Chapter 8
Whilst Albus was stuck trying to think of ways out-manoeuvring Flamel and his cadre without going against the contract, Perenelle was gloating over the fact that Albus was a literal fool as he hadn't taken into account that the contract did not include anyone but Harry.
Whilst it was true that anyone under Harry's authority was forbidden from acting against Dumbledore, people like Filius and Perenelle were not included as they had only taken vows to support him and care for him. They had not sworn themselves to the house of Potter or Slytherin.
Minerva had become quite irritable recently as Albus had requested that she swap offices with him. He refused to quit or relinquish his position as Headmaster but wanted her to take the office.
He had refused to say why.
Minerva had also refused as her office was close to her classroom and that made it easier for her students to find her.
Albus had tried to make it an order. He had backed off when a nearby suit of armour had stepped off its pedestal and stood threateningly behind the Deputy Head.
When Minerva had asked Harry if he had ordered the castle to do that he had denied it.
Minerva knew he had no reason to lie and was more likely to actually smirk mischievously if he had.
This had led to a discussion between Harry, Filius and Minerva about the locations of their offices and their House Common Rooms.
It was all very well for them to be available in their offices after class, but what if students needed them after curfew?
So that discussion led to another discussion.
"So, Sirius, Agatha, how would you like a job?" Harry asked the two adults seated in his quarters.
Agatha Farley was a lovely woman who should have been allowed to marry who she wanted. But she was born to a Pureblood family and traded like cattle to the bastard who called himself her husband. What Harry liked about her the most was that she loved her daughter and son unconditionally.
She was the only parent of the girls who had been worth saving, Harry had signed a contract for her as soon as he had signed the ones for the girls. She was fully aware that Harry would do nothing with it lest she ask.
"Job?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, I was talking to Aunt Minnie and Uncle Fil and I pointed out how they weren't available after curfew. Students can't reach them without getting in trouble.
"I thought the two of you might be a good start on recruiting some sort of House Carers. During the day you would be free to do what you want. But from curfew onwards you would be in the common room or in quarters attached to the common room so you could be reached by students.
"You wouldn't need to be awake all night, just willing to get up if a student needed you."
"Why would they need us at night?" Sirius couldn't figure that one out.
"Didn't you ever have nightmares when you were a first year?" Agatha asked with a shudder as she recalled her first months as a student. "There are other reasons why an adult should be available."
"If you say so." Sirius shrugged without malice. He couldn't think of them but wasn't going to question them. "But we would only be able to reach one common room." He pointed out. "The houses are all too far away to link them to a single room."
Harry frowned as he remembered the Vanishing Cabinet. He shook his head and decided to leave that one for now.
"I want you two to get together and think of other people who might be able to work with the other houses. A man and a woman for each house."
"Pup, I'm a little behind the times at the moment." Sirius said uncomfortably. "And if you hadn't noticed, she's not exactly comfortable simply sitting next to me." He said as he jabbed a thumb to his left where Agatha was sitting as close to the other end of the sofa as possible.
"Suck it up Sirius." Harry scolded. "People won't change if you don't help them change."
"I would prefer a man to be present to deal with male students." Agatha admitted. "I can assure you that the girls would prefer a woman's touch."
"Then think up some names and we'll contact them." Harry nodded.
Agatha smiled at him softly. Harry Potter was the cutest eleven-year-old she'd seen. He was sitting in a regular sized armchair that seemed to be ready to swallow him whole as his legs dangled over the edge.
And he was always trying to act so grown up.
"I guess I can ask Professor McGonagall and Flitwick." Sirius shrugged.
"Whilst you're at it, find Moony and work on duplicating this." He said as he tossed the Marauder's Map to his godfather. "I'll want the original back but I also want a copy for the Heads of House, Filch and the House Carers. Hagrid could use a copy too."
"What about Dumbledore?" Sirius asked with a bit of grimace.
"Pfft! The old man is an administrator. He doesn't patrol the hallways. He doesn't deal with the students."
"And you don't trust him." Sirius finished with a knowing smile.
"Is it that obvious?"
Sirius and Agatha worked together to pool a list of possible candidates for House Carers. The wizarding world was quite small so Agatha knew most of the eligible candidates and all of the ineligible ones.
