Take a Breath.
One question led to Charlotte asking more and more and pretty soon, Harry told Charlotte what amounted to a very long story. Several drinks had been downed between both of them and Charlotte looked like a woman who had a lot to process.
"She didn't tell you any of this?" Harry asked. "I didn't…"
"You couldn't have," Charlotte said. "I didn't…didn't understand how much my daughter kept from me. How many secrets she kept until you told me. And I'm really sorry that Hermione put you in that position."
Harry just nodded and sipped on his drink. His frustration regarding Hermione reached a fever pitch. Perhaps it was a good thing he could not see her right away.
"Although, I would think that giving my daughter a very powerful magical artifact, one that could warp space and time so she could take a few extra classes, would require parental consent," Charlotte said darkly. "After all, I had to sign a permission slip for Hermione to visit the village. And yet for this thing, this time turner, no one bothered to ask us if it was okay she uses that at all."
Charlotte drank one more time. Her hand had been shaking. Harry just leaned back and let her go.
"My daughter lays petrified in the hospital wing for months and no one from that school bothers to inform me," Charlotte said. "I wonder if they told any of the other parents about it."
"I'll have to ask my friend, Penny, but I doubt it," Harry said. "She was one of the victims as well, Penelope Clearwater."
Charlotte drained another bit of her drink and nodded.
"I'm not going to even talk about that detention they put you and Hermione in during your first bloody year," Charlotte said. "Because, I want to break something. And that giant idiot who was responsible for that bloody dragon in the first place, he doesn't say anything. And let's children take the fall for his illegal activities."
A month ago, Harry would have jumped to defend Hagrid without question. Yet, the man had done many things which would be considered to be questionable, and if it was not for Dumbledore protecting him, he would have seen the inside of Azkaban long before he did before Fudge put him there to maintain the illusion of doing something. Ron would jump to bring up Aragog if he was here, Harry was sure.
And the fact he technically got expelled for one giant spider, and found it a mate, and they bred to make many giant spiders. Harry realized all of the leverage Dumbledore must have over Hagrid to hush up a lot of his doing and the loyalty he cultivated over the years.
It was kind of impressive. Okay,it was very impressive.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked Charlotte.
"Well, honestly, I should pull my daughter from that school," Charlotte said. "But, I'm not sure that I could."
Harry blinked and understood immediately.
"I'm not stupid," Charlotte said. "With how these people operate, they don't really give a damn about the rights of the parents. Especially if those parents are non-magical. I've read a little bit, what I can, what I could figure out, and there's charms and spells which would make people change their mind or forget what they've learned"
Those bloody memory spells, Harry thought. He saw what they could do with his experiences with Lockhart. Charlotte looked somber for another moment.
"My greatest fear is I'll wake up one morning and it will be like Hermione never existed," Charlotte said. "And what scares me the most is that I'm not sure if it's because Hermione was responsible or if something really bad happened to her and they don't want to deal with the inconvenience of having a parent upset about their daughter's death. Especially a Muggle."
That was a rather dark fear. Harry would have liked to appease Charlotte. Say that she was being irrational.
But, he couldn't.
"They can do that," Harry murmured. "And I wouldn't be surprised."
Harry wished he could tell Charlotte that her fears were unfounded. But, talking through this, made Harry realize that her fears were very founded. Magic could be terrifying to someone who could not defend themselves against it. While it did not excuse how certain people lashed out, Harry understood the fear they could have.
"I'm sorry I had to tell you all of this."
"Don't," Charlotte said. "I pushed you too far. Everything you've done to protect my daughter, to keep her as safe, I appreciate it. I'm not sure if Hermione understood or appreciated what you've sacrificed, but she owes you her life several times over. And despite everything, how I'm losing my daughter, I'm glad you've saved her. And I'm pissed the adults put you in this situation time and time again. All of you."
Charlotte looked about ready to have a breakdown. Harry held her tightly.
"Thank you. I can't…not enough."
Charlotte leaned in and closed the distance between herself and Harry, with a passionate kiss. The two enjoyed each other for a good long minute, and Charlotte's hands roamed, almost messily down Harry's body as she fumbled with his belt. Harry gently grabbed them and nudged them away.
"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked. "Is there something wrong with me?"
"No, you're beautiful," Harry said. "But, also not in a really good state of mind. I don't want to take advantage and do something you'll regret when you sober up."
A moment of clarity appeared to hit Charlotte.
"I doubt I'll regret it," Charlotte murmured. "But, you're more responsible than my husband was…all those years ago. He's…oooh!"
