Chapter Five
As the car pulled up to the International Terminal at Heathrow, Harry looked out at the busy terminal; a look of awe took over him.
"Wow," Harry exclaimed, looking around at the hustle and bustle.
"I take it, my dear, that you have never been to an airport before?" Constance asked her captivated nephew.
"No, I haven't. It wasn't like the Dursley's would take me away with them or anything as outlandish as that," Harry said in mock sarcasm, with a patented Draco Malfoy smirk on his face.
Constance laughed when she saw her nephew smirk at her "If I didn't know any better I could swear that you and DJ were brothers. Not only do you pout the same but you smirk the same as well," This brought tears of laughter to Constance's eyes.
"I really can't wait to meet this doppelganger of mine now he sounds like my kind of person." Harry said through snorts of laughter.
"Well 'arry I hope you get used to the airport as we will be seeing a few before you go back to school. You see this is only the beginning, surfing in Hawaii, skiing in Aspen, trekking in Africa, why I even think that you will be going to a certain young man's birthday in California if you are lucky," Constance teased.
"Really, do you think that I will get an invite to LB's birthday?" Harry said, secretly hoping that he will receive an invite from his handsome new friend.
"After seeing you two at lunch I can highly say that you will be around the top of the invite list," Constance said smiling to her charge.
Harry suddenly broke out into a big grin.
Once the Delacour's cleared through customs, Harry and his aunt slowly made their way to the departure lounge. On the way, Harry noticed a familiar face in the crowd coming towards him.
"Lavender!" Harry called out as he saw his schoolmate approach.
"Harry!" Lavender called as she saw him and ran over to give him a hug. "What are you doing here at Heathrow?"
"You won't believe it." Harry said as he tells Lavender all about the last few days of his life in Privet Drive.
"I don't believe it, I really don't believe it in a matter of weeks you go from being Harry Potter, Savior of the Wizarding World to The Honorable Harrison Delacour, Viscomte Du Lioncourt, a member of one of the worlds noblest and bluest blooded families, I just don't believe it," Lavender said still trying to get a grasp of what Harry had just told her.
"Lav, come and meet my aunt, please she hasn't met any of my school friends yet and I would love to introduce you." Harry pleaded to his best female friend since Hermione became incapacitated.
"Ok then, where is she?" Lavender laughed as she grabbed Harry's hand while he tried to look for his aunt.
Harry and Lavender finally found her chatting to a group of strangely dressed people.
"Aunt Constance, excuse me but can I interrupt you to introduce you to a school friend of mine?" Harry asked looking at his aunt.
"I am sorry Harry, what did you say?" Constance said with a twinkle appearing in her eye.
"Lavender Brown this is my Aunt and Guardian Constance, the Comtesse du Lioncourt."
"Pleased to meet you, Your Grace," Lavender replied as she curtsied.
"And I you, Miss Brown," Constance said looking at the young lady in front of her
"Lavender and I go to the same boarding school in Scotland, don't we Lav?" Harry blurted out staring at his classmate.
"Oh Yes, that's true. Harry and I are also in the same house at our school." Lavender mentioned.
"Speaking of schools 'Arry we will chat about that when we get home with both you and DJ. But all that aside, since you have introduced me to your friend let me introduce you to one of my clients. Harry and Lavender this is Edina Monsoon and her friend Patsy Stone and Eddie's lovely daughter Saffron. They are just arriving back from Marrakech, where Eddie had a fashion shoot for some product or something," Constance said as she introduced Harry and Lavender to her acquaintances.
After a few minutes Lavender excused herself, as she had to find her parents as they were going to join Dean Thomas and his family in the Bahamas. Harry hugged his friend and promised to owl her when he got settled. So with a wave Lavender walked off leaving Harry to the lecherous advances of Patsy, much to his annoyance.
"Connie, this one is cute he has buns so tight you could bounce him off the wall." Patsy said as she pinched Harry's behind.
"Thank you Patsy, but we must get going it is so lovely to see you all. Eddie I will speak to you later in the week about what I mentioned, Saffron lovely to see you again I really love that fragrance you are wearing it has a lovely honey yoghurty smell," Constance said to her friends as they parted company.
