Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter story or characters. I do, however, reserve the rights for any characters I develop and the plot of this story.
Harry Potter and the Veela Life Debts
By Jojobevco
Chapter 17
The Death and Birthday of Harry Potter
Harry did, and by the time he got to "12" a building appeared in front of them, and they all headed inside.
A certain toad that bore a strange resemblance to a blueberry had no idea that Harry didn't fire a patronus. She was gleefully looking forward to the expulsion order and anxiously waiting for the order to come to snap the boy's wand.
4:45 PM
Entryway
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
After entering the group found themselves at the point of a wand and a Glock 17. The wand was being held by a French Auror, the gun was being held by a member of Diplomatic Protection Group. There was a turnstile in front of them.
Tonks turned to the Auror and said, "Le feu de le Phoenix," and then took out a magnetic swipe card and swiped it into the turnstile before entering a four digit passcode. Tonks then proceeded through, after which Smith and the other two aurors repeated the process, though each entered a different passcode. This left Harry, Fleur, Gabrielle on the other side.
Tonks turned to the Auror at the gate, "Martin, they are with us, I'll vouch for them.
Martin nodded and let them through.
Tonks turned back to the three of them, "Good, everyone, welcome to the Headquarters of the Joint British-French Magical Counterterrorism Task Force, this way please and watch your step, we're a bit short on space."
Harry, meanwhile, was not going anywhere until he got some damn answers, "Wait, Tonks, I want an explanation. Why did dementors attack us and why didn't you let me handle them?"
Tonks sighed, "The first I have no answer to, merely speculation. All intelligence we have suggests that the dementors are still under control of the Ministry. So, chances are that the ministry either tried to kill you, or tried to bait you into performing underage magic. Which answers your second question. I am capable of doing a patronus Harry, just as Auror Bernard over there is too." Tonks nodded to the Auror with the squirrel patronus, "We were capable of doing it ourselves. Every underage wizard in the UK, regardless of emancipation status, has a tracking spell on their wand known as the Trace. If you had preformed the spell, it would have been detected by the Ministry, who would use it as an excuse to try and get you expelled."
"Well, can the Trace be removed?"
Tonks's eyes widened and she smacked herself on the forehead, "Why didn't I think of that sooner? They teach all the aurors how to do it in emergencies, but we're not allowed to. Yet, I haven't worked for the Ministry for a month. Let's do that now, it'll make everything so much easier."
4:49 PM
Improper Use of Magic Office
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Ministry of Magic (AKA Illegal Usurper of the Crown)
London, United Kingdom
The Blueberry, also known as the Toad, also known as Senior Undersecretary Delores Umbridge, and the Toad's Toadie, also known as Mafalda Hopkirk were staring intently at a globe that represented Harry Potter's Trace charm, waiting for any indication that he was using magic. They were so close that their noses were almost touching it.
Suddenly the globe exploded sending glass flying everywhere, including into the faces of the "Loyal Ministry Employees." Umbridge turned to Hopkirk in shock, anger, and a profusely bleeding head, "What was that?"
"The sensor exploded, ma'am."
Umbridge rolled her eyes, "I know that Hopkirk, what I want to know is why?"
"There are only two reasons, Ma'am. Either Potter has removed his trace."
"Which he doesn't have the capability of doing!"
"Exactly. The other option is that his magical core has stopped functioning."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning he is dead, or in a state similar to it."
When that statement sunk into her (rather thick) head Umbridge got very big smile and said only one word.
"Excellent." She then steepled her fingers and started doing, what Americans would realize was a very fat impression of C. Montgomery Burns.
Then she remembered the bleeding head wound and ran off to St. Mungo's.
4:52 PM
Hallway
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
After the brief flash of light that jetted out of the rear end of his wand, Harry was feeling much happier and it seemed to be better than chocolate at dealing with the morose feelings everyone had. Everyone was now smiling as if something much bigger had taken place. Even Agent Smith was smiling; at least Harry thought he was smiling.
Tonks was back to her old, pink haired, bubbly self, not at all the serious lady she had been all day. Gabrielle gave Harry a big congratulations hug and pulled him down for a, relatively, quick kiss on the lips. Fleur, however, seemed just as morose as she had been. Perhaps, just a bit less lifeless. It was a release of the tension of the day by all.
"Right then, moving on." Tonks led them up the stairs and down a hallway. As they were moving Harry commented on the headquarters.
"This seems like a rather advanced place you've got here."