Charlotte almost slid off the bench. Harry gently caught her. Off to the other side, Shayera moved over. Obviously, she could sense when a person went a bit too far into the bottle.
"I think you've had enough tonight, Doctor Granger," Shayera said in a firm voice. "Come on. Easy does it."
Spooner, Zari, Astra, and Nora all walked over. Several others made their way over.
"What happened?" Astra asked.
"Shared with her some things that happened at Hogwarts," Harry said. "Hermione's mother."
"Mmm," Astra murmured.
Perhaps it was Harry's imagination, but Astra did not seem too fond of Hermione. At all. And was only biting her tongue, out of respect for Harry.
"Oh boy," Zari murmured under her breath.
"So, what do you want to do with her?" Nora asked. "Because, she's not driving home."
"She shouldn't," Zari said.
"No, she shouldn't," Astra said firmly.
She lost her mother because some drunk idiot got behind the wheel of a car. So, it was a sensitive subject for Astra, drunk driving.
"You're right, I shouldn't," Charlotte said.
"You can come home with me, and sleep it off in the guest bedroom," Harry told Charlotte.
"Good, I'm glad," Charlotte said. "The in-laws are visiting…and I would rather not deal with them, anytime soon. I've been spending a lot of the time at the practice, I've been camping out there, because I've had it up to here with Joyce and with Michael…more Joyce than Michael really. David gets his lack of spine from his father and his lack of balls come to think of…it!"
Charlotte wobbled a little bit.
"Then again, I just wish I had enough nerve to drop David," Charlotte said.
"Why don't you?" Spooner asked. "That guy sounds like a bum."
"He is," Charlotte said. "But, it's for my daughter's sake. And the in-laws have some attorneys that can…can ruin me, and I….oooh."
"Got you," Harry told her.
Fleur moved over and looked at Charlotte. She understood.
"I'll tell Erika that you won't be able to make it back to the cafe tonight," Fleur said. "See you tomorrow."
Fleur leaned over and planted a kiss on Harry before she walked off. Sara and Ava walked up.
"Time to get our daughter home," Sara said. "Getting late. See you later."
Sara and Ava said their goodbyes to Harry. Merula poked her head out as well.
"Cassie and I will make sure those two get back," Merula said. "See you on Monday. Bright and early."
"I'll drive you back," Zari said. "Because, I don't think teleporting her back home is a good idea. And considering I don't drink, I'm the best person."
Harry locked eyes on Charlotte, as she wobbled for a second. He had a feeling that Zari was right, right big time. It was a shame their night out ended in such an awkward place.
"Well, that could have ended better," Astra murmured.
"No shit," Spooner said. "Ready?"
"Have to be," Astra said.
"She had to know," Charlie said when she saw them all safely to the door. "See you again soon."
Charlie stole a kiss for Harry, as Spooner and Astra assisted Harry in making sure Charlotte was able to walk towards Zari's car. Harry said nothing, as they left the Club.
Harry returned to Number Four Privet Drive, his head spinning from the night, and not because he had a few drinks. Those wore off quicker than Charlotte's did. Spooner and Astra ended up crashing on the couch. Nora made sure Charlotte was settled in the guest room. And Zari was sticking around for a little bit to make sure everything that happened.
"Damn it, Hermione," Harry swore. "If I kept things like that, you would lecture me for it! I really don't know how to deal with you right now. Maybe it's a good thing you're hidden away. Not sure how I deal with you right now. I really wish I knew how to send a howler."
Suddenly, a book appeared in front of Harry, along with the materials he needed to make a Howler. Harry flipped open the book and studied.
"What are you doing?"
Zari stepped into the room behind Harry.
"Hermione needs a good swift kick up the arse to set her priorities straight," Harry said.
"Oh, you're not wrong, honey" Zari said. "But, maybe you should take a deep breath and really think about what you're about to do. Just focus, and breathe. Let those negative emotions out."
Zari put her soft hands gently upon Harry's shoulders and moved closer towards him.
"Breathe deep," Zari said. "Calm down."
"I'm calm," Harry said. "I'm calm."
"Still shaking a bit," Zari said. "And there's a good piece of advice that I learned a long time ago. You never send an e-mail when angry or respond to someone on social media. I'm pretty sure that goes double for a howler, and you're really upset with her."
Upset was an understatement.
"I'm…yes I am," Harry agreed.
