Chapter Four
Harry awoke bright and early and finished packing his belongings into his Hogwarts trunk. He looked around at the room that had been his for the last few years. Tears started to well in his eyes but these were not tears of sorrow but tears of happiness. Harry snorted at the thought that he would not be ever coming back to this house.
"It's about bloody time." He laughed as he gathered his belongings and closed not only the door to the room but to one of the horrific chapters of his life to date.
Harry trudged down the stairs with his trunk and Hedwig in her cage. When he reached the landing he saw his Aunt Constance and smiled lopsidedly at her.
Noticing Hedwig, Constance reached to help Harry with her cage. Harry noticed a strange twinkle in her emerald eyes' not unlike Dumbledore's. Harry shook his head pushing such an absurd thought out of his head – his Aunt knowing a wizard "pah I don't think so." Harry glanced at his elderly Aunt as she took hold of Hedwig's cage.
" 'Arry, your owl is so beautiful. I have never seen such a fine specimen before," Constance said as she scanned the bird in front of her. "Thank god I have a huge bird aviary at home where she can live. 'Arry, just a question why do you have such an exquisite and rare bird as a pet and what is her name?"
"Ohh Umm I received her as a present when I started at my boarding school and her name is Hedwig," Harry stumbled out. "Well that's not a complete lie." He thought
"What a wonderful gift, I didn't think Vernon and Petunia were so rewarding," she said with that twinkle reappearing in her eye.
"They didn't buy it for me. A friend bought it when I was accepted to my school," Harry commented hiding a slight blush.
"Well enough about Hedwig, lets get loaded and we shall be off to London," she said as they went to the kitchen to see the Dursley's for the last time.
"Morning Tante Constance, Harry," beamed an unusual jovial Dudley.
"Morning my darlings, I am afraid it is time for us to leave," Constance said merrily.
"Are you leaving already, but you just got here!" said a teary Petunia.
"I am afraid that I must leave, as I told you this was a fleeting visit. I will invite you over soon, for a holiday," Constance said her voice dripping with honey.
"'Arry time to say Au revoir to you relatives," Constance yelled.
"Au revoir relatives," Harry said caustically with a smile on his face.
With this comment Harry and Constance got into the Rolls Royce, and waved to the Dursley's as they left Privet Drive for this would be the last time Harry would ever see this neighborhood again in his life.
Unbeknownst to the departing Boy-Who-Lived; Arabella Figg, who noticed his leaving and had quickly written a note to the Order telling them that he had left the Dursley's and that the next part of the prophecy had begun. She called forth her trusty barn owl Eternity and attached the note to his leg. Letting him go she told him to take it to the Order.
"God speed and good luck Harry," she said with a tear in her eye.
The Player made a final adjustment to the scrying pool and the picture sprang sharply into focus.
It showed an elderly white haired gentleman, wearing forest green robes, bending over a lily bush, secateurs in hand, face totally absorbed.
It was an old face, lined and wrinkled, yet somehow alert and vital at the same time.
The jade green eyes were bright with intelligence.
The commanding beak of the nose gave the old man a haughty, imperious air.
The player smiled in cruel satisfaction.
Malfoy Manor – Wiltshire – 2100
The old man in the garden was known as Harry Potter-Malfoy – a Harry Potter-Malfoy that had come to the end of a fantastic career as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry knew it was time to move on, he wasn't getting any younger and he wasn't up with all the modern scholastic resources. He knew he had to choose a successor but who he didn't know. That is why he had come to this place, the most peaceful part of Malfoy Manor – his flower garden. Here in this peaceful garden he could prune his roses, water his lilies and think of his dear departed Draco.
He could enjoy this time of peace thinking of the prospects of finally retiring and settling in to the solitary existence of being The Lord of Malfoy Manor.
Suddenly Old Harry tensed. Something was wrong. Something evil.
Some alien presence had come into his private retreat. It seemed to be some kind of pyramid, rolling and rumbling towards him, growing larger and larger…
Suddenly it was almost upon him.
He turned to run but it was too late. Far too late.
"No, No," he shouted.
The Pyramid rolled forward, swallowing him up, absorbing him completely.
