Chapter 02 – Hang Over
Cissy walked into the study. It had once been her fathers. Despite the fact she was not Mrs Black's daughter, being that she was Sirius's Cousin. At one time all the Blacks had been under the one roof. All of her sisters and Sirius. Her father, mother and Aunt. Then her father had died and they had stayed there. Under her Aunt's somewhat Tyrannical control. Sirius had suffered most, he had not been of the same views and had suffered for that. Eventually moving out to live with James Potter. After that things had actually gotten worse.
She shook off her memories and looked at her Baron. He was sat behind the desk going through paperwork. He had spent most of the day with the Goblins, telling her to stay put. Which, while she knew was for her own good, annoyed her slightly. She had nothing. Only some of the now ill fitting clothes she had left behind. Charms had helped with that, but they were hardly to her style any more. She needed to find other clothing soon. Or the charms would fade and she'd be walking around in clothes that fitted very badly. As in barely descent in some cases. She didn't know how to broach that subject with him. He was young, probably too young to realise the import of such things to a lady of her station, or realise she had a station actually.
Harry looked up. His head was still banging from the night before and now he had eye strain to just make it that little bit worse. Which was not helping his mood any, which had already been foul. The Goblins had been helpful though, for which he was grateful. Their usual terseness refreshing. In fact he would go so far as to say he liked Goblins. Which most Wizards would rarely say, or even admit if they felt it. He saw the woman he still though of as Mrs Malfoy looked at him, looking pensive. Which was strange. She was normally very cool rarely seeming to show emotion. But then, he hadn't known her that long.
He looked at his bottle of butter beer. It started to shift over the table, before he slammed down on the automatic response. Instead reaching for it. Lots of weird crap had been happening to him. It was like accidental magic, made all the worse for the fact he knew it wasn't. It was lack of control. Something that had to be learnt through experience and not from the knowledge dump he had experienced. "Miss Black" he said by way of greeting before he swigged some of the lightly alcoholic beverage. The alcohol actually helped sooth the migraine that was attempting to cleave his skull in two.
"Baron" she said. Harry smiled slightly again. He had been called that by many people all day and he was still far from used to it.
"What can I do for you? Miss Black"
"Please... Call me Cissy Baron" she told him, smiling slightly.
Harry smiled and returned, "Harry then" she smiled again. He could see what Malfoy had seen in her, not only her breeding but she was beautiful. He supposed that it was good for a man of Malfoy's station to want arm jewellery like that. "But as I said..."
"I am unsure how to broach this with you Baron... Sorry Harry."
"Just shoot. If I don't like it I'll tell you. But don't let that stop you from saying something I don't like. I may need to hear it, at the very least I will ALWAYS listen to you."
Cissy blinked, and smiled again, "I appreciate that. This is, however, of a personal nature. Not a shocking or inflammatory one."
"Oh, well still shoot. I'll try not to blush too much" Harry joked mildly. Was this going to be one of those 'female' things he had heard Hermione and Ginny talking about. God he hoped not. As interested in the opposite sex as he had become of late. There was much he had no wish to know. But if this was something she was coming to him about, it was obviously important to her.
She smiled again, "I am without clothing, or ... items which a woman requires."
Harry nearly asked 'like what?' then realised he didn't want to know. "That parchment I showed you before will mean you can come and go. That said, I don't think you should go out unless you have to... Especially without protection. I can do that, urm... Tomorrow alright for you?"
Cissy blinked in surprise, "I am quite able to protect myself."
"Not as much as I can. Believe it or not, I'm a bit nifty in a fight" Harry said with a wry grin. "Either way, I'm coming with you... As much as I despise shopping... mind you that's mostly an automatic response, I can't actually remember going shopping" he said. His speech as rambling as his mind was. Frankly he had so much swimming around in it he had no idea what he was thinking or saying half the time. He knew blokes weren't supposed to like shopping though and had said it on automatic pilot. Then realising he had no idea if he really did or not. Unfortunately he had vocalised his thought process. All the damn crap that floated in his head was making it hard to act normally.