What she wasn't used to was being given the full authority to recruit who she felt best. As a pureblood wife her purpose was simply to look pretty and provide the heirs.
Harry had definitely charmed her when he assured her she had easily achieved both and now was her time to achieve more.
Harry continued his work on space flight with Professor Sinastra. They brought in Bathsheda Babbling, the Ancient Runes Professor and Septima Vector, the Arithmancy Professor.
Harry very nearly kicked Vector out of the project when she started to deride the very notion that muggles could do something as impressive as land on the moon.
Aurora had kicked him out of the room and told him she would sort this out.
The next day, Septima had apologised and insisted that she and Bathsheda begin tutoring him on their subjects if he was intending on doing something as dangerous as leaving the safety of the planet.
Norbert hadn't turned up, much to Harry's dismay. But then he realised that the dragon egg had been given to Hagrid by Quirrell in disguise. Quirrell had been gone since Halloween, he just hoped the egg was safe and being cared for.
Sirius had finally tracked down the elusive Remus 'Moony' Lupin. Moony had been full of apologies for not being there for Harry and for doubting Sirius.
Sirius had whacked him and chastised him for blaming himself when even Dumbledore didn't know.
Harry had simply promised to change the wizarding world so that he wasn't discriminated against.
Remus was confused by the calm yet self-assured manner that the eleven-year-old had made his promise.
Sirius had just shrugged it off having become used to Harry's frequent personality changes and attributing it to his time with the Dursleys.
Eventually the summer arrived.
Harry would have happily stayed at the Castle, but Ministry law dictated that all students travel back to London via the Express.
Unfortunately Minerva had confirmed this.
Harry had then gone on a rant about how the steam train was only two hundred years old so the tradition couldn't be that important. He demanded to know how things were done before the Express was built.
Apparently it involved lots of wizards and witches apparating their children to Hogsmede.
When the portrait of Walter Aragon, the Headmaster in office during the instigation of the Hogwart's Express, informed Harry that the train was technically stolen from muggles, Harry had nearly blown his top.
Especially when it was revealed that it was supposed to be a better method of transporting hundreds of students and not raising the suspicions of muggles.
"You really think the muggles don't notice that several hundred children enter their station and never leave?" Harry demanded incredulously.
"I made the same arguments." Walter sighed as he watched the young Lord pace before him in frustration.
"Besides, it's a muggle device. Why would the purebloods have anything to do with it?"
Walter actually chuckled at that. "Yes, back then things were quite different. Muggleborn were more in charge. Laws were passed that forced the Purebloods to comply.
"It was a bit heavy handed and probably one of the contributing factors to the rise of the Pureblood Agenda."
"But why not just set up a Floo Station, like the one in the Ministry?" Harry tried to reason.
"My Lord, you seem to be acting under the assumption that wizards and witches are sensible folk." The portrait smirked at him.
"Well… I am going to bloody well rub it in their faces." Harry said firmly.
"Language Harry!" The hat chided from its shelf.
Harry had picked a compartment and he was joined by Gemma, Tracey and Pansy, each of whom would be flooing straight back to Hogwarts with him.
Hermione had also joined them along with Neville who was getting to know Harry through Hermione.
The shy Gryffindor had been very wary of anything Slytherin. Given his personal history, Harry couldn't blame him. He was slowly getting this younger version, of what he considered 'The Epitome of a Gryffindor', to open up.
Harry could only hope that his trip to London would be peaceful.
He realised he shouldn't have wasted his time when the compartment door slid open and revealed Malfoy standing there with a very uncertain Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
"Potter." He sneered. "Consorting with slaves, mudbloods and blood traitors. You should be ash-"
"Vinny, Greg, would you take young Draco back to his compartment please? Make sure he doesn't leave unless it is to use the bathroom."
"Sure Harry." Greg shrugged as Vinny casually grabbed a shocked Draco and pulled him out of the compartment.
"Why are they still following Draco around?" Tracey asked curiously. At Harry's advice, she ignored nearly everything Draco said. That or she reported it to their teachers.
"I don't know." Harry sighed. "Maybe they just don't know any better."
"They didn't used to follow him." Pansy offered. "They were never at Malfoy Manor or any of the functions. Their families weren't considered important enough."
