Harry Potter and the City of Masks
by Josephine Taylor
Chapter Ten
Even though the summer palace at Santa Fina was all but abandoned by the leaders of the family, the younger generation of di Chimici's made full use of it. Throughout the summer the palace was busy and its grand halls full of laughter and chatter. The horses at the stables got regular workouts and not just from their retainers.
'Come on Vittoria! Wait for us!'
In the large grounds to the back of the palace three young people could be seen riding across the rolling fields. The young woman in front, her black curls flowing from her face and her forest green cloak billowing behind her in the wind, slowed and turned her horse, Marina, to wait for two more figure's to catch up.
'Well, I wouldn't have to if you didn't ride so slow Niccolo!'
Vittoria's face broke into a huge smile and her eyes glittered as Niccolo and his companion, another young woman, came ambling up to where Vittoria was stood.
'It's not my fault that your impatient to put that horse through its paces. You always loved riding as fast as you could go! Its an obsession!'
The women laughed and together turned their horses into a walk back towards the palace.
'Come now Niccolo, obsession is such a strong word.' Said the third member, a beautiful woman with long brown hair and light blue eyes. 'Try ... fascination.'
The three laughed and Vittoria leaned over to hit her friend lightly on the shoulder. 'Eleonora! You know that the summers are the only time I can ride without Uncle Ferrando breathing down my neck!' Vittoria said, brushing back a loose strand of black curl behind her ear. Even though she held great respect for her uncle, she was glad that he was only her uncle and not her father. He would have been even more unbarring!
'He does tend to be quite protective of you Vittoria,' Eleonora mused as they entered the stables and dismounted the horses, handing over the reins to those tending to the horses.
'Its only because he sees you as his own daughter, Vittoria, he means well.' Niccolo added, as the three youngsters entered into the cool interior of the palace.
The entrance hall was expansive. The grand staircase swept upward in a mass of marble to the upper levels. Statues and art works dotted the alcoves and the beautiful decorated floor. Three people stood in the centre, chatting quietly. A shout to the left of her had Vittoria glancing at Eleonora who, upon seeing the three men in the hall, had launched herself at the man stood in the middle.
Vittoria and Niccolo approached at a more dignified pace. Niccolo gave the men a deep and sweeping bow and Vittoria dipped into a curtsy like she had been taught.
'Uncle Gaetano! It's good to see you again!' Vittoria wrapped her arms around, the man that Eleonora had flung herself at, to give her favourite uncle a tight hug. 'We missed you at Easter.'
Having received his niece's hug with pleasure, Gaetano smiled at the three youngsters, putting his arm around Eleonora. 'I'm sorry, but there was some business I had to take care of in Volana at that time. Besides, you youngsters didn't want an old man like me hanging around!'
'Your not old Uncle.' Niccolo spoke up.
Gaetano smiled at him. Noticing that the men with her uncle were growing restless, Vittoria tugged lightly on Niccolo's shirt. 'We must be getting on our way now. See you later Uncle Gaetano.'
Giving Gaetano another hug Vittoria, Niccolo and Eleonora (after giving her father a kiss on the check) made there way up the grand staircase to the upper floors.
--------
'Harry I don't know why you want me to come too.'
Hermione and Harry were walking up the broken path to Harry's flat. It had been 2 weeks since he had been back and even though he knew that nothing would have changed, he didn't want to go back into the flat by himself. For some weird reason he didn't want to return to the place that wasn't feeling like home alone. So he had roped Hermione into coming with him to pick up some things.
'I just needed ... someone to come with me.'
Hermione just rolled her eyes and followed Harry into the dark flat.
Upon first glance Harry could tell that whilst working the Order and Ministry hadn't managed to mess most of his things. In fact, everything looked more or less the same that Harry had left it two weeks ago.
'Wow, Harry, what a lovely place!'
Harry frowned at Hermione. He was sure that he'd heard a note of sarcasm in her voice. Ok so his small flat wasn't as nice as the place that she shared with Ron in Surrey, or as comfortable as the Burrow, but it was still his. Mumbling, Harry walked into the bedroom and began throwing some clothes into a suitcase. He had decided last night to take Mrs Weasley up on her offer of continuing to stay at the Burrow. He had done it, partly out of desperation to get out of London for a while and part out of pity for Mrs Weasley who didn't have any children living at home with her anymore.