Cissy, he noticed, was looking amused. "Is tomorrow okay? I've got a bloody headache still so if it's alright I'd rather not go out again right now."
Cissy glanced at the wall behind him. "Since it is 8 in the evening it would be largely unwise to go shopping at this hour" she said, in a tone that was highly amused. Though her face only showed a little of that.
Harry half turned, wincing as he did so. Since he ended up glaring right at a lamp in the process. "Oh" he commented intelligently.
Cissy chuckled slightly. Then, "Baron" she said seriously, "Thank you."
Harry waved it off with an expressive movement of his hands. "It's not a problem. I set up a stipend for you anyway, but for obvious reasons..." he trailed off when he saw her expression.
Cissy looked surprised, which made Harry smirk at her. "All part of your right, you must know that."
"I do. I was..."
"Not expecting me to know that. Or not expecting me to do that."
"In truth; neither."
Harry chuckled, then winced in pain.
Cissy took a slight step forward, "That is a nasty headache" she commented.
"I'm told it will pass... In about a week" Harry said sourly.
Cissy looked concerned at that. "What is the cause?" she asked.
"The spell for the reading, was bound to me." Harry said, "I was the focus... It was some fairly, urm, hefty magic" he told her. Truthful, while at the same time telling her nothing. Which just had to be a skill he had leached from Dumbledore. It was his style after all.
"I could, if we have the ingredients make you a pain potion." Cissy offered.
Harry smiled slightly, "I will be fine, but ... Thank you Miss Black."
"Cissy; please. I think all things considered we don't need to be formal."
Harry smiled, obviously fighting off the pain, but looking amused. "Very well Cissy. We'll head out early tomorrow if that's alright. Get there and done before the crowds get too thick. I'm a bit famous by all accounts" he said with a smirk.
"Perhaps a small glamour will be useful to us both?" Cissy said with a slight smile.
Harry nodded, wincing once more, "Ow, remind me not to move my head. Yes, that's a good idea. For now. I'm going to turn in. This headache doesn't like paper work"
Cissy nodded, and waited.
Harry looked at her expectantly.
"By the rules of etiquette you're to dismiss me before I leave" Cissy explained.
Harry waived that off as well. "Like you said, no need to be formal. You're not my slave, or servant, I won't be ordering you around." he told her then laughed, "Oh, sorry for ordering you around this morning. I'm not in a good mood, and the head ache is making me rude. I'm sorry for that. I was concerned for your safety, but I didn't express myself very well on that point" Harry said, his eyes squinted now against the pain throbbing in his head.
"Really Harry, I think we should call someone about that headache." Cissy said with another step towards him.
Harry smiled at her, "I've had worse pain..." he stopped suddenly. His eyes closing and head falling straight forward and slamming on the desk.
Cissy thought for a moment he had head butted the desk on purpose. Then it occurred to her that he wasn't moving. She took a quick couple of steps forward, reaching him and lifting his head. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be unconscious.
She put his head down carefully and ran to the fire to make a call.
"Albus Dumbledore" she said, calling the name she wished to contact.
"Ahh Narcissa" Dumbledore said, finally appearing in the fire.
"It's Harry, he was complaining of a headache and in the middle of a sentence he just... fainted."
"Very well, I will be there shortly... Where are you?"
"At the house."
"What house would that be."
"Grimw... Gri... Gri... Oh bother." Cissy said.
"Interesting." Dumbledore commented. "It appears your location is protected."
During the course of the spell, the owner ship of the secret of Grimwald place had been transferred to Harry. The Fidelius was protecting its secret but not allowing Cissy to tell Dumbledore where they were. Which was great in theory but of course that meant Cissy couldn't get help for Harry. A frown marred her brow for a moment, "I will bring him to you" she said.
