However, Harry's preoccupation with Narcissa Malfoy had caused him to make a critical error. He had forgotten to cover up his scar again upon leaving the clothier...
Chapter Eight: Into Liangshan Alley – Solar Princess
Disclaimer: If you've seen it before, it belongs to J.K. Rowling. Otherwise, it's mine. Naturally, I'm making no money off this.
Harry strode back towards Gringotts, completely ignorant of the fact that his infamous scar was exposed. He drew a few stares as he walked, Grindelwald and Khariana following proudly, but dismissed them as reactions to either his own looks, or the two exotic pets that accompanied him. He reached the bank entrance in no time, striding past the Order member at the entrance without thinking, and met Bill near the back of the lobby. The eldest Weasley son stared right at his forehead.
"Harry...your scar."
Harry cocked an eyebrow.
"What about my...oh, shit. Well, I guess it's too late to do anything about it now. Is my passport ready yet, Bill?"
"Yeah, one of the goblins just went up to the President's office to get it. So, did you visit that wand maker?"
"Yeah, here, take a look."
Harry fluidly whipped his new wand out from the waistband of his robes and handed to Bill, who admired it and whistled appreciatively.
"Damn, that's quite a piece of work, Harry. If it's even half as powerful as it looks, I really pity whichever Order member tries to haul you off to Dumbledore. Maybe I ought to ask this guy to make me a wand after all."
Harry smirked slightly, hoping that if anybody were to accost him out in the alley, it would be Snape. He certainly wouldn't have any compunction about blasting that particular greasy bastard well into next week. He briefly thought of what spell to use as he took his new wand back from Bill.
"You'll get your chance. Turns out that he harbors as much hatred for both the establishment and Voldemort as the rest of us. He listened to my story and asked to join up in lieu of monetary payment. He's a pretty powerful wizard, former auror during the first rising before getting end to the wand business. We should be able to find a lot of uses for him. Anyway, he should be coming in here in the next day or so, after he finishes packing up his shop. I told him to ask for you, so kindly escort him up to Grilthauk's office when he arrives."
"Sure, what's his name?"
"Alberto Rodriguez."
"Rodriguez? I remember hearing about him, I think. Something about him killing a whole bunch of Death Eaters in retaliation for an attack on his family. The whole thing went down a few years before I was born. Dad was part of the internal inquiry council the Ministry put together to hear the case."
"Yeah, that's him..."
At this point, a goblin arrived with Harry's passport, which he took with an appreciative nod before continuing his conversation with Bill.
"Well, I suppose there's no use hanging around here. I'm sure the Order knows I'm here by now, and I'd rather not give them enough time to get organized. Tell Grilthauk to set some of that arkanite he brought out of my vault earlier aside for my armor, just in case I don't make it back here for whatever reason."
"Take care, Harry, and just try not to hurt the Order too badly. They're only trying to look out for you, after all. Dumbledore has them all convinced that you need constant protection."
Harry just shook his head noncommittally, amusement dancing in his forest green eyes as he turned and left the bank lobby, tiger guardians following as always. He directed a pointed look at Hestia Jones as he passed, as if daring the woman to try and stop him. She didn't, and he stalked down the stone steps and followed the left wall, towards where the entrance to Liangshan Alley stood, according to Grilthauk. As Harry closed in on the end of the path, a sneering voice halted his advance.
"So, been enjoying your little vacation, have you, Potter? Well, it comes to an end now."
Harry kept his face impassive, aside from the slightest smirk, as he turned to meet his least favorite professor, sending a few quick mental commands to his two companions.
"...Snivellus. I trust you've had a nice holiday?"
Snape bared his yellow teeth slightly, not at all pleased with Harry's nonchalant tone, and, more particularly, his use of that mockingnickname. He was too busy glaring daggers at the young dakaathi hybrid to notice the two large cats circling into position behind him.
"No, Potter, I have not. How very childish and arrogant of you, running away from your relatives' home like a spoiled little boy, forcing the entire Order to halt its activities to search for you. You're an attention-seeking little brat, just like your..."
Harry interrupted him with an exaggerated yawn, motioning with his hand for effect. Grindelwald was now situated a few yards behind Snape and to his right, and Khariana was standing a ways directly behind and perpendicular to the greasy man's thin legs.