"I understand," Zari said. "I would be upset if I learned what you learned today. But, you can figure out how you want to handle Hermione, but it's when cooler heads prevail and not a second before. When you're thinking more clearly. And you're not thinking clearly. We need to get your head in the right space…the right frame of mind. To deal with this in a rational and mature manner"
Zari's soft fingers and beautiful, elegant hands rubbed Harry's shoulders and neck. They eased beneath his shirt and slowly rubbed him in circular, relaxing motions.
"You never asked for any of this stuff to pile onto you," Zari said. "You never deserved this, all the shit that's happened to you over the past fourteen…fifteen years."
Zari slowly slipped Harry's shirt off and rubbed her hands down his body. She rubbed his back, his chest, and his abs. Zari's soft hands felt pleasant going all over Harry's body. One of them teased just half of a centimeter before his crotch.
"And the problem is, you take on more than you should on top of that," Zari said. "The entire weight of the world is on your shoulders. And it can and will crush you, big time. And you're starting to lose your patience with everything going on, aren't you?"
"A little," Harry admitted.
Zari stripped Harry's pants off, leaving him in nothing, but his undershorts. She slowly slipped those off and caused Harry's cock to spring out in the opening. Zari grabbed a bottle of oil and poured it all over Harry's body. She gave him a full body massage, running her fingers up and down his body. Zari's sexy body pressed against Harry's side when she slowly stroked him.
"Just relax," Zari purred. "Relax and take the burden for tonight. Just breathe and enjoy my hands. They run all over your body. Just take it all in and enjoy. Feel the pleasure build up in your body. Feel how good that's making you feel tonight."
Zari's fingers brushed Harry's balls teasingly, as she pressed her breasts against his side and kept massaging him. Hot breath and gorgeous dark hair tickled the side of Harry's neck.
"Since you asked Nora to take care of Charlotte tonight, I'm going to take care of you. Roll over, honey."
Harry rolled onto his back, and Zari pressed her hands on Harry's naked body. Zari ran her hands down Harry's body and reached his swelling organ. Zari teased him with a long, slow stroke.
"Mommy likes."
With a long kiss to the tip of Harry's organ, Zari swept Harry between her lips. She slowly, seductively licked Harry's cock and made him groan with pleasure as she toyed with him. She swirled her tongue down Harry's aching cock, like an ice cream cone.
Then, Zari rose up and slowly removed her dress. Harry looked down from her beautiful gorgeous face, her silken black hair, alluring slender neck, round firm tits, topped off with dark and beautiful nipples, along with a tight, flat stomach, with a drool inducing-belly button. Zari revealed her wet pussy, with dark curls, and long beautiful legs, with feet showcasing overall. Zari crouched down onto Harry, dripping the oil down her body.
Zari used every inch of her amazing body to pleasure Harry. Their oiled up bodies rubbed together. Harry and Zari passionately made out with each other for a second. Harry opened his mouth to allow Zari's lips and tongue to dance over him. And then Zari moved back and took those oiled up breasts and worshipped every inch of him with them.
"You're a goddess," Harry groaned.
"Thanks," Zari purred. "I've been compared to Isis a few times. Although that name was poisoned thanks to a bunch of extremist idiots. Fuck those assholes."
Zari ran her hands down Harry's body and massaged him with her breasts as well. Zari's beautiful milkers ran down Harry's cock and made him twitch and groan for him. She then moved up and straddled Harry, slowly rubbing the tip of his cock between her mouth.
"I'm more relaxed now," Harry said.
The oils, not to mention Zari's perfume, put Harry in a pretty good mood. Zari rubbed back and up against him. She rocked back and forth, without him slipping inside of her. At least not yet.
"Lay back and let Mommy make you feel really good."
Zari continued to tease Harry's length with her thighs. They felt so heavenly, Harry struggled not to lose himself to her worked him over and over, rubbing her thighs against his throbbing hard cock and making groan for her when she teased him.
"Ive wanted to meet you for a long time," Zari said when she ground up against Harry more. "All of the stories I heard were amazing. But the real man is more remarkable than any story."
Harry and Zari kissed each other. Zari ran her hands down Harry's body. Harry lowered his face down onto Zari's chest and started to suck on her tits. Harry leaned, kissed, and hungered for those nipples. Zari let out a cry.
"Mmm, that feels good, sucking on Mommy's breasts like this, doesn't it?" Zari asked. "I love this…and I love making you feel this good. There's not a single man alive who can make you feel…oh this good."