"Very well. Bring him to the school." Dumbledore said, concern on his face. "It would be best I think. Madam Pomphrey will have more on..." he trailed off when he realised the was talking to an empty room. He rolled his eyes, and backed off when Cissy stumbled back into the room. Harry dangling from her shoulder as she struggled under his weight. "Would a levitation charm not be more useful Cissy" Dumbledore said with some amusement.
"I... Tried..." she managed to get out. Harry was surprisingly heavy and it wasn't like she worked out or anything.
Dumbledore backed out of the fire and away from his fireplace as Cissy came stumbling through with Harry. He helped her get the young man to a nearby chair, after failing to do a levitation charm himself. Which brought a frown to his face. It was like he was shielded in some way. He hadn't met someone that could do that other than Croaker. He doubted the man would pass on that secret to anyone. Which meant Harry must've come to it himself. Impressive, but unfortunate. Special detection charms of Croakers own devising had been made to allow for scans of a shielded person. That would only work if Harry's shield was the same.
He gave an experimental swish and flick of his wand, finding that while there was a shield it appeared to be unique to Harry. "Oh dear" he said in summation.
"What is it?" Cissy asked.
"I am unable to ascertain his condition" the Headmaster replied. He tapped his head with his wand and a small ghostly phoenix flew from his brow and through a nearby wall. "I can only hope Poppy has better luck."
-#-
Harry came awake. Some instinct, not of his own, forced him to remain immobile. His breathing was kept to a low level and there was no outward sign that he had awoken. He wasn't in Grimwald Place. He could feel that. Since putting on the Black Signet ring at Gringotts he had felt more than usual. Especially the house he usually occupied. He could also feel Cissy's distress, though that was new. She was normally quite composed.
"I am sorry Headmaster" That was a voice Harry recognised straight off the bat, Madam Pomphrey.
"You can't get a reading either?" That was Dumbledore.
"No Headmaster. It's like he isn't even there." Poppy said her voice confused.
"As I thought. This is similar to a friend of mine. I am surprised Harry knew how to create such an spell." a laugh, "Well mostly surprised. Harry has that habit."
Harry was surprised to hear the fondness in Dumbledore's voice when he said that.
"I couldn't levitate him either" That was Cissy. Though Harry STILL thought of her as Mrs Malfoy. He was quickly coming to realise though that she was her own person, not just Mr Malfoy's arm candy. Or just Draco's mum for that matter. She had been honestly concerned for him. Apparently she had been right to do so. He made sure to breath through his nose on the next breath. The sense of smell is a marvellous memory trigger. So identifying his location that way was not hard. The Headmasters office. Thanks to Remus, he could smell the bloody Lemon Drops on the Headmaster's desk. The mustiness of the books in the shelves and unfortunately Fawkes's bird shit. There had to be a downside somewhere he supposed. Sharp eye sight and sense of smell he had definitely got from the werewolf. He didn't need his glasses any more thank god, but bright light was a bit painful. He just hoped he didn't have a furry cycle now. Sirius had said that was unlikely. Then again, he hadn't mentioned the blacking out thing either. It was after all a new spell, experimental wasn't even the term. Untried, untested, bloody dangerous. Bit like a prank in a way.
"Yes, that is the same as my friend. He invented several charms so that Medi-Witches could scan him and they are known to a few. Myself included. However, this shield is apparently unique to Harry and thus the charms do not appear to work."
Harry knew that one. The shield was something that had popped into his head the night before as he slept. He had quickly raised it. It wasn't great against offensive spells. It was more a protection against more oblique methods. Such as levitation, scanning, Legimency and a few things like that. Until he got his Occlumancy shield in place he needed it. So he wasn't about to lower it for anyone. Not even madam Pomphrey. Especially with a Legimens in the room with him.
"In truth, I can't even tell if he is in a coma or just sleeping. The fact his breathing seems slow and evenly is a good sign." Poppy said.