"Meh. I'll look into it at some point. Maybe the start of next term when I see them again." Harry sighed as he settled back into his seat.
As Harry stepped off the Express, he spotted his target.
He called on all his knowledge and memories of Vernon glad-handing with people he was buttering up, Percy Weasley at his most officious and Justin Finch-Fletchley. The boy still sounded like he would have preferred Eton.
"Ah! Lucius, my good man!" Harry said loudly. The sound of such mature words coming from a squeaky eleven-year-old caught the attention of everyone. "I just wanted to congratulate you once again on managing to resist Lord No Name. It speaks wonders to your character that you were able to do what many others, including yourself at one point, were unable to."
Lucius looked like he had just swallowed a very large lemon. It wasn't like he could dispute the boy's assertions as that would leave people questioning his strength… they already questioned his morals.
"I did what was necessary." He demurred with a very slight bow to acknowledge his lower standing with regards to Harry.
"Yes, if only others were as capable of such." Harry frowned. "Unfortunately I must speak with you on another matter."
Lucius tried to maintain his calm expression. Inwardly he was begging for the brat to leave him be.
"Something must be done about this travesty!" Harry said pompously as he gestured to the Hogwart's Express.
"I'm not sure I follow." Lucius said tiredly.
"Students being forced to ride a muggle contraption for nigh on an entire day to a magical school? What sort of message are we trying to send when young first years arrive and discover that, not only are they not travelling via broom, magic carpet or any of the other wonderful methods we have, but that they have to use an antiquated machine that the muggles themselves would laugh at?"
"Antiquated?"
"This machine must be nearly two hundred years old!" Harry sputtered. "The muggles have versions that run more than twice as fast, twice as big and far more luxurious!
"Whilst the Express is a fine piece of history, it is a sad testament to the fact that wizards fail to adapt. I dread to think what other countries must think of us as a people."
"Potter? What are you doing talking to my father?"
Harry turned and looked at Draco with a raised eyebrow before turning back to Lucius. "Another thing I feel we must discuss." He said as he took a step closer and lowered his voice slightly.
The other students and parents unconsciously took a step closer to hear better.
"Your son… I know he is your only child and you wish to… indulge him, but… his manners are atrocious. Why, just today he barged into my compartment and started slinging around aspersions and insults as though he were Lord of the Train!
"I trust you will attempt to rein in his, shall we say, boisterous ways? I would hate to have to step in to deal with it myself."
Apparently Draco had opened his mouth. Lucius shot the boy a look that would burn through metal.
"Of course… my Lord." He employed a near Herculean effort in not vomiting the title. "I will ensure that Draco's lessons on etiquette and comportment are refreshed."
"Glad to hear it." Harry said sternly. "Anyway, think on the train, and once again, I commend you on how you faced that No Name Bastard."
Lucius bowed so stiffly and jiltedly that the parents were having a hard time not laughing.
Harry spun on his heel and headed over to the waiting Nicholas and Perenelle.
"Enjoying yourself, Harry?" Nicholas smirked.
"It is never a joy to have to tell a parent their child is a lout, Nicholas." Harry said pompously.
Perenelle's hand shot out at Harry's side.
"Eek! Cut it out Penny!" Harry shrieked in laughter as she tickled him.
The parents that were heading for the portal smiled at the happy sight.
"At least you lost that awful attitude." Perenelle sighed.
"Well… I was still pi- erm, miffed about having to ride the train." He admitted. "Then Draco decided to try and insult us… not my favourite day."
"Never mind Harry." Nicholas said. "We'll all floo back to Hogwarts from the Leaky Cauldron. For now I would like you to meet Kalep and Sabeena Patil, the parents of these lovely two gems here." He indicated Pavarti and Padma Patil. "Kalep and Sabeena are good friends of ours from India, they've agreed to let us stay with them when we travel to India in August."
"Why are we going to India?" Harry asked warily.
"That is a surprise… but it will be worth it, I promise." Nicholas winked.
"What about Tracey and Pansy? Gemma has her mum but they don't have anyone."
"Any member of your house is welcome, Lord Harry." Kalep smiled from behind his bushy beard. "Our apartment is large and the land is like paradise. You will find plenty to keep the interests of these young ones."