"Just like my arrogant, good-for-nothing father and my worthless, mangy godfather. I've heard this routine before. Now..."
At this point, Harry made a quick motion with his left hand, and Grindelwald opened his yap, spraying a jet of searing flame onto Snape's robes and bounding back into the alley before the latter could see him. Snape yelped slightly and looked around rapidly for the source of the attack, before finally turning back to Harry with pure hatred in his coal black eyes as he reached for his wand. However, Harry already had his masterpiece wand in his hand and had taken aim, a mocking smile fixed onto his face.
"...Pugile."
A metal gray jet flew from Harry's wand and struck Snape in the stomach with the force of a cannonball, propelling him backwards with a wet snapping sound that heralded the breaking of a few ribs. A nastier variant of a Bludgeoning Hex, the spell was one of the more painful legal dark curses. A fierce hacking sound emerged from the Hogwarts professor's mouth as the air was driven forcefully from his lungs. As he skidded backwards at a high velocity, Snape tripped over the waiting Khariana, and his momentum sent him sprawling across the entire alley, where he finally crashed through an apothecary window, slimy potions ingredients spilling onto his prone body. Harry felt a faked sense of sympathy for the apothecary owner, as the grease from Snape's hair would invariably ruin whatever it came into contact with.
Almost immediately, a whole slew of Order members arrived from outside of Harry's field of vision to check on Snape. Lupin, Tonks and McGonagall, followed by the Headmaster himself. Slowly, Dumbledore inclined his head towards the source of the sudden attack on his potions professor, and found himself looking directly at Harry, who wagged his finger slightly at the old man with that same mocking smile, and turned towards the entrance to Liangshan Alley. Harry prodded the solid wall at the far end of the path with his wand, and it separated to grant him access. Grindelwald and Khariana ran through the entrance first, and Harry followed. Dumbledore looked on sadly as the passage closed behind Harry, and the boy was gone again.
Harry quickly looked around as he entered Liangshan Alley. It was certainly a contrast to the loud, bustling commercial district that was Diagon Alley, and was mostly filled with ornate residential complexes. There were people out and about, tending to their small balcony gardens and mingling on the street, but the place was still relatively quiet. Harry drew several odd looks and more than a few disdainful glares as he walked along the main alleyway. Grilthauk was right, these people didn't take kindly to outsiders. Not that Harry could really blame them, since he often wanted nothing to do with the general wizarding public, himself. For the sake of not causing a ruckus, Harry moved along silently, ignoring the spiteful looks. If anybody foolishly attempted to attack him, then there would be Hell to pay, but he trusted that Grindelwald and Khariana would sufficiently intimidate any potential threats.
Liangshan Alley became increasingly noisy as it opened up into a large, circular marketplace. Again, it was nothing like Diagon Alley, with its shops and windows. Harry was strongly reminded of a bazaar, as peddlers and vendors had set up shop right in the middle of the large plaza, selling everything from pigs and ducks to weapons and elixirs. Buyers were likewise strewn about everywhere, all talking and yelling in rapid Chinese. Not understanding a word, Harry kept along the edges of the plaza, looking around for anything resembling a blacksmith's forge, an effort made difficult by the fact that he had never seen one. Focused as he was upon his destination, Harry never noticed a familiar pair of eyes widen slightly as he passed by. He reached another residential district, this one of a decidedly higher class than the previous, judging by the design of the buildings. Just as he began to survey the area, a soft voice sounded behind him.
"Harry, is that you?"
Grindelwald and Khariana whirled about on the spot, and Harry silently drew his wand, anticipating another possible confrontation. Keeping a defensive posture, he turned about languidly, but lowered his wand as he saw who stood before him.
"Cho. Yes, it's me."
Harry supposed that he shouldn't have been too surprised to see his former girlfriend here, if she could even be called that. Liangshan Alley was, after all, where many of the magical Chinese families lived. Well, she might be able to help him find Master Chang's forge, at least, as he had a strong suspicion that the two were related. The exotic Ravenclaw took a step towards him, a faint blush suffusing her features.
"What are you doing here? This place is dangerous for outsiders, Harry. How did you even get here?"
