As the seasons pass, and the snows melt, Moody finds himself taking more and more scans with the Russians as they slowly build up a picture of the Raka lair. What they're seeing, both magically, and with whatever arcane sorcery this scanner uses, is not painting a pleasant picture. He glances over to where the Russian equivalent to the Unspeakables are doing their own things to try and divine the danger present past the small cave opening. Whatever it is, Moody desperately doesn't want to be anywhere near here when they try it.
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Xeno carefully makes his way down the obstacle course with the first of Luna's successful adoption eggs carefully stored away in an expanded trunk. She's only managing a one in ten success rate, so she'll be stuck in that room until it's better. As he's half way down, he is made very much aware of the fact that his body is not up to the sort of gymnastics that his brain is now able to perform. As he finally gets to the sign, he breathes a sigh of relief and confidently makes his way out of the room on the 3rd floor corridor. From there he makes his way down to the kitchens and the domain of the house elves.
As the painting closes behind him, all of the elves turn to look at him warily, "What can we's be doing for the not serpent hunter?"
Xeno smiles as he looks over at the elf the spoke, "My daughter has started to lay adoption eggs, would you know of any elves that need or want a new family?"
"Elves know it still not safe to see young queenie."
Xeno nods, "Indeed, I have a confirmed adoption egg here. I need to go on a journey now, and I would like to have some direct family still here to look after my little moon."
The elves all confer for a long time, as well as plying Xeno with sweet meats and tea. Eventually, one of them walks over, "We's knows of a few elves who are in bad families. But we coulds not take them from their families."
Xeno's eyes glaze over as he speaks with Luna and tries to understand the house-elf memories he has, eventually he nods, "I understand, however there's no reason that you couldn't introduce us so that they know where to come if they ever find themselves in need of a new family."
The elf blinks a couple of times, "Nipsy thinks sad man see sense now. Nipsy will see if Batsie is free."
Nipsy disappears for a moment before reappearing with an elf that's missing half of one ear, "Batsie is here, but Batsie has not being given clothes."
Xeno nods and sits on the floor in front of Batsie, "I understand, and I would never try to take you away from your family. However, my Queen. My daughter, she has some special eggs that will make you part of our family. I would never dream of endangering such a proud elf, so would you permit me to show you what those eggs look like. That way you can avoid them if you ever have cause to visit."
Batsie blinks slowly, "Batsie understands. Batsie thinks it's wise to know what to look out for, as elf descriptions not good enough."
"All of our family share memories, so that is no longer a problem for us. There is an empty classroom just down the corridor. How about I open my trunk there, and you can look inside. Just remember, you shouldn't go inside, just look from the top, otherwise one of the eggs I'm carrying will hatch."
"Nipsy thinks that is best idea, Hogwarts elfs not want accidental eggs."
Xeno takes his trunk to the classroom he passed, and opens it in the centre of the room. Once done, he carefully locks the door with a non-standard locking spell so that no curious students can just waltz in. When he comes back in and takes a seat, Batsie disappears with a pop, "I do hope that Batsie remembers my warnings."
Nipsy nods, "I'm sure Batsie does, but Batsie's eyes not what they should be after punishment 5 years ago."
Xeno frowns, "Why did neither of you say anything about it?"
"Batsie is proud elf, Nipsy know that proud elf not need help. Nipsy only keeping Nipsy busy when not enough work at Hogwarts."
Xeno nods, "Well, just remember that being part of our family doesn't stop you from working here. Batsie has gotten too close to an egg, so he will be joining our family soon."
Nipsy looks at Xeno sadly, "Nipsy knows, Nipsy bad elf."
Xeno looks at the elf in front of him, and places a hand on her shoulder, "Nipsy, sometimes we cannot help the ones we love without betraying their trust. It doesn't make us bad people when we do, as long as you talk to him once he's recovered and go through why you did it, your relationship may still work. I hurt my Luna when Pandora died, and that happened because my mind broke. Batsie's family broke his trust when they did whatever they've done to him…" Xeno winces, "I possibly shouldn't have put elf wards on my trunk, but I didn't want any of you getting caught accidentally."