"Actually it was one of the most decrepit places in all of Magical Britain a month ago. It's actually Sirus's family home. It wasn't used for many years and not put into proper stasis. So, it took an army of house-elves two weeks to clean out the place, and a week for us to move in. We've only had it running for the past two days." She stopped at a door, with a somewhat familiar sign on it
ELECTRONICS ROOM: STRICTLY NO MAGIC ALLOWED
"Well, that looks familiar."
"The French had a lot of input in designing this place."
They went inside where a man was sitting by a computer. After a quick explanation by Tonks, he encoded their ID cards and issued them all four digit pass codes.
Tonks clapped her hands together, "Okay, now that that's done, let me show you to your rooms."
5:50 PM
Office of the Editor
The Daily Prophet
Diagon Alley
London, England
"You're sure about this?"
Delores Umbridge was meeting with Barnabas Cuffe, editor of The Daily Prophet, trying to convince him to run a story on Harry Potter's Death.
"Positive, Mr. Cuffe. The Ministry has confirmed that Harry Potter is dead."
Although, the Ministry didn't really look that hard, after getting her head healed, Umbridge went to the Minister's office and told Cornelius the excellent, err, terrible news. They were explaining away the lack of a body by blaming it on, "subversive groups that supported the former Boy-Who-Lived."
"Well, okay then, this one'll sell out. Damn shame and on the day before the kid's birthday too."
"Yes, truly regrettable," replied Umbridge, while cackling on the inside.
7:00 AM, The Next Morning
Kitchen
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
Tonks and Agent Smith were sitting across from each other in the kitchen drinking their coffee. The companionable silence was interrupted by the arrival of a plain owl, carrying the Daily Prophet.
Tonks, still half asleep, paid the owl and unrolled the paper. The headline woke her up better than fifty cups of coffee.
HARRY POTTER DEAD
Boy-Who-Lived dies from Rogue Dementor Exposure in London
By Barnabas Cuffe- Editor-in-Chief
Tonks flipped open a pocket watch she kept on her that tracked Harry and his Veela. Fleur's hand was pointing to "Sleeping," Harry and Gabrielle's Hands were pointing to "Coitus."
"Agent Smith, you're sure that Harry's still alive, right?"
"Yes, Commandant Tonks."
"Oh, good, I was worried my watch had stopped working."
"Why?"
Tonks passed him the newspaper, when they heard a particularly loud thump. A moment later Tonks glanced back down at her pocket watch, which said "Post Coitus"
"Hmph, and, how would today's article affect The Plan?"
"I don't know. I have to contact Paris."
8:05 AM
Office of the Minister
French Ministry of Magic
Underneath the Place de la Bastille
Paris, France
"Are you sure?"
Tonks's floating head nodded, "Positive, as far as the wizarding world knows, Harry Potter, and though they don't mention it in the article, Fleur and Gabrielle are dead."
Jean-Pierre started scratching his chin, "Hmm, so now the question is do we refute it, or should we let them think they're right?"
Everyone was silent for a minute before Sirius spoke up, "Minister, we have been presented with a fortuitous opportunity. With the ministry's concerns about Harry now being dealt with they will turn their concerns elsewhere, allowing us to operate in quiet, at least until Voldemort makes his move, which I suspect will be much sooner than we anticipated. I suggest advancing to stage three of the operation."
"Why would Voldemort act faster, I mean he's the only person in the world right now outside of us that knows that Harry's alive?"
"We're going to goad him into it."
It was at this moment that the smirk that Lieutenant-Colonel Sirius Black had on his face turned into the patented "Sirius Black Prank Planning Smirk," or the look that sent the whole of Hogwarts running for the hills during his time there.
Voldemort wouldn't know what hit him.
7:45 AM
Lord Imbecile's Hovel (er, Lord Voldemort's Throne Room)
Unknown Location
Voldemort finished reading his paper before chuckling slowly, "So, they think their savior is dead?"
Voldemort quickly checked the growing migraine at the front of his head. For some reason he'd been getting them from Potter. The fact that it was still there proves that Potter's alive.
"Hmm, so, if he isn't dead, then the ministry wants him dead. But, now that everyone thinks he's dead, the light side will be devastated. Unless, this is a plan of the light side."
Voldemort's migraine was getting progressively worse. So, he went through the stress relieving exercises he'd developed over the years.
He pointed his wand at Wormtail, "Crucio!"
Not that said measures were recommended by a licensed psychologist.
He ended the curse, "Wormtail!"