Harry felt a twinge of annoyance at the accusatory tone in her voice, but kept his face impassive. Looking into her eyes, he saw only concern, though, and allowed the comments to slide. Besides, he needed Cho's help at the moment, and snapping at her would only set the emotional girl off. He decided to answer her with a certain degree of truthfulness.
"I've come here to pay a visit to Master Ts'ao Chang, hopefully to have some body armor forged. I heard of his reputation through a friend at Gringotts, and was able to obtain a passport into Liangshan Alley from the bank on account of my status in the wizarding world. Only problem is, now I'm here and I have no idea where to find him."
Cho flashed Harry a sunny smile and took him by the hand.
"Ts'ao Chang is my uncle. He lives and works out of the family complex. I'll show you the way. Merlin, Harry, you've grown so much..."
Harry smirked slightly.
"Well, I'd say that I've been long overdue for a growth spurt. Wouldn't you agree?"
She nodded, the blush never leaving her exotic features.
"Shall we go, Harry?"
Harry nodded, looking down at his right hand, which Cho now held softly. She started to walk, and he allowed himself to be led, Grindelwald and Khariana trailing along behind the pair. Harry was strongly reminded of that first morning in the village, when Hitomi had led him to the bathing room at Kenzo's abode. Now that he recalled, he had first mistaken the kunoichi for Cho then. With that thought, Harry couldn't help but compare the two resplendent Asian beauties in his mind. In many ways, they were opposite sides of the same coin.
Hitomi was tall and slender, with rather pale porcelain features, though Harry assumed that the last feature had much to do with her having grown up virtually devoid of any natural light in the dark forest village. She carried herself with a quiet grace, and her mercurial personality was ever capable of changing, though she was not much given to wide emotional outbursts. Her thoughts and feelings manifested through her actions, rather than her words. Hitomi Kurahawa was the soft, shimmering light in her world of darkness and shadow, a veritable moon goddess.
At this point, Harry looked over towards Cho, really drinking in her appearance for the first time. She, too, had grown slightly, having shot up an inch or so, though she was still rather short by the usual standards. Her body had started to fill out rather nicely, though, and her hips had flared out a bit. Her curves were in all the right places. She was dressed in a fancy Chinese robe, red and tailored of the finest Ssuchuan brocade. The look definitely suited her. Now in her seventeenth year, Cho was making the transition from a pretty girl to a beautiful woman. He unconsciously pulled her a bit closer.
She was very different from Hitomi, but also very much the same. Cho was petite, but her slight growth spurt had normalized that somewhat. Her skin was that exotic golden brown, and her raven hair shined in the sunlight. As she walked along before Harry, he noticed, not for the first time, the aura of pure sensuality that she seemed to exert. She was easily the most capricious girl Harry had ever known, completely capable of changing from ecstatic, to melancholy, to completely enraged within the span of a few seconds. Physically and emotionally, everything about Cho Chang shined as radiantly as the sun in the summer sky. Clouds of grief and regret had obscured her last year, but the deep overcast was finally beginning to lift. She was truly a living sun goddess. Her voice snapped Harry from his reverie.
"We're here, Harry."
Looking around, Harry saw a tall building, very Chinese in design, fenced in by a high stone wall and barred by an iron gate. The gate swung open as Cho approached and granted entrance to the small party. Harry saw a beautiful water garden in front of the building, looking around as Cho led him over a small wooden bridge to a set of large red doors, which opened with a slight touch from the beautiful Ravenclaw. Harry stopped for a moment as she led him inside.
"This entire place belongs to your family, Cho?"
Cho nodded, looking rather embarrassed at her family's affluence. Obviously, she was unaware of the vast fortune that Harry controlled. He briefly wondered why she flew around on that old Comet Two-Sixty when her family was obviously as wealthy as any of the old pureblooded lines, save perhaps some of the most ancient and elite, such as Evans, Black and Malfoy.
"Yes, my family was one of the first to emigrate from Chinainto wizarding Britain. We've been here since Liangshan Alley's founding in the late eighteenth century. Many of the people you saw in the first residential alley and at the marketplace are newer arrivals. We had a huge influx in the years following Mao Tse-tung's rise to power in China. We're one of the more influential families here, and regularly control the alley's prefecture."