"Nipsy knew they were there, and if Nipsy knew, Batsie knew too."
Xeno just blinks, "My word, well, I can't tarry. Do you have anywhere that Batsie can rest comfortably?"
"Nipsy has just the place."
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Over the next few days, Xeno makes his way down to the south of France, where there is an infamous Veela brothel, one that both he and Pandora have frequented in the past.
As he walks through the front doors, the rather odorous male receiver smiles widely, "Monsieur Lovegood, we have not had the pleasure of your company for years. Travelling alone for once?"
Xeno thinks heavily about what he's about to do so that the smile he plasters on his face looks genuine, "Indeed, Pandora left on the next great adventure a few years ago."
The man looks saddened, "You have my most sincere condolences, as a token of respect you may have this visit half price."
Xeno nods sadly, "Thank you, is Clothilde available?"
"She is with a client for the next hour, can I offer you a drink on the house? Or would you prefer a different girl?"
"I'll wait."
An hour, and a mediocre pot of tea later, and Xeno is led up the stairs to Clothilde's room. There he finds her laying languidly on her bed, the thin silver band around her neck a symbol of her fate. His heart goes out to her once more as his experienced eyes spot the tell-tale signs of bruises, artfully concealed with makeup; much as they were when a younger and far more innocent Xeno and his newly wed Pandora met her so many years ago.
"Clothilde, it's been too long."
"Mr Lovegood, I still remember your preferences."
Xeno laughs, "Long conversations about whatever takes your fancy, yes?"
The ghost of a real smile graces the Veela's lips, "Indeed. One day my allure will ensnare you."
Xeno nods, "And on that day you will be both happy and sad, I know. Just as I know that the collar you wear is merely jewellery, and the real bonds are inside you."
"This conversation again. There's nothing that can be done about it, so I take what enjoyment I can."
"As you will. I have some bruise balm in my trunk, will you at least allow me to treat your bruises?"
Clothilde waves her hand dismissively, "Go ahead, just don't block the door. You know what they're like about that."
Xeno starts to set up his trunk in the narrow space between the bed and the wall, "Fair warning, I'm carrying some symbiotic eggs. I'll be a while, as I need to brew the balm."
Clothilde frowns, "You know that I'll be forced to kill you if you trap me in there, no matter how noble your intentions."
Xeno nods as he's climbing down the ladder, "I know, I know, and you're in as much danger of being kidnapped as you ever have been when we've visited in the past."
Clothilde lays back for a few minutes, relishing the unusual time that she can just spend with someone who isn't overcome by her allure. Or worse, someone who is mostly overcome by her allure. If she was unbound, she'd have tried to steal Xeno for herself many years ago. As it stands, he's paying for her time, and giving her a respite during the day. With a sigh, she pushes herself off the bed, and climbs down the ladder in order to try and distract the man from his brew.
Spotting what must be the eggs in question, she keeps as close to the wall as possible while she makes her way to his potions lab, where Xeno is indeed brewing a potion. Unnoticed behind her, one of the eggs opens up. Once she enters, she drapes herself over Xeno's back and shoulder to look at his work. Her hands wander lightly up and down his side.
"You know you don't need to do this for me every time you come."
Xeno smiles, "Maybe, but we Lovegood's have always seen more than most. Besides, I want to. Still couldn't wait for me to finish huh?"
"You know me, and maybe this time I'll be able to tempt you into my bed."
Xeno smiles sadly, "Maybe next time."
"You say that every time," She shivers as something crawls up her back, "have you been learning some new tricks to leave me all hot and bothered?"
"No, no new tricks. That's not me."
Alarmed, Clothilde turns around to see who's snuck up on them, only for the face hugger to leap onto her face and quickly squeeze her throat to knock her out before she can defend herself. As she slumps to the floor, Xeno catches her with his wand before levitating her out to his bed. The bruise balm ingredients forgotten behind him on the chopping board.