Harry latched his mouth against Zari's nipple and sucked it extremely hard. Zari hugged his face into her tits and sucked them extremely hard. Harry moved down and worshipped every inch of her body like a goddess. Her tits, her tight stomach, and her pussy. Harry licked her pussy so good.
"I'm the one who is supposed to be making you feel good…babe," Zari breathed in pleasure.
Harry finished feasting on Zari and moving down her body. He moved down her legs and caused a tingle to erupt through her. Harry kissed and pleasured every inch of her body, sending another tremor through her body. Harry licked her and made her cry out.
Then her legs, her beautiful legs. Harry could lick and kiss them all day long and Zari could let him. He moved down, to the underside of her feet. Harry inhaled her beautiful feet.
"Tickles," Zari moaned.
Harry licked Zari's soles and moved in to suck on each of her beautiful toes like candy. Zari let out another few cries as Harry worshipped her feet. Harry devoured Zari's sweet toes toes. Zari threw her head back as Harry pleasured her toes and drove her completely wild.
"Oooh, some people might find this weird," Zari said. "But, to me it's hot. And just because my kink is not your kink, it doesn't make it…mmm any less valid."
Harry finished sucking and kissing Zari's feet and made her tingle. Very slowly, Zari pulled back and licked her lips, gazing down upon Harry's cock when eying him with hunger flashing through her eyes. She added a bit of lion to her feet and slowly lifted them up.
"So fucking hot," Harry groaned.
"Enjoy."
Zari massaged Harry's cock with her feet and gave him a very impressive footjob. Those feet worked him over and over again, and sent a tremble through him. Zari spread her legs and fingered herself while her beautiful feet rubbed him.
Every inch of those perfect feet, rubbed against Harry's throbbing manhood.
"Do you like my feet, honey?" Zari asked. "Are you going to cum all over them? Do you like fucking my footpussy like this?"
"Yes," Harry groaned. "Oooh, damn it."
Every inch of those perfect Persian feet stimulated Harry. Harry's balls tightened and with one last glorious explosion, he burst all over Zari's feet. Harry showered her feet and toes, groaning in pleasure when he finished discharging over her. Zari let out another cry, when he finished pumping all over her.
Harry emptied all over her feet and Zari finished riding her fingers out. This beautiful Muslim goddess drained Harry's cock with her sexy feet.
A second passed, and Zari grabbed Harry before pulling him into a long kiss. Zari rubbed against him and Harry groaned when feeling himself harden against her perfect body. Zari leaned all over him.
"It's time," Zari said. "You're nice and hard for me, aren't you, handsome?"
"Always," Harry said.
"Just relax and let Mommy ride you."
Harry's cock twitched and Zari impaled herself down onto Harry. Zari wrapped her perfect, sexy legs around Harry and bounced harder. The frustration of tonight burned away. Harry buried his frustration along with his cock inside of Zari. Her insides tightened and released his cock. Harry pulled her down and pushed into her.
Zari used every inch of her body to please him.
"Go ahead, baby. Touch me however you want."
Harry obliged Zari and sucked on the side of her neck. Zari's hot moans in his ears made Harry moan. Her perfect body rose up and down onto him ,descending up with each push. Zari leaned in and pushed into him. Her pussy gushed and clamped down onto Harry. She squirted all over his cock.
Another orgasm, and Zari creamed herself all over Harry's big, fat cock. She came hard for him again.
"That makes me feel so good," Zari said. "But, you need to release that tension. Nora made me promise that I will take care of you tonight. And I'm going to take care of you."
Zari slapped her body down onto him.
"You're a big boy, with a big load. So why don't you cum for Mommy?"
Zari slipped down and rode him. She moaned and rocked down onto him. Zari's pussy clamped down onto Harry one more time. The thrill of her body descending down onto him made Harry groan. He released his pent up energy in the form of a big climax.
Harry spilled deep inside of Zari. Zari rocked up. Her insides milked a huge load out of Harry's balls into her.
The two collapsed in each other's arms. Zari looked like she ran a marathon, but she smiled. She gently ran a hand down Harry's hair.
"Better?" Zari asked.
"Loads," Harry said.
"Good."
Zari cradled Harry's face and peppered his face and mouth with more kisses. Harry returned the fire and his cock was hard again. Zari just smiled and pushed herself down onto Harry one more time.
Anything he wanted. And she would give it to him.
The next morning, a refreshed Harry walked down for breakfast. He noticed a note from Petunia had waited for him.
Harry,
I drove Doctor Granger back to pick up her car. I've got errands to run after and a lot to think about. Be back later this afternoon.