"They sure were weird friends of you Aunt Constance." Harry said as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I know but what can I say. Now 'arry could I ask you to call me Connie, Aunt Constance makes me feel so old. Is that ok?
"Of course that's fine; it was kind of becoming a mouthful." Harry giggled.
"Well that's settled then. Let's go to our gate and wait for our boarding call. Sound like a good plan?" Connie asked.
"Sounds good Connie, let's be off," Harry said as he walked with his aunt to the gate lounge. An hour later, Harry and his Aunt were sitting on board the Concorde on their way to Paris.
Interlude
Order of the Phoenix Taskforce – Hogwarts Military Academy – Scotland – 2059
Colonel Romulus Lupin-Black (Retired), one time Commanding Officer of the Order of the Phoenix Taskforce – Auror Division, looked around the room that once had been his office. The annual Order Reunion was soon to take place.
The Colonel had mixed feelings about this sort of thing. Nice to see old friends of course, but odd to see them so changed.
Caligula Malfoy came across the room towards the Colonel, firewhiskey bottle in his hand.
Strange to think that he, a Malfoy, was now in command of the Order. A bit stiff and formal Caligula, thought the Colonel, not realising how much he himself had mellowed over the years. Still, Caligula would learn – if he lived.
In the Order you encountered problems that weren't in anyone's rule book.
Malfoy refilled the Colonel's glass.
"Can't have our guest of honour running dry," he slightly slurred.
Malfoy raised his glass
"To civilian life!" he toasted.
"Hear, hear," said Romulus. "You know, I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this reunion. The chance to meet old friends again."
Colonel Malfoy put down his glass. "There's a couple of chap's we've been trying to get a hold of for ages. A couple of mysterious fellows. They used to be your Unpaid Scientific Advisers."
Romulus smiled, "Ah, The Scar"
"That's right. The Scar!" announced Colonel Malfoy.
Romulus smiled reminiscently. "Wonderful chaps, all of them."
Malfoy looked curiously at him. "Them? More than one, was there?" he queried
"Well, yes," said Romulus.
To his relief they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Malfoy opened the door
"Yes?" he said to the junior auror that was standing there.
"Excuse me, sir, Sorry to interrupt but someone has arrived," she said to her commanding officer.
"I am not expecting anyone. Who is it?" demanded Colonel Malfoy.
There was a tinge of desperation in the young woman's voice "I don't know sir. He insists on seeing Colonel Lupin-Black." The young woman turned to the unknown person but she is brushed aside like yesterday's rubbish, she yelled after the man "Sir you are not allowed in there."
"What?" said a familiar voice indignantly. "Me? Not allowed? I am allowed everywhere. Just get out of the way, will you? Thank you!"
The office door was flung open and a slightly tall figure popped inside eluding the grasp of the auror. The newcomer looked swiftly round the room.
"Romulus!" he cried as he rushed across to the two military officers and shook hands warmly.
"Good heavens," said Romulus "Is it really you?"
"For once I have I have been able to steer my time turner correctly, and well here I am," Said the intruder.
Colonel Malfoy caught the junior auror's eye. "It is alright, Longbottom."
"Yessir," said young Violet Longbottom woodenly and withdrew.
Malfoy studied the newcomer curiously. He saw an odd-looking tall fellow in a slightly out of date black robe set with rather baggy check trousers underneath. Untidy black hair hung in a fringe over his forehead and his dark forest green eyes seemed humorous and sad a the same time.
The man looked hopefully up at Romulus.
"I am not too late, am I?" he said.
"What for?"
"Your speech, as guest of honour," he replied.
Colonel Malfoy looked at him in astonishment.
"How did you know that the Colonel would be here?" asked the confused Caligula.
"I read it in The Times."
"Impossible, the reporter is still here."
"Tomorrow's Times," said the visitor witheringly. He turned to Romulus. "Who is this fellow?" he continued.
"Colonel Caligula Malfoy. My Replacement," replied Romulus.
The Stranger sniffed "Mine was rather unpromising too!" he said glancing at Colonel Malfoy
"Hmmm a Malfoy, who are you parents sir?" asked the stranger.