An hour later, the face hugger releases it's grip and Xeno carefully takes it from Clothilde's face before throwing it carelessly into the still open trunk. Then he wakes her up with a kiss, "Good afternoon sweetie."
Clothilde smiles at him as her eyes flicker open, "Xeno you sly old dog, if I'd known you had a thing for sleeping beauties, I'd have napped years ago."
Xeno smiles, "Oh, no, I have a think for intelligent, funny, charming, and above all, free women. I did warn you about the eggs, but here we are, and welcome to the family."
Clothilde sits up, "What do you mean?" she demands.
"I only have 10 minutes of your time left, and an explanation will take far longer than that. Or you could wait a few hours and the answer will come to you. Assuming you haven't felt it already. Anyway, I'm heading into central Africa after this, as I've got one more egg to deliver."
Clothilde frowns, "But there were three down there."
Xeno smiles as he packs up his trunk and leaves, "Try not to tell Luna, but the last one is for me."
"What do you mean try not to tell Luna! Xeno, you can't just leave me hanging like this!"
As Xeno heads down the stairs, Rachelle pokes her head around the doorframe, "Did he get you all hot and bothered before leaving again?"
"Rachelle, it's not like that and you know it."
Rachelle grins, "Oh, but I think it is. If I could, I'd be chasing him too. Shame he's happily married though."
"She's dead."
Rachelle shrugs, "Maybe you can persuade him to buy your bond then. I know I would if I was in your position."
Clothilde shakes her head, "You've only been here a few years, it's never going to happen. They tried, back when Luna was little, and the only time I've ever met her. They tried to buy my bond. It didn't work."
"But the owners…"
Clothilde nods, "They're not lying, but by the time they're willing to sell, you'll be old. While we're beautiful we're too valuable to lose. Now I have a few minutes to enjoy a shower, so if you don't mind."
"I could always scrub your back."
"No, I like the time to think."
"Aww."
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Xeno smiles as he carefully makes his way through the Congo, in the back of his mind is the chatter of excited Veela, and some children, as they welcome another bound sister into the hive. Slightly more alarmingly are the fledgeling Xenomorphs that used to be the owners and slavers that caught his new hive mates. Maybe he would take Clothilde up on her request before he…
"Yes daddy, I'd like that. And maybe you can give me a few sisters as well. Just, not on earth please, as I'm too young to know about that just yet."
Xeno swallows, maybe she doesn't know about the…
"Egg? Of course I do, you're part of the hive. Why would you think I wouldn't want you to have the best parts of being in the hive too? When you're ready, I'll lay you a special praetorian egg rather than one of the worker eggs. That way you can still tell me off if I'm being stupid."
Xeno smiles as he reaches the mountain, it's so much better being in the hive. He hasn't needed his medicine for over a month now. As he leisurely makes his way to the summit, he passes signs of exploratory mining that weren't there before. Each one abandoned, with their tools just left lying where they fell. More carefully, he continues to climb, keeping his body language calm, while scanning his surroundings for the tell-tale wisp of fire that could indicate he's about to be attacked. The fact that those mines are abandoned gives him hope that the phoenixes are still nesting at the summit. After all, this is possibly the last unregulated magical wildernesses in the world, and all because of muggle greed.
Once he reaches the summit, he sets up his trunk a few short meters from the edge, but still far enough away from the nesting site not to be rude. Then he stops at looks at the space consideringly as he tries to trace why he thought of the distance in meters rather than yards. Coming to the conclusion it's probably to do with all the French Veela in the hive, he shrugs and opens the trunk. A few moments later, he has retrieved a box full of dirigible plums, under stasis, and a couple of large bags of lemon drops. Removing a few of the plums and drops, he cleans an area of rock, before laying them out.
By the time the first phoenix shows itself to him, it's been over a week, and his supply of plums is running very low. The phoenix flames in a safe distance above the plums, before dropping down to start devouring the plums.
"Ptiana likes the lemon drops you know."
The phoenix looks at him like he's an idiot, "Yes I know, she's an idiot. So much sweetness, and don't get me started on the white stuff inside."