'Harry do you want any of these photographs?' Hermione called from the small lounge.
Harry answered back in the negative and began searching the bedside table and under the bed. After a moment he found it. A small glimmer of silver laying under his bed. Relief flooded him and quickly he pocketed the amulet.
A week ago Harry had felt a jolt through his heart and had known that something terrible had happened in Bellezza, but with no way back without the amulet he had been forced to suffer for a week. Now tonight, he would finally know what happened.
------
'How is your father, Niccolo?'
Dinner time at the Palace in Santa Fina was always a lavish affair, the long table in the ballroom was decked out in the finest silver cutlery and plates and the guests dressed in their best. Dinner that night among the di Chimici relatives was no exception.
'He is well, thank-you Uncle Gaetano. Sorting some business in Bellezza at the moment I believe. I'm to join him in a few days.'
Vittoria looked at Niccolo in surprise. 'But Nic, I thought you were staying here a few weeks at least! Summer has barely begun! What on earth can Fabrizio want you there so soon for!'
Niccolo smiled at Vittoria and sat a little straighter. Everyone watching noticed that he was looking extremely pleased and knew that something important was about to be announced.
'Well. Father has decided that it is time for me to take over the Ducal role. From this time in a week I will officially be Duke of Bellezza!'
There was a stunned silence. Everyone knew that Bellezza was part of the Tuschia Duchy but they had never had an official Duke, separate from the Grand Duke of Tuschia.
'That's ... that's wonderful, Niccolo.' Gaetano said quietly to the young mans left. Standing Gaetano grasped his glass of wine and held it in a toast. 'To the Duke of Bellezza!' Everyone followed suit, Niccolo all smiles. Vittoria watched her uncle quietly. No matter what he said, he didn't look too happy about Bellezza finally having its own Duke.
--------
Harry went to bed early that night, eager as he was to return to Bellezza. His two weeks away from the floating city had issued many questions. He wanted to question Rodolfo more about the Stravangati Brotherhood and he'd found a useful tracking spell that might be used to find Viola.
Laying down in his bed in the room that used to belong to Fred and George before they moved out permanently to the flat above their shop, Harry closed his eyes and held the amulet tight in his left hand, wand securely in his right pocket.
It took forever (or what felt like forever to get to sleep) but Harry finally opened his eyes again and grinned, delight rushing through him. He was back.
Standing, Harry looked around in confusion. He was in a corner of the Piazza Maddalena, when he should have been in Signor Rodolfo's chambers. Glancing up and around his confusion increased. Although things looked more or less the same, everything felt different. The people moving through the piazza on their various errands weren't as friendly looking as normal and there was a dejected air coming from many of them.
Harry moved through the piazza and noticed buildings he'd never seen before. Ones newly completed or in progress.
'That couldn't have happened in two weeks!'
It dawned on him that quite a bit of time must have passed since he was last in Bellezza, but just how many gave him a worried feeling. On instinct, Harry didn't turn his steps to Rodolfo's place, instead turned towards Matteo's humble home.
Reaching the house Harry paused for a minute before knocking. Everything seemed different, more subdued. Suddenly fearful that Matteo might not even be living there anymore, Harry knocked hesitantly.
Image his relief when Matteo answered the door, but it wasn't a Matteo that Harry remembered.
Gone was the Bellezzan's youthful twenty-year-old body. His light brown locks were darkened and although he didn't appear more than 30 or so, a few strands of grey flecked through his hair. His face bore the ragged look of someone that was in constant worry. It didn't help that Matteo's face was suddenly pale and looking like he had seen a ghost standing upon his doorstep.
A/N - mwaahahaha. okies, so I promise there will be some explanations in the next chapter about what's happened, how much time has passed etc etc.
Thanks to those of you review, every review brings a smile to my face lolz! Once again, if your reading this story please review on what you think and how it can be improved! Thanks D