"Yes, Master?"
"Assemble my followers I want a plan to break my faithful out of Azkaban!"
"At once, my Lord."
9:00 AM
Harry's Bedroom
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
Harry Potter did not look or feel dead. Instead, he felt great, relaxing in bed with his Gabrielle in his arms.
"Happy Birthday, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened in shock, until Gabrielle mentioned it, he had completely forgotten his birthday.
"Uh, Thank You, Gabrielle, now, it's time to get up."
After showering, dressing, and getting ready they went downstairs where Fleur was sitting, drinking coffee, while Tonks and Smith were standing at the counter looking over a diagram of some sort. Tonks noticed him.
"Hey, Handsome, you're looking pretty good for a dead guy."
Harry was dumbfounded, "Um, what?"
Tonks tossed the paper at him, "Congrats, Harry, you died, oh and Happy Birthday."
"Thanks, Tonks."
They went over to sit by Fleur who looked up at them and smiled a bit, "Happy Birthday, Harry."
"Thank you, Fleur, how are you today?"
"I've been thinking a lot, that's all."
Harry was a bit confused by this non-answer, answer, before shrugging it off and turning back to Tonks, "What's on the schedule today?"
"High Ranking Death Eater Profiles, followed by your party."
"Party? I thought I was dead."
"Well, thanks to the connection in your scar, Voldemort knows that you're not dead. The only ones we really care about are the ministry. So, we invited some friends from school and from around here to your birthday party tonight."
"But I thought this was a top secret facility?"
Tonks chuckled, "We're not going to tell them where it is. We're just going to bring them here."
"Oh?"
"Yes, it's not like they'll know it's in the basement of 12 Grimmauld Place, just that it's in the basement."
"Cool."
10:30 AM
Briefing/Conference Room
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
"Next on the list is Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. Born in 1958 to Cygnus Black and Druella Black nee Rosier. She has two younger sisters Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Tonks. Meaning she's my aunt."
Harry, Gabrielle, Fleur, Alastor Moody (the real one), and, surprisingly, Severus Snape sat around and listened to Tonk's report.
"Tonk's I am not, as the Professor would say, a dunderhead. Even I know that she's your aunt."
Tonks bushed, "Right, so, Married to Rodolphus Lestrange, but we think that she's having an affair with Voldemort."
Everyone in the room looked like they'd just eaten something rotten before Moody stepped in.
"Tom Riddle used to be quite handsome; I remember we all hated him because he got the girls.
"Thank you for that wonderful addition, Moody," Snape snarked, "Move on, Tonks, we don't have all day"
"Wand is Walnut and dragon heartstring, 12 & 3/4 inches, unyielding, currently in Ministry lockup in Azkaban."
"And storing the wands next to the felons that used them was who's brilliant idea?"
"I'm not sure Gabrielle, but I agree, it is stupid. Lestrange is a Slytherin who attended Hogwarts from 1962-1969. Lestrange is sadistic, particularly on powerless victims. Her favorite Curse, by far is the Cruciatus, which she can use to great effect. Case-in-point, she was a part of the four person team that Crucioed Alice and Frank Longbottom into insanity. For her crimes she is currently serving a life sentence in Azkaban. She is loyal, only to Voldemort."
Moody added in his part, "Lestrange's dueling style is erratic, completely unpredictable. She will, however, aim to harm first, kill second. You have to be constantly on your toes around her. Don't fall into a pattern or her witty banter. Constant Vigilance!"
Snape rolled his eyes at Moody's overused motto, "Yes, Moody for the millionth time 'Constant Vigilance!'" He then turned to the group as a whole, "Bella is eccentric, but her knowledge of dark arts is probably in the top four of the Death Eaters. If you can avoid it, don't get captured by her."
Harry was rather surprised by the changes that occurred in the potions professor over the past month. He had become more civil to Harry. Not friendly, by any stretch of the imagination, but he'd stop insulting Harry at every turn. Or maybe Harry just didn't notice it as much.
"Okay, let's move on to Rabastan Lestrange."
8:00 PM
Basement Party Room/ Training Room
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
Harry's birthday party was in full swing. Some big band music was playing over the wireless and people were chatting happily. There was a large pile of gifts in one corner of the room and a buffet with finger foods in the other. Fleur was slowly roaming around the edges of the room. Harry and Gabrielle were chatting with the Weasleys over their experiences in France.
"Don't worry, Ron, the training was rather boring, a lot of learning about magical government and history. Your dad would be amazed by the muggle technology they have."