"My parents are Lord Draco and Lady Hermione Malfoy, of Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire." stated Caligula. "Why did you ask that sir?"
"Ah I thought I could see a resemblance to Mione. Please tell your parents that H say's hello, they will know who it is," said the man to the confused Colonel.
Hastily, Romulus took the newcomer's arm. "Come along Uncle Harry, we'll just go for a stroll around the grounds," He looked apologetically at Caligula.
"Excuse us for a moment. I am awfully sorry about this," Romulus says as he urged the newcomer to the door.
The other man stopped on the threshold and glanced around the office. "You have had the place redecorated, haven't you. I don't like it!" he remarked.
"Come on Uncle Harry," said Romulus and dragged him away.
As they went out, the junior auror came back into the room. "Is everything alright sir?" she asks her commanding officer.
"What the blazes is going on, Violet? Who was that strange man?" He bellowed.
Violet answered, "That was The Scar."
Harry Snape and Romulus Lupin-Black strolled through the formal grounds of Hogwarts Military Academy talking animatedly. To Romulus, this was his Uncle Harry, his godfather.
Romulus was about twenty years Harry's junior as his parents didn't get together until Harry was nearly finished school.
Harry and Romulus were second generation Marauders. The original Marauders were made up of Harry's father Severus Snape, Romulus's parents, Cumulus Black and Remus Lupin. To round out this little group was Narcissa Black, Cumulus' cousin, Lucius Malfoy and James Potter, who was a spy for the Dark Lord and had Severus and his family murdered, only Harry survived. All of the Marauders were unregistered animagi except for Remus, as he was a Werewolf. Severus was a lion called Simba, Cumulus was a black poodle called Padfoot. Remus went by the nickname of Moony, Narcissa was a black wolf called shadow , Lucius was a hooded cobra named stretch and James was a rat and was given the name Wormtail. After the attack on Godric's Hollow, Harry was found in the rubble alive by Lucius and was taken to live with him and Narcissa and there new born son Draco. He lived there under the guise of Salazar Malfoy, Draco's twin until he was of an age when he could be told of what happened to his parents. But all that was in the past, right now he was here to see his godson retire and to celebrate his career.
"Scar, do you remember when you helped me in the muggle underground in London, when that zombie albino sasquatch had me cornered," reminisced Romulus.
"What about when we rescued your mother from the clutches of that madman potter?" said Harry as his eyes glazed over remembering.
They were discussing these adventures and more as they strolled round the stiffly formal gardens with their neatly raked gravel paths and flowers that seemed to be standing at attention.
"Yes indeed, Scar," Romulus was saying. "Sasquatch, Wormtail, we've seen some times…."
"and Voldemort! Don't forget Voldemort!"
"As if I could,"
Looking at his time turner Scar/Harry cam to a halt.
"Romulus, I think it's time for me to say goodbye. I really shouldn't be here at all. I am not exactly breaking the laws of time, But I am bending them a little." Scar/Harry laughs as he shakes his godson's hand.
"You never did bother very much about rules, Scar, not as I remember," laughed his Godson. Romulus noticed that Harry was staring fixedly at something over his shoulder.
"What's the matter Uncle Scar?" Rom pleaded
Harry pointed "Look!"
Romulus turned. A crystal pyramid was tumbling down the path towards them.
"What is that thing?" screamed Romulus.
"I think our past is catching up to us Romulus, or maybe it is our future. Come on, run!" yelled Scar.
They began bearing down the road. The pyramid tumbled after them at a terrifying speed. Harry ran faster, Romulus panting along after him.
"Dammit, Scar, I am too old for this sort of thing." He puffed.
"Hurry Romy! We must get inside before it's too late."
Harry turned a corner, and found himself on a cul-de-sac; the path ended in a high wall. He turned and bumped into Romulus and the pyramid was upon them. It swallowed them up. For a moment their distorted faces could be seen inside it, then the pyramid tumbled rapidly into the distance and disappeared.
The scarlet-gloved hand of the player took two more pieces from the ivory box. A tiny figure in an out of date robe and baggy pants and a military looking man with a neat moustache. The rake pushed the two pieces out onto the board.
The player returned to the scrying pool.
The game was now underway.
But there was more, much more, to be done.