Chapter 13

"So I guess I'm not going to see Ron or Hermione," Harry said sadly as the ashes of the howler were banished by his mother.

Demona sighed. It had been three days since her and Macbeth's meeting with Dumbledore, and Harry and Constance officially began courting. While she was pleased at the development between her son and Constance, the meeting with Dumbledore was...well, not good. The only further communication between them had been a letter, delivered via school owl for some reason, requesting they reconsider sending Harry to Hogwarts, and at the same time admonishing them for not coming to him first.

Still, despite those issues, she'd told Harry he could write to his friends to invite them to his birthday party, which they would celebrate before leaving for Manhattan since Macbeth would be staying in England for the time being.

Hermione had written back an apology, but explained that she was currently with her uncle in America, and would be for the rest of the summer. Though she did admonish him for scaring her by disappearing, and congratulated him on being reunited with his parents (he had explained most of the circumstances, though obviously not all, to her and Ron in the letters he'd sent).

Rather than Ron writing back however, he'd gotten a Howler from Molly. About how he couldn't possibly trust the imposters claiming to be his parents, and that he needed to contact Dumbledore, and return to the Dursleys.

"I'm sorry," Demona apologized. "At least Hermione seems to understand."

Harry grinned. "She's always been rather logical," he explained. "Between the two, she's my best friend."

His mother raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't try dating her, before everything that happened."

To her surprise, her son snorted. "There are just two things wrong with that. The first is that, while she's my friend, I've never seen her that way. She's...my sister. The second, last year I caught her...well, let's just say that she has no interest in men whatsoever."

"She's attracted to other women?" Demona questioned.

Harry nodded. "Shocked me a little, especially considering how I found out. But she's still my friend."

"Well, maybe after we arrive in Manhattan, we can see if we can manage to visit her at her uncles."

"Thanks Mom," he said, hugging her.

As Demona hugged her son, she thought the only thing that could make the moment better was if she had both her children in her arms.

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"You want to travel to Manhattan with Demona and Harry?" Una questioned, summing up what Constance had just asked her. Looking at her Clan Second, Una watched her nod, then asked, "Why?"

"Well, Harry and I are courting, and I think it would be better to remain together until we decide if we can be mates or not," the younger gargoyle explained.

"And what of your responsibilities as Clan Second?"

"That's why I'm asking you," the blonde informed her. "And I'll understand if you need to appoint a new second due to my absence."

The unicorn-like gargoyle was silent a moment. She was actually pleased with this development, both Constance's desire to visit Manhattan, and her relationship with Harry.

The male seemed to make her second happy, and he wasn't a bad potential mate judging by what she herself had seen of him.

As for Constance visiting Manhattan, this gave her a chance to do something she had been considering since Griff and Arthur had returned to Knight's SPur after their travels following their meeting with some of the Manhattan Clan. From what she understood, the other clan was small. And her talks with Demona confirmed this. They only had six members, one of which was an elder and one of which was female. She expected the female would take one of the three younger males as a mate, but that left the clan with one breeding pair.

Considering how large her clan was, and their breeding restriction of flying only twice of a possible three breeders moons (lest they overpopulate Knight's Spur), the idea of giving the smaller clan some of their current clutch of eggs had a certain appeal. Especially since it would allow, at least during the next Breeder's Moon, mates who'd already breed twice the chance to breed a third time. Not to mention that they had several unattached females, which currently outnumbered the males of the clan.

And while Una had talked her ideas over with Demona, the other gargoyle admitted that not only would she be mistrusted if she herself approached the Manahattan Clan with the offer, she was not a member of the London Clan, and had no right to judge if the other clan was worthy of the London Clan's offers.

Constance however was.

"Luckily for you, I was already going to ask if you'd be willing to go with Demona and Harry," Una said after a moment.

She watched as the younger gargoyles eyes widened slightly. "Really?" she asked.

"I want you to assess the Manhattan Clan," Una explained. "Specifically whether they have the capabilities, resources, and protection to be gifted with some of the eggs in our rookery. And I would also like for you to offer a chance for their unattached males to visit our clan to see if they are interested in courting any of our unattached females. As Clan Second, I expect you to do this, as an ambassador between our two clans."

Despite the responsibility and seriousness of the task Una was asking of her, Constance smiled briefly, before controlling herself. "I will gladly complete these task to the best of my ability," she assured her clan leader.

"Very well," Una said. "Now then, I believe you need to go get Arthur before leaving."

As Constance virtually ran our of the office Una used as Clan Leader, the elder gargoyle couldn't help but grin. It may not be the gargoyle way, but she found Demona's attempts at matchmaking for her son rather amusing. Even if they were rather transparent.

Perhaps she needed to take a more active role in her own clan's romantic activities. Lord knew that this latest generation were sure being slow selecting mates.

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That night, Demona and Macbeth celebrated their son's birthday.

Also in attendance were Constance, Staghart, King Arthur, and Hedwig the Owl.

After cutting a cake that Demona had admitted to ordering, the guest each gave a present to Harry, despite the fact that it wasn't really a gargoyle tradition.

Macbeth gave Harry a kilt, large enough for him to wear in Gargoyle form, made in the Macbeth Clan Tartan. Demona, ever practical, gave Harry an actual mace. Constance gave Harry a leather band for his hair, which had grown out over the summer, and was now long enough to be pulled back into a small ponytail. Staghart had ordered his gift, and earned a smack to the back of his head from a blushing Constance once Harry opened up a book titled, The Modern Kama Sutra. Arthur, however gave Harry what was probably his most normal gift. The old King admitted that he knew little about what was an acceptable gift for a young man in these modern times, and gave Harry a pre-paid credit card with 500 dollars on it.

He admitted that between Macbeth and Demona Harry had no real need for money, but acknowledged that Harry may want some of his own to spend without having to ask for it.

Hedwig, as always, gave Harry a dead mouse. It was her standard gift for Harry on both his birthday and Christmas. And, or so it seemed to her, he always pet her affectionately afterward and thus appreciated her gift, even if she never saw him eat them.

The next morning, Harry, Demona, and Hedwig were on a private plane to Manhattan. And Constance was secure in the cargo hold of the plane in her stone sleep.

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It's mostly filler, but now Harry's going to be in Manhattan, and will shortly get to meet his sister.

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