of the ways of women. Don't worry, Mr Potter there is still plenty of time to learn. Speaking of women, we better get to my home before they come looking for me. I promised my wife, and daughter we would be there by seven, and now that it is ten after I am surprised one has not come banging on the door in search of us."

The men rose as one, and Patrice crossed his desk placing an arm around Harry's shoulder, "Believe me you do not wish to see an angry veela. Powerful men we may be, but that does not make an angry woman any less frightening."

This made Harry chuckle, and together the two side along apparated out of the French Ministry.

(A/N) Minor reveals here, and a few exciting chapters on the horizon! If you want to read through Chapter 27 you can join my discord for free of course. Just follow the link below, and delete the space, because FanFiction breaks my links when I try to post them. Cheers everyone!

PS. If you want the link you can email me Beauorion15 gmail

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