For a moment his distorted screaming face peered out from inside the pyramid. Then the
pyramid rolled away, disappearing as rapidly as it arrived.
The Player rose from the scrying pool and went over to the game table. From within the ivory box he removed a tiny but beautifully carved figure.
It represented a white haired old man in forest green robes. The Player put the little figure of Headmaster Harry Potter-Malfoy onto the board, pushing it towards the centre with a long rake.
The First piece was on the board.
Interlude End
While they were driving into London, Harry pulled out his Never Ending Sketchpad that Hermoine had bought him so many Christmases ago, from his satchel and starting to draw what he saw around him.
A few minutes into his drawing, he gave a sudden involuntary cry, his face twisted in pain.
"'Arry, are you ok?" cried Constance as she cradled Harry in her arms.
"Just a twinge of cosmic angst," Harry murmured.
She Just stared at him.
"Cosmic what?" She queried.
Harry looked puzzled
"It is as if I have – lost something…" He trailed off with a look of perplexion. He shook off the feeling and continued to fill his page with the scenery around him.
Constance glanced over to him and started to watch him draw.
"'Arry, you are so much like your mother, She, like you had a talent in drawing, it is good to see that something creative had passed on to you from her," she said looking at her nephew. "May I please see you pad?" She asked as Harry nonchalantly handed it over to her.
"They're not really that good," Harry stammered as he started to blush, as he knew there were some pictures coming up that he didn't want anyone to see.
"Tut tut my dear these are beautiful as she flicked through the pad. You really have a gift. These clothing drawings are wonderful, have you ever thought of a career in fashion, Mon Cheri?" said his Aunt.
"No, not really. This is just a hobby, something I like to do when I am bored." Harry said, not looking at his Aunt since he noticed she was looking at one of his pictures that he didn't want anyone to see.
Constance noticed that her young charge was starting to blush as she studied his pictures, sensing his discomfort she closed the notepad and handed it back to him and put a motherly arm around his shoulders. Harry looked up into the woman's warm emerald green eyes and started to tear up.
"There, there my dear, let it all out, its alright honey, I am here for you now. When you are ready to talk about whatever is on your mind I will be here and I will never cast you out of my life my little love," she whispered as she placed a kiss on his forehead.
"I… I am so sorry it's just that you have been so nice to me I don't know how to repay you for taking me away from that place," Harry murmured as he hugged his Aunt.
There, there my little love that's ok, I think to cheer us both up I think we need a bit of retail therapy. You my dear need some new clothes so that will be the first port of call. Driver please take us to Knightsbridge," she said through the intercom.
"Right, Your Grace," replied the driver.
"Tante Constance, why did he call you Your Grace?" queried Harry, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"Oh That, sorry for not telling you but I am also Constance, the Comtesse du Lioncourt, So I guess that makes you, Harrison, of the Comte du Lioncourt, yes my dear you are a member of one of the bluest and purest blooded families of all of Europe." Constance said forthrightly, with a bit of a giggle.
"I can't believe it, just yesterday I was plain old Harry Potter and now I am about to become not only Harrison Delacour but I am also Harrison, of the Comte du Lioncourt. Are there any other surprises you haven't told me about?" Harry said thinking over what he had just been told.
"If there are any other surprises I will make sure to tell you in advance," laughed his Aunt.
The Rolls Royce pulled up outside of Harvey Nichols and they got out. Harry looked about his eyes as large as saucers as he had never seen such stores in his life. His Aunt dragged him from store to store, which were blurring into one. Harry had to stop and catch his breath he had never seen such energy come from such an elderly person before.
"Come on 'Arry, just one more store till we get you home. We will buy a couple of sets of clothes now and then more when we get to Paris ok?" said Constance as she surveyed the area around her.
Constance dragged Harry into the Polo Ralph Lauren store and had the assistant take Harry into a private viewing room to try on the clothes that she picked out for him. As she was going through a rack she glanced over and saw a woman staring at her.
"Yes my dear, what is it you want?" asked the Comtesse.
The woman came over to Constance. The woman had a short black bob and was tastefully dressed in an Armani suit.
"Mademoiselle Delacour is that you?" queried the woman.