Harry nodded, actually interested in the story.
"So, how long has your uncle been doing his work?"
"Several decades, I think, long before I was born. Come with me, I'll introduce you. You'll have to tell me about your two new pets later."
Had Harry been paying attention, he would have noticed that the sunstone pieces in his wand's composite discharge stone were glowing faintly.
Cho led Harry through the winding hallways of the Chang complex, which were vaguely reminiscent of a Chinese imperial palace, with wooden walls and gold plating, jade flooring and red carpet everywhere. Grindelwald and Khariana still tapered along behind, as they presently reached a large room with a forge. Looking to his left, Harry saw a short, powerfully built man laboring over a sword on a table. Master Chang, he assumed. Ts'ao Chang looked up as he heard the group's entry, taking in Harry's appearance before glancing over to his niece.
"Cho Li Ling, what is the meaning of this intrusion? You know better than to interrupt my work..."
"Uncle, this is Harry Potter, a boy from my school. He's come to ask to have some work done. Gringotts gave him a permit into the alley."
Ts'ao again looked at Harry, more carefully this time, taking particular notice of the young man's lithe but powerful build, and his refined, dangerous aura. Nodding in approval, he turned back to Cho.
"Very well. You may leave us now. I need to speak with the young man personally. Take the two cats with you."
If Cho was angered by her uncle's curt dismissal, she didn't show it. She smiled slightly at Harry and turned to Grindelwald and Khariana.
"Come on, you two. I'll let you run around out back."
The two large beasts looked to Harry for direction, who gave a permissive nod. They left with Cho, as Harry turned to Ts'ao. The master blacksmith regarded him curiously.
"So, Cho says that you have come with the goblins' blessing, and that you would have me craft armaments for you. What would you have me do, Mr. Potter?"
"I require a breastplate to go underneath my robes, and a set of gauntlets and leg armor. I would prefer that they offer both physical and magical resistance, though the latter is the priority. And please, it's Harry."
Ts'ao inclined his head, pleased with Harry's straightforward manner and lack of flattery.
"In what material?"
"Arkanite."
That got his undivided attention.
"There is no arkanite left in this world, Harry. The last veins dried up decades ago."
"I have a large stockpile of raw arkanite stored within my family's vault. I can have a sufficient quantity brought down to you within the next few days."
"Very well, then. I would suggest having the armaments plated in another mineral in addition to the arkanite."
"Why is that?"
"Arkanite is extremely resistant, to both physical and magical attacks. However, it is also very difficult to mold, and more or less impossible to carve runes or designs upon. In order to add enchantments to the works, or to implement a customized design, you will need to use another mineral as plating, and place the additions upon that. The magical properties of the runes and the arkanite will bond the two layers together. I would suggest a magically powerful material. What would you like to use?"
Harry pondered the matter for a moment. Taking a glance at his ring, he came up with an idea.
"Would jade work? I rather like the material, and it matches my ring."
"An excellent suggestion. Now, as for runic enhancements, I would suggest charms for increased durability and magical resistance, particularly for the jade, and for weightlessness. Anything else would be largely unnecessary, and would somewhat inhibit the magic of the enchantments that you do need. Does this meet with your approval?"
"Yes, that will work nicely."
"Good, now, I'll need you to remove your robes so that I can observe your physiological dimensions."
Harry removed his black formal robe, leaving him only in his trousers, as Ts'ao lightly felt over his physique. Harry could practically sense the master blacksmith's surprise as his callused hands ran over his invisible wings, but said nothing. The older man had the professional sense not to ask questions. Quickly enough, Ts'ao was finished, and Harry fitted his robe back on.
"Well, I can see that you're quite well-built, and magically powerful as well. I'll need to leave space in the back for those mysterious feathered appendages of yours to feed through, but I must say that I'm looking forward to crafting these armaments. Now, I have a request. I will knock a full ten thousand galleons off of the overall price if you allow me to choose the custom designs for each piece. I promise that you won't be disappointed, and I like for all of my works to have my personal touch."