Harry worried about the Wizarding world at times. Her diagnostic spells wouldn't work, but she could take his pulse, check his pupil reactions, hold a damn mirror under his nose. Anything but rely on magic so much she was lost without it. She had not even laid a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. Which was actually good, for her. The shield helped with physical attacks. His magic might take someone touching him without permission, particularly unconscious as an attack. That would be bad for the nurse. So he would have to show himself waking up soon. Before she did something sensible. Which was a new thought for Harry. Better do it before someone does 'something sensible'. It was normally 'something stupid' That almost made him laugh. Luckily he contained the reaction.
"Urghhh" Harry said making a face and making out like he had just woken up.
"Harry, Harry?" Poppy said. "Mr Potter"
Harry sat up slowly, his head still ringing. "Actually..." he said smiling at her, "It's Baron Black now. It's always lovely to wake up to you Madam Pomphrey"
"You old flirt." she said with a fond smile. "I had to be here, after all I usually am when you wake up now aren't I?"
Harry smiled slightly. "What would I do without you Madam Pomphrey."
"Be a broken man I expect. Honestly Mr Potter what did you do to yourself?"
"Actually, this time it wasn't me... honest" he replied with a grin, turning around. "Hello Cissy, Headmaster. Why am I at Hogwarts?"
"You blacked out Baron" Cissy said.
"I thought we weren't doing the formal thing Miss Black" Harry said with a sardonic lilt to his tone.
She smirked at him. Harry's lips twitched, "Baron Black, Blacked out. That's kinda funny."
"We are concerned Harry" Dumbledore said. "Perhaps you could lower your personal shield?"
Harry snorted, "Only if you leave the room Professor."
Dumbledore looked at him, a little shocked. "Why would I do that Harry?"
"So, you cannot read my mind" he said.
Poppy looked at the Headmaster meaningfully. "Very well, I hope that we can repair your trust of me Harry" he said seriously, before walking out of the room.
Poppy looked at Harry meaningfully. Apparently it was his turn.
Harry's eyes glazed a bit then he nodded, "Go for it. It's going back up in... 50 seconds."
Her wand started making fast movements. Her lips pursed in concentration.
Harry looked at Cissy, "Thank you Cissy. Apparently you were right to be concerned after all. Madam Pomphrey here must also have been missing me during the summer months" he said with a wink at Poppy.
She smirked at him and went back to her diagnosis.
"Okay, it's going up" Harry said. "It's a timed thing, not me being rude."
Poppy nodded, "I'm done. You are suffering from exhaustion. Have you slept recently."
"Define recently." Harry said with a smirk.
Poppy frowned at him, "I'll take that as a no. Your energy readings are a little off as well. You seem to be suffering a... slight control problem." she said delicately.
Harry nodded then winced, he looked at Cissy, "You're supposed to remind me not to do that" he said tongue in cheek. She smiled at him. He noticed her distress seemed to have lessened considerably since he had 'woken up' Which meant she had been honestly concerned for him. It was a little alien to Harry. Also he wasn't sure why she would be. It wasn't like he and her 'old family' had gotten on that well after all. He was, he realised, also her protection. "Yeah I've been having some issues with control of late. I'm getting a handle on it. Just had a bit of a ... swell in my power lately."
"I'm not surprised. At your age one must be careful with power levels. You're essentially going through magical puberty. Your magic is maturing to the levels it will be for the rest of your life. Which is why not even the most power hungry dark lord tries to improve their power at your age." she said, a joke evident in her tone.
Harry looked a little worried about that. Considering Sirius had essentially just done a power enhancement ritual on him. "Why is that?" Harry asked casually.
"Oh, anything can happen" Poppy said, "From increasing your power levels dramatically to dying, usually the last. It's generally just not worth the risk." she said with a smile. "I'd bet even Voldemort waited until he was oh... 18 before doing any of his power enhancement." she said tittering slightly.
"Yeah, I'd bet he did." Harry replied with a slight chuckle. To cover the inward fuming at Sirius. He must've known, it was apparently common knowledge. Cissy even looked amused at the idea. Dear god what had Sirius done to him.