Despite being a stubborn little git who had already made some plans of his own, Harry had far more manners than a Malfoy.
"Then I guess that for the first time in my life I will be leaving Britain." Harry smiled. "Thank you for putting us up sir." He said.
"It is an honour." Sabeena bowed.
Harry's smile froze slightly. He really hoped they weren't going to be like this whilst they were living together.
Sirius and Filius had been a little put out by the fact that they wouldn't get to spend the whole summer with Harry. They endeavoured to spend as much time as they could with him.
Unfortunately for Harry he wanted to continue working on his space adventures. The trio of female professors already helping were doing an amazing job as they had managed to acquire the necessary sheets of metal using Harry's funds and the aid of various muggleborn student's parents for help in navigating the muggle world.
They were currently working with a titanium alloy that had put a huge dent in Harry's finances. Nicholas was hard at work trying to build them up again. For some reason nobody had the heart to call Harry's strong desire to reach the stars, frivolous. They seemed just as invested as him.
Sinastra provided the other two with the details of what the spacecraft would encounter as it left Earth and travelled the vacuum. Vector worked on the best equations to apply to the craft, which were passed onto Babbling who began carving the runes.
The carving had managed to stump them as the titanium alloy was not designed to be etched into.
This had led them back to the muggle world for more information.
Harry was physically dragged away from the castle and his project by Nicholas and Perenelle. He spent the entire time shouting more suggestions to his three project partners whilst Filius, Minerva, Sirius, Agatha and Gemma all waved.
Pansy and Tracey were walking calmly and sensibly whilst Tracey carried Hedwig on her shoulder and Pansy carried a special glass box for Blinky, Filius had tried to talk Harry out of calling the little basilisk that but the time traveller refused to be moved. Of course it didn't help that the basilisk considered Harry's word law (mainly because he couldn't understand anyone else yet).
Only Filius and Harry knew that Blinky was a basilisk, the pair had worked on charms that would hopefully prevent anyone from recognising his species.
The trip to the Patil's Indian home was made by Portkey.
Neither Harry, Hedwig nor Blinky were happy when they landed.
No one but Harry could hear Blinky's cursing and Hedwig simply ruffled her feathers.
Harry had to suck it up and greet his hosts.
"Mr. and Mrs. Patil, thank you for inviting us into your home." Harry said with a slight bow.
The young couple bowed eagerly. "It is we who are grateful for you gracing us with your presence."
Harry struggled to keep his expression neutral… he hated having to bandy back and forth the subject of was grateful to whom… especially in this case when Harry was literally an imposition caused at Nicholas' request.
"Kalep, Sabeena, you don't need to worry about all these rules of etiquette when it is just us. Harry hates them, he'd much rather you treat him like a friend of your daughters." Nicholas said as he moved forward and hugged his young friends.
"But at the train station-" Kalep tried to whisper discreetly.
Nicholas just laughed. "Harry was simply using his titles and power to put Lucius and his son in their place. You remember how I warned you about the bigotry in England? Lucius is one of the worst." He finished with a frown.
"Lord Potter… is everything ok?" Sabeena asked cautiously.
Harry was currently standing at a very large window that looked out onto the majestic city of Mumbai. It was readily apparent that they were in one of the cities taller skyscrapers.
"It's amazing!" Harry whispered in awe.
Perenelle smiled and joined him. "Mumbai is one of the greatest cities on the planet. Girls, come and see." She gestured to Tracey and Pansy.
Tracey was fairly outgoing, that had been quelled a fair bit by her father's actions, but she was slowly regaining her spirit.
Pansy was scared stiff as she could see they were very high up.
"You are quite safe, my girl." Nicholas assured her. "Muggles are very good at building things. They managed to get to the moon after all. This building is simple by comparison." He said as he gently took her by the shoulder and guided her.
As a Pureblood girl, Pansy was raised to obey the elder man in her life. Especially one who was taking on a familial role like Nicholas. She let him guide her to the window.
As the magnificent view of the city below filled her vision she felt dizzy and began to stumble.
The next thing she knew she was looking up at Perenelle and trying to stop her vision from swimming.
"What happened?" She slurred slightly.
"You had an attack of vertigo, dear." Perenelle said kindly. "Your body doesn't seem to handle heights very well. We will try and get that sorted out as quickly as possible." She promised as she squeezed the young girl's hand.