"That is my name, oh my god, Alexis is that you? Little Alexis Morel, my how you have grown. What brings you London let alone to this store?" asked Constance, as she hugged the younger woman.
"Well firstly I am no longer Alexis Morel but Alexis Colby, I have been married that many times that I tend to forget my surname, but that is not why I am here. I am here shopping with my Grandson LB," replied Alexis.
"What a Coincidence, I am here with my Grand Nephew Harrison. I am trying to spoil him rotten," mused the redhead.
"Would the two of you care to join us for lunch?" Alexis asked Constance.
"That would be nice, can we make it an early lunch as I have appointment with my London lawyers at one pm and then we fly back to Paris this afternoon. I can't wait to introduce Harrison to your grandson by the way how old is LB?" asked Constance.
"He will be seventeen next month. If Harrison and LB hit it off I am sure we could wangle and invite for such an old friend of the family such as you," Alexis stated.
"Oh, he is the same age as Harrison, is he going top school here?' Asked Constance
"No, he will be transferring to our old school in France for his final year, and Harrison does he go to school here in London?" Alexis queried.
"He did, but he will be transferring with my great grandson to our old school as well for their final year also, so looks like the boys will be school mates then," giggled Constance.
"Looks like it," beamed Alexis.
While the two women were chatting the two young men in question both exited the private viewing rooms at the same time and nearly knocked each other over.
"Sorry," Harry said looking at the brunette in front of him.
"That's ok, I should have been looking where I was going," said the brunette in a broad American accent.
"My name is Blake Carrington Colby, but most people call me LB," said the brunette as he held out his hand to Harry to shake.
Glancing at the outstretched hand Harry remembered a similar occurrence a number of years ago, when he spurned the hand of someone who could have been his friend and not his most bitter rival. Shaking his head Harry smiled and shook the boy's hand.
"Harrison James Delacour, but my friends call me Harry," said the Boy-Who-Lived.
"So what brings you to London, LB," Harry asked glancing at the handsome young man in front of him.
"My grandmother insisted on taking me shopping while I am on holiday before I start school in France in September, so here I am in London taking in the sights while my grandmother has oil business to deal with," stated LB as he returned Harry's look with a blush.
"So what are you doing here in London, Harry?" LB queried as he looked Harry up and down as Harry checked himself out in a bank of mirrors.
"Well I am here buying some clothes with my Great Aunt who is taking me to live in France later this afternoon." Harry told the young American.
"I would really like to meet such a wonderful Aunt." LB asked.
"Well let me introduce you to my Aunt LB, let's see oh there she is talking to that lady," Harry said as he pulled the boy to meet Constance.
"Harry, that lady talking to your Aunt is my grandmother, I think we can kill two birds with one stone here then," LB said with a goofy looking grin on his face.
"Aunt Constance, can I introduce you to my new friend Blake Colby or LB to his friends, LB this is my Aunt, Constance, the Comtesse du Lioncourt," stated Harry.
"Your Grace," said LB as he bowed to the older woman.
"Oh Alexis, looks like our boys have already met and are getting along famously," stated Constance.
"So I see. Harrison, I see you have met my grandson LB I am Alexis Colby how do you do," stated Alexis as she held her hand out for Harry to shake, which he did quite nervously.
Alexis and Constance looked at their charges noting what they had on. Harry wore a neat pair of blue cargo shorts, matching blue and lemon polo top and pale lemon jumper around his neck, on his feet he wore brown leather boat shoes which matched the brown leather belt around his trim waist. LB was wearing a complimenting pair of tan cargo pants with a blue belt, the same polo top as Harry and had a blue jumper around his shoulders on his feet he wore the same type of boat shoes Harry had on. The women both hid slight giggles as they noticed the boy's were wearing variations of the same ensemble.
As the women paid for the garments, the boys got better acquainted. They were both keen sportsmen, loved certain topics at school, they found out they were a week apart in ages and a few other things.
"So Harry, do you have a girlfriend?" LB be asked as a pink blush came into his cheeks
"I have had a couple of girlfriends in the past, but at the moment I am single. There is someone I like but I haven't seen them for over a year and a half and I do miss them." Harry replied with a tear in his eye.