Poppy slapped her thighs and stood up from her crouch, "Anyway, I'd rest up. Work on your control. A lad such as yourself will doubtless be powerful. Especially when you're fully matured in that respect. So control is important. I heard you did some accidental magic at Sirius's reading."
"No actually. I didn't" he said with a smirk.
Cissy laughed, "You mean you intentionally threw my ex husband into a wall? In which case I must thank you."
Harry smirked. "It was a pleasure I assure you."
Cissy then frowned. "Wandless casting, and silent?" she said in a half question and statement.
Harry realised his error. Those two skills had been the simplest. Integrating instantly. "I thought it'd be useful and untraceable to the ministry. I've been toying with it back at my old abode." he looked to the Headmaster who had just walked back in. "Silent casting is just common sense for the most part. And Banishing is one of the easier wandless charms."
"Indeed it is Harry" Dumbledore said, "I must commend you on your work. The shield?"
"Another idea that came to me. I think perhaps it has it's downsides though." Harry said with a smile. "Now I have to get Cissy back for the ritual."
"Ritual?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"It's a Black thing. The Baron has to have wild monkey sex with his vassals each night to improve his power." he said tossing Cissy a covert wink. She looked shocked, then looked to be holding in a laugh.
Dumbledore blinked and then smiled. "I take it your god father told you to prank people more often."
Harry's smile disappeared in a flash. Causing Dumbledore to frown. Then Harry smiled again, "Of course, what else could he want me to do." he said, the bitter tone in his voice was unmistakable.
"Do you wish to talk Harry?" Dumbledore asked. "It is obvious something was said, or asked of you that troubles you greatly."
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. His headache still hammering. "I really have to be leaving. Hogwarts is not a safe place for Cissy to be."
"Hogwarts is one of the most secure places in the world" Dumbledore said, "I'm sure Miss Black will be safe... if you want to talk.
"Hogwarts is about as safe as the Dursley's" Harry commented standing. Then swaying slightly. Cissy stepped in to help support him, getting herself a smile from Harry of thanks.
"Considering the wards in place there, I suppose you are not far off." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"I was being facetious" Harry said walking to the fire place. "No Ward protected me from Them did it?" he said and threw in some powder. Then he and Cissy were gone in a swirl of flame.
"Oh damn" Harry said as they arrived, "I hate that"
Cissy picked herself up off of him, "Does that always happen with you?" she asked, mostly amused but curious as well.
"Uh huh" Harry said getting up and looking around, "I was out..."
"For about an hour."
"Not bad for me." he noted wryly. "Thanks for that by the way. But for future reference... Dumbledore not my favourite person. Madam Pomphrey I like, but the professor, not so much."
"Oh... I thought you were Dumbledore's man."
"Yes, most do." Harry said sitting down on a sofa and spinning around so he was laying down, with a display of almost negligent power, he turned the lights almost to off. "Oh, that's better" he said.
Cissy looked at him, "You have a control problem?" she asked her tone amused. "I've not seen that level of control outside of ..."
Harry smiled, "Dumbledore or Voldemort. No doubt it was one of the two since you trailed off. I can stand being compared to either of them. I've kind of gotten used to it."
"Yes, I suppose you have." Cissy agreed and went to leave.
"Take a seat Cissy, talk to me for a while hmm?" Harry asked her.
Cissy did as she was asked. It was such a surprising request she was unlikely to deny him, Though... "May I ask why?"
"I promise this isn't a line" he said with a smirk, his eyes still closed, "But you have a very nice voice. It's soothing my headache quite a bit."
Cissy actually blushed slightly at the unexpected compliment. "What would you like me to talk about?"
"Anything you like. This isn't a way of extracting info from you. This is about getting to know you and.. soothing my poor head." Harry said and laughed, before wincing again.
Cissy moved closer to him and looked down at him, "Can I get you a pain potion?" she asked, once more.