"We have covered all the windows for now." Sabeena said over Perenelle's shoulder. "We'll leave them like that until we get you well or until you leave." The Indian mother promised.
"How do you feel?" Perenelle asked.
"Sick." Pansy swallowed uneasily.
"Sabeena, take the girl down to the park." Kalep instructed gently. "Solid ground beneath her feet and fresh air in her lungs might be just what she needs."
"Yes husband." Sabeena nodded.
As Perenelle and Sabeena helped Pansy up, Sabeena apparated the three of them away.
"I know she wants to stay, but it might be better if she went home." Harry said thoughtfully.
"She'll be very upset." Tracey said sadly. "She's never been outside England before. I've been to France and Spain, but… Scotland is the furthest for her."
Harry turned to Kalep. "Are there any luxury hotels that are near areas with good views of wildlife?"
"Ah, a jungle experience." Kalep said with a knowing smile. "I know quite a few."
"Good. If you can find the one you think the girls will all enjoy best then the whole lot of us will go and stay there. I'm sure you and your family would like being waited on by hotel staff."
"My Lord-"
"Harry." Said Harry glared. "Just for that… book the honeymoon suite for yourself and your wife."
Kalep had no idea how to respond to that.
"Harry, go and spend some time with the girls. Maybe check on Pansy." Nicholas chuckled. "Kalep and I will sort out the hotel."
Pansy had been on the brink of tears downstairs in the nearby park. She thought she would be sent home because she was diseased. Perenelle had quickly put paid to that line of thought.
But it was the news from Harry that really cheered her up. Especially as there was a chance she might get to see a real live elephant. Most young witches wanted to see unicorns, hippogriffs and ponies.
Pansy wanted elephants.
Like most cultures on the planet: Money gets things done.
It didn't take long for Nicholas and Kalep to get their reservations booked. They could be moved in immediately.
Pansy took one look at the object of her desire and…
"WEEE-umph!" Her eyes darted from side-to-side to try and see the owner of the hand clamped over her mouth.
"Most animals tend to flee at loud noises." Came Harry's whispering voice in her ear. "Look now, squeal with joy later?"
She nodded against his hand.
As soon as she was free she was practically a silent bundle of joy as she bounced from Harry to Sabeena to Perenelle to Tracey to… well, she managed to make the rounds, the joy at seeing her childhood dreams was enough to completely open her up.
"Come girls, let's go and set you up in your rooms." Perenelle said as she beckoned them to follow her.
"Are you alright Harry?" Nicholas asked quietly as the boy stood there staring at the family of three elephants.
"I've seen basilisks, phoenixes, dragons, hippogriffs, sphinxes and much more… but I never seen anyone as happy to see them as Pansy was to see these." He said with a small smile. "Wizards are the most stupid people on the planet."
"I couldn't agree more." Nicholas nodded.
Kalep stood there, he wondered how a young boy, who hadn't even spent a year in the wizarding world, had managed to see all he had listed.
"Nick… I hate to sound like the eleven-year-old I am but… how much further?" Harry grumbled.
Harry and Nicholas had left the hotel after the second day and headed for the area of Himachal Pradesh in the far north of the country.
They had taken a Portkey to the base of the mountain range before beginning their hike.
The area was beautiful.
Trees, rivers, birds, animals… beautiful.
But after hiking for nearly five hours it was enough for Harry to question his guide.
"Can you hear that?" Nicholas asked.
"The waterfall?"
"That's our destination." Nicholas promised.
"And then you'll tell me why we came all the way to India to climb a mountain?"
"You'll know when you see it." Nicholas said with an evasive smile.
It took them a further twenty minutes to reach the waterfall. They arrived at the top of the waterfall itself, which poured into a small lake at the bottom of a fifty-foot high cliff that completely encircled the lake and a fair bit of land populated by close growing trees.
There was a loud crack and Harry spun around with his wand out. Nicholas quickly grabbed Harry's wand hand to restrain him.
Standing in from of them was an Indian male with a beard wearing a black military uniform and red turban. He too had his wand out but was not pointing it at them. He had it ready though.
"Easy Harry, he's part of the security here."