Harry didn't really care for the aesthetics, as long as the armaments protected him properly. For his part, Master Chang had a considerable level of skill in divination, and was able to craft his works to suit the future state of his clients. Thus, the design that he could incorporate onto Harry's armaments now would come to be reflective of his destiny, perhaps years into the future. However, the master blacksmith was certain that Harry would accomplish great things, and wanted to make certain that his work was physically and artistically equal to them. Harry simply nodded.
"Yes, that will be fine. What will the bill come to, Master Chang?"
"It is a great honor to be trusted to work with arkanite, Harry, but it is also a very difficult task, especially with the jade plating. Magical fusion of materials is always intricate work, but this case is particularly difficult, as it involves a fusion of a metal and a stone. Further, I will have to place all of my other projects on stasis to be able to complete yours within the month. As it stands, your bill will come to no less than seventy five thousand gold galleons, including the ten thousand discount."
Seventy five thousand galleons, now that was a hefty chunk of change. Still, Harry needed the armor, and that gold was going to do him no good if he was dead. He had no actual choice but to accept.
"...Very well. You can draft the bill directly from my accounts at Gringotts. Either the Evans vault or the Black vault will do, whichever you prefer."
Ts'ao smiled at Harry.
"Excellent. I will head on over to the bank and pick up that arkanite myself. I want to get started as soon as possible. I will send an owl when the work is completed. If you cannot make it back here, then I will send the armaments with Cho to Hogwarts, so that you may collect them there."
Master Chang left with a slight spring in his step, unwittingly leaving Harry to find his own way around the sprawling complex. Thankfully, he more or less remembered the path to the exit from earlier, and managed not to get lost. As he approached the large red doors of the main entrance, he found Cho conversing with a Chinese couple. Probably her parents, he thought. A potentially awkward situation was thankfully avoided as Cho's father, a handsome man dressed in black robes made of the same material as his daughter's, noticed Harry coming down the corridor.
"And you must be Harry Potter. Our daughter speaks often of you. I am Song Chang, and this is my wife, Da Qin. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."Cho's mother, an attractive woman dressed in traditional clothing, bowed slightly as Harry shook her husband's hand. It wasn't difficult to see where Cho got her looks. Harry was rather amused by the fact that the pretty Ravenclaw gushed about him at home. What he wouldn't have given for that tidbit of knowledge a year or so ago.
"It's nice to meet you both as well."
"Whatever you've asked my brother to do, it has him happier than I've seen him in years. I imagine he'll be holed up in his forge for weeks. Now, it's getting rather late. Supper will be served within the hour, as soon as our errant blacksmith returns from Gringotts. Would you care to join us, Harry?"
Harry was rather hungry, and he had no particular reason to decline the invitation. He nodded.
"Certainly, if you don't mind having me."
The next hour saw Harry seated in the first floor lounge of the Chang complex making small talk with Cho and her family, mostly with her father. Neither of the women spoke much, but Harry paid no mind to the fact. The topics of discussion mostly centered on his school activities, and his future plans. Harry gave the vague lie of planning to become an auror, since he wasn't about to divulge his actual plans. He learned that Cho's father was the economic advisor to Liangshan Alley's prefect. Soon enough, Ts'ao returned from the bank, and the assembled group headed upstairs to the dining hall.
Dinner was exquisite, with three courses of Chinese cuisine. Thankfully, Harry had become rather adept in the use of chopsticks during his month in the village, as Kenzo also never used western utensils in his home, and had no problems eating. Cho sent Harry a surprised smile upon seeing him using the sticks properly. There was no conversation during the meal, but once the table had been cleared, Cho's father looked over at Harry.
"Harry, I couldn't help but notice that ring upon your finger. It's quite beautiful. May I ask how you came to possess it?"
Cho looked inquisitively at Harry as well, as if the question had also been on her mind. He saw no reason not to answer, since these people didn't have any real contact with the mainstream wizarding public. Well, aside from Cho, but he wasn't particularly worried about her spreading his personal business around. Just to be safe, though, he decided not to mention any particulars.
"It's the heritage ring of my mother's line. It came into my possession when I accepted the lordship of the family a month ago."
Cho gasped breathlessly, as her mother looked over to Harry.
"Lord of the estate at sixteen? That must be quite a responsibility."
Cho's parents exchanged glances, and Harry knew there was something more to this conversation than he understood. Her father continued the discussion.