Aunt Petunia.
Harry,
Sorry, I was a mess last night. I really hope you don't think worse of me. I'll talk to you in a few days, when I have had a chance to think.
Don't be too hard on Hermione. The teachers at that school are more at fault because they shouldn't rely on a child to tell me what I needed to know. Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, and everyone else dropped the ball, big time.
Charlotte.
Harry understood completely, although whether or not he would be hard on Hermione, depended on how she reacted to their inevitable conversation. But, Harry would cross that bridge soon enough.
Harry got out some letters, and prepared to compose a couple of long overdue letters.
"You're not thinking about that howler, are you?"
Zari came down the steps, dressed in a bathrobe, and looked fresh out of the shower.
"No, I've calmed down a little bit," Harry said. "Thanks for your help last night."
"No problem," Zari said.
"I'm going to be having a talk with her, when I see her next," Harry said. "I'm going to write a letter to Cho Chang."
"Oh, that's the girl who was dating Cedric Diggory that you had a crush on," Zari said.
"Yes," Harry said.
"That's going to be a tricky one," Zari said.
"Yes," Harry said. "Cedric beat me to the punch. I'm not bitter about it or anything. I might have been a month ago, but that's a silly thing to hold a grudge over. But, I think they were friends even before they were dating, so Cho has to be taking it hard."
Harry thought about what he wrote.
Dear Cho,
I understand how I might be the last person you want to talk to. But, I want to say that I'm sorry about Cedric and if there's anything I can do, just write to me. If you want to write back to me, you can. If not, I understand. I can't even understand how you're feeling. I can't even figure out how I'm feeling about everything that happened that night. It's just senseless what happened and I regret that Cedric was there. I wish I could change what was done.
Sincerely,
Harry.
"And his parents," Harry murmured.
"Diggory's?" Astra asked as she showed up.
Spooner and Nora popped in for a second and joined Harry. She read the letter.
"Harry, if I could grant that wish, I really would," Nora said quietly while reading his letter.
Nora kissed Harry gently on the cheek.
"You can't though," Harry said.
"Sorry," Nora said.
"Maybe we could find a loophole," Zari said.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, if it's a fixed point, it might be tricky," Zari said. "Although not impossible. We've broken fixed points before."
"And ended up in time prison for it," Astra said.
"How did you get out of that anyway?" Nora asked.
"Long story, tell you later," Astra said.
"Tell us later," Harry agreed. "I've got to write to Mr and Mrs. Diggory. The Ministry sent Amos home because he refuses to go with their narrative and toe the line."
"Right thing to do," Nora said.
"Even if they bin the letter," Astra said. "Least you could do is reaching out."
Mr and Mrs. Diggory,
Sorry, it's taken me so long to write. And I'm really sorry about what happened with Cedric. He should not have been in the graveyard that night. If I knew what I knew then, I wouldn't have let him take the Cup with me. It was a victory for Hogwarts, we both thought at the time. And I'm not sure if you believe Voldemort is back. But, you deserve to know the name of the man who killed your son on Voldemort's orders. His name was Peter Pettigrew. Yes, that Peter Pettigrew, he's alive. I
The entire story sounds outlandish, I understand. But, you deserve to know. Cedric's death will not be in vain. All I'll say is your son has good friends. And he was a good man. I hope that I can do his memory proud. Be proud of him and all he's done. Cedric was a good man, a credit to you.
Let me know if you need anything.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter.
Harry sealed both of the letters up and had Hedwig deliver the letters. Either he would send them an answer, or they would not. Harry moved off to fix breakfast for the girls.
"Oooh, that smells good," Spooner said.
"It does, but I don't think he should," Astra said. "Tastes good."
"I don't mind cooking for friends," Harry said.
"Different cooking for friends than cooking for livestock," Zari said.
"Point well taken," Astra said.
As Harry wrapped up cooking, Tonks and Fleur arrived to join them.
"Erika understood," Fleur said. "Although she won't say no to you surprising her at work when you get the chance. And I might have stirred her up a little bit."
"Why am I not surprised?" Zari asked.
The entire group ate breakfast and made some light conversation.
"You're in an interesting position," Zari said thoughtfully. "And I know how much you hate your fame. Especially the reasons you have it. I understand."
Harry nodded and wondered where Zari going with this line of conversation.
"It's not going away," Zari said.
"I know," Harry said.
"So use it to your advantage," Zari said. "Leverage it to introduce real change."