"I would normally say yes. But all things considered I have to refuse. More magic in my system right now... not a good idea." he said.
She found herself stroking his head and suddenly pulled back, a little surprised at herself.
"Actually...That felt nice." Harry said, blushing slightly.
She reached out and stroked his head, soothing him that way and speaking and soothing that way too. She talked, and talked and talked. Telling him about her early life, her aspirations and dreams. About her school work, and every other safe topic she could think of and find. Steering away from her marriage as much as possible and about her son. About whom Harry obliviously had no caring for. Since her intention was to sooth him rather than annoy him in anyway, even by thinking of her aggravating son and husband.
After a while she trailed off and looked down. Her lips curling into a rare unguarded smile. Harry had fallen asleep on her. She hoped it was because he had been soothed, not bored.
She stayed a while and carried on stroking his head. Oddly enough she had no wish to mother him. He didn't have that vibe. He did want to be cared for, she could tell that. But he was independent. Besides, it was hard to think of him as someone her sons age. He seemed much older. It was in his eyes. It was only now that his face had relaxed into sleep that he actually looked his age. Which struck her as sad.
As she sat thinking, Harry shifted his position. Leaning his head on her leg. She looked down and chuckled a bit, "Now how am I going to go to bed?" she wondered aloud in a soft and amused tone.
-#-
Harry tossed the parchment to one side with a bored sigh. Everyday, for the last week he had woken up with a nasty headache. Every day by time he had gone to bed he could barely see. Today was the first time he had woken up without one. For which he was tremendously grateful. So he was having a bit of trouble carrying on trawling through his summer home work, reading and the paper work he still needed to do. He was itching to go out. Bill had repaired the wards on the house for him. He was glad for that, but he'd had to go and get the Weasley for him to do so. He had gotten a LOT of owls from various friends. Hermione in particular had been very worried about him. It was touching, but it was in her usual manner so slightly annoying too. The tone of Ron's letter had been somewhat inflammatory. Harry wasn't sure why that was. It was like Ron had been trying to goad him into a fight. Which made no sense to Harry. Why would he want to do that? Sirius had warned him about Ron. He wasn't sure what to make of that either. Sirius had also warned him about Ginny. Which he also didn't know how to take.
He shook that off.
The one bright spot had been, oddly enough, Cissy. An odd friendship had sparked up with her that he liked. It was casual, and now leaning towards a little flirty, a bit like Tonks. He supposed that could be a family trait in fact. It was nice, and refreshing, and more than anything else unexpected. She was, nice to him. Their shopping trip had been successful and fun. Harry had even been persuaded into getting some new clothes. He had every intention of dragging her into the Muggle world to see what would happen. Diagon Alley was fine, but what would the damn near professional shopper make of London's markets, or somewhere like Harrods? He didn't know and wanted to find out. If she could get over her distrust of anything Muggle of course. He had some credit card like things from the Goblins. A new experimental service they had offered to him when they found out he was Muggle raised, if not born. He looked forward to trying them out.
Sirius's spell had worked largely as advertised. Harry had gotten control of the extra power. It was somewhat like when he had first started using a wand, he had a tendency to over power his spells. He was apparently quite powerful to start with. There was some worrying fluctuations in his power though. Not so much down as swells of power that made him SERIOUSLY over power his spells at times. Knowledge had integrated now and he was awash with it. It was quite staggering. The Occlumancy had helped out quite a bit there. Organising his mind a bit and giving him better emotional control.
There were exceptions to the rule though. He had thought with so many Animagus in the room he would be laughing in that regard. It had gone wrong there it seemed. He knew damn well that a person couldn't have more than one Animal Spirit. So the fact he had more meant he had probably picked up a few along the way. Which meant actually being able to transform was likely not going to be possible. He was working on a few theories though and hoped he would find a way around that stumbling block.