"Sherbet."
"Sherbet, thank you. It give me so much gas…" The phoenixes head slowly looks up from the plum it's working on, "Wait, did you just respond to me?"
Xeno nods, "I did. Are there any other fruit you like, or sweets?"
The phoenix hops over, the plum forgotten, "How are you able to understand me?"
Xeno shrugs, "Ptiana is part of Arry's hive, and we've been getting her ancestral memories from the Royal Jelly Luna's been eating."
"The what, whatie, what now?"
"Have you heard of Harry Potter?"
"The snot nosed baby that bounced a killing curse of its forehead?"
"That's the one."
"Then no, not really."
Xeno smiles, "Well, beyond that little tidbit, the baby also survived and was abducted by Skali explorers."
"What explorers?"
"Skali, they're a four-armed species that live on the other side of the Galaxy. Anyway, they then picked up a Xenomorph egg, you might know them as Raka?"
"Can't say I have."
"Good thing too. Anyway, Arry ended up being adopted by the xenomorph that hatched from the egg, and was fed Royal Jelly until she became a queen Xenomorph."
"What does this have to do with Ptiana?"
"I'm getting there, but if I don't tell you the first bit, the last bit won't make sense."
"Well hurry up then, we haven't got all century."
"Over the next several years she learnt how to use her magic, and then how to pass on magic to her children. It was after this point when she met T'o-Ba'sall on her chiva. That's when she invented the adoption eggs. A couple of years later, Mr Dumbledore sent Ptiana to find Harry, only Harry accidentally bit her head off."
The phoenix winces, "I've had that happen once or twice, it's never fun."
Xeno nods, "That's when Arry, the name that Harry goes by now, that's when she made a tiny adoption egg and gave it to Ptiana before she knew that phoenixes were sentient."
The phoenix thinks for a few minutes while it goes back and finishes the plum, "So, what you're saying is that you understand me because of this hive thing."
Xeno nods, "Indeed, but here's the best bit, not only did the hive gain Ptiana's ability to travel by flame, and her healing tears. But she also got the ability to do human magic, and house elf magic. On top of that, there's a whole group of people who understand her, and Arry is likely to live for a very long time. Did I also mention that there are dozens of planets that are in our ancestral memories."
The phoenix hops away a couple of paces, "What are you trying to imply?"
Cheerfully Xeno says, "Only that I have an adoption egg in the trunk here, and I would really like it if you could join our hive. Or your mate if you're male, as everyone that is adopted into the hive will become female."
The phoenix hops back, "Really? They become female?" Xeno just nods and the Phoenix takes off towards the nest, "Vasiliy! Vasiliy, we could have eggs. Come quick."
Xeno blinks rapidly when two phoenixes flame back to the trunk, "Vasily, this human knows Ptiana, and understands us."
"Eannatum, what is it you want?"
"Vasily," Eannatum wheedles, "you know you always say you wish you could lay an egg for us."
"Eannatum!"
"Well, this human has something that will make that possible."
Xeno blinks, while Vasily freezes, before turning slowly towards Xeno and then back to Eannantum, "Eannatum, why haven't you taken advantage of it yet?"
Eannatum leans over to start grooming Vasily's neck, "Well, you're always the one who complains about it every season when we go to the nesting grounds."
"Just because you're older than dirt and don't care anymore."
"I'll have you know that dirt was around when I was a chick."
Xeno sighs and goes into the trunk to make himself some lunch while they're squabbling. Playing a hunch, he brings the small egg out of the trunk with him once he's finished. As he climbs out, two pairs of eyes track the egg in his hand. Carefully he sets it down next to the remains of the plums.
"Well, which ever one of you wants it, lean close to the top of the egg."
Vasily stares at Ennantum, who somehow manages to look sheepish as he hops over to the egg. When the face hugger latches on, he disappears in a flash of fire, and the face hugger goes with him.
"Don't worry, it will knock him out in a second, and then he'll be fine in an hours time."