"You really could," Nora agreed.
"If Dumbledore really wanted to change the world, he would not be isolating you here," Astra said. "But, we know that Dumbledore doesn't want to rock the boat. He might talk a good game about change, but if he wanted things to get better, they would have gotten better a long time ago."
"He's the champion of the status quo," Fleur said.
"Progressives have tricked themselves into believing Dumbledore wants to dismantle tradition," Nora said.
"A lot of blood purists think the same thing,," Tonks said. "And they don't understand how Dumbledore is their most solid ally to keep them fat and happy on their power. And they're in more danger from Voldemort disrupting their society by killing them just because he can, then anything Dumbledore does."
"Voldemort considered Cedric a spare," Harry said. "Cedric's a pureblood. That's what he really thinks about these people."
"Exactly," Fleur said. "They're all puppets for his agenda. They just want a little bit of power overall. And they don't think."
"Getting back on the subject though," Zari said. "You have the potential to inspire great things. If you weren't such a hermit right now."
"Not by my choice," Harry murmured. "And I don't know where I would start."
"Well, you can't do this all on your own, can you?" Astra asked.
"Having a dedicated team of people helps," Zari said. "It did when I built my business. People handling the minute to minute stuff helps a lot, and you can worry more about the bigger picture. Your long-term goals of what you want to do."
"And you have rights that certain people hope you never learn," Astra said. "With who you are."
"Ignorance is bliss," Spooner said. "And there's a lot of people who are blissful with how ignorant you are. Good sausage by the way."
"Oh, I'm sure you are enjoying Harry's sausage," Astra said with a teasing smile.
"So, you were right and I was wrong," Spooner said. "Are you going to rub it in?"
"A little," Astra said.
Tonks started to say something, realized she had her mouth full of food, and swallowed it.
"Sorry, forgot," Tonks said. "Although that makes me think of my mother. Andromeda. She's a smart woman. I wouldn't trust her to name any children, but she's capable and knowledgeable about magical law. She knows more than any book can teach you. I'll talk to her for you to see if she can help. Although, if I bring up your name, I think she would."
"Would you?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Tonks said with a smile.
"I'm going to need a personal assistant for the job as well," Harry summarized. "Someone capable and organized."
Harry chuckled and the rest of the group raised eyebrows.
"Just thinking about how Hermione would be the first person I would think of about a month ago," Harry said. "Really goes to show you how isolated I am, if she's my first choice."
"Well, time you branch out a little bit then," Astra said.
"Say what you want about the man, but cultivating a good public image is one of the things Lockhart was king with," Nora said.
"Oh, trust me, I have plenty to say about that man," Astra murmured.
"She's right," Harry said. "He had a great public image. At least up until the moment where he started teaching."
"He replaced someone on his team with someone who gave him some shoddy advice," Nora said. "And let's face it, you can't any worse advice than being Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."
"That's for sure," Tonks said. "Lockhart was shown to be a fraud. If he just stuck to his books and his public appearances, he could have rode that wave forever. People adored Lockhart. Anyone who disagreed with him, his fans would shut them down. And they said some pretty nasty things about people who questioend his books."
"And he had a lot of fans because of his books," Harry said.
"But, taking that job destroyed his public image," Zari said. "The masquerade was destroyed. The con was over. And he lost his memories. Tragic."
"There's a lesson to be learned here," Fleur commented. "You have to have people who you can trust. Who will have your best interests in mind."
"And the name Harry Potter commands a lot of attention," Nora said.
"Even after the hatchet job the Prophet's doing on you," Tonks said.
"But, no one ever sees me," Harry said. "Which is what Merula said."
"Well, Merula has this problem of being right and she's very blunt about it," Tonks said.
Harry pondered about this. After some thinking, he came to one obvious conclusion. Doing things Dumbledore's way did not work for him. So, Harry figured he would go a different way.
"I still don't like my fame," Harry admitted. "But, if I have to be famous, at least I can use it to my advantage."
"Exactly," Zari said.
"Thanks for breakfast," Tonks said. "Off to the Ministry and I'll talk to Mum tomorrow. I'll keep you posted."
Tonks and Harry exchanged one last kiss before Tonks walked off into the distance. Harry pondered his next move.
"Any ideas for your personal assistant?" Astra asked.
In fact, Harry had an idea. If she was willing, that is.
"Well, she's very capable and she deserves better," Harry said.
After breakfast, Harry would head down the street and make a certain Ms. Penelope Clearwater an offer she could not refuse.
To Be Continued.