"Are you also the head of your father's estate? Cho has told us the story of your upbringing and the attack upon your parents. We understand that it's quite famous outside of our alley, within the remainder of wizarding society."
"Unofficially, yes, I am the head of the Potter family, and I have also been made heir to my godfather's line, as he had none of his own. I have yet to be legally installed in either case, though. Both should be finalized in the coming weeks."
Cho's parents smiled conspiratorially, as her father made his next remark.
"Sixteen years of age, and the head of three prominent families. Tell me, Harry, have you chosen a bride yet?"
Harry's eyes widened slightly, and Cho looked as if she would have liked nothing more than to crawl into a hole somewhere and never come out again. So, that was why Cho's father had taken such a keen interest in his future plans. A few months ago, Harry would have thought that he had died and gone to Heaven. Now, things were quite a bit more complicated. He could certainly do worse than the exotic beauty, but he was in no mood to talk about marriage, particularly given the fact that he and Cho weren't even seeing one another. That, and Hitomi was liable to cut his throat out as he slept.
"I'm in the market, I suppose. I really haven't given the matter much thought."
Ts'ao, thankfully, chose to change the direction of the conversation.
"Harry, can you tell me what exactly is going on out in Diagon Alley? I was accosted by no less than four people upon entry, all of them asking for your whereabouts. A few even tried to follow me back into Liangshan Alley later. Thankfully, the wards repelled them. Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"Who can say? I think that will depend on how our beloved Headmaster reacts to my cursing his Potions professor. I don't imagine that there's much he can do about it, though. He needs me too much to expel me. As for the blockade, there are some select people within the wizarding community that presume upon having some right to lock me up and throw away the key, under the excuse that it's for my own safety, the Headmaster and his staff being chief among them. Naturally, I disagree with their reasoning..."
Harry glanced over at Cho, who seemed to have gotten over her embarrassment and was listening to the exchange with rapt attention. Of course, he did just admit that he'd hexed one of their professors, so he couldn't particularly blame her for being interested. At any rate, the entire discussion was starting to spiral out of control, and Harry thought it prudent to take his leave. The clock on the far wall provided him with the excuse he needed. It was nearing ten o'clock in the evening.
"...I'll have to ask you all to excuse me. It's nearing ten o'clock, and I have a late engagement this evening. Thank you for a wonderful meal."
Cho's father nodded.
"It was a pleasure having you, Harry. Cho will see you to the Diagon Alley entrance. Do come visit us again sometime before the start of term."
Harry replied that he would, despite having no intention of doing so. He started for the main entrance to the complex, Cho following right behind. As soon as they got down the stairs, she turned to him.
"Harry, I am so sorry about my father. I can't believe that he was so blunt..."
He simply shrugged.
"Don't worry about it. So, was he serious?"
"I'm afraid so. Mum and dad have been on my case for the better part of the past year to find an acceptable husband, or else they'd find one for me. It's not as if such things are uncommon in my culture, but after Cedric..."
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Still, she didn't look like she was about to start wailing, which was at least a small improvement. He instead decided to attempt to lighten the atmosphere somewhat.
"So, I'm acceptable, then? I thought the people here didn't like outsiders."
"Oh, that's true, most of the newer arrivals don't. My family has been here for centuries, Harry, and my father thinks that it's time for us to do away with this isolationist mindset of ours. He feels that it's up to him to set a precedent for others among us to follow. He's determined to see me married off into a prominent pureblooded wizarding family. That was his whole rationale for sending me to Hogwarts. And here you come along, a living legend in the outside world and head of three ancestral lines. He couldn't resist the urge to play matchmaker. Now, did you really curse Professor Snape?"
Harry was a bit impressed with how quickly she managed to change directions. Capricious, indeed. Also, his dakaathi charm didn't seem to affect her as it had most other women he had encountered recently. Hitomi didn't seem to have been too heavily influenced by it, either, at least until they had shagged. Maybe it had something to do with Harry still being mostly human.
"Yeah, earlier this afternoon. He confronted me at the Liangshan Alley entrance, wanted to haul me off to wherever Dumbledore thought I'd be safest. I didn't cooperate with him, wands were drawn, and I blasted the greasy git clear across Diagon Alley. I would imagine that the old man's goon squad is still waiting for me to come out."