Sirius had been right about Tonks's ability. He hadn't gotten that. Not even slightly. It was more a genetic thing the best Harry could tell. Not that his memories called it that. That was more his Muggle side.
The oddest things were abilities he knew he hadn't gotten from anyone. Things like the ability to get out of just about any form of binding him had obviously come from Croaker, like the shield same person. His reactions, already fast were now scary, that was apparently the Hit Wizard, Jeremy Connors. He could move stuff without magic. Not using his hand either. He didn't know who that came from and Sirius hadn't mentioned it. One would think he would. The dreams... They were the strangest by far. He had a worrying feeling he might know where that came from. Her line at least, not from the woman herself though. She was a fraud and these dreams had already proven to be correct.
Which was a little worry considering some he had dreamed so far. But he had a dream about their shopping trip before they had gone, and the event in question, as innocent as it had been, had come to pass. The fact he had some of these dreams when he was awake was a little odd too. Small flashes of insight would be a better description. Dreamlike for sure when they happened.
There was also that time he managed to set fire to his desk... He didn't know what that was all about. Not even slightly aware of that one.
So he had unknown abilities floating around, and his power was being odd. So the spell was not 100% accurate, but apparently Sirius was as good as his boast. Sirius really did had quite the flair for spell creation.
Which boded well considering some of his other requests, it meant he might just be able to pull some of it off.
Harry thought sod it and got up. Walking out of the study and to Cissy's room. It was fairly early, it was a nice day and he liked her company. So now seemed as good a time as any. He knocked on the door and waited.
Cissy's face appeared in the crack of the door, "Harry, hello"
"I was wondering... if you would like to come shopping?" Harry asked.
"I love shopping, but I can see from that twinkle there is a twist." she said smiling, but still hiding behind the door.
Harry noticed this, "Have I come at a bad time?" he asked.
"Oh I just finished having a bath" she said.
The thought of a naked woman behind the door made Harry blush a bit. "Oh, I'll come back."
"It's okay, just give me a moment" she said, closing the door. His sharp hearing heard her shuffling something cloth and then the door opened again. This time all the way, "Come on in" she said.
Harry swallowed his surprise and smiled. Thank god for magic and what it did to the ageing process. She was probably twice his age plus a couple of years and looked... 25 at most. Perhaps 30 at a push. So the fact she was standing in a bath robe had quite the effect on Harry's libido. Friend or not she was a fox. Hell; Hermione was his best friend and his libido loved seeing her in a skirt. Which was rare, but always worth it. So Cissy in a bathrobe was nice to look at to put it mildly.
"So.." Cissy said, inwardly preening that he was looking and cursing herself for the pride inherent in that reaction. Still, whatever his age he was nice to look at, and it was good to know she was apparently as well. "What's the twist?" she asked with a smile, taking the towel off of her hair. Long blond hair swept down her back which surprised Harry more than a little. She sat at her vanity table and started to brush her hair, looking at him in the mirror. "What is it?" she asked. A half smile on her face.
"Your hair... It's ... Really long. You keep it up so I had no idea" Harry said with a smile. "It's nice, I like it. Not a lot of g... women, keep their hair long these days. Especially in the Muggle world. I think that's a shame."
"Do they not?" Cissy said, "Or do they just keep it up like I do?"
Harry shook his head, "You know what Hogwarts is like, in the dorms we slob out. I've seen the girls with their hair down. Pavati has long hair, the rest are pretty short. Shoulder length at most. Even I get out in the Muggle world. No one knows me there, I'm just another bloke to them. So I see loads of women out and about. Most have it short."
"Really... no one knows you, you've been let wander?" Cissy asked surprised.
"It's protection by anonymity there. So yeah, I wander around. I tend to end up with a tail. Sometimes I loose them for the hell of it." Harry said with a roguish smile. "The twist... he said, is related."
Cissy frowned slightly, pausing in brushing out her hair. "How so?"
"Well, you and I are going into London Cissy. But we're not going to Diagon Alley."
Cissy looked worried, "We could be seen."