Mr. Weasley was currently bending Agent Smith's ear. Harry winked to Gabrielle over the 'boring training' part.
"So, Harry, what's it like to be dead?"
Harry looked around the room and smiled before turning back to Ron, "Actually, mate, it feels pretty good."
On the other side of the room Lafleur was talking to Jean-Pierre Delacour, "Stage Three is now in progress. We've been deploying more troops into Brittan with a particular focus on London."
"Has the Queen been briefed?"
"Yes, sir, I spoke to her over SATCOM today."
"Good."
"Sir, you know the plan involves reading Potter in at this stage of the operation."
"Yes, but we expected that to be months from now. Our mind specialists and Dumbledore are finishing up the Occlumency program for him. Albus will instruct him personally."
"Have they accounted for the connection?"
"Yes, Harry will be able to receive messages, but Imbecile won't be able to take information from his brain."
"Now, all we need is for Imbecile to break his forces out of Azkaban."
"Who knows when he'll do that?"
In a third conversation, Tonks was talking to Sirius, who flew over especially for the event, "I know how wrong it is for someone my age to be attracted to a teenager, but I can't help it. Besides, he already has two veela, what would he need little old me for. Further, I'm the head of his security detail."
"Tonks, you do realize he is emancipated. I've seen how he looks at you. He's uncertain; he honestly is stumbling blind through this mess. There are two things I want you to think about.
"One, how will Gabrielle react? Two, think about what Fleur is going through right now, if you're going to make a move, don't until she and Harry figure out what is happening with her."
Harry and Gabrielle had left the Weasleys and were now talking to Agent Smith.
"Happy Birthday, Mr. Potter."
"Thank you, Agent Smith."
"No, Happy Birthday, Mr. Potter," Smith handed Harry an envelope, which Harry opened.
Mister Potter,
The illegal charm that prevents you from communicating with us, does not prevent us from communicating with you, at least that is what our experts tell us. We hope this letter finds you well and we wish you a very happy birthday. Enclosed, you will find your gift, a 4,500 pound line of credit at Harrods in London. While we realize that you do not need it we hope you will use this toward improving your wardrobe.
Signed,
Elizabeth II
While Gabrielle let out a particularly loud, happy noise and started discussing what they should buy for Harry, Moody pulled Harry aside and handed him a picture of the Order of the Phoenix, an organization that fought Voldemort during the first war. Harry was interested in seeing a picture of all the people that he had heard about during the history lessons he had on the first war. He was amazed to see his parents were members
8:20 PM
Azkaban Island
North Sea
The infiltrator flew in raven form around the building, looking for the right window. The infiltrator landed on the ledge and pushed through into a room. In one single motion the infiltrator transformed back into human form, drew a large knife and slit the throat of the room's occupant. As the occupant was dying, the infiltrator leaned over and started casting charms. There was a lot of work, but not a lot of time.
11:30 PM
Basement Party Room/ Training Room
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
As the party was wrapping up, Harry looked around, where was Fleur?
11:30 PM
Fleur's Room.
The Headquarters of the Joint Magical Counterterrorism Task Force
12 Grimmauld Place
London, United Kingdom
Fleur stood on the balcony of her room, taking advantage of the Fidelius Charm to look down at people moving along the street below. She was thinking, about her master, her sister, and herself.
Fleur felt useless. Everything she had done for her master over the past few months was not something only she could do. Everything she taught him, someone else could. She wasn't useful; she was a liability, a burden. The situation with the dementors had made her realize that. While she was an excellent duelist in practice, the reality of the situation had shown her that she was not good at all. She had panicked and dropped her wand when the dementors came, only saved by Tonks's fast work. Fleur should have realized this before, but she didn't. Her performance in the Tri-Wizard tournament was terrible, from the first task onward, she was a total failure. She could barely handle a dragon, she couldn't save her sister, and she couldn't handle an imperiused Krum. She also was useless in public. Tonight, she panicked and ran out of the room when Arthur Weasley brushed her arm while reaching for the sandwich tray.
Fleur looked down at her arm, now without the glamor charms she usually kept on it. The obvious web-like series of lines that crisscrossed her arms, like some sort of twisted art, that were really just reminders from an experience that ruined her, that made her useless.
Fleur looked down at her other arm, at her wand. It would be so simple, a quick charm to end it all. Fleur looked back at the street, she needed to think some more.
AN: Please Review! Thanks to those who have!