"I am sorry that I have upset, Harry. I didn't mean too." LB states as he tries to console his new friend.
Before Harry could answer, the older women came out of the store and whisked the boys off to lunch. Lunch was one of those events that came and went rather quickly.
The boy's talked about themselves as if they where old friends, Harry didn't tell LB about his living conditions at the Dursley's he just mentioned that he lived with relatives for the formative part of his life but now he is going to live with Constance till he decides what to do with his life after graduation. LB on the other hand told Harry that he lives with his mother Fallon and his Stepfather Miles Colby, who is his father's brother and his younger sister Lauren. He also told Harry that he had quite a number of cousins as well as an aunt who was younger than him. While the boys were talking their legs met under the table and both boy's felt a slight tingling sensation causing them to look up at one another and study one another, both boy's grinned at one another as they both realized something about the other. Constance announced that Harry and her must continue on to their next appointment so as they said their goodbyes. Harry and LB exchanged numbers so they could keep in touch, both blushing as they swapped numbers. The blushing didn't go unnoticed by their guardians who looked at one another with eyes twinkling knowing what was happening in front of them. The two women hugged and went their separate ways taking their charges with them.
Back in the Rolls Royce Constance tells the driver to head into the London office of Wolfram and Hart.
"So Harry, looks like you have made yourself a nice friend there in LB," commented Constance "He is rather cute if I do say so," Constance said flippantly to her nephew.
Harry started fidgeting with this last comment. "Yeah, I haven't made a new friend in ages. He was very nice wasn't he," Harry whispered looking nervously at his Aunt.
"I think I know someone who may have a crush on someone they have just met," Constance sung trying to tickle Harry.
Harry turned pink at this comment and pouted as he turned to look out of the window at the passing sites.
"You remind me of DJ when he pouts looking at you now," laughed Constance.
"Really?" replied Harry.
"Yes, he just loves to do that when can't get his own way. He was such a handful when he was younger; I hope he has grown out of his tantrums," Constance reminisced.
Before to long they had pulled up to Wolfram and Hart, and they proceeded to get out of the car and enter the building, once inside Constance and Harry were escorted to the office of Constance's lawyer, Lilah Morgan.
"Ah Good Morning Lilah, how are you my dear?" asked Constance as she sat down.
"I am fine Your Grace, and yourself has your trip been successful?" Lilah said looking at Harry who was looking at all of Lilah's strange artifacts in her office.
"Yes my dear all done. Now have you the relative paperwork for me to fill out in relation to Harry?" asked Constance.
"Yes here it is Your Grace," said Lilah as she passed over the paperwork for the Comtesse to review and sign.
"So Harry, how are you. enjoying London?" said Lilah through a bright smile.
"Fine Thank You. Yes I am enjoying London, thank you for asking." replied Harry.
"'Arry can you please come here and sign this part of the paperwork," stated Constance as she read the contracts.
Harry came across and signed his name where indicated and stepped back.
"Now that that is done, here is Harry's Passport and Visa, and relative paperwork to go with it." said Lilah as she passed over the documents to Constance, who gave Harry his passport.
Harry opened his passport and gasped, looking up at him was a photo of him smiling away but it was not this that made him gasp. It was his full title that read:
The Honourable Harrison James Castor Delacour, Viscomte du LioncourtHe looked at his Aunt with a confused look on his face.
"Whoops I forgot to tell you that another surprise was coming. Yes you are officially a Viscomte." Laughed Constance, who was blushing.
"No not that. I am not worried about that. It's the Castor where on earth did that name come from?" Harry queried with a blank look on his face.
"Oh that, well that was your Uncle Rodan's fault he gave you that name when you were born, it is a family name passed down to eldest male of each generation born on the same day and since you were born a few hours before DJ, Rodan gave it to you but your father didn't want you to have it and left it out of your birth certificate, deliberately. Now that both James and Rodan are dead I thought it would be an honorable thing and add it to your new name, do you like it?" asked his Aunt sheepishly.
"Like it, what's not to like about it, it is wonderful," Harry laughed hugging his Aunt.
After saying goodbye to Lilah, Harry and Constance got back into the car and headed off to the airport.