Harry had no idea what happened next as Nicholas and the man began to converse in Hindi.
By the end of the conversation the man was smiling and looking at Harry with approval.
"Come on Harry. We can continue on." Nicholas said as he led him away from the man who just stood there.
"We can?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"We can. I explained why we are here."
"But you won't explain it to me." Harry groused.
"I'm about to show you." Nicholas smirked. "Look down there, to the left of the waterfall, what do you see?"
"Top, bottom or mi- whoa! Is that a Phoenix nest?!" Harry asked in amazement.
"It is indeed." Nicholas nodded with a content smile. "This entire cove is a sanctuary for Phoenixes. There are usually thirty Phoenixes here at any one time. That number can change based on the whims of the birds themselves."
"They like to travel." Harry nodded cheekily.
"Actually, yes." Nicholas remarked. "You see, there are also rarely more than thirty Phoenixes on the planet. These birds have homes here and in Egypt and China. Dumbledore met Fawkes in Egypt during the war."
"I thought he was in Europe fighting Grindlewald."
"The Great War, the First World War." He corrected. "Albus and I were doing research on the twelve uses of Dragon's Blood. We interfered here and there and Albus managed to catch Fawkes' eye."
There was a flash of fire and Harry jumped slightly as a very large red and gold Phoenix appeared, hovering just in front of him.
"Erm…"
"Relax Harry, she's just making sure we aren't a threat." Nicholas assured him. "Hello my friend." He said to the bird. "It's been a while."
The bird hovered over to Nicholas in a manner that was clearly not achieved by its wings as they were held in more of a gliding position.
The bird seemed to chirrup at Nicholas with a glare.
"You move around too much. How do you expect me to find you?" Nicholas laughed. "You know you can always visit me."
The bird seemed to just huff before floating back to Harry. It gazed at the small boy intently and chirruped.
"If you are going to just go rummaging through my mind then I am not going to bother answering questions." Harry grumbled.
"Chirp!"
"You know what I've done. You know I've committed crimes." Harry said sadly.
"Chiiirp." The bird said sadly.
"You know I have big plans, right? I am going to conquer wizarding Britain at the very least." Harry said warningly. "If the rest of the world pisses me off then they'll be next."
"Chirp chiiirp chip!" It said brightly.
Harry stared at it widely in awe. "Seriously? Wow… that's… wow." Harry muttered.
The bird seemed to chuckle before it turned away and quickly flew down the waterfall.
"Did you know they travelled the universe?" Harry turned to Nicholas.
"No… but then, it never came up." Nicholas shrugged. "Most of my interactions with the phoenixes have been to protect them and the areas that they live in."
"You don't have a phoenix familiar, which I assume is the point of bringing me here."
"No I don't, but then again, the phoenixes instantly recognise me as a friend. I visit as often as I can and they are happy to chat… so to speak.
"And yes, I have brought you here to see if there is a phoenix that might consider you a worthy companion."
"Why? Am I getting that bad?" Harry grinned proudly.
Nicholas ignored him. "In the wizarding world a phoenix is a sign of great respect and that you are fully aligned with the Light. Having a phoenix vouch for you would go a long way to keeping people like Albus off your back."
"Ok… then why does that New Zealand team have a phoenix for a mascot?" Harry asked shrewdly.
"Because Sparky is about as eccentric as they come." Nicholas grumbled, referring to the mascot of the New Zealand Moutohora Macaws Quidditch Team.
There was a flash of fire that startled them both as the first phoenix returned with a slightly smaller phoenix carrying a hatchling in its claws.
"Chirup chirp." The first phoenix declared.
Nicholas glared at the large bird whilst Harry just smirked.
"I guess they figure you need the guidance more, eh Nicky?" Harry said.
Apparently the hatchling would eventually be Harry's familiar, the one carrying it, the mother, would join them both to care for her daughter and to stay with Nicholas.
That wasn't really the problem. What got up Nicholas' nose was the condescending way the first phoenix had glared at him. As though he should have expected this for a long time.
"How am I supposed to keep up my image of mischief if people see me with a phoenix?" He grumbled. "I won't be able to use glamours to hide and travel incognito. I've just been given a ball and chain! Ow!"
Nicholas glared at Harry who had kicked him in the shin.
