Chapter Eighteen: Weekend in Paris
L'hôtel de la Magie was nothing like the Leaky Cauldron. It was a grand, opulent establishment that looked hundreds of years old but gleamed as if it was brand new. The crystal chandeliers and baroque furnishings were reminiscent of Beauxbatons Academy, but the mood of the establishment was more formal. The moment they stepped out of the Floo an eager bellhop dressed in a trim uniform with rows of brass buttons rushed forward to collect them.
"Ah... ze 'Ogwarts party," he exclaimed in a stiff voice. "Eet ez our pleazure to serve you in our establishment." His eyes found Harry easily and seemed to focus on him when he said this, practically ignoring the other students clustered around him. "Eef you need anyzing at all during your stay at our hôtel, my name ez Paschal. I will be 'appy to assist you."
He bowed at the waist, his eyes never leaving the object of his attention.
"Erm... thanks," Harry said as the others stared on in awe. "Where's the check in?"
"There ez no need for your group to check in, Meester Pottaire," Paschal said in his heavy French accent. "All arrangements 'ave been made prior to your arrival. If you weel follow me, I shall show you to your rooms."
"Hang on," Harry said suspiciously. "Professor McGonagall never mentioned this. She gave us specific instructions. We were to go to the desk and secure our rooms first and then meet her here in the lobby at half past ten. Are you saying that isn't necessary?"
"Oui, Mr. Potter," Paschal said with a confused expression on his young face. "Your party's rooms 'ave been paid for already. We 'ave been expecting you."
"Excellent!" Colin said with a grin, high fiving Cory.
"Who paid for them?" Ginny asked, shooting them a warning look to settle them down.
"Monsieur Fortier," Paschal said proudly. "You are to be 'is guests zis weekend. He is ze owner of zis hôtel."
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck prickled a warning. He didn't trust Fortier, and this new information wasn't welcome news. He and Ginny exchanged worried looks while the others congratulated each other on their luck.
"I don't like it," Harry said quietly so that only Ginny could hear. "Something doesn't feel right."
"I agree," Ginny said. "But it's not like he singled us out. He's paid for everyone's rooms, not just ours."
"Come on you two," Tony said. The Ravenclaw motioned them to join the group which was trailing after Paschal while they had been talking.
They all followed the bellhop, crowding into a brass lift that shot upwards like a bullet. The only thing that compared to it was taking off on his Firebolt, although judging from the green faces all around him most of the Hogwarts delegates didn't enjoy flying as much as he and Ginny. She was the only other one with a big smile on her face. In no time the brass doors opened and the sixteen students spilled out.
"That was horrible!" Aurora moaned to her best friend Lynn. "We should remember to ask for a slower speed next time."
"You can adjust the speed?" Amie said in surprise.
"Of course," Aurora, the wealthy Slytherin, sniffed offhandedly. "All the best hotels have adjustable lifts. All you need to do is ask the lift operator to keep it slow and give him a healthy tip for his trouble."
"Oh," Amie replied, her cheeks reddening slightly.
Ginny linked arms with Amie in a show of solidarity. "Well, this is the nicest hotel I've ever been in. I didn't know that either," she assured her.
"Ef you weel follow me..." Paschal said, cutting through the assembled students. "I weel show you to your rooms. This way, s'il vous plaît."
Ginny pulled Amie along after Paschal, throwing her nose up slightly as she passed the Slytherin girls. However, as he made to follow his girlfriend and fellow Gryffindor, Harry heard Aurora and Lynn snigger about Ginny's comment.
"I wouldn't expect her to have stayed in anything better than a barn anyway," Lynn said in a low wicked voice, earning her a giggle from Aurora. "She is a Weasley, after all. I don't understand what Potter sees in her."
"A lot more than he could ever see in two silly, backstabbing Slytherins," he muttered darkly as he ignored their murderous glares and pushed past them, joining Ginny at the front of the throng of people where Pascal had produced a chart and a ring of old fashioned keys.
"Zis 'alf of ze floor 'as been reserved for our 'Ogwarts guests," Paschal said, sweeping his hand towards the rows of rooms lining the corridor to the right. "And zis 'alf will be for ze Durmstrang students," he said, sweeping his hand to the left.
As if on cue, a door opened and Draco stepped out of one of the Durmstrang rooms closest to them. His eyes immediately locked on Harry and a slow smirk appeared on his face.
"There goes the neighbourhood," he drawled.
"Shove off, Malfoy," Harry retorted through a tightly clenched jaw.
The other boy ignored him, instead turning to Nott. To Harry's surprise, the ex-Slytherin's face softened to one of trust... even respect. It reminded him of how he looked at Ron, his best friend.
"Once you settle in, meet me in the lobby," he said with surprising casualness.