"Not in Muggle London. Regents Street is packed, Harrods is packed, we'll won't stand out much... Well you will by dint that you're a beautiful women. Those tend to get noticed, but they won't know WHO you are." he said.
"A compliment Harry?" she asked with a twinkle. "Are you buttering me up so I'll go?"
Harry smiled, "Perhaps a little" he admitted.
"Well, as long as you meant it..."
"... oh, I do..."
"... Then I'll ignore the butter, and accept the charm" she said with a laugh. "It sounds scary to be honest. I have never been to Muggle London. At all."
Harry didn't look surprised, sad maybe, "That's a shame and it's about time I showed you some of the wonders of the Muggle world."
She looked more than a little doubtful at that.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Wizards and Witches, and no offence, particularly the more magically bred ones. If that makes sense."
"I think you're trying to hard to be polite. You mean Pure Bloods."
"I do, but I also mean Half Bloods who were brought up in the magical world. This society is awful insulated. There really are amazing things to be seen out in the Muggle world. Marvels of technology. Art, I mean it doesn't give you cheek, but there is art. Mirrors that don't insult your hair."
"Hey" said Cissy's mirror.
"Case in point. But you love to shop right?"
"Absolutely, but I suspect I will have to curtail my spending."
"Not much I'd imagine" Harry said with a smirk. "The exchange rate is usually pretty good. But this time I'm using this" he said pulling out one of the cards he had been given.
"What's that?"
"It's money."
"Muggle money. I thought they used paper and coins..."
"They do. But this is like money, and just about everywhere takes it. You don't have to carry a load of cash. Which is good, because the way you shop..." he trailed off teasingly.
She poked out her tongue playfully.
"Is that an invitation?" he asked with a smirk.
"Behave Harry, I'm old enough to be your mother." she said pinking slightly.
"Yes, but the important fact here is that you are not my mother. I see no harm in flirting a bit with a beautiful woman."
"More butter?"
"This time it's the truth."
"Well, I see no harm in flirting with a handsome man either. Others might though. If that man is half my age, or there abouts."
Harry shrugged, "Fuck 'em."
"Harry!"
"Oh sorry, I forget sometimes the culture here. I'd better warn you. It's a bit more... ribald in the Muggle world." he said with a smirk. To say he was putting that mildly was more than slightly an understatement. "My cousin swears like a trooper. I've learnt an entirely new way to insult someone from him... You he'd make into one large blush... After he'd stopped drooling on your shoes." Harry said with another roguish smile. Since integrating he had the confidence that if put into a situation. He could pretty much guarantee getting out of it intact. Which included talking to a woman, or say facing down Voldemort. It had an effect on him and changed the way he interacted with the world. Which again, was an understatement and a half.
"Drool?" Cissy asked,
"Like I said, beautiful woman. Dudley... not so good with the ladies." Harry smirked, "Just before I ... left. I was down the local pub... probably shouldn't have been" he said with a smirk, "Oddly enough despite the fact I'm a scrawny little sod I get served easily enough... Anyway, he was trying to chat up the bar maid. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. Then he went on to a group of girls, which come to think of it probably ranked number 1, barmaid being 2. Especially since one of the girls boyfriend turned up." Harry laughed, "Oh fun times."
"You have a vindictive streak a mile wide don't you Harry?" Cissy said with a chuckle.
Harry nodded his agreement. "Anyway, I'd like to watch but I should probably let you get dressed in piece. Aim for simple. We're going to get looks anyway."
Cissy blushed a bit again, "You'd have a heart attack if I did ... this." she said and started to take off her robe. Then stopped when she realised Harry was just sat there watching her with a smirk. Only a slight blush giving him away. Oh and the slightly startled look in his eyes. She tucked the bathrobe back over her bare shoulder. "No free shows."
"OK..." he said, getting up and walking to the door. Then he paused, "How much?"
"Out" she said laughing and pointing at the door.
"Doh!"