Cho arched an eyebrow.
"And you're still going out there?"
"What other choice do I have? I can't apparate, and I doubt anybody around here is connected to the Floo Network."
"Actually, there is one connection. A few summers ago, I asked Marietta to have her mother connect a small chimney in a back room of this complex to the network, so I could leave home without my parents knowing. A lot of times, I feel like I'm going to suffocate here. I'm so sick of my father's constant meddling, Harry. He thinks that every aspect of my life should be molded to fit his own needs and beliefs. Quidditch was my one rebellion against him. He was furious when I made the team. He doesn't think the game is a proper pursuit for a marriageable young lady, and refused to buy me a proper broomstick. But enough about my problems, let me show you to the floo chamber."
Harry was surprised with how similar Cho's situation was to his own. Both struggled heavily against forces trying to push them in one direction or another. At that point, he felt a certain connection to the Chinese beauty, as if they were on some sort of wavelength. Looking into her eyes, he was pretty sure she felt it as well. He was vaguely reminded of the peculiar sensation that he had felt for Hitomi, that underlying aura of tangible fondness. He had no time to explore the situation further at the moment, though, as he didn't want to be too late for his liaison with Narcissa Malfoy. After all, Harry would have more than enough time to figure out what exactly Cho Chang was to him at Hogwarts. For now, he simply smiled at her.
"Lead the way, then."
Cho smiled back and led him towards the rear of the complex, along a rather straightforward route. They arrived at a small guest bedroom, with a fireplace and a small dish of floo powder. She pulled him down slightly and pecked his cheek, before walking off with an unreadable look. Pondering the entire matter for a moment longer, Harry came to a certain realization. He had virtually told her that he was at odds with Dumbledore, even that he had assaulted a Hogwarts professor, and still, she hadn't even sent so much as a reproachful look at him. Cho didn't seem to be at all aware of exactly what Harry was up to, but she had knowingly assisted him in eluding Dumbledore. Perhaps she was just as inclined to stand up against those around her as Harry recently had come to find himself. He'd have to speak with her at length upon returning to Hogwarts. Shaking his head, Harry grabbed a pinch of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace.
"Hotel Verdant, Room 605."
With a flash of green flame, Harry tumbled gracefully into the entrance lobby of a posh hotel suite. Looking around, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten about Grindelwald and Khariana back at the Chang complex. He cursed under his breath, realizing that he'd have to make another trip back to retrieve them. Two soft cracking noises sounded to either side of him, and he looked about to see the two tigers standing right there as if they had come through the floo with him. Yet another benefit of their symbiotic magical bond to Harry, it seemed. He directed to two to rest in the small lounge at the near end of the lobby as he headed into the bedroom.
Harry arrived to find a slightly irritated Narcissa sitting at a small table in the room. His shadow cast through the dimly lit room, making her aware of his presence. She turned to him with a haughty sneer.
"You're late."
"Only fashionably so. Besides, I see you've had no difficulty making yourself comfortable."
Harry sat down gently in a posh chair across from Narcissa, taking in the older woman's appearance. She was dressed in a black satin gown that exposed an enormous amount of cleavage, and that was cut off only slightly below the hips. At least she was dressed for the occasion, Harry thought with a mental smirk. She poured Harry a glass of champagne and handed it to him before speaking.
"Now, you're most likely wondering why I've requested to meet with you?"
Harry simply raised an eyebrow, feeling no need to make the obvious lewd comment. He downed a good portion of his champagne in one swallow.
"Very much so. Please enlighten me, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Call me Narcissa, and I've asked you here so that I might request that you intercede on my behalf with the President of Gringotts, since you claim to be familiar with him. I need for you to have my son supplanted as the controller of the Malfoy finances, or at least have a limit placed upon his spending."
"His spending? What could Draco possibly be buying that puts a fortune as vast as the Malfoy inheritance in any sort of fiscal danger?"
Narcissa chose not to respond to the question, not that Harry had particularly expected her to. She was intelligent enough not to be goaded into blabbing any potentially damaging information.
"That is unimportant. Can you do it?"
"I'm certain that I can. I have a pretty good idea what your little ferret of a son is up to, and it also suits my own prerogatives to shut him down. Consider it done. However, I'm assuming that you'll want to be placed in control of the finances yourself?"