Nott nodded in acknowledgement. When Draco turned back, however, the cold mask was back in place as he sauntered off whistling a familiar tune from the wireless. Everyone left in the corridor stared at his retreating back.
"Meester Pottaire," Paschal said in his heavy accent, rolling the 'r' in his name. "Zis ez your room." He inserted a key in the door next to Malfoy's, turned it, and opened the door. He then moved on down the line, efficiently assigning rooms according to the order on his clipboard. Ginny turned out to be next door.
Harry stowed his bags in his room, freshened up quickly, and met Ginny just coming out of her room. "Ready to go exploring?" she said brightly.
He frowned. "Aren't you worried about this... arrangement?"
She sighed. "I am, but what can we do? Monsieur Fortier has given both schools complimentary rooms. Maybe it's just his way of showing his good will and sense of international cooperation."
"You don't believe that," he said narrowing his eyes doubtfully.
"No," she admitted as they made their way back to the lobby. "But we'll just be careful. Besides, we won't be here except to sleep. We'll stay out of the hotel as much as possible... stick to the touristy attractions and the shopping districts. Now I have more money for Christmas presents," she said with a satisfied grin.
The doors to the lift slid open as if it had been waiting for them.
"Lobby please," she told the lift operator. Quirking and eye at Harry and looping her arm through his, she asked in an amused voice, "Shall we ask him to go slow?"
He grinned. "Why would we want to do that?"
*
They spent the day exploring the city with the help of a handy map from the hotel. Getting around was easy because all they had to do was find the designated Apparition spots on the map close to where they wanted to go, and tap their wands on the spot. The map acted as a Portkey, taking them to the next Apparition point. The helpful lady at the hotel had said that it saved the French Ministry a lot of hassle because the Apparition points were Muggle-free areas; ever since the French Department of Tourism and their Department of Transportation had teamed up by creating the map, the Magical Reversal Squad and the Memory Charms SWAT Teams weren't needed as often. The last straw had been when a vacationing wizard had consumed too much wine at dinner and ended up accidently Apparating on top of the Eiffel Tower while looking for the loo. He'd landed in front of a group of travelling American students and other sightseers. In front of their shocked eyes the confused wizard had then taken out his wand and proceeded to levitate himself above the guard rail, relieving his full bladder off the side of the national monument as the Muggles watched in disbelief.
At least fifty memory charms had been used after that incident. The papers had been full of the scandal for weeks and the wizard who had caused it all was heavily fined and then escorted out of the country in disgrace. Unfortunately, that had been the twelfth case that month, prompting a special committee to be formed to fix the growing problem of "mishaps". Their task had been to come up with a safer way for the magical travellers to get around inside the city in order to maintain the International Statute of Secrecy – resulting in the map.
Dusk was just beginning to fall on the city when they decided to stop inside a cosy looking cafe and grab a bite to eat before heading back. They stowed their packages under the table, grateful for the pictures on the menu since once again the entire thing was in French. Harry was getting better at reading the menus at Beauxbatons, but nothing on this menu looked anything like the extravagant dishes prepared by the house-elves at the magical school. However, everything he could see on this menu looked much simpler and more to his taste.
After the waitress set two steaming bowls of soup and a loaf of bread in front of them, they ate in companionable silence, taking in the view of the quant Paris landscape and native Muggles outside. Harry realised with a start that he hadn't felt this relaxed in a long, long time.
"Today was wonderful," Ginny said contentedly, as if reading his mind. "I can't recall a more pleasant afternoon."
"Me either," he agreed. "I'm glad we came."
"So am I," she said. "I just love this city."
"No," Harry corrected her in a quiet, thoughtful voice. "I'm glad we came on the delegation. I think this was exactly what we needed."
She tilted her head and studied him, obviously trying to discern what he meant. "So you've finally come round to my point of view then?"
"I wouldn't go that far," he said with a wry, teasing smile. "But getting away from England and the reminders of the war was good for me. I needed to realise that there's a world out there – a world that hasn't been touched by Voldemort. I have my entire life ahead of me and there's so much I want to do." He reached over and squeezed her hand tenderly. "I want to travel, Ginny. I want to see the world with you. Think of all the adventures we could have! No responsibilities... no plans. We could take a year and just go wherever strikes our fancy."
She appeared speechless, but Harry waited patiently as she gathered her thoughts. When she finally did speak, her voice was doubtful. "Harry, you know my Mum would never allow that..."
"She would if we were married," he said quietly, searching her brown eyes for hope that she might be receptive to the idea.
He watched as her eyes widened in surprise. "Married? Harry... are you asking me to marry you? What about Auror training?"
"There's plenty of time to do that," he said offhandedly. "Besides, we need to finish school first. But yes, Ginny," he said earnestly, trying to make her see how much he had thought about this. "I do intend to marry you someday, if you'll have me."