"Show some respect." Harry chided.
Nicholas was going to get him for this. It had to be Harry's fault.
Without a doubt, Pansy had the most fun on their holiday. Most of her time was spent just watching the elephants.
This was when she wasn't riding them, washing them, feeding them, talking to them… yes, there had been a slight incident where she had tried to sneak out at night to sleep near them.
Despite her obsessive fascination with the gentle giants, Pansy did take the time to enjoy the other aspects of India. The waterfalls, the jungles, the wildlife… along with Tracey, Harry and a newly arrived Gemma, she saw so much.
Padma and Pavarti enjoyed showing them all around, even though they themselves hadn't seen all of it, they took it upon themselves to act as translators when talking to people and coming across signs with no English writing.
They were only scheduled to be in India for three weeks. This was extended to four as there was so much to see.
During the fourth week Harry nearly killed Kalep.
Kalep had requested a private meeting with Harry. He had taken him back to their apartment in Mumbai.
Harry was naturally cautious after dealing with Crouch junior disguised as Moody but Nicholas had assured him that their new phoenix companions would have warned them if there was a problem.
So Kalep had invited Harry to sit on the couch as he sat opposite.
"Lord Potter-"
"Oh Merlin." Harry groaned.
"I wish to discuss my daughters."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "What about them?" He asked suspiciously.
Kalep took a deep breath, he was still a fairly young man, only thirty-one years old. Sabeena was a mere twenty-eight.
"As you know, England is not hospitable to those of 'impure blood'. Our family have been magicals since before British rule. But as foreigners, foreigners who are not white, we are still afforded less rights."
"Has some idiot been harassing them?" Harry demanded as he stood up.
"There have been… allusions… to the fact that we have fewer rights and that my daughters… they have no sponsor."
"I really hope this conversation doesn't end with you trying to get me to sign a contract to marry your daughters." Harry glared at the man.
Kalep gulped.
Harry closed his eyes and counted to ten.
Well… he tried.
Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at the man who looked a little worried. Harry might be eleven, but he also had a phoenix, three concubines, the unconditional support of the oldest man on the planet and most importantly… Perenelle Flamel, who looked at him like her grandson.
"Get on your knees and grasp my wand." Harry ordered.
Considering his position (at the end of a wand held by the only person to actually defeat Voldemort twice), Kalep complied.
Once Kalep had the tip of the wand held in his hand… and was beginning to sweat… Harry began to speak.
"Do you, Kalep Patil, accept the Oath of Vassal on behalf of your family to myself, Harry James Potter?"
Kalep opened and closed his mouth several times, unsure what to do… then Harry glared angrily at him.
"I do! I do!"
"Do you swear to uphold the values and virtues of Harry James Potter as your Lord?"
"I do." Kalep said quickly.
"Do you swear to abide by the laws and rules laid down by your Lord, Harry James Potter?"
"I- I do."
"Then I, Harry James Potter, accept your Oath of Vassal and swear to treat your family as my own and to protect them and care for them when they need me."
There was a flash of light from Harry's wand under Kalep's hand and he felt the power of the oath.
"Get off the floor." Harry rolled his eyes at the sweating man. "You've just been intimidated by an eleven-year-old."
Harry moved back and slumped into the chair. "One of the primary rules I lay down is that none of my vassals may sell, barter or force their family members to do anything that will drastically alter their current state unless I approve." He told the man sternly.
"That means you are magically prohibited from being forced to do anything to your daughters unless I approve it. And I really don't want to become involved in that sort of thing." Harry sighed.
"Are- Are there any other rules I should know, My Lord?" Kalep asked with his head bowed.
Harry looked at the man with narrowed eyes. "Yes. You are to treat me like an eleven-year-old friend of your daughters. You will not refer to me by titles or show deference that my title demands unless we are in a position where I must act as my position demands.
"In other words, look me in the eye and call me Harry." He said with slight exasperation.
"Wh-What should I tell my family? My daughters?" Kalep wondered nervously.
"You can tell them that this was all your idea. Tell them that you have great respect for Nicholas and Perenelle and they advised you to do this."
"Ah… a half truth." Kalep nodded in understanding.
"And on that note I need to go and find Nicky and kick him in the shins." Harry said as he stood.