For a moment, she had thought that she would be able to get this done simply on the basis of mutual utility, and that she wouldn't have to pleasure the boy. It seemed obvious now that he had no intention of letting her off so easily. Of course, she really didn't find the idea all that repulsive.
"Of course. I'm fairly certain that we can come to an agreement on the matter."
[Content deleted
Harry awoke with a warm weight pressed against his body. Looking over, he found it to be a naked Narcissa Malfoy, as vivid memories of the previous evening burned through the haze of his mind. In all honesty, he hadn't particularly enjoyed the experience beyond the actual act of sex. With Hitomi the night before last, there had been some significant level of meaning behind the act, a sensation of mutual understanding between the two. However, sex with Narcissa was just that. He had no fondness for the woman at all, and had only agreed to the arrangement for the absolutely delicious coup of having shagged Lucius Malfoy's wife. He would keep to his end of the deal, but only because it suited his own interests to snatch the Malfoy fortunes away from Voldemort's resource pool. A stirring next to him indicated that Narcissa had awoken. Fixing a smirk onto his face, he looked down to her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Malfoy. I do hope that I performed adequately?"
"That would be an understatement. Perhaps we should discuss a more permanent business arrangement."
Yeah, right, Harry thought. What could she possibly offer him now? The sex hadn't been that spectacular. Still, he might as well play along. She could surprise him with something useful, after all.
"Oh? And what terms do you have in mind?"
Narcissa flashed a grin, the first genuine look of mirth that he had seen from her.
"Simple barter, nothing complicated. My information in exchange for your services."
"And what information might that be?"
"Don't be foolish. You know exactly what information. My idiot son and psychotic sister can't keep their lips sealed to save their own lives. Not a day passes where I can evade being forced to listen to one or both of them prattle on about the Dark Lord's petty schemes. Most of them concern you, at least indirectly. We can meet every other week, at slightly varying intervals as to avoid unnecessary suspicion. So, do we have a deal?"
Harry considered the matter. He wasn't entirely sure that he could trust the woman, but at the very least, whatever information she provided could be cross-referenced with that gleamed by his grounded espionage network. Besides, he could tell that Narcissa was obviously desperate for a decent lover, and could probably be plied into performing certain other tasks for him should the need arise.
"Very well, it seems like a fair exchange. This room, two weeks from tomorrow evening?"
Narcissa nodded, before kissing Harry throughly and slipping her gown back on. Yes, he thought, he definitely preferred Hitomi's taste. Maybe he'd try Cho later on, though, and make another comparison. Soon enough, Narcissa left for Malfoy Manor, leaving Harry in the hotel suite wondering what to do with his day. He had no more shopping to do, and neither his robes nor his armaments would be done for some time. Grilthauk had his own issues to deal with as President of Gringotts, though Harry did remind himself to send the old goblin an owl about the Malfoy situation as soon as he was able. Kenzo and the rest of the Shinn Kohaku were likewise busy preparing to leave the village and report to their individual assignments. Returning to the Chang complex was out of the question, as Harry had no particular desire to be a conduit through which Cho's father could complicate her life further. In the end, he decided simply to bite the bullet and floo over to Order Headquarters. He was going to have to deal with Dumbledore sooner or later, and he could always find a way to leave if the need arose. Besides, he missed Mrs. Weasley's cooking. Harry fastened his robe and made sure his effects were in place before stalkingo ver to the fireplace, whistling for Grindelwald and Khariana. The two beasts rested their heads against Harry's legs, as he grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place."
(End Chapter Eight)
Author's Note: Well, I'm really not very happy with the way this one turned out. Almost the entire chapter was devoted to pairing stuff, with Cho getting a huge emphasis, and then jumping over to the Harry/Narcissa. It felt like writing a soap opera, and putting it together wasn't an enjoyable experience at all. Speaking of which, I really don't want to see a bunch of reviews bitching about my giving Cho a significant role in the story. I have many reasons for including her, and many of you can probably start to see some of them already. I can promise that there will be little to no pairing driven stuff in the next few chapters, and we're only a few updates away from Hogwarts.
Thanks for the reviews, folks. Keep them coming.