Her face broke out in a brilliant smile. "Oh, I'll have you alright. There's nothing I want more than to marry you someday, Harry Potter."
He felt as if he had just won the House Cup single-handedly. His face broke out in a large grin and he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth at first gently, and then passionately, until they became aware of people around them staring. Harry was fairly certain he heard an older couple discussing them because he caught the words 'jeune amour' or 'young love' in their scandalised conversation.
"Perhaps it's time we headed back," he suggested ruefully.
"Oui, mon amour," she giggled, batting her eyes at him.
Leaving money on the table and grabbing their parcels, they exited the cafe, but not before Ginny captured him in one last kiss that had him wishing they were somewhere private.
They wandered lazily towards the next Apparition point, practically melting into each other and just enjoying the closeness when a cold shiver ran up Harry's spine tickling the hairs on the back of his neck. He stiffened, slowing his pace.
"What is it?" Ginny asked warily, looking at him with trepidation and then around them warily, searching out the hidden danger in the shadows.
"I have a bad feeling we're being followed," he said quietly, leaning into her ear as if to nuzzle her there – just a typical pair of lovers out on an evening stroll. He silently shook his head as her hand went to her wand, not wanting her to draw it out in case there were Muggles about. They hadn't yet reached the safe Apparition spot and they didn't need to attract undue attention to themselves, especially when they were in a foreign country as guests and representatives of their school.
A shadow passed behind them. Harry was all too aware of the narrow street that basically had them trapped. They could always Apparate back to the hotel, but they would be breaking the law because Apparition outside the designated spots was strictly forbidden. The hotel staff and Professor McGonagall had drilled that through their heads before they headed out earlier.
Harry knew the Apparition point wasn't far off so he pushed Ginny to walk faster without being too obvious. They had only to turn the corner and they would be there, but the shadow behind them kept pace, the lack of footsteps an ominous warning as to the danger they were in. Whoever it was knew how to blend into the shadows and had the ability to move silently without making any noise at all. Even a wizard under an invisibility cloak or disillusionment spell would have a difficult time making no noise on the cobblestone streets at the pace they were going.
Just as they reached the Apparition point a spell whisked past Harry's ear. Had he not leaned in to whisper something to Ginny at precisely that moment he would have been hit. They both ducked and rolled, drawing their wands and sending out return curses at exactly the same time.
A large shadow swooped down from the rooftop and landed in front of them.
"I apologize for frightening you, Mr. Potter," a regal voice said from behind the hood of a cloak. "My associate should have known better than to try to hex a wizard as powerful as you."
The creature removed his hood and snapped his fingers loudly. Immediately, a small group a men and women seemed to materialize from the shadows and stand in a semi-circle around the leader, who Harry could now see had a rather large set of fangs and a very pale face.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Harry asked the vampire.
"I am Aldric," he said with a small bow. "I am the vampire Regent in this part of the world, although I am from your own native country, now known as England." He paused dramatically looking with longing at Harry's exposed neck. Harry could just picture the visions going through Aldric's mind of what his blood might taste like, and it caused him to back up a few paces, stepping deliberately in front of Ginny.
"As for what I want," Aldric continued, "well that is a loaded question. I've wanted many things in my long existence... to be human again, to walk in daylight, to not be persecuted by wizard kind. We are a cursed race after all. The more appropriate question would be, Mr. Potter, what do I want with you tonight."
The vampire's voice was mild but mesmerizing, laced with a sinister quality that made Harry's muscles tense and his wand hand twitch. "All right," he replied coldly. "I'll play. What do you want with me tonight?"
"We want what was taken from us," Aldric replied, clasping his hands in front of him.
"I didn't take anything from you," Harry said, shoving Ginny further behind him.
"Strictly speaking that isn't true," the vampire said casually as the other vampires hissed. "You did kill the Dark Lord who sought to make us equals in the grand scheme of things. But no one can bring back the dead. Since his demise we have been considered outcasts, nothing more than criminals in our own country. We had to flee London and take up residence here. Of course, there was the nasty business of having to fight the former vampire Regent for supremacy, but we managed. No... it is not your life that we want. If it were, you and your girlfriend would be dead. What we seek will not only help to repair some of the damage done by killing our Dark Lord and driving us from our homeland, but it could also be beneficial to you as well."
"I'm growing really tired of this game, Aldric," Harry said with more bravado than he felt. "Can we get on with it, please?"
Aldric laughed. "The Dark Lord was right. You are an arrogant fool, Mr. Potter. Very well, I will 'get on with it' as you say. I want the Gemme de Bon Destin, and I want you to get it for me."
Harry scoffed. "Never heard of it. Is that like some sort of special chocolate? I could recommend a few good shops we discovered today." He held up one of their parcels for emphasis.
"Harry," Ginny whispered in his ear. "I recognize that one to the right. He was part of the first task."
Harry didn't respond but his eyes slid to the man Ginny was referring to, taking note of it and trying to decide what the significance of that was.
"Amusing," the vampire said with a sneer, "but no. The Gemme de Bon Destin is French for 'the gemstone of good fortune'. It is an ancient ring that gives the wearer the power over Destiny. Much like the potion called Felix Felicis, it guides the wearer to make choices that are in their best interests."
"Like a good luck charm?" Harry supplied.
"Yes, but more powerful," Aldric said. "The benefits of the ring are of a financial nature, you see, and money is power. It's amazing what humans stoop to when it comes to gold."
"Well you're out of luck," Harry said. "I don't have a clue what you're talking about, and even if I did I wouldn't help you. I'm not a thief."
"No, but you do value something more than gold," Aldric said, his eyes trailing to Ginny. "I would hate to see something unfortunate come to the young woman."
"Speak for yourself, bloodsucker," Ginny spat out angrily from behind Harry. "This young woman is more than capable of hexing you or anyone else who tries to touch me."
Harry's anger swelled at the vampire's threat but he hesitated, wanting to learn more of their intentions. "Let's just say I play along. Where would I find this ring and what would you do with it?"
"What I would do with it is none of your concern," Aldric said coldly. "As for where you would find it... you might ask your friend Draco Malfoy that question."
"What's Malfoy got to do with it?"
"Everything," the vampire replied. "How do you think the Malfoy family came by their fortune?"
"But he's broke now," Harry said in confusion.
"Because he no longer has the ring," Aldric said as if speaking to a very small child. "His father made the mistake of letting the secret of his good fortune slip. He was betrayed to the Dark Lord, who realized its great potential. One of the first things the Dark Lord did was confiscate the ring. Unfortunately for Draco, the ring was stolen after the war amid the many possessions of the Dark Lord." He laughed humourlessly. "The person who stole it had no idea what it was worth. It disappeared for a time but has recently resurfaced – at Beauxbatons. Your friend Draco knows where it is and is trying to recover it."
Harry tried not to show his surprise. So that's what Draco was after; he knew there was more to Draco's sudden appearance than met the eye.
"I know of your hatred of the Malfoy heir," Aldric continued. "If Draco Malfoy were to recover the ring he would use it to restore his family fortune. That is in no one's best interests. I hate the Malfoys all most as much as you, Mr. Potter."
"So why not get it yourself?" Harry asked Aldric suspiciously.
"My species has certain limits," he said, his pale face darkening with anger. "For one thing, I am forbidden on school grounds unless I am invited. My associates were unable to question Mr. Malfoy the night of the First Task, so now I am forced to seek outside help. For another thing, I have very limited magical ability and this task will require a powerful wizard such as yourself to accomplish. The enchantments surrounding the gemstone are rather delicate in nature. Given your history with overcoming enchantments guarding certain magical stones, I had hoped we might work together on this to thwart Mr. Malfoy's attempt to steal it. I know that there is no one on this planet who hates Draco Malfoy more than you, Mr. Potter, so I was rather hoping we could strike a bargain."
"By threatening my girlfriend?" Harry snorted indignantly. "You don't know me as well as you think, then."
"Perhaps I was hasty in doling out my threats," Aldric conceded. "Is there something you might like in return, something that might convince you to aid us in this quest? The vampires can be very powerful allies, Mr. Potter – or very deadly enemies."
His insinuation cut Harry to the quick as much as it angered him. In this situation he was damned either way. If he didn't help Aldric get what he wanted, Aldric would come after him with a vengeance, possibly hurting Ginny. But if he did help the vampire recover the stone, there was no telling what use it would be put to by Aldric.
"Can I think about this for a minute?" Harry asked, stalling for time.
"Harry," Ginny hissed in his ear, tightening her grip on his waist uncomfortably. "You can't seriously be thinking of helping them."
"Don't take too long," Aldric warned as a few of the vampires growled. "My friends are hungry, and they can smell the sweet scent of virgin blood from here. It's causing them a degree of stress to hold back."
"I just made up my mind," Harry said evenly. "I'm tired of this game. If you want that ring, I suppose you'll have to find some other dupe. But thanks for the information. We'll be leaving now."
Hoping that Ginny was holding on tightly enough, he twisted on the spot and tried to Apparate them out of there, even though it was outside the legal Apparation point. Better deal with the consequences than stay and be the main course. Aldric's threat had sealed it for Harry; the vampire couldn't be trusted.
Unfortunately, nothing happened.
In horror, he looked towards the advancing vampires as Ginny squeaked, "They're behind us, Harry